The Monday after Ella got out of the hospital, school began with a half day to readjust. Adrien planned on going, promising to tell everyone 'hello' from the girl. But before the teen even got out the door, his father and Nathalie stopped him in his room.
"Why did you take the book?" Gabriel asked, Nathalie showing Adrien CCTV images of him taking the book from the safe.
"I... I just wanted to know what you were hiding behind the portrait that was so important. I intended to give it back to you, I swear! But then... I lost it- and everything with Ella happened... and I forgot about it..."
"How can I possibly trust you again, Adrien?"
"I'm sorry... I'll get you another copy."
"It's one of a kind! The book's the source of my inspiration!" Gabriel almost shouted, his hands clenching into fists. Adrien flinched away slightly, an instinct he unconsciously picked up from Ella.
"I didn't know that! I hardly know anything about you, father!"
"You won't be returning to school. You and Ella will be homeschooled by Nathalie."
Adrien frowned, sad at the turn of events- especially for Ella- as his father and Nathalie leave his room.

Marinette took a deep breath, standing outside the apartment Tikki directed her to. Knocking on the door and opening at the call to enter, she meets the gaze of a familiar old man.
"Hello, Ladybug!"
"I know you never wanted me to bring her here again but... you must see what she's discovered. Show him, Marinette." Tikki floated up and explained the reason for being here.
"I've been here; I've met you before. You're the healer that cured Tikki when she was sick! So... I'm guessing you're not really a vet?"
"Not really. That was your first day of school, that wasn't a chance meeting either. Marinette, you're always ready to help others. I knew that day, that very moment, that you'd make a fantastic Ladybug!"
"But, who are you?"
Master Fu stood up, guided Marinette to the phonograph and used a code which unlocked access to the Miracle Box.
"Master Fu is the last known member of the Order of the Guardians!" Tikki smiled and introduced the man.
"Guardians of the Miraculous! I'm Wayzz, Master Fu's kwami. It's a pleasure to meet you, Marinette." A little green turtle kwami flitted into view, smiling at Marinette.
"Uhh, you too!" Marinette chuckled.
"We guardians are responsible for protecting and distributing the Miraculous, for the good of all humanity."
"Did you choose Raven and Cat Noir the same day you chose me?" Marinette couldn't help but be curious. She remembered something Raven said way back when they first started, about getting her Miraculous as a kid...
"You and Cat Noir, yes. Raven... she was a special case. Twelve years ago, the kwami of that Miraculous chose their own holder- which brings your question back to the current Raven's Wing. As you must know by now, the Raven Miraculous is not one given out every time the Ladybug and Black Cat are. The Raven is a very powerful Miraculous, one that can see and change fate- and one that cannot be used for personal gain. While Hawkmoth could use the Ladybug and Black Cat to make the ultimate wish, the Raven's Wing would allow the user to change their fate. Consequences stem from either option, lives changed and sacrificed for the desired outcome."
Marinette nodded, her expression grim. She knew Raven held a lot of power with her Miraculous, but to change an entire fate? Someone could go back and completely change their life- while destroying all others they've come in contact with! Master Fu nodded as well, glad to see Marinette understood why the Raven Miraculous was dangerous and powerful, so he continued with his original story.
"We Guardians are chosen in childhood and trained for many years, specially for this mission. When we were much, much younger, we... I made a mistake. The guardians' temple was destroyed, all because of me! Two of the Miraculous were lost that day. The Butterfly and the Peacock. Also gone forever was the ancient spell-book!"
"But all it has are drawings of old superheroes and a bunch of strange symbols."
"Not strange to a Guardian. Back in the days, I was never given the opportunity to even have a look at it, but I've been taught enough to be able to partially decipher the code."
Marinette looked from Tikki to Master Fu, then handed the Miraculous book to the man.
"These pages contain various spells capable of giving Ladybug, Cat Noir and Raven's Wing special abilities we haven't known about, until now! Obviously, this book is invaluable. I've always believed that whoever possessed this spell-book must also have the Peacock and the Butterfly Miraculous."
"Wait a sec, you mean whoever owned the spell-book could be Hawk Moth?" Marinette blanched, realizing what was being implied.
"How did you discover this book, Marinette?"
She couldn't say it out loud- that Adrien could be Hawk Moth!
"I- uh... I found it, lying on a bench in a park by uh... the school."
"You didn't see who it belonged to?"
"No... no, I didn't." Marinette ignored the bewildered expression on Tikki's face, her own thoughts clouded by the possibility at hand.
"What a shame. For a moment, I thought we almost discovered Hawk Moth's identity. We could have defeated him."
"I- I could investigate if you want."
Master Fu nodded and closed the book.
"But you must be very careful, Marinette. If you succeed, you may find yourself face-to-face with your greatest enemy."
"I will be, I promise."
The blunette stood and beckoned Tikki over, before turning and exiting the shop.

Marinette ran down the street back towards school. She didn't stop till she saw the building, but she only slowed her speed.
"Why did you lie to Master Fu?!" Tikki scolded, zipping from Marinette's purse.
"I can't tell him that Adrien was the one who had the book! Adrien can't be Hawk Moth!" The blunette stopped running finally, taking a second to breathe beside a Gabriel advertisement.
"Why not? There hasn't been an akumatization in three weeks- all while Adrien's been at the hospital-!"
"Because Ella got akumatized!"
Tikki cocked her head at the statement, confused at the sudden flood of emotions in her holders voice.
"Adrien c-cares-" Marinette's voice hitched on the word, her heart twisting in her chest, "about Ella... there's no way- even as Hawk Moth- that he would let anything happen to her..." The girl choked out, eyes glued to Adrien's face on the poster.
"...then there has to be an explanation. Do you know where Adrien would be now?"
"I know that boy's schedule by heart. The fencing team added a practice today to get back into the year. Let's go, Tikki."

"Wait- what?"
Brain reboot in progress: 32 percent.
"Mr. Agreste had decided to place Adrien and you into homeschooling after he found he can no longer trust Adrien."
"Ummm..." Ella's mouth opened and closed, still trying to process the information.
"It was thought best to keep you and Adrien in the same kind of schooling, as long as you are living under this roof. And to that fact, Mr. Agreste would like you to know that he will regard you the same way he does his son, and hopes you will behave accordingly until the more permanent solution is completed."
Ella opened her mouth again, to clarify the situation while her brain stalled at 68 percent, when a knock echoed from the door.
"Come in." She called, and Adrien entered.
"Elle- oh, hi Nathalie..."
"I'll leave you two to talk." The woman nodded and left the room, leaving a slight tension in the air.

"...I take it Nathalie told you." The blond spoke, moving forward to sit beside Ella on her bed.
"My brain is stalled at 68 percent comprehension, but... we're not going back to school?"
She looked heartbroken at the news; Adrien's frown deepened as he pulled her into his arms.
"It's all my fault... I lost that book I wanted to show you last month. And with everything since then, I forgot about it till this morning..."

Ella shook her head into his shoulder.
"You can't blame yourself for this. So much happened that day with Lila and Volpina, and then everything with my father..." Ella trailed off, not really knowing what else to say. While she could comfort Adrien all she wants, there was no changing Mr. Agreste's mind unless the teens found that book. So she just sighed, and hugged the blond teen, running her fingers through his hair as they lamented over their new situation.

Marinette darted into the girls bathroom, locking herself in an empty stall and letting Tikki out of her purse. She had just found out that Adrien had been grounded and forbidden from returning to school- all because of that book.
"So it wasn't Adrien's book. It was his father's! Adrien isn't Hawk Moth! I knew it! Adrien doesn't have an evil bone in his body."
"Except, according to Nino, Adrien did take the book without his father's permission." Tikki pointed out.
"Well, he must've had a good reason to do it."
"You realize, based on Master Fu's theory, Adrien's father could be Hawk Moth."
"No way! It couldn't be!" Marinette initially denied, but then began to think about it.
"Hmm... An eccentric artist who never leaves his home. Mysterious, very intelligent, but cold, even with his own son. This is a very strong lead, Tikki!"
"Please be careful, Marinette!"
"I will. Tikki, spots on!"

Ladybug flung her yo-yo and flew above the school roof until she reached a certain spot, where she attempted to call Cat Noir. The yo-yo beeped twice before it went to voicemail.
"Has the cat got your tongue? Leave a message!"
"Cat Noir, I think I know who Hawk Moth is! Get your whiskers over here fast!"

Adrien sighed, alone in his room. He had left Ella's room a bit ago, as the girl had fallen asleep- naps were happening a lot since the infliction of her head injury. The doctor had said on Saturday that she would regain her energy with a few days in a calm living situation. But until then, when Ella took her naps, Adrien was alone. At the moment, he was listening to music and playing around with the foosball table.
"Look on the bright side. Your father could've found out about me! It's a good thing we kwamis can never be filmed or photographed. Ah, those photographers have no idea what they're missing!"
"I've gotta find that book, or Ella and I'll never be allowed to return to school."
"Return to school?! Are you crazy?! No more homework, no more alarm clocks! We should be celebrating! Hey, I know!" Plagg flew off, only to return carrying a huge jar with a giant wheel of Camembert inside.
"I named this piece El Plaggo. It's been maturing for nine hundred and ninety-nine days!"
Adrien grimaced at the stinky cheese, before loud crashes and banging draw him out of his room.
"What was that?!"
Adrien and Gorilla, who had been guarding his door, run downstairs, only to be greeted by Nathalie guarding the door to Gabriel's atelier.
"Your father is very busy." The woman spoke, ignoring the noises coming from the room behind her. A doorknob turning alerted the trio to Ella poking her head out of her room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"...whas goin' on?"
"Nothing, Ella. Go back to sleep. You need your rest." Nathalie spoke to the teen before turning back to Adrien.
"Shouldn't Adrien be practicing his piano right now?"
Adrien's bodyguard nodded and looked briefly at Adrien before escorting him upstairs. Nathalie watched silently as Adrien looked back sadly.

Back in his room and annoyed, Adrien used a remote to open his window, planning to escape his room.
"My father's angry because of me; he won't forgive me until I find that book."
"May I remind you that you're actually grounded?" Plagg floated beside the teen, smirking.
"Adrien is, but Cat Noir isn't. Plagg, claws out!"
"Oh myyyyyyy!" Plagg exclaimed as he was sucked into the ring.

Now Cat Noir, the teen hopped onto his windowsill with the intent of finding that stupid book before going to Ella's room and cuddling (as Adrien, of course), but stopped at a beeping sound. Pulling his staff from its spot, he sees a voicemail from Ladybug.
"Cat Noir, I think I know who Hawk Moth is. Get your whiskers over here, fast!"
"Wow! I guess the book will have to wait a bit longer." Cat smirked and extended his staff, vaulting off.

Nathalie sighed, wondering how much longer she would have to guard the atelier door, only to be knocked down when the door is kicked open.
"Nathalie! You'll be the first of my many inspirations to come."
"Mr. Agreste?"
"You will call me...the Collector."
Collector swung his book at Nathalie and trapped her inside his notebook; then does the same to Adrien's bodyguard a moment later, before going up to Adrien's room and knocking on the door.
"Adrien...I have a great collection I want to show you."
Collector kicked open the door to Adrien's room and entered. When he sees that the piano music he heard had been coming from a speaker perched on the piano, he angrily swipes up the speaker, and growled. Exiting the room, he moved down to the guest room, kicking open the door and sending it splintering across the floor. The girl sitting at the piano jumps, her headphones falling to the floor and her body moving to the wall opposite. Collector watched her spiral into a panic attack... before swiping his book at her and trapping her within the pages.
"Sorry Ella, but adding you to my collection will bring forth cooperation from my foes like no other!"