Archive of Our Own

(Not a salt fic, but an original akuma idea that I had. Also, I could not help myself since I really do love Yu-Gi-Oh. LOL! Takes place during season 3 but before Miracle Queen. I did age up the characters so that they are all sixteen.)

There have been many akumas ever since Hawkmoth started attacking the people of Paris to get the ladybug and black cat miraculous. And the akumas have definitely had a wide range of powers, abilities, and personalities. Not to mention that some of them had definitely been more dangerous than others.

The prime example of a harmless akuma would be Mr.Pigeon, who could do nothing other than control pigeons. The most harm he could cause was making the pigeons poop on someone. And while that was disgusting, it was not actually harmful. But then the prime example of a dangerous akuma would be Syren since she literally flooded all of Paris. Plus, there was also Stormy Weather. She had even been given an upgrade during her second akumaization that nearly sent the entire planet into a second ice age.

Probably the one thing that really kept Paris from fully adjusting to the akumas was that hardly any of them were really the same. It wasn't possible for akuma shelters to be built when there were too many different types of akumas that could attack. And even if one shelter was built that was strong enough to hold against one akuma, then there would simply be a stronger akuma that would be able to destroy it after.

Of course, the fact that Ladybug and Cat Noir were always able to defeat the akumas definitely showed that even when they struggled sometimes, they would always come out on top. Especially when they would be able to get help from one of their temporary heroes. Rena Rouge, Carapace, King Monkey, Ryuko, Viperion, and Pegasus were all great heroes that made amazing additions to the team. 

But just like how we don't talk about Bruno on Disney, we also do not talk about Queen Bee. Since Chloe had made no progress in terms of actually trying to be a better person, Ladybug had made it clear to her that she would no longer be getting the bee miraculous. Did it upset the spoiled brat? Yes. Did any of the heroes care after she caused so many people to be akumatized? Hell to the no.

Causes for akumas also are almost always different. Of course, for plenty of the akumas, Chloe was the cause of them. She had been the cause of seventeen akumas, including her own father as well as most of her classmates. But, there have also been other causes for akumas, such as bad dreams, bullying, work stress, being grounded, and a few other things. And in cases like Mr.Pigeon, it was because he continued to feed the pigeons even when it was not allowed.

Ladybug and Cat Noir always tried to find out the reason why a person was akumatized. Because if they learned the why then they would be able to more easily figure out how to defeat them. Such as how Rena Rouge/Alya knew that her younger sisters were akumatized into Sapotis because their bad behavior caused them to be grounded from going to the amusement park the next day. So, she knew that the perfect illusion to cast would be that of an amusement park.

Over time, the heroes also learned that the stronger the emotion, the more dangerous an akuma was. It was why akumas like Syren and Dark Cupid were so dangerous since heartbreak is one of the strongest emotions ever. Even if everyone knew that Kim was a lot better off without Chloe since his crush on her died when she got him akumatized.

But sometimes, Hawkmoth ends up feeling probably the worst type of emotions. The pent-up and stored anger that comes from a person that had to hold in their feelings for a long time. When those feelings of anger, sadness, and heartache come to the surface, it is probably the worst type of moment for Hawkmoth to come into play. But, of course, he would never abandon that type of opportunity to have an akuma that powerful.

Adrien and Marinette were in class like they usually were when that akuma was unleashed. Everyone in the entire school, probably even all of Paris, felt a jolt as the ground suddenly shook. And it was strong enough to make Ms.Bustier have to place a hand on her desk to keep herself standing.

"What the hell was that," Kim pretty much summed up everyone's thoughts.

"Please tell me that Hawkmoth did not create an earthquake-making akuma," Mylene already looked terrified.

Being on the side of the classroom that was close to the windows, Alix was the first to look out and see what was happening. And from the look on her face, it was definitely nothing good. Not that any akuma was a good thing.

"Well, on the bright side, I think that Rose and Mylene might actually like this akuma," the skater girl stated. "On the other side, Paris is being covered by some seriously fast-growing plants."

"WHAT," everyone in class yells/screams.

All of them were instantly on the window side of the classroom in order to look outside. And just as Alix had said, plants were indeed making their way all over Paris. People were running away as the plants were slithering like snakes through the streets. Others were trapped in buildings when the plants would cover them.

"Well, at least this plant is good for the environment," Rose could not help but comment.

"Rose, sweetie, I love you, but this is not the time," Juleka patted her girlfriend's head.

"Alright, students," Bustier brought attention to herself. "As per the new akuma attack regulations, classes are canceled until this is dealt with. Everyone get home as quickly and safely as possible."

Ever since akumas started to get more powerful, schools all throughout Paris had to start making new rules and regulations in order to deal with them. So, with akumas that could cause a lot of damage and destruction, schools would close since large gatherings of people would mean a lot of them could get hurt if the building they were in was attacked.

But that ended up being really lucky for Marinette and Adrien. It allowed the two of them to get away more during akuma attacks. Plus, since it also meant that classes were canceled, they would not be missing any classes to fight akumas. Something that has happened multiple times, especially for Marinette.

So, Ladybug and Cat Noir were both soon on the scene of the attack. They both landed on the same roof of a building that the plants had not reached, yet.

"Does... Does this attack seem different to you, M'Lady," Cat Noir asked her.

Looking closer at the plants, Ladybug understood why he asked her that.

"The plants aren't actually attacking anyone," she realized. "They may be spreading, but they are not actually going after anyone. It looks more like those trapped in their cars or in a building are simply collateral damage."

It was true. The plants were growing rapidly but were not really violent in any way. Something that was definitely strange to the two heroes. They knew that a nature akuma would happen eventually, but they would have thought they'd be more dangerous than this. Cat Noir especially thought of how dangerous they would be given that he has heard a lot about the villain Poison Ivy over in Gotham.

"So, I would say that it is a fair guess that the akuma is at the center of where these plants are coming from," Cat Noir stated.

"Most likely," Ladybug agreed with her partner. "If we find out where these plants are coming from..."

"Then I can use my Cataclysm to destroy all the plants at once by going after the source of them," Cat Noir finished her plan.

"I guess there really is something in that brain of yours besides puns," Ladybug giggled.

"This cat has many tricks of his leather sleeves," Cat Noir winked at her.

The two heroes then started following the plants to where they thought they were coming from. Since all the plants seemed to be moving away from the source, it was easy to figure out the direction that they came from. But as they got close, something else seemed to come into view.

"Did you see the fairy that flew by or was that just me," Ladybug turned around to see if her eyes were not playing tricks on her.

"If you're seeing things, then so am I," Cat Noir stated as he rubbed his eyes. "Because I am sure that I just saw a female knight wearing purple armor."

"This akuma does not seem as straightforward as we thought it was," Ladybug said.

"What type of akuma would be so powerful to have powers over nature as well as being able to summon creatures," Cat Noir was both worried and curious at the same time.

"Something tells me that whoever Hawkmoth akumatized this time must have been going through something awful," Ladybug theorized. "After all, only really strong negative emotions would make them so powerful."

"This is going to be one of those akuma victims that we wish we could do more for, isn't it," Cat Noir had a look of concern on his face.

There have definitely been plenty of times when the heroes would defeat akumas and wish that they could do more for the people that they had just fought. They lost count of the number of times they had to fight akumas which turned out to be people going through more than just a bad day. They had to fight an akuma called "Papa Bear" that got akumatized because his daughter was in a coma because their car got hit by a drunk driver. And yet the driver only got community service for her "punishment" because of her parents being really rich. It was something that made both heroes think that would one day be Chloe if she did not get her act together or if her father never grew a spine when it comes to her behavior.

There had also been a child akuma called "Chain Breaker" that ended up being an abused young boy who was actually punished by literally having his ankle chained to his bed to keep him from leaving his room. But even when they were both heroes and learned what was going on as they were fighting him, they couldn't do anything about it. Both of the boy's parents were respected police officers and even when they were superheroes, it was still their word against the word of the parents. Cat Noir particularly had a very hard time dealing with not being able to help that little boy.

"It looks like it, kitty," Ladybug sighed in disappointment.

That was when the two heroes finally started to hear some screams. And given that they were really starting to see how dangerous this akuma was, they might have finally found the akuma's target. And with most akumas, they usually did have a person they would target. Like when Lady Wifi, Vanisher, and Evilistrator went after Chloe. Or when Rogercop and Darkblade went after the mayor.

"Woah," Cat Noir gasped.

"Not good," Ladybug said.

What they saw was probably the most pissed akuma that they have ever seen. The akuma was obviously a guy and he really did not look happy. He actually had normal-looking skin, but he did seem to have vines basically growing all over his skin. The vines were dark purple with thorns all over them as well as having both red and black roses blooming all over them. He also wore a navy green leather vest, pants, and bracelet cuffs. He also wore a dark purple cape with red lining to match the vines and roses on his skin. Smaller vines surrounded his red eyes to act as his "mask."

Something else they saw was what seemed like a mystical device of some sort connected to the cuff bracelet on his left wrist. It looked like a black sword, but it was flat and made of light. There was also a navy green light lining it.

The akuma was standing on top of a tower of vines. Most likely where all of the other plants around Paris had been coming from. But even from it, the two heroes could feel his anger. It was like an intense aura that was stronger than any other emotion that they have felt from all other previous akumas they have dealt with. Which was not something that they thought was possible.

In front of the akuma, down by the base of his vine tower, looked to be five people. Two adults, one older teenage girl, a teenage boy, and a younger boy that was probably no more than thirteen. If the two heroes had to guess, they were his family. And if someone is pissed enough to go after their family, the heroes knew that it had to have been something really bad.

"Leo, please," the father tried to plead with his akumatized son.

"I am the Black Rose," the akuma yelled, finally putting a name to face. "And I will NOT be walked over anymore. I finally have the power to make you all pay for what you have put me through!"

"Black Rose," Cat Noir muttered, obviously thinking about something. "I know I have heard that name somewhere before."

"I am not your doormat anymore," Black Rose continued yelling. "I am done being the one that is always seen in the wrong. And I am through with being treated like I'm nothing!"

"You are not nothing," the father tried to tell his son.

But that only seemed to make the akuma even angrier. His right hand moved to what seemed like a small compartment that was under the light blade on his wrist. He pulled out what seemed to be a playing card.

"Your words and your actions say otherwise," Black Rose shouted. "Maybe dealing with my Rose Tentacles with knock some sense into you."

He placed the card on the sword and the card vanished. But, another creature soon appeared in front of him. It seemed to grow right from the ground. Soon, a giant octopus-like monster was in front of the akuma. Its head was a tall rose with giant petals while it had tentacle-like vines. It stood on a single stem, looming over everything in front of it.

"That's it," Cat Noir realized what he had been thinking about.

"Save lives now, realization later," Ladybug said.

Cat Noir nodded at her as they both jumped down in front of the frightened family. Both of them quickly spun their weapons to act as shields when the rose monster tried to attack the family.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you to keep your tentacles to yourself," Cat Noir was always quick to make jokes.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you to keep yourself out of family business when the family is not yours," Black Rose did not look happy about their interference. 

"Listen, whatever Hawkmoth promised you, he never would actually go through with that promise," Ladybug tries to talk to the akuma. "All he cares about is himself. You're nothing but a pawn to him. A puppet for him to control."

"If you really think that I will not get what I want, you are sadly mistaken," Black Rose glared at her. "What I want is to finally rid myself of these awful people. I am done with being unwelcome in my own home! And I am definitely tired of my so-called dad doing nothing to defend me!"

The plants around him seemed to react to his emotions. They started to grow even faster as well as grow more thorns. Rose Tentacles also reacted to his anger, really attacking them with its vine tentacles.

Cat Noir and Ladybug did their best to defend against the tentacles. But the cat hero knew that they would need to get away. Defending a few people was one thing, but having to defend five at once was difficult. Especially since they had no idea how many other creatures Black Rose had summoned and when they would also show up. He managed to get a look at the main stem that held up the giant monster. It was not very thick, so it would be easy to knock the entire monster down with a strong hit to the head.

"I thought roses were supposed to be about romance," Cat Noir shouted, jumping up.

He instantly extended his staff as he jumped toward the monster. The power of his jump, as well as the extended staff, made the hit against the monster's head even stronger. Rose Tentacles fell backward and made the cat hero really want to shout "TIMBER" at the top of his lungs.

"Okay, time to leave," Ladybug ordered the family.

She took the two adults while her partner took the three teens. They were both very thankful that their miraculous also gave them enhanced strength. It was how they could fight akumas the way they do. Using their yo-yo and staff, they helped the five of them get away from the obviously angry akuma. 

They ended up close to the wax museum where they faced Puppeteer for the second time. The doors were not locked by the plants, so they took the family inside. They figure that the building was strong enough to keep the family safe. Not to mention if the building security system was activated.

"I have never seen an akuma this angry," Ladybug said, turning to face the family. "What happened to make him so mad?"

"He's just throwing a temper tantrum because he's not been getting enough attention," the mother scoffed.

"You can not be serious, mom," the daughter said. "Leo hates attention. Especially from you. He's like this because you can't leave him alone and are always treating him as if he can never do anything right."

"And now we can add lying to superheroes to the list of things you've done," the older son says.

"Hey, lay off of mom," the youngest son protested them looking at their mother the way that they were.

"We only back off because Leo asks us to not get involved," the daughter says. "He keeps telling us that he can take the treatment. But do you have any idea how much pain you put him through with how you treat him?"

"Amber," the mother glared at her daughter. "That is not how you talk to your mother."

"It is when your attitude and your treatment of our brother has caused him to turn into probably the most powerful akuma since Stormy Weather's second attack," the older son said.

"Amber, Mike, you both just need to calm down," the father tried.

"As if you are much better, Randy," the daughter, who the heroes now knew was named Amber, glared at him. "That is your actual son out there, not a step-child like the rest of us. And yet you allow mom to treat him like garbage."

"You may listen to him when he complains about her, but you have never done anything to make her stop," the older son, whose name they now knew was Mike, agreed with his sister. "How many times has he practically begged you to make her leave him alone and yet you don't do anything!"

"He is sixteen years old," the mother snapped. "He needs to grow up!"

"Oh shut up, Karen," Mike said to his mother, using her name instead of calling her mom. "Leo does not need to do any growing because he is doing great on his own."

"All he does is sit in his room all day whenever he is not at school," Karen argued with them. "And it's not like his grades at school are anything to be proud of."

"He stays in his room to avoid you," Amber glared at her mother. "Not that it does much because you just walk in without so much as knocking. Three times you walked in on him changing and yet you still never knock."

Ladybug and Cat Noir could only watch as the family argued among themselves. Though, they both could admit that it was very easy to know what had caused this akuma. It was obvious that this Leo boy had not had the easiest home life. According to what the older two step-siblings were saying, Leo had been treated badly for a long time and he had kept quiet about it while also telling them to stay quiet as well.

But it was definitely those types of akumas that were very dangerous. Leo obviously had a lot of bottled-up anger, sadness, and frustration over how his stepmom treated him while his dad did nothing to stop it. And considering that even now, his stepmom still had nothing nice to say about him, Leo's anger was definitely justified.

"Stop talking to mom like that," the youngest son was obviously on his mom's side.

"Of course, you would be on mom's side, Andy," Amber narrowed her eyes at her youngest brother. "She spoils you so much that none of us can ever tell you 'no' without you running to her and throwing a tantrum like a five-year-old."

"Not to mention how much you take Leo's stuff without asking because you know that he can't do anything to stop you without mom once again yelling at him," Mike crossed his arms. "You take his pens, his journals, any candy he has, any bottles of soda he has. Anything he has that you want, you take."

"Mom tells me that I can," Andy definitely was very immature for someone that looked to be thirteen years old.

"Mom doesn't have the right to tell you that you can since it is not her stuff," Amber stated. "Leo buys his own candy, soda, and treats on his own with his own money."

"You mean he is stealing money from either my purse or his father's wallet," Karen definitely was not happy.

"Excuse me," Amber only got angrier. "What part of anything I said instantly means that Leo is stealing? It's his OWN money. He earns it because he uses a writer's website to get paid by those that wish for him to write one-shot stories for them. It's why he is also always in his room. Because everywhere else in the house never allows him to concentrate since you never stop Andy from screaming his head off and acting like a toddler."

"Hey," Andy really did look like a child with how he protested and pouted.

"Uh..." Cat Noir watched the family argue. "Should we... Should we do something about this?"

"I... I honestly have no idea," Ladybug answered. "At least this is telling us more about the akuma."

"What this is telling me is that woman is definitely a Karen, and not just because it's her name," Cat Noir said.

"How much TikTok have you been watching recently," Ladybug raised her eyebrow at him.

"Hey, I only watch Kallmekris on TikTok, thank you very much," Cat Noir adorably pouted. "And she has a really funny Karen character that she plays."

"I would watch her given how funny you say she is, but I don't speak English," Ladybug said.

"Trust me, she's hilarious," Cat Noir grinned.

"Please, everyone just calm down," Randy tried to calm down the arguing.

"That's all you ever want, isn't it," Amber glared at her stepfather. "All you ever want is calm. All you ever want is to keep the peace. But peace is only gotten by letting Leo suffer so that mom won't throw a temper tantrum. With how you always let her treat him so horribly, I'm surprised that it took so long for him to be akumatized."

"I would have gotten akumatized a long time ago if it had been me," Mike said. "The fact that he has been through this for years and has only now been akumatized really shows how strong he is."

"What exactly happened," Ladybug finally asked them. "Do either of you know what happened that caused your step-brother to be akumatized?"

She specifically was asking Amber and Mike because it was obvious that the two of them were the most level-headed of the family. Not to mention how they also seemed to understand their step-brother more than the other three. She also just didn't want to deal with anything a Karen would say. She dealt with them enough when they would get akumatized into some of the stupidest akumas that she and Cat Noir ever had to deal with.

"Leo has been planning to write a book," Amber explained to the two heroes. "He has always been a big collector of colorful pens along with journals that he writes in all the time. So, he was using a few of his journals to plan out his book."

"That does make sense," Cat Noir said. "Ladybug and I have both met the creators of the Miraculous Comics and both of them are similar in how they plan their comics."

Mike nodded. "Leo has been working on his plans for over two years. He worked really hard to really think about a lot of the details that he wants to use, the characters he wants to make, and the locations he plans to use. Everything. He was really serious about actually writing the book."

"But then our mom did what she does best," Amber glared at her mother again. "While he was at a friend's house, she went into his room and started throwing things out. She would call it cleaning, but most of us would call it invading his personal space and throwing out his belongings."

"She threw out his book plans, didn't she," Cat Noir guessed.

Amber and Mike nodded, making the heroes dislike the obviously awful woman even more.

"Leo worked really hard on all his plans and he was obviously also really proud of them," Mike tells the heroes. "He was not even just doing it because he wants to be a writer, but also because he loves to write. He loves to create. He already makes money from his writing and writing an entire book really was just something he really wanted to do."

"He's shown his friends his plans, he's based characters off of them, he's listened to all of their constructive criticism, he's done everything right," Amber looked really upset that someone she obviously loves was so hurt. "It's her that is the problem."

She pointed her finger right at her mother.

"Amber now is not the time for pointing fingers," Randy tried to tell his stepdaughter.

"That's your problem, Randy," Amber narrowed her eyes at him. "You never want to point fingers. You never want fights to continue. You do your best to keep the peace. And it is all because you know that it is ALWAYS her fault! She's the one that attacks Leo for no reason. She is the one that allows Andy to take whatever he wants from him. She is the one that constantly belittles him. And you let her do all of it. You love Leo, I know you do, but you have always made it clear how you will always choose her over him."

"I have made it clear to him how that is not true," Randy protested. "I have told him over and over again that he is more important to me."

"Black Rose was right," Mike said. "Your words say one thing, but your actions say another."

Ladybug pulled Cat Noir to the side. They needed to talk on their own since it was obvious that another argument between the family was going to happen sooner or later. Probably sooner.

"That family is certainly a piece of work," Cat Noir said. "And that says something coming from me since you know that my own home life is complicated, to say the least."

Ladybug raised an eyebrow at that. From what Cat Noir has mentioned in the past, his home life was less complicated and more just that his dad really sucks. It honestly reminded her a lot of Adrien and his relationship with his dad. But, she had more important things to think about at that moment.

"Family issues for them aside, you said earlier about you recognizing Black Rose's powers," Ladybug reminded him.

Cat Noir nodded. "The name 'Black Rose' already stood out to me. But it was when he summoned Rose Tentacles that it all clicked into place. Yu-Gi-Oh!"

"Huh," Ladybug was just confused.

"You need to watch more anime," Cat Noir chuckled before getting back on track. "Yu-Gi-Oh is an anime from Japan that is basically about a card game known as Duel Monsters. The game includes monster, spell, and trap cards that duelists use to duel each other to lower their life points to zero. Whoever hits zero first is the loser."

"Okay, so the cards that Black Rose was using are from the game," Ladybug was starting to connect the dots.

"Not even just the cards," Cat Noir said. "In the third series of the franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh 5ds, there was a character named Akiza. At the beginning of the show, she was a dangerous duelist that was known as the Black Rose. She was dangerous because her telekinetic powers basically made her cards come to life. This Black Rose is using the same cards as her. Rose Tentacles is part of her deck. The fairy you saw earlier was most likely the Rose Fairy card while the knight that I saw was probably Twilight Rose Knight."

"Hawkmoth is really looking to get sued for copyright claims with this akuma" Ladybug could not help but giggle.

Cat Noir managed a chuckle, but he did look worried.

"I know that I am usually all for jokes and trying to lighten the mood, but given what I know about the game, we might be dealing with some serious trouble," he tells her.

"More serious than being attacked by a giant octopus-like rose," Ladybug asked him.

"Rose Tentacles may be dangerous, but it is in no way the strongest monster in a plant deck," Cat Noir says. "I have seen a lot of the anime on top of also playing the game a lot. Plant monsters are definitely some of the toughest in the entire game along with dragon and warrior cards."

Ladybug could not help but groan. She hated having to fight akumas that either multiplied or had minions. Dealing with akumas like Sapotis and Puppeteer was tough enough. And this akuma's minions were a lot tougher than the ones they usually had to deal with.

"Well, at least they will be safe in here for the time being," Ladybug says. "Defending all five of them while fighting the akuma would be nearly impossible."

"While they are hidden here, maybe you should go and get another miraculous from Master Fu," Cat Noir suggested. "The turtle could be used to have us and Black Rose contained in one area without him being able to summon any of his monsters from around the city to help him. The dragon could also be useful against the tougher monsters if he summons them. Maybe even the fox could help in order to cast an illusion of one of the other strong monsters from the game."

"They would certainly all be helpful," Ladybug had to think for a minute.

But before either of the heroes could think of anything else to say or do, the entire building seemed to shake. Ladybug and Cat Noir shared a concerned look with each other since they knew only one thing could make an entire building shake. It seemed that the akuma had found them.

Cat Noir, being the one that would usually act first, jumped up to the second floor in order to look out the window. His eyes widened as he saw that it was Black Rose. And he was not alone.

Other than Rose Tentacles, the akuma also brought out two more monsters. One of them was basically another giant flower. But this one was like a bundle of amaryllis flowers. All of the blossoms were mostly orange but with white centers on their petals. It also had two sets of giant yellowish-orange leaves on either side of it that almost looked like fans. The other monster actually looked more human. And honestly, Cat Noir always thought the card looked like a ballerina. The monster wore a green bodysuit with a small attached tutu that was dark green on one side of it while being light green on the other side. It also had giant roses around each of its ankles with four thorned vines growing out of its back.

"Splendid Rose and Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis," he gasped.

"You think that I would have time to get the miraculous," Ladybug called out to him.

"...No," Cat Noir had gulped before he answered.

Not even a single second before he had answered her, the wall and window that he had been near were blown up, sending the black cat hero flying into the wall on the opposite side of the building. The entire side of the building had been blown up.

"Cat Noir," Ladybug called out, concerned for her partner.

"I'm okay," he answered. "I think both of us are used to being thrown into walls at this point."

"Did you really think that you could help my so-called family escape justice," Black Rose glared at the heroes. "They need to learn that I matter just as much as them. They need to learn how much pain and misery they have put me through."

"We know what happened to you," Ladybug tells the akuma. "And we're sorry for everything your stepmom put you through. It isn't fair nor is it right. But Hawkmoth is just using you..."

"Hawkmoth is dealing with his own problems at the moment," Black Rose had a very dangerous smirk on his face.

Ladybug and Cat Noir both gasped. This was just like what happened with Markov when he had been akumatized into Robostus. His own powers, emotions, and desires were too strong for Hawkmoth to handle. He lost control of Black Rose just as he had lost control of Robostus. Of course, the robot akuma had been able to keep himself from having his powers taken away by controlling Hawkmoth's own security system. So, that left them wondering what Black Rose had sent after the supervillain terrorist.

*****Meanwhile With Hawkmoth*****

The supervillain was not having any fun at all. He thought that this akuma would be the one to finally get him the ladybug and black cat miraculous. Instead, he was having to fight a garden gone while that Black Rose had managed to summon right into his lair.

The last thing that Black Rose had said before he forced their connection to shut down had been "Have fun in my Black Garden."

And it was right after that that a garden grew inside of his lair. But it was different than the other plants that Black Rose caused to grow. The Black Garden was made of dark green vines that were also covered in super sharp thorns. Also growing from the vines were black and dark purple roses.

He had tried to attack the vines in order to slice his way out, but the garden attacked him first. The thorn-covered vines had wrapped around his legs and lifted him into the air before he could do anything. He managed to use his cane sword to cut himself free, but the garden was ruthless. Not to mention that every time he sliced through one vine, two more would grow in its place. Like a nature version of the classic hydra from Greek mythology.

And on top of that, every time he attacked, a giant rose seemed to bloom. They did not attack him as the garden did, but he couldn't destroy them no matter how many times he would slice them with his sword. Every time he would slice, the rose would heal itself in seconds. If the roses would continue to grow, he would be completely trapped. Not that he already wasn't given that Black Garden had cut him off completely from his window and his hidden elevator.

With the vines and roses keeping him busy, there was nothing he could do against Black Rose. He was distracted and unable to focus enough to take away the akuma's powers. 

Normally, this would be a lesson to him about how powerful he should make his own akumas. But given that this is the second time he made this mistake, he was not exactly what someone would call a fast learner.

*****Back With Our Heroes*****

Ladybug and Cat Noir now knew that they would be the only ones that could stop Black Rose. Without Hawkmoth controlling him, Black Rose would only be able to be stopped by them. If they failed, who knows what he will end up doing? They both liked roses as much as anyone else, but definitely not this much.

"Leo, please..." Amber and Mike stepped forward as they knew that they were not the members of the family on his bad side.

"You two have shown to actually care about me," Black Rose tells them. "You are not like your she-devil of a mother, your spoiled brat of a brother, or my silence-is-golden father. You two will be spared. Do not make me regret it."

Most likely sensing what he wanted it to do, Rose Tentacles instantly stretched out two of its tentacles before either of the heroes could do anything. The tentacles wrapped around the two step-siblings and pulled them out of the building. But instead of throwing them out, the monster gently placed them on the ground outside of the building. The akuma then turned his anger back on as he looked back at the ones that caused his akumaization.

"Leo, I know that things have not been easy for you since Karen and I married," Randy tried to calm down his akumatized son.

He obviously had not said the right thing.

"Not been easy," Black Rose's yell boomed around them as if from a sonic boom. "I was the only one that supported you in your new relationship! I was the only one of your biological children that chose to stay in contact with you! I was the only one to actually treat your new wife and her kids as members of the family! And you thank me for that by letting that horrible woman treat me like garbage!"

His three monsters all looked to get angrier as Black Rose did. They were most likely channeling or sensing his emotions and then reflecting on them.

"Black Rose, you don't have to do this," Cat Noir called out to the akuma.

"And makes you think that I don't," the akuma turned his attention to the black cat hero. "Just because you are a hero does not mean that I have to listen to you or believe anything you say."

"Don't listen to me because I'm a hero," Cat Noir said. "Listen because I'm a human being just like you."

"What could you possibly know about me," Black Rose glared at the hero. 

"I know that you felt trapped," Cat Noir says, shocking Black Rose. "You feel that no matter how much you take or no matter how much you endure, nothing will get better. You pray every day that something or someone will make things better. You hope that by simply going along with everything or doing your best to endure everything you will find the happiness that you truly desire."

"How... How could you possibly know about all that," Black Rose looked somewhere between shocked, angry, and even a little sad. "How could you ever know how I feel?!?"

"My father treats me more like an object than as his son," Cat Noir admitted to the akuma. "I barely see him even once a week because of how much he works. I am a part of the family business, but sometimes I feel that is the only reason why he even had me. Just to have someone to continue his legacy. Otherwise, I doubt that he would have ever considered having a child given how he doesn't even do the bare minimum of what a parent should do. I know how it feels to basically feel no love even in my own home."

"Oh, Cat Noir," Ladybug gave her partner a sad look.

She knew that his home life was not that good, but she didn't think that it was that bad. She knew that his father was controlling, but what her partner just said made her want to bring him to her parents and have them shower him with the love she knows he deserves. That would be something she knew her parents would do given that they both tend to parent any child or teen that she brings over. Nino and Kim know that more than others because how they have known the Dupain-Cheng family for basically their entire lives.

Black Rose's hands started to shake. He had been comforted by others over his stepmom's horrible treatment of him, but this was the first time that someone actually was going through something very similar to him. It felt different to actually have sympathy and compassion from someone that knows what it feels like.

"I feel so alone," Black Rose admitted. "Every time that I write, whether it be because I get another story request or because I had another personal idea, it feels like the escape that I really need. No matter what I do or what is going on, that so-called woman finds something to yell at me about or to complain about me. I've never done anything to her. All I have ever done is be different than what she wants me to be."

"I know what that feels like," Cat Noir continued to sympathize with the akuma. "To feel that you need to change something or everything about yourself just to get some love. You know that love is not supposed to be conditional, yet your own experiences are telling you something different. You want to be yourself more than anything, but others keep trying to force you into whatever mold they wish for you to fit in."

"I grew up completely different than how she raised her own kids," Black Rose said. "I behave differently and act differently. That makes her hate me even more. But what really gets to her is that I do not bend to her will like everyone else. I stand up for myself and I make sure to make it clear how I feel. She complains about no chores being done. Maybe because she never actually asks anyone to do anything. She complains about it being too noisy. Maybe because she lets her thirteen-year-old behave like a spoiled toddler that doesn't know the definition of what an indoor voice is. She complains that everyone but her is lazy. Maybe because she doesn't open her eyes to see how much everyone else does since she is just that selfish."

"You have every right to be angry and upset," Cat Noir tells him. "You were basically forcibly turned into a sacrificial lamb since you were the black sheep to her. That is not only not okay, but it is also not right. You are a teenager and yet you have done more than she probably did at your age. You make money off your writing, you started planning a book at fourteen, and you make your friends happy by basing characters on them. You do everything right. She is the one in the wrong."

"Try telling my dad that," Black Rose looked angry but also really upset. "He is never willing to hear a word against her! I have been suffering because of her for years and yet he has never done anything to make her stop. I have begged him. BEGGED HIM! To do something about her. Even so much as simply talking to her about leaving me alone. But what does he do? He does NOTHING!"

His monsters could no longer just stand there and do nothing. They reacted to Black Rose's anger and went after the three remaining members of the family. Since Cat Noir was currently keeping most of Black Rose's attention on himself Ladybug was the only one left to deal with the three monsters.

Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis was the first to attack. It sent out bullets that were basically magically enhanced flower petals. And they definitely were not to be underestimated. Ladybug had to use her spinning yo-yo shield to keep them from hitting the family. And using some of her brain power, she managed to deflect some of the petal bullets right at Splendid Rose when he went to attack the family as well.

Having to fight so many opponents at once was hard, but it was not like she had not already done so in the past. It did happen before when Hawkmoth turned into Scarlet Moth on Heroes Day. She may have had backup during that time, but she could still handle herself while Cat Noir distracted the akuma. 

Plus, she also thought that Cat Noir really needed to get a lot off his chest. He obviously was holding in his own negative emotions for a long time. So, he needed to have his own chance to let it all out while talking with the akuma.

"I know that feeling more than anyone," Cat Noir says to the akuma. "My father is distant, to say the least. All my friends keep telling me about how the way he treats me isn't right. But he is still my father and I still love him despite how much he puts me through. The long working hours, having to pretend to be his perfect little doll, not to mention that I actually have to plan ahead in order to see him or I do not get to see him at all."

Ladybug thought that sounded familiar, but she brushed that aside. Little did she know that her brushing it aside was part of the magic that kept anyone from figuring out the identities of the heroes.

"I don't want him to just listen to me, I want him to actually do something about it," Black Rose said. "He won't ever do anything to stop her! He allows her to come into my room whenever she wants! He allows her to let Andy steal from me! And even when she threw out all the plans for my book, he didn't even do anything to scold her for what she did! I wish that I followed the lead of my siblings and never accepted those horrible people into the family!"

That actually seemed to finally shock Randy. The father seemed to finally be understanding what he had been putting his son through by putting peace with his wife over trying to keep his son actually feeling safe and happy in his own home. He really did love his son, but it seemed that simply saying that he loved him was not enough. Not with everything going on that had built up to the point of Leo being akumatized into his powerful villain.

Ladybug had to work even harder to fight against the three monsters. It didn't help that just as Black Rose, Amber, and Mike had been saying, Andy really was very loud. He really was acting like a toddler with how he was crying because of what was happening, even though it was partially his fault given how he treated his stepbrother.

If she was not blocking petals from Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis, she was throwing Splendid Rose across the room. And if she was not doing that, then she was avoiding the tentacles sent by Rose Tentacles. The ladybug hero really hoped that Cat Noir would be able to either talk down Black Rose or at least get close enough to destroy his akumatized object if he managed to figure out what it was.

"That is a lot for anyone to handle," Cat Noir says to the akuma. "And I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that. One of the last things that anyone should feel is feeling unsafe in their own home. I haven't felt at home in my own home in a long time. I may live there, but is it really living if you would rather be anywhere but there?"

"A...All I want is to just be heard, be seen, be treated like I am actually worth something," Black Rose actually had tears streaming down his face. "It's not even that I am angry. I am just done. Done with being treated as if being who I am is a problem. Done with being yelled at for standing up to myself. Done with feeling as if there is nothing I can ever do that would be worth something."

Black Rose actually started to be lowered by his tower of plants. Cat Noir slowly approached him. Both to comfort him as well as to get close enough to Cataclysm his akuma object. He figured that it was one of the cards in his deck as when they battled Simon Says.

It probably would have worked if a certain she-devil did not open her mouth. Which, for once, was not Chloe Bourgeois.

"All this over a book that was probably not even going to sell a single copy," Karen sneered, seriously taking on the role of a wicked stepmother. "As if that pathetic wannabe writer will ever be anything more than a garbage man or a fast-food worker."

Instantly, Black Rose's eyes gained back their furious look.

"Oh crud," Cat Noir quickly was backing away.

"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU," he yelled.

A card from his deck started to glow brightly as he then drew it. Along with the card, it started to rain down glowing purple rose petals. The wind also seemed to pick up as well. 

"Whatever that card is, it can not be good," Ladybug guessed.

"They say that every rose has its thorns, and they could not any more correct," Black Rose says. "I wonder how much of a b*tch you'll be once you face my most powerful beast. Come forth from the garden to rain down destruction! Black Rose Dragon!"

He slammed the card onto the things he was using to summon his monsters. Instantly, a giant pillar of spinning light, glowing rose petals, and purple fire appeared behind him. They could all see the shadow of a giant creature form in the pillar.

In a burst of wind, light, and nature, out came a dragon. Despite that it was a terrifying creature, Black Rose Dragon was actually also very beautiful. Its scales were dark purple while also having a dark red pattern on its scales as well. Most of its body was covered by giant rose petals that also seemed to double as its wings even when it almost looked like it was wearing a rose petal poncho. The petals were also outlined in dark purple, matching its scales. Giant dark purple thorn vines also were around the dragon.

The dragon floated behind Black Rose, both of them glaring at the woman that could not keep her mouth shut or her opinion to herself.

Cat Noir had a feeling that it was Black Rose Dragon's card that had been akumatized.

*****Time Jump Brought To You By Me Having A Hard Time Writing Fight Scenes*****

It had been probably one of the hardest battles that Ladybug and Cat Noir had ever done. Only made more difficult by how Black Rose only got more and more pissed whenever Karen would open her mouth. The woman just could seriously never shut up. Neither hero could believe how arrogant she was.

As usual, it had been a combo of Lucky Charm and Cataclysm that finished the fight. But, it was aided a lot by Cat Noir coming between Black Rose and his stepmom. It gave Ladybug the time to use her Lucky Charm, which ended up being a canister of knock-out gas. Only, the trick had been that the gas was not used on Black Rose, but on his stepmom instead to finally get her to shut up.

Having been shocked that a hero would knock her out, Black Rose was able to be caught off guard by Cat Noir using his Cataclysm on Black Rose Dragon. Since the card seemed to vanish after Black Rose would summon a monster, it made sense that the cards would basically turn into the monsters. So, after destroying Black Rose Dragon, the akuma was released and Ladybug was able to purify it.

Everything soon turned back to normal thanks to the Miraculous Cure. And much to Leo's joy, it also returned the journals that he had been using to plan out his book. Cat Noir certainly looked really glad to see someone that obviously had been through a lot of stress finally have something good happen to him.

And probably in a moment that was hard for him, Leo had looked at his dad and said words that probably neither of them expected.

"I'm moving back in with mom."

As painful as it probably was for Leo to say, it was also probably his strongest moment since he was finally removing himself from the house where he was emotionally abused every day by his stepmom.

It was a few days later that Adrien actually saw Leo in Dupont High. Apparently, his mom lived closer to the school, so Leo ended up transferring in. He seemed to be fitting in alright, even if he looked shy about starting a new school so late in the year. But, he was quick to make friends when Kim, Nathaniel, and Marc saw him with his Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Apparently, they all played the game as well, so they were happy to have a new opponent around.

All in all, Adrien was happy that Black Rose was probably not going to be making another appearance.