Chapter 64: Crimson
It's into the same evening as the prior chapter on the Couffaine houseboat. Juleka is in her pajamas, eating dinner, and clearly still not feeling well due to a combination of guilt for lying to her mother and worry about her brother. Anarka is also checking the clock, wondering when Luka is going to get back from his rock camp. He should be able to catch the bus home by himself, right? Maybe she should go pick him up. Juleka blurts out "No!", which causes Anarka to raise an eyebrow. Juleka stammer-explains that Luka called—he met some friends at camp, and he said he's going to their place to practice. Anarka wonders why Juleka didn't tell her earlier; Juleka mumbles incoherently. Anarka notices that Juleka looks even sicker and sends her back to bed. Juleka curls up under the covers, realizing she might have bought Luka one more day…but that's it. She feels so anxious as she falls asleep.
It's late into the night, and Nathalie is awake. Or rather, Peacock Moth is awake in her lair, trying to re-enchant the peridot raccoon choker and the opal chameleon bracelet. Nicholas enters the lair, also in his pajamas. He says he's worried about her, pushing herself so hard. He doesn't want her to collapse again. Peacock Moth insists that won't happen because he fixed the broken miraculous. She tells him to go to bed, but Nicholas remains where he is. He says he wants to help. Peacock Moth explains her dilemma.
Jakeel Aristide and Cameran Tyler began to fall into akumatization when she forced them to use these items, and she cannot allow that to happen. But what is it about her items that is causing such corruption? Nicholas never has any problems when he turns into Adamantus. Peacock Moth theorizes it's emotions, since she created Nicholas to be stoic like her. She even saw it when Lila had the raccoon choker and became Ringtail. Which makes things a Catch-22. These items, like the miraculous without kwamis, were made so the wielder needs powerful emotions to transform. However, her items have flaws that the antique akumatized items don't—because when her wielders become too emotional, they start to evilize. She thought she could prohibit that process by controlling All-Star Rex/Cameran and Ruddiger/Jakeel, but even when she controlled them, they still started to fall. So what is wrong with these items? How can I prevent that?
You see, Nathalie realizes she needs multiple allies to deal with Ladybug's Team and Draco's Team. Otherwise, she's simply too outnumbered. Now, it does work to her advantage that the heroes think Adamantus is his own faction—but her ultimate goal is to have allies at her beck and call to strike her opponents from anywhere in the city, allies who possess an array of powers to counter any circumstances her opponents create. She does have the butterfly and peacock miraculous, which means she can create allies at will. But with the exception of Mad Hare, that has largely failed—not to mention those two miraculous have limits. With Team Ladybug and Team Draco growing in number, Peacock Moth simply cannot create enough allies for herself—her own powers with her miraculous aren't strong enough. She can't win like that. And, if Peacock Moth were to be honest—miraculous users are just more powerful than akumas. Which is why she wants something at least as strong as the miraculous without kwamis—if not fully-fledged miraculous themselves. But how much time would it take for my handcrafts items to reach that level of power? Time is one thing I'm running short on. I can't leave Gabriel in his current state. And if I don't succeed soon, the odds increase that Draco, Tarantula, and Rhino will—and then I'll never see him open his eyes again.
Nicholas again wonders how emotions factor into things. He's fully aware he's a senti monster created to be emotionless. So why does he feel things? He feels concern for his aunt and friendship for some of his classmates and enjoyment when he's with the rest of the household. However, he's too concerned to voice those thoughts. Instead, Nicholas proposes that maybe emotions aren't the root cause of the corruption in Nathalie's handcrafted magic items. She asks him if he knows what it might be. He has no idea. Peacock Moth again laments that she can't read the grimoire. If she could, she'd be able to solve so many of her problems: how the heroes change their transformations (ice, water, flight etc), the weaknesses of her opponents, how to perfect the powers of the butterfly and peacock, and maybe even what is going on with the antique akumatized items… I still cannot sense the wolf anywhere. If my connection with him has been severed as well, I can no longer hesitate. The perfect opportunity will not arise on its own; I will make one! And I will turn this whole city red if I have to!
Morning rolls around. Marinette Dupin-Cheng calls Marianne Lenoir as she gets ready for school to ask about Alpha. Marianne regrets to inform her that there's been no change. Marinette also expresses her anxiety and tells Marianne to keep her in the loop. They hang up. Barely five minutes later, Marianne's phone rings again. This time, it's Adrien Agreste who is also calling to check up on Alpha. Marianne repeats the same thing to him that she told "Ladybug."
Nicolette Lacroix leaves her apartment early and detours to Etienne Fontaine's. He's surprised to see her on his apartment's doorstep. Nicolette says she just wants to make sure he's okay after yesterday; she greets Bubbles and Betta, the Pisces koi kwami, when he lets her inside. Her crush is pretty obvious, but Etienne is oblivious. Etienne is preoccupied as he's angry. The Ladyblog covered yesterday's fighting with Ladybug and Cat Noir—and, of course, it made Team Ladybug out to be heroic and amazing. Etienne is angry because 1) not enough attention was paid to him as Reef and 2) anything it did say about him was negative. Nicolette, being in love, fully agrees with him. She sees this as a huge injustice. Etienne/Reef deserves to have his side of the story, the truth, told. Etienne eats up her praise. Nicolette recalls how Etienne mentioned the prior day that Madam Gros had given him the mirror compact he's been using. She begins to inquire more. Etienne, being a narcissist, is even worse at keeping secrets than Chloe; he winds up telling Nicolette pretty much everything he knows. Nicolette is very alarmed to hear about the chaos magic, and she begins to develop an idea of her own. However, before she can express it to Etienne, he suggests they walk to school together. This puts Nicolette on cloud nine, and they depart.
Other students also depart for Francoise Dupont High School. Alya Cesaire and Nino Lahiffe walk their little siblings to elementary school before heading to their own classes. Stella Tenebrae jogs alongside Alix Kubdel, who is on her rollerblades. Alix's pocket watch sounds a reminder alarm. Alix asks Stella if they can take a break, she just remembers she needs to send a text message. Sabrina Raincomprix is dropped off by her father; she writes a few thoughts in her emotions journal. "I'm actually excited to meet my new friends today, but I'm still worried I'll blow it or get my hopes up only to be hurt…" She then finds Yvonne Garnier and Genevieve Faucher. Chloe Bourgeois arrives a bit later; she keeps her heads high as the gossip about her parent's divorce swirl around her. Marie Chauveau and Suzette Rault actually approach her with the sole intention to rub salt into the wound. "So, who is Zoe Lee? Have you met her before? Why didn't you even mention you had a half-sister?" Chloe, practically being a professional bitch, tanks their insults and serves up her own despite the fact Zoe's existence being a berserk button for her.
At the Agreste manor, Solomon rounds up the boys to drive them to school. He knocks on Adrien's bedroom door. Adrien throws his weight against it to keep it shut and insists he's coming. Solomon, the gorilla, heads off to see to Felix. Adrien lets out a sigh of relief, as he had been in the middle of feeding Plagg, Kaalki, and Ziggy. Felix Graham de Vanily snaps at Solomon and insists he'll be ready soon. Solomon shrugs. He walks by Gabriel and Emilie's room; he peeks his head in. They are, of course, unconscious. Amelie is visiting at that moment—or more like, Amelie is visiting Emilie and is blatantly ignoring Gabriel.
In the bowels of the manor, Peacock Moth has set aside her work on her handcrafted items. She can feel the remaining miraculous without kwamis as their wielders awake for the day. She tells Nicholas to prepare himself as she suspects classes will be canceled. Nicholas wonders what his aunt plans on doing. Peacock Moth's indirect answer tells him enough—she's targeting the B Team.
"Akumatize me," says Nicholas, standing firm.
Peacock Moth is surprised by his assertion and tells him it won't be necessary. Nicholas insists it is as it took the power of Catalyst for the original Hawk Moth to turn Froppy, Alpha, Tsukuyomi, Dauphine, and Firefly. Peacock Moth reminds him that Gabriel had only been using the butterfly miraculous at the time. Since she's using two miraculous, she has sufficient power by herself. Nicholas insists he wants to be akumatized to help her—it's why she created him. Peacock Moth admits this is true. But what she doesn't say out-loud is that she doesn't want to akumatize her nephew. She surprises herself—but she's grown to care about him. And for that reason, she doesn't want to see him evilized. So she insists it's best if Nicholas heads to school and acts as if everything is normal. Once she starts her plan, she tells him he's on standby as Adamantus.
Nicholas Sancoeur agrees to this with a strong upper lip. He returns to the main section of the manor. However, inside he is really saddened. Aunt Nathalie created me to be her Catalyst. If she no longer wants me to fulfill that purpose…then why do I even exist?
Once Nicholas is in the limo with Felix and Adrien, Peacock Moth reaches out her senses and touches the bee, snow leopard, and dolphin antique akumatized items. Then, in order to keep up her ruse, she also seeks out the squirrel. His is easiest; she can feel precisely where Jean Duparc is as well as more of what's going on around him as well as his emotional state since she knows his name (as well as creating the turquoise glove herself). The others she only has a vague sensation of where they are in the city. She doesn't know if they're alone or who might witness things—but that's fine for her. She doesn't care if their secret identities are revealed; it would work in her favor. "It's time. I will color every last enemy of mine crimson." Peacock Moth focuses on all her powers and depths of her own emotions and all of her inner strength. Her transformation flickers and then grows, shifting from indigo to a vibrant red. Peacock Moth staggers a moment from the exertion and then composes herself. She needs to watch the field closely in order to keep the heroes separate, learn the identities of the B team, and claim any miraculous who rise to her challenge.
Aurore Beaureal is in her changing room at the news studio, waiting for her turn to go on the air for the weather broadcast. Her head fogs over as anger surges in her heart. She transforms into Honey Bee—crimson colored. The voice in her head is clear, turn on your allies, break the powers of Ladybug and Cat Noir, and claim all the magic in Paris for me. She kicks open the door to her changing room and charges into the live TV set, interrupting Alec's broadcast. (Which makes things instantly clear things have gone south to all of Paris).
At the same time, Ondine (who really needs a proper last name) straps on her bicycle helmet and prepares to ride to her school (which isn't Francoise Dupont High School). Her bike drops to the ground as her eyes get shaded red. She hears the same thing Aurore did. "As you wish, Hawk Moth." She transforms into a bright red Dauphine and heads towards the Seine.
Giselle Winters-Blanchet sends Vivica a "we got this day!" friendship text, with Vivica replying back with a silly cat meme. She then texts her friends, Meera Pugliese and Raissa Deschamps, as she ties her shoes to start on her journey to school. All Meera and Raissa see in the text box is "SnowCat15 is typing…" with a little loading circle. Then Giselle's end falls silent.
Jean Duparc is putting on an early morning show in the park for some of the older citizens of Paris. This includes Xavier Ramier and some other retirees. He's on his final trick. "Now, to make myself disappear!" And indeed—he does disappear in front of everyone. The whole crowd claps. They wait for him to return. They wait. And wait. And wait. But Jean doesn't return.
At Francoise Dupont High School, more students arrive. Marinette Dupin-Cheng is about to put her phone in her locker when she gets a text message, which she quickly checks. Le Chien Kim is also checking his phone. He comments to Max Kante that his girlfriend usually sends him a message when she arrives at her school—but he hasn't gotten anything yet. Jakeel Aristide and Pierre Lefevre are waiting around for Jean. Pierre remarks that Jakeel isn't wearing his new choker, to which Jakeel replies with "what choker?". Viktor Vasiliev seeks out Fumikage Tokoyami with the newest expansion of the Dungeons and Dragons-style game they play. Meg Delphinus turns down an upperclassman (someone in Luka's class) who asks her out as she's flat-out not interested in dating anyone. Kagami Tsurugi watches for the moment when Adrien Agreste arrives. When he gets out of the limo with Felix and Nicholas, Kagami approaches him. However, his phone receives a text alert at the same time. While Kagami suggests to Adrien that they study for an upcoming science test at the library, Adrien is busy checking his phone. He does, however, hear enough of the conversation to agree to the study session tomorrow, which makes Kagami very happy. "I'll see you after school tomorrow." At the same time, Nicholas gets a long range telepathic message from his aunt. The plan has begun.
(Yet again, everyone is here: (( photos . app . goo . gl / cgLSrNi71rxfep9e8 ))).
The four heroes-turned-antagonists meet at the Ile de la Cite. Crimson Dauphine emerges from the water while Crimson Snow Leopard skates in on blood-red ice. Crimson Chip and Crimson Honey Bee both leap onto the scene a moment later. They all acknowledge that they have the same plan. But this won't be like Hawk Moth's usual MO where he lures the heroes out with an over-the-top villain who then tries to overpower them. This time, it's a trap—one Snow Leopard (Blood Leopard?) is to make and Chip Bluestone (Chip Redstone?) is to spring. Dauphine (Scarlet Orca?) is to be the primary distraction, and Honey Bee (Rouge/Rogue Hornet?) is to ambush anyone the moment they appear.
They all hear Crimson Peacock Moth's (synthesized) voice. "There is one thing I have to know first. What are your names?"
Controlled, all the heroes-turned-antagonists go to speak. Chip starts with "My name is Jean…" And then he's cut off by a red-with-black-spots cloth scarf-whip that entwines itself around his head. He's jerked off his feet. All of the remaining three turn to see Ladybug and Cat Noir standing there, poised to resist them.
"How?! How did you know?!" Crimson Peacock Moth snaps through her puppets.
Ladybug waggles her cell phone. They got a notification from a friend. (That friend being Alix Kubdel, who used the knowledge from her Burrow to remind herself to send a message at that specific time in order to protect their allies. Ladybug had already activated her Lucky Charm in preparation for the moment.) Cat Noir comments it sure is convenient to actually have a heads-up on these kinds of things and wishes Bunnyx would help them more often. Ladybug tells him that Bunnyx is in it to win it and will only act when something drastic needs her. That's why they chose her, after all. Cat Noir agrees as that means they can handle all the other challenges. Both he and Ladybug prep their weapons and prepare to fight.
Crimson Peacock Moth has to modify her plan on the fly. It does help that Ladybug and Cat Noir showed up because she needs their miraculous most. The problem is she had no time to use the powers she commandeered to set the trap she wanted to ensure her own success—and she did have a rather ingenious plan. She realizes Honey Bee's Venom is the best ability for the current situation, so she has Honey Bee fall back to wait for her moment to strike. Crimson Peacock Moth also tells Nicholas to transform into Adamantus and find a place to wait in the wings. He complies.
Snow Leopard tries to encase Ladybug and Cat Noir in ice while Chip struggles to free himself from Ladybug's Lucky Charm. Both heroes evade. Ladybug tries to reason with this half of the B Team, reminding them that they're allies who trust each other. Dauphine and the others insist that they operate alone. They are now jointly called "Crimson" and will deliver all the miraculous in Paris to Hawk Moth. Cat Noir tells them they don't sound like themselves at all and comments that he really wishes Alpha was on hand. He urges Ladybug to fall back for a moment so she can contact backup; he'll defend her in the meantime. Ladybug agrees and quickly sends texts on her yo-yo's cell phone, using the pre-set up Discord servers.
Tsuyu Asui sneaks her phone out in the middle of Mr. Haprele's class due to her hearing the BUZZ. She's horrified to learn half her team has succumbed to Hawk Moth; she quickly fakes a stomach ache and insist Fumikage Tokoyami has to take her to the nurse (which earns some romantic cooes from their classmates). Fumikage is puzzled (he left his cell phone in his locker), but he can see this is urgent, so he also asks Mr. Haprele if he can help Tsuyu. Mr. Haprele gives them permission. Once outside the door, Tsuyu grabs Fumikage's hand and practically flees for a safe place for them to transform. She explains breathlessly on the way. Fumikage is also alarmed and concerned when he hears Honey Bee, Dauphine, Snow Leopard, and Chip have been corrupted. They duck underneath the stairs to hide from Nathaniel Kurtzberg, who is running from Miss Bustier's classroom towards the restroom. Once no one is around, Fumikage and Tsuyu transform. As Tsukuyomi, Fumikage helps fly Tsuyu/Froppy to the Ile de la Cite. Not so very far away, Nathaniel has ducked into a stall to do the same. Firefly departs a moment later.
They're not the only ones to get a message. Kagami Tsurugi's phone vibrates as Tsuyu and Fumikage hustle out of the room. However, Kagami doesn't immediately hear it. In a very un-Kagami-like way, she's been daydreaming during class. She's thinking about her "first date" with Adrien the next afternoon and all the things she could say to him (drawing in no small part from her studying of dating apps). She is planning on confessing to him and asking to go steady; so she keeps replaying the words she wants to speak, over and over, in her mind.
Back at the fight, Dauphine tries to strike Cat Noir with her surfboard, but he leaps out of the way. This, however, puts him in the path of Snow Leopard, who activates her Frost Fall ability to put him asleep. Ladybug yanks him out of the way with her yo-yo in time. However, this makes her vulnerable, and Honey Bee powers up her Venom. Cat Noir shoulder tackles Ladybug aside, sending them both sprawling. They wind up tangled in the dirt but at least miss Honey Bee's attack. However, Chip appears at that moment, cutting his way to them through a wall with his Escape.
Froppy arrives with Tsukuyomi; she spits acidic stomach juices towards Chip, forcing him to evade. ("I hate doing that," she says.) Ladybug says she's glad to see them both, and the B Team insist they wouldn't miss a moment to save their own allies.
Elsewhere, Crimson Peacock Moth swears. Her plan is going way too far off the rails, and she can tell she might have ruined her much-cherished opportunity with the B Team. "How were they all tipped off?!" (Bunnyx waves.)
When Firefly arrives a moment later, they quickly delegate out tasks. Cat Noir looks for their final allies, but there's no signs of them yet. Tsukuyomi and Firefly willingly space themselves apart, and Froppy tells the others to handle Snow Leopard (based on strengths and weaknesses). Tsukuyomi wonders how this happened, as the B Team had no plans to practice that morning. Hawk Moth's victims had no reason to transform and their secret keepers are nowhere to be found. Froppy acknowledges that this is odd—she fully trusts her allies; they flat-out shouldn't be transformed now. Cat Noir wonders if it's a trick then—with senti monsters, akumatized clones, or illusions. Firefly points out that their real allies would have responded in the Discord then. And looking at Snow Leopard—he's sure that's the real her. Which means…Hawk Moth forced them to transform?
Crimson Peacock Moth, unwilling to let them plot about her, urges her puppets to attack again. She instructs Snow Leopard to make an ice wall, which Chip is able to Escape through and strike unexpectedly. However, Tsukuyomi is there with shadows, ready to go. Firefly counters Snow Leopard's moves and grapples with her. Because they practice so much, the B Team knows each other's techniques well. Crimson Peacock Moth, controlling them, however, does not have this advantage. "Come on Snow, fight it! You're stronger than this!" begs Firefly.
Ladybug reclaims her Lucky Charm and tries to use it bind Dauphine, who escapes into the Seine. By now, this ruckus has attracted outside attention, which also means Akuma Alerts. Now, the akuma alerts are not just for notifying the heroes—they're there to encourage citizens to evacuate the area too.
Word gets back to Francoise Dupont High School. Le Chien Kim finally hears that his girlfriend is among the victims, and he just about freaks out. It takes Max Kante and Markov to calm him down and keep him from breaking down a door. Likewise, Meera Pugliese and Raissa Deschamps are incredibly anxious about what happened to Giselle. They should have been there to support her! Meera suggests they sneak out to help her, but Raissa points out they'd never get across the city in time.
Kagami grabs her phone to check on it and shames herself for missing the messages from Ladybug. "Ryuko! This is Ladybug—we need your help!" followed up by "Kamaitachi? Are they there?! Cat Noir wants your assistance!" Kagami is amused. "Do they ever actually talk to each other?" As everyone is encouraged to find shelter and remain inside, Kagami slips to the bathroom, where she lets both Longg and Tiia out of her purse. Then, she has to explain her dilemma—which form does she take to help Ladybug and Cat Noir? She can't take too long deciding, they need help ASAP. But they need both Ryuko and Kamitachi…
In a different area in Paris, Marianne Lenoir turns up the volume in her television to watch the news broadcast about the latest akuma alert. Nadja Chamack is having a hard to getting close to the action as Roger Raincomprix has shut down access to the Ile de la Cite for everyone's safety while the heroes do their thing (which some non-fans of Ladybug are calling out, saying the police are being lazy by letting superheroes do all the work). Nadja is trying to report things as she sees them, which are mostly the extreme moves and high jumps from the fight. Marianne Lenoir watches closely. She doesn't like seeing young people having to endure such hardships…but at the same time, she believes in their strength. Behind her, cracks begin to form in the shell of wind that traps Alpha. The air leaking out literally sings…
In her lair, Crimson Peacock Moth takes a deep breath. She can't become too emotional. This is her trump card; she needs to play it right. It's not over yet; there's still facets of her strategy that can work. Remember all the ways you can win. With Dauphine separated from the main group, she tells the dolphin to swim ashore. "Tell me again, Dauphine. Who are you?"
Just as Dauphine prepares to say "I'm…" her own shadow comes to life and binds her tight. Tsukuyomi arises from behind her. "Dauphine, I believe in you. Say nothing." However, Dauphine struggles and just about blabs again. So Tsukuyomi uses his shadows to gag her. (She can't even use her Echolocation ability when gagged.) He then calls out to the others that Dauphine has been subdued.
Cat Noir acknowledges this and then turns to Ladybug and wonders how they'll free the possessed B Team ("Crimson") without revealing their identities to each other or the world. Ladybug says she has a plan for that, mostly… If only she'd get here… Ladybug looks up at the sky, but no signs of Kamaitachi or Ryuko.
Honey Bee still has her Venom empowered, which makes it difficult for anyone to get close to her. (Plus Cat Noir is incredibly wary of activating his Cataclysm around brainwashed friends; he doesn't want to really hurt them.) Froppy is doing her best dodging as Honey Bee tries to land a strike. However, Chip finds some creative uses of Escape (such as using it to cut through a tree branch Froppy was sitting on) to keep the frog user off-guard. This gives Honey Bee a moment to fall back as Crimson Peacock Moth again tries to reveal someone's identity. Froppy is too busy clashing with Chip's key-staff and can only watch as Honey Bee starts to spill…
Only for Honey Bee to get wrapped up in Ladybug's Lucky Charm scarf as Ladybug herself dives into the confrontation. Froppy says, "On behalf of the real Honey Bee—thank you."
At the same time, Snow Leopard's conjured ice is giving Firefly and Cat Noir a real run for their money. Cat Noir gets stuck inside a small cavern made of ice with the stalactites above wiggling like daggers about to fall. He's forced to use his Cataclysm to deal with the threat. This, however, opens him up for a strike from Snow Leopard. Firefly thinks fast and uses his Beacon ability. Since he, deep down, still sees Snow Leopard as an ally, this allows him to summon her by his side. Which serves to catch Snow Leopard off guard and Firefly to blast her unconscious—He apologizes as he does so. He then turns to Cat Noir, wondering how they're going to undo the possession. Cat Noir admits he's not sure as the way they won on Heroes' Day was by beating Hawk Moth himself. But now Hawk Moth is nowhere to be seen.
Snow Leopard and Dauphine have both been captured, but Honey Bee and Chip Bluestone are still active and dangerous. Once more, under Peacock Moth's prodding, Chip goes to reveal his secret identity. (Even though Nathalie already knows it, she keeps equal pressure on all her pawns to hide the fact Chip is her mole).
A crack of thunder ricochets through the sky as a downpour starts out of nowhere. This serves to obscure the fight from Nadja Chamack and any spectators—it also makes it harder for allies and enemies to see each other. The thunder is deafening and drowns out what Chip was going to say. Everyone is baffled by the storm. Which is when the final ally reforms from thunder, wind, and water—she had used all three elements at once to literally "bring the storms" to help Team Ladybug.
Ladybug is happy to see Ryuko and is thrilled Ryuko figured out exactly why Ladybug called upon her (to obscure visibility as well as drown out any spoilers). However, Ladybug then looks Ryuko over. Her usual red and gold outfit is now a red and gold and green outfit with a mask that mimics Kamaitchi's but with Ryuko's head ornaments. Her weapons are now an obvious fusion of the katana and sickles, turning them into a wicked pair of vicious kwan daos. Ladybug jaw drops.
Cat Noir wonders what caused his partner to freeze up—but then he notices Ryuko and is equally shocked.
Ryuko steps down and joins them. "I take it neither of you actually talk about who your allies are, do you?" Ladybug and Cat Noir sorta exchange a look. Ryuko then formally introduces herself as Ryutsume (Dragon Claw). She confirms it for them that yes, she has been Kamaitachi and Ryuko all along—and she's honored both superheroes chose her for her own merits. Ladybug, of course, quickly figures out that since it's Kagami behind that mask, it shouldn't be surprising that Cat Noir/Adrien Agreste picked her. Cat Noir is less swift on the uptake, but he does realize that meant that Ladybug picked Kagami during Ikari Gozen to save her mother—which also explains that while Cat Noir was trapped inside Ikari Gozen, Kagami didn't reply to his calls.
Ryutsume tells them to focus and asks them what they want her to strike. Ladybug recovers the fastest and tells Ryutsume to take out Honey Bee—but don't injure her. Ryutsume laughs as that's an easy request. Cat Noir takes a brief moment to wonder how Kamaitachi learned to fuse kwamis. Ryutsume corrects him with her current alias and says she figured it out on her own. On the first try. (Which is true, but it's stated in an arrogant way that Kagami lets slip through when she's Ryuko. Had she just been Kagami, she would have presented herself more humbly.)
Elsewhere, Crimson Peacock Moth is actually showing signs of frustration. How did Ladybug and Cat Noir get an ally with two miraculouses fused? This completely throws off her careful calculations—can she even salvage this disaster?
During Ryutsume's arrival, Froppy and Firefly are still dealing with Honey Bee and Chip Bluestone. Tsukuyomi has moved Dauphine and Snow Leopard close together and is using his Abyssal Black Body ability over both of them to bind them so they can't escape or reveal their identities. Snow is still unconscious.
Honey Bee, realizing she's quickly outnumbered, empowers a Venom in her other hand as well (as still being a miraculous without a kwami, she can use her abilities multiple times). She and Ryutsume stare down. Then Ryutsume moves too quickly to be seen with her Speed Strike and lays Honey Bee flat on her back. Froppy is there to catch her, and she uses her tongue to redirect Honey Bee's Venom inward, causing Honey Bee to be paralyzed by her own technique. Froppy then ties her up with her fishing line and hook for good measure.
Firefly takes to the skies despite the storm and pelts Chip with light blasts from above. Chip, being a highly nimble squirrel, is able to dodge them all. He actually laughs at Firefly's attempts. However, Firefly wasn't aiming to hurt him but to herd him. Chip is now in an open area of the street where there's no walls he can easily Escape through. Ladybug and Cat Noir were waiting to flank him. Cat Noir throws his baton which forces Chip to leap into the air. From there, he can't change his trajectory, so he's easy pickings for Ladybug's yo-yo.
With all four members of Crimson caught, the heroes haul them together, binding them so they can't escape with Ladybug's yo-yo and Froppy's fishing line. Ladybug recovers her Lucky Charm, and Tsukuyomi uses his Abyssal Black Body to cover their mouths so they can't blab any secrets.
The heroes regroup to catch their breaths…then get stuck at the same question Firefly had earlier. How to they snap Crimson out of it? There's no Scarlet Hawk Moth around to beat up, and they still have no idea what empowers Hawk Moth to become red in the first place. Froppy recalls that Dauphin mentioned he was able to remove the dolphin anklet from Dauphine—that stopped her from going red on Heroes' Day. So if they take away Crimson's magical items, they should go back to being themselves. Tsukuyomi points out the downside that that would reveal their identities for everyone. Which is something they have all been drastically trying to avoid doing. It's better than the alternative, but still…
Things get awkward and silent as the heroes wrack their brains and Crimson struggles to get free. Ladybug suggests she could at least take Snow Leopard aside and remove her bracelet—after all, she already knows Snow Leopard's true identity. But that still leaves Dauphine, Honey Bee, and Chip stuck either possessed or with their secrets unwillingly revealed. It gets compounded as all the heroes except Froppy are on timers (perhaps even Froppy if I can come up with a good reason for her to use Camouflage during the fight). Ladybug would be lowest on her timer if she didn't recharge Tikki after she got Bunnyx's message and summoned her Lucky Charm but before she got to Ile de la Cite. At this point, Ryutsume's storm is lessening too.
That's when a familiar shadow crosses their faces. "Sorry I'm late." Alpha leaps down from a roof and joins them.
At this point, the non-possessed members of the B Team go nuts, cheering him on, thrilled he's free. And Crimson Peacock Moth gets all the more frustrated as she can see through her puppets that Alpha is right there and yet she can't sense him at all. I really have lost the wolf too.
Once the group has congratulated Alpha on coming back and filled him in on what happened, Alpha looks over Crimson. Cat Noir voices his own anger at being powerless to help those right in front of them, and even Alpha is anxious about their fate. He turns to Ladybug and asks if she can purify them somehow.
Ladybug explains that her purifying ability only works on live akumas—and at this point, the akumas that live in their items have dissolved into the items themselves. There's nothing left for her to purify. This causes Tsukuyomi, Froppy, and Firefly to do a double take. "Akumas?" Ladybug then says she had been meaning to tell them that their magical items are more properly labeled as "antique akumatized items." It slipped her mind once Alpha's powers surged. But Alpha knew as she told him during the chapter called Alpha. Alpha says he'll fill his pack in on the details—but for now there has to be something they can do for Dauphine and the rest.
But they're out of options and out of time. Cat Noir says that it can't hurt to attempt what Alpha is suggesting—Maybe Ladybug's "Miraculous Ladybug" will undo Hawk Moth's control over their friends. Ladybug nods and says it's worth a shot as it appears as if the fight is going to cause no more damage to the city with Crimson bound and gagged. She throws her scarf into the air and does her world-healing wave.
But Crimson is still scarlet after all the damage is reverted. Ladybug talks down about herself, saying it's her fault that her purifying powers aren't strong enough. Cat Noir insists that can't be the truth because Ladybug has already accomplished so much. Tsukuyomi apologizes for interrupting, but he has to point out that if their transformations time out, then subduing Crimson will all be for naught. Identities will be revealed, and Crimson will be able to escape. Alpha is there, contemplative. He explains his greatest strength is empowering allies—if he could empower Ladybug all the more, maybe she could then break the control Scarlet Hawk Moth has on his pack. Firefly agrees it's a good idea, and they should at least try it. Ladybug points out her Lucky Charm has already been used, but Froppy suggests Ladybug try her yo-yo since all their weapons seem to be multi-purpose (from purses to stopwatches to underwater breathing apparatuses? Oh yeah!) Ladybug agrees, and Alpha uses his Howl—which also has the bonus of refilling everyone's gauges, so they don't have to worry about Crimson escaping when Abyssal Black Body wears out. The downside is that now Alpha, himself alone, is on his timer. He remarks that that feels weird.
Ladybug grips her yo-yo and focuses all her mental and emotional energy into breaking the darkness she can sense within the antique akumatized items and purify her allies of its influence. There actually is a flicker of Crimson returning to their natural colors, but then that fades back to red. Ladybug comments that it's no use…she's still not strong enough. Everyone goes silent and dejected for a moment.
Then Alpha looks over at Ryutsume. He notices her red and green and gold outfit. "You're Ryuko, right? And Kamaitachi?" Ryutsume affirms this is true. Alpha starts thinking. He's commented that he's seen the golden duo do this before—like Lady Fox against Mama Piper and Snake Noir against Surrealist. Cat Noir says it's true but wonders what it has to do with the situation at hand.
Alpha tugs at his ear cuff. "If Ladybug needs more power to save the rest of my pack. Why not I lend her mine. All of mine." Froppy asks him if that means what she thinks it means.
Alpha nods. He is willing to loan Ladybug his newly minted wolf miraculous so she can have 100% of its empowerment ability fused to her ladybug miraculous. "That should be enough to save the others."
Ladybug and Cat Noir exchange a look. "I mean, technically it should work. We know from the grimoire that the wolf ear cuff is now a real miraculous." Ladybug points out that Alpha would have to transform back for her to use it—which would leave him vulnerable if something else happened. But it's a risk Alpha is willing to take. The other heroes support the idea, so Ladybug and Alpha hustle off to an alcove.
Ladybug and Alpha take opposites sides of the same wall. Alpha declares "Homeward Bound" and reverts back to Luka Couffaine. He takes off his ear cuff and slides it around the corner to Ladybug. "Ladybug, I'd like you to meet my kwami…"
There's a flashback at this point. Back at Marianne Lenoir's apartment. She's watching the news broadcast when she hears Alpha's cocoon begin to sing. She turns around to see cracks forming across it; she can hear the wind escaping. She shields her eyes, squinting, as the shell breaks and Alpha lands flat on his back with a heavy thud on the floor of her apartment.
He's groggy and disoriented and looks as if he's going to go back to sleep at any moment. His ear cuff, reformed to have five segments, is also beeping. A moment later, Alpha's transformation breaks to reveal Luka Couffaine. A small grey kwami forms and nestles herself into his chest.
Luka sits up suddenly, remembering everything that had happened. He then looks around, having no idea where he is. Marianne greets him and introduces herself. Luka touches his face, realizing his mask is gone—and he's very much concerned. But Marianne explains that she's a trusted ally of Ladybug and Cat Noir and their master. She invites him to sit for tea and cookies while she explains. Luka warily rises. Marianne covers the basics—she previously used the black cat miraculous, and Alpha's allies needed a safe place for him to sleep while his powers surged. They wanted to respect his identity, after all. Marianne explains that she already knows the golden duo's true names and will guard them with her life—as she will Alpha's. He's still processing all the information, including the new kwami in his hands.
Marianne asks to see the wolf kwami, who speaks up and says it's nice to meet her too. Marianne is very much surprised as she's never seen a kwami being born before. Luka tells the kwami they're partners now. The kwami is very happy to hear that, and she hopes Alpha has a large pack. Luka admits he does. At which point Marianne points out they need his help right now; she directs his attention to the television set, where Crimson's fight is airing. Luka is immediately ready to transform again, but he realizes he doesn't know the words. He asks the kwami, but she insists she's too hungry first. Once Marianne offers the wolf kwami some beef jerky, she perks up. Luka asks her what's her transformation phrase (as he knows he needs a phrase from being Viperion). The wolf kwami tells him it's " 'The hunt is on,' but you also need…"
Luka doesn't let her finish as he's concerned about his pack and declares "The hunt is on!" Nothing happens. Marianne tells him that he also needs his kwami's name. Luka is a bit sheepish but acknowledges his mistake. He takes a deep breath to focus and asks the wolf what her name is. She shakes her head. She's so young she doesn't even have a name yet. Luka ponders a moment, and then decides…
The scene flashes to the present, with an overlay of Luka in the present finishing up saying "I'd like you to meet my kwami…" and Luka in the past saying "Your name is…" and the scene rejoins with "Luuna."
"Ladybug, I'd like you to meet my kwami, Luuna."
"Spots off." Ladybug transforms back into Marinette (as she knows kwamis are forced to keep identities a secret, so it's okay if Luuna sees her). She feed Tikki and Luuna both a macaron. Luuna comments she likes beef jerky better. Then Marinette fuses both together, transforming herself into a ladybug-wolf hybrid heroine which looks largely like her ladybug outfit but with fur trim around the collar and cuffs, a set of wolf ears, a fake wolf tail, shin-high boots, and a single ponytail. Luka cranes his ears to listen, but he doesn't hear the phrase needed to fuse two miraculous—though he's mostly listening to hear of Luuna is all right. He calls to ask if Luuna is okay, Ladybug—now calling herself Lady Wolf—acknowledges that Luuna is fine. Fusion doesn't hurt kwamis. She then promises she'll be back quickly—hopefully with good news that his pack is safe. Luka thanks her. Once she has a head start, he sneaks closer so he can hear what's going on without being seen.
Lady Wolf arrives with the rest of the heroes. Cat Noir compliments her "looking good, Milady, but you always look good." Froppy and Tsukuyomi are glad it worked so far, and Firefly expresses hope that Lady Wolf can save the others. Lady Wolf thanks them all for the faith they have in her as it, too, is a type of power.
She produces her weapon, which is now an off-string yo-yo with a thick, metal wire for a cable. She lets it fly around Crimson, ensnaring them once again alongside Abyssal Black Body and Froppy's fishing line. Lady Wolf takes a deep breath and focuses. She then let's out a very loud howl as she declares "Miraculous Lady-wolf!"
Across the city, Crimson Peacock Moth feels the ability so strongly that she is blasted into the wall. She instantly feels her scarlet powers shatter—though she can still sense the miraculous that don't have kwamis. Winded, she's forced to break her transformation in order to heal Nooroo and Duusuu. She is frustrated more than ever before—which for Nathalie Sancoeur means she actually shows emotions. Her eye twitches. Her perfect plan, her shining moment that she had been waiting ~50 chapters for…ruined completely.
Crimson breaks from around Dauphine and the others, reverting them back to their normal transformed selves. Team B cheers at the purification of their allies, who are all absolutely baffled why they're tied up on the Ile de la Cite. Cue a time skip as everything is explained. (Though somehow, perhaps because the turquoise glove was pre-existing long before the current crisis? Or because the akuma wasn't freed?, it's newly minted akuma is not purified. If there's no justifiable reason for this, it's just a Diabolus Ex/Necessary Weasel for the story.)
Lady Wolf the explains properly what she and Cat Noir learned about the origins of the items they use—that they truly are antique akumatized items. And that the way to break Hawk Moth's control of them is to let their powers surge and their kwamis be born. Until then, they are under constant threat of Hawk Moth overcoming their free will. That's why she wants to again actively discourage them from even wearing their items—since this makes it clear Hawk Moth can force them to transform and reveal their identities. Cat Noir wonders why Hawk Moth never tried this before and what's the deal with the "scarlet" powers, but that has no clear answers. Froppy suggests "heroic/villainous resolve," like how Ladybug made herself stronger just now, but even that is inconclusive. It could be he can only control the B Team under certain conditions or certain times. It could be he was waiting for the "right moment." There might be other factors. But they can no longer risk it knowing what they know—especially now that they know a cure.
Snow Leopard and the others have to admit that Lady Wolf has a point. Dauphine says that this could happen again…for example, Hawk Moth could take them over in the middle of the night. They'd reveal their identities without anyone else being around to stop them. Honey Bee wonders if this means they have to give up being heroes all together; if they can't even wear their items, their powers won't surge, so their kwamis will never be born, so their items will never be free of Hawk Moth. And she finally got her family's support too.
Lady Wolf insists this is temporary. Only until they can cause the surge in a controlled fashion. She says that she and Alpha even tried to cause a surge by sparring. It failed, but he did cocoon up later that same day. So they have to be on to something.
That's when Alpha enters the conversation via a text to everyone's phone (as Luka is still in hiding). He explains he figured out what was missing when he and Ladybug sparred. It's the very thing that their items have been based around since the very beginning: emotions. While he was practicing with Ladybug, it was a feeling of fun and comradery; it was safe. But later that day, he had taxed his super abilities to the limit against his clone—which was also quite the emotional battle (compounded with everything he had learned about his father that day, but he doesn't tell them that). So, he insists, they can control the surge—it's an intense use of abilities alongside intense emotions.
Froppy admits this is true as her powers surged due to her being worried and stressed about Tsukuyomi. And Tsukuyomi surged after everything he had been put through as Berserker. Firefly acknowledges that seeing Mad Hare appear out of Clock Maker's clock did a number on his emotions (plus compounded by returning home to an empty apartment yet again). Cat Noir comments that he's pretty happy that they figured everything out. So he echoes Ladybug's request: Dauphine, Snow Leopard, Honey Bee, and Chip Bluestone—please don't even wear your items. Give it a few weeks, and we'll schedule times to control when your powers surge. Then you'll be free of Hawk Moth entirely. Ryutsume can't contribute too much to the conversation, but she does support Ladybug and Cat Noir's decision. She's also surprised by all this as it's new information for her.
The remaining members of the B Team give in and accept this much sooner than they have ever had during the course of the story, namely due to everything they had been put through today. They all promise to remove their items once they all depart from Ile de la Cite. From there, they'll work things out in Discord. Dauphine thanks everyone for saving them, and Chip admits he had no idea what he got himself into, but he's glad for such good allies. Honey Bee wonders what they should do if they do get in a situation where an akuma victim is running amok (pun). Alpha texts his reply, telling them they can't afford Hawk Moth to seize control again; if they are in an akuma situation as a civilian, BUZZ everyone else and immediately leave the area. Snow Leopard largely falls silent, trapped in her own thoughts. I can't believe I caused trouble for everyone. I can't believe I became a burden for Cat Noir!
The group wraps up the odds and ends of the conversation and heads off their own separate ways. Lady Wolf returns to where Luka is hiding. She breaks off her fusion and returns the ear cuff to him without either revealing their identities. She tells Luuna and Alpha to both look after each other; they promise. The group all departs.
However, Peacock Moth is not finished yet. I still have one more card I can play. She tells Adamantus to follow Chip. He complies. Just outside Ile de la Cite, Chip Bluestone lands and prepares to remove his glove. Then he freezes up and goes into a trance, not unlike Ruddiger and All-Star Rex did previously. Adamantus steps into view. "Tell me everything you learned." Chip then spills the information Peacock Moth had been dying to know. She lost control of the wolf, lightning bug, crow, and frog because the antique akumatized items transformed into real miraculous with real kwamis. This floors Peacock Moth as she had no idea that antique butterfly-made items could grow in such a way. Chip reveals it takes a minimum of a century. But still, this is information Peacock Moth can greatly use. Chip also reveals what Peacock Moth already suspected—the B Team trained together several times a week. He also relays that they have their own chat server which includes Ladybug and Cat Noir—he even gives her his log in information. So now Nathalie can spy on the B Team's Discord using Chip's username. Now this is useful information. Other information she gets out of Chip includes the fact that the heroes still believe Adamantus to be his own faction as well as the exact location of where the B Team practices. Peacock Moth thanks him for his help. Adamantus withdraws. A moment later, Chip snaps to his senses. He takes off his glove, never realizing anything went wrong.
Luka Couffaine walks home. Juleka sees him first out the window. She runs out to greet him and throws a huge hug around him, not caring she's still in her pajamas. It's probably around lunchtime at this point, but the akuma attack did result in school being canceled for the day, as Nathalie Sancoeur predicted. Juleka herself is so relieved Luka is back that she's practically sobbing. Luka calms her down and promises to tell her all about it and introduce her to Luuna (who is hiding in his guitar case) later.
They walk inside the houseboat. There, a letter is burning to cinders on an ash tray Anarka set on the kitchen table. They can tell by the look in her eyes that she is pissed off. Luka asks her if everything is okay—sweating a little because he thinks his excuse about band camp got found out. Anarka insists everything is fine when it's clear it's not. She tells them to head to their rooms and do homework, which is again very much unlike their mother. Luka, however, not wanting to push his luck about his weekend in a shell, heads out. But once he and Juleka reach the door frame, Anarka tells them to stop. "You remember your promise, don't you?" Luka and Juleka are a bit confused. Anarka, with difficulty, reminds them that she confided in them about their father against her better judgment—under the condition they do not act on that information at all. "You've been keeping your promise, haven't you?" Luka and Juleka both say they have. Neither "Luka" nor Juleka contacted Jagged Stone. Now, technically, (light side) Alpha did—but he did it behind his mask and let nothing slip that Alpha is also Luka. But then…Luka recalls the split memories. How he somehow can see things through dark side Alpha's eyes—such as barging into Jagged's apartment and calling him a coward who abandoned his family. But that wasn't really (light side) Alpha, was it? No. That was his clone, made by one of their enemies. So why do I see it as if it were me?
Anarka doesn't notice his confusion and says "Good, continue to keep your promise. Now go do your homework." Her kids leave. The shot pans to the remains of the letter on the table. Yes, it is the letter Jagged wrote in the Alpha chapter. Anarka scoops up the whole ash tray and dumps the cinders into the river. How dare he contact me about my children after all this time?! He doesn't deserve anything to do with them!
To be continued in Chapter 65: Fate…