You Will Not Touch Him

Chapter 3

"Tikki, Spots On!"

Marinette did not shift her gaze from Hawkmoth and Mayura as the pink light washed over her.  She shifted her weight from foot to foot, a plan already forming in her mind.  “Are you alright back there, Chaton?”

“Ready for round three, My Lady.”
She thought she detected a new note of affection in those last two words, but now was not the time to dwell.  From the direction of his voice Marinette could tell her Kitty was back on his feet.  She knew they didn’t have long before the momentary surprise of their enemies wore off.  Marinette flipped open her yoyo as Chat – and it helped to keep thinking of him as Chat rather than Adrien – took up position beside her.  With one deft movement she reached inside her weapon and flicked two small objects behind her, knowing Alya and Nino had caught their Miraculous when they called on their respective transformations.  She was thankful that after she became guardian her yoyo connected directly to the Miracle Box.

The addition of two more heroes snapped Hawkmoth and Mayura back into action, forming up in their own defensive posture.  Even as the adversaries began circling each other warily, Marinette issued her instructions.  “Rena, create copies of us.  As many as you can manage.  Keep them moving just out of their reach,” she nodded at the duo opposite.  “Carapace, separate us from the civilians.”

“Shell-ter!”

“Mirage!”

Marinette saw dozens of heroes pop into existence around them while a green dome appeared over that section of the park, her, Chat and Alya trapped inside Nino’s shield with Hawkmoth and Mayura.  Alya had to remain inside the dome because she was unable to cast illusions through the barrier.  Keeping Nino outside left them at a disadvantage given Chat’s injuries, but meant he could focus all his energy on maintaining the barrier without having to defend himself in the coming battle.  It would also give him time to escape with the twins should things end badly.

“Do not let those two out under any circumstances,” Marinette gestured at the older pair.  “No matter what happens you must keep them contained.  There won’t be another chance like this.  If the worst should happen to us, Wayzz will know what you need to do.”

“Right on, Ladydude.”

Hawkmoth grinned in anticipation, “I have waited a long time for this day, Ladybug.  My victory is at hand.”

“Don’t count your pupae before they’ve hatched, Mothballs.”  Marinette heard the smirk in her partner’s voice, relieved that some of his humour was returning.  She supposed he owed his father a few jibes at the very least.

Ladybug’s yoyo twirled in long, lazy arcs as she stared down their enemies.  Left, right, left, right, the illusion-Bugs mimicked her actions.  Likewise, the illusion-Chats replicated his movements as he spun his baton.  Marinette usually tried to avoid a straight up fight, but this time she had little choice.  There would be no akumas, no sentimonsters, no Lucky Charms.  Chat still had his Cataclysm, but if she allowed him to make that choice it would ultimately destroy them both.  There were fewer pieces for her to solve the puzzle with this time - only Rena’s illusions and their own skill - but they would have to be enough.

For Adrien's sake she offered one last chance.  “You have spent years terrorising this city, Hawkmoth.  You have neglected and abused your son, put him in unnecessary danger, killed him and thousands of others more times than I can count.  Give up now, hand over both your Miraculous.  One way or another, this ends today.”

"Yes it does, with your Miraculous in my hands."

She glanced across at Chat and they gave each other a subtle nod before taking off in opposite directions.  They dodged and weaved among the illusions, which Rena had set in motion to disguise their position.  Hawkmoth and Mayura lashed out wildly, slashing at the mirages in hopes of dispelling them or striking a lucky blow at the real heroes.

The Bug and Cat team ducked between the illusions as the Fox revolved them around the Butterfly and Peacock.  The three heroes darted out from amongst the apparitions, catching their enemies out to score a hit from behind or the side whenever they spied an opening.  Marinette could see Alya was struggling to keep her images out of Hawkmoth and Mayura’s reach within the confines of the Turtle’s shell, but she still managed to provide cover for her friends.  Hawkmoth’s blade swept around in wide arcs to dispel the illusions as quickly as possible, while Mayura flicked her fan strategically at those he missed.  Every so often one or both of them would strike at the green barrier that trapped them, testing its strength.  Marinette saw Nino grimace with each attempt, but every time he held firm and repositioned the dome over the conflict.

Despite the heroes’ best efforts the supervillains were slowly working their way through the illusions, dissolving more and more each time they made contact.  Still, it seemed to Marinette that their strategy was working.  The villains’ swings became more erratic, their steps heavier and staggering, as they were slowly worn down.  Finally Marinette saw their chance.  She signalled Rena and Chat who both leapt to rain blows on their closest opponent – Alya against Nathalie and Adrien against his father.  The onslaught forced the villains to retreat backwards into each other, temporarily losing their balance when they collided.  Marinette whipped her yoyo out with a familiar zzziiiipp as the string wound around their enemies, snapping tight when she yanked on it and dragged them to the ground.

Ladybug, heroine of Paris, bent down to pluck the Butterfly Miraculous from Hawkmoth’s chest.  Her partner had done the same with Mayura, handing the Peacock Miraculous to his Lady.  With both magical jewels safely stored in her yoyo Marinette took a moment to close her eyes, relaxing her shoulders with a deep breath.  When she opened them again she saw that Nino had dropped the green barrier and was giving Alya a hug.  She held her fist out and was quickly joined by the other heroes, their “Pound it!” signalling that years of fighting akumas and sentimonsters had finally come to an end.

Marinette turned as Adrien crouched by his father, tearing the cravat from Gabriel’s neck with a swipe of his claws.  She watched as he straightened and came to kneel before her, taking her hand in his.   “On our first day I swore that, whoever she was, I loved the girl beneath the mask.”  Marinette’s pulse quickened as his lips brushed against her knuckles.  “Now I know who that incredible girl really is, that promise is more true than ever before.”  He proffered the cravat, smiling.

“Would you care to do the honours, My Lady?”