Y'all, I'm sorry! There is going to be a lot of P.O.V switching in this chapter. I didn't want it to be this way bbbuuuttt it all goes along with the story!

Enjoy!

{+}{+}{+}

Chat Noir's P.O.V

   "CATACLYSM!"

   Just one touch and it'll all be over. Syren will be no more. I'll have my revenge. Everything will go back to normal again...except, Ladybug—Marinette...

   She is gone. She won't be returning once this is all over. Not even the miracle cure can bring people back from their fatal demise. The thought of it sends misery into my already weeping heart. I'm pretty sure unshed tears are brimming my eyelids. Yet, I didn't care. My main focus is on the trembling Syren helplessly backed into the wall with nowhere else to go.

I have her trapped. The sea creatures that protected her aren't here (well, immobilized). There is nothing that'll stop me from performing the deed and acting on it.

Just one touch.

One brush of my destructive fingers against her skin and it's all over.

I reach out my hand with the menacing black bubbles. As I grow closer, Syren tries to get farther (and fails at it). The aquatic akuma screams in fear, not ready for her fate to be sealed. A life for a life.

"CHAT NOIR! STOP!"

   Suddenly, a figure blocks my pathway. My eyes widen at the surprise interference guarding Syren. I gasp, waving my arms around to slow myself down. I manage to stop a few inches away from...from...her.

   The red suit, decorated with black spots. The locks of midnight hair floating beautifully in the water. Pale skin practically glowing from the reflecting light in the water.

   Those shimmering sapphire eyes. I could never forget them, seeing similar shades of blue on clear skies and gemstones. These eyes. These are the same eyes that are staring into my soul with terror.

   Terrified of me.

"Marinette?"

{+}{+}{+}

Tikki's P.O.V

Chat Noir left, much to my distress. I glance between his leaving form and Marinette. The fury I witnessed in his eyes. The rage and anguish. He's suffering and blinded by his revenge. He needs to be stopped before he does something he'll regret. I won't be able to catch up to Chat Noir. Even if I do catch up to him, I won't be able to stop him.

The only person who can stop Chat is Marinette.

But...

I look down at the teen girl lifelessly laying on the cold stone.

   I need to save her!

   I float over and start running myself into my holder's chest. I know she's still alive. She may be human but she is not weak. She is struggling to let air flow and needs help.

   I repeatedly fly into the air and shoot down at her chest. Up. Down. Hit! Up. Down. Hit! Up. Down. Hit!

   "Marinette you need to live! Please!" Tikki begs, "Your family needs you!"

   Hit!

   "Chat Noir needs you!"

   Hit!

   "You might not know it but Mallorie needs you too!"

   Hit!

   I lay on Marinette's chest, heavily breathing. I struggle, barely able to lift myself. I'm so tired, my antennas go limp and brush against her soaking shirt.

   "I...I need you, Marinette."

   I float up and shoot down again.

   "That's why you can't give up! You have to live for the people you love and live your life!"

   I collide into her chest the hardest I've managed. Marinette's body reacts, immediately sitting up and puking out water. As she takes in huge gulps of air, she breaks out into a coughing fit. I fall onto the floor completely exhausted and my body aches. Yet, I manage a smile. I'm so relieved and happy to see her awake.

   Seeing her alive.

   "T...Tikki," Marinette rasps out, laying back down. Tired bluebell eyes look at me in confusion about what's going on.

   "Marinette!" I cheer, levitating a bit off the ground. I go over and hug my holder's cheek. I can feel her cheek move into a smile, cupping me with her hand. I can't believe I saved her! I can't believe she survived! With how long she was out, she should have been dead. Marinette sure is a lucky girl.

   I nearly forgot the current events happening with Chat Noir.

"Marinette, you need to go after Chat Noir. I'm afraid he's going to make a terrible mistake if you don't stop him," I quickly explain. I really don't want to rush Marinette after nearly dying (not that she knows that yet). But Chat Noir needs Ladybug—needs to know she is alive. That she is okay.

"What?" Marinette questioned, seeming to be less tired and more panicked, "What's he going to do, Tikki? Where is he?"

"I don't know where he is going or what he is about to do. But he looked really angry like..." I gulp, a bit hesitant to continue. It's crazy to think Chat (or Adrien) would be capable of doing...such awful things. But it seemed really clear earlier what his intent is.

"Like what?" Marinette asked on the edge. I look up at her, answering, "...like he is about to kill someone."

{+}{+}{+}

Chat Noir's P.O.V

She's alive.

Those are the only words echoing in my head right now. My body relaxes and my shoulders slump from the pulsing stiffness. The adrenaline wears off and emotions begin to take over. I forget everything around me for a few moments, taking in Ladybug.

A very much alive and breathing Ladybug. Am alive Marinette. She's alive. I can't believe it. She's alive! She's okay! She's not laying dead on the ground but floating right here in front of me alive. I gulp, realizing my Cataclysm is still activated. I look at my bubbling hand, about ready to create whatever I touch into ashes.

About turning a living being into ashes.

I quickly swim backwards and feel my hands tremble at what I was about to do. I touch a piece of artwork, getting rid of my vile power. I let out a shuddering breath, feeling the walls closing in around me as they did in the ventilation system.

I'm in disbelief, not wanting to acknowledge the fact of what I almost did if Ladybug hadn't shown up. What I would've done if she didn't stop me. I don't even believe it myself. It was like watching a movie from my perspective, without having any control over my actions. But the thing is, I did. I blacked out in my rage but was aware of what I was doing.

"What...what happened to me?" I thought, looking at my hand that once held destruction, "I need to get out of here. I can't face her right now."

I glance back at Ladybug, seeing her getting the object where the akuma has been hiding. She doesn't need my help cleaning up the rest of this mess. She never did...

I swim toward the nearest exit, needing to get out of here. I'll visit her later...if she doesn't think of me as a monster after all of that. The last thing I see before exiting the room is Ladybug watching me leave.

{+}{+}{+}

Ladybug's P.O.V

I reach out, wanting to stop Chat Noir. Yet, I know he probably doesn't want to talk right now. Not after all that. I'd definitely want to run and hide. It doesn't mean it hurts any less, wishing I can be there for him right now. But I have to take care of Syren first.

With a longing feeling, I turn back to the mortified akuma, who surprisingly willingly gave up her powers. I break the object and capture the akuma. Syren turns into for former self. I instantly give the confused Odine my yoyo (the oxygen mode activated) to help her breathe.

   I'm glad she doesn't remember anything while she was akumatized. I'm sure that experience would have left her traumatized.

I help Odine out of the museum and onto a nearby rooftop. She returns my weapon and gratefully thanks me for saving her. Then, she looks around Paris with worry and wondering why nothing has been fixed. Usually, I have everything fixed while the victim is still in a state of confusion. This is the first victim witnessing their own destruction after being cured.

"Everything will be restored once I use my Lucky Charm," I reassure her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She nods in understanding. I look down at the yoyo in wonder. This is my second time defeating an akuma without using my powers which is quite odd. Yet, I didn't think about it too long. The city still needs to be restored, I feel completely drained, and Chat Noir...

It's been a long day. I just hope Chat Noir is doing okay.

With my yoyo still in my hand, I throw it into the air. The spotted weapon spins as I call upon my power.

"Lucky Charm!" I shout. A flash of red then the silhouette of the object falls from the sky. I catch the thing, instantly recognizing it as a book.

"A book? Why do I need a book?" I questioned, trying to figure out what its use is. Yet, something about this moment feels like it's missing something. The more I think about it, the answer becomes clearer on what it is. A joking side-comment from Chat Noir. It's weird not hearing his retort...and not having him here in general.

   I shake this emptiness away, pushing it aside to figure out what this book is for. I deduct what I visually know on the outside. The book's cover is a hardback and there's a picture of the ocean with a person standing on the beach. I read the title: Aquaphobia (fear of water).

   "Aquaphobia? Fear of water?" I murmur to myself in confusion. I scan the area to see if any other ideas come to mind. But there's nothing in this area. Maybe, a different one?

   "Wait..." I thought, recalling some memories from about an hour ago. The memory of Shadow and I trapped in the elevator. Shadow panicking, trying to climb me to avoid touching the water at all costs!

   "...I need to find her," I conclude my thoughts, knowing exactly where she'll appear once I use my Lucky Charm. I throw the book into the air.

   "Miraculous Ladybug," I shout and pull out my yoyo to release the purified butterfly, "Bye-bye little butterfly."

The many miles of city streets and buildings are cleared from the water. All the damages are fixed in an instant. The sea creatures and people are returned from where ever they were before the attack. Odine is washed away by the swarm of magical ladybugs. Everything is back in its place, now left as a memory. Unfortunately, bad memory for some people.

I frown, not feeling the usual feeling of victory. The day is saved once again but it leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Even with this win, there was still some loss. There was still hurt even though all the physical injuries are healed. But my cure can't heal mentality, the most fragile thing in the body.

I throw my yoyo and swing off in the direction of the mall. I don't know if Mallorie will be there when I arrive. Yet, I know she'll definitely have to return home at some point. She probably isn't doing well from experiencing her phobia in the most horrifying way we did.

I land in an alleyway near the mall and quickly detransform. Then, I make my way into the mall and over to the elevators. Unluckily, Shadow is nowhere in sight. Though, it's difficult trying to find a person in a moving crowd. I head towards the nearest exit, hoping Shadow will be at home when I get back. I don't even know if she is at home. She could be anywhere in Paris!

   My foot catches an uneven piece of sidewalk and trips. I wildly swing my arms around, falling flat on my face. I groan, a throbbing pain shooting through my nose. I stand from the ground while holding my nose, trying to ease the ache.

   I grumble, cursing my clumsiness for showing up. It's not like I'm not in a bad enough mood already. I sigh, sitting down on a nearby bench with another person-

   -who happened to be just the person I was looking for. Shadow is sitting on the far other side of the bench, staring at a very familiar picture. The one with her and the baby.

   "Okay, my clumsiness isn't all too bad," I thought before speaking up, "Shadow?"

   I scratch the back of my neck, suddenly finding my feet interesting, "...look, what happened back there-"

   "Don't," she hissed, "I don't want to hear anything you say."

   I narrowed my eyes, "Fine! Then, how about you tell me something if you don't want to listen to me?"

   Shadow snarls, showing her teeth like a warning not to go further. She puts the picture away and slides closer to me until we're touching legs. She hides her arm between the bench and our bodies, poking something sharp on the side of my back. My eyes widen a little, air catching in my throat. She uses her free hand to grip my arm, digging her nails into my skin.

   "There is nothing I want to tell you," she quietly growls, "So, shut up and you better prepare yourself for what's coming."

   She was gone after that.

{+}{+}{+}