Marinette was standing in front of her mirror. She needed to tell Paris what happened and she knew it. She wished however that it could be someone else. Tikki was beside her waiting for her to be ready. The tiny creature knew how hard it would be for Marinette to put on the costume once more.

Alya was dealing with the last preparations so Marinette was almost completely alone. Her head replayed the last conversation she had with Chat Noir on this earth. She never forgot what happened after that but it felt more and more like a dream. The blanket that reminded her of it was still on her chaise but the details somehow faded from her mind as the days went by.

"Everything is ready," Alya said causing Marinette to turn away from her mirror.

"Thank you, Alya." her eyes were still distant even as she looked at her best friend.

"We have to go Marinette." Alya put a hand on Marinette's shoulder. They both transformed into their respective outfits and left the house.

The broadcast was for all of Paris. The TV organization promised that they would play it several times in the next few days. Ladybug stood nervously before the building. She had to be the one to tell Paris, but she wanted nothing to do with it right now.

"It's going to be okay LB" Rena said.

"It's just... I still hear his voice Alya" Ladybug said letting a single tear fall from her eyes.

"I know. But Paris needs to know what happens next. You can't leave them in the dark" Rena closed her friend in a hug before they entered the building.

The crew already knew what happened and why this was necessary. They didn't ask questions about Ladybug's demeanor or why she was close to crying. They simply offered their condolences to the spotted heroine as she walked past them toward the studio.

They couldn't know how much Chat Noir meant to Ladybug but they knew what he meant to them. There were also rumors about the heros' relationship that made them more understanding. Rena was glad no one really tried to ask her how she was. She needed to keep a cool outlook and a clear head until this was over.

Nadja was already waiting for them and as they entered the report/interview started almost immediately. Nadja started with her usual catchphrase before the camera turned to the two heroines. They were not ready, but the city had to know.

"This is a city-wide exclusive brought to you by Ladybug," Nadja said as the two girls waved at the camera. "I heard you wanted to adress the city with something important. What can Paris help you with?" she asked following some kind of script. It was Ladybug's turn to do the same.

"People of Paris!" she started looking at the camera directly. She reached for Rena's hand and the fox heroine squeezed it, letting her know that she was right next to her.

"Today I come to you with good and bad news." Alya wrote the script and Marinette learned it by heart. She was grateful for her friend's foresight. "Two days ago, me and my team apprehended the criminal known as Shadow moth. He has been arrested and his Miraculous had been confiscated." This was the easy part. What she had to say next was going to be harder. Ladybug looked at Rena who understood the message and stepped forward.

"Unfortunately, there were casualties" Rena continued while Ladybug fought back her tears. "In the final battle against Shadow moth, we lost Chat Noir." The studio went silent. "He was bravely fighting against the last akuma not afraid to give his life for the city."

Rena looked at Ladybug as if asking if she really wanted to do it. Marinette nodded. Paris deserved to know who it was that fought for them and saved them on a daily basis in the past year. "We would now like to reveal who he was," Rena said looking back at the camera. This was the cue for the recording team to bring up the slideshow that Marinette and Alya made the day before.

"He was just a guy trying to be one of us" Ladybug gathered her strength. The slides showed Chat while she spoke. "He never realized, but he was so much more than that." The pictures started showing Adrien. "He might have been a model, but he was also a friend and just a normal high-school student. We never saw him for what he really was" Ladybug's tears were freely falling at this point. "He was a hero who sacrificed his own time and freedom, to save us day after day. He didn't stop at anything, even his life wasn't too big of a price." Marinette's voice hitched and she couldn't say more.

"He gave it up so we could be free of fear today" Rena finished the last sentence.

The video continued and while it did the three people sat down. Ladybug and Rena Rouge agreed to an interview, not just the announcement. The people needed to know certain things and no matter how bad they felt, they were still the guardians of Paris. It was their duty to tell the people everything that will keep them safe.

"This was some shocking news Ladybug," Nadja said after the video ended and there was a short break so that the people could adjust to the news. "I guess the question on everybody's mind is: What will happen to the black cat Miraculous now?" she asked with the efficiency of a reporter.

"There will be a new holder," Rena said as Ladybug was still a little out of it. "We are still looking for candidates though."

"We will be giving it to someone who is at least twenty years old and they will have to be willing," Ladybug said, her voice confident although her tears were still falling. "As a Guardian and a former holder, I do not want to force this responsibility on anyone." she went off script she knew that, but she had to tell the people that the Ladybug they grew to love will not be their hero any longer.

"Former holder?" Nadja asked with slight shock in her voice.

"With the late Chat noir gone, I will be relinquishing my Miraculous and giving it to a new holder. When that happens Rena will introduce both new heroes to you" she said not hiding her brokenness.

"I have to ask: What will happen to Pais while you're looking for the new Ladybug and Chat noir?"

"As you know there were other holders." Ladybug once again looked for the comfort of Rena as she spoke. "I will be giving some of the Miraculouses out permanently. Rena Rouge will be the new leader until we find someone to be Ladybug."

"There is no immediate threat as we did take the butterfly Miraculous back from Shadow moth, so this is only a precaution" Rena added.

"You keep saying Shadow moth. Will you be revealing the man behind the mask to us today?" Nadja asked

"Since it will be all over the news in a few days anyway, yes," Rena said. "He was Gabriel Agreste" the simple statement shocked everyone in the studio.

"Unfortunately this is all the information we can offer today," Rena said as she saw Ladybug's face. "The Miraculous team will be looking after Paris though so there is nothing to be afraid of."

"Thank you for coming here today," Nadja said as they stood up and shook hands. "We will remember Chat noir and the sacrifice he gave us. I offer my deepest condolences and I'm sure I speak for everyone in Paris when I do so. Thank you for protecting us Ladybug"

"Thank you, Nadja." Ladybug nodded her head. "And the honor was mine. Paris is full of amazing people. Thank you all for believing in us," she said looking at the camera.

The feed was cut and the two heroes were escorted out of the building. Everyone nodded their head towards Ladybug with thank yous being whispered along the way. The hardest part would only come now though. Now, Marinette had to find someone to hold the black cat ring. And she was still grieving Adrien.

The two girls went back to Marinette's house and sat down. The kwamis immediately swarmed Marinette and hugged her as much as they could when she de-transformed. Plagg and Tikki were the last to break away from Marinette.

"Now for the next phase," Marinette said. Transforming one last time she followed Rena Rouge to where the other holders gathered.

A/N:

Hello there. We are reaching the end of this story soon. I really don't want to let go just yet, but I will try to finish as soon as possible. I will write 1 more chapter for sure and maybe an epilogue about Adrien's funeral.

Once again, if you think I should change something please let me know. I did my best to research the effects of grief but I am a human (plus my research skills are really bad) so there can be mistakes.