Miraculous: Tales of Ms. Ladybug and Tom Cat

Part 61-Checkmate

Carapace hated sitting on the sidelines. But right now he had no other choice. One falter in his concentration and his shield would collapse, releasing the villain inside.

"You can't keep me here forever!" Hawk Moth yelled. "You're only a child so you'll transform back soon, and then I'll be free!"

Hurry up guys, he thought. I can't hold this guy forever

While he was protecting Hawk Moth, the others were battling Bugmoth with varying degrees of success. But that's what happens when it's one on six and the one can't lose. Cat Noir led the squad of heroes as they battled against the villain, but with the lucky charm power, he was blocking and countering every attack like he'd been doing it his whole life. And because he was an adult, he could use his power as many times as he wanted to. After countering a sword strike, and swinging around with a Lucky Charm knife, he caught Cat Noir by the neck, and he held the knife to his throat.

"Alright now!" he said, holding the knife to his throat. "Don't be hasty! Give me your Miraculous or else!"

"No!" Micromouse cried. "Don't hurt him!"

"Then give me your Miraculous!" he said. "Now!"

With what little air he could gather, Cat Noir was able to speak one word that he hoped would change his fate. "Cataclysm!" He quickly grabbed the knife and turned it to dust.

Hugo then swung around and slammed him up against a piece of concrete. "Nice try, but unlike you, I don't have a time limit. Lucky Charm!" he summoned another knife and put it to the back of his kneck.

"Well, since no one is cooperating then I guess it's time to die." he brought up the knife, ready to plunge it into the kitten's back

Emilie ran as fast as she could, desperate to cover enough ground to save him. "No! Dad!" she cried.

Dad? Cat Noir thought

"You lose, Chat Noir," Hugo said, moving his arm to stab him. It was all over for the Cat-themed hero.

Or so Hugo thought. the knife could make contact, it disappeared. At the very last possible second, it disappeared. There's no better way to describe what had happened than in one word. 

It was simply Miraculous.

Hawk Moth was in shock as he pulled away his empty hand from Cat Noir's back, perplexed as his costume's spots disappeared in a magic light. As looked around in anger, he suddenly heard a burst of cheeky laughter coming from behind him.

He turned around to see a boy in a costume similar to Cat Noir, yet very different. Instead of a skin-tight black bodysuit, his costume was looser and had a hood that could be pulled over his head. On his right pectoral was a glowing green cat symbol that matched the green outline of the zipper and the pockets. His mask was similar to Viperion's in terms of shape around his cheeks, but still had the green lenses and shared the same cat ears.

"I think you lost something, Hawky." Tom Cat said, holding the Ladybug earrings so he could see them.

Hawk Moth let go of Cat Noir and charged at Tom Cat, screaming with rage. Tom Cat easily jumped out of the way like a matador dodging an angry bull.

"Ole!" Tom Cat said, smiling at how angry he'd made Hawk Moth.

"Get him! Now!" he said. The Miraculous holders charged in, and the battle was on. And unlike before, it was the heroes who had the advantage. It was only a matter of minutes before he was finally driven to his knees.

"This is the end for you Hawk Moth." Tom Cat said, his staff pointed at his masked face.

"My dear boy, have you never played chess? A good opponent thinks two steps ahead with every move.

A black yo-yo appeared out of nowhere and grasped Tom Cat's staff and into the hands of the wielder. The staff was tossed aside and the mysterious wielder stepped into the light, revealing a sight that shook the Miraculous holders to their core.

It was Ladybug, akumatized and turned into Anti-Bug

Hawk Moth stood up and marveled at his new ally, standing ready in a fighting pose.

"That's checkmate brats," he said, dusting himself off. "Now then, what are you going to do?"