Chapter 67: Senti Army
Pegasus has joined the chat…
The weekend has rolled around, and the Discord servers are busy. On Team Ladybug's server, everyone is welcoming Pegasus aboard. Pegasus greets everyone back and admits his own surprise and honor at being allowed to serve the team full-time.
Being Max Kante, he begins to explore and fiddle with the Discord settings and reports to the others that their channel is not all that secure. He begins to offer all kinds of things to Ladybug and Cat Noir to upgrade the protection on their server. Ladybug enacts all the things he suggests. Once Max/Pegasus learns that there's also a different server for the B Team that Ladybug and Cat Noir have access to, he encourages them to implement the same features. Ladybug does.
The Team B server is also fairly busy, as that's the only way half of the team can connected since Honey Bee, Snow Leopard, Dauphin, Dauphine, and Chip Bluestone willingly benched themselves after the events of Crimson. The B Team hasn't even been practicing as much at the cemetery as it feels odd for them with half their allies absent. As a group, they're trying to work out a way to protect the still vulnerable wielders who don't have kwamis yet. And while Alpha did prove they can using sparing and emotions to cause their powers to surge, they still have no method to speed up the "trapped in a shell" process.
While they talk, it's clear that not only are Dauphin and Dauphine at the same location together. But that Tsukuyomi and Froppy are together too (though at a different location than the dolphin pair, obviously). Chip bluntly asks them if they're dating, to which Froppy and Tsukuyomi admit they are. Honey Bee coos in happiness for them, and Firefly wonders when they became official as he didn't think they were. Froppy says they started dating about a week ago. Snow Leopard congratulates them.
The morning stretches, and one by one the B Team logs out without making headway on how to speed things up. Kim and Ondine say good-bye to each other, but they continue their private conversation through texting. They're trying to decide which of them should be the focus for when the dolphin's powers surge. Kim flat-out does not want Ondine to go through with it, even with the minimum known risks. He'd rather endure it. Ondine feels the same, insisting she refuses to sit by and let him go through this alone. She argues the dolphin anklet is hers as he did give it to her. Kim argues back that he's grades are worse; she can't let hers drop by missing school to be stuck in a cocoon. Ondine argues that's all the more reason for him to be the one in class so he can bring his grades up.
Also carrying on a private chat are Ladybug and Cat Noir. Since they have some down time this morning, they're discussing their current, long-unsolved riddles from Master Fu. They try solving each other's riddles and even brainstorming together (as well as asking Google). Both are completely stumped. Cat Noir then wonders if it'd be so bad to ask for help—and points out they have a whole chat server full of allies at the moment. It takes Ladybug a moment to consider this, but she agrees. Under the condition that they don't explain why the riddles are important. Cat Noir agrees to the terms.
So they post their riddles in the Team A server. All the heroes who are online have fun trying to piece together the clues, and within thirty minutes, they have both answers. Ladybug thanks them profusely. When Pegasus asks about why these riddles are important, Cat Noir honestly admits he can't answer that. Ladybug logs off to race for the hiding place indicated in her riddle. A minute later, Cat Noir excuses himself to do the same.
As Cat Noir heads to the location he's been indicated, Nicholas Sancoeur walks below, both oblivious to each other's presence. Nicholas has his mission from his aunt, and he's seeking out her newest targets. She's been picking individuals who made exceptional attempts against the heroes when they were akumatized. This time she's focused on Shadow Boxer, Party Crasher, and Dungeon Master: Rachel Beauchene, Wayhem (who also badly needs a proper last name), and Viktor Vasiliev. He's focused, as he feels that at least he can do this much to help Nathalie. After all, he is still pretty disheartened that she won't akumatize him.
He finds Rachel Beauchene waiting at a bus stop, as she's on her way to watch her boyfriend's, Tristan Fortier's, community league boxing match. She's swiping through her phone while she waits on the bus and appears to be looking into buying her own bamboo sword to start taking kendo lessons. She's so absorbed in what she's doing that she doesn't notice as one of her classmates (Nicholas) walks by and drops a small, rectangular snap-locked kit in her bag.
Ladybug finds a hidden place and reverts back into Marinette Dupin-Cheng. She walks the last leg of her journey on foot. She finds a wooden box under a flagstone in one of Paris's famous gardens. Inside is yet another blank piece of paper, which she's sure holds a secret message written in lemon juice. There's not one miraculous inside. There's two. Marinette pulls out both the ox and the mouse, causing Stompp and Mullo to manifest. She greets them briefly before hiding the items so no one notices she has them and then walking home.
Within roughly the same time frame, Cat Noir has arrived elsewhere in Paris. He, too, has transformed back into Adrien Agreste. He also is wearing sunglasses and baseball cap, to hide the fact that a celebrity is walking around in public (and because he ditched his bodyguard to do so). He finds the location Master Fu indicated—a well-established, rather up-scale restaurant. Adrien circles around to the side of the restaurant, away from the street, and finds a loose brick in the wall. There, he's able to pull out another blank sheet of paper/mystery note as well as the rooster miraculous. Orikko forms and greets Plagg. He then wonders where the others kwamis are. After all, Orikko heard from Master Fu that the miraculous would slowly be slipped to Ladybug and Cat Noir, so by now Cat Noir/Adrien should at least have some of his friends. Adrien explains that except for Ziggy, all of the other kwamis are staying with their wielders. They decided on this so if one person falls, at least Hawk Moth and Team Draco wouldn't get all the other miraculous.
That's when Adrien hears a familiar voice, and the kwamis quickly hide. Adrien turns around and sees Wayhem waving hello. Adrien leaves the side of the restaurant and greets his fan/friend. Wayhem admits he knew it was Adrien despite the sunglasses and hat and they talk a bit. When Wayhem asks why Adrien is walking around by himself, Adrien admits he just needed some time to be a normal person. Wayhem admits he's glad Adrien included spending time with him in that. After a bit, the conversation winds down and they part ways.
Nicholas, meanwhile, is continuing his journey through Paris. He's searching for Viktor Vasiliev, whose home is geographically the closest. Nicholas does his best to search for public places teens like Viktor would hang out, but no luck. He also tries Viktor's social media, but Viktor doesn't post much as he is so introverted. Nicholas then concludes that Viktor is most likely still at home and that he won't find him by continuing to roam the streets. So Nicholas finds a secluded location, transforms into Adamantus, and takes to the side streets of Paris.
He does, indeed, find Viktor in his apartment. Viktor's bedroom is covered in DnD related materials: research, Forbidden Realms novels, figurines, maps, and even currently being planned campaigns. Adamantus waits for a moment when Viktor isn't around. Once Viktor steps out of his room, Adamantus steps in through the window and leaves a citrine ring on his bed stand. Adamantus slips out before anyone knows he's there.
During all of this, Nathalie Sancoeur is working in the privacy of Hawk Moth's lair. She has the turquoise squirrel glove and the peridot raccoon choker in front of her as she's trying to modify the wiring used and re-enchant them so that way they're less likely to corrupt her targets. Now, overall, she really doesn't care if Jakeel Aristide or Cameran Tyler have any free will or if she forcibly controls them to work with Adamantus. But she can't let the corruption show as that would only motivate Ladybug to purify the items she made, causing the heroes to realize there's an akuma inside, revealing Hawk Moth and Adamantus are actually allies, and upsetting a good portion of her plan. Besides, if Ruddiger and All-Star Rex can act with more autonomy, it allows Peacock Moth more freedom as she doesn't have to micromanage them. Soon, Gabriel, soon…
Marinette, transformed back into Ladybug for easy travel, lands on her family's roof and turns back into a normal girl. She lets Mullo and Stompp meet with Roarr, Daizzi, and Tikki. She's about to iron her note from Master Fu to reveal the words when she gets a notification on her phone. Marinette pulls it up—it's a private message from Dauphine using the Team B's Discord server.
As Marinette reads it, her eyes go wide with surprise and concern. Dauphine is requesting that she and Cat Noir both help her cause the dolphin's powers to surge. She is going behind Dauphin's back because she wants to protect him from that and endure it all herself; he doesn't know she's contacting them. Marinette's first instinct is that a boyfriend and girlfriend (as it's well known Dauphine and Dauphin are dating even if no one knows their civilian aliases) shouldn't hide things like this or go behind each other's backs. She also realizes that this probably goes against the whole secret keeper system the B Team uses—though she's not sure to what extent she should speak up about that, as Alpha is their leader, and she and Cat Noir are just allies.
Marinette quickly sends off Cat Noir/Adrien a text message, wondering if he saw Dauphine's request yet and what he thinks of it. To stall for time, she replies as Ladybug, asking Dauphine what she planned on telling her family—especially since she wants to keep Dauphin in the dark. She also reminds Dauphine that based on what they learned, merely sparring and practice isn't enough (after all, Dauphine could do that with the other members of the B Team—and they do already do so on a regular basis). It takes a grueling emotional confrontation to cause the surge. Marinette wonders to herself how she could even be able to inflict that on a friend and an ally, but she also realizes that there's not much of an alternative as simply living life is going to eventually result in some intense emotions, and if they don't do anything to help the B Team, Hawk Moth will continue to take advantage of them.
Cat Noir lands back in Adrien's bedroom where he detransforms. Plagg immediately declares to Orikko that "all the cheese in the house is his." And Ziggy warns Orikko that a lot of people live in the house, so Orikko can't wander around exploring "like he did the last time" because he's liable to get caught. Plagg vehemently agrees with Ziggy and insists Orikko is to stay in Adrien's room (as he doesn't want either Orikko or Ziggy spotted by Nooroo, Duusuu, or the person he suspects is the new Hawk Moth.)
While they talk, Adrien checks his phone to see the same message from Dauphine. Like Ladybug, Adrien is uneasy about what Dauphine is suggesting. But he also understands Dauphine's feelings. He would do anything, take any task upon himself, if it meant sparing Ladybug the difficulty. Adrien replies to Ladybug's private message on the topic and says pretty much that. He also asks Ladybug about her riddle. Ladybug confirms she has the ox and mouse miraculous now. Adrien replies that he has the rooster. They realize that this just leaves the snake and the monkey, two miraculous that Master Fu himself deemed to be extremely dangerous. Adrien/Cat Noir hesitates a moment, then he types one more response to Ladybug. "About the time we confronted Fate…She tried to cut the thread between us, but she couldn't. And it was a red thread. Ladybug…do you…" Adrien swallows his nerves and sends the message as is. He's too nervous to finish with "…like me?"
Marinette sees this and drops her phone onto her bed. She flat-out admits she doesn't know how to answer it. She vocalizes as much to Tikki. "I know I should be happy about the red thread…but…How do I tell him that the one I really like is Adrien Agreste…which is him. How do I tell him I can't even speak straight around him when I think about how I feel? And how do I tell him I've been keeping this huge secret from him for weeks about his identity?" Tikki admits she doesn't have all the answers but encourages Marinette to trust her own heart—and to trust her partner. (The World Ends With You reference!)
Since neither Ladybug nor Dauphine reply back immediately, Adrien begins to apply heat to his piece of paper in order to uncover Master Fu's newest message, hoping it'll allow the golden duo to meet with him as well as reveal the final two miraculous. After a while during which she's calming her heart, Marinette does the same, revealing the message…
Nicholas is searching for his final target. Wayhem is a bit harder to pin down as he doesn't go to the same school as the main cast, so Nicholas doesn't know his schedule as well nor does he know the usual places teens from his school hang out. Nicholas, however, is able to pull up Wayhem's Adrien-centric social media and pinpoint his location that way. Wayhem is touring the city, taking selfies in front of various Adrien-centric ads (Marinette totally has not done that before herself). Nicholas moves carefully, making sure he doesn't wind up in the background in any of the shots. Then, when Wayhem isn't looking, Nicholas slides an emerald brooch into his bag.
Marinette reads her message from Master Fu out loud as all the kwamis want to hear it and know he's okay. At the same time, Adrien reads a roughly similar note to Plagg and Ziggy and Orikko, and the scene often cuts between both locations. Master Fu congratulates Ladybug and Cat Noir for getting this far with his riddles. He discourages them from trying to find him for their own safety. He feels that the Western Order they're facing are actually usurpers and rogues based on the fact he still cannot contact his ally in the Western Order. This makes Team Draco all the more dangerous because they're ruthless and have already somehow neutralized one entire miraculous order. Master Fu says that somehow the rogues are tracking him (it's through Tarantula's ability), but he has ensured that if they find him, they won't get anything as he no longer possesses a single miraculous. Master Fu urges Ladybug and Cat Noir to solve his final riddle for the final items and then look after Marianne for him. Marinette says to the kwamis that there's no way she's going to let Master Fu deal with Rhino and this tracker alone—he's more than their mentor, he's also a friend. And friends don't abandon friends. Master Fu also adds that he's been following their heroics on the news, and he's proud of them as heroes. He's also happy!surprised!proud that Ladybug and Cat Noir have proved him wrong by assembling a team of allies who use their miraculous responsibly without confining the kwamis to the miracle box 24/7. He's also glad he was wrong about what great allies the B Team have become, though he warns them again of their connection to Hawk Moth. He laments he still has not succeeded in finding a way to break that tie. Adrien vents his frustration about not being able to tell Master Fu that they did discover a way to help the B Team and that Master Fu has yet to know that new kwamis are being born. Master Fu concludes that there is one other thing he didn't find in his research. He has found no mention of a diamond unicorn in any miraculous or other known magical item (like the prodigious). Now, while there still might be unknown magical items in the world, Master Fu warns them about Adamantus as he feels there's some type of deception going on there. He ends with wishing them the best and writes the last two riddles. However, before Marinette or Adrien can put much thought into them, both their phones buzz, getting a private message from Discord.
Dauphine replies to Ladybug and Cat Noir. She has a solution to the whole "what do you tell your parents when your powers surge" thing. It's an old but simple excuse, but she thinks it's better to keep the excuse simple than resort to anything complex. (In contrast, Dauphin is adamant they act as if they got abducted by aliens.) Dauphine says she'll tell her parents she's spending a night at Friend A's house. Then she's going to tell Friend A that she's actually at Friend B's house. She'll tell Friend B that she's at Friend A's house (and Friend A and Friend B don't even go to the same school, so they're less likely to compare notes). Hopefully, the surge will go quick enough that they won't call looking for her. But even if she gets grounded…it's better than allowing Hawk Moth any more active magical items in the city.
Ladybug/Marinette replies, saying she still has reservations about this whole thing. What'll they do with a dolphin cocoon? Dauphine says that they could turn her over to Dauphin at that point. He knows who she is, so it'd be okay. And the B Team knows how to contact him, so they wouldn't be stuck in a communication dead zone on the issue. "He'll probably bury me under his dirty socks, the big lug." But it's the best solution Dauphine can think of to keep Dauphin safe. She pleads with Ladybug and Cat Noir to help her out in order to spare Dauphin the process. And her pleading really does move Cat Noir's heart due to his own feelings for Ladybug; he sees the similarities.
Cat Noir sends a private message to Ladybug. "I do think we should help her. And I'm sorry about my previous question. You don't have to answer it if it makes you uncomfortable." Upon reading this, Marinette/Ladybug does breathe a sigh of relief as she's not going to answer it…not now. She physically can't.
It takes Ladybug a moment to reply, but when she does, she tells Cat Noir they need to focus on the matter at hand. By now, both have their (what might actually be) final riddles from Master Fu, likely leading them to the snake and monkey miraculous, as said before. They know they need to solve these ASAP. They also need to figure out what to do with Dauphine's offer. Cat Noir says they should follow Dauphine's plan. Ladybug voices her reservations, the biggest of which are keeping this from Dauphin and the rest of the B Team initially as well as the rather flimsy excuse Dauphine is going to give her parents. Cat Noir repeats Dauphine's point—it's better than allowing Hawk Moth to have active magical items in the city. Ladybug recalls adult Bunnyx's words from way back at the beginning of Phase Three: "You're looking for a solution that doesn't come with a sacrifice. But that's not possible. You have to make the choice with the consequences you can live with." So she takes a deep breath and agrees to go along with this plan. But with not so many secrets. "Master Fu was right in his letter when he said our alliance with the B Team is good; we shouldn't sabotage that. We need to tell them. If not all of them, we need to tell Alpha." Cat Noir/Adrien ponders this but then agrees to Ladybug's addition.
Back in a DnD-ladened apartment, Viktor Vasiliev returns to his bedroom. He pulls out the Forbidden Realm novel he's in the middle of reading when he notices the citrine ring (that Adamantus left on his bed stand) next to a wooden puzzle and a small picture of Mirellie Caquet that he had framed. Viktor knows it isn't his. He wonders if it belongs to his sister. He picks it up to ask. But the moment he touches it, he feels an overwhelming desire to put it on his own finger. He doesn't hesitate; he puts it on. And then, he promptly forgets it's even there, that it even exists, and goes back to reading. A twinkle of shadow sparks from within the ring.
Nicholas Sancoeur returns to Hawk Moth's lair and informs his aunt that he has successfully delivered the three items as she wished. Nathalie thanks him. She has the (now fixed) peacock brooch in hand and is studying it intently. Nicholas inquires about it. Nathalie explains that she feels the key to victory is knowledge. The more she knows about her own abilities and the strengths and weaknesses of her enemies, the more likely she is to succeed. And she can't believe she has let such a huge gap in her own knowledge go unchecked for so long.
Nicholas asks her about what she wants to learn. Nathalie fastens the brooch back to her chest. Ever since he fixed the peacock miraculous for her, she has never tested the limits of its strength solo. It's time she learned. Plus, it will provide an excellent veil as her three items (the emerald brooch, the citrine ring, and the currently unidentified one in a snap-shut box) integrate themselves with her chosen target and begin their slow processes. Nicholas again offers his aid, though he doesn't specify "akumatize me." Nathalie tells him to take a rest as he has earned it. This, however, just makes Nicholas feel more dejected.
Nathalie doesn't notice. "Duusuu, spread my feathers!" For the first time in a long time, Nathalie transforms solely into Mayura.
However, there are many notable differences in Mayura now, ever since the peacock miraculous is fixed. The most notable is that her skin is now no longer blue—it's Nathalie's natural skin tone. Her skirt is also longer—long enough to have a train sweeping the floor. Her hands a blue, but that's because of the addition of gloves to her transformation. Her legs are covered in navy nylons. Her hair remains fully blue as well. And since her skin isn't blue, she now dons a very thin, blue domino mask that just barely outlines her eye sockets.
Nathalie/Mayura looks herself over. Then she thanks Nicholas for allowing her to perfect her transformation and abilities. This raises Nicholas's spirits some.
"Let's see the extent of my powers." Mayura plucks multiple feathers from her fan…
Back with the heroes, Ladybug and Cat Noir have informed Alpha about Dauphine's plan and now all four of them are chatting. Alpha isn't very happy that Dauphine decided to take this upon herself; he mentions how much stress his surge put his secret keeper under. Dauphine insists she just wants to protect her boyfriend. She also adds that she's already called her friends to set up the "sleepover swap," so they might as well try to trigger the surge of the dolphin's powers. Alpha doesn't like the idea that Dauphin is still in the dark, but Dauphine insists on not telling him until the surge; otherwise, he'd try to stop it and take it upon himself. Alpha repeats he doesn't like it as they shouldn't be keeping these kinds of secrets from their own pack. Dauphine insists it's not a secret or a lie—just holding off on telling Dauphin for one hour. That's it. Alpha reluctantly agrees to this.
All four of them make plans to meet up near the industrial district along the river (does Paris even have an industrial district near the river?). A short while later, they all meet up there, transformed, including Dauphine. The first words out of her mouth are to thank them for allowing her to do this in Dauphin's place. Alpha echoes his concerns about the whole ordeal. Dauphine ignores these and requests that he make sure her cocoon gets to Dauphin if this works.
Cat Noir repeats that he understands where Dauphine is coming from and asks her if she's ready to spar harder than she ever has before. Dauphine insists she is. Ladybug reminds them that it's not just exerting herself physically—it also has to be mentally and emotionally too. Dauphine repeats that she's ready, and if they're looking to make her upset—just target her relationship with Dauphin. Alpha closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and says "let's do this then." They begin their practice, three on one, against Dauphine.
Mayura is surrounded by a circle of empowered feathers. She's breathing hard, realizing this is her limit. "Go, my senti army, and see what chaos you can wrought in Paris." She scatters her feathers to the wind in order to see how strong they'll be individually as well as the extent of their powers when she taxes herself with the peacock miraculous.
All around Paris, various objects become enchanted, causing various senti monsters to take form. One statue itself starts moving, driving civilians off with its rapier. Down by the storm drains, a green blob lurks, trying to ensnare passersby. A giant Venus flytrap takes root by the locks-of-love fence, and a chariot with no driver speeds through the main streets. People everywhere panic because of the sheer number of senti monsters. Multiple akuma alerts are sent even though no one is sure if there is an akumatized victim behind this. The police are also called.
Wayhem takes cover behind a giant poster of Adrien. He protects his camera with all his might, hoping the senti monsters don't see him. The emerald brooch Nicholas stuck inside clatters to the ground and catches Wayhem's eye, perhaps with its own inner magical power. Wayhem picks it up, noting it's lovely and maybe even expensive. His first thought is to turn it in so its rightful owner can find it. But those thoughts are quickly silenced as he's overwhelmed with the desire to wear it himself. He pins it to his shirt and then forgets it's even there.
Alpha, Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Dauphine are in mid-practice with Dauphine winded when their phones/weapons go off, notifying them to incidents all over the city. They're all surprised by the sheer number of reports as well as their distance apart. Ladybug and Cat Noir say a hasty good-bye and race off to deal with the issue. Alpha is about to follow, but he tells Dauphine to stand down as it's too dangerous for her to remain transformed without any of them or her secret keeper—especially after the events in Crimson. Dauphine says she wants to help—and that this could be the perfect opportunity to allow her powers to surge. Alpha refuses her due to the known risk and tells her to head home where she'll be safe. He then leaves.
Dauphine crosses her arms and pouts. She knows better than him how bad Crimson was. But this kind of attack isn't Hawk Moth's doing (right…). Plus, she knows that the heroes are going to be stretched thin as is. Dauphine decides to take the risk and heads in an opposite direction.
Mayura can sense the movement of the dolphin as she does still possess the butterfly miraculous even though she currently is transformed with just the peacock. She comments she's surprised, as the auras of the remaining antique akumatized items had been weak. She correctly suspected the B Team weren't wearing them, no surprise. But now the dolphin is back. However, she can't take over Dauphine now without breaking her transformation as Mayura and losing the force behind her Senti Army. Mayura urges her senti monsters to hurry it up so she can force Dauphine to her will and learn her identity.
Ladybug and Cat Noir encounter the blog in the gutter first. Ladybug tries to yank it out with her yo-yo, but her weapon just goes through the monster. Cat Noir tries to strike it, but his weapon fairs no better. That's when Ladybug notices an orange-ish core inside the blob. She targets that, yanks it out, and destroys it. The blob dissolves, and a familiar feather floats free. The golden duo instantly realize they're dealing with senti monsters and thus Mayura. Ladybug phones Alpha quickly to let him know.
Alpha acknowledges this as he chases after the chariot without a driver. He is eventually able to cut off the senti monster, flip inside of it, and take control of the reigns. He causes the chariot to crash into a brick wall, which destroys it and sets the feather free. Ladybug purifies the feather as it drifts by her, as well as the feathers of the monsters she and Cat Noir defeat.
They turn to take on the living statue, but they get surrounded by smaller senti monsters. And that's before the big one shows up—a giant turtle with four water cannons mounted to its back. Surrounded, the golden duo grit their teeth and charge. Cat Noir takes out one stone snowman with a powerful blow from his baton. He remarks that at least they're fairly fragile, the problem is there's just so many of them.
Ladybug's mental gears turn. "So many? And a giant? Boy, I am so glad we solved those riddles today! I'll be right back!" She looks up at Cat Noir, a bit worried. "If things get too rough, don't try to be a hero. Fall back until I get reinforcements." Cat Noir winks, insisting he can handle things. Ladybug pulls herself to the rooftops. Now I know what Dauphine meant about being willing to undergo everything herself to protect the one she loves. Ladybug takes off into the city to find her allies.
Speaking of Dauphine, she's maneuvered so she's pretty far from everyone else. She's already taken out a rather devilish tugboat and a kelpie-mimic. Now, she's facing against a creepy, shadowy mannequin. "I will give your fears a form," it says in a disembodied voice. It mutates; Dauphine's eyes grow wide as she gasps…
Meanwhile, the B Team is messaging each other on their server. Dauphin is starting to get majorly concerned that Dauphine hasn't logged in yet. Froppy notes that Alpha is handling things by X Street. Tsukuyomi cautions Honey Bee, Snow Leopard, and Chip Bluestone as they're still not to use their magical items. He theorizes this is a ploy to force them to feel threatened enough to transform, which would play into Hawk Moth's hand. The trio agree to remain sidelined. Firefly wonders if any of them should head in to help.
The same question is being posed on Ladybug and Cat Noir's chat server as their allies, like Ryutsume and Hachiko, wonder if they should enter the fray with some many enemies flooding Paris. Bunnyx reminds them all of their promise to wait until specifically called upon. Pegasus pre-emptively bows out as he's still upgrading the security on their Discord.
Ladybug first finds Mylene Haprele, who was watching her father's street mime act but has since taken cover with him and several other civilians. Ladybug keeps herself out of sight and waits until Mylene is facing her direction, then she discreetly motions for Mylene to come over. Mylene's eyes grow wide. She glances at her father, who didn't notice. She then excuses herself, saying she has to go to the bathroom, and runs to where Ladybug is.
Ladybug does her usual speech and offers the mouse miraculous back to Mylene, saying that they need Minimouse right now. Mullo forms, and Mylene greets her shyly. She says she's usually scared of mice, but it's okay with Mullo as Mullo is a kwami and not a mouse. Mylene takes a deep breath to steady her nerves and transforms into Minimouse. As Minimouse, she asks what needs to be done. Ladybug gives Minimouse directions to Cat Noir and says she has to make one more stop. She almost asks Minimouse if she knows where Ivan Bruel is but halts herself. She shouldn't blab other people's secret identities, even if the two heroes are dating. Ladybug and Minimouse depart in two different directions.
Meanwhile, much to Dauphine's abject horror, the mannequin she was fighting changes form into a very evil version of Queen Wasp whose design draws inspiration from the Asian giant hornet. Queen Wasp-mimic growls and declares she's going to steal Dauphin from Dauphine and then "break him, like she does all her toys." Dauphine's initial wave of fear dissolves into fury, and she charges the Queen Wasp doppelganger blindly.
As a result, Dauphine gets thrown around quite a bit. She almost gets impaled when Alpha lands in front of her and defends her with his spear. He scolds her for not retiring when he told her to. Dauphine insists she just wants to protect Dauphin, but Alpha argues that she can't protect him if she gets hurt, possessed, or captured herself. Dauphine falls silent.
The fake Queen Wasp preps Venom projectiles. Alpha says to Dauphine. "Well, since you're already here, shall we defeat this senti monster together?" Dauphine agrees, and both brace for the fight.
Ladybug hurries through Paris, looking for any sign of Ivan. She knows she's short on time, leaving Cat Noir behind. Along the way, she does take out a weak senti monster or two, purifying the feathers on the fly. At last, she finally finds Ivan as he's helping an elderly neighbor wash her car. Ladybug lands to him, starting him so much that he doses her with the hose. Once Ladybug wipes her face off, she offers the ox miraculous back to Ivan. Ivan takes one look at his phone, at the chaos going on in Paris, nods, puts on the nose ring, and transforms with Stompp.
Back with Cat Noir, he truly is struggling as every time he targets a senti monster, a different one targets him from behind. He knows his limits—he can only Cataclysm one. He swings his baton at a walking ottoman, but it disappears before he can connect. Cat Noir looks around, confused. One senti monster disappears, then another, then another, all leaving behind feathers. Cat Noir sees something small scurrying around them.
A tiny Minimouse runs up his legs and onto his shoulder. "Ladybug said you could use some help?" Cat Noir admits it's great to see Minimouse again and thanks her for the help. Many other tiny Minimouse's continue to attack the Senti Army.
However, that's when the giant tortoise blasts them from two of its canons. Cat Noir rolls out of the way, shielding Minimouse as he does so. The tortoise pivots to target them again, crushing a few senti monsters accidentally. Cat Noir urges Minimouse to clear the area while he spins his baton as a shield.
Thud. Thud. Thud. The ground shakes. Giant Blue Ox makes his entrance by punching the turtle so hard that it spins and spins in circles. Ladybug swings past him and lands next to Cat Noir, who welcomes her back. While Blue Ox deals with the tortoise, Ladybug and Cat Noir and Minimouse take on the rest of the Senti Monster swarm.
That is, all of them except the creepy mannequin, which turned into a doppelganger of Queen Wasp with a vendetta. Alpha keeps defending against it, but any time he tries to attack, his attacks go right through it. Dauphine does her best to fight alongside Alpha, but much of what the doppelganger says specifically targets Dauphine's personality. "You're so chubby, who'd like a fatty like you?" "You know your boyfriend likes me better. Why wouldn't he? I'm beautiful." "I'll force you to watch as I break your teammates, one by one." This really gets to Dauphine psychologically.
But it does clue Alpha in to what this senti monster is. "It embodies your fears, Dauphine! It's designed to attack you and who you are. That means you're the only one who can fight it! That's why my attacks go right through it!"
Dauphine admits her own uncertainties at beating it alone. "I'm even lying to Dauphin by being here…" Alpha encourages her, saying that they've prepared for this. He then suggests one of the techniques they practiced together. The familiarity revitalizes Dauphine and her training gives her the knowledge of what she needs to do.
Meanwhile, Blue Ox ends the turtle with a powerful kick. Minimouse acts as a decoy, a dozen of her running towards the same point, converging, with all of the senti monsters following. Cat Noir is able to dive in and Cataclysm all of them at once. Ladybug catches all of the feathers that are floating free and purifies them. Minimouse reforms back to her normal self, which is situated right on top of giant Blue Ox's head. Neither realize that Minimouse is Mylene and Blue Ox is Ivan.
Alpha and Dauphine flank Queen Wasp. Queen Wasp targets them with rapid fire Venom from both hands. But Alpha and Dauphine double back. Alpha moves right behind Dauphine, who bolts straight for Queen Wasp. Alpha empowers her with Howl, causing Dauphine to move much faster than the senti monster anticipated. Dauphine shatters her with her surfboard.
The feather floats free. Ladybug snags it and purifies it as she and Cat Noir, as well as normal sized Minimouse and Blue Ox, join Alpha and Dauphine. Ladybug comments that she thought Dauphine left, but she doesn't push the issue. She does her world-healing wave (because at some point she surely used her Lucky Charm) and all of them "Pound It!" Ladybug offers to take Minimouse and Blue Ox aside while Cat Noir finishes with the B Team. They say good-bye and split.
Meanwhile, Mayura feels her last senti monster evaporate. However, she can't help but laugh. The peacock miraculous is so much more powerful now that it's whole. As far as she's concerned, today proved to be a very useful test of her powers, a success. The test also provided she's an ideal fit for the peacock miraculous as she could draw out so much of its powers (just like Nicolette with the Cancer miraculous, and how well and quickly she adapted to it).
Ladybug separates Minimouse and Blue Ox in order to protect their identities just a little longer. If they decide to trust each other and tell, that is their choice. It's not her choice to make. She talks to one and then the other when they try to return their miraculous. She explains she's entrusting Mullo and Stompp to them full time under the conditions they only use their powers for the greater good and when called upon. She needs them to keep the miraculous and kwamis safe because Paris has too many enemies to keep all the miraculous in one place. She also gives them the information for the Team A Discord server and encourages them to make a burner account then log in to keep in the loop. Both fully agree to all the terms provided. Mylene cooes over Mullo ("I'm usually afraid of mice, but you're just so cute!"), and Ivan tells Stompp that he's going to teach him how to cheer for the national soccer team.
Elsewhere in Paris, Rachel Beauchene is in the bathroom, touching up her make-up while waiting for Tristan Fortier's boxing match. As she digs in her purse for her lipstick (hey, who said a closet sadist can't also be a beauty queen?), she comes across a small, latched case. She opens it up to reveal a set of gorgeous, garnet-red fake nails inside. She has no idea where they came from, but they are totally stylish and totally wicked and totally something she would wear. In fact, why doesn't she put them on right now? She presses them atop her own nails, where they adhere. Then she goes back to touching up her lipstick.
Back with Cat Noir, Alpha, and Dauphine, Alpha and Cat Noir are both on their timers, but they have a minute or two left just to make sure that every threat they've encountered this afternoon has been dealt with. Cat Noir wonders what Mayura and Hawk Moth were trying to accomplish with this, but he shrugs and pretty much takes on an "all's well that ends well." Alpha wonders if the enemies knew they were practicing, that's why they attacked. Cat Noir replies that he doesn't think so, as it would be really foolish to attack when there were already heroes, transformed and waiting. Alpha then turns to Dauphine, saying that today turned out to be a failure in getting her powers to surge. He also urges her not to be so reckless again.
But Dauphine doesn't reply. In fact, during the whole conversation, she's been silent. Alpha calls her name once. And then again. Then, salt water sprays from all around her as she lifts off the ground and curls inward. As Cat Noir and Alpha watch, dumbfounded, Dauphine hits her time to cocoon up. Both boys are speechless for a moment until Alpha makes a shaky remark about the senti monster that preys on insecurities being enough to push Dauphine beyond her limits. Cat Noir rubs the back of his head and comments about this being part of the plan, right? Alpha nods.
By then, both heroes have no time left. Alpha grabs Dauphine's shell and pulls her after him as he heads one way while Cat Noir departs the other. Both transform back and feed their kwamis. Then they begin to text communicate with Ladybug, who was on her way back home. They explain what happened to Dauphine, and she turns right around to come back. They all plan on meeting.
In Hawk Moth's lair, Mayura's rather content attitude turns to one of horror and frustration. "The dolphin is gone too?!" She looks at her remaining items. She needs to perfect these. Immediately.
Alpha, Ladybug, and Cat Noir re-meet with Dauphine's shell. Ladybug touches it; it feels wet. She admits how uneasy she is every time she sees this. Alpha says he endured it; it really isn't that bad. Like a really long nap you wake up tired from. Cat Noir says he hopes Dauphine's plan with her parents is a good one—because there's no going back now. Alpha pulls out his spear/phone. He needs to contact Dauphin and explain what happened. Dauphin is the one who'll look after Dauphine. And he is not going to be happy.
To be continued in Chapter 68: Burden…