Lila

Reunion I

Lila yawned, before her phone sounded with a ping! Her eyes widened, her interest piqued by the message she received.

"Hey mom, can I go over to the Louvre Museum? My classmates are all going there for something." Lila went over to her mom's room and asked. "Sure, honey." Her mom said, not looking up from her laptop, the keys clacking noisily as she typed something. Even when she's "on a break", she was still constantly working, her eyes almost never leaving her laptop.

At least she always believes Lila without a doubt and grants her wishes (to a certain extent). If Lila said school was closed, she'd believe it and let her stay at home. If Lila wanted to leave to another country, she would arrange it. She was a good mother. Or so she believed. Perhaps the reason she never doubted Lila's lies, was that she didn't care enough to look more into it and discover the truth. She, however, seems to think that her daughter has all her needs fulfilled and never seemed to consider the fact that children need attention and company.

"Thanks, mom!" Lila said in a forced sweet tone.

She listened to Mr Kubdel read Alix's letter, going on about her amazing travels and looked through the pictures enviously.

Oh what she'd give to be in Alix's place. Travelling the world and time seemed so much more fun and appealing then her mundane life. Alix was so lucky. Yes, Alix probably missed her family and friends, but no one would care if Lila was gone. Why would they? Her mom would just accept the news, and continue her robotic life of working and working and working.

Lila craved for an escape from this insufferable place.

Meanwhile, her brother was going on about how Alix was deceived by Ladybug and whatnot. Honestly, why did he think going on such adventures was a bad thing? If she had to be honest, she felt he may be deceived by whoever was up spreading theories on social media. Yeah, they were right that the public didn't know Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Monarch's true identity, and therefore, may not have the true idea of their intentions. However, seeing as Jalil didn't trust Ladybug and Cat Noir, why should he trust Monarch and the social media people? That is not a fair way to judge a situation.

And besides, he didn't make any sense about how Alix isn't helping. Why else would Ladybug make her hide, unless she wanted to let her live a life of fantasy and adventures? Alix was obviously hiding so Monarch couldn't use the dog miraculous to gain the rabbit miraculous. She rolled her eyes internally. He needs to grow more brain cells.

He probably was just really hurt by Alix leaving, and wanted to lash out and blame someone for it. Or maybe he was jealous he couldn't get to traverse through time.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alya and Marinette leaving hurriedly, Adrien and Nino's curious gazes following them.

She had heard a flurry of voices before that, something must have happened. She sighed, she was too lost in her thoughts to notice what happened. Marinette seemed to have mentioned something about history assignments though.

"Hey, can I tag along, I'd enjoy the extra practice!" Lila said with a bright smile.

"I um..." Marinette bit her lip. "Sorry but we only prepared enough tests for two people!" They both blurted out somewhat apologetically and bolted away.

Lila's smile became strained. It hurt to be left out, even if it should have been expected. She wondered what they were doing, and decided to follow them anyway.

She walked casually, pretending to be going to the toilet in no rush whatsoever.

When she was out of her classmate's sight, Lila quickly scurried off in the direction Alya and Marinette left in, and soon found them in a part of a gallery with an imposing statue of Joan the Arc and paintings of several other people. Alya, thankfully, was checking the other way and didn't notice her.

She hid behind a nearby exhibition table whilst watching Marinette press her necklace to the bottom of the statue, a red thing with black spots hovering around her. If she remembered correctly from the book of miraculouses, that was a kwami. So Alya knew about Marinette's secret identity. Huh. Marinette must really trust her. It didn't seem to have noticed Lila's presence, and was casually out in the open. Alya was keeping a lookout.

Marinette seemed to be watching in awe of something, except Lila couldn't see anything but air. Marinette suddenly started jumping up, as though trying to reach something desperately, and landed flat on her face. She frowned and looked over at Alya, who had looked back at Marinette's antics, relieved to see that she wasn't the only one that was confused.

Marinette then proceeded to talk and interact with something, except there was nothing...Alya finally voiced out her utter confusion. "What's the matter with you girl? Hearing voices or something?"

"There! There! In the armour! Can't you see her?" Marinette said in surprise, gesturing wildy at something. Lila squinted her eyes at where Marinette was gesturing at, but found nothing.

"Huh? No?!"Alya responded in utter confusion. Lila agreed.

The kwami, however, also seemed to be conversing with whatever Marinette was talking with. She also revealed that Marinette was meeting one of the ladybug miraculous holders in the past. Huh. Interesting.

Marinette was doing one of her weird, exaggerated movements again, while her kwami said something about running away from Adrien, and finding someone even more inaccessible. Lila sighed inwardly as Alya smiled in amusement. That sounded like something Marinette would do. Not Ladybug. But Marinette. She still hasn't gotten used to seeing them as the same person. After all, Ladybug was quite practical, and clear-headed, whilst Marinette was a bundled mess of emotions. Although Ladybug also was quite susceptible to emotions, as their first encounter indicated.

Marinette denied the accusations and Alya teased, "You're running like you have an army of supervillains on your tail!"

Lila couldn't say she disagreed, not with how Marinette kept trying to distance herself from Adrien.

She was disappointed in how Marinette called on a past holder just for romantic advice. Seriously, isn't there better advice to get? Such as how to defeat Monarch? Still, she probably should have expected that from a love-struck Marinette. Her lack of priorities was still disappointing, regardless.

It seemed the ladybug holder shared her point of view, as Marinette seemed to be begging her.

Suddenly, a blinding golden light enveloped her and the room, making a barrier around it. Lila's eyes widened. If she got stuck with them here...