Miraculous: Tales of Ms. Ladybug and Tom Cat

Part 27: Minotaur

I'm really going to miss this. Dr. Kubdel thought. He was currently packing away some artifacts from Ancient Greece. The artifacts had just come off tour where they were to be kept in the museum in a new Greek art exhibit, but the curator was unable to set it up due to it being prohibitively expensive. As such the artifacts were sold to a private buyer.

If only I could've had more time the doctor thought. I could've finally gotten some evidence of the existence of the legendary Labyrinth. I was so close...

As he sadly put away the artifacts, he was too late to realize the dark butterfly entering his Louvre ID badge...

"Minotaur. I am Hawk Moth." a voice said. "You're disappointed because you're unable to prove the existence of the Labyrinth. Well, I'm giving you the power to make Paris your own personal labyrinth! I'll even add Akuma villains and Senti-Monsters! In exchange, I'll need you to bring me every Miraculous you can get your hands on."

"It shall be done, Hawk Moth," the doctor said. Gabriel could then view the scene using his powers as the kindly Doctor turned into a tall, purple-skinned man with the head of a bull. He wore a red tunic with matching sandals, and his tunic was fastened with a gold pendant on his shoulder.

"Paris will be mine!" The villain said.

After he'd confirmed that the good doctor was akumatized, Gabriel picked up his phone. "It's done, Hugo."

"Very good," Hugo responded. "I can even feel the tremors from here. In a matter of hours, Paris will be a puzzle wrapped in an enigma. And I'll soon have every Miraculous."

"What about Ladybug and Cat Noir's?" Gabriel asked. "Do you have them?! If you do, give them to me now!"

"You'll have them soon enough," Hugo said. "I have them with me, but I need all of the Miraculous before I can give them to you."

Gabriel was furious. "You can't do this! You promised me the Miraculous in exchange for my help! Give them to me now or I'll take your Miraculous!"

"Funny. Like you even could." Hugo said. "Let me explain the situation you're in. I gave someone the Cat Miraculous and proceeded to akumatize them. They now have the power of destruction. All I have to do is give the word and they'll destroy both the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous."

"No! You can't! You wouldn't!"

"I would. My goal is to have all of the Miraculous. And if I can't have them, no one else can. When this is all over, I'll give you the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous so you can achieve your dream. But afterward, I'm going to destroy them."

"Destroy the Miraculous?! Impossible!"

"Just like resurrecting your wife?" Hugo heard an audible gasp on the other end of the phone. "That's right. I know what you're after. And I'm willing to help you with it. Just be patient, or you lose your wife as well as everything else."

Gabriel sighed "I understand." he said in defeat.

"Look for my signal," Hugo said. "And be prepared, the second it goes off the final phase will begin."

The phone call ended and Gabriel looked around at his desolate lair as he sank to his knees in despair. "What am I going to do Natalie?" he asked. "If this operation fails, or he betrays us, I could lose everything."

"Not everything," Natalie said, sitting beside him. "You'll still have me. No matter what, I'll do whatever it takes to help you achieve your goal."

Hawk Moth just leaned into Natalie's shoulder, grateful for her warm embrace. He then looked down at his hand to view his wedding ring, still remembering the day he got it...

"Natalie, I have an idea." he said, "But first, I'll need you to grab Duusu. We have work to do."