Chapter 15: The Reinforcements

Before we begin, I am going to explain something: why Master Fu is still Guardian of the Miraculous, but why Zoe became Vesperia. Now, Chloe did lose the right to the Bee Miraculous, but in a different way that I will explain.

And fear not, Chloe fans: she will have her chance at redemption here and now.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news," said Nadja Chamack. "Hawk Moth has caused havoc once more in Lyon. Today's villain is Volpina, someone we've seen before, and it looks like Cat Noir is fighting her single-handedly! Let's hope Ladybug will join him soon."

"Oh, Tom," said Sabine Cheng, sitting next to her husband on the sofa, as they watched the broadcast. "That's not far from Marinette's hotel! I hope she'll be alright."

"Don't worry, dear," said Tom Dupain. "Ladybug will join Cat Noir before long. Besides, you know how Marinette is - she always hides from akumas. I expect she'll be in the hotel room, finding a way to keep her spirits up."

Meanwhile, Ladybug swung from rooftop to rooftop like Tarzan, heading back to Paris. She knew Cat Noir couldn't fight Volpina off himself. And she knew she couldn't too. It was time for some more cooks to save the soup.

Ladybug landed at Master Fu's house in town. She knocked on the door, and was allowed in by the old man. Once safe, she de-transformed.

"Thank you, Master," she said. "I need your help. Cat Noir is fighting Volpina on his own!"

"Indeed. We have to put a stop to this," said Master Fu. He took out the Miracle Box.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, pick an ally you can trust to fight alongside you on this mission," he said. "Choose wisely; such power's on hand to serve a greater good. Once the mission is over, you must retrieve the Miraculous from them.

"I think I know who we need," said Marinette. She picked the Fox Necklace, the Turtle and Snake Bracelets, the Bee Hair-pin, and the Horse glasses.
"Thank you, Master," said Marinette, re-transforming into Ladybug. "I'll bring these back!"

And off she went. She returned to a wreck of a town, and Cat Noir still valiantly trying to overpower Volpina.

Ladybug swooped down, towards the hotel. The Marinette/Lila divide had been forgotten in that moment, for everyone was hiding together: Ladybug found Alya, Nino, Zoe and Luka hiding out in a dumpster.

"Ladybug, I'm so glad you came," said Alya. She was a particularly ardent fan of Ladybug and Cat Noir, but of course she was unaware of their identities.

"Well, I'm glad to find both of you, because I need your help," said Ladybug. She gave each of the Miraculouses to them, and they each met their respective kwamis: Trixx, Wayzz, Pollen and Sass.

"You know what to do," said Ladybug. "I'll need them back once we're done."

"Trixx, Let's Pounce!" said Alya, and turned into Rena Rouge.

"Wayzz, Shell On!" said Nino, and turned into Carapace.

"Pollen, Buzz On!" said Zoe, and turned into Vesperia.

"Sass, Scales Slither!" said Luka, and turned into Viperion.

The five superheroes headed towards the battlefield.

"Cat Noir's trying to take down Volpina," explained Ladybug, "and he needs your help."

Just then, she spotted the security guard she - as Marinette - had met earlier being loaded into an ambulance.

"Do any of you know what happened to that guy?" she asked.

A third security guard, who was watching his friend being put into the ambulance, answered.

"He was hit in the head with a mallet," he explained; "he was trying to stop a break-in."

"Thanks," said Ladybug. "Let's find Cat Noir."

It wasn't long before they did. He was using every bit of effort he had to fight Volpina, who was now trying to fence him in with some more illusions of hers.

"Excuse me, Volpina," said Rena Rouge, "but I am the real master of illusion!"

"Rena Rouge?" scoffed Volpina. "You're sadly mistaken!"

"Thanks for coming, m'lady, Carapace, Vesperia, Viperion," said Cat Noir.

"Have you seen any of the other classmates, Cat?" said Ladybug.

"Max and Kim had fallen down the stairs trying to get away," said Cat Noir. "Chloe might be around, though; I saw her."

"Righto," said Ladybug. "I'll go and find her. I need to make sure she's safe."

Indeed, Ladybug did find Chloe, but she wasn't just trying to ensure her protection.

You see, Chloe had been the previous user of the Bee Miraculous - Queen Bee. However, on one mission, she had become drunk and revealed her identity, as Chloe Bourgeois, to the whole town - including Hawk Moth. Presently, Ladybug and Cat Noir had taken the Miraculous from her, because it wasn't safe for her to use it anymore.

It was a strange twist when they gave it to her sister, Zoe. But the point was, Ladybug was giving Chloe another chance at being a superhero.

"Chloe!" she said. "There you are. Thank goodness you're alright."

"Ugh, it's about time!" scoffed Chloe. "I'm stuck without my servant, Sabrina, and I can't get my nails done!"

"You can get your nails done later, Chloe," said Ladybug briskly. "Right now, I need your help."

"My help?" exclaimed Chloe, as Ladybug opened her yo-yo.

"Chloe Bourgeois, I'm giving you another chance at being a Miraculous holder. Here is the Miraculous of the Horse, which grants you the power of Teleportation. You'll use it for the greater good. Once the job is done, you must return the Miraculous to me - and you'll keep your identity a secret this time. Can I trust you?"

"Well - alright!" said Chloe. Out came Kaalki, the Horse kwami.

"Miss Chloe," she said, "can I count on you not to make yourself known? Put these glasses on, if you will."

"Ugh, these glasses make me look ridiculous! Utterly ri-diculous!" scoffed Chloe.

"Never mind about that," said Kaalki, "now say the words: Kaalki, Full Gallop!"

"Kaalki, Full Gallop!" commanded Chloe. She was covered by a black spandex bodysuit, turning her into a new, horse-themed hero.

"What can I call myself now?" thought Chloe aloud. "Ascot? Sounds appropriate!"

"Come on, then, Ascot," said Ladybug. "We've a baddie to take down!"

But as they rushed out of the hotel, there was a diversion.

"There he is!" yelled a man, who Ladybug identified as the third security guard. "The guy who jumped my friend! Ladybug, do something!"

Ladybug wasn't surprised to find herself being recognised. She watched as the man in question - one wearing a black hoodie, like the one in the security footage - running like the wind. People threw cans at him to try and stop him, but he was undeterred - he jumped onto a nearby motorbike and sped away.

Ladybug and Ascot rushed to join the others, who were trying to keep Volpina at bay. She got their attention.

"Listen up, guys!" she called. "We've another situation on our hands - we've been asked to catch a criminal. He's running away from the hotel, because he wounded another security guard!"

"You think he might be the killer?" said Cat Noir.

"That's right, so we're going to have to split up into teams. Cat, you take Carapace, Vesperia and Ascot - the new Horse Miraculous wielder - with you and try to catch the criminal."

"Righto, m'lady," said Cat Noir. "Come on guys."

He led Vesperia, Ascot and Carapace away. Ladybug turned Rena Rouge and Viperion.

"Rena, Viperion, we're gonna take Volpina down. It's gonna be a tough battle, but we're gonna do it somehow."

Cat Noir, Carapace, Vesperia and Ascot ran towards a used car lot. They were building up their plan.

"Ascot, can you guess where the criminal could be going?" Cat Noir asked.

"There is one place in Lyon where criminals hide out," said Ascot. "The Bron commune in Lyon."

"That's our shot, then," said Cat Noir. "Teleport us there when I give the cue. If we catch him, Vesperia, you immobilise him. Then, Carapace, use your Shell-ter to block him."

"Got it," chorused the fellow heroes.

"In the meantime, let's make a quick entry," said Cat Noir sneakily. He set his sights on a black 2010 Renault Grand Scenic at the front - and by a great stroke of luck, the keys were in the ignition.

"Jump in," said Cat Noir. He took the driver's seat, Ascot sat next to him, and Carapace and Vesperia sat in the middle row.

"Fasten your seatbelts, fellas," ordered Cat Noir, starting the engine. "LET'S GO!"

He put his foot on the accelerator, and drove out of the car lot at top speed. The owner saw.

"HEY!" he shouted. "A GUY DRESSED UP AS A CAT Just STOLE A CAR I WAS TRYING TO SELL!"

"Alright Ascot," said Cat Noir, as he drove his friends along the busy street. "Use your power in three... two... one..."

"VOYAGE!" shouted Ascot. A portal opened, and the minivan sailed through to Bron.

And on goes the fight! Catch us in Chapters 16 and 17, where the killer will be caught!