An intense image for an intense chapter..

Grab a cup of joe and snuggle up in a blanket cuz this chappies a lil longer than my others.
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[Adrien's POV]

My heart aches as I watch Ladybug swing away into the distance. Part of me feels relieved. Relieved that my endless tie with her has been severed. But part of me still hurts. Part of me doesn't want her to go. It's a strange mixture of feelings. I'm so happy to start my new beginning with Marinette—happier than I've ever been—but that doesn't mean I don't feel guilty about rejecting Ladybug. I can't bear to see the beautifully strong and confident Ladybug so distraught with sorrow. I want to go after her. I want to comfort her...But I know I shouldn't. She wouldn't want me there, what she needs now is space.

I lower my head and turn to leave, when I am beckoned by a soft whisper.

"Cat Noir..."

My head snaps up. I spin round to see Ladybug standing on the railing of the Eifel tower. Or at least, the ghost of Ladybug. Her once bright red suit has now dulled to black. Her skin is pale and her eyes are lifeless, dark and empty like hollow chasms. She looks dead, inside and out. Is this my guilt playing tricks on me?

"L-Ladybug, you don't look good." I say fearfully.

Ladybug stares blankly...silently... Then she opens her mouth just enough to breathe an eerie whisper.

"Catch me," She says before falling backwards off the railing.

"Ladybug!" I run to the railing and look over the edge.

Ladybug's body is limp. She stares up at the sky as she falls. What kind of sick trick is she playing at? Pull up! Is this what I'm doing to her? Am I killing her? Surely, this is just a manifestation of my guilt.

I grit my teeth and leap over the railing.

"Ladybug!" I scream, reaching out desperately as I follow her down.

Ladybug quickly draws out her yoyo and zips away. My eyes widen as I see the ground approaching rapidly. I holler in terror as I extend my staff down just in time. It pushes off the ground and vaults me into the air. I land on a nearby rooftop where Ladybug is waiting for me.

"What are you playing at? I almost died! You almost died!" I yell frantically.

"Catch me." Ladybug repeats before leaping off the rooftop.

This time, she swings away on her yoyo almost immediately. My body moves on its own, tailing Ladybug as she zooms through the city. Please tell me I'm going crazy. Please tell me that isn't Ladybug. Don't tell me...Don't tell me that she's been akumatized.

"Ladybug!" I shout hopelessly.

I recognise these buildings and streets. I have an unsettling feeling that I know where she is headed. It is an unsettling feeling that I have been fighting for quite some time...I don't want to face it.

Stop...please...

A familiar building comes into view, one old and rusted.

Don't...

It is approaching us swiftly. I can see the various warning signs and fences.

No...

Ladybug disappears inside the building. The dreaded building that I once held so dear. It's so close I can read the broken, faded sign...

"Dumannios Astronomy Observatory"

Please, no...

Seven shining, new locks stand out of place against the old, peeling door. The secure locks that once prevented me from entering this place, now all unlocked freely.

I reach out a shaky hand and push open the door with a long and painful creeeeeeeeeek....

My heart is pounding like a jackhammer. My mind is racing in panic.

It's not...It's not him, I tell myself.

I take a deep breath to calm my irrational thoughts. As soon as I step inside, the door snaps shut behind me, engulfing me in darkness. That same humming sound is echoing throughout the room. I jump in fright at the sudden clanking and buzzing of metal. Light begins to seep into the room as a large, circular window opens up, revealing the symbol of a butterfly. I shift back in surprise as the flittering humming sound bouncing off the walls of the metal dome is revealed to be hundreds of fluttering moths.

My eyes widen as the room is completely illuminated. Hawkmoth is standing right before me, in the flesh. I can feel his icy glare on my skin. I can sense his evil presence. And standing beside him is the ghostly Ladybug.

"Ladybug..." I say, taking a step forward.

"Her name is Black Beetle now." Hawkmoth says with a cruel smirk.

I narrow my eyes at the villain, anger twisting in my gut. "Let her go, Hawkmoth!" I demand.

"Oh don't you worry. I'll have to extract the akuma from her earrings if I'm going to harness their power." Hawkmoth says. "But I think I'd like to claim your miraculous first."

My eyes flicker to Ladybug, sorrow tugging at my heart. I can't do this without her. I clench my fists as I prepare myself to strike a deal with Paris's most terrorising villain.

"Let her go, and I'll give you my miraculous."

Hawkmoth breathes soft scoff. "Or I could have her take it from you."

"Let's find out who you really are." Ladybug hisses, walking towards me.

"What?" I take a step backwards as Ladybug approaches me menacingly. "Ladybug, no...don't make me fight you."

"Don't worry kitty, it's not going to be much of a fight at all."

And with that, Ladybug zips forward, striking me in the gut with her foot. Her movements are so fast I can't see them coming. I can't defend myself...but I can't attack either. I couldn't possibly work up the strength to beat her. All I can do is stand hopelessly still as Ladybug hits me over and over. She uppercuts my jaw, causing me to bite my tongue so hard it draws blood. She whacks me in the knees, making me collapse to the ground.

"Ladybug...stop..." I beg weakly.

I'm going to have to...I can't let Hawkmoth get what he wants.

Ladybug swings her foot at me but I grab it and throw her across the floor. She hits her head and lays motionless, groaning quietly.

"Forgive me...Ladybug," I whisper sorrowfully.

"Useless girl." Hawkmoth scowls as he storms towards Ladybug.

He grabs Ladybug's hair to lift her head up and makes a tensed claw movement at her earring.

"Don't touch her!" I scream, my blood boiling.

"Back off, stupid boy! I'm the one with a hostage in this situation." Hawkmoth spits.

Black light illuminates from Ladybug's earring as an akuma seeps out, following Hawkmoth's hand motion. Ladybug's expression strains painfully. My heart lurches worriedly but there is nothing I can do. My eyes flicker around the room, searching for something. Anything.

Hawkmoth takes the akuma in his hand and crumbles it into dust. Black essence bubbles around Ladybug's body until she has returned to her normal self.

"Chat...?" Ladybug wheezes, her eyes barely staying open.

"Ladybug, get out of there!" I yell.

But it is too late.

Ladybug's eyes widen in horror as Hawkmoth reaches around and takes her earrings. I want to yell, I want to look away, I want to stop this, but my body won't listen to me. Ladybug keeps her eyes locked on mine as her body illuminates with pink light, a certain sadness in her eyes...as if she is saying sorry.

This isn't your fault, Ladybug...I was powerless to stop it.

"Lady...bug...?" I breathe shakily, my eyes widening at the sight before me.

The light from her transformation fades, and Marinette falls to the ground weakly. My chest collapses in on itself. Reality shatters. Every single one of my memories with Ladybug and Marinette comes rushing through my mind, mixing and swirling into a nauseating mess.

I stumble and clutch my pounding head. The illusion has broken. It is all so painfully obvious that I can't believe I never saw it before.

Hawkmoth's eyes are gleaming with greed as he grins down at the earrings in his palm.

"Now," He growls, looking to me. "Hand over your miraculous, or I squash this pesky bug."

Lady—Marinette, she isn't getting up. My precious princess...all of her energy and warmth has been completely drained from her. She is kneeling with her hands rested on the floor to hold herself up. Tears overflow from her beautiful blue eyes and sputter on the ground below her.

The sight makes my heart shake in fear. Suddenly I feel weak and helpless, as if all of my strength has been leached from my body. Mari...she is my strength. What would I do without her? I still have so many things that I need to tell her.

I clench my fists, tears welling up in my eyes. My hand trembles violently as I slowly reach up.

"Don't even think about it!" Marinette screams suddenly, her piercing voice ringing out in the empty room.

I stare in shock as Marinette lifts her head to glare at me. Tears are flowing down her cheeks but her eyes are fierce and strong.

"Don't you dare surrender your miraculous for me." She utters threateningly.

Marinette...even in the darkest of times, even after she has had everything ripped from her, she fights on. Even without her miraculous, she is stronger than I could ever hope to be.

"Silence, pest!" Hawkmoth snaps.

He whacks Marinette across the face with his staff, sending her toppling over on the ground. My body shifts forward desperately, but I pull myself back. I grit my teeth and mutter angrily,

"Cataclysm."

Hawkmoth's head snaps up in alarm as I slam my destructive hand onto the wall beside me. Rust infects the metal construction, spreading throughout the building. The metal gives an uneasy groan.

"You fool! This building was already unstable as it was." Hawkmoth looks up at the ceiling as large chunks of scrap metal and pipes begin to fall.

The disturbance I had caused gives Marinette the opportunity to recover herself and leap to her feet. The ground tremors as a chunk of debris falls right next to Hawkmoth. He barely steps out of the way but Ladybug's earrings go flying from his grasp. Marinette dashes forward in an instant. She leaps up, swings round and kicks Hawkmoth across the face, sending him stammering backwards. Marinette makes a dive for her earrings.

But my eyes are glued to Hawkmoth. My heart is racing with concern as more and more fragments break off the roof. This building is really coming apart now. The metal creaks as another large chunk begins to fall. My body moves on its own, pushing off the ground to race to Hawkmoth's aid. It's already begun to fall. It's falling...

"Move!" I roar as I leap forward to shove Hawkmoth out of the way.

The heavy metal crashes down on top me, pain surging through my body. I can almost hear my bones breaking as it crushes me against the ground. Agony sears my every nerve.

"aARRGH!" I holler.

I bare my teeth, tears stinging at the back of my eyes. Hawkmoth looks surprised at first but then a twisted grin appears on his face. Everything from my shoulders down is pinned to the ground. Everything except my outstretched hands. I attempt to wriggle free, but it only hurts more. Hawkmoth looms towards me, his eyes locked on my miraculous. I watch in horror as the very last pad on my ring flickers away.

"No, not now!" I groan as a green light consumes me.

Once the indestructible leather of my suit fades away, I begin to feel the sharp edges of the metal piercing my skin. I cry out in agony as the rusted nails sink into my flesh.

For a split second, Hawkmoth hesitates. His eyes widen slightly. Dread flashes before him. But as quickly as it surfaced, the emotion was pushed back. Hawkmoth swiftly removes my ring and turns away.

"Surprised to see your perfect little boy behind the mask?" I spit.

Hawkmoth stops dead in his tracks.

That's right...I knew it all along. I just didn't want to believe it.

"Turning your back on your dying son is pretty cold, even for you." I choke out, tears spilling from my eyes.

Hawkmoth's fist tightens around my miraculous. Even now, after years of neglect, he doesn't have the guts to face his emotions. To face the consequences of what he's done. Anger boils up inside of me. It rises in my throat as an outburst of rage.

"Look at me you coward!" I scream. "YOU ROTTEN FATHER!"

Every time I speak, my wounds seem to tear open a little more. Hot gore is seeping through my clothes. The tears streaming down my face mix into the puddle of blood seeping out from under me.

"Adrien...you don't understand. I'm doing this for us. With this ultimate power, I can bring back your mother." Hawkmoth says. "If your precious Ladybug has really cared for you, then she would have gladly given her miraculous for our use."

"Mom...?" I exhale shakily.

Can the ultimate power really get her back? Plagg wouldn't keep that from me, would he? Ladybug wouldn't...

Hawkmoth turns, and finally I see the light blue eyes of my father. They aren't stone cold anymore, they are swirling with fear and sorrow, desperation and weakness.

I blink slowly at him, my eyesight growing fuzzy. W-What is this? I feel dizzy and lightheaded. Have I lost too much blood?

Dad's eyes widen at the sight of me. "That's right!" He says as he rushes forward. "That's right, we'll all be together again soon. So stay with me, Adrien."

My father's voice drowns out as everything around me darkens. I think of my mother and how warm her hugs once were. I miss her...but her light died out a long time ago, and it is never coming back. I have been alone in the cold darkness for some time now. I know she isn't coming back. I have found a new light now...Marinette, bright and warm like the sunrise. She gives me light and hope. She gives me the strength and energy for a new day. If I could have only one thing, I'd like to see her tender smile again.

[Marinette's POV]

The ceiling is crumbling. My earrings have gone flying from Hawkmoth's grasp, bouncing and rolling across the room. I doge the falling metal and leap forward to snatch one of my earrings. It is then that I feel a sudden shock in the ground and a loud holler. I whip round to see Cat Noir trapped beneath a large piece of metal, his face strained with pain.

"Chat!" I yell fearfully. "H-Hang on!"

I search the floor frantically for my other earring. I have to transform. I have to save him. Hawkmoth is edging closer. My heart is pounding, anxiety coursing through my veins.

My attention is suddenly captured by a bright green light sparkling from Cat Noir's body. Time seems to slow as his magical disguise crumbles away, revealing the identity of my beloved Adrien. My mind is racing with memories of the two. It all makes so much sense. I'm such an idiot.

The light from Cat Noir's transformation had sparkled across the surface of something small on the floor in front of me. I lunge forward and clasp in my other earring. I watch as a ball of light forms my little red kwami, Tiki. She barely wakes up before falling into my hands weakly.

Adrien is screaming and crying in agony. It tears my heart apart to listen to.

"T-Tiki, help," I whimper. "S-Spots on, Tiki. Tiki?"

"The akuma infected your miraculous. My power has weakened...I-I'm not strong enough," Tiki says. "I'm not strong enough alone. I need...Plagg."

"YOU ROTTEN FATHER!" Adrien screams.

I look up at Hawkmoth in shock. Mr Agreste? It couldn't be... My eyes widen when I realise Hawkmoth, whoever he is, is clutching Adrien's miraculous.

"Tiki, Adrien is losing too much blood. What do I do? We need to save him!" I panic, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Cat Noir and Ladybug are stronger as one," Tiki says. "I need Plagg...You need to go get Adrien's miraculous."

I grit my teeth and dash forward. Hawkmoth is kneeling beside Adrien's unconscious body.

"Don't touch him!" I roar as I launch my foot into Hawkmoth's side.

Hawkmoth falls to the ground. He clutches his side as he looks up at me desperately.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and save him!" Hawkmoth shouts urgently. "You're Ladybug, aren't you? Do something!"

"Give me back his ring!" I demand. "It doesn't belong to you. Give it back!"

Hawkmoth looks down at Cat Noir's miraculous painfully.

"We don't have much time! You want me to save him, don't you?" I plead stressfully. "I need that ring, Hawkm--..Gabriel...please, it might be too late to save your wife but it's not too late to save your son."

Hawkmoth is still staring down at the miraculous. The idea that this tiny object has any measure to Adrien's life makes me sick. I grab Hawkmoth's shirt aggressively and force him to look at me.

"For once in your life would you be a good father?! The father that Adrien deserves!" I scream angrily.

"I'm sorry...I'm too weak." Hawkmoth looks up at me fearfully, his eyes shining with tears. "Please, save him."

I take Adrien's ring from Hawkmoth and hastily slip it onto my finger.

^ This'll be what Ultimate Power looks like ^

[Narrator's POV]

Marinette inhales a sharp breath as a rush of energy pulses through her body. She sparkles with a blinding, golden light and emerges dressed in dark purple. Pure power tingles at her fingertips. The power to destroy, and the power to create. A power only comparable to god. She can sense everything around her. She can feel every vibration through space. Her head is aching and her heart feels as though it might explode.

Then, Marinette hears the voices of her kwamis in the back of her mind.

"Marinette, you have the power of creation and destruction," Tiki says. "You can manipulate energy and matter."

"But do not exert yourself. The power is a lot to take in," Plagg adds. "Using too much could take a toll on your body. Try to concentrate on only one thing."

Amazing...Marinette can sense her kwami's presence. She can feel their power within her. She can also sense the energy of another kwami.

Nooroo, her mind is telling her.

She does not know how, but Marinette feels a strange connection with the kwamis. She slowly turns to Hawkmoth, her eyes glowing an electric blue.

"I'll be taking back that miraculous too." Marinette says, her voice misty and echoing.

Marinette reaches out her hand and Hawkmoth's pin rips from his chest. His disguise crumbles away until it is none other than Gabriel Agreste kneeling pathetically on the floor. The butterfly miraculous flies through the air and lands in Marinette's palm.

"Leave." Marinette bellows.

Gabriel scrambles to his feet and retreats from his once great hideout. Marinette turns to Adrien, her heart straining with despair. She can sense his life energy fading. Marinette places a hand on the large piece of metal crushing him and it instantly disintegrates like ash.

"If I can manipulate matter, I can heal him can't I?" Marinette asks as she kneels beside her love.

"It's not that easy Marinette, you can't manipulate what he doesn't have." Tiki answers solemnly.

"You can speed up the healing process by lending him your strength." Plagg says.

Marinette knows what she must do, she can hear what her kwamis are telling her, but she can sense Tiki's discomfort with the idea.

"I can manipulate energy...I can lend him my strength." Marinette says as she clasps her hands over Adrien's chest. "I will give him every ounce of energy I possess, so that his body can heal its wounds."

"Marinette, please, be careful. If you use up too much energy, your bodily functions will shut down." Tiki warns.

Marinette focuses all of her energy on Adrien. She thinks of all the time they have spent together over these past couple of years. Memories with Cat Noir mix in too. Every laugh, smile and hug they have shared. Every heartache, every teardrop and every struggle. It has been a long journey but god was it worth it. Marinette's love for Adrien and Cat Noir combines into one overwhelming swell of happiness within her chest. She would give her heart and soul for this boy. This beautiful boy laying before her.

Marinette can feel her energy rapidly draining out from her. She feels lightheaded, as though all of the blood is rushing from her brain straight down to the hands clasped over Adrien's chest. His wounds begin to slowly close up and scar over. Marinette continues to push herself. Through her hands she feels every single cell in Adrien's body, and she powers them with strength.

"Kid, don't push yourself." Plagg says gently.

Marinette ignores her worried kwamis and focuses harder. Her muscles are so fatigued it pains her.

He hasn't woken up yet. Please...wake up...

Marinette screws her eyes shut, tears seeping from the corners. Her heartbeat grows weaker and weaker, until not even she can feel it.

Take it...My love, my energy, my life...Take it all, just please, wake up...