To Lyger 0: To be fair, the Heretic accepted that at least a year ago in-universe; it just took until now before he could get another Acolyte to listen!

To Armadas: The Deaconess is such a fascinating character! Her character arc isn't over by any means, but this is definitely a big moment for her, in accepting that the Dark Acolytes are going about their mission in the wrong way. And it definitely seemed appropriate in a story about the Dark Acolytes to have it resolved by a philosophical debate between the Heretic and one of the Acolytes! The Dark Acolytes aren't done, but they aren't going to be in any position to cause trouble again in Africa.


Cara stumbled slightly and pressed her back against the stockade wall for support, rubbing her chafed and aching wrists to try to work some feeling back into them. Most of the stockade wall had been ripped down and burned away by the combined efforts of Anansi, Uncanny Valley, and a couple of other heroes she hadn't even noticed. Someone had cut the ropes tying her arms behind her back; even now the tingling pins-and-needles sensation was running down her hands and along her fingers. It had been a long day – she cocked her head, brows furrowed in confusion. Had she only been in the Dark Acolytes' clutches for a single day? After everything that had happened – the fight, waking up in captivity, meeting Juvénal, listening to the battle around her… it could easily have taken several lifetimes! A dozen or more other heroes were clustered around outside the stockade in which she, Dhuan, and Juvénal had been imprisoned, and she could hear others moving around elsewhere, herding the captured Dark Acolytes into a cluster in order to transport them back to the refugee camp. Glancing up, she could see Majestia, Iron Maiden, and even Mecha-Man, all hovering over the camp, spread out to cover as much of the camp as they could. Within the stockade, Anansi and the Lancer were standing on the far side, supporting Juvénal between them, while the Knight and Olivet tended to Dhuan closer to Cara.

"Heilen," whispered the Knight, pressing his hand to Dhuan's forehead. The cut knit shut, and Dhuan slowly pushed himself up to his feet.

"Tapadh leat," Dhuan groaned, rubbing his forehead and scratching at the dried blood still caked into his hair. The Knight clapped him on the shoulder, and Dhuan stretched his shoulders and arms, cracking his neck with a loud pop.

"You will need some rest," Olivet cautioned Dhuan. "I wouldn't try anything too strenuous for a while after that hit you took!"

Cara snorted, which immediately turned into coughing. Her throat burned from dryness and soreness. "You would be surprised what he can do," she called.

O Patriota burst through the breach in the stockade and ran straight across to Cara, pulling her into a tight embrace. Cara gasped, wincing, but returned the hug, resting her head on his shoulder. "I was so worried about you, irmã," he whispered into her ear. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when they took you."

She patted his back, letting out a breath. "I'm okay, irmão," she whispered back. "I survived – Dhuan did what he could. They wanted to keep me alive, at least temporarily."

"Still," he insisted, switching to English and raising his voice, "if these bastards even look at you funny again…"

The Heretic chuckled darkly, glancing out of the stockade at the small group of Dark Acolytes clustered in the burned-out wreckage of one of the many destroyed tents. "Not much chance of that," he told O Patriota. "They're going to be in prison for a long time after all of this."

O Patriota's eyes narrowed, staring darkly at John who hung back behind the Heretic, not restrained. "Yeah? And what about that one?"

The Heretic raised an eyebrow, giving John an evaluating look. "I'm going to be keeping an eye on him, but he did surrender." O Patriota frowned, folding his arms and glaring at the Dark Acolyte. The Heretic cleared his throat. "He wants to do the right thing now. I take responsibility for him – at least moving forward."

"He actually loosened the rope on my wrists for me," Cara pointed out to O Patriota.

"Good." O Patriota's gaze didn't leave John's face. "I will still be watching him…"

John gulped nervously. "Yes, sir." He coughed. "Um… I'm sorry?"

"You will be – if you even think about hurting my sister again…"

Olivet left Dhuan and walked over to Cara and the others. "I am glad to see you in one piece," she told her, putting a hand on either of Cara's shoulders and examining her carefully at arm's length. "Did they hurt you badly?"

Cara shook her head. "Only my pride." She paused, frowning. "And my head. And my wrists." She winced. "And most of the rest of my body," she admitted.

Olivet hummed and placed her hand on Cara's forehead, closing her eyes. A gentle warmth expanded from that spot through Cara's upper body and down into her legs, and she suddenly started to breathe better. After a moment, her head stopped aching and the pins-and-needles sensation in her wrists vanished entirely. She rolled her shoulders, twisting her head in either direction, and sighed in relief. "Better?"

Cara nodded, her eye drawn to movement on the far side of the encampment as several of the miraculous leaders, including Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Joey, all approached them through the wreckage of the Dark Acolytes' camp. "Thank you – that feels so much better…"

"My pleasure," Olivet assured her. She stifled a laugh. "Although I would prefer if you didn't need this kind of help every time!"

Cara frowned. "Yeah… I really didn't want it to happen; they just… ambushed me. There wasn't anything I could do."

"We don't blame you for anything that happened," Ladybug announced, as the miraculous leaders entered the stockade and took in Cara, Dhuan, and Juvénal. "The Dark Acolytes attacked you – as far as I'm concerned, that makes you an innocent victim."

"Good. I–" Cara's shoulders slumped "I'm sorry I lost the miraculous."

The Heretic reached into one pocket and pulled out a familiar pendant, which he handed to Cara. "This goes back to you," he told her.

Her eyes widened in surprise as Chaas reemerged from the pendant, twisting his tentacles together into a body before settling to perch on her shoulder, and she looked around at the others. "I lost it, though," she pointed out. "I thought that would be the end of my chance with it!"

The Heretic raised an eyebrow, stifling a laugh. "And I recovered it from those who would have abused it – meaning it's time to return it to the proper holder. And last time I checked, I think that's supposed to be you." He glanced at Ladybug, who nodded firmly.

"Absolutely," Ladybug confirmed. "We're not in the habit of punishing holders who get attacked – especially by Dark Acolytes. Assuming that Chaas and Dhuan are still okay with this…?"

Chaas spun around in an excited circle and landed on Cara's shoulder, his tentacles trailing down her shoulder blade. "I'm happy with my new holder!"

"[As am I,]" Dhuan agreed, nodding. He turned to Cara with an apologetic look. "[I only wish I could have protected you better from these… zealots.]"

She shrugged. "You were outnumbered six to one," she pointed out.

A low growl emanated from his throat. "[I have faced much worse odds than that.]"

The Heretic cocked his head to one side and coughed awkwardly. "All that leaves now are these other two that I recovered," he announced, holding out a belt buckle and a brooch.

Ladybug, Cat Noir, Jueran Eazim, and Joey all crowded forward around the Heretic. Ladybug gasped, her eyes wide. "What is the Stingray doing here!?" The Heretic jerked his head toward John, who quailed as Ladybug turned on him. "What were you doing in my tent?" she ground out, her eyes flashing dangerously.

John gulped and glanced over at another Dark Acolyte. "Um…" He coughed nervously. "We were told to sneak into your tent and find any miraculous that might be there, along with anything to reveal your identities," he stammered.

"And…?" Cat Noir pressed, placing one hand on Ladybug's shoulder to restrain her.

"And… nothing. I'm sorry we did it. You–you aren't abusing the miraculous." He frowned. "You are in the right. Using the miraculous for good. I – we were wrong."

Cara blinked, staring at John in shock. "After all of that – suddenly you're okay with us?"

John sighed heavily. "Considering that the Dark Acolytes barely follow their own teachings… I'd rather work with the miraculous users who help people than the ones who just help themselves."

Cat Noir grinned. "I'm glad to hear that."

The Heretic chuckled. "You and me both," he agreed. "But…" He waved the two miraculous, raising an eyebrow.

Joey examined the miraculous carefully before stepping back. Sighing, he gestured to Olivet before glancing over at Ladybug. "I take it that the two Atlantean Miraculous should go to their new Guardian?" he asked, nodding to Olivet.

Ladybug cocked her head in surprise. "If we are all in agreement on that plan," she began, grinning in relief, "then absolutely!"

Joey nodded, cracking a smile. "We talked earlier – right before she saved my live against a trio of Dark Acolytes!"

Olivet swallowed nervously as the Heretic handed her the two miraculous. "I was just in the right place at the right time. Are–are you sure about this?" she asked, staring down at them and turning them over several times in her hands.

Joey shared a look with Ladybug and Jueran Eazim. "After another two Atlantean Miraculous fell into the hands of the Dark Acolytes – one under our very noses – I think it is high time for the Atlantean Guardians to be reformed."

Jueran Eazim nodded. "You may not have all the training we expect of our Guardians yet, but that can be learned over time."

Olivet furrowed her brows in thought before turning to Juvénal. "They took this miraculous from you, correct?" she asked, as the Swan Miraculous emitted a flash of light that formed into a Kwami with a long neck and wings. Juvénal nodded as the Kwami looked around in confusion before flitting toward Juvénal. Olivet looked Juvénal in the eye as the Kwami landed in his palm and rubbed his head against his thumb. "How will you use it?"

"People need healing, and I can give it to them," he answered. "That is all I have ever wished to do with it."

"And you will use it to help the other miraculous holders?" Olivet asked.

"Of course; I was coming to meet you other miraculous users when they seized me."

Olivet turned to the Kwami. "How has your holder treated you?" she asked. "You can say anything you want," she added.

"He has been a good holder to me," he answered obediently, dipping his head. He eyed Olivet in surprise. "Are you–are you a Guardian? I haven't seen a Guardian in… forever!"

Olivet smiled. "I suppose I am now."

"Then I would stay with Igisigukiza if I could, Guardian."

Olivet nodded slowly. "I think that can be arranged." She held the miraculous out to Juvénal. "You should receive this back. We will have a place for you in our camp, and we will need your help when we return to Europe. After that… we'll talk later."

He chuckled, fastening the buckle back to his belt. "Where do I sign up?"

Cara carefully replaced the miraculous around her throat, and Chaas nuzzled against her neck. Scratching the top of his head, she let out a relieved breath. Maybe now she had found a place – a way to help stop the Tarasque. She may not have been able to stand up to the Dark Acolytes, but she didn't have to do it alone. She was part of something larger than just herself. And soon enough, they would be returning home. With everyone else around her, she could do this.