Isekai'd as the new French Miraculous Superhero Team.
Chapter 39: The Puppeteer vs. Mannequin.
(Quantic Universe Earth 19274729568301958374, Paris, France, January 24th, 2016, third person POV...)
In Marinette Dupain-Cheng's bedroom, Marinette and Manon Chamack are playing with Marinette's Ladybug and Cat Noir dolls.
Marinette says while imitating "Puppet" Cat Noir and "Puppet" Ladybug, "(As Puppet Cat Noir) Here I am, m'lady! (As Puppet Ladybug) Glad to see you, Cat Noir! (Back to Puppet Cat Noir) Of course you are! I'm the cat's meow! (Imitates a cat meowing) Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Manon exclaims, "He shouldn't say that!"
Marinette raises an eyebrow as she asks, "Oh, really?"
Manon shakes her head with a frown while saying, "Mmm-mmm."
Marinette sighs through her nose before saying, "(As Puppet Ladybug) This isn't the time for fun and games, Cat Noir! We gotta capture the baddies' Akuma butterflies before they – (Pauses before looking at Manon) Actually, what do the baddies really want?"
Manon answers, "Uh... we wanna win!"
Marinette asks, "Yes, but win what?"
Manon replies before asking, "I don't know. What do they usually want?"
Marinette answers, "It depends on the reason why a supervillain was created in the first place. Lady Wifi wanted to reveal Ladybug's true identity without caring about the horrible things that come with superheroes having their true identities being publicly revealed. The Evillustrator wanted to force a girl to date him for his birthday and to get revenge on one of his teachers for forcibly sending him to the principal's office for sketch drawing in class. And Rogercop, he wanted to enforce every law in Paris, no matter if the laws in question were big or small. Such as forcibly punishing anyone who feeds pigeons in the park despite not knowing about or even doing any research about the specific laws that come with feeding birds in a city park. But the evil Hawk Moth, who turns them into baddies by usage of butterflies infused with dark magic attracted to the person's feelings of anger, jealousy, sadness, or grief, wants to take Ladybug and Cat Noir's magical jewels called Miraculouses!"
Manon remarks, "Hey, wait! I remember hearing about it from Ladybug's public speech during her debut just last year!"
Marinette inquires, "Then you know what will happen if Hawk Moth gets his hands on the two Miraculous jewels, do you?"
Manon answers, "No, I forgot."
Marinette explains, "Well, if Hawk Moth wears Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses in unison, he'll force their power sources to merge together and reveal their combined god form, thereby forcing their combined god form to make an ultimately powerful wish to revive his wife from the dead. BUT, what Hawk Moth refuses to understand is that this kind of wish will always come with a price."
Manon asks curiously, "What kind of price would there be to pay?"
Marinette explains further, "For example, if a little child hated the fact that green beans are green and wanted them to be red, every red strawberry that exists would have to be turned green in return."
Manon asks to signify she's slightly more intelligent than she let on, "So, if the big bad Hawk Moth wished to bring his wife back to life, someone else in his family would have to die in her place?"
Marinette answers, "Yes. And unfortunately, Manon, in order for Hawk Moth's wish to come true, the combined magic of the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculouses literally destroys the entire universe, kind of like accidentally destroying a plastic action figure, except that destroying the universe can't be fixed by super glue."
Technically, Marinette had reservations against revealing such information to Manon, but seeing as how she was curious and because she was slightly more intelligent than Marinette thought, she decided to indulge the younger girl.
Manon's eyes widened even as Marinette continued to explain, "And in addition to causing the end of the world and the total massive genocide of every living sentient being across the universe, the combined creation and destruction magic recreates the universe while resetting all of humanity's modern and ancient history to repeat itself all over again like if you were pressing the rewind button on a TV remote or a DVD player to watch something again and again from the very beginning."
Manon says, "Ohhh..."
Marinette says comfortingly, "Yeah. Just like in those military-themed cartoons and movies kids at your age would be allowed to watch when studying any part of history which includes horrible things like warfare, when a superhero like Ladybug goes to war against a supervillain or a magical terrorist like Hawk Moth, even after defeating a supervillain or a magical terrorist, not even Ladybug will be able to return home to her family the exact same as when she left in terms of her personality or her mental health. But please, have faith, Manon; Hawk Moth will be convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in no time. But in order for him to not escape from prison, his own magical jewel, the Butterfly Miraculous, has to be taken away and locked up until Ladybug can find someone old enough to use it to create superheroes responsibly. Remember, Manon, with great power, even of magical origin, there must also come great responsibility. Because, even for kids who are training to become villains, they'll end up punished in different ways for disobeying standard laws about assault, murder, and theft among other things."
Manon then questions, "Why do you care so much about me not like Mommy?"
Marinette answers with visible tears streaking down her eyes, "Because I love you, Manon. I love you like if you were my own sister."
Manon's stunned expression let Marinette know she didn't see that coming.
Manon asks uneasily, "You-you really... mean it?"
Marinette answers, "Yes. I myself don't have siblings just like how you don't have siblings right now. But if I did have a sister to grow up with, I'd want her to be you, even though we were born to two different families –"
But Marinette doesn't finish as Manon hugs her tearfully.
Marinette says with her voice breaking, "Manon, please don't cry, 'cause you're gonna make me cry."
Manon replies tearfully, "I'm sorry, Marinette; you just said something I never expected to hear, and I'm sorry!"
Marinette and Manon started softly crying in unison, joyful that they found each other as a surrogate sibling.
Nadia Chamack comes up the stairs and notices the girls crying as they hugged each other.
Nadia asks in concern, "Girls, are you okay?"
Manon and Marinette look at Nadia, and Manon hugs her mother.
Nadia asks, "What happened?"
Manon answers as she calms herself, "Marinette said something meaningful to me that I never expected to hear, and I couldn't help myself."
Nadia starts comforting Manon while saying, "There, there, Manon. Everything's okay."
Marinette wipes her tears and quietly blows her nose to get rid of the snot.
After Marinette and Manon compose themselves, Nadia asks, "So, Manon, have you been a good girl?"
Manon answers, "Yes, I have, Mommy."
Nadia replies before saying, "That's good to hear. But now, it's time to go home. Give the doll back to Marinette."
Manon replies, "No! I wanna keep it!"
Marinette says gently, "With all due respect, Manon, I made the dolls, therefore, they're my property. And besides, your mommy says that you already have so many toys at home that there's practically no more space for any more toys."
Nadia adds, "She's right, dear."
Nadia tries to take the Ladybug doll away, but Manon pulls it back as she says, "No!"
But then, she accidentally breaks the Ladybug doll's left arm off.
Marinette's eyes narrowed and the top parts of her face to her eyebrows rose up in anger as she let out a loud growling sound the equivalent of an angry lion, and Manon and her mother look nervous and scared all at once.
Marinette says while growling, "If you damage any more of my property, Manon, I'll have you banned from my parents' bakery for life, and I'll never babysit you again, starting now!"
Manon cries into her mother's leg, and Marinette takes back the Ladybug doll.
Marinette then grabs the other dolls and hands them to "Tillyan," who had been watching and waiting with a small pot and a cigar lighter, ready to burn the dolls.
Nadia says somewhat sadly knowing that Sabine is gonna be furious, "Goodbye, Marinette. Thanks for your services."
Nadia and Manon leave.
Nadia's phone rings and she answers, "Hi, Alec. Huh? Didn't I leave it for you on my desk at the station? It's not there, huh?"
Manon sneaks back to Marinette's bedroom without making a sound or otherwise letting her mother know what she was up to.
Tillyan says, "That was uncalled for, Marinette."
Marinette replies coldly, "I still hate children, Tillyan. Simple as that."
But then, Manon is back up, but Marinette catches her.
Marinette starts walking back to Nadia while carrying Manon, and Manon says frustratedly, "No! I want that doll!"
Marinette snarls, "I'm warning you, Manon, my patience is wearing thin, and when I get real angry, I become violent."
Nadia gets off the phone and she sees Marinette walking over carrying Manon.
Marinette says before Nadia can ask, "She was going to attempt to steal one of the dolls despite what you said."
In the end, even with Marinette secretly altering Manon's memories after Manon is taken to the studios, Nadia punished Manon by grounding her for three months and prohibiting her consumption of junk food for three weeks.
As Nadia and Alec get into the elevator, Manon sits back down in frustration while still holding the wand and she says, "I didn't steal that doll! I want that doll!"
Manon cries her eyes out in anger.
In Purple Streak's observatory, Purple Streak detects the positive emotions of 14 year old Amelot Gagnepain who was happy that her older sister got a job as a child caretaker.
Purple Streak remarks, "Oh. Now, what could be more pronounced than an innocent child's emotions, including joy? I love seeing the joy on a child's face, before and after Christmas and their birthdays."
She makes a Tenshi and sends it off before saying, "Fly away, heroic Tenshi, and help this child let out her happiness!"
Purple Streak imitates the sound of a triumphant trumpet blast.
In Hawk Moth's lair, the window opens and Hawk Moth remarks, "Ah, what could be more pure than an innocent child's emotions, especially including anger? I love it!"
Hawk Moth turns a butterfly into an Akuma and he sends it off while saying, "Fly away, evil Akuma, and commiserate with this frustrated child! Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
The Akuma flies off to the studio.
Meanwhile, after Tillyan has burned all of the dolls to ashes, Marinette and Alya rush down the Metro station to catch a train.
Marinette looks over the movie showing on her phone and she says, "The movie starts in half an hour, or we could buy your book first and then get to the movie theater for the next showing."
Alya remarks and says as soon as she sees Adrien, "Either way, girl – (Gasp) Marinette, nine o'clock!"
Marinette looks to see Adrien far next to her and Alya, boarding the train the moment the doors opened, thankful that the train wasn't packed.
Marinette says, "I'll talk to him later. Right now, we gotta wait until Mannequin can take care of Puppeteer."
Alya nods in understanding.
In the Gagnepain residence, the Tenshi merges with Amelot's shirt, establishing the telepathic contacting connection.
Purple Streak says, "Mannequin, I am Purple Streak. I'm granting you the power to make mannequins come to life as replicas of real people. All I need in return is your help in defeating Hawk Moth's newest victim, Manon Chamack, also known as The Puppeteer. But be careful; if she possesses the doll toys of any Miraculous user, Tenshized hero, or Akumatized villain, she can bring them under her control while simultaneously reakumatizing previous villains and while also turning any Tenshized champions into Akumatized villain variants of themselves. Do I make myself clear?"
Amelot/Mannequin replies, "Yes, Purple Streak."
Amelot is turned into Mannequin, an armored opposite color version of the Puppeteer as a 6 feet and 5 inch tall teenager.
Meanwhile, the Akuma makes its way to the studio and infects Manon's wand as she lies face down on the couch, crying in anger and sadness.
Hawk Moth remarks, "Puppeteer, I am Hawk Moth. From now on, you can control anyone!"
Manon asks, "Even the French Miraculous Superhero Team?"
Hawk Moth answers, "Yes, as long as you already possess their dolls."
Manon asks again, "And I can win?"
Hawk Moth answers before asking, "Yes, you will be able to win. But, in return, can you please get something for me, sweetie?"
Manon/Puppeteer answers darkly, "Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses. I know!"
Manon turns into The Puppeteer.
Hawk Moth remarks in slight awe, "What a smart little girl you are."
A receptionist is working at the front desk when the Puppeteer floats up to the desk.
The Puppeteer asks evilly, "Wanna play a game?"
The receptionist shouts while running away, "Heeelp!"
The Puppeteer floats into one of the elevators and says, "I've gotta get those Ladybug and Cat Noir dolls. I... want... those... dolls!"
The elevator stops at the studio floor and Puppeteer floats out of it before continuing to float to the studio.
The Puppeteer quietly enters the studio.
Nadia says to Alec, "I'm sure I left it in here somewhere. Ugh, where is it?"
The Puppeteer spots her mother's purse bag, but she sees no dolls.
The Puppeteer keeps quiet as she quickly and quietly evacuates from the studio while quietly closing the doors.
Suddenly, Mannequin shows up and her army of superhero replica mannequins hold her in place and gag her long enough for Mannequin to steal the wand and break it, releasing the Akuma.
Purple Streak turns up and purifies the Akuma, turning it into a Tenshi before purifying it again and releasing it.
The Puppeteer is turned back into Manon, and Mannequin says sternly, "Young girl, we need to have a little bit of a chat."
Manon gulps.
In his lair, Hawk Moth roars, "No! This can't be happening! None of Purple Streak's champions have been able to defeat any of my supervillains this early and without additional help before! (Angry groan)"
The window closes, engulfing Hawk Moth's lair in darkness.
The next day, Nadia says to Sabine, "Marinette pretty much almost made me pee myself, and thus, because of her newfound hatred of children and because Purple Streak says Manon allowed herself to get Akumatized even without knowing it and even without knowing any better, I hate to say that Marinette was right; she's horrible for the job of babysitting five year old children."
Sabine slightly glares at Marinette, but her Gravemaker eyes make Sabine back down.
Sabine sighs as she replies, "Admittedly, Marinette's patience has diminished every time she deals with children like Manon no matter how many times Marinette refuses, and also admittedly, she's got a nasty temper just like Venom from Spider-Man. But I have an idea on how to remedy that."
Marinette secretly reads her mother's mind and she mentally says, "Uh-oh."
In no time, Marinette was "reprogrammed" into caring for children and loving them with infinite patience, thanks to Tikki's power to merge parts of her personality with her owners, something she unlocked by taking advantage of the wishing power Marinette gave her two days after the second Stoneheart attack.
Marinette and Manon have a great time at the zoo.
In Marinette's bedroom, Marinette crosses off The Puppeteer and says, "Up next is Juleka Couffaine, aka Reflekta. Somehow, I have a feeling that we might be prepared for this."
Tikki adds, "And considering our backup plans for this encounter, I heartedly concur, Marinette."
Marinette nods before going downstairs to prepare for herself a pesto, tomato, micro-greens, and fresh burrata sandwich with no cheese.
Tikki comes up and asks, "No cheese?"
Marinette answers, "Not every sandwich has to have mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, butter or cheese."
Marinette adds the pesto and puts the sandwich together before taking a bite out of it.
Tikki then prepares for herself a pastrami, roast beef, roast turkey, turkey salami, turkey ham, pesto, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, zucchini, and picked beet sandwich with Gouda cheese.
The twosome enjoy their sandwiches and the experience of yet another healthy lunch opened its heart to the two Ladybugs.
However, in Marinette's mind, she mentally snarls before admitting reluctantly, "You may not be able to completely reprogram me, but don't count my true self out for long. ...Although admittedly, my issue with children and babies isn't exactly going to make me a future Mom of the Year, just like how Gabriel and Colt's shared abuses of Adrien and Felix didn't net either of them any honors or awards. Nevertheless, I 50% promise you all, I'll try my hardest to change my actions and behaviors for all of you, for myself, and for God."
In the instant she finished that thought, Marinette asks Tikki tearfully, "Tikki? Am I really that horrible for someone who's considered an angel of kindness and an angel of war?"
Tikki looks at Marinette, and the ladybug kwami noticed that her owner was about to cry.
Tikki enters her human form and says while hugging Marinette, "Oh, Marinette..."
Marinette says tearfully, "It's true! It's all true! I thought I knew how it was, Tikki! I thought I knew how your sector of the Quantic Multiverse was! I've done some bad things! I assaulted my friends and boyfriend, I terrorized people countless times, I used my powers to evade punishment, I lied to multiple people for good and bad reasons, I destroyed DVDs and video tapes of movies and cartoons I hated for years aside from just horror movies, I plotted the deaths of my enemies for years as a final precaution in case they keep evading imprisonment, I plotted the destruction of the Rabbit Miraculous to stop Bunnyx from interfering with my plans! Hell, I've even become a hot-tempered, foul-mouthed, hypocritical, violence and death-loving antihero and anti-villain who wants many people I hated for years to die!"
Marinette cries hysterically into Tikki's embrace, and Tikki did everything she could to comfort her owner.
Tikki then says in prayer, "Dear God, please send Your compassion and Your wisdom into Marinette Mikaela Megan Eleanor Margaret Dupain-Cheng's heart, mind, body, and soul. Please help my owner find the proper path to defeating Gabi Grassette, Nathalie Sancoeur, Iris Verdi, Cash, Cash's thugs, Mike Rochip, Ignoblia, Tomoe Tsurugi, Jalil Kubdel, Canon Chloe Bourgeois, Salt Adrien Agreste, Salt Felix Fathom, Bad Parent Emilie Agreste, Bad Parent Sabine Cheng, Bad Parent Tom Dupain, Salt Alya Cesaire, Salt Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Salt Nino Lahiffe, Salt Kim Chien Le, Salt Ivan Bruel, Salt Mylene Haprele, Salt Juleka Couffaine, Salt Rose Lavillant, Salt Sabrina Raincomprix, Salt Nadia Chamack, Salt Lieutenant Roger Raincomprix, Salt Alix Kubdel, Supervillain Bunnyx, Salt Nathanael Kurtzberg, Salt Marc Anciel, Salt Kagami Tsurugi, Salt Xavier Ramier, Salt Master Wang Fu, Salt Xavier-Yves Roth, Salt Caline Bustier, Salt Denis Damocles, Salt Olga Mendeleiev, Salt Amelie Graham de Vanily, Bad Parent Andre Bourgeois, Bad Parent Audrey Bourgeois, Salt Zoe Lee, Salt Grandmaster Su-Han, Shadybug, Claw Noir, Kwami Destroyer, Destrucmayura, Gold Record, Moolak, and many other villains who would have the guts to invade our native universe and timeline. I beg You, God, please help my owner overcome her remorse and show her once again that with the exception of sins against You, there is nothing that can't be forgiven."
Marinette eventually cried herself to sleep, and Tikki put Marinette to bed, while making sure not to violate her in any way while dressing her into her pajamas.
Tikki enters her kwami form and goes to sleep.
Tikki doesn't even miss the breeze on her head — despite having no hair in her kwami and god forms — that was a sign from Marinette's guardian angel who informed her through this sign of an angel trying to talk to a religious human that the ladybug kwami's prayer has been answered and that it will take a few days in God's time to help Marinette with her problems.
The End.
(Author's notes: In case you're gonna ask, yes, this time, Marinette being purified and reprogrammed is permanent, and this time, her remorse for the bad things she did and said is genuine. But I do have to say, the part about me writing about Marinette's breakdown, I nearly cried myself. See you all in chapter 40: Deflector vs. Reflekta.)
