"So, are you enjoying your visit to Paris so far?" Marinette asked, as she, Alya & Becky made their way down the streets of the city.
"Very much, especially since you two were nice enough to take me to see everything," Becky replied, as they stopped by a familiar landmark "ooh, the Arc de Triumph; it looks even bigger in person!"
"She's certainly easily impressed," Alya commented.
"Well, it's different for her," Marinette explained "we see these things every day, so they don't mean as much to us. She's never had a chance to see them, so they have more of an importance."
"Wow, that's deep girl."
"Darn right it is," Marinette replied.
"Hey, what do you guys say we stop and have a bite?" Becky suggested "I'm really looking forward to some French cuisine."
"Sounds great, I know just the place," Marinette said.
Soon, the three arrived at an outdoor café for lunch.
"I have to say, it's been great having you around," Alya told Becky as they sat down "It's too bad you can't be here longer."
"I'd like to, really, but I have very important things to attend to," Becky replied "but enough about that, why don't you two tell me more about Ladybug?"
"Um, I really don't think there's much more to tell," Marinette said nervously.
"Of course there is," Alya interrupted her "where do I begin?"
"Well, how does she show up, for example?" Becky queried.
"Easy, if there's an akuma on the loose, she and Cat Noir show up to deal with it," Alya explained.
"And an akuma is what?"
"I dunno, some evil dude name Hawk Moth makes them, don't ask me how," Alya said "anyway, he sends them out, they possess someone and turn them into a super villain. Then Ladybug and Cat Noir show up, fight the villain, and restore them back to normal."
"Hmm, and these akumas, they're a normal occurrence around here?" Becky wondered.
"Well, normal might be pushing it just a bit," Alya said "but yeah, they do happen a lot."
"You sure seem interested in this," Marinette said, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the newcomer with suspicion.
"What, a girl can't ask about strange phenomenon that happens around the city?" Becky asked nervously.
"No, of course you can," Marinette replied "it's just, well…" she paused, hoping to find an excuse that didn't seem too suspicious.
"Hey Marinette, isn't that Adrian over there?" Alya's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Adrian? Where?" Marinette asked.
"Right there," Alya pointed, several tables down, where indeed, the young teen and fashion model was sitting, his large bodyguard standing nearby "why, don't we invite him to sit with us?"
"What, sit with us?" Marinette asked nervously "oh no, he seems pretty comfortable where he is, I wouldn't want to disturb him and…"
"Hey Adrian, over here!" Alya called, ignoring her friend.
"Alya, what are you doing?" Marinette asked.
"Doing you a favor," Alya whispered.
"I think I'm missing something," Becky commented.
Adrian walked over to the girls' table, once again unaware of Marinette's nervous look "hey girls," he greeted them.
"H-hi Adrian," Marinette replied weakly.
"Hey Adrian, we were just hanging out after a long day of giving a tour to the new girl," Alya said gesturing to Becky, who simply waved "wanna sit down and join us?"
"That'd be great, but I have fencing lessons coming up, and I can't be late for them," the boy explained "maybe I'll see you later though."
"Great, looking forward to it," Alya said, as Adrian walked off back towards his bodyguard "well, I thought that went pretty well."
"Are you crazy?! I made a fool of myself!" Marinette said.
"I don't think he noticed," Alya told her "come to think of it, he never notices."
"I know I'm new here and everything, but what exactly was that about?" Becky asked.
"Marinette has a huge crush on Adrian," Alya explained "except she's not so good at explaining that to him."
"It's more than just a crush Alya, Adrian and I are meant to be together," Marinette told her best friend "there's something about him that makes me realize he's my soul mate."
"Um okay, whatever you say girl," Alya replied, not quite accepting her friend's explanation "well, I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some more tour? You still up for it?"
"Sure, there's lots more to see," Becky said "and perhaps, you could fill me in a little more on those akuma things you were talking about earlier," she added.
Meanwhile, in another part of Paris, a group of operatives of H.A.T.E were making their way through the city.
"Ah Paris, a fine city, filled with all sorts of culture and arts," The Lobe mused "how I look forward to wreaking havoc here."
"Hey brain man, don't forget the plan," Lord Hater interrupted "there's been reports of weird monstery things around here; Chrysalis wants us to find out where they're coming from and take it for ourselves."
"Sir, what about the reports of the pair of costumed heroes that always defeat the monsters?" Peepers asked.
"Peepers, the adult villains are talking okay," Hater replied.
"But sir, my research shows..."
"No one cares, Peepers!" Hater told him.
"Yes sir," Peepers replied sadly.
"Anyway, I'm not worried about those two heroes, I could take care of both of them myself," Hater bragged "in fact, I'm not even sure why I was even partnered with you losers."
"It would be wise to think about what you say, Senor Hater," Fishface said, one of his flip knives pointed at the villain's face "there might be some of us who may disagree with that assessment."
"Okay, let's all just calm down and get some of that cheese that France is famous for," Dr. Two-Brains told them.
"I admit I don't know squat about Paris, but I'm pretty sure it's not famous for cheese," Hater replied "and secondly, what's up with the obsession with cheese? Ever since I met you, that's all you talk about."
"Well sorry, but I do have a mouse brain attached to my head," Dr. Two-Brains explained, gesturing to the tiny pink lump visible on his head.
"Is that what that is? I always thought it was a big bump or something."
"Well, you're not the first person to think so," Dr. Two-Brains replied.
"So wait, if your mouse brain is so tiny, why do you let it control you?" Hater said "shouldn't your normal brain be able to ignore it?"
"You'd think so, wouldn't you?"
"Enough of this, we came here to find the source of those mysterious monsters, and that's what we're going to do," Lobe explained "oh, but first, we should stop by the Louvre, the art there is lovely."
"Art's for losers, unless it's a picture of me, then it's a different story," Hater said.
"The Lobe has a point mi amigos, we must locate what we came here for," Fishface chimed in.
"Oh yeah, and how exactly do we do that, scaly?" Dr. Two-Brains asked "we just magically ask the source of the monsters to come to us? Seriously is…is that what we do?"
"I was just thinking we wreak havoc on the city," Fishface explained "that will lure the heroes to us, and they will bring us to the monsters."
"Great plan, we do nothing and we get to destroy things, it's win-win," Hater replied.
"And I know just what we can do too," Dr. Two-Brains added.
"Let me guess, turn something into cheese, or something involving cheese, or blah blah blah cheese?" Hater asked.
"You wanna go? Come on!" Dr. Two-Brains said, trying to get at Hater, with Lobe & Fishface holding him back, while Peepers held back his boss.
"Please gentlemen, and I use the term as loosely as possible," Lobe began "we shouldn't be fighting each other; save this passion for those local heroes, and some of our enemies; I'm sure they're aware of us being here by now."
"What makes you say that?" Dr. Two-Brains asked.
"Because, they always seem to know when we're up to something," Lobe explained "I have no idea how they do."
"Okay, but I still say the cheese thing is a dumb idea," Hater replied.
"Oh, and your zapping everything in sight is so brilliant?" Dr. Two-Brains asked.
"That's it squeaky, it's go time!" Hater said, lunging again until Peepers held him back, with Two-Brains being held back by his fellow villains.
"And to think, I could've chosen not to go on this mission," Lobe lamented.
Later in the day, Marinette, Alya & Becky were on their way to the Louvre; Marinette was watching the newcomer suspiciously, as her interest in the akumas, and especially Ladybug, made her nervous.
"I can't believe I'm about to see some of the greatest artworks ever made," Becky said happily "I don't think anything could ruin this day."
"Ooh, never say that, cause in my experience, if you say nothing can happen, then it does," Alya told her.
"I know it seems like that's true, but I'm sure it's mostly a coincidence," Becky replied.
Immediately, several denizens of the city ran past screaming.
"Of course, what do I know, I'm only an exchange student."
"Excuse me sir, what's going on?" Marinette asked one of the people.
"There's a group of weird creatures attacking the city!" he said, before running off.
A group? But there's never been more than one akuma at a time, Marinette thought, to herself this doesn't sound good!
"Come on, if something's attacking the city, we'd better find shelter," Marinette said.
"Okay, but when Ladybug shows up, there is no way I'm missing that!" Alya said, as the three girls ran off.
Marinette lagged behind, making sure the other two were safe. Once they were, she ducked out of sight and headed towards the park.
"Oh man, I just remembered, I left my, um... camera behind, yeah," Becky said, trying to make an excuse.
"Just forget it, I have one on my phone,' Alya told her.
"Yeah, well, that's um….oh my gosh, what's that over there?!" Becky said, pointing to something nearby.
"What?" Alya asked, looking where the girl had pointed, unaware that she had slipped away. "I didn't see anything…" she began, noticing that Becky was now gone "what the? First Marinette, now the new girl, where the heck is everyone disappearing to?"
As for Marinette, she had ducked behind a tree in the park; looking around to make sure no one was around, she opened her purse, allowing her bug-like kwami, Tikki, to emerge.
"Did you hear that Marinette, there's a whole group of monsters attacking Paris," Tikki said.
"I know, that isn't Hawk Moth's style, he only ever sends one akuma at a time," Marinette replied "I don't like it."
"How are you going to stop them all?" Tikki asked.
"We'll figure that out later," Marinette said "Tikki, spots on!" the girl said, activating her Miraculous earrings and transforming herself into the hero Ladybug.
"I hope Cat Noir is ready, cause I'm going to need his help," she said, and ran forward, only to promptly smack into something. "Ow!" she said, "what the…?"
Ladybug looked in front of her and saw a blue skinned man with spiky hair wearing a red costume.
"Hey," he said, waving.
"Aaah!" Ladybug shouted, falling over as she often did as her alter ego "who, or what, are you?"
"It's okay, he's harmless," a female voice replied "though he does tend to annoy the heck out of you."
Ladybug turned to the source of the female voice, and was surprised by what she saw. It belonged to a young girl, wearing a pink outfit with a yellow cape and brown boots, gloves & a belt. As she flew down towards her, Marinette noticed that the girl looked familiar; very familiar.
Becky? Marinette thought could that be her? It looks and sounds like her, but she sure couldn't fly before. This might explain why she was asking all those questions earlier though… better play along until I find out what's going on.
"Greetings," Ladybug said, trying to remember not to blow her cover "and who might you be?"
"Name's WordGirl, and my odd looking pal over there is Freakazoid."
"I could've introduced myself, I was just waiting for the funniest moment," Freakazoid told her.
"Nice to meet you both, I guess," Ladybug replied "so, what brings you to Paris?"
"Let's just say, we're here to help," WordGirl replied.
Next time, Ladybug & Cat Noir receive some help from some out of town heroes to stop the villains. And, one of these out of towners will be akumatized; try and guess which one it is.
