Chapter 9: Charade

Sometimes the truth is hard to come by, and even harder to see when it's right in front of you.

Lila is back and looks like another student has seen through her lies. What will they do and how will the whole equation differ with a new added variable?

Chapter 9: Charade

-Françoise Dupont middle school-

Miss Bustier entered the classroom, "Good morning, students. I'm sure you've all heard by now, but a certain student has come home from her recent trip and she's back in school with us again." Without needing to guess, there came the answer.

Lila sauntered in to the classroom with a big smile, "Hi, everyone," she greeted, and was met with many happy welcomes from her classmates. Well, majority.

Lila looked around and gasped, "Oh, a seat in the front row! You all remembered my hearing issue! You're such sweethearts, all of you," She cooed as she blew kisses, showing her appreciation.

'Oh please,' Chloe mentally rolled her eyes at the situation.

It was another day or so Chloe thought, as she had arrived to school, and once she entered, she realized something was off but did not really pay much mind to it. She went to her seat, alone, once again. She and Sabrina were still not talking and though she can admit that she missed her, she just didn't find it in her to reach out, even by the behest of her Kwami.

Now, she was witnessing someone that she sometime ago, realized was absolutely, FAKE!

Honestly, she can admit that she never really knew much about this Lila girl, only the stories she spun around the classroom, and even that, she never really bat an eye; the stories that she told of her adventures, were really inconsistent.

'I can't believe I fell for her lies in the past,' she was deep in thought but managed to catch sight of something that made her practically leap out of her seat.

"…found out he was allergic to it," Lila said, no doubt a lie, but she suddenly leaned in to Adrien's space, all flirty. "The best part is, since you're such an excellent student, Adrien, you'll be able to help me catch up with all the schoolwork I missed while I was traveling with my parents. Would you do that for me?"

"Not happening, Lila!" Chloe shouted, before Adrien could even reply.

Everyone was now surprised at the blonde girl's outburst. Chloe realized the scene she made and quickly tried salvage it, "I-I…meant…that Lila should get all of our help. Seeing as Adrikins is also a hot shot model and will be so busy, of course," she said, flipping her hair back.

Murmurs were going off, and Lila didn't like how Chloe was messing with her chance, for just that brief moment, it showed, before going back to her default expression. "Oh, ah…thank you, Chloe. But I don't know if I can really inconvenience others with my problems," she said in a glum expression that many of her classmates were just eating up.

Chloe stealthily concealed her eye roll. 'And yet, you wanted to inconvenience Adrien.' she scoffed.

Marinette, interjected, "Miss Bustier, why do I have to sit in the back now?"

"Do you have any trouble hearing or seeing, Marinette?" Miss Bustier inquired, for which Marinette stuttered at that. Miss Bustier looked thoughtful until her eyes rested on an open front seat. Chloe caught her eye, but didn't respond in time. "Well, since Chloe is showing some generous aspects, today. How about you take the seat beside her, since Sabrina has moved," Chloe gaped at the suggestion, but it was Marinette that responded.

"No! I mean…Ma'am, I don't think that is a good idea. Chloe and I are not exactly friends, so…" she trailed out.

Chloe piped in to that. "Yes! Marinette's not really my favourite person, either. Like, have you seen her tacky style of dressing? Quite tragic if you ask me," grandly gesturing the girl's outfit. Marinette was not really pleased at the snide comment.

Adrien stood up. "I don't really mind sitting next to Chloe. While Lila and Marinette can share." About to move.

That was immediately followed by two resounding "NO!" from the two girls and an enthusiastic "Yes!" from none other than Chloe. Adrien looked at all three girls, quite confused.

Lila took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with faux sorrow. "I am so sorry, everyone. I didn't realize my return would create such a stir. It's clear that I've been a distraction and made things difficult for all of you." She paused, then turned her gaze to Chloe and Marinette. "And I must apologize especially to Chloe and Marinette. It seems my presence has made both of you feel uncomfortable. Maybe it would be best if I had stayed back," hands over her eyes as she pretended to sob.

The classroom fell into gasps, and all eyes turned to Chloe and Marinette. Whispers began to ripple through the students, and glares were cast in their direction, suggesting they were somehow at fault for Lila's discomfort. Miss Bustier's eyes shifted between the girls, her expression pleading as if to say, "Please, make an effort."

Marinette felt the weight of the stares and the underlying pressure. So she sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping in resignation. "N-no, Lila…" she said, her voice subdued. "It's okay, I can sit with Chloe," she relented, as she walked over and sat down next to Chloe.

Chloe was about to protest when she felt a sharp jab to her side. She winced slightly and remembered Pollen's advice to keep her temper in check. With a frustrated murmur, she spat out, "Fine, whatever," and reluctantly accepted seating beside Marinette.

Miss Bustier, relieved, offered a grateful smile to the two girls. "Thank you, Marinette and Chloe. I appreciate your cooperation." With that, she began the lesson of the day. As she started to explain the day's topic, Marinette and Chloe exchanged a look of, neither knew of the others, shared frustration. They both glanced toward Lila, who had already begun trying to charm Adrien. Lila was leaning close to him, her voice a seductive whisper, and Adrien was visibly flustered.

Marinette's eyes narrowed, her anger simmering just below the surface. Chloe's lips were pursed into a thin line, her frustration barely contained. They both knew that Lila's manipulations were far from over, and the sight of her flirting with Adrien only fueled their determination to uncover the truth behind her schemes.

In the lair of Hawk Moth, he stood by the window, a sinister smile on his face as he surveys the city of Paris as he senses two negative emotions. "Ah, high school, the perfect arena for teenage angst and raw emotions. Today, I sense two hearts burning with anger. The intensity of their feelings is almost palpable. Such turmoil is ripe for my akumas." He transforms a butterfly into an akuma and releases it in to the world. "Fly away my little akuma and Evilize the one with the greater anger, and let chaos ensue!"

The akuma flutters out of the lair, its dark wings beating as it heads toward the school. As it arrives, it glides silently through the corridors, heading towards the classroom where Marinette and Chloe are seated. It slips through an open window and moves closer to its targets.

Marinette and Chloe, seated in the front row, were furiously scribbling notes, their frustration evident in their clenched jaws and tense posture. The akuma, silently navigating the room, approaches its targets with a dark, malevolent purpose.

As it nears, the classroom is abruptly interrupted by the teacher's clapping hands. "Open your books to page 23," she said cheerily.

Both Marinette and Chloe were jolted from their anger by the sudden break in their focus. Marinette sighs, closing her eyes briefly as she mentally shifts her attention back to the lesson. Chloe huffs in irritation but takes a moment to clear her mind, focusing on the subject at hand.

As their frustration begins to subside, the akuma's dark energy falters. It hesitates, its malevolent aura dimming as the girls' calmness disrupts its influence. Realizing that its chance to strike has diminished, the akuma reluctantly retreats, slipping silently out of the classroom before anyone notices it was there.

Hawk Moth senses the deteriorating negative emotions, a hint of frustration in his eyes. His fingers drum impatiently on his cane. "Strange. I feel the fury within them beginning to wane. It seems my akuma's influence has faltered." He smiles, nonetheless. "However, the seeds of discord have already been sown. It's only a matter of time before the chaos takes hold. Patience, my akuma. The wheels are in motion, and soon, your opportunity will come." Hawk Moth leans back, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

-Cafeteria-

As the lunch bell rang, students filed into the cafeteria, chattering excitedly. Chloe, taking a seat in the corner, cast a disdainful glance over at the table where Lila was the center of attention. Lila sat surrounded by a feast, with nearly the entire class fawning over her.

"That's for you, Lila!" Sabrina, her eyes wide with admiration, handed Lila a plate.

"Thank you. You're so sweet!" Lila beamed with feigned gratitude.

"Here's your appetizer, Lila!" Max approached with another plate.

"And I've got your main course!" Mylène added, holding a dish with a flourish.

Kim, not to be outdone, chimed in, "I'll fetch your dessert!"

"I'm sorry I can't carry my own tray. It's almost impossible with this sprained wrist." Lila sighed theatrically, holding her wrist. Kim, ever eager to assist, reached over the table between Marinette and Alya to grab a plate. "Sorry to reach across," he said with a smile.

Chloe watched the scene unfold with growing frustration. Her lunch, a couple exquisite croissants, sat beside her. She huffed loudly, as she took a bite of one of them; her irritation clear. In a hushed, angry tone, she muttered to herself, "Can't believe these morons are believing this girl's web of lies."

From within her purse, Pollen, who had been quietly nibbling on a small piece of honey candy, raised her voice just enough to be heard. "Chloe, I understand that you're frustrated, but it's not nice to call them morons. They don't know that Lila is lying, only you found out the truth," she reasoned.

Chloe clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Well, if they're eating up her unbelievable stories like morons, then they are morons," she retorted sharply, taking a frustrated bite of her croissant. "Ugh! I need a drink…" She abruptly stood up and strode over towards the drink dispenser. As she passed by, she couldn't help but overhear a conversation that caught her attention. Turning sharply but enough to be caught, she followed it.

She saw Dupain-Cheng had gathered her group at a separate table, dragging them away from the throng of students crowding around Lila. "Fine, I'll tell you everything," Marinette said, her tone serious as she settled into a chair across from them. "You remember Lila when she first came to school right after the summer break? She was only here for one day before she left on that 'round-the-world trip. Everyone was captivated by her. Something just felt off to me. So I followed her."

Alya and Nino exchanged bewildered glances. "What?" they asked, clearly startled by the revelation.

Chloe's ears perked up at the mention of Lila's deceit. She remembered that day and how captivated she once was; she felt stupid now, realizing it was all a lie. Her eyes narrowed as she leaned closer, trying to catch every word.

She listened to Dupain-Cheng's recount of how Lila concocted a lie together close to Adrien, telling him that, "Not only did Ladybug save my life, but we've become very close friends." 'Yeah right…' she thought bitterly. Ladybug has always maintained the whole keeping both lives separate and whatever the feud she had with Queen Bee, she still wouldn't put her own secret on the line.

"She lies with every breath." Marinette's voice cut through with sharp clarity.

"Wait. You eavesdropped on Lila and Adrien? That's not cool." Nino looked incredulous. 'Not the point!' She mentally screamed to herself.

Alya, ever the inquisitive reporter, pressed for more. "A good reporter always verifies her sources. Can you prove she doesn't actually know Ladybug?"

"Well, I—uh… I… I…" Marinette hesitated for a moment, "Okay!" before responding with determination; looked at the crumpled napkin. "You want proof she's lying?" she turned her head. "Hey Lila! You forgot your napkin!"

Chloe's gaze followed the napkin as Marinette threw it across the room. To Chloe's disbelief, Lila caught it effortlessly with her right hand, the very hand she had claimed was sprained. A collective gasp rippled through the classroom. Marinette's voice rang out triumphantly. "Ha, ha! See that? It's obvious she doesn't have a sprained wrist."

"Uh, ow!" Lila dropped the napkin with a theatrical wince. "Once when I was in India, I witnessed someone getting their eye gouged out by the corner of a napkin. If I hadn't caught it, this napkin could've injured Max. I didn't have a choice-Ow!" Chloe felt exasperated by the obvious lie that she spewed, but others didn't see it that way.

Max, eyes wide with exaggerated gratitude, responded, "Lila, you saved my eye! You sacrificed yourself for me."

Lila nodded solemnly, "Why wouldn't I, Max? Ouch. You're my friend," though her tone was still full of feigned pain.

"We'll take you to the nurse's office." Sabrina, ever the loyal follower, chimed in.

Mylène looked at Marinette, "Are you proud of yourself?" with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance.

Kim shook his head, "Lila's in even more pain now, all because of you," concern etched on his face.

Lila seized the opportunity to deflect. "No, no, don't blame Marinette. She was just trying to give me a napkin. Right, Marinette?" Marinette became furious with the outcome and angrily stomped away as everyone watches her in shocked and bewildered.

Chloe didn't pay much mind to Dupain-Cheng, as she ran out the cafeteria frustrated. She was in her own mind, thinking about how Lila was obvious after Adrien to pull something like exposing her secret identity. 'Like how I almost did so…' she almost cringed at the similarity between her past self and Lila.

She then saw Lila leaving shortly after, 'Probably might try again with Adrien. Might need to put a wedge in her plans.' She thought to herself, as she quickly took her purse and walked out of the room.

-Courtyard-

On the courtyard, Chloe was pacing, impatiently waiting for any sign of Adrien, so as to get him away from Lila. Pollen popped out of her hiding place, her purse, to address her. "Chloe, I understand that you want to warn your friend, but I implore that you be think this through and tread with caution."

"Excuse you?! But when have I ever been reckless?!" that was meet with a deadpanned stare. "…fine! But I know what I am doing, Lila doesn't scare me," she huffed, crossing her arms.

"Chloe, I am not saying you should be scared, only that you must not underestimate your enemy. We don't know much about her, only what we heard and saw, and it's not much," she sighed. "Just be careful my Queen. She seems like one that knows how to manipulate other easily," Pollen said, concern in her voice.

Seeing the look on Pollen's face, she relented. "You're right…we don't know much about her, but seeing that she's so dead set on getting to Adrien, I have to stop it," she then gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Pollen, I will be careful."

Pollen nodded, "Very good, Chloe," as she gave her a small smile before hiding back into Chloe's purse. As Chloe turned a corner, she spotted Adrien heading into the locker room. "Perfect!" she said to herself, as she quickly walked over to the room.

As she approached, she could hear Lila's voice through the slightly ajar door. "Adrien, we need to figure out when you're going to help me catch up on all the schoolwork I missed. I also heard you play piano. My uncle's the great pianist Chuch Boroughchuck, he-"

Without wasting any more time, Chloe burst into the locker room. Both Lila and Adrien looked up in surprise, the latter's eyes widening at the sight of Chloe. Chloe locked eyes with Adrien and acted like her normal self, "Oh Adrikins! I have been looking everywhere for you!" Chloe exclaimed, as she went in to wrap her arms around his, accidently shoving Lila to the side. Lila's expression quickly turned from shock, to annoyance in an instant.

Adrien, shook off his bewildered, managed to stammer, "Oh… hey Chloe. What's up? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, nothing much, just wanted to see you." Chloe flashed him an innocent smile. "Oh! And actually, I have some really important info for you-" Lila interjected. "Can this wait, Chloe? Adrien and I were just discussing about my-" but Chloe stopped her.

"No, it cannot wait," she spat back. She turned to Adrien. "Principal Damocles has something, really important to discuss with you. It's…about your Father, urgent stuff. You should go, like, NOW!" She pressed him.

Adrien wasn't so sure about it, but he knew that if his father was involved, it was best not to keep him waiting; so he glanced at Lila, apologetically. "I'm sorry, Lila. We'll have to continue this later," he said, making his way out the door.

"But, Adrie-" Lila opened her mouth to protest, but Adrien was already out. Chloe's triumphant smirk widened as she watched Lila's frustrated expression. Once Adrien was out of sight and sound, Chloe turned her full attention to Lila, her eyes narrowing with satisfaction.

Then, Lila's sweet facade reasserted itself quickly, "Well, Chloe, how nice to see you. How are you?" though Chloe could see the irritation concealed beneath.

"I'm fine. Nothing to really talk about," Chloe said, checking her nails, in a bored tone. She then put on a fake smile. "Well, Lila, seeing as you are here, I wanted to ask you more about your travels," she said with fake interest. "I seriously want to see how, Achu, is this time of year. You must have taken photos, didn't you?"

"Oh, my travels were quite amazing, thank you for asking." Lila's face remained smooth as she continued. "Oh, but I'm afraid I wasn't allowed to take photos while I travelled, for safety reasons, obviously," she said in an almost mocking tone.

"Unlikely story…" Chloe muttered. "You know, Lila, I've been thinking. It's funny how you always seem to have a story to tell, but they never quite add up. Don't you think?"

"I don't know what you mean, all my stories are hundred percent true," she said innocently.

"Like how you say you are friends with Ladybug," the way Chloe had said it, visibly made Lila stiffen, for just a moment. "Or like how you were presumably in Achu, all that time you were gone, but was actually spotted in Paris, weeks ago," she said.

"Oh, what makes you say that?" Lila inquired, and for just a split second dropped her smile and a look of annoyance was rested.

Chloe's thoughts travelled back.

*Heroes Day*

After the escape of Hawk Moth, the day was saved and the heroes disbanded. Queen Bee took to the skies, in her Valor Bee form, in a different direction. The beeping of her miraculous was a reminder that she needed to find cover, soon. Just as she was heading for a spot, a certain figure caught her eye. Said figure was running in the opposite direction of the Eiffel Tower and in to a nearby space between two buildings. "No, it can't be," without much thought, Queen Bee quickly dove down, making sure not to be easily spotted.

She landed at the side of the alleyway entrance and lightly walked over to the opening. She craned her neck, enough to peer in to the place, and without a doubt, the person she saw was-

"Lila!" she said in surprise. Lila seemed to be hiding out, but she had different clothed than before, and just when she was about to place a hand over her head, Queen Bee's timer went off and it spook Lila on guard.

"Who's there?! Who are you?!" she ducked away from the space and not thinking twice, flew away, before Lila could spot her. As she flew away, Queen Bee or Chloe, was having a hard time to wrap her head around the revelation.

Chloe brought herself back from her thoughts. "I have my sources," she plainly said.

Lila smirked at that. "Oh, then did your reliable "sources," inform you of what I could have been doing back in Paris, so soon?" When Chloe only narrowed her eyes, she continued. "Oh Chloe, I don't want to sound harsh, but I don't think reportive journalism is for you; maybe ask Alya for help" she giggled.

"Say what you will, Lila, but I know you're lying." Chloe glared at the girl. "I've seen through your charade. And I am sure that, even if everyone else might be blinded by your facade, they will find out soon enough."

Lila's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice still steady as she stepped closer. "Oh, Chloe, I understand that you are so use to receiving all the attention, but I believe we can both share the spotlight. No need for you to spread false information about someone, you clearly don't know," she smiled.

"I don't care who you think you are, Lila," Chloe wasn't backing down. "All I know, is that your little game will end very soon," she said for warningly.

"Oh is that a threat?" Lila's eyes flashed with a cold, mocking gleam. "Haha, Chloe, you really think you're something special, don't you? Strutting around with your designer outfits and that air of superiority," she said, closing the distance between them. Chloe subconsciously stepped back from the girl. "It's almost laughable. Do you really think that anyone will believe you over me? Like I told a certain someone, I know how to read people and judging from your reputation, you're not really the class' favourite."

Lila's smile widened, her gaze sharpening. "But don't worry, Chloe. I'm not going to dismiss you. Oh no, I'll be sure to make your life a living nightmare, if you get in my way," that garnered some fear to show on Chloe's face and Lila liked it. "You see, I have a way of making things very uncomfortable for people who cross me. So, enjoy your little happiness while you can, because I'm just getting started," she said with a bite.

Chloe felt her mind go numb and was honestly feeling shaken by her. But, she felt a reassuring nudge from purse and like that, she was back. Her eyes showed her fire reignited and that caught Lila off guard. "You know, Lila, if you're trying to scare me, you'd have a better chance actually travelling to Achu." Now her turn to step closer. "And don't flatter yourself; you're not a master strategist. You're just a scared little girl hiding behind a web of deceit; enjoy your corner while you can, because it won't last for long," she said with one last glare.

As Chloe turned on her heel and walked out of the locker room, Lila's expression twisted in to anger. Her hands balled into fists, and she glared after Chloe, her eyes seething with rage. The satisfaction Chloe had felt moments ago was replaced by unease and a sense of dread. She rushed in to an empty room to cool down.

Pollen, sensing the shift in Chloe's emotions, reappeared beside her with a worried expression. "Chloe, are you okay?" Pollen asked, her voice tinged with concern. "You seemed pretty shaken back there." Chloe tried to steady her breath and muster a calm facade, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her fear. "I… I'm fine. It was…nothing…Lila was just blowing hot air."

Pollen hovered closer, her tiny face filled with empathy. "I want you to know that I am happy you didn't back down, but I must warn you, that Lila girl might pull something in the future, aimed at you now."

"If she is anything like Hawk Moth, I will put up a fight, as well," she said with unwavering determination.

(-)

From the view from above, Ladybug could be seen swinging from out of the school window, and landed gracefully on the rooftop, scanning over the the courtyard from the ledge. Her eyes peeled, as she searched for any sign of the akuma that Hawk Moth had released.

"Alright, let's see what we got," she murmured to herself. "I need to find that akuma before it latches to any unfortunate person." She swung to the next area of the school, covering a wider range.

As Ladybug continued her search, she noticed something unusual below. Her eyes caught sight of Chloe, who was causing a scene among her classmates in the school courtyard. The scene was chaotic, Chloe was clearly in the midst of a tantrum, her face twisted in spiteful glee.

"What's she up to now?" Ladybug wondered aloud as she descended closer to get a better view. From her vantage point, she could see Chloe strutting over to the others. Without a hint of hesitation, Chloe snatched the glasses off Alya's face, causing her to gasp in shock and frustration.

"Hey! Give those back, Chloe!" Alya protested, reaching out to reclaim her glasses.

Chloe merely laughed, dodging the girl's feeble attempts. Her voice dripping with amusement. "Oh, you mean these? How cute. I always wanted to know how nerds view the world. And you know what?" she placed the glasses over her eyes and made a face. "I think, just like you, it looks absolutely ridiculous. Haha!"

Her classmates looked on in stunned silence as Chloe continued her tirade, hurling insults and laughing at their discomfort. It was clear she was relishing in her newfound, cruel power. As Ladybug got closer, her eyes widened in concern. This was not the typical Chloe Bourgeois, this was nastier.

"Typical Chloe behavior," Ladybug muttered to herself. "But this… this is beyond the pale. She's definitely been akumatized." Determined to put a stop to Chloe's outburst, Ladybug swung down into the courtyard, landing with a dramatic thud that drew everyone's attention. "Ladybug!" Gasps of awe and excitement rippled through the crowd as they saw their beloved heroine appear before them.

Chloe turned, her eyes lighting up with a mix of surprise and a twisted sense of delight. "Well, well, if it isn't Ladybug herself," she said in a low, pleased tone. Her voice held a note of amusement, as though she were relishing the confrontation.

Ladybug took a step forward, her eyes flashing with concern and authority. "Chloe, what's going on? This isn't like you. Why are you behaving like this?"

Chloe's lips curled into a sly grin, her eyes gleaming with malice. "What, Ladybug? It's like you've never met me before? I'm Chloe Bourgeois, the spoiled princess of Paris, and if you think this is bad, just wait. You're in for a real treat!" With that, Chloe leaped onto the railing, striking a dramatic pose as if she were on stage.

"If you loved my performance," Chloe shouted, her voice ringing out with exaggerated flair. "You're invited to my grand performance at the Eiffel Tower! I'm sure you'll be amazed."

Without waiting for a response, Chloe soared into the sky, her movements graceful and deliberate as she headed toward the iconic landmark. Ladybug watched her go, a sinking feeling in her chest. "She's definitely been akumatized," she realized, her mind racing. "I need to stop her before she does any more damage."

In the heart of Paris, chaos unfolded as Ladybug pursued Chloe through the city's iconic landmarks. Chloe darted recklessly across the rooftops. Every move was calculated to cause the maximum amount of havoc, from jumping in front of a bus to snatching balloons from unsuspecting children. Ladybug was on high alert, her eyes tracking Chloe's every reckless action.

The bus incident was particularly alarming. Chloe had leapt into the path of an approaching bus, forcing the driver to swerve and almost hit a pedestrian. Ladybug sprang into action, using her agility to pull the pedestrian out of harm's way and bringing the bus to a screeching halt.

The Eiffel Tower had become a chaotic battleground. Chloe was gleefully popping Ladybug-themed balloons, Cat Noirs and swiping a few Queen Bee ones. The shrieks of children filled the air, "My balloon! Mommy!" adding to the disorder.

Chloe's laughter was taunting as she danced around the tower. "La, la, la, la, la-whoa!" She wobbled as if losing her balance, only to regain her composure with a mocking giggle. "This is so easy; as soon as someone needs saving, that stupid Ladybug shows up!"

Ladybug, spotting Chloe's latest stunt, called out, "Chloe, stop!"

Chloe turned her attention to Ladybug, an exaggerated pout on her lips. "Ah, help me! I'm losing my balance, I'm gonna fa-" She tumbled through the air, and Ladybug swooped in, catching her effortlessly and setting her down gently.

"Yeah, woo-hoo!" Nadja cheered from below, clearly impressed by Ladybug's quick thinking.

Chloe, once back on solid ground, turned to Ladybug with a smirk. "My princess charming, you saved my life!" She moved in as if to kiss Ladybug, but Ladybug recoiled, her gaze narrowing in suspicion. "You are not Chloe!" Ladybug declared.

Chloe's expression twisted into a triumphant grin. "You're right. I'm Chameleon. You're getting better at this, Ladybug. Which is a good thing. It'll make this fight all the more interesting." And so they lunged at Ladybug, delivering kicks, punches and a few swipe attempts at the hero's earrings. Ladybug managed to pin down the villain and taking the opportunity, grabbing the glasses and broke, "Time to De-Evili-" she was surprised the lack. "Wait, where is the akuma?"

The fake Chloe managed to free herself from Ladybug's hold, and taking advantage of the hero's distracted state, pinned her under herself. "Now, Ladybug, I still need to repay you with a kiss," they lowered their face lower and before they could make contact, a staff slammed in to their side, knocking them off Ladybug.

"Sorry, pal, but I have a thing about not letting anyone kiss My Ladybug, before me," Cat Noir appeared, spinning his staff as he smirked.

Standing her ground, the fake just smiled, "Pucker up, kitty." As she launched forward.

-Closet-

Back at Dupont middle school, in a dark broom closet, laid an unconscious Chloe on the floor. Five minutes had passed, and Pollen was no closer to waking up her holder, than when she started. "Chloe, Chloe! My Queen, please wake up! There is an akuma attack happening, Ladybug will need your help!" she spoke urgently.

*An hour ago*

Class had concluded and Chloe was on her way to the library, for a little catching up on her studies, "W-what the-HEY!" when she was forcefully dragged in to an open room. She finally fought off the hands, thinking it was an akuma attack, reached for her beret; but stopped when it was not an akuma attack. "Lila!" she said with equal parts surprise and anger.

Lila looked at the blonde with a devious smirk. "What do you want, huh? Come to threaten me, again?" she crossed her arms in annoyance.

Lila shook her head, "No, Chloe. I came to seek forgiveness," she said. That caught Chloe off guard, not believing it, she sent a stare.

"Yes Chloe, it is true. I realized that I shouldn't have threatened you like that. You are quite an adversary and instead of fighting, we should have been working together to rule the school," she said slyly, her sweet tone, gone.

"Forget it, Lila, I am not forgiving or joining your little tirade," she firmly said, "Only a complete moron would ever follow you," she pointedly said.

Lila frowned, but shook it off, giving a smile. "I see, well, don't say I didn't try. Sweet dreams, at the very least," Lila remarked, and before Chloe could understand what she meant. Lila stepped closer, and pressed a kiss on her cheek; a faded pink glow covered Lila, as Chloe suddenly fell asleep; then Lila took the appearance of Chloe. She dawned on a victorious smirk, as she stood over her.

"Perfect," Lila muttered in Chloe's voice, as she placed Chloe inside the broom closet. "I'll destroy your reputation and defeat Ladybug. Just wait and see." Lila's laughter echoed through the hallway as she left Chloe behind, her plan set in motion.

Back in the present, Pollen hovered over Chloe, her worry growing as she tried to rouse her. "My queen, please, you have to wake up!" Pollen's voice was urgent and filled with worry. Suddenly, a soft shimmer enveloped Chloe, causing her to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, still groggy but gradually regaining awareness.

"W-what…happened?" Chloe mumbled, her voice coming out.

Pollen wasted no time in explaining, her voice urgent and brimming with concern. "Lila tricked you and put you here! She's causing chaos in Paris, and we need to stop her!"

Fury ignited in Chloe's eyes. She clenched her fists, her determination surging. "Lila will pay for this, akuma or not!" She stared at her Kwami. "Pollen, buzz on!" she yelled, her anger palpable.

With a yellow of shimmering light, Chloe transformed into Queen Bee. The transformation completed, and with a hard kick, she broke through the closet door, and ran out of the school and to the battle.

"You can't protect your miraculous and Cat Noir's for long, Ladybug!" the Chameleon taunted, their voice a distorted mimic of her partner's. Ladybug merely glared, an unconscious Cat Noir, in her arms, as she swung her yo-yo defensively.

Back on the scene, Ladybug was still fighting the "Chameleon" and even though, Cat Noir had arrived, they were still tricky to pin point. They seemed to have cornered them, until they changed their appearance among the small remaining in the nearby park. Just when Ladybug's guard was down, the Chameleon went in for a surprise kiss that, unfortunately, Cat Noir took instead, to save Ladybug.

With Cat Noir unconscious, the Chameleon advanced to steal his miraculous, but Ladybug stopped in time and held her partner close to herself, blocking that.

The fake Cat Noir lunged at Ladybug, staff swinging. Ladybug, with the best of her abilities, tried to fight off the villain, while keeping both their miraculous' hands off.

"You can't keep running away!" They kept fighting, until the fake Cat Noir extended his staff to knock Ladybug off her balance and this caused her to drop Cat Noir, "No!" she screamed but the Chameleon was already on top of him.

They held out the hand that housed the ring. "Yes, Chameleon! Get his miraculous!" Hawk Moth's voice rang through his head. Just when they tried to take the ring off-

"Not, happening!"

"Wha-GAH!" A spinning top landed squarely in to Chameleon's side, knocking them off with a thud. They skidded a few feet away, before landing back on their feet, a scowl rested on their face, "Who did that?!" their question was answered by a certain bee themed superhero, as she gave her own scowl at the villain. "Someone who put a sting in your plan!" Queen Bee replied, her tone dripping with confidence as she landed gracefully beside Ladybug.

"Queen Bee, you came!" Ladybug exclaimed, relief flooding her voice.

"Sorry to be late, let's just say, sleep won over me," she vaguely said, still glaring at the villain, who didn't read much in to her words. The fake Cat Noir tried to recapture the real one, but the same spinning top grappled around the unconscious hero's arm and yanked him over to the female heroes. "Sorry, but the Cat and his jewellery, belong with us, instead." Queen Bee teased, looking awfully amused.

"Why you little…" the villain spat.

"Nice work, Queen Bee. Now to end this, Lucky Charm!" a swirl of red and black lights came out of her yo-yo and the item that came out was a t-shirt. "A T-shirt?"

"Seriously?" even Queen Bee was confused.

Chameleon laughed, "That's your plan to defeat me, Ladybug? Make me dress like you? On second thought, such horrible fashion might actually do me in."

Ladybug didn't say a thing but used her Lucky Vision and in a distance, so a sight that was a part of the plan. "Alright," she turned to Queen Bee, "Queen Bee, I need you to take Cat Noir and leave Chameleon to me," she insisted, her tone firm.

"No way! I have a score to settle with this one!" Queen Bee replied, her eyes flashing with determination.

"Please! You have to trust me!" Ladybug urged, desperation creeping into her voice. "I'll handle this."

Queen Bee hesitated for a moment before relenting. "Fine, but you better finish this!"

"Thank you!" Ladybug breathed.

With a swift movement, Queen Bee activated her powers, declaring, "Bee Hive!" A whirlwind of golden bees swirled around her, "Valor Bee!" transforming her costume and giving her magnificent wings and a flowing ponytail.

As Queen Bee soared into the air with the unconscious Cat Noir in her arms, the Chameleon screamed in protest, "No! Get back here!" He charged after them, but Ladybug stood firm, ready to face the villain alone.

"I'm gonna find out who you really are, Chameleon!" she challenged.

"I'll find out who you are first, don't you worry. Cataclysm!" the Chameleon sneered, his voice laced with menace. "Too bad Cat Noir's power is gonna destroy you!" He lunged forward, trying to destroy and/or kiss Ladybug again.

"If you manage to touch me!" she retorted, leaping gracefully to the Eiffel Tower. Hawk Moth's voice echoed ominously from his lair. "No! Get me his Miraculous, now!" "No! I wanna get hers first!" the Chameleon shouted, following her to the tower's summit.

"Nowhere to run now, Ladybug!" he taunted, brandishing his staff menacingly. Ladybug didn't falter. She attempted to break the Chameleon's staff with a swift kick, but he dodged and countered. They exchanged blows, their movements fluid and precise. Just as the Chameleon prepared to unleash Cataclysm, Ladybug seized the moment, using her Lucky Vision to survey the area.

She saw a waitress at a nearby fish stall, a clam-opening device, and a clam. With newfound determination, she let go of Chameleon's hand, redirecting his Cataclysm-activated grasp toward the metal floor paneling.

As the debris collapsed around them, the waitress yelped and fled, leaving Ladybug and Chameleon to tumble down where she once stood. Ladybug regained her footing and quickly searched for a clam. Just as Chameleon stood, ready to attack, he lunged for another kiss—but Ladybug was ready. She shoved a clam into his face.

"What the—" he sputtered before transforming into a clam himself, landing with a soft thud on the ground.

"Ladybug!" Cat Noir's voice broke through the chaos. He awoke, disoriented, in Queen Bee's arms.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Cat," she smirked, clearly amused by his confusion. "What happened?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Long story. But we need to get to the Eiffel Tower, now!" Queen Bee replied, her tone urgent yet light-hearted as she, Cat in hand, flew over there.

With the Chameleon subdued, Ladybug approached the clam. "We should be friends, not anemones," she teased, lifting it carefully. Just then, the two other heroes came flying in.

"Wow, you certainly got that supervillain to clam up, m'lady," Cat Noir remarked with a grin. "But who could it be?"

"I have a few guesses," Queen Bee replied offhandedly, crossing her arms with a knowing smirk.

"I think I might have a guess, too. Waiter?" Ladybug called, and the waitress stepped forward, raising an eyebrow. "Ahem," she replied.

"If you wouldn't mind," Ladybug said, handing the waitress the clam and the T-shirt.

"Yes, Ladybug, at your service," the waitress said, opening the clam. "Mademoiselle."

"Thank you. We're about to find out what you really look like, Chameleon," Ladybug said, determination in her eyes.

"Old acquaintance coming up," Cat Noir added, glancing at Queen Bee, who crossed her arms, her expression skeptical.

Ladybug broke the akumatized pearl with a swift motion, and the akuma fluttered out. "No more evildoing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!" She captured it with her yo-yo. "Gotcha! Bye, bye, little butterfly." She tossed the T-shirt into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

Nino stood beside Alya, who was fuming with frustration. "Don't worry, Ladybug will get them back," he said, attempting to console her. Suddenly, the Miraculous Cure returned Alya's glasses. "Hey!" she exclaimed, her anger melting away as she slipped them on. Nino smiled and hugged her. "See? Just like I said!"

The Miraculous Cure repaired the damage around the Eiffel Tower and transformed Chameleon back into Lila.

"Lila?" Ladybug asked, disbelief washing over her. "Ladybug?" Lila replied, surprise coloring her voice.

"Lila…" Queen Bee muttered under her breath, her arms crossed. Cat Noir shot a confused glances at Queen Bee, but he kept his mouth shut.

Ladybug sighed, forcing a friendly smile. "At least now you can say I saved your life for real. Truce?" She extended her hand. "Thanks, Ladybug," Lila replied, shaking her hand. "I'd be honored to call you my friend."

"Yeah…I'm happy to hear that," awkwardly said. "Hey, some advice: you don't have to lie and pretend to be something you're not. People will like you just for being yourself," Ladybug encouraged.

"You have my word, Ladybug," Lila said earnestly. "Yeah, right." Queen Bee rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath.

"Bug out!" Ladybug said, turning to leave with Cat Noir. Queen Bee lingered a moment longer, giving Lila a silent glare before flying off.

"Bye!" Lila called out, but her cheerful facade quickly faded as she glared at all of them, as they departed.

-Back at school-

The courtyard buzzed with excited chatter, and students clustered around a familiar sight. Before the next class, Lila was perched on a bench in the courtyard, surrounded by her classmates, who were fretting over her latest misadventure. "Lila! Are you okay?" one of her friends exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern. "I can't believe you were up there on the Eiffel Tower! Weren't you scared?"

"No, not at all!" Lila replied, her voice silky and confident. "Ladybug knew I would have a hard time with my fear of heights, given my condition. She even brought me earplugs so I wouldn't hear all the chaos!" The classmates gasped, their expressions shifting from worry to admiration. "Wow, Ladybug is so thoughtful!" another girl chimed in, her admiration evident. "I can't believe she did that just for you!"

Lila smiled modestly, basking in the attention. "Oh, you know how she is. Always looking out for her friends." Her eyes sparkled as she continued, "And when we were up there, she told me that having my earplugs made me a superhero too. I felt so brave!"

The classmates leaned in closer, captivated by her story. They exchanged impressed glances, nodding in agreement. "That's amazing, Lila! You really are lucky to have Ladybug as a friend."

Chloe, being upstairs, would have wanted to confront her, but remembered Lila's words about people not believing her and chose to watch her back. 'You won't win forever, Lila.'

(-)

It was the end of school and Lila was not happy. Quickly after they all went back to class, she was excited to sit next to Adrien again, due to Marinette and Chloe arguing, forcing Mrs Bustier to switch the former and Adrien. She absolutely hated that idea and made up another lie, saying her Tinnitus was cured and everyone believed it. This lead everyone to switch seats back to their original plan. Lila sat next to Chloe's old, red-headed lackey, smiling kindly to her but dreading that her plan was foiled.

When she confronted Marinette outside, expecting fear, she was met with an infuriating smile. Marinette's confidence only fueled Lila's anger. As she walked away, she locked eyes with Chloe, who casually flicked her hair and dismissed her. Lila knew she had to be strategic. Chloe wasn't a threat, but Marinette was becoming a problem. She needed a new accomplice, someone gullible enough to follow her lead.

A wicked smile formed on her lips as she plotted her revenge. "Well, girls, you wanted to play? Just wait. You're both going to get it," she whispered, relishing the chaos to come. Lila was ready to turn the tables and show them just how cunning she could be.

Author's Notes:

Hey everyone! I am sorry for being gone for so long…Believe me, I enjoy this fanfic but, it is so hard to come up with ideas for upcoming chapters that involve Chloe and still sticks to the story. I wrote THIS ONE as a game roller for Chloe and Lila, Lila will do more cunning things and I can't wait for it. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who likes and is following this story so far, I appreciate it and I hope you don't mind it being too long at times.

I wanted some help, you see, the next episodes are going to be hard to do, so if you guys have some suggestions, I would appreciate it. I want some ideas on how to change: "Animaestro and Backwarder" to include Chloe/Queen Bee, as well as I will remove Bakerix and Weredad; so if you have chapter/story ideas, I would like to hear them, please.

Don't forget to RxR, and thank you all, once again. Bye!