Chapter 1/12

AN:

Welcome to my first fic! This chapter features: Marinette, Adrien, Ladybug, Chatnoir, and an OC named Emmy/Flying Fox

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news!"

Nadja Chemak announced with her trademark smile, somehow still happy despite the Eiffel tower in pieces behind her as she rushed to interview the latest villain. Some rejected theatre major who hadn't made it into the fall play, and was now calling themselves 'The Director', able to make anything he wanted to come true, with the power of his megaphone.

"Watch out, stage left!"

Chatnoir shouted at Ladybug as she swung past him, watching as she barely moved out of the way before being hit by flying debris.

"I think it's time we cut this scene!"

She called back to him, landing gracefully as she hurled a yo-yo attack at The Director to distract him as Chatnoir activated his Cataclysm power. Ladybug dodged nimbly out of Chat's way as he rushed towards the Director and planted his hand on the megaphone. As they had planned, the megaphone turned black as Chat grabbed it and smashed it against a nearby wall.

"No more evil doing for you, little akuma!"

Ladybug chided, swinging her yo-yo to catch the dark butterfly. Or was it a moth? Ladybug and Chat had discussed it before, since the main source of evil in Paris called himself Hawkmoth, did that make all the akuma's moths? Or butterflies, as Ladybug called them once they were free of the evil?

"Pound it!"

Both heroes sang, bumping their fists as the world around them righted itself. Chat suppressed a shudder as he looked at the destruction around them, thinking of how different things would be without Ladybug's Miraculous healing power.

"What?"

She asked him, and Chatnoir realized he had been starring at the lady hero.

"Sorry, I was just admiring your powers my lady."

Chat grinned, relieved as Ladybug rolled her eyes at his excuse like always.

"Your powers are great too, I mean, neither of us would be here without the other, and we're a great team!"

Ladybug said, patting Chat on the shoulder. A motion that would have made his heart race if it had happened months ago. But in those months, Chatnoir had finally realized that he and Ladybug did make a great team, and only that. It had been a rough few weeks as he discovered this truth, but eventually, he had come to accept it. Chatnoir and Ladybug were a great pair of fighters, defenders of Paris. But despite being in the City of Love, there would never be any romantic love between them. Chat's thoughts were interrupted as he and Ladybug both noticed an odd movement at the same time. Someone was coming towards them, fast, and from the sky. Chatnoir and Ladybug both watched with wide eyes as a figure dressed in black and gold, with fabric wings under her arms, came soaring down towards the ground, landing right in front of them.

"Sorry, did I miss the whole thing?"

The figure said, sounding very much like a girl their age. Chatnoir was so curious now he could practically feel his tail twitching behind him, but he glanced at Ladybug, trying to gauge her reaction behind her mask. This wasn't the first time they'd encountered another hero, and it hadn't worked out so well before.

"Who are you?"

Ladybug said, moving instinctively into a fighting stance, her yo-yo ready in her hand.

"Flying Fox, I just moved here today, and I saw the commotion on the news so I tried to rush over, but I got lost, sorry."

The Flying Fox explained, smiling shyly at them from under her black and gold mask. Now that she was on the ground, Chat could see that her outfit features ears like his as well, although pointier. And her wings were a lot cooler than his tail, he admitted reluctantly.

"I've never heard of you, how do we know you're not akumatized?"

"I just moved here!"

Flying Fox defended.

"There are more miraculous than just what is in that box you have, I'm not evil just because you don't know me!"

Ladybug's yo-yo was still swinging dangerously in her hand, but Ladybug seemed to be considering what Flying Fox had to say. The fact that she knew about their miraculous, and the box Master Fu had did seem to point to her being on their side.

"Look, here's my miraculous."

Flying Fox finally offered, as Ladybug still hadn't said anything. She held out her arm to show them a small beaded bracelet.

"If you promise to fix it with your miraculous power, I'll let you break it to check for an akuma."

Chatnoir was impressed at her bravery, and convinced now that Flying Fox was one of the good guys, but still waited for Ladybug to make up her mind. All of them were interrupted though, as Ladybug's earrings, and Chatnoir's ring both started beeping, reminding them that their time was about to run out.

"I'll let you go this time, but I don't trust you yet!"

Ladybug declared, holding a hand up to her earring as she stepped away from Flying Fox.

"Whenever another villain attacks, come fight with us, and then I'll decide. Before then, stay safe, I guess. Bug out!"

Ladybug called, already swinging away. Chatnoir stepped away as well, getting ready to vault his way home, but stopped.

"You said you got lost on the way here, did you need help finding your way home?"

He offered, ignoring the now insistent beeping of his ring.

"I'm fine, thanks."

Chatnoir wasn't sure if she was really fine or not, but now had no choice as he felt himself about to change back into himself.

"See you around!"

He called to the girl as he fled, going too fast for him to hear if she said anything in reply.

Chatnoir crisscrossed Paris, alternating between vaulting over walls and running across rooftops. The sun had set now, but he still knew his way, tracing a careful path through the city that took him well around anywhere his father might be working. Finally he landed back in his room and carefully closed the window behind him. His father had already made more comments about his open window than Chatnoir was comfortable with. At this point now though, he had fully changed back into plain old Adrien Agreste, and he sank onto his bed, sighing as he ignored Plagg's usual string of complaints. He had cut the timing too close, he had stayed out too late, he didn't have enough cheese stored in his room.

"What do you think of her?"

Adrien asked, throwing his arm over his eyes as he lay on the bed, trying to perfectly replay every memory he had of the new hero he had just met. What kind of creature was a flying fox?

"Who?"

Plagg replied, pretending to be distracted as he dug through Adrien's drawers, looking for hidden food.

"Flying Fox, the new hero! Do you think she's the real deal?"

Adrien demanded, sitting up now so he could face Plagg. The little Kwami looked uncomfortable at being challenged, but still floated closer to Adrien.

"I've heard rumors of more miraculous being made all over the world…"

Plagg began, and Adrien's head instantly filled with ideas of assembling an international network of superheroes.

"But I don't know anything about those other heroes, or if there are any. Remember, miraculous can get lost for hundreds of years sometimes."

"Sure."

Adrien agreed, not really listening now. Did Ladybug know about the other miraculous? Did her Kwami know more than his? He flopped back onto his pillow. Hours later, after running through every possible scenario and fantasy, Adrien finally fell asleep, only to continue dreaming about the Flying Fox.

"Adrikins!"

Chloe shrieked as Adrien entered the classroom the next morning, which was exactly what he needed after a night of almost no sleep.

"Morning Chloe."

He somehow managed to say as he shook her of him.

"Sup Dude"

Nino greeted him as Adrien sat next to him, and Adrien offered a simple fist bump in return. The rest of the class all exchanged their usual morning greetings as they filed into the classroom, and Adrien tried to stay cheerful and polite, but still found his eyelids drooping and his thoughts constantly returning to the Flying Fox girl he had met the night before. He almost found himself wishing for a sudden villain attack, just so he'd have a reason to see her again. Eventually the only thing that pulled him back to the present, was their teacher standing up at the front of the classroom, clapping her hands together for their attention and then gesturing to the girl next to her.

"Class, we have a new student joining us from America. Please help her learn her way around the school and help her feel welcome. Would you like to introduce yourself?"

Ms. Bustier turned to the girl expectantly, and Adrien watched as she wrapped one arm around the other and shifted nervously on her feet.

"My name's Emmy, it's nice to meet you all."

She said to the class, in impressive French. Adrien heard Julika all the way in the back mutter

"Hell yeah."

And Adrien smiled, noticing for the first time that the girl's outfit paired well with Julika's fashion sense. Emmy had a long sleeved black t-shirt with a skeleton pattern across it, marking where her own bones would be, and then a red plaid skirt, dark tights with key patterns, and comfortable looking boots.

"Well, of course you can see we have two students per desk, but we'll have to rearrange for a bit. Emmy, would you mind sitting up there with Marinette and Alia? They'll be able to help you around the school."

Ms. Bustier patted Emmy kindly on the shoulder, and Emmy made her way carefully up to the row behind Adrien. He turned to watch her slip into the bench behind him, and caught her eye. He smiled awkwardly, not having expected to have her catch him watching her, and instead he just waved lamely. She smiled back for a brief second before she turned to hear Alia and Marinette introducing themselves to her. Adrien turned quickly back to his own desk.

"Dude, what was that?"

Nino whispered to him, imitating the shaky wave he had just given Emmy. Adrien just shook his head and sank down further in his seat.