"COME IN SABRINA!" Chloe shouted from her bathroom. She was tucking errant hairs up under her cap and fluffing out her ponytail when Sabrina peeked around the corner, visibly confused.

Music was storming in Chloe's suite. Hidden surround sound was working at a level it never had, filling every corner with an upbeat percussive sound. Chloe snapped a picture as soon as Sabrina appeared, wanting to capture her friend's face. She wasn't disappointed.

Chloe's sacred locks were tucked up in a gucci baseball cap, her ponytail pulled out the back and teased to the extreme. DS One Love yellow leather jacket with white undershirt and Balmain yellow thigh length skirt were not so out of place, except the skirt was short enough that Chloe had chosen to wear black cycle shorts under it. It was the footwear that kept Sabrina transfixed though.

"Chloe are you wearing… sneakers?"

Chloe hopped from toe to toe with unbridled amusement,"No Sabrina, sneakers are cheap and tacky. These are Balenciaga. Chloe hopped forward, pivoting in time with the noisome beat and doing a pirouette for her friend to appreciate the whole of her look.

Sabrina looked completely baffled, asking finally,"What's the difference?" Though a smile was starting to break through the bafflement.

"About a thousand euros, and bragging rights." Chloe reached Sabrina and caught her hands, dancing a circle around her,"Good morning by the way."

Chloe's enthusiasm took hold and Sabrina pivoted and danced a few steps to the end of the song with Chloe, giggling at her friend's antics,"What's gotten into you today? Should I be worried?"

Chloe wrapped one arm 'round Sabrina from behind and laced the fingers of their opposite hands, fast-waltzing Sabrina back out into the entryway where two costumes hung from a rack complete with small shelves of accessories,"Today my dear Sabrina, we make Marc and Nathaniel anew." Chloe said in her friend's ear,"Ladybug and Mightystrator rise!" Chloe spun Sabrina away dramatically and stood proudly, hands on hips.

Sabrins kept herself from toppling only just, adjusting her skewed glasses then smiling,"That's gonna be fun." she glanced at the outfits,"Can I take pictures?" she whispered, though only the two of them were there.

Chloe snickered,"Only if they let you, but yes." She dug into an inside jacket pocket,"But first, we have to go get some breakfast snacks." she took out her phone, turning off the room speakers from the app.

Chloe sashayed to the door, Sabrina hoping to catch up. Sabrina tucked her hands behind her back and leaned forward to peer at Chloe as they left the suite,"Am I allowed to say this is NOT normal?"

Chloe gestured Imperiously,"You are, and you are correct it is not!" she reached over and mussed Sabrina's hair quite mercilessly,"It is so much better than normal. I'm happy Sabrina! I feel…" Chloe spun again on the next step, hands grasping in front of herself for her words,"I just feel it might be alright to be me, like there's at least one person that gets that. Does that make sense?"

Sabrina shot her eyes sideways and smiled her own little smile of secrets kept, complete with lip bite. "I think I might."

"Good!" Chloe dragged Sabrina through the lobby,"Everyone should. I'm feeling generous!" Chloe pushed the double doors open so forcefully they nearly sprang back in her face, she dodged through in time though and waggled her fingers back at Sabrina before her friend came through too.

With Sabrina back in tow Chloe bubbled,"Friday was eye-opening. Saturday I went into a frenzy to finish those costumes." she said back over her shoulder,"That's why we had to skip practice. I had to be sure everything was perfect. Wouldn't want Marc to have a baggy ladybugbutt."

Sabrina descended into childish giggles at that. Chloe grinned, that was exactly what she had wanted. "So, I got the novel version of what happened with Luka friday, but could you maybe summarize? That was more reading than I usually do in a week."

Sabrina sobered up quickly, smoothing her shorts down in nervous habit before starting,"oh, well, it was fun. We went out for poutine," Chloe was quite proud she didn't make a face at Sabrina there,"then we went back to the ship and I gave Juleka the bass. Luka knew what it was, oh you should have seen him!" Sabrina's expression softened dreamily as she remembered,"He started just rattling off all these little bits about the history. Juleka kind of had to accept it. They played some, Rose and I sat and listened. Then when Luka was putting it away." Sabrina giggled at the memory,"He was sOoO careful. I think he held his breath putting it into the case."

Chloe had started walking backwards, so she could get a better view of Sabrina's face while she told the story. The path they were taking was one they'd walked enough times she could remember where they were by what they passed."That's it? Just a little concert?" she prompted.

"Oh no." Sabrina did the ear-tuck with her bangs and continued,"Rose and Juleka went off so it was just us. He was kind of distant but didn't ask me to go so I just stayed. We talked about a lot of stuff." Sabrina hinted a blush,"He seems so sad, I mean it makes sense, but I wish I could do something for him. He needs a hug." Sabrina paused, bringing her fists together under her chin,"Do you think that would be like, too forward?"

Chloe whistled and broke eye contact, bouncing from heels to toes and back once,"Oh, no, I can say that might not be too forward, by my standards at least."

That seemed to cheer Sabrina. Ear-tuck,"We talked a lot about music. He was explaining where it comes from, what he hears when he looks at things and people. He said he would try to figure out some for me once he could feel the muse again." Sabrina seemed to reach a decision mid-flow,"I'm going to have to check some music theory books out from the library."

"When did you get home?"

Sabrina snapped to attention then shrank, looking aside. Chloe stopped and prodded her friend,"Hooooww laaate?"

Sabrina swatted her finger playfully,"Like you can talk, you have boys over."

Chloe brought up both hands, making 'tickle fingers' and advancing in the middle of the sidewalk.

Sabrina eeped, backed up a step cringing then relented,"okay okay, three! Three o'clock he took me home on his bike."

Chloe patted Sabrina's shoulder,"that's my girl." she said proudly. Sabrina relaxed and smiled at the praise.

"Going back soon?" Chloe asked, resuming their side by side walk as they crossed the park.

"If I can? I'm not sure, I've got to come up with an excuse don't I?"

Chloe extended an arm and spoke in stage-tone,"Dearest Luka, I Sabrina Rain-com-Amore have within me a burning desire to heal your wounded heart. Allow me to come and soothe the cruel wounds life has afflicted upon you. It is my only wish upon this earth."

"Chllloooeee PLEASE." Sabrina was redder than an apple. Choe grinned,"Did I get it wrong?" she countered.

Sabrina mumbled,"do you think it would work?" while hiding her face. Chloe gave her a quick hug and pat on the back,"We'll figure something out. And we're here."

"Here?" Sabrina noticed their surroundings for the first time in a while.

They were at the end of a line outside of the Boulangerie Patisserie. Sabrina obviously had some questions, fair ones, but Chloe wanted to have her fun. "Yes here Sabrina. Now, look at this line, Ridiculous isn't it? Utterly Ridiculous. We don't have time to wait, nor should we have to. So, what do we do?"

Chloe's mood was momentarily crushed when she saw how quickly and drastically Sabrina slipped from comfort back into old ways. The stooped shoulders, the furtive glance before saying,"I- uh push through maybe?"

It's only the past. Learn from it. Do better. Chloe shook her head and turned to face the line, fists on hips,"Excuse me. Excuse me! HEY!"

The line turned.

Chloe waved her hands over her head, daddy's credit card flashing in the morning sun,"Who here likes free food?"

A murmured chorus of approval.

"Well, if I can just get to the front of the line, I can swipe my card AND I won't be late getting back home."

The line parted.

"Come Sabrina." Chloe walked up the aisle of humanity, counting as she went. She stepped into the small space inside the bakery just as the current customer was stepping out. Marinette's parents seemed surprised, but after a look both put on smiles.

"How may we help you today Miss Bourgeois?"

Chloe tapped her card on the glass of the display case,"Half a dozen croissants. A dozen cookies, with NO raisins. I don't like Macaroons." Chloe turned to Sabrina and asked quickly,"Do Nathaniel and Marc like Macaroons?" without waiting for an answer she continued,"Better add a half dozen Macaroons. Oh! And a tiramisu if you have it." Chloe felt proud of how evenly she had managed that order. "Oh, and I'll be paying for the next ten people in line too."

"Oh I see." Tom replied with a questioning glance to his wife.

"Very generous of you Chloe." Sabine shuffled forward quickly to begin gathering the order,"We so rarely see you in here."

Sabine's motherly tone threw off Chloe's rhythm. She wasn't used to it. How to respond? Her nerves tried to rise but she fought them back down. It was all in the delivery,"Yes, well." She drolled, "You never know, things change. Is Marinette here?"

Sabine neatly stacked the small boxes for Chloe's order,"she is, but I think she's still sleeping. School has been keeping her up all hours lately."

That seemed off to Chloe. Homework hadn't taken Sabrina too long lately, even with the extra time it took when Chloe tried to help. She put it out of her mind and pushed through though,"Oh, well, then here, Give these to her for me. Tell her 'Adrien-Wings'. I'm sure she'll understand." Chloe placed two tickets into Tom's hands along with the card.

"What are these?" Tom asked, turning one over to study it.

"It doesn't matter." Chloe quipped, returning a little command to her tone,"You've got a line and I've got things to do. Let's get the paying and leaving done?"

Tom snapped back to the present,"Yes of course."

Transaction complete, Chloe handed off the bag to Sabrina and they exited the shop. Chloe waved to the people still waiting in passing,"Enjoy! Never let it be said that the Bourgeois aren't generous souls!"

"Chloe what were those tickets to?" Sabrina asked almost as if on cue.

Chloe took a moment to bask in her own cleverness before explaining,"Box seats to the ballet. My father gets them for being mayor. Our box is right next to the Agreste box. Adrien's father will be making him go to this particular show because he wants him to see a part of the dance so Adrien can do it in the commercial for the next Cologne in the Adrien line, Wings. Well, if Marinette uses them she'll be able to spend the entire ballet chatting with Adrien without Kagami's interruption."

Sabrina blinked, trying to follow the twisting tale. She finally 'Oh'ed. And the end and then,"Do you think she'll go?"

"If she's smart she will, so maybe fifty-fifty. We'll be practicing so I wasn't going to use them, it's a nice thing to do." Chloe paused,"Right?"

Sabrina, honest girl she was, took the time to mull it over. "I think so." she concluded.

Chloe felt a surge of relief,"Good. Now let's get home before Marc and Nate show up."

Fate had one more test for Chloe this morning though. Walking through the lobby of the hotel she and Sabrina crossed paths with Audrey. Her mother's gaze fell upon the pair while she was in the midst of a phone call and she covered the phone to say,"Good heavens Corderoy...rrr. Chloe, what ARE you wearing?"

Chloe barely held onto her little lights inside. Those dark sunglasses staring her down swallowed up everything about her. She rallied before she was lost. "It's the absolute latest mother. Avant Guard socialite, only the truly exceptional can pull it off." Chloe tossed her hair, struck a pose then spun around her open-mouthed mother and raced for the elevator before her nerves broke.

When Sabrina let Marc and Nathaniel in, Chloe was still keyed up, bopping from heel to heel with nervous energy. She wheeled and spread her arms wide in greeting,"Morning everyone! Snacks on the side table, lots to do today." She advanced, catching Sabrina around the waist and pulling her along,"Nathaniel, you'll have Sabrina in the vanity. You'll need the mirror for your makeup." Chloe gave Sabrina a little push right at Nathaniel, causing a minor collision.

"And you Marc, get me." Chloe grinned widely at the panicked poofball,"I'll have you a proper Ladybug for your dashing hero in no time." Chloe snagged the cuff of Marc's sweatshirt while he was still trying to get his bag off his shoulders and pulled him along towards the rack.

Nathaniel called over Sabrina's head,"Be nice Chloe!"

"I promise not to break him!" Chloe called back, taking the costume off the rack and shoveling the accessories into her arms,"Much."

Marc offered the mild protest as she nudged him towards the sitting area,"I'm kinda hungry Chloe."

"You can have all you want when we're done fitting, but you will NOT get greasy hands on my hard work."

Marc cast one last look back towards Nate before Chloe managed to get him past the curtains and yanked the sashes with her fingertips. Then she deposited everything on the couch and rounded on Marc,"Don't worry, I'm a professional." she teased,"Now strip. Oh, and this time," She plucked a sealed package from the pile,"You'll need these." She tossed them to Marc then took an immediate interest in what was outside the windows, lacing her hands behind her back.

"Chloe, these are…"

"They're specially made for bodysuits. You'll need them to keep seams and other things from showing. This isn't the Bolshoi you know." Chloe rocked back on her heels,"Just pretend I'm not here."

"Couldn't you stand outside?"

Chloe did a half shrug with one hand, still not turning around,"I could, but it's like five seconds so just get over yourself. You're taking more time being a baby about it." She folded her arms,"This is the most complicated work I've ever done."

She heard him shuffling around behind her and held her position. She fought the urge to fidget, shift or pull out her phone. Spooking him would just be cruel at this point. After a short but interminable time she was rewarded with an,"Okay, what next?"

"You going to survive if I turn around now?" she prompted.

It took him a moment to answer,"I'll manage."

Chloe turned sharply and picked up the carefully folded ladybug bodysuit, walking over to Marc, she unfolded it as she moved. He retreated just a touch with his body language and Chloe waved a hand,"Stop being silly. You're fine."

"I'm cold."

Chloe stopped short,"okay, that's fair." She raised her voice,"SABRINA! Turn up the heat!" then lowered it again,"Just remind me to turn it down again or we'll roast during practice. Now, it's kind of like pulling on a onesie, only a lot more snug, stop when you've got it halfway up so I can show you the belt." Chloe handed off the outfit which Marc took gratefully and immediately started pulling on. Too fast and nervous he ended up taking more time and getting stuck."Relax Marc." Chloe thought about patting his head but restrained herself,"It's no different than a swimsuit right?"

He hopped on one foot while pulling the other foot on,"I never had a suit like this."

"That big monkey Kim wears one, he wore one on the train to England of all places." Chloe shook her head at the memory,"you have the fit for it more than that lout."

Marc finally got the 'pants' on, and paused, holding them up,"okay, what now?"

Chloe giggled,"Feeling like Ladybug yet?" She waved off his answer and stepped in, taking a knee in front of him. She shooed his hands away and reached around him, tugging and fussing the bodysuit into place,"The tricky part here is the fact that you sir have exactly zero hips." Chloe gave Marc a slap on the hip to emphasize her point.

He shifted uncomfortably,"Chloe, could you, not?"

She looked up at him,"Could I not what?"

Marc looked back down at her and fidgeted. She dragged her brain back out of clothing and costumes to visualize the situation and their relative positions,"Oh." she sighed in frustration,"Marc, are you into me?"

"What? No." he protested vehemently.

"Good. The feeling is mutual. I mean, you're built, but you're even smaller than Adrien. A girl likes to feel petite." Chloe caught the flat cord she had sewn inside the bodysuit at the waist and tugged the ends tightly,"Now, back to business. This is going to help keep the suit taught. I could only make it so tight, not being a two piece and wanting you to not pass out on stage."

Marc hrrked at the tug, but remained silent, watching as she snapped the flat clasp in place. Chloe continued,"this will probably wear out after too much use, Finding the right combination of strength and concealability is tricky."

Chloe was aware of Marc nodding but she was already onto the next step. She pulled the top of the suit up behind him,"This part will be easier with help." she stood, and as she drew the top up her arms ended up on either side of his head with her face close in by his. Too close for the beleaguered author turned fashion guinea pig. Marc jerked backwards reflexively, and Chloe followed, their progress interrupted by the back of the sunken couch cutting Marc off at the legs. One two-person tumble later they were wedged upside down between couch and coffee table in a tangle of limbs.

Chloe got her bearings first,"So… this isn't normally a part of the costuming process." she said, the absurdity of it all tickling her too much to be mad.

"I-yeah. Sorry." Marc shifted, trying to push himself up.

"You're going to have to let me get up first, but you're also going to have to move your leg if I'm going to go anywhere."

A conspicuous click sounded from the curtains. Chloe put two and two together,"SO HELP ME SABRINA!"

Chloe couldn't turn to see her erstwhile friend, but Sabrina's voice was clear enough,"I just came to ask if we could use a little of your shader. Nate's super pale skin tone is throwing off the colors."

Chloe called back, "Look who's talking. -Quit squirming a moment- do whatever you need Sabrina, I trust your makeup sense."

Chloe heard the swish of curtains and confided in Marc,"That's a lie, Sabrina's about as good with makeup as I am with Math. I left her detailed instructions though. Now, your leg?"

They detangled and Chloe fussed with her hair. The cap had preserved most of it but it never hurt to check. "Okay." she said rounding on Marc again,"Ice broken? I'm not sure what more we can do at this point.

That shell seemed to crack a little ,"Yeah." he said but a smile chased it's way across his lips,"I think so."

"Good." Chloe approached again, stepping around behind Marc this time to make it easier,"First one arm then the other." she stretched the bodysuit up and helped get him suited up the rest of the way,"Then the zipper at the neck. You pull it up from the inside then hide it in the tab at the seam."

Chloe circled Marc again once he was done, resuming her critical evaluation,"We could probably have had it done a little better by a pro." she admitted with some chagrin, before she added pridefully,"but not much."

Marc was turning this way and that to look down at himself. He lifted one leg then the other, twisted at the waist and explored the limits of his motion,"It doesn't feel too tight, but not too loose either."

Was that a compliment? Chloe mentally shrugged and picked up the Wig box next, pulling it and the accompanying hardware out,"Okay, this next bit will not be fun, but we must all suffer for art. You can sit if you like."

He did so and Chloe descended on him with bobbypins, a comb, and a purpose. To his credit he was a stoic trooper, not a crybaby like so many guys. Chloe fitted, gathered, cajoled, and under her breath even threatened Marc's hair into position with the Ladybug wig locked firmly in place and not a hint of Marc's original hair showing,"There we go. You're looking more miraculous by the moment."

"Can I see?"

Chloe leaned over close to Marc again, on purpose for his silly question. She touched his nose with a fingertip, then reached down with that same fingertip and tapped the mirrored surface of the coffee table in front of him,"Can you?" she teased.

Marc leaned in to peer down at himself in the reflection. He tilted his head and the pigtails shifted, he repeated the gesture and they flipped the other way. Amused he reached up to touch the wig but Chloe intercepted his hands,"ah ah ah. Do NOT touch unless you want to risk doing the whole process again." it wasn't true, she'd clamped that thing down since he'd have to dance in it, but it didn't hurt to instill some proper fear in any cosplayer.

"Now the Mask." Chloe had tweaked hers slightly by guesswork from the last time Marc had tried it on. "When you're wearing the wig you put it on this way." Chloe unhooked the fastener on the right side and settled the mask on Marc's face,"Hold." he complied and she pulled the elastic out and around, threading it through a few spots in the wig to create the proper illusion then tugging it the rest of the way around to clip back in place. Marc grunted and had to brace his neck during the process. Chloe commiserated,"It's so much easier with magic isn't it? Imagine if this were a complicated costume."

"Last bit." Chloe held up the yo-yo, then paused and asked,"Do you know how to use this?"

Marc glanced sideways, in full costume it was an uncanny valley moment, ladybug and not-ladybug occupying the same spot. He didn't have the body language down just yet though,"Not really? A little. I tried to find some youtube videos."

Chloe pulled out the string and flicked a small plastic ring at the end,"This will confuse you. I added it myself. Some of the ladybug tricks don't work easily with a normal yo-yo. She put her middle finger through the ring and then slid it back off, quick transitioning from hand to hand, back again, then off entirely and grabbing the ring between thumb and forefinger,"You can make a more normal loop by passing the end of the string through the ring," Chloe demonstrated,"but you need to cheat your hold sometimes, it's too loose so you palm it with your thumb for some tricks." she again demonstrated.

Marc was absorbed,"I never knew you were good at something like this Chloe."

"A good cosplayer learns how to be the character." Chloe felt suddenly awkward, she was used to people paying attention to what she was *doing*, but someone she had known so long actually paying attention to *her* was unnerving,"Here, I can show you." She stepped back, dropped her jacket, and pulled out her phone, keying up the speakers again. She scrolled through songs to a good one. She heard a protest from across the suite and yelled back,"Deal with it!" then hit play, shooed Marc back and dropped her phone on the couch for the opening bars.

Start with a few simple throws down, to the side, the beat picks up and snap into the steps, 'round the world, and transition, offhand repeat, sweep around the back transition amid a spin, Wavelength and return. Tip off the elbow, to a side kick, full rainbow, whip into the shield. The moves came one after the other, some were universal, some wore her own names. Everything from a time when Ladybug had been the most important thing in her life.

Chloe was a one girl spectacle and Marc her captive audience. Instead of being a small presence of a hardened shell this time she felt like she was filling up every inch of herself, threatening to break free. At the final crescendo she advanced faster than he could retreat and whipped the yo-yo around him in a final 'ladybug capture', catching the yo-yo with her offhand and pulling him in, face to face with a green-eyed ladybug. She was panting, eyes full of an unspoken plea, and gave him an absolutely feral smile,"Did you get all that?"

Before he could answer she laughed, too loud, and let the tension in the string go. It unwound and freed him. To Chloe's absolute delight he raised a hand with a thumb and forefinger gesture,``Maybe a bit?" There was a breathlessness to his own voice but also good humor.

Chloe could have hugged him. Instead she turned to calm herself and gave a flippant gesture over her shoulder,"Good, because I'll only do it as many times as it takes". She turned back,"Now we put this on you and we're good."

Getting the yo-yo string around Marc's waist was harder than expected."You're like a greyhound you know that?" She groused. The simple overhand twist she used to make a yo-yo 'belt' didn't work, it pulled right down off him,"I'll sew you in a catch right here." She took a pinch of fabric and stuck a small safety pin through it to mark the spot on his hip,"It'll have to do. So, that aside how do you feel?"

Marc did one more once over and nodded,"I think good?" He stretched into a lunge and nothing popped. Then without warning he asked quickly,"Why don't you do stuff like that at school?"

Chloe knew what he was talking about, even being vague. She'd actually been chewing on it herself since she let him go. It was... hers. It was special. No one could laugh. She couldn't say that out loud though...because someone might laugh. Instead she fell into old habits,"Look who's talking, mister writes under the stairs."

Her staredown didn't work, was she losing her edge? Instead Marc opened his mouth to speak, closed it, battled through picking words, then raised a hand. He closed his fingers as if grasping a pencil then his eyes lit up. Marc, ladybug, dashed over to his bag and pulled out pad and pencil. He crouched down and held the pad in his lap, the scratch scratch of the pencil coaxed Chloe over. She peered and he shifted, hiding his work until he held it up,"There. That." He added hesitantly.

Chloe took the pad. There were lines written, crossed out, and rewritten until finally she got to an unmarked section.

"It's true" Ladybug said with a commiserating smile,"Sometimes I do have to hide. We all do. But I learned that it's okay to come out from under the stairs, there are good people out there." Ladybug took the sad girl's hand in both of her own,"I hope someday soon you can learn to come out from what you're hiding under too.". -

Chloe reread the paragraph then looked over the pad at Marc, Ladybug, who wore a slightly hopeful caring expression. She lowered the paper and said in a soft tone,"You and Nathaniel are both more dangerous than you look." She pushed a smile onto her face and offered the pad back,"We'll see."

Marc took it and held it to his chest, still wearing his own little smile. He nodded,"I hope so."

Chloe clicked her tongue,"Don't bring today down with reality. We're creating something Miraculous. Now do you know any good Ladybug poses? Show me what you've got."

Marc was, perhaps not so surprisingly, well versed at this. He and Chloe took turns comparing poses, haggling over the exact width of the stance during the de-evilize throw, and reciting catch phrases complete with the proper stress on the words. The smile Chloe wore was once again genuine by the time Sabrina called out,"Mightystrastor is ready for his Ladybug!" from the entry.

"Ready M'lady?" Chloe teased Marc one more time before nudging him out through the curtains.

Sabrina and Nathaniel had done an amazing job. Nathaniel, Mightystrator stood in the center of the entryway caught halfway between dashing and awkward. Springing for the real microtablet for his wrist had been a good idea, even in full lighting the screen glow enhanced his largely black and white costume. The glow paled to how his eyes lit up when Marc came into view though.

Their Ladybug took a short handful of hesitant steps then aqua eyes met green, something shifted and the stride became proper Ladybug confidence. Chloe circled around quietly beside Sabrina who was holding her phone up and biting her bottom lip so hard Chloe was afraid she might break skin.

Mightystrator and Ladybug met in the middle of the room. They stood a moment fully oblivious to the world around them, eyes only for each other. Mightystrator whispered something Chloe didn't catch then took Ladybug's hand and stepped back, bowing low.

Sabrina was emitting a slowly growing high pitched whine,"Shhh, quiet Sabrina. Don't disturb them." Chloe whispered,"but keep filming."

"It is the light of the noonday sun whenever you come into my life Ladybug." Mightystrator spoke, straightening from his bow,"How may I serve you again?"

Ladybug took back her hand and clenched it into a fist with determination,"It's serious Strator. Queen Wasp and Miracular have joined forces. I need your help to keep Miracular at bay or she will steal my powers while I am battling Queen Wasp!"

"You're right! Her miraculous power stealing tricks won't work on me Ladybug. Together we'll paint them into a corner.". Mightystrator flourished his stylus grandly.

"Oh Strator don't you start!". Ladybug buried her face in her hand,"I don't need two Cat Noirs by my side!"

"My apologies Ladybug. I should have known there were better ways to bring a little color to your cheeks." Mightystrator dipped a hand behind his tablet and drew out a rose, offering it up to Ladybug.

Sabrina whispered,"Chloe, did you make a rose for that costume?"

"No."

"Wow."

Ladybug took the rose,"No time for such things Strator, there's evil afoot." but she tucked it carefully behind her ear before turning back towards the curtained off sitting room. Both heroes struck 'launch' poses then froze.

Sabrina and Chloe both clapped loudly. Chloe heard Sabrina murmur,"I need something to drink." as she moved away. Nathaniel and Marc broke their poses and both bowed, then turned to speak in lower voices to each other.

Chloe let out a long breath and pulled out her phone.

Chloe(to Dev): You better free yourself up and come over here to meet us for lunch.

Chloe held her phone close and took a moment to study Nathaniel's costume. It was a much easier affair than the ladybug one, his makeup was the hard part. While watching she became aware of the close casual body language the two shared. Chloe sighed again. *buzz*

Dev: Better? Am I in trouble?

Chloe: I am monstrously jealous of Nathaniel and Marc right now.

Dev: So I'm in trouble.

Chloe: You might be. It'll be much worse for you if you don't show though.

Dev: I'll show. Give me a 15 minute warning.

Sabrina shifted back into her orbit, holding a glass of ice water and devouring a croissant as if it had personally offended her.

"Going to be okay Sabrina?"

"I'm going to text Luka."

Chloe laughed before she could catch herself. She turned to grin at her friend, conspicuously stuffing her phone in her pocket. Sabrina caught it and burst out with a HA! Herself.

"Okay you two. Break time. Marc we'll let you eat now I suppose, but either get yourself fed or use silverware." Chloe clapped her hands together,"You're allowed to practice in your costumes but I warn you Nathaniel you will sweat after a little while, your makeup will run, and it will burn like you would not believe."

It was a little afternoon when the foursome descended from Chloe's suite. Marc and Nathaniel were both once more in their normal clothes and everyone had burned enough calories to be famished. Chloe was grateful practice was at her place, allowing her to at least swap out her top and offer one to Sabrina.

"We'll be meeting someone for lunch, hopefully he'll be here on time." she explained as they crossed the lobby.

"Dev?" Nathaniel guessed with infuriating accuracy.

Chloe made a face at him for his observation,"He doesn't get out much. I'm just being generous."

"That sounds entirely plausible." this from Marc.

Chloe threw up her hands,"Help me Sabrina I'm being attacked!"

"The truth hurts?" Sabrina giggled.

Chloe fell dramatically into the Lobby doors,"Betrayed!" she swooned, pushing them open and stumbling out into the overcast day. She scanned the street, then on a hunch look behind herself and caught Dev leaning beside the door again. This time hatless and with that ridiculous bulky jacket of his,"Aha. There you are, I thought I felt property value slipping away."

He pushed off the wall and smirked,"Down with the Bourgeoisie." He answered Chloe's baffled expression with,"Just assume it's weird again."

"Right." Chloe pouted. She gestured to Dev,"Everyone, this is Dev, the Ogre, I think you've all met before."

Nathaniel spoke up,"It was three weeks ago, but yeah." Marc waved hopefully and Sabrina was buried in her phone, texting up a storm about something.

Chloe met Dev halfway and curled her fingernails at him, considering, then jumped and darted out a hand, grabbing hold of his shoulder. She STILL didn't manage to surprise him. She was frustrated only a moment then giddy with falling butterflies as he caught and boosted her effortlessly up onto said shoulder. She settled in and checked her hair. Down below Sabrina had looked up and was peeking over her phone with a huge smile, Marc's eyes had resumed their panic mode, and Nathaniel just looked completely amused.

"What, you don't think I deserve to be carried?" she called down to Nate. There was a rumble of distant thunder in the clouds.

"Actually, I think this looks perfectly reasonable and I'm surprised you hadn't thought of it before now."

Chloe spread her hands,"Who else at school could do it? I suppose I could get a couple guys to manage it, but then you have to worry about them being the same height. And that's SUCH a hassle."

Dev chimed in with,"Glad I could be so helpful."

Chloe patted his head,"Good boy, now carry me to something delicious."

At his first step Dev leaned back just enough and Chloe had to scramble for balance. His arm hooked around her legs to keep her from going head over heels, and he paid for it when her flailing hand caught a fistfull of hair, but he laughed anyway.

The group made a slightly wandering procession as they sought a suitable eatery. Conversations flitted from pair or group to another. Tidbits of dance, ladybug, school, the changing weather, Sabrina diving into her phone for a text, Chloe murmuring to Dev comfortably or just enjoying the feel of eyes on her as they passed others walking the streets of Paris all blended together.

And then, the park.

Cries and people running, all too familiar in Paris now. Chloe vaulted off Dev, just assuming him a stable platform at this point; she was not wrong. Athletic shoes certainly were better for landings. She took off at a run, picking the spot everyone else was running from. It wasn't long before a sea of shifting red was obvious through the trees.

As Chloe closed the red sea resolved itself, a small army of crystalline samurai warriors clad entirely in red with full faced demon masks. They were circling a lone figure attempting to ward them off with a wooden practice sword, Kagami. Even as Chloe took this all in, one of the warriors cut Kagami's blade in two and three others cornered her between them.

"Daughter!" a harsh metallic voice boomed,"How could you fail? How dare you let yourself be beaten! You bring Dishonor to the Tsurugi name!"

Having been disarmed, Kagami was surprisingly docile in the face of this rebuke. Two of the samurai figures grabbed her arms and forced her to her knees. Chloe fumbled in her purse, no time, she had no time. Nathaniel had caught up, and Sabrina, Marc, she heard Dev's heavy tread close behind.

"We have to get her out of there." Chloe's fingers closed on the necklace.

A third Samurai approached Kagami, raising it's sword high as the voice boomed,"this dishonor will be purged."

"How do we-" Nate began.

Chloe took off sprinting, pitching her cap and pulling the necklace on,"Just be ready. She called over her shoulder, then,"Tscherna AWAKEN!" Shadows swept around Chloe. Mid-stride she went from two footed sprint to four. The transformation burned even after it was complete, energy charged along her limbs in gaspingly painful bolts.

You've been Neglectful little thing. The shadows hissed. Two yellow eyes glared out at her from within her own skull.

Chloe ignored them. The sword was falling. Chloe sprang,"Flurry!" she screamed and the shadows responded. A barrage of strikes this time, claws scraping across hardened crystal but enough to knock the trio of warriors away from Kagami. Two more strides and she snatched the dazed Kagami up in her arms,"Hang on!"

The samurai were thankfully slow to react. That is until the voice boomed,"Stop her!" Chloe vaulted up, kicking off one Samurai's face and head-running across three more before jumping and diverolling free of the press.

For all her being handled Kagami was steady as soon as Chloe set her down. She squinted suspiciously,"The Badger?"

Chloe was surprised to hear the name, transforming in broad daylight had been a desperation ploy. The forest of warriors had blocked Kagami's view, but not everyone's. Nathaniel and Marc looked dumbfounded, Sabrina mildly paniced and concerned, and Dev of course just his usual impossibly stoic self. Chloe didn't have time to explain,"Get her out of here! Find Ladybug, find anyone!"

Chloe turned back to the advancing horde. She heard the sound of running feet, almost everyone had followed her instructions thankfully.

Why are your claws still clean? Are you so useless? The voice pounded in her skull.

I'm working on it!

The one who hadn't run, Dev, moved up beside her. His brace was off and he was cracking his two damaged fingers into the palm of his other hand.

"What are you DOING?" Chloe growled, her hackles up in frustration.

"Pain now numb later." He answered, eliciting another pop from his fingers,"We both know I can't outrun anything, and taking a hit's one of the two things I'm good at."

Chloe wanted to bite him, the shadows toyed with her senses, recalling the sweet copper scent that he had reeked of during his first visit. "No!". Her voice was thick, drunken, this didn't feel right,"Get out of here!"

A quintet of samurai broke for the tree line. More surged after them. Chloe cursed,"I have to keep them contained. Go!" and jumped, kicking Dev with both feet in the chest. She sprang off him and back into the mass of warriors.

Shadow ears perked, more attentive than they'd ever been before.

What was that? What did I sense? What are you hiding little thing?

Chloe paid the voice no attention. She focused entirely on the horde, skirting the ranks and lashing out at any who advanced. Kick here, punch there, swipe and spin. Drive them back. Chloe lashed out with another flurry, knocking a half dozen from their feet but they just rose again, unblemished.

Their blades were jokes to her, slow telegraphed attacks she twisted and leapt through, but she was making no progress, she could batter these crystal samurai all she wanted but it got her nowhere, and already the cost of the transformation was pulsing in her veins.

Last chance little thing.

Chloe turned and dove into the crowd. In close it was harder to dodge. She struck out with a flurry, and another, blowing herself a path across the park and back in scattered enemies. She was searching, trying to find a scent above the others. THERE! A leap took her above the heads of the army and Chloe picked out one warrior in white, unmoving with her blade stabbed into the ground and hands resting on the hilt in a pose of cool authority.

Chloe landed harder than she expected. Her muscles were burning. The pain was coming on so much quicker this time. She clenched her clawed hands, tearing at the concrete, then exploded forward again. Flurry. Flurry again, strike, dodge, Evade. She had to reach that different warrior. That had to be the Akuma. There were just too many. They crashed in at her in waves, their war cries breaking her concentration. Chloe was gasping. She needed a moment. She turned to leap from the press and her entire body seized.

NO! No more little thing. You are too dull. You stay and fight.

I can't. It's too much. I won't make it if I stay. They have to be sentimonsters. I can't hurt them.

Yes, that's the point isn't it? Make the end interesting at least. Shadow jaws opened in her mind, teeth glinting hungrily. Chloe could feel them prickling against her neck. She bolted.

The fire in her veins was too much. She could no longer think, only react. She lashed out randomly. Were the others safe? Had the ogre gotten himself away or was he still standing there stupidly? There was no time for any of this as her world shrank. Chloe lashed out again and again, until she… missed? That was impossible.

"Ch-Badger! It's me!" the voice, Ladybug? Chloe couldn't even see her through clouded vision, but she was close.

"Ha, Ladybug, no point. I'm so bad with secrets Prey." Chloe rooted herself by digging her fingers once more into the concrete. The urge to rip and tear was overwhelming. The shadow's growl was audible now, mixing with her own voice.

"Chloe, what's happening?" There was a respite. Ladybug's shield was keeping the crystalline warriors at bay.

"Kagami's breeder mother. Akuma. White Armor Food. S-Sabrina, Marc, Nathaniel FEAST with Kagami, being chased. Save Devour them."

"We'll do that, but first let's get you out of here." a hand reaching out. Chloe slashed at it, and was rewarded. Copper and sugar, a curious mix.

"Can't Won't go. Hurry, save them. Then, save END me."

"You-" no recriminations for the wound, only concern,"I'll be back as soon as I can. Cat's already on his way. Hang in there."

Chloe was alone again. Alone in a mob of enemies. She let go her grip, snarling, and launched herself back into the fray. A scent carried to her, forest and musk, he *was* still here, the fool. It was something to focus on. She didn't have the mind left to find the akuma but perhaps if she could find him.

Flurry after flurry to part the sea. Scattering enemies who only rose again, unharmed but getting closer to her goal. The jaws were closing, she could barely pull air through clenched teeth. How far? Ten meters? Five? Three?

And then it was done. Something gave way and Chloe fell. She tumbled onto a patch of grass and lay still, her legs refusing to move. Strangely her senses returned even as the strength left her limbs. She could see the circle of Samurai looming over her. Then that started to blur, one raised its blade, Chloe turned her head.

Broken little thing, fun in that at least. Goodbye.

A resonant *crack*, a red form thudded to the sod beside her. Chloe found herself staring at a snarling demon mask, turned wrong way around upon its body. A new shadow looked over Chloe, this one very real.

Again! There! That's mine! How dare you hide it from me! The shadows bayed but Chloe had no attention left for them.

The broken samurai swirled and dissolved in a puff of blue smoke. "Then I guess it's the other thing I do well." Dev's voice seemed far off. Chloe tried to turn her head but her muscles wouldn't respond.

"Boy. Step away from the beast. Insolence will not be tolerated. Second cohort, retrieve my wayward daughter." The harridan screech of the Akuma echoed out.

"Where are your play soldiers going Yakuza hag?" Dev's voice was flat and gravelly, nothing like Chloe recognized.

"Watch your tongue boy." Threat radiated from the akuma's words.

"Right, forgot. Yakuza have at least a shred of honor. Samurai butchers just fake it."

"Bring me his head!". The shriek was barely articulate.

"That'll do." This last a murmured resolution.

"Dev." Chloe croaked the word. Her head barely moved just in time to see the shadow of his armored jacket descend upon her blotting out everything.

"Sorry if I make you mad." his voice was tinged with regret.

Then chaos. She had only sounds, snippets of the inhuman cries of the crystalline warriors interspersed with earsplitting cracks and the sounds of shattered glass.

That's it! That's mine! Give it to me! Cursed broken little thing. Be useful for once.

The transformation ended. Chloe coughed weakly, she was herself. Life flowed into her arms, icy and cruel; demanding. Chloe managed to claw the necklace off over her head and held it in her hands. She could feel it tugging, and she knew just who it meant.

Give it to me. It is mine! Useless thing, move while you still can.

She wouldn't. Chloe curled up around the necklace. No one would have it and it would have no one while she could stop it.

Above, a change in the sounds. Several sharp clacks then,"Glad to see you've stopped chasing cars, but are you sure this is much better?" Chat Noir! "You really shouldn't-"

A keening warcry interrupted Chat, followed by crack-crack and the woosh of more crystal shattering.

"-or maybe you should. You got this big guy?"

"No, just treading water." Dev's voice was unsteady,"They Keep coming back. Over there."

"Where? Oho, hey that lady looks like a proper dance partner. I'll see about her."

"First-."

Chloe was lifted, still swaddled, she tried to protest but with her refusal to cede the necklace Tscherna had abandoned her again. She couldn't even tell if the blackness was the jacket or her own vision darkening.

She was handed off, the exchange punctuated by another attack, another broken warrior. Light, so her eyes worked. A familiar green gaze peeking in at her,"Chloe?"

"Ki-ee ka' txi." She slurred, trying to smile, she didn't know if it worked.

Chat Noir's grip changed, he squeezed her tightly,"I'll get you out of here." He looked away from her,"Think you can hold on 'till I get back?"

"Dunno, would prefer yes."

Cat chuckled then looked back at Chloe,"Hang on." He shifted his hold and vaulted into the air with his staff. Mid Jump the Necklace squirmed in Chloe's grip, she clung tighter. The sharp shards twisted and dug into her skin. She held on. The rest of her seemed to fade away but she wasn't going to let it escape. Cat Touched down on a rooftop and that little jolt was all it took to send Chloe spiraling into unconsciousness.

She shot bolt upright. The retreating reds and blacks of the miraculous ladybugs spiraled off into the sky. It was done? Ladybug and Chat Noir had done it. Chloe squeezed her hand. She still had the necklace. Relief, then, concern; something wasn't right. A wave of pain and exhaustion crashed down on Chloe and as suddenly as she had awoken she crashed into oblivion again.

Story note:This Akuma is Tomoe Tsurigi as 'Daimyo'. Angered at her daughter breaking up with Adrien 'Giving up' on him. She has a Sentimonster in the form of a cohort of crystaline samurai warriors. If a single Akuma can akumatize several people then a single Amok should be able to support a single multi-bodied sentimonster. The warriors reform if broken(and that is very difficult to accomplish) as long as the Amok is still active. Unseen here the Daimyo herself has her prodigious fighting skills at her disposal, but is also very easily provoked(a Chat Noir specialty)