Marinette blinked against the sudden flash of light. Before her eyes could adjust, everything went dark again. Quiet murmurs echoed around her before an omnipresent voice silenced them.
"Welcome. I shall not spend much time on introductions now. All shall be revealed in its proper time, and only in its proper time."
Marinette gasped silently as she recognized Master Fu's voice reverberating around the room. His words unnerved her, but trusting the Guardian's wisdom, she finished listening to him.
"As some of you may have wondered, there are many universes, and they interact in strange and mysterious ways. What you are about to see is from a different universe, but it is truth and reality of our own. This is a tale of you. This is an adventure of magic. This is the truth behind the heroes of Paris."
Marinette felt her heart leap into her throat. Who all was here? Would they see her secret? What did Master Fu have planned? A comforting touch told Marinette that Tikki was with her and gave Marinette the peace of mind to stay still.
"As I said before, all shall be revealed in its proper time. However, now is not the time for revelations. Now is the time to let all of you adjust to this format of your reality. As such, I have edited an episode to eliminate any reveals. This will be choppy, but please remain calm. There will be time for discussions later. Please keep commentary to a minimum for this episode. Thank you."
A faint click signaled the termination of whatever intercom Master Fu was using. Marinette tried to relax as a giant screen in front of her lit up. In the flickering light she looked around. Spread out across what appeared to be a giant movie theater were her class and their parents – well, except for Mr. Agreste. Everyone else had the same reaction to being able to see the room. Alya's eyes met Marinette's and the fiery haired girl immediately moved to sit by her best friend. Nino followed suit and sat by his girlfriend, waving to his pal, Adrien, to join them.
"What do you think's going on?" Alya whispered as a countdown began on the screen.
"Who knows," Marinette hissed under her breath, "but it looks like we're about to find out."
The hushed murmurs that had spread across the room as people changed seats now quieted as the strange episode began to play. Everyone – even Chloe – sat in silence, waiting for the unknown to happen. Then the picture on the screen began to move. Marinette shivered. The inevitable had begun.
Scene: Adrien's room. Nathalie shows CCTV images of Adrien stealing the Miraculous book from Gabriel's safe.
Gabriel: Why did you take the book?
Adrien: I... I just wanted to know what you were hiding behind that portrait that was so important. You.. you never told me about those things. I was intending to give it back to you, I swear! But then... I lost it.
Gabriel: How can I possibly trust you again, Adrien?
Adrien: Sorry... I'll get you another copy.
Gabriel: It's one of a kind! The book's the source of my inspiration.
Adrien: I didn't know that. I hardly know anything about you, Father.
Gabriel: You won't be returning to school. You'll be home-schooled again...with Nathalie.
(Adrien is disappointed. Nathalie looks at Adrien and Gabriel leaves the room.)
The episode seemed to skip like a DVD with a scratch before changing scenes.
Scene: Locker room, with several fencing students present
Marinette: I don't see him. Something's up. Adrien never misses his fencing lessons.
Scene: Hallway. Marinette tries to search for Adrien.
Chloé: Oh no! (Marinette runs over to the sound of Chloé's voice)
Scene: Miss Bustier's classroom. Marinette arrives at the classroom, only to see her classmates crowded around Chloé, who's holding her phone and crying while Sabrina attempts to comfort her.
Chloé: This is a terrible tragedy! (crying)
Marinette: What's up with her?
Chloé: Adrien's never coming back to school. Ever! Oh.. (continues crying.)
Kim: His dad grounded him.
Max: For life.
Marinette: What? Why?
Nino: Something about losing this major important book that belongs to his dad.
Marinette: His dad? Hah! Phew.
Chloé: (irately) "Phew?"
Marinette: (initially sheepish) Phew. Cause I... I was scared it was super serious. I mean, yeah, sure, it really is serious but it's not like he's sick or anything, you know. Surely we can fix this, right? We won't just stand by and let this happen! Ha! (Marinette then runs off and leaves the classroom.)
The screen flickered as the episode skipped again.
Scene: Rooftops. Ladybug flings her yo-yo and flies above the school roof until she reaches a certain spot, where she attempts to call Chat Noir.
Chat Noir: (voicemail) Has the cat got your tongue? Leave a message!
Ladybug: Chat Noir, I think I know who Hawk Moth is! Get your whiskers over here fast!
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Gabriel is looking at the Klimt-style painting of his wife with Nathalie talking to him.
Nathalie: What will you do without the book?
(Gabriel opens a blank notebook then closes it before handing it to Nathalie.)
Gabriel: You know where this goes.
(Gabriel storms around while Nathalie walks toward the painting. Gabriel grabs a poster of his son off the wall and throws it on the floor, followed by a second poster. He walks over to a small shelf in a cupboard, briefly looking at a drawing Adrien made when he was younger before throwing that as well. He proceeds to smash other objects.)
Scene: Hawk Moth's lair. His lair window opens.
Hawk Moth: I feel...the wrath of a father betrayed by his son. What perfect prey for my akuma! (A butterfly flies into his open palm and he then transforms it into an akuma.)
This time, instead of skipping, the screen went dark for a second before coming back with a new picture.
Scene: Agreste Mansion. Nathalie is guarding the atelier door only to be knocked down by the Collector when he kicks open the door.
Collector: Nathalie! You'll be the first of my many inspirations to come.
Nathalie: Mr. Agreste?
Collector: You will call me...the Collector. (swings his book at Nathalie and traps her inside his notebook; then does the same to Adrien's bodyguard a moment later, before going up to Adrien's room and knocking on the door) Adrien...I have a great collection I want to show you.
(The Collector kicks open the door to Adrien's room and enters. When he sees that the piano music he heard had been coming from a CD player perched on the piano, he angrily swipes up the CD player, and growls.)
Scene: The Louvre. Pedestrians are taking photos until the Collector suddenly approaches and traps famous monuments and objects.
August's mother: Cheese!
(As the Louvre pyramid gets trapped inside the Collector's notebook, people start screaming and run away with fear. Inside the Louvre, the Collector traps the portrait of the Mona Lisa, and, outside again, Jagged Stone along with Fang.)
Scene: TVi studio, Nadja Chamack is about to make a news report, until the Collector approaches her.
Nadja: Don't be bemused, it's just the news. I'm Nadja Chama—
Collector: (swipes Nadja into his notebook) Since the book that used to fill my life is gone, I'm going to use your life to fill up this new one!
Scene: Hôtel de Ville. Mayor Bourgeois is about to deliver a speech.
Mayor Bourgeois: People of Paris—
(Lieutenant Roger and the other pedestrians gasp after the mayor gets trapped inside the villain's notebook.)
Scene: Rooftops, near the Eiffel Tower.
The Collector: (throws his notebook across the Eiffel Tower, trapping it inside his notebook book with the notebook returning to him like a boomerang) Nothing can inspire me more than imprisoning Ladybug and Chat Noir in these pages forever.
Scene: Collège Françoise Dupont rooftop. Ladybug is starting to get impatient waiting for Cat Noir.
Ladybug: (grunts and slides open her yo-yo to contact Chat Noir) Chat Noir, what did you do? (suddenly sees Chat Noir arriving) Chat Noir, did you get my messages?
Chat Noir: Yeah, and I can't wait to know more, M'Lady-tective. So, who's the suspect?
Ladybug: Gabriel Agreste.
Another DVD scratch-like skip.
Ladybug: You know, the fashion designer?
Chat Noir: You got proof?
Ladybug: (stammers, as it is mostly secret) I can't tell you.
Chat Noir: So, I'm supposed to just...accept that?
Ladybug: You must trust me on this. But it all makes sense. Gabriel Agreste is a secretive man and he never leaves his house. And get this. (shows Chat Noir images of Gabriel's fashion design logos on her yo-yo screen) Check out his brand's logo.
Cat Noir: (stunned) A butterfly?
The scratches on the disc were really getting annoying.
Ladybug: You okay, Chat Noir?
Chat Noir: (with grim determination) It's time to get the bottom of this.
(Chat Noir and Ladybug leave the school to go and investigate.)
Collector: (behind a statue) My plan is working perfectly!
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Ladybug and Chat Noir find many broken pieces of furniture as they come to investigate.
Ladybug: (shocked) Whoa, what happened here? Looks like somebody had a little tantrum.
(Chat Noir sees his painting of him and his family that was thrown on the floor by his father. Chat Noir sighs with heartache.)
Ladybug: Are you sure you're okay?
Chat Noir: Yeah. Yeah, let's keep going.
Ladybug: (gasps) He's got a son! Let's go check his room; make sure nothing's happened to him.
(Ladybug and Chat Noir run towards the front hall until they see the Collector at the top of the main stairs.)
Chat Noir: Where's Gabriel Agreste?
Collector: There is no more Gabriel Agreste. There is only...the Collector!
(He throws his notebook towards Ladybug, trying to trap her inside of it; but she manages to dodge the hit, which leads the notebook to trap the Mansion entrance door instead. The notebook heads back the way it came, towards Ladybug and Chat Noir. Ladybug knocks Chat Noir to the floor before the notebook manages to touch them.)
Collector: You won't be able to escape!
(The Collector's notebook continues chasing Ladybug and Chat Noir around the room as they both vault away from it using their yo-yo and staff. They then come to the large dining room.)
Ladybug: (to Chat Noir) Wait!
(Chat Noir throws his staff towards the Collector, only to have it trapped inside his notebook, which causes the superheroes to gasp.)
Collector: Nice piece, wouldn't you agree?
(Chat Noir throws a chair at the Collector, which gets trapped inside his notebook as well. Ladybug and Chat Noir continue running away back into the main hall. The Collector erases the trapped chair inside his notebook.)
Ladybug: The akuma's gotta be in that book!
Chat Noir: Yeah, but if we touch it, we'll disappear!
Ladybug: Lucky Charm! (A set of pedals appears) A pedal? (Ladybug tries her Lucky Vision to figure out what to do with the pedal, but sees nothing.) I have no idea what to do with this. We need to stall him.
Collector: (uses his notebook to make the staircase disappear) Ladybug and Chat Noir, you shall be the masterpieces in my new book of inspiration.
(The fight continues with Ladybug and Chat Noir trying to avoid getting touched with the Collector's notebook. The Collector grunts when he vigorously tries to touch Chat Noir with his book but fails. Ladybug then attaches her yo-yo onto his arm, making his notebook released from his hand, which gives him the opportunity to touch Ladybug but that doesn't work either. Chat Noir kicks the notebook away from his hand, but the Collector kicks Chat Noir and tries to reach for his notebook. Ladybug uses her yo-yo and attaches it to the Collector's leg, pinning him on to the floor. However, the Collector manages to grab his notebook and traps Ladybug's yo-yo inside. Ladybug shrieks as the loss of the yo-yo string throws her off-balance.)
Collector: My collection's growing!
Ladybug: No!
(Ladybug, Chat Noir and the Collector are grunting as they are fighting. As the Collector continues chasing Ladybug and Chat Noir, they jump up to the second floor.)
Chat Noir: So that must mean...Gabriel Agreste can't possibly be Hawk Moth, since he's been akumatized!
Ladybug: You call Agreste turning into the Collector good news?!
(The superheroes are still running away from the Collector.)
Scene: Adrien's room. Ladybug and Chat Noir arrive there after the Collector chases them up there.
(The superheroes barricade the door entrance using the furniture in Adrien's room to prevent the Collector from entering.)
Ladybug: Gabriel Agreste's son isn't at home?
Chat Noir: Maybe the Collector's already captured him.
Ladybug: (gasps in shock) You think he'd take it out on his own son?
Chat Noir: Uh...
Collector: You cannot escape from me. (laughs after making the objects blocking his way disappear)
Ladybug: What if he has no pages left in his book? (uses her Lucky Vision again, seeing certain objects, and figures out a plan)
(After the Collector manages to free himself from the barricaded entrance, he chases Ladybug and Chat Noir around the room. Ladybug hides behind the TV out of the Collector's sight.)
Collector: But before I immortalize you, allow me to seize your Miraculous for Hawk Moth.
Ladybug: Chat Noir, I need ammunition!
(The Collector traps the TV and chases Ladybug.)
Chat Noir: You need what?
Ladybug: We're gonna complete his collection!
Chat Noir: Very smart M'Lady, quite ingenious.
Ladybug: Less talking, more doing!
(Ladybug detaches Chat Noir's tail from his suit and leaps next to the Foosball table while Chat Noir continues fighting the Collector by his library, until the Collector is thrown onto the rock-climbing wall.)
Chat Noir: Cataclysm!
(Chat Noir uses the cataclysm on the bookshelf, with CDs dropping down. Ladybug then attaches the pedal along with Chat Noir's tail to the Foosball table to create a makeshift device)
Ladybug: Ready, Chat Noir?
Chat Noir: I'm always ready for you, M'Lady!
(Ladybug uses the makeshift device to fire numerous CDs dropped down by Chat Noir towards the Collector as he approaches Ladybug, capturing the CDs, thus neutralizing the pages inside his notebook.)
Ladybug: Come on! Come on!
Chat Noir: No more ammo!
(As the Collector closes in on Ladybug, he traps the Foosball table itself inside his notebook, and then touches Ladybug; but the pages of his notebook are filled up.)
Collector: Huh? It's already full! (The Collector is about to remove one of the CDs from his notebook, but Ladybug kicks the notebook out of his hand, with Chat Noir catching it and then throwing it to Ladybug) My book! No!
Ladybug: (rips the book into two pieces and the akuma flies out) Miraculous Ladybug! (throws the Lucky Charm into the air and turns everything back to normal, including returning Chat Noir's baton and Ladybug's yo-yo to them) No more evildoing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! (catches the akuma with her yo-yo) Gotcha! (releases the akuma, turning it back into a normal butterfly) Bye bye, little butterfly. (The Collector turns back to Gabriel.)
Ladybug: Pound...Uh. (Ladybug sees Chat Noir heading towards Gabriel.)
Chat Noir: Are you okay?
Marinette grumbled at the scratches. There was nothing that happened here that was revealing of anything, was there?
Gabriel: Chat Noir, Ladybug, what happened to me?
Chat Noir: You were akumatized by Hawk Moth. But don't worry, it's over now!
Gabriel: Thank you, thank you, both of you! (gasps upon realizing that his son is nowhere to be seen) Adrien...where is my son?
Chat Noir: He...must be hiding?
Ladybug: Chat Noir is right, otherwise your son would have reappeared right here.
Gabriel: Nothing must happen to him. He's too precious to me. (puts his hands on the shoulders of Chat Noir, who gazes at him, smiling)
Ladybug: (notices the spots on her earring are about to wear off and warns Chat Noir) We're about to transform back. Goodbye, Mr. Agreste.
Chat Noir: Don't worry yourself, sir. I'm sure your son is safe and sound.
(Ladybug and Chat Noir vault off, assured that everything is fine with Gabriel.
The disc skipped again, causing Marinette to audibly murmur in discontent, and she wasn't the only one.
Scene: Agreste Mansion. Marinette talks to Gabriel about the incident of her stealing the spellbook.
Marinette: So, when Adrien put the book down and walked away, I wanted to take a peek. You see, I thought it was a portfolio with lots of pictures of him 'cause he's so cute. Uh, but you already knew that.(giggles) Anyway, um, when he came back, I was scared he'd see me staring at his book so I hid it in my backpack and I know it was a dumb thing to do. I'm really, really sorry.
Marinette turned bright red, wishing the disc had skipped that part. Adrien was in the room, after all.
Gabriel: I see. So, you're one of his admirers?
Marinette: Admirers? Yeah. That's the word. (gives the Miraculous book back to Gabriel, who passes it to Nathalie) You won't say anything to him, will you? (Gabriel shakes his head for "no") Are you going to let Adrien come back to school?
Gabriel: Well, considering he didn't actually lose my book as it was borrowed by you, yes I will.
Marinette: (chuckles) Thank you. (Nathalie guides Marinette out the door) Hmm, can I ask you a question? (Gabriel nods) I flipped through the book and it looked really awesome. Those illustrations of legendary heroes are super...inspiring. Where did you get it?
Gabriel: I found it while I was on a trip overseas with my wife. I've never seen another copy of it.
Marinette: Well then, you're very lucky to own it. (waves and leaves)
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Gabriel returns the Spellbook to its shelf and talks to Adrien about the incident.
Gabriel: I'm sorry I became so furious over a book.
Adrien: I shouldn't have taken it without your permission.
Gabriel: That book...was the very last gift your mother gave to me before...before she disappeared. All I have left of her is this book...and you. But I know I can't keep the book or you locked up in this house forever.
Adrien: Does that mean you'll let me go back to school, then?
Gabriel: Hm. (nods his head)
Adrien: Thank you, Father. (hugs his father in gratitude)
Scene: Collège Françoise Dupont. The students see that Adrien has returned and run up to him.
(Nino first shares a hug with Adrien, until Chloé pushes him aside and leaps into Adrien's arms and takes a selfie. A crowd of students, notably those whom Adrien is familiar with, also surround him. Marinette then sighs in relief with Alya by her side.)
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Gabriel is looking at the pages of the Miraculous book on his monitor, revealing that he owns a digital version of the Spellbook.
Marinette huffed, hoping this was the last of the skips.
Scene: Hawk Moth's lair
Hawk Moth: Ladybug, Chat Noir. As of today, nothing will prevent me from getting your Miraculous, and making my greatest wish come true! All I need to do now is wait for my next prey. (cackles deeply)
As Hawk Moth finished up his speech that was filled with scratches and skips, the screen faded to black, the last image being Hawk Moth's lair. Marinette sat back after finding herself on the edge of her seat. She had been trying to figure out a clue from Hawk Moth's lair, but she had nothing. She remembered this akuma, but something was still bothering her. A little prick in the back of the mind kept her unsettled. She had to find Master Fu and talk to him before everything was revealed.
The lights came up and people started moving around. Master Fu's voice came on over the PA system.
"Refreshments are in the lobby. The next episode will start in an hour."
Everyone began to file out of the theater until Alya, Nino, Adrien, and Marinette were the last ones left.
"You guys go ahead," Alya said. "I'm working out some theories."
"Hey babe, you know that the voice said everything would be revealed, right?"
"Yes, shush Nino. I know what the voice said. I just want to work the kinks out in all my theories so I have something to judge how good of a reporter I am."
"You're a great reporter, Alya. While I'm sure your theories would be thrilling, I have to find the restroom. Catch up with you guys later." Marinette waved and exited the room.
The lobby of the theater was decorated in the same style as Master Fu's place. A large table stretched across the center of the room stacked with food. The adults stood off to one side discussing what had happened. Most of the class stood off to another side of the room doing the same thing. Aside from her friends that Marinette had left in the theater room, only Chloe and Sabrina weren't in the group across the room from the adults. The spoiled brat was standing beside the food scoffing at the events that had occurred. Shaking her head, Marinette scanned the rest of the room. Restrooms were on one side, and a door that looked like Master Fu's in his place was on the other. Avoiding everyone, Marinette slipped through that door.
"Greetings, Marinette." Master Fu nodded at the girl's entrance. "Would you like to join me for tea?"
Marinette walked over to join him at his little table. "What on earth is going on?"
"Hawk Moth has come too close in recent attacks. I have decided that a team of superheroes is the best course of action."
"And telling them everything is required?"
"No, but I thought it would be for the best." Master Fu shrugged. "Trust me on this, Marinette."
Wayzz nodded his agreement from his perch on the gramophone. "Master Fu is right on this, Marinette. We have discussed the options, and this is what is best for everyone."
"Parents too?" Marinette shot a dubious glance at the closed door behind her.
"With such a large team of heroes being assembled, it is important to have encouragement. And who better to encourage than the parents?"
"I could think of some other people." A new voice joined their conversation.
Marinette whirled around to see Adrien standing just inside the door. Her jaw dropped to the floor. How much had he heard? Master Fu, on the other hand, didn't seem surprised at all.
"Greetings, Adrien. Would you like to join us for tea?"