What if Chameleon did a better job of impersonating Adrien?

Charmer Chameleon

Chapter 1

Lila had met Adrien in the school locker room and made a play for more of his time (part of her strategy to hurt Marinette, besides the fact that he was cute and rich).

It wasn't working as planned.

Adrien said, "Lila, I'm perfectly happy being friends with you, and I'll gladly help you catch with your schoolwork, but please don't lie to me like you did last time with Ladybug."

Lila remembered when Ladybug accused her of lying in front of Adrien. It wasn't going to be easy, but she had to try to fix it.

"Ladybug's the liar."

"I'm not judging you, Lila, but instead of making friends you're going to turn everyone against you. You can tell me if something's bothering you. I can help. But you need to be honest with me."

"Are you trying to be some superhero lecturing me just like Ladybug did? Well thanks, but no thanks," said Lila.

"I'm still here if you need help catching up with your schoolwork."

"How dare he!" thought Lila as she stalked away.


A couple of minutes later, Lila had run upstairs and was walking along the passage outside the classrooms, looking for a place to hide and sulk about Adrien.

"I can't stand those super goody-two-shoes," she said to herself.

A black-and-purple butterfly flew toward her.

"Yes, here's my chance. Come here, akuma!" said Lila, grabbing the akuma and forcing it into her left earring.

She felt the telepathic link to Hawk Moth that had been hers as Volpina. (She still had clear memories of the time she had made it look like an akumatized Ladybug had killed Chat Noir, because the power had been pulled by Hawk Moth rather than lost by a defeat.)

"Hawk Moth, I am Lila. I know you want to destroy Ladybug and so do I."

"Yes, I remember you," sent Hawk Moth.

"Give me supervillain powers and I'll give you her and Cat Noir's Miraculous."

"With pleasure. I have new powers for you, Chameleon."

She had expected to be Volpina again, but as the purple magic enveloped her Chameleon thought this new ability would be even more fun. She didn't look any different than before, but that would make it easier to catch her first victim, the boy who had talked down to her.


Adrien was still hanging around by the locker room door. Chameleon pushed him inside so nobody would see what she was about to do.

"Adrien, I wanted to apologize for what just happened. I've thought about it and you're right. I want us to be friends, so I'll never tell another lie again. Will you make peace with me?"

As Adrien hesitated, Chameleon moved in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She instantly turned into a copy of him, and the real Adrien sank to the floor, asleep.

"Whoops, I lied."

Chameleon put Adrien into a locker and shut the door. Chameleon then went out into the schoolyard. He would have to make some public trouble eventually to attract Ladybug and Chat Noir, but first...

Chameleon walked up to Nino and Alya, coming out of a class together.

"Nino, I have something to tell you. You don't deserve my friendship... or your girlfriend... or your cap," said Chameleon as Adrien, snatching off the hat and putting it on.

"Hey!" said Alya.

Chameleon jumped up onto the railing beside them. He was about to make a speech about performing at the Eiffel Tower and leap away when he realized something – doing that would completely blow his cover as a villain. He needed to walk out as Adrien, and later undermine his denials that he had been cruel to his friends.

Chameleon continued walking along the railing, holding out his arms for balance.

Alya called out angrily after him, "Adrien, give back Nino's cap!"

More students were coming out of the room, so Chameleon jeered at them, "So long, losers. I'm rich and famous and I don't need any of you!"

Ladybug came swinging down from the roof with her yo-yo.

"What luck!" thought Chameleon. "I don't even need to do stunts on the Eiffel Tower to bring Ladybug into range."

"Adrien, what are you saying?" asked Ladybug. "There was an akuma loose around here – has a villain affected your mind?"

Chameleon pretended to be startled enough to lose his balance. He wheeled his arms around and let himself fall.

"Help!" Chameleon shouted.

Ladybug swung and caught the impostor in mid-air and brought him safely to the ground.

"My Princess Charming, you saved my life," said Chameleon.

He puckered to give Ladybug a kiss. Ladybug blushed and permitted it. Suddenly there were two Ladybugs, one asleep in the arms of the other.

One of the students watching from above yelled in surprise. "It's a villain! He tricked Ladybug!"

A butterfly-shaped mask of light appeared around Chameleon's eyes as Hawk Moth sent a message: "Get her Miraculous!"

"On it!" said Chameleon, plucking the earrings from the sleeping hero. Ladybug transformed back into Marinette.

"So that was why Marinette knew that Ladybug hadn't saved my life!" thought Chameleon.

"Bring me the Miraculous," Hawk Moth commanded. "Now."

"I could kill her in her sleep," sent Chameleon to Hawk Moth. "It would be so easy..."

"Don't waste time," Hawk Moth sent back. "Bring the Miraculous before Chat Noir arrives."

Chameleon dropped Marinette and used her duplicate copy of the yo-yo to swing away.


Adrien woke up in the locker as soon as Chameleon was no longer using his form.

"Plagg, what happened?"

"That girl was an akuma victim," said Plagg. "Her kiss turned her into a copy of you, and you fell asleep. I was about to try to kiss you awake – I'm glad it didn't come to that."

"Ugh! Me too. Plagg, claws out!"

Chat Noir ran out from the locker room to find Marinette asleep in the middle of the courtyard. He ran to her and gave her a gentle shake.

"Marinette! What happened to you?"

Alya called from above, "Chat Noir! Marinette is Ladybug. A shape-changing villain took her form and ran off with her earrings. You've got to stop them before they take the Miraculous to Hawk Moth."

Nino pointed, "That went that way, just a minute ago!"

"Thanks," said Chat Noir.

Chat launched himself up with his baton and began the pursuit. His mind was full of the revelation of who Ladybug really was, but he couldn't afford to dwell on that. He had to stop the fake Ladybug or all was lost!