Ladybug and Chat Noir were physically and mentally exhausted. Ember suggested they rest up and regroup on the next trial the following morning.
Wearily they agreed and while Chat Noir was teleported back to Paris, Ladybug quickly went back to London.
Ladybug ended up right back in the flat, and cautiously looked around. Still no Alya. She must still have not made it back from the news studio. "Tiki, spots off," she said, and Tiki thankfully gobbled up more cookies from the lady who had given them the lift in Bohol. "That is the last of them," Marinette warned. "We will have to pick up some more before meeting back up with Chat Noir tomorrow!"
Tiki nodded with her mouth full, and looked more like a red chipmunk than a ladybug.
Marinette scrolled on her phone, lying in bed, trying to find the best possible place to take Alya out to celebrate her first day. Not too long later Marinette heard the keys jingling and the deadbolt flip. "Quick Tiki! Alya's back!" Marinette whispered urgently. The kwami darted back under the covers.
Alya burst in squealing, "Turn it on! Turn it on!" She jumped the coffee table like a hurtle and grabbed the TV remote. Fiddleling with the buttons, and grumbling in urgency, she finally managed to make the TV come to life. "Mari, you've got to see this! Common'!" She yelled excitedly. She flipped through channels till she found the worldwide news.
"Good first day?" Marinette asked peeking around the corner.
"Totally!" Alya said, "…but seriously, get in here!" She scrambled over to her bff and practically dragged her to the couch.
There was a news anchor talking about the fair weather recently with the meteorologist.
"You want me to see the weather update?!" Marinette raised an eyebrow at Alya.
"No, no…right after…just watch!" She turned her friend's head to the screen.
"We bring you an unusual breaking story of a phenomenon around the world. Ms. Cezare of Paris, creator of the famous Ladyblog, has more."
"Oh my gosh! That's you! Your first day and you got a news story!" Marinette started hitting Alya with a throw pillow.
"Hey! Watch the hair!" Alya shot back playfully, grabbing another throw pillow as a shield. "A news anchor can't have mused hair! …Now this is it…shhhh shhhh she held Marinettes shoulders.
What came onto the screen made Marinette's mouth drop. A photo of her (as Ladybug) and Chat Noir in Australia.
Alya went on to discuss various speculations about why the heroes of Paris were suddenly being seen in different parts of the world. Some theories were filled with wild conspiracy stories, some people seemed to think they were on a romantic getaway, while others felt they were doing some kind of PR tour. There was another photo from faraway of Chat Noir and Ladybug at the Chocolate hills, and another of them riding in the pickup on the Philippines coast. The segment was only a few minutes long, but Marinette felt sure she held her breath the whole time.
When Alya came back on the screen, she closed with, "no telling where they may turn up next, but you can be sure the world will be watching! Back to you Steve."
Alya leaped off the couch and started doing a victory dance. "Eeeehhhh she squealed again. "Can you believe the luck! My first day and a big Ladybug story lands right in my lap. Everything has been so quiet since the Hawkmoth/Gabriel Agreste scandal and trial. I was just in the back of the room getting my supervisor coffee, and all of a sudden everyone is looking back at me saying, 'hey aren't you the girl that broke the 'Ladybug's last Battle' story in Paris?!'"
"Alya," Marinette looked at her friend's beaming face, "that is totally amazing!" There is absolutely no one who could do this story justice like you. I'm sure there is no one Ladybug would rather cover this story than you."
Alya wrapped Marinette in a big hug. This is part of the reason it is so great that you could come with me," she smiled, "now I have someone to celebrate with!" She pulled away and looked into Marinette's face apologetically. "Mari, I didn't even hear how your day was yet! Was it okay? Did you get a chance to see the sites?"
"Oh yeah," Marinette nodded, "I saw lots of incredible sites. An experience like no other!"
"How was your shopping spree?" Alya asked "What did you get?"
"Oh well, I guess I got so busy touring around, I didn't really find anything," Marinette said awkwardly.
"Mari, you're here all week! I know I said you can borrow my stuff, but it is not like at home where you have time to make your own outfits and stuff. This is the perfect chance to splurge! Have fun with that fashion sense of yours!" Alya grabbed her hand and her purse by the door, pulling Marinette along.
"Hey! Where are we going?" Marinette asked.
"We are going shopping before everything closes, and we are both going to look totally fabulous!"
"Okay, but then I'm taking you out to dinner to celebrate," Marinette linked her arm with Alya out the door.