Care Not, Save Lots 4 - (Magical Girl Xover, Akumatized!SI)

The play was set, the actors were soon entering the scene, and it was a matter of playing around as the cast was in motion.

Today was a free day for Gabriel. The man had not been warned that Marinette would be visiting, the surprise meant to hit him on the spot when he is currently at his 'easest'. Adrien was also at ease, but he was also aware of the visit of his classmate - and I got lambasted by the boy for doing so without warning him. Some careful reminder that it would do him well to be a bit more 'open' towards his crush seemed to soothe his annoyance (that and a few bag of snacks I am sure he is feeding to his gluttonous Kwami).

Nathalie was miffed over this 'unnecessary' move towards Adrien, the secretary of Mr. Agreste already having a bit of an angry bone for me, but she was going to be out of the manor until the next week due to a planned meeting with a fashion magazine.

Soon, the stage I had so carefully crafted became something solid under the guidance of Nooroo, the Butterfly Kwami having told me the full setting for today and... he had been subjected to a lengthy earful from Duusu due to the 'cruel' factor within the play.

Still, it was still too early to be concerned about it.

The main act beganwith Marinette's arrival. I was around to help her inside, the girl looking absolutely flustered over spending time with her crush, and I could tell Adrien was around the same degree of 'silly boy with girl'. Gabriel wasn't utterly enthused with the sight - he had planned to spend time with his son, but he also resigned to the idea that 'teens gonna be teens'. Yet, I used the sight of him retreating to get the next step going - the 'setup revelations'.

I kept around the two teens for a while, but soon I was off to 'pick snacks' and I used this moment of peace to send an anonymous message to Gabriel.

Ladybug and Chat Noir are Marinette and your son respectively!

And then I sent one to the two teens, with a bit of a signature.

Hawk Moth is Gabriel Agreste! Also, the two of you are the heroes I tricked up to this point! Get ready for trouble~! -Angelus

All that was left was for two things to happen. First-

Angelus, I require your assistance.

What for, sir? I am about to get the cookies for the young sir and miss Marinette-

They are Ladybug and- and Chat Noir!

...Are they?

Yes! It explains so much and- I need you to keep them busy. I will join the battle as soon as I am... ready.

Duly noted. A big load of distraction is soon to be delivered!

And the connection ceased. I transformed in my Angelus form, ready to give the performance needed for this next bit. I shifted out of the hall by the window, rushing towards the living room by the courtyard and then jumped back indoors through the open window.

As Nooroo had correctly deduced, delivering that lengthier message to the two had them indeed confused, but with their miraculouses at ready.

"Well, well, well- it's time for a grand battle!" I exclaimed as my voice caught the duo's attention. "Ready or now, this is going to end in a clash."

"Why did you-"

"Just play along, Marinette. There's stakes in this battle, and I suggest you and Adrien put any questions about your identities on the side for later. Hawk Moth is soon to 'join' me in this battle so... ready up!"

My words seemed to drive the point across, the duo shifting into their heroic forms and took fighting stance.

"But... why are you fighting us? You just told us-"

"It's all a game, Adrien. Just treat this as a warm up as... the show is far from a simple battle. Focus, don't hesitate and, most important of it all, don't believe anything on sight. Got it?"

Chat Noir tensed up at the advice, but then nodded. "O-Okay."

"Now, let's see how good you two are with close quarters."

Surprisingly enough, they are very good at it. I thought I would have had a bit of the edge due to my body, but it was clear that the Akuma form would never match up a Miraculous user. Despite this awkward confirmation, the two seemed to pick up I wasn't genuinely trying to hurt them and they replied by holding back too.

"W-Why?" Marinette asked as I blocked a punch. "Why are we even fighting?"

"Part of the game, just play it. It will lead to a good twist for you both."

The brawl ensued until Hawk Moth arrived. Gabriel looked annoyed as he found me struggling with the kids and-

"Dad!"

He paused at Adrien's angry call, narrowing his eyes. "So, you were told too? I wonder who is behind... this?"

As he finished questioning this, Hawk Moth's eyes were aimed at me. I held my hands defensively.

"H-Hold up, I ain't the guy that spilled the beans and-!" I tensed up, my body going stiff before I shook up a bit. I felt something 'hit' my back, and I knew it was the sign for the next stage of this play. "W-What is-"

I didn't finish that sentence as I turned back to my human form and acted out as if I had been stabbed from behind. I landed on the ground, face giving away as the teens recognized me during the fall.

"Mr. Bukharin!" Adrien panicked, trying to rush for me but-

"It's alright, children. He is just unconscious," A new voice interrupted their attempt to help me, and they all turned to see... her. Blonde hair, looked like a generic superhero with the face mask covering her green eyes, a full suit of blue and violet and a cape that ended with peacock-feathered tails. "After all, he isn't important for this 'reunion'."

"T-This is not possible!" Hawk Moth exclaimed, while Adrien froze up at the sight. "Y-You should still be-"

"I am afraid it is me, dear. And... I am sorry to say this, but you need to stop!"

Marinette frowned at the newcomer. "W-Who are you?"

"An ally and... I think you are a friend to my son," The woman answered kindly.

Marinette was a bit silly, but she seemed to pick up on the spot what these words entailed.

"Y-You are-"

"Mom," Adrien's voice trembled. "I-Is that you?"

"Partly so," The blonde replied softly and transformed back to the pretty lady from the portrait. "I am but a fragment of who once was Emilie Agreste. I am using this form to best represent who once was the owner of the Peacock Miraculous as her current body is bound by a coma and kept safely away in the basement of this manor."

"W-What?!" Adrien exploded, turning to his father. "Y-You told me that mom- that she was dead!"

"I have been trying to save her," Gabriel defended himself. "Through the powers of your Miraculouses you and I, we can-"

"No."

Gabriel paused, turning to his wife. "B-but Emilie-"

"Gabi, enough," The blonde softly interrupted, causing the man to truly freeze up. "You are a good man deep down. I am not going to say I don't appreciate your love, but we both know that this has gone for too long and... I am at fault too."

"You- You are not-"

"I never told you so many things. I never told you so many secrets and... I never told you a proper goodbye."

"I can still fix you," Hawk Moth argued weakly. "I-I can do it."

"I am aware you can. But what's the price? Where's the limit?"

Her questions shredded at his attempt to make a stand, and Gabriel fell to his knees while Emilie walked up to Adrien. Chat Noir tensed up, but then melted as his mother's fragment, courtesy of Duusu's ability, took hold of him for the first time in years.

"You were going to hurt our son and others. For me. Do you think I would have been happy for it? That I was to be brought back at the expense of others? With your morality sacrificed?"

A loud sob erupted from the usually composed man. "I-I am sorry."

Emilie walked away from Adrien and then, retrieving the Peacock brush, muttered some words. "I solemnly renounce to the Peacock Miraculous."

Duusu retrieved the brooch and floated back to me, giving me a nod as I winked at her.

Gabriel stared as the fragment of his wife slowly crouched and gave him a strong hug. "Enough, Gabi. This is too much, even for you."

The man held onto the blonde, crying on her shoulder and-

"I-I solemnly renounce to- to the Butterfly Miraculous."

Nooroo appeared, retrieving the butterfly brooch off Gabriel and slowly flying to where Duusu and I were waiting.

It was done. Gabriel had surrendered.

But right as this sounded like the end of this big plot for good, something happened that caught all of us off-guard.

The ground started to shake. It wasn't an intense earthquake, but the entire manor groaned and creaked, causing a panic to stir as Emilie's clone vanished in Gabriel's arms, leaving him slumped over as the man was utterly defeated despite the disaster going on. Marinette rushed to pick him up and leave, whiel Adrien bolted elsewhere.

"A-Adrien?"

I looked around, seeing the boy taking the steps to reach the basement and... Shit.

"Nooroo, Duusu, double transform."

The Miraculouses could be 'Unified' for a time. This granted twice the standard physical boost, but a heavy risk if I was to use their main powers all at once. The form I got was the same as Angelus, but it looked like it was shining and glowing due to the greater might within it.

"Marinette," I hummed, the girl turning to me for a moment. "Bring Mr. Agreste to safety, I will get Adrien and his mother."

The girl, smartly so, nodded and proceeded to do what I told her as I focused on my own new chore.

Rushing after Adrien, I kept up with him as he found the elevator and pushed the buttons to reach the lower grounds right as I caught up to him. He was rattled to see me in the lift, but I kept my demeanor calm and collected.

"Mr. Bukharin-"

"I know."

"I-I need to-"

"I know, but you shouldn't have tried to go here alone," I replied, looking at the closed doors. "You pick her up and then we leave. No hesitation or faltering, got it?"

He nodded rapidly, and we both bolted as soon as the doors opened. The ground was cracking, with the bridge severely damaged by the time we got to the glass coffin. Using his claws, Chat Noir safely pulled the lid up without breaking it, allowing him to retrieve his mother's body without harming her.

As we were moving back, I realized that the bridge was collapsing under our feet, but Adrien moved as quickly as I was through before either of us could fall. Once to the other side, we dashed for the elevator, and I saw some rocks from the ceiling falling towards us.

I pushed Adrien through, allowing them to jump into the elevator before rocks landed in front of its gates. I wasn't as lucky as the sturdy stones blocked any access to the elevator.

"M-Mr. Bukharin."

"I'll be fine. Just get out and we'll see each other on the other side."

He nodded, holding tightly on his mother's unconscious body as the lift turned on and started to bring them upstairs. Meanwhile, I turned my attention upward to the large opening that showed the sky. I aimed a finger there, ready to finally use my 'Akuma power' at once.

I had been unable to find a legit purpose of it considering that I could reach around places without needing it, but since I was stuck in a situation where my legs couldn't make this count, I knew I had to use my 'Shifting' power to project myself out of the basement.

I couldn't do it if there are hurdles between me and my goal, and I usually had a range to it. Limited Teleportation wasn't much to me, but right now it had to be my life-saving option as I mixed up the energy from both Miraculouses to get me out of there.

"NO, DON'T-!"

I didn't hear Nooroo's scream until it was too late as the shift was ongoing. I felt my body... phasing. It was the same process as I had experienced before, but it was the pace that was different. It took me a moment to realize the monumental mistake I just made.

I felt my body ripped out of reality as I had overshot it way too much. Instead of adding more range, the entire ability was overboosted. And instead of merely teleporting upward I...

I phased out of existence. And landed somewhere else.

If before I was aiming at the sky, I soon was falling face first onto some grass. I made a small crater- way smaller than it should have been considering the intense 'shift', but my body felt utterly wrecked by the impact.

My Akuma form was able to heal faster, but I felt it all as I felt my bones being rebuilt, my skull scruching back to its regular frame, and my limp limbs slowly fixing themselves in proper position. The pain was so much that I ultimately passed out right before I could make sense of what happened.

All I could remember was hearing Duusu and Nooroo panicking over my hurting body.

AN

And thus the Miraculous Arc is over... and John ends up in a proper Anime. Expect: overprotective siblings, headpattable prodigies, a troubled girl in need of a proper family, and a bigger and meaner magic system!

Also... odd timing for that earthquake.