Chloe's Perspective
I sat in the second row of the fashion show, my glittering gold dress catching the white lights glare. I had been so proud of my outfit earlier, but now, as I glanced at my mother sitting beside me, I felt a flicker of doubt.
Audrey Bourgeois was the queen of fashion, and I had spent my entire life trying to live up to her standards. But no matter what I did, it never seemed to be enough.
The show began, and I sat stiffly in my seat, my eyes fixed on the stage. The lights began blaring towards the center and two models began the show, strutting down the runway, their outfits glittering under the lights. I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Luka. His calm voice, his reassuring smile. "You're better than you think."
'Easier said than done'
"Caroline, darling, do try to sit up straight," my mother said, her tone sharp. "You're slouching."
I straightened immediately, my cheeks burning. "Yes, Mother."
I glanced around the room, my eyes landing on Marinette, who was sitting a few rows back with her parents. She looked nervous, fidgeting with the hem of her pantlegs. I smirked. At least I wasn't the only one feeling the pressure.
The lights dimmed around, and the show had began ramping up Models where now rolling down the runway walking down the path in their outfits, dazzling under the spotlights. I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to my mother.
"Claire," my mother said suddenly, her voice cutting through my thoughts. "Why aren't you paying attention? This is important."
I clenched my fists, forcing a smile. "I am paying attention, Mother."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. I turned back to the runway, my heart sinking. No matter what I did, it was never enough. I had to snap out of it for now, she couldn't see me like this.
The show carried on and most of the outfits didn't seem to impress my mother It seemed as if she saw the flaws instantly regardless of the individuals practiced movements that captured everyone else.
Besides that, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Until it wasn't.
Adrien walked out from the curtains letting another model pass him by with seasoned grace. There he was in all his glory wearing a luxurious Vanta black suit and textured gray tie I'd say he looked great if it wasn't for the hat grabbing everyones attention, including mine.
"Isn't that Marinette's" I whispered to myself a little confused. Then I heard a hand slamming down onto the armrest beside me jolting me slightly. It was mother, seething red at what seemed to be the hideous hat Adrien was adorning.
"What is that?" she hissed, her voice low but dripping with disdain. "Is this some kind of joke?"
I glanced at the hat again, trying to see what had set her off. It was… unique, sure, but it wasn't irredeemably bad. Still, I knew better than to argue.
"You said Marinette?" Mother repeated, her tone sharp. "That filthy baker girl from your school?"
I nodded, bracing myself for what was coming next.
"Utterly ridiculous," Mother muttered, shaking her head. "Gabriel Agreste has truly lost his touch if he's letting amateurs like that showcase their work at my Fashion Week."
I didn't respond, my stomach twisting as I watched Adrien continue down the runway. He looked confident, as always, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. He knew my Mother was here. He knew what was at stake.
The show continued, but Mother's mood only worsened. After adriens performance She became keenly aware of everyone else's performance, criticized every outfit, every model, every detail. By the time the final walk began, she was practically vibrating with frustration.
"This is unacceptable," she said, standing abruptly. "I refuse to sit here and watch this… this travesty any longer."
I stood as well, my heart pounding. "Mother, wait—"
But she was already striding toward the exit, her heels clicking sharply against the granite floor. I hurried after her, my mind racing. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.
We stepped outside, the cool night air doing little to calm my nerves. Mother was muttering under her breath, her anger palpable. I could feel the tension radiating off her, and I felt something around us ominous and dangerous.
I turned my head in what felt like every direction, unable to see what I thought was potential danger. 'Was my nervousness getting to me? or the training with luka making me feel as though something was here?'
"Chloé," she said suddenly, somehow remembering my name, turning to face me. "Call the car. We're leaving."
I nodded, pulling out my phone to text the driver. But before I could send the message, a dark butterfly fluttered into view, landing on the gold rose pinned to Mother's hat.
I froze, my blood running cold. "Mother!"
But it was too late. The butterfly merged with the rose, and a dark, swirling energy enveloped her. I stumbled back, my heart pounding as her form shifted, her exterior began transforming into something glittering and golden.
Mother—no, whatever that was, smirked, her eyes gleaming with malice. "We have a deal."
I stared in horror as she turned to me, her expression unreadable. "Come Chloé," she said, her voice cold. "You will assist me, we've got a lot more brilliant gold to spread in this disaster they call a fashion show."
I nodded, not knowing what else to do. "Of course, Mother." I said in low tone.
As Style Queen strode back into the venue, I followed behind her, my heart pounding. This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go. This wasn't how anything was supposed to go.
Going back in the towering building people screamed and scrambled to get away, but it was no use. With a wave of her hand, she turned them into golden statues, their frozen expressions a mix of fear and shock.
All I could do is watched as one by one people where being consumed by her grasp. But in my horror Adrien stepped forward, trying to reason with her. "Mrs. Buorgious, please! You don't have to do this!"
She laughed, a cold, cruel sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, Adrien. You always were such a sweet boy. But it's Style Queen now!"
Before he could react, she raised her hand, and a burst of glitter enveloped him. I gasped as he froze in place, his body turning into a golden statue. My heart sank as I stared at him, his face frozen in an expression of shock.
"Adrien…" I whispered, my voice trembling.
Style Queen turned to me, her smirk widening. "Don't worry, Chloé. He'll make a lovely decoration." she said, encasing him in a shimmering barrier, immediately resuming her rampage.
But as I watched her continue her rampage, turning more and more people into golden statues, I realized something: this was my chance. I clenched my fists, I couldn't just stand here and do nothing. I had to help. But... how?
My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone. I didn't know who else to turn to. Everyone else was either turned into statues or running for their lives. But, maybe Luka…
I typed out a message, my fingers trembling so much I could barely hit the right keys.
Me: Luka, I need your help. It's Adrien… my mother… she's turned him into a statue. I don't know what to do. Please, if you're there, meet me at the Eiffel Tower. I can't do this alone.
I hit send and stared at the screen, waiting. Every second felt like an eternity. What if he didn't answer? What if he didn't care? Why would he? I'd never given him a reason to. But then my phone buzzed, and I nearly dropped it in my haste to read his reply.
Luka: I'm on my way. Stay strong, Chloé. You're not alone.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. He was coming. He believed in me. Maybe… maybe I could do this.
I turned back to the barrier surrounding Adrien. It was glowing faintly, a dome of golden energy that seemed impossible to break. I reached out to touch it, but a sharp jolt of energy shot through my hand, forcing me to pull back.
"Ugh!" I hissed, shaking my hand. "Okay, so brute force isn't going to work. Think, Chloé, think!" I couldn't let Adrien
I glanced around. The plaza was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of the city replaced by an unsettling stillness. The only noise was the faint hum of the barrier and the distant echoes of Style Queen's laughter as she continued her rampage somewhere else.
"Chloe!" A distant voice called out. turning my head I saw him running towards me looked calm, steady, like he always did. It was infuriating, but also… comforting.
"Chloe," he said, slightly out of breath. "I came as fast as I could. What's going on?"
I quickly explained everything—my mother's transformation, Adrien being trapped, the barrier. Luka listened intently, his expression serious but calm.
"Okay," he said when I finished. "We need to break that barrier. But we can't do it alone. We need a plan."
I nodded, my mind racing. "The rose pin—it's the source of her power. If we can get to it, maybe we can break the barrier. But I don't know how."
Luka glanced at the barrier, then at me.
His gaze of trust gave me a strange sense of confidence. I took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."
But before I could think of anything, Luka reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, ornate box. It was black with red accents, and it looked…enchanted
"What. is—…?" I started, but Luka cut me off.
"The Miraculous Box," he said, handing it to me. "I think it's time you had this."
I stared at the box, my heart racing.
Luka smiled softly. "You're stronger than you think, Chloé. And I think you're ready to prove it."
I hesitated for a moment, then took the box. It felt heavier than I expected, like it carried the weight of something much bigger than me. I opened it, and inside was a Bee themed hair clip, glowing faintly in the dim light. Pollen, the kwami, floated out and greeted me with a warm smile. She was tiny, with golden-yellow fur that shimmered like sunlight and big, knowing eyes that seemed to see straight through me. Her voice was calm but carried a weight of authority.
"I am Pollen, the kwami of Action, bound to the power of the Bee Miraculous." Pollen said. "I've been waiting for you."
I stared at the Miraculous, my mind racing. This was my chance—my chance to be more than just my mother's daughter. My chance to be something more.
I picked up the Miraculous and smiled. "I'm ready."
As soon as I put it on my head, I felt a surge of energy course through me. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before—powerful, confident, alive. I looked at Luka, who nodded encouragingly.
"Let's do this," I said.
Together, we approached the barrier. I could feel the energy radiating off it, but this time, I wasn't scared. I had the Bee Miraculous. I had Pollen. I had Luka. And for the first time in a long time, I had hope.
"Pollen, buzz on!" I said, and in a flash of golden light, I transformed. The suit felt strange but familiar, like it was made just for me. I could feel the power coursing through me, and I knew what I had to do.
I summoned my trompo and threw it at the barrier. It spun rapidly, the energy from the Miraculous clashing against the barrier's golden glow. The barrier began to crack, the energy flickering as the trompo whirred against it. Luka strummed a few chords on his guitar, the sound resonating through the air and adding to the pressure on the barrier.
"It's working!" I exclaimed. "Keep going!"
With one final push, the barrier shattered, the golden energy dissipating into the air. Adrien's statue remained, but now we had access to the rose pin. I reached out and carefully removed it from his suit. As soon as I did, the golden energy surrounding Adrien began to fade, and he slowly returned to normal.
"Chloé?" Adrien blinked, looking around in confusion. "What happened?"
"No time to explain," I said quickly. "We need to get out of here before my mother—Style Queen—comes back."
The three of us hurried away from the Eiffel Tower, dodging the chaos Style Queen had left in her wake. As we ran, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. I had done something. I had helped Adrien. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was more than just my mother's daughter.
When we finally reached safety, I turned to Luka. "Thank you," I said quietly. "I couldn't have done that without you."
Luka half smiled "You deserved it, you have the will of a true hero Chloe Bourgeois."
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. For the first time, I fully believed in him.
But the fight wasn't over yet. Style Queen was still out there, wreaking havoc, and Ladybug was fighting her alone. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Not anymore.
"I have to help Ladybug," I said, turning to Luka and Adrien. "Stay here. I'll be back."
Before they could protest, I took off, running toward the sounds of chaos. I found Ladybug locked in combat with Style Queen, her yo-yo spinning rapidly as she dodged bursts of golden energy. Style Queen was relentless, her laughter echoing through the air as she attacked.
I didn't hesitate. I threw my trompo, the weapon spinning through the air and striking Style Queen's arm, disrupting her attack. She turned to me, her eyes narrowing.
"You!" she hissed. "How dare you defy me!"
"I'm not afraid of you anymore," I said, standing tall. "And I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else."
Ladybug glanced at me, a surpised look on her face. "Thanks for the backup."
"Let's finish this," I said, nodding.
Together, we fought Style Queen, our attacks coordinated and precise. Ladybug's yo-yo and my trompo worked in perfect harmony, keeping Style Queen on the defensive. She tried to counter, but we were too agile.
Finally, Ladybug saw an opening. She threw her yo-yo, wrapping it around Style Queen's wrist and pulling her off balance. I seized the opportunity, throwing my trompo with a surge of power, now encased in glowing energy at the rose pin on her hat. It struck true, and the pin shattered, releasing the akuma.
Ladybug quickly purified it, and in a flash of light, Style Queen was gone, replaced by my mother, who looked dazed and confused.
"Chloé?" she said, blinking up at me. "What… what happened?"
I didn't answer. I just helped her to her feet, my heart heavy but hopeful. Maybe, things could be different now.
As Ladybug and I stood there, catching our breath, I felt a sense of pride I'd never felt before. I had done something. I had helped save the day. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was more than just my mother's daughter.
I was a hero.