Chapter Text
The cool Paris air whipped Chloe in her face as she soared over the streets, looking for Stoneheart. Luckily, or unluckily, she found a path of his destruction. Flipped cars and wrecked buildings were all she could see as she looked down the street she was over. In the distance, she heard a cry for help coming from the general direction of the stadium. She began to aim her Yo-Yo in the direction of the stadium to alter her swinging course, when something--or someone--slammed into her.
"What the-" She yelled, tossing her Yo-Yo at the nearest object to break her fall. It swung around a nearby building ledge, and she was jolted as the weight of herself and someone else was caught by the Yo-Yo string.
"I-I'm so sorry, Mmle Red-Bug-Lady!" The man said. She glanced down, and saw he was holding onto her leg for dear life. He looked terrified of being 15 feet off the ground.
Chloe wished that she had reacted calmly and lowered the two of them. She wished that the two had managed to get down safely, and have a wonderful first meeting. Instead, she kicked him in the face out of pure shock. His grasp faltered, and he hit the ground hard.
"Oh my god!" She exclaimed, loosening her grip on the Yo-Yo and dropping to the ground, running to the fallen cat, who she presumed would be her new partner. He wore a black padded suit, with neon green highlights underneath. Two cat-ear addons adorned his dark hair that was dyed green on the ends. When his eyes opened, he looked like he had seen one of his nine lives flashing before his eyes.
"I'm so sorry!" He said, scooting back from her. She scoffed, some of old Chloe showing through. "Don't be sorry, I'm the one that kicked you in the face. Even if you did launch into me." She said, eyeing him up again. She extended her hand, and he took it tentatively.
"Again, I'm sorry, I didn't realize my staff would extend that fast..." He said, chuckling awkwardly. "My name is Catastrophe," He said, sweeping his hands in a huge gesture. "And you?" He looked at her.
"Ladybu..." She began, before trailing off. A part of her had always wanted to be Ladybug, to be the superhero that everyone adored. She had the opportunity now, the whole of Paris would adore her and look up to her...but it felt wrong taking Ladybug's name.
"Excuse me, what did you say? You trailed off at the end." Catastrophe said, cocking his head slightly.
"Hmm...Crimson Beetle...Yeah, my name is Crimson Beetle." She said, smirking.
"Well," The cat began "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He said, giving her a lopsided smile. She couldn't help but feel...something, she wasn't sure what, but it was something.
A scream echoed from the stadium, and it sounded eerily familiar. She and her partner looked to one another, before they reached for their weapons.
"Race you to the stadium!" Catastrophe said, vaulting quickly into the air. Crimson Beetle threw her Yo-Yo after him, adrenaline pumping through her veins. As the two approached the stadium, they saw the chaos unfolding. Half of Chloe's class was hiding under bleachers, all except for Kim, who was being chased by Stoneheart. Kim tripped over one of the many soccer balls laying around, and was about to be crushed by Stoneheart. Unexpectly, she launched herself towards him. The two collided, but were moved out of Stonehearts path of destruction.
"Go, hide!" She yelled at him, barely glancing back before using her yo-yo to launch herself at Stoneheart. Her foot slammed into his face, before he began to glow and grow slightly bigger. She used the momentum from the kick to vault away from Stoneheart. She landed gracefully, and by gracefully she stumbled and fell onto her back. Catastrophe landed next to her, trying not to laught.
"Is something funny, stray?" She said, dusting herself off as she stood. He chuckled. "Nothing, your highness. Perhaps now would be a good time to call upon your power?" He said.
"Alright." She said, grabbing her yo-yo. "Lucky Charm!" The yo-yo spun, before creating a small package. She caught it as it fell, and inspected it.
"An inflatable life raft?" Catastrophe said, looking closely at the lucky charm. "What do you think, Crimson?" She looked around, before noticing Stoneheart's closed fist. "Look," She said, pointing at his fist. "He's yet to open his fist, how much do you want to bet that's where the akuma's located?" He smiled. "I refuse to take the bet," He said. "Because I have a feeling you're right."
"I have an idea." Crimson Beetle said, removing the belt that adorned her super suit. "I need you to get caught by him, in his open hand." She said, fastening the belt once again with the lucky charm attached.
"And then," Catastrophe said, realizing the rest of the plan. "You'll get caught in the other hand, causing him to drop the object, and then use the inflatable raft to release yourself, break the object, and save the day." He said, eye's twinkling in awe. She grinned. "Ready?" he nodded.
"Hey!" Catastrophe yelled, jumping towards Stoneheart. "Look at me! Bet you can't catch me!" He got close enough for Stoneheart to grab him, and he went for the bait. As Catastrophe was captured, Crimson Beetle launched herself as well towards his closed fist.
"Yoo-Hoo!" She called. "Over here!" Stoneheart opened his fist, and dropped the object. As his fist closed, Crimson pulled the life raft tab. It expanded almost instantaneously, and Stoneheart was forced to drop her. Catastrophe whooped in joy as she crushed the object under her feet, releasing the Akuma. Stoneheart detransformed, and Catastrophe approached her excitedly.
"Miracle Cure!" She called, calling upon the power of creation to restore everything damaged.
She opened her yo-yo, before swinging it towards the Akuma. "Time for good to return!" She said as she captured the akuma. When the yo-yo opened, a white butterfly flew away. "See ya." She said, closing the yo-yo once more. Afterwards, Catastrophe approached Ivan, who sat on the ground confused as to what had just happened. Crimson followed close behind.
"Where am I?" Ivan asked, looking around. "And who are you?" Catastrophe smiled a gentle smile. "My name's Catastrophe." He offered a hand to the boy on the ground, who graciously took it.
"And this," He said, gesturing towards Crimson. "Is my amazing partner." She smiled at the introduction. "My name's Crimson Beetle." She offered a half smile. She realized she was still holding the object that akumatized Ivan. It was a crumpled piece of paper. She opened it, reading the song that was written on the paper.
"Ivan..." She said, taking the words to heart. "Who is the lucky girl?" She asked, gently handing him the paper back. He blushed.
"It's...for a girl in my class. Her name is Mylene." He said. Before he could put the paper away, Catastrophe gently turned Ivan towards the forming crowd made up of his classmates. She wasn't sure how Catastrophe knew what Mylene looked like, but there she stood at the front of the crowd, face a bright red and eyes sparkling.
"Perhaps," Catastrophe said, taking the paper from his hands. "Now is the perfect time to tell her." He handed the paper to Mylene, and let her marvel in awe at the song Ivan wrote for her. When she was finished, Ivan rubbed his neck awkwardly. Mylene ran to him, and gave him a huge embrace, and embrace that Ivan returned gratefully. The surrounding students gave awes and congratulations as the two held each other. Crimson was happy, and it looked like Catastrophe was too. She turned to him, before hearing her earrings beep. She didn't have long until she became Chloe once again.
"Hey," Catastrophe said, extending a fist to her. "I know you've got to go, but...I'm glad that you're my partner. I don't think we could've won today without you." Crimson smiled and put her fist against his. "Pound it." She said. "I'm glad that you're my partner, too." She smiled, and he returned it.
"You better get going," He said, "As much as I'd love to see who you are, there's too many people around." She chuckled. "Maybe one day cat. Until then..." She said, before turning towards the crowd. "Beetle out!" She yelled, before throwing her yo-yo off to the distance. As she flew off, She briefly saw a black spec on the horizon vault across the city, until he was out of sight.
Today was the first day of Chloe's new life, and already she had helped Ivan and Mylene get together.
She felt happy.
She felt free.
She felt good.