Warning : English is not my first language so sorry if it’s confusing !
Warning 2 : This fanfic content salt if you don’t like don’t read !
Warning 3 : Reference to sexual assault.
Hey everyone! ^^ here’s the new chapter of “The Oletus manor diary of a ladybug”! :D
I know it’s was a long time since the last chapter and I’m really sorry about this, I had a bad writting block and was also busy with other writting works! ^^’
But I finally was able to finish this chapter so I hope you’ll all like it! ^^
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23/04/2015, Oletus manor’s living room security camera :
The camera show the survivors and the hunters at the table, talking about their temporary ̎ young housemate ̎.
Kreacher Pierson(Awkwardly) : Sssoooo… This is the kid who will stay at the manor during the rainy season ?
Freddy Riley(sighing frustrated) : For the hundredth time Pierson, YES, this is the girl, YES, she will stay here and YES her stay will last at least for two weeks until this god forsaken storm stop ! Good lord ! Would it kill you to spend at least a few minutes without asking the same question over and over again ?
Kreacher Pierson(defensive) : Whoa ! Hold your horses ̎ mister lawyer ̎, I was just curious and confused, as everyone else is probably, I mean, our ̎ host ̎ permitting someone from the outside world, who wasn’t invited, to stay in the manor ? Come on ! Don’t tell me you didn’t find this strange ?
Vera Blair(ironic) : Right ! Because leaving this girl, sick, in a violent thunderstorm and risking to attract unwanted attention in the aftermath would have been the logical thing to do !
Kreacher Pierson(annoyed) : Ohoh ahah, very funny !
Mary(rolling her eyes) : As much I hate to admit it, Monsieur le Voleur does had a point it’s quite unusual for our ̎ host ̎ to letting someone from the outside world who was not invited to participate to the games to stay in the manor and to know about how things are going here this easely !
Naib Subedar(nobbed, arms crossed) : Yeah, this is really out of character for him when you see all the amount of precautions he’s taken to make sure to keep the games, and everything else in the manor, a secret.
Lucky Guy(frowning) : I don’t know, this guy is always so cryptic, who knows what’s going on in his head right now!
Andrew Kreiss(calmly stutters) : B-But shouldn’t we m-more wondering… w-what that girl was doing outside all alone?(slightly panics when the others looked at him) I-I mean this is strange right ? N-Normally a young girl of her age shouldn’t wander by herself in a forest this far from the town…
Jack(thinking) : An interesting question M.Gravekeeper! But I am sure some of us could had a theory on the matter since some seem to had recognised they young lady, am I right Miss Doctor, M. Embalmer?(throw an amused look at Emily and Aesop)
Aesop Carl(nervous) : Well… I did remember having met her, one time in town, she had an accident because of a drunk driver who were driving when the lights were red and nearly run her over, thank god the driver stopped before he could run her over, but since his car struck her a bit and she was in shock because of the accident, I helped her to go to the hospital.
Emily Dyer(frowning) : I made a check up on her and, thank god, she didn’t have any kind of injuries ! However I was shocked to learn that this poor girl end up in this accident because her whole class, the teacher included, left her behind when they were supposed to go to the museum.When her teacher come to pick her up she had the guts to scold her, when it was HER fault for leaving her behind in the first place, for, I quote, ̎ Having being irresponsible and bring problems to her and the class ̎ ! Absolutely revolting !
Emma Gardner(nobbing) : Oh yeah ! I remember you were ranting about it for hours when you came back after your shift !
Joseph Desaulniers(lift his head) : By any chance, is this class from France ?
Emily Dyer:(nob her head)
Joseph Desaulniers : Ah ! Then they’re without any doubt the class who came to the museum that day ! Since it was the anniversary of the town, the museum was quite busy with giving tours during the week and I remember that day Monsieur Lapadula and I were supposed to give a tour to a class from France and I remember they were… How do I put this politely ?
Burke Lapadula(interjecting grunchy) : A bunch of rude, noisy, bratty and messy worms !
Joseph Desaulniers(Carefully):It’s… A way to describe them, oui…
Burke Lapadula(Snorting) : A perfect description of them you mean Desaulniers ! Those brats were nothing but nuisances and without any manners ! First they made a scene at the front desk because they didn’t had the security codes to get the tickets, then the teacher left and came back moments later with the student who actually had the codes and her ̎ classmates ̎ ganged up on her about having ̎ stole Lali’s codes ̎ or whatever this girl’s name was !
And when, finally, Desaulniers and I were able to begin the tour, only a few of them were actually paying attention ! Most of them were busy listening the fibs of that Lali girl, during the whole tour she was always butting in to tell rubbish nonsense like she was the secret descendant of one of Eurydice’s founding fathers or how her too many great uncle/aunt/grandfather or whatever actually helped the creator of this machinery to create it or the other one or how one girl who was on one of the photos was a very distant family member of her and blablabla… URHG ! Disrespectful little twerps !
Martha Behamfil(Confused): They were making a mess and no one did a thing ? And their teacher ? I know from what Emily told us she doesn’t seem to be the teacher of the year but surely she would at least try to get her students to behave ?
Joseph Desaulniers(Hesitant) : Well…
Burke Lapadula(Angry) : Absolutely nothing ! She just stood there and looked at them like nothing was happening and constantly smiling like an idiot ! I wouldn’t even be surprised if this kid’s situation was because of this so called teacher’s incompetence !
Burke Lapadula kept on ranting with all the other hunters and survivors looking at him.
Demi Bourbon(Snorting) : Honestly I’m not surprised ! I saw this class at the café where I work at once and they tried to leave and make me believe that the classmate they left at one table will pay their bill, but I wasn’t born yesterday ! I saw them multiple times during the time they were at their table and the classmate in question was away from them at another table and not once they went to talk to her so I guessed they were trying to trick me into letting them leave without paying, so I kept them from leaving until they paid. They tried to change my mind, make me pity them, threaten me but I didn’t budge and they finally gave in when I gave them the ultimatum to either pay their bill or I was calling the police on them !
Kevin Ayuso(clear his throat) : Not that those ̎ work gossips ̎ aren’t entertaining but that doesn’t answer the main question here : what’s about this little lady for the manor’s owner to permit someone from the outside world to know how things are going here ?
Everyone is silent not knowing what to answer.
Hastur(silently laughing) : Oh she’s way more than meets the eye than you believe…
The rest turn their attention to Hastur, looking at the eldritch being, some uncertain, others wary.
Hastur(cryptic) : This is something I would rather let you find out yourself, but what I can tell you is this girl is connected to big forces ! But I am sure a few of you did notice it !(Give a quick look to Eli Clark and Patricia Dorval) But like I said this isn’t up to me to tell ! However if our ̎ host ̎ is taking this much precautions for the girl’s safety to the point of even taking the risk to tell her about the manor’s ways that mean he is also aware of the powerful forces in relation with this girl and of the possible consequences if anything should happen to her !
Unknown female voice : A good deduction lord Hastur !
The Hunters and the Survivors turn to see Miss Nightingale enter the room.
Miss Nightingale(formal) : Like Lord Hastur said, this girl is connected to big forces which are important for this world’s balance and so her safety is really important ! If anything tragic happened to her, the consequences may be disastrous ! That why the owner instructed me to insure her comfort and safety during her stay and to instruct you, particuliary for some of you, to be on your best behavior and to not let your ̎ shenanigans ̎ bother our guest !
Edgar Valden(grumbling and murmuring):Tss really ? Does he take us for children ?
Miss Nightingale(hear him, seriously) :I wouldn’t take this situation lightly M. Valden ! The owner takes this girl’s safety very seriously, messing with the forces connected to the girl aren’t a laughing matter, others had tried in the past and deeply paid the price !
Wu Chang:(silently nob in agreement the others didn’t notice it)
Luchino Diruse(skeptical) : How ̎ deeply ̎ are we talking ?
Miss Nightingale(listing) : The dinosaur’s extinction…
Luchino Diruse(stunned) : … Uh…
Miss Nightingale : Atlantis’s destruction…
Kurt Frank(shocked) : Atlantis is real ?!
Miss Nightingale : Correction : ̎ was real ̎ (keep listing) the Plague…
Ann(her dark pitch eyes wide in shock) : … What ?
Miss Nightingale : The Tower of Pisa being toppled…
Edgar Valden(surprised) : You mean the tower wasn’t toppled because of the swampy grounds ?
Miss Nightingale : The Hundred Years’ War.
The survivors and some of the hunters(in shock) : …
Miss Nightingale(formal) : And this is just a few, the list is quite long ! Do you understand the situation now or should I continue ?
Naib Subebar(hold up his hands) : We get it, we get it ! The kid and whatever power with her is off limits !
Miss Nightingale(smile) : Good ! Now as I was saying, during her stay Miss Dupain-Cheng will need to rest a lot to recover a bit until we are able to send her to the hospital ! For that she will need for her recovery a lot of peaceandquiet!That’s why the owner expects from all of you to not disturb our guest with your shenanigans and I’m insisting on that for some of you particularly.
The hunters and survivors, at this remark, turn their heads toward Smiley Face, Jack, Servais Le Roy and Kreacher Pierson with a narrowed look, the first three ignoring them.
Kreacher Pierson(Noticing the looks on him) : What ? Why are you looking at me like that ? I can understand the warning for ̎ Clown face ̎, who’s unpredictable, ̎ No face ̎, who’s a freak and Le Roy, who’s ready to do anything to be ̎ the greatest magician ever know ̎, but me ? Why would I try to mess with the kid ?
Michiko(Sipping from her tea cup) : Well, for starter your title isn’t ̎ Thief ̎ for nothing !
Kreacher Pierson(Slightly offended) : Oi !
William Ellis(with a jaded look) : Your shady treatment toward those kids at this orphanage of yours in the past, which makes the guarantee of the young lass’s safety questionable if you ever interact with her !
Kreacher Pierson(Turning toward William) : I didn’t-
Freddy Riley(Crossing his arms) : You’re overly untrustworthy !
Emily Dyer(Frowning) : You also had this bad habit to take advantage of others at their weakest moments ! Just like you tried to do to Emma times ago !
Emma Woods:(Nob in agreement)
Leo Beck(groans in agreement) : Huurrrrrr….
Kreacher Pierson(Exasperated) : OH COME ON THAT WAS LITERALLY CENTURIES AGO ! WE ALL AGREED WHAT I HAVE DONE WAS TRASH, I COUNTLESSLY APOLOGIZED TO WOODS FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND EVEN KEEP MY DISTANCES FROM HER WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME ? AND SERIOUSLY ? YOU THINK I WOULD TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE KID ̎ THAT WAY ̎ ? I MAY HAVE DONE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONABLE THINGS IN THE PAST BUT I WOULD NEVER GO TO ̎ THAT ̎ LEVEL ! I MEAN DID YOU SEE HER ? SHE’S WHAT ? 16 ?
Miss Nightingale(stoic) : Actually from my talk with Miss Dupain-Cheng I learned she was 14 and would be 15 very soon…
Kreacher Pierson(Over-dramatic) : SEE ? SHE’S EVEN YOUNGER ! SO ALL OF YOU MARK MY WORD WHEN I SAY THAT I, KREACHER PIERSON, MAY BE A THIEF, A CON ARTIST OR A DECIEVER BUT NEVER EVER IN MY LIFE HAD, OR EVER WILL, STOOD TO ̎ THAT ̎ LEVEL OF TRASH !
Everyone else is rolling their eyes at Kreacher’s over-dramatic reaction.
Miss Nightingale(Still stoic) : Well, now this was made clear, I will have to excuse myself as I had a lot of duties to attend, good day to all of you !
Miss Nightingale took her leave and the survivors and hunters silently look at her, exciting the room.
Luca Balsa(joking) : Welp… That was something !
Norton Campbell(sigh) : Tell me about it… In the end we just got more questions than answers about that girl outside of the fact she is connected to ̎ powerful forces ̎ which are apparently very dangerous in the wrong hands !
Jose Baden(Shrug) : Well… I guess this will be up to the little miss to tell us if she decided to do it at one point !
Tracy Reznik(Confused) : Uh guys ? Sorry to interrupt you but… Where is Bonbon going like that ?
Burke Lapadula(grumbling) : It’s name is Guard 26 not Bonbon and…(He notices that the robot is indeed leaving quickly) What the- ? Guard 26 ! Where are you going ? Get back there ! Oi ! Get your metallic butt here right now ! Are you even listening to me, you me you pile of dolts ? GUARD 26!(Burke go after the robot and leave the room)
Most of the survivors and hunters took it as their cue and also left the room, outside of a few of them.
Oletus manor’s first floor security camera :
The camera shows Robbie about to take the stairs to the second floor but is busted by Michiko who appears in the camera’s vision.
Michiko : Robbie ? What are you doing ?
Robbie(Freeze) : Uh… Nothing ?
Michiko(Sigh) : You were trying to sneak in to see Dupain-Cheng-san were you ?
Robbie(Hesitant) : Uuuuuhhh…
Michiko(Softly) : Listen, she needs to rest for now ! You can go see and get to know her another time okay ?
Robbie(Sigh) : Okayyyyy….
Michiko(Smile) : Good ! Now come with me ! How about we go to your bedroom and I read you the story you want ?
Robbie happily nobbed and took Michiko’s hand and both left the floor.
Oletus manor’s second floor security camera :
The camera show Burke arguing with his robot, Guard 26 ̎ Bonbon ̎, who was guarding Marinette’s bedroom’s door with no intention of leaving.
Burke Lapadula(Angry) : What the hell are you doing ? I didn’t even give you the order to go to the brat’s room, so what are you even doing posted in front of her door ?
Bonbon : Presence of a vulnerable person in the manor declared, so Bonbon’s protection code was activated.
Burke Lapadula(Angry) :Protection co- I didn’t even give you the order to activate this protocole ! I’m your creator and any protocol or any action from you should be activated on MY order ! So desist your protection protocol and come with me now !
Bonbon : Apologies, but Bonbon’s protection protocol can’t be desist !
Burke Lapadula(Getting impatient) :… Guard 26, desist protection protocol and follow me right. Now !
Bonbon : Apologies, but Bonbon’s protection protocol can’t be desist !
Burke Lapadula(Frustrated) : Oh for heck sake ! DESIST THIS FREAKING PROTECTION PROTOCOL !
Bonbon : Apologies, but Bonbon’s protection protocol can’t be desist !
Burke keeps going on trying to get his robot obey him with the robot not budging.
Oletus manor’s third floor security camera :
The camera shows Emily and Emma talking in the floor corridor, Emily seems still upset about the possible reason for Marinette’s state.
Emma talks to Emily for a while, comforting her about how everything will be okay, that Marinette will be fine, especially with a doctor like Emily to take care of her.
Emily, moved by Emma’s words, shares a hug with her for a few minutes before the two leave holding each other’s hand.
A few moments later, the camera shows Naib, Eli and Aesop having a talk in the corridor.
Naib Subebar(Arms crossed) : Hey Clark, about what Nightingale told about those ̎ powerful forces ̎, you think you can told some things about it ? I mean you’re into this magic stuff right ? So you probably ̎ feel ̎ something right ?
Eli Clark(Nobbed) : Well yes I felt something unusual radiating from this young girl ! But before you ask, no I didn’t feel anything which could be ̎ dangerous ̎ for us, those forces seem to be powerful but not evil ! Whatever it is, I don’t think it’s something which will deliberately hurt us !
Naib Subebar(Nobbing) : I see…
Aesop(Nervously) : Now we clear up this matter, I must go ! I have ̎ important things ̎ to do ahah…
Naib Subebar(Smirking) : And I suppose those ̎ important things ̎ have obviously nothing to do with a certain french photographer ?
Aesop(Very nervous and blushing) : I… I… I REALLY MUST GO, GOOD DAY TO YOU TWO !
Aesop leaves the corridor embarrassed.
Eli Clark(Smirking to Naib) : You know, you’re one to talk on that subject, after all isn’t there a thing going on between you and mister Jack ?
Naib Subedar(Sputtering and blushing) : Wh-… How-… When-… ABSOLUTELY NOT !!!
Oletus manor’s first floor camera :
Other survivors and hunters go through the floor’s corridors, some going to their bedroom and others to another part of the manor.
Oletus manor’s living room security camera :
The hunters and the survivors had left the living room outside of the Dream Witch, and by extension Follower, and Hastur were having a discussion.
Dream Witch(Humming) : So it’s seem ̎ they ̎ get a new guardian ! I must say this is surprising to ̎ see ̎ one of ̎ them ̎ after so long !
Hastur(Nobbing) : Indeed, I don’t know about you, but I think things will get very interesting during those two weeks !
Both turn to the camera, the Dream Witch is smirking and Hastur is chuckling.
Hastur : Don’t you agree mister the Owner ?
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TAG LIST :( a reblog will get you a place in the tag list! ^^)
I know what comes next but I don’t know how to get there! Whooooo writing is hard
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It was an unusual summons, to say the least. No ongoing attack, no urgency in Ladybug’s voice or movement. Just a sudden appearance, in the rare quiet moments between fencing practice and her mother arriving to fetch her.
Ladybug handed Kagami Longg’s choker in a small, unassuming wood box, like the kind one might buy at a craft store.
“A meeting, tomorrow night,” Ladybug said. “I’m sorry for the short notice, but it’s hard to find you alone with your schedule.”
“That’s alright, Ladybug,” Kagami said. She slipped the box into her bag, tucking it under her fencing clothes. “May I ask why you are giving me the Miraculous now?”
“It would be chaos if I tried to find everyone in one day. I’m… planning ahead, for once.”
Everyone. A large meeting of the Miraculous users, then. Extremely unusual.
“What is this meeting for?”
Ladybug shook her head, her pigtails bouncing as she did. “Longg will give you directions. Will you be able to get out of your house by 23:00 tomorrow night?”
“I can manage it,” Kagami said.
“Good. I’m trusting you not to activate your powers before then unless you are under attack. Longg will stay hidden in your stuff if you choose to wear the choker early.”
“And I will return the Miraculous to you when we are finished.”
Ladybug smiled, giving her a quick salute and “Bug out!” as she disappeared.
Longg didn’t know much.
“It’s not Ladybug’s meeting,” she said, as she pushed the button for Kagami’s electric toothbrush over and over again, marveling at it. “From what I understand, Chat Noir asked her to gather the heroes of her choosing. I think it’s the first time so many of us have been out at once in centuries.”
“It’s very strange,” said Kagami. She had worked with Chat Noir many times by now, but the nature of the heroes’ interactions meant most of them didn’t know each other all that well. It seemed to her out of character for Chat Noir to be so serious, and it was definitely unheard of for Ladybug to give out the Miraculous long term, even if it was just overnight. “Could he have been given some kind of warning? There are time manipulation powers within the Miraculous, correct?”
“That’s certainly possible,” said Longg. “But if Sass and Fluff have felt anything, they haven’t shared.”
It was strange, having company overnight. Longg was delighted to read manga over Kagami’s shoulder late into the night, and discussed it with her in the morning. She spent the day in Kagami’s pocket, and the weight was comforting, reassuring that if something went wrong, they could do something about it.
Nonetheless, the day was agonizingly slow. Many of the recent days had been, with one of her only friends in Paris missing, but the anticipation of the meeting had Kagami on edge. Could it be some sort of trap? Could there be a false Ladybug out, getting all the Miraculous in one place for Shadowmoth to steal at once? Or, maybe worse, a false Chat Noir, manipulating the real Ladybug to do the same?
At 23:00, Ryuko disappeared out Kagami’s window, following the directions Longg had told her.
It was fairly far, near the border of the city, an area she’d never been to before. She dropped down to the street, and was startled when someone touched her shoulder.
“Sorry!” the woman said, raising her hands.
Ryuko squinted. She seemed familiar, though perhaps the darkness made the colors look off.
“Rena Rouge?”
“Rena Furtive, at the moment,” Rena said with a wink. She spun around, showing off the changes to her costume, which was indeed a gradient of blues instead of the usual fox orange-red. “I let Ladybug know you’re here already. Come on, this way.”
Rena led her another couple of blocks, away from the buildings, then nudged a manhole cover up with her foot.
Ryuko wrinkled her nose.
“I know,” Rena said, apologetically. “But it’s private. It doesn’t smell too bad, I promise.”
They jumped down, boots splashing in the water, and Rena pointed down a tunnel. “Keep going that way. It gets a little claustrophobic for a sec, but then there’s a big intersection with a lot of room. That’s where we’re meeting. We’re still waiting on a couple of people.”
Rena climbed back up the ladder, sliding the cover back into place. Ryuko waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Even aided by the magic Longg granted to her eyes, she had to resist the urge to light her way. The yellow emergency lights on the walls barely illuminated anything.
One hand on the wall, she followed the directions. ‘A little claustrophobic’ apparently referred to a curved section with no light whatsoever, the ceiling low enough that she considered crawling.
But it opened onto familiar territory.
There were quite a few of Ladybug’s team present. The area had scattered wooden and plastic boxes on the ground, serving as chairs in the unusual space. Pigella waved at her from where she was sitting with Vesperia and Pegasus. Viperion was in the corner, drumming absently on his seat, and Chat Noir lounged across two crates behind him, staring at the ceiling.
Ladybug herself was leaning against a wall, eyes on her communicator. She looked up as Ryuko entered.
“Have a seat,” she said. “We’re just waiting on a few more.”
Carapace arrived about ten minutes later, with King Monkey behind him. They came through a different passage than Ryuko had. Carapace immediately looked at Chat and Ladybug, nodding. “That’s it on my end.”
Another five minutes, and Purple Tigress came through Ryuko’s route with Rena Furtive, wiping the water from their knees while grimacing at each other. They must have staggered the timing of the invitations and had two separate entrances, to prevent any of them encountering each other as civilians.
With Rena and Tigress present, Ladybug put her communicator away. What little conversation there had been stopped, and all eyes were on her.
“Alright,” Ladybug said, closing her eyes and shaking her hands as if they were cramped. “Everyone, let’s gather around the middle here. There’s no akuma attack right now, so none of you should be in danger of changing back soon. We have all night, if we need it.”
“What is all this about, Ladybug?” Vesperia asked, dragging her box behind her to sit closer.
The others were largely doing the same, arranging in a messy semi-circle. Viperion lingered towards the back, but still in front of Chat Noir, who sat with his shoulders tense, silently watching them all. Ryuko did the same, on the other side. She would prefer to stand, really, but she settled on a crate, her back to one of the exits. Carapace sat next to Rena Furtive, both of them glancing occasionally at Chat Noir. To their right was Pegasus, then Pigella, who was leaning somewhat far into Purple Tigress’ space, who in turn looked conflicted whether to call her out on it. King Monkey finished off the other end, just to the side and front of Ryuko.
“It’s not really my place to say,” Ladybug said. She paced slightly across the ‘stage’, coming to a stop towards the center and looking at the gathered heroes. “I asked you all to come because you all have proven yourself time and time again as holders of the Miraculous. While there are a couple of us not here- all people who I would trust with my life- most of us here tonight have more experience, and a known history of responsibility with the Miraculous. If you think you’re an exception to this, that you don’t have the experience that some of us do, please know that you were specifically requested to be here, because of our belief in your abilities and trustworthiness.”
She took a breath, looking around at each one of them. Nobody spoke up, simply waiting for her to continue.
“It goes without saying, but after tonight especially, please do not discuss anything talked about here tonight with anyone outside of this room. Sewer. This room in a sewer.”
Ryuko felt her face quirk into a slight smile. Speeches were never Ladybug’s favorite thing to do.
“That said, I don’t really know why we’re meeting her tonight,” said Ladybug. She looked across at Chat Noir, still tense on his crate, ears flat against his head. “Chat Noir asked me to bring us all together. He left most of it to me, the day, time, and location; telling me to choose people I trust, though he did ask for some of you specifically. So, um, if you’re ready, Chat. I’ll turn it over to you.”
Ladybug walked to the end of the semi-circle, pulling up a box to sit on next to King Monkey and Ryuko. Chat stood from his own box, taking a deep breath and walking past Viperion to take Ladybug’s place.
Ladybug was intensely fidgeting with her fingers. Carapace looked suddenly upset, and Rena confused, and Ryuko wondered if Ladybug had told them about this beforehand. But oddly, Viperion had made a sharp inhale through his nose, his hand poised over his bracelet, as if ready to activate his power at any moment.
Chat Noir seemed to have also noticed.
“First of all,” he said, rocking back on his heels with his hands behind his back, “I’m not going to do something stupid like renounce my Miraculous or reveal my identity. So you can hold off on the Second Chance, snake-boy.”
There was a slight giggle among the group, but Chat’s directness was effective. Ladybug almost instantly relaxed, the tension draining from her body all at once, and Ryuko wondered what he might have done to scare her in the past to garner such a reaction. Viperion still had a furrowed brow, but he moved his hand from his wrist and sat back. Carapace looked relieved as Rena gently rubbed his hand.
“This meeting is really a kind of… update, on things that have been going on,” Chat continued. “There’s some stuff that everyone here should know, and I didn’t want to have to repeat it over and over. My lady was very kind in obliging me, gathering you all here together.”
He shuffled a little, straightening his back and looking at each of them. He seemed to linger slightly on Viperion, as if passing a silent message between them.
He shut his eyes, took a breath, and opened them again. “First bit of news: I know where Adrien Agreste is.”
There was an immediate reaction. Someone, maybe many people, shouted, Ryuko unsure if she was among them. She was on her feet without remembering that she’d stood. Ladybug was also up, her legs shaking slightly, eyes wide, as shocked as the rest of them.
The exclamations and muttering slowly died down, Chat Noir calmly waiting in the middle of it. He’d unhooked his staff at some point, and was idly twirling it behind his back.
“Chaton,” Ladybug said, and the others quieted, returning to their seats and watching her. “Chaton, since when? How?”
Chat smiled. “I’m getting to that.” He looked at the group again. “I’m going to start by saying that he’s safe and unharmed. He’s staying with people I trust. I am not telling you where or who with, by his request. All of this is to stay between us.”
Some of them fidgeted. Vesperia’s hands were over her mouth, her elbows on her knees, staring forward with a conflicted look. Purple Tigress was fiddling with her hair, pensive. Carapace looked about ready to punch someone, probably Chat.
“Adrien asked me to help him disappear,” Chat continued. “He felt that he was in danger, staying at home, and that telling anyone could put them in danger as well. I, of course, obliged, and over the course of the week, got him to safety. He’s moved around a bit, to avoid recognition and stuff, but he’s fine, and in a safe location, thanks to yours truly.”
“You knew this whole time?” Carapace said. “And you didn’t tell anyone? Not even Ladybug?”
Chat Noir’s ears drooped slightly. He looked apologetically between both Ladybug and Carapace. “I didn’t tell anybody until Adrien was ready,” he said. “I’m sorry for not saying anything, but…”
“No, you did the right thing, Chat.” Ladybug sat down on her box, her hands clasped together. “You said that he thought he was in danger.”
“Yeah,” Chat Noir said. He scratched the back of his head before twirling his staff, steeling himself, and bringing everyone’s attention back to him. “That brings us to the second, and honestly a bit more relevant bit of news.”
He planted the end of his staff on the ground, looking far more serious than Ryuko had ever seen him outside of battle.
“Adrien needed to leave his home for his own safety, because he discovered that his father is Shadowmoth.”
This time, his announcement was met with utter silence.
Ryuko’s mind was racing. She knew Adrien had been having difficulty with his father since his mother died, and Chat’s first announcement had thrown images of terrible neglect and bursts of anger at Adrien’s expense, like a twisted, intense version of her own issues with her mother, but the second announcement drew a blank.
“That’s impossible,” Ladybug said. “We suspected him before and ruled him out. He- he’s been akumatized before!”
“How did Adrien find out?” Viperion’s voice was soft but overflowing with anger.
Chat glanced at him, then turned his attention back to the group as a whole.
“Recently, there was a large runway event that Adrien attended with his father, a big public spectacle. An akuma, made of one of the designers whose pieces had been rejected, appeared and terrorized the show. It was defeated, of course, with the help of myself, Ladybug, and the lovely Miss Ryuko.”
He nodded at her, and she nodded back. The attack had been unexpected, and Kagami had been astonished to see Chat Noir arrive so quickly, Ladybug not far behind. Kagami was with Adrien in the audience, the two of them seated in commiseration between her mother and his father’s assistant, Chloe pouting a few seats over and leaning over to try and steal Adrien’s attention with snide comments about the models. She’d lost track of all of them in the attack, though she remembered Adrien helping Nathalie limp to shelter as they scattered. Kagami had been preoccupied looking for Ladybug, excited for the potential to use her powers again.
They had reconvened briefly after the akuma was defeated, but Kagami was dragged off by her mother, Adrien forced to stay as his father and the other fashion moguls tried to bring order to and continue the show.
“It was after the attack was over,” Chat Noir continued, his voice oddly subdued. “Ladybug had fixed everything, and the three of us were long gone. Adrien went to the dressing room after his father, only to see him disappear into nothing as Shadowmoth snapped his fingers. The Gabriel Agreste on stage, announcing the designs, was a sentimonster copy. Shadowmoth detransformed.”
The silence was heavy.
Chat was staring at the ground by the time he finished, looking exhausted and angry. Ryuko felt much the same. He had been right there, under their noses as they struggled with his akuma. If they had stuck around, or come back after recharging, maybe they could have been with Adrien, maybe they would have seen Shadowmoth themselves, been able to bring him down for good.
“Why did you sit on this, Chat Noir?”
It was Rena Furtive who spoke up, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Adrien’s been missing for two weeks now, and you said you started helping him a week before that. Keeping a victim safe at his request is one thing, but if you had information about Shadowmoth, you should have told Ladybug right away.”
Chat looked away. “I don’t think Adrien was ready to tell anyone until today,” he said. “I think… he knew he had to get away, but he needed time to process.”
The room fell quiet again.
“I don’t blame him,” Purple Tigress muttered. “If I found out a family member was a supervillain…” She shook her head. “We’re lucky he wasn’t akumatized himself.”
Chat Noir looked horrified, as if the idea hadn’t occurred to him. “He- to his own son?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Carapace said with a scowl. “We should’ve got Adrien out of there way sooner, even without knowing about Shadowmoth.”
“But we’re gonna bring him down now!” King Monkey spoke up for the first time that night, punching his fist into his palm. “We got him cornered! And he doesn’t even know it!”
“We need a plan first,” Pegasus said, leaning forward to smile over at him. “But I’m ready to take him down once we have one.”
Ladybug stood, her box scratching against the cement floor. The group looked up at her, chatter dying down.
“Pegasus is right. We need a plan. We know how cunning Shadowmoth can be, so we should move with caution. But we’ll strike while the iron’s hot. Ambush him while he’s still distracted with his son’s disappearance.” She looked around at the gathered heroes. They looked back, filled with adrenaline, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Chat Noir looked at her, leaning on his staff, wary.
Ladybug smiled. “However, it’s also nearly one thirty, and most if not all of us have things to do in the morning. And we’re in a sewer, in the middle of nowhere.”
She was right, and they all knew it. Ryuko was, admittedly, looking forward to a hot shower. And who knows how long it would take her to get home.
“Hold on to your Miraculous,” Ladybug continued, reading her thoughts. “I’m not going to make everyone figure out how to get home without superpowers in the middle of the night. The same rules apply tonight as before. I’ll contact each of you later with more information and to collect your Miraculous.”
They climbed out of the sewer in a group, after Rena Furtive took a quick recon trip ahead to make sure the coast was clear. They left in staggered pairs, organized in some unknown pattern by Ladybug, to ensure secrecy.
“And make sure to feed your kwami!” Ladybug shouted after the first pair started off. “Or they’ll take whatever they want without asking!”
Pegasus and King Monkey waved back in confirmation.
Viperion hugged Chat Noir hard, startling him, before leaving with Pigella.
Carapace and Rena Furtive left together, unhurried, after a quick talk with Ladybug.
Vesperia went with Purple Tigress, Ryuko supposed to follow just behind, since there was an odd number total.
She lingered briefly, pretending to look at her communicator for directions.
“Thank you for doing this, Chat Noir,” Ladybug said quietly. The two of them had retired to a rooftop, their legs dangling over the side. “I’m sorry you were doing it by yourself for so long.”
“I had a bit of help, Bugaboo.”
“I mean it, Chat. Thank you for helping Adrien. I can’t begin to imagine what this has been like for him.”
Chat didn’t answer.
“I still can’t believe it,” Ladybug went on. “Can you believe… I just spoke to the bastard the other day. He seemed… so sad and lonely, so worried. He complimented me on saving the city!” She kicked the side of the building in anger. “I can’t believe I believed him.”
“Even awful people aren’t all bad,” Chat said quietly. “Maybe he really is worried about his son.”
“Maybe,” said Ladybug, the scowl audible in her voice. “We can only hope, I suppose.”
Ryuko left them, hopping from rooftop to rooftop until the surroundings became familiar, riding the rest of the way as a gust of wind, and slipped in through her bedroom window.
She spun around on the expressionless Marinette in a rage, zeroing in on the cause of all her problems. Even now, the former hero still somehow looked so goddamn noble!
“You don’t deserve to be Ladybug!” She shouted, eyes wide and spittle flying. “You don’t deserve your Miraculous! You don’t deserve your life! You don’t deserve ANYTHING!”
Theories began floating around that she was Mayura. The fact that she looked eerily similar to the peacock themed villain.
It was then that a dam burst. Students and teachers alike who had witnessed Bustier’s teaching methods revealed her tendency to gaslight or outright punish victims of bullying while letting the aggressors off scot free.
“And why should I apologize,” Marinette asked. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“We talked about the Marinettes of the world, remember?” Caline smiled. “You have to be the bigger person; be an example for the other students. Show them the right way to act.”
“This attitude of yours is getting out of control Mari-“
“What attitude?! Mme Bustier? The one where I sat quietly in class taking notes? Or the one where I calmly answered questions when asked? Or maybe the one where when the class got disruptive I didn’t do your job for you?” Anger filled Bustier’s eyes and her smile twisted into an ugly look.
“Don’t you think your going a bit far. Marinette.” Bustier’s voice was sickly sweet barely hiding the venom behind it.
Marinette reminded Ms Bustier, “Smile and forgive, Ms Bustier. Isn’t that what you told me? To be a better example.”
Caline had forgotten that mantra when she was a teenager, the teachers actually did their job so she wasn’t punished. The rule breakers were. It was easy to be on the high road when she wasn’t the one punished. Sure she wasn’t popular with her class, but it’s not like they would stay friends upon graduation.
And now here was, a teacher, while her bully was a socialite. It wasn’t fair.
Mrs. Bustier went to the school board the next day to ask about her pay. She didn’t expect to hear what she did. “Why haven’t I received my most recent pay checks? I haven’t received my last two checks, and I need to pay my rent. What is going on?” The board just looked at her with bored expressions. “You haven’t been paid, because you haven’t been doing your job.” Mrs. Bustier was shocked. “What do you mean? I show up everyday, and I teach my pupils all day. I am doing my job.” The head of the board just rolled their eyes.
Remember some chapters are longer than others (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧
For fans of Miraculous Ladybug and Ouran High School Host Club
Adrien is actually allowed to join the exchange program, more like ordered to, really.
He will be visiting Kagami’s old school, Ouran High School, a school for the children of rich and influential adults.
Lila wants to go there too and Gavriel allows it.
Marinette originally was not going because she has to stay behind and protect Paris but Kagami realizes what Gabriel has planned and refuses to let the old man pair Adrien up with that liar.
So she signs up Marinette for the exchange tour too, in secret.
Marinette initially wants to back out, no matter how tempting it may be to get between Lila and Adrien. But Tikki points out she went to New York too. They have Kaalki. She’ll be fine.
At Ouran Academy, Lila tries to sound glamorous and claims to know so many important people.
Unfortunately, the students of Ouran can see the holes in her stories.
For one thing, they actually know the people Lila claims to be so intimate with, and have heard nothing about her.
Haruhi, the scholarship student, is also quick to point out the impossibility of such stories. For instance having tinnitus from standing too close to an airplane.
Kyoya Ootori himself does thorough research on the students. He concludes that while there is merit in befriending Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng for their connections, Lila is someone to avoid.
Tamaki, however, insists that they show Lila she doesn’t need to lie to make friends.
Kyoya pulls out records where Lila’s old classmates have made posts about her, calling her out for being a bully and parasite.
Marinette meets Honey and Mori, popular students who are old friends of Kagami. Honey has an especial sweet tooth and grows fond of Marinette.
Lila is unhappy to be making no progress, she threatens Marinette to help her or she will frame her once again.
Marinette refused to lie.
As a result, Lila pretends Marinette stole her wallet.
But the staff and Kyoya are very thorough and check the security footage where Lila herself plants the wallet in Marinette’s bag.
Lila mentions her lying disease.
Kyoya’s family manages hospitals. He can assure everyone there is no such thing.
Lila is sent back to Dupont in disgrace.
Tamaki notices Marinette’s crush on Adrien and decides to help her out. But no matter how many times the pair are alone in romantic settings, Adrien always sees Marinette as a friend, making her depressed.
The twins find out Adrien has a crush on Paris’ local superhero. Tamaki uses that information to cheer Marinette up, since Adrien likens her personality to the superhero.
This works as Marinette blushes, and no longer feels depressed that Adrien likes someone else, because that someone else is her.
Back home, Damocles was notified that there is no such lying disease and of Lila’s horrible record. He contacts her mother at last. Lila won’t be getting away with this.
Inspired by Ella Enchanted. I thought Caline should be the fairy godmother but her sending Marinette to the ball just didn’t seem to fit.
Meet Alya, a powerful, good and unfortunately naive fairy. She just loves to grant wishes, not really thinking through the consequences.
When Marinette was born, she was crying.
Alya took no note of the parents’ protest as she immediately bestowed upon Marinette the gift of obedience, telling her to be quiet.
Immediately the squalling baby’s lips were sealed shut, unhappiness clear in her eyes.
Alya beamed as if she had done something good, for who wouldn’t want an obedient child?
If only she could see just how much Marinette suffered when Chloe made Marinette her new best friend. Aka someone to help Sabrina answer all of Chloe’s requests and assignments.
Marinette was determined to find Alya and get her to break this curse!
She happens to find Prince Adrien, running away from the castle and his admirers.
Marinette immediately shuns him. She already has to deal with one pampered and bossy noble. She does not need another!
Adrien is intrigued by Marinette, her reaction is so different from everyone else’s. Not terrified they might be imprisoned, not batting their lashes. No, Marinette just looked annoyed and exasperated. How refreshing!
Marinette finds Alya at a party celebrating Lila, the kingdom’s self-proclaimed golden girl.
Hearing Lila admit that it is a struggle to balance her personal life with all her charity work, “I wish I could do more.”
Alya pipes in, “No worries, I hereby bless you with the gift of giving. From now on, you will be able to do just as you have always done, just more efficiently.”
To Lila’s horror, the first thing she did was to use all her stolen charity funds to actually donate to charity! Then she sold off mostly everything she owned, except for the necessities and even then, she made sure they were all plain. What the hell!?
She was lucky Alya didn’t make her truthful since Lila was also so “modest”.
Desperate to lift the curse, Lila quick-thinkingly persuaded Alya to check on her previous blessed friends (victims). She hopes they are more ostentatiously miserable than she!
Alya finds Marinette slaving away for Chloe, looking miserable. Chloe decides to take Sabrina to the ball since she looks happy, but leaves Marinette behind.
Alya is horrified that her blessing has such a consequence. Marinette begs her to undo it but Alya confesses she cannot. Hoping to make amends, Alya foolishly suggests Marinette go to the ball, but her wording makes it an order.
Marinette arrived at the masquerade, annoyed and planning to leave ASAP but then she met Luka and did not mind spending a bit more time with him.
Then someone had to cut in and remind Marinette that everyone has to greet the prince and she has not.
When Marinette greets Adrien, he recognizes her immediately and asks her to dance, wanting to know this mysterious girl. Throughout the dance, he tried to engage her in small talk but her answers were always curt and unfriendly.
And again, poor Marinette has no choice but to obey his suggestions to “Dance with me” or “Wait, one more round!”
By the time midnight rang, Marinette saw Chloe fleeing and abruptly pushed the prince down and fled herself, before he could “ask” for another dance.
She also ditched her heels because who can run in them?
Marinette made it back in time, pleased to see Alya had magically finished her chores for her too.
Chloe sulked over not dancing with Adrien. Then cheered up when she heard that he would marry whoever could wear the red shoes.
Thanks to the magic, even those with the same size feet as Marinette could not wear the heels.
When the shoes arrived at Chloe’s estate, she threw a tantrum over these ridiculous shoes.
Nathalie asked for the other females to try them next.
Chloe: don’t bother with Marinette. She didn’t even attend the ball.
Nathalie: regardless, the prince’s intended has displayed some aversion to being found. So all maidens are to try the shoes.
Surprise, surprise. The shoe fits.
Nathalie: wonderful. Let’s go.
Chloe: Marinette, i forbid you to go.
Nathalie: and I forbid you from forbidding her. Who are you to counter a royal order?
Chloe: I’m her best friend!
Marinette: no, you’re not. And I don’t want to marry Prince Adrien.
Nathalie: orders are orders. I have to bring you to see him, so let’s go.
Marinette was miserable as she looked out the carriage, her heart breaking as she caught sight of Luka strumming his guitar on the river bank. She would have dated him months ago but Chloe found out and didn’t want any of her friends to be engaged before herself.
If only Alya had broken the spell!
But no! She can’t. The spell has grown too strong with time passing.
There has to be something stronger than Alya’s Magic. But what?
Love.
Wasn’t that what the fairy tales said was the most powerful magic of all?
But if that were the case, shouldn’t Marinette’s love for Luka have broken the spell already?
What else did she know about magic? It’s tricky because it’s all about the wording. And Marinette has to obey every order ever given to her, no matter who gives it.
No matter who gives it.
Marinette suddenly felt like hitting her head. How could she have been so obtuse. The answer had been literally staring her in the face for as long as she could remember.
Focusing on her reflection in the carriage window, Marinette said firmly, “You will no longer obey any command unless you wish it.”
Nathalie: who are you talking to?
Marinette wanted to leap out of the carriage right away. But she supposed she has to face the prince sooner or later.
When Adrien met Marinette, he did not look like the arrogant, controlling princeling she had expected. He almost looked shy, naive.
Adrien: it’s you! I knew it!
Marinette: you must already know I don’t want to marry you.
Adrien: i know. I wasn’t going to force you, but I did want to be your friend.
Marinette: won’t the king be upset about this arrangement, after all the fuss about finding me?
Adrien: my father will be relieved, I assure you. He didn’t want to throw a party at all. The whole engagement thing was to make sure I would be as miserable as he was. He’ll be fine.
Marinette: good. Now if you would be so kind as to excuse me, you can find me at the bakery…
Marinette spun and fled for the riverbank, throwing herself into Luka’s arms and asking if she is too late to accept his courtship.
Luka laughed. “Not at all, Ma-Ma-Marinette!”
Chloe was disappointed to lose Marinette, but not for long. Apparently Lila was so generous to take Marinette’s place and help Sabrina. This time Lila couldn’t even fake a smile. “Where is that blasted fairy?!”
Marinette knows her occupation as Ladybug is more important than Alya’s blog. She does not need the added stress of being class representative.
Bonus, if Alya is busier as Class representative, perhaps it means she will be less able to chase after akumas, consequently running into danger, if she is herding the class to safety.
As a result, Marinette insists Alya be Class representative. Downright standing down when Alya nominates Marinette.
When Dark Knight attacks, Marinette is tempted to start ordering the class what to do, but she instead asks Alya out loud what they should do.
As Alya directs everyone, Marinette rushes away to transform.
Alya is elected class representative since Marinette does not exactly inspire confidence in them.
Later when it is Ms Bustier’s birthday, and Chloe ruins Marinette’s gift, it is Alya who is called away
Caline encourages Alya to forgive Chloe, but Alya is stubborn and quotes that people who do nothing are just letting bad people win. If people keep forgiving Chloe for her misdeeds, she won’t see any harm in continuing to do them.
Alya is not as swayed by Ms Bustier’s authority because she is disillusioned with the staff after Damocles suspended her and is outraged on Marinette’s behalf. If Ms Bustier forgives Chloe just like that without punishing her, she is hurting Marinette’s feelings.
They see an akuma and it is unclear whether it is more attracted to Ms Bustier’s fear for her students or Alya’s feeling of injustice. But since Ms Bustier puts herself in front, the akuma goes for her. Alya refuses to believe herself guilty as Ms Bustier can’t just force people to forgive bullies when no justice has been served. If that is the case, should they just forgive an unrepentant Hawkmoth in the hope that he will turn over a new leaf?
When Zombizou is defeated, Ladybug gently advises Ms Bustier that she cannot force people to forgive their bullies. And that she needs to think of the victims, not just the bullies.
Later when Lila arrives, Alya is fascinated by her tales and wanted an interview about her time as Volpina. Due to class President duties making her less likely to have direct footage, Alya has instead learned to post video and reports from multiple sources.
Alya is disappointed when Lila claims her mother was so alarmed by her akumatization that she is taking her with her to Achu. It is rather sudden for the Italian Ambassador to stay in Paris for just two days, but a mother’s love knows no bounds.
Alya wishes Lila a good trip and informs Ms Bustier, who acknowledges this when an email comes from “Mrs Rossi” addressing Lila’s leave of absence.
Meanwhile, determined to make a post on Volpina, Alya reviews all the various footage people have on Lila.
To Alya’s dismay, she sees a recording of Ladybug exposing Lila as a liar in front of Adrien. And Alya can understand after the recorder repeated Lila’s claims of Ladybug not being a top tier hero.
Apparently the recorder wasn’t at first interested in Lila and Adrien but was appalled to see Marinette stalking the couple, then recognized the celebrity nearby and recorded him instead, wondering how much he could get paid about Adrien’s secret girlfriend.
Alya is understandably upset at being lied to. And if Lila lied about this, what else has she lied about? She forwarded the footage to her class, editing out Marinette stalking Adrien, asking them to double check what Lila claimed.
While the class is outraged at Lila insulting Ladybug, and kind of annoyed with Adrien for not telling them, even if his plea that Lila was already upset and humiliated enough that he did not want to upset her further; Alya tells Marinette that she was recorded stalking Lila and Adrien.
Marinette is alarmed but relieved the recorder might not have seen her transform. Alya admits that she might encourage Marinette to pursue Adrien and even look on as Marinette steals his phone to delete her unintentional message. But seeing her actions on video, Alya admits that if Adrien were to ever find out, he might be creeped out. Alya suggests that Marinette tone down her crush. Even though Marinette followed Lila to steal the book, she agrees.
When the class report that Lila’s claims are either impossible or false, Alya decides to try calling Mrs Rossi.
(Considering that Damocles had her number, Alya should have it too just in case.)
Mrs Rossi answered and was curious why Alya the class President was calling her. If this is about the school being shut down, she already received an email. If this is about online classes, she should be calling Lila.
“Mrs Rossi, may I inquire as to why Lila will suddenly be leaving school when her first day was just today.”
Mrs Rossi: hasn’t anyone told you the school will be shut down due to the akumas?
Alya: Mrs Rossi, do you know who was akumatized today? We only had one akuma, Volpina, and Ladybug and chat Noir defeated her already.
Mrs Rossi:…who was akumatized?
Alya: your daughter. I’ve asked around. Apparently Lila has been claiming some outlandishing feats from saving a rock star’s cat to being best friends with Ladybug. As a matter of fact, after she was defeated, she called me to say that you were horrified by her akumatization and were taking her out of Paris to go to Achu.
Mrs Rossi: I see…thank you for informing me of this, Alya. I promise you, you will see Lila tomorrow.
Lila was in so much trouble. Her mother had seen the interview on the Ladyblog and knew how much she had lied to her class.
Knowing Lila would not want to show her face after her insulting Ladybug is now on the Ladyblog, Mrs Rossi does not ground Lila. Instead, she stopped her allowance.
The next day, Lila keeps her head down at class, ignoring the glares and hurt looks.
Rather than let Lila be isolated, Alya feels guilty and instead asks Lila if they can start over.
Lila grits her teeth, blaming Alya for exposing her to all of Paris, forces a smile and fakes an apology.
Chloe is insulted that Alya can even consider forgiving Lila after she insulted Ladybug! and refuses to do so.
Marinette feels guilty as well and also chooses to give Lila a second chance. Mostly everybody else follows but this time whenever Lila tells them stuff, they’re just gonna double check.
Of course Lila is going to exact her revenge on Alya somehow. But in the meantime, she needs to be careful. If she wants the girls to like her again, she needs to stay clear of Adrien.
As it is, Lila is Chloe’s new target for insulting Ladybug and going after her Adrikins.
Lila is a parasitic friend. Always taking and “asking” from her classmates.
She skipped Marinette’s party during her supposed trip to Achu. But of course she loves parties.
There is a crowd of admirers waiting for her to arrive, along with a buffet of free food.
Of course, it would have been better had this been Lila’s birthday party and not Juleka’s. As technically the twins were to claim the spotlight on this day.
However, with Juleka’s shy nature and Luka’s preference to speak through music, Lila is sure her voice will dominate.
As Marinette rushed to comfort Juleka and Luka expressed his disappointment, Lila was quick to take advantage. Turning, she put on a chiding face. “Guys, we should have known better. Juleka doesn’t like being in the spotlight.”
The others all looked downcast, but hearing Luka’s sad song, they all put aside their negativity and sought to cheer up Luka. Like Lila said, they had to think of others first.
They all offered excuses for Marinette and Juleka. Lila couldn’t help adding in her poisonous words. “We should probably let Marinette come to you when she is ready.”
And knowing baker girl, that will be never.
Lila internally smirked at the thought of Marinette’s friendship with this cutie being officially over. And really she didn’t have to do much this time. Marinette practically declared they aren’t friends anymore with her absence.
To give Juleka and Marinette assurance that no one was waiting for them to come back into the spotlight, Nino started playing his music and everyone began to dance.
Lila chose to dance closer to Luka, keen on getting to know this handsome boy better.
It was then that a certain celebrity boarded the boat.
Jagged Stone had arrived, and so had Fang.
Lila squeaked, her own horror and shock lost in the surprise of the others.
“Jagged Stone? What’s he doing here? Did Lila invite him?”
“Maybe he wants Marinette’s help with a design project?”
But Jagged wasn’t here for either girl. He was here for his son Luka and daughter Juleka.
To say everyone was shocked when father and son greeted each other would be an understatement. The class, especially Kitty Section, thought they were pretty good friends with the twins. Close enough to know that their parents was a celebrity!
Lila panicked. If Juleka knew Jagged Stone personally, she might spoil everything!
As it was, when Jagged went downstairs with Luka, the others thought her shocked frown was because Jagged Stone had not acknowledged her.
“Don’t be upset Lila,” Rose assured. “I’m sure Jagged is focused on his kids only today.”
Lila forced a grin. “I understand. Don’t worry, I adore family relationships and I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
The others cooed over how thoughtful Lila was.
Then, thank you Hawkmoth, the divorced couple were akumatized and everyone fled.
Lila was relieved and opted to skip the party. Better to be absent then have Jagged actually meet her and ask for her name. She can claim to be busy donating her clothes or something.
She even texted the class this in the group chat.
What she never considered was that some students just were not that interested in checking their phone over every alert, or that their phone was on silent mode.
As a result, as the party resumed, someone in the crowd asked, “Where’s Lila?”
“Oh, she was asked to help with an emergency meeting with Prince Ali.”
Jagged stood on the stage. “Any requests?”
Adrien raised his hand. “The song you wrote about Ladybug!”
Mylène: what about the song you wrote for Lila?
Jagged blinked. “Who’s Lila?”
Alix: the girl who saved your kitten, remember.
Jagged: I’m afraid you must be confusing me with someone else. I never owned a kitten and never will.
Nodding towards his children, he added, “Not that kittens don’t rock. My allergies just don’t get along with them.”
Juleka paused and mumbled, “You never had a cat? But Lila said she saved your cat and that’s why you wrote a song about her.”
Jagged: like I said, maybe she was talking about someone else.
Except no. Everyone knew this story was about Jagged Stone.
Kim: Lila lied to us.
Alix: not cool!
For Alya, it was as if the dots were finally connecting. Marinette was Ladybug but Lila said she was best friends with Ladybug except Marinette can’t stand her. So…wow, Alya just wanted to crawl into a hole. How had it taken her this long to figure out Lila was lying?
Seeing how upset everyone was getting, Marinette took charge. “Ok, so now you all know Lila is a liar. But this is Juleka and Luka’s day. And we’re not going to let a liar spoil it, are we?”
Everyone: no!
And so the party continued. Yet once all were back in their bedrooms, Lila’s deceit was once more brought to the forefront of their minds. Laptops and phones were brought out. Search engines fired.
Time to see just how much of a liar Lila Rossi is.
The results were disheartening, and students outside Ms Bustier’s class began receiving texts in the middle of the night.
The next day, Lila knew something was wrong when everyone began whispering as soon as they saw her.
Not the good whispering kind where people gossip about her supposed connections.
This whispering was indicating that Lila was involved in a scandal.
She paused. Perhaps she had been outed after all at yesterday’s party….if that was the case…she immediately turned around and began walking back home, texting her mother that the staff had been akumatized again.
The school may have finally caught onto the truth but her mother might not have. It was imperative this was so, if only so Lila could convince her gullible mother to transfer her to another school.
Meanwhile, Lila’s departure was talked about widely. The class felt disappointed, wishing to confront her.
Caline noted her absence and said Mrs Rossi texted her to say Lila was feeling ill.
Alya: is this the same Mrs Rossi who texted you about their sudden leave for Achu? Because Rose confirmed with Prince Ali that Lila was lying.
Caline paused. Is it possible she had been given the wrong contact number?
The answer is yes.
Thanks to Markov, a new number was produced to call the Italian embassy.
At the embassy, a receptionist called Mrs Rossi. “Your daughter’s teacher wants to talk to you.”
“Disconnect the call! My daughter told me the whole staff has been akumatized!”
The receptionist was puzzled. “But there have been no akuma alerts. And besides, the teacher was not addressing herself with an akuma name.”
“I don’t know! But I’m not taking the call from an akuma.”
The receptionist sighed and switched calls. “I’m sorry, but my colleague is under the impression you are an akuma and refuses to pick up.”
Caline was not amused. “I see. Well, please let Mrs Rossi know that Lila is currently skipping school and that we urgently need her to inspect Lila’s file in person to double check that her medical ailments and contact information are correct.”
The receptionist promised to do just that and told Mrs Rossi the teacher’s message.
Mrs Rossi: I am not going to an akuma’s lair!
Receptionist: I don’t think there actually is an akuma. Hang on.
She goes to a secretary. “Hi, Mr Fontaine. You have a son who attends Dupont College now, right? Mrs Rossi is told by her daughter that an akuma is taking over the school, whereas the teacher told me her daughter was playing truant. Would you mind calling your son?”
Mr Fontaine: not at all
He made the call. The receptionist patient and Mrs Rossi embarrassed.
“Ah, hello Alain….nothing much, I just wanted to check if your principal or anyone has been akumatized at your school…no? That’s good.”
Mrs Rossi began to feel uneasy. “He might be under the control of an akuma!”
Mr Fontaine raised a brow at this woman. “Hang on, for a moment son. Mrs Rossi seems to think you’re under an akuma’s influence….oh my. I see. Yes, I’ll tell her right away. Have a good day, son.”
He ended the call and turned to Mrs Rossi. “Alain had something rather remarkable to say about your daughter. Apparently she has a reputation for lying.”
Mrs Rossi huffed. “Well, he’s under an akuma’s control. We can’t trust what he is saying.”
Mr Fontaine continued, “One of her lies includes a trip to Achu that took place a couple of months ago. Did your daughter stay at home then too?”
Mrs Rossi was not deterred. “Yes, but-“
“Did you also know your daughter has been akumatized at least twice? Both of her akumatizations involved deception in one form or another.”
Mrs Rossi faltered. “What?”
Mr Fontaine looked at the receptionist. “Volpina and Chameleon,” she was already using images from the Ladyblog to show the pale mother. “In fact, I remember Lila was interviewed as Ladybug’s best friend the same day she got akumatized.
When Mrs Rossi saw the interview of Lila claiming to be best friends with the heroine she also claimed to be lousy, her cheeks flushed with humiliation and anger.
“Do you still have the teacher’s number?”
Needless to say, Mrs Rossi and the staff were both ashamed in their discussion at having been duped by Lila Rossi. And considering the situation with Marinette Dupain-Cheng, with the footage finally watched, obviously she cannot stay in the same class. And she will need to serve detention and retain a year.
Mrs Rossi took it one step further though. “I have to take her out of Dupont. It will not do for her to be the pariah when Hawkmoth is at large.”
Later that day, Lila had rehearsed what she wanted to say to her mother when she finally came home. “Oh mother! With all these akumas interrupting my education, how will I ever graduate? Do you think I should transfer? I’ve been doing some research and it seems like Dupont College is a hotspot for akumas. Although with the daughter of the mayor bullying everyone and the Teachers not standing up to her, that is no surprise.”
Mrs Rossi was firm. “Actually, that is a great idea. I’ve been thinking that you should leave Dupont immediately. And I’ve found the perfect school for you!”
Lila: is it Sinclair Academy? Because their credits are almost as good as Dupont!
Mrs Rossi: nope. I’m sending you to military school!
Lila: ….what?
Mrs Rossi: although it looks like you will have to stay beyond school hours to catch up on your studies. I’ll arrange everything.
Lila: military school! Why?
Mrs Rossi: you didn’t think i would never find out about your lies, now did you, sweetie?
Lila stood up. “Mom, you can’t trust the akumas.”
Mrs Rossi finally glared at her daughter. “Oh, but I can trust you? Your opinion about Ladybug seems to be quite contradictory when I compare what you told me to what you tell your classmates.”
“They’re fans! You don’t badmouth their idols in front of them!”
Mrs Rossi: but you can lie and say you’re best friends with said idol?
Lila: I wanted to make friends
Mrs Rossi: friendship built on lies? That is a new one. Cheer up, Ma Bella. You’re transferring, just like you wanted.
Lila: I didn’t want to go to military school!
Mrs Rossi: would you rather stay at Dupont where everyone hates you? Those are your only options.
Lila gritted her teeth. “Fine!” she snapped. “I’ll transfer.”
“Good. And I’ll be sure to inform your teachers about your compulsive lying, just so you don’t try to skip classes again.”
And certainly no one was falling for Lila’s grand tales now.
I finally started watching Transformers! And then I came across this request by @the-delta-42 to write a crossover but I still can’t write it, so I wrote my own outline
Here are the Autobots.
Miracle Charm
Alias: Marinette
Terrestrial mode: ambulance
Her original Autobot form is red and black, similar to Bumblebee and Ratchet in appearance. She is dubbed so because she has a variety of tools and gadgets that seem useless, but with her creative mind, are actually quite useful
Her bakery hires Tom and Sabine to run things.
Cataclysm
Alias: Adrien
Terrestrial mode: racing car
His original Autobot form is black with green highlights. Similar to Jazz in appearance. He is especially skilled in destroying stuff.
Cataclysm pretends to be a rich man’s son living alone with no one but his bodyguard (a projection)
Tikki and Plagg
Small bots like Wheelie and Brains
Plagg likes to dive into garbage to search for scrap metal to eat. He disguises himself as a cat.
Hawkmoth
Alias: Gabriel
Terrestrial mode: plane
A purple deception who looks like Starscream, and seeks to turn humans into his cyborg puppets. He sends out his akuma drones to latch onto his human victims when they are feeling vulnerable. He pretends to be a rich old man with nothing to do but tend to his garden.
Story outline: Hawkmoth is attempting to create akuma cyborgs. Optimus has assigned Miracle Charm and Cataclysm to stop him. The creation of an akuma cyborg is quite ostentatious because they go on a rampage. The Autobots must stop the cyborg without killing him or her and let Miracle Charm remove the parasitic drone.
The Transformers are able to blend in among humans because they are Pretenders like Alice, able to disguise themselves as humans, hair and teeth and skin and clothes.
Due to their partnership, people assume Marinette and Adrien are a couple despite their firm insistence they are just good friends
This is more of a fic prompt. I’m not sure how to include class salt
Marinette and Alya split the workload of running the class.
When they have to plan a class party for Lila’s birthday, Alya takes over this time, letting Marinette focus on other things.
However, Alya doesn’t tell anyone else this because Lila is so sensitive and might cry, making others disappointed in Marinette who would feel unhappy and pressured.
Alya gets the usual decor set up. She even asks Lila the usual deets about what likes to eat, her favorite music, food allergies, when she is free. But she does it discreetly, so Lila doesn’t suspect anything. And they are quite common questions when getting to know new friends.
At the party, Alya credits Marinette for it.
Lila then starts to complain. Pretending to wince at the rock music she secretly likes, claiming to be allergic to carrots and cannot eat carrot cake, and she can’t stay for long because she already promised to visit the animal shelter.
Everyone starts to get disappointed in Marinette for planning a party that Lila dislikes. However Alya puts a stop to it.
Alya: wait a minute. You told me you loved carrot cake
Lila: This allergy was recent
Alya: and you told me your favorite band was KISS
Lila: I changed my mind, and moved to pop.
Alya: and you told me you just wanted a relaxing day off on your birthday so you would definitely be free after school!
Lila: and I would like to spend it relaxing with the animals.
Alix: wait, why are you getting so worked up about this Alya?
Alya: I was the one who looked into Lila’s likes and dislikes for this party! I do some class duties too as the Vice President.
Rose: oh, it’s alright. Lila just doesn’t have any fixed interests. That’s how she likes everything.
Ok, fine. So Lila misses out on a party she would have liked as her friends continue to celebrate and she goes off to the “animal shelter”. She cannot even complain about Marinette’s lack of organising the party now.
She also gets the reputation of being rather wishy washy.
For fans of Miraculous Ladybug and Ouran High School Host Club
Adrien is actually allowed to join the exchange program, more like ordered to, really.
He will be visiting Kagami’s old school, Ouran High School, a school for the children of rich and influential adults.
Lila wants to go there too and Gavriel allows it.
Marinette originally was not going because she has to stay behind and protect Paris but Kagami realizes what Gabriel has planned and refuses to let the old man pair Adrien up with that liar.
So she signs up Marinette for the exchange tour too, in secret.
Marinette initially wants to back out, no matter how tempting it may be to get between Lila and Adrien. But Tikki points out she went to New York too. They have Kaalki. She’ll be fine.
At Ouran Academy, Lila tries to sound glamorous and claims to know so many important people.
Unfortunately, the students of Ouran can see the holes in her stories.
For one thing, they actually know the people Lila claims to be so intimate with, and have heard nothing about her.
Haruhi, the scholarship student, is also quick to point out the impossibility of such stories. For instance having tinnitus from standing too close to an airplane.
Kyoya Ootori himself does thorough research on the students. He concludes that while there is merit in befriending Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng for their connections, Lila is someone to avoid.
Tamaki, however, insists that they show Lila she doesn’t need to lie to make friends.
Kyoya pulls out records where Lila’s old classmates have made posts about her, calling her out for being a bully and parasite.
Marinette meets Honey and Mori, popular students who are old friends of Kagami. Honey has an especial sweet tooth and grows fond of Marinette.
Lila is unhappy to be making no progress, she threatens Marinette to help her or she will frame her once again.
Marinette refused to lie.
As a result, Lila pretends Marinette stole her wallet.
But the staff and Kyoya are very thorough and check the security footage where Lila herself plants the wallet in Marinette’s bag.
Lila mentions her lying disease.
Kyoya’s family manages hospitals. He can assure everyone there is no such thing.
Lila is sent back to Dupont in disgrace.
Tamaki notices Marinette’s crush on Adrien and decides to help her out. But no matter how many times the pair are alone in romantic settings, Adrien always sees Marinette as a friend, making her depressed.
The twins find out Adrien has a crush on Paris’ local superhero. Tamaki uses that information to cheer Marinette up, since Adrien likens her personality to the superhero.
This works as Marinette blushes, and no longer feels depressed that Adrien likes someone else, because that someone else is her.
Back home, Damocles was notified that there is no such lying disease and of Lila’s horrible record. He contacts her mother at last. Lila won’t be getting away with this.
Everyone notices Adrien looking depressed about his global trip. This makes it easier for Marinette to rouse the others to stop it from happening.
Lila points out that Gabriel is in control right now and can ground Adrien.
Nina is fed up about Gabriel and actually lashes out, asking how Lila became cool with Gabriel when he hates everyone else.
Lila lies that the photographer insisted she become a model and Adrien was supporting her career, not Gabriel.
On a roll now, Nino decides to finally report Gabriel to the child authorities, never mind Adrien’s reaction
Kagami and Wayhem and all Adrien fans join in by encouraging Adrien to stand up to his father.
Adrien tries to stop the mob forming outside his house, but Nino confronts him about his busy schedule when he would rather just hang out. “You even see school as a form of freedom!!! If that doesn’t raise red flags, I don’t know what does!”
Thanks to Risk’s influence, Adrien temporarily blurts out that he hates modelling and doesn’t want to go on a trip with Lila of all people.
Gabriel: Adrien!
Adrien covers his mouth in dismay.
One fan: This is forced child labour!
Another fan: call the police!
Adrien: no! Don’t do that!
Forced to keep up a front, Gabriel at last said “I thought you would enjoy a trip to see the world. And I never realized how taxing modelling can be. I apologize, Adrien. You and Lila can stay here!”
Catching Lila’s glare at him for ruining her career prospects, Adrien blurts out again, “And Lila isn’t my friend! I only agreed to work with her so she would make sure Marinette got back into school.”
Marinette: so that’s why she took back her charges.
Adrien: i got your back.
Mylène: what was that about Lila?
Under influence of Risk, Adrien exposed Lila himself.
Lila: he’s lying! He’s siding with Marinette!
Alya knows Ladybug is Marinette however and said, “Well, we could always just ask Ladybug herself. And Rose can call Prince Ali.”
Crocodile tears steamed down Lila’s face. “You don’t believe me!”
One fan, impatient from all this drama now, called out, “Just let them make the call so we can all go home already!”
Lila is exposed as a liar by the celebrities.
Gabriel terminates Lila’s contract.
Lila is tempted by Risk to expose Gabriel hiring her to spy on Adrien’s friends and distance them. This lands her in hot water but also paints Gabriel in bad light.
Gabriel: your best friend threw a wild party in my house without supervision! What am I supposed to think? You are literally in the akuma class!
Adrien: Lila was an akuma too!
Gabriel: she agreed to keep you safe from bad influences. And she never threw you an unauthorised party!
Inside his mansion, Gabriel exhales. “So much for taking risks. Ladybug hasn’t shown up and already the police are eyeing me with suspicion.”
It looks as though the earrings and ring are the only way out of this mess.
Nathalie: sir, given the circumstances, how can we trust our own judgment.
….
Gabriel had to admit he had not thought that far ahead.
And if he was compromised, instead of Ladybug finally being defeated, what if he is the one who is finally caught and arrested?!!!
He recalls Risk.
Lila is now a pariah at school and it only gets worse for her because at work, her mother finally blurts out her complaints against the heroes. Before her colleagues had just told her to keep her mouth shut but now thanks to Risk, she just ranted about the incompetence of the popular heroes.
The people at the embassy are shocked by her tactlessness and ignorance. Needless to say, Mrs Rossi is in for a rude wake up call, especially when she connects the dots that her daughter must have been playing truant.
Lila will not be graduating at the end of the year. She will be held back a grade. Her mother is also furious and blames her daughter for making a fool out of her.
Lila: like it’s my fault you don’t even watch the news!
Mrs Rossi stops giving Lila her allowance and forces her to get a job. Given Lila’s record, no one wants to hire her but Chloe decides to get her daddy to hire her as the new garbage girl. (Like how Linguine was the garbage boy in ratatouille.) Mrs Rossi also cuts off cable TV and wifi, and confiscates Lila’s phone. The laptop will have to remain for school but Lila will need to use the school wifi to actually do research.
The morning after Risk was akumatized, Nathalie went to comfort Adrien.
They were alone in Adrien’s room and seeing Adrien look so disappointed and depressed, it made Nathalie sad.
She cared for Adrien. She did.
“Adrien, i thought you would be more excited,” she commented, coming in. “You’ve always expressed a desire for more freedom.”
Adrien: you and I both know this trip gives me no freedom. It’s a business trip. I’ll be leaving my friends behind.
Nathalie knew better than to mention Lila Rossi. She overheard his deal and knew he could not like the girl.
Being stuck with the clingy liar for the whole trip…Nathalie doubted he would even be able to appreciate the scenic landmarks in that frame of mind.
I am froggy
Adrien: and another thing, I hate Lila. Why did father even hire her? She got you and my bodyguard in trouble! Did she make up some story about her celebrity connections? You have to have suspected she was lying at least!
Nathalie pushed up her glasses. “Your father found that Lila’s Italian heritage gave him inspiration for a new line of clothing and he rewarded her with a job.
Adrien did not look impressed.
Nathalie came closer. “Adrien, I know you’re unhappy with your choices being taken away from you. But your father does care for you. The main reason behind this journey was because he wanted to send you away from Paris for your own safety.”
Adrien blinked. “What?”
Nathalie sat down. “With all the akumas roaming around Paris and the never-ending war between the heroes and Hawkmoth, Gabriel doesn’t want you in the middle of that. Nor the rest of us.”
“Then why doesn’t he join us?” Adrien pleaded.
Nathalie gave a sad smile. “Adrien, who is resting in Paris?”
Emelie.
Gabriel would rather die in the city with her than leave with his son.
Adrien did not know how to feel about that. So he settled for, “Why does Lila have to come? We have other models in the agency.”
Nathalie shrugged. “She is your classmate. Your father didn’t want you to get lonely.”
He made a face. “You didn’t protest? We’ll be stuck with her for weeks.” A never ending tale of how many celebrities she claimed to know and amazing feats she really never performed.
That…was a very unpleasant scenario.
Nathalie grimaced as well. “It’s too late to change the details after our announcement.”
After she left, Adrien and Plagg looked at each other. “We can’t leave Paris. Should we ask Ladybug for the horse miraculous?”
Plagg: worth a shot.
Adrien transformed and called Ladybug, telling her to meet him ASAP.
He was busy roaming the streets to broadcast his presence and kept busy saving careless civilians.
Alya noted Chat’s presence and informed Ladybug.
Ladybug: what do you mean you’re going away too?
Chat: too?
Ladybug: never mind. I suppose I have to give you the Horse Miraculous.
However Ladybug soon had another message from Rena. “Adrien’s gone missing again?”
Chat: what?
Oh yeah, he was supposed to go to school in his limo but ended up meeting Ladybug. Oops.
Ladybug: I don’t blame him for running away from Lila. He looked so sad in the news.
Chat perked you as he got an idea to discourage Ladybug from finding his alter ego. “Does that mean we shouldn’t find him? If he doesn’t want to be found.”
Ladybug frowned. “I’m not sure.”
I am froggy
“But if this is what Adrien wants, then so be it.”
Chat never planned to run away but sure!
Ladybug headed to school, with Chat rushing to save some children running across the road.
Everyone was concerned about Adrien. Why would he run?
Marinette: does no one notice Adrien frowning? He doesn’t want to go!
Mylène: but why? I thought Adrien loved to go out.
Nino stared at the phone. “It’s a business trip. He won’t really be having a holiday, not with his schedule.”
Lila frowned and gritted her teeth. She texted Adrien to keep his end of the bargain or she won’t either.
Chat received the text message and hissed.
I am froggy
“I’ve had enough of her!”
He had some visits to make.
Less than two hours later, there was another scandal on the loose.
Chat Noir had made a video post where he interviewed various celebrities from Jagged Stone to Prince Ali about Lila Rossi.
Their answer was always the same: Who?
He even visited Mrs Rossi to ask about her daughter’s visit to Achu.
Mrs Rossi: I’ve never been to Achu. And now please leave. I have to work.
The whole school stared at Lila, exposed.
Bustier: Lila, if you weren’t in Achu, where were you?
Ivan: you’ve been lying this whole time haven’t you?
Lila: it’s my condition. I have a rare lying disease from the time I visited a rural village in the Amazon.
Bustier: lying disease or not, you still missed a large chunk of the school year. I’m afraid it looks like you will be held back a year.
Lila: I can provide the paperwork to excuse myself. Just give me time.
Alix: seriously? Ms Bustier, how do we know she isn’t making up this lying disease!
Caline paused.
Alya: we should at least check with her mother to confirm the story.
Lila: my mother is very busy! You saw that in the video.
Caline pauses. Unsure what to do.
I am froggy
Alya and Marinette transform.
Rena: so Ladybug, are you actually friends with Lila Rossi?
Ladybug: of course not!
Rena visits the embassy while Ladybug helps Chat save civilians.
Rena: Mrs Rossi, is it true that your daughter has some rare lying disease?
Mrs Rossi: what are you talking about? My daughter is perfectly healthy. Why are you heroes harassing me?!
Rena: you might want to visit your daughter’s school.
Rena’s post was watched during lunch break.
Gabriel also made another announcement.
Alec: in light of the recent Liar Rossi scandal and his missing son, Gabriel has cancelled the upcoming trip and fired Liar Rossi from his company.
So much negative emotions. It was a shame he couldn’t become Scarlet Moth again.
Satisfied, Chat returned to school and detransformed. His friends greeted him enthusiastically and congratulated him on a narrow escape
Lila was upset and stuck in the principal’s office. Where was her akuma? She was furious right now!
Gabriel was waiting for Adrien to come home, safe and sound before he created Strike Back.
With the scandal about Adrien gone missing, Felix hesitated in coming to Paris.
Strike Back is unleashed on Paris.
Rena Furtive informs about Risk.
Ladybug rushes to find Sabrina.
Miss Hound retrieves Risk’s toy.
Now they just have to defeat the sentimonsters.
Gabriel feels so defeated.
Ladybug and Chat Noir’s risk was exposing Lila as a fraud, but the massive negative emotions resulting could not be taken advantage of since Nathalie could not become Catalyst.
Even though Alya was receiving criticism for not checking her sources and Lila was still seething, Gabriel felt defeated and not in the mood to akumatize them.
They had their chances at least twice and failed.
He’ll just keep failing.
Nathalie: are you so ready to give up? Perhaps we should try this from another angle.
Gabriel: like what?
Nathalie fumbled. “There are other miraculous out there. What if we were to acquire them?”
Gabriel considered. “An intriguing idea.”
He made a master thief sentimonster, Sneak, then akumatized it to be able to find foreign miraculous.
“Go forth, Sneak, and bring me miraculous to counter Ladybug’s own!”
Adrien just wants to stay with his friends. And since Marinette seemed to have something to want to talk to him about, he visits her, in his Felix disguise.
He calls her.
Marinette immediately picks up. “Adrien! Goodbye, I mean hello. I mean, what’s coming?” she facepalmed and groaned.
Adrien gave a slight chuckle. Marinette’s antics always cheered him up a bit. “Is it alright if I hang out at your place for a bit?”
“Sure!” Marinette exclaimed in surprise. “But, did you tell your dad you want to stay in Paris.”
Adrien sighed. “No. My cousin showed up and offered to trade places with me.”
A cold feeling settled inside Marinette’s stomach. Felix is back?
I am froggy
“Better your cousin leaves with Lila than you,” Marinette declared.
“I agree,” Adrien stood up and started walking over. “I just can’t figure out why he’s doing this now all of a sudden. It can’t be for my sake.”
“Maybe he just really dislikes your father. Didn’t your dad turn into the Collector because of him?”
Marinette’s brain spun with all the possibilities.
“I’m glad I can talk about this with you, Marinette,” he said. “I’m almost to your place.”
“Gah!” Marinette was instantly distracted. “I’ll meet you at the back door, I mean the front door!”
Marinette welcomed Adrien into her living room.
Then Kagami called and berated Adrien for not standing up to Gabriel.
He stood up. “Kagami’s right. It’s time I stood up to my father!”
Marinette cheered.
Adrien texted Felix before he dialed the Gorilla, who gaped at the caller ID and then at Felix. Gulping, he accepted the call.
“Hi. I’m at Marinette’s place. Could you come pick me up.”
Normally in this situation, the Gorilla would have just come to get Adrien and send him to the train station, ignoring his order to return him home.
But with Felix present…
Gorilla discreetly texted Nathalie and Gabriel.
Gabriel: pick up my son and send him to the train station. Felix can board the train back to London.
He saw the safe and knew Felix fell for bait.
Adrien and Marinette frowned to see Felix in the limo again.
Nathalie: Adrien, it’s time to go now.
Adrien: no, i want to see my father!
Nathalie: Adrien!
She subtly touched the ring.
His shoulders slumped.
Marinette looked dismayed and disappointed.
Felix: you couldn’t even stand firm for more than two minutes! I can’t believe we’re even related.
I am froggy
Adrien clenched his fists. “I’ll show you.”
He promptly ran off, against the flow of traffic.
Marinette chased after him. “Adrien!”
Nathalie hopped back into the car. “Follow them.”
Plagg: where are we going?
Adrien: anywhere but the station. Plagg Claws out!
Marinette stopped short, unable to find Adrien anywhere. Though why was Chat outside? Never mind. Adrien was running away! Again!
The car drove by. “Marinette, where did Adrien go?” Nathalie demanded.
Marinette: i don’t know
Nathalie: we’ll split up. Call me if you see him and I’ll do the same.
Then she drove off.
Marinette; wait, why am I helping Nathalie find Adrien? I want him to stay in Paris.
Tikki: so what do we do?
Marinette: i don’t know.
Tikki: Adrien doesn’t want to be found right now, Marinette. If he wants you to find him, he’ll call you.
Marinette: yeah, I guess you’re right.
With Adrien still in the city, Hawkmoth can’t create Strike Back yet.
And Chat is willing to take the risk of staying in his hero form for now.
Hours pass and no one can find Adrien.
Nathalie calls everyone for a mass search.
Marinette takes the risk of not joining in.
This reminds her of Santa Claws where she made things worse. She just has to trust Adrien.
Tikki is also very sure Adrien is fine, especially with Chat Noir so ostentatiously present on patrol. He certainly is kept busy since civilians are getting more reckless and careless
Everyone wonders why Adrien would run away and finally realize that he maybe he doesn’t want to go on this trip after all.
With the danger increasing, Gabriel is concerned about Adrien and creates a sentimonster to find him.
The sentimonster fails.
Fed up, Gabriel finally makes a public announcement that says Adrien can stay in Paris if that is what he wants, just come home.
Just like that, Adrien miraculously appears at the mansion gates.
Gabriel: you’re still grounded.
Nathalie monitors Adrien while Gorilla sends Felix to the train station.
Lila is furious the trip is cancelled because of Adrien and calls to threaten him.
Adrien: oh, and what if I ask Jagged Stone and Ladybug to defend Marinette. Wouldn’t that be a shocker to see such famous celebrities calling you a liar in public?
Lila: you would risk me getting akumatized?
Better her than Marinette.
Adrien: i trust the heroes to wipe the floor with you any day.
Lila hung up and scowled.
With Adrien safe in the mansion under the watch of the returned Gorilla, Hawkmoth creates Strike Back.
An akuma alert is sent out and Adrien goes to the bathroom to transform. “I’m gonna take a nice long soak.”
Cue the fight.
With everyone taking risks, Ladybug is unsure what she should do.
As such, she gives Luka his miraculous in case anything wrong should happen.
Ladybug detransforms and merges Baark and Fluff.
She returns back to the present and destroys the akuma and casts the cure, removing Risk’s influence.
She detransforms and transforms again and sends the sentimonsters to the sun.
Rena gives back her miraculous.
Gabriel is absolutely discouraged by this defeat. Even when taking risks, Ladybug still hasn’t made a mistake. What was he expecting when she has good luck on her side?
Nathalie doubts he will give up. This is just a setback, like with Style Queen. Eventually, Gabriel will remember why he is doing this and regain his determination.
Just like how Wayzz was sent to recover the miraculous, Marinette sends Tikki to London to recover any miraculous Felix might have kept. She suspected he has the peacock.
However this time Chat asks that he send Plagg instead. The city needs her more than ever now.
Having learned her lesson, Ladybug agrees to trust Chat Noir, and Plagg.
Adrien gives Plagg Felix’s address, even showing him pictures of the mansion and a map.
They decide to wait a bit to make sure all is safe for the time being and to let Felix actually get home and be less on guard.
Gabriel also agrees to take time off because Nathalie has had another one of her coughing fits and Adrien barely escapes punishment because his recent behavior can be attributed to Risk’s influence.
Lila sulks about not going abroad but silently gloats about Ladybug’s failure.
Plagg finds Felix’s mansion and looks out for any fan-shaped brooch.
Knowing he is a suspect, Felix hides the brooch in a hidden pocket of his vest.
Still, because Duusu is active now, Plagg finds him instead and Duusu silently leads Plagg to the pin while Felix is bathing which he steals.
Back in the hands of the heroes, Duusu still cannot reveal who is Shadowmoth but Tikki points out he can answer indirect questions or give them clues.
Duusu: Shadowmoth and Mayura are very close to Chat Noir.
Given the limited interactions Adrien has, he immediately deduces the culprits.
Duusu nods when he asks if they are the villains.
Ladybug ponders the implications of Chat being a close associate of the Agrestes but decides not to think on it further.
They have to defeat Gabriel very carefully.
Adrien will run a distraction for them while the kwamis attempt to steal the miraculous. There is no way Gabriel keeps all the jewellery on his person.
They are correct. Hawkmoth keeps only the fox, horse and turtle miraculous in his pockets.
Darn it. He won’t be able to be cornered so easily.
Lucky Charm!
Strong-blasting Perfume?
For once Chat has the idea. He plans to ask Adrien to spray the perfume in his father’s face and when Gabriel coughs and is distracted, Ladybug can use venom on him.
Chat will keep Mayura and the Gorilla busy.
Chat detransforms and manages to bustle Nathalie into a room away from electronics under pretense of making sure she gets her rest. He locks the door.
Then he distracts the Gorilla with action figures.
Finally, he barges into Gabriel’s study. “Father, I just invented a new perfume! What do you think?”
He sprays the perfume right at Gabriel who begins coughing from the strong scent and doubles over.
Goldenbug stuns him and immediately frisks him for the remaining miraculous.
I honestly thought the season finale would be the last but then now we know why Shadowmoth won’t be coming back. He’ll have a new name!
Does anyone else think that the yo-yo should have disappeared the moment Marinette detransformed rather than wait for her to transform back into Ladybug again? This is what I see happening if that happened.
Ladybug sees her yo-yo stolen and instantly covers Adrien’s eyes. “Spots off!” she yells. “Don’t turn around Adrien or I will be forced to knock you out.”
It helps to sound strong if she imagines him as Felix. Marinette has no time to let her thoughts stall around her crush. This is a world ending crisis!
Fortunately, for once her Ladybug luck was on her side.
Gabriel had hardly grabbed the watch before it disappeared. “No!”
Now he only has the dog miraculous. A weaker weapon than Duusu!
Ladybug checked her yo-yo, sighing with relief to see her inventory was not missing anything.
With a known thief on the loose, Ladybug has officer Roger assemble the whole police force to arrest Felix for questioning and impersonation.
And this time, Adrien is not going to let his cousin get away with this.
When Gabriel ponders letting Felix get arrested but he risks being exposed
Nevertheless with Felix in possession of the peacock miraculous now…he offers a deal. He will help clear Felix’s name in exchange for the miraculous.
Felix refuses and creates his own sentimonster Scapegoat, a shapeshifter. Keeping possession of the amok, Felix trusts the peacock miraculous to Scapegoat.
When the police find the real Felix, he is tied up. He admits that he lied about being Adrien but there was no way he would miss the chance to be a hero. However, when he returned to the meeting spot to detransform and keep his cousin away, someone knocked him unconscious.
Adrien insists they frisk him but the dog miraculous is not on him.
Felix leaves with his miraculous and Hawkmoth is furious about this deal where he made more of a loss than a gain. He is never taking risks again! Nathalie returns and tries to cheer him up by reminding that Ladybug has one less miraculous too.
Ladybug bemoans the loss of Barkk and Adrien carefully suggests she never let him have another miraculous. He claims he is too traumatised by his time as Aspik to want to be a hero.
I can’t remember if I ever wrote this prompt but wouldn’t it be interesting if Marinette kept saying yes to any request or demand. But she finally snaps when she misses some event she really wanted to attend.
This was inspired by a Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends episode
I finally finished Strike Back and it gave me a lot of fic prompts. Here is one.
Ladybug realises that all humans are likely infected by Risk but kwamis are not. She detransforms to consult Tikki, then transforms into Pegapup.
Together Pegapup and Tikki travel back in time.
When they return to the present, Kaalki swaps places with Tikki.
The day is saved.
Meanwhile Felix is irritated he has been been tricked. And there is no way in hell he is going on a world tour with Miss Blabbermouth. At least he has Nathalie’s tablet. An informative consolation prize.
Gabriel is infuriated by the defeat and orders Nathalie to return home with Adrien. He feels like giving up.
To his surprise, he finds Adrien at home demanding to stay at home.
To Adrien’s surprise, his father immediately agrees to cancel the world tour and even stop his joint photo shoots with Lila. Then asks Adrien to leave him be.
Adrien: but i want to spend time with you, normally. Not just for business dinners.
Gabriel: Adrien, i have to call Nathalie and let her know she is with Felix. Did you even consider what Felix might gain from this? I listened to you already, now you listen to me. Leave my presence immediately.
Without even looking at Adrien, Gabriel calls Nathalie or texts her about Felix and warns her to check that nothing is stolen.
Nathalie discovers her pad and ring missing and demands Felix return them. In a public setting, with Gorilla summoned, Felix sulkily hands over the items.
Lila is dismayed to learn the trip had been cancelled.
Marinette is so relieved and proud Adrien stood up to his father.
Adrien himself feels this is a bittersweet ending. He gets to stay at home but now his father feels like he can’t trust him.
Plagg: cheer up. We can blame this whole thing on the Risk akuma
Gabriel blinked. “A risk. Of course! She never makes mistakes because she never takes any risks.”
Nathalie cut into his cackling. “Actually, Ladybug took the risk to entrust Chloe Bourgeois with a miraculous. And despite our knowing her team’s secret identities, she still gives them a miraculous, when we could try making another sentimonster doppelgänger to steal said miraculous.”
Gabriel blinked again, then grinned. “It’s time for Optigami to make a return then!”
I have only watched Risk, not Strike Back, which will be for tonight. Anyway, rather than risk giving Adrien a miraculous, I rather Marinette expose Lila
The moment Marinette sees the news about the First Love perfume trip, she chooses to sabotage it by exposing Lila as Ladybug, and demands Alya help clarify the situation, never mind the risk of Lila getting akumatized. If the truth was going to be exposed sooner or later, that is going to happen anyway, and she rather it happen before the trip.
Alya turns on her camera.
Alya: breaking news. In light of Lila’s exciting opportunity, I thought I would ask how her celebrity friends felt about it. But instead….
Video recording of Ladybug: Lila? She’s not my best friend. I never even met her before she became Volpina.
Alya: I’d like to officially apologize to my viewers. I should have fact checked.
Considering how popular the Ladyblog is, those who know Lila are now wondering what else she told them is true.
Rose asked Ali and he confirmed he does not know who this Lila Rossi is.
Luka and Juleka confirm Jagged never had a kitten or wrote a song about Lila.
The news spread through the school, with students getting angry at being lied to and given false promises.
Lila is so happy she will going away from school now.
Damocles and Bustier know about Lila’s lying disease and try to calm the student body.
Needless to say, they are not happy the faculty let them be lied to either.
So much negative energy, Shadowmoth creates a Sentimonster to enhance his own powers, becoming Scarlet Shadow.
Now this is what should have happened when Lila framed Marinette!
Lila and Chloe willingly get akumatized into Volpina and Antibug, except the former is hit by Princess Fragrance’s perfume.
The akumatized student body is ready to take revenge on their principal, Ms Bustier and Lila.
Some of Ladybug’s team members are akumatized. But no matter. Ladybug learned her lesson about giving miraculous out during Scarlet Moth’s last attack.
As duo battle against the akumas, Princess Fragrance forces Volpina to tell about all her lies on live TV.
Eventually all akumas are de-evilized or immobilized. But Scarlet Shadow is not done. People are still upset by Lila.
Knowing this, Ladybug decides to finally end this war, and tells Scarlet Shadow she will have Chat cataclysm her earrings. Never mind that he could take out his frustrations by destroying the city, which cannot be fixed by a magical cure now.
Realizing the mistake of making Ladybug reckless, Scarlet Shadow finally confesses about the Risk akuma, if only to get Ladybug to stop Chat from destroying her earrings.
One miraculous cure later….
The news coverage blames Lila for Scarlet akumas.
Now unpopular, her truancy and framing Marinette exposed, Gabriel fires her and gives her money to keep her mouth shut.
Lila manages to persuade her disappointed mother to send her away from her haters lest she be akumatized again. She knows when to cut her losses.
Mrs Rossi agrees but makes sure Lila’s new military school will see to it her daughter attends therapy
