Chapter 23: Guitar Villain
Today, we're going to start with my favorite rocker, Jagged Stone. You remember when he played at that concert? Well, he was now dealing with his manager, Bob Roth.
"My Miraculous!" Jagged Stone said as he finished playing his song for Bob, wearing the glasses Marinette made for him. As Penny applauded while Bob watched with crossed arms.
"So, what do you think of the first single off my next album? Can you feel it, Bob? Isn't it killer?" He said to Bob.
"Not bad, Jagged, not bad." Bob said before he held up one of XY CD cases. "But if you really want to be making something killer, let's talk about this duet with Mr. XY."
Okay, I bet you're wondering who XY is, right? Well, he's this new young pop star that came up. Not really a fan of his music or his personality. He also apparently became the only person to be able to rival the King of Rock'n'Roll.
"No way." Jagged said, not wanting to partner up with his rival. "He's not a rocker, he's a baby! I bet he doesn't even shave yet."
"Well, this 'baby' just pushed you out of the number one sales spot."
"And? Doesn't make him a true musician like me. Penny thinks everything I'm doing's rock star material. She thinks I'm killer."
"Penny might be your agent, but I'm your real boss. Listen. Bottom line is that Bob Roth Records cannot afford to be number two in sales! Or rep a number two rock star! Get real, Jagged! You're going to have to modernize your music. Change the way you look. Get a whole new style!"
"You want to talk about real? I'm a genuine rock 'n' roller, Bob, not some pop star in diapers. I'm a real artist. Real talent! Even my hair is real. And that's what people love about me." Jagged said as he look to Fang, who agreed with him. "Isn't that right, Fang? Yeah." He then looked to Bob as he spoke again. "And the artwork you came up with for my album is a waste of my time! Seriously, Bob, what is this trash? It looks like a perfume ad!"
He wasn't wrong there. The artwork actually made him look like one of those sad guys in those boy bands.
"And that's what people want these days!" Bob said, pointing at Jagged.
"Well, I don't. My album covers are raw to the bone, exuding the smell of sweat and leather!"
"You do know, don't you, that if your next album doesn't rate #1 on the charts, it'll be the last one you ever do with Bob Roth records."
"I'd rather put out nothing at all than sing some pathetic duet with a baby-faced nobody."
"Bob, Jagged and I had an idea." Penny said to Bob. "Its concept is modern, but it also respects Jagged's own…rugged style."
"The schoolgirl who made these glasses has some real talent." Jagged said as he took off the glasses and shows them to Bob "She totally gets my style. She's going to design the cover of my new album."
"A schoolgirl?" Bob said in shock.
"See? That's just it. She's the same age as the target audience." Penny said to Bob as she then handed him a sheet of paper. "Here's her address."
Bob just folded his arms, turned away, and growled, a sign he wasn't gonna let Marinette design the album cover. Fang managed to change his mind with a growl of his own.
"Okay! But just think about that duet with Mr. XY." Bob said as he took the sheet and began leaving the room, after jumping away from Fang in alarm.
"Find that girl, Bob!" Jagged said ad Bob made his way out.
At the Boulangerie Patisserie, Bob was speaking with Marinette in front of her parents. He already told her that Jagged wanted her to design his next album cover.
"So, are you interested?" Bob asked.
"Uh, wait, wait, wait." Marinette said, unable to believe what she was hearing. "Let me get this straight. You want me to design the album cover for Jagged Stone?! My…all-time favorite singer?!
"That's right! Requested by Jagged Stone himself." Bob said as he then showed Marinette an XY album. "I brought a few visuals so you can get a sense of what we're going for."
"This doesn't seem like Jagged Stone material." Marinette said as she looked at the album. "More like...a perfume ad!"
"This is the direction of his new image. More modern, current!"
"Really? Wow. I was thinking more along the lines of…"
"Don't think! This is what is selling these days." Bob said, interrupting her.
"Uh…sure." Marinette said, unsurely.
"And one last thing, Marinette. We're in a hurry! We need your proposal by the end of the day. You up to it?"
Marinette looked at her parents, who nod reassuringly to her.
"Uh, yeah! Okay." Marinette said.
"See you later, then!" Bob said as he left the bakery.
"My daughter, famous album cover designer." Tom said to his daughter. "You're going to kill it! Marinette style. Boo-yah!"
He and Marinette then high fived each other and the two of them and Sabine shared a hug. After that Marinette called me and Adrien to get our opinions on her design.
We were up in her room as she is drew the album cover on her tablet while listening to XY's music. Us and the kwamis watched as she did it. Though none of us actually like XY's music. It wasn't really original. It was just like that no lyric, pop dance music you hear at dance clubs.
"Aah!" I said as I covered my ears in discomfort. "Marinette, turn it off! I can't take that sound anymore!"
Marinette then did the same thing I did and stopped the music.
"Oh, why does Jagged Stone want to change his style?" Marinette said in discomfort. "XY's music is so cold and lifeless, repetitive, mundane, the total opposite of Jagged. And what I've just done here is...ugh...is so not my style either."
"You're telling me." I said as I looked at the cover which looked like one of those love fantasy scenes you see in romantic movies, nothing like Jagged's style. "Ugh! It looks like he's twirling in a cologne cloud."
"But if you don't want to do this, then why are you doing it?" Adrien asked his girlfriend.
"Because that's what I was asked to do, Adrien." Marinette answered.
"Maybe you should follow your gut feeling, Marinette." Tikki said. "Do something that's really you!"
"Tikki's right. Following your instinct isn't a bad thing." I said to Marinette. "I mean, look at me. I followed my instincts when it comes to a difficult situation and it hasn't done me wrong yet."
"Yeah, but you guys know what Mr. Roth said." Marinette said before she spoke speaking like Bob. "'This is what's selling these days.'"
"Yeah, but…Jagged Stone wanted you because of your style." Adrien said. "I mean he liked those glasses you made him, right?"
"Yeah, but…" Marinette said before she groaned out in frustration. "Augh! The pressure! I…can't…deal!
"Marinette, superhero of France, defender of the innocent, fighter of all the rights, can't deal with the pressure?" Adrien said with a smug, which prompted Marinette to chuckle.
She then tapped her lips with her pen, thinking how she was gonna make the cover before she groaned out in frustration.
"Sorry, Marinette, but what Roth wants for this isn't really my sort of thing." I said as she looked at me. "I think you should have Tricha help you out."
"Your cousin?" Marinette asked, uncertain about the option. "I don't know. She makes some great clothes for everyone, but I'm not sure an album cover is really her style."
"Girl, my cuz's eye for style goes beyond than just fabric." I told her. "I've seen her make wonderful tapestries, beautiful signs, she even once made a bad hair day look like a new fashion craze. Trust me, if anyone can help you with this, it's her."
Marinette thought about for a while and then decided to call Tricha right away. My cuz then headed down there as fast as she could. Marinette explained the situation to her and Tricha then took a look at XY's album cover and the cover Marinette designed.
"So, you think you can help me with this?" Marinette asked my cousin as she finished inspecting the designs.
"Of course." Tricha said. "Really, I'm glad you called me. We both know that going out of your comfort zone isn't really your thing, but not to worry, I'm here to help. Just tell me what to add to it and I'll give it the certain rarity that Mr. Roth wants."
"You think you can be able to do that?" Marinette asked her.
"There's no reason to fret, darling." Tricha said. "I've been placed with much more difficult than this. This will be as easy as a simple patch job."
"Oh, thank you, Tricha!" Marinette said as she hugged her.
"It is trouble at all." Tricha said as Marinette broke the hug. "I'm always willing to help any friend in dire need. Now let us get to work."
"Right!" Marinette said as she and Tricha got to work.
After that, the four of us then decided to take the cover to Jagged to see if he liked it. Even though I said Jagged wouldn't like it, Tricha still insisted it was magnifique and that Jagged needed to see it.
At Le Grand Paris, We watched as Jagged checked the design in front of us, Penny, and Bob.
"Well?" Tricha said to Jagged with a proud smile. "Isn't it fabulous?"
"What happened to the raw, impulsive artistry that made this?" Jagged asked Marinette as he dropped on the floor, shocking Tricha.
"What?!" Tricha said.
"Told ya he wouldn't like it." I said.
"Whatever do you mean? This design is absolutely perfect!" Tricha said as she walked up to the rockstar.
"And not what I wanted." Jagged said to her. "And who exactly are you?"
"I'm Tricha Gray and I would like a little appreciation for what I've done." She said. "Marinette was kind enough to appreciate what I have to offer and I would certainly like to hear it from you."
Jagged then looked to Marinette and said "You allowed this blunt create my album cover?"
When we heard Tricha growled in anger, me, Marinette, and Adrien, moved in and managed to stop her before she clawed out Jagged's eyes or something.
"Take it easy, feisty pants!" Adrien said as we dragged her away from Jagged.
"Tricha, calm down!" Marinette said.
"He's not worth it!" I said.
After we got enough distance, we managed to calm Tricha down and she just glared at Jagged.
"Yeah, about that, Mr. Roth told me…" Marinette said as she was explaining what happened.
"Marinette's young, Jag!" Bob said, interrupting her. "She represents our target audience. She's come up with a modern concept that's exactly what you need."
"Doesn't it look a lot like the cover of that YZ guy?" Jagged said to Bob before speaking to Marinette. "Marinette, don't listen to Bob. Could you do another one? You know, Jagged style?"
"Yeah, sure!" She said, hesitantly before Bob put a hand on her shoulder. "But I don't know if…"
"You're my girl, Marinette. Remember: raw, impulsive artistry." Jagged said as he held Marinette's hands before he spoke to Bob. "I think we're all done here, Bob."
"No, we are not!" Bob said as he put a hand on Marinette's shoulder before Fang growled and made him draw back.
"Come with me." Penny said as she led us out, before she spoke to Marinette. "Don't worry, Marinette! Just do your best, okay?
"We aren't—Aah!" Bob said as Fang growled at him again.
Later that day, Jagged watched Nadja Chamack interviewing XY on his tablet.
"Why am I number one?" XY said. "Simple. It's not about music, it's about technology. This computer is programmed to produce music and lyrics people will like. It's guaranteed success."
As he took a drink from his soda, Jagged pinched his nose as he growled in frustration. I would've done the same. It's not about some fancy gadgets. Being a musician is all about the music, the rush and the freedom to express yourself.
"You knocked Jagged Stone off the #1 spot." Nadja said to XY. "What do you think of him?"
"Blech!" XY said as he tossed his soda away in disgust. "'Jagged Stone, the hero of Rock'n'Roll?' Try 'Ragged Stone.' That guy's old school, a has-been. His guitar solo is so ten minutes ago."
"Me? Old-school? A has-been?!" Jagged said as he gripped his table in rage, insulted by what XY was saying about him.
"He's had his career, but it's over now. He'll never be number one, not while XY is here." XY said.
"Why, you little perfume ad!" Jagged said.
"My music is killer." XY said, doing an "okay" sign below him as he sat on the back of his seat.
"He's stealing my catchphrases!" Jagged said, even more enraged.
"Tonight, Mr. XY will be giving a very special one-time concert from the top of the Eiffel Tower, to celebrate his album's success and thank his awesome fans." Nadja said as the screen cut to shows a crowd of XY's fans cheering for him.
"Hey, Ragged!" XY said as he stood in front of his bodyguards. "If you wanna know what today's music sounds like, come to my concert. I'll reserve you a front-row seat, old man. You know, in case your hearing's going."
"He can't talk about me like that! This guy's an insult to rock…and me!" Jagged said as he breaks the glass on the tablet in anger, destroying it. He then tossed it to Fang who ate it whole before going to sleep. Jagged then began to angrily play his guitar.
In Hawkmoth's lair, Hawkmoth's window began to open.
"I feel a disharmonious soul, an angry discord. Ideal prey for my evil akumas." He said. He then turned a butterfly into an akuma. The akuma flew out into Paris. "Akuma Dargon."
Chronicles of Kaze: Chapter 15
I then woke up and said "Yes, master?"
"There is a rocker by the name of Jagged Stone who seeks to reclaim his glory. Take this akuma, find that Jagged Stone, and rock his world!" He said as the akuma then flew toward me.
"And I know just the one who can tune his darkness." I said after I absorbed the akuma. I then turned to Kura and said "Kura!"
"Yes, master?" Kura asked as she went over to him.
"We got a new villain to get and I need you to tune his heart towards his envy." I answered. "Can you do that?"
"I'm the master thief of the world. Greed is practically my game. It will be done." Kura said. Then I used into my Shadow Path to head into Paris, carrying Kura with me.
We got to Jagged's room and decided to go beside him, where we then turned back into our normal selves.
"Greetings, oh, King of Rock'n'Roll." I said as Jagged looked up and saw both Kura and I to his left.
Fang growled and was about to attack them, but Jagged stopped him.
"Easy, boy." Jagged said to Fang, before putting his attention to his uninvited guests. "What do you blokes want?"
"We're actually here to see you. We're fans of your music."
"Well, at least have some fans. That child XY stole most of mine." Jagged said as he angrily played a few notes on his guitar.
"Actually we wanted to help you with that." Kade said. He then motioned Kura to take this. She then nodded and went over and started to talk to Jagged.
"Mr. Stone, I know how it feels to have something stolen from you. It's why I rather receive that to give. XY made the mistake by telling you your career is done." Kura said. "You're Jagged Stone, the rocker of our time, a genuine article! This XY is just a pretender who doesn't deserve to take you out of the spotlight! How about you show them who the true musician is?"
Then Jagged gave an angry look and said "Bloody, yes."
"Then here's something that will help you rock this world." I said as I then used my claw and induced Jagged's guitar with akuma energy. Then Jagged gave a look of rage. "Guitar Villain, I am Akuma Dargon. And this is my associate, Hypercanette. We're giving you and your vicious crocodile the power to show the whole world that you are the number one rocker! Just make sure you get us El Dragon, Ladybug, and Cat Noir's Miraculous in return."
"Yeah! Let's rock!" Vincent said as the akuma energy surrounded him and Fang.
"Time for the show to begin." I said as I then transformed into Akuma Dargon.
"Music to my ears." Kura said as she transformed into Hypercanette.
Outside Le Grand Paris, me, Tricha, Marinette, and Adrien walked through the halls while Marinette looked at the cover of XY's album, thinking of what to do.
"Hey! Guys!" Frost said as he came over to us.
"Hey, Frost!" I said to him. "What's up?"
"Here to pick up Chloé for the XY concert." Frost said, shocking me.
"Et tu, Frost?" I said to him, disappointed that he would prefer that charlatan over the great Jagged Stone.
"What? He's good." Frost said to me.
"His music is a bunch of trash. The only reason you like it because Chloé does, don't you?"
"Uh, well…" Frost said before Chloé ran out of the doors and pushed me and the others aside.
"Frosty-kins! There you are!" Chloé said as she hugged Frost. "Amazing Chloé has got a surprise for you! She knows you're a fan of Jagged Stone's.
"Uh, I am!" Frost said.
"Sooo, you get a private meeting with your favorite star." She said to him as she walked him inside. "He's staying right here in Daddy's hotel! Is Chloé the best or is Chloé the best?"
"Did she just…?" Tricha asked.
"Speak in the third person? Yeah." I answered.
"How annoying!" Plagg said.
"She also said Frost likes Jagged just like me and Adrien!" Marinette said to us. "Now I definitely can't mess up the artwork."
"So, now what?" Tikki asked.
"I'm going to design Jagged Stone's next album my way and no one else's." Marinette said.
"Way to follow your instincts, Marinette!" I said.
"Thanks." Marinette said with a smile.
"Mind if I help?" Tricha asked her. "I want to give it another go and help with the cover after rui—aah! …rui—blech! Ah! …making a mistake on Jagged's album cover. Maybe I can mix some of my rarity with your…sense in Jagged style?"
"Of course. I'm gonna need all the help I can get." Marinette said as we all then headed off to the bakery.
Okay, to explain why Tricha had trouble saying "ruined", it's because she's not use to saying she made a real mess of things like that.
Back inside Le Grand Paris, Chloé and Frost were waiting for the elevator.
"You and I both like the same kind of music." Chloé said, excitedly. "Isn't that awesome?
"Yeah. Though it is amazing you like XY this much." Frost said to her.
"Of course I do! Don't you?"
"Of course." Frost lied, obviously lying to her to spare her feelings after remembering what during at the "Antibug" incident.
"See? We have the same great taste!"
In the lobby near the couple, Bob was having an interview about his plan for Jagged Stone and XY doing a duet.
"A duet with Mr. XY would show everyone that Jagged Stone…" Bob said before he was interrupted by a large roar.
Everyone looked to the stair case near the elevators and saw Akuma Dargon and Hypercanette with Jagged Stone, who had transformed into a villain with light pink long dreadlocked hair with dark pink tips, black shiny face paint around his eyes wearing a black sleeved top with pointed edges over the shoulders. He is also wearing a turtleneck collar, a vertical yellow leaf shape on each side of the front, purple sleeves with a black fishnet pattern underneath the top, a black belt with purple spikes, black pants with yellow flame designs from his upper legs to his knees, black gloves and boots with two purple spikes attached to each one, both the backs of his hands and the front of his feet. He also held a shiny, purple guitar with two black pointed tips on the soundboard. Above them was fang who had transformed into a large, purple dragon with green eyes.
"From now on, you can call him Guitar Villain. He'll never do a duet with Mr. XY! In fact, soon, there won't even be a Mr. XY! Rockin' Riff, baby!" He said and he then fired a beam of purple energy waves from his guitar at Bob and the interviewer, causing them to start dancing like they were at a heavy metal concert. "Soon, there'll be nothing but Guitar Villain fans, the one and only rocker on Earth."
"Such symphony to my ears." Akuma Dargon said. "It won't be long before the Element Gang show up to meet their doom!"
"Hurry, Frost!" Chloé said, terrified by what was happening. "Let's get out of here!"
Frost and Chloé go into the elevator and the doors close.
"Yeah! Guitar Villain! Whoo!" Guitar Villain said as he, Akuma Dargon, and Hypercanette left the hotel with Fang hovering beside them.
In the elevator, Frost and Chloé looked at each in fright of what happened.
"Oh, man! This is bad! Real bad!" Frost said.
He then began searching his bag until he found the one device that could get them some help.
"What's that?" Chloé asked.
"A little something the Element Gang gave me in case I needed help." Frost said. "Only for emergencies."
This little circular device is called an EG Pager, it allows a person to send an alert signal to the Element Gang in case there's trouble. I gave it to Frost in case he needed help from the Element Gang. Hadn't had that alert in years. Frost then activated it and it began sending a signal.
Back me and the others, we were walking when I got an alert on my phone.
"Uh, guys?" I said as they gathered around me. "We just got an alert."
I then heard a rift playing and looked to the direction of the hotel. From there, I then sensed some akuma energy, which meant only one thing.
"Another villains?" Tricha asked.
"Yeah." I said. "Come on!"
We then went off to transform.
"Nooroo, let's fly!"
"Tikki, spots on!"
"Plagg, claws out!"
We then transformed into El Dragon, Ladybug, and Cat Noir, Tricha transformed into Torna and we all headed out to face the villain.
Back at the hotel, Fang came out of the hotel, surprising the doorman and smashing into cars at the intersection.
"Rockin' Riff, baby!" Guitar Villain said as he shot the doorman with a Rockin' Riff wave, causing him to start dancing. He then did the same to do the same with several cars.
"Rockin' Riff, baby!" He said as he did it again to some pigeons and people nearby, one of those people being Mr. Ramier. The guy even did it to a mother and her toddler.
"Jagged Stone?" I said as me, Ladybug, Torna, and Cat Noir stood on the Fontaine du Palmier, shocking to see my rock idol had become evilized. "What are you doing?"
"The name's Guitar Villain, fire boy. And I'm showing people that I'm the only one who can rock their world!" Guitar Villain said as he fired beams of orange energy waves at us. "Awesome Solo!"
We managed to dodge it, but the blast caused the pillar to fall like a chopped down oak tree. It wasn't long until Akuma Dargon, Hypercanette, and Fang joined in as Guitar Villain kept blasting us with Akuma Dargon using fire blasts, Hypercanette launching wind torrents, and Fang hitting us with clouds of green fire.
"Whoa! Fang too?" I said as I realized the dragon was Fang's evilized form.
We then kept running around, dodging all the blasts the best we can. It wasn't long until Akuma Dargon and Hypercanette launched all four of us into the side of the building.
"Awesome Solo!" Guitar Villain said as he used Awesome Solo waves to pin us against the building. "Welcome to my fan club, baby!"
We managed to get back up, but we got hit by a car thrown by one of Guitar Villain's blasts and Akuma Dargon, Hypercanette, and Fang attacked us. Luckily, Apolloid, Icedra, Posidacus, and ShockStaff came in and smacked those villains away and Icedra blocked Fang's attack with an ice blast.
"You guys okay?" Apolloid asked us.
"We're fine, thanks." I said to him. Then Fang circled overhead, preparing to attack us again.
"Apolloid, fast ball special!" I said. "Cat, your baton!"
Then Apolloid grabbed Cat threw him towards Fang. While in the air, Cat realized what I meant and extended his baton in Fang's mouth, pinning it open. Fang closed his mouth and the baton popped out. While falling, Cat caught the baton and crashed into a traffic light.
"Cat Noir!" Ladybug said as we all went over to him, Cat standing and reacting to the pain.
We didn't know it, but while that happened, Guitar Villain got onto Fang's back and Akuma Dargon and Hypercanette took to the skies.
"You're wasting my time." Guitar Villain said as he rode on Fang's back. "I've got a concert to get to!"
The three villains then went off.
"Come on, we gotta follow them!" I said as we all went to the roofs. "I have no doubt the akuma is in his guitar and his power comes from playing it. We've got to keep him from performing."
"Well, I won't let you do this solo." Cat said as we followed them.
We managed to catch up with them at the Eiffel Tower, where XY's concert was gonna be. The villains flew to the top of the tower, where XY seemed to be practicing.
"You're an insult to the music world, XY!" Guitar Villain said as he tried to punch XY, but it went right through him, revealing that XY was a hologram. "A hologram?"
Hypercanette then tapped Guitar Villain on the shoulder and they looked to their right and see Théo Barbot, who was the actual person playing the music. Théo tried to hide, but Hypercanette grabbed him and held him up by the wrist.
"Where's the real XY?" Guitar Villain asked him.
"He's not here yet!" Théo said, scared. "The concert's not until tonight! I-I'm just setting up the special effects, dude!"
"Awesome Solo!" Guitar Villain said after he dropped Théo and then shot orange energy waves, destroying the equipment. "Where's Mr. XY? Answer me!"
"On TV! He's at the TV station!" Théo answered.
"Rockin' Riff, baby!" Guitar Villain said as he tried to shoot Théo with Rockin' Riff waves. But we managed to get over there in time and Ladybug pulled Théo out of the way at the last minute.
"You again?!" Guitar Villains said. "To the TV studios, Fang!"
The villains then jump off the side of the tower and fly off away from the tower with Guitar Villain riding Fang.
"They're gonna get there before us!" Posidacus said.
"And we better make sure they don't find what they're looking for." Ladybug said as she used her yo-yo to make a call.
At the TVi shooting studio, XY was interviewed by Alec when Nadja got the call from Ladybug.
"KidZ+ TV. How may I help you?" Nadja said as she got the call.
She then told the news to everyone without disturbing the shoot.
As XY yawned, the cameraman then rushed over to Alec and whispered "The Element Gang say that we're in danger!"
"Mr. XY…um, we have to leave this studio immediately." Alec said to the pop star.
"What the heck?" XY said, confused by what he meant.
"We just got a call from Ladybug! You're not safe here!" Alec whispered to XY before speaking to the cameraman in his normal voice with XY giving a look of disappointment. "Hit the credits!"
In the TVi studio lobby, we stepped inside the studio and looked to see the screen behind the receptionist is showing the recording room with the credits rolling.
"Where's that studio?!" Guitar Villain said, pointing to the screen and frightening the receptionist.
"On third floor!" the receptionist said as she ducked down in fear.
"Third floor?!" Hypercanette said as Guitar Villain and I groaned in frustration.
The three of us walked toward the elevator and rode it to the third floor.
When we reached the studio, Guitar Villain shot orange energy to burst the recording room's doors open, but they found the room empty.
"Darn it!" I said. "The Element Gang must've warned them."
"Grrr! Awesome solo!" Guitar Villain growled as he shot Awesome Solo waves to destroy the set.
"Calm down!" Hypercanette said as she stopped Guitar Villain. "We'll find XY. He couldn't have gone far."
The three of us then left the now trashed studio to look for XY.
At the TVi studio entrance, Alec talked to XY as he escorted the pop star out of the studio.
"Everything's gonna be fine." Alec told XY. "I'm sure this is just a precaution."
We showed up just in time and I went over to him.
"We have to get you to safety." I said to XY as I took him over to my team.
"So what's this Guitar Villain going to do?" XY said, not even caring that there are three villains after him. "Blow me away with his evil guitar solo?"
"Yeah!" Me and the gang said.
"Probably not before you get roasted and then have your ashes scattered to the wind by that solo." Icedra said.
"Once we catch Guitar Villain, we'll get you to the Eiffel Tower just in time for your live performance." Torna said to him.
"Pff. Who even cares?" XY scoffed. "My roadie can just project my image on stage. Live concerts are so ten minutes ago."
"Now I see why Jagged is mad at you." I said to XY.
Suddenly Hypercanette flew in out of nowhere and snatched XY, flying over to Akuma Dargon and Guitar Villain.
"I got him!" Hypercanette said as she held XY.
"Good. Now we can really shake things up. To the tower!" Akuma Dargon said as he and his fellow villains flew over to the Eiffel Tower, Guitar Villain laughing evilly.
At the Eiffel Tower, we made it to the top of the tower where Hypercanette dropped XY at as the latter cowered in fear.
"Here he is! XY, the faker who makes everyone fools!" Hypercanette said to Guitar Villain.
"Found you at last, XY!" Guitar Villain said to XY. "Ready for the show?"
"Dude, are you Jagged Stone?" XY asked, seeing it was Jagged stone.
"Was Jagged Stone. Now I'm Guitar Villain. Ha-ha!" Guitar Villain answered. "Don't worry. You're not gonna become one of my fans. You don't deserve it. I've got something special for you. Something with a little rock and roll!"
"Nooo!" XY said as he is grabbed by Guitar Villain.
Back with us, we were traveling by the rooftops over to the Eiffel Tower.
"Back to square one." Apolloid said.
"I get the feeling we'll in for quite a concert." I said. "You guys ready?"
"Let's do it!" Apolloid said.
"Rockin' riff, baby!" Cat said.
We all then continued on to the Eiffel Tower.
When it reached night, we made it to the Eiffel Tower and Fang and Hypercanette were circling around the Eiffel Tower, keeping watch for us.
We climbed up the tower while Guitar Villain played his guitar over there at the top, his "fans" are all cheering in the crowd.
"Hello, Paris!" Guitar Villain said as he leapt down to reveal that he had tie-up XY and is about to make him walk the plank on top of the Tower before he spoke to XY. "You said your music is the only killer music around? Is that right?"
"I-I d-didn't mean it!" XY said with a quiver as he backed away to the end of the plank. "Listen, Mr.…um, Guitar, w-we can…um…ah, do the duet your style!"
XY stops as he almost reached the end of the plank, causing him to scream. Then Guitar Villain went and jumped on Fang's head and he and Akuma Dargon go over behind XY. Akuma Dargon tapped the plank, making it shake and XY to quiver even more. The two villains evilly laugh as Guitar Villain hops off Fang and onto the board.
"Too late!" Guitar Villain said. "I'm going to show you what killer music really sounds like!" XY continues to be mortified as Guitar plays his guitar again. "Ultimate Solo!"
With this, he created green soundwaves that cause everything around him to shake. Me and the gang grabbed onto the tower, making sure we weren't knocked off and any of us who can't fly don't fall.
"Stop it! Please!" XY scarcely said as he started to bounce on the end of the plank as the result of the sound-waves.
From below, the crowd all fall to the ground by the shake. We all watched as XY was reaching the edge.
"XY's going to fall!" Ladybug said
"Talk about being between a rock and a hard place!" Cat said.
That's when we decided to head on up with me, ShockStaff, and Torna carrying Apolloid, Icedra, and Posidacus and Ladybug taking Cat with her as she used her yo-yo as a grappling hook to pull themselves up. We didn't know it, but we were spotted by both Fang and Hypercanette. We found that out when Torna got tackled by her, knocking Apolloid of Torna's back.
"Apolloid!" Torna, Ladybug, and Cat said as they watched Apolloid scream and fall.
Luckily, I managed to catch him with my tail spikes, but it appeared he was heavier than I thought.
"Man, Apolloid!" I said with a strained voice as I tried to fly me, him, and Icedra up to the top of the tower. "You need to cut back on those protein bars!"
Luckily I managed to get them up to the top of the tower with the others. When we were about to attack Guitar Villain, Akuma Dargon showed up and we ended up battling him instead.
While that happened, Torna had her own battle with Hypercanette in the sky after managing to free herself from her grip. It was totally epic as wind currents, kicks, and punches were flying everywhere. During one point in her fight, she looked and saw me and the others having trouble with Akuma Dargon. She blasted Hypercanette and tried to get to us, but Hypercanette stopped her and their fight continued.
Back with Ladybug and Cat, they were still trying to get to the top, but both of them gasped when Fang arrived and snapped the string, causing both of them to fall. Cat used his baton to prevent his fall, while Ladybug tossed her yo-yo to Fang's mouth, carrying herself to the sky. After managing to get on Fang's head, she used her yo-yo to make a bit and reigns to control Fang.
"Easy, easy. Nice dragon." Ladybug said as she rode on Fang. Fang tried to shake her off, but she managed to stay on and get him under control. "Enough, already! We have a stuck kitty to rescue!"
Ladybug then directed Fang toward Cat. While he hanged there, he saw Fang flying towards him and accidently shrunk his baton back to normal. He was saved him from falling by landing on Fang's head, much to the Cat's surprise. We were all surprised by this as we watched Fang circle around the Eiffel Tower.
"Huh, wow! The bug mastered the dragon!" Cat said as he and Ladybug rode Fang.
They then watched as Torna and Hypercanette flew past them, the battle between them still going.
"Torna!" Ladybug said as she watched as Torna pushed Hypercanette off her and hovered in the air.
"I'm fine!" Torna said as she dodged Hypercanette's charge at her. "I can handle her!" she dodged another charge. "Just go help the others! I'll catch up!" She dodged another charge again. "Just go!"
With this, Ladybug nodded and then directed Fang towards the tower. After that, Hypercanette then tackled her. Ladybug and Cat tried to get to us, but Akuma Dargon use his new akuma-enhanced metal bending to keep the two from getting any closer while still fighting us.
Back with Torna, she then pushed her off and the two collided with mid-air attacks once again.
"You know, this is why I hate you the most of those idiots!" Hypercanette said as she and Torna attacked each other. "You always think that you have to give up your time to your friends and give everything you have to them! Always letting yourself get dragged by them!"
"For your information, my friends do not drag me down!" Torna said to her. "Sure I give up my time to them, but that's only because I know that they always do the same for me! When I'm generous to do this, my friends find a way to do the same!"
"And you really believe all that?! How do you even know that they aren't just using you to get what they want? Wait until you're weak and then take away everything you got in your life?"
"My friends would never do that! Whenever I ask for anything borrowed, I always return it and they do it as well! The ones you're speaking of are lowlife thieves, not any of my friends! Even you of all people should know that!"
"Shut up!"
With one last clash, the two were pushed away from each other. Nearly worn out and bruised, the two hovered in front of each other, two yards of empty air between them.
"You think you understand anything of what I am?" Hypercanette said as she glared at Torna. "You're wrong. I was once like you, thinking that being generous was the best thing to do in your life. I had friends who asked me for stuff and I would always give it to them. They weren't criminals or thugs, or anything like that. I asked if I could get the things they borrowed, but they said they had misplaced them and said they would give them back tomorrow. I didn't even realize it, but they sold the stuff I gave them from where I could never get them back. Soon, I had no belongings of mine that they could take. Then one night, they came and took every valuable thing in my house. My family suffered being robbed, losing everything we ever owned. All that suffering, all because I was generous. From there, I realized that when you get something that betters your life, you keep it. And, when you find something you need, you take it no matter the cost. You see? It doesn't matter how much you give, in the end you lose everything and are left with nothing! When you find your chance to really make your whole life better, you take it no matter the consequences! That's the difference between you and I! You fear the risks that I don't! So the only way to get anywhere in this world is to take every chance and not give it all away, you worthless weakling! That is the only way the world works!"
There is a moment of silence until Torna speaks to Hypercanette.
"You're wrong." She said.
"What?" Hypercanette said.
"You're wrong. That's not how the world works. Taking what isn't yours is no way to live. Sure, we all tend to keep things that we have, but those are thing that we get in life. Things we have in life is made by generosity. We might take things from others, but that doesn't mean we can't be able to give something back them. It's only when you don't give something in return that you lose something. Like my cousin says 'the more you take, the less you have.' So taking everything away only means you have nothing. You might've been given to people, but the way you did it wasn't friendship. All you did was give them items that they could use, not for them to keep. By doing that, you only made them think they could take anything from you. True friendship is where everyone shows generosity to each other, not one more than the others. For when you give to someone, they give to you in return. That's what makes my friendship real. For every time I help my friends, they always find a way to help me in return. My friends depend on me and I depend on them. We all depend on each other. That kind of generosity is what keeps me going, to keep on fighting till the very end." As she resumes to speak, Hypercanette watched in confusion as winds began to gather around her, slowly becoming paths around Torna's body. "So, you see, giving to my friends is does not make me weak, that is what makes me stronger. For as much I give my strength to my friends, they also give me their strength. Which is why you will never defeat me. The power you possess is from the strength you have taken from others, Kura Finley. My strength is not something I possess alone. This is the power that I share with all of my friends, the power that got us through all the challenges that you and Hawkmoth had thrown at us. This is the power that unite us, the power that you cannot defeat. For this power…is the great light of generosity!"
From the moment she said that, Torna's whole body glowed in a great green light. Hypercanette was shocked by this, but quickly recollected herself and growled.
"I am not Kura Finley." Hypercanette said. "I am Hypercanette! And will show the weak limitations of generosity and satisfy myself by taking your life!"
In that instant, Hypercanette then began to gather up power for her Claw Force Slash attack, her claws beginning to glow as she did. While she did, Torna took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and raised her arms out to the sides, the wind currents keeping her in the air, and spread her hands to vertical flat-hand position as the wind currents began to gather up in front of them. Soon the currents transformed into two glowing, green orbs. Then the orbs began to expand and thing, transforming into two large disks corresponding to the angle of her hands. Then the disk made another transformation, forming medium sized holes in the center and four points on the edges, now becoming large, glowing, green, four-point ninja shurikens, spinning in forward rotation. Then Torna opened her eyes and the shurikens then changed to horizontal. After doing so, the shurikens stopped and Torna grasped the bodies of them. She then folded her in reverse throwing position as she glared at Hypercanette.
"You're done for!" Hypercanette yelled as she done charging and began closing in on Torna.
"Tornado…Star!" Torna yelled as she tossed both shurikens at Hypercanette.
As they travelled, at one point, the shurikens merged and became a huge shuriken and headed towards Hypercanette. But Hypercanette wasn't stopping. She kept on going until her attacked collided with it. Both seemed even matched until there was the sound of cracking. The sound continued Hypercanette tried to push back the shuriken. But then, in that moment, Hypercanette's claws shattered, shocking the villainess. Then the shuriken kept on going and began pushing Hypercanette back, right towards the tower.
Back with me and the others, we were getting pressed by Akuma Dargon.
"Looks like this will be your final encore!" Akuma Dargon said as he got ready to defeat us until we all heard screaming and saw Hypercanette coming towards us, being pushed by a huge, glowing, green shuriken.
Me and the gang watched as she crashed into Akuma Dargon, sending them into a wall and leaving them unconscious on the floor. With Akuma Dargon out of the way, Ladybug made Fang fly toward Guitar Villain and XY as the villain got ready to finish him off.
"So how did you like the concert?" Guitar Villain said to XY. "You still think your music is the only killer music out there?"
"No! Please, don't!" XY begged as he looked down to see that the plank was about to break.
"Awesome Solo!" Guitar Villain said as he was about to play on his guitar again.
"Not so fast!" Ladybug said as she and Cat came charging in on Fang.
"My dragon!" Guitar Villain said as he saw them riding Fang.
He then jumped out of the way. We tried to attack him, but he used his Awesome Solo waves to keeps us away.
"Element Gang, hurry!" XY said as we all knew that plank was gonna hold him after all that damage to it.
Ladybug turned Fang around to save XY.
"Nice job." Cat said to Ladybug.
Guitar Villain evilly laughed and said "You're too late! Nothing can stop Guitar Villain! Rockin' Riff, baby!"
He then fired Rockin' Riff waves at them, but, before the waves even hit them a glowing green light came in and blocked it with a huge, green shuriken. After Guitar Villain stopped and the shield disappeared, we all watched as a large wisp of swirling green winds floated in front of the dragon. We then watched as the swirls began to spin faster and faster and faster until the lines became a blur. Then it flashed in a blinding green glow. When the light dissipated, we all looked to see a female warrior in green, full-body, shogun armor with a metal skirt, a large, green shuriken on her bac, and an orange, half four-point visor that covered the top half of her face instead of a mask, floating in a proud stance.
"Sorry! But we only rock with the real Jagged Stone!" The warrior said, her voice revealing her as Torna, surprising us all.
"Torna?" Apolloid said in shock.
"Whoa! Torna evolved!" I said with a smile.
"Well, I'll be." Icedra said.
"Whoo! Way to go, Torna!" ShockStaff said excitedly.
"Oh, man!" Posidacus said, depressed at this sight. "Now I'm the only one who hasn't evolved."
Torna then began flying with Ladybug and Cat Noir as they dodged the next few Rockin' Riff waves. While he was busy with them, we decided it was time to regroup, so we went under the platform.
"Remember what El Dragon said. We need to get his guitar!" Ladybug said to Cat and Torna.
"How do we get to that?" Cat asked.
"Let's go backstage!" Ladybug said after she managed to see me motion her to meet up with the rest of us.
The three of them continued to dodges the waves before going under the platform, trapping Fang in the tower.
"Where did they go?" Guitar Villain said as he looked around for us.
"You okay?" Cat asked Ladybug as they recovered from the crash.
"Yeah." Ladybug said.
From there we then started heading our way back up, coming up with a planning.
Back on the platform, Guitar Villain leapt in front of XY on the unstable plank.
"Too bad for them, they're going to miss the final song! Ha-ha-ha!" Guitar Villain laughed evilly as he then began using his Ultimate Solo waves. "Solo!"
The waves caused the plank to shake some more, making XY whimper in fear.
"Oh, are you scared? Or is it too awesome for you?" Guitar Villain said to XY as he stopped and we managed to get to the top of the tower.
"Please, Mr. Guitar Villain!" XY begged.
"Ladybug!" I said to her as she then got ready to use her power.
"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug said as she used her Lucky Charm and it gives her a can of extreme hold hairspray. "'Extreme Fixing Gel'?"
"You're planning on doing his hair?" Cat said as we were confused.
As Guitar Villain continued to use his Ultimate Solo waves, Ladybug used her Lucky Vision and it showed Guitar Villain's hair, the villain laughing evilly.
"Actually, yes!" Ladybug said. "Go get him, guys!"
"You got it!" Apolloid sai as we then headed up to face Guitar Villain.
"Maybe you haven't heard it properly." Guitar Villain said to XY.
"Hold it right there, Guitar Villain!" I said, making him turn around.
From there, we began fighting him. While we distracted him, Ladybug climb in from above.
"Cataclysm!" Cat said as he activated his Cataclysm.
"Awesome Solo!" Guitar Villain said as he fired Awesome Solo waves at us and used them to pin us against the wall.
Then Ladybug leapt down and sprayed the hairspray at Guitar Villain, stiffening his hair in front of his face and preventing him from being able to play his guitar.
"I can't see! Where are my fans?" Guitar Villain said as he dropped is guitar.
Ladybug was about to break the guitar until…
"Hey, don't forget about me!" XY shouted, reminding us he was still in trouble. "Please, help!"
The plank under him then breaks and he is about to fall, but Ladybug then used her yo-yo to save XY and made him land on top of the guitar, breaking it, he akuma flies away from the guitar.)
"Rock this, akuma!" I said as I put my staff in capture mode. "Time to de-evilize!" I then captured the akuma and purified it. I then realized the white butterfly. "Rock'n'Roll! Goodbye, little guy."
"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug said as she tossed the spray can into the air. It exploded into a blast of energy. Its energy repaired all the damage and turned everything back to normal, including getting Fang back to the Le Grand Hotel. Then the akuma energy turned Guitar Villain back into Jagged Stone.
"Pound it!" Me, Ladybug, and Cat said as we pounded for another victory.
Akuma Dargon then woke up, saw what was going on, and said "Oh, music's over."
He then got Hypercanette, turned into a shadow, and they both left.
"What he doing here?" XY said, still a bit shaken from what happened.
"Let's just say he was blowing off some steam." I said to XY. "Oh, and he came to tell you that perhaps you underestimate the power of his music!"
"This guy's crazy!" XY said, pointing at Jagged.
"Thank you." Jagged said, though I couldn't tell if he was taking it as a compliment or he was being sarcastic.
"How about an autograph, Jagged?" I said as I walked toward Jagged with a marker and a copy of one of his albums. I might have chuckled after he signed the album.
"Oh, that reminds me." Torna said as she remembered about the album cover. "We still have work to do. Right, Ladybug?
"Right!" Ladybug said. "Come on, guys!"
"We're coming!" I said as we left to transform back to our normal selves. "See ya later, Jagged!"
When we returned to Goussainville, I then tossed Hypercanette aside and turned back into myself and began walking to my room. After transforming back into Kura, she then woke up.
"Oh, what happened?" Kura said as she rubbed her head. She then gasped when she saw that all her nails were broken. "That brat broke my nails!"
"Stop your whining! They'll grow back." I said as I went into my room and shut the door with my tail.
"Rahhh!" I roared out in frustration. "Don't do your victory dance just yet, because one day, I'll play you my favorite music: the anthem of your defeat, Element Gang!"
Back in Marinette's room, Marinette and Tricha were creating the album cover on her tablet while listening to Jagged Stone's guitar solo. It took them a while but they finally got it.
"Done!" Marinette and Tricha said as they were finally finished the cover. And it looked awesome. He looked like the celestial god of Rock'n'Roll!
"What do you think, Tikki?" Tricha asked the kwami.
"Jagged Stone will love it!" Tikki said to them.
"Hope so!" Marinette said. "It's fifty percent Marinette, fifty percent Tricha rarity, and one-percent all natural. It's our awesome solo!"
"Rock'n'Roll!" Tikki said as she chuckled as she did rock poses with Marinette and Tricha.
At the Le Grand Hotel, me and the rest of the gang accompanied Marinette and Tricha as they presented their second design to Jagged Stone in front of Bob and Penny.
"Oh, yeah. This is it!" Jagged said to them. "You did it, girls! I can almost smell the leather and sweat just radiating off this design!"
"Actually you are smelling it." Tricha said. "I concocted a special scent sticker for your album."
"I want it. I got to have it." Jagged said. "It's authentic. It's original. It's…so Jagged."
"No, you can't! It's not what the public…" Bob said, infuriated by it.
"Fine, then I'm outta here!" Jagged said as he interrupted Bob. "I'm sure another record company will be perfectly happy with the #2 chart topper."
Bob grunted in defeat as he saw there was no way of changing Jagged's mind. When Marinette hand him her and Tricha's design, he snatched it and grunted again as he walked away. We went to and took the elevator while remaining calm. But, once the doors closed, me and the gang then went off and congratulated Tricha and Marinette.
"Well done! You girls did it!" I said to them, excitedly. "You just designed the cover for Jagged Stone's new album!"
"I knew you could do it." Adrien said as he hugged Marinette.
"I'm so proud of you, Marinette!" Tikki said as she did the same, making Marinette chuckle.
"And we're proud of you, Tricha." I said as me, Basar, Meri, Trustin, and Jay hugged her and she returned it.
So what happened with Jagged's new album? Well, they had this to say about "Rock Giant" in the TVi News report.
"In today's headlines, Jagged Stone's new album hit the charts at #1, hitting XY off his throne." Nadja said. "Welcome back, King of Rock'n'Roll!"
Yeah, the new album flew off the shelf. Needless the say, Jagged Stone is back, so goodbye to XY. Also Marinette and Tricha got on the cover of Metal Lourd magazine with Jagged Stone. It even tells how the girls helped create the album cover.
At Collège Françoise Dupont, me, the gang, and Alya were hanging out near the stairs, looking through the Metal Lourd magazines.
"Um…hey there, guys." Frost said as he came up with Chloé beside him. "So, Tricha, Marinette, actually I'm a huge fan of Jagged Stone and I saw you designed his new album cover.
"Of course we did, darling!" Tricha said.
"Yeah. Crazy, huh?" Marinette said.
"I…wanted to ask if…I could get it…autographed?" Frost asked
"Okay. We'll ask him." Marinette said as she grabbed Frost's marker and album.
She and Tricha were about to walk off until Frost stopped them.
"Ah, no." Frost said, before he pointed to the girls. "Um, actually I meant you two."
"Us? Us?" Marinette said, just as surprised as Tricha.
"If you wouldn't mind." Frost said as he gave a nervous smile.
"Oh-ho!" Tricha laughed as she took the album and marker and signed her name on the top of the cover. "Of course not, Frost. We would be happy to sign it."
She then gave them to Marinette, who signed her name on the bottom of it. Marinette then gave the marker and album cover back to him.
"Awesome! Thanks, girls!" Frost said with a grateful smile. "We really appreciate it."
"'We'?" I said before looking to Chloé. "Wait, I thought you liked XY!"
"Ugh! XY is so, like, yesterday!" Chloé said in disgust before switching to happy and laid her head on Frost's arm. "Besides, Jagged Stone is way better."
Me and the group watched in shock as Frost and Chloé walked away with smiles on their faces.
"Unbelievable!" I said.
"Did I just imagine it or did Chloé actually agreed with someone else?" Alya asked, confused by this.
"Okay, now there has to be at least one pig flying right now." Trustin said as he looked up into the sky, checking for flying pigs.
We didn't know it, but, as Frost looked over the autographs, he saw that the girls' signatures seemed familiar. He then shrugged it off for tomorrow as he was walking away with Chloé.
Well that was quite the toe-tapping mission. Even though he became a villain for a while, Jagged Stone proofed that he is still the number 1 Rock'n'Roll hero! This I have to say was the greatest day of my life! Rock 'n' roll!