MIRACULOUS

Chapter 38

Seemingly Sleepy

Agreste Manor

"I'm gonna need your help," Mister Bug said. "All of you!"

Everyone at the table has risen from their seats and their respective kwami have emerged.

"What's the sitch?" Marinette asked. Mister Bug lowered his eyes.

"It's not pretty…"

Earlier That Night…

Lux was observing the city from the tallest building as she observed her creation wreaking havoc on the city.

"Vesperia!" she called. "GO!"

The girl who Lux is commanding landed on her feet in the center of downtown and summoned a legion of glowing white bees, invading the people of Paris. Vesperia had a costume similar to Queen Bee but more akin to a wasp and glowed white as she focused on grabbing as many Paris citizens as possible.

"You all will become Lux's servants!" she yelled. All those who were stung just stood there as if waiting for orders.

"Gather half around for sacrifice and leave the others for defense," Lux ordered. "There's no mistake that those 'heroes' will make their appearance."

"Yes, mistress," Vesperia said. "I'll be ready."

Elsewhere in Paris…

Adrien and Tikki sat on a rooftop looking out the Parisian horizon, alongside Future Chloe. She sat further back on the bench that stretched her legs. She placed her left leg over her right and leaned back. Mister Bug raised an eyebrow at her as she outright refused to put more clothes, or shoes on. Chloe was looking through Adrien's MP3 player, which was now considered old school, given that most people now listen to their music on their cell phones, even when she left to the past.

"Late Night Alumni? Chicane? From Ashes To New? Jamiroquai? ATB? Where did you even find these artists?"

"I don't know," Adrien said. "Guess I was looking for something different. Something that takes my mind off my life at the manor as much as I can, I guess."

Chloe put the wireless earplugs on and played "Seemingly Sleepy" By Late Night Alumni. The electronic soothing beat captivated her with the singer's soothing yet commanding voice giving the song a flavor that she never experienced before, or ever again. Adrien walked over to her and offered her a hand. Chloe smiled and accepted it. Adrien took an earplug to his own ear and began slow dancing. As the song progressed, they broke their embrace and danced more vibrantly individually. Chloe must've picked up some moves from wherever she was as she was really light on her bare feet as she spun. They embraced back to slow dance until the song ended. They both had a light laugh and Chloe pushed him away.

"Yeah, I've moved on with someone else," she said. "Besides, I'm too old for you," she concluded. Adrien scoffed.

"Well excuuuuuse me, princess," he gave a mock bow. They then laughed even harder.

Location Unknown…

"*giggle* Now you'll do as I command, Vesperia," Emilie said, she got up on her feet. "SHIROI, LET'S SOAR!"

Elsewhere…

"I see," Tikki said. "You helped to lean the foundations and knowledge to advance humanity."

"That's right," Future Chloe said. "But we're not done yet, we have to have everything ready for when the island is discovered."

"Kinda like the holy grail or the Alexandria Library," Adrien observed. "But what about you? Are… you okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"How did you get there in the first place?"

"Adrien," she lowered her eyes and paused for a moment. "There's a reason why I had Ms. Tsurugi to erase Kagami's memories of me. She still knows of my existence but she no longer knows of our connection."

"Are you erasing your other you's her memories as well?" Tikki asked.

"Once I head back, yes," Older Chloe said. She took a moment to have a look at him.

"You really have changed," Adrien said.

"And it took me a while to realize you haven't changed at all," Chloe said. "This was always the real you, wasn't it?"

"Chloe…" Adrien began. "I can't help it. Guess it all began when I occasionally played along when you pretended to be a cat while your mom treated you like she did. I played your owner and let you sleep with your head on my lap."

"You remember?" Chloe said tilted her head to the side. She closed her eyes for a second before looking up. "Can't say this is what I had in mind when we promised each other that we would surpass our parents way back when."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"About what?"

"What I mean is," Adrien hesitated. "Aren't you angry?"

"Angry?"

"Do I really have to spell it out?" Adrien said, cringing.

"Chloe, I believe we can reveal that much," Pollen approached her. Tikki joined her and gave her a look of lament.

"You told her?"

"It's not my place to say," Tikki said. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Fine," Chloe conceded. "Yes, I was angry at first. When I first landed there I wanted nothing more but to get off that island, who wouldn't?"

"You actually resigned to stay and layout the info to create the kwamis? Hell, not just that, technology, medicine, astrology? You studied all that and laid everything to be found?" he asked. "I gotta say, that's pretty badass." He lay on his back with his arms on his head as a pillow. Chloe giggled.

"Thanks, of course, there were always those who would use these foundations for evil. I mean, look at your mother's family. Umm… no offense."

"None taken."

"I mean, it was them who got their hands on the spellbook of the miracle box which Nathalie took to your parents, and well, you know the rest," she said. Adrien's eyes widened and shot back up.

"I forgot about the book!"

*BOOOM!*

"What was that?" Chloe asked more to herself as she leaned closer to the edge. A legion of glowing white bees began to emerge from the source and began to spread around the city.

"Dammit!" Adrien Growled. "Why did it had to be tonight!"

"Marinette just got back from London, huh?" Chloe asked but didn't wait for an answer. "No choice, I'm gonna check it out, you get the others."

"Right, TIKKI, SPOTS ON!

Pollen approached her and nodded.

"POLLEN, BUZZ ON!"

Back at Agreste Manor… Present time…

Everyone had transformed but Mordecai was still having trouble with Duusuu.

"Future Queen Bee is doing whatever she can to keep her busy but I'm afraid Lux must have made her move," Mister Bug said.

"I guess we should head on there and decide our next COA," Ladybug said.

"You guys go on ahead," Mordecai said.

"You okay, Mordecai?" Rocket asked.

"Let's just say I'll need some pointers," Mordecai said, giving a side look towards the balcony where Nathalie is likely waiting. "Now go!"

"Good luck," Rocket said, following Mister Bug. Rena, Queen Bee, and Carapace nodded and followed suit. Ryuko saw Lady Noir hesitating.

"Marinette," Ryuko called.

She looked up at Nathalie then back a Mordecai, who was having a hard time with his kwami. Her heart sped up when she saw the peacock kwami, remembering what this miraculous is capable of.

"Don't even think about embarrassing me in front of her!" Mordecai said, pointing at Duusuu.

"Lady Noir, we must go!" Ryuko urged. After a moment more of hesitation Lady Noir stared back at her.

"Right!" Lady Noir nodded and head out.

"Nathalie!" Mordecai ran upstairs where Nathalie had heard the conversation.

"Mr. Quintell," she greeted.

"Mr. Quintell," Gabriel greeted, following her.

"Nathalie!" Duusuu greeted happily.

"Sanceur," Mordecai greeted. "I'm gonna need your help."

Meanwhile…

Everyone was leaping through the rooftops. Mister Bug, Lady Noir, Rena Rouge, Carapace, Queen Bee, Ryuko, and Rocket followed as they were ready to hear of the situation. Mister Bug gave the other a quick recap of Lux's intentions as well as what she's doing with the victims of the plague.

"Are they glowing?" Lady Noir asked.

"Just like Cartman said," Mister Bug replied. "Lux must have summoned this poor soul and is now using her to terrorize Paris."

"No doubt to lure us out," Ryuko agreed.

"And you're saying they're using wasps to attack the people?"

"I know what you're thinking Chloe," Rena said. "But don't jump to conclusions and assume that is your sister."

"Who else could it be?" Queen Bee asked. "AAAGH!"

Queen Bee was suddenly attacked by a swarm of glowing white wasps.

"Dudes!" Carapace shouted as he tried to swipe the wasps off. All of them were easily overwhelmed and before any of them could use their power they were ambushed.

"Well, well, well," Lux's voice mocked as the heroes were quickly pinned to the ground. "I was expecting a little more fight than that."

Mister Bug once again cringed at the sound of her voice and hoped nobody would notice. He looked up and saw not only the tall woman who had the structure of his mother but a younger girl who was a little shorter than her but also younger, she had a suit similar to Queen Bee though more akin to a wasp than a bee. She was fighting alongside her with a blank expression on his face. Lux stroked her jaw with her finger.

"My creation, Vesperia," she said. "Isn't she beautiful? I supposed you could advocate that, Chloe."

"No…" Chloe muttered.

"It can't be…" Mister Bug said.

"ZOE!" Queen Bee wailed as she ran towards her. Vesperia just stared blankly at her.

"VENOM!" Vesperia said in an eerily calm voice. She suddenly appeared in from of Chloe and stung her, paralyzing her.

"Chloe!" Mister Bug shouted. He restrained himself as he dealt with his current pain of being pinned down by the swarm of glowing wasps.

"Oh dear," Lux said mockingly. "Gabriel's incompetence could never prepare you properly for an actual situation. Then again, only you could have the skill to figure things out once you returned, don't you think, Ladybug?" she asked, turning to Lady Noir.

"I know who you are," Lady Noir said. She got up as she tried to fight off the wasps.

"I was expecting your return, Dupain-Chung," Lux said, nonchalantly. "You fend off that sentimonster, I must say."

"And I know what you're doing," Lady Noir grunted. "People's souls are not something you can just mess around."

"Now who do you think you are to lecture me about souls?" Lux spat. "Poor Adrien, my son would've never stuck his neck for you if he knew you didn't have a soul."

"SHE HAS A SOUL!" Mister Bug yelled.

"No!' Lux shot back, turning to him. "She has no say, no future! All that matters now is to take back what was taken from me."

"This isn't about you!" Lady Noir said. "Even if you get a hold of these miraculous, there's no way we'll know for sure you'll get what you want!"

Lux slapped her across the face.

"What do you know?" she spat. "You think you feel the loss of your fake parents? You will never convince me that you even have the ability to fell, and your attempts to pretend to feel makes me sick."

"I have heard enough…WIND DRAGON!" Ryuko spun around, creating a condensed tornado, blowing the wasps off.

"Carapace!" Mister Bug shouted.

"Yeah, I'm on it!" Carapace affirmed. "SHELL-TER!"

Carapace created a green barrier around everyone.

"Oh man," he said. "We can really use Pegasus, right about now…"

"Don't count us out yet," Mister Bug grinned.

"Vesperia!" Lux shouted. "Search!"

"Yes Mistress," Vesperia replied in an unsettlingly robotic voice and jumped off.

"Rocket…" he whispered. Wasps buzzed in the distance.

"Hey!"

"You're coming with me."

"Fat chance, She-Seigfried!" Rocket was propelled to the sky by a swarm of wasps. "BARRAGE!" A serried of copies of himself started to appear, confusing the wasps. Three Rocket clones have charged behind Lux, causing her to fend them off with her rapier.

"CATACLYSM!" Lady Noir took the chance and disintegrated the ground below, just as Carapace's shell-ter wore off.

"We could use the other Queen Bee right now," Mister Bug whipped out his yoyo communicator.

"Finally, you're out of that barrier," Older Queen Bee said.

"Where are you, Rocket can use a hand up there," Lady Noir said. They all ran in an attempt to get away from Lux's range.

"I have my share of healing shots here," she replied. "From the looks of things, you're definitively gonna need them. Let's hurry, too."

"Where are you?"

Meanwhile…

"AAAARGH!"

Vesperia uppercut Rocket in the face, then Lux stomped him on the back, pinning him down with her heel. She started to walk around him. Rocket was about to get up but was pinned down again by Vesperia, keeping him on the ground.

"You know," he said. "These wasp stings pack one heck of a punch, Lady!"

Lux squatted by him with a condescending smirk, Vesperia followed behind with the same expressionless look on her face.

"So, you inherited Cartman's miraculous," Lux said. "I honestly expected Cat Noir to have better judgment in his choices over who chooses his champions."

"What are you getting at?" Rugby asked only to be further crushed. "OW!"

"Oh, I think you know," Lux said. "The poor fool does not realize how naïve he is. No matter, he was doomed to meet a pathetic end the minute he accepted to be Cat Noir."

"STOP TALKING!" Rigby yelled, trying to get up.

"Or, what?" Lux mocked. "Do you really believe you have any leverage on me?"

"You don't understand," Rocked said. "He's… AAAAARGH!"

"Venom," Vesperia said emotionlessly as she stung him.

"Aaaahh…" he bellowed, unable to speak.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Lux asked condescendingly. "I couldn't listen to the nonsense you were spouting."

"EEEEeeehhhhh!" Rocket bellowed loudly as he tried to scream.

"Nevermind," she said. "I suppose this is where you ambush me is it not, Ladybug?"

Lady Noir and Mister Bug emerged from the shadows, with knowing expressions.

"Guess the cat's out of the bag, huh?" Lady Noir said with a slight grin.

"So his puns rubbed on you?" Lux asked.

"I guess he had a bigger influence on me than I thought," Lady Noir replied crossing her arms. "Your point being?"

"Heh, now you're getting cocky?" Lux scoffed.

"Right back at you," Mister Bug stepped in. "Especially if you're willing to sink this low."

"What's it to you?" Lux asked.

"More than you think…" Mister Bug whispered with a growl.

"Huh?" Lady Noir uttered.

"That's what I thought," Lux mocked and snapped her fingers. "Vesperia, fetch!"

"Release her, already!" a voice shouted.

"Queen Bee, No!"

"Venom," Vesperia whispered. She struck but Queen Bee caught her arm by the wrist with both hands as Vesperies pushed on to Queen Bee.

"Yo!" Older Queen Bee kicked Vesperia in the head, knocking her out of her younger self. "You okay?"

"That was Zoe!" Queen Bee wailed. "What is wrong with you?"

She got up to her feet, not accepting her older self's hand. Older Queen Bee grabbed her by the shoulders.

"This is the only way we can save her now!"

"HA!" Ryuko attacked, only to be counterattacked by a new swarm of wasps. "FIRE DRAGON!"

Her body was enveloped with fire as she tried to shield herself.

"It's pointless," Lux said.

"AAAAHHH!" Ryuko was overwhelmed by the wasps.

"Ryuko!" Rena played her flute to create a mist.

"AQUAWAVE!" Carapace summoned a wave from the sky as if it was very heavy rain. The wasps were overwhelmed and washed away, along with Vesperia.

"Nice one, Carapace," Rena said as she carried Ryuko out of the mist.

"Shout out to future Chloe," Carapace raised his fist.

"Grrr," Lux growled until she realized she was being ambushed from behind.

"VENOM!" Older Queen Bee shouted and tried to strike her from behind. Lux teleported out before the top point could touch her. Older Queen Bee rolled down the ground and turned.

"Damn," she whispered. She was then strangled from behind and placed her rapier by her throat.

"Bee!" Mister Bug shouted.

"One more step and I will slit her throat!" Lux said. Before anyone could think, a new swarm of wasps appeared, only this time, they took the form of mechanical claws. Most were once again pinned down.

"Oh, Chloe," Lux said. "Why are you on their side, hm?"

"Do you know what will happen?" Older Queen Bee asked. "Do you really

"Why don't you see that I'm bringing Adrien back!" Lux sneered. "Now you will straight up and you two will be together!"

"I won't work!" Older Queen Bee shouted. "She's gone…"

"How dare you!" she screamed so loud she became raspy. Older Queen Bee slipped out of her grip and stung her on the foot, paralyzing her.

"Sorry," Older Queen Bee said as she was about to remove her miraculous. She then saw Lux's reflection in her eye.

"Bee, Lookout!" Present Queen Bee stepped in.

"Venom," Vesperia said, barely above a whisper. Once older Queen Bee realized what happened she gasped with a sob. She had stung her younger self, paralyzing her.

"I'm so sorry sis…" she said and kicked her away, knocking her off the rooftop. "Get her miraculous!" she shouted pointing at Lux as she went after Vesperia. The paralyzed Present Queen Bee could barely move her face.

"Zoe…" she croaked weakly. "*sob* Please… *sob* don't hurt her…"

"CHAOS!" Lady Noir shouted as she blasted the wasps off her and made her way towards the paralyzed Lux. "It's over!"

Another swarm of glowing wasps intercepted and kicked her off course. After recovering from the impact, she saw that the wasps were taking a humanoid form.

"My, Lady… ACK!" Mister Bug still struggled to fight off the wasps.

"Wha…?" Lady Noir muttered as she thought she began to recognize the form the wasps were taking. Once the wasps gathered, they fused and took a clear form. It took a familiar form and one she did not want to see in this particular situation.

"Maman…?" she whined.

The wasps fused into a clear form Sabine, but she looked different. She looked younger and what seemed to be a miraculous transformation.

"No…"

Meanwhile…

"ZOE!" Older Queen Bee shouted as she went after her falling sister. Vesperia landed on a car and bounced off it, landing hard on the ground. "No!"

Older Queen Bee landed on her feet gracefully and saw that Vesperia was curled in a fetal position and then got up on her knees and began to cry. She approached her and patted her on her shoulder.

"Zoe…"

"Kill me, quick!" Vesperia said, looking up at her.

"What?"

"Hurry, Lux will take control again!" Vesperia said through her tears. She looked up and shut her eyes. "Do it, NOW!"

Before Queen Bee could react, Vesperia opened her eyes again and grabbed her by the neck.

Back at the rooftop…

"SHELL-TER!" Carapace shouted once again as his barrier shielded himself, Rena, Ryuko, an injured Rocked, and a paralyzed present Queen Bee.

Lady Noir dodged the attacks from whatever had taken the form of her mother. She started with her fists but quickly summoned twin rapiers. Lady Noir hasn't said a word and could only dodge without fighting back.

Mister Bug managed to fight off the wasps by spinning his yoyo over his head. He readied himself and scoffed loudly.

"Talk about persistent and annoying!"

"Mister Bug!" Ryuko yelled. Still trapped within the barrier.

"Ryuko!'

"Help Lady Noir!" she pointed at the image of Marinette's mother attacking her with too sharp blades.

"My lady," he said but thought he went for the source. "Stop this now!"

Lux, however, took note of this.

"Glacia!"

The white glowing Sabine figure turned to Mister Bug and shot an ice projective at him.

"Damn!" he dodged it. And Sabine stepped in his way and readied herself

"Can't hold on much longer!" Carapace said. "If you're gonna do something you better do it quick!"

"These wasps sting like crazy, we can't even move or think!" Rena said.

A scream was heard and everyone saw upward. It was Older Queen Bee, she had been tossed back up to the roof and her head bounced off Carapace's barrier and landed on her back to the rooftop ground.

"Cool Bee!" Rena said.

"Our powers are limited again," Ryuko lamented.

"Damn," Rocket added, trying to get up. "We can't just sit back!"

"Lady Noir!" Ryuko shouted. "Remember what I have told you about hesitation!"

Lady Noir remained on her knees, unresponsive.

"MARINETTE!" Rena screamed but covered her mouth.

Meanwhile, Mister Bug did what he could to reach the paralyzed Lux but the projection of Glacia kept getting in his way.

"Please don't make this hard, Ms. Cheng!" He growled.

"Cataclysm," Lady Noir said in an unnervingly calm manner. Glacia stopped her barrage and stumble as if slightly pushed from behind. Mister Bug's eyes widened when he saw it was Lady Noir who had performed a cataclysm on her own mother. Glacia turned to face her.

"Marinette?" she said softly. Lady Noir gasped and looked up at her with tears in her eyes. Sabine smiled. "Avenge us…" she said before disintegrating. A white mist manifested and flowed back into Lux.

"Was that…?" Rocked began.

"Her soul…" Ryuko growled, making a fist. "That heartless witch!"

Lady Noir collapsed on her knees once again. Mister Bug comforted her.

"Carapace now!"

"Charge!" Carapace went full-frontal assault towards Lux. Vesperia intervened once again and bounce the barrier off with a single hand. The barrier broke and everyone scattered. Only Ryuko landed on her feet.

"Venom," Vesperiaswiftly paralyzed Carapace, Rena, and Rocket, with Ryuko deflecting her strike.

"We gotta get to Lux, NOW!" Mister Bug said and got up but a swarm of wasps overwhelmed them. Knocking them both out of the building.

"EARTH DRAGON!" She turned to a moving sentient stone version of herself. She quickly sheathed her sword and attacked. Vesperia blocked her attacks with her arms. She blacked her sword attacks with ease and summoned yet another swarm of glowing wasps. "I'm growing tired of these pests!" Ryuko growled with annoyance.

Meanwhile, Mister Bug and Lady Noir were having a hard time with a massive swarm gathered around and took the form like it was a giant snake. They both struggled back up on their feet.

"Mister Bug!"

"Right!" he affirmed. "LUCKY CH…"

"Look out!" Lady Noir pushed him out of the way and was beginning to be consumed by the swarm.

"My lady," he yelled.

"Mister Bug!" she shouted before she was quickly consumed. Mister Bug collapsed on his knees.

"MY LADY!" he screamed. He was paralyzed for a few seconds but quickly made a fist. "Damn!" he shouted as he dodged another strike from the swarm and wall ran his way back up the rooftop.

Once he reached the top he couldn't believe what he saw. Older Queen Bee grabbed Vesperia by chokehold. Ryuko managed to fight off the last of the swarm. Once he turned to where Lux was paralyzed, only to be caught off guard when he saw she was gone.

"Mister Bug," Ryuko called.

"Ryuko…*gasp*" He saw a glowing silver rapier emerging from her. Only this time the blade came between her torso and her arm, not through the former.

"What's this!?" Ryuko held Lux's arm with hers. Lux kicked her back to free herself. "I knew you were a snake," Ryuko said. "But setting your sight on me?"

"It is because of your influence, Adrien is gone!"

"Me!?"

"Gabriel's association with your mother…" Lux said. "I never imagined he would be that conniving."

"What are you talking about?" Mister Bug tried to step in but before the conversation could continue…

*snap*

Mister Bug covered his mouth. Vesperia's corpse fell on Older Queen Bee's feet. All the wasps disappeared, releasing Lady Noir, landing on the ground with a thud.

"Ugh!"

Like Glacia, Vesperia's body disappeared and turned into mist, flowing back into Lux.

"No matter," she said. "We will meet again."

She flash-stepped her way out of there. Ryuko tried to get a swing at her but wasn't fast enough. All the glowing wasps around Paris, tormenting people were gone as well.

"Zoe…" Present Queen Bee sniffed, having just recovered from her paralysis.

"Mister Bug," Ryuko approached him, holding her arm.

"Ryuko,"

"I am afraid this has become much more dire," she said. Mister Bug rolled his eyes.

"That goes without saying."

"Ok, what the heck just happened?" Rena asked no one in particular.

"One thing is for sure," said a recovering Lady Noir. "We're gonna have a long conversation with a certain kitty kwami."

"Is this what Cartman was talking about…?"

Author's Note: And I'm stopping here.

After reaching that point right before Lady Noir performed 'cataclysm' on her own mother, it was clear to me that she didn't need another pep talk by that point.

I think I made it clear enough what happened to the souls of Zoe and Sabine that it didn't need explanation.

So yes, the next chapter will be the long-overdue conversation with Plagg as he finally reveals what he knows. That was going to be the original intent for this chapter, but then I realized that our heroes and my readers should witness firsthand what they are up against before our favorite kitty kwami spills the beans.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Once again, constructive criticism is appreciated.