Stormy Weather (2)

Alya was sitting inside the ice dome playing an old child's game with Manon. Julika sat behind them with her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms crossed over them.

Workers on the outside drilled at the ice in an attempt to free them.

Noise caused the shivering girls to look up. "What is that?" Manon asked as icy stalactites formed.

"It's. . ." Alya began hesitantly. "The big goblin king. He ate too much and split his shirt." Alya rose from her seat and began chasing the young girl.

Julika curled up tighter into her ball. Where was Luka? Hopefully he and Marinette were safe.

The stalactites continued to creak as they grew.

Alya pulled Manon back to the carousel. "Wanna hear a story?"

* * * *

Stormy Weather crouched low on a rooftop. Hawk Moth's voice spoke inside her head. "You've shown them all who the real winner is, my weather girl, but now is the time for you to fulfill your part of the agreement, and here's my plan."

* * * *

Ladybug slid open a window and Chat Noir lifted them both out with his baton.

"She must have some unresolved anger issues," said Ladybug.

"I recognize Stormy Weather as Aurore. She must have lost the show."

Ladybug stopped to look at him. "You mean from that Kidz Plus Competition?"

Chat Noir nodded his head. "My mom watches that show."

The broken tv in the window shop beside them flickered on. Stormy Weather popped onto the screen with a map of Paris behind her. "Hello, viewers." She turned to face the map, looking like a real weather girl. "Here's the latest forecast for the first day of summer." Her voice turned harsher and the map zoomed in to their State. "Looks like Mother Nature had a change in plans." A giant snowflake appeared on the screen, covering up the image of their State. "Summer vacation is officially over!"

Chat Noir flashed a small, toothless smile. "Too bad. I was looking forward to swimming."

Ladybug felt her mouth drop open as she imagined a tanned, shirtless Chat Noir wearing red and white striped swim trunks. Wait! What if Chat Noir was pale instead of tanned? And maybe he would look better in blue or black swim trunks. What if the trunks were blue and black striped? Maybe he doesn't even wear-nope. Snap out of it. This is no time to be daydreaming about the hunky superhero.

"Shall we go?" Chat Noir asked quizzically.

Ladybug nodded her head. "Yes. At least now we know where to find her."

* * * *

Ladybug and Chat Noir raced into the news station. "Ladybug, look." Chat Noir pointed to a cardboard cutout of Aurore. Aurore looked completely different but she still had her parasol.

"I bet you anything that the akuma is in the parasol."

Chat Noir nodded in agreement.

The two of them raced up the stairs until they reached the broadcasting room. The doors were locked. The two of them backed up before running to kick the doors open.

When they entered the room, Stormy Weather wasn't there. "It's a recording." Ladybug stated the obvious. They had been duped.

Stormy Weather chuckled from behind them. Purple lightning shot out of the parasol and stuck the lights above them. Ladybug and Chat Noir were able to dodge just in time. The light came crashing down where it shattered upon impact.

* * * *

Hawk Moth basked in the light that filtered through the window in his lair. "This is all going wonderfully according to plan. Soon their Miraculous will be mine." He clinched his fist, savoring the taste of victory that was soon to come.

"Bring them to me!" He commanded his little puppet.

* * * *

The lights in the building turned off, leaving everyone in the dark.

Chat Noir heard Stormy Weather chuckling. The sound of her evil chuckled faded.

Chat Noir turned to face the door. "She's getting away!"

A small humph came out of Ladybug. Chat Noir walked over to his fallen partner and helped her up. "I have night vision, so stay close." He saw her nod and huddled closer to him for support.

He took off at a run, holding tight onto Ladybug.

* * * *

Alya and Julika were crammed into the ladybug themed carriage with Manon squished between them.

"Then the cyclops monster picked the princess up in his hand and said, 'look into my eye'." Manon chuckled as Alya acted out the scene. "Then she stuck a finger right in it."

The wind gushed by, bringing in heavy snow outside of the icy dome. Julika felt her eyes start to close as Alya continued on with the fairytale.

"As soon as she took a bite of the cursed potato, the poor princess fell into a deep, deep sleep."

* * * *

"Okay, that's enough. I think I can manage-"

"Duck!" Chat Noir cut her off. He pushed Ladybug down as Stormy Weather through a metal bar at them.

"I'll follow your lead on this one," Ladybug said instead.

Chat Noir guided her up the stairs, keeping her behind him. He pushed open the door that led to the rooftop. Dark, filmy sunlight filtered through the clouds. It may still be dark but at least Ladybug will be able to see.

"Airheads! You fell right into my trap!" Gloated Stormy Weather. "There's no way out! Party's over fools!"

"We're just getting started, Stormy." Ladybug tossed her yo-yo up. "Lucky Charm!" Her yo-yo glowed with white light. When the light disappeared, a red and black polka dotted blanket fell into her outstretched hand.

"A bath towel? What am I supposed to do with this?" Ladybug wrapped the towel around her wrist.

"Hail."

Hail rained down around them. Chat Noir spun his baton above their heads to keep from being pelted on by the raining ice balls. "I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up," he warned Ladybug.

He watched as Ladybug took in her surroundings, looking for clues. She pointed to a sign. "You see that sign over there? Check it out."

Chat Noir caught onto her plan. Doing as she said, he used his special power. "Cataclysm!"

He balled up his fist to keep from using his Cataclysm on something else. "Is that the best you got, Stormy? Or is it Aurore?" That drew Stormy Weather's attention. She pointed her parasol at him and released a flurry of lightning blasts. He easily dodged them as he made his way to the giant sign. He slid his hand along the base. The metal turned to rust and broke.

The sign toppled over, heading straight for a startled Stormy Weather. She used a lighting blast to create a hole in the sign to escape through.

When Stormy Weather was distracted, Ladybug jumped up onto the running fan and used the towel to fly her up toward the weather villain. She used her yo-yo to wrap the string around Stormy Weather's foot to bring her crashing to the ground. In her panic, Stormy Weather released her parasol.

Chat Noir leaped up into the air and grabbed the projectile. "Here." He tossed the parasol to Ladybug once she was back on the ground.

Ladybug took the parasol and snapped it against her leg. "Get out of here, you nasty bug." A black akuma flew out of the broken parasol handle. Ladybug pulled out her yo-yo. "No more evil doing for you, little akuma." She captured the butterfly in her yo-yo. "Time to de-evilize!"

The now white butterfly flew out of the yo-yo. Ladybug tossed the towel up into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!" Everything went back to normal.

* * * *

"After defeating the dragon with taekwondo. . ." Alya and Manon gasped as the ice dome started to melt.

Alya punched Julika in the arm to stir her awake. She then grabbed Manon and lifted her out of the cart. "The princess kissed her prince charming and. . ."

"They lived happily ever after?" Manon asked.

Alya tickled Manon's nose. "Sure. That is until they had a dozen little monkeys like you running around."

Julika stretched her limbs as she clambered out of the carriage. "Ladybug and Chat Noir did it." She said quietly. A small smile stretched her lips.

* * * *

"Pound it!"

"What am I doing up here?" A confused Aurore asked.

* * * *

"Someday, your Miraculous will be mine," vowed Hawk Moth. I don't care how many enemies I need to throw at you to win, but I will be victorious!"

The metal covering slid close, shutting out the light.

* * * *

Marinette ran back to the park. "Hey, there's the photographer, and Adrien's waiting for you."

"You don't think it's too late?" Marinette asked her kwami.

"You saved the Manon and the others. You deserve to have some fun."

"Marinette!" The small voice of Manon shouted.

Marinette looked up to find Manon rushing toward her followed by Alya and Julika. Huh, Luka was missing.

Marinette picked up Manon and hugged her close. "I know what your secret is!" Manon shouted in excitement.

"Wha. . .what secret?" Marinette asked nervously.

"Ladybug is your best friend." Marinette sighed in relief.

Just then, Luka walked out from behind a tree. "There you are." He gave his sister a hug. Was it just her imagination or did he cast her a side glance?

"She's perfect!"

The small group turned to see Adrien's photographer pointing a finger at Manon. "The adorable little child will be perfect."

Manon looked up at Marinette. "Go ahead." She shoved the little girl who broke out into a huge grin.