Chapter Text
The city had never looked so small, so fragile. From the rooftops, Ladybug could see Paris sprawled beneath her like a sleeping giant, unaware of the storm about to descend. The moon hung low and pale, casting long shadows over the streets, but the night's calm was a lie, a thin veil over the chaos that was about to erupt.
Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic rhythm that matched the adrenaline surging through her veins. Chat Noir-no, Chat Blanc now-hovered above the Seine, his figure wreathed in white light, his eyes blazing with an unnatural, sorrowful fury. Every fibre of his being radiated power, a destructive energy she had never felt before. She could almost see the pain that fuelled it, the betrayal, the heartbreak, and the raw, twisting anger that had transformed him into this.
The first wave of destruction hit without warning. A bridge over the river groaned and buckled, steel and stone splintering under a shockwave that radiated outward from Chat Blanc's form. Ladybug leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding falling debris as shards of concrete rained down around her. Sparks danced in the air where twisted metal scraped against itself, and the smell of burning ozone filled her lungs.
She had to keep her focus. She had to stop him, but how? This wasn't an ordinary akuma attack. The power emanating from Chat Blanc was unlike anything she had ever faced. He was faster than ever, stronger, more ruthless, and fuelled by a heartbroken rage that she couldn't touch with words alone.
Buildings trembled, windows shattered. Cars tipped and rolled in the streets below, honking horns blending with the rumble of collapsing masonry. Even the river seemed to ripple violently, water surging against its banks as if it too could sense the overwhelming energy above.
Ladybug tried to call to him, her voice slicing through the chaos, "Chat! Listen to me! This isn't you!"
Her words were swallowed by the roar of destruction. He didn't slow. He didn't pause. Every movement left devastation in its wake. A single sweep of his arm sent a nearby tower crumbling into the streets, debris flying like missiles. The ground shook beneath her as she scrambled to find footing on a crumbling rooftop. There was no denying that the people of Paris were all dead in an instant.
Her mind raced. She needed a plan, and fast. But her usual tools, her yo-yo, her quick thinking, her Lucky Charm, felt insufficient. Nothing in her training, nothing in her countless battles, had prepared her for this.
And yet, in the midst of the storm, something strange happened.
A quiet, almost imperceptible hum vibrated in her chest, like a heartbeat she had never noticed before. It wasn't coming from anywhere outside, it was inside her. She felt it coil and stretch, tendrils of energy brushing against her mind and spirit. The panic and fear that had threatened to paralyse her now transformed into something else, clarity.
Her hands tingled. Her heart steadied. She realised, almost without thinking, that she could create. Not just with tools, not just with skill, but with sheer will. Her mind imagined a shield, something to protect her, and it formed. A translucent barrier blossomed around her like a bubble of light, rippling to absorb the shock of falling debris, bending the gusts of wind, deflecting the shards of stone and metal that threatened to crush her.
Ladybug froze for a moment, eyes wide, breath catching, "I can do this. I can protect myself."
And as she concentrated harder, the shield expanded, stretching wider to cover the space around her. She was still trembling, still terrified, but she could feel control returning.
Below her, Paris burned and shook under the force of Chat Blanc's wrath. Cars flipped, lamp posts twisted into grotesque shapes, and the skyline was marred by collapsing towers and gouts of flame. But for the first time since he had changed, Ladybug didn't feel completely helpless. She could protect herself, if only for a moment, and maybe, just maybe, reach him.
Chat Blanc's eyes met hers across the distance, and for a brief, gut-wrenching second, she thought she saw a flicker of the boy she had known. But it was fleeting, buried under the weight of his anger and heartbreak. He raised a hand, and the world around them trembled again. Ladybug clutched her yo-yo, knowing that every second counted.
Her mind raced through possibilities, strategies, everything she had ever learned in the field. She needed to reach him, but she couldn't reason with him, not now. She needed to survive long enough to try. And then she noticed something else.
A rose.
Her Lucky Charm. It had appeared in her hand as if by instinct, a delicate bloom amidst the chaos. She realized that, somehow, her mind had conjured it, manifested it in response to the danger. The rose pulsed with a soft light, a signal that this power, whatever it was, could help her. And as she stared at it, she understood. Her imagination, her focus, her sheer will, could shape reality itself, at least here, at least in this moment, against him.
The wind howled around them. Chat Blanc's voice broke over the city, anguish and fury intertwined.
"I loved you so much, Marinette and you've thrown it all away!"
Ladybug's fingers tightened around the stem of the rose. Her shield flared brighter, rippling outward to absorb another wave of destructive energy. Her heart pounded, a mix of fear, determination, and heartbreak. She was alone in the chaos, but she was also ready.
And above the ruined streets of Paris, Chat Blanc's form shimmered, towering over the city with unstoppable power, completely unaware that the girl he loved had just unlocked something neither of them could have imagined.
Ladybug's eyes never left him. Chat Blanc hovered above the ruined streets, a spectral figure of rage and heartbreak. Every motion he made sent waves of destruction down to the city below, streetlights snapped like twigs, cars crumpled like paper, and the ground itself seemed to shiver beneath the weight of his fury.
Her hands were clammy, her yo-yo coiled tight in one fist, but she knew she couldn't retreat. Not now. Not ever. She had to reach him, had to remind him that somewhere beneath the white-hot anger, there was still the boy she had known, the boy who had been her partner, her friend, the one who had trusted her heart.
She raised her other hand, letting the power of her Lucky Charm flow through her, and another shield of translucent energy blossomed outward. It bent and absorbed the debris of a collapsing bridge, sending splinters of stone and twisted metal ricocheting harmlessly into the air. She could feel the strain, this wasn't like any power she had ever known, but the focus forced itself into her mind, steadying her shaking heart.
Chat Blanc's voice cut through the air, jagged with pain, "Marinette, you left me! You've thrown everything away!"
"I'm right here!" She shouted, her voice trembling, "I haven't left you! Listen to me!"
Her words only seemed to fuel his anguish. With a sweep of his arm, a wave of energy surged across the streets, sending cars and debris tumbling into the Seine. Ladybug rolled across a rooftop, using her yo-yo to swing past the worst of it, the shield flaring each time it absorbed an impact. She could feel the strain on her arms, on her mind, on her chest. It was like holding the world itself in her hands, but she refused to falter.
She realised that the rose, her Lucky Charm, wasn't just a tool, it was a conduit. Every pulse of light from its petals seemed to guide her, shape her instinctive power. With a thought, she formed barriers to protect parts of the city, a broken street collapsed into a neat protective dome, a crumbling apartment building reassembled just enough to prevent anyone inside from more harm, as if they weren't already dead. Her mind was alive with creation, her fear turning into precise, deliberate action.
Chat Blanc's figure loomed closer, his fists clenched, "I loved you! You don't understand! Give me your Miraculous! I can fix everything!"
Ladybug's chest tightened. She wanted to reach out, to grab him, to pull him back into the boy she knew, but he was a hurricane of grief and fury, and one wrong move could obliterate everything. She dodged another destructive sweep of his arm, flipping and landing on a tilted rooftop. Pieces of stone crashed around her, but she let her mind work in tandem with her powers, shaping shields like puzzle pieces to absorb every blast.
She shouted again, trying to cut through the storm, "Chat! This isn't the way! I can help you, but you have to listen!"
He stopped for a fraction of a second, white hair glowing in the chaos, eyes flickering with the slightest hesitation, but the hesitation vanished as quickly as it appeared. He swung downward, and a shockwave sent her tumbling across the roof. She hit the ground, rolled, and sprang back up, clutching her rose tightly.
Her mind screamed at her to create, anything, and her subconscious responded. From the rose, a pillar of crimson light shot upward, forming a shield that expanded and coiled around her like a protective cage. The light pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat, a physical manifestation of her determination. It pushed back against Chat Blanc's energy, deflecting a wave of destructive force that would have flattened the entire block.
For a heartbeat, everything was still. Ladybug stood behind the glowing barrier, panting, heart hammering. Chat Blanc's form loomed across the skyline, white coat torn and glowing faintly from the force of his own energy. And then, the voice came again, low and trembling:
"You never loved me..."
The words hit her like a physical blow, cutting deeper than any debris or destruction. She gritted her teeth, feeling the weight of his heartbreak pressed into her chest.
"That's not true!" She shouted, her voice breaking, tears threatening to spill, "I've always cared for you! But this-this isn't you!"
He surged forward, and Ladybug's barriers flared, expanding to absorb the impact. The city around them shook violently. A single swing of his arm sent a wave of energy she could barely contain, tearing apart streets, buildings, and the skyline in an instant. She realized she couldn't hold back forever; she had to reach him, had to bring him back from the edge of this abyss.
Her mind darted to her Lucky Charm again, and instinctively, she threw the rose into the sky. It exploded into a cascade of petals that transformed into a network of energy, wrapping around Chat Blanc like tendrils of light. He staggered slightly, his glowing eyes meeting hers across the chaotic expanse.
"I... I loved you," He whispered, voice cracking, "And you threw it all away. Give me your Miraculous. Let me fix everything!"
"No!" Ladybug's voice was fierce, unwavering, even as her hands shook from exertion, "You're not doing this, not like this! Not to Paris, not to yourself!"
He surged again, stronger this time, and the ground beneath them cracked and heaved. Ladybug felt her heart break with every movement of his massive, uncontrolled power. And yet, she refused to yield. She focused, concentrated, and felt her shields shift, mould, reshape, bend to her will. She was creating more than just barriers, she was building a labyrinth of protection, a safe zone in the middle of chaos.
Finally, for the briefest instant, she locked eyes with him. Something softened, just a flicker of the boy she knew beneath the fury. And she shouted, almost pleading, almost whispering.
"You're not alone! I'm here! We can fix this together!"
The city trembled beneath them. Chat Blanc hovered in the storm of his own fury, the ground cracked and buckling with every movement. Ladybug's arms shook, her mind screaming, heart pounding. She had never felt energy this raw, this overwhelming. She looked at her rose again, weaving it into shields and barriers, but the strain was eating at her.
Suddenly, her earrings began to screech, a high-pitched, frantic warning. The sound pierced her skull. She froze, clutching at her ears, then realised, her power was too much. Too uncontrolled. She felt her body unravel, her energy faltering. She detransformed.
"No, no, no, no," Marinette whispered, tears streaking her face. Her vision blurred. Her body sagged as the power she had been bending around her mind and heart began to slip.
With a choked sob, she slammed her hands to the ground and shouted, "Please, please stop, Chat, please!"
Even as the words left her lips, a miraculous thing happened. Chat Blanc's storm of rage faltered. The massive waves of destruction slowed. The fire in his eyes softened, if only slightly, as if he recognised the voice, the desperation. He hovered, panting, energy crackling faintly around him.
Marinette scrambled forward, her knees hitting the crumbling rooftop.
She reached out, trembling, "I'm here, I'm not leaving you. You don't have to do this!"
He wavered above her, a spectral storm barely held together. Her sobs and pleas seemed to pierce the haze of his anger. She could see the boy, the real Chat, struggling beneath the white mask of fury.
Her fingers grazed the bell at his chest, "I'm so sorry for everything, Chaton."
Her heart threatened to shatter, but she gritted her teeth. With a desperate tug, she snapped the bell, and the akuma flew out, washing over the chaos. Chat Blanc shuddered, energy unravelling, his body slumping limply.
He was Chat Noir again.
He collapsed onto the rooftop, breathing ragged, blonde hair stuck to his face, eyes closed. Marinette dropped beside him, chest heaving, hands shaking. She had done it, but the weight of what she had endured pressed down on her like a boulder. Tears ran freely down her cheeks. The city slowly began to stitch itself back together under the guidance of her newfound power.
She forced herself to retransform to clean up everything.
Once the last debris vanished, the streets reformed, the bridges and buildings restored. The chaos was gone. The akuma was purified. Paris was whole again, but she felt hollow, trembling, a raw ache deep in her chest.
Moments later, he stirred. Eyes fluttering open, confusion evident in his gaze.
"Huh, what happened?" He asked, voice hoarse, disoriented.
Ladybug, sitting up beside him, wiped her tears hastily.
She forced a calm smile, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "You-you just passed out, that's all. I got you here safely."
He nodded slowly, still rubbing at his temples, unaware of the storm they had just survived. Ladybug exhaled, her body sagging against the rooftop. She was alone with the memory of it all, the pain, the terror, the love, the fury, and the knowledge that she alone had carried the weight of that night.
Paris looked untouched, serene, and whole again, but she knew the truth.
She was the only one who would ever remember.
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Ladybug sat silently in the edge of Master Fu's garden, her shoulders hunched as if the weight of the world had settled there permanently. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the hidden flowers around the courtyard, but even the calm beauty of the place couldn't ease the storm still raging inside her. Chat Noir walked a few steps behind, oblivious to the trauma she carried. He rubbed the back of his neck, still dazed from the rooftop collapse, completely unaware of the full scale of what had happened.
Master Fu greeted them with his usual serene demeanour, but Ladybug's gaze was fixed firmly on the ground. She didn't speak, not a word about Chat Blanc, the city's destruction, or the surge of power she had nearly lost control over.
"We need to ask you something," She said finally, her voice low, almost fragile.
Her gloved hands clenched in her lap as she forced herself to look at him, "Is there a way for Chat Noir to forget that he knows my secret identity?"
Master Fu's eyes softened as he studied her. He could see the tremor in her voice, the tension that even the mask of her costume couldn't hide.
"That is possible, the power of destruction can destroy memories," He replied carefully, "But it is not simple. Cataclysm is a dangerous power, and it can only be performed with great precision. Chat Noir has the potential to erase memories, but the process requires intent, control, and your consent as well."
Ladybug exhaled slowly, relief mingled with lingering anxiety.
"So you're saying he can forget, he can forget that he knows?" Her voice cracked slightly, "But only if he wants to?"
Master Fu nodded, his gaze steady, "He must choose to do it. You cannot force it upon him. But if you guide him, if you explain the boundaries and purpose, he can selectively erase the memory. You will be safe, and he will remain unaware of your identity."
Ladybug's heart tightened. She understood it was necessary. One wrong word, one hint, everything could spiral again. She clenched her fists, resolute.
She whispered into Master Fu's ear, "He got akumatised. He has no idea, Paris has no idea. He destroyed everything."
Master Fu nodded again, as if reading her thoughts, "Then you must keep what you know close, Ladybug. Only you will carry the truth. And you must be cautious. The burden of knowledge is heavy, but it is yours alone to bear."
Ladybug exhaled, sinking slightly onto the stone bench. Her mask hid her expression, but Master Fu could feel the tremor of her exhaustion, the weight of the memories, the fight, the desperation. She hadn't admitted a single detail of the surge of her new power. Not a word.
"Thank you," She whispered, her voice quiet, almost lost in the wind, "I... I'll handle it. I'll keep it safe."
Chat Noir looked between them, brow furrowed.
"Handle what?" He asked, his voice careful but concerned. Ladybug didn't answer.
She merely nodded at Master Fu and turned away, the silence stretching thick between them.
Master Fu's eyes lingered on Ladybug. He understood. The weight she bore was immense, and she had chosen to shoulder it alone. The city was safe, Chat Noir oblivious, and the secrets she carried were hers alone.
Ladybug sat on the stone bench of Master Fu's garden, her hands folded tightly in her lap. The night was silent, except for the faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of Paris. Chat Noir stood a few feet away, shifting uneasily, still unaware of the true scale of the events he had narrowly escaped. He looked tired, but otherwise himself, the way he always did after a mission. Yet tonight was different. Ladybug could feel the tension coiled inside her like a spring ready to snap.
"I want to forget her identity," Chat admitted.
"You're sure about this?" She asked quietly, her voice trembling just enough that he noticed. He turned toward her, concern flickering across his features.
"I'm sure," he said firmly, though there was hesitation in his eyes. "I don't... I don't want to know. Not that part. I'll forget what needs forgetting. You'll be safe."
Ladybug exhaled slowly, relief and lingering dread mixing in her chest.
"I just..." Her voice faltered, "I don't want you to think it's me hiding from you because I don't trust you. It's just dangerous. If you knew-"
She swallowed, unable to finish.
Master Fu stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back.
"You both understand the boundaries," He said softly, "This is a controlled erasure. He will forget the connection between Ladybug and Marinette, but he will retain his memory of both individuals separately. The purpose is protection, yours and his. Nothing more."
Chat Noir nodded slowly, determination settling over his features, "I understand. I'll do it. For Paris."
Ladybug's chest tightened. Even hearing those words made her heart ache. She couldn't let him see how much the thought of him forgetting the truth hurt her. Not a single expression, not a tremor, could betray the storm inside her.
"Close your eyes," Master Fu instructed, "and focus on the memories that must remain separate. Let go of the rest."
Chat Noir obeyed instantly, tilting his head downward. Ladybug watched him, every fibre of her being alert. He was trusting her to let this happen, to ensure his mind was preserved while removing the dangerous truth. Her gloved hand brushed against his shoulder briefly, an anchor for herself, a reminder that she was still here, still bearing everything alone.
"Now," Master Fu said, "Concentrate, Chat Noir. Remember only what must remain. Let the rest fade."
Chat Noir inhaled, a shiver running down his spine. His eyes squeezed shut. Slowly, deliberately, he allowed the memory of Ladybug as Marinette, the reveal, the secrets, to drift away. The connection that had tied them so dangerously together loosened. He felt the absence almost immediately, a subtle hollow in his heart, though he didn't yet know what had been removed.
Ladybug watched, her chest tight, as the process completed. Chat Noir blinked, straightened, and opened his eyes. He looked at her, and in that look she saw the same loyal, bright partner she had always known. Nothing in his demeanour suggested he remembered the dangerous truth.
"Are you okay?" He asked cautiously, glancing around as if sensing her tension, "What's going on?"
Ladybug forced a small, reassuring smile.
"Yes. You fainted on the roof, that's all," She said softly, her voice calm but her hands still trembling, "I... I just made sure you were safe."
Chat Noir frowned slightly, but he nodded, trusting her explanation, "Right, fainted."
He didn't question further.
Master Fu's gaze softened.
"It is done," He said quietly.
Ladybug exhaled, a single tear escaping her eye before she hastily wiped it away. She had carried every second of that battle, every moment of fear and desperation, and now she bore the knowledge alone. Paris was safe. Chat Noir had been protected, but the weight of the secret pressed heavier than ever.
As they left the garden, she forced herself to walk beside him, mask firmly in place, heart still racing. He didn't know the storm she had calmed, the powers she had barely controlled, or the truth she would carry to the grave. She was Ladybug, he was Chat Noir, and in the world's eyes, that was all there was to know.
But in the silence of her mind, every detail, every memory of Chat Blanc, and every surge of newfound power burned bright, a secret she would never share.