Meanwhile, on the streets of Paris, Bakerix landed in front of a bus, causing it to screech to a stop. The villain glared contemplatively at the vehicle, slowing growing angry.
"Huh? Why isn't this bus making any noise?" He yelled at the driver, who gulped in fear.
"Well, because it's a modern bus, it runs on electricity." At that, Bakerix once again lost his mind.
"An electric bus? That's not how it's done! Buses make noise! They run on gas and spew out stinky, black smoke!" The villain grabbed the bus... and launched it across Paris, "Away with modern buses!"
Ladybug groaned as she dove down into the fray, hearing the people in the bus scream as it rolled in the air. She got herself in position, making a net with her yo-yo, and caught the bus before it crashed. Bakerix turned towards her as she landed on the rooftop above the netted bus.
"What's all this? There's a flying superman girl in Paris now?"
"Yup! Girl, and superhero. You gotta get with the times. And just wait till you meet Raven- she'll tear you apart for that comment!"
"That's not how it's done! It's up to the police or the army to carry out law enforcement! Not you!" To Ladybug's surprise, the villain leapt up to her- faster than she anticipated, leading to a very unladylike screech leaving her mouth.
"Ah!"
"Thanks mom, we'll be doing our homework!" Ella called as the teens ran up to Adrien's room. The blond quickly shut the door behind his girlfriend, who was busy turning on the TV to create background noise. She changed the channel to the news, just as the report about the akuma was coming through.
"Just minutes before the unveiling of the ultra-modern Startrain, I've been told that a super-Gaul is wreaking havoc right here in Paris." On the screen, the teens paused to watch- "Oh my dieu, is that a bread man?!" Ella burst out laughing while Adrien just smirked and kept watching. The villain was holding a car over his head and of course, shouting at Ladybug.
"I'm going to rid Paris of all this modern nonsense, starting with you!" The villain threw the car... then two more at Ladybug, who dodged the projectiles with her own comments.
"Well technically, my team and I not actually all that modern. Our Miraculous' are from ancient times!"
"Well, we didn't have superheroes in my youth!"
"Oh no, it's an old man akumatized this time. No wonder he's so cranky." Ella mused from Adrien's left, as the teens watched the villain try to kick Ladybug, who dodged and launched her yo-yo at him... but the villain managed to catch the flying toy, "There will be no superheroes in my Paris!" The bread creature pulled on her yo-yo, and threw their team leader across Paris, the girl screaming as she flew.
"Looks like Ladybug's the one unveiling a brand new method of air transport." Adrien commented, turning his gaze to Ella.
"I think I'll get a ticket on her ride!"
"Plagg, claws out!/Kiismet, touch the sky!"
In all honesty, this whole thing could be going worse, Ladybug thought as she landed in a tree. She groaned out loud though, as she heard snickering coming from beneath her- she knew who that was.
"Can it, Raven."
"I thought ravens were the ones who loved trees more than ladybugs and cats~" The feathered heroine continued, earning another groan from Ladybug. Said heroine glanced down as a tapping noise sounded next to her head.
"Need a hand, LB?" He asked, cocking his hip out while Raven stretched lazily beside him. Ladybug rolled her eyes and jumped out of the tree without his assistance.
"Thanks Cat Noir, but girls don't always need to be saved by a boy."
"You think I'm a tad old-fashioned, don't you?"
"You're a well-behaved gentleman, mon chaton~" Raven cooed, planting a kiss on the feline teen's cheek. Ladybug rolled her eyes once more but smirked.
"Oh, I've seen worse than you. Just wait 'til you two meet Bakerix." Spinning on her heel, Ladybug moved to jump away but Raven spoke once more.
"I'll meet you two there. Gonna do some aerial recon." Ladybug and Cat Noir stopped, turning to Raven.
"Aerial recon? What..." Ladybug started but the realization cut her off.
"Raven's Flight."
The pair were privy to the beautiful sight that was Raven's new powers. The spectral grey raven emerged from her chest, circling around her head for a moment. Its eyes glowed a glimmering grey, meeting Raven's own glowing orbs before it darted away, after the villain. The two watched the ghost vanished from sight, Ladybug and Cat Noir turning their gazes to their partner.
"Raven?" Cat Noir asked, but the girl didn't respond. Her glowing eyes stared off into the distance and she remained unmoving.
"She must not be able to move when she uses this new power. Like she's not in her body anymore..." Ladybug tapered off, her mind processing before turning towards the direction Bakerix went, "which means we can't leave her here until the ghost comes back. She'd be too vulnerable... great- another thing we've gotta keep Hawk Moth from knowing about her..." Ladybug groaned, shaking her head; she moved her gaze back to her partners and caught Cat Noir's sharp gaze.
"What."
"Raven can handle herself. And Hawk Moth clearly doesn't know about her new powers, so she doesn't have to keep it from him finding out. Worry about yourself, Ladybug." Cat Noir quipped, shifting away from her and to Raven's side... just as the feathered heroine closed her eyes with a soft breath.
"Mon merle?"
"All good. The akuma's in some sort of container on his belt. And he's heading towards the Louvre."
The trio followed the villain's (bread crumb) trail all the way to the Louvre Palace. Landing on a rooftop across the way, they watched Bakerix land in front of André, Nino and Alya... who started filming. The pair shared words and Bakerix stole Alya's phone before turning to the Louvre.
"Looks like that's our cue." Ladybug spoke, signaling to Cat Noir. The teen nodded and extended his staff, stopping the villain in midair. He tumbled through the air, face-planting onto the pyramid, and then the ground below it. Ladybug and the other two landed behind the splatted villain, and she ignored the snickering Raven to Cat's right as the feline hero twirled his staff.
"A blending of ancient and modern. I personally like this glass pyramid a lot."
"It's proof that you can be modern, and still respect the past." Ladybug sassed, ignoring the singular beep coming from Raven's choker. They watched as Bakerix stood, already shaking in rage, and got into defensive positions.
"Treachery! Treason!" The villain exclaimed, ripping the canteen from his waist and downing more yeast.
"We'd better destroy that flask of his, fast." Cat Noir deadpanned in horror as Bakerix's muscles grew, allowing the villain to pry the glass pyramid roof from the ground and lift it above him and the trio.
"You're out of your league! You don't have enough experience!"
"Speak for yourself!" Raven countered, but her words were muffled by Bakerix slamming the pyramid down around them like a cage, before the man leapt away.
"Merde..." Raven cursed under her breath as her Miraculous gave another beep.
"We're trapped! Cata-" Cat Noir lifted his hand but Ladybug grabbed his wrist, preventing it from moving and stopping her partner's call.
"Save your Cataclysm! We're probably gonna need it." Ladybug glanced around, spotting a sewer cover over to the trio's right.
"There! Emergency exit!"
"Good eye, LB." Cat Noir commented, making Ladybug smirk a bit, but his gaze moved to Raven, who was staring off after the villain.
"Raven?" Ladybug spoke.
No response.
"Love?"
Nothing.
Cat Noir stepped forward and rested a hand on the girl's left shoulder... surprisingly startling Raven. The girl jumped a few inches into the air, spinning and facing Cat Noir and Ladybug with a look a shock on her face.
"Don't DO that, Cat!" She scolded, her reaction making Ladybug frown. Since when did Raven startle like that? Like Ella used to- or still does rather?
"Sorry hun- you were staring off into space. What's on your mind?"
Raven went silent again for a few seconds before she shook her head.
"Nothing- just thinking. Come on- we've got a bread basket to catch."
The trio moved through the sewers, listening for screams or commotion as tells. Cat and Raven trailed after Ladybug, green eyes glancing repeatedly to the purple-clad heroine to his left. Cat was worried a little, as Raven's eyes remained pensive and staring ahead. He could tell something was wrong, but how could he bring it up?
Another beep alerted two-thirds of the team, more fervently this time, as they ran and came to the end of the tunnel. Beneath them, one of the many wind turbines that provide circulation for the city's underground, blew upwards to the grate in the street.
"Perfect- we can get back up through here. When we get out, go recharge your Miraculous, Raven. Then meet us at the fight and we can take down Bakerix."
The feathered heroine nodded, still half in space, but Cat could tell Ladybug was ignoring it for now. One by one, they jumped into the wind caused by the turbine and floated to the top. They grabbed onto the grate and maneuvered to the trapdoor. Ladybug was out first, jumping into the sunlight.
"We're in front of the Gare du Nord. I can hear Bakerix inside! Let's go- We've got a train to catch."
Cat moved out second and Raven followed close behind.
"I'll be right there." Raven gave a small smile before darting off, vanishing from sight. Cat watched her go for a second before turning and smirking at Ladybug.
"Our train's boarding now!"
"It might be a problem, Ella."
"I know. But he didn't order Bakerix to follow it or give any indication he noticed, but there is a chance Hawk Moth knows something's different."
"This could be dangerous now, though. If he figures out that powers can evolve, then Hawk Moth has the possibility to change his own abilities."
"If that happens, then we'll just have to adjust and keep beating him. Come on- you've finished eating. Kiismet, touch the sky!"
"Lucky Charm!"
"Tomatoes in a bottle? Mmm, I doubt our friend will take too kindly to this." Cat Noir smirked at the bottle of tomato sauce; Ladybug smirked at the notion, already glancing around for other items.
"That's what I'm counting on." She grinned mischievously, her Lucky Vision lighting up a loaf of bread, bags of chips, and an old piece of gum under a bench seat, "In fact, I'm planning to give our baker friend the least traditional sandwich possible." The team leader ran off to gather her items, trusting Cat Noir to distract the villain as she did so. As she collected the most disgusting items for a sandwich, she could hear the fighting... and that familiar whizzing of a grappler.
"Welcome back, my lovely lady~" Cat Noir cooed. Ladybug glanced over as she finished, watching Cat Noir slide to a stop, getting himself even with Raven; said girl was just pulling her hooks back, a chunk of bread on one of the prongs.
"Thank you, my little kitty~ All you now, bugaboo!" Raven called, smirking over at the spotted heroine, making her groan but she continued.
"How about some super sour candy chews, plus some super chemical chewing gum, all packed between two slices of white industrial bread." Ladybug smirked, making the sandwich and holding it out to her teammates and the villain.
"Oh, stop it, Ladybug, you're making us all drool! Isn't that right, Bakerix?" Cat Noir feigned delight, grinning at the bread man. The man spluttered for a moment; the heroes could tell he was growing angry.
"I'm not falling for your stupid little tricks!"
"Okay, in that case I'll add... some tomatoes in a bottle." Ladybug smiled, revealing her Lucky Charm, before she poured almost the whole bottle onto the sandwich, "Mmmm, now this sandwich is gonna taste like pizza! It's gonna be so good!"
That did it. Bakerix stammered, steam practically coming out of his ears as he glared at Ladybug.
"That's not how traditional sandwiches are done!" He charged at her, and Ladybug led him and her partners outside back towards the grate.
"Do your thing, Cat Noir!" She yelled, pointing to the metal.
"Cataclysm!" With a leap, Cat Noir pressed his hand against the metal, and the grate turned yellow with degradation. The trio landed on the other side, but Bakerix- who jumped after them- landed on the weakened metal and his increased weight caused it to break. With a cry of surprise, the villain tumbled down but got caught in the current of the turbine, causing him to be stuck in the middle of the tunnel.
"You're just blown away by this sandwich, aren't you?" Ladybug amusedly taunted, waving the sandwich back and forth.
"That's not how it's done!" Bakerix yelled, grabbing his canteen. He tried to swallow more yeast, but it flew upward from the force of the wind.
"Well, that's how we do it, anyway." Cat Noir mused, pulling his staff free and extending it to knock the flask out of Bakerix's hand. It flew up in the wind, straight to Ladybug's waiting grip. She slammed it on the ground, forcing it to break... and the little akuma fluttered into sight.
"No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! Gotcha! Bye bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!"
The Miraculous Cure ladybugs appeared and returned everything back to normal, and Bakerix turned back into Rolland.
"Pound it!" The trio fist-bumped but the older man ran towards them, a look of worry on his face.
"My bread! I left some bread baking in the oven, and my granddaughter's there! It's dangerous! It could catch fire!"
"I'm sure your granddaughter's got it under control." Ladybug reassured, handing the yeast flask back to the man.
"I must get home." Rolland reiterated, just as Ladybug's earrings started to beep rapidly.
"Raven and I'll take him back, LB. We've got more time left than you."
"Thank you, Cat Noir. Bug out!"
Raven helped Cat get Rolland up onto his back, smiling at the cute little scene.
"Are you sure you wanna go home on a superhero's back? It's fast, but not very traditional." Cat asked with a cheeky grin. Raven rolled her eyes and poked her boyfriend's cheek, but Rolland ignored the tone and answered the hero.
"When bread is at risk, that's how it's done."
"Alright then, hold on tight, sir! I'll be behind the whole way, Cat."
"One day or another, things will change, Ladybug, and front row seats to your downfall will sell like hotcakes! But first, there's something I have to investigate, Raven's Wing..."
The pair plus passenger landed outside the small brick home, and the older man was off Cat's back and inside shouting for Marinette.
'So he's Marinette's grandfather... she never mentioned him...' Raven contemplated as she leaned against the fence. Cat went inside to make sure everything was okay, leaving the feathered teen to her thoughts.
"I can't be sure Hawk Moth didn't see the ghost... but if he did, I'm gonna have to be careful in the next fight... this may have to be a discussion with Master Fu, especially with the evolved powers." Raven muttered to herself, arms crossed as thoughts raced through her head. One such thought was: when did her life as a Miraculous user get so complicated?
"Thanks for the tasty snack! Come on, mon merle!" Cat suddenly appeared in the front door, winking as he pulled his staff free. Raven nodded and ran up to him, letting her boyfriend wrap his arm around her waist before the pair pole-vaulted away.
Ella sighed for the sixth time in about five minutes, as she paced the windows of Adrien's room. Said boy was sitting on his couch, reading through his Literature assignment and letting his girlfriend pace. The pair were waiting for the demo tracks from Evelyn, and it was safe to say Ella was getting a little nervous.
"Elle, ma lune, relax. Evelyn said it would probably be the end of the day. It's only seven."
"I know, I know. Doesn't mean I'm not nervous about how the songs turned-" Ella cut her words off as her phone rang, but when she glanced at the caller ID, she was it was-
"Mari? What's up?"
The words were barely out of her mouth before Marinette was practically yelling through the speaker.
"When were you gonna tell me Adrien proposed!?"
Ella jumped at the loud volume and at Marinette's words. She was a blushing mess as Adrien began snickering, having overheard the blunette.
"I-it-the-it wasn't a proposal, Mari!" Ella stuttered then screeched, "He gave me the ring before the music competition! I just... I put it on my ring finger to piss Lila off." Ella explained, cutting off Adrien's laughter and Marinette's squealing.
"Makes sense. She's been after Adrien forever. Though it didn't seem to deter her."
"No not really. But don't worry about that. I'm not gonna let her try anything."
"Neither will I and I highly doubt Adrien will let her get anywhere near him."
"Now that part is true... wait- this happened a few days ago that you saw the ring, why are you calling now?!"
"Uh- well, I honestly forgot to ask after the whole thing with Lila and my dad's birthday is today and I managed to convince my grandfather to come and reconcile with him, and it was just nice seeing my whole family together and then I remembered the ring and I had to call you!"
Ella laughed at the scatterbrained nature of her friend and finally took the phone off speaker, placing it to her ear and taking a seat beside Adrien, chatting away.
Adrien smiled softly at Ella as she spoke with Marinette, the worry and stress about the demo tracks washing away as the conversation traveled from topic to topic. The time went by and the sun set outside the window, but Adrien didn't bother his love. Not even when his phone chimed with an email from Evelyn. Cause right now, Ella was happy and stress-free, thanks to Marinette.