Chapter 4: New Heroes
It had been three months since the Miraculous League had defeated Lex Luthor's robots, and Jake and Izuku were just relaxing—well, one of them was.
At the penthouse, Jake was sitting on the couch watching TV while Kwasi was eating a cookie.
"So, any plans for today, Jake?" Kwasi asked, still munching on the cookie.
"No, not really. I just want to relax," Jake said until he heard a loud noise coming from Izuku's room.
"God, what's going on now?" Jake said, quickly getting up and heading off to Izuku's room with Kwasi flying after him.
As Jake approached Izuku's room, he saw Izuku activating One For All and using Full Cowling. Izuku was trying to hit Ravage with his new move, Shoot Style, while the kwami was flying around, taunting him.
"Come on, Izuku, you can do better than that!" Ravage teased, effortlessly dodging Izuku's kicks.
"Hold still, Ravage!" Izuku shouted, frustration evident in his voice.
Jake stood in the doorway, watching the chaotic scene unfold. "What on earth is going on in here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Izuku is trying to perfect his new move," Ravage said with a mischievous grin. "But he's having a hard time keeping up with me."
Izuku paused, panting heavily. "Ravage, you're making it impossible to focus."
Kwasi landed on Jake's shoulder, finishing his cookie. "You know, Izuku, maybe you should take a break. You're going to wear yourself out."
Izuku sighed, deactivating One For All and dropping onto his bed. "You're right. I just want to make sure I'm ready for whatever comes next."
Jake walked over and patted Izuku on the back. "You'll get there, man. Just don't push yourself too hard."
Ravage landed on the bed, still grinning. "And remember, you can always count on us to help you train."
Izuku smiled, feeling a bit more encouraged. "Thanks, guys. I'll keep that in mind."
Jake glanced around the room. "Alright, since we're all here, how about we plan something fun for the day? We've earned a break after all those battles."
Kwasi nodded in agreement. "I like the sound of that."
Izuku perked up. "Yeah, that sounds great. What do you have in mind?"
Jake grinned. "How about a day out in the city? We can grab some food, check out the sights, and just relax."
Everyone agreed, feeling the excitement of a well-deserved day off. They quickly got ready, eager to enjoy their time together and momentarily forget about their responsibilities as heroes.
Jake and Izuku were walking around Metropolis, taking in the sights and enjoying the bustling city atmosphere. Skyscrapers loomed overhead, and the streets were filled with people going about their day.
Jake glanced down at his phone and then looked over at Izuku. "Hey, where are the girls at? They said they'd meet us here."
Izuku chuckled. "They're helping Diana with her 'normal girl' training. You know, girl things."
Jake laughed. "Right, girl things. I wonder how that's going. Diana's idea of 'normal' is probably still a bit off."
Izuku smiled. "Yeah, I can imagine. But it's good for her to have some guidance from Barbara, Karen, and the others. They know how to blend in better."
As they walked, they passed by a park where children were playing and families were enjoying picnics. The sight brought a sense of peace to the two heroes.
Jake's phone buzzed with a message. He checked it and grinned. "Looks like they're at the mall. Want to head over and see what they're up to?"
"Sure, why not?" Izuku replied. "It'll be interesting to see how Diana is adapting."
They made their way to the mall, chatting and joking along the way. When they arrived, they spotted Barbara, Karen, Jessica, and Diana in one of the clothing stores. Diana was holding up a dress with a puzzled expression while the others were trying to give her advice.
"Diana, you have to try it on!" Barbara insisted. "It's perfect for you."
"But why do I need so many clothes?" Diana asked, genuinely confused.
"Because variety is the spice of life," Karen said with a smile.
Jake and Izuku approached, waving. "Hey, how's the training going?" Jake asked.
Diana smiled at them. "It is... interesting. I am learning much about the ways of the modern world."
"Good to hear," Izuku said. "Need any help?"
Barbara shook her head, laughing. "We've got it covered. You boys go have some fun. We'll catch up with you later."
Jake and Izuku nodded, understanding that the girls had it under control. They continued exploring the mall, looking for something interesting to do.
"So, what's next on the agenda?" Jake asked.
Izuku thought for a moment. "How about we check out that arcade? I heard it's pretty awesome."
"Sounds like a plan," Jake agreed. "Let's go."
As they made their way to the arcade, both of them felt a sense of camaraderie and excitement for what the rest of the day had in store.
In the arcade, Jake and Izuku were engrossed in a heated video game battle, each trying to outdo the other. They were so focused that they didn't notice a little boy who had been watching them for a while. The boy's eyes lit up when he saw Kwasi and Ravage peeking out of their pockets, assuming they were stuffed animals.
"Hey, cool toys!" the boy whispered to himself as he quietly approached them.
Without Jake and Izuku noticing, the boy gently reached into their pockets and took Kwasi and Ravage, who were too surprised to react immediately.
Kwasi whispered to Ravage, "What do we do now?"
"Just play along for now," Ravage replied. "We don't want to cause a scene."
The boy, thrilled with his new "toys," ran off to show his friends. Meanwhile, Jake and Izuku continued their game, completely unaware of what had happened.
A few moments later, Izuku glanced down and noticed Kwasi and Ravage were missing. "Hey, Jake, have you seen Kwasi and Ravage?"
Jake paused the game and checked his pockets. "No, they're not here. They must've wandered off. We should find them."
They began searching the arcade, calling out quietly for their Kwamis. After a short while, they spotted the boy showing off Kwasi and Ravage to a group of other kids near the prize counter.
"Hey, those are ours!" Jake said, approaching the boy.
The boy looked up, startled. "But they're so cool! Can I keep them?"
Kwasi, seizing the opportunity, spoke up. "We're not toys, we're... um, special pets. We belong with them."
The boy's eyes widened. "Whoa, they talk!"
Izuku smiled gently. "Yeah, they're really special. But they need to stay with us to help us out. How about this?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small toy from the prize counter. "You can have this instead."
The boy nodded, taking the toy and handing Kwasi and Ravage back. "Thanks! Sorry about that."
"No problem," Jake said, patting the boy on the head. "Thanks for giving them back."
As they walked away, Jake looked at Izuku. "We need to keep a closer eye on them."
Izuku nodded. "Definitely. Let's head back to the girls and see how they're doing."
With Kwasi and Ravage safely back in their pockets, Jake and Izuku made their way out of the arcade, relieved that the situation had been resolved without any major issues.
They walked through the mall until they bumped into a teenage boy with dark hair and brown eyes. He wore casual clothing typical of a high school student. His name was Jaime Reyes.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" Jake said, a little annoyed.
"Sorry about that," Jaime apologized, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't see you there."
Izuku smiled. "No worries. We're just a bit distracted. I'm Izuku, and this is Jake."
"Nice to meet you both. I'm Jaime," he said, extending a hand.
Jake shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too, Jaime. What brings you to the mall?"
"Just hanging out, trying to kill some time," Jaime replied. "What about you guys?"
"We're just exploring the city," Izuku said. "Our friends are helping Diana with some... girl stuff."
"Girl stuff, huh?" Jaime chuckled. "Sounds like fun. So, what are you guys into? Any hobbies?"
"We're into a lot of things," Jake said. "But right now, we're just trying to relax. It's been a hectic few months."
"Hectic? How so?" Jaime asked, curious.
Izuku and Jake exchanged a glance. "Let's just say we've been dealing with some unusual situations," Izuku said carefully.
Jaime raised an eyebrow. "Unusual, huh? Like what?"
Before they could answer, Kwasi and Ravage peeked out of their pockets. "Hey, who's this?" Kwasi asked.
Jaime's eyes widened. "Whoa, are those...?"
"Yeah, they're our, uh, special friends," Jake said, trying to keep it vague.
"Interesting," Jaime said, still eyeing Kwasi and Ravage. "You know, I've got a bit of an unusual situation myself." He tapped his chest, where a faint blue glow was visible.
"Really?" Izuku asked, intrigued. "What's your story?"
Jaime looked around to make sure no one was listening. "It's a bit complicated, but let's just say I'm not your average high school student."
Jake grinned. "Looks like we have more in common than we thought. Want to join us? We could use another friend."
Jaime smiled. "Sure, why not? Let's see where this adventure takes us."
With their new friend Jaime in tow, Jake and Izuku continued their exploration of the mall, excited about the unexpected turn of events.
As they continued their conversation, a loud explosion echoed through the mall, causing everyone to jump. A group of unfamiliar thugs came running, bags of money in their hands.
"Not again," Jake groaned, already feeling his day of relaxation slipping away.
Izuku's expression turned serious. "We can't let them get away."
Jaime's eyes narrowed, the blue glow in his chest intensifying. "Looks like it's time for action."
Kwasi and Ravage quickly flew out of their pockets, ready to assist. "Let's take them down!" Kwasi said, his eyes glowing with determination.
"Follow our lead," Ravage added, hovering next to Izuku.
Jaime's transformation was swift. The Scarab on his back extended, covering him in blue armor. "Blue Beetle, ready for action," he said, his voice now more mechanical.
Jake and Izuku quickly assessed their surroundings, finding cover behind a popcorn maker machine.
"Ready to do this?" Jake asked.
"Yeah, I can finally use my new Shoot Style," Izuku said, activating Full Cowling as green electricity crackled around him.
"Kwasi, spots on!" Jake commanded as his wristband, Glow transformed into Beetle with a flash of energy.
"Ravage, claws out!" Izuku commanded as his ring glowed, transforming him into shadowclaw as he summoned his staff and prepared for combat.
They emerged from their hiding spot, ready to confront the thugs.
"Let's show them what the Miraculous League can do!" Beetle declared, spinning his yo-yo with precision.
Shadow Claw nodded his staff in hand. He moved incredibly quickly, utilizing his shot style to deliver powerful kicks that sent thugs flying.
Blue Beetle took to the air, firing energy blasts from his scarab that disarmed several thugs. "Surrender now, and this will go easier for you."
Beetle swung his yo-yo, creating barriers and immobilizing the thugs, while Shadow Claw leaped and dodged, striking with his staff and martial arts skills.
One thug tried to escape, but Blue Beetle swooped down, capturing him with his grappling hook and lifting him off the ground. "End of the line," he said, dropping the thug before Beetle and Shadow Claw.
The remaining thugs were quickly subdued, and mall security arrived to take them into custody. The crowd that had gathered began to applaud, cheering for their new heroes.
Before anyone noticed, the three heroes transformed back into their civilian attire.
"Phew, that was intense," Jake said, adjusting his jacket.
"Yeah, but we handled it well," Izuku replied, brushing dust off his pants.
Jaime nodded, still feeling the adrenaline rush. "I can't believe how smoothly we worked together."
"You did great out there, Jaime," Jake said with a grin. "Welcome to the team."
"Thanks, Jake," Jaime replied, a sense of pride filling him. "I'm glad to be part of the Miraculous League."
Just then, Kwasi and Ravage flew back into their pockets, looking satisfied.
"I guess they're happy with how things turned out too," Izuku chuckled, patting his pocket.
"Let's head out before security starts asking questions," Jake suggested, glancing around at the gathering crowd.
As they made their way out of the mall, Jaime couldn't help but feel excited about the adventures ahead with his new teammates.
Jake and Izuku, along with Jaime, met back up with the girls and introduced them to their new teammate, who was now part of their group. Some of the girls couldn't help but look at Jaime in an intrigued manner.
"Diana, Karen, Barbara, this is Jaime Reyes," Jake said, gesturing towards Jaime. "He's joined the Miraculous League with us."
"Nice to meet you all," Jaime greeted with a friendly smile, noticing the curious glances directed his way.
Diana smiled warmly. "Welcome, Jaime. It's good to have another ally in our fight for justice."
Karen nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, we could use more heroes like you around here."
Barbara, ever observant, gave Jaime an appraising look. "Interesting choice of attire for fighting crime," she commented with a playful smirk, causing a faint blush on the boy's face.
Jaime chuckled nervously. "Uh, thanks. It's part of the package, I guess."
Izuku stepped in, eager to change the subject. "We just had a run-in with some thugs at the mall. Jaime held his own out there."
"Sounds like you've already proven yourself," Barbara said, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Maybe you'll even impress Batman when he hears about this."
Jaime blushed slightly at the thought. "I hope so. It's an honor to be fighting alongside all of you."
The group exchanged smiles, feeling a newfound camaraderie forming among them. They knew that with Jaime on their team, they were stronger together in their mission to protect Metropolis and beyond.
Jake was walking through the bustling school hallway when suddenly he collided with a teenage boy. The boy had vibrant orange hair, a pink shirt, black pants, and gray shoes. His eyes, a striking light blue, looked up in surprise as Jake steadied him.
"Oh, sorry about that," Jake apologized quickly.
"No worries, dude," the boy replied with a friendly grin. "I'm Alex Red. Haven't seen you around here before. You new?"
Jake shook his head. "Nah, just trying to make it to class without causing another food fight."
Alex laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Food fight, huh? Sounds wild. Well, if you ever need someone to show you the ropes around here, I'm your guy."
"Thanks, Alex," Jake said, offering a handshake. "I'm Jake. It's good to meet you."
"Likewise, Jake," Alex replied, shaking his hand firmly. "See you around, man."
As they parted ways, Jake couldn't help but feel that Metropolis High was full of surprises, and meeting Alex Red was just the beginning of what could turn out to be an interesting school year.
In the next class, Jake found himself sitting next to Jaime, eager to learn more about their new teammate. They chatted about school assignments and upcoming events until Jaime's origin story came up.
"So, Jaime," Jake began, curious yet cautious. "How did you end up with your powers? Like becoming Blue Beetle and all?"
Jaime glanced around briefly, checking to ensure no one was listening in too closely. "It's kind of a long story," he started, scratching his head. "But it involves this alien artifact called the Scarab. It bonded with me and... well, here I am."
"That's wild," Jake replied, genuinely impressed. "Must be a trip having that kind of power."
Jaime chuckled nervously. "Yeah. Took some getting used to, that's for sure. But it's not just about the power; it's about using it for good, right?"
Jake nodded thoughtfully. "Absolutely. We've all got our reasons for doing what we do. It's cool to have you on board, Jaime."
"Thanks, Jake," Jaime said with a grateful smile. "I'm glad to be part of the team."
Amid their class, a massive rock creature suddenly crashed through the classroom wall, startling everyone. Shadow Claw, quick to react, leaped into action to confront the creature.
"Hang on, hang on, big guy!" Shadow Claw shouted, swiftly unsheathing his staff and activating full cowling to enhance his abilities.
The classroom erupted into chaos as students screamed and scrambled to safety. Jaime, Jake, and the others quickly moved to protect their classmates and apprehend the creature before it could cause more damage.
"Everyone, stay back!" Jaime called out, his Blue Beetle armor shimmering with readiness as he assessed the situation.
The rock creature swung its massive fists, sending desks and chairs flying across the room. Shadow Claw deftly dodged its attacks, using his enhanced agility and Black Whip to restrain the creature's arms.
"Gotcha!" Shadow Claw grunted, his determination evident as he struggled to contain the creature's strength.
The rock creature let out a roar before slamming its fist into Shadow Claw's face, sending him flying into a nearby wall.
"Okay, I might not be an actual cat, but that hurt," Shadow Claw groaned as Jake quickly bolted out of the classroom.
Finding refuge in the bathroom, Jake muttered in frustration, "This is always happening to me."
Before Jake could finish his thought, Alex rushed in and accidentally bumped into him before he could even transform.
Hey, what are you doing here?" Jake asked, surprised to see Alex.
"Hiding from that rock monster guy. Are you doing the same thing?" Alex replied, breathing heavily.
"Yeah, pretty much," Jake nodded, taking out his phone to text the girls for help with Shadow Claw and Blue Beetle.
"Um, Alex, listen. I know we just met and everything, but I'm kind of in a rush here. Can I trust you with something?" Jake asked.
"Yeah, what is it?" Alex replied.
"Kwasi, spots on," Jake said as his wristband glowed, transforming him into Beetle.
Alex's eyes widened in shock.
"Alright, listen and listen good, okay? I'm only going to say this once. You cannot tell anyone at all, okay?" Beetle said before opening a yo-yo box necklace.
"This is the Miraculous of the Fox. It will give you the power of illusion. You must use it for the greater good. Once the mission is done, you have to give it back to me. Can I trust you?" Beetle asked.
Alex stared at the miraculous in awe, processing the sudden revelation. After a moment of silence, he nodded solemnly.
"I... I understand," Alex said, his voice filled with determination. "I promise, I won't let you down. I'll use this power responsibly."
Beetle nodded, a sense of relief evident on his face. "Good. Remember, it's a great responsibility." He handed Alex the foxtail necklace.
Taking out the foxtail necklace, Alex put it around his neck, and an orange light emerged from it, revealing an orange fox kwami.
"Oh," Alex said, amazed.
"I am Trixx, and I'm your kwami," she smiled.
"Okay, what do I have to say?" Alex asked.
"All you have to do is say the magic words. 'Trixx, let's pounce!'" Trixx said.
"Trixx, let's pounce!" Alex exclaimed, and his necklace glowed, transforming him into a new hero with a new outfit.
With a flash of orange light, Alex's outfit transformed into a sleek, modern suit with subtle fox-themed accents. The suit was primarily orange and black, with intricate designs that shimmered in the light. Across his chest was a stylized fox emblem, symbolizing his newfound hero identity.
"Wow, this is incredible!" Alex exclaimed, examining his suit with awe.
"You look amazing, Alex!" Beetle complimented, impressed by the transformation.
"I feel ready to take on anything," Alex said with determination, his eyes gleaming behind the mask.
"Your hero name," Trixx chimed in, "shall be... Foxfire!"
"Foxfire," Alex repeated, trying out the name. "I like it."
"Great choice!" Beetle nodded in approval. "Now, let's go help the others with that rock creature."
Outside the school, the Miraculous League battled the colossal rock monster.
"Whose bright idea was it to anger this thing?" Supergirl exclaimed, delivering a powerful punch that barely fazed the creature.
"Sorry about that!" Shadow Claw yelled, blocking its attacks with his staff while maintaining Full Cowling.
"Can we focus on stopping it?" Green Lantern interjected, forming a giant green hand with her ring to restrain the monster.
"Where are the others, by the way?" Shadow Claw asked, agilely dodging a swing from the creature.
"Diana's on Themyscira, Karen's studying for a test, and Zatanna's performing a magic show with her dad. Barbara's in Gotham," Supergirl explained, just before being hurled into a nearby water fountain.
"So, it's just us then," Blue Beetle remarked, his arm transforming into a blade.
"That's right," Shadow Claw replied, flipping over the monster's fist.
Suddenly, a yo-yo and a flute flew through the air, striking the monster.
The trio looked up to see Beetle and Foxfire descending from above.
"Sorry we're late," Beetle announced as they landed.
"Everyone, meet Foxfire. Foxfire, meet everyone," Beetle introduced.
"Nice to meet you all!" Foxfire greeted with a wide grin, adjusting his stance as he surveyed the chaotic scene, his necklace emitting a soft orange glow.
"Foxfire, huh? I like the name," Supergirl said, flashing a quick smile before refocusing on the monstrous threat.
"We could use some extra firepower," Green Lantern remarked, her construct struggling to contain the thrashing monster.
"Count me in!" Foxfire declared confidently, cracking his knuckles.
Beetle nodded approvingly. "Alright, let's coordinate. Supergirl, can you distract it while Foxfire and I target its joints?"
"On it!" Supergirl replied, swooping in to divert the monster's attention away from the others.
Foxfire took out his flute and started playing it, causing a million clones of himself to appear around.
Meanwhile, Beetle swung around the monster's side with his yo-yo, slashing at its rocky exterior to create weak spots.
Shadow Claw and Blue Beetle coordinated their attacks; Blue Beetle's energy blasts weakened the monster while Shadow Claw used his agility to strike with his staff.
Green Lantern reinforced her construct, adjusting its size to encircle the monster's upper body. "Keep it up, everyone! We're making progress!"
The clones of Foxfire surrounded the monster, confusing it with their multitude. Each clone mimicked his movements, distracting the creature and preventing it from focusing on a single target.
"Nice move, Foxfire!" Shadow Claw shouted over the chaos, leaping from debris to land a powerful kick on the monster's leg.
Foxfire continued to play his flute, maintaining the illusion of multiple versions of himself. He grinned as he watched the monster swing wildly, unsure which image to strike.
"Let's finish this!" Beetle shouted, his yo-yo glowing with energy as he swung it around, cutting through the rock monster's tough exterior.
Supergirl seized the opportunity, flying in with a devastating punch to its weakened joint, causing the creature to stagger.
"Almost there!" Green Lantern exclaimed, her construct tightening around the monster, restricting its movements.
With a final coordinated effort, Blue Beetle fired a concentrated blast from his arm cannon while Shadow Claw used Black Whip to bind its arms, immobilizing it completely.
The monster let out a rumbling roar before crumbling into a pile of rocks, defeated.
Pound it." The heroes said fist bumping
"Nice work, team!" Beetle congratulated, retracting his yo-yo.
"You were amazing, Foxfire," Supergirl added with a grin, landing next to him.
Foxfire's clones disappeared as he grinned sheepishly. "Thanks, guys. Just trying to make an entrance."
"Looks like we make a pretty good team," Shadow Claw remarked, adjusting his staff.
Green Lantern nodded in agreement. "Definitely. Let's head back and make sure everyone's alright."
As they gathered to leave, Beetle glanced at Foxfire. "Welcome to the Miraculous League, Foxfire. We're glad to have you with us."
Foxfire smiled, feeling a rush of pride at being part of something bigger than himself. "Thanks, Beetle. I'm looking forward to what we can do together."
With their first battle as a united team behind them, the Miraculous League headed back, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them next.
After school was over, Jake and Alex stood outside the school in the rain. Jake had forgotten his umbrella, but Alex offered him his.
"Umm, thank you," Jake said, blushing a little as Alex's limo pulled up.
"Hey, thanks for letting me be a hero," Alex said, handing back the Fox Miraculous.
Jake looked at him, still stuttering a bit.
Alex smiled. "No problem. Anytime you need backup, just let me know."
Jake nodded gratefully, feeling a newfound bond with his new friend. "Yeah, I will. Thanks again, Alex."
Jake looked at him, still a bit flustered. Just then, the girls and Izuku joined them, noticing Jake's red face and knowing exactly what that meant.
"Looks like someone had an interesting day," Kara teased with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, Jake, spill the beans! What happened?" Jess chimed in, nudging him playfully.
Jake scratched his head, trying to downplay it. "Oh, you know, just a typical day saving the world and all."
"I see that blush, Jake. You can't hide anything from us," Karen added with a grin.
Jake, still blushing, sighed in mock exasperation. "Alright, alright, you caught me."
"Details, Jake! We want details!" Karen insisted, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Jake chuckled nervously, realizing there was no escaping their curiosity. As he began recounting the day's events, Izuku and Jaime joined in with laughter, enjoying Jake's embarrassed recounting of his adventures.