The Finding

Chapter Three

Alya

  Alya couldn't believe it. Ladybug had already used her lucky charm. ChatNoir had already used his cataclysm. And yet, the akuma still wasn't defeated. She was severely wounded, yes, but somehow she was still fighting. The lack of akuma attacks finally made sense. It wasn't that HawkMoth was giving up, he had been saving his energy to make a stronger akuma.

  She had her phone out, recording the two heroes as they tried to avoid the vines that threatened to hold them. It was almost like some sort of intricate dance. They had to step just right or else they were to fall. If they fell, then it would all be over.

  "This is the toughest akuma yet." Alya told the viewer that were at home, surely watching her live stream. The majority of people in Paris watched her live streams. The local news station would sometimes stream it on tv as well. The only reason Alya allowed that was because they created free advertisement for her blog.

  "My Lady!" Chat called jumping towards the spotted hero, pushing her put the way of an incoming vine. Of course he had sacrificed himself, but instead of being controlled this time, he was trapped. Vines hugged his body tightly, before pulling him up in the air so he was somewhat out of the way. At this point his miraculous started to beep, he didn't have much longer before his transformation dropped. Alya had collected as much from the many encounters she had with the two heroes after they had defeated an akuma.

  Alya but her lip, nervously from where she hid. If ChatNoir was close to turning back that meant Ladybug was as well. She hoped Ladybug would pull through in time. She always did. So she would do it again, right?

  Alya shook her head focusing once again on the scene ahead of her. She watched as Ladybug jumped, determination clear in every move she made. But then all the vines came at her at once, creating a cage around the heroine. The a vine snaked around her body, trapping her just like ChatNoir before her.

  Alya was taken aback by the sight. Both heroes trapped, about to turn back. Alya couldn't help but feel as if her world was turned upside down. Heroes always won, right? So why were they loosing?

  Alya knew she had to do something. She stood, taking a step out of her hiding spot. Instantly she felt exposed, venerable. But she pushed those feelings aside, needing to do something before her idols turned back. But she was a moment too late.

  As soon as her eyes landed on the two, Alya's breath caught in her lungs. It was suddenly hard to breath. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't bring any air into her lungs. It felt as if she was suffocating, even though there was nothing blocking her airway.

  Her phone was still recording, and on the two city heroes. But neither of them were in costume anymore. They had transformed before her very eyes, leaving her in a state of shock and amazement. But along with it came the feeling of dread. She shouldn't have found out this way.

  "A-Adrien?" Her best friend stuttered. Alya watched as Marinette stared at the blonde boy in front of her in a panic. Her eyes were wide, she seemed frozen. It was simply too much for her to take in.

  "Marinette?" Adrien asked the raven haired girl in front of him. He couldn't believe his eyes. He finally found out who the girl was behind the spotted mask. Who knew he had been so close to her all this time? This girl who he had started to fall for, was also the girl he already loved.

  There was silence, none of them willing to speak. But a cackle broke it all. It shattered the hearts of the two heroes, reminding the fact that they had lost. It ripped apart the hope all the viewers had of this battle ending with Paris' best interest in mind. And most of all reminded them all that the biggest secret for their heroes was now gone, let out for everyone to know.

  Alya wished she hadn't decided to live stream this fight.

  "Well, look who's finally fallen." Purple Ivy smirked, making her way over to the two. She lowered them both so they were reachable. Instantly the two started to fight against their restraints, not ready to give up yet. But their efforts were useless.

  "Tikki, take the earings, get out of here while you have time." Marinette pleaded, looking over at the red thing that was pulling at the vines, trying to get her holder free. Marinette had tears in her eyes but continued to wiggled around nonetheless. She wasn't going to let Purple Ivy take her miraculous.

  Alya watched as Purple Ivy approached Adrien. She was so focused on her two classmates, she didn't realize as her phone fell from her hand. The need to do something was stronger now more than ever. She couldn't just stand by, watching all hope the city had slip away.

  Before she could fully understand what she was doing, Alya ran towards her best friend, hoping that Purple Ivy was too distracted with Adrien to notice her. She tried to block out Adrien's protests as Purple Ivy got closer to him, knowing she couldn't help both. It was either save Marinette in that moment or none of them. For Alya, it didn't leave her a choice.

  "Mari." Alya whispered, as she neared the raven haired girl. Instantly Marinette's head shot in her direction, eyes wide and filled with panic. "Stay calm and I'll try and get you out of this."

  Marinette shook her head, it didn't matter as much as she loved the idea of getting free, she had to put other matters first. She couldn't let Purple Ivy get her miraculous. "No, don't waste your time with that. Take my earrings and get as far away from here as possible, please."

  Alya started at her for a moment, looking as if she was crazy. "There is no way I'm leaving my best friend behind." Alya said, defiance and determination clear in her voice. Before Marinette could protest farther, Alya started to pull at the vines that held her best friend captive.

  "Oh, what do we have here?" The voice was dark and heavy, causing Alya to freeze. She didn't have time to process all that happened. All she knew was one second she was trying to free Marinette, and the next she was hanging upside down dangling in the face of the akuma. 

  "Alya!" Marinette and Adrien yelled in union. Alya payed no attention to them then though, her gaze was solely on the one who was at fault for trapping get two friends. Alya wanted to hit her, make her let her and her friends go, but she was out of reach. Smart girl.

  "It's over." Purple Ivy said, smirking at Alya. Alya watched as two vines came towards the akuma, placing the miraculous' in her outstretched hand. As soon as they made contact with her skin, her hand closed, holding the accessories tightly as if not to loose them.

  Her vines retreated, dropping the three teens onto the ground. Alya yelped, landing at on odd angle, her head making impact with the ground first. But she pushed her own problems aside, looking for where the akuma had gone. By the time Alya collected herself though, Purple Ivy was gone, leaving her and her two friends alone.