A Masked Game

Level 13: Who is the Hero Here?

Flashback Cutscene: Missing in Action

9 years and 5 months...

The sky was suddenly filled with an eerie grey as lightning struck down and thunder roared loudly overhead, yet no rain was to be seen.

"Another akuma," Ladybug said, picking up a small stone and bouncing it across the rooftop.

"Do you need to go?"

"Don't want to." Her response was childish. Almost like a child denying their parents at bedtime.

She picked up another stone and repeated the action, bouncing the tiny rock over the rooftops. They both sat in silence. She didn't know why she'd suggested this, why she thought this was a good idea, but she just needed to see him one more time, to tell him goodbye before she couldn't tell him hello anymore.

"There's this thing that happens if I decide to give up guardianship of the Miraculous." She felt his eyes on her as she continued talking. "If I transfer Guardianship to someone else I would lose my memories. We're unsure yet whether it'll be just my Miraculous memories, or all memories from the day I became Ladybug."

"What makes you think that?"

Ladybug looked up to the sky, not an ounce of care about being MIA from the battle, she trusted her partner, he could do this alone – without her. He needed someone more deserving. She was done.

"There's this thing called 'The Miracle Box', and when it was passed onto me, my hero name was used, not my civilian. I've spoken to the other celestial guardians and they're unsure too, apparently it's never happened before when it's been passed to a hero instead of to someone by true name."

This had been a constant thought of hers, one that had played over and over again since she'd made this her decision. She'd spoken to Su-Han, yet he couldn't give her any information, which took her to her next point of contact which was Luka. He had just completed his first year of training at the Temple, and she was hoping he would have good news for her, but just like everyone else, he had nothing.

"What about your partner? What about Chat Noir?"

A boom sounded in the distance and she knew she should end this now, not just for her own heart, but for the sake of Paris too. She'd go, defeat this akuma and then find Luka and relinquish the box – and if they could pull it off, Adrien's memories of Marinette too. They deserved a chance to be happy, even if it wasn't with each other.

"You can't tell me you'd go through with this without talking to your partner? That's really low, LB!"

She felt the tell tale tingle in her nose and she couldn't help but wonder where this next bout of tears were coming from. She must have been dehydrated from the amount of crying she'd expelled over the past couple of days. Looking over to Adrien, she didn't know what had gone through her mind to think this was a good idea, because it wasn't. It really, really wasn't. But she had to see him again.

Ladybug shook her head in response, "I can't tell him."

Adrien let out a laugh. "You do realise he'd be crushed if he wasn't informed about something this... this... big!"

"It's not that simple. You don't understand!"

"Don't understand? My girlfriend just dumped me for no reason! If anyone understands how Chat Noir would feel, I do! You can't treat him that way Ladybug, it's not fair and it's not right! You can't give up something that includes him. Shit! It's like you don't even care."

Anger boiled inside her and before she knew it, she was on her feet looking down at him. His blond hair blurring into the treeline as her eyes began to drown in tears.