He is totally planning something.

Chloe watched as Rose and Juleka wrapped up the wound on Povas with extra green fabric from their costumes. He gave them a pained thumbs up, but she knew better than anyone there that he was working on something he had yet to share with the class. The way he was averting her gaze, his constant glancing at HawkMoth, and how he was still gripping his shield: definite signs of a plan forming in his brain.

His stupid, stupid, stupidly handsome brain…no, no, she shook her head and turned back to Alya and the others, pull yourself together, Bourgeois! Boy troubles are the least of your worries! The fate of the world is at stake!

"The guys is a tad distracted right now," Lila said as she rubbed a bump on the back of her head, "so we should have at the very least a few minutes before he catches on." She held her wrist out so the others could see her bracelet. "Get out here, Wayzz."

She, Chloe, Adrien, Alya and Ladybug formed a tight circle crouched beside Povas, with each of their Kwami in the center, save for Arguss and Tikki. Plagg, Huneyy, Wayzz and Trixx looked up at the reality rift and gulped. "Too bad we have no camembert," Plagg moaned, "or we could transform again."

Sabrina slipped her backpack off and handed it to Chloe. "No need to fear," she winked, "when Sabrina is here."

Chloe opened the bag to reveal snacks – the favourite snacks of the four Kwami. "Unbelievable," she awed as the Kwami dug in, "but when-"

"While we were preparing the costumes. I thought you might need a pick-me-up."

Chloe gave her a big hug. "You are so much better than a best friend."

Sabrina grinned. "I know."

As the Kwami gobbled up their food, Alya pointed to the rift: HawkMoth continued to watch the coffin below it, as if waiting for Mrs. Agreste to simply sit up on her own. Adrien kept his eyes off the scene as much as possible as she explained her idea.

"That rift is giving off major power, right? I bet we can use it to our advantage. If we can get the scepter into the rift, it should either absorb or implode."

Povas gingerly prodded the fabric over his wound. "Explain the difference."

"Both work in our favour: if the scepter absorbs the rift then it should reverse the effect, and if it implodes then it takes the storm with it."

"What happens when we get caught up in the explosion?"

"Ladybug should be able to deflect the explosion and fix the rift with her lucky charm. I know," she could see the worry creasing on her brow, "a lot of pressure on you, but I know you can do it. We just need to make sure the timing is right."

"Uh, guys?" Nathanael was pointing at HawkMoth and the akumas. "I think HawkMoth may be a bit more distracted than we originally thought."

HawkMoth was standing beside the coffin now as the storm slowed to a crawling spiral. He was tracing his gloved hand along the glass while the confetti akumas circled over his head. Adrien and Alix looked away. It was too…awkward to look at for too long.

Trixx swallowed the last of her snack before nudging Alya by her ear. "Grabbing the scepter and getting it into the rift will not be easy. Reality is falling apart around us, and those akumas are still under his control."

Lila gestured to the class, each and every one of them smiling back at the Kwami. "Good thing we have such a trustworthy team."

Trixx nuzzled Alya with her cheek. "You sure you want to do this?"

"Do we have any other choice?"

Chloe glanced at Povas, who was once again looking the other way. Trixx noticed but decided not to call him out. "I doubt it."

"Then we have to do it before we lose everything."

Povas raised his hand, though it looked painful. "And how do we go about with this plan?"

"Us, not you."

The class turned to Chloe as she crossed her arms, Huneyy repeating her action. "You were just wounded in battle. You stay back and keep watch for any stragglers who try to get inside the museum while we work."

"Chloe-"

"You want to question the daughter of the mayor?"

"You expect me to sit here and not help?"

"I expect you to listen to me!"

"I have to-"

"You have to live!"

Everyone, even HawkMoth, were staring at her now. Povas gave Chloe a moment to catch her breath. "Chloe, I can still fight."

"You have fought," she almost had tears in her eyes, "and it nearly…you almost…look," wiping her eyes on her sleeve she gave him a stern frown, "if you keep fighting, you might not…be able to fight anymore."

HawkMoth sighed rom behind the coffin. "You still continue to fight me? Do you not see what I have accomplished?" He gestured to the many crack and seams in the courtyard walls and floor, each letting out some sort of scene or force: water, greenery, wind, light, darkness, etc. "You can do nothing. Reality is too far gone here."

The three akumas loomed over the Cour Marly. Adrien and Ladybug stood along with the rest of the class. He took her hand for only a moment. "We can do this."

"I said that last time, and look what it got us: an injured peacock hero."

"That is not your fault."

"It is. As the leader…"

Adrien pulled her in and gave her his best kiss, bringing out a couple "oohs" and "awws" from their classmates. Then he leaned back and held his white ring up. "A leader is only as good as their team – and I like to think we have a pretty good team."

Ladybug looked over the class, and the Kwami, and Povas. Then she pecked Adrien on the cheek and smiled.

"The best team any heroine could ask for – not how about we stop this once and for all?"

Whoop-whoop, the class is spurring into action now, and this is the time to finally end the battle - only, there may be more at stake than they realize. These next few chapters will be a ton of fun to write, getting to include all of the classmates. Mind you, remembering to keeping everyone in the class will be a challenge, so wish me some serious luck!

Until the next chapter!