Chapter Text
The final Battle against Hawkmoth began and ended with a bang.
Hawkmoth and Mayura had akumatized half the city. A prerequisite for them to ever leave their lair. It was Chat Noir vs Mayura and Ladybug vs Hawkmoth on top of the Eiffel Tower until Ladybug managed to grab Hawkmoth’s staff and break it over her knee.
Usually, this was the point where Hawkmoth and Mayura retreated while Ladybug and Chat Noir were busy catching akumas and helping civilians. Unfortunately, they’d miscalculated. Half the city was akumatized into mindless, land-walking slaves. Akumatized victims were always slaves. But this time, no one was at risk of falling from the sky or drowning. Every citizen of Paris was unconscious on the street, perfectly fine and safe.
This time, Ladybug was angry. Their 3-year anniversary had come and gone two days ago. Paris celebrated it with a parade. Chat Noir wanted to celebrate the anniversary with a picnic on the Eiffel Tower. Ladybug didn’t want to celebrate at all. It had been three years since Hawkmoth had begun his reign of terror in Paris. Three years of missed school, lying to friends, and a city in fear. Three years of her life and she had nothing to show for it.
Hawkmoth had miscalculated and Ladybug was angry. The civilians would be fine for a few minutes more. She followed him. Chat Noir, as always, followed his lady’s lead. He used Mayura’s distraction in her retreat to cataclysm her fan.
Mayura and Hawkmoth raced across the rooftops of Paris trying to lose their tail.
Ladybug only had a few moments to initiate her plan. She swung down from the Eiffel Tower and ran among the unconscious Parisian citizens. Chat Noir ran ahead of her; hot on the villains’ trail. She pulled the Fox Miraculous from her yo-yo and combined miraculous midstride. Her flute sang, assuring that no one would notice her or Chat Noir.
-----
Hawkmoth and Mayura ducked into an alley and sighed in relief. Without their weapons, they needed to retreat and regroup. They had lost this battle. They spoke without words. It would be safer to de-transform in the safety of their lair than here on the streets. Gabriel couldn’t be seen among the Parisian streets; it would raise too many questions. Especially, while most of the city was either unconscious or hiding.
Black spots and black leather jumped over their heads. Ladybug and Chat Noir missed them.
Hawkmoth and Mayura waited two minutes before venturing out of the alley. They may have lost this battle, but at least they survived. They would win next time.