Chapter 38: Mad Hare
A note from the author: I'm super excited to post this one. It's a huge turning point. I hope everyone enjoys!
It is night, and adult future Bunnyx is fleeing through the streets of modern Paris. She looks over her shoulder, but she doesn't see her pursuer. She leaps to the next roof and then comes to a halt. Hawk Moth appears in front of her. But it's not just Hawk Moth. He's Scarlet Hawk Moth.
They fight; cane clashes against umbrella. Bunnyx loses her grip, and her umbrella goes skittering away from her. However, she isn't out of the fight yet. She charges Scarlet Hawk Moth directly, aiming a punch for his face. He dodges, but her attack was a feint. She goes for her umbrella. However, before she can pick it up, Catalyst grabs it. Now it's two against one, and Bunnyx can't use her Burrow technique to escape into time—Scarlet Hawk Moth points out as much. He tells her she should have just stayed in the future; now she's going to become the lynchpin in his plans. Bunnyx tells him that he's going to regret those plans.
Scarlet Hawk Moth just laughs as he and Catalyst corner Bunnyx. However, she keeps fighting. They're not going to pin her down. Scarlet Hawk Moth knew it would take more to overwhelm her. He summons thousands of red butterflies. They swarm Bunnyx, pinning down her arms and legs, blinding her vision. Bunnyx fights the best she can. However, when the swarm dissipates, all three of them are gone.
It's evening—perhaps earlier than the prior scene. Alya Cesaire is talking to Marinette Dupin-Cheng on the phone. They're chatting about Friendship Day. Alya says she had a blast with Wayhem, and she's so happy they won. She asks Marinette how her time went with Kagami Tsurugi, and she's surprised to hear that Marinette and Kagami found a common ground. "Too bad about that akuma attack taking you out of the running of the game though." They talk some more, but Alya can tell Marinette is distracted. Plus there's homework. So they end the call.
The camera pans back to reveal Marinette is actually transformed into Ladybug as she talked on the phone. She's waiting on the rooftop above the park where she's supposed to meet Froppy and receive Tsukuyomi to take to Master Fu in hope that he can do something to help the encased hero. However, it's clear that Froppy is at least an hour late, if not more.
Ladybug wonders if Froppy stood her up. Was Froppy lying about agreeing to bring Tsukuyomi? No. They decided to trust each other. Froppy is blunt, but it's clear she's an honest person. Plus she's very worried about her friend. She wouldn't run now. But then where is she?
Ladybug logs into the Team B chat server. Her eyes go wide when she realizes that it's flooded with messages. She scrolls up to see where it all began. Alpha announced he'd lost touch with Froppy. They were talking over the phone when she just went silent; then the call disconnected. He's been trying to get ahold of her again, but she's not answering. None of the B Team can get her to respond, and none of them know what happened. Dauphine is worried that Froppy was attacked. Firefly wonders if what happened to Tsukuyomi happened to her. Dauphin suggests that maybe Froppy's phone battery died; there's no need to panic. The problem that they're all facing is that Froppy was Tsukuyomi's spotter and vice versa. No one knows who Froppy really is. No one has any way to connect with her or follow up. Firefly knows who Tsukuyomi is, but that doesn't help them now since Tsukuyomi is with Froppy, wherever she took him.
Ladybug chimes in, admitting that Froppy did not arrive at the planned meeting point. That effectively means both heroes are missing. The B Team talks more, trying to figure out what they can do to help Froppy. However, they don't know where to start because they don't know her family or friends. Ladybug relays the fact that Froppy is missing to Master Fu and Cat Noir. Fu tells her that they have to find Froppy and Tsukuyomi. He can feel a change in the miraculous powers; it's an ominous feeling. Ladybug and Cat Noir agree to follow up with Fumikage Tokoyami as he's their only lead. This is the plan the B Team comes up with as well, sending Firefly in to investigate.
Adult future Bunnyx is bound by her wrists and ankles with chains made of scarlet butterflies; she can't fight back. Nonetheless, she is doing her best to struggle. She's being kept prisoner in one of the lower levels of the stadium, in a room that's been emptied of everything else. Scarlet Hawk Moth is trying to break her by talking so that she's easier to akumatized. Catalyst is by his side (as Hawk Moth knows it would take the boosted power of Catalyst in order for him to akumatize an experienced adult superheroine.)
However, despite Scarlet Hawk Moth's best psychological manipulation and lies (such as telling her that he just managed to kill Cat Noir), Bunnyx doesn't break. So Scarlet Hawk Moth moves on to Plan B. He says that as a rabbit with long ears, she must have sensitive hearing. She retorts that it's just a costume, but he laughs. He motions for Catalyst, who has headphones blaring some of the most obnoxious ear-screech music ever wailed on a chalkboard. Bunnyx tries to whip her head around, but Catalyst places the headphones over her real ears. Bunnyx jerks in pain. She withstands it all to the best she can. However, Scarlet Hawk Moth, being the butterfly wielder, is incredibly in-tune to her emotional state. As her eyes roll back, Scarlet Hawk Moth sends his akuma and transforms her into Mad Hare (whose design resembles a combination of the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.)
Bunnyx/Mad Hare does her best to resist despite it all. She calls Scarlet Hawk Moth out, telling him that he's going to destroy the future. He doesn't care. Just as Bunnyx succumbs to Mad Hare, she spits out. "Don't worry. We will save you. That's a promise." Scarlet Hawk Moth laughs. He doesn't need saving. Catalyst says she's here of her own free will. Bunnyx/Mad Hare says "Not you two. I'm talking to Nooroo." This pisses Scarlet Hawk Moth off enough that he's able to push harder and override her resistance, completing the akumatization.
Catalyst approaches Mad Hare; they have a plan laid out to get Ladybug and Cat Noir's miraculous. Mad Hare has to do her part; the akumatized victim agrees. (Perhaps she speaks in riddles.) Hawk Moth stops them before they go. He has one question; one thing he needs to know. Mad Hare asks him what that is. "I need The Incantation for absolute power." (Fortunately, Hawk Moth is unaware Bunnyx knows EVERYONE'S identities; otherwise, it would be game over.)
It's morning. Marinette Dupin-Cheng makes sure to leave early so she can swing by the Tokoyami residence on her way to school. However, that is fruitless as Fumikage is still missing, and his family is deeply worried. They've heard nothing new. Marinette finds it odd that she runs into Nathaniel Kurtzberg there. Nathaniel stammers an excuse about delivering homework from Miss Bustier to Fumikage because he's been absent. Marinette comments that she wasn't aware that Miss Bustier assigned Nathaniel to bring homework, especially since Fumikage Tokoyami's homeroom teacher is Mr. Haprele. Nathaniel makes an excuse, then he asks why Marinette is there. Marinette stammers an excuse as well. Nathaniel notices she's really cute when she fluster-blushes, then scolds himself for mentally being disloyal to Ladybug. He offers to walk her to school. Marinette figures she might as well since they're going in the same direction. Nathaniel is on cloud nine when she accepts, and she doesn't realize there's anything romantic behind it.
Alya Cesaire and Nino Lahiffe are walking to school together. Nino's little brother, Chris, is with him. They have to drop him off at his elementary school since it's on their way. Chris is complaining. "I'm not a baby. I can get to school myself. I don't need a babysitter." Nino handles it well, deflecting the complaints and saying it's just convenient since they're going in the same direction. Then he and Alya begin talking. They get a bit focused on each other; when they look up, Chris is gone. They call his name, but he doesn't reveal himself. They search but don't find him. They think he's ran on to school, but they call the school and Nino's parents just to make sure.
Alix Kubdel is roller-blading to school, and Stella Tenebrae is jogging beside her. Stella is complaining about having to get up early for this. Alix tells her that it's about time and laughs; "Race ya!" The two speed up, neck and neck. Alix pulls ahead, laughing. She gets to a lamp post and spins around it. "I win!" But when she looks back, Stella is gone.
In the Kante home, Max is preparing for school while his mother is preparing for her aeronautics class. They're talking happily, as is Markov. Mrs. Kante turns her back for a moment. When she turns around, Max is gone. She asks Markov if he went to the bathroom, but Markov says that Max is not in the apartment. Mrs. Kante is confused, wondering what's going on. Markov explains that Max's signature just vanished when he took his ocular circuits off of him. His scanners cannot find Max within their radius. Both Markov and Mrs. Kante worry (as much worry as Markov can express).
At school, students are gathering at their lockers, as usual. Monique Imhof and Mathieu Anciel meet up immediately and start flirting. Marc rolls his eyes (he arrived with his brother) and walks off. A minute later, Nathaniel approaches them. "Where's Marc?" Mathieu is confused—Marc just walked in his direction. It's impossible for Nathaniel to have come this way without seeing him. (All of these characters can be seen at (( photos . app . goo . gl / cgLSrNi71rxfep9e8 ))(remove the spaces).)
Not everything is so grim though. Chloe Bourgeois and Sabrina Raincomprix are the same as always. Lila Rossi managed to strike up a conversation with Marie Chauveau and Suzette Rault, claiming she knows one of their favorite authors, who actually based a character in his book off of her. Aurore Beaureal and Mireille Caquet have their usual work and arrive at the last minute. Viktor Vasiliev looks rather lonely without Fumikage around. Tristan Fortier, Guy Nigels, and Cameran Tyler are all goofing off.
Adrien Agreste notices Kagami Tsurugi. He calls out to her, but she doesn't hear him. He catches up to talk with her, but she rounds a corner. By the time Adrien gets there, Kagami is gone. Adrien looks down the empty hallway, confused. He figures she must have slipped to class, which is something he needs to check out anyway. He looks into Mr. Haprele's classroom. Kagami isn't there. Neither is Fumikage Tokoyami or Tsuyu Asui. Raissa Deschamps and Gilles Chastain are also missing.
Adrien returns to his own class. Mylene Haprele and Ivan Bruel are both seemingly absent. As is Max Kante. In Ms. Mendeleiev's class, Meera Pugliese, Jean Duparc, Pierre Lefevre, and Genevieve Faucher are all missing.
Principal Damocles is fielding calls from parents wanting to know where their children are. He has no idea; all he knows is that they didn't show up for class that day. However, the parents are insisting their children left for school or were left off at the school's doors. People are in contact with the police; Roger Raincomprix and his coworkers are overwhelmed with calls from all over the city.
Before lunch rolls around, Nadja Chamack is reporting the vast disappearances. She's distraught herself; her daughter Manon is among the missing. Students at the main school learn of it through their cell phones: the broadcast, text messages, news articles, rumors, alerts. However, no one knows why.
Parents are demanding their children be sent home from school. Principal Damocles says they have to prioritize safety. He can't just release everyone to wander by themselves. He begins organizing a pick-up line where parents can retrieve their children directly. Teachers are being told not to let anyone out of sight. During the day, more students go missing including Juleka Couffaine, Etienne Fontaine, and Nicolette Lacroix.
Classes pretty much end around lunch time, leaving everyone wondering what's going on, anxious. Miss Bustier does her best to keep everyone's spirits up. Bit by bit, everyone is sent home as their parents or guardians arrive. However, Le Chien Kim is texting Ondine. He's worried about her. The same thing is happening at her school. They agree to meet up at the pool, so he sneaks out. They know it's reckless, but they just have to see each other.
Once they meet, they hug each other in relief. Both compare notes, wondering if this is Hawk Moth or another villain. Kim is pretty fond of an alien abduction theory. As he's talking, Ondine's expression changes; she notices something behind his shoulder. Had they not have training and practiced as Dauphin and Dauphine, she never would have pulled it off. However, Ondine is able to grab onto Kim and twist, getting him out of Mad Hare's grasp.
Both brace themselves. "It's an akuma!" Mad Hare is surprised to encounter someone with such good reflexes. Then she vanishes. Kim and Ondine search around for her, trying to figure out where she went. Ondine feels a hand on her shoulder. Kim calls out her name, but it's too late. Both Ondine and Mad Hare vanish. Kim growls, frantic. A moment later, Mad Hare reappears and grabs him too.
She teleports him into a plain white room where other children and teenagers are being held. She lets him go and teleports out. It takes a single second. Kim is left stumbling, trying to figure out what's going on.
Fortunately, he's locked in the same room as Max Kante. Unfortunately, Ondine isn't there. Max explains that the newest akumatized victim is taking hostages for Hawk Moth. The door is locked, and the walls are too thick to get out. Furthermore, they're all being watched by cameras. If they try to escape, Hawk Moth has threatened to "break" (not kill) the children and teenagers who are trapped in other rooms in this place, which Max has deduced as being the soccer stadium (football for everyone from elsewhere in the world). The abductees in this room are unwilling to risk it as they have friends and family who are also hostages.
Max lowers his voice to whisper to Kim that there's an added layer. With the cameras, if they transform, Hawk Moth will learn their secret identities. Kim points out Ondine currently has the dolphin anklet, and Max says he doesn't have the horse miraculous anyway. But if Hawk Moth manages to abduct any of the other superheroes, they'll be facing the same dilemma. Once Hawk Moth knows who they are, he can threaten the other hostages for the miraculous. They have to be smart and careful (there it is again, "careful") to figure out how to escape.
Kagami is in the same room as Ondine. She's trying to rally everyone to fight back. She isn't very successful as no one is willing to take the risk. Kagami tries to break down the door, but it's solid. Ondine calms her down. She checks her cell phone to call for help, but they're too far underground and the walls are too thick. No one's cell has reception (yet another aspect of Gabriel Agreste and Nathalie Sancoeur's plan). Manon Chamack insists that Ladybug and Cat Noir will show up to help them while sniffling in fear. Kagami says that they don't have be helpless and wait. However, there are no items whatsoever in the room to use that could aid in an escape. As Kagami continues, Hawk Moth chimes in over the PA. "You'd better settle down. You wouldn't want something bad to happen to the others, would you?" Kagami growls. (Note, again he doesn't say "die" or "kill.")
Adrien Agreste is waiting to be picked up by his bodyguard while Marinette Dupin-Cheng is waiting for both her parents. Half of the remaining students have already made it home. The sky is growing dark as the clouds roll in. They talk a bit, and Marinette is so somber between Tsukuyomi and Froppy as well as her missing classmates that she actually doesn't stumble over her words as much. She now wonders if Froppy was among the first to be taken.
The news broadcast cuts live as the Akuma Alert goes off on their phone. Mad Hare has taken her place at the Eiffel Tower (as now the stadium's underbelly is filled with hostages. They're moving on to the next part of their plan). A swarm of purple butterflies surround her, taking the shape of her head so everyone can hear her announcement. As Nadja films, Mad Hare introduces herself and admits to being the one to take everyone's children. She says that if Ladybug and Cat Noir don't hand over their miraculous, the people of Paris "will never see their children again" (Once more, the words "die" and "kill" are avoided.)
Behind the scenes, the threat is met with all kinds of responses from adults. Some feel that Ladybug and Cat Noir have failed since things escalated so far. They feel the heroes should give up their miraculous so the kids can go free and leave Hawk Moth to the military to handle. Others feel Hawk Moth has crossed the line and are calling for an all-out attack against him, all levels united: heroes, civilians, and military. Some feel it's best not to provoke Hawk Moth and to let Ladybug and Cat Noir continue to thwart him. It's a wide range of responses.
Marinette and Adrien make excuses to leave each other's company, something along the lines of "gee, it's getting bad! I'd better get home safely!" They then hurry off and transform. The duo re-meet on the top of one of the roofs to assess the situation.
They're not the only ones who took action at the broadcast. Both Luka Couffaine and Nathaniel Kurtzberg find safe places and transform as well. (Nathaniel is still at school due to his parents' schedule). The B Team begins to communicate, but with Froppy and Tsukuyomi down as well as Dauphin and Dauphine unable to reply because they've been captured, Alpha and Firefly realize it's just them. They recognize the butterflies from Heroes' Day and know that they have to be careful ("be careful," again!). Alpha declares this an emergency, and both head in without their spotters. After all, both know they have someone they care about who was abducted (their spotters), so there's no way they're going to sit out.
Just before Cat Noir and Ladybug go to move in by themselves, Alpha and Firefly join them on the rooftop. Given the situation, Cat Noir is glad to have the back-up. Ladybug decides to maintain the trust they've built too. The four head in. After all, Alpha did help a lot with the hostages during Acid Rain.
They approach from different directions to catch Mad Hare in a pincher attack. However, she simply teleports out of the way, giving them a glimpse of her power and abilities.
Then it's revealed to the readers why the butterflies around her were purple and not red. Mayura steps forward. Hawk Moth de-akumatized Catalyst, which reduced his scarlet powers. Nathalie then transformed into Mayura. The heroes realize it's not four on one. It's now four on two. Mayura summons a giant moth senti monster, we're talking mothra-sized, to aid in battle (even bigger than the one she used to help Hawk Moth when she first debuted). As they fight, Mayura expands the conflict into the streets of Paris. This forces the team to split its attention between Mad Hare's super quick teleportation and the damage that could be caused to the civilians. Alpha says that he and Firefly will handle the moth monster; Ladybug and Cat Noir can take out the akuma. They'll have to be fast as only Ladybug can purify the amok.
Ladybug and Cat Noir agree with this plan, after all, she and Cat Noir have experience fighting together, and Alpha and Firefly have practiced together. It doesn't make sense to split up any other way. Ladybug adds that they also need to find the hostages ASAP. However, it's hard for the four present to divide their attention between two adult villains, a senti monster, and finding hostages in a city the size of Paris.
And this is just what Mayura had anticipated. She's present to lure any and all allies away from Ladybug and Cat Noir so they have to deal with Mad Hare alone. She also has to keep them occupied enough that they don't find where Hawk Moth has made his HQ. Mayura wastes no time in putting distance between herself and the Eiffel Tower, forcing Alpha and Firefly to follow. She then ducks out of sight, leaving them to deal with the senti monster before innocents get hurt.
Ladybug and Cat Noir stare down Mad Hare. Both realize who the akumatized person is, which is another reason why they chose to take on Mad Hare and not Mayura. They try to talk with Mad Hare to reach adult Bunnyx inside, but she's pretty far gone. Hawk Moth has used a lot of power to control her. They fight, determined to find Mad Hare's akumatized item. Unfortunately, she has a lot of accessories, so it isn't easy (another part of Hawk Moth's plan). Hawk Moth coaches Mad Hare—she needs to force them to use their special abilities. It's vital that Cat Noir wastes his Cataclysm.
Mad Hare is one of the fastest opponents they've faced. Way faster than Style Queen—as fast as a fully charged Accelerator. Every time they go to attack or bind her, she teleports away. Then she strikes and is gone before they can retaliate. They leap back to breathe a moment, and Cat Noir wonders if this is the time to go get help, like Kamaitachi (before he remembers Kagami is one of the ones missing). Ladybug uses her Lucky Charm to see if it'll direct her to Master Fu. She doesn't even get time to plan with the item she conjures before Mad Hare teleports within range and keeps the pressure up on them (also a vital part of the plan). There's no time to run for help; there's no time to look for the hostages. Mad Hare is too fast and too accurate. She won't let them slip out, and they can't afford to leave the other alone with her. Ladybug says as much. Cat Noir is flattered she won't risk him. Ladybug smiles, "it's because you're my partner." (Mad Hare also knows she has to keep them away from Alpha, as his Howl ability could recharge their counters.)
Meanwhile, Alpha and Firefly are doing everything they can to keep the kaiju moth contained. They're fighting with spear and spring; however, civilians are in danger of getting caught in the fight. Alpha, being the fastest member of the B Team, races in and grabs them. Firefly uses Beacon. This can summon an ally. With Alpha holding on to innocents, they get pulled along for the ride and taken to safety. Unfortunately, the B Team's best efforts can't keep the moth down for long; it's a tank. They do their best to search for the amok. However, it's a giant moth, there's no many places it can be hidden. So where did Mayura put it? Is it with Mad Hare? There's no time to check with the other fight; there's no time to look for the hostages while they have to protect other civilians.
Ladybug keeps an eye out on a way to McGuyver something with her Lucky Charm while she and Cat Noir try to pin down Mad Hare without being cornered themselves. Ladybug comes up with an idea. Cat Noir smiles "you always do, Milady." She jerryrigs a snare with her Lucky Charm as Cat Noir moves in.
Mad Hare prepares for him. However, it's a feint. Cat Noir gets under her defenses and preps his Cataclysm. Unfortunately, he forgot about all the butterflies Hawk Moth had on standby (as they had landed and gone still). The butterflies rush Cat Noir, messing up his attack. In the worst case of bad luck he's ever had, his Cataclysm falls on Ladybug's Lucky Charm. Both are absolutely horrified.
Cat Noir stammers an apology. However, he's so racked with guilt and regret that he loses track of Mad Hare. She's able to teleport behind him and grab his upper arm. Ladybug shouts out a warning, but it's too late. Mad Hare teleports away, taking Cat Noir with her.
Ladybug is on high alert, waiting for the moment Mad Hare reappears. She needs to get Mad Hare to take her to Cat Noir! She senses when Mad Hare reappears and is able to deflect the first several strikes with her yo-yo. However, Ladybug is alone now. Mad Hare gains the upper hand. Despite Ladybug's best effort, Mad Hare grabs ahold of her and teleports.
Silence falls around the Eiffel Tower for a moment as Parisians watch the news broadcast (still being streamed live), stunned.
The butterflies all flutter, swarming around the tower. They condense into Hawk Moth's head. He speaks. "It's over."
To be continued in Chapter 39: Hawk Moth…