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Marinette points her head up as she sniffs the air, instantly regretting it. The smell was what she imagined a day without coffee would be like. Fiery, disgusting, and soulless.
After thinking it over, the answer became clear in her head. There was a fire somewhere nearby. If that was the case, she would need some backup.
Marinette pulls out her phone, dialing a number she rarely uses. It takes a moment, but the other line finally picks up.
“What’s up, Miss Marinette? Do you need help with something?”
“Yes, I thought I told you to call me just Marinette, Miss Morningstar. There is something near me on fire and I left the kwami at the manor. Whatever it is, it smells atrocious.”
“A fire? Are you sure Jerome and Jason aren’t having an in uniform turf war again?”
“Well, I already passed by the two of them earlier and they were both out of uniform. I think this is something else. I guess I can look if you’re busy.”
“No, no. I’m not busy at all. If you want to spare a look, keep me on the line and I’ll be right there.”
“Miss Morningstar, what exactly is it you are doing right now anyway?”
Marinette decides to continue down the sidewalk as she awaits an answer. The silence mixed with the ever-increasing intensity of the smell gets to Marinette’s nerves. She turns the corner then gets answers to nearly all her questions.
In the alleyway, is a taller strawberry blonde in a trench coat and a dragon staring at a flaming dumpster. The flame is a mix of greens, blues and pink. Marinette facepalms so loud that they both turn around.
“Marinette! This is not what it looks like. I did not start this fire.”
“Likely story, Firestarter. Is this why you never responded to me, Miss Morningstar? You were both starting a dumpster fire.”
Marinette crosses her arms at the two. Firestarter’s ears pin back only to pop up as a roar escapes the dumpster. He dives forward, grabbing Marinette to avoid her getting hit by the flame. The two awkwardly stare at each other while Morningstar faces the fire.
“You know, I really thought this would not keep me busy. Firestarter insisted that he help, and you can clearly see how it is going.”
“Hey! Tell her the whole story Star. You’re making it sound like I’ve made the fire worse.”
“Kiddo, I love you and all, but you did make the fire worse. It’s a magical fire and you have been feeding it miraculous magic. What did you except to happen?”
“You didn’t know it was magical either until I did something.”
“Well, next time we won’t throw water at a dumpster fire in Gotham now, will we?”
“It’s a fire. What was I supposed to do?”
“Will you both stop bickering?!”
Morningstar and Firestarter both wince at the words. Marinette gets herself off the ground, helping Firestarter too. She watches the fire grow again with a sigh.
“You two cannot be trusted alone, can you?”
“In my defense, that should be a given for me. Him, on the other hand, you should also know by now. To be fair, the fire has a mind of its own.”
“It was always burning since the world’s been turning.”
The trio look to Jason who caught up to them while they were busy overexplaining themselves. Jerome comes up behind Jason with a frown on his face. Marinette narrows her eyes at the young man.
“You and Jason did have something to do with this, didn’t you?”
“Maybe, maybe not. You have no proof.”
“There’s a magical dumpster fire growing bigger by the second behind us! How in the multiverse is that not proof?!”
“Neither of us commit arson. There is one amongst you that would. Have you tried asking Morningstar?”
The accused person is the only one attempting to control the fire. Though, to say they were doing a good job at it would be a lie. Drawing a chalk line near a fire is not going to do anything.
Marinette gives up. She shakes her head as she starts walking out of the alleyway. Both Jerome and Tim follow behind her, leaving Morningstar and Jason to deal with it.
Tim, who had detransformed while following, runs up to be right beside Marinette as they head back to the manor. He silently walks alongside her until they reach the manor gate.
“You started that fire, didn’t you?”
“I was testing out a theory of mine. I had no idea that the dumpster was a mythical dumpster. How was I supposed to know it would take ahold of my fire and not stop?”
“You picked a great boyfriend Mari. He knows how to have a good time. Can I perhaps borrow him? Jason wants to extend our prank warzone and I could use a mage that knows how to properly commit arson.”
“Jerome, have you ever seen me start a fire before?”
Jerome pauses before following the couple through the front door.
“No, I don’t believe so.”
“Exactly,” Marinette smirks which only makes Jerome mirror it while Tim’s eyes widen.
“I take it back. Do both of you want to join me? Mother is clearly going to join Jason and it will not be balanced.”
“When do we leave?”
Marinette has them follow her to her room. She pulls the miracle box out, showing them off to Tim and Jerome. Jerome smiles an evilly wide grin. Tim ponders for a moment.
“Should we use one of the five? That could even the playing field without having to bring the two out.”
“Am I allowed to use one as well, Marinette?”
“You want to win this war, don’t you? Grab a miraculous and we can start plotting.”
“Thank you. I will cherish this opportunity. Jason is going to be so annoyed. I can’t wait!”
Jerome holds in his energy as he waits for Tim and Marinette to plan. Marinette pulls the whiteboard out of her storage closet to start planning. The trio are about to make the impossible happen. Jason was going to regret allowing reinforcements.
In the end of all the scribbles on the board, Marinette narrows the list of potential strategic kwami down to 4. Jerome stares at the list with a slight tilt. Tim decides to choose first, taking the Ladybug miraculous. Marinette’s decision becomes simple; Pollen and Mullo.
Marinette grabs her phone, making a call. Within five seconds, Bart appears in the room. He studies the board as Jerome finally makes his pick. Trixx, the best kwami for the prank war.
“I see Tim picked Tikki. Plagg and I are totally in. What is it you guys are doing again?”
“I have a prank war going with Red Hood. He insisted that we were allowed to have others join. I am sure you can guess who he picked.”
Jerome pouts with an arm cross which Trixx mimics. Marinette rolls her eyes.
“Where is Mother now?”
Meanwhile at the Mythical Dumpster Fire
“I would like to take back my free pass to help Tim test any of his theories.”
“You need some help, Mother?”
Bart raises an eyebrow at Jason and Morningstar who had given up and started to roast marshmallows over the fire.
“Nah, I think it will die down soon. Why are you here? Tim pinned this on me, didn’t he? He was the one using the dragon miraculous this time, not me.”
Bart scoots his way in between the two adults on the old, ripped couch.
“I had no idea about that. I have come with a message. Jerome has recruited Shutterbug to his side.”
Jason dramatically gasps, nearly losing his dumpster sausage.
“That traitor. We don’t need them anyway.”
“We may not but underestimating the force that is Shutterbug and Jerome will be our downfall. Those three can come up with some crazy tricks.”
“Oh, I am not underestimating them. I have a plan and tricks of my own.”
“If it is faking them out with Duusu, you will have to think harder. They have already accounted for that.”
Jason sinks into the couch. Bart pats him on the back.
“You’ll figure something out. There are other players you can get. Also, have you been eating these things?”
Morningstar stops mid lift of a s’more. Bart facepalms.
“Maybe I should switch sides.”