A Miraculous Story Book 4: Rivals Part 2: Princess Justice

• Paris' Heroine •

Just a few minutes earlier...

Rose, Juleka, Ivan, Max, Kim, and Adrien found themselves alone on deck of the Liberty. Lila and Marinette had run off to who knows where, and Luka had chased after the former. Kagami seemed to just have disappeared.

"Guys, just go home, band practice is over for tonight..." Juleka sighed, starting to guide the group toward the riverbank. "I'll go find Luka, too."
There was an awkward tension in the air after Adrien had yelled at Marinette. Everyone obviously was thinking what he said to her, but nobody was brave enough to say it. Adrien stepped up, though, and he went all out. He was probably even a bit too harsh. Nobody wanted to look at him.

"Okay, Juleka." Rose said. "I hope next time turns out better, and you figure out the thing with your brother, okay?" She gave Juleka a quick kiss on the lips before prancing off with the others, trying to cheer them up after the big disappointment of the night.

Juleka sighed as she watched everyone leave, then turned around to the one person left with her on the ship.
"Adrien, you going? Or..."
He was just standing there, almost lifeless. In fact, Juleka would've thought he was lifeless if she didn't notice his chest rising and falling.
He gave no reply.
"I uh, I gotta go look for my brother." Juleka continued. "Can you watch the boat while I'm gone?"

"Yes, that would be fine," Adrien said.

Juleka turned toward the boat's exit. "Okeyy..." she muttered as she left, officially weirded out.

Princess Panda sighed in relief from her hidden place behind the boat. She was so afraid that someone would do something to Adrien because of his lack of liveliness, but thankfully nothing happened.
Now, unfortunately, she didn't know what to do with him.

Suddenly she heard a thud beside her on the boat and turned to see what it was.
"Albibis," she exclaimed. "You're here, great!"

Albibis nodded, immediately getting to work, plucking a snowflake from her feathers. She touched it with her fingertip, turning it black. "That Luka was so annoying," she said as she worked, "sorry I'm a little late."

"You're fine, you were just in time! But what do I do with Adrien?" Princess Panda peeked around the corner at the blonde, still just idly standing there.

"I dunno. Just keep him foliumized for now, he might be helpful later."

Right then, a beeping sound came from Princess Panda's staff. She took a look at it to find out that Hawk Moth was calling her, and so she dutifully answered.
"Yes?" she sang.

"Princess Panda and Albibis, this goes to both of you," Hawk Moth said.

Panda held it up to Albibis' ear so she could hear and leaned in close to listen too.

"You both did your jobs perfectly!" congratulated Hawk Moth. "Lila, you were incredibly convincing in framing Marinette, and Sabrina, you did a great job at using Adrien to crush her."
Both of the girls were grinning ear to ear, happily accepting the praise.
He continued. "It's time for the next step. I've sent my akuma out, and Albibis, as soon as you see it, send your nix in."

"Got it," Albibis nodded, balancing her nix on her fingertip.

"Also, Princess Panda," Hawk Moth said, "please defoliumize Adrien. We don't need him anymore."

Albibis frowned. "But sir, he could still be useful to us later."

Hawk Moth shook his head. He didn't want Adrien a part of the plan when it wasn't necessary. "Just defoliumize him. Don't question me!" he snapped.

"Okay, okay," muttered Princess Panda, "I got it." With a flick of her wrist, the folium left Adrien's ring.

"Thank you. Now, the akuma should be there any second now. Be ready." Hawk Moth hung up.