Plagg's P.O.V

I panted, exhausted. The Cataclysm's lengthy activation time had really tired me out.

Cheese that villain had been hard to fight. Suddenly remembering all I had heard, the realisation struck me as to who we had been fighting. Ladybug...

I looked up at my owner. Though he was trying to hold it together, I could see that Adrien was clearly crying. He let the tears stream and he seemed almost to gaze sightlessly at the brick wall opposite. My friend was no doubt repeating in his mind over and over the horrific scene which he had just endured.

My heart ached for him, I could tell how deeply that had hurt him, Ladybug supposedly professing her love, only to find out that she was being controlled by Cleanser.

I know that I act all selfish and like I only care about myself, but I have come to also care about my owner... and Sugarcube.

Oh my Camembert, Tikki. This must be a nightmare for her! Or was she also being controlled by Cleanser? Sometimes it is hard to tell what affects only the miraculous holder or Kwami's as well. Although she had not played with my emotions, I had a glimpse into the anguish Adrien must feeling knowing that a loved one was at Hawk Moth's mercy.

I must have murmured something aloud, for my owner ceased his sightless looking and look down at me, his eyes still misty,
"Huh?" He almost grunted out.
"Oh um..." I thought quickly,
"I'm just sooooo hungry" then in demanding tones, "give me some Camembert" .

He gave a half, almost bitter laugh as he pulled out a chunk of cheese, and the harsh quality in his voice startled me.

Having gulped up my cheese, I fixated my eyes upon his, clearing my throat a couple of times, unsure of how to start. Adrien grumbled, though I could tell he was trying to say it in joking tones,
"Alright spit it out. Tell me all about how you never have these problems with cheese". Despite these seemingly hurtful words, I was not angry at him, he didn't mean it, he was in great pain.

"Adrien" I said, in an almost gentle tone.
"Adrien" I, admittedly, whined. He looked at me, rather listless.
"I-I'm.... SORRY" I blurted out. For a brief moment, Adrien's surprise appeared greater than his pain, for I very rarely apologised for anything.

"Sorry for what?" He queried.
"For all of this" I gave a helpless gesture,
"Ladybug toying with your feelings. Her being controlled by Cleanser. I know I've always made fun of your 'love', but I am truly sorry for the pain you've been put through. I... I care about you Adrien".
For a brief moment, a smile shone from his face,
"Thank you Plagg. I'm glad to see that there is more to you than cheese" he teased.

"Yes..." I muttered,
"Besides, who knows what Sugarcube is-" Adrien rudely interrupted,
"Who?" I felt myself blush, though I'm sure it was unseen among my black features.
"Oh uhhh Tikki, Ladybug's Kwami. I'm worried about what has happened to her" then I looked down, my ears flattened, saying rather wistfully,
"You're not the first to fall in love kid".

Adrien had a stupefied, almost shocked, expression upon his face at this. He was no doubt amazed by how much emotion and caring I had chosen to reveal.
"Oh Plagg" he exhaled softly.

Suddenly, his smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and a shadow clouded his face.
"Oh Plagg... Ladybug looked so... so angry. She hated me."
"Try not to think of it kid" I consoled, and he looked down, with a pained expression,
"But it's all I can see. I close my eyes and I see her expression, so full of hatred, towards me".

For a brief moment, my mind conjured up an image of Tikki, glaring at me with the same hatred. The thought chilled me. Was Sugarcube also being controlled, nay, contorted by Cleanser?
"I know it hurts, but we have to find a way to defeat Cleanser".

"You mean Ladybug" Adrien rejoined flatly.
"Well... yes" I admitted.
"It's impossible Plagg. I can't fight her, I love her too much".

Sighing in sympathy, my mind attempted to come up with a solution. Admittedly, this type of thing had happened almost never, it was, ashamedly, usually the Chat Noir's of history who got controlled by the Akumatized villain, though to be fair that was usually because they took a hit for their Ladybug...

"Then we need to figure out a way to trap her," said I.
"She's too smart for that though" he despondently responded. I slapped him. Hard.
"Ow! What did you do that for?" he glared at me.

"You are also smart Adrien! Heck, you are the only person I know who actually enjoys school. And your lowest ever grade was an A- in Mathematics. You can do this. I... I believe in you!"

He looked at me, with a puzzled slight-smile,
"Wow Plagg. Why aren't you always this nice and encouraging?"
"Nice? Encouraging? Me? Pfft what do you mean. I'm just helping you to defeat this villain."
Despite my correction, I could tell that Adrien didn't quite believe me.

"Yea, yea." He mused for a while, deep in thought. Knowing that he was trying to figure out how to trap Ladybug, I kept my mouth shut.

During this lapse in conversation, my mind drifted back to my earlier thought, and worry for Tikki filled my mind. Was she okay? Was she aware of what was going on?

My worried ponderings were interrupted by Adrien, who had given an exclamation of triumph. I knew he had figured out a plan.
"What is it?" I attempted to grumble, though I could not quite mute the satisfaction which I felt in his evident success.

"Plagg" he asked "Is there any way for you to communicate with Tikki?"
"Of course not!" I snapped.
"Okay, okay" he lifted his hands up in surrender, and was silently reflective for a few moments,
"That's alright though, I think my plan still might work".
"What plan?" I whined. He rubbed his hands together with a ghost of his old mischievous grin,

"Are you feeling lucky?"