#ml dragonbug

Hello everybody, it’s Doodle here. Here’s part five of “A Lesson In Tightropes”. As mentioned before this story was already written before season 4 of Miraculous Ladybug came out. So this deviates from the show a little bit. Think as it in a way of a AU story.

Read the full version of Part 5 of “A Lesson In Tightropes” on Wattpad

Here’s the previous parts of the story:

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, & Part 4

Part 5: Tightropes

Tightropes.

In this circus that we call life everyone is forced to walk on a tightrope. Each one of us, some people’s ropes are longer than others and some are higher due to life’s events and expectations. For them there is so much to lose with every misstep. So much out of one person’s control and so many things that we would like to change. In times that we can’t, the desire to stop walking on the tightrope emerges. That it would be easier to fall even if there was a whole audience watching. To stop worrying about decisions or the people who brought you to this state. Its seems easier to fall than standing. To just plummet and spiral off the tightrope. But those moments do during our descent often we are caught by a net. It comes in the shape of family and friends, in some cases it’s the kindness of strangers to keep others from hitting the ground. But instead help them rise from the challenges ahead.

It was almost time. Just a few minutes until midnight.

The once stiff air of the Parisian Fairgrounds was now intense and filled with energy and excitement as the measly seconds ticked away. Now the fairgrounds was bursting with life that was made possible due to one man’s dream. Crowds of people entered the grounds like drones, some came alone, others came in groups and remaining had brought the whole family as they had traveled in the dark. The crowds approached the multiple ticket booths at the front dropping bills and coins in the exchange of gold foil tickets with black lettering that said “The World’s Greatest Show”. Lastly, the crowds made their way to the ginormous red and white circus big top with lit white string lights pitched to the ground to help the tent stay up and be visible in the dark.

All the citizens of Paris that had entered murmured a command from between their lips that they had gotten from the broadcast that had appeared on their phones, televisions, tablets, and anything other device that had a screen.

“Be prepared for a show! If you are anywhere near the one hundred mile radius of downtown Paris don’t walk, run! Come to the red and white big top for the world’s greatest show! Tickets while supplies last as this was the moment that you were waiting for!”

The faint sounds of the carnival flags flapping in the wind was drowned out by the noise of the people entering the big top while certain individuals hid in the shadows slipping through the crowds and tents with their own plans. Some animals stood in cages near the tent’s opening entrance to entertain the passing crowd.

Three minutes until midnight.

Upon entering the big top most of the inside was shrouded with darkness with the exception of the wooden stands around the tent’s perimeter for the audience. It was lit up by white string lights and paper lanterns. People sat themselves, some had even went to the snack stands spending as much money as possible buying snacks like popcorn, bags of peanuts, cotton candy and soft pretzels.

Two minutes until midnight.

As the stands had gotten filled some of the audience started to stomp on the stands with forced excitement. They were acting restless for what they came here for: the unmasking of Ladybug.

One minute until midnight.

The stomping became rampant as the audience waited for what they came miles for. But the second that it hit midnight the lights were cut off and it became so dark no one could see their hands in front of their face. There were a few screams of shock but most of them seemed to come from children. A white spotlight appeared from above scanning over the crowd as sounds of an unseen orchestra strumming up their instruments giving an ominous sound while a single minor key played over and over. After scanning about thirty people the spotlight stopped in the middle of the crowd shining its light to one person sitting in the stands drawing complete attention to them.

One man.

He was in his late twenties, had fair skin, golden eyes with black eyeliner around them, mid length smoky black hair and a lanky frame. The man was wearing a bright red long ringmaster jacket with gold epaulets, gold epaulets, gold metal buttons with matching gold chains to fasten them, black flared pants, black knee high boots, a black top hat with gold trim around the band and pristine white gloves.

Ringmaster was his name.

In that quick moment of recognition the crowd went wild letting out cheers and screams of excitement as if Jagged Stone, Laura Nightingale and Beyoncé had just materialized in front of them. He was the reason why they were here, they were now just his sycophants with the only goal to see the show that he was supposed to provide. The villain hanged his head as the piano and orchestra repeatedly intensified. In addition to what sounded like a chugging train. In his hand was a purple and white striped cane with a gold circular handle rooted at the top. He slammed the bottom of his cane on the stand causing a video camera with black feathered wings to appear in a puff of smoke, instantly filming him.

Ringmaster traced the brim of his hand with the tip of his fingers then looked right in the camera and sang:

🎶You stumble through your days

Got you head hung low

Your skies’ a shade of grey

Like a zombie in a maze

You’re asleep inside

But you can shake awake 🎶

His singing voice was smooth, luxurious and powerful as if it was a tempting whisper that was trying to crawl into your ear. Suddenly Ringmaster jolted up from his seat to his feet while the sound of snapping joined in with the beat. He continued to sing looking around at his audience members as the lights were turned back on the stands.

🎶Cause you’re a dead man walking

Thinking that’s your only option

But you can flip the switch and brighten

your darkest day🎶

He tapped his cane on the stand causing a yellow rose to appear in his hand. Ringmaster smiled offering to the lady that was right beside him. She took it and returned the smile as he continued.

🎶 Sun is up and the color’s blinding

Take the world and redefine it🎶

Ringmaster tapped his cane again causing this time a deck of playing cards appeared in his hands. He picked a few cards out of the deck and tossed them forward causing them to disappear within a puff of smoke.

🎶Leave behind your narrow mind

You’ll never be the same🎶

He threw the remaining cards in the air causing them to transform into multicolored butterflies that flew over the audience. The audience cheered and awed as this was probably their first positive experience with butterflies in months. Ringmaster started to walked down the stands while the camera followed his every move as he continued to sang:

🎶Come alive

Come alive

Go and light your light

Let it burn so bright

Reaching up to the sky

And it’s open wide

You’re electrified! 🎶

The villain reached the bottom of the stands with the pitch black darkness in front of him. He slammed his cane on the ground then pointed at several spots of the dark causing it to light up revealing what was in front of them. A three ring circus stage with red and gold trim around the rings. Above were a few trapeze artists in sparkly costumes and neon painted skin hanging on suspended silver hoops. There also was a thin single tightrope that was over fifty feet high with no net held up by thick wooden poles. In the back there were five large horse drawn animal cages covered with thick gold tarps.

Each had their drivers sitting and watching as if they were waiting for their cue. One driver in particular was wearing a black hooded cloak. Ringmaster ran forward into the center ring and started dancing. He shimmied his shoulders and did a cross turn clasping his hands in front of him while singing:

🎶When the world become a fantasy

And you’re more than you could ever be

Cause you’re dreaming with your eyes

wide open

And you can’t go back again

To the world that you were living in

Cause you’re dreaming with your eyes

wide open

So, come alive! 🎶

Ringmaster’s attention shifted to the tent’s entrance as he brought down his cane once more. Just then the Circus Gang entered the big top with white horses with gold decorated accents leading the charge trotting in with their riders. The music started to shift to something more loud and boisterous that had been played earlier in the night. Right behind them was a large group of people, some seen before others not. The leaders of the pack dancing their way in was The Fierce Foursome, The Mademoiselles Of Knives, The Lost Kids, The Clown Posse and The Gothic Freaks. The other performers behind them were riding in on elephant glitz out for the occasion carrying a gold banner on its back that hung like a saddle that said “Andrea’s Traveling Circus: World’s Greatest Show!”

The whole group sang in unison while entering:

🎶 Oh! This is the moment that we’ve been waiting for

Searching in the dark soaking through the floor

It’s where covered in all the colored lights

Where the runaways are running the night

Impossible comes true

Intoxicating you

This is the greatest show!🎶

The Circus Gang joined Ringmaster in the rings circling the center ring while dancing in place singing background accompaniment of oohs and ahh. While Ringmaster continued to sing:

🎶 No more living in those shadows

You and me, know how that goes

Cause once you see it

Oh you’ll never never be the same

We will be the light that’s turning

Bottle up but keep on shining

You can prove

There’s more to you

You can’t be afraid. 🎶

He slammed his cane down causing the animal cage drivers to pull off the traps off their cages revealing more Circus Gang members. Except the cloaked individual who sat still and just to watch. The members opened the cages releasing themselves and a few animals such as lions and tigers. There was more clowns, a bearded woman in a bright pink ball gown, lion tamers, strong men and women, fire breathers, jugglers and more acrobats to entertain while main group sang to Ringmaster now circulating the center ring:

🎶 It’s everything that you would ever

want

It’s everything you ever need

And it’s here right in front of you

This is where you wanna be

It’s everything you ever want

It’s everything you need

This is where you want to be🎶

The gang started to show down as Dagger stopped in front of Ringmaster while the rest clapped in rhythm. She gave him a loving look as if there was a past between the two of them outside of this night.

🎶This is where you want to be!🎶 she sang holding the last note.

Ringmaster smiled so wide as if his face were about to break into two. He took the sharp shooter’s healed hand bringing her into the ring spinning her around and dipping her.

🎶OH! THIS IS GREATEST SHOW!🎶 he belted.

Rest of the Circus Gang joined Dagger and Ringmaster in the center ring while the rest of the mini acts was performing simultaneously. The akuma and the Circus Gang danced in unison as they swayed back and forth before clapping to the beat for several counts. Then slid side to side flicking their hands out and pumped their first while singing:

🎶We won’t come down

And walls won’t stop us now

Oh, this is the greatest show

Cause everything you want is right in front of you

Impossible is coming true.🎶

Ringmaster turned spinning on his knees as the rest lined up across behind him. While the neon painted acrobats jumped from their hoops and struck their landings in the second and third rings. Ringmaster jumped back to his feet bringing his cane behind his shoulders kicking his feet forward. The gang extended their arms like they were about to take a bow but broke up in two small groups. One group moved forward and the other moved back.

They freely jumped moving side to side as was getting close to the last few verses:

🎶We light it up and won’t come down

The world won’t stop us now

This is the greatest show!

This is the greatest show!

Oh, this is the greatest show!

Oh, this is the greatest show!

Oh, this is the greatest show!

Oh, this is the greatest show!

So come alive! 🎶

Ringmaster brought down his cane, gold confetti to drop down from above covering the performers in the final pose of the performance. The audience rose up from their seats giving a thunderous applause as if it was the greatest thing that they had ever seen. Ringmaster brought the circular handle of his cane to his lips.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” he told the audience as they started to sit back down. “You don’t know how much your applause means to me. Welcome to Andrea’s Traveling Circus: The World’s Greatest Show. Let’s give another hand to our excellent performers that are here tonight!”

The audience continued their applause as the villain slammed his cane causing the performers to bow. But their movement was stiff, almost animatronic.

“But I’m aware that you haven’t come all this way just to watch me and my performers, right?” Ringmaster asked the audience. “You have come for the main attraction!”

“Ladybug! Ladybug! Ladybug! Ladybug!” The audience rooted.

“That’s right you came to see Ladybug finally unmasked! Well, we are here to finally bring it to you,” Ringmaster’s features were growing more sinister with each word. “To answer the question that has been rattling in public consciousness for nearly a year! Originally, I was planning to do something more subdued but then I realized where was the flair? The pizzazz? In the city that only deserves the best?! So I’ll bring to you, your once mighty savior Ladybug!”

The villain brought his cane down and looked at the entrance, expectantly. While the audience started stomping and clapping in rhythm and excitement for their main attraction. A few seconds ticked by but nothing happened. Ringmaster brought down his cane again. Nothing happened, the villain raised a brow confused.

“Snappy? Where are you?” he asked as the video camera live streaming everything was still on him.

Suddenly there was a familiar sounding male voice coming from the back addressing the audience.

“My dear audience, due to technical difficulties the previous scheduled event has been cancelled!”

The audience all turned their attention from the circus’ ringmaster to the individual in the back. It was the black cloaked figure standing in front of their still tarp covered animal cage. There was something grayish and silver in their hand they were speaking into, like a microphone. The flying video camera that was filming Ringmaster quickly switched to the cloaked figure.

“Hey!” Ringmaster yelled.

“But instead be prepared to see one of the biggest baddest battles of struggle since the dawn of time! Something to blow this pitiful circus out of the water. You’re in luck folks for one night only you are presented with The Miraculous Smackdown,” the cloaked figure projected, with excitement and anticipation. “No holds barred fight between Ringmaster and Andrea’s Traveling Circus and two worthy opponents! A battle of dominance of the whole city. Every decision that has been made tonight has led to this moment. Are you ready to meet the two opponents between this fight of good vs evil!?”

The audience cheered while still clapping and stomping to a great show that they were promised.

“You go it! In that corner is Andrea’s Traveling Circus. While in this corner is the dazzling, the dynamic, the fierce...” the cloaked figure pulled off the tarp revealing the being who was in the cage this whole time. “DragonBug!”

The cage door swung open was Paris’ favorite heroine stepped out donning the colors of red, black and gold. In her hand was the sword of the dragon miraculous that she donned on her neck. She was not Ladybug right now but instead the stunning and powerful hybrid heroine DragonBug.

“That’s right folks don’t think your eyes are deceiving you. That’s the real DragonBug. It is on!” the cloaked figure exclaimed as the heroine stood beside him. “Can these circus acts handle this hybrid powerhouse themselves? Or will she tear right through them? But again if that is the case why should she have all the fun to herself?”

The cloaked figure then pulled down his hood revealing Snake Noir. The hybrid hero undid the fastening of his cloak letting it fall revealing his whole costume as he was donning black, teal and yellow.

“I think that Snake Noir should be allowed to join the party!” he said in his staff microphone. “As I’m always in for some action. What’s wrong Ringmaster cat got your tongue?”

Ringmaster’s eyes widened as the two heroes walked forward passing their previous opponents who remained still as waiting for their cue. But there were looks of disdain on their faces.

“I hope not,” DragonBug said, taking the staff microphone from Snake Noir. She pointed her sword at Ringmaster as approached. “As Ringmaster you have something that belongs to me.”

It was her yoyo, she knew that he had it underneath his jacket.

So far things are going according to plan, finally. In the mix of all the craziness and sleep deprivation the heroine had forgotten what she had promised Tikki. Before leaving, the little kwami made her promise to take the snake and dragon miraculous just in case it got too much for them. That they could recruit Luka and Kagami as backup later on or fuse them to become DragonBug and Snake Noir if needed. So Marinette had put them in her purse and wore it before transforming to keep it with her. With the limited time that they had and knowledge that nearly everyone in the city was brainwashed by Ringmaster’s broadcast.

It didn’t seem advantageous to risk leaving the fairgrounds, instead it was best to do it themselves. The boxes didn’t occur to her until one breaking point and heart to heart later. Then it took a couple minutes of performing technical odds and ends like recharging and transforming to infiltrate the big top and all the madness along with it.

“So how about Ringmaster? After the gracious surprise you dropped on us earlier tonight it was only fair for us to return the favor,” DragonBug continued approaching him. “Andrea’s Traveling Circus vs Paris’ mightiest heroes. Or better yet we could do this one on one. As we score to be settled. All or nothing or are you scared?”

Ringmaster’s features sharpened from the saucer wide eye expression that he had seconds ago as the crowd was now cheering the names DragonBug and Snake Noir.

“Scared?” he asked her. “Why? When I was waiting for a moment like this. I promise these people a show. That’s what’s going to give them a show. You had one chance to go out peacefully. Circus Gang! Don’t hold back, like she said it’s all or nothing!”

“Ready?” Snake Noir asked the heroine, extending his staff after DragonBug handed it back to him.

“Ready,” DragonBug nodded, holding up her sword.

The villain firmly slammed his cane against the ground giving off a thunderous boom over the crowd’s cheering.

Without a second to spare a barrage of various knives came at them with the plans of piercing their flesh. Snake Noir jumped in front of DragonBug spinning his staff skillfully deflecting the knives. Just then Straight Back leaped from the back of the crowd with two of her namesake knives in her hand. He brought his staff forward blocking the stunning slasher while shoving her back. She lunged again causing Snake Noir to flip back then planted his staff in the ground and swung around it avoiding her charge.

Drop Point joined in chucking her knives at him. Snake Noir pulled his staff out of the ground and swung it in front of him blocking them. He yanked one knife from the staff and threw it in her general direction. This caused Drop Point to hit the deck. Meanwhile DragonBug ducked and dodged one of the Gothic Freaks that she fought before with the purple streak in her hair. The Gothic Freak swung her hands trying to cut the heroine with her long black fingernails.

DragonBug stepped back avoiding her nails before lunging forward with her sword swiping at her fingernails, cutting them to disarm her. The freak just looked down at her nails somberly. Then looked up with anger holding up her hands extending her nails to twenty inches instead of eight.

DragonBug’s eyes widened as the freak charged, thinking. Well, that’s new.

The Gothic Freak swiped at her with twenty inch long nails forcing DragonBug to use her sword to deflect back and forth. The heroine swung her leg striking the freak in the stomach then delivered an open palm strike to the chin knocking her back. However, before she could hit the ground the heroine spun her around throwing her in the remaining Gothic Freaks that she noticed were approaching in the corner of her eye, knocking them over. But after watching the collision she felt something hard hit her back bringing the heroine to her knees.

She looked up and saw The Clown Posse starting to surround her with their metal pipes and wooden baseball bats with several rusty nails sticking out of the top.

DragonBug gritted her teeth and did a back high kick with her legs striking one of the clowns behind her knocking them over while bringing herself back to her feet. The Clown Posse tried to swarm her swinging their pipes and bats but DragonBug effortlessly swiped her sword slicing their weapons into splinters and scrap metal. A few back away from her while others still stupidly charge forward. The heroine smiled at their idiocy sliding her sword back into the holder. She could easily win with her sword but for her, all or nothing didn’t instantly mean death and these fools weren’t her main target.

As the first one came at her she jumped over him grabbing the shoulders of his jacket and flipped the clown over her shoulder. The two clowns looked at their fallen member in shock as DragonBug flipped forward, landing between them striking one in the chest with her foot and the other elbowing them in the face. Another one charged at her who she leaped over using his back as support was he had swung for a punch, knocking him over. A clown after that charged at her and she let him get close then without warning linked arms with him then did a side aerial forcing the goon off balance. She took a few steps back after the clown’s fall trying to analyze the scene to find Ringmaster. When she felt a pair of arms wrapped and lifted her off the ground.

DragonBug narrowed her eyes and did a high kick, hitting the clown holding her. She landed on the ground after being drop picking up the scrap metal and fragmented wood. As the two other clowns ran toward her she chuckled the metal and wood at them with all her might knocking them down.

Now where’s Ringmaster? DragonBug thought while scanning the area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the full version of part four , check it out on Wattpad. If you made it this far, thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

Also a little music to set the mood. Especially if you read the full Wattpad version: Rise by Glee Cast

The songs that involved in the story is a mash up of [Come Alive From The Greatest Showman|https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BURBlSYPmBU] (hyperlinked) and [The Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman|https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jpJ8CbrWX_Y]. I did not write these songs. The original version/this version was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul; Ryan Lewis. I DID NOT WRITE THESE LYRICS THE CREDITS SHOULD GO TO THE PEOPLE ABOVE. HOWEVER THE STORY ITSELF WAS WRITTEN BY ME.