Chapter 37: Ikari Gozen

Marinette Dupin-Cheng swings her chair away from her computer. She just finished talking with Froppy, and they arranged a time and place for Froppy to entrust Tsukuyomi to her to take to Master Fu. Marinette can tell Froppy is very worried; there's been no change in his condition at all. Marinette wonders how much this is going to work. Master Fu already said he didn't know anything. Marinette and Tikki hope that by studying the cocoon, Master Fu can figure out a potion or a charm to break it. If not…? What do they do? What should Ladybug tell the Tokoyami family? Tikki says that's the problem with lying; Marinette agrees, but she points out that Froppy's right. As superheroes, she lies a lot; she makes a lot of excuses. She isn't happy about it, but what else can she do? As long as Hawk Moth exists, she has to keep Ladybug a secret. Tikki has no answers; she just knows that ladybug users in the past also had similar hardships.

Marinette hears a knock at the door. A moment later, her mother shouts up that her friends are here for that game. Game? What game? Tikki shakes her head. "You forgot?" Before Marinette can remember, Tikki disappears as Alya, Mylene, Juleka, Alix, and Rose enter the room. Today is the annual Friendship Day treasure hunt; they all agreed to meet at Marinette's to get started. Marinette sweats as she remembers; fortunately her meeting with Froppy is after the game.

Alya turns on the television where Alec is counting down the time until the game begins and explaining the rules. Every entrant will receive a random text message that'll lead them to their surprise partner. In teams of two, they have to solve riddles all over Paris until they reach the final location where the film crew is. The prize is a face-to-face meeting with a celebrity, and this year it's Adrien Agreste. Marinette melts; her desire to win is strengthened. Alix Kubdel laughs; they see Adrien in school every day. Mylene Haprele is just excited as this is a chance to meet a new friend.

Elsewhere in Paris, other people are also waiting for the games to begin. Giselle, Raissa and Meera are at Meera's house. Marc Anciel is back from his vacation and is hanging out with Nathaniel at his otherwise empty apartment. Rachel Beauchene and Meg Delphinus have met up with Tristan, Guy, and Cameran Tyler and are counting down over pizza and popcorn. Aurore Beaureal and Mireille Caquet are part of the hosting team, so they're already on site, being filmed. Kim and Ondine are with Max and Markov. Tsuyu Asui cancels her entry. She's sitting on the floor of her bedroom, next to Tsukuyomi's shell. She's taken some wire and glitter and craft supplies, making his cocoon look like a statue. When her little brother Samidare asks about it, Tsuyu says it's a statue she just bought. Isn't it interesting? Samidare shrugs. Kagami Tsurugi is practicing kendo with her blind mother—and losing pretty badly. Her mother insists it's a lack of discipline. Kagami says she wants to participate in a game with Adrien Agreste. Her mother forbids at; it's "too permissive;" Kagami needs to be stricter with herself to win. When her mother leaves, Kagami tricks the automated car into taking her to the game site anyway. (All characters can be found in an image at (( photos . app . goo . gl / cgLSrNi71rxfep9e8 ))(remove the spaces).)

Texts are sent; the game begins. All around Paris, the cast solves their first riddle and races off to meet their partners. Alya Cesaire winds up paired up with Wayhem, and they have a lot of fun. Wayhem is very enthusiastic as he wants the chance to meet Adrien, his idol (even though they do email). Giselle Winters-Blanchet gets paired with Vivica; it's awkward at first, but then the two start geeking out and bonding over Cat Noir. Ondine and Alix wind up as partners. They're pretty fast as both are athletes. They begin discussing schools and realize they both know Le Chien Kim. Alix is surprised to meet Kim's girlfriend. They also both know Max and Markov. Rose Lavillant winds up with a teenager a year or two older than her named Zenon. He explains he's from Canada and doing research in Paris. If his research goes well, he's going to stay longer. He has a punk-like appearance with a lot of studs, which really contrasts Rose's all-pink. Things are a bit awkward between the two, and they never really do click.

Kagami and Marinette arrive at the same location; they're partners. Marinette isn't happy about this at all. She sees Kagami as an ice queen and a rival for Adrien. She decides it's better to throw the entire treasure hunt than to win with Kagami and give her a chance to talk to Adrien. Tikki says Marinette isn't being rational, but Marinette doesn't listen. She approaches Kagami, who is passionate about participating in the game. With Kagami's skill set, the two quickly solve their riddles.

Elsewhere, Stella Tenebrae winds up paired with Marc Anciel. It's also awkward as the two have little in common. Luka Couffaine winds up with Viktor Vasiliev. Viktor is like Kagami; he badly wants to participate in the game to make a new friend, but his own shyness keeps the conversation from flourishing. Giselle and Vivica are going at a casual pace, chatting happily about Cat Noir; Vivica mentions she plays in a band, but she doesn't elaborate that she's Jagged Stone's guitarist. Alya and Wayhem are also doing great. Alya is chatting with all her friends as she goes. She winces that Marinette got stuck with Kagami, who is referred to as the "ice queen." Alix and Ondine get stuck at a clue that involves retrieving a capsule from a claw machine. Kagami is doing her best to make a friend using advice from a website, but it comes across as unsettling; Marinette can't figure out what Kagami is doing. (A lot of similarities with the canon episode.)

The final clue for every pair involves swapping cell phones. Alix and Ondine never make it to that point. Rose and Zenon do, but he says he's not comfortable with that and walks off, leaving Rose behind and befuddled. Vivica and Giselle as well as Wayhem and Alya have no problems. When Kagami and Marinette trade phones, Marinette realizes that Kagami is very lonely and just wants to make a friend. Kagami realizes that Marinette has been gossiping about her; she's deeply hurt. Hurt enough to attract Hawk Moth's attention so he sends an akuma her way. Meanwhile, Tsuyu is still sitting beside Fumikage's shell, still deeply worried.

It doesn't take long for Tomoe Tsurugi to notice her daughter isn't where she's supposed to be. She calls Kagami, but Marinette answers as she still has Kagami's phone. Kagami is close enough to hear the conversation though. When it becomes apparent that Tomoe is angry, Marinette fumbles but does her best to smooth the situation to keep Kagami from getting into trouble. This is enough to make Kagami smile, and the akuma turns away from her—and targets her mother.

Tomoe is akumatized into Ikari Gozen in mid-sentence to Marinette. The reference to Hawk Moth instantly cues her in that something is wrong. She tells Kagami that they have to run, grabs her wrist, and takes off. However, they can't outrun Ikari Gozen, who has fused with her car as a stead (see canon episode).

This time, Hawk Moth isn't alone. Nathalie Sancoeur transforms into Mayura and takes his side. She sends an amok to Ikari Gozen, saying it'll be a distraction to keep all of Ladybug and Cat Noir's allies at bay while the real Ikari Gozen deals with them and her daughter. Ikari Gozen agrees, and the amok splits her shadow into four clones, which take off into the city.

Marinette and Kagami watch this happen. Kagami tries to reason with her mother, but she's captured and trapped within the car's interior. Living seatbelts hold her fast. Marinette ducks behind a tree and pulls out her cell phone. She sends out the Akuma Alert herself to clear out civilians and posts a warning about the shadow clones to both Cat Noir and the B Team. She's surprised she contacted them so naturally, but the two teams do want to build trust. Marinette transforms into Ladybug.

Adrien hears the alert at the museum where he's waiting for the end of the competition. He sneaks away from his bodyguard while everyone is trying to evacuate and transforms into Cat Noir.

Meanwhile, the B Team is once again trying to get ready. Alpha tells Froppy to keep an eye on Tsukuyomi as he knows they're each other's spotters as well as being able to see Froppy is too distraught to participate today. He, himself, as Luka is still with Viktor and he has no idea where Juleka is. The same can be said for Kim and Nathaniel and Ondine.

Nathaniel cuts into the conversation as one of the Ikari Gozen shadow clones appears in the street he's on. Luka as Alpha tells him to send the coordinates to Ladybug, keep safe, and determine if it's an emergency situation that he has no choice but to help as Firefly. Nathaniel does so, but Ladybug is preoccupied. At some point, the wariness between the two teams gets mentioned as well as the uncertainty of the deal of entrusting the helpless Tsukuyomi to Ladybug and Cat Noir. Alpha (remembering the trust Ladybug showed him as Viperion) replies that it's Friendship Day; the theme of building trust is emphasized again.

Cat Noir meets up with Ladybug. Ladybug explains that the new akumatized victim imprisoned her daughter and has four-fourths of a shadow amok running around. Cat Noir suggests that if they focus on the main one, all the shadow clones will disappear—or at least be easier to deal with. They leap into the fight, but Ikari Gozen is very fast and big and skilled with her sword. Ladybug and Cat Noir struggle to get close and can't even find where her akumatized item is.

As the B Team begins reporting, they all witness the shadow clones taking hostages in the exact same manner Kagami was taken hostage. Mayura is happy with this; she just needs one final piece of information. And that requires capturing Ladybug or Cat Noir. Hawk Moth hears this and encourages Ikari Gozen to do so.

Luka, using his Alpha screen name, says that with hostages, this is an emergency situation. Anyone who get jump in needs to help; the antagonists are too scattered not to get involved. He does encourage Froppy to sit out if she's not up to it, but Froppy insists she's a hero too. Alpha delegates out coordinates, and they all tackle one shadow clone each. Mayura is fine with this. It's not as if the B Team can win; the amok is with the main Ikari Gozen. All the B Team can really do is slow the clones down from taking hostages. Which is their purpose: to be a distraction for the B Team and any of Ladybug and Cat Noir's allies.

Fortunately, Ladybug seems to realize this. She uses her Lucky Charm, which points her to Master Fu. Once again, Cat Noir is asked to hold the opponent off while she races to seek out an ally. Hawk Moth and Mayura see this opportunity and tell Ikari Gozen to do everything she can to capture Cat Noir. The akumatized victim ups her game and becomes a serious threat to Cat Noir. However, being a fencer as Adrien Agreste, he is able to hold her off.

Ladybug finds Master Fu and after the usual "choose an ally you can trust" scene, Ladybug picks the dragon miraculous. She races out and joins Cat Noir, noting that the B Team is holding the shadow clones at bay along the way. She notices Firefly rescuing people as she passes. They really do want to be heroes and help Paris; they really are doing their best, risking themselves. They also want to build a trusting friendship. Friendship might not be easy—just look at how awkward me and Kagami were. But...it's not bad to have a friend who always has your back, even if they have their secrets. It's just like me and Cat Noir.

Ladybug returns to Cat Noir's side. He asks about the ally; Ladybug says "she's on her way." They fight Ikari Gozen, but it's a distraction. Ladybug uses her Lucky Charm to secretly deliver the dragon miraculous to Kagami.

Kagami recognizes the miniature miracle box that lands in her lap. She opens it and meets Longg, who explains that Ladybug has entrusted her with the dragon miraculous and its power of thunder, wind, and water. Kagami is surprised that now Ladybug trusts her; she openly states that Ladybug and Cat Noir must not compare notes (as it doesn't sound as if Ladybug realizes she's Kamaitachi). Kagami accepts the dragon choker and transforms into Ryuko. She then transforms herself into a bolt of lightning and breaks out of her akumatized mother, reforming opposite of the superhero duo.

It happens so fast that it looks as if Ryuko struck Ikari Gozen from outside and then reformed. Hawk Moth and Cat Noir can't tell where she came from, but they don't suspect Kagami. Ryuko tells Ladybug that she is honored by her trust and hopes that this can be a friendship. She then takes Cat Noir's side. Since both are skilled swordspeople, they're able to keep Ikari Gozen at bay while Ladybug searches for the akuma and the amok. After all, Ryuko's weapon is a katana.

Meanwhile, the scene cuts to Alpha, Dauphine, Firefly, and Froppy against their respective shadow clones. The clones are much less skilled, but the B Team are alone. They're able to keep civilians away; otherwise, their battles are stalemates.

Ikari Gozen isn't out of the fight yet. She feints, which allows her to get the drop on Cat Noir and imprison him inside her. He uses his Cataclysm to counter, but she binds his hand with seat belts so the only thing he could touch would be himself. Hawk Moth is thrilled as this puts Cat Noir on the timer. (It should also be noted that this changes the interior of Ikari Gozen into multiple small chambers instead of one large one. Otherwise, Cat Noir would see Kagami isn't there. He probably tries to call out to her, but the situation distracts him from Kagami's lack of answer.)

Mayura coaches Ikari Gozen, who takes a defensive position to talk. "Surrender, Ladybug and Ryuko—or I'll break Cat Noir." This halts both superheroines as they can't risk attacking with an ultimatum like that. Inside Ikari Gozen, Cat Noir shouts for Ladybug not to worry about him. But she can't help but worry—he's her friend.

Ikari Gozen demands Ladybug turn over her earrings. Ladybug's hand touches her ear reflexively. Ryuko tells Ladybug not to do it and stands between Ladybug and her mother. Cat Noir shouts that he'll be fine; their suits protect them from most damage. Mayura points out the key word there is "most"—and once he transforms back, that protection is gone. Ladybug's brain races for a solution.

However, it's Ryuko who comes to one first. She says that she can't believe Ladybug is so weak—how can Ladybug hesitate in a fight? A true warrior would never hesitate in striking down an opponent. She's disappointed. Ryuko walks away, leaving Ladybug alone. Ladybug calls after her, but Ikari Gozen calls her attention back to the hostage situation. Cat Noir is thrashing inside, determined to use his Cataclysm against something, but he can't wrench his arm free.

Out of sight, Ryuko turns herself into wind. Unseen, she slips back inside of her mother. From there, she transforms back next to Cat Noir to give him the warning to hold his breath. Ryuko changes into water, flooding her mother's car innards, causing her to retch. This jostles her compartments around. Submerged, Cat Noir sees the item containing the amok. Within Ryuko's current, he is just able to reach it and Cataclysm it. At the same time, since Ikari Gozen is retching, Ladybug lunges in and destroys the akumatized item. The feather and butterfly float free.

Elsewhere in Paris, the B Team watches as the shadow clones disappear. The hostages are free—a few need to be caught so they don't hurt themselves in the fall. They cheer as this means Ladybug and Cat Noir won.

Sure enough, Ladybug purifies the akuma and amok and does her world-healing wave. The present trio Pound It. The others Pound It at the sky as part of their cheering.

Ryuko apologizes to Ladybug for her abhorrent behavior when she acted as if Ladybug was incompetent. She just had to trick Ikari Gozen. She can understand if Ladybug never trusts her again because she lied and belittled a hero; she does not have a warrior's honor. Ladybug shakes her head; she's proud of how Ryuko acted to save Cat Noir, Tomoe Tsurugi, and all of Paris. If Ryuko would accept it, Ladybug would be honored to call Ryuko a friend. This makes Ryuko very happy.

The trio splits as they're all about to transform back. Ryuko returns the choker, which Ladybug returns to Master Fu. Adrien returns to the museum just in time for Alya and Wayhem to walk in—winners of the Friendship Day competition. Marinette and Kagami meet up later. Marinette apologizes that Kagami's Friendship Day got ruined; however, there's still time for orange juice before Marinette has to get home (actually, before she has to meet Froppy). Tomoe gives Kagami permission, so Marinette and Kagami hang out.

Now in their civilian aliases, Nathalie approaches Gabriel Agreste. She says she has the final data she needed, and he declares their plan is now complete. All they need is the perfect person to akumatize. Nathalie says she has a target in mind, and she pulls up her tablet. It's footage from the confrontation with Berserker; it reveals adult Bunnyx from the future in the background. Gabriel recognizes her as being a future miraculous user because of the Cheshire encounter. Nathalie says that she assumed Bunnyx had returned to her own time, but it appears as if she's hanging around…

Froppy returns to her home through the window. At least one thing went right; no one noticed she's gone. However, Tsukuyomi is still sleeping inside the chrysalis. Froppy picks up her cell phone to talk to Alpha about finalizing the drop off with Ladybug. Alpha, again speaking with his experience as Viperion, says he knows this is hard—but they have to trust. Tsukuyomi needs help.

Froppy agrees—as hard as it is to admit. She places a hand on the shell. She can feel her pulse racing. Water surges around her, but she doesn't even notice. She feels light-headed; the phone falls from her hand in mid-sentence, leaving Alpha calling out her name. Froppy drifts off asleep as her water elemental powers envelope her in an egg-like sphere. Since she's next to Tsukuyomi's, her cocoon rests by his, floating slightly, but looking as if it's part of the sculpture she made. Alpha receives no answer; the call disconnects. (If there's to be a difference between the frog's water element and the dolphin's water element, it's that the frog is fresh water and the dolphin is salt water.)

Gabriel steps back, aghast. "I just lost the frog…"

To be continued in Chapter 38: Mad Hare…