Adrien

Marinette pulled him into the subway, looking behind them for any akumas that might be chasing them. Relieved it was clear, she turned back around to face him, her face full of determination. "Find a spot to lay low and out of harm's way."

Without another word, she tried to rush out of the subway, Adrien barely stopping her. There was no way he was letting her go back out there alone, even if it allowed him to go transform. "What do you think you are doing? It's too dangerous to go back out there alone."

Marinette hesitated, captivated by the concern in his emerald green eyes. She shook herself out of her daze, a plan forming in her mind. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone this, but I am one of the backup heroes, Multimouse."

Adrien felt a sense of remembrance wash over him, the memory of Multimouse releasing her transformation by accident in front of Chat Noir. But of course, Adrien isn't supposed to know that, so he pretended to be surprised by this revelation. "That's awesome! And makes sense too. But how do you know she needs you? What if she calls on the others?"

Marinette bit her lip, knowing she can't say that almost all the backup heroes have been akumatized already. "There are so many of them akumatized, she is going to need all the help she can get." She started up the stairs, then looked back at him with concern. "Please stay safe, Adrien. I mean it!" With that, she was gone, rushing off to whatever meeting point she had with Ladybug.

He ran to the nearest bathroom and into an empty stall, releasing Plagg from his shirt. "Look at you, all worried over Pigtails," the kwami snickered.

"Not now, Plagg. We've got to get Marinette somewhere safe, then help Ladybug! Plagg claws out!" A green flash later, Chat Noir burst out of the bathroom and out of the subway. Searching for Marinette, Chat spotted Ladybug headed towards the school. With Marinette nowhere in sight, Chat raced after Ladybug. He stopped on the rooftop she was using to observe the akumatized villains gathered in front of the school or leaving in groups headed to certain parts of the city. "Hello M'lady," he purred as he crouched next to her. "Any plans?"

"Looks like Scarlet Moth again," Ladybug observed, lowering her bug-phone as Chat pulled out his staff to get a better look. "Not everyone in the school has been akumatized, but it looks like the civilians who weren't akumatized were turned into knights by Darkblade or zombies by Zombizou. Looks like Darkblade is leaving with his army, scouting for us maybe?"

Chat shrugged, noticing the unfamiliar vilain standing next to Hawkmoth. "There is a new one, maybe what's giving him the boost?"

Ladybug observed the akuma, noting its stance and proximity to Scarlet Moth. "So we need to get to that one or Hawkmoth to end this." Already, Chat could see the gears turning in her mind as she started piecing together a plan. "Okay, I need to grab some miraculous, then I will meet you back here."

"No." He said, placing a hand on her forearm to stop her from leaving. Ladybug looked back at him in surprise, mouth opening and closing. "I want to come with you. You are always keeping secrets, please for once just let me know what's going on?"

Ladybug looked away from him, unable to look him in the eye. "I'm sorry, kitty, but it's not my decision on what to tell you and what not to." She walked away, stopping on the edge of the rooftop to look back at him. "Please don't follow me." With that, she swung off without another word. Chat Noir watched her swing off, then took off after her, unaware of Dark Owl observing them from his perch.

A red outline line glowed over his face. "Scarlet Moth, the hero pretenders have left to get reinforcements, shall I stop them?"

"No," Scarlet Moth's deep voice filled the akuma's mind. "Follow them and tell me where they go. I want to know where Ladybug gets those other miraculous." Dark Owl shot his grappling gun, zipping off after the heroes.

Scarlet Moth and Catalyst looked out at the city, planning their strategy. In moments, Scarlet Moth and Catalyst were joined by Lady Wifi, Bubbler, Evilustrator, Stormy Weather and Dark Cupid. "Dark Cupid, find Kagami Tsurugi and turn her heart black so we can akumatize her before Ladybug arrives. Take a few others in case the heroes beat you there. Darkblade, find Luka Couffaine and turn him into one of your warriors."

Scarlet Moth grinned evilly, "The rest of Ladybug's allies are already my loyal minions. Now, all we need is Marinette Dupain-Cheng." He connected with all the akumatized villains that were not present that he didn't send out already, ordering them, "Find me Marinette Dupain-Cheng and evilize her!"

Ladybug

She took a long detour, running down a few alleyways to lose any pursuers potentially following her. Finally, Ladybug rushed into the ice cream parlour, startling a mediating Fu. "Master, Hawkmoth has become Scarlet Moth again, I need the miraculous!" Fu looked at her with concern in his eyes, causing her to realize that she was still transformed. "Oh, no! I'm sorry master, but we need to hurry if I'm to get to the remaining back up heroes before Scarlet Moth's minions!"

Fu nodded, retrieving the Miracle box from its hiding place. "Choose wisely, Ladybug. The ones you take will either help you or hinder you in your fight."

Ladybug eyed the miraculous carefully, they would need raw power to back them up, but also a few wild cards. She slowly picked out the dragon, snake, monkey, bee, and fox. She held out her hand to Fu, asking, "Master, if you don't mind?" He nodded and handed the turtle miraculous to her.

Ladybug stored the miraculous in her bug-phone as Fu asked her, "Are you sure you only need six?"

She nodded, telling him, "I don't want to risk any new holders with a miraculous they never used before. And the horse might not be able to help us. I have to go, stay safe, master!"

Fu nodded at her as she rushed out, waiting for her to leave before closing the box back up and locking it in the gramophone. Placing it in a box with four envelopes and his translated copy of the miracle book on a USB key, Fu taped it and shut and called the boy from next door over. "Hello, young friend. Would you please take this box to this location for me? I'll pay you in advance." The young boy nodded, accepting the euros before picking up the box and leaving. Fu had planned for a situation like this since Hawkmoth akumatized his first villain, the day when his safe house was compromised. If it was nothing, he would go retrieve the items himself. If not, then Hawkmoth won't get his filthy hands on more power. Setting up the fake Miracle box he created to deceive Hawkmoth, Fu settled down and began meditating once again.

Dark Owl observed Ladybug leave out of the back, the red outline forming over his face. "Scarlet Moth, I found the guardian."

Chat Noir

He decided to stop following Ladybug, remembering the times he met the guardian. He should trust her, she was his partner and had placed her life in his hands more times than he could count. Ladybug will share the information with him when the time is right, he just has to be patient until then. He waited on a rooftop, looking for akumas as he waited for Ladybug. He didn't have to wait long, Ladybug landed with a soft thud behind him. "Chat? What are you doing way over here?" She narrowed her eyes at him, "You didn't follow me, did you?"

He looked away, feeling ashamed as he admitted, "I did, but stopped partway. I'm sorry."

Ladybug shook her head, "I am too, Kitty. I should be more open with you than the guardian tells me to. And I messed up, I didn't release my transformation before getting the other miraculous. If an akuma was around, he would have been exposed to Hawkmoth."

Chat nodded, deciding they can have a pity chat later. "What's the plan?"

"Remember Kagami?" Chat nodded, prompting her to continue. "Take the dragon miraculous and get to her before any akumas reach her. I'll get Viperion and will meet you back here to plan out our strategy to free any other heroes that were turned into villains. And Chat?"

"Yeah?"

"There is another power we can use, one Multimouse used against Kwamibuster. It's called unifying, you call both kwami's names, then say unify. You can then use the powers of both miraculous, but remember to detransform before the countdown of either miraculous is finished. I never saw what happens after the time runs out yet, but the result could be lethal." Chat Noir nodded his understanding before jumping off to find Kagami. Ladybug swung off to find Luka. He'd dropped out of school once he was allowed to in order focus on his music. He always was practicing on his family's boathouse, so she should have no trouble finding him.

Chat Noir bounded across rooftops, Kagami's private school some blocks away yet. He didn't see any akumas in the area on his way, making him feel more confident about his chances of getting to Kagami before an akuma. To his surprise, she was outside the school, her back turned to him as she stared at something inside the building. He landed in the tree line, carefully making his way over to her. "Kagami!" he hissed at her.

She turned her head to him, revealing her blackened lips. Chat backed away then dove to the side, barely evading a volley of arrows from Dark Cupid from above him. As Chat continued to retreat, a red butterfly went inside of Kagami's ring, turning her into Risposte once again. Reflecta stepped out from her hiding place, Princess Fragrance behind her. "Here kitty kitty, I wanna give you a much-needed makeover! Then I will be able to look at you without throwing up." the makeover themed akuma sneered at him. Risposte readied her blade as the other three villains took aim and fired their various powers at him.

Chat Noir flipped backward, then rolled to the side, barely dodging Reflecta and Dark Cupid's shots. Princess Fragrance ran forwards, spraying a cloud of her perfume at him. Using his baton to evade, Chat launched himself up onto the school roof. As Dark Cupid flapped up to catch up with him, Chat put the dragon choker on. "Here goes nothing I guess. Plagg, Longg, unify!" The dragon kwami zipped into the choker, the transformation washing over him leaving him in a black and red suit with green outlines. Dragon Noir readied himself, baton in one hand and sword in the other.

Dark Cupid soared above him, a confused look on his face. "What? How?"

Dragon Noir smirked, pointing his sword at the akuma as he called out, "Wind dragon!" The cyclone hit the akuma square on, sending him spinning out of control with his bow cast aside.

Risposte pulled herself up onto the rooftop, glaring at the hero. "Hand over you miraculous and I might spare your life." Without waiting for a response, she charged at him, jumping up for a heavy overhead slash. Dragon Noir crossed his two weapons together, using the x shape to block the blow. The hero quickly dashed to the side and jabbed the baton at Rispote's chest, extending it to shove her across the roof. Princess Fragrance and Reflecta finally got on the roof, standing on either side of Risposte as they aimed their weapons at him. "It's over, hand over your miraculous," Risposte growled.

Dragon Noir cocked his head as if pretending to think the offer over before giving them his trademark grin. "How about I give you a bath instead? Water dragon!" Shifting into a water form, he surged forward like a tidal wave, crashing into the group of akumas. Princess Fragrance was swept off the roof while Reflecta crashed into the door for the rooftop access stairwell. Dragon Noir quickly reformed, searching for Risposte, but she was nowhere to be found.

Doing a quick sweep of the area, Chat found no sign of the akuma. "Plagg, Longg, divide!" The dragon kwami zipped back out of the choker as Chat opened the tiny compartment in his baton. Holding out a piece of camembert, Longg eagerly accepted the food offered to him. Storing away the dragon miraculous, Chat set off, trying to contact Ladybug as he went.

Behind him, Risposte peered out from her hiding place, a red outline glowing in front of her face. "Chat Noir has left, please allow me to pursue him."

"No," Scarlet Moth's deep voice ordered in Rispote's mind. "Stay out of sight, we can't allow Ladybug and Chat Noir to gain any allies in this fight if we are to win. Keep to the shadows and find me Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" Risposte nodded as the glow faded, leaving the other three villains to recover on their own as she began her search. Scarlet Moth shall get what he desires, even if it meant Risposte wasn't allowed to fight on the front line anymore. She served Scarlet Moth, his will is her duty. It was all of the akumas' duty, there was no choice or personal agendas to distract them anymore.

Ladybug

Ladybug swung from building to building, going as fast as she could physically achieve while transformed. She could see the Couffaine boat house in the distance, still afloat on the water to her relief. Perhaps it wasn't too late to get Viperion to join the fight, she thought to herself. She soon realized luck wasn't on her side today.

Before she arrived the boathouse was enveloped in a dark cloud, transforming it into Captain Hardrock's ship. As Ladybug landed on the wall separating the waterfront from the street, she spotted a group of Darkblade's knights aboard the ship. Captain Hardrock moved from the aft of the ship to midsection, opening a compartment to reveal a chained Luka. One of the knights reached down and hauled the musician out, another holding an evilized butterfly to try and infect him with. "No!" Ladybug's cry gave away her position, startling Scarlet Moth's minions.

After a moment's hesitation, Captain Hardrock pointed her sword at Ladybug, screaming, "Fire!" The cannons fired, taking out the wall where she was standing moments ago. Using her yoyo, Ladybug pulled herself up the lookout post, taking a moment to formulate a plan of action. Opening up her bug-phone, she pulled out the fox miraculous and put the necklace on. "Tikki, Trixx, unify!" In a flash of light, a pair of orange and white stripes snaked around her Ladybug suit, complete with a fox-like tail. Drawing her flute, Ladyfox eyed the group below. Luka hadn't been akumatized yet, thankfully, she may be able to get the snake miraculous to him. She took a deep breath and blew into the flute, the familiar song playing. "Mirage!" cried Ladyfox, swinging the flute back before casting the orange energy below.

The orange cloud expanded around the ship and formed into multiple ships resembling the french warships of old sailing towards Captain Hardrock's ship. The akuma rushed to the aft of the ship, desperate to steer her ship away from incoming armada. Spinning the steering wheel as fast as she could, Hardrock barely managed to move her ship out of the way of incoming cannonballs, unaware that it was just an illusion. Taking advantage of the knights being set off balance by the sudden movement, Ladyfox slid down the mast and jumped, drop-kicking a knight guarding Luka over the railing of the ship. As she moved to engage the remaining knights, she could hear Captain Hardrock ordering her cannons to take aim and fire at the incoming armada.

Suddenly, someone slammed into her from behind, knocking her over. Rolling to the side, she felt a chill down her spine as Darkblade drew his sword. How did she miss him? As she pushed herself back up, Ladyfox could feel the vibrations in the deck as the cannons fired again. As the illusion broke into orange dust, Darkblade fired his knighting ray at Luka. "Luka!" cried Ladyfox as she stared in shock as the newly knighted Luka was released from his chains. Outnumbered and running out of time, she pulled out her yoyo and pulled herself away from the ship. Without wasting a second, she was behind cover before Captain Hardrock could try to target her again.

"Tikki, Trixx, divide." The fox kwami zipped out as Ladybug sagged against the wall behind her, giving Trixx a cookie from her yoyo to recharge. With Luka out of commission, the next best candidate for the snake miraculous was Adrien, who she left in the subway. Hopefully, he was still safe and hidden, then perhaps they could use a second chance to get to Scarlet Moth and his akuma power booster. Storing the fox miraculous back in her bug-phone, she was about to swing off when her bug-phone started ringing. "Kitty? Are you okay?"

"Pawsome, but Scarlet Moth got to Ryuko before I even arrived. She got akumatized and now I can't even find her."

"They got to Viperion before I could rescue him. He is one of Darkblade's knights now. This leaves one more option: Adrien Agreste. He is supposed to be hiding in a subway near Collège Françoise Dupont. Get there as fast as you can before any akumas." She hung up before Chat could reply, swinging off to the subway.

Chat Noir

Chat Noir managed to get to the subway before Ladybug, still unsure how to explain his alter ego's absence. He was tempted to go find Marinette and bring her with him so Ladybug could give her the mouse miraculous, but that may put Marinette in unnecessary danger and upset Ladybug. As he started down the stairway, Chat heard a soft thud land behind him. "Have you seen him yet?" He winced inwardly at the concern in her voice, knowing she wasn't going to like the answer.

"Not yet, I just got here before you, bugaboo." She nodded, not responding to the pet name. She rushed into the tunnels, calling out Adrien's name as she went. Chat shook his head and followed, investigating the men's bathroom. "I don't think he is here," he reported, wincing again at the disappointment in her eyes. "How did you.."

"I ran into Marinette earlier," Ladybug interrupted. "She told me where to find him."

"But what about Marinette? She was amazing as Multimouse!"

"We can't call upon her," Ladybug said softly as she looked away. "Her identity had been exposed and she got hit by Darkblade's knighting beam after she told me where to find Adrien." Chat's ears sank as Ladybug pulled out the miraculous intended for the backup heroes. "We need to plan a counterattack of some kind against Scarlet Moth, maybe find one of the backup heroes and free them from his influence." Chat selected the snake, as Ladybug took the dragon from him. "Maybe we can find a group and ambush them, maybe even surprise Scarlet Moth himself?"

Before Chat could reply, a section of the roof caved in. Lady Wifi, Bubbler, Reflecta, Princess Fragrance, and Dark Cupid took up positions, readying their weapons to attack as the heroes stored away their extra miraculous.

Master Fu

Having already expected visitors, Fu made a fresh pot of tea. He was calmly drinking it when the wall along the street side of his room was erased. Evilustrator walked in, followed by Dark Owl and Stormy Weather. Lastly walked in Scarlet Moth, an unfamiliar akuma at his side. No doubt the source of Hawkmoth's power boost, Fu mused as he poured a second cup. "So you are Hawkmoth, I've been expecting you."

The villain swung his cane down onto the table, shattering the teapot. "The miraculous, where are they?" The villain noticed the box sitting on a dresser along the wall and examined it, noting the familiar symbol on the top matching the same one on the cover of his miracle book. Opening the box, Scarlet Moth growled as he realized it was empty. Turning on his heel, he pointed an accusing finger at the guardian, who was still sipping his tea calmly. "Where did you hide the miraculous?"

Fu gave the taller man a calm, defiant gaze. "Safe with Ladybug, who will never let you have them."

Hawkmoth screamed in frustration, hurling the fake miracle box at Fu. The impact knocked the guardian over onto his stomach, winding him for a moment. As the guardian struggled to stand, he felt Hawkmoth lift him in the air. "You will talk and I will get my miraculous, one way or another."