Of Gods and Royalty

Chapter 65: Do it

Adrien's POV
The blinds shuddered and a brewing storm roared in the east. I woke up the next morning with little to no sleep. My head sifted through the things I had to do today. It was the day of the coronation and everything had to go smoothly. I inhaled sharply through my nose. I had upset ladybug, no way was I upsetting Marinette. Speaking of whom, I had no idea where she was. Groaning I pushed myself from the heavy mattress and lumbered into the kitchen.

"Finally up are we?" I whipped around to face her. Sitting cross legged on the bench beside a sheet of fresh cookies. 

"What do you mean? The suns barely risen." She shrugged and shoved one of the chocolate wonders into my hand. I thanked her and savoured the flavour. When I reached for another she slapped my hand away.

"These are mine. There's more in the fridge." She waved her hand, curiously I opened it. You cannot imagine my confusion. Every variation of cookie or biscuit imaginable was in there. White chocolate, dark chocolate, sprinkles, icing of every flavour and colour. 

"How long have you been up?" I gaped turning from the wonderland of confectionary to my friend. 

"Midnight." She ate another cookie.

"I have several questions." I raised an eyebrow.

"They'll have to wait." She jumped from the counter. "I have things to do."

I opened my mouth to protest but she was gone before I could utter a syllable. 

Marinette's POV

"Alya!" I burst into her room. 

"It's too early." She groaned. "Do we have too?"

"Alya, it's the coronation." That got her out of bed. 

"Nino!" She shoved him out of bed. "It's the coronation day."

"Did you make my dress?" Alya asked, a spark of excitement racing across her face.

"Oh that?" I battered a hand. "The miraculous have a thing for that. All hail I believe it is."

"Are you okay Mari?" Alya furrowed her eyebrows.

I yawned and rubbed the side of my face, "Just a tinge tiered."

"Are you sure you should be up this early?" She asked protectively.

"I'm going to grab a coffee." I gave them a small smile. "Morning Nino. See you guys later."

"Careful girl." Alya snorted. I shook my head and wandered back to my room. 

"Do we have anything with caffeine in?" I shouted once inside.

"Way ahead of you!" Adrien called from behind me. He handed me an energy drink and a coffee. I took them both to the kitchen. "I couldn't decide which you'd like so I grabbed both."

"Thanks." I nodded and poured them both into a large cup. "I'm going to die." I muttered before downing the whole thing.

"Most likely." Adrien agreed looking at me like he'd seen a ghost.

"You should start getting ready." I nodded to the bedroom. "I'll go after you."

"Don't go anywhere." He joked. I clicked my tongue and he took the sign to hurry up. The door clicked shut and I sighed, slumping onto the couch. 

"Tikki!" I whined. "What do I do?"

"Just be yourself, Marinette." She floated by my head. "I'm sure the coronation will go by easily."

"I'm not so sure Tikki." I sunk further into the lounge. "I don't know if I can keep it together."

"Marinette." Tikki flew closer.

"I know what you're going to say Tikki." I huffed. "I can do it. I'm strong enough and all that."

"No Marinette watch out!" I jumped up... but too late.

"Marinette Dupain- Cheng." A rough laugh rung through my head like a set of nails down a chalkboard. "So strong, so kind, so pure. The hero's little pet, don't think I can't hear them singing your praises."

"Hawkmoth." I clenched my jaw and gripped my head. I tugged at the ribbon holding my left pigtail. It held tightly the akuma not allowing me to move it.

"Are you tired of people treating you like you're perfect?" He cooed. "In return for the miraculous I'm willing to give you unfathomable power. You can be my strongest akuma yet. You can show them who you want to be."

"Take the earrings." I hissed between my teeth.

"What?" Hawkmoth's voice echoed through my skull. 

"Do it." There was a tickling behind my ears followed by a gust of wind.

"Don't refuse the power a second time. Are you willing to serve me?" He ground out.

I shuddered under the power of the akuma. He was right though, I wanted to show them.

"Yes Hawkmoth!" The deadly black bubbles I'd only ever seen enveloped me. It wasn't terror that gripped me but rather a sickly feeling of delight. Yet I screamed. Screamed louder than I ever have before. 

For who'd save a hero?