Chapter Text
Chloe hated this- her parents fighting, her being humiliated by her mother in front of everyone, and Hawkmoth. Most of all, she hated Hawkmoth. He had caused yet another akumatization of her parents. Now they were out there, her parents- devouring love, the only one thing she wanted most from both of them.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that, she firmly decided as she adjusted the Bee Signal. Ladybug might need her help, and she wanted to be ready. She had only one goal- to save her parents.
Looking across the rooftop, Chloe patiently waited for Ladybug, hoping that she would come to her with the Bee miraculous.
She heard the sound a yoyo whirring, and turned her head in the direction she thought she heard it coming from so fast, that her neck actually hurt.
“Let’s go!”
The light that had shone on her face upon hearing that voice, suddenly went out.
Ladybug hadn’t been calling to her, but to Ryuko, the hero she had chosen for this mission.
Immense rage welled up in Chloe, she wanted to help Ladybug, to save her parents, to fulfill the one purpose that she thought she had in life. But, apparently, Ladybug didn’t need her help.
“No one is useless, Chloe” she heard Ladybug’s voice inside her head. Lies, that’s all Ladybug had been telling her- lies. Chloe had waited for Ladybug time and again, wishing, hoping, that she would give her the miraculous, a chance to help the people of Paris. But, it looked like Ladybug wasn’t going to do that anytime soon.
Chloe heard the soft tapping of boots on her terrace, it jolted her right out of her trance.
“Chloe Bourgeois. Rejections hurt, your talents deserve to be recognized. Ladybug and Chat Noir’s reign has gone on long enough. It’s time for Paris to have a new queen- and the queen on my chessboard is you.”
Hawkmoth stood there, with all poise and grace, waiting for her to say something. She did.
“You’ve akumatized my parents. If I had my miraculous-”
He held up a hand. “You’re right. But I did it for one reason only: so that you would finally realize that Ladybug will never give you the Bee miraculous again. I, however, always keep my promises.”
“This isn’t real! How do you have it?” she demanded.
“Try it, see for yourself.” Saying so, Hawkmoth showed her a comb, one, that very much looked like her miraculous.
“You are Ladybug’s greatest fan. You’ve helped her, you’ve trusted her. And what has she done for you in return?”
Chloe felt furious. Not at Ladybug, but at Hawkmoth. How dare he akumatize her parents and ask for her help afterwards? Did he think that she had not learnt anything after the Style Queen debacle? She knew, that just owning a miraculous did not make one a hero, but one’s principles and actions did; and if she joined Hawkmoth, she would most definitely not be called a hero.
All the while, she found herself forming a plan inside her head. She couldn’t fight Hawkmoth out straight. Not yet, anyways, not when he still held her miraculous after somehow conjuring it up. She somehow had to trick Hawkmoth, make him think that she was on his side.
Chloe channeled her rage. “Nothing! She couldn’t care less about me. I’m done with her! She’s irrelevant, utterly irrelevant!”
Sorry, Ladybug, but this had to be done, she thought to herself.
As she took her miraculous from Hawkmoth, she demanded, “I want you to de-akumatize my parents first.”
“Whatever you say, my queen.”
Pollen, her kwami, buzzed out of the miraculous.
“Your majesty, wait!” she cried.
“Silence. You will speak only when spoken to.” It was hard to say those harsh words. Chloe looked to into Pollen’s eyes, hoping that her kwami would understand her predicament, her plan, and trust her.
Pollen had not been called an immortal goddess for nothing. She had seen many humans throughout her long life, and become quite an expert at reading human faces.
“Pollen, buzz on” As her holder said the transformation words, Pollen hoped that Chloe knew what she was doing.
Hawkmoth snapped his fingers, and a moment later Chloe saw several magical ladybugs fly across the city, restoring it to its former beauty. This indicated that battle was over, Hawkmoth had willingly taken the akuma out her parents. They were safe. Chloe felt one burden lift off her shoulders.
“I held up to my end of the bargain, Mlle. Bourgeois, now it’s your turn.” Hawkmoth said.
“Very well, then.” Chloe, as Queen Bee, replied with as much a haughty tone as she could muster. “I suggest that we use the Fox miraculous, and get ourselves another ally.”
“Ah,” he said delicately, “then you have a new holder for the Fox in mind?”
“Of course not. I am not the Guardian. Besides, Rena Rouge is already familiar with the miraculous and its kwami. She is a much better choice.”
“A better choice as an ally for Ladybug. Why do you think she will help our cause? Besides, I was under the impression that you did not know the identities of the other miraculous holders.”
“I do not. But, the kwami do. We can send the kwami of the Fox miraculous to go get her after suiting up. Also, I do not intend to give Rena Rouge a choice. She won’t know until she gets here that it wasn’t Ladybug, but I, who sent for her. But by then, it will already be too late. Your presence would ensure that she doesn’t fight or get away. Then, we think about that pesky bug and cat.”
“That is indeed a good plan, Mlle. Bourgeois. I see that the Mayor Bourgeois has taught you well.”
“Well? What are you waiting for? Hand over the Fox miraculous, so I can talk to the kwami and tell him what to do.”
“Yes.” He said, taking out the necklace from the already open Miracle Box, and giving it an impatient Chloe. “I must leave now, and check upon the senile, old Guardian. However, if I sense you trying to backstab me, things will not end good for you, Queen Bee.”
Panic raced through Chloe. “You found the Guardian?”
“Of course. That’s why I have the Miracle Box with me. He’s yet to tell Ladybug and Chat Noir’s identities, so I must go shake him up bit. Now, if you will excuse me.” Saying so, Hawkmoth took the Miracle Box, and left Chloe on her rooftop with only the Fox miraculous in her hands.
Now it’s time to start, Chloe thought to herself.
Trixx, the kwami of Illusion, materialized next to her.
“You are not the holder of my miraculous. What is going on?”