Isekai'd as the new French Miraculous Superhero Team.
Chapter 44: Reverse Cupid vs. Cupid.
(Quantic Universe Earth 19274729568301958374, Paris, France, February 12th, 2016, third person POV...)
In Ms. Bustier's classroom, Marinette was secretly bored because of the lesson Ms. Bustier had the class learn about love in fairytales and other forms of fiction that were appropriate for children in honor of Valentine's Day.
Ms. Bustier secretly sneaks a glance at Marinette, and the redheaded teacher sees that Marinette wasn't happy, but she wasn't showing any emotions either.
If anything, if one were to look closely at Marinette's expressionless face and unblinking eyes, one would say she was trying to emulate Walter Kovacs/Rorschach from Watchmen to convey that she wasn't interested or pleased with the current situation.
Ms. Bustier then moves on as she says before asking, "In most fairytales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess. Can anyone tell me why?"
Rose raises her hand first and Ms. Bustier questions, "Yes, Rose?"
Rose answers slightly cheerfully, "Because only love can conquer hate!"
Ms. Bustier replies, "That's correct, Rose."
Max then starts to say, "Technically speaking, this kind of reasoning is only exhibited in only 87% of all known fairytales and – "
But Ms. Bustier interrupts Max and says, "Thank you, Max, that's enough."
Marinette's expression morphs to a bored but enraged look, and everyone notices because Ms. Bustier was caught looking fearfully at Marinette's expression.
Marinette states before any questions can be asked and before she points out, "In case you didn't know, Ms. Bustier, Max was going to respectfully give us a lecture on fairytale love working in most but not all of the popular fairytale stories in the world in short details. Besides that, I had given Max some lessons over the years all about how to get the points of his debates across without rambling or going into way too much detail. And aside from that, like me, Max doesn't like being interrupted when he's practically trying to put his lessons about getting the point across into practice. Ergo, the more this continues, the more the chances of Max getting annoyed enough to get Akumatized a second time increases a hundred fold."
It was at that moment that everyone, including Max, gave Ms. Bustier ugly looks that had her sweating nervously.
Marinette then asks, "Max, when class is over and if you have the time before the day is over, can you please educate me on how love conquering hate is only apparent in most but not all fairytale stories?"
Everyone looked shocked; nobody except for Chloe, Sabrina, and Kim had ever asked Max such a question related to impromptu education just because someone like Max Kante was as smart as Ms. Mendeleiev and Gabriel Agreste put together in some ways.
Max replies with a slight hesitation, "Uh... s-sure, Marinette."
Deciding to get on with the lesson, Ms. Bustier then notices Adrien writing on a piece of paper and says, "Adrien, I hope what you're writing is related to my lesson."
Adrien replies, "I assure you, it is. And if you want, you can see for yourself."
Ms. Bustier politely takes the paper and sees Adrien having written down all the details of her lesson.
Ms. Bustier then states in a stunned tone, "Well, very good, Adrien!"
Suddenly, the school bell rings.
Ms. Bustier then says, "Now, everyone, please don't forget to finish reading Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault tonight, and Happy Valentine's Day in advance, students!"
Marinette then says to Alya, "You go ahead; I'll meet you outside."
Alya nods before packing up and leaving the classroom.
Adrien then asks, "All right, Marinette, what was that about?"
Marinette replies, "Like I was just saying but you weren't paying attention partially due to you focusing on your writing, Max was raising a logical point about how love conquering hate works in fairytales but not necessarily every single one of them, and he was about to do it in short details, having taken my lessons on getting the points of his logical, mathematical, and scientific explanations across without going into too much details. And besides that, like Max, I hate it when people interrupt me whenever I'm talking or raising a logical point about any subject. If what Ms. Bustier did becomes a common thing, chances are that Max will get so annoyed he'll risk getting Akumatized into either The Gamer again or he'll get Akumatized into a similar villain but with a different name and different powers."
Adrien replies back, "Ah. Okay."
Adrien and Marinette then exit Ms. Bustier's classroom.
Outside Francoise Dupont on that Sunday, on Valentine's Day, Marinette is laughing at a joke Alya made that had Marinette lightly patting her knees, signifying that Alya told a really good joke.
Then, they notice Max and Kim.
Max then states, "All right. Operation: Valentine's Day is commencing. According to my extensive research and my cross-referencing of online shopping websites used by everyone in Paris, this particular jewel (He reveals a heart box behind his back) was ranked number 1 in popularity."
Kim remarks, "Hahahaha, that's perfect, Max! I need to hit a home run with this one in particular. Anyway, love is like baseball, correct? You have to have a strategy or you'll end up striking out. (Alya spots the boys' conversation and gets excited, but Marinette stands firm when Alya tries to pull her to drag her over to the boys.) But if you were to aim correctly, you'll hit the ball out of the ball park. (He opens the box) Score!"
Max remarks slightly sarcastically, "Oh, yes, Kim, lovely metaphor."
Kim replies, "That's the only metaphor I could think of, and I'm not fortunate enough to be as smart as you, Max."
Max replies, "True enough."
Alya then says while grunting with effort, "Jeez, Marinette, for a tall, muscular girl, you sure weigh like an anvil!"
Marinette replies aghast before showing her muscular stature and before pointing out, "I beg your pardon?! I'll have you know that even for my dad, muscle weighs more than fat! And besides, I didn't want to interrupt Max and Kim's discussion!"
Alya gives up and walks over to Kim, looking at the jewel.
Alya remarks, "Ooh, shiny! Is that for little old me?"
Max replies annoyedly, "Negative, Alya. The recipient of this Valentine's Day gift was already chosen before school started and ended. It's – "
Kim grabs Max and interrupts while covering his mouth, "Shh! Keep it on the down-low!"
Alya remarks excitedly, "Scoop! Kim's got a major crush!"
She takes a picture of the jewel with her phone as she inquires, "Who's the fortunate lady?"
Marinette pokes Alya's side, making her shriek a bit.
Marinette states, "In case you didn't know, boys' crushes on girls and vice versa have to stay secret for specific amounts of time until one or both parties are ready to confess, and if either party gets rejected, it's because the other party already has a boyfriend or girlfriend, or because the other party happens to be aromantic."
Kim questions, "What does – ?"
But Marinette interrupts to explain, "It means that the boy or girl someone is crushing on doesn't feel romantical love even without experiencing it firsthand just because of having been educated about the downsides of being in a relationship, or because the person in question had bad experiences with previous romantical relationships, and/or they're simply not interested in romantical relationships whatsoever."
Kim nods in understanding.
Marinette then says to bust the secret, "But in all seriousness, I think you're crushing on my first BFF, Chloe Bourgeois."
Kim, Max, and Alya look shocked.
Marinette points out before explaining that Chloe has been desired by a few teenage boys of her age before the new school year started with Hawk Moth appearing and before saying, "I ain't oblivious like most boys are; I could see the signs that you love Chloe, Kim. In fact, before the current school year started, before Hawk Moth appeared, Chloe has been desired by many teenage boys that were the same age as she was. This sort of thing had been going on before we rendezvoused at Francoise Dupont during our first days in general. But sadly, about an eleventh of the boys crushing on Chloe were emotion-manipulating, social-isolating bullies that disgusted even me to no end in the sense of their behaviors disgusting the both of us. (Alya, Kim, and Max mutter amongst themselves before going quiet) But in all seriousness, Kim, if Chloe lets you down gently, don't take it the wrong way; if Chloe doesn't want to be your Valentine and if she doesn't want to date you, she has excellently logical reasons for it. And I can't exactly force Chloe to date anyone other than you; it's not in human nature to force someone to do or say something they don't want to do or don't want to say."
Kim nods, but Marinette could easily tell that Kim was still gonna be Akumatized into Reverse Cupid in spite of Chloe letting down Kim gently, regardless of whether or not she tells him about Ondine.
Kim then says before high-fiving Max, "Operation: Valentine's Day is now under way!"
Kim jogs in place as Max explains while holding up a map, "Her route is highlighted in yellow right here to match part of her colorful wardrobe, and your route is in red. If you run at ten miles per hour, you'll be able to acquire a 4 ½ minute advancement on her. Stop and wait here facing northwest – the third most romantical spot in Paris. Go, go, go!"
Kim replies, "Thanks, Max!" And he runs off.
Alya remarks, "If Chloe accepts his offer, Kim and Chloe might become an interesting romance in our school's history."
Marinette scoffs, "Kim is simple-minded, like Omega Supreme from Transformers. I'm absolutely positive in that there's a near 100% possibility that Chloe's annoyance would reach ultimate height if she spent her life with Kim in the future educating him about any situation or subject he isn't familiar with."
Max questions, "And what makes you believe that?"
Marinette replies, "Simple; Chloe may have nigh infinite patience with almost anything, but her patience runs out quickly if anyone does their jobs incompetently to the point where she has to handle things herself upon request, or if she has to continuously answer the exact same questions someone asks her again and again like a broken record, or if she has to constantly educate simple-minded people about whatever they're curious about, even if we take out of the equation Kim's simple-mindedness when it comes to blind people, when it comes to people being ace and aromantic in unison, when it comes to the metaphorical true colors of someone he's friends and/or just classmates with, when it comes to how the real world works, when it comes to the importance of children attending school, and when it comes to the reasons why science and religion are similarly different to each other in terms of the fact that God's supernatural powers not only revolve around the supernatural, but also around science manipulation."
Max and Alya look at each other before Alya queries, "Your family is religious?"
Marinette answers, "Devoutly so, thanks to me."
They notice Adrien entering his bodyguard's car and he says to Placide, "Let's go."
The door shuts and Placide drives away.
But then, Marinette notices Aurore Beaureal, Mireille Caquet, and about 3 other girls staring dreamily at a poster of Adrien.
The girls remark in unison, "He's so cute!" "He's so cute!" "He's so cute!" "He's so cute!" "He's so cute!"
Marinette growls while imitating the Johnny Blaze iteration of the Ghost Rider, attracting the girls' attention.
Marinette states crisply, "Adrien's mine. And even if his father doesn't approve, I called dibs. Don't believe me? Then look at this."
Marinette shows the girls a photo of her and Adrien kissing at Dim Sum Delight during a dinner date some time after New Year's.
Aurore states sadly, "It's true; they're so in love with each other."
But Marinette says assuringly, "BUT I can personally say based on my experiences that there's other fish in the sea, and if you don't know what that means, it means that on the girls' side of the spectrum, there's plenty of other boys out there for you to date. And true, none of the other boys in Paris or all over the world can hold a candle to Adrien, but you don't always need a luxurious lifestyle to be happy. And I quote Jesus The Messiah in the Book of Matthew 19:24, Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
The five girls look at each other before departing with saddened looks on their faces.
Marinette sighs as she says to Tikki and Alya, "Truly, it's gonna take a much bigger wake up call for some people among 7 billion human beings across the world to realize that not everyone actually needs to have a dream life of wealth to be happy or to be having a family of their own."
In Marinette's bedroom, Marinette is meditating as she attempts to feel her Miraculous core with the Peacock Miraculous.
She knows she has to be careful of the defective portions of the Peacock Miraculous' magic from the damaged Miraculous jewel.
After 2 and a fourth minutes, Marinette's inner Miraculous core was completed. She now had access to the powers of the Chinese Zodiac Miraculouses in the entire Miracle Box, in addition to the powers of the Black Cat, Fox, Bee, Turtle, and Butterfly Miraculouses, and she also had access to the powers of the Thunderbird, Eagle, Bear, Wolf, Beaver, Falcon, Salmon, Buffalo, Woodpecker, Otter, Deer, Raven, Owl, Goose, Lion, Fish, Cougar, Chameleon, Cheetah, Christmas Anemone, Dove, Electric, Hawk, Frog, Hummingbird, Koala Bear, White Cat, Shine Butterfly, Shark, Red Panda, Phoenix, Rhino, Crow, Scorpion, Mantis, Salamander, Bat, Octopus, Penguin, Spider, Robin, Beetle, Dolphin, Snail, Tapir, Ocelot, Songbird, Python, Grizzly Bear, Panther, Stag Beetle, Swan, Vulture, Coyote, Red Fox, Sparrow, Tortoise, Ram, Leopard, Crane, Jackal, Crocodile, Alligator, Gazelle, Greyhound Dog, Pharaoh Hound, Puma, Hippo, Bull, Apis Bull, Badger, Honey Badger, Cobra Snake, Hyena, Martial Eagle, Zebra, Ape, Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Komodo Dragon, Lizard, European Dragon, Unicorn, Pegasus, Hellhound, Mermaid, Siren, Harpy, Arachne, Satyr, Sphinx, Hippocampus, White Stag, Camazotz, Minotaur, Werewolf, Blue Tiger, Wyvern, Gorgon, Griffin, Gargoyle, Kitsune, Roadrunner, Dung Beetle, Flower, Star Nosed Mole, Donkey, Calico Cat, Orange Cat, Kangaroo, Rattlesnake, Sheep, Panda, Moth, Platypus, Elephant, Firefly, Raccoon, Mouflon, Ant, Snow Leopard, Seal, Vampire Bat, Yeti, Dragonfly, Aurochs, Grim, Gecko, Elk, Pterosaur, Bison, Chipmunk, Qilin, Kirin, Caiman, Aardvark, Guinea Pig, Flycatcher, Addax, Civet, Bullfrog, Parrot, Jacana, Toad, Rat, Agouti, Albatross, Malamute, and other Miraculouses.
Tikki remarks, "Congratulations, Marinette! You did it!"
Marinette replies, "You sound surprised."
Tikki explains, "It's because I had faith it was going to work, and I'm proud of you."
Tikki then transforms into a human form in a flash of light, much to Marinette's stoic amazement, as despite having seen her human form during the Kung Food incident, she still can't believe her wishing for kwamis to have human forms still worked.
In her human form, Tikki was a beautiful young woman with burgundy red flowing hair like Marinette's, but shorter. Tikki's blue eyes are much more pronounced, like if she has acute eyesight. She has dark crimson lipstick on her lips, red nail polish on her fingernails with small black and green spots, and she's wearing a red Valentine's Day dress with leggings for the weather and black and green dress shoes on her feet.
Marinette remarks, "I still can't believe it, yet I knew it would work."
Marinette and Tikki hug each other.
Suddenly, an actual ladybug flies into Marinette's room and lands on her computer desk.
Marinette commands authoritively, "Shoo."
The ladybug flies out of Marinette's room quick-like.
In Adrien's bedroom, Plagg states, "So, you two plan on doing something special for Valentine's Day?"
Adrien answers, "Yep, we sure do plan on it. But the problem is making sure that nobody recognizes me and making sure that my father doesn't find out about it, even with me using my clones."
Plagg replies back, "Well, based on my millennia of experience, I happen to have an idea, something Marinette gave me the power needed to pull it off."
Adrien replies back again, "I'm all ears."
Plagg explains his plan, which involves Adrien using his shapeshifting ability to disguise himself as an ordinary French boy 11 inches taller than Adrien Agreste with a different hair color, a different length of hair, a different hairstyle, a different eye color, a different set of clothes, and a different pretty much everything. Kind of like the Zeta robot from Batman Beyond improvising on his disguises at the end of his debut, and kind of like Mystique shapeshifting herself to resemble all sorts of human beings regardless of height, weight, hair color, hair length, hair style, eye color, eye shape, facial shape, muscle mass, fat mass, skin color, voice pitch, voice tone, voice sound, voice accent, and even regardless of whether or not the person she looks like is wearing glasses or clothes.
Adrien states before pointing out, "I like that plan. But what if someone notices anything else about me in terms of my posture, gestures, and so forth?"
Plagg answers, "Well, I have the ability to transfer into your memory different kinds of postures, gestures, and other kinds of things that will make people think that just because someone looks like Adrien Agreste by 5% doesn't mean that they are him."
Adrien sighs in relief.
(Pont des Arts, Chloe's POV...)
Even though today was Valentine's Day, today was also one of the few rare Sundays where Sabrina wasn't accompanying me someplace.
I was on my usual Sunday walk through the city, enjoying the fresh air and the warm temperatures that came after Christmas, after the Hawk Saber incident, after New Year's Day, and after Chinese New Year.
At the present time, I was talking with Geraldine about the work experience field trip organized for Ms. Mabee's class only taking place at the Grand Paris Hotel when I ran into Kim.
Apparently, he was waiting for me here on the Pont des Arts bridge, one of the places on my Sunday walking routine.
He looked partially out of breath and nervous as he leant on the bridge railing.
However, what caught my attention was that heart-shaped hand-sized box he was holding.
I then said, "Hey, Geraldine? Yeah, I have to put you on hold for a bit. No, no, nothing serious, I assure you. No, it's just a classmate waiting for my attention. Hold on, please."
I put the call on hold and Kim came up and stood in front of me, looking extremely nervous.
I questioned as I tilted my head, "Kim, is something wrong?"
As someone who lived a somewhat good life before, I don't feel comfortable with dating a boy who could be older or younger than me, and I don't like the idea of dating anyone much older than teenagers, like say, a man in his 20s or 30s. Bleugh! No, thank you.
Kim states with hesitation, "I... I..."
I said assuringly, "Yes, take your time. Gather your thoughts."
Kim mustered up his courage and knelt on one knee, not seeing the puddle of water from a rain storm we had a few days ago, and the puddle of water apparently didn't dry up enough.
Kim opens the box and shows me the brooch inside as he asks me, "Will you be my Valentine?"
Oh, great. I have to let Kim down gently, or risk him getting Akumatized into Dark Cupid.
And regardless of whether he becomes Dark Cupid or Reverse Cupid, we're screwed either way.
A bicyclist rode past us, splashing slightly dirty water onto Kim, and an old potato crisp bag flew and landed on Kim's face.
I could tell Kim was having a crummy Valentine's Day. Not that I could blame him.
I said, "Kim, stand up." And I helped him out of the puddle and I took the bag off his face before giving him a spare towel to dry himself with.
I then said, "Kim, you're an amazing person, don't get me wrong, but I can't accept this. I know someone who loves you, and it's against even French Girl Code to date someone else's crush unless you also love them romantically. I only see you as a friend, a comrade. I'm truly, truly sorry, Kim, but that's the way things are."
Ondine likes Kim, and even without my reservations against dating someone younger or older than me, I ain't gonna interfere and potentially risk either Ondine getting Akumatized into Syren many episodes early or potentially risk Ondine getting Akumatized into someone else.
Kim questions me, "Who...?"
I answered, "Ondine Gilliéron of the Francoise Dupont Girls Swimming Team."
Kim looks shocked before moaning in sadness.
I mentally grumbled in annoyance. Boys are so needy, so somewhat bratty like some girls, and boys are often as emotional as girls whenever they don't get what they want. Hawk Moth or no Hawk Moth.
I threw the potato crisp bag in one of the few garbage cans on the bridge and continued walking.
I then said into my phone, "Hello? Geraldine? Yes, the matter was resolved. Now, where did we leave off?"
There was a lot to do for the work experience field trip.
Among the details we need to finalize includes making sure that it's a slow day, making sure that all important guests weren't already checked in as that can complicate things, and making sure that the day of the field trip isn't a religious day for any cultures in the world.
Thankfully, the day was still weeks to months away.
(Third person POV...)
In Hawk Moth's lair, the window opens and Hawk Moth remarks, "Ah, Valentine's Day. The day of love and the day of idiots. So many delusions, and so much disappointment in the wings. My evil Akumas, you're going to have quite the field day today."
He makes an Akuma.
Hawk Moth says while sending the Akuma off, "Fly away, my little Akuma, and evilize him!"
The Akuma flies to the Pont des Arts bridge and merges with the brooch.
Hawk Moth states, "Reverse Cupid, I am Hawk Moth. I can give you the power to shoot your arrows, unite new couples and break up old ones. But there is something that you must do for me in exchange."
Kim/Reverse Cupid replies, "No signs of love or friendship will escape my notice or disappointment or approval. No one will reject their crush-by-ons again!"
Kim is turned into Reverse Cupid by the Akuma, and he basically looks like Dark Cupid, if Dark Cupid had additional white and green parts as opposites to black and red.
Reverse Cupid's wings spread and he takes flight.
He shoots arrows at lovers whose lips turn black once they've been hit by the arrows, and they start hating each other, and at the same time, his arrows force people who are best friends in terms of one man and one woman in the interactions to become couples.
Reverse Cupid cackles, but this doesn't go unnoticed by Screechclaw, whose ability to fly silently like an actual owl combined with her invisibility has allowed her to do surveillance undetected.
In Hawk Moth's lair, Hawk Moth cackles before remarking and before cackling again, "Hahahahahaha! It won't be long before the French Miraculous Superhero Team shows up to meet their doom!"
Meanwhile, in the Dupain-Cheng bakery, Marinette comes downstairs from the apartment and meets up with Alya.
Tom questions, "Candy apples, girls?"
Marinette replies, "Not for me, Papa; I'm on a diet that I gotta keep."
Tom shrugs before giving the candy apple to Alya.
Marinette adds, "But thanks for the thought, Dad; it's just, even on holidays like Valentine's Day, I don't like junk food. And that includes candy apples."
Tom nods before hugging Marinette.
And for Marinette, it was easy to hug her father because she was as tall as he was, and because she was as muscular as Gabriel Agreste, if his muscular stature was more pronounced as Shadow Noir in the Ephemeral timeline.
In the Place des Vosges, Alya is eating her candy apple while Marinette is eating an actual apple and an arugula BLT sandwich.
After swallowing her bite of the candy apple, Alya remarks, "You're on a strict nutritional diet, girl?"
Marinette answers with her mouth empty of food, "Yes, and a strict exercise schedule I adhere to on a daily basis in the mornings before school and in the afternoons after school. You see, ever since the American documentary film Super Size Me was released in movie theaters, I realized the potential harm that eating fast food even in moderation can do, along with being lazy. So, being the smart girl that I am, I asked Mom and Dad to put me on a strict nutritional diet and exercise regiment when I come of age. And of course, with great reluctance, I was forced to see the various kinds of consequences that come with eating specific or all different kinds of junk food for every meal of every day. And trust me, the things that the people in the collective videos on the subject had went through were horrible, especially including the process of them losing specific body parts or having to undergo weight loss surgeries that result in their stomachs being surgically reduced to the size of a small apple are all irreversible."
Alya widens her eyes in shock and horror at the whole explanation.
Marinette finishes her sandwich and goes to finish her apple.
Suddenly, Marinette looks up and questions, "What is that?!"
Alya looks up, and they both see Reverse Cupid.
Reverse Cupid sees the half-eaten candy apple Alya is holding.
Reverse Cupid snarls, "You shall be my next test subject!"
Reverse Cupid fires an arrow at Alya, but Marinette blocks it with a trash can lid as a shield.
Marinette then throws it like Captain America throwing his shield, and Reverse Cupid is sent flying into the nearest building far from the park.
Marinette then says, "Alya, get to safety and launch your drone; I have a feeling this is gonna be a tough fight!"
Alya nods and the twosome split up, with Marinette sneaking into her bedroom.
Marinette then says, "Tikki, spots on!"
Marinette becomes Ladybug and she pings Purple Streak, who notifies her through text that her new Tenshi champion, Cupid, is on his way and he's reversing the damage Reverse Cupid inflicted on couples all across the city.
Ladybug takes flight outside and follows Reverse Cupid after spotting him.
Reverse Cupid then looks back and notices Ladybug flying after him – literally – and he starts shooting arrows at her, but she slices the arrows to pieces with her claws.
(Grand Paris Hotel, Chloe's POV...)
I can't help but think that the universe actually decided that my good fortune was depleted for dealing with bullies, incompetent school employees, and Sabrina's stunted confidence issues before the show started.
My life before this entire war between superheroes and supervillains here in the City of Love was normal and easy somewhat.
But now? Now, I'm extremely annoyed. Right now, I'm watching an Akumatized Kim looking exactly like Dark Cupid shoot people with arrows like some deranged iteration of Cupid from the live stream on the French Miraculous Superhero Blog in my Akuma Bunker and on my security system that Sabrina didn't know about for good reason in preparation for the Antibug episode prologue where Sabrina was Akumatized into Vanisher.
At first, Sabrina and I were in my room at the Grand Paris, finishing on our homework and helping ourselves choose what job exercises we could hand out to our classmates during the work experience field trip.
We had to give them job exercises that aren't foremost enough that there wouldn't be irreversible damage if they screwed anything up and so that the hotel's reputation would remain intact, but also foremost enough that our classmates wouldn't feel like they're inadequate.
This was a scale balancing act which we have practiced into perfection.
Unfortunately, we were so rudely interrupted by the Akuma Alert App sounding its alarm.
Now, don't get me wrong, it was as excellent and proficient of an idea for everyone in the city these days, but sometimes it goes off one too many times to the point where some of us with no photographic memory gets side tracked and we tend to forget what we were doing or what kind of homework we were doing before the alarm sounded.
I made a mental note to ask Ladybug to knee Hawk Moth extra hard in the b's.
Anyway, Sabrina took out her phone and started streaming the footage from the French Miraculous Superhero Blog to find out what was going on.
We ain't streaming it on the TV just in case the Akumatized victim with a vendetta against either of us were to attack the hotel in search of us or my superhero comrades and if it's too late to run into the Akuma Bunker.
Sabrina questions me in confusion, "Is that Kim?"
Apparently so, and he was calling himself Reverse Cupid instead of Dark Cupid.
Yeah, I was right; we're screwed either way.
But on the other hand, my room now had tinted windows my Dad installed after the Lady Wifi incident for the sake of protecting us from Akumas, and Reverse Cupid had yet to find me, if at all.
But of course, seeing as how Reverse Cupid is making people break up and start hating each other and other people getting together and starting to love each other, well, let's just say I'm very (bleep!) off that Kim somewhat willingly got Akumatized just because I gently rejected his love for me, which is really more of a bad joke. Especially the way he hurt people by trying to be funny without even realizing it, and especially the way he toyed with Marinette's feelings in canon before the show started and almost killed her.
I answered Sabrina's question, "Unfortunately, it appears that my hunch was right."
Sabrina questions me again, "Did you reject him that harshly?"
I answered as I pointed out, "Actually, no. If I did, he would've been calling himself Dark Cupid and instead of what he's doing now, he'd have ended up making all couples and friends hate each other, no exceptions. Besides, I remember correctly that I was very polite in turning down Kim's feelings, but you know how boys of Kim's type are and you know how some girls are in similar categories."
Sabrina looked outraged as she says, "(Tsking) I can't believe that Hawk Moth is taking full advantage of something like this again! Wasn't Ivan, Solène Chevotet, Jackalin Bélanger, Aurore, Mr. Ramier, Theo Barbot, Jalil Kubdel, Alya, Nino, my dad, Mylene, her dad, Nathanael, Vincent Aza, Rose, Jagged Stone, the fake Santa Claus, that Lieutenant Colonel, that criminal's second-in-command, Mr. D'Argencourt, Mr. Cesaire, Max, Cheng Sifu, Manon Chamack, me, Simon Grimault, and that so called Wolf Beast enough?"
I answered while being vague with the extra details, "As long as practically anybody feels negative emotions in the city, as long as the Akuma butterflies don't get too far away from Hawk Moth's lair by at least one hundred and fifty miles, and as long as Hawk Moth wants the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculouses to revive his wife, there's never going to be a limit to how many people he Akumatizes to carry out his thieving mission for him. Besides, he's not just a villain; he's a terrorist, and terrorists along with ultimate villains like Brainiac and Darkseid generally don't care about the consequences of their actions and they don't show any form of regret."
I gathered up all of our work as I continued saying, "Since Kim is likely after me, we're gonna have to stay in the Akuma Bunker until the French Miraculous Superhero Team returns him to normal and lectures him on the consequences of his actions as gently as possible."
Sabrina and myself quickly entered my walk-in closet and I activated the secret compartment that takes us down to the bunker my Dad had installed with great precision after the Lady Wifi incident.
It was just like all the other bunkers in the city: strong titanium, tungsten, and triple-reinforced steel walls, devoid of technology just in case Hawk Moth Akumatizes a villain with technology-based superpowers other than Robustus, full of non-perishable and semi-perishable amounts of food that can last us for up to 3 months, and it had a button that would completely deactivate the Wi-fi connection if you pressed it. I, of course, advocated for that in particular just in case Hawk Moth decides to Akumatize Lady Wifi again but without giving her the upgrade she got in the Felix episode.
And the food in here gets taken out to be utilized in the kitchens of the hotel and they get replaced every week or so, and because of this, we didn't need to worry about any of the food being past the best by or expiration dates.
We gathered around Sabrina's phone to watch the whole thing happening, and then, Alya's drone stopped streaming, and I had a feeling I knew why.
Sabrina inquires, "Do you think Alya will be able to buy a new one?"
I countered, "Even without Ladybug's Miraculous Ladybug cure, at the current rate of Alya's allowance from babysitting and other kinds of things? Yeah, I don't think so."
Sabrina states, "Hhhaaa. What have our lives just become, Chloe? Us thinking that being mind controlled is better than being murdered even if Ladybug's powers can undo the process of us dying? Even if it was so, we should have to be glad that this is even happening in this century where things like the Miraculouses, the kwamis, and the Order of the Guardians are uncommon and yet the world leaders want to make an alliance with what's left of the Order."
I answered as I took out a bag of dried fruit and a bag of sliced vegetables, "If I'm being honest, Sabrina, I haven't a clue, even in spite of my gifted intellect that could make Albert Einstein cry in joy... but what I do know for the time being is that with Ladybug and the team having their current numbers both active, inactive, considered, and already recruited for shadow fighting work, it won't be too long before things go back to normal."
Sabrina grabbed a few fruits and vegetables as well as she replies back, "I also can't wait until Hawk Moth is stripped of his powers, his resources, and whatever else he has before he gets sent to prison. He's messing up all of our schedules, our daily routines, our school days, etc."
Sabrina and I sent our condolences to our heroes and the people affected by the Akuma attacks so far while we ate our food watching the footage from other cameras as we waited in the bunker while working wholeheartedly on the paperwork we were doing before we received the alert from the app.
Even I held out hope that the situation with Reverse Cupid would be dealt with and we would be safe enough to resume our somewhat normal every day lives.
(Third person POV...)
Outside the Grand Paris Hotel, a security guard says to two people holding up a box containing extra kitchen and bathroom supplies, "Yes, Mayor Bourgeois offered to pay his portion of the bill, and his daughter offered to pay her portion of the bill too."
The security guard offers the two people the paper euros and the guard's team helps to carry the supplies inside.
Reverse Cupid sees what appears to be Chloe exiting the hotel kind of like a gangster exiting a robbed building while on the lookout for police officers.
Reverse Cupid fires an arrow at Chloe, only for Chloe to vanish, revealing her to be an illusion.
Reverse Cupid growls as he searches for the real Chloe, but then, sensing that some people were behind him, he turns around to see Ladybug and the entire French Miraculous Superhero Team hovering behind him in the air.
And Ladybug was holding what appeared to be some kind of orange, white, and black flute in the same style as Volpina's flute and Rena Rouge's flute put together, but slightly longer.
Reverse Cupid snarls, "Ladybug!"
Ladybug replies, "Surrender immediately, or else we'll have to beat you to death!"
Reverse Cupid remarks, "Ooh, you got me quaking in my boots! Your threat means nothing; superheroes don't threaten their enemies with violence or death!"
Ladybug replies back, "Maybe you haven't noticed... (She pulls out a minigun) but I ain't a true superhero."
She unleashes a volley of bullets at Reverse Cupid riddling him with bullet holes before he takes flight.
Reverse Cupid snarls, "This makes no difference; I will find Chloe, and by the time I do, she'll be mine!"
Ladybug snarls, "Wrong as usual!"
Suddenly, everyone hears large whooshing sounds coming from above, and they see a giant European-style dragon bearing down on Reverse Cupid!
Everyone on ground level, as well as Hawk Moth, Chloe, Sabrina, and Ondine questioned, "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!" "A DRAGON?!"
Ladybug remarks, "Azure Dragon never disappoints."
Azure Dragon roars loudly, scaring Reverse Cupid to the point of fainting in mid-air.
Ladybug remarks, "Well, that was easy."
Roadkill breaks the brooch and Ladybug purifies the Akuma before unleashing her Miraculous Ladybug cure, completely reversing the damage done.
Cat Noir then shows up and bemoans, "Aw, man, I was hoping I'd get here in time."
Ladybug replies, "Don't worry; you're closer to the next one."
Kim groans as he regains consciousness just as Azure Dragon flies off into the distance, using the smokescreen created by the clouds to conceal himself as he transforms back to his human form.
As Kim continues regaining consciousness, Screechclaw gently lets him down on the ground at ground level.
Just as Kim was gonna start looking around, Ladybug says icily while hanging upside down from her yoyo on a roof gutter like Spider-Man, "Kim Chien Le. We need to talk."
Kim shivers at Ladybug's tone.
In Hawk Moth's lair, Hawk Moth snarls, "RRRR! Blasted French Miraculous Superhero Team! Blasted Valentine's Day! If they hadn't recruited that dragon, Reverse Cupid would've turned the team against each other!"
Nathalie points out, "And how exactly is Reverse Cupid supposed to turn the team against each other if Reverse Cupid can't turn any form of love or friendship into hatred?"
Hawk Moth grumbles as his window closes, "Nooroo, Dark Wings Fall."
Hawk Moth transforms into Gabriel Agreste and follows Nathalie into the elevator.
Meanwhile, Kim walks away in shame and fear after the lecture Ladybug gave him and after she warned him that the next time this happens, if it ever does, she'd hang him over a tank of alligators and put a film of it on the internet after having him stand trial for potentially willingly getting himself Akumatized.
Cat Noir then remarks as he looks at Ladybug still hanging upside down, "You gonna turn into Spider-Man now, milady?"
Ladybug replies, "Ha! Not quite, but on the other hand..."
She grabs Cat Noir's face and she kisses him on the lips, making everyone gasp as Cat Noir returns the kiss.
Everyone watching cheers and take pictures or they record the whole thing.
Even Alya's restored drone films the whole thing, and Alya remarks on a double-screen in the live stream, "Looks like Ladybug and Cat Noir's romance is taking off for Valentine's Day, peeps! This is Alya Cesaire from Paris, signing off and wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!"
In no time, at La Table de Colette Restaurant, Marinette and Adrien with Adrien in his first flawless disguise had a nice Valentine's Day dinner and they kissed passionately while wishing each other a Happy Valentine's Day.
The End.
(Bonus scene: Adrien finds out the hard way how much even Mikaela Haselwood as Marinette Dupain-Cheng hates romantic comedy films, horror films, and thriller films. Including among others Santa's Slay.)
Marinette was fuming as Adrien happily picked out the 2015 romantic comedy Mr. Right.
Adrien questions, "How about Mr. Right?"
Marinette scowls as she activates her heat vision and disintegrates the DVD.
Adrien gawks before going to pick out another movie.
Then he asks while holding up a DVD of the 2005 horror film Santa's Slay, "How about Santa's Slay?"
Marinette wordlessly snaps her fingers and the DVD turns into ashes and dust.
Adrien gawks before saying, "You gotta stop doing that! Those DVDs cost money!"
Marinette snarls, "I don't give a f(bleep!) I hate romantic comedy movies, horror movies, and thriller movies to an extreme!"
Marinette then slaps Adrien hard across the face before pushing him out the door as she says, "Come back again when you've learned how to respect my wishes about what I like to do, what I hate doing, what I like to watch, and what I hate watching! Oh, and if you so much as try to come back to my parents' bakery to get me to change my mind, I'll have Master Fu take away your Miraculous and your Miraculous-related memories and your memories of the identities of everyone on our team, including mine."
Marinette shoves Adrien out the door and slams it, marching back upstairs to her room to clean up the mess she made.
(Author's notes: In the next chapter, the heroes of Paris meet and run into Lila Rossi, also known as Cerise, Iris Verdi, Volpina, Chameleon, Hoaxer, and Hawk Moth II. But how long will it be before Marinette unleashes her rage on Volpina during their first fight?
There's only one way to find out. See you all in chapter 45: Volpina vs. Clairvoyance.)
