A/N: Akuma credit belongs to Fancool, so I don't even own that. Oh well. I still see it as a win, because gosh, was this fun to write! (Easily the longest chapter so far- though ch8 might be longer.) Thanks to everyone who offered ideas! (Reading2MuchFanfiction, guess what the next akuma after this will be?)

Bonus points if you catch the AG Howard and Michael Buckley references.

melodies

{{{{{{{{{{marinette}}}}}}}}}

My phone buzzes with half an hour left in class. It's the AkumAlert app.

Ms Bustier sighs. "All right, class dismissed."

I just manage to grab my backpack as Alya yanks me out of my seat. "C'mon, girl! We need footage!"

"I really have to go to...the bathroom!" I lie. "Like, really really." I do a couple potty-dance steps.

Alya sighs. "Hurry."

I dash out of the classroom on Sabrina's heels. Apparently she needs to go too.

We slam into the restroom at the same time. She looks around. "Ma-Marinette?"

I pull on every stall door. They all swing open, so I say, "You're good."

Tikki peeks out of her bag and waves.

Sabrina nods. "Tikki, spots on!"

Red-gold light runs down her body as she transforms into Coccinelle. I watch as the magic lengthens and braids her hair, and changes her eyes from teal to vibrant green.

She pulls out her yoyo.

"Wait," I say. "Afterwards, if anyone asks, we ended up hiding in the same bathroom by accident."

Coccinelle nods. "Thanks, Marinette." She dashes out the door.

I sigh. Nothing left to do but wait. If I suddenly start appearing at akuma attacks after missing them all before Coccinelle, Alya will probably get suspicious.

(((((((((sabrina))))))))))

"Treat my Blanche right next time!" the akuma bellows at a redheaded man.

I look at Chat, who got here before me. "Any ideas…?"

"They're calling themselves 'Rabid White'," he says. "Some vacationer whose pet rabbit was apparently mistreated."

"Um…" Of all the reasons to be akumatized.

A person in my peripheral vision screams. I spin in time to see a blonde woman shrink into a fuzzy brown bunny rabbit. The akuma laughs triumphantly and makes a throwing motion with their...carrot...knife...thingy.

A little girl approaches the rabbit. "Aww, bunny!"

The rabbit leaps at her face. She screams, trying to pull it off...but shrinks into a black rabbit.

I scratch the back of my neck.

"That is like the lamest akuma power, period," says Chat. "Turning people into bunny rabbits?" He stands and hollers, "Cats eat rabbits!"

The akuma's head, and the heads of the now-ten or so rabbits, swivel toward Chat.

"GET THEM!" Rabid White yells.

I look at Chat as the bunny army heads for us, biting and changing anyone in their way. "Chat."

"Yes, Mi- uh, Coccinelle?"

"That was really dumb. Don't do it again."

Chat nods, grabs me around the waist, and elongates his baton.

It doesn't move.

I look down and see rabbits climbing the baton how are they doing that it's metal. "Hang on, Chat. And let go of your staff."

"Coccinelle….!"

I throw my yoyo. Chat comes with me. His baton falls under bunnies.

It would be funny if it weren't so creepy. Zombie bunny rabbits.

I used to beg my father for a rabbit. Now I'm glad he never gave in.

"Where do you think the akuma is?" Chat asks once we're temporarily safe on the Eiffel Tower.

I shrug. "You were here longer than I was, and I'm not Ladybug. Do you have any ideas?"

"...the carrot sword?"

I look at it doubtfully. "Lucky Charm?"

Chat and I both stare at it.

"How is a harmonica supposed to help?" Chat asks.

I turn the instrument over in my hands. "Um...I guess I play it?"

Chat stops me. "Sometimes Ladybug's Charms aren't for what they seem to be for. Like, on Heroes Day, during the fight with Hawk Moth, she got a Miraculous box. We thought it was for Hawk Moth's Miraculous, but it was actually so she could see the real Hawk Moth in its mirrored back."

I heft the harmonica. "Well, I can either play it or throw it at the akuma. Somehow I don't think it'll do much damage. So…" I raise it to my lips again.

With the first notes, the rabbits already at the base of the Tower pause. Okay….good. I take a breath, and the wave of fur begins advancing again.

"Keep playing," Chat says, eyes on the rabbits. "Keep playing!"

The first song that comes to mind is the Ladybug theme song from that movie last year. It's one of the few things I've been able to play on any instrument.

Chat decides to sing along to my playing, because of course he does. "It's Ladybug, the Lucky Charm, the magic is on, always so stro-ong!"

I wince. "Chat. Don't. Please don't."

He sighs but doesn't say anything.

On the line Oh-oh-oh, amour chassé-croisé, I notice a flash of black-spotted orange in the crowd of bunnies. It's...Chat's baton? And the akuma is holding it?

I glance at Chat, whose gloves are also orange and black. "Chat."

"Yes?"

"Your" I blow a few notes to keep the rabbits at bay, but the akuma is encouraging them and the harmonica won't work for much longer. "baton is down there. The akuma has it." I blow frantically, hearing my earrings beep.

"On it."

"Try the sword!" I call after him.

One Cataclysm later, the akuma's sword is replaced by a carrot from their bag, magically grown huge. Not the akumatized item then.

"Regroup!" I call. "Can you handle them on your own for a bit? My timer's about to run out, and I need to find more heroes."

"I've only got five minutes!" Chat yells back.

"Hold them off then run!" I suggest, twirling my yoyo.

"Hurry!"

A/N: Did anyone catch the references? If not, let me know and maybe I'll tell you next chapter. ^_^