10/23/24
14 Reviews, 10 Favs, 12 Follows
The next day, Panthera managed to test Adrien's knowledge and intelligence by starting with the preschool level to the high school level. Like ABCs, his reading levels, his writing levels, and all school intelligence he can remember and so far, he has passed it and regained his intelligence but his mental mind is nowhere near to reacting to civil life yet.
As much as she enjoyed seeing himself explore more than being raised by his father's strictness, Adrien still hasn't known or experienced what he wants to be when he grows up, which is impossible for a kid to not have a childhood dream at all.
Adrien was rewarded with a utility belt for equipment other than his backpack which came in handy after bringing the children to safety yesterday.
"No, I just thought lies don't hurt people until I learned the hard way. Which is precisely why I should've not trusted Lila in the first place" Adrien explained why he had no experience with black lies.
Panthera stopped from walking in the jungle, "You really never experienced what it's like to be bullied, do you? You got so much to learn, gatito" Panthera said before letting him walk.
"No, I've been homeschooled for so long and never experienced bullies until I went to public school," Adrien said.
"When you model with that certain liar, have you ever known that when she touches you where she's not supposed to touch at certain areas, did you know that is called harassment?" Panthera said while walking with him.
"Yeah, but not sure which type of it," Adrien said.
"No one likes to be touched by strangers, Adrien. Harassment can have a lot of definitions to bad. And bullies are a totally different thing and I'm sure you've seen that Mayor's daughter brat doing mean things all the time" Panthera said.
"Especially towards my classmates," Adrien said.
"And you just give her chances? Adrien, bullies do not care about anyone who is nice. They just like to torment people because they are either jealous of those getting attention or they just like to make people's lives miserable. You can't always give bullies what they want because they take advantage of victims" Panthera said.
"Not for long. The more she causes trouble, I really start to regret giving her chances" Adrien said.
"Do you know what Chloe and Lila have in common?" Panthera said, stroking the tree to test how dry it is.
"Both are dishonest people," Adrien said.
"Nope. They both like to cause trouble and have the power of abuse. To them, they think we are losers who deserve to be humiliated. Like that jaguar you killed, it was like a bully who thinks no one should trespass their territory" Panthera said as an example.
"Right. They think they are so high and mighty when they are not" Adrien said.
"Which is why they always use this" Panthera points at his forehead, "But they don't have the kindness from here" She pointed at his chest.
"They don't have it in their hearts," Adrien said.
"Exactly. It's like Victor Frankenstein found the secrets in creating life rather than just God. But his madness in mad science reanimated a corpse into a monster by his science brain instead of by heart" Panthera came to river, "The point is that Chloe and Lila are becoming monsters themselves and everyone is afraid of monsters because monsters are scary. To them they think it's fun to be scary but scary people are lonely because no one wants to be around them"
"Like Shadowmoth is a monster. No one likes monsters ruining lives" Adrien said.
Panthera may not remember herself as Mood Swinger but Ladybug gave her a miracle charm to remind herself that it's okay to let out emotions instead of bottling them up.
"Yeah. There's just no end to the akumas" Adrien said.
"That's another problem, gatito. You and your lady are only focusing on the victims repeatedly. Remember how many times Shadowmoth akumatized that pigeon tamer?" Panthera jumps on the tree.
"Yes, 72 times," Adrien said.
"And what does it make you feel from 72 times?" Panthera grabs the grapes and jumps down.
"I feel really annoyed at it," Adrien said.
"And that's something Shadowmoth makes. His akumas are too predictable for you and Ladybug. He never makes them unpredictable. He's by far the worst villain I've seen on the news. Not creative, not strategic, and definitely not cunning. All he does is remain hiding like a coward like a moth who doesn't want to get close to bright lights" Panthera explained her hypothesis.
"Pretty much," Adrien said.
Panthera hands him grapes, "Like villains, bullies, terrorists, all bad people I've seen in real life and cartoons, it's like they think the world abandoned them and they want to either take over the world or destroy it. But what good will that do until one day they feel more alone?" Panthera asked.
"They'll just have nothing left," Adrien said.
"Exactly, until karma strikes back at them. Like Ladybug said, using the miraculous for the greater good is about making wise decisions without personal gain. That's what my kwami taught me" Panthera said.
"You may be a grown young adult but my kitten is becoming more like a hunter for months without listening to my cheese metaphors," Plagg said.
"Really? Your kitten did make it out alive so far without Cat Noir" Panthera smirked.
"Yep," Plagg nodded.
"And do you see what that means, Plagg? It means Adrien's father was very wrong about him" Panthera said while eating grapes.
"What do you mean?" Adrien asked.
"What I mean is that you are more than a superhero and a model, Adrien. You also became a survivor. Your father always thinks of you as a perfect model but he doesn't see anything more than just a model. Trying new things is like experiencing things in life. Cat Noir changed your life, Ladybug changed your life, even the jungle changed your life" Panthera said.
"It certainly did" Adrien looks down, thinking of Ladybug, "Sometimes I feel like you should be my real tutor because my father never had any time for me"
"If I could" Panthera chuckled.
"But you can. You're a young adult with more experience. I'm just a kid not like everyone else. Even when it comes to Ladybug, she barely opens up with me. But since I'm capable of trusting you to know my secret identity, Ladybug never risks it" Adrien said.
"Well, the reason you shared yours is because there are no people in the jungle but us. Can you imagine how tiring it is to keep a secret for so long until one day someone else finds out?" Panthera asked before passing by the waterfall.
"I can imagine. One day Ladybug might reveal who she is" Adrien said.
"There are worse things than Shadowmoth, gatito. That is up to her to decide" Panthera said before they sat down on the rock, "Okay, let's go over what you learned. Hissing, growling, and snarling. You've seen predators do that all the time, why?"
"That's to warn other predators or tell them that they intrude?" Adrien guessed.
"More than that. You've seen cats hiss a lot, right? Animals hiss to communicate fear, stress, or discomfort, or to attract attention. Not just by anger or defense. You didn't know why you snarl at the mercenaries?" Panthera asked.
"I did that to not give away my voice identity," Adrien said.
"You did that as self-defense. People can hiss and growl, Adrien. Some think only animals can but we people can too. And we can bite like animals, just not capable like them. Although very rare that a person can bite off a person's nose to rip it off" Panthera said.
"Or even fingers or ears," Adrien said.
"Yup. If you want to be an animal, you gotta be extremely tough and more intimidating with your hissing and growling to get your opponent intimidated. I've seen how Cat Noir is no hissy fit like an actual cat kicking ass" Panthera snickered.
"Hmph. Because I'm a gentlecat when it comes to Milady" Adrien pouted.
"Really? I bet you were a scaredy cat afraid of water or cucumbers to protect your lady" Panthera testing him to growl in defense.
"HRRRRRGH!" Adrien growled.
"Cat got your tongue….or your whiskers?" Panthera tempts him more.
"GRRRR!" Adrien growled.
"Awww….is the kitty feeling angry that he didn't get his bowl of milk?" Panthera pushed into him further.
Adrien nearly let out an angry feral hiss, "My bowl was empty for too long without milk!"
"Are you gonna let those big bad boys call you a wimpy kitten?" Panthera pressuring him to be tough.
Adrien hissed fiercely at her, "No!"
"Are you gonna let your father put you on a tight leash?!" Plagg asked.
"Of course not!" Adrien growled.
"Are you gonna let perfection stop you from trying?" Panthera asked.
"Hell no!" Adrien said.
"Prove it" Panthera unsheathed her claws, "Or are you just too scared like a scaredy cat?"
"Never!" Adrien jumps up in a defensive stance.
"We both got nine lives. Make your move, Jungle Noir" Panthera smirked.
It became so intense that neither of them made their move yet. It was becoming more like an old west theme for one of them to stand still without making their move. Adrien was looking very feral while Panthera simply smirked at him while waiting for movement. So Adrien lunged at her as if catching his prey.
They tumbled down until Adrien finally was on top and pinned her wrists down, "You just became my prey"
But Panthera rolled over and pinned him, "Impressive but always remember to keep your head straight before anyone drills into your head with manipulation or taunts. And correction, you act like a big baby, making noise, don't know what to do" Panthera got off of him.
"I do not, jaguar woman. I for one a cat with nine lives. And I'm not gonna let my father break my spirit like a broken horse" Adrien said while getting up.
"Sure, whatever you say, Puss in Boots. Now get your ass in gear. I think I hear someone coming" Panthera grabs her spear and jumps in the trees to get a clear view from above.
"You did?" They climb up the trees.
"Shh! Look" Panthera points at the poachers who just captured a ferocious black jaguar in a cage.
It was pacing back and forth in its cage which is a sign of stress. Panthera knew that pacing is always a sign of animal stress.
"Leave it alone! That woman should be out here! The one that goes by Panthera. She hates poachers and mercenaries. She has a bond with rainforest animals" The poacher said.
The jaguar roared and tried to get the other poacher startled or leave.
"Once we've sold this panther for a million we'll deal with her too" Another one said.
Adrien growled lowly at this, "No way they are gonna treat you like this"
"Shh….I need a distraction. If we get hit by those tranquilizers, it's nighty night" Panthera whispered.
But unfortunately, she saw Adrien was not there before she said about her plan, "Damn it, gatito. Where the bloody hell did you go?" She grits her teeth in frustration before she sees him using mud on himself to camouflage, "The hell?"
"Well, I for one think she's good but still called as the Queen of the Jungle" The poacher leaning against his jeep.
"She carries a spear like a native. Like headhunters!" The other yelled.
"Come on, she doesn't collect heads! That's morbid!" Said the other poacher.
Adrien applied black face paint before putting the mask on. Sneaking up to the jeep and observed 4 poachers with guns. One wrong move and he'll end up in a dreamland.
"Tell that to another one who goes by a savage boy. Not even a native nor Brazilian but a white-skinned kid. He killed those mercenaries" The poacher said.
Panthera couldn't step in nor stop Adrien but seeing how far he's gotten into stealth, she felt like she could trust his moves.
"He's more beast than a boy this feral kid," Said the poacher.
Unaware that Adrien hid in the tree, he used the vine as a rope to tie it to the arrow end to use on one poacher coming close to the tree. He shoots the arrow and pulls the poacher up once the arrow hits him and swiftly kills him with the rope. He grabs another vine to do the same thing to the other poacher looking blind at any movements. He repeats the process again and even sneaks up to some and slits their throats.
"Boys! Where the damn hell are you playing at?! This better not be one of your piss breaks again! I told you that beer would piss your pants a lot!" The last poacher saw his boys disappear.
Adrien sneaks up to him silently until he accidentally steps on a twig that makes a noise to alert the poacher.
"Aha!" The poacher punched Adrien back.
"Agh!" Adrien's mask fell but he quickly covered his face while being down.
Panthera gasped and quickly engaged before the poacher tried to kill him, "RUN!" She demanded Adrien to run and blocked the gun with her spear.
"Panthera, there you are! How about a little love or death?!" The poacher flirted but got kicked in the groin.
"Gross! Don't ever talk like that to me!" Panthera yelled.
"GET DOWN!" Adrien with his mask tackled her from almost getting shot by another hidden shooter in the jungle.
"Thanks" They got up.
"Let's get this over with" Adrien took his dagger out.
"Wait!" Panthera saw footprints but no visible person, "Don't….move. Someone's camouflaging or perhaps invisible" She whispered and smelled perfume, "A woman"
Adrien recognized that smell and he growled that someone he knows would definitely and willingly akumatize themself, "There!" He threw mud at the camouflaged person as it shaped its body.
The akumatized person ran as her cover was blown, "Oh no you don't!" Adrien goes to the cage to release the wild jaguar to make it chase after the intruder. The jaguar sensed the strange Akuma and chased after her.
"Come on! Let's follow it!" Adrien ran while Panthera caught up with him.
"It can't see but it can smell! What is it?!" Panthera ran with him.
"This is impossible but I think it's an Akuma! There's no way Shadowmoth would come here! I must be delusional right now!" Adrien said, thinking he was imagining it or losing his mind.
They saw the Jaguar roaring at nothing but it somehow looked like it was seeing things that weren't real.
"Oh, no. We stepped into the…." Panthera was about to say but it was too late.
The toxic fumes from the plants spread like spores and it somehow touched them, making their perceptions and minds see things like hallucinations.
"…No!" Panthera coughed and could not fight the hallucinations she was seeing.
"Agh! What is that?!" Adrien's head was spinning and it felt like he was back in Paris again.
Panthera felt like she was back in Paris too but it was more like a nightmare of the day she first visited in Paris.
"Ladybug?" Adrien sees a hallucination of zombie Ladybug.
"Why didn't you come back?! You left Paris to die!" It screamed in rage.
"Adrien?! Adrien! It's not real! It's the side effects of the hallucinations! It's not real!" Panthera said groggily at breathing in too much of the gas.
"Why did you lie to Ladybug?!" A hallucination of Blu Tembo yelled.
"No! I didn't for selfish reasons!" Panthera gasped.
"TRAITORS!" Zombie Ladybug yelled.
"I thought you would be the best daughter!" Luna's father yelled.
"Papi? No! You can't be real!" Panthera backs away.
"It's not true! I did not abandon you!" Adrien refused to believe it was real.
Panthera screamed the swarm of Akuma butterflies, "Stop it! You're not real!"
"Embrace the akumas! See how far you've fallen!" A hallucination of Zombie Shadowmoth said.
Panthera gasped at her akumatized self Mood Swinger, "No! I won't become you again! Get out of my head!" Panthera screamed.
Too many heart palpitations were getting too much for them at how scared they were but Adrien was not gonna let this illusion fool him. Just like Volpina's illusions and her lies were all fake and a fantasy. He didn't want his deep dark regret to get the better of him nor let this stop him from remembering how far he had come as a survivor.
"You're not real! You want to torment my guilt!" Adrien held out his arrow to stab himself in the leg to scream out so loud in agonizing pain to get him out of this hallucination and wake up in reality to see himself with an arrow on his leg but at least he could see that the zombie Ladybug hallucination was actually Panthera in real life he was seeing.
He can see she's being mentally tortured at whatever she is seeing through the side effects of the toxic plants, He pulls the arrow out and raises it at her, "Sorry about this!" He stabs her thigh to make her snap out of it.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Panthera let out a scream mixed with a Jaguar's roar. It caused all the birds to fly out of the trees by that banshee scream from hers.
"Sorry Panthera" Adrien pulls the arrow out.
"Hijo de puta!" Panthera cursed in Spanish before she woke up and in agony, "The hell?!"
"I had to do it to snap us out of the trance. That gas messed with our heads" Adrien said.
Panthera muttered in Spanish before recovering what she could remember, "The flowers…..the spores….the gas we breathed in…..hallucinations…"
"Yes, it's those flowers I've been avoiding months ago," Adrien said.
"Someone definitely lured us to it but we don't see him or her now. The jaguar is gone" Panthera can see her thigh bleeding a bit, "Damn it. Did you have to stab so hard?" She gets up slowly.
"I'm so sorry. I did it on myself too" Adrien showed his wound.
"That was smart for extreme pain to cause the nerve signals to overpower the mind to wake you up. Just like waking up from hypnosis. We gotta cauterize it. I need a lighter and an arrow" Panthera said, knowing that bandaids will be pointless.
Adrien took out a lighter and heated the arrow, placing it on Panthera's wound first, she flinched in pain before he cauterized his own wound.
Howling in so much pain at how it burns his skin but the only way to stop the bleeding, "Goddamn it!"
"This is no good. This strange Akuma must be here for a reason" Panthera said.
"I don't know what that was but there's no way Shadowmoth would send an Akuma all the way down here. From what I learned, he can't telepathically reach out of range" Adrien said.
"You're probably right. I think it's the toxic gas that messed us up. The jungle can create illusions. Just like the scorching deserts can fry a person's brain to see a mirage" Panthera said, a little limp to walk.
"Unless this akuma can teleport," Adrien said.