Chapter Text
In the cozy confines of the Dupain-Cheng bakery, Marinette, was trying to find some comfort after a troubling day. She had come back from school feeling unwell, but she had reassured her worried parents that she was fine. After some time, she retreated to her room, seeking solace in conversation with Tikki, her ever-present kwami.
Marinette sat on her bed, her expression troubled. “Tikki, today was just… it was awful. I felt so Chloe’s, she must be still clearly in so much pain. I can’t stop thinking about it being my fault.”
Tikki, floating beside her, looked sorrowful. “You shouldn’t blame yourself, Marinette,” she said, trying to reassure her, “Chloe’s situation is indeed heartbreaking. Her mother’s treatment was terrible. And I have a bad feeling that Hawk Moth might use this to his advantage.”
Marinette’s heart sank. “If Chloe could be feeling really bad, why do you think, Hawk Moth, hasn’t akumatized her, days before?”
Tikki nodded gravely. “I fear he’s been waiting for the right moment. His powers work when there is a heightened level of negative emotions around, and he could have been waiting for Chloe to fall in to an even worse emotional state. Right now, Chloe’s pain and anger could seem to at a perfect level for him to exploit.”
‘And I caused this, neither did I helped or even bothered to check on her. Oh Marinette…’
Before Marinette could say what she was thinking, a sudden tremor could be heard, outside the building. Alarmed, she dashed to her room balcony
hoping to see what was causing the disturbance. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw a massive figure approaching, atop an enormous bear sentimonster, rampaging Paris; and in the direction of the bakery.
“Oh no,” Marinette gasped in fear. She raced downstairs, bursting into the kitchen where her parents were still nervously watching the news.
Nadja Chamack’s voice blared from the TV, her tone urgent and distressed. “Attention, Paris! There is an akumatized villain on the loose, Queen Loveless, and she’s accompanied by a formidable bear sentimonster. You must evacuate immediately. We are still waiting for Ladybug and Cat Noir. Marinette, you need to flee!”
Marinette’s eyes widened in fear. “Why is she targeting me?” she asked, her voice quavering as she glanced at her concerned parents.
Her mother took her hands gently. “Marinette, you need to come with us. We’ll be safer away from here.”
Her father nodded in agreement, his face grave. “We need to leave now. We’ll figure things out when we’re safe.”
Marinette, though desperate to transform into Ladybug, knew she had to go along for now. They hurried outside, only to find themselves now cornered by the akumatized villain and her monstrous bear. The dark figure of the individual, now a sinister looking queen, hopped down from the bear, her eyes locking onto Marinette with malevolent intent.
Marinette shrieked in terror. “Who are you?”
Queen Loveless’ voice was a chilling growl. “I am Queen Loveless. And you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, are about to feel the full force of my pain!”
As realization dawned on Marinette, she stammered, “C-Chloe…?”
Queen Loveless’ rage intensified. “I am not Chloe! I am beyond that pathetic name now!” “
It was then that Marinette realized what happened. She took a good look at the now akumatized villain, Chloe. Covered in a stone layer, crying a weird looking black liquid, but what really caught her attention, was the pain in her eyes and face. The same pain she saw days ago, when her mother-
“Chloe! Please, you don’t have to do this,” Marinette pleaded, trying to reason with the girl, “I understand your pain and I know I shouldn’t have meddled but-”
YOU KNOW NOTHING, DU-PAING CHENG!” Chloe howled, making the pigtailed girl, step back in to hr parent’s guard, in fear, “You, Marinette, are the reason I had to face the truth from my mother, on how I was nothing but a burden and was never wanted,” Chloe pointed out, tears falling down faster, “You can’t possibly know how I feel…” there was short, painful pause, “…you have everything, parents who love you, friends who care for you, and are talented!” the tone of anger and envy were not lost in her speech
Marinette and her parents were stunned at the girl’s confession, it unraveled more to the mystery than thought. Chloe continued, her voice grew louder and more anguished. “You’ve never had to struggle for anyone’s love! You have it all while I was left to wallow in my misery, to earn every ounce of affection…and even it was never enough!” her eyes blazed with fury as she continued to scream at Marinette, all the while her heart for dangerously about to fill to the brink, “You made me confront my pain! You made me see how little I mattered!”
Marinette stood frozen, her heart aching for Chloe’s suffering. She could see the depth of Chloe’s pain, a painful reflection of years of unspoken anguish. The black liquid in Queen Loveless’ heart surged dangerously, threatening to overflow.
Suddenly, Mr. Cuddly, the bear sentimonster that had arrived with her, lumbered over to Queen Loveless. Marinette watched in concentration, what it could be doing. Sensing her turmoil, he extended his massive arms and enveloped her in a comforting hug. “Queen Loveless,” he said softly, “you need this. Please let me help you.”
Queen Loveless initially resisted, shouting, “I don’t need your help!” But as Mr. Cuddly held her tightly, the dark liquid in her heart began to drain, offering a momentary reprieve. She remained calm but her pain, whether lowered, was still evident.
With her emotions slightly more under control, Queen Loveless turned her attention back to Marinette. A sinister smile curled on her lips as she prepared to unleash a blast of black liquid. The blast of darkness hurtled towards Marinette.
In a desperate move and act of self-sacrifice, Marinette’s parents threw themselves in front of her. The liquid hit them, point blank, and Marinette screamed in horror. “NO!” her body trembled but nonetheless ran over to her parents. Her eyes welled up with tears as she watched the effects take hold of her parents, on the ground, writhing in pain; their screams were like knives to Marinette’s ears and heart. She wanted no more than to wipe off the liquid covered that caused this, but…it would be a fool’s error.
Queen Loveless looked at the scene with a mix of envy and anger. She saw the love and sacrifice Marinette’s parents had for their daughter—a stark contrast to her own painful existence. Her envy then quickly turned to rage as she set her sights back on Marinette.
“Finally,” Queen Loveless said, her voice dripping with venom, “you will now share in my pain,” the black liquid surged ominously around her, preparing to strike.
As Queen Loveless advanced, Marinette shouted desperately, “Chloe, no!”
Just as the attack was about to hit, fortunately in the nick of time, Chat Noir burst onto the scene with a dramatic entrance, using his baton, spun it to effectively block the liquid; without getting it on him “Hey there, Queen Loveless! You don’t look so good, you might need a royal cat nap,” taking the moment of shock, he quickly took Marinette and with his baton extended, fled the scene, “See you later, Queenie and Nice bear you’ve got there—hope it’s house-trained!” he quipped before quickly retreating with Marinette in his arms.
Queen Loveless screamed in frustration. “Don’t you dare run from me!” sending out torrents of her pain inducing liquid, but they were greatly dodged.
As Chat Noir and Ladybug fled with Marinette, Chloe’s thoughts were ones of anger. Before she could plan her next form of attack, Hawk Moth’s voice crackled through Queen Loveless’ mind, sharp and commanding. “Queen Loveless, you must pursue them. Do not forget our—”
Queen Loveless interrupted him, her voice undeterred, “I want my revenge! You promised me that!”
Hawk Moth hesitated, then continued, “Very well. You may go after the mayor, your father. I’m sure Ladybug and Cat Noir will follow soon enough and then you get my miraculous’.”
The communication link ended, and Queen Loveless turned to her bear sentimonster. “We have a new target,” she declared with dark determination. The bear growled in agreement, and together, they set their course for the town hall, ready to exact their revenge.
Chat Noir landed deftly on a rooftop a safe distance from the chaos. He glanced around, relieved to find that Queen Loveless was no longer in pursuit. He set Marinette down gently and took a moment to catch his breath.
“Phew, that was a close one,” Chat Noir said with a teasing grin, trying to lighten the mood. “I have to admit, you’re quite the heavy load for a kitten! Who knew?”
Marinette barely registered his words. Her face was streaked with tears, and she was sobbing quietly. Chat Noir’s playful demeanor faltered as he noticed the depth of her distress. “Oh no, I’m sorry,” he said quickly, stepping closer. “I didn’t mean to make light of things…what’s wrong?”
Marinette’s voice was choked with tears as she spoke. “It’s not you,” she managed to say, her words interspersed with sobs. “It’s… it’s about my parents. They shielded me from the attack, and now they’re suffering. It’s my fault. I should have done something.”
Chat Noir’s eyes widened with concern. He kneeled beside her, his expression softening. “What do you mean, it’s your fault?”
Marinette’s shoulders shook as she continued. “I… I encouraged Chloe to talk to her mother. I thought it might help her, to mend their relationship. I was only trying to help, but... but then her mother… she said such horrible things to Chloe. Called her worthless, said she was a burden and never loved her…”
Marinette’s voice broke, and she fell to her knees. “I just wanted to comfort her. I wanted to help, but when I saw how angry Chloe was, I couldn’t look at her. Now... now look at what’s happened. I shouldn’t have interfered.”
Chat Noir listened in stunned silence. Anger and sadness twisted in his heart. He had always known that Chloe’s mother, Audrey Bourgeois, was cold and unkind, but he hadn’t realized the extent of her cruelty. The realization that Audrey’s words had driven Chloe to such depths of despair was crushing.
With a deep breath, Chat Noir forced himself to focus on the immediate situation. “Marinette,” he said gently, “listen to me. None of this is your fault. You reached out to Chloe because you cared. You wanted to help her heal, and that’s something to be proud of. You didn’t know how her mother would react. You were trying to do something good, and that’s never wrong.”
He gave her a reassuring smile, though it was more to offer comfort than to uplift. “You’ve got a heart full of compassion, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. But that doesn’t mean you should blame yourself. Chloe’s pain was manipulated by Hawk Moth, turning her hurt into something destructive. The real enemy here is him.”
“I promise I will help Chloe and stop Hawk Moth. Ladybug and I will do everything we can to save her and protect Paris. And no matter what happens, you’re not to blame for any of this.”
He took her hands gently in his. Marinette managed a small, sad smile in response to his words. “You need to find somewhere safe to hide while Ladybug and I deal with this,” he said firmly. “I promise, Ladybug and I will save Chloe. We’ll find a way to help her, no matter what. Just… stay safe, okay?”
Marinette nodded, her eyes still glistening with tears. “Right.”
Chat Noir gave her a final, determined salute. “Stay strong, Marinette. We’ll take it from here.”
With that, he leapt from the rooftop, using his baton to launch himself towards the battle, his mind focused on the looming fight and the need to protect Paris.
Once he was a good distance away, Tikki emerged from Marinette’s purse, wasted no time to comfort her wielder, before floating beside her. “Marinette,” she said softly, “We need to be extra careful with this attack. Queen Loveless seems to be in an unstable state, and Hawk Moth will exploit every ounce of it.”
Marinette wiped her tears away, nodding in agreement. “You’re right, Tikki. We have to stop her before things get worse.” Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “Tikki, Spots on!” she called out, transforming into Ladybug with a flash of light.
Determination replaced the sadness in her eyes as she leapt into action, racing towards the battle to join Chat Noir and save Chloe from the clutches of Hawk Moth’s dark manipulation.
In the dark and shadowy lair of Hawk Moth and Mayura, the two watched the chaos unfold on their large screen. Hawk Moth's face was alight with malicious satisfaction, his eyes glinting with triumph. Mayura stood beside him, her expression a mix of anticipation and grim determination.
"Look at them, Hawk Moth," Mayura said, her voice steady but tinged with excitement. "Queen Loveless is making quite an impression. Paris will be hers soon."
Hawk Moth’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Yes, everything is falling into place. With Queen Loveless’s rage and my akuma’s power, we will finally break the heroes and secure the miraculous’. Their emotional turmoil is deliciously perfect.”
Mayura nodded, her eyes narrowing. “And with Ladybug and Chat Noir so preoccupied, they’ll be struggling to keep up. It’s only a matter of time before their defenses crumble.”
As the two villains prematurely reveled in their success, Queen Loveless, atop her colossal bear sentimonster, stormed through Paris with a fury that flooded the streets with black liquid. Her anger seemed boundless, and her cries of rage echoed through the city.
The chaos reached its peak at the Grand Paris Hotel, where Mayor Bourgeois was ensnared in the grasp of Mr. Cuddly, the bear sentimonster. The mayor’s face was etched with fear as he trembled in the monstrous grip.
“Please, let me go!” Mayor Bourgeois begged, his voice cracking. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this! Why are you targeting me?”
As if on cue, Queen Loveless stepped down from atop of her sentimonster, getting closer, her stone features forming a glare. Her voice was shaky but seething with bitterness. “Do you even know who I am?” she demanded, her tone a mix of anguish and fury. “Can you not even recognize the daughter you and Mum never wanted in the first place?!”
The realization dawned on Mayor Bourgeois, his eyes widening in horror. “C-Chloe?” he stammered, struggling to comprehend the scene before him. “But why are you so angry? Why are you doing this?”
“Why? WHY?!” Queen Loveless’ eyes blazed as she unleashed her pent-up fury. “For YEARS you had never, once stood up to mum for after all those years of making my life miserable and putting me down!” her heart was gradually filling, “You were never a real father to me, you tried to buy off my love instead of giving it to me! I find out that I was nothing but a burden to you both!” Her voice grew louder, each word a dagger of pain. Tears streamed down her face, their flow unimpeded as they threatened to drip onto her father.
Andre stared opened mouthed, as his daughter unleashed her pent up pain. It was then that the final nail struck. “And I wonder…” In a trembling voice, she faced him, her emotions raw and unfiltered. “D-Did you ever even …want me?”
It was then that Mayor Bourgeois’s face crumpled with regret and sorrow. His heart broke for the girl infront of him, despite the stone mask, he could still see the innocent little girl’s face that he had helped to come in to the world; sadly, he had failed her and started all this. He struggled to find his voice through his sadness and guilt. “C-Chloe, I… I admit, you weren’t planned and I was scared…b-but when you did finally come, I was so, so happy to be a father. I wanted to do right by you, but I see that I failed to keep that promise,” the realization dawning on him, “I’m so sorry… I’m so, so sorry for everything. I failed you,” he hanged his head low, unable to meet the gaze of his daughter.
His apology seemed to do little to quell Chloe’s rage. Her eyes, still brimming with tears, turned toward her mother, who was scrambling to escape from the rampaging villain. Audrey, though was angrier than terrified, could not resist hurling insults at her daughter.
“You ungrateful little monster!” Audrey screamed as she stood quite a distance, her voice shrill with disdain. “You’ve always been nothing but trouble! I gave you everything and this is how you repay me? By becoming a villain? You’re nothing but a disappointment!”
Her words cut through the night air, each one a cruel reminder of the rejection and scorn Chloe had endured. “You think you can scare me into loving you? You think you’re worth anything to me? You were always a burden, Chloe! You never fit into our perfect little world!”
Chloe’s eyes blazed with a mixture of agony and rage. As her mother’s harsh words reached her, she could feel her heart breaking all over again. The black liquid she controlled surged with renewed intensity. Each insult from Audrey seemed to further fuel the chaotic flood of darkness.
The Mayor, witnessing this heartbreaking scene, shouted desperately, “Audrey, stop! Please, stop this! Can’t you see what you’re doing to her?!”
Audrey, consumed by her own fear and rage, paid no heed to his pleas. Her only focus was on escaping her daughter’s wrath. “I will not be lectured by you or anyone else! You’ve never understood what I’ve been through! I’m done with this charade! You want to hurt me, fine, but I will not give in to your pathetic attempt at making me feel guilty!”
Chloe’s reaction was devastating. Her entire being seemed to shudder with the weight of her mother’s cruelty. The black tears that had been streaming down her face, now flowed like a relentless torrent, mingling with the same dark liquid seeping out of her growing cracks in her form. Her shoulders shook with the intensity of her sobs, and her voice, though raw and broken, carried a note of unbearable sadness.
“I… I wanted to be loved!” Chloe cried out, her voice choked with despair. “I wanted to be part of a family… I just wanted to matter! But all I ever got was hatred and rejection! How can you be so cruel, even now? I’m your daughter… how could you…? HOW COULD YOU?!”
She let loose a rush of her black liquid, straight at her mother, who now had the decency to look terrified as she ran away. Luckily, Ladybug and Chat Noir, had arrived on the scene just in time to witness the devastating confrontation; without a second thought, they leaped into action.
With swift movements, Ladybug and Chat Noir spun their weapons, fast enough to dispel the immediate dark liquid. Their combined efforts managed to temporarily neutralize the danger, giving Audrey a chance to escape the direct attack. Audrey stumbled, her face a mask of disbelief and frustration, as she was saved from the full brunt of her daughter’s fury.
However, as soon as the immediate danger was averted, Audrey’s anger shifted towards her saviors. Her eyes flared with indignation as she turned to them. “What took you so long?!” she snapped, her voice filled with venom. “You let my daughter’s tantrum go on for far too long! Why didn’t you stop this sooner?! This is all your fault for not intervening earlier!”
Chat Noir, usually the more light-hearted and playful of the duo, was visibly incensed. His usual calm demeanor shattered, “SHUT UP!” he confronted Audrey with a fierce glare. “You think you can shift the blame onto us? You think Chloe’s anger is just a temper tantrum?” his voice was a mix of anger and disbelief. “You have no idea what it’s like for her. You’ve been a terrible mother, and frankly, you don’t deserve to be one. You were part of what drove her to this. You’re the cause of so much of her pain!”
Audrey’s eyes widened in shock at Chat Noir’s outburst. For a moment, she was taken aback, her usual quick retorts silenced by the unexpected fury in his voice. Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to respond, but no words came.
Chat Noir’s face was flushed with emotion as he continued, his voice rising with intensity. “Enough of this! You’ve done enough damage! Let us do our job and save Chloe. Just stay out of the way and let us help her. She needs us now more than ever!”
Ladybug, sensing that Chat Noir’s words had struck a chord, nodded in agreement.
Just then, Mr. Cuddly charged at Ladybug and Chat Noir with a deafening roar, its massive paws swiping through the air. Ladybug and Chat Noir leapt out of the way, narrowly avoiding the bear's powerful swipe. Ladybug somersaulted in mid-air, landing gracefully on a nearby rooftop, while Chat Noir rolled on the ground, springing back to his feet with a feline agility.
Queen Loveless, seizing the distraction, launched a torrent of black liquid from her hands. Ladybug and Chat Noir swiftly dodged the attack.
As Ladybug swung through the air, she saw Mr. Cuddly rearing up for another attack. She threw her yoyo, tangling it around Mr. Cuddly’s left arm to slow its movement. The bear roared in frustration, flailing its arm to shake off the yoyo’s hold. Chat Noir took this opportunity to dart in with his staff, striking at Mr. Cuddly’s legs, but the attack only seemed to enrage the sentimonster more.
Queen Loveless, atop her bear now, aimed her black liquid directly at Ladybug. With quick reflexes, Ladybug swung her yoyo to create a barrier of energy that blocked the liquid, but the force of the attack pushed her backward. Chat Noir leapt in front of Ladybug, using his agility to dodge a swipe from Mr. Cuddly’s paw and then retaliating with a rapid series of staff strikes to the bear’s flank.
Despite their efforts, Queen Loveless adapted quickly, her attacks becoming more relentless and unpredictable. She jumped down from Mr. Cuddly’s back, confronting Ladybug and Chat Noir directly. She hurled blobs of dark liquid with precision, forcing Ladybug to use her yoyo to deflect and Chat Noir to dodge with agile rolls and flips.
Ladybug and Chat Noir coordinated their movements, trying to create an opening. Ladybug swung from her yoyo to avoid another attack from Queen Loveless and threw a multi-directional strike with her lucky charm to disorient the villain. Chat Noir followed up with a series of rapid, calculated staff attacks aimed at Mr. Cuddly’s vulnerable joints, hoping to slow it down.
Queen Loveless countered by sending out bursts of dark liquid to cover a wide area, making it difficult for the heroes to advance. Ladybug and Chat Noir maneuvered around, using the surrounding buildings for cover. Chat Noir used his agility to perform a series of flips and rolls, dodging both the liquid and Mr. Cuddly’s powerful swipes. Ladybug swung from her yoyo to gain higher ground, giving her a better vantage point to plan their next move.
Despite their best efforts, each attempt to subdue either the sentimonster or the villain was met with counterattacks. Queen Loveless’ anger fueled her power, making her attacks increasingly erratic but highly dangerous. Ladybug and Chat Noir continued to avoid direct confrontation, keeping their distance and searching for an opportunity to strike back or create a tactical advantage.
Mr. Cuddly roared, once again, charged at Ladybug and Chat Noir once more. The bear's massive form barreled forward, its paws swiping through the air with terrifying force. Ladybug and Chat Noir scrambled to evade the onslaught. Ladybug swung rapidly from her yoyo, narrowly avoiding a crushing swipe. Chat Noir rolled on the ground, springing to his feet as Mr. Cuddly pivoted to follow him.
Chat Noir, his face set with grim determination, shouted over the din, “Ladybug, it’s time to end this! We need to put a stop to this now,” with that, he summoned his, “Cataclysm!” he readied his attack, his eyes locking onto Mr. Cuddly’s vulnerable chest.
Ladybug, sensing the urgency, called back, “Chat, no! We don’t know what using Cataclysm will do to it—”
Before Ladybug could finish, Chat Noir launched himself into the air, evading another swipe from the bear. With a precise, powerful strike, he unleashed Cataclysm directly onto Mr. Cuddly’s chest. The sentimonster’s form was instantly engrossed in cracks, as the pulsating, destructive energy landed on his chest..
Chloe’s eyes widened in horror as she saw her beloved sentimonster being engulfed by the destructive energy. Her scream of anguish pierced the air, a visceral cry of despair and loss. "NO!" she shrieked, her voice cracking with pain. "Don’t destroy it!"
From their lair, Hawk Moth and Mayura were equally alarmed. Hawk Moth’s eyes widened in shock, and he shouted, “No! Not the sentimonster!”
Mayura echoed his alarm, trying in vain to try and salvage the creature, but couldn’t. “The amok is not responding! It cannot help Chloe calm down anymore!”
The scene erupted into chaos as Mr. Cuddly convulsed violently, its form disintegrating under the effects of Cataclysm. The sentimonster’s roars of pain filled the night as it thrashed uncontrollably before collapsing to the ground in a heap. The dark liquid that comprised much of Mr. Cuddly seeped out, pooling around the fallen form.
That was the last straw. Her eyes, now glowing with a fierce, angry red, locked onto the remains of the sentimonster. She stumbled forward, her body trembling as the reality of what had just happened sank in. “They destroyed it,” she whispered, her voice filled with raw, broken emotion. “The last thing I cared about… someone who actually loved me…”
In that moment, Chloe’s stone-like heart, already heavy with her accumulated pain and rage, shattered completely. The black liquid that flowed through her form surged violently, reflecting her inner turmoil. Her body, once solid, began to disintegrate, with the stone cracks widening and the dark liquid spilling out uncontrollably.
Hawk Moth and Mayura, still watching from their lair, were horrified. Hawk Moth tried desperately to establish communication with Chloe, but his attempts were met with refusal. “Queen Loveless, you must stop this! I am your master, obey me!” his voice roaring in desperation, but there was no response.
Mayura, eyes wide with terror at the implication. Hawk Moth stammered, confirming her suspicion, “The akuma… it’s still within her, but it’s not responding! The negative emotions are now too deeply entrenched,” he was now helpless, “And the amok can’t help her!”
The two villains watched in terror as Chloe’s form became almost entirely composed of the dark liquid, her once-familiar face now a fractured, glowing mask of rage. Her scream, now a cacophony of anguish and fury, echoed through the city, sending a shiver down the spines of everyone who heard it.
Back at the scene of the battle, Chat Noir was struck dumb by the sight of Chloe’s transformation. “What… What just happened?” he muttered in shock, his eyes wide as he watched the chaos unfold.
Ladybug, her own heart heavy with the realization of the gravity of their actions, turned to Chat Noir. “I tried to tell you, Chat,” she said, her voice strained. “The sentimonster was actually keeping Chloe’s emotions in check. Every time her heart was about to be completely filled with pain, Mr. Cuddly would hug her and calm her down just a little bit.”
Chat Noir’s eyes widened in horror as he grasped the implication. “And I basically destroyed the only thing stopping Chloe from turning into that?” he chided himself, his voice thick with regret. “I’ve made things worse.”
Ladybug, seeing the dire situation, nodded. “We can’t do anything right now. It looks like I need to call in my Lucky Charm.” She activated her Lucky Charm, hoping for a solution, but Chloe, in a moment of dark clarity, easily grabbed the object from the air and buried it deep within the sea of negativity surrounding her.
And with a wave of her hands, she unleashed a tidal wave of black liquid across the city. The wave crashed through streets and buildings, swallowing everything in its path. People screamed in terror as the dark torrent consumed their homes and their lives.
Fortunately, the duo manage to get to higher grounds. From a high vantage point, Ladybug and Chat Noir surveyed the devastation below. The scene was apocalyptic: streets flooded with the viscous, swirling black liquid, and the air was filled with the anguished cries of those trapped in the mess.
Chat Noir, his usual confidence shattered by the scale of the disaster, turned to Ladybug. “Ladybug, what are we going to do? We can’t fight this whole mess without succumbing to it ourselves!” His voice was filled with panic, his eyes darting around as he took in the overwhelming scene.
Ladybug’s own composure was fraying as she looked down at the devastation. Her face, usually calm and composed, was now etched with worry. “I… I don’t know, Chat,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “This is worse than anything we’ve faced before.”
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “But we have to try something. I think… I have an idea, but we need to get closer to Chloe. It’s the only way to reach her.”
Chat Noir looked at her, his concern evident. “Are you sure? What if it’s too dangerous?”
Ladybug met his gaze with a determined expression. “We don’t have any other choice. Follow my lead!”
With a swift motion, Ladybug activated her yoyo, swinging through the air towards Chloe. Chat Noir hesitated for a moment but then leaped after her, his agility keeping pace as they approached the epicenter of the chaos.
Chloe, now a swirling, writhing mass of darkness with only her cement mask remaining visible, continued to shriek and howl. Her tears, dark and endless, poured forth like a broken fountain, reflecting the depth of her anguish. Her cries echoed through the city, a haunting symphony of pain that seemed to drown out all other sounds.
Ladybug and Chat Noir arrived at the edge of the liquid tide, narrowly avoiding being pulled into the overwhelming darkness. Ladybug called out to Chloe, her voice straining to reach through the layers of despair. “Chloe! Please, listen to me!”
Chloe’s form shuddered as her eyes locked onto Ladybug. The mask, though still intact, betrayed a hint of vulnerability. She stopped her tidal onslaught momentarily, her rage momentarily eclipsed by curiosity and pain.
Ladybug seized the opportunity and swung closer. “Chloe, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “We didn’t understand what you were going through. I should’ve realized how much pain you were in and how important the miraculous was to you. How important getting your mother’s approval was, you just wanted to help and I guess I never properly talked to you about the whole thing…I am sorry.”
The tidal wave momentarily stood still, as Chloe’s eyes, still glowing with anger, flickered with a mix of skepticism and sadness. “Why should I believe you now?!” she demanded, her voice breaking. “You’ve done nothing but fight against me. How can I trust you?!”
“Then at least trust me!”
Just then, Andre Bourgeois, tears streaming down his face, stumbled into view. He fell to his knees before Chloe, his hands clasped together in a desperate plea. “Chloe, please… forgive me,” he begged, his voice breaking. “I failed you as a father. I should’ve protected you from Audrey’s cruelty. I’m so sorry for not being there for you. I promise I will do better. I promise I will be the father you deserve. You are a blessing in my life, and I love you.”
Chloe’s gaze wavered as she looked at her father. The pain in her eyes was undeniable, but so was the faint glimmer of hope that his words ignited. She looked down at him, her voice trembling. “Why should I believe you now, Father? After everything?”
Andre, his face etched with sorrow and remorse, looked up at his daughter with a broken heart. “Because I’ve learned from my mistakes,” he said, his voice earnest. “I’ve seen the pain I’ve caused you, and I vow to be a better parent. I want to make things right. Please, Chloe, let me show you that I can change. Let me be the father you need.”
Chloe’s form began to tremble as her tears continued to flow, mingling with the dark liquid that surrounded her. The tumultuous waves of darkness started to subside slightly, as if the emotional weight was lessening.
Ladybug, seeing a glimmer of hope, stepped closer. “Chloe,” she said softly, “you don’t need your mother’s approval to be a remarkable person. You’ve shown that you have a strong heart and a deep capacity for both pain and love. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone but yourself.”
Chloe’s heart, long hardened by rejection and pain, began to crack under the weight of the heartfelt apologies and reassurances. The dark liquid around her started to thin, and her body began to revert to its original form, though she was still engulfed in sorrow.
With a final, shuddering breath, Chloe reached into the darkness, pulling out the akumatized gift box. Her hands shook as she held it, her eyes locked on Ladybug’s. “I wanted to surprise her w-with a gift… but all I’ve done is cause more pain.”
Ladybug reached out gently, taking the box from Chloe’s trembling hands, with touching the black liquid. “It’s okay, Chloe. We’ll help you through this. You’re not alone,” saying that, she opened it to see a gold locket. She was surprised but opened it to see a photo of both Chloe and her mother when she was young. Unable to see it anymore, she did her job, freed the akuma and purified it. Allowing the Lucky charm she found to do the rest.
Without warning, Chloe clung to Ladybug, her sobs grew quieter. Normal tears fell freely as she cried in Ladybug’s arms, apologizing profusely for her actions and for the pain she had caused.
“I’m so sorry,” Chloe whispered, her voice barely audible. “For everything… for all the terrible things I’ve done.”
Ladybug held her close, she allowed her own tears to fall like Chloe’s; these were out of relief. “It’s okay, Chloe. We all make mistakes. What matters is that you’re here now, and we can start to make things right. You’re not alone anymore. We’ll help you through this,” she pulled back just a little to tell her that. She then motioned to her father, who was not even trying to hide his teary smile.
Chloe’s sobs eventually subsided, and ran to her father’s open arms, “D-Daddy…I’m-”
“Shh, it’s okay, sweetie…I’m the one who is sorry. I promise, I will never let you down, again. Ever,” he reaffirmed his promise with a gentle squeeze.
Chloe just wept harder, feeling the love that she longed for so long, finally being shown to her. Her concrete shell, broken and all the pain and emotions she kept locked away, has finally been allowed to be set free.
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The End