Marin held two home-crafted dolls in his hands one of Chat Noir, the other of Ladybug, sighing heavily. While Manon pouted as she held 3 villain dolls, one of Lady Wifi, the other of Evillustator, and the last one of Rogercop.
"I wanna win!" Manon complained hugging the dolls close.
"But Manon, the bad guy's can't win," Marin remarked, confusing the small girl.
"Why not?"
"Because if they win, then the good guys will lose their Miraculous."
"Miraculous?" Manon questioned tilting her head cutely, hugging the toys in her arms.
"The jewels that give Ladybug and Chat Noir their power." He explained. "Hawkmoth wants them..." Marin's words drifted as he realized that he himself didn't really understand why Hawkmoth wanted their Miraculous.
"And what would happen if he did get them?"
Marin hesitated for a moment before placing a happy smile on his face. "The bad guys…would win!" He said playfully as Manon squealed, running around run as Marin chased her.
"I know! I know what the bad guys want!" She said happily, then holding up her villain dolls. "We want the Miraculous! Then we'll win! Forever and ever! I'm gonna get your Miraculous, Ladybug and Cat Noir! You-you goody two-shoeses! You'll be super duper sorry!"
Marin smiled, holding up his hero dolls. "You won't get our Miraculouses!"
"Oh yeah?!" Manon yelled out, throwing her toys at Marin who then suddenly froze.
"Ugh- you got us!" He then collapsed on his sofa, his body going him as he dropped the toys.
Manon glanced at her sitter in confusion. "Marin?" She asked, now growing worried as he wasn't moving. "Marin!" Her sitter then lifted her head with a smirk, grabbing her in his arms, then tickling her.
"Ladybug and Cat Noir will always win, no matter what!"
"No fair! You cheated!" Manon cried out, half laughing, half annoyed, trying to escape.
"Nope, I just got the upper hand. You have to think ahead of your enemies, that's how you win." Marin advised as they both heard someone coming up the stairs. Manon's mother walked up with a smile on her face.
"I'm back Manon, have you been a good girl?" Nadja greeted as her daughter immediately ran into her arms.
"Mommy! Marin didn't let me win! He didn't play fair and square!" Manon complained as Marin smiled apologetically to her mother.
"Oh Manon, you can't always expect to win." Her mother informed.
Manon then took a step back, "Yes you can! Ladybug and Cat Noir always win!"
Marin knelt down before Manon giving her a reassuring smile. "You'll win next time, Manon."
"Alright, now give Marin back his dolls, we have to go now."
Manon clutched the Ladybug and Chat Noir dolls in her arms. "NO! I wanna keep it!"
Marin exchanged a glance of surprise with Nadja at Manon's refusal. "She can borrow them if she wants, I don't mind."
"That's sweet of you Marin, but Manon already has so many toys at home." Nadja said, then looked down towards her daughter, first taking the Chat Noir doll, then grabbing the Ladybug doll one. But Manon was more defensive with that one.
"NO!" She shouted out, trying to pry the doll back. She pulled on the scarf of the toy, but applied too much force, tipping the head off of the toy that made Marin reflexively touch his neck nervously.
"Look what you've done Manon! Give it to me." Nadja snapped, taking the broken toy away from Manon who looked away. Her mother then handed back the pieces to Marin. "I'm so sorry about this."
Marin shook his head, shoving the nervous feelings in the back of his mind. "Oh, it's nothing, I can sew it up again! It's no problem, really."
Najda then sighed, " Even so, that was uncalled for. Come on Manon, we're leaving. Say goodbye." She said taking her daughter's hand, but Manon tried to pull her hand away.
"I want that DOLL!" Manon demanded, starting to cry as her mother sighed, picking her up.
"Is she going to be alright?" Marin inquired placing his dolls away in his crate.
"It's just a tantrum, she just needs a little while. Come on Manon, be a good girl and say goodbye." Her mother then said gently as she carried her daughter down the stairs as Manon then lifted her head. Marin waved goodbye, watching as the two were greeted by his mother, before heavily sighing. He glanced at his own decapitated doll, grumbling nervously as he didn't want to think about it actually happening. He sat down at his desk, taking out his sewing supplies as he looked over the damage, noticing that only the threads came undone. He probably forgot to tie the end.
He smiled gratefully as Tikki handed him an already threaded needle. Smiling happily as Marin flashed her a grateful smile. Which immediately faded as they both heard footsteps on the stairs. Tikki hid within the sewing box as Marin quickly turned towards Manon walking up and picking up her backpack.
"Manon! What are you-" Marin began to ask but was then cut off.
"I left my bag here." Manon explained as she saw the Ladybug doll lain out. "Can I have Ladybug?" She asked.
Marin looked between the doll and the little girl. "You heard what your mom said..." He said feeling bad that he had to say no.
"She wouldn't know if I hide it!" Manon remarked, grasping the straps of her backpack.
Marin looked away. "Sorry, but I have to fix him up." but Manon caught his attention once more as she pulled on his jeans, wanting him to pay attention to her.
"Pretty pleeeeease?" Manon asked widening her eyes while pouting her lips.
Marin's will quickly crumbled. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Tikki who had moved behind the desk monitor, shaking her head, but it was already too late. "Ugh. Okay, you can borrow Lady Wifi."
Manon looked up at him, still eyeing the Ladybug doll.
"Hurry up Manon! We have to stop by the station!" They both heard Manon's mother call out as Manon turned away for a moment.
"Coming, mommy!" She called out, waving at Marin as she then ran down the stairs. Marin sighed heavily, resting his head in his hands as Tikki flew out with a teasing expression.
"She sure had you wrapped around her little finger!" She had observed as Marin then tickled her tummy.
"What can I say, I have a weakness for baby-blues." He admitted sheepishly as he took notice of Tikki's blue eyes.
Marin stood alongside Alya at the train station, walking down the stairs together as they were going to the movie theatre today.
"The movie starts in about an hour, you could call up Nino. See if he's up for-" Marin began to say checking the time on Alya's phone.
"AH!" Alya suddenly snapped to attention as she rested her hands on his shoulders. "Marin, nine 'o' clock!"
"Actually it's just past four-"
"Not that nine 'o' clock! This nine 'o' clock!" Alya asked, turning his head towards Adrien standing nearby. Marin's face immediately ran red as he quickly hid behind Alya.
"What is HE doing here?"
Alya stared at her best friend dumbfounded. She loved Marin, really, she did. But sometimes she wondered how he was ever able to function before he met her. "Dude we're going to the same movie. YOU INVITED HIM TO THIS MOVIE WEEKS AGO-" Alya then caught her breath, taking back her phone as she then grabbed Marin's hand. Dragging him into towards Adrien, whose face lit up as he saw them.
"Hey Adrien," She greeted as she pulled Marin from his hiding place from behind her, who waved nervously. Adrien eye's lit up as he was greeted by his classmates. "Headed to somewhere important?" She asked playfully.
He chuckled, "Nah, nowhere special, just a lame movie, with some even lamer people." he said, but couldn't hold back his laughter, his smile faded as he glanced at Marin who seemed emotionally distant. "So, I hear this premiere is going to be pretty good." Adrien said, trying to strike up a conversation.
Alya saw where his gaze was settled on, and elbowed Marin's side, who jolted to attention.
"Uh- yeah. It's uh, a great movie..." Marin mumbled under his breath, feeling the anxiety as all of Adrien's attention was on him while Alya glanced at the two of them with an exasperated face.
But just as she was about to break the tension between them, she started to glow, stepping back in confusion."What— what's going on!?"
Marin held out a hand towards his best friend. His eyes widened in shock as she transformed into a far too familiar form before his eyes. Everyone surrounding them on the platform began running in different directions. "Alya?" He questioned stepping towards his friend.
"Marin! Give me those Ladybug and Cat Noir dolls!" Lady Wifi demanded trying to grab Marin but failed as Adrien stood between the two defensively guarding his classmate.
"Lady Wifi?" Marin questioned as the villain snarled at him.
"No! I'm Puppeteer! And I want those dolls NOW!"
"Dolls?" Adrien questioned exchanging a look of confusion with Marin. The train station beeped, signaling the arrival of the upcoming train.
"I don't-I don't have them," Marin said reflexively, which only infuriated Lady Wifi. His eyes widened as she then pulled out her phone, smiling evilly as she then eyed Adrien. Suddenly, the train shot out of the tunnel, slowing down as the doors then opened. Marin glanced at the tunnel, realizing what he needed to do to protect his classmate.
As soon as the train doors opened, Marin stepped past Adrien, pushing Lady Wifi onto the subway train. But unluckily, she gripped his blaze, pulling him along with her onto the subway car.
"Marin!" Adrien called out in a panic, slamming into the train just as they closed. As the train moved on to the next station Adrien ran into the tunnels nearby. He opened his shirt to call Plagg out of his hiding place. "Plagg! We have to transform!"
Plagg sighed heavily, "Just when we'd shaken off your bodyguard. Now you want to chase after that crazy guy?"
"Plagg, claws out!" Adrien said ignoring his Kwami.
"Wait! What about the movie?! And the buttery popcorn-" Plagg pleaded as he was sucked into the ring.
Marin was thrown against the train's door as Lady Wifi pinned him using her icons.
"Why do you want the dolls, Puppeteer?" Marin demanded.
"Because you said I could have them! Then Mommy said "no!" So give 'em to me now! Or you'll be super duper sorry!" Marin was confused for a moment as he watched Lady Wifi throwing a tantrum like a...child!
"Manon?!"
"No! I told you! I'm Puppeteer!" Suddenly, Marin was suddenly freed from Lady Wifi's control. Smirking as she tried to trap him once more, not realizing that her Wifi signal was cut off within the tunnel.
"UGGHHH! You're cheating!" She accused, throwing a punch in his direction, which he evaded. Just as that moment, realizing that he did not think this plan through as the train shook as it came to its next stop. Marin fell over as Lady Wifi sucker-punched his gut, making him stumbled off the train at the next stop. The crowd of train goers scattering at the sight of the traumatized victim stepping out of the train car.
"I going to get Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses, and then I'll win forever and EVER!" Lady Wifi proclaimed with a smile as she now had a signal, standing over him.
"Manon! This isn't a game!" Marin scolded. But Lady Wifi didn't care, just about to freeze him when a pole knocked her phone out of her hands.
"Hey!" She snapped, diving after it as Chat Noir stood at the entrance of the subway.
"The directions say, stand behind the yellow line." Chat Noir remarked with his staff in hand as he helped Marin to his feet. But the taller boy pushed him out of the way again as Lady Wifi used her icon to fly out of the subway.
"A little uncalled for there, Macaroon." Chat Noir remarked, picking up his staff, seeing Marin bow his head apologetically. "The classmate you ditched back there agrees as well." Noticing Marin look a little ashamed being called out at what he meant as a little jab.
"Sorry, I thought that by keeping Lady Wifi in the tunnel system might mess up her powers."
"But you didn't account for getting trapped with a supervillain." Chat Noir finished his thought as Marin nodded, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah, sorry about that."
"Don't worry about that, I'll track her down." Chat Noir turned to run out of the subway but stopped as Marin suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Hold on, I think I might know who Puppeteer is," Marin said as Chat Noir looked at him in surprise. "It's the girl I babysit, Manon. Earlier today I let her borrow this doll of Lady Wifi, so I think that she may be after the rest of them."
"The rest of them?" Chat Noir questioned for a moment. "Okay, where do you live?"
"12 Rue Gotlib." Marin answered as Chat Noir nodded with a reassuring smirk, placing a hand on the worried boys' shoulder.
"No need to worry Macaroon. Me and Ladybug will definitely save your kid." He promised as he then ran out of the subway.
Within the empty station, Tikki flew out. "Are we going after him?" She asked.
"Chat Noir will be able to handle securing the dolls, we need to track down the one who's pulling the strings. Tikki, spots on!"
Chat Noir landed on the roof of Marin's hold, landing on the patio as he noticed there was a skylight. As he landed on Marin's bed he overhead something down below.
"It's really not nice to steal from your babysitter." He remarked, landing before Lady Wifi holding a few dolls in her hand, even those of himself and Ladybug.
"Soon I'll get your Miraculouses, you goody two-shoeses!" Lady Wifi retorted, placing the dolls in her bag as she then pulled out her phone.
"There's only one good two-shoes around here and I'm he's not even here!" Chat Noir said as he used his staff to attack Lady Wifi, easily evading her attacks as she was already cornered. He used his staff to knock the phone of her hands, sending it into the air as he then activated his power.
"Cataclysm!" He called out, destroying the phone as he did once before, catching it in his hand. But was shocked when an Akuma didn't appear and looked around to see that Lady Wifi had escaped...with all of the dolls...ugh, Ladybug wasn't going to like this.
His ring then beeped, signaling his transformation time about to run out, and his ears twitched as he heard someone walking up the stairs.
Uh oh-
Chat Noir quickly, escaped the room, ending up back up on the roof porch. He sighed heavily as his baton then rang, much to his surprise. Already knowing who was on the other line. "Uh, hello?" He asked sheepishly.
"Lady Wifi?" Ladybug questioned.
"Okay, in my defense. I thought that she was going to have an Akuma so I used my power on her cell phone but nothing came out." Chat Noir quickly explained but his ears dropped in disappointment in himself.
Ladybug didn't answer for a while, "Please tell me you at least got the dolls."
Chat Noir lowered his head even though no one could see him. "Sorry."
" Don't worry, I tracked Puppeteer down to the tv station. We'd better find her fast before she takes us both out."
"You're right about that, I'm the only one who gets to take you out." Chat Noir joked, trying to lighten the mood, but the joke seemed to be as bad as he thought it was. Just then his ring beeped.
"Chat Noir your ring?" Ladybug questioned as he heard the warning beeps.
"Yeah, I'm used my cataclysm to destroy her phone." Chat Noir said. "But I'll be able to head to the station-"
"Just stay low for now." Ladybug ordered. "If there's a chance that she can only control us in our transformed state, then you're better off walking on the streets without your hero suit on."
"Aww but then how else would we spend time together." Chat Noir complained as he then jumped onto the rooftops, heading towards the station.
"We already spend most of our time together already." Ladybug pointed out. "I'll try to take out Puppeteer before Lady Wifi has a chance to give her the dolls. See you soon."
"Don't let her make me a puppet! You know that only you can pull my strings!" Cat Noir snickered as Ladybug then ended the call. Even though the situation was a little dire, he couldn't help but look forward to seeing his partner.
Ladybug walked tried to calm down Nadja as he explained the situation.
"I want to find my daughter!" She insisted, but Ladybug shook his head, trying to reassure her.
"I promise, I'll bring your daughter back, Miss Chamack. But the building needs to be evacuated for everyone's safety."
"But-" She tried to argue again but faltered as she saw Ladybug's sincere face. "Alright..." She sighed, walking out alongside her co-workers as Ladybug then turned into the building. He opened his phone, but then just as quickly put it away as he realized that Alya wouldn't have her phone if Chat Noir already destroyed it, so at least she wouldn't be trouble...maybe.
The other two villain dolls that she probably took were Rogercop and Evillustrator. Both of their weak points were the pen and the whistle, but all together, they could prove to be more than he could handle. He needed a plan, a shared weakness of all four...
Ladybug's eyes widened as he realized what he needed to do, but for the plan to work he needed Chat Noir. As well as a layout of the building's electrical system.
Behind a pole on the street across from the news station building stood Adrien feeding his Kwami cheese. "I don't suppose you could eat faster?" Adrien asked, spotting Lady Wifi entering the building.
"What?!" Plagg asked, "But I'm savoring my cheese!"
Adrien then sighed, "Could you mind savoring it a little faster?" He said but then spotted Sabrina's father yelling out nearby as he transformed into Rogercop right before his eyes. Who then looked up towards the new station, flying up direction as Adrien could only watch.
"Okay, savoring time's over." Adrien said as Plagg's cheeks were filled with cheeks. "Plagg, claws out!"
Ladybug stood surrounded by three of his former foes, holding his yo-yo in hand Evillustrator had drawn a new phone for Lady Wifi, so she was back to full power as the threw crept closer. Puppeteer hovered above him as she made the Ladybug and Chat Noir doll float before her. She smiled happily, holding up her wand.
"Cat Noir! Come to Lif-" But before she could finish her words, Ladybug threw his yo-yo to wrap around Lady Wifi, throwing her Evillstrator while he jumped on Rogercop's helmet to grab the doll of his friend.
"You Cheater!" Puppeteer yelled out in annoyance, then turning towards the Ladybug doll with a smile. As Chat Noir burst into the room. "Ladybug, come to life!"
"Noo!" Chat Noir called out in a panic as he saw Puppeteer wave her wand at the Ladybug doll. But nothing happened as the real Ladybug smirked, placing the Chat Noir doll on his belt.
"What?! Why won't my magic work?!" Puppeteer demanded, grabbing the doll, but was taken aback as the head fell off, only barely stitched on. Chat Noir couldn't help but wince at the morbid sight of his partner losing his head, doll or not.
"You should be nicer to your toys." Ladybug remarked, evading Rogercops attacks, as he threw the Chat Noir doll back to him. He side glanced at the door he was closest to, "Think you can handle them?" Ladybug called out as he caught the attention of Evillustrator as Lady Wifi and Rogercop turned on Chat Noir.
"Course!" Chat Noir called out as he evaded Rogercop's shots, the two heroes exiting through different doors.
"Gimme that Chat Noir doll!" Puppeteer demanded, waving her wand, commanding her puppets to chase after the heroes, choosing the chase after Chat Noir.
Ladybug jumped down the elevator shaft, having no time to wait around, using his yo-yo to steady his fall as he landed on the basement floor, forcing the door open. The entire floor appeared to be used for storage, well that, and-
"You're time is up Ladybug!" Evillustrator called out through the shadowy halls. He flinched back as the lights were suddenly shut off, leaving him defenseless as he couldn't draw anything. Only feeling his pen being snatched out of his hand as he was trapped in the darkness, unable to find his way out as Ladybug barricaded the door behind him. Having to feel around as the entire building was pitch black, save for the elevators which ran on a separate generator. Luckily, he was guided towards it by its floor sign above the doors.
Ladybug entered, being greeted by light, then threw up his yo-yo. "Lucky Charm!" He said then received something familiar to him, a needle and red thread. The hero couldn't help but smile, already realizing what he needed to do.
Chat Noir heard Puppeteer squeal in fear as all the lights shut off, having no way of seeing as Evillustrator went after Ladybug. He, on the other hand, was fine, seeing clearly through the darkness as he quickly crushed Lady Wifi's phone.
"Rogercop!" Puppeteer called out, waving her wand. "Make the dark go away!" She said in a panic as Rogercop obeyed, blasting a one-way route to the roof, as he and Puppeteer flew up.
"Not so fast, rugrat!" Chat Noir called out, using his pole to elevate himself. On top of the roof, he was surprised to see Ladybug already there, holding something behind his back.
"Hey Puppeteer," Ladybug called out holding up a familiar doll. "You want this?" He asked noticing the child's eyes lit up, her awe then souring into anger.
"The Ladybug doll, get it!" She demanded as Rogercop flew towards him.
"What's the magic word?" Ladybug asked, taunting the child who was growing even angrier at the fact that Ladybug was too swift to be caught.
"GIMMIE!" She demanded as Ladybug then sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Chat Noir!" Ladybug called out as he threw the Ladybug doll towards him. His partner then smiled as he used his batton to hit the doll halfway across Paris.
"I'm faster than you! You're gonna lose, Ladybug!" Puppeteer called out, using her last minion to chase after the doll, not realizing the situation as Ladybug used his yo-yo to then grab her wand breaking it in two as the Akuma flew out.
"No more mischief from you little Akuma. Time to purify!" Ladybug said as he swung his yo-yo towards the possessed Akuma, capturing it in one motion. Then opening it once more, watching the newly purified Akuma fly away. "Bye-bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug called out, throwing up the lucky charm as everything turned back to normal.
Manon turned back to normal, looking around in confusion as Chat Noir and Ladybug bumped their fists together.
"Ladybug! Chat Noir!" The little girl called out happily as she immediately hugged the black-spotted hero as he knelt down. He smiled warmly at her, picking her up.
"Your mommy's worried about you Manon." He said as the small child looked a little guilty. "Do you know why?"
"Because I took Marin's toy when I wasn't supposed ta'." She said. "But he said I could!" She tried to explain.
"But should you have taken the toy? Even when your mommy told you no?" Ladybug asked as Manon shook her head.
"No...I'm sorry." She said sincerely as then Ladybug ruffled her hair affectionately, causing her to giggle. He then passed off the small child to Chat Noir who looked bewildered for a moment then noticed his earring starting to beep.
"You seem pretty good with kids." Chat Noir commented as Ladybug took out his yo-yo.
"You're imagining it." his partner said, but even so, waved at Manon who looked towards him with a smile just before he jumped off the building.
"So, you like my partner, what about me?" Chat Noir asked, lifting up the small child who laughed happily.
Marin panted as he ran up to Nino standing in front of the theatre. "Sorry, I'm...late!" He apologized, trying to catch his breath.
"Hey dude," Nino greeted. "You're not late." He pointed out holding up his phone, showing it was 10 minutes before the movie would begin.
Marin then sighed in relief, "I hope you weren't waiting too long." He remarked as Nino shook his head.
"No, just wondering where you guys were. I thought we were supposed to meet up like, 4 hours ago? But it's fine. Not like I was lonely or anything." Nino muttered, turning his head away as Marin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Aww, I'm sorry Cookie." Marin said opening up his arms. "Forgive me?"
"I don't know if I can," Nino said, dramatically holding his head. "You all left me to fend for myself, practically abandoned me, I don't know if I can come back from this..." Nino faked tears as he allowed Marin to hug him, planting a kiss on his cheek as the two then giggled. "So? Where's Alya and Adrien?"
"No idea." Marin admitted as he walked into the movie theatre with Nino's arm on his shoulder. "We all got separated at the train station after this Akuma possessed Alya to transform into Lady Wifi, then I knocked her into a train car and was separated from Adrien."
"What?!" Nino exclaimed taking a step back to face his friend. "Maybe LEAD with that next time?!" He then checked his phone, sighing as he held it up. "Adrien's bodyguard caught him, and Alya's still halfway across town at the train station."
Marin groaned, "I guess we'll just have to watch the movie and spoil the entire thing for both of them, or go catch up with Alya."
"Dude. Don't even joke, that's the meanest thing anyone could ever do." Nino said with a hint of seriousness as Marin guided him out of the theatre with a haughty smile.
"Alya it is."