Miraculous: Return of the Dark Moth
Chapter 1: Ladybug's Nightmare
Summary: Marinette has a disturbing nightmare where she confronts her evil clone, Phantombug, who claims she will take over Marinette's life and identity should her fears take hold of her. She shares her fears with Alya and Tikki upon waking up, hinting at a potential internal struggle and the return of an external threat to their lives as Ladybug and Cat Noir.
One night, Marinette was getting ready for her date with Adrien the next day as she has a sleepover with her best friend, Alya Césaire who keeps her identity as Ladybug a secret. But then she was starting to have a nightmare.
She was chasing after a akumatised villain who knew about her friends, attacking them, even taking their Miraculouses by force. "Who are you?" Ladybug demanded the villain who started to take the same shape as her, but in a black suit with red spots. "You can't tell by the sound of your voice, Loserbug? It's me, Phantombug, the Ladybug you're about to be one day." Her evil clone that Ladybug thought she defeated said with a sadistic smile.
"Phantombug?! No! This can't be real!" Ladybug said in a panic backing away from her clone as she was starting to turn into her. "Rockabye Marinette, I'm coming back. Soon you'll be the one with an akuma attack. No need to be scared, there's nothing to fear. Soon Ladybug'll be gone, and I will be here!" Phantombug sung.
Marinette woke up in a cold sweat, the nightmare feeling so real. She quickly texted Adrien to talk about her nightmare, and he said he'd talk to her about it tomorrow. "Hey, BFF… Are you okay?" Alya asked to her friend. "What happened?" Tikki, Marinette's Kwami asked.
Marinette took a deep breath and began explaining, "I had a nightmare about Phantombug. She said she'll come back and replace me. It felt so real, Tikki. What if she's still in me and I can't control it?" Alya hugged Marinette and said, "Don't worry, we're here for you. If she comes back, we'll stop her together, just like we did before. Remember, you're not alone in this." Tikki nodded in agreement, comforting her with a gentle light from her Miraculous. "We'll be there for you, girl. Through thick and thin, and thin and thinner. Like the time I came to you saying you're Ladybug because PJ told me." Alya said.
"Yeah." Marinette then turns her head to a photo of him with her, Alya and Adrien. "He was a good kid." Alya stated. "Yeah. He became student body president, but came clean to me that used an experimental lotion on Chloé. I really miss him. As a friend AND as Paint Panda." Marinette spoke as Alya nodded. "I hope that he's taking good care of Inky with him." Tikki said. "Agreed. We all miss him." Said Trixx the Fox Kwami, and the other Kwamis in the Miracle Box agreed.
"When'd you become Guardian again?" Alya asked to her best friend. "My Master thought he had his memory come back to him during the Akuma Wars, but it was temporary." Marinette explained. "Whatever happens… I'll be there for you." Alya said as she and Marinette hugged each other.