Master Fu poured two cups of tea, one for himself and one for his guest as well as two thimbles. "I thank you for taking the time to come and see an old man," he said, offering the cup.

Nino took the offered cup. "No prob," he said. "Besides, Wayzz wanted to see you again."

Fu looked down at his old kwami, who was currently in an animated conversation with Kaalki. "It is good to see him again. After being with him for over a hundred years, it is strange spending time without him."

"I could come over more often if you want," the cap-wearing teen said, taking a sip from his cup. "Wow, this is good."

"It better be," Fu said with a slight smirk. "I spent quite a few decades getting the art down. So how are the others doing?"

"Well, Alya and Trixx are still getting along," Nino reported. "Same with Alix and the Bee. Not sure about Pomni, but she occasionally shows up. Her or one of her friends." He gave Fu a look. "I don't know what black magic you preformed to get Chloe to turn around, but she's still being nicer."

"Please don't joke about that," Fu asked. "Blood magic is nothing to joke about."

"Wait, there's actually black magic?!"

"And what I did was use my connections."

"So that where the sister came... do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Fu asked, a sinking feeling in his gut.

"Some kind of loud, droning sound..."

"Master!" cried Wayzz. "Something's happening to the Ladybug Miraculous!"

-MToLaCNBatIM-

Joey Drew allowed himself a small smirk as he watched the events play out. His pawn had preformed remarkably well, even if they had to expend a precious resource. His new angel had succeeded in grabbing one of the holders, the planner of the two if his research was to be trusted. With her down, grabbing the Cat would be simple.

But then again, it wouldn't be wise to not put in any contingencies. He had been tricked before. Still was. He sent a message to his pawn telling him to begin the ritual and take the Ladybug out of the reach of his foes.

As for himself, he had a few wildcards to remove from the board.

-MToLaCNBatIM-

Henry sighed as he watch the elevator plummet downward. "Should have guessed that wouldn't work," he muttered. "It always falls." I always fall.

A hand rested on his shoulder and he turned to see Audrey standing next to him. "I know it's tough," she said. "But you must remember, Henry. You're not alone anymore."

"Cousin's right!"

Henry turned to see three more of Audery's group standing there. One of them was Heidi and standing next to her was two other Lost Ones, one of them wearing a hat and holding a slim metallic rectangle, the other wearing goggles and with a grappling hook wrapped around his body.

A fourth person, an animated Bendy mascot costume that had been fittingly been introduced as Mascot Bendy, stood off to the side, hands crossed and leaning against the wall.

(He seemed so familiar. Oh so familiar...)

"You're with us now," Heidi continued. "We can help you!"

"We're with ya, Bobby!" the goggles-wearing Lost One said.

Mascot Bendy gave a thumbs up.

"~We'll make it better than it ever was, I know we can make it better!~" sang the Lost One wearing a hat.

(Henry felt a ting of guilt now knowing that he could have always spared the hat-wearing Searcher.)

Audrey nodded. "Jack's right," she said. "What's in the past is in the past. What matters now is how we shape our future."

"So Bobby, I know we told them that we'll meet them in Storage 9, but is there any reason why we can't catch up with them now?" the Lost One with goggles said. "Or at least some of us?"

"That's a good point," Audrey murmured before sharing a look with Mascot Bendy. "Right. Porter, when Tom and Allison get back, you Flow down with them-"

"AUDREY!"

Henry and Audrey turned to see one of the last members of their group, Allison. The good copy of Alice Angel had came around the corner was was running frantically. "We've got trouble!" she cried.

"What happened?" Audrey asked. "Did you run into a Keeper?"

"No, it's worse! The Ink Demon found us!"

At that, Allison's partner, a Boris clone named Tom came running around the corner, followed by the Ink Demon, who didn't take the turn quite as well and crashed into a wall.

Henry's heart seized when he saw the decrepit form of the embodiment of his first creation. He had known from Heidi's description that something had hurt 'Bendy,' but he had never imagined the damage to be this extensive.

'Bendy' got himself back upright and began running, heading towards the group. Jack stepped forward, holding out his hand, revealing a speaker set in the area of his palm.

"~ECHO-OH-OH-OH-OH!~"

A force of sound shot out, hitting the Ink Demon and driving him back a little. That caused the rest of them to spring into action. Porter took up guarding Heidi and Mascot Bendy while Henry, Tom, and Allison rushed him. 'Bendy' was caught off guard and took several hits, but he regained his equilibrium and started hitting back. He got in a couple of hits before Jack blasted him with another soundwave. Henry had gotten caught on the edge of that one, and it had sent him reeling until he found a wall and rested against it.

He was also in a prime position to see Audrey vanish in a flash of light and reform clad in a costume. His hearing returned in time to hear her cry out as she thrust a feather-like sword at 'Bendy,'

"LIBERATION!"

…

...

The third Interlude is complete.

Ladybug will return...