What do you get when a headstrong bee meets an old and stiff turtle? Well, we will find out as this will be the chapter where Chloe finally meets Fu.
Valedonte: I understand now. I just wanted to add some edge, make Chloe have a little breakdown before she started her rebuilding of herself. Thank you.
Chapter 6: The Bee and The Turtle
There are very few things in this life that truly scare Chloe Bourgeois, not that she would ever admit it, but there are. Being tossed and falling from high buildings. Wearing 80's fashion disasters. Disappointing her mother (though she is quickly getting over it). But the worst possible fear is losing her Kwami, unfortunately for her that was what said Kwami, was indirectly planning to do.
"Tell me again, Pollen, why…THE HECK DID YOU AGREE FOR ME TO MEET THIS MASTER OF YOURS?!" Chloe exclaimed, standing in the middle of her room.
It was a couple of days after the whole Sandboy battle, that Pollen informed her about her conversation with the guardian of the Miracle Box (just those words already drained the colour out of Chloe's face). He wanted to have a conversation with her and this was ringing all the warning bells in her head.
Pollen sensing her holder's unease, decided to comfort her. "Chloe, I assure you that you have nothing to worry about." That sentence almost convinced Chloe that Pollen was insane. "Pollen, is your memory that terrible or are you that dense? What do you mean 'I have nothing to worry about?' I literally stole a miraculous from the freaking guardian!" Chloe shouted.
Pollen only smiled, making Chloe more confused and angry. "What?! Is my pain somehow funny to you?!" She asked pointedly, ready to strangle the little pest.
She shook her head, "No Chloe, I am smiling because a few weeks ago, you would have taken a situation like this with a boastful attitude and tripped over your own two feet. I am glad to see that you are taking this situation so seriously."
Chloe gritted her teeth. "Pollen, I am not looking to skip down memory lane. I want to know how I can escape this so-called meeting." That seemed to make Pollen alert.
"Chloe, you have to go to this meeting. Attending this meeting with the guardian could deeply benefit you as you become one of Paris' protectors; something which you have always wanted. Surely convincing and having the master at your corner is better than fearing that your miraculous might be swiped at a moment's notice by either Ladybug or Chat Noir?" She explained, seeming to pacify the nervous and angry blonde, so much so that she slumped back onto her bed with a huff.
"Why does the guardian want to meet me now? After my weeks of being a hero?" She asked.
"Well, Chloe, it could be due to the fact that you have done wonderful works while you were Queen Bee. It could also be the fact that I spoke highly of you in front of the guardian and Ladybug, as they were trying to convince her about leaving you." 'I am seriously rethinking my whole number one fan position towards Ladybug now,' Chloe thought to herself.
"Wait a minute? You talked about me to them? What did you say?!" She asked, her tone more surprised than curious.
"I only told them what I deemed true. Nothing more, nothing less," that did nothing to quell the nervousness in the pits of the blonde's heart. "Whatever…I guess I have to prepare for my date with the devil." That comment got her a disapproving stare from her Kwami, but she didn't care. At the very least, her gift of tongue would be her best weapon in her arsenal, if all else fails.
Chloe and Pollen soon reached their destination: a massage parlor. Chloe had her hair down as usual, and her attire consisted of a pair of black trousers and a yellow long-sleeved shirt, with a black beret to best conceal her jewel. She subconsciously stroked the cap, as if trying to ensure the Miraculous was safe. Pollen, seeing this, floated over to gently move her hand.
"My Queen, please do relax. I assure you that you have nothing to fear," she said in a calming tone.
Chloe took a deep breath. "Firstly, Pollen, no 'my queen' business, remember? And secondly, I am not afraid anymore. I just want to get this show over with." She reached up and removed her cap, showing off her Miraculous—a sign that said she was not afraid to wear this jewel without shame. It was hers. When she went to knock on the door…
"Come in," a calm old voice called from the other side. After hearing that, they entered. Chloe looked around and found herself in a serene and dimly lit room filled with soft music playing in the background. At the center of the room sat an elderly man, dressed in simple robes, his eyes twinkling with wisdom as he observed Chloe's entrance.
"Ah, you've arrived," the older man said as he walked into the room, carrying a tray with two cups and a teapot. There was a green turtle Kwami with him—Wayzz.
"Sorry we're late, Master Fu," said Pollen.
Master Fu just nodded. "You must be Chloé Bourgeois," he said, his gaze landing on Chloé. It was piercing, but Chloé met his stare unfazed.
"I am," she said shortly.
"I would say it's good to meet you, but honestly, we could have met under better circumstances," he said, kneeling across from them.
Chloé narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering what that was supposed to mean.
"What do you mean by 'better circumstances'?" Chloe inquired, her tone guarded yet curious.
Master Fu poured tea into the cups, his movements deliberate and practiced. "I mean no disrespect, Chloe, but the circumstances surrounding your acquisition of the Bee Miraculous were less than ideal."
Chloe bristled at the reminder of her past actions, but she maintained her composure.
Master Fu took the opportunity to thoroughly scan the girl. The Miraculous was shamelessly displayed on her head, and Chloe could sense the man's stare linger too closely on her Miraculous. She placed a protective hand over the jewel.
"Okay, let's cut the crap and talk about why you want to meet me," Chloe said, her voice tinged with impatience. Master Fu regarded her with a mixture of surprise and amusement at her directness.
"Young lady, I believe you have no grounds to act so rudely, especially given the circumstances that brought you here," Wayzz interjected, narrowing his eyes at Chloe.
"Very well," Master Fu responded, setting the teapot down gently. "I have summoned you here because of your recent actions of stealing the Bee Miraculous and your unauthorized use of it."
Master Fu's words hung heavy in the air, and Chloe felt a pang of guilt wash over her. But she did not let it show and struck back.
"Yes, I did hold onto the Miraculous. The same Miraculous that would have clearly been lost or stolen by someone else, let's say, even less inclined to come here," she said.
Fu raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying that you were right in holding onto the Miraculous, even when you had no business with it in the first place? Doesn't that sound quite pretentious of you?"
Chloe's jaw tightened at the accusation, but she refused to back down. "I did what I had to do to protect it. Ladybug and Chat Noir were busy dealing with the Akuma attack at the time. Who knows what could have happened if the Bee Miraculous fell into the wrong hands?"
Master Fu studied her for a moment before nodding slowly. "Your intentions may have been noble, but your actions were reckless and could have endangered yourself and others. The Miraculous are not toys to be taken lightly."
Chloe bristled at the implication that she hadn't considered the consequences of her actions. "I know that! I am not some stupid blonde, old man!" That remark almost garnered a verbal lashing from Wayzz, but he stopped at the master's subtle gesture. "I understand very well that this is not some game. I have done nothing but keep this secret and Pollen safe," she said, taking the opportunity to hold Pollen in her hands.
Master Fu regarded her with a stern gaze, but there was also a hint of understanding in his eyes. "I can see that you are passionate about protecting Pollen and the Miraculous. But passion alone is not enough to erase my initial understanding about you. You have quite the reputation around, Chloe Bourgeois, one that doesn't make me all that confident in your ideals and whether you had good intentions."
Again, the guilt of her actions, her reputation, and the reasons for her being here quickly ran back to her mind. She could not help but really think about how the only reason for doing this was because she wanted her mother to adore her. Realizing that an epic fail sooner, if she had gone through with it, would she have-
"Master, I believe Chloe is the perfect holder of the Bee Miraculous," Pollen's words, so sure and without any hint of lies, caused Chloe to look up at her in disbelief.
Fu simply shook his head, "Pollen, seeing that this girl is your master, does prove your point to heavily lean to bia-"
"It is not biasness, Master. It is the truth. My holder has proven that she is not naive to the dangers and importance of being a holder. Yes, she is not perfect, but neither was any of the holders before…but she is different than any other ones I have had the pleasure to serve." That seemed to catch everyone's attention now.
"Pollen…" she trailed off, unable to find the words.
Pollen's eyes moved to the Master's, looking into Chloe's. Telling her that she meant every word of it before looking straight back at the man.
"Although your speech is touching, Pollen. I cannot simply look past the situation of-"
"You know what, who are you to sit there and judge me with that fake holier-than-thou attitude?" Chloe stood up, looking down at the Master with a glare now. " know I have a reputation for being a straight-up bitch." That got some wide-eyed responses.
"Chloe, you don't have to-" "No, Pollen, I've had enough. I mean, this whole thing is ridiculous! Yes, I stole the Miraculous, but I have chosen to do some good with it, unlike some people, namely Hawk Moth. Who, mind I remind you, Gramps, are the whole reason Chat Noir and Ladybug are out there saving Paris, right now!" Everyone was just silent at the moment.
Chloe took a moment to gather her thoughts. "I am the new holder of the Bee Miraculous, and I will fight for Paris, with or without your or Ladybug's permission. And if you want to take back the Miraculous, then I say, you are welcome to try to pry it from my cold hands!" As if to emphasize her point, she took a fighting stance, daring him to try.
The tension in the room was palpable as Chloe stood defiantly, her gaze locked onto Master Fu's. The elderly guardian remained composed, his expression unreadable as he observed her.
"Chloe, please," Pollen's voice chimed in, her tone pleading for calm. "Let's not escalate this further."
But Chloe was resolute. She refused to back down, her determination burning bright within her. She had fought too hard to prove herself, to earn the right to wield the Bee Miraculous, and she wouldn't let anyone undermine her newfound sense of purpose.
Master Fu regarded her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers as if delving into her very soul. Then, to Chloe's surprise, he let out a soft sigh, his demeanor softening slightly.
"You are certainly a force to be reckoned with, Chloe Bourgeois," he said, his voice carrying a weight of wisdom and understanding. "Your passion and conviction are undeniable."
Chloe blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected shift in tone. She had braced herself for a confrontation, but Master Fu's words seemed to disarm her, if only for a moment.
"You certainly remind me of someone I knew, who made some pretty big mistakes in his past," Master said, guilt ran across his face for just a moment. "But," he continued, his gaze turning solemn once more, "with great power comes great responsibility. The Bee Miraculous is not just a tool for heroism—it is a sacred trust, a duty to protect and uphold the values of justice and compassion."
Chloe nodded slowly, absorbing his words. Despite her initial defiance, she couldn't deny the truth in what he was saying. She had taken on a great responsibility by becoming a Miraculous holder, and she knew she had to live up to that responsibility, no matter the challenges that lay ahead.
"I understand," she said, her voice steady and determined. "I may not have started this journey on the best terms, but I swear that I will do everything in my power to prove myself worthy of the Bee Miraculous."
Master Fu regarded her with a nod of approval, a glimmer of respect shining in his eyes. "Very well, Chloe Bourgeois. I will give you the chance to prove yourself. But remember, the path of a hero is not an easy one. It will test you in ways you cannot imagine. Being the queen bee also comes with its own attributes, such as: Strength, harmony and the insight to know when to act and lead. You are working with a hive now, and although there is no specific leader, you will also have to be there for your team as well. Do you understand?"
Chloe squared her shoulders, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. She had made her choice, and she would stand by it, no matter what.
"Yes I do," she said, her voice firm with resolve. "Besides, I am the one and only Queen Bee for a reason. This is my destiny," she smirked at the man. Master Fu simply nodded, "Very well then, that is all for now."
With that, Chloe turned on her heel and strode out of the room, Pollen on her tail. When she had taken enough steps away from the door, her knees buckled and she fell with a huff.
As Chloe collapsed onto the ground, Pollen fluttered anxiously around her, concern etched into her tiny features.
"Chloe!" she flew over to her, "are you alright?!" Pollen asked, her voice rose, laced with worry. As she inspected her.
Chloe let out a breath, feeling the weight of the confrontation finally catching up to her. "Yeah, I'm okay," she replied, though her voice betrayed her exhaustion.
Pollen hovered closer, her gentle presence offering a sense of comfort to Chloe in her moment of vulnerability. "That was quite the encounter," she remarked softly.
Chloe chuckled weakly. "Tell me about it. I thought I was gonna have to fight that old man for a minute there. Which I was going to do. I am not giving you up without a fight."
Pollen smiled proudly. "Well, you certainly held your own. I am proud of you, Chloe. You showed him that you're not someone to be underestimated. I told you that you would do great."
Chloe, getting back on her feet, her sense of pride returning. "Well obviously I did. I hope Ladybug and Chat Noir are ready, for their queen is here to stay," with smirk, she placed her beret back on her head and left. Pollen fondly shaking her head at her holder.
Back in the room, Fu remained deep in thought, his expression unreadable as he mulled over their conversation. He had expected their meeting to be confrontational, but he hadn't anticipated Chloe's unwavering determination and defiance.
Wayzz could not remain silent no longer. "Master, was it wise to entrust a miraculous with that girl, given everything she has done? Who's to say that she won't just use it selfishly?" He said wearily, not so fond of the girl and her attitude so far.
Master Fu sighed softly, his gaze fixed on a distant point as he considered Wayzz's question. After a moment of contemplation, he turned his attention back to the small turtle Kwami.
"Wayzz, I understand your concerns," Master Fu began, his tone measured and thoughtful. "Chloe Bourgeois may have made mistakes in the past, but she has also shown a deep sense of loyalty and determination. She is not without flaws, but then again, neither are any of us."
Wayzz nodded, though his expression remained skeptical. "But what if she succumbs to her darker impulses? What if she decides to use the Bee Miraculous for her own gain?"
Master Fu offered the Kwami a reassuring smile. "We cannot predict the future, Wayzz. All we can do is have faith in Chloe and guide her along the right path. Besides, I believe that Chloe's heart is in the right place. She may have a tough exterior, but deep down, she wants to do good."
Wayzz considered Master Fu's words for a moment before nodding in understanding. "I suppose you're right, Master. We can only hope for the best and support Chloe as she navigates her journey as a Miraculous holder."
Master Fu nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Wayzz. And let us not forget that every hero deserves a chance at redemption. Chloe may surprise us yet. She has Ladybug and Chat Noir on her side too."
With that, Master Fu and Wayzz lapsed into a companionable silence, their thoughts turning to the challenges and adventures that lay ahead for Chloe and the other Miraculous holders. Despite the uncertainty of the future, they both held onto the hope that Chloe would rise to the occasion and prove herself worthy of the Bee Miraculous.
Author's Notes:
Yeah, this was short because I didn't want something too dramatic. Fu realized something within Chloe, something he could also see in himself. He remembers when he made that sentimonster, that end up eating the whole monastery; that is a mistake that won't leave him any time soon. He understood that Chloe is flawed, but who isn't?
Fu will be keeping an eye on her. Chloe is still Chloe, whether it's still a good or bad thing, it's up in the air. But what I can assure you is that she will add a bit of sass and mouth to the team.
I am glad that she is an official holder now. Ladybug will be stunned but will have to accept it, while Chat will have another lady on the team to silly flirt with, lol.
Thank you guys once again for reading my work. Please read and comment, I want to see all my fans on the review board.