MIRACULOUS

CH. 41

SUPERHEROES Part 1

Luka's Yacht…

Late night, a depressed Luka walked into his family yacht, and sitting in the kitchen was Juleka, giggling at her cell phone, looking at pictures from their fun day around town.

"Juleka?"

"EEEEP!" Juleka yelped. "Oh, uh, hi Luka."

"Where's Rose?"

"She's gone to sleep now," Juleka replied. "It's getting kinda late."

"All right," Luka affirmed. "Did you and Rose had fun today?"

"Yeah, we did," Juleka said softly, she noticed that Luka did not get to Marinette as she thought he would and figured it could only mean one thing.

"Marinette turned you down, didn't she?"

"Huh?" Luka was caught off guard but he knew his sister.

"Are you going to be okay?" Juleka asked. Luka smiled and patted her head, ruffling her hair.

"Don't worry about me," He insisted. "You know I actually made a joke about pulling a girl out of some limbo earlier. Maybe I'll be a lucky man."

Juleka noticed the wishful thinking that went on this joke but chose not to pursue it. Luke simply went and headed to his room.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

"Luka…" she looked back at him.

He closed the door and fell on his bed. He crossed his arms, hugging his pillow, and sighed.

"Am I really that transparent?"

After graduating from high school, his family couldn't afford college and began working 60 hours a week just to make ends meet and to Juleka can get at least as far as he could education-wise. His father offered to help but their mother said she wanted her children to stand on their feet. His pursuit of music was what he lived for. Stopping was the same as dying for him and he won't stop for as long as he lived. The white plague had thrown a wrench at everything. Ivan was gone and Rose and Juleka chose to pursue their own goals. The plague incident didn't help as Rose was too affected that she chose to bury that part of her life and Juleka opted to pursue her modeling career. He's back to square one, he wrote and practiced as much as he could but without a band, he wasn't able to record a good demo.

"Luka?"

He heard a voice behind him.

"WHAAAA!" he jumped off his bed and land hard on the floor. "OW, MY BACK!"

"Whoa," Cat entered the room to help him up. "You okay? Didn't mean to cause a fuss.

"Luka?" Juleka's voice was heard from outside the room. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just fell off my bed!"

"You sure?"

"Yeah," Luka insisted. "Everything is all right!"

"Ok," Juleka conceded. "I'll see you in the morning."

Luka got back on his feet, not losing sight of Cat Noir.

"Sorry if I scared you but we are in dire need of people like you."

Luka was still struggling to comprehend what is going on. Cat Noir suddenly appears in his room and is told he's needed as if he didn't have enough to worry about already.

Cat Noir explained what was going on and why was he being chosen.

Two weeks later…Paris rooftops…

"AH!" Blue Jay is knocked on his back.

"Dude, you showed off your powers and you're not gonna use em!?" Rocket landed beside him.

"It's not that simple dude!"

"ENOUGH, YOU TWO!" Ryuko landed between them and deflected a pulse beam with her sword. "Focus on the task at hand!"

"Hey, that was the hero back in… WHOA!"

A pair of boomerangs flew at them.

"SCATTER!" Ryuko shouted. The three heroes split.

Meanwhile… In the studio…

"Oh, yes, Marinette, yes, yes," the photographer with a British accent and thick glasses said. "You're a natural!"

Marinette was recommended for a straightforward photo shoot on a white background for her first media appearance. She was a little apprehensive at first but as the photoshoot went on she became more comfortable and confident.

"Is this all right, Austin?" Marinette asked, striking a casual pose. "I could get used to this."

"Yes, yes," Austin said. "Very nice, now spread your arms and give me the look like you're about to tackle me! Someone threatens your date and you're like NO, NO!"

Austin stopped shooting and laughed as he threw the camera at the crew members.

"And I'm spent."

"That's a wrap everyone!"

Marinette sighed as she cooled down from the exhilaration as she walked to Alya and Juleka who both gave her thumbs up as she approached up.

"Now that was sweet, girl," Alya boasted.

"Cool," Juleka said.

"I appreciate you guys being here for me," Marinette thanked me. "It was kind of scary at first."

"Girl, you always had this, no doubt!" Alya then turned to Juleka and grinned.

"So, got something to ask?"

"I, uh,"

"It's ok," Marinette said. "Rose told me."

"She did?"

"I know you want to enter the business yourself. But I need to establish myself before I could recommend you, so sit tight, ok?"

"Mmmkay, I trust you," Juleka smiled timidly.

"So, with that out of the way, how about another night out?" Alya suggested. "Anyway, what do you think of Viperion?"

Juleka raised an eyebrow at her, who took out her tablet to show footage of the aforementioned hero's exploits, separate from their own. Viperion had proven himself to be an asset to the team.

"What about Blue Jay?" Marinette asked.

"He's all right," Alya crossed her arms. "But I think he depends on the surface-level stuff. Like fighting with his fan and focuses just on brute strength. He doesn't use his powers all that much."

That got Marinette thinking about the peacock's abilities. She hasn't had the chance to ask Mr. Quintell about it but she thought of the possibility of not using his actual abilities based on what he can do. How would he actually view a sentimonster? Then suddenly, she let out a soft whimper when that terrible day came to her mind. One that was still too painful to remember but she couldn't stop the gruesome image of the Eiffel Tower keychain landing on the floor after…

"Marinette!" Alya shouted. Snapping Marinette out of her trance.

"Huh?"

"You spaced out on me girl!"

"Oh…" Marinette snapped.

"Hey, something's going on out there!"Austin shouted. As if on cue, a loud explosion caused the place to vibrate. Juleka looked back and forth at Marinette and Alya, who both gave her a knowing nod and she went off.

"Good luck," she said and went on to join the refugees.

"So much for another night out," Alya said.

"It was a matter of time," Marinette agreed.

Both girls ran their way to the rooftop where they could see the commotion from afar. Both their kwamis emerged.

"I don't think this is the famous army she promised," Trixx said.

"If we can capture her before that happens," Tikki said.

"Took the words right out of my mouth," Marinette said.

"Trixx, Let's Bounce!" Alya shouted, transforming to Rena Rouge. She then gave a knowing glance at Marinette. Who she exchanged looks with Tikki.

"This was a long time coming Tikki," Marinette said.

"I have been looking forward to this Marinette," Tikki confirmed. "It'll be an honor to fight alongside you once more."

"Then let's make it count! TIKKI, SPOTS ON!"

Meanwhile…

"Dude, this is getting out of whack!" Rocket yelled.

"Tell me about," Blue Jay said.

"Curses…" an agitated Ryuko tried to get up, only to stumble.

"We're too outnumbered," Present Queen Bee muttered.

"Where the hell's Viperion!" Cat Noir stepped in and readied his staff.

The team was facing off a team of new entities siphoned by Lux. They were the team who were situated in New York. They were now part of Lux's undead army. Their suits being shining yellow yet their faces showing deadpan suffering, unable to express their pain properly. The one who they were facing now was Sparrow, who Cat discovered to be the youngest of the team, Eagle. The team was once the United Heroez, the others were Uncanny Valley, Majestia, Doorman, and Victory. Cat thought that the last one had a hint of arrogance but digressed. These former heroes were on a league of their own the Paris team was not having a picnic here.

Majestia began to elevate and readied her fist.

"Here it comes…" Cat braced himself as they prepare for the powerful strike. Cat braced himself and closed his eyes.

"SHELL-TER!"

Carapace's barely held out and it shattered by the impact, sending him back by the impact but everyone else was relatively unharmed. He landed on his back with a thud by the impact.

"Carapace!" Rena ran to his aid "Where are Pegasus and Viperion?"

"Dealing with the other half," Cat replied.

Meanwhile…

Older Queen Bee dodged the Sting's attacks while trying to come up with a counterattack. Pegasus is evading Hurricane and Snowflake's emission of weather-based attacks.

"There's only so far I can possibly appear without putting the population in danger!"

"I'm open to suggestions!"

"I can only, use my time power so many times!" Viperion was also having a tough time with Mercury. His opponent dashed around him, the white blur made it difficult for Viperion to predict the speed demon's next move. At first, he wasn't able to dodge the coming blows from everywhere. He quickly got the hang of predicting and blocking his opponent but it was still trial and error. "I would assume with all those years on that fabled library, you would have an ace up your sleeve?"

"Knowledge does not equal experience!" Pegasus interjected.

He was right, Despite all this time in that hidden library on the island studying, reading, and practicing, she never was in actual combat until she traveled to the future again.

"Damn! I gotta think," Older Queen Bee muttered. "Come on, think, think, think, think…"

"Can't you make a portal?" Viperion asked Pegasus.

"I cannot, he's too fast!" he looks around. "Hold on, I got it!"

Sting jumped towards Pegasus and was about to strike.

"Look out!"

"HIVEMIND!" Older Queen Bee shouted as she spread her arms and a legion of needles exploded from her. When the needles hit Viperion and Pegasus, their injuries are healed and when their enemies were stung they were paralyzed.

"Pegasus!"

Viperion shouted.

"Of course!" he quickly put the pieces together. He created a portal between the Sting and Mercury, causing the two to class and explode.

"Viperion!" Older Queen Bee shouted and pointed towards the paralyzed Hurricane and Snowflake.

"All right!" he said as he whipped out his harp and grabbed both of them with his strings and strangled them both. They both vanished to glowing white vapor and faded away.

"You could have started with that?" Viperion asked.

"I do not believe it would have been the wisest choice," Pegasus pushed his sunglasses in.

"I would waste when it had no wounds to heal," Elder Queen Bee added.

"Whatever," Viperion rolled his eyes.

"Sheesh, you're not like I remember," Older Queen Bee said.

Meanwhile…

Rena played her flute to summon as many shadow clones as she could. They tried to surround Majestia and keep her busy but they could only elude her for so long.

"WIND DRAGON!" Ryuko growled as she spun into a tornado. She engulfed the entire battlefield. "Rena!"

"Got it!" Rena grinned, realizing what Ryuko was planning. Rena clones jumped amongst the winds and scattered.

"Everyone, keep them busy!" Cat commended as he spun his staff.

"BARRAGE!" Rocket summoned his own set of clones and gathered around Doorman and Uncanny Valley. The latter tried to retaliate by shooting her laser at the clones. Doorman attempted to retreat to a nearby door but was intervened by Blue Jay.

"AH, ah, ah," he said as he flipped his fan and began to fight him. He jumped on him and attacked with his fan.

Cat Noir spun his staff at Victory and anticipated an attack from Majestia.

Ryuko landed on her knee and looked up and dashed to Uncanny Valley, whose head turned and blocked her attack.

"I expected no less," she said. She readied her sword and prepared to strike. Uncanney Valley shot her beam, deflecting them with her sword.

"Liberation," Eagle said in an eerily calm manner as she merely stood out of sight. Doorman, Uncanny Valley, Majestia, and Victory suddenly regained their strength and began to overwhelm everyone. Ryuko's hurricane was subdued and Rena's clones have been dispatched.

Cat Noir got up on his knees and looked around, realized readied his staff, and panted as he stood his ground.

"Well," he said. "Win some lose some."

"That's not how it works," Carapace said.

Meanwhile, Uncanney Valley's lasers began to overwhelm Ryuko as she was forced to deflect the beams before she gets the chance to think of a strategy.

"I… must… perceive…" A beam scraped her arm, causing her to flinch. "Curses…"

She's knocked on her back and landed on her back. She was about to get up but saw that her opponent was charging the beam from her third. She raised her sword to guard but was unsure if it will be enough to protect her from damage.

She shut her eyes tightly and braced herself for the impact… it never came. Ryuko opened her eyes and saw a familiar red figure with black spots spinning her yoyo at Uncanney Valley, laid down with a hole on her forehead. She turned to Ryuko and grinned.

"Kept you waiting, huh?"

Onlookers' mouths fell open.

Cat Noir kicked his opponent off him and grinned at her.

"What took you so long?" Ryuko asked with a soft smile. Carapace and Rena hugged together on their knees as they saw their friend in action once again, speechless.

Ladybug turned to the remaining shells of what they were once heroes and recognized who they once were. She stood firmly as the wind blew her hair.

"I've heard of what happened to you," she said, not sure if they heard her. "I'm sorry for everything. All I can do now is to free you from your torment."

She got ready to a fighting position with the others joining beside her.

"And we will do it together," Ryuko readied her sword.

"Awesome that you're here!" Rena said.

"Ready to rock," Rocket grinned.

"We got your back, bra," Blue Jay also stepped in. Cat Noir stepped in with a grin as well. The two made eye contact, not losing their grin.

"Good to have you back, my lady."

"Now all we need is a little help."

"WHAT!" Everyone shouted, almost tripping amongst themselves.

"Wait, so you have no plan?" Blue Jay asked.

"Not really, she admitted nervously.

"Err, they're coming…"

The remaining undead heroes were about to charge at them when…

"HEALING SHOT!" the voice sounded like two women as a Pegasus portal appeared above them. It was the two Queen Bees pointing their combined top over them and gave every member a single shot to regain their full strength.

"Oh yeah, baby!" Carapace boasted.

"What we needed!"

"AW YAY-UH!" Rocket shouted.

"Do not forget about us!" Pegasus' voice shouted from above. Everyone looked up and saw Pegasus and Viperion joining the fray.

"Oh hey!" Rena greeted.

"WHOAH!" Blue Jay shouted, pointing both his arms at them.

The two would join the rest of the team and readied themselves. Rocket, Blue Jay, Pegasus, Viperion, Present Queen Bee, Older Queen Bee, Rena Rouge, Carapace, Ryuko, Cat Noir, and Ladybug. They all joined together in this coming throwdown.

Meanwhile… Location Unknown

Akane stepped into the streets with a cell phone in hand. She walked casually amongst the crowds as she went her way through a dark alley.

"I trust you are aiding Knightowl, Duckman, and the Mask in New York at this time Snow?"

"Yeah, crime had spiked since what happened to United Heroez. Lapis Lazuli and Peridot from the Crystal Gems have joined us to pick up the slack."

"I believe Serah must have given birth at this moment," Akane could tell that Snow is now grinning like an idiot.

"Yep, and just like Claire said, it's a boy," Snow said. "We named him Noel."

"I see," Akane said. "Do take care young ones. Great things are on the horizon, I will make sure of it."

"You bet," Snow said and they hung up. Pinyin emerged from Akane's pocket after realizing they're alone.

"Do you believe it's wise to keep them in the dark, Akane?"

"They would never agree to it. But they do not know what they want. We must show them what it's best for them and their child."

Author's note:

I apologize for the short chapter. Once again what I was building up to turned out to be way too long and had to split it into two.

Truth be told, I still don't know how long the next battle will be as if it'll be over quickly and continue the story afterward or it'll cover the whole chapter. I'm just the kind of writer who lets things simmer and make them as long or as short as need be.

So I finally came around to see the New York Special and truth be told, didn't give me much to work with when it comes to the United Heroez as they were cheap knock-offs of Marvel Heroes and not even trying to cover that up. It wastes out time with Marinette's boy troubles and I won't get into that again.

I just realized that this is actually Ladybug's first appearance since Chapter 12. Can't say I was planning to take that long for Marinette to return as Ladybug but I needed some sort of passage of time during their fights against Emilie/Lux. If this was the TV series, I would have gone at least half of season fighting the undead heroes and explore a few more horizons. Again, I wish I could update more often and finish this story.

I know I have some crossover name drops but I only have a handful of international locations that'll really come into play and we haven't gone there yet. I only did so for worldbuilding and won't be able to incorporate all of them.

The only one worth noting in this chapter is Austin Powers, who is only a fashion photographer in this story but if you were around in the late '90s and early 2000's you'd know he is the main character in a film trilogy where he's an international spy in this comedic James Bond parody.

Constructive criticism is appreciated.