Red String • Marichat

Chapter Twenty Two

Thanks @legathyrose for the love!

Chat held Marinette's hand as they marched through the sticky marshmallows. They had to yank their legs with every step, the white sugar sticking to their clothes.

"Come on. I see the end." Chat said as he pulled her along. Her bare feet felt weird as she walked on the squishy food.

"Chat." He pulled her out of the marshy pit.

"That brings a whole new meaning to marshlands." He said with a wink as he set her on the ground. That's when he remembered that she was barefoot.

"Princess, why aren't you wearing any shoes?" He asked as he stared at her feet.

"My bad," she sarcastically said as she scratched the back of her neck. "I guess I forgot to put them on when I got kidnapped."

He rolled his eyes at the comment. "No need to be sassy, Mari." He turned so his back was facing her and bent his knees. "Hop on."

Marinette stared at the black cat in front of her weirdly.

"Why?"

"I don't want my girlfriend to cut her feet or get a disease from an infection." Marinette blushed as he said 'girlfriend' and Chat reached behind him to grab her arms. He wrapped them around his neck before commanding her to jump.

"I can handle myself, you know."

"Oh, trust me when I say that I do."

"I'm just taking up the offer on a free ride."

"Yeah, I'm positive that that is what's happening."

Marinette glared at him, hitting his arm. After he smiled back at her sweetly, she jumped up on his back and he placed his hands on her thighs, holding her in place.

"Now let's go find Juleka and get the hell out of here."

~~~~~

They walked for what seemed like hours through the candy covered land. Marinette rested her head against Chat's shoulder as he continued to march through. Just as she was about to ask to be let down, they heard a scream.

"Hold on Marinette!" Chat yelled over his shoulder. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he grabbed his baton and vaulted them into the air.

The scream came again and he landed a few feet away from the screaming girl.

"Juleka!" Marinette tried to drop from Chat's back but he wouldn't let go of her. Instead he walked over to Juleka, Marinette still on his back, and crouched down in front of her.

"Juleka?" The dark haired girl peered up at Chat and Marinette.

"M-Marinette? Chat Noir? What are you doing here? Why are you on his back?" Her dark eyes didn't water but instead looked terrified.

"We're here to save you Juleka. And I'm on his back because he refuses to let me walk. Dumb cat..." Marinette muttered the last part to herself but Chat could hear what she said.

"I heard that!" He flicked her shoulder and she let out a quick yelp. His hands returned to her thighs and she unwrapped her legs.

"Come on Juleka. Let's get out of here." The girl nodded and stood up before brushing herself off.

"I'm okay. It's just a dream. I'm okay. It's just a dream." She kept saying to herself.

"What made you scream anyways?" Marinette asked from Chat's back as she rested her chin once again on his shoulder.

"Rose. S-She was queen of this place a-and she said she hated m-me and never wanted to see me."

That's it!

Chat and Marinette looked at each other knowingly.

"We need to go meet this Rose. Where is she?" Juleka pointed at the pink castle that was a mile away.

"There."

~~~~~

It had taken a lot of work, including Chat fighting off a couple gingerbread soldiers with Marinette clinging to his back, but they finally made it through.

Chat Noir had to admit, it was pretty funny watching Marinette whack some of the soldiers with the cookie arm of one of the fallen gingerbread men. She had one hell of a swing.

The sounds of their footsteps echoed through the empty hallway as they walked down to the throne room.

Chat kicked the door open and they walked in.

"Rose!"

"Juleka." Rose sneered. She was wearing a pink Victorian dress with a white lace bodice. The pink fabric shimmered with glitter and sparkles and she had a gold crown placed on her blonde hair. "What did I say about seeing you again?"

"Look for something out of place. Like a missing bracelet or something she hates." Marinette whispered to Juleka who nodded in response.

She looked through the room as she noticed a picture of prince Ali with a red 'X' angrily scribbled along his face.

"Rose would never do that. She absolutely loves him." Juleka said before repeating it louder to Rose.

"You aren't real!"

Marinette and Chat heard the familiar shatter of the world as an explosion happened. Juleka held onto Marinette's arm who was holding on to Chat so they wouldn't be blown away. Darkness covered the room before turning into a dark gray sky.

And suddenly, the three of them were free falling.

Chat noticed Nino, who was scared and yelling as he fell.

"Nino!" Both Chat Noir and Marinette yelled as they tried to get to him. Juleka followed behind and Marinette grabbed her hand, before clasping onto Chat's.

"Grab Nino!" She yelled to Chat who nodded the best he could. The wind forcefully blew in their faces, making Marinette's eyes water.

"Nino!" Marinette screamed again, successfully catching his attention.

"Marinette?!" He called back with bewildered but frightened eyes.

"It's just a nightmare! It's not real!"

"W-Why are you with Chat Noir and Juleka?!" Nino freaked out before Chat grabbed his arm.

"Gotcha!"

Nino latched his hand on Juleka's, forming a circle as they fell through the seemingly endless sky.

"Calm down Nino!" Marinette demanded. She felt Chat's hand tighten around hers, sending her a knowing message.

He sighed internally and closed his eyes. He had seen the concrete and as much as he wanted to kiss Marinette, just in case, he had to hold back for her sake. Because if they made it through this, they would ask questions and put Marinette in even more danger than she already was.

"Get ready for impact!" Chat yelled and pulled Marinette close.

"I love you." He whispered in her ear. She was unable to hear from the loud wind and she held his hand tightly as the ground neared.

"I love you Chat." She whispered back.

Then, they hit the cement.

I'm evil. And I like it. The long awaited chapter! Next chapter is the finale, which lead to the sequel! For the sequel it will be mostly in Chat Noir's PoV!

Until next time, peace!