Lazuli and Dragoon arrived in the sublevel of the Agreste Manor. Betterfly, Claw Noir, Ladybug, and Nino were there to greet them. As they arrived, Alya closed the portal before the Kamiko left her and she changed back to normal.
"Thank you both for coming so quickly. Why did you change Miraculous though?" Betterfly asked.
While Dragoon explained the logic behind the swap, Lazuli pulled out the surprises she had for the other holders of the group.
"Nino, Alya. I know you don't know me in this world like you do in the other. But I brought something for each of you to borrow. You must protect them and give them back when it's time for me to leave again." Lazuli said as she took out two small boxes. She noticed that Betterfly was giving her an odd look. "If you are worried about me using the peacock, Monarch fixed it some time ago in our world."
The relief on his face was palpable. She continued.
"In my world, I am the Guardian of the Miracle Box. It is my job to pick the holders of the jewels in my charge and ensure they are being used for good. It is my responsibility to ensure the heroes have what they need in the field to succeed as well. The Supreme has failed in this mission. I will see him brought down and his Miracle Box given to a deserving person."
She handed the boxes to Nino and Alya who opened them.
"Nino and Alya, these are the Miraculous of the Fox and Turtle, which I have borrowed from my versions of yourselves. You will used them for the greater good. When you mission is complete and the Supreme is defeated, you will return the Miraculous to me. Can I trust you?"
Both nodded and donned the jewels, manifesting their Kwamis.
Dragoon spoke up now. "Having a miraculous is a big responsibility. You must also be sure the jewel does not fall into the hands of the Supreme's minions."
They both nodded again and departed to speak with their new partners.
Now, Lazuli took out packets of macrons, camembert, and other snacks with multiple colors on them.
"These are power ups. I'll go over each with you. When you consume one or throw it to your Kwami, your powers will be increased with the effect." She went over them all, especially the space power up. She figured this one would be the most important for their use and brought plenty of those. Dragoon demonstrated with an aquatic power up so they got the idea.
He swallowed the blue cheese and called. "Power up!"
"I see." Betterfly examined the power ups. "I see why the Supreme did not hand these out to us."
"If he even bothered learning how to make it." Dragoon grumbled.
Lazuli shook her head. "No, I am certain he did. If he took the time to learn how to put blocks on the wish, then he likely also learned most if not all that is in the book. That will put us at a disadvantage."
Betterfly nodded. "Well, we will set you two up with rooms. You alright to bunk with your alterative selves?"
Both nodded. "We should likely avoid revealing ourselves to each other, for the time being." Lazuli said. "At least Dragoon and myself, anyways."
Betterfly nodded. "I don't mind so much if you learn my identity. I suspect with an evil Butterfly, it must be necessary to keep secrets."
Lazuli laughed gently. "Remind me to tell you about our adventures, later. A lot has changed since your visit. But wow, does world traveling take it out of you. How did you two manage to do so much damage last time feeling like this?"
Ladybug wrapped an arm around her and lead her off to their shared room. "I know what you mean. Having your life on the line is a big motivation. Here, let's get you a nap and then we can discuss our attack plan."
*Into- the-Reverse-World*
Marinette did feel much better after a nap. She knew they did not have time to waste though so she got up after just two hours. The other Marinette, who she had taken to calling Nette in her head, was sitting on the bed across from her.
"Hey, welcome back." Nette said, with a faint smile.
"Thanks, how are you doing?" Marinette could no longer see the traces of black lines on Nette's face that had shown she had dying before.
"No, your assistance and that Cure erased the damage I was inflicting on myself. I'm no longer fighting the timer, so I won't get hurt like that again."
Marinette pursed her lips as Dusuu came over to snuggle up to her. "I should tell you, Dragoon and I got our full powers recently. So we can safely use our powers as many times as needed."
Nette was quiet for a moment. "Do you think it was having to deal with that villain all the time? It forced you to grow up?"
Marinette nodded. "Yes. I might still be in body a child, my mind and responsibilities are certainly those of an adult. I put the good of my city on the line each day before myself."
Nette nodded. "Perhaps it will happen to me and Claw, then. Come on, we need to debrief you."
They headed out after transforming, and Lazuli was regretful for the nap. She saw the crater where downtown Paris once was and Betterfly revealed he could reverse the damage with a Kamiko, but not after a week. They had seven days to take down the Supreme and reverse the hurt Paris had suffered.
She felt Dragoon's hand on her shoulder. "Hey, we needed the rest. We would not have been any good to them if we had crashed after changing worlds. Let's do what we can."
Lazuli nodded. "Here is the thing. I think I know where the Supreme is. If he is who I think he is, he was my master back in my world. I believe he is Wang Fu."
Dragoon was the only one of them that had known the man and he looked rightly shaken.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"Maybe not. But I need to be sure. Does he had any minions running around we can speak to?"
Betterfly, Ladybug, and Claw Noir were regrading her carefully.
"Yes, one or two I can think of. I can see the point of trying to talk." Betterfly admitted. "But his faithful are quite known to acts of violence." Ladybug and Claw Noir winched at this remark.
Lazuli smiled. "This is why I have a little plan."
*Into-the Reverse-World*
Lazuli sat on the rooftop, overlooking Paris. Dragoon, Rena Rogue, and Carapace were concealed among the crowd in civilian forms, they faces covered with hoods and sunglasses. Ladybug was going to be their bait, trusting in Lazuli to have her back.
Lazuli wasn't alone either. She had used her charm bracelet from Adrien to create a Senti-being that she had dubbed Omni-tool. The small pen could transform into anything that she might need to get the job done. Dragoon had seemed conflicted when he saw the braclelt.
"I borrowed it from Marinette before coming." She lied, hating having to do it. "She has done such ingenious things with it on, it has to have absorbed some of her creativity. At least, that was my line of thinking."
Betterfly nodded, still not completely comfortable with someone using the Peacock. "I was told that the closer bond someone has with an item, the better Senti-being that is created from the connection."
She hopped Omni-Tool would be that useful. She willed the pen to change and it became a watch that she attached to her wrist. Then she waited.
Ladybug was walking along a rooftop when a blur of black and yellow hit the rooftop beside her. She could hear her other self moan in terror at who had appeared before her.
"Hello, Shadybug." Came Chloe's voice from the yellow and black villain standing across from Ladybug. A cruel look played across her features. "I've been looking for you."
*Into-The-Reverse*
'Of course, it had to be Chloe' were the thoughts that went through Ladybug's mind as the villain appeared. Why the Supreme allowed an identity revealed villain to keep her miraculous, she would never know.
"Did you think the Master would not realize you turned rouge, taking the two most powerful miraculous with you? This is why he did not heal you both of the strain on your bodies. Your worthless, utterly worthless."
Ladybug scowled. "And you're saying your not, given you are free of marks?"
Chloe scoffed. "Naturally. I have never failed a mission for the Supreme. Even revealing myself suited his goals. Now, hand over your Miraculous and I might just allow you to continue breathing."
Without further warning, Chloe launched herself at Ladybug. The spotted heroine took a step back and her yo-yo shot up, hitting Chloe in the face and sending her crashing into a chimney. The blonde villain was only down for a moment before getting back to her feet.
They were engaged in a mid-range fight, both keeping the other at a distance with their corded weapon. Ladybug however, was fighting not to win but for a goal. She moved Chloe right into a spot that she and Lazuli had picked out.
*Into-the-Reverse*
Lazuli watched the fight proceed until Chloe was right in the spot she had chosen earlier. She took out the wrench and loosened the bolts on the water tower. She hoped Chloe heard the creak as the tower fell, slamming the villain with several gallons of water. Ladybug took that chance below and used her yo-yo to try and take the Miraculous from Chloe. The villain jumped back, sopping wet but her Miraculous still in place.
"No… no you will not have my Miraculous. I see you have a new friend. I will withdrawal for now. Next time, you will face me and the other enforcers together. See you then, Shadybug."
Chloe departed across the rooftops. Lazuli saw Ladybug about to respond and then thought better of it. She dropped down to stand next to her other self.
"Did you plant the bug?" Lazuli asked.
Ladybug smiled. She had borrowed the Peacock to create the magical device and had faked the Miraculous stealing attempt to put the small creature in Chloe's hair. It would nestle down on her scalp and become completely undetectable to anyone but the one holding it's Amok.
"it was like taking candy from a baby." Ladybug said firmly. Lazuli grimaced.
"Please tell me you didn't do that as a villain."
"Ok, I didn't do that as a villain."
"I don't believe you. Come on, lets get back to base."
The two of them went and found a safe place to change back and went in disguise back to the Agreste Manor.
A/N: Another chapter down. I hope you enjoyed this entry. See you in July for the next chapter. Please consider checking out my other fics on this site and my original work over on Royal Road. You can also watch me stream games or watch my backlog at the twitch and Youtube links I'm including as well.
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