Miraculous: Rise of the Dark Moth

Chapter 7: Phantombug

Synopsis: After rescuing Ladybug from being imprisoned in the Ancient Dungeons, the Miraculous Resistance manages to get their beloved city of Paris back slowly. But Ladybug confronts her "evil duplicate" a second time and she was determined that she is the original holder of the Ladybug Miraculous.

"Ladybug, finding you alive is the best news that we've ever had in months." Kim spoke to Ladybug via the communicator even though Marinette had de-transformed. "May I ask why you're with Alya and the others?" Marinette as Ladybug asked as P.J. gives Inky the Panda Bear kwami a bamboo snack to recharge. "Ever since you were beaten, the people of Paris were rallying against Dark Moth and the one who... well, I hesitate to say "looks like you"." Max explained. "Yeah, and some of us had named this Resistance after the Miraculous heroes as P.J. was able to find this 'Miracle Box' and gave us our Miraculouses to give us a fighting chance." Alya explained. "What?! P.J., how did you?!" Ladybug shouts. "Calm down. P.J. felt guilty that his shadow took over Paris by exposing Hawk Moth and Mayura. So, now he wants to bring Paris to how it was, and so are you and us." Ivan spoke in P.J.'s defense. "I see." Marinette spoke.

"Yeah, but we got bad news to tell, dudette. Our intel tells us Dark Moth's got a weapons factory at the school, pumping out munitions for his war effort." Kim spoke. "What?! They're turning the school into a factory? That's even lower for him. He's even got some of the other students as slaves there." Alix said. "Exactly. We can't take out Dark Moth's home base at the Champs-Élysées if he's got a factory supplying him." Kagami said. "Yeah. Look Ladybug, I know you just got back but we're kinda spread thin. Can you take care of this?" Nino asked.

"We need that factory at the school destroyed. Take the rookie with you." Kim said to Ladybug. "You sure? The Panda was shaking like a leaf the whole time in the Ancient Dungeon." Ivan spoke as P.J. looks down. "That's because of its ancient history being in the one of Catacombs of Paris. The Akuma Army made it into a graveyard of torture. It was kind of cold there. The factory's nice and warm." Mylene stated. "It will be once it's burned down. Ladybug, take the lead. And Paint Panda, just be sure you're learning from her." Kim spoke to me as Inky finished his bamboo snack. "Don't worry, guys. I got six months of payback I have to spend. This'll be a good start!" Ladybug said.

The train then stops to where they are said to take out the factory at the school. "It's a shame that the school used to be such a nice place to learn." P.J. said. "But now it's turned into a slave factory for Dark Moth." Tikki said. "We'll get it all back, Tikki." Marinette said. "Yeah. Time to transform." P.J. said.

Cue Transformation sequences.

"Tikki, spots on! Ha!" Marinette shouted, transforming into Ladybug as Tikki warps into her earrings. "Inky, let's draw on!" P.J. shout as Inky warps into his Paintball Miraculous as he become Paint le Panda.

Cue Miraculous transition.

"The enemy's factory is inside the school. I'll send reinforcements if you guys can't handle it." Kim spoke on the communicator. "No need! The two of us can do it! We'll trash the factory, and make a path for the other students to be free. Right, Paint Panda?" Ladybug asked as they make it to the factory. Paint Panda had an idea as he began to draw a rocket. "Hang on!" He shouted as he started to blast off with Ladybug on the rocket as we go inside the factory. Once inside, we manage to get to the core and destroy the factory. The Francoise Dupont High School is then returned to normal.

"Okay, the school is back to normal." Ladybug spoke. "This is Alya. Something's attacking the Pont de Arts bridge, and Ali- I mean, Bunnyx is fighting her... or it, or whatever." Alya explained. "Guys, it's the one who beat Ladybug! She's here!" Bunnyx shouted as there were sounds of the Phantom Ruby in the background. "Is that who I think it is?" Ladybug spoke hearing those sounds. "It's her! Time to find out what her beef is with me. I'm looking forward to having my second round with that faker pretending to be me!" She said. "Just be careful, Mari... Ladybug." Paint Panda said.

"Hope you'll be okay this time, girl." Alya said silently. C'mon, Nino, we gotta provide backup for Ladybug when she faces her again." Alya said to her boyfriend as they go somewhere in the Treehouse to transform in secret. "But uh, won't we get beaten too? Besides, you almost said that Ladybug's name was Mari..." Nino said. "Nino!" Alya shouted, interrupting him.

"We have to keep the supergirl's identity a secret, or the whole world will come to an end." Alya said looking at him in the eye. "But the whole world's already at an end. It couldn't be any worse if you told me, right?" Nino asked nervously. "I'm serious. Keep it at a hush-hush. Top secret." Alya said gesturing her lips to be zipped. "Okay. I won't tell." Nino said as Alya whispers into his ear. "You're kidding." He spoke. "Remember what I said." Alya said. "Okay, okay." Nino said as he and Alya put on their respective Miraculouses as their kwamis, Wayzz and Trixx come to their masters.

"Hello, my friends." Wayzz said to Nino and Alya. "Looks like the world needs us again, doesn't it?" Trixx asked. "Like you never believe. We gotta backup Ladybug." Alya said.

Cue Rena Rouge and Carapace transformation sequences.

"Trixx, let's pounce!" Alya shouted as Trixx goes inside the Fox Miraculous, necklace and she becomes Rena Rouge. "Wayzz, Shell on!" Nino shouted as Wayzz goes inside of the Turtle Miraculous, the bracelet, as he transforms into Carapace.They then leave the Treehouse as they make it to the Pont de Arts bridge to help Bunnyx.

Cue Miraculous transition.

At the Pont de Arts bridge, there was some damage caused by Bunnyx's fight with the evil Ladybug.

"This wasn't part of my agenda, but I'm always happy to crush another hero. It'll teach the rabble to get in line. To show there is no hope." The evil Ladybug spoke to Bunnyx. "Doesn't anyone but you believe in your lies? You're worse than Lila!" Bunnyx shout as they clash. During the struggle, the evil Ladybug drops a gem similar to the Phantom Ruby as the evil Ladybug uses her yo-yo and turns it into a mace, sending Bunnyx to a wall. "Seeing is belieiving." The evil Ladybug said about to crush Bunnyx until Ladybug arrives to deflect her yo-yo. "Tag out, Bunnyx. I'll take it from here." Ladybug said as Rena Rouge and Carapace arrive to pick up Bunnyx.

"Well, well, look who's come back from the dead. The pretender who wears the Ladybug Miraculous. And what's this I smell? Oh, that's right. Fear. Good to see I left an impression since our last bout." The evil Ladybug said as her theme in the style of Infinite's theme from Sonic Forces played. She looked like Ladybug, but her suit was black and red spots all over with the Phantom Ruby in her yo-yo.

"Nope. That's not fear. I jumped above place to place to get here. And you haven't left an impression. I don't even know anything about you. Even your name, Faker." Ladybug said.

"Fine. I suppose you can call me, "Phantombug". And the real faker I see is you since I happen to be the original Ladybug. Dark Moth said so." Phantombug said towards her counterpart.

"See Phantombug, we're getting to know each other. What's your favorite color? What's your favorite macaroon to eat? What's the source of your power?" Ladybug asked as Rena Rouge and Carapace take Bunnyx in their arms. "You can skip the first two questions, actually." Ladybug said.

"The source is my power is of no interest to you. Rather I plan to use it to destroy you." Phantombug frowned as Ladybug looks at the Phantom Ruby. "C'mon you have to tell me. I insist." Ladybug said. "Your insistence is futile as your attempts to prove you're the real thing." Phantombug said as she takes her Phantom Ruby enhanced yo-yo, turning it into a hammer mace.

"Whoa. We don't have to fight." Ladybug said putting her hands up. "Oh, but that's the difference 'tween you and me. I just want to." Phantombug said activating the Phantom Ruby and smacks Ladybug with her yo-yo as they fight elsewhere.

"Still going, are we? Let our second match between us begin. Let's see how you last this time." Phantombug spoke as Ladybug began to fight against her evil duplicate. "Payback time at last." Ladybug spoke as she was about to use her powers. "Lucky Charm!" She shouts as the Lucky Charm becomes a Reflector.

"Please. A Reflector? How does that compare to this?! Phantom Charm!" Phantombug shouted as her Lucky Charm becomes a bazooka. Ladybug looks at her bazooka and to her Reflector. "Why not use that and find out?" She asked.

Phantombug fires her bazooka and Ladybug uses her Reflector to send the missile back at her. "Impossible! Your powers exceeded mine from our previous data..." Phantombug spoke in defeat. "Yeah! I'm the real Ladybug here, not you." Ladybug spoke to her clone. "I'll teach you to hold that tongue of yours next time we face!" Phantombug said as she hovers.

"I admit you improved your skills since last time. But you're still going to lose... to me!" Phantombug shouted sending a psychic blast against Ladybug. "Not even worth my effort to finish off this time. So long, faker." Phantombug said as she flees as Ladybug recovers. "I have to find the source of her power." Ladybug said.

"Ladybug, your earrings!" Bunnyx shouted as Ladybug looks at her earrings which were beeping as she had used her Lucky Charm. "Right. Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug shouted tossing the Reflector in the air as the damage on the Pont de Arts bridge was gone. "We'll see ya at the Treehouse." Bunnyx spoke: "Rest up, okay?" Ladybug asked as Bunnyx nods.