Sorry not sorry about that mini hiatus. After a chapter like that last one, I had to leave you in some suspense! :) Each side is gaining more players. Let's see if the balance of power shifts as expected...
"Hi everyone!"
"Hi Lila!"
Lila Rossi waved to everyone from the other side of the screen. She had video called them to give them an update on her life while she had been away from school.
"We can't wait to hear what you've been up to, Lila!" Madame Bustier clasped her hands. "Why don't you tell us about your week in the Kingdom of Achu?" Marinette glared at the screen, typing furiously on her phone.
It's been absolutely amazing!" Lila gushed. "Prince Ali invited me and my parents on a grand tour of the palace and,"
Marinette shot her hand into the air. "I hate to interrupt, but Prince Ali couldn't possibly have invited you to the palace. He's been visiting the United States for the past week." She presented Prince Ali's Twitter page on her phone as proof. Adrien nudged her, frowning. "What?" She hissed. "I'm trying to expose her for the liar she is!" He shook his head, sighing.
Lila laughed. "Oh Marinette. I never said he was actually there. He sent the invite and his parents gave us the tour." Scowling, Marinette propped her chin in her hands.
"I just missed you guys so much!" Lila placed her hand over her heart. "It's so hard being away from everyone while on this magical trip, especially with how close Hero's Day is!"
As Lila began talking about her plans for Hero's Day, Marinette tuned her out. She was going to have to do something different than giving everyone macaroons this year…
"Thank you Lila, on behalf of planet earth!"
"Absolutely, Ms. Bustier. Superheroes like Ladybug may save lives, but they couldn't care less about the environment. Somebodyhad to come to the rescue!"
Hearing that, Marinette tensed. Of course, the heroes cared! There just wasn't as much they could do. What gave her the right… Marinette felt a comforting hand rest upon her knee. She sighed. Adrien was right; as long as they knew the truth, it wasn't worth getting upset over.
The screen flickered as Lila pouted. "I'm sorry to have to go, but as you can see, it's getting late here. I hope to see you all very soon!"
Madame Bustier reached for the remote to the projector on her desk. "Thanks again for taking time to talk to us, Lila. Say good bye everyone."
"Bye Lila!" The screen went black.
xXx
As the conversation disconnected, Lila lowered her phone. She frowned as she closed the Twitter tab pulled up to Prince Ali's feed and turned off her lamp. Hearing someone jiggle her door handle, the girl slammed her laptop close. She grabbed a book and pretended to read as her mother entered the room.
"Who was that on the phone, ma bella?" She tapped away at her own phone.
Lila waved her hand dismissively. "No one, Mamma. It was just my boyfriend, Adrien. He's super clingy right now."
Mrs. Rossi looked up from her device. "I thought I saw somewhere that he was dating one of your classmates?" The girl's eye twitched.
"She's wannabe designer who's trying to woo him because of who his father is. He's someone who is too friendly to everyone." She grimaced. "I'll have to talk to him about that soon."
Mrs. Rossi went back to her phone. "Have you gotten any notifications about school opening back up? Hasn't it been 6 months since they shut their doors?"
Lila shook her head. "It's too dangerous with all of these akumatizations happening."
At that very moment, her mother's phone began to ring. "Ah! Here's your principal now. Maybe there's something the embassy can do to help the school…" Lila lunged for the small box, declining the call.
"Do NOT answer him, Mamma! He's been akumatized too. Just another poor soul that useless Ladybug failed to save." She trained her gaze downward, keeping her mother from seeing the rage in her eyes.
Mrs. Rossi took her phone as Lila returned to lounge on her bed. "Well, all of these akumatizations are quite concerning. I'll bring it up at my next embassy meeting." She kissed the top of her daughter's head. "Chow, ma bella. I put your lunch in the fridge. I'll see you tonight. Ti amo!"
"Love you too, Mamma." Lila halfheartedly replied. She had already reopened her laptop. Twitter was pulled up in no time. Post after post detailed what people were planning to do for their good deed on Hero's Day. Scowling, she closed Twitter. Lila brought up Instagram instead. Everyone was posting photos they had taken of the heroes as well as with them. The LadyBlog account had been uploading exclusive interviews with each hero, sharing what they loved most about Paris.
Not being able to stomach the sentimentality another moment, Lila switched to Facebook. The girl noticed that the Agrestebrand page posted a video recently. As she clicked play, Gabriel Agreste's face replaced the company logo.
"In honor of Ladybug and the heroes of Paris, who have saved my son Adrien and myself, who have relentlessly protected all of us every single day, I have personally financed the refurbishment of the statue in the Place des Vosges. Once completed, it will pay homage to all of our heroes: Ladybug, Chat Noir, Rena Rouge, Queen Bee, and our newest hero, Carapace. It is my belief that they are the only true heroes, not like their mediocre imitators… such as Volpina."
Shocked that one of the most influential men in the city would call her out like that, Lila felt herself become consumed with rage. The girl flung her laptop against the wall. The screen cracked and splintered across Gabriel's face.
"I HATE YOU, LADYBUG!" Lila screamed from the very depth of her soul. Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed to the ground. She didn't even notice the little black butterfly until it connected her to a familiar presence.
"Volpina…"
"Hawkmoth!" Lila excitedly wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"Your dreams and illusions were once a reality… until they were crushed by a certain pesky bug. I will have need of your illusions again soon. Together, we will destroy Ladybug and the other heroes. Can I count on you when the time is right to turn their dreams into nightmares?"
The girl grinned, the very thought making her giddy. "Absolutely, Hawkmoth. I await your command…"