Trouble Within the Justice League? Alternatively, Where Heroes Stand on the Arrest of Miraculous Team members
By Lois Lane and Alya Césaire of the Daily Planet
The arrest of Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Félix Graham de Vanily have shook the world. The spokeswoman of the Justice League, Catherine Cobert, has announced the leave of Wonder Woman and Aquaman from the Justice League, claiming that their actions are no longer protected by the Justice League/United Nations treaty. Out of the current roster of heroes, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are the only royalty, from the nations Themyscira and Atlantis respectively. It can be assumed with the leave of two founding members, their nations will be supporting the Order of the Miraculous, rather than opposing.
However, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are not the only heroes who've publicly opposed Batman's arrest and the Justice League of America. Crimson Fox, the chair of the Justice League of Europe, has denounced their relations with their American counterparts until "the JLA get's their shit together." Crimson Fox went on to say that the Miraculous Team "is tight as a pack of wolves. A traitor wouldn't be among their ranks."
And yet another hero team, the United Heroez, have unsurprisingly sided with their long time allies. Eagle, a Miraculous Holder from the Native American Miracle Box (the Parisians had Miraculouses from the Chinese Miracle Box), and her fighting partner Uncanny Valley have given their support to the Miraculous Team. Eagle and Uncanny Valley have known Ladybug and Chat Noir since almost the very beginning of the days of Hawk Moth, and they find it unlikely that they would let traitors walk free.
After the departure of two members, the future of the Justice League seems dark and uncertain. Another founding member, the Flash, told Central City New's Iris West-Allen that the decisions Batman made didn't seem worth the wrath the Justice League is facing. Another member, Black Canary, seems annoyed that Batman acted without the Justice League. She stated, "I respect Batman, I do. But if he isn't willing to work with us, especially on a matter as big as this, can it really be called justice, or is it just a vendetta in the name of justice?" She added, "The Justice League doesn't want to make an enemy out of a powerful, old and respected group of heroes. Batman acted out of line and I fear the Justice League shall pay for it."
Chat Noir, on behalf of himself and his partner Ladybug, was enraged when asked about his thoughts on Dupain-Cheng's and Graham de Vanily's arrest. "I am angry, I will not deny it. Firstly, Marinette and Félix are citizens of Paris, a city which falls under the Miraculous Team's hero jurisdiction, as granted to us by the JLE. Which means they have, or should have, immunity from other heroes arresting them. Second, the entire Miraculous Team is offended that Batman thinks that we were unable to uncover traitors in our midsts. They were members who left the team honorably, which means they have our protection. Do not think that we will stand idly by. Thirdly, Batman could have expressed his concerns to us, and we would've done something about his allegations. We may be a defunct team, and not easy to contact, but more than half of the team's identities have been revealed to the world, and the Justice League can easily contact the United Heroez if they want to talk to us."
The United Nations is expected to meet today, where the UN is giving temporary seats to Eagle and Uncanny Valley of the United Heroez, Chat Noir (or Tigre, as he's wearing a different Miraculous), Scarabella (or Rena Furtive) and Panthère (or Carapace) from the Order of the Miraculous, Princess Diana of Themyscira (joining the Themysciran delegation), King Arthur and Queen Mera of Atlantis (joining the Atlantean delegation) and Batman and Black Canary from the Justice League, Stay tuned for more information regarding the impending trial of Dupain-Cheng and Graham de Vanily.
MANON CHAMACK WAS GLARING at him, Damian noted. Clearly, the arrest of Marinette and Graham de Vanily put some animosity between the Parisian and the Gothamite. Damian had made the plans to go to the Reporter's Conference of Metropolis, a highly prestigious gathering of everyone who was anyone in the media, alongside Jon, to keep the half-Kryptonian company as his parents mingled. Manon followed in her mother's footsteps, becoming a part-time freelance reporter with the Ladyblog during the days of Hawk Moth, as well as a part-time actress.
Unfortunately for the two, Jon had dragged Damian over to meet Manon. Jon and Manon had grown up in the same environment, which had lead to them becoming steadfast friends.
"Hi, Manon!" Jon said, hugging the woman tightly. "It feels like forever since I last saw you!"
"It was a while," Manon admitted. "The only reason my mother and I got out of Paris is because she was able to pull strings. Who is this?" Manon asked, though she clearly knew him. Jon didn't seem to notice as he excitedly introduced them.
"Damian, this is Manon Chamack, daughter of Nadja Chamack. Manon, this is Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne," Jon said.
"A pleasure," Manon said, her smile more like a grimace.
"Likewise," Damian replied flatly.
Jon seemed to notice the tension between the two. "You guys aren't still mad at each other for the Twitter war, are you?" Jon asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"No, just mad that Gotham's vigilantes think it's okay to arrest Parisian heroes," Manon bit out.
Jon glanced at Damian nervously, as if to gauge his reaction, but Damian was stone-faced as he met Manon's glare. "Batman has every right to take action if accomplices to your supervillain are running free," Damian said, defending his father's alter-ego with passion.
"And this is why what happens in Paris stays in Paris!" Manon said. "I understand that an outsider might see one thing, but a Parisian knows better. Marinette and Félix are anything but traitors. There's no way the Miraculous Team wouldn't have sensed it it Marinette, because her balcony was a safe haven for heroes."
"You speak as if you know everyone's identity on Team Miraculous," Damian said flatly, crossing his arms in a challenging manner.
"Well, more than half of them are public knowledge," Manon said in a matter-of-fact tone. "My best friends are the younger sisters of Alya Césaire, and Alya, like many others, know the identities of everyone."
"When my father interviewed Césaire on behalf of the JLA, she claimed to know nothing," Damian ground out.
"If you knew some of the most instrumental secrets of, let's say the Justice League, would you give insider information to an outsider?" Manon asked, grinning when Damian looked to the ground, avoiding her eyes. "Even the ordinary citizen knows a lot about the Miraculous Team, more than one like yourself knows. It was the years of protection from the Miraculous Team that earned them the loyalty of the Parisian body. Both Marinette and Félix are willing to be convicted of crimes they didn't commit because their loyalty to Ladybug and Chat Noir is so strong. I implore you to consider this, Damian."
Manon gave Jon a cheek-kiss, nodded to Damian, and then dissapeared into the crowd.
"I respect your father, Dames, I really do, but what if Manon is telling the truth? I've known her since my childhood, I can tell when she's lying," Jon said, turning to the Wayne heir.
"Or what if her loyalty is spewing these lies for them?" Damian spat, glaring at where Manon had merged with the crowd. However, Jon could see the sliver of doubt in Damian's eyes."
"Why are you so insistant that your father is right for arresting Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Félix Graham de Vanily?" Jon asked, a bout of anger overcoming him. While Damian was loyal to his father, sometimes Jon felt that Damian's loyalty was blindly given as some way to prove himself to his family. "I think Manon brought up fair points. The Miraculous Team, like the JLA, is a well oiled machine, acting as one together. It seems very unlikely that they would accept not one, but two traitors into their ranks. Your father knows a lot, but sometimes even he can make a mistake. He is, after all, only human. The very concept of humanity is brought upon the idea that no human is perfect, that we are capable of making mistakes."
"THIS IS IRIS WEST of Central City News, reporting live from the General Assembly Hall in New York. Today citizens from around the world are gathered around the outside of the Assembly Hall, to watch the sure to be long deliberations of the UN regarding the matter of the arrest of two Parisian citizens and temporary heroes of the Miraculous Team, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Félix Graham de Vanily," Iris West-Allen spoke to the camera. "Depending on what happens in the Assembly, it could be the fate maker or fate breaker for the two alleged accomplices to emotional terrorist Hawk Moth, also known as Shadow Moth and a whole bunch of other names that would be too long to list."
"Today, it really comes down to a battle of belief, whether the UN believes the Order of the Miraculous, thus giving Dupain-Cheng and Graham de Vanily fair trial, or if they believe the Justice League, which would leave the two to live the rest of their days in Belle Reve Penitentiary. They also have to consider the amount of backlash they would receive from the Miraculous Team and from the citizens of France, both formidable opponents in their own rights. The Justice League is not equipped to fight against one of the most, if not the most, powerful superhero teams, especially with the resignations of two of their primary heavy-hitters, Wonder Woman and Aquaman."
"Both teams have credibility, prestige, allies and respect, so it will most likely be a close call. Ambassadors Troia and Garth have stated that their delegations will be voting in favor of the Order of the Miraculous bringing two votes from previously JLA favored States. The Order seems also have the vote of their own delegation, the United Heroez, and France in their pockets already, all of them influential states to gather more votes from other countries. The JLA will most likely have Vlativa, Markovia, Rhelasia (all three of those not very realistic but stick with me), the US, and their vote."
"Many other countries in the UN have stayed tight lipped on their stance, but it is suspected that European countries will side with their fellow members of the EU, while the Americas might feel more inclined to side with the JLA. We'll be right back, as the last of the delegations arrive and file in, in time for Secretary General Artemis' introduction speech."
User Twenty-Six @UserTwentySix
anyone watching central city news? cause can we acknowledge the fact that they acknowledge that wonder woman (and aquaman) is a heavy-hitter for the jl. everyone's always like batman v superman and i'm always like ww would beat their asses
User Twenty-Seven @UserTwentySeven
replying to @UserTwentySix
yesss, iris allen is a literal queen who slayyyyys her facts
Nathaniel Kurtzberg @KurtzbergArt ✓
replying to @UserTwentySix
we stan a reporter who can get their facts right
Marc Anciel @marcwritesstuff ✓
replying to @KurtzbergArt
wonder woman is literally one of the best superheroes of my lifetime
Stephanie Brown @StephBrown
replying to @marcwritesstuff
Alya Césaire @Ladyblogger ✓
replying to @KurtzbergArt
flashbacks to the reign of lila *shudders*
Chris Lahiffe @CLahiffe
replying to @Ladyblogger
no, don't remind me of her. she told me she created freestyle clash, ugh. bad memories are brought up
August Beaufort @AugustBeau
replying to @CLahiffe
you believed that shit, chris?
Ella and Etta Césaire @EllaandEtta
replying to @AugustBeau
he was like 6 or smth, cut him some slack
The Ladyblog @TheLadyblog ✓
Manon Chamack is reporting live from within the UN as the UN is called to start by Secretary General Artemis. Stay tuned with the Ladyblog for live updates on the gathering.
A MIRACULOUS HOLDER WHO looked angry and deadly was not a good combination to see, and what was even worse was that there were three of them in the room. The delegates of the UN were looking at Tigre (normally Chat Noir), Scarabella (Rena Furtive), and Panthère (Carapace), who were taking their designated places, looking dangerous.
"The UN is called here today to discuss the arrest of two arrests made by Batman of the Justice League, on civilians under the Miraculous Team's jurisdiction, on the claim that they were allegedly working with Hawk Moth. If the UN should decide to vote in favor of the Justice League, Dupain-Cheng and Graham de Vanily will receive no trial, if the UN should vote in favor of the Miraculous, then they will be released, and called to trial on a later date," General Secretary Artemis said. "The chair recognizes the Justice League delegation to speak."
"Thank you, General Secretary Artemis," Batman said diplomatically. "There is video evidence that the Justice League was able to get a hold of, from Hawk Moth's lair, which reveals them working with Hawk Moth."
Energy crackled in Tigre's hand, destroying the pen he was previously holding. "Ever heard of spies?" Scarabella said in a tone that Chloé Bourgeois would be proud of.
"Let Batman talk, Scarabella," Artemis said, giving Scarabella a warning glance. Scarabella swept her hands out, saying by all means, go ahead and leaned back into her seat.
"From what I've heard, the Miraculous Team wouldn't let traitors walk free," Batman said. "So I question the ability of the Miraculous Team to arrest people who were working with a terrorist."
"Again, this didn't have to be some legal process," Tigre said, standing up with fury in his eyes. "Nathalie Sancoer is in jail, Lila Rossi is in a mental hospital, and Gabriel Agreste is dead. Any live accomplices of Hawk Moth are already taken care of. The Justice League could have talked to us privately, but now this is being watched world wide. We wouldn't ask any other supers to reveal there secrets. The Order of the Miraculous asks you to not have us reveal ours, to trust that we know who is our enemy is."
"Why weren't they added in the report Ladybug and Chat Noir drew up?" Batman challenged. "If they truly are good, why was there nothing said on either of them."
"What Ladybug and Chat Noir put in the report was on the ideal of a 'need to know' basis. You didn't need to know more," Panthère said.
"Also, I have been able to confirm on multiple sources that Marinette was indeed Multimouse, but from what I learned, it was actually Adrien Agreste who took the mantle of Aspik, Félix Graham de Vanily was Paon," Batman said.
"They are very similar in looks, it's possible your sources were confused," Scarabella said.
"I met Lady Noire in Gotham. If Félix Graham de Vanily was also Aspik, then who was Adrien Agreste? Lady Noire said he was a Holder," Batman asked. Batman was entirely on the offensive, allowing nothing but answers from the Miraculous Team, though they were not giving him much to work with.
"I have met the Miraculous Team," Uncanny Valley spoke. "I have found them all trustworthy enough to erase their identities from my knowledge. The Miraculous Team would not let someone that worked with their enemy of twenty-one years walk free without a fight."
"It was the Miraculous Team that allowed me to keep my Miraculous," Eagle said.
"Atlantis and Themyscira were sunken and hidden by the Kwami, between their magic and their Holder's magic, they would be able to sense the magical energy of a traitor," Queen Mera said, the Atlantean one of the most powerful sorcerers in the sea.
"The Miraculous Team is honorable," Ambassador Troia from the Amazonian delegation said.
"They put my daughter in an insane asylum, because she aided Hawk Moth. There's no way they wouldn't put people behind bars who deserved it," Ambassador Rossi of the Italian delegation spoke.
"I believe we have enough information to vote, General Secretary," Garth of the Atlantean delegation spoke.
Artemis nodded, and called for the vote.
meanwhile at belle reve...
THE FLICKERING LIGHTS AT Belle Reve were a normal occurrence, Félix Graham de Vanily noted as he paced. Marinette was lying one of the cots, causing a squeaking noise every so often. "This is quite annoying," Félix said. They had been jailed in a part away from the rest of the cellmates.
"Live with it, Félix," Marinette said, turning over in her cot. "Besides, it will be over soon, don't worry."
"Ugh, I should have Cataclysmed him when I had the chance," Félix said. "None of this would be happening otherwise."
"Félix," Marinette said warningly.
"Yes, I know Mari darling," Félix said exasperatedly. "Let Fate go it's course, yada yada yada."
The lights flickered again, and then plunged into darkness.
"I will make a new Miraculous themed line if that is not one of the Bats," Marinette said boredly.
"If it's Red Hood or Robin, your still making it," Félix bargained, grinning.
"No deal, it's definitely one of them, if Manon sowed doubt in Damian. Or it's my favorite Wayne who knows my identity," Marinette said.
"Mari darling, Alya would have been so happy with me if I had gotten you to do the Miraculous Team line," Félix whined as the lights turned on again, revealing Red Hood leaning against another empty cell.
"Who said I haven't designed a line yet?" Marinette asked, smirking, leaving Félix's mouth gaping in surprise. "Hello Red Hood. Fancy seeing you here."
"Marinette," Red Hood said, inclining his head towards her.
"Mari, you mean you've had a line and you've had the whole Team begging you for one? How cruel are you, woman?" Félix asked.
"Very. Félix, this is Bruce's second eldest, Jason, or Red Hood, and Red Hood, this is my psuedo-brother Félix," Marinette introduced. "Lovely, now why are you here, Red Hood?"
"You clearly do not have a fashion designer in your brood," Félix said, scoffing, earning an elbow in the rib from Marinette. "Mari darling, ouch!"
"I was spending the last few days figuring how to break in to Belle Reve," Red Hood said. "I finally got Oracle on board, it was a lot easier."
"Any news? I heard the United Nations is meeting today, or was it tomorrow?" Félix stated.
"The vote has yet to be revealed to the public," Red Hood said, shrugging. "Why don't you guys reveal your true identities?"
"Because that requires a lot more than what your father saw on that video," Marinette sighed. "More secrets. Really, the Miraculous Team protects too many secrets, but it is a necessary evil."
"Like what?" Red Hood asked.
"What happened to the original Vesperia, for example. Zoé Lee is Chloé Bourgeois's half sister. If Bruce examined the video more closely than I suspect he did, since once you hit the jackpot you don't care to examine the edges, then he would see the video feed more staticky than normal. Half thanks to editing, and other half thanks to Viperion," Marinette said.
"But the Snake Miraculous was already in use," Red Hood said slowly.
"Exactly. Our version. Bunnyx was able to bring in a Viperion from a different universe, and he agreed to help us. Zoé Lee had originally been our third to do recon in Hawk Moth's lair, but Viperion alternating the timestream in a universe that wasn't his messed up a lot of things. Zoé was supposed to suspend Hawk Moth, illusioned away by Rena Furtive, but the timestream locked Zoé into another universe, duplicating her Kwami, and allowing her no way back to our universe. It caused a little more than a ruckus, but we managed to change our story and plan, and decided to pretend to start helping Hawk Moth, until we could strike," Marinette explained. "The video, you can see Rena's illusion falter for a few frames, but she managed to throw up the invisibility quickly. We cannot reveal the full scale of what happened, or else the Justice League will try to find Zoé, and discover and reveal the reality of the multiverse and timestream. It's not something we can allow, for the sake of all Earths."
"So how are you getting out of this?" Red Hood asked. "Because if you don't speak up, you'll probably stay here for the rest of your lives, with no Miraculouses to help you."
The lights flickered, with a red illumination. "I swear that wasn't me," Red Hood said. "Or Oracle."
"This'll be fun," a voice cackled, revealing Klarion crackling with dark red magical energy. To Red Hood's surprise, Zatanna and Constantine appeared moments later.
"Sorry, Hood, going to have to teleport you elsewhere," Zatanna said, snapping her fingers.
Constantine was hovering near the cameras, an intricate design appearing as the cameras feed's were being altered to reveal nothing.
"Finally, took Bunnyx long enough," Félix said, grinning.
"Sorry for making you wait, your royal grumpiness," Bunnyx said, head peaking out of a blue portal. Marinette, Zatanna, Félix and Constantine stepped through. Klarion grinned, sending bolts of magic around, fires starting and overall destruction in the wing of Belle Reve where Félix and Marinette were held.
"Come on, Klarion, we don't have long. I timed this perfectly, I cannot afford you ruining this," Bunnyx said.
"Coming, Bunnyx," Klarion grinned, leaving Belle Reve in flames and no trace that Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Félix Graham de Vanily were ever there.