"Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Bourgeois, we're able to have our work experience field trip today at the Grand Paris luxury hotel. Each of you will get hands-on experience with one of the many jobs here at the hotel," Ms. Bustier stood in front of her class in the lobby of the hotel, owned by Mayor Bourgeois, aka Chloe's father and personal wallet.
"You'll be graded on your effort, which will affect whether you pass or fail the class. Now as for assignments, Mayor Bourgeois." Ms. Bustier looked over to Mayor Bourgeois, who stood beside her holding a list.
"Ah, yes of course. Kim Le Chen will work as a bellboy. Mr. Weisz will be your instructor," Mr. Bourgeois gestured to the older gentleman who took a step forward. Kim stepped out of the class line, Mr. Weisz giving him a bellboy hat.
"Next is Max Kante, Nino Lahiffe, Rose Lavillant, and Juleka Couffaine working in the kitchen with Mrs. Cesaire." Alya's mother stepped forward, the four students gathering to her as she led them towards the kitchen, Kim and Mr. Weisz heading towards the front doors of the hotel.
"Alix Kubdel, Ivan Bruel, and Sabrina Raincomprix will be working with room cleaning, and Ms. Petit will instruct you." A young blond-haired girl stepped forward, the three student following her as she led them to the elevators.
"Chloe Bourgeois and Adrien Agreste will be working the front counter." Chloe practically dragged Adrien by the arm over behind the front counter.
"And Nathanael Kurtzberg and Mylene Haprele will assist Mrs. Durand with holiday decor." The two students followed an older woman over to the elevators.
The only two remaining students were Alya and Marinette, still standing before the teacher and the mayor.
"Do you have Marinette and Alya on your list, Mr. Bourgeois?" Ms. Bustier looked over at the mayor. Mayor Bourgeois looked at the two girls then looked back at the list, puzzled to find their names nowhere in sight.
"It doesn't look like it."
"I bet I know who helped Daddy make the assignments," Alya whispered to Marinette, who was too busy looking at Adrien, the poor boy's personal space invaded 110% by Chloe.
"Of course, she gets to spent her entire day with Adrien... Ugh! This is gonna be the worst day ever!" Marinette fumed.
"Maybe you can call your kitty cat boyfriend to keep you company," said Alya with a wink.
"He's not my boyfriend. Just a good friend. Plus, he probably has school right now."
"It must be an oversight," commented Mayor Bourgeois, still going over the list with Ms. Bustier.
"Oh, Daddy!" Chloe waved a piece of paper at her father with one hand, still holding Adrien's arm with the other. Mr. Bourgeois took the piece of paper from his daughter, smiling as he saw the two remaining student's names on the list.
"Thank you, sweetie. Oh yes! Alya, you're going to be... sorting trash at the main dumpster."
Alya gasped, Marinette's face echoing the horror befalling her bestie.
"And Marinette will be…" Mayor Bourgeois was unable to finish that sentence as the door was nudged open by a crocodile, followed by none other that the legendary rock star, Jagged Stone, his assistant, Penny Rolling, and bodyguard, only known as Redd to the fans of Jagged Stone because of her red hair. The four teens in the room stood awestruck while Kim came behind the group with a baggage cart filled with luggage.
"Wow!" Chloe finally let go of Adrien to admire the musician.
"Hey! That's…" Marinette whispered to Alya, but Mr. Bourgeois's voice interrupted their conversation.
"Excuse me, but this is a luxury hotel, not a…" Mayor Bourgeois approached the group, Redd taking a defensive stance while the crocodile growled.
"Daddy!" Mayor Bourgeois hurried over to his daughter, eager to be away from the crocodile. Chloe whispered something to her father, the mayor's frightened frown dissolving it a business smile. He reapproached the group.
"Mr. Stone, welcome to the Grand Paris Hotel! I am Mayor Bourgeois, the owner of this luxury establishment, in fact, the most luxurious in all of Paris. How might we serve you?"
"How'd you think? I didn't just come here to admire your lobby," answered the rock star, visibly frustrated.
"Jagged would like to check into your most luxurious suite," amended Penny for Mr. Stone.
"And Fang better get a real bathtub, not a tiny water hole like the one in that hotel across the street," added Jagged.
"We have everything you need, Ms. Fang. Even a state-of-the-art entertainment center!" Promoted Mr. Bourgeois.
"Fang's my crocodile," responded Jagged pointing to his crocodile below while both Penny and Redd tried to stifle their laughter.
"Mr. Stone, we have everything you require for your... Fang. Would he, um... enjoy a bubble bath?"
"Crocodiles don't like bubble baths. That dries their scales out!"
"Of course, Chloe," Mr. Bourgeois turned to his daughter who pulled out a key from underneath the desk.
"Here you go Mr. Stone, one of our finest suites." Redd proceeded forward and took the key from the high school student. Jagged and Fang began to lead the procession to the elevator when the doors to the hotel opened and a woman adorned in a dark blue dress wielding a scepter entered, the doorman outside knocked to the side.
"Beware, hero, for it is Le Paon and revenge will be hers," the woman snarled.
"Revenge," Alya looked to Marinette.
"I don't even know her," Marinette commented before springing into action. Out of the sleeve of the woman's dress she threw a series of feathered shaped knives, aiming for Redd. Marinette was quick to push Redd out-of-the-way, Adrien forcing Chloe to duck before the knives would hit them.
"Go take care of Mr. Stone, I'll take care of Le Paon," Marinette ordered, which Redd nodded before running towards the elevators where Jagged, Penny, Fang, and their luggage were being crammed.
Marinette swung at Le Paon, the villian ducking the attack and using the staff to fling Marinette over the table, where she was caught by another woman in red with black spotted spandex.
"Don't worry, I got this," the woman put down Marinette and picked up the marble table, a red glow emanating from her hands, in center of the room, flinging it at Le Paon as if she was tossing a frisbee. The table shattered the glass enclosing the hotel, and bending the iron that held it in place. Le Paon was nowhere to be seen.
"OMG! A real superhero," everyone's eyes turned to Alya who was recording the event on her phone.
"All in a day's work Miss," the Hero bowed. As she righted herself, a bright white glow was cast around her, changing into a bright red glow.
"Feel the wrath of Le Paon!"
Marinette's eyes followed the beam to see La Paon had dodged the hero's previous attack and was using the scepter against the hero. Marinette charged in, attempting to push the hero aside, but was instead caught in the ray's path, the red glow surrounding her instead.
"Marinette!" Marinette could hear Adrien's voice call out. The white glow stopped, the villain frustrated by the turn of events.
"Le Paon will not be defeated so easily. Victory will yet be hers." Le Paon grabbed the edge of her dress and swirled in around her, disappearing from human sight.
"Marinette are you ok," Marinette could feel a hand on her shoulder, turning to see Adrien beside her.
"Girl what happened!" Alya offered Marinette a hand up, which she accepted.
"I don't know. Maybe that hero knows something," the trio turned to see only Chloe doing her best to avoid the knives and Mayor Bourgois and Ms. Bustier coming out of hiding.
"Where'd she go? I wanted to get an interview. Teen crime fighter saves super hero," Alya began to type furiously on her phone.
"Are you ok Marinette," asked Ms. Bustier approaching her student.
"I think so, I don't feel any different. Just a little tired."
"Well, why don't you head to kitchen to get a snack, then you can get back to work," Ms. Bustier turned an expectant eye to the Mayor.
"Ah, yes. Of course, Marinette. Gopher. Once you are done getting something to eat, meet me back here for your first assignment." Mayor Bourgeois wandered over to the irons where the glass doors once stood, pulling out his phone to make a few calls.
"Alya, why don't you take Marinette to the kitchen to help her get something to eat," offered Ms. Bustier with a smile.
"Yes ma'am." Alya and Marinette headed towards the elevator while Adrien trudged back to the counter next to Chloe.
"What's a gopher," asked Alya as the doors began to close on them in the elevator.
"I'm guessing it's about as bad as trash duty."
After telling Nino what happened and reassuring both her friends she was fine, Marinette was back on her way to the lobby, where Mayor Bourgeois and Ms. Bustier waited.
"Marinette, glad to see you are feeling better," commented Ms. Bustier, as Mayor Bourgeois led Marinette to the elevator.
"Come along, I've got a job for you already, Marinette," Marinette turned around in the elevator to face the front where some people were already working on the glass while Kim and the bandaged doorman stood guard. As the door began to close, Marinette could see Adrien, who even though he was on Chloe's arm, was looking at her.
Marinette rode the elevator with that happy thought in mind.
They stopped on the top floor, Mr. Bourgeois directing Marinette and Ms. Bustier to a corner suite.
He knocked on the door to have Penny Rolling answer the door.
"Hello? Can I help you Mr. Bourgeois."
"Yes, Marinette here is our gopher for the day, here to help you or Mr. Stone if you may need anything."
"Can she help me get Fang into the tub?" Marinette heard Jagged shout from the bathroom.
"Unfortunately Redd isn't feeling well, and she usually helps Mr. Stone with Fang."
"I'll be happy to try," offered Marinette.
"Thank you," Penny smiled weakly as Mr. Bourgeois practically shoved Marinette inside the room.
"You don't have to help put Fang in the tub," started Penny before Marinette could ask where the bathroom was.
"It's fine, I'd like to at least try." Penny gave the girl a genuine smile and led Marinette over to where Jagged was attempting to lift the crocodile into the bathtub.
"Here, get under his arm and help me lift him in, Penny, hold his tail," Jagged ordered, which both girls responded immediately.
Marinette found she was able to lift Fang with ease, eventually taking the animal from Jagged and Penny and slide him into the tub, a red glow emitting from her hands as she did.
"How in the… how'd you do that?" Asked Jagged.
Marinette stared at the red glow around her hands, which disappeared. She shrugged.
Marinette exited the elevator, pondering over Jagged's newest request. She had spent the morning helping with things that normally Redd helped with, such as taking care of Fang with his bath, putting Fang on the bed, literally tossing a stalker out of the room who attempted to take a picture of his favorite rock star.
Now Jagged wanted a pair of sunglasses, red, white, and blue with two large Eiffel Towers. Marinette knew those didn't exist and she would have to probably make them herself, but would that be possible with her new super strength.
"Failed as a gopher already? Not surprised," called out Chloe, as Marinette headed towards the door, only to find several crew men blocking the path as they attempted to move the marble table. Without a second thought, Marinette lifted the table with one hand and moved it back to the center of the room. Chloe and Adrien both watched Marinette with their mouths hanging open, as Marinette proceeded out of the hotel.
"Here they are," Marinette pulled out a pair of Aviator sunglasses, ready to be transformed with the assistance of her other art supplies.
"Now for the real test." She put her thumbs against the glass, intending on popping them out of the frames, when her thumbs began to glow red.
"Nope!" She dropped the glasses on the desk.
"How am I supposed to make Jagged's glasses if I'm just going to break everything I touch?' Marinette slumped in her chair.
"Marinette, someone is here to see you," Sabine called for her daughter.
Marinette reluctantly got up from her chair and made her way downstairs to the front door to find her maman standing next to Redd.
"Miss Dupain-Cheng?"
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"May I come in, what I have to say may not best to be overheard by public ears." Sabine opened the door further, allowing the woman inside.
"What can I do for you? If it's about the glasses for Jagged, I'm working on it."
"No it's not about the glasses." Redd looked hesitant, a look Marinette wasn't familiar with on the bodyguard who always looked calm and composed around Jagged Stone.
"You have my super strength."
"What?!" Both of the Dupain-Cheng women looked at the woman in confusion.
"Earlier, when you fought Le Paon, you stopped her from taking my super strength when you intercepted the beam."
"You're the hero?" Asked Marinette. Redd removed her professional business attire in a flash, and standing before Marinette was none other than the hero from before.
"I'm Tikki, hero of strength from Miraculous City."
"That does explain earlier."
"I need you to come with me to Miraculous Tower to gather the remaining heroes of our team before Le Paon strikes again.
"As much I would love to, I need to finish the glasses for Jagged. My grade is kind of depending on it."
"Once we solve this dilemma, you'll be able to work on the glasses. Plus you've already helped Jagged with a lot, so I don't think your grade would be at stake in the matter. Plus you are assisting me, who is also a guest at the hotel," Tikki went on.
"I get it. I just need to see if my partner can come. He may still be in school."
"Of course." Marinette pulled out her phone and texted Chat Noir, unsure if she would get a response.
"Ms. Tikki, would you like to take a seat?" Sabine offered to the hero, who smiled and nodded as she took a seat on the couch opposite where Marinette sat.
"Hey Bugaboo, what's up?" Marinette found she got a quick reply in response.
"An emergency mission came up. Can you come?"
"I'll check, working on a class project now. I'll check with the teacher."
"How long have you had this partner?" Marinette looked up from her phone to see Tikki looking curiously at her.
"About three months, going on four. He's the best."
Tikki chuckled. "I remember the days, back when Team Miraculous use to be a team. A super hero family team."
"What happened?"
"One of my sisters left, and the team fell apart. I got hired by Penny who is from Miraculous City to be Jagged's bodyguard shortly after superhero retirement."
Marinette's phone chimed.
"OMW."
"So let me get this straight, a some crazy blue person shows up, speaking in third person, starts randomly attacking, you both fight her off, but she tries to take Tikki's power, which Marinette ends up getting when she tries to stop her?" Asked Chat Noir after making Marinette and Tikki repeat the story several times. They were riding in Team Miraculous boat commandeered by Tikki to Miraculous Tower.
"That pretty much sums it up," the hero answered.
"And I can't finish making Jagged Stone's glasses until I get rid of these powers otherwise I'll just break everything I touch," Marinette moaned into her hands.
"Hey Bug-a-boo, just look on the bright side, you got help Jagged Stone today, in more ways than just by making him glasses. That's gotta count for something." Marinette looked over at Chat who gave her a heartfelt smile.
"Thanks Chaton."
Chat turned bright red, "you gave me a nickname?"
"I think you just about earned it partner." The boat came to a stop in front of the tower, shaped like a giant M on the middle a rocky island out a ways from Miraculous City.
"We're here." Tikki announced proudly as she jumped out of the boat and tied it to the dock..
"You know, one thing I've always wondered about heroes, why must their base of operations be so far from the city. Why not closer to the city you have to protect?" Asked Chat as he stepped out of the boat, offering Marinette a hand. Tikki paused, almost taken aback by Chat's question, before firmly answering, "Tradition."
She led them up to the door of the Tower, a hand pad next to the door.
"Only a member of Team Miraculous can open this door," Tikki gestured to the door and pad.
"Okay. And?" Asked Marinette.
"The red Miraculous Team glow is no longer mine." Marinette looked at her hand and summoned the red glow, Chat's eyes growing wide in amazement. She placed her hand against the hand pad, which the door promptly responded, allowing the three to enter the Tower.
"Welcome, to the Miraculous Tower," Tikki announced as they entered the main room, filled with technology from five years ago, but still looking state of the art and clean.
"Whenever Jagged has a concert in Miraculous City I stop by to clean the place," Tikki answered the unspoken question.
"How long has your team been… out of business," asked Marinette as she took a seat in the orange chair.
"Four years, and please don't sit in that chair. That was Trixx's. Sit here," Tikki pulled out a red chair, which Marinette accepted.
"Trixx is another hero?" asked Chat, taking the green chair.
"Was," Tikki pushed a button on the table, a holographic display appearing of three super hero sisters and one brother.
"Trixx, Wayzz, Pollen, and myself kept Miraculous City safe from evil, but the more we fought evil, the more Trixx liked it."
"The fighting," asked Chat?
"The evil," responded Marinette.
" Right. Once Trixx went bad, it was never the same," Tikki sulked. Marinette looked up at the hologram, the heroes spinning around the table. Wayzz looked to be the oldest of the group, while Pollen looked to be the youngest. But there was something about Trixx that looked familiar.
"My lady, if we replaced the white parts of Trixx's costume with black, would she look like..." started Chat, but Marinette was quick to catch onto his train of thought.
"Volpina!"
"Who?" asked Tikki?
"She works for my archfoe, Hawkmoth," answered Marinette.
"It could be possible. I haven't heard the name Trixx while travelling with Jagged."
"So how did you get your powers anyway," asked Chat as he leaned back in the chair.
Tikki smiled as she pressed a few buttons, the hologram changing to a recording of a colorful comet heading towards earth.
"When we were younger, was when we were stuck by destiny. We knew we were meant to use our powers to help the world. Which is what we did after we trained hard as a team." The recording changed to the younger Team Miraculous, the team looking the same age as Marinette when she started crime fighting.
"Have you tried contacting your siblings since you lost your power," asked Marinette. Tikki looked sheepish at the question as she quickly pushed a few buttons on the table. They could hear from outside the tower the distant sound of ringing as the Tikki made the call.
The call was picked up immediately.
"Open the door Tikki," answered a female voice, Marinette and Chat guessing to be Pollen.
"You know the drill Pollen. Use your Miraculous Team glow."
"I don't have my Miraculous Team glow anymore," Pollen responded. Tikki relented by pushing a button, allowing the youngest member of the team into the tower.
"Le Paon took your power," asked Marinette as the hero entered the room, dressed in a black and yellow striped outfit.
"Who are you?"
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
"Also known as Ladybug," added Chat as Pollen took her seat.
"I've heard of you, but I haven't heard of you," Pollen redirected her attention to the boy with a cat eared hoodie.
"Chat Noir, her partner."
Pollen raised an eyebrow, looking highly unamused.
"I can't believe I lost my powers. You have no idea how horrible it is, how empty I feel," Pollen flopped onto the desk, where luckily there were no buttons.
"I actually lost my powers too sis."
"Tikki, let's focus here, on me," corrected Pollen.
Marinette rolled her eyes, thankful as usual after every time she babysat Manon that she was an only child.
"We need to find out where Le Paon is going to strike next."
As if on queue, the screen looming over the table fizzled into a video feed from what appeared to be Le Paon's lair.
"Greetings, Team Miraculous. You have something Le Paon wants and Le Paon has
something you want.," the villain gestured to Wayzz, trapped in a box where the walls were made up with microscopic netting.
"Wayzz," Tikki and Pollen cried out at the screen. Le Paon aimed her scepter at Wayzz, the white light sucking the green color of his power.
"You'll never get away with this Le Paon." When his power was completely drained, Wayzz collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.
"Le Paon will not rest until all the powers of Team Miraculous are hers to control. Surrender the superstrong girl, or you'll never see your brother again." The screen blacked out, leaving half of Team Miraculous, Marinette, and Chat in the room.
"Got to say, not a fan of the whole third person speech," commented Chat who pulled Plagg out of his pocket. Why Chat insisted on bringing the honorary mascot along, Marinette was not certain. Chat said it was something about being left out of the last mission.
"Do you know where Le Paon is," asked Marinette, turning her attention back to Tikki, who walked over to a window in the room. From their position, they could see a mountain with a giant nest atop one of its peaks.
"She lives a top of Miraculous Mountain. She calls it…"
"The Nest?" asked Chat.
"Yes," Tikki grumbled while Chat did a fist pump to celebrate the pun.
"So how exactly did you defeat Le Paon in the past?" continued Marinette.
"Teamwork," announced Tikki enthusiastically, pulling Pollen into a side hug.
"So all we would need then is Trixx to complete the team," concluded Chat, scratching Plagg's head. Marinette turned back to look at the hologram, where the members of Team Miraculous posed five years ago.
"And if Trixx is who we think she is, we know just where to find her."
When Marinette sets her mind to something, she doesn't let anyone or any rock wall get in her way. So while on a normal day, she may use the front door to Hawkmoth's lair, today she wasn't feeling it.
"Knock knock," Marinette burst open through a wall using her super strength.
"Ladybug!? Since when do you glow?" Hawkmoth and Volpina turned their attention towards Marinette, Hawkmoth looking like he had been in the middle of explaining something.
"Just like Tikki," Volpina seethed. Tikki, Pollen, and Chat Noir peered their heads from around the corner where Marinette had smashed through.
"TRIXX!" Tikki rushed forward to give her sister a hug, stopping slightly when Volpina lifted up her own glowing orange hand. "Good to see you sis."
"Hey, Trixx. You know, you missed my birthday. A call, a card... any acknowledgment would be nice," Pollen joined her spot next to Tikki, the two heroes looking at their villainous sister, while Hawkmoth stood in the middle.
"I believe some introductions are in order here," offered Hawkmoth.
"Excuse us Hawkmoth," Volpina grabbed her two sisters by the ear, pulling them away from her employer before they could let anything spill.
"Fine. Let me know when you are ready then to talk," Hawkmoth left the room, not shutting the door entirely, forcing Volpina to throw her orange energy near the door, which prompted the door to shut fully.
"Looks like all of my least-favorite people in the world have gotten together and form a club. Why?"
"Le Paon," Marinette answered.
"Hi Papa," Marinette walked into the house while her papa was cleaning up from a lunch break, Chat and the remaining Miraculous Team following her in.
"Marinette, you know how I feel about circus folk," Tom looked at his daughter sternly.
"Actually, they're a team of superheroes. Their archfoe is out for revenge and…" started Marinette.
"Sir, we'll get them back to the circus pronto," finished Chat for Marinette, sending her a wink.
"See that you do Chat," and with that, Tom returned down to the bakery.
"So let me get this straight, Ladybug and I are the only with powers," asked Volpina as her sisters sat on the couch.
"May I remind you I also have mystical tiger kung fu powers," added Chat as he sat on the sofa opposite of the heroes pulling out Plagg for more pets.
"Can I hold the kitty," asked Tikki, her eyes glowing bright with wonder as she eyed the cat. Chat obligingly hand the kitten over, Tikki immediately scratching behind it's ears, Plagg purring in response.
Volpina rolled her eyes, sitting on the stairs that overlooked the living room while Marinette took a seat beside her partner.
"Why are we back here," asked Tikki?
"We needed to meet someplace Le Paon doesn't know about to make our plan," answered Marinette.
"Well, the Miraculous Tower is the ultimate fortress of defence," insisted Tikki, which prompted an eye roll from Volpina who had begun filing her nails through her gloves.
"Don't think so. You've got a giant viewscreen that your archfoe can appear on whenever she wants. She talks to you, you talk to her. You don't think...?" started Marinette
"That she could use that technology to spy on us while we were planning?! How come no one never mentioned this before?" Tikki looked between her two sisters, Pollen who looked as perplexed as Tikki while Volpina was almost done with the conversation.
"Because it was obvious," answered Volpina.
"Everybody, listen up. Here's what we should do…" began Marinette when she was cut off by Pollen.
"So it wasn't just Tikki's strength. She also got her super-bossiness," Pollen whined, looking over the her sister who zoned in on playing with the kitten in her lap.
"Ugh! There is no way I can do this. Five minutes with my sisters and I'm ready to claw my own eyes out," Volpina stood up, ready to leave when Marinette jumped over the sofa to block her path.
"Volpina, I get it, siblings can be difficult, but you can't back out now."
"Why not?"
"Because if you don't help, I'll tell the world that you used to be a good guy."
"You wouldn't."
"I've got a Web site and I'm not afraid to use it. "
"My reputation would be shot." Marinette raised an eyebrow, forcing Volpina to retreat to a seat beside her sister, whom Tikki attempted to hug again but was quickly shot down.
"Nino, you busy?" Marinette called in on her watch.
"Not especially, we're on lunch now. What's up?" Indeed behind Nino were the other students on the kitchen staff enjoying lunch.
"I need a top-to-bottom tech scan on Miraculous Mountain."
"Miraculous Mountain? What's there? And is that Volpina in your living room?"
"Just do your nerd thing," yelled Volpina, who smacked away Pollen's hand when she tried to grab the nail file.
"It's been a long day," responded Marinette.
"Soon, the powers of Team Miraculous will be Le Paon's. At long last, control of Miraculous City will be Le Paon's! And after so many years, vengeance will be Le Paon's!" Le Paon crooned in her lair, sitting up a rock blue throne, surrounded by columns placed near the walls.
"Will you shut up? I have a headache," Wayzz moaned, still trapped in his cube prison. The two in the lair felt the ground rumble, Wayzz holding his head in frustration. Marinette, spinning as she went, drilled a tunnel out the floor of the lair, wobbling as she got out.
"I do not recommend doing that," Marinette mumbled, struggling to regain balance
"Good to know for when Le Paon has Tikki's power," commented Le Paon, taking the advice into consideration.
"Not going to happen," responded Volpina as she jumped out of the hole beside Marinette.
"Ohh, the complete set within her reach!" Le Paon twirled the baton above her head and summoned a green glow.
Volpina charged towards her family's foe, jumping at Le Paon just as Le Paon shrunk in size.
"A shrinker! No way!" Chat whispered in amazement.
"That would be Wayzz's power," answered Tikki.
At that moment Marinette made her way to where Wayzz was captive, tearing open the netting that kept him confined.
Wayzz made his way over to his powerless sisters, Marinette now receiving the full brunt of Le Paon's attacks, which sent her colliding with Volpina into a corner out of Le Paon's reach.
Le Paon pulled out of her sleeves more metal feathers, throwing them in the direction of Volpina and Marinette.
"Duck," Volpina pushed Marinette to the ground just as the feathers flew around the obstruction and where Marinette and Volpina once stood, exploding against the wall behind them.
"Heat seeking feathers," was Volpina's only comment as Le Paon sent out more of the heat seeking devices.
"She has more than one type of feather?"
"Retired villains get bored easily."
The feathers went chasing after everyone in the room, the heroes taking shelter along the columns in the room, Chat taking refuge in the hole Marinette had dug. One came flying right at him, which Chat was able to duck, the feather destroying other feathers in its path.
Some went after Volpina, which she destroyed with a quick flash of her destructive glow. Marinette punched up a part of the floor to catch the feathers aiming towards her, sending the beeping devices towards Le Paon's throne.
"Release the Peacock!" Le Paon screamed at no one in particular, but a metal door was soon opened.
"Say what," asked Volpina, both her and Marinette turning to see behind them was a giant peacock.
"That is the second biggest Peacock I've ever seen," commented Chat.
The Peacock strut into the room, swiping it's downed tail at Marinette and Volpina, who both barely managed to dodge in time.
"LB!" Chat tossed Marinette her yoyo, which she launched at the bird's legs in trying to tangle the robotic bird. Instead, the Peacock used its beak to cut the rope, sending Marinette crashing into Volpina.
"Need a little help," asked Volpina as she pushed Marinette off of her.
"Are you offering?" grunted Marinette.
"I just don't want to lose to a giant peacock, okay?"
"You hit it high?"
"And you hit it low." Marinette cupped her hands together, Volpina jumping onto them as Marinette tossed high with her super strength.
With a bright glow of orange, Volpina slashed the robot in the face, while Marinette made a powerful punch into the legs, sending the bird collapsing onto the ground. The girls dodged out the fall, only to be zapped by Le Paon's scepter, draining them of their power.
"You girls talk too much," chided Le Paon taking the last of their power both girls collapsing on the ground.
"Go Team Miraculous," announced Wayzz, the three remaining heroes charging at Le Paon while Chat reminded safe in the tunnel.
Le Paon summoned a yellow glow, forming copies of herself.
"Oh, the yellow power lets you make copies of yourself!" Chat told Plagg, who poked his head out of his pocket to watch.
Tikki attempted to take down one copy that was using the green power, adjusting size against every hit, eventually a second green copy joining the fray. Wayzz was quickly wiped out with a flash of orange glow, and Pollen found herself surrounded by Le Paons. In a moment, the three former heroes were collected in a group with Marinette and Volpina, who were coming to.
"And this is why I hate family reunions," whined Volpina as she sat up with Tikki's help.
"Yes, all the power belongs to Le Paon," the one still holding the staff at her throne chuckled maniacally.
"I don't care how many powers this jerk has. We can take her," whispered Marinette to Volpina.
"Yeah, maybe. But we need a distraction," both girls turned to look at Chat who finally decided to jump out of his hole, screaming kung fu nonsense as he made his way towards Le Paon. Le Paon collected herself into one being in front of Chat as he stood ready to fight.
"Foolish boy!" Chided Le Paon as she picked Chat up by the scruff of his collar.
"Not quite, ah ah achoo!" Chat sneezed all over Le Paon. "Sorry, I'm allergic to feathers."
That was all the opportunity Marinette and Volpina needed. Marinette raced for Le Paon, kicking the scepter out of her hands, Volpina jumping into the air to catch it.
"NO!" Le Paon whined in defeat as Volpina stood towering over her.
"Sucka!" She taunted back as her family, Marinette, and Chat approached her.
"You did it sis!" Congratulated Tikki, who was once again pushed away when she attempted a hug.
"Awesome," echoed Wayzz with a nod of approval.
"Finally. Now give me my powers back," Pollen stood ready to be hit with her powers, but nothing came as Volpina contemplated over the scepter.
"Or…" a devious smile crept onto her face.
"Or what," asked Marinette suspiciously.
"Or I could have all the powers."
"Volpina, I thought we were in this together," scolded Marinette.
"Oh, come on. Don't you know me better by now? I mean, seriously."
"She's right. Keeping everyone else's power for herself and using them for evil... yeah, that's got more of the Volpina vibe," added Chat.
"I don't believe it," denied Tikki, "You may be a cranky smart mouth, prone to excessive violence, but deep down, you are still a member of Team Miraculous... a hero."
"Tikki, I quit this stupid team years ago and after I quit,I went to work for a guy who wants to take over the world," explained Volpina.
Tikki gasped.
"It's true," confirmed Marinette.
"But deep, deep down…" started Tikki again, but was cut short by Volpina knocking her aside with a slash of orange glow.
"I. Am. Evil. Have I made myself clear?"
"Super Bad," answered Pollen from behind Wayzz, who remained undeterred.
"Totally evil," echoed Tikki.
Volpina took the scepter and spun it over her head, rainbow sparkles eventually turning into a rainbow light. She looked around the room, spotting the vacant throne. Volpina dashed up the steps and lifted the throne with the red glow, tossing it towards Marinette and Chat. Both eventually split directions, with Volpina going after Marinette.
"Marinette," Chat called out, Marinette turning in time to see Volpina with her orange glow looming over her.
Marinette dodged the first strike, jumping up to avoid any more glowing orange punches. Once Marinette was able to get a kick in, Volpina shrunk then dodged out-of-the-way, leaving Marinette to fall on the ground when she tried to catch her.
Marinette looked to see where Volpina went only to find her growing back to her regular size, soon shooting her orange energy as Marinette rolled out-of-the-way to dodge. This resulted in one of the bolts hitting a column, almost falling on Marinette.
Chat tried going after Volpina next, who just shrunk back down, to which Chat pulled out Plagg.
"Go get her boy," Chat ordered his feline pet, who batted a paw at Volpina before deciding to take a nap.
"Seriously?" Chat picked up the useless cat and put him back in his pocket.
Marinette made another grab for Volpina, but Volpina resized herself, then made copies, all who shot the orange energy at Marinette. While Volpina was distracted with Marinette, Chat reached out to grab the scepter, only to have Volpina grab him with her free hand and swing him into Marinette.
"Want me to try being the distraction this time My Lady," offered Chat.
"Chat, it would take a huge distraction," commented Marinette.
As if on queue, a large robot burst through the ceiling.
"Hawkmoth," Asked Volpina?
"Ladybug's computer geek told me that you were at the mercy of a villain," answered Hawkmoth as the window for the robot revealed Marinette's enemy.
"I've got everything under control," scolded Volpina. Marinette took this opportunity to jump kick the scepter out of Volpina's hands, sending it crashing against the wall.
"Maybe, not so much," Marinette teased as everyone's powers returned to their rightful owner.
Wayzz, Tikki, ad Pollen met up in the middle of the room, uniting their glows as one.
"Go Team Miraculous," cheered Wayzz.
Volpina looked on in a panic, quickly backing towards the robot.
"Get us out of here," Volpina ordered as she climbed on, Hawkmoth laughing the robot into the air.
"Looks like this bird is ready for its cage," chuckled Wayzz as Tikki picked up Le Paon by the back of her collar, which sent Chat doubling over with laughter at the pun.
"Do you have to say that every time?" Le Paon grumbled.
Marinette rushed into the hotel with Redd on her tail, glasses in hand. The remaining members of Team Miraculous offered to escort Chat to where he needed to go, while Tikki took Marinette back home to finish the glasses.
Chloe was saying something to Adrien, still as clingy as when Marinette left, but Marinette didn't bother to pay attention until she reached the elevator.
"Adrikins, you really need to do something about that feather allergy. I don't know why you insisted on taking those feathery knife things to the garbage yourself."
"They were metal Chloe, not real feathers. I'm fine." Marinette looked back to see Adrien chuckle nervously, their eyes meeting for a second before looking away.
Redd and Marinette entered the elevator, Marinette rocking on her feet and they went up.
"So what's going to happen to the Miraculous Team now?"
"I think it's time to come out of retirement," answered Redd confidently, "I'm sure Jagged will understand," she added with a wink.
Marinette giggled as they exited the elevator, stopping at Jagged's room. Redd knocked on the door, which Penny answered.
"Redd?! Marinette?"
"Here's the glasses for Mr. Stone. Redd escorted me back here," that was the story Redd and Marinette had agreed upon.
"Thank you, and welcome back Redd. Jagged has been…"
"Redd? Is that you? Come here, I need help teaching Fang some new tricks."
"Duty calls," Redd entered the room, leaving a fully satisfied Marinette with a job well done.
"Thank you very much for this work experience day, Mr. Bourgeois. I'm sure we'll all remember it for a long time to come," Ms. Bustier shook the Mayor's hand as she stood alongside her class. Penny and Redd stood slightly behind, Redd giving Marinette a wink
"So do I," answered Mr. Bourgeois. Penny nudged Mr. Bourgeois. "Oh, wait, I almost forgot. Jagged Stone's giving a concert tomorrow night so, I'm giving tickets along with backstage passes to the students who demonstrated the greatest effort today."
Penny stepped forward, presenting the students with tickets, with the exception of Chloe.
"Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" Chloe whined, going after Penny. Marinette looked over at Alya who smiled at her, the looked over further down the row. Marinette turned to see Adrien and Nino talking excitedly over their tickets.
Marinette would have jumped for joy at that moment if she could. She was going to see a concert with Adrien
AN: An apology for not getting back to all the comments, I just now responded to the most recent ones you posted. But thank you for reading and your comments of praise, hopes for future chapters (the movies are the most requested), and critiques (Hawkmoth should be a bit more gentlemanly).
Next two chapters have been decided, so hopefully not too much delay like after Vitru-Ladybug. I had a hard time deciding what chapters to do next, but I like where we are going.