Chapter Two: Equivalent Exchange

The portal led into the featureless white room that Gabriel recognized as Alix's burrow. A room outside of time, there were a multitude of windows peering into points all throughout history, as well as towards the future. Much to his slight concern, all of these other time periods were just as dull and featureless as his present.

"Doesn't look good, does it?" said Bunnyx, leaning against a wall. "Once you made that wish of yours, this…corruption started spreading across time. As far as I can tell, you caused this."

While Gabriel didn't doubt that the wish may have had something to do with the universe's current state, to say it was his fault was preposterous. "Are you saying I wished for this to happen?" he asked, trying to keep his tone level. "Surely Gimmi is at fault. They must have misinterpreted my wish, or twisted it for their own gain."

Bunnyx angrily crossed the room. "See, there you go again! Past, present, or future, Gabriel Agreste is still Gabriel Agreste…" she added under her breath. "Well, whoever's fault this is, the fact is that we're the only two humans left in this timeline. Which means you're my only choice for a sidekick."

Her choice of words caught his attention. "You said 'this timeline.' I assume that means there are others?"

She then scoffed, an implied 'Duh!' "Oh, there's plenty! See, the Rabbit Miraculous doesn't just take you through time, but across time. It took some practice, but I eventually figured out how to hop through these timelines. Some of 'em can get pretty weird, so be ready for that."

Gabriel didn't feel like anything could surprise him at this point. "I'll take your word for it. That thing back there–what exactly was it? And why was it so intent on hunting me?"

"I mean, I can't really blame it there," Bunnyx muttered. "So, here's what I do know: those things are able to travel between timelines through those ripples you probably saw. That's why I've been callin' 'em 'Ripplers.' They're not too tough alone, it's when they've got strength in numbers that they really get dangerous. Oh, and they can't get into the burrow, so that's good. But other than that, I'm as in the dark as you are. Dunno what they are, where they come from, or what they want, if anything. But seeing as how they sorta look Akumatized…"

"I assume you're blaming me for the existence of these 'Ripplers' as well," Gabriel said. "Need I remind you that I no longer possess the Miraculous of the butterfly?"

"Yeah, I noticed," she said. "And that's why we're going where we are now. I thought long and hard about this, but…how'd you like to be Hawkmoth again?"

Her offer surprised him. "You…have the Butterfly Miraculous?"

"Not on me, no." Bunnyx then opened a portal. "That's the nice thing about the multiverse: when you don't have something, there's always somewhere you can borrow it from. All we need is another Gabriel, who still has the Butterfly Miraculous but doesn't need it anymore."

Gabriel was about to step through the portal, but something held him back. He glanced over at Bunnyx. "You would really trust me to become Hawkmoth again? Even after…everything?"

The look on her face made it clear that she was nowhere close to forgiving him. "'Trust?' No. But, since the whole universe is basically stagnating, I don't have much of a choice. So do you wanna get Adrien back, or what?"

That was enough of a motivator. Gabriel stepped through the portal, with Bunnyx following behind.

As soon as they arrived, Paris was no different than Gabriel remembered–save for the noticeable presence of people and colors. He seemed to have emerged in some sort of side alley, near to the city's edge. His relief at seeing the world back to normal, even if it wasn't his world, led him to almost wander out into the open. He was pulled back by Alix before he could be seen, however.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to draw attention to us?" she hissed. She had reverted back to her civilian form, her Kwami hovering over her shoulder. She also held several pieces of folded fabric in her hands. "You're pretty famous in this dimension too, y'know! If you just walk down the street, people'll be all over us before we can move a block!"

"If only somebody had brought us closer to our destination," Gabriel murmured. "But you're clearly the expert here. How do you plan on solving this conundrum?"

She tossed the clothes at him, so suddenly he barely caught them. "Put these on. If anyone asks, you're my uncle. Just make up a name, I don't care."

Gabriel looked with disdain at the thrift store quality garments that had just been thrown his way. They included a black hoodie sweatshirt, grey sweatpants, and a pair of cheap plastic sunglasses. The latter looked like it couldn't have cost more than a euro or two at most, while the former two looked like they had been worn many times over. "Do…do you honestly expect me to walk down the street looking like a bum?" he asked, incredulous.

"Yes, I do. Unless you have a better idea to prevent us from being swarmed by your many adoring fans? Or by your not-fans? Look, let's just say you're not the most popular guy around in this timeline, even though you gave up being Hawkmoth."

Reluctantly, Gabriel began slipping on the clothes, relieved that nobody he knew would see him like this. "Is my identity known here, then?"

Alix gave a so-so gesture. "Not publicly, but people talk. Secrets come out, whether you mean them to or not. It's probably nothing to worry about. You ready?"

Now Gabriel was practically unrecognizable. "I suppose." He had to give Alix this: nobody would expect Gabriel Agreste walking around town in a sweatshirt and sweatpants. The pair walked down the street towards the Agreste manor and, sure enough, nobody gave them a second glance. "Where did you get these, anyway?"

They brushed past a man in a thick coat. "Time travel," Alix said, "don't worry about it."

Unbeknownst to them, the man had glanced back as he walked away. He turned to look through a store window, his eyes actually on their reflection. Once they had gone, he slipped into the same alley that they, unknown to him, had appeared from.

The man produced a small radio hidden in his coat. "I've got eyes on Agreste. It looks like he's on his way home. That time-traveler girl's with him."

"What's she doing with him?" a voice on the other end asked. "Clearly he's planning something. We'll have to adjust the timetable slightly. Alert the others."

"Will do." He pocketed his radio and, making sure he wasn't being tailed, headed deeper into the city.

"So, before we go in there, you should be aware of…certain things," Alix warned him. The reason you don't need the Butterfly Miraculous in this reality is because…you won here. You made the wish, got everything you wanted, and…yeah. So just, like, be aware, things are different here."

The two of them approached the Agreste manor, having successfully avoided being noticed–or so they thought. "And why exactly would I need to be worried about–" Gabriel's question died in his throat. If he was still alive after making his wish, then there was only one possibility. "You mean…?"

The girl nodded. "Yeah. I mean." She walked up to the gate and pressed the doorbell. A security camera emerged from the wall, examining the pair of guests.

"Who is it?" It was surreal to hear his own voice coming from the device, but only slightly, given everything else he had experienced lately. Though he wondered why it wasn't Nathalie "...Miss Kubdel? Are you here to see Adrien?"

"Yeah, hey Gabe!" she said, giving an awkward wave. "No, I'm actually here to see you, believe it or not. We've got something of a time-travel situation going on…"

The camera panned up to Gabriel. "...I see." Something in Other Gabriel's voice indicated he recognized his twin. "You're…certain this won't lead to a paradox?"

Alix shrugged. "Eh, fifty-fifty chance. Present Ladybug met Future Ladybug no problem, right?"

"Very well. Adrien's bodyguard will escort you inside." The gates opened, and the familiar towering form of the Gorilla stepped out of the front doors. He waited for them to approach.

"That was surprisingly easy," Gabriel said, careful to keep his hood up, just in case. "Why didn't you tell me you knew this version of me?"

"I don't," she admitted, "but I know he knows the other me. Long story, I'll tell ya all about it later. Right now, just focus on fixing your dimension."

The Gorilla escorted them into Gabriel's study, where they waited for the arrival of his counterpart. Everything here seemed exactly the same as in the other timeline–Gabriel could barely notice anything different. However, there was one thing that caught his eye: a new addition to the row of photographs along the wall. He picked it up to see the three of them, himself, Adrien, and Emilie, happily sitting on a picnic blanket. He had never seen his picture before–he would have remembered it. The only explanation was that this was recent. His hand shook, and he placed the photo down before he dropped it. It was only now that he truly began to realize what this timeline meant. Emilie was alive.

The prospect of seeing his wife, alive and well after so long, was almost overwhelming. Gabriel staggered back, propping himself up against the computer. "S-she's…alive," he said, barely audible. "Emilie…is here."

"Yup, that's what I tried to tell you," Alix said, nonplussed. "Just try not to make too big of a scene, okay? Remember, she's technically not your wife."

But the semantics of time travel were of little bother to Gabriel at that moment. Once he had made that wish, all hopes of seeing Emilie again had gone from his mind. His only focus had been on assuring Adrien could live the life he had denied him for so long. But now, that hope had returned to him. Instantly, all sorts of thoughts came to his mind. He could live here, happily, just like he had wanted to. They could be a family again, just the three of them. Just like nothing had changed. The fact that there was another Gabriel here barely crossed his mind.

Before he could ponder on what to do about his counterpart, the door opened, revealing the very same. "I apologize for the delay–we were in the middle of a meal," said the other Gabriel, in the tone his counterpart recognized as barely-maintained politeness. "Now, what exactly was it you wanted to…?" Both Gabriels' eyes fixed on the other. "...I see. This is indeed a problem."

Alix, still as nonchalant as ever, stood up. "Trust me, this isn't even the half of it. You'd better sit down, it's a lot to take in."

"Gabriel?" He froze. That was her voice. And then, there she was, stepping through the door like she had never left.

She seemed to move in slow motion. It might have been Gabriel's imagination, but her silvery-golden hair almost seemed to glow. She, too, was surprised to see him, letting out a small gasp. He wanted to say something. He wanted to say anything, to apologize, to say how much he had missed her, but the words died in his throat. Instead, Alix unceremoniously elbowed him in the ribs.

"So, yeah, there's two of you now," she said, in a tone that suggested she was trying to lighten the mood. "I imagine both of you must have a load of questions, so why don't we…Gabe?"

Gabriel seemed to be in a trance, or perhaps in shock. "Em…Emilie?" he all but whispered, slowly approaching his late wife. "I can't believe this. I-is it really you?"

Other Gabriel was stunned as well, unsure of how to take this new development, while Emilie was similarly perplexed by this doppelganger of her husband. "Yes, it's me," she said, sympathetic despite her confusion. "You're…another Gabriel, right? From another world?" Despite the shock, she seemed to be processing things fairly well.

"I missed you so much," Gabriel said, his voice quavering. He moved to hold her hands, only to freeze when she pulled back. For a moment, he was terrified that she was afraid of him, of the things he had done as Hawkmoth. "Emilie…"

Able to move again, other Gabriel placed a warning hand on his counterpart's shoulder, pushing him back. "Miss Kubdel is right," he said, glaring at his twin. "This is a lot to take in, for all of us. Perhaps it would be best if we started from the beginning."

Alix got in between the two Gabriels, sensing that tensions were rising. "Yup, that sounds good to me! Let's talk this over, in a way that doesn't end up screwing up the timeline!" She nudged the main Gabriel again, silently hinting for him to back off.

Reluctantly, he did. "Yes. Let's talk things out. I'm sure we have a lot to talk about."

"...And then we showed up here," Alix finished. Other Gabriel had been listening intently to her story, while Emilie looked on with concern. Main Gabriel had to consciously stop himself from looking at her, reminding himself that she wasn't his Emilie. His mind knew it, but his heart couldn't tell the difference. What had he done differently in this timeline that got him the two Miraculous? How was it fair that this other version of him had succeeded where he failed?

Speaking of the other Gabriel, he carefully absorbed the information with characteristic calmness. "I see. If that is the case, it's no wonder you came here. But, unfortunately, something at this scale is beyond my ability to handle."

"That's true, but there's still a way you can help us. This guy," she nodded to main Gabriel, "doesn't have the Butterfly Miraculous anymore. Since you, ah, aren't using yours anymore, we were wondering if we could borrow it."

Other Gabriel briefly faltered at this request. "Even though I am no longer Hawkmoth, you understand how idiotic it would be for me to simply hand a Miraculous over to a pair of strangers?"

"But we're not strangers!" Alix countered. "I'm a friend of Adrien's, and he's you! Go on, Gabe, tell 'im!"

But Gabriel was focused on something else. "She…she knows about Hawkmoth?" he asked.

Both Emilie and other Gabriel looked away. "I…am aware of your doings with the Butterfly Miraculous," the former said quietly. "As well as everything it cost us." She stood up and approached her husband. "Maybe it would be for the best to give it to them? We both want to leave that part of your life behind…"

"And what if they aren't who they say they are?" asked Gabriel. "What if their goals jeopardize our new life? I can't put her sacrifice at risk like that!"

Her sacrifice. These words rang in Gabriel's ears like a bomb blast. Upon hearing them, a question he hadn't considered thanks to everything else going on was suddenly thrust into the forefront of his mind: where was Nathalie? "You didn't," he growled, slowly approaching his counterpart. "After everything she did for you!"

Other Gabriel refused to back down. "You don't know what you're talking about," he growled as well, clearly ready for a fight. "I may not know what happened in your universe, but I do know that you are in no place to judge me!"

"Gabe, knock it off!" said Alix, like a parent to an unruly child. "Both Gabes! Argh, I really should've given you something to tell you apart…"

Before the dimensional doppelgangers could engage in fisticuffs, Emilie got in between them. "Gabriel didn't sacrifice Nathalie!" she assured the one who wasn't hers. "Nathalie…gave her own life. For mine." Both she and her husband paled at these memories, shutting their eyes in sorrow.

Nathalie had given her own life to fulfill Gabriel's dream. Upon hearing this, Gabriel took a step back, trying to comprehend it. He had always known she was loyal, but to willingly give her own life. "She…she did?"

"It's true," said other Gabriel, gazing somberly out the window. "I had both Miraculous in my hands, but I knew the cost. For days, I waited, pondering on just who should have to die for our sake. I made a list of candidates, people without whom the world would be better off…but after a while, Nathalie grew frustrated with my hesitation. One night, I awoke to find she had opened the safe where the Miraculous were locked…and that was that."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm more than grateful to be back with you and Adrien, but at times, I wonder if it was worth the cost," Emilie whispered. "All this suffering, all for my sake…"

Gabriel was about to reassure her, but Gabriel beat him to it. "Don't think like that," he said, almost ordering it. "You are worth any price, any amount of suffering. …That said, I…often wish things had turned out differently. Perhaps I should have given my own life."

"Gabriel…" The two embraced, feeling the weight of the other resting against them. The sight at first made Gabriel seethe…but it was followed by a rather strange combination of longing and satisfaction. Although he desperately wanted to be reunited with his Emilie, the knowledge that somewhere in the vastness of time, there were versions of the two who were back together granted him some small matter of comfort. It was possible for them, which meant it was still possible for him. And even if it never came to be, he knew that their love was a constant throughout all the universe.

"So, uh, does this mean you're willing to help us?" asked Alix. Both Gabriels shot her an annoyed glare. "What? The whole multiverse is in danger, we're kinda on a time limit here!"

Main Gabriel cleared his throat. "Perhaps there is another way," he suggested. "The Miraculous of the ladybug and black cat. The wish was already made, so surely you have no more need of them?"

"That…will be difficult," said other Gabriel. "I already gave them back to Ladybug."

Even Alix was surprised by this revelation, but it was Gabriel who let out a "What!? Why on earth would you do something like that? Why would you hand your worst enemy the one thing she needs to defeat you?"

Other Gabriel kept calm. "Because I made her a promise," he said. "I would return what she gave to me."

"She…she gave you both Miraculous?" Gabriel said incredulously. "Was she under duress? Were you holding her family hostage, or controlling her with an Akuma?

"Nothing of the sort," replied other Gabriel. "You are aware who she is, correct?" Alix gave him the go-ahead. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng was simply too overwhelmed with the responsibility being the Guardian required. All of her duties and commitments began piling up…she simply could not handle the stress anymore. Eventually, we came to an agreement: I told her everything I needed the Miraculous for, and she handed both over to me."

And to think, Gabriel had assumed nothing would surprise him at this point. "She…gave them to you? So easily?" A part of him couldn't believe he had never thought of that. Surely Ladybug wouldn't have given up her Miraculous if he only asked, right? All of this seemed far too good to be true.

"Right, so, Ladybug and Cat Noir are still here to protect the city, and you don't need to be Hawkmoth anymore," Alix said. "I don't know about you, but it all sounds like everything's wrapped up. Is there anything we can do to convince you to lend us your Miraculous?"

Other Gabriel considered this for a moment. "Actually…there is one thing I could use your help with."

"Name it," main Gabriel said. "Anything to save my family."

"Although I am no longer Hawkmoth, as I'm sure you're aware, my reign of terror has not been forgotten about. I am not sure how, but it appears that my identity has somehow found its way to a certain group of aspiring vigilantes. As long as these individuals are still at large, I fear for the safety of my family. Thankfully, this estate, is secure, but–"

His request was interrupted, as the entire mansion shook from a gigantic explosion. The walls trembled, and all four of them jumped to attention. "Speak of the devil…" Emilie said quietly.

"What was that!?" Gabriel asked, on high alert.

"Them," his counterpart replied, surprisingly calm. "I never thought they'd be so brazen." He turned to the pair of newcomers. "I'm afraid I must ask for your help in defending my family. I trust you are up to the task?"

Alix grinned, grabbing hold of her Miraculous. "We're just the right team for the job! Right, Gabe?"

Gabriel hadn't expected to do any fighting today, but if it meant protecting his family–even if it wasn't technically his… "What do you need from us?" he asked.