Chapter Text
Volpina collapsed onto all fours, panting. "I'll never surrender, Ladybug." The bluebell-haired superhero walked forward, swinging her yo-yo in one hand. The villainess scowled at her. In a matter of moments she was backed into a corner, and Ladybug seemed to recover. 'Is this some cruel twist of fate?'
"You're tired, outnumbered, and you have nowhere to run. The press has already leaked your true identity. Give it up Lila. You'll never win." The girl in red continued toward Volpina.
Volpina's eyes darted to the ground. In one swift motion, she swung her legs around and threw a mixture of dirt and dust at Ladybug, who reacted quickly by covering her face with her arm.
Volpina jumped up and away, seething at the pain radiating from the cataclysm previously aimed at her. Jumping from roof to roof, she finally settled on her destination, Marinette's bakery slash house.
The fox-themed villain jumped through the roof and onto her former rival's bed, ducking and rolling off of its elevated surface.
With a blow of her flute, she created an illusion of herself back above, to hopefully divert the heroes away from her location.
Volpina peaked around the room. If she couldn't destroy Ladybug, she would at least have to destroy Marinette. 'Let's see how you like it when I mess with your life, Dupen-Chang. Although once I find you, you won't have much of a life to mess with.'
Volpina growled as she trashed the room, first looking in the chest and under the couch. When she couldn't find Marinette anywhere. She started to go wild. Volpina flipped over the chairs and the sewing machine and tore through paper and fabric.
Her claws out, her breathing ragged. "Where is she?!" Marionette's voice called out behind her. "Looking for someone?" Volpina swung her head around, eyes crazed and drool coming from her sharp teeth. "Marinette-"
Ladybug stood there, one hand on her hip and the other swinging her yo-yo.
The brunette's heart dropped as two figures began to merge. One of Ladybug, and one of Marionette. Suddenly it all became clear. Why Marionette always won, why she always got what she wanted. Why Lila despised her so much. Marionette was Ladybug.
*Thump*
Her vision went black.
.
.
.
Lila opened her eyes, which immediately went to darting back and forth to check for intruders. When she found the coast was clear, she sat up, her back straightened as if it was following a wall.
The room was orange. A small window in the corner. Lila swung her legs over the side of the bed.
She observed her surroundings. Each wall was lined with paintings of different shapes and sizes but had occasional shelves with various trinkets on them.
'My old room. Is this an illusion created by Lady Rouge or simply a dream?'
Lila stepped carefully towards the window. Her steps not making a squeak of sound. She narrowed her eyes and peered from behind the curtain. The Eiffel Tower was fully in view.
Lila took a deep breath and turned her head slightly to the right. A small closed vanity stood strong in her periferial vision. The green-eyed beauty tiptoed to the front of the vanity and sat down, quickly lifting the mirror up and in-front of her.
She was momentarily in shock at what she saw.
The perfect picture of her 13 year old self stared back at her. 'This is very realistic. Well done Ladybug. Creating the exact picture of 4 years ago when your meddling started.'
Lila pinched herself in the leg, staring into her own eyes as the pain grew. Her frown deepened on her olive skin. 'It seems that pain won't work. I'll have to find a way out of this place.'
A voice called out from behind her door. "Lila! You'll be late for your first day at school!" Lila flinched slightly at the sudden noise. Her frown morphed into a smirk. 'I see, so that's how it is. The gods have given me a second chance.'
She turned her head back to the mirror and reset her face back to neutral. Using her fingers, she lifted the ends of her mouth into a sickly sweet smile. "Coming Mom!"
Although she smiled, anyone skilled enough to notice would've seen that her eyes held something else. Something unjust and evil.
It was a good thing that there was no longer anyone as skilled as that.