It was just after Zoe had shown up in Paris for a few days, and her half-sister Chloe Bourgeois was still fuming about her returned sibling's behaviour.

"How DARE she return from New York, openly defy my wishes as to her appearance and attitude, gatecrash my debut movie role…" the list of Zoe's alleged 'crimes' went on, as Chloe entered her bedroom to arbitrarily throw random personal possessions around the place. "She even turned Adrikins against me! And what did I get out of it? This stupid charm, that our mother apparently gave her! I don't even like the ugly thing, but if she does, then I'll wear it every day just to rub it in her face! Let's see how she likes that!"

Chloe glanced at the yellow and black striped amulet around her neck, as if it's presence there could make up for the countless indignities she'd suffered of late. But even swiping something this valuable from Zoe couldn't quite fill the gaping hole in Chloe's ego, and she ended up tearing it off and hurling it across the room.

"Oh, it's hopeless!" She remarked, as the jewelry hit the wall with an audible thunk. "Maybe Adrikins was right after all, not that I'd ever say it to his face. Ever since I got my butler akumatized I've felt like I've been pulled in two different directions, and it's making me ill. Sick, I tell you. Should I be nicer to commoners? Do they deserve it? My mother always taught me to treat my inferiors with casual contempt, but that doesn't seem to have worked of late. Maybe I should listen more to my father? After all, he's just been reelected by a landslide for the fourth time, so if anyone should know anything about being popular…"

"... It certainly wouldn't be you." It was at this precise moment Zoe sauntered through the door, observing the wrecked surroundings with a degree of satisfaction. "My, we have been a busy girl, haven't we? Did baby throw all of her toys out of the pram, and now she wants changing? Well, I'm not the one to give you a fresh diaper. Besides which, I couldn't stand the smell."

Chloe didn't seem particularly perturbed by her sister's abrupt change in tone from earlier, and regarded the now pink-striped girl with a wary eye as she confidently sashayed forward to sit next to her on the bed.

"Ah, now there's the Zoe I remember from our brief encounters we had as little kids." Chloe frowned, as if the mist was finally clearing from her eyes. "I was starting to wonder who that sensitive mouse was from earlier, with the quiet voice and oh-so-humble personality. You might've fooled the rest of those losers in class, but you certainly never convinced me. Even when you professed a love for those truly terrible shoes, I knew something was going on…"

"Oh, is that so? What was all that stuff then, about giving me 'sisterly' advice? Daddy just being a meal ticket, making rich friends like Adrien, forcing Four-Eyes in there to do your homework…?"

"T-That was just a test. And I'll have you know, Sabrina went home hours ago. This is her night off." Chloe grumbled, whilst crossing her arms defiantly. "The point is, I was actually worried you'd hit your head or something, and was just playing along. Now I know you're fine though, it begs the question… why the big act? Why turn the entire school against me, steal my place in the spotlight at film studies, allow yourself to be akumatized by that hideous man…"

"Chloe, Chloe. My darling, sweet Chloe." At this juncture, Zoe leaned forward to untie her sister's ponytail to stroke her hair softly in a strangely sinister way. "Haven't you got it by now? Haven't you read the advance copies? Do you want me to spell it out for you? I am going to take everything from you. And if the only way I can get to that point is by dressing like a freak and acting like a goody-goody, then that is what I'll do. I didn't finish top in my school's drama club for nothing, you know…"

Chloe recoiled in horror upon hearing this, a look of true horror spread across her usually flawless features. "Y-You can't mean that…"

"Oh, I do. And if you think things are bad now, just wait 'til you see what 'delights' I have lined up next." Zoe's smug attitude suddenly turned hostile, and she gazed down at her trembling sister with pure hatred. "You think it's fair I was stuck in that shitty house in Queens, while you were living the lap of luxury in France? I don't think so. Our mother is one of the wealthiest fashionistas in the world, but did we ever see a cent from her? What do you think?! Sadly, there's nothing I can do to change the past, or a world where parents routinely abandon their children without any consequences. But I can take my frustrations out on you, my own 'precious sister'. As you've already seen, from the small taste I've given you about what's in store."

The more Chloe heard of these plans, the less she liked. In fact, this had already strayed from 'ridiculous' territory into borderline psychotic. "Y-you can't do that! I won't let you!"

"Oh, really? And how do you propose to do that, pray tell? All of your classmates know you as a liar, a cheat and a bully. You think they're gonna come running to your aid, if you blab about 'sweet and innocent' Zoe giving you a hard time?" Zoe stifled a giggle at this point, before turning serious again. "The fact is 'Chloe Bourgeois' we're not so much alike. Apart from one key difference: I have brains. Whereas you telegraph your every move in advance and get caught every single time, I plot and scheme and play the long game. And now, you're about to find out just how successful my tactics are."

"L-Listen Zoe, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Sorry I didn't recognize your fabulous performance when you first showed up, and lost my temper when you hung out with those losers. I should've known there was method behind your madness." A visibly sweating Chloe jumped off her bed suddenly to retrieve her thrown necklace from earlier. "Here's the amulet you gave me earlier, as good as new! I'll wear it every day if it means that much to you, or I can just give it straight back. Whatever you say, I'll do…"

"Hmm? That old thing? I couldn't care less about it." Zoe dismissed the offered item of jewelry with an outstretched hand, before climbing off Chloe's bed once more. "I only said I did for reasons that are beyond your level of comprehension. Put it on. Throw it out. Put it under your fat butt and crush it to pieces, for all I care. There's no way you can stop the storm that's coming, even if you had the most watertight jacket around. And by the looks of your wardrobe, it's not exactly designed for practicality, is it? Toodle-loo for now, 'dear sister'. Watch your back… and I don't just mean for traces of sunburn. Buh-bye now!"

Leaving Chloe speechless in her wake (mostly because the self-conscious heiress was concerned that her posterior had started looking a bit chubby of late) Zoe strode out of the room with a clear agenda in mind. But it wasn't until she was halfway en route to her own quarters, she felt assured enough to monologue part of her plans to herself.

"First, it's time for a little chat with Mommy. Then, I think another appearance from the much-loved new hero Vesperia is in order… oh, and I need to reconnect with an old friend from Italy too…"

….

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, I did start this fic because the recent episodes p*ssed me off. Because Thomas hates Chloe so much, he intentionally introduced Zoe as this 'Mary Sue' character to make Chloe seem even worse than before. Not to mention, strip Chloe of every trace of humanity she ever possessed to make her even worse than she was in S1. So many episodes devoted to her development, all thrown out of the window. All to make Zoe seem even more perfect in comparison. Pur-lease.

So I decided to invent this scenario where Zoe's 'very sweet' persona was just a facade all along, she has everyone fooled and then… well, you're gonna have to wait to find out. Whatever happens next though, I guarantee it'll be more interesting than in increasingly predictable canon. Hopefully, it'll allow me to right some wrongs too in terms of the unfair, biased treatment which has recently been meted out to a certain blonde. And no, she doesn't have any pink in her hair. :p

Catch you later! :)