Miraculous: Return of the Dark Moth
Chapter 7: Paint Panda Returns
Synopsis: Day by day, Ladybug and Cat Noir become more and more successful in defeating Dark Moth's minions with their allies, but the demonic villain's frustration grows. Meanwhile, Gabriel Agreste reclaims one of his stolen rings back from Félix Fathom, the cousin and lookalike of Adrien, and a familiar friend of Team Miraculous assists from the shadows while Dark Moth forces Gabriel to create Sentibubbler in an attempt to get Rena Rouge to betray Ladybug.
Cue a montage from the events that both Gabriel Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng had faced. The song, "One Way or Another", by Blondie is sung.
Dark Moth tries to beat Team Miraculous with various sentimonsters and villains day by day; but they had help from Mylène Haprèle as Polymouse against Mega Leech, Rose Lavillant as Pigella against Juleka who was akumatised into Guiltrip, and Juleka Couffaine as Purple Tigress against Jagged Stone and his ex-wife, Anarka Couffaine who were akumatised together as Guitar Villain and Captain Hardrock becoming Crocoduel together.
Later, Nathaniel and and Marc have a plan for Marinette to declare her feelings to Adrien. They set it up at school, where Adrien is free of his father's control. But Chloé films their meeting and threatens to reveal everything to Gabriel, who would forbid Adrien to go back to school. Chloé will spend the evening at Gabriel's, where Marinette cannot enter. But Nath and Marc's imagination is limitless, and Marinette, disguised as a waiter, sneaks into the Agreste home, where a sentimonster lookalike of Gabriel Agreste was created and made as the Collector to get back the real one's ring that was stolen by Félix Fathom, the cousin of Adrien when he and his mother, Amélie Graham de Vanily arrived.
During this confrontation, Félix Fathom first meets Dark Moth who was possessing Gabriel Agreste. Félix was impressed with how Dark Moth had exposed his uncle's identity as Hawk Moth to the world, and Dark Moth was fascinated by Félix's ability to look like Adrien. He offered him a chance to join his schemes, but Félix refused.
That was when Ladybug and Cat Noir showed up at the scene, defeating the sentimonster, and gave Gabriel a Magical Charm that would help him be free of Dark Moth's control for some time. However, just as Chloé was going to show Gabriel Agreste the footage she filmed of Marinette sneaking into the mansion to be with Adrien, the music manager Bob Roth took her phone and deleted the video. Gabriel claimed that Chloé was wasting his time, and requested her to leave, to her frustration.
As Gabriel went back inside, Dark Moth examined his Magical Charm, and he began to crush it, to Gabriel's horror. Dark Moth then told him that he didn't want his big plan for Ladybug and Cat Noir, his son and daughter-in-law to be spoiled so soon, so continued to make Shadow Moth his puppet. Then, Nathalie Sancouer confronts Gabriel saying that she heard from the security cameras that he was working with Dark Moth, but he explained that he was forced to do his bidding when Dark Moth used Emilie for a shield.
So, Gabriel had her use the Peacock Miraculous to become Mayura, until he forced her to make a sentimonster named Optigami to spy on Ladybug and her allies, only to be destroyed by a hooded hero in the shadows.
As the Optigami spy camera was destroyed, the hooded hero walked away as he removed his hood, and revealed himself to be Paint Panda, the Hero of Imagination who helped Ladybug and Cat Noir take back Paris from the Akuma Wars. "Be prepared, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I'm coming back to see you." He smiled while in the alleyway.
Next scene showed a newspaper spin transition of Ladybug and Cat Noir saving the day, but then Dark Moth breaks the fourth wall at the Agreste Mansion, and he was getting steamed in his shared Lair of Shadow Moth. "Nuts! Nuts! Nuts!" Dark Moth shouted angrily. "They beat you again, didn't they, Dark Moo?" Gabriel asked taunting him. "I don't believe those two! I'm throwing a lot of stuff at them, and it doesn't make any sense!" Dark Moth screamed as he pounded his head on a wall.
"Big Boss, try and calm down!" Dark Duusu said to her master in concern. "Yeah, remember your high blood pressure. Don't get so upset." Dark Nooroo spoke. "I guess you'll never beat them." Gabriel spoke as he was going to leave the lair. "Wait a second…" Dark Moth spoke getting an idea. An awful idea. Yes, he had a wonderful, awful idea! "You fought with the Miraculous Resistance during the Akuma Wars…. You must know their strengths and weaknesses, don't you? Don't you?" Dark Moth grinned evilly as he was in Gabriel's personal space.
Gabriel gritted his teeth, "I do know them, and maybe I don't." He replied. "I also know that they have changed since then. They are more unpredictable now, but I won't betray my son and daughter-in-law. Now move aside!" He said firmly, commanding Dark Moth to step away from him. "I don't think so, butterfly brains. How about I get inside your head to see if there any juicy secrets and weaknesses I need to know." Dark Moth shouted as he began to possess Gabriel again, getting inside of his head.
"Go, you crazy D-Man, go!" Dark Nooroo shouted to the real Nooroo and Duusu's horror. "C'mon Master, fight it!" Noroo shouted. "Think of your family!" Duusu pleaded, but it was too late as Gabriel's eyes gleamed an eerie red. "Silence, you two! It's time we bring Bubbler back into the fray… my way." Dark Moth said controlling Shadow Moth. The scene goes to black, showing only Shadow Moth's eyes turning red. It was similar to Ursula's eyes in The Little Mermaid as it faded to black.
Next scene is in the Césaire apartment. Alya, Nino, Marinette, and the Césaire family are all sitting at the table, while Marlena Césaire is serving food. "Mmm. Everything smells delicious, Mrs. Césaire!" Marinette said enjoying the food.
"Marinette, call me Marlena." Marlena places a dish in front of Marinette. "You'll let me know how you like my Colombo, okay?" She asked as Marinette smiles. Marlena walks away. Marinette looks down, but then felt a sense of dread in the air and sees Trixx floating over the table with a small plate, fork and knife set in front of him.
"Hide, Trixx!" Marinette shouted to the Fox Kwami, and she turns to Alya. "Alya, nobody can know about Trixx! He's a secret!" She spoke to her best friend. "Oh really? Exactly why is he such a secret, Ladybug?" Alya asked as Marinette turns around the table to see everyone staring at her, smiling. "U-uh, Ladybug? W-Why are you calling me Ladybug? I'm not Ladybug! I'm Marinette! Just a normal girl with a normal life." Marinette stammered as Nino laughed. "Come off it, Marinette, everyone knows that you're Ladybug!"
"To think that you've been lecturing us about blah, blah, blah, "you must keep your identity a secret," blah, blah, blah, "otherwise I can't give you your Miraculous." I would have made a much better Ladybug. Or Phantombug for that matter. Talk about a ridiculous Guardian, utterly ridiculous!" Chloé taunted. "Alya, what is she doing here at your house?" Marinette questioned Alya as she is in even more shock as Alya looked like she was hypnotized and Shadow Moth knocks on the window. "Gabriel… So nice of you to join us, Shadow Moth!" Alya said as she opens the window for him.
"Thank you, Foxy Loxy. Your best friend was a good little puppet for me. And Shadow Moo too." Shadow Moth smirked in a demonic voice, showing his eyes were glowing red. "Now thanks to you, the Miracle Box is finally mine. And that stupid bear isn't around to stop this devil." He shouted. "Dark Moth?! This is impossible! Tikki, Spots On!" Marinette shouted trying to transform, but failed. "Tikki?" She looked around.
"Looking for someone?" Spoke someone in a black hood. "You should have never trusted Alya, Marinette." Tikki angrily replied as she was trapped in a cage. Then Cat Blanc appears behind Marinette. "I'm sorry, Bugaboo. But look on the bright side, m'lady. Now that we're done with secrets, we can tie the knot." He said as Marinette was becoming afraid. "This... is... a nightmare...!" Marinette exclaimed as she starts to see Phantombug, her ruthless clone in front of her. "I think we both know this'll not end well, don't we, Loserbug?" Phantombug asked. "Now you're gonna know what it feels like… to lose everything." She smirked. "If you want all this to stop, all you have to do is this one simple thing… Give me your Miraculous!" Dark Moth snaps his fingers to make everyone approaches Marinette like they were zombies. "This is what you get for leaving me with Alya." Trixx echoed. "Wake up, Marinette!" A voice said over Trixx. "That voice… P.J.?" Marinette spoke. "I said, "Get up!" The voice shouted coming from the man in the black hood as Marinette screams.
The scene changes to Marinette's room. She awakens and sits up in shock. Tikki, who was sleeping on her chest, was catapulted to the end of Marinette's bed. "Tikki, I should have never left the Fox Miraculous with Alya!" Marinette said in a panic as Tikki wakes up and Marinette rushes to the Miracle Box. "What are you talking about, Marinette?" Tikki yawned as Marinette opens the sewing box.
"I had a nightmare. It was horrible! Alya told everyone, everything and Dark Moth had gotten hold of Gabriel, and the Miracle Box. And I heard P.J.'s voice." Marinette explained as she saw that the Miracle Box appears safe and sound, and Marinette gets relieved. "It was just a bad dream, that wouldn't never really happen. Alya is a loyal friend. And so is P.J." Tikki spoke. "Alya is. But her kwami, Trixx, can't help making mischief whenever is facing to whom." Wayzz the Turtle Kwami spoke. "Yeah, but the Loch Ness monster illusion was kind of fun, wasn't it?" Xuppu the Monkey Kwami spoke as Tikki shushed them. "You're not helping!" Tikki spoke in sing-song.
"That was a prophetic nightmare, I can't leave the Miraculous with Alya! Hold on… what if PJ's back? Could he be warning me that?" Marinette runs downstairs. "Marinette, wait!" Tikki shouted as the Kwamis watched.
Next scene was in the Bakery as Marinette opens the door in rush to see Alya, but Sabine Cheng, her mother started to notice. "Marinette, it's almost lunchtime and you're still–" "In my pajamas," Marinette facepalms herself. "I know, I, I just need to drop by Alya's, and there's this thing I need back." Marinette, still in a rush, so she quickly explain to her parents as she runs out the door.
Scene: Alya's home
Marinette opens the door. "Where did that thing go? Come on, Nora." Alya spoke to her big sister, Nora Césaire. "If I find him, he better be ready for a good old roundhouse kick!" Nora spoke. "First one who finds the furry squishy gets to keep it." Ella, one of the younger sisters spoke. "Yeah!" Etta shouted. "I can't believe this, it's like the little monster can go through walls or something." Otis Césaire, the Zookeper spoke as Marinette was shocked and dashed to Alya. "Everyone knows? You-you told them?!" Marinette spoke.
"Well, I had to since I lost him. Imagine what happened if someone could cross him or worse if he escaped." Alya said as Marinette facepalms.
"You lost him?" Marinette said. "Uh? Who him?" Alya said looking around. "What's the matter? Stay for lunch, Marinette. You let me know, how you like my Colombo, okay?" Marlena asked as Marinette was in fear, as she notices a tarantula crawling from the pot and screams. "A T-T-T-Tarantula!" She points to the spider while holding Alya's arm.
Marlena notices and starts to laugh. "Everyone can stop looking. Marinette found Hannibal!" She shouted as Nora and Alya sigh in relief that Hannibal has been found, to Marinette's confusion. "Wha?" Marinette spoke. "Seems like he got his legs working again." Otis spoke as he turned his attention to the tarantula. "Tomorrow, it's back to the zoo, buddy." He said. "Is it okay to come out now?" Nino asked in a voiceover as the girls turn around to see that Nino was there, and Nora started to laugh. "Ha! Look at this, flyweights, Cappy was scared of the itsy-bitsy spider, just like you, baguette!" Nora said as Nino comes out.
"Uh-uh, I wasn't scared, I just went into the bathroom to make sure that Hannibal had not fallen into the toilet." Nino then notices Marinette in her pajamas and questions her. "Uh, why are you here in your pajamas? It's not nighttime for a sleepover." Marinette looks down to see that she is in her pajamas. "Cute look, Marinette. So, are you here for anything... specific?" Alya asked to her BFF, who laughs nervously. "No, it's cool! Nothing specific, especially now I've seen you found the tarantula, I'm so relieved it wasn't someone else that you'd lost." Marinette said nervously, and Alya was starting to figure it out. "Ah, I know what thing you're talking about, FYI, when someone trusts me with a "you-know-what," I don't lose it." Alya said as her parents seems confused about what they're saying.
"Look who's talking! You're the one who just lost Hannibal." Nora laughed at Alya. "Can we chat for a sec?" Marinette pulls Alya along to her bedroom. "Sorry, Nino. This is between Marinette and me." Alya said as she closes her door. Then, Nino looks a bit sad that Alya doesn't let him in to her room. He seems sad and then he screams when he notices the tarantula. "Ahh! Haha, haha…" He starts to laugh a bit.
Next scene is in Alya's room where Marinette was walking back and forth, telling her friend about her recent nightmare.
"I swear, it was so... lifelike! I wasn't even turning into Phantombug that time." She spoke. "It was just a nightmare, Marinette. And dreams can't hurt you. "Everyone knew that I was... (her eyes move from side to side) you-know-who, you know? Even—" Alya's phone rings, giving Marinette a scare. "Chill out, everything's cool! Besides, if anyone can trounce your evil clone, it's you. Neither Hawk Moo or Darky could make a villain you couldn't defeat." Alya stated as Marinette sighed heavily. "Okay. We know that Hawk Moth has identified some of the holders before he became one of the good guys during the Akuma Wars and before he became Shadow Moth. But what if Dark Moth gets to him? He and PJ share the same mind and knows you've been Rena Rouge! What if he found out I left the Miraculous with you? He could steal it from you!"
"Dark Moth or anybody else will never know!" Alya Césaire turns to look at the door where the sound of the telephone ringing. "Not even Cat Noir can!" Marinette spoke. "Look. No one's gonna find this!" Alya holds out her Fox necklace. "And thanks to this very hip bag my BFF gave me," She unzips her fanny pack as Trixx emerges from it. "Trixx is always with me, out of sight." She said. "Trixx! Promise you're not gonna... make any mischief like popping up at the table during lunch, for example?" Marinette asked. "Hey, you got nothing to worry about. I'm as silent as a phoenix and as wily as foxes." Trixx high-fives with Alya as Tikki flies to Marinette's side. "There, you see? I told you everything is alright!"
"I was silly to worry. You're right." Marinette said chinning up. "Anyway, in my dream, I heard PJ telling me to wake up, like he knew I was having that nightmare." She said bringing up their old friend. "You've been thinking about him too?" Alya asked as she went to her laptop showing images of possible sightings of their friend. "I have been seeing somebody wearing a black hood holding a giant Paintbrush recently during Shadow Moth's attacks, and he also had been de-evilising his victims before you could show up." Alya stated as Marinette and Tikki were surprised. "The images look a little blurry." Tikki stated. "Wonder how that Panda Bear's doing now." Trixx spoke.
"Do you think he and Inky have come back to Paris after all that's happened?" Marinette asked to Marinette. "I don't think they're back, I know they're back!" Alya said as the phone was ringing to her annoyance, but brushes it off. "Other than that, trust me, and trust yourself! Besides, you were right to give me a Mirac—" Alya gets annoyed by the continuous phone ringing. "Ugh, seriously? Hello? Why isn't anybody getting that?" She storms out of the room, and into the living room.
There, she looks outside her room only to find out that there is already nobody there. The phone continues to ring. "Hey! Where'd you guys all go? Is this some kind of joke? 'Cause it's not funny!" She shouted as she picks up the phone. "Hello? Stand back? What do you mean by—" She asked as she yelped dropping the phone showing a holographic image of Shadow Moth being possessed by Dark Moth.
"Hello Rena Rouge, I am Dark Moth. I am speaking to you through Shadow Moo's body. And it's okay for you to laugh at the name. Anyway, I have something I want to discuss with you." Dark Moth spoke as Alya frowns. She then hears Marinette screaming from behind, she turns around to find Marinette already caught by one of the bubbles. "Marinette!" Alya shouted shocked, she turns to look at dining table, where the supervillain who appears to be the Bubbler is standing. Marinette's bubble starts to float outside. "Alya!"
Alya runs to the balcony, chasing after Marinette's bubble. "Marinette, no!" She shouted. "Alya! Be careful!" Marinette shouted as her bubble continues to float away. Alya turns angrily to look at the Bubbler in their living room. "Nino?! Seriously? Don't tell me you got akumatized into Bubbler again just 'cause I didn't let you in my room! Don't let yourself become controlled by Dark Moth! You're not his puppet, you're my boyfriend! Open your eyes!" She shouted, only for "Bubbler" to laugh at her attempt to reach him.
"Hahaha! This is too rich! I'm not Nino, you curvy vixen! And not's Bubbler either. I'm the Sentibubbler." Dark Moth said speaking through "Sentibubbler". "Nino is with your family, all safe and sound as my prisoners! Don't believe me? Two words: Look outside." He said pointing up as Alya runs back to the balcony to see her whole family, Marinette, Nino, including their tarantula, imprisoned in Sentibubbler's bubbles up in the sky. Nino sees the tarantula floating towards him and tries to move away from it. "Hey, you! Keep those hairy legs away from me, okay?" Nino spoke to the spider. "I can't believe I use to be like that. A shell of my former self." Sentibubbler said looking at Nino.
"Don't panic, the Beetle and Mr. Whiskers will save us!" Nora said calmly sitting in her bubble. Sentibubbler flies up to Nora. "Oh, I wouldn't count on that, Muscles for Brains." Nora growls at Sentibubbler. Back at Alya's home, she looks back at Sentibubbler, signaling her to pick up the phone and winks at her. Alya picks up the phone eventually. "You've probably realized by now," Shadow Moth said under Dark Moth's possession as the scene changes at the rooftop where he is standing. "that you're gonna have to obey me if you want to see your loved ones again." The scene changes back to Alya's home. "What do you want, Dark Moth, you demonic creep?" Alya spoke frowning. "Creep? Me, a creep? That one hurt. But not as much as what I really want from you, curvy fox. I want you to betray Ladybug!" Dark Moth smirked.
Scene: In the sky, from Marinette's bubble
"Oh no! This is worse than a nightmare! Tikki, I can't transform or everyone will see me!" Marinette said to her Tikki in a panic. "Alya will figure something out. That's why you left her a Miraculous!" Tikki reminded as Marinette grabs her phone from her purse. "I have to tell her that the villain is probably a sentimonster!" She starts typing on her phone. "Rena Rouge has to warn Cat Noir that he must not cataclysm him, or the sentimonster will get out of control and our bubbles could pop out!"
Alya's phone vibrates from her pocket. She grabs it and sees a message from Marinette but one of Sentibubbler's bubbles eventually takes Alya's phone away. "No!" Alya shouted. "Uh uh uh! That's not gonna do you any good! The only people you'll be able to communicate with now, Alya Césaire, are me and my little sentimonster! No exceptions!" Dark Moth said.
Marinette was nervously tapping her phone, but got no response. "Why isn't she answering?" She sees Alya's phone float across her. "You gotta be kidding me." She said in shock. "Trust Alya, Marinette. She's never let you down before!" Tikki said. "You're right! Besides, I'm sure Cat Noir would've noticed this. He will show up soon!" She said.
Speaking of Cat Noir, at the Agreste mansion, Adrien was watching the news in his bedroom. Nadja Chamack reports on the TV. "These bubbles are floating for over five minutes now, and still no superhero in sight. Isn't that right, Clara?" She asked to her fellow newscaster while Plagg sniffs on the camembert on the table. "Aww, this cheese isn't runny enough yet." He pouted as Clara Contard reported, "Yes, Nadja, and no villain in sight either. In fact, these bubbles are identical to the ones created by the Bubbler. Yet, in one of them, there's Nino Lahiffe, the student who was originally akumatized as the Bubbler. Could this be the work of Dark Moth making a duplicate of Bubbler? It's bad enough we have him returning, and we have seen sightings of a man in a black hood stopping his attacks."
"Just keep your distance, Clara. Don't take any risks until Ladybug and Cat Noir get there." Nadja advised to Clara as Adrien looked worried. "Nino! Marinette!" Stands up. "Plagg?" Adrien spoke to his Kwami who smiled. "Well, good! By the time we're back, maybe this cheese will become edible!" Plagg then shakes his head about the seriousness of this problem. "I mean, let's go help our friends right now."
Cue Cat Noir Transformation Sequence.
"Plagg, claws out!" Shouted Adrien as Plagg warps into his Cat Miraculous Ring and Adrien transforms into Cat Noir. He then leaves the room to head to the Césaire Residence.
Alya is still on the phone talking to Shadow Moth, possessed by Dark Moth. "Listen well. Ladybug will be here any minute. And since it's your family and friends, Ladybug will ask you to help her, and hand you the Miraculous of the fox. Once she's given you the Miraculous, the Sentibubbler will be hiding nearby and capture Ladybug!" Dark Moth smirked. "Well, too bad, you doo-doo brain! Cat Noir will come to save her!" Alya taunted. "Doo-doo brain?! Why you little!" Dark Moth shouted as he composed himself. "That's not gonna happen. He won't even know she's been captured. Because thanks to your Miraculous, you'll transform into Rena Rouge and create an illusion of Ladybug and Rena Rouge to distract Cat Noir. Thinking he's joined his fellow heroes, he won't notice the Sentibubbler until it's too late, and you'll give me your Miraculous! It is then and only then when the three Miraculous are finally in my possession! Do that, and Mr. Sentibubbler will release your loved ones. You have my word. No crossed fingers." Dark Moth smirked.
"But you try anything, like warn Ladybug or Cat Noir, because I know you will, I'll order the Sentibubbler to send the bubbles into space, too far for any superhero to ever save them! Or better yet I could have your friends and family see what it's like on the Other Side."Alya looks up to the sky where her family, Nino and Marinette's bubbles are at. And she is in shock about the idea of her family and friends being sent to the Other Side as a threat.
"If I were you, I would do anything I could to ensure Ladybug showed up very shortly! Like now, as in NOW now." Dark Moth said as Alya puts down the phone while looking up in the sky. "Got to gain some time!" She said. Meanwhile, a man wearing a black hood was watching from above on the rooftops. "I'm waiting." Dark Moth said as something hits Sentibubbler from above. "Ow! Okay, who's the idiot that threw that?!" He called out to his hostages. This gave Alya her chance for her plan as she looks on her fanny pack where Trixx is peeking out. "Get ready, Trixx. We have to figure out a way to free Marinette, or else we're all serious goners!" She said softly to her Kwami as she looks behind and uses her vision, pointing at the Sentibubbler, the fruit bowl, and her bedroom door. "How did you throw something at me? Answer me!" Sentibubbler shouted to Nora. "Don't look at me, Bubble Butt. You trapped us in bubbles." Nora replied. "What did you call me?" Sentibubbler growled.
"Hey, Sentibubbler?" Alya called out as the black hooded man teleported. "I have to go to the bathroom." She spoke as the possessed Shadow Moth synced with Sentibubbler looked annoyed. "Now?!" They shouted as Alya stomped her feet. "Yes now! Seriously, it cannot wait. Must be the stress. Plus, it sure will look weird if Ladybug finds me like this. Besides, do you want my bladder to explode?" Alya asked as Shadow Moth looked disgusted at the thought. "Alright fine. Me and Sentibubbler will pretend to be oblivious and let you go." Shadow Moth said. "No tricks…" He started. "Or I'll send those bubbles right into space, or the Other Side!" Sentibubbler said as he was in sync with Dark Moth. "Jeez Louise, I won't. Woah!" Alya trips and the table falls down. She hides behind the table. "Trixx, let's pounce!" Alya whispered to Trixx as she transforms into Rena Rouge and grabs her flute to quickly create an illusion of herself as Alya. "Mirage!" She whispered.
"Sentibubbler, what is she doing?" Dark Moth spoke as Sentibubbler went inside the Césaire residence. "Ah, I can't see!" Sentibubbler spoke. "Well, check on her." Dark Moth ordered. "And let her catch me peeking?!" Sentibubbler spoke back. "Fine. Just make sure she's not trying anything." Dark Moth said as he grumbled. "*Since when did Sentimonsters have minds of their own?*" "Alya" appears from the table, holding a bowl above her head and places it on their kitchen counter. Rena Rouge makes her move to stay hidden from the Sentibubbler and Shadow Moth. "I'm giving you 30 seconds."
"Alya" shook her head and enters the bathroom. Rena Rouge grabs a bunch of grapes on the floor and sneaks behind the Sentibubbler as he begins to count. "One, two, three..." He counted as Rena Rouge was in Alya's room. "Reality!" She said softly as her illusion of Alya disappears without the Sentibubbler's knowledge. "Five!" His shoulder gets tapped from behind by the black hooded man from behind, spooking him. "Hasn't anyone told you about no boys in the girls room?" He spoke. "Who are you?" Sentibubbler spoke. "PK FLASH!" The hooded man shouted using a bright flash to blind Sentibubbler and Dark Moth. "Ah, I can't see!" They said as the black hooded man grabbed Sentibubbler. "Out you go." The man smiled as he tossed him out the balcony. Rena Rouge heard a loud crash. "Let's rest!" She then de-transforms into civilian form and catches Trixx on her hands, and they saw the black hooded man with a large paintbrush on his back.
"Paint Panda?" Alya asked as the man turned and quickly vanished. "Wait!" She shouted. "Was that really him?" She hands over the bunch of grapes to Trixx as he pulls out a piece and bites on it. "That looked his Magic Brush… So, you got a plan?" Trixx asked. "Uh-huh. Shadow Moth and the Sentibubbler don't know I have my Miraculous with me. I'm going to use it to make them believe everything is going according to their plan." She said as Trixx continued chewing on his piece of grape. "You're going to create an illusion of Ladybug?" The Fox Kwami asked.
"Yep. But first, I have to make sure that Cat Noir doesn't mess up my plan." Alya said. "Trixx, let's pounce!" Alya transforms once again into Rena Rouge. She opens her fox phone and calls Cat Noir who was on the rooftops as he answers his cat phone. "Rena? Are you with Ladybug?" Cat asked. "Yes. She needs help right now, and she asked me to call you and say we got a plan that involves a guy in a black hood that I think might be Paint Panda." Rena Rouge said from Alya's room. "She's been caught again? Buddy Bear's back. What should I do?" Cat Noir asked. "Just listen very carefully…" Rena informed.
In her bubble, Marinette sees an illusion of Ladybug down below. "Rena Rouge has gone into action, Tikki! I knew Alya could handle it!" But she then sees Cat Noir follow "Ladybug" from behind. "Cat Noir! No!" She shouted. "What's wrong?" Tikki asked. "If Cat Noir comes into contact with Rena Rouge's illusion anyway, it'll disappear! I've got to warn Cat Noir!" Marinette attempts to push her bubble forward. "Or Dark Moth will figure out Alya's plan!" She continues to push her bubble forward, but the black hooded man helps her.
On the rooftop where Shadow Moth (Dark Moth possessed) is standing, he sees "Ladybug". "There she is!" He shouted as he goes back to acting as the Sentibubbler who recovers from the being tossed on the ground and returns to "Alya". "Hurry up, Ladybug's coming!" He said as "Alya" comes out of the bathroom. "See? I didn't make trouble." She smiled as she walks to the balcony and Sentibubbler takes a peek at "Alya" from the room he is hiding in. "Stop right there, Sentibubbler, wait until Ladybug has given the Miraculous to Rena Rouge before you capture her."
On another rooftop, Cat Noir stops and looks up. "Cat Noir! Cat Noir!" Marinette shouted as
he goes to her bubble. "What happened, Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" Cat Noir asked. "You have to stay where you are!" Marinette warned. "I know. Rena Rouge told me what her plan was, and that she told me that our Buddy Bear came back." Cat Noir said to his "partner". "She did? So that man in the black hood WAS PJ." Marinette spoke. "Are you sure it was him?" She asked. "If not, we'll have encounter him face to face." Cat Noir stated. "Just don't make him turn over to the Dark Side again, okay, milady?" Cat Noir spoke out of seriousness, leaving Marinette guilty and nervous about that incident. She then saw Sentibubbler behind him."Look out!" She shouted as Cat Noir was caught in a bubble. "Look at that. I caught a Cat Noir… but no Ladybug? You two have a falling out?" Sentibubbler taunted. "None of your business!" Cat Noir frowned. "Cataclysm!" He shouted uses his power to break free of his bubble, but gets caught again. "Aww, hairballs."
Meanwhile, Rena Rouge communicates through the illusions of "Ladybug" and "Alya", staging her betrayal with the spotted hero for Dark Moth's plan as Sentibubbler watched, but Dark Moth knew his plan was going to backfire. "No! This isn't the plan!" Shadow Moth shouted as Sentibubbler takes out his bubble sword. "Shall I capture Ladybug?" He asked until he made himself be whacked on the head with it. "Ow!" He exclaimed. "No, you impatient imbecile! Just wait a moment!" Dark Moth said.
Rena Rouge then speaks through illusions as both "Alya" and "Ladybug" to show Sentibubbler and Dark Moth that she's betraying Ladybug. "I was proud to fight by your side, Ladybug." She said as Alya. Then speaks as "Ladybug" next. "Don't worry... I'll find another holder and give him a different, but very powerful Miraculous! We'll save your loved ones!" She said. "Thank you, Ladybug!" After that, "Ladybug" swings away as Sentibubbler watches. "Let's follow her!" Dark Moth commanded Sentibubbler as he left the balcony. Rena Rouge detransforms as she gives Trixx another grape. "From this point on, Trixx, Rena Rouge can never be seen in the light of day. Shadow Moth's gotta believe that no one's using the Miraculous of the Fox!" Alya spoke. "Now that's sly. Very sly!" Trixx smiled. "Trixx, let's pounce!" She transforms once again into Rena Rouge.
"Marinette, get ready. It's time for the real Ladybug to show up!" Rena Rouge said in her message to Marinette as she grabs her flute to create another illusion. "Mira—!" Rena Rouge shouted until the man with the black hood appeared. "Let me take it here, Double R." He spoke as he made the painted tip of his brush glow. "It IS you…" Rena Rouge whispered. "Art Power!" He then created an illusion of Marinette, full of despair inside her bubble along with Cat Noir trapped in a bubble. "What's happening?" Tikki asked. "Alya has created the illusion of an identical bubble containing an illusion of me and it completely overlaps us!" Marinette spoke as the scene focuses on hopeless Marinette and Cat Noir trapped inside the bubbles. "Nobody can see us from the outside now!" Marinette spoke off camera. "It's brilliant!" Tikki stated. "Tikki, spots on!" Marinette spoke softly as she transforms into Ladybug. She then sees Cat Noir float towards Sentibubbler.
"Ladybug will never fall into your trap, Beezlebutt and Bubble Butt!" Cat Noir shouted as Shadow Moth growled, hiding in an alley at those nicknames. "Shut him up!" Sentibubbler silences Cat Noir's bubble. "No one will silence me, Shadow Moo!" Cat Noir said as he becomes inaudible and Gabriel was slowly coming back to his senses. "Son? Hurry and do something, Marinette." He spoke softly as Ladybug was inside her bubble.
"Lucky Charm!" She said softly as she uses her power and gets a polka-dotted pot. She uses her Lucky vision and looks at the coffee cup Shadow Moth is holding, Sentibubbler, and the tarantula that is trapped inside the bubble. "That's it. That cup's gotta be the object that allows him to control the sentimonster!" Ladybug opens her yo-yo and grabs the Horse Miraculous. She wears the glasses as Kaalki emerges from it. "Tikki, Kaalki, Unify!" She transforms into Pegabug.
Scene: Streets of Paris
Sentibubbler follows "Ladybug", only to see the illusion fade away. "Show yourself, Ladybug! It's over for you and Cat Noir!" He shouted. "If you don't surrender..." He said with Shadow Moth controlling him. "I'll send all these prisoners into space! Three, two, one! Too late!" Sentibubbler brings the bubbles high up into the sky as it head toward outer space. "Help, Ladybug!" Ella and Etta shouted. "Hurry up! The bubbles are rising! Tick-tock, Ladybug!" Sentibubbler spoke. Cat Noir's ring begins to beep.
"It's now or never for your awesome plan, m'lady!" Cat Noir said worried as Pegabug spots Shadow Moth, the Peacock and the Butterfly Miraculous, and his coffee cup. "I won't be able to seize everything at once! First, the object that controls the sentimonster. Voyage!" She opens up a portal that opens up behind Shadow Moth, ambushing him and grabbing his coffee cup, shocking him. "Ladybug?!"
"No, Gabriel… Pegabug!" She strikes a pose after her post transformation sequence. Dark Moth takes hold of Shadow Moth and tries to catch Pegabug, but she was able to jump on a lamppost whilst holding the coffee cup that controls Sentibubbler. "Sentibubbler! Bring the bubbles down and free the prisoners!" She commanded. "At your command! Sentibubbler sends down the bubbles safely to the ground. "Marinette… daughter-in-law, help me!" Gabriel pleaded as he was trying to regain control of his senses again. "Betterfly?" Pegabug spoke. "Betterfly is dead. And so is my creation I created." Dark Moth said through Shadow Moth's body with his eyes glowing red. "Sentibubbler, I release you from existence!" He snaps his fingers and Sentibubbler scream in agony as he disappears.
"No!" Pegabug shouted as the amok from the coffee cup appears and purifies itself as it floats in the air. The bubbles that hold Alya's family and Nino captive pops which send them falling to the ground. "Reality!" Rena Rouge shouted inside her room making the illusion of Marinette's bubble vanishes. Cat Noir catches Nino and Pegabug was about to lasso her yo-yo to create a net to catch the Césaires safely, but sees a giant yellow bird carrying them on its back. "Wow! Big Bird!" Ella and Etta shouted happily. "I heard of A Big Bird, but I never seen one this big." Otis spoke. "What is this? Sesame Street?" Nora asked in confusion.
"Kaalki, dismount!" Kaalki comes out from her glasses and transforms back to Ladybug. The big bird brought down everybody back to the ground as it floats down gently, including their tarantula as she traps it with her pot. "Gotcha!"She hands it over to Otis. "Can you hold on to this for me, please?" She asked as Otis grabs the pot with the tarantula on it. Ladybug then turns to Cat Noir. "Where did Shadow Moth go?"
Both look up on the roof, seeing Shadow Moth escape. "I think he felt the wind start to change." Cat Noir says. "Our Betterfly was still in there. And this could've been the end of Dark Moth controlling him." She said looking down. Cat Noir's ring starts to beep again. "You know, I really thought today was the end of Cat Noir. But you guys really had it under control." He said as Ladybug smiles as they bump fists. "Pound it!"
Cat Noir jumps away. Ladybug approaches the Césaires. "I guess you'll need a little something. I'll come back in a minute." Ladybug spoke.
Scene: The Césaire residence. Ladybug lands on the balcony and finds Rena Rouge who is holding their tarantula's terrarium.
Ladybug hugs Rena Rouge. "You rocked, Rena Rouge!" She shouted. "See? When someone trusts me with a "you-know-what," I don't lose it." Rena Rouge said as Ladybug takes the terrarium from Rena Rouge. "I never should've second-guessed letting you hold on to the Miraculous." She swings back to where the Césaires are. "Let's rest!" Rena Rouge de-transforms.
Scene: Streets of Paris
Ladybug gives Otis the terrarium and gently placed the tarantula inside. They all look at it with awe. "Miraculous Ladybug!" She throws the pot up high as the wall that Cat Noir smashed earlier is fixed back to normal, organized the mess inside the Césaire residence and brought back the Césaires, along with Nino, safely back home. She swings inside Alya's room. "Spots off!" Ladybug de-transforms. Marinette peeks at the door and runs to Alya and reunites with her. "I'm not really afraid of spiders." Nino said in the background.
Next scene is in Alya's bedroom where Marinette and Alya talk about what happened. "You actually have Ladybug say that she would never ever give you the Miraculous of the Fox again?" Marinette asked to Alya. "Uh-huh." She nodded. "So, he'll never try to steal it from you again! Nightmare over!" Marinette shouted. "Pretty sly, don't you think?" Alya asked. "Sly as a fox! You're a true superhero!" Marinette smiled. "You aren't so bad either, Pegabug." Alya said as they bump fists. "Pound it!"
"Plus, that big bird illusion was great!" She said. "What big bird?" Alya asked. "We didn't make it." Trixx said to her confusion. "I did." Said a voice as the girls are shocked to see the black hooded man. "Hey! You think you can just pop in and out whenever you want? Uh-huh!" Alya shouted as she takes a fighting stance. "Nice to meet you too, Vixy." The man spoke. "We better go." Said another voice, but in his hood, as Trixx's ears perked up when the man was going to leave. "I know that other voice…" Trixx spoke. "Wait!" Marinette shouted stopping him. "PJ? Is it really you?" She asked to Alya's confusion as she looked. The man then takes his hood off. "Is it really me, MDC and AC." PJ smiled and Inky the Panda Kwami comes out. "Hello ladies."
"Inky! PJ!" Marinette, Alya, Tikki and Trixx shouted happy to see their two friends again. The two Kwamis then start to hug Inky in this reunion. "It's so good to see you again!" Tikki spoke. "We missed you two!" Trixx said. "Same here." Inky said. "Hey, hey. Give this panda some room to breathe." Alya said as she and Marinette took their respective Kwamis. "I thought you left Paris." Marinette said to PJ. "Just couldn't stay away. After all, Paris holds the key to your heart, as they all say." PJ said. "Of course it does." Alya smiled. "So how are things with you and Double A?" PJ asked to Marinette about her relationship with Adrien. "Things are going well for us." Marinette smiled. "And has Gabriel been a good Butterfly Miraculous hero since Emilie's been brought back?" Inky asked, leaving Alya and Marinette nervous to tell them. "He's become Hawk Moo again, hasn't he?" PJ frowned. "Afraid so, buddy bear." Alya spoke.
"Yeah, but he was being forced to… Nooroo and Duusu both, by Dark Moth." Marinette said causing Inky to gasp, and PJ to narrow his eyes. "Dark Moth? Dark Mills is back? Go on." PJ said to the two. "The guy came back with help from his new friends from the Other Side. Like demonic help." Marinette explained. "Just as I thought. I saw him make his announcement during that fake Mr. Pigeon attack. Now Inky and I have to go and train. It's only a matter of time before he unleashes HIM as his secret weapon." PJ said about to leave. "If you guys ever need us, we'll be here." Inky said before following his creator. "Wait! If you do, see if you can Su-Han to train you." Marinette spoke.
"The Celestial Guardian? We will, MDC. Take care of yourself. Tell Adrien and the gang I said "hi". Bye-bye." PJ said as he falls backwards on the balcony and flies off on his hoverboard with Inky.
Epilogue Scene: Nathalie's bedroom. Gabriel is pacing over his defeat with Dark Moth possessing him.
"That was way too close. Marinette could've lost her Miraculous along with my son if not for that meddling Dark Moth. That demon child makes me so mad, he keeps making me go back to my roots!" He said furiously as he cracks his tablet's screen and sits on the bed where Nathalie is lying.
"I can't let my family down. If only that boy who saved Emilie were here again." He sighed. "Don't give up. Everyone makes mistakes, we all do. Just don't forget about your promise you made to Emilie," Nathalie said as she holds Gabriel's hand. "To me. And if PJ were here, he'd help make your wish will come true again. Without the Miraculouses." She spoke.
"I haven't forgotten that promise. I swear, as Emilie as my witness, I will never forget my promise, to my family." Gabriel spoke. "Neither will I." Nathalie smiled.