A burst of green and blue light, a rush of energy surging out like an explosion and Adrien's body laying limp on the ground.

"A-Adrien...what just happened? Dude...get up." Nino says shakily.

Chloe tries to stand but her strength was drained whilst being controlled by Le Paon. Her body is so weak that she immediately collapses again.

"Adrien!" Chloe screams.

Alya struggles to crawl, practically drag herself more like, toward Chloe. She clamps a hand down on Chloe's shoulder and pulls the distraught girl into her chest for comfort.

Nathalie shoots to her feet and sprints to Adrien, throwing herself down beside him.

"Don't touch him!" Alya yells. "Get away from him. He trusted you!"

Nathalie ignores Alya and puts her head against Adrien's chest. For a moment there, her heart sinks and her eyes water, but then...she hears a faint heartbeat. Nathalie exhales a breath of relief. As she sits up, a glimmer of light shines in her peripheral vision and she looks down to see a broach resembling peacock feathers. A tear rolls down her cheek as she extends a trembling hand to the peacock miraculous.

"Get your filthy hands off that miraculous!" Nino shouts.

Nathalie scoops up the broach in her hands, gets up, walks to Chloe and kneels in front of her. Chloe stares at Nathalie silently. There is something deeply familiar and calming about Nathalie's eyes and the way that she gazes upon Chloe softly.

"Listen now Chloe, Adrien and Marinette are both alive and breathing but they need immediate attention and we can't get an ambulance out here when the city is evacuated." Nathalie says gently. "I've lost my authority. You must call your mother and get her to order their medical attention; she should have woken up by now."

"How dare you act like this isn't your fault." Alya says defensively.

Once again, Nathalie ingores Alya, her eyes locked on Chloe. "Be careful and good luck. I trust you...And I'm sorry. I will wait for you."

Nathalie takes Chloe's hands and places the peacock miraculous into them. She then gives them a light squeeze before standing up and departing. Alya and Nino are infuriated to have to watch her escapeso easily, and Chloe...feels heartbroken.

"Why do I feel like I'm losing my mum all over again?" She whispers painfully.

Chloe shakes her head to ward off the tears and quickly contacts her real mother as Nathalie had instructed.

"Chloe Bourgeois you ungrateful brat!" Audrey shrieks through the phone. "The last thing I remember is you going off like an idiot about those super-zeroes and now I wake up here days later? Did that brute Nathalie knock me out when Adrien abducted you? What happened to my press conference?! WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT QUEEN BITCH WHO STOLE MY MONEY?"

Chloe tenses up in an attempt to stop her lip from trembling and the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"If I find out that those circus freaks are still in my city thanks to you--"

"Mommy." Chloe says, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "There has been an accident. My friends and I are all in serious need of medical attention, especially Adrikins. Please order an ambulance to the adress I give you."

"What the hell--"

"For once in your life, please, do something for someone else...He's dying, mom. Don't ask questions or argue, just do it quickly and quietly."

Chloe hangs up before her mother can protest and sends her location. Then, she finally releases the tension in her body. Her hand starts shaking so violently that her phone goes clattering to the ground and the tears come flowing down her face. Chloe cries out relentlessly, something unbearable for her friends to listen to. Fortunately, it was soon drowned out by the sound of sirens.

.

Whilst pacing the hospital hallway, Chloe is suddenly grabbed by the wrist and she whirls round to face her mother. Audrey flinches at the sight of her beat-up, mascara-smeared face.

"What the hell happened to you?" Audrey immediately waves off her question. "Never mind, what's more important is what the hell happened to me!" Audrey shoves her phone screen in Chloe's face, which is displaying a video of her press conference. "This is NOT me! I never said any of this!! Who the hell is this messing with my life and why does she say that you are the one who encouraged it?"

Chloe looks up at her mother fearfully, preparing to take a beating, but then a calming voice ripples through her mind.

"...I want you to stop thinking of me so much and have the carefree childhood you deserve. If I ever do go back on my word, do not tolerate it..."

Chloe straightens her stance and scoffs. "Don't be ridiculous mother. Who else could that possibly be? And how could you claim to have blacked out when there is video footage of you out and about right here? Maybe you should just cut down on the fancy wine..."

Audrey's jaw drops and she begins sputtering in furious shock but before she can choke out anything comprehensive, Alya and Nino appear to collect Chloe.

"Marinette's awake!"

Chloe follows her friends without looking back.

Marinette regains consciousness with a splitting headache. As her vision comes into focus, she counts three of her teammates accounted for by her bedside.

"What happened? Where's Adrien?" Marinette asks immediately, sitting up so fast it sends her head spinning.

"Relax, Marinette, you need to rest." Alya gently pushes Marinette back down. "Adrien is...o-okay..."

"Cut the crap you all look deathly. Worried sick. Where is he?" Marinette demands.

"He's undergoing surgery, you can't see him right now." Nino says solemnly. "So just, stay in bed okay? You need to be happy and healthy when he wakes up."

"Surgery?" Marinette repeats fearfully, though her expression twists into anger within a second. "Where is Le Paon?"

"She is waiting quietly for her fate. I wanted to discuss it with you first..." Chloe grips the hem of her shirt and twists it anxiously. "L-Le Paon was...Nathalie."

Marinette's eyes widen in shock.

"The day we all went out to the mall together, Adrien and Nathalie came to pick me up but they walked in on my mother and I having a massive fight because I had just heard about her plans for the press conference to exhile us heroes. Adrien wanted to get me out of there so Nathalie held off my mother for us. That day, after we left them...That was when Nathalie took control of my mother." Chloe explains. "That's why "Audrey" completely ruined her own reputation at her own press meeting, and why she fixed everything she had ruined since coming here. It was all Nathalie."

Alya huffs stubbornly. "So what! Who wouldn't do that if they had control over Audrey?"

Chloe sighs heavy-heartedly before continuing. "After getting closer to me as my mother and learning that I am Queen Bee...Nathalie took control of me too, that was just earlier today. Then I convinced Rena Rouge and Carapace to visit the guardian. That's how Nathalie learnt of his location and took control of Shelly and Rena too. Nathalie needed the spellbook along with the Ultimate Power to create a reality in which Adrien's mother lives. She just wanted her best friend back...Nathalie would do anything for Zara and her family."

Marinette takes a deep breath. "What happened to Adrien?"

Chloe gulps. "He...accidentally cataclysmed the peacock miraculous during your fight. He couldn't let Duusu die at his hands so he-- so he used the Ultimate Power. All of the power. From every miraculous. And it tore his body apart..."

Marinette covers her mouth in horror, tears brimming her widened eyes.

"That's what I wanted to talk about, rather than being too hasty with Nathalie's arrest..." Chloe says, earning a "hmph" from Alya. "He managed to save it, Marinette." Chloe carefully reaches into her bag and presents the peacock miraculous. "This miraculous is something extremely special from Zara's life. It's her legacy. It's precious and personal to Adrien...He hated the idea of someone using it for evil. And I hate the idea of ruining all of that by tarnishing it. No one knows about the peacock miraculous or Le Paon, and I want to keep it that way. Adrien is on the verge of death because he wanted to save this miraculous, we can't just drag it through the mud. Plus, it's powers are so dangerous...it's better the world doesn't know about it, like Zara had always intended."

Marinette gazes over the peacock miraculous sorrowfully.

"I'm not saying we let Nathalie go," Chloe says. "If I have learnt anything, it's that you have to take responsibility for your actions and prove that you have changed in order to deserve forgiveness. I believe Nathalie to be a good person...she has always taken care of Adrien, and even me...but I am a hero and I take a stand to criminals. I will not tolerate wrong doing anymore. That's just another reason not to reveal Le Paon. If we do, everything she did as my mother will become invalid. We can't have that, for the good of the city."

Marinette slowly closes her eyes. "Understood. I will take care of it."

.

Once Marinette was able to get out of bed, she and her friends headed over to Adrien's house to confront Nathalie. When they enter the house, they find Gabriel standing upon the stairs with Nathalie kneeling below him on the ground floor.

"You let me into Zara's home, into the life of her family...and I betrayed you. I am no longer fit for this position, as I no longer have the right to claim to care for this family." Nathalie says. "I...stole your precious keepsake. Zara's miraculous. And I...I used it for selfish deeds that Zara would never approve of. I just wanted her alive and happy, here with us like she belongs...but I was blinded by that hope and in the process I almost destroyed everything that was left of her...The peacock miraculous and her own son, the two proofs of her life. A-Adrien...Adrien sacrificed himself just as Zara did all those years ago. I realise...how precious life is. It is precious because there is death and there is time, and experiences that create new life. Life like Adrien's that I almost erased...I almost erased everything that Zara worked for. I only wanted to bring back her life but it seems I was closer to taking it..."

Gabriel looks lost for words. His eyes are dark and tired, drained with worry. "I can understand the darkness that consumed your heart but I also find it hard to forgive you for hurting what is most dear to me. Now I know how Adrien felt back then..." Gabriel looks to Marinette sorrowfully.

Those eyes...always haunted with ghosts of his past. This family truly has gone through some torture and it seems Nathalie shares Marinette's wish of wanting them to be able to move on.

Marinette walks forward to place herself in front of Nathalie. "If you feel so indebted to this family then I know exactly how you can repay them."

Nathalie lifts her head. "By rotting in prison, I presume?"

"We don't want to dirty Le Paon's name so the world will know nothing of your crimes but you have to pay somehow so we'll kill two birds with one stone." Marinette crosses her arms. "People are still searching, investigating...They will never let go of Hawkmoth. So, Nathalie, you will be Hawkmoth and go to jail for his crimes and live with his sins to your name and thus bear the ultimate burden of this family."

"The burden of this family?" Alya repeats.

"I deserve this guilt, Marinette," Gabriel says. "And Nathalie deserves her own."

"Well tough luck." Marinette replies firmly. "I'm not suggesting this for either of you, I'm doing it for Adrien. He doesn't deserve to be dragged down by your crimes or to be haunted by your past. I'm putting it to rest."

Nathalie bows her head once more. "I will take it upon myself, rather than Adrien."

"Woah, woah, woah," Alya interrupts. "What does Hawkmoth have to do with this family?"

Gabriel narrows his eyes challengingly. "I am Hawkmoth."

Nino gaps in fright and grabs Alya.

"No," Nathalie finally takes a stand. "I am Hawkmoth."

Chloe claps her hands together. "Please, Daddy Agreste, Nathalie is trying to change and prove herself a better person. Let her do it. And please, we can't let anyone find out about the peacock miraculous because my mother will, well I don'tknow exactly what she'll do but she'll do something and it'll be horrible!"

Gabriel sighs heavily and pinches his nose bridge. "Because I owe Marinette my life, her word is gospel so if this is what she says is best, so be it."

"This is the last time. I'm no savour to you anymore, that's in the past," Marinette says. "From now on, I'm just your beloved daughter-in-law."

Gabriel smiles weakly. "In-law? Count on you to be so bold..."

Marinette smirks proudly.

Gabriel nods. "Please leave me to myself for a while..." Then he slowly turns and disappears up the stairs.

Chloe's eyes linger to Nathalie but the two remain in silence.

"Why the hell does Gabriel owe you his life?" Alya asks Marinette.

Marinette heaves a sigh. "It's a long story alright. Do you have to be in investigator mode all the time?"

"I can't believe you hid such a bombshell from us!" Nino exclaims.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you everything just so Chloe has time to say goodbye before we call the police." Marinette grabs Alya and Nino and drags them out of the house to give Chloe some privacy.

Chloe taps her fingers together awkwardly. "I'm...sorry to seem so keen on throwing you in jail. It's nothing personal...sort of..."

"I understand. You're a hero," Nathalie smiles. "That's what heroes do."

Chloe's heart aches. "Why do you say such nice things when this entire time...Y-You were just pretending."

"I'm sorry I used you, but everything I've said is true. You're a wonderful girl, Chloe, a real hero. And...I..." Nathalie shifts and rubs her arm sheepishly. "W-Well I appreciate our time together."

Tears begin to brim Chloe's eyes. "I do too. I...I finally felt... What do I do now? I thought I had managed to make my mom change, d-do I try again?"

"Chloe...After betraying your trust, I don't wish to hurt you anymore. I don't want your walls to go back up. You are doing so, so well." Nathalie says. "There is something you should know but I don't know if I have the right to impose on your life again."

"What?" Chloe croaks. "T-Tell me. Be truthful this once and I'll trust you again, please."

"Whilst I had control over Audrey, I did some digging. It seems that she suddenly moved back to Paris...after her business went bankrupt." Nathalie says.

Chloe's gut drops. She exhales sharply, her trembling lip curving into a smile. "Of course...typical. all that woman cares about is money. She never...She never..." Chloe hiccups and begins to cry. "How can such people exist? People incapable of change? I tried so h-hard! What do I do now?"

"Keep being you, my dear."

A pair of arms swiftly wrap round Chloe and pull her into a hug. Chloe's breath hitches in surprise, ceasing her crying. Nathalie holds Chloe close, tenderly...motherly... She strokes Chloe's hair to comfort and calm her. She rocks her gently back and forth. And, when Chloe clings to her tightly, she lets her do so and stays with her as long as she needs.

Chloe is almost lulled to sleep in their soothing silence and warmth of Nathalie's embrace. That is, until she hears the sound of approaching sirens. Chloe screws her eyes shut, a tear rolling down her cheek, and squeezes Nathalie tighter.

Nathalie pats her back. "It's time to let go," She says softly. "You are not being abandoned, okay? You are strong. I believe in you Chloe. Please take care of Adrien but more importantly, take care of yourself."

"Nathalie Sancoeur," Says a voice through a megaphone from outside. "Please come out of the house with your hands up."

Nathalie slowly stands up, Chloe's hands dragging off of her and falling limp to the floor.

"Wait...I didn't get enough time with you, N-Nathalie. We barely...We..." Chloe says shakily as she watches Nathalie walk away. Just as Nathalie reaches the door, Chloe yells out, "I...I love you!"

Nathalie pauses to look back at Chloe and smiles softly. "I love you too."

.

Chloe cried all the way home. She gave her father quite the shock when she stumbed into his office looking the way she did.

"Chloe, pumpkin, what's the matter?"

"W-Why didn't you tell me about my mother. About Audrey. I know she only came here because she was broke!"

André lowers his eyes. "You were so sad when she left and so happy when she came back...I would do anything for you, darling."

"D-Do I look happy, Daddy?" Chloe sobs. "I-I know I vowed never to take advantage of your position again. But please, j-just this once...Just get her out of here! I never want to see her again!"

And so, the Mayor held a press conference to officially exile Audrey from Paris for her crimes. Oh, how the tables did turn.