Marinette jerked from where she sat at her desk, alarmed and surprised. Beside her, Tikki was up as well, looking stiff and unnerved. When the two shared a glance, the air thick and heavy between them. Tikki broke it with a whisper, "Something's wrong."
Before Marinette could speak, Tikki darted away, going near her window and peering outside, like she could see what was wrong that way. Maybe she did by how she stared out in one direction, her antennas set high and stiff, not turning around as Marinette came up behind the kwami to peer out with her.
"What, what's going on?" Marinette asked. "What was that?" She reached for her earrings, noting how they felt warm under her hand, an uncomfortable heat.
"That was Sparrow," Tikki said, her voice soft and low, turning to Marinette, looking nervous. Looking scared. "Something is wrong with Sparrow."
"Sparrow," Marinette repeated, surprised. She dropped her hand, brow furrowed. She babbled out, "How, what is— what do you mean? How would we know, why are my earrings—"
Tikki waited till Marinette went quiet, staring up at her holder with a worried expression. When Marinette went silent, staring down at Tikki with confusion and nervousness, Tikki finally answered her.
"The ladybug miraculous is the miraculous of creation. It is one of the two most powerful miraculouses and because of this, it has a unique power. All who wear it are the ultimate creators." Tikki glanced back out the window, frowning as she considered her words. "For being the ultimate creator, a Ladybug has only the limit of never making a weapon." Turning back to Marinette, she continued, "But, while a Ladybug can't make a weapon, they can make means of protection and wonder and have means to assist my holders. They can make miracles."
"Miracles?" Marinette repeated.
Tikki nodded. "Sparrow is a miracle. Well, he owns one of the few miracles made by Ladybugs." At Marinette's wide eyes, Tikki elaborated, "A miracle is sort of like a miraculous, made by Ladybugs when they need help but there are no other holders to turn to. There are no kwamis attached to these miracles, though, a miracle made based on an existing miraculous, a kwami has the power to come to the wearer through the miracle. But they will never belong to that holder.
"They can never be selfishly used. It will not respond or grant power to anyone that has a selfish use for it, and wearing one places the wearer in the servitude of a Ladybug. A miracle holder lives to serve the desires and purpose of a Ladybug in exchange for power. It's kind of like being a knight to a Ladybug."
"So Sparrow, he's a knight? My knight?" Marinette asked, brows furrowed. Tikki nodded.
"The sparrow miracle was made a long time ago by Jeanne d'Arc when she was on her own in facing the war. His arrows were meant to fly straight and true, to see to her safety and wishes on the battlefield."
Marinette leaned back in her seat, resting her wrist on her desk as she peered outside. "How many miracles are there? Out there?"
"I don't know," Tikki answered softly. "Sparrow might be the last miracle to exist, for now, or there might be more. I know many that had been made before were destroyed by Prince John, when he had Maid Marian in his claws, using Plagg's power to end their existence." Tikki winced, trailing slightly in remembrance of seeing her creations destroyed. Shaking her head, she continued, "I remember he was waiting for King Richard to return with the lion miracle, to destroy that one. Sparrow was the last miracle to be made by a Ladybug."
"And the current owner of that miracle is an akuma," Marinette murmured, reaching up to lightly touch the warm earrings.
Tikki nodded. "It feels like it." She glanced to the window, adding, "Sparrow may come towards us with that connection."
Marinette narrowed her eyes, calculating and planning. "Or, we can head towards him." It was a connection they could make use of. Find him before he did anything.
"Be careful," Tikki warned. He may know when your coming, and Hawk Moth may know as well."
With an understanding nod, Marinette transformed, pulling out her yo-yo to leave Chat a message, and after a moment of thought, sent it out to Queen Bee and Volpina. She hurried out, racing towards Sparrow, focusing on the heat coming off her miraculous.
Chloe stared long and hard at the bee comb in her hand, tilting the plain looking pin about, taking in the modest shine of the jewelry piece. She pursed her lips, squinting at it. With a loud sigh, she slouched onto the table, setting her finger on the miraculous and balancing the edge on the table top. Under her finger, it rocked side to side, looking bored while Chloe stared at it.
The blonde found herself in a moment of dull contemplation, her thoughts turning slowly, a whisper of questions nudging her ears, questions she wasn't sure she wanted to find the answer to. But still her thoughts swirled, poking over and over again, trying to get her to face those answers, to answer them.
"You look like you've seen better days."
Chloe looked up, watching Pollen come and hover over her, dark eyes blinking as she eyed the current holder of the bee. Chloe thinks her eyes flickered to the bee comb under Chloe's finger but the teen wasn't sure.
Pollen drew near, asking, "Do you want me to get you some chocolate, honey? Most humans seem to like that when they're sad."
Chloe just gave a small nod and Pollen darted off, a glowing yellow trail behind her. With a sigh, Chloe rose up, heading towards her vanity and sliding the comb into her hair, turning her head to eye it. Puckering her lips, she took it out.
"What's got you so troubled, honey?" Pollen asked, some chocolate in her paws, offering them to Chloe, eyes set to her miraculous.
Chloe didn't answer, taking the chocolate from Pollen and nibbling on it. Pollen hovered close, staring at the mirror, head tilted as she considered the girl in the mirror.
"You know, you still look tired," Pollen said. When Chloe sent her a sharp look, the kwami added, "But that angry spark in your eye isn't there anymore." Pollen smiled. "I don't think you're the wasp you used to be."
"I'm still a wasp," Chloe said.
Pollen's smile grew. "True. I don't think that will change, but you won't sting recklessly at everyone. You're on the way to improvement. You should be happy."
Chloe lifted the comb, frowning at it. "You were meant for Ali, right?"
"Intentionally, yes. But you, he deemed, needed more guidance than him." Pollen drew away, head tilting as she considered Chloe. "I can't say he's wrong."
Chloe shot her a look.
"But in truth, kwamis aren't the only means of guidance. And sometimes even we don't know everything. Guidance and support from friends can do a far better job than I could."
Chloe frowned, setting the comb on her vanity. She murmured, "Sometimes I don't think I'm really cut out for this hero stuff."
Pollen blinked. "Why do you—"
"I'm still a wasp. After all this, I'm still a wasp. Like, I'm still frustrated, but tired. And I'm not happy. Like, what sort of hero is that? Who looks at a wasp and see a hero?" Maybe the bee should just stay with a real bee…
Pollen hummed thoughtfully. "A heroic wasp, perhaps." Chloe raised a brow. "As infamous as wasps are, they aren't all evil. There is good to them as well. Did you know they're symbols of new beginnings?"
Chloe glanced at Pollen, her expression turning curious and intrigued.
"New beginnings, sisterhood, order, communication, progress, a warrior," Pollen listed off with a smile. "They may be symbols of spite and chaos, and some can include anger, but that isn't all there is to them. There are good characteristics as well. Not as known, but they are there. A heroic wasp isn't as unbelievable as you'd think. They can have a mean sting, but they can bring just as much good as any other."
Blue eyes bright, she turned towards Pollen, voicing, "So, even as a wasp, I wouldn't be bad."
"No, honey, you don't need to turn yourself into a complete bee to be good. You can do it as a wasp, it may be harder and some people may be weary of you, but it's possible. And sometimes you need a wasp instead of a bee."
Chloe chuckled, dropping into her loveseat, holding up the bee miraculous. Jokingly, she said, "Maybe I should've gotten the wasp miraculous instead. Is there even one?"
Pollen chuckled, seating herself on Chloe's knee. She said, "I think you and Mettle would get along, for the most part. Such a rarity that would be."
Chloe blinked as Pollen floated away. Chloe called out, "Wait. There is a wasp miraculous?"
Pollen paused long enough to answer, turning to the girl with a small, bittersweet smile. "There's a wasp kwami. Most wouldn't dream of encountering her, but you, perhaps would be that rarity to get along with her."
Before Chloe could ask more, Pollen drifted away, humming a little tune to herself.
Ladybug dropped down on the roof, slowly looking around for the akuma or any of her comrades. Seeing no one, she stood and walked forward, allowing herself to be guided by the heat coming off her earrings. She was close. Sparrow was just around here…
Ladybug jumped when something heavy landed behind her, rattling the roof. She looked back, blinking to see a big, bulking figure coming towards her. She reacted, throwing her yo-yo out to it only to give a start when it bounced off. She jumped away as the figure charged, coming into the light and allowing her to see her attacker.
She stared at it, raising a brow at what looked like a pawn from a chessboard. Landing on an adjacent roof, Ladybug had a start when another pawn appeared, rushing to her. She almost jumped into the arms of another, scrambling to escape the charging pawns.
"Alright, chess related akuma tonight," she murmured to herself, moving higher and farther away from the pawns. She mind flew, going everything she remembered from chess, blue eyes sliding about, trying to find the king. That was the centerpiece. The mastermind. If she could find the king she can—
Ladybug faltered when there was a booming, thundering pounding filling the air. There was a loud, shrill shriek and she does away, dodging a pale horse-like shape rushing past her. She stood, facing the pale beast as it turned to her, marble heavy steps rattling the roof they were on.
"A knight," Ladybug mumbled, "great."
There was another shriek from the knight, leaping high into the air, hooves pointed down for her. She rolled below it, raising her wrists to block the worst of the dust and debris. She grinned, peeking over her wrists as the horse turned towards her. From what she remembered, knights were useless when you were next to them—
Ladybug ducked down, dodging a hoof aimed at her head.
"Mistake," she cried, scrambling away though not too far to keep the knight from jumping, "that was a mistake."
With an angry noise, the knight jumped away, trying to find the right angle and distance to go at Ladybug. Ladybug followed, not giving the knight a chance to get the upper hand. All the while she had her yo-yo out, trying to get ahold of someone.
"This seems to happen a lot," she grumbled.
Eyes set to her to-yo, she barely caught sight of blur rushing towards her. Ladybug jumped into the air, watching as a strange looking pawn like being sped by. It stopped, turning at an angle and rushing off.
A bishop, she guessed, jumping to a close roof as the knight leapt at her again.
When it was clear to her that no help was going to come immediately, Ladybug moved to rusha way, to get a chance to regroup and think of a plan. She needed to find that king, she needed to act fast before there was a whole army of chess pieces. But as the knight and bishop pursued her, Ladybug scrambled when what had to be a rook rushed at her like a train, barely dodging the charge.
Outsped and overwhelmed, scrambling to keep out of reach of the fast chess pieces, she threw her yo-yo up, summoning a Lucky Charm.
When a sock fell into her hand, she grimaced, pouting down at the red and black polka dotted item.
"Sometimes I really hate Lucky Charms and their vagueness," she muttered to herself, hurrying away and searching for her escape plan. There had to be something around here…
It was times like these that Gabriel wished Ariel was still alive. She was always better with things like these, always knew what to say, what to do, what was the best approach. Back when Adrien was younger, she was always on the case, always knew what to do, how to make it all better. Far better than him who barely ever knew what to say or what to do. His family wasn't known for expression or emotion; they got in the way of work, they made life more complicated. Being collected and contained was easier, simpler. Even Gabriel's dive into fashion, a form of expression, was a bit much for his family.
He was able to go far with it, came to be what he was today (alongside the help of a dramatic little god). But today, he was at a stand still, unsure of what to do. The door before him was an intimidating opponent.
There was a tap on his shoulder, turning his gaze down to Duusu as she hovered close, beaming at him. She waved to the door, encouraging as she whispered, "You got this!"
His lips twitched down, not reassured.
Huffing, Duusu reminded, "Not with that attitude!"
"It's just going to go horribly," he whispered.
"And it'll get worse if you don't do anything."
He removed his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. He peeked out, eye that damn door, his son on the other side. He reached up, about to knock, only to pause when there was a rattle at the foyer door behind him. He tensed, turning around as Duusu ducked down behind. She peeked out, her crest raised, alert. They watched the door rattle and jerk.
"Fan spread," Gabriel whispered, letting Duusu's magic wrap around him. Opening his fan slightly, Houte Roi went down the steps, heading for that pounding door.
In his room, Adrien found comfort in cat videos, laughing as he watched cats leap away from a cucumber that was slid right beside them. Near him, Plagg watched, unamused by these videos.
With a playful smile, Adrien turned to Plagg, wondering, "How do you feel about cucumbers?"
"If you put one of things next to me I'm putting cheese in your shoes."
"So you are scared of them."
Plagg just huffed and drifted away, grumbling that it was beneath him to be scared of a vegetable. With a slight smirk, Adrien was more than willing to test that out. It'd be easy to get the cucumber and easy to distract Plagg, just needed the right moment.
Adrien settled to watch more funny cat videos when he heard a rattle. He paused the video, sitting up to eye his door. Plagg darted to his side, tail twitching. The noise continued, becoming louder and more destructive. With an exchanged glance, Adrien jumped over the back of the couch, opening the door and peering out into the foyer.
He gasped at the sight of the ruined foyer, staring down at weird creatures stomping around, bashing into walls or falling onto the stairwell.
"What the hell?" Adrien wondered, gaping. He tensed when one different one, one that looked like a castle, came charging towards him. He moved to transform, to brace for that charge, only to watch in awe as a blue figure charged in front of him, swatting the castle-like being away. The peacock themed hero turned to him, blue eyes bright against a dark sclera.
"Move!" the peacock cried, shoving him back as the coattail rose up, peacock eyes glowing as the castle rose up to face the peacock hero. The castle charged, rushing off in the opposite direction, disappearing down the street.
"What did you do?" Adrien wondered, grunting when he was grabbed and pulled back into his room, the peacock quickly locking the door.
"I'm the Avatar of Visions," the peacock answered, turning to him, "Houte Roi. If we're going to get out of this alive, you're going to listen to me."
Adrien took a step back, narrowing his eyes at the peacock, feeling Plagg shift from under his shirt, pressing against his back. Houte in turn narrowed his eyes back at him, a silent warning to obey. Adrien peered back fearlessly.
Houte grimaced at him and sighed, turning away and heading for the windows. He declared, ignoring Adrien's defiance, "We'll slip away through the windows. With luck, we'll get away unnoticed."
"What about my father?" Adrien asked.
Houte Roi paused before answering, "He's fine."
"Doesn't tell me anything from you—"
"Adrien," Houte said sharply, startling the boy. That tone was familiar, the same sharpness, the iciness that comes when he's tense and scared and angry.
"Father?" he mumbled staring at Houte with a new, considering gaze.
Houte grimaced, meeting those imploring green eyes. "We need to go," he said simply.
Adrien jumped when there was a slam against the door behind him, whipping around to watch his door rattle. "We need to move now!" his father commanded, working on opening those windows.
"I can help," Adrien said quickly, facing that door, backing away near his father.
"Adrien—"
The door dented in half, the being that was attacking peeking through the broken frame, creating some inhuman noise when it saw them.
"Plagg! Claws out!"
It was all a by chance notice.
It was something Ali was sure he wasn't meant to see, he was sure he was to go about his evening like anyone else, relaxing or doing whatever it was he was to do before he retired for the night. But, by just a chance glance outside, the green eyed boy blinked when he saw movement rushing by on the lower roofs. Instinctively he tensed, eyes narrowing. Not daring to go out and draw attention to whatever was outside, he turned and hurried to Chloe's room, knocking.
He heard a grumbling, "What?" through the door and hurried out.
"Chloe! There's something outside."
The door opened with Chloe peeking out, brows furrowed. Leaning on the door frame, Pollen peeking out on Chloe's head, her head peeking through the top of Chloe's ponytail. Chloe asked, "Heroes or something else?"
"Something else," he said immediately, "it didn't look human. Kind of, but… I don't know what it is."
Chloe looked up, meeting Pollen's frown. "We'll check it out," Pollen promised, coming near Ali. "Stay inside and we'll—"
There was a crash below, startling both teens and kwami. When there were screams echoing it, the two shared a nervous look.
"Pollen, the miracu—"
There was a crash behind them, making Chloe and Ali jump away into the hall, Pollen darting behind them. Before them, in Chloe's room stood some white, marble, rigid looking horse-like being, and perched on its back was a black and white figure, looking like a king upon the beast, staring at them with mismatched black and white eyes.
That fear Chloe felt was replaced with ire as Chloe snarled, "That was my balcony window!"
"Chloe this isn't the time," Ali reminded, slowly pulling her away with him.
"Mademoiselle!"
Both tensed, turning to see Chloe's butler rushing up onto their floor, his dark eyes locking onto them. "We must hurry! There is trouble!" he cried, rushing up to their side, jerking when he stopped in front of them, seeing what had to be the leader of this attack on Chloe's room. He trembled, putting himself between the two, staring at the akuma with scared eyes.
"To the elevator," he whispered to them, meeting the akuma's passive stare, watching as it raised a scepter, a glowing black and white arrow forming on it.
Chloe grabbed Ali's arm, clutching it tightly as she pulled him close, whispering in his ear, "The comb is on my dresser."
Ali grimaced, his gaze flickering to Chloe's vanity where the bee miraculous sat, out of reach. He glanced over his shoulder where Pollen hid, meeting her sharp gaze. She gave a quick nod and disappeared, phasing through the wall behind them. He turned to face the akuma in the room, slowly pulling Chloe back with him, hoping that with the akuma focused on them, Pollen will be able to get the miraculous and bring it to them.
None of them were able to move quick enough, the arrow was fired, hitting the butler in his stomach.
They watched as a black and white energy wrapped around the butler's body, making it grow and change. When it dimmed, before them was a white bishop-like shape before them, turning towards them, reaching with inhuman arms.
"Don't touch me!" Chloe cried, jerking them both back, escaping that minion's grab. They ran down the hall, heading for the elevator to escape. Out of the corner of Ali's eye, he saw a flicker of gold, Pollen rushing after them, the miraculous in her paws.
The mounted akuma trailed behind them, another arrow glowing and ready to be fire at the two.
The elevator was just in reach, Pollen just reaching them, shoving the miraculous into Chloe's hand.
The doors opened, ready to see them to safety and the arrow was let loose, flying straight and true for them. Ali looked back, watching come at them, his body feeling cold with fear as it neared. They weren't going to escape, it was going to hit, they weren't fast enou—
There was a shove at him, something stiff and hard pushed into his hand as he stumbled into the elevator.
The last thing he saw was Chloe's fierce blue eyes staring into his wide green orbs, flickering with a flash of pain as the arrow pierced her back. The doors closed as energy wrapped around her and Ali was left alone in the elevator, feeling it descent, soft music filling the air. Something small and soft brushed his neck, making him jump.
"Ali?" Pollen whispered, alarmed.
Heart pounding in his chest, his body shaking, Ali lifted the deactived comb. He turned the nub in the back, pulling out the needle that would make it a pin. With it set on his shirt, he met Pollen's dark eyes, whispering, "Fly high."
Marinette pressed against the wall, heart pounding as she looked past the edge, watching the chess themed minions struggle to sort themselves out, trying to disentangle from the mess she left them in. On her shoulder, Tikki sat with a wince, worn out from the Lucky Charm. It was a narrow escape for them; the Lucky Charm serving its purpose in helping her escape.
Marinette hurried away, making sure to keep her steps quiet and careful. Last thing they needed was to draw more attention to them. She kept her gaze on the Bourgeois hotel, where Ali was, hoping that maybe she could get to him. Maybe they could get to Fu since she has to see or hear anything of Chat Noir, Queen Bee, or Volpina. She needed more players to even this field, and out of them all, civilian Ali had the best chance to get to the Guardian without drawing attention to himself.
Once she got a cookie for Tikki, she could at least keep most of the attention. And hopefully, the others will be here in time to help.
She stopped, peeking around, watching as another set of chess pieces race by, searching for what, she doesn't know. She still has yet to see the king of these pieces, the leader of this attack. It concerned her, still not having seen the leader.
Where could the akuma be? More and more seemed to be coming and if they didn't act soon all of Paris was going to be turned into a chess board.
Reaching up, she lightly pressed a finger to Tikki's soft head, patting her. Whether to comfort the kwami or herself, Marinette doesn't know. She whispered, "Hold on just a little more, we're almost there and we'll get you something to eat."
Tikki shuffled on her shoulder, not answering.
When Marinette couldn't hear that set of chess pieces anymore, she ran out, ready to race her way into the hotel before she gets caught. Only to run smack into another knight, going straight to the ground and sending Tikki rolling away from her. With a wince, she sat up, and sucked in a sharp breath when she saw what had to be the akuma sitting up the marble horse-like minion, staring down at her with mismatched blank eyes.
She paled, eyes going huge as she took him in, whispering, "Felix…"
The only response she got from the quiet akuma was an arrow themed scepter being pointed to her, glowing with life.
"Found the Queen," Chessmaster softly greeted as the scepter shot right at her. Marinette was aware of a flash of pain before her world went dark.