When A Raven Calls -The Raven Saga season 3-

by Eris Neve

Things have changed. Identities are revealed and known. Now in training to be the Guardian's right hand, Ella (and Raven) now have to adjust to new powers, new duties, and the responsibility of calling the heroes when the time comes. Add all this onto her mother getting sick, her relationship with Adrien becoming more serious, and even more team members? What is sanity?

3. Chameleon -part 2-

Adrien hurried down to the locker room, eyes scanning for his love. He didn't see her in the general courtyard, so he headed for the lockers, pushing the door open.
"Oh. Lila." He just barely acknowledged the girl as he scooted around her into the locker room, green eyes looking for Ella. If she still wasn't here, then she was out as Raven. Something had happened that required her attention, but it didn't mean he wasn't worried.
"Adrien, we'll have to figure when you're gonna help me catch up on all the schoolwork I missed. I also heard you play piano, my uncle's the great pianist Petrochk Borrotchek. He wanted to teach me when I was little, but I had to stop playing because of arthritis. But when my wrist gets better, I'd love for you to give me some lessons." The teen cringed as Lila poked and rubbed her finger against his chest above his heart; Adrien stepped back a fraction, leaving her with her hand in the air.
"Lila. I'll help you catch on your schoolwork, but please don't touch me like that. I'm with Ella and we are very happy. And you have to stop lying- you can't lie to me like you did last time with Ladybug." He deadpanned, watching the happy expression on Lila's face fall to anger.
"Ladybug's the liar."
"Instead of making friends you're going to turn everyone against you. I'll be nice to you, if only to keep Ella and I in school with our friends. But don't think I won't shine light on your lying if you even think about doing anything against my girlfriend or her friends."
"Are you trying to be some superhero lecturing me just like Ladybug did? Well thanks, but no thanks. Ugh." Adrien didn't say anything as Lila stormed off, instead going to his locker and fishing out his phone.

Raven growled as the akuma fluttered in the air, its wings carrying close to the teens but backing away as Raven slashed at it with her grappler.
"You can resist it, Marinette. Hawk Moth's power only effects people who think there's no solution to their problems, and you always find a solution."
"Tikki's right- you're our Ladybug and you always have a plan!"
"You two are right! You won't get me, I'm proud, I'm confident, I'm Marinette!" The blunette stood tall and proud, confidence clear on her face beside Raven. And the heroine couldn't help her own little swell of pride in her friend and leader as the akuma turned about-face and flew from the bathroom.

"What's happened? The anger has disappeared. Hmm, but I can feel something new arising."

"Good job Marinette. But now that the akuma is loose, we're gonna need your other half. Get yourself in gear- I'm gonna see if I can at least pin it down before it gets to someone else."
Marinette nodded and Raven ran from the bathroom, finding the locker room empty... except for her boyfriend.
"Geez Raven, you scared me!" Adrien placed his hand over his heart, trying to calm down clearly as Raven get out a giggle.
"Sorry Agreste. But you'd better get out of here- there's an akuma on the loose. Don't worry, Ladybug is on her way- we'll catch it before it gets to anyone."
Adrien nodded at the girl, smiling as she winked at him before running out to the courtyard.

"She's right- we can't let that akuma run loose. Tikki, spots on!"

Up on the second floor, Lila stalked about, still seething about Adrien's words, stupid Marinette and that evil witch Ella. How dare she ensnare Adrien's heart away from her?!
"I can't stand her and those super goody-two-shoes." She growled, lifting her eyes from her shoes up to find some place to sit and stew... when a familiar black and purple butterfly graced her path.
"Yes, here's my chance!" She ran forward, grabbing the akuma and holding it to her earring. The butterfly absorbed itself into the jewelry, allowing the teen to establish that mental link with the villain.
"Hawk Moth, I am Lila. I know you want to destroy Ladybug and Raven, and so do I."
"Yes, I remember you."
"Give me supervillain powers and I'll give you their and Cat Noir's Miraculous'."
"With pleasure. I have some new powers for you, Chameleon."

Ladybug ran out of the bathroom into the locker room but froze and contemplated her next move when she saw Adrien walking towards the door to leave.
"I gotta find another way out." She glanced around, looking up and seeing an air-duct.
"Perfect!" She jumped silently and pushed the cover away, slipping up into the duct.

Adrien sighed as he pushed the locker room door open. Ella had texted him that she was heading back to the classroom after she finished her search but it didn't make him any less worried. She had been acting a little weird the last two fights so he was curious as to what was going on- like when she blanked out in the classroom earlier.
The door flew from his grip and hands pushed him back into room. He let out a startled "hey!" before realizing who it was.
"Adrien, I wanted to apologize for what just happened. I've thought about it and you're right. I want us to be friends, so I'll never tell another lie again. Will you make peace with me?" Lila pleaded, making Adrien inwardly roll his eyes. This girl was never going to learn he would never believe her. The blond opened his mouth to say no... when Lila leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Adrien gasped as there was a white glowing light and Lila became him... before black invaded his vision and Adrien knew no more.

"Whoops, I lied." Chameleon giggled at the sight before her. But she knew she couldn't just leave the object of her affections out for anyone to find- especially if her plan was gonna work. So with a huff, Chameleon picked up Adrien and put him in a random locker, shutting the door and leaving. Time for part B on her plan.

Finally making it to the roof, Ladybug stood atop the school and looked down into the courtyard. She saw students milling about, hanging out before lunch ended. She moved her gaze to the second level and spotted Adrien approaching Nino and Alya, who were leaving the cafeteria.
"Nino, I have something to tell you. You don't deserve my friendship or your girlfriend or your cap." Ladybug gasped as she watched Adrien take Nino's cap and put it on his own head.
"Hey!" Alya shouted, indignant.
"You should see your faces, don't miss my performance at the Eiffel Tower." Adrien jumped up onto the railing, smirking evilly at his friends before... jumping down into the courtyard!
"You're gonna love it. Now where's that stupid soon to be ex girlfriend of mine? I'm so done with her!" With that, Ladybug watched Adrien leap from the courtyard and up to the roof perpendicular to her.
"What?"
"That's not Adrien." Raven's voice startled Ladybug, the spotted heroine turning her head to see Raven come up over her right shoulder.
"I figured that when he talked about breaking up with Ella. He wouldn't even dream about that." She spoke, unclipping her yo-yo.
"This must be the akuma I was tracking. And I have a feeling who it got to: Lila." Raven informed Ladybug, mimicking the drawing of her weapon. Ladybug frowned, her eyes narrowed as she understood that.
"You find Adrien- make sure he's okay. Last I saw him was in the locker room. Go- I'll deal with this villain until you get back."
"Yes, ma'am." Raven's tone was half-sassy but her frown didn't leave as she hopped over the ledge down into the school. Ladybug watched her go for a second before flinging her yo-yo after Faux Adrien.

Ladybug followed the false Adrien across the Paris rooftops, jumping and swinging after the villain. She knew they knew she was following them, but Ladybug wanted to make sure they kept innocent people out of this fight until her partners showed up.
Just as she thought that, the villain jumped down to the streets. They landed for a second in front of a bus, causing the driver to swerve and almost hit someone. Ladybug moved quick, swinging into the crosswalk, grabbing the mother and baby while her yo-yo string stopped the bus.
"Hey, thank you Ladybug." The bus driver thanked the teen, who nodded and leapt away once again. Blue eyes searched for that familiar blond hair as she hopped over parapets and chimneys, finally spotting it at the Eiffel Tower. The villain was popping all the Ladybug and Raven balloons before grabbing two Cat Noir balloons and leapt up to the first level.

"La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la whoa. This is so easy, as soon as someone needs saving, that stupid Ladybug shows up. La, la, la, la, la, la, la. Though, I wonder where that stupid birdbrain is- she's never far behind."

Ladybug frowned as she jumped up to the metal railing behind the villain, shouting for them to stop. But instead- the villain began to fall.
"Ah, help me. I'm losing my balance, I'm gonna fa-" Ladybug swung forward and caught the villain- only if to find their akuma quickly, as she landed carefully on the ground.
Up above, unbeknownst to the heroine and villain, a shadowy/ghost-like raven circled; its glimmering grey eyes scanned the situation below, searching the false blond for a blackish purple glow.
"My princess charming, you saved my life." Ladybug cringed as the villain leaned up, attempting to kiss her, but she pushed their face away and dumped them on the ground.
"Knock it off! I know you're not Adrien!" The spotted female accused, unclipping her yo-yo once more. The villain smirked evilly, staring up into her blue eyes.
"You're right, I'm Chameleon. You're getting better at this, Ladybug. Which is a good thing. It'll make this fight all the more interesting." Chameleon leapt up with a fist heading straight for Ladybug's face. Ladybug didn't hold back, now that she knew this wasn't the real Adrien- and the fact that Raven said it was Lila made her even more determined to beat her.
Chameleon must have realize this too, cause she leapt backwards and pressed her lips to one of the random civilians standing and watching the fight.

Plagg bounced nervously back and forth in the locker, hovering over his unconscious holder. What could he do? How could he get him awake?!
"If this an enchanted sleep, what can possibly wake him up? ...Oh no, not an enchanted kiss! Please!" The cat kwami whined, wringing his little paws. A thud outside signaled the main door flying open, startling Plagg almost into hiding, when a voice called out that he recognized.
"Adrien? Are you there?"
"Raven!" Plagg yelled, phasing through the locker and flying into the heroine's face, "he's over here!"
Plagg led the way to the locker, and watched as Raven pried it open with her grappler.
"Adrien! What happened here, Plagg?!"
"That girl Lila put him to sleep with an evil kiss!" Plagg explained, watching Raven's face twist into a grimace. She moved into the locker, shifting Adrien to stand with her help. Plagg flitted forward and landed on her shoulder, staring worriedly at his holder.
"Maybe you can wake him up! Enchanted sleep, enchanted kiss!" The kwami grinned, winking as Raven shot him a look. But it didn't matter as a soft groan alerted the pair and had their attention back to the blond. Green eyes blinked softly and stared up in confusion at them.
"Raven? Plagg? What happened?"
"According to Plagg, little miss Lila. My theory was right." Raven answered as Plagg moved himself back over to Adrien's shoulder.
"Lila must've been re-akumatized. Quick- Plagg, claws out!"

Ladybug growled as Chameleon changed her face and the civilian dropped to the ground.
"Don't think changing your face is gonna keep me from defeating you, Chameleon!" She shouted, running forward and throwing her yo-yo. Chameleon deflected it; the two fought for a few more seconds, before a familiar whizzing sound had Ladybug jumping out of the way, as that silver grappler shot between them.

"This gives new meaning to the term 'two-faced'!" Raven shouted as she landed, Cat at her side.
"And the birdbrain arrives!" Chameleon taunted, smirking at the new arrivals.
"Shut up, Lila! I'm so done with your tricks!" Raven shouted, pulling her hook back and brandishing it before her.
"Awe, you figured it out~ I'm so proud of you!" Raven grit her teeth at the taunts but kept her wits about her.
"The akuma's not visible on her right now, LB! The shapeshifting power is hiding it! We need your Lucky Charm!"

Raven could tell Ladybug wanted to question how she knew where the akuma was, but she held her tongue and nodded. The feathered teen moved her attention back to the villainized Lila, to just barely dodge a fist coming at her face. She jumped back while Cat blocked another swing, and Ladybug ran forward to engage the fight.
The trio of heroes took their chances trying to subdue Chameleon, but when a kick sent Ladybug flying and Raven's grappler was grabbed, the feathered teen felt her heart drop when Cat threw himself between her and Chameleon. The villain's lips met Cat's cheek and sent the hero crashing to the ground, unconscious. Before their eyes, Raven and Ladybug watched the villain glow and change into Cat Noir. Raven felt her anger surge as Chameleon drew Cat's staff from behind her back and brandish the weapon.
"It's down to the three of us, you pathetic wimps. Cataclysm!"
"You picked the wrong day to mess with me, Lila!" Raven seethed, whipping her grappler at the villain. Chameleon smacked the weapon aside with the staff, running forward with her powered hand outstretched.
"You may know who I am but I'll find out who you are before you destroy my akuma! Too bad Cat Noir's power is gonna destroy you!"
"If you manage to touch us!" Ladybug taunted this time, her yo-yo snagging Chameleon around the middle and yanking her away. Chameleon went flying, letting the two heroines jump to the top of the Eiffel Tower; Chameleon followed close behind. Raven and Ladybug turned to face the city, just as Chameleon landed on the railing across from them.
"Nowhere to run now, you wimps."
"We don't intend to. Now!"
"Lucky Charm! A t-shirt?" Raven couldn't help the inward sweat drop at the item- like, really?
Chameleon voiced Raven's thoughts, laughing at the item.
"That's your plan to defeat me, Ladybug? Make me dress like you? On second thought, such horrible fashion might actually do me in."
"Last time I heard someone complain about Ladybug's fashion, she kicked their butt!" Raven shouted, throwing her hook once again.

Ladybug wrapped the t-shirt around her arm and took a second to scan the area around the fight- she trusted Raven to keep the villain occupied. She used her Lucky Vision and saw the waitress of the fish restaurant below them, a knife used for opening clams and said seafood.
"Raven! The floor!" She shouted, and her partner didn't need further instruction. She grabbed and redirected Chameleon's cataclysm-activated hand to the metal floor. The trio fell, Raven and Ladybug landing on the counter while Chameleon hit the ground with a heavy thud. Ladybug grabbed a clam from the counter and slammed it into Chameleon's face. With a glimmer of light and a surprised look, Chameleon changed from Cat Noir to a clam, dropping to the floor with a tap.
"That took way too long, bugaboo." Raven sighed, hopping off the counter. Ladybug shrugged and followed, picking up the Chameleon clam.
"We should be friends, not anemones."
"Oh you did not." Raven groaned as Cat Noir hopped up to the level, smiling at the girls.
"Wow, you certainly got that supervillain to clam up, LB. But we're still not out of the woods yet. Where's the akumatized object?"
"Raven said it was hidden by the shapeshifting-" Ladybug started but got cut off by incessant beeping.
"Sorry, I gotta recharge this bird. I'll be right back~" Raven smiled, giving Cat Noir a kiss on the cheek before leaping away out of sight. Ladybug and Cat Noir smiled after their partner, though Ladybug couldn't help but wonder when Raven used her special power that caused her Miraculous to drain.
"LB? Any ideas if it's hidden?" Cat Noir's voice called her back to the moment, and Ladybug minutely shook her head- she had to focus.
"I think I might have an idea. Waiter? If you wouldn't mind?" She asked, handing the waitress Chameleon and the t-shirt.
"Yes, Ladybug, at your service." The waitress wrapped the clam carefully in the t-shirt and used the clam knife to open Chameleon, "Mademoiselle." Ladybug picked up the black pearl from the center of the clam, staring at it.
"Thank you. We're about to find out what you really look like Chameleon."
"You'll see, it's an old acquaintance."
A soft tapping signaled the return on their feathered partner, and while Cat Noir immediately wrapped his arms around Raven's waist, Ladybug cracked the pearl in half, revealing the akuma.
"No more evildoing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! Gotcha! Bye, bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!"

In a flurry of pink ladybugs, the Miraculous Cure fixed the hole in the Eiffel Tower, the mess around the restaurant and, with that bubbling purple/black cloud, Chameleon back into...
"Lila?"
"Ladybug?"
"Told you." Raven rolled her eyes, but Ladybug ignored her.
"At least now you can say I saved your life for real. Truce?" Ladybug inwardly had to cringe, making sure to keep up her 'nice heroine' persona, as she held her hand out to the teen.
"Thanks, Ladybug," Lila took her hand and shook it, "I'd be honored to call you my friend."
"Yeah, I'm happy to hear that. Hey, some advice. You don't have to lie and pretend to be something you're not. People will like you just for being yourself."
"You have my word, Ladybug."

"You're too nice sometimes, LB." Raven spoke, her narrowed eyes pointed at Lila. Said teen met the grey gaze, while Ladybug and Cat looked on warily.
"Ladybug may have forgiven these actions, but I want you to know something, Lila. Spread all the rumors and lies you want about me being your friend. The day will come when I prove that false. But that's not what I'm worried about."
"Raven-" Ladybug started but Cat cut her off with a firm grip on her shoulder.
"Continue to lie about Ella or attempt to ruin her relationship with the Agreste boy, and I promise, there will be nowhere on this Earth where you will be safe from me. That girl is too kind for her own good, and while she may just ignore what you say or do, I guarantee I won't. I will not allow you to ruin what she has worked so hard for, just so you can get some attention."
Raven probably could've gone on threatening the teen for a bit longer, but her partner's Miraculous' began to beep incessantly and she clicked her tongue.
"I'm always watching, Lila. Your actions won't be hidden from me." And with those chilling words, Raven turned her back, grabbed Cat's hand and leapt away, Ladybug following seconds after her right-hand.

"I sense a talent like no other in this young Lila. I'm sure that her feelings about Ladybug and Raven will serve my purposes well in the end. One way or another."

Back at school in the courtyard, Ella and Adrien were moving towards the classroom when they spotted Lila on a bench, most of the class standing around her... and Marinette sitting on the stairs a little bit away.
"Of course Ladybug saved my life. She never misses an opportunity to rescue her best friend."
"Didn't your tinnitus give you vertigo when you went up the Eiffel Tower?" Max asked.
"Oh no. Ladybug knows me so well that she brought me an earplug to stick in my right ear."
"Right ear?! Did she say right ear?! This morning she said that the ringing was in her left ear! I've got her this time!" Ella heard Marinette whisper-yell and ran forward, grabbing her friend by the shoulder.
"Marinette. Stop."
"Ella! But-"
"Are you going to tell everyone?" Adrien asked this time, coming up behind Ella.
"Course I am. Lila is-"
"A liar. Yes, we know. But do you really think exposing her will make things better?"
"No matter what you say, she'll turn it around and make it your fault. Trust me- I know how her kind work, Mari."
"Ladybug and I are like two peas in a pod." Lila's voice traveled over the nearly empty courtyard as she continued lying about Ladybug, making Marinette's teeth clench ever so slightly; Ella saw it and rubbed her friend's shoulder.
"So we just stand by and let her lie?"
"As long as we three know the truth, does it really matter?" Adrien spoke, giving the girls a small smile. Marinette stared at the pair, meeting Ella's eyes before she sighed.
"You're right, maybe it's not such a big deal." The blunette spoke softly as the bell rang for class.

"Good afternoon, everyone." Ms. Bustier greeted as she walked in the door. The class echoed back the sentiment, while Ella and Adrien walked hand-in-hand up to the back row where Marinette was sitting.
"Good for you for taking the high road, Marinette." Ella smiled as she took the seat between her friend and her boyfriend.
"Hey, it's pretty cool back here." Adrien noted, grinning at the new view.
"You are so easy to please~" Ella teased, poking his cheek as Ms. Bustier began taking roll.
"Lila?"
"Here."
"Adrien?"
"Present."
"Ella?"
"Yes, ma'am."

Marinette couldn't help but stare at Ella as her thoughts from earlier came back. Those grey eyes were so similar to those of one feathered heroine... and the way Raven reacted to Ella being lied about- it was almost too over the top. But then again, Raven's always been caring over Ella and very protective; Ella and Raven had become friends back at the beginning of the year apparently too. But... what if? What if it was something else? Maybe... maybe Ella was-
"MARI!" Ella's voice cut through Marinette's thoughts, startling the poor blunette from her reverie.
"Huh?"
"Miss Bustier's called your name three times already." Adrien spoke, seemingly trying hard not to smile; Ella, on the other hand, was opening giggling at her friend's zone out.
"Oh. Whoops..."
"Looks like you have trouble hearing after all, Marinette. Why don't you come sit up here in the front row next to Lila." Miss Bustier sighed at her best student. Marinette hung her head in embarrassment and slunk off to the front row.
"Miss Bustier, this is incredible. My tinnitus, I don't feel it anymore. It's gone. it's a miracle. It must be Ladybug's doing, I can sit in the back now." Lila suddenly spoke up, grabbing her stuff and moving towards the row holding Adrien and Ella.
"Excuse me, Miss Bustier, can I go and sit next to Marinette? Nino and I can't stop chatting it up." Alya spoke, raising her hand. Miss Bustier nodded and Alya moved to sit next to Marinette.
"You didn't think I'd let my BFF sit all by herself, did you?"
"Excuse me Miss Bustier, can I move, too, please? I'd like to sit next to Nino again." Adrien piped up this time.
"I'd like to move back to my seat too, miss!" Ella added, collecting her stuff and following Adrien back to their rows.
The rest of the class followed suit, everyone moving back to their old seats, and leaving Lila alone at the back of the class. Marinette couldn't help the feeling of glee in her chest, and glancing to her right, she caught Ella's eye and the girls dissolved into giggles.

After school, Marinette waved by to her friends, watching Ella and Adrien get into their silver car while Nino and Alya headed down the sidewalk for a date. Marinette turned to head back home, when she bumped into Lila.
"I see you and Ella have made your decisions, Marinette. From now on, you two and I are at war. You will lose your friends and wind up all alone and Adrien will soon be mine."
"We'll see about that, Lila, we'll see. And I wouldn't be so sure about that last part- seems as though Adrien has his heart set on Ella. That ring proves it." And with that, she moved around Lila and walked away, feeling confident at the surprised huff coming from that vile girl.

"Lila isn't going to stop. My threats won't be enough and neither will Raven's."
"You know how to deal with people like her, beany. You can do this."
"I'm not worried about handling it, Kiis. I'm worried about Mari and Adrien. I want to protect them from her... And it may take a few walks of Fate to do so."