Here we go everybody! It's HEROES DAY!

Couple of things in House Keeping-

There's a song I was going to make reference to at the beginning here, but it just didn't flow right. So instead, I just played it on repeat while I typed :) If you'd like to listen to it to get into the Heroes Day spirit, it is Heroes (We Could Be) by Alesso. It's available on Spotify.

2. I'm posting this week's chapter early and may or may not be posting next week. I'm going on vacation (an OVERDUE and WELCOME vacation!) with an 8 hour bus ride where I may or may not get any writing done. I'll bring everything I need just incase inspiration strikes. Who knows? Maybe I'll finish the last 6 chapters...

3. Also, THANK YOU for all of your kind reviews! I LOVE getting feedback because I can see how many people are reading, but it means SO MUCH MORE when you read a review from an ACTUAL person who has read your story. For those of you who have been enjoying my Miraculous Trilogy since the beginning, thank you for staying loyal and thank you to the readers who have picked it up along the way! If you've been reading since the beginning, feel free to leave a comment and I might mention y'all over the next couple of chapters.

Well, without further adieu, enjoy!

HEROES DAY

"Rise and shine everyone! Today is HEROES DAY! A day when you too can be a hero! Here's a song to get you in the mood this morning…"

Marinette groaned as her radio began blasting a song about being heroes. She fumbled for her device, shutting it off. Tikki blinked beside her.

"Happy Heroes Day, Tikki." The girl rubbed a hand across her weary face.

The kwami stretched and yawned. "Good morning, Marinette. Did you get enough sleep last night?"

"I think I got a solid two or three hours. That villain from last night was tough." Marinette hefted herself out of bed and down her ladder. Tikki floated behind her. "Come on Tikki. We've got to get ready for Heroes Day!"

xXx

Marinette entered the bakery as her mother and father worked on a statue of Ladybug made out of baked goods. "Wow guys! It's coming along great!" Tom paused to take stock of his progress.

"It does look pretty good, doesn't it? We did have an excellent model for the head after all!" He gave his daughter a wink. Marinette turned bright red as she smiled. That was one of the most nerve wracking two hours of her life. Her attention shifted to her mother as she handed her a box of macarons.

"Here are your macarons for Heroes Day, sweetie. Do you have everything ready for after school?"

"Mhmn. Adrien's going to come over with me during lunch to help with the finishing touches." As Marinette swiped a few cookies for Tikki to munch on, she noticed the time. "Yikes! I've got to get going. See you at lunch break!" She dashed out the door.

Tom and Sabine shook their heads. Marinette had changed in the past year and a half, but there were some things about her that would never change.

xXx

The entire school was a buzz. It was finally Heroes Day! Many people elected to wear something that reflected their favorite superhero. There were MANY red and black outfits scattered amongst the crowd. The bell rang and students filed into their classrooms. Ms. Bustier allowed her students to chatter on for a minute before commanding their attention.

"Good morning, students. Happy Heroes Day!"

"Happy Heroes Day!" They chirped back.

"As you all know, Heroes Day is when everyday citizens perform good deeds for other people's benefit. I remember that we had some pretty creative ideas last year," Ms. Bustier clicked a button on her slide remote, changing the screen behind her. An image of the Miraculous Squad filled the screen. "But this year, we have a group of actual heroes who have inspired all of us with their acts of heroism! It's more than what happens in comic books or fairy tales- being a hero is something that anyone can do. So," She clasped her hands. "What heroic deeds does everyone have planned for today?"

Nino stood up. "Well, I used to not do anything because I didn't think that I had anything heroic to offer." He fiddled with his headphones. "But these new heroes have shown me that I can do anything! So this year, an older friend of mine," He winked at Marinette and Adrien. "He helped me find a local retirement home that doesn't get many visitors. We're going to go hang out with them and play their favorite songs." The DJ sat as his classmates applauded.

"That sounds amazing, Nino! I hope you get to play some funky jams!" Ms. Bustier attempted a rappers stance as the class laughed and groaned. "Alya? What will you be doing?" The reporter stood, adjusting her glasses.

"Last year at my old school, I researched and wrote an article about the standards that public buildings needed to have in regard to disabled access. I've recently discovered that our school could be doing more to help handicap kids attend, so Chloe hooked me up with her dad and we're going to take a look at how to improve the buildings in our district!" Alya nodded her thanks to the blonde as she sat.

"I'll go next." Chloe stood, tossing her hair over shoulder. "Through my connections with Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale, Sabrina and I are helping organize a Heroes Day concert that will raise money for the victims of the Australian wildfires. We even made t-shirts to sell!" Sabrina stood to show one off. Several hands raised, committing to buying one. "If you've finished with your Heroes Day festivities by tonight, we'd love to have you for our event."

"Wonderful, Chloe! I am so proud of you!" The girl blushed under her teacher's praise.

"Wow! That's so great, Chloe!" Everyone's head turned to the back of the class. Many were surprised to see Lila in school after the Scarlet Moth incident. However, there wasn't much evidence against her, so she only received an after-school detention the day before for 'skipping class'. "You and I should have partnered up since both of our Heroes Day projects have to do with the environment."

"You shared your project with us last week, right Lila?" Ms. Bustier gently chided. "Let's let others share what they're doing first and maybe you can give us an update before lunch." She directed her attention back to the front of the room. "Marinette? Adrien? What are the two of you doing?"

Marinette stood. "Well, to start things off, I brought everyone's favorite macarons. Please pass the box around. Since I bring these every year, I think you all know the drill." She chuckled along with everyone else. "However, I've got something else up my sleeve this year. As many of you know, my great Uncle Cheng won World's Greatest Chief last year. While he was here, he left my parents an old family cookbook with ancient recipes that have never been tasted outside of China!" Marinette's voice went up in excitement. "They have chosen the best recipes and will be debuting them for Chinese New Year. But," She raised a finger. "They are giving our class an exclusive taste test this evening before the Help Australia concert!"

The class cheered. Ms. Bustier attempted to regain order. "Alright everyone! Adrien, where do you fit in?"

"Marinette's parents were gracious enough to extend the invitation to my Chinese lesson classmates as well, so I will be helping them with making a few dishes and serving tonight."

"That sounds like a lot to do…" Marinette waved a hand.

"Thanks to Adrien's father's assistant Nathalie, we were able to schedule when do to everything. Adrien and I will just be doing some last-minute things during the lunch break today."

RING

"Speaking of lunch, there's the bell. Sorry we weren't able to hear an update, Lila. See you all back here after lunch!"

xXx

Lila slunk out of the school, knowing that time was of the essence. Once she was free of prying eyes, she dashed down the street to where a car was waiting. She willed the machine to drive faster. The Agreste mansion wasn't that far away from the school, but adrenaline and excitement flowed through her veins. It's finally time for Project Catalyst! The girl bounced in her seat.

Before she knew it, she found herself in Gabriel's office. "Am I late?"

"Not at all, Ms. Rossi. The Heroes Day parade is set to start in thirty minutes. There is still time." Gabriel turned to the painting of Emile, pressing the secret buttons to admit them into the lair. Lila was surprised to find a television switched to the news. Gabriel gently nudged away several white butterflies who had found a perch on the monitor.

"Dark wings, RISE!" Lila shielded her eyes from the bright light of Hawkmoth's transformation. As she blinked, he waltzed over to her, a dark creature in his outstretched hand. "Are you ready for Phase One?"

"Let's do this!" There was something about the familiar feeling of the akuma washing over her; it was addictive. If only there was a way to always feel this way…

"Begin your illusion, Volpina."

The girl inwardly cursed Hawkmoth for interrupting her revelry; however, if she wanted Ladybug and Marinette out of the way with Adrien all to herself, there was still work to be done.

xXx

Alya pulled Nino towards the Champ de Mars garden in front of the Eiffel Tower. They had run there for their lunch break so they could see the Heroes Day parade before class started back. As Nino paid for their lunch from a street vendor, Alya smiled at her boyfriend. They had come so far from their time being locked in at the zoo. Now the teens were celebrating Heroes Day as actual superheroes! There was nothing that could spoil this day…

"Mommy? Did Ladybug change her costume?" Alya jerked her head in the direction of the little girl's question. She then followed the child's finger as she pointed to two figures standing atop one of the Heroes Day balloons.

"What?" She muttered. Alya pulled out her phone, using the zoom feature as she pressed record. Sure enough, a reverse colored Ladybug was facing a terrified looking Chat Noir.

"Move out of the way everyone! She's been akumatized!" The black cat waved the crowds away.

"Marinette?" Alya's heart sank to her stomach. Nino rushed over.

"Al! What's happening?" She handed him her phone so he could see.

"There's something wrong. Mar- I mean, Ladybug and Chat Noir are fighting! He said that she had been akumatized…"

The crowd gasped as Ladybug took control of Chat Noir's baton and struck him across the face. The blow sent him flying to the next balloon.

"GIVE ME YOUR MIRACULOUS, YOU DUMB CAT!" Ladybug roared. "It's useless to go up against Hawkmoth! We've lost. Time to join the winning side!" Alya clung to Nino's arm as they watched everything unfold. They were too mesmerized to transform themselves.

Chat struggled to his feet, the polyurethane material of the balloon shifting under him. "There's always hope, Ladybug. In the meantime, here's something else you can give to dear old Hawkmoth. CATACLYSM!"

Ladybug grabbed the hand with the destructive power, turning it and forcing it into Chat's chest. He gurgled in surprise before disintegrating.

"NO!" Alya crumbled to the ground, sobbing. Nino held her, his eyes closed as tears crept down his cheeks. Everyone around them was screaming, running away from their once beloved protector as she cackled.

"WEEP IN DESPAIR, PEOPLE OF PARIS! Hawkmoth has won! There is no one left to protect you!" She leapt from her balloon to a nearby rooftop where she promptly disappeared.

Nino knew that they needed to get to safety before their questions could be answered. "Alya, Alya we have to move." He tugged her arm as she sat in the dirt, moaning. He needed to say something, anything, to get her moving."Al. What if this is like what happened with Lila and Marinette a couple days ago? What if this is all an illusion?"

That snapped her out of her grief. "Really? You think?" She stood, her legs shaky.

"I don't know. It's possible. It's also possible that what we saw actually happened. But we need to get somewhere safe first." He gripped her shoulders. "Let's head back to the school. We can call the guys on the way."

Having something to do gave Alya the strength to move forward. This time, it was Nino pulling her along as she frantically dialed Marinette's number.

"Come girl, pick up!"

xXx

Hawkmoth smiled as he took a deep breath. "So much sadness… So much despair and grief… I can almost smell it! I sense the chasm of fear widening to envelop every person in Paris." He turned to his young protégée. "You performed your first role very well, Volpina."

She curtsied. "Thanks Hawkmoth."

The man returned his gaze to the city below his lair. He placed a finger to his ear. "Nathalie, it is time. Please join us." Hawkmoth's hands fell into place atop his cane. "Phase One is complete. It is time to initiate Phase Two."