THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE DANGEROUS WIND
Chapter 1: The Opportunity
A Miraculous Ladybug fanfiction
by Bill K.
Miraculous Ladybug and all related characters are © 2021 by Zagtoons and are used without permission, but with respect. This story is © 2021 by Bill K.
"Don't forget," Nathalie said to Adrien as he headed for the door, "you have an appearance at The Louvre after school. Your bodyguard will be there promptly to pick you up. Please don't dally with your friends."
"I won't," Adrien sighed, chafing at yet another moment of his life being scripted and controlled by others. "I guess that means the piano lesson for today is off?"
"I'm certain you'll be able to make up the time," Nathalie replied stiffly.
"Will Father be there?" Adrien's tone was hopeful, but in the back of his mind he suspected the answer.
"Your father will be occupied with another project," Nathalie told him. Adrien's mood sank further. "It's important that you perform up to your usual standards, Adrien. The publicity from this appearance will be a boost, not only to the cologne, but to your profile. Your father co-sponsored the showing of this artifact for that very reason."
"I'll do my best," Adrien assured her and headed for the door. It always amazed him how the other kids at school had so much disdain for school. To him, it was an escape from echoing halls and remote people.
"How were the muffins, Marinette?" Thomas Dupain asked hopefully.
"Wonderful as always, Dad," Marinette smiled. She would have said that regardless, because her father hung on her approval of his baking and would be crushed if she didn't like it. Luckily for her, they really were wonderful.
"Oh, I got a text from Uncle Wang!" Sabine exclaimed, answering the ping on her phone. She took a moment to read it. "Really!"
"What is it?" Tom asked.
"Uncle Wang says an ancient Chinese artifact called Mingyun Zhi Jiao is going on exhibition . . ."
"At The Louvre today," Marinette completed the sentence. "I was going to stop by after school today and see it."
"Thank you for telling us," Sabine said with a look of wry reproach.
"I'm sorry! It was last minute! Alya only found out this morning that Adrien was . . ." Marinette's eyes suddenly bulged and her cheeks colored. "Um..."
"I thought you were over that boy," grumbled Tom as Sabine smirked.
"I am! I'm going to see the object! It's from China! And it's over five thousand years old! That's older than Uncle Wang! Um, I mean . . .!"
"Just don't stay out too late," sighed Tom, ever the sucker for his daughter's whims.
"And don't drool all over your blouse," Sabine teased. "Those stains are hard to get out."
"I DON'T DROOL!" gasped Marinette.
"Um, school," Sabine replied and nodded at the clock.
"AHHHHHH!" Marinette exclaimed. Lurching from the table, she swept up her backpack in one hand and another muffin in the other and raced out the door. Sabine and Tom looked at each other and smiled.
Nathalie entered the mansion office of Gabriel Agreste. Gabriel was intently studying a text on ancient Chinese artifacts. As she stood, she looked at Gabriel and for one of the few times in her life her look was one of disapproval.
"Did Adrien get off to school safely?" Gabriel asked, not looking up from the book.
"Yes," Nathalie replied cooly.
"And he knows about the appearance this afternoon?"
"Yes."
Gabriel looked up from the book. He turned around in his chair and glanced at Nathalie.
"You still don't approve," he replied. It wasn't a question.
"I think it's an unreasonable risk," Nathalie stated, summoning her courage to keep from backing down in his presence.
"You said that before," Gabriel noted, turning back to the book.
"You have the repaired Peacock Miraculous," Nathalie persisted. "All of your plans are ready to go. This is a distraction you do not need to indulge."
"This is more than a distraction," Gabriel argued. "The Mingyun Zhi Jiao has a legend attached to it, that it can grant phenomenal power to the person capable of activating it."
"What power?"
Gabriel sighed. "The text isn't clear. The truth may have become lost over its four to five thousand years of existence. But the implications of the surviving writings say it's a power that can affect the course of life, and that what the text terms 'certain mages' who activate that power reads like a Miraculous holder. This is hardly a distraction."
"I thought your goal in all of this was to resurrect Madame Agreste," Nathalie said bluntly.
"Of course it is," snorted Gabriel.
"You already have that," Nathalie said. "Why are you chasing after more power? Why are you using the Butterfly Miraculous to gain more power for yourself?"
"That will be enough, Nathalie," Gabriel said shortly.
"Has the power you wield as Hawkmoth begun to corrupt . . .?"
"Enough!
There was a pregnant silence.
"I will see my will done," Gabriel said stiffly. "If it takes all the power in the universe to see that will done, then I will acquire what is needed. If you've no longer the stomach for it, Nathalie, then I'll see to your placement elsewhere."
The silence hung heavy in the air.
"I'll see to it that everything is ready," Nathalie murmured. She turned to leave.
"Nathalie," Gabriel said. She stopped. "Thank you."
Nathalie continued out the door.
"Thank you for escorting me, Luca," Marinette smiled. She and Luca were milling about the central atrium of The Louvre amid hundreds of people there to see Mingyun Zhi Jiao.
"Happy to do it, Marinette," Luca smiled down at her. Being with tall boys always made Marinette self-conscious about her short stature. But somehow when Luca smiled at her, it didn't seem to matter as much.
"I, um, didn't know you were into ancient Chinese art," Marinette ventured.
"Well, I'm not, really," Luca shrugged. "I'm just trying to broaden my horizons. Maybe I'll get inspired to write a song by it. You never know." He smiled at her again. "And the company's nice, too."
Marinette smiled uncomfortably. Compliments always made her self-conscious. And compliments from Luca really made her self-conscious. They were indications of feelings he had that she still wasn't certain she could reciprocate. And she didn't want to hurt him. Not after everything he'd done for her.
Did they have problems like this in ancient China?
A swell of the audience caught their attention. Marinette and Luca turned to it and saw Adrien Agreste posing near the case that contained the artifact. The item itself was odd for Chinese statuary, consisting of a square stone base lacquered black, and a foot high pyramid of what looked like quartz. Glyphs were carved in the base on all four sides which Marinette didn't recognize. Suddenly she wished Master Fu was standing next to her and not Luca.
Several photographers were in front of Adrien, snapping pictures as the teen posed. He was the consummate professional, but Marinette could somehow tell that he was enduring it. Her heart went out to him and for a moment contemplated going over to him. Then she noticed The Gorilla flanking him on his right, and on his left was Kagami.
Before she was aware of it, Marinette had latched onto Luca's arm. Realizing she was clinging to it, the girl glanced up at him and offered a lame expression of embarrassment. Luca just smiled.
"You want to go over and say 'hello'?" Luca asked.
"Maybe later," Marinette sighed. "He's busy."
When The Gorilla suddenly moved in front of Adrien, everybody reacted with surprise. A noise to the left drew the gathered audience's attention. There, standing in the entrance to the exhibit hall was a young man. He had thick black hair styled immaculately, a tailored sport coat and slacks with a silk cravat, a walking stick with a diamond knob and richly tailored black shoes. Even more, though, the air around him seemed to twinkle like light reflecting off of a priceless gem.
"Stop paying attention to that prissy little pretty boy!" he proclaimed as he walked purposefully into the room. "I'm the one you should be looking at!"
Everyone stared in amazement at the brazen audacity of this person. But Marinette was quick to notice that as the intruder got within six feet of a person, man or woman, that person's expression changed. Whether it was amusement, disdain, anger or indifference before, now it was abject adoration for the stranger. Glancing at Luca, she began to edge away surreptitiously.
"Who are you?" blustered Mayor Bourgeois, there to see and be seen.
"Roi Glamour!" the stranger replied. "And I am so much more deserving of the spotlight than this - - person!" He waved dismissively at Adrien. "You may adore me now."
Mayor Buorgeois sank to his knees and kissed the man's shoes.
When this happened, Kagami and The Gorilla teamed up to hustle Adrien out of the room. When they were in another wing of the museum, Kagami turned to him.
"We must get you to safety," Kagami told him. "His intentions toward you, if any, are unclear."
"But shouldn't we help those people?" protested Adrien.
The Gorilla shook his head. Adrien experienced a moment of frustration.
"All right. I'll wait in the car," he sighed. Then he touched both of them on the arm. "But stay here. See if you can help - - even if it's only just calling the police or helping other people get out. Please?"
They didn't want to agree.
"As you wish," Kagami nodded. The Gorilla nodded.
"Be careful," Adrien said as he headed for the door. But once outside, he quickly found a secluded spot and released Plagg from his pocket. It was right about the time Tikki was emerging from Marinette's purse.
By the time she was transformed and had gained the display hall, Ladybug saw everyone in the audience following Roi Glamour around like love struck puppies. Police moved in to capture him, only to fall under the spell he was somehow emitting and join the entourage. Her body sensed a presence next to her and she turned to find Cat Noir.
"Another day, another akuma, eh M'Lady?" he quipped.
"Gets tiresome after a while," Ladybug sighed. "I wonder where the akuma is."
"And what Hawkmoth is after," Cat Noir added. "As destructive akumas go, this one is pretty mild."
"Enslaving people may not result in a lot of collateral damage, but it's still wrong," Ladybug proclaimed. She charged forward and Cat Noir instantly followed. "Don't get too close to him! His spell seems to affect anyone within six feet of him."
"Luckily I've got a ten foot pole," chuckled Cat Noir.
He bounded forward, extending his baton into a long pole. Using the pole, he jabbed it between the ankles of Roi Glamour, tripping the man. Toppling to the floor ungracefully, he lay stunned. Instantly the crowd following him turned on them, their expressions collectively turning to rage.
"I don't recall ordering an angry mob," Cat Noir joked.
"It's like they're so obsessed with him they'll do anything - - even react with anger if he's threatened!" Ladybug observed.
"Been there, done that," mumbled Cat Noir. But Ladybug heard him and glanced curiously at him.
The mob began advancing on them, forcing Ladybug to spin her yo-yo to keep them at bay. While they were occupied, they both noticed Roi Glamour get to his feet and dust off his immaculate suit.
"What is it you want?" demanded Ladybug.
"Attention!" proclaimed Roi Glamour. "Fame! Adoration! People hanging on my every movement!" He turned and waved to the mob and they forgot their anger, surging to him in ecstasy. "For years I've watched people like Adrien Agreste idolized and adored while I'm nobody! What does he have that I don't, besides a rich father who can shove his face into the public eye? It isn't fair!" He smiled coldly. "Well now I have the attention I deserve."
"Where do you think the akuma is, Bug-a-boo?" Cat Noir whispered to her.
"I'm not sure, but I'm thinking the walking stick," Ladybug whispered back. "And stop calling me 'bug-a-boo'."
"Well I don't want to step on someone's ambition," Cat Noir announced, striding toward Roi Glamour like he was invulnerable, "but I've always been a believer in letting people decide on their own who they like. So I'm going to have to ask you nicely to stop all of this."
Ladybug stared in utter amazement. Was Cat Noir out of his mind? She'd told him specifically that anyone within six feet of Roi Glamour fell under his spell. Didn't he hear her? Or was he so absolutely arrogant that he didn't think it would affect him?
Then she realized that Roi Glamour's attention was focused squarely on Cat Noir. In fact everyone's attention was on him. All she had to do was wait and hope that she didn't telegraph her attack.
"You actually think I'm just going to give this up?" Roi Glamour asked incredulously. "Based on your demand?"
"Figured I'd give it a shot," Cat Noir shrugged. "I'm just trying to save you a beating. And I don't want to muss up that nice suit."
The crowd began to fall back as Cat Noir got closer and closer. He was within seven feet of Roi Glamour now. Ladybug waited for an opening, praying that Cat Noir would be able to leap or vault away before entering the villain's sphere of influence. She felt her throat drying. The last thing she wanted to face was a corrupted Cat Noir again.
"You won't," Roi Glamour said.
He took a step forward and Ladybug saw her shot. Her yo-yo lanced through the air even as Cat Noir heard it and extended his baton, shooting him up to the ceiling ten feet above. The yo-yo wrapped around the walking stick and Ladybug yanked it from Roi Glamour's hand. As the villain reacted in surprise, Ladybug broke the stick over her knee. As hoped, a black butterfly emerged from the broken stick.
"No more evil-doing for you, little akuma! Time to de-evilize!" Ladybug shouted as she snared the butterfly in her yo-yo. Opening it, a pure white butterfly emerged. "Bye-bye little butterfly."
As the black ooze engulfed Roi Glamour and returned him to simple, unremarkable Patrice Chacon, Cat Noir slid down his extended baton and ambled over to his partner.
"Pound it," they grinned as they touched fists.
"Cut it pretty close, didn't you?" Cat Noir teased.
"How did I know what you were planning?" protested Ladybug. "Let someone know next time!"
"I thought lovers were supposed to have a telepathic link," Cat Noir grinned.
"There's something else going on here," Ladybug concluded, ignoring the last remark. "This akuma was Mr. Pigeon level."
"Almost like it was a distraction?" suggested Cat Noir.
Ladybug's eyes lit up behind her mask. Pivoting quickly, she raced back to the room displaying the Chinese art piece. Cat Noir was on her tail. Upon entering, they found their fears confirmed.
"Hawkmoth!" snarled Cat Noir.
Hawkmoth was bent over the sundered display case, Mingyun Zhi Jiao clutched in his gloved hands. He turned to them, his rage at being found at war with his glee at the artifact in his control.
"Cataclysm!" Cat Noir yelled and leaped at Hawkmoth, his smoldering right hand extended lethally. Hawkmoth spun away, using his free hand to push Cat Noir away from him. Cat Noir landed gracefully and turned to leap again.
But Ladybug had followed. With a single motion, she kicked the artifact out of Hawkmoth's hand, then somersaulted in midair to catch the ancient piece. Her somersault took her several yards away where she landed with ease.
"Why do you persist in interfering?" growled Hawkmoth.
"Justice!" Ladybug shot back defiantly.
At that moment, Mingyun Zhi Jiao began to glow. Ladybug looked down at it in astonishment. In seconds the glow filled the entire room, forcing Hawkmoth to look away. The green lenses on Cat Noir's mask shielded him from the intensity of the light, though, and he was able to witness Ladybug and the object fade from existence.
"M'LADY!" he cried.
Ladybug looked around. She didn't recognize her surroundings at all. She was on a dirt road next to a field of tall grass dotted with trees and flowering bushes. It was a beautiful virgin vista of nature, but it was also an indication that there were no modern industrialized cities anywhere close.
"Where am I?" Ladybug asked herself, as no one else was around. "What did this thing do?"
She held Mingyun Zhi Jiao out from her, examining it warily. Recalling how it invoked the last time, Ladybug brought it back to her.
"Justice," she said. Nothing happened. "I guess it's a one-way trip."
Pulling out her compact, Ladybug flipped to the communicator. But all that appeared on the screen was static.
"There has to be a farm house or village or SOMETHING around here with internet," Ladybug muttered to herself. "Or at least a phone. So which direction do I try?"
A sense of danger warned her and Ladybug turned. From down the road, someone was charging her. It was a girl, with black hair tied behind her with a long ribbon. She wore a red tunic and red knee pants. The design of the outfit reminded her of China. The black dots on the red garments reminded her of her own costume, as did the mask the girl wore. The aggressiveness of the girl's charge reminded Ladybug that she was a stranger in this land. Ladybug began to give ground.
["HALT!"] shouted the strange girl in what sounded close to Chinese. ["Do not move or I shall strike you down!"] The girl came to a stop within six feet of Ladybug and began spinning a red and black yo-yo menacingly.
Continued in Chapter 2