Lois Kent had a dilemma.
It had all started three days ago when she went down to the dining room of the hotel where she was staying for the Reporters Gala. It was almost dinnertime and Lois had just finished a video call with her husband and son. She missed them but the annual Media Congress and Reporters Gala were unmissable events.
She went to the dining room with the idea of ordering something light and going to sleep. Until she saw her old friend Nadja Chamack.
Lois and Nadja had met, ironically, in London. Both had been sent to cover an event and both reporters got along almost immediately.
She valued Nadja, despite the distance they had become friends, which is why Lois was surprised when she stopped receiving her calls four years ago.
She still received some letters, but they seemed strange to her. Something was off. Sometimes it felt like something Nadja wanted to say was lost along the way.
Therefore, when she saw her friend and the one she assumed was little Manon in the hotel dining room, she did not hesitate to approach her.
She was determined to ask, not interrogate, just ask, the reason for her silence. Lois was not expecting the bomb that fell on her.
"Let me get this straight," Lois said looking her friend in the eyes, "for four years Paris has been under constant attack from, basically, a terrorist."
"Yes."
"Which uses some magic artifact to turn normal people into villains."
"That's right."
"All they need is a person to feel a negative emotion."
"You're getting it."
"And the only ones who can deal with it are basically children with equally powerful artifacts."
"Teens, actually, and they are called Miraculous."
"Oh my God..." Lois said as she massaged her temple. "You know I trust you, but how the hell do you expect me to believe this has been going on for years and no one has noticed?"
This was too much to process and she was Superman's wife for God's sake! Nadja had made sure to send Manon to her room so she could talk with Lois at ease. If even half of what she was saying was true, it made sense why.
"Lois, I understand that it sounds like something impossible but, believe me, this is real."
Nadja's expression was honest. Lois knew her friend wouldn't lie to her but she needed more information before doing anything.
"Why now? If the situation in Paris is as critical as you say, why wait until now to ask for help?"
"Firstly, this is not the first time we have asked for help." Nadja explained, looking Lois in the eyes. "I'm sure Ladybug tried to ask for help when it all started but her request was rejected and treated as a prank. Then the mayor tried a second time but Green Lantern rejected the request and said they were too busy and not to call again."
"I see." Lois murmured.
"Secondly, we all assumed that we were fine. That Ladybug and Chat Noir would fix everything. We were naive."
"What do you mean?"
"That's reason number three. The akumas have become stronger, more dangerous and crueler than ever. They were never a good thing but now? They're worse than ever." Nadja concentrated on her cup of tea in front of her as if she were looking for strength. "It all started four years ago with Stoneheart, a boy who was mocked for not being able to confess to the girl he liked-"
"Wait, what?"
"I told you, Hawkmoth takes advantage of negative emotions. Even if they are justified."
Lois just shook her head in disbelief.
"Okay, continue."
"For two and a half years, everything was relatively easy. Someone was akumatized, caused damage, Ladybug and Chat Noir beat them, Ladybug used the miraculous cure and everything went back to normal. But everything changed a year and a half ago."
The way Nadja trembled made Lois want to stop her, but if she wanted to help then she'd need the details, as painful as they were.
"What happened?"
Both Lois and Nadja prepared themselves mentally for what was to come. It wouldn't be a nice story.
"A year and a half ago there was an especially powerful akuma. Her name was Mother's Wrath. It was created by the fury of three mothers whose daughters were being tormented by bullies. It was not a one time thing, I know that the three girls had already made complaints about it. So it was frustration and anger that built up. One day, one of them was physically hurt and then made fun of. The other two intervened to help their friend but the bullies started attacking them until they made them cry and, believe me, those girls are not the type to cry easily. The mothers were talking together when they saw their daughters arrive with tears in their eyes. That was the first time that Hawkmoth akumatized three people in a single akuma and, thank God, the last so far. It was terrifying. Generally, the akumas fights lasted a day at most but this battle lasted a week."
"It seems you knew the victims personally."
"I know them. One of them is a close friend and the girl who was assaulted is Manon's babysitter. The other two mothers had already been akumatized before, as Ikari Gozen and Style Queen, and were powerful. Adding Sabine, they became the most powerful villain created as of yet. She used her powers to remind every mother in Paris of a time when their children were injured, almost every mother in Paris fell under her spell. If it hadn't been for Ryuko, I would have fallen. It made me remember when some kids made fun of Manon for not having a father. Mother's Wrath and her army took complete control of Paris in less than two days. The entire city was besieged. It was like being under a dictatorship, Mother's Wrath was the queen and murdered hundreds of people using her lackeys."
"But they beat her, right?"
"Yes, but it took them days. Days and nights when those poor children couldn't rest, only fight. And in the end, the price it cost them was very high."
"What do you mean?"
"Hawkmoth achieved a kind of upgrade in his powers. His villains became more powerful and even worse..." Nadja swallowed thickly at what she was going to say, "The akumatized victims remember what they did now and have nightmares about it, which makes them likely to be akumatized again."
"Nadja, did you…?"
Nadja shook her head.
"I've only been akumatized twice, once when I almost lost my job and once during the massive akumatization of hero day. Both occurred before Mother's Wrath."
"What!?" Lois could not help but exclaim before remembering how difficult it must be for her friend and decided not to delve into the subject. She cleared her throat before continuing, "Sorry, but before you continue… how do you know about the nightmares then?"
Nadja turned to her with teary eyes.
"... Manon."
With that one word came a painful silence.
"She's only nine years old." Lois said incredulously.
"My girl has been akumatized five times, the first when she was five years old."
At those words, Lois couldn't help but gasp. Now she understood Nadja's despair. This was the request of a mother whose daughter was a victim of this villain. This villain who even preyed on an innocent, little girl. Fury coursed through her body as she tried to put herself in her shoes and a vision of her little Jon in that kind of situation came to her mind.
"Lois, I'm also a reporter and I know that, in the end, it all comes down to the truth. I know that, even if we are friends, you wouldn't put your reputation at risk if you don't have proof. So what I will ask of you will sound selfish since I already explained the dangers, but please, come with me to Paris. I need you to see what we are going through."
Lois had been thinking about it since Tuesday. It was now Friday, the Reporters Congress was over and she could go home the next day. However, if what Nadja said was true...
Lois hadn't mentioned anything to Clark, she talked to him daily but she didn't want to worry him.
She went to her friend's room and knocked on the door. She was waiting for Nadja to open when a pair of caramel eyes peeked out.
"Hello, Aunt Lois."
"Hello, Manon. Is your mom here?"
"She went to the lobby to get something but she said that if you came then to let you in."
"Thank you sweetie. What do you have there?"
"They're my dolls of the heroes of Paris! Marinette made them for me." the girl said enthusiastically showing her toys. "This is Ladybug and this is Empress Abeille."
"How cute! And who is that one over there?"
"That's Chat Noir," Manon said, but her expression was sad, "but he's gone."
Lois decided not to ask, Manon looked too sad. Lois, seeing the expression of the girl, decided she didn't need anything else to make a decision."
"You know Manon, I think I will go with you to Paris."
Gotham City, Saturday, 6:30 PM
Three young girls walked the streets of Gotham City while arguing.
"Someone remind me why we didn't bring Katsu."
"Chloe, we've only walked like two blocks, don't complain."
"Besides, nobody forced you to wear those 6-inch heels."
"Excuse me, better dead than plain, dear."
"Dead, then you would at least be quiet."
"Stop, both of you! We are in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, it is starting to get dark and, above all, I'm cold!"
"Sorry Maribug/Mari-hime." They apologized at the same time.
"Whatever, let's find a convenience store, buy the honey for Chloe's tea and go back to the hotel."
"By the way, why couldn't you settle for the tea they had at the hotel?"
"Are you kidding? It was not of sufficient quality and the honey was completely artificial. Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous."
"You are too picky."
"Don't talk to me about picky, you don't even leave the house without that bottle of Tabasco."
"That's not true, I also have wasabi from time to time."
Marinette just sighed, she loved her friends but sometimes she just wanted to strangle them. They had decided to go to the nearest supermarket to find honey for Chloe. Tomoe had been very reluctant to let them go alone but it was relatively early, the supermarket was less than a 10-minute walk and she had to go out to fix some business for the tournament in which Kagami would participate.
Immersed in her thoughts, she didn't notice a cat running towards her until the feline was in her arms.
"Hello little one, where did you come from?"
Chloe and Kagami walked over to see the cat, which was trembling in the girl's arms.
"What happened?" Chloe asked when she saw the little animal tremble. "He doesn't look very good."
"He's cold." Marinette said as she opened her coat and placed the kitty near her chest to give her body heat. "Poor thing, he's really cold. I understand you perfectly kitty."
"It's more than that." Kagami said, observing the feline who was still trembling, curled up in her friend's chest. "Look at her paw, it seems frozen?"
The three girls looked at the kitten's hind leg in confusion, which indeed appeared to be frosty. Suddenly they heard a cold, almost metallic voice as if someone was talking through a speaker. The fact that it sounded like a whisper, but still loud enough to hear it, gave the three girls chills.
"Well, what do we have here?"
Marinette had investigated the Gotham City villains before she had even accepted the trip, so she knew who it was.
"Mr. Freeze."
Wasn't she supposed to be the bearer of good luck?
At the same time, on the rooftops of Gotham City.
Robin was jumping on the rooftops of Gotham City accompanied by Batwoman. It was a peculiar combination, but for today Damian would tolerate it.
Damian had been grumpier than usual since the mission his team had with the Young Justice team. It had turned out to be an infiltration and rescue mission, nothing unusual there. They had faced a small army of mercenaries, okay, everything's fine. They had escaped from the place as it was being destroyed, another normal day for them.
What had made Damian so furious had been the lack of information, something that could have been prevented.
It was supposed to be a simple mission. Robin's team would infiltrate the bases of a fourth gang that had managed to kidnap the only prince of the country of Achu, remove the boy and catch the thugs. Simple.
It had not been so simple. It all started when Zinger had sent a message to Maps with the information of the mission, hidden from everyone except the batfamily and Robin's team of course.
When Maps received the information, she had done what she did best, research and map. She had managed to square the place where the young prince was imprisoned quickly.
But she had found something else. The poor girl had been desperate to contact her friends after discovering that the building had a hidden underground structure. She had already seen similar structures linked to the League of Assassins and was concerned that it was a trap.
It turned out that it was a trap.
A trap orchestrated by Talia al Ghul.
Talia had sent for the boy to be kidnapped knowing that the odds of Damian's team being assigned were high.
Maps had discovered it in just 25 minutes.
Unfortunately, she had no way of contacting them and they had fallen into the trap. When Maps was finally able to contact Oracle to let them know what she had discovered, they got in direct contact with Nightwing and they managed to get out of the ambush alive. But not everything was so good.
Somehow his mother had gotten enough kryptonite to create a kind of club and now Jon would be on bedrest for a week.
Great.
Damian had been furious, everything could have been avoided if they had just left Maps as part of HIS team.
"Calm down Robin. I know you're upset but for now, focus on patrolling."
"Easy for you to say Batwoman, it is not your friend who is going to spend a week in bed."
"Aww, you do care."
"Do not be stupid, I simply do not want to tolerate his whining."
They were both silent for a minute, then Kate decided to say what the whole family was thinking.
"It wasn't your fault Damian."
"You know the rules, no names in the field." Damian said, trying to avoid the subject. Seeing Kate's gaze on him, he sighed and added, "Superboy was hurt, and by my mother, that's what matters.
"I understand that you feel frustrated but it was nobody's fault."
"I'll stop you there, Batwoman." Robin said, stopping on a roof while Batwoman did the same. "Number one, that attack was not inevitable. We could have prepared better if they had let Maps investigate."
"You know that both the Justice League and Young Justice wouldn't have allowed it."
"Exactly. If those fools didn't underestimate the strategic value of Maps this would be another story." Damian said with contained fury in his voice. "Number two, if it wasn't my fault, why has father punished my team?"
"Damian, this is not punishment."
"Names." Damian said, but Kate suspected that he was doing it just to annoy her. "Besides, if not punishment, why else has father prohibited missions for my team?"
"He didn't ban them, he's just giving them time for Jo- err, Superboy, to recover."
"Whatever."
"What is number three?" Batwoman only sighed when she saw Damian's annoyed look. "Pipsqueak, when you start to enumerate you always reach a minimum of three, so what's the third?"
Damian sighed. He had agreed to patrol with Batwoman in order to avoid his brothers, he knew they would analyze him to find out what was wrong.
Well, at least Kate gave him the choice to speak or not.
"Mother was targeting me."
"Aren't you being a little hasty in assuming that? I mean, your mother is perfectly capable of doing something like that but just to get your and your father's attention? Aren't you assuming too much?"
"No." Damian's forceful answer made Kate raise an eyebrow. Damian sighed and decided to explain, "The boy she kidnapped is Prince Ali of Achu, he was heading to Gotham City to work with father in a program to help the Gotham Children's Hospital. His kidnapper assured him that someone from the family would rescue him.
"Well, firstly, it's very nice of you to recognize us as your family. Secondly, I understand your point but remember that the mission could very well have been assigned to any other member of the family."
"But she was ready for my team."
"Even so…"
"You do not understand. She knew, do not ask me how, that my friends and I would go." Damian rubbed his temples while explaining, "She attacked Kent for two reasons: because he is the strongest link in my team, as far as power I mean. She wanted to send a message. If she can hurt Superboy, she can hurt us all."
"And the second reason?"
"Kent was my first friend."
Kate had to prick her ear to hear Damian's murmur. She was indeed honored that Damian trusted her enough but she didn't know how to answer that. She couldn't tell him that his mother wouldn't do that, Talia Al Ghul was a bitch who would not hesitate to skin her own son in order to fulfill her goals. The idea of Talia planning everything so that Damian would fall into her trap was not far-fetched.
So Kate was stuck.
Just when she was going to open her mouth to reply to Damian, still unsure of what to say, Oracle's voice was heard through her communicators.
"Guys, there seems to be a problem."
"Oracle, situation report."
"Batman, it seems that Mr. Freeze is doing his thing. I have reports of activity near Crime Alley."
"This cold night must be like a summer's day to him."
"Nightwing, even I think that joke was bad."
"Shut up Batgirl! My brain is numb."
"And that is different from your usual self how…?"
"Really Timmy? You too, brother?"
"No names."
"Just shut up!"
"Signal, don't start!"
"Fuck all of you."
"What was that for Red Hood?"
"I… just wanted to say it."
Everyone was silent until Black Bat spoke.
"Who will go?"
"Robin and I are close, we'll take care of it."
"If you need help, request it immediately."
"We can do this alone, father."
Kate sighed as she and Robin jumped and began their trek towards Crime Alley. She wanted to help the boy.
Well, maybe kicking some bad guys' butts would clear Robin's mind.
Marinette was starting to get mad.
Of all the villains she could have encountered on her first night in Gotham, why did it have to be Mr. Freeze?
She was cold before, but now she was freezing and that made her sleepy. And since she couldn't sleep, she was getting angry.
Mr. Freeze had led the three girls and the kitten, still nestled in Marinette's chest, to a kind of cellar near an alley.
"Now, if you little girls stay good and silent, everything will be fine."
Marinette knew that was probably true. Of all the Gotham villains, Mr. Freeze was the least dangerous. Not because he wasn't capable of hurting them but because the man was not as heartless as the other villains.
But she was cold!
Whatever the villain was planning, a bank robbery judging by the villain's lackeys and the map on the wall, Marinette wished he had done it another day.
Don't get her wrong, in addition to fighting akumas, Ladybug had thwarted bank robberies and other crimes before.
But she was cold, sleepy and annoyed.
Kagami and Chloe were sitting on the ground, on either side of her, exchanging glances with Marinette and understanding her silent message.
"For now, stay still."
They both looked at her expectantly but nodded.
Marinette, as I said earlier, had thoroughly investigated Gotham City. She knew that, of all the cities in America, Gotham City had the largest and most organized team of heroes, or vigilantes, whatever.
The batfamily was always patrolling at night. Their efficiency was something Marinette greatly admired, so she sat down and waited. Until she saw him.
On the rooftop of the building across the street was Robin. Marinette could see him from afar, that color palette was terrible, and she decided to buy a little time as the local heroes arrived.
"And what is your brilliant plan?" Mr. Freeze turned towards her as she continued, "I mean, you brought us here and you seem to be planning something big. Aren't you afraid of getting caught?"
"Shut up, brat." One of Mr. Freeze's lackeys rebuked. "That is none of your concern."
"I am cold, and when I'm cold I talk your ears off. Do you want me to shut up? Give me a blanket."
"Listen girl-"
"I repeat my question, aren't you afraid?"
"What should I be afraid of?" Mr. Freeze's voice echoed in the cellar.
"I don't know, what about Batman? He always stops you. Am I right?"
"The bat isn't here."
"But he could come, look, I'm not from around here but even I know that Batman has a great team behind him. You only have two helpers."
"What do you mean brat!? Don't underestimate us!"
"Shut up at once!"
"I told you, if you want me to be quiet, give us a blanket for me and the kitten."
"If you don't shut up, you, your friends and the damn cat will die!"
At those words, Marinette's gaze sharpened. She stopped shaking and spoke with a tone of authority that she hadn't had a minute ago.
"No, you will not. Before you even think about harming this poor, little kitten, I'm going to give you a good beating.
Batwoman let out a low whistle.
"That girl has guts."
"We have to hurry, right now she is in danger."
Damian was actually impressed.
The girl didn't look scared, even being held hostage by one of Gotham's criminals. On the contrary, she had remained calm. Damian was sure she had seen him from across the street before starting to speak so he could conclude that she was distracting them with her chatter to give them a chance to interfere while Mr. Freeze and his minions were caught off guard.
That was already enough to pleasantly surprise Damian.
But the fact that she continued to protect the cat, even when she was in an unfavorable situation, and the threat she had sent to Mr. Freeze's henchmen had earned her Damian's respect.
Now he was a little curious about the girl.
"Do you really think you can threaten us, little girl?"
"Besides, there are not only two of us, there are three more of us on the other side of the cellar waiting in case Batman or his assistants appear."
Okay, that was valuable information that both Robin and Batwoman appreciated.
"Enough!" Mr. Freeze's voice, despite not having yelled, echoed around the room. "What do you want?"
"I want a blanket, I'm cold!"
"Give her the damn blanket."
One of Freeze's henchmen on the other side of the cellar emerged from where he was hiding, giving the vigilantes an idea of where the others were hiding.
"Thank you."
When the man approached the girls with the blanket, the girl reached out and took it. She carefully grasped the cat cuddled against her chest and wrapped it in the blanket.
"What are you doing? I thought you were cold."
"I'm cold, but he's colder. It looks like one of you shot the poor thing with your freezing weapons."
"I'm sure it was Clayton, he's the only one who gets one of those and uses it to scare cats."
Another helpful fact. Either Freeze's henchmen were idiots or the girl was very smart. Robin suspected it was a bit of both.
"Yes, well, how brave of you. Scaring kittens."
"Hey, little bitch! Who do you think you are?!"
Ah, and there's Clayton. Perfect.
"The girl is good. She's been sending us information and these fools don't even know it."
Robin nodded at Batwoman's words. Now he was even more curious about the girl. He made a mental note to investigate her later, for now, it was time for the show.
"Damnit, I already sound like Lucy."
Batwoman and Robin landed in the hold and neutralized Clayton first, then the battle began.
Blows were flying and when one of Mr. Freeze's henchmen decided to use the hostages, he was in for a surprise.
After Marinette put the kitten away, she turned towards her friends. Seeing that they were about to be attacked, she spoke loudly in French.
"Aller!"
At the order, the three girls attacked Freeze's men while Batwoman and Robin were dealing with Mr. Freeze and the other henchman who had taken possession of this Clayton's weapon.
Robin turned to see her and was surprised.
The girl who had been giving them clues for a few minutes was the clear leader. The three began to fight and in just a few seconds they had the three men subdued.
At that exact moment, he and Batwoman finished submitting Mr. Freeze and the other subject.
Robin turned to see the girls and was dazzled by a pair of fierce, blue eyes.
Their glances met.
At that moment one of the guys got up, ready to attack, but was stopped by a high kick from the girl.
After verifying that the kitten and her friends were fine, she turned to him once more.
Now, for sure, Robin had been dazzled by this girl and his curiosity increased.