Second Chance

Chapter 1

The rain was pouring from the sky in a heavy, tumultuous roar, pounding down on the streets of Paris and the superheroes as they fought for their lives and the lives of the people. Face to face for once, they fought against the powerful Shadowmoth, who wore not one, not even two, but five miraculous's at the same time: the tiger, the butterfly, the dragon, the bee, and the snake. Marinette, as the Guardian, was terrified of the toll it must be taking on the kwamis. She knew that if they went on like this for much longer, the miraculous's themselves would shatter and be lost forever.

That could not happen. Despite the trembling of her exhausted legs, Marinette fought with greater determination. It was her fault she'd lost them. Her fault, because she'd trusted in the wrong person. She'd allowed her love to mislead her.

For a brief moment, in the torrential rain, there was a pause while Shadowmoth sneered at them, bent in a defensive position. Marinette glanced to her companions. Carapace, limping, blood trickling from one leg. He hadn't used his power yet. Rena Rouge, a deep cut across her cheek, her flute at the ready, golden eyes flashing to Carapace with worry.

And Cat Noir.

He stood at her side, where he had been throughout the entirety of this battle. His chest heaved, his muscles were tense and ready, and his green eyes glowed starkly in the dark of the stormy afternoon.

Something stirred in Marinette as she gazed up at him. The rain had soaked his blond hair, and the cobblestoned streets were slick beneath them, yet he stood with a surety and strength and power that had never been there before.

After all this time, after everything she had done, he was here. He was still here.

Shadowmoth's mouth opened with a shriek that matched a crash of thunder above, and he leaped forward at Marinette, snarling and thrusting his cane at her. She ducked easily to the side, meeting his strike with one of her own. His blue eyes glared at her and he swung a fist toward her face.

Knowing his intent, Marinette ducked, keeping her ears well out of reach, and Cat Noir's baton suddenly extended between them. She grabbed it and he pulled her away from the villain. Carapace was there next, moving agilely in spite of his injured leg, and Rena Rouge was beside him. Both fought fiercely, and yet Shadowmoth was not overpowered. He was strong, and Marinette wasn't sure how many times he'd used the second chance power of the snake miraculous.

"Wind Dragon!" Shadowmoth shouted, and the wind swept Carapace and Rena Rouge into the air. Screaming, they grabbed onto the side of a rooftop, trying to hold on. Carapace lost his grip and Marinette threw her yoyo and swung up and over to catch him. He grabbed onto her shoulders.

"Thanks."

She nodded and swung them both back to the battlefield. Cat Noir was in the midst of a fierce fight, and Marinette caught sight of the black butterflies swarming above his head.

"Cat Noir, the akumas!" She shouted warningly. He glanced up briefly, and ducked out of the way of Shadowmoth's cane, dodging and rolling as the evil villain summoned more dark butterflies.

Marinette set Carapace down on solid ground, running forward, and expertly aimed her yoyo at the butterflies, catching them one after another. She set them free and they fluttered off, trying to avoid the pounding rain.

She gasped for breath a moment, exhausted. How were they to get these miraculous's back while Shadowmoth was wearing them?

"Should I use my power now?" Rena Rouge asked, pressing a hand to her shoulder.

"Not yet." Marinette didn't want her to risk detransforming, not yet. Not now. Not till Marinette had an idea of what to do.

"AaaAAH!"

Marinette's heart stopped at the sound of the pained cry. Cat Noir was on the ground, dull crimson blood pooling beneath him. She stared, transfixed by horror, as Shadowmoth loomed over him, cane raised. There was a knife at the end of it.

"Cat Noir!" Marinette screamed. She sprinted toward him, barely able to see through the rain and sweat and blood streaming over her mask and into her eyes, but still she ran, throwing herself over Cat Noir's quivering body. "No!"

"Venom!" Shadowmoth stung her with the bee miraculous's power, and she froze, pressed against Cat Noir. She couldn't do anything, not even blink. Her heart was pounding, and she felt his rasping breath on her hair.

"Ladybug," he grunted out. She saw a flash of movement from the corner of her eye; he was reaching for his baton.

"Now," Shadowmoth hissed, and lifted her dripping hair from her ears. "Finally." One earring, into his hand. Marinette would've closed her eyes if she could've. Her mask began to disappear from her face.

"No!" Rena Rouge lunged for him, but Shadowmoth just said, "Water Dragon!" And the flooding streets filled with more water that carried Rena Rouge on the swell of a giant wave. Carapace sprang after her, yelling her name.

The second earring dropped into Shadowmoth's hand.

"No!" Cat Noir choked. His hand came up to cover Marinette's face. Protecting her identity, even now. Marinette felt the blood from his wound seeping into her clothes. He needed help. He needed to be healed.

Then Cat Noir's voice—so familiar suddenly, in a way it never had been before—came, pleading, searching for a sign of any remorse in the villain's eyes as he towered over them. "Shadowmoth, you don't know what that'll do! You can't possibly—" his words broke off in a howl of pain as Shadowmoth stepped on his forearm, trapping his hand on the ground.

So Cat Noir did the only thing he could do.
"Cataclysm!" He hissed out, and Shadowmoth stumbled back before his own foot could be cataclysmed. The black power boiled in Cat Noir's palm, his other hand still covering Marinette's face.

Shadowmoth studied the earrings he held, then knelt down. Marinette could feel him looking at her, at Cat Noir. "With the power of creation in my hands, I am nearly unstoppable," he breathed. "Perhaps I don't need your ring after all."

Would the venom affect wear off once the five minutes had passed? Marinette could only lie helplessly, feeling Cat Noir growing weaker, his breathing more shallow.

And Shadowmoth had her earrings.

But she was Ladybug. She was Ladybug, and she was Guardian of the Miraculous. Tikki was her kwami, no one else's.

Help me, Tikki, she begged silently. Do something, please.

As if in answer, the little red kwami spoke. "I will not serve you, Shadowmoth," she squeaked bravely, floating defiantly before the man who held her miraculous. "You can't force me to."

"Can't I?" Shadowmoth sneered.

One of his miraculous's beeped a warning. In that split second of distraction, Cat Noir let go of Marinette long enough to launch his baton at Shadowmoth. The man fell, startled, as the end of the baton slammed into his head.

The earrings went flying.

Marinette felt Cat Noir trying to sit up, felt his gentle hands on her, and then she heard Shadowmoth cry, "Second chance!"