Chapter Thirty-Nine:

Nathanael tripped over his costume for the millionth time that night, but it didn't stop him. He had to stop the Game Master before he could get away. While Ladybug and Chat Noir were fighting the guards, Fox had noticed the Game Master making his escape.

And Nathanael knew he couldn't get away.

He wasn't as dramatic as Marinette, what with jumping over the edge and all, but he knew he had to catch the Game Master before he got away. Racing down the steps as fast as he could, he pushed his way through the panicked ball guests as he ran after the man in the silver mask. His costume whipped behind him like it was trying to escape.

Stomp stomp stomp stomp!

Nathanael slid right in front of the door, arms outstretched and blocking the way. Breathing heavily, he glared at the Game Master.

"You're not leaving," he sneered.

The Game Master stopped in his tracks and raised an eyebrow. Nathan tilted his head in confusion. Why was he smiling?

"How long has it been?" The Game Master asked, gripping his cane with both hands.

"Long enough," Nathanael hissed. He stood his ground, unmovable and fierce.

"I see." The Game Master stood up straighter and rested his hand on the top of his cane. "You may have escaped once, but that won't happen again."

"It will!" Nathan shouted. "I will always fight! I will never-"

He was cut off by the Game Master slamming his cane against the floor. Pain erupted in Nathanael's mind. He did the only thing he could.

He screamed.

* * *

Marinette froze. That scream, she knew whose scream that was.

"Look out!" Adrien shouted. He pushed Marinette aside and smacked his baton across the face of the guard who had been about to club her over the head.

"Are you okay?" Chat asked, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

Marinette shook her head and barely missed an attack by one of the guards. "No, Nathanael is in trouble. We need to find him!"

"Wait, you brought Fox with you?"

"He was the one who let me out of my room, so yes, he did."

Marinette shot him a glare. Adrien turned away and continued to fight, but didn't seem to bring the topic back up. Marinette focused on fighting as well, but she knew she had to go find Nathan. He had to be around here somewhere. But could she just leave Adrien to fight alone?

She scanned the room, looking for anything or anyone that looked familiar. The chaos of the room was hard to sort through, but she did see a couple of her friends helping out. The Charms were getting everyone at the ball who was innocent out of the ballroom, away from any danger. She also noticed that two of the Charms were up on the stage.

Chloe was still stuck to the floor. She had taken off her mask, revealing the mascara and eyeliner that had stained her cheeks as she cried out for help. The help she had received appeared to be a girl in a red panda costume.

Marinette continued to hear Nathanael's screams. Where was he?!

Then, her eyes locked onto a bright purple light. That must have been it. Her eyes found a tall dark figure standing over someone. Someone wearing a kangaroo costume.

Marinette's breath hitched in the back of her throat.

"Cover me!" she shouted to Chat. Adrien did exactly as he was told. He shoved the guards back, sending a few of them flying into the wall. Marinette took the opportunity to pull out her bow and notch an arrow. She let it fly.

The arrow stuck itself into the wall, inches away from hitting the dark figure. The figure looked back at her with a sneer, revealing to Ladybug that it was indeed the Game Master. At his feet, Nathanael was writhing in pain and screaming.

"Ladybug!" Adrien called to her, "Go help him! I'll take care of the rest of the guards."

She didn't need to be told twice. She took off into a full sprint, running straight for their enemy. The Game Master anticipated this and swung his cane at her. She dodged it easily, rolling across the floor. Taking the bull by the horns, she slammed into the Game Master's legs. Both she and the tall man hit the floor, rolling for a couple feet. The Game Master's cane skittered away.

Adrenaline pulsed through her veins. She wasn't going to let this man hurt her or any of her friends ever again! She had caused her so much pain, so much anguish, that she was barely able to contain her rage.

"You will never hurt me or my friends ever again!" she screamed and punched him in the face. "Your reign as the Game Master is over!"

"Never! I won't let you steal my family away from me again!"

His words took Marinette off guard which was just enough time for him to kick her off of him and send her rolling across the floor. She coughed and gasped, trying to get the air back in her lungs. Black spots danced across her vision as she pulled herself up to her knees.

"Marinette!" she heard Adrien shout. She looked up just in time to see Chat tackle the Game Master just as she had done. Willing herself to get to her feet, she took off after her partner and joined the fight once more.

After much struggle and a couple well-timed punches, the two of them were able to pin the Game Master to the floor. Marinette held down his legs, pressing her full body weight against them in order to keep them shoved against the floor. It was hard in a dress, but she didn't care. No matter what attire she wore, she wasn't going to let the Game Master win. Adrien fought to hold down the Game Master's shoulders. Surprisingly, their enemy wasn't swinging fists at him, only struggling to dodge.

"I won't let you hurt Marinette ever again!" Adrien shouted, pressing his knee into the Game Master's chest. His fingers wrapped around the Game Master's mask and he ripped it off. He tossed it aside, the silver mask skidding across the floor and stopping inches away from the stage.

The whole room fell silent. The Game Master quit struggling, no longer trying to kick his legs. Marinette took in a few heavy breaths, relieved that the fight was over. All around them, the Charms had circled around, their own weapons dropping as they stared at the Game Master. Marinette looked up at Adrien with a happy smile, but when she noticed that he was frozen to the spot, her smile faded.

"F-father?" he choked out.

Marinette scrambled to her feet. Sure enough, Gabriel Agreste was scowling up at his son. He clenched his fist and purple light sparked from his gloves. Nathanael screamed again. Marinette watched in horror as he violently shook on the floor, and then was forced to his feet by the purple energy that surrounded him.

"What did you do to him?" Marinette demanded, rushing to his side. She tried to touch him, but his skin was too hot to even get close to.

"It doesn't matter, there's nothing you can do about it now," Gabriel responded angrily, then shoved Chat off of him. Adrien didn't protest to anything as he hit the floor as limp as a rag doll.

Nathan wailed. Marinette didn't know what to do as the purple energy enveloped him completely. She was forced to take a few steps back. With a defiant scowl, she turned back to the Game Master, who was now on his knees.

"Let him go!" LB shouted, then punched Gabriel across the face. Well, she tried to. He dodged her attack and shoved her aside. She hit the floor hard, landing next to Adrien, as the Game Master got to his feet.

"He's mine now, always has been." He straightened his purple and black suit, then threw out his hand. "Just like the rest of you!"

From out of his sleeve, a bunch of purple darts shot out in all directions. Chat and Ladybug cried out as one impaled themselves into each of their arms. Marinette screamed, pain filling her every thought. She crumpled to the floor, her strength leaving her. This was worse than when she had been trapped in the fire. She could almost feel the flames eating her flesh.

She couldn't focus, could barely even breathe. Forcing her eyes to look down at her arm, she noticed something the dart. Etched in with purple energy was a ladybug. This must have been how Nathanael had been taken over.

Marinette wailed, trying to not black out from the endless torment. On top of the burning sensation, it was like her whole spine was ripping in half. The stab wound in her back flared in pain.

Just give up, she thought. Just let everything go. You did the best you could.

In that moment, she could see everything she loved flash before her eyes. Her parents smiling down at her as they embraced in a hug. Alya laughing and smiling as she talked with Nino. Nathanael carrying her through red flames. And finally, Adrien. Though she couldn't tell if he was wearing a mask or not, Marinette didn't care. She didn't know it at the time, but she sunk to the floor.

She gladly relived his lips against hers.

* * *

Adrien's eyes watered with tears as he screamed.

I can't do it anymore, I can't keep going! I can't keep fighting!

He saw his father and his mother all smiling at him. They had their arms outstretched to him, calling out to him. Adrien's mother, dressed in a beautiful peacock dress he had seen somewhere before, personally outstretched her hand.

"Come home, Adrien," she offered, her voice sweet and relaxing.

"M-mom...?" He choked on his words though the pain.

Adrien couldn't help but feel like something was missing. Even though his whole family was there, something - more like someone - was missing. Adrien's attention shifted to the dress his mother wore. He sucked in a breath.

Marinette.

The pain intensified, but he didn't care. He tried to pull himself into reality. His fingers dug into the floor, his knuckles turning white. In his mind, his father steps closer. His smile was something Adrien had only ever seen once. And even though it had been one time, it was enough to tell him that this wasn't real.

Anger surged through his veins. He did this. He did this to the only person he loved the most. And he was going to pay for his crimes.

Adrien screamed, his voice strained and his face covered in tears. "Ladybug, fight!"

---

(not edited)

Hey, guys! Sorry it took me so long to update. Life has been pretty crazy around here, what with midterms coming up, a Sweethearts dance this weekend, an awesome book signing on Friday, and seeing if I get a main role in our upcoming school play. (Plus a cold that is killing me. It's driving me up the wall. Ugh. *sniffle*)

But who cares about that, right? You guys are probably wondering if it's gonna take me super long to write the next chapter. My answer to that is...

I don't know.

On top of my crazy schedule, I'm also trying to finish the 3rd book in my Soul Mate Trilogy ASAP so I can start working on some other projects and market others. (And so I can send it off to more publishers).

(This is when I plead you to PLEASE DOWNLOAD MY SHORT STORIES BOOK. 'Daydreams' is completely free and you can download it on Amazon, iBooks, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble. Your support is what my career is kinda hanging on, haha.)

Now that all of that is out of the way, let's move onto my favorite comment.

Favorite Comment:

By: RembaCeleste18

I would have stabbed her in the eye with a pen

(About Chloe being announced as the winner)

Don't worry, I think we all would have, hun.

Well, I think that's everything. Stay awesome guys!

And, as always, have a Miraculous day!