Who's Got The Akuma
Chapter 7: "Sowing The Seeds"
A Miraculous Ladybug fanfic
by Bill K.
After suggesting they give their Kwamis a rest and check back in on their civilian identities, Ladybug ducked out behind the school and transformed back into Marinette.
"I hate waiting for Hawk Moth's next attack," Marinette thought pensively, leaning absently against a trash dumpster. "But there's no other way to trace back to where Manon is other that through one of her puppets. And losing Animan and Princess Fragrance stopped that idea for the moment."
Unnoticed by the girl, a hand reached out and grasped her shoulder.
"OH MY GOODNESS!" screeched Marinette, jumping from the hand's grasp and bumping against the dumpster. Her fear only calmed when she saw who it was. "ALYA!"
"Sorry," Alya chuckled.
"What are you doing here? They evacuated the school!"
"What do you think?" Alya asked cynically, waving her cell phone. "The minute poor Rose transformed, I found a good place to shoot. And I got some ABSOLUTELY SUPER video of Ladybug and Cat Noir!" Her expression grew serious. "So what are you doing here?"
"Hiding. What else?" Marinette replied. "And you should consider that, too. One of these days you're going to get hurt."
"Ladybug will never let that happen," Alya shrugged. "So how's your stomach?"
"My stomach?"
"The one you had to miss first period for so you could go to the nurse," Alya replied suspiciously.
"Oh!" Marinette gasped nervously. "Um, it's better?"
Alya cocked an eyebrow. "OK, what's going on? No, don't tell me. I think I know. Those akuma-monsters; that's the explanation."
"Alya, it's not . . .!" Marinette said quickly, the color draining from her face.
"You were going to try to follow them," Alya charged. "You're still trying to find Manon, aren't you?"
"Well," Marinette hesitated as inside she breathed a heavy sigh of relief, "I guess I can't fool you."
"Now who's living dangerously?" Alya demanded. "Marinette, you have to leave that to the police and Ladybug! Those akuma-monsters are dangerous! Believe me, I know! I get that you want to help Manon and it's so you. But you can't risk your life like this. Last night was brave. This is crazy."
"OK," Marinette huffed. "Make you a deal? I'll stop risking myself if you stop risking yourself."
"It's not the same thing, Marinette. I'm a pro," Alya replied. She heard Marinette stomp her foot. Glancing at her friend, she could see how furious the girl was. Exhaling a sigh, Alya said, "OK, I'll try. But you know how I am." Alya gestured for Marinette to accompany her. "I'm sure they won't try to reconvene school for the day. That means I'll actually get to spend some time with Mom before she has to head to the hotel. Want to come over?"
"I better get home," Marinette demurred. "Mom and Dad'll worry."
"OK. But STRAIGHT HOME!" Alya warned. "And don't forget to check the blog. I got some choice shots."
At the same time, on the other side of the school, Adrien was emerging from the school's rear delivery entrance. He scanned the roof of the building, hoping for a fleeting glimpse of Ladybug as she swung away.
"Cheese?" a weak voice came from his pocket.
"Not now," Adrien rolled his eyes.
"I'm dying," came the mournful reply.
"You can wait until we get home," Adrien said. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Adrien saw Nino waving to him. Altering his course, the boy walked up to his friend.
"Why are you still here?" Adrien asked.
"Watching out for Alya," Nino sighed. "You know how she is when she smells Ladybug video. And she's so focused on getting the shot that she doesn't always take care of herself." He grinned and glanced at the ground. "So I - - kind of hang around and watch out for her."
"I hope she knows how lucky she is to have you around," Adrien grinned. He could sympathize. He had the same feelings about Ladybug.
"I hope she knows, too," chuckled Nino. "So what happened to you? You weren't in first period class."
"I, um, had something to take care of," Adrien alibied.
"What, with a girl?" Nino joked. Then something in Adrien's expression clicked. "You were with a girl? Adrien, you are the man! Who was it?"
"It wasn't . . ." Adrien began.
"Wait a minute," Nino began, a smile growing on his face. "Marinette was out of class, too. YOU AND MARINETTE?"
"No, I," Adrien tried to say.
"Damn, it's about time you noticed!" Nino marveled.
"Noticed?"
"Marinette is hot for you, Adrien. Every time you get in her line of sight, she starts drooling down her front," Nino told him. "Besides, Alya told me. Not that it isn't obvious. And now you're both a thing."
"We are not a 'thing'," Adrien argued.
"Then where were you?" Nino asked him skeptically.
"I was," Adrien started to answer, "hiding - - from Animan. You know, I'm not going to face a leopard for anyone!"
"Yeah, I can just imagine you and Marinette, huddled in some dark supply closet, wondering if it's safe to come out," Nino smiled. "After a while not wanting to."
"You know, if I want to not be listened to, I can always go home," Adrien scowled. Just then they emerged from the side of the building and saw the Agreste limo waiting. Nathalie got out and gestured to Adrien.
"All right, all right. You were alone," Nino said, following as Adrien headed for the car. "So tell me, how good of a kisser is Marinette?"
"You're hopeless," Adrien frowned. He got into the car. Nino watched it speed away.
"Man, wait'll Alya hears this," grinned Nino.
"IT'S NOT FAIR, IT'S NOT FAIR!" The Puppeteer bellowed. She threw her doll of Princess Fragrance across the room. "LADYBUG ALWAYS WINS!"
"I share your frustration, Puppeteer," Hawk Moth said in a conciliatory manner. "But we are on the right track. Ladybug and Cat Noir can't hope to keep winning against such odds. If we're persistent, they'll eventually lose."
As the child stewed in frustration, Hawk Moth quieted his doubts about the plan. Throwing one adversary after another at her and Cat Noir until they fell was a good plan. And keeping The Puppeteer focused was the key. It had been easy to strike at Manon again, for what child her age didn't succumb to petty fits of anger and jealousy. All he had to do was wait for her to have such a temper tantrum and he could reconvert her again. The hard part was keeping her from realizing the phenomenal power she possessed and turning it on him.
But then, for the prize he was aiming at, a little risk was necessary.
A sound filtered through the door, as if music was playing. Out of the corner of his eye, Hawk Moth saw Volpina and Animan at the entrance to the secluded room. This was why he had set up a special underground stronghold away from his normal attic moth hatchery. There were too many risk factors in this plot, one of them being Volpina. He'd set the stronghold up to keep Puppeteer away from Ladybug and Cat Noir. But he'd also set it up to keep the akuma-tons away from his real base of operations.
Particularly Volpina.
"I pulled Animan out as you instructed," Volpina told them. "Princess Fragrance was reverting because her perfume gun had been destroyed, so I left her."
"She's no good anyway!" snarled The Puppeteer. Reaching over to her table of dolls, Volpina anxiously watching her the entire time, the young girl selected the Magician of Misfortune doll. "I think I'll play with this one next."
"An excellent choice, Puppeteer," Hawk Moth smiled. He turned to Volpina. "Take him to the others. Wait for instructions."
"Yes, sir," Volpina replied with little enthusiasm. She led Animan to the door, but after one step he faltered. On one knee, clutching his head, Animan wavered while Volpina tried to support him.
"I think he's hurt!" Volpina exclaimed.
Hawk Moth turned and examined them both. Animan indeed seemed weak and dizzy. Still, he kept his distance from them.
"The fight must have taken more out of him than we thought," Volpina said. "Can you get up?"
Showing no concern for Animan, Hawk Moth returned his gaze to The Puppeteer. The child was surveying her dolls for a good partner for the Magician of Misfortune.
"Take him to the waiting area," Hawk Moth said with a dismissive wave. "He can rest there. He may be needed later."
"As you wish," Volpina replied.
As soon as Marinette was through the door to the pastry shop, she was engulfed by her massive mountain of a father. The man squeezed her to him as several patrons looked on with amusement. The show of overt affection embarrassed Marinette some, though part of her was grateful for it. Her father's problem was that he never knew when to quit. And she did have to breathe eventually.
"All right, you'll suffocate the poor girl," Sabine whispered as she passed them. The woman smiled and bowed to a customer as she presented him with a cake box. Chagrined, Tom released his hold on Marinette. Remembering his duties, he scooped up a sack of baguettes and handed them to a waiting customer.
"When we heard about what happened at school, we were so worried," Tom told her after all the customers had been helped. "What is this world coming to?"
"I'm all right," Marinette assured them. "But I guess it does show that something like this can happen no matter where you are," and she glanced cautiously at them, "so there's no point in hiding at home."
"So we should lift your after school restrictions and let you go looking for trouble?" Sabine asked, the cutting edge of the question masked by her ever-so-polite and mannered tone.
"I'm just saying," Marinette grimaced, "there's no point in altering your life if trouble is going to find you no matter what you do. I wouldn't go 'looking' for trouble."
"She is right about one thing," Tom sighed in defeat. "This Hawk Moth person seems to be able to strike anywhere in the city. Maybe there are no more safe places in Paris."
Sabine stopped. She seemed to be gathering herself.
"Then perhaps," she began cautiously, "it's time to leave Paris."
"Leave Paris?" Tom asked, mildly shocked. "And go where?"
"We could move to China," Sabine suggested. "Be with Uncle Wang. He would love to have us. He respects you greatly, Tom, and you know he adores Marinette. And there's no threat of this Hawk Moth in China."
"You're not serious?" gasped Marinette dramatically.
"I know it would be an adjustment," Sabine began.
"We can't move to China! Adri . . . all of my friends are here!" Marinette exclaimed. "My whole life is here! I can't just up and move to China!"
"Marinette, it's dangerous here," Sabine argued patiently.
"And it's not dangerous in China? Sure, Hawk Moth isn't there! But they don't have criminals there? They don't have people violently protesting the government? Oh, and let's not mention the poor air quality and the elevated cancer rate!"
"Marinette," Tom cut her off patiently. "It was just a suggestion. Nothing's been decided."
"I'm sorry for getting upset," Marinette offered penitently. "It's just - - I don't want to go anywhere else. I like Paris. And wouldn't going to China just be running from a problem? You always taught me not to run from problems."
"Avoiding a dangerous situation isn't running from a problem," Sabine told her. "But like your father said, nothing's been decided. And we'll certainly take your opinion into consideration." She smiled. "Given the way the walls are still ringing, I doubt we could help it."
"Yes, Mom," Marinette sighed. Tom and Sabine grinned at each other. Just then another customer entered and Marinette took that opportunity to adjourn to her room. As she lay across her bed, across from the picture of Adrien she'd cut out of a fashion magazine, Tikki flew up from out of her purse.
"China is not a terrible place to live, as I recall," Tikki told her. Then she smiled. "Of course, the commute to Paris to fight Hawk Moth would be a little troublesome."
"Obviously you're all right," Marinette replied. "Have you come up with anything we can use to trace Manon and put a stop to all of this?"
"I've been reading the book while you sleep," Tikki reported. "So far I haven't found anything that could help us."
"Then I guess our only option is to tail one of Hawk Moth's akuma-tons back to Hawk Moth's hiding place," Marinette judged. "If you're up to it, I'd like to patrol the area for a few hours. I doubt if Hawk Moth and Manon will want to wait long after this morning before trying again."
"Just a moment," Tikki said. She flew into Marinette's purse, then popped out with a gummy bear in her hands. The bear went into her mouth, followed by an ear to ear grin. "I'm all set!"
Grabbing her backpack, Marinette flew down the stairs.
"The library?" Tom repeated after Marinette's question.
"I've got this report due next week," Marinette explained, "and I figured since they called school and I've got the afternoon off anyway, I may as well get to work on it - - especially since I don't have any devices to actually have fun with in my room."
"Save the guilt," Tom smirked. "I think it's a good idea. The library is a pretty safe place as places go. But be careful. The first sign of trouble . . ."
"Dad, given how many times the school has been attacked, I think I know what to do in a crisis," Marinette sighed. "I'll be back by five and I've got my cell if there's an emergency." She pecked him on the cheek, then waved to Sabine as she scooted out the door.
"Remember when she was a baby in my arms?" Tom asked Sabine with a hint of melancholy.
"Yes," Sabine replied. "When the nostalgia threatens to overwhelm me, I just remember changing her diaper. That makes me grateful she's a teen very fast."
"Glad you called. I was just about to head over to the bakery. So why don't you just video-chat with me?" Alya asked over the phone. Marinette was sitting on a bench in front of the library, talking to her friend.
"Vid-chat's disabled," Marinette sighed. "No devices. That's part of my punishment for going out without permission to look for Manon. You haven't heard anything, have you?"
"Wow. Primitive. No, I haven't heard anything. And I have to admit, I'm getting worried about the little sprout, too. There's only one thing worse than being akumatized. That's being akumatized twice."
Marinette bit her lip and concentrated on not crying.
"But I've got my ear to the ground," Alya brightened. "If there's any report of Ladybug activity, I'll hear it. I know she's trying her best. We just have to be patient with her."
"I'm not sure I can wait that long," muttered Marinette.
"What's that mean?"
Marinette sighed. "Mom and Dad are really spooked by all of this," she reported. "Mom's even talking about - - moving to China."
"China?" gasped Alya over the phone. "Wow, China."
"I don't want to go to China!" Marinette raged impotently.
"Well I don't want you to go to China," Alya told her. "You're my bestie. That's important to a growing girl."
"You're my bestie, too," Marinette whispered. Her teeth ground. "Alya, I don't know what I'm going to do!"
"Not much you can do," Alya replied in a quiet voice. "If your parents go to China, you have to go. When Mom got that job in Paris, I had to leave Martinique. It kind of turned out OK, but I had to leave a lot behind."
"Well," Marinette began, "maybe Ladybug will find Hawk Moth and Manon and put a stop to all of this. And then I won't have to go!"
There was no response.
"Alya?" Marinette asked anxiously.
"Word is coming in over the police bands," Alya told her. "It's Magician of Misfortune! He's at L'Hotel de Ville! Maybe he's going to try to make Chloe disappear! Got to run, Marinette!"
Marinette disconnected her phone. Looking around, she searched the library grounds until she found a secluded spot, then opened her purse.
"Aren't you afraid about lying to your parents again, Marinette?" Tikki asked.
"I didn't lie," Marinette replied, "technically. I said I was going to the library. I didn't say how long I was going to stay." Tikki gave her a playfully admonishing look. "What, are you going to punish me too?"
Minutes later, Ladybug was swinging through the streets of Paris, headed for L'Hotel de Ville, the building that housed the Paris city government. Rather than Chloe, Ladybug imagined that Mayor Bourgeois was the more logical target for Magician of Misfortune. As she arced around a corner, Ladybug could see L'Hotel de Ville.
There on the sidewalk in front of the main entrance arch was Magician of Misfortune. Like before, he wore the top hat with the crescent moon and two stars, and the small black mask over his face. A cordon of police surrounded him. Several gendarmes approached him with riot clubs and shields.
It was no use. Magician of Misfortune pointed at the gendarmes and their clubs and shields disappeared in puffs of smoke. So did their uniforms. As the naked gendarmes cringed in embarrassment, Ladybug heard Magician of Misfortune emit a childishly cruel laugh. It wasn't the sort of thing he had done before.
But it was the type of laugh she recalled hearing from The Puppeteer.
Somersaulting in mid-air, Ladybug shot out her yo-yo and hooked a cornice. Her intent was to swing down and bowl Magician of Misfortune over, or at least knock his top hat from him. But as she swung, her target suddenly turned towards her as if something had warned him.
"Ladybug!" Magician of Misfortune exclaimed, again sounding eerily like a four year old girl. "Now I'll make YOU disappear!"
And he pointed directly at her.
Continued in Chapter 8