Marinette and Kagami parted, and the former found herself then talking to Nathaniel and Marc about the boys' latest comic. But that conversation was short-lived as they caught sight of the dessert tray, and Mariette was left alone just in time for Adrien to swoop in. Lifting her up by her hips, he spins them both around, making her squeal. He lowers her down, and the two kiss between laughters.

"The prince reunites with his princess at the ball," Adrien whispers in her ear.

"Better hope I don't run away at midnight," Marinette responds, tapping Adrien's nose playfully.

"Mm, I'll make sure you don't want to leave."

"Someone's feeling bold tonight! You sure that's sparkling cider?"

Adrien laughed at their back-and-forth, love radiating in his eyes though he knew Marinette wouldn't be able to see in the lighting that consisted of fairy lights strewn on the ceiling to mimic a starry night. There were dim strips of light by the tables, stairs, windows, and doors as well, creating a magical atmosphere.

However, Marinette didn't even have the time to take in the dark-colored balloons and streamers when an explosion shook the house. Some kids fell over, while some ran to the windows. Outside, fireworks shot off, bringing the sky to exploding life.

"Is it an akuma?" Luka asked, instinctively putting an arm out in front of Juleka.

Alya already had her phone out, a livestream of Nadja pulled up. The reporter was shouting something over the sounds of several helicopters and fireworks going off.

"It appears our concert to the countdown is being cut short by what appears to be an akuma in the form of a large clock being!" Nadja exclaimes into the camera, clutching her microphone.

Something hits the helicopter, jostling the reporter and cameraman.

"Land the helicopter! We're not safe in the sky!" Nadja commands to an out-of-view pilot.

The livestream continues, but Alya turns her phone off when Nathalie and Gorilla burst into the room. The bodyguard immediately goes for the lights, turning the streamer bulbs off quickly.

"Everyone get as far away from the windows as you can follow me," Nathalie commands.

"What's going on?"

"We are going to the office of Mr. Agreste upon his request. It's the safest room in the house."

The teens follow Nathalie and Gorilla follows after turning off the last of the lights. As they descend the stairs in a rush and enter the office, he and Nathalie turn off the rest of the lights in the house before shutting themselves in the office. If Adrien had been in the room, he would have asked where Gabriel was, but neither were in the office, nor was Marinette.

Crawling out of their hiding spot under the clothed piano, Adrien helps Marinette to her feet.

"Plagg, claws out!"

"Tikki, spots on!"

Green and pink lights dim to produce Ladybug and Chat Noir.

"This better not interrupt our kiss at midnight, m'lady!" Chat teased as the two leapt out of the window towards the adjacent rooftop.

Ladybug just rolls her eyes as the two run towards the area where dozens if not over a hundred fireworks were being shot off. When they arrived at the clearing where the city's Christmas Tree was still up and towering over the surrounding buildings, they saw the described akuma, shooting off firecrackers in all directions.

"Why would someone be akumatized on New Year's Eve?" Ladybug asks, observing from behind a chimney.

"Beats me, Bugaboo. Maybe anger issues? This akuma does seem to have an explosive personality!"

Ladybug giggled at the pun before falling back into superhero-mode.

"What do you think is the akumatized object? The clock? Or could it be the bag of fireworks?"

"I am Countdown, and my New Year's Resolution is to take Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculouses!" the akuma roared before lighting more firecrackers.

"I bet it's the lighter since that's what's being used by the akuma."

"Good thinking, m'lady!"

"Let's wrap this up quickly! I'm not supposed to be on the clock tonight!" Ladybug teased before leaping off the roof and charging at Countdown.

Chat Noir paused for a moment, sighing happily.

"I'm in love with that girl," he mused before leaping off after Ladybug.

They charged the akuma, Chat swinging his baton and knocking the lighter away. Ladybug and Countdown both scramble for it, throwing themselves in a pile in the snow. Countdown is victorious, grabbing the lighter and kicking Ladybug away before leaping up.

"You better give me your miraculous, Ladybug! In my bag, I have enough fireworks to blow all of Paris away!" the akuma threatened.

Chat sneaks up behind and tackles Countdown, who surprisingly is able to easily throw him off. Ladybug lunges, kicking the akuma in the face, sending him spiraling back.

"Lucky charm!"

Into Ladybug's hands falls a garden hose, and Countdown sneers.

"What? Are you going to grow some flowers to defeat me?"

Ladybug looks around while Chat charges again, trying to grab at the lighter. Spotting what she needs, Ladybug runs over to a nearby building that had an outside faucet. Attaching the hose, Ladybug turns the water on.

"Chat Noir!"

"Right! Cataclysm!"

Ladybug runs straight at Countdown, stopping just a yard away. She points the hose up, spraying the akuma with water.

"It's so cold! You little-!" Countdown roars, reaching into the bag to grab another firecracker.

However, it doesn't light. Neither does the next one, nor another one.

"Why won't you light!"

"Good luck trying to light wet fireworks!"

"And it's going to be even harder without your lighter," Chat finished, lunging and successfully grabbing the lighter, disintegrating it with his cataclysm.

The akuma flutters out of the ash, and Ladybug swings her yo-yo.

"No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!"

She captures the akuma with a "Gotcha!" before purifying it.

"Bye-bye, little butterfly!"

Chat detaches the hose, handing the other end to Ladybug, whom tosses it into the air.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

Countdown de-transforms to reveal a confused-looking citizen. Ladybug and Chat Noir pump fists before each clutching their miraculouses when it beeps.

"Looks like it's time to go, LB."

"Yep! Bug out and Happy New Year!" Ladybug exclaims, throwing her yo-yo and soaring off into the night.

Chat goes in the opposite direction, though he rounds back to reach the Agreste mansion just a moment after Ladybug. The two drop their transformations, sighing in exasperation before running out to meet their friends, whom were coming out of Adrien's office.

"Adrien? Marinette? Where were you?"

"Oh, we, uh," Adrien stumbles before noticing that Gabriel wasn't around, "had gone to look for Father! But Ladybug and Chat Noir took care of things very quickly!"

The teens all crowded around the TV, where the news broadcast of the countdown was being streamed. Many were jittery from the hype of the holiday while others simply had gorged themselves on sweets. Adrien and Marinette held hands, watching the screen in anticipation. When the ball began dropping, everyone got excited.

"Ten! Nine!"

Even Gabriel was in his son's room, not exactly smiling but not exactly scowling at Adrien's glee in being around his friends.

"Eight! Seven!"

Plagg and Tikki watched from their hiding spots on their wearers' persons. They shared a glance and a smile.

"Six! Five!"

Adrien turned to Marinette, hope and love in his eyes.

"Four! Three!"

The two simultaneously think back on the past year in only a fraction of a second, not regretting a second spent together.

"Three! Two!"

They lean closer, goofy smiles on their faces.

"One!" everyone exclaimed.

Adrien cupped Marinette's cheek in his hand, pulling her in for a soft kiss as fireworks went off outside the windows and on the screen.

"Happy New Year, Princess."

"Happy New Year, my Prince."