Chapter Text
“Chat Noir!” Ladybug yelled as she looked at her partner, horrified.
Roaring as he fell to his knees, he clutched his face in his hands. Green ominous light beamed through the gaps in his fingers as they dug at the cracked white mask slowly materializing over his face.
Her heart lurched at the pain emanating from him as he resisted the Hollowfication. Wasting no time, she threw the red and black spotted soup ladle into the sky and screamed for her Miraculous Cure.
In a vibrant display of magic, red ladybugs appeared by the millions as they exploded from the small object. They swept over Paris, reversing all the damage that the Akuma had done.
Ladybug braced herself as the mythical insects embraced her and her partner; healing them from today’s battle. As they dispersed, she ran to Chat Noir. His breath heavy as he knelt.
The crackling green light had disappeared, but the remnants of the white mask remained. With their combined effort the mask gave away; crumbling into ash.
“Chat Noir!”
He looked up at her with teary eyes and smiled as brightly as he could.
“You did it, m’lady.”
Falling to her knees, she pulled him into a tight hug. Burying her face in his neck, not caring that he was startled.
“M’lad-”
“BAD KITTY!” She scolded, letting the tears fall freely. Holding him for another moment as she wet his neck, Ladybug pulled away to glare at him. “You shouldn’t have done that! I-I-I almost lost you!”
Chat Noir wrapped his arms around her as she rested her face back onto his neck. Her grief stricken eyes caused his chest to tighten as he searched for his words.
“I thought I could control it this time.” He admitted.
The black-spotted superheroine bit back a snarl. “It’s too dangerous. WE cannot control them.”
What he had done was reckless, he knew that. The risk normally wouldn’t have outweighed the reward, but they had been left with little choice. In any battle there would be instances where sacrifices had to be made. As much as Ladybug had stated each shared the same amount of responsibility, he knew as the Champion of Destruction that his role was to make those calls.
Still, the fact of that matter rarely ever shielded his lady from concern.
“I’m sorry, Bug...I just trust you to bring me back...Like you always do.”
Ladybug's back stiffened at his blind confidence. “And what if I can't?” Her voice was low and quivering as she struggled to hold back a snarl. Her fingers tightened their grip as she looked him straight in the eyes; her fear flared. “What if Papillon sends out an Akuma and it finds you?!”
He said nothing as his ring beeped. She looked down at the talisman and saw he only had 2 paws left.
Wiping her face, Ladybug stood up just as her earrings gave her their first warning.
“We should go.” She said, not looking at him. As much as she wanted to stay and hold him, Ladybug could not reveal herself. Not right now. Not when she was feeling so vulnerable at the fact that he had almost lost control to his Hollow.
Chat Noir’s shoulders slackened when she moved away from him. He thought he had taken all the consequences into consideration, but he didn’t consider the fact that Ladybug would have worried that she wouldn’t be able to bring him back. His head dipped in shame for failing to see the toll it took on her. He wanted to reach out to her, but she seemed so far away.
All he could do was apologize again. “I’m really sorry, Ladybug. I was just doing it for Paris.”
Pulling her yoyo from her hip, she looked back at her downtrodden partner with a solemn expression. “I know.”
--x--
Detransformed, Marinette laid down on her bed as her kwami floated over her chest with a concerned gaze. Neither of them had said a word since returning home that evening. This wasn’t the first time one of them had almost lost control to the Hollowfication, but usually they were in a controlled environment, not the heat of a battle. Tikki knew she needed to give her holder some time to process the gravity of tonight’s situation.
However, the red Kwami knew she couldn’t keep putting off this conversation for long.
“Marinette.”
The bluenette covered her eyes with her hands and groaned. “How could he be so stupid, Tikki?”
“I don’t think he was trying to be stupid,” The red kwami began gently. “I think Chat Noir made a call in the heat of battle.”
Marinette looked at Tikki, astonished. “But he knows we can’t control them right now! How could he have made that call when he knows the risks?”
“Sometimes the risks are your only options.”
Looking away, Marinette didn’t want to believe that, even if it was true.
“We would have found another way,” Biting her lower lip, she knew it was a lie. She didn’t want to believe that this was their only option. That Chat Noir’s second Cataclysm was their only option. “I just needed more time!”
“Marinette....”
Sighing, Marinette rolled over to her side toward the wall. Despite all their training to grow stronger, they were still unable to master using their special abilities more than once. It was only when they tapped into their Hollows that for a short period they were capable.
Unfortunately, this opened them up to an attack from their souls as the Hollows tried to claim the throne as the dominant personality. Marinette was more hesitant to rely on such destructive power, but it shouldn’t surprise her that the Champion of Destruction felt less wary.
“I just don’t want to lose.” Marinette whispered. The words hung in the air as she tightened her fists. I don’t want to lose Paris or Chat.
Tikki looked at her holder sympathetically. The price was steep for a human to wield a Miraculous. Despite the good intentions, the artifact would rot away the Chain of Fate with every use.
She tried not to think of the Ladybugs that had fallen to the Hollowfication. Her numbers were far fewer than Plagg’s, but it didn’t hurt her any less. Her heart ached as memories called to her from the depths of her mind. Tikki fought the heartache as she remembered her losses.
No. She couldn’t let herself give into the grief. It wouldn’t be fair to Marinette to be anything but supportive. This Ladybug was different, she was ready and the Kwami knew she wouldn’t lose her.
“Maybe,” Tikki tried to phrase this as delicately as possible. “it’s time for you two to face your Hollows.”
Stupefied, Marinette gaped at the suggestion. “It’s not the right time.”
“It rarely is.”
The words weighed heavy on her chest. The superheroine wanted to retort without it sounding like excuses. Compared to the safety of Paris however, her civilian problems seemed minuscule.
“I meant, how am I going to find the time? Between helping my parents and friends...and school.”
Lila Rossi’s image popped up in her mind with her sausage styled side bangs and haughty disposition. Her smug expression made Marinette’s blood boil.
Clenching her fist, she remembered how frustrating- no, infuriating the last few months had been. It seemed that Marinette was the only that could see through the spell woven by that harlot. Everyone had fallen prey to the exaggerated tales of her greatness, but not her. She knew what kind of tart Lila was, she was a lie spinning dem-.
No, don’t, Marinette. You have to stay calm. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly. Stay calm. She repeated this one more time, letting the heat flow out with her breath. Imagining that Lila was just a photograph, the Parisian heroine packed it away in a heavy-duty chest and locked it.
She had no time for Papillon to get a wind of her fury. That sneaky human-sized moth already had the entire city’s anguish at his disposal.
Tikki’s voice cleared the remnants of her ire. “I know it’s difficult right now, especially with your civilian lives, but I believe in you, Marinette.”
“I’m just so tired, Tikki. It’s not that I don’t want to be Ladybug or get stronger. You know I’ll protect Paris with all my might. But it’s...it just seems impossible sometimes. Like I’m barely holding it together.”
“I know it seems impossible now. But trust me when I say you’re very talented, Marinette. Your spiritual power is just awakening.” Flying closer to her holder, Tikki brushed her cheek as her dark blue eyes illuminated through the dim lighting. ”You will defeat your Hollow.”
She stayed quiet, finding comfort in her Kwami’s tiny hands.
“I believe in you, Marinette. You mustn't give up.”
“But…” Feeling the tears welling in her eyes, her throat itched as she choked out her greatest fear. “What if I lose?”
“You’re the Champion of Fortune.” Tikki seemed so assured. “You will not lose.”
--x--
Plagg watched Adrien bemoan the evening’s adventures. His holder had been doing nothing, but laying in bed, wallowing. After a few hours of hearing his chosen chaisiting himself, the black kwami had had enough. All the lamenting had soured his appetite for the moment. “You didn’t do anything wrong, kid.”
However, he was not the best at consoling. Adrien’s usually brilliant emerald eyes were dark with despair as he wrung the hem of his black t-shirt. He couldn’t shake the look Ladybug gave him when she snapped at him. “But you should have seen her, Plagg!”
“I did see her; I was there.”
“She looked sooo disappointed in me.” Shoving his face into a pillow, Adrien rolled over and curled into a fetal position. “If I just wait, the world will come swallow me up.”
“Look, kid. Look at me.” Plagg floated closer. “It’s time that you two started dealing with this.”
The blond Parisian hero’s face twisted. “I tried, remember? 5 months ago, 3 weeks ago, and today. The only reason I’m not a scary pale monster is because of Ladybug. Plus you heard her, Plagg.” He sounded so defeated. “They are too strong.”
“They are you.” Crossing his tiny arms, his acid green eyes looked unperturbed. “Your Hollow is that strong because you, Adrien, are that strong. And if you ask me,”
Adrien did not.
“You took a calculated risk and it paid off. You’re ready.”
As much as he wanted to believe in his kwami’s encouragement, there was a gnawing feeling in the back of his mind preventing him from doing so. Sighing, Adrien repeated himself. “Ladybug doesn’t think so.”
“Ladybug doesn’t know you like I do.” Plagg waited to see if his holder would rebuke him, but he was only met with silent agreement. The kwami knew him in and out of the mask. Even though Ladybug was his partner, Plagg was the closest thing he had to a brother.
A stinky, Camembert loving, rapscallion of a brother.
Who also happened to be very ancient.
And apparently full of wisdom and warm words.
“It’s just...I really thought I could this time, Plagg. I thought that I had the right mindset this time to control him, but…” Lips quivering, Adrien covered his face as he let out a choking sound.
He thought back to the white-haired creature that lived in his nightmares. Icy blue eyes filled with loathing as it stared back at him.
Plagg looked at him, worried. For a moment, he doubted himself. Was he wrong to urge him right now? His kid had a lot on his plate; emotionally, mentally, physically and socially. While this was a very important obstacle every holder had to face at some point, was it the right time now?
There is never a right time. Plagg reassured himself, thinking back to a conversation he and Tikki had over a millennium ago. They had seen what had happened when a holder had succumbed to the Hollowfication and the responsibility they had in rectifying the situation.
Their hearts were heavy; it never got any easier with losing a chosen, especially one whose soul had rotted because of them.
Adrien is different. He reminded himself. The kwamis had gotten better over the millennia with knowing when it was time to push their holders to face the decay.
He shook his head, clearing his mind of the unpleasantness. The black kwami needed to focus on consoling his kid first. There was no point in talking about facing one’s demons if they were currently a prime target for Papillon’s Akumas.
“Adrien.” Plagg said gently as he patted his holder on the shoulder. “Believe me when I say this that you are one of the best Chat Noir’s I’ve ever known. You are very talented and your instincts are second to none.”
The blond hero’s heart swelled at his sincerity.
It was rare to hear Plagg being so encouraging. Usually, the Kwami of Destruction would act aloof or ramble about his selfish obsession with smelly, runny cheeses; too self-involved to pay attention to Adrien’s woes seriously anyways.
He really believes in me. Reaching over, he tenderly rubbed Plagg’s cheek as he relaxed. “Thanks, Plagg.”
--x--
Ladybug and Chat Noir weren’t doing so well.
Papillon had just revived Style Queen at midnight after Audrey Bourgeois was slighted at an after-party by one of her newest discoveries. Fighting her the night after almost losing Chat Noir to his Hollow tested both of their endurances. Neither had slept much since. They only barely scraped by through school that afternoon.
Chat Noir breathed deeply as his eyes fixated on the black feather at the top of her gold glitter sunhat. His partner had already used her Miraculous Cure to bring Audrey back to sanity just minutes ago. However, Ladybug, in a rare display of imprecision, missed the Akuma that was fluttering away. Papillon must have sensed the weariness from the both of them because the dark butterfly boomeranged back into Audrey’s feather.
They were exhausted, mentally, and physically pushed to their limits as they once again took on Style Queen for the second time that night.
Feeling an opportunity nearing, Chat Noir looked at his Lady who was currently the focus of the golden fury. He knew Ladybug would not approve of his plan, but this wasn’t the time to hold back. Chat Noir could not allow fear to triumph over their victory.
I’ve only got one shot. Biting back a pang of guilt, he knew what he was about to do was utterly reckless.
But entirely Chat Noir.
Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and concentrated on harnessing his spiritual energy. Feeling it gather in his right hand, the Parisian superhero touched the underside of his chin. With a forceful grunt, he ripped the ominous green energy over his face.
A white skeletal mask materialized over his standard black eye mask. Cat ears disappeared in a crackle of dark green power as they were replaced by a pair of short white horns that curled forward. As his eyes fluttered open, glowing an infernal shade of icy blue.
Flicking his skeletal tail, the half Hollowfied Chat Noir waited patiently as the surge of unbridled spiritual energy flowed.
Gaze unwavering, he focused on the feather as it swished in the air, trailing behind Style Queen’s menacing figure.
And then he launched himself at the golden Akuma with demon-like speed.
Ladybug’s eyes widened as she saw the unfaltering gaze of his Hollow.
“Chat, no!”
“Cataclysm!” He called, as his hand collided with the ominous feather. Black energy enveloped the small trinket as it disintegrated into the air. The dark butterfly appeared from the ashes, fluttering as fast it could to get away from the two Champions of good.
Ladybug did not miss this time as it was snatched up in her yoyo. She didn’t even look at the purified insect being released, her heart dropped at the scene of a struggling Chat Noir.
She could see the hole forming in his belly.
Oh no.
Not having any time to check on Audrey, she knew the safest thing for everyone was if she could get Chat as far away from anyone as she could. Throwing her yoyo onto a rooftop, she sprinted to Chat Noir just as he let out a horrific roar.
Windows shattered as green light began to sizzle around his neck. Ladybug paid no heed to being burned by his Chain of Fate rotting away or the smell that resulted. She held him tightly till they landed on a rooftop far from Audrey and the rest of the partygoers.
“Chat Noir!” She cried at her partner as he descended into the darkness.
He could not hear her.
I have no other choice. Ladybug knew what she had to do.
Her earrings had already beeped 3 times, signaling the near end of her transformation. She wouldn’t have another chance to save him if she didn’t try now.
It would have been too late.
Ladybug grabbed the underside of her chin and braced herself. In one sharp movement, red light trailed behind her hand as a skeletal white mask appeared across half of her face.
Her body pulsed with elation as the monster inside her screamed for release.
She couldn’t mess this up.
Throwing her yoyo into the air, Ladybug called for her Miraculous Cure. She prayed for the red ladybugs to unleash their magic to save Chat Noir.
Instead, what she saw horrified her.
Thousands of black cicadas emerged from her spinning talisman. Encircling her and Chat Noir, who was too busy with his own demons to notice. Ladybug choked out a gasp as the night sky disappeared from view as the infestation wrapped around them like a windowless cage.
Darkness.