Future Tales of the Miraculous

Chapter 15

"Well, well, well. We've been looking for you, guardian," Hawk Moth's baritone voice bellowed from atop a smoldered building. "I thought we'd have to rip apart half of Paris to find you."

The plum suited man leaped down to stand before the disguised feline, his glare traveling past him and the bee before returning to the polka dotted heroine.

"I've been savoring this day for a long time, Ladybug.  Once I have your miraculous, my wish will finally be granted." 

Ladybug eyed the butterfly brooch on his lapel, then returned a smirk at the evil monarch.  "If you want these earrings, you're gonna have come and get them."

At their master's command, the throngs of akumatized monsters halted their aimless pillaging and advanced towards the trio. In a flash of crimson, Ladybug's yo-yo whipped out towards Hawk Moth, catching onto his cane while the disguised feline charged at his rear. Seeing the first wave of akumatized minions arrive, Queen Bee cast her trompo out to unleash a volley of stingers into the horde before launching herself into the air.

The blonde bee recast her trompo almost immediately, turning the oval tool into a small bow to quickly litter the sky with a barrage of light arrows.  Queen Bee fervently re-drew over and over again, until all that remained on ground were unconscious victims freed from the infected butterflies. 

"Queen Bee!  Catch!" 

Ladybug threw to her a large net created from her Lucky Charm, which the yellow striped heroin dropped over the sea of dark fluttering creatures rising into the sky. 

Ladybug turned to find her partner and Hawk Moth in a power struggle. She followed the villain's focused glare to his captured butterflies above.

"Take them away from here!"

"No!" Hawk Moth growled, watching Queen Bee fly away with his akumas.

The jade green wristlet on the fake guardian's forearm caught Hawk Moth's eye when he returned his focus to his duel.  As Ladybug leapt into the fray to help subdue him, he managed to send her back with his cane and with one swift move, tear away the green miraculous from Chat Noir's arm.  The illusion dissipated, revealing the black cat's real form.

"An illusion?  No....."

The villain was now shaking with rage; his body channeled it all into his wild onslaught upon the duo, lashing his cane out and delivering powerful blows on the two heroes with reckless abandon.

"Cataclysm!"  The black, bubbling magic imbued in Chat Noir's hands made contact with Hawk Moth's cane, turning it to dust.  Finally stripped of his tool of power, he fell to his knees in defeat.  The blonde feline caught an unexpected flash of grief and desperation in his slate blue eyes.

"You fools!  Without the real guardian, I cannot save her!"  He seethed with a labored breath, exhausted from the battle. 

Hawk Moth didn't seem phased when the red yo-yo string suddenly launched out at him and bound him down.  Ladybug quizzically eyed her partner before returning her glare to the plum suited villain. 

"Save who?" 

His head dropped and shoulders slumped.  His baritone voice was soft, almost a whisper, one that only Chat Noir was close enough to hear as the man spoke his wife's name. The blonde feline's emerald eyes slowly widened at the answer. 

He froze for a moment, then unfastened the brooch from Hawk Moth's lapel.  The design of the pale lavender pin was the same symbol echoed throughout the design of the Agreste estate.  The same as the colored glass hung in the sanctuary he saw in his dreams, where his mother lay trapped. His eyes peeled off the miraculous to the man before him as the purple magic shimmered off and left behind a badly injured Gabriel Agreste.

"It can't be...not you." Chat murmured, dropping the pin to the ground.

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***Hey there! This is a short chapter, but needed to tie it to the events of the "future" events in the Peacock side story, part I. The next chapter picks up right after that part; hope this doesn't cause any confusion!

And again, thank you for reading!!! Please leave me any comments, good or bad, and PLEASE vote if you enjoyed!