The Other Side of the Mirror -- genderbend

14: The Decision

Nina was surprised when the akuma victims suddenly released her.

"Um...thanks?" she said hesitantly.

The victims ignored her, running off towards the Eiffel Tower. One of them crashed into Corey, who hurdled around a corner towards Nina.

"What's going on?" he asked her. She shrugged. Just then, Alyo leaped down from a rooftop.

"We need to get to the Eiffel Tower," he said.

The three of them ran all the way to the tower. When they arrived, they gasped immediately. At the foot of the tower was the Peacock Miraculous holder, Gabriella Agreste, Marin, and Adrienne. Adrienne was sitting up, rubbing her forehead.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Adrienne!" Nina ran over to her best friend. "Why--what--"

"There had better be a real good explanation for this," Alyo said to Marin.

"There is," Marin answered. "Gabriella Agreste is Hawk Moth."

Alyo dropped his reed flute.

"What?!" Corey shouted.

"I--my mother is Hawk Moth?" Adrienne said. "That doesn't make sense."

"Who are you?" Nina asked the Peacock Miraculous holder.

"Le Paon," he said. "Emilio Agreste."

"Father?" Adrienne said, eyes wide. "You're back?"

"Yes," he said, kneeling beside her and taking one of her hands in both of his. "And I'm never leaving you again."

Adrienne's face broke into a smile. She hugged her father tightly.

"Do they know?" Alyo asked Marin softly.

Before Marin could answer, Gabriella looked up at Nina, Alyo, and Corey.

"Now, who is who?" she asked them. "Adrienne has mentioned a friend who liked music."

"That's me," Nina said. "Nina Lahiffe."

"I could have sworn she mentioned someone with reddish-brown ombre hair. Is the white a side effect of the miraculous?"

"Yep," Alyo said. "That's me. Alyo Cesaire."

"So you must be Corey Bourgeois," Gabriella said. Corey nodded.

Adrienne laughed. Everyone looked at her.

"All the people I love most, in one place," she said, smiling. "I want to stay here forever."

They all embraced her.

"We need to take care of all this," Marin said.

"Yes," Gabriella said. "Are you ready?"

Marin nodded, readying his yo-yo. Nina and the others stepped back.

"Dark wings, rise!" Gabriella shouted. With a flash of purple, she transformed into Hawk Moth.

"Akumas, return!" she said.

All at once, several purple blurs flew out of the akuma victims' objects. Marin opened his yo-yo and swung it repeatedly through the cloud of purple butterflies. After about a minute, he had caught them all. Tapping the yo-yo once, he released the cloud of white butterflies.

"One thing, though," Marin said. "I can't return my Lucky Charm. I never used it."

"Use it now," Adrienne said.

"Lucky Charm!"

He threw the yo-yo high; a red piece of paper with black writing appeared and fell into his hands.

"'Look behind you,'" he read. Nina looked past him.

Behind Marin was a tall blonde woman with green eyes. There were six kwamis hovering around her.

"It is time for your decision," Emilie said. "Regardless of your choice, I will return with the kwamis. If you come, we will get you home. If you do not, you can forget that we ever met."

Marin looked between Gabriella and Alyo.

"I'm going to go," he said. "You guys can stay if you want--"

"You're my best friend," Alyo said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I would follow you anywhere."

"I'm coming," Corey said. "And since we all know Adrienne and Nina will always go with you and Alyo, it's safe to say all five of us go into this together."

Nina felt her cheeks heat up. She saw Adrienne's do the same.

"I have hurt you all," Gabriella said. "I shall come with you, to earn your forgiveness."

"You have mine," Marin said. "For trying to save her life."

"I will come as well," Emilio said. Gabriella smiled up at him.

"Come on," Emilie said. "We've got to go."

"Hold on." Marin threw the paper high. "Miraculous Ladybeetle!"

In a flash of red, all the extremely confused akuma victims disappeared. Nina assumed they were returned to their houses. A staff for Gabriella appeared.

"Okay," he said. "Now let's go."

Five minutes later....

Nina led the way into Master Fu's home.

"What do you need?" Master Fu asked them.

"The mirror" was all she said.

Master Fu opened the door wider to let them all in. He led them to a room with a tall mirror framed in quartz.

"The kwamis must never touch their other selves," he said. "And, Emilie--you are aware that once you go through, you must stay?"

"I will stay," Emilie promised.

"Good." Master Fu nodded once with satisfaction. "Whenever you are ready."

Taking a deep breath, Nina and the others stepped into the mirror.

On the other side

There was a bright flash. Nina found herself in a room identical to the one she had just left, facing a Master Fu identical to the one she had left behind.

"You have come," he said.

"Yes," Nina said. "Where can we find them?"

"They are undercover. You will need to be, too."

"Excellent." Nina grinned. "Let's save some lives."

*****************

Now it gets interesting.

In about a month, school will be over, and I can update more often. Maybe I'll even set a schedule. Since this is the most liked of my stories, I will make finishing it a priority.

About that....

After I finish this, there will be a sequel. I don't have a name for it yet, but it will come hopefully by the end of this summer at the latest.

Keep rocking on, Miraculers. Stay Miraculous! 

-Cassie ✪