Marinette hid until the light from the windows faded away. Though the sky grew dark, she could see a orange tint to the sky, and she wondered what that meant. She jumped slightly as a grandfather clock chimed out the hour, and Marinette was surprised how late it was.
Surely the Supreme would be asleep by now, and did he have guards? If she was going to do it move about the palace, she would have to do it in utmost secrecy. Ducking and weaving in between the shadows, Marinette worked her way deeper into the palace. Her stomach grumbled and hard as she tried to ignore it, when a headache begin to develop, she couldn't avoid the hunger pains any longer.
Following her nose, she found the dining room still stacked with plates of dishes half-eaten and some untouched. Marinette felt more like a mouse then a ladybug as she nibbled and sipped, filling her empty belly and quenching her thirst.
The smell of smoke was strong, but when Marinette peeked into the deserted kitchen, all was quiet. So where was the smell coming from? She located another window, her stomach nearly heaving up its contents as she saw the plummeting drop. Jumping or trying to gain access to the roof was impossible from here.
Quiet footsteps had her scurrying behind the thick curtains, and for a instant her creative mind wondered what she could with such tasteful fabric, the colors a creamy gold. Two guards, one older and one younger hurried down the corridor, and the younger one was crying as the older tried to comfort his companion. "At least your safe, Sage. The Supreme is tired of Claw and Ladybug to show their faces, so he'll burn Paris to the ground if he has to."
Muffled bangs followed his statement and Marinette gasped, the scent of smoke now stronger and upon her tongue. "I'm not scared for myself, Orion," the girl said. "I'm scared for my parents."
Marinette's heart went out to the girl on the other side of the curtain, that may be or not be her emeny. But she needed to comfort her, tell her she would stop the Supreme before that happened. Or at least I'll try, she thought to herself. Taking a deep breath, she flung the curtain aside. "Then let me help you, and save Paris," she said.
Sage's mouth dropped open, and two girls stared at each other. "But you hate the Supreme," she whispered. "So therefore you hate me too." "Not true," Marinette placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "If I could unfreeze his cold heart, I would. Please, I want to help you, and if Claw were by my side, he'd say the same."
"Follow me…." "Call me Marinette, or you can call me Ladybug." Sage smiled a small smile. "Marinette."
Marinette was led to a secret doorway, with a ladder behind the door. "Head straight up, and you'll reach the roof. Mind you its a long drop if you fall, even for a ladybug." "Thank you for your kindness," Marinette leaned forward to kiss her cheek, and starting climbing.
Her hands begin to ache after only a few minutes but she dare not let go or have a clumsy moment, for she would certainly fall to her death if she did so. At last, she spotted the trapdoor above her and climbed out onto the roof.
The smoky scent was at its strongest and Marinette gasped in horror as she gazed at the Paris skyline. Fires and oily black smoke bleached the sky, debris piles in mounds. Whispering her transformation phrase, Ladybug looped her yo-yo to her finger.
At last, she caught sight of the Supreme, his cape billowing in the wind as he continued his reign of chaos from his castle. When he turned, catching sight of Ladybug, she stifled a cry. It was like looking at a devil, hell was the Parisian sky.
"Ladybug," Wang Fu turned, his face blackened from the smoke and Ladybug stared at him, the silence deafening. Slowly, she stretched out her hand. "Its not to late to fix this. Have a change of heart. The Guardians would forgive you," she told him.
The Supreme laughed a rough laugh. "Why would I do that when I have all the power I want?" "Because everyone deserves a second chance, and you'll ever be satisfied with power. You'll only want more before it consumes you. Reject it and find love, before its to late."
"You should be trying to end me, Ladybug. After all, I poisoned the love of your life."
He was never going to change was he? At least she had tried. "Then I'm glad I tried," she said, then beginning to run towards him, her yo-yo whistling through the air.
Only for the Supreme to snap his fingers and a wide trap door opened, and Ladybug screamed as she fell in. she looked frantically below her as the ground rushed up to meet her, and she called for her Lucky Charm, bouncing on a cushion: safe.
Even in her suit, she doubted from that height, she would have survived the fall. She curled in a ball until the shaking stopped, but when she tried to stand, her legs only gave out again.
Lifting her head slowly, she looked around finding herself in a room full of mirrors. Slowly, she crawled over to one, sitting up and staring at herself in the glass. Her bluebell eyes had lost their frightened look, only blue fire remained. She would leave this room, escape somehow….Claw.
Her thoughts flew to her partner, and the tears begin to fall. He'd have a plan, or at least a kiss or joke to keep her spirits up. But he wasn't here, she was alone. The tears came faster now.
"Marinette." she looked up, wiping at her eyes, squinting into the mirror. The mirror looked cloudy now, and she peered closer. Claw appeared on the other side of the glass, and she smiled, giving a cry of happiness. "My Lady, you cannot give up. Remember, you have the power of love."
she nodded, touching a hand to the cool glass. This might be a illusion or a dream, but Marinette heard his angelic voice whispering sweet nothings until she fell asleep.