The future isn't set in stone(rewritten)

Chapter 8

N: That's a good question, but first we need to locate Emilie's hideout. Unfortunately, we've searched all of Paris and haven't found a single trace of her. For someone who prefers to stay indoors, she's really good at hiding.

CN: We can't just stand here and wait for her to show up!

G: Maybe we should set a trap? Make her come to us?

N: Honey, you know she's no fool. She'd sooner send one of her villains than get involved herself.

CN: What if I am the bait?

The adults, confused, turned their heads toward Chat Noir.

CN: She's my mother. She'll probably want to convince me to join her too. We can give her a temporary sense of victory. If I cooperate with her, she might lead me to Hesperia.

N: That's a really good idea, but it's risky. Emilie was eavesdropping on us and she knows you're on our side. Your sudden change will raise a lot of suspicion. Which means she'll want proof — your complete devotion.

CN: "Right... I didn't think it through." Slightly embarrassed, he scratched the back of his neck.

N: Don't worry. The plan was good — if not for Emilie's advantage, it really could have worked.

Nathalie gave Chat Noir a comforting smile, which Adrien returned.

CN: However, we're still back to square one

N: Unfortunately.

Ladybug, although she was listening at first, soon drifted off in a completely different direction. The final battle with Gabriel had long kept her awake at night — she would wake up drenched in sweat, blaming herself for his death every time, thinking she hadn't done enough to ultimately dissuade him from making the wish. Still, she knew that without his sacrifice, Adrien would have lost his other mother too. But now, knowing that Gabriel Agreste's entire fight had been nothing more than a pursuit of a life built on a lie, she felt an even heavier weight on her heart. She began to wonder if she could fix the future by trying to reason with Gabriel before it was too late. Maybe Heroes' Day had been that moment. Her Lucky Charm, though it protected her from the illusion, was also meant to show Gabriel that there was another solution — one that wouldn't destroy this family forever. If he had surrendered voluntarily, Nathalie wouldn't have stepped in as Mayura, and Gabriel wouldn't have given his life for her, meaning Adrien would have gained a complete family.

A hand on her shoulder pulled her out of her thoughts. Disoriented, she looked up and met the concerned gaze of her partner.

CN: Are you okay? I called you like five times, but you didn't react.

L: I... yes, sorry. I drifted off.

CN: I know that look. Did you come up with something?

Ladybug stayed silent, confused by the fact that her partner suddenly smiled at her, his eyes shining with excitement. She felt bad about it — believing that she still didn't deserve that look full of faith in her.

CN: Ladybug?

L: It's nothing... I was thinking about a 'what if'...

CN: What do you mean?

L: I was just wondering if we could have prevented your father from continuing his attacks on Paris, avoiding his tragic fate.