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Ladybug's P.O.V
"Pegasus, I need you to teleport to headquarters and watch out for the Akuma. In case it does attack, you will protect Gabriel Agreste and call us. Vesperia, you will join him," I ordered.
"The rest of us will split into teams and search. If you do spot the creature, contact every one and we will try to stop the Akuma. Hopefully, we can stop this battle and end this insanity."
It was not my best plan but it would have to do. I am not entirely sure how to stop this Akuma. I never got the chance to look for the origin of its infection. This was going to be difficult.
"Is there no other way to fight that beast? What about your powers?" Rena Rouge questioned.
I looked down at my yoyo, clutched in my hand and ready for a fight. That was right. When in doubt, I can use my powers. It will hint a way to our victory.
"Once we find the whereabouts of the Akuma, I will use it. If I do it now, I may run out of time due to searching," I explained to Rena before looking at the rest of my friends, "Now is the time we save the poor section."
Everyone displayed a confident look on their faces. They were ready.
"I wish you all the best," Pegasus sincerely said, opening a portal, "Voyage!"
Vesperia and Pegasus disappeared into the portal. The rest of us split into teams of two: Multimouse and Bunnyx, Rena and Carapace, and me and Chat Noir.
Chat Noir and I raced across the rooftops, keeping a vigilant eye out for anything suspicious.
"Ladybug," the blonde called, earning my attention. He seemed very troubled by something.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I do not understand. Gabriel Agreste is an evil man. He should be executed for his crime—for killing Master Fu! Yet, you do not see the same as I do. You talked to him as if he were an innocent bystander and not a criminal tyrant, who murdered our master. Why?" Chat Noir asked, desperate for a reason.
He is so lost and confused by his hatred for Gabriel that it is blinding him. Chat Noir does not see the full picture and reason the Agreste man did what he did.
Actually, the same feelings I see in Chat right now are the same as Gabriel's. He too is conflicted and so set on one thing that he does not see the full picture.
"I have a theory that his vision is deceiving him and it is leading him to misunderstand the whole concept of magic. He is troubled by something. No one is made evil just because. Some details are still missing about him that made him into who he is and what he believes in," I explained.
"Then, it better be a very good reason," Chat Noir sharply stated. I stopped Chat Noir, staring him straight into his green eyes with concern.
"Chat Noir, please. Do not fall victim to revenge. You will only make yourself feel worse if you act only on your negative feelings," I soothed, "I am not saying he will not pay for his crimes but killing him is not the answer."
Chat's nose scrunched in bitterness. Yet, he seemed to understand even if he did not like it.
I cupped the side of his face. Surprised by the touch, his eyes met mine. I softly smiled before realizing what I was doing. I leaped backward and awkwardly fumbled with my fingers.
"We-We really should st-stop the Akuma before it spreads a-anymore dessert—I mean, destruction!" I corrected myself, feeling embarrassed. My heart thumped in my chest. I had to face away from my partner to hide my flushed cheeks.
"Let us go!" I quickly said, flinging my yoyo.
"What is wrong with me?" I thought. Before I could swing away, Chat's communicator alerted him of an incoming call.
"Have you located the Akuma, Multimouse?" Chat Noir asked.
"Yes, we have," Multimouse confirmed, wincing at a nearby explosion, "I do not know how long we can hold it off. We need backup right now!"
"We are on our way!" Chat Noir replied.
"We will be there as fast as we can!" Carapace's voice came through. The call ended and Chat looked at me. I nodded, ready for the fight.
"Lead the way," I said. Chat Noir and the others know how to track each team member down with some sort of advancement in their weapons.
Chat and I made our way in the direction of Multimouse and Bunnyx. It did not take us long to find the two in a heated battle with the Akuma. The scary part was that the monster was growing closer to headquarters until the heroines stopped it. Hopefully, we can end this here and now.
Chat and Rena joined in the fight while Carapace stayed near me.
"How do we stop this thing?" Carapace questioned.
"I am just about to find out," I answered, flinging my yoyo in the air, "Lucky Char-"
"Look out!" I heard Chat Noir yell. Carapace pushed me aside when the Akuma charged at us. Carapace was trampled.
"Carapace!" Rena and I shouted in distress. I ran over to the turtle hero, who groaned in pain. I was thankful he was still alive but it did not make me any less concerned. He was knocked out cold, breathing very raggedly.
Rena herself was not completely okay either. Her foot was still hurt. I could tell she was struggling with dodging attacks and nearly fell a few times.
Our teammates returned to facing the creature, distracting it from us.
"Rena Rouge, take Carapace somewhere safe," I commanded. The fox hero did not have to think twice and did as I told. She lifted her partner and looked at me.
"Do not hesitate to call me if you are in dire need of help," Rena said.
"You worry about Carapace and yourself first. We shall handle the Akuma," I told her. Carapace needed to go somewhere safe and I did not want Rena to hurt herself more or worse.
Rena was reluctant but gave me a firm nod. Then, she leaped off to a safe place.
My lips tightened, feeling my nerves kick into overdrive. This was not looking too good. This Akuma is tough and we are down two teammates. I fear if this goes on any longer, there truly will not be anything left to save.
It was time for my last resort option.
"Lucky Charm!" I called upon my power.
A red card floated in the air before being carried off by the wind. My heart sank as I chased it, praying that the red card would not be engulfed by the flames. What was worse, our last chance at saving Paris was sporadically flying toward the battle.
"And here I thought I was supposed to be Lady Luck?" I thought, chasing the paper down. The paper whipped and whirled around every time I tried to grab it.
I gasped when the paper grew closer to the fire. My main focus was on the lucky charm and nothing else at this point. I sprinted as fast as I could but even I knew that I would not make it.
A portal opened right in front of the lucky charm's path to the fire. An arm extended out of it and caught the red card. Bunnyx poked her head out of the portal and waved the card around with a smile.
I was so relieved that I nearly collapsed. I quickly made my way over when Bunnyx's face morphed from happy to pale. She pointed behind me in warning and signed "move."
I looked behind me but it was too late.
I felt a surge of power hit me, knocking me onto my hands and knees.
My hands clenched into fists and my teeth grinded together. A snarl passed my lips as a feeling of burning rage built up and filled my soul.
All the anger. All the hate.
Only one word continued to play on repeat in my head: destroy.
Let the city around me burn, let people suffer—feel my pain, let everything shrivel up and die. Let the world crumble in my fingers and turn to nothing, not even dust.
My gaze shot up, eyeing the distraught rabbit hero.
Instead of seeing a friend, I only knew her as a foe. Someone that I hate with all my being. I growled, breathing heavily. Bunnyx reached out a hand to me, desperately wanting to help.
"NO! SHE IS EVIL! SHE MUST BE PUNISHED! SHE MUST BE DESTROYED!" a voice sounding like my own yelled within my head.
I let out a yell and charged straight at Bunnyx. She was not expecting me to suddenly run straight at her and did not escape back into her portal fast enough. I managed to slip inside, shoving the rabbit hero in the process.
We were inside Bunnyx's burrow. It looked the size of a room with a circular floor; the walls lined with circles of events playing out through time.
Yet, my focus was not on any of the wonders that surrounded me. I could not lose sight of my target, wanting to rip her apart piece by piece.
Bunnyx was the embodiment of all my hate and anger. She has to be eliminated.
She must be killed!
"She must die! She must die! She must die!" a voice chanted in my mind. It encouraged me to commit the deed and I was compelled to carry it out.
Bunnyx threw me off of her and still held onto that red card. I snarled before charging at Bunnyx again. She jumped out of the way with a fear-stricken look on her face.
I kept trying to claw at her eyes, punch her in the stomach, or knock her off her feet. Yet, she was too fast but I could tell she was slowing down.
"Yes, this is your chance. Beat her to death. Silence your woes. I promise that it will all be worth it. You will feel better," the voice whispered into my ear.
Bunnyx shook her head, continuing to dodge my attacks. I noticed she has not tried to hit me once.
"She is weak while you are strong. She does not deserve to live. You must kill her," the voice continued.
So, I continued. I must kill her...but I did not understand why.
Why was I so bound to kill her, let alone, wanting to hurt her? What had she done so wrong that she deserved such a punishment?
Something was keeping me from thinking of reason, completely blinded by my need to eliminate Bunnyx.
Finally, Bunnyx stumbled and fell and few feet away from me. She was breathing hard, tired from constantly dodging me. This was my chance! It is time to end that stupid rabbit once and for all! I did not waste a second and charged, gearing up to punch her as hard as I could.
Bunnyx closed her eyes and looked away. She held the red card to her chest protectively.
My fist flew through the air...
"Stop."
A voice so little that it was barely above a whisper. It was so ragged—so small and weak—it was a wonder how any sound could be produced. A voice that has not seen the light of day for years.
I stopped, holding in the urge to keep going and collide my fist with her face. But I kept it lingering a merely inch away, holding it back with all my might. My arm was tense and trembling in mid-air.
"No...this...this is wrong," I thought. I could not think of why this was wrong but I just knew it was.
"What are you doing, you fool? Do not be deceived!" the voice argued, "You have wanted this for so long! She must be destroyed!"
But...why?
Bunnyx reopened her eyes and sadly looked at me.
"Please...stop," she said, voice so frail like it was made of glass. I have never once heard her speak, nor did I have the slightest idea she could talk at all. By the sound of it, it must have been a long time since anyone has heard her talk.
I resisted against the fury within me. It tried to claw free from its prison and hurt Bunnyx. It was like one of my inner demons wanted to be released from its cage and cause chaos.
"KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!" the voice yelled.
"I...do not...want...hurt...friend..." Bunnyx pleaded, pointing at me.
She shook her head, "...not...again."
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Four years ago...
Alix's P.O.V
"Come, this way."
I followed the leader of the gang, Alpha, through the late-night streets of the wealthy section. There were a few other elite members with us.
"Alpha, I just do not understand why we brought a cub along on an elite's mission," Arrow snarled. I glared at the sharpshooter but did not say a word. He was only jealous that I am the youngest member in this group (being fourteen and all), joining them on my first mission as an elite.
"Shut up, Arrow. Nobody wants to hear the actual baby of the group whining," Flare retorted, earning a few snorts from the others. I smirked.
Flare always had my back ever since Alpha found me when I was three, roaming the streets. I have no recollection of my past—my parents, where I am from, not even my name. So, everyone in the gang called me Jane Doe which I used as my code name.
I prefer to be called Alix though. Flare recommended it to me and I liked the name.
Flare is an explosives expert and my closest friend in the entire gang. She helped train me alongside Alpha. I worked hard up the ranks to be here and will not let the two down.
"Quiet, all of you, or else you are going to blow our cover," Alpha ordered in a stern but gentle way. The group respectfully quiets down.
Alpha was always a pretty cool guy and a great leader of our gang, The Bandits. He looked after every member and does everything in his power to make sure we survive. Just like he was doing now on this mission.
He held up a fist; a sign that we had to stop and wait. Alpha scanned the complex's grounds before signaling to Phantom and Ghost—experts at stealth. Flare handed the twins explosives before disappearing into the shadows.
They are to plant some explosives around the weapons armory. Once the bombs are set off, the ones inside will go as well such is the domino effect.
This will tip the guards, thinking that a rouge bomb went off on accident. We will be gone by the time they figure out that it was a purposeful attack.
"Arrow, take to the rooftop," Alpha commanded, pointing to the top of a nearby building. Arrow nodded before taking off himself.
"Flare, Jane Doe, and Bronze, you three are with me," Alpha said. Bronze, Flare, and I nodded as the four of us waited for the signal to go steal some items in the complex.
I spotted a glare of light, signaling to activate the explosives. Not long after, Arrow shot off a few flaming arrows where the bombs were located. Once the arrows landed, a warehouse exploded.
The guards from the nearby warehouses were deployed to investigate what happened and left their positions unguarded. Our distraction was a success.
Alpha gestured for the three of us to follow. We snuck inside and kept our weapons ready in case any stragglers of guards were still inside. I scurried over to a crate and opened it, finding some of what we came here for food.
"Quickly, search for only what we need," Alpha informed, "We will set our supplies on the cart and make a break for it."
"Sir yes sir," I teased him, saluting our leader. Flare and I looked together for other resources that would be of use to us aside from food. Such as ammo, maybe some alcohol if we are lucky, treasures, more food, and more.
"We should celebrate tonight for such a bountiful steal," Flare commented, patting a crate.
"I agree," I said, helping her lift the crate over to the cart. We place the crate on the cart as Bronze and Alpha stacked theirs too. We grabbed a few more crates until we had a decent amount.
Bronze was going to push the cart after all. He may be the strongest but even he has his limits. He'll have to push it for a little while until we return to our horse and wagon.
"I think we have enough," Alpha stated, "Bronze, you are up."
Bronze smirked, bellowing a chuckle and cracking his fingers. He pushed the cart to get a feel for it if it was too heavy to move but he seemed to push it with easy.
"Flare, you will protect from behind while Jane Doe is with me in the front," Alpha said, "Keep on your toes and weapons ready in hand."
"Okay," I confirmed, readying my gun.
"Flare, would you do the honors and leave a gift for our honorable donors," Alpha requested. Flare did not have to be told twice. With a child-like glow, she placed some bombs in different areas of the unit. She even handed me one to place.
"I would say this went very well," I commented.
"Do not say that yet. We still have to make it out first," Flare stated, readying her gun.
"That is true but I am sure escaping will be a breeze," I replied, getting into position next to Alpha.
I aimed my gun at the door, preparing for any surprise guards on the other side. I may not be a sharpshooter like Arrow but I can still shoot pretty darn good.
Alpha counted down before pushing the door open quickly to the outside. I rushed out to protect the group along with Alpha...only to slowly lower my weapon in disbelief.
An army of guards stood outside with their weapons raised and ready to fire. At the center, there stood a woman in a fancy gown wearing the mask of an animal.
She slyly smiled, "Oh dear, what do we have here?"
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