The sun was low in the sky, casting a golden light upon the three heroes. The sun would dip under the trees.

Volpina looked to the clone, who from the bushes she hid behind nodded, then stopped recording. It would probably not be wise to have this information on film.

She tugged at the white tips of her hair. "I don't know much about your mom, but I know she left because she thought she was putting you in danger."

"Left? Do you know where she went?" Chat asked.

"No, but your father probably will." She paused, knowing her next words would land strangely. "Your dad is also the holder of the peacock Miraculous."

"Wait, What?" Chat Noir's face journeyed from puzzlement to amusement to bewilderment. "You're saying my father. Gabriel Agreste, is a superhero? Sources?"

Volpina squinted. "He's not exactly a superhero, he won't use his power. But I'm not the right person to tell you this- your dad should tell you his self. He's- He's in Shanghai too." She didn't wait for the cat's response, turning to Ladybug. "Xiang is also Dove."

Ladybug put her hands on her hips. "Surrrreeee. Xiang, who's so old she takes a full minute to stand up from a chair."

Volpina put her hands up in a comedic defense. "Don't shoot the messenger."

The Alya replica walked up to them. "I got bored. You guys done yet? Nino's probably worrying his head off."

Ladybug looked between Alya and Volpina quizzically. "Now how does this work?

Volpina and the clone spoke in unison. "She's me." The replica then nodded to Volpina, accepting silence. Volpina spoke alone. "A solid illusion I made- makes it a bit easier to be in two places at once."

She brought her flute to her mouth, playing a sweet, low tune. The Clone turned to ash and dissipated, leaving only the phone laying on the ground. All the knowledge gathered by the Illusion flashed into Volpina memories. She could now recall sending the teacher and students to the shelter Nino watched the children at.

Volpina stepped forward and picked the phone up. "She- I- was right. We should hurry up and detransform. I'd rather not wait till people start to wander back into the park."

They detransformed quickly and Alya lead them toward the shelter Nino kept the kids at.

They entered to see Nino and the teacher entertaining the students, distracting them from the past danger.

"Alya!" Nino stood, and hugged her tightly, picking her up off her feet slightly. She buried her face in his shoulder.

They released the hug. The Chinese teacher tapped the back of Alya's shoulder to get her attention. The teacher took her hand and shook it gratefully. The woman talked very fast, and although Alya spoke no Chinese, the teacher obviously was thanking her.

Many of the children, including the two who were held captive by Hawkmoth, hugged Alya's waist. They cheered thank you's as well.

She was stunned, not doing what else to do but smile. They think I'm a hero, but not because I'm Volpina. They think I'm a hero as Alya, for going back out for them.

The teacher began to usher the students out the door. A couple children lingered, but still inched slowly out the door.

"Our own teacher will probably be freaking out too" Nino said. "We're gonna get in so much shit for staying out so late."

The four friends left the park as the sun set. They passed bright stores as they walked down the busy Shanghai street.

Alya pulled at Nino's arm. "There's a new superhero!" She said, trying to seem as exited about the news as possible.

Nino raised an eyebrow. "Another one? Didn't we just get the Dove?"

She nodded. "Yeah, but this one will be coming back to Paris with Ladybug and Chat Noir!"

"Her name is Volpina- but she's a different Volpina than last time." Adrien added.

Marinette elbowed Alya playfully. "She was pretty cool in action. Alya seemed to like her more than she did Ladybug."

Nino chuckled. "That's hard to believe; Ladybug was your idol. Are you going to change the name of the Ladyblog?"

Alya smirked and shrugged. "Nah, rebranding is a lot of work, and people would probably complain about the change."

By the time they walked though the busy Shanghai streets back to the hotel, it was past 10p.m. The hotel lobby was busy enough that the four of them easily snuck past Mrs. Bustier inside.

Nino rubbed his eyes under his glasses. "Man, I'm exhausted."

Adrien looked to the ground, holding back a smile. "I think I'm going to stay up a bit longer."

Although no one said it, each of the four knew "I'm going to stay up with Marinette" was what Adrien really meant.

Nino smirked, and shrugged. "Don't wake me up when you get in." He walked down the hallway to his room.

Alya, more than anything else wanted to go to bed and leave the new couple to each other, but there was important business to discuss.

"You two better come with me." She said. "There's a lot you need to learn."

They followed Alya to the back room, ready to get as much information as possible. Alya opened the door and lead Marinette and Adrien inside.

Like before, the small library held Xiang, Master Fu, and Gabriel, who all sat at the round table, but now, Natalie and Collin were there as well. Collin sat awkwardly beside his mother at the table, but Natalie stood politely behind her boss, face of stone.

Adrien marched to the table and looked his father dead in the eye. "We need to talk."

Alya had never seen him speak so forcefully to Gabriel before. She was kind of proud of her friend. She didn't know if his confidence as Chat Noir was an act or not, but over the day she had seen small marks of the hero's personality showing in Adrien's character.

Natalie stepped forward formally. "This isn't the best time, Adrien."

Mr. Agreste's voice was tired and a bit gruff. He spoke to his assistant. "No, it's time he knows what is going on."

"Where's mom?" Adrien's confidence had cracked slightly, showing his sadness.

Gabriel cast his eyes downward. "She is in Tibet."

Adrien voice lifted. "Tibet? Can I see her? At least talk to her?"

"No, not till this is over." Gabriel's face again took its usual dismissive tone.

Master Fu spoke softly "Your father is right. She is safer away from all this."

Alya raised an eyebrow. "But, there are so many of us now. Hawkmoth can't fight us all. She wouldn't really be in danger."

Fu frowned. "Hawkmoth is growing more confident; coming out into the public. You have not seen all he can do."

"Can you tell us what we are up against?" Marinette asked him.

Fu's voice was somber and dark. "Nothing is more dangerous as a villain who believes he is playing a hero."

Alya rolled her eyes at his cryptic words. You'd think he'd be more upfront with the people who are fighting for him. She thought.

Marinette turned to Xiang. "So, you're the Dove?"

"Not anymore." Xiang nodded towards Collin, who looked embarrassed. He now wore the Dove charm around his neck. "I am old; I can no longer fight the Yaogai. It was time to pass on the mantle."

Alya bit her lip. "I'm sorry, I've got nothing against you Collin, but is that a good idea?" She turned to Master Fu. "He was just Akumatized."

Gabriel almost smiled. "You have been Akumatized too."

Alya leaned her back against the wall. Gabriel was one of the good guys, and her friends' father- But that didn't mean she had to like him.

Marinette turned and spoke to her cousin. "But didn't you want to go and study Chinese history?"

Collin smiled with bright eyes. "I think I'd rather make Chinese history than study it."

"That is not the only change of holders." Fu said.

Gabriel laced his fingers together on the table. "Until further notice, I have decided to give Natalie the peacock miraculous. She will become "Le Paon", and act in my place during only emergencies."

The Master spoke a warning. "The peacock is difficult to master; Dusuu's emotions can be hard to control and direct. It will take much training."

Natalie bowed her head to Fu. "I will do my best."

Fu sighed, suddenly seeming old. "I too, must find a new holder for the turtle miraculous. I am no longer in a place where I can transform."

Alya nodded. "The Bee one needs to be given out too."

"Yeah, but what about all the lesser Miraculous?" Collin asked. "We only have the Major and Minor Miraculous."

Master Fu nodded. "My job, as the Keeper, is to protect the Ladybug, Black Cat, Fox, Bee, Turtle, Peacock, and Butterfly objects until a proper Holder can be found. In all honesty, I do not know if the other, lesser Kwami are needed to seal the Darkness away again. There is a good chance we will come across some of the other holders, but they may be friends or foes."

Alya raised her hand slightly. "I have another question; both Adrien and Marinette's family lines have other holders of the miraculous. When we look for other people to become heroes, do they have to have family ties as well?"

"No, they do not." Gabriel said. "Family ties are not necessary. My grandmother was a noble holder, but my brother turned out to abuse his power, and I so not have the strength to use my own. The lines have also grown thin and few; Heroics is not a safe line of work. Master Fu and I have decided to widen the options."

"Like with you, Alya." Fu gestured towards her. "You are the first holder outside of family ties for over three hundred years."

Natalie cleared her throat, reminding them of her presence. She stepped forward once more. "It is late, I believe that it is time that Adrien gets to bed. You girls should head to your room as well."

She ushered the three out the door, closing it curtly behind her.

The four of them walked awkwardly back towards the students' rooms.

Marinette broke the silence, speaking to Natalie. "If you begin to work with us, will it be for Mr. Agreste, or for the city?"

The woman considered this for a second before answering. "It may not seem like it, but Gabriel is my friend as well as my boss. I believe that he knows what is right, still in this situation, I will not be working for him, but the good of the word." She adjusted her glasses. "I will also be doing everything in my power to keep Adrien safe."

Adrien blushed slightly and looked down at his feet.

Alya smirked. With his strict father, and missing mother, Alya had thought that Adrien had been practically parentless- but this was not the case. Natalie was the closest thing to a parental figure that Adrien had. Alya didn't know how good of a hero Natalie would be, but she trusted that the woman would try her very best.

They reached Marinette and Alya's hotel room. For a moment, it looked like Adrien would try and hug Marinette, but decided against it. Parental figure or no, Natalie would still tell everything she saw to Gabriel. It would probably be better if he didn't know.

"Good night." He said, forcing his hands into his back pockets.

Marinette tucked her hair behind her ear. "Night."

The girls walked in the room and Alya shut the door, instantly breaking out into laughter.

"What?" Marinette asked, beginning to giggle as well.

"Nothing." Alya said, catching her breath. "It's just that this is all so weird and great- I'm a hero, you and Adrien are together, Nino and I aren't fighting anymore, and I got great shots of Hawkmoth- today was amazing! I'm exhausted though."

"Me too." Marinette landed in a heap on her bed. "Let's just go straight to sleep."

Alya sighed. "Can't. I've got a lot of work to do."

The girls turned off the lights and slid into their beds. Alya took out her phone to begun to update Ladyblog. She knew she had her work cut out for her. She had to edit two fights worth of content, and it was already late.

By the time Alya had finished editing together the footage, it was past 3 a.m., and her eyelids were fatigued. She had turned her brightness all the way down, to not wake Marinette, but it still felt to bright in her eyes.

Alya couldn't remember the last time she had felt this exhausted. She turned off her phone and pressed into her pillow, willing herself to sleep. Tomorrow was the last day in Shanghai, and she wanted to drain every bit of fun out of the trip that she could.

This crazy trip was almost over.