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Chat Noir's P.O.V
I did not have to travel far to find the Akuma for it was already here in the poor section. The monster spread destruction and mayhem in its wake. Citizens ran away screaming while some stayed.
The ones who stayed for some reason were either burning with hatred or sobbing their eyes dry of tears.
The angry ones kept destroying everything in their path (which explained the fire) or beating up people. The saddened ones kept to themselves, resided in a fetal position, or lay on the ground. Yet, there were a few that were targeted by the hatred-filled people.
Everything was madness!
I could only assume this was the work of the Akuma. Speaking of the creature, the dark purple being was nowhere to be seen. It would be tough to spot with it being dark out. The fire, while producing lots of light, did not help if the Akuma was small.
I gritted my teeth in frustration.
It could not be helped, but I fear that I and my team's emotions may be the cause of this problem.
My chest clenched in guilt for causing this mess on the part of Paris that is under our protection—my protection.
I am the rightful leader of the team until Ladybug is capable of taking the role. I am supposed to be protecting these people from harm and have only brought the danger here.
How had everything turned out like this so quickly? How had I not heard it sooner than just a few minutes ago?
"Please, stand down! I do not want any hurt you!"
My ears twitched at the familiar voice. I shot my attention in the direction of it. That is when I realized where I was at.
The market.
There was Marianne backed into a corner by one of the enraged citizens. He held a pitchfork in his tight grip and slowly stalked closer.
I did not have to think twice.
I leaped into action quite literally. I landed next to Marianne, startling her. She gasped and stumbled away.
The angered man had been triggered by my sudden appearance and ran at us. I grabbed my weapon and extended it. Out of instinct, I fell into battle-ready form and used my sword fighting skills to fend off the man.
He was not my foe, merely an innocent victim having fallen under a spell in which he had no control.
"My my, who spit in your cup of tea this morning," I bantered. That only seemed to make him madder as he wildly swung the pitchfork around.
I blocked every one of his attacks before sweeping under his feet. He fell to the ground yet he surprisingly managed to stand on his feet faster than I expected.
I hadn't prepared fast enough and was nearly impaled with a pitchfork through my head. I stumbled and fell onto the ground. There was no time to get onto my feet as the man wasted not a breath to come stab me.
With the little luck I have, the man was stopped when a string wrapped around him and pulled up to the rooftop.
There stood Ladybug. I felt an odd coil within myself when seeing her and winced at the thought of Master Fu's final letter. The words it had said and unveiled. The truth finally dug up after all these years in exchange for the man who held them.
What bitter irony.
Yet, I am still confused and shaken to my very bones. I am having trouble processing what has been revealed about me and Ladybug. It made me wonder what else Master Fu kept hidden from us—from me—and had taken it to the grave.
"Chat Noir, are you alright?" Ladybug asked, leaving the man squirming in the air.
"About as alright as I can feel at the moment," I responded, honestly. Ladybug frowned but gave me an understanding nod. She did not know the entire reason though, only partially.
"And the elder?" she asked.
I glanced over at Marianne leaning against the wall. I could tell she was trying not to lean too much weight on one foot. That may be a problem.
"She may have hurt her leg," I answered, "I will take her away to safety. I need you to go find the Akuma. I am sure the rest of the rebels are out in this chaos somewhere."
"Okay," Ladybug agreed before releasing the enraged man. We three were gone before he could manage to attack us.
I carried Marianne in my arms to the hideout. There was a secret bunker underneath that will protect her until the fight is won.
"You seem troubled, Chat Noir," Marianne pointed out. I thinned out my lips but mostly gave her a mere glance.
"Is there something the matter?" she asked.
I frowned. If only she knew and she will know when the time comes. How was I supposed to tell Marianne that her beloved has passed on from this world?
I strained my muscles, tightening them to not weaken my grip. I forced a gulp down and leaped through the skylight.
I placed Marianne down before moving the mat. A trapdoor revealed itself.
Before I was able to open it, a hand gripped my shoulder and made me pause. I did not look in the direction of Marianne.
"Adrien," Marianne scolded me with a serious tone, "Tell me what has happened. I can tell you are not well, no matter how hard you try to hide it from me."
I felt my hands tremble and my fake cat ears start to droop. Just like Master Fu, Marianne was always able to see right through me.
I shook my head.
No. There was no time for this. My team is counting on me to return to battle. I cannot dally when there are larger things at hand.
I opened the trapdoor.
"Please go into the bunker. You shall be safe in there until the battle is over," I kindly told her.
Marianne gave me a look but complied.
"Then, we shall speak once you have returned," she sternly said before I shut the door. I returned the mat to its place and let out a sigh.
"Of course, Marianne."
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Ladybug's P.O.V
Havoc was all I saw everywhere I went.
Everything was burning: huts, stands, barrels, crates, tools...people.
Civilians were either beating up others to a bloody pulp, wailing out their very terror-filled souls, or running around in a panic state of mind to find somewhere safe.
How did everything turn into such a disaster in mere minutes? What spawn of evil itself could cause such chaos? What kind of Akuma are we dealing with?
I was doing my best to rescue civilians and search for the Akuma on my way to search for the rest of the rebels.
I yelped when landing on a rotted-out board and fell through the hut. My body fell to the ground below. I ached from the sharp edges of the wood and collided with the floor.
I groaned, unsteadily getting back to my feet again. The hut I am in was getting eaten up by the flames. I coughed from the smoke entering my lungs.
"Help."
I perked up at the raspy voice, spotting a woman trapped under beams of wood. Without a thought, I hurried over and attempted to lift the beams off of the woman. Yet, the beams were too heavy. My strength alone would not exceed the weight.
I had to think of something fast before the rest of the hut comes tumbling down on us.
"Ladybug, it is no use," the woman rasped in defeat, accepting what was to come of her.
"Do not talk like that. I will free you," I responded confidently. I just needed to figure out how to remove the wood, if not with my sheer strength then possibly a pulley system.
"There is no time," I woman sternly said, "Please, save my baby. She is over in the basket. Get her to safety as my last wish."
I glanced over at a baby soundly dreaming in a basket, unknowing of the living nightmare happening around her. Before I could say another word, I heard the wood above me whining, warning me of the little time left.
"Please," the woman begged, voice cracking as she began to cry.
"Please, Ladybug! Save my daughter!"
My breathing became unsteady as my mind raced for a solution. My heart in my throat. I dumbly glanced between them before finally coming to a final decision.
With a guilt-clenched heart, I sprinted over to the basket. I grabbed the child out from it and had to jump out the doorway as the hut collapsed.
Yet, I managed to hear the woman say one final thing, serene relief in her tone.
"Thank you."
I tucked and rolled, making sure not to crush the young one. But through all the jolting around, she had been startled awake and started to cry. I scanned her to make sure she was uninjured. Aside from some cinder, she seemed okay. I was unaware of how much smoke she must have inhaled.
However, my eyes were drawn away from the girl and landed on the collapsed hut.
I stayed sitting on the ground, knowing my jelly-like legs would not hold me up. I stared at the burning house before everything finally hit. My shock wore off and the tears spilled down my cheeks.
I broke down, cradling the child I saved close.
"I am sorry. I am so sorry," I apologized to the little girl.
The wailing baby unknowingly mourns, not only the loss of her home, the loss of her mother. My powers could not bring back the dead. The only way to bring her back would be with forbidden magic but I would never use such a thing. It would only bring more consequences than if I did nothing.
Like a broken record, I continued to apologize to the infant. Yet, no matter how many times I told her how sorry I was, it was something unforgivable.
I do not think I could forgive myself.
That was when a hand gripped my shoulder. I jolted away, protecting the baby with every fiber of my being.
"No! I could not save that woman. There was no way I am going to let anybody lay a finger on this baby!" I thought.
My guard immediately fell when seeing Multimouse standing there with sorrow etching her face. She carefully approached me with a look of understanding and knelt next to me.
"I apologize. I wish I could have made it here faster to help you but it seems I was too late," Multimouse said, gently placing a hand on my back. I trembled, still crying and protectively holding the crying baby.
"I-I could not—could not save her. I-I-I was not...stro-strong enough," I wept, stuttering over my words. Multimouse's frown deepened. She went deep into thought for a moment before snapping back into reality.
"There are very tough decisions we have to make sometimes and the results will not be in our favor. While you were unable to save both of them, what is important is that you were able to save one of them. That is what counts. You did good even if you do not believe it quite yet. This young one may have been lost as well if fate had not allowed you to save her," Multimouse said, earnestly.
I listened to her words but did not respond. I was still shaken and could not get rid of the fear that something would harm the small child in my arms. I was completely paranoid that something would attack and kept my senses sharp for danger.
"It may not have been the greatest of circumstances but you made the right choice," Multimouse added, giving me a quick side hug. Somehow, it relaxed me just a tiny bit.
Multimouse hustled away and lassoed a charging male with her rope. The man fell, struggling in the hold.
"Take the baby somewhere safe! I will buy you some time," Multimouse ordered, dodging a punching woman.
I nodded and scrubbed my tears away. Multimouse was right. I had to flee. This was no time to cry. I can do that later. Right now, this baby needed to be somewhere safe.
I quickly leaped onto the rooftops once again. I pray that I do not fall through a ceiling again, especially with this little girl in my arms. My legs whipped back and forth as speedily as they could. I had to find this baby shelter and then immediately return to stop this Akuma once and for all!
I will not let anyone else suffer or die!
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Six years ago...
Mylene's P.O.V
"Well done, Mylene! You are an excellent crafter," Fred Haprèle complimented me.
I smiled, feeling proud of myself for achieving another level of craftsmanship. I had been doing this for years. Fred had taken me under his wing ever since I was three, having lost my parents to a gang.
At first, I had a hard time coping with such brutal losses. I had fallen into a pit of despair, having spent my days cooped up in Fred's hut. I hardly ate or drank much, slowly withering away.
Yet, Fred did not give up on me. He had sought out a new method, trying to help me through my devastating times. That was when he introduced me to his favorite hobby: crafting.
I fell in love with creating such beautiful items. It had brightened my very spirit. I made soaps and candles, weaved baskets and bowls, sewed clothes, banners, blankets...
The point was, I was an extraordinary crafter, dreaming of making my own business out of it one day.
Over the years, I had started to see my guardian as a father figure. Fred had done an amazing job filling that role, even though I would never replace my true father. My parents would be in my heart though I could not remember anything about them.
Manon made a gurgling noise, curiously looking up at the two of us.
Manon was another who lost her family merely a few months ago. The Chamacks were our neighbors.
We knew nothing about Manon's father. However, her mother had fallen ill and lost the battle against the terrible plague that swept the land. Those were some dark times.
We have been taking care of her since her mother's passing.
"Papa," I started, grabbing Fred's attention.
"Yes, sunshine?" Fred questioned.
"I would like to make Mrs. Chamack a banner when the first anniversary of her passing comes around," I explained. Fred gave me a soft smile.
"I am positive she would absolutely love it if you did," Fred replied. He placed a hand on my head and affectionately ruffled my hair. I giggled before my mind was sent into overdrive of motivation. I was thrilled with the idea and the support increased my excitement.
I immediately brainstormed ideas of what it would look like and what colors to use. I sketched them out on paper, thrumming with joy.
Fred had stood up and stretched his limbs.
"Alright then, it is little Manon's bedtime," he said, picking up the baby girl. Manon let a big, gummy smile spread across her face. She was a very happy baby, even if all the sorrow that has happened in her very short life as of far. Not that she would understand the concept of it all.
"Goodnight, Manon," I wished her. It would soon be my bedtime as well so I continued with my work.
I paused in coloring a heart when smelling smoke in the air.
"Is something burning?" I thought. I shrugged it off, not concerned what the outcome of what it could be. Someone was probably simply burning trash.
"Although," I began to think a second longer, "It is quite strange that someone would be burning anything at this hour. Maybe, some people were just enjoying the night and cozying up next to a fire."
I noted to ask Fred if we could do the same thing sometime.
Yet, I snapped out of my thoughts. My assumptions went down the well when I heard people screaming outside. My stomach was coiled in worry and fright at the sound.
Fred perked his head up at the noise. He quickly strides to the door and opened it to peek outside. I tried to get a glance outside too from curiosity. I did not get the chance when Fred slammed the door shut and ran over to Manon.
"Mylene, we have to go now!" Fred informed me.
My eyes widened, still quivering from whatever was going on outside. I glanced between him and the door.
"Why? What is the matter? What is going on?" I asked, not understanding the situation going on. Fred was both determined and scared. This made me a bit panicky but I tried my very best to keep a level head.
"There is no time to explain at the moment but I promise to let you know later," Fred promised, "Now, let us go out the back way-"
He did not get a chance to finish when our hut was suddenly engulfed in flames. I gasped at the sight before Fred urged me to the back doorway.
"HOT! IT IS TOO HOT!" I heard a voice screaming in agony, "EVERYTHING IS BURNING! BURNING! BURNING! BURNING!"
The voice sounded very dry and scratchy. It was as if whoever it was had been drinking nothing but sand in the middle of the desert.
A majority of the hut was consumed by the yellow and orange flowers. So beautiful but also very deadly if not handled right.
I snapped the back door open and ran out just before the hut tumbled to the ground. My ears picked up a scream from behind me, seeing Fred trapped under some beams. Manon was crying a few feet away on the ground.
I gasped in horror and ran over to assist Fred out of the debris before the flames got to him. I struggled, trying to pull and lift the wood off of him. Splinters lodged themselves into my hands but I did not care at the moment.
More people were running around and screaming all around us in mass panic.
"Mylene," Fred started, "I cannot be saved."
"Do not say that! I can save you. I just need a little more time-"
"No," Fred sternly said, "The Akuma approaches."
I looked over at the very Akuma. A purple silhouette of a person with red eyes and nothing more, consumed in light purple flames. It was walking around, torching everything in sight.
My heart hammered and sweat coated my skin. My adrenaline was pumping through my veins. I need to work fast! I do not want to lose someone else I care dearly for.
Fred had shared his home with me without a second thought, taken care of me, taught me how to craft, showed me love only a father would to his daughter. He has done so much for me—more than anyone has. There was no way in Paris I was going to leave him here to die!
"Mylene, I need you to promise me something," Fred rasped out, earning my attention.
I shook my head, "Do not say such things! You will be okay!"
Fred softly smiled through the pain.
"Even if you manage to get me out of this, I will not be able to get very far. My legs are broken and you will not be able to carry both of us," Fred said, truthfully, "I need you to take Manon and run to safety."
"B-But you...you will...I cannot just..." I stammered over my words in disbelief. Why would he say such a thing?! Fred was an optimistic man. When he put his mind to something, he would never give up.
"Promise me, Mylene! Promise me that you will take your sister and find a safe place. Please," Fred begged.
I just stared at him before my mind came to a conclusion.
It was either save Manon or Fred.
I knew the right choice. Yet, I was not satisfied with the conclusion either way. I wanted to save both but I can only save one.
With a heavy heart and an apology in my misty eyes, I ran over to Manon. I cradled the little girl in my arms.
"Thank you...for everything," my voice wavered, sniffling. Then, I ran as fast as I could away from the danger.
Ran away from the man that gave me everything but I gave nothing in return. I wish there was another way so I could save them both. I would choose that option in an instant.
I heard him say his three final words.
"No, thank you."
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