All throughout Paris the citizens were trapped within a nightmare. There were akumas popping up in every corner of the city. Lady Wifi and the Bubbler were wreaking havoc at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. Princess Fragrance and the Evillustrator were rampaging through the streets by the school. Puppeteer and Guitar Villain scared off wanderers by the television building. It was an inescapable army of enemies. The air was growing humid and heavy. People were best inside their houses and under their beds.

No one noticed the tiny flying creatures high in the sky.

No one but a duo of experienced agents.

Fairies took two forms and rarely exchanged them: good fairies remained small until needed, and evil fairies remained large until destroyed. The dozens of fairies above Paris were shrouded in the Mesmer, with sharpened wings and sharpened claws. Their beady eyes surveyed the chaos as Parisians wailed for help. Ladybug and Chat Noir desperately raced around every District, but it was impossible to stop every akuma. Every scream strengthened the Mesmer. Tiffany, Madame Paon, had succeeded.

Of course, she had not the skills to keep it permanent.

"Good evening, ladies," a human voice spoke to the invisible fairies, drawing their eyes towards a figure close by, "mind if I ask you a few questions?"

Lila stood a few feet below where the fairies hovered in the Mesmer – standing in mid-air. There was nothing beneath her heels and yet she walked around as though on solid ground. "I hope you like my kicks," she winked at no fairy in particular, "a specialty from S.P.I.E.S. that compresses air underfoot. Makes for a grand journey across the clouds."

One by one the fairies revealed themselves, pale skinned with messy black hair and shredded red and brown cloth hanging off their chests and hips. The aroma of wet bark and dandelions wafted off their skin. They bared their tiny fangs at her and grinned, speaking as one. "What brings you to our audience?"

"Where do I even begin? In a city where superheroes and villains are the norm, you fairies have decided to try your terribly untrimmed hands at taking over with your Mesmer and human slave. You have any idea how out of place your species is?"

"We belong everywhere. Humans are the ones out of place."

"Too bad," Lila pulled out her laser gun and aimed at the closest fairy, "cuz humans are staying." She blasted the fairy out of the sky. Around her appeared three dozen more with their claws all aimed at her neck. "Hope you girls brought your passports!"

Every fairy converged on her – just what she wanted. Lila grabbed another gun from behind her back and opened fire while spinning. Immediately a third of the fairies were down: there was no agents of S.P.I.E.S. with better accuracy than ex-agent Anvers. Every time a fairy came close to touching the fabric of her outfit she shot them away.

"Wonderful," she grinned, "I haven't had this much excitement in years!"

Not far from Lila on the other side of the Eiffel Tower, Felix faced his own gathering of fairies. With his dual guns aimed high he fired off round after round, fairies zipping and dipping every which way. For every fairy he shot down, three more took her place. "Come on," he muttered, "I asked for the helicopter ten minutes ago."

He could only hope Lila had her guns on 'stun' as he had instructed, because they were on their own until the rest of S.P.I.E.S. showed up. He gazed around at the fairies, trying to find whoever was in charge. Fairies worked in clans and hordes, but there was always a leader. Either an elder or a larger fairy…someone who stayed back for observation rather than taking to the attack head on. Someone trying to keep just out of sight…!

To his left.

Felix ducked under a duo of fairies aiming for his ears and jumped back out of the group. Both guns were pointed at a fairy in the distance. Her hair was in a pigtail and her clothing was more refined with gold trimming, but she had the same fangs and claws and glistening wings.

Their eyes locked. Their breathing fell in sync. She grinned.

"Only a fool gives up their miraculous."

Felix was fully aware she was trying to hypnotize him with her melodic voice. It was the reason he had sent Cammo away – fairies could not fall for illusions. The Kwami would have been in more danger. He kept his senses sharp and on cue so not to fall asleep and fall to his death. It would be highly unprofessional. "It sounds as if you believe I cannot handle you without a miraculous."

"I know about you agents," she flew closer, the rest of the fairies giving them plenty of space, "and I know you favour our cousins as they live amongst humans in peace and hiding. How can I ever respect you?"

"I never asked for respect. I ask that you and your cohorts leave Paris before S.P.I.E.S. forcefully evacuates your species."

It was the perfect time for the helicopter to show up. It flew up behind Felix, casting light over him and the fairy leader. Her followers hissed and fluttered out of range as the choppers sped up. The speaker clicked on.

"FAIRIES. EVACUATE PARIS BOARDERS IMMEDIATELY. S.P.I.E.S. HAS GATHERED 97% OF YOUR POPULATION AND IS CURRENTLY RELOCATING THEM TO AMERICA FOR REHABILITATION. COME IN PEACE AND THERE WILL BE NO FUTHER CASUALTIES."

The leader gave her own hiss, a venomous crackling that erupted from her throat. "You have no idea what we can do!"

Felix sighed and lowered his guns ever so slightly. "We have decades of experience dealing with your kind. You have no way of intimidating us-"

"I mean the miraculous! You can send us fairies away, but the wielders will always face danger, even greater than our own magic!" She pointed an accusing finger at Felix. "You may have been able to give up your powers, but those who cannot and will not shall face countless trials thanks to the curse of the Kwami!"

Something about what the fairy is saying may just start to mess with Felix. What can he say to her? Is he willing to leave his own cousin with the Kwami, even if it means constant danger for him and Marinette? HawkMoth may not be the only villain out there, and there will always be trouble for them to face. He better make his choice quick, because one slice at those gorgeous shoes, and it's a long way down...

Until the next chapter!