Chapter 3
Adrien Agreste awoke the next morning with the biggest headache he ever had. It didn't help that he was up all night patrolling the city nor did it help that the sunlight was streaming through his window and hitting on his face. The blond groaned, rolling over and placing a pillow over his head in attempt to go back to sleep but no such luck. Someone was knocking on the door. Adrien listened again, trying to distinguish who it was. Three sharp knocks with a pause before they continued. The blond model groaned as he realized who it was. Nathalie Sancoeur. His father's personal assistant. Groggily, Adrien stood and made his way to the door. He yanked it open right as Nathalie was about to knock again.
The woman froze, her eyes going wide when she saw that the blond was awake. "Oh Adrien. Good, you're up."
"Yeah." The young boy groaned.
"Your father instructed me to give you your new photoshoot schedule." The red tinted, raven-haired woman handed the still sleepy boy a spread sheet. "Also start getting ready. School starts in twenty minutes. We'll talk more in the car."
Adrien groaned as he shut his door. But he started to undress anyway. After a cold shower that jerked him awake, Adrien dressed in his usual dark grey shirt with a white jacket and blue jeans. As always, he brushed his hair in a way that made it look naturally tousled and, yet, well-kept. Plagg, Adrien's kwami, was just starting to rouse as he was gathering all his required books for the day. The cheese-loving kwami looked like Adrien felt. Though the young model wondered if it was just because of that energy wave or whatever last night. The boy paused by his nightstand, his hand reaching out hesitantly. Hidden in a false bottom was a strange sword with a glowing green blade. It had been given to him by someone he dubbed the Goddess right before the dance which ended in Cole Branusz getting killed and Peacock injured. Ever since, the young boy had been training with Master Cammi. He had learned that he was a force-sensitive on his mother's side, who had yet to be found. He wondered if he could try and get in touch with the Goddess. Though he had been trying constantly, most of his attempts had been failures. Maybe he should consult Madame Cammi about it? The ghost had seen and heard many things in her time as a Grand Master. Perhaps she knew what he was talking about.
"Adrien!" Nathalie's voice cut through his thinking.
"Coming," He informed the assistant. The blond model didn't think twice as he snatched the sword and stuffed it deep down into his bag. Plagg dashed into the hidden pocket as Adrien dashed out the door. He made sure to grab a banana from the kitchen before dashing out the front door. The limo was waiting outside. Adrien threw the door opened and slid in. Once his seatbelt was fastened and Nathalie had taken her place across from him, the limo jerked forward. The Gorilla was none too careful when driving through traffic, even with Adrien in the car.
"So, there is a new photographer that we're going to see this afternoon goes by the name John McCrowic." Nathalie informed looking over her tablet. She went on to explain to Adrien about the new and up and coming photographer from America. But the blond model had tuned her out a while ago, staring out the window melancholy. Though the late summer day was beautiful, there was an air of darkness that hung like a heavy shadow. He sighed as he refocused his attention on Nathalie, who was still going on about the photographer.
About five minutes later, the limousine pulled up to the school. There were students mingling outside in the courtyard. Adrien spotted Nino, his best friend, speaking with Ayla and Marinette. The blond noticed that the blunette seemed a little less energetic. That probably had something to do with the dark bags that hung underneath her eyes. He made a note as he got out of the car to ask the young girl if she was alright. It seemed that the normally relaxed and even-tempered Marinette had become tense and very easily angered. She even came to school looking like she had spent the entire night up, sometimes falling asleep in class.
Adrien knew that it didn't have to do with the stress of graduation. True, he and the entire senior class was starting to feel the pressure of graduation, Adrien himself was feeling relaxed. The fact that he was at the top of his class said a lot about his preparation for graduation, despite there being a few scares here or there during his Junior year.
"I'm tellin' ya girl, it was so bizarre." Ayla exclaimed as Adrien crept up behind the blunette. The dark-skinned girl smiled slightly to herself when she caught the blond model sneaking up on her best friend. Adrien did a shushing motion as the amateur reporter continued, "I was listening to the radio when all of the sudden there was this sort of interference."
"What kind of interference?" Marinette asked, still completely unaware of her crush sneaking up on her.
"It's hard to explain." Ayla muttered. "I could hear some static and then all of the sudden there were voices asking for help."
"Really? Well may-AH!" Marinette squealed loudly as Adrien finally made himself known. The blunette turned around, fuming. Though it looked like she was about to yell at Adrien the anger melted away to something the blond, green-eyed model had gotten used to over the years: nervousness. Even though the two had known each other since they were freshmen, Adrien still couldn't figure out why the girl was so nervous around him. She still stuttered whenever he was near!
"Hey guys," he greeted with a chuckle.
"Hi…" Marinette muttered, somewhat dreamily.
"So whatcha guys talking about?"
"Ayla thinks she heard an alien conversation." Nino explained in a disbelieving tone. The young DJ crossed his arms, looking rather skeptical.
"I did!" The reporter defended.
"Sure, you did. Next thing you'll tell us is that you overheard a conversation about Area 51."
Ayla continued to babble about how the transmission was probably a secret meeting. She ran her mouth, speaking so excitedly that it was almost difficult to understand her. But thankfully the blonde model was fluent in babble. The reporter continued to speak, saying she suspected it was between several leaders who were leading a rebellion against some sort of Empire. When Nino asked for proof, Ayla whipped out her phone and played a recording.
Adrien raised his eyebrow as he took in his other friends' faces. Marinette looked hesitant to believe it while Nino just looked like he found out the meaning of life. Adrien didn't doubt the existence of extraterrestrial beings, even before he found the Underground Temple. When he did find the Underground Temple, and then find out that Peacock and Queen Bee were a part of an intergalactic rebellion to overthrow a tyrannical government, he had been ecstatic to learn that aliens were in fact real. Madame Cammi also being an alien ghost also blew the lid off his mind. But how did Ayla pick up a transmission?
He was going to have to talk to Queen Bee and Madame Cammi.
Before anyone could say anything, the bell rang for first period. Like a large swarm, all the students milling around moved towards the entrance. It caused a slight jam but eventually it moved, albeit slowly. Adrien was lost in his thoughts, still thinking about the incident last night and the transmission that Ayla picked up. The young boy scrunched up his brow as he turned his attention down to his jacket, where Plagg had carefully stuck out his head. He figured that the black cat kwami knew something he didn't but if Plagg doesn't tell him, then he wouldn't worry about it. Adrien sighed as he entered the school, finally becoming free of the swarm as he headed towards his locker. He hadn't stepped foot over the threshold when he was assaulted by someone with blonde hair and practically bathed in expensive cologne.
"ADRIEKINS!" Chloe Bourgeois shouted happily. The daughter of the mayor of Paris hadn't changed much since they reached senior year. She still had her signature black and white striped shirt, yellow jacket, white pants and belt, all designer of course. Her personal assistant, Sabrina, changed more than the blonde brat. The girl's red hair was longer, and pulled back with a greet scrunchie in a ponytail. She had done away with the bangs and glasses, replacing her plaid sweater with a tank top and blue jeans. The redhead was no longer hunched over timidly, but while she stood straighter, Sabrina still followed Chloe like a lost puppy and did everything the daughter of the mayor said.
"Ugh," Adrien groaned, his eyes heavenward. After all these years, Chloe still didn't get the memo that Adrien wasn't into her. He wasn't even sure if Chloe understood the word 'no'. Perhaps that it was something that she didn't have in her limited vocabulary.
"How is my darling boyfriend doing?" the blonde cooed.
"For the millionth time, I'm NOT your boyfriend!" Adrien growled slightly, shoving the snob off. Since subtly didn't work for the past three years, the model decided to be blunt with Chloe. "How many times do I have to tell you that?"
Chloe pouted and stuck her nose in the air. She didn't say another word as she stalked off, Sabrina close behind her. Adrien was thankful that Chloe didn't cause a scene like last time. He shook his head before heading over to his locker. He spared a quick glance at Marinette, who had her head stuck in her locker like an ostrich hiding (a common misconception btw). Adrien walked over to her, careful not to startle her again. As he got closer, he could hear her talking to someone, and someone talking right back. Maybe she was on the phone and she had it on speaker? Deciding it was best not to interrupt a possible conversation, Adrien diverted his path to his own locker. He placed his light sword in his locker discreetly before grabbing everything he would need for today.
Okay let's see: I've got algebra, history, chemistry and English, he went over his mental checklist in him mind, pulling out all the books and binders he would need. Every senior was required to take at least one foreign language before they could graduate and since Adrien was basically fluent in every other language, he decided to try English. Boy did he have a rude awakening. English was the strangest language. It had so many rules and yet so many shortcuts and things that the rules don't apply. Like different words could mean the same thing or words that are spelled differently when changed from plural to singular. Adrien struggled slightly to learn all the rules and things that applied to English but it seems that he was getting the hang of it.
The bell rang, pulling Adrien out of his thoughts. He slammed his locker before sprinting towards first period. Adrien sighed as he slid next to Nino, the young DJ jamming along to his loud yet stylish music. Up on the board, the classes bell was already written out and those already there were starting on it. With a sigh, the secret hero of Paris opened his binder to the first sheet of clean notebook paper before writing it down. Adrien wondered what Hawkmoth had been up to in the year and a half of silence.
Adrien vaguely remembered the first full week without an Akuma attack. He, like the majority of Paris, were feeling on edge, knowing that one week without an attack would mean at least a month of consistent attacks, one right after the other, would follow. But as the month continued to drag on slowly without a single attack, every assumed that the villain of Paris had either quit or had moved on. Everyone had begun to slowly relax, although that was quite the opposite of Queen Bee and Peacock. Their entire demeanor had changed, going from relaxed observer to on-edge soldiers. The change was so sudden, it was almost scary. The two had started to plan specific attacks, insisting that Hawkmoth was planning something big. They had plans in case of a sudden Akuma attacks, and backup plans for the original plans and backups for the backups. Queen Bee and Peacock also issued mandatory training on the first week of every month just so they could keep up their strength.
Adrien was once again pulled from his musing by the sound of his teacher's voice. Madame Holinder started the class with a bright, cheery voice, which soon transformed into a dull monotone as she discussed Linear Equations. The class went on like this for the entire ninety minutes that they were there. Adrien caught himself dozing several times but eventually fought off sleep as he scribbled down notes and equations.
Once algebra was over, the two friends moved to Chemistry together and took their place at their lab stations. As they started to prepare for the day's experiment, Adrien suddenly felt the air become supercharged. He froze for a second as the hairs on the back of his neck stood razor-straight. It was one of his many sixth senses, one that he had received when he put the Cat Miraculous on his finger. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Marinette fumble with a class beaker. He shrugged it off as her typical clumsiness. He resumed his work but was on edge.
Something was about to go down….
-Line break-
Several miles down the road at the Pierre et Marie Curie University, a young woman stood over a microscope, examining a blood red crystal. She was fascinated with the crystal since she found it years ago. It gave off strange energies, especially when placed next to a similar crystal of the same composition but assorted color. According to her three year-long research both crystals gave off the same frequency, though the red crystal's frequency was sometimes weaker than the green. Both refracted light when hit with a large beam of energy, creating a blade that was like plasma but when vibrated ever so slightly created energy that seemed to last far longer and far cleaner than nuclear energy. Sara had a theory that if the city of Paris could harness the energy which was completely environmentally friendly, having a clean source of energy for eons to come.
The young woman took a couple more notes before placing the red crystal on the opposite of the microscope. She learned early on in her experiments that the red and green crystal do not mix. It could've had something to do with the different frequencies but whatever it was, Sara made sure to keep two far away from each other.
The young scientist jumped when the alarm on her phone went off. She smiled as she shut it off, gathered her data and the crystals and quickly ran as fast as she could towards her boss's office. Sara had a meeting with the head of the department in order to get more funding to test her hypothesis. But as she exited the lab, she halted suddenly at the sight of the president of the university with the head of the department. The heavily set man turned towards the timid scientist, his glasses just barely hanging on to his nose.
"Ah, you must be Mademoiselle Sara," The man drawled.
"Oui monsieur." Sara whispered, slightly intimidated.
"You're just the person I wanted to see." For a moment, Sara's hopes were risen. Perhaps the head of the department told the president of her tests and experiments and most likely her hypothesis and was going to fund the project. However, the young woman's hopes fell like a downed bird at the next sentence, "Due to certain incidents, there have been budget cuts. Many of the departments are feeling the stress of them, and this department will not be any different. I am sorry but we will have to cut your little…. experiment short."
"What?" Sara breathed. After three years of grueling work, long hours that eventually caused the breakup of her nine-year long relationship, they were going to cut her funding?! "How much are you to cut my funding?"
The president chuckled. "Mademoiselle, there will be no funding. Your experiment is finished!"
"But sir please!" Sara pleaded. The man started to walk away but she quickly stood in his way. "I've been working on this for three years and I'm almost broken through! I just need a little more time!"
"I'm sorry my dear, I really am. But my decision is final. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with the mayor of Paris in an hour. I expect your things to be moved by the end of this week."
As the heavy-set president walked away, Sara felt herself fall to the floor. Her research, and the crystals all clattered to the floor while she sobbed. She felt so angry! She didn't see the red crystal start to pulse a blood red light, illuminating the corridor.
Anger filled the usually docile girl. She wanted nothing more now than revenge!
-Line break-
In a secret attic, a hawk shaped window opened, placing a spotlight on a single figure wearing a grey mask and a purple suit. Attached to his lapel, there was a hawk shaped brooch. Hawkmoth, villainous wielder of the Moth Miraculous, smiled viciously as he felt a strong bout of anger emanating from somewhere in Paris. It had been too long since he had found a perfect outlet for his villainous purposes.
"Such anger, such hate. It has been so long since I've felt this kind of anger." The Villon monologued to no one. "My precious Akuma, come to me."
He held out his hand, and one of many pure white butterflies flew into his hand. The unknown villain covered the butterfly with the other, allowing darkness to turn the butterfly's snow-white wings into a dark violet with small cracks of lavender. He tossed it into the air, allowing it to fly.
"Go my precious akuma. Go and turn this young soul's anger into a weapon."
The akuma flew until it reached the source of the anger. Since the human wasn't holding anything, it decided to fly into the strongest negative feeling thing there.
It chose a blood red crystal, which turned a strange color. Sara grabbed it after the akuma had fluttered inside, changing the color. Suddenly Sara stopped sobbing, a look of anger appearing as well as a holographic butterfly over her eyes. A voice, strong and commanding, spoke.
"Lady Gaia, I am Hawkmoth," The voice informed. "I give you the power to move the very earth itself to get revenge on those that wronged you. All you have to give me in return are the miraculouses of the heroes of Paris."
Images of a green and blue brooch, a bee-shaped hair comb, a pair of black and red earrings and a black ring with a cat paw print in the center appeared in her mind. She smiled evilly as she stood.
With three words, she sealed the deal. "As you wish."
A black cloud engulfed the young woman, turning her lab coat and clothes into a dress made from leaves. Her sandals vanished and the two crystals appeared around her neck, tied by a string. Fingerless gloves covered her hands, all the way up to her elbow while her hair was done so it looked like it hadn't been brushed in weeks. The scientist's skin tone changed from a pale milky white to an earthen color. Her blue eyes changed to dark purple with hints of yellow, and a white butterfly mask appeared over eyes, makring her as an akuma. She slammed her hand wrist deep into the nearest wall, calling forth the earth to aid her. It replied, raising her on a pedestal until she broke through the roof and she was staring at the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
Ready or not Mr. President….
Here she came…..
-Line break-
Adrien was enjoying a simple lunch when something strange happened. A chill, like a winter breeze had been turned into a snake, slithered up his spine. Everything seemed to slow down and there was a low whistling sound. Fear and anger filled the air suddenly, making it slightly difficult to breath. He didn't know he had spaced out until Nino snapped his fingers in front of Adrien's face several times. The two were eating a packed lunch and in the middle of a heated argument regarding a recent comic book movie. Adrien gave his friend a sheepish smile before taking a large bite out of his sandwich. He felt suddenly like a horse that had been spooked. Discreetly, while Nino was still talking, Adrien glanced around, looking for something out of place.
A few minutes later, he got his answer.
Outside, there was an explosion followed by terrified screams. Adrien immediately jumped up from his seat and ran outside. There he was greeted by a sight he dreaded to see.
An akuma stood triumphantly amongst a few pods of vines that were intertwined. There were a dozen people screaming, to which the akuma replied by thrusting out her hand, calling forth a group of vines that quickly entangled him or her. The akuma gave a wicked laugh that made Adrien's blood to run cold. He glanced around and dove into an alley right as the woman turned to the school. He hid behind a dumpster as a shadow loomed over him.
"I sense the Cat Miraculous and…. something else," the akuma muttered. Adrien felt a strange rush of feeling. It was a combination of fear and sadness, serenity and power. It made him very sick to his stomach. "Hmm. Never mind."
Adrien waited a moment before he opened up his jacket. Plagg flew out, looking very spooked. "Maybe we should just let Ladybug have this one."
"What?" Adrien was shocked. Plagg could be cowardly, but never to the point where he would let Ladybug have all the glory.
"Something's not right with that Akuma." Plagg got close to Adrien's face. And the blond was taken back at the sight of the fear in the black cat fairy's eyes. "I know you felt it."
"Yeah. But that doesn't mean that we should sit this one out." Adrien stood, finished with the arguments. He spoke the next phrase with more conviction then what he has ever done, "Plagg! Claws out!"
Without much choice, the fairy of the Black Cat Miraculous was sucked into the silver ring that rested on Adrien's finger. The ring became pitch black with a green cat paw. Adrien didn't bother with the little dance that he did with the transformation. Once the green lightning finished transforming him, Chat Noir darted out of the shadows. He saw the swath of destruction and followed it into the school. He barely set foot over the threshold when he saw the first pods. There were also people tied at the wrist, ankles and with a gag around their mouths. Chat Noir tugged and pulled at the vines but they didn't budge. Screaming pulled his attention away from those trapped. Sabrina came running out of the classroom as though she was the Road Runner. But the red head only got a couple of steps before a vine snaked around her ankle and pulled her back. Chat Noir jumped over the railing and grabbed the girl's hand. She had tears in her eyes as she tightened her grip.
"Chat Noir!" A familiar voice called. The blond hero didn't look back, fear of letting go of the girl despite his grip probably bruising his classmate's hand. There was a sizzling noise behind him before the vine was cut in half. Sabrina fell to the ground with a groan as the smell of burnt fiber filled the air. Chat glanced up to see Peacock with her blade. The blue-green heroine gave the blade a twirl before deactivating it and placing it at her belt. Chat Noir helped Sabrina up, the redhead thanking both him and Peacock.
"Head out to the front." Peacock ordered gently. "There are paramedics out there."
"Okay." Sabrina nodded, clutching her hand.
"What are we dealing with here?" Peacock asked. Before Chat could answer the door to the room where Sabrina just came out of. There stood the akuma in all her terrifying glory. Her face was scrunched up in a look of anger and disgust. The stones around her neck glowed as she raised her hand, vines breaking through the floor.
"Oh." Peacock whispered in fear as she backed up slowly. "That's what we're dealing with."
The akuma thrust out her hand, the vines following her command. Peacock and Chat Noir did several back flips to avoid the vines that tried to snag them. The blue-green hero had her sword out, mowing down vines while Chat deflected them with his staff. Just when they thought that they were going to be plant food, Queen Bee and Ladybug appeared. Chat had to bite back a remark that wormed its way into his mind. Now was not the time to quarrel with his teammates.
"We need to locate the Akuma!" Ladybug shouted. She dodged another vine which infuriated the akuma even more.
"NO!" She shouted. The off-colored crystal around her neck glowed a strange color. "I AM POWER! I AM THE EARTH ITSELF! YOU WILL HAND ME YOUR MIRACULOUS OR SUFFER!"
Both Queen Bee and Peacock froze at the voice. It sounded like a man's voice, one that held power and conviction. With renewed vigor, the two heroines leapt forward. Ladybug shouted out that the crystals around her neck were probably akumatized, though they didn't even get close. Peacock had use all her knives and Queen Bee all her darts. In five minutes, they would change back into their civilian forms.
They had to hurry.
"LUCKY CHARM!" Ladybug shouted. Chat Noir leapt in front of his lady to defend her from the vines while she threw up her yoyo to get something useful. Chat Noir didn't see what fell but by the groan of disbelief meant that the miraculous granted her with something she doesn't think is useful. But his Lady was smart. She would figure something out.
"I have four minutes!" Peacock shouted as she jumped over the vines. She stumbled and that moment of lowered defensive cost her. Vines ensnared her, circling up her body and trapping it within a cocoon of leaves.
"NO!" Queen Bee shouted in anguish. The akuma, who Chat Noir deduced to be some sort of earth goddess, chuckled evilly as she made a crushing motion. The pod glowed green before it slowly became smaller. And smaller. And smaller.
For a moment, the akuma's dark purple eyes turned to a sickly yellow. The exact color of Cole's eyes before he tried to kill Peacock and the other miraculous holders a year and a half ago. Chat Noir froze, the fear and anger that suddenly permeated the air froze him. All he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his ears. Ladybug and Queen Bee, who were trying to get the pod pried open with a screwdriver, were moving in slow motion. But the Akuma was moving at normal speed. When he glanced at her, she was surrounded in an aura of purple and red. There was a man behind her, one with yellow eyes, pale skin and red lines down his face.
"The Bogan shall rise once more," the man spoke, in a deep tone. It was one that was laced with power and evil. "It shall over shadow the entire galaxy and destroy all that hold the Light of the Ashla within them. No one will be left to oppose that which is destine to come to pass."
Time sped up once again. Chat moved forward to keep Lady Gaia occupied. He paid no heed to the vision that he just saw. He needed all his attention on this task. When the black cat saw the opportunity, he grabbed the off-colored stone off the woman's neck. She cried out as if in pain. Chat Noir suddenly felt angry and royally pissed off for some reason. He dropped the stone, which clattered on the ground. He smashed the stone into small pieces with the heel of his foot.
"NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!" The scream of the akumatized person suddenly shouted. She arched her back as if in pain. The scream was followed by a burst of energy that threw Chat Noir, Queen Bee and Ladybug back across the yard. Queen Bee stood quickly and pulled out another sword. She stood over the two younger miraculous holders protectively. In another language, Queen Bee said something defiant. The akuma replied with another shout but it died off as a purple cloud engulfed her. When it vanished, it left a confused and very drained scientist.
A purple butterfly flittered out of the shards of the crystal, which was caught by Ladybug's yoyo. A moment later, it was purified and flew away clean. The vine-pods vanished, unwrapping and letting the people trapped within them go free. Peacock appeared a moment later, seemingly unconscious. Queen Bee quickly rushed to the brunette's side. She sighed when she saw her chest move up and down. But her miraculous was close to timing out.
"Queen Bee!" Chat called out. The blonde took her attention away from her injured friend to the young boy. "I think you need to see this."
The blond carefully picked up the two crystals. When Ladybug fixed everything, the red crystal had returned to one piece. He repressed a shiver of fear and anger and hate that entered his body through the crystal. In the other, he felt sooth by the presence of joy and happiness and serenity. It felt like the emotions were battling for control until two black-gloved hands took them. The green-eyed hero glanced up to see her face scrunched up. For a moment, Queen Bee actually look…. scared. She placed the green crystal in her pouch that usually held her darts before turning to the scientist who was looking around confused with the red crystal in her hand.
"Where did you find this?"
"I found it in the mountains a few years ago when I was hiking." The scientist answered shakily. She shook her head as if to clear the remaining fog from her mind. "They seemed to call me. I was so fascinated with it. The red one and the green one seemed to grow from each other. But when I removed them, they seemed to repel each other like magnets."
"You said they grew from each other?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Queen Bee turned towards Chat Noir, her miraculous beeping. She only had a few minutes. Grabbing the still unconscious Peacock, Queen Bee spoke with a tone that commanded complete and ultimate respect and obedience, "We will meet at the Entrance of the Catacombs tomorrow evening at dusk. Be there on time. There is something we need to discuss."
With that, the older miraculous holder vanished, leaving Chat Noir believing something terrible was on the horizon and they had just set things in motion.
Only problem: what was going to happen?