Chapter Text
Love is a term we all seek to find and cherish. Whether from a significant other, a friend, or even our parents, we all look for someone to make us feel like we matter. Chloe Bourgeois was no different. After the day she had, she lay on her bed, feeling utterly hopeless and alone.
She had not only had her secret identity as Queen Bee exposed to all of Paris, possibly the world, but she had also disappointed her mother in the process. Getting akumatized and then being stopped by Ladybug and Chat Noir was embarrassing enough, but being put down by her mother on the news afterwards was worse.
After the whole Queen Wasp incident, she retreated to her room, avoiding her father’s poorly executed attempts to comfort her and his excuses for his wife. Sprawled on the bed, her hair released from its confining ponytail, she desperately tried to push back the thoughts and emotions that once plagued her childhood—thoughts of being unloved, alone, and a waste of space.
When she was younger, she had trained herself to hide all the pain in her heart behind a well-concealed mask of stone, blocking out everything that threatened to shatter her.
As she continued to lie there, a knock on her door caught her attention, if only briefly.
“If that’s you, Daddy, leave me alone! I’m not in the mood!” Chloe yelled out.
“Chloe, it’s me… I’d like to talk to you,” came a familiar voice from the other side of the door. That meek and wimpy voice could only belong to one person, and unfortunately for her, Chloe was far from being a fan of this person.
“GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE!” she roared in anger.
But they were not willing to quit, “Chloe, please, I just want to talk, about your mum” the last few words made Chloe both intrigued and furrow her eyebrows at the audacity. Chloe was in no mood to talk to her or anyone else. But she shot up from her bed, eager to end this interruption.
Charging towards the door, she didn’t care that her face was puffy, her hair was a mess, or her clothes were rumpled. She just wanted to make her go away.
She swung open the door anger, glaring at her unwanted guest. “What do you want, Dupain-Cheng?! Come here to gloat about going to New York with my mother or what?!” the underlying anger in Chloe’s tone was unmistakable.
Marinette, who had come with unwavering resolve, was now searching for the right words. She was not blind to her classmate’s disheveled appearance, nor did she miss the obvious pain and anger in her tone and eyes. She took a deep breath and began.
“Chloe…” Marinette started off.
A few minutes passed before Chloe could even say a word. She was standing by the door, behind Dupain-Cheng, of all people; waiting as they spoke to her mother about rejecting the offer to go to New York. Honestly, Chloe wouldn’t have bothered coming up to the roof if Marinette hadn’t somehow convinced her to do so. She bitterly thought about how her mother had chosen Marinette over her, but that bitterness turned to sadness. She couldn’t hold back the tears as they began to form.
She was so engrossed in her pain that she did not notice Armond behind her, giving her a sympathetic look. Before she could chastise herself for the obvious weakness she had shown, Marinette stepped aside, revealing a meek-looking Chloe as she fiddled with her hands.
“Chlorene? Uh— Chloe?” Audrey said, momentarily surprised.
Chloe took a few seconds to gather her bearings, glancing at her mother, then at Marinette with a guilty expression, and finally back at her mom. “Why don’t you love me, Mom?” she asked, voicing the question she had been asking herself since she was young.
A few seconds passed, and Audrey stared at her daughter with a chilling indifference. At that moment, Chloe felt a lump form in her throat. But what came next made her miss the stare.
“Because, despite being my daughter, you are an utter failure,” Audrey said coldly.
No one, not even Chloe, could have seen that coming. “W-what…?” Chloe stuttered, unable to believe her ears.
“Yes, Chloe, it’s the truth,” Audrey continued, removing her glasses and delivering an icy stare that would have made even Hawk Moth quake in his boots.
“W-why?” Chloe blurted out, desperately trying to find any shred of understanding.
“Why? I’ll tell you why,” Audrey said, taking a couple of steps forward. “Chloe, you have never shown any promise since you were born. I don’t even need to ask your teachers to know that you are far from being a good student; clearly that Katrina girl is the one with all the brains and ideas in your “friendship,” or whatever. You’re not athletically gifted. You lack even a shred fashion sense, despite having a mother like me, ridiculous actually,” she then gave a humorless chuckle, but continued, “And instead of developing your own style, you steal from others. And might I add, you were too foolish to not check if the designer had signed her work before you duplicated it. You have no noteworthy skills,” everyone could here in Audrey’s harsh tone, there was not an ounce of love or feelings towards Chloe, only disdain.
Those who were present could only silently stare in pity and horror at the young girl being chewed out. Chloe was at brink of having an emotional break down at what her mother was saying to her. The painful thoughts she had long kept at bay, was now being cultivated and threatening to make their way out of her stone-carved box.
Marinette was at a loss for words, she could see the pain, clear as day in Chloe’s eyes, it was only after what her mother, said next, would she truly regret her encouraging Chloe to come here.
“Honestly,” she sighed, “I knew you were trouble from the moment your father and I were told I was pregnant. I blame myself for making the mistake of dating your father,” Audrey sighed angrily. “But we had to keep you. In the line of work, we’re in, a scandal like that is unacceptable; my plans were not going to be further ruined,” Audrey said bitterly.
Her voice softened, but the contempt was still palpable. “I sacrificed so much for this career, and you were a burden from the start. Every opportunity I missed, every setback I faced, it all traces back to you. You’re a reminder of everything that went wrong.”
Chloe's heart felt like it was being choked. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as her mother’s words echoed in her mind. She struggled to maintain her composure, but the pain was overwhelming. “But... but I tried,” she said weakly, her voice trembling. “I tried to be good enough...”
Audrey’s expression hardened further. “Tried? That’s the problem, Chloe. Trying isn’t enough. You were never enough. I had to endure years of disappointment, watching you stumble and fail while everyone else succeeded. And you know what? I’m tired of it. I’m tired of pretending that you matter.”
Chloe felt the tears streaming down her face, her body shaking uncontrollably. “Why... why couldn’t you just love me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Audrey’s rolled her eyes at that. “Love? You think you deserve love? Love is earned, Chloe, not given out of obligation. And you’ve done nothing to earn it,” everyone present gasped, all eyes turned to Chloe.
The weight of Audrey’s words crashed down on Chloe like a tidal wave. Her entire world felt like it was shattering. With a broken sob, she turned and walked away, her steps heavy and unsteady.
Marinette, unable to bear the scene any longer, moved toward Chloe, trying to offer some words of comfort. “Chloe, wait—”
“Stay away from me!” Chloe snapped, her voice laced with venom. “I know what you were doing, I should have never listened to you and your stupid suggestions!” her voice cracked in sorrow, “You wanted this to happen, didn’t you?! You just wanted to make me feel worse!”
Marinette’s eyes widened in shock, but Chloe was already shaking with rage and despair. “I hate you, Marinette! I hate you for being here, for everything!” Chloe shouted, her words piercing through the air.
Without waiting for a response, Chloe stormed off, leaving behind a stunned Marinette and the cold silence of the rooftop. Marinette stood there, helpless, as Chloe, the echoes of her anguish lingering in the stillness.
(---------)
Chloe stumbled into her room, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The door slammed shut behind her with a force that made the walls shake. Her mind was a storm of racing thoughts, each one more painful than the last.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she collapsed onto her bed. The years of bitter pain and loneliness came crashing down on her, a relentless tide of anguish she could no longer hold back. Her mother’s harsh words reverberated in her mind, a cruel refrain that seemed to echo with each heartbeat.
She threw herself onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow. The sobs came then, uncontrollable and raw. They were howling, wrenching from deep within her as though her very soul was being torn apart. The pillow muffled her cries, but it could not silence the devastation within her. Tears streamed down her face, soaking the fabric beneath her. She clutched the pillow tightly, as if it could shield her from the emotional storm raging inside her.
Thoughts swirled in her mind like a tempest.
‘You were unwanted,’ ‘Unplanned,’ ‘Your very existence had been a mistake, a burden that had disrupted her mother’s perfect plans.’ ‘You have never been loved, only tolerated.’
The realization cut deep, making her feel utterly gutted. The idea that she had never been truly loved, that she was just a symbol of failure and regret, left her feeling unworthy and abandoned.
She thought of all the times she had tried to gain her mother’s approval, only to be met with cold indifference or outright disdain. The times her father would not even be there, other than few gifts and favors. Every failed attempt to bridge the gap between them, every tear she had shed in silence, every moment of loneliness—it all accumulated now, a suffocating weight she could no longer bear.
The pain was all-encompassing. It was as if her heart was being squeezed in a vice, each throb a reminder of her inadequacies. She felt like a failure, a disappointment, and the tears flowed more freely, each one a testament to the deep-seated sadness she had carried for so long. Her sobs were loud, broken, each cry a reflection of the anguish that had built up over the years.
In her mind, a barrage of self-loathing thoughts raced through. She was nothing but a shadow in her mother’s eyes, an afterthought to her father, most likely from guilt. A constant reminder of a life that hadn’t gone according to plan. The love she had longed for was always just out of reach, and now, the bitter truth was inescapable. She was alone, unlovable, a mere afterthought in the grand scheme of things.
The night wore on, and Chloe’s cries gradually began to subside. Her body, exhausted from the relentless torrent of emotions, eventually gave in to fatigue. Her sobs turned into quiet whimpers, and eventually, silence. The tears continued to stain the pillow as she drifted into an uneasy sleep, her mind still churning with the echoes of her pain and despair. The room was dark and still, holding the remnants of her heartache as Chloe cried herself to sleep, the remnants of her agony lingering in the quiet of the night.
(---------)
-The Agreste Home-
Late at night, in the house of the Agreste family, Gabriel was situated in his office. A space defined by its sharp contrasts. The room features black and white diagonal checkerboard tiles, creating a striking geometric effect. What stuck out was on the back wall, two large windows are partially covered by black drapes, and between them hangs a portrait of Emilie Agreste. Directly in front of the painting is a large touchscreen monitor with a white backing and stand.
Nooroo, Gabriel's Kwami, was floating anxiously by his master’s side, his back turned, to face the portrait, as he scours through his monitor, getting work done. His mood was visibly tense, simmering with frustration over the day’s setbacks. Nooroo, sensing his master’s disappointment, hovers close, a look of sadness in his tiny eyes.
Suddenly, a wave of powerful emotions washes over them, and Nooroo gives a quiet, “Oh no,” his voice filled with dread. He recognizes the intensity of the emotions and knows they are significantly volatile.
When Gabriel also senses it, his expression shifts from frustration to dark satisfaction. An evil smirk spreads across his face as he feels the raw strength of the emotions. “Well, looks like I have another chance with Chloe Bourgeois, after all,” he says, his voice tinged with malicious glee. “This will be interesting.”
Nooroo cowers, overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding. He can’t shake the feeling of the toxic sadness in the emotions, and his apprehension only deepens as Gabriel’s eyes gleam with sinister intent.
It has been a couple of days passed and things at the hotel has been tense. Ever since the scene with Chloe and Audrey on the roof tops, Chloe had not gone back to school and neither has she left her room. She had refused to eat much or talk to anyone. Try as they might, they could not enter her room, being that she fortified it, shutting everyone out. Her mood has been getting worse, the events of that transpired were still fresh within her mind; the thoughts and pain fester deep within her being
Those at the hotel had to simply dismiss her, and not out of their own choice, but from fear of Audrey Bourgeois' instructions, “do not give in to the spoiled brat’s tantrum or risk being fired,” safe to say, the workers would much rather leave the matter alone than risk getting fired. Chloe’s father was torn about the situation. Wanting to be there for his precious daughter or staying loyal to his beloved wife. Ultimately, he decided to do as he has always done, buy gifts to settle the mood and his guilty conscious.
-
Things at school were of a mixed situation. Ever since the whole situation with Chloe revealing her secret identity and being akumatized by Hawk Moth, not too many people were in her fan base. (As if they ever were)
“Class, does anyone know if Chloe is coming back? I am getting worried,” Miss Bustier said, addressing her class. “Sabrina, you’re her friend, any word?”
Sabrina shook her head sadly, “No, Miss Bustier. I tried to go over and see her, but they told me that she wasn’t feeling well.”
“Must be too embarrassed to show her face around school, after her epic mess up,” Alix snarkly replied.
“Alix!” Miss Bustier admonished.
“Well, its true, Miss. Honestly, a little humbling will do that spoiled brat some good,” Alix defended herself.
“I can actually agree with pinky here,” that got Kim a glare from the tomboy, “At the very least, we’ve had a good couple of days of peace and quiet,” he said with a smirk.
“That is so mean, she could be ill right now,” Sabrina said.
“Yeah guys. We don’t know if Chloe is actually sick…sick of being around us commoners,” Alya jokingly said. It got a few laughs from some people in the class.
Miss Bustier watched the classroom as the discussion about Chloe’s absence continued to spiral. The students’ voices were filled with a mix of mockery and indifference, and despite her attempts to redirect the conversation, it only seemed to grow more pointed.
“I mean, she really messed up big time,” Alix said, her tone dripping with disdain. “If anyone deserves a bit of public shaming, it’s her.”
“Seriously,” Kim chimed in with a smirk, “It’s been kind of nice without her drama. Maybe she’ll stay away for a while more.”
“That’s not fair!” Sabrina argued, her voice strained with worry. “You don’t know what’s going on with her. She might be dealing with something serious.”
“Seriously?” Alya laughed bitterly. “She’s probably just laying low because she’s embarrassed. Maybe she’s finally getting a taste of what it’s like to be on the other side of all her bites.”
The comments cut deeper with each word. Marinette, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly felt a surge of anger and anguish. Her hands clenched into fists on her desk, knuckles white.
“Enough!” Marinette’s voice burst out, startling the entire class. Her face was flushed with a mixture of anger and desperation. “You all are being incredibly heartless! Just because Chloe made mistakes doesn’t mean she deserves this.”
The room fell into stunned silence. The usual chatter stopped abruptly, and every student’s eyes were fixed on Marinette. Miss Bustier looked at her with a mix of surprise and concern.
“Marinette,” Miss Bustier began, trying to regain control of the situation, “it’s important to understand—”
“No!” Marinette cut her off, her voice trembling with emotion. “You don’t get it. You all don’t know what’s going on with her. But she’s still a person who’s hurting. You’re all just making things worse!”
The anger in Marinette’s voice was raw and palpable. Alya’s eyes widened in shock, while other students looked unsettled by the outburst. The class was quiet now, the weight of Marinette’s words hanging heavily in the air.
“I can’t be here,” Marinette said, her voice breaking slightly. “I need to… I need to go.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried out of the classroom. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving the room in an oppressive silence. The students exchanged uneasy glances, the usual buzz of gossip replaced by an awkward stillness.
Miss Bustier, her face a mix of concern and confusion, took a deep breath before speaking. “I hope this serves as a reminder that we need to be compassionate, even when we don’t fully understand what others are going through.”
The bell rang, signaling the end of the period, but the atmosphere in the room was thick with unspoken thoughts. The students’ chatter was muted, their usual energy replaced by a contemplative quiet as they tried to process Marinette’s sudden outburst and the implications of their own behavior.
The classroom remained tense, with the echoes of Marinette’s anguished words lingering in the stillness.
(---------)
Hawk Moth watched intently from his lair, his expression a mix of dark anticipation and satisfaction. The heavy curtains were drawn back, letting the sun's harsh light cast long shadows across the room. He and Mayura stood in a poised silence, the atmosphere crackling with malicious energy.
The windows to his lair opened, allowing the sun’s light to illuminate the dark room. Hawk Moth stood there, satisfaction written all over his face, with Mayura behind him.
He took a deep breath in, before he sighed in satisfaction, “I believe our victim’s emotions has marinated well enough. She will indeed be what I need to finally defeat Ladybug and Cat Noir,” he said darkly, raising his hands out to allow a single butterfly to rest upon it. Placing his other hand over the creature, a dark energy seeped in between and an Akuma was formed, “Fly away my little Akuma, and evilize her,” releasing the Akuma from his grasp, as it flew out the window.
Hawk Moth hummed thoughtfully, “Although, I can tell that her particular brand of negative emotions might be stronger than any prior Akuma,” that was all the signal for Mayura to step closer, standing by his side, “I think our dear Chloe might need a little comfort as she embarks on her journey.”
“Indeed, Hawk Moth,” Mayura delicately plucked a white feather from her fan, taking it in the palm of her hands, a deep blue glow seeped in and what was formed was a blue feather, “Fly my pretty amok, enhance and hone the frustration,” she said before she blew on the feather, sending towards her target.
The butterfly and amok feather wasted no time, before they managed to appear in to the room of its victim.
Chloe was lying on her bed, her mind swirling with despair, the weight of her mother’s cruel words and the relentless cycle of pain and loneliness bearing down on her. The room was cloaked in darkness, save for the muted glow from the day’s lights filtering through the curtains. She was barely aware of the two unknown creatures fluttering silently into her room, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
As the butterfly and feather hovered over her bed, they seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy. Chloe, lost in her misery, didn’t notice as one landed on a small parcel, and one softly lay on her childhood teddy bear, Mr. Cuddly. The moment the creatures made contact, Chloe, suddenly finding bout of strength, shot up at the familiar sensation coursing through her mind.
“Hawk Moth!” she spat, her voice raw with emotion. Her anger was palpable, a fierce flame fueled by her recent suffering.
“Ah, Chloe Bourgeois,” he purred, his tone silky and malicious. “It is a pleasure to see you again. I trust that the recent events have left you feeling quite... disheartened?”
“GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!” Chloe roared, her face contorted with rage. “You did this to me! You made me feel like this! How dare you come here and exploit my suffering!”
Hawk Moth’s smirk widened, his eyes glinting with a cold, calculating light. “My dear, I am merely revealing to you the harsh truths that your own family failed to acknowledge. It is not I who caused your pain, but rather the people who’ve always overlooked your worth. Your mother, your father, even your so-called friends—they’ve all shown you nothing but disdain.”
“Get the FUCK out of my head, y-you…” she said, thrashing about, trying in vain to tune out the man’s voice.
“You know that I am right, Miss Bourgeois. You’ve always known that no one loved you,” that last sentence was enough to halt any further resistance from Chloe, “Your own family did not even take the time to care for you, just saw you as a burden
“You’re wrong!” Chloe’s voice trembled with both anger and a deeper, raw pain. “They’re not the only ones who’ve hurt me. Your part of this too, manipulating my pain for your own gain!”
Hawk Moth’s expression darkened with mock sympathy. “And yet, you have the power to turn your pain into something more. I can offer you a way to exact revenge on those who have inflicted such agony upon you.”
Chloe’s tears suddenly turned black and began to fall uncontrollably, each one like dark mascara streaking down her cheeks. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled with her resolve. “What... what are you talking about?” she asked, her voice breaking.
Hawk Moth’s voice took on a coaxing, sinister edge. “I will give you the power to transform your despair into a tangible force. You will be able to spread your pain, such that anyone who comes in your way, will drown in their own dark thoughts and regrets. Think of it—revenge against those who have wronged you, and a chance to finally make them feel the depth of your suffering. And all I ask is for Ladybug and Cat Noir’s miraculouses.”
Chloe’s resolve wavered, her heart aching with a mix of rage and hopelessness. Her anger slowly turned into a crushing, overwhelming sorrow as she imagined the sweet taste of vengeance. Her eyes, once fierce, now tainted red, and her body began to tremble.
“Do you accept?” Hawk Moth’s voice was laced with dark pleasantry, his words dripping with malicious delight.
With a trembling voice, she said, “Yes, Hawk Moth…I accept.”
A triumphant smile spread across Hawk Moth’s face. “Then rise, Queen Loveless!” he declared with a dark, victorious tone.
The transformation began. Chloe’s form shifted and twisted, her body taking on a statuesque appearance. Her skin became a grey, a stone-like surface, cracked in places with black liquid seeping through the fissures. Her eyes, once full of life, were now voids of darkness, streaked with black tears. A see-through heart shaped shell on her chest, slowly filling with a thick, black liquid that was her growing negativity within her.
As the transformation completed, Chloe’s gaze fell upon Mr. Cuddly, now also a statue. Her heart filled with a flood of black liquid as she took the statue toy into her arms, her expression darkening as she thought of her mother’s cruel words and her father’s indifference.
At that moment, Mayura voice appeared in her mind, her voice, calm and composed amidst the chaos in her head. A blue outline appeared over the Akumatized villain’s eyes.
“Queen Loveless,” Mayura began softly, “I am Mayura. Your emotions are like a tidal wave, powerful and all-consuming. But let me assist you in tempering them in the waters as you sail forth.”
Chloe only nodded.
With a wave of her hand, Mayura summoned her powers, and the amok within Mr. Cuddly began to take form. The teddy bear transformed into a massive, muscular bear-like beast, its black eyes glowing with a dim light. Mr. Cuddly lumbered towards Chloe, his enormous arms extended in a comforting gesture.
“Would you like a hug, Queen Loveless?” Mr. Cuddly asked in a deep, soothing voice. “It will help ease the pain.”
Chloe hesitated, caught between her simmering rage and the unexpected kindness from the transformed Mr. Cuddly. Despite the darkness surrounding her, the sight of her once-familiar teddy bear, even in this monstrous form, stirred a faint memory of comfort.
She allowed Mr. Cuddly’s embrace, and as the bear’s massive arms wrapped around her, a small part of the black liquid in her heart began to drain away. The hug offered a fleeting moment of solace, softening the sharp edge of her overwhelming negativity. Chloe’s body trembled, and the black tears from her eyes subsided slightly, revealing a glimmer of vulnerability amid the darkness.
Hawk Moth, watching with a calculating gaze, felt a sense of satisfaction. “Let the games…begin.”
(---------)
Queen Loveless rode atop her massive bear Sentimonster, rampaging through the streets of Paris. The city, usually alive with the hum of evening activity, was now a cacophony of screams and frantic footsteps. The air was thick with fear as people ran and hid from the monstrous figure that terrorized their city.
Queen Loveless, her heart a pulsating vessel of black liquid, surveyed the chaos with a mix of malevolence and satisfaction. Her form, a haunting amalgamation of dark sorrow and rage, seemed to cast a shadow over the city. Her black tears streamed down her face, leaving dark trails that glistened ominously in the daylight.
From atop Mr. Cuddly, she spotted Kim, who was frantically trying to escape the turmoil. With a burst of dark energy, she propelled herself toward him, landing with a forceful impact. Kim stumbled back, his eyes widening in terror as he recognized the figure before him.
“Kim,” Queen Loveless hissed through gritted teeth, her voice laced with icy fury. “Where is Marinette Du-Pang Cheng? I demand you tell me now!”
Kim, still reeling from shock, looked up at her with fear. “Chloe… is that really you?” he stammered, his voice trembling.
Queen Loveless’ rage flared at the recognition, the black liquid in her heart churning violently. “I am QUEEN LOVELESS!” she roared, her voice echoing with dark authority. “I demand to know where Marinette is, NOW!”
Kim, summoning what little courage he had left, attempted to stand his ground. “Nice try, but you’re not going to get anything from me,” he now scowled at her, “You think you can just come here and throw a tantrum like a spoiled brat? Even after some people in class, bothered to stick up for? You’ve always been a pain in everyone’s ass, Chloe! And you wonder why no one cared about you when you didn’t show up. I can’t believe you’d let some stupid akuma turn you into this. You’re pathetic—getting akumatized over your own pathetic issues.”
The harsh words stung deep, fueling Queen Loveless' fury. Her heart, already filling with dark liquid, began to overflow as Kim’s cruel jabs pierced her. Her eyes narrowed, tears of black seeping from her eyes. She clenched her fists, the black liquid dripping from her fingers as she summoned her dark power.
Without warning, she gathered the black liquid in the palm of her hands. It dripped ominously as she extended her arm and, with a swift, menacing motion, slapped Kim across the face. The black liquid left a ghastly stain, pulsating with dark energy.
Kim cried out in pain and shock. “AHH-What the hell did you do that for?!” he yelled, clutching his face.
Queen Loveless’ eyes flared with unrestrained anger. Her body trembled as the cracks slowly grew in her form, and seeped black liquid more rapidly. Her voice, now a twisted blend of pain and fury, cut through the air. “You will all feel my PAIN!” she declared, her tone menacing and deathly.
Before he could say anything, Kim’s face began to morph into a mask of torment, his body convulsed with the emotional pain Chloe had inflicted. He writhed on the ground, his screams turning into frantic cries of despair. The agony was psychological, his mind overwhelmed with dark, tormenting emotions. He finally fell into a comatose state, his eyes staring vacantly as his body continued to spasm; indicating that he was far from dead.
Queen Loveless watched with a mixture of grim satisfaction and lingering sorrow as Kim lay incapacitated. Her tears of black liquid continued to flow, merging with the dark substance seeping from the cracks in her body. Mr. Cuddly, ever observant, approached her with a deep, comforting rumble.
The Sentimonster extended its massive arms toward Queen Loveless. In a deep, soothing voice, it offered, “Queen Loveless, you need to calm yourself. Let me give you a hug. It will help ease your pain.”
Despite her anger and the chaos surrounding her, Queen Loveless felt a flicker of hesitation. She initially resisted, but the overwhelming weight of her emotions and the bear’s comforting offer proved irresistible.
She allowed Mr. Cuddly to embrace her. As his massive arms enveloped her, the black liquid in her heart began to drain slowly. The oppressive weight of her rage and sorrow lightened, though only slightly. The cracks in her body that were once pronounce, slowly repaired itself, the black tears subsiding as the hug provided a fleeting respite from her turmoil.
The sound of police sirens cut through the night. Roger and his team of officers arrived, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension. “Queen Loveless! Surrender immediately! Put your hands up!” Roger commanded, his voice firm.
Queen Loveless glared at the approaching officers, her anger rekindling. With a surge of dark energy, she unleashed a pressurized blast of her black liquid towards them. Once it made contact, the liquid had the same agonizing effect as it did on Kim, causing the officers to stagger and writhe in emotional pain. Their faces contorted as they fell to the ground, incapacitated.
The scene was broadcasted live across Paris. Nadja Chamack, her voice trembling with distress, reported from the scene. “This is Nadja Chamack reporting from Paris. A new villain, Queen Loveless, is wreaking havoc throughout the city. Her powers are devastating, causing immense psychological torment. If you see her, avoid her and report any information about her whereabouts, particularly regarding someone named Marinette Du-Pang Cheng.”
In his room, Adrien watched in horror as the broadcast revealed the identity of the new villain. The realization that Chloe was behind the mask of Queen Loveless struck him with a deep pang of sadness. Adrien’s heart sank as he saw Chloe’s transformed visage on the screen.
“Plagg,” Adrien said, turning to his kwami with a furrowed brow, “What do you think happened to Chloe? She looks—different. And I don’t mean her akumatized form, I mean like she’s been consumed by something.”
Plagg’s eyes narrowed in concern. He floated near Adrien, his expression grim. “It’s hard to say for sure, but whatever happened to Chloe must be serious. She’s not the same girl she was. There’s something dark and twisted to this whole akuma and I’m afraid Hawk Moth has been cooking up this particular one for a while.”
Adrien nodded, still staring at the screen. “But why would she be targeted like this? What could have caused this kind of transformation?”
Plagg’s eyes shifted, a deep frown on his tiny face. “Sometimes the akumas exploit the deepest vulnerabilities in people. Chloe must have been in a state of extreme emotional pain or despair for this to happen. Whatever caused it, it’s made her a formidable threat.”
Adrien’s worry deepened. “We need to be careful. Queen Loveless seems more dangerous than any akumatized villain I’ve faced before. Her powers are affecting people in a way that’s almost… unbearable. But we also have to find Marinette. If Chloe’s gone this far, Marinette could be in real danger.”
Plagg sighed, his concern evident. “Yes, we have to be extremely cautious. It’s going to be a challenge to get close to Queen Loveless without getting caught in her emotional turmoil.”
Adrien’s face hardened with determination. He stood up, his eyes flashing with resolve. “Then let’s not waste any time. We need to go save Marinette and stop Chloe before things get worse,” he rose up, looked at Plagg with a serious expression. “Plagg, Claws Out!”
In a flash of green light, Adrien transformed into Chat Noir. His suit gleamed with the familiar luster, his transformation complete. With a determined leap, he bounded towards the window, ready to confront the darkness threatening Paris and to protect Marinette from the peril that Queen Loveless now posed.
-
-
To Be Continued…