Sorry for the wait! Life has been a bit nuts lately (PLUS WRITING IS HARD KAJSHDLAJSKD), so it took me a long while to finish this chapter! I hope you enjoy it!

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Music glossary:

Fantasia - a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. Because of this, it seldom follows the textbook rules of any strict musical form.

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(Mood Music: Morceaux de Fantaisie, Prelude in C Sharp Minor (Op. 3 No. 2) - Sergei Rachmaninoff)

One thing that most everyone can agree upon, is that first times are usually pretty nerve-racking. The first day of school. First sports competition. First music recital. First dental procedure. First date. First kiss. First time driving. First time traveling alone.

This "first" was no different. It was nerve-racking, as they normally are.

Except, most "firsts" generally don't involve the possibility of getting hurt or killed.

Nevertheless, here Chat was, about to embark on another "first".

This was his and Ladybug's first time fighting together as a team against his father. Or against... whatever he was at this point.

Ladybug and Chat Noir sprinted and leaped across the rooftops towards the location the Ladyblog's akuma notification had specified. The city passed them by in a blur as they weaved across buildings with practiced ease.

But that was the only thing that was easy about this situation.

Chat's insides twisted and turned. He wasn't sure what he was feeling at the moment. Was it excitement to finally be at Ladybug's side as her ally, as they'd always meant to be? Was it dread that he'd have to face Hawkmoth again since their last confrontation, and almost getting killed? Was it fear that he'd fail to protect his Lady– of being inadequate as a partner? Could he measure up to her expectations?

Was he prepared enough, mentally, physically, emotionally, for this moment?

He took in a shaky breath, attempting to shut off his brain and stop thinking. He needed to focus.

Whether I'm ready or not doesn't matter; this is happening NOW.

The two heroes landed on the darkened street with a soft thud and quickly scanned the vicinity. Nobody was around; the akuma must have moved elsewhere.

As they began to look around, they noted the distinct lack of... anything. No destruction, no collapsed buildings or cars being demolished. No people, no screaming. There was nothing. Not even light; every single street light was out, and all the buildings' windows were dark. Chat couldn't help but feel a biting cold crawling down his whole body as he took in the desolate, eerie settings.

Before they began to scout further, Ladybug reached for Chat's forearm.

"Hey," she said softly, brows upturned in concern. "You alright?"

Chat blinked at her. She must've noticed the tension in his shoulders, tension he hadn't realized was there until now. He forced himself to smile, despite his nerves. He had to be strong for her. Like she always was.

"I'm fine," he replied as evenly as he could. "Just first time jitters."

She smiled at him, rubbing his arm lightly. "Everything will be fine, Chaton. We've got each other's backs."

Chat's chest swelled with affection for his partner, and he placed his own hand on top of hers, squeezing gently. "Yeah. We do," he replied with a small smile.

With confidence bolstered, the pair continued their hunt for the akuma. They searched the area for clues, but there was nothing to show that there'd been any struggles. The only thing that would even indicate that there was an akuma attack was that, at this hour, the city would normally be bustling with nightlife. But right now, it felt more like a graveyard.

Just then, Chat's cat ears twitched as his amplified hearing caught some fluctuating air waves in the opposite direction. His head whipped around; they led towards a large plaza. He placed his hand on Ladybug's shoulder and wordlessly signaled towards the new target. She nodded and followed.

The commotion grew louder as they approached. Swallowing heavily, Chat flexed his hands, extending the retractable claws from his gloved fingertips. His tail unconsciously whipped back and forth, agitated, betraying the façade of calm he was attempting to exude.

As they approached the center, they saw someone: a man lying on the pavement, curled up into a fetal position. The man sobbed quietly, staring blankly at nothing. Ladybug knelt and shook his shoulder, but to no avail.

A choked cry from across the way startled them. A woman knelt low, covering her face with her hands. Her breaths were ragged and heavy, punctuated with the occasional whimper.

"What in the world...?" Ladybug muttered under her breath.

As they wandered, they found more and more people suffering from the same mysterious affliction; none of them responsive to noise, sight, or touch. The oppressive atmosphere was stifling, and Chat could feel his skin getting clammy under his suit.

These were not the sounds that usually accompanied an akuma attack; they were sounds of sheer terror and despair. Whimpering, wailing, screeching. People clawing at the ground, at their surroundings, at themselves.

"This isn't an ordinary akuma," he heard Ladybug say, barely loud enough for him to hear. "We need to be careful."

Chat took in the entire sight, his pupils narrowing into slits as he stared at the bodies strewn throughout the plaza's grounds. Young, old, rich, poor; this strange condition did not discriminate between its hosts.

"What's wrong with them?" Chat murmured, indistinct. "It's almost as if–" His eyebrows furrowed and he could feel his fists begin to tremble. "–as if they're having a nightmare."

His stomach churned as icy realization coursed through his veins. He recognized the signs very well, as he'd had to deal with them almost every single night for the past few years.

His head whipped towards Ladybug and he rushed back to her side, body tensed with increased urgency. "They're trapped inside their own nightmares!" he cried in horror. "We need to help them!!!"

Ladybug opened her mouth to reply, but movement at their peripheral caught her attention. She shoved Chat away and used her momentum to somersault backwards, both of them narrowly dodging a black swirl of energy.

A young woman materialized beside them, dressed in a midnight blue ensemble with stars scattered throughout. A spinning whirlpool that resembled a black hole lay at the center of her torso under an ornate pendant. The long, satin-like, almost sheer train of her dress brushed the ground as she floated. In any other situation, it would have been beautiful. But here, her ghostly form emanated an unsettling emptiness, subtly drawing light towards her as she hovered, so she looked blacker than night itself.

"Give me your miraculous," she demanded, hand outstretched.

Ladybug collected herself and straightened out her body, rolling her eyes as she began spinning her yo-yo. "Why do they always ask? As if that's ever worked before."

She glanced at Chat, expecting that he'd make some sort of follow-up pun or wisecrack, like he always did during any past akuma encounters. But this time, Chat didn't engage in pleasantries or conversation.

Instead, he lunged at the akuma.

The woman dematerialized as Chat reached her, and he passed straight through her now incorporeal body, almost tripping.

Catching himself, he pivoted around and surged towards the woman again, claws outstretched, trying to grab at her; but again, to no avail. He whipped his staff out of its holster and swung it in a wide arc, missing her again while she chuckled loftily. With a snarl, he turned around and continued to strike, looking for a weak spot as she circled him.

After a few more missed strikes, the akuma became solid again and lifted her arm, palm open, aiming it directly at Chat. His eyes grew wide and he leaped away as she fired, letting out a growl of frustration as the stream of blackness barely missed him. .

Throughout the skirmish, Ladybug studied the villain's movements, trying to locate the akumatized item as well as a way to render it vulnerable. Once the akuma fired at Chat, Ladybug saw an opening and threw her yo-yo, which wrapped around the woman's arm. The akuma whipped her head towards Ladybug with an annoyed scowl. She dematerialized yet again and the yo-yo dropped harmlessly to the ground.

"You cannot hurt what cannot be touched, Ladybug," she stated coolly. "I'm invulnerable to your attacks. Stop looking for weaknesses where there are none."

"You won't win. None of you have succeeded, and none of you ever will," Ladybug replied, voice strong, feet planted in a wide, solid stance.

"Every empire has a downfall; and I am yours. If you won't hand over your earrings, I'll take them from you. Or better yet..." she said with a grin that sent a chill skittering down Chat's spine. "You'll rip them off your very own earlobes, once they turn into searing hot coals in your upcoming nightmare."

Chat felt a giant lump form in his throat and for a moment he forgot how to breathe. He fought back the part of him that began to panic. The thought of Ladybug trapped in a nightmare... No. He couldn't let that happen.

With that, she lifted her hand, aiming at Ladybug. Ladybug readied herself using her yo-yo as a shield. But as the akuma was about to fire, Chat jumped in front of her, effectively blocking her attack. He managed to shove her arm sideways, and the ray hit the side of a building instead.

"Chat! Be careful!" Ladybug yelled.

She frowned. That was reckless. He could have gotten hit, or the shot could have hit a civilian.

Chat didn't seem to listen, however. He continued to engage with the akuma, always on the offensive, never letting her attention leave him. At this rate, he was going to tire himself out, and fast.

Is he trying to get himself killed?!

Chat continued to bob and weave his way around the akumatized person's attacks, but gradually started to show signs of slowing. His breaths became hard and ragged, his hair clumping with sweat, his twists and turns no longer holding the grace of a cat as they usually did. Ladybug knew they had to try a different approach or Chat would soon succumb to the akuma's attacks.

Ladybug blocked a sneak attack that the akuma shot her way, and the akuma's frustration started to show.

"You can't avoid me forever, Ladybug. Your horrified shrieks will be music to my ears, and I can't wait," the akuma sneered.

"I'm not letting you lay a finger on her," Chat warned, almost hissing.

"Be silent, traitor," she spat, not turning her head to look at him.

Chat visibly flinched and recoiled slightly in surprise. Ladybug shot a glance at him, unsure of how he'd react.

However, instead of rising to the bait and attacking in anger, Chat paused. He needed some time to catch his breath. He needed a distraction. And distractions were something he could do very well.

So he cleared his throat, straightening himself to his full height and confidently placed a hand on his hip.

"What, can't your boss be bothered to insult me himself?" he scoffed, brushing off the snub. "How very typical of him. Where is right now? Sending akumas out of a bathroom stall or something?" he taunted with a wily grin. "I bet he really misses that dank, ugly lair of his. Tell him to have fun with the repair bill. I wish I could see him try to explain that mess to the building contractors."

The glowing butterfly mask appeared on the akumatized person's face, and her expression instantly changed into something else entirely. From bored indifference to irritated disdain. She turned her body around, glaring a thousand daggers at him.

"I see you're still as childish as ever," the woman spoke, but it was Hawkmoth speaking through her.

"If you don't like children, you should've thought about that with your other head 18 years ago," Chat quipped back.

The woman– or rather, Hawkmoth– let out an annoyed groan, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I should've guessed that spending even a few days with your little so-called 'friend' would influence your manners. And here I thought you couldn't do any worse than that ruffian, Nico, or whatever his name was– and yet here we are." "Hawkmoth" shrugged in exasperation. "But playtime's over. This is your last chance to return willingly. Otherwise, you'll force me to do it the hard way."

"Get used to disappointment. I know am," the young man scoffed. "I'm not going back, and you'll never find me."

"You won't survive on your own. You're too weak. People will take advantage of you, exploit you where you're most vulnerable. They'll earn your trust, feed you delicious, honeyed words as they manipulate you, deceive you into giving them everything they want until they suck you dry." He scoffed, "Ladybug? Believe me, I know what women like her are like."

Chat's eyes narrowed and his hands curled into tight fists. He seethed through clenched teeth, "You leave her out of this."

Hawkmoth ignored him. "She couldn't care less about you, you know. You need to rely on someone who will protect you."

"You call attempted murder 'protecting' me?!" Chat snarled.

"I only do what is necessary because you're naive and foolish. You need guidance; you need to be told what to do. Just think about it. You ran away and for what? To prove that you can be 'independent'?" Hawkmoth chuckled darkly. "Your freedom is an illusion. Haven't you realized that you're merely obeying a new master now? Still not making your own decisions; just following this girl around like a lost puppy? Because that's what you are to her. Just a plaything. A pet."

Chat gulped, throat painfully dry. How dare his father speak to him this way?! Ladybug's pet?? She would never think that. She wouldn't...

He wanted desperately to argue back, but tendrils of doubt clawed around his throat, and whatever retort he might have had was stuck behind his tongue.

Across the way, Ladybug bristled with a sharp huff. "Leave him alone, you heartless jerk!!" she snapped. "How can you say such horrible things to your own flesh and blood!? Chat Noir is stronger than you could ever know!!"

"She's wrong," Hawkmoth glowered at Chat through the akuma's eyes, the latter not turning their head to acknowledge Ladybug's presence. "You are weak. Spineless. A coward who can't handle when things aren't easy and life doesn't just hand over what you want. You're a quitter." The akuma narrowed her eyes at him, mirroring the look currently on Hawkmoth's face. "Your mother would be so ashamed of you," he hissed.

Chat's face twisted into one of pure rage. The ice in his veins evaporated into roaring flames, and he couldn't contain the fury that boiled in his chest.

"Don't you DARE talk about mom! You don't deserve that right! You don't deserve her!" he exploded.

not the one who abandoned her, if you'll recall," Hawkmoth retorted.

"His mother...?" Ladybug muttered absently, unintentionally drawing their attention.

Hawkmoth sneered, nodding the akuma's head towards Ladybug. "And what does she think about all this? Did she readily forgive you, and understand why she's been dragged into this conflict for all these years? Did she accept you even after finding out how utterly selfish you've been?"

Ladybug looked at Chat in confusion. He gaped at her, looking like he was about to get sick to his stomach.

"Oh... I see," Hawkmoth chuckled, a self-satisfied grin slithering across the akuma's face. "You haven't even told her, have you?" he mocked. "Maybe I was wrong. I guess you don't trust her, after all."

Chat's eyes blew wide and he stammered in protest. "What–?! NO! That's not...!"

"That's good," Hawkmoth interrupted, voice hardening once more. "You can't trust her. You can't trust anyone outside of your . Your secrets are too great, too terrible. Nobody would ever forgive you."

Despite the apprehension and uncertainty hanging between them, Ladybug pushed aside the uncomfortable nagging feeling that pricked at her insides and continued to argue.

"Stop it!!" she yelled. "Chat's business is his own. I don't need to know all the details of his personal life. I just want to help him, unlike you!"

"She's lying; she's always lied. You can't trust this conniving shrew."

Ladybug's eyes popped wide open. "Shrew?! Why, you big—!!"

"She doesn't want to help you," Hawkmoth continued. "She just wants your miraculous. Deep down you already know: you know that she'll throw you away the moment she gets ahold of your ring, because without it, you're useless to her. Without it, you're useless to anyone."

"Th-that's not true!" Chat yelled back.

But Ladybug noticed how he'd hesitated, could sense the fear in his voice; the fear that his father had used to control and abuse him all those years. The fear that gripped him so deeply, so tightly, so thoroughly, that it caused him to falter and tremble even now, despite Hawkmoth not even being physically present.

"Stop talking about him like he's a possession!" she cried. "I don't own him, and neither do you!"

Hawkmoth ignored her, as if she were no more than a tiny harmless insect, noisily buzzing around them, and turned to address Chat again.

"You know I'm right," he huffed arrogantly. "You mean nothing to her because you nothing. She'll abandon you the moment she finds out who you really are. She'll hate you."

Chat's gaze fell to the ground, self-loathing evident in his features and posture, which continued to wither and shrink the longer Hawkmoth was allowed to speak.

"Would you kindly shut the hell up?!" Ladybug roared, throwing her yo-yo at the akuma's currently solid form.

The akuma dodged, body swerving in a jerky, unnatural motion, the glowing purple mask ever present on her face.

"You can't ever tell her who you are," Hawkmoth continued. "No one could ever possibly understand you. Only do. This flatterer is just using you, seducing you with her words to gain your trust."

"Seducing?? You son of a—!" She threw her yo-yo again, missing once more, the desire to shut him up overriding her attempts at accuracy. She knew he was trying to make her angry, but damn it, it was working.

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed how sweet and charming she acts around you, batting her eyelashes at you, cozying up to you. Isn't it obvious that what she's after isn't you? Nobody would want

"S-stop..." Chat protested weakly.

"You can try to deny it, but you'll discover the truth for yourself soon enough. And once you realize that you've made a mistake, I'll be waiting for you to return. Because out there, you're all alone. But if you come back, you'll still have me... and your mother."

"STOP IT!! QUIT HURTING HIM!!!" Ladybug screamed, shrill and loud enough to draw the attention from both Hawkmoth and Chat.