We have come to the end of my first season trilogy. Don't worry, when second season starts I'll be back with another great trilogy for you all.
Ladybug woke up to a serious headache and feeling drained. Her hands flew to her ears, relieved to find her earrings still on. Looking around, she found herself trapped in a sphere of some kind. Looking around, she couldn't see a seam or a door anywhere to get in or out. Struggling to get up, she couldn't help, but be reminded about how she had been trapped by the Kwamiis and Peace Keeper when they tried to keep her still in the hope they could save her.
"Tikki are you there? Can you hear me?!"
"I'm here Marinette, please calm down, your heart is beating too fast."
"I'll try really hard. Do you know how long I was out or if the others are near?"
"I sense my "brothers" nearby including Nooroo, though his energy is faint. My Kwami Charm is also in the area, so Peace Keeper is also here. But I don't know where here is or how long we've been stuck inside this trap."
Their conversation was halted as the sphere started to roll around. She let out a small scream as she was bounced around. All this rolling around was making her very dizzy. "I think I'm going to bleah." The contents of her breakfast ended up on her suit. Finally the sphere came to a rest. Doing her best to clean herself up, she was surprised when the sphere started to open.
The sun was in the center of the sky meaning it was around noon. Their fight with Volpena had lasted from about six thirty to almost nine. She had been held captive for almost three hours. There was a clinking sound as four more spheres came to rest next to hers. They opened up revealing a groggy Chat Noir, a coughing Sea Green Turtle, along with a still unconscious Hawkmoth. The only one who seemed to halfway recovered was Peace Keeper, who appeared to have just finished injecting something to counter the sleeping gas.
Peace Keeper used her mask to look around. All around them was a forest with hedges of mazes placed in different spots. A strong river was half a mile away cutting the way through the forest and creating a clearing. The strangest thing was that at the far edges of the forest were steel fences with sharp barbed wire. Clearly they were in someone's private grounds.
"Ha ha ha. At last you guys awaken!" Volpena's voiced loudly. The Miraculous heroes rose to their feet. For the first time they realized there were grandstands and some buildings encircled by a protective wall with large bullet proof windows. The stands were completely filled with people wearing ceremonial clothes and masks of nine different foxes. In a private booth, sat the leaders of the Fox's Teeth, who resembled the legendary Reynard and Kumiho, watching them intently. Volpena was standing on the top of an award platform. "Welcome heroes and villain to the Hunting Grounds of the Fox's Teeth Guild for today's special hunt!"
A cheer rose up from the younger members clearly thrilled with anticipation of this grand hunt. The Miraculous and Kwamii Charm users had a bad feeling about this. Volpena was in her enjoying the praise bowing to the whole guild and saluting the leaders. She opened her mouth to give a speech when she was rudely interrupted.
"So this confirms it. You're a member of the Fox's Teeth Guild! You're the one who stole the lots on loan to the Centrale Montemartini from the British National History Museum. Do you realize the amount of trouble you caused Dr. Marmo?" Peace Keeper shouted. She ignored Volpena's growling and missed the looks of distaste from the leaders. Hidden by their masks, the audience has varying expressions ranging from bemusement to scorn.
"You will return the stolen property and give yourself up now! If you don't then I'll do it by force taking your entire Guild down with my bare hands!" The secret agent demanded. These last three weeks had cut into her vacation time, put an acquaintance of hers' job on the line, and was causing an international incident between two countries. Quite plainly, she had had enough of this.
Volpena lashed out with an illusion of a giant ready to step on the young woman. Playing another tune the illusion shimmered and suddenly there was mass to it. Peace Keeper jumped away just in time as the illusion crushed the sphere she had been in minutes before. The illusion vanished as the orange smoke blew around them causing everyone to cough. "I don't take kindly to threats. You do not insult the family, do you understand?!" She raised her flute like a blow dart again ready to poison them.
"Volpena, silence!" Reynard called out with a razor sharp tone. You couldn't see with the mask on, but his eyes had narrowed. Yesterday when his granddaughter came to him as an Akuma and revealed her new powers, the whole family had come together to perfect the plan to collect the Miraculous, obtain the Fox One, and have their final revenge. "We must follow tradition or the Ceremonial Hunt will not count for you."
The Kumiho leaned forward in her chair carefully observing the collective prey Volpena had assembled. Having such powerful magical objects would make the family stronger than before. For certain, that old man must know the location of both the Fox Miraculouses and Robin Hood's descendant who owned it. The woman not dressed like an animal was the one who sparked her interests. Very few people had the dedication, observational, and persistence to track down a specific member of the guild and appeared to have some knowledge of their family history.
"Tell me young heroes, if you are so busy trying to contain the destruction that pathetic man brings to a city, than why bother with us a couple of thieves? Surely our little family is nothing to be too concerned about."
"That's not the upright tail we've heard! From what we've seen, your family might be worse than Hawkmoth."
"We protect the city from all kinds of trouble and that includes your Akumatized member!" Ladybug pointed at Volpena, who shot the heroine a cold look at the bug girl.
"You will never obtain the power you seek, for you are not worthy of it. No one here will tell you anything."
"So you might as well let us cleanse Volpena and do the other stuff I asked before you get into real trouble." Next to her Hawkmoth started to groan as he started coming around. Everyone looked nervous about that yet they had to remain vigilant as Volpena laughed at them before giving a pleading look at her leaders. With a slight nod, Volpena jumped in joy before explaining the Ceremonial Hunt.
"For centuries people and their dogs have hunted foxes to their death in a horrible sport called fox hunting. Here, that is all reversed for you are the prey and we're the hunters who will chase you down and take what we want, before offering you a merciful death!" You could tell by the gleam in her eyes that she had been waiting for something like this for some time.
As it was explained to them the Ceremonial Hunt was a special occasion for family members to capture their enemies or anyone who got too close to realizing the truth about Treasures Incorporated and the Fox's Teeth Guild. This was to be a sporting event and a lesson for the members of the Guild to not betray the family.
The rules were simple. Hidden around the Hunting grounds were the stolen items and a secret way out of the grounds. The goal for the prey was to find all the objects and escape before midnight. If they were caught by the Hunter they died. To make things even more interesting, there were hidden traps or caches based on the nine families specialties scattered around the five mile hunting grounds.
(Red: Seduction, manipulation, and lies. Fennex: Gear, transport, and safe houses. Grey: Legal affairs and connections. Culpeo: Management and medical. Arctic: Long term planning and camouflage. Tibetan Sand: Research and preservation. Bat Eared: Accounting and middle men. Crab Eating: Cyber and tech. Hoary: Smuggling and clients.)/
The prey had access to random hiding places and there was one safe zone, the clearing where they couldn't be attacked, but were easily seen. If they got hungry or thirsty they had permission to take advantage of their grounds around them. The prey had the option of working together or going their separate ways. Anything on them or they found could be used to defend/attack. The penalty for trying to climb the fence or break into the grandstands was either slavery or death depending on the wishes of the Hunter; with approval from the Reynard and Kumiho.
"Of course the people in the grandstands get to watch via the wireless cameras, but they can't help me. I have to prove myself by hunting you down, defeating, and end you. You have a ten minute head start, which you should take advantage of considering you have to survive here for eleven and half hours. The Hunt starts now!" A gong sounded as the five rushed away, (Hawkmoth was being carried by Peace Keeper with Ladybug keeping a close eye on them).
The group had just reached a thicket when they heard the gong go off again. Volpena was starting her hunt. Chat Noir extended his claws to clear a path when a flash bomb went off temporarily blinding the young boy. Sea Green Turtle grabbed Chat Noir's arm as the group took off in another direction. They came across a pile of rocks stacked close together.
Hoping to get a better view, Ladybug started jumping towards the top. Halfway up, she triggered a laser trip wire. An air cannon blasted the top boulder sending it crashing down towards her. She quickly began to spin her yoyo around as fast as possible, creating a shield. The boulder hit the shield slowing down, but not stopping. The tip of the Jōhyō embedded itself in the boulder and was tugged tightly causing tiny cracks to form. The meteor hammer struck the cracks causing them to get bigger and bigger. The cracked sections rolled into the shield as it deepened the cracks until the boulder finally split in two and fell on opposite sides of the rock pile.
Chat Noir vision was still blurry, but his hearing wasn't damaged. The cat ears on his head bent back and forth. "We've got to move! I'm hearing a pack of dogs coming this way." The group followed him as he led them further into the hunting grounds away from the sounds. They had been on the move for almost twenty minutes when the ground gave way and the girls fell into a hole leaving the boys and the groggy Hawkmoth to face the dogs.
Peace Keeper and Ladybug didn't have time to worry about the boys. A camouflaged door opened revealing a quintet of men. Judging by their physical appearance, they appeared to be Bulgarian. Their clothes were both expensive, but allowed free movement especially in the arms. Three of them had capture pulls, another was carrying a gun, and the last one just stood in the doorway smirking.
"Stay close to me, these men are human traffickers, probably hired to help out in the Hunt. We need to defeat them and get out of here fast," the secret agent whispered. Ladybug maneuvered behind her just as the leader barked orders to capture them. The wranglers moved in anticipating a bit of a fight, but not too much trouble.
They were not expecting the young woman to attack them with Bulgarian Kempo, the country's unique fighting style that combined together soft and hard techniques. She brought her left leg up and slammed it down hard on the top of right shoulder causing the man to drop his pole arm. Swinging around she kicked him again in the chest before going in a soft block with her hands to deflect another man's pole. Circling a bit she waited for her target to come to her before grabbing him by his midsection and tossing him to the ground.
Meanwhile Ladybug was using her suit's power to climb up the walls and flip across the whole as her yoyo string had fun creating a variety of cat cradle forms. If she wasn't so busy fighting for her life, she would be worrying about her Chaton.
The men were busy trying to stay alive from vicious fighting dogs. The abused animals had been trained to go for the kill and weighing 150 pounds, knew how to use their weight to shove their foes to the ground. Chat Noir was battling two dogs as Sea Green Turtle played defense protecting Hawkmoth. The villain was semi awake, his body still fighting the drug that threatened to knock him out again. His body was aching and his thoughts messed up indicating he might have a concussion.
He struggled to get to his feet as a dizzy spell hit him. He couldn't control his movements and got a lucky hit in, knocking one dog out. Another came at him from behind tackling the man to the ground. He was lucky his mask protected the top part of his neck or it would have been severed. In a burst of extreme anger he managed send the dog flying off his back as he rose to his feet.
The pack was circling once more ready to attack when the all let out high pitched howls and ran away. Peace Keeper and Ladybug emerged from the hole, dirty, with a bit of blood on their uniforms, but fine. Strung around Peace Keeper's waist was a satchel she took off the leader containing a few items from the first stolen lot. Sea Green Turtle urged the group to move on.
An hour later they found a place to rest inside one of the maze bushes. The adrenaline rush was wearing off as the heroes started to feel their pain returning. Peace Keeper was checking out Hawkmoth to determine how bad he was. Chat Noir and Ladybug talked quietly amongst themselves as Sea Green Turtle kept guard.
"Why are we helping Hawkmoth? He's a villain. We could have just left him near the grandstands, grabbed his Miraculous, and then Volpena would cease to exist," Chat Noir hissed, his green eyes locked on the hunched over man.
"We're heroes Chat. If we left him behind to die, we'd be worse than him. I have a feeling taking the Miraculous back from him wouldn't help us right now. Something is very different about Volpena."
Ladybug glanced at the man again, with worry and slight fear. They didn't fully know the extent of his abilities or if he was working with Volpena to get hers and Chats Miraculouses. Her gut was telling her that wasn't the case causing her to worry for man. He as a villain and a father. She couldn't begin to imagine the pain his child would suffer if he didn't come home.
Hawkmoth was grumbling unhappily and shoved Peace Keeper's hands away. "Don't touch me. It is your fault that I'm like this." Peace Keeper's was taken aback and demanded to know why this was her fault. "Because of you my powers have been greatly weakened. My Kwami continues to resist me and with our strained relationship, I was tricked by my own Akuma!"
"Get over yourself already. Nooroo made his choices, same as you. No one forced you to misuse the powers of the Butterfly Miraculous. You should be thanking him because without his powers you would have died from that brutalbeating instead of just a medium concussion and some blood loss." She poked him in the chest reminding him to be grateful for their help considering they could have left him behind.
"My Apprentice speaks the truth Hawkmoth. No matter how bad you treat Nooroo, he would never let any harm come to you," Sea Green Turtle said as he placed a hand on his pseudo granddaughter's shoulder and extended the other one out to the Hawkmoth. The man ignored it, turning away from the others. A slight frown on his face, the old superhero continued to press how dire their circumstances were."The situation is dire and none of us will survive this Hunt unless we work together as one."
"You suggest a truce? That is laughable old man. I know that as soon as we defeat Volpena and everything is turned back to normal, everyone here will attack and take away my Miraculous." His tone made it clear he would fight to the death to keep his Miraculous.
"No, we won't. If this truce is going to work, none of can be separated from our Miraculous. If the suit is the only thing keeping you alive right now, I promise we won't take it," Ladybug told him directly, surprising Hawkmoth. His greatest enemy, had come to his rescue without a thought. Now she was giving her word that he would keep his prize for now.
Chat protested that this was a bad idea, but Ladybug's mind was made up. Even if it meant continuing to allow the villain to hurt people, they were going to help keep him alive even if that meant not rescuing Nooroo for now. The others reluctantly agreed and Hawkmoth swore by his Miraculous he wouldn't backstab the group.
With that settled, Hawkmoth told them his side of the akumanzation. He explained about the coldness he had felt inside Lila's mind and that her emotions seemed to be magnified before he even offered her power. He described the difficulty of working with Volpena and Nooroo's warning. As continued to talk it became clear that Volpena had manipulated him with her emotions and careful planning while her ruthless mind got inside his head and found his location.
"I was caught off guard when the clones got inside my lair. I tried to get rid of them with my own power, since technically they were an extension of my powers, but they proved too strong. I had no idea that they were covering up attack drones until it was too late."
He stopped talking as a terrible headache hit him. Gritting his teeth he clutched his cane in agony trying to ignore the pain. His concentration was lapsing again. To everyone's surprise Chat Noir pulled out two pills of aspirin and handed them to Hawkmoth, who dry swallowed them. Getting questioning looks Chat Noir shrugged his shoulders muttering something about carrying them for an emergency.
"I believe Volpena attacked you not only as bait, but to prevent you from removing her akuma. If a Butterfly holder sustains injuries to their brain, their connection with their Champions is completely severed until the injuries heal," Sea Green Turtle explained. Looking at Hawkmoth he went on to say while he couldn't talk or control Volpena, his powers would still allow him to feel her emotions and sense when she was near. The villain didn't appear to be happy about what little power he had left.
That gave Peace Keeper an idea. "When you were connected, you stated she was cold and hard to relate to. That her emotions were out of proportion. Could you tell what her personality type was?"
"What's so important about her personality? We know she's a threat and ruthless," Chat Noir pointed out. He went stiff as Plagg explained that if they could figure out her personality, then they could anticipate her movements and attack.
Which also meant they could identify her weaknesses and give them the time to recover the stolen property, before defeating her. If that happened, then perhaps the Fox's Teeth Guild would be returned to their home by Miraculous Cleanse giving everyone time to get out of here before the five minutes were up. It was worth a try.
With Hawkmoth help, they were able to figure out Lila had an ENTJ-A personality, nicknamed the "commander" because of their tendency to be leaders and have a mastery over people. Lila was an extroverted, intuitive, and like to think things through and was very judgmental yet was very assertive.
She took great pleasure in achieving her goals no matter what and had a cold rationality that drove others to follow her and anyone who didn't she would ignore or take action against them to prevent them from taking away her achievements. It also explained why her emotions seemed out of balance. Being ruled by her intelligent, hard thinking, and efficient brain, meant she had poor control over her emotions leading her to hurt others or feel them in massive disproportion.
Her emotions, along with her stubbornness and arrogance, happened to be her weaknesses. Her own impatience with others could make her dismissive of the truth about a situation or person. Her arrogance and cockiness would be a good weakness to exploit. If they took advantage of these weaknesses combined with her shortcomings in other areas, they stood a chance of winning.
Volpena swiftly raced through the hunting grounds, jumping into the air and landing on the top of a tree. A telescope was attached to the top. She used it to scan the territory. She focused on the places that the stolen items had been placed. "I don't see why we needed to follow tradition this time. I stole those items personally and giving them back means it was for nothing!" she hissed out loud.
She zoomed in on one of the stolen items hiding place. It was inside a hole in a tree, in small grove. What no one could see was the mud pit around the tree and her illusional copies spread amongst them. She couldn't wait until "Team Miraculous" got sucked into the mud with just their heads above it.
To her excitement, she saw Chat Noir coming to the grove and he was alone. A quick scan revealed he was alone for now. "The kitty would never leave his precious lady alone for long. He probably has her stashed away nearby and is looking for a way out. He'll never find it!" She zoomed in closer ready to see the dumb cat get super muddy.
Instead he just stood there and started to groom himself like he was a real cat! He slicked back his hair and sharpened his claws on the bark of a real tree. His belt tail was held high swinging back and forth. Yawning, he curled up in a sunny patch and proceeded to go to sleep.
"ARE YOU KIDDDING ME?!" Volpena shouted in utter disbelief. This was the Ceremonial Hunt and her prey was taking a cat nap! This was being broadcasted back to the grandstands. Half the family would be amused and the other half would be unimpressed. A sleeping foe made for little entertainment.
In a burst of impatience she flew towards the grove intent on waking that cat and tossing him in the mud herself. Landing on a fallen tree, she paused observing her surroundings. On the tree a bit of bark had been stripped showing the carving in the shape of a Bat Ear Fox. Flipping it open she smiled. "So glad they restocked this recently." She pulled out the coins from the lot, shined up and looking great. "What cat can resist something shiny?"
Chat Noir was stretched completely out, his belly up and is nose twitched. He let out a soft meow and turned his back towards the creeping Volpena. The Akuma felt all her senses hyper focused on her prey. Time to provide some entertainment. She flipped a coin from her hiding place and watched it land on Chat Noir's head. The boy let out a soft meow. Annoyed, she flipped two more coins finally to get the teen awake. When he spotted the shiny coin he picked it up.
"That's right kitty collect the coins." Chat Noir seemed totally engrossed in collecting them. She started padding softly through the grove keeping just out of sight. The wind was carrying her scent away. The boy was just centimeters from mud pit. He just needed a little push.
That's when Chat Noir dropped the act and back flipped over Volpena. "Gotcha!" he called out as he used his own weapon to shove her into the mud. A red blur entered the hole in the tree before snapping backwards to Ladybug, who had been hiding in the trees. "I heard mud masks do wonders on your fur. Cat you later!" He pole-vaulted away with Ladybug right behind them.
Back at the grandstands, Vino and Olivia, held hands as they watched their daughter get up and shake off the mud. Both parents knew it was a combination of her impatience and arrogance that ruined her strategic plan to take down the cat. All they could do is continue to watch and hope she wouldn't mess up the next hunt.
Sea Green Turtle and Hawkmoth stood next to the river, getting a drink. Hawkmoth had fashioned together a makeshift ladle with a stick, some leaves, and a rock. He dipped the makeshift ladle into the water took a sip before handing it over to the old man. "I can't believe I'm helping you. You're the Guardian of the Miraculouses. By all accounts, you should have taken it away by now. Nooroo said you were someone to fear."
The old man said nothing, just handed over some edible plants he found. His newly renewed body was starting to feel the strain of continuous combat. His old body couldn't keep this up forever. "I may be old, but a turtle endures as time passes. As we've seen today, it's best not to underestimate me."
Suddenly a dozen hands shot out of the water grabbing Hawkmoth and started pulling him towards the water. Sea Green Turtle went to his rescue only to slam into an invisible wall. The reality around him started to distort as the colors changed and world around him started to spin causing him to get dizzy.
"Wayzz, what is going on?"
"Master, Volpena has trapped us in a heavily layered illusion, each layer harder to break through. You're weapon is no use and our special power if useless."
"Then my mind is the only weapon we have. The child believes she can break my mind. I will show her the willpower of an elder."
While that battle was going on Hawkmoth finally stopped dragging himself towards the river as his vision came back into focus. Once he realized that arms were illusions without mass he halted his actions. Using his cane for support, he managed to dodge as Volpena tried to stab him with her all too real dagger. She kept attacking, using her blade with great efficiency, she managed to damage his suit. She drove the dagger towards his right side intending to pierce his liver and kill him.
Hawkmoth caught the knife in hand, ignoring the pain from the blade cutting into his glove. He twisted his hand jerking the knife away. Bringing up his cane, he made it flash. For a few seconds, he could see where her illusions had been placed. "You have something that belongs to me and I want it back."
"I'll kill you before I let you take this power away from me," Volpena vowed. She started to play loud tunes again, causing the villain a great deal of pain. Twirling the flute she drove it towards his diaphragm, only to be blocked by Hawkmoth cane. It was a match of wills as they pushed each other back and forth in a stalemate.
Hawkmoth started pushing back sliding his weapon downward, using the push the flute away using his shoulder to hit hers. With a quick swish, the crystal pommel struck her in the chin causing the illusion to disappear in a poof of smoke. Holding his weapon tightly, he tried contacting Nooroo again.
"Nooroo, I need your help! I can't reconnect with her and she's getting stronger!"
"Wrong person…Akuma merging…true self revealed…can't be clea…"
The weak connection between kwami and chosen, nearly snapped apart as more illusions showed up. They were dressed like the spectators, but moving and attacking as if alive. The Butterfly was never meant to be a fighter, so his combat skills weren't well developed. With his concussion and the drug refusing to leave his system completely he would have to find another way to fight.
Closing his eyes, he slammed the cane in front of him. He ignored the solid illusions attacking him, every bite, kick, and clawing. Instead, he let his mind wander searching for a mind similar to his. Nooroo had been right when he suggested that he and Volpena were alike, but there was one big difference between them. His motivation had changed recently, he still wanted the Miraculouses. His top priority right now wasn't them, but being there for his son and ensuring his happiness.
At that exact moment, muscle memory took over as he used his cane fighting skills to disperse the illusion and reveal the real Volpena, who had strapped her dagger to her flute and was ready to spear him. "NO! PUT THAT DOWN!"
The akumatized girl mind was resisting the order, but her grip on her weapon was loosening a bit. The makeshift weapon lowered an inch giving Hawkmoth time to side step her. He started to run only to stumble into the river. Unable to keep his head above water he started to drown.
The evil villain blacked out for a minute, but when he came to he was riding on the back of Sea Green Turtle, whose costume had changed to swim mode. "I would hold my breath if I were you. We need to dive deep to escape her." Indeed the Akumatized young lady appeared to be riding a chariot pulled by giant fox twins who were spitting fireballs at them.
The two men dove deep trying to avoid being targets, but their suits made them pretty big targets. Volpena body was heating up literally as she played one deadly tune after another, illusionary bombs going off at different parts of the river. She was trying to force them into an inlet to give her a better chance of killing both men at the same time.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH HIM!" An angry female voice stated from above. Taser lines latched onto Volpena's back shocking her at maximum causing the loudest bark ever heard. Peace Keeper cut the power to the Taser just as it was ripped out of her hands. Reaching into her belt she hurled two bolos wrapping themselves around Volpena's arms and legs. She fell out of the chariot that vanished instantly.
The five regrouped together on the opposite bank of the river, watching Volpena struggle. Peace Keeper connected her mask's sensors with her computer keeping track of Volpena's stats. "Her body temperature is increasing along with her blood pressure and heart rate. We need to get that thing out of her or she might start having heart complications." Sea Green Turtle agreed as he felt the negative energy increasing around the girl. Hawkmoth attempted to link to her again, only to sense something strange. The girl's emotions were turning animalistic in nature. The ruthless mind of human, combined with animal instincts seemed to meld with the akuma making it stronger.
"EVERYONE GET BACK NOW!" he shouted, dragging Chat Noir with him as they ran into the forest. They jumped into a low ditch as a fiery eruption went off spreading all over the hunting grounds. Hawkmoth and Sea Green Turtle laid protectively over the teen heroes as Peace Keeper covered their bodies with her fireproof suit. The mystical fires scorched everything around them, even Peace Keeper's back right before the ten percent Shell Guard went up.
The grandstands started to melt as everyone ran for the lodge. Kids were screaming as adults shed their ceremonial garb to keep the fire from spreading. The Culpo family started a triage in the lodge as men and women from all the families tried to put out the fires. Fennec members were moving to get weapons when a blue fire colored fox materialized in front of them.
It sneered at them as it blew a ring of fire in the air that split into three. Fox's Teeth members and Miraculous users were both taken aback. The warning Nooroo tried to pass along became clear just then. Lila was not only the wrong person to turn into an akuma, she was an individual who should never had come into contact with any Miraculous
Volpena's akuma had been slowly merging with her true true self. Everything they had seen before, her fake self, her thief self with her family, none of that was even close to what Volpena truly saw herself as. A terrifying 12 foot, fur covered with fire, with teeth and claws like steel were-fox version of the Teumessian Vixen from legend. Instead of being immortal she was nearly invincible. No one could catch her now and with no necklace in sight, this musical were-fox could not be cleansed!
The supersized were-fox let out a huge bark spewing fire from her mouth. Raising a paw/hand she slammed it into the ground creating a massive earthquake felt all the way back to the city. Wagging her tail behind her, she created a powerful windstorm that tore up two miles of landscape. Dipping her head into the river, she snagged three fish with her extra sharp teeth eviscerating them in seconds, before swallowing them whole. Then she opened her mouth again and spoke.
"I AM THE MOST POWERFUL MEMBER OF THE FOX'S TEETH GUILD! NO ONE CAN ORDER ME AROUND OR TAKE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE! THE WORLD WILL TREMBLE AT MY FEET FOR I AM A TRUE FOX NOW. BOW TO YOUR NEW QUEEN, VOLPENA OR BE DESTROYED!" her voice bellowed so loudly it caused the walls to shatter from the echo.
She sniffed the air with her nose and scented her prey. Crouching on all fours, she jumped clear across the river landing twenty feet past the bank. Sniffing again she smelled burnt flesh and fear. Falling to the ground she started running towards the scent, the trees catching on fire from fur.
The Miraculous team were in seriously bad condition. The smoke from the fire was chocking them and everywhere they look fire surrounded them. Peace Keeper's back was covered in second degree burns as her suit knitted itself back together. Sea Green Turtle coughed loudly as his lungs screamed for air. The heat from the flames had cauterized Hawkmoth bleeding wounds and increased the pain in them.
Only Ladybug and Chat Noir survived the initial blaze without injury. Well Chat Noir did, all this activity had pushed his Lady past her limits. She could barely stand and her head was pounding. She felt pain all over and didn't have access to her meds when she was in her suit. "I shouldn't have given those pills to Hawkmoth," he hissed to himself.
"It was the right thing to do," Ladybug said as she struggled to stand as the pounding of paws got closer. "We need to get out of here. Think of a plan to cleanse her."
"YOU CAN'T CLEANSE ME EVER!" Volpena bellowed as she found the ditch. Taking satisfaction from the fear they gave off, the twelve foot monster jumped into the ditch, her landing spraying dirt everywhere and smothering some of the flames. With her long strides she pounced on top of Ladybug driving her three feet in the dirt. "I HAVE BECOME ONE WITH MY AKUMA! YOU CAN'T CLEANSE ME BECAUSE THE OBJECT YOU SEEK NO LONGER EXISTS!"
Ladybug screamed as Volpena used her new strength to push her further in the ground. The giant-were fox snatched the magical yoyo, crushing it slightly before tossing it away. The spotted hero tried to wiggle free. A punch to the face put an end to that.
"ENJOY YOUR TOMB, I'LL COME BACK IN A BIT TO FEAST ON YOUR REMAINS. DON'T WORRY, I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR EARRINGS." With a final shove the spotted heroine was shoved firmly six feet deep as the were-fox started to cover her in dirt.
"LEAVE MY LADY ALONE YOU MONSTER!" Chat Noir roared as he hurled his two sticks at Volpena only for them to bounce off. Not caring he bounced on her ignoring the flames licking his suit. Locking his legs around Volpena's midsection he racked his claws through the flames trying to get to her fur. "Your pelt is going to be my trophy."
"ANNOYING PEST! I'LL MOUNT YOUR HEAD ON A WALL." Volpena started whistling a tune, something that shouldn't have been possible. Dozens of illusionary cages appeared around her. Throwing herself backwards Chat Noir fell off her back. The cat-human scrambled around as the fox-girl attacked. Whipping her tail about teen hero was blown right into a trap. Another tune and the cage shrunk until he was in the tiniest cage he could be in without killing him and it now was real.
Curling into a ball, she started rolling around changing the landscape once more. Grass burned as the ground super heated. Sinkholes started expanding as a cliff started to form from the churned up rocks. Hawkmoth ended up on the top of that cliff, trying to pull Sea Green Turtle up. Uncurling Volpena looked on with pride. Four out of five prey were captured or about to die. All she needed was the pesky agent.
With her sharp eyes, she saw Peace Keeper, the burns still visible. Her skin was getting paler as a chunk of hair was missing. Her bag with the recovered loot dangled above a sinkhole. The young woman got to her feet, her hand around the single bead leather necklace that she managed to hold onto. "If…you expect…me to give up… then you're gravely…mistaken." She fell on one knee causing Volpena to laugh.
"A VOLE LIKE YOURSELF WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME. I'M INVINCIBLE. I'LL HAVE THE POWERS OF A GOD SOON ENOUGH. YOU HAVE NOTHING AND NO ONE WILL COME TO YOUR AID? MAYBE IF YOU TRY CALLING OUT THE GHOST OF ROBIN HOOD WILL COME. HA HA HA!"
Upon hearing that name, the bead started to glow faintly. A faint pulse of magic warmth spread throughout Peace Keeper's body before wrapping itself around her heart. Something in her mind told Peace Keeper to raise her hand up. The magical pulse shot out of her hand in the shape of an arrow streaking across the sky. No one saw where it landed, waiting in anticipation.
Suddenly the arrow came streaking back with something dangling from it. Everyone gasped as they all recognized the Fox Miraculous flashing brightly. Volpena jumped up trying to get it, but it zigzagged around her. At the lodge everyone was trying to get outside and claim it. The melted doors and window locks kept them contained.
The shimmering arrow bounced around as it ricocheted from one hero to the next. A flash from the Miraculous placed everyone on safe ground. Chat Noir hugged his Ladybug as the two adults had to sit down. Everyone became transfixed on the arrow as it pierced Peace Keeper's heart.
Instead of pain, the magic spread throughout her body as the Fox Miraculous came to rest around her neck. The flashing Miraculous grew brighter and started rotating around the young woman forcing everyone to close their eyes. The light encased Peace Keeper, followed by a gigantic booming firework. Opening their eyes everyone was astonished by what they saw.
Standing exactly where Peace Keeper stood a man who walked out of a storybook. It was Robin Hood holding a steady gaze on Volpena! "So the time has come to finish what I started centuries ago. I always knew the Fox's Teeth would try to take this Miraculous and use it for evil to take their revenge on me and my descendants."
"WHY SHOULDN'T WE? FOR CENTURIES WE'VE SEARCHED FOR THAT TALISMAN TO USE ITS POWER, YET YOUR DESCENDANTS WASTED IT ON HELPING OTHES. I'LL GLADLY TAKE THE MIRACULOUS FROM YOU TO COMPLETE MY NEW POWER."
Volpena leaned down and breathed fire on the legendary man. The color of the fire turning to from red orange, to blue, all the way to white hot. As the blaze cooled down they were shocked to see Robin Hood still standing undamaged. Angered the were-fox lady punched and kicked at the ghost only to go through the man.
A barrage of arrows rained from the sky. They managed to land in her paw/hands causing pinpricks of blood to appear. Volpena searched around and found her target standing halfway up the cliff. The man looked at the Volpena with a calm expressions though the eyes glittered in anger. "Enough Volpena! No one in your guild can ever use this Miraculous. To ensure that your guild would never get your hands on my friend's Trixx's necklace, she and I did something forbidden. The time for secrets is overs."
"What's he talking about?" Chat Noir whispered to Sea Green Turtle. He peered closely at his transformed apprentice trying to understand how she had become possessed in the first place. Hawkmoth watched in fascination as the legendary archer slowly started to disappear. "Nooroo mentioned this to me the first time we met. A holder of a Miraculous accepts their fate no matter what. Under no circumstances are they to circumvent their own death. Robin Hood, must have performed a ritual to bind his soul to the Miraculous!"
"I think you mean she did," Ladybug whispered pointing at the possessed agent. Indeed, standing up on the ledge in an orange jerkin with a sash tied to her waist and cream leggings, complete with matching black gloves, shoes, along with a fox masquerade mask was a young teen who looked a bit older that she was. The girl had dark red hair, brown eyes, and oval shaped face with a slightly wide nose reaching barely five feet. Strapped to her back was quiver with arrows and a bow. In her hands was a shorter orange flute.
"My name is Marion, Daughter of the Gamekeeper Robin Woods and Lorna, a simple chambermaid who worked in the Princes' wing in Beaumont Castle, serving them including my blood father, the bastard King Richard the Lionheart! I am the real Robin Hood!"
Everyone was gob smacked. The legendary hero was actually a girl, a Miraculous user, and to top it all off she was related to royalty? This was a bit much to take. Volpena laughed hard and yowled in disrespect. "YOU EXPECT US TO BELIEVE THAT ROBIN HOOD WAS ACTUALLY MAID MARION IN DISGUISE? THAT'S ABSURD!"
"It does make sense though. The Fox is a trickster and sneaky. In that time period the illusion a man doing heroics would have inspired more people than a woman not put in her place," Sea Green Turtle muttered. In the back of his mind he could feel Wayzz putting the pieces together about that long ago night with Trixx.
"I speak the truth pretender. You wish proof then just watch, for it is always there, if people open their eyes to it." Playing on the flute the orange smoke came out shimmering and shining. They didn't become illusions, instead clouds showed memories of what had happened long ago.
Flashback
A young woman lay on the floor of a grand chamber. There was an ugly bruise in the shape of a goblet on her face. Her dress was torn in places and section of her beautiful black hair was missing. The young woman groaned as she was picked up by a young man in his twenties before being tossed in the wall. He had reddish blond hair, a bit stoat, and gray eyes. He was dressed in finery. "Be gone from my sight woman and if you spread ill will about me, I will have you killed."
"I understand Your Highness, I shall take my leave." The young chambermaid exited the room, hunched over, trying to not let her stained undergarments show.
There was a bit of mists and the room came back into focus. Time had passed judging by the clothing choice and the bed being layered. Once more the chamber maid was on the floor, but this time she was in a pleading position as the man held a sword in his hands debating whether to use it or not.
"I am to leave in a few days to journey to handle the problems in Antiguan, my mother's land of birth. I must punish those who have helped in my past, something I'm not fond of." Grabbing the young chamber maid he hoisted her by her neck glaring at the small belly she had forming. "Having to dispose of unwanted children. I warned you what would happen if you didn't…."
"You're Highness, I beg you to hear me out. The midwife predicts the child will be a female, she will pose no threat to you. My husband the gamekeeper, has served your family loyally for years. He cares not for a rise in position, only the birth of a healthy child, to call is own as do I," Lorna pleaded.
Using her wits she pointed out that any resemblance to the Prince would not be noticeable because of their social position. Her husband has a small resemblance to the Prince easily explaining away any who would gossip. The Royals had no reason to be concerned about the petty talk among the peasants.
"Indeed you make a good point and you have not done anything to draw attention to yourself or me. I would rather have you out of my father's home where spies lurk around."
Lorna convinced him to let her family stay. He would never have to see any of them again considering how long his journey was. She only asked for a small trinket, something they could sell to get money to move or make it part of her child's dowry.
Another shimmer and the clouds changed again. In a small hut, the man who resembled Robin Hood, save for a few small details watched his wife as she lovingly tended to their one year old daughter. "She's getting more beautiful every day. Soon, like you my clever wife, she'll be helping you around here and be ready to shoot arrows just like a boy," said as he carved something into an arrow he used.
"I only wish some monsters could be taken down much easier," Lorna whispered. He gave his wife a look of compassion. Unlike most men of the time Robin, placed no blame on his wife, for the attack on her or that she could no longer carry a child. Marion was his child in all but blood. She would never need to learn about her blood one.
Memories of growing up shined across the sky. Lorna and her daughter working together to make the bread or learning to read and write, from pages of old books that the nobles disposed of without care. Many of those precious pages were saved to learn from as the rest became firewood.
Robin was teaching his little girl how to shoot an arrow or skin a beast. He treated her no differently than he would if she was a boy. If his daughter couldn't be the next gamekeeper, then she would the wife of one and use her clever mind and wit to keep him on his toes.
A memory of her twelfth's birthday. The simple leather necklace with a bead had been made by both her parents. She had been so happy that day knowing she treasure it always.
Then a great sadness occurred quickly. Her father died during a hunt for a stag, when the nobles started shooting madly to be the first to hit the deer and claim it for themselves. While those nobles squabbled about their stupid hunt, her father had been carried back in a sack like an animal and given little respect. At his funeral not one of the men he had taught to hunt or bred game animals for showed up.
Marion started to dislike her lot in light, especially when her mother died next only a few short months before her thirteenth birthday. A drunken guard killed her when she refused him. The night before she was to move in the castle and start her training as governess or a lady in waiting, she found a wood box, with a letter and fox tailed gold necklace. Reading the letter, Marian anger grew towards the royalty for her parents had done nothing, but follow orders.
"ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE. YOU THINK WE PITY YOU FOR WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH? I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH OF YOUR SOB STORY. GIVE ME THAT NECKLACE."
"If it's a fight you want, you shall get it you hungry vixen. By the time I reach the end of my story, you'll be back to normal and this guild demolished." With that, Marion Hood started jumping and flying in the direction of the clearing ready to do battle with the crazed Akuma.
"We have to go after them. Even a possessed Peace Keeper, might not be enough to bring down Volpena." Without another word, Ladybug wrapped her arm around Hawkmoth's waist and flung her yoyo far away before flying away. Chat Noir followed with Sea Green Turtle on his back. Both were worried about what would happen to Peace Keeper if Marion Hood was killed by Volpena.
Back in the lodge, Lila's father and mother clung to one another. Seeing the monster their child had become they wondered why they didn't act sooner. No amount of revenge or greed for the Fox Miraculous was worth this heartache. "We should have destroyed that fake necklace the minute she got home." Olivia turned to her parents in law and pointed at them. "You two knew what happened when someone became an Akuma! How could you just use her like this?"
"Remember your place Olivia! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Her plan and those powers gave us the edge we needed to draw out the Fox Miraculous holder and it worked!" Jean shot back at her.
"At what cost mother? My daughter has become a wild animal, we're trapped inside a building that could be burn to the ground any minute," Vino snapped. Looking at his father Simon he added, "You planned to kill my daughter from the start if she got out of control. Is it not enough that you control this family, you had to make a point with Lila by making sure she couldn't hold her rank, until she suffered for you."
Simon stared at his son coldly. He did what he had to do to keep the peace among the families. He would not apologize for being hard on his granddaughter. He didn't notice another fire fox coming up from behind as hit bit him on the butt causing him to scream like a girl.
Back in the clearing the battle was still going on. Marion Hood, was taking full advantage of her distant descendant's fit body. She was jumping, rolling and running around avoiding the were-fox. She still had to be careful, Volpena still had her intelligence. The were-fox lady dove into the dirt digging into the soil and disappearing from sight.
Marion's hands tightened around her flute anticipating the incoming attack. The vibrations got stronger. Jumping to the side at the last possible second she missed being bitten in half by the monster. Pointing the flute at Volpena's neck she called out, "Duratus in loco!" before playing a short tune that had a cold edge to it.
The other Miraculous users arrived just in time to watch the illusion of blue sparks become solid and wrap around Volpena's neck and freezing her in place for the moment. "Of course Trixx couldn't resist teaching a clever girl with an affinity for magic how to use it with the flute," Wayzz muttered.
Drawing her bow back, Marion fired three arrows aiming for Volpena's ears, only for her spell to shatter as the were-fox grew until she was now fifteen feet tall. Falling on all fours, her fur started burning even hotter as her claws got longer. She charged forward tearing up the landscape.
Ladybug didn't think, she just acted. Hurling her yoyo it wrapped around the brush (another name for a fox's tail) and tightened the grip. She could feel herself being tugged away as she fought to pull the string back. Hawkmoth grabbed the line and started to help pulling the string back, the combined stress of two managing to tighten the pressure. They tied the end of the string to his cane as the both shoved the thing deep into the ground.
Volpena struggled feeling her tail being restrained. Tugging harder she could feel it give. Reaching out she paw swiped the ground sending a dust cloud at Marion, who had getting closer. Now she was choking on the dust. Volpena screeched a tone as a real mob illusion came to the life. "Attack her!"
Fighting back fear, Marion Hood let them come closer to her. The men with the pitchforks attacked first as she flipped them over her. Ducking and dodging under torch bearing mobs. Reaching into her quiver she pulled out an arrow with an unusual head to it. "Fumus et abscondas me." Firing the arrow, the head popped open releasing smoke all over the area concealing her whereabouts. The smoke changed from black to orange as a faint voice called out, "Fumus veritatem revelare.
"Another set of memories is starting to play. Could her memories be the key to stopping Volpena?" Chat Noir asked. The group had moved closer trying to pinpoint a weakness they could exploit. He was itching to use Cataclysm and end this long battle. The sun was starting to set, making him realize how much time had really passed.
"The virtue of truth is stronger than the lies we build our live on. For once burned away the truth is all we need to be free."
Flashback.
"It was July 20th 1189. Today my blood father was to be coranated as King of England. No women had been invited to attend, yet many of my fellow female servants were peeking from hidden staircases or loose stones. This was the first time in my fourteen years of life I saw my blood father in person. He had a charismatic presence and spoke elegantly. In him I could see where I got my strong sense duty and passion. Still, something about my blood father was not right."
As she watched the coronation take place, she was horrified the cruelty inflicted on the Jewish leaders who had come with gifts to honor the new king. While she didn't understand their ways, the King and his men didn't have to flog them in public and toss their beaten bodies out of the court. The bloodshed and destruction that followed was a direct result of the so called great King's temper. Something had to be done soon.
The smoke shimmered again, it was seven months later and the fourteen year old had been assigned to King Richard's mother Eleanor as her new lady in waiting, by himself personally. It was no surprise to her that he didn't recognize the features from her mother. He probably didn't look at her during his lustful tirade. Now she was to be a gift of sorts, to make up for not freeing his mom sooner.
As she listened to Eleanor go on about the praises of her favorite son and his Crusade it took all her power to keep calm. A King should rule his land, not use it as a treasury to fund his Crusade. The common people had so little and now they were going to be treated even harsher.
Alone in her chamber, she pulled out the box that contained the fox necklace. Her mother's letter had mentioned that it was rumored to contain a great power. Opening it up, she pulled the necklace out carefully. Slipping it around her neck she touched the charm. "If you do contain a great power, I beg of you to help me do right by commoners if we are to survive this reign of greed and evil."
The Miraculous glowed as a ball of orange energy formed in front of her. Marion took a step back then planted her feet down. She would not back away from fear. As the ball faded away it revealed a tiny fox sprite hovering in the air.
"At last another chance to be helpful! You are lovely my dear and be perfect for my powers. My name is Trixx, the kwami of the Fox Miraculous. I'm here to help you!" Trixx grinned. Oh yes she would help, there was something special about this girl, she had great potential.
"My name is Marion; daughter of the Gamekeeper Robin and his beloved wife Lorna. Bastard child of King Richard the Lionheart, who has abandoned England for glory and greed. Can you help me to keep the commoners safe?" Trixx nodded as the memory faded away.
Volpena blew out fire again in the shape of several crows. Their feet ripped and tore at Marion/Peace Keeper. She swatted them away with her hands. Trying to keep them from taking her quiver. One tried to take her flute away only for her blow so hard through it the birds squawked in agony. The birds scattered as their fiery feathers started to burn through her clothes.
Being tackled from behind, Marion was forced into the ground enduring a vicious mauling by Volpena. The girl had shrunk and changed into a more anthropomorphic version of herself. Holding out a hand, her dagger materialized in it. Before she could disunite the spine someone grabbed her by the scruff and tossed her in the opposite direction.
"Leave my friend alone vermin! It's time for round two of cat vs dog."
"With a side of butterfly."
While those two were getting the stuffing knocked out of them Ladybug and Sea Green Turtle helped the teen archer to her feet. Touching her gave them access to her memories.
Flash
Her first transformation and she padded around in the night. Her big ears hearing the sounds of trouble. Slipping into the courtyard she saw the visiting Earl in the stables, punishing his servants for not caring for his horse as he saw fit.
Lifting the flute to her lips, she played a musical tone creating a large dog. The illusion entered the stables and chased away the Earl. Firing an arrow, she collected his purse where it fell. The male servants refused to take it, not only because they feared their master's wrath, but she was a girl who was pretending to be a man.
Flash
"Now say the words I taught you and then play the notes you learned. Only if you speak the words before playing will something happen," Trixx said as sat on the bed looking at her. Marion nodded pointing the long instrument in front of her, "Falsa iungendum cum substantia vitae est lux."
Trixx clapped in cheer as Marion admired her first solid illusion, the one of her father with her mother's eyes, this illusion would be her stand in. No one could say no to Robin Hood."
Flash.
Multiple memories at once. Casting a spell to frighten the sheriff from taking taxes, "Terribilis, terribilis est auxilium mihi in me in nocte hac investigatione."
Another of her reluctantly saving her "grandmother" from bandits. Saving lives, protecting the commoners, fighting the Crow's Feet. Enjoying life a heroine, taking joy in the helping knowing her legacy would live on.
A final memory, Marion was now nineteen, many would consider her too old to marry, but the former queen had offered her up a bride to one of the minor barons in her old home of Antiquine. She was to be sent away in a fortnight.
Trixx and her had stolen out of the castle and stopped in their private spot. A small bend in the river protected by a wall thick bramble. "Please Marion, I beg you not to do this. Surely you can keep being a symbol for your cause."
The teen shook her head and repeated once more. All that she owned, including this necklace would belong to her husband to be. As a wife she was to bear heirs and keep the household running. She would not have the freedom to escape at any time to help people. "The thieves we stopped a few months ago, I have gotten word the ones who got away are rebuilding the guild. You know they will come for you and I can't let that happen. Returning you the Guardian and tying my soul to your jewel is the only way to prevent them from taking you."
With a heavy nod, the Kwamii watched as her dear chosen spoke the spell that would bind her soul, once she died to the Miraculous until she finished her duty. "Sanguis sanguinem excitabit me, ut perficiam opus tuum de LATITO contra vulpium, amicum servare."
The memories ended and Ladybug knew what they had to do to stop Volpena and finish Marion duty. They would have to undo the bond between the akuma and Lila. Tapping her yoyo she alerted Chat Noir of her plan.
Chat Noir was tired and exhausted. He wanted to drop, but he needed to be the distraction, but first he needed Hawkmoth's help. "Keep track of her emotions! When she's feeling that's she finally accomplished her goal, try to replace it with what you're feeling." The man nodded as the plan went into effect. "Hey Foxy, let's play tag. You're it!"
Snapping her jaws, she ran after him calling out his demise. Illusions of beautiful naked woman popped out of nowhere getting in Chat's way as tried to escape. He had to rely on Plagg's love of cheese to keep him from falling to their charm.
Volpena darted ahead and got in front of Chat Noir. Launching herself forward she intended to rip his throat out, her only emotion being pride-fullness. In mid jump she felt a sharp pain in her heart causing her to miss her target. Trying to get up was useless as the pain grew in her chest.
In that one moment, Hawkmoth had reached out and replaced it with his own emotion, one he hadn't felt in a long time, compassion. For a girl who could never understand the true meaning of that, it felt like a poison in her heart as the pain became unbearable.
Four arrows pinned her arms and legs to the ground. A fifth one sprayed a gluey substance all over her body, smothering the flames. Ladybug used her power, "Lucky Charm!" A bottle of sake fell into her hands as her eyes told her what to do. "Marion shoot," she shouted as she threw the bottle in arc. Marion's arrow shattered the bottle covering the struggling Volpena in alcohol.
A were-fox couldn't keep their form if they were knocked unconscious or drank alcohol. In this case her body was covered with the stuff, being absorbed by the glue and into her fur making her very drunk. Her form shrunk as she changed back to her original Volpena appearance.
Seeing the fake necklace reappear Chat Noir summoned his power. "Cataclysm!" The item disintegrated as the akuma was released. Ladybug caught it and cleansed it. Before she fixed the damage though Marion had to do one more thing. Under the protection of Shell Guard, Marion cast her spell.
"Memoriam praeteriti mensis exolvuntur, ne effluant haec ab animo tamquam solis radiis tuum." A powerful wave of magic spread across the hunting grounds, past the lodge, covering the Treasures Incorporated HQ, and lastly descending on Fox's Burrow wiping away the memories and anything related to events of the past month. Each day as the sun cycled, they start forgetting a bit more about the guild's past, present and future actions. In two years, they would be no more. The Fox's Teeth Guild was finished.
After a Miraculous Ladybug Cleanse everything was restored to normal, including their injuries. Lila returned to normal sleeping on the grass. The Italian girl trembled as nightmares plagued her. Hopefully they would have a lasting effect.
"She'll wake up with a headache and confused. I doubt she'll change, but at least she'll stop stealing and trying to kill people," Marion explained. Already she was starting to fade. "You each have enough time to get out here and away from one another." Giving a soft smile, the ghost took off the Miraculous and handed it to the Guardian muttering, "Officium et fides fiunt dimittere fatum meum et animam meam quocumque iudicandus est."
"I pray your soul finds mercy and that you will have a peaceful afterlife with your family. I will tell Trixx of your success and your love for her. Far well Marion Hood. You shall not be forgotten."
The ghost nodded as her soul was released to the heavens with Peace Keeper returning to normal. Hosting the soul of distant ancestor had taken much of her life force. As agreed, they all went their separate ways, honoring their truce for the night. Once everyone was rested and well again, their fight would start again, but for now they enjoyed the feeling of a job well done.
When Monday rolled around, Adrien and Marinette were more than ready for their final exams all week. Strangely, after the battle Marinette recovered her strength rather quickly to the point she was a bit more progressed then before. She didn't know why. She only had a hunch the protection Hawkmoth left her had done something. She didn't question it after everything that happened, feeling a bit better was a gift.
In the classroom, Ning used her alias to hand out the exams and reminded everyone of the rules. Before she could call start, the door opened and in walked Lila with a doctor's note in her hands. Something was a little off about her. While her body language indicated she was still the same confident, arrogant, driven teen, her face betrayed her. She looked a bit confused and maybe a bit fearful?
"You may take your seat now Ms. Rossi. You'll have to do your best, but I will take in account your partial amnesia when I grade them," the disguised agent told her, she had a small smile on her face. It seemed that Marion's spell had done the trick. Any memories relating to the theft and her illegal activities this past month were gone. All that remained were incomplete gaps that she herself would eventually replace with her imagination.
Lila took her seat next to Adrien, she gave him a once over, a bit confused still, before she turned away and set up the divider so they could take the exams. Adrien let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and got to work on his exams. He was determined to pass so he could keep attending public school.
The rest of the week was pretty much the same. The kids would come in and take their exams and hand them in to be grade before leaving for the day. With Adrien's help and her art appraiser identity, they finally managed to swap out the books when she brought the painting in for installation and later delivered it to Master Fu.
It was exactly a week since the last Akuma when Adrien accompanied Marinette to her doctor's visit. His father had been admitted the hospital a few days ago after he collapsed from exhaustion in his office. According to Nathalie, his father also hit his head on his desk when collapsed so the doctors were monitoring his brain.
At the moment Dr. Leverna, was checking to see if the graft was still holding and had been damaged since the packing came off. It was and it looked healthy. "Alright, Marinette put these headphones on. Raise your hand on which side the sound is coming from when you hear it."
Marinette nodded and scrunched her face in concentration. After a minute she raised her right hand four times in a row. Then her left hand went up three times. There was short back and forth of the hands before she started raising both. After fifteen minutes, the headphones came off. "Is my hearing back to normal?" she asked hopefully.
Dr. Leverna nodded. "Your hearing is back to one hundred percent, that graft is holding nicely and should remain that way, as long as you keep water out of them and don't forget to sneeze properly," she said as she smiled at the girl. Marinette was delighted to her that and was glad she didn't need to take anymore antibiotic drops for her ears anymore.
Her parents and Adrien were happy to hear that. Hugging Marinette tightly, they went to the next doctor for a checkup. Here they took another CT scan, drew blood, and physically examined her. Marinette was honest about her pain levels and the amount of rest she'd been getting.
Finally it was time to get the results. The neurologist had a huge smile on his face. He had a lot of good news. Showing them the new CTs, he started highlighting areas and explaining what they meant. "The latest scan shows that the brain tissue has fully healed and the burr holes are completely fused back together. Your blood work came back clean of any new infection, so you don't need to take anymore preventive antibiotics."
"While your pain level is still a bit higher then we like, we can start to wean you off your pain medication a little bit at a time. You're strengths has returned, but your body's been under a bit of stress lately I'm told." Marinette nodded and agreed to take it easy for the next seven weeks to give her body a chance to recover. Adrien and she hugged happy to know she was recovered.
To celebrate the two Miraculous heroes joined Master Fu and Ning Sun for afternoon tea. The Miraculous book was laying next to the Miraculous Box, to look at a later time. "It please me that you two have grown into strong, compassionate, and just holders. The battle with Hawkmoth will continue and I sense more troubles coming are way in the future. Only by working together can we restore the normal order."
The teens nodded understanding there was much work to be done. Whatever dangers were out there, they were ready to face them. Ning was the only one unhappy because now she had to return home for her next assignment because she had chosen to do a mission instead of her vacation. It wasn't fair! She had found the art, put a major dent in crime family's network, all while managing three identities, (including getting her official identity), and her bosses wanted her to come back right now without a single bit of relaxation.
Understanding how she felt, Adrien said she could come with him and his father to the summer fashion show in London along with Marinette. Satisfied, they all went back to drinking their tea waiting to see what was next in their lives.
