Adrien nearly dropped the scrapbook on his lap, startled by a 11:00 pm call from Marinette. He quickly shut the book and shoved it out of view of the camera before answering the call.
"Hey Bugaboo," answered Adrien, quickly putting his scrapbooking supplies in his desk before looking up to see Marinette dressed for bed.
"Hey Chaton, I saw your message on the Ladyblog."
Adrien scratched the back of his neck nervously, "You saw that already?"
"I've been practically glued to my computer with how many questions I've had to answer this weekend. I barely managed to get my homework done for tomorrow."
"Should have called me sooner then, we could have done a study session since I've been in my room all weekend."
"Oh," Marinette pulled at strand of wet hair, probably had just managed to take a shower.
"It's ok, Nino's been keeping me company with some online games. You know how he procrastinates," Adrien chuckled.
"You don't have to tell me," Marinette giggled. "How's your father been taking the news?"
Adrien slumped in his chair. He didn't talk to his father the whole care ride home, and even when they got home, Gabriel retreated to his office, and Adrien to his room. Adrien hadn't even seen his father since Friday night.
"I'm not sure, Nathalie's been the same, and Father's been … distant."
"You probably should talk to him, he's had time to process and might be open to listening now."
"You're probably right, he might be still awake."
"Go talk to him. I'm only a call away if you need anything," Marinette offered with a smile.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow at school. Can't have you losing your beauty sleep," Adrien winked. Marinette's cheeks turned a tinge of pink.
"Stop flirting, friends don't flirt with each other," Marinette mumbled, not looking Adrien in the eye.
"But I see guys do it all the time in anime," protested Adrien.
"What anime have you been watching?"
A knock on Adrien's door interrupted his response.
"Come in," Adrien called out.
The door opened, and Gabriel Agreste entered the room. Adrien immediately stood.
"Adrien."
"Father."
The two Agrestes stood facing each other, Marinette feeling the awkwardness even on her end.
"Hi Mr. Agreste."
"Miss Marinette?" Mr. Agreste stiffened as he noticed Marinette on one of Adrien's computer monitors.
"Yeah, I was just, um, talking to Adrien. Um… I'll go so you two could talk." Marinette quickly hung up the skype call. Adrien knew he needed to face his father alone on this, but having Marinette at least listening in would have given him a little more courage.
"Father, I…" Adrien began, but Gabriel quickly raised his hand to silence him.
"I've been thinking things over since Friday," began Gabriel.
"Same. I wanted to tell you sooner, the timing just never seemed right."
Gabriel nodded, "I know we agreed to try and communicate better, and me being busy with the award shows hasn't helped with that." He retreated to sit on the edge of Adrien's bed. Adrien sat opposite of him in his desk chair.
"What I can't understand is why." While Adrien formulated the right words in his head, Gabriel noticed the scrapbook at the edge of the desk. Adrien went wide eyed as his father pulled to book into his lap, the first page an article of Ladybug rescuing a wealthy jewelry collector. The following pages contained pages from local papers, magazines, pictures, and article recaps from the Ladyblog.
"I see," Gabriel closed the book, "There are other ways to win a girl's heart than being a sidekick."
"Partner actually," Adrien corrected, "And it's not like that. I've always respected and admired Ladybug, ever since I first met her. Before I knew she was Marinette. And Marinette always seemed to be scared or uncertain around me. I thought me being her partner would be a chance to get to know her better. She was one of my first friends when I started high school, and I wanted to be a better friend for her."
"I see," Gabriel set the scrapbook back on the desk, "And I take it that has worked for you."
"Pretty well, once she found out who I was we had some disagreements, but things have been getting better. She's a really great friend."
"I'm glad. I'm sure your mother would have loved to meet her." Adrien and Gabriel smiled. Adrien was certain if his mom was given a chance when she was younger, she would have been a teen crime fighter like Marinette too.
"So, can I keep being Chat Noir?" Gabriel's smile immediately disappeared.
"I would have preferred to have been able to talk to you and Miss Marinette before the board meeting Monday, but it seems the board has already made some decisions that I have no control over."
Adrien frowned. The board had been unusually quiet when it came to decisions regarding the company, usually only dealing with company expansion and rarely diving into Gabriel's design territory.
"They want us to move to California. They believe I'll have better access to creative resources, and that you would be safer if you were no longer able to be Chat Noir."
"My safety isn't the board's concern."
"As a model and their employee, your safety is their utmost concern. Your face as well as mine is the face of Gabriel's. They don't want the company's face damaged by a want-to-be superhero."
"And you? Do you agree?"
Gabriel sighed, "As your employer, you have been balancing modeling, school, your extracurriculars, including this super hero thing. Your job is not to bring what you do and feel outside of work into work, and you have done well for that."
"And as your son?" Gabriel pulled Adrien into a hug.
"I want my son safe. I can't lose you too."
Father and son stayed like that for awhile. As much as Adrien didn't want his father to ever have to go through again what they both did when his mother disappeared, Adrien had promised to be Marinette partner as long as he could. Adrien pulled back.
"If I could still make it work, being Chat Noir and modelling in California, would you let me?"
"So long as you stay safe," Gabriel stroked a loose piece of Adrien's hair out of the way, "and Miss Marinette has been doing a pretty good job of keeping you safe thus far."
Adrien pulled back in for another hug, "Thank you father."
"This is a terrible tragedy!" Chloe whined as she clung onto Adrien. Monday had been Adrien's last day of school before him and his father left, and his whole class had come to see him off.
"You could always have your dad fly you over to visit," offered Adrien, hoping Chloe wouldn't beg her father too much for her to visit.
"True. I'll miss you Adrikins!" Chloe hung on even tighter.
"Chloe, I need to say goodbye to everyone else."
Chloe finally let go, "Fine, but only because I can still visit you while these peasants can't."
"Take care of Chloe for me," Adrien side-hugged Sabrina.
"You can count of me Adrien," answered Sabrina before she noticed Chloe scowling at her, so she returned to her bff's side to help touch up her make-up where her tears had ruined.
"Here's my online name, send me a friend request and we can play Mecha-Strike Online sometime," Max handed Adrien a piece of paper, which Adrien stuck into his pocket.
"Thanks, I'll do it once my computer is up." Adrien shook Max's hand, then proceed to shake Kim's before coming to Mylene.
"Thanks for your help with the movie shoot, and with my acting," Adrien gave her a quick side hug, for fear of incurring the wrath of her boyfriend.
And so the goodbyes to the rest of his class continued, with handshakes, hugs, and tears from Rose, the last ray of sunshine in their class.
"You should totally start a blog while you're out there, 'The Adventures of Adrien Agreste.' Kind of like the Ladyblog, but with more famous people and less fighting," Alya brought Adrien's head under her arm as she attempted to mess up his hair, which only snapped back into place.
"I'll think about," Adrien gasped once Alya released him from his choke hold.
"Try not to be too much of stranger," Nino handed Adrien a new watch, "It's been upgraded, so has Marinette's. Check out the features when you're bored."
Adrien pulled Nino in for a hug, holding the watch tight. Nino had been his first new friend when he started going to high school. He was thankful for such an amazing friend, and definitely did not want to loose him despite the time difference.
"I'll probably figure it out on the plane over then. Its an eleven hour flight."
"Yeah, that should be enough time to figure it out," Nino chuckled while letting go of the hug.
Adrien offered a weak smile before turning to the final person he needed to say goodbye to.
Marinette stood on the steps of the school, avoiding looking at Adrien. Despite being the first person to hear the news that morning, she had managed not to cry all day.
Despite Marinette reassuring Adrien they would keep in touch, and that they would try to make the whole Chat Noir thing work, Adrien didn't feel ready to say goodbye. Not after coming so far in their friendship.
"Well, Marinette, I guess, uh... I guess this is it," Adrien approached Marinette, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah. Yeah, I … I guess it is."
"Adrien, we need to leave. It's four hours early for international flight," insisted Nathalie.
Marinette quickly pulled Adrien in for a hug, closing her eyes to keep the tears from falling. Adrien closed his eyes and gripped her tighter.
Adrien would have been content to stay in that hug forever if it wasn't for his driver starting the car. Marinette hesitantly let go, Adrien following in suit before retreating to the car. The other students crowded around the car as the car left the school, Adrien waving goodbye.
"Goodbye Adrien," whispered Marinette as Alya pulled her into a side hug, finally allowing the tears to fall once Adrien was out of sight.
Marinette groaned as she flopped her head on the kitchen counter," I don't think I can focus on studying today."
"Girl, you can and you will. Adrien would have wanted you to focus on your physics homework so you can ace that test," encouraged Alya.
"But I don't understand a word of this problem. Adrien could at least help explain it to me, but now I'm just lost."
"Hello, I do computer science, I can help explain a physics problem," Nino pulled the tablet from Marinette to read over the problem.
"Number 8?"
"Yep."
"Yeah I'm stuck on that one too," Nino handed Marinette back the tablet just as her watch beeped, with a call from Adrien.
"ADRIEN!" Marinette's face lit up, Alya and Nino scrambling behind her to see the blond in the waiting area of the airport terminal.
"Hey, just figured out the call option on this thing. How's it going?"
"Dude, I'm your best friend, and you call a girl before me? Whatever happened to bros before hoes?"
"I didn't see an option to call you yet? Where is that on here?" Adrien hung up the call.
"Good going Nino, now we can't ask Adrien the answer to Number 8," Alya whacked the back side of Nino's baseball cap.
Nino was about to retort when his phone began ringing. He hurriedly picked it up to find it was a call from Adrien.
"I hope this thing doesn't charge for global cover," came Adrien.
"Nah, you're fine. Um… do you know the answer to number 8 on the physics homework?"
"Nathalie doesn't want me to start homework until we're on the flight. But send me a picture and I'll try to explain it."
Marinette took a picture with her watch and sent it over to Adrien.
"This thing does pictures too? Awesome!"
Marinette smiled. It seemed like keeping in touch with Adrien was going to be fine.
Marinette was woken in the middle of the night by the sound of her watching beeping. The time read 2:07 am according to her watch, as she answered the call.
"Hey Marinette, I finally got Plagg back and we are both safe and sound in California," Adrien held the grumpy cat up to the watch.
"Adrien? It's the middle of the night."
"Sorry buginette, forgot about the time difference. It's like almost dinner time over here," Adrien let go of Plagg, who scampered out of sight.
"Enjoy dinner then," Marinette answered with a yawn.
"Might be awhile, Nathalie is looking up something local and healthy for dinner since the new cook doesn't start until tomorrow. Plus she is still directing the movers where to put everything so probably not anytime soon."
"Adrien, night time...sleep."
"Oh right, sleep tight bugaboo."
Adrien hung up the call, Marinette about to set her watch back on the desk when she got beeped again, this time, Nino and Adrien both appearing in a diagonal split screen.
"LB, I... oh, hey, Adrien," started Nino, noticing Adrien also in on the call.
"Hey, hey, right back at you, Nino."
"How's California?"
"Sunny."
"Nino, what's the sitch? And can it wait until morning?"
"Sorry, LB, robbery in progress. Someone's breaking into the Tri-City Museum."
"I'm on it," Marinette forced herself out of bed and began heading down to get changed.
"Me, too. I'll be right there."
"Adrien, you're halfway around the world."
"Marinette, you said we'd still be a team, so no matter what it takes, I'll be there."
Marinette smiled at Adrien's determination, Adrien returning the smile he saw illuminated the light of the watch screen.
"Alright, see you there partner."
Chat Noir was late, although Marinette wasn't too surprised as she quietly wandered the halls of the Tri-City Museum. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a familiar feline figure making a grab for a headless idol that looked like a Lucky Cat.
"Back off Kitty Paw," Marinette raced into the exhibit and took a fighting stance. Honestly Chat Noir would be a better match against Kitty Paws with their shared mystical cat powers, but Marinette would just have to hold off Kitty until Chat got there.
"Oh, super. The ladyblogger," responded Kitty Paws, noticing Marinette
"Hey, at least I have human hands and feet."
"Right. Too bad. I'd rather fancy a real challenge," Kitty Paws flipped over the idol into a battle stance, then proceeded to strike at Marinette. Marinette blocked the attack and proceeded to take Kitty Paws by the arm and toss her near a totem pole behind them. Marinette then attempted a drop kick, but Kitty Paws retreated into the rafters of the exhibit. Marinette was about ready to toss her yoyo, when Kitty Paws flipped between rafters and exhibits, eventually landing on the head of tyrannosaurus rex. Rather than try again to reach her foe, Marinette launched the yoyo to a leg bone of the dinosaur, effectively collapsing Kitty Paw's perch, trapping her in the jaw of the dinosaur. Kitty just scowled in defeat.
"Aw, cat your tongue? Or more like dinosaur caught you."
Marinette was sure Chat would be proud of her pun in that moment. Where was that cat boy anyway?
Something whizzed by, landing near Marinette's feet.
"A marble?" Marinette looked at Kitty Paws who only smirked before the marble exploded, sending Marinette across the room.
"I practically gift-wrapped her for you. How could you miss," Kitty let herself out of the dinosaur's jaws as another figure joined her.
"The brat will not stand still," whined a voice Marinette recognized to be Anti-bug.
"Kitty Paws and Anti-bug? Working together?"
Both the villains attempted to grab Marinette, Marinette jumping up and bringing their heads together. Anti-bug swung at Marinette, Marinette quickly knocking her into an exhibit. Kitty Paws attempted to scratch her, Marinette dodging a blocking every attack. Anti-bug rejoined the fray, attempting another strike when Marinette jumped out of the way. Both villains began to close in on her. Marinette glanced behind her, noticing something she could use.
"Two against one... how exciting," Marinette flipped back, knocking a pedestal over holding a giant glass bowl. The bowl went flying, trapping the women inside.
"Oh, it's not just the two of us," Anti-bug smirked as Marinette approached her capture.
"Oh, and I'm supposed to be surprised that Hawkmoth's behind me?"
A whine she'd recognize anywhere came from behind, "Oh, how does she do that?"
Marinette looked over her shoulder, " A ninja, you're not."
All of a sudden, Marinette was hit in the side, sending her flying into a sarcophagus.
"Aha! But she is," Hawkmoth gestured to Volpina before shutting Marinette in.
Hawkmoth, Volpina, Anti-bug, and Kitty Paws working together? What were these villians up to?
Chat Noir finally arrived on scene early the next morning, rushing around for any sign of Marinette.
"I'm here Marinette!" Chat called out as he found a room that looked thoroughly trashed, but there was no sign of Marinette or a villain anywhere.
"Marinette?"
"Get me out of here," came a familiar voice, but from where Chat couldn't pinpoint.
"Where are you?" Plagg jumped out of his pocket and ran to the sarcophagus, scratching at the base. Chat rushed over.
"Are you in here Marinette?"
"Yes, get me out," came the angry reply. With Marinette pushing, and Chat pulling, they successfully remove the sarcophagus lid. Marinette's hair was frazzled, and clothes dishevelled from an uncomfortable night stuck in the ancient burial bed.
"Sorry about that LB," Chat offered her a hand, which she accepted as she stepped out.
"Yeah. Better late than never," chided Marinette. She really could have used Chat's help last night, especially with four aginst 1. With Chat, at least the playing field would have leveled a little.
"The idol! The Tempus Feles idol!" Cried the curator as he approached the pedestal Kitty Paws had been looming over the previous night.
"Yeah, bad news on the headless cat front sir," apologized Marinette as she and Chat approached the curator.
"Headless Cat? Man, what did I miss?" Chat looked between Marinette and the curator.
"The Tempus Feles idol, purported to have dark, mystical powers. Centuries ago, the head was taken to a far corner of the globe and hidden away forever."
"Poor cat," sympathized Chat.
"Many believe that if the Tempus Simia were ever made whole, it could be used for unspeakable evil."
"Evil. Of course," Marinette shook her head. Cats and evil, right up Kitty Paw's alley.
"And Kitty Paws has it," asked Chat?
"And Hawkmoth and Anti-bug."
"No way! The villains teamed up, and I missed the whole deal?" Chat panicked, pacing as he did, " So much for making our team up work."
"So not the drama, Chat. We can make this work. I'll see what I can dig up on this Tempus Feles thing, and you'll, well, um…" Marinette struggled with an answer.
"Be in California." Chat moaned as he picked up Plagg and left the museum.
"Chat!" Marinette called out, refusing to let the day start like this. Chat turned around.
"It was...I'm glad you could make it, I mean, I'm happy to see you, in person. Here," Marinette fumbled, trying to come up with the right words.
Chat offered a small smile.
"It was good to see you too," and with that Chat left the building, Marinette hoping she made things a little better.
Marinette, Nino, and Alya sat in the cafeteria, conferencing Adrien on a skype call as Nino reviewed over any information he had regarding the Tempus Feles idol.
"OK, quiz time. Hawkmoth, Kitty Paws, and Anti-bug are working together to…" She looked between the three.
"It's a "rule the world" thing," answered Adrien from bed, surprisingly very awake despite not having slept much the past couple hours.
"Gotta be," agreed Nino.
"So, what's the power of the cat?" asked Marinette
"Easy. Everybody thinks cats are adorable. He's going to use cat mind control."
"I'm sure you are the only one who thinks they are adorable," argued Alya.
"Marinette finds Plagg adorable," retorted Adrien, the cat in question coming into view before starting to eat some of whatever Adrien had gotten for a midnight snack.
Alya and Nino gave Marinette interested looks.
Marinette decided to get back to the topic rather than discuss her preference on cats and cat boys.
"OK, they've got to be looking for the head, right? Nino, can you hack into the Global Justice spy satellites?"
" In my sleep," Nino cracked his knuckles before typing away on his laptop.
"Then take a nap and scan for Drakken."
"On it. See you later bro," Nino cancelled the skype call, Adrien waving goodbye.
"What'd you do that for?" scolded Alya.
"I need full access to my computer, can't waste data skyping while hacking," argued Nino.
Alya frowned and took Marinette's wris, calling Adrien for her.
"Alya," Marinette whispered before Alya squeezed Marinette away from them to the other side of the table.
Adrien picked up the call, his face messy from eating something.
"Hey Marinette?"
"H-hey Adrien. Just wanted to check and see how you were doing. You know, after this morning."
"We'll get them on the next one. I didn't get any trouble over here if that is what you're worried about. Although Nathalie is having me learn Latin now as part of my homeschool studies, but other than that she'll try to follow the school's curriculum so I won't be so far ahead or so far behind if I come back."
"Glad to hear it. What's that you're eating?" Arien paused mid bite, setting the food item down on a paper bag.
"I found this late night place last night called Bueno Nacho. It's fast, totally unhealthy and plenty of cheese for Plagg," Adrien held up the cat for Marinette to see his face covered in cheese and chips.
"Some kid recommended to me this, and it's so far pretty good. Can't beat croissants though."
"And what is 'this'?"
"They call it a naco," Adrien finally took a bit of the naco, "It's a mix between a taco and nachos. Cheesy, crunchy and messy." Adrien took another bite, trying to catch all the cheese that threatened to fall out in his mouth.
Marinette chuckled.
"Glad you found something good in California."
"Still not as good as your parents bakery, but the first place when it comes to fast food."
"Thanks, I'll pass the word along."
Adrien gave a thumbs up as he made it halfway to finishing the naco.
"I'd better go, don't stay up too late."
"I'll be fine. Tell everyone else I said hi."
"Will do," Marinette paused before hanging up the call, Alya smirking at her across the table while Nino was in the zone.
"What?"
"Nothing," Alya drawled before picking up her empty tray, and began heading towards the trash can.
Marinette frowned. She missed Adrien and he neediness for her family's croissants. Nothing more.
"Hi Maman, hi Papa," Marinette said half-heartedly as she entered her parent's bakery, Alya in tow, "Adrien says hi and your bakery is the best."
Sabine wiped her hands before embracing her daughter,"I'm glad to hear it. He's doing fine in California?"
Marinette nodded, allowing herself to indulge in the hug for the next few moments.
Their hug was interrupted by Nino trying to reach her on the watch.
"What's the sitch, Nino?"
"I've tracked down team Hawkmoth," came the positive answer as Sabine began helping another customer, Marinette and Alya retreating to a corner of the bakery.
"Where to?"
"Deep in the Australian outback."
"Better tell Adrien. What time is it there?" Marinette added Adrien to the call.
"I'm awake!" He sat up with a start, throwing Plagg across the room.
"Early morning," presumed Marinette.
"It's so hot here. In Paris at night it was freezing, now I don't even need a blanket. And its March," whined Adrien.
"Well it's fall in Australia," Marinette attempted to cheer Adrien up, immediately his face brightened.
"I'll be there My Lady. See you soon!"
"Adrien, time for breakfast," came Nathalie from offscreen.
"As soon as I talk to Nathalie." Adrien hung up the call.
"He's not going to make if he has to deal with Nathalie and his schedule first," moaned Marinette, looking between Nino and Alya.
"Maybe Plan B?" Offered Nino.
"Yus!" Alya cheered for herself, giving Marinette a high five. Alya would just be back up until Chat Noir could show up. Should be no problem with three against four.
A Jeep wrangler pulled up in the middle of Australia's desert, Marinette and Alya helping themselves out of the SUV. Alya wandered around the area, searching for a phone signal while Marinette pulled out their backpacks.
"Right, sheilas. You're on your own from here," commented the ranger as he watched Marinette and Alya put on helmets, making sure they had everything.
"That's cool."
The ranger nodded, turning his jeep around, and leaving the two girls.
"Nino set us up," Marinette unclipped a skateboard keychain from her backpack, tossing it to the ground where it grew into wind surfing skateboard.
Alya did the same, puzzled when the sail wouldn't come up.
"Hey, mine isn't," Alya started as she inspected the board, only to be cut off by the jerk of the sail rising to full height, tossing her into some bushes.
Marinette burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Asked Alya as she struggled out the bushes, Marinette calming her laughter enough to help her friend.
"You just reminded me of Chat. When he first parachuted he…" Marinette continued laughing, unable to straighten her thoughts to form a full sentence.
"Haha, I'm hilarious. Come on, we got to find the Tempus Feles Thingy," urged Alya as she got on the board. Marinette calmed down, taking one last look at her friend before laughing as she pushed herself off the hill.
"I don't think it was that funny," murmured Alya, unaware of the branch still in her hair as she pushed herself towards the edge after Marinette. Marinette jumped into the air, the wind catching sail as she glided towards the desert scape.
"Hello bloggers, this is LadyWifi assisting the miraculous Ladybug as we track three criminal masterminds across the Australian desert," Alya attached her phone, still recording the video to upload later, to the sidebar of the wind sailing skateboard. She pushed herself off the cliff, screaming in excitement as she raced to catch up with Marinette.
Marinette glanced up at the skies as she raced across the Australian outback, searching for any signs of Chat Noir.
"Come on Chaton," Marinette whispered to herself.
She could see Hawkmoth's escape jet parked over a cliff, and directed her sail in the direction they seemed to be headed.
She turned her head once to see Alya hollering over the wind to the viewers who would be probably watching the video later.
She turned her head back around to see Anti-bug, Hawkmoth, and Kitty Paws struggling to be the first one into the cave ahead.
"Excellent formation," complemented Marinette as she crashed into the human pyramid, sending the three into a pile on the ground.
"Your landing needs a little work," Marinette critiqued as she made her way back around to meet her challengers.
"Ladybug!?" Hawkmoth exclaimed as the villains untabled themselves.
"Why do you always act so surprised," chastised Kitty Paws.
"Hmm, I don't know."
"Marinette, how do you stop this thing," whined Alya as she attempted to slow down as she served, eventually crash landing into another bush.
Marinette brought her skateboard to a stop as she and the villains watched Alya climb out of the bush.
"Phone's ok!" Alya held up the phone victoriously.
"Who's she? And where's the cat boy?" asked Hawkmoth, as he looked at Marinette.
"Hawkmoth! Bloggers, I'm here in person with Hawkmoth, Ladybug's number one arch villain," announced Alya to the phone as she turned it towards Hawkmoth.
Anti-bug scoffed.
"Nice to beat you again," Volpina jumped from where she had been on look outstanding between Alya and Hawkmoth.
"And Volpina is back, looking healthier than before," added Alya, not noticing as Volpina was preparing an attack. Marinette quickly jumped in, pulling Alya out of the way.
"Maybe I should handle Volpina," offered Marinette before going back to face Hawkmoth's sidekick.
"My turn then!" Anti-bug pulled a small marble out of her bag and tossed it towards Alya.
"Marbles? Even my sisters are so over those."
Marinette deterred from fighting Volpina to kick the marble out of the way, exploding in the air.
"That's new," was all Alya could say.
"New gadget apparently," answered MArinette before Volpina jumped between them.
"Yeah, can we focus here Bug?" Volpina struck out at Marinette, Marinette moving out of reach before flipping back, just as Kitty Paws was about to swipe at her feet.
Marinette jumped landed her swinging on a branch of a tree, Kitty Paws leaping onto the same limb. Marinette attempted to kick Kitty Paws off, but she quickly dodge. Marinette then brought herself to land on the branch in a fighting stance as Kitty Paws faced her in a tiger kung fu position.
Kitty Paws advanced her swipes at Marinette, eventually forcing Marinette off the tree and onto the ground where she was quickly attacked by Volpina. Kitty Paws jumped off the branch and onto Volpina's shoulders, both females challenging the teen hero. Both villains attacked Marinette with both arms, Marinette trying to block everything coming at her. Kitty Paws Eventually grabbed Marinette and leapt off Volpina, so that Kitty Paw restrained Marinette's arms from behind. Volpina was about to attack again when Marinette blocked her strike with her legs, and eventually caught the fox-themed villain in between her legs, flipping her off to the side. She pulled Kitty Paws forward into a somersault, crashing into a rock that Alya had taken refuge behind to film.
"Go Ladybug!" Alya cheered as Marinette untangled herself from Kitty Paws, before landing a drop kick that sent the villain flying. Where was Chat when you needed him.
Volpina's hands began to glow orange in irritation.
"Ohhh, check it. Volpina's signature plasma burn. Very painful."
"Ya think," asked Marinette, growing a little impatient. Alya had managed to be a little helpful back when they faced the temp and Volpina, but only because Alya didn't have her phone.
Marinette dodge the first attack, moving away for the second when Volpina ended up burning part of the rock Alya had been hiding behind.
"Whoa, check out these scorch marks," Alya zoomed in on the dent in the rock while Marinette continued to battle Volpina. Something flashed in the corner of Alya's eye, Alya barely having time to dodge another deadly marble.
"Incoming," Anti-bug taunted as she chucked more marbles at Alya, Alya doing her best to out run the tiny bombs.
"This is crazy," Alya whined as she ran, eventually knocking into Hawkmoth, who quickly grabbed her phone.
"Don't you dare!" Alya began practically climbing the tall man to retrieve her phone, Hawkmoth eventually chucking the phone to get rid of Alya.
Volpina lunged at Marinette, whom Marinette quickly jumping over her. Volpina then swiped her burning glow at a nearby tree, the tree crashing and caging Marinette in. Volpina ran for their jet as Kitty Paws emerged from the cave, carrying the head of the cat idol. As Marinette struggled to get out, Kitty Paws climbed to the top of the cave, Volpina opening the doors of the jet to let the cat villain join Anti-bug and Hawkmoth. Marinette finally made it out as the jet disappeared from view.
"Found it!" Alya announced triumphantly as she held up her recovered phone, the recording finally paused. "And not a scratch." Alya did a little happy dance while Marinette rolled her eyes at her friend. Despite losing and Alya being little help, at least her friend was happy.
"LB," Both girls turned to see Chat parachuting down towards them, landing perfectly, "I made it!"
Chat surveyed the area, which look either like an unnatural disaster or a villain fight.
"Did we miss them?" asked Chat as he approached Marinette and and Alya, who was wiping the dust off her phone.
"Yeah," answered Marinette.
"But this this," Chat looked a little hopeful as he glanced between Alya and Marinette. Maybe with two people they were able to win.
"Bad guys, two, good guys, zero."
"Alright, bring in the other model" announced the director of the photoshoot. Adrien retreated from where they had been taking photos back to Nathalie for another Latin lesson under the crew tent.
"Here you are," Nathalie handed Adrien a towel and a shirt, but no Latin book.
"Take a break, you need it," reassured Nathalie.
"Thanks!" Adrien headed back further into the tent, taking a water bottle with him. He flopped down on one lounge chairs, hoping for a small nap.
His nap was interrupted when his watched beeped with a call from Marinette.
"What's the sitch? Ha ha ha! That felt kinda cool," Adrien chuckled, Marinette offering him a smile from where she was at, dressed in her ladybug attire.
"Nino turned up some dirt on the Tempus Feles idol," answered Marinette.
"Great. So, what's it do?"
"Still a mystery, but we do know there's a temple of the Tempus Feles in Central Africa."
"You think we'll find Evil Incorporated there?"
"Mmm. That's where they have to put the head on the cat."
"Yeah, this ancient magic stuff, it's always so complicated."
"I'm sure the mystic cat monks had their reasons," offered Marinette, who appeared to looking at something behind Adrien. Adrien turned to see Nathalie with his schedule in hand.
"Aside from your lessons, I believe you are free for the rest of the day," and with that, Nathalie walked away, leaving both teens confused but grateful.
"Meet me in Central Africa?" asked Marinette.
"This time My Lady, I swear I won't be late," Adrien promised. Marinette smiled as she hung up, Adrien immediately dashing towards the car, where Nathalie waited.
"Airport please!" Adrien urged his driver as he pulled a bag out from under the seat.
Nathalie sat in the front as Adrien changed into Chat Noir, quizzing him on his studies as they went.
"Who was the first president of the 5th French Republic?"
"Everyone thinks it was De Gaulle, but it was actually Rene Couti before the first elections," answered Adrien as he and Nathalie boarded the Agreste's jet.
"What is the nature of light?"
"Waves and particles," Adrien strapped on the jet pack, Nathalie buckling her seat as they flew over the African jungles.
"Thanks Nathalie," Adrien put on his mask as he pressed the door for the plan, jumping out of the plane.
Chat Noir allowed himself to freefall for a bit while his watch picked up Marinette signal. Once he had a lock on it, he press the button on his pack, and raced down to the jungle floor. He descended into the heavily populated forest to find Marinette still cutting through the jungle.
"Chat?"
"Please tell me I made it this time," Chat begged as he retracted the jetpack into the bag.
"You're right on time Chaton," Marinette went in for a hug, pulling back before Chat could even hug her back.
"Sorry, we kept meeting after… you know...let's just get going," Marinette pushed through the jungle, Chat following behind her.
"The The Tempus Feles temple is just over that ridge," Marinette pulled back the brush to reveal a stone monument covered in vines.
"So, how's school going?" Chat offered as an attempt at conversation.
"Alright, Professor Mendeleiev is slightly annoyed that only Max knows the answers when it comes to physics."
Chat chuckled, remembering fondly how he and Max would almost always compete to see who knew the answer faster in the science class.
"And how's Latin for you?"
After a long thought and a hint of uncertainty, "Interesting."
"Well French is based off Latin, along with many other ancient languages. Tempus Feles may be even Latin or some other ancient language for all we know," answered Marinette.
"I'm surprised you remember that lesson? Sophomore year literature?"
"I think, either that or a lecture from my parents on my inability to learn Italian or Chinese."
They grew quiet as they approached the temple, the voices of the villains growing louder the closer they got.
"But I hate sharing, came Hawkmoth's whine.
"No sharing," Marinette would recognize Anti-bug high pitched voice anywhere.
"Then we shall not share... together," Chat was certain that was the former British lady, Kitty Paws.
"Yes," Hawkmoth agreed.
Marinette and Chat were sure the would giggle at the hilarity of the situation if it wasn't for the possible danger the Tempus Feles could pose when reunited with its head.
"Less than a minute now," reassured Kitty Paws.
"Sorry. Can't wait that long. I've got school, and, wow, I'd hate to miss that," responded Marinette as she and Chat entered the temple to see the villains struggling to hold onto the head while Volpina looked bored reading a Henchco Magazine.
"You don't stand a chance Ladybug, it's three against one," argued Hawkmoth.
"Hello, I'm here this time," retorted Chat. Volpina just glared at Hawkmoth
"Fine, Four against two, counting the sidekicks" Hawkmoth amended.
"Honestly, why do I even bother?" Volpina charged after Marinette, Marinette running away, and up a wall to flip over Volpina. She came face to face with Hawkmoth and ANti-bug, jumping on them both to launch herself to top of the altar where Kitty Paws held the idol head. Kitty Paws attempted a low swing kick, which Marinette dodged, using her moving foot to kick the idol out of Kitty Paws' claws. The head went sailing back to Chat, cheering with a "Booyah"as he headed for the exit, only to be blocked by Volpina and Hawkmoth.
Chat quickly tossed the head back to Marinette, who moved from the altar to catch the head.
"Nice catch," Marinette congratulated.
Kitty Paws leapt from the altar after Marinette, reaching the teen hero after she caught the head. While Kitty Paws regained her balance, Marinette chucked the idol back to Chat, who had long avoided Volpina and Hawkmoth, only to run into Anti-bug.
As Anti-bug tried to grab the idol, Chat tossed it back to Marinette, who caught the head despite Kitty Paws tailing her. Marinette then threw it again to Chat, Kitty Paws and Anti-bug both taking off to claim the idol, only to run into each other.
Happy at their slight victory of knocking down two villains, Chat tossed the idol head to his other hand, letting it roll against his shoulder blades to his other hand, only to be confronted by Hawkmoth. Chat then let the idol drop back, and kicked it over to Marinette.
Marinette, feeling the high energy of working with Chat and actually winning, caught the idol on her head, balancing it for a short bit before letting it drop to her foot, which she caught on her toe. She the flipped it back up and kicked it with her other foot back to Chat.
The idol was low enough that it zoomed through Hawkmoths legs and right into Chat's open arms. As he stood back up, he was side tackled by Volpina, tossing the idol head back to Marinette.
"Hurry," Marinette could hear Kitty Paws call from the altar where the reaming cat idol waited. Marinette dodged Volpina's slash and Hawkmoth's outstretched arms before tossing the head back over to Chat.
"I'm open," Marinette called out as she ran by Chat.
"Got you covered LB!" Chat barely had time to turn-dodge an attack from Volpina before chucking the idol head in Marinette' direction.
Marinette ran long, keeping her eye on the idol, realising too late the Anti-bug stood in her way.
Anti-bug caught the idol and tossed it to Kitty Paws, who placed the head on the body of the idol.
The eyes of the idol began glowing a vivid red, emitting a powerful energy that knocked all below the altar off their feet.
When Marinette looked up, she saw some sort of space distortion behind Kitty Paws. Kitty Paws entered the distortion, followed by Anti-bug, Volpina, and lastly, Hawkmoth, who grabbed the completed idol.
"So long Ladybug. We'll meet again, in time," Hawkmoth began laughing maniacally, Marinette and Chat both racing up the altar's steps to stop him. Hawkmoth slipped into the distortion, evading their grasp as they jumped after him, landing instead on the floor of the temple.
When they got up, they were alone in the temple, with no signs of the villains anywhere.
"We...lost," Marinette struggled to say as she stood up. Even with Chat Noir back at her side, they still managed to lose.
"We seem to be doing that a lot lately," Chat removed his mask, leaving a worried Adrien and panicking Marinette wondering what went wrong.
Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate it!
And to answer Guest's question from the last chapter: Adrien was the original Josh Mankey back when Marinette was crushing hard. Nataniel's a mix of Josh Mankey and a rebound, nice dude but Marinette isn't so panicked by him. In regards to Adrien and Kagami, I'm not including any of Season 2 for the time being due to spoilers, too late to really set up cat kung fu training, and Gabriel Agreste probably not wanting his son to study abroad in Japan. I like Kagami as a character and she would be an excellent Yori, but that's not where this plot is going.