It was shortly after the anomaly was stopped. Shortly after Multiversity gave her life to undo her mistakes. F-Bunnyx quickly recharged her version of Fluff with a bunch of carrots and assumed her hero form a new, and so did our present day Alix. F-Bunnyx waved her umbrella and the body vanished in a flash, being sent away somewhere in time and space to be preserved, and eventually buried later. F-Bunnyx then took out her Miraculous and checked. "Well, everything is mostly stabilized. Aside a few stragglers our teammates should be dealing with right now and have to be sent back. There may be a few hiccups in the fabric of space and time, but at this point you'll be able to deal with them, mini-me." F-Bunnyx noted.
"It's…really sad. I…we could have been her." Bunnyx noted.
"I know that's scary. Even I, whom have been doing this longer then you can imagine…I'm still scared by the thought. At least she also showed that in the end there was hope for her." F-Bunnyx said.
At this point the other heroes come in. First came Ladybug, Chat Noir, Rena Rouge, Carapace, Queen Bee and their counterparts. Soon they were joined by the rest of the team, all of them dragging whatever came through the portals earlier behind them. First was Taurus whom dropped a giant blob worm/leech thing covered in eyes down, with a sickening plop. All of its eyes had anime knockout swirls on them. Petit Souris held a jar that was full off…pinhead-sized clones of Mayor Bourgeois whom were all let out high-pitched squeals. "That thing was gross…" Taurus noted.
"Speak for yourself." Porcelet moaned, looking sick and holding a jar full of Akumas and Amoks. "You didn't have to keep these stored in your stomach. Technically pocket dimension in my mouth but still…they taste of something out of the sewers!"
The rest of them had carried their last cargo through collective manpower and plopped it down next to them, appearing like Robostus' mecha form and an unconscious Bubbler. "Whatever universe they come from, quite uncreative to just model a Sentimonster after an existing Akuma and call it a day." Roi Singe said as he panted.
Pegasus pulled out another jar, but this held a weird USB-stick shaped Sentimonster in red and black with a single eye and horns. "Got this one in time, he was really making Markov uneasy."
They suddenly noticed the Core Five and Pipistrello with their counterparts. "Oh, either that Robustus copy hit me on the head too heard or I'm seeing double." Roi Singe noted.
The counterparts all started to look at each other, then at the heroic counterparts next to each other, looks of understanding and dawning realization on each of their faces as they looked among themselves. "Holy shit, you are Ladybug!" Alya II said.
"I was…" Marinother sighed.
"Of course she is…" Chloé 2 said as she laughed darkly. "Of course the girl I hated most is the hero of Paris, because why not? Another insult to injury." She laughed a bit insanely for a bit before becoming depressed. "You know, what does it matter anymore?"
"Holy shit…I treated my own Marinette like dirt, I called her the liar but she was Ladybug…No wonder she didn't trust me, I'm a horrible friend." Alya II grasped her hair. She turned furious and towards Lie-La. "It's your fault! I'll kill you…"
"Hey, I'm not the one whom turned on Marinette. Seriously, I'm not even your Lila. But if she was anything like me…" Lie-La chuckled. "Then it would be your fault that you believed her and dropped her like a hot potato."
"You did it too, spreading lies…" Alya II said as she pointed and shook in rage, before she sighed and looked exasperated. "But I made mistakes…I can finally admit it. I felt like I owed everything because I thought I was in the right, but I wasn't. I was not a reporter, I was acting like a tabloid writer. I wielded the fox, the very Miraculous of Deception but I couldn't see beyond mere lies…I effed up. I disappointed both my friend and hero."
"Me too. But while I didn't attack them, I knew something was odd but I didn't want to rock the boat, I was a coward. By inaction I have caused the pain of my friends." Twinno added.
"I did the same." Alternate Adrien or Altadrien said. "But I was worse. I actively suppressed knowledge of the lies because…I was selfish, I thought when the boat was rocked I would lose everything I had gained, my freedom, my right to go out. I was spineless and went along with the people whom didn't have my best interests at heart and hurt the people whom actually cared."
Marinother gave her own two cents. "I was no better. I could have handled everything so much better. It would have been easy to expose the lies if I handled it smartly but my pride, my temper…I felt so humiliated that I didn't even try anymore. I was also supposed to be the hero…But I grew bitter. I really wanted to help people but…I let my pride get the best of me. I thought I always knew best. I pushed others as much away as they pushed me. I was also in blind obedience to the adults in my life, I kept their ridiculous rules and ideas alive even when deep down I knew that I couldn't go on. But I did. And it was hurting me, it was hurting my friends, it was…Hurting my partner…" She looked close to breaking down.
Chloé 2 just stood there, silently. She huffed. "So everyone is just going to stand here and complained on how much they messed up? How their lives sucked? Whatever." She scowled, but it was weird, like she was suppressing something way too much. "I don't regret any…I don't…" She looked odd, like she was about to throw a tantrum. She even stomped her feet a few times. "I DO REGRET IT!" she shouted out. She panted, and she had a look of relief on her face. "I do…"
"Chlo?" Altadrien asked.
"I was never a hero, unlike you guys. I just found a Miraculous that was lost, used it to make a jackass of myself to impress my abusive mom, and the only reason I ever got called back was because I had experience. But no…I admit it, I was never a hero. I just wanted what I felt was owed to me. But that doesn't matter anymore, does it?" She turned resigned again. "I am such a f***ing mess."
"Oh, boo-hoo, cry me a river? You were all so much more interesting when you were insane bad guys." Lie-la said as she made a gagging sound, complete with pointing her finger down her throat. "What happened?"
"Simply put…we got beaten by our better selves. Showed us how insignificant we are." Marinette admitted.
"Also…Multiversity was Alix. She was once a hero like us. And yet…when that anomaly hit, she…you saw what she did. She gave it all to put things right." Altadrien said.
"She cleaned up her own mess." Chloé 2 noted bluntly.
"At the cost of her life…" Alya II said. "She remembered how it was being a hero."
"Reminding us what we all used to be, even more." Twinno added.
Lie-La blinked. "So?" She was shot dirty looks. "What? What am I missing?"
"She put her own life above everyone else's. She saved everyone not only in Paris, but the world and the multiverse. She gave her life so all these people could live. She put any selfishness aside for something bigger then her." Marinother noted.
"Why would she do that?" Lie-La asked looking genuinely confused.
"Because there would be nothing left otherwise, and she knew she had the power to stop it." Altadrien added. "We're all still here because of her."
"I don't get it, what did she have to gain? If she failed, we'd all die anyways. It could have easily gone wrong. Why try?" Lie-La asked.
"It was the right thing to do. And you know what? She actually succeeded. What does that say?" Alya II said.
Lie-La struggled to comprehend it. She was at a loss for words. (That's a first) She didn't reply. "Your ideals are challenged…all of ours were and we had to accept we were wrong. The earlier you accept that, the better it would be for you." Twinno said.
"Does anyone know what will happen to us now?" Chloé 2 asked.
"I don't know. But whatever it is, I'll accept any punishment with dignity. It's the right thing to do. Because it is about time I did something right in my life again." Marinother said.
"As will I." Altadrien said; One by one the other counterparts agreed. Aside Lie-La, whom remained unusually quiet.
"So wow, you all got an upgrade?" Roi Singe said as she eyed the core five.
"Yeah, it seems that we have unlocked the full potential of our powers." Ladybug added.
"And to boot, we look fabulous." Queen Bee said as she admired her new look.
Rena Rouge created some foxfire in her hand. "And we got some neat new tricks too."
"It has been building up in us for a while." Carapace said as he held and studied his new and improved shield in front of him.
"Yeah, because you were all going flashy like a Christmas tree. For a few days now." Pipistrello said. She was now wearing a t-shirt that said 'My friends got a new look and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.'
"So…those other you's?" Tigresse asked.
"Other versions of ourselves whom didn't turn out so right." Chat Noir noted as he looked over at the group of counterparts, but he noticed they looked a lot more subdued and sad. "Though we gave them a kick in the butt in every sense of the word."
"All this multiversal timey wimey stuff is giving me a headache." Roi Singe noted.
"Nothing new." Bunnyx muttered quietly.
"So, this is it for now?" Porcelet asked. "We send all the people and beings through the portal home and that's a wrap?"
"It's not that simple." F-Bunnyx noted. "Those counterparts…" she pointed at the other group. "…they have no world left to go to."
"So what do we do with them?" Rena Rouge asked.
"They are anomalies. They do not belong. And since they are anomalies…" F-Bunnyx didn't finish the sentence but you could sense where she was going.
"Dudette…do you mean…" Carapace said. "Not cool, man!"
"NO!" Bunnyx suddenly spoke up, or rather shouted. "We already saw enough death and destruction today, we are not going to add to it."
"Their presence violates space and time. They caused the downfall of their timelines. They are dangerous. If they ever get their hands on a working Miraculous again, what prevents them from going down another path like that?"
"Multiversity sacrificed herself, she still had good in her. Maybe they can…" Bunnyx argued back.
"Multiversity is dead…she can do no more damage. It was a good that she used her final moment of clarity to do the right thing. But she was the one whom also did great damage to the time and space continuum. Let's not forget that." F-Bunnyx said.
"They are still kids." Bunnyx argued.
"Dangerous kids!" F-Bunnyx said. She rubbed her temple. "I don't like doing it either but I have a responsibility, and sometimes to do the right thing, you have to get your hands dirty."
"It sounds like a slippery slope to me." Bunnyx noted. "Good you think the intentions may be, you know what the road to hell is paved with?" Bunnyx brought in another zinger. "Is also the reason you shouldn't leave your friends or family decades at the time. You may forget yourself."
F-Bunnyx cringed. "Low blow, Mini-Me." She sighed. "True, but still a low blow. Man, I can't believe I'm arguing with myself. Though if it is a past, separate version of me, technically it doesn't mean I'm going mad…"
"It's ok." A soft voice said behind them. The counterparts had joined in, most of them looking resigned. "If it is for the best, erase me." Marinother said.
"We did a lot of damage. Multiversity gave her life to set things right, so we can do the same." Altadrien added.
"We have endangered our own worlds with our presence, and we did endanger this one. But no more. Go ahead if you want." Alya II continued.
"Is not like we have anything left." Chloé 2 sighed.
"Speak for yourself, I'm out of here…" Lie-La said before Altadrien and Twinno grabbed her by the arms, lifted her off the ground and dragged her back.
"If it is the way to repent for our actions, then so be it." Twinno finished up.
Everyone looked at them shocked. Especially F-Bunnyx. She quickly recomposed herself and raised her umbrella. The heroes grabbed their weapons, but the counterparts raised their arms and gave them pleading looks. F-Bunnyx looked her younger counterpart in the eye, whom now also sported a different but still pleading look. F-Bunnyx sighed.
She instead pointed her umbrella at the discarded remains of Multiversity's armor. They reform into gauntlets with clock-like designs into them, and they fly towards the counterparts and attach to their arms. "This will keep you in line." She noted. Everyone looked at her confused. "Multiversity had to make a tough decision in the moment. But you…If you really are intent on paying for your mistakes, you may as well help me clean up some of the mess at least."
"So wait…you are recruiting us or something?" Altadrien asked.
"Think of it as community service." F-Bunnyx said. Everyone let out a sigh of relief, while the younger Bunnyx smiled at her older counterpart.
"So we'll have to be goody two-shoes?" Lie-La said, eying the gauntlet in disgust. "What if I don't want to?"
"I can still erase you." F-Bunnyx noted.
"Point taken. Guess I don't have much of a choice." Lie-La sighed.
"It's not my style, a bit tacky." Chloé 2 said. "But beggars can't be choosers I guess…"
"This is the best any of us can hope for." Twinno noted.
"And its more then we deserve." Alya II sighed.
"Don't get mushy with me." F-Bunnyx said, in a more light-hearted tone, like she was at the start of this adventure…and more like the Alix they all knew. F-Bunnyx opened a few portals. "Throw the Sentimonsters into the small portals. You bunch, follow me in this one. I am making a little pocket dimension you can stay until I know what to do with you guys." She said as she pointed at the bigger one. "As for you mini-me, if there are any further anomalies, I'm sure you can handle them."
"Don't forget what I said, okay?" Bunnyx noted.
"No worries…" F-Bunnyx picked up the last piece of Multiversity's armor, a broken helmet. "I think I know what to look out for." She turned back to her younger self and her teammates. "Enjoy your future. It will not always be easy, but it will be awesome!"
"Will I have a boyfriend?" Bunnyx asked.
"Oh, for certain. You'll even have a trouple." F-Bunnyx noted. Bunnyx went wide-eyed and blushed before F-Bunnyx burst out laughing. "The look on your face. Just kidding." It got a chuckle out of mostly everyone else.
Before the counterparts went into the portal, they eyed their Prime counterparts for a bit. Marinother spoke first. "For what it's worth…I'm sorry. You are the leader they need and deserve. Don't…try to do thing alone."
"I'm never alone." Ladybug said, giving a sweet smile as she turned to her friends.
Then was Chat and Altadrien. Altadrien looked nervous. "You are lucky you know that? Quite ironic because black cats…"
"I make my own luck." Adrien replied. He gently grabbed Ladybug's hand.
Altadrien chuckled. "It seems things are looking quite meow-velous for you."
"Keep working hard and things may turn out paw-l right." Chat Noir joked back. Both chuckled as both Marinother and Ladybug rolled their eyes in a playful fashion.
Next it was Rena Rouge and Alya II. "I found the answers I seek. Though it were not the ones I expected. I think I found the answers I needed about questions I asked myself but didn't want to believe." Alya II said. "You never lost track of the truth."
"You eventually found it. Just don't stray again. Or I'll kick your ass all over again." Rena Rouge joked.
"You would. I am no match for you." Alya II added.
Twinno smiled at Carapace. "Never thought I'd ever get another chance. I will not waste this one."
"I'm sure you won't. As long as you remember, a turtle's shell is for defense…not hiding." Carapace noted. Twinno gave him a thumbs up.
Chloé 2 sighed. "I'm not sure if I can do this."
"People thought of me I couldn't do it. Being the hero." Queen Bee added.
"I have a lot more baggage then you." Chloé 2 admitted.
"Then you just have to work a bit harder." Queen Bee noted. "After all, queen bees start out as workers. If you want to prove something, now's your chance. Don't prove it to me, or mom or anyone, prove it to yourself."
Chloé2 looked a bit solemn, but eventually uttered: "I'll try…"
Finally, Lie-La and Pipistrello were eye to eye…Only Pipistrello was waking fake glasses with googly eyes on springs. Lie-La looked uncomfortable. "Ok, I have to honest for once in my life and admit I have no idea what to do, and I still don't understand…whatever it is you have what I don't."
"Hopefully you will in time. Just don't forget, don't make things about power. Obtaining power you haven't earned will only make sure that you'll have to fight to keep it. Power that is earned…it's not about deserving it, it's about being worthy." Pipistrello said.
"And how do I gain that worth, Einsteinette?" Lie-La asked sarcastically.
"You'll see it when you find it. Just don't turn left at Albuquerque, you may run into rascally rabbits." Pipistrello said, her moment of profoundness gone. "And lighten up, will you?" Lie-La wanted to speak up, but she didn't know how to reply to her crazy good counterpart and just slumped. "Future Bunnyx will have their hands full with this one." The Bat wielder said as she whispered to the audience.
"Who the hell are you talking to?" Lie-La asked confused.
"Move it, pipsqueaks. It's not because I'm the mistress of time that I have all the time in the universe." F-Bunnyx said as she guided the counterparts through the portal, as they left one by one. "See ya, everyone."
"And I guess I'm gonna be ya!" Bunnyx added. With one small smirk, F-Bunnyx saluted everyone as she also stepped through the portal. It closed, along with the other portals the rest of the heroes had chucked the Sentimonsters through.
"You'll think things will be all right?" Ladybug asked.
"Bunnyx's future self can handle them. And if they come back with ill intent, we can handle them." Chat Noir added.
"Besides, we got new powers." Rena Rouge said.
"And a few new extras." Queen Bee said as she coddled one of the bees she had taken control from, from Miracle Queen. "And this is a cute extra…whose a cute little bumblebee. You are, yes you are." She cooed, the bee drone, whom let out a happy gurgle/purr. Everyone looked at her. "What?" she said as she hid the bee behind her back…only for it to fly up and land on her head.
"I got a fox spirit that loves fruit pies." Pipistrello declared proudly. Everyone had a look that said 'of course'.
"And I got a spare yo-yo…" Ladybug noted. "And…I can finally heal Emilie and Nathalie once I'm properly rested. Then, we get it done as soon as possible."
"Milady…You already made me the happiest guy on Earth before…You are making me more happier every single day."
"We're all happy for you too, bro!" Carapace said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Aunt Emmy…" Queen Bee noted, looking as elated as Chat Noir.
"Everything is going to look up for us. We're stronger then ever, Sunshine's getting his two mother figures back…Kind of weirded out by the whole universe where we went bonkers thing but glad that wasn't us." Rena Rouge said.
"You know, this entire day has been crazy…crazier then normal." Roi Singe said. "whom is for going home and taking a nap?"
"I would like to go home too…I think it is as good a moment as ever to remind Dad and Jalil that I love them." Bunnyx said. She didn't use her portal abilities, she decided to do it on foot, giving her more time to think. "I jut hope Maxi-me is fine."
Ten years into the future, a portal opened in the living room of an older Alim Kubdel, whom was being visited by Jalil. F-Bunnyx stepped out and detransformed. F-Alix just looked at thew with dewy eyes. "Alix, is everything…" Alim asked as suddenly Alix tackled him and Jalil into a huge hug.
"Alix…How long was it this time?" Jalil asked as he and Alim returned the hug.
"…too long." Alix replied softly. "I'm sorry…"
"Oh, sweetheart." Alim said. He, Jalil and Alix just remained like that for a while. Alix would do something similar with her friends later that day.
In a pocketspace…similar to the Burrow, but not quite, six youngsters were given their own living space. It was not a prison cell, but it wasn't a hotel either. They had basic luxuries like a bed, a sink and such. But they have to remain here until they were needed. Over time when having proven themselves they would be afforded more luxuries. They each were in a separate room for now, each one with their own thoughts.
Marinother grabbed a pen and paper, one of the few things aside a few books they had to take their mind of things. She started drawing. First she wanted to see if she could draw fashion designs again…But later she drew sketches of her friends and family form the old world, and wrote their names under it. She would not forget them, she couldn't allow herself…
Altadrien had discarded design clothes and his neatly combed hair, and his hair was now perpetually messy, like he was at Chat Noir. It felt better for him. He looked a bit in the mirror, gave a catty smirk, but eventually sighed and looked sadly. He then moved away from the mirror, crouched to the ground, and did some push ups to keep in shape.
Twinno didn't have music for now. He had the pen and paper, but it wasn't ideal for writing down music notes. He absently tapped with the pencil on the paper…then he formed a rhythm with the tapping. He then started tapping the pencil on other hard surfaces, like the wooden parts of his bed, the table, and more…
Alya II was writing down like she was obsessed. As she scribbled down more and more, and more sheets of paper littered the room, we see one page floating to the floor. The first page she wrote and the title: 'The truths I cannot allow myself to forget again'.
Chloé 2 looked at herself in the mirror. She no longer liked the face that looked back. She undid her hair, and opened her faucet, allowing water to pour into her hands, then rubbing her face, removing the make up and everything else that felt…fake. After grabbing a towel and cleaning herself off, she didn't recognize the face looking back at her…But she liked the look of it better.
Lie-La was just staring in her mirror. Entranced, but not due to her usual vanity. No longer tied up in the foxtails she always wore, her eyes glassy as she muttered to herself, as if she tried to gain the understanding of something beyond her comprehension and reach. After doing that for a while, she just dropped into her bed, staring at the ceiling, same glassy look, and still muttering.
NOTES
Final part of this crazy multiversal chapter. Next are a few interludes, then the first in a series of episode building up the the endgame.