In her lab, Anne-Jeanne Théoxanne du Bocquale was casually carrying out a usual experiment with one of her samples. Even though she had a big project she was currently working on, she was hired by the head of the local agricultural organisation, the Parisian Agricultural Committee, to examine some soil and fertiliser samples. It seemed easy enough, just doing some simple tests that any other lab could do. But as she had some acquaintances at the organisation, asking her seemed like an obvious choice (she also offered a discount on the prices of the tests). However, something seemed unusual with the fertilisers. It wasn't her field of expertise but after a few minutes of research, she found that they had an unusual component. Something that shouldn't be there. So she immediately contacted the head of the organisation who promised to be there by 5 pm that day.
To pass the time, Anne-Jeanne further examined the material and reviewed some articles about the component that she was worried about. It turned out to be a material with the possible effect of making the plants grow faster but it seemed to be still in the experimental phase. Mixing into a fertiliser or soil for commercial use was not possible at this stage of the research as the stability, compatibility and possibly harmful effects have not been analysed yet. Some tests were already underway using some fast-growing ivy, to examine its effect, but there were no further details on the project yet. Seeing this substance in these samples made Anne-Jeanne worried about how it got into there.
"Good afternoon" a voice called, startling the scientist.
"Oh, good afternoon" she replied, looking over at the unknown man.
"I'm sorry for barging in. I tried knocking but there was no reply" he said with a kind smile.
"Don't worry about it" she replied with an embarrassed laugh. "I tend to get so invested in my research sometimes that I forget about everything else" she said, checking the clock seeing it was 5:03 pm. "Oh, it's already 5 pm? I'm afraid I have a meeting that I…"
"Yes, that's why I'm here. My name is Dr. Elroy Toussaint" the man said, handing over a business card. "I was sent by the Parisian Agricultural Committee because of the tests you were hired to carry out."
"Dr.? Are you working on the development of the fertilisers I tested?" she asked with interest. "I have so many questions for you."
"No, I'm afraid I can't help with those" he said with an empathetic look. "Mr. Moreau asked me to deliver these so you could sign the agreements as soon as possible."
"Mr. Moreau? I talked to him a few hours ago, and I thought he would come…" she mused before it clicked to her. "Agreements? I was not informed about signing anything."
"Oh…" he replied, surprised by her comment. "According to my employer, you two already made a verbal non-disclosure agreement, so I prepared the written format with both of your data."
"Wait… non-disclosure agreement?" she asked in shock. "Would you mind if I called Mr. Moreau about this?"
"Hmm…" he hummed, checking his watch. "I suppose I have some time for a quick phone call. I'll be waiting outside."
She had no idea what this guy was planning, but she was determined to get to the bottom of this. Dialling the number, she was greeted by an overly cheerful voice. After telling him her concerns about this situation, she finally found out what it was about.
"So you could find the traces in the fertiliser. Big deal" Mr. Moreau laughed. "Did the soil sample show any?"
"What? Was it in the soil as well?" she asked in surprise. "Can you imagine how dangerous it could be? Using an unstable material in the soil where you grow plants? There is no research about its effect on humans or animals, or even on the vegetation. What if something…"
"That's enough speculation" she was cut off by a serious Mr. Moreau. "You finished the tests, and after you sign the papers, you will be paid and you won't tell anyone about what you found out. Unless you want to get all the fundings taken away from that new project of yours."
"Ahh… Threatening your career and the innocent people of Paris. I feel the anger and despair rising. Fly away, my little akuma, and evilise her."
"You… you can't do that" Anne-Jeanne said defensively. "The funding for that project is not from your organisation."
"I am a powerful man, Miss Bocquale" he said, as she could basically hear the evil grin through the phone. "Trust me, I can make certain arrangements with the appropriate people…"
"You… That's…" she tried replying, as the akuma flew into her daisy hair clip.
"Hedera, I am Hawk Moth. These big companies are trying to silence the honest, hard-working people who only try to help the common folk. How despicable. They want fast-growing plants, so I give you the power to regulate the growth of all plants around you to seek revenge on these corporations. All you have to do in return is bring me the Miraculouses, can you do that?" Hawk Moth asked in a sweet voice.
"You can count on me, Hawk Moth" she replied, letting go of the phone as she transformed.
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Juleka was in town, getting some ice cream with Rose when her phone buzzed. Not many people wanted to talk to her, so she decided to check it immediately. It was a text message from Danielle.
D: *Hey. U like bananas?*
J: *Hey"*
J: *No. Why?*
D: *Just… asking for a friend…*
J: *Danielle?*
D: *…* [sends picture with three big bags full of bananas]
D: *U home?*
"What's up? Who is it?" asked Rose with a small smile.
"Danielle" Juleka replied, showing the photo to Rose. "She has a bunch of bananas."
"Oh…" Rose replied, with a bit of concern. "Why?"
"I don't know… I don't know what's going on" Juleka said, making Rose giggle.
J: *No, I'm in town with Rose.*
J: *But Luka and mom should be home.*
D: *Do they like bananas?*
J: *I…*
J: *I don't know.*
D: *K. I'll just ask them, I guess.*
D: *Thx. Have fun.*
Juleka had no idea what to think of this conversation, Danielle was a very weird girl. She could come up with the strangest things and somehow get others to go along with it. Her brother always seemed interested in these weird stories about her, and she could see why. She didn't think there's another girl like Danielle in the whole world. Or at least not in Paris. There's no way another strange person like her exists. But she liked her. She was fun to be around. But why does she have all those bananas?
ˇˇˇˇˇ
He was trying his best to come up with the melody he's been searching for. Something that could be a perfect song for Marinette. But this felt like the hardest song to write, the hardest one to perfect. After hearing some shuffling outside, he heard his mother and another voice talk, so he went outside to investigate. Stepping to the deck, he saw Danielle already leaving the Liberty.
"Hey Dani" he greeted, leaning on the door frame.
"Oh… Hey, Luka" she replied, turning to face him with an awkward smile.
"You're here and don't even come and say hi to me?" he teased her.
"I… uuhh…" she scrambled her thoughts to say something. She intentionally didn't want to meet him. He probably already thinks she's a dumbass. She didn't want to make herself look even more idiotic, but here she was, looking like a full-blown clown. "I… Sorry, but I'm really busy right now. I have a bunch of bananas to give away."
"You… what?" he asked with a surprised grin. For some reason, she seemed to be able to surprise him every time with something. Looking at her more closely, there were three big bags in her hands. "Are those all filled with…?" he questioned.
"Bananas…" she sighed in defeat, putting the bags on the ground. "Yeah. And there are two more at home."
"Why?" he asked in awe after a long silence.
"Well, you know, I… uuhh… I wanted to order groceries. I don't like going grocery shopping. There are so many people and they touch everything and I just… I don't like it, okay?" she started, sitting down, followed by Luka sitting next to her. "So I went to their website and I wanted to order 3 bananas. But I accidentally wrote 30. Somehow. And when I noticed, I was like, ehh, no big deal, because I thought for some stupid reason that it was like, 30 single pieces" she explained, getting more and more agitated by the second. "So I didn't correct it. Like, if dad and I eat one each day, it's like half a month of bananas. But when it arrived this morning, ahh… I realised I'm an idiot. Look at these" she said angrily, motioning to the bags. "So if you order 1 banana, it's like a batch. With at least 5 pieces. I have over 150 bananas. I-I already ate some and I even put some in the freezer. I don't even know if they can be frozen. Never tired. A-and just… SO MANY BANANAS" she whined, burying her face in her hands. "I'm so dumb."
He had no words. He wanted to laugh but for some reason, it didn't feel right. So he just looked at her with sympathetic eyes, instead.
"So, now I'm going around town, offering people free bananas" she breathed out, leaning back. "At least your mother took some."
"You've been going around town with these bags since…?" he asked with his eyebrows raised.
"I don't know. For an hour or so" she said, standing up. "And now that you know what an idiot I am, I think it's time for me to go."
"Where are you going?" asked Luka, tilting his head in interest.
"Handing out freaking bananas to people" she replied, trying to pick back up the three bags.
"Would you mind if I joined?" he asked kindly, easily picking up two bags, earning a strange look from her. "I was kind of stuck with a song I'm writing. I could use some fresh air."
"Luka… If you have better things to do than accompanying me while I'm trying to somewhat fix my stupid action, which I'm sure you have..." she looked at him, earning a stern look from him. "There's… uhh… You really don't have to do this" she finally sighed.
She thought Luka was an incredibly nice and kind guy and she loved being around him. Offering to help her out even though he has other stuff to do which is undoubtedly more fun than being with her and a bunch of bananas… He's writing another song. Danielle admired his talent, she knew she could never write a song or lyrics. She used to play the violin for a few years, but she wasn't even good at following the notes. Her brother was different. He was an incredibly talented pianist. He could even write his own music, when he had some free time. Those were Danielle's favourite songs.
"Come on, Dani, it's fine" he added with a mischievous smile. "I don't want to go bananas in there" he motioned to his room with his head.
"Honestly, I was expecting this terrible pun from someone" Danielle said with an unamused expression. "And you were in my top 3 people who might say it" she grinned, making Luka chuckle. "So I guess you deserve to accompany me as a punishment for this."
"It's not a punishment" Luka said simply. "I like hanging out with you."
Well, that makes one of us, thought Danielle, trying to hide her embarrassment as they started walking. After giving a few bananas to some children in the park, and 3 whole clusters to André, they were offered some ice cream in return. However, with all the packages they had, they politely refused, promising to get some at another time.
"You know, there is a legend about André's ice cream" Luka said, eyeing Danielle as they walked past a couple having some of said ice cream.
"A legend? About ice cream?" Dani asked with a wide grin.
"Yes. Apparently whoever shares André's ice cream together will be in love forever" he said earnestly, looking at her from the corner of his eyes.
Luka was typically good at reading people's emotions and feelings. Especially when it came to how people feel about him. But with her, he couldn't decide. Sometimes he had the feeling that Dani might like him, and not just as a friend. But other times he just brushed her actions off as she's being a bit awkward. If the former was true, he didn't want to tease her with it, but anytime he was being playful and flirtatious with her, she responded like somebody who has no actual interest in him. Someone, who's just responsive to this kind of teasing. So until he could find out what's the case, a bit of little verbal jousting couldn't hurt anyone.
"Ahh… riiiight" Dani replied with a dismissive voice as she rolled her eyes. "That's an awfully short legend."
"You don't believe me" Luka said with a questioning tone.
"Nope" she replied simply, as they were passing by Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie.
As they were walking by, she noticed Luka's eyes shifting, checking if he could see inside the bakery. Obviously looking for Marinette.
"Hey, maybe they could use some at the bakery" Danielle said, suddenly stopping on her track.
"I guess you're right" Luka replied, thinking. "Shall we?" he motioned to the entry with his head.
"I think I'll take this, thaaank you" Dani said, taking one of the two bags Luka was holding, earning a confused look from him. "Good. Now, you could just head inside and ask if they're interested in some free bananas."
"Me? Alone?" Luka asked.
"Oh, you're a big boy, you can handle going to a bakery alone" Danielle said with a sly grin. "Besides, maybe Marinette's home, craving for some snacks. Girls love getting snacks."
"Do you mean… you love getting snacks?" Luka asked with a confused grin.
"Everyone likes snacks, okay?" Dani snapped, laughing. "Just get in there and check if she wants some. It's a nice gesture."
With a smile and a shake of his head, Luka decided to follow Danielle's orders, as she followed his figure with her eyes. When he closed the door behind him, she hurriedly looked for the closest abandoned alley she could find. Her finger was burning beneath her ring, and she could still hear the ringing of the whistle in her ear.
"Buzzy" Danielle called out, dropping her bags. "Fly high."
ˇˇˇˇˇ
"You can't defeat me, you pitiful heroes" Hedera laughed, as huge vines wrapped around the main building of the Parisian Agricultural Committee, while easily fending off Cat Noir's attack.
"What is the plan now?" asked Ryuko, looking at Ladybug with trusting eyes.
"I'm afraid she's right, M'Lady. We can't defeat her without any help" Cat Noir said with caution, watching the vines creep into one of the windows.
"What are you doing?" Hawk Moth asked, agitated. "With your powers, you could easily defeat Ladybug and her companion. Get their Miraculouses first, then you can get your revenge without these pests bothering you."
"They have no chance against me" Hedera bragged. "You have've waiting for a long time to get those Miraculouses. You can wait another few minutes, can't you?" she asked cockily.
"Well, I'm sorry that I can't just hand you the solution to how to defeat her but as you can see, we have to wait for the help to arrive" Ladybug snapped.
She hated the idea that they needed her help in this fight. She was hoping Libella wouldn't get involved in any of her future missions, so when the Lucky Charm gave her that damned whistle again, she was hesitant to use it. Cat Noir understood the reason for her hesitation but was trying his best to make her use it as soon as possible. And Ryuko, well, she was just waiting with anticipation on what was to come and how to win this fight.
"Is that what the whistle is for?" asked Ryuko.
"I'm sure she'll be here as soon as she can" tried Cat Noir with a bright smile.
As Ladybug fumed internally, she saw the villain reaching into the building with small branches of some plant, lifting people out of the offices.
"We don't have time for this" she said angrily, throwing the whistle behind her. "Let's go and save those poor workers."
"Or maybe we could make a plan first, then throw ourselves at her" Libella said with a small bow, after catching the whistle. "I kinda like the look of the new office, though" she joked, looking at the tall concrete building enveloped with bright green ivy leaves.
"Oh, very funny" scolded Ladybug. "People are being terrorised by a villain and you have the time for jokes" she finished, with her hands on her hips, earning an offended look from Libella.
"Okay, ladies" Cat Noir said with his usual grin. "Let's just focus on defeating the villain, shall we?"
"I don't know. Shall we, Libella?" asked Ladybug mockingly. "Or fighting this villain is not neutral enough for you?"
While Cat Noir tried to ease the situation, Libella decided to not answer. This was not the best time for this exchange. She was not mentally prepared for this, especially after today's shenanigans. Looking at Ryuko, she tried to figure out which Miraculous user she was.
"Are you the wielder of the Dragon Miraculous?" she asked Ryuko, earning a nod.
"I'm Ryuko. Right now I'm in my Water Dragon form" Ryuko explained. "But I also have a Wind Dragon and…"
"Wind?" asked Libella, as a plan started to form in her head. "So what is your plan, Ladybug?"
"Well, first, we obviously have to take the civilians away from her plants. But even after that, that vegetation is way too thick for us to get close to her. If Cat Noir would destroy one branch with his Cataclysm, there are dozens of others to take its place" Ladybug mused, with her eyes glued to the villain.
"Alright. So we get there, take the workers to safety" Libella interpreted confidently. "When the vines are taken care of, how will you proceed?"
"The akuma seems to be in her hairpin. If there were no vines around to protect her, I could just trap her with my yo-yo string and Cat Noir could break the hairpin" Ladybug explained.
"Alright. Let's do that" Libella said with a half-grin.
"And how are you planning to do that?" Ladybug asked sarcastically.
"By following your plan, of course" Libella stated simply, as Ladybug looked at her with a shocked face. "Look, Ladybug. We don't have to like each other. And you don't have to understand my reasons and motives. If you're in a pickle, I will come and help you complete your plans. That's it."
"Libella…" Cat Noir started, but was interrupted by the scream of the head of the Parisian Agricultural Committee, who tried to get himself out of the sticky situation he caused.
"Ryuko, would you mind changing to Wind Dragon form?" Libella asked politely. "Also, can you two access fire power?"
"Fire power?" Cat Noir started thinking.
"I… I think so" Ladybug said, checking her little box of macarons. "What are you plotting? How are you planning to destroy the plants?"
Looking up at Libella, Ladybug saw the blue outfit of Libella turning to a light shade of red as she was fiddling with her puzzle ring.
"Well, we will burn them to the ground" Libella grinned, throwing her arm around Ryuko's shoulder. "Have you ever seen a fire tornado?"
