Ladybug's P.O.V.

I opened my eyes with a groan. I was in a warehouse full of crates, sitting? Trying to stand but held back, I looked down to see what appeared to be my lucky charm, a bike lock, that had tied me to the chair. My Miraculous gave a warning beep, the second one.

What had happened? How had I gotten tied up in my own lucky charm? I pushed past my dull headache and tried to remember what had happened. The Akumatized villain, Cleanser, had been terrorizing the school. Chat Noir and I had been fighting him. There had been too many of his cronies, so I had told Chat to regroup. I had been about to leave.

Something had bashed into my face, something tough and prickly, like a... broom... nonononono. Surely I didn't get... did I?

I tried to recall what had happened after, but I couldn't.
I-I must have been controlled by Cleanser. The thought sickened me. Now I know how Chat Noir feels whenever an Akumatized villain controls him. Chat... he must have been the one who had tied me up. Clever cat. But where was he?

Worry gnawed at me. I know Chat is capable but he has almost never faced a villain without me. "Beep" my Miraculous went again.

I jumped as I heard a loud thump above me.
"M'lady?" I heard Chat Noir croak.
"Oh Chat!" I cried out, "what's going on?"
Nothing.
"Chat?" The only response I got was a groan of pain, then he hoarsely whimpered,
"Lady-dybug. F-fix ev-ery thing".

I hastily called out,
"Miraculous Ladybug!" And the bike lock twirled into the magical Ladybugs which flew around the city, restoring and fixing everything.
From above I heard an exclamation of pain. My Miraculous beeped again. Dammit.
"Hold on Chat Noir" I pleaded.

I ran and hid among the crates, just in time. My transformation was released with a whoosh, and a red and black shape spun out of my earrings. Catching Tikki in one of my hands, I used the other to fish a Macaroon out of my purse before gently handing it to her.

She ate quickly, a worried expression upon her face.
"What's wrong Tikki?" I questioned. She only murmured that it was nothing and I should transform quickly and help Chat Noir.
Tikki got her energy back and I transformed into Ladybug again, barely waiting for my transformation to complete before swinging up onto the roof.

Chat Noir stood there, groaning and swaying, his face pale. He saw me and attempted to step forward, but his leg gave way and he fell to the ground, though I managed to catch him before impact.
He was shivering, but when I felt his forehead I immediately drew back my hand. I murmured,
"My poor kitty. You're burning up with fever!" He flinched as I called him by his pet name, as though I had caused him even more pain. What had Cleanser made me do!?

"Cleanser!" I gasped out, "did you defeat him?"
He attempted to smirk but ended up contorting his face in agony,
"O-of co-course I d-did."
My worry soothed, I immediately looked at him with concern, holding him close to me,
"But if I fixed everything, why are you still," gesturing to him, "like this?"
He feverishly muttered,
"A-aku-uma. Ca-catacl-clysm".
"Oh Chat!" I cried out. He winced. I lowered my voice to an apologetic whisper,
"Sorry".
He made no reply, but instead gave a whimper which almost broke my heart.

I drew him close and gently stroked his hair,
"Oh my poor, poor kitty," my thoughts racing. He had Cataclysmed the Akuma, disintegrated it. Saving everyone. But at what price?

I was startled out of my thoughts as Chat's ring gave a warning beep. He was about to transform back. Immediately attempting to hastily rise, he fell back down with a scream.
"Ne-need t-t-to g-get be-behin-d b-bar-rier."

He was in so much pain. I hated to see him this way. I know some people think that I don't care about Chat Noir, but I do. I love and respect him, I don't know what I would do if anything bad were to happen to him...
His Miraculous beeped again, reminding me of the urgency of his request.

Gently picking him up, I carried him behind one of the barriers, and placed him against it in a sitting position. As his ring beeped more urgently, he attempted to push me away with a clammy hand, insisting,
"G-g-go."
I hastily retreated, walking away whilst hearing a "whoosh" behind me.

Plagg's voice drifted over to me from behind the barrier, conversing with his holder
"Kid. Hey Kid are you okay?" There was no audible response, but I heard a quiet murmur.
The conversation dropped to a whisper. Then Chat Noir exclaimed in pain and cried out,
"She doesn't remember anything?" Plagg reassured him that she, or rather I, didn't.
"Oh Plagg... it's so hard. My heart feels as though it's breaking!"
Then he gave such a pitiful mewl that I wanted to go and comfort him, but was forced to just stand and listen. They conversed a few more moments, and Chat gave another agony-filled groan that chilled me to the bone.

To my surprise, Plagg flew over the barrier and approached me, his face full of more worry and emotion than I ever gave him credit for.
"How is he?" I asked.
"The kid... he's not in a good way," he replied, "he Cataclysmed an Akuma. It's... he... Master Fu will explain everything."
"Master Fu?" I queried, though I was beginning to understand what Plagg was saying,
"You mean only Master Fu can fix him?"
He looked down with a shrug,
"I don't know. This has almost never happened before. But it's the only thing I can think of."

When he looked up, I had to stifle my surprise, for his eyes were slightly moistened with tears. It struck me how badly I had misjudged Plagg. I had always thought of him as selfish, yet had never stopped to ponder how much he cared for his holder. 

"Oh Plagg..." I exhaled, "I'm so sorry," and I cupped my hands around him.
"I promise that I will get Master Fu and he will heal Chat Noir. Everything will be okay."
"Okay?!" He looked up at me, fierce scorn replacing his previously forlorn expression, and he sprung into the air,
"No. It's not okay! You can't promise something like that!"
I wasn't mad at him, for I knew he was just worried about Chat Noir. I gave a small sigh,
"You're right. I'm sorry. I'll get Master Fu."

As I heard Chat Noir give another yowl of torment, I felt my own eyes fill slightly and I choked out,
"Are you able to look after him whilst I'm gone?"
"Of course," he nodded.
I turned and swung away as swiftly as I could. Behind me I heard Chat Noir writhing and yelling in pain, the sound making a cold hand grip my heart.
"Just hold on Kitty," I whispered to myself, going even faster.

Tikki's P.O.V.

I held on tightly to Marinette's bag as she rushed to Master Fu's home. Worry gnawed at me. From all that I had overheard, I knew that Chat Noir, also known to me as Adrien, had Cataclysmed an Akuma.

It was a dangerous business. When a black cat Miraculous holder Cataclysms such an evil thing as an Akuma, his body, his very soul absorbs the darkness of it, putting them in immense pain. The darkness overtaking them, suffocating them, until they can no longer live.

No herbal or modern medicine could do anything.
Only one thing could save him.

Though cliché, only one thing could conquer this dark hate. Love.

A cold hand gripped my heart. Some part of me sensing that Adrien was getting worst.
"Just hold on," I quietly whispered.

Master Fu's P.O.V.

I looked up, startled, as Marinette burst through the door.
"Master Fu!" She cried out, sputtering,
"Chat Noir- he- I-"
Tikki twirled out her bag and hurriedly exclaimed,
"Chat Noir Cataclysmed an Akuma!"

Ice crawled through my veins and I tried to calmly ask,
"You are sure of this?"
Both nodded furiously and I sighed in response,
"This is bad. Very, very bad. Marinette where did you leave him?"
"On a rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, hidden behind a barrier. Plagg is with him."
Upon hearing that he was not completely alone and defenceless, some of my worry was soothed.

Immediately scurrying around the room, I grabbed various herbs and stuffed them into a satchel.
"You will have to take me to him Marinette, it is the only way."
She protested,
"But Master Fu! That will put you in danger."
I looked at her and gravely replied,
"No more danger than what I fear Chat Noir is in. Quickly, we have no choice."

3rd Person P.O.V.

A familiar red and black figure could be seen swinging above the rooftops of Paris, clinging tightly to her was a rather short male senior citizen, wearing a red and white Hawaiian T-shirt.

At last they reached the location where Ladybug had left her partner.
Having landed, the spotted heroine indicated the barrier behind which she had hidden the feline, but Master Fu needed no direction, for the caterwauling wails of pain were almost deafening.

The Guardian disappeared behind the barrier, and within a few moments the wails quietened down to whimpers.

At last he reappeared, grave concern upon his face. Approaching Ladybug, he appeared to steady himself, before responding to Ladybug's questioning eyes,
"I swore to myself I would never make the same mistake again. Many years ago there was another black cat Miraculous holder who Cataclysmed an Akuma to save his lady, but I refused to allow the one thing that would save him, and he breathed his last breath, pleading for me to.... allow him..." he trailed off, the pain of continuing evidently too much for him.

Then, snapping out from his memories, he gave a firm shake of his head and determinedly said,
"It is against all The Guardian Rules. But only thing will save Chat Noir. True love. You must both reveal your identities to one another."

"But Master-" Ladybug began, about to protest, but the realisation of what was at stake, The gravity that Chat Noir, her dear kitty, would die, cut off her words.

Master Fu, seeing the answer in the heroine's eyes, immediately pulled her towards the barrier, hastily exclaiming,
"Quickly, quickly, we have little time left!"

Ladybug's P.O.V.

I paused for a moment before going behind the barrier. Steading myself. I was about to see Chat Noir. In his civilian form. The person who had admitted his love to me a thousand times. I took a deep breath, then took the metaphorical leap. I stepped behind the barrier, and saw-
"Adrien!?" I squeaked out. The shock almost strangled me.

Before me sat Adrien Agreste, gaunt and deathly pale, his eyes empty of the usual spark of intelligence, reduced to feverish muttering and unintelligible murmurs. His painful writhing galvanised me into action. Kneeling down I gently touched his arm, and his eyes, still slightly glazed with pain, focused on me.
"M-M-L-la-ad-dy" he jerked out.

I gently put my fingers on his lips, hushing him in soothing tones. I felt tears well up in my eyes, and I softly whispered,
"Shhhh. It's okay Kitty. You're safe." His vacant yet afflicted expression made my own suffering even worse. I took a breath. I had to do it now or else I would never get the courage to do it.
"Spots Off".

I felt my disguise disappear. My insecurity replacing it, I anxiously scanned Adrien's face to see any glimpse of his reaction.

In his eye I saw a spark of incoherent confusion, yet I could have sworn that there was the slightest gleam of satisfaction among his pained features.

My thoughts were interrupted as he gave a cry of anguish, his face contorted with pain.

I didn't have much time.
I gazed at him. Only instead of seeing Adrien I saw Chat Noir. Even with his cat puns and cheeky smirk, I realised that I loved him. I always had. He had saved my life so many times, lifted me up when I was feeling low, comforted me when I was lonely. He had always been there for me.
And I had to be there for him.
I knelt down, cradling him in my arms, and leant in.

Adrien's P.O.V.

I was in a prison of darkness and agony. I felt myself fading, becoming weaker and weaker. Every part of me just aching to give in to the beckoning warmth of unconsciousness. I just wanted to close my eyes.

Only one thing kept me from slipping aware. Ladybug. Forever my lucky charm, it was only her grip that held me from the precipice of death.

Suddenly a shaft of light fell from above, expelling the darkness. I involuntarily gave a shuddering gasp, feeling like I had surfaced from a dark bog of water. I opened my eyes, feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. I felt alive.

Before me I saw and felt Marinette passionately kissing me, and my hunger caused me to return it with equal bravado.

I knew in my heart that she was Ladybug. She had always been Ladybug. Some part of me had always loved her. So kind, caring, gentle and generally positive, the same beautiful bluebell eyes gazing into mine, if I weren't in such a poor state I could have kicked myself for not seeing it before. I had always loved her, but I had been too blind and distracted by her alter ego to see it.

When we at last surfaced for breath, I surveyed her beautiful face. She seemed happy, yet in her eyes I could see the slightest glint of insecurity. Then it hit me. She was worried that I was disappointed. The thought almost made me want to spit.

She was so stunningly kind, yet she thought she wouldn't live up to my expectations. I had to fix that. Caressing her cheek and tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear, I admiringly whispered,
"You gorgeous girl". At once I saw all her anxiety dissipate and she murmured in reply, with an almost smirk,
"You gorgeous guy".

Plagg's P.O.V.

The two love birds were lost in one another's eyes, tightly clinging to one another.
I was half-tempted to make some snarky comment like "ew, get a room", yet I could not bring myself to interrupt their silent reveries, they looked so serene and peaceful.

They had finally found the Yin to their Yang.
Looking down, I could see Master Fu observing the young lovers, a grin of gaiety smeared across his face. He had from the first day shipped those two, echoing the words of thousands,
"Those two are made for each other".

I myself smirked at this memory. Yet, again surveying Adrien's absolute bliss, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of loneliness. I know who I love, it is more a matter of whether she loves me. My sad ponderings were interrupted by a blur of red. I looked up to see Tikki, gazing at the pair. My heart froze when she changed her line of sight and she regarded me. It was not this action, but more the look in her eye that had cause my inaction. It was an expression of... admiration, and dare I say it... love...

"Hey Stinky Sock" she giggled. Camembert, why is her laugh always so beautiful.
"H-Hey Sugarcube" I attempted to smoothly respond. Suddenly she launched herself at me and I flinched, closing my eyes. But when I felt no attack, only a soft touch, I opened one eye, then the other, and I beheld Tikki, holding me in a tight embrace. I stood (or rather floated) in stunned silence, then I wrapped my arms around her and drew her close.

"I love you Tikki". She looked up, and I found myself staring into her beautiful, deep, ocean-blue eyes,
"I love you too Plagg".

Master Fu's P.O.V.

I viewed both pairs of lovebirds, feeling a lightness in my heart, as though part of my deep remorse and burden had been taken from me. I couldn't change the past, but I had altered the future.

I know that, as a Guardian, I ought to follow the Law of the Guardians and take their Miraculous, yet I could not bring myself to strip them of their badges.
They had earned them.
Never before had I encountered such trustworthy, hardworking, caring Miraculous holders. No one could do a better job at protecting Paris.

Besides, seeing their blissful ignorance of the outside world whilst they held one another, I knew that their love would only make them stronger, and together they would defeat Hawk Moth.

Gazing over at the open sky, I could see far away that people of Paris, gathered at the Eiffel tower, were getting agitated, no doubt worried that their heroes had not showed up yet.

I hated to interrupt their new-found fondness, but it had to be done. Turning to them, I voiced my concern,
"Marinette, Adrien, I'm afraid you must detach yourselves from one another and transform. The citizens of this city are getting anxious about the absence of Ladybug and Chat Noir."
They both looked up at me with slightly sour expressions. I merely shrugged in apology. 

Marinette, with extreme reluctance, stood up and began to transform into Ladybug. Out the corner of my eye, I could see Plagg kissing goodbye and squeezing Tikki's hand before she was dragged into the Miraculous Earrings.

Adrien also started to rise, no doubt about to also transform, but then fell back with a groan. Ladybug immediately rushed to his side, holding him, and looked up at me, concern in her eyes, inquiring as to what was wrong with Adrien in incredibly worried tones.

"Hush Child," I responded, "do not worry, he has been healed from the Akuma, but such a difficult disease put an extreme strain upon him. You will have to tightly support him so he doesn't appear too weak. You will have to stay with him until he is fully healed."

She smiled, gazing at the boy, but I could not tell if she saw Adrien or Chat Noir, she held onto him and tenderly whispered,
"I will never let go of you my kitty."