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Tales of Bloody Bug and Chat Noir - Chapter 13 - Darkblade

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“Alright, class. Before you head out, don’t forget that class election for representative. We have Chloe running for the position with Sabrina as her deputy. Any other candidates?” Miss Bustier asked.

Alix looked around the room. No one raised their hand for a few moments before Kim did. She raised a brow as Chloe and Sabrina shot him nasty looks before he lowered his hand. She rolled her eyes as the door opened. She raised a brow as Marinette came in, apologizing while making up some excuse for her tardiness.

“Alright. Well, I’ll give you all to the end of lunch to decide if you’d like to run for candidate,” Miss Bustier announced.

The lunch bell rang, and the class dispersed. Alix headed to the courtyard when she was pulled aside by Rose. She yelped as Rose dragged her along into a group with Juleka, Adrien, Nino, and Nathaniel.

“What is going on?” Alix demanded.

“We need your help. We need to stop Chloe from running again, dude,” Nino said.

“I don’t understand what the big deal is. She’s not that bad, right?” Adrien asked.

“She’s a little monster,” Juleka whispered.

“Why does this include me?” Alix asked.

“Because Chloe fears you, dude. Can’t you, like, intimidate her or something?” Nino pushed.

“Please. Even if I did, someone else would need to fill her shoes as class rep. Any of you gonna do it, cause I sure as hell ain’t,” Alix retorted.

The group muttered and mumbled to one another as Chloe and Sabrina joined them. Chloe shot Alix a cautious side eye before approaching.

“Hello, everyone. I just wanted to stop by and remind everyone of my candidacy for class rep. I’m also here to remind you all why you shouldn’t run against me,” Chloe said.

“Yeah? And what do you have on any of us?” Alix challenged.

“Oh, let’s see now. Rose, I’ll kick you from scrapbooking club. Nino, I’ll share all the videos of you skateboarding on school grounds to the principal. Adrien, we’re friends, so I don’t need to worry about you. That and you’re far too busy being a model. Oh, Juleka, you already know what I’ll do to that ghost of a brother. Nathaniel, I don’t need to worry about you. And, Kubdel, I’m sure-.”

Alix stepped into Chloe’s personal space. “Say it and you’ll really learn the meaning of fuck around and find out.”

Chloe gulped and retreated with Sabrina.

“Woah, dude! See? You could really put Chloe in her place and even run for class rep,” Nino stated.

Alix sneered and faced the group. “No. I’m not going to sit here and fight your battles for you. I’ve no interest in this nonsense. You want to dethrone Chloe, do it yourselves.”

Alix left the group and headed for the school exit.

“Alix, wait!” Marinette yelled.

Alix groaned and waited as Marinette joined her.

“Alix, do you think you could run against Chloe for class rep?” Marinette asked.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I got done telling the others I won’t. I could care less about being a candidate. If you want someone to take Chloe down, why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Oh! Uh, well, you know, right?”

Alix raised a brow.

“Look, we’re not you Alix. We’re not as strong or brave enough to face Chloe. You’re the only one aside from Adrien, but he can’t. That just leaves you. Please, we need someone to take her down.”

“I. Don’t. Care! I’m not running for some stupid position as class rep just to deal with all of you and your pathetic, weak asses. You want to be strong and brave? Then change and become that. You certainly won’t if you let someone else always fight your battles.”

“But-!” Marinette started.

“No. I’m done. Either do something about it, or shut the fuck up and deal with it. I’ve no intention to do anything, so I’m going to deal with it. Either you do the same, or actually do something for once instead of being a stuttering, clumsy, pathetic fool!”

Marinette’s eyes widened, but she remained silent. Alix let out a breath as she felt countless eyes burn into her. She scoffed, turned, and left. She headed for home when she heard Tikki squeak from her hat.

“Alix, I commend you for your decisions regarding Chloe, but you were a little too harsh with Marinette,” Tikki reprimanded.

“Look, maybe, but I’m angry and I’m hungry. Mix the two and it’s a horrible combination.”

“That’s not an excuse.”

Alix growled. “Look, can you get off my back until I’ve at least had food?”

“Fine, but this isn’t over.”

~~

“So, are there any new candidates?” Miss Bustier asked.

Adrien glanced around the room. No one raised their hand or moved to challenge Chloe. He considered running against Chloe for the class, but Chloe was right. He was too busy to run with everything his father had him doing.

“Well, given that Chloe and Sabrina are the only ones running, there’s no need to vote. So, Chloe and Sabrina-,” Miss Bustier started.

“I’ll run!” Marinette announced.

Adrien turned and smiled at Marinette with the rest of the class. He admired how she stood with such defiance but couldn’t help noticing the fear in her eyes.

“Wonderful! You’ll need to develop your campaign and have a speech ready by tomorrow.”

The last bell rang for the day. Adrien headed out as he saw Marinette and Alya surrounded by Rose, Juleka, Nino, and Ivan. Rose eyed Alix and dragged her into the group. He smiled and sighed as he headed out to fencing.

Adrien arrived and changed into his gear. He sparred with a few students before he sparred with Mr. D’Argencourt. They danced around the mat before Mr. D’Argencourt held out his arms. He rushed forward to claim victory when Mr. D’Argencourt parried and sent him to the floor, disarming him.

“Wow, Mr. D’Argencourt, that was some move! I’ve never seen you this on fire before. That was some attack,” Adrien praised.

“It ought to be. That particular maneuver hither was developed by mine ancestor, Darkblade.”

“Darkblade?”

“In the days of yore, Darkblade conquered Paris and ruled over it with an iron fist. Until he was overthrown thence by a wealthy Frenchman who used his dirty gold to buy the loyalties of the common people. To think that not so long ago, my ancestor’s flag was waving above Paris.”

“Is that why you ran in the election, Mr. D’Argencourt? To seek revenge on you ancestor’s behalf?” Nadja Chamack asked.

Adrien and Mr. D’Argencourt turned to see Nadja with a cameraman.

“Par le fer! Who dost we have hither?” Mr. D’Argencourt demanded.

“Nadja Chamack. Don’t be bemused, it’s just the news. Do you have anything to say about your quote-unquote, ‘landslide defeat’?”

Mr. D’Argencourt didn’t answer. Nadja opened her mouth, but gasped when Mr. Haprele showed up and shooed her and the cameraman out of the school.

“Here endeth the lesson,” Mr. D’Argencourt said.

Adrien hummed and headed to the locker room. He checked his phone to see Chloe had invited him to the launch of her campaign at City Hall. He frowned, hesitant to go. He wanted to support Chloe because she was his friend, but he didn’t appreciate her blackmailing his friends. Maybe if he went, he could reason with her about her approach.

Adrien changed and headed out of the school. He paused near the entrance as he saw Mr. D’Argencourt pestered by the news crew. He scurried over to Gorilla as Mr. D’Argencourt was transformed into a knight in black armor. He took a step back as Gorilla stood out in front of him. He ran back into the school and hid.

“Plagg, let’s go. It’s time to transform. Plagg, claws out!”

~~

Alix sat on the ground at Alya’s feet in City Hall. She fumed at being dragged around by them to Chloe’s campaign launch. She tried to flee, but Alya pinned her down and strapped a kid’s harness to her. She tried to resist by not moving, but Alya just dragged her along on a leash. She made other attempts to free herself but couldn’t get the harness off and Alya didn’t give her any slack.

“I’m pleased to welcome you all to the official launch of Chloe’s electoral campaign. And a special thanks to world-famous rock star, Jagged Stone, for endorsing her,” Andre Bourgeois announced.

Alix glanced over at the table that Jagged Stone sat at. Chloe stood next to him as the pair high-fived. Their class gasped in awe at the gesture. Alix growled and rolled her eyes. She grunted as Alya dragged her along again now the line moved as everyone grabbed an autographed album from Jagged Stone.

“And when you vote for me, you’ll get free tickets to Jagged’s next concert,” Chloe announced.

Alix growled as she was pulled around. She glared up at Alya as Alya got her autographed album along with another one. They joined the girls as they stood off to the side.

“You have your bribe. Can I go now?” Alix asked.

“Aww, but we’re going to head to Liberty. Didn’t you want to join us?” Rose asked.

“What the hell is a Liberty?”

“My mom’s ship, and where I live,” Juleka answered.

“Oh, well, I would love to go if I had a choice in the matter. But no! I’m on a damn leash!” Alix screamed.

“Well, we should be able to let her go, yeah?” Mylene asked.

“Please. It’s where she belongs like the rabid dog she is,” Chloe remarked.

“The fuck did you say? Why don’t you stoop to my level and say that to my face?” Alix challenged.

Chloe moved forward but was stopped by Andre. He released Alix from the harness before he stood beside Chloe again.

“I think that’s enough. Go home, Alix. I don’t want any trouble.”

“Then tell your bitch of a daughter to mind what she says. Daddy can’t protect her forever. Or before, could you?”

Andre sneered. “Leave now before I have you forcibly removed.”

Alix spit at Andre’s feet and left City Hall. She headed for home when she spotted a parade of dark-armored knights on route to City Hall. She ducked into a nearby alleyway as the leader transformed every citizen in his path into another knight for his army.

“Lovely. Alright, Tikki, we gotta transform and find Chat Noir. Tikki, spots on!”

Tikki disappeared into the earrings and transformed Alix into Bloody Bug. Bloody Bug swung up onto the rooftops as she scanned the horizon for Chat Noir. She spotted him coming from the Pont des Art. She waved him down as they met on a nearby rooftop.

“Glad you could wait for me, Bug,” Chat Noir remarked.

“Surprised to see it’s not me rushing into battle first. What’ve you learned?”

“The victim is a that man that lost the mayoral race. D’Argencourt, I think.”

“Heard. Any ideas or plans on how to tackle this?”

“Maybe we could get Lady Tigress?”

Bloody Bug frowned. “I don’t think Lady Tigress is going to help here. Unless you want to use her as a distraction and have her transformed into a knight.”

“What? No! But we could-.”

“No. And I don’t think Bomb Bee’s Venom will work with them in armor. Carapace’s shields might be nice, but there’s also the matter of the army and getting overwhelmed.”

“Exactly, so we should get Lady Tigress.”

Bloody Bug clenched her teeth as she grabbed Chat Noir’s bell and pulled him down. “How about this. You go and distract them while I go get the miraculous.”

“Can do, Bug.”

Bloody Bug released Chat Noir. She watched him chase down the crusade while she headed for Wang Fu’s massage shop. She slipped in through the window to find Wang Fu mediating.

“Greetings, Bloody Bug. Come for some assistance?” Wang Fu asked.

“Assistance and a major ask.”

“Oh? What’s going on?”

“Look, I know you said that we’ll give miraculous to those we trust and give them back. Could we possibly, I don’t know, let Lady Tigress keep hers?”

Wang Fu frowned and raised a brow.

“Look, I know, but Chat Noir is completely smitten with her. I don’t want to reward whatever is going on, but I need him to focus. He’s already asking for her back, even if she’s not going to be useful against this Akuma.”

“That seems like more of a reason to not let her have it again.”

“Oh, for… Chat Noir’s a teenage boy and those fuckers only think with one head. What else did you honestly expect when you gave us the miraculous? And I’d rather he be a damn show pony than a sulking bitch.”

Wang Fu sighed. “This is very unorthodox, but very well. Give me the address of the girl and I’ll see it dropped off.”

Bloody Bug nodded and wrote out the address while Wang Fu grabbed the miracle box. She handed him the address while she looked over the jewels. She settled on the rooster’s rings.

“Thank you and… sorry for, well, myself.”

“No apologies needed, but this will count for your pick for your team.”

“Very well. I’ll return.”

Bloody Bug headed out to City Hall. She found Chat Noir taking on the army of knights before the leader challenged him. Their duel interrupted as Chat Noir was chased by more knights while the leader approached Jagged Stone. She jumped in, scooped up Chat Noir, and dove inside City Hall.

“It’s Bloody Bug and Chat Noir!” Andre cheered.

“Bloody Bug! Chat Noir! What do we do?” Rose asked.

Bloody Bug looked around at her classmates. They were all present save for Chloe.

“Barricade the doors and windows, then get to safety. Don’t let the knight-,”

“Darkblade,” Chat Noir cut in.

Bloody Bug stifled a growl. “Don’t let Darkblade get near you. He’ll be sure to add you to his army with Jagged Stone and most of Paris.”

Everyone nodded. They moved to barricade the door and retreated. Bloody Bug watched them leave save for Chloe, who was missing.

“So, where’s Lady Tigress?” Chat Noir asked.

“She won’t be joining us for this one.”

“What? I thought you were-.”

“Bloody Bug?” Chloe whimpered.

Bloody Bug and Chat Noir turned around to see Chloe peek out from behind the front desk. Bloody Bug moved around and helped Chloe up.

“Is it over? Is that knight gone?” Chloe asked.

“No, but-,” Bloody Bug started.

“What’s this?” Chat Noir asked.

Bloody Bug glanced over to see Chat Noir holding an odd book with a pink and white polka dot cover. She swiped it away from him and skimmed through it. She landed on an entry that described the experience of being a hero and getting to fight alongside Alya and Nino. She closed the book and stuffed it into her yo-yo.

“Hey! I needed that!” Chloe yelled.

“We’re talking about this later, Chloe. Right now, we need to save Paris.”

“We?” Chloe and Chat Noir echoed.

Bloody Bug held out the chained rings. “Chloe Bourgeois, in my hand is the miraculous of pretension. Wield this with honor, bring down the foe that threatens our city, and return them to me once the battle is over.”

Chloe’s face lit up as she slipped on the rings. An orb shot out, circled her, then formed into a rooster kwami.

“Hiya! I’m Orikko, kwami of pretension.”

“Well, hello. I’m Chloe Bourgeois, your, uh, what am I?”

“Don’t worry about it. Orikko, tell her what she needs to know,” Bloody Bug said.

“Right! Chloe, with me you have the power called Sublimation. It grants you any power you wish that doesn’t belong to another kwami. To transform, you need only say ‘Orikko, sunrise.’ Then say, ‘Orikko, sunset,’ to de-transform.”

Chloe grinned. “Orikko, sunrise!”

Orikko disappeared into the rings. Chloe’s outfit transformed into an orange two-tone halter top, orange ballgown gloves, navy blue pants, thigh-high yellow boots, and a navy blue pleated skirt cape. Her ponytail came undone as her hair fell around her and a feather pen appeared nestled in it. Gold bands adorned her gloves, shirt, hip, and boots as a diadem sat on her forehead with a fleur-de-lis.

Chloe gasped as she twirled around. “I look fabulous!”

“Stunning. Now, you need a name,” Bloody Bug said.

“Hmm. What about, uh, well, hmm.”

“How about Gallic Chick? Sound good?” Bloody Bug asked.

“Hmm, I like it. Gallic Chick it is.”

“Alright, Gallic Chick, we need you to keep the army at bay while Cat and I target the leader. Can you do that?”

“You got it!”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Bloody Bug, Chat Noir, and Gallic Chick burst out of City Hall to find Darkblade’s knights scaling the walls. Bloody Bug motioned to follow as they headed for the roof ahead of Darkblade and his knights.

“Villains! Doust thou think thou can stop me?” Darkblade yelled.

“Uh, yeah? I mean, what are you going to do about it?” Bloody Bug taunted.

“Thou shall see. When mine banner sits upon this castle, all of Paris shall be mine! Attack!”

“In your dreams, loser! Sublimation!”

Gallic Chick’s feather pen glowed. She pulled it out of her hair and wrote in the air, picking the power of obedience. Bloody Bug and Chat Noir exchanged glances as Gallic Chick stepped forward.

“Kneel!” Gallic Chick commanded.

Darkblade and his army paused before they fell to their knees. Bloody Bug and Chat Noir grimaced while Gallic Chick approached Darkblade.

“Release your Akuma,” Gallic Chick ordered.

Darkblade bowed his head. The Akuma flew from his sword, and he reverted to Mr. D’Argencourt. Bloody Bug caught and purified the Akuma. She released it and everyone afflicted reverted to their normal selves. She took a breath and joined Gallic Chick with Mr. D’Argencourt.

“What happened? Where am I?”

Gallic Chick opened her mouth, but Bloody Bug held up a hand that silenced her.

“You were akumatized. Why?”

“Why? To overthrow that usurper Bourgeois and take what is mine,” Mr. D’Argencourt answered.

“For what? The election? You lost fair and square.”

Gallic Chick laughed. “Hardly. It was all perfectly planned. The best way to beat your opponent is to undermine and humiliate them.”

Bloody Bug’s eye twitched. “Chat Noir, go take Gallic Chick inside and wait for me.”

“Fine, but I need to talk to you after you’re done here,” Chat Noir remarked.

Bloody Bug rolled her eyes as Chat Noir left with Gallic Chick.

“What now?” Mr. D’Argencourt asked.

“Look, I’m sorry you lost, and that you’re dealing with whatever you are, but was it really worth getting turned into a dark knight?”

Mr. D’Argencourt sighed. “I suppose not.”

“Good man. Please, try to remember that. And let’s not meet again like this.”

Mr. D’Argencourt nodded. Bloody Bug saw him off before she headed inside. She eyed Chat Noir upstairs, waiting for her, and her classmates back in the lobby. She grabbed Marinette and Sabrina before she joined Chat Noir and Chloe. She sat them down in an empty room and pulled out Marinette’s diary.

“Alright, Chloe, explain why you had this,” Bloody Bug demanded.

Chloe gulped. “Well, I, found it and was going to return it.”

Bloody Bug narrowed her eyes.

Chloe shifted and then sighed. “Fine! I was going to blackmail pigtails here to drop out of the class rep election we have going on. That’s the best way to win.”

“Chloe, that’s the way to make enemies. You saw what happened to that man out there that was the results of your father’s actions. Did you really want to do the same here to Marinette? Did you want to get her akumatized and have her come after you like Evillustrator and Reflekta?”

“Well, that’s what you guys are for. Plus, if she did come after me, you’d be there to protect me. And if you’re there, then what could be better?”

“Chloe, you’re talking about traumatizing someone for your own small personal gain. Is it really worth putting anyone through such an experience?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Marinette muttered.

“Pardon?” Bloody Bug asked.

“Nothing!” Chloe blurted.

“Last year. Kim and the spiders,” Marinette remarked.

“That wasn’t my idea! I just told him you like jokes and he was the one that ran with it. So, not my fault.”

“You recorded the whole thing! You got Socequline expelled over it when she broke your phone to protect me. And now you’re trying to read my diary just so you can win this stupid class rep election. Maybe if you were a nicer person, we’d actually want you in charge!” Marinette yelled as she cried.

“Oh, please. You have no evidence of that. You just of the word of that loser.”

“I saw you that day. I saw you laughing and mocking me as you recorded the whole thing. You and Kim both, and Sabrina too! I was so embarrassed and humiliated. I thought I found someone that liked me, but they turned out to be just like you.”

“Alright, we’re getting off course. Look, Chloe, this is wrong. You shouldn’t be undermining your opponents like this. If you want to win, you need to prove yourself a leader in action, not through force and blackmail. That’s not a leader. That’s a tyrant,” Chat Noir butted in.

“And tyrants bred rebellion,” Bloody Bug added.

Chloe huffed and looked away. Bloody Bug shook her head and tossed Marinette her diary.

“Go on, Marinette. I’m sorry this happened.”

Marinette stood and hugged Bloody Bug. “Thank you for stopping it.”

Bloody Bug grimaced and patted Marinette’s head. She moved away to Sabrina.

“And you, I know you’re Chloe’s lackey. And it was likely you that stole the diary in the first place,” Bloody Bug hissed.

Sabrina whimpered and sunk down.

“Don’t do it again. Now, get out.”

Sabrina nodded and ran out. Marinette hugged Bloody Bug again before she left. Bloody Bug sighed and approached Chloe with Chat Noir.

“Chloe, I cannot reward these behaviors. You have the potential to be a hero, I can see it. However, I cannot entrust you with a miraculous again until I see some change in you in your civilian life.”

“What? But that’s not fair. You can’t cut me out like that!”

“I’m not. I’ll be watching you to see how you’ll change, but I need to see a hero in and out of costume, Chloe. You can still have ruthless tactics, but you need to better use them that isn’t just for personal gain or to harm others.”

“This is ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous! I did as you told me. I stopped them like you wanted. You should have told me how you wanted it done!”

“I should have, but I also have to trust your actions and you’ll do the right thing in the end. You used your powers as I asked, but the methods of how you achieved that is concerning. Coupled with how you were set on humiliating that Marinette girl for your own personal gain, I cannot allow it until I see change in you.”

Chloe screamed. “Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! You better give me it back or I’ll have Daddy-!”

“Your father has no control over us, Chloe,” Bloody Bug cut in.

“Yeah, and I agree with Bug. I didn’t like what I saw back there. The other heroes have proven themselves, but I share her concern over you,” Chat Noir voiced.

“No one asked you, fleabag!” Chloe spat.

“Right there. I may have been the same way, I can have my moments still and will, but I see now I need to work with Cat, as well as any other heroes we employ. If we cannot work as one, we will fall,” Bloody Bug interjected.

“Speaking of, you didn’t get Lady Tigress like I wanted,” Chat Noir mumbled.

Bloody Bug reached up, pinched Chat Noir’s jaw, and pulled him down to her level. “You owe me big for what I did.”

Chat Noir’s ears perked up. “What did you do?”

“You’ll find out. I’d hate to ruin the surprise.”

Chat Noir’s eyes darted back and forth before they widened. He grinned as he scooped up Bloody Bug in an embrace. She screeched as he spun around, holding her like a doll.

“You’re amazing, Bug! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re my bestest friend ever!”

“Help! He’s crazy!” Bloody Bug screamed.

Chat Noir stopped spinning as he nuzzled Bloody Bug and purred.

“Holy fuck, he purrs,” Bloody Bug remarked.

“This all touching, but back to me,” Chloe demanded.

“Look, I’ll be keeping an eye on you. If I see you doing better and trying to be better, then you can be loaned a miraculous again. Understood?”

Chloe crossed her arms and pouted.

Bloody Bug shrugged. She squirmed out of Chat Noir’s arms and headed for the door. “I’ll see you both later. Bug out.”

~~

Adrien took his seat in Miss Bustier’s class after the first bell. He had been giddy since Bloody Bug hinted that Lady Tigress would be back and permanently. She didn’t say it, but what else could she have meant that would make him owe her? If it was the case, he could see Lady Tigress at the next attack, whenever that would be.

Adrin hummed. Each attack usually happened within a span of a week on average. He didn’t want to wait that long, but what choice did he have? Unless he pulled a move like Chloe and cause someone to get akumatized. The idea made him sick, but it was a little tempting if he could see Lady Tigress again.

“Attention, everyone! I have news regarding the class rep election. Chloe has decided to advocate and withdraw, so by default, Marinette wins!” Miss Bustier announced.

The class all gasped before they celebrated Marinette except for Alix, Chloe, and Sabrina. The other girls pulled Alix into the celebration, but she didn’t participate like them.

“Alright, settle down, class. We have a few other things to go over before All Saint’s holiday,” Miss Bustier said.

Adrien perked up at the reminder of the upcoming holiday. He remembered the particles group project with Alya and Luka. His mind whirled with ideas of ways to possibly get either of them akumatized. Alya already was, so it could happen again. Luka, well, he didn’t like the idea of hurting Luka when he was trying to be friends with Luka, but one time couldn’t hurt, right? As long as he was careful about it and Bloody Bug never learned about it, he could be ok. Besides, he just wanted to see Lady Tigress again and that wasn’t wrong, right? Perhaps he could get Alya to help them both.

The bell rang for their next class. Adrien gathered his things and headed towards his next class. He spotted Alya with Marinette. He hurried over, calling out to Alya.

“Hey, Adrien, what’s up?” Alya asked.

“Could I speak with you for a moment, alone? It’s about our group project.”

“Oh? Certainly. I’ll catch you later, girl,” Alya said.

Marinette nodded and hurried to her next class.

“So, what’s up?”

“Well, I had an idea for the project and something that might interest you.”

“Oh? I’m all ears.”

“It won’t be anything pretty, may result in someone getting akumatized, and also might get Juleka angry with us, but it could lead to a certain discovery,” Adrien warned.

Alya hummed, then smirked. “Well, the stakes are high, but I’m in.”