Chapter 45: Truthsayer
Nathalie Sancoeur is walking a boutique street in Paris. She's actually wearing casual clothing as well as a hat and sunglasses—in the off-chance someone would recognize her when she's supposed to be in Italy, dealing with a dying older brother.
She has a bag already filled with wires, settings, pliers, twine, clasps, and the like. As a final stop, she ducks into an upscale geological shop off of a small side street. Nathalie looks around. She has a general idea of what she'll need—once she sees it, she'll know. The sales clerk asks her questions about what kinds of rocks and minerals she's into and if she's an amateur collector. Nathalie asks about the properties of the rocks on sale. She walks out with a kit containing loose gemstones that match all twelve of the birthstones.
The school day begins. The gorilla drives not only Adrien Agreste but also Amelie and Felix Graham de Vanily to the door. Adrien thanks them for dropping him off. Felix remarks that it's nice that he doesn't have class, and he wonders why Adrien would willingly choose to go to a school anyway. Adrien said he likes it because it was a choice that he, himself, made to be free of the house. Felix doesn't get it. Amelie smiles and tells Felix that they need to talk to the principal; they have an appointment. Felix groans. Adrien is confused, but he heads to his locker when they part ways.
Pretty much everyone is back in school at this point. Nicolette Lacroix brings some photography magazines over to Etienne Fontaine in an attempt to strike up a conversation with him. The conversation is rather shallow. Cameran Tyler sees this and approaches Gilles Chastain. He asks about ordering flowers; Cameran likes Nicolette and wants to impress her. Stella Tenebrae is doing some cool-down stretches from her jog to school. Tsuyu Asui meets up with Fumikage Tokoyami and asks if he'll be okay with Ladybug and Cat Noir visiting that night to meet Dark Shadow. Fumikage says he's prepared; he cautions Tsuyu to keep her distance as he wants her identity as Froppy to remain a secret. They both have their kwamis with them and also have to keep them hidden during the school day. Kagami Tsurugi is surprised when Rachel Beauchene approaches her and asks about fencing (with a subtle emphasis on the violent side of it). When Kagami's answers don't appeal to Rachel's inner sadism, Rachel begins asking about kendo. Kagami explains kendo to her, as she practices with her mother, and Rachel's eyes light up. Aurore Beaureal is lost in thought about meeting the B Team that night for practice; it takes Mireille Caquet a few times to snap her from her thoughts. Raissa Deschamps is explaining how the Cheer Up Adrien assembly went that weekend to Giselle Winters-Blanchet and Meera Pugliese, who both missed it. Giselle is surprised to hear that the akumatized victim made it a point of attacking Adrien Agreste. Does that mean she was wrong and he's not Hawk Moth? Or is it a clever trick? (The class photos are here (( photos . app . goo . gl / cgLSrNi71rxfep9e8 )) if you remove the spaces.)
Alya Cesaire greets Marinette Dupin-Cheng. Alya's been really missing chatting on the phone together in the evening, but she hopes her parents will unground her soon. Marinette agrees. Alya feels something cold down her neck and realizes that Lila Rossi is glaring at her. Alya plays it off with a smile. She then turns back to her locker, making sure her fox necklace is hidden under her shirt and out of sight. In addition, Marinette, Adrien, Tsuyu, and Fumikage aren't the only ones who have to hide kwamis at school: Alya and Nino both have to too now.
The bell rings, and students file to class. Alya sets herself up next to Marinette. She's got her notebook ready and cell phone recording the lecture. Marinette comments that Alya really has been determined lately. Alya echoes the concept about trust and how she hopes she can re-earn her parents'. Miss Bustier calls everyone's attention and says she has the test results to hand back. Alya is anxious, as she's banking on good grades to get ungrounded and be Rena Rouge again.
When Miss Bustier hands Alya her test results last, Alya is thrilled to see she scored a hundred percent. She cheers, and Marinette and Nino both congratulate her. However, Miss Bustier isn't smiling. She asks Alya to open up her back pack.
Alya is confused, but she does so. Miss Bustier searches inside—and pulls out the test answers. Alya is shocked and mortified. She insists she would never cheat and that she has no idea how they got there. Miss Bustier says she got an anonymous tip about the situation. Le Chien Kim comments that it's true that Alya's grades usually aren't the best because she spends so much time blogging. Rose Lavillant and Juleka Couffaine glare at him for implying Alya did cheat. Kim insists he didn't mean it that way.
Lila Rossi speaks up loudly that she's shocked that people would assume Alya is guilty with only circumstantial evidence. Alya immediately puts two and two together and remembers Lila's threat from the Gunslinger chapter. She accuses Lila of planting the answers and sending the anonymous tip in front of everyone. Lila feigns being hurt; she's trying to defend Alya, and this is how Alya responds.
Marinette Dupin-Cheng jumps in at her own friend's defense and tells Lila to quit lying. Lila insists she's not lying. Alya tells her not to do this, but Lila repeats that she's telling the truth. Alya points out that Lila herself does not have the best track record of truthfulness. She promised Ivan Bruel and Mylene Haprele concert tickets to Christina Vee; she promised Nathaniel Kurtzberg and Marc Anciel a meeting with an elite publisher. Ivan, Mylene, and Nathaniel all nod to confirm this is true. Lila realizes she's losing half of the crowd, so she fakes crying and insists she does so much. She reminds them that she's doing all she can to get the best doctors to look at Adrien's parents. Adrien, very softly, tells Lila to leave him out of this. A darkness crosses her eyes at his remark.
Miss Bustier has to shout, very unlike her, to bring the class to order as people start taking sides and arguing. She says that as teacher, she can't ignore what she just found. She tells Alya Cesaire and Lila Rossi that they both have to go see Principal Damocles while she sorts things out. She'll talk to them after first period. Alya is very frustrated as she knows she's innocent and Lila is guilty; she knows her grades are the product of hard work. She grabs up all her things and heads to the office. Lila follows behind her, sniffling, playing up the wounded gazelle fully.
Once they're in the hallway, Lila drops all pretenses. She says that Alya is getting what she deserved, as Lila promised. Alya rolls her eyes and insists on knowing what Lila expects to accomplish. All she has to do is retake the test/take another similar test to prove she knows the material. Lila says that this is just the beginning; she's going to ruin Alya for calling out her lies.
As Alya turns towards the office (they're on the second floor), Lila heads in a different direction—down the stairs. Alya tells her that trying to leave the building now is not going to help her cause. Lila smiles and tells her to just watch. She then lays down on the ground at the bottom of the stairs and lets out a blood-curling scream of agony.
All of the classroom doors open as teachers and students pour out. Lila holds her leg as if in great pain and moans, crying real fake tears. She whimpers that Alya pushed her down the stairs. Alya insists she didn't and that Lila is faking it. Miss Bustier is very upset. She has Ms. Mendeleiev take over her class (watching both classes together) while Miss Bustier deals with this issue in Principal Damocles's office. Pierre Lefevre volunteers his shoulder to help Lila walk there; he is over the moon when she accepts and very convincingly limps to the office. Marinette whispers to Alya that she believes in her as she passes. Madam Dolores Gros studies everything that transpires.
Parents are called. Alya's come immediately. Lila's mother says she can't. In the office, it's Miss Bustier, Principal Damocles, Mr. Otis Cesaire, Mrs. Marlena Cesaire, Alya, and Lila. Miss Bustier explains everything that happened as she witnessed it. Mr. and Mrs. Cesaire are mortified that their daughter would cheat just to get ungrounded. Alya insists she didn't; she studied and was framed. However, she can hardly get a word in; adults keep interrupting her.
Everyone voices how disappointed they are in Alya; they expected better from her. Lila chimes in, saying she's surprised; she never would have expected it from Alya either: the cheating, the lying, the stealing of her necklace… Principal Damocles asks Lila what she means by "stolen necklace." Lila tells them that Alya stole her necklace; it's a replica of the one her ancestor wore, that was a real miraculous. Alya once again insists it's not true. Lila says it is—she saw Alya take it from her gym bag (as she had taken it off during gym class). Lila suggests that the necklace is still in Alya's purse or locker or somewhere at this moment. Miss Bustier wonders why Lila didn't mention this earlier. Lila says it's because Alya threatened her. Lila whimpers in pain from her "injured" leg for emphasis. Alya tries to interrupt, saying she did no such thing. No one listens.
Principal Damocles hands the master key to Miss Bustier, who goes to search Alya's locker. She comes back several minutes later with a fox tail necklace—a replica of the fox miraculous. Lila exclaims that that's her necklace. Everyone is glaring at Alya, saying they're disappointed in her. Alya finds it very frustrating; she can't reveal she has no need for Lila's fake miraculous when she has the real one because she's Rena Rouge.
Mr. and Mrs. Cesaire are promising to double or even triple Alya's grounding, and Principal Damocles says that this kind of behavior will merit a suspension. Otis, however, wants to make it an in-school suspension as he doesn't want Alya to miss class. He looks to Miss Bustier, telling her to give Alya double the homework as punishment. Alya is trying to make her innocence heard, but no one is listening at all.
Alya presses her lips into a tight line and sinks back into her chair. Across from her, Lila sports a dark, cocky smirk of victory. Alya pulls out her cell phone and cranks the volume up all the way—she then starts replaying everything she recorded since she enters Miss Bustier's classroom this morning.
At first, all the adults are a bit confused as to why Alya is loudly playing Miss Bustier's morning greeting to the class. Alya locks her eyes on Lila. She explains that this is her secret to her good grades. She's been recording every lecture and listening to them at home while she did her homework. Her cell phone has recorded everything—even what happened in the hallway. As Alya watches, Lila's face goes sheet white.
The recorded conversation continues through the argument in Miss Bustier's room and through Alya and Lila's journey to the principal's office. It gets to when Lila drops her pretenses and reveals her true colors to Alya. One by one, adults' heads turn towards her and their expressions of disappointment in Alya change to one of disgusts towards Lila.
Lila screams "no!" and dives for Alya's cell phone just as it gets incriminating. Alya dodges. "I see your leg is better." Sure enough, Lila is standing on two legs. Principal Damocles says in a soft voice "I see we were about to make a huge mistake. I'm so sorry, Miss Cesaire."
Lila looks around, seeing that everyone has turned on her. With few other cards to play, Lila starts sobbing really hard. She insists she only did what she had to do (basically admitting that she framed Alya for cheating) because Alya stole her necklace to begin with and no one believed her. However, trust has been broken—and the adults are much less likely to believe anything she says now. Miss Bustier tells Lila that she's not to take matters into her own hands; if her necklace had been stolen, she needs to report it to an adult. Alya protests that she didn't steal the necklace either. Lila's already proven she can plant stuff on Alya (the test answers), so she could easily have planted the necklace too. Her parents step up and take her side this time. Principal Damocles hears everyone out. If there's no evidence at all that Alya even touched the necklace, then Alya will be treated as innocent. He gives the necklace back to Lila but then tells Lila he has to be just. She admitted to stealing test answers, faking an injury, lying numerous times, and trying to get a classmate suspended. It's now Lila who'll be suspended from school for a week. Lila gapes. He can't do this to her! Principal Damocles says rules are rules, and the school handbook clearly outlines the punishments for breaking them. Lila switches from tears to rage and defaults back to her usual method of handling things—lies. She promises the school board will have the principal's head if he suspends her. She knows them all. Her parents are big donors; he can't treat her like this! Principal Damocles, who is used to Chloe's outbursts, doesn't bat an eye. He tells Lila to gather her belongings and wait for her mother to come pick her up. He then tells Alya she's free to go.
The Cesaires and Miss Bustier exit the office. Miss Bustier again apologies for the massive misunderstanding and her roll in it. She then congratulates Alya on the test grade she earned all on her own and compliments her on her improved work ethic. Mr. and Mrs. Cesaire thank her. They then explain that after all this, they're going to give Alya the rest of the day off of school and go to ice cream together. Alya asks if this means that she's no longer grounded. Her parents say yes. Alya cheers and hugs them both. Miss Bustier accepts their decision and tells them to sign Alya out for the day at the front desk.
By lunch time, and being a high school, everyone knows what happened to Alya Cesaire and Lila Rossi. Most people are shocked at how far Lila would go to frame Alya. However, murmurings of things Lila promised and never came through on begin to circulate. Rose Lavillant, who is actually pen pals with Prince Ali, comments that he's never heard of Lila Rossi despite Lila claiming to be a close friend of his. Aurore Beaureal points out that she never sees Lila at any of the modeling gigs she's had, despite Lila's claims. Max Kante also has similar false promises concerning Lila and the game he made. Within a few hours, Lila's reputation is torpedoed.
However, everything going on at school doesn't solely revolve around the Lila crisis. During this, Madam Gros calls Yvonne Garnier into her office for her one-on-one meeting. She notes that Yvonne was very recently akumatized, and she wants to make sure Yvonne is okay.
Yvonne says she is as she remembers nothing of being akumatized. All she knows is that she felt so hurt and disappointed that Adrien lashed out at them when they did something nice for him. Then it's all black. Yvonne shrugs. But it turns out, it wasn't even Adrien all along. It was his cousin. (By now, that rumor is also going around the school.)
Madam Gros then asks Yvonne about her grades, family, friends, and hobbies. She notes that Yvonne is one of few people on the school newspaper staff. She proposes that Yvonne wants to be a journalist. Yvonne admits she only took the position because it would look good on a college application. She doesn't hate working for the school newspaper, but journalism is not her passion. Madam Gros asks Yvonne about what her really hobbies and interests are. Yvonne admits she likes yoga and creating her own zen meditation music using nature sounds she records. However, she is a very pragmatic person. Anything she is going to dedicate time to has to serve some way to benefit her in the future. That's why she chose the school newspaper over the community yoga group. The counselor notes that Yvonne is thinking long-term. What are her college and beyond plans?
Yvonne admits she has yet to pick a college or a major, but she has several places in mind that have great reputations. She'd like to find a renown school so she can get a good job. However, she doesn't yet know what kind of career she wants. All she knows is that she wants something stable that pays well. She also hopes she can go to college the same place her best friend, Genevieve Faucher, will go to. They've been best friends since kindergarten, often swap clothing and accessories, and get along like sisters.
Madam Gros notes that Yvonne is practical and boring. She has her eyes locked on the future, but she has no substance in the present. Dolores Gros proceeds anyways and asks Yvonne about her feelings towards Hawk Moth, Ladybug, and Cat Noir. Yvonne finds Ladybug and Cat Noir as genuine heroes. It'd look very good if she could interview them. Madam Gros thanks her for her time, excuses her, and writes her off as a potential agent.
Genevieve Faucher is called into her office next. Once more, the conversation begins about grades and hobbies, emotions and families, friends and dreams. Genevieve admits that she only joined the school newspaper because Yvonne did. If she hadn't, the whole paper would have gone under. Madam Gros asks if that makes Genevieve resentful. The only reason she joined her extracurricular activity was because her friend needed an extra body—not because Genevieve herself actually enjoys it. Genevieve says she'd never feel that way; she said she'd help Yvonne, and she's proud she stuck through. Besides, she's had many positive experiences and has been able to talk to people and go places she never thought she would as a result.
Madam Gros asks Genevieve about her future plans. She says that she does like writing—maybe she would get some freelance work, writing articles as she takes a year off to travel Europe. She wonders if Yvonne would be interested in traveling with her. After all, they're like sisters. Madam Gros notes that this is different from Yvonne's plans, but she does not comment.
No matter how hard she tries, she can't pull any concrete darkness out of Genevieve either. She's a stable, well-grounded teenage girl. Madam Gros dismisses her. She frowns. Are there any useful students in this school? However, that's when she remembers Lila Rossi's schemes and revengeful spirit.
With the student body, not everyone is enjoying the gossip that is circulating about Lila. Pierre Lefevre, who has a crush on her, is insisting it's not true any and every time that someone brings up Lila's deviations. When his friend Jean Duparc as well as Jakeel Aristide tell him that Lila was caught red-handed, Pierre insists she was framed. He blames Alya Cesaire, insisting that Alya set Lila up. No one can convince him otherwise.
The scene changes to Nathalie Sancoeur, who is working in Hawk Moth's lair. She has a table set up and is working hard stringing wires and settings, loops and metal and a single gemstone together. Her intense concentration is broken when the butterfly miraculous senses the surge of negative emotions and misplaced justice. She talks to Nooroo and Duusuu, stating this is the perfect opportunity to further drive off suspicion. With Gabriel hospitalized and Nathalie Sancoeur allegedly in Italy, no one would think they're Hawk Moth and Mayura, even if the guardian of the miraculous reveals there's a new Hawk Moth. She transforms into female Hawk Moth, putting off using the peacock miraculous for as long as she can due to the toll it's taking on her health.
Female Hawk Moth sends the akuma, where it finds its target in Pierre Lefevre. Once again using her tablet to change her voice, she promises him the chance for revenge in exchange for the miraculous of those who'd defy him. Pierre, under the thrall of the butterfly miraculous, agrees to these terms and is transformed into Truthsayer. His weapon is a coin. If he flips it heads, it transforms into a whip. When a target is struck with the whip, they're compelled to tell the truth. If he flips it tails, it transforms into a large shield, probably three times wider than Carapace's.
Jakeel and Jean are very alarmed to see Pierre get akumatized in front of them. They try to talk sense into him, but as Truthsayer, he won't listen. Fortunately for them, he's uninterested in what they have to say. He shoves them aside and begins to stalk his prey. Jakeel and Jean send out the akuma alert on their phones.
Since school is in session, Principal Damocles orders a standard evacuation, urging everyone to remain calm and get to the designated safe spot. Miss Bustier is responsible to do role call to make sure her entire class is there, which makes it a bit harder for Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupin-Cheng to sneak off to transform. It actually winds up taking Barkk, who causes a distraction (such as pushing boxes over or something) that allows them to get away.
Truthsayer is searching the school, demanding that Alya Cesaire show herself. (Since Pierre is in Ms. Mendeleiev's class, he isn't aware that she left early.) That's when Ladybug and Cat Noir appear and begin to fight him, searching for the akumatized item to purify. Truthsayer flips his coin, and it transforms into a whip. The golden duo dodge his first strikes, but Cameran Tyler is still trying to evacuate and isn't so lucky. He's struck and compelled to tell the truth. This winds up causing him to blurt out his feelings for Nicolette Lacroix and his frustrations that she likes a self-absorbed jerk like Etienne Fontaine. Cameran clasps his hands over his mouth, embarrassed by what he just revealed. He winds up switching to English; he can't keep from saying things, but maybe he can make it all the harder for people to understand. He runs, his face red from embarrassment.
Truthsayer nearly boxes Ladybug and Cat Noir in the courtyard. They wind up having to fall back, stuck between getting struck themselves or letting him escape into Paris. They wind up with the latter. Truthsayer leaves the school, searching for Alya Cesaire.
Ladybug and Cat Noir regroup on a nearby roof. Ladybug says aloud how dangerous Truthsayer is. If they get struck, they'll be forced to reveal their secret identities, where they live, who their friends and families are, their weaknesses, who the other wielders are, information on Master Fu and the potions...This is a bad situation, and they need to be careful. (As always, "be careful.") Cat Noir agrees. He looks directly at Ladybug, asking her what the plan is. She always has such great ideas. Ladybug's brain nearly stops for a moment, and she has to ask him to repeat himself. As he echoes his own words, Ladybug reigns in her throbbing heart and casts her Lucky Charm—whatever that may be. Cat Noir then says they'd better go find Alya before Truthsayer—it'd be just as bad if she gets struck too (as they both know she's Rena Rouge, and they can't have her forced to reveal that.)
Truthsayer finds Alya with her parents eating ice cream from Andre's stall. Alya instantly realizes an akuma situation when she sees one and encourages her parents to run. They do. Alya jogs with them the first bit. Then she separates from them, taking a different route, in order to lure Truthsayer away from her parents. It works, and he pursues her, demanding she tell the truth and face justice for how badly she hurt Lila. Alya is in disbelief that anyone would even be standing up for Lila, but arguing with Truthsayer about it isn't going to do any good. She tries to find a spot to lose him so she can transform into Rena Rouge as this definitely qualifies for an emergency, but Truthsayer is too dogged. She can't catch a break.
That's when Cat Noir and Ladybug drop down to defend her. Alya Cesaire thanks them and runs off, seemingly to safety but actually to transform. The golden duo confront Truthsayer again. This time, they're on the offensive with Ladybug's Lucky Charm. However, Truthsayer flips his coin and creates a shield so large they can't get around it—let alone get close to his akumatized item.
Rena Rouge drops in a moment later, ready to help. Cat Noir remarks that it is convenient to have their support crew on call. (Yes, technically they didn't call Alya over their cell phones, but since they met her face to face and non-verbally encouraged her to transform, it still counts as Alya joining when she was invited to and not taking matters into her own hands nor them having to run to Master Fu's and back again.) They manage to fight to a stand-still, but they still can't get through to Truthsayer. He winds up striking people when he misses the trio, leading to some rather non sequitur blurt-outs. He's also pretty worked up himself, repeatedly insisting that Lila Rossi is innocent. The trio have to play dumb with what he's talking about, as they can't reveal they know about Lila's suspension. To the heroes, as far as Paris knows, Lila is just another akumatized victim they saved and then never spoke with again; no one can know they go to the same school.
Truthsayer isn't happy with the trio knowing nothing and the stalemate. He insists he needs a confession out of Alya Cesaire, so he throws them off and escapes, making his priority to find Alya over claiming miraculous, to the frustration of (female) Hawk Moth. However, female Hawk Moth also notes that it's strange that none of Draco's crew has appeared yet. She gets the impression Draco's boss and herself are testing each other.
Of course, Truthsayer can't find Alya. But by sheer luck, his paths cross with Lila. Her mother never did come to pick her up from school for her suspension, but she sent and paid for a taxi to take Lila home. Truthsayer finds her just before she can enter it. That's when the akumatized victim gets an idea. He'll use his powers to force Lila to tell the truth. When she tells the same story as she did before, but this time under magical compulsion, everyone will realize she was honest all along. That would mean Alya was the liar. It would clear Lila's name. Truthsayer gives an idiotic smile at his great idea and he runs to Lila.
Lila, of course, seeing an akumatized victim chasing after her with a whip, flees as fast as her legs will carry her. He explains his plans while she runs; he insists she should just let him strike her with his whip. Then her testimony will be true and her name will be cleared. Lila screams at him that that's the worst idea she's ever heard! (Which is, surprisingly, a genuinely honest statement from Lila's mouth.) Truthsayer, however, thinks his idea is the best.
Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Rena Rouge just catch up as Truthsayer finally manages to corner Lila and strikes her with his whip. He then tells her to tell the truth. What really happened? How did Alya Cesaire frame her? Lila begins blabbing, confessing to all her lies and crimes. She admits to breaking into Alya's locker and hiding the necklace on top of stealing the test answers from Miss Bustier's desk. She confesses about not knowing Prince Ali or XY or Jagger Stone. She cups her hands over her mouth, desperate to stop. But the words don't. Cat Noir even pities her, though Rena Rouge and Ladybug struggle to bring themselves to care after all Lila has put them through.
Truthsayer is stunned and mortified by her confession. He insists it can't be true. He doesn't want to believe it. But...but he knows how his powers work. Why? He just wants to know why.
Lila spits out that she wants the attention and glory. She wants people to notice her and respect her; to praise her and to feel as if they owe her. She wants them indebted to her so she can control them. Cat Noir calmly tells Lila that it doesn't work that way. Kindness is how you gain people's respect. Lila tells him off, saying she absolutely cannot stand how self-righteous him and Ladybug are. She then points at Rena Rouge. "But you. You I hate the most. That's my family's necklace!" Since she's under compulsion, the trio does realize that Lila has been telling the truth all along about her famous ancestor being a former miraculous wielder.
Rena Rouge steps forward. "That might be true, Lila. But that was centuries ago. The miraculous and the powers they give are loans. We're only to use them for good, to protect people who can't protect themselves. Then they get returned from where they came from. Your ancestor understood that. She used the miraculous for the time it was allowed her and let it rest when her responsibility was over. Miraculous aren't toys to bring glory to one person or family." Lila does not take kindly to the lecture.
Truthsayer cuts in, asking Lila what she thinks about Pierre Lefevre. She admits she finds him stupid, fawning, and nowhere near as cute as Adrien Agreste. Truthsayer is deeply hurt when he hears this—enough so that Cat Noir moves in and destroys the akumatized item. Ladybug purifies the akuma, does her world-healing wave, and breaks the truth-curse on everyone afflicted.
Lila snaps "I bet you want me to say 'thanks' now." Cat Noir just repeats that to gain respect, you have to give it. Lila huffs and hails the taxi. She gives one final glare and leaves.
Rena Rouge offers to escort Pierre Lefevre back to his school while Ladybug and Cat Noir head out. They agree, do a three-way Pound It, and part ways. The golden duo double back and arrive at the school as Marinette and Adrien just before Rena Rouge drops off Pierre (and then heads off to rejoin her family as Alya).
That evening, Ladybug and Cat Noir again meet. It's just before sunset. She has Tsukuyomi's address, and they're going to see for themselves if a kwami really was created when he was swallowed up by his own powers. Cat Noir voices his surprise, again, that such a thing could be possible. He tells Ladybug that Plagg doesn't remember how he was given a physical body—so maybe this really is how it happened. Ladybug says she feels she has to point out that this could be a trap. Cat Noir counters that it would be a double-sided trap since it requires them knowing where Tsukuyomi lives. Ladybug agrees—she just feels as if she needed to say it. They head over to his apartment.
Fumikage Tokoyami is waiting on his balcony for them with the door that leads to his bedroom shut and the curtain drawn. Ladybug and Cat Noir remain back a minute. When it appears as if no one else is around, they drop in. It's a bit awkward. Fumikage offers them tea—isn't that what you're supposed to do when visitors come?
Cat Noir sits down at the patio table and accepts the tea. Ladybug asks about the kwami. Fumikage nods and urges Dark Shadow to show himself. He insists it happened just how they explained it before. Ever since, Dark Shadow has been traveling with him. And he needs Dark Shadow now to transform.
Ladybug and Cat Noir are still floored by the new kwami, even though they knew it was coming. They ask Dark Shadow questions about being a kwami: what he represents, what he knows about other kwamis, if he can go through walls, if cameras can see him, etc. After the brief QnA, Ladybug and Cat Noir are certain that yes, Dark Shadow is a new kwami in the world—which means Fumikage's buttons are genuine miraculous.
(If I really want to make a funny…
Ladybug: But the name isn't right. All kwamis have to have twin letters in their names.
Tokoyami: His name is Dark Shadow.
Ladybug: Okay, so Shaadow it is then.
Tokoyami: I said Dark Shadow.
Ladybug: Shadoow?
Tokoyami: Dark Shadow.
Ladybug: Sshadow?
Tokoyami: DARK SHADOW!)
They confirm that the same thing happened to Froppy and will likely happen to Alpha, Firefly, Dauphin/Dauphine, Snow Leopard, and Honey Bee. Ladybug asks Fumikage what they plan on doing. They can't just justify Alpha or the others disappearing for 2-3 days to their families. Fumikage admits they don't know and that they're all worried. They're trying to come up with a plan. They just don't have one yet. They're open to ideas.
Cat Noir wonders that if they just stop transforming, will that stop the whole cocooning up process. Fumikage says there's no way of knowing for certain; this is all new to everyone. Ladybug says the only thing they know for certain would be if they gave up their magical items. Fumikage says that she's never going to be able to convince the B Team of that. Cat Noir wonders that if the kwamis were meant to be born—should they be trying to stop them? Maybe they're looking at the problem the wrong way. Maybe, instead, they should speed up the cocooning process? Or maybe they could purposefully start it when the B Team have an excuse to be away. Ladybug admits that's pretty smart for a black cat. Cat Noir smiles back at the compliment, and she flusters.
It's getting late, and they have to go. Fumikage sees them off and doesn't head back into his room until they're out of sight as he doesn't want them to see his emo/black/gothic room.
Only a short time later, Fumikage exits as Tsukuyomi—it's practice night with the rest of the B Team. And they have a lot to do to get Snow Leopard and Honey Bee up to speed.
Once more, the entire B Team is able to assemble in the cemetery. Honey Bee is still breaking the ice a bit as she gets to know everyone, and Snow is trying to justify being a superheroine. She wonders if it goes against her mother's wishes. This time, it's Dauphin who shows up with the dolphin miraculous without a kwami. It's the first time Honey Bee has met him, so there's introductions and explanation that the dolphin is actually used by a boyfriend/girlfriend team who take turns depending on need.
Alpha begins to coach Honey Bee and Snow Leopard so they can use their abilities on command while Froppy begins to incorporate their talents into strategies Team B can use. Firefly grumbles about the lack of action they've seen lately. If Ladybug and Cat Noir keep calling upon Rena Rouge and Carapace for help, then the B Team is never going to see an emergency big enough to warrant them moving in. Honey Bee suggests that that's a good thing. It means Paris wouldn't be threatened. Firefly counters by saying that he loves being a superhero, and he wants to be by Ladybug's side.
Alpha states that he agrees with Firefly's sentiment. He loves being a hero too; Tsukuyomi also nods in agreement. However, he also points out that if they just rush in, they could jeopardize what Ladybug and Cat Noir do—especially when it comes to purifying the akumas. Froppy wonders if there's other ways they can help. Dauphin asks if she means like rescues and evacuates (as he and Dauphine are getting pretty good at water rescues). Froppy agrees—and then goes on to add that maybe they could investigate while Ladybug and Cat Noir are busy. As in, at any given time, Hawk Moth won't be transformed and will look like a normal person. But when there's an akuma, he's using his powers—maybe they could trace the akuma back to him somehow. Firefly realizes that that would be incredibly helpful to Ladybug and agrees. Alpha also thinks it's a good idea—as long as Hawk Moth doesn't realize what they're doing. And they have to be especially careful if a red akuma appears. (Yes, "be careful.") Tsukuyomi reminds them that it's not just Hawk Moth and Mayura. There's also the new miraculous-using villain in Draco and his allies. Dauphin is pretty pumped up though—if they can find Team Hawk Moth or Team Draco and get the jump on them, they can save a lot of people and solve a lot of problems before they even begin.
Alpha agrees and begins working out a strategy that uses their strengths. He reminds them that they still need to act with their "spotters." (I don't really like the term "spotter," and it's not the term that'll be used in the fic proper, but it's the best I have to work with now.) Snow has no one who knows she's a superheroine (outside of Alya, who has her own responsibilities as Rena Rouge). Honey Bee realizes that her little brother knows her secret, but he's so young that she doesn't want to get him involved. Both put some thought into their potential allies and who they should trust.
As they practice, Froppy broaches the subject they've been answerless about—what do the rest of them do if/when they wind up trapped in cocoons too? How do they explain it to their families? Firefly grumbles that his parents wouldn't even notice. This causes Honey Bee to ask him about his family, but Firefly reminds her that they can't reveal anything that could lead to secret identities. Dauphin suggests a crazy scheme to hide if/when they wind up trapped in elemental eggs. Like, claiming they're on a camping trip or abducted by aliens or something. Alpha dryly notes that he doesn't think the last idea will work. Could they fake sleeping over at a friend's house if they set things up in advance? Tsukuyomi reminds them that he was out for several days—it's unlikely anyone's parents would buy that for long. In fact, he'd be grounded for life had Hawk Moth not actually kidnapped people. Dauphin suggests that they just blame Hawk Moth again then. Snow Leopard is nervous about the whole prospect and surprised they can speak so frankly about it. Are they certain they'll be trapped in a cocoon by their powers? Alpha says that they aren't, but they can't ignore it as a possibility. Tsukuyomi relays what Cat Noir suggested; is there a way they could speed up the process or intentionally trigger it for a time where they do have an excuse to be away? Honey Bee expresses her anxiety over this whole "cocoon thing" happening at all.
Froppy does say that that's a great idea…if they can figure out how to speed things up. But neither she nor Tsukuyomi really knows how it works. Alpha suggests it comes from who uses their powers the most. Firefly counters that if that was the case, he would have been the one trapped in a cocoon because he discovered his charm pseudo-miraculous first. This sparks them to ask Froppy and Tsukuyomi, who explain their emotional states when they both got trapped by their powers. However, that isn't very enlightening. With the evening stretching, they unfortunately cannot come to any conclusions. It's especially hard if they want to protect their identities. For example, if something were to happen to Alpha, no one else could cover for him to his family. Froppy ponders if they should trust each other with their identities, but she keeps that thought to herself for the time being. Alpha says that if the others feel comfortable with things, they could tell their spotters about this potential situation and then see if they can work out a plan with their spotters so that their parents don't all worry. Until then, they should try to research/strategize to see if anyone comes up with a solution. They all agree and part ways.
A note from the author: Any similarities this chapter shares with the canon episode Truth is strictly coincidental. I had this summary written a full year before Truth even aired. I chose not to adapt any of its aspects as Truthsayer is pretty pivotal to the overall plot of this fic.
To be continued in Chapter 46: Word Weaver…