Chapter 12: Prediction

Being a junior weather girl, Mireille Caquet has to get up early, air the morning broadcast and then return to the studio after school for the evening weather report. It's a demanding schedule, but she really enjoys it. Most of her coworkers love having her around, and she's a sweet television personality with more than her share of fans. She was even able to get Aurore Beaureal a position at the station as the two have developed a friendship.

Her most recent forecast is airing by the time she walks into the school building. She greets her classmates and heads to her locker. However, that's when it turns out her forecast was WAY off. Instead of sunny, it starts with gale winds. Clouds build and distant thunder rumbles as if it's going to rain. Mireille looks up and laments that she didn't bring an umbrella.

That prompts Marie Chauveau and Suzette Rault to snark at her—shouldn't you know better? You're a weather girl after all! They also imply that maybe she was distracted with her "girlfriend," Aurore. Mireille protests that she has a boyfriend, Theo, and that she and Aurore aren't gay. However, Marie and Suzette don't listen.

Mireille swallows her frustrations and heads to the courtyard only to have Chloe Bourgeois, with Sabrina in tow, confront her. Chloe out-right insults her weather forecast, saying it was completely wrong. How could she not see that it's going to rain! Mireille points out that she doesn't decide the forecast, that's done with state-of-the-art technology and radar imaging, she only reports what's given to her. However, Chloe doesn't listen and again accuses Mireille of misleading them all.

Mireille is get flustered as a few more people make comments about the wrong forecast. Some are light-hearted, some are down-right harsh. Even Lila Rossi gets in with passive-aggressive "I know you're doing your best" styled nonsense. Then Jakeel Aristide walks by with a "nice try" style joke that is more harmful than helpful. (Remember, faces for all the expanded background characters can be found (( photos . app . goo . gl / cgLSrNi71rxfep9e8 ))(remove the spaces).)

Despite being fairly optimistic and strong-willed, the constant criticism gets to her. Hawk Moth sends his akuma, turning Mireille into Prediction. Her power is that of immediate future control. As in, she can make a prediction for the immediate future, and it comes true. (Such as—"I foresee Cat Noir tripping on an empty can and accidentally Cataclysm'ing the flagpole." Those events would occur.)

Aurore and Tsuyu Asui try to talk Prediction down, but she predicts that they will both lose their voices, silencing their pleads. Prediction then decides to head to the studio so all of Paris can hear her predictions. This leaves a path of people addled by her commands. Principal Damocles shakes his head with a "not again" and sets the Akuma Alert, which helps evacuate the school. It also alerts Marinette and Adrien, who head off to transform. Giselle Winters-Blanchet notices that once again an akuma victim happened in their school, confirming her fears that Hawk Moth is a someone there—someone like Adrien Agreste. After all, she does note that he's never around when an akuma incident occurs (because he's Cat Noir.) In fact, he's gone right now.

Ladybug and Cat Noir catch up with Prediction at the news studio. She's taken over just about every station, making predictions about the weather, sports, even music (with cameo appearances of Jagged Stone with Vivica, XY, and Clara Nightingale). The two try to corner her, but Prediction is able to trip them up with what amounts to short-term control of fate. (However, there are some limits as she can't openly say "They lose their miraculous.")

Ladybug conjures a Lucky Charm—this time it's a ball of yarn. Red and black yarn. As in, red thread. Of fate. Yes, pun is pun.

The battle continues. Prediction keeps escaping just as it seems as if they get her cornered. She even manages to get them tied up with Ladybug's own yarn. The two are jumbled together as Prediction moves in to claim their miraculous. Which is just what Cat Noir wanted, and he manages to Cataclysm the akumatized item and free Mireille from Hawk Moth's control. Ladybug realizes, abashed, that she and Cat Noir's arms have been tied together by red thread. She hopes he doesn't notice as she quickly kicks off her world-healing wave and then purifies the akuma when her hands are free. He did notice. However, true to Mireille's initial weather forecast, it is now sunny skies with a rainbow. They "pound it."

They part ways and return to their homes. Marinette flops down on her bed, exhausted. Her phone vibrates, getting an Akuma Alert. This one isn't like the others. Instead of providing a picture or video of the akuma, there's none. There's no verification of the alert—as in, one person and only one person reported it. And most of all, instead of giving concrete details, it's vague. People who use the app are already calling it a fake alert.

Marinette rereads the notification. "LB. Help. I've been akumatized. Meet me at (location) at (time). Alone, plz?" The location and time are mild riddles—they refer to events that happened in Frozer that only Ladybug and Cat Noir would know. Marinette puzzles over this and asks Tikki what she thinks. Tikki says it could be a trap, but she says that it also sounds as if the person is afraid.

Marinette sighs as she is tired, but she decides to check this out. She transforms and calls Cat Noir, asking if he saw the alert and what he thinks. He's more confident that it's a trap, and he tells Ladybug not to go alone—he'll be right there. (Perhaps they discuss having a private phone number or similar service so they can call each other when they're not transformed for emergencies. Some system that would allow them to talk but protect their identities. Discord? A chat server? Some type of fake number routed through a system?)

They meet up within view of the location mentioned but remain out of sight. Ladybug says she doesn't see anyone. Cat Noir says he'll go to the location with her, but Ladybug points out that the person who sent the alert won't appear if he's there. Cat Noir doesn't like it, but he agrees to stay back. However, he says he'll leap in the moment he senses Ladybug is in trouble.

Ladybug lands on the rooftop and calls out. Giselle remains in the shadows but reveals herself to Ladybug alone. Ladybug asks her about the alert and being akumatized. She recognizes Giselle from school but doesn't comment so she doesn't give herself away. However, she can see Giselle is incredibly nervous and stressed. Giselle promises this isn't a trap although she knows it probably sounds that way. And she's also certain Cat Noir is watching from nearby—after all, Ladybug would have to be stupid to respond to an anonymous message alone. Ladybug asks her why she wants to talk without Cat Noir. Giselle looks up at Ladybug with such an expression—because she's in love with him, seriously in love, and she doesn't want him to see her akumatized.

Ladybug debates and assesses. She knows the risks, but she can see Giselle is earnest. She uses her yo-yo phone and tells Cat Noir to fall back. It's safe, and she can handle it. Cat Noir protests, but Ladybug asks him to trust her. So Cat Noir does fall back a few blocks. However, he doesn't leave entirely.

Ladybug and Giselle sit down at a table on the rooftop. Ladybug asks for the full explanation. So Giselle reveals her bracelet. She takes it off and puts it between them. Then she admits to being Snow Leopard, which very much surprises Ladybug.

Giselle then anxiously blabs the whole story while Ladybug examines the bracelet. Giselle explains the bracelet belong to her mother, and it's what caused her to transform instead of becoming an ice statue while Frozer ran amok. She explains she has no idea whatsoever about how the bracelet works or why it does what it does. But the only explanation is that she's been akumatized, right? She then lists off evidence she's gathered from the Ladyblog (and misinterpreted) that implies she's been akumatized. She then says she knows Ladybug has to destroy the bracelet to free the akuma, Giselle just pleads with her to restore it afterward.

Ladybug calms her down a bit. She tells Giselle that the bracelet does not hold an akuma—and that she doesn't sense any akuma at all from Giselle. Plus Giselle has normal skin color, which those who have been akumatized never have. Giselle is relieved but a bit confused. Ladybug then goes on to ask Giselle questions about her powers and being Snow Leopard. Giselle explains to the best of her ability. Ladybug admits that the more and more she hears, the more and more it sounds as if Giselle's bracelet isn't an akuma or connected to Hawk Moth. It sounds like it works as a genuine miraculous(—or at least, some type of magical item). However, where's its kwami? Giselle has no idea what a kwami is, and prodding from Ladybug reveals that the bracelet has none. That also means the method of transformation is different. Ladybug asks Giselle how she transforms, but Giselle admits she has no control over it. The best she can guess is that it's connected to emotions, which is why she thought she was akumatized in the first place. (It's actually connected to emotions + element.)

Ladybug then says that since it's her mother's bracelet, why doesn't she ask her mother to see if she knows anything. Giselle lowers her eyes and admits her mother died earlier that year. Ladybug apologizes. Giselle goes on to explain that her mother gave her the bracelet as she was dying and made her promise to take it to a jeweler. That's why Giselle called Ladybug here—she needed Ladybug to destroy and fix the bracelet so she could keep that promise (back when she thought there was an akuma). Ladybug finds this odd, and Giselle hands her the note with the address of the jeweler. Ladybug is stunned to see it's Master Fu's address.

Once again, Ladybug knows she has to make a huge choice and take a chance. She first says that she knows the jeweler and will deliver it herself. However, Giselle says she has to because she promised, though she does thank Ladybug for the offer. Ladybug debates internally—does she take Giselle to Master Fu? His identity as guardian of the miraculous is vital to keep a secret. However, Giselle could provide a lot of insight into the new miraculous running around, and Master Fu would have questions for her that Ladybug would never think of asking. How much does she trust Giselle? Is she even sure this isn't a trap? Is it all right to bring Giselle without Master Fu inviting her? And how did Giselle's mother even know about Master Fu? Was the mother an ally? Does that mean they should trust Giselle?

The last few wind up winning Ladybug's line of thought. She tells Giselle she'll take her to the jeweler. It's a bit of a walk for someone without powers though, so she asks if Giselle can transform. Giselle puts on the bracelet and tries—she reminds Ladybug she has no control over how it works. "And if I become akumatized, you have to save me." Ladybug suggests she try a phrase, like "Transform Me." That doesn't work either. Ladybug then reminds Giselle of her theory that it's connected to emotions. Why not try to think happy thoughts or something? Giselle says the last times she transformed were when she was nervous or afraid. Ladybug then pulls a prank. She says "Hi, Cat Noir!" and waves behind Giselle. Giselle panics and transforms into Snow (which proves to Ladybug that that part of her story was true.)

Snow Leopard chides Ladybug for tricking her, but Ladybug says it worked. She then leads Snow to the acupuncture clinic (they take care not to be seen). Snow is confused. This is the address, but there's no jeweler here. Ladybug says Snow will see shortly, and they enter (perhaps through a side door to keep a low profile).

Master Fu is very surprised to see Ladybug show up with no news reports of an akuma and catches himself before he says her real name. He's doubly surprised to see Snow with her. Ladybug does introduction and then adds that Snow has a story to tell. Ladybug explains that Master Fu has to be that "jeweler" her mother was looking for as he cares for the magical objects. (Worth noting is that Wayzz hides during this as he doesn't want to reveal himself to Snow.)

Snow re-explains her story with Master Fu asking questions Ladybug didn't think of. This reveals Snow's mother is from Montreal and came to Paris to study history. When she met Snow's father, she decided to stay. Snow has no idea when her mother got the bracelet; she also has no knowledge of if her mother ever used it to transform. Ladybug asks Master Fu if he knows anyone from Montreal. He says that he doesn't, but there is a certain amount of evasiveness to his answer (as he knows there's a branch of the order of the miraculous in North America, and he sorta remembers it being located in Quebec.) Master Fu asks if Snow can detransform so he can examine the bracelet, but Snow admits she also has no idea how to do that—it just sort of wears off.

So they talk about Snow's powers while they wait. She explains she can double tap to create ice (she has yet to learn about her Frost Fall ability). They also talk about the other new heroes. Does Snow know Alpha, Crow-man (because running joke that they never call him Tsukuyomi), Froppy, Dauphine, or Firefly? She doesn't. However, Ladybug does theorize that their powers might work the same as Snow's—as in, no idea how they transform and no kwami, but possibly are effected by strong emotions. Ladybug uses Chloe's time as Queen Bee to confirm her theory.

That's when Snow's transformation wears off, leaving her as Giselle. Master Fu does note that there really is no kwami. So then what is this "miraculous" exactly? Are there other empowering magical items in the world? Giselle hands it to him, and he studies it intently. Giselle then says that he can keep it. Master Fu is surprised she gave up magical power so willingly—especially an item that belong to her late mother. Giselle, however, points out that this is what she promised her mother on her death bed—to give the bracelet to the jeweler. She has to leave it with him; she promised.

Master Fu graciously accepts and says he will do his best to learn all he can about the new kind of miraculous. He thanks Giselle very much because her testimony gave them much information they did not have before. He then locks the bracelet in the same glass safe as the bee comb. Giselle thanks him and promises she won't tell anyone about what she saw today.

To be continued in Chapter 12: Dungeon Master…