Rats scurried along the bottom of the sewer, their frantic squeaks echoing throughout.

Chat pinched his nose, wincing in disgust. "A sewer, of course," he mumbled to himself. "Where else would Serpentina go?"

Ladybug held up her yoyo and used it as a flashlight to guide their way. "Doesn't matter. Keep a look out, she could be anywhere."

They sloshed through the brown, murky sewage water. Chat covered his mouth and nose. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Less whining, more searching," Ladybug murmured, even though she winced in disgust herself. She shined her yoyo up and down then side to side to see if there were any clues. Rats fled from the light, scurrying on the slightly elevated, dry section of the sewer right in front of Chat.

"Ah!" he yelped, jumping backwards and causing some sewage to splash up in the process. "Did you see that?"

"I thought cats feasted on rats?" Ladybug asked, joking

Chat stuck his tongue out, even though his partner probably couldn't even see it. "Mice. They eat mice. But nice try, m'lady."

"Same thing," she laughed, rolling her eyes.

Chat shook his clawed finger right in front of the flashlight. "Wrong. Mice are cute and fluffy. Rats are big, disgusting creatures of the night. They have scraggly teeth and feed on the fear of their prey."

"I'm starting to think you're more afraid of rats than the akuma we are chasing after," Ladybug observed, rubbing her chin.

"I'm starting to think you're right," Chat shivered, flinching at another sight of a rat.

They continued walking down the endless stretch of sewer, hoping the akuma would show up already. Neither of the superheroes wanted to be there any longer. Their nose hairs were practically burning from the noxious fumes.

Chat, who started to lose his sanity, thought that calling out the akuma would magically make her appear. "Hey, you! Serpentina! Stop slithering around and get out here!" His voice echoed off the pipes, and only the dripping of sewage answered back.

"Fail," Chat mumbled.

After what felt like forever, the pair of superheroes encountered a split. One pipe led one way, and the adjoining pipe led the other.

"Looks like this is where we split up," Ladybug sighed, narrowing her eyes. She pointed her flashlight over each pipe. "I'll take the left, you take the right?"

"Sounds like a plan," Chat grinned. His signature grin quickly turned into a worried frown. "Be careful, okay?"

Ladybug winked, keeping a confident guise. "Of course. You stay safe too."

"Let's have snake for dinner," Chat declared, rubbing his hands together.

"Ehhh.." Ladybug mumbled. "When you put it like that..."

Chat grimaced. "You're right, you're right," he shook his head. "Anyways, good luck to you bugaboo. I trust you'll get the job done as always if you encounter Serpentina."

"Thanks. I just hope we arent making a mistake by splitting up."

*

Now alone, Ladybug was even more alert for the akuma.

It was helplessly silent, except for her footsteps that waded through the sewage below and the occasional rat squeak.

She hoped her partner would be okay on his own. He wouldn't be able to cleanse the akuma if he managed to destroy her akumatized object.

Perhaps this was a bad idea after all.

A pit of worry growing in her stomach, she decided to keep moving forward. It was too late to turn back now. Besides, her partner would be fine. He had faced peril alone before.

Just then, she heard muddled footsteps up ahead in the distance. They sounded frantic and only lasted for a few seconds. Ladybug quickly adjusted her flashlight and shined it down the sewer. The light only went so far until it disappeared into the darkness.

"Hello?" she called out, almost without hesitation. This was the first sign of human life since she split up from Chat Noir, and she wasnt going to lose it now. "Who's there?"

The footsteps picked up again, growing in intensity. They sounded like they were coming closer.

"Chat?" she yelled, her heartbeat quickening. She narrowed her eyes, bracing herself for the figure that was undoubtedly about to appear in front of her.

Ladybug felt like she was in a horror movie. This person or thing was charging right towards her. It had to be Serpentina.

Unfortunately, in order to arm herself, she had to sacrifice the flashlight on her yoyo so she could use it as a weapon. The red light that radiated from her spinning yoyo would only provide a miniscule amount of light for her surroundings, not the far reaching light she so depended on.

Still, she had to adjust and be ready.

Her breathing intensified and she slowly walked forward, spinning her yoyo violently.

The footsteps got even closer. They were almost near her general vicinity.

This is it, she thought, readying herself. She got into a defensive position.

Then, out of the darkness, the figure appeared.

But it wasn't Serpentina.

"Chloe?!" Ladybug gasped, staring at the disheveled blonde in disbelief. "What are you doing down here?"

Chloe bent over, catching her breath. Her white pants were covered with dirt and her hair was frizzy and matted with filth. "I am SUCH a good person!" she cried.

"An explanation would be nice!" Ladybug pushed.

"Well, I saw you and A... er, Chat Noir jump down here after Serpentina. I thought I could fix my sins by helping you guys out. Plus, my father is her slave and that is totally not cool for her to do. He can't spoil me anymore!"

"You need to get out of here, it isnt safe!" Ladybug warned.

"No way I'm going back up there, even though I want to throw up about a thousand times just standing here. Paris is in shambles. Since my father is Serpentina's slave, he sent the city into chaos. They're worshipping her like a queen! It's a dictatorship! I think that's what my history class was talking about..."

"Oh no," Ladybug breathed. "This is bad."

"Tell me about it."

Ladybug's eyes widened and she gasped. "Wait, if you're here, who is watching Adrien?!"

"Uhhh," Chloe mumbled. "His father-"

SMACK!

A foot slammed into the side of Ladybug's head, causing her to fall unconscious. The flashlight fell to the ground and shined up at Chloe's terrified face. She yelped, looking up at the attacked.

Serpentina grinned back, her yellow eyes chilling Chloe to the core.

"Ladybug?" Chloe squeaked, slowly backing away in fear.

"This superhero is out of commission," Serpentina grinned, hoisting the unconscious Ladybug over her shoulder. "Forever. If I can't get the boy of my dreams, then I might as well reward myself with the famous superheroine of Paris."

Chloe crossed her arms, pushing away any fear she had for a brief moment. Behind the mask, this was Marinette. Sweet, innocent Marinette that didnt deserve this. She couldn't let this happen.

She noticed the yoyo laying on the sewer floor in front of her. If she knew anything, it was used to pure the akumas. In the event that Ladybug becomes Serpentina's slave, she would be incapable of purfying the akuma, so she better take it so her or Chat Noir could do it. She just needed to distract the akuma so she could nudge the yoyo out of sight...

"Let her go, Louise," Chloe announced valiantly. "Take me instead! I'm the more worthy target."

Serpentina hissed. "Get out of my way before I turn you into my faithful servant."

Chloe slyly scooted the yoyo off to the side with her foot while maintaining eye contact with Serpentina.

"Go ahead," she taunted. "You'll just have another body to hoist up above ground."

Serpentina paused, weighing her options. She nodded her head. "You're right. No point in wasting my venom on you. You can rot down here with the rats." She cackled and swiftly disappeared down the sewer with an unconscious Ladybug in tow.

Chloe huffed, bending over and picking up Ladybug's yoyo. She held it in awe, feeling the smooth metal. "I hope I can save you, Ladybug..." she mumbled to herself.

*

Chat was fed up in the sewers. He had been tracking endlessly and had yet to stumble upon Serpentina. Not to mention, it reeked. Any minute now he was surely to pass out from the overwhelming fumes.

A ringtone sounded from his weapon and the screen lit up, causing him to jump in surprise. It was an incoming call from Ladybug. Did she find Serpentina? He accepted the call and put the phone up against his ear.

"Hello?" Chat answered seductively, despite their circumstances.

"Um, it's Chloe," she admitted nervously, her voice wavering through the speaker.

"Chloe?!" Chat screamed in shock, his heart dropping. "Where is Ladybug? And why do you have her yoyo?"

"I'll explain everything above the ground. Meet me by André's icecream stand."

Chat frantically gripped the staff with both hands and held it out in front of him, staring wide-eyed at the screen. "Wait-!"

But she had already hung up.

Chat grumbled, both in worry and anticipation. He found the nearest sewer grate and elevated himself up off the ground with his staff. He hastily pushed open the heavy lid with his hand and flopped out onto the street.

Cars honked as they swerved to miss him. He sprang to his feet, quickly apologizing without realizing how close he could have gotten turned into a pancake.

He made his way towards André's stand, preparing himself for the bad news. Wherever she was, he just hoped Ladybug was safe.

*

Ladybug awoke, her head throbbing. The immediate smell of musk hit her. She tried lifting her head, but it hurt. A thick rope restrained her body movement, expertly tied around her arms and legs.

Her vision came back slowly from pure blurriness, and the first thing she was besides the abandoned warehouse she was in were those vile, glowing yellow eyes.

Great, she had managed to get captured by Serpentina.

"Seriously?" Ladybug grumbled, trying to free herself from the restraints. "I just want this to be over with!"

Serpentina cackled maliciously, circling around her prey. "Oh do you, MARINETTE?"

Ladybug froze, her eyes widening. Her blood ran cold. Her secret identity had been compromise, what was she going to-

"Oh, come on!" Serpentina laughed. "Did you really think I would have a hard time figuring that out?"

Ladybug blinked, absolutely stunned.

"The pigtails," Serpentina mumbled, her face lacking any amusement. "It's a dead giveaway."

"I dont know what you mean?" Ladybug shifted nervously, her mouth pursed tight.

The akuma growled, her head falling back. She stared hopelessly up at the ceiling. "Let's not play this game," she insisted. "I can easily remove your earrings and confirm my suspicions."

Ladybug dropped her front, sighing deeply. "Shit."

"Wow, Miss Goody cussed? I'm surprised," Serpentina mused.

Ladybug narrowed her eyes at the akuma. "If you knew my identity this entire time, why'd you wait until now to act?"

"Because I was having fun. I wanted to get what I most desired first, which was Adrien, before I moved onto the bigger things. Speaking of Adrien, does your little boyfriend know?"

Ladybug remained silent, looking at the ground.

"Ah, so he doesn't..." Serpentina smiled wickedly. "I will host a grand reveal then! He can sit front row."

"Please leave Adrien alone," Ladybug begged, tugging on her restraints. "I don't want him hurt because of me."

"You should have never been with him in the first place, then," Serpentina narrowed her eyes. "He was MINE!"

"I'm sorry. I really am."

Serpentina stomped her foot, causing a loud boom to echo throughout the empty warehouse. "No you arent!" she cried, her eyes welling with tears. "I... loved him. So much. And you took him from me."

Ladybug didnt know what to say. The emotions were raw and real. And she honestly felt sorry for Louise. But the relationship was toxic for Adrien, she could see that from a mile away.

However, that was the first time Ladybug actually put herself in Louise's shoes. And the pain there was unbearable.

"I hated you, so much," Serpentina continued, gritting her teeth. "I wanted to ruin your life. But I was powerless as Louise. You already had everything I wanted. So I turned to a friend and he gave me the power to become Serpentina."

As Serpentina was talking, Ladybug wiggled her hands around to try feeling for her yoyo so she could send a distress signal to Chat. But she couldn't feel it anywhere.

Her heart sank. She must have dropped it when Serpentina captured her in the sewers. Without her yoyo, she was very much powerless.

*

"And that is why I have her yoyo!" Chloe finished, wanting to fall over from exhaustion. She had successfully spit all of the information out in less than 30 seconds.

Chat blinked, crossing his arms. "So, what I'm hearing is, Serpentina is holding Ladybug captive?"

"Yes!" Chloe emphasized, waving the superheroines yoyo around in the air. "But I don't know where she is!"

Chat snapped his fingers, a lightbulb going off in his head. "Ladybug's suit has a tracker in it! You can use the yoyo to find her location."

"Great!" Chloe smiled, before pausing and slowly looking over at Chat. "How do you know this?"

"Uh-" his voice cracked and he shifted uncomfortably, "My kwami told me. Yeah."

"Right," Chloe rolled her eyes, scrolling through the different apps on the yoyo's digital screen. Finally, a tracker app appeared. She tapped on it, and a blinking red dot on a map indicated Ladybug's location.

"Gotcha!" Chloe exclaimed in victory.

Chat frantically leaned over Chloe's shoulder, narrowing his eyes to read the map. "It looks like she is being held in an abandoned warehouse down the street. Let's go!"

The superhero started off down the street and towards the warehouse. "Last one there is a smelly sock!"

Chloe grumbled to herself, jogging after him. "Oh, Adrien. I can't wait until Marinette see's you for the dork that you really are."