Talk to Me, Princess | Marichat - Miraculous Ladybug

Chapter Twenty Four - I Dont Wanna Miss When You Cry

"You haven't even tried! How am I supposed to believe you?" The Akuma exclaims, just loud enough that I can make out what she's saying. I think Chat Noir is arguing that I won't answer his calls since I'm not transformed.

"Tikki-"

"Marinette, no. This is bad, I've got a really awful feeling about this."

"I can't leave him to handle this himself."

"Trust him, Marinette." Tikki whispers, eyes pleading with me. It's not always that Tikki gets frightened, but something is really scaring her right now. "This doesn't feel like a normal Akuma."

"Trust me, Tikki. I'll transform and answer his call, then I'll help him. Tikki, spots on." I say quietly, transforming into Ladybug and looking around for an escape. I can't just rush into battle once Chat calls.

I quietly sneak out of the alleyway, running down the street and away from Chat Noir. Each slap of my boots on the ground makes me wince, my heart aching as I leave Chat behind.

I'll be right back, Kitty. Just call me, please.

A few minutes later, I stare at my Yo-yo transformed into a cellphone, Chat Noir's call coming through. I answer it within a millisecond.

"Hey Kitty, what's up?" I try to play it cool, staring towards the building I left behind where Chat Noir should still be.

"There's an Akuma with me. She wants you to come here. I suggest-"

"On my way." I say before quickly ending the call, running back towards the building. I don't want to get there too fast, so I'll travel by foot rather than Yo-yo.

When I near where I once was, I sling my Yo-yo, leaping into motion. Landing on the roof, I see a woman around the same height as me, and Chat Noir on his back with the woman's foot pressing against his chest shoving him down. The backpack from our date earlier lays a few feet away from him.

His eyes dart between me and the Akumatized woman, who stands there smiling at me. Her long green hair flows to the base of her back, her figure wrapped in a skin tight black suit with golden details that look almost exactly like scales. Topped off with dark green combat style boots, she looks wicked cool.

What's terrifying is her eyes. A golden colour, with her pupils a long slit in the middle, looking exactly like a snake. I stand there in a fighting stance, feet spread apart and shoulders squared.

Nobody says anything for an awkward minute, the Snake woman smiling eerily at me, letting the silence last uncomfortably long.

"Jeez, calm down the both of you. I'm not here to take your miraculous'." She speaks up, finally breaking the stand off. I gaze between her and Chat Noir uncertainly. An Akuma that doesn't want our Miraculous'? That's impossible.

"Let me prove it to you." She grins, her foot lifting off Chat Noir. He's smart enough to stay down, watching as she steps away from him.

"What do you want then?" I spit out, fists clenching while I try to make sense of this situation. "What has Hawkmoth promised you?"

"Simple. I want power. Not some fake, moments lasting power, like an Akuma. I want real life, irrefutable power. And do you know what can get me that?" She lets the silence sit with us for a few moments before her smile grows. "Being on the winning team."

She throws something at me, and I catch it quickly before it smacks my face. Staring at it, it's just some old junky flip phone.

Without even flinching, the Akuma expels from her body. I try to maintain a calm expression as I watch her fall to her knees, hands covering the face I just saw. Everything moves in slow motion as I force myself to act normal but the shock damn near snaps my spine. I stare at the face of Lila Rossi, who peeks at me through her hands with a grin, not looking the least bit confused or regretful.