"Please. There has to be another way besides that," Chat shook his head, very distressed over his Lady's suggestion.
"I'll be fine. It's not like I'll be alone, I'll have Chloe and 3 superheroes to back me up," Ladybug winked at Chat, as he Vixen, and Emerald gave her unsure and nervous looks.
Queen Bee leaned on Ladybug's shoulder. "And do you guys think I'd actually let anything happen to her? Her injuries would've been a lot worse if it wasn't for me, you know," she stuck her chin up in the air as if she was offended, but had a slight smile on her face to show she was mainly teasing.
"I never thought I'd say these words, but I do trust you Chloe," Vixen admitted, her hand resting on her hip. "Take care of my best friend for me!" she added, calling after them.
"I will!" shouted Queen Bee over her shoulder, as she and Ladybug ran for a safe place to detransform.
"I've got a cookie waiting for Tikki if she needs it. Adrien told me she loves them," huffed Queen as they ran down the hall.
"Thanks," she smiled in response, glancing in her direction a moment as they continued to run.
Once the two superheroines found a secluded spot, they called to their Kwami's to detransform them, both bug Kwami's landing in their Chosen's hands.
Marinette took the cookie Chloe offered her, set it in her little pink bag, and Tikki followed. Pollen did the same, hiding in Chloe's little white handbag, where honey was surely inside waiting for her.
Feeling exposed and tense without their superpowers to defend them, the girls emerged from their hiding spot, and walked around, their voices loud and forced.
"Gee Chloe, I heard someone was looking for us," said Marinette very awkwardly.
"You're right Marinette, I heard about that, too. Isn't it that Volpina girl? The rip-off of the Fox Miraculous? Leave it to Lila not to be original even when akumatized," she mocked, the last sentence a whisper.
Volpina overheard their conversation, Marinette's idea of using them as bait worked.
However, Chloe's words enraged her so much that she didn't even give them a verbal warning before she dropped down from the roof.
Chloe's words were like a stab to her torn up heart, but Marinette was responsible for taking Adrien away from her. If only Ladybug was here, then she could rap up her revenge with all three at once. She could settle, payback against two out of three wasn't so bad.
Volpina never even had a chance to lay a hand on Marinette, or Chloe for that matter, as Chat Noir swooped down so quickly that Marinette jumped slightly in surprise at the sight of him suddenly standing in front of her, using his body as a shield to protect her. His arm stretched out to protect Chloe.
The look in Chat Noir's eyes was fierce and unforgiving.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he warned, reaching behind his back, preparing to wield his baton.
"You think you can stop me alone, Chat Noir? Ha!" scoffed Volpina.
"Who said anything about me being alone, Volpina?" a devious grin spread across his face as Vixen and Emerald Turtle gently landed on either side of Chat Noir.
Volpina glared furiously at the three blocking her way. Her fury was apparent on every feature of her face, making her appear nearly insane.
These obnoxious heroes were protecting those she loathed with every fiber in her being. It was going to be impossible for her to get to them now, as she couldn't figure out any openings. She needed to get away and circle back for them when there was an opening.
With what seemed to be the flick of a switch, a wicked smile spread across her face, and Volpina suddenly vanished, leaving her minions to fight the superheroes as a distraction, allowing her to get away.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir should go look for her. Vixen, Queen Bee, and I can handle things here," Emerald whispered to Chat urgently as multiple Volpina's started closing in on them.
Marinette had slipped away behind the corner without Volpina or her minions noticing.
She called Tikki back into her Miraculous again, this time not giving her transformation a second thought. As Chat Noir nodded in agreement to Emerald's suggestion of them splitting up, Ladybug appeared by his side, and the two set off in search for Volpina.
"Where do you think she went off to this time?" Ladybug asked as they flung onto the school's rooftop.
"If I had to guess, I'd say the Eiffel Tower. That's where our last encounter with Volpina was, anyway," Chat glanced at her through the corner of his eye as they went, wondering if she'd remember that day at all.
Ladybug didn't say a word for few moments. "Ohhh," she suddenly recalled. "She had Adrien hanging off of the Eiffel Tower, threatening to drop him if we didn't hand over our Miraculous."
Chat Noir chuckled. "I knew right away of course that he was just an illusion, but you didn't want to take that chance. You were so willing to hand your earrings over for me..."
He noticed a rooftop's distance away from her that he was no longer hearing the thudding of her feet, or the quickness of her breath. Chat backtracked until he was standing by her side.
"Of course, I would do anything for you," she mumbled, feeling a bit awkward.
Chat's eyes went wide; a warm, fuzzy feeling swelled inside of him, like an inflating balloon.
She brushed her hand across his cheek for a moment without meeting his eyes, and in what felt like only a moment to Chat, Ladybug was already far ahead of him, approaching the Eiffel Tower.
"W-Wait!" he called after her, scrambling to catch up.
When he arrived, she was perched on part of the structure near the top, overlooking the city.
"You okay, Kitty?"
He plopped down beside her. "Feline fine, m'lady," he breathed.
She gave a slight nod, her eyes never straying from the city below.
"What a shame you didn't stay to protect your friends," came a sickeningly sweet voice from behind, causing them to jump. "Won't be long now."
Chat Noir and Ladybug didn't miss a beat. She threw her yo-yo at Volpina. It wove around her, its string wrapping around her numerous times,assuring them that she was the real deal.
"Oh no, you got me. What will I ever do?" she cackled madly.
Ladybug rolled her eyes. "You're a half-baked supervillain, even down to the laugh," she smirked. "You can't phase out of the grip of my yo-yo, you can't escape it."
Volpina's expression never wavered. "I wasn't planning on it. My minions are taking care of what I want as we speak. Those hero friends of yours just don't have what it takes to defeat them. Soon Marinette and Chloe will be brought to me by my army, and not only will I get my revenge on them, but I'll get your Miraculouses for Hawkmoth with their help, too."
"There's just one thing wrong with your plan, Volpina," began Chat.
"And what's that?"
"Your minions will never find them," the look of certainty in Ladybug's eyes was enough to wipe the smug look clear off of Volpina's face.
Chat backed her up against the tower.
"Trapped again," he muttered, snatching the fox-tail necklace she still wore around her neck, tossing it over his shoulder to Ladybug.
She broke it effortlessly, releasing the dark butterfly that had been trapped inside.
Ladybug got her yo-yo ready to purify it, and once it was released, she whispered, "Bye-bye little butterfly," and gave a little wave.
Again, Lila refused help on getting down, but Chat begrudgingly helped her down onto the balcony of the tower where it was safe for non-superheroes to descend the tower on their own.
When Chat returned, he approached Ladybug, holding out his fist for their celebratory fist bump.
"Pound it!" The two said in unison. More than triumph shone in their eyes as blue met green, and for the first time, they had defeated an akuma while knowing exactly who fought right by their side.
Chat held out his hand for her, and with a smile, Ladybug took his hand in hers.
Without a word, they headed back for their school, hand in hand, together.
AN: So sorry for the wait! I'm going to be working on finishing this story up the next couple of weeks. ~ToujoursMiraculous
Also, I'd love to see this story reach 100 followers, so if you could help me on that, I'd really appreciate it! x3
Currently working on writing the next chapter, so stay tuned. c: