I want to thank author Joanne Frances Tiano Cajilig for their creativity in helping me write this chapter.
Now on with the show.
Why was Rena Rouge leaping from roof to roof while reading a history book? Well there was this big test on Monday...Plus she just dropped off her twin sisters at a friend's house... Then she has to pick up some groceries... Now she dropped her book...!
She searched frantically for her book. If someone saw her reading her book and picked it up, she'll be in big trouble.
Especially since she labeled her history book with her name in the inside.
She finally spots her book... in the hands of the last person she wants to see it with...
What luck.
She was in the neighborhood searching for her next potential victim, when she spots Rena Rouge leaping from roof to roof while reading a book.
She plans on sneaking up to the fox, undetected. Then she'll beat her up good and grab her Miraculous. Then she'll have one less meddling hero to worry about.
But her plans were put to a halt when the fox heroine dropped her book.
With one mighty flap of her wings, she grabbed the book before it could even drop on the ground and hid behind an alley where no one can see her.
Rena Rouge's book... And based on the title, it was a high-school textbook.
Mariposa grinned, "With this, I can finally find out the true identities of Team Miraculous and take their powers while they're at their powerless, wimpy states!"
She silently giggled to herself. Oh the looks on those wimpy heroes' face when she takes their Miraculouses will be priceless. And she'll relish the look of dismay on Chat Noir's face when she takes his.
Soon, their greatest wish will be realized.
But first...
In a flash of light, Mariposa disappeared. Standing in her place, was Marinette.
The Butterfly Miraculous levitated from her shirt and transformed into a silver bracelet with the dark purple jewel in the center before it dropped on the ground.
Nooroo materialized before his holder. He looks at her with a look of worry and guilt before retreating inside her purse, just as she slowly opened her eyes.
Marinette couldn't believe she was holding Rena Rouge's book!
She was just on her way back home after finishing her delivery, when she spotted Rena Rouge leaping from roof to roof while reading a book.
She called and waved to the fox heroine, hoping she would notice.
Instead, the hero dropped her book. The same book Marinette was now holding in her hands.
Upon closer look, Rena Rouge's book was a history book.
The very same history book she and her classmates were using.
Could it be...?
Is Rena Rouge a student at Collège Françoise Dupont...?
Are they... SCHOOLMATES...?...!
Just as Marinette was about to open the book, she noticed her bracelet was gone and panicked.
She frantically looks around for it and finds it on the ground.
She quickly picks it up and checks if there were any damage. To her relief, there wasn't, and straps it back to her wrist.
She would never forgive herself if she ever lost her parents' bracelet.
She suddenly remembered she had a date with her uncle.
She quickly rushed to the bakery. Zen was already at the counter catering to a customer. She quickly said "hi" before rushing upstairs to her room.
"Nooroo?" She called to her kwami friend as she packs her backpack.
Nooroo snuck out of Marinette's purse without her noticing and appeared before his friend. Marinette was happy to see her kwami friend and hugged him.
She met Nooroo a week after her parents disappeared. At first, she was afraid of him, so much that she hid behind her uncle.
But when she saw how scared the little kwami was, she felt sorry for it and tickled him in order to cheer him up.
Ever since then, the two were inseparable. Except for the times Marinette had to go out.
Nooroo couldn't go out because there were evil people out there looking for him. If they ever found him, they would use his powers for evil.
Of course... that wasn't the entire truth...
Someone knocked on the hatch, "You ready Cupcake?"
"Be right there Uncle." Marinette called back.
Since both her and Amshel were going to the museum, they felt that it wasn't safe to leave Nooroo alone. So, just like the many previous times both uncle and niece went out together, they brought Nooroo along with them while Zen looks after the bakery.
Marinette stares at Rena Rouge's book. She sooo wanted to open it to find clues on the fox heroine's true identity.
But she can't.
If she did find out who Rena Rouge really is, she might accidentally call the heroine by her real name and reveal her secret to everyone in Paris!
Including the BUTTERFLIES!
They'll use her family and friends against her and force her to surrender her Miraculous to them which will lead the others to do the same and put the entire world into CHAOS!
Amshel called his niece again, forcing her to hastily put the book into her backpack. Nooroo flew into her purse and they went downstairs where Amshel was waiting.
After saying good-bye to Zen, they were off to the museum.
Unaware that they were being followed...
"Your dad is going to kill me."
Adrien was going to the bakery with Nino to, check out some cookies, when they spotted Alya standing behind the glass window.
She looked nervous, as reflected by her reflection.
When they approached her, she jumped in surprise and tried to flee, only to stop when they asked if she was okay.
A few nervous glances later, Alya finally confessed that she lost her history book and Marinette found it.
That didn't sound bad.
Until Alya mentioned that Rena Rouge was reading her book...
"Did you have to study in hero mode?" Nino asked in disbelief as they waited for Marinette.
"It was going to be a big test." Alya tensed, "If she opens that book, she'll find my name. Feeling betrayed that I never told her, she'll never want to see nor hear from me ever again. Yet during an Akuma Attack, she'll call me by my real name out of concern. The Butterflies will use her against me, I'll be forced to give my Miraculous, then the entire world will be plunged into total CHAOS!"
Adrien crosses his arms and smirks in amusement, "Leave the over-reacting to me."
"And if Marinette finds out you're Rena Rouge, then she'll find out we're Team Miraculous." Nino pointed out.
This made Adrien realize that Marinette would get mad at him too for not telling her that he's Chat Noir, "We have to get that book!"
"She's leaving."
Plagg returned their attention back to Marinette, who looks like she was about to leave with her uncle.
Panicking, Alya grabbed both boys and hid (poorly) behind a lamp post.
And yet, the Dupain-Chengs never noticed.
The trio decided to follow the two in order to retrieve Alya's history book back.
Unaware that they were also being followed by two delusional, jealous girls.
To Marinette, it was no surprise that Amshel Cheng, artistic master baker, was a lover of arts and history.
Her mother once told her that her uncle would sketch a lot when they were young before he chose to take baking classes in college. Since then, he always made pastries his canvases, creating elegant designs that attracted the eyes and hearts of many.
And also their stomachs.
Which is why they decided to spend quality time in the museum.
Maybe it was the big test she and her classmates were going to have next week that led them to the Egyptian exhibit.
Marinette felt that the statues of the Egyptian gods were going to come alive. She jumped in surprise when her uncle made it sound like one of them came alive.
They stopped to examine the hieroglyphics on a wall. One particular symbol caught Marinette's attention.
"That one looks like you Nooroo." She told her kwami.
Nooroo felt nostalgic when he saw the symbol. He wished he could see his kwami friends again, but he couldn't.
After reaching the end of the exhibit, the three decided to take a break. Once they sat on a bench, Marinette opened her bag to grab her bottle of water, only for her eyes to land on Rena Rouge's book.
"I thought we're suppose to be having fun." Her uncle teased in mock hurt.
Marinette slightly jumped and quickly zipped her backpack shut. She flashes a nervous smile at her uncle, who suddenly stood up to go to the bathroom.
Once inside, Amshel locks the door and made sure no one else was around before pulling out something from his pocket.
He opened his hand, revealing a silver oval key chain with the first letters of his first and last name engraved intricately in purple. He opened it up, revealing a picture inside.
Him, Marinette...
And her parents...
Together... and happy...
He never wanted to do this, but the sooner they get the Miraculouses, the sooner no one else has to suffer ever again.
He closed the trinket, and closed his hand around it, allowing the dark energy to surround him, transforming him into the enemy of Paris and Team Miraculous.
Hawk Moth exited the bathroom, and searched for his next prey.
He knew those hieroglyphics formed a resurrection spell, but his father refused to acknowledge.
If only he had the power to fulfill the ritual, then he would believed him.
He didn't notice the butterfly hovering behind him.
A butterfly lands on Hawk Moth's hand. He holds it close to his chest, filling the small creature with dark energy before sending it towards its victim.
As Marinette waited for her uncle, she pulled out Rena Rouge's book from her backpack.
At the same time, Alya decided that now was the right moment to approach her friend, and distract her long enough for the boys to grab her history book.
"Alya?" Marinette was surprised to see her best friend in the museum, "What are you doing here?"
"Um, well..." Alya tried to think of a good excuse, "I, heard there's an exhibit here about Team Miraculous..."
"Really?" Marinette's eyes lit up with excitement, "Where?"
Both girls suddenly heard the sound of heavy footsteps, and turned to a dark figure wearing a pharaoh's mask, heading towards a glass exhibit holding an Egyptian papyrus.
Alya knew this was a new villain even before the figure smashed the glass case and grabbed the papyrus. She grabbed Marinette's hand and ran in order to get away from the akuma before he notices them.
Unfortunately for her, the akuma spotted them and trapped them in a time bubble. He approaches the girls and pulls Marinette out of the time bubble. Alya could do nothing but watch as the akuma drapes Marinette on his shoulder and carries her to who-knows-where.
How could she let this happen? She didn't transform, but she still should have protected her friend from a pharaoh-dressed akuma.
All her life she wanted to be a superhero, just like her idols in the movies and comic books.
Then one day, one miraculous day, her classmate's dad approached her and gave her a magical necklace that granted her the powers to transform into a superhero! With superpowers too!
Her first mission... ended with her first-day-of-school-new best friend to get captured... twice.
But she redeemed herself by stopping Stoneheart again the right way.
Of course Chat did most of the work... but he did say it was a team effort.
This time, she was determined to be the hero. By saving her best friend.
But first... she really needs to get out of the time bubble.
And Chat Noir and Carapace did just that for her.
The two boys were quicker to react once the akuma made the scene. They quickly hid and transformed before pulling Alya out of the time bubble. After she transformed into Rena Rouge, the three heroes rushed off to save their friend.
They managed to find her... being used as a sacrificial offering?!
Now Rena was more determined to save her best friend.
Even if she has to take her place.
Pharaoh was so strong that Marinette couldn't pull her arm free from his grip.
There was absolutely no way she's going to be sacrificed by an akuma!
So many things she hasn't done yet; becoming a successful fashion designer... knowing the civilian identities of Team Miraculous... marrying Chat Noir...!
Well... first "accidentally" discovering the civilian identity of Chat Noir, then telling him how she feels at the right moment, then marry him.
As the mummies circled around her and Pharaoh, Marinette noticed a hieroglyph on the papyrus that looked like an Egyptian with, fox ears?
She was also playing a flute...
Just like Rena Rouge...
"Uh, Mr. Pharaoh?" She nervously turned to the akuma, "Is it me or does that hieroglyph looks like Rena Rouge?"
"Rena Rouge...!" Pharaoh growled, "One of the wretched allies of my accursed foe, Ladybug! A thousand years ago they have thwarted my plans, but never again!"
Marinette's pupils shrunk, "Ladybug...? Rena Rouge...? THOUSAND YEARS AGO?!"
The heroes were in the middle of planning how to save Marinette when they heard Pharaoh mention about Ladybug and Rena Rouge from a thousandyearsago?!
Maybe its the dark magic that's making Pharaoh crazy, but was there really a Team Miraculous thousand of years ago? And in Egypt?
They pushed that idea aside. Saving Marinette is their first and top priority right now.
They decided to use Carapace's Shell-ter and push through the mummy army.
It worked. For a moment.
A minute later, the Shell-ter vanished and more mummies rushed towards the group.
A dark portal appeared in the skies. The staff, which Pharaoh planted earlier, shot out a beam of light towards the portal.
Marinette screamed as Pharaoh held her tightly by the waist and flew towards the light.
Chat Noir extended his staff in order to reach Marinette.
Unfortunately, Pharaoh knocked him away, causing him to crash inside the Louvre. He was about to rush back when he noticed two familiar people trapped inside a time bubble and pulled them out.
Chloe and Lila gasped in relief when they regained their ability to move in normal speed. When they saw Chat Noir, they both exclaimed,
"You can't be with Alya!"
...?
"Uh...Wha...?" Chat shrugged in confusion.
Earlier...
Chloe was riding her limo to the salon when she saw Adrien in front of the bakery holding Alya's hand.
At the same time, Lila was approaching the bakery and witnessed the same scene.
...
ADRIEN AGRESTE HOLDING ALYA CÉSAIRE'S HAND?!
All this time... Adrien and Alya...
"Let's forget Team Miraculous and elope together, Alya."
"Okay Adrien."
"Are you out of your minds?!"
Chat Noir glared at the two girls with utter disbelief, "Alya is just, a friend! And a teammate! Who dropped her history book. The same book found by Marinette, my real, one, true, LOVE!"
"Oh come on!" Both Lila and Chloe exclaimed in disbelief.
Chat Noir snapped back to reality, "Can we argue about this later? My princess is in danger!"
"I can't believe you lost your history book all because you were studying while on hero duty." Ladybug teased after the akuma was purified.
Rena Rouge countered, "You know, if Marinette found out that I'm Rena Rouge through my book, then no doubt she'll eventually find out who Ladybug and Queen Bee truly are. She'd even follow you guys everywhere, day, and night."
At first, this didn't bother the other two heroines.
But the thought of Marinette following them in their civilian forms... every day... everywhere...?!
"We have to get that book!"
"Rena Rouge!"
The heroes cringed. This was it. She opened the book... She knows...!
"I found your book." Marinette called out, "I didn't open it. I'm sorry."
The heroes didn't face their fan, so she didn't see the surprised look on their faces when she apologized.
Chat Noir could hear her running away and turns around, only to find her completely gone and Alya's book was on the ground.
Alya picked up her book after she detransformed and smiled at the direction her best friend went.
"You, think she was telling the truth?" Nino asked.
"Oh. Absolutely." Alya kept her smile as she opened her book, revealing her name, written, and beautifully stylized with a superhero theme by her best friend.
"That, and the fact holders of the Fox Miraculous can highly sense what's true, and what's not." Trixx added.
This was one of the rare times Hawk Moth was thankful Team Miraculous won the fight.
He already lost his sister and brother-in-law. He's not losing his niece too.
After detransforming, Amshel went to find his niece, who, actually, found him first, and hugged him in relief.
Amshel returned the hug. He needs to take charge the next time an akuma puts his family's life on the line.
"There was another Rena Rouge in Egypt a thousand years ago?" Alya asked Trixx the moment they got home.
"Not just in Egypt." Trixx pointed out, "The Team Miraculous Legacy existed for more than a thousand years."
"More than a thousand years..." Alya briefly spoke in a fangirl trance, "My predecessors must've been so cool back then."
Trixx smiled as he landed on his holder's shoulder, "You're cool too Alya. But... also awesome."
Alya smiled back at her kwami. Then she thought, "Wonder what the Team Miraculous before us was like..."
Gabriel thought he might get some inspiration from his old college sketchbooks.
Fashion week was coming up, and he felt that his current line was lacking something. So he grabbed a few of his old sketchbooks, slightly chuckling in amusement as he flipped through some pages, remembering the times he got bored and let his imagination run wild on paper.
One time, he stopped himself from dozing in science class by drawing a three-eyed alien in a farmer's overalls. Complete with a chicken, and a pitchfork.
Ah... Those were the days.
Then he stopped and stared for a long time at a particular page, one that brought back memories of regret. Memories he wish he could fix with the help of 7 magical jewelries.
But he knew it was wrong.
He took one last look at his sketch of the previous Team Miraculous before closing the sketchbook.
Alya: I'm Alya. Just an every day normal girl and devoted follower to all things superhero. On the first day in my new school, I became a SUPERHERO! I got superpowers, save the day, and fight bad guys. Like those evil Butterflies.
Rena Rouge: Hawk Moth!
Mariposa: You can call me Mariposa.
Alya: The downside is, I can't tell anyone about my secret sacred duty. Not even my best friend.
Marinette: Rena Rouge, is just awesome!
Alya: Who also happens to be my biggest fan.
Queen Bee: Excuse me?
Alya: Sorry. Our biggest fan. Did I mention I'm part of a team? You wouldn't believe the amazing things she posts about us online. It's too bad she'll never find out the girl behind the fox' mask. But whether in trouble or out of trouble... I'll always be there for her.