Today I started working on the next extra for this story - and it's going to be a good one! But that will likely be updated before the story.

Chapter 14: Masquerade

Alix raised an eyebrow.

"You're spending lunch in the library again?" She asked.

"Yes," Lacy replied. "Why is that a surprise?"

"You're almost never in the library," Alix replied. "But this is the third time this week."

Sadie walked up to the two girls, slinging an arm around Lacy. "It's because we're meeting a cute girl there."

Lacy could feel the blush spread through her cheeks. "What? No we're n- I mean, Zoe's pretty, but it's not - Sadie."

Sadie laughed. "You know I'm right."

Alix rolled her eyes. "Oh, it's that type of thing."

"We're comparing notes between Greek and Celtic mythology," Lacy argued.

"Uh huh," Sadie said.

"That's all this is!"

"We spent lunch with her yesterday," Sadie said. "And the day before. And rehearsal these last three days. And again tonight!"

"We can't talk much during a rehearsal," Lacy argued. "We're just hanging out and talking. That's all."

"Well, have fun with just hanging out," Alix replied. "I'll be in the art room with Nath."

"Enjoy," Sadie said. "Come on, Chicken Little-"

"Excuse me," Lacy cut off, finally knocking Sadie's arm off her shoulder. "What did you just call me?"

"Chicken little," Sadie repeated. "Because you're the chicken hero."

Lacy opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off by Orikko.

"Rooster," he yelled, loud enough to be heard from inside Lacy's school bag. "Not chicken."

Alix frowned. "But a rooster is-"

"You don't want to start," Lacy warned. "Anyways, we need to go."

She tugged Sadie's sleeve to get her to leave, and the two headed for the library.

"How come you-"

"We're not having this conversation," Lacy interrupted.

"You don't even know what I was going to say!" Sadie argued.

"Yes I do!" Lacy said. "You do this every time I - every time you think I have a crush on someone."

"You had a crush on my brother," Sadie argued. "That gives me infinite teasing rights."

"Does not!"

"Does too!"

"Does not!"

The conversation was thankfully interrupted by Zoe waving them down.

The more Lacy enjoyed lunch, the more she feared interruption by an akuma.

Mylene joined them halfway through. She didn't know much about mythology, but didn't mind Zoe and Lacy explaining in depth. Sadie mostly sat back and watched, seemingly entertained.

The akuma never came, but as the three of them packed up to head back to class, Chloe appeared.

"Ugh, I've been so bored all lunch," she complained, leaning dramatically on Lacy's chair. "Where has everyone been?"

"Here," Lacy said, turning her neck at a strange ankle to look up at Chloe's

"Why?" Chloe asked. "You don't like libraries."

"What? I - why does everyone keep saying that?"

Zoe chuckled.

"Oh, you again," Chloe said. "Talking theater?"

"No, mythology," Zoe replied.

"Oh, I didn't know Mylene was in to that," Chloe admitted.

"I'm not really," Mylene replied. "But I had some time after meeting with my club, and Zoe explains it really well."

Adrien appeared behind Chloe, nearly startling Lacy out of her chair.

"I thought the two of you would be sick of each other by now," Chloe continued. "With all the time you've been spending together."

"That's not a very nice thing to say," Adrien scolded.

Chloe flinched. "Adrien. Didn't see you there."

"Chloe, if you want my opinion-" Lacy started.

"Shush it," Chloe replied, before turning back to Adrien. "I didn't mean it that way. Sorry."

"It's fine, I understood what you meant," Mylene said. "But honestly, Zoe and I don't get to talk much during rehearsal anymore. So lunches like this are nice!"

"Maybe tomorrow you can join us!" Mylene suggested.

"You've already planned to meet again tomorrow?" Chloe questioned.

Lacy glanced up again, a little concerned about the jealousy bleeding through Chloe's voice.

"We should be getting back," Zoe said, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Good idea," Lacy agreed, also standing up. "We shouldn't keep class waiting."

"We still have a few minutes," Chloe said, as if she had any concept of time.

"It's good to be early," Lacy said, tugging at Chloe's arm to get her to go.

"Ugh," Sadie groaned, pushing her remaining books in her bag. "Yeah, probably."

Chloe brushed her hand off. "I am perfectly capable of arriving to class on time without your help."

"Well, I'm going to go," Zoe said. "See you all later."

"Yeah, bye," Chloe replied.

"See you tonight?" Mylene asked. "Before rehearsal?"

"Ugh," Chloe complained. "Why do you spend so much time with her?"

"Wh - she's my friend?" Mylene replied.

"That's not any of your business," Sadie snapped.

"So am I? Right?" Chloe asked.

"You're not acting like it right now," Mylene muttered.

Chloe snarled. "Well she's not much better! Do you even know her? Every time I've talked to her, she's been acting! Haven't you noticed she just copied everyone's mannerisms? She's a fraud!"

Zoe made a sound, and darted in one direction. Chloe huffed, and walked off in another.

Lacy and Sadie exchanged looks, and Sadie chased after Zoe and Lacy after Chloe.

Potential akuma. Near library.

Marinette showed the text to Alya, who passed it to Nino.

When her phone made it back to Marinette, another text appeared.

Chloe's fault.

"Someone should check on Mylene," Marinette said, reading the text again.

"Text Ivan," Alya suggested. "We have more important problems."

"We don't know there's an Akuma ye-" Nino was cut off by a scream.

Marinette's phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Sadie.

akuma. near library. some sort of shapeshifter. dont count on chloe.

"That's going to be a fun story," Marinette said.

"Shapeshifter?" Alya said, grabbing Marinette's phone.

"Yeah," Marinette said. "If it's anything like Chameleon, we'd need Lacy. Let me text her real quick-"

"Maybe one of us should find her?" Nino suggested. "Since she doesn't always check her phone?"

"She will when the akuma alert goes off," Marinette said, sending the text. "Shapeshifter - not having the bee will be a pain, but invisibility is going to be useful. Let me text Juleka real quick."

When Marinette finished texting everyone and could transform, a team of heroes had already begun forming on the rooftop.

"No Kota yet?" Ladybug noted, when she landed. "And no Chat either."

"They're chasing Chloe down," Stampede said. "Long story."

Ladybug did a mental check of who had arrived. Lis Tigre and Viperion had both come, as requested, and Stampede and Pigmy had also transformed. And, of course, Rena Rouge and Carapace.

"So what's the power set?" Rena Rouge asked.

"Sounds a lot like Chamelion, from what Sa - sorry, Stampede was telling us," Pigmy said. "The akuma, Masquerade, looks people in the eye and then transforms into them."

"And she can transform back, too," Stampede said.

"Does she knock out the person she transforms into?" Ladybug asked.

"No," Stampede said. "I would know, I was the first person she transformed into."

"Should we have some type of code?" Rena Rouge asked. "So we know who's Masquerade and who's themselves?"

"Well, Kota would know," Ladybug said. "But she's not here."

"Did you text her?" Pigmy asked.

"Yeah," Ladybug replied.

"It's La - right, sorry, Kota - she doesn't always check her phone," Stampede supplied usefully.

"What about the mouse?" Viperion asked. "Hard to make eyes contact with someone that small."

"The last mouse was Mylene, right?" Stampede asked. "She's not in a good mood right now."

"You could always use it again," Viperion suggested.

"That's true," Ladybug said.

"I thought you said we can't double wield?" Pigmy asked.

"We're not supposed to," Ladybug said. "But I can for brief periods of time. Still, I don't-"

"What if you don't?" Rena Rouge interrupted. "Someone - maybe Carapace - could hold onto your earrings while you transform, and then we could - oh, we could cast a shelter around the akuma while you change back."

Lis Tigre cleared her throat. "Or I could turn invisible."

"That works too," Rena Rouge said.

"I was thinking numbers," Viperion said.

"What about a mirage?" Carapace suggested.

"How about you let me tell you what I've already planned, than you can make suggestions?" Ladybug asked.

"Right, go ahead."

"Lis, on my signal, turn invisible and sneak up on - what was the name? Masquerade? When that happens, Viperion I want you to activate your second chance. Until then, we need to distract Masquerade and get her someplace where there's a lot of visibility."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Stampede said, nodding behind Ladybug.

Ladybug turned to see Pegasus and Roi Singe arrive.

"Yes, great," Ladybug said. "Pegasus, we need to send the akuma someplace with lots of open space and not a lot of hiding options."

"The stadium?" Pegasus asked.

"Good idea," Ladybug agreed. "Roi Singe, Stampede, go with him. Stampede will catch you up on Masquerade's powers-"

"Mylene already has," Pegasus replied. "Though we have yet to see if she has an additional, more offensive power. I calculate a 90% chance she does."

"That's something to watch out for," Ladybug said. "Roi, if you can, hit her with your powers, but our priority right now is getting her out of the school and somewhere where we can maintain sight of her. The rest of us will head to the stadium. Now, any additional suggestions?"

"No mirage?" Rena Rouge asked.

"No," Ladybug said. "We don't want to obscure our vision of her."

"Makes sense," Rena Rouge agreed. "Alright, let's do this!"

Lacy followed Chloe into an empty classroom, Adrien right behind her.

"I don't want to hear it," Chloe said, not looking at either of them.

"Chloe," Adrien said.

"I said I don't want to hear it."

"What happened?" Lacy asked.

Chloe huffed. "You were there."

"Chloe-"

"Don't Chloe me!" Chloe turned on her heels so she was facing Lacy and Adrien. "I don't want to hear it!"

"I don't even know what it is!" Lacy replied.

"You know!" Chloe responded. "Chloe, be nice. Chloe, why are you like this? Chloe, I thought you were doing better!"

"You are doing better," Lacy said. "One relapse isn't going to change that. Just help us understand why."

"Lacy's right," Adrien agreed. "You've been working really hard at getting better, we know that. This doesn't change that."

"Obviously, something about Zoe was pushing your buttons today," Lacy said. "Or maybe it was just the last straw and you've been upset about something else?"

"I just don't like her," Chloe replied, crossing her arms.

"Why?" Adrien asked.

"I don't know. Her name is too similar to mine?"

Lacy mentally facepalmed. "You can't - I mean, you can, but you realize - peoples names sound similar sometimes? Like at camp, there's four Casey's, two Tracy's, a Stacy, and a Macy. People mix up our names all the time. And of course, all the Casey's spell it differently - as if having four Casey's wasn't confusing enough in the first place. Especially considering-"

"Lacy, does this have a point?" Chloe interrupted.

"Uh, no, not really."

"There's something else behind this," Adrien said. "I know you well enough by now."

"Probably," Chloe said, crossing her arms again. "How should I know?"

"Look, maybe this is something you should talk to your therapist about, and not us," Lacy said. "I just need to make sure you're alright."

"I'm not going to get akumatized, if that's what you're worried about," Chloe deflected. "Oh, and speaking of therapy, did you ever find a therapist?"

"Well, no, but there's someone in - don't dodge the question!"

"You're in therapy?" Adrien asked.

Lacy blinked. "Yeah, of course, for all of that - we're not talking about me."

Chloe huffed. "Why not?"

"Wh - you just -"

"Chloe," Adrien stepped in. "We do need to talk about this."

"Ugh, fine," Chloe replied. "I was jealous. Happy?"

"Jealous? Of Zoe?" Lacy said. "Why?"

"Cause she was taking up so much of Mylene's time," Chloe said. "I - she's been a really good friend, especially since Sabrina left, and I know that people have multiple friends but I - I just - I don't know."

"Jealousy isn't rational," Lacy said. "I've gotten jealous over friends before."

"Me too," Adrien agreed.

"So?" Chloe asked. "How did you deal with it?"

"Uh," Adrien answered.

"Um, talk to you therapist?" Lacy suggested.

Chloe sighed and rubbed her nose. "You two aren't very helpful."

Lacy opened her mouth to respond, but no response came.

Jealousy was a complicated emotion, and honestly? It was hard to deal with.

Adrien also looked like he was trying to come up with a solution, but his efforts were interrupted when the wall behind Chloe crashed.

Hero reflexes kicked in, and all of three of them ducked in time to not be hit by the flying debris.

"What was that!" Chloe screeched.

Lacy inched closer to inspect, surprised to find a figure on the floor.

"Roi?" She asked.

Roi Singe gave her a grin. "There you are. There's an akuma if you would like to join us."

Lacy and Adrien exchanged looks.

"Zoe."

"Okay."Ladybug's voice clearly sounded through the comms. "That plan didn't work. With Pegasus out of the commission, it will be difficult to get Masquerade out of the school. We need a new plan.

"Cataclysm the floor out from under her?" Chat Noir suggested.

"And into a trap," Queen Bee finished.

"Oh, have you two decided to join us?" Ladybug asked.

"And me," Kota chimed in.

She was perched on the railing overlooking the courtyard, eyes on the door to the library. Chat Noir and Queen Bee stood ready behind her.

"Great!" Ladybug replied. "Masquerade's powers work by eyesight! If you use your powers to blind her-"

"I can sneak up on her," Chat Noir finished.

"Wait for my signal," Ladybug said. "Lis, I want you there as backup in case this goes wrong. Viperion, on my signal, start up your powers. Everyone in position."

Kota and Chat Noir leaped to the other side of the courtyard, landing silently in front of the classroom. Chat Noir headed to the back door, while Kota stayed near the front.

She peaked her head in. "All I see is Mylene."

"That's Masquerade," Ladybug replied. "Stampede made sure Mylene got out fine."

"And I made sure it was Mylene too," Stampede answered.

"So Masquerade can shapeshift?" Queen Bee asked. "That should have been the first thing you told us!"

"If y- never mind," Ladybug said. "If she makes eye contact with you, she can transform into your double, throw you through walls-"

"Which hurts," Roi Singe complained.

"And even freeze you where you're standing," Ladybug finished.

"Why eye contact?" Chat Noir asked.

Kota opened her mouth to answer, but caught herself. Zoe probably didn't want her discussing that suspicion.

Viperion hummed and Lis Tigre muttered something.

"Doesn't matter," Ladybug said. "We still don't have any idea where her akuma is-"

"Her shoes," Kota answered. "Zoe was telling me about them yesterday."

"Oh, was she?" Stampede asked in a sing-song voice.

"Yes," Kota said. "Moving on, how do we destroy someone's shoes?"

"We freeze her," Queen Bee said. "Duh."

"Yes, that is the plan," Ladybug said. "Alright, on my signal. Three, two, one, go!"

Kota twirled around, stopping in the doorway to the library.

"Hey Masquerade!" She yelled.

Not-Mylene turned.

Right before they would have made eye contact, Kota yelled. "Sun beam!"

The library lit up with a bright light. Kota had no problem seeing through it, since it was her own power, but Masquerade screamed and covered her eyes.

Kota winced at the sound of the scream.

"Cataclysm!"

"Venom!"

"We've got her," Chat Noir reported.

"On my way," Ladybug replied.

"Hey, chicken little," Queen Bee said. "Mind turning down the light?"

"Oh, sorry," Kota replied. She willed her light to dim.

She jumped down to the floor below, where Queen Bee and Chat Noir waited for Ladybug, next to a frozen not-Mylene.

Ladybug landed in the room a second later.

"Lucky charm!"

A pair of fabric scissors landed in Ladybug's hands, and she cut through Masquerade's shoes.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

"P-"

"Wait for us!" Roi Singe said.

"We took the brunt of the battle, after all," Pegasus added.

"You got frozen in two seconds!" Ladybug replied. "That is not taking the brunt of the battle."

Still, they waited for the rest of the team to join before doing their fist bump.

"Pound it!"

Enjoy the three day weekend!