"Good morning, everyone!" Angel said as her audience entered the auditorium, took some food and drinks from the food buffet, and sat in their seats. "Let's finally watch the second half of this final season." The audience nodded in agreement, but then noticed that in the armchairs of all their seats, there were large tissue boxes.
"How come we all have tissue boxes?" Mylene asked curiously as well as the audience.
"Because things are gonna get more intense and emotional that I doubt all of you can make it through without tearing up," Angel explained, which worried her audience a little. "As well as being more intense and emotional, you all are gonna find out about certain things and certain people that you all will never see coming."
"Is the ending at least happy?!" Rose asked with a face full of hope as well as the rest of the audience.
"It's mostly happy, but I think the better word for it is bittersweet," Angel vaguely answered, which worried her audience a bit more. "Anyway, the first episode we're gonna start with today is called Derision which refers to the Monkey Miraculous. Kim, you're akumatized into a new version of Dark Cupid called Dark Humor. OK, let's start!" Angel announced as she played the episode while both Kim and Xuppu looked at each other with concern.
Scene: Interior, the Dupain-Cheng's Residence. In her room, Marinette is in her bed, sleeping. Her phone beside her vibrates shortly after. Seeing that Adrien is calling, Marinette immediately picks up.
Marinette: Adrien?
Adrien: (on the phone) Good morning, Marinette! I was just going to tell you how excited I am that we're meeting at the swimming pool later, and to wake you up just in case you were still sleeping.
Marinette: (heartily laughs) Good call! I'm super excited, too. (As she ended the call, she suddenly lost hold of her phone, dropping it on her bed. Her hands start shaking, her heart beating faster upon the vision of a school locker door.)
"You ok there, girl?" Alya asked her best friend regarding her strange behavior on-screen in which everyone else murmured in concern towards Marinette as well.
"I-I don't know," Marinette answered, just as confused as everyone else about her strange behavior on-screen.
Tikki: Everything okay, Marinette...?
Marinette: Y-Yeah! I'm just feeling a little lightheaded, Tikki. I'll feel better after I grab some breakfast. (In the kitchen, Marinette timidly mixes the cereal in her bowl.)
Sabine: Aren't you going to eat, sweetie?
Marinette: My stomach feels kinda yucky.
Sabine: On the morning you happen to finally have a real date with Adrien?
Marinette: Mom...! (continues to feebly mix the cereal on her bowl)
Sabine: It's not surprising. I'm sure those butterflies are just like the ones I had on my very first date with your father. (As Sabine continues to talk to Marinette, Marinette begins to have visions of that one school locker once again and unconsciously spilling milk on the table.)
"OK, what is with me?! Why am I acting like this?!" Marinette asked, now very desperate to know about her continuing strange behavior on-screen.
"All I can say right now is that the fact that you have a date with Adrien at the swimming pool is triggering a traumatic flashback for you," Angel answered, in which everyone else gave looks of confusion and curiosity.
"What happened that would make you act like this?" Alya asked on behalf of everyone else in the audience.
"I-I don't remember," Marinette answered, trying really hard to remember what happened that made her act the way she is on-screen while Angel replayed the episode.
Marinette: Oh! Sorry, sorry, sorry! (puts the spoon in her bowl) I don't know what's wrong with me today.
Sabine: Let me take care of it. (starts wiping the table with a sponge) Go to the swimming pool and meet your Adrien.
Marinette: (gives Sabine a kiss) Thanks, Mom.
Scene: Exterior, at the swimming pool. Adrien is seen standing by the door, waiting for Marinette. And just in time, Marinette arrives on her scooter.
Marinette: Good morning!
Adrien: Good morning! (He reaches out his hand to Marinette, in which she takes it with a slight hesitation. The two of them enter the swimming pool together, hand in hand. They stop by the reception.) Good morning, ma'am! How do we get in?
Receptionist: You have to buy tickets, young man.
Adrien: Then, two tickets, please. (Glancing at a shelf nearby, Marinette sees a picture of Kim and Ondine, which causes her to have visions of the school locker again and lets go of Adrien's hand in panic.) You're shaking. Are you sure you're alright?
Marinette: I-I'm okay— I'm fine! I love the swimming pool! (She hastily takes the two bracelets on the counter. The two proceed to the dressing room, with worry drawn on Adrien's face. As Marinette enters a cubicle, she puts down her bag, unzipping it, and the vision of the school locker haunts her once again, causing her to hyperventilate, slowly going down on her knees.)
Adrien: (knocking on Marinette's cubicle) Marinette, everything okay?
Marinette: Yeah, I just have a problem with my shoelaces. Go ahead, I'll meet you there. (Adrien walks away from her cubicle, while Marinette breaks down inside, taking heavy breaths.)
Tikki: Marinette, what's going on with you?
"Yeah, girl. You're suffering a panic attack! Much more intense than usual!" Alya said, now really concerned as well as everyone else for her best friend's state of mind on-screen.
Marinette: (breathes heavily) I don't know. I feel strange… (By the stairs, Marinette is now seen wearing her swimsuit and climbs down shakily with both hands holding the rails. Adrien, Kim and Ondine see her.)
Kim: (waves by the pool) Over here! Marinette! (Marinette starts to panic even worse upon the sight of Kim, with visions of the school locker continuing to haunt her again.)
Adrien: (to Marinette, as he climbs down the pool) Need a hand? (Reaching her hand out to Adrien, the school locker that's been haunting her opens which appears to be full of a swarm of bugs. Marinette screams at this sight and runs away in panic and fear.) Marinette! What's wrong?
"UH-OH!" Marinette then exclaimed in which the audience jumped up in surprise, then the blue-haired girl is now having a panic attack just as she was on-screen, concerning everyone else. "Now I remember! I blocked that out until now! Kim! Chloe! Last year! Swimming pool!"
"Marinette, calm down! You're rambling!" Adrien said as he held his girlfriend to calm her down until she finally did. "What are you talking about?"
"One of the most humiliating things that ever happened to me!" Marinette said as she started to get worked up again, but then calmed down once Adrien held her again.
"You'll see what she's talking about," Angel said as she pointed to the screen, so the audience gave the screen their full attention, curious to know what Marinette's talking about.
Marinette: Leave me alone! I need to be by myself and... stop pretending to be so nice to me! (runs up the stairs)
Kim: (laughs and swims towards the edge of the pool) Woah, Adrien, that must've been some prank you pulled to make Marinette freak out like that. What did you do to her?
"Wait! Does this have to do with that prank last year?" Kim asked in confusion in which Marinette slowly nodded in confirmation with a sad look on her face. "Come on! That was just a joke!"
"WHAT?!" Everyone in the audience (except for Marinette who just stayed silent in sadness) asked Kim in extreme confusion and exasperation.
"You'll see," Angel said, telling them to watch further to find out.
Ondine: (comes out of the pool) It's not funny, Kim! Can't you see Marinette's not okay?
Kim: Oh, come on. She always reacts like that when someone pranks her.
"Right, meathead! Like it's normal for people to have freak-out attacks because of pranks!" Alix sarcastically remarked to Kim with the strictest frown on her face.
Ondine: What on Earth are you talking about?
Kim: Right. You guys wouldn't know. (swims a lap and swims back to Adrien and Ondine) Let me explain, you'll see; it's hilarious! It was last year, when Marinette and I were in eighth grade. (In the dressing rooms, Marinette enters one of the cubicles and slams the door shut, taking heavy breaths.)
Marinette: What's wrong with me? I'm destroying everything I've ever wanted! (A Voyage portal appears in front of her, a megakuma emerging from it and lands on Marinette's bracelet.)
"UH-OH!" Everyone in the audience exclaimed in panic that Marinette was about to be akumatized on-screen.
Monarch: (from his lair) Panic, I am Monarch. I have sensed your distress. It's a terrible thing when emotions get so strong that you lose control of your physical being. If you want, I can give you the power…
Marinette: This can't be happening... I've got to pull myself together! I have to figure out why I get like this every time I get close to Adrien! Otherwise, I'm gonna fall apart!
Flashback: One year ago, at the swimming pool. Kim is seen swimming with Ondine.
"Now we're flashing back to what happened last year that made Marinette act like this," Angel pointed out in which the audience looked on in fascination, except for Marinette who was not looking forward to what she's about to see.
Kim: Three, two, one... go! (Kim and Ondine jump into the pool.) I'm catching up to you! I'm catching up to you!
Ondine: In your dreams! Even with a motor in your swimsuit, you'd still be slower than me! (From a distance, a lovesick Marinette is wringing her hair while looking at Kim, who is being splashed with water by Ondine.)
Flashback: In Marinette's room, she marvels at one of Kim's pictures from a magazine page stuck on her board. She frowns shortly after, as if sensing something bad is about to happen, and crawls out of her bed.
"Wait a sec! Did you have a crush on…?" Alya asked her best friend as she pointed at Kim who blushed at the fact that Marinette had a picture of him on his wall.
"Yes. I had a crush on Kim last year," Marinette groaned with both hands on her face in which everyone else widened their eyes in shock (except for Kim, Chloe, and Sabrina).
Flashback: Interior, the Dupain-Cheng's residence, in the kitchen. Marinette is eating her cereal.
Sabine: Aren't you eating, sweetie?
Marinette: I have a tummy ache. Can't I stay home today?
Sabine: Hmm... Yesterday, your foot hurt, and the day before that, it was your head. Come on, chin up. You only have two weeks of school left with her. She probably won't even be in your class next year.
Marinette: Three years in a row, Mom. Why would my luck change now? (stands up from the table and bumps her cereal bowl, spilling milk on the table, her clumsiness thriving yet again, to which Sabine simply smiles)
Flashback: Exterior, Collège Françoise Dupont. Marinette runs late to her class. She hides behind the main school door as she catches sight of Chloé with Sabrina. Marinette hesitates to enter the school but eventually makes her run to avoid being seen. She then enters the locker room.
Flashback: Interior, Collège Françoise Dupont, in the locker room. Marinette goes to her locker to place her things. But before she could open it, she sensed a trap before her. And so as she opened her locker door, roaches came out, causing her to scream, run, bump a bucket full of water and slip on it.
"One of Chloe's tricks," Marinette explained as she facepalmed at having to relive this again in which everybody else glared at the blonde girl who was looking down fiddling with her fingers in embarrassment.
Flashback: Interior, Collège Françoise Dupont, in the washroom. Just about Marinette steps out the washroom, she's met by an enraged Mr. Damocles.
Mr. Damocles: Classes started ten minutes ago, yet you're still roaming the hallways! This is the eighth time this week! Good thing an anonymous student warned me every time you're about to break the rules... (whispers to himself) I wonder who that mysterious Chloé could be... Anyhow, my office now, Miss Dupain-Cheng! (Marinette follows with her head down.)
The audience then turned to glare at Mr. Damocles for being mad at Marinette for something that wasn't even her fault on-screen.
"I-I apologize, Marinette. I haven't been completely fair to you and you didn't truly deserve the punishments I laid out to you last year," Mr. Damocles stammered an apology as he looked at his student in shame. Marinette just responded with a head nod, though still shared a sad look.
Flashback: Interior, Collège Françoise Dupont, in Ms. Mendeleiev's classroom. Marinette gets another good scolding.
Ms. Mendeleiev: (sarcastic) Congratulations! Another two weeks like this and you'll set a new school record for the number of tardies in my class this year. Now go to your desk. Quietly. (Marinette closes the door and walks to her table.)
"You and some of you guys were in Miss Mendeleiev's class last year?" Alya asked her best friend and some of her other friends who nodded in confirmation. "Yikes!"
"Yeah, let's say that she's more mellow this year compared to last year," Marinette noted in which the teens that were in Miss Mendeleiev's class last year murmured in agreement.
Chloé: What's with the even-more-depressing-than-usual face, Dupain-Cheng? Something bugging you? (Sabrina chuckles. Just as Marinette sits on her chair, she feels something gooey which turns out that someone spilled paint on her seat. The class looks at her, causing Marinette to feel humiliated. Chloé laughs at this sight.) She wants to design clothes yet she can't even keep hers clean!
"And those were my favorite pair of pants!" Marinette quietly groaned as everyone else went back to glaring at Chloe who still looked down in shame for her past behavior.
Sabrina: Wow, Chloé, you really put a stain on her character!
Chloé: Shush! If I'm not the one who's said it, it's not funny.
Marinette: Chloé, this was another one of your dirty tricks!
Ms. Mendeleiev: Not only are you late and wasting everyone's time clowning around, now you're groundlessly accusing one of your classmates!? Why don't you go and see what the principal thinks of this?
Marinette: But I just came back from his office!
Ms. Mendeleiev: Well, go back! (Marinette begins her walk of shame once again.)
"Wow! You were really treated unfairly last year!" Adrien said in anger towards what's happening on-screen with everyone else grumbling in agreement.
Chloé: And to think the day is just getting started! (notices Rose glaring at her) What's your problem? You wanna play with some paint, too? (Rose looks away. She sees Juleka glaring at her as well) What about you? Is there something you want to tell me? Other than (mocks Juleka) ah-dah-dah-duh-duh? (laughs as Juleka looks away too. Marinette peeks through the door, worry drawn on her face, and closes it.)
Flashback: Interior, Collège Françoise Dupont, in the courtyard. Marinette comes out of the principal's office. Mylène, Juleka and Rose are seen waiting for her down the stairs.
Marinette: (as she goes down the stairs) I just got three more hours of detention on Saturday, and it's all because of Chloé.
Rose: Don't be mad at her. She's this way because her mother left her when she was young.
Mylène: So did mine! And you don't see me having fun bullying Marinette. We've got to do something about your pants. I'm afraid they might be ruined for good.
"Your mom…left you too?" Chloe quietly asked Mylene with a bit of a stammer, knowing it's a sensitive subject.
"Yes, Chloe. But unlike yours, I doubt she's ever coming back," Mylene answered with a sad look on her face with Ivan trying to comfort her. "This is why I love my dad more and more everyday. He works really hard to support me and try to make me a happy and good person. You think cleaning up our school is what he wanted to do with his life?"
"That's probably why your father spoils you so much, Chloe. He's been feeling guilty that he couldn't get your mother to stay with you two in Paris when you were growing up after she left for New York," Angel suggested to Chloe in which everyone else hummed in agreement while the blonde girl is in deep thought, seeing the merit in Angel's theory about her father.
Marinette: Oh— They were my favorite pair…
Kim: (off-screen) You can have my swimming trunks if you'd like!
Marinette: (blushes and titters) Thanks, but swimming trunks are for swimming pools. It'd be weird to be wearing them in the school yard.
"Yes, I have a weakness for guys who act really nice towards me! Let's move on!" Marinette groaned once again with both her hands on her face before someone was going to question her about her past crush on Kim.
Chloé: (off-screen) Out of the way, you parasites! I warned you: no talking to the baker girl!
Rose: (whispers as the three of them walk away) We'll talk in the cafeteria.
Marinette: The only place she never goes to, for now.
Chloé: (to Kim) Parasite means you, too, goldfish brains!
Kim: Oh, thanks! That's nice! (leaves)
"In what universe is "goldfish brains" nice?!" Alix asked Kim as she and everyone else gave the teen athlete looks of extreme exasperation.
Chloe: I have big news for you, Dupain-Cheng! Starting now, there will be no rest for you, not even in the cafeteria! I'll be there to make your life a nightmare! (Socqueline scares Chloé off with what seems to be almost a kick, foot poised near Chloé's face.)
"Wow! You're just horrible, Chloe!" Tikki said to Chloe as she and everyone else once again glared at the blonde girl who still looked down in shame.
"Yeah, even at her meanest, Chloe was a lot more mellow this year compared to last year," Marinette noted as she recounted her experience with Chloe last year.
Socqueline: I've warned you, Bourgeois! You leave Marinette alone!
"You gotta introduce this girl to me and have her show me those moves!" Alya said to his best friend about Socqueline on-screen in which Marinette responded with a chuckle and sported a warm smile towards her previous best friend.
Chloe: Hmmm... you can't even have fun with people in peace these days!
Socqueline: Marinette, I promised your mom I'd keep an eye on you, but I can't be around all the time. And next year, I won't even be here anymore! You've gotta learn to stand up to Chloe!
Marinette: Well, even the teachers are afraid of her. And the semester's almost over… Hopefully, next year we won't be in the same class again. (Marinette gazes at Kim, who is bullying Max with his glasses.)
Socqueline: Don't tell me you're crushing on this dingbat?
Marinette: Why not? He's nice, funny... and kinda cute!
"Really?" Kim asked as he blushed and then gave Marinette a flirtatious smile much to everyone else's exasperation (especially Marinette and Adrien).
"Kim, that was last year when I was kind of naive about boys. And the "prank" that you and Chloe pulled kinda ruined that image of you," Marinette softly but firmly said with a frown, making Kim frown back in confusion while everyone else was fascinated about what he and Chloe did to the blue-haired girl back then.
Socqueline: And are you going to do something about this for a change?
Marinette: You're right, I've gotta do something. I know! I could ask him out to the swimming pool after school, what do you think? (Socqueline glares at Kim, who snatches Max's glasses back and wears them.)
Max: No! Stop! (leaves)
Kim: C'mon, Max! Laugh a little!
Socqueline: I think you might be confusing kindness for foolery, Marinette.
"And she was exactly right," Marinette deadpanned in a sad manner though grateful towards Socqueline for always looking out for her last year.
Marinette: You're being too hard on him.
Socqueline: Be careful, Marinette. (Meanwhile, Sabrina spies on the conversation between Socqueline and Marinette. She approaches Chloé, who gives her a scoop on Marinette's plan.)
Sabrina: (whispering) Looks like Kim and Marinette will be at the swimming pool… (Chloé's mischievous grin grows as she sets her gaze upon Marinette and Kim.)
Marinette: I'll see you tonight then!
Chloé: So... I heard Marinette asked you to go with her to the swimming pool.
Kim: Yeah, we're going swimming together. Cool! 'Cause I love to swim!
Chloé: That's not why she asked you, dummy!
Kim: It's not? Then, what are we going to do?
Chloé: She wants to declare her feelings for you!
Kim: For me? But why?
Chloé: Probably because she's utterly ridiculous, and so are you, which makes you two perfect for each other!
Kim: Oh? You think so?! But, uh... if we're not swimming, then... what are we supposed to do when we're together?
Chloé: What do you like to do besides swimming?
Kim: Uh... I like to laugh!
Chloé: Well, there you go! That's what you're gonna do: laugh! Because I've got a great idea for a super funny practical joke! (Chloé whispers her little scheme to Kim.)
Kim: You sure she'll like it?
Chloé: She'll LOVE it.
Kim: (chuckles) Awesome! You're just too funny, Chloé!
Chloé: You know me, an absolute scream!
Flashback: Interior, on the bus. Socqueline and Marinette ride together.
Socqueline: So... you're going just like that? What are you gonna say to him?
Marinette: I don't know... I'll just see if we're having a good time, and if I feel like the moment's right at some point, I'll just tell him how I feel, that's it. This isn't Taekwondo, Socqueline! We're just going to the swimming pool. I don't need to have a plan or go over my every move.
(Socqueline looks worried. The bus arrives at the swimming pool stop, and Marinette gives Socqueline a kiss on the cheek.) I'll tell you how it went tomorrow!
"I'm sorry. Did you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, say that you don't need a plan and go over your every move when it comes to a boy?!" Alya asked while laughing along with everyone else though they're also genuinely shocked.
"Yes, that was me. Based on how it turned out with Kim, I've always felt that was one of the major mistakes on my part," Marinette said as she frowned in embarrassment.
Socqueline: Right… (Marinette gets off the bus, leaving Socqueline perturbed. Marinette runs towards the entrance of the swimming pool, right after the bus leaves. Back in the bus, after a few contemplations, Socqueline presses the stop button and gets off as well.)
Flashback: Interior, at the swimming pool. Marinette and Kim are having fun at the pool. The two sit on the diving platform shortly after.
Marinette: You know, Kim, I think you're really funny... and nice... and sweet, too. And I... I think I'd like us to be more than friends.
Kim: You do? (smiles and gets on his knees, presenting a tiny box) Oh, Marinette, when you're around, I feel like I'm in a dream, as if I were swimming in the awesomest ocean! I'd give you every pool floaty in the world if I could! But all I have is this tiny... thing. (smiles nervously)
Marinette: (smiles and blushes) Oh, Kim! (stands up, grabbing the tiny box and looks at Kim lovingly for a moment) I love you! (As soon as Marinette opens the tiny box, a bunch of spiders crawl out, reaching for her arms. She starts screaming and drops the box, while Kim bursts into laughter.)
Kim: Chloé was right, spiders are hilarious! (As more spiders crawl in on her feet, Marinette keeps screaming while trying to wipe the spiders off her arms, and tries to back away, leading to her to fall backwards into the water. Mid-way, she sees Chloe and Sabrina taking a video of her from one of the balconies, in slow motion, right before she plunges into the water. The lifeguard helps her out of the pool and calls out to the duo who flees from the scene laughing.)
Lifeguard: Hey! You two!
"You…seriously did that to Marinette?" Adrien quietly said with gritted teeth to Kim in a dangerous tone, making everyone else uneasy though they also glared at Kim, Chloe, and Sabrina for what they did on-screen.
"Yeah! It's funny, isn't it?" Kim asked, chuckling at first but then stopped once he saw everyone else's glares on him (the most death-like ones from Adrien, Alya, and the Dupain-Cheng parents).
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU NOW!" Adrien angrily exclaimed as he's ready to beat Kim up before being held down by Alya and Nino.
"Kim, that was horrible!" Mylene said with a frown but also tearing up for what her friend went through on-screen.
"Yeah, dude! It's not funny! It's just hurtful!" Nino said as he continued to glare at the confused teen athlete along with everyone else.
"Not to mention dangerous given the way she fell!" Tikki reprimanded Kim with a hateful glare of her own for what he did to her holder on-screen.
"They're right, Kim. Look how Marinette reacted after what you did to her," Angel said as she pointed to the screen.
Flashback: Exterior, at the swimming pool. Chloé and Sabrina come out laughing victoriously after filming Kim's successful prank with Marinette.
Chloé: From this day on, your life will be an endless torment, Dupain-Cheng! (replays the video clip of Marinette falling down the pool on the phone) Even if you spent your whole life locked in your room, you'd still be the star of Shame TV on social media every day!
(As Chloé continues to laugh off her triumph, Socqueline appears and swiftly kicks the phone out of Chloé's hands and steps on it, breaking the device. Socqueline scowls at the intimidated Chloé and Sabrina right after.)
"That girl truly is impressive," Kagami said, impressed at what Socqueline just did on-screen along with everyone else.
"Yeah, she would definitely have been Ladybug if there were akumas back then," Marinette said about Socqueline, grateful for destroying the video of the prank on-screen, then turned to the old guardian. "Right, Master?"
"Possibly, but I certainly don't regret making you Ladybug now. Always remember that, Marinette," Master Fu said to his young protegee with a warm smile, in which she smiled back.
Flashback: Interior, in the swimming pool. Marinette rushes into one of the dressing rooms and sobs.
Kim: (off-screen) So, that was hilarious, right? I'm cracking up! (laughs)
Socqueline: (pushes Kim away) You! Go away! You should be ashamed of yourself!
Kim: Come on! It was just a practical joke! (walks away. Marinette opens the door and breaks down as she sees Socqueline.)
Marinette: (sobs) I will never, ever fall in love again!
Socqueline: It wasn't your fault, Marinette.
Marinette: Yes, it was! You were right! I should've known, been more prepared... I should've had a plan! I should've been more careful! (wipes her tears as her face shifts to anger) I'll never tell another boy that I love him before I know (slams the door with her fist) everything about him! Whether he's kind or not, thoughtful, what he does outside of school and with who, I'll know everything, his birthday, all his first names, his schedule, his favorite things! And above all, I'll make sure that he is NOT friends with Chloé! (breaks down and hugs Socqueline)
"OMG! THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU AND ADRIEN! Both Kim and Chloe messed you up!" Alya exclaimed, now that she and everybody else finally realized why Marinette gets all jittery, nervous, and controlling when it comes to her and Adrien. Meanwhile, Kim, Chloe, and Sabrina just looked with confusion and are beginning to regret what they did after seeing Marinette cry on-screen.
"You're right. I can't believe I never realized that!" Marinette said now that she realized along with everyone else.
"Call that a therapeutic breakthrough for yourself, Marinette," Angel said as everyone else murmured in agreement.
Flashback: Interior, Collège Françoise Dupont, in Mr. Damocles' office. Mr. Damocles, Chloé and Socqueline are in a conference.
Chloé: And then, for no reason at all, she attacked me with her ugly little feet! Fortunately, by some incredible stroke of luck, I didn't get hit! (Socqueline facepalms.) Then, I had to witness the massacre of an innocent phone!
"Why are you two in the principal's office?! That didn't even happen at school!" Alya said in Socqueline's defense on-screen towards Chloe in anger, in which everyone else glared at the embarrassed blonde girl in agreement.
Mr. Damocles: (clears throat) I'm afraid there's not much I can do. All of this happened in an extra-curricular setting, outside the school premises... and it wasn't even your phone!
Chloé: (nods) Oh, I understand... (pulls out her phone) Luckily, when Daddy finds out how incompetent you are, he'll appoint a new principal with a greater sense of justice!
Mr. Damocles: Uh— Come on now, Miss Bourgeois, we don't want to bother the Mayor for something so minor! Socqueline, you're hereby suspended for two weeks!
"WHAT?!" Everyone in the audience exclaimed in anger towards both Chloe and Mr. Damocles for getting Socqueline suspended on-screen, while the two just blushed in shame and embarrassment.
Socqueline: (objects, getting on her feet quickly) But that means until the end of the year! What about class council? What about the prom? (Chloé, being victorious, gives Socqueline a menacing grin.)
Chloé: Good riddance.
Flashback: Interior, Collège Françoise Dupont. Socqueline walks out the school with her things after being expelled.
Marinette: (off-screen) Socqueline, wait! (catches up to Socqueline, who then stops walking upon hearing Marinette) I'm sorry. This is all my fault. It's not fair you're being punished because of me!
Socqueline: (places her hands on Marinette's shoulder) Every good fight is worth fighting. We shouldn't be influenced by our chances of winning, but by whether or not it's the right thing to do! (starts walking away) Remember, Marinette: you gotta know when to step in; that's the only way you can change things in life!
Scene: Interior, the swimming pool, present time. In one of the dressing rooms, Marinette breaks free from Monarch's attempt to akumatize her. The megakuma comes out of her bracelet and returns to Monarch through the portal.
"WHEW!" Everyone in the audience heavily sighed in relief that Marinette didn't end up akumatized on-screen.
Marinette: (laughs triumphantly) I know why I'm so afraid! (Back at the pool, Adrien and Ondine are furious at Kim's backstory.)
Ondine: You did THAT to Marinette?
Kim: Just like Chloé said: when you like a girl, you get on one knee, compliment her and give her jewelry! Except that time, it wasn't for real! It was just a practical joke! (laughs and sighs) Chloé is the prettiest girl in the world and the funniest, too… (Adrien is about to throw hands, clenching his fist in rage.)
"Your girlfriend is right there and she's not deaf, Meathead!" Alix pointed out to Kim while everyone else facepalmed at what he just said on-screen.
"You really earned the name Nitwit," Xuppu deadpanned towards his holder who blushed in shame and embarrassment.
Ondine: How could you say that in front of me and do such awful things to Marinette?! Your behavior is cruel and unacceptable!
Kim: Come on! Loosen up, you guys! It's like you can't even speak your mind these days. (scoffs)
"Hmmm, I wonder why?! Maybe because there are evil little black butterflies flying around the city looking for negative emotions to feed on!" Alya sarcastically shouted out towards Kim for what he did to her best friend with everyone else grumbling in agreement.
Ondine: That doesn't give you permission to hurt other people!
Kim: Whatever! I'm the way I am and I'm fine that way! It's not my fault you guys have no sense of humor! (dives in the pool and swims)
"Did I really hurt you, Marinette?" Kim quietly but clearly asked, finally speaking up since the flashback of last year's prank finished.
"You really did, Kim. I really liked you and you let Chloe make you mess around with my feelings," Marinette quietly but clearly said with a sad frown, making Kim look down in extreme shame.
"Look, Kim. We all know you mean well, but you could carry your sense of humor a bit too far and people do end up getting hurt by them. Like when you were playing around with my glasses? If you weren't careful, you could break them and they're kind of expensive," Max said to his best friend with a slight frown with everyone else murmuring in agreement.
"Or like the time you called me a wuss when I couldn't confess my feelings for Mylene. That really hurt my self-esteem and I ended up becoming the very first akuma victim ever because of you," Ivan said to Kim with a slight frown with Mylene trying to calm him down.
"Or how about the time Chloe humiliated you on Valentine's Day?! That was her idea of a joke and you ended up akumatized over that! What you did to Marinette last year was much worse!" Alix said to Kim with a slight frown.
"Oh. I never realized that I was hurting you guys. I just wanted to have fun and be funny," Kim softly said as he looked down in shame, now that he looked back on all his attempts to be funny that ended up hurting his friends.
"We know, Kim. We're just asking you to be more careful about what you joke around from this moment on," Miss Bustier said to her student who slowly nodded in understanding.
"OK, let's save the apologies for later. Let's get back to the episode!" Angel suggested as she replayed the episode.
Scene: Monarch's lair.
Monarch: A free spirit feeling unjustly rejected? As an ardent defender of freedom of oppression, it is my duty to help him! Voyage, my megakuma! (the megakuma enters the portal, leading it back to the swimming pool)
Scene: Interior, in the swimming pool. Kim goes up the stairs as the Megakuma flies towards him, entering his goggles.
Monarch: (from his lair) Dark Humor, I am Monarch. We should be able to laugh at anything and anyone. That's why I'm giving you the power to win people over with your unique sense of humor! Xuppu, (Xuppu's pod hovers towards Monarch) your power is now mine! (absorbs his power) Transfer! (taps on his ring and transmits the power of the Monkey Miraculous to Kim) Of course, the spoilsport Ladybug and Cat Noir will try to knock some sense into you. But thanks to the essence of the Miraculous of Derision that I'm also giving you, you will be able to seize their Miraculous!
Xuppu now whimpered in fear of his superpower being used for evil with Kim trying to comfort him though he's also worried since he's the one akumatized.
Kim: At least you get my sense of humor! (succumbs to the akumatization and transforms into Dark Humor. Back at the dressing rooms, Marinette finally comes out with confidence.)
Marinette: Adrien! I know what's wrong with me! (goes down the stairs) It's not my fault, and it's not your fault, either! It's all Chloé's fault!
Dark Humor: So, all you wet blankets, ready to learn to have fun?
Marinette, Adrien and Ondine: Kim?
Lifeguard: Hey, you! There's no flying in the pool!
Adrien: (takes Marinette's hand and runs away to put her to safety) This way!
Dark Humor: Aw, it's like you can't do anything anymore! (shoots his arrow with a rubber duck tip at the lifeguard)
Lifeguard: I'm going to drain the pool! It'll be hilarious when people dive in! (runs away)
"HOW IS THAT FUNNY?!" Most of the audience asked in exasperation.
Ondine: That's not funny at all! It's seriously dangerous!
Dark Humor: Why aren't you laughing? Where's your sense of humor? (shoots Ondine with an arrow. In one of the dressing rooms, Adrien puts Marinette to safety.)
Adrien: Stay here. I'm going to get help! (closes the door)
Marinette: (gasps) At least when we're running away hand in hand, I don't shake like a leaf! Tikki, spots on! (transforms into Ladybug. Adrien proceeds to hide in another dressing room.)
Adrien: Kim's gone WAY too far! Plagg, claws out! (transforms into Cat Noir)
Scene: Jardin des Tuileries. Victims of Dark Humor begin to wreak havoc, starting with Ondine batting out a kid's paper boat on the fountain.
Ondine: Bullseye! Direct hit! What?! You don't like playing battleships? (continues to hit the ships on the fountain with a pipe as the children start crying)
Dark Humor: Why aren't you laughing? Where's your sense of humor? (shoots arrows at the children and gets blocked right on time by Ladybug and Cat Noir)
Cat Noir: (with immense anger) Can't you pick on someone your own size? Do you have no shame at all?! (attempts to hit Dark Humor with his staff)
Ladybug: Cat Noir, calm down. We just need to destroy the akumatized object. You're gonna hurt him!
Cat Noir: And he'd deserve it! (continuously beats Dark Humor with his staff out of anger and tackles him on the ground) We'll see if you're still laughing after I wiped that smile from your face with my... Cataclysm!
"Wow, dude! You're really laying it heavy on the rough butt-kicking on Kim there!" Nino said as he and everyone else gasped in shock towards Cat Noir fighting rough with Dark Humor on-screen.
"Well, he deserved it for what he put Marinette through," Adrien said with gritted teeth as he glared at Kim who just had a sad frown on his face.
"I appreciate it, kitty cat. But nobody deserves to be beaten up like that no matter how much he hurt me," Marinette softly said to her boyfriend as she touched his cheek with everyone else softly murmuring in agreement.
Ladybug: (stops Cat Noir by wrapping her yo-yo around his wrist) No! What's happening to you? (And as the heroes are both distracted, Dark Humor takes the opportunity to touch Cat Noir with one of his arrows, to which Dark Humor laughs maniacally and triumphantly. Now under the influence of Dark Humor, Cat Noir's cataclysm harnesses balls instead of destructive energy.) No!
Cat Noir: (skips around like a child) I don't know about you but I'm having a ball! (produces tiny balls all over the area...) Sorry you have to bounce so soon! (...which causes people to slip off their feet)
[Superpower Sequence]
Ladybug: Lucky Charm! (Dark Humor disrupts Ladybug's Lucky Charm by shooting an arrow and turning it into a balloon.) No! (Dark Humor laughs.)
Monarch: (from his lair) This is where your luck runs out, Ladybug!
Cat Noir: (as he continues to scatter tiny balls around the area) Balloon? YAY! Come on, buddy! Let's play ball! (tosses the balloon towards Dark Humor, blocking his sight)
Dark Humor: H-Hey!
Ladybug: (after hiding behind a pillar) Spots off! (de-transforms...) Spots on! (...and transforms back to reactivate her power) Lucky Charm!
Dark Humor: Wait! How did she do that?
Monarch: (from his lair) She had time to transform back and forth, you fool! (Ladybug receives a toilet bowl.)
"A toilet bowl?" Marinette asked in confusion about the Lucky Charm given to her on-screen.
"Ewwwww!" Most of the audience groaned in disgust that the Lucky Charm given this time is a toilet bowl.
Dark Humor: (laughs) What's with that? Is nature calling? (He shoots an arrow at Ladybug as she flips back to dodge it. Ladybug then uses her Lucky Vision: looking at the toilet bowl, at Cat Noir who is still skipping around, the arrow that Dark Humor just shot…)
Parisian: (glues a seat and runs away) Heheh, I know how to keep people glued to their seats!
(...a glue tube that a child left on a bench at a distance, and an arc to one of the wings near the museum.)
Ladybug: That's right, nature's calling me to kick your butt! (Dark Humor continues to shoot arrows at Ladybug as she makes her run to execute her plan. She dodges the arrows one by one but then makes a mishap as one of the arrows makes her lose balance, but makes it to where she was going anyway...)
Dark Humor: I got her!? (...Hiding by the arc, she applies glue in the toilet bowl, and comes out pretending she got hit by one of Dark Humor's arrows.)
Ladybug: Hahahah! It's my turn to laugh now!
Dark Humor: Ladybug! Make way for Ladygag! (laughs. Cat Noir is seen juggling the tiny balls.)
Ladybug: Cat Noir! Yoo-hoo! Here, kitty-kitty! (does multiple attempts to place the toilet bowl on top of Cat Noir's head as a diversion)
Cat Noir: Ew! Are you out of your mind?
Ladybug: What's wrong? Where's your sense of humor? Would you prefer a litter box? (laughs)
Dark Humor: Hahah! Good one, Ladygag!
Monarch: (from his lair) You got them both! Bravo, Dark Humor! Now all you have to do is to take their Miraculous! (Dark Humor flies to chase after Ladybug and Cat Noir.)
Ladybug: (chuckles as she runs after Cat Noir) Sit, kitty! The potty's just getting started! (Dark Humor closely reaches for Ladybug's earrings, and as Ladybug notices him behind her, she puts the toilet bowl on Dark Humor's head.)
Dark Humor: Hey! Get this off of me!
"OK, now THAT is funny, Toilet Head!" Alix said as she laughed hard along with everyone else at the toilet bowl being glued to Dark Humor on-screen. Well, except for Kim who blushed and frowned in embarrassment.
"I know you probably didn't mean it to be, but nice payback on Kim, girl!" Alya said as she and Marinette both hi-fived while laughing.
Ladybug: Hah! That's right! I pretended to be hit. What's the matter? Don't you like my practical joke? You really need a sense of humor.
Cat Noir: Over here! Right there! Nope, over here!
Dark Humor: This... isn't funny! (Ladybug wraps her yo-yo around the toilet bowl on Dark Humor's head and breaks it, along with the akumatized object, making the megakuma emerge from it.)
Ladybug: No more evil-doing for you, megakuma! (opens her yo-yo) Time to de-evilize! (catches the megakuma) Gotcha! (releases the purified butterfly) Bye-bye, little butterfly! Miraculous Ladybug! (Ladybug throws a broken fragment of the toilet bowl in the air and reverts every damage caused by the villain back to normal, including the victims of Dark Humor and himself, who is now de-transformed back to Kim.)
Kim: What happened?
Ladybug: Monarch used your emotions to manipulate you. (opens her yo-yo and grabs a magical charm) Kim, this is a magical charm. Always keep it with you. May it help you avoid making the same mistakes again.
Cat Noir: I'm sorry. I let my emotions get the better of me, too.
Ladybug: Don't worry. It can happen to anyone. That's why there's two of us. That way, one of us is always there to help the other.
Ladybug and Cat Noir: Pound it!
"Pound it!" The two heroes once again fist-bumped and kissed in victory.
Scene: Interior, at the swimming pool. Kim, Ondine, Marinette and Adrien are at the poolside.
Kim: I can't remember anything. I hope I didn't do too many awful things when I was a supervillain…
Ondine: The worst thing is that you do awful things even when you're not akumatized, Kim.
Kim: Again, with that story? It was just a joke!
Ondine: A girl liked you and you broke her heart!
Kim: But I had no idea!
Ondine: Just because you have no idea is no excuse! The pain is still real! (Kim sighs and looks at his magical charm, finally realizing that his prank shouldn't have come at the expense of Marinette's feelings.)
Kim: You're right, Ondine. I'm just a fool who doesn't think about the consequences of what I say or do. But I'm going to change. I'm sorry I hurt you, Marinette. Can you please forgive me?
Marinette: Apology accepted, Kim.
Ondine: (hugs Kim) There! That's the boy I fell in love with! (kisses Kim's cheek. Seeing Kim and Ondine reconcile, Adrien and Marinette smile at one another.)
"I-I-I really am sorry, Marinette. I had no idea how much I hurt you pulling that prank. And I had no idea how much my sense of humor has been hurting you guys in some way. I really am sorry," Kim stammered in extreme guilt, now that he knows how sometimes his sense of humor could end up hurting people.
"Apology accepted, Kim," Marinette softly said with a smile after a deep breath to calm herself. Everyone else then followed along with the forgiveness towards Kim who gave them a warm smile back.
"Word of advice, son: stick with this girl Ondine. She would be a good influence on you," Tom sternly said to Kim, still a bit angry at what the teen athlete did to his daughter. Kim just nodded while everyone else murmured in agreement.
Scene: Exterior, the swimming pool. Adrien and Marinette are seen standing outside by the door.
Marinette: I finally figured it out why I keep making things so difficult — why I'm so afraid of telling you how I feel. I know you'd never mean to hurt me, but... somehow I'm still scared. And, I'm afraid I'll be scared for a long time to come.
Adrien: I'm scared, too. This is all new to me as well. I won't always know how to react. I'm scared of doing something wrong, scared of hurting you, scared of someone else hurting you... scared of losing you. But we're together, you and me, and we'll do whatever we can to help each other. And then together, maybe we'll become less and less scared. (reaches out his hand to Marinette. A hint of hesitation washes over Marinette: at one second she holds Adrien's hand, and lets go at the next.)
Marinette: I'm sorry.
Adrien: We've got time.
"I'm sorry. I guess it's still gonna take a little more time to get over this," Marinette said to her boyfriend with a sad and nervous look on her face.
"It's ok, m'lady. Like I said, we've got time," Adrien said with a warm smile and then tenderly kissed Marinette's cheeks, making her slightly blush.
Epilogue: Exterior, the Grand Palais, in Chloé's balcony. Chloé is reading a magazine while Sabrina paints Chloé's nails. Adrien then walks towards Chloé.
Adrien: I know about everything that you did to Marinette last year, Chloé. You're going to go and apologize to her and prove to everyone that you can change. I'm sure she'll forgive you.
Chloé: (cackles) Forgive me? What do I care about her forgiveness? I couldn't care less about Dupain-Cheng's feelings! She and the likes of her only exist to suffer for my entertainment. Why bother having power if you can't use it against those who don't have any? You're the one who's getting things wrong, with your baker girl! You're a prince! You belong with me, the princess! You're in this world to shine! To make fun of all the losers who are only good enough to be used as doormats! (She reaches her hand out to Sabrina who scowls at Chloé's remarks. Sabrina still continues to paint Chloé's nails nonetheless.)
"As you can see, Sabrina, you're getting more sick of Chloe," Angel pointed out in which both Sabrina and Chloe looked at each other with sad looks on their faces. Chloe also looked down in shame and embarrassment at what she was saying on-screen.
Adrien: You're nothing like a princess, Chloé. I supported you. I gave you multiple chances to become a better person. Everyone reached out to you, including Ladybug and Cat Noir when they gave you the Miraculous of the Bee again. But all you ever think about is yourself.
Chloé: And what else IS there to think about? Losers and nobodies? The little bees? The planet? (scoffs and goes back to reading her magazine)
Adrien: We will NEVER be friends again, Chloé. You and I are done. (walks away)
Chloé: (glares at Adrien) Traitor.
"Yeah, you two break up your friendship for good this time," Angel said to both Adrien and Chloe who looked at each other with Adrien giving her a sad and disappointed frown while Chloe gave him a tearful, sorrowful, and shameful look.
"Did I honestly do something to you Chloe that caused you to hate me this much and torment me?" Marinette asked with a curious but also sad look towards the blonde girl.
"No, you never did anything to me, Dup-Marinette," Chloe said as she looked down, still extremely ashamed. "I know I'm mean in general because of my mom, but I don't know why I like to torment you the most."
"I have a theory. Of course it's just a theory, so you can all reject it if it doesn't make sense to you. Maybe it's because Marinette wants to work in fashion like your mom is, Chloe. And possibly your biggest fear is that your mom will come to see Marinette more as a daughter than you are. After all, you did have a breakdown when she invited Marinette to go to New York with her. And what you're doing to Marinette is that you're taking your anger on your mom out on her," Angel suggested in which everyone else's eyes widened in shock, seeing the logic in Angel's theory about Marinette and Chloe.
"That-that does make sense," Chloe stammered, shocked that Angel's theory made sense to her as well, then turned to Marinette and everybody else with tears in her eyes. "I really am sorry for everything I did to you, Marinette. And you all for making you suffer for my anger that turned me into such a monster. I really am going to change as best as I can. You all don't have to forgive me if you don't want to."
"I can't speak for everyone else, but I won't forgive you right away, Chloe. You've done some pretty horrible things to everyone around you, especially me. But, if you can prove that you really can change, then maybe someday in the near future, I will," Marinette softly but firmly said to the blonde girl in which everyone else murmured the same answer to Chloe who nodded in understanding. Sabrina then put her hand on Chloe's shoulder with a sad smile, then Chloe surprisingly hugged Sabrina who hugged her back.
"Anyway, now that this whole thing is resolved, the next episode is called Intuition which refers to the Snake Miraculous," Angel announced to her audience.
"So, we're dealing with a supervillain that can go back in time as many times as he wants, so he or she can always be one step ahead of us?! That's gonna get annoying!" Adrien groaned in annoyance as well as Marinette and everyone else.
"Actually, no. Monarch is using the power of Second Chance himself. He's been using it for the past few akuma battles," Angel then said in which the audience murmured in shock. "Anyway, the akumatized villain in this episode is called Bugfighter, another non-human artificially intelligent system like Markov. OK, let's start!"