Miraculous: A New Hero

By MiraculousMongoose

Chapter 1

Nathaniel Kurtzburg

Nathaniel had never felt this way about someone before, not even for Marinette. She was kind and sweet and a talented artist. She even had a good sense of humor. Lillian Hope Montgomery. Just thinking about her could make him smile.

"The problem is, I love Lillian, but I don't know if she feels the same way." He said to Alix one day. "And then there's Marc and our comic book. I'm pretty sure he likes me, and I used to until I met Lillian."

"Look, Nath. I'm not the love expert, but based on Marinette's old obsession with Adrien, you should just come right out and say it." Alix said.

"Thanks, Alix." He smiled.

A while later, he met up with Marc on the entrance stairs to the school.

"Hey, Nathaniel!" Marc said as he sat down.

"Hey, Marc. I've got a new hero for our comic book!" Nathaniel showed him his design. "Her name is Brushstroke, and she's the female counterpart of Mightillustrator."

"Cool! I love how her ponytail looks like a brush."

Nathaniel smiled. "Thanks. I based her off of Lillian. She's a new girl in my class." He blushed.

Marc either didn't notice or didn't care. "I think I've met her before." He said. "Short brown hair with teal tips, glasses, blue-green eyes?"

He nodded. "That's her, alright." He paused for a second. "I was thinking that maybe she could also help us out on our comic book. She's an amazing artist and she loves to write. Plus she's had some first-hand experiences with akumatized villains."

"We could give it a shot." Marc said after thinking about it.

"Great! I'll tell Lillian and-" He stopped abruptly when his watch beeped. "Oh, I forgot, we're studying for a test together today. Well, see you!"

Chapter 2

Adrien Agreste

"Father?" Adrien asked as he poked his head through the doorway.

"What is it, Adrien?" He responded with his usual cool tone.

"I-I'd like your permission to go to the movies with my girlfriend, Marinette." He said nervously.

"Of course, Adrien, you are allowed to go to the movies. Let Nathalie prepare the limousine for you."

"I meant going to the movies alone with Marinette." Adrien said. "Please?"

Gabriel Agreste sighed. "Very well. You may go alone, but you are to come back immediately afterwards.

Adrien grinned. "Thank you, Father!"

A while later, Adrien knocked on the door of the Dupain-Cheng residence. Sabine answered the door.

"Oh, Adrien! Marinette's up in her room!" She said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cheng."

"Please, call me Sabine."

"Adrien!" Marinette fell out of her chair, but quickly got back up. "I didn't know you were coming!"

"It was a surprise." He said. "I got us tickets for *Solitude*, as we never truly got to see it last time."

"And this time people will rightly guess I'm your girlfriend this time." Marinette laughed.

Adrien smiled. "That is true. Now, come on! It starts at 3:00!"

The couple sat down in the movie theater.

"This is so exciting!" Marinette squealed, her blue eyes full of happiness.

Adrien grinned. Ever since he'd started dating Marinette, he'd been so much happier. He'd stopped thinking about Ladybug as much. Ladybug had also seemed happier. He hoped it was because she was finally with the boy she loved.

Marinette rested her head on his shoulder.

"Have I ever told you that you're awesome?" He asked her.

"You just did." She replied with a grin.

The movie started.

Chapter 3

Flora Mayfield

"Dad! Where'd you put my fabric?" Flora called.

"I don't know! Ask your mother!" Her father replied.

"Don't ask me! I never touch it!" Her mother yelled.

Flora groaned. "The only good thing about this is that I don't have to share a room with Carson."

"I heard that!" Her little brother yelled.

"I'm sure everything will work out, Flora." A slightly muffled voice piped up.

Flora chuckled. "Oh, sorry, Sunny. I'll let you out." She opened the flap on her bag and a little pink sprite flew out.

Sunny was Flora's kwami. She was about 4 inches tall and was almost completely pink. She had large, emerald green eyes, and two antennae. On her forehead there was a design that looked like a flamingo's beak, and she had a short train of fluffy, pink feathers.

"Like I said, it's all going to be fine. Paris is one of the safest cities in the world thanks to Ladybug and Cat Noir." She said.

"Tell me about them." Flora requested.

"Ladybug is considered the leader of the French Miraculous Superhero team. Her miraculous is the ladybug's, which give the power of creation. Cat Noir is her partner. He owns the Black Cat Miraculous, which grants him the power of destruction."

"Thanks, Sunny." Flora said.

"I recommend you explore a bit, maybe make some friends." Sunny said.

"That doesn't sound so bad…" Flora mused.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going out!" Flora called. "Sunny, feather up!" She transformed into her alter-ego, Tropic Storm.

Her suit was a mix of gold, pink, dark pink, and small traces of black. Her mask was gold and pink, and she had a train of feathers similar to Sunny's. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled up into a bun and her hair comb had turned pink with five light pink metal feathers.

Tropic Storm leapt out her window.

Chapter 4

Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Marinette smiled as she leaned against Adrien. She couldn't remember a time she'd ever been happier. As she stared at the screen, she noticed something off. There was a faint silhouette behind it.

"Adrien, we need to leave." Her eyes were wide with fear.

"Why?"

She pointed at the figure. "I think it's an akumatized villain. We should hide until Ladybug and Cat Noir get here."

"What about Athena?" He asked.

"How do you know about Athena?"

"The Ladyblog."

"Fair enough. Now, let's hi-" She was interrupted by the slashing of the screen. "-de." She finished.

Stormy Weather floated through.

"Adrien, run!" Marinette grabbed his hand.

The two of them made it out of the theater, but Stormy Weather froze them in ice.

"No!" Adrien banged on the ice. "Let us out!"

"Help!" Marinette cried.

Suddenly, a figure clad in pink landed in front of them. "Color Bomb!" They drew what looked like a blowtorch in the air, which then materialized. They used it to melt the ice surrounding Marinette and Adrien.

The two of them stared, open mouthed.

The girl leapt off and began to fight Stormy Weather.

"American superheroine Tropic Storm is fighting Stormy Weather here in Paris!" Nadja Chamack said.

Marinette and Adrien watched the news on her phone.

"Tropic Storm? I don't think even Alya's heard of her." Marinette remarked.

"How is she even here? And why?" Adrien asked.

"Maybe Cat Noir and Ladybug can figure it out." She said.

"Oh, um, my father will be expecting me!" Adrien ran off.

"That was… odd." Marinette said to Tikki.

"Shouldn't Ladybug be helping 'Tropic Storm' out right now?" Tikki asked.

"You're right. Tikki, spots on!"

Chapter 5

Lillian Montgomery

"Can I show you something?" Nathaniel asked.

"Um, sure!" Lillian said.

He brought out a drawing of a young teen. She had brown and teal hair that was pulled back into a ponytail that resembled a paint brush. She had a white beret and a dark aqua mask. She wore a white and teal top with a swan necked collar, and had a dark teal and white bottom with a short teal skirt.

"Is that- is that- me?" Lillian asked.

He nodded.

"It's wonderful! What's 'her' name?"

"Brushstroke. She's supposed to be the female counterpart of Mightillustrator." Nathaniel said, smiling.

"It's miraculous." She said with a sly grin.

"Uh, listen. I was wondering if, um, you'd like to help me and Marc with our comic book. He's on board, and I've seen your art and writings."

"I'd-" Lillian's phone beeped. "I'd, uh, love to, but my mom is waiting for me and, um I have to go!" She dashed off. "Unna, we have a problem."

"Akuma?"

"Precisely. Unna, wing it!"

Athena arrived at the theater. Stormy Weather blasted the area with lightning.

"Nice to see you again, Coldilocks." A voice said behind her.

"You talking to me or the Ice Queen over there?" She asked Cat Noir.

"Her, but I keep my range open." He replied.

"Oh, yeah? Well then, let's show this mouse what owls and cats like to do."

Suddenly, a large, clear, hollow cube slammed down on Athena. "What the-?"

A girl in pink landed next to Cat Noir and strode over to Athena. "Hand over your source of evil." She said.

"Evil? Who do you think I am? Hawk Moth? Mayura?" Athena exclaimed. "The real villain's over there!" She pointed at Stormy Weather.

"You are not a member of the French Miraculous Superhero team, yet you have powers, suggesting that you are a villain. Hand it over."

"On whose authority?"

"By Tropic Storm's."

Athena's jaw dropped. "Tropic Storm!? But- but- You're supposed to be in Alabama!"

"May I ask why you are persecuting the second best comedian on the team, when there's a villain wreaking havoc across Paris?" Cat Noir said.

"Stormy Weather is of little threat. Miraculouses used wrongly impose serious threat."

"She's a hero! While she may have gotten her miraculous by mistake, nothing but good had ever come from her!"

"Storm. It's me." Athena said. "Nest time."

"Lillian!?" Tropic Storm stared.

"How do you two know each other?" Cat Noir asked, curious.

"She saved my life before I moved to Paris. We've been friends since then. How do you think I knew so much when I was new?"

Cat Noir shrugged. "I just assumed you were a natural, like me or Rena Rouge."

"And can you please let me out? We need to hold off Stormy Weather until Ladybug gets here."

"There you go." Tropic Storm snapped her fingers and the cube vanished.

"Thanks. Unna, wing it!"

Chapter 6

Nathaniel Kurtzburg

Nathaniel sat down next to Lillian. "Marc and I are meeting at Place des Vosges. If you want to come, we'll wait for you."

"Count on me to be there!" Lillian said. "I've done some drawings of the heroes, if you guys want to use them."

"That'll be great! We're meeting up at 4:00."

Nathaniel sat on a bench, waiting for Marc and Lillian. He doodled a picture of Lillian, or rather, Lillian as Brushstroke.

"Is she coming?" Marc asked as he sat down.

"She said she'd come." He said, not looking up.

"Woah! Oof!" Lillian made her entrance by tripping on a rock. "Sorry if I'm late." She apologized after getting up.

Nathaniel dropped his drawing. "You're right on time, actually." He turned to Marc. "Marc, this is Lillian. Lillian, Marc."

She smiled. "Nice to meet you! I actually brought some drawings if you want to look at them."

She handed some papers to Marc.

"I've got Ladybug, Cat Noir, Rena Rouge, Ryuko, Carapace, Athena, and Viperion." She said.

"These are amazing! They're almost like the real ones!"

Nathaniel grinned at Lillian.

"Nathaniel also said you were a writer too. Did you bring any?"

"No, those are kind of private, but I will gladly share my drawings."

Both Nathaniel and Marc grinned.

Chapter 7

Marc Anciel

"Whatcha got there, Montgomery?" Chloé's snear filled the air. "Pfft, doodles of those lame-o superheroes?"

"They're not doodles, they're art. And also, I'm honored you've bothered to learn my last name, now how about learning my first?" Lillian said with a slight smirk.

Marc snorted.

"Hmph, Athena? The new one? You didn't even bother to make Queen Bee." Chloé tore Lillian's drawings in half.

"No!" The three of them cried.

Lillian began to sob and ran off.

"Lillian, wait!" Nathaniel ran after her.

Marc began to gather the papers dropped. He came across Nathaniel's drawing. He noticed hearts drawn across, including one with lettering.

"NK+LM? NK must be Nathaniel Kurtzburg, LM… Lillian Montgomery?"

Nathaniel's words echoed in his mind. 'New girl…' 'Female counterpart…'. Marc remembered Nathaniel's blush when he spoke of Lillian.

"No…" He breathed.

Nathaniel had a crush on Lillian.

A tear rolled down his cheek.

"No." He repeated. "H-he can't be."

But he couldn't deny the facts. The boy he loved loved someone else. Nathaniel loved Lillian.

Chapter 7 ½

Gabriel Agreste

Hawk Moth stood in his liar. He sensed a powerful negative emotion, one that he'd only felt once before from Evillustrator.

He cupped his hands around an akuma and filled it with dark energy.

"Fly away my little akuma, and evilize her broken heart!"

The akuma began to fly off. It soon came across a young teen, crying, her face in her hands. Before the akuma reached her though, a red haired boy approached her.

Hawk Moth couldn't hear what the boy was saying, but the girl's negative feelings faded.

The akuma changed course and began to fly towards Place des Vosges, where Marc sat, crying. It infected Nathaniel's drawing of Lillian.

"Reverser, I am Hawk Moth. I will grant you the power to reverse any aspect of a person. In return, all I ask for are Ladybug and Cat Noir's miraculouses.

"Yes, Hawk Moth."

Chapter 8

Flora Mayfield

"My best friend is a superhero. A superhero." Flora paced across her room. "How long has she kept this from me? How? When?"

"Have you considered that she only became Athena *after* she moved to Paris?" Sunny asked.

"I saved her life and this is how she repays me?" Flora continued, not listening to Sunny.

"Flora!" Sunny said sternly. "Listen to me. Did Lillian have her necklace back in Alabama?"

"Well no, but-"

"And did Athena first appear in Alabama, or Paris?"

"Paris, but-"

"*And* didn't Cat Noir say that she received it by accident? How could he have known that if she got it in Alabama?"

"It's just so hard to believe." Flora said.

"Talk to her, it might make you feel better."

"Alright. Sunny, feather up!"

Tropic Storm tapped on Lillian's window.

"What is it now?" Lillian asked grumpily.

"I want to talk to you."

"Alright. Just be quiet. Mom's been on edge recently."

"Well, first off, I'm sorry for trapping you in that cube. I didn't recognize you."

"Well you released me eventually."

"And I'm sorry for thinking you were a vill-" She was cut off by Unna.

"You big bully! You made Athena sad! And when she's sad, she doesn't give me as much candy because she's eating it! So I'm sad! You- you-" Unna paused. "Poopy head!"

Lillian put her face in her hands. "Unna! Be nice."

"I'd, um, better get going." Tropic Storm said, not wanting to be yelled at by Unna.

"Bye, poopy head!"

Chapter 9

Lillian Montgomery

"Unna, you have got to stop being so erratic. Storm made a mistake, and she feels bad abou-" She was cut off by a new voice.

"Lillian! You've stolen Nathaniel from me! Now you will pay!"

"I don't know who that is, but Athena needs to be there. Unna, wing it!"

Her necklace glowed with energy as Unna entered it. She put both hands over her eyes, with one laying on top of the other and pulled them back, revealing her newly created mask. She tapped her shoulders then spread her arms out, creating the sleeves of her suit. She stomped her foot and the legs of her suit appeared. She drew a line across her wait and her rope appeared. She then swept her hands down and her tail feathers materialized. She ended her transformation with her hands on her hips. She was now Athena.

Athena leapt out her window and swung up onto her roof. She was greeted by the sight of Parisians screaming and running from a villain on a paper airplane.

"Is that… Marc!?" She used the feather on her rope to access her Owl Phone.

"Let's see, past akumatized villains…" She came across a photo of Marc. Next to it was a picture of who she was facing now, and her face fell. "Reverser."

She attempted to call Ladybug, but there was no answer. "Ladybug, this is Athena. Reverser is at Place des Vosges, come ASAP!" She tried Cat Noir, but got no answer either. "Looks like this is up to me." She muttered. She began to swing her rope and ran after Reverser.

"What's Old-Timey-Movie all worked up about?"

Athena jumped. "How do you always manage to sneak up on people? This is the fifth time this week!"

"It's just one of my amazing talents." Cat Noir replied.

"Yeah, right. And you're not dating Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

He groaned. "Just because we know each other's identities doesn't mean you can bring up my personal life, Birdbrain."

"Why thank you! Owls are very smart, you know."

He sighed. "Are you always this irritating?"

"Not as irritating as you." Athena said. She took every chance she could get to out-joke the master of puns.

Ladybug swung by on her yoyo. "Got your message, what'd I miss?" She asked Athena.

"Oh nothing, just outwitting the cat."

Cat Noir glared.

"Nice job." Ladybug pounded fists with Athena.

"Let's just find Reverser and do this thing." Cat Noir said.

"Sounds like a plan, Cat Noir." Athena said.

Chapter 10

Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Ladybug raced alongside Athena and Cat Noir. "Make sure you don't get hit by his airplanes." She said.

"Let me guess, they reverse stuff about you." Athena said.

"Right. Last time he made me super clumsy and Cat Noir afraid of his own shadow."

Athena snickered.

"Can we focus on the villain, please?"

"Oh Lillian? Where are you?" Reverser called out.

Athena and Cat Noir's faces paled.

"What?" Ladybug asked.

"Errr, nothing. I just happen to know about the girl he's after. That's all." Athena said hastily.

"Maybe we can use her to distract him like we did with Marinette with Evillustator and Nathaniel last time?"

"No!" Athena shouted. "I, uh, mean, we shouldn't. His powers are most likely increased, and our mission is not to harm, but to help."

"Ah, Clumsybug and Scaredy Cat. And it looks like you've brought a friend. How about the stupid owl?" Reverser said behind them.

"Athena! Look out!" Cat Noir jumped in front of the paper plane.

"You throw one more at us, and you'll be dead in two seconds." Athena growled. She raised her rope and began to swing it, forming a shield.

Ladybug did the same with her yoyo.

"Whirlwind!" Athena launched herself at the villain and began fighting like a literal whirlwind. She managed to dodge and deflect every paper airplane thrown at her, using the summoned winds to support her as Ladybug defended Cat Noir.

Finally, Reverser growled. "You'll regret this!" He flew off, yelling for Lillian.

"Uh, Ladybug? You might want to look at this." Athena called as Ladybug made one last attempt to catch Reverser.

"What?" Ladybug turned to look at Cat Noir. She gasped.

His hair had become longer, stopping at his shoulders. His body was narrower and slimmer. His face had become more delicate, more… feminine. Realization struck her. Cat Noir was no longer a boy. He was a girl.

"What?" She asked. Her voice was higher than usual. "What's wrong?"

"Um, here." Ladybug handed her yoyo over.

Cat Noir looked at herself in selfie mode. "What the what!"

Chapter 11

Lillian Montgomery

"We should split up and cover more ground." Athena said. "With luck, we might be able to catch him, but we'll need to know where he is."

"Good idea. Cat, take the Louvre, Athena, take the Eiffel tower, and I'll focus on Place des Vosges in case he comes back." Ladybug said. "Ready? Go."

Athena ran off. Soon her necklace began to beep. "Oh no, please hold, Unna!" She managed to duck into an alley, but did so by tripping and face planting into a dumpster. "Bleah! How many times do I have to trip?"

"Candy?" Unna asked.

Lillian checked her purse. "I'm all out." She peaked out and saw she was near the Dupain-Cheng bakery. "Can you settle for cookies?" She asked Unna.

"Ok!" Unna dove into Lillian's bag.

Lillian walked to the Dupain-Cheng bakery. She tried the door, but found it locked.

"Hello?" She called.

She heard footsteps. Sabine Cheng unlocked the door. "Oh thank goodness! Marinette told us that there was an akumatized villain and we've been worried about all of you! Have you seen her?"

"I-I don't think so. Last I saw her was at school."

"Well, come on in! The more people who are safe, the better!" Sabine pulled Lillian in.

"Woah!"

"Can I at least get some cookies?" Lillian asked Tom and Sabine.

"Why, sure! Any friend of Marinette's is a friend of ours!" Tom said and handed Lillian a plate of cookies.

"Thanks!" Lillian walked off and began to explore. She'd only been in Marinette's home a few times, so there was much she didn't know. She made her way up to Marinette's balcony.

"Wow… what a view!" Lillian exclaimed.

She saw Ladybug go by. "Well, I could ask her if she's seen Marinette, it's the least I can do for her parents." She told Unna, who was happily munching on a cookie.

"Ladybug!" She called out.

The superheroine landed next to Lillian. "What is it?" She asked.

"My friend Marinette Dupain-Cheng is missing and her parents are really worried. Have you seen her?"

"Oh, yes! She's somewhere safe."

Lillian smiled. "Thanks. I'll tell her parents."

Ladybug turned to leave, but paused. "Hey, you're Lillian, right?

She nodded.

"Do you think you could help Cat Noir and I? This villain seems to have it in for you. We can keep you safe though."

She hesitated. On one hand, she knew she could very well be useful to Ladybug and Cat Noir, but on the other hand, her identity could be in danger if Athena wasn't there.

"I'll help you any way I can." She finally said.

"Great." Ladybug grabbed ahold of Lillian and together they soared off.

Chapter 12

Marinette Dupain-Cheng

"Where are we heading?" Lillian asked Ladybug.

"The Eiffel Tower. Athena and Cat Noir should be there by now."

She thought she heard Lillian gulp.

They reached the tower, where Cat Noir was waiting.

"Where's Athena? She's supposed to be around here." Ladybug asked Cat Noir.

"I don't know," She admitted. "She might've run out of time, but-" She faltered when she saw Lillian.

"But what?"

"But-errr-uh-I forgot."

"Let's just do this before he causes more havoc. Lucky Charm!"

"A hat?" Ladybug thought for a moment then gasped. "I'll be right back!" She promised and swung away.

She landed on her balcony. "Spots off."

Marinette crept into her room and accessed a secret compartment under her bed where the Miracle Box was. She hesitated before pulling out the Fox Miraculous. "Sorry, Alya, but a new fox needs to come…" She muttered. "Tikki, spots on!"

Ladybug landed back at the tower. "Still no sign of Athena?" She asked.

Both Lillian and Cat Noir shook their heads.

"Oh well." She turned to Lillian.

"Lillian Montgomery, this is the Miraculous of the Fox which grants the power of Illusion. You'll use it for the greater good. Once the mission is over, you'll return the miraculous to me… Can I trust you?"

Lillian's eyes widened. "You can count on me anytime, Ladybug."

Chapter 13

Lillian Montgomery

Lillian put on the necklace, swiftly removing her current one. When Ladybug wasn't looking, she slipped it to Unna, who then flew off. An orange ball of light erupted from the necklace and the fox kwami appeared.

"My name is Trixx, and I'm your kwami! All you have to do is say 'Trixx, let's pounce'!"

Lillian took a deep breath. "Trixx, let's pounce!"

"I don't look like Rena Rouge." She remarked as she examined her new outfit.

While having a two-piece design, mask, and ears like Rena Rouge, that was where the similarities stopped. Her hair had gotten longer and was streaked with orange, pulled into a low ponytail with a gold and black band. Her tips were white, but resembling a fox's tail rather than what it was when she was Athena. She had black arms and legs that ended in a swirling pattern that was outlined in gold. Her top was orange on the top half and white on the bottom, outlined with gold, with a black swan-necked collar with a golden streak in the middle, also outlined in gold. Her lower half was orange with white and gold streaks, and she had an orange, fabric fox tail that glittered with gold ending at her knees.

"It changes for every user. When Cat Noir and I accidentally switched miraculouses, our outfits changed drastically." Ladybug said. "Now, what should we call you?"

Lillian hesitated. "Kitsune. Call me Kitsune."

"Well, Kitsune. Let's take down this baddie. I'm tired of being a girl." Cat Noir said.

"What's the plan?" Kitsune asked Ladybug.

"Lucky Charm!"

Chapter 14

Flora Mayfield

Flora sat at her sewing machine, working on a skirt when Sunny flew up to her.

"Unna's at the window! She has the necklace, too!"

Flora ran to the window and let Unna in. "I hope you're here to apologize for calling me 'poopy head'."

"Never, poopy head!" Unna paused, as if remembering why she was there. "But L-" White sparkles came from her mouth. "I mean Athena needs your help!"

"Is Lillian in trouble?" Flora asked, concerned.

"No. In order to help Ladybug, she's risking her identity. She's gotten the Fox Miraculous and she has a plan, but she'll need 'her' powers. She trusts you with her life."

"Wait, how do you know I'm Tropic Storm?"

"Errr I sorta told her where we live…" Sunny mumbled.

Flora sighed. "You know what, I don't have time to be mad at you. Sunny, feather up!" Tropic Storm turned to Unna, who in turn gave her the miraculous. "Sunny, Unna, unify!"

Tropic Storm leapt to the tower, the pink in her outfit various shades of blue and the gold was now silver. She saw Ladybug and two others, one who looked like Cat Noir, but a girl, and another with a fox-like outfit. *Must be Lillian.* She thought.

She got closer, staying in the shadows, and overheard the conversation.

"What are you going to do with a mop?" Fox-Lillian asked.

"I don't think you can clean up this mess with just that." The girl-Cat-Noir said.

"Is he- she- always this annoying?" Fox-Lillian groaned.

"Usually more, now I think I have a plan, Kitsune." Ladybug said.

Chapter 15

Lillian Montgomery

Kitsune peeked up and saw a blue figure. Tropic Storm. She smiled to herself. The plan was working.

"Ready to try out your power?" Ladybug asked.

She nodded and raised her flute. She envisioned two copies of herself, one as Lillian, next to her, and one as Athena where Tropic Storm was. "Mirage!"

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late!" 'Athena' hopped down.

"Athena! Just in time!" Ladybug said.

"So what's the plan? I doubt you could do much with a mop."

Ladybug snapped the handle, leaving the mop itself intact. "Cat Noir, I'll need your staff." She said. She used her yo-yo to tie the mop onto Cat Noir's staff.

"Alright, so here's the plan…" Ladybug began to whisper.

Kitsune, Ladybug, and Cat Noir raced around where Reverser was. One by one, they were hit. Ladybug became clumsy, Cat Noir lost her bravado, and Kitsune lost her smarts. They retreated back to the tower.

"Alright. Athena, stay hidden, Cat Noir, take the mop and dip it in water, Kitsune, take 'Lillian' to the top." Ladybug gave directions.

After a few minutes, Ladybug picked up a megaphone. "Reverser! We give up! We surrender our miraculouses! We will also give you Lillian! All we ask is that you turn everyone else back to normal!"

Reverser flew up. "Surrender, eh? Give me Lillian and then we'll talk."

Chapter 16

Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Adrien Agreste

Ladybug glanced up at Athena, who was still perched in the shadows. She looked at Kitsune, who nodded. The Lillian illusion stepped forward.

"What do you want with me?" She asked.

Reverser flew closer. "Get on first."

"Now!" Ladybug shouted.

"Whirlwind!" Athena's winds imprisoned Reverser.

Cat Noir extended her staff and soaked the airplane. The villain fell, but Kitsune snatched him out of the air. Cat Noir caught the paper airplane and cataclysmed it, releasing the akuma.

Cat Noir tossed Ladybug the mop.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

Athena and Lillian had dispersed, leaving Cat Noir with Ladybug.

"Bye bye, kitty." She told him. "Bug out!" She smiled and swung off.

Cat Noir grinned as he watched his friend go. A few weeks ago, he'd have been love struck by her words, but now Marinette was the one he loved. Ladybug was a friend now, and only that.

"Oh no!" Ladybug's scream reached his ears. He looked over and saw a bright pink light. Ladybug must've run out of time.

Cat Noir ran forward, ignoring his ring's beeping. He vaulted into the air and closed his eyes, playing he would catch her. They landed in an alley

"Cat Noir!?" Ladybug asked in surprise.

"I'm not looking, Bugaboo." He told her with all sincerity.

"But you're about to transform ba-" She stopped with a gasp. "A-Adrien?"

He opened his eyes to see… "Marinette?"

End of Book Two