Miraculous: Tales of Ms. Ladybug and Tom Cat

Part 60: Anti-Bug

Like her son a few moments before, Marinette cried in the rubble as Tikki flew up around her shoulder, attempting to comfort her sorrowful master.

"It'll be ok Marinette," she said, hugging her arm.

"It's too late now Tikki," Marinette said. "There's nothing I can do to fix this. All those people, they're gone. And Thomas, I can't keep my promise and everything is going wrong, and, and," she broke down and began to cry again. 

The kwami flew to her face, and gently lifted her chin, "Listen to me Marinette. Even if you are Ladybug, you can't fix everything perfectly." Tikki said. "It's not fair to yourself or others to promise that you can fix everything. You're not perfect. To expect that of yourself won't lead to anything good."

"But I have to fix everything Tikki!" she said. "It's my job as the guardian to make sure that the Miraculous are taken care of and can't cause trouble. And I've failed. I trusted Luka and Alix and Thomas, and now everything's gone wrong."

Tikki looked at her with sympathy. 

"Just leave me alone for right now Tikki," Marinette said.

As the Kwami flew into her bag. Marinette lay on the ground, feeling nothing but sorrow. She decided to go and apologize to Thomas. She couldn't keep her promise. What would she say to him? Was there anything she could say?

She transformed back into Ladybug and walked over to where she gave Thomas the Cat ring. When she got there, he was gone, probably gone off to join the fight. She looked around for him, hoping to catch him before he engaged Hawk Moth, she felt something beneath her foot. And what she saw broke her heart.

It was a homemade Lucky Charm, one with a green pendant marked with a flower. The same one she had made for Adrien for his birthday.

If this was here that could only mean one thing. So was Adrien. But he'd never lose the Lucky Charm, he said he always carried it with him. Which meant...

She looked around, at all the rubble, and realized what must've happened. Her grief quickly spiraled out of control and she began to hyperventilate.

He's not gone, she thought. He can't be. Adrien...

The grief washed over her like a tidal wave, and she began to bawl her heart out. This couldn't be happening. This could not be happening. He had to be alive. He had to be safe. She sat down on the ground begging for it to not be true as she grieved for the boy she loved. She'd never felt more alone.

 As she sat on the ground crying a waterfall of tears, Hugo took his chance.

It's time little Akuma he thought. Evilize her!

The dark butterfly flew into her earrings, and she heard a dark voice in her head.

Hello, Anti-Bug he said.