The ship rocked back and forth as he struggled to make his way up the stairs. His body fell against the steps before he dragged himself up right and onto the deck. It felt like fighting the turning tunnel at the amusement park in the fun house. You tried to fight it but you were forced to fall over like an idiot. The waves on the Seine smashed against the walls and along the sides of Liberty. The waves were angered like being out on the open sea. He slid along his socks on the deck as the boat continued to see-saw on the waves and he bashed against the railing. A sharp pain pulsed as he gripped his bruised rib cage. "Fuck." He cursed as he adjusted his grip to the pipe bars as he looked up at the dark sky. His knuckles turned white as he clenched hard. His heart was racing hard as black and purple bolts of lightning shocked the skies. The wind rushed by, flags rustled hard and ripped from the rushing gusts that circled the streets.
Loose debris scattered the grounds and brushed against civilians as people started to gather out of their homes. The raising sun against the dark clouds overhead made it look like a burning fire as the new sun's light reflected red along the cloud ridges. People clung to the walls and in their doorways, holding onto one another as they stared to the skies. Their screams of horror and chant could be heard over the gusts of sharp wind blades. Clouds of fluttering clusters of butterflies circled a figure that stood upon a huge moth creature. The creature had the body of a moth but it had three heads. The head of a horse, the head of a moth and the head of a fox. Luka's jaw clenched tightly as he got the sense of Déjà Vu. A sentimonster. What kind of person would dare to use the powers of the Butterfly Miraculous to create a being and to choose to be cursed for using that power.
Snakes slithers through terrain with ease and take their time to read a situation they are in before they strike. Snakes are known for change and growth and shed their skin for a new self and beginning. The Snake Miraculous uses the Power of Second Chance and the Power of Slither. The Power of Second Chance grants a user to step back to a pinned point time during the day to redo; they can come back to this set pinned point at any time but only to that pinned point moment. The Power of Slither is the ability to slither into time jumps in any moment in time. A user gains access to what are known as Time Holes hidden in an alternate plane one calls the Den which are lines of holes that are known also as a Timeline. Every historic moment, every second and hour of the day is recorded in the Den and the Snake holder can jump to any time in history. The Miraculous of Time is known as the most powerful Miraculous and holds a lot of responsibility. Its power itself is its own downfall which is called the Coil Effect. Altering time is a messy thing and any hiccup a user makes can change the out come of any event and historic moment. The Snake miraculous has a special side ability. When an object is touched, and the user quotes Rewind. That object like a recording will rewind in time. A park car will start and move back words toward it's previous destination. The Snake holder often uses this ability to repair destruction.
In the simplest way one could describe this power is you have two places you want to eat at. You choose one. It creates a stream in time where it continues on in this path written in history. Second Chance is the ability to change something simple like what one eats at the restaurant. Instead of mint chip ice cream. One would get rocky road. Something miniscule that history won't be altered.
Using Slither however to change your path to go to the other restaurant changes the stream in time. You are changing the course itself. What if because of this change, you trip over a crack and drop your wallet? What if you were destined to be the 100th customer of the day at the other restaurant and because of your changes. It ripples into others. Another person's time is altered where they become the 100th customer. It's very complex, some outcomes can be good but most advise to never alter time. Viperion has jumped into the Den before but he has never used the ability to change history. He watches the timeline to see outcomes if he altered history and most of the time he finds a way to solve the solution put before him without the ability.
However. The Butterfly Miraculous is different.
Butterflys symbolize transformation, rebirth and in a timeline sense the Butterfly can effect outcomes in a single event. The Butterfly Effect is the idea that small things can have nonlinear impacts on a complex system. A change in one state can result in large differences and outcomes. Just like the black cat; the butterfly also symbolizes Death. The butterfly Miraculous has the ability of Akumatization and Metamorphosis.
The ability of Akumatization is the ability to transmit your ideals to a person showing strong emotions. That person is in a sense reborn as someone with a new identity and special abilities designed by the Holder of The Butterfly Miraculous. Their wings spread and state a new. The Ability of Metamorphosis is the ability to create a whole new being from thin air designed by the Holder of the Butterfly. One creates one from a single cocoon of endless possibilities. But with every being created a part of the Holder is lost in some shape or form. Each creation made a part of the holders life is taken; a year from their timeline, an emotion from their state, a love once shared. A curse of an ability. You bring life in the world, part of your own is taken.
"The flapping of the wings of a butterfly can be felt on the other side of the world."The butterfly miraculous in a sense is altering timelines. In a sense going against the Snake Miraculous
What did this person give up to create this creature?
Its huge wings flapped causing the gusts of winds to strike the roads. It flew over the Eiffel Tower briefly before it sat at the very top point of the tower and the winds stopped. "Vacations over. Sass, scales slither" Luka growled. The electric static trickled across his skin as he transitioned to his hero persona.
Viperion landed along the Trocadéro across the raging scene as he stood his ground staring above. His heart raced hard in his bruised rib cage. The chaos grew quiet as the time continued on. The figure motioned their arm and the cluster of butterflies swarmed the area. Viperion braced himself as the butterflies hovered over head like a quilt and her voice spoke through the butterflies. "Greetings People of Paris. Parisians. Family. Hoping you all enjoyed your time of peace and quiet this last year. As you all know. Monarch is the holder of the Butterfly Miraculous and he sought out to take the Miraculous of the Three. Or should one say he was the holder. Monarch like a fool was blinded by power and only sought that. And because of this. He met his demise."
The crowd slowly began to piling into the open area below the building Viperion stood upon. Their mutters could be heard. His fist clenched. So Monarch was gone? Or is this a ploy? Viperion was on edge. He wasn't sure what to believe.
"The new holder of the Butterfly Miraculous stands before you addressed as Mariposa. Mariposa does not seek for the absolute power. Mariposa will not sought out for your heros of Paris." She voiced. Viperions eyebrows creased in confusion and then glanced over as a red blur landed silently to his side. "Yea, someone doesn't make an entrance like that unless they plan on doing evil things." A high pitch voice called. He looked over RubyBug. "Or they like attention." She stood tall and proud with her long blonde hair and red streaks that fashioned in double braids. Her top of suit was red with black polka dots but her lower half was fully black. She red ballet slippers and black details along her hands; mimicking gloves.
"Longtime no see SnakeBites." She smiled as she threw a peace sign up to him, winking at him. His heart was heavy as he was unsure how to feel. Happy to see her? Sad to see her? The only feeling his body gravitated to was anger. "Guess our vacation is ending. Huh?" She states. Viperion nodded as he looked back down at the people below and slowly back up at their new foe. "Told Sass the same thing." He replied. "Glad to see you."
Her heart jumped as she smiled.
"It's been quiet, hope you didn't miss me too bad~" She expressed as she stretched her arms back and then flung them forward as she punched the air. She had trouble hiding her excitement to be by his side once again. "Kind of was enjoying the peace. Felt normal for once but a superheros battle never ends. But I missed seeing my big green giant~" She teased. "Ready for this SnakeBites?"
He nodded as he pulled his razor chain whip from his side and gripped it tightly.
Mariposa continued her speech.
"Instead, Mariposa only seeks for justice like your heros. People of Paris deserve justice and for their feelings to be heard. When Monarch controlled manipulation in his fingers, he caused mayhem, and sought out people for feeling strongly. People feared to feel anything in the risk of being akumatized." She stopped as she walked forward. The moths wing expanded as she walked to the edge of the wing. She touched her brooch as she looked down at them. A helicopter flew over head as a news crew was filming this scene. "Feeling is all part of the human experience after all. So people of Paris, be free to feel how you want to feel. Mariposa will never tarnish or belittle you for your feelings. Mariposa will never use your emotions toward evil purposes."
Viperion rolled his eyes, growing impatient with every word she uttered. "Get to the point already." He spat. The air shifted as all the butterflies turned toward him. Like soldiers. All in unison. They heard him. She turned on her heels and face the heros as well. He winced as a chill went down his spine.
"Your heros stand before Mariposa now and question the motives. Monarch was right on some parts however. He believed in something and sought to accomplish it at all costs, just as does Mariposa, however he risked everything, including his community. Which your heros had every right to intervene. Mariposa believes in seeking the truth and stomping on those that lie and fool others. Right now, most of you can think of one person that has done you wrong in some way, lied, fooled you. People like that deserve to be exposed. Let's seek for a utopia where people never lie, where people never bully others and a place where people have a choice to not be afraid to be themselves." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the air as she reached out to the people. "Remember. If your heros stand in the way of that utopia, they are standing in your way of feeling the justice you want, standing in the way of you wanting to feel those feelings you want to express, they stand in the way of change, they stand in the way of you wanting to be you."
Viperion clenched his jaw as he placed his foot onto the building edge. She was spiting nonsense. "Mariposa, one can argue your own belief can cause conflict. You want people to be themselves, and want nobody to lie. Then what if someone chooses to be a liar. It goes against your belief. So then what? You will rain on them for wanting to be themselves? There is no such thing as a utopia. Monarch thought in his own twisted head he was in the right but we saw through that plan. We were all against him."
"The human race itself is complex in those ways but it's also simple. We as humans know lying is wrong. We know the good from the evil. Others like Monarch just choose to ignore it. Those are the people that should be punished. You have people that go into grocery stores and steal because they feel they can, but it's wrong, and they know it. People work hard to put food on their tables while people like the thieves that don't have to lift a finger and can get away with something for free? There are people that lie because they want to. You have people that bully because they want to. You have people that fight because they want to."
"That may be true, but there will always be evil in the world. Even us as heros have to know we can't 100% bring peace to the entire universe. Without Yen there is no Yang." RubyBug followed up as she placed her hand on Viperion's shoulder, speaking the words of Master Fu.
Mariposa stared down at the heroes with curiosity and concern. "So you don't believe in peace?" She asked as she found that intriguing. "A hero that doesn't believe in peace? A hero should always fight for peace. If not you are just fighting to fight."
"W-we fight for peace within each situation. We would love peace over all but one has to think realistically." Viperion argued.
"Mariposa is. The people believe in peace. As children we never saw issues. Children never lied until it was put into our heads about what a lie is. We weren't afraid to be ourselves until an adult told us to stop and we were brainwashed to be how society expects us to be. Why can't it be like that again? The world itself is a situation that needs peace. Mariposa will help bring that peace. And it will only be accomplished not by just Mariposa. But by Paris itself. Persians. Stand along side for peace. And not for heros that don't believe in peace."
"She's just twisting our words. The peace she wants is a fantasy." Viperion growled and looked down at the people. "Everyone, you know we want peace, that's why we stand before you, here and now. To protect you all. We will not abandon you!"
"And what of Chat Noir?" She asked. "He does not stand beside you, where is he now?"
The heros flinched and looked to their feet and along at the people. They did not answer. His stomach churned with a burning acid. Mariposa secretly smiled. "So Chat Noir has abandoned his responsibilities, is that it? He gave up on the people of Paris? On peace?"
Viperion felt a ting of a snap. "He didn't give up! A lot happens more behind the scenes." Viperion cried and stopped as he took his words in. "He did what was best for himself."
"Himself? Well good, everyone should look after themselves. Mariposa promises to look after everyone like a true hero does. This is why you are flawed, you say Mariposas motives are fantasy. But look at you, a hero with rare abilities. Anything is possible. If magic is possible when before monarch most didn't believe in such a thing. Then why is a utopia impossible? You fear change."
Viperion clenched the handle to his whip. In a fit of rage he lept up and swung his chain down toward Mariposa. Her figure and her huge moth disappear in a smoke. Viperion lands on the metal surface of the tower. It was an illusion. "What the?" He growled, as he cursed under his breath. Trixx. He quickly leaned out and yelled to the people. "If she does seek to stand by your side, then why is she not here?"
"But Mariposa is." Her voice continues to echo. "Mariposa always stands with the people."
Viperion's eyes widened as he looked down and saw the purple figure down amongst the crowd. The people backed away as far as they could. She stood in the middle of the open circle. Viperion growled as he jumped down and landed on a light post as he prepared to protect others. He stared along her purple hue. Her figure stood slender in frame with long dark purple hair that hung loose and she wore a violet off shoulder lantern sleeve corset dress and wore white Ellie shoes with feathers sticking from under the top of the boots. Her eyes glowed almost like color shift sheen; blues, purples and greens. They peered through an ashy white masquerade venetian mask. It scattered abstractly along her cheeks like rigged dove wings and was embedded with intricate mosaic-like squares around in checkered colors of blues, greens, purples and pinks. "Don't be afraid of Mariposa, Mariposa will not fight, Mariposa stands besides you all, one must stand with the people and see from their view. While your heroes look down at you." She motioned her fan at the heros that stood above. Viperion grimaced as he jumped down. "You're probably another illusion. I'm always fighting for the people." He said as he lunged toward her with his fist. "I protect them from manipulators like you!"
Mariposa dodged, swayed to the side with her hands behind her back, he backtracked and went to hit her again, she bent backwards as she stared up at his arm. She closed her eyes as she turned under his arm as his body lunged past her. Disappointing. She turned and struck his hip with her heel. Hard. Viperion tumbled to the ground. He coughed the air back into his lungs as he stood to his knee quickly, he whipped his chain out with a growl as his fangs grew sharply. Eyes glowing red. Mariposa held her hand up to stop him as she flicked her fan open and brought it to her face. "Your hero welds his weapon within your range, ignoring your safety. Mariposa poses no threat, standing before you with a peaceful fan. People like your heroes are corrupted with their anger."
"You said we could feel how we wanted to. Besides you struck me."
"Mariposa defended. Everyone saw this. You attacked Mariposa first, for only speaking from the mind."
RubyBug jumped to Viperion's side and helped him stand up right. The crowd atmosphere shifted with mixtures of doubts and mutters. "Viperion, filled with rage, that even his personas eyes have altered to red. Mariposa remembers they were once blue, yes?" She closed her eyes and fluttered the fan as she turned away.
Viperion blinked as the crowd looked at him like a spot light shined on his exposed figure. He reached as he covered one of his eyes as he peered down. Were they? He never noticed before, he rarely sees himself in the mirror as his persona. His locks shielded his expression from the crowd as they stared at him like he was some sort of monster. A monster with blood in his eyes and on his hands.
"Mariposa only came hoping for welcome arms for change. Paris sees where the heroes stand. Where do you stand Paris? For change? Or rage?" She turned toward the heroes. "Let us rid the world, together, one bad egg at a time. Here is your chance to think of our proposal. Until we all meet again in the near future, let today's raising sun mark as a symbol to the beginning of change."
Viperion clenched his jaw. Our proposal? The heroes backed up as a glow appeared under her and she descended down through a portal. The butterflies quickly clustered together and twirled into a tornado. Wind gusted from their wings, dirt blasted around at the crowd, the heros shielded their eyes with their arms. The portal shut as the last butterfly sucked in. Viperion ran over to where she disappeared and touched the ground. He growled and punched the dirt. Kaalki. He turned and growled as a hand touched his shoulder. His eyes glowed sharper red. He blinked, eyes softening as it was RubyBug. She flinched back and sighed. "You. You need to calm yourself. You're the leader, you're supposed to be the calm one." She glared. "You're acting like-" she stopped and looked down. Viperion looked away as he inhaled slowly. His body trembled with rage.
Viperion paced back and forth as he scratched his chin. RubyBug watched him go back and forth as she sat criss crossed on the top of a chimney as her hands held her knees. Her blue eyes followed each turn and tense body movement. She had never seen Viperion stressed and nervous. From the three of them he was the cool cucumber, so to see him like this made her worried but also a tad annoyed. She sighs. "SnakeBites, chill for just a second." She called as she readjusted her position; hanging her leg off the edge as she leaned back on her arm. "Chill? I can't chill. The butterfly miraculous is active once more and she is also using the powers of Trixx and Kaalki. This isn't a good thing. We only had Monarch to deal with and right when he got his hands on those two is when well, all hell broke loose."
"He didn't get the chance to use them before he was, well." She reached choking herself and falling off the chimney but caught herself elegantly and shifted standing up right, leaning against the chimney. Viperion squinted toward her and he gave her the dirtiest of looks. RubyBug exhaled. "Look, I'm totally weirded out by this Mariposa, and she totally gave threatening and manipulation vibes." She spoke and gestured a lot of her talking with her hands out as she fanned her fingers out as she walked across the roof.
"But?"
"But, let's hear her out, I'm not against the idea of a utopia but her way of doing it isn't the best way or idea." She expressed as she jumped to the ledge as she walked across as she held her arms out keeping her balance. "Maybe there is hope for discussion, she probably has a plan, so it won't be easy to change her mind but we can probably give some input of what we can change."
Viperion shook his head. "You want to discuss strategies for a utopia with a villain?" He said dumbfounded.
"Got a better idea? What do we have to lose, it's that or go back into routine with the bad guy of the week motif." She shrugged. It sounded crazy but maybe she could be reasoned with. Viperion usually had an open mind to others but he seemed so different now. Her eyes stared along his tense body. Her heart stopped as he looked to her. Rubybug jumped down as she stepped in front of him. He watched her move closer and closer to him. She stopped. Face to face. He stared down at her with emotionless eyes. "Your eyes have changed." She said as she reached toward his red bullets. He gripped her wrist and glared. Their eyes stayed locked. "Not just in color but the softness is gone. All I see is rage. I know a lot has happened, but none of what happened is your fault. I hope you know that." She spoke as she reached to touch his face with her other hand as her eyes looked to his lips but he dropped her wrist and started walking away. Her heart sunk. She hated to see him leave after all this time. "I'm sorry I stopped coming around." She whispered. He stopped in his tracks. He clenched his fist. "It was hard for us all, losing Master Fu, then Chat Noir leaving, I tried to stay but you know what hurt more? Seeing the pain consume you, you changed from it all. And seeing someone different, scared and upset me. I missed you but my worries, my feelings, they started to effect my civilian life. But I missed the old caring and calm Viperion. The one I know with soft clay blue eyes."
"You don't know me, this could be the true me coming to the surface," he turned walking toward her, his fangs growing sharper. "We do put our masks on and we pretend, maybe I'm tired acting like someone I'm not. I'm tired of acting like everything is okay when it's not. Maybe I'm tired of being the one everyone leans on. The wise one with all the answers. Maybe I want to break rules and do whatever the fuck I want." He growled as he leaned into her bubble. "You left me alone to deal with all this by myself just like Chat Noir. You want to side with a manipulator, go ahead, leave me out of this. I've done it alone the past year, I can keep doing it alone." He turned away from her. RubyBug frowned as she watched him leave.
"You said yourself, more happens behind the scenes. I know you don't mean that. Please. I know something is wrong." She whispered. "I won't leave you again, I promise."
Viperion stopped and looked back at her and then looked away before he lept down off the building and out of her view.
RubyBug frowned as she held her hand against her chest as she looked to the raising sun.