Ladybug
The scene changed, and they were now standing atop the eiffel tower of the future, looking down at the futuristic cityscape that was Paris.
“Louis couldn’t control his emotions.” Loveless continued. “And was akumatized by Papillion. But as I’ve told you before, Papillon doesn’t care for the miraculouses. Her mission is to watch as her power corrupts and destroys.”
A loud scream was suddenly heard as illusion-Emma was thrown against one of the beams of the tower - her body beaten and broken. She tried to lift herself off the ground, but her arms buckled underneath her.
“Emma.” Cat Noir whispered in horror - but Ladybug couldn’t seem to breathe.
Loveless laughed mirthlessly. “Louis took me from my room, beating me nearly unconscious. He then brought me around Paris, presenting me like a trophy to my family, my class, his. He wanted me to feel as humiliated as he had.”
Illusion-Emma looked weakly up at Akumatized Louis, who smiled mirthlessly down at her. “Have you finally shut your mouth for once?” He kicked her in the gut, causing her to roll over and clutch at her stomach as she heaved painfully. “Mom and Dad always favored you over the rest of us.” He scoffed. “I’ve never understood why. You’re just a burden. You’re useless. Why would anyone love you?”
“What..do you want?” Emma asked weakly, her bluebell eyes glassy. Louis only smiled, grabbing Emma by the back of her neck as he brandished a long blade. “Isn’t it obvious?” Louis said nonchalantly, making a show of his skills as played with the dagger, twisting it around with his fingers. “I want you dead.”
In time with Ladybug’s terrified gasp, he began slicing Emma’s throat open, but before he could finish, his hands seemed to spasm. He dropped Emma and backed a few steps away as she fell with a small ‘thump’ to the ground - gazing lazily at Louis who looked at the dagger in his hands in horror.
“No. No..no..no..” Louis was muttering as his body jerked again, and his eyes were once again a glowing violet. “Stop it!” He roared at the same moment his eyes returned to normal, but it was obvious that he was losing control. Louis looked back at Emma - a gut-wrenching guilt and sorrow in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Emma. I...I love you. With all the stars in the sky.”
Then he stabbed the dagger into himself before he fell. They laid on the platform together, but one would never rise again.
“This was the event that let you have the Black Swan miraculous.” Ladybug whispered once she had returned to her senses, though her brain still couldn't compute the horrible scene that had just unrolled in front of her. “Your brother killed himself...to save you.”
“So now you know.” Loveless said joyfully, clapping her hands. “The ‘Emma’ you hold so dearly - she wasn’t innocent. She wasn’t sweet and loving. It was the guilt of knowing that she killed her own brother.”
Ladybug shook her head as the scene faded, and they were back in their Paris, out of the horror of the events that took place in Emma’s memories. “Emma, what happened to Louis was a horrible, horrible, tragedy that should’ve never happened to anyone. But it wasn’t your fault, and it doesn’t make you loveless.”
“No Maman. It’s exactly what makes her loveless. Emma Agreste was a despicable human being whose own naivety killed her brother and broke her parents. She should’ve been the one who died that day.” Loveless snarled. “I can't bring him back, but I can make all of Paris suffer along with me, and the only way to do that is for you to give me your miraculouses!”
Ladybug's hands curled into fists. Emma wasn’t just her daughter - she was her friend, her partner. And by the look on Cat Noir's face, she knew he was thinking along the same lines.
She refused to let Hawk Moth use her any longer. It wasn’t just another akuma anymore. This was war.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!