Chapter Text
“Long ago, the ladybug and black cat miraculous were sealed away by the powerful magic of many kwamis. Only your sacrifice as the peacock holder can awaken them so that they may return to this realm and defeat the evil that is brewing in it.”
“All we require is a sacrifice from me? I will give anything to stop that… that monstrosity from coming into power. I’ve felt the evil for so long now, but I cannot continue to stand aside.”
“It is not that simple.” Dusuu floated closer to her chosen and fanned out her feathers to show Emilie a picture of her family. “You must give up that which means to the most to you. The miraculous were sealed with a magic created from extreme emotion so your sacrifice must be emotion based as well.”
“What do you mean?” Emilie Agreste’s green eyes shone bright as tears streamed down her red cheeks. It had been a long time since she had last cried, but the feeling of loss was all too familiar as it crashed into her once more.
“You must sacrifice Adrien.”
“I can’t do that!” I know I said anything, but I cannot do that. She is asking too much of me, she thought. Never.
“You must leave immediately and never see him again.”
“No!”
“You must.” The kwami’s voice was low but forceful. “It is the only way that he can be stopped. You know this.” The vision had hit them hard this time and now it was a race against the clock. “You have just seen it for yourself.” The vision replayed on her feathers. Death. Destruction. Ruin.
“There is just too much that even you do not know.” The visions are never wrong. I trust in our powers, but I can’t just run from this fight. “I need a guarantee that everything is going to be okay. That he will be safe this way.”
“You know I can’t tell you that Emi.” Sparkling crimson tears fell to the plush carpet below the kwami before sinking into the fabric and disappearing. Even her powers had its limits and restrictions.
“I know but,”
“No buts. If we do not do this now we will not have another chance.” Dusuu sighed as her chosen took one final look at the framed picture on the white vanity in the corner. “If we do not do this now then he will never have a chance at a normal future. We need to go.”
“Hold on!” She couldn’t take anything with her, but she would be damned if she left Adrien completely alone. My baby boy. My shining sun. Ignoring Dusuu, Emilie opened the safe hidden behind the coats in the back of her closet before throwing its contents inside her bag. The jewels clinked against one another before settling on top of the stacks of cash bound together with strips of paper. This will be enough for him if he is ever unable to access his modelling savings. She still did not want to think about the worst coming to fruition, but she knew that she would be unable to leave without securing his future. I fought so hard to get here. To give him the best life, and now I’m throwing all of that away because of a possible future.
“We must hurry.”
“You are telling me that I have no choice but to give up the thing most important to me, my child, so you do not get to tell me to hurry. Not now Dusuu.”
“You are not the first peacock holder who has gone through this Emilie, but you are the most important.” Her chosen hardly ever let her temper run free. Dusuu knew that she was incredibly stressed, but neither one of them could afford to waste even a second more. We have to leave. We have to do this. “You must do this. The world needs you. Your son needs you. Your sacrifice is the only thing strong enough to awaken the black cat and ladybug miraculouses. Only they can stop the evil that is coming.”
“Evil that we are fueling with our departure today. What if we’re wrong?” Her voice was raw as she hissed. “The future can change!”
“Yes, but it is necessary. I know you’re hurting, but you understand that this is how it has to be. I fear things are already set on a path towards this horror. If I thought that there was a chance for us to stay here, for you to stay with him, I would not be asking you to leave. I have consulted with the Master already and he agrees. You have to know that I would never intentionally hurt you!”
“I know Dusuu.” Emilie put her palm out so that her kwami could land on it. Hugging her she said, “this is that hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I would not change a thing about our partnership. That doesn’t mean I have to be happy about this situation though.”
“You would not be the hero I know if you weren’t having a hard time. Your sacrifice today is what will save them all.”
With one last breathless sob Emilie looked around her bedroom, grabbed her purse, applied more makeup to cover her puffy red eyes, and ran. The loud click of her heels filled the unusually empty halls. “We need to make a stop before we visit Master Fu one last time.” Dusuu looked as though she was about to protest so Emilie quickly cut her off. “This is nonnegotiable. My son will hate me for leaving, but I will make sure that his future is protected in case of the worst.”
With a nod the kwami ducked inside of the open bag as Emilie threw the mansion’s doors open. She had sent everyone home earlier after the vision had erupted in her mind so no one would witness her fleeing from Agreste Manor. Almost everyone, Emilie thought as she climbed into the car Nathalie was driving.
“You will watch over him? Make sure that he is safe?” Emilie broke the silence as the pair of women drove towards the edge of the city.
“Of course Emilie. I love Adrien like he is my own.” Nathalie said, her usual smile was missing. “I know that you have your reasons, but… you really can’t tell me where you’re going?”
“I wish I could, but it’s not safe.” She grabbed Nathalie’s free hand. “I trust no one more than you.”
“That’s what best friends are for Emi. Just don’t forget that we will always be here for you whenever you are able to come back home.”
Emilie remained silent as she stared out the window. I can never return to Paris. The visions and Dusuu’s instructions were clear. Goodbye Adrien.