#pluume

Natalya sat outside in the balcony, looking over the Parisian night. A sigh escaped her as she thought of the things that she pushed into the back of her mind. With that, she looked over at her tea, that was rapidly loosing warmth.

Gabe slid open the balcony door and walked out, joining Natalya at her side.

“Michael‘s asleep,” he laughed a bit, sliding into the vacant chair with a sigh, “Took a while but we got there.”

“Oh good.”

He held up a small cup, “I brought the milk you wanted.”

She smiled, taking it and pouring into her tea to complete it. She then looked up at Gabe again, a little more serious now. “... Gabe, we need to talk. About the miraculous.”

He leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms.

“Alright. What’s with it now?”

Natalya looked back at the city, looking far into the distance, maybe searching for a holder on their nightly patrol. She then looked back to the little table, where Pluume now sat, happily feasting on a cookie she likely snatched from the kitchen. Natalya grimaced slightly at the thought in her head now.

“Holders seem to be disappearing and being replaced each day, and yet, there’s still no progress. Hawkmoth is still out there, there’s still so much wrong that’s out there. The only progress there’s been was-“

“Fer’s defeat and the Wolf Pack’s disbandment,” Gabe added, almost mockingly.

She flinched a bit, noticing that did bring out a bit of regret from him; her hand inched over to grab his and he smiled reassuringly.

“I mean, it’s great and all. We were the most active threat at the time, but... it’s not enough, is it?”

“No... The city is still in chaos,” she stood up, walking closer to the edge of the balcony, “I think it’s time we go on the offensive again.”

“Nat, we-“ he stood up, pausing before shaking his head, “I can’t do that...”

She turned around, “What do you mean?”

“Mirlo... I can’t do that,” he placed his hand to his head, “I’m fine with observing but... I don’t want to be combative... what if I go back to that mentality?... I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m fine, but...”

She blinked a few times, then walked over to him, holding his hands and leaning close to him.

“I understand, Gabe. I’m not asking you to. Regardless of what you do, even if it’s leave the miraculous behind as a whole, I appreciate you,” she smiled as she looked at him, prompting him to lean in for a quick kiss, “That’s why Merle is coming back.”

“Are you ready for that?”

“Yes,” she looked to the skyline again, “This time, I know more. And while the heroes might hesitate to do a few things, I won’t. What’s a little worse reputation?”

She scoffed a bit. It was true: She didn’t particularly care what they would say about her. Besides, she wasn’t just fighting for herself now, but also for a safer future for her son now.

“I might be running solo, but-“

“No you won’t,” Gabe looked to the side with a little smirk, “I may not be on the field, but I’ll back you up either way. After all–“

He looked back at her.

“You’ll need eyes on the ground. I know how to dig deep from the civilian perspective. And... I might have my own connections.”

“So then... we’re doing this?”

.

.

.

It’s been a while, Paris, but

A sudden push had woken Gabriel up. The abrupt wake up left him a bit disoriented, but he managed to pull it together quickly.

“Hmm...” he grumbled a bit in his sleep deprivation, squinting in the dim lights, “Natalya??? What are you doing up?”

Natalya stood the whole distance away in the room, walking around rather frantically before turning to him.

“... My water broke.”

...

...

Natalya walked into her home, taking a deep breath as she looked at Gabriel. She wasn’t worried; no, she was more nervous on how to say this. But worry had to subside if she wanted to get any word out. She took another deep breath and walked up to her boyfriend, who was hard at work at his desk.

“So... I finally went to the doctor’s.”

“Great!” he smiled between his words, “So, nothing serious if it’s good news, yeah?”

“Yeah, I don’t have the flu.”

“Oh phew.”

“...”

The monitor sang a disheartening tune.

Each beep rang through the quiet room.

Near the hospital bed, Natalya sat quietly.

She toyed with Gabriel’s miraculous in her hand and sighed when she glanced at the two kwamis. These anxious hours could not go by fast enough. She knew he would be okay and that he was just asleep, but this was still hard to watch. Her sitting in silence stopped when Pluume and Sass quickly hid, alerted by someone. Before she stood up, she hid the cursed bangle in her pocket. Ironic, thanks to who showed up.

...

Ichtaca stood at the door. She glanced at Natalya and then at Gabriel. Her heart sank as she saw her son in that bed. Hooked up to a machine, holding onto who knows what... Knowing she caused this, all from her own ambitions. If she could go back in time, and stop her past self from ever doing what she did, to make her realize the mistake she was making, she would do it in a heartbeat. But this was her price to pay... and she knew it.

She stepped forward slowly. Natalya sprang up, an anger in her eyes, but this was an expected response.

“No. Stay back,” she hissed.

“Please...”

“You’re close enough.”

Ichtaca reluctantly gave in. She was not in the position to bargain. She glanced once more at her son, but the sight simply cut into her soul. She looked at Natalya and sighed deeply.

“I’m sorry...”

“I’m not accepting apologies right now,” Natalya was angry. No... furious. “What do you want? Can’t you see he’s not awake yet? Not that that matters, because I doubt he even wants to see you.”

“I just have one favor to ask of you...” Ichtaca braced herself, “Can you... give me the Snake Miraculous? I have to-“

“You...” Natalya’s voice broke. Her breath hitched at the very sentence Ichtaca managed to muster. “You’re asking for that?! After all of this? Haven’t you learned enough!”

“You don’t understand. He’s in danger now, just having it! If you think I’m the worst thing out there looking for it, you haven’t met-“

“No! I understand clearly! You...” she forced back tears of anger, “you almost killed him... He could’ve died... and you still have the audacity to be here?! To say there’s something ‘more dangerous’?! To ask me for that?!”

She closed the distance between them. A glare that could pierce looked into Ichtaca.

“I don’t know where it is, and I, for once, don’t give an actual FUCK where it could be. You’re the reason why I’m fighting these evils. Why I’m undoing everything about this damned miraculous world. It’s people like you that make me sick! You’re lucky you’re not an akuma anymore, because I would’ve done something terrible to you,” that sentence carried a venom, “Now get the fuck out before I start to rethink that.”

Ichtaca stepped back. She closed her eyes and nodded. There was no point in arguing. She couldn’t win this fight. Not after everything. Not after this. She turned around and made her way through the door. Wasting no time, Natalya slammed it shut. She placed her hands on it and took a deep breath to compose herself.

...

“I learned just how cruel the Miraculous World can be. The image of heroes and victory, the image of evil always being defeated, and the idea of everything going back to normal is just an illusion. There’s always going to be consequences, and there’s always going to be a memory of the struggle and the pain.

I saw the heroes almost lose. I saw the greatest image of Paris caught up. I saw desperation by the heroes. It is proof that something is changing.

I almost lost someone close to me. The light of my life was almost extinguished, and that idea will haunt me until the end.

I had to fight for my life. I had to fight with everything I had and it was barely enough.

And I chose this path. Now I must walk it. I know this is not the end.

But I am not afraid. I cannot be afraid.

I must undo what this world has allowed to happen. To defeat the true evil, I have to be ‘wrong’. Order has to be restored, and these terrible outwardly powers must be kept out of lesser hands. To end what I despise most, I must use it.

The world will say I’m wrong,

but so be it. Because I know what I really am.”

———

Natalya: (Thank you...)

Gabriel: You’ve really been under the weather... Maybe you should go to the doctor’s. I’ll drive you there if you want-

Natalya: I’m okay... I’ll tough it out.

Pluume: But you’ve been with this for two weeks now!

Gabriel: What?! And I thought I was the reckless one.

Natalya: Okay okay... I’ll give it one more week. If I don’t get a bit better by then, I’ll go get checked out. But I really don’t want to.

Gabriel: It’s probably the flu if you had it for so long, but how to know if you don’t get checked. I won’t stop bugging you until you go u3u

L’Ape, Falciela, and Macareux were out and about. Some miraculous had already been claimed, fights were waged, and the heroes were taking hits upon hits. With each passing minute, another enemy was made. This was a nightmare for the plagued city. What could they do?

Fer stood atop a building and looked down on the increasingly panicking city. Something tugged on him. A battle in his own head. Snake Trap was controlling those he had attacked, but it seemed the true first victim of it all was him. It was a battle between Gabriel and Fer, but this was not a fight that the civilian was winning...

«Alguien, ayúdeme...»

But any form of sense was drowned out with Gabriel, and Fer-de-Lance was getting his way. Now Paris will know the power of the Snake and see Xiuhcoatl’s legacy was not over, but handed down to a new name. This was everything he was fighting for.

From a distance, Merle could see all that was happening through the Duchs. She had an eye on all the heroes and helicopters... and other media.. and people... who were watching this all unfold with nails between teeth. The beloved heroes were attacked and now the city watched anxiously as they were met with the same- but new heroes. This... felt wrong. Merle didn’t want this much attention just to take the heroes down; no, she was expecting a quiet struggle. She looked down at Macareux, who had ran by, but was in a worst daze than before.

Back with Fer, the holder paced around the rooftops. Even though he was here, he could feel a different ground below his feet; he could tell he was in other parts of the city through those he Snake Trapped. Their terror, their silent pleas, their disdain towards themselves as they carried out another wicked deed.

But what preoccupied him more were his thoughts...

Could his mother see the news now? Is she proud? What am I doing? Paris- the heroes will be brought to their knees and the Snake will prevail. This isn’t me... They will all- the heroes will pay for ever defaming them. Ayúdeme... Everyone- the heroes will be able to do nothing!

But why stop here... when there’s so much more that can be done. Controlling over three people- THREE HEROES- and we’re only doing child’s play? No- no... Maybe tonight will be the beginning of a new era.

He chuckled, “Maybe... there’s more I can do...”

“Change of plans. I think I want a bit more of a show, my little puppets. Terrorize them a bit more for me. Let Paris watch in helpless horror as you deal the final blows on their beloved heroes! Bring me back the miraculouses when you’re done! I don’t want a single holder unscathed! Not a single part of city left out of the fun! Break those who dare get in your way! Anything- everything!

Each new command, every second, limited the trapped heroes’ free will. It constricted on their thoughts like a boa. There was no way for the heroes to stop this now.

From the distance, Merle watched as Macareux reacted to a new command. The writhing pain and desperation as the holder fought back was... terrifying. That silent cry for help... Was this even humane? Merle approached the Puffin Heroine and almost reached out to ask if she was okay, but stood back as Macareux jumped away. Like an empty husk with strings... Something... was not right...

Merle turned around and ran along the rooftops. She pushed herself with each stride and leaped on the edges, and pushed to make sure she would get to her partner as soon as possible. Watching the city panic more and more was not settling, but it gave her more fuel to run; seeing this whole plan unwind before her eyes made her see how foolish it was really was; something was wrong, terribly wrong... She had questions and Fer needed to give answers now. However, as she arrived, her miraculous began to beep.

“Damnit...” she cursed and ducked behind a ledge.

She peered over a bit and watched as Fer paced around.

“It’s over. Tonight is the night!” he was unhinged. Like someone else was in control...

“She’ll see! I won’t fail tonight!” a few laughs, “And I’ll bring her the Fox and Peacock Miraculous myself!”

“She...” Merle mumbled...

“And I’m going to be the last one standing! They’re going to answer to me! Fuck the history books, fuck the story, fuck it all! Who cares when I’ll be the winner! Who cares when I’ll have this world by its seams with the miraculous! They’re going to see a real threat tonight! When it’s all over, who will be on top will be ME!

Natalya looked back at Pluume. The dread in her eyes said it all.

“I should’ve known... He’s not going to defeat the heroes, he’s going to undo everything!”

“What are we going to do?...” Pluume weakly asked as she floated to the ground.

Natalya quickly grabbed the tired kwami.

“... I have to stop him... This is my fault... He’s doing this for me. I agreed to this plan! I-“ she paused, “... I’m going to need some backup.”

Pluume’s eyes widened.

Was she really doing what she was thinking?

Is Natalya going to bring out Reine Noire...

———