Chapter 68: Burden
It's late into the same evening as the prior chapter. Alpha is meeting with Dauphin to pass Dauphine's cocoon on to him. Alpha is transformed, waiting for Dauphin at their usual place in the cemetery. Dauphin walks into the place a few minutes later. He's not transformed; he can't as the dolphin anklet is trapped with Dauphine. Instead, Dauphin has opted for what can only be described as a "hiding from the alien paparazzi" disguise. He's wearing a baseball hat covered in tinfoil, dark sunglasses that are making it hard for him to walk, a long trenchcoat despite the rather nice weather, and a set of garden gloves just because. Alpha raises an eyebrow at the attire but says nothing.
When Dauphin sees the salt water shell, he is very upset for the second time. As it's clear that Alpha, Ladybug, and Cat Noir have already spoken to Dauphin about what happened and about Dauphine's plan and have already calmed Dauphin once. But for him, it's really hard knowing that his girlfriend is going through something like this and there isn't much else he can do to help.
Dauphin repeats himself, saying he would much rather have endured this than her. He vents his frustrations about being kept out of the loop and even yells at Alpha a bit for not informing him. Alpha just lets Dauphin's emotions run their course. When he's burned out, they sit down together (and these characters get a chance to bond). Dauphin asks Alpha, "Do you know what this is like, man? Do you have a girlfriend? How would you feel if she trapped herself like this, trying to protect you? I just feel so useless."
Alpha admits he doesn't have a girlfriend but he does have a girl he likes. And he can't imagine how hurt and upset and powerless he would feel if she was trapped in a bubble of water with him safe on the outside. "But…But I would at least then know how she really felt. And I'd feel really happy to know she cared about me so much." Alpha smiles as he thinks about his crush. "You're lucky that you and Dauphine are together. She did this because she loves you."
Dauphin admits he does realize this is true. But it still doesn't make him any less frustrated. Alpha explains that now is the time Dauphine needs him most. This is now Dauphin's time to protect her. She's going to be incapacitated for the next 2-3 days, so it's up to Dauphin to watch over her during that and minimize the impact on her civilian life. Dauphin nods and accepts the responsibility. He says his good-byes to Alpha and takes Dauphine's shell. They part ways.
Monday morning rolls around, and the cast gets ready for school. The B Team is in contact with Dauphin, but he says there's no change in Dauphine's condition. Dauphin actually tells the others he's skipping school to look after her—as it's only a matter of time now before her parents start calling. The rest of the B Team also express their anxiety about Dauphine's having been out the whole weekend with no sign of waking yet. But the rest of the team still has to go to school.
At Francoise Dupont High School, students arrive for the day. Nicolette Lacroix, now bearing the Cancer earrings, finds her best friend, Monique Imhof, to ask Monique how her conversation with her boyfriend went. Monique admits she thought Mathieu Anciel would break up with her on the spot when she revealed she can't have children—but they're going to try to work through it together. Nicolette smiles and congratulates her friend and acts as if she doesn't know why Mathieu changed his heart. While Nicolette doesn't know how long their relationship will last, she is glad Monique isn't suffering heartbreak in the present.
When the Agreste limo pulls up, Felix Graham de Vanily heads inside without greeting anyone. Adrien Agreste finds Nino Lahiffe, and Nicholas Sancoeur is surprised when Gilles Chastain approaches him with Ivan Bruel (who now has the Ox miraculous full time) and Guy Nigels (from Ms. Mendeleiev's class). Gilles invites Nicholas over his house to join them for a Super Smash Bros day after school. "After all, you missed our Race Kart night last time." Nicholas is genuinely surprised that someone would invite him over, and he asks why. Gilles replies with "because we're friends." Nicholas clearly ponders this as he wasn't created to feel friendship—and yet he is. He tells the others he'll have to ask his aunt.
At roughly the same time, Rachel Beauchene and Meg Delphinus are talking as usual. Meg comments on Rachel's new, red nails and wonders how Rachel will continue her new hobby of kendo with them. Rachel dismisses her friend's concerns and as the conversation continues, she almost seems to forget they're even there. Somehow, the conversation twists around to the heroes of Paris. Meg comments that she still finds Cat Noir annoying as he "doesn't know how to take 'No' for an answer." Rachel admits her mind is starting to change, though she feels she can't share this with anyone outside her best friend. "Are Ladybug and Cat Noirreally that great? If they were, Hawk Moth would be defeated by now." She admits to being disappointed in the heroes. This does surprise Meg as Rachel has never said anything like this before. If anything, Rachel has always liked Ladybug and Cat Noir after the golden duo saved both Rachel (from being Shadow Boxer) and her boyfriend (from being Word Weaver). Rachel shrugs; her nails glimmer.
Giselle Winters-Blanchet is dropped off by her father, which is unusual as she usually takes the subway. He lectures her as she leaves his vehicle; he tells her that she should be more appreciative. After all, he's using the day he has off work to pick her up and drop her off at school instead of spending the time on himself. Before Giselle can even properly speak "thank you," Mr. Blanchet continues about how Giselle should always be working hard and always be looking for people who need help and always be taking it upon herself to help them. Giselle insists she does. However, he doesn't really seem to be listening and emphasizes she needs to "take initiative" and "be a helper not an inconvenience." When he finally says good-bye, Giselle is clearly emotionally frazzled.
Juleka and Luka Couffaine also arrive at the same time. Juleka joins Rose Lavillant and Alix Kubdel while Luka takes the extra time to pull out his guitar and strum some chords. His mind is elsewhere as he still is processing everything that happened when he encountered Jagged Stone under his Alpha alias. He has incredibly complex and mixed feelings on the issue, compounded even further by his promise to his mother not to act on the knowledge of who is father is. While Luka tries to sort himself out, Marinette Dupin-Cheng sits down beside him without him realizing it at first. She compliments his music. Luka offers a small smile and says he composed it himself. He then switches songs and plays something new—something less chaotic and mellower. Marinette is even more impressed by this one and asks him what the title of the song is. Luka smiles at her and answers, "Marinette." Before Marinette can inquire what he means, the bell rings, signaling everyone to head to class.
In first period with Ms. Mendeleiev, she announces it's time for their math test with collective groans all around. However, Madam Gros knocks on the door and states that she's here to select a student for the usual mental health screening. A few students, including those who have already gone through their screenings, volunteer just to get out of class. Ms. Mendeleiev gives them a cold look, and Madam Gros calls Mireille Caquet. Mireille politely excuses herself and follows the guidance counselor.
Once the door is closed, Madam Gros asks Mireille the usual about her hobbies, friends, grades, and future plans. She asks Mireille about how she handles her work as well as her school obligations. Mireille admits that between her celebrity jobs and homework, she doesn't have much time left for hobbies or extracurricular activities. She confesses to actually feeling guilty about having less time to spend with her friends and boyfriend, Theo Barbot (Fate temporarily broke them up, but their relationship was restored with Ladybug's world-healing wave). She just hopes that they'll all understand until they all graduate, and she only has her career to focus on and not school work.
Madam Gros asks her if that means Mireille is considering going into acting and TV hosting full-time and forgoing college. Mireille confesses that that is her plan, though her father disagrees with her on the matter. Dolores Gros asks Mireille how she and her father get along, and Mireille tells her that their relationship is great. She's proud of him for serving Paris as a fire captain, and she's proud he works so hard to support her as a single father. Dolores asks Mireille about her mother, but Mireille shrugs and falls silent as she has no information on the topic.
So the counselor changes tactics, asking Mireille how she handles stress and the inevitable over-zealous fans celebrities get. Mireille says she usually takes a lavender bath while listening to music her classmate, Yvonne Garnier, posts online. She also is a bit too addicted to Bubble Pop on her phone when she's having a bad day. She also isn't too worried about crazy fans as her agent and the rest of the people at the studio are incredibly careful with security, especially since she's a minor. And Mireille admits to being flattered that she has fans who would care about her so much. She actually puts a rather sweet, positive spin on things.
Madam Gros finishes up the interview by asking Mireille about Ladybug and Cat Noir. Mireille has nothing but positive things to say about them. When asked about Hawk Moth and Mayura, Mireille admits to being frightened as long as they're around. She worries constantly about her friends, coworkers, family, and boyfriend getting akumatized. That's why she puts on her best smile to try to keep them in high spirits and prevent that. Dolores thanks her for her time and sends Mireille back to class. She notes that Mireille is just too positive and optimistic and even naïve to become the tool she needs.
Meanwhile, Nathalie Sancoeur finds herself with a free moment, so she's again browsing through the B Team's Discord by using Chip Bluestone's password. Everything she reads confirms the information she got out of Chip—the miraculous without kwamis are becoming real miraculous and are creating real kwamis. She is also surprised to see that Ladybug and Cat Noir have accounts in this server. I can use this to feed them all kinds of false information. She also learns about the B Team's "secret keeper" system—one she admits is rather ingenious, but now that she knows it exists, she can exploit it. Such as by taking a secret keeper hostage. A thin smile stretches across her lips.
However… There is one issue still at hand. The items she handcrafted. Nathalie examines the raccoon choker and the squirrel glove. As far as she can tell, she's done all she can to improve them and prevent the corruption that comes from akumas and using the dark side of the butterfly's powers. I suppose it's time to have these returned.
During lunch time, Kagami Tsurugi finds Adrien Agreste and asks him why he didn't show up for their study session the prior day (during the Crimson chapter). Adrien gives her a blank look until his memories kick in. But he can't really tell Kagami he forgot as he was busy being Cat Noir, so he just profusely apologizes instead. Kagami acts coy at first but then says she forgives him. Adrien offers to make up for the last time by setting a new study session to this afternoon after school. Kagami accepts and tells him she's looking forward to seeing him. Adrien promises he'll be there.
Nathaniel Kurtzberg takes a moment to check his cell phone. Dauphin is still at home, and he says there's been no movement from Dauphine's cocoon. (Despite Le Chien Kim also being absent from school, Nathaniel doesn't even consider Kim might be Dauphin).
Marinette takes a moment to send a text to Cat Noir through their private channel. She remarks that half of the miraculous from the Eastern Order have found permanent wielders (with the tiger, goat, and rooster not having anyone yet, the monkey and snake having King Monkey and Viperion but those two miraculous still being hidden, and the pig having Pigella but her refusing to claim it full time). "Maybe it's time we gather our team together and have them practice." Like the B Team. Marinette's hand shakes as she prepares to send the message to Cat Noir. No, not Cat Noir. Adrien. Tikki has to encourage her on for her to be able to press the "Send" button.
Also during lunch, Viktor Vasiliev is sitting with Fumikage Tokoyami as they're plotting their next campaign and working on character sheets for the school's DnD club. Viktor says he'd love to get more people to join and offers to make up more flyers. Fumikage points out that Viktor is always making flyers, but they haven't had much luck getting any permanent members. Viktor folds. Fumikage suggests a new way to capture people's interest in the game—such as perhaps doing a superhero campaign, inspired by the victories of Ladybug and Cat Noir. Viktor's citrine ring glints and his eyes grow dark. He dismisses that idea, claiming that Ladybug and Cat Noir are overrated and don't belong in the medieval-magic Forbidden Realms. Fumikage raises an eyebrow but lets the remark slide.
Elsewhere, Giselle Winters-Blanchet has stayed after class to help clean the art room. The teacher compliments her on her hard work but tells her she should go to lunch and enjoy the time with her friends. Giselle insists she needs to help—she should fill in where there's a need and not cause anyone any problems. She's starting to veer into stepford smiler territory here, but the art teacher doesn't notice. She winds up getting to lunch late with barely any time to eat an apple and doesn't even get to sit with her friends, Meera Pugliese and Raissa Deschamps.
Lunch ends, and students return to their classes. Shortly after, Madam Gros calls Cameran Tyler, the American exchange student, into her office for his mental health screening. Since Cameran is an exchange student, the counselor starts his interview by asking him how he likes France and how he's adapting to living so far from home.
Cameran only briefly mentions that he misses his family. He's having a blast with Guy Nigels as his host brother, and they're hoping that Guy can visit him in America—if not be a full-on exchange student himself. Cameran says that he enjoys attending this school though the "always getting akumatized thing" is a bit crazy. In America, he "only" has to deal with the American style superheroes (like Doorman and Mercury, two personal favorites of his).
Madam Gros asks how he's handling his grades and assignments and extracurricular activities when French is his second language. Cameran admits to hardly understanding anything his first three weeks in class and just faking it, but he says he's gotten better and can pick up 95% of what everyone is saying now. He also says Guy is a huge help and they study together, so he's not really concerned about his grades. He gets a bit loud as he gets excited, and Dolores Gros has to remind him she's right there; he doesn't need to shout.
Madam Gros asks how Cameran handles stress, and Cameran shrugs and answers with "video games and movies." She notes he was once akumatized into Magnum Rex. Cameran remarks that that was because he got rejected. There's a girl at school he used to like (Nicolette Lacroix), but she turned him down. He's over her now (and this is the truth), so he assures the counselor he's not going to get akumatized again.
So Madam Gros asks him about his thoughts on Ladybug and Cat Noir as well as Hawk Moth and Mayura. Cameran replies that he feels Mercury is a much better hero with a much higher success rate. But he has nothing against the golden duo—except maybe they'd work better as sidekicks. And Hawk Moth? Well, if anyone from Heroes United stepped foot on French soil, he wouldn't stand a chance. Now, there is something niggling in the back of Cameran's mind. Something about how he should oppose Ladybug and help Hawk Moth. But why? He subconsciously reaches for where the opal chameleon bracelet used to be, but it's not there. Adamantus reclaimed it to have it altered and has not slipped it back into Cameran's possession yet. Cameran shrugs off the sensation. Madam Gros releases him back to class, noting that he's too good natured for her to use.
After school hours roll around. Students disperse to their clubs and homes. Kagami Tsurugi and Adrien Agreste head to kendo practice with Kagami reminding Adrien that they have a "study date" (emphasis on the word date) after this. Adrien again promises he'll be there and even says he's looking forward to it. The gorilla picks up Felix and Nicholas, taking Felix to his cello lessons before dropping Nicholas at the manor and returning for Adrien. Nicholas finds Nathalie, who hands him the opal chameleon bracelet and peridot raccoon choker. She tells him to return those to their chosen owners. Nicholas hesitates, and Nathalie notices and asks why. Nicholas explains he was asked over Gilles Chastain's house to play video games, and he wants to accept the invitation. This does surprise Nathalie, and she ponders the possibilities. She then tells Nicholas he can join his friends so long as he returns the three objects first. After all, it would help him masquerading as a human to attend human activities. Nicholas agrees and leaves discreetly through the window as Adamantus.
Luka Couffaine checks his cell phone to see if Dauphin has any updates on Dauphine. There are no new messages. So Luka (with Luuna in his guitar case) heads home with Juleka. However, there is a reason why Dauphin/Kim didn't update anyone. Dauphine/Ondine's school called her family when she didn't show up for classes. This pulled the thread, and the whole lie about Ondine staying over friends' houses got busted. Her parents immediately called Kim's family. Kim is, right at that moment, arguing with his family that he doesn't know where Ondine is. And that there's nothing sinister going on like running away, gangs, or pregnancy. Both sets of parents alternate between pleading with him and yelling at him to tell the truth, but Kim has to insist he doesn't know. He tries his standby excuse, "she might have been abducted by aliens!," which goes over as well as one would expect. Meanwhile, during this all, Ondine/Dauphine's salt water cocoon is secured in Kim's room…and yes, he did hide it under his dirty socks.
Jean Duparc also checks his email on his phone once he's out of class. He notices he has a message about his throw-away Discord account. So he logs in as Chip Bluestone but sees nothing out of the ordinary. So he sends a private message to Ladybug's account, remark that he got a couple notifications that "your account has been accessed from another device" ever since Ladybug implemented Pegasus's security measures. He wonders if it's a glitch. Ladybug promises to pass the word on to Pegasus. Assuming it truly is a glitch, Jean puts it out of his mind.
Mylene Haprele waits in her father's classroom for him to finish up work. She sneaks a piece of cheese from her lunchbox to Mullo. Her father half-notices and jokes if Mylene has a new mouse for a pet. Mylene offers a weird laugh and says he knows that can't be true. Mylene is terrified of mice. Mullo lets out a small burp.
Outside, Giselle runs to her father's car as he is also picking her up due to it being his day off. She is literally running as she's still trying to situate her backpack on her shoulders. She is a bit late as she was helping Yvonne Garnier and Genevieve Faucher set up the lighting for some pictures they needed to take for the school newspaper.
Giselle's father, Leon Blanchet, scolds her for making him wait, even if it was only a couple of minutes. After all, it is a "huge inconvenience" that he take time out of his day off to pick her up and she should really think about how her actions can trouble other people. Giselle swallows; she is definitely into stepford smiler territory now. Her father turns from the school and heads to their apartment, continuing his lecture about her helping people. Giselle insists she does and did, citing helping the art teacher and the school newspaper today (even missing lunch to do so, just to appease him, but she doesn't say that much as she just wants to make him proud of her). Her father calls that a "start" be wonders what opportunities she might have missed by looking at her phone, texting "that Vivica person" (she and Vivica have kept in touch since Friendship Day), or gossiping with her "silly friends." Giselle insists her best friends aren't silly.
They arrive at the apartment and her father highly "suggests" she does her homework right now and spends the rest of the evening studying. After all, she needs to keep her grades up. Giselle insists she does, but he tells her it's not enough. She should push herself farther, to be better. She should always look for ways to improve herself and never trouble anyone else. Giselle insists she is doing her absolute best. She even produces her math test proudly. She scored an A-, and she never scores that highly in math. He has to be happy with this! I finally got an A!
Her father barely glances at it. "With a little bit more work, you can get that A- up to an A." At that point, Giselle's smile breaks and the tears start falling. She knows how hard she worked to get that A-, and it's still not enough—she highly doubts she'd be able to maintain a solid A- in math—let alone drag the grade any higher. She did her absolute best. Giselle tells her father, "I'm never going to be good enough for you, am I?" while crying. He finally turns and looks her over, telling her to stop overreacting. "You don't need to be melodramatic. Just take initiative, always do the right thing, and strive to be better."
"I always do, dad, every day," she cries. "But that's never enough for you. I'm never going to be anything except a burden to you, am I?"
And it's at that precise moment she's akumatized—right in front of her father. He's abjectly horrified at what happened and his role in it…but now, it's too late.
Nathalie Sancoeur as Hawk Moth speaks long-range in Giselle's ear. "I will never make you an inconvenience. Instead, I give you the power to make other people feel your burdens. In return, I want any miraculous that your hand touches." And the way she words it has to be clear it's present tense going forward. As one thing Nathalie overlooked…she doesn't consider asking her victims if they know anyone's alias, if they have an alias themselves, or if they have any other connection to a miraculous. Had she thought to ask everyone she akumatized in the very, very low probability chance that they had ties to a hero, she could have forced Giselle's identity or even the snow leopard bracelet out of her. But she didn't consider it (given the size of Paris's entire population versus how few people actually are akumatized) and she can't sense anything abnormal from Giselle as Giselle isn't wearing her snow leopard bracelet at the moment due to the events of Crimson (which is why the verb tense is important. Had Nathalie used past tense or past perfect or something ongoing, Giselle would have been magically forced to fork over her mother's bracelet. But since she doesn't have the bracelet in her possession at this very moment, Nathalie/Hawk Moth's order falls into a loophole.)
Leon Blanchet calls out Giselle's name, trying to bring her to her senses. However, she counters him, "Don't act as if you cared about Giselle. She was never good enough for you; she only ever got in your way of living your life alone. Well, now Burden is here. Let's see how it feels."
Burden knocks her father over and then reveals the power Hawk Moth gave her. Her weapon is an oddly shaped quarter staff with a bauble on one end and two short prongs on the other. Burden picks up a book from the table and places it on her father's chest while he is still winded. Then she strikes the book with her staff. Once, twice, four times, more. Her father visibly starts to show pain.
Burden explains that every time she strikes something, she doubles its weight. So that two pound book on his chest (or perhaps, kilos?)? It's now four pounds…eight…sixteen. All the way up to 256 pounds. He's clearly in pain and struggling but still tries to reason with her. Burden, coldly, strikes the book one more time, increasing its weight to 512 pounds—too much for him to lift off in his position.
"One more strike, and I would break your ribs," she gloats icily. "Heavy, isn't it? The weight of giving everything you've got and still failing your parent?" Burden then waltzes out the door, leaving Mr. Blanchet pinned and incredibly guilt-ridden.
Within the same timeframe, Luka and Juleka Couffaine make it within view of their houseboat. Much to their surprise, there's a limousine parked in front of it. They exchange confused looks and creep closer. The next thing they notice is that Anarka is on the highest point of the deck, throwing empty cans at someone who is standing by the limo. The teenagers get close enough to hear parts of the very loud argument.
Anarka is screaming for him to "go away" and that they "want no part of him in their lives!" While the man, whom the teens quickly see is Jagged Stone their father is pleading with her to "just hear him out" and "you ignored my letter" while dodging cans and generally being over-shouted. Juleka cringes behind Luka, asking him "what should we do?". Luka is speechless, and he admits he has no idea. Juleka looks down at her feet, wishing she was courageous enough to find her voice.
That's when their mother sees them there, gaping. She grabs her guitar to force Jagged out via high decibels. "For the last time. Walk off the plank and never darken my door again." Jagged follows her eyes and realizes that Luka and Juleka are there, staring at him. And he freezes up. Because this time, unlike the time in Desperada, he's come in the capacity as father with the intention of revealing the truth and taking responsibility. So he planned on talking to his children—even practiced it. But seeing them face to face sapped his courage, and he can only stand there while his ex-wife cranks the amp.
Which is precisely when Burden strolls onto the scene, twirling her staff for her own amusement. Luka instantly recognizes an akumatized victim when he sees one. He pulls Juleka behind him and tells everyone else to run. Which falls flat as Jagged is still emotionally paralyzed, and Anarka is so worked up that she just turns her supped up guitar on the antagonist. Anarka lets out a literal window-shattering wail.
Burden, however, leaps over the shockwave and lands in front of Anarka Couffaine. She taps the guitar three times with her staff, making it much heavier than Anarka anticipated and causing it to crash to the deck, the strap still around the woman's neck.
Seeing Burden move towards his mother, Luka races forward. He orders Juleka to send out the Akuma Alert. She nods and fumbles with her phone. Luka sprints by Jagged without even acknowledging his presence, which also affects Jagged on an emotional level. Luka than confronts Burden before she can further act against Anarka.
"Leave her alone. She hasn't done anything to you. Whatever is bothering you—let's talk about it," says Luka. He has no idea he's talking to his packmate, Snow Leopard, evilized.
"Do you know what it feels like? To never be good enough for your family? To be an inconvenience for your own father?" Burden asks him, frostily. "No? You will." She then strikes the deck of the ship repeatedly, causing it to sink under its own increased weight.
Needless to say, her words strike Luka, Juleka, and Jagged right through the heart. As Snow Leopard flounces away, all Juleka can do is shake at the knees while holding back her own tears. Fortunately, she already send the Akuma Alert. Jagged himself looks as if he's been shot. In trying to not be my father, I've become just as bad to my own kids. Luka is the only one who keeps enough presence of mind to move. He can't stop Burden as she sashays away—so he raises to his mother to get her untangled from his overly heavy guitar and helps her run off the boat just before it fully submerges.
All four join up ashore and watch as the houseboat goes under. Jagged awkwardly asks if everyone is all right. Luka doesn't really stop. Once he's sure his mother is safe, he sprints away. "Not now, dad. I've gotta do something about this!" Anarka is very upset seeing her house destroyed and demands Luka come back. Jagged wonders aloud what Luka means and why he's running off in a crisis. Then he freezes yet again. He called me 'dad.'
Within the same time frame, Adrien Agreste has finished showering in the school locker room and has changed back into his civilian attire. He's gathering his things to meet up with Kagami at the library for their study date. His cell phone blares its alarm in his hands. "Plagg! Claws out!" He winds up bailing on Kagami again.
Marinette Dupin-Cheng/Ladybug had been texting Pegasus/Max Kante about how Chip Bluestone reported that his account had been accessed from another device. Pegasus advises Ladybug to tell Chip to change his account password into something very complex and to keep him posted if he keeps getting messages like this. Ladybug asks him if it might be a glitch, to which Pegasus replies it's not likely. Marinette has barely read Pegasus's reply when her phone goes on the alert. "Tikki! Spots on!" She leaves through the trap door in her bedroom.
Ladybug and Cat Noir aren't the only active miraculous in Paris at that moment. Adamantus is slipping through the shadows, searching for Cameran Tyler and Jakeel Aristide to "return" Hawk Moth's handcrafted items. He also figures he'll check on Viktor Vasiliev, Rachel Beauchene, and Wayhem while he's out, since they also have enchanted objects. He needs to make sure those items are progressing as Hawk Moth planned and report his findings to her. With Burden causing chaos, Adamantus is able to slip around the city secretly. He spots Wayhem fleeing Burden's destruction and follows him.
Burden, like most akumatized victims, is causing mayhem with her powers. Cars burst their tires as their weight is increased. Statues topple and building foundations crack. "No matter what you do, it's never good enough." Ladybug and Cat Noir drop in front of her, demanding she stop. She looks at them, coldly apathetic, and asks why. No matter how much you give, the only possible result is to be crushed under despair. She charges them.
Cat Noir defends against her unusual quarter staff with his baton in some impressive parrying moves. However, every blow of her weapon doubles the weight of his baton. It doesn't take long until he can barely lift it. Cat Noir steps back, and Ladybug defends him with her yo-yo swinging. Burden catches it around her staff until it drops to the ground like a boulder. Ladybug states the semi-obvious that Burden's power is to make things heavy. Which doesn't help the heroes as they can now barely use their weapons. Realizing the risk of this disabling her special ability, Ladybug uses her Lucky Charm before her yo-yo is too heavy to swing. (I imagine her getting something light like a feather.)
The golden duo aren't the only active heroes in Paris. The B Team is also trying to coordinate. However, Dauphin isn't even replying as he's being interrogated about Dauphine/Ondine's disappearance. Snow Leopard also hasn't logged in (for obvious reasons). Alpha admits he briefly encountered Burden and feels Ladybug and Cat Noir could use the back-up. Honey Bee's Venom would be the most helpful, but Honey Bee shouldn't transform until her miraculous's powers have surged. Likewise, Chip is also benched. But that does still leave Tsukuyomi, Firefly, Froppy, and Alpha himself.
The A Team has also mostly logged in to their chat server (with Pegasus having been online before), waiting for word from Ladybug and Cat Noir to move. Blue Ox and Minimouse haven't even made their accounts yet, so they're unreachable. But Rena Rouge, Carapace, Bunnyx, Hachiko, and Ryutsume/Ryuko/Kamaitachi are all ready.
And they're not the only miraculous-using team communicating at that moment. Chloe Bourgeois sees the news broadcast of Burden; she realizes her Dissolve technique would work well against the akumatized victim. Chloe waits and waits and waits. She waits for a whole ten seconds! But Madam Gros doesn't contact her. Chloe sends a text to the counselor, half-requesting and half-demanding permission to enter the fight as Queen Scorpion. She wants a go at Ladybug too, and she can't if Burden steals the earrings. Madam Gros replies, fairly confident Burden won't win. She tells Chloe/Queen Scorpion to stand down. She has much larger plans and isn't going to let Chloe's impulsive behavior ruin them. Chloe growls and throws her cell phone onto her bed. This only proves to her, yet again, that she needs some place where she can practice in secret so Madam Gros doesn't take the scorpion hair tie from her.
Adamantus notes that Wayhem is still functioning normally. He has no signs of corruption and no signs of knowing he has an enchanted item. As planned. Adamantus loops the neighborhood to find Rachel Beauchene and Viktor Vasiliev. He notes that both of them are similar to Wayhem. Their skin isn't changing colors, they aren't displaying any superhuman feats, the items are in their possession, and they don't even seem to be aware of it. But the next phase…integrating them into their powers while setting them up to oppose Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Ivory…It'll be much harder. He looks at the choker and bracelet he still has to return and gets about that task.
Back against Burden, Ladybug and Cat Noir have taken to dodging since any blow increases weight. They've maneuvered Burden into a construction zone. All of the blows from her staff are warping the rebar and steel support beams. But she still comes at the golden duo, leaping from pole to wire to beam. She kicks out a piece of tubing as it starts to warp and strikes it multiple times on its way towards Ladybug and Cat Noir, forcing them to scatter. The tubing leaves a crater in the ground when it hits.
Ladybug and Cat Noir regroup back to back. Cat Noir wonders if it's time to call in back-up while Ladybug looks for a use for her Lucky Charm. She tells him ideally she would call in Blue Ox at the moment, but he hasn't joined their chat, so she can't talk with him without running off and leaving Cat Noir alone. Cat Noir suggests Carapace then.
Before Ladybug can affirm his suggestion, Burden lands above them. "Found you!" She swings at Cat Noir's face. He shifts aside, barely missing breaking his nose. But Burden catches his bell. Cat Noir throws it off his neck before it can become a hindrance.
Ladybug dances to the side, feather in hand, and surveys the area. Her "Ladybug Vision" lights up as she notices the bowing structure and the patch of wet concrete and the buckets of paint and Cat Noir, and she tells him she has an idea. Cat Noir says that's what he loves about her and asks what he can do to help. Ladybug tells him she needs a Cataclysm and points to one seemingly insignificant beam.
Cat Noir obliges and disintegrates it just as Burden lands. The entire structure wobbles, and Burden is nearly pitched off of her feet. But the swaying stops, and Burden coldly snarks about him wasting his special ability. That is, until Ladybug throws her feather onto the in-progress building, which is enough to off-balance it and send it toppling beneath Burden.
Ladybug and Cat Noir both fall back, unable to shield themselves with their weapons too heavy to move. It doesn't look as if they're going to get away in time until a swiftly moving blue and black blur snags them away to safety.
Alpha sets them right and basically says "I was in the neighborhood" as he watches the dust settle. That reveals Burden, stuck waist deep in wet concrete, having tried to avoid the collapsing building only to fall into the trap. Cat Noir moves in and relieves her of the akuma at the same time Ladybug catches her feather to do her "Miraculous Ladybug." Giselle Winters-Blanchet, no longer akumatized, reappears at their feet. The skeletal building is restored, as is the houseboat, as is the heroes' weapons. Ladybug then can capture and purify the akuma. She and Alpha and Cat Noir pound it. Alpha then says he has somewhere he has to be and leaves immediately.
Giselle looks around, baffled, wondering where she is. Cat Noir explains she was akumatized, but the incident is over. Giselle is absolutely mortified that something like that happened to her, and she apologizes profusely. Ladybug (recognizing that she is talking to Snow Leopard) tells her not to blame herself. Feeling fear or anger or insecurity is a part of life; it proves we're all human. It's Hawk Moth who deserves all the shame for preying upon the natural emotions humans encounter.
Giselle smiles and nods while repressing her tears; she definitely is stepford smiling. I caused trouble for Cat Noir again! I caused trouble for Cat Noir again! I'm the worst. I'm useless; I'm trouble. I really will never be good enough, no matter what I do.
Hawk Moth, still transformed, senses Giselle's emotions are even darker than when she akumatized her into Burden the first time. "This is perfect." Ladybug and Cat Noir both only have minutes left on their timers, and Hawk Moth has a very broken pawn just waiting to be used. She grasps a second butterfly.
As this is going on, Cat Noir offers to help Giselle home. He does have more time left on his transformation than Ladybug, after all. Giselle insists she'll be fine; she couldn't possibly trouble him more. Cat Noir insists it isn't trouble at all. Giselle repeats it is; she's just inconveniencing him when he could be using his free time for himself.
Before the conversation can continue, a taxi pulls up. The door flies open and Leon Blanchet races out. He sprints to his daughter and wraps her up in a giant hug, nearly in tears himself once he sees she's safe. Giselle is absolutely baffled by this and can only say, "Dad?"
Mr. Blanchet apologizes profusely, insisting that everything that had happened was his fault. He never, ever intended to make her feel worthless. Everything he said…he did want to push her to be better, but not at the cost of who she is now. "You're my daughter, and you're exactly how I want you to be. You're smart and kind and helpful. I am so, so sorry that I never told you as much. I am proud of you and I love you. No matter what. Everything I said…I meant for myself." He shakes his head and pulls her to her feet. "Let's go. Right now. We're taking a vacation."
Giselle is even more flummoxed, "Now?! I haven't even packed! And where are we going?!" Mr. Blanchet says he doesn't know, but they both need time out of this city. He'll call her off of school. They'll buy what they need when they get wherever they're going. But for now…they need to breathe. He pulls her into the still waiting taxi. As the door shuts, he thanks Ladybug and Cat Noir.
Hawk Moth growls in frustration as the depression she sensed from Burden vanishes.
The golden duo also look a bit baffled and overwhelmed by the display as the taxi drives off. Cat Noir admits he's jealous. A father, showing his affection? Oh yes, he's jealous. (It's not like his own father would comfort him after being akumatized. Oh no, it's not like his own father would actually akumatize him or anything…) Ladybug asks him if who she's seeing now is the real him. Cat Noir ponders a moment and then says he is. She turns to leave, but Cat Noir calls her to stop.
"Oh yeah, about your text, milady? I think it's a great idea to gather the team together and practice with them." He and Ladybug leave in different directions.
Elsewhere, Adamantus slips into the shadow of a tree and transforms back into Nicholas Sancoeur. Behind him is Francois Dupont High School. Cameran Tyler joins Guy Nigels on the bus, now wearing a very particular opal bracelet. Jakeel Aristide is practicing his juggling act with Jean Duparc, a certain peridot choker on his neck. Adamantus transforms back into Nicholas and walks the rest of the distance to Gilles Chastain's house. He apologizes for being late; he had to take cover because of the akuma incident. Gilles welcomes him, and he and the other guys break out the snacks and the games.
Meanwhile, Kagami is still waiting at the library for Adrien. She even sends him several texts, but he doesn't reply. The expression on her face is heart-breaking.
To be continued in Chapter 69: Secret Agent Danger...