Emma was pretty sure she was staring at an alien. If not an alien, then some kind of fairy. She had done the only thing she could think of when meeting an abnormal life form; she screamed.
"Please stop screaming." The fairy winced over the high pitch sound, "I know you're scared but-"
"It talks, of course it talks." She backed away slowly, nearly stumbling over her own legs "I have to be hallucinating or dreaming due to stress and-"
"I mean no harm, so please stop panicking." The winged creature attempted to reassure her. She froze, watching as the small fairy floated over to her.
"What are you?"
"My name is Nooroo and I am a Kwami." It explained, "I am linked to the miraculous of Transmission that can grant you powers."
"Miraculous?"
"The item in the box." Nooroo pointed to the black box. Inside was a dark purple gem brooch.
"Why did you say that name? Marinette?"
"I knew her, she saved me and others like me. You look alot like her too." Nooroo muttered, "Except for the eyes, hers were blue."
"Wait, what do you mean by powers?" She recalled his words, "Like a superhero?"
"Yes, I believe that is the modern term, superhero. With my miraculous, you gain the power to transform and create champions; ordinary people who you can bestow upon powers and turn them into your superheroes, so to speak."
"So the miraculous' power is that I can empower others? Her eyes lit as she realized what that meant, "That's perfect for me!"
"Really?"
"Yes! I'm the student president of my homeroom, I'm good at mediating conflict, I'm a leader at heart, I'm the perfect candidate for your miraculous!"
Nooroo listened patiently as his newest holder excitedly spoke of the prospect of being a superhero. He wasn't quite sure how to deal with such an energetic holder, his previous masters weren't as noble hearted as she seemed. There were some who were good, using his miraculous in times of conflict or war, but perished far too soon. While the rottens one lingered far too long and met a more agonizing end. Even the kindest of holders could turn cold at any time. Perhaps this one will be different, but that was yet to be seen.
"Emma!" Nooroo knew that voice, the one from the other side of the door. It was familiar but older? More mature? He wasn't quite sure exactly how to explain it. "I heard a scream. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, leave me alone!" She shouted, startling Nooroo. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "Sorry, I'm just mad at my dad. He and I had a fight."
"I could tell when I first saw you." Nooroo elaborated, "I can sense the emotions of others and you can too, once you put on the miraculous."
"So when someone is sad, I make them feel better?"
"Champions are made in times of trouble, of conflict." The kwami explained, "They need an incentive, you can't force them to become your champion."
"Yes, of course." She nodded, "Are there more miraculous like your brooch?"
"The butterfly miraculous is apart of the set; the chinese or the zodiac miraculous, depending on who you ask."
"Let's talk more in the morning." Emma yawned, "I'm going to make you a little place to sleep and find something for you to eat. What exactly do you eat?"
"Anything with sugar; candies, cookies, even taffy would be good." His new holder was polite and kind to him, maybe there was hope for this one.
The midnight haired girl smiled as she went into her secret stash nestled in the back of her closet and pulled out a box of cookies. As she thought about the incredible luck she had to find a creature straight out of an anime, she also wondered what other surprises were awaiting her tomorrow. She ignored the nagging presence of her father's proposal to the back of her mind as she fell asleep to dreamland.
The next day, Camille trudged her way to school. She had stored the earrings in a secret pocket in her bag, a place where her mother couldn't snatch her jewelry and swap them for money. She had caught on to her mother's crime after she "lost" her bracelet when she was nine years old. Slowly, she found a way to keep her more expensive and precious objects away from her mother. She wasn't about to let the earrings become her next paycheck.
Speaking of her mother, she was nowhere to be seen when the girl woke up in the morning. But she was used to it, the disappearing act. Sometimes she would leave a note or she would just go silent for a few days. Her mother was generous enough to leave food in the fridge to make herself breakfast. After a quick meal, she pushed through the rest of her morning routine and walked her way to the college. She was already exhausted by the time she walked into the classroom.
"Hello, Camille." Oh, right, yesterday was not great. Emma didn't look even discouraged by her, in fact, she looked happy to see her. What was this girl's deal?
"I know we got off on the wrong foot yesterday. But a fresh start deserves a fresh slate." She held out her hand towards her, "Friends?"
Camille ignored the extended hand and walked past her.
She made her way to the back of the classroom until she noticed an empty seat next to Thorne.
"Can I sit here?"
Thorne looked surprised, but nodded.
"Thanks."
Camille felt more comfortable in her seat in the back, no one was there to nag her or annoy her. Thorne was quiet, so it meant no distractions, she could focus on her notes more efficiently.
Mme. Bustier had noticed the change in seating, but said nothing. Though the strained smile on her face spoke more volume than words.
Emma sat down in her seat, deflating at her failed attempt. They sat like this for the rest of the period, keeping to themselves on their respective side of the room. When class ended and the bell rang, Emma had rushed out as quickly as possible. Camille didn't mind or care, just more time for her to pack her things.
Emma had quickly dashed into a closet and lifted her blouse to the brooch hidden underneath.
"Alright, so from what you've told me, I need emotions to create a champion, right?" She asked, "I'm thinking of doing a test trial."
"Yes, you need a connection of emotions to create a champion."
"Great! So how do I transform?"
Nooroo knew that question would come eventually, "To transform, you need to say: Nooroo, dark wings rise."
Emma placed a hand against the brooch, feeling the magic grow from it, "Nooroo, dark wings rise!"
In the place of her casual clothing, the young teenager was now wearing a lavender dress with dark purple leggings and black boots. A cape flowed behind her, it resembled butterfly wings, purple with a black outline. Her face was covered by a silver mask. By her side was a small cane that extended outward when she accidentally pressed a button.
"Woah, I look amazing!" Emma twirled around in her new outfit, her cape whipped along with her. Suddenly a torrent of emotions flooded her mind. Stress, fear, happiness, overconfidence, boredness; different feelings overcrowded her own thoughts. She was drowning, neck deep in a sea of inner conflict.
"Be quiet!" She shouted, the cognitive sea calmed at her command. "I just need one, just one test subject." She focused internally, dipping a hand into the emotional waters. She pushed aside the more crowding, low emotions and reached further to elevated sensations. Then she grabbed it, a pearl of sadness, of rage, of pain, of injustice. In the physical world, her hand was glowing, pulsating, and a small black butterfly appeared in her palm. It flew off, escaping out of an open window in the closet, flying towards its target.
Why? Why do they hurt me? What did I ever do to them? It's not fair…why won't anyone listen to me?
"Oh, you poor thing." Emma said with a pitied tone, yet the smile she wore and the glowing aura around her upper face told a different story. She had successfully made contact! "The bullies who did this to you, to make you feel so alone, so angry, they should be punished for their actions. Such injustice shouldn't stand, should it?"
You-you're right. The voice responded, more hopeful than before. They should be punished, they should be brought to justice!
"Yes! And I can help you achieve that, give you the power to fight back." Her grin grew wider.
To fight back? I can do that, mme….?
Emma thought for a moment, she couldn't use her real name, she needed an alias. She knew that much from her brother's superhero comics.
"You may call me…Lady Fritillary." The name felt right, "Metamorphosis, my champion. Let us deliver justice together."
Yes, Lady Fritillary.
Camille was walking down an empty hallway when she heard something disturbing up ahead. It was screaming, the painful kind. The brunette noticed a group of older students cornering Thorne. The boy looked beaten up, shaking, and curled up in a ball.
It wasn't her problem, she didn't need to get involved.
It wasn't her problem.
It wasn't her-
"Hey, leave him alone!" The words left her mouth before she could stop herself. The bullies looked at Camille as if she was crazy or stupid, probably both.
"You think you're some kind of hero?"
"Yeah, who do you think you are?"
"Do you want to be next?"
"Leave him alone or else I'll-" she quickly pulled out her phone, "l'll send this recording to the principal." She was bluffing, of course. There was no recording, but those idiots didn't know that.
"Go on, do it."
Thorne stood up, startling the students and Camille. His face was illuminated by a purple glowing mask and their eyes were covered in ash gray "You all shall be punished, but not by the law or the school, but by me and my lady!"
They all took a step back as the victim was consumed in a dark purple smoke or mist. When Thorne emerged from their misty cocoon, he looked drastically different.
His black hair was now a dark green, his attire was no longer baggy clothing, but of a slick princely suit. But instead of pure white and gold like the fairy tales, it was green, dark magenta, and black. He wore a masquerade mask and golden buttons shined from his suit. In his hand, a sharp rapier wrapped in roses and thorny vines.
"What the heck?"
"Come now, you were so eager to throw a punch. Especially when you were all in a bunch." His voice was sweet sounding yet held a venomous undertone.
One of the bullies tried to attack him, but was met with the sharp slash of his rapier. The bullies screamed as the former tormentor fell to the floor with a thud. Roses even started to grow from the afflicted student's chest wound. But he wasn't dead, he was still breathing. More and more roses bloomed from his body, along with sharp thorns. He began to suffocate and gasp for air, Camille could only stare in horror as roses and thorns grew and expanded from their body.
"Beware my whip, for if it hits, you'll be consumed by roses in need of a snip." He laughed almost manically, watching as his former tormentors scattered, fleeing in fear and terror.
"Thorne, is that you?" Camille hesitantly walked towards him. His smile shifted from manically to sweet as he turned his head towards her. He said nothing, instead he walked over to the corpse and plucked a rose from it.
"Do not worry, princess." He delicately placed the rose in her hair. She flinched, praying she wasn't next. "My lady has promised me justice, not violence, especially not against someone who tried to help me in distress."
"Anyone would have done the same." She mumbled.
"No, not against them." He smiled, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some weeds to cut at the stem."
Weeds? Camille wondered what he meant by that. Then it came to her. He was going after the other bullies.
"Wait!" She shouted but he was already gone. She ran as the roses from the body moved on their own and began to grow bigger and bigger. Soon enough, the roses were bigger than she was and were still growing. Camille ran as the roses began to engulf the hallway. She could hear screaming and shouting all around her as students scrambled to avoid the violent flowers and their master. She scrambled into the women's restroom, holding the door behind her.
BANG! BANG! BANG! She hid, waiting for the noise, the screams, the roses to stop. Then she felt heat coming from her bag. Camille reached inside, only for a burning sensation to pierce her hand.
She quickly pulled her hand away, only for the warmth to slowly cool.
"What in the world?" She reached back inside and pulled out the culprit that burned her hand.
It was the pair of earrings she had found the night before.
Suddenly, a bright red flash of light momentarily blinded her. When her eyesight returned, she found herself staring at a small red and black creature.
"Hello? It's very nice to meet you. My name is Tikki, what's yours?" It spoke. It was speaking, it was speaking to her.
"Are you a demon?" Camille eyed it suspiciously. "Or some imprisoned fairy?" Her Nonna warned her about upsetting or offending Doñas de fuera. She thought they were just made up stories, ancient folklore, but the proof was staring her right in the face.
"Not a demon or a fairy. I am a kwami, the kwami of creation. I am connected to the Ladybug Miraculous." It, or rather, Tikki explained, "I have been waiting for someone to activate the miraculous for a while."
"Miraculous? You mean these?" She gestured to the earrings. She nearly did a double take as the earrings had changed. They were no longer simple black studs, but little silver squares.
"Yes. Though it seems this one is not the only miraculous that has activated." She glanced at the roses that had started to seep under the door and into the restroom. "I sensed the butterfly miraculous and the dark grasp the new holder has on its kwami."
"Butterfly? I didn't see any butterflies."
"It wouldn't be the butterfly if the champion has already been akumatized through the object." Tikki explained, "What do you know about Ladybug and akumas?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm kind of new to this city, but wasn't she a superhero?" She recalled the statue at Eiffel Tower from the night before.
"Alright, before I came into your possession, I was with…Ladybug." She said mournfully, "Using the miraculous, she was the one who could purify the akuma and return them back to normal. I need your help, I need you to-"
"No." Camille cut her off.
Tikki's smile faded to a look of confusion, "No?"
"Look, I understand the need to help, but I am not involved in this mess, nor do I plan to." Camille stated, "I am not cut out to be a hero."
"I understand your hesitation and doubt-"
"No, you don't understand." She snapped, "This isn't doubt, I'm not a good person. I'm not nice or kind or helpful, or compassionate. I've hurt people, I've made kids cry with my words and I've hurt them physically. I'm not a good candidate to be a hero, especially not a superhero. I'm a screw up, no one is going to cheer for someone like me. I don't want this, pick someone else."
Tikki wasn't sure what to say. Most would jump at the chance to be a hero, to protect others. Sure, there had been the more hesitant ones, but they blossomed into some of the greatest defenders of their era. But this girl was different. She genuinely believed she does not deserve this—that she isn't good enough, heroic enough.
"You may not be a hero, but you're the only one who can save the day." Tikki stared at her, "The least you can do is try."
Camille took in the kwami's words, thinking about Thorne who was going on a rampage. He wasn't delivering justice, he was going on a bloody rampage. Sure, he didn't attack her, but the roses had a mind of their own, consuming the school at a rapid pace. If Thorne had his way, it wouldn't take long for the roses to bring down all of Paris.
"What do I need to do?" She said with a serious look on her face.
Tikki smiled, "You will obtain two powers; Lucky Charm and Miraculous Cure. Lucky Charm will assist you in battle by giving you an object. Miraculous Cure can be used once the akumatized object is destroyed and the akuma is captured. The Cure will allow you to purify it and restore the damage back to what it was before. You will need to say Miraculous then your name."
"Restore damage?" She asked. "Does that include people? Can it bring people ba-" She shook her head, she would rather not go into those thoughts "How do I use it?"
"To transform, you have to say: Spots On."
Camille stared at Tikki with a look of bewilderment and confusion.
"Seriously? Those are the magic words?"
"The wording has changed from century to century, especially with evolving languages, but yes it is."
Camille didn't want to go into the magic debate with a possibly ancient tiny god, so she snapped the earrings into her ears. She glanced at herself in the reflection of her phone, the earrings didn't look out of place to the rest of her attire. They looked as if they were meant for her.
"Here goes nothing." She took a deep breath, "Tikki, Spots on."
Emma-or rather Lady Fritillary- was elated to see her champion doing such good. This is exactly what she needed, to be a deliverer of justice! Sure, the roses were a minor concern, overgrowing the halls of the school, but they hadn't hurt anyone specifically. She was giving Thorn Prince a chance to bring justice to those thugs! Sure, she had alternative motives, but that didn't make her evil, she was just multitasking!
She was proud of her champion, Thorne had blossomed into a hero, a true prince of justice. He was so grumpy before, but the smile he wore now was dazzling. She had done this, she had given him this power. She could see everything he could, hear everything he could, she had a front row seat to a show she directed.
"Please stop!" Her champion had caught up to one of the fleeing bullies, "I'm sorry!"
"Sorry doesn't cut it." He was about to dig his rapier in their chest. "It is time for you to submit to my blade, you half-wit."
Suddenly, Thorne's leg had been snagged and he fell to the floor with a thud. A red and black spotted yoyo was wrapped around his leg.
"Thorne Couffaine, stand down." A voice ordered as the yoyo relinquished from his leg, "
"It's Thorn Prince, not Thorne!" His outrage died as he took in the person who dared to oppose him.
It was a girl with a domino mask, the upper half was red, the bottom half was black. Her auburn hair was pulled into a ponytail and highlighted into a bright red at the ends. The hairband was black with two of the strings up resembling antennas. The upper half of her suit was primarily black with red areas-not spots or dots-but large areas of red. Her arms and the bottom half was red until it reached her black boots and black gloves.
Lady Fritillary's blood boiled, who did this girl think she was?! She was getting in the way of her triumph, of her successful experiment! Was she another Miraculous holder?
"Who the hell are you?" Lady Fritillary was wondering the same thing.
"Someone who knows this is wrong."
"Thorn Prince! She will try to take your power from you! Stop her!" Lady Frillitary proclaimed to her champion.
In her rage, Lady Fritillary hadn't noticed the beeping sound coming from her miraculous or one of the wings of her brooch closing.
Camille felt energized in her new form, dodging and weaving out of the way of his rapier.
"Why do you defend those weeds!?" Thorn Prince exclaimed, "They deserve to be punished for their deeds!"
"This is not justice, this is revenge." Camille retorted back, "It will not bring you peace." She eyed the dark purple pin that rested on his black buttoned up attire. It was out of place with the golden buttons. It had to be the akumatized object.
"Let's see if I can turn the tables, Lucky Charm!" With those words, an object appeared in a flash of light and fell into her hands. It was a roll of tape decorated in red and black.
"Tape, what am I supposed to do with tape?!"
"Seems your charm isn't so luc-OW!" Thorn Prince didn't finish his sentence before the roll of tape was hit his head. The tape stuck to his face and he struggled to take it off. Camille didn't expect that to work, but took the opportunity to grab the pin off him while he was distracted. She stomped on top of it, smashing it into pieces and a dark purple butterfly fluttered out of it. The Thorn Prince had reverted back to Thorne, returning from the black purple mist that had consumed him before.
"So how do I capture that?" She pulled out her yoyo, she pressed a button and it flipped open to reveal a bright white void. She swung it and caught the akuma in one swing. Perhaps she should lean more into the red than any symbolic meaning, at least until she found one much suitable for her taste.
"Miraculous Scarlatta!" She threw the rope of tape into the air and a storm of ladybugs swept the air. The roses disappeared as the ladybugs flew into the sky along with broken windows were repaired, victims of the attack were unharmed, and the formerly broken pin was also fixed. It was a small, inexpensive clip-on pin that looked as if it could snap at any moment.
"I believe this is yours, Thorne." She handed the pin to him as he looked around confused.
"What happened? Who are you? And how do you know my name?"
"A friend of yours informed me of what happened." The words spilled out before she could hold them back, "A Camille?"
"I wouldn't say she's a friend. We only just met." Thorne grumbled, "But she did try to help."
A beeping sound coming from her earrings kept her from saying more.
"I'm afraid my time is nearly up." She was about to leave, but something was nagging at her to help him. So she turned back to him and gave a forced smile, "Would you like to talk to about it?"
"Not really…"
"Oh well then, I'll just-"
"What is their problem!? I don't know why they pick on me! Maybe because my parents are rock stars? I won't give them free gifts or autographs?! Because I'm not as outgoing as others!?" He ranted as Scarlatta listened, "It-it's not fair."
"Have you tried talking to a teacher?" God, that sounded like the cringiest thing to come out of her mouth. She was the worst when it came to giving out advice.
He scoffed, "I have, but they always think it's just teasing or they tell me to ignore or be the better person." He wiped a tear from his eye, "I'm s-sorry, that was personal, I didn't mean to dunk that all on you. Y-you should go before the reporters get here, unless you like handing out autographs."
Scarlatta said nothing and swung off. She didn't realize someone else was there at the scene and had recorded the whole thing.
Lady Fritillary felt the disconnection cut from her champion, her creation in an instant. She felt her body crumble to the floor and the transformation died, leaving Emma on the floor of the closet.
"Who was that?!" Emma hissed, "How could she do that?! Is she like me?!"
"That was the holder of the Ladybug Miraculous, though I was led to believe the miraculous was lost with its last holder." The exhausted lavender kwami explained.
"Well clearly it's not as lost as you thought." She snapped, "I need another champion quickly."
"I'm afraid that isn't possible, master." Nooroo elaborated, "You have already used up my energy and your five minutes were up, leading to your detransformation."
"You didn't say anything about a time limit."
"And you didn't say anything about hurting anyone." Nooroo stood his ground, "You told me this was a test, an experiment."
"It was, but that changed when I decided to help someone in need." Emma huffed, "I'm a hero."
"A hero wouldn't have their champion turn her school into a garden!" Nooroo tried to adhere to her morals, but she wasn't budging. "I need some candy, I need to replenish my energy."
"Sure, here, I left some of your favorites in my bag." She gestured to her purse, "You can eat them during class. But we are not done with this conversation, Nooroo."
Emma walked out of the closet, making sure no one was around before heading out. Only for luck not to be on her side as she ran into the one person she didn't want to meet.
"Watch where you're going next time." Camille said coldly.
"Wait!" Emma shouted as Camille stopped in her tracks, "I'm sorry if we got on the wrong foot and I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries, but I really want to be friends, so…" Emma waited for her response. If Emma looked into her emotions, she could figure out what Camille was feeling! Maybe regret? Gulit? Loneliness?
Instead, she got this freezing chill down her spine. Camille wasn't feeling anything, not even the smallest tinge of regret.
"Let me explain something that an idiot could understand, Emma Dupain-Cheng…" The glare she gave her was filled with coldness, "I will never be your friend, your buddy, or your pal. Your so-called apologies are a waste on me. So stop trying to butt in where you don't belong and leave me alone."
With that, Camille walked off, leaving a stunned Emma in an empty hallway.
"Master…" Nooroo quietly comforted the girl.
"Why do I even try?" Emma sniffled, "She's just like those bullies, heartless and cruel." Then she glanced at the brooch, her brooch, her miraculous.
"But she'll get what's coming to her." She smiled, "Every criminal, lowlife, and villain in this city will get their well deserved dues."
