Eclipsed memories

Chapter 5: Adrien is Catnoir??!!

Marinette paced her room, her thoughts racing faster than her feet. The moonlight cast long shadows across her cluttered desk, where her notebook lay open, scribbled with half-formed ideas and frantic notes. She clutched her head, trying to piece everything together.

"Tikki," she said, her voice trembling, "there has to be a way to fix this. I can't lose him—not like this."

Tikki hovered near her, her tiny form glowing softly. "Marinette, I understand how you feel, but the relic's magic isn't something you can undo easily. It's ancient and incredibly powerful. You need to be cautious."

"Cautious?" Marinette snapped, spinning to face her kwami. "Tikki, Adrien doesn't remember me! He doesn't remember us, and now he's with Chloe! And Cat Noir—" Her voice broke as her thoughts trailed off. She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "Cat Noir sacrificed everything for me. I can't just sit here and do nothing."

Tikki floated closer, her expression softening. "You're right. We'll figure this out together. Let's start with what we know."

Marinette took a deep breath and sat down, her fingers gripping her pen tightly. She began jotting down everything she remembered about the relic: its glowing patterns, the way it shimmered ominously in Chloe's hands, and the moment it erased Adrien's memories of her.

But then, a nagging thought tugged at her mind. Cat Noir.

His actions during the battle, his willingness to sacrifice himself, the way he had looked at her in those final moments—it all felt too significant to ignore.

She grabbed her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she searched for anything about memory-altering relics. Legends, myths, and obscure magical texts filled her screen, but one detail made her heart stop.

The relic targeted the strongest bond.

Marinette stared at the screen, her mind racing. The strongest bond. A connection forged by trust, loyalty, and love.

Her thoughts spiraled, the pieces falling into place. Cat Noir's sacrifice. Adrien's memory loss. The way he had always been there for her, no matter what.

"No," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "It can't be."

But the more she thought about it, the clearer it became. The timing, the connection—it all pointed to one undeniable truth. Adrien... Adrien is Cat Noir.

Marinette sat back in her chair, her heart pounding. She replayed every moment she'd shared with both Adrien and Cat Noir, the parallels she'd missed, the way they made her feel.

"All this time," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "It was him."

Tikki floated to her side, her expression unreadable. "Marinette, are you okay?"

Marinette nodded slowly, though her mind was anything but calm. "I'm... I'm fine. I just... I need to fix this, Tikki. For him. For us."

Her resolve hardened as she turned back to her notes. If the relic could erase memories, then there had to be a way to reverse its effects. And if anyone could figure it out, it was her.

The Next Morning

The faint hum of her computer greeted Marinette as the first light of dawn filtered through her curtains. She had spent the entire night researching, her notebook now filled with sketches, theories, and potential plans.

One thing was clear: the relic was connected to an ancient cave near the waterfall outside Paris. If she could get there, she might find a way to undo its magic.

But before she could act, her Miraculous beeped urgently.

"An akuma?" Marinette groaned, rubbing her tired eyes.

"It looks like Hawk Moth isn't giving us a break," Tikki said.

Marinette sighed, her exhaustion melting away as determination took over. "Then neither are we. Tikki, spots on!"

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Ladybug swung into action, her yo-yo slicing through the air as she landed in the middle of the chaos. The akumatized villain—a towering figure with metallic wings and a piercing gaze—was wreaking havoc on the Eiffel Tower.

Cat Noir was already there, his staff twirling as he dodged the villain's attacks. But something was different.

Marinette noticed it immediately—the way he moved, precise but detached. There was no banter, no playful quips. He fought like a soldier, efficient but cold.

"Cat Noir!" she called, her voice cutting through the noise.

He turned to her, his green eyes meeting hers for a brief moment. "Ladybug, right? You lead; I'll follow."

Her heart clenched. She had expected him to be distant, but hearing him call her "Ladybug" instead of "M'lady" hit her harder than she anticipated. She pushed the feeling aside, forcing herself to focus.

"Okay," she said, her voice steady. "We need to distract him and aim for the wings—that's where the akuma is hiding."

Cat Noir nodded, already moving to draw the villain's attention.

They fought in sync, their movements seamless despite the emotional distance between them. But for Marinette, the battle felt off. Cat Noir wasn't just her partner—he was her friend, her confidant. Without their bond, something vital was missing.

With a well-timed throw of her yo-yo and Cat Noir's quick thinking, they managed to immobilize the villain long enough for Ladybug to purify the akuma.

As the city returned to normal, Cat Noir leaned on his staff, watching her with a mix of curiosity and respect.

"You're impressive," he said, his tone neutral.

Marinette froze for a moment, caught off guard. "Uh, thanks," she replied, forcing a smile.

"You must be used to saving the day," he added, his voice light but distant.

Ladybug nodded, her heart aching. She wanted to tell him everything—to remind him of their friendship, their shared victories, their moments of vulnerability. But she couldn't. Not yet.

"We're a team," she said instead, her voice soft. "Even if you don't remember, we've done this together before."

Cat Noir tilted his head, his gaze searching. "I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you."

The words sent a pang through her chest. "You can," she said firmly and the two of them parted ways.