The sun was setting over Paris. In the fading light, two silhouettes could be made out on the rooftops: those of Ladybug and Chat Noir.
A gentle yawn escaped Ladybug's lips, and Chat couldn't help but smile at how cute it made her look.
"Shall we call it a night, my lady?" Ladybug cast one more sleepy glance out to the horizon. Paris really was a beautiful city.

Suddenly, a strange light flashed a short distance from them. "Chat," she asked, her tired eyes waking up, "what is that?"

Chat turned and narrowed his eyes to focus his night vision on the strange, orange glow. He stared for a moment before he looked back towards his partner, his expression confused. "It looks like a person." He said uncertainly, "And there's someone standing with them."

"Come on." Ladybug stated, all tiredness gone. She tossed her yo-yo and propelled herself forward, her feline counterpart close behind.

Ladybug perched herself a short way from the two figures, now clearly a man and a woman. As Chat landed softly beside her, they observed the pair with great caution.

They looked like akumas.

But they didn't act like it.

The two were looking out over the city, talking quietly between one another. Their faces were etched with concern. Their bodies stood ready, as if attack could come at any moment.

The man was tall and muscular. His shirt and pants were a deep grey. Over his shirt, he wore a fur vest, which hung loosely at his back like a mock cape. His hair was pitch black and cut short. A black knife hung ready at his side.

The woman proved to be the source of the odd light. At first glance, Ladybug believed her to be on fire. However, as our two heroes looked closer, she proved to be dressed in a tunic of deep crimson. At least, it was crimson most of the time. The color of her tunic seemed to move and change- shifting between the deep crimson and a warm orange in a fire-like movement. Her hair, a deep oak, hung past her shoulders freely.

"Do you think they're akuma?" Chat asked his partner. He could easily tell they weren't ordinary citizens, but their quiet behavior (and general lack of chaos), made him hesitant to assume they were under Hawk Moth's control. Besides, for Hawk Moth to akumatize more than one person at once was rare.

"There's one way to find out." Ladybug said reluctantly. She looked at Chat with a strong gaze and the two nodded in unison as understanding silently passed between them. With great courage, the two heroes leapt out of their shadowy perch and landed just behind the man and woman with a loud thud.

Neither bothered to turn around.

"Ladybug and Chat Noir." The man said to the woman beside him. "Yes." The woman answered, "We knew they would show up sooner or later." The two turned in unison, and nodded in greeting. Ladybug and Chat could now see their faces clearly. They were strong and confident in expression. Beautiful in shape. His eyes were a deep auburn, and her's a deep yellow. Their masks clung to their faces, appearing to be painted on rather than worn.

"Hello." The man said in a formal tone. He made no move for attack.

"Out for a moonlight stroll too?" Chat asked casually, all the while clenching his staff tightly. The woman smiled and a warm chuckle escaped her lips. "We have heard of your jolly nature, Chat Noir. I am pleased to hear it is true." The woman paused as she cast her glance upon Ladybug. Her smile did not change from its pleasant place as she looked at the young super heroine. "And Ladybug, it is a pleasure." She said, bowing, "I am Phoenix and this is my partner, Alpha Wolf."

"Nice to meet you." Ladybug answered politely. However, her voice was stained with uncertainty as she continued: "You seem to know who we are, but I'm afraid we've never heard your names before." Alpha Wolf nodded, "We come from Berlin. We are chasing an enemy of ours who calls himself Dorn. He is quite dangerous." "The last thing Paris needs is more trouble." Ladybug said with a nod, "We can help you find him."

Whether they were telling the truth or not, Ladybug couldn't decide. Either way, she wasn't about to let them parade around her city unchecked.

"No." Phoenix said heavily, "Dorn is dangerous. He is not the type that turns people into villains with magic butterflies, Ladybug. He is a crime lord and a murderer. He will not hesitate to kill you or anyone else in this city, and there isn't enough magic in Paris to repair that kind of loss."

If these two were akumas, they told a better lie than most.

Chat bristled at Ladybug's side. "If the people of Paris are in danger, it's our job to protect them." he said with strong conviction, "No matter the cost." His voice held a strong emotion that caught even Ladybug by surprise. Alpha Wolf walked to Chat and gently placed his hand on the younger hero's shoulder. "You are brave, my feline friend." He began softly, "But you are young and inexperienced. Your miraculous may protect you from some harm, but your suits are not bulletproof. Phoenix and I will track him down and bring him to justice, don't worry."

Chat stared at the man before him, unsure of how to respond. Stubbornness was rising in him, but as he looked into the man's eyes he saw a care and understanding that was deeper than any he had seen. He found himself wanting to listen, even though he knew it was his duty to disobey the order to stand down.

"Alpha," Phoenix said to her partner, "One of the omegas is signaling. Perhaps they've found something." She was looking out to the city, pointing at a grey, translucent form on the street below. "That's Tyron." Alpha answered his partner without breaking his gaze on Chat. He nodded to him with a smile as he stepped back. "Be safe, Ladybug and Chat Noir." Phoenix nodded behind him adding: "Perhaps our next meeting will be on better circumstances." With that, they turned towards the edge of the building.

Before Ladybug or Chat could process what was happening, a bright flash of light momentarily blinded them. Blinking, they spotted a streak of light miles away which soon disappeared from sight.

Ladybug and Chat stood in dumbstruck silence for a moment.

"You saw that too, right?" Chat asked his lady, "It wasn't just me?" "I saw it." Ladybug said in confusion. "I'm just not sure I believe it." As the seconds passed by in silence, their minds whirled with possibilities.

"There are only two miraculous missing... right?" Chat asked, hoping the answer would be as he assumed.

Ladybug looked at Chat and nodded. "Yes, just the peacock and the butterfly, and we know they are held by Hawk Moth and Mayura. Whoever- or whatever- they were... they're not miraculous holders."

"What were they then? They don't feel like akumas, yet they knew about our miraculous: The protections our suits offered, probably even our powers." Chat offered, knowing neither of them held the answer to the riddle before them.

"I don't know, Kitty." Ladybug answered, "But until we find out, I don't think it's wise to let them run freely through the city."

"I pawsitivly agree, my Lady. But... where did they go?" Ladybug looked out over Paris, hoping to see the grey figure which Phoenix and Alpha Wolf had left to follow, but it had disappeared as well.

"I don't know the answer to that either Chat Noir."