Abella transformed as quickly as she could, leaping out her window and setting her wings going.
"Right, Akuma, where is it?" Abella muttered, looking around. She paused when she saw Alya dragging Marinette away. With a jolt, she remembered why that was probably a bad thing and flew over.
"Did you see the Akuma?" She asked first, not really sure yet how to pull Marinette away.
"I did," Alya said. "I even got footage! I was just getting Marinette somewhere safe-" she started.
"Good. Alya, you will lead me to the Akuma," Abella insisted. "Marinette, was it? Take cover somewhere safe." Marinette gave her a confused look before deciding not to question it, instead running in the opposite direction.
Abella grabbed Alya's hand and hoisted her onto her shoulders before taking off. Alya let out a whoop of excitement before looking around carefully.
"It headed that way," she stated, pointing. "And can I take a movie? I've never flown before!"
Abella sighed. "I don't see why not. Go ahead." With the confirmation given, Alya whipped out her phone and in moments she was talking to it (and presumably the blog's viewers) about the situation. Abella rolled her eyes and kept flying, turning a bit to follow where the blasts of magic were going off.
With a gentle touchdown, Abella made certain that Alya was in a safe position before hopping off the roof and taking stance in front of the girl who stood in front of her. With a gasp that she held in her throat she realized very suddenly who it was, and that they had been akumatized a second time.
"Lila," she breathed, her face creasing with worry. "What happened to you?"
"Liars," she hissed, not even paying Queen Bee half a mind. "All of you! Truth is nothing but a memory for you! I'll make you pay, all of you!" Her hands balled into fists as she turned around and caught sight of Queen Bee.
Dropping down to the ground, Abella's eyes narrowed, but she did nothing. She couldn't hurt Lila. She wouldn't let herself. She felt her chin gripped roughly by hands covered in reddish-orange leather. She thought idly that Lila looked like a fox-ish creature with a jar of bees buzzing around her, although admittedly the bees were words. It was different from before, the pure Fox costume she'd donned from last time she was akumatized.
"You too, little hero," She muttered. "I bet you're filled with lies... let's see what you have to say." With a snap, the words floated around her, and Abella whipped out her staff before twirling it to send the word-bees away. It took some effort, but she was fighting them off.
"You should just succumb to it," Lila suggested. "Lies are worthless, just like people. Go on. Tell me how much you hate things. Tell me everything."
"No," Abella refused, the tense tone in her voice more overshadow from the stress of holding back the bees. "The truth is not always the answer."
"Oh?" She grinned. "How horribly stupid. The truth will be there eventually; why not get it now? Don't you want to know who Ladybug and Chat Noir are? What your teachers think of you? Maybe who loves you and who doesn't?"
"No," Abella said bluntly. "I am perfectly willing to remain in blissful ignorance for now, thank you. I will ask another day for the truth, when I'm ready for it."
Lila's eyes narrowed, and for a moment Abella saw her friend through the haze. She didn't pause for long, however, before a new wave of word-bees kept her busy.
"You don't have to tell the truth," Abella said confidently.
"Ha!" Lila mocked, glaring down at her friend's struggles. "Look where that got me."
"You were telling the wrong lies," Abella continued. "Some lies are good ones; others hurt. You chose the ones most likely to hurt you." She winced as one of the word-bees clung to her outfit, but managed to brush them off and keep whacking at them with her staff.
Lila glared at her for a moment before taking a few steps forward. "No matter what lies were told, all that I got was loneliness. Abandonment. Cruelty." She smiled sweetly, and for a moment the real Lila seemed to be in there. "If lies are so horrible, wouldn't the world be better without them?"
"if we didn't live in a world full of lies," Abella countered, "life would be a pretty boring place, Lila. So many harsh truths that would be lied about to protect people... as much as honesty is a good value to have, you can't go on without lying. It would tear the world apart."
"And what about all the people who hated me when I lied?!" Lila cried. She sent out a beam of purplish-yellow from her hand and hit a group of people who began exclaiming loudly, the area around them destroyed.
"I didn't hate you, Lila," Abella told her simply. "I thought you were just misunderstood."
There was a short pause. Then, Lila began to shiver violently.
"Miss Bee..." she murmured. "Run." With that one word coughed out, she dashed at Abella at blinding speeds, and Abella had no choice but to block. gripping Lila's hands, she bit her lip and focused on channeling her strength into fighting back.
"Lila. Where is the Akuma?" She asked simply.
Lila blinked, then frowned. "It's in... it's in..."
"This is where honesty is important, Lila," Abella continued.
"The necklace," she ground out, before she let go suddenly and gripped Abella's neck.
It was quite obvious what Lila was trying to do, so Abella gulped, and said through strained breath, "I'm sorry, Lila."
Then she gripped her friend's waist and bent backwards at lightning speed, smashing Lila bodily into the pavement and shocking her body enough that she let go of Abella's neck. Abella twisted back and flew into the air, hovering over her friend and the unexpected shock crater that her maneuver had made.
Lila shook it off slowly, shivering, and as she did, two more familiar heroes hopped over the rooftops.
"Her necklace," Abella said quickly to Ladybug as she fluttered over. "That was all I got out of her."
"It's enough, but how did you do it?" Ladybug asked. "Did you try to reason with her? It never works."
"I tried," Abella admitted. "That was all the conscious Lila could say before the akuma took over. I'm so sorry... I'll follow your lead. I think I've made enough bad decisions today."
Ladybug winced at how Lila was climbing up to them, slowly but surely, and Abella floated a bit before gulping and dashing forward. She took a deep breath and looked over the side.
She felt something claw her face painfully, and she winced, but instead of taking it off of her face she reached for the necklace and ripped it violently off of Lila's neck. She then used her other hand to grab the hand clawing her face and pulled Lila up, looking to see Ladybug's yoyo capture the Akuma.
With a deep breath, she let go of Lila's arm and waited, only turning when Ladybug tapped her shoulder.
"We've all tried it once," Ladybug admitted. "Hawkmoth always takes control before we can do much, however. She doesn't seem as bad as the others, however, so she should be fine. It'll bruise, but otherwise she'll be okay."
"Good," Abella said quietly. "I'm never going to let this happen again."
Lila blinked awake and stared at Abella for a few moments. Then, very slowly, she said, "I was akumatized..."
"Again, might I add," Ladybug commented. "But that's okay, we-"
Lila hissed.
"Lila, what's wrong?" Abella asked, confused.
"Go away, Ladybug," She hissed. "Just because of all your honesty preaching I wasn't able to make any friends at all..."
"You used my identity to try and get closer to people," Ladybug replied, frowning. "I understand if you don't like me for going against you on that, but-"
"Hush, Ladybug," Abella said suddenly, so suddenly that Ladybug stopped. Chat Noir leaped on the roof at just that moment, having spoken with the police, looking around in confusion.
"I understand," Abella smiled, taking Lila's hand. "I know how it feels to be like that. Lying in an effort to make friends is common, Lila. I've been there before."
She gulped. "But Ladybug-"
"Was jealous," Abella giggled. "If you get what I mean. Hanging off of someone's arm can give an... interesting impression, can't it?" she smiled. "And after all... I wonder why she was near enough to show up out of the blue like that?"
Lila blinked, then looked at Ladybug for a moment. She had to do a double-take to make sure that she was seeing right, because Ladybug's face was as red as her mask.
"I-I-It isn't like that!" She protested. "Oh look I'm out of time gotta go see ya!" She cried, before dashing off at an incredible rate.
"Strange," Chat Noir commented. "My Lady is never like that. And she had all the time in the world... her Miraculous hadn't beeped once."
Lila and Abella promptly burst into laughter.
"Okay, okay, that does make more sense," Lila giggled. "Who would've thought that?"
"But more seriously," Abella said, taking a deep breath, "I'm so sorry, Lila. This is a new situation on me, I hadn't considered that the akuma could take full control... you aren't hurt too bad, are you?"
"A few bruises, but nothing more," she said, looking around at her arms and body carefully. "I should be fine. Thank you for getting me out of there."
Abella smiled at her. "Take my hand, I'll help you down off of the roof."
As Abella walked home, she caught sight of a familiar red outfit and a familiar blonde. With an inward smile she moved on. She didn't want to disturb the moment, no matter how cute it was that Ladybug was apologizing after all this time.
Abella sorted her clothes idly, sighing repeatedly, before finally lying flat on her bed and groaning.
"Are you okay, Abella?" Byssi inquired, floating over.
"I will be," Abella grumbled, squeezing her pillow. "I just feel horrible for how I treated Lila."
"Hey, it's okay," Byssi reiterated. "Ladybug said so, too."
"Ladybug has made mistakes before," Abella said, in the tone of one stating a fact. "I know it isn't a very good reason, but Ladybug is still learning. She isn't all-powerful."
She got up suddenly and gripped her head, taking a few deep breaths. She paused, and very quietly, she picked up a pillow.
Then, with strength that was almost certainly acquired, she threw it across the room, knocking over some of the things on her shelf.
"Doesn't matter," she muttered. "HA! Nothing matters if you think like that. It's all a pretty lie." She groaned and threw herself into her bed again.
"You know, Byssi," Abella murmured, "I have trouble accepting the truth. I can see the truth in anyone, because the spectrum of honesty means a lot to me. It's a skill I've had for a long time." She hugged her legs to her chest and rocked herself slowly. "But you see, no-one is ever there for me to lean on when I finally am able to accept it. I'm going to be crying and screaming over what I did today, and for that, I'm sorry." She let herself fall to one side and closed her eyes, which were already red from the strain of holding back tears. "I hate how I tear up like this at the littlest things."
Byssi fluttered over with a tissue in her small hands. Silently, she offered it to Abella, who grabbed it gently and wiped away her tears before quietly laying on one side, contemplating the day.
The next morning, Abella stood outside the school gates quietly, hoping that Lila would get there early. She leaned against a tree, and Byssi flew out of her hairpin to talk.
"You realize that if you try to apologize for the akuma attack you're basically revealing your identity?" Byssi commented. "It's dangerous to, especially with a girl as unstable as her."
"More dangerous for Ladybug and Chat Noir," Abella commented testily. More calmly, she continued, "keeping secrets will make a Queen Bee like myself weak. Plus, by sharing my inner self with them, we all become stronger. I need to build myself a hive if I want to be of any use to Ladybug and Chat Noir."
Byssi smiled. "I need to tell you - you're the first. The first one to value honesty so strongly."
"Everyone is unique," Abella commented, "but I'm glad that's what you notice about me."
Then her eyes turned, and were laid upon a brown-haired girl who stared quite forcefully on one spot. She blinked, very slowly, then raised a single finger to point at Byssi.
"Well then, Lila," Abella said calmly, though her voice had a very small sting to it, "I'd appreciate if you followed me for a bit. There're a few things you need to know."
Lila could only bear to nod quietly before following Abella away from the school gates at 5 in the morning.
There was a silence in the old, Chinese-style room that could only be rivalled by the silence in space. The old man was perfectly happy to give them their space, he had said with a light chuckle, before disappearing behind the door through which Abella and Lila had entered.
"So," Lila said quietly, breaking the silence, "You're Queen Bee."
"Right in one," Abella agreed.
"What was that- that fairy-bee thing?" She asked. "It-"
"Her name is Byssi," Abella supplied. "She is the source of my superpowers. My Miraculous."
"Miraculous what?" Lila inquired.
"Just Miraculous," Abella said firmly. "The artefacts that house the kwami, like Byssi, are called Miraculous. Sometimes referred to as Miraculous stones, but they're the same thing." She smiled, and Byssi fluttered out from the hairpin. "This is Byssi, my friend and the Kwami that allows me to become Queen Bee. Chat Noir and Ladybug also have Kwami." She smirked. "I believe it was... Tikki and Plagg?"
"Yes," Byssi agreed. Fluttering over, she landed on Lila's lap. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lila. While I was originally opposed to the idea, I'm willing to accept it. I hope you will live up to the expectations."
Lila gulped quietly at the small face, until she was pulled away with one delicate finger. She looked up to Abella's face, which bore a playful expression.
"Don't worry," she comforted. "While knowing my identity is a heavy load, we're here to help. Master Fu will be here to talk, too. I'm sorry I had to break it to you like this."
"No, no, that's not it," she waved off. "I wasn't sad that you hadn't, secret identities are really important! It's just..." she gulped. "My friend is a superhero. A real life, magical transformation, defeat supervillains on a daily basis superhero."
"Sure, and you're the girl who makes Ladybug jealous," Abella shot back, smiling like a Cheshire cat. "It isn't really so incredible, Lila. I think it's more incredible that destiny has decided to make Ladybug and Chat Noir the ultimate power couple."
"What?" Lila gasped. "So they are dating?"
"Not yet," Abella admitted. "You have no idea how infuriating it is to be watching them get all intimate and then have them sit there and barely realize what's going on." She shrugged. "But destiny demands that no Chat Noir will discover any Ladybug's identity until she desires to be found."
"Wait, back up," Lila said, taking a deep breath. "Okay. So. My friend, Abella, is an age-old superhero, thousands of years old, who works with other superheroes who are also thousands of years old. And they haven't confessed to each other yet?"
"False," Abella said calmly. "First, only the Kwami are thousands of years old; humans like us are just vessels for the superpowers, although the individual skill and qualities of the people are what really make the superheroes alive." She pointed to a scroll on the wall. "That's an ancient Ladybug, for example. The Ladybug back then discovered the identity of that Chat Noir," she continued, pointing to another scroll, "and they eventually ended up together. But modern Ladybug and Chat Noir are different people, and have not yet discovered their civilian identities."
"Wow." Lila commented breathlessly. "So these are all past superheroes?"
"I believe so," Abella agreed. "Byssi has watched over every Queen Bee there's ever been, though, so really, Queen Bee is just Byssi with a human vessel every so many generations."
"How come there are so few Queen Bees?" Lila inquired, as she looked around the peacock images, the turtle images, even the fox images.
Bysis flew over. "That's easy to explain," She said wisely. "Queen Bees get their strength from companionship, friends, being surrounded by support. They are, quite literally, queens to hives, except with the metaphor applying to people, especially people who are secretly superheroes." She pointed. "And it's even more true that they are rare when you consider how the conditions have to be. You'd need both to have most of the Kwami active, and for there to be some evil that needed to be conquered or defeated." She shrugged. "But usually, there being a lot of superheroes means that no extra Kwami-users are needed, so I'm usually active during times of extreme war or other really serious events."
"Active?" Lila inquired helplessly.
"Superheroes are only active - as in, working with a kwami and transforming regularly - when they are needed. Miraculous are held by a guardian when not in use. Our current guardian is Master Fu, who bears the Turtle kwami." Byssi supplied.
Abella came up to her friend and dragged her back to the mat in the center of the room. "Now that your curiosity has been satisfied," She said firmly, "It's time to teach you about keeping the secret."
Pushing her gently back into a sitting position, Abella sat down across from her and started off. "First, I have to explain why our identities are so important..."
The next day was a bit calmer, and Abella was glad that her conscience was once again clear. She had decided to stick by Lila a bit more often, since Lila could help her get an alibi if she needed it - it was also good for if Byssi needed to hide. All around, it was incredibly efficient, and Abella was glad she could finally get a bit of the weight off her chest.
Even as she waved, Lila grinned and called, "Mind if we talk?"
This specific phrase they had chosen to hint they wanted to talk about the Miraculous. Abella glanced left and right, then nodded. "Go ahead."
"Do you know who Ladybug and Chat Noir are?" Lila asked in a hushed whisper. "Just curious."
"I know," Abella admitted, "But I'm not going to tell you. You remember the speech I gave yesterday."
"I do remember," Lila agreed, deadpan. "Mostly because you gave it 4 times."
"I forgot I'd told you, okay?" Abella grumbled.
"4 times. In a row, Abella." Lila giggled.
That night was calmer. Ladybug and Chat Noir were handling the patrols, so Abella was getting some decent sleep - she had pushed her mornings forward by an hour at least, which pleased Byssi immensely. As Abella sorted her school bag so that she could grab it and go in the morning, Byssi fluttered over to a window.
"Say, Abella," Byssi commented, turning to her charge. "Why don't you call Jean?"
"..."
She paused, turning around, and said carefully, "Jean... is sleeping."
"How do you know?"
"He always is..." she murmured. "Asleep, or busy..." she shook her head. "It doesn't matter. If it makes you happy, I'll see if I can stop him and chat next time I see him on the streets."
Byssi sighed and decided she'd be happy with that. She couldn't get rid of the notion that her charge was hard-set on making life hard for herself and stopping herself from enjoying the luxuries she had at her fingertips.
She fluttered into the jewelry box and hoped for restful sleep.
Oh, how wrong she was.
A/N: CLIFFHANGERS! MWAHAHAH~
But on a different note - I'm back! Forgive me for my tardiness on the chapter, but I've spent the last few weeks hyping over scenes that haven't been written (OMG the quotes) and trying to find a good transition. I think this was the best I could do for now...