Chapter 9: Jubilation

"The ties that binds us are precious, unique," said Gabriel's voice from the video billboard. "'Aliance' Alliance informs."

Adrien appeared on the screen, asking the holographic image of Lila projected by a ring to do a calculation.

Marinette, out for early-morning exercise in her new jogging suit, scowled up at the ad.

Trixx looked up at her from her purse. "What's wrong, Marinette?"

"A device like that could be useful if it came with faces other than Adrien or Lila."

"Let me see," demanded Trixx.

Marinette looked around to make sure nobody was watching, and then tilted her purse so that Trixx could watch the ad for a little while.

"That ring projects little illusions," said Trixx. "How do they get illusions of Adrien and Lila saying all those things without using magic?"

"What you're looking at is a 3D model of Adrien they put into a computer; that's like my laptop at home only bigger," said Marinette. "Adrien doesn't have to be a model anymore, probably a reward from his father for betraying Ladybug."

"You really don't like him anymore, do you?"

"I hate him."

Trixx changed the subject. "Look! Who is that climbing up the side of the billboard?"

"Oh no, Mr. Damoclès dressed up as 'The Owl' again. It looks like he's trying to rescue a kitten that climbed up on top of the billboard!"

As they watched, The Owl reached out to the cat, which leaped on his head and caused him to lose his balance. He fell from the ladder, but luckily his cape got snagged on one of the ladder rungs. His mask came off and fell into the street, getting run over by a car.

"Quick, Trixx..." Marinette started to invoke a transformation, desperate to help The Owl.

"Hold on, I'm coming!" called a young woman, running up in a Ladybug costume.

Marinette stood still in surprise as the young woman pulled herself up onto a maintenance platform attached to the billboard, gave a hand to The Owl, and tugged him off the ladder, causing both of them to fall onto the platform on their backs. They lowered the platform to the ground and got off.

"Thank you for saving me, Ladybug," said The Owl.

"I'm not Ladybug," said the girl. "The real Ladybug lost her powers but still leads the Paris Protectors. I'm just a civilian showing support for their fight against Monarch by doing good when I can. You gotta know when to step in. That's the only way you can change things in life!"

Marinette had been about to confront the girl and The Owl, but she thought better of it, and turned around to jog away in another direction.

"Why aren't you talking to them, Marinette?" asked Trixx.

"Because I recognize her, and I have an idea. That's Socqueline Wang, a friend at school last year that stood up for me against Chloé. She graduated from Collège Françoise Dupont last year, and she's now at Lycée Claude Monet."

(A collège in France is like a junior high school in America, and a lycée is more like a high school.)

"What's your idea?" asked Trixx.

"I've been looking for a new holder for Pollen, and she'd be perfect. She's heroic even without powers. I could make her a real superhero."

"How do you know for sure it's her, with that mask and costume?"

"That phrase she said about knowing when to step in. Socqueline says that all the time. Let's go back to the house and get the Bee Miraculous."

Socqueline arrived back from her Ladybug patrol, changed clothes, and prepared to open her parents' art store. She yawned. Being a "superhero" was a lot of work.

She was arranging products on the shelves when she heard a customer at the counter behind her. Turning, she saw a girl in a silver gray fox costume with camouflage spots.

"Who are you?" Socqueline asked. "An akuma?"

"I'm La Renarde, formerly Ladybug, leader of the Paris Protectors. I've heard about your dressing up as me. I appreciate your courage, but that's pretty risky."

"It's not like Monarch will think I'm the real Ladybug, you know."

"Would you like to do something more helpful?"

"Sure, what can I do?"

"I want you on the team."

"Wow, really?"

The hero produced a box and opened it, showing a golden hair comb.

"Socqueline Wang, here is the Miraculous of the Bee, which grants the power of Subjection. You will use it for the greater good. You don't have to return it; just care for its kwami and be a part of the Paris Protectors. Can I trust you?"

"Of course," said Socqueline, taking the comb from the box. "But what's a kwami?"

Pollen appeared in a flash of light. "Greetings, my new Queen!"

"Oh, how adorable!" said Socqueline.

"I adore you too, my Queen. I will give you power at your command."

"How does that work?"

"Just wear my Miraculous in your hair. To transform, say 'Pollen, buzz on', and to detransform say 'Pollen, buzz off'."

Socqueline put on the comb, which camouflaged itself dark to match her hair. "Pollen, buzz -"

Just then she heard a customer coming in the door. Pollen flew and hid behind the products on the shelf.

"Mirage!" said Renarde after playing her flute softly, concealing herself with a illusion.

Socqueline called to the customer, "May I help you?"

Mr. Damoclès approached. "I'm looking for a mask."

La Renarde whispered, "Get rid of him quickly so we can go on patrol together, and try to discourage him from being The Owl."

"Right this way," said, leading him away from the counter before he touched the illusion around La Renarde.

She showed him the various masks they had in the shop.

"Are you sure you want to keep being a superhero? It's very risky to yourself and others; it puts a burden on the hero team."

"I do feel bad about one thing. Because of me, a young woman in a Ladybug costume nearly fell off a billboard this morning."

"You see? It really is too dangerous. How about this mask?"

"It's pointless. It's all pointless."

"What matters is that you can keep fulfilling your true mission: being an excellent principal. And that's heroic! Here, this mask is on me. You can use it as a wall decoration."

Damoclès walked out of the store carrying the mask, his head down. Socqueline rushed back to La Renarde, who had taken the time to feed her kwami, transform again, and pick up some news on her phone.

"Come on," said La Renarde. "It's your first mission! Dr. Théoxanne du Bocquale has let her flying dinosaurs get loose again!"

"Pollen, buzz on!"

The mission went well. The Bee (she would think of it better name later) found to her surprise that she could use Venom more than once without a recharge, since she was older than the other heroes, old enough to be considered an adult. The two loose dinosaurs were subdued quickly.

They returned to the store and The Bee detransformed.

The image of Adrien popped up from her Alliance ring. "Socqueline, you've covered a hundred and thirty-five kilometers in fifteen minutes. That's more than average for people your age. Well done!"

"Oh-oh," said La Renarde. "The Alliance ring tracks your movements with GPS?"

"I use it to measure distance for exercise," said Socqueline. "I can reset it."

"Better do that before someone sees," said La Renarde. "If I were you I would get rid of that ring."

"I've gotten dependent on it for inventory, my calendar... lots of things."

"Well, be sure to take it off before you go on hero missions again."

"I will," Socqueline promised.

"I need to head out," said La Renarde. "Au revoir."

"Au revoir," said Socquiline.

Le Revarde left the store and leaped away.

"Please Alliance, settings," said Soquiline.

"Ready for new setting commands," said Alliance.

"Return to factory settings."

Meanwhile, Denis Damoclès was walking away discouraged, when his cell phone rang. He answered it.

"Hello Dennis? This is Jacques from the school board. I'm afraid I have bad news. We've decided not to reopen the school. The damage is extensive, and with Monarch continuing to make that school a favorite target, it's not worth repairing."

"No! What are you going to do with all the students?" asked Denis.

"We'll send them to Collège Paul Bert. It'll be a bit crowded, but we can make do until Monarch is defeated."

"What about our staff?"

"Some of the teachers will be needed, but we don't need two principals. We'll have to lay you off. You must admit that your record has not been good."

"That's not fair. I've done the best I can. You know the difficulties I've had in dealing with Chloé Bourgeois."

"We lost several good principals because of her, and finally came down to you. The Collège Paul Bert isn't funded by a special grant from the Mayor's office like Françoise Dupont. It won't be as easy for her to get people fired there."

"Please, I don't know what I'm going to do."

"I don't know. I suppose you'll have more time to be The Owl," said Jacques coldly, ending the call.

Denis thought, "I've always been able to justify not doing well as a principal because I have a secret identity doing good as The Owl. but now I won't have either. What can I do? Who am I?"

A butterfly mask appeared on his face.

"Darker Owl, I am Monarch. That young lady has diverted you from your true calling as a superhero."

"But what if she's right?"

"Except she's not just any young girl, she's the former Ladybug, now using the Bee Miraculous with the new hero name of Belle Abielle!"

"No! She can't be! Ladybug has always supported me!"

"She's secretly jealous of you. She wants only the Paris Protectors to be heroes. Unlike them, I like to share. I am giving you the power of Jubilation, with which you will trap your enemies in their deepest desires."

"I will seize their Miraculous and there will be only one superhero left in Paris: the Darker Owl!

"Returning to factory settings. Hello, I am Alliance. What is your name, please?"

Darker Owl burst into the store. "Belle Abielle!"

"Hello, Belle Abielle," said the Alliance Adrien.

"Denis Damoclès?" asked Socqueline. She knew akuma victims didn't answer to their names, but she wanted to buy some time to touch the Alliance ring behind her back and put it into recording mode.

"No. I am the Darker Owl and you're going to give me your Miraculous! Hoo-hoo!"

"The megakuma's in your mask, right?"

"Still as clever as always, ex-Ladybug!"

"I've never been Ladybug!" said Socqueline, dropping the ring behind the counter and retreating from him.

"That's just what you'd say if you were Ladybug!"

Socqueline decided she had no choice but to fight back with all the power she had. "Pollen, buzz on!"

La Renarde had showed The Bee the communicator in her top while they were out on the mission, so she turned that on to signal for help.

"Hoo-hoo, just as I thought!" said Darker Owl. "You're Belle Abielle, the former Ladybug. Not only will I capture your useful Miraculous, but I'll capture you for Monarch. You know the identities of all the other Paris Protectors."

"I don't know anything! I'm a new Bee, just recruited today!"

The Bee started shooting the top at Darker Owl, and throwing things at him. His high combat skills enabled him to dodge easily.

"You're going to give me your comb as a Gift!" said Darker Owl.

He fired his owl-gun at her, imbued with the power of Jubilation. Her mind filled with dreams of fighting with the Paris Protectors and defeating Monarch.

Darker Owl took the comb, and the kwami appeared.

"You're not my Queen," said Pollen.

"I'm your King, temporarily," said Darker Owl. "Be silent."

Pollen's mouth disappeared.

Monarch communicated telepathically. "She may be telling the truth about being new. I've seen Belle Abielle in costume before, and this didn't look like her."

"I can bring her to you now for questioning," said Darker Owl. "But if you let me use her as a hostage, and use the Bee Miraculous as an extra weapon, I can guarantee the capture of Chat Noir, too. Hoo-hoo!"

"Can't you just deliver the Bee Miraculous to me by drone?"

"I don't have access to Albert, so he can't summon drones for me."

"Chat Noir and his Miraculous are what I want most of all," said Monarch. "Let's go with your plan."

La Renarde returned to the store after getting the distress call, and found that Socqueline was kidnapped. She found and played back the recorded message.

Darker Owl broadcast a threat over all the Alliance rings in town, including the one Renarde was holding: "Chat Noir, how are you? Hoo-hoo! If you don't bring me your Miraculous, then this girl will fall into that can of paint! Come alone."

The image showed Socqueline suspended by rope upside down over a can of paint far below.

La Renarde communicated to Chat Noir as soon as he became active. "Let me go there with you. I can hide using illusions. I just need a moment with another Miraculous holder."

Darker Owl was on a roof near the art store, watching his suspended prisoner.

Chat Noir vaulted in. "Let the girl go, Dark Owl!"

"Look at my outfit. I'm now Darker Owl. Hoo-hoo!"

"This smells like a trap," said Chat.

"Of course it's a trap," said Darker Owl. "And the idea behind every good trap is that you can't escape it."

Darker Owl pressed a button on his remote control. The rope holding Socqueline released and she started falling. Chat was forced to leap up and catch her, tearing off her ropes as they fell.

"Run!" Chat told Socqueline when they landed. She did.

La Renarde saw Dark Owl aiming a weapon at Chat, and she rushed to help him. Dark Owl was using infrared owl-vision with the lenses built into his mask, and he could see her outline.

Darker Owl shot a Gift package with his gun that would open in front of the eyes of both of them. They slumped to the ground.

Darker Owl swung down on a owl-line and walked to them. He could now see the other hero, wearing an orange and white costume. Both of their eyes were shut.

"Hoo-hoo, two for one! I caught the team illusionist, the Fox holder! Just to make sure you don't wake up too quickly... Venom!"

He "stung" both, and then knelt beside Chat Noir to pull off his ring. Intent on this, he was caught by surprise when a mallet struck his mask, cracking a glass owl-vision lens. The akuma butterfly came out and was caught it in a jar.

The transformation bubbled away from Denis Damoclès.

"Where am I?" asked Denis. "And who are you?"

The hero had an orange costume with a lot of black, and there was a ring in her nose. She took a comb from his hair.

"Call me... FoxOx, I guess. You were akumatized."

He told her about the loss of the school and his job. She comforted him as best she could, and decided that later she would see if Orikko could magically repair damaged buildings. It couldn't be like a whole Miraculous Ladybug, but maybe a little at a time...

She returned to Chat Noir and waited until he was out of his dreams and paralysis.

"I was hit by Daizzi's power," said Chat. "Did you find the Pig Miraculous on Mr. Damoclès?"

"I didn't. Just like with Ms. Tsurugi, he has some new way of transmitting powers without giving out a Miraculous."

"That makes it harder, but we'll get him in the end."

"By the way, what did you dream about, kitty?"

Chat blushed. "It was too embarrassing. I'm still angry at how he played with my feelings."

"Never mind."

"So, you borrowed and unified with the Ox for Resistance."

"That's right, and I hid the costume change under an illusion when I had to play possom from his attacks."

"But why didn't touching you for a Venom attack break the illusion and show your real costume?"

"Resistance gives immunity from all attacks. If an attack has an effect I wouldn't like, it's as if it never happened. We tested it in team training."

"How did you know he would use Gift?"

"I wasn't sure, but Socqueline's recording caught something he said that gave me a hint. Anyway, I knew he might use Venom, so I took precautions. That let me get close enough to free his akuma."

"Great work as always, m'Lady. Pound it."

"Pound it."

FoxOx divided from Stompp and went to visit Socqueline at the art store. Socqueline was cleaning up the mess from the fight. La Renarde helped her for a while.

"I'm sorry, Socqueline. Since your identity was exposed to Monarch, I'm afraid I can't keep you on the team."

"I understand. Do you realize the implications of what happened?"

"I think so. Monarch was tipped off instantly when you used the Bee Miraculous. He must have some way of hacking into the GPS movement records of Alliance. Even though you erased it fast, he still knew."

"You've got to warn the rest of your team about Alliance."

"I certainly will."

"What about the general public? Everyone ought to stop using Alliance if they don't want Monarch tracking their movements."

"Gabriel Agreste is a powerful man. I can't run down his products without absolute proof."

"Besides," La Renarde thought, "Adrien still hasn't told his father who I am. It's like he's holding it over me. If I cross him by exposing a product that bears his image, who knows what he might do?"