Shaky Tail Studios

Its Winter, cos there's no strict reason to start this on the new school year. Both Adrien's parents are alive, so while cloistered he's not as desperate to get out. Some like Kagami may already be around.

I could also see the story being less "Episodic" and more being like, several "Specials" or movies.

IE, Glasswing's debut & Chloe's rise, the formation of the team & a betrayal, Shanghai & ID reveals, Heroes' Day, conclusion, perhaps?

The story would mostly follow Chloe & her allies, but cut back to Marinette fairly often and have some back and forths showing the steady shifts in dynamics as time passes.

As discussed Marinette's arc here is sort of study in a "Good" victim shifting into a "Bad" victim. In this case its also how the systems and cultures in place can fail both.

IE, Marinette was a good victim in response to tragedy, she didn't lash out, or make people uncomfortable. She cried as one would expect but she never made too much of a scene & she tried not to impose on others.

As a result she did not get nearly enough support & the systems meant to help her failed.

Either by simply not giving her enough time (Still expected to return to school) or through stuff like legalities & language (Her uncle & aunt can't do much) or negligence, (Her grandmother is her guardian but is not very preset because Marinette seems to be handling this well)

Add in a magic butterfly with empathy powers giving her a skewed sense of how emotions work. Leading to her alienation from the human condition & increasing desperation to undo her tragedy... Well this leads her to isolating & lashing out at others. a vicious cycle.

Ideally, I think the story would end with her being defeated but her identity covered up so she can get some fucking therapy. Possibly cos Chloe as a bad victim in her own right can kind of see a lot of herself in Marinette, like:

"If I had ended up with magical powers after one of my mothers visits, I'd have destroyed a lot of stuff too."

But unsure, the one gripe I have with this AU is how low key grim everything is while also finding that fascinating.

A lot depends on the tone really.

Because post prologue I basically envision a Mylene Akuma serving as Fu's debut & him saving Chloe, maybe an Ivan one the next day. Then Evilustrator so Marinette can cover her ID by rejecting him and being a target alongside Chloe.

Which also lets her see Fu has limited stamina.

Cue her creating several Akuma over a few days & then transforming several people; letting them run wild while keeping one on a leash (The Magician) to wear down Fu, then hit him with a surprise attack.

He manages to slip away via the Horse Miraculous with Chloe who was targeted as usual, but... Well his body basically gives out. With Chloe being defaulted to as the Box's new Guardian by proximity or Fu trying to get her to heal him.

Cue Chloe having a bit of a breakdown.

In the grim versions of the story he stays deceased, while in the lighter one's he returns via the Miracle Cure but has Guardian amnesia so he's mostly just able to offer her tea & a sympathetic ear.

Either way, this would also be where Marinette finds out Akuma cannot be wrangled as easily as she thought.

This forces a brief team up with Chloe that also lets her escape & gives motive to not pull a stunt like that again.

Meanwhile Chloe as the New Guardian realizes she is liable to be Glasswing's main suspect & living a very exposed life, does not keep the box or all the Kwami with her.

Instead, she hands them over to the few people she trusts, or that they trust. Keeping adults out of it either at the Kwami's advice & her own suspicion as taking them back would be super hard.

As a result:

Sabrina gets a couple and basically serves as Chloe's partner & or sidekick.

If she & Kagami are on decent terms or Adrien recommendation due to being tasty in a fight she gets some right away or after arrival.

The largely homebound Adrien holds the box along with Kaalki and Tikki. As Chloe captures the Akuma & brings them to him for Purification & Miracle Cures.

Chloe wants Tikki & Plagg as far away from Glasswing as possible.

Which leads to her sending the Black Cat to Zoe. They aren't close but they are family so she trusts it will work out. Plagg isn't a fan but in Chloe's words:

"No! I refuse! I refuse to let her win no matter what! Do you hear me!? Lady Glasswing might kill me, but she does not get to win!"

Plagg feigns agreeing because he respects spite, but it only takes him a few weeks to convince Zoe to become a hero and ultimately go to Paris.

Chloe: See this! This is why I have trust issues! Zoe: (Waves) Hi :) Plagg: >;3c

Zoe's also not over her "Pretending to be mean" phase, but adopts a more "Spoiled/Clingy little sister" act with Chloe; who despite herself, due to what happened with Fu is pathologically protective.

This, her time as a hero and getting emotional support from the Kwami & Fu, as well as seeing how little her parents; care all feed into her steady self improvement & bettering mental health. Plus therapy.

Chloe doesn't start out notably better than canon though just to be clear. But she does opt to not start anything with Marinette given the tragedy... But she is less patient when several members of class try & demand that of her too.

The stammering voice of Mylene hit Chloe's ears, a faint tremor touched with heat, "C- Chloe I need to, to tell you, Mari-" 'Again!?' White hot anger flashed across Chiloe's vision and before she knew it her palm had slammed against the nearest locker with a resounding bang! "I swear, if you and your rainbow dreadlocks are not fleeing my sight by the time I turn around, I won't care if I am held responsible for what I do to you!" Pivoting, Chloe was satisfied to see Mylene fleeing around the nearest corner. That was more like it, Chloe could feel the tightness in her chest fading as satisfaction replaced anger. "Chloe!" Sabrina's terrified squeak was all the warning Chloe needed to spin around to face a furious Ivan. The towering boys hands slammed either side of the lockers boxing her in. "You had no right to speak to her like that!" 'Oh, its about her,' Chloe realized, his voice ringing in her ears as a smirk forced its way onto her lips. A vicious one with teeth. "That's hilarious, given the likes of you have no right to speak to me at all." His hands balled into fists still clanking against the lockers as veins throbbed on his neck. Chloe opened her hand, long, deadly nails poised as her blood began to race. "Go ahead, see what happens when a plebian tries to strike their better." For a moment it looked like he might act before ripping his hands back with a roar. "You aren't worth it!" "Please," She muttered, turning and strutting away, "A strand of my hair is worth more than your house." Sabrina fell in at her side, gasping, "That was amazing Chloe, you really scared him off!" Preening, she waved her hand, "Some people just need to be reminded of their place, several in fact." Sabrina's brow knitted together, "So does that mean we're going after M-" "No, I already said that she's irrelevant, utterly irrelevant to me. But the rest of the class, they need a reminder of etiquette." - Within a dimly lit room, a smile spread across a masked face as she watched the pulsating cocoon finally hatch. "I knew I could count on you to hurt someone, so predictable." The violet Akuma flexing its ghostly wings before taking off into the air and towards its target. "Fly , fly my Butterfly, and bring me my prize."

Still unsure on some names, especially as Golden Guard is in use lol, plus do love Medusa for a Snake & Bee fusion.

Broadly most of them rely on swapping out between 2 or 3 Miraculous in fights or outright fusions, so the team is smaller but has more powers. Though using many in short succession or more than two at a time does have consequences.

Fei Wu joins the team as the sixth ranger around the same time or slightly after Lila is booted or leaves & hooks up with Marinette. Due to her father not being dead she's much more chill & kind of a nice jock in terms of vibes. She wants the other half of the Prodigious stolen by Lady Glasswing to be used by her & Lila back.

IE, Fei Wu has physical enhancements but Lila can spew all sorts of magma or radiation and such due to Fei fusing with the actual spirit, but Lila holding the Prodigious. To compensate, Fei also gets the Mouse.