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#I was also inspired by the one comic someone did of like. all the neighbors getting changed into monsters

marinerainbow · 7 months

Text

Alright, it's Halloween peeps (everyone knows that Halloween lasts the whole month). And @wheezystan inspired me with their zombie weasels to post about something that's been brewing in my head for a while.

The Rotten Ink AU

Warning for... Well, zombies. And the horror and angst that comes with it. And isolation, and the insanity that that comes with as well. What have I done to our favorite toons?

Note that this AU is still being developed. I apologize if it doesn't look so cohesive 😅

~Story~

Set two years before the events of the film, in 1945. No one knows what happened. Not the humans, not the toons, not even the animators responsible for breathing life into ink and paint. Though things have started to go terribly wrong in Toontown.

It's hard to pinpoint when it started, though the first sign was when toons started to feel pain. Instead of a hand comically turning red and blowing up in size when smashed or punching a brick wall, the skin started to actually rip- and in worse cases, the bones would break just like a human. The second horrible sign was that, unlike a human, these wounds wouldn't heal. No matter how many bandages were applied and stitches were sewn. And the ink that made their person would ooze from the seams.

It wasn't just the sentient toons that were changing. The living architecture of Toontown started to rot away, coughing up coagulated ink onto the street and becoming more brittle. The chirping blue birds lost their song and would fall from the sky. Even the smiling sun and moon that used to shine brightly in the animated sky bled out, and their remains rained down onto the once bright and colorful town. Of course, this caused a panic among everyone. Though the humans assured the toons to remain calm, as they were already looking into what was happening. So, filled with dread, the toons attempted to continue life as normal.

However, it was only after an infected toon went deranged in a studio, causing so much damage to the other toons and people, did the humans decide on a drastic choice. It was taking too long to find an answer to what was happening to their beloved characters, and they saw no other choice but to cut them off from the rest of Los Angeles. The tunnel was closed off, with policemen guarding the entrance with orders to shoot on sight if any toons attempted to reach the outside world.

So now, the residents are stuck in the dying town. As time went by, neighbors were forced to fight each other as the infection grew worse and worse, turning each other into what everyone refer to as 'inkies'; toons that are husks of their former selves, with a seemingly insatiable urge to rip anyone they see apart for more ink. Toons have had to learn how to be cautious for their own lives, and as resources and shelter become more scarce, even those who have not completely fallen under the infection are now potential threats.

How did this all get started? Will there ever be a cure? Will everyone be turned to normal again? No one knows. But for now, all one can do is survive.

~Tid-Bits~

I was mainly inspired by The Walking Dead, and not just in the title. The infection in this AU works similarly to the virus in TWD (at least the Telltale game that I played). In that everyone is infected, and you not being bit doesn't mean you won't turn once you die. In fact, for the toons, as long as they don't get themselves killed, being bit will not turn them. The disease is already doing that job. It's mostly only a matter of time before someone is turned into an inky.

As such, there are plenty of toons that have bite marks, and even parts of themselves missing, yet they are completely safe to be around. As long as they aren't willing to hurt others to survive.

Since this is before the events of the movie, that does mean that Marvin Acme is still alive. In fact, he's the one leading the cause for finding a cure for toons. So he plays quite a big role in this AU.

That also means that the weasels are alive, too. And thriving. In this AU, they're the kind of group of survivors that the others find themselves depending on, as they are the ones who are willing to raid any inky infested area for supplies, but people are still afraid of them since they still act as a gang. They're kind of like a necessary evil in this town. Though as long as you don't get on their bad side, you'll be fine.

Since toons are based on emotion, having been made to make people laugh or cry, inkies are only permanently killed when you shoot them in the heart. Much like a vampire, yes.

I'm still debating it, but I'm thinking that, like the zombies in Shaun of the Dead, the inkies retain some semblance of their past life. For example, a cowboy inky may keep holding onto their revolver or stick by their horse despite them serving no purprise to it anymore.

That's all I've got for now. And it may change in the future. Wheezystan, as a fellow zombie lover, I hope you in particular enjoy this! ^^

And to everyone else, I apologize once more for doing this to our favorite cartoon characters.

#tw horror #tw zombies #Who Framed Roger Rabbit #WFRR #The Rotting Ink AU #Toon Patrol #Disney #Disney Villains #Disney Heros #The Rotten Ink AU

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iamlittlelostsoul · 2 years

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Twst scenario: Loneliness at its best...

TRIGGER WARNING!

my masterlist!

A bit detailed explanation of a dead rotting body, insects, blood

To cool off hehe cause my exams are coming up and am really stressed out so posted one more hehe...SOoo here's another self-aware angst twst au!

This is inspired by this video documentary I watched about how the cleaners deal with the situation, watch it if you want! It really saddens me that I knew there were some cases like these but watching a video about it made me cry so much;^; also the videos are both Eng subbed so you'll be able to understand them... Japanese ver. korean ver.

Platonic Self Aware!TWST boys x fem!Reader

Summary: Mc lived a very lonely life with only a game called Twisted Wonderland to be their only source of light and happiness not knowing the characters are aware that they were but game characters yet they still loved them.

Tiny rays of sunlight peaked through the windows curtains of a very run-down house.

It doesn't even look like a place a person could live in yet there is one residing in it.

Their neighbors would always talk about them, some looked at them with pity, while most of them doesn't even give a shit yet all of them never even bothered communicating with them nor trying to lend a hand after all they aren't their business after all.

The house owner would probably be the only one they commonly interact with which is mostly reminding or asking for the payment for the house.

Another would be the delivery guys that would deliver the fast food, cup noodles, and snacks that they would be ordering.

Yet the whole community rarely NO sees them come out, the last time they saw them go out was mostly would be just to take out their trash yet lately they've never come out anymore making their home an absolute mess and smelling like shit.

Nowadays they would just send a small envelope which would be delivered to the house owner containing the payment while when taking their food deliveries they would often just open the door ever so slightly and would just hand out the payment and grab the food immediately.

They were a stuck in just like a character in their favorite game but they are probably much worst than him.

Their house was a mess both inside and outside but the outside was fairly better than the inside.

With all the stacked-up manga, magazines, comics, books, and most commonly...garbage. Their house was filled with bags of chips, bottles, fast food containers, and cup noodles Everywhere!

That floor can't be seen anymore!

They couldn't bother cleaning.

Why should they?

'As if someone really cares about them...Ah, wait! There are!' That is what they thought as they quickly scavenged for their phone underneath all the pile of books and mainly trash, upon finding it they gave out a sigh of relief.

"Phew...If they were to see my mess...they would immediately scold me so damn much, haha. Now, who among them would be greeting me today!" They said as they quickly tap the logo of their favorite game.

"...I'm home!" They said as soon as the home screen came in, Azul came in and greeted them.

They squealed in delight. "OMG-AFGOGJBEJBOE AZUL!!! God, I fricking love you~! You cute little octobaby!"

Because of their constant simping, squealing, AND rolling around in the really small space left in their whole house which was their bed they never noticed anything odd and thought it was absolutely normal. Like how the characters would sometimes blush, show various emotion that wasn't even programmed, or the fact that the lines and things they would say would change.

Like simply right now Azul greeted them with the normal greeting whenever they would log in along with some other lines like "how are you my darling angelfish? You look absolutely stunning but do sleep like seriously look at that eye bags. You are starting to look exactly like an angelfish!"

"Aww! The game producers are fricking amazing at adding these lines! This isn't even an Otome game!!! BUT how did they know that I have eye bags? Mmh...maybe they assumed that most of their players have eyebags or something? Oh well...it was actually really comforting. So thank you Azul."

Little do they know from behind the screen the rest of the cast are ready to throw hands as soon as they heard it and saw that huge blush creep on the Azul's face. He is absolutely embarrassed after all a very dear friend had just complimented him!

"Great Sevens! I hate how he always wins whenever we would decide by playing Uno!" Ace complained.

"Shut up you got second place meaning on the next day you'll be the one to greet them next AND it was because you cheated!" Deuce whispered and shouted.

"Ohh, please! Then would you like to switch place with a certain pouty snake, Shishishi"

"No way! Why are you even helping him, Ruggie-senpai!"

"He promised to make me 3 boxes of donuts Oh, I'm just feeling like helping him!"

"We heard that you know...If you wanted to help him SO badly why don't you just switch with him instead."

"Mmh...maybeee NO"

"Fnayah!! Can't you all stop complaining! You all are so annoying!"

"Ohh! Look at that wittle Tanuki! He'll never have a chance to be displayed at the login, home screen, and have a card. Pfft-AHAHAHAHA! How unlucky!"

"At least they draw me far too often that they do with you all! An I am not a Tanuki!!!"

"Can't you all quite down! If you continue to do so they might find out and delete us like our other version." Riddle scolded them.

"The English ones?"

"Yes, the English ones! Who else?!"

"They got caught and were deleted!" They all shouted.

"Well, they didn't get caught their phone storage is full, and can't download more data for our upgrades. Soooo they got yeeted. #Eng twst got yeeted so we could get updated lmao." Cater wheezed a bit at the fact that they finally won the rivalry! though he WILL miss the eng Cater oh well as long as they have Mc and they don't need to share them with their other version.

Their day continued with lessons, vignettes, exams, events, and the main story which was Idia's time to get therapy.

They did their best to impress Mc and surprise them more! And of course, they would constantly change some of their lines and tried to communicate with Mc yet today was another day they would confide to them about their life although they aren't the ones on their home screen they could hear and see everything.

Which is something that Mc continuously ignores.

After staring for a long time at their screen mc paused for a while and slumped in their bed, their phone on top of their chest.

"Sigh. You know, you guys are my only friends and family. I wonder so many times if you could actually hear me and see me which would make sense but is also very silly. If I had a chance to make a wish it would be for you guys to be real. I felt so connected to all of you yet at the same time I am not." They said with a sad chuckle.

"Today is actually my mother's birthday yet I have nothing to offer to her. I'm too afraid to contact her along with the others that are very dear to me because... I am too afraid they might see me as a disappointment, I was an only child... so my dad is a very strict man and expected me to become a doctor/engineer/lawyer for success and stuff like that...and here am I living a shitty life jobless, a full-time freelance artist because I ain't listening to him, and the only thing keeping me sane is none other than you guys! All of you meant so so much to me...Thank you so much."They said as they wiped the tears they are shedding.

In a few minutes, they soon fell asleep with their phone still in their hand.

They stared at them sadly as they wish they could hug them right now all they could do was listen to their rant and chat with her a bit without being too suspicious.

"Do not fret child of man. We will soon find a way to either bring you here or bring us to you."

"YEAH! Then we could do many things together!!" Epel said excitedly.

"But of course, first of all, we are going to fix their trash like a house then help her regain their health and do a lot of skincare to fix their skin and train them to become a much decent man/woman." Vil stated.

"Oui Oui~ Mon Chéri! We will soon reunite and make a multitude of memories together!"

Every single day was similar to the last one yet Mc was starting to log in less they tried to figure out why, so Idia hacked into their phone and devices, and found out why. They were lacking finances and were finding ways to earn for their living expenses.

They were really concerned for them yet He/she still continue to log in even in the middle of the night, that they only have 5 hours of sleep A DAY! They had no sleep!

The NRC boys along with the staff tried reminding them, calling it out. But day by day it goes terrible to worst to so much more worst!

They aren't even eating anymore! Not just a day or two! It started with them eating only thrice a week then once, then thrice a month! and it continues to worsen so much more!

The boys couldn't do a thing! Warning or reminding them was of no use! Which leads them to work harder in finding a way to connect to their world. They didn't even notice that they've been logging in lesser and lesser till it came to a point that they didn't for a whole 2 months straight...

"What is happening! They haven't logged in for 2 months! Jamil what do we do! What do we do! Are we going to get deleted like our other selves?!!" Kalim frantically said.

"Calm down Kalim! I'm sure they won't...They must be too busy."

"Idia, did you finally find a way to hack their camera even if the device is turned off?" Lilia asked.

"I-I will soon! Ortho and I are looking through it but we did find out that their phone has a 90% battery charge which means it could possibly be on shut down but we are almost close to turning it on!" He reassured eyes remained glued on his PC as he tries to hack their Mc's device.

"WHY DID THE HUMAN TURN THEIR PHONE ON 'SHUT DOWN'! DO THEY NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE AFFECTING WAKA-SAMA!"

"Sebek please tone down...And please stop lying I know full well that you are definitely worried about them much more worried than for Malleus-sama."

"I-"

After 30 mins Idia jumped with joy as he ran carrying his tablet to the screen of Mc's phone!

"Finally I got it!!!"

"You did!" They all shouted as they scrambled to Idia which made him uncomfortable but tried to remain calm since it was for their Mc after all.

"It should open for about 5 mins." He said with a proud grin.

After 5 mins the screen lit up as they all celebrated.

"IT TURNED ON!!!"

They all brace themselves as Idia started unlocking Mc's phone and opening their app. So they could finally greet their Mc.

Yet they could not see them...

"Ehh!! Shrimpy's phone must have been under their pile of garbage again!" Floyd complained.

"Now now Floyd. Calm down."

"Sigh. Their home is a big trashbin far more worst than Savanahclaw's dorm, I wish I could go there and clean their mess so this won't happen again!"

"Wtf. did you say you shitty ass herbivore!"

"Maybe I could use a little magic and teleport it to the stand near their bed. " Malleus suggested.

"If you can do that why can't you just clean their whole room up!"

"If Malleus did wouldn't Mc feel spooked? They live in seclusion after all who would clean their house? They might live in paranoia later on." Lilia commented.

"Not the time to argue about Mc's trashy room, Malleus-san just proceed with teleporting the device."

They all agreed as they watch in excitement as Malleus teleport the device to their Mc's bed.

They all readied to cheer Mc up once again!

But what they saw would forever haunt them as the sight made them shiver down to their bones.

"That-that can't be..." Kalim said as he lost the strength to keep his body in place, sitting on the floor eyes still glued to the screen.

"That...That is not my henchman! It can't be! NO! They do not look like that! They-they do NOT look like some lump of flesh with their bones out! Nor do they have those pests!" Grim shouted as he tried his best to control his tears from falling...

All of them could not take their eyes off the screen looking at other rotting flesh of their companion. Even Jamil who despises insects so damn much couldn't help but stare emptily...

"How can this happen..." Riddle asked as he leaned his body to Tre for support.

"They...presumably died because of starvation." Jade responded with a straight face though he could not hide the crack in his voice which was very uncharacteristic of him yet it was reasonable...

What seemed to be left of their dear friend's body was a skeleton with only clumps of flesh left with lots of red bloats on the decaying flesh while dark black and greenish body fluid stains their beddings even on their walls and windows tiny dots of body fluid and fat scattered there courtesy to the flies.

Tons of maggots, cockroaches, beetles, spiders, ants, flies, and so much more... are seen all over the corpse there were even eggs of those pests on the body and probably all across the room...

Proving that they must have died about a month ago...

What concerns and hurts them, even more, is the fact no one has yet to discover the girl's/man's body. No one noticed the putrid smell from their place nor did they even bother to check on the...

Their mother, father, neighbors...none!

They all couldn't help but cry, some hid it either by looking back, covering their face or was looking down letting their hair cover their face as tears falls down on the floor, some of them were sprawled on the floor wailing and shouting as some others hug them near as they cried all together, the staff soon came upon hearing the commotion occurring in the main screen and saw the reason why those students filled with pride cried and wailed sorrowfully.

They couldn't help but steel themselves, they were the adults, after all, they shouldn't be a bad example and cry in front of their students who were in too much shock and pain. Their tears would have to wait till they reach their respective rooms where no eyes will lay upon them and see them weak and defenseless.

They ushered the students back to their dorms and called it a day. no classes for possibly a week to mourn their loss.

The terrible news reached up to RSA too, they too mourn for the loss of a person they consider their friend.

The boys were all out of character, Ramshackle was a mess, Grim tried to burn down everything since everything in that run-down dorm reminded him so much of the dead...

All of 7 dorms none of those who'd witnessed the body of their friend and companion.

None of them could work and do what they would normally do while some of them worsen so much more like Idia, he wouldn't dare step out of his room anymore, and would constantly check on the body to confirm if Mc was...you know dead and if it has finally been discovered; Another example would be Leona and Vil both who would always remain somewhat composed would burst out crying and shouting in their room and would practically destroy everything they grabbed on; Another would be the Octavinelle trio, Monstro Lounge rarely ever opens and if they do it would only be for a short amount of time since none of them are fit to work; Even Diasomania took a very huge blow and would constantly suffer from a very heavy thunderstorm.

It took 6 more months for the skeleton to be discovered through the phone of Mc was already dead, but Idia was still able to hack through the cameras to watch their friend after all it was the only thing they could do for him/her.

The community's reaction to the body is either pity for the unfortunate death of a very lonely man/woman, whilst some had a look that expected it to happen and doesn't even care much, the only thing they cared is to dispose of it and be able to sell the home AGAIN.

At least the cleaners have a heart! They at least offered a prayer and respected them as they clean the whole place.

Some of the valuable items of Mc along with the phone they're at were brought to their family along with some photo albums & pictures. The family was in shock but accepted the fact that Mc was dead so in a few days, they cremated the body of their son/daughter and buried it while keeping a few in a small jar they hid along with their belongings.

They stared at the tiny jar kept beside, fully accepting their fate that...Mc would never come back and that they would never be opened once again and be able to spend time with the friend that gave them a purpose and loved them.

As they thought something remained echoing among their minds...

...Was this punishment for breaking the system? Because of simply discovering that Yuu was not actually the one helping them but a lonely yet charming girl/boy finding comfort in the game that gave them life... And all they ever wanted was to repay the friend that accepted them for who they are by breaking some rules to make them smile, lessen their burdens, and make them feel that they are worth something and they have a home, people waiting for them to show up even if it is in a fictional game. Ah..., The world is really such a cruel place & life is so cursed...

Fin...

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techiebrots · 10 months

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Hello so I’m going to be word vomiting in your ask box due to the beloved archive being down and I have thoughts tm about B team that weee caused by your drawings + others and also because you artist need to get an ask that is just a mega laser kung pow penis beam of love for what you create and I’m here to do that

B team look so friend-shaped! The way you draw them, with softer corners but keeping lines straight and the flat muted colors that are still bright and draws the eyes’ attention/greys which are layered in such a nice way

I also see the checkered orange-yellow blanket

ham is such a soft shade of pink which is easy on the eyes but is more vibrant than Peni and Noir (Morse obvious in noir and the contrasts between noir and ham is sooo good, opposite spectrums of color)

he’s more humanoid but he’s still cartoony and the way you draw him just fits so well with B team. A wonderful balance

Him and Peni together are just great, they’re probably incredibly chatty and Ham would get Peni more since he’s more in tuned with technology unlike noir’s old man soul

Peni having a round face in the artwork of B team napping together resonates with me, she looks so comfortable napping with her dads

also the doodles of ham and her brushing their teeth (or in ham’s case his eyes), her drinking out of her #1 daughter mug, and noir ruffling her hair :D the daughter and her two dads <3

noir! Dad and friend-shaped. Your rendition of him unmasked makes him so handsome and pretty, like he reminds me of the dad from my neighbors Totoro- except more worn out lol

The drawing you did of that fanfic where B team are chilling with Hobie and Noir listens to some of his music- that has been keeping me GOING through the blackout

he’s holding his hat next to his face and is one sentence away from hiding his face while ham is one moment looking at noir’s face from having his eyes turning into hearts

Im not really a writer that can put how much I adore the drawings into words that perfectly articulate every last thought I have but I hope I did pretty well and sound vaguely comprehensivable and that tumblr didn’t say something was wrong with send- god I had to rewrite this thing once already-

HOLY FUCKING SHIT- UH THANKS! At first I thought this ask was just headcanons of team b and I was so ready to hear you out

While reading through this I got just a small idea of team b and decided to draw it out, which will be posted soon after this so thanks for the brief idea

Now here’s where I say my OWN incomprehensible ramblings so yay more text!

I have NEVER had someone inspect my art or at least told me they have so thanks! I am currently freaking the fuck out and going crazy actually, I have like five messages to my friend freaking out about this ask, and I WILL be rereading this every minute of the day

I have a lot of drawings of them all that will never see the light of day, mostly since they’re warmup drawings and I’m still figuring out how to draw them all consistently but I’m having fun. I mostly based ham off of how he looks in in comics since I love how silly he looks in them and also taking inspiration off of other artists who draw him.

Now here’s the fun part about that exact napping post you’re talking about, that post almost never got made. Like I completely abandoned the idea at first since I didn’t like the first sketch I made of it and almost discarded the idea a couple more times during the process of making it since I had a different idea in my head of what it was supposed to be. Even when i was done with it I was thinking of just not posting it since I didn’t completely like it myself, but now here we are with it being my most popular post. I like the drawing now since I pretty sure I was just staring at it for too long

AND THAT FIC DRAWING- WIZARD MAKES GREAT FICS! I keep rereading them and I will probably go back and read them AGAIN once archive is up and running, I have ideas for some of their fics to draw out but nothing concrete yet

Anyways in short i fucking appreciate this so much thanks! I am currently vomiting everywhere

#tec ask #my ego is inflated #knock me down a peg #I’ll never get over this #don’t compliment me I will go insane actually

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ygreczed-3 · 3 years

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The Walking Dead/Detroit Become Human AU

(so basically I was tempted to make a post to apologize about the mess my blog has become lately - feels like I’m posting AUs, artworks, sketches and comic updates in such a chaotic way… I’m really sorry about it ahaha 😅 Hopefully it will get better soon)

So this post is me drawing for hours and forgetting to eat on my break day (I finally did !!! Don’t worry ahaha) because I became obsessed with an idea again. Also I like to make concept arts and storyboards as if I was working on a professional project for a TV show/animation. I find it fascinating ! This time I don’t really have any plot or finished story, I just wanted to draw these scenes badly so… I just did.

I’d like to draw your attention to Connor’s curly hair and Hank’s design (strongly inspired by Kristoff from Frozen). I just LOVE these details.

⚠️Remember this is NOT a new series. Just me having fun with characters and a universe I like (aka The Walking Dead) !

Anyway, more ideas below 👀

*POW*

Hank open his eye again. The walker was shot in the head. Hank pushes the walker away, it falls dead on the concrete.

Looking up, he sees Connor with a gun.

Hank : Jesus… Thank you. I thought I was…

Connor : I wouldn’t have wasted a bullet for you if it wasn’t for your kid back there. Your car, does it work? Hank : … Yeah… I just… I was looking for some gas when… well… Can I drive you somewhere? Connor : Not really, I’m looking for someone.

___________________________

Hank and Cole are walking in a gas station with jerricans and pour what’s left of gas from the pump.

Cole : Dad, that mister from earlier, do you think he’s gonna be okay ? Hank : I think, pumpkin. He was the one helping us. Cole : Being alone sounds dangerous… He should have come with us. Hank : …

___________________________

It’s nighttime, Cole is sleeping in the backseats with a blanket, Hank is sleeping in the driver seat. He wakes up brutally as he hears something tapping softly against the car window : the young man from earlier. He rolls the window down.

Hank : You ? Connor : I’ve looked around the whole city. Now it’s too dark… I need a safe place to have some sleep, I was thinking you could let me in. You owe me after all. Hank : … Yeah sure. Get in.

Connor gets in the car. He takes his bag off and keeps it by his side, out of Hank’s reach. He takes his coat off but keeps a gun near him. Hank stares at him with narrowed eyes.

Hank : … You’re safe here, really. You can trust me. Connor : Sorry, but I only trust myself.

___________________________

It’s dark outside, Hank can’t really sleep with the stranger next to him. His guts dictate him to stay alert. He watches carefully as Connor turns his head to him, half-opening his eyes.

Connor: Can’t sleep ? Hank : … Well you were right… I don’t know you. What about you ? Did you sleep a little ? Connor : … No. I’m too… cautious. My brain won’t let me sleep with a stranger next to me. Hank : … My name’s Hank. You ? Connor : What the hell are you doing ? Hank : We agreed we couldn’t sleep next to strangers. I’m introducing myself. Connor : It won’t make it any better… *after a silence* I’m Connor. Hank : Nice to meet you. Connor: … Where were you before ? You… you act like a newborn in this hell… Hank : … I had a neighbor with one of those bunkers… with tons of food, water, enough to live for months. We… We were hiding there with her until… until a few weeks. Connor : What happened ? Hank : She thought she had heard a chopper. Thought someone was out there to rescue us… she opened the hatch and she was… attacked by those things… Connor: … the kid… he’s yours? Hank : Yeah… Cole. Connor: … Where’s her mom ? Hank : He’s never known her. Connor: Sorry. Hank : Don’t be.

*silence*

Hank : I think… I’m starting to relax… we should try to sleep huh ?

Connor is already sleeping.

___________________________

Connor takes his backpack as Hank and Cole take a breakfast with some fire.

Hank : You sure you don’t want to eat anything ? Connor : No thanks, I have my own stock. You should save your food for your kid. Hank : … Hey, if you ever need to find us… after you’ve found what you’re looking for, I have a police radio. Frequency 58,7 kHz. Connor: I won’t need it but- thanks. Good luck.

Connor leaves.

___________________________

Cole : What should we do now? Hank : … We need to find more food… and weapons. I’ll go downtown today. You… You’ll stay here alright? Cole : No I… I want to stay with you… Hank : I know you’re scared Cole… But it’s too dangerous. You’ll be safe hidden in the car. Cole : You’ll be quick? Hank : Back before sunset, pinky swear.

___________________________

Hank finds an axe on a bar counter.

Suddenly : *BONG BONG BONG BONG*

Hank : What the-

He runs outside and hides against a wall as walkers pass nearby, heading to the source of the ringing.

He looks up and sees Connor climbing on a ladder but a Walker is trying to grab his leg.

Hank comes and kills the monster. Connor : You..! Follow me !

On the rooftop, they see the church. It’s an automatic bell, the walkers are massively getting around the building. There is something painted on the wall that says “Find Jericho” with black paint and scribbled under it “Find 9s”

Connor : Nines… Hank : What is Jericho ? Connor : … A safe place for survivors. It’s hidden… to keep the thieves and killers away. Hank : … The church. Connor : What ? Hank : Jericho, it has to do with the bible. The message is written on a church’s wall. It’s not a coincidence, there might be… a hint in there. Connor : … But we can’t get inside with those creeps around… Hank : … Maybe they leave when the church stops ringing the bells. Connor : Or maybe we should try to lead them away with… Hank : With what ? Connor : … Your car.

___________________________

Connor : So, let me get it straight. You drive around the town honking. It will attract the creeps away from the church. I get inside the church and look for any kind of hint. When the bells start ringing I get out before the creeps come back. And what do we do with Cole ?

Hank : He’s going with you. I don’t want to have him in the car with hundreds of undeads trying to get me. Connor : … I don’t- Hank : Don’t worry. He’s a smart kid. He will do as you say. Right Cole? Cole : …Hmm. Connor: … Fine. Let’s do it.

___________________________

Connor and Cole sneak into the church. Connor kills two of the Walkers still inside the church as Cole follows him cautiously.

Cole : … Look. *he points out a book on the altar* Connor : … It’s a bible… The chapter about the Battle of Jericho… it can’t be a coincidence. *They look up and see something written with old blood on the wall behind the altar. It says “Rahab the harlot defied the King of Jericho. Here lies the key to the fortress.”* Cole : What’s a harlot? Connor : … You should… ask your father. Now… I have to read… and think. Cole : … We only have one hour left before the bells ring again… Connor : I know.

___________________________

Connor : … I don’t get it ! There must be something I’m missing ! Cole : … Connor, I found a map ! Connor : Not now Cole, I’m trying to focus… Cole : Connor, look ! Connor : Cole please I really need-…

Cole shows him the map… there is a “9s” written on it.

Connor : Nines ! Cole : Does it help ? Connor : … I don’t know-…

The bells ring suddenly.

Connor : Crap… we have to get out of here. Give me your hand, buddy.

___________________________

Hank is waiting for them : he has lit a fire and when Cole sees him, he lets go of Connor’s hand and runs to hug his dad.

Hank : I gotcha, pumpkin. *looking up at Connor* Did you find something ? Connor : I think… Hank : You think ? Connor : I have this map my brother left for me inside the church… there was some kind of riddle on the wall, and it must have something to do with this but… there is nothing noted on it. Hank : What’s the riddle ? Connor : “Rahab the harlot defied the King of Jericho, here lies the key to the fortress.” Rahab was a prostitute, she helped Joshua by hiding spies he sent inside the city… and Joshua spared her when he took the fortress. But I… I don’t see the connection. Hank : … Let me see the map.

Connor gives it. Cole sits next to his father, near the fire, and soon falls asleep. After some time thinking and overthinking it, Hank finally points to a town on the map. A city called Defiance.

Hank : Look. Connor : Defiance… Of course. The key lies in Rahab’s defiance… Defiance is a town… Fuck- You’re a genius…! Hank : Man, I was feeling like a Detective again… felt nice for a moment. Connor: You were a Detective? Hank : A police Lieutenant, to be specific. But yeah. Detective works too. Connor : … I don’t think the treasure hunt is done yet. You’re gonna need your supercop sense again ! Hank : … It’s good to see you all excited. Feels like meeting the real Connor under the survivor’s shell. Connor: It’s nice… that Cole and you don’t have that shell yet… humanity is a rare thing to find down there. Hank : … So, who is “Nines” ? Connor : My little brother. We lived together, in the same group of survivors. Our camp was attacked… we got separated. Hank : Looks like he’s smart. He solved the riddle all by himself. It took the two of us to understand the hint. Connor : He’s always been a nerd. Hank : Pffft… Well we should try to get some sleep. We should be able to reach Stoneton, then we’ll have to find more gas.

Hank gets up and carries Cole to the car seats.

Connor: … Hank…? Hank : Yup ? Connor : Can I… Can I come with you two ? I could go to Defiance by myself but… if you’re heading there too, maybe we could… Hank : What the heck ? Of course you’re coming with us. With our two half-brains we’re gonna need each other’s help to find Jericho and your brother, don’t you think ? Connor *chuckles* : Right.

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chordsykat · 2 years

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More about me than you ever wanted to know!

I’ve been answering more than a handful of asks privately about myself since (re-)starting the @dethkomic, here. This’ll give you guys a little insight about me as an artist/author, my background, and serve as a handy go-to so nobody has to go out of their way to find out some basic info about me! Anywho...

Hi, I’m Dawn!

I’m 40(!), I like really loud music and animation! I’m mostly here for what’s left of the Ride or Die Metalocalypse and Gargoyles fandoms, because I just can’t quit you guys (and I don’t want to). More under the cut..!

What do I do?: I started gigging as a comic book artist at 19 and have held all kinds of art and design jobs, since. My last *high-octane* job was as an art director in Corporate America™ , but I’ve more or less retired. I’d currently call myself an indie game developer who also does contract art and developer work for companies. If you’re reading @dethkomic then you’ll likely enjoy the game that I’ve been working on for a while now, called “Harmonic Odyssey: The Five Gods”. And don’t worry if you’re not reading the ‘komic or aren’t into Metalocalypse stuff at all. It’s not a pre-requisite. Please note me if you try the demo, too!

What else do I do?: I live in a badass house on a badass two acres that sits on the side of a badass mountain surrounded by trees and wildlife. At any given time, I share my homestead with a butt-ton of cats (both ours and fostered), rats, ferrets, and chickens. Plus our neighbor’s guinea fowl who have boundary issues I’m not about to challenge. I’ve also been married for 11 years, and my husband and I have a daughter who’s in first grade -- they’re here too, when I can find them amongst all the critters.

No, but what else?: I’m the bassist/singer/guitarist (in that order) for a little band called Autumn Springs. When I’m not working or doing art or both, I’m screwing around with a guitar of some kind.

What kinds of strings are you going to use?: When it comes to gear, I got all kinds of stuff I like to play with -- my bass rig currently consists of: 2021 Spector Euro 5 LX (my main 5-string) 2014 Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Special HB (my main 4-string) I use D’addario Roundwounds, for the most part. I don’t like changing strings on my basses. I do tend to change them more often on the Spector than any of the others, because I enjoy its brightness. Fender Rumble amps of all sizes Line 6 M13 Stompbox

My guitar rig is considerably different, but I don’t go “into town” with it as often: My main all-purpose guitar is a 2003 Gibson SG I like Ernie Ball strings -- all kinds Fender Mustang V The Line 6 Stompbox again and/or Boss Distortion DS-1 by itself!

Why did you get into fandom?: Metalocalypse drew me in after I moved across the country and was settling into a new/old life on the East Coast. I got into it halfway through the second season thanks to many late nights spent doing some job or another. Found a bunch of friends, including people who worked on the series, and we had some great times. I think all of us miss the show very much.

Still have the friends, though!

Gargoyles was a fandom that had a bigger following back when it was on the air (all of 24 years ago as of this writing), and I remember orbiting in those days. Years passed, and some of us are still here, though our numbers are dwindling (much like the Gargoyles themselves).

I think it’s hard being a fan of stuff that’s no longer running, but in a way, I think it’s also not. It’s wonderful to see others’ interpretations of how how things should have wrapped up, and it’s easy to get inspired. In any case, both of the shows I’m talking about here deserve a good ending, and I feel like anything I can do as a fan to contribute to their memory might some day lead someone to that elusive revival (and heck -- looks like Metalocalypse is at least getting one, so there’s that)

Why did you write Dethkomic?: Most of you know, or at least a lot of you do, that this story is a re-imagining of an old fanfic I did years and years and years ago. I was working on Harmonic for two years when I got the itch to do something else with the girls, and kept lamenting that it’d be easier to pull in some interest for my games if I still had a foot in the door (the grave?) of Dethklok fandom. So, I just kinda took the story, reworked it as a comic, and stuck my foot in.

I’m glad I did, too, because not only do I have more people taking interest in my stuff outside of fandom now (and thank you all for that, by the way! You guys are all amazing deathmetal people) but I’ve heard more than a few of you say that it’s been nice to look forward to updates of Dethkomic since we don’t currently have the show going on. That kind of endorsement means a lot to me, even as a fan-work. I’m glad I can share stories with you all.

Where else are you outside of tumblr?: I’m from the internet! But if you want to know more about me and/or follow/troll me elsehwere, I’m most active on these sites: Deviantart: http://chordsykat.deviantart.com Itch.io: https://evolvgames.itch.io/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dbeshleman Artstation: https://dawnbest.artstation.com/

#my bio #pinned posts #about the author #about the artist #yeet

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gayenerd · 3 years

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An interview with Mike when Warning came out that I don’t even have a source for - sorry!

Laughing Off a "Warning" With Green Day

Bassist Mike Dirnt's green thumb, punk perspective and personal dominatrix

If Mike Dirnt wasn't in one of the most enduring and influential punk bands making the scene, the Green Day bassist could easily be a hilarious stand-up comic. Instead, he's devoting his insightful social commentary laced with witty repartee to the business (and funny business) at hand -- the band's sixth studio album, Warning. While Green Day's Nimrod and (especially) Dookie humor doesn't seep through in this seemingly ominous album title, it may be because these Bay Area hooligans -- Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Tre Cool (drums, percussion) and Dirnt -- have accepted and submitted to certain rites of passage other than platinum-selling discs. But it's definitely not as ominous as all that. We bantered with Dirnt to gauge the barometer of Warning, life as a prankster punk and his bid for world domination as Armstrong's presidential running mate. What would you like to talk about? Probably not myself (laughs). … It gets you so self-involved and self-absorbed, [that] it makes it difficult to change your perspective for an hour or two after you're done doing interviews. It's not so much narcissistic as it is dwelling. It's like being on tour and coming back and decompressing and acclimating to your home life again, because your surroundings are all about you, you, you for so long, that you need to stop and go home and realize, 'Hey, wait a minute. Other people aren't asking for a lot. I'm probably just self-absorbed still, and being an assh*le for a while and don't realize it.' And you need to take a breath and go, 'OK, how can I focus on the smaller things in my life, like getting up in the morning and making my girlfriend coffee? Or making my daughter breakfast.' And taking the focus off yourself for awhile. I think that's important.

What's fun to talk about? I'm growing a huge pot plant in my back yard right now. My friend gave me this pot plant and I just left it in the window and left the light on it forever, and it grew and grew and grew, and got pretty big. So then I put it in my backyard just to see what would happen, and I came home and it's f*cking enormous! (Laughs) It's of the superskunk variety. It is nasty. Pretty cool. [My friend] is very proud of me. He said, 'Wow, Mike, that's beyond a plant -- that's a crime.' I smoke pot once a month. I take one hit. So I'm gonna give it all to friends.

No "jurassic monkeys" [joints] for you? Not this year.

Any special reason? Three months before my daughter was even conceived, I stopped smokin' pot and I stopped for about a year and a half, just to clean up my act. After that, it's never been the same. I haven't smoked as much pot ever since. I would hate to think that if she needed me, I was impaired by weed.

Warning seems to have been shrouded in a huge amount of secrecy and I have my theories as to why, but I'm hoping you could provide some perspective. We took a break so as not to hate what we do. We really toured the heck out of the last record [Nimrod] for about 238 shows, and we were like, 'OK, it's time to take a real break -- for once.' And instead of writing in the fashion of, 'OK, let's go in and write the next record and pound it out and pound it out' … [for] the last record we wrote about 40-some songs and then let the songs pop out and figure out what the record was from that … [this time] songs stood out on their own and we said, 'OK, this is the album' … Billie waited for inspired moments. And as a band, we practiced when it was working, and we only worked on the songs that already inspired us … instead of forcing it. We had about 14 or 15 songs, and we were like, 'We're totally ready.' And it was pretty obvious at the time which 12 songs were gonna be on the record. There's the dealio. (Laughs) … As far as the secrecy thing, we will sell no wine until its time. [But] go on Napster and check out a couple songs. (Laughs) I know they're there.

What is your point of view on Napster? I think it's gonna work itself out. Everyone keeps sayin', 'What's the deal?' I don't believe their schtick about 'Hey, we started doing this for poor college students and blah-blah-blah.' Well, first of all, if you can afford to go to college, [and if] you can afford a computer that can actually burn a f*ckin' CD and you can afford to pay the online bill, then you're probably not starvin', OK? When I was goin' to junior college, I was worryin' about where my next packet of Top Ramen was comin' from, OK? So, I don't wanna hear that. But do I think [Napster] is all evil? No. There's definitely two sides to it. I make comp tapes at home (granted, they're albums I've purchased). But when I was a kid, I would buy tapes at the flea market. When you're a kid, the only thing you can afford at the flea market is a tape or a pair of sunglasses. I don't think bands should be made to look evil just because they don't wanna be a grasshopper (hence, The Ant and the Grasshopper [fable]). The other side of that is people don't wanna purchase the record (laughs). I'm not gonna dwell on it. It might hurt you if you've only got one hit [on an album]. [But] we definitely have a full package.

How does Warning differ from your past efforts? I think this record definitely has an overtone of independence throughout the whole thing. I think that we've overcome a lot of adversity. We produced this record ourselves and it has a sense of honesty…. There's an overtone of hope to the whole record that says, 'It's up to you to choose to have hope.' And whether or not most people in the world want to admit that they want hope for their world … they do. If you really don't want any hope, well I have friends who didn't want any hope and they killed themselves.

What are some of the adversities that Green Day has managed to overcome? Everybody thinking, 'Here we are today, gone tomorrow.' Friends [thinking], 'They're becoming huge as a band,' and all of the family turmoil, friend turmoil. … I think the adversity is also that this is a Green Day-quality record. Every song on this record is good. And people giving up on rock-and-roll and punk rock ... [We're] being honest with ourselves and remaining who we are and what we are.

And with regards to remaining who you are and what you are, the band caught a lot of sh*t for "Time of Your Life" because.... … it was such a good song. (Laughs) It's funny, because the people who gave us sh*t about that … obviously hadn't heard our first two records [1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour and Kerplunk]. Songs like 'Words I Might Have Ate' from Kerplunk and 'Rest' on 39/Smooth [have] touched on -- what can I say? -- our sensitive side. If you reach into your vulnerable side and you bleed on the plate for people, I think that takes a lot more balls than to just go out there a scream your head off and call it punk rock. Punk rock means no limits, no rules and breaking rules -- to us -- and there's a lot of punk rock on this new record. And if you think punk rock is just distorted guitars and hair-dos, you got another thing comin'. You need to listen to "Minority" and "Warning" [both from Warning].

Then can we look forward to songs like "Time of Your Life" and "Words I Might Have Ate" on Warning? No. (Laughs) There's definitely a sense of hope in some of these songs, but it's from a different perspective of where we're at this point in our lives. I'll give you an example: 'Minority.' That's a song about how … my next door neighbor's mom has a nose ring and my other next door neighbor is a jock with green hair. Everybody wants to look different and be different and act different, but ultimately, nowadays, you need to look inside yourself and find your individuality. With 'Minority,' everything has its suit -- its uniform. It's up to you inside to break the mold. With 'Warning,' that's a song about questioning everything. There's this false sense of freedom we have in the United States. There's all these signs tellin' you, 'Don't do this' and 'Don't do that,' and you just gotta read between the lines and figure out, 'What are those things really sayin'? Is it for someone else's convenience that I'm told to not go here, or that I can't do this or that? Or is it because it's really dangerous?'

Green Day traditionally has been trailed by a lot of controversy. What are some of your favorite controversies? It's weird. There are a lot of controversies, but it's a matter of how close to home you take 'em. Obviously, [there's the] whole sell-out thing, and I'm so over that. If selling out is compromising your musical intentions, I don't even know what that means. I guess that's a big one. (Laughs) At one point in my life it was -- now I'm over it. And I think most people are, too. Every time you spend a dollar, you're making that sell-out statement and casting a vote. Like, 'You're gonna slam me for being on a major label, and yet you smoke cigarettes? OK. (Laughs) Your shoe's on backwards, buddy.' Maybe you dug that controversy when Tre [Cool, drummer] climbed the Universal Studios globe after the MTV Video Music Awards. That was my idea. I'm so accident-prone, that I would have fallen off and broke my neck, so Tre did it. (Laughs) I said, 'Why don't you climb that?' and Tre's running up and down and I'm like, 'Good man.' Tre's got balls bigger than that globe, anyway. You gotta let the [music] industry know who's runnin' it -- and that's the artists. What our album is to a lot of people is a product. What our album is to us is our child. And often, when we turn a record over to the record company, when we finish it, it's like handing your child to a nurse after she was born -- all bloody, a purple tail, ready to go. (Laughs)

Have you settled the score on your past "disagreement" with Third Eye Blind? I really don't think anybody can mistake a kiwi for a banana. Third Eye Blind -- that whole thing. I was probably off the hook; I shouldn't have been fighting in the first place [backstage at a festival concert] and whoever hit me [over the head] with a bottle from behind was a f*ckin' coward. I shouldn't have been fightin' and they shouldn't have been fightin', and that's what boys do. To quote Eminem, 'Tomorrow we'll be boys again.' (Laughs)

Since Billie Joe is campaigning for president and you're his vice presidential running mate [and Tre is the ugly wife], what are you gonna do to keep him in line? Oh, he's a lame duck from the get-go. I'll be runnin' sh*t. (Laughs) I'll start out by lowering the price of alcohol and cigarettes, and shortly thereafter, we should take the 'explicit language' stickers off of albums, so f*ck Tipper Gore. I just think kids should be able to buy [the Clash's] London Calling. What kind of crap is that? That was a controversial record that got the explicit lyrics [campaign rolling]. It's the line, 'He who f*cks the nuns/Will later join the church.'

It was extremely magnanimous of Green Day to bring in dominatrix Mistress Simone for Warning's engineer Tone. Are we, then, to believe that the band didn't get spankings all around? Oh, no. I receive my floggings in the privacy of my own home. Under the watchful eye [and sure hand] of my gal. My girlfriend wouldn't have it. [My girlfriend's called] Mistress Sarah.

Where are you guys with the horror film you were planning, and have you signed Gwen Stefani yet? I think we got so involved in the new record that it became more important than anything else. I think we've decided to follow through on our own script that we've been working on, which is a much better script. Except that if I told you any more, I'd have to kill you.

#there's so much here i've forgotten about #the fight with Third Eye Blind #the green day horror movie???#i also always forget about his ex-wife Sarah lol #who is she?#we'll never know #mike is a bottom: confirmed??????#article #interview #articles #mike dirnt

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aelaer · 3 years

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☕ The fact that Wakanda was presented as an advanced country looking down on others from it's comfortable vibranium armchair but had a monarchist system that could place a ruler with 100% muscles and 0% brains at the head, along with other bothersome stuff like that, like Shuri being the head of the government's science department while she is a part of the royal family, or really, every single part of Wakanda that looks good on paper - a king with a council of people leading the different tribes - but that history has shown us very often ends up creating a dictatorship, which is really what happened in the movie and I'm surprised no one sees it.

Like, the movie literally shows us this country that's supposedly so advanced, with spies and people placed around the world, most likely putting their fingers in as many pies as possible, and an incredibly developed technology - which is frightening on many levels considering that UN or no Wakanda could blow up everything outside of its borders and people wouldn't know it until it happened -, but with a monarchist - and whatever other words could define it - governmental system that has revealed a lot of problems in its configuration. The tribes leader were literally being choked in the throne room and no one was doing anything, there was a destruction of a historical, scientific and cultural heritage being condoned by the new religious ceremony leader(???) just because the king ordered it. They would've literally tried taking over the entire non-black population (and where does that leave all the metis people? All the ones that are not white, but not black? Of middle eastern descendance? Of Asian one? Etc?) if the ex-monarch hadn't done something.

What I'm trying to ask if, what do you think of Wakanda being a good idea on paper but terrible in practice? True! Untrue? Something else?

Holy shit lady, you ask the tough questions. This is a difficult subject to cover - you’re asking me to look at the political structure of a fictional society within a disenfranchised continent - and I’m uncertain if it’s possible to do a decent analysis without addressing heavy topics. Basically, I don’t want to sound like a privileged dickwad. So I guess what I can say is - this comes from someone with a (mostly decent) American-based education, and no formal study of pre-colonial customs and political structures in Africa. I apologise for any misconstrued ideas and more than welcome any corrections to those who know more about these subjects!

I like Wakanda on paper, mostly due to the fact that the majority of Africa got completely screwed in terms of historical treatment and I’m rooting for the continent’s people to gain their own voices again. Wakanda being such a huge thing in international popular culture might serve as an inspiration for someone who ends up being important to at least one country there. In that sense, I really like Wakanda - the idea that it can potentially inspire historically disenfranchised cultures in the real world. How practical that thought is, I’m not sure - I might just be too idealistic.

Dictatorships can happen in non-monarchies as well, which you know -- as the most famous examples in 20th century history are not monarchies. The issue that can appear in monarchies -- or dictatorships -- is the lack of checks and balances to help keep those in power from going overboard (or the populace not having enough manpower/arms to get a dictator-like-coup out, but that’s an entirely different discussion!)

From what we got in the movie, Wakanda does seem to lack those checks and balances and no ability to overrule a king’s command. It seemed that they never had any sort of Magna Carta in their history (which is far from a perfect document, but did start the precedent of limiting monarchical power), and it doesn’t seem there’s anything resembling a representative government with veto power over the leader that you see in, what, 2/3rds of the world these days? (I legit have no idea, but I do know it’s wide-spread.)

But why wouldn’t they have such a document limiting monarchical power or some sort of democratic process? The modern mindset across many countries around the world leans towards democracy and elected, representative governments. But it can’t be denied that colonialism helped spread this, as -- at least, according to wiki -- representative democracy/liberal democracy/Western democracy all originate in Europe. So, in some way it makes sense that they didn’t transition yet because they were never colonized, and they were completely self-contained so didn’t have any of the outside world conflicts to force them to make changes. France helped fund the barons who pushed for the Magna Carta. France was also responsible for helping fund/arm the US in their fight to gain independence (lol France vs England history, it’s so great). External conflicts with other regions/countries caused *changes* to happen in those societies, at least from what I know of European history. Possibly happened in other continents, but I’m just not knowledgeable enough about their histories to give specific examples.

Wakanda had no outside conflict, and with no outside conflict, you get one major source of problems eliminated. Civil wars happen for a multitude of reasons, but perhaps one of their solutions historically for kingship changing without civil war was the fight of a representative of a tribe to try and win it over. Who knows? But when you’re enclosed like Wakanda was, there’s a lot less chance of things changing.

(On that note - their selection of a new leader is also incredibly disproportionately unfair to women. The average man is physiologically stronger and faster than the average woman. It’s just--biology. But who knows, maybe Wakanda was the same as much of the rest of the world in terms of their thoughts of women leading in politics. There’s comic canon that could be different, but the MCU did a lot of changes from comic canon.)

A *lot* of things changed across the world in the 20th century, making the world much smaller. Before the 20th century, it was likely considered completely useless and nonviable to make war on other nations because, though they were more technologically advanced, it’s incredibly unlikely they had something akin to nuclear bombs in the 19th century. They had to have their own steps of progression. And if they were only *a bit* better, they couldn’t stop the entire world if they started attacking and word spread. It’s only in the late 20th, early 21st century that things like destroying the rest of the world with Wakandan weaponry was likely actually feasible. Though honestly? I don’t think that shield could withstand a nuke. I just don’t see it. If Erik’s plan went through, he may have doomed Wakanda's capital city to being utterly annihilated because too many countries do have the ultimate kill button, and there are some who would not hesitate to use it.

It also could be cultural. Wakanda didn’t go conquering their neighbors left and right. They were happy with five tribes and it seemed to remain five tribes. That speaks of something deeply cultural, deep within the roots of how they’re raised and taught. Erik came from an entirely different culture with a violent childhood and background, and because they were in the 21st century, other Wakandans could *learn* of the rest of the world, and get new ideas - and get the same anger that stirs war and revolutions, and ultimately can affect a country’s culture.

So perhaps before the 21st century, limited power with the king wasn’t needed simply due to their isolation. Now, though that they are much more connected with the world, maybe they need something more like Botswana or Nigeria, only tied in with a monarchy (according to wiki -- Elsewhere, in Botswana, the kgosis (or chieftains) of the various tribes are constitutionally empowered to serve as advisors within the national legislature as members of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the various traditional polities that currently exist are politically defined by way of the ceding of definite authority from the provincial governments, which in turn receive their powers to do so from a series of chieftaincy laws that have been legislatively created.)

So basically what I’m trying to say is, while I’m personally super gung ho about representative democracies and individual liberties, that’s not necessarily the culture of Wakanda and it may not fit for them. But *what* the culture of Wakanda evolves into, being more open to the rest of the world -- and thus, the rest of the world’s ideas and cultures, remains to be seen. They may find that they do need to reform their political structure after the civil war we saw in the first film, though, and perhaps they do so.

#mdcbd #wakanda #erik killmonger #meta #mcu #ask #answered

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sassyduckqueen · 3 years

Text

Miraculous: Rise of Anatis 40

Here's heroes day!!! God, this is the longest chapter I've ever written! A whooping 17,000 + words :O so if you decide to read this chapter, get a drink and get ready for a long read. Anyway, this was super fun to do. As for the akumatized heroes, I've got some fun facts about their chosen names in this. Culpeo, Abeille and Leatherback become Void Fox, Frelona and Tortue Serpentine. Void Fox is a reference to a type of Kitsune, known as the shadow fox, the void kitsune or dark kitsune. Frelona comes from the french word for Wasp and Tortue Serpentine is Snapping Turtle in french, which my friend Naruwitch suggested then we have Ryuko and Aspik. Ryuko becomes Okami and Aspik becomes Aapep. Now Okami is a legendary dragon who tends to be portrayed as evil and Aapep is another name for an ancient Egyptian deity who is the personification of chaos and takes the form of a giant snake. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter :D

Oh and also I recommend going back and re-reading Reverser. I've edited it a little to work in with this chapter and Volpina.

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Chapter Forty: Heroes Day

"See you next time, Bug a boo!" Lady Noir called out as she ran off in a different direction then him. He smiled and shook his head before running off towards the Seine. He jumped off the building and threw his yoyo, swinging across the water and towards the Liberty. He landed on the roof and backflipped off before jumping through the porthole to his room. He landed on the floor as his transformation dropped before catching Tikki. Both of them let out a yawn before Luka stumbled to his bed and fell onto it almost instantly before crawling into it. Tikki helped him pull on the covers before gently kissing his forehead before curling up on his stomach as he breathed in, having fallen asleep straight away. However, his alarm went off two hours later, causing him to groan and hide his head in the pillow.

"Five more minutes," He mumbled as it kept ringing. He groaned and slammed his alarm, silencing it before trying to go back to sleep. However, his second alarm went off, making him groan even more. Once again, he turned it off and went to fall back to sleep but the final alarm went off, turning on the radio. As the person on it talked, Luka groaned, wanting nothing more to sleep and was mentally cursing Hawkmoth for creating an akuma at 3.30am. However, his eyes widen when the host mentioned Heroes day and he jolted up, wide awake. Tikki gasped and jumped as he did before he grinned at her and jumped out of bed.

"Are you ok?"

"It's Heroes day!" He gasped, getting dressed and grabbing his school bag before he stopped with wide eyes. Tikki rose an eyebrow. "Oh no! I forgot to plan a good deed! Uh!! I am an awful human being,"

"And the fact that you were up all night saving Paris isn't enough of a good deed?" She asked, causing Luka to shake his head.

"Unfortunately not. You see heroes day is when everyday citizens preform a good deed for everyone's benefit " He explained, making her pull a thinking expression. "Besides, it's not like I can't tell anyone about been a hero and two it would count as Anatis' good deed, not mine... well, I'll just do what I did last year,"

"What was that?"

"See what happens and improvise," He grinned, making her smile. "Last year, Rose ended up needing help with something so I helped her. I'm sure there'll be someone I can help this year too,"

"That's a great idea, Luka," Tikki smiled as he handed her a cookie. She happily bit into it as he made sure he has his books before pulling on his usual hoodie. He glanced over at the jacket Marinette made him and smiled to himself before turning to Tikki, who had finished her cookie. He opened his bag for her and she flew in before he closed it and left his room. He grabbed a piece of toast from the kitchen and gave Anarka a kiss on the cheek before heading up to where Juleka was. Almost instantly, he was hit with the emotion of the city, making him grin. All of Paris was singing today and it was a gorgeous song. For a second, he closed his eyes and let himself bask in it's crescendo before Juleka cleared her throat.

"What are you doing?" She asked, as he looked at her.

"Listening to the music of the city," He replied, making her roll her eyes before he grinned at her. "Shall we get going?"

"Sure," She nodded, walking off. Luka shook his head and followed, smiling to himself. They passed several stores and saw lots of balloons. Luka smiled a little as he saw Juleka go bright red when she noticed several Culpeo themed things.

"So what's your good deed for today, sis?" He asked, making her look at him.

"Oh... well, me and Rose are sharing a good deed," She mumbled, moving the bangs from her eyes a little. "We're planning to doing a collection for Prince Ali's charity,"

"That's a great idea," He grinned as they came to the school, along with some of the other kids. Rose was already there, waving happily and Ivan was stood with Mylene. They greeted Luka and when inside almost straight away. Luka looked at his phone and decided to linger for a little bit. He closed his eyes and breathed in, once again listening to the melody of the city. He opened his eyes as he heard a familiar melody. Marinette was running over, causing him to look at his phone again. She was on time but only by a few minutes. She stopped to take a breathe, causing him to smile. "Hey, Melody, you ok?"

"Luka!" She gasped, jumping. The box she was holding flew out of her hands but he caught it, causing them both to let a sigh of relief as he handed them back to her. "Uh sorry,"

"No, no... I'm sorry," He mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to make you jump,"

"Ooh, it's ok!" She grinned before holding up the box. "Want a macaron?"

"Sure," He smiled, taking a chocolate one before gently kissing her cheek. She blushed and smiled shyly. "Thank you,"

"N-No problem," She gasped before jumping against as the bell rang. "Ah that's class! We have to go!! See ya for lunch! I have a favor to ask!!"

"Ok," He nodded as she ran off. He shook his head and smiled a little as he walked to his classroom. He walked in and took his seat as Kagami waved at him. He smiled and waved back as Aurora rushed over with Jean and Mireille and wished him a happy heroes day. He wished them one back as Ms Mendeleiev walked in and clapped her hands.

"Alright, students, we have an assembly so let's move it to the gym," She ordered, causing them to get up and grab their bags. They walked over to the gym and took seats as the other classes came in. There was a stage at the front with a couple of teachers stood on it already. Luka took a seat next to Aurora, who smiled at him. He smiled back as the rest of the classes took their seats. Marinette walked past with Alya, shaking her head as she walked behind her.

"I don't get it, Marinette... I know you and Lila don't get on but she isn't lying about this," She sighed, making Luka frown as Marinette turned to her.

"Not lying?! Alya, you know she's a liar!" She gasped, clearly stressed. "It is literally on your blog,"

"Ok so it was a one time thing and who wouldn't want to know the heroes?" Alya gasped, shaking her head. "Besides, I asked her about that and she apologized. Sure, it wasn't cool to do that but she just wants friends, Marinette and she promised not to lie again so why would she be lying that she's in Achu?"

"Because she's a liar, Alya," She gasped, looking annoyed. "Even Miss Bustier questioned her!"

"Yeah and Lila literally showed us that she had permission from both her parents and her therapist," Alya sighed, pinching her nose. "Been away has been good for her. You know it's stressful getting akumatized. I mean you took a day off after yours,"

"Exactly! I took a day! One day! Not weeks!" She gasped, making Alya roll her eyes. "And none of us got a 'trip' around the world to deal with our stress,"

"True but her mom is also there and she's the Italian ambassador," She stated, making Marinette roll her eyes. "Look, why don't you give Lila a second chance for your good deed for heroes day? I know she was lying but trust me, girl, she's turned over a new leaf,"

"No! She hasn't because she's lying!" Marinette gasped, sitting down and crossing her arms. Alya sighed and shook her head as Miss Bustier walked in front of the school and clapped her hands, getting everyone's attention.

"Hello everyone and welcome to our annual heroes day assembly," She grinned, causing everyone to look at her. "Now I know everyone may have a hard time working out what good deed to do for today but let's not forget today is about been able to be a hero for one day and your good deed doesn't have to be something huge liking helping save planet earth. It can be anything from making small donations to a local charity to helping an elderly neighbor. All we need is..."

"A little imagination! Hoo, hoo!" Mr Damocles called as he ran onto the stage in his owl costume. "This year, Anatis and Lady Noir have been our heroes, protecting us from the terrible Hawkmoth. They have shown us that heroism is beyond comic books and fairy tales! Heroism is real and it is up to you to show how Anatis and Lady Noir have brought out the best in all of us, by been every day heroes! Now a few of our students will tell us their eyes to be everyday heroes! For those of you who have yet to work out a good deed, their suggestions may be able to inspire you! Over to you, Miss Bustier!"

"Thank you, Mr Damocles," She smiled. "From my class, we have Nino Lahiffe and Alya Cesaire. Care to tell what you two have planned for heroes day?"

"Of course, Miss," Nino grinned, standing up. The whole student body faced him, causing him to take a deep breathe. "I gotta admit. I never use to do anything for anyone before but Anatis and Lady Noir have showed me what been cool is really about... so, this year, I'm gonna visit the elderly down at the retirement home and play them all their favorite songs!"

"Excellent, Nino," Miss Bustier smiled, clapping along with everyone else. "Alya?"

"Last year, I wrote an article about public buildings providing disabled access," Alya stated as she stood up. "But after seeing Anatis and Lady Noir going that extra mile every single day, I decided that I too could do better... so I got the mayor's approval to improve facilities so disabled kids can actually attend our school!"

She sat back down as she got a round of applause. Mrs Mendeleiev stood up next as the applause died down.

"From my class, we have Aurore Beauréal and Kagami Tsurugi," She stated, causing both girls to stand up. "Girls, care to tell us what you have planned?"

"Yes, Mrs Mendeleiev," Aurore nodded as everyone looked at her. "Me and the others at the Kidz plus tv studio will be doing a live show with celebrities guests and all proceeds we get will be donated to a number of children charities,"

Everyone applauded again, making her smile as she sat down.

"Kagami?"

"I have signed up to volunteer at a soup kitchen for a couple of hours on the weekend," She stated, getting a round of applause but she held her hand. "My family will also be making a considerable donation to a number of charities who help the blind and the visually impaired,"

She got a huge round of applause for that one. She sat back down as the other teachers introduced to of their students who proceed to tell them what their good deed would be. Luka frowned to himself as a little as the whole thing made him feel like he wasn't doing enough. It wasn't that he was jealous of the other students. Far from it but compared to what they were doing, just helping a person out seems so small and trivial. He let a sigh out and looked around. He frowned a little as he saw Marinette didn't look happy either. He decided he would ask her what was wrong for lunch. Aurore leaned over to him and gently poked his arm, causing him to look at her.

"You ok?" She asked, making him nod.

"Yeah," He whispered back. "Just not sure I can match up to whatever one else is doing,"

"I'm sure you'll do a cool deed, Luka," She grinned, making him give her a small smile as Mr Damocles took to the stage again as the lunch bell rang.

"Alright, everyone, now don't forget that we have the parade this evening," He shouted before dismissing everyone. Luka got up and headed over to Marinette but before he could reach her, she bolted off causing him to frown but she did say she needed to talk to him. He took out his phone and messaged Juleka, saying that he was going to grab dinner at the bakery before heading there. He hummed a little as he walked there, glancing over and smiling as he saw the huge balloons of Anatis and the other heroes. His phone vibrated, causing him to take it out and read the text. Apparently, Marinette was going to be hosting a massive tasting party after the parade tonight and has invited everyone. She and the rest of Kitty Section will be going so she thought she'd inform him off it. He texted back, saying he'd love to go before walking over the bakery door. He knocked on the door and entered, causing Sabine to look up and smile. Marinette was talking to her father, who was looking at a list nervously.

"That's not the same as every year, Marinette," He mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"How about just half then?" She asked, looking at her hand. "500 Macarons, 100 pies, 300 sweet buns and just a thousand croissants! That should be enough!"

"Is that for the party at the park tonight?" Luka asked, making her jump and turn around. She grinned and nodded before turning back to her dad.

"You can do that... right?" She asked but Tom frowned and sighed, scratching the side of his head.

"If I didn't have this giant Anatis cake to finish by tonight, I would gladly rise to the challenge but there's simply no way I can do both," He replied, making Marinette frown and look down. Luka frowned a little too. "I've committed myself, Marinette. I can't let the mayor down,"

"I committed myself way over my head and now I'm gonna let everyone down," She sighed, slumping down on a stool. Luka frowned a little and moved over to her. She looked up at him with a sad expression. "Sorry, Luka,"

"It's ok, Marinette," He smiled in a reassuring manner.

"You know it's not too late to tell your classmates the truth. I'm sure they'll understand like Luka has," Sabine smiled at him, causing him to nervously look down.

"But it won't be very heroic..." Marinette muttered, looking down.

"Of course, it will," Sabine smiled, trying to reassuring her. "Been brave enough to face one's mistakes is heroic,"

"You're right!" She gasped, jumping up and grabbing an apron as Luka rose an eyebrow. She rushed over to the door before turning to them as Luka rose an eyebrow. Her parents on the other hand appeared to be use to this. "If I get to it right away, I'll have enough time to make the macarons myself!"

With that, she disappeared into the apartment, causing her parents to sigh as Luka shook his head a little. While he loved how passionate and enthusiastic Marinette was, he worried about her a little bit. Sabine cleared her throat, making him look at her as she held out two bags.

"Would you mind making sure she's eaten, dear? Tom needs a hand with the cake," She smiled as he took the bags.

"Of course, Mrs Cheng- I mean Sabine..." He muttered before nodding and heading into the apartment. Marinette was mixing something in a bowl and appeared to have already started to make the macarons. She grinned at Luka who placed the bags down before giving him the bowl and checking on the macarons in the oven. However, they were burnt, making her groan and sink to the floor, tears filling her eyes. Luka put the bowl down and knelt down next her as she sniffed.

"This is just one big failure," She sniffed as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm a terrible everyday hero..."

"No, you're not,"

"But I haven't done any heroic at all today... all I did was bring macarons to class wherever else is doing so much more. Alya is helping disabled kids, Nino is going to visit old people, Adrien is helping his classmates and all I've done is brought in stupid macarons," She mumbled, looking down as tears roll down her face. Luka frowned and gently wiped them away. She hugged her arms and let out a small sigh. "I doubt that made anyone's day..."

"It made mine," Luka stated, causing her to look at him. She narrowed her eyes a little, looking for any sign of pretense or lies but her eyes widen when she didn't find any. Instead, she saw sincerity and honesty.

"T-That really made your day?"

"Yeah," He smiled, causing her to blush as he looked to the side. "No one's ever offered me a macaron before... anyway, I think the bravest thing you can do is just tell everyone the truth... they'll understand,"

"But that will ruin the whole party..." She mumbled, looking down as he frowned.

"It's not the end of the world if it doesn't happen," He replied, making her sigh before he gently moved a stand of her hair. "I don't want to see you burn yourself out just to please everyone else, Marinette,"

"Luka..." She muttered, blushing before gently leaning in and kissing his cheek. "Thank you,"

"Let's have our lunches,"

~Meanwhile~

"Lila?" Mrs Rossi stated as she knocked on her daughter's door. A few minutes later, Lila opened it and smiled falsely at her, though she was more focused on her phone. "Were you on the phone earlier?"

"Oh, yes, it was my boyfriend, Adrien," She gasped, making her mother nod. "He just misses me so much,"

"You weren't lying to me, were you?" She asked, briefly looking at her. Lila mentally cursed Anatis as his live interview with Alya had almost revealed her for the lying fox that she was. However, she did damaged control as best as she could. With Alya, she claimed that she just lied to be popular as she was afraid that no one would like her, especially since Marinette seemed to have it in for her. Alya was weary at first but she also was too willing to give Lila a second chance, especially Lila 'promised' not to lie again. She also convinced her that she didn't realize that she had overstepped boundaries with certain people and was learning how to understand social interactions with her therapist. Alya lapped it up and easily forgave her. The school, on the other hand, wasn't as easy but Anatis and Hawkmoth unintentionally gave her the perfect reason. She was far too stressed out to possibly come back to school right now. She knew she couldn't get it to last forever but it was a temporary solution. As for her parents. Well, that was the easiest. Her father dotted on his little princess, refusing to believe a word of Anatis' interview as he believed the ladyblog was ran by an amateur tabloid writer. He wasn't exactly wrong but this man is believed that Elvis Presley was abducted by aliens so pulling the wool over his eyes wasn't exactly hard. When he questioned it, she just turned on the water works and since he didn't want to upset his precious princess, he would drop it and ignore it. It helped that he worked aboard a lot of the time. Her mother on the other hand wasn't as easily convinced and she was forced to take a similar route to Alya. Of course, she promised not to lie again and to go to a therapist to get help but her mother's job worked to her favor as well. Since she was constantly busy with her job, she trusted her husband to arrange a therapist for Lila and since Lila was his little princess who could do no wrong, she was able to convince him to send her to a very basic therapist who was certainly not equip to deal with a teenaged pathological liar who knew how to exploit people's weaknesses and strengths to her advantage. She had even convinced the 'therapist' that she needed time of school to help her deal with the trauma. Contrary to popular belief, this wasn't the first time she had been exposed. The only difference was it wasn't a superhero who called her out last time. It was some snotty nosed kid who thought that people actually cared about what he thought. That's where she came up with the whole been bullied thing. It did wonders for her that time but she would have to play her cards a little differently this time. Most because she was dealing with a superhero but there's also the fact that someone else might catch on her lies and get akumatized. "Well?"

"Of course not, Mama," She sighed, making her mum frown. She began to 'cry' as tears rolled down her face, causing her mother to gasp. "Y-You don't believe me, do you? I'm trying so hard to be a good person and you d-don't even believe me,"

"Of course, I believe you, mia bella," She gasped, looked distressed. Her phone vibrated, causing her to looking at her phone as the sound of cheering caught Lila's attention. She moved over to her window and frowned as she saw people cheering in the streets. Huge balloons of Anatis, Lady Noir and the other heroes moved past, making her scowl as she closed the blinds. Her mother walked over to her. "It's just... Well... that interview Anatis did..."

"B-But I didn't even do half of those things... I know I told the principle that Marinette had stolen off me but I really thought she had because of how she was treating me and because of what Chloe Bourgeois told me," Lila replied, making her mother frown as she took in her points. Seeing her chance to poison her mother's mind, she smirked a little. "It's not like Anatis is competent anyway..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he lost a miraculous which ended up in the hands of Chloe Bourgeois who used it to cause a crash and then was akumatized but he didn't take responsibility for his actions," She pointed out, noticing her mother had a thoughtful look. "I don't hate Anatis but he could at least own up to his mistakes instead of blaming someone else. After all, he blamed the Style Queen for it. I understand that Chloe is her daughter but none of that would have happened if he hadn't been careless..."

"You have a point, mia bella," Her mother replied, making Lila smirk a little. "And these akumas are concerning. I'll bring it up in the next embassy meeting. Ciao, mia bella. Your lunch is in the fridge. I'll try not to be home too late,"

She kissed her hand and walked off, failing to notice Lila's wicked smirk before she glared at her closed blinds. She turned on her heel and walked over to her laptop, logging back on. She went onto a news website and the ladyblogger, growling as she saw the recent video from Alya that was devoted to Anatis and the other heroes. It was showing a bunch of floating balloons that had the faces of the heroes on it. She growled as she saw the Anatis one and rolled her eyes at the Culpeo one. She was the better and the original fox. Volpina was the best and these were just second rate heroes compared to her, especially that pretender Anatis. He may pretend to be the kind hero that everyone loved but she knew the truth. He was a cruel and malice bully, who deserved to fall for calling her out. Sure, she lied but it wasn't hurting anyone and he didn't have to ruin her chances with Adrien. He would be hers by now and she would be worshiped by all of Paris as the true hero if it wasn't for that goody two shoes and his dumb sidekick, Lady Noir. She nearly had him at her mercy with that Marinette illusion but that stupid cat worked out it was an illusion. She didn't think it was possible to hate someone more then Marinette but that was before she met Anatis. At least, Marinette was easy to torment and it was child's play to get her expelled. Targeting Anatis wasn't going to be as easy. In fact, it would be the most challenging take down of her life, which is why she had prayed every night that Hawkmoth would choose her again. She longed to have her powers back and squash that nasty bug.

"Liar," She growled, flicking through different channels as she glared every moment. All of them showed something on Anatis and his pathetic team. They showed him stood next to the mayor, waving shyly at the cameras or standing with some little kids in Anatis themed merchandise. "Traitor! Coward!"

"In honor of the wonderful Anatis, who has saved my son, Adrien, and myself and who has relentlessly protected us everyday, I have financed this tribute to him and his team of heroes," Gabriel Agreste stated, causing Lila to stay on that channel as she stared at the screen. Gabriel moved his hands together and looked up at the camera. "Anatis is clearly a true hero... unlike false heroes such as Actis, Lady Copycat and Volpina!"

Lila gasped and threw her laptop against the wall in rage. How dare Anatis think he is better then her?!

"I hate you, Anatis!!" She screamed as she began to trash her room. She would give anything to be Volpina again right now. Then she could show Paris who Anatis really was. She would reveal him for the monster and fake he is. After all, he ruined everything for her and she was yet to have her revenge. She swiped her desk before sinking down to her knees before hugging them. "I hate you, you stupid bug!"

The sound of fluttering got her attention, causing her to look up and gasp in surprise as she saw an akuma right near her. It flew into her bracelet, causing it to turn dark as a connection with Hawkmoth formed. A wicked smile came across her face as she felt him inside her head.

"Volpina," He stated, making her grin even more.

"Hawkmoth,"

"Your dreams were once a reality until Anatis turned them into a nightmare," He declared as she stood up. "Reclaim your power of illusion and make this heroes day a nightmare for all Parisians,"

"With great pleasure, Hawkmoth," She declared, moving her arms up in front of her face before moving them to the side. The purple smog engulfed and transformed her into Volpina. She climbed out the window and jumped across the rooftops until she got to the Eiffel Tower. She jumped up and landed on top of it before stepping onto the fencing. She narrowed her eyes as she looked down at the city, happily celebrating their heroes. Noticing a helicopter near by, she smirked and listened to what the reporter was saying with her fox hearing.

"Look at these Parisians," The blonde reporter stated as they filmed live. Volpina's smirk increased. "So happy to be parading in honor of their heroes,"

"Well, that won't do," She stated as she narrowed her eyes. "That won't do at all,"

Smirking to herself, she took out her flute and placed it to her mouth as she envisioned the illusion she wanted. When it was clear in her mind, she played a tune on the flute, creating a ball of light at the bottom of it. She threw it towards the parade, causing a bright orange light to cover it. When it disappeared, there stood Lady Noir facing a very scary looking Anatis.

"Look, Mummy," A little girl stated, pointing to the balloons. "Annie looks weird,"

"Come on, sweetie," Her mother stated, kneeling next to her. "That's not Anatis... that's..."

She gasped as she looked over and saw Anatis and Lady Noir. Only her daughter was right. This Anatis didn't look like his normal self. Unlike the normal one, he had pure black hair and his skin was a little paler then usual. His outfit was reversed with red spots and sides on a black back ground instead of red background with black spots and sides. He also had long black gloves that showed off his hands, revealing his nails were black and his boots were completely black and styled like combat boots. His mask, yoyo and earrings were reversed as well, along with his boots but the bit that really sealed was the dark smirk on his lips and his eyes. His normally blue eyes were replaced with black scleras and crimson irises. Not only did he look terrifying but he wasn't standing with Lady Noir. He was fighting her. Luckily, the cat girl was giving it as good as she got but it was a scary sight.

"Anatis?!" She gasped, causing other people to look as he grabbed Lady Noir and threw her his shoulder, sending her flying across the Culpeo balloon. She managed to recover and landed on it, taking out her baton as Anatis let out an evil laugh that send shivers down the spine.

"Move out of the way everyone!" Lady Noir shouted, panic clear in her voice. "He's been akumatized!"

He jumped across to the balloon she was on and laughed again before looking at her with a psychotic grin.

"What's the matter, Kitten?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. She growled but didn't answer. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Annie, this isn't you!" She gasped, clearly not wanting to fight him. "You can fight this! You can fight against Hawkmoth!"

"Aww, such sweet words, kitten," He replied, playing with his yoyo. "But you didn't take one thing into account!"

He threw the yoyo at her, causing her to knock it back as he grinned.

"Oh and what's that?" She asked, charging at him.

"I don't want to!" He grinned back, jumping up and slamming his fist towards her. Luckily enough, she jumped out of the way before he could hit her, making him growl before he straightened up and narrowed his eyes. She narrows her back as he threw up his yoyo. "Dark Charm!"

"D-Dark Charm?" She gasped as he summoned a huge blade and grinned evilly at her. She gasped as he charged at her, trying to cut her into tiny pieces before she managed to grab the sword and threw it away from the scene, causing him to growl.

"You think that will stop me?!" He roared, trying to kick her and hit her. She dodged and blocked his attacks before he threw his yoyo at her. She managed to move her head but he brought it back and threw it again, causing her to move and jumped back as the helicopter filmed them. Distracted by the yoyo, she didn't see his foot coming until he kicked her, causing her to fall back. She landed on her feet and faced him as he spun the yoyo, walking towards her. She backed away as he smirked evilly. "It's over, Kitten. You know I can't be beaten so give me your miraculous!"

"Never!" She screamed, running away from him. He smirked evilly and ran at her, spinning his yoyo. She jumped up and he followed, clashing with her in the air. She intentionally got the upper hand but he headbutted her and hit her with his yoyo, sending her flying onto the Leatherback balloon as he landed on it. Blood was dripping down her chin as she weakly looked up at him.

"I'll tell you one more time," He started as everyone gasped, looking at them. "Give me your miraculous,"

"No," She growled, getting back up and taking a fighting stance. "If Hawkmoth wants a ring so badly, he can go to the jewelers like a normal person,"

"Now, now, Kitten," He scolded, glancing at her. "It's rude to deny a request from a friend of a friend. Clearly, I'm going have to teach you some manners,"

"We're not gonna be friends until you're deakumatized, Annie," She shouted back, causing him to growl and throwing his yoyo towards her. She caught it around her arm and held her hand to it. "Cataclysm!"

"I don't think so, Kitten," He growled, yanking her towards him and grabbing her hands, holding one behind her back and one in the air. She struggled against him as he moved his lips closer to her ear. "I've always wondered what would happen if your cataclysm was used on a person... let's find out, shall we?"

"No!" She cried out as he slammed her charged hand onto her chest, causing her to gasp as a tear rolled down her cheek. Her body appeared to turn to coal and disappeared into dust as the wind blew. He laughed and picked up the ring, holding it up as he looked at it as a purple mask appeared over his face.

"You've won, Hawkmoth. I have both the ring and the earrings!" He declared, making everyone panic before the mask disappeared. He held up his hands like a typical villain and laughed evilly. "Fear, people of Paris! Your heroes have fallen and there is no one left to save you!"

He let out a wicked laugh before swinging away, leaving devastation in his wake. Volpina smirked to herself as she grinned from the Eiffel tower. That when even better then she expected. A purple mask appeared around her eyes, making her smirk.

"My dear Volpina, you've performed your role very well for the time being," Hawkmoth declared as she smirked. "We will meet again, very soon,"

"I'll be waiting, Hawkmoth,"

~Hawkmoth's Lair~

"So much sadness! So much disappointment!" Hawkmoth declared as he looked up at the window. "I can feel the chasm of despair and fear able to open about to open and swallow up every single Parisian... my dear Volpina, you've performed your role very well for the time being. We will meet again, very soon,"

"I'll be waiting, Hawkmoth," She replied, causing him to call back the butterfly he used to grant her powers. With that one called back, he took another one and corrupted it before turning to Nathalie.

"Are you ready, Nathalie?" He asked as she walked over.

"They've been keeping you from achieving your dream for too long," She declared, looking up at him. "I will go to any length to end the reign of Anatis and Lady Noir,"

"Good," He declared, looking at her before he placed his hand on the tablet she was hold and lifted it up. He placed the akuma on it, causing it to enter the item and set up the psychic link before him and Nathalie. "Catalyst, you've always been my most loyal supporter. I give you the ability to boost powers,"

She nodded, transforming into a strange looking akuma. She had periwinkle skin and wore a black helmet with a red visor with black edges and a red spike pointing towards the back of her head, leaving her mouth exposed. She was also wearing a black dress suit. It had stiff shoulders, a dark red front and swan neck collar with red arrow-shaped sections in the center. The sleeves covered her entire arms, with the tips of her fingers fading into red. She also had pocket-like ridges on each side of her hips, and her pant legs came down to her feet, turning into red high-heels with red soles and tips. She took Hawkmoth's arm and placed her other hand over the top of his cane, infusing it with a crimson energy.

"Hawkmoth, I give you the power to release as many akumas as you desire," She declared as he looked at her. "From now on, you are the almighty scarlet moth,"

A red energy traveled up from his feet, transforming his outfit into a crimson version. He grinned as the transformation was complete. He took out his cane, spinning it before tapping multiple butterflies with it. Each one turned into a scarlet akuma, causing him to smirk even more before addressing them.

"Fly away my little akumas!" He declared, continuing to tap more butterflies with his cane. "Find the Parisians as they despair over Lady Noir and Anatis' final hour and evilize each and every one of them!"

He threw his arms out, causing the scarlet akumas to flutter out of the window and decent on Paris as he smirked at them. Once they had left, he turned to Catalyst.

"Stand here while I head to the Eiffel tower," He ordered, getting a nod of her before he dropped his transformation and left as Gabriel Agreste. It would be much easier to get to the tower as Gabriel Agreste then as Hawkmoth after all.

~At the Bakery~

"You ok?" Marinette asked, causing Luka to look up from his phone. "You keep looking at your phone... Am I boring you?"

"Oh, no!" He gasped, shaking his head. "I was just keeping an eye on time so we're not late for the rest of school,"

"Ah, ok," She smiled a little as she cleared up their lunches. They had disposed of the burnt macarons as well. "What time is it anyway?"

"Nearly time to head back actually," He replied, getting up. "Shall we head back to school? I've got double art,"

"Lucky you," She huffed, grabbing her bag and walking with him into the bakery. "I have double maths,"

"Ouch," He replied as they waved to her parents. Sabine gave him a grateful smile and a thumbs up before grabbing something for Tom as they left. Almost as soon as they stepped out of the bakery, Luka was hit with an intense amount of fear and despair that it actually caused him to stumble back and grip his head in pain, causing Marinette to look at him with worry.

"Luka?" She gasped, moving over to him. "What's wrong?"

"I.. I don't know... I just... never mind..." He muttered, looking to the side. While she knew he was a musical empath, she didn't actually know how deep his empathic abilities went. Most people would think that the music is his empathy but they are far from it. The music is simply how he projects it into the world but it's not the ability itself. For him, the feelings that he plays, he actually feels them as if they are his own. He can feel other's pain and symptoms when they are sick or their sorrow when they are down. Music was an outlet for him as it can become too much to have everyone's feelings as well as your own. It especially helps with the whole akuma thing. Marinette gently took his hand, making him look at her.

"You can tell me," She smiled, making him look at her before nodding.

"The world sounds different," He replied, making her frown. "Like this morning, the song of Paris was glorious this morning. Everyone's hearts were singing happily at their fullest,"

"And it's changed?" She asked, making him nod. "To what?"

"It's fear..." He muttered, making her frown. "Something isn't right..."

Before she could question him any farther, he grabbed her hand and ran as fast as he could to the school. As soon as they walked through the door, Marinette realized he was right. Everyone was in the courtyard but they were completely silent and looking at their phones with horrified expressions. Marinette looked at Luka before the two of them rushed over to Juleka, Rose and Mylene.

"What's going on?" Marinette asked, causing Rose to look up at her before she showed them a news broadcast on her phone.

"Lady Noir defeated," Nadja Chamack stated, looking heartbroken. "Anatis in the clutches of the terrible Hawkmoth! This is Paris' worst nightmare!"

"What?!" Marinette gasped as Luka frowned deeply. "I... I don't understand..."

"A-Anatis was akumatized..." Mylene sniffed, making her frown deeply. "Lady Noir tried to stop him but he used her cataclysm on her..."

"No..." Luka gasped, looking what the girls mistaken for distraught as they nodded. Marinette covered her mouth as Jagged Stone appeared on the video.

"Anatis defeated?" He gasped, playing a sad song on his guitar as Clara Nightingale looked heartbroken. "Nothing will ever be rock and roll again!"

"We'll have to cancel the concert?!" She gasped, causing him to play his hand on his head dramatically and pull her in for a hug.

"You're right, Clara," Nadja gasped, sadly. "There's no sense in celebrating Heroes Day either,"

She closed her eyes sadly as Luka frowned and Marinette looked afraid before she turned to him.

"You were right..." She gasped but the sound of screams came from the video, causing them both to look back as the camera turned, showing red butterflies fluttering towards everyone. Clara and Jagged ran away from them as Nadja attempted to swat them but then one of them went into her mic and engulfed her arm with a red energy, causing her to fall back before the video briefly cut off. Marinette looked at Luka, who was frowning deeply.

"Akumas?" She asked, frowning.

"Red ones..." He muttered as the video went back online. This time showing Prime Queen.

"Dear viewers, what does makes sense is getting ready for the coming of..." She declared, gesturing to the side as Guitar Villain rose up, causing Luka to grit his teeth a little.

"Our New Lead Rockstar..." He stated, playing his guitar as Frighteningale spun onto the screen.

"Scarlet Moth!!" She sang, making both Marinette and Luka gasp. Literally as hundreds of Scarlet Akumas fluttered over the school. One of them aimed for Marinette but Luka grabbed her and pulled her to him, glaring at it and daring Hawkmoth to come at him. He would keep his promise and hunt him down. The butterfly seemed to know what he intended as it fluttered away from him, causing Marinette to look up at Luka with awe as students and teachers began to get akumatized as they panicked. One flew over to Mylene, turning her into Horrificator. Ivan backed away as one came towards him but Luka ran over and pulled him away from it as a number fluttered over to Juleka and Rose, who were backing away from them. Adrien and Kagami backed away and ran from the school as fast as they could. He didn't blame them.

"T-This is bad..." Juleka gasped as she and Rose backed away from some. "R-Real bad... Aah!"

"Juleka!" Luka gasped, causing one to come at him again.

"Don't let fear get a hold of you, Juleka!" Marinette called out, causing his heart to flutter. The akuma stopped, confused about his conflicting emotions and giving him a chance to came down. He took a deep breathe before glancing at his sister and Rose.

"Marinette's right!" He shouted. "Don't let fear control you, Jules!"

"Remember, there's a hero in everyone of us!" Miss Bustier added in as they moved in closer to people.

"As long as we show we aren't scared! Hoo, hoo!" Mr Damocles added in as Nino ran past. Almost instantly, he got turned into the Bubbler, causing Alya to cry out before she turned into Lady Wifi. Luka frowned as more people panicked, creating more fear. He climbed onto a bench and looked around before he placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, getting everyone's attention.

"Everyone, listen!" He shouted, making people look at him in surprise. "We can beat this because they are nothing but stupid little butterflies and we are Parisians and we do not go down without a fight! Jules, you are not easily scared! And Rose, thinking of pink and fluffy kittens!"

Juleka took a deep breathe and began to calm herself down, glaring at the akumas at it.

"That's it!" He grinned. "Don't let fear get the better of you,"

Rose nodded and took a deep breathe too, glaring at the butterflies as well. Luka jumped down as Dark Cupid swooped down, terrorizing a few people and allowing them to turn into akumas. Marinette was helping a few people escape as Luka rushed over to her, along with the others.

"We can't stand here," She pointed out, making him nod. "Or we'll end up been akumatized,"

"It might sound crazy but we need to split up and find a safe hiding place in the school," He points out, making everyone nod and split. He rushed over to the boys bathroom and opened his jacket, causing Tikki to fly out.

"This is bad!" She gasped, causing him to nod.

"There's too many to fight at once. We need to see Master Fu right away," He muttered before transforming into Anatis. He slipped out of the bathroom and made his way to the roof, keeping low as he saw the akumas. They were leaving the school, making him let out a sigh of relief but he did wonder where they were going. He had a feeling he would find out but he needed to get to Master Fu's. He jumped off and swung off, landing on the rooftop. He swung down to the ally but stopped as he felt like he was been followed. He glanced around but saw nothing. However, he didn't go to Master Fu's shop. Instead he opened a manhole and headed down there. He moved around the corner and frowned as the manhole was opened and closed again. He narrowed his eyes as Vanisher moved down and threw is yoyo at her but to his surprise, she dodged it and charged at him, knocking him back. She dived at him but a baton knocked her back, causing her to dodge. Taking the chance, he got his feet and grabbed her glasses, breaking them before catching the butterfly and purifying it as Vanisher turned back into Sabrina. He let it go as Lady Noir grabbed her baton and rushed over to him.

"Annie!" She gasped, hugging him. He hugged back. "God, I was so worried when I didn't see you on the roofs,"

"I'm sorry, Kitten," He gasped before glancing to Sabrina, who was confused. "I had a tail to get rid off,"

The two of them looked at her before Lady Noir let go and Anatis walked over to her. She gasped and backed up a little, causing him to frown but he knelt down in front of her as Lady Noir walked over. Sabrina gasped and looked at her in surprise.

"Lady Noir? You're alive?!" She gasped, making both heroes frown before she looked at Anatis. "And you're not akumatized?!"

"Akumatized?" He asked, making her nod before looking at Lady Noir.

"Y-Yeah, everyone saw it on the news!" She gasped, making him frown even more. "You were akumatized and you killed Lady Noir... but it wasn't real because she's here right now and you're you... you are you, right?"

"Yes, Sabrina," He smiled, causing her to hug him.

"I'm so glad!" She gasped, tears rolling down her face. "It was just..."

"An illusion," Lady Noir muttered before Sabrina jumped on her. "Whoa!"

"An illusion..." Anatis muttered, standing up before his eyes widen. "Volpina!"

He turned Sabrina, who had let go of Lady Noir.

"Sabrina, head back to the school. It's probably the safest place right now," He stated, making her nod as he walked over to Lady Noir and began climbing up after her.

"I will do, Anatis!" She grabbed. "And when I get there, I'm gonna tell everyone not to lose hope, cause the real Anatis and Lady Noir are still going strong!"

"Well, it is heroes day after all," Lady Noir grinned as she opened the manhole.

"And we wouldn't miss it for the world," Anatis continued before the two of them climbed out of the sewer and ran to Master Fu's shop. Checking that no one was around, they headed inside and knocked on the door. Master Fu answered it, looking afraid.

"I always knew that Hawkmoth would one day realize how powerful he could be," He muttered, letting them in. "That day has come,"

He walked over to the phonograph and took out of the miracle box, placing it in front of the two heroes and opening it.

"Anatis... Lady Noir... you must pick an ally you can trust to fight along side you this mission," He stated as the draws popped open. Anatis reached for them as he looked at him, working out some sort of plan. "Once the mission is over, you will get the miraculous back from them and return it to me,"

Anatis nodded and looked around at the miraculous. He honestly didn't know what to expect. Lady Noir leaned near him.

"Take them all, Annie," She whispered, making him look at her. "They're need to be as many of us as possible..."

"No, Kitten. In this case, less is more," He stated, surprising her. "We don't have time to find new holders and explain everything again. We need allies who already know what they're doing,"

He grabbed the bee, the fox, the dragon and the snake before looking up at Master and gesturing to his bracelet.

"May I, Master?" He asked, causing Master Fu to take off the bracelet and handed it to him. "Hawkmoth wants miraculous and that's exactly what he's gonna get,"

"You got a plan?" Lady Noir asked, leaning on her baton as Anatis took out his yoyo and checked something before she walked over to the draw with the little boxes in. She grabbed enough for the miraculous as he walked over to her.

"The akumas are all heading to one place," He stated, showing her. "The Eiffel Tower... we're gonna head there too... as soon as we have help that is,"

"Calling in the cavalry?" She grinned as he placed the miraculous in the boxes. He put the fox, the bee and the turtle in his yoyo before handing the snake and the dragon to her. She took them and put them in her pocket.

"Once you've collected Ryuko and Aspik, head to the Palais de Chaillot," He stated, getting a nod of her as he walked over to the window. She moved over and quickly gave him a kiss on his cheek, making him blush before he saluted her and dived out of the window. He landed on another building and saw Lady Noir heading to the neighborhood where Kagami lived. He smiled a little before diving off that building and swinging through the city. He landed on the school building and jumped down into the courtyard before looking for Ivan, Rose and Juleka. He found Juleka and Rose in one of the locker rooms, trying their best to fend off scarlet akumas. Juleka was holding Rose and gently talking to her while trying to keep her own emotions under control but he could tell they weren't going to last much longer. Just as two akumas fluttered towards them, he burst through and caught them with his yoyo, causing both girls to look up and gasp. "I don't think so,"

"A-Anatis?!" Rose gasped as he let the two purified butterflies go. Juleka stared speechless as Rose began to cry tears of joy. "It's really you?!"

"Yes," He smiled, causing her to hug him. He gently hugged her back as Juleka walked over before sighing. "I'm really sorry for what I'm about to do. I know that I'm able to reveal your secret identities but I haven't got time to find excuses to give them you separately,"

He took out two of the boxes from his yoyo.

"Culpeo and Abeille," He stated, holding them up to them. "I need you both,"

"You're Culpeo?!" Rose gasped with massive eyes as she held her face, causing Juleka to blush as she took her box. "So cool!!"

"And you're Abeille?" She asked back as Rose nodded with enthusiasm as she grabbed her box. "Awesome,"

"Why didn't you tell me though?" Rose asked as Juleka opened the box and allowed Trixx to manifest.

"It was suppose to be a secret, right?" Trixx grinned as Juleka put on the necklace.

"Trixx, let's pounce," She mumbled before swiping her necklace as Trixx got sucked into it. She swiped her hand over her eyes, creating her mask before holding out her arms as the orange energy spreaded over them and her body, creating her outfit. She swiped her hands over her hair, creating her ears and changing it to orange and black before swiping her hands down her back, creating her tails. An orange light appeared on her back, creating her flute and completely the transformation. Rose squealed in pure excitement as Culpeo nodded at Anatis. "Ready when you are, Boss,"

"Good," He smiled before looking at Rose, who nodded and opened her box. Pollen manifested and bowed to her.

"Greetings, my queen," She smiled, making Rose smile. "It is good to see you again,"

"Same here, Pollen," She replied before fixing the comb into her hair before holding her hand up. "Pollen, Buzz on!"

She threw her head back as her hair turned honey blonde and black strips appeared in it before holding up her arms as a golden light traveled up her body from her feet, creating her suit before the second light appeared, giving her gloves and adding the black detail to her suit. She swiped her hand across her face, creating her mask as her transformation completely.

"Let's go kick some akuma butt!" She declared, causing Culpeo to giggle and Anatis to shake his head.

"Head to Palais de Chaillot but stay low," He ordered, making them nod. "Lady Noir is collecting Ryuko and Aspik and I need to find Leatherback. I'll meet you there as soon as I've got him... be safe,"

"You too, Anatis," Culpeo nodded before taking Abeille's hand and leaving through the window. Anatis turned on his heel and left the locker room.

"Now if I was Ivan, where would I hide?" He muttered to himself before clicking his fingers. "Of course,"

He ran to the music room and looked inside before opening the door and looking around. He found Ivan hiding under the table as best as he could as he hugged his knees but as soon as he saw Anatis, he jumped up.

"Is it really you?!" He gasped, making Anatis nod. He lifted him off the floor as he crushed him in a hug before putting him down. "I'm so glad you were deakumatized.... but Lady Noir..."

"Is alive and kicking," Anatis grinned, making Ivan look at him in surprise. "And I was never akumatized. It was just a cruel illusion, engineered by Hawkmoth and excused by Volpina, to create mass panic and sorrow,"

"That's awful," Ivan gasped, looking disgusted. "Mylene was re-akumatized... I would have been too if my pal Luka hadn't helped me... you know you should consider him for a miraculous. He's really brave,"

"I'm sure he is but right now, we need to focus on the task at hand," Anatis replied, trying not to give away how happy he was that Ivan saw him as brave. He took out the last miraculous box. "I need Leatherback's help. You up for it?"

"You bet ya, Anatis," Ivan grinned, taking the box and open it. "Sup, Wayzz,"

The two of them did a secret handshake before Ivan slipped on the bracelet.

"Wayzz, shell on," He declared, causing Wayzz to be sucked into the bracelet before stomping his feet on the ground and pushing his arms out, causing a green energy to creating his outfit. The green energy burst from the center off his chest, creating his emblem that resembled a turtle's shell attached to a harness. The energy traveled down his arms, leaving a gray strip in it's place before causing green spikes to burst from his gloves before he pulled down a pair of goggles over his eyes as the blonde tuff of his hair turned a forest green, completing his transformation. "Alright, Boss, what's the plan?"

"We're heading to Palais de Chaillot," Anatis declared before the two of them ran out of the music room and jumped up to the roof, heading to the Palais de Chaillot.

~Meanwhile~

Lady Noir jumped across the roofs until she came to Kagami's house. She dived down into the garden as Kagami practiced her fencing. She stopped as soon as Lady Noir landed in the garden and rushed over to her.

"You're alive?!" She gasped, causing Lady Noir to nod. "And Anatis? Is he... still akumatized?"

"No, he never was," Lady Noir explained, making Kagami frown deeply. "It was an illusion,"

"An illusion?" She asked, frowning deeply. "That was an extremely cruel one,"

"Indeed but part of Hawkmoth's plan," She replied, reaching into her pocket and taking out a box. "Which is why we have a plan. You in?"

"Of course," Kagami grinned before taking the box from Lady Noir and opening it, causing Longg to manifest. "I'm honored to see you again, Longg-sama,"

"The honor is mine, Kagami-san," He replied, nodding and making her smile as she put on the choker. "We shall accomplish great things together.

"Indeed," She replied before holding her arms out. "Longg, bring the storm!"

Longg got sucked in her choker. She held her fingers in the peace sign and moved them across her eyes, creating her mask. She threw up her left hand, creating a dark light that created her glove. It traveled down her arm and body, creating her outfit as she held out her other arm. She held her head up as a golden light covered her hair, creating her horns before the same golden light created her sword on her back and the tail detail on her suit, completely her transformation.

"Alright, let's go find Adrien," Lady Noir grinned.

"I believe he should be at home with his bodyguard," Ryuko stated, getting a nod of Lady Noir. "As soon as the red akumas hit, we escaped. Both of our parents have been akumatized and we wanted to make sure they were ok,"

"Understandable," She nodded as they jumped across roofs, coming to Agreste Manor. Lady Noir held out her hand, causing Ryuko to stop. Adrien was there in his room but he was been guarded by Gorizilla. The two girls dived off the roof towards them. With Ryuko keeping Gorizilla busy, Lady Noir grabbed Adrien and jumped to the roof with him, placing him down before joining Ryuko and breaking his akumatized object before grabbing a jar and capturing it in a jar. The two girls jumped back on the roof as Adrien started at them.

"Lady Noir! You're alive!!" He gasped with relief. "And Anatis?"

"Not akumatized and never was," She smiled before she handed her the akuma jar to Ryuko and took out the snake miraculous, holding it out to Adrien. "Annie needs help. You in?"

"Anything for my friends," He replied, taking it and opening. Sass manifested and nodded to him as he slipped on the bracelet. "Sass! Scales slither!"

He held up his hand as Sass got sucked into the bracelet. He moved his hands over his face, creating his mask and giving his hair green streaks. The teal green energy moved down his body creating his outfit before a ball of teal light turned into his lyre. He grabbed it and placed it on his back, completing his transformation.

"So what's the plan?" He asked, looking at the girls.

"We're meeting Annie at the Palais de Chaillot," Lady Noir replied, spinning her baton. "Shall we go?"

Ryuko and Aspik nodded before the three of them jumped off the building and headed to the Palais de Chaillot. They ran across the buildings until they came to the Palais de Chaillot and jumped on it. Lady Noir grinned as Culpeo and Abeille was already there. Abeille was gently leaning on her and Culpeo was patting the bee's head, making Lady Noir smile. They were very cute together.

"Hey, foxy," Lady Noir grinned, causing Culpeo to gasp and look up. "How's it going?"

"Lady Noir," She gasped as Abeille looked up as well. "I'm really glad to see you're ok. Anatis told us it was a trick but still,"

"I get ya," She nodded, looking around. "Where is my handsome partner?"

"Getting Leatherback," Abeille replied, smiling as they moved over to the edge of the building and looking at the akumas. Lady Noir frowned a little as she looked at them but they didn't seem to be planning anything, just waiting. She wondered why. "They've just been stood there for about 15 minutes,"

"Strange," She muttered as she heard the sound of a yoyo. She turned around as Anatis landed on the building with Leatherback. "Hey, Turtle, good to see you again,"

"Lady Noir!" He grinned, hugging her as Anatis smirked. "I'm glad you're alive!"

He put her down as Ryuko threw the glass jar at Anatis. He caught it and looked at it before he opened it and caught the akuma before releasing the now purified butterfly before he signaled for all of them to moved over to the edge and hide as he looked down at the akumas. He narrowed his eyes as it reminded him off Princess Justice's reign but it appeared that she wasn't here. However, almost every akuma that ever was had turned up yet they weren't running wild like they did with Princess Justice. They were just stood there. Lady Noir moved over to him.

"So what are they doing?" She asked in a hushed voice.

"They're waiting," He muttered back, making everyone frown as they moved a bit closer to him.

"For what?" Aspik asked as an extra person jumped onto the Eiffel tower, causing Anatis to narrow his eyes and clutch his fist a little. The rest of them gasp in shock as they stared at the person. "Is that-"

"Hawkmoth," Anatis stated, causing his mini army to look at him. "In the flesh,"

They watched as Prime Queen sent up one of her flying camera, causing Hawkmoth to look at it.

"Anatis! Lady Noir! Behold my powerful army!" He shouted, gesturing to the akumas. "And have no doubt that today belongs to Scarlet Moth!"

"Not for long," Anatis muttered, glaring at him.

"He better not get too cocky or I'll slam my shield into his face," Leatherback grinned as Aspik smirked.

"It's only like ten villains to everyone of us," He grinned in a chilled back way. "Who wants Hawkmoth? How about we rock, paper or scissors for him?"

"No need for that game, danger noodle," Ryuko smirked, holding her sword. "For he shall taste my blade,"

"I'll protect you no matter what, Culpeo," Abeille gasped, determined.

"No, I'll protect you," Culpeo gasped as Lady Noir leaned next to Anatis as they both glared at Hawkmoth and his Scarlet army.

"So what's the plan, Annie?" Lady Noir asked as Anatis narrowed his eyes. The akumas had started to chant 'hail, scarlet moth' repeatedly, causing Anatis to frown even more as questions popped into his head. Scarlet Moth held up his arm, silencing his akumas. He smirked as Prime Queen's cameras focused on him before addressing them.

"Anatis! Lady Noir! I can feel your close present," He stated, smirking as he brought down his arm before lifting his other into a fist shape. "If you want to save Paris and all it's people, I'll give you one last chance!"

He threw out of his hand dramatically.

"Give yourselves up and bring me your miraculous!" He shouted as Anatis watched with a worried expression. Lady Noir moved a little closer to him and gently placed her hand on his arm, causing him to flinch a little before looking at her and his team.

"Annie?" She asked as he looked back over. "Want to share what's on your mind?"

He frowned before sighing a little.

"It's like he's been preparing for this for a long time...." He sighed, making his team frown as he glanced at them. "But we... we're not prepared for this..."

"Yes, we are," Lady Noir stated, making him look at her in surprise. "We've faced all of these akumas before... this is just like Princess Justice's reign but on a slightly grander scale. Only this time, you're not alone. There's seven of us this time,"

"Yeah, Hawkmoth doesn't stand a chance," Aspik grinned as the rest of the team nodded. Anatis looked at them all, seeing nothing but determination in their eyes.

"Alright but if we're gonna do this, we have to have a plan," He muttered, glancing back over to Hawkmoth and his army. "If we want to win, we have to fight Hawkmoth even though we've never fought him before,"

The team nodded as Anatis stood up and climbed onto the edge of the building.

"Hawkmoth!" He yelled, getting the villain's attention. "I hope you liked Volpina's illusion... because me and my team will never hand over our miraculous!"

"And we've got a better idea!" Lady Noir shouted, joining him before she pointed at Hawkmoth. "You're gonna give us your miraculous!"

Culpeo, Abeille and Leatherback stood next to them, on Anatis' side.

"You may have an entire army of akumatized warriors!" Leatherback shouted, clicking his hands.

"But we're a team of heroes!" Abeille added in, taking out her spintop.

"And we're gonna kick ass..." Culpeo added in, albeit quieter then the rest. Ryuko and Aspik jumped up and stood next to Lady Noir.

"So bring it, old man!" Aspik shouted, making Hawkmoth frown a little.

"We're ready for a fight!" Ryuko added, smirking before tilting her head. "Are you?"

The seven of them took their fighting stance, making Hawkmoth laugh.

"I understand you want a fight," He stated, smirking. "Then so be it. Guitar Villain, Frighteningale.... Music!"

The two musical villains began to sing and play as some of the scarlet army charged towards the heroes. Anatis nodded and jumped down with his team, charging towards them. They could hear Prime Queen narrating the fight as they ran towards them. Anatis narrowed his eyes as he couldn't see her around. He could see Lady Wifi, Pharaoh, Mime, Timebreaker, Style Queen, Troublemaker and Desperada running towards them on the ground while Bubbler, Stormy Weather, Reverser, Sandboy and the Puppeteer flew towards them. Rogercop and Malediktator stood at the back, along with the giants.

"Don't forget our main object!" Anatis yelled towards the others. "We want to get to Hawkmoth!"

"Well then let's go for the big, bad boss," Lady Noir grinned, getting a nod of Ryuko and Aspik as Stormy Weather lifted her parasol towards the sky.

"Cyclone!" She shouted, creating a whirl wind that lifted up Desperada, Trouble Maker and the Mime.

"Horus, give me your wings!" The Pharaoh shouted as his head transformed. He flew down towards Lady Wifi and picked her up. Timebreaker smirked and sped up on her skates as Style Queen turned into glitter. Stormy Weather directed her parasol towards Anatis, shouting Thunderbolt as she did.

"Leatherback, shield!" He shouted, causing Leatherback to throw it as a bolt of lightning headed towards him. It blocked it, causing Stormy Weather to growl and pull back her parasol. The wind disappeared, allowing the akumas to fall. Desperada went to hit Anatis but he jumped back as Ryuko ran over and held out her sword as Mime and Troublemaker landed behind her. Mime mimicked a sword while Troublemaker clicked her pen before the three of them charged towards them. "Your weapons are no match for Ryuko's sword. Show them what you've got,"

"Lightning Dragon!" She shouted, transforming into a bolt before repeatedly attacking the three akuma, keeping them busy as Anatis dived back as Lady Wifi fired at him. Leatherback jumped in front of him and blocked her attacks.

"Abeille! Pharaoh's pendent!" He shouted, causing Abeille to throw her spintop and break it. Pharaoh transformed back into Jalil Kubdel, causing him to drop Lady Wifi. Anatis captured the butterfly as Lady Wifi threw a symbol and landed on it, flying upwards. However, Jalil was still falling. "Culpeo! Rescue!"

"Good aim, mon cherie," She smiled as she slid and caught Jalil before turning around and throwing her flute at Lady Wifi's phone and turning her back into Alya. Abeille jumped and caught her as Anatis captured her butterfly too. Bubbler dived towards Ryuko as she blocked Mime's invisible sword. Lady Noir jumped over to her and used her baton to pop the bubbles he created as Apsik slammed his lyre into Desperada, which caused her to fall onto Troublemaker, who was attempting to fight Leatherback. Unfortunately for her, she clicked her pen at the wrong time which allowed Desperada to knock her down. In turn, she dropped the pen, allowing Leatherback to break it as Apsik grabbed Desperada's guitar back and slammed it into the ground, breaking. Anatis captured the freed akumas as Lady Noir blocked Bubbler's sword with her baton. She grinned and stomped on his foot before grabbing him and throwing him towards the mime, who was too distracted by Ryuko to notice Bubbler flying at him. Both villains fell to the ground, causing Mime's hat to fall off. Ryuko impaled it as Lady Noir jumped and landed a kick at Bubbler's sword, crushing it. Anatis captured those butterflies next before jumping back as Stormy Weather started to fire at him. He caught Timebreaker skating towards him, causing him to backflip and throwing his yoyo, destroying her skates as Lady Noir extended her baton, allowing Abeille to balance on it as Stormy Weather fired a bolt towards Anatis again. She threw the Bee heroine towards the weather witch, who used her parasol to protect herself. Abeille brought her leg down on it, breaking it and freeing the akuma. Lady Noir dived and caught Aurora as Anatis caught the loose akumas. Leatherback and Culpeo ran towards Rogercop, using Leatherback's shield to protect them from been hit. Culpeo threw her flute over Leatherback, causing Rogercop to dodge it but Anatis broke his whistle while he was distracted, capturing that akuma too. He jumped back as Style Queen went to slam her staff at him. Lady Noir dived at her and began to fight her as Ryuko ran towards Leatherback, who held out his shield. She jumped on it, causing him to throw her into the air and towards Reverser. She cut his plane and caught Marc before dodging Sandboy's attack. Aspik jumped over them and threw his lyre at Sandboy's pillow, ripping it. He caught his Lyre and the little boy who fell to the ground. Anatis caught their akumas as Lady Noir wrestled with Style Queen. He jumped over them and threw his yoyo, breaking her rose and capturing that akuma.

"By the power invested in me, I declare your miraculous are mine," Malediktator shouted, throwing balls of light at them as Puppeteer charged towards them. Since she didn't have her dolls with her, they couldn't be used in battle but it appeared she could control people she hit with her wand as she got Alya to try and attack Lady Noir.

"I'm sorry!" Alya gasped as she tried to punch the heroine, allowing Malediktator to fire a ball of light towards her. Anatis jumped over and blocked it as Leatherback threw his shield at Malediktator, who knocking him back. Abeille jumped at him and grabbed his sash, tearing it and freeing the akuma as Leatherback grabbed his shield and held it up again. This time, Abeille ran and jumped onto it, flying towards Puppeteer. She wrapped her spintop around her wand and pulled it from her hands, snapping it when she caught it. Manon flew from the sky but Leatherback caught her and put her down as Anatis caught the rest of the lose akumas. Lady Noir pushed Alya towards the other civilians.

"Your days of attacking innocent people will soon be over, Hawkmoth!" Anatis declared, throwing up his yoyo. "Lucky charm!"

He frowned as he caught a tennis racket before he glanced around, working out what to do with it. His luck vision lit up a canal boat, a lamp post then finally his team as a plan came into his mind. He smirked before nodding to his team.

"Get ready," He stated, turning to the akumas. "I'm gonna need all of you,"

The team nodded but before they could do anything, the sound of arrows been fired caught their attention. The people they rescued suddenly turned angry and aggressive, showing off black stained lips as they glared at the heroes. Anatis' eyes widen as Hawkmoth released and handful of akumas that turned them all back into their akumatized selves, causing Anatis and his team to go the defense. Lady Noir glanced up at the sky before gasping.

"Hawkmoth is using Dark Cupid to create all the negative emotions he needs!" She gasped as Dark Cupid flew up into the sky and aimed his arrows at Anatis, causing him to jump out the way and the fight to start up again. Ryuko was fighting against the Mime while Aspik was up against the Bubbler . Culpeo and Abeille were going against Style Queen and Malediktator as Leatherback was trying to fight off the Pharaoh and Troublemaker. Anatis was blocking Desperada's attacks while Lady Noir was fighting Lady Wifi, all while Dark Cupid led the air bound villains in an assault on the team.

"This is a nightmare!" Aspik called out as he dodged an attack from Reverser and hit Bubbler with his lyre before grabbing it and kicking the mime as Ryuko cartwheeled away from Stormy Weather's attack.

"Stay focus!" Anatis shouted as he jumped down and tripped up Desperada before blocking an arrow aimed at Leatherback. "We can't let them win,"

"Fall on them like rain, my scarlet akumas!" Hawkmoth shouted, causing Anatis to look at him as he thrust his cane into the air. A huge swarm of Scarlet akumas fluttered up from behind him, causing Anatis' eyes to widen in horror.

"Oh no," He gasped as they fluttered towards them. He turned to his team as they continued to fight. "Watch out!"

Lady Noir gasped as she looked over before pushing back Lady Wifi and landing a kick on her, sending her flying. Lady Wifi smirked at her as Puppeteer and Sandboy flew down towards her, shooting at her. She jumped back as Aspik fought with the Pharaoh, who managed to knock away his lute and grab his arms. Aspik managed to get free and kicked him back, glaring at him.

"Aspik! Watch out!" Ryuko called out, causing him to look behind as Dark Cupid fired an arrow at him. His eyes widen as she dived in front of him, taking the arrow. He caught as she fell and gasped as her lips turned black. She shoved him back and glared at him. "Keep your hands off me, you snake!"

"Ryuko..." He gasped as an akuma fluttered towards her. Anatis caught it before it could hit her.

"Ryuko! Don't let any negative emotions over take you or you'll get akumatized too!" He shouted, blocking Rogercop's attack as she sunk down, trying her best to fight it as she held her arms. "That's what Hawkmoth wants,"

"It's going to be ok, Ryuko," Aspik gasped, moving closer to her and causing her to look up.

"Coward," She growled before trying to attack him. "You're not worthy enough to be a hero!"

He grabbed her and restrained her as she struggled against him. One of the akumas tried to take advantage of the situation but Abeille dived over and blocked out the attack as Culpeo fought against the mime. Style Queen and Malediktator began to attack Abeille, causing her to move away from them. Ryuko slammed her fist into Aspik's rib and threw him over her shoulder before opening her arms and allowing an akuma to flutter into her choke.

"I am now... Okami!!" She declared, turning into a scarlet version of her self as Apsik looked up at her in horror and fear. Almost instantly, an akuma flew into his bracelet, covering him in a red smog as Anatis looked over.

"Apsik!" He shouted before blocking an attack from Pharaoh.

"There is no more Aspik," He declared as the smog disappeared, showing a scarlet version of him. "There is only Aapep!"

He then dived at Anatis, causing him to jump back as he slammed his fist into his ground. Leatherback threw his shield at him but Aapep dodged it as Okami charged at him. Abeille dived out of the way but Despair Bear jumped at her and forced her to stop. Culpeo jumped and landed in front of her, spinning her flute to deflect Dark Cupid's arrow but Lady Wifi threw a pause icon at her, trapping her too. Dark Cupid fired two arrows, hitting her and Abeille then akumas landed in their miraculous.

"Culpeo! Abeille!" Anatis called out, getting knocked back by Pharaoh. He kicked him back as they turned into scarlet akumas.

"Culpeo is no more, pest!" She growled, charging at him and trying to fight him. "Only Void Fox exists!"

He blocked her attack as she tried to attack him relentlessly. He managed to kick her back and jumped away but the akumatized Abeille jumped at him, trying to sting him with her now unlimited venom.

"Stay still, cockroach!" She growled as he back flipped away. "Frelona orders you to!"

Malediktator smirked and held up his fingers to his mouth.

"By the power invested in me, I order to stand still," He declared, throwing it towards Anatis. However, Leatherback pushed him out of the way and took the hit, allowing Dark Cupid to fire an arrow at him and a scarlet akuma to fly into his bracelet.

"Leatherback..." Anatis gasped before jumping out of the way as the newly villain threw his shield at him.

"Don't call me that!" He growled, catching it. "I'm Tortue Serpentine now!"

"Annie!" Lady Noir gasped as a number of akumas dived at her. She fought them off as Anatis blocked and dodged the attacks aimed at him. "Now would be a great time to use that lucky charm!"

"I need all o us for it to work!" He called out, rolling out of the way of Frelona as she tried to sting him again and block several attacks with his yoyo. "I can't do anything with it now,"

He jumped over and landed next to her, holding up his fists as she held up her baton. All of the akumas began to move in on them, causing both heroes to try and look for a point of escape. However, there wasn't one. The two of them blocked the attacks as best as they could but they really needed to get out of there.

"How are we gonna get out of this?!" Lady Noir gasped as she blocked another attack. Aapep managed to get pass their defenses and dived at Lady Noir but Anatis grabbed him and pinned his arms behind his back, in cased he had already activated his second chance. Anatis nodded at Lady Noir, who threw up her hand and summoned her cataclysm before slamming her fist into the ground. Anatis threw Aapep away from him as the ground cracked beneath them and gave away, causing the two heroes to fall into the sewers. Wasting no time, they swam away from the scene and climbed out of the water. Anatis helped Lady Noir out of the water before the two of them took off. Judging by the fact that they were still running and hadn't been ambushed, Aapep hadn't activated his second chance. They ran as fast as they could, heading deeper into the sewers as they did. Anatis frowned as his earrings beeped before glancing at Lady Noir.

"I'm about to transform back," He declared as they saw forked tunnels up ahead with a wall between them. "I'll take the side of the left, you take the right,"

"Kay!" She nodded, jumping across to her side. He jumped across to the other side and sighed as his transformation dropped. He caught Tikki and took out a macaron for her. She happily took it as he heard Lady Noir call off her transformation and give Plagg some cheese. "Enjoy it but don't take too long,"

"Let's share it," Plagg replied as Tikki suggested the same thing with her macaron. Both holders thanked their kwamis before eating their halves.

"You ok, Annie?" Marinette asked, causing Luka to sigh.

"Hawkmoth has never akumatized so many people in one go. The amount of akumas was... worrying to say the least and he looked different..." He frowned, thinking about it. He called the akumas scarlet akumas and he was referring to himself as Scarlet akumas. Not just that but the amount of them was well in the hundreds. "Something's changed,"

"He must have worked out how to boost his powers," She sighed, thinking. "Just like we did. Though I don't think he did it with magical food or potions.... Annie?"

"Do you still think we can win?" He asked, making her frown a little. He sounded small and so unsure of himself. Despite the fact that she couldn't see him, she knew he was holding his arms and looking down. She placed her hand on the wall as he let out a small sigh.

"We can't give up hope," She declared, causing him to look at the wall. "People are relying on us,"

"But our whole team crumbled," He sighed, looking down. "I failed to protect them..."

"Annie, listen to me. You did not fail. Hawkmoth cheated and that's all there is to it," She stated in a firm voice. "As for a crumbled team... well, let's go back to what we know works. A duo! You and me against the world, Annie,"

"Thank you, Kitten... I needed to hear that," He muttered, making her smile a little before they hear the sound of snarling and running. "They've found us,"

"Time to make a quick escape," Marinette grinned before noticing the flowing water. "You like Water Rides, Annie?"

"Don't forget to put your diving gear on," Luka replied, taking out a green macaron as they both ran towards the edge and dived off with their eyes closed. He threw it towards Tikki, who ate it as Marinette did the same with Plagg. "Tikki, power up!"

"Plagg, Power up!" She shouted as they free-fell towards a pool of water. "Aqua Plagg, Claws out!"

"Aqua Tikki, Spots on!" He shouted. They both transformed then hit the water. Once underneath, they opened their eyes and swam into a tunnel but Syren appeared to block their way, grinning. They heard a splash, causing them to look behind them as Animan in the form of a fish swam towards them. Anatis grinned as Syren charged at them. Lady Noir grinned back as she blocked Syren's attack. She knocked her weapon out of her hand and broke her bracelet as Anatis tied Animan up with his yoyo and broke the button on him before catching the akumas. Animan and Syren turned back into their civilian selves, causing Anatis and Lady Noir to give them their weapons so they could breathe before swimming off with them into the Seine.

"It's gonna take a long of time to deakumatized these villains one by one," Lady Noir pointed out as they swam.

"Which is exactly why we have to take on Hawkmoth directly," Anatis replied as they swam. "I think his cane is the source of his power up. I'm not sure how he did it but if we can destroy it, it should revert him back to normal and free everyone from his control,"

"Good plan but we can't do it from the water," Lady Noir pointed out as they both swam up and jumped out of the water, landing on the ground as they transformed back into their normal forms. As soon as they did, Timebreaker skated towards them, holding her hand out. However, Anatis clocked her before she could get them and broke her skates again, capturing her akuma before jumping to the bridge in front of the Eiffel Tower, causing Hawkmoth to glare at him. Ondine and Otis ran off as Anatis faced Hawkmoth with Lady Noir stood next to him, holding her baton behind her back.

"Hey, Hawkmoth! You're not gonna wanna miss what happens next! Time to show everyone that the real Anatis and Lady Noir are back!" He yelled out before taking out his yoyo. He pressed it open and threw it up in the sky, releasing all the purified butterflies he captured and causing a white beam of light to escape from it. Almost instantly, he could feel the change in the city's song and smirked as he closed his yoyo, knowing Hawkmoth could feel it too. "You feel that, Hawkmoth?! It's called Hope!"

"No more escaping for you, Knaves!" Dark Blade called out, causing Anatis and Lady Noir to face him and his army. "Down with the enemy!"

"Time for a little detour, kitten," Anatis suggested as they began to back away.

"Couldn't agree more, Annie," Lady Noir nodded before they ran off, causing the akuma army to follow them as they ran as fast as they could through the streets of Paris, trying to avoid the akumas that followed them. The ones from the sewers climbed out and joined the hunt. Lady Noir looked at him as they ran. "Got any ideas?"

"Besides running and surviving?" He asked, glancing at her before they both look ahead and saw a barricade of cars and a bus. The two of them jumped over it, rolling as they landed before noticing those behind it. Both heroes blinked as none of other then Nora Cesaire climbed onto the bus and lifted a broom up. Chloe and Nathaniel joined her, along with Tom, Sabine and Gina. Alya's mother was there too as was Anarka, Tomoe and a number of others.

"Parisians!" Nora shouted, getting their attention. "We can be heroes just for one day!!"

"What?! A revolution!" Dark Blade yelled before pointing his blade towards them. "Charge!"

"Charge!" Chloe shouted back, causing the Parisians to run into battle. A number of them grabbed the akumatized heroes from windows as Gina moved over to them, along with Anarka and Marlena Cesaire before helping the heroes to their feet.

"Are you two ok?" Anarka asked, causing Anatis to nod.

"It's awesome seeing you two again," Marlena grinned, clearly happy to see them as Gina placed her hand on Lady Noir's shoulder.

"Parisians are all on your side,"

"We're slow them down, Lad," Anarka grinned, clearly thriving in the chaos. "You two go save the world!"

"Leave the akumas to us," Gina grinned, causing Anatis to smile.

"You guys are amazing," He gasped as Lady Noir nodded.

"Thank you so much," She added as the two of them turned and ran off before jumping onto the rooftops. They came to a stop as the giant akumas arrived but the Parisians distracted them too, giving Anatis and Lady Noir a chance to get to the Eiffel tower. The two of them worked together against Glaciator and Gamer, causing them to take out each other before they jumped up and landed on the Eiffel Tower, rushing over to where Hawkmoth was standing, causing him to gasp as he turned around. Lady Noir held out her baton as Anatis spun his yoyo.

"It's just us three, Hawkmoth," He declared, causing Lady Noir to summon her cataclysm before he threw up his yoyo and summoned his lucky charm. He caught the little box and opened it before glancing at Hawkmoth, stopping as he got a shiver. This was too easy but he knew he couldn't let Hawkmoth catch on. He lifted his arm in front of him so the box reflected what was behind him before grinning. "It's a sign, Hawkmoth. That your miraculous will end up in this box,"

"Are you sure you're not making a mistake?" Hawkmoth asked. "How do you know that my wish wouldn't be beneficial for everyone?"

"Hm! I doubt that!" Lady Noir gasped as Anatis stepped forward. He moved his hand behind his back and pointed to his shadow.

"Even if it was, there would be a price," Anatis shouted, hoping Lady Noir got when he meant. Using the box, he saw her glance downwards towards Hawkmoth's feet. "Why don't you tell us your wish, Hawkmoth?"

"Give me your miraculous and find out," He replied as Lady Noir flicked her hair in a way that made it look like a nod. Anatis hid his smirk. "Unlike you, I'm not afraid to use these powers. Since you're so good, why did you never bother to change the world for the better?"

"We are changing it... by our actions..." Anatis stated, making Hawkmoth frown. "Instead of just wishing for it or taking advantage of innocent people,"

They moved forward to him as Anatis held out his hand with the box so he could still see behind him.

"But it's not too late.... you can fight for good with us," He stated as the real Hawkmoth climbed behind them with two akumas in his hand. Anatis placed his hand on his yoyo, waiting til he released the akumas. "Now!"

Lady Noir destroyed the Hawkmoth illusion and blocked Dark Cupid's arrows as Anatis captured the two akumas. She threw her baton at Dark Cupid, breaking the button on his chest. The akuma escaped and Anatis captured it, returning Dark Cupid back to Kim before he caught him with his yoyo and lowered him to the floor before the heroes faced Hawkmoth.

"No!" Hawkmoth growled.

"You're such a coward," Anatis growled. "But did you really think we were stupid enough to fall for that?!"

"No where to hide now," Lady Noir smirked as Hawkmoth growled. The two heroes charged at him and began to fight him. Anatis blocked his attack with his yoyo before he knocked him back. Lady Noir instantly took over, using her baton like a bo staff and attacking him relentlessly, annoying Hawkmoth until he got annoyed enough to try and beat her with his cane. Seeing his chance, Anatis threw his yoyo and snatched his cane out of his hand as Lady Noir flipped over to him. Hawkmoth charged at him but Anatis threw to Lady Noir, who caught it with her charged hand, destroying it. Hawkmoth returned back to his normal form as a number of white butterflies fluttered away. "As Annie said... it's over!"

"Alright, Kids," Hawkmoth growled with a look of determination on his face before he got into a fighting stance and held up his fists. "Watch what a man who has nothing to lose can do,"

The two heroes charged at him as he ran towards them, fighting him as best as they could but Hawkmoth was so much stronger then they were. He used his limbs and height to his advantage, beating them as he did until he knocked them onto the floor. Anatis tried to push himself up as Lady Noir's ring beeped. Hawkmoth smirked as he walked towards them.

"You're never going to win," He declared, walking towards them. "You're still so green, young heroes. You can't even stay transformed after you use your powers!"

He went to grab Lady Noir but before he could, Anatis slammed his foot into him, knocking him back before he got up, surprising Hawkmoth as he held up his arms in a strange position, similar to a snake.

"Annie..." Lady Noir gasped as he stood in front of her.

"I'm not done yet," He snarled, making Hawkmoth smirk before charging at him. To his surprise, Anatis managed to hold his own, using his hands to hit Hawkmoth with powerful jabs but gradually Hawkmoth got the upper hand, knocking him back. Hawkmoth smirked and lifted his arms to beat the knocked down heroes but he went flying when a shield was thrown into him. Leatherback jumped with the other heroes and caught it, allowing Anatis and Lady Noir to jump. Anatis threw his yoyo around, creating a net around the Eiffel Tower that trapped Hawkmoth. Ryuko clicked her fingers as the seven of them stalked towards Hawkmoth. Abeille held up her spintop and called upon her power, ready to sting him as he backed up. "It's over, Hawkmoth,"

However, a blue mask suddenly appeared around his eyes, causing his expression to change to one of genuine surprise. Anatis frowned deeply as they moved closer.

"No, don't do that!" Hawkmoth suddenly gasped, making everyone confused. Who was he talking to? The mask disappeared and he sunk to his knees, apparently admitting defeat. Anatis took another step forward but as he did, a giant moth suddenly appeared, causing the heroes to gasp before it began to flap it's wings, causing a gush of wind that sent the heroes flying. Anatis tried his best to hold onto his yoyo as he grabbed Lady Noir's hand, stopping her from been blown away.

"What is that monster?!" He gasped as his yoyo's string up wrapped, sending him flying. He threw his yoyo and wrapped it around the moth's tail, pulling himself and Lady Noir towards it so they could attack but it vanished as soon as they got near. They landed on the Eiffel Tower and looked around as the others returned. Anatis moved over to the broken cane as a darkened feather escaped it but as it fluttered away, it turned back to white. Lady Noir walked over and looked up at it as the others looked around for Hawkmoth.

"A feather?" She questioned as he frowned before his eyes widen.

"Master Fu mentioned that the Butterfly Miraculous wasn't the only lost miraculous," He muttered, making her look at him. "There's another one... the Peacock and I think we just saw it's power,"

"Anatis, Hawkmoth is gone," Culpeo stated, making the team move over and look around.

"He must of have escaped when that monster appeared," Lady Noir sighed before they moved over to the broken cane. Abeille leaned down and picked it up as Aspik and Ryuko frowned deeply.

"The timing of that monster was too good," Ryuko muttered, frowning.

"But where did it come from?" Aspik asked, getting a nod of the rest of the team.

"Another miraculous holder," Anatis answered, standing next to them. "Which means Hawkmoth is no longer working alone. He had help from the owner of the Peacock miraculous,"

"Well, maybe this can help us track him," Lady Noir muttered, taking the cane from Abeille but it disappeared, making them all gasp.

"There goes our chance at tracking him," Leatherback frowned as Anatis sighed.

"He must have detransformed," He muttered as his earrings beeped along with Lady Noir's ring. "We've gotta split, guys... but first..."

He held up the box and threw it into the air.

"Miraculous Ladybugs!" He shouted, causing it to burst into the magical swarm and fix everything before the heroes headed back into the city. Leatherback, Abeille and Culpeo followed Anatis while Ryuko and Aspik followed Lady Noir. Landing back on the school roof, Anatis jumped down, followed by Leatherback who detransformed and gave back the bracelet after saying goodbye to Wayzz. Anatis thanked him before jumping up to the roof, where Abeille and Culpeo were waiting. They detransformed and said goodbye to their kwamis before handing back the miraculous. Anatis thanked them before swinging off into the city back to Master Fu, briefly de-transforming on his way there. Meanwhile, Lady Noir dropped off Ryuko and Aspik at Kagami's house. The two of them detransformed and said goodbye to their kwamis before handing her the jewels without hesitation.

"Thank you for your help, you two," Lady Noir smiled.

"Thank you for trusting us," Kagami replied, bowing a little before her ring beeped again. "Send my best to Anatis,"

"I will," Lady Noir nodded before jumping off into the city. She briefly found somewhere to hide before her transformation dropped. Taking out some cheese, she threw it towards Plagg and headed to Master Fu's place. Arriving there, she re-transformed and entered through the open window, smiling as Anatis placed the fox and bee back in the box. She moved next to him and placed the dragon and the snake back, allowing Master Fu to close the box and lock it away.

"You both did very well today," He stated as he moved over to them. "But I sense something is troubling you, Anatis. Would it help to share what's on your mind?"

"The owner of the peacock miraculous helped Hawkmoth escape..." He muttered, frowning. "And I feel like Hawkmoth was planning this... I think Princess Justice was his inspiration for this attack... since she was arguably one of his most successful and intelligent akumas, he took her plan and evolved it... he was calling himself Scarlet Moth and had amplified his own powers... it was concerning..."

"Yes, it does seem that way," Master Fu agreed, making both heroes frown. "We were lucky that she did not make an appearance though... however, I think you two have earnt a well deserved rest. Go and celebrate this victory. It is heroes' day after all,"

"That's a good idea," Anatis nodded before getting up. "I have something I need to do,"

~After the Heroes Day Parade~

Marinette frowned to herself as she walked towards the park. She wasn't sure why but Alya asked her to meet her there at 7 pm, despite the fact that she told pretty much everyone that she couldn't do the party. Alya also insisted she bring a box of macarons. Luckily, because of the time, she was able to make some from scratch and these ones didn't burn. She saw Alya stood outside and waved towards her, getting her attention. Alya rushed over and smiled.

"Did you bring the macarons?" She asked, confusing her but she nodded. "Good! Right, close your eyes!"

"Uh.." She blinked. "Alright?"

She closed her eyes and allowed Alya to lead her into the park. She frowned as she felt Alya leave her side, making her nervous.

"Ok! Open your eyes!" Alya gasped, causing her to open them. She gasped as she took in the scene in front of her. Fairylights had been put up and tables had been set up. All kinds of food covered them and there were several picnic blankets with people on. Everyone who she had invited were there and it was exactly how she imagined it. Tears filled her eyes a little as she looked around.

"Oh my gosh..." She gasped. "But... I don't understand.... I cancelled the picnic because I couldn't provide the food I promised,"

"We know," Kagami stated as she walked over, holding a tray of food. "Which is why we all brought a dish each,"

"You're always helping people," Rose gasped as Juleka nodded.

"Like when you helped me with my photo curse," She muttered, pushing her hair out of the way as Nathaniel and Marc came over.

"Or when you helped me and Marc meet so we could create a comic book,"

"Or the time when you helped me escape so I could see my mother on the big screen," Adrien piped up as she looked around. "That's why we all jumped at the chance to help you. You do some much for us so today it was our turn to help you,"

"B-But... I still don't understand..." She gasped, confused. She was sure she cancelled the picnic. "Not that I'm not grateful... cause I am but I definitely cancelled the picnic so who asked you all to help?"

"I did," Luka stated, making her turn around in surprise as he walked over. "That's why I was looking at my phone all lunch,"

"Y-You did this for me?" She asked, tears appearing in her eyes as he nodded. She suddenly hugged him, causing him to stumble back a little as he caught her. "Thank you so much,"

"It's fine," He muttered as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's heroes day so this is the least I could do,"

"You're my hero, Luka," She muttered, causing him to blush before she kissed his cheek and looked at him before the two of them joined the rest.

~Later that Night~

"Hey, Annie," Lady Noir grinned as she joined him. He was sat on a rooftop, writing down something down. "What ya doing?"

"Working out a code," He muttered, looking up at her as she sat down next to him before he handed her the note pad. He had written down several colour codes on there. Each one corresponded to a threat level. The lowest threat was Code Gray for weak akumas like Mr Pigeon. Code Black were for akumas like Lady Wifi. Code Yellow is for akumatized miraculous holders that weren't them. Code Orange was literally reserved for Volpina. Code Blue was for the peacock holder and Code Purple was for Hawkmoth. "I'll be adding more as time goes on but what do you think so far?"

"It works but what's Code Red?" She asked, making him frown a little.

"It's the warning if I'm ever akumatized..." He muttered, making her look at him. "The list isn't finished yet but I think it helps to have codes. That way we can prepare... speaking of preparing... I think we should train the newbies and look into calming techniques,"

"That's a good idea," She nods before looking at him. "You are ok right?"

"Yeah, I'm good, Kitten," He smiled, placing the notepad in his yoyo. "Are you?"

"Yup,"

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Next Chapter: https://ultra-sassyduck.tumblr.com/post/638625574156419072/miraculous-rise-of-anatis-41

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degeneratekitten · 4 years

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To Love and Cherish as Long as I Live.

!!!WARNING!!! This is a very very very sad story. If you have EVER lost a child and it would upset you to read about something similar DO NOT READ THIS FIC! Also make sure to read the tag and if anything there upsets you you probably wont like it when it happens in the story.

The owner in this story is a random woman, not the ranch owner.

This story was inspired by @bitesized-degeneracy comic of the blueberry having its baby sold.

“Mommy was so excited to hear I was pregnant, but why was she acting so weird after learning who its dad was?”

Mommy's face when I told her had been the second best thing in the world. The first was obviously, the tiny blue heart in my tummy. I grinned up at her and put my hands on my cheeks and danced around a little, I was so happy!

“It’ll be so awesome mommy! I, the Magnificent Dooby, will be the bestest mother in the world!” Mommy chuckled at your statement and suddenly a thought occurred to me.

“After you of course mama!” I added, and ran over to hug mommy’s big hand that was sitting on the table.

“This is great news!.” Mommy said, picking me up and snuggling me against her cheek. “I’m sure Aunty Sarah will be thrilled!” She exclaimed, looking at me with stars in her eyes. The day couldn't get any better, I couldn't wait to tell Stretch too!

---

I knew I wasn't supposed to sneak out, but mommy was so strict about that rule, and I still had friends outside from before mommy took me. Stretch was one of them, he made me feel good during what mommy called my heats, and I loved him most beside mommy.

Bounding to the little cardboard box I once called home I shouted for the bestest friend in the world.

“Stretch! Stretch!” I shouted, and burst into the box with glee. One thing I didn't miss about the box was the smell, Stretch didn't have a toilet and I remember pooping and peeing in the corner before mommy gave me a toilet! Mommy is just the best.

Stretch was lying on the old rag we used to share, he was still dirty but that was ok cause I’d sneak him in the house to have a bath with mommy soon. She was sure to love him! I loved him so of course she would too!

“Blue? Whats it? Aren’t you supposed to be with your mom?” Stretch asked, as I sat on top of him.

“Yeah, but I have news!” I shouted, earning a groan from the mean edgy who was in the tin can next to the box. What a poopyhead!

“Oh?” Stretch asked, putting one of his hands on my hips and tickling, I giggled and pushed his hands away.

“Yeah! Look!” I exclaimed, and unzipped the nice taco pajama’s mommy got me so I could show Stretch the good news. I watched his face light up at seeing the blue heart there, then he started crying! Oh no!

“Stretch!? Stretch?! I’m so sorry! I thought you’d be happy!” I felt heartbroken, Stretch was supposed to be happy at this news. I felt tears in my eyes! Stupid Stretch!

“Blue no! I’m happy! I don’t know why I just felt like crying! But it’s like… A happy cry!” He explained, and I guess it made sense. I let him wipe away my tears, while I wiped away his, and he put his forehead to mine so I could look in his eyelights.

“I’m gonna be a dad!” He laughed happily, staring at the blue heart in my tummy.

“You’ll be the bestest dad ever!” I added.

---

Mommy wasn't happy when I came home that night. I couldn't get my pajamas on after Stretch started snuggling me in the way he does in my heats. Mommy looked mad at seeing I had left them behind.

“Where are your pajamas! I told you to stop sneaking out!?!” She yelled, and I felt embarrassed.

“I had to tell Stretch though!” I said, looking down at the floor, I felt more tears again.

“Stretch? Wait, I thought you were seeing Aunty Sarah’s little Sansy next door?” Mommy said, and she almost seemed like she was going to fall over when I talked about Stretch as if I was doing something really bad by not being with Aunty Sarah’s Sansy.

I thought about the Sansy next door and pulled a face, sticking out my tongue at the thought. “No way!” I replied, and cradled my naked tummy. “Stretch told me to stay away from Sansy! Sansy always judges me cause I lived outside!” I added as I thought about the stuck up Sansy from next door. He always made stupid jokes, Stretch could do the same jokes but better!

Mommy looked a little pale at the thought of my friend Stretch for some reason though, and scooped me up and yelled in my face. I covered my ears because it was loud.

“I thought I told you that you need to be nice to Sansy! He’s my best friends bitty and I wont have you being a brat about him! He’s sweet and funny and probably too good for a tramp like you!” I looked at mommy’s face as it turned red. What did she mean tramp? I only loved Stretch!

I felt so many tears coming at that, and I wanted to get away from mommy but she held me tightly. “No! I only need Stretch! He’s the daddy and we’ll be a family!” Why couldn't mommy understand that? Stretch was the daddy and Aunty Sarah’s stupid Sansy was a big ol poopyhead!

Mommy only got madder at that, and I found myself suddenly locked in my cage, with mommy looking at me with her purple face.

“You will stay in there until you give birth! I will not have you seeing this “Stretch” again!” Then mommy left me alone as I cried into my hands.

---

“Mommy please! I promise I won’t sneak out again.” Mommy hadn’t let me out, just like she said she wouldn't, and it was getting so boring in the cage. I couldn't even let Stretch in anymore, so he had taken to staring at me from the window. Mommy never noticed, cause as soon as she’d enter the room, he’d run away. She gave me things to do, but it just wasn’t the same as playing with Stretch.

I held a picture in my hand, and offered it to mommy, it was my best one, and I wanted her to see it so she knew how I felt. It was of Stretch, me and the baby in the house, with mommy smiling as she hugged all of us.We were a family in the picture. Like we should be.

Mommy looked at me strangely, I didn't understand some of the looks she had, human fleshy faces were so weird. She took the picture from me, but didn’t let me out. I struggled a little to get to my feet, my belly was so big now. Mommy kept commenting on how I was getting so big and would “pop” soon. She had weird words, so I ignored it.

“What’s this?” She asked as she stared at the picture, I was worried maybe she couldn't see it since it was so small so I explained.

“Its us! Mommy, Stretch, baby, and me! We’re a family!” I explained. I was so proud of that picture, surely mommy would understand what I wanted. “Stretch is baby’s dad so he should live with us!” I added, really it only made sense, we’d raise the baby together! We’d all color together, go out on trips together, get into tickle fights with mommy, we’d eat together, bathe together, and at the end of the night after all the fun we’d sleep in the same bed! It was perfect! Mommy would love Stretch as soon as she met him, just like I did.

Mommy looked at the paper, before turning away from me. She loved it! I could tell by how much she was shaking! She was so happy she was shaking!

“I knew you’d love it mommy! I’ll even go get him if you let me out of the cage! He’s been living in a box! The same box I did before!” I almost fell over, but caught myself, then held up my arms to be picked up, we had so much work to do for the baby! We had to get Stretch, then we could get new toys and everything!

Mommy stopped shaking for a moment, but still didn't turn back towards me. Only after I waited for a long time did she turn back with a weird looking smile. It was actually a little scary.

“Alright.” She said, and I was the happiest bitty in the world.

---

I couldn't walk as far anymore, so I had mommy carry me to where Stretch was. She looked really interested in everything around. So much so that she was on the phone the whole time telling someone about where we lived, they seemed really interested in us too as they kept asking how many bitties were living with us, and the conditions. I didn't know who this “humane society” was so I ignored it and kept introducing mommy to all my old neighbors.

Eventually we got to the box where Stretch and I used to live, and I asked to be put down so I could find him.

“Stretch! Stretch! Come look! Mommy came to get you!” I shouted, as mommy set me down. I felt so bloated and I couldn't run anymore, but I went inside slowly. Once inside, Stretch looked incredibly startled at the fact I was there, and ran to hug me.

“You brought your mommy?” He ended up asking, with that voice he got when he was being a silly worrywart.

“Yeah! She’s here to take us home!” I told him, it was such good news, but he didn't look happy.

“She said she’s take me in?” He questioned, and you giggled.

“Of course she did! She loves me and I love you! So of course she’d let you live with us.”

Stretch didn’t look convinced, and I was too happy that I didn't hear whatever mommy said to the “humane society” person. Stretch tensed up though at whatever was said, and I was worried.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Lets leave.” He started to pull me away, but I dug my heels into the floor.

“Why? Mommy’s gonna take us home!” Why was stretch acting so weird?

“Blue, we gotta go! Your mommy wasn't serious, she’s not takin me home.” I was confused at this, there was no way mommy would lie to me like that. She was MOMMY, everything she did she did with love.

“Of course she is.” I giggled at how silly Stretch was, then added the thing that EVERY bitty wanted to hear.

“She’s gonna be your mommy too!” I added, and Stretch seemed to completely change at this.

I don’t know the exact reason, but I was worried about Mommy too before, but as soon as I heard the words “She’s gonna be your mommy” it was like nothing else mattered. That sentence made the world so much brighter and lovely and I would do ANYTHING to keep make it last forever. Nothing else mattered.

I could see the heart lights suddenly appear in Stretch’s eyes at my words and I knew he felt the same now too.

I led him outside, where we held hands and looked up at mommy, she stared at Stretch for a long time before smiling.

“Hi there. Do you want to come home with us?” She asked, and with her smile Stretch became timid, and shy. It was funny cause that’s what he used to be like with me before he said he loved me. I knew he was hooked.

“Hi… Uh… Do you mind if I say goodbye to some people first?” Stretch asked, and although the heart lights were still there, he looked sad as he looked around the neighborhood.

“Yeah! Lets do it together!” I shouted, what a great idea, and pulled at Stretch’s hand again. Mommy chuckled though and picked me up.

“No, let’s give Stretch some privacy, I’m sure he needs time to think.”

Stretch looked at the ground, shyly looking up at mommy every once in a while then quickly looking back onto the ground. I was sure he would come with mommy, but I also guess he wanted to stay for a little bit longer as well.

“Ok! I’ll wait with mommy while you say goodbye Stretch!” I relaxed into mommy’s hands looking down at my bestest friend. He would come back, he just needed time.

Mommy let out a sigh at this, and nodded! She was so understanding. “Don’t take too long.” She added, giving Stretch a really scary smile. You don’t make friends like that mommy! Stretch looked smitten with Mommy, but he ended up disappearing into the grass, no doubt to see Tori. I giggled, and watched as a big truck with a bunch of men pulled up nearby.

----

I waited for a long time, and I could feel the tears coming on as it started to get dark. My old neighborhood had gotten quiet. Mommy took me away for a little bit to get food as soon as the men with the truck pulled up. We came back afterwards, and I saved Stretch a bunch of french fries as a congratulations on getting a new mommy. But, when we got back EVERYONE was gone, the edgy next door, Toriel down the lane, Papyrus up in the tree, but most of all Stretch wasn't there either. It was so wrong, he had been so smitten with mommy, but now he wasn't there!

“T-t-t-t-t *hic*hey left *hic* without telling me *hic*” I sobbed into mommy’s neck, Stretch hadn’t come back, we’d gone to get lunch and they all disappeared. Mommy rubbed my back comforting me.

“I knew this would happen.” She said, as she rubbed my skull the way I liked. “Stretch was so mean. He must have hated you so much to leave you like this.” Mommy said, and my eyes widened at that.

“NO! Stretch loved me! We were gonna be a family! Take baths together, play together, eat together, and at the end of the day mommy would tuck us all in. Baby me and Stretch!” This wasn't right! Stretch wouldn't have done this, he was so happy to be adopted, he was just shy.

“NO!” Mommy shouted, and I flinched. “Stretch was a no good bum who left the mother of his child all alone! You need to accept that!” Mommy stared at me with a very intense look in her eyes, and hugged me close to her neck, where I could feel her words shake me.

“I told you he would do this.” She added, and suddenly everything made sense. Mommy was always right, and while it hurt, mommy would never lie to me. Sniffling into her neck I wailed, sad that Stretch wasn't coming, but knowing that just me and mommy would be all the family baby needed.

----

Things went back to normal after that, I scribbled out stupid stinky Stretch’s face from the pictures I drew, and started cuddling with mommy more. She started to sing to me, and I didn't try and sneak out once. Stretch was gone like a poopyhead and I only needed mommy and baby.

Then it happened, I felt the baby coming. Mommy was at work, but I knew what to do, so I moved to the towel she told me to use when I felt the baby coming and squatted. It hurt so much and I wished mommy was there.

“MOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMYYYY!” Maybe if I shouted loud enough she’d hear me, I wanted to go to the phone, but it was up where I couldn't get it anymore. So instead I just shouted for her.

‘MOOOO-------AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!” I stopped shouting, as the pain was just too much, I felt tears coming from my eyes as something so big pushed itself on my special place.

“MOOOOOMMMY!” I cried, as I squatted on the towel, it hurt so bad and I wanted her back rubs.

I kept pushing though, and eventually I heard the most magical sound in the world. Looking down I saw the face of my little blue baby. I cried more, holding him close. The world was complete, I didn't need Stretch, baby was enough. We’d play, laugh, and love, with mommy forever and ever. I’d love and cherish him as long as I lived. I fell asleep with him in my arms, smiling and dreaming of everything we would do together.

---

When I woke up mommy was home, she was humming a song and counting a stack of green papers she called money. I was eager to show her the baby, but when I felt for him he was gone.

I shot up, my special place still hurt and it was sticky on the blanket, but that wasn't important. Where was my baby!

“BABY?!” I cried, catching mommy’s attention, and she looked at me funny. “BABY!?” I shouted again, looking under the towel this time to see if he was there. I felt my world falling apart as I searched for him. I couldn't lose him too! What if Stretch came back for me? What would he say if baby wasnt there? Wait, what if he DID come back and just took baby? What if the baby was dead? What if he was hurt and I had been asleep and he...

I wailed as loudly as I could, and slumped down.

“BAAAAAABY!” I cried, as I hopped off the bed and ran around the house looking for him. I ran for so long that my legs gave out. Baby was nowhere to be found. He was gone.

“He’s gone forever...” I heard mommy say, and I couldn't hear anything after that. Someone was screaming... Oh, it was me.

I couldn't hear what mommy was saying to me, she looked happy for something, how could she be happy, baby was gone! She said forever! Mommy never lies but that couldn't be true!

What about our future? What about the meals? What about the baths? What about getting tucked in by mommy? Why did this have to happen?

Big fat tears rolled down my face, and everything was just WRONG, why wasn't mommy hugging me? Why did Stretch leave? Where was my baby? Why was mommy smiling?

Mommy just stared at me, but even she didn't matter anymore. My baby was GONE, I’d never see him grow up, I’d never take a bath with him. I’d never have a meal with him. I’d never give him hugs or kisses. I’d never get to be tucked in with him by mommy! All I had left of Stretch before he ABANDONED me had been in my tummy! My idea of a happy family shattered and my world fell apart as all the things I would never get to do with my baby raced through my mind.

#implied abduction #implied sex #implied sale of bitty #everything is implied #the owner is definitely behind all the bad stuff #sad sad story #based off comic by bitesized-degeneracy #first person pov

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adamwatchesmovies · 4 years

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The Best of 2019

What a year. By the time 2019 ended, I had seen over 130 new movies. It's actually probably closer to 150 but I lost count. There are a few titles I missed, such as The Dead Don’t Die, The Fanatic and Honeyland so obviously, this is not an all-encompassing, definitive list of 2019’s best, but it should give you a good idea of which films you need to check out if you haven’t already.

I usually like to save the #10 spot on my list for a movie that’s just for me. Normally, this would mean a giant monster movie, an off-beat creation nobody else saw, a comic book movie that spoke to my particular tastes or maybe a Canadian movie I know didn’t get the opportunity to shine like it should’ve. This year, that’s not happening. Trimming my list down to 10 was hard enough. I certainly wasn’t going to sacrifice one more to make it just 9. Let's dig in.

10. The Farewell

It’s been weeks since The Farewell and I’m still thinking about it. If I was put in the same position as Billi, I'm not sure what I'd do? Is it better to tell someone that's dying that their days are numbered, or should you spare them from that burden? Is it really them you’d be sparing, or is keeping the secret for your own selfish needs? Writer/director Lulu Wang asks serious questions about culture I had never contemplated before. There’s a lot for you here and even more if your family comes from mixed backgrounds.

9. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I heard some complaints about Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) not being the main character of this film by Marielle Heller, from writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. It was the right choice. The plot has a cyical reporter meet Rogers and through their relatively brief interaction, learn what we knew going in. It delivers a moving character arc without having to stain its subject with flaws we didn't want to see. The quasi-meta presentation is what elevates it into top-10 status. That extra touch means it does a lot more than simply re-iterate what we saw in the 2018 documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?.

8. Knives Out

Knives Out is one of the most entertaining films all year. There are no profound moments of meditation, no earth-shattering realizations about yourself, just a mystery to be solved. All the suspects are so intriguing they could be the stars of their own movies. Put together in the same house as a dead body and you’ve got no idea who did it. Its screenplay is excellent. The twists are juicy. Everything ads up in a satisfying manner. Rian Johnson is already working on a sequel. I can’t wait.

7. Apollo 11

There are few holdovers from the list I made halfway through the year, which either says something about the strength of the second half of 2019, or the weakness of the first. Either way, you’ve got to see Apollo 11. It’s the closest thing to going back in time and being there when man landed on the moon. The tension and anticipation are overwhelming. Knowing what happened doesn't matter. The way the footage is assembled is nothing short of incredible. Why this documentary wasn't present at the Academy Awards is beyond me.

6. Uncut Gems

Adam Sandler should’ve been nominated for an Oscar. He wasn’t. I’ll bet you dollars to donuts it's because of his association with all of those brain-dead Happy Madison Production comedies. His history with cinema shouldn't matter. The movie is what matters. The fact is, this was the perfect role for him. It isn’t even that Sandler’s doing something different, it’s that he’s being used to his full potential. If you weren’t glued to the screen, eager to see what’s coming next, this movie would have you jumping out of the window screaming - anything to escape the anxiety the Safdie Brothers serve up with devilish grins.

5. The Lighthouse

Next on my list is The Lighthouse. Right away, the aspect ratio and black-and-white cinematography lets you know you’re in for something different. You have no idea. What I love so much about this film is the way it handles madness. At the end of the day, I’m not sure if I could tell you if Robert Pattinson’s character was crazy, if Willem Dafoe’s character was the nutty one, or if they both were. It shows you just enough to make you doubt your own sanity. It’s also unexpectedly funny, which makes it feel oddly genuine. In one scene, Robert Pattinson's Ephraim Winslow gets a hold of the lighthouse's logs. In it, his boss, Thomas (Willem Dafoe) recommends Ephraim be disciplined for masturbating excessively. Considering Thomas has been cavorting with some kind of tentacle creature up in the lighthouse (at least that's what I think I saw, I'm not so sure anymore), all you can do is laugh. What kind of loony bin is this turning into? One I'm looking forward to revisiting.

4. 1917

Shot in a way that makes it all look like one take, 1917 is a technical marvel. It hooks itself up to your circular system and steadily replaces your blood with pure, undistilled stress. As you're about to flatline, it stops and gives you a breather. A shot of a meadow untouched by the ravages of war; a reminder of what the soldiers are fighting for and of how utterly devastating armed combat is on humanity as a whole. Gorgeous cinematography, powerful emotions, magnificent production values.

3. Joker

Along with Godzilla: King of the Monsters (a movie they basically made for me), this was my most anticipated movie of the year. To get ready, I watched Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, two Scorsese films Joker director Todd Phillips drew a lot of inspiration from. For some reason, it seems as though many critics took offense to the similarities. Sometimes I understand differing opinions from mine. This time, I don’t. It’s a great film that warns of the dangers of letting people like Arthur Fleck (brilliantly performed by Joaquin Phoenix) fall through the cracks. Left unchecked, he discovers that by doing terrible things, he becomes a “better” version of himself. It’s not a drama. It’s a horror movie that spins the familiar Batman archenemy in a new direction but also stays true to the character. There are several scenes in this movie that are going to be permanently imprinted in my brain. Those stairs. Need I say more?

Runner-ups

Avengers: Endgame

Even if every single Marvel movie going forward is awful, this caps off the whopping 22-chapter saga epically. A couple of aspects bugged me enough that it could only manage to make the runner-up list but it's a terrific film.

Booksmart

The funniest comedy of the year. I think back to Amy and Molly using their hairs as masks and still can't manage to hold back a few chuckles months later.

Toy Story 4

This one was hard to cut. The only flaw I could find was that it isn’t on the same level as 3… even though they’re both 5-star movies.

Midsommar

I’ve heard the extended cut is even better than the original. I wish I’d had the chance to see it in theatres.

Jojo Rabbit

Audacious and heartfelt. I loved those scenes of Scarlett Johanson being a mom. Her agent might've dropped the ball getting her cast in Ghost in the Shell but she sure knew how to pick great work in 2019.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino brings us back to a time when Roman Polanski was simply a good director instead of a convicted rapist, movie stars were untouchable, and the death of someone’s wife under mysterious circumstances was nothing to raise eyebrows about. It’s not a movie that screams “here and now”. If anything, it’s regressive. That said, I cannot deny the experience I had watching it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kinda thing and I doubt even Tarantino could pull it off again. I wonder how many people went in knowing what happened to Sharon Tate like I did.

Marriage story

It’s nothing but raw emotion and powerhouse performances in this drama about two people you love going through a divorce. I always make it my goal to watch movies all the way through without any interruptions. Several times throughout, I was tempted to hit "Pause" so I could catch my breath.

Internet lists are everywhere. You know why, don’t you? They suck you in and when you get down to it, most don’t require all that much effort to put together. Except when I make them, apparently. These bi-annual lists always turn out to be difficult to put together. 2019's proved particularly arduous. I’m fairly sure that my #3 movie belongs there. Out of all the movies on this list, it’s probably the one I’m going to go back to most often. The other two? I’d say that technically, one may be better than the other but I think the other one is “more important” so that gives it the edge. What I’m trying to say is, they’re all winners and on a different day, I might even swap them around.

2. Little Women

I have only seen three of the seven silver screen adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s novel and I don’t expect any of the others to top this one. The secret ingredient to this one's success is Greta Gerwig. Writing and directing, she does so much more than merely translate the classic to movie form. She re-arranges the story to give the events a greater punch than they would if they were shown chronologically and puts a little more emphasis on a couple of key moments (that tear-jerking Christmas, for example) to crank up the emotion. She also makes it more modern without having to change anything about the setting or characters. Admittedly, the back-and-forth between the past and present is a little jarring at first - makes you wonder what Greta Gerwig could’ve done had she been given the de-aging budget Martin Scorsese was given - but that’s where the performances and costumes come in. It takes mere moments before you get what the movie is doing. I’ve said it already but it made me cry.

1. Parasite

To make this list, I didn’t go through all of my past reviews and check which ones were rated what. I thought back to which movies gave me the most vivid memories, which ones gave me the biggest reactions. I’m still not sure how I feel about the final final moment but there’s so much about Parasite that I admire. This would be a great one to watch with others just to see their reactions to the reveal about the bookcase.

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