Tikki lead Manon through yet another maze of streets. Their pace had slowed somewhat. Tikki knew that despite the situation, they likely had some respite. Whatever Marinette ended up being would be distracted by Cat Noir, and there was no reason to believe they had been seen. Still, there was a risk they may eventually share the same destination, so in spite of Manon's desire to rest, they continued on.

"Tikki, where are we going?" Manon asked again.

"We are going to the only person who can help us" Tikki replied. The duo soldiered on under Tikki's direction, until they arrived at an unassuming building. Tikki directed Manon to the proper floor, then to the right door. They both stood in front of it, and Tikki gestured for Manon to knock. She obliged, and after a few seconds, the door opened to reveal a similarly unassuming man in his nightgown. He blinked several times, the confusion on his face deepening into grave concern. Without a word, he drug Manon in, while Tikki rested on her shoulder.

"Tikki, what has happened?" the strange man asked in alarm.

"It's Marinette. She's been akumatized!" Tikki replied. Her voice, strong and determined before, now cracked with emotion.

"And who is this?" the man asked, gesturing to Manon. Despite the strangeness, his warm comforting demeanor helped put her at ease. Even in his concern, he seemed fatherly and safe.

"I'm Manon!" the girl said brightly.

"I'm sorry Master" Tikki exclaimed. "Manon, this is Master Fu".

Manon looked the man up and down. While he certainly seemed nice, she could hardly figure out what was "masterly" of him. He was a short, pleasant looking man, who walked slowly with a limp. Master Fu saw the doubt on her face and chuckled.

"Not everything is as it appears. It is nice to meet you Manon. This is an unfortunate situation, but we are lucky. You are here, which means you are safe from Hawk Moth."

Tikki nodded understandably. In all of the fear, she hadn't considered that point. At least the situation could be worse. Tikki dutifully relayed all of the day's events to Master Fu, who listened intently, his face unchanging from his pleasant subtle smile. Manon was not as reserved; her eyes widened as Tikki explained Ladybug's (and Marinette's) exploits that day. It was a story better than any she had been read at bedtime. No one thought it necessary at this point to shield her from this information. She had learned plenty already anyway.

Tikki finished the saga. Master Fu leaned back, thinking intently. There was a long pause as he stared off pensively. Manon thought that it felt like ages. Finally, he spoke.

"Now we need a plan".

Hawk Moth was in. He had been impressed by the fortitude of the girl; had she not been so weak when he found her, he had no doubt she would have resisted her. Marinette's force of will, while now defeated, was awe-inspiring. He would not waste this chance. He had considered giving her a power related to her misery, but this required a special capability. Hawk Moth only hoped he could stay in control of such a powerful force.

"Dystopia, I am Hawk Moth. Your sadness and power is unlike anything I have ever felt. I am giving you a special power, one which will give you the ability to do whatever it takes to find what you long for. You will have every power I've ever given my supervillains. All I ask in return is a simple favor. You will deliver the Miraculous to me."

Dystopia grinned as she sinisterly replied. "Of course, Hawk Moth".

There was an unusual situation inside Marinette's mind. She knew she was Dystopia, but also knew she was Marinette and Ladybug. She had the urge to say so right then and there, but something in the still good part of her mind stopped her. It was like there was a fortress within her; surrounded, incapable of offense, but yet capable of a desperate defense. She couldn't resist the urges of Hawk Moth or her villain self, but she knew who she was and she was at least able to know not to betray her secret, at least for now. How long that would last, she didn't know. In the meantime, she was powerless to stop herself from being a villain and fighting her former partner who stood in front of her.

Cat Noir stared at Marinette. He watched as a purple haze flooded over her. Once it subsided, her familiar form was replaced with a person of the same size, but who was hidden under a black, hooded cloak. Her face was shrouded in darkness. She looked up slightly, and the surrounding street lights only revealed her mouth, which was turned in a frown.

"Marinette, can you hear me? It's Cat Noir. Marinette?" He tilted his head to see her face better. There was a pause that seemed like an eternity as he waited for the cloaked form to answer or move. Finally, she responded. It was Marinette's voice, but it was broken and distorted.

"Don't call me Marinette. Call me Dystopia".

Cat Noir responded, "Marinette, I know you can fight it. You have to try". Marinette did not respond again. Again, Cat Noir waited. She seemed to reach into something under her cloak. She pulled out the mystery item and held it up to her face, seeming to look at it intently. She looked up slightly, her face still obscured by her hood. This time, her mouth was turned up in a sly grin.

"I told you not to call me that". She peered at him for a while longer, as he stood confused, uncertain of what to do. Was she reconsidering being a villain?

Cat Noir watched as she looked down again, and brought the mystery item to her face. There was a faint light as the object touched and spread over her face. When she looked up, he could see the face of Marinette, albeit paler. She had a familiar mask over her eyes, one which Cat Noir couldn't quite place, and her pink lips were now colored purple. She slowly raised her arm, her open palm facing him.

"You know what I want. Why don't you make this easy and give it to me?" Dystopia said.

Cat Noir didn't answer. He knew it was time to fight or flee, but he couldn't help watching her. What was she doing? What would she do? After several seconds, he replied.

"You know I can't do that".

Dystopia chuckled. In a second, a blast of wind seeming came from nowhere, barreling in to Cat Noir and sending him flying. He skidded to a stop several hundred feet away.

"You remember Stormy Weather, of course?" Dystopia said tauntingly. She swung her hand again, which suddenly held Stormy Weather's parasol, and a bolt of lightning barely missed Cat Noir, coming close enough to singe his hair. Finally, he jolted in to action, falling back to a nearby rooftop.

The blast of wind and crash of lightning had awoken nearby Parisians, and lights were flickering on all around as people looked out their windows to see what was happening. No matter his friendship with Marinette, he had to keep these people safe. She wasn't under her own control. She was Hawk Moth's, at least for now. Several people were stepping out on the street, looking skyward for the storm they thought to be upon them. Few took any notice of the cloaked figure in the center of the street, until one man walked over to her inquisitively.

"Miss, are you okay?"

The mysterious figure reached in to her cloak, and placed her hands to her face again. Again, Cat Noir saw the faint flash of light. He knew he should yell a warning, but he was riveted in place, afraid of what might happen. The man was now only a step away, and Cat Noir was finally able to yell out, but it was too late. Dystopia lashed out, grabbing his head and pulling him. In the scuffle, her hood fell, and Cat Noir could see the gray skin, pink mask, and black lipstick of Zombizou, but again on Marinette's face. She planted a kiss directly on the man's forehead and let him go. He stumbled backwards in confusion, a black lip print on his head.

Dystopia leapt skyward, landing on a distant rooftop. She shouted to Cat Noir, "Can't let this be too easy for you!" and leapt away.

Cat Noir looked back to the street in horror. The man was now running about, infecting those nearby with Zombizou's kisses at an alarming rate. Now he had to decide: contain this situation, or chase Dystopia? An even more urgent question nagged him:

If Marinette was Ladybug, how could he possibly defeat her?

Master Fu and Tikki had been brainstorming, while Manon listened reverently. The two had been conferring about whom they could trust. Soon Tikki's eyes lit up with an idea.

"Master, I have a plan, but we need to deliver a Miraculous" she said.

"What do you need, Tikki?" Master Fu replied.

She replied, "The Fox sir. I know what we can do. Here's my plan, we take it to-". Master Fu cut her off.

"Don't tell me too much, Tikki. There's been so much revealed already. The less we all know, the better. I trust you. You do what you think is right, and I'll stay here with the other Miraculous" he declared.

"Master, don't you think you should hide? Marinette does know where you live after all. What if he brings Hawk Moth here?" she asked.

Master Fu thought for a moment and agreed. "I will leave and hide. If you need me I'll be-". This time Tikki cut him off. "Master, maybe it's better if we don't know". The old man nodded in agreement, and then finished, "-close." He grabbed the box and opened it, and Tikki motioned for Manon to grab the Fox pendant. Once the item was secured, the trio looked at each other again.

"Good luck to both of you. I'm sure this will work out" Master Fu said.

"Good luck, Master" Tikki responded. She wasn't so sure. She led Manon out into the night yet again. Now, it was off to the Cesaire house.

Dystopia sprang from roof top to roof top, sewing discord wherever she could. The powers of Dark Cupid turned lovers enjoying a midnight stroll at the Eiffel Tower into squabbling enemies, and Backwarder set taxis and buses careening in reverse. She had to sew enough destruction to loose Cat Noir and distract him while she found the Ladybug Miraculous. Now, she was headed to the Dupain-Cheng bakery. The desire to find the Miraculous was strong; both for the villain Dystopia and Marinette. Still, she didn't betray her identity. The little part of Marinette in her held strong. She burst through the bakery door with a powerful kick, looking around with satisfaction at the dark but familiar room. She heard a crash upstairs as her startled parents leapt out of bed. She reached in her bag and withdrew another mask. She held her to her face, this time turning it the green hue of Befana. She looked up just in time to see her father step around the door cautiously with a large rolling pin in hand, her frightened mother hiding behind him.

"Who's there?" he bellowed. "What do you want?"

Dystopia smirked at him. "Mom and Dad. You've always been there to help me. I'm just here for a little more help." She raised her hand revealing Befana's gun, pointing it at them.

"Marinette, is that you?" her father asked, bewildered.

"Close, but now I have a new name. You can call me Dystopia" she said.

Her mother whimpered fearfully, "Not Marinette!"

"Marinette, let us help you!" her father cried.

She replied, "Oh you will help me. I need two loyal fairies, just like you!" Before they could protest further, she squeezed the trigger twice and reduced them to voiceless fairies. They stood before her obediently. "I am looking for the Ladybug Miraculous, and you will help me find it. Let's go." With that she turned and walked out, her minions hovering silently behind her.