MIRACULOUS ALLIANCE

SNIPPETS, PART VIII

Recruitment: Pipistrello

Lila Rossi and Alix Kubdel started to hang out more and more in their spare time. Mostly, due to to both of their athletic natures, it was during sporty events. But out of all activities, they enjoyed soccer the most. Alix always acted as goalkeeper and would make attempts to block each and every of Lila's shots. Lila was good at soccer, so that was difficult, but anything Alix was always up for a challenge. Alix finally managed to catch a ball after a while, after previously letting five shots through. "Say, you don't get tired of soccer? You already are on a team, but is devoting more of your spare time to it not too much?" Alix asked, out of curiosity.

"Not really. It is something I love. A passion, not easy to get tired of it. Besides, every bit of training helps me get better. From one top athlete to another you can understand not minding the extra workout." Lila said as she stretched her arms above her head a bit.

"Yeah..." Alix said with a soft smile. "You know, Lils, I like to be pushed, to my limits. But there are only those few whom push me to limits in special ways." Alix said as she tossed the soccer ball back to Lila;

"Oh? Explain?" Lila asked as she caught the ball.

"People may not know, but my brother taught me how to skate. He is a brainiac, and something of a weirdo, but that doesn't mean he is a slouch in the physical department. He taught me the basics of various sports. I looked up to him so I pushed myself to get better because I wanted to live up to him. If he didn't follow in my father's footsteps he'd probably a professional athlete...even if some of his theories had began to sound crazy. Well, not all of them sound so crazy anymore since magic is proven real." Alix said as she moved over to a bench and sat down on it.

"Yeah, having superheroes running around with magical jewelry, people magical transformed into supervillains and magical monsters popping up every now and again...yeah, that's some very strong evidence." Lila said as she grabbed two water bottles from her bag, giving one to Alix, and sitting down besides her.

"Now, the second person whom pushed me is Kim. Like me he is competitive. Though he also pushes me in the patience department. He is proud of his physical condition sure but he sometimes does this crazy challenges. I humor him and try to put him back down to Earth, but he never learns. But when we do a genuine physical activity, not a crazy one but a normal one, he gives a good challenge. He became something of a dumb brother I have on top of my other, crazy brother." Alix explained further, both girls giggling at that remark.

"Yeah, he's a piece of work. Now, you wanted to go somewhere with this?" Lila asked as she took a sip of her water.

"You, you also push me, but in a good way. Unlike feeling I am living up to someone, or someone I am humoring because I like the challenge they give me, with you its simple. You just give me a good workout, plain and simple. No fuzz. Clean competition. Just something to get my adrenaline pumping." Alix said as she moved closer towards Lila.

"Oh...I like how you give me a good workout too Alix. I like spending time with you..." Lila said, shooting back a genuine smile. Alix smiled back but she sighed and looked to the ground. She seems a little out of it. "Alix, you okay?"

"Whut? Oh, no it's fine." Alix said. "Just thinking." she said as she reached in her backpack and pulled something out. Her priced heirloom watch. She started fidgeting with it. She looked a bit absent and hummed a bit, but it didn't sound happy.

"You seem awfully distracted. Got yourself a cute boyfriend or girlfriend?" Lila asked.

"Pf! As if. I'm not interested in romance. It makes people act stupid and disgustingly mushy...they also make sure that other person becomes the center of their entire universe. They still want to hang out but they also let you know that time with the boyfriend or girlfriend comes first..." Alix said. "Kim and Ondine, Nathaniel and Marc. Sunshine boy Agreste and Dorkinette..." Alix gently strokes her watch. "Everyone is moving on with their lives and it is certain they will all be meant to do great things. Including you...future pro soccer player. As for me...I feel like I'm stuck."

"What do you mean?" Lila asked. "I mean, I am sure you are meant for great things as well. You are athletic and I'm sure you will make it as a pro skater or something else sport-related."

Alix still look dazed. "You'd think I would want that. But I'm not so sure. Like...I work well when I am pushed by someting. When I can push back. But if there is no pressure, nothing to push back against...I feel so small and insignificant you know. There must be something out there for me but I...I don't know what. I just feel it, like it's close but I can't seem to find it or remember it.

Lila looked worried at her friend. Alix was just staring in front her, glassy look in her eye as she caressed the pocket watch. It was a family heirloom, sure. But how Alix kept running her fingers over it, as if she needed it more then anything in the world. Wait, did it just glow? It must be a trick of the light. But still, it was odd. Lila felt bothered by it. She felt absent-minded for a bit, and reached out for the watch.

Alix jumped back, pushing the watch to her chest and breathing heavily. "What are you doing?" she asked in a panic.

"I...I thought I saw something wrong with the watch. I wanted to take a look." Lila asked. "Sorry if..."

"I already lost it once, but if you break it the Miraculous cure won't bring it back..." she spat at Lila.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean any harm...Alix, you are not looking too well." Lila noted.

Alix took some more heavy breaths but they slowed down as she massaged her right temple with her right hand. "I may not feeling too well as of late. I...I'm going home. I'm cutting our match short. I'll...just whenever I feel like doing something with you, I'll let you know." Alix said as she quickly packed her back, put on her skates, and darted off.

Lila blinked for a few moments as Jinxx, her kwami flew out. "Well, that was odd." she said to the floating bat creature.

"Made perfect sense to me." Jinxx said as she shrugged.

"Of course it would. You define 'odd'. Lila said as she grabbed a blueberry bar from her backpack and started to take a bit out of it.

"'Odd' would be me putting a singing salmon whom would sing 'the Drunken Scotsman' in the principal's office and watch him figure out that to make it stop or remove it he just has to clap at the performance. 'Odd' is when I use peanut butter and pineapple jelly sandwich squares as stuffing for a pirogi recipe I was experimenting with. No, pinkie-skates has gone on a journey of self-discovery." Jinxx said as she pulled out a cupcake and took a bite.

"A what now?" Lila asked with a frown.

"Can't tell. Spoilers! Fluff would have my hide if I blabbed." Jinxx said. "I wouldn't also be the best qualified to give the answers even if I could. I would just confuse you more."

"You confuse me every day, Jinxx, it is sort of your day-job." Lila said. It was then that a red blue fell from the sky, slamming in the ground in front of her, startling her, Lila falling back off the bench on the ground. "Holy...oomph!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Er...hi, Lila?" Ladybug said as she helped Lila get up.

"H-h-hi!" Lila said as she dusted herself off. "A warning would be nice, next time."

"Hi, Ladyboobs!" Jinxx greeted. "I have an important question for you...did you ever put bacon in a woodchipper before?"

"Er...all right?" Ladybug raised and eyebrow before turning to Lila. "Lila Rossi, before I have offered you a spot on Team Miraculous. You asked to be a temp hero for the sake of you rebuilding your private life. However, I ask your help in a time of need. We have reason to suspect that Hawkmoth is up to something big, and we want to be prepared. We'll probably will need all the help we can get. I also don't want to get too much new heroes out as to not draw unnecessary attention from Hawkmoth himself. So I ask for your and Jinxx' help."

Lila didn't have any hesitation in her voice. "I knew this day was coming. But you can count on me. What do I need to do? When do we need to act?"

"Now, I don't know when Hawkmoth will strike next or when his next big plan will come to pass. We know that for now he is just experimenting with the Akumas. We just need to get you caught up and trained. A wildcard like Pipistrello could do a lot for the team."

"All right. Just tell me when we'll start training, and I'll make time for it." Lila said. "Won't we, Jinxx?" Lila said as she and Ladybug turned to her kwami.

The kwami whom somehow has manifested a wood chipper and was now shoving a really, really big bag of bacon into it. "We are going to make so much spaghetti carbonara with this!" She then noticed her Chosen and Ladybug staring. "Oh, of course we'll help you against Hawkbutt."

"Good. Though I must warn you. The next few training sessions will be intense. The Akumas only got tougher, stronger and smarter since the last time you were Pipistrello. It may be hard finding the balance at first. I have been there before, and it was difficult. I didn't always manage, having to ditch friends, responsibilities, family at times. There was a good reason but they cannot know. You know why." Ladybug said.

"Secret identities. I promised myself not to lie again, but to hide Jinxx and to hide this part of my life, I have to. I can only comfort myself by saying I don't do it for personal gain this time." Lila said, sounding a bit sad. "But if we in the future have a city to live in without a madman mind-raping and converting people into monsters, then I will be glad to have helped with it."

"That's the spirit Lila." Ladybug said with a smile. "Don't forget to count on your friends and family, even if they don't know everything, don't push them away. They will be your greatest strength. They are why we do this." Ladybug put a hand on Lila's shoulder.

"I will not disappoint you. You have given me this chance. I was able to build up my life again thanks to you. Now that's done, I won't have any regrets going in this." Lila noted.

"You have grown a lot Lila. If it helps, I'm already proud of you. I must finish patrol now. I'll let you know when we need you. Good luck." Ladybug said.

"You too, Ladybug." Lila said. The red, black dotted then left the scene. "It seems the days of peace and quiet are over, Jinxx."

"Peace and quiet don't exist. Just moments of less chaos and loudness." Jinxx said. "And less bacon bits."

"You still up for it, little screwball?" Lila asked.

"Told you I wasn't going anywhere this time. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not." Jinxx said.

"I like it, and I have no regrets." Lila responded. "Let's go home. I think that after a good workout we deserve a shower and a night of watching movies."

"Can we watch 'Cybernetic Bikini-Models In Future Space'?" Jinxx asked.

"That movies makes no sense!" Lila groaned.

"I know, isn't it wonderful?" Jinxx asked.

"I forgot whom I was talking to for a moment." Lila groaned. But she let it rest. She instead focused on her phone to try and call Alix. However, she wouldn't answer her phone. "I wonder why she ignores me? Did things become too awkward earlier? Did I do something wrong? If she doesn't answer, I might have to wait until Monday. I can ask her what is up when we're in school. Because someone knows what is going on and isn't straightforward with me?"

"I can't hear you over the sound of me shredding bacon, Lila!" Jinxx quipped.

Recruitment: Detective

Sabrina Raincomprix was in her room, enjoying a bucket of Belgian chocolates and watching police series she liked on a streaming service. It got to the good part where she saw how the hard-boiled police detective was interrogating one of the suspects, tearing down his arguments and it would seem he has found whom the murderer was...Then she heard some knocking on her window. She quickly paused the show and looked around, surprised to see Queen Bee tapping at her window.

She didn't hesitate to let the black and yellow hero inside of her room. "Queen Bee, this is a pleasant surprise. Is there something I can help you with?" she asked.

"Sabrina Raincomprix, Team Miraculous needs your help. We intend to try and flush out Hawkmoth, we suspect he may be up to something big and we need to stop whatever scheme he has planned. While we are working with the police, it is well-known and it is generally too out in the open. We need someone with skill, but whom can work behind the scenes and would not be suspected of anything more then a simple schoolgirl. I ask of you to become our eyes and ears." Queen Bee explained.

"Why me?" Sabrina asked.

"Let's just say someone vouched for you." Queen Bee answered. "Someone whom has utmost confidence in your skills."

"Who would recommend the likes of me?" Sabrina asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I am afraid that it may compromise my identity. Unless you have already figured it out." Queen Bee answered.

"So you know." Sabrina sighed.

"Yes, I know that you know." Queen Bee replied.

"And I knew that one day you'd know that I know what you didn't want known." Sabrina added.

"Enough of the 'knows', this becomes bad comedy." Queen Bee droned.

"I know, right?" Sabrina joked. Both girls busted out in laughter.

"Pollen, Buzz Off." Queen Bee said as in a burst of yellow light, she was Chloé Bourgeois again. "Hello, 'Brina." she added with a soft smile. She then sat down on the bad next to Sabrina. "So...how did you figure it out? Normally there are spells that prevent people from putting the clues together so easily."

"Well, I started to notice I got distracted easily when trying to look into your identity, and I kind of fought off my mind wandering off and after a few headaches..." Sabrina said.

"So you used sheer willpower to overcome the glamours? Whoa, that is something. Mast- I mean the one whom gave us the Miraculouses says that is very difficult to do. So that is a real impressive feat." Chloé said. "You probably know about the others too?"

"Looking in their disappearances and the fact you spend a lot of time with them, not that hard to figure out. I think that after breaking through that spell on you, the other glamours wouldn't work either. So you'd know, I didn't tell anyone and you must have noticed I have not been questioning your poor excuses." Sabrina explained.

"Yeah, that's how I eventually figured out you knew. I wanted to try and talk to you about it at some point. The fact the team needed your help made it convenient." Chloé said.

"So you really mean it? It was not a ploy to subtly guide into the reveal?" Sabrina asked.

"I know I have been dishonest in the past and that I was far from a perfect friend. But now? I wouldn't lie about it, not to you. You have skills that we need. Ironically it was due to the insane errands that I used to let you run that you got to develop them. Man I was an alpha-bitch, wasn't I?" Chloé responded.

"It is fine. In the end it worked out fine. You are a better person, we are better friends. And now we can be partners in crime fighting." Sabrina said. "I am not going to let you down this time."

"You never let me down. I put you down, and you rose back up." Chloé said.

"Because you reached out to me again and wanted to make things right." Sabrina said as she hugged her friend. "You are doing so well now. Beloved student, no more bitchy mother, superhero, friends, a boyfriend. What more can you ask for?"

"Well, I wish it didn't take me this long...hey! I do not have a boyfriend, Luka and I are just friends. Why does everyone say that?" Chloé then pouted.

"Hey, just yanking your chain, Chlo!" Sabrina said. "Say, you want to binge the rest of the series with me?"

"Oh, is it that police show you're raving about? Well, it is as good a time as any, I'm here and my other work for today is done...Are those Belgian chocolates?" Chloé asked.

"Kiva gave me a few boxes, as a thank you for dragging him somewhere safe when the Minotaur Akuma attacked. They are very good." Sabrina said.

"Can I have one too, My Queen?" Pollen asked. She had been quiet so far, to let Chloé and Sabrina talk but Pollen had a sweet tooth acting up.

"Oh, almost forgot. Sabrina, this is Pollen, my kwami. She is the source of the Miraculous' power. Pollen, meet Sabrina." Chloé said.

"Nice meeting you. You are really adorable." Sabrina said.

"Thank you, Miss Raincomprix. You have been such a good friend to Chloé. As far as I'm concerned you are already part of the hive." Pollen added.

"Well, I'm going to be a busy bee in the near future. But for now, let us all enjoy some quality time." Sabrina said as they all sat down on the bed, put the media player back on and continued to watch the rest of the police show.

Chloé didn't expect it to go back, but it still went better then expected. She already knew she could count on her friends. She just liked to have that confirmed every day, through the time they share together.

ARTIST COMMENT

Following up from a segment of the last chapter, the heroes were considering bringing in Lila and Sabrina, and they did.

A bit more friendship between Chloé and Sabrina.

And Alix and Lila (my version) would be good friends as they are both fellow athletes. Though Alix is a bit off but not for a bad reason