April 7th, 2017 was a grand day for Kayla Hernandez, as it was her sixteenth birthday. The girl smiled and climbed out of bed, then she saw the time on her phone. She walked downstairs and saw her parents cooking breakfast.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Her parents said. They set a full breakfast spread on the dining table.
"Gracias!" Kayla replied. "¡Habla de un dulce dieciséis!"
"Oh, it's gonna get even sweeter!" Enrique responded. "We were gonna wait until after school but we thought you should have this now." Kayla's mother Antonia pulled a present out of the kitchen drawer. She placed the small present on the table. Kayla opened it and inside were a necklace with a Sapphire and a lilac flower with a hair clip.
"Your abuelas believed they wouldn't live to see your sixteenth," Antonia said. "So they made sure you had a gift from them." Kayla took the necklace and rose out and began crying. Her mother and father gave her a hug. "Sweetie, we're sorry..."
"No!" Kayla responded with the tears. "Thank you! So much!" Kayla just embraced her parents. "I love you."
"We love you too." Her parents responded. Kayla let go and put the flower in her hair and then put the necklace on.
"I'd better get ready for school," Kayla went back upstairs after breakfast and got dressed in her grey shirt, black leggings and loafers, and blue leather jacket. She got her bag ready, walked downstairs and kissed her parents on the cheeks. "I'll see you later." Kayla began to walk away but her parents stopped her by talking again.
"We're going to a botanical garden after school," Enrique said. "If you still trust Liam Rejeter, then he can come with us." Kayla turned around and hugged her dad.
"Thank you!" Kayla let go and started walking off to school. At the school, Kayla was met in her class with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" from Miss Bernard and her students. One of them, Charlie Bromwell, gave her a CD. Charlie had wavy black hair with red and green streaks, red eyeshadow, and black lipstick. She sported a sleeveless denim vest over a women's black shirt with a skull and cross on it. She also had a red skirt, black semi-transparent tights, and black heels. A light skin tone and bright green eyes accompanied small lips and a nose with a small tip and short bridge. Kayla looked at the CD.
"Side Swipe - Life's An Open Book..." Kayla said.
"You'll love it!" Charlie said in a high voice but as a high as Rose's. "The first track even features Jagged Stone!"
"Thank you, Charlie!" Kayla kissed her friend on the cheeks then hugged her. The two sat down to start their day...
After the school day, at the Dupain-Cheng bakery. Marinette was planning something in her bedroom with her friends: Alix, Juleka, Mylene, Rose, and of course, Alya. "Thanks for showing up, girls!" Alya said. "So, check this out. I've got the...biggest...scoop! But FYI, it's seriously hush-hush. Top secret, classified information."
Alix was intrigued. "You know who Ladybug is?" Juleka, Mylene, and Rose gasped.
"No, but it's almost as hot. Marinette is—" Before Alya could explain, Marinette's trapdoor opened and Liam emerged, wearing a navy blue vest top and black shorts, and sporting a pair of blue tinted sunglasses.
"Whatever this is, can we make it quick?" Liam asked as he walked in an leaned on a wall behind the girls. "I gotta get changed then head to Kayla's birthday party." Liam rubbed his left ear, pressing it onto the arm of his sunglasses.
"Yeah, a closed door means come in, I guess! But remember, your lips are sealed. Got it?" The girls nodded. Liam remained still-faced. "Well, Marinette is head-over-heels for somebody."
"Yeah, Adrien," Alix said boastfully. Liam and the girls chuckled at the poorly kept secret.
"What?" Marinette was startled. "But how did you know?"
"Well, it is pretty obvious," Mylene responded.
"So, do you think Adrien knows too?" Liam was confused by Marinette's question.
"No way!" Rose answered. "Boys never pick up on things like that." Liam cleared his throat. "Most boys."
"Right, so let's get down to business!" Alya stated. "Your mission is to arrange a ridiculously romantic date between Marinette and Adrien."
"Oh, that's so sweet!" Rose replied.
"Big time!" Juleka said.
"We know we can always count on you, Marinette!" Mylene responded. "So you can count on us too."
"Aw, thanks, girls!" Marinette cheered. "Alya and I have come up with a plan. It's called Operation: Secret Garden. This afternoon, Adrien has a photo shoot at the Trocadero fountains," Marinette stated, pulling down a map of the Trocadero from a projector screen. "His security guard will be waiting for him in the car on the other side of the esplanade. He's supposed to take Adrien back home after the photo shoot, except that's not gonna happen. This is where you guys come in." Liam raised a hand. "We have a question."
"Yeah!" Liam said. "How do you know this stuff?"
Marinette smiled and pulled down a timetable of Adrien's activities. "He has one right now and he's scheduled to finish at five twenty-seven." Liam and Alix were now gobsmacked at what Marinette was showing them and Mylene, Rose, and Juleka were wide-eyed but not as shocked.
"Marinette, how long have you had this?"
"Since a week after I met Adrien, why?"
"You've been stalking him!" Alix shouted.
"Okay!" Alya said. "Let's all calm down!"
"Calm down?!" Liam exclaimed. "If Adrien saw this, he'd call the cops. This is stalking!"
"Is it stalking..." Marinette asked. "...If we're already dating?" The girls gasped. "Adrien won't call the police."
Alix growled. "But Gabriel will!" Alix and Liam ran down the trapdoor and ran. To their shock, Marinette and Alya were chasing after them, meaning Rose, Juleka, and Mylene were left in Marinette's bedroom. Alix tripped and Alya and Marinette tripped over her. "GO!" Liam kept running, not looking back. He just kept at it, not stopping. He soon saw the Trocadero fountains... And Adrien with Mr. Acier, Gabriel, Maria, and Nino.
"DUDE!" Nino shouted. "You trying to beat Alix in a race?" Liam pressed the frame of the sunglasses to project a video recording in front of everyone. They all watched what had just happened in Marinette's room. Adrien was horrified at what Marinette had said and done, as was everyone else. Then, they saw Alix trip and get trampled by the two.
"Oh my god!" Adrien shouted.
"Uncool!" Nino said.
"This is just..." Maria choked.
"Disgusting!" Gabriel snarled. Marinette and Alya finally caught up with Liam. "Marinette!" Gabriel practically shoved Adrien behind him. "I never thought you could be as bad as Chloe Bourgeois!"
Marinette stuttered. "I didn't realize!"
"ENOUGH!" Adrien shouted. "Enough! Marinette, let's go and talk more privately." Adrien walked over to the limo, as did Marinette. Mr. Acier tried to follow, but Adrien noticed. "Alone!" The two stopped when they reached the limo. Adrien turned around to face Marinette. "Ever since we found out who the other was, I held you on the highest pedestal I could imagine. I thought we were gonna be together even after we didn't wear the masks anymore. But now that this has come out..." Adrien hung his head and sighed. "I need to know. How long have you had that timetable?" Marinette clammed shut. "Marinette, please!" Marinette's eyes began to tear up. "Last chance." Marinette turned her head away. "Then I guess it's over."
Marinette gasped. "Adrien..."
Plagg butted in. "Beat it, Phsyco!" Adrien grabbed the part of his shirt where Plagg was hiding and squeezed. "Ow! OW! OW! What was that for?"
"Leave this to me!" Adrien ordered. "I could've at least tried to remain friends with you but if you can't tell me the truth... Then I can't trust you!" Marinette gasped. "I'll try and convince my dad not to call the police on you for stalking me... But Alix... That's up to her. Destroy that timetable and never make another one." Adrien walked to Marinette's side. "I think it would be best if we were to only see each other with the masks on." Adrien walked away. Marinette collapsed to her knees and wailed. 'I can't believe it!' Adrien thought. 'She really did this! Was I too soft on her?' Adrien began tearing up. His sadness and heartache did not go unnoticed. A little black butterfly hovered and landed on the staircases.
"I don't think so!" The Hornet exclaimed. He squeezed the net and the akuma turned to dust. "Huh, didn't realize I could do that! Now I gotta get freshened up for Kayla's party."
Marinette made her way back home and walked into the living room. She opened the door and saw her parents, aunt Bridgette, and Félix. Alya soon arrived and saw the death stares. "If you're gonna give me a lecture about what I've done, I already feel like beating myself up!"
"That's not all..." Félix answered. "Alix Kubdel has been found with bruises and broken skin. Her father is furious."
"We don't condone what you did," Tom said.
"Stalking Adrien or hurting Alix," Bridgette added. "She's one of Liam's BFFs."
"But we can't stay mad at you, dear," Sabine finished.
Marinette smiled. "Thank you!" Marinette hugged each one of them one by one. And then she went to her bedroom, where Rose, Juleka, and Mylene were still waiting. "Sorry for running off like that girls."
"Is it back on?" Rose asked.
"I'm afraid not," Marinette mumbled. "He's finished it." Rose, Juleka, and Mylene gasped. "He's agreed not to call the police as long as... I do this." Marinette ripped the schedule down and tore it to pieces. "It doesn't make things right but it's a start."
Alya walked in. "Alix has just phoned. She's angry but she won't do anything as long as we can help her recovery."
"Recovery?" Mylene asked.
"When we chased after them, we ended up tripping her."
"Don't you think you should apologize for that, then?" Juleka asked.
"We will!" Marinette said. Her phone rang and she answered it. "Hello."
"Hey, Marinette." Liam's voice said. "It's Liam. I hope you know that I did that because you needed to realize that what you were doing was wrong. But now, I realize I shouldn't have done it so quickly and in front of everyone. I know you may be upset with me (and I'm still mad at you for hurting Alix) but I'm still family. If Félix and Bridgette have spoken to you, I'll also help fix things the best I can. First thing I've done is try and convince Nino to stay with Alya."
"Why would Nino break up with me?" Alya asked.
"You knew that Marinette was doing this and did nothing!" Nino exclaimed in the background of the call.
"Didn't you suggest setting them up?" Liam said. "Which would've meant you giving Marinette the timetable? Look, I've gotta get ready for Kayla's birthday party. I'll talk to you later."
Liam was dressed as Scott Donoko minus the bandana mask and fake goatee. He arrived at the Botanical Garden and waited outside. Kayla had come outside. "Happy Sweet Sixteen, my Vida!" Liam pulled the crystal Kayla used against Befana out of his pocket. "You left it in the alley."
Kayla smiled and the couple walked inside. "She never seemed to be a stalker. Surprise his Papi isn't bringing the hammer down on her. She's a psycho."
"She's my cousin! And it doesn't matter what she's done, that will always be the case."
"You were the one who exposed her!"
"Yeah, I am. Still doesn't mean I hate her."
Kayla walked around with Liam for an hour and it was getting dark outside. "Ah. Here are a few people who want to meet Scott Donoko! Danny, Luka! Here he is!"
The two turned around. Liam recognized Luka as Juleka's brother. Danny was an Asian boy with long messy black hair with the tips dyed dark red. He had stubble facial hair and a gold earring in his left ear. His eyes were dark brown and his nose was a button. He wore a blue shirt with denim jeans, a watch with a silver and gold band and black shoes with white soles. Danny spoke. "Scotty!" Danny shook Liam's hand ferociously. "Daniel Cho-Lin! I must say it's a dream come true to meet you. I've always admired your anonymous streak." Dan released Liam's hand. "I actually was inspired by you to take up a music career."
"Vere you now? Vell, Daniel Cho-Lin, I haffe ein bropozizion. I'll talk to you lader apout it zince zis is Kayla's barty. But I am really looking forvard to your resbonze. And Luka, I pelieffe I'm in zee zame class as your zisder at school."
"Lose the accent," Luka ordered.
"Jeez, you try to be friendly. What's got you so moody?"
"Sorry! Sorry! It's uh... Our father. After all these years, he still doesn't want anything to do with Juleka. My mom is having a go at me for trying to contact him."
"I don't know what to say," Kayla said.
"I'm sorry, Kayla. You shouldn't have to suffer for my problems."
"Nonsense, Luka! I'm glad to see you."
"Actually, I'm curious," Liam asked. "How did you two-?" People started gasping.
"Hey, Kayla!" Enrique asked. Antonia dragged Kagami Tsurugi inside. "We just saw this girl loitering outside. She says you invited her."
"Alright!" Kagami confessed. "I wasn't!"
"Are you from the Dragon Dust Clan?!"
"Who?"
"Dad, let her go!" Kayla said worryingly. "She's a friend." Antonia let Kagami go. "Sorry, Kagami. It's just a gang that's causing trouble. I know I invited you but I honestly thought you'd be busy doing something more important."
"You are important. You're my first friend here." Kagami and Kayla shook hands. "Uh, are those your brothers?" Kagami noticed Kayla's twin brothers. They came over to her and handed her a card. They also sang a little rhyme together.
"Well, big sister, it's your birthday, time for lots of fun, so roll this card up nice and tight and stick it up your bum!" The twins laughed as they ran away to avoid Kayla's palm.
"Little shits!" She remarked. "That's why I love 'em!"
"I never got that opportunity..." Kagami said.
"Sorry." Kayla tried to change the subject. "Have you seen what Liam got me? It's a sword like his but the blade is blue instead of green."
"Blue suits you!" Kagami said. "Is that a blue rose in your hair?"
"Yeah." The two started walking around, examining the plants. "My grandma knew I loved different types of flowers. It's kind of something that lifts my spirits. It reminds me of a countryside when I was a kid. Though there was a dried out lake that was extremely dangerous. It was like quicksand. Stand in it and you're stuck."
"That's just Mother Nature for you."
"Yep. Anyway, this rose was a gift from my grandma. My other one got me..." Kayla pulled the necklace out from under her shirt. "This. They both got me these years ago."
"How do you know?"
"They've been... gone for a few years now."
"Oh... I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. Happens to everyone," Kayla hugged Kagami. Liam walked over.
"Hello, Kagami," Liam said. "Making more friends?" Liam noticed something strange. "Gimme a sec, ladies." A strange figure was hiding behind a flower bed. Liam power walked and the figure ran away. Liam couldn't stop them but he looked at the floor and saw Marinette's purse. "What were you-?" Liam was cut off as all the flowers caught fire. Everyone was quiet for two seconds before people started screaming and flailing all over the place. Kayla began feeling chest pains and struggled to breathe.
"Kayla?!" Kagami tried to get through to her. "KAYLA?!" Kagami dragged Kayla around and eventually got her out but the necklace got snagged on a branch and was left in the burning building. As they tried to escape, they ran into Liam and Daniel. "Liam, I can't get her to respond." Liam and Daniel placed Kayla's arms over their shoulders and carried her. When they got out, the four of them began coughing from the poisoned air. Kayla began clenching her chest.
"Kayla, can you hear me?" Liam asked. Kayla was unresponsive. Liam turned to Daniel and Kagami. "Go and get some help, please!" Daniel and Kagami ran around the outside of the building looking for help. "They'll come back Kayla, just breathe, okay." Liam's phone rang. "Dad! It's up in flames. I found a purse. It... looks like one Marinette made." Kayla heard Liam's statement.
"Marinette!" She snarled. "You are so dead!" Kayla's chest pains began to reduce but her panic and anger were still at an all-time high. Perfect for the lurking akuma. It seized its opportunity and latched onto the flower in Kayla's hair. Kayla was too overwhelmed by her feelings to fight back.
"Mother Nature," The akuma said. "I see your precious sanctum is up in flames. Burned by the very people you saved when you took down my master. It looks like we have a mutual goal, so what do you say we terminate Dupain-Cheng, Agreste, and Rejeter? Deal or no deal?"
"No deal!" Kayla answered. "If Liam is harmed during any of this, I'll rip you to pieces myself."
"Grrrr. Fine! But you will kill Marinette and Adrien!" The black and purple smoke covered Kayla and she emerged with glossy skin, green eyeshadow, and red lipstick. She wore a crown made of thorns and the rose was dead center. She had different types of leaves that formed the shape of a leotard and branches ran up and around her legs. Her arms were exposed and she had red nails. She chuckled at her new look.
"Liam!" Kagami called out from a distance. Mother Nature climbed over a flower bed to avoid being spotted. "They're on their way." Kagami looked around. "Where's Kayla?" At that moment, Mother Nature shot up and blew some pink dust in their faces, knocking them out.
"Just rest, my love!" She told the unconscious Liam. "I'll get both of you somewhere safe for the night!" Plants began coming alive and wrapped around both Liam and Kagami. Mother Nature ran and the plants that carried Liam and Kagami followed...
The next morning, Marinette and Alya, who were wearing pink and orange swimsuits, watched a report on Alya's phone in the locker room inside the swimming pools. "After a fierce blaze broke out at the botanical gardens last night," Nadja reported on the news at the scene. "Only now has the fire been extinguished. The garden was host to the birthday celebration of high school student Kayla Hernandez. As of now, Miss Hernandez has not been seen since the blaze started, along with Liam Rejeter and Kagami Tsurugi. We now go live to Daniel Cho-Lin, the last person to see the three before the fire department arrived. Mr. Cho-Lin, can you tell us the state that the three were in when you last saw them?" Nadja held the microphone to Daniel.
"Liam and Kagami were covered in soot and coughing from the smoke but Kayla..." Daniel answered. "It looked like she was having a heart attack. She was clenching her chest and breathing rapidly."
"Did you see them escape the blaze?"
"Yes. I was even with them when they did. Kayla was still panicking so Kagami and I went for help while Liam stayed with her. Kagami went back to check on them me and when I went back with paramedics and firefighters, they were gone!"
"Was anything out of place?"
"Liam was carrying a purse that I know didn't belong to Kayla and some plants had gone missing."
Nadja walked away. "With no sign of bodies, it is assumed that the three missing are still alive. Anyone with information should contact the police right away."
Marinette looked away from the phone, took her pigtails out and closed her locker with Tikki, her purse and clothes inside. "I should've been there!"
Inside some strange catacombs, Liam and Kagami woke up from the effects of Mother Nature's dust. Both were pinned to the wall by vines and couldn't move. They looked around and saw that the catacombs resembled an old church. Kagami tried to push herself forward but the vines began pressing on her and compressing her lungs.
"I remember when I was in this damsel situation with Clara Nightingale," Kayla's voice said. Liam turned his head and saw what looked like Kayla hidden in shadows.
"Kayla?" Liam asked.
"Better!" She walked out of the shadows. "I am Mother Nature. I brought you here to keep you safe from Marinette."
"Why do I need to be kept safe from Marinette?"
"Because you said she was who started that fire!"
"No! Look can you let us down? Kagami's suffocating!" Mother Nature clicked her fingers and the vines lowered Liam and Kagami and released them. Kagami began catching her breath again. "I said that the purse the arsonist left behind looks like the on Marinette has but Marinette changed her purse's design on her birthday remember?" Mother Nature thought for a second. "Please, where are we?"
"I brought you to your family."
"My family?"
Mother Nature went to kiss Liam but the akuma interrupted. "You said you wouldn't let me harm him so I made sure you could never kiss him. Your lips are filled with venom! Kiss him and he's dead!" Mother Nature's eyes widened. "But if you kill Marinette and Adrien, you'll be able to kiss your love." Mother Nature jumped into a giant flower and she went through the catacombs.
"Kayla, wait!" Liam said. The vines blocked their way out. Liam went to check on Kagami. "Are you okay?"
"Headache but it will pass," Kagami responded. Liam took her arm and helped her to her feet. "Is that what all the akumas want? You three dead?!"
Liam sighed. "Yeah." Liam checked his wrist. "Kagami, say hello to Polistes." Liam's watch popped upward.
"Nice to meet you!" Polistes said in Liam's voice.
"It's thanks to him that I can become the Hornet." Liam pressed the watch back down and the Hornet costume leaked out of the watch and covered Liam.
"Whoa. Okay. Now how does he change me back into Riposte?"
"I thought you said no."
"I've changed my mind. You and Kayla were the first two friends I made here and you both forgave me when I nearly sliced you in half. I'm not letting another akuma poison her!" Kagami touched The Hornet's costume and the silver and pink aura changed her into Riposte. "Now where the hell are we?"
"Girl, you couldn't have done anything!" Alya reassured her. Marinette began crying. Alya hugged her friend. "I'm sorry Marinette. But if you'd been there, you might have gone missing too. Or you might not have even escaped the blaze."
Marinette hugged Alya back. "I can trust you with anything, can't I?"
"Absolutely!" The door opened and in walked a tall, light tan skinned girl with green eyes wearing a black swimsuit with red shoulder straps and a red flame on the left side of the torso. She also wore a blue and grey swimming cap which covered her short orange hair. The girl noticed Marinette and Alya.
"Are you two okay there?" The swimmer asked.
"Yeah!" Marinette responded. "We're fine Miss...?"
"Ondine."
"And I'm Marinette," Marinette said. "Nice to meet you, Ondine." Alya put her phone in her locker and locked the locker. She was about to remove the key when the ground began shaking violently. "Whoa! What's going on?!"
"An earthquake!" The vibrations knocked the girls to their feet. Marinette stood up, unlocked her locker, took her purse and ran off. "Wait! Where are you going?!" Alya didn't get an answer. Marinette ran into the alley next to the building and opened her purse.
"TIKKI, SPOTS ON!" Tikki flew into her earring and transformed into Ladybug. She made her way to the roof and couldn't see anything so she made her way through the streets. Soon enough, she saw what looked like plant roots popping out of the streets, making cars swerve off the roads. Eventually, the roots centralized at the Effiel Tower and a giant flower began sprouting and its vines wrapped around the legs of the tower. On the first viewing deck, the flower bloomed and inside was Mother Nature. Helicopters and police were surrounding the area, evacuating the citizens.
"I want to see Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste in the next half hour!" Mother Nature demanded. "Do it and I'll bring Liam Rejeter and Kagami Tsurugi back from where I keep them safe." She snapped her fingers and more plants burst out and created a barrier to prevent anyone from attacking her. Ladybug threw her yo-yo and swung onto Mother Nature's flower. "Ladybug! Where were you when we were almost burned to death?"
"Kayla?"
"Mother Nature." Vines wrapped around Ladybug and began to choke her before Mother Nature relaxed the grip. "And I will not let you get in the way." The vines around Ladybug's body tightened. Mother Nature moved to within inches of Ladybug's face. "I wonder how they would feel if they knew who their heroine is."
"No!" Ladybug screamed before the vines gagged her. Mother Nature kissed her cheek and then put her fingers on the earrings. The flower closed up but was cut open as Cat Noir walked in and pushed Mother Nature through the flower.
"Not so fast!" Cat Noir exclaimed. He broke the vines binding Ladybug and she gasped for air. "Now where are Liam and Kagami?!"
Mother Nature was on one knee. "With Liam's family," She answered. Ladybug kicked Mother Nature and knocked her to the ground. She was ready to destroy the akuma when she and Cat Noir were grabbed by vines and thrown away. They both screamed as they went flying through the air and landed in a cemetery. Ladybug rolled and hit a tombstone. She crawled away as Cat Noir recovered. He helped Ladybug up.
"Marinette?" Adrien whispered. He looked at the tombstone and Ladybug turned to see it as well...
HERE LIES
COURTNEY REJETER-DUPAIN
BORN SLEEPING APRIL 29TH 2001
BELOVED DAUGHTER, GRANDDAUGHTER, SISTER, AND NIECE
MAY YOU REST IN PEACE
Ladybug gasped. "Liam's twin sister! Wait a sec... She's the only family Kayla could bring Liam to without anyone knowing! He's around here!"
"LIAM?" Cat Noir shouted.
"LIAM? KAGAMI?" Banging could be heard from inside the church. Ladybug and Cat Noir ran to the doors and tried to open them, but they were jammed shut.
"CATACLYSM!" Cat Noir pressed on the door and caused it to decay. He charged at the door and smashed it to bits. "Liam? Kagami?"
"IS THAT YOU?" The Hornet's voiced exclaimed.
"It's Ladybug and Cat Noir." A basement door shot up and the Hornet and Riposte flew out.
"Is everything okay?"
"Let's focus on Mother Nature, she's demanding Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste."
"Maybe Li- ugh - Hornet can convince her to stand down!" Riposte suggested.
"It might work, Ladybug," Cat Noir agreed.
"But we'll need a backup plan if it doesn't work," Ladybug said. "LUCKY CHARM!" Ladybug summoned her power and it created a spray bottle. "What am I supposed to do with this?" Ladybug sprayed and the weeds on the floor began to wilt. "Weedkiller," Ladybug's lucky vision pointed out the bottle and Riposte's sword. "Riposte, can I borrow your sword?" Riposte gave Ladybug her sword and Ladybug sprayed the weedkiller over it. "That should destroy any plants she sends after us," She gave the sword back. "Now let's go!"
Back at the Eiffel tower, Mother Nature was using vines to smash up police cars and attack the Dupain-Cheng Bakery and Agreste Manor.
"The teens won't show up," The akuma said. Mother Nature noticed something. She growled when she saw Riposte cutting up the plants and the Hornet shooting them. Ladybug and Cat Noir appeared, destroying plants that tried to attack Riposte. The four stopped.
"Are you four here with Marinette and Adrien?" Mother Nature asked.
The Hornet put his hands up. "I was wondering if I could have some nectar?" He shouted. The ground shook. "I'm kidding. Can I come up to your level? It's a bit awkward to shout!" The Hornet activated his wings and flew up into the air and slowly hovered towards Mother Nature. When he reached her level, he deactivated his wings. "Do you believe you'll get out of this alive? As soon as you kill Marinette and Adrien, that akuma will take control of you and kill Liam itself, then it will kill you!"
"No, it won't! Liam will remain alive! Besides how would you know that?!"
The Hornet hung his head. "Because it happened to me! And you freed me, Kayla!"
"I freed you? When did I?" Mother Nature's eyes widened and her jaw fell. The Hornet put his hands under his chin and pulled the mask back over his head, revealing his identity to his love.
"Let me free you," The Hornet put his hand out.
Mother Nature looked at it and tears ran. "I can't!"
The Hornet put his hand down. "Okay then. One last thing: if you have to do this, can I have one last hug?" Mother Nature hugged him and held him close. She slowly let him go. "Thank you. And I'm sorry."
"For wh-?" Mother Nature was interrupted by The Hornet making his last-ditch move... and kissing her venomous lips. Mother Nature shoved him away and he began coughing and his lips and the veins around them turned green. He fell to his knees and struggled for breath. "No. No! NO! NO! NO!" Mother Nature kneeled down and began cradling the Hornet. "NOOOOOOOOO!" She yanked the rose off of her head and crushed it. The akuma tried to flee but Mother Nature grabbed it and threw it towards Ladybug.
"No more evil-doing for your little akuma!" Ladybug swung her yo-yo around. "TIME TO DE-EVILIZE!" Ladybug captured the akuma. "Gotcha!" Ladybug opened the yo-yo and the dust dropped out. She threw the weedkiller into the air. "MIRACULOUS LADYBUG!" The weedkiller burst and tiny ladybugs flew around repairing all the damage caused by Mother Nature. Mother Nature turned back into Kayla and she began shaking the Hornet.
The Hornet slowly stirred around and saw Kayla weeping over him and holding his hand. "You're back!" He whispered. Kayla couldn't hold back. She dived down and locked lips with him. He placed his other hand on her cheek. They eventually separated and the Hornet pulled his mask back up. He stood up, picked up Kayla and flew down to the bottom to Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Riposte. The Hornet saw Kayla's parents. "Go to them, Kayla. I promise I'll explain everything!" Kayla began running. "And Kayla? I know it's late but Happy Birthday!" Kayla smiled and ran into her parents' arms. "Riposte, you and I should make ourselves scarce and then send Liam and Kagami this way."
"I agree," Riposte responded.
"And I hope you two can at least be civil," The Hornet flew off and Riposte ran into an alleyway.
Ladybug looked at Cat Noir. "Where do we go from here?"
Cat Noir looked at Ladybug straight-faced. "Our relationship is purely professional from now on," Cat Noir turned to walk away.
"I'm sorry!" Cat Noir stopped. "I tore it up. Alya, Rose, Juleka, and Mylene saw me." Cat Noir didn't move.
"Well, it's a start," Cat Noir extended his staff and headed off as well. Ladybug frowned and swung away...
Marinette was back in the swimming pool locker room. "Tikki..." She asked. "I need to ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"I don't like this..."
"You don't like what?"
"Alya's my best friend! She's told me herself that I can trust her with anything."
"What are you thinking?"
"I have to tell her the truth. I'm gonna tell her I'm Ladybug!"
Tikki gasped. "You can't! Your identity must be kept a secret!"
"Why? Stan Billiton's out of the equation, Liam revealed his to make a stalemate if we ever fell out, there are so many people who know that it's just one more person. Someone who I trust!"
"Marinette, I guess I can't stop you but if this puts Alya in danger, you've only yourself to blame!"
"You think I don't know that? This isn't coming out of the blue, Tikki. I've wanted to tell her since... Well, since we first defeated Hawk Moth. Please, let me tell her."
Tikki sighed. "There's nothing I can do... So I'll guess I'll just have to try showing Master Fu how this is a good idea."
Marinette sighed in relief. "Thank you, Tikki!" Marinette placed her belongings in her locker again and went to the swimming pool where Alya was waiting. Ondine was swimming underwater. "Alya, I have to tell you something!"
"Then try this game Ondine showed me," Alya responded. "You write down a secret on a piece of paper, lock the paper inside you swimming band, throw the band into the water and then the other person dives down, grabs it, swims back up, and reads it." Marinette was already writing it on a piece of paper. She locked it and held it.
"I need your word, Alya. You do not reveal this to anyone. Do not get overexcited. Do NOT put this on a blog!"
"Whoa, this must be serious!"
"Alya!"
"Okay! You have my word! I'll take this secret to my grave!" Marinette threw the band into the water and Alya dived in to get it. Marinette felt like her heart was gonna burst out of her chest. Alya popped back up and swam to the edge. Marinette felt faint. Alya opened the band and read the paper. Her face froze when she read it.
I'm Ladybug.
"I wanted to tell you when I defeated Hawk Moth the first time. Alya?"
Alya looked up to her BFF. "How did I miss it? It's so... uncanny!" Marinette helped Alya out of the water.
"I'll explain everything at home," Marinette and Alya walked back to the locker room, changed back into their normal clothes (Marinette keeping her hair down), and then leaving to go back to the bakery. They went up to Marinette's bedroom and Alya began.
"How did you get your powers? When did you get them? Does Cat Noir know? Do you know his? Does The Hornet know? Do your parents-?" Alya's mouth was pressed on by Marinette.
"I got the earrings from someone who I helped when they needed it. I got them the day we met, just minutes before you saw me at the stadium against Stoneheart. Cat Noir does know. I know his identity but I'm not telling. Yes, Liam knows. And he revealed his identity to me in return."
"You know he's the Hornet? Wait just a sec... That's why they didn't show when Hawk Moth commandeered Le Grand Paris! And... We're a whole classroom of superheroes!"
"Can you keep your voice down please?" Marinette's phone buzzed. "Liam?" Marinette read the message. "Huh. Kayla's going to Spain for half-term... and Liam's going with her."
"Is that a problem for the heroes?"
"Hopefully not, but these akumas wants us dead because..." Marinette quickly thought as she couldn't reveal everything to Alya. "We stopped him without any powers."
"Well don't you worry, girl! Lady WiFi will protect you!" Marinette and Alya laughed.
"You know, Alya, the earrings aren't the only thing I need to transform. A... Someone flies inside them when I utter a phrase. Please don't freak out... Alya, say hello to Tikki!" Tikki flew out of Marinette's purse.
"Hello, Alya!" Tikki said. "We have a lot to discuss..."
That night, at the prison, Stan Billiton was sat on a bench in his cell. He had been moved after Befana nearly broke him out. He sat and smiled, seemingly talking to himself. "I bet Solehnos would be proud."
Another voice spoke from the shadows. "He will be free once again."
"Why take the purse?"
"Frame the girl, Mother Nature would want her dead. And the Hornet would be drawn to the murder."
"Smart."
"Do you not speak to your akumas?"
"Can't without the Miraculous."
"What happens now?"
"Solehnos is at the Police Precinct. Chances are, he's been incinerated."
"Then we shall get revenge!"
"My akumas will deal with it! After all, doesn't Hàojié translate to hidden?"
"You are right. We will speak again soon..."
