It didn't take long for the six to de-transform, their Kwami now flying ahead of them as they followed Swan Princess' faint figure running over the rooftops above. "Tikki," Marinette asked, "can you get up there and make sure we don't lose her?"

"We'll go together," Plagg said as the Kwami duo flew up and away, "and stay out of view!"

"The road's splitting up ahead," Adrien pointed out, "let's see if we can't surround her. Come on, Oscar," he grabbed Marinette's hand, "you'll come with us to the left. Carolyn, keep going right until we meet again!"

Marinette let him drag her along behind Oscar, but not before she glanced back at the other girls. Chloe had stopped running, staring in shock at Adrien as Maggie tugged her down the right road with Carolyn.

Adrien didn't ask her to come with us…he went right for my hand, and not hers…I can't imagine how much this much be hurting her.

Swan Princess kept a quick pace, leaping over chimneys and dodging in and out of the moonlight. "She may be heading for HawkMoth," Marinette finally slid her hand out of Adrien's, "leading us right to him."

"She's no fool," Oscar said, "I have a feeling we're on our way to Miss Tiara's Dancing Scene."

"What? Why?"

"To gather her things – because she's leaving the city before we have a chance to arrest her."

"That can't happen," Adrien looked to Marinette, "what do we do now, m'lady?"

"…Call Chloe," she nodded to him, "I may just have an idea."

Swan Princess stood on the rooftop across from the dance studio, waiting for Miss Grammar to lock up, the lights turning off inside. She slipped her bag over her shoulder and walked back down the sidewalk with a friend, chatting away until they were out of sight. "…"

There will be no show for me now, she slipped down onto the street, I'll have to contact HawkMoth quickly-?

A single light came back on inside the studio. Swan Princess moved over to the window and peered inside to catch a glimpse of whoever had decided to stay past lockup. "…My," she immediately recognized the dancer, "how'd she get here before me?"

Chloe Bourgeois pirouetted in the middle of the room to soft music, faintly swirling around her as she twirled endlessly. Flittering around by the CD player was none other than a small bee-like Kwami, swaying their head to the music.

I knew she was Queen Bee, Swan Princess rounded the building to the back door, now is the time to retrieve the miraculous.

Without a security system it was almost too easy breaking into the studio, and soon she stood just outside the door of the room where Chloe was practicing. She peeked around the doorframe to see her performing all too familiar moves.

She's not practicing the moves of the Monarch…she's practicing my moves! That's the choreography of the Swindling Sparrow!

She stood in the doorway, waiting to be noticed. It only took a few seconds for the bee Kwami to see her and gasp, and shortly after Chloe halted mid-spin and gawked. "W-Whoa," she nearly stumbled over herself, "I didn't think you'd be here that fast!"

"I had the head start."

"Yeah, well…I'm amazing. Your argument's invalid."

"This is precisely why I'm here," she sighed, "because people like you don't deserve this sort of power."

"Oh, cuz you're so perfect."

"No, I'm not, but at least I don't try to be," she stepped over to Chloe until their faces were inches from each other, standing off in the now silent room, "I understand the important of humility."

"So it looks like we know each other's secrets."

"Of course."

"Tell me, then, Beatrice Roberts," Chloe crossed her arms, "why work with HawkMoth? All he does is cause trouble, something I doubt you agree with."

"His powers are useful when it comes to temporary control over people who would otherwise be in my way."

"Even innocent citizens not wanting any trouble to begin with? Not much of an argument you've got there."

"I'm trying to tell you that order comes from fear."

"…You want people to fear you?"

She circled Chloe, keeping an eye on her and the bee Kwami. "HawkMoth isn't feared anymore because of you and the other heroes, but I've shown my skills against Raven, Odonata and Bunny, and now that I know who they are, I can reveal their identities, weakening them. I came here to join HawkMoth because I believe there is a certain order to his work that can help spread my plan over our countries."

"Oh, perfect," Chloe stepped back, "you're some sort of psychotic dictator. Look, just because your father is all great and orderly doesn't mean you have to-"

Smack!

Swan Princess let the blow of her hand sink into Chloe's cheek as the blonde tumbled out of her reach. "You will not speak of my father. I'm no dictator, I'm trying to help keep crime under control, but I can only do so by putting fear into the hearts of the criminals…and those who could become criminals."

"And in doing so," Chloe spat back, tears in her eyes from the sting of the slap, "you became the very thing you're trying to fight! Raven might be super annoying, but at least we can trust him!"

"You can trust me. I'm not here to be your enemy, not if-"

"Not if I agree with everything you say, right? Forget it," she turned away, "I'm here to protect Paris by getting people to like me."

"People like you?"

She gasped. "The nerve!"

"Tell me, do your partners respect you?"

"Of course…they…do…"

"I see. Why do you think they don't respect you?" Swan Princess leaned in towards her, completely serious in her intentions. "Because they don't take you seriously. You may consider me "evil", but people respect my power…they could respect you, too," she held her hand out, "follow my lead."

"…And?"

She let a small smile appear on her face. "Let me educate you on authority."

Double chapter today because this story is wrapping up, and you guys have been so patient that you deserve a treat ;)

Where Raven was created as the sort of hero that tries to be like Batman, intimidating but also caring to both those they're saving and those they're fighting, Swan Princess is what Batman never wanted to become, someone feared by everyone and willing to blur the lines of morality in order to get what they believe is right. Will Chloe make the right choice?

Until the next chapter!