Chapter Text
“Why are we doing a witch photoshoot? Isn’t the point for the clothes to look pretty - not ugly and scary?” a photographer cried to his colleague.
“Oh, hush. You’re just mad the girl model you chose couldn’t make it. I know you have some vendetta against Camille.” He cheekily replied.
“Ugh, every pose I put her in - it just looks wrong. Something about her is just not photogenic; she must just be plain ugly.”
“That’s totally mean. Jeez, be nice to the poor girl. The modeling industry is a nasty place. Whatever, it’s time for the shoot - please try not to antagonize poor Camille.” The two went off to do their job, unaware of the girl listening to their conversation.
Camille was dressed up in a long flowing black gown decorated with loops and swirls with a sweetheart neckline. She was wearing sleek black gloves and black boots and a pointy velvet hat. Her outfit screamed fierce and brave, but her face betrayed her. Tears leaked down her face as she collapsed onto a bench.
“H-he thinks I’m ugly? D-Does everyone think that?” Her tears turned into full-blown sobbing as she thought of the effect this would have on her career. Oh no oh no oh no. How can I be a model if I’m ugly? I-I’ll lose my job, my dreams, everything. I’ll be out on the street in a heartbeat, all because of that-that monster!
All of a sudden her thoughts fled and were replaced with an overwhelming calm. The voice in her head blocked out all else and she welcomed it, happy for a distraction. An akuma had fluttered into her witch hat.
“Enchantress, I am Hawkmoth. Insulted by your colleagues and afraid of being ripped out of the fashion world… I give you the power to turn others ugly. Make them suffer as you did. And in return, bring me back Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculouses.”
Camille stood up, a look of concentration passing over her features. “Yes, Hawkmoth.”
Camille transformed into Enchantress, keeping the black dress, swirling it with green, but gaining a wooden broomstick and a dark purple pointy hat. She soared up and into the air, searching for her first victims.
Marinette had been talking to a fan when she heard the screaming. She had designed the clothes for this shoot, and was so excited to see her work out there. She was even more excited because Adrien was one of the models. The bluenette couldn’t wait to see THE Adrien Agreste wearing her designs. It was going to be magical.
But of course, Hawkmoth had to ruin her perfect day with an akuma. Marinette panicked. She had to get this girl to safety, scouting the area for a good place to hide.
Spotting some bushes a ways away from the photoshoot, she grabbed her by the arm and ran over there. “Here, you’ll be safe here. The heroes will be here soon to fix everything.”
She left the girl there and went hunting for somewhere to transform, only to be stopped by none other than Chat Noir. He grabbed her arm and began pulling her in the opposite direction.
“Chat, just what do you think you’re doing?”
“I need to get you to safety, princess. Could be a dangerous akuma.”
Marinette looked around at the akuma shooting people with a dark green light and turning them into…. ugly versions of themselves? “It makes you ugly. That’s about the least dangerous thing I can think of at the moment.”
Chat scooped her up and swung his baton over to her house. “Well, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to your beautiful face, now would I? Stay put on your balcony, and don’t come running into danger!” He vaulted off, leaving Marinette to rant to herself, ignoring her avid blush.
“That stupid cat. Now I’ll have to yo-yo myself to the park all over again. Tikki, spots on!”
When Ladybug arrived at the scene, Chat was dodging attacks from Enchantress. She wondered why since her only power was to make people ugly. Seriously, Hawkmoth really needed to up his game.
“Chat!”
“What are you doing? Just let her make you ugly it’s not going to affect anything! You’re wasting your energy constantly dodging.”
“M’lady, I think I forgot to mention - when you get hit by Enchantress over here, the ugliness slowly melts you into disgusting green goop.” He said in between breaths. “If we get hit, that’s game over.”
Ladybug grumbled under her breath, beginning to avoid the akuma’s attacks. Turns out Hawkmoth wasn’t that stupid. Shocker. She pounced around the akuma, trying to make out where the akumatized object was hidden. The only thing that seemed out of place was the pointy hat. While the rest of her outfit was green and black, her hat was a dark purple. Perhaps the akuma was hiding in there. On second thought, the broom prop the model was using had changed drastically and become motorized. While Ladybug was planning out how to steal the hat from under her nose, Enchantress shot an attack that went just over her head, making her fall over in surprise.
“M’lady!”
“Chat, I’m fine, focus on Enchantress!” She latched her yoyo onto the akuma’s waist, hoping to catch her off guard, only to be catapulted into a nearby bush.
Marinette took a deep breath and called out, “Lucky Charm!”
The result was a mirror. Ladybug tried to focus on her surroundings and suddenly the plan slammed into place. Meanwhile, Chat had noticed his lady hiding in the bushes and slowly crept over there. He tapped her on the shoulder.
"M'lady I understand that you're gorgeous and all but now's not the time to really get to know that fact no?"
“Chat! Alright, so, you’re going to sneak up behind her and cataclysm her hat, while I act as the bait and get her to hit me. Then when she shoots a beam, I’ll point this mirror at her and stun her. Got it?” Chat nodded vigorously just waiting for Enchantress to come close enough to steal her hat.
As if she had lost her source of entertainment, Enchantress started to look for Ladybug and Chat Noir. “Ooh a little game of hide and seek I see,” she announced. “Come out come out wherever you are!” She headed to the ground to see if that could help with her search.
Acting as if it were her cue, Ladybug jumped from the bush, hinting at Chat that he should be getting ready too.
“Hey! Come and get me!” Ladybug ran around and around the akuma, trying to anger her enough to shoot at her. “Don't play hard to get dear!” Enchantress bellowed. “This will only end with your demise.” Alas, she cast a green beam at Ladybug and reacting just in time, the hero reflected the shot right back at the witch. But Enchantress was quick on her feet and she dodged the beam as easily as Ladybug did, "Did you really think that I wouldn't see that coming?"
She laughed and felt a little breeze over her head that she chose to ignore. And then from behind she heard a playful “Did you see this coming though?” Chat said as he shouted “Cataclysm!” and turned her witch hat into ashes. "No!" Enchantress screamed in anguish.
Ladybug laughed. “Time to de-evilize! Bye, bye, little butterfly.” Ladybug walked up to Chat and gave him a fist bump. “Pound it!” They said in synchronization. “I knew I could count on you kitty.” Ladybug boasted.
“Thank you, M’lady. I really must be going now; I’ve got a certain purrincess to check up on.”
As Chat left, Ladybug jolted with realization that the princess he was talking to her about was HER. So she scrambled and headed off to try and beat Chat to her own house.