Author's note: In this section Bolded text is excerpts from the group's programme.(Nathaniel&Marc's comic) If you've enjoyed(or not!) I'd love to hear any feedback you may have. I'm a long time out of practice writing.
One week to do what took four the first time. Thankfully Chloe's father was good to his word and this time she just had to be sure she wrote out every little detail so the tailors would get it right. Chloe hadn't really faced her father or mother since that night. She figured she had to soon, she owed them… what? Maybe an apology, maybe just an explanation, and probably a lot of questions. She had no idea how to do it, but it was one more little piece of the puzzle she was trying to rebuild of herself.
The night before the show she spent time with Sabrina, double checking everything and dying Chloe's hair. This would cause quite a stir tomorrow, and it was only temporary, but it was also somewhat terrifying. Sabrina was gushing which was a good sign but as Chloe with her hair held firmly in a towel she had to retrace all the little steps that had gotten her to this point. It sparked an idea and she tapped out an important text.
Chloe(to Dev): If you're still coming tomorrow, you might not recognize me in costume. But I'll have your jacket for you.
Sabrina was laying over on the Diwan tapping out her own messages. She'd become quite the prolific texter lately. Chloe leaned as far as she dared with her towel right now and called out,"Being in love sure seems hard on your thumbs."
Sabrina sat up as if stung, turned and started to protest then just bit her bottom lip and looked to the side. "We're just talking about Kitty Section. They're doing a song tomorrow. I'm helping him run down a checklist too."
Chloe sat back,"I see. Well, I hope they go before us, because if they go after us they can't possibly measure up."
Sabrina still took Chloe at her word, old habits died understandably hard. She looked slightly crestfallen,"They're a band, we're a dance troupe. Can't we both be good?"
Chloe would have hugged her if she could move,"Of course Sabrina. We can both be good." Chloe grinned,"We'll just be more good." She added a little classic head waggle to oversell and was rewarded by Sabrina's dawning realization.
Sabrina leaned over the end of the Diwan and waved a hand at Chloe's own phone,"What about you? Any good messages?"
Chloe shook her head,"Just the one time in the last three weeks." She brought fingertips up, touching them to her lips,"three weeks here, three weeks gone." she mused. Then,"He, was real right Sabrina? I didn't imagine all this? It wasn't some trick of that stupid necklace?"
Sabrina was smiling at her, one of those newfound infuriating smiles,"Real alright. Really weird right?"
Chloe joined Sabrina in a little laugh then nodded and whispered to herself,"Right. I would have imagined someone much more handsome."
The quartet arrived via limo the next morning. There was no way around it. Even just carrying the costumes, accessories, and makeup in was a challenge. Chloe was grateful Nathaniel had already stashed the programmes in the art room.
Chloe was right about her change making a splash. Those luminously golden locks she was so rightly proud of were now a Malevolent black, still tied up into a dark ponytail with carefully preserved golden stripes near the tip. She matched it out with her black bodysuit underneath a slim yellow sweater dress with bell sleeves. Her iconic white sunglasses were replaced with small framed hexagonal half-frame sunglasses which rode low on her nose.
She didn't need to push, shove, shout, or have Sabrina run ahead. She needed only to stride up the stairs leading the troupe and Chloe felt the thrill of a score of whispered conversations in her wake. She'd missed that.
The yard housed the main stage for the day's activities. Students were already milling about, and teachers were checking the sound and lighting equipment. The troupe brought their burdens up to the arts room which was set up with folding tables, chairs, and screened off sections into a staging area. They unloaded all but Dev's jacket which Chloe kept herself. She marveled at how easy it was to carry now. They made their way back to homeroom, Marc heading off to join Mrs Mendelev's class.
"Chloe, can I go check with Luka?" Sabrina asked softly just as they walked in. Chloe shooed her off with a gesture and mused,"Just the two of us then?" to Nathaniel.
"Just the one of us." he corrected,"Don't worry, I won't miss my makeup appointment but I need to check in with Alix. Something about rocket skates and a fire extinguisher." he shrugged in ignorance before scanning the room then heading out again to find the energetic redhead.
Chloe set her purse and the jacket down at her desk then… wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. She scanned the room, people talking in little knots or working on their own projects. Alya, Adrien, and Marinette were working together on something that likely involved baking judging by the cluster of utensils and ingredients around them. Chloe watched the trio for a moment, Marinette so close to Adrien and.. Yes. Jealousy, but also satisfaction. She'd take that trade off. Lila sat up in her top row seat, alone without Nathaniel, and was just reading a small book.
I should say something. Chloe realized she was waiting for something then grinned,"No one to stop me this time." Her ascension to the back of the room drew side-eyes and changed the nature of a couple conversations. Chloe stopped at the top desk and asked,"Not part of any group today Lila?"
Lila looked up from the book, a playbook from the looks of it, startled. She quickly smiled though,"Oh, no. Prince Ali WAS going to help me with a fire-eating demonstration but sadly he had to cancel for an important national security meeting and it's just too dangerous to do alone." Lila's smile never flagged for a moment.
"I see." Chloe hadn't thought this far ahead. Why hadn't someone stopped her? "Well…" she searched for an out, "Our group could use some help with the lights if you like? We can set it on automatic, but having someone there to be sure it goes right would be nice."
Lila rolled the playbook in her hands,"Oh no, thank you Chloe, you're too generous. I've been feeling a bit faint from the change in climate ever since returning from Ahcu. Oh, you didn't know I'd gone did you? You were still in the hospital." There were little tells, sounds in her voice, the shift in her scent. Even diminished these little things clued Chloe in that there was something off in Lila's speech, but she had no idea what.
"Very well then; I hope you stay to the end and enjoy our show. It WILL be the best." Chloe turned and descended to wait for homeroom to be called.
On the way Marinette looked up from her small group and with less visible effort than normal smiled at Choe,"That's certainly a different look for you today Chloe."
Chloe preened,"Yes, temporary. You're looking the same as always, Du- Marinette." Chloe glanced at where Alya and Adrien had their heads together talking over a recipe,"You do seem to be picking your … partners… a bit better these days though."
Marinette rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to retort but Chloe continued,"And, since you are so soft-heartedly concerned about such things I'll have you know that Sabrina has been spending a good deal of time on the water lately. Everything seems to be staying afloat."
Marinette took Chloe's meaning right away, of course she would. Marinette was a smart girl, it was one of the things that had always frustrated Chloe about her. She just said,"That's good to hear, for both of them."
Chloe didn't know where to take the conversation. She was focused so intently on not being mean she had little room for other thoughts. She settled for putting on a smile that was not too obvious she hoped and heading the rest of the way to her seat.
The day was at least entertaining in turns. There were small side-displays in some of the rooms. Static projects done by one student or another. The main stage had time slots and Chloe's group was in the very last. That suited her. It would make hers the most memorable. Students were free to roam and talk between or even during performances. Kitty Section's music still didn't really appeal to Chloe, but she enjoyed seeing Juleka was still using her gift. Watching Sabrina bouncing in the front row was also amusing. Luka had a couple smiles for his energetic fan, but they were timid things. Chloe hoped she hadn't unintentionally lied to Marinette.
Chloe spent a good bit of time in the art room getting people ready. Marc was first. The squees as he went out the door dressed as Ladybug were both annoying and a mark of pride. Nathaniel next. Evillustrator hadn't been a prominent villain, and the changes to Mightystrator were enough to mix it up even for those who had been in the library.
During lunch Chloe ate out in the park. Sabrina was still helping Luka with packing up the band's sound equipment; they had insisted on bringing their own. The relaxed pace of the day had her oddly wound up. Nothing wrong meant something had to go wrong soon. Her phone buzzed.
Dev: I miss the sun, but midnight has its own mysteries as well.
Chloe looked around, no way he could hide, right? She frowned as no one stood out to her then reread the message and allowed herself a little smile.
Chloe: Where are you? It's just temporary for the show.
Dev: keeping out of sight. This is an extreme probation trip. No battling in parks, nothing that would be noteworthy. I'm going to assume lunch with you would be noteworthy under any circumstances.
Chloe: Laying it a little thick aren't we?
Dev: It's been three weeks. I figured I owed you. Shall I stop?
Chloe: Certainly not!
The meal period swept by in a flurry of catching up, Chloe's lunch barely touched. She left with the note that the jacket was in the room if he was going to be a ghost about things. Then she was off to remake Sabrina.
Miracular got oos and ahhs by the time Chloe was done. Since she had pros at her disposal she had tweaked the design. Where before she had sewn patches onto the outfit for the 'stolen powers' designs now instead there was metallic paint impregnated into the material. As the light hit it the symbols would fade in and out, allowing all three to be visible at different times where patches would have been too much.
And then the final work. Chloe shed her sweater dress and began her own makeup in earnest. The Sclera contacts were the worst part. Chloe hadn't asked anyone else to try them, but she wanted to go all in. She applied them only after the rest of the costume was fully in place, her hair was properly re-done, and the timeslot was rapidly approaching. Marc and Nathaniel had filtered back in, and even Sabrina was there when Chloe finally blinked her last contact into place. Purple and blue eyes stared back out at her in the mirror. Rising Chloe hooked her Top into place as her belt and grinned at the others,"Let's see how well I did."
Even the mild Marc was grinning a little at this particular bit of mischief. They'd talked about the idea of wearing cloaks beforehand but there was no good way to keep the costumes intact. So when Chloe strode out onto the second floor balcony it was in full view of many who knew exactly who she was.
One, two, three turned heads, a horrified look; Chloe gave a wicked half smile just for the mayhem of the moment. Someone pointed and yelled, and on that cue the other three stepped forward into view. Queen Wasp became a costume beside three others and the panic subsided instantly into relieved chuckles and shakes of the head.
"Am I bad for enjoying that?" Chloe asked the trio.
"Probably" Nathaniel answered.
"But it was kinda fun." Marc surprised her with his quiet addition.
Sabrina gently poked Chloe with her nightstick,"Can I take pictures?"
Chloe glanced at Marc and Nathaniel who seemed amenable,"Yes Sabrina, but let me sort these bangs." Chloe prodded a wayward lock of hair,"Hairspray is not quite as strong as Akumatization."
Back in the art room Chloe was in the middle of repairs when she heard a scream from the courtyard,"Oh come on." she mumbled at her reflection,"There's overdoing it a bit."
The scream was backed up by another, then another though, fresh screams from fresh terror. Chloe was out of her chair in an instant, others in the room were already crowding the doorway, but a burst of her residual strength vaulted her over them at a dive. It very nearly plunged her down into the courtyard too. She overshot her landing and only held on by scrambling for the rail. Down below her was a scene of both stillness and Chaos. Some people were running, others stood listlessly with heads bowed. As Chloe watched Ladybug, no, Marc was trying to herd some students toward the exit; he was acting the part for certain.
From somewhere beneath Chloe a ghostly white apparition in a swirling cloud of mist darted out. It flew directly at Marc and swept through him without pausing. In the mists briefly the images of lines radiating out from Marc appeared then were severed. Marc collapsed to a sitting position and stilled, staring blankly at his hands. The slowest of the students he had been herding was caught as well, suffering a similar fate.
The apparition, it had to be an akuma, swireled and turned. It looked up to the balcony; it's face a white and red fox mask, its clothing a vague and shifting multitude of robes. With a hollow distant screech it surged upwards.
"Hey, dog boy! Over here!" Chloe ducked under the rail and leapt down just near the misty akuma. She looked up to be sure, yes it was turning, then ran. She didn't have a goal or purpose in mind, only to get it away from the knot of students in the art room. She had to dodge around the stage through a forest of already affected students, juking when the akuma could simply fly directly without concern for the students in its path.
It was closing, and she had no powers to stop it. She couldn't even fight it. Chloe darted beneath the stairwell, rounding the other side only to come face to face with the Akuma waiting in ambush. With no other options Chloe drew herself up, purple eyes narrowed in disdain, Queen Wasp scoffed,"You may have cornered me, but your little scream act is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Do your worst."
A streak of red. Ladybug landed between the two of them, yo-yo already spinning,"Queen Wasp?" She asked in confusion, but her back to Chloe and her guard to the Akuma.
"Ladybug watch out, it can move through-" Too late. The akuma surged forward and right through Ladybug's guard. A complex nest of strands appeared around Ladybug only to be mercilessly severed.
Chloe was next. She swept a hand up, striking at the vacant fox gaze in defiance. There was a moment of resistance. The spirit seemed to snag itself briefly as it pushed through Chloe, but she was too distracted to make use of this information.
The threads appeared, pitifully few and dim, and were severed as cleanly as everyone else's. Sabrina, Adrien, Nathaniel, Marc, even Dev; Chloe felt the connections leave her, she felt her friends abandon her to be alone. She knew someplace in her head it wasn't true, but it made no difference. The emotion was there, raw and overwhelming, abandoned again. She sagged, falling into a familiar darkness. There lay despair, but Chloe's despair had long ago been tortured into a self-destructive rage. Instead of smothering her like a blanket it bit her, chased her, and threw her back from the darkness into the living pain of the real world.
Chloe staggered, the aching loneliness still gnawed at her, but her own rage warred with it. She could move. She almost ran into the stationary Ladybug. A glance over her shoulder showed the akuma paused, the expression on the mask changed between blinks of the eye, from dispassionate judgement to a fierce anger. Chloe ran again, but where?
It didn't matter, she wasn't fast enough. The akuma caught her from behind, lifting her off the ground and turning her. Chloe struggled but a second pair of hands gripped her, and a third. The spirit was solid now. Robes flapping and details coalescing. The icy aura frosted Chloe's arms as she struggled, a fourth pair of hands shot out of the swirling mass of robes and latched onto her neck. Anger kept her going but it didn't free her.
Then suddenly she was free. The akuma reeled to the side, a staff-strike to the head sending it sprawling,"That's no way to treat a lady, bee, wasp, whatever!" Cat Noir landed from his attack,"I've got to hand it to you though, you've got a firm grasp on things."
Chloe coughed and sucked in a sharp breath, unable to reply to Cat Noir's quick,"Are you okay?" Instead she pointed to Ladybug's still form.
"Bugaboo!" Cat Noir vaulted the courtyard with his staff, unfortunately this akuma wasn't bound to the ground. It surged upwards, turning to mist once more and caught Noir mid leap. The connections were severed and he staggered as he landed next to ladybug. He didn't stop though, scooping her onto his shoulder he looked back at Chloe, tears welling in his eyes,"Run, please." Then he vaulted both himself and the bug onto the school roof.
There was no one else moving in the yard. The akuma was swireling in place but quickly made up its mind and lunged down towards Chloe; it's spectral hands solidifying. She still hadn't caught her wind and the akuma loomed large before being knocked sideways. A splash of purple;, black, green, and red at its waist. Sabrina Was clinging to the semi-solid form with all her strength. "I got her Chloe! You can get away!"
The wonderful idiot was smiling. She was actually smiling as the strands formed in the air about her. A silvered line pulsing bright sprang into being between Sabrina and Chloe. All the other strands snapped neatly, the one between Sabrina and Chloe held. There was a keening, the sound of tortured strain. Sabrina managed another,"get away.." her voice growing fainter.
Chloe turned and ran for all she was worth. She cleared the entrance with the sound of that powerful strand finally snapping under the akuma's power ringing in her ears.
She collapsed into a chair at a street cafe. The street was already deserted. It wasn't fatigue that stopped her. The despair wasn't letting up. It kept piling in, Chloe had to stoke her anger constantly just to keep moving. She pulled her phone from the waist of her costume and texted who might be left. Nathaniel was in hiding with others, Dev was nearby. She told them to stay put and stay out of it respectively, though in her state the texts were cutting and snide.
Chloe dropped her phone on the table and only just remembered not to put her face in her hands… makeup everywhere. She was on edge, but the adrenaline was wearing off. It was getting harder to stay mad enough to keep focused. She got a boost when Chat Noir landed beside her without warning, still carrying Ladybug.
"Found you." his voice was wavering. Chat Noir set ladybug gently down in one of the chairs, she didn't register the move in the slightest, still staring vacantly with slumped shoulders. Chat cupped Ladybug's cheek gently but when he spoke again it was to Chloe,"M'Lady won't snap out of it. I can barely think straight. You were one of us once Chloe, and right now I need your help."
It was surreal seeing Ladybug like this. Love or hate her Ladybug had always been the one full of life, purpose, energy. Chat was quietly brushing her cheek,"Come back to me M'lady." he was whispering in slow repetition.
"I." Chloe squeezed her hands into fists, stoking her own mind to make it work for her,"It's making people lonely?" it sounded so weak, what was it to be lonely? Chloe knew. She lived it daily. Maybe… ,"That's right isn't it? That's what it did to you?"
Chat nodded, his eyes never leaving Ladybug's face,"I saw my- everyone. Everyone gone again. Just myself. It's still there. Even ladybug, I saw her leave, and even though she's right here my heart won't believe it."
"Sadness kind of turns into anger for me. Maybe that's why I can still move. What about you?"
Chat finally did look her way. There were unshed tears in his eyes, and subtle streaks on his mask from the few that had escaped,"I've been alone a good deal myself. It doesn't make me mad but, I've learned to live with it?"
Chloe shook her head,"Here's to being abnormal." she mused. Another wave hit her and she slammed her fist down on the table, trying to chase it off,"We have to do something."
"I know, but we need Ladybug." Cat Noir turned his gaze back to her. He took Ladybug's hands,"I don't know how to reach her." He leaned in close,"Bugaboo, I'm here. Come back to your kitty." he whispered. No response. He wet his lips then tried something else,"LoOk At Me, I'm LaDyBug, I solve everything with my LuckycharmLUckyCharm,LUckycharm." his voice in a sad attempt of joking sing-song. Still nothing.
"Chat Noir, we don't need Ladybug. We need her Miraculous. We can save her with it." there was a wrongness to the suggestion even as Chloe spoke it, but her frustration was growing. Powerlessness was all too familiar.
Chat's surprise briefly replaced the lost kitty expression he wore. He squeezed Ladybug's hand in his,"But we can't. We'd see her identity." he added something else that only Chloe's enhanced hearing could catch on the edge of his breath,"Not like this."
Chloe yanked the cloth off the table beside them and threw it over Ladybug,"There!" she growled,"All better now." She was pushing her anger, but it was pushing her back,"Now do it!"
Chat hesitated. "Who would be Ladybug, you?"
"Not me, I can't. You have to use both. I remember both of you doing it quite effectively against me." there was spite in that admission. Chloe felt old prejudices seeping back in the longer she held onto her anger.
Chat Noir hesitated again, then very gently lifted Ladybug's covered form and shifted her to the ground. With a gentle touch he arranged her, curled up beneath the cloth as if sleeping. Then he whispered,"I'm sorry M'Lady." and his hands came out from under the cloth with the earrings. A pink Kwami swirled into being out of them, but it just floated in the air, every bit as listless as Ladybug had been.
Chat reached up and touched the little Kwami,"Not you too Tikki." He shook his head, then scrubbed at his eyes and put the earrings on. He glanced up at Chloe and completely out of the blue burst out with a short laugh.
"WHAT?" Chloe had been fuming quietly at his hesitancy and all the time wasted, this startled her out of that line of thinking.
"You really DO look like Queen Wasp. I've got an Akuma helping me fight an Akuma."
"Oh Just hurry up already!" Chloe stomped her foot. For some reason that made Chat Noir smile.
"Allright." he reached up to gently pluck the little Kwamii out of the air,"Plagg, Tikki, Unify!"
The fusion energy surrounded him and in a flash it was over. The changes, surprisingly mild. He looked bulkier, plate-shells on his shoulders, chest, and back. He was still black head to toe, but there was a red under sheen to it, spotted as the light played across him in motion. He looked down at himself, then at his hands and … laughed.
It wasn't a good laugh. Chloe knew that laugh. She's had that laugh. The sadness was gone, there was excitement in his eyes as he looked at her,"I can do it." He turned, and spoke gleefully to the hidden Ladybug,"M'Lady, I can do it. I can fix everything!" He brought his hands together, and between them a spiraling mix of red and black dots formed into a ball,"I can fix everything." He whispered, the ball expanding,"Mother."
Chloe dove at him. In his distracted state he didn't react fast enough. She threw herself across his upraised hands, the ball vanished. He struggled against her,"What're you doing? I can fix it! Let me Fix it!" he was frantic, and without a Miraculous Chloe was no match for his strength. He threw her off, knocking her back through several tables in the process; still she came up grinning.
Chat Noir, or rather, Mr. Bug blinked at her as if coming out of a daze. Chloe held up the silver ring victoriously,"How does he keep failing at this?" She brushed herself off and Mr. Bug came to help her up,"I'm sorry, it was- I was- I could do anything." He shook his head,"We always knew Hawkmoth wanted our Miraculouses, but- Wow."
"Wow. That's all you've got? Wow?" Chloe scoffed. She held the ring up between thumb and forefinger,"I'll hold onto this for now, as a precaution if that's okay?" She didn't wait for an answer, sliding the ring onto her finger,"Not that it does me any good."
Mr. Bug stooped down and scooped up the recumbent form of a little black Kwami. He took the creature back and tucked it under the cloth with Ladybug,"Sorry Plagg." he said, patting the small lump. Then he stood again,"Alright. Now we can do this."
Chloe walked back over to him, She was aching from just that toss. Being a hero without powers was dangerous.,"Do what exactly."
Mr. Bug thought as if going down a checklist,"M'Lady says, we always need to figure out where the Akuma's object is before she uses her Lucky Charm, otherwise it won't work."
"I think I might know that." Chloe thought back,"I saw, while fighting for my life, There was a book tucked into the front of the Spirit's robes, or at least one of them. It was similar to the one Lila was reading this morning. They had the same name at least. 'Medea'. She shrugged,"It's just a guess though."
Mr. Bug nodded,"It's as good as we're likely to get. I don't think it's going to let us frisk it if we ask nicely." He unhooked his yo-yo and touched it to his forehead,"Okay Ladybug, help us, please." Then he threw the yo-yo up in the air,"Lucky CHARM!"
Down it came, and with it a second identical yo-yo.
Mr. Bug stood staring at them both for a moment. Chloe flicked a finger at it,"Is that how it's supposed to work?" she drawled sarcastically, and hated herself for it.
He shook his head,"It worked, I just have to figure it out. M'lady said it doesn't give you what you want, it gives you what you need." He cast his gaze around, pausing on Chloe, on the hidden form of Ladybug, then on his own ring on Chloe's hand."I think I've got it. You can resist its effects."
"Yes, I'm so delighted my emotional scarring is helpful right now." Chloe grumbled, crossing her arms.
Mr. Bug blew right past her commentary,"You need to lead it back here. Do you think you can do that? Lead it back here, and get it to fight you again." He pointed to her hand,"Show it that, it'll follow you anywhere."
"Fight it with what?" Chloe unhooked her spinning top,"This is a prop, and I don't think I can beat it in hand to way too many hands combat."
"With this." Mr. Bug offered out the Luck Charm,"You looked up to Ladybug, can you do this?"
Chloe blinked at that. Suddenly she looked down at the yo-yo as if it were a viper. From in control to out of control so quickly. Could she? Could she do this? Two times now she'd tried, twice now she'd been a failure. Her anger slipped as a mixture of fear and excitement bled in. Chloe froze. The world started to recede, colors draining away. She couldn't move. She opened her mouth just barely, the panic must have registered on her face because Mr. Bug reached for her, withdrawing the Yo-yo as he did. Chloe couldn't muster the energy for a word but she could clamp her mouth shut, and the pain of her teeth digging into her tongue was enough. She snapped back into motion, snatched the yo-yo from Mr. Bug's hand and growled,"Of COURSE I can. I can do anything better than Ladybug. She was always just jealous of my talents. That's why she never wanted me back." More lies, comfortable lies. Chloe hated herself for how good they felt to say. The hate wasn't healthy but it kept her moving.
"Ri-ight." Mr. Bug hedged,"Just get it to come back here and we'll be all good."
"What are YOU going to do?" Chloe asked, rounding on him.
"I'm going to do a little something that will help with the hand problem. Just, try not to get grabbed, that'll make it a lot harder."
Chloe rolled her eyes,"Why does it have to be here?"
Mr. Bug looked at her as if she'd asked the dumbest question ever conceived,"Because, M'Lady is here, how could I leave her alone?"
Jealousy was a lot like anger. It did the job. Chloe turned, hooked the magical yo-yo on her finger and lassoed a nearby chimney, pulling herself up into the deepening evening.
Crossing the rooftops wasn't as easy as she remembered. Enhanced abilities were no substitute for supowers. Chloe crossed out the idea of coming back this way, and with it any hope of dignity in this little plan. She caught sight of the spirit before even reaching the school. It was darting in and out of homes, searching. Chloe hooked the yo-yo around her waist. Well, here went nothing.
"Hey akuma! It's no wonder you wear a mask. Four different robes in there and not one of them good enough for anything other than a dust rag."
It turned at the sound of her voice, but simply watched her. The mask of rage had been replaced with one of serenity again. It made no move to attack.
"Oh fine, prove the stupid cat boy right." Chloe held up her hand, showing off the miraculous ring,"Here Akuma, come get it, c'mon." she added a few coaxing whistles for good measure.
That did it. The akuma launched itself at her, flying up to her rooftop perch. Chloe was ready though and jumped down to the street just as it got to her. She smirked up at it as the mask revolved to lock onto her again,"Catch me if you can." Then she was off.
The akuma was every bit as fast as she remembered, and without need to dodge around obstacles it gained on her quickly. Chloe couldn't keep ahead on just two feet. Despite the angry voice in her head now screaming how Ridiculous she looked Chloe had to tap into one of the last tatters of The Badger's power. Dropping to all fours she put on a burst of speed that saved her from the mists. Steering was hard, not all of her reflexes remained in equal measure. She had to rebound off a storefront for a turn. She clipped a trashcan and sent it spinning, but with the growing howls of the akuma close behind her she made it. She leapt, landed on one of the cafe tables, skidded across it, and crashed into the one behind.
Mr. Bug was nowhere to be seen, of course. Chloe unhooked the Yo-yo as the Akuma closed. "You have to be one of the worst akumas I've ever seen." Chloe whipped the yo-yo out, but it simply passed through the Akuma,"No banter, no threats, just ooooooo and raaaarrr."
She leapt to the side to give herself distance, spinning the yo-yo out in another attack, then a rebound attack off the ground hoping to catch it off guard but neither connected. Her mind raced back through the last fight for a solution. Oh, right.
The Akuma lunged again and this time Chloe stood right in its path. She braced herself , thought of every petty annoyance and frustration she could and let it sweep over her. She felt the loss keenly but the shock wasn't there. The icy chill was stronger though. The akuma turned, having washed over her once, and now the hands appeared. The Akuma's form solidified, grasping limbs reaching out from the mass of robes seeking her arms, legs, and the ring.
Chloe snapped the yo-yo out and this time it struck one of the hands, causing the Akuma to flinch momentarily."Got you now."
It wasn't as easy as all that. One weapon for four pairs of hands. Chloe had to twist between tables that the Akuma could float above. The Adrenaline kept her mind free of both sadness and anger at least, but it was a losing battle. Chloe lost ground, the akuma caught her Yo-yo off a bad throw,"Any time now Buggabrat!" She yelled in desperation.
The Table behind the Akuma surged up, and Mr Bug leapt out from under it. He snatched the cloth off it as he emerged and threw it over the Akuma. His yo-yo whipped around the ensnaring cloth, binding the spirit for the moment at least, it's grasping hands flailing under the tablecloth.,"Get it, now!"
Chloe darted back in, reaching in amidst the flailing limbs and robes. She got hold of the book and pulled it out, opening it up she tore it cleanly down the spine. The butterfly form of the akuma flew free.
Mr Bug snatched it quickly out of the air,"No more evil doing for you little Akuma."
As the purified butterfly flew away and The akuma dissolved to reveal Lila. Mr. Bug nodded to the still-hidden ladybug,"Chloe, could you? The ring." Then he moved to interpose himself, speaking to Lila and being an effective wall.
Chloe moved over, turning her back, but not before spotting Lila trying to crane for a look around Mr. Bug. Reaching under the cloth she found a hand and slipped the ring onto it. The scent of flour and sugar tickled her senses. No. That was impossible,"Alright Mr. Bug."
He stepped back from Lila,"One moment miss," and threw his yo-yo high into the air,"Miraculous Ladybugs!"
The magic swept through Paris, righting the damage done to people and property. When they surged past Chloe they took the lucky Charm back, but also took the despair and anger. The knots inside her unwound. Once more she was struck by the insanity of having lived her life this way every day now that she could see it from the other side.
The cloth stirred. There was a sound of surprise cut short, then an unintelligible whisper and flash of green light. A confused Lady Noire threw off the cloth and blinked into the Paris twilight.
She looked at the assembled trio,"Someone has a lot of explaining to do.". Her eyes stopped on Mr. Bug, but his earrings chirped and he grinned,"Not me pussycat." He stepped forward and took her hand,"Though may I say my heart leaps to see the light in your beautiful eyes once more?" He kissed her hand over a bow then threw his yo-yo up to a chimney and made good his escape.
"Get back here buggaboy!" Lady Noire vaulted after him with her staff.
Chloe looked at Lila after they watched the two vanish,"So, walk back together? Just us two akuma?"
Texts lit up Chloe's phone on the walk. She answered them quickly. Yes she was okay. Yes she was coming back. To Dev, she had told him to stay out because one time helping wasn't worth a lifetime ban. She noticed Lila was fiddling with her phone too,"Checking in with someone?"
"What? Oh yes." Lila beamed,"Just letting Prince Ali know about all this and how I am so glad he was safe somewhere else. He says if he had been here, he would have saved me himself."
Chloe knew she had a choice. She could tell Lila was lying to her. This close and without distractions little changes in speech, scent, and minor ticks all filtered through to paint a picture for her hindbrain. She could play along, what did this lie matter? She could call Lila out, expose her in the lie. She could even make fun of her for it if she wanted to. Chloe took a different path,"What is that play about?"
Sabrina knocked the wind right out of Chloe as she walked back into the school. Chloe gasped and hugged her friend back, holding on tight and once she could speak again adding,"That was amazing Sabrina, and don't you dare do anything like that again." Before squeezing her friend back all the harder.
Marc and Nathaniel got hugs of their own when they appeared. Chloe wasn't giving any room for protests. Nathaniel was just tall enough for Chloe to tuck in under his chin and she did. It was as awkward as possible, she didn't care.
Only after the greetings did she take in more of the school around her,"Where is everybody?"
Sabrina fidgeted with her nightstick"The teachers are sending people home. It's late. We were just waiting for you."
Chloe's eyes narrowed,"Leave? We haven't had our show yet."
Sabrina looked to the side,"The Akuma attack…"
"No. No no no." She stalked through the trio, paused, and turned,"Does anyone *not* want to do the show?"
Nathaniel waved with his stylus. We do, but what can we do?"
Chloe smirked,"Just who do you think you are talking to?
Chloe cornered Mr Damocles outside his office,"What is this I hear about being sent home? My group had not had a chance to perform yet. You are cutting out the very best this school has to offer."
Undoubtedly the costume helped. Mr. Damocles looked more nervous than usual in the face of a Chloe rant. "Ah, yes. Ms. Bourgeois. You see it is very late, well past the end of day. We have to see all students safely home."
Chloe stepped in closer, instead of shouting she spoke in a clear and dangerous whisper,"We're going to use the art room for about fifteen minutes. My hair is an absolute mess. Then five minutes of setup and three and one half minutes of performance, understood?"
Mr. Damocles straightened his tie,"See here Miss Bourgeois. We can't keep students-"
"I DON'T CARE!" Chloe screamed, cutting him off,"I don't care if there's not one soul left in this pile of broken bricks and old books you call a school. My group worked themselves to death to prepare, we will go on stage." Chloe seethed, a different sort of anger this time. She locked eyes with the principal and held them, backing him up against his door with the fury of her gaze.
"I- See - uh-"
"Mr. Damocles." a sweet voice interrupted from the side,"I wouldn't mind staying to let them use the equipment." Ms. Bustier smiles placatingly at Chloe,"Your costume looks lovely Chloe."
"What?" Oh yes." Chloe preened,"Of course it does." She glanced back at Mr Damocles,"Are we done then?"
"Um, yes. Quite. I'll leave the rest to you Ms. Bustier." Mr. Damocles fled into the safety of his office.
Ms. Bustier gave Chloe another smile,"I have some papers to gather from my room. I'll be down but you should feel free to start when you are ready." She turned but paused,"And Chloe. I am quite proud of you for standing up for your team, but maybe don't threaten the principal next time?"
Chloe was glad that her makeup hid her blush,"I, umm, will try Ms. Bustier." she darts off along the second level balcony and waved down to the others,"We're on!"
Chloe entered the deserted art room. Almost deserted. Alix was still sorting the leftover cans from her 'skate and spray' Art demo. She looked up as Chloe came in and Chloe waggled fingers at her,"show's on." Chloe turned to the makeup table and once more attacked her hair. These bangs were ridiculous. In the reflection she saw Alix shrug, and her phone come out.
The others entered and everyone crowded for Mirror space. There were lots of little tweaks needed after the tussle with the akuma. Chloe managed to embarrass Marc again by swatting his backside to brush dirt off,"The lighting shouldn't show it too badly. This costume was not meant for sitting on the ground." Sabrina's wig needed some extra care, half the pins had come out in her ill-advised but glorious attack.
"It's just going to be like practice isn't it?" Nathaniel mused,"Just us, but in a fancy setup, no one to see us."
"That's not the point." Chloe grumbled.
Nathaniel arched a brow at Chloe,"That's something I'd never have expected to hear from you before this."
Chloe huffed, then admitted, getting the last pin into Sabrina's hair,"It's not something you would have." she admitted, then suddenly,"It's good right?"
"To me it is." Nathaniel gave her a wink.
Chloe looked away quickly. "Allright!" she clapped her hands together,"Let's do this."
As they stepped out on the balcony Sabrina tugged on Chloe's arm and made a small terrified sound. The seats weren't empty. Six were filled. Chloe picked out Alix, Rose, Juleka, Luka, Mylene, and Ivan. The various connections clicked and she laughed to herself. Well, maybe she was tacky now.
Rose waved as they descended the steps. Marc and Nathaniel waved back and Chloe hissed quietly,"act professional!" She headed for the stage. Nathaniel and Marc passed Programmes out to the few attendees while Sabrina split off to key up the program for the stage lighting and sounds.
The curtain descended and they took up spots behind it. Chloe tried to give a confidant smile to each performer as they took their positions, but now on stage her own nerves were thrumming. She searched for why and hit upon it quickly. She wanted this. Wanting something was terrifying.
(Author's note:Feel free to listen to the music that inspired this whole thing. K/DA's Drum go Dum. I recommend not watching the dance video, it's completely different)
The lights Changed, Everything off except a spotlight on Chloe. The Curtain rose on the timer, and the music began.
Queen Wasp descends upon the city of Paris
Intro, Ten seconds, Chloe danced in place, Ballet motions to the deep drum beat, the theory of flight as she slowly spun and twisted.
She was not the only Villain present that night
Music Change, Six seconds. Chloe, still dancing, crossed to stage left, giving Sabrina room to come on stage- but she didn't. A look saw her frozen in panic just off stage.
The nefarious Miracular prowled the streets as well
Music Change, six seconds. Chloe dashed back, catching Sabrina by the hand and pulling her on stage. She tapped Sabrina under the chin, made eye contact and gave her a sharp but well meaning shoulder shove to put her into position.
The two villains meet, will they be enemies, or allies?
Music change, lead in, ten seconds. Chloe held Sabrina's gaze and Sabrina's eyes stayed glued to her, it was enough. Sabrina slipped into the routine. They danced in opposition. Chloe's graceful Ballet-based motions contrasting with Sabrina's low-center street style. The villains crossed back and forth quickly, feeling each other out until…
Allies! What will become of all Paris now?
Music change, chorus, twenty three seconds. Sabrina and Chloe both turned to the audience, their opposing steps becoming the same. The difference in style remained. Differences to keep the audience's eyes slipping from one dancer to the other, trying to follow each difference to avoid missing nuance. Chloe nearly missed a step when her eyes focused briefly past middle distance to see a large silhouette leaning in the back by the entrance.
Paris's own Ladybug, with her ally Mightystrator here to aid her!
Music change, bridge, twenty one seconds. The lights went out on Chloe and Sabrina as the music completely changed into a sweet airy interlude. Previously hidden by the shadows of the stage lighting Marc and Nathaniel rose slowly, steps taking them downstage center. They met and in contrast to Sabrina and Chloe's oppositional meeting the two moved entwined in a close harmony, culminating in a lift, Nathaniel raising Marc up for one slow half-spin before setting him down again.
In a Flash the battle is joined…
Music change, breakdown, eleven seconds. Sabrina and Chloe rushed down stage as the lights came up, all four dancers crossing paths then splitting off and interweaving again. To Chloe and Sabrina's styles now added Marc's bouncy savate-influenced steps and Nathaniel's own unique blend of awkwardness and dramatic poise. Chloe had only a flash of the audience. She spotted Alix's head bobbing up and down from dancers to the comic programme in her hands. Rose was trying to follow everything and near exploding. Luka's eyes seemed very focused on one particular dancer.
The participants square off
Music change, lead in, ten seconds. Chloe was opposite Marc, Sabrina opposite Nathaniel. The moves were a repeat of the first lead in, only now the pairs offered different visual contrasts. Marc was grinning widely as he darted and dodged with his steps in opposition to Chloe's.
The battle rages all across the streets of our fair city!
Music change, chorus, twenty three seconds. All Four dancers faced the audience, and the chorus dance moves came back around. This time twice as many styles on display. All four dancers moved in a relentlessly practiced synchronization but each performed the moves in their own unique way.
The battle tips in the villain's favor, how will our heroes survive?
Music change, second breakdown, twenty nine seconds. Splitting off into pairs again, this time the motions were more clearly pantomiming combat. Choe and Sabrina switched partners, and each gained the 'upper hand' over their heroic rivals 'flinging' them to center stage from opposite sides on the last beat.
Ladybug: Get up Mightystrator, we can't fail now! Mightystrator:you're right Ladybug! While I can draw breath I can draw us a path to victory.
Music change, bridge, twenty one seconds. As the soft rising notes played again Marc helped Nathaniel to his feet. The two circled, switching back to their original partners. All four dancers drew their weapons. Chloe her top, Sabrina her nightstick, Marc his yo-yo, and Nathaniel his stylus. Chloe hoped the inspiration for this next daddy's-money-based change would appreciate her ideas being borrowed.
With Lucky Charm in hand and courage in hearts the heroes leap back into the fray!
Music Change, double time, twenty five seconds. The stage lights went out and blacklights came on. Picked out parts of each dancer's uniform glowed in the darkness turning them into a cascade of fluorescing color. Each dancer's weapon glowed from internal lighting. Chloe's top glowed a bright yellow to Marc's red yo-yo; Sabrina's purple Nightstick to the Green Fiber Optic line spooled out from Nathaniel's stylus. What would have been a frenzy of double-time dance in light became a veritable rave of light and motion. Added to the dancer's swireling steps were the spinning of Marc and Chloe's weapons, the twirling of Sabrina's nightstick and the lash of Nathaniel's stylus.
Together they are victorious, the villains are driven back and Paris safe for another day.
Music change, outro, five seconds. Black Lights cut out, stage lights up. Weapons dropped Chloe and Sabrina receded upstage and the lights cut out from them. On the last beat Marc and Nathaniel performed a 'pound it' in victory.
The Curtain dropped.
The stage lights all came back up.
Chloe's pulse was racing. It was an intense routine even in practice. On stage her heart felt like it was going to burst. From the other side of the curtain. Applause! And at least two voices determined to make up for in volume what they lacked in numbers.
A giggling Sabrina tackled Chloe who hugged her friend right back. Nathaniel had Marc up in the air again and both were laughing. The foursome converged for a group hug and bounce while still laughing off the rush. Chloe sobered up first,"allright, time to go out, take your bows. Then everyone's free to mix and enjoy your evening." She stopped Nathaniel and Marc before they could move and took one of each of their hands. Chloe held them for a second, and locked eyes with each boy in turn,"Thank you."
Nathaniel grinned,"I've found taking chances on someone can pay off." his eyes darted for a moment to Marc as he spoke. Marc just smiled one of his too-wise smiles. Chloe let them go.
In front of the curtain the troupe bowed to another round of small-group applause. Nathaniel and Marc descended from the stage and Sabrina lightly bumped Chloe's foot with her own,"Think I can go home myself tonight Chloe?" She asked sheepishly. Chloe looked over her friend's head at the blue haired boy standing in the front row now.
"Have a good evening Sabrina. Besides," Chloe scanned further back. There. Her eyes hadn't deceived her. The silhouette was still there, in the horrendous custom black and yellow jacket. She exchanged a satisfied smile for his admiring one. "Someone missed lunch and so owes me a very expensive dinner."
End
Story note: The Akuma this time is called 'Lost Soul' It was a deliberate akumatization brought about after Lila read the play mentioned in the story 'Medea'(worth a read if you like Greek tragedy) It's main power is severing ties. If it touches you it cuts every connection you've made to another person. The more connections you've made the worse it is. Most people just go catatonic from the isolation overload. Beyond that it's not very combative. The multiple hands and frost-aura are problematic, as is the fact that it is immaterial unless engaging with someone for a purpose. It moves via a floating/darting sort of flight, like any good ghost.