Miraculous: Rise of the Dark Moth

Interlude 1: The Origin of Phantombug

Synopsis: This is the story of how Phantombug, the akumatized clone of Ladybug was created in the Akuma Army. Upon creation, Dark Moth had convinced her that she is the TRUE savior of Paris and the real holder of the Miraculous Earrings. She then starts to hone her powers to prepare for the day they will clash.

"This is how it happened. This is how I, Phantombug, the REAL Ladybug came to be..." Phantombug spoke at the moment Dark Mills had transformed into Dark Moth by using the Butterfly and Peacock Miraculous in unity in Chapter 4.

"Ladybug, Cat Noir, it is time you see what the new Hawk Moth can do. With these perfect copies of the Miraculous, I make my wish; to create Ladybug's greatest foe of all!" Dark Mills shouted as he put in the Phantom Ruby, an Akuma, and the strands of Marinette/Ladybug's hair from her pigtails inside a chamber. "Whoa. Big Boss ain't joshing. He means business this time." Lady Wifi spoke as Bubbler nodded.

Dark Moth then starts the process of creating "Ladybug's Greatest Foe of All" using the DNA of Marinette Dupain-Cheng aka Ladybug from his battle with her and Cat Noir when he was Dark Mills. He also inserts the Phantom Ruby and the data he got from his fight with the two hairs, showing the silhouette similar to Ladybug, but her eyes were closed. The scene fades to a certain memory of Ladybug, but the scene was dark, but there were voice overs between Marinette and Master Fu in that memory.

Marinette: Are there some things you haven't told me about yet?

Master Fu: What do you want to know?

Marinette: What would happen if someone possessed Cat Noir's ring and Ladybug's earrings, Master?

Master Fu: Then the bearer could use them conjointly. And with a special invocation, obtain the ultimate power. The one that shapes reality.

Marinette: Ultimate power? Shape reality?! Wait, what does that mean?

Master Fu: Well, basically, it can make any one wish come true.

Marinette: Wow! That's amazing! But why don't we use it, then? We can ask for so many good things, like, end all wars, or eradicate poverty, or beat Hawk Moth.

Master Fu: Universe must always stay in balance. For every action, there is a reaction. For every wish, a price to pay in return. Had your robotic friend asked to become a real boy, someone would have lost his humanity in return.

Marinette: I hadn't thought of that.

Master Fu: That's why Ladybug and Cat Noir must never lose their magic jewels. The universe's balance is at stake.

Marinette: Neither Hawk Moth nor anyone else will ever get their hands on the Miraculous, Master. I promise!

Bubbles form in the chamber as Phantombug opened her eyes as the camera goes to her P.O.V. "Where am I? What am I doing here? This... this is not the same... Everything I saw before just a dream? Why?" She asked herself as she closed her eyes again.

The next day, Phantombug was sleeping inside her glass chamber, and the Phantom Ruby then was reacting to her as her heart began to race as the Akuma Army were seeing that she was awakening. "Those voices... They're outside... Where I must be..." She said mimicking Mewtwo's lines from Pokémon: The First Movie. All of a sudden, the glass around her chamber started to break.

"Big Boss, the clone of Ladybug is awake!" Lady Wifi spoke to Dark Moth. "Quiet! It's time we spoke with our new friend." Dark Moth smiled. "Friend?" The akumatized clone of Ladybug spoke. "Yes. It is about time that we had a Ladybug in this army of us." Dark Moth spoke as he points at a poster of Ladybug. "That is Ladybug, the defender of Paris. From her DNA and the Phantom Ruby, we have created you, Phantombug." He spoke. "Phantombug...?" She asked about her name. "But she's wearing red with black spots, while I am in black with red spots." Phantombug said about her appearance. "At least we tell each other apart." Antibug, the akumatized version of Chloe Bourgeois spoke.

"Am I just a copy? Nothing but Ladybug's shadow?" Phantombug asked. "Is she... my sister?" She asked Dark Moth. "Not necessarily. You are the original Ladybug, and you are better than that one who is pretending to be." Dark Moth said. "How so?" Phantombug asked. "You were created to be even stronger than her as the defender of Paris. However, Paris seems to favor her instead of you, even Cat Noir, your partner." He spoke. "My partner?" Phantombug asked. "Yeah. The two of you do seem made for each other. Even though I as a machine don't understand emotions." Robostus stated.

"So, I'm a fake Ladybug, and everyone sees her as a hero instead of me." Phantombug said. "Yes. But here's something even you don't know." Dark Moth said as he whispers into her ear. "She called you weak, but you are stronger than that pretender." Dark Moth spoke. "So, because of her, Paris... cares nothing for me. She called me weak." Phantombug said frowning as she looks at her hands as they turn into fists. She then was given a Phantom Ruby prototype from Dark Moth and places it in her yo-yo. "Is this my purpose? A Ladybug that's unlovable? A laboratory specimen? This cannot be my destiny!" She roared as she began to unleash psychic waves with the Phantom Ruby prototype as it alters reality.

"What's happening?" Phantombug asked as the Akuma Army began to float because of the Ruby's power. "You hold the power to alter reality. Something even the fake Ladybug can't possess. But we can help you hone this power." Dark Moth spoke. "Help me then. Help me master this power so I can prove I am not weak. That I am the original Ladybug." Phantombug spoke. "Perfect." Dark Moth smiled evilly as she was taken to another area in Dark Moth's base.

"Let us begin, shall we?" Dark Moth asked as he sends in the Pharaoh against her. "Anubis, bring me mummies!" Pharaoh shouted as he shoots laser beams at the test dummies and they turn into mummies to go against Phantombug.

She then uses the Phantom Ruby's power to turn the mummies against the Pharaoh. "So this is my power. It manipulates others' reality too." Phantombug smirks. Next, Animan then sends a horde of animals against her, until the Phantom Ruby makes the animals stop and hover in the air. "I am in control now." Phantombug said. Next, Vanisher was going to go for her earrings, but Phantombug creates an afterimage and takes her down.

Robostus goes against Phantombug at Hawk Moth's lair, the hidden Observatory in the Agreste Mansion. But with Dark Moth taking over, he activates the missile security system. "Intrusion! Intrusion! Elimination mode activated!" The missiles began to fire at Phantombug, but she uses the Phntom Ruby in her yo-yo to phase through them, and send the missiles at Robostus, who was panicking and flying away.

The Mime then goes against Phantombug next, and she began to seal him in an invisible box, trapping him. Finally, Gigantitan goes against Phantombug, but she uses her power to create a lollipop to keep him at bay. "Lollipop!" He shouted eating the giant lollipop. "Perfect..." Dark Moth smiled as he went down to her level.

"Excellent work, Phantombug. Now when you are ready to confront the fake Ladybug, all of Paris will know who is real and who is not." Dark Moth said. "Of course, Dark Moth. That faker is the real weakling. Not me." Phantombug said as she approached the poster of Ladybug.

"Be prepared." She said ripping the poster of shreds as Dark Moth laughed for Ladybug's future defeat.