A/N - Hey guys, been a while (seems like I say that every chapter)! Thanks for sticking with me! This is the last part of Return of the Gamer, then we will move on to the next section of our story!
Shadows in Dark Skies - I'm so glad you like it! I guess we'll have to see... ;)
Ugly-Duckling123 - I know it has been a while, I'll ask that all of you be patient though. Life is kinda crazy, especially with this being my senior year and college applications being such a huge thing. Fanfic writing is unfortunately not something I can put on my resume. :) Thank you for your continued interest and support.
"Okay," Nino replied, "So what do we do in the meantime?"
"Defense!"
The Gamer hurled the orb towards the paladins once more, and Marinette began to sweat.
"Nino, we need that shield!"
Nino complied, bringing the shield up just in time to deflect the orb. The paladins groaned at the impact, which shook Miraculous to the core.
"That's one," Marinette called. "Two more to go!"
She was trying her hardest to focus, but she found herself struggling against memories threatening to overwhelm her.
Miraculous stumbled as the shield took another blow from the orb.
"We can't take much more!" Chloe cried.
"Last one! Everyone brace for impact!"
The orb crashed into the shield, sending it flying from their grip and into the sand as Miraculous sunk to its knees.
The orb returned to the Gamer, beginning to charge on his staff.
"Now!" Marinette yelled.
Adrien lunged them forward, firing off a cataclysmic laser blast that sent the Gamer flying backwards. But before they could celebrate, the creature rose again from the dust, its singular eye casting what seemed to be a murderous gaze.
"It didn't work!" Alya panicked.
"So, now what?" Chloe asked. Even she couldn't conceal her nerves at this point.
Before anyone could respond, the orb crashed into them, sending Miraculous tumbling backwards.
Marinette closed her eyes briefly, before opening them again with newfound determination.
"When I attacked him before, I had a sword!"
"Orb! Orb!" Nino yelled.
They didn't have time to move before being smashed into the dirt again.
"We can't take another shot like that!" Chloe called out.
Adrien moved to reply, but then stopped. He began to feel a pull, a connection to his mecha as the black cat let out a low growl. Something was happening, some sort of communication. From the panel in front of him rose a new device, a place for him to insert his staff… and suddenly he knew what to do.
"Wait a second, guys! I think my mecha is telling me what to do!"
"Well whatever it is, hurry up and do it!" Chloe replied. "He's about to take his third shot."
Before he could act, the orb hit them again. Adrien fell to the floor, and for a minute thought this was the end. But he found the strength to rise as the Gamer moved in for the final blow.
Plunging his staff into the console, Miraculous drew its staff, which morphed into a sword of light as the hurtled towards the Gamer. With one swift motion, they sliced through the robot, leaving it behind them as it dissolved.
The team cheered in unison.
"How did you do that?" Marinette asked in awe.
Adrien just smiled, removing his staff from the console.
"Whoa. Thanks cat."
Max looked up in a daze, wondering what had happened. One minute he was on the Akuma ship, the next he was here… wherever here was. Within a moment, there were five heroes standing over him.
"Here," Said the one dressed as a ladybug, offering him a hand. "Let us help you."
Max hesitated a moment, but accepted the hand up.
"Who… who are you?"
The team exchanged smiles.
"We're Miraculous, the defenders of the universe."
"No!" Volpina snarled. "I'll make another, more powerful."
"That won't be necessary," Hawkmoth replied. "Stoneheart is still alive and Akumatized on Arus. I've given him instructions on how to proceed."
"Can he be trusted?" Volpina asked, eyebrow raised.
"I trained him and he has his mission. He fights in the name of Akuma. Only success or death will stop him."
Stoneheart stood with his Lieutenant gazing at the castle below.
"Hawkmoth has challenged us to rise from the mud and prove our worth. We will not let him down."
"Sir, how are we going to take the Castle with just the two of us and five damaged sentries?"
"By exploiting our enemy's weaknesses." Stoneheart grinned, casting his gaze over the Arusian village.
"What weaknesses?"
"The worst weakness of all. They value the lives of others."
The paladins helped the last of the aliens they had rescued board a ship.
"Good luck out there." Chloe told them, with what seemed for once to be a genuine smile.
"Thank you all for everything. We never dreamed we'd see our families again. But you gave us hope. You gave the universe hope."
With that, the door closed behind them as the ship took off towards the stars, to return the prisoners to their home planets and families.
Max stepped forward nervously, eyeing his own shuttle.
"You don't have to leave," Alya told him. "You could stay and help out."
"Thank you, really," He replied with a smile. "But I've been away from home long enough. I've got a family too, plus I have so much homework to catch up on!"
They all laughed at that, waving as Max climbed aboard the ship, gleefully directing himself towards home.
Maybe if they were lucky, they'd get to go home too.
Marinette sat alone outside, eyes closed as she let the sunlight relax her. The memories of her original fight with the Gamer, of hurting Manon, had come back in full.
"Marinette, there you are." She glanced up to see Adrien walking towards her. He sat down beside her. "Are you alright?"
"I figured out why I hurt Manon," She told him with a small smile. "I did it to save her."
"What?"
"My memory of the event came back when we were fighting the monster. My parents were being sent off with the weaker prisoners to a work camp. Meanwhile, Manon and I were forced to fight in the gladiator arena. Manon was going to fight first, but she was scared. We all were."
"I'm not going to make it!" Manon cried as she looked at the Gamer. "I'll never see my family again!"
"You can do this," Marinette encouraged her quietly, but it was no use.
A guard came into the holding area, pointing towards Manon, indicating it was time to go.
In that moment, Marinette made a decision.
Letting out a feral scream, she charged towards the guard, and ripping the metal baton from his hand and tossing Manon aside in the process
"This is my fight!" Hating every minute of the act, she brought the baton down on Manon's leg, before throwing herself on top of the other girl. "I want blood!"
She could see the fear in Manon's eyes, so she let her gaze soften for a moment as the guard grabbed Marinette by the arms.
"Take care of my parents."
And with that, she was forced into the arena.
Adrien could hardly believe it.
"You saved her? You attacked her so they would choose you instead."
"I knew it was what I had to do," Marinette replied softly.
"I can tell you really miss them," Adrien told her. "I know they miss you, too."
She smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Adrien."
Together, they watched the sun set on another day.
A/N - Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)