Lady Midnight in Paris

Chapter 6

"Now, now, Chat Noir," Midnight crooned. "There's nothing to worry about. I just need to set things right. Now come." She held up a finger, and gestured for him to come over to her.

Chat Noir was dragged across the road by her red energy, stumbling into cars and other scattered objects until he was at her feet.

She smiled evilly down at him. "Kindly give me your Miraculous."

Chat Noir was too stunned to respond. "How did you...?"

"Hawk Moth has been kind enough to give me all sorts of powers," Midnight said, flexing her fists. "Isn't it wonderful? Now I can never disappoint anyone ever again! I can do anything!"

"Ladybug!" Chat Noir screamed. "Come back!" Would she be able to hear me?

"Oh, Ladybug isn't coming back," Midnight said. "She's dead. She was useless, and she was such a disappointment to Paris. Now with me around, nothing will be a disappointment again."

"How? How does hurting everyone make things right?" whimpered Chat Noir.

"They need to give me their strength so I am powerful. And I am here to set things right. I must be more powerful than them. Now watch closely, kitty."

She's become paranoid! She thinks that stealing strength from innocent people will be for the good of Paris!

Just as Midnight was about to steal his strength, Chat Noir rolled out of the way. When she shot red electricity from her eyes, Chat Noir spun his staff around in defense. While he did it with one hand, he grabbed a stray car tire that had broken off and threw it at her. She shot at it in midair, and the tire disintegrated.

How can I defeat her without Ladybug's lucky charm? I can't get close enough to launch a few hits! She would just suck out my strength, then I'd be useless.

He used his staff to escape to the nearest rooftop. He sprinted away.

What happened to Ladybug?

-----

Hawk Moth couldn't believe his eyes. Midnight had brought him the Ladybug Miraculous! The pair of earrings set nicely in his hand, Hawk Moth used the butterfly outline to see how Midnight was faring with acquiring Chat Noir's ring.

Midnight was the most successful akuma Hawk Moth had ever done.

She could steal strength and use telekinesis. Her emotions were a powerful ally, indeed. Hawk Moth was so close to getting his wish!

He watched as Midnight gathered enough strength to completely transform. Her civilian clothes darkened to black, and a white star laid on her chest. A dark mask with spikes coming out of the eyes framed glowing yellow eyes. Her blue pigtailed hair sank into platinum blonde.

"You are ready," said Hawk Moth, giddy. "Now go and get Chat Noir's Miraculous!"

"But there's so much more I could do," said the voice. "I could take more power. I could find all of the Miraculouses. I could be the most powerful being on earth!"

"No. You are to only get me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculouses! You must obey me!" ordered Hawk Moth.

Midnight smirked evilly. "As you wish, Hawk Moth," she said. Her eyes flashed. "It would be my pleasure."

-----

Chat Noir couldn't stop running. His heart hammered. He tried to calm down, but he couldn't. He used his staff to jump down from the rooftop onto the streets below. He turned into a dark alley to catch his breath.

No Ladybug. Akumatized Marinette. So much has gone wrong today.

He sucked in deep breaths. I can do this. I just need to find the real Ladybug, and ask for her help...

But Midnight said she was dead. That can't be. It just can't.

Chat Noir gripped his blond hair in his hands, trying to process what just happened. Marinette, sweet Marinette, was akumatized and making every civilian in Paris weak. How can I do this without Ladybug or her Lucky Charm?

I'm nothing compared to Ladybug...

"Chat Noir!"

He jerked up his head. No one was around.

"Over here."

He squinted to see a small Chinese man across the street with a red Hawaiian shirt. "Come!" the man insisted.

Chat Noir glanced with uncertainty around him, and sprinted across the street, holding up his silver staff for protection. "Who are you?" he asked.

"Not here. Come with me." The small man opened the door into a nearby building. Chat Noir followed him inside and upstairs.

The man then opened a door to a room with a gramophone at the far end of the room. There wasn't much in the room other than a small mattress and table on the floor.

"Come. There isn't much time." The man hurried to the other side of the room where the gramophone was. He pushed a few buttons, and a black hexagonal box appeared.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"The question, Adrien Agreste, is not what I need from you, but what you need from me," said the man. "Ladybug has been defeated, and you need help."

Chat Noir took a step back. "How--"

"My name is Master Fu. I was the one who gave you your Miraculous. Remember that one day when I was on the ground, struggling for my cane? People passed me by, but not you. It was from that moment that I knew you were the next Chat Noir."

"The next...what?" Chat Noir shook his head, trying to process.

Master Fu smiled. "Ladybug was confused as well. But I will tell you more another day. Now is not the time." He pulled out the Miraculous box. "I have sent my kwami to deliver a Miraculous. We must call on Rena Rouge and--"

Just then, a little green kwami flew in through the window. He was carrying a Miraculous box. "Rena Rouge is unable to perform her duties," he said mournfully. "She has already been affected."

Chat Noir cocked his head. "You're a Miraculous holder?" he asked.

Master Fu smiled. "More on that later, Adrien," he said. "We must defeat Midnight. Thankfully, this time you will have help. I trust that this next person will be a very trustworthy ally."

"Who is it?"

"Now, now, Adrien. You know that revealing our identities is strictly forbidden. But keep an eye out for a bird of prey."

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Sorry I didn't update yesterday! I didn't have a lot of time...ya know, life stuff. But here's another chapter! I will (probably) publish the next chapter tomorrow!

What do you guys think of the story so far? Lmk in the comments! 

also i'm curious, what's your favorite anime show? 

have a great day!

peace out,

anicm