There will be no Akuma battle in this chapter. However someone is still getting a surprise in this chapter.
As promised, Tikki and Plagg arrived at Master Fu's abode around midnight. Careful not to wake the inhabitants, they entered the box and were transported to their world.
Wayzz was waiting for them. He was looking a lot stronger but still needed to be supported by Swirrly. "I'm glad you two could make it tonight."
"You know my sugar cube. She won't let anything stand in her way when she wants to accomplish something," Plagg smirked.
Tikki gave him a light punch in the shoulder. "This is no time for jokes. Is everyone ready?"
Swirrly answered for him. "Everyone has gathered at the central platform. I hope you can handle the bombardment of questions once the meeting starts."
Arriving at their destination, Tikki took center stage. A hush fell over the Kwamiis as they listened closely.
"I am not aware of your knowledge regarding current human events, but the wielders of Nooroo and Duusu are dying. Monarch is dying because of Plagg's powers. Mayura is dying due to a relapse after pushing herself too hard."
"I know this sounds like fantastic news. While it would mean my "brother" and "sister's" freedom is near, there is also a high possibility of them dying a physical death."
All the Kwamiis gasped upon hearing this. Many remembered Duusu's recent tragic incident, making the possibility of a recurrence all the more distressing.
Plagg spoke next. "I know we don't want this to happen, but Sugar Cube and I aren't 100% sure what will happen if Monarch dies because of my power."
"Destruction is my purview. I don't want my power to take a life. We have never encountered an evil wielder who, despite being close to death, refuses to be healed. The consequences could be far-reaching."
Arron snorted loudly. "Monarch's a dunderhead if he denies himself a cure because of his stupid pride."
"Humility is not a trait everyone possesses, "cousin," remarked Goball from the back.
"Nor is compassion for others either," Bukku added.
"Can we please return to the original discussion," Longg asked.
Everyone quieted down as Tikki, Plagg, and now Wayzz took turns explaining the different scenarios that could happen if Nooroo and Duusu weren't freed soon.
Physical death was the worst case scenario. They had to consider the potential danger of uncontrolled magic, which could turn the city into a crater.
Another possibility that Tikki was worried about was the possible backlash to their kind if her "siblings" did die a physical death surrounded by unstable magic.
All the Kwamiis gasped and started fretting terribly. That's when Flurry whistled loudly. That caused everyone to stop talking.
Flurry smiled and then spoke to the crowd. "I know we are all fearful about the future. I bet Prickker could tell us the precise weight of it. Still, we must look for a solution."
"That's what math is about. Taking variables into account and then arranging them into a formula to solve. Instead of panicking, we need to list all our variables."
"Only then can we come to a solution of what we can do to help our fellow Kwamiis. If we solve the problem, we can prevent the destruction of Paris. We might even find a way to bring Monarch to justice."
"Flurry has a point," Furra acknowledged. "We should also focus on an overall goal. Yes, we want to save Nooroo and Duusu. We need to figure out how we're going to do that."
Holly added that it would be up to Tikki and Plagg to bring them updates so they could adjust the plan accordingly.
The two of them agreed. Knowing how late it was getting the two had to leave. They promised to return in two nights.
The following morning, Tomoe arrived at work early and headed straight to the Robotics and AI lab. Tomoe stormed into Mr. Hara's lab, demanding why the robotic police force wasn't ready yet, leaving him and his team shocked.
"I gave you two extra days to finish the prototype and have it in my office when I arrived. Imagine my surprise to enter my office and find no robot waiting for me."
Mr. Hara looked at his associates. None of them were making a move to speak to their boss. It was frustrating to be the head of a department at times.
"Ms. Tsurugi, as I have mentioned before, there are usually a few delays when it comes to projects such as this one. You specifically requested the new hovering platform developed by your partners in Germany."
"The new platforms are on their way but have been delayed due to shipping issues. Once they arrive, we can test them by seeing how well they handle the weight of your aerial police robot."
"You don't need to test them. I ordered them for that specific purpose. You needn't worry about the weight," Tomoe assured him. She needed those robots ready on time.
The smart clothing line debuts this weekend. When used with the Alliance Ring, it unlocks new features. Including one that was a 24/7 health monitoring feature.
What customers wouldn't know is that when used in connection with the Alliance Ring, she and Gabriel would have complete control over a person's mind and body. Combined with the police drones they would have a sizeable army to force the heroes to surrender.
This is why she was getting impatient. "These delays need to stop. The police have shown they're too inadequate to stop Monarch and Mayura. The task force can't even agree on a single plan."
"I promised President Macron, I would solve the terrorist problem. I intend to keep that promise no matter what. Am I clear, Mr. Hara?"
"Of course, Ms. Tsurugi. I will do my best to get this done as quickly as possible."
Once she left, Mr. Hara started breezing normally. His entire team looked relieved that their boss was gone as well. Ms. Tsurugi used to inspire admiration and respect from all.
That admiration had been slowly going down for the past six months. The woman's professional demeanor made her aloofness expected by her employees.
No, the change was more subtle. Her manner of speaking with employees was rude and dismissive. She was berating them for not meeting absurd deadlines.
Her overall desire to rush new technology instead of properly testing it was also strange. Then there were a few rumors going around about the tenuous bond between her and her daughter.
That seemed impossible to employees who had been part of the company for years. The fact that Kagami chose to live with her father for a year indicated the problem between mother and daughter was serious.
No one was sure what had changed in their boss's life. They all felt it was a change for the worst. Hopefully, things would get better with a little more time.
"Alright everyone, let's get back to work. We need to find a way to make the robot more aerial dynamic without sacrificing too much power for the offensive system."
In her office, Tomoe had asked her receptionist, Ms. Hino, if she had scheduled a meeting between the king and queen of Achu yet.
"I am trying my best, Ms. Tsurugi, but there are several prerequisites that must be completed before I can speak with the head of scheduling. The language barrier is slowing things down somewhat, but I'm confident I'll be able to get through by the end of the week."
Tomoe wrapped the receptionist's desk with her bokken. "You know how I hate delays, Ms. Hino. Please step up your efforts or I might replace you with someone more competent."
"I understand Ms. Tsurugi. I'll redouble my efforts."
"See that you do. I'll be in my office. Don't bother me unless you have arranged that meeting. Am I clear?"
Ms. Hino nodded frantically before remembering her boss was blind. "Yes, madam."
Master Fu had canceled all his clients for the day. He had been doing that at least once a week for the past month. The situation with Monarch was reaching critical and he needed to prepare himself for the final battle.
At the same time, he couldn't keep closing his business. It was the only source of income for the home. He did get some money for meeting the requirements for partial retirement, but it was not enough because he couldn't tell the government how old he was, and he ran his own business by himself.
Marianne received some retirement pay, but it wasn't enough to support them and the Kwamiis. She was looking into getting a small part-time job to help build up their saving.
Magic couldn't solve all their problems. Rare potion ingredients cost a lot of money. Paying service people to install security measures had taken a huge chunk out of their savings.
While Marianne and Fu didn't travel much, they still needed to pay insurance on their car and gas money. Regular bills had to be taken care of. Then there were the fees Fu paid to keep his business licenses up to date.
Ning wished she could do more, but she never had a paycheck. Any cash she needed for her missions was provided to her by her supervisors. What she didn't spend she gave back or put away in her safe for emergency use.
Right now, she was trying to help by experimenting with different potion ingredients. She hoped she could create one that would help alter her father's voice for his meeting with Mayura.
Using the LadyNoir blog fan submission section, Ning created a complicated word puzzle. Most people would be able to solve the easy part of the puzzle. However, Mayura would likely see the hidden message within the first.
She was still waiting for a response to the puzzle which is why she was working on developing a new potion. Even with her being mistress of disguises, she wanted to go the extra mile to keep her father safe.
Since he never had her training to change his voice and accents, she was hoping the potion would change his voice enough that if he and Mayura had ever crossed paths, she wouldn't know his.
Using rose water as a base, she mixed in some honey. She added ten drops of beet juice and then a teaspoon of crushed cornflower petals. The potion was only missing a boosting and binding ingredient.
Looking around the kitchen she assembled a mango and some cinnamon. Peeling the skin of the mango, she let it soak in the mixture. Adding a dash of cinnamon, she waited for an hour to pass.
She removed the skin and poured the concoction into a pot before setting it on the stove. Heat also affected the potion, and she needed the ingredients to get extra hot as she stirred it.
The rose water, beet juice, and cornflower petals infused with each other, creating a light pink and blue liquid. She sniffed it, smiling as she breathed in the mango and cinnamon scent coming off the mixture.
Once the liquid was hot enough, she turned off the stove. She slowly poured the potion into a regular bowl. Ning waited five minutes for the potion to cool before filling the potion bottles.
In the end, she had enough for six vials. Now all she had to do was test the potion. After cleaning up the kitchen, she went to the business area where her parents were having a conversation in hush tones.
She cleared her throat, getting their attention. "I finished my new potion. I thought we could try it together."
Fu looked at the beautiful liquid with a little apprehension. "Are you sure this will change my voice?"
"It should if the ingredients are fused properly. I made it from mostly sweet ingredients, but there should be a hint of bitterness because of the beet juice. The ingredients should have some effect on the voice box."
Each member took one vial. On the count of three, they all drank the potion. The mixture of sweetness with a hint of bitterness was unusual yet it was easy to swallow the mixture.
As it passed through their esophagus, there was a slight burning sensation which rescinded quickly. Ning did a few vocal exercises, humming softly, then loudly, and lastly normally.
Smacking her lips a few times, she decided to speak first. "Well, how does my voice sound?"
"It is certainly different than your regular one. Oh my!" Marianne exclaimed.
Both women's voices were higher pitched than before. Marianne spoke as softly as she could. The lower her voice, the hoarser she sounded. They looked at Fu waiting to hear him speak.
"Please be honest about how I sound, daughter. We can't officially enter the potion into the book until we know the effects work on both males and females."
"Father, you know how some people look androgynist? Your voice sounds both female and male when you talk," Ning replied truthfully.
Her father's voice was a bit higher but also sounded pretty gruff. "Your voice is unrecognizable, Father. I might tweak the recipe in the future, but for now, I think it will work."
Later that day, the class congregated in the courtyard during their free hour. With the brevet nearing, it was time for the students to figure out which Lycées they wanted to apply for.
"So, I want to apply to Francois Bazen, the school Luka's at," Juleka said confidently. "They have a good creative art program, including for music and modeling."
"Didn't you tell me the other day you desired to be a mor... oomph!" Rose was cut off as Juleka slapped her hand over her girlfriend's mouth. She hissed something at Rose before letting her go.
"So, I was thinking of applying to Marcel Thil Lycée," Kim announced. Alya wasn't surprised that the athlete would apply to Nora's school. "I know I'll become an Olympic swimmer if I go there."
Max looked a little glum knowing that he and his best friend would end up in different Lycées. "I am applying for the recently renamed Lori Lamel Lycée. They specialize in computer science."
"I've decided to apply to a trade school," Ivan admitted. Mylene looked at him in stupefaction. She thought he was going to apply to the same lycée as her.
"What kind of trade?" she asked her boyfriend in a meek voice.
"Carpentry. I want to provide for our future, Mylene. Learning a trade will help if we run into financial trouble."
Alix grumbled about her dad. "I've applied to different lycées with great history programs. My dad wants to take me on a work trip to give me a head start, but I want to spend my summer having fun.
"Perhaps, you will be able to convince him that you need to have fun, before starting lycée," Ali chirped. He had spent most of last night going over a list of different lycées with his parents.
They had narrowed it down to three schools that would give him the best opportunity to learn about being a future leader of his country. They were very prestigious schools, but he knew none of his friends would not be able to attend any of them.
"It feels weird to know that we won't all be at the same school next year," Adrien remarked. "I always thought we stay together until university."
"Oh, Adrien. Not everything in life is like your animes," Chloe replied kindly. "I know this is hard for you to comprehend, but most of us have been planning our futures the minute we graduated from école."
The others nodded in agreement. Each of them had met with councilors before leaving école to determine what job would best suit them. Being home schooled had not prepared Adrien for this.
"Hey, we still have a little time left before our final choice is made. Why don't we just enjoy the sunshine for a little while," Marinette suggested.
Inside her purse, Plagg and Tikki were talking about their future. "Tikki, we know what's going to happen when Monarch is defeated."
"We don't have to return right away. Besides, Marinette's other souls sensed there was a new evil approaching."
Plagg clutched Tikki's paw/hands in his. "You know it won't last forever. No matter how many forces of evil they stop, we can't stay with them forever. They need to live their own lives."
Tikki pulled away and muttered, "I don't want to think about it right now. Can we please, drop this for now? "
Plagg nodded and hugged her. Tikki squeezed him tightly as they both tried to forget what their future would be.
Unbeknownst to the Kwamiis, another evil had just arrived in Paris. This one had just gotten off a bus from Berlin. This evil came in the form of a fifteen-year-old girl.
She had a light skin tone, hazel eyes, and messy magenta-dyed hair that was styled in a pixie cut. She wore a moderate purple and brown romper and jacket. Around her neck, she wore a gold and opal festoon necklace designed to look like the Society of Exiles symbol.
She was carrying a backpack and dragging a wheeled luggage bag around the station. She looked around for a few minutes. She pulled out her phone and called someone.
Eventually, she just hung up and left the bus station. She made her way on foot to an older section of Paris. It took her half an hour to reach a slightly crumbling townhouse. The townhouse needed a couple of repairs, ranging from minor to major.
The girl went up to the door and pressed the doorbell. She heard it echoing across the halls inside. A few minutes later, the door was opened by a slightly bald man in a disheveled suit.
"Yes, how can I help you?" he asked hurriedly. The man peered at the teenager through his thick glasses. "If you're selling something know that we don't want any solicitors."
"Stewart, I know it's been ten years, but surely you recognize me?" the teenager questioned in a slightly haughty voice.
"Madame Cersi! I can't believe it's you. Please come inside. I'll let your great-grandfather you've arrived."
Cersi entered the parlor and placed her book bag on the ground. Ten years had passed but the room looked the same. It was nice to know some things never changed.
She looked around the room, admiring the tasteful Asian-styled chairs and settee. A few antique items sat on the shelves above the fireplace. A crystal chandlier illuminated the space. It was her favorite part of the room.
The sound of creaky wheels were approaching the doorway. Cersi turned around and smiled as Stewert pushed her great-grandfather into the room.
Caelum Rhodes was a man in his nineties but looked like he was in his seventies. A man of both Greek and Chinese descent, his features were sharp and his body still retained its physique from years of sports training.
If he wanted to, the old man could still walk. The wheelchair was for convenience. It was also part of his "act" that he put on for society.
The man's brown eyes locked onto his great-granddaughter. They shone glossily with both wisdom and cunning. A slight grin appeared on his face.
"Cersi, your time at Marlene Dietrich Performing Arts boarding school has certainly crafted you into a beautiful young woman," Caelum remarked kindly.
Cersi knew what he was actually implying. "I'm also the most talented actress in my grade according to my scores." She smiled connivingly at him before demonstrating her talent.
Stewart was surprised how easily Cersi slipped into the role of, Adelheid Runeck, from the play, "The Journalist." Just a few moments ago her voice sounded bratty.
Now she spoke with a slight mirth in her voice. She easily glided around the room while pretending she was on the stage. When she finished her monologue, she took a bow.
"Brava, brava, my dear. You are well on your way to stardom," Stewart replied as he clapped.
"Indeed, I'm impressed by her acting. I hope you've also been working hard on your scholastic achievements as well," Caelum stated. "We can converse about that later at dinner."
"Stewart, take Cersi to her room, please. Dinner will be in two hours. I hope you'll use this time wisely."
"Of course, Grandfather Caelum. I'm also eager to learn why you asked me to return home before finals were over."
Cersi paid zero attention to Stewart's ramblings as he led her to her new room. The man was a capable caretaker and tolerable. She could see why her great-grandfather kept him around.
Soon they arrived in a small bedroom filled with grand furniture. A four-poster bed was tucked in the corner. There was also a writing desk and a beautiful vanity.
Cersi opened the wardrobe and was pleased by how big it was. The window had a bench. Peering out, she could see for a few miles. "It's good to be home."
At dinner that night, Cersi wore an expensive designer dress. She wore a laurel crown in her hair that matched her necklace. She was every bit the sophisticated young woman.
Once Stewart finished bringing them dinner, Caelum dismissed him for the night. The manservant asked if his master was sure. The old man promised if he needed help, his great-granddaughter was perfectly capable of doing it.
Once the two of them were sure they were alone, Caelum dropped his jovial mask. "Your skills at deception have improved greatly. I reviewed your scores as well as the teacher reports."
"I applaud you for being at the top of the class. How much manipulation did you have to use to avoid being called a cheater?"
Cersi chuckled, "Not much. I convinced my teachers I couldn't possibly cheat when the people accusing me were on the opposite side of the room. No one has figured out my little trick yet."
"Yes, hidden spy cameras are the best used when no one can see them. How do you avoid getting caught when you need to retrieve them?"
"I mastered that retrieval spell you taught me. I'm getting very adept at casting small spells with my wand," she remarked confidently. She traced the rim of her wine glass with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I've kept up on the news. Monarch is dying and soon he'll be a footnote in history. I'm having a hard time believing any Guardian would intercede on the man's behalf after everything he has done."
"Ah, the Guardians were always a sentimental lot. Good thing there is only one left. We can be certain of that after Monarch's little stunt when he was still Shadowmoth," Caelum stated calmly.
Tapping his fingers together, the old man looked at the teenager square in the eyes. He analyzed Cersi, who lifted her head a fraction, a sign that wasn't going to be left out of his plan. That's what he wanted.
"We are the last two members of the Society of Exiles. The powers of the universe should be at our fingertips instead of those foolish teenagers. Those little gods should be serving us and not the other way around."
He removed a wand from his pocket. It was made from the horn of a Tibetan antelope, aka, the chiru. Near the tip of the wand, a red Tibetanite gem sparkled, the power inside carefully concealed.
Cersi pulled her wand out. It was made from the legbone of a golden jackal and the tip held an Amblygonitegem. The stone was ominous because the name meant cursed.
"We need to step up your training if we're to claim our prize. Once that foolish Monarch is no more, you will claim your birthright."
"I'm looking forward to it."
It was nearly eleven at night as the Gorilla did one last patrol around the mansion. He wanted to keep Adrien safe, even if he was protected from Monarch's malicious attacks.
As he checked the backyard for intruders, he glanced up at Nathalie's room. He could see her outline pacing in front of the window. She was planning to speak to Adrien about her condition this weekend.
She had asked him to be there when she spoke. Despite not speaking often, Nathalie knew his silent presence would help keep Adrien calm. He wished she had said something sooner so the boy wouldn't be distracted during the brevet test.
At least she is planning on telling him. I've seen no indication that Mr. Agreste is ready to confess he's dying. I can't decide if he's attempting to spare Adrien the emotional pain or if he really believes he won't die."
Heading back inside, he planned to stop in the kitchen for a bedtime snack. Before he entered the kitchen, he heard two voices. One, he recognized as his boss. The other was tinier and held an edge of trepidation as they spoke.
"Are you finished eating yet?" Gabriel asked darkly.
"Almost, master. I swear this is the last one. I want to make sure I have enough energy to help protect you during the transformation."
"So do I, Nooroo. That's the only reason I agreed to let you eat fresh yogurt instead of the store bought brand."
The bodyguard was confused. Who was this Nooroo person? Why did he call Gabriel master? Also, why would Gabriel need to feed him fresh yogurt?
Gorilla recalled how a year and a half ago, Gabriel started ordering large cases of yogurt. There was a smaller secondary fridge in the kitchen specifically for storing the food. He had wondered why a fridge would have a padlock on it.
Now that I think about it, I've never seen Mr. Agreste eat the yogurt. I find the discarded packages in the recycle bin. They look like they've been picked clean.
Clearing his head, he crept a tiny step closer and listened attentively.
"Master, have you thought about what would happen to me and Duusu when you and Ms. Nathalie pass away?"
Gabriel scoffed loudly. "As I told you before, Nooroo, I'm not going to die. Plan A and Plan B are nearing completion. I'm positive Plan A will work. Tomoe and I have covered all the angles."
Straining his ears, the Gorilla heard the tiny voice mutter, "I've heard that before." Something about the voice tugged at the Gorilla's heart. The little voice just wanted to be taken seriously.
He inched the door open a crack. His one eye peered into the room. Hovering over the table, was a tiny creature that resembled a mauve-colored butterfly.
Keeping his composure, he carefully closed the door without making a sound.
With stealth no one would believe he would have, he made his way upstairs. He saw that the light was out in Nathalie's room.
He glanced towards Adrien's room, debating if he should take the boy and run. No, it wasn't the right time yet. He needed answers from Nathalie before he took Adrien away.
Entering his room, the Gorilla plopped on his bed uneasily. He was still having trouble comprehending what he had seen.
He didn't know all the details but there was no doubt that Gabriel Agreste was Monarch.
That little creature had to be the source of the Miraculous power. He internally cursed himself for not getting a better look at his boss.
He knew the Miraculous looked like jewelry pieces, but he couldn't recall Gabriel ever wearing jewelry besides his wedding ring.
I don't think his wedding ring is a Miraculous. If it was the truth would have been discovered years ago. His clothes can't be it because he only started wearing all white a few months ago.
He has to be hiding it somewhere on his person. I doubt he would ever let it out of his sight. I just don't understand why he's turning people into monsters and demanding the other Miraculouses.
The answer to part of that question instantly came to mind. Gabriel had too much pride to ask for help. Whatever the man's motivation was, it didn't erase the fact he was attacking the city instead of asking for help.
If his boss was Monarch then Nathalie had to be Mayura. He was very angry thinking about the people she had hurt to demoralize Paris.
Was she acting of her own free will, or was this the result of a twisted favor for Mr. Agreste?
It didn't matter. He would hear Nathalie out and decide if she deserved to be rescued. Adrien was the only innocent involved in this mess.
He needed to start making a plan to leave. He would need to pack for two people. As soon Adrien was out of the city limits, the Gorilla would inform the police about what he knew.
Tonight's revelation had been life changing for the Gorilla. He had never believed his boss could be such a monster. Now he knew better and hoped he could protect Adrien from his father's downfall.