•••

Ladybug was sitting on one of the railings of the Eiffel Tower, dangling her legs. She was staring intensely at the glittering City of Love beneath, waiting for her feline partner, on one fine evening.

The memories from a few days back played repeatedly in her head, until the point that she wanted to pull her hair out.

"Adrien?"

The boy in question stopped his discussion with Nino and turned around to face her.

"Oh hey Marinette! You made it today! Feeling all better now?"

He wore a light pink blush.

Marinette found it adorable.

Alya nudged Nino and they both excused themselves, trying to be subtle about their intentions but failing miserably.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did." He chuckled but then continued. "Of course you can Marinette!" He laughed.

Seriously, how had she never noticed that he was Chat?

"Umm..d-do you happen to know who Bridgette is?"

He squinted his eyes and was lost in thoughts. Marinette watched him expectantly , but what came after was disappointing.

"No..I don't think so. Why? Am I supposed to?" He asked, genuinely confused.

"You don't?" She repeated in disbelief. He just shook his head, giving her an apologetic smile.

"Anything about Ladybug's identity? Felix?Anything?! Anything at all?"

She was panicking now. Had it really all been just a fragment of her imagination?

Adrien was surprised now.

"I'm still open to theories on that." He chuckled a bit. "But I have not idea who Felix is. Or what you're even talking about right now."

She was on the verge of tears now. SO it had all just been a big, manipulative, dream.

She started to back away, walking towards the courtyard.

"Marinette?" He asked, perplexed.

"I-I just need a moment. Please! You go on!"

And then she ran away.

She remembered feeling so happy and relieved when she saw him, but then feeling so lost, and in total shock after. Gradually, she finally came to terms with the fact that it'd all been just a dream that had left her in some kind of delusion. And then she was back to normal in no time.

But still, that lingering feeling remained.

"Hey!"

A voice was heard behind her and she quickly turned around. Her heart was beating rapidly when she heard it. And she almost started crying when she saw who it belonged to.

For instead of Chat, she stood in front of her.

"Bridgette!" She exclaimed. "You-you..you're here! I knew that it wasn't just a dream!"

"Yes I'm here Marinette." She smiled and it made her look even more radiant.

"You're-you're real..I wasn't dreaming.." Marinette said weakly, crying.

"Of course I am." She smiled even brighter.

"So why, why can't they remember?"

"Because I don't want them to."

Bridgette then sighed and sat where Marinette was sitting moments ago. Marinette followed, taking a seat next to her.

"D-Do you remember what happened after Aurora affected you?"

Marinette thought about it, recalling whatever she remembered at this point.

"Not really. I just remembered a lot of screaming. And I remember feeling suffocated and restrained and helpless. And- and I remember apologising..before everything went dark."

She was quiet for a long time before smiling slightly.

"Thought so."

"What do you mean?"

"All that you had experienced, had been true. Every moment of it."

"And I'm so sorry to put you through that horror."

"Aurora forced your spirit to go into submission, and mine resurfaced. Mine was easier to take control on, because I was confused, angry and frustrated. Imagine being forced into submission in your own body." She chuckled.

"Still, it was slow. So you somehow made it back and warned him. But curse all us young ones in love, he didn't listen."

"You didn't attack him. I did. You had totally lost control. He screamed for you to snap out of it, and maybe a part of you did. My body became sluggish, slow. You slowed me down. That gave him enough time to put the kwagatama around your neck."

"But...it also gave me enough time to hurt him."

Marinette stared at her in horror.

"But you intervened again. Even in your submissive state, you are quite a fighter, aren't you Marinette?" She smiled.

"I just grazed him. Not wound him. Before anything serious could happen, he had already pulled both of you out."

"I-I.."

"Aurora's feelings were never known to me. It was so painful to lose her. We had been together for as long as I could remember. She was my best friend. But I had no idea that she harboured such feelings for me."

Marinette finally found her voice again.

"Are-are you still a Fallen?"

Bridgette looked at her, smiling warmly. This filled Marinette with hope. Maybe she wasn't. Maybe she finally got what she wanted.

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

The warmth disappeared to be replaced by an icy chill.

"Y-You-?"

"But I'm so happy."

"I'm finally free Marinette! Felix set me free! Ever since that fateful day, I had nothing but regretted meeting him, loving him, or even being around him. But he said not to, because he loved me despite whatever I did. So I pushed that regret away. And I became free."

She had the biggest smile on her face now.

"He was holding me back all along, but he was the one who freed me too. And it's all thanks to you!"

"M-Me?"

"If it wasn't for you, I would've never helped Adrien and get to meet Felix one last time. So thank you Marinette."

The tears in the corner of her eyes glistened as she gave Marinette the wisest and the most happiest smile of her life.

"Thank you for everything."

She had started glowing, and with a gasp Marinette realised that she was disintegrating, into nothing but golden light.

"Bridgette you-!"

"It's okay..I'll be finally joining him now." She answered calmly.

"You didn't deserve the horror I put you through, nor do you deserve its memories. So I'm going to take them with me."

She gently touched Marinette's forehead with her own, eyes closed but the smile never leaving her face.

"You'd never have to remember this again. My past would go back to the way it was..and you'd go back to the way you were."

"Bridgette..I.."

"Shh..don't speak..just feel this warmth..and listen.."

"I have a request."

"Hmm?"

"He really loves you. So don't wait any longer.."

"Goodbye Marinette.."

And with this , she completely dispersed, the light fading as it went farther in the night sky. All that remained behind was a spotted superheroine, sitting on the railing of the Eiffel Tower, with her eyes closed and a smile forming on her lips, despite the tears.

"Goodbye.."

•••
Sooooo, this is it. The end. How was it? Satisfactory? Or very anti climatic? Was it worth it?

Sooo This story has finally, FINALLY come to an end, after my countless thoughts of unpublishing. Wouldn't have to worry about that now, eh?

Sooo please vote, comment and share if you like. Now if you'd excuse me, I'll go write an epilogue and acknowledgements.

Teehee
Until then!
Belle💕