Carapace released his transformation, his heart beating wildly as he grabbed Rena Rouge and leapt to safety. They hit the ground rolling. The Akuma wasn't so lucky. It turned around, before it dropped with the bridge into the darkness below. Rena Rouge's transformation gave out, revealing Alya underneath. Nino ran to Viperion's side. Max had lost his transformation as well, holding his horse kwami with a blank look in his eyes.

"Ladybug!" Alya shouted, looking over the gap between them and the island where Ladybug was. But the heroine was staring over the side in horror. Chat Noir and Hawkmoth had disappeared with the bridge. And she didn't have her yo-yo to save him this time.

Chat Noir could hear the wind howling in his ears. He was falling, falling, falling. The sense of weightlessness overcame him. It was pitch-black. But he wasn't alone. Hawkmoth was grappling him, pulling at him and cursing. None of them were ready to hit the ground.

The floor rushed up to meet them. Chat saw his father reaching for his ring before he hit the ground and the world snapped into nothing.

"CHAT!" Ladybug's scream was shattered. She was holding a magnet in her hands. She looked around helplessly, her ladybug vision revealing nothing to her. She tossed the object into the air, "Miraculous Ladybug!"

She was praying, hoping that her magic would fix everything. Save Adrien. Heal him. Her magic did, after most battles, heal everything. But some things… She wasn't sure how much damage could be repaired. A flurry of pink covered the room. The bridge renewed itself. Viperion stirred from where he lay. Queen Bee twitched and transformed back into Chloe. Ladybug still didn't have her yo-yo or akumatized object. She had to retransform to get it back. She knew it would be risky. She would be trusting everyone in the room to keep her identity a secret. But at this point- it wouldn't matter if they never got out.

"Spots off." Ladybug whispered, a pink flash erupting on the small island. Tikki flew instantly to the edge.

"Is Chat Noir okay?!" Tikki cried.

"I don't know…" Marinette felt her voice grow thick with tears. "I- I need to transform again to help him."

She dug into her purse, grabbing a cookie and holding it towards Tikki. Her kwami rushed to it, chewing feverishly on the sugary treat. Marinette looked up.

Alya was staring at her. Shock, fear and worry all on her face. But no betrayal. Alya wasn't hurt she kept the secret. Nino stared at her, his jaw dropped and his eyes bulging behind his glasses. Max seemed to be frowning, almost as if he had already guessed Ladybug's identity and was wrong. Chloe looked shell-shocked. Her idol was the girl she bullied in school. Viperion was sitting up, his nose bleeding. He stared at her with so many emotions. He gave her a nod, as if to say; it's alright.

"Ready?" Marinette asked her kwami, tearing her eyes away from her friends. Tikki gave a nod. "Spots on!"

Ladybug grabbed the yo-yo and threw it, attaching it to the bridge before leaping off the edge.

Chat Noir coughed weakly. It was completely dark. He felt cement underneath him. It was hard and unforgiving. His entire body was pulsing and broken. He couldn't move. He could feel Plagg burning through his energy to keep the transformation. Chat assumed that his magical suit was the only reason he survived the fall. But once that was gone…

His eyes shut in a grimace. He moaned in agony.

"Son." His father's voice, low and dark.

"Ack-" Chat felt his father beside him, reaching, groping for his ring. "No-"

It hurt to talk. Everything hurt. But he couldn't give up. Not now. Chat moved his arm, and he sucked in a breath. Fire shot down his limb. It had to be broken. Chat tried his other arm, his left one, and had more luck. He pulled it forward and began to drag his body. He felt heavy and exhausted. Something wet was caked across his face. It dripped off his chin. It was warm. In the black, he could hear Hawkmoth moving. He must not have been as injured as Chat Noir was.

"I told you, I would get what I desired." Hawkmoth grabbed Chat's foot. "You should have given up when you had the chance, you stubborn boy."

Hawkmoth began to tug Chat towards him. Firey pain shot up Chat Noir's leg. He released a strangled scream. This caused Hawkmoth to pause. But he stopped for only a second before advancing on him. He grabbed his son's arm, holding it in a vice-like grasp.

"Finally," he breathed excitedly. "After all this time."

"No-" Chat tried to move, shift his body. A pain so intense took him over, all he could do was focus on breathing. Fingers clamped around his hand and around his ring. Tears rushed to Chat Noir's eyes. He couldn't fight back. All he could do was lay and bleed and bleed.

Hawkmoth slowly, gradually pulled off the cat miraculous, savoring the moment much to Chat's distaste. Once he pulled it off, the green flash came instantly. Adrien gasped as the pain hit him full-force, no longer held back by his miraculous protection. His eyes rolled back as he couldn't handle it.

Hawkmoth slipped the ring onto his finger.

"You monster!" Plagg screeched, rushing to Adrien's son. "What have you done?!"

"Shut it, creature. I own you now." Hawkmoth grinned. "Transform me!"
Plagg yelled as he was sucked into the ring, transforming Hawkmoth into Hawknoir. The power pumped through him like a heartbeat. His eyes focused on Adrien, his son. He knelt and pulled the boy onto his shoulder. Hawknoir had never felt so alive. He put his baton into the ground, flicking a button and extending it. He flew upwards at an excessive pace, flipping onto the ground beside the other heroes.

A gasp echoed as Hawknoir dropped Adrien's body roughly onto the floor of the atrium. Butterflies scattered from the clearing.

"NO!" Nino's voice broke, staring at his best friend's broken body.

"Hand over your miraculouses." Hawknoir demanded. "No one else has to get hurt."

A small thump behind him was followed by a small noise of shock. Hawkmnoir grinned as he knelt, drawing his sword and bringing it to Adrien's throat. "Your miraculous, Ladybug. Now."

Ladybug could feel every heartbeat. The world seemed to freeze around her. Adrien was lying crumpled at Hawkmoth's feet, soaked in blood. And Hawkmoth- he had a tail and ears. He had taken his ring.

"He- he's your son!" Ladybug tried.

"And she is my wife!" Hawknoir snapped. "I will go to hell and back to safe her." His eyes were feral. "Hand me your earrings or I will end Adrien's misery."

Ladybug stared at the others. Max had fed his kwami the rest of his sugar cubes, but hadn't transformed. Viperion was clutching his stomach and shaking his head. They missed the five minute window. Alya and Nino looked to be in shock, but their kwami's needed strength to retransform. She found herself reaching for her ears.

"Ladybug, do it. Save him!" It came from Chloe. The girl looked a little worse for wear, her ponytail had come undone. Her makeup was smudged and she was crying. Trails of mascara led down her cheeks.

That was all she needed. She took off her earrings, another flash revealing Marinette. She offered the earrings to Hawknoir, her head bent low.

"FINALLY!" Hawknoir snatched them from her, putting them on his ears. He seemed to forget about Adrien, instead jogging back across the bridge towards Emilie. Marinette ran to Adrien, followed by her friends.

"I can teleport us out!" Max said, kneeling beside Adrien's head.

"He's… He's not breathing." Alya rest her hands on her neck. Marinette felt her world crashing down around her. She reached out, stretching her gentle fingers on his throat. There wasn't a pulse.

"You killed him!" Chloe screeched at Hawkmoth. "You killed your own son!"

Marinette tuned her out. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be. Tears were already blurring her vision, but she shook her head.

"No, no, no, you're okay. You're okay." She took his head in her lap, running her hands through his messy blonde hair.

"I know CPR!" Max moved beside Adrien, placing his folded hands over his chest and beginning the life-saving measures. Marinette closed her eyes, silently praying to whatever was out there. She couldn't lose him. Max opened Adrien's mouth, plugging his nose and pressing his mouth to his and exhaling deeply. Max resumed pressing Adrien's chest.

"Call… Call an ambulance." Nino whispered, his own face contorted in fear.

Viperion's transformation released, revealing Luka underneath. His face was beaten up, and he kept clutching his ribs. But he staggered over to Adrien, collapsing by his side. His breathing was labored.

Alya pulled out her phone and dialed the emergency services. Marinette continued brushing his hair, unable to hold back her anguish.

"Come on, kitty. I need you to fight. Please. Come back to us." She murmured.

Nino looked completely broken, wet tears sliding down his cheeks. His face was pale.

"One… Two… Three…" Max continued the CPR despite the lack of response.

"You killed him!" Chloe stood and stared down Hawkmoth. The villain had his back to them, instead was facing Emilie's glass case.

"Y-yes, we need help!" Alya sobbed into the phone, attempting to keep herself together for the authorities. "We're at the- the Agreste mansion. Adrien's not b-breathing. Please."

Max stopped, his eyes dull as he looked solemnly at Marinette. He shook his head.

"No! You can't give up on him!" Marinette cried.. "Keep going!"

"He's gone." Max whispered.

"NO!" Marinette cupped Adrien's head in her arms. "Help him. Please. Please."

Max blinked, staring at the floor. "I'm sorry."

"You can't give up on him!" Marinette closed her eyes. Adrien felt so cold. His skin was like ice.

Hawkmoth was chanting. His arms were raised and his voice echoed through the large chamber. "I call upon the powers of the ancient miraculous! The black cat and the ladybug! Aid me! Grant my wish! Bring back my family! Restore life in them! I demand thee!"

Marinette blinked tears out of her eyes, staring at Hawkmoth. Would it work? Hope bloomed in her chest. It had to. It had to work. A bright light surrounded Hawkmoth, his voice rising into a yell. The white light consumed him, and Marinette had to shield her eyes as it continued to grow brighter. And then the world went white.