Chapter Text
Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Alya Césaire struggled to keep their eyes open as they stared at a whiteboard, ideas about the new Butterfly Miraculous holder scrawled in sloppy handwriting. For hours, they threw theories at each other that couldn't hold any water.
Marinette grabbed a pillow and buried her head into it to hide her frantic expression. "How are we ever going to find the new holder? The brooch must have gotten lost in the sewers... for all we know, the holder could be across the world, and we've lost it forever!"
"Calm down, Marinette." Alya put a hand on her shoulder. "We know a few things about the new holder.
"We know they're in Paris, because akumatizations only happen here, as they did during Hawk Moth's reign." Tikki pointed out.
"We know they're trying to hide their identity, because of the blurred voices." Trixx added.
"And we might not know what they want yet... but at least we have something."
Alya hugged the desperate girl. "It will all be okay."
"No! It won't! Paris is a big city! And if Hawk Moth had a secret area of his house, then who's to say this holder doesn't have a bunker or something they live in full time? And of course they're keeping their voice a secret, to withhold as much about them as possible! It's hopeless, Alya! Absolutely hopeless!"
Alya was too distracted by Marinette's tears falling on the wood of her floor to notice the dark purple butterfly fluttering through the window, wings glistening in the moonlight like amethyst.
"Marinette!" Tikki cried, being the first to notice the akuma.
Trixx prepared to try stopping the akuma with force, getting in front of it before Marinette stopped them.
"If a kwami gets akumatized..." they could hear Marinette mutter before her earrings turned indigo and a carefully crafted mask fell over her face.
Suddenly, Marinette found herself in a strange place with a purple sky dotted with stars, sitting on what seemed like nothing, yet seemed so stable.
She could feel arms draped around her shoulders. "Hello. Forgive my intrusion." a soothing voice... or voices purred.
Is this what it's like akumatized?
Marinette turned to face the speaker, but their hands seemed to vanish when she moved.
Their back was against hers now. "How overwhelming it must be, searching for someone so elusive and cunning."
She could feel her head bob in affirmation without thinking. This person... their voices were so tantalizing, their touch so gentle...
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng..." they cooed, taking her hand in theirs. "How I've been waiting for you, my dear."
My dear...
If this was what it was like being akumatized by this new holder...
No! the rational side of her cried. You're Ladybug! You must resist! You have Adrien, Alya, your family, all your friends! Break out for them!
She could hear the familiar cries of Alya and Tikki, encouraging her to resist. But... this holder's grasp was so hard to wiggle out of!
Marinette could finally see the form of the holder, in front of her, cupping her face with both hands. Their body was made of violet mist, and they had a butterfly insignia over their blank eyes.
"Marinette... my sweet Marinette, don't listen to them. You deserve a break from all of your hard work, don't you think?"
Her heart was torn between this mysterious holder and her friends, who she knew were the heroes and she knew this person was the villain, she couldn't give in, she couldn't couldn't couldn't!
"I can carry you away, I can bring you relaxation. I can free you from this duty, if that is what you wish." Suddenly, she was in the person's arms, looking up at their mask, that beautiful mask.
Reason tried to make its way through her mind. "What are you going to do? What is your name? Who are you?!" Marinette tried running into the mist, away from this untrustworthy one who called her dear and cupped her face and was so considerate...
"...Are you really a villain?"
The person's face seemed to soften. "...I am Chrysalis. And I am what you believe I am... though you must know in your heart."
"Chrysalis..." She spoke the name with reverence, as if it was a secret that must be kept.
"Are you ready now, my dear Marinette?" The holder--Chrysalis-- set her down gently. It was a bit disappointing to lose the touch of those gentle, starry hands.
"MARINETTE!" someone screeched desperately.
She was reminded of her family, her friends, Ladybug, her partner. She had to persist... for them.
"NO! I WON'T DO IT!"
The mask on her face shattered at those words, and Alya rushed to her aid. "Are you okay? What happened? Should we take a break from--"
Marinette breathed deeply. "I have information."
Trixx and Tikki held their breath.
"The villain..."
"Yes?" Alya urged.
Marinette smiled. "Chrysalis. Their name was Chrysalis."
Alya and the kwamis eagerly jotted down what Marinette had recounted.
"I think we made some progress! Let's rest for the night."
"...But you're not transformed, Alya!" Trixx cracked.
Alya rolled her eyes. "Haha, very funny." She offered a grape to them as an appeal to let her rest, transformed or not.
"Good night, everyone!" Tikki muttered, half asleep already.
"Mmmph..."
Marinette spent that night dreaming about the mysterious Chrysalis... and maybe, just maybe, being akumatized by them again.
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