It's the final countdown! *kazoo noises*
I have been looking forward to posting this chapter since I wrote it, and I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 16: Bringing The Light
Lacy was hunched over her homework, a billion small light sources aimed at her desk, when Ladybug arrived.
"Two heroes in one day," Lacy said nervously, as she let Ladybug in. "I'm honored."
"You were a big help today during Wailer's attack," Ladybug said. "Now we need your help again."
Lady's eyes widened. "My help?" Sure, she was strong swimmer, but how was that supposed to help against an akuma like this?
Ladybug grinned and held out a box. "Lacy Hatzi, this is the miraculous of the rooster, which gives its wielder the power of light. You will use this power for the greater good. When we are finished, you will return your miraculous to me and tell nobody - not even Chat Noir - your identity. Can I trust you?"
Lacy hesitated, looking at the miraculous with caution. She approached it warily.
A miraculous? How had Ladybug - why did Ladybug want her help? Was she even fit to use one? How was she supposed to help?
"You want me to use a miraculous?" Lacy questioned.
Ladybug looked completely confident in her. "You are a great fit, both to be a hero and for this particular miraculous."
Lacy nodded. If Ladybug, the person more familiar with the miraculous thought so, then maybe she was right.
Maybe.
Lacy nodded again. "Okay. I'll do my best."
She slowly grabbed the box, opening it carefully.
With a burst of light, something burst out of the box. Lacy recoiled at the blinding light, eyeing the creature.
"Are you some kind of Nymph?"
The creature flew up to Lacy's face. "Ooh, a Greek one. I haven't had one of those in a long time." He turned to Ladybug. "By the way, it's the power of dawn, not light."
Ladybug rolled her eyes. "I know. But we need your light today."
But the creature was already gone, zooming around the small room.
"Everything's a mess in here," he noted. "Ooh, did you take these pictures?"
"Um, yes?"
Lacy turned to Ladybug in bewilderment.
"Orikko is your kwami," Ladybug explained. "He's what powers your miraculous."
"That's right!" Orikko confirmed, flying back towards Lacy. "All you have to do is say 'sun beam' and you'll start to glow. Five minute timer, but you probably figured that out already. Your glow is extensive, you'll be able to provide light for your entire team for the battle."
"Okay," Lacy said. "But this darkness seems magical?"
"Oh, nothing can dull the rooster's light!" Orikko said. "Okay, well, technically the turtle can. And the fox. And the black cat, of course - but not the butterfly! Or peacock. Or bee, for that matter - though I don't know how one would try-"
"Orikko, focus," Ladybug said.
"Right! I'm focusing! To transform, all you have to do is say, 'sun up'!"
"Okay," Lacy said. "Anything else I should know?"
"You'll figure the rest out as you go," Orikko replied. "Oh! Your kite - that's your weapon - is expendable. You can use it as a glider, or a shield, or a kind of a push dagger. It also reflects light. And you can use the string to wrap it around stuff like a yo-yo, but it's not really supposed to do that, so don't. And I hope you've come up with a cool name! Like Harpy!"
"No," Lacy decided. "Anything else?"
"You're very patient," Orikko noted. "But I think that's everything."
"Go ahead and transform," Ladybug said.
It didn't seem like enough information, but Lacy still nodded. She slipped on the thumb ring, and took a deep breath.
"Orikko, sun up!"
The transformation felt warm, and Lacy felt a burst of energy come from the ring. She could feel the texture of her clothes change around her, and something on her back.
"Woah," Lacy said.
Ladybug looked her over, impressed by the outfit.
Most of it was brown. Lacy had a brown shirt with a loose red infinity scarf over her chest and shoulders. The shirt trailed down in the back, bordered by a red and gold hem. She had red leather gloves that came up to her elbows, and her ring now had a feather imprint with five main sections. She had brown pants, and gold combat boots that came up to mid-calf. Her hair was now brown, with a red stripe that stuck up like the crown on a rooster, and while it was still braided, the braid was much neater. Her mask was brown with gold edges, and she had gold lipstick. On her back was a large, gold kite.
Lacy slipped the kite off of her back and held it up like a shield. One edge of it was covered in a hard, gold-like edge. There were four small buttons on the inside handle, and she experienced with each of the buttons. It shrunk to the size of Carapace's shield, though it kept its diamond shape. Then it shrunk smaller, until it only came half a foot from Lacy's hand. Lacy mimed striking someone with the kite.
It felt strangely natural.
"It's really easy to maneuver," Lacy noted.
"Good," Ladybug replied. "Let's go. I'll tell you when to activate your powers."
Lacy nodded, and the two superheroes headed out.
Ladybug moved fast, but Lacy found it easy to keep up as they ran across the rooftops. Lacy held her shield up to provide light as the two of them delved more and more into the darkness.
Chat Noir was waiting on the rooftop that Ladybug said he'd be. He perked up when he saw Lacy.
"Another superhero?" He asked.
Ladybug nodded. "The rooster miraculous will give us the boost we need to win this."
Chat Noir nodded and turned towards Lacy. "Nice to meet you. Have you chosen a name yet?"
"Oh, um, no, not yet," Lacy replied. "But I'm working on it."
"Alright, feathers," Chat Noir said. "Thank you for not actually having feathers, by the way. I'm seriously allergic."
"Of course," Lacy replied. "Not that I chose this outfit or anything. Combat boots aren't really my thing."
"You look great," Ladybug said. "Okay, so here is the plan-"
Lacy and Chat Noir fell into their positions across the street from Ladybug.
Ladybug raised her yo-yo as high as she could, and the meager light spread across the street below.
"I'm here to negotiate," She yelled. "I come in peace."
"I doubt that." The akuma stepped into the light. "But fine, we'll talk. As long as you stay up there."
"Who are you?" Ladybug asked.
"Call me Nightroach."
Nightroach was dressed in dark blue. She had a skin-tight suit with sneakers, and her hair was now a dark blue and pulled up in a bun. Her face was covered in dark blue makeup.
"What do you want, Nightroach?" Ladybug asked.
"Your Miraculous, for one," Nightroach said. "And to be stop being treated like an idiot for being left in the dark. Dona Rossi was a busy woman - I didn't have time always check on Lila!"
Ladybug flinched. "That's horrible! You are her mother!"
"Do you know how hard it is to be a single mother?" Nightroach argued. "Especially with a job as demanding as mine!"
Chat Noir gave Lacy the signal, and they started to creep up on Nightroach.
"No wonder Lila was so desperate for people to like her," Ladybug replied. "If she didn't feel like you loved her."
Nightroach recoiled. "I love her. She's my daughter."
"Then you should have acted like a mother!" Ladybug shot back.
Nightroach snarled, and in her hands, two blue nunchucks formed.
"Come down here and let me squash you like the bug you are!"
Chat Noir gave Lacy the second signal.
Lacy politely tapped Nightroach on her shoulder, and he akuma whirled at her.
"Sun beam!"
Warmth spread throughout Lacy's body as she began to glow. The whole street lit up from the light. Nightroach screamed, shielding her eyes, and Chat Noir pounced. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a lock.
Ladybug landed on the street below and walked up to her.
"I never thought someone could make me feel sorry for Lila," Ladybug admitted.
Nightroach screamed and threw Chat Noir over her, sending him crashing into Ladybug.
They both bounced back into their feet immediately.
Lacy moved in and whacked Nightroach across the face with her kite. Nightroach stumbled back, and Lacy pressed her advantage. As Nightroach reacted, Lacy found herself naturally blocking and parrying the blows.
"On her chest, there's a locket," Ladybug called out. "I think that's where the akuma is!"
Chat Noir nodded. "Let's finish this."
Nightroach swung with her nunchucks and Lacy blocked with her kite. She shrunk it down to its smallest size, and struck right under Nightroach's chin. Nightroach grabbed Lacy by the arm and flipped her into the pavement.
Ow.
Lacy recovered just in time to dodge a strike from Nightroach.
Ladybug took advantage of her forward momentum and used her yo-yo to swipe Nightroach's feet from under her. Nightroach collapsed on the ground, and Chat Noir moved to block her from getting up.
Lacy's ring beeped.
Nightroach flipped, knocking Chat Noir backwards, and struck with her nunchucks. Chat Noir blocked with his baton. Chat Noir pushed Nightroach back towards Lacy, who swept her feet from under her. Nightroach rolled back onto her feet, readying herself for another bout.
"Lucky charm!"
A giant bottle of fast-drying glue fell into Ladybug's hands.
Nightroach and Chat Noir exchanged blows. Chat Noir got close to hitting the locket several times, each time Nightroach barely dodging at the last moment. Nightroach swiped at his legs, forcing him to back up.
Lacy slammed her body into Nightroach's side, knocking her off balance. She smacked Nightroach with the side of her kite in the face, and Nightroach stumbled backwards.
Chat Noir pressed the advantage, striking with his baton and nearly hitting the locket. Nightroach doves at the last second, and raised her nunchucks to strike again.
Ladybug fired the glue bottle.
The glue hit the chains of the nunchucks, drying instantly. Nightroach scowled and tried to break the glue off by herself, but they wouldn't budge.
With another scowl, Nightroach swung at Chat Noir with her nunchucks, not caring that they were now ineffective.
"Cataclysm!"
Chat Noir grabbed both nunchucks at once, and they both disintegrated.
Nightroach yelled and tried to tackle Chat Noir, but Lacy interfered, throwing her full body weight at Nightroach and trapping her on the ground under her kite.
Ladybug approached Nightroach, and smashed the locket under her finger. A butterfly flew out.
Ladybug captured the akuma, successfully sending the purified butterfly off.
"Miraculous Ladybug!"
The ladybugs rushed by, and the natural light returned.
Lacy willed her light off, now that the streetlights and sunset were providing enough light.
Ladybug gestured for Lacy to join the two superheroes.
"Pound it!"
Lacy couldn't help be grin.
"Good job, you two," Ladybug said. She looked at Lacy. "You really adapted to your powers quickly. You were a big help."
Lacy felt herself blush.
For once, she had been able to help. Not just stand on the sidelines while an older sister, or a more combat-trained demigod did the fighting. And even with her heart still pounding, and the fatigue she was beginning to feel, it felt nice.
"Thanks," Lacy replied. "I'm glad I could help."
Ladybug gave her a big smile before turning to her partner. She gave Chat Noir a playful punch on the shoulder.
"Did you cataclysm two objects at once?"
Chat Noir shrugged it off. "It's no different than Hawkmoth akumatizing multiple people who are touching the same object. I was touching them both, so they both were cataclysmed."
"Still, good job," Ladybug replied.
Lacy's ring beeped again.
"Alright, I've got to collect her miraculous. See you later."
Chat Noir bowed dramatically. "Until next time, my lady."
Ladybug watched as he bounded off before taking Lacy back towards her place.
The two landed in Lacy's room just as Lacy detransformed. She plopped down on her bed, watching her kwami spin out of the ring.
"Now that was cool!" Orikko said. "You're an impressive chick." He turned to Ladybug. "You sure we can't keep her?"
Ladybug shook her head. "You know the rules." She turned to Lacy. "Are you okay?"
Lacy smiled a little crazily. "That was fun. I mean, I know it was serious and everything- oh! You've had a busy day - can I get you something to eat? I have emergency granola bars or I could grab something from downstairs."
Ladybug began to decline. "Thanks, but I'm-"
"Yes! Granola please!" Orikko interrupted eagerly.
Lacy gave the kwami a warm smile and moved to where she had stored her emergency snacks.
"She even feeds me!" Orikko said. He flew up to Ladybug. "I like her."
"I noticed."
Lacy came back with a granola bar for Orikko and one for herself, and Orikko downed his instantly. With her kwami fed, Lacy handed the miraculous back to Ladybug.
"Is there anything else I should know?" Lacy asked. "I mean, I know you reuse the temporary heroes, so if there's anything I can do to help out..."
"I'll let you know if I need you," Ladybug replied. "But sometimes the most heroic we can be is in everyday moments. The best way to help us is to help others around you."
Lacy nodded.
Ladybug made to leave, but hesitated at the window.
"Tomorrow the news will be all over the appearance of a new hero," she stated. "They'll probably be asking Chat and me about you. What can we call you?"
Lacy frowned in thought. "Umm... Kota. Call me Kota."
Oh, and since I totally spaced on saying this last chapter, the lyrics were from the song "Ma Belle Evangeline" from Princess and the Frog.
