Chapter 56: Chip Bluestone
At the Bourgeois Manor, Chloe has transformed into Queen Scorpion. She's practicing her acrobatic moves, dodges, enhanced leaping, and augmented strength in her own room. She wants to become a better heroine—strong, faster, smarter than Ladybug. But since her miraculous is a loan from Madam Gros, she has to be careful where and when she uses her powers. One slip up, and Madam Gros will take the Scorpio hair tie from her. Which is why Queen Scorpion is practicing where no one else can disturb her.
The problem is that her main weapon and technique are both acidic. Any time she tries to use her chain or Dissolve, she winds up damaging her bedroom. This frustrates Queen Scorpion because she does like her stuff—and she doesn't want to explain the damage to her father or Butler Jean. (At least her father is willing to turn a blind eye to the situation as he's spoiling Chloe due to his impending divorce.)
Queen Scorpion flops down and reverses her transformation and sulks. She can't keep practicing in here—but where else can she go? She grabs her phone to demand Sabrina Raincomprix find an empty place she can practice. But then she remembers she and Sabrina are no longer speaking. "That sucks! Now I have to do things myself!"
Barbarra tries to calm Chloe down and urges her to just trust Madam Gros's overall plan. Chloe argues back because she has her own objectives (humiliating Ladybug and reclaiming the bee comb) and she doubts Madam Gros will prioritize either of those. "That counselor just wants to use me—but I'll be the one to use her and the powers she gave me!"
Butler Jean raps on the door, wondering what all the strange noises are about. Chloe denies anything is wrong. Butler Jean insists. Chloe flounces out of her room and says she got tired of her walls and wants her whole room remodeled by the time she gets back. She sashays out of the manor, looking for a place she can practice. Butler Jean peeks into her room and goes bug eyed when he sees the damage.
In the Agreste manor, Nicholas Sancoeur is helping Nathalie into her bed. It's clear her health has tanked, and she's struggling a lot physically. Dr. Gerald Theroux is on hand, being a live-in doctor/nursing practitioner to see to Emilie and Gabriel. Since Nathalie is now showing the same symptoms, he's called to check on her too. However, like Adrien's parents, Dr. Theroux is flummoxed as to what is destroying Nathalie's health. They've even tested the house for radon and carbon monoxide as well as testing the water several times. Nathalie Sancoeur attempts to insist she's fine, but she isn't fooling anyone. She tries to get up to continue to work, but Dr. Theroux is adamant that she stays in bed before she winds up in a coma too.
Amelie and Felix Graham de Vanily don't even bother to drop in and visit her. Amelie is internally quite gleeful about this turn of events. If Nathalie does drop into a coma, she could work it so Emilie gets first-care treatment in London. She could take Adrien with her, return home, and leave Gabriel and Nathalie in Paris's hospitals. (There is still an on-going legal issue between Nathalie and Amelie about who is the legal guardian of Adrien.)
Dr. Theroux has to take the blood samples he's drawn from Nathalie to the hospital for further tests, and he insists Adrien go with him for similar testing—after all, Adrien Agreste himself has fallen into a mysterious coma, and they want to catch that before it repeats. Adrien insists he's fine, but Dr. Theroux is more adamant and convinces Adrien. Adrien stops in Nathalie's room to wish her "get well soon" and says "good-bye" to Nicholas before heading off with Dr. Theroux. Nicholas replies in kind; he's sitting at a table in Nathalie's room, working on fixing the lock on Nathalie's briefcase.
When everyone else is gone, Duusuu and Nooroo both appear, worried about Nathalie's health. Nooroo is still somber about being forced to use his powers for evil, but at least Nathalie treats him better than Gabriel. Duusuu is energetic but worried and doesn't put too much thought into how his powers are being used. Nathalie tells them to keep calm as Amelie and Felix are still in the house.
Nathalie calls Nicholas over with the item. He brings over the briefcase, revealing what he had actually been doing was creating a hidden compartment in the lid with a very complex locking mechanism to conceal it. Nicholas shows her how it works, and Nathalie opens it—revealing a dozen items and jewelry inset with the several gemstones—though notably, one of the slots for the items reveals that item is missing—a slot molded for cuff links. Nathalie compliments him on a job well done at making the hidden compartment.
Nicholas pleads with her not to continue to use the peacock miraculous as that's what's destroying her health. Duusuu, in the background, looks guilty. But he can't help that his miraculous got damaged. Nathalie insists she has to continue because if she stops, then there's nothing that can wake Gabriel ("and Emilie, I guess…"). Nathalie pulls up her tablet, which shows previous akuma victims and their akumatized forms. Lila was a bust because of her self-serving attitude and ego, but that doesn't mean Nathalie is out of options. She swipes a few of the profiles forward so they're enlarged. "First, I need someone naïve—and someone who is very nice."
"Nice?" This surprised Nicholas, Duusuu, and Nooroo.
Nathalie explains that she needs a mole first and foremost—someone who won't suspect he or she is being used as a pawn. But before Nathalie can finish explaining her full idea, she coughs blood again. Duusuu and Nicholas insist she rest and stop pushing herself. Even if it's just for a couple of days. Nathalie refuses and hands an item to Nicholas.
She gives him instructions to slip the item to her chosen target. He is not to let the target see him in any form. From there, she is trusting her psychological analysis of Ladybug, Cat Noir, and the B Team will play perfectly into her hands. Nicholas attempts to refuse, but Nathalie is forceful. Nicholas resigns and agrees to follow her plan.
The scene pans to the tablet to the profile Nathalie has pulled up: The Magician of Mayhem, The Magician of Misfortune—Jean Duparc.
Elsewhere in Paris, Marc Anciel leaps out of the seat at Nathaniel Kurtzberg's drawing desk so quickly that the chair falls backward. The sphere of light that has imprisoned Firefly for the past two days has begun to crack. Marc freezes up a moment, not sure what he should do—contact the B Team? Help Firefly?
The cracks widen and light pours out. Marc has to shield his eyes. A moment later, there's a loud thump as the cocoon releases Firefly, and he hits the ground. Marc hurries over to his friend's side as the light and shell vanish entirely. Firefly is flat on his back, grumbling about being completely exhausted and wanting to sleep more. Marc tries to get him to focus and tells him that he's been asleep for two days already. His firefly charm/pencil topper is beeping. Firefly complains about the "alarm clock" going off to early and tries to go back to sleep. Marc shakes him awake.
Firefly grumbles as he sits up, still very groggy. That's when his transformation breaks and a small figure emerges from his lightning bug charm. That fully wakes up Nathaniel, who is stunned to see a kwami. Both he and Marc are. The kwami introduces herself as the kwami of (insert unused canon concept here) and says she's pleased to meet them. She speaks with a notable Italian accent, which neither boy knows where she got that from. She recognizes Nathaniel as her master and wielder of her miraculous. Nathaniel pauses and stares at his charm. "It's now a miraculous? A real, real miraculous?" Marc congratulates him—they both get pretty excited.
Nathaniel then asks Marc what happened. Marc explains that Nathaniel was trapped for two days, his parents never noticed, and that Marc filled in for him with the school and told the B Team. Nathaniel grumbles about his parents, but he's too excited about having a real kwami to let that get him down. The kwami starts to talk to Nathaniel, again calling him "master," but he tells her just to call him "Nathaniel." He then introduces Marc as his best friend and someone who they can trust their secret with. Nathaniel asks the kwami her name, but she says she does not yet have one. After some deliberation, Marc suggests they name of Lucciola, which means "firefly" in Italian, on behalf of her accent. Nathaniel agrees, and Lucciola chimes that she loves the name.
Nathaniel and Marc try to pick Lucciola's brain about what she knows about miraculous, Ladybug, Cat Noir, their master, the whole cocooning process, akumas etc. Lucciola doesn't know anything about current events—all she knows is the greater lore kwamis are connected to. She can't reveal anyone's identities, she knows Nathaniel will need to say a phrase now to transform rather than rely on emotions, she knows about her Beacon special ability, she knows that other kwamis with other powers exist etc. But she can't tell them about Hawk Moth, and she knows nothing about technology (at one point, she gets ridiculously fascinated with the electric lamp.) Marc and Nathaniel aren't fully certain what to make of everything, but both are very excited about this turn of events—and that Nathaniel's time confined is now over.
That's when Marc reminds Nathaniel that the B Team is going to want to know about things. Nathaniel agrees and hustles to find his cell phone.
It's getting late by this point, since this is the same day as the prior chapter. Marinette Dupin-Cheng is helping her parents clean up the bakery for the evening. However, her mind is turning over the newest riddle Master Fu left for her to solve. She's pretty sure there'll be another hidden miraculous at the end of the trail, and she doesn't want to leave it there any longer than she has to. Based on what she's heard from Cat Noir, the miraculous they don't yet have are the snake, ox, mouse, monkey, and rooster. If those are divided between her and Cat Noir, that means once she solves this riddle, she's likely to get only one or two more riddles. And then what? She desperately wants more word from Master Fu. If he's safe, why the Western Order is attacking them, how to translate the grimoire so she can help the B Team, if Master Fu has any more information about the new female Hawk Moth he mentioned and what it means about the old one etc. Plus, she's worried about him and wants him to be safe.
In her room, she confides as much to Tikki, Roarr, Daizzi, and Longg. They're all worried about the master too, but Longg insists they should trust his expertise. Marinette calls Marianne Lenoir, just to follow up with her (Marinette got Marianne's number from Cat Noir, and Master Fu himself confirmed Marianne is a trusted ally in one of his letters.) Marianne is glad to hear from Marinette, but she has no new information about Master Fu. They talk a bit, Marianne telling Marinette of some of the heroics she and Master Fu did during WWII. They eventually end the call.
Marinette stretches as it's about time for her to go to sleep. But she decides to log into the chat servers to see how both teams are doing. She checks the new server she made for herself, Cat Noir, and their miraculous allies. It's mostly dead, but Hachiko and Kamaitachi are talking together. They're getting along decently and following the rules carefully not to let anything slip about their identities. Marinette is surprised how nice Hachiko is being, as she knows Hachiko is really Sabrina Raincomprix. She concludes it had to be Chloe's bad influence that caused Sabrina to act how she did. While Marinette has no idea that Kagami Tsurugi is Kamaitachi, she is glad to see her allies getting along. (This is because both Sabrina and Kagami are lonely, so they logged into the server just to have someone to talk to. It's also worth noting that this is the beginning of Sabrina's character development trait: true friendship.)
Marinette decides to make a quick check of the Team B chat server before calling it an evening. Unlike her server, the B Team's server is flying. Marinette quickly learns why—Firefly is confirmed to have awakened from his prison and has a kwami now. At the time Marinette (under her Ladybug screen name) logs in, Firefly is trying to upload a photo of Lucciola to show everyone. However, all of the images he takes with his cell phone show no kwami. Froppy mentions that she was unable to photograph Froppy the kwami too.
Marinette/Ladybug types that kwamis cannot be recorded by photography or audio-visual media (which includes being seen by security cameras and robots). She then goes on to add that she's thrilled Firefly is awake and safe. Firefly thanks her for the concern. Alpha types that it pretty much confirms that they're all looking at similar imprisonment soon. This greatly worried Dauphine, Snow Leopard, and Honey Bee. With Honey Bee, at least her whole family knows she's a superheroine, so they're in a better position to handle things should she get cocoon'ed than anyone else. Dauphine is the most worried vocally as she can't just vanish from home for 2-3 days. Dauphin offers to cover for her, but she's still wary. She even suggests laying off of the heroics for a while until they and/or Ladybug can figure out a better way than this whole cocoon'ing process.
Marinette is very surprised that Honey Bee told her whole family and that they accepted it. Honey Bee admits it wasn't easy; they confiscated her magical item at first. But now they trust her—as long as she doesn't break any laws and gets her homework done. For a moment, Marinette allows herself to imagine what it would be like if both her parents knew about her being Ladybug and fully supported her heroics. She runs downstairs, transformed into Ladybug, on her way to deal with an akuma. Her father says he's so proud of her as he gives her a croissant for the road. Her mother tells her to be careful, stay safe, look after her team, beat Hawk Moth, and be careful again. Marinette as Ladybug hugs them both and then swings out of the bakery. It's a lovely, heart-warming fantasy. Once she's done indulging, Marinette types and asks if Honey Bee is worried about her family becoming a villain's targets.
Alpha reminds Ladybug that his pack follows the rule of having a secret keeper just in case something goes wrong, there's someone on hand to call for help. Firefly admits it was handy as his secret keeper (and lack of parents caring) allowed him to go MIA for several days. Honey Bee then adds that if things go completely south and a villain targets her—her family being in ignorance wouldn't protect them. If anything, them knowing she's Honey Bee allows them time to plan and prepare. Of course, Honey Bee adds, she has no intention of allowing herself to get that compromised by a villain. Marinette/Ladybug falls silent as she knows Honey Bee made a great point. Tsukuyomi argues a counterpoint though—that if anyone in Honey Bee's family is akumatized, Hawk Moth might force them to reveal her secret identity. Firefly points out that that could happen with any of their secret keepers. Alpha admits it is a flaw in the secret keeper system, but it's all the more reason to keep their secret keepers a secret so Hawk Moth has no reason to target or interrogate them—and more reason for them to protect their secret keepers and keep them from getting akumtized in the first place.
Marinette acknowledges to herself that this is the biggest reason she and Cat Noir cannot tell anyone, not even their families. Ladybug is needed to purify akumas, and both the ladybug and black cat miraculous cannot fall into evil hands no matter what. So they have to be even more careful ("be careful" yet again) than the B Team and everyone else. She also made a promise to Master Fu to keep her identity a secret, and it's a core part of the Eastern Order. But it does cause her to stop and wonder and fantasize and follow her train of thought—if something did go wrong, if something happened to me…what would mom and dad think? Would they ever know? What if I told them—could they even accept that? …I can't risk them taking away the earrings, not even for a little bit. There's too much at stake; only Ladybug can purify an akuma. But…but it might be nice to have someone always watching my back, someone to turn to when things go wrong. Someone who is reliable and always there; someone I trust fully. Someone like Cat Noir. Marinette stops her thoughts dead in their tracks. Like Adrien someone like Adrien! Not like that goofball Cat Noir—who actually is Adrien! Oh no, oh my! She forces herself to focus on the conversation.
By now, Firefly has given up trying to upload an image of Lucciola onto the server because she's unable to be photographed. Alpha says he believes Firefly even without a photo as what Firefly has explained about kwamis is too accurate for him not to have one now. Tsukuyomi agrees, but he then wonders how Alpha knows so much about kwamis. Alpha, being Luka and thus Viperion, of course has first-hand knowledge. But he recovers smoothly and insists it's because he remembered everything Tsukuyomi and Froppy told them about kwamis. They believe the excuse.
Dauphine addresses Ladybug, wondering if she or Cat Noir have discovered anything that could help them. Ladybug admits they're working on it. She relays the partial translation from the grimoire—about an items from the butterfly living a hundred years, something about birth and sacred relics, and the rest they're working on translating. The partial translation isn't too encouraging or helpful to the B Team. However, it does remind Ladybug about Cat Noir being involved, and she sends him off a quick text message about Firefly being awake and for him to log into the B server.
Adrien Agreste receives the text message, but he can't reply or check anything out as he's still at the hospital, undergoing testing for whatever is causing the people in his house to lose consciousness.
Tsukuyomi, on the chat server, asks Ladybug if she's going to want to meet Lucciola like she did Dark Shadow. Firefly, who is getting over his crush on Ladybug, doesn't like this prospect as he wants to keep his identity (and Marc's) a secret. Ladybug says she also believes Firefly about his kwami and doesn't see anything else she could learn by meeting face to face—but she encourages him to communicate anything that changes just so the others can help. Firefly agrees.
Off screen, Marc suggests that Nathaniel sketch Lucciola for everyone, but Nathaniel points out his distinct art style might give him away. They do have a notable following of their web comic. Marc concedes his point.
Marinette is yawning a lot at this point and logs out to go to sleep. The kwamis with her a thrilled about a new kwami being born into the world. Daizzi squees that she wants to meet her new friend. Marinette tells them to settle down for the night and curls up to sleep.
It's the next day, Adrien Agreste is home with no anomalies in his medical tests whatsoever, leaving Dr. Theroux and the hospital staff baffled about what's going on inside his home. Nathalie Sancoeur's condition has not improved, and she is still bed-ridden. Neither Gabriel nor Emilie have stirred. Amelie takes Felix out to his new martial arts dojo, and even Nicholas Sancoeur leaves the premises "to take a walk." Adrien is largely left to himself, so he heads to his room and checks on the kwamis in his care: Plagg, Kaalki, and Ziggy. Plagg is actually working hard, trying to keep Ziggy from exploring the manor as he doesn't want Ziggy to come across Nooroo or Duusuu (whom he has reason to believe are nearby, since Plagg now knows Gabriel was Hawk Moth). Plagg doesn't want Nooroo or Duusuu to learn there are other kwamis nearby as that would risk Adrien's identity. Kaalki is busy trying on Adrien's clothing.
Now that he finally has time, Adrien checks the B Team's server. Being in the morning and presumably a weekend (I have lost all track of weekends in this fic), their server isn't moving. However, Adrien is able to confirm what Ladybug texted him the prior night—Firefly is free and Lucciola is born. Adrien takes this as a sign that he and Ladybug really need to figure out a way to help the B Team and he texts Ladybug to plan another translation of the grimoire session together with her. Ladybug doesn't reply (Marinette is busy baking with her family).
Outside, Nicholas Sancoeur is wandering the neighborhood. At first glance, it looks like he's just going for a casual stroll. However, he is actually out to complete his mission for his aunt—to find Jean Duparc. He passes by several groups from school along the way. Giselle Winters-Blanchet, Raissa Deschamps, and Meera Pugliese are following up with the green project in the park (from the Party Crasher chapter) by picking up trash and planting flowers. It comes in the wake of Terra Forma with Rina Bauer (Monique Imhof's older sister) being akumatized. As Nicholas watches, Monique Imhof and Nicolette Lacroix (who are best friends) join the trio in their go-green efforts. Not so far away, Le Chien Kim is racing Alix Kubdel, Mathieu Anciel, and Stella Tenebrae—bike to rollerblades to skateboard to running, respectively. Tristan Fortier and Rachel Beauchene are getting ice cream from Andre's stand.
At the edge of the park, Jean Duparc has set up a magic show. A crowd has gathered, including Wayhem and Theo Barbot in the audience. Pierre Lefevre and Jakeel Aristide (Jean's two best friends who don't always get along themselves) are also there, giving Jean a jovial hard time. Nicholas Sancoeur joins the audience and waits for his moment. (All supporting characters can be found here: (( photos . app . goo . gl / cgLSrNi71rxfep9e8 ))).
When the show is done and is being packed up, Nicholas congratulates Jean, who recognizes him as a classmate. Pierre and Jakeel join in the conversation. And while everyone is distracted, Nicholas slips the object Nathalie gave him, which is revealed to be a single glove, into Jean's bag of tricks. As the conversation winds down, Nicholas excuses himself with no one the wiser.
It's not until the next day, when Jean is at home and unpacking his trunk, that he discovers the single glove. He knows it's not his, but he also notices it is quite elegant and lovely and that there's a turquoise gem on the back of the wrist. He wonders if someone at the park mistakenly dropped it into his stuff during his performance. He does think it's a pretty glove, but one glove alone isn't much use. And it's also clearly expensive. Jean figures the right thing to do is to turn it in so the owner can find it. He decides to head back to the park to see if they have a Lost and Found. (This has to be the weekend…right?)
Jean arrives at the park only to find the main office closed (it's Sunday, right?). He shrugs since he can't turn the glove in. He pulls it out to look it over one more time. What was someone doing wearing gloves when the weather is this nice? It's a nice glove…he probably will never get a chance to wear something like this. Jean puts it on. It feels good too—like silk.
Just as Jean is about to pull it off, he notices Rose Lavillant Juleka Couffaine walking by, talking and having fun together. Jean forgets all about the glove in the wake of his secret crush—Rose. He gets really nervous, but he would like to speak with her. But how do I ask her out? You don't just walk up to a girl and blurt out "will you go out with me?" …do you?
Jean checks his pockets to see what magic tricks he's carrying with him, as having sleigh-of-hand on hand gives him confidence and a way to break the ice. He then decides to dive in and approaches Rose and Juleka. He watches their conversation for a moment, not wanting to interrupt anything they're invested in. Once he senses a lull, he interrupts and greets them both as a fellow classmate. Rose replies brightly; Juleka sorta shrinks back behind her hair. Jean tries to start a normal conversation about school and the weather, but it's awkward. So he banks on his magic tricks and pulls a coin out of Rose's ear. Rose giggles in amusement, causing Jean to blush. Jean gives her the coin, suggesting she buy ice cream or something cute and pink with it. Rose doesn't want to accept money from him, but Jean insists it's not his—it's "magic money" and it came from inside her ear, so it's all hers and she should use it to make herself happy. Rose accepts the coin and thanks him. Jean is elated by this, though he has yet to get around to confessing his crush. He is also still incredibly nervous during this encounter.
Rose and Juleka part ways from Jean with Rose suggesting she and Juleka buy ice cream together (missing the fact that Jean wants to share ice cream with her). Still, Jean is happy he had a conversation with Rose and was able to impress her with his magic. He turns to head home, having forgotten that he returned to the park to see if he could drop the single glove, which he is now wearing, at the lost and found.
As Jean gets towards the street, something whizzes by his face. He has no idea what this is, but it alarms him enough that it sends his already nervous emotions over the threshold. The turquoise glove has been charged with nervousness, and it triggers a transformation. Jean finds himself turned into a light blue squirrel-themed hero.
He wears a domino mask of that color with a magician's top hat, complete with tiny ornamental squirrel ears. There's a ribbon around the hat a darker shade of blue. His overall outfit is a tux/tail coat, much like Adamantus and Rena Rouge. He has on matching gloves—though only one has a series of now five turquoise studs on it. He also dons high, dark blue boots, a dark blue tie, a dark blue cummerbund, and a long staff that also resembles a key.
Jean freezes where he's standing, shocked about what just happened to him. In the not so distance, Adamantus watches closely. It was Adamantus who threw one of his screwdrivers at Jean's face to encourage the transformation.
Jean has no idea what he should do; he turns his key staff over and over in his hands. A small crowd begins to form, curious about the boy who is clearly in a costume. Jean, being a natural performer, improvs. He does some of his classic sleigh-of-hands. Then he leaps into the air. And launches himself so far he lands daintily in the highest branches of the nearest tree, dumbfounding himself. The crowd applauds. Jean takes a bow from up high and then leaps away, hopping from tree to tree and then rooftop to rooftop. This is amazing! He realizes this is his chance to impress Rose, so he diverts his route to find her.
Of course, he's already attracted attention. Some people are filming him and uploading it to the internet. Alya is the first to notice, as it comes across some of her usual forums. People are wondering if this is a publicity stunt, an akuma, a new superhero, someone filming a movie… They don't know. Alya recognizes there's no CGI, so the stunts are likely being done by someone augmented with magic. Trixx doesn't recognize any miraculous involved though. Alya logs into the Team A chat server to find out what's going on. Bunnyx is one of the few online. But while she actually does know what is going on, having seen it in her Burrow, she cannot comment on anything. However, Bunnyx and Alya/Rena Rouge do use the "Buzz" feature to get Ladybug and Cat Noir's attention. While they wait, Bunnyx does note that this new blue character's skin color is normal, and Alya/Rena Rouge comments that he isn't really causing any problems besides leapfrogging around.
Upon receiving the "Buzz," both Marinette and Adrien find an excuse to leave their houses so they can sneak off and transform. They find Jean pretty quickly. The golden duo remain a cautious distance, not sure if he's an ally or an enemy or what he's doing.
Jean, however, is thrilled to run into Ladybug and Cat Noir on the roof and gushes happily over how they're here in person. (While he has "met" them twice before when he was akumatized, he doesn't really remember those times). Ladybug and Cat Noir are surprised by his energetic demeanor. Cat Noir asks him what's going on, and Jean admits he doesn't really know. He confesses to having found this mysterious glove in his bag and then—poof, squirrel transformation. Ladybug notes to herself that that's how it was for both her and Honey Bee—Master Fu slipped the items into their purses. However, she has no reason to believe Master Fu ever had anything close to a "squirrel miraculous," so she doubts he was behind this case.
Instead of giving his name, Jean introduces himself as Chip Bluestone—"chip" for chipmunk (even though he's a squirrel) and Bluestone as a nod to both the turquoise stone on his glove as well as the famous magicians Harry Blackstone Sr and Jr. Cat Noir tries to slyly get Chip to reveal his real name, but Chip picks up on the trick and replies with "I thought identities are supposed to be kept a secret."
Ladybug brings the topic back into focus and asks Chip if he has a kwami. Chip has no idea what a kwami is. Cat Noir and Ladybug remark to each other that this seems a lot like the B Team. Ladybug decides it's a good idea for them to call someone in from the B Team to help figure things out, so she quickly checks their server from her yo-yo phone. Meanwhile, Cat Noir suggests that they find a place to hang out and talk—since it's not often that he and Ladybug and any potential allies actually get to sit and talk face to face while in costume without fighting an enemy. They head to the nearby city hall and talk Chip through everything he's going through. Unknown to them, Adamantus is following to keep an eye on the situation.
Less than half of the B Team are currently logged in, since Chip's rooftop acrobatics really didn't merit an akuma alert from anyone. Alpha as well as the dolphin pair are unreachable, as in Honey Bee. Snow Leopard only has a moment to say she can't talk before her end goes silent as well. Froppy, being a great organizer, does her best to rally things with just her and Tsukuyomi and Firefly. Froppy offers to go in herself, as she basically is team secretary. However, Firefly realizes he's the closest. Since he and his secret keeper are together (celebrating the fact they got a publishing deal), Firefly points out he can get on scene quicker than Froppy or Tsukuyomi. Both agree, so Firefly logs off the chat.
We see him and Marc eating pizza and celebrating the fact their comic is getting bound. Nathaniel tells Marc he's needed as another empowered person has appeared—someone who is just as confused as he once was. Marc wonders if he still needs a secret keeper since he has Lucciola now. Nathaniel has no idea, but he still is glad to have someone he trusts watching his back. Lucciola explains that to transform now, Nathaniel needs to say "Light Up, Lucciola!" Which he does, and prompts his full-on, proper miraculous transformation sequence. He flies off to city hall.
A short time later, Firefly joins up with Ladybug and Cat Noir and Chip. Ladybug and Cat Noir have gotten enough information out of Chip to realize his situation sounds exactly like the B Team save for the mysterious way in which his magical item appeared in his possessions. Most of the B Team purchased their items, save Snow Leopard who inherited hers and Honey Bee who did find hers in her purse—though her case came expressly from Master Fu (and Chloe Bourgeois had purchased the comb prior). Cat Noir is actually enjoying the casual conversation with Ladybug without the pressure of a villain. Ladybug is forcing herself to ignore Cat Noir so she doesn't start "Marinette-ing" on him.
They fill Firefly in on what happened. Firefly agrees that this sounds just like the rest of his team and he, on behalf of the B Team, offers to take Chip under his wing and introduce him to everyone else so they can help. Chip is surprised by this considering they know nothing about him. Firefly points out that no one knows anyone's secret identities; they just want to help each other since they're all in similar circumstances. (This sparks some guilt in Ladybug as she's keeping a huge secret that she knows Cat Noir is Adrien). It also comes up that the B Team are superheroes, which causes Chip to realize that he, too, could develop his talents and become a hero. He wonders if this is okay.
Ladybug tells him directly that being a hero means protecting people and serving the greater good. It's a position of sacrifice and should not be used for one's own glory. Chip, while envisioning using his role to impress Rose, also does like the idea about helping people. Several of his friends have been akumatized (Jakeel and Pierre) as has his crush—and if he could stop that, he would. Of course, Chip realizes that saying he has friends who were akumatized could lead a clue to his identity, so he stammers and fumbles and tries to retract those words.
Firefly goes to give Chip the information to their chat server as well as the time and date and place for the B Team's next meeting. But that's when Ladybug spots Adamantus lurking in the shadows. She nearly shouts out right there, but she maintains enough presence of mind not to reveal that she discovered him.
Ladybug urges the heroes in closer and whispers that they have company. Both she and Cat Noir recognize Adamantus as Ringtail's handler and know he's working for a mysterious enemy who wants the miraculous too. Firefly admitted that Alpha and Dauphin had to stop Adamantus from following Cat Noir one time (back during Ringtail's chapter). Cat Noir admits he had no idea, but thanks them. They wonder what Adamantus is doing, spying on the four of them. But since they realize he's an enemy, this would be the perfect time to get the jump on him, capture him, question him, and reveal his identity. Ladybug asks Chip if he wants to help. Chip is thrilled by the chance. Firefly asks Chip what his special ability is so they can plan, but Chip has no idea yet. Ladybug says they'll work with that. She tells Cat Noir to head off but circle back—if Adamantus follows him, the three of them will catch him from behind. If Adamantus keeps spying, Ladybug and the others will catch him from behind. Cat Noir agrees with the plan with some flirting and heads off. The remaining three continue the conversation casually.
Adamantus watches Cat Noir go, but his priority is keeping an eye on Chip, so he stays where he is, hidden in the shadows. Ladybug toys with her yo-yo, seemingly absentmindedly. Adamantus suspects nothing until Cat Noir drops in on him. The diamond unicorn takes a massive blow from Cat Noir's baton that sends him sprawling—but fortunately for him, his suit absorbs most of the damage.
Adamantus struggles to his feet only to see himself stuck in a pincher attack between Chip and Firefly. Adamantus draws his twin screwdrivers to defend himself. He parries Chip's swing from his keystaff and ducks under Firefly's light bolts from his spring. That puts him within range of Ladybug, who ensnares him with her yo-yo.
Adamantus struggles to get free, but he can't break the yo-yo string. This is not how the plan was supposed to go! Cat Noir compliments Ladybug on her catch. He then turns to Adamantus and demands to know who Adamantus works for. Adamantus refuses to answer. The diamond unicorn is able to wiggle just enough that he strikes at Cat Noir with his free legs in a rather impressive martial arts move. This yanks Ladybug off-balance, allowing some slack in her yo-yo string. Adamantus is quick with his movements and ensnares Cat Noir in it as well, causing both of them to be tied up. Adamantus is at an angle to hold the pointed end of the screwdriver at Cat Noir's gut and tells Ladybug to let him go or else he'll hurt Cat Noir.
Cat Noir insists his suit will protect him and preps his Cataclysm. He has it one inch away from Adamantus, saying he wonders if even diamonds can survive a Cataclysm. In the same moment, Chip and Firefly both have their weapons at the ready, targeting Adamantus, and Ladybug is internally freaking out because in her mind, Adamantus isn't threatening Cat Noir—Adamantus is threatening Adrien.
Adamantus calls Cat Noir out, telling him that he doesn't have it in him to actually kill someone. (Though this is Adamantus putting on a tough facade as it's been seen in canon that Cataclysm only severely injures those transformed—it doesn't kill them, unless Cat Noir himself is akumatized.) Of course, Cat Noir does hesitate as Adamantus has called his bluff. Ladybug relaxes her cord, freeing both Adamantus and Cat Noir. Her heart cannot bear to see Cat Noir hurt knowing his Adrien—especially after seeing what happened to Adrien in the Absolute chapter.
Adamantus quickly leaps away from them. Chip darts after him—being a squirrel, he's quite agile and doesn't even need to use his key staff to augment his leaps (just how Rena Rouge has heightened leaps and unlike Carapace). Firefly takes to the air, insisting they can't let this opportunity escape. Cat Noir questions Ladybug about why she let Adamantus go, but she tells him to focus and not let his guard down again. (She doesn't look him in the eye. She knows if she looks him in the face, she won't be able to keep her composure.) She uses her Lucky Charm but can't see its use yet.
Adamantus, seeing he is being pursued, leaps into a window of city hall to lose the four—Chip being the closest to his tail. Once in the narrow hallway, he uses his screwdrivers to slash through the wall supports and send debris down. With civilians around, Ladybug and Cat Noir quickly have to abandon their pursuit and save people. Ladybug yanks a few out of the way with her yo-yo while Cat Noir carries another two. Firefly uses his Beacon ability on Cat Noir. This allows him to summon the black cat from amid the debris to the safety outside. The civilians Cat Noir is holding with him go safely along for the ride.
Chip, however, is not so lucky. He's caught in the middle of the collapsing hallway.
As the dust settles, Ladybug checks to make sure the civilians are all all right and accounted for. Firefly asks about Chip. Cat Noir looks at the debris, concerned. However, a door-sized rectangle appears in the middle of the crumbled stones. They swing outward, and Chip steps out—dusty but safe. Everyone cheers.
Cat Noir asks Chip how he did that. Chip admits he surprised himself. The idea just popped into his head. "Escape." He drew a thin line in the shape of a door on the walls (using his keystaff) immediately after Adamantus destroyed them. The thin line became an actual door, which Chip was able to use to escape. Firefly comments that that must be Chip's special ability. At this point, Cat Noir and Ladybug and Firefly are on their timers—which is a new experience for Firefly.
Ladybug leaps to the top of a lamppost and growls that Adamantus got away. Cat Noir wonders what Adamantus was even doing, spying on them now. Firefly theorizes that Adamantus's plan was to follow them to try to learn their secret identities. It's a good enough theory that the heroes accept it. With nothing left to do, Ladybug throws her unused Lucky Charm into the sky to fix city hall. She offers a Pound It, which Cat Noir and Firefly instantly join in. Chip lingers back, but Ladybug motions for him to join them, to the turquoise squirrel's elation.
Ladybug and Cat Noir depart after one final reminder for Chip not to abuse his powers. Firefly reminds Chip to join the B Team's server and training sessions. They'd be glad to have him on the team. Chip is thrilled by this prospect and promises he will. He does realize he really needs to practice in light of what the more experienced heroes can do. They part ways as well. Firefly finds a safe place to transform back to Nathaniel; he helps Lucciola regain her energy with fruit juice.
Chip starts to return home, but he realizes he has no clear way on how to transform back. While still empowered, he decides to make use of things. He picks up a pink rose while he's out, circles around to Rose's apartment, and leaves it on her window sill.
Adamantus breathes a sigh of relief that he was able to get away. He wasn't supposed to get spotted. However, maybe that worked for the best. Everyone now sees the squirrel as a loyal ally; they won't be able to connect us. Hawk Moth can now use the fact she knows the name of the squirrel to follow him—follow him as he gets close to all of the other miraculous users. Ironic, isn't it? He's not a squirrel—he's a mole. And through him, we'll learn everything about Ladybug and her allies.
Adamantus leaps into a window where he knows he'll be safe. He breaks his transformation and enters the room next door where Nathalie Sancouer is laying in her bed. It's then revealed that Adamantus is no other than Nicholas Sancouer—if it wasn't obvious already. Nicholas talks to his aunt, telling her that her plan succeeded. But she doesn't respond. Nicholas tries to rouse her, but she doesn't wake. She's fallen into a coma.
To be continued in Chapter 57: Adamantus…