Marinette's POV

There is a certain feeling I can't describe.

It's the moment before the rollercoaster falls.

The moment before the plane takes off.

The feeling that your heart is pounding so loudly it is all you can hear.

The moment when life seems to finally begin.

"Marinette!" I hear someone call out amongst the noice, the colorful stage lights illuminating my face as the remaining teenagers group together in front of the stage, looking up as we wait for Kitty Section's turn. The last hour felt like a fever dream, Alya, Nino, and I having the time of our lives dancing in what seemed like a trance to the music blasting from the speakers as every new group introduced even better music than before. At some point it had started to rain and I hadn't even realized, the drops falling as if in slow motion now that my attention was focused on the worsening weather. I turn to identify the speaker and gasp as I see Adrien making his way through the crowd in a hurry, the rest of the group stomping their feet and clapping excitedly at his sudden appearance.

"Adrien what are you doing here? You have to get backstage...the show is about to start and Nino..." I shout hurriedly, but before I can continue he grabs my arm and starts rushing towards the backstage area, my feet struggling to catch up with his pace. I can hear Alya and Nino cheer from afar, but I don't dare look back as we go through the swarms of people, the energy in the air turning electric as the rain intensifies. The last performance was coming and people knew it.

"I need to talk to you. It's urgent and I've put this conversation on hold for far too long." He mutters as we finally get to a secluded part of the stage and I raise my eyebrow, bewildered at what was occurring. From the corner of my eye I could see the rest getting ready to perform, Luka almost dropping his guitar as he realized Adrien had made it in time.

"Adrien you made it!" They all shouted, but Adrien didn't seem to realize as he stared at me, the conflict in his eyes evident.

"Look Marinette, this summer has been crazy and I'm sorry for everything. For not saying goodbye to you before you left, for the entire mess at the party, for so many things. But there is something you need to know...I...." His voice is cut off by a sudden boom, the building shaking as everyone looks up searching for the cause of the commotion.

"What is happening?" Rose screams and Juleka shakes her head, all of us huddling together as another explosion seems to rock the building. Luka immediately stands next to me, using his sweater to cover us from the rubble as Adrien frowns looking around anxiously.

"Marinette you're soaked...." Luka says slowly inspecting my shivering figure, but I dismiss it with a wave of my hand pointing at the commotion above us. There stood Ladybug fighting Chat Noir, the stage is overtaken by Hawkmoth standing behind what seemed to be two tied up people, who at closer inspection were Master Fu and a familiar-looking blonde woman. At the sight of this new figure, Adrien's usual smile crumbles completely, heartbreak dominating his features,

"There's no way...Luka take them out of the building. I need to call someone..." He shouts and before we can stop him takes off sprinting, the building rocking again as the clone Ladybug throws something at Chat Noir.

"Come on let's get out of here!" Luka shouts over the chaos, the rest of us following quickly. My eyes, however, are trained on Master Fu who shoots me a tired glance, mouthing something I can't comprehend.

"Marinette, we have to leave now," Luka says firmly and I nod, hurrying out after him and into the rain and chaos.

"Luka I really need to tell you something. It's important for you to know. Before you know we die and all..." I whisper, feeling the miraculous box like a growing weight in my purse.

He nods slowly, but retorts before I can continue, looking at the direction Adrien had run off to.

"I know Marinette. I know since the day at the movies." My eyes widen and I look at him in shock, recalling the text message from Master Fu with increasing anxiety. I had been so careless then.

"Okay. You know...Then you must help me, please. I have the miraculouses in my bag and I need help getting them to the rest. Transform into Viperion and meet me here in ten with the rest of the team, I need to stop the clones before the chaos gets worse."

Now it's his turn to be shocked his eyes widening as he stares at my eyes and then at my earrings, suddenly comprehending the gravity of the situation.

"No, that wasn't what I was going to say. But I'll help you for sure Ma-Marinette, I mean Ladybug. We can stop this madness." He retorts confidently after struggling for words for a minute, my confusion increasing by the second.

"Okay cool, see you then," I say handing him the box and starting to dash towards the stage roof before, but stopping and asking quickly,

"What was it you were going to say?"

He doesn't reply and instead turns to face the crowd, shouting,

"Doesn't matter. Good luck my Lady." And disappears, the initial feeling in my chest reaching its peak as I run the opposite way and into the chaos, 

praying that luck would finally be on my side tonight. 

((Celsin's Note - Christmas Edition:

Consider this my Christmas gift. I hope you all have an amazing holiday and also hope you enjoy the build up of tension here hehe. After all, we might be reaching the end of this story soon...:))