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“I'm taking her because she’s exceptional, Claudette… Chloé .”
“Im exceptional too!”
“The only thing exceptional about you, my dear, is your mother!”
“I’ll show you how exceptional I can be!”
As Chloé reached into her back pocket to pull out the Bee Miraculous, Marinette knew she had to strike.
So, as Chloé opened the box, Marinette lunged forward to grab the Miraculous, and without any second thoughts, placed it into her hair and shouted “Pollen! Buzz On!”.
As Marigold's transformation finished, Marinette felt a sort of confidence enter her body, like nothing she’d ever felt before.
“Daddy!!!” Chloe screeched “Dupain-Cheng stole my miraculous!”
“Now, now dear-”
“See Catherine, you weren't even exceptional enough for that .” Audrey spat pointing at the comb.
As Marinette came to her senses she realized that she had just majorly muffined up.
So- she did the next most sensible thing, running for her freaking life.
Adrien stood as still as a statue trying to figure out why his very good friend would steal from Chloé.
Gabriel Agreste had never been more intrigued in his lifetime. He had certainly expected Chloe to show some form of status to the young designer. But never in a million years, would he have expected this status to be a Miraculous of all things. The thing that intrigued him the most about the whole ordeal, was the fact that Mlle Duain-Cheng quickly took action against Mlle Bourgeois before she could presumably cause more damage. Of course, Mlle Dupain-Cheng had no idea how much damage she had just prevented, but she had also failed to recognize just how powerful Chloé Bourgeois’s emotions could be.
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Marigold was panicking. She had just made one of the riskiest decisions of her entire career, no - her lifetime. Hawkmoth was probably sending an Akuma, and she had a feeling this one would be more intense than she ever intended.
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“This just in! Local bakers Marinette Dupain-Cheng revealed to be Queen Bee?”
Nadja Chamack said in disbelief, as a blurred video of Marigold making her escape appeared on the screen.
As all this played out before her, Chloe in a rage-induced state shoved everyone in her way before grabbing Nadja’s microphone and angrily shouting;
“Um, No! I Chloé Bourgeois, was your all-powerful Queen-Bee and that girl is nothing but a cheap, criminal copout!”
Just as Chloé finished her speech, a very familiar butterfly flapped its wings towards her.
“Rache, I am Hawkmoth. You have been cheated, robbed, and most importantly betrayed. I can give you the power to take revenge on those who have wronged you, in return-”
“Yea, yea, you want Ladybugs and Chat Noir's miraculous. I know the drill, get to it Hawky!”
As the black magic encased her, both Rache and Hawkmoth could feel the effects of the powerful emotions that were about to storm the city.
If anyone had paid attention to the Agreste family before all this took place, they would have noticed Gabriel Agreste hurriedly running towards the closest restroom…
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“Master!” Wayyz said nervously.
“Yes, Wayzz?” Master Fu asked, trying to remain as calm as possible.
“What is Marinette going to do? We both felt Rache’s power, she will be like no Akuma they have ever faced.”
“We will be on guard, whether that be to run, assist the Ladybug in any way she needs us to, or..” Fu paused, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air.
“You don't mean-?” Wayyz asked cautiously.
“I do.”
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Adrien had no idea what he was supposed to do. Marinette had just done something so imprudently out of character that he still couldn't fathom it had actually happened, but according to the news it did, and so did Chloé’s akumatization. As much as he wanted to sit and process what just happened Ladybug, and Marinette needed him! Maybe having another teammate like Marinette wouldn't be so bad…
He found a place to transform it was behind a bench and quickly launched into battle.
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As Rache glided across the city, she sucked the most precious things of all that got in her way. Dupain-Cheng had taken what she considered most valuable, so she would return the favour by taking what was most valuable to everyone else! For most people, it was a soul or something of physical value, but there were some stupid bastards who considered other people more valuable than themselves. She pitied them for not being selfless enough to think they were valuable, but maybe they were just worthless
anyways.
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Marigold had been so lost in thought that she hadn't seen Chat Noir approach her from behind.
“Marinette!”
“AHHH!” she screamed, slapping Chat Across the face.
“Owie! What was that for?!” The hero whined.
“Oh my gosh! Chat Noir! Im so,so,so,so,so,so sorry! I thought you were someone trying to attack me!”
“It's fine Marinette,” He said scratching the back of his head.
“So, uh.. What brings you hear Chat Noir?” She asked sheepishly.
“Well… Chloe’s been akumatized,- and Ladybug’s not responding… so I need help.”
“Chat I cant help! I have no idea what im doing- and im clumsy and flakey and I just got this thing within the last 30 minutes-”
“Marinette-” Chat said resting his hands on her shoulders,
“I believe you can do this,” he said with a soft smile as he gazed into her eyes.
“I-” What was she supposed to do? Saying no could risk her identity, what could possibly go wrong if she said yes?
“Ok, I’ll do it.”
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So many things went wrong. Because the Bee miraculous was not a primary miraculous Chat Noir decided to take the reigns and lead the ‘team’, because he was more used to taking Ladybugs orders and using brute force to take down Akuma victims, he had not taken the time to notice Rache’s misty exterior and had phased right through her. Now normally , this would be fine, but because Rache’s powers dont involve directly touching her victims, Chat Noir was frozen in place while Rache’s powers did whatever it is they do.
She really had to figure out what exactly she did, and then get some help.
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Gabriel couldn't be more pleased. Everything was going perfectly! Ladybug had yet to appear but that could be dealt with later. For now, he had the Cat cornered and soon the newbie would be out of the game too! It was just a matter of if he should join the battle as well… Rache was doing a wonderful job, but something about this battle felt more important than most others.
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Marinette was freaking out. The miraculous she was currently using wouldn't be able to defeat Rache, especially alone. She needed a miraculous that could help fight Rache’s misty appearance and a person who had a strong mind.
Travelling across Paris in a Ladybug costume without being noticed was hard enough, but as Marigold, she was facing a whole new challenge. Yellow was a very vibrant colour, easily noticed amongst brown bricks, but she had miraculously managed to make her way towards Master Fu’s without being noticed or followed, from what she could tell at least.
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Chloé had never felt more powerful. Rache was everything she couldn't be, and it was glorious . All her life people had called her selfish and vain , but they refused to admit they were just as self-centred as she was!
“People of Paris hear me now, Ladybug is not coming to save you! Chat Noir is dead. And your only hope is a newbee. Bow to me to Rache and together we will take that pesky little Bee down!”
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Kagami hadn't the slightest idea why , but when the category 5 Akuma alarm blared throughout the city, she stayed put in her room. She had this feeling. Nothing seemed right about this battle, Chat Noir was knocked out, placing all the pressure on the newbie to save the city while ladybug was mysteriously absent.
Even though she was only watching Rache through a screen, Kagami could feel the danger surrounding her. Everything about this situation was wrong, but she knew that she had to stay where she was. Someone was going to come get her, and when they did, she would be ready.
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As Marigold’s transformation dropped Marinette silently slipped into the massage parlour.
“Master Fu, I need a miraculous.” She said shaking.
“Ah Marinette, I had a feeling I would be seeing you today. Which miraculous do you need?”
“I dont know,”
Fu started at her confused before a wave of understanding washed over him.
“The come look, child”
As Marinette examined the miraculous in front of her there was one in particular that stood out to her, “Ah yes, the Dragon. For those strong of heart and mind.” Fu said absently.
“What does it do?” Marinette asked hopefully.
“The dragon holder has the ability to control a dragon of wind, water, or lightning origin.”
This miraculous may be her only shot at defeating Rache,
“I’ll take it.”
“And what do you intend to do with the Bee miraculous?”
“I think im going to keep it with me,”
“I trust your judgement Ladybug, now go save Paris.”
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As Ladybug flew across Paris she could only think of one person who would be strong enough to wield the dragon miraculous, Kagami . Though she didnt know her very well Marinette knew Kagami was the only person who could help her defeat Rache.
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Gabriel Agreste wasn't stupid. He had eyes everywhere so when he watched the new miraculous holder flee from battle he had an inactive Akuma follow her. Marinette Dupain-Cheng had always been a rather interesting young woman but discovering she had discovered the location of the guardian had added a whole new meaning to the word.
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Wang Fu was always an overly cautious man, so he should have realized that it was far too soon for Marinette to return after just receiving a miraculous, but he had overlooked that very simple fact. Due to his carelessness, he was now face-to-face with who he presumed to be Hawkmoth.
“Hello Guardian,” he said with a smirk…