Fast-Forward to College

Chapter 2

As Adrien dashed down the hall, he couldn't help cursing all the negative feelings on the campus. At this rate, there would be akuma attacks every week. Just my luck that they happen on opening day.

Soon he reached the edge of the corridor and was about to go down the stairs when he heard a girl's voice behind him.

"Hey Alya, I have to go- um- get another suitcase," Marinette called. "Be right back!"

When she reached the area by the stairs, as Adrien was concealed by a nook in the wall, a small red creature flew out of her pink purse.

"A kwami?" Adrien whispered to Plagg. "Is Marinette... Ladybug?!"

His question was answered moments later when Marinette stage-whispered, "Tikki! Transforme moi!"

He watched in wonder as a spotted mask appeared over her eyes and her clothes absorbed into a red-black suit. A yo-yo appeared at her hip. She transformed into Ladybug.

"No," he murmured as she ran down the stairs. But that voice... That posture... It was no other than his lady.

"What should I do?" Adrien contemplated, sliding down the wall. "Should I tell her my identity?"

Plagg yawned. "No... You should  go fight that akuma and figure out this mess later."

Adrien sighed. "For once you're right," he marveled, laughing as Plagg glared at him. "Plagg! Transforme moi!"

*~*~*~*

The villain was a girl who had been akumatized because her worst fear had become reality- she failed all her classes.

"My worst fear came true!" she growled. "Now it's time for yours. Experience the wrath of the Anti-Siren!"

"Anti-Siren?" Chat Noir repeated with a smirk, balancing his pole on his shoulders. "Sounds like the name of a broken fire truck."

Anti-Siren sneered and shot a blast of red light towards him. Expertly, Chat dodged it and backflipped next to Ladybug.

"Hello my lady," he winked. "You go to this university as well?"

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately yes," she joked, turning to the Anti-Siren. "She's like the Horrificator... But more personal," she observed.

"She specifically targets each person," Chat began, just as a beam of light shot towards Ladybug. Without thinking, he dove in front of her, being hit instead.

He vaguely heard her screaming until the hallucinations began.

His worst fears became a reality projected right in front of him- and he was helpless and unable to stop it. His family and friends being tortured in front of his very eyes, all of Paris destroyed because he was akumatized, and worst of all...

Ladybug laying there on the asphalt, exhaling her last breath until her heart stopped.

He sucked in a sharp breath before the tears fell from his eyes.

The love of his life... Gone. And he was unable to stop it. Pain welled up in his chest, and he clutched it, sinking to the ground. He heard Ladybug yelling at him to hide his Miraculous as a hand reached out to take it, but he didn't care. Ladybug was dead and it was all his fault.