Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug, Cat Noir and Steel Butterfly

by bigvic150

A young man is brought to the world of Miraculous Ladybug by Master Fu to help Ladybug and her allies. But the twist is, there's a different kind of Butterfly Miraculous in the Miracle Box that's completely different from the Moth Miraculous. Will Steel Butterfly fulfill his destiny, or will threats like Hawk Moth succeed? Rated T. Chloe redemption. Bunnyx salt and redemption.

17. Horrificator

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug, Cat Noir and Steel Butterfly.

Chapter 16: Horrificator.

(Author's notes: In this chapter, Horrificator will have to contend with Dragon Butterfly's dragon mode to see who is scarier. But will Dragon Butterfly win? We'll find out.

Enjoy chapter 16.)

(Quantic Universe Earth 139, Paris, France, April 24th, 2015, third person POV...)

At Francoise Dupont High School, Ms. Bustier's class is filming a horror movie project, completely devoid of swearing and nudity that is traditionally seen in real horror movies, not the ones in school projects.

Marinette may or may not have protested at first to signify that she hates horror movies, but when she found out that there won't be the traditional things from most real horror movies – swearing, nudity, gore, grisly murders, and other kinds of things that could make even Marinette puke or even make her pee her pants – let's just say she was only joining the project so she can get a good grade alongside her classmates.

Adrien/"Officer Jones" exclaims while in character for the movie, "Agent Smith, it's too dangerous! We must evacuate!"

Mylene/"Agent Smith" replies while in character, "You're suggesting we run, Officer Jones? After it devoured my family, my friends, even my beloved dog, Sniffles? Never! I won't run! I no longer fear it. I'm going to face it, then I'll—"

Ivan looms over Mylene in a monster costume eerily similar to Horrificator's Akumatized appearance.

Mylene exclaims in fear but not in character, "Waaaaah!"

Nino exclaims in response, "Cut!"

Mylene hides under Ms. Bustier's desk, completely scared.

Ivan takes off the Horrificator-looking mask and says, "Sorry, Mylene."

Nino states exasperatedly, "Mylene! That's like, the tenth take, and we're only on the first scene!"

Holding up the clapperboard, Alix replies, "Fourteenth, actually. But then again, who's counting?"

Nino bemoans, "Ughhh..."

Mylene states in reply, "I'm... sorry. I'm gonna do better on the next take, I promise."

Steel Butterfly's voice rings out without giving his position away, "Don't make promises you can't keep, Mylene."

Rose holds up a tea pot and asks, "Anyone want some tea?"

Nino states to Mylene, "You're playing a hero from the Special Forces. You're not supposed to get all freaked out!"

Steel Butterfly's hologram is shown on the projector as he states to Nino in response, "Idiot. Even if Mylene conquered her fears, it's only a matter of time before something like this happens again. Besides, you can't just force someone like Mylene to suck it up and push away their fears. That in itself takes practice from years of experience. And FYI, when it comes to people like Mylene, you can't force them to change, but seeing as how your '"horror movie"' is taking too long with filming due to Mylene's tendency to get scared by every little thing, including monster costumes that don't look too realistic, I'm afraid that you'll have to find someone else for the first scene."

Nino exclaims, "But there's not enough time!"

Steel Butterfly's hologram replies, "Pity. And it's also a pity we can't use my time travel ability to help you guys in the past. Even if we could do that, time travel is not meant to be used in such a way, especially when it comes to getting good grades or comforting a fallen hero who brought about the end of the world in an apocalyptic timeline unintentionally."

Pushing that thought aside for now, Marinette asks, "Isn't there any way Mylene can overcome her fears long enough to get through the first scene?"

Steel Butterfly's hologram replies again, "Well... I could try absorbing Mylene's fears long enough for you guys to get through the first act of your movie. But the problem is, my ability to absorb fear from someone long enough for them to get through their assigned tasks without being afraid of anything is not permanent. And I don't even know how much time we would have before Mylene's fears returned."

Chloe states in response, "That maybe so, but anything is better than to constantly do more and more takes just because Mylene gets scared easily – no offense, Mylene."

Mylene replies a little shakily, "N-none taken."

Steel Butterfly sighed as he materialized into the room, and absorbed Mylene's fears... in the form of purple streams of light.

Soon, the crew manages to get through the first act of their movie project without messing up. If only because, despite having her fears temporarily removed, Mylene has reason to fear Steel Butterfly's anger issues and his intolerance for failure.

Ever since Ms. Bustier announced the movie project, she contacted Steel Butterfly to lend a helping hand.

Steel Butterfly protested, saying that he was a superhero, not a film director with the needed experience. And he also protested because of the fact that he hates children.

But of course, Ms. Bustier protested in response that even Marinette and Adrien needed their good grades while simultaneously ignoring Steel Butterfly's statement of how he hates children.

Steel Butterfly replied that Bustier might have a point, but he also gave off a fair warning: if Ms. Bustier tried to bribe the butterfly hero in such a manner again, he'll have her tickle tortured while dangling her from the top floor of the Eiffel Tower, and he'll have the whole thing broadcasted on TV.

Ms. Bustier literally backed off because she didn't want to be tickle tortured on TV, signifying that she's very ticklish.

Soon, the second act of the horror movie project was underway.

But during the end of the filming, Mylene's fears returned.

When there was a break between takes, everyone looked at Steel Butterfly expectantly, only for him to say emotionlessly, "I told you my ability to absorb fears to help people was not permanent. And I did tell you I didn't know how much time there would be before the effects wore off."

Mylene ran off in tears at the notion that her fears were not permanently taken away.

SB vented, "Urrgghh... Ivan, please make sure that she doesn't get Akumatized."

Ivan takes off after Mylene, taking the monster mask with him.

Steel Butterfly growled softly, knowing that his plan to avert Horrificator's Akumatization went down the crapper.

And everyone in Ms. Bustier's class subtly noted that Steel Butterfly's anger was a sign that his Dragon Butterfly power-up can easily activate by itself if he's not careful.

In the courtyard of the school, Ivan looks for Mylene and eventually finds her.

Ivan sits next to Mylene and says, "Mylene, don't beat yourself up about Steel Butterfly's powers. He told us that his powers might be extraordinary enough to appear godlike, but even he has limits on his powers, mostly because of specific vulnerabilities and because if his powers had no limits, he would become a god. And that wouldn't exactly be a good thing if he were to get Akumatized or if he otherwise turned rogue. But please come back. I guarantee you Steel Butterfly can increase the intensity of his fear absorption ability to make the effects permanent."

Mylene looks at him with a sad eyebrow raised.

Ivan takes out a black skull pin and gives it to Mylene.

Ivan states, "Here. It's from my favorite band, the Zombie Skull Crushers."

Mylene puts the pin on her hat as she says, "Wow... Uh, that's really sweet of you, Ivan. But at this point, what does it matter anyway? Steel Butterfly didn't amplify his powers in time—"

But she's interrupted when Steel Butterfly teleports in front of her and says softly and sternly at the same time, "That's because even I didn't know how temporary me absorbing your fears would be in terms of a time limit ranging from sixteen minutes to forty-five minutes. And also because of the fact that users of my Miraculous and its mothy counterpart can't upgrade themselves under normal circumstances. Even so, my powers do have limits, Mylene. Many superheroes like me need to have limits for our powers because, as I use myself as an example, there's no telling what kind of damage I could do to the entire multiverse and the multiverses beyond it if I ever became a villain for any reason. But remember, fear is a negative emotion, sure. But unfortunately, until God Himself wipes all forms of negativity clean from this Earth at the end of days, we can't get rid of our negative emotions. And even if it weren't for Hawk Moth and his potential successor in the future, we've all been trying to find constructive outlets of our negative emotions for hundreds to thousands of years."

Mylene replies softly and sadly, "I understand, but at this point, it doesn't matter anymore."

Mylene walks away to the girls' bathroom with tears in her eyes.

Steel Butterfly's gaze lingers on Mylene as she disappears into the girls' bathroom.

Steel Butterfly turns over to Ivan and says, "I hate to say this, Ivan, but it looks like there's not much I can do."

Ivan asks in reply, "How is it possible you couldn't do more?"

Steel Butterfly replies back, "You gotta understand, human beings are high-strung and emotional carbon-based creatures that have existed for two hundred thousand years and we all still have a large deal to learn. Human teenagers are especially the most emotional. The moment something goes wrong or something bad happens to a friend or family member, any particular teenager will be a crying hot mess or a beast of pure anger in any situation involving bullies, corrupt politicians and so forth. Therefore, in Mylene's case, because of the fact that she can't overcome her fears to save her life in the world of film acting, and because of the fact that she's choosing to look at the negatives of today's film shoot, that's why I said there's nothing else I can do for now."

Steel Butterfly walks away, his metallic boots making clinking sounds on the ground with every footstep.

In Hawk Moth's lair, the window opens as Hawk Moth remarks, "A film shoot... oh, yes. So many emotions. Some of them are fake, yet others are very, very real."

Hawk Moth turns another butterfly into an Akuma.

Hawk Moth sends it off while saying, "Fly away, my evil Akuma, and overpower this young, misunderstood artist..."

The Akuma flies off towards the school's girls' bathroom where Mylene is.

Steel Butterfly reenters the classroom with Ivan.

Marinette asks expectantly, "Well?"

Steel Butterfly sighs heavily as he answers, "I did all I could, but Mylene continued looking at the negatives of her real life character and her inability to conquer her fears on her own accord. Now, there's not much else that I can do to prevent Mylene from getting Akumatized. Now, all we have to do is wait, watch and listen. When Mylene's Akumatized form arises to put fear into the hearts of you guys, me and my teammates will save the day once again."

Everyone smiled at Steel Butterfly's assurance.

Even Marinette cracked a small grin.

Soon, talks were in place to have a fearless clone of Mylene take the real Mylene's place in the meantime.

Having frozen time itself to save the students time, albeit without accidentally freezing anyone, Steel Butterfly allowed the students to continue filming their movie.

Meanwhile, the Akuma reaches the girls' bathroom.

Mylene asks her reflection in the bathroom mirror, "Why are you so easily intimidated and scared all the time?"

Mylene cries and the Akuma enters her pin.

Mylene looks at the mirror again as Hawk Moth monologues, "Horrificator, I am Hawk Moth. Up until now, you have felt fear. From now on, you will cause fear. And after you have shown them all how they make you feel, you will do something for me in return. Do we have a deal, Horrificator?"

Mylene/Horrificator replies, "Yes, Hawk Moth."

Mylene becomes Horrificator, and spits goo at the mirrors.

Suddenly, Horrificator hears someone coming and hides perfectly in one of the toilet stalls.

Marinette comes into the bathroom and calls out, "Mylene? Mylene?"

Marinette sees the mirror covered in goo, but she doesn't notice Horrificator hiding in one of the stalls despite the signs.

Marinette touches the goo, and some of it gets on her finger, completely disgusting her as evidenced by the expression on her face.

Alya asks, "Marinette, did you find Mylene?"

Marinette replies somberly, "No..."

Marinette and Alya leave the girls' bathroom, unaware of Horrificator about to make her move.

Hawk Moth says from his lair, "Time to use your scare tactics, Horrificator, and thrive!"

The film finishes shooting, and the crew cheers.

Steel Butterfly turns to Mylene's clone and states, "Well done, my little friend, but now, you're relieved of your duty for the time being. But don't worry; I'll call upon your assistance at some point in the future."

Steel Butterfly snaps his fingers, and the Mylene clone dissipates in a puff of blue smoke as an Amok is purified, revealing the Mylene clone to actually be a Sentimonster.

Everyone is shocked to their cores.

Marinette asks, "What was that?"

Steel Butterfly answers, "That was one of my main superpowers: Amokization, the ability to use a magic feather to create a Sentimonster, a monstrous creature that can look like anyone or anything and is born from the recipient's emotions. Some of them are heroic Sentimonsters in the right hands, and in the wrong hands, Sentimonsters are the total opposite of their heroic counterparts."

Adrien remarks, "Wow. That is so cool."

SB replies, "Yeah, but bear in mind that the originator of this superpower, the Peacock Miraculous, is in Hawk Moth's hands. But thankfully, he forbade his only ally from using it on the field for any reason because it's damaged, and it turns out that using a damaged Miraculous jewel can leave you with coughing fits, worsening headaches, dizzying spells, and a high fever."

Everyone whispered among themselves in wonder at the butterfly hero's explanation.

Chloe asks, "And what happens if someone overuses a damaged Miraculous jewel?"

Steel Butterfly replies, "If someone overuses a damaged Miraculous jewel, that person will be put into an endless coma due to the fact that Miraculous jewels and their associated kwamis feed off the energy from the bodies of adult Miraculous users like me and Hawk Moth so that way, a Miraculous user's powers as an adult can be used an unlimited number of times. Ergo, if an adult Miraculous user uses a damaged Miraculous, the afflicted kwami feeds off of more energy from the Miraculous user's body than normal, and when an adult Miraculous user overuses a damaged Miraculous, their bodies become drained to the point where they enter an endless magical coma, and if a cure is not found over the course of two to three years, eventually, they die."

Everyone gasped in horror at the ending of the explanation.

Suddenly, there are screams outside the hallways.

Adrien asks, "Did you guys hear that?"

SB retorts, "How could we not hear that? It's obvious that Mylene has been Akumatized into Horrificator, a monstrous supervillain with the ability to feed off of people's fear that comes from seeing her in person. The more scared people that see her, the bigger and stronger she becomes."

Nino asks, "Horrificator, like the monster costume for the film?"

SB replies, "More like a physical match with added details from what could've been a full Horrificator costume."

Marinette states, "We better scope this out!"

The other students follow Steel Butterfly as he multiplies himself to provide an omnidirectional guard.

Rose lingers on as she holds out fruit snacks and asks, "A fruity snack for the road?"

A Steel Butterfly duplicate gently grabs Rose by the arm and speeds off.

In the courtyard, Steel Butterfly's multiple clones form an invincible omnidirectional guard around the students as they and Steel Butterfly investigate the screams coming from the courtyard.

And all the while, Nino continues filming, irritating Steel Butterfly more and more as evidenced by the scowl on his faceplate.

Adrien calls out, "Hey! Anybody here? Kim! Max! Where are you guys!"

Marinette observes a part of the floor with spots of Horrificator's goo and Kim's armband.

Marinette states, "I saw the same pink goo... UGH! The bathroom!"

Adrien sees the armband and exclaims, "That's Kim's armband!"

Nathanael states panickedly, "They vanished!"

Alya adds, "Or they're playing a sick joke on us."

Steel Butterfly retorts, "I highly doubt it. Since I happen to be the only one with functioning brain cells and the memory-based abilities that help me comprehend what we're dealing with, I sincerely doubt Kim and Max are pranking us. Besides, as I'm sure Max would probably say, '"It's a zero percent probability that this was a prank if our screaming was any indication. And I don't usually get scared this easily when it comes to Akumatized villains."'

Everyone laughed at Steel Butterfly's somewhat humorous attempt at imitating Max's calculating-based speech patterns.

Marinette composes herself and states, "We should go to Principal Damocles' office and tell him what's going on!"

Steel Butterfly turns over to Nino and snarls, "And for goodness' sake, Nino, STOP FILMING ALREADY!"

Nino replies unfazed, "Not a chance, dude! This is just getting good!"

Steel Butterfly snarls again, causing Nino to shiver.

Steel Butterfly brings out a power-up roll of bread in white and yellow food coloring – that's the Dragon Butterfly power-up potion inside an eatable vessel – and he eats and calls out, "Steel Butterfly, power-up! Dragon Butterfly mode!"

In an animation sequence, Steel Butterfly's armor starts morphing into his Dragon Butterfly armor, starting with his boots becoming angelic and demonic dragon talon-shaped sabatons, his cuisse thigh plates becoming angelic and demonic dragon-themed and dragon-shaped cuisse thigh plates, his greaves becoming angelic and demonic dragon-themed and dragon-shaped greaves, his poleyns becoming angelic and demonic dragon-themed and dragon-shaped poleyns all the way to his gauntlets morphing dragon claws on the fingertips and his helmet – which looks like a combination of a Burgonet helmet, a close helmet, and an Armet helmet – morphing to a more angelic, demonic and draconic shape and theme, completing Steel Butterfly's transformation into Dragon Butterfly.

Literally everyone was surprised at the sight of Steel Butterfly becoming Dragon Butterfly.

Marinette says to herself, "Looks like it's time to bring in the alter ego."

Nino notices Adrien leaving back to the classroom and exclaims, "Yo, Adrien! Where are you going?"

Adrien replied while being thankful that he had time to practice his fake excuses, "I left Officer Jones' jacket back there! I should probably wear it in all of the scenes."

The other students go upstairs, oblivious to Marinette quietly snorting in amusement.

Horrificator sees them and starts covering the school in goo, completely trapping everyone inside the school.

In the classroom, Adrien takes off his left shoe as he says, "Time to transform, Plagg."

Plagg recoils in disgust from the stench coming from inside Adrien's shoe and asks, "What are you doing?"

Adrien replies, "I'm leaving my shoe hear so that way, they'll think I've disappeared too."

Plagg states, "Perhaps I don't smell like Camembert, but that shoe takes it to a whole new level!"

Adrien ignores Plagg and calls out, "Plagg, Claws Out!"

Adrien becomes Cat Noir, but takes a moment to smell his own shoe, only to recoil in disgust because of his enhanced senses.

Meanwhile, at Mr. Damocles' office, Alya knocks on the door and asks, "Mr. Damocles? Sir?"

She opens the door, but nobody is inside.

Rose exclaims, "Even Principal Damocles is nowhere to be found! I hope he's okay!"

At Dragon Butterfly's signal, Marinette quietly drops her phone and runs into the library, also thankful that Miraculous holders can't be filmed transforming unless the cameras in question are laced with magic.

Marinette states, "Time to transform. Tikki, Spots On!"

Marinette becomes Ladybug.

Nino notices Marinette is not at the doorway and asks, "Anyone seen Agent Smith? I mean, Marinette?"

Everyone looks behind them, never noticing that the school is being completely covered in pink goo to cut off any means of escaping.

The remaining students continue searching for Marinette, only for Alya to spot Marinette's phone on the ground.

Alya picks it up and exclaims, "Oh, no! This is Marinette's phone!"

Chloe sees the pink goo covering the open roof of the courtyard.

Chloe exclaims, "Quickly, check the windows!"

Juleka remarks in awe at the blocked windows, "Crazy!"

Chloe tries to open the window, but finds it to be blocked by the goo.

Chloe shrieks, "We're trapped! I'm going to call Daddy!"

Chloe picks up her phone and tries to call him.

Nino points out, "Dudes and dudettes, everyone knows that cell phones don't work whatsoever in horror movies."

Ivan states, "No bars."

Nathanael exclaims, "No cell phone coverage!"

Nino states, "Told you so! Boo-yah!"

Ladybug appears at the door.

Dragon Butterfly comes up and pretends to whisper into Ladybug's ear, like they practiced early in the afternoon yesterday just in case Miguel's efforts were in vain.

Ladybug asks, "Is everything okay?"

Nino remarks while continuing to film, "Ladybug and Dragon Butterfly in my movie? This is double legit!"

Alya adds while filming with her phone, "And on my Ladyblog!"

Ladybug asks, "Dragon Butterfly, what's the situation?"

Dragon Butterfly replies, "The exits and entrances are covered with goo. I tried to cut through it, but it's indestructible. If I'm being honest, it's as indestructible as a twenty thousand feet tall planet-sized Transformers character."

Ladybug inquires again, "Did you try blowing it up?"

Dragon Butterfly retorts, "I did despite the fact that I could easily risk blowing up the school as well. And unfortunately, I got the same results: loads of goo that is indestructible to every known weapon and every known corrosive substance ever made by man."

Cat Noir appears and adds, "Yeah, getting everyone out is easier said than done, like Dragon said."

Nino remarks, "Triple legit!"

Dragon Butterfly growls at Nino, causing everyone to shiver at the sight of his sharp dragon teeth.

Cat Noir continues, "So, it definitely looks like we're trapped inside the school until we can resolve the problem. Just stay put and try to relax, guys."

Ladybug, Cat Noir and Dragon Butterfly have a small conference with each other.

Cat Noir points out, "We all know that Hawk Moth has taken another innocent victim somewhere in the school."

Dragon Butterfly replies, "Yep, and we know that the only way to truly get rid of this disgusting pink goo and get everyone out of here in time is this: to capture that victim's Akuma."

Cat Noir replies back, "Exactly. I love it when you read my mind..."

Dragon Butterfly states in response, "Simmer down, kitty. We better find this thing first... and its load of prisoners."

Cat Noir remarks, "Wow! You did it again!"

Dragon Butterfly snarls, "Nrgh. If I were reading your mind, it would be obvious because when I read someone's mind, blue psychic waves emerge from my forehead and expand to show me the next actions and next words of dialogue from anyone in front of me, in addition to any thoughts."

Nino gets closer, only to be smacked in the forehead by one of Dragon Butterfly's wings spiking up in response to his presence.

Dragon Butterfly remarks, "Oops. Sorry, not sorry."

Nino readjusts his glasses as he continues filming and replies, "Don't mind me, just finding the missing peeps and solving this crazy mystery with Dragon Butterfly, Ladybug and Cat Noir... This movie's gonna be so swank!"

Dragon Butterfly calls out, "Clones! Form an omnidirectional elite guard! Everyone, stay together, right behind us!" Dragon Butterfly grabs Nino and adds, "That means you too, Spielberg!"

The clones laugh maniacally at Dragon Butterfly's Spielberg reference before forming an omnidirectional elite guard around the students and the primary heroes.

Meanwhile, in the cellar, Horrificator kidnaps Max.

Horrificator throws Max into a cocoon of goo.

Max looks fearfully at Horrificator.

Horrificator growls angrily at Max, causing him to whimper in fear and causing her to grow larger.

In his lair, Hawk Moth states, "Absorb their fear, Horrificator... feed on it! It will give you strength. And soon enough, you will be giving me strength too!"

Horrificator spits goo on the hole, trapping Max inside of the goo.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Dragon Butterfly, Ladybug, Cat Noir and the other students try to find Max and Kim.

They reenter Ms. Bustier's classroom, and Ladybug sees Adrien's shoe.

Ladybug exclaims, "There!"

Nino films the shoe.

Cat Noir's eyes dart worriedly as he asks, "Anyone recognize this shoe?"

Nino replies, "That's Adrien's shoe!"

Ladybug observes the ground and states, "Hey, that's weird. There's no pink slime here."

Nathanael kneels next to the teacher's desk and replies, "Yes, there is."

Suddenly, Horrificator's tail grabs him from underneath the desk.

Horrificator throws the desk across the room, allowing everyone to see the monster for the first time.

Everyone shows little fear, causing Horrificator to shrink.

Ladybug remarks, "Looks like you were right, DB."

Dragon Butterfly nods before enlarging himself, spawning his dragon tails in the process.

Horrificator roars at him, only for Dragon Butterfly to unleash his sonic roar, causing everyone to cover their ears.

Thankfully, Nathanael wasn't rendered deaf despite being too close to Dragon Butterfly.

Horrificator begins to shrink at Dragon Butterfly's show of defiance.

Everyone else manages to make Horrificator scared of them by making all sorts of dangerous animal noises and making mouse noises, causing Horrificator to shrink further and further.

Dragon Butterfly reaches for the skull pin, only for Horrificator to grow again, much to everyone's shock.

Then Dragon Butterfly enlarges again, transforming to his dragon mode.

Horrificator is shocked at seeing Dragon Butterfly's large dragon mode, especially because his dragon mode surprisingly damaged the school building to the point where the hardened goo crumbled.

Everyone is able to evacuate, but Ladybug and Cat Noir are left wondering who will win the scaring contest, Dragon Butterfly or Horrificator.

Horrificator tries crawling up Dragon Butterfly's armored dragon form, only for the armored dragon to swat Horrificator away, making her drop Nathanael safely into Dragon Butterfly's clawed hands.

Dragon Butterfly sets Nathanael down.

Dragon Butterfly absorbs the fear from Horrificator, making her shrink more and more until she becomes the size of a house cat.

Ladybug takes the skull pin and breaks it between her fingers, causing the Akuma to fly out.

Ladybug slides her yoyo open and does her usual spiel of purifying the Akuma and unleashing her Miraculous Ladybug.

Horrificator turns back into Mylene. And as the Miraculous Ladybug cure sweeps over the school, Dragon Butterfly transforms from his dragon mode to his normal Dragon Butterfly form.

The three heroes fist bump and Nino remarks, "Awesome."

Dragon Butterfly chuckles in response, "Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh. You'd know better than me how awesome our battle with Horrificator was."

The heroes depart, with Dragon Butterfly absorbing Mylene's fears – permanently this time.

The filming for the movie ends with Dragon Butterfly leaving for his lair now that his duty was done for the day.

Hawk Moth sneers, "You don't scare me, Steel Butterfly, not even when you transform into a giant armored dragon. I know I'll destroy you in the end! Someday, somehow, I'll destroy you!"

Dragon Butterfly's voice retorts, "Your overconfidence, your ignorance, your recklessness, your cockiness, your arrogance, your pride and your greed are gonna be the death of you because when the final battle comes, I have a full mind to eat you in my dragon mode."

Hawk Moth recoils in disgust as he replies, "Eww! That's disgusting!"

The window to Hawk Moth's lair closes, leaving him to wallow in the horror of the revelation of what Dragon Butterfly intends to do during the final battle, which will take place on Heroes' Day, unknown to Hawk Moth.

Meanwhile, Nino shows the mayor the actual film made at the school BEFORE the Horrificator incident happened.

Nino asks, "Well, what do you think, Mr. Mayor? Off the hook, right?"

Outside the City Hall, Nino reveals, "We made the cut! All thanks to Steel Butterfly-slash-Dragon Butterfly."

Adrien replies, "Yep. I don't know what would've happened if it weren't for him, but I think it's best if we don't find out."

Alya adds, "Yeah, and who knows what would've happened if the whole Horrificator incident was filmed?"

The End.

(Author's notes: There you have it, folks. Dragon Butterfly's dragon mode is mightier than the dinosaur, AND mightier than Horrificator's ability to empower herself through fear.

Additionally, in the next chapter, Manon Chamack's Akumatization will be averted, partially because Marinette is NOT her babysitter in THIS timeline.

See you all in chapter 17: The Puppeteer Averted.)