The Next Generation of Heroes

By MiraculousMongoose

Chapter 1

Marinette Agreste

"And to thank our guardians for 25 years of protecting our city, I, Chloé Bourgeois, the mayor of Paris, dedicate the Miraculous Gardens to Ladybug, Cat Noir, and all of our other heroes!"

Ladybug smiled as she stood side by side with her friends. Along with Cat Noir, Rena Rouge, Carapace, Athena, Viperion, Ryuko, Pegasus, Bunnix, and King Monkey stood with her.

"Thank you, Chloé. I know Queen Bee wanted to be here tonight, but I'm afraid being in two places at once is quite difficult." She said.

Her joke sent ripples of laughter among the crowd.

"And I'd like to thank so many people for our success, and for helping us in akuma attacks." She continued.

Cat Noir then took over.

Later that night she and Cat Noir landed on the Agreste mansion. "Spots off."

"Claws in."

The couple went inside.

"Do you think it's time?" Marinette asked her husband. "I mean, being Ladybug has been wonderful, but I'm also the guardian. The box will be safer if a new Ladybug arises."

"Do what you think is best. You've never steered us wrong." Adrien told her. "Whatever you do, I promise I'll be there to support you."

She smiled. "I'll look for candidates tomorrow." She told him.

True to her word, after her daughters, Kathrine and Emily, left the house, Marinette transformed into Ladybug and began to search Paris for someone worthy.

It wasn't until late in the afternoon that she found the right people.

The first one was walking with some other girls. They passed an elderly woman, who was being pushed around by the crowd. The group walked past her, but one girl ran back and helped the woman.

The second was alone, unlike the girl. He had a giant cookie, of which he was about to take a bite out of, when he saw a young child staring hungrily at it. Without a moment's hesitation, the boy gave his cookie to the child.

Ladybug smiled. She had just found Paris' next heroes.

Chapter 2

Cayden Couffaine

Cayden entered Collège Françoise Dupont. His older sister Calypso had already entered, and Freedom was tagging along with her big sister as usual, leaving Cayden alone on his first day of school. His mother had been homeschooling him up until now.

He looked at his schedule. "I have Mrs. Bruel… Who is that?"

After a bit, he finally found the classroom.

The only person he recognized was his cousin Violet, but she was sitting in the back with a blonde and blue eyed girl. Cayden looked around and found an open seat next to a boy with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He was listening to some music.

Cayden sighed and sat down next to the boy. The boy took out his earbuds.

"Uh, hi. I'm Aiden Lahiffe-Césaire." He said, somewhat awkwardly.

"I'm Cayden Couffaine." Cayden mumbled back.

Aiden's jaw dropped. "Couffaine as in Juleka and Luka Couffaine, two of the members of Kitty Section?"

"Uh, yeah, he's my dad and she's my aunt."

"That is so cool!" Before Aiden could talk further, a young woman entered the room.

"Good morning class! I am Mrs. Bruel, and I am your teacher. Now, I will call roll. Emily Agreste?"

"Here, and I go by Emmy." The girl Violet was sitting next to said.

"Kathrine Agreste?"

"Here!" The girl in front of Aiden called. "And I go by Kat."

"Amaya Bourgeois?"

"I'm here." A brown haired girl murmured.

"I already know Percy is here, so Cayden Couffaine?"

"Uh, here." Cayden mumbled.

"Gabrielle Graham de Vanily?"

"Call me Gabby!" A girl with blonde hair and green eyes piped up.

"Mark Kanté?"

"I am present." A boy said, somewhat robotically.

"Kayla Kubdel?"

"Yo." A girl with wild green hair said.

"Leo Lê?"

"Present."

"Annabeth Kurtzberg?"

"That's me." An auburn-haired girl who sat in front of him said.

"Adien Lahiffe-Césaire?"

"Right here!" Adien called.

"And finally, Violet Lavillant?"

"Present!" His cousin called.

"Wonderful!" Mrs. Bruel clapped her hands. "Now, let's get to know each other. Please pick one person you don't already know and spend five minutes talking to each other!"

Before the students could get up, Amaya suddenly began to wail. "Leo! Why?"

"Amaya, please calm down." Mrs. Bruel said, but Amaya had run out the door.

Chapter 3

Annabeth Kurtzberg

Annabeth doodled in her notebook, halfheartedly listening to Mrs. Bruel. She was thinking about her parents. They, along with her Uncle Marc, had gone to the USA for some comic book convention or something. Marc wasn't really her uncle, but he was so close to her parents that she just called him that.

She was going to stay with the Agrestes, her mother had told her. It was fine by Annabeth. She loved to hang out with Kat and Emmy. But her mother had been acting weird. She'd even given a package to her to deliver to Marinette.

Kat nudged her. "Psst, pay attention."

Suddenly, Leo shrieked out in alarm. Pencils were being thrown at him from around the room.

Fiendish laughter filled the room.

"Class, please evacuate the school and go home. This is clearly an akuma attack. I'm sure Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Athena will take care of it." Mrs. Bruel said, somewhat fearfully.

"C'mon, Annabeth!" Kat pulled her along.

She, along with Kat and Emmy soon arrived at the Agreste mansion, where Marinette quickly ushered them inside. Annabeth was so hurried, she didn't notice a small box being slipped into her bag. Also in her haste, she didn't realize that she'd dropped the package for Marinette, or that the ever curious Emmy came across it.

In Kat and Emmy's room, Annabeth turned on their TV.

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news! I'm Alya Césaire. Have our heroes abandoned us? Earlier this afternoon, Amaya Bourgeois was akumatized into the villain Chaotica, but there is no sign of Ladybug, Cat Noir, or Athena!"

Annabeth gasped, knocking over her bag. Among the contents was an octagonal box she had never seen before.

"What is this?" She opened the box and a bright, pink light flew out. She dropped the box.

"Hello, Annabeth! I'm Tikki, and Ladybug has chosen you to be her successor!"

"Say what now?"

Chapter 4

Cayden Couffaine

Cayden stared at the little cat creature in front of him.

"Let me get this straight, Ladybug wants me and some other person I don't know to be the next Cat Noir and Ladybug?" He asked.

The cat nodded. "Now, you gonna transform or what? If you don't, you better give me some cheese."

He sighed. "It's not like my day can get any weirder. What do I do?"

"Just say, 'Plagg, claws out'." Plagg said.

"Got it." He stood up. "Plagg, claws out!"

"Woahhhhhhh!" Cayden hurtled through the sky. "How does Cat Noir do this!?" He cried as he clung to his stick.

"Look out!" A new voice shouted.

He saw a figure in red and black hurtling towards him. The two of them collided and his staff went haywire.

The girl's yoyo wrapped around them and they hung suspended in the air.

"Hello, there. Nice of you to drop in." He joked.

"Weren't those the first words Cat Noir said to Ladybug?" The girl asked him.

"Yep, but don't worry, I won't be falling madly in love with you."

She giggled. "We'll see about that."

They got untangled and upright. Cayden got his first good look at the girl. She had auburn hair in a single braid down her back, tied off with a black ribbon with a red stone in the center. Her bluish green eyes sparkled playfully inside of her mask, which was just like Ladybug's. Her shoulders resembled the inverse of a ladybug's wings, and she had black boots with short red heels. She had a short black train in the shape of a ladybug wing, and around her waist was the iconic yoyo.

"So, who are you?" He asked her.

"Call me… Ruby Lady. And you?"

"You can call me Felynx." He told her.

Chapter 5

Emily Agreste

Emmy stared at the package in her hand. It had an octagonal shape, but it was wrapped in paper. There was a note on the top.

M-

''CN told me a long time ago, and I've kept your secret for you, but now, I am ready to stop being a hero. It's been an honor working with you two, and please make sure this goes to someone just as deserving. N and A do not know yet, but I plan to tell them soon.''

I'll see you around,

KMHL

"Who are M, CN, N, A, and KMHL?" Emmy wondered aloud. She felt like Pandora in the ancient Greek myths, her curiosity growing by the second.

"I suppose I could just see what's inside and re-wrap it for Annabeth." She mused.

Carefully, she removed the wrapping, revealing an octagonal box with a red insignia on the lid. As she pried it open, a silvery blue ball of light flew out.

"Finally! I knew you were just joking when you renounced me, Lillian!" A small voice said as the light faded to reveal a small, blue creature.

"Lillian? As in Lillian Kurtzberg, by best friend's mom?" Emmy asked, quickly recovering her wits.

"You're not Lillian!" The creature screamed.

"I'm Emmy Agreste." By then she had noticed the creature's voice was feminie.

Realization seemed to dawn upon the thing. "B-but she would never pass me on to a stranger, even if she was the daughter of her best friend."

"Wait, so this 'Lillian' is my mom or dad's best friend? But Dad's best friend is Mr. Nino and Mom's is Mrs. Alya."

"I said her best friend, not theirs."

"You still haven't told me what is going on." Emmy pointed out.

"My name is Unna, and I'm a kwami. I'm guessing Lillian somehow got this box to Ladybug, who in turn deemed you worthy and gave me and my miraculous to you."

"How can that be? My best friend Annabeth was carrying this." She held up the box that Unna had flown out of.

Before Unna could respond, Emmy's green-eyed and black-haired twin dashed in. "You won't believe this! There are two new superheroes!" Kat exclaimed. "A new Ladybug and Cat Noir!"

"What!? That's so cool!" Emmy tried to hide her nervousness. A small part of her knew that Unna had to be a secret.

"I know!" Her twin agreed. "Reports say that their names are Ruby Lady and Felynx. I wonder if a new Athena will show up." Kat talked a mile a minute.

"Maybe. Why don't you continue to check the news?" Emmy hurried her sister out. Once she was gone, she turned to the kwami.

"Let me guess. You know you shouldn't have the miraculous, but you need to stop the villain, so you need to transform. Your face looks just like Lillian's when she had gotten over the shock."

She sighed. "You got me. What do I do?" Emmy pulled out the necklace from the box.

Chapter 6

Marinette Agreste

"Emmy? Where are you?" Marinette searched the mansion for her daughter. Kat had come running up to her, saying that Emmy had vanished. She wished she still had Tikki with her, or even Plagg. The cat kwami could almost always make her laugh.

A rustling caught her attention. Marinette found a piece of paper fluttering in the wind. She bent down and picked it up.

"M. CN told me a long time ago, and I've kept your secret for you, but now, I am ready to stop being a hero. It's been an honor working with you two, and please make sure this goes to someone just as deserving. N and A do not know yet, but I plan to tell them soon. I'll see you around, KMHL." She read the note aloud.

M was undoubtedly her, and the KMHL triggered a story Nathaniel had once told her. Lillian had written a note to him and signed it 'MHL' which were her initials backwards. Add a K to MHL and it would become KMHL… Marinette gasped. "Lillian Hope Montgomery Kurtzberg!"

She re-read the note again. N and A were most likely Nathaniel and Annabeth, and CN… That had to be Cat Noir.

Forgetting about Emmy for the time being, Marinette sought out her husband.

She found him playing a song on the piano.

He looked up at her and smiled. "To what do I owe this pleasure, M'lady?"

"Did you ever tell a secret of mine to Lillian?" She showed him the note.

"Uh, well…" He looked like a deer caught in headlights. "It started when we retreated from Hecate. She detransformed in front of me-"

"Wait, what?" She interrupted him. "Are you saying that she's Athena!?"

Adrien looked guilty. "I sorta bent the rules for her. I could tell she had lots of potential, and it didn't seem right to take it away from her. Then we searched for Carapace, who also transformed. Nino managed to figure out my identity-"

"Nino knows!? How has he not spilled the beans to Alya after all these years?"

"It's a miracle, I know. Anyways, Lillian then knew who I was. After I found out you were Ladybug, I told Lillian."

"When she gets back from Alabama, I am going to have a long talk with her." Marinette said.

"So, what are you going to do with the miraculous?" Adrien asked her.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The note implies that she's given it back, right?"

"Oh no." She gasped as realization dawned on her. "The Owl Miraculous is lost again!"

Chapter 7

Annabeth Kurtzberg

Ruby Lady raced across Paris with her new partner. Felynx had messy black hair and piercing green eyes. His hair was edged with green, which made it stand out from his black mask.

She was getting the hang of using the yoyo, but she wasn't a master yet.

"So, where do you think Chaotica could be?" She asked him.

"Isn't she the mayor's daughter? We could ask her where she'd be."

"Uhhhh…" Ruby Lady remembered something that her mom had told her, that Chloé in her youth had been a complete brat. "It's worth a shot." She said at last. "Let's go!"

They found Chloé Bourgeois pacing in her office. "What do you mean, you can't find my daughter? I demand that you do not rest until she is found!" She hung up on whoever she was yelling at on the phone.

Ruby Lady softly knocked on the ajar doors.

Chloé must've seen the spots on her suit as she called out, "Come on in, Ladybug!"

"Actually, we're Ruby Lady and Felynx." Ruby Lady said as they stepped in.

"Say what now?" The mayor's face showed nothing but perplexion.

"Look, ma'am. Your daughter has been akumatized, and we need to ask you some questions." Felynx said.

"Amaya's been akumatized?" Chloé's voice softened and the harshness had been replaced by concern.

"Yes, and we need to know where she'd be most likely to be." Ruby Lady said.

"Alright." Chloé paused before yelling, "Jaques! Bring me two chairs for my guests!"

A butler hurried in with two padded seats. If he was surprised to see her and Felynx, he didn't show it.

After what felt like an eternity later, the duo exited. "Well, that was a waste of time." Ruby Lady grumbled. "And we're no closer to finding Chaotica."

"Why does it that I feel like I've known you all my life yet we've only known each other for a few hours?" Felynx wondered.

"I suppose it's because Ladybug picked us out because we would have the same chemistry as she and Cat Noir did, or does. Or maybe they both picked us out. Did your kwami mention anything about who chose you?"

"Basically, he told me that I was to be the next Cat Noir whether I liked it or not because it was for the good for Paris and yadda yadda yadda. Then he said I'd have to give him cheese."

She blinked. "That sounds so absurd it has to be true." She giggled.

Felynx smiled weakly. "We still have to figure out where she is and what her powers are." He suddenly froze. "I hear someone."

Ruby Lady looked around and spotted a flash of white. "Do you think it's her?" She whispered.

"Only one way to find out." He grabbed his staff and exended it upwards. After pressing a few buttons, a screen popped up, showing the view from the top of the staff.

"It's like a periscope, but on land!" She exclaimed as they peered at the screen.

It showed nothing at first, but soon the white flash reappeared. It was a girl about their age with blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

She stopped and stared right at the camera. The two stopped breathing for a moment. After what seemed like forever, the girl turned and left.

"Who was that? Kinda looked like Athena." Felynx wondered.

"Ruby Lady and Felynx, I presume?" A new voice asked. "The name's Lady Owl. I'm the next Athena."

They looked up to see the blonde and blue-eyed girl staring right at them.

Chapter 8

Kathrine Agreste

Kat paced outside the mansion. There was still no sign of Annabeth or Emmy. A car pulled up and her friend Kayla Kubdel stepped out.

"Thanks, Mom." She said as the car pulled out. "Hey, Kat. I came as soon as I heard." Kayla hugged her.

Kat smiled weakly. "Thanks, K." She hugged her friend back. "I'm honestly more worried about Mom and Dad. Mrs. Lillian is going to be furious when she finds out, and they're already worried sick about Emmy."

"Here." Kayla fished around her bag and pulled out a silver pocket watch. "My mom gave this to me. It's, like, a good luck charm. Maybe it will help bring Emmy and Annabeth back."

Kat smiled, brighter this time.

Another car pulled up, and five kids clambered out. Kat recognized the driver. "Mr. Nino!"

Nino Lahiffe lowered the window. "Hey, dudette. I heard about Emmy and Annabeth, and Alya and I are searching for them. I'm sure they'll turn up soon." With that he raised the window and drove off.

"Oh, Kat! We heard, and Cayden's vanished too!" Calypso Couffaine hugged her tightly.

"Cayden?" She echoed. "The one that just started school?"

Calypso nodded.

All three Lahiffe-Césaires were huddled close while little Freedom clutched Calypso's hand.

"Thank you guys for coming, really." Kat managed to say. She pocketed Kayla's watch.

"We're here to help find Emmy and Annabeth." Mary, the oldest Lahiffe-Césaire, said.

Aiden, the middle one, nodded enthusiastically. "Together we can cover more ground!"

Kat managed a full smile. "Thanks, guys."

Chapter 9

Amaya Bourgeois

Amaya's eyes flew open. Standing over her were three people that looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. One was a black haired boy with intense green eyes in a cat costume. Another was an auburn haired girl in a spotted red and black costume, and the third was a blonde with a bird themed costume.

They almost looked like the heroes, and not because of the outfits. The cat boy had Viperion's greenish eyes and midnight blackish-blue hair like Ryuko. The bird girl's eyes were strikingly like Ladybug's, and the spotted girl looked a bit like Athena.

"Wh-where am I? Who are you guys?"

The spotted girl bent down and put her hand on Amaya's shoulder. "You were akumatized, Amaya. I'm Ruby Lady. This is Felynx and Lady Owl." She pointed to the cat boy and the bird girl.

"You mean like Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Athena?"

"Exactly." The cat boy, Felynx, said.

"I didn't hurt anyone, did I?" She asked hesitantly.

"Well, other than Leo getting a couple bonks on the head, everyone's fine." Lady Owl said.

Amaya laughed, but that made her see another similarity to the heroes. Her sense of humor was incredibly like Cat Noir's.

Lady Owl grinned back at her. "C'mon, let's get you back to your mom." She then mock-whispered, "These two need to make sure they don't reveal their identities on the first day of the job."

That night, Amaya couldn't sleep. The voice that had spoken to her when she was akumatized wasn't from a male, like so many past victims had described, but that of a female, and she had addressed herself as 'Violette Butterfly', rather than 'Hawk Moth'.

It just didn't feel right to her. She needed to talk to someone. Someone who wasn't her mother.

After making sure her mother was sound asleep, Amaya grabbed some warm clothes and opened her bedroom window. She tied an end of a rope she kept for these purposes to a nearby chair. She swiftly made her way down to the ground.

"Gabby! Wake up!" Amaya stood at the Graham de Vanily mansion, constantly throwing small pebbles at her secret girlfriend's window.

At last, Gabrielle Graham de Vanily slid open her balcony door. "Amaya? What are you doing here? Mother will freak if she finds out you were here, especially at this hour."

"I need to talk to you. Like, really need to."

Gabby sighed. "Alright, I'll let down the rope."

"Alright, spill it. What did Leo say to you that made you run off like that?"

"He called me a wimp for being lesbian." She muttered.

"What!? That homophobic…" Gabby struggled for a good word. "Poopy head."

Amaya burst out laughing. "Where in the world did you get something as absurd as that from?"

"Annabeth once told me about a party her parents hosted, and there was this girl from her life in Alabama who was there, and someone constantly yelled 'poopy head' at her."

She snorted. "That's so weird it has to be true."

"Now I know that wasn't the reason you came, but I know it has something to do with your being akumatized." Her girlfriend crossed her arms.

"Yes." She sighed. "But it wasn't like so many others had described. No Hawk Moth. It was a woman, and she called herself Violette Butterfly. She almost sounded like your mom."

It was Gabby's turn to snort. "You know that would be like Mr. Agreste's dad being Hawk Moth. Cold parents who don't care about their children. Too cliché."

"I guess you're right, but I should go know. Mom will go nuts if she finds me missing." She embraced her girlfriend one last time and made her way down to the ground.

It wasn't until she was back in her bed that Amaya realized she had completely forgotten to talk about the new heroes.

Chapter 10

Annabeth Kurtzberg

"Mommy! Daddy!" Annabeth was rereading her favorite book when her parents entered the Agreste living room.

She dropped her book and ran into her parents' outstretched arms.

"Looks like the owl has forgotten its day." Adrien remarked, leaning against an entryway. "Marinette needs to talk to you, Lillain."

"What about me and Daddy?" Annabeth asked.

"Just stay here with Kat and Emmy. It won't be long." Adrien ducked out of sight.

"How about you get your things, Buttercup?" Her father asked.

She nodded mutely.

"We'll help her!" Kat and Emmy sprung up.

The three girls headed upstairs to grab Annabeth's stuff.

"What do you think your parents wanted with my mom?" She asked her friends, wishing she had something to fidget with.

"Maybe to talk about you and Emmy disappearing?" Kat suggested.

"The new heroes?" Emmy offered.

They went on like this until they had gotten her things.

Her mother was back in the living room, though she looked troubled.

"Annabeth, can you come here, please?" Annabeth heard her mother call.

She gulped nervously. "What if she asks about where I was last night? I have no excuse!" She fretted to Tikki.

"If she asks, just tell her that you wanted to see the heroes." Tikki told her.

"Okay. Got it." Annabeth went downstairs to their living room. There, her mother sat in a plush chair.

"Annabeth, it's time I told you something that only a few others have ever known." Her mother began.

"Wh-what do you mean, Mommy?" She asked, nervous.

"You know the necklace I always wore?"

"The one with the teal stone?"

"Yes. Well, I've had it since I was your age. I was thirteen, and I had just moved here with Grandma."

"What are you trying to tell me?"

Lillian sighed, reaching around her neck. She unclasped a silver necklace and handed it to her daughter. "Look inside."

Annabeth complied. In the locket there were two pictures, neither of which she had ever seen before. The first showed a family of three, a father, a mother, and a baby, but it was the second one that caught her attention.

It was a group photo of nine of the eleven former heroes of Paris, likely between the ages of 13 and 15. Cat Noir and Ladybug were in the front, giving each other bunny ears. Behind them was Rena Rouge, who was sitting on Carapace's shoulders. On the far right, behind Rena Rouge and Carapace was Pegasus, and opposite him was King Monkey. Between King Monkey and Cat Noir were Ryuko and Viperion, and right in the middle of it all was Athena.

"I was a unique member. Not only was I the youngest, but also the only full time member that never fought Stoneheart."

Realization hit Annabeth. "You mean," She looked up at her mother. "You are, or were, Athena?"

Chapter 11

Cayden Couffaine

Cayden was nearly the last one out of the school. Dark clouds had formed during the day and were pouring down turrets of rain.

"Great," He muttered as he stood in the doorway. "The one day I don't bring an umbrella."

He prepared to step out into the rain when someone spoke behind him.

"You're Cayden, right?"

He whirled around to see the auburn haired girl who sat in front of him. She wore blue jeans and a white t-shirt with a purple flower design, which was partially covered by her army green jacket. Her multicolored sneakers were slightly soaked from the rain, but she stayed mostly dry from a black umbrella.

"Uh, yeah." He finally said.

The girl giggled. "You're not much of a talker, are you?"

Cayden felt his face go red.

"I'm guessing you didn't bring an umbrella?" She asked.

"Would I still be here if I did?"

She smiled. "You have a point there. You can have mine. I don't mind the rain. It makes me think about my friends and family. Each raindrop is someone who loves me, or at least, that's the way I see it."

"That's not a bad thought." He said as he took the handle of her umbrella. A clap of thunder startled him, causing the umbrella to fall on his head.

The girl laughed. "Sorry," She apologized. "But you just look so silly with that on your head."

Cayden's face reddened even further. "I guess so."

She began to walk off.

"W-wait!" He called. "What's your name?"

"I'm Annabeth. Annabeth Kurtzberg."

He smiled as Annabeth walked off.

"Let me guess," Plagg said, poking out of his bag. "'She's just a friend'?"

Chapter 12

Gabrielle Graham de Vanily

"Ugh. This dress is way too tight. Can't I please take it off?" Gabby complained as a seamstress worked on her newest gala dress.

"Nonsense, Mademoiselle. These are the top fashion trends. Your mother ordered the design especially for you, so hold still."

She groaned. Her mother never got something for her, she got things to live through her. This dress was only proof of that.

The dress was sleeveless and its skirt was just below knee length, with a train in the back. It was primarily orange, but the inside of the design was white. The train resembled a fox tail and she had a fabric fox tail wrapped around her waist, plus long black gloves and boots.

It was clearly a remake of Volpina's costume.

After what seemed like an eternity of torture, Gabby was finally allowed out of the dressing room, but her bliss wouldn't last long, because just a few hours later, she was forced to put on the dress again for the once-in-a-lifetime showing of the 'secrets' behind the Gabriel brand.

Gabriel wasn't even in business anymore. After Adrien had inherited the company, he'd shut it down, and helped Marinette start her own company, Marinette Designed, or more commonly referred to as Designed.

The gala was huge, as most of the ones her family went to were. All the 'important' families were present. The Couffaines, Bruels, and Lavillants from Kitty Section were present, as were Chloé and Amaya too, obviously. Also obviously were the Agrestes, and also the Lahiffe-Césaires. Surprisingly, the Kurtzbergs were present too.

Gabby desperately wanted to be with Amaya, but they couldn't risk it in such a crowded place.

Amaya had also undergone the same treatment as Gabby, as her dress was undoubtedly based on Queen Bee.

Looking around, she noticed several other superhero themed outfits. Emmy's dress was red with black spots, like Ladybug, or rather Ruby Lady, Kat's was black with green accents, like Lady Noir, and Annabeth's was a mixture of blues, whites, and feather designs, like Athena or Lady Owl.

The evening went on, and it was clear that none of the kids were enjoying it.

Finally, the 'highlight' of night came around.

"And now, the highlight of our show, generously loaned to us by Félix and Lila Graham de Vanily, here is Gabriel Agreste's book of inspiration!"

Chapter 13

Emily Agreste

"What's up, RL?" Lady Owl plopped down next to her teammate. "You seem down."

Ruby Lady sighed. "I've just got way too many things occupying my mind. First my mom drops the bomb that she was Athena, then Tikki thinks that the Graham de Vanilys have the Butterfly and Peacock Miraculouses, and now I think I'm getting a crush on Felynx!" Then her face reddened. "Did I just say that out loud?"

"Wait, your mom was Athena?" Lady Owl recalled what Unna had let slip in their first meeting, that her previous owner's name was Lillian. Unna had never confirmed that Lillian's last name was Kurtzberg, but still…

"That's what your mind jumps to? Not that, I don't know, Lila and Félix Graham de Vanily could be the very villains that Ladybug, Cat Noir, and my mom devoted their lives to stopping?"

"Oops, sorry. I'm a bit scatterbrained." She apologized.

No, She thought. ''Ruby Lady can't be Annabeth. She isn't the kind of person who has outbursts like that.''

"It's fine. I think we're all a bit tired. Where even is Felynx?"

"Did someone say my name?" Felynx hopped up beside the girls. "Also, sorry I'm late. Getting out was harder than I thought."

Lady Owl noticed the slight blush growing on Ruby Lady's cheeks.

That night, she and Kat were getting ready for bed.

"Oh, Emmy, I totally forgot to tell you. Kayla gave me this epic watch!" Her twin told her. She fished around her drawers for a minute before coming up with a silver pocket watch.

"What's so cool about it? You have a digital one."

"Just watch." Her sister pressed the top. The watch swung open and the holographic figure of a young woman holding a large watch appeared at its base.

"Woah," Emmy breathed. "I want it!"

"Well, you can't have it!" Kat playfully stuck out her tongue.

Their playful banter continued on for some time, until, unseen by Kat, Unna whispered, "That's a miraculous." into Emmy's ear.

"Wait, you said Kayla gave that to you?" The blonde and blue eyed twin asked.

"Yeah. It was her mom's."

"You do know her mom was Bunnix, right?"

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with any- Ohhhh."

The twins locked eyes.

"I'm going to be the next Bunnix!" Kat squealed.

Chapter 14

Cayden Couffaine

"You like her, don't you?" Aiden nudged Cayden from his thoughts.

He blushed. "Uhh no?"

His friend chuckled. "There's a joke in my family: Nino knows all, Nino sees all. I'm the only son of my dad, so therefore, I know all and see all."

"Fine. I have a crush on Annabeth." He admitted.

"You should talk to her."

"Aiden, are you crazy? What if she has her eyes set on some guy who is filthy rich or whatever?"

"Uh, dude. Your family has tons of money."

"Not like her! The Kurtzbergs are, like, as rich as the Agrestes."

"Yeah, but neither Lillian or Nathaniel came from a rich family. They don't flaunt their wealth."

"I'm still not doing it."

Aiden sighed. "Suit yourself dude, but I'm telling you, you really should talk to her."

"You know, I'm not sure why all my owners always go fawning over some girl. Cat Noir was obsessed with Ladybug, and now you are head over heels for that Annabeth of yours. Frankly, surprised that you haven't fallen for Ruby Lady by now. It only took Cat Noir a day."

Cayden sighed in annoyance. "Plagg, why are you always so cynical?"

"Because there are only two good things in life: Cheese and Sugarcube."

"Sugarcube?"

"Oh, that's Tikki, the kwami of creation. Ruby Lady's. But then of course there's also Addy, she's always good for a laugh. So, I guess that's three things…"

"Wait, who's Addy?"

"Oh, that's Unna. She eats so much candy, it's like she has ADD, so Addy."

"Is it too late to back out of being Felynx?" Cayden groaned as he plopped onto his bed.

"Nope!" Was Plagg's gleeful response.

Chapter 15

Kathrine Agreste

"Call me Cottontail!" Kat leaped onto her bed with an umbrella and a Bunnix mask, trying to surprise her sister.

Instead of the hoped for reaction, Emmy just burst out in laughter. "That's what your costume is going to be? I could do way better."

"I see no proof of that." She said as she took off the mask. "Show me."

"Alright I will. Unna, wing it!"

"Hate to break it to you, but I see no change."

Emmy scowled. "Where did that kwami go off to now?"

"What's a quamy?"

Her sister didn't answer, but was searching around their bedroom.

Kat plopped onto her bed and waited.

"Unna! How many times have I told you not to sneak off and eat candy?" Her twin at long last exclaimed.

"But candy is so yummy! Lillian would give me all I wanted. And Plagg and Tikki get to eat as much as they want too." A high pitched voice responded.

"Who was that?" Kat asked, scrambling away from the source of the voice.

"Emmy!" The voice scolded. "You know I'm supposed to be a secret!"

"Well, too late." Emmy turned to Kat. "Kat, I'd like you to meet Unna, the kwami of resilience."

A small light blue thing flew out from behind Emmy's back.

Kat screamed. "Bird! Mouse! Bird mouse!"

"Shh!" Emmy hissed. "Mom and Dad will hear! Unna needs to be as secret as possible, or else I won't be able to be Lady Owl."

"Wha- you're-" She stuttered. "Emily Agreste! I am your twin sister, and you didn't tell me you were Lady Owl!?"

"I told you, Emmy."

Chapter 16

Annabeth Kurtzberg

"Alright, class! Today, we will be starting a group project on current events. Here is a list of who you'll be partnered with!" Mrs. Bruel said.

Annabeth scanned the list until she found her name. "Hey, Cayden! We're partners!" She turned around to look at her new friend.

"Oh, uh, great!"

They made plans to meet up in the library after class.

"So what current event should we work on?" He asked her.

"How about the new heroes?" She said, thinking of Felynx.

"That's not a bad idea. Maybe we could even try to interview one of them?" Cayden suggested.

Annabeth's eyes lit up. "Do you think you could do that?"

"I- uh- I mean, I'll try."

She squealed and threw her arms around him, but she quickly drew back, her face redder than her hair. "Sorry."

"I-it's okay." He stuttered back, his face as flushed as hers.

"You know, Gabby's mom has a book full of superheroes. Maybe I could try to borrow it."

"Good thing it's Lady Owl's night to patrol. I have way too much homework." Annabeth said as she plopped down by her desk.

"I'm surprised you haven't fallen behind already. Ladybug could barely keep things together as it was." Tikki told her.

"You know, I still can't believe that out of all the people in Paris, Ladybug chose me to be her successor. I mean, what made me so special? And Felynx and Lady Owl for that matter."

"Well, given Unna's history, Lady Owl probably wasn't chosen so much as found, but as for you and Felynx, guardians choose wielders by the amount of selflessness you have. Ladybug must've seen you two perform truly selfless acts with no hesitation."

Before Annabeth could respond, she heard a thunk on the roof. "What was that?"

She went out to her balcony and made her way to the top using a series of steps she had perfected over the years.

There, on the flat rooftop, was none other than her partner.

"Felynx?" She asked tentatively.

He turned to face her. "Oh, hello, Annabeth! I was beginning to think I had gotten the wrong house."

"How do you know my name?" She demanded.

"Your friend Cayden reached out to me, saying that you two were doing a project about me, Ruby Lady, and Lady Owl."

"Wow. Well, I-I'll be sure to thank him." She felt her face growing red. "U-um, the interview?"

"O-oh yeah! Where should we start?"

Chapter 17

Lillian Kurtzberg

"Time for your tuck in, Buttercup!" Lillian said as she entered her daughter's room.

Instead of the semi-embarrassed giggle of 'Mommy!' she usually got, Lillian was greeted only with silence.

"Annabeth?" She asked.

Again, there was no answer.

She went over to her daughter's bed and found it empty.

Lillian began to panic. Had Annabeth run off? Had she been kidnapped? Her mind raced through horrible possibilities.

"Of all the times not to have Unna…" She murmured.

She reached for her locket, which normally gave her comfort, but the worst thought yet struck her. What if Annabeth had run off because she was Athena?

Lillian had always been known for having an aura of calm around her, but now… now the insecurities were piling up.

She barely noticed the black butterfly until it entered her locket.

"I've fended off an akuma before, Hawk Moth, and I can do it again." She growled.

"Oh, darling, who says I'm Hawk Moth?" A woman asked. "I'm Violette Butterfly, and I do agree with you. Not knowing where your children are is so stressful, and that's why I keep mine under lock and key. I will give you the power to do the same. All I ask for in return are the miraculouses. Do we have a deal, Lockette?"

Lillian frowned. Something was familiar about that sickly sweet voice, but her thoughts were clouded.

"Yes, Violette Butterfly."

Chapter 18

Annabeth Kurtzberg

"Well, thanks for the interview, Felynx. This'll help out a lot!" Annabeth said brightly.

"No problem! I'm always happy to help." He told her. "Especially when it involves someone as nice as you."

She blushed deeply. "Th-thanks." She turned to head down to her bedroom.

As she walked into her room, she saw the silhouette of a person. "Mommy?" She asked nervously.

"Why, Annabeth, honey, you're not safe! Let Mommy lock you up tight!" The figure said.

"You're not my mother." Annabeth growled, stepping back. "If you were, you'd call me Buttercup."

"Oh, but I am, darling! Or my name isn't Lockette!" The figure stepped into the light.

Her hair was jet black, and pulled into a tight bun. Her skin was pale, almost pure white. She wore a golden blouse that billowed at the sleeves, and underneath it was another shirt, this with a black swan-necked collar. She had a pair of black pants with wide openings at the ankles. Golden boots with high heels rested on her feet, that clicked as she walked. Around her waist was a large silver key ring, to which several keys and locks were attached. She wore a silver locket with a lock and key emblem, and her eyes, Annabeth would know those eyes anywhere. Those blue-green eyes that the black and gold mask surrounded belonged to her mother.

Annabeth scrambled away from Lockette, but the supervillain kept on advancing. Soon, she was pressed against the railing of her balcony.

She whimpered as Lockette drew nearer. The supervillain was taking one of the locks off her key ring.

"Don't you know that it's rude to stalk a lady?"

Annabeth looked up to see Lady Owl perched on the roof. Her rope wrapped around Annabeth's waist, and she was flung skyward.

Just as she began to fall, Felynx caught her. Apparently, he had never left the roof.

She clung to Felynx as he whisked her away.

He set her down at the Eiffel Tower. As Felynx turned to leave, Annabeth grabbed his arm.

"Please make sure she doesn't get hurt. It's my mom."

"Don't worry, Annabeth. You'll get your mom back in no time." With that, he vaulted off.

"Well, not without me they won't." She said to her kwami. "Tikki, spots on!"

"I heard your goal was to keep people safe, so how come we're all fighting?" Ruby Lady stood on the roof above the action.

"They are trying to keep my daughter away from me!" Lockette shouted.

"The daughter you're trying to imprison?" She countered.

"Well you can't keep me from her when you're all trapped in my locket!" The supervillain unhooked three locks.

"Watch out!" She screamed as the locks were thrown at her friends.

Ruby Lady leapt down and deflected the locks, but they kept coming. Eventually, two wayward locks made their way to her allies.

In an instant, Lady Owl and Felynx vanished in a puff of metallic smoke.

"No!" She cried. "Lucky Charm!"

She was given a hat.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

Soon enough, her earrings began to beep, and she had to leap into a nearby and empty alley.

"Spots off." Tikki flew out of the earrings. "Tikki, the Lucky Charm gave me a hat, but I couldn't find anything to do with it."

"When Ladybug had something like that, the Lucky Charm would be trying to tell her something…" Tikki trailed off.

"What are you getting at, Tikki?"

"Annabeth, I think it's time for you to meet the Guardian of the Miraculouses."

Chapter 19

Tikki

"Tikki, this is the Agreste mansion. Are you sure we're in the right place?"

"Yes, just follow me." Tikki said. She led Annabeth around the back of the mansion and phased through a certain spot in the wall.

"Tikki?"

"Marinette!" Tikki flew towards her former owner.

"What are you doing here? There's an akumatized villain!" Marinette exclaimed. "Annabeth needs you to transform!"

"The Lucky Charm told her to come here."

Marinette nodded in understanding. "I'll open the way."

"Tikki?" Annabeth's voice came echoing through. "What is this pla- Mrs. Agreste?"

Marinette smiled. "I've told you before, Annabeth. You can call me Marinette."

"But why did Tik- I mean uh, my flying hairless cat bring me here?"

Tikki had to suppress a round of giggles. The 'flying hairless cat' excuse was nearly identical to the one Marinette had used when she had first met Master Fu.

Marinette was clearly thinking the same thing, as a small smile was on her lips.

"Annabeth, you don't need to hide from me. I've known you were Ruby Lady since before you transformed for the first time, and I can't have imagined someone better to be my successor."

Annabeth blinked. "You mean, you're Ladybug!?"

"Indeed. Now, tell me what happened."

Tikki settled down next to her owner, listening to the whole thing from Annabeth's perspective.

After Annabeth had finished, Marinette got up and walked over to a cabinet, bringing out an old phonograph.

Tikki recognized it as the same one Master Fu had used to store the Miracle Box.

"Annabeth, you are aware of the powers each miraculous holds, right?"

Her owner nodded.

"Very well." Marinette turned around, holding the Miracle Box. "Annabeth Kurtzberg, pick an ally you can trust to fight alongside you for this mission. Choose wisely. Such powers are meant to serve the greater good. Once the mission is over, you must retrieve the miraculous from them and bring it back to me."

Annabeth hesitated before picking up the Rabbit Miraculous. "I won't be able to do this without Felynx… and Lady Owl." She hurriedly added the last part.

Marinette nodded. "Be sure this doesn't fall into the wrong hands. The Rabbit Miraculous is exceptionally powerful."

"I promise I'll be careful."

As Annabeth left, Marinette spoke. "She's fallen for him, hasn't she?"

Tikki turned around. "She won't admit it, but it's obvious."

"And he her?"

"It does seem Cayden has fallen for her. As Annabeth."

Marinette smiled. "The reverse of me and Adrien. I chose them well. Now go, Annabeth will need you to deliver the miraculous."

Chapter 20

Kathrine Agreste

"Oh, Emmy… Please get back safe." Kat sat on her bed, worried sick. Emmy had left a while ago for patrol, but over an hour ago, there had been an akuma alert. There hadn't been any word since.

She heard a tap on her window.

Kat looked over to see Ruby Lady hanging from her yoyo in front of the glass pane.

Not knowing what else to do, she opened it. The superhero hopped in.

"Why are you here?" Kat nervously asked.

"It's a long story, but, how would you like to help a superhero?"

Her eyes widened. "Me? But why?"

"I know that you find us fascinating, and that you would give anything to be a superhero, but that you don't let power get to your head. So? Are you in?"

Kat grinned. "Yes."

"Good." Ruby Lady held out an octagonal box with a red insignia on the lid. "Kathrine Agreste, here is the Miraculous of the Rabbit which grants the power of Evolution. You will use it for the greater good. Once the mission is over, you'll return the miraculous to me. Can I trust you?"

"Totally!" She exclaimed. She took the box and opened it. A ball of light shot out. When it faded, she saw a rabbit-looking thing.

"Hi there! I'm Fluff!" The thing exclaimed cheerfully.

"Hello, there. I'm Kat." She replied.

"Super cool to meet you! Just say, 'Fluff, clockwise' to transform!"

"Got it." Kat took the pocket watch. "Fluff, clockwise!"

"Okay, so your special power is called Burrow. It will create a portal to your Burrow-" Ruby Lady was cut off by a new voice.

"-Which has other portals to any point in time. Including ones to this very moment where I can hop in and teach Cottontail myself. And don't worry, Ruby Lady. Felynx and Lady Owl are waiting for you in my Burrow. They're getting tips from the professionals."

They whirled around to see none other than Bunnix herself.

"But- what- how? Mar- The guardian took back the miraculouses! How are you here?"

"I'm a time traveler. Present me doesn't have Fluff, but I'm a past me, so I still do."

"This is crazy." She muttered. "And how did you know I would choose the name Cottontail? That was a private moment with my sister."

"Time travel expertise. Now, come. You're going to need to be at the top of your game when you fight Lockette."

Chapter 21

Lillian Montgomery

"Do you have any idea why Bunnix yanked us here?" Athena asked her companions.

"Last time she did something like this was when Kitty here got himself akumatized in an alternate future. I saved the day of course."

"Because my Bugaboo is purrfect beyond imagining." Cat Noir quipped.

"Don't call me Bugaboo!"

Athena laughed. "These moments where nothing is wrong and we are free to joke is why I love being a superhero with you guys so much."

"I think this is the end of this one though." Ladybug said.

Athena saw what she meant. Bunnix walked towards then with two teenagers their age.

"Wait, is that my ring?" Cat Noir asked.

"And is that my necklace?"

"Bunnix, what is going on?" Ladybug demanded.

"These are two of the three future heroes of Paris. Felynx wields the Cat Miraculous and Lady Owl the Owl."

"But what about the Ladybug?"

"I have to get her separately. This villain is especially powerful, which is why both generations of heroes need to work together."

"Wait, you don't mean-?"

The look on Ladybug's face was priceless, and soon Athena and Cat Noir burst out laughing.

"I'm betting it's the owl." She whispered to her friend.

"And why is that?"

"Duh. She's a girl. Girls are awesome. Everybody knows that. Oh wait…"

"Hey!" He punched her softly.

Athena smirked, but it soon fell as she was tackled by the other owl in question.

"I told you I could do it!" She said triumphantly. "Take that, Felynx!"

"I never said you couldn't but that you shouldn't. Why do I have to be the responsible one?"

"I thought that was Ruby Lady's job."

"But when she's gone, I'm second in command."

While the two were arguing, she and Cat Noir exchanged mischievous looks. "Let's show these mice what owls and cats can do."

And that's what Bunnix came to when she returned. The two cats and two owls sparing with Ladybug laughing hysterically.

"Ahem." Bunnix cleared her throat.

All five heroes froze in place and turned to look at the rabbit hero.

"Ladybug, Cat Noir, Athena. This is Ruby Lady, the leader of the future French Miraculous Superhero Team. And this is Cottontail, the first non full time member of the team."

Athena noticed the other owl, Lady Owl, seemed taken aback by the name Cottontail.

Ruby Lady, presumably the other ladybug, ran forward and tackled the other cat, Felynx, in a hug. "I thought I'd lost you."

"I'm standing here you know," Lady Owl said. "And what do you mean by that?"

"I'll bet you a hundred bucks that he's in love with her civilian form." Athena whispered to Cat Noir.

"What's that in euros?"

"'Bout 84."

"I'm not taking that bet."

She noticed that Ruby Lady was staring at her, her face pale like she had just seen a ghost.

"Is something wrong?"

The girl looked away, a pained expression on her face. "If I said what it was, I'd reveal both our identities, given time."

She wondered what that meant, but now was not the time. "Bunnix, can you fill us in?"

Chapter 22

Lila Graham de Vanily

Violette Butterfly growled in frustration. Lockette was supposed to be her masterpiece, but even a loyal mother like that Lillian couldn't find that pesky bug. Of course she was pleased that Lockette had gotten the other two miraculouses, especially the owl. She had never forgiven Athena for foiling her triumphant reign as Hecate.

"I don't understand! Lockette has searched the entire city, but she can't find that stupid bug!"

"Why not give her a sentimonster to help?"

"Not now, Félix. A sentimonster would be too obvious. Right now she needs the element of surprise."

"That's Peafowl to you, Lila." Her husband grumbled. "Have you even considered that this could put Nathan and Gabrielle in danger? And what about Adrien and Marinette? Adrien is my cousin and he's never given up on me. I'm not even sure why I agreed to help you get those miraculouses."

"Because, with the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses, we would have infinite power, right, Peafowl darling?"

"You have a point." Peafowl sighed. "You know, Uncle Gabriel was lucky Marinette and Adrien kept his secret."

"And we're lucky that he gave me the miraculouses, so be quiet."

Peafowl suddenly started to laugh.

"What is it now?" Violette Butterfly asked annoyedly.

"I just realized that a nickname for Violet is Vi. Violette sounds like Violet. And Violette Butterfly, VB."

"Félix, don't you dare." She growled, realizing where he was going.

He cracked up. "I am so calling you Vibe now!"

"Why did I marry you?"

"Because I come from a rich family and am insanely good looking."

She suddenly tensed. "They used that rotten rabbit!" Violette Butterfly could see what Lockette was seeing: a glowing white portal.

As she watched, Ruby Lady stepped out. The young heroine's eyes were tinged red, as if she had been crying.

"Lockette, I surrender. I can't defeat you without my friends. If you release them, I will have Felynx tell me where your daughter is so you can find her. I will then give you my miraculous." The girl's voice quivered.

"It's a trap." Violette Butterfly warned her disciple.

"But Annabeth…"

It became a battle of will, but the mother's love triumphed.

"Peafowl." Violette Butterfly broke off the connection. "Sentimonster. Now."

Chapter 23

Cayden Couffaine

"No, no, no, no!" Felynx banged against the walls of the locket. "She doesn't know where Annabeth is! She can't keep her safe!"

"Annabeth is a resourceful girl. She can take care of herself. It's us I'm worried about."

He didn't want to listen. "Cataclysm!" He slammed his hand against the wall. "What?"

No black cracks were spreading, nor was the wall crumbling into black dust.

"The locket muffles our powers, Felynx. If you had just listened I would've told you. Whirlwind isn't working for me." Lady Owl sighed. "We're just going to have to wait until RL frees us."

Felynx slumped to the floor. "But I can't just leave her."

"Don't make me slap you out of it." She warned.

He said nothing, and the two heroes sat in silence for quite some time.

"Lockette, I surrender. I can't defeat you without my friends. If you release them, I will have Felynx tell me where your daughter is so you can find her. I will then give you my miraculous."

Felynx and Lady Owl locked eyes. "Ruby Lady!?"

They scrambled to the locket's window to see their friend standing in front of the villain.

"What is she doing? That's not like her!" He banged on the unbreakable window.

Moments later, the duo stood in front of the heroine.

Felynx was tackled in a hug. "I've got a plan." She whispered to him. "Just follow my lead."

He nodded slightly.

Ruby Lady looked at Lockette. "Annabeth is at the Louvre Pyramid."

As soon as the villain was gone, his friend turned around. "Cottontail? You can open the portal."

Lady Owl had an odd reaction to the name, but he didn't have the time to think about it as a glowing white portal appeared.

They stepped in to see a girl with black hair and vivid green eyes. "Ready to see your mom again?" She asked Ruby Lady.

The other two heroes exchanged looks.

"Athena?" Lady Owl asked, touching her necklace. "How?"

"It will make sense in time. Come." Cottontail beckoned them over to a window with six figures, all of whom had their backs turned.

They stepped through and the six turned around. Four of them he had never met, but he knew their faces from pictures. The former heroes of Paris, and the other two, he knew all too well. Felynx found himself face to face with himself.

Chapter 24

Annabeth Kurtzberg

"We'll need to set a trap for Lockette." Ruby Lady said after Felynx and Lady Owl had gotten oriented. "If we had the Fox Miraculous, we could create an illusion…"

"Do you want me to get Rena Rouge or Foxtrot?" Cottontail asked.

"Foxtrot?"

"Oh right. You haven't given her the miraculous yet." She seemed to notice the odd looks. "What? Bunnix is a good teacher."

"Maybe Lucky Charm might give you a hint?" Past Lady Owl suggested.

"I've only ever experienced two Lucky Charms at the same time once, and that was during Timebreaker when there were two of them. We might have the same ones, and that would put us in an unnecessary risk." Ladybug said.

But it also reflects on how the holder thinks. Tikki told me that when Cat Noir was Mister Bug, the charm was used in a much more straightforward way.

"Good point."

"Lucky Charm!" They said simultaneously.

Ruby Lady received a duffle bag and Ladybug got a manila envelope. Inside the bag was a white t-shirt with a purple floral design, a pair of jeans, an army green jacket, and an auburn wig. Inside the envolpe was a picture of her- as Annabeth- face.

Ruby Lady grinned. "Good thing we got two yoyos, three batons, and three ropes."

"Oh Annabeth? Where are you?" Lockette called out in a singsong voice.

Ruby Lady was hidden in the shadows, using both yoyos, both Lady Owl's ropes, and Cat Noir's and Past Felynx's batons you create a makeshift marionette control, with a dummy with the clothes, wig, and picture acting as the marionette.

"Mommy? Did the heroes deakumatize you?"

"Yes, buttercup."

"I'm by the entrance!"

The boys had Cataclysmed the area to weaken the ground, and the others were going to make sure that Lockette didn't escape.

The clicking of the villain's heels drew closer.

Suddenly the ground gave away and Lockette fell through.

Ruby Lady grabbed the two yoyos and leapt down and snagged the locket, breaking it. She and Ladybug tossed their Lucky Charms in the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

Chapter 25

Lillian Kurtzberg

Lillian's eyes fluttered open. Standing in front of her were the three heroes.

"Where am I? What happened?"

Felynx bent down. "You were akumatized, ma'am. But don't worry, your daughter is safe. I took her to the Eiffel Tower. She's waiting for me to take her back."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"Lady Owl, do you think you can take her home? I can get Annabeth. Besides, I need to return Cottontail's miraculous." Ruby Lady said.

"Will do." The owl heroine said.

"Mommy?" Lillian at last heard her daughter call. She rose from the seat she was sitting in and ran to Annabeth, who stood at the door of her balcony.

"I was so worried! Where were you?" She asked.

"I was getting an interview from Felynx. He told me that Cayden had reached out to him. It was for our project."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Annabeth laughed. "I did! Just after we began, I went to tell Daddy. He said he'd tell you."

"And I did." Nathaniel chuckled, walking in. "But that's your mother for you, Buttercup. Smart as a tree full of owls but always forgetting things."

"Says the boy who couldn't figure out I was crushing on him for who knows how long." She teased back.

"Well, you weren't as obvious as Marinette."

"Well, that we can agree on." She said with a smile.

The next morning, Lillian knocked on the door of the Agreste mansion. Adrien answered it.

"Oh, hey Lillian. What's up?" He greeted her.

"I need to talk to Marinette. It's about Hawk Moth."

His eyes widened. "She's in her spot." He said and let Lillian in.

Marinette's 'spot' was a small room where the former heroine kept the miracle box, but it also served as her quiet and meditation area.

"Lillian?" Marinette asked. "What brings you here?"

"The new akumas. They aren't from Hawk Moth anymore."

"What?"

"She was manipulative enough to- to get me akumatized."

"Who is she?"

"She calls herself Violette Butterfly."

Marinette's face hardened. "Thank you for telling me." She walked to an unassuming cabinet and pulled out an old phonograph. There were two ornate dragons with red eyes on the base. She pressed the eyes, which caused a panel to flip open, revealing nine buttons. The guardian punched in a code, revealing the Miracle Box.

She took out three miraculouses. She handed one to Lillian. "Here. Moral support always helps fight off akumas. If Ruby Lady has need for it, I'll send Wayzz or Pollen."

"That we will do!" The turtle kwami said.

"Affirmative!" Pollen chirped.

Lillian noticed Marinette had put on both a bracelet and hair comb.

"But for now, I have a job for you two. Pollen, find Tikki; Wayzz, find Plagg. Tell their owners to enter transformed."

The kwamis flew off.

"Well, Kitsune. Care to transform?"