Marin took a deep breath as he clutched the helm of his jacket, furiously blushing. "Sorry I know this is sudden at all, I know we're good friends, but I like you more than that, more than anyone else I've liked before in my life ever since we met!" He admitted aloud for the first them before then averting his gaze, pressing his fingertips together nervously as he awaited an answer.
"That was pretty good." Luka responded as they both stood at the riverfront.
Marin his face behind his hands groaning in embarrassment as he sat down by the riverfront just inches away from the water. "Sorry to trouble you with this Luka." He apologized as Luka sat down next to him.
"It's fine." He said supportively.
"I can understand that. So there's someone that you like huh?"
" Ah, yeah." Marin nodded sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I like them a lot."
"Well whoever they are, they're really lucky."
"Hm?" Marin turned towards him curiously, wondering what Luka meant just as an alarm went off on his phone. As he pulled it out he immediately started to panic, standing up and shouldering his messenger bag on. "We're going to be late if we don't leave now." He said but took notice that Luka made no attempt to move, instead he folded his hands behind head, resting back on the cobblestone.
"Nah, I'm skipping today."
Marin stared down at him in disbelief, gently kicking his side as Luka seemingly started to doze off. "You can't just skip class, you'll get behind in your classes."
"Once in a while, it's fine, not like I'm missing out on much." He argued back in a carefree manner.
There were a number of things wrong with what he just said but Marin simply sighed heavily, squatting down next to his friend with a disapproving frown on his face. He stared at him for a few seconds, for a moment thinking that his friend looked rather peaceful...before then pinching his nose.
"Don't make this a habit."
"Yes sir mister class rep." Luka said with a cheeky smile and his eyes still closed.
Marin chuckled under his breath, fully intending to check up on him again after all his classes were finished. "Let's get some ice cream after school." He said pulling out his phone as he started walking away. A smile quickly drew on his face as he saw that he had a text from Adrien, no doubt asking about what kind of cookies he was bringing today.
"Hey, Mar!" Luka called much to Marin's surprise, seeing that his friend was sitting up, no longer looking carefree like usual. "Ah..." Luka faltered for a moment, darting his eyes away for a moment before he called out. "I'll be cheering you on!"
Marin's expression softened as he smiled in relief, knowing that he had support helped. "Thanks! I'll see you later!" He called back quickly realizing that he was going to be late; Not noticing Luka covering his face shamefully as he momentarily chided himself for being extremely envious of the person
Marin had to run towards school as his window to not being tardy was quickly closing. The jacket he spend months sewing to perfection along with Adrien's favorite cookies felt heavy in his messenger bag.
"Are you really gonna do this?" Tikki asked as she poked her head out of his pocket, seeing her partner start to blush.
"I am, Tikki, I feel really good about this. The last few times I tried I chickened out, but today is the day I can just feel it." He said with confidence, more so as he saw Adrien at the head of the building, standing atop the staircase. Marin gasped for breath as Adrien smiled at him in amusement.
"Overslept again?" Adrien asked in expectation as he saw a white box in Marin's hands, his mouth already watering.
"Maybe." Marin gasped, trying to catch his breath, placing his hands on his knees.
"You're more out of breath than usual, did you go somewhere or something?"
"What?! No!" Marin immediately responded defensively, hoping that his best friend wouldn't notice his nervous energy as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Why, did you hear something?"
"No...should I have?" Adrien asked a little playfully looking at him curiously. "Where were you this morning?"
"...Nowhere." Marin said already walking towards their first class together with the white macaroon box in hand.
"Come on, tell me." Adrien asked folding his hands behind his back. "Where would you go that's so important that you of all people would wake up early, today of all days? Is there something especially important about today?"
"No, there's nothing." Marin tried to say as he tried his best to avert his gaze, feeling his face burn.
"Really?" Adrien asked, tilted his head with a mischievously grin on his face. "Are you lying?"
"Say one more word and no cookies!" Marin retorted as his face started to turn red with embarrassment. As much as Adrien wanted to pry further, he wanted his hands on those cookies more.
"Fine, fine." Adrien said. "So we're still on for you giving me cookies later, right?"
Marin sighed heavily, but couldn't help but smirk at his best friend's brattiness. "You say that like I have a choice in that matter."
"I'm good friends with the best manga publisher in Japan, you know. I can talk to them about your comic book project if you like."
Marin heard Lila saying to Nathaniel as she next to him at their shared desk in the back row. Had he realized what kind of mental torture it was, sitting next to a girl that was arguably the worst person he'd ever met, he would've taken the seat next to Adrien earlier. But what could he do, actually have the audacity to sit near his best friend when he promised he'd help out Lila?
At least this was the last class before lunch, then he could actually relax for a while. His leg started to shake reflexively as he eyed his phone, just waiting for the bell to ring.
"I've graded your mock exam papers. Most of you did quite well, some better than others. Marin, could you see me after class please?" Miss Bustier asked, and promptly crushed his growing relief.
A bad feeling settled in Marin's stomach. Usually, it was never a good thing when a teacher had to talk to you, much less pull you away from the eyes of the entire class. As the lunch bell rang, he waited until the entire class cleared out before walking down towards the front. He saw Adrien waiting for him outside and then waved towards him, signaling that he'd catch up later. He saw his best friend looking at him in concern just before closing the door behind him, now leaving him alone with the teacher.
"Would you mind handing over your bag please?" Marin was taken aback by her request. He clutched the handle of his bag, hoping that Tikki would phase out just as he handed his bag over to his teacher, without complaint. He watched nervously as she rummaged around through, hopefully not about to pull out a fairy that was as ancient as time itself. "Today, someone placed an anonymous note on my desk, claiming that you'd stolen the exam answers, could you please explain what this is?" The teacher asked as she pulled out an answer key from Marin's messenger bag.
"I...I don't-" Marin stammered as his head felt fuzzy. "I didn't steal it!"
Miss Bustier sighed as she crossed her arms. "Marin, I believe that you're a good student, but you've been acting strange since this year began. Is it possible that you've taken on too many commitments and may had a relapse in judgment? You're my aid, after all, you'd have the chance to take it."
"No it's nothing like that at all- I would never do something like this! Someone must've planted that piece of paper in my bag!" He tried to reason, but could see that his teacher wasn't buying it.
"Why would want to do something like that? Everyone likes you very much, I can't imagine anyone wanting to frame you for something like this." Miss Bustier said, and then sighed heavily. "I've already talked with about this but he wants to see you in his office."
"But-" Marin tried to say but was cut off.
"I don't like this any more than you do, but the sooner we talk this out the sooner we can deal with this." His teacher said as he lowered his head unhappily.
Marin sat inside of the principal's office alone as felt his anxiety rising. He didn't do anything wrong, at least, he thought that he didn't. What if he did something by accident? What if he offended someone by accident and he hurt them enough to get back at him? A number of thoughts and possible scenarios raced through his head, but all came to a screeching halt as he flinched at the door opening.
walked in staring at him seriously. "Please come with me Mr. Dupain-Cheng." He ordered.
"I didn't do anything sir." Marin said as his voice started to waver.
"I don't want to do this either but there have been a number of anonymous accusations against you in the past a few weeks."
Marin's eyes widened in disbelief, unable to think of a proper response.
"If you could just please come with me so we can place this all to rest once and for all?"
He didn't have the will to fight back as he started to feel shame creep up his spine as he was marched towards the locker room. He felt every set of eyes on him as the locker room drew closer despite him handing his head.
Carefully, he opened up his locker and everything seemed to fall apart as he saw an unfamiliar white box placed in his locker. He could see various missing items that were placed inside, items that he knew were missing, items that people had come to him, and told him were missing.
"I didn't steal anything-" He began to say as he overhead his classmates begin to whisper among themselves.
"Marinus Dupain-Cheng you are suspended until further notice. Please wait in my office until we can bring your parents in to discuss this further."
He felt low, embarrassed, exposed, humiliated, as well as a number of other emotions that he couldn't pin. Mr. Damocles had ordered him to go back home with a note his parents needed to sign. They would have to come back to talk to him in person but for now, he was officially suspended. As he closed the door behind him he felt a numbing feeling in his chest, not even noticing someone standing nearby until they spoke up.
"Marin."
Adrien greeted with an expression of concern on his face.
"My mom's going to kill me." Marin said bluntly to his best friend, almost certain.
"That's what you're worried about?" Adrien asked gently, trying to improve the mood but Marin was in no mood to smile, instead, he placed his face in his hands still feeling the shock of the past few hours. "Hey Marin, Aly, and I found the stuff that was in your locker."
Immediately Marin looked at him in a helpless panic for a moment wondering if Adrien would accuse him.
"We know something's up, there's no way you'd take anything from anyone. Do you have any idea who'd want to set you up like this?"
Marin sighed heavily for a number of reasons. "No, I don't...I didn't even go to my locker this morning." He said as he felt his chest start to swell with sadness. "Sorry Adrien, I have to go home now."
"Ah, alright, see you later?" Adrien asked, but didn't get an answer as Marin walked down the stairs from the school entrance.
Marin walked down the stairs towards the riverfront under the bridge. During midday, there wouldn't be anyone around to see him. What kind of day was this? It started off well enough, he dropped off the jacket that he made for Adrien and was going to tell him at lunch that he made special orange peppermint flavored. Honestly, a flavor palette that was disgusting to him, but for some reason Adrien loved. Now here he was, about to be thrown out of school, was avoiding going home with the knowledge that his parents would be extremely upset, so he was hiding under a bridge to escape his problems.
He reached into his back pocket, taking out the lucky charm that was gifted to him. A gift that didn't work at all, in fact, it seemed like that ever since he picked it up all his bad luck had turned worse. Whoever had gifted it was probably someone who was laughing behind his back, because at the end of the day all he was was just a huge joke. He clutched it in his hand tightly, but just as he was about to toss it into the river he overheard footsteps racing towards him before he was suddenly grabbed, seeing a flash of white.
Adrien couldn't help but clutch his lucky charm in his hand. Just because his bracelet was in the box of stolen items wouldn't just remove suspicion from his friend. Someone had to take responsibility if Mr. Damocles was ever going to be swayed. But as he was about to turn back into the school he saw that Marin was going him, instead, he was walking towards the riverfront, and trailing behind him was an Akuma.
He felt a rush of adrenaline as he saw the threat towards his best friend. Without thinking he ran towards him across the street but before he could say a word just as a truck drove by he lost sight of him.
Adrien looked around for a moment, seeing that the Akuma was still fluttering around aimlessly, but his best friend was nowhere in sight.
"Bunnyx?" Marin asked as he was led into a familiar place he had visited only once before, technically this would be the third time as he recognized the burrow belonging to the rabbit Miraculous. The first time he entered was the first time he met Bunnyx not even knowing what a burrow was, the second was when he trained with the rabbit Miraculous, and this would be the third time. He looked up towards the older woman, quickly realizing that he had made a mistake as he stepped back from her defensively.
"I mean uh- who are you strange rabbit woman?! Why did you kidnap me?!" He asked trying to play off his previous slip up but could see that she wasn't buying his act.
"Minibug, something happened today that caused a major disaster in the future. I'm not sure what it was or when it happened exactly. Did anything unusual happen on your side?" She asked, clearly already knowing who he really was if she has dragged him into a burrow.
Marin thought for a moment, wondering what exactly she meant. "If you mean how I'm being suspended for stealing stuff I don't remember stealing." Marin noticed she had a sullen expression on her face, her body was covered in wounds, claw marks that penetrated the magical defenses all holders were gifted when using a Miraculous. This troubled him as only something that was stronger than a Miraculous, stronger than a Kwami could disrupt their magic.
"You're injured!" He said reflexively, stepping towards her in concern, also worried about Fluff. He took out a mini first aid kit that he always kept in his bag about to open it up but Bunnyx just as turned towards him he noticed that she flinched slightly but he couldn't see what at before she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Normally, we have to avoid interfering with past or present events as much as possible, but this is really serious, Minibug. Our future is in danger! I need your help, can I trust you with this mission?" She asked with a serious expression on her face, one that startled Marin. Normally he was on the other end of this, asking people for their trust. He wondered if this was how it felt for everyone else he had given a Miraculous to in the past, the feeling of anticipation. If it was anyone else he wondered if he might reject this, but something about the Rabbit themed-hero made him feel like he could trust her.
"Of course." He said simply as Tikki flew out of his jacket. "Tikki, Spots on." He said, transforming for the first time in front of another Miraculous holder.
Chat Noir jumped down from the hole that Hawkmoth, that his father fell from, falling onto a walkway above a pool of water as Ladybug jumped down beside him. He was grateful for the magical protection of the Miraculous, not wanting to see his father get hurt. Hawkmoth threw his can towards them but Chat Noir easily knocked it away into the water.
"Just make this easy for yourself gramps." Chat Noir snarkily remarked as Hawkmoth backed away towards a platform behind him. One that was covered in grass, flowers, and several bushes.
"It's over. Hand over your Miraculous." Ladybug said as he spun his yo-yo in hand, his eyes darted across the room while Chat Noir's ears twitched. He could tell that neither of them could sense Mayura, which raised a red flag within itself.
"I wouldn't take a step further if I were you, dear Adrien." Hawkmoth said holding his hand behind his back.
Almost immediately Chat Noir froze in place as Ladybug stepped before him.
"How do you—" Chat Noir was about to ask just as Hawkmoth opened the panel of what looked to be a coffin. In it he saw someone that he never thought he'd see again. A beautiful light blonde-haired woman, looking just like she did the last time he saw her. Just before she and his father left on their trip so long ago. "M-Mom?" Chat Noir asked taking a step back as Ladybug looked back at him for a moment before locking his eyes on the villain before them.
"Y-you told me they couldn't find her body, that she was gone..." Chat Noir said angrily as he tried to fight back the tears welling up in his eyes. "You lied to me!"
Hawkmoth placed his hand on the coffin as he looked at his son. "I'm doing it for her, Adrien. Don't you want to see your dear mother again?" He asked as Ladybug stepped forward before his partner.
"It's over for you Hawkmoth, give us yours and Mayura's Miraculous.
"This is your partner? Someone who is so heartless as to deprive you of any chance of seeing your mother again?"
"Don't listen to him Chat." Ladybug said. "He's trying to mess with your head just like he does with everyone else he akumatizes."
"If my words can't reach you Ladybug, then it appears you force my hand." Hawkmoth said with a smile just as he melted before them, his body now taking shape of a familiar giant moth.
"Wha-" Chat Noir gasped just as Ladybug pushed him out of the way of its blast.
"It was a sentimonster!" Ladybug called out just as the Sentimonster descended upon them in the confined space they were trapped in. Ladybug jumped in the railing, using his yo-yo to try and bind its wings while Chat Noir was still in a daze.
"Hey, Bunnyx, when you travel through time, do you forget what happened when you're done?" Ladybug asked as he turned his back towards the rabbit themed hero while she calibrated one of her portals.
"What's seen can't be unseen. I know quite a few things I could tell you that would blow your mind." She teased lightly.
"Then, can I ask about the first time we met?" He asked curiously.
"There's a time for everything and time is a fragile thing. That's the reason you picked me, Minibug. I know how to keep a secret." Bunnyx remarked as she recalled the memory fondly. "But I'll tell you this little fun fact. The first time we met was my first mission after training for years."
"Years?"
"Yup, a proper Rabbit Miraculous holder like myself has had years of special training to properly use this Miraculous. The first time we met was safe because it didn't alter the course of anything drastically." Bunnyx gave him a wry smiled as she led the way towards one of the exits. As Ladybug stepped through he gasped at the sight before him, of his home in ruin, covered in seawater which made it almost unrecognizable. As he stood atop the TV station tower he looked up towards the moon that was partially destroyed. Ladybug wondered, almost feared what could possibly have that kind of power.
"What happened here?" Ladybug said with his mouth agape in shock.
"The less you know about the future, the better. Just do your thing: capture the Akuma and restore order. Then...everything will go back to normal." Bunnyx said as she turned back towards the burrow.
Ladybug was looking up at the shattered moon before he turned back to Bunnyx. "You're not staying? Isn't this the time you came from?"
"Let's say I gotta stand ready to jump back into time and try something else, in case you fail." She said as Ladybug walked up to her.
"Fail?" He questioned for a moment before Bunnyx ruffled his hair playfully.
"If it was anyone else I would actually be worried. Sorry about this Mar." Bunnyx said before disappearing into her burrow, leaving him alone in the ruins of Paris. Ladybug looked up towards the sky sadly, thinking about what could have caused a future like this but then his guard went up as he heard someone behind him. Towards the end of the building, there was someone sitting on the edge, someone completely dressed in white with familiar-looking cat ears.
"Little kitty on a roof...all alone without his lady." He sang gently as Ladybug gripped his yo-yo in hand.
"Chat... Noir?" Ladybug asked aloud as he saw their ears twitch.
"Your impersonations are getting better rabbit-" He said standing up and turning towards him freezing in place as his eyes laid on Ladybug, almost in disbelief.
Ladybug took a step back as he saw clearly that this was Chat Noir, his Chat Noir alive, looking the same in a future that had to be over a decade in.
"My Lady?" Chat Noir asked in disbelief before a smile drew on his face as he jumped down from where he was sitting. " I thought I'd lost you!"
"Lost me?" Ladybug asked aloud, unable to tear his eyes away from his partner who circled him like a cat before standing before him, placing a hand on his cheek as he chucked to himself in disbelief.
"It's you, it's really you."Chat Noir said letting out a heavy sigh of relief. The expression made Ladybug immensely uncomfortable, this was Chat Noir but at the same time...
"Chat, what happened to you? How did you- How did this happen?" Ladybug asked gently removing Chat Noir's hand from his face but didn't let it go as he looked at his partner with growing worry.
But Chat Noir didn't seem to hear him as his newly blue eyes turned glossy his calico eyes drawing into cat-like slits. "Now that you're back it's going to be alright because you still have your Miraculous!"
Ladybug's eyes widened as Chat Noir tried to take his earrings but Ladybug reflexively kicked him back as he back-flipped away gain some distance between them. He felt a rush of adrenaline as he saw Chat Noir's eyes turn back to normal but something was still wrong. "What's wrong with you, Chat Noir?!" The hero demanded to know as he saw that his partner looked away, ashamed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Could you please hand me your Miraculous, please? Chat Blanc has... gotten into some mischief."
Ladybug's eyes widened in shock as he realized. "You've been akumatized...But, that's impossible." Ladybug murmured to himself as he couldn't sense the presence of an Akuma at all. But if Chat Noir was akumatized it would explain what happened to the city as well as the moon. This presented a problem; if he couldn't sense an Akuma at all it meant...
"You don't need my Miraculous, you need me to purify you." Ladybug said walking towards his partner, his expression wavering as he saw a single tear fall down Chat Noir...Chat Blanc's cheek. Ladybug brushed the tear away as Chat Blanc couldn't meet his eyes.
"Help me..."
Ladybug winced at the sound of his voice. He never imagined he'd hear such sadness from someone so important to him. "Tell me, do you remember where the Akuma went?" Ladybug asked gently as he placed his hand on Chat Blanc's cheek but responded by grabbing Ladybug's wrist, placing his hand on his chest.
"Here! But it's already too late!" Chat Blanc said as his eyes dilated with excitement, never looking more unkind than they did now.
Ladybug gasped as he winced in pain at Chat Blanc's heightened strength, more so with the help of an Akuma. He palmed Chat Blanc's face with all of his force, stunning him for long enough to break away.
Chat Blanc glared at him angrily as his lips twisted into a snarl, showing off his fangs. "Even now you're still finding new ways to hurt me Xiang?!" He demanded as Ladybug froze.
A wave of anxiousness washed over him as Ladybug froze, turning towards Chat Blanc in shock saying aloud a name that his partner should never have spoken aloud.
But Ladybug couldn't think straight as Chat Blanc dashed towards him. Ladybug only had enough time to evade his swipes before jumping off of the building. Below he landed on a bus that was floating on the water. The whole area was essentially a death trap for him not including his possessed partner. He felt the bus under his feet shake as he turned to see Chat Blanc landing behind him. His partner held out his arms towards him, baring the most malicious smile he'd ever seen.
"It doesn't have to be this way. Please, just give me your Miraculous so I can make everything go back to the way it was." He asked walking towards him.
Ladybug glanced at the water for a moment. He took out his yo-yo, holding it behind his back as his partner approached him threateningly. He mapped out an exit, jumping on the floating rubble of the city, followed by his partner as Ladybug landed on the Eiffle tower. "I can't do that Chat!" Ladybug called out after hiding on a piece of railing just below his former partner.
That answer made Chat Blanc frown. Instead of speaking up, he held his arm over his head releasing a wave of energy that made everything around them shake, causing the old monument to creak. "I don't want to hurt you Xiang. I love you."
Those words hurt his heart as Ladybug gripped his yo-yo, not moving a muscle, being all too aware of Chat Noir's sensitive ears.
"Things were perfect until that day. You remember don't you? How when we fought Hawkmoth and Mayura together we failed. He knew we were coming and we stupidly walked into his ambush." Chat Blanc said as his ears twitched, trying to pinpoint where his partner was. " It was our love that did this to the world, my Xiang."
Ladybug overheard his words as he climbed up the tower by hand spotting his partner. He tackled him to the ground, grabbing his staff and belt, snapping them in half but much to his surprise nothing happened.
"Looking for my Akuma, my lady!?" Chat Blanc asked aggressively as in his hand appeared a white ball of energy. "There's a faster way to make this end, you know. You just need to hand over... YOUR MIRACULOUS!" He exclaimed as he shot the ball of energy just above him. The attack caused the railings above him to crack and shake the whole tower.
Ladybug evaded the falling debris as he used his yo-yo to jump on top of the tower, running towards the edge but saw that he was no debris to jump onto from so far up. Instead, Ladybug opened up his yo-yo, taking something green out as Chat Blanc appeared just across from him.
"Why are you trying to fight this? You know that by merging our Miraculous together, we'd be granted one wish, right? Any wish we wanted. Well, my wish would be to fix everything, so we could be in love again. And have a hamster, too. You've always dreamed of having one. We'll call it—"
"Why are you acting like this? Like Hawkmoth?!" Ladybug demanded, glaring into Chat Blanc's icy blue eyes. They were dull for a moment before Chat Blanc gripped his fist. It appeared that a wave of realization washed over the villain as Chat Blanc dropped his arm, tilting his head thoughtfully with a blank expression on his face.
"Ah, that's right...you're not my Ladybug." He said coldly. "You're just a trick that Bunnyx pulled out of her burrow."
"I don't understand what you're talking about, but if you could just listen-"
"OF COURSE YOU DON'T." Chat Blanc snapped back, anger seeping into his eyes as Ladybug's heart fell. "You don't understand what I'm saying at all because you're just here to erase everything." He said as Ladybug's eyes widened slightly. "She didn't send you here to fix anything, she wants you to erase everything that happened here."
"T-That's what my Miraculous does, it's turns everything back to normal."
"No, it undoes mistakes. It erases memories like they never happened. Well, THIS happened, I happened. I lost everything and all you, all everyone wants is to take away any memory of what happened."
"Chat-"
"NO." Chat Blanc said taking a step forward. "I'm not like the rest of Hawkmoths lackies. I'm real. My feelings are real. I'm not going to just let you make them disappear like all the rest."
Ladybug closed his eyes for a moment, almost apologetically. "I can't do that Chat, I can't leave you and Paris like this."
Chat Blanc scoffed as he turned away from Ladybug, looking out onto the new sea of Paris, her ruins admit the cold waters. "I've only dreamed of something like this you know. To see you again after so long. But I guess it doesn't really matter if you alive or not to experience it." He said before dashing towards Ladybug in blinding speed, slashing his claws towards Ladybug's face.
"ARGH!" Ladybug winced in pain, feeling Chat Blanc's claws rake against his face. He backed away as his vision was compromised, suddenly he felt his weightless as the rubble behind him gave in.
Ladybug popped a mini macaron, transforming himself into Aquabug just before he hit the water. The newly formed ocean was dark and stung his eye painfully but he was at least grateful that he didn't have to worry about drowning.
As Ladybug looked about he saw the city submerged underwater, building destroyed and wherever people there once were, now turned into brittle stone. Ladybug swam down towards something he spotted and saw what appeared to be where the explosion started. He placed his hand on there the explosion started and looked up to three figures standing nearby. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw Mayura seemingly protecting Hawkmoth standing before him while he had his hands obscuring his face. His eyes then darted to the third one kneeling on the ground looked towards the source of the explosion. The hero noticed that there was no shine coming from any of the Miraculous holders, their enchanted jewels,
There was only one thing that had that kind power. Only one thing that could truly destroy not only an entire city but also a Miraculous. The water was cold, but the truth of the situation made him feel numb.
Ladybug felt his head start to hurt as he recognized himself but turned to brittle stone just like everyone else in the city. He placed his hand towards his other but the moment he made contact his other disintegrated in the water. Ladybug clutched his arms as he realized that he wasn't the only one destroyed; his Miraculous disintegrated along with him. But something caught his attention as something red floated from the dust, a familiar Ladybug printed box that looked familiar.
Chat Noir crashed against the ground as the moth had crashed into the Eiffel Tower. His body was banged up, covered in injures but he turned towards Ladybug who was far worse off, coughing harshly as he held his side as he kneeled on the ground holding his side. Ladybug spun his yo-yo, attempting to bind Sentimonster again but as he tried the sentimonster disappeared.
"Wha-" Chat Noir ears perked up but he couldn't react in time as someone grabbed him from behind. "Cataclysm!" He exclaimed activating his power but a fan was pushed in his hand, negating his power. He turned his head to see Mayura had him in her grasp while Hawkmoth stood across from his partner.
"Your plan's going to fail no matter what." Ladybug warned before he chased towards the villain. He jumped up, aiming his kicks towards the villain's head but Hawkmoth easily grabbed his leg, slamming him to the ground causing Ladybug to become stunned as he was winded against the stone ground.
"Leave him alone!" Chat Noir called out as Hawkmoth stood over Ladybug, planting a foot on his chest to keep him from standing up. "Father just stop!" Chat Noir begged as he struggled against Mayura's grasp.
"There is still a chance to save your mother." Hawkmoth said, ignoring the hero's attempts to escape. "If you truly cared about her, if you truly ever loved her then you wouldn't hesitate." Hawkmoth said as he turned his head towards him just before Chat Noir saw an Akuma flying towards him. There was no way for him to escape as the Akuma flew into his bell.
Chat Noir's head whipped back against Mayura as he heard his father's voice boom in his mind. "Chat Blanc, I gift you the infinite power of destruction! Under my control together we will awaken your mother." Hawkmoth demanded as Chat Noir's eyes widened, quickly feeling a numbness coming over his boy. "Take Ladybug's Miraculous," Hawkmoth said coldly with a sadistic smile, watching his son walk over towards his partner, now weakened over months of exertion.
Chat Blanc held his hand out forming a Mega cataclysm in his hand.
Ladybug lifted up his head coughing harshly as he held his Lucky Charm in his hand struggled to stand, only able to lift himself only his arms, looking towards his partner painfully.
It took all of Chat Blanc's will power to direct his attack towards his father, wincing at the sight of his father's disapproving expression.
"How dare you. You are my son, you will OBEY!"
"I... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Chat Blanc yelled out as he felt his will slipping from his grasp. All he could do was hold up his arm, hoping, that the blast would be consumed by himself.
First went Mayura who protected her partner.
Then went Hawkmoth who shielded himself from the blinding light of the mega cataclysm.
Then…
Chat Blanc could barely speak as his eyes laid on Ladybug who made no attempt, or couldn't, move from place. Even within this chaos, even knowing he couldn't run, Ladybug's expression softened into a smile. A smile that only he had truly seen, a sincere smile that he had only seen a few times in their time together. One that always lit up his day, reminding him how much he loved his partner.
"Adrien..it'll be alright." Ladybug said before the Cataclysm took him as well.
Chat Blanc's eyes widened as he heard his partner's final words, feeling a tear fall down his face as Paris was no more.
Chat Blanc sat on the edge of the Eiffel tower, recalling those final moments, as he heard Ladybug landing behind him, his feet landing on the rusted metal of the former monument.
"You finally understand don't you?" Chat Blanc asked already knowing the answer, he dug his claws into the metal, piercing it as he grew angrier; awaiting to be judged by the hero of Paris. He stood up, turning towards his partner, no longer feeling any emotion to a person who resembled someone he once loved. That person was already long gone.
Ladybug raised his arms in a fighting stance, his expression hardened as it was when he was facing a villain. His right eye was closed as the wound was still fresh and no doubt stung because of the saltwater he fell into. But true to his title as a hero, he wouldn't allow that to bother him.
"So, your minds' made up." Chat Blanc smirked in wry amusement as he dashed towards Ladybug first swiping in his blind spot.
Ladybug ducked his head and landed a kick on Chat Blanc's head, followed by another one by his other leg as he spun around for extra strength, then successfully pushed him back as he planted a foot on Chat Blanc's chest.
Chat Blanc slid back for a moment unphased by the attacks, almost amused by Ladybug's attempts to actually take him head-on.
"It's no use Ladybug. If Bunnyx couldn't finish me off, what makes you think you can?!"
Ladybug was silent as he dashed towards Chat Blanc again, this time jumping as he aimed a kick towards him. Chat Blanc sidestepped him, planning on grabbing his arm but as Ladybug hit the ground he ducked again, sweeping Chat Blanc's feet successfully knocking him off balance. Without wasting any time Ladybug pinned Chat Blanc to the ground.
"If I was my old self that might have worked." Chat Blanc said lamely as he turned Ladybug's weight against him.
Ladybug gasped in pain as Chat Blanc only had to hold his wrist behind his back as Chat Blanc twisted his arm, continuing to apply pressure.
"You brought this on yourself." Chat Blanc said lamely as he heard a crack then Ladybug no longer struggled against him with his new injury. With one hand as he removed his Miraculous of Creation, undoing Ladybug's transformation. He could see the mess of emotions etched on Marin's face as he turned his head towards him, eyes were laden with a spark of determination. The sight almost made him smile as he recalled how much he loved seeing that expression. Even if this wasn't his Marin, these feelings wouldn't just disappear.
Chat Blanc heard Marin try to steady his breath from beneath him. Chat Blanc's gaze lingered for a moment as he stared down at Marin. Gently, he brushed a few strands of fringer from the boy's face, revealing his bright blue eyes more clearly. "You understand why I need your Miraculous don't you?" He asked, but Marin didn't respond. He should have expected that after all he had taken his precious Miraculous from him but more importantly his beloved Kwami.
Chat Blanc recalled the last time he had done that Ladybug was incredibly annoyed with him, the same day that he had used the Ladybug Miraculous for the first time.
He was incredibly grateful to Tikki, who had given him the knowledge of how to access the Ladybug Miraculous's power.
Chat Blanc placed the Miraculous of Creation in his ears, prepared for a rush of power…
But nothing happened.
"Why...why isn't this working?!" He demanded as Tikki hadn't even materialized.
"It's not enough to just have both Miraculous." Marin gasped lifting himself up onto his feet. His body was covered in cuts and bruises from their battle, his arm was hurt badly and he had blood running down his face due to the injury he sustained earlier. But despite all of that Ladybug had a look of sadness on his face. One that made Chat Blanc grow angrier.
"You need the incantation to summon Null. It's something that only a true Guardian knows, and in this world he's already long gone."
Chat Blanc took a step back as he could feel his head spin.
"Your plan was going to fail no matter what." Marin said as he looked away for a moment as Chat Blanc chuckled, resting his head in his heads. What little spur of the moment hope he had seen when this Ladybug appeared, any hope he had to fix what he had done was gone.
"So this was all just a sick game to you?" The villain asked as he saw the Lucky Charm in Marin's hand. "You knew I would never win. The simple truth is all you really care about it yourself. So long as everything can go back to the way you want it then it's a victory. " Chat Blanc accused as he lifted his head with a smile on his face, one that was beyond desperation.
"What's the use of lingering around here if it's no use." Chat Blanc said as he raised his hand over his head. This time by his choice, this time, by his own will. "If I have to disappear, I may as well rewrite the last this happen. I MIGHT as well destroy you, ME, OUR MEMORIES... EVERYTHING!" He held his hand above his head creating the largest cataclysm he could conjure, one that would make everything go away, one that could make the hurt disappear.
But he hesitated.
He glared at Marin angrily who held his tongue no doubt, blaming him for everything that had gone wrong. Chat Blanc gripped his fists tightly. There was something that he was waiting for, to be judged for so long for everything that he had done, for he had ruined. He had destroyed the whole world, he had killed his father, he doomed his mother who he never got to see again, and...he betrayed the person he loved more than anything.
"It was hard wasn't it?" Marin asked holding his injured arm, his voice was calm, gently lulling him with each word. "Being alone in a place like this for so many years."
Chat Blanc winced as he recognized that tone. That same tone he had heard time and time again from the voice he had longed to hear at least one more time. Chat Blanc shut his eyes tightly as he lowered his arm. For a moment he felt tears well up in his eyes.
It had been so long.
Ever since the Akuma had merged with him he had lost track of time, but without Ladybug...without Marin he didn't care. He deserved it, deserved to be trapped in this prison of isolation, after all, what more perfect punishment could there be for someone like him.
But none of that mattered now.
"Someone like you could never understand what I've been through." Chat Blanc said as his fury was reignited. He walked towards Marin who stood before him with that same pitying expression. "After all you're not my Ladybug, you're just someone that Bunnyx stole to accomplish her own ends." Chat Blanc said as he flexed his claws. "Between me or Paris, it's always going to be Paris." He chuckled to himself.
Marin closed his eye, hanging his head for a moment as he took a deep. "It'll never be a question between you and Paris Chat." He said. "No matter what I'll save both you."
"What a Ladybug answer, but without your Miraculous, you're just talk." Chat Blanc remarked, walking towards him as he saw Marin clutch his shirt with his good hand. Marin stood his ground as Chat Blanc wrapped his hands around his neck. "Even when you're battered and bruised like this here you are still trying to hold on to your ideals. You saved this city so many times and how did it all end up? With your own partner betraying you."
"Chat..I will never give up. Not on you or anyone else who needs me." Marin rasped out as Chat Blanc tightened his grip.
"At least you'll die knowing that you tried." Chat Blanc said in a monotone, no longer wanting to waste any time. But suddenly Chat Blanc jumped back as he saw a flash of purple for a moment he was blinded.
Once his eyes came back into focus, he saw Marin coughing on the ground, lifting himself up once again with a look of fury etched on his face, one of resolve. Chat Blanc saw that where he had earlier touched his chest was an all too familiar Miraculous. For a moment it had looked like a pink cherry blossom flower before it shifted into it's true form.
That Miraculous...
Chat Blanc thought to himself as beside Marin hovered a purple Kwami. The Kwami confused at what was going on but even so looked towards Marin in concern.
"No matter what happens, no matter what it costs me, even if you lose yourself…" Marin said as the emblem on his chest transformed into that of a butterfly. "I'll always be there to bring you back!"
"You-" Chat Blanc rasped as he dashed towards Marin with blinding speed.
"Nooroo, wings rise!" Marin said as he was engulfed in a violet light.
Just as Chat Blanc made contact his former partner jumped back in a new form. One that resembled Hawkmoth but was uniquely Marin. Marin held out his hand just as Chat Blanc felt his entire body tremble, beginning to spur with an unfamiliar feeling. His entire body started to glow with a warm sensation, something that he tried to fight back at as he tried to retain his negativity.
He took a few steps back as he held his head, starting to feel the akuma inside grow restless for the first time since it merged with him.
"NO! I'M NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR!" Chat Blanc yelled out in both his mind and aloud. "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ERASE ME!" He reminded himself as he held onto to his anger, his hatred, his rage, his resentment, his grief, his frustration, his bitterness, his loneliness…
Chat Blanc flinched as he felt Marin's touch against his cheek, looking up he saw Marin's face before he pressed their foreheads together. Chat Blanc placed his hand on Marin's arms, for a moment fearful of this rush of new emotions.
He was afraid.
He was afraid of losing these familiar emotions.
He was afraid of losing was he had only known for over a decade.
Chat Blanc winced as he heard Marin's voice echo in his mind, a voice that was far more gentle than his father's ever was.
["I'm not going to erase you." ]
Chat Blanc relaxed his grip, focusing on Marin's touch as he closed his eyes, feeling tears fall down his face. He allowed himself to be overcome with a bittersweet feeling of nostalgia as he didn't feel the negativity leave him.
He felt it eased as he could feel it shared by someone else.
Chat Blanc replayed that day in his mind. The day everything changed. He saw Mayura protecting her master, he saw his father cowering, he saw his most beloved person smiling towards him. Then a wave of realization washed over him as his mind was clear of the haziness of the Akuma's influence.
"You knew…" Chat Blanc murmured to himself as realized the weight of the smile he could never understand. He then smiled genuinely for the first time in forever, amused that even after so many years his partner was still managing to surprise him.
Chat Noir opened his eyes as he felt lethargic. His mind was muddled with confusion as before him he saw a hero pressing his forehead against his with his brows furrowed with worry. Chat Noir's ears twitched as looked up towards the taller boy who opened up his left eye; it was bright blue with the symbol of a butterfly replacing the pupil, he was beautiful.
"Wait a sec-" Chat Noir grasped his hand, lacing their fingers together to prevent him from escaping just as the boy took a step back. "Who are you? Where am..." The words faded as he started to recall his first moments as Chat Blanc. He didn't react as the boy standing before him took something from his ears and placed them into his own pocket.
"I'm..." The boy murmured for a moment before he faced with a sincere expression, trying to pull him from the bad memories. "Chat Noir, my name is Swallowtail. I was sent to save you."
"You?" Chat Noir asked as they both turned to see a white portal behind them. At that moment Chat Noir took notice of Swallowtail's Miraculous.
"Ah, Chat Noir I can't really explain this now but-." Swallowtail rambled for a moment as he then looked towards him, grasping his hands tighter. "It'll be alright." He promised.
Chat Noir stared at the new hero standing before him who smiled to cover the pain he was holding back. This new hero who stood with a rabbit Miraculous holder by his side, in this new world where everything was destroyed. Where he had killed everyone he had ever loved.
But somehow, for some reason… Chat Noir believed him.
Chat Noir nodded at him as he flashed a wistful smile. He partially longed for Swallowtails touch as his hands felt warm in his own, just before he saw his savor disappear through a white portal.
Bunnyx watched as a unicorn toy faded from her hand just as Swallowtail stepped into the burrow. She sensed that he had already seen it but it wouldn't matter, all she had to do was wait a little longer.
Looking at the young boy, he was in bad shape overall with injures that would take weeks to heal and scars that would remain with him for a lifetime. She couldn't help but feel guilty looking at one of her best friends, at the beloved hero of Paris being broken down like this. But she didn't regret it.
"How did Hawkmoth's Miraculous get into this Lucky Charm?" Swallowtail asked as he looked down at the Lucky charm in his good hand.
Bunnyx shook her head, "No idea, up until the last moment he still had his Miraculous. There should be no way for you to have this." Bunnyx said as she tried to recall if there was ever a moment when Hawkmoth was without his Miraculous but none came to mind.
"Are you sure there was no way you saw Hawkmoth's Miraculous being taken from him?"
"I would've seen it in my burrow." Bunnyx nodded as she turned towards her portals. "But if we're going to secure your victory, we need to make it so that there's a Miraculous in that Lucky Charm."
Swallowtail looked over the Lucky Charm that was produced by the previous Ladybug. "Chat Blanc's cataclysm destroyed all of Paris, including other Miraculous..." He said thinking through.
"Can a Lucky Charm withstand a Cataclysm like that?"
"Sometimes," Swallowtail said. "But it's extremely rare. Whoever put this charm into this box it had to be after it was activated but before Hawkmoth was destroyed when creating Chat Blanc."
Bunnyx thought for a moment as she turned towards one of her portals, not letting Swallowtail see which one. "I know when. But I'm not going to be able to take it out in the open, the window is too small." She said trying to think up another plan just as Swallowtail placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I think I have an idea." Swallowtail said as he pocketed the charm. He held out his arm, his hand in a closed fist. He closed his eye and then focused on Bunnyx's uncertainty. He opened the palm of his hand revealing a butterfly the glowed with white energy. It fluttered for a moment before flying towards Bunnyx, disappearing into her Miraculous.
She could feel a connection being threaded between them, one that eased her negative emotions as made her feel at ease. Swallowtail's eyes widened as he gasped suddenly.
"Something wrong?" Bunnyx asked. Swallowtail hesitated for a moment before speaking aloud.
"Sonic Bunnyx... you've been fighting a losing battle for almost all of your life. Now after so long is the time to complete your mission; I gift you the full power of your rabbit Miraculous, the ability to travel at blinding speeds, faster than any eye can catch."
Sonic Bunnyx could feel a new power surge through her as she looked at her new form. The blue in her suit began to glow neon as she could feel time around her begin to slow down. In her mind, she felt Swallowtail's presence, but it wasn't an unwelcome one as he seemed to fill a void of loneliness she never knew was there. The hero nodded towards Swallowtail who kept his eyes closed before dashing out of her portal at blinding speed, arriving at the exact moment before Paris was destroyed.
Normally time would move forward as usual but in this situation, everything was drastically slowed down so much so that she could see Chat Blanc's mega Cataclysm slowly make its way towards its first three victims.
Bunnyx first walked past Mayura, Gabriel Agrests secretary Nathalie. The woman that was so devoted to a maniac it ultimately destroyed her. She wondered if that was how Emilie Agreste fell as well, falling in love with a man who would place ambition before anything or anyone else. She walked over towards Hawkmoth, Gabriel Agreste who allowed his partner to shield him from the blast. She frowned as she took his Miraculous easily from his jacket, noticing that he started to transform back. But he'd be gone long before anyone would ever know who he really was. The hero then walked towards Ladybug, furrowing her brow in sympathy as she kneeled before him. She lingered for a few moments, planting a kiss on his forehead as she silently said her good-byes just before placing the Butterfly Miraculous into the safety of the Lucky Charm.
"We'll be together soon, wait for me would you?" She asked with a sad smile before turning back towards the portal. She took one more look at the city, starting to notice it fade away just before she stepped into the portal, already knowing what fate had in store for her.
Swallowtail could feel a strong connection with Bunnyx's emotions the moment he had made the connection, her guilt stinging him more than anything. But more than that he could pinpoint her turmoil, her sadness, and her deception.
He could hear Sonic Bunnyx's return as she stepped through the portal.
"It's done." She said as Swallowtail released the Akuma's hold on her, watching it flutter out of her Miraculous just before it disappeared into a cloud of golden dust, it's mission complete. Swallowtail retained his frown as Bunnyx walked over to him. "Swallowtail? What's-"
"You lied to me." He said holding his injured arm that began to throb painfully, yet somehow this stung more just as his transformation time ran out. He held Nooroo in his hand, but was only focused on the Rabbit themed-hero. "About everything."
Bunnyx stood across from him with a neutral expression on her face before speaking. "I did."
Marin glared at her, feeling anger start to brew in his heart as he took a step forward to her. "Why would you do this? Risk everything, risk your own safety?! Why lie? Why didn't you just tell me everything from the start?!" He demanded.
"Because if I did that it wouldn't have changed anything." Bunnyx said as she could feel the effects of the timestream correcting itself start to spread to her. "I tried hundreds of times to explain what would happen if you fought Hawkmoth but it failed almost every time. In the time where you did actually defeat him, it didn't matter; because no matter what you would always succumb the Miraculous. You'd be too weak to be Ladybug, too weak to walk, then while you were in the hospital you'd be too weak to even go on anymore." She repeated the same words that she told all the Ladybug's before him.
Bunnyx then clutched her hand closed as she recalled the one time he actually succeeded with Chat Noir. She had visited him, held his hand, and all he did was smile like nothing was wrong, simply accepting that it was what fate had in mind for him from the start. "For some reason, every single version of you always wanted to do what was right even knowing what would come ahead." She smiled to herself as she remembered the kindness every Ladybug always had. "The Rabbit Miraculous gives the user the power of Recollection, the ability to look, and traverse through the past. You're not supposed to change anything at risk of you disappearing. But I never wanted to be the kind of hero that just let her friend sacrifice for the sake of everyone else."
"T-There had to be other ways, it's always another way!" Marin tried to reason as he usually did, but Bunnyx shook her head.
"This was the only way. The only way to save you and to save Chat Blanc-" She said as she grimaced in pain, doubling over as her entire body began to fade away. As that happened the burrow started to collapse, beginning to collapse as the timeline tried to correct itself. But while this was happening Marin ran to her side, cradling her in his arms despite everything that she had just told him. "All I had to do was wait until the window closed. The one that would ensure that what triggered my bad future wouldn't repeat, to ensure that nothing could ever change what I did."
As she said that Marin reached into his back pocket and saw that the Lucky Charm from the future disappeared in his hand."Why? Why would you go so far for someone like me?!" He asked desperately, trying not to fall apart along with the burrow around him.
She looked up towards him, smiling yet unable to prevent herself from feeling guilty as she saw Marin's helpless expression. She glanced at Nooroo who sat on Marin's shoulder, tried but his eyes still shone with sympathy. She couldn't even begin to comprehend what she had just caused, what hardships Marin would have to endure now that she had changed everything. All she could really do was hope that he would be alright and he would learn to allow himself to be loved in a way that would allow others to help ease his burdens just as he did for everyone else.
If there was only one true regret she had, it was that she- or this version of her- wouldn't be around to witness it happen. In one swift motion, she opened a portal behind Marin, taking advantage of the warped gravity of the burrow to save him. She had taken Nooroo's Miraculous from his shirt as she pushed him while leaving behind something to remind him of her.
"Don't look so sad Mar." She said just as everything started to disappear. "Go and live your life!"
"Alix!" Marin cried out as tried to reach towards the rabbit themed hero shinning against the light of her burrow. But he was helpless to do anything as she disappeared before his eyes along with Nooroo just before the burrow collapsed, erasing any trace that they were ever there.
...
...
...
Ladybug and Chat Noir crouched on top of a building overlooking Adrien's home with the sun at their back. Ladybug looked down at his yo-yo set onto phone mode seeing a tracker just on the border of leaving the city. A light tension was relieved off of his shoulders seeing that Master Fu and the Miracle box were safe from Hawkmoth's range, but that didn't take away from the heaviness of the situation.
For a moment he recalled Bunnyx's warnings, what fate had in store for not only him but the entire world. Part of him wanted to turn away. Terrified didn't cover the range of emotions he was feeling; everything was happening so fast. He didn't know what exactly how it was going to play out but he knew it wasn't going to end well. However, he couldn't turn away from this, he could run away from this problem, not something like this. All of the preparations had been made, now all they needed to do was face off against whatever future Bunnyx had been trying to prevent.
"It's a little weird staking out my own house like this." Chat Noir remarked as his baton was on scoping mode. "Are you sure about this whole basement thing?"
Ladybug nodded. "Yeah, Wayzz saw it when I sensed that negative aura. He said that we could access it from the office."
Chat Noir looked at him in disbelief. "I've been in that room hundreds of times I never saw any secret passageways..." he said as his ears started to flatten, beginning to narrow his eyes.
"What are you thinking?" Ladybug asked.
"One time I saw my dad had a secret safe behind a portrait of my mom he had a bunch of stuff along with a book about the Miraculous heroes."
"Yeah, I know."
"You know?"
Ladybug's face reddened slightly as he turned his head away, feeling his heart beat faster. "Yeah, I uh...saw Lila tossing it in the trash, so Tikki took it and I borrowed it for a little while essentially copying every page before I returned it. It was around the time I started to suspect that your dad was...you know."
Chat Noir blinked at him as he tried to recall that incident. "Wait a sec, that was around the time my dad threatened to pull me out of school...and he said that one of my classmates dropped it off." He said looking at his partner. "You could've kept that book."
"It would've been reckless if it got traced back to me." Ladybug reasoned but noticed Chat Noir's tail started to sway as a mischievous grin grew on his face.
"Also because you care about me." Chat Noir said as Ladybug's face started to run red with embarrassment, even more so as he saw his calico pupils dilate. "Oh my gosh, did you like me since then?"
Ladybug immediately started to panic internally, but couldn't avoid it as Chat Noir wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
"When did you start liking me? Since before then? After that?" Chat Noir asked with newfound eagerness.
"S-since we first meet." Ladybug mumbled under his breath as Chat Noir's ears perked up, catching the muffled words of his partner.
"You had a crush on me since the day we met?! That's so cute!" Chat Noir exclaimed happily, wrapping his partner in a hug.
"Uggghhhh- we're literally dating, what do you care about small details?!" Ladybug rasped, not wanting to think about how quickly he was losing control of the situation.
"Every detail matter to me, but still it's really sweet to think that you liked me enough to give up that book." Chat Noir remarked, rested his head against him, his tone growing softer while Ladybug frowned in annoyance.
"I didn't do it for you, I did it because it was the right thing to do, also it was to protect the Master and the Miracle box." Ladybug said reasonably, still trying to deny his more irrational feelings that made his head spin.
"Sure sure, but also because you looovvee me." Chat Noir remarked more mischievously, planting a kiss on his boyfriend's cheek.
Ladybug winced slightly at the contact, trying to keep his and aura of professionalism, but it was harder now that Chat Noir could be more openly affectionate. He pulled himself back as they glanced back at the mansion together.
"Last chance to back out of thi-" Ladybug was saying before he started coughing, more harshly than usual. He heaved for breath as he felt his chest start to tighten painfully.
"Last chance for you to ask that before I duct tape your mouth." Chat Noir responded as Ladybug frowned at him before he placed his hand over his partners. "We're in this together. It's you and me against the world."
Even though Ladybug's head started to ache his expression softened at Chat Noir's support, gripping his hand as he started to smile. "As always."
Notes:
-It's a running joke that every time Marin decides to put his heart on a sleeve he gets the shortest end of any stick ever made. But really no one won. (Also this episode is partly a parallel to the Ladybug Effect but Marin's side.
-Bunnyx needed to buy time to ensure that Chat Noir's identity wouldn't be uncovered by anyone which she did by essentially kidnapping Marin and using him to save Chat Blanc, not wanting to leave him like that.
-By all intents and purposes, the Chat Blanc timeline was the true one, because Bunnyx drastically changed it now there's a new timeline which corrected itself by erasing everything that happened after The Ladybug Effect's events.
-Bunnyx goes from the true future to the present, back to the bad future, then when blanc is defeated and they're back in the burrow she travels back to the Hawkmoth battle before going to the present in the new timeline before disappearing.
- Technically this is the Ladybug episode again but mixed together with Chat Blanc for added effect.
- Since Hawky is evil, I figure Dark wings rise is the evil version, so Marin says the original phrase because his powers aren't based on monopolizing negativity.
- This is technically a part one. Part two will be crowd control over everything that happened.
- Actions have consequences.
( Art link for the chapter on Archive)