Author's note:
I hope I did good on this chapter. Let me know if you think this story needs to be switched to a higher rating, I tried to keep it k rated by keeping it like how you would see it in the TV series but I know my perception may differ from others. Thank you and enjoy.
Alya felt her heart drop at Volpina's threat. She looked at her best friend who looked over the check out counter she had jumped behind, to look at the akuma.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng! I'm going to make you pay for challenging me!" Volpina shouted locking her eyes on said person.
Nino and Alya scrabbled to their feet as Marinette hopped back over the counter and bolted in the opposite direction of Volpina.
Volpina blew into her flute and 4 copies of herself appeared around her. The 5 fox themed villains jumped forward cutting Marinette's path off before surrounding her.
"Marinette!" Alya yelled in fear for her friend.
Marinette didn't turn at the sound of her name. She didn't even stop running as the akuma had her illusions surround her. She simply ran right through one of the fake Volpinas and towards the emergency exit.
Alya automatically reached for her phone in her purse, intent on recording the attack while praying Marinette can at least stay ahead long enough for Ladybug and Cat Noir to get here. But 2 little hands grabbed her hand causing Alya to look in her purse.
Trixx met Alya's gaze before pointing in a certain direction. Alya looked where the little kwami was pointing her eyes landed on the changing rooms they just came from.
Alya looked at Nino who was staring at her confused. Normally Alya would already be chasing the akuma, if not to record then to help in whatever way possible.
Grabbing Nino's hand, Alya drug him over to the changing rooms. "Um Al's, what are we doing?" Nino asked as Alya shoved him in one of the stalls before joining him and locking the door.
"I promise to explain later." Alya said pulling the fox tail miraculous (still in camouflage mode) out of her shirt.
Nino gave her a confused look until Trixx flew out of Alya's purse. Nino's eyes then got wide as he recognized the necklace. "Why do you..." He started to say, but Alya cut him off.
"Later." She said firmly.
"Yeah, we kinda have an emergency." Trixx added.
"Trixx let's pounce!" Alya said before Nino could respond to the kwami. A few seconds later Rena Rouge stood in Alya's place.
Marinette ran as fast as she could away from Volpina, in an attempt to get away and transform. But the akuma was having none of that.
Even though her Ladybug luck prevailed in assisting Marinette to dodge Volpina's attempt to surround her; Marinette is finding it hard to get away while also trying not to get hit with whatever Volpina threw at her.
"You can't get away from me that easily. You are going to pay!" 4 of the same voice yelled in unison.
"We are the Borg. Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile." Marinette said mockingly to herself as she ran between 2 stores.
A bench being too large to fit between the alleyway, crashed in to the walls of the stores as it was thrown.
Marinette was about to exit the alleyway she was running between when Volpina jumped in front of her at the last second.
Marinette didn't even have time to blink let alone stop, before Volpina uppercuts her in the chest using her flute. Being thrown back a good 8 feet, Marinette landed hard on her back at the base of the remaining 3 Volpina copies.
Marinette groaned in pain as the real Volpina started stalking towards her. Then to both of their suprise a 2nd flute cut through the copies, and Rena Rouge jumped between Marinette and Volpina.
"Back off!" Rena Rouge yelled as she swung her flute at Volpina.
Volpina met Rena's flute with her own before attempting a swing herself. Rena countered and moved forward in an attempt to push Volpina back a little as Nino started running up behind them to assist Marinette.
Helping her to her feet, Nino grabbed Marinette under her arm and started leading her back the way they came.
Volpina saw this and tried to get past Rena Rouge, but Rena just kept blocking and countering her. Never gaining nor losing any ground, giving Marinette and Nino the chance to get away.
Nino took Marinette to a near by Bath and Body Works; where he hid her under a soap display table with a table skirt.
"Thank you Nino, now please go make sure Alya doesn't get herself hurt with that akuma." Marinette said.
"Are you sure dude? I can stay with you and make sure Lila doesn't find you." Nino asked scratching his head. He was torn between helping his childhood friend who is kinda defenseless (as far as Nino knows). And wanting to join his girlfriend on the battle field.
"I'll be fine Nino. Go and protect Alya!" Marinette replied firmly.
Nino hesitated wondering if Marinette knew more than she should, but quickly shook that thought off and nodded. "Okay. Oh and Marinette, I'm sorry about the whole Lila thing. I swear I didn't know." He said guilty.
Marinette gave him a kind smile. "We can talk about it later." She said.
Nino nodded and took off. Following the sound of destruction he made his way back to the fight. He was relieved to see Rena Rouge holding her own just fine.
He hid near by so he could keep an eye on the fight and look for ways to intervene if needed. As he was watching an idea came to mind.
Marinette took a few moments to steel herself after Nino took off. Her ribs hurt where Volpina had hit her, and it was making it a little hard to breathe.
"Marinette! Are you okay?" Tikki asked concerned as she flew out of Marinette's purse.
Marinette nodded. "I'll be fine Tikki, we need to transform." She said to the little ladybug kwami.
Tikki didn't look convinced but nodded. "Just say the words." She told her holder.
"Tikki! Spots On!" Marinette yelled. Tikki was sucked into the earrings and the magical suit enveloped Marinette.
Once the transformation was complete Ladybug was relieved to feel the magic of the suit act like a bandage, supporting her rib cage making moving around easier.
Ladybug took off to join the fight. She was grateful to see Chat Noir heading in the same direction from the opposite side of the mall.
The duo landed in sync on a building next to the fight. They both stop to stare in bewildered at the scene below.
There are about 20 Volpinas and 20 Rena Rouges in some sort of mob fight in and around the interactive fountain.
"Huh, I don't think we were invited to the battle of illusions my lady." Chat said playfully.
Ladybug knelt down watching the fight closely. "Probably not, but that's not going to stop us from crashing it all together." She said confidently as she found what she was looking for.
"I'm guessing by your tone that you already have a plan." Chat said a wide knowing smile plastered on his face.
Ladybug nodded. "Do you see the Volpina about 4 feet to the left of the fountains bottom corner?"
Chat Noir looked where Ladybug mentioned and noticed quickly that the Volpina in question caused the Rena Rouge illusions to disappear when hit with her flute. Where all the other Volpinas would simply run threw the Renas and vice versa. Minus one Rena Rouge that managed to make the Volpina illusions disappear when hit.
"That's the real one, and I'm guessing the real Rena Rouge is the one on the opposite side of the fountain." Chat said with a nod, anticipation in his voice.
Ladybug nodded. "The akuma is in her bracelet." She stated factually as she remembered seeing it when she pinned her to the pillar.
Then Ladybug quietly called for her luck charm so not to announce there presents, but hissed in pain as the red and black polka dotted object fell into her hands.
"My Lady!?" Chat Noir inquired concerned.
"I'm Fine!" Ladybug said stubbornly looking at the little rubber bouncy ball in her hands.
Chat Noir's eyebrows furrowed together in concern clearly not believing that she was 'fine'. But stayed quiet as she looked around for the solution to her lucky charm.
Most of the illusions were gone now and the real Rena Rouge and Volpina had noticed each other and were now both trying to hit or block one another while still trying to ignore or hit the remaining illusions.
Ladybug smiled as the ball in her hand lit up with ladybug colors, followed by Rena Rouge, one of the support poles on the fountain, then lastly Chat Noir.
"Go stand behind Volpina without giving away you are there, all I need you to do is shove her close enough to that pole so I can tie her to the stake when Rena Rouge does her part." Ladybug said.
Chat Noir nodded and got into position, putting a finger to his lips when Rena Rouge spotted him. Rena nodded slightly as she swung her flute at Volpina who shrieked in frustration as she blocked the blow.
By now all the illusions were gone and Ladybug took her position in the center of the cascade of free falling water that came from a metal water pipe ran around in a large circle, supported up by a few other pipes that mostly likely pumped the recollected water from the drainage grates right below the steady flowing foundation.
Ladybug bounced the ball straight up and down in front of her ignoring the mist of water that coated her. As the ball came back down ladybug swung the yo yo almost like a bat and hit it sending it flying right at Volpina.
"Rena to Chat!" Ladybug called as the ball hit Volpina square in the chest causing her to drop flute and grab the spot she was hit.
Rena Rouge smiled deviously as she practically grabbed Volpina and threw her to Chat. "Hot Volpato! Hot Volpato!" She yelled as Volpina went flying right into Chat's grasp.
Chat's smile changed to match Rena's as he grabbed Volpina then spun her like a top towards the fountain. "Hot Volpato! Hot!" Chat called.
Volpina spun into the support pole Ladybug had pointed out to Chat and before she could even process what just happened; Ladybug's yo yo came flying out of the water and wrapped around the akuma securing her to the pole.
"Hot Volpato. Stop." Ladybug said calmly as she walked out of the fountain to face Volpina who was now getting soaked by the fountain.
Volpina glared at Ladybug. "I. Hate. You. Ladybug." She said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, I know." Ladybug said simply as she ripped off the bracelet and threw it on the ground. A black butterfly flew out of the object.
Ladybug let her yo yo unwrap from Volpina causing her to drop to the ground. She then proceeded to open her yo yo up and spin it.
"No more evil doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!" Ladybug yelled swinging her yo yo to capture the akuma.
"Gotcha! Bye bye little butterfly." Ladybug continued as she released the butterfly waving to it as it flew away.
Volpina turned back into Lila who looked around then scrambled to her feet to get away from the water that was still drenching her. She then turned to glare at Ladybug with so much hate it caused Rena Rouge to stumble back in suprise.
"Rena go ahead and get out of here you have less than a minute before you transform back." Ladybug said causing Rena Rouge to look at her miraculous startled.
Rena then nodded and took off as Chat Noir approached Ladybug with the bouncy ball in hand. As Ladybug reached for it with a grateful smile she felt a sharp pain in her ribs causing her to flinch slightly.
Chat Noir noticed despite Ladybugs effort to hide it and he immediately frowned. "Are you sure you are okay Ladybug?" He asked.
Ladybug nodded, but Chat saw her subconsciously rub her chest and ground her teeth before she threw the ball in the air calling out, "Miraculous Ladybug" as she did so.
Chat Noir was relieved to see the magical cure wash over Ladybug as well as the relief that momentarily crossed her face. But that ment she was hurt by this akuma, so why would she not just say something? And didn't she arrive at the same time him?
"I will see you tonight kitty. Bug out!" Ladybug said snapping Chat out of his thoughts.
Right before she was about to swing off Chat caught her arm. "We will talk about it later." He promised in a firm tone that threw Ladybug off for a moment.
Blue eyes met Green, Ladybug could tell Chat was not going to drop is so she nodded and took off.
Once she found a spot near the Bath and Body works Nino had hid her at she de-transformed. She pulled out her phone and let Tikki dive into her purse where she has some macarons stashed. She then sent a text message to Nino and Alya to simply meet at the food court.
"I think we owe Alya some kind of thank you, what do you think Tikki?" Marinette asked as she started off in the direction of the food courts.
The little ladybug kwami smile as she poked her head out of the purse, a half eaten macaron in hand. "Just dont make it obvious, I don't think you have anyway to explain how you know she is Rena Rouge, and Ladybug has no reason to personally thank her for saving your life." Tikki said.
Marinette nodded. "I will find a solution to that. Now let's go get some food and hope Alya's birthday doesn't become worse than it has been so far." The bluenett said closing her purse.