MIRACULOUS ALLIANCE
EPISODE 11: SILENCER, PART V
"Before we go back in, there is something that we will need to address; what was up with that Sentimonster?" Marinette said to her team, shortly after they had left the scene and found a spot to safely de-transform and talk. "What happened to Mayura?"
"You think she betrayed us? She has a connection to Hawkmoth somehow, and may have told us she's our ally, but maybe she allowed herself to be swayed back to his side?" Alya wondered.
"No...she wouldn't do that! She was honest in her convictions...something bad must have happened to her." Adrien argued.
"Bro, I know you want to see the best in here, but you are defensive about her." Nino pointed out.
"That's because...remember when I said there is something familiar about her? I feel somehow that I know her and that I can trust her, but I can't put my finger on it." Adrien replied.
"You subconsciously may recognize her to a degree, but not enough to completely bypass the glamours." Plagg explained. "Probably someone close to you in your civilian life but unable to put your finger on it."
"Well, to Adrien's credit, he has a point. Mayura herself didn't show up to join this Sentimonster. If she has created an Amok to use for herself, she'd have to stay close to steer it. So if she wasn't around..." Chloé noted.
"But Hawkmoth can control his Akumas from a long distance, so why couldn't Mayura? I don't want to break Adrien's heart on this but she may not have shown up simply because she is ashamed of looking us in the eye." Alya pointed out.
"It is not the one whom creates the Amok whom controls the Sentimonster, even if he or she can disperse it. It is the one holding the Amok. So it can mean two things..." Wayzz explained.
"Either she gave Hawkmoth the Amok..." Tikki said.
"...or he took it from her. Either she is a traitor or she was captured by Hawkmoth." Pollen finished.
"Neither are good options. I hope it is the latter. We know the Peacock is damaged and Hawkmoth isn't going to be so stupid to use it if it means risking hurting himself." Marinette stated.
"Now, that's the tricky part. It means we may fight her in the future as a traitor, as a puppet or see one of Hawkmoth's toadies wield the stolen Miraculous." Trixx added.
"I hope we don't. I hope that we can find out the truth and save her." Adrien said, curling his hands into fists. "Whether from herself or Hawkmoth."
"It's a good thing we have been bringing Lila and Sabrina in, because things got way more complicated now." Marinette said as she rubbed her temple. "We'll need to get back to this, but right now we probably have a bunch of worried friends whom wonder where we've run off to and when we'll come out now the Akuma is dealt with."
"True, I know someone is eager to get back to her boyfriend." Alya said with a smirk as she eyed Chloé.
Chloé sighed. For once, she didn't chastise Alya for teasing her like that. Instead she answers: I hope that, by the end of this, that statement is true."
The heroes walked back inside the tv building. They found the rest of Kitty Sections and their friends talking to Luka. Especially Juleka was relieved to see her brother all right as she had wrapped her arms around him. "Hey it's ok, little sis. I'm good now." he assured her. "The heroes of Paris did it yet again."
"I was still worried, though." Juleka said.
"You were at least able to be there for me. I was only learning of your bout after the fact, and that was frustrating. That it happened to you and I wasn't there to help you get sorted out." Luka said, recalling the Reflekta incident.
"Believe me, it's best, I didn't want you to see me like that." Juleka assured him. Rose then tapped Juleka's shoulder and pointed at the Miraculous Team's civilian selves.
"Hey guys." Ivan greeted softly. "Everything is ok again. You took a while though."
"We know, we saw the Miraculous Ladybug sweep over Paris. Sorry it took a while but our hidings spots were a fair distance away." Marinette said, acting meekly and rubbing the back of her head.
"We ran into the heroes and managed to warn them about Silencer though, good to know they fixed everything." Adrien said.
"We saw that broadcast with Bob Roth. He now has blabbed to the entire city and there is no way he can cover this up. Between that and my recording, his reputation is down the drain." Alya said as she waved her phone around.
"I saw the police carry him out of the sewer so he has already gone down the drain before." Nino joked.
"Oh, that explains that awful smell." Kiva noted as he scrunched his nose at the taped up Bob Roth.
"They should have left him there, for a piece of shit like him that's like his natural habitat." Scott pointed out.
"Maybe they'll throw him back in after his trial." Reece said hopefully.
Chloé was a bit numb to the small talk of the others and just nervously approached Luka. They locked eyes, trying to see in each other's souls. She let out a smile and hugged Luka tightly. "I'm glad you are ok." she said softly.
"Thanks to Paris' heroes." He then leaned closer and whispered to her. "Especially thanks to you, angelbee." Her eyes widened a bit as she looked up to him. He put a finger to his lips in a hushing motion, but since it was Luka instead of Silencer doing it, it felt more reassuring. Damn, between Sabrina and Luka she wondered if she sucked at this, before remembering Sabrina is a detective and Luka...Luka sees in her heart. That's at least what she thinks Luka does when he 'reads' people.
But this was not a time and place to talk about that. "Luka...a few days ago, you told me something, but you didn't get to finish..." Chloé said as she gave a dirty look to Alya, whom looked sheepish. She turned back to Luka. "You used those same words when you were Silencer. I know you care a lot for me. I care a lot for you as well. But do the words mean what I think they mean?"
"What do you think they mean?" Luka asked.
"Luka, I like you. Like really like you. I may be a singer but I am not good with musical metaphors. Though I can say you make my heart sing. You make me feel at ease, relaxed. You never ask me for anything, you are just there for me, you listen. You...you make my heart sing...Luka Couffaine, would you be my boyfriend?"
Luka put his hand on her cheek. "You wouldn't have to ask me twice, Angel." he said. When Luka leaned down Chloé stood on the tips of her toes to close the distance. Their lips met as the new couple officiated the relationship with a soft and tender kiss. All of their friends cheering and clapping in joy.
Juleka just smiled softly as her still voiceless girlfriend jumped up and down, her mouth opening like she was squealing in joy despite the lack of sound before pulling her in a bone-crushing hug. Ivan gave a friendly pat to Luka's back while some money changed hands between Kiva, Scott and Reece.
Marinette had a soft smile on her face as she nodded at Chloé. Nino gave the thumbs up as Alya then shook him around like a ragdoll in joy while screaming something among the likes of "Another one of my ships has come true!", Causing Marinette to try and calm Alya down before he turns Nino's brains in a milkshake with all that shaking around.
"Oh please, get those two a room!" Bob Roth muttered. He then found something tossed at his head, knocking him on his back, chair and all."
"These are horrible to listen to but they have other uses." Juleka said as she held a cd box of XY in her hand, having tossed one of those at Roth just a few secs earlier.
Adrien approached Luka. "Luka, there was a time I wanted to punch you in your perfect teeth for being chummy with Marinette. When you and Chloé were getting chummy that feeling returned, but mostly like any brother figure I would be weary of anyone dating the one I consider a sister..." Adrien said, as Chloé gave her the 'oh no, not the overprotective brother spiel, please!' "But I won't do that. I'll do worse if you ever break Chloé's heart."
"The day I break her heart is the day I give up music. And then I'd find you to knock some sense into me, because I'd have lost it." Luka said, still smiling, like he was not being threatened just now.
"Ok, now I got the 'obligatory overprotective brother talk' out of the way, I know you're a good guy Luka. Look after her, ok?" Adrien said.
"I promise that I will." Luka said, an arm around Chloé, as the two looked adoringly at each other.
"So, what happens now?" Marinette wondered. After all the crap with Silencer and Roth, they didn't know how they were going to pick up the pieces. But that thought had to be put on the backburner as more visitors came in.
"Chloé, sweetheart!" A worried André Bourgeois, his voice restored as he headed towards his daughter and hugged her.
"Luka!" Anarka Couffaine said as she also stormed in, close behind, tackling her son into a hug as well. "Blimey, Luka! I had hoped that the Akuma curse had ended with me...now, where is that bastard whom caused said akumatization? I promise I can drop him somewhere in the Seine where they'll never find him."
"Mom, please. He has admitted his crimes on live tv, he is already done for. He is already going to hurt in his pride and his wallet." Luka said.
"Would be no reason to let her get a few jabs in. I would join her." André said. "No one hurts my little girl."
"Hey, André...there is this huge misunderstanding, that's all. I swear that..." Bob Roth stammered. "Just looking out for one's own riches, you could understand?"
"Quiet! I can't understand I would ever consider you a friend. I may not have a good track record but the most valuable thing in my life is my daughter and I'll make sure you'll pay for hurting her." André said.
"Daddy, please calm down. He is harmless now. Let's think happy thoughts." Chloé said. They didn't need a second akumatization today.
"Er...Mom? Mr. Bourgeois? There is something you need to know. Me and Chloé are together..." Luka said as he took Chloé's hands.
Anarka just chuckled. "You were together for a long time, you just needed to make it official! Come here, welcome to the family, Chloé!" Anarka said as she pulled her son and his girlfriend into a hug.
"My girl has a boyfriend, she grows up so fast." André said as he wiped some tears with a handkerchief. "Though as a father I need to make the obligatory threat to the boyfriend..."
"Sorry, Adrien already beat you to it." Luka said.
"Oh nuts." André sighed. "But did Adrien use 'they'll never find the body if you hurt her' threat?"
"I didn't, so you are free to use that one." Adrien said.
"Adrikins! Don't encourage him!" Chloé said with a pout.
"We're just kidding Chloé-dear. I know Luka's a good lad." André said as he gave a friendly pat on the teal-haired boy's shoulder. "But I think that everything needs to put back on track for a bit."
"We were just wondering how we were supposed to do that..." Marinette pointed out.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I just managed to get one of my hotel guests a message and he should be here..." André said, but he couldn't finish, courtesy of a new arrival.
"Marinette!" the joyful voice of Jagged Stone sounded, followed by Penny Rolling and his pet crocodile Fang.
"Uncle Jagged!" Marinette said joyfully, as she received a hug from her 'honorary uncle'. "Penny!" she said as she then hugged the one she may consider an aunt and even may call Aunt Penny one day if she and Jagged would tie the knot. She then got tackled to the ground by an excited fang whom licked her face like a dog. "Happy to see you too, big lug."
If it wasn't for the fact that the crocodile was acting like a dog, the others would have panicked otherwise. Some others like the members of Kitty Section were a bit too star-eyed upon seeing the rock legend to be frightened. "...any moment now." André said, finishing his sentence from earlier.
"Uncle Jagged, what are you doing here? I thought you were still touring the rest of Europe?" Marinette asked.
"Oh, we had to delay one of our concerts and decided to go back to France for a short while. I wanted to see my favorite honorary niece. I was excited to learn you and your friends are setting up your own musical group. That was rock 'n roll! But then I heard Roth brag on how they stole your thunder. That is so un-rock 'n roll!" Jagged said as he shot a dirty glance at Bob Roth. Fang growled at him.
"What will this mean for you, I mean, he owes your record label?" Adrien asked.
"Not for long...actually me and Penny were thinking about setting up our own record label for a while. This event just made us more determined." Jagged explained.
"We found that he was dismissive of our feelings and opinions and holding back some of the profits that were rightfully ours. Not to mention that he pushes around our favorite group of teens." Penny said. "We also saw the original video clip and believe us, Kitty Section is certainly going places.
"You're telling us that..." Luka asked, unable to continue talking.
"If our record label gets off the ground, Kitty Section will be one of the first we want to offer a contract." Penny said. "As well as some internships for the behind the scenes crew, in the directing..." Penny said as she looked at Nino and Reece, "Technical" she looks at Scott and Alya "and writing departments." having fixed her eyes on Rose and Kiva. They all were even more star-struck, and Kiva even fainted.
"And of course I would still love some commissions from you Marinette, those costumes you designed are so rock 'n roll!" Jagged said, making a rock gesture with his hands.
"Tell me I'm dreaming. I got the most wonderful girl in the world as my girlfriend and I am offered a record label by my idol." Luka said with a huge bright smile.
"Jeremiah, you can't do this! You'll ruin me!" Bob Roth begged to Jagged.
"One, only my mother and Penny when I rightfully did something to piss her off, can call me that. Second, You have been screwing with me for years. I could forgive that but I will not forgive you for messing with my niece and her friends." Jagged said. "I consider sicking Fang on you, but you might make him sick so I'll just let the court of law decide, but I'm sure you'll be sucked dry like a coconut drink."
"Please, there must be still somebody whom is on my side?" Roth was looking paler then ever. It was then that XY came into the room. "Xavier-Yves, my son..." he said happily, thinking his son would be on his side. However, he through wrong when XY stormed towards him and kicked him in the nose, a cracking sound could be heard as Bob's face was covered in blood.
"You bastard! You complete and utter bastard! You were going to let me die!" He said as he then kicked his father in the ribs. He was dragged off Roth by two security guards. "Bastard! BASTARD!" XY said as he was close to crying.
"What the..." Jagged wondered.
"When given the choice of giving himself up to Silencer or have his son thrown off the building the coward chose to save his own arse." Chloé huffed.
"That's horrible." Penny said shocked.
"I thought that he at least cared about his son. I wasn't a saint but I always unconditionally loved my daughter. But now I feel like I am seeing him for real for the first time." André said.
While XY was a bastard, he wasn't as big a bastard as his father. His look of betrayal was genuine. He must still have truly believed his father cared. She knew that when she was a brat, she still had at least one loving parent. But unlike her, it didn't seem XY had anyone else. XY was now forced to sit down in a nearby chair to cool down. Chloé felt a bit of sorry for him. She approached him slowly. "Xavier-Yves?" she asked.
"What do you want? Come to rub it in? That your band is the next big thing while my career crumbles?" he asked, sounding bitter.
"I'm still mad that you stole our number, I admit that. But I'm not going to rub salt into the wound. I just...sorry about your dad. Sometimes the people you look up to are not the people you thought you knew. I know because I spent most of my childhood trying to gain approval from a mother whom never cared. I grew tired and I turned my life around. Became the person I wanted to be." Chloé explained.
"What, and you want to offer me the same chance, out of the 'goodness' of your heart?" XY was still bitter.
"I wasn't a good person before. And you took part in your father's schemes with delight. But...I am offering you a chance to improve like me. And yes, it is from the goodness of my heart. Is it so hard to imagine there are people out there whom have some decency. Now, I needed help from some very good friends whom learned me how to be decent. And I think the same can work for you. It is not an easy road. In fact it is quite difficult. But it worth the effort. Because everything I achieved, I did by taking my destiny in my own hands and keep going. And my life has turned out for the better." Chloé said as she reached out her hand. "So please...let me help you."
XY looked at her curiously, as if the braincells that he normally rarely used got an unexpected workout. After a few moments he said: "Sounds like too much work, nothing for me." XY said. "Just leave me alone, you blonde bimbo. That my dad is an asshat it doesn't mean you and your gang of boyscouts and girlscouts aren't any less responsible for ruining my life. Get out of my sight."
Chloé sighed. "Fine. But I'll let you know that I at one point thought I had lost everything, and I blamed anyone but myself too. It was a miracle I rebuilt my life. Don't forget it is still not too late."
"You are still here? Beat it!" XY muttered.
Chloé moved back to her friends and her father. "I think you waste your time on him." Adrien said. "I get you may believe he is in the same boat as you used to be but..." Adrien said.
"Not to mention I want to punch that guy for calling you a bimbo..." Luka said.
"I felt like I had to do it. If no one had reached out to me in my darkest hour, I'd still be a brat. I wouldn't be who I am today. I feel that if I didn't do the same, it would haunt me. Now I can say I did my best." Chloé said. She looked around at her group of friends, whose support is whom made her what she is today.
"You're a good person Chloé. Never forget that. Don't let anyone say otherwise." Marinette assured her.
"You're not just good, you are wonderful." Luka said, taking her hands in his." The two lovebirds looked each other in the eyes again.
"I am so proud of her." André said as he had to wipe more tears from his eyes.
"Ah, young love." Jagged said with a delighted smile. He turned his head towards Penny, whom looked back. They smiled and blushed for a bit before getting back on track.
"Now, I suggest we find Mr. Cataldi and perhaps get the show back on track. I think the people deserve to hear the original and superior version of the song, not to mention promote the new 'Rock 'n Rolling' Record label. I wanted to call it 'Rolling Stone' but then we'd face copyright laws." Penny suggested.
Later that day, Kitty Section was able to perform their song on live tv, this time without greedy corporate douchebags ripping them off.
KITTY SECTIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONN!
Baring teeth and claws, please give us some applause!
KITTY SECTIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONN!
Of predators and prey, you're not getting away.
No escape, no objection
KITTY SECTION! "And that was the newest young music sensation, Kitty Section."
"On semi-related news, Lupine Lavillant, mother of Kitty Section member Rose Lavillant has thrown her hat in the ring for the elections in a few months, and is considered the favorite among the mayoral candidates, even before her daughter's band was taking off..."
Gabriel didn't listen to the second part about the elections because on the news he could clearly see his son among the members of Kitty Section. Though his role is downplayed, he is recognizable to everyone. Throwing away his future in fashion for useless music? The band would be a fad at best, no way he'd be able to support himself like that. Duusu hovered closer with an impish grin on his cute little face. "Doesn't look like he is going to come 'crawling back' anytime soon, will he?" Duusu shifted to angry. "Bloody idiot, you are, thinking the kid wouldn't be able to take care of his own. It's not that you are so deprived and friendless that he'll be..." Duusu then became sad. "That is one thing I can say for certain that is going well. Everything else sucks."
Gabriel shut off the tv, fuming on the inside. He had his Akuma, he had his Moths and he had a Sentimonster but still he couldn't tip the balance in power and those heroes of Paris denied him what was rightfully his once again. Why was nothing he did ever enough? He may have to rely on Project Catalyst to get things done. But there was one more thing he hadn't tried yet. "Duusu...can Sentimonsters be Akumatized?"
Duusu flinched upon hearing that. "Technically...well, they are a manifestation of emotions. But...they are not as complex as a living being, only few have created a Sentimonster close enough to sentient...also while the Moth and Peacock work well together, no one has tried that before, nor did they care to try because they didn't know the repercussions."
Gabriel looked pensive for a few moments. "One way to find out." He still had Nathalie's glasses, the Amok was not purified, so he could still recreate the Sentimonster. Time will tell if he could add a bit...more to it.
Nathalie was still inside her holding cell. She looked disheveled, she was still not seeing too well without her glasses and she shivered. She breathed heavily. She tried to keep her composure. She was always so well composed. She wouldn't show weakness if Gabriel came back to check upon her. "Somebody...anybody. Please find me." she thought to herself. She didn't dare to scream it and it was now idle hope someone would pick up her thoughts and find her. Only thing that brought her a bit of relief was that her Sentimonster, despite being commanded by Hawkmoth was no match for the heroes. She still has a limited connection to the Amok she created and hence sensed its defeat. She hopes that the heroes will fix everything soon. If anyone could do it, it was the Miraculous team.
Chloé and Luka were on the balcony of the hotel 'Le Grand Paris'. Chloé nervously rubbed her arm. "So you know?" she asked.
"Your heartsong was still as melodious and vibrant as Queen Bee. It was unmistakable. I knew you were wonderful, but this about confirms how wonderful exactly." Luka said. "Though I assure you, I fell in love with Chloé Bourgeois, not Queen Bee."
"I know. It wouldn't be like you." Chloé said with a soft smile. "At least it will save me some stress if I have to miss a date to play the hero. I would hate to lie to you. It is still risky, because Hawkmoth already used you, and I would fear what he'd do to you if he found out..."
"I do not fear Hawkmoth. And now I'm with you, my heartsong is louder then ever, and no dark twisted melody of his is overpowering that music." Luka assured her, putting his hand under her chin to raise her head up and they could lock eyes again. "And now, I'm just in too good a mood to be Akumatized ever again."
"I'm still a bit scared Luka. My life has changed so drastically and all for the better, in the past few months. But I'm scared, like I am not allowed to be this...happy. And something may come to take it away from me." Chloé said.
Luka hugged his girlfriend. "Nothing will keep us apart, Angelbee. You reached out to me in one of my darkest moments. You brought back harmony in my heartsong. I will do the same to you, if you ever feel a discordant note."
Chloé smiled, her eyes damp. "I'm lucky to have you, Luka."
"I'm the lucky one, Chloé." Luka assured her. The couple shared a tender kiss. After a few minutes they broke apart. "Let's get back inside, there is still party going on, and we can't miss out, can we?"
"Yeah, let's." Chloé said, a soft smile still on her lips.
Rejoining the others for the party to celebrate Kitty Section's take-off, for the moment they would forget all of their worries. Right now it is supposed to be a joyous moment.
Mayura, Hawkmoth...they will all deal with that later, and they'll be prepared for either outcome. But for now, the heroes and their friends deserved that moment to themselves and each other. A moment for friendship, for love.
END OF EPISODE
ARTIST'S COMMENT
Rounding off the Silencer rewrite with a cute little epilogue.
Chloé and Luka are together, Bob Roth gets what's coming to him, XY refuses Chloé's help (tough luck for him) all their friends and family are supportive, Kitty Section is taking off and Gabriel has some big plans.