The Real x i v

"Chat Noir, give me your Miraculous!"

"Is it always like this?" Volpina asked, perched from a distance.

"Mostly. I know I told you no more Ladybugs but I need a little bit of that magic to clean this mess up."

In the distance, a hooded figure, named the Keeper, was leaning over a floating board game, rocking his hands, getting ready to roll a dice. He opened his palm and the sound of dice hit the board.

"A natural 20! On my perception check, no less!" A sparkling light flashed from the shadow of the Keeper's hood and they rose their hand to fix their glasses on the bridge of their nose.

"Gosh, what is this nerd going on about–"

Chat shushed her. "Ever heard of a game called 'Dungeons and Dragons'? Seems like someone disrespected the Dungeon Master's fiction."

Shortly after Chat finished speaking, the Keeper's head snapped to where they were hiding in the trees.

Volpina gave a tut and she knocked the end of her flute into the back of Chat's head. "Way to go, nerd."

Chat pouted and rubbed the back of his head before the Keeper started going towards them. They both turned and started to jump through the trees to gain distance.

"Come on out, you little feline. You and your little fox friend too!"

"I'm good out here, thanks." Volpina called out, blowing into her flute. This causes orange smoke to surround them, giving them the opportunity to put more distance between them and the akuma.

They were in the high rafters of the Notre Dame, watching from the distance as their clone counterparts appeared through the cloud of orange smoke.

"So nerd, how do we deal with this?" Volpina asked, turning to Chat.

"First of all, don't hate the player, hate the game." He rose up a finger, wagging it in front of her face. "Secondly, the akuma isn't in his dice or the game board." Before Chat could wander further into his thoughts, his wrist was grabbed and his arm was turned.

"Your girlfriend sends a message." She points down to his arm.

The pink writing glowed stark on the black leather. "He has a stack of papers tucked into his robes."

"Of course, he controls the story with what he writes. His papers must be the akumatized item."

Volpina sighed softly, twirling her flute. "Then we go, knock his robes off somehow and collect those papers." She brings the flute to her lips. "I guess I gotta call the bug." She rolled her eyes lightly and blew. Compared to all the other tunes she plays, this tune was more gentle, melodious even.

The orange smoke filled the space between them and from there, materialized his bluebell princess. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. She continued to let her eyes around until she met Chat's eyes and she smiled, but then that faded when she met Volpina.

"Volpina."

"Ladybug."

"My lady."

"Kitty."

His ears twitched slightly at the sound of her voice. Yup, that was a perfect replica of his girl. "We have an akuma we need help with."

They all turned to the sounds of the commotion down at the park. The last of Volpina's clones were being blown away into smoke.

"We need your little charm to work it's magic." Volpina requested.

Ladybug nodded and out of her lucky charm came out a small wand with a star at the top.

"When I said 'magic', I didn't mean it literally." Volpina commented.

Ladybug sighed and she turned the wand in her hands. "But I wonder if it has any magical properties?" She glanced over to Chat Noir, who met her gaze.

"Well, give it whirl." He encouraged.

Ladybug nodded and held the wand in her hand firmly, before giving a good flick of her wrist. A small spout of flame swirled out of the rafters of the cathedral and popped, like a small firework above the Seine.

"So you're good with fire. Set his robes aflame." Volpina suggested.

"A little too dangerous, don't you think?" Ladybug turned to her.

"Well, unless you have any other plans, you've got five minutes." She sighed, leaning against one of the pillars.

Ladybug rolled her eyes and started to spin her yoyo. "Lets go Chat."

The two of them glided over the rooftops, making their way towards the park.

"How do you handle her personality?" Ladybug grumbled.

Chat merely chuckled. "She's something you get used to."

Ladybug huffed and the two of them arrive at the park gates. "What kind of Dungeon Master terrorizes his players?"

The Keeper turned in a dramatic manner, his robes showcasing the roll of parchment that was tucked into his belt.

"You might have rolled a high stealth check, but that doesn't mean you can defeat me!" With an extended palm, bursts of ice came flying at the two of them.

With a quick flick, Ladybug was able to deflect the rays of ice with her own fire.

The Keeper took a cautious step back, before standing tall. "A sorceress on the team? I think this game is becoming a little too unruly."

"All is fair in Dungeons and Dragons," Chat sang before he rushed in.

"A reckless fighter, I see. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve!"

The three of them engaged in a strange battle of magical combat and avoiding physical attacks. Chat would approach head on, using his baton to strike him. The Keeper pulled a sword out of his sleeves, chuckling.

"Woah, woah, all my attacks have been non-lethal!" Chat tried, jumping back.

"That doesn't mean I won't cut you down in twain!" He adjusted his glasses again, stabbing his sword into the ground and reached into his sleeves.

Ladybug braced herself. "He keeps pulling things out of his sleeves, what's he got in there, a Bag of Holding?"

Chat smiled slightly and looked up at her as he was knelt down, trying to catch his breath. "Well look at you, your nerd is showing,"

She looked down at him and winked. "I've got cool friends."

From the sleeve, the Keeper pulled out a small pouch. He tosses this pouch in the air and catches it, smiling. "I've got one more trick," he mused. He tossed the pouch up again and catches it, before throwing it on the ground.

Smoke enveloped the Keeper and the two of them jumped back, before there was a rumbling roar and a large shadow in the midst of the smoke. Wings spread across the expanse of the smoke and Chat fell back on his butt as he realized just it was.

"Is that a ?" Chat exclaimed.

There was another rumbling roar and the smoke cleared. They were expecting large scales, sharp teeth like they had once seen with an akumatized Jagged Stone and Fang.