Miraculous: Return of the Dark Moth
Chapter 3: Attack from the Other Side
Summary: As Marinette was getting ready for her date with Adrien, she confides in him that she's afraid that her evil clone, Phantombug will return from her negative emotions. While Chloé and Gabriel Agreste give out their apology speeches, Dark Moth announces his return and attack on Paris! And this time, he's not alone. He's got friends from the Other Side!
It was time for Marinette's date with Adrien, and he was having trouble finding the perfect outfit. But then she found it. Marinette then greets her friends, Alya, Rose, Juleka, Mylène and Alix at the park. "Hey guys!" Marinette shouted coming to them. "Marinette!" Rose smiled. "You look great." Mylène spoke. "This won't end like one of your complicated plans this time, right?" Alya asked. "Plans?" Marinette asked. "You know, "Operation: Secret Garden"?" Alix reminded to Marinette. Marinette blushed remembering that complicated plan.
Marinette blushed remembering that plan. She had her and her friends given codenames based on a flower, and she was planning to ask Adrien out on a romantic walk on a rickshaw ride after he finished his photoshoot. They would go on the banks of the Seine and over to the Ponts de Arts bridge via a rickshaw ride, where they get a shared ice cream from André, the sweetheart's ice cream maker.
But that plan was foiled when Hawk Moth was going to akumatise Adrien's bodyguard, "the Gorilla", but his emotions vanished and the akuma had went into the bracelet of young August, turning the toddler into Gigantitan, a giant baby rampaging over Paris trying to get a lollipop.
Luckily, Ladybug and Cat Noir saved August and de-evilised him. Marinette was offered a ride by Adrien in his father's car, but she mixed up her words saying she'll take a "cole slaw" home. "You remember that?" Marinette asked in shock. "How could we forget the day we saw a giant baby supervillain?" Alya asked.
"Well, this time'll be different. I'm going to do it!" Marinette said with confidence as her friends cheered for her. Adrien Agreste was sitting on a bench, waiting for Marinette. "Adrien!" Marinette shouted waving to her boyfriend as she approached.
Adrien looked up and saw her. He stood up and smiled, walking towards her. "Marinette, you look amazing!" He said as he kissed her cheek. Marinette's heart fluttered as they sat down together. "Thanks Adrien." She smiled as she sat beside him. "I saw your text from last night. What did you want to talk about?" Adrien asked as Marinette gotten a reminder on her phone for Ladybug to show up for Chloé's apology speech. "We'll talk while we're on patrol, kitty." She spoke.
Marinette and Adrien began to go somewhere to transform into Ladybug and Cat Noir as they were atop one of the rooftops to watch the press conference for Chloé Bourgeois and Gabriel Agreste's respective apology speeches. "So, what'd you want to talk about?" Cat Noir asked. "Kitty, do you remember that battle we had with my evil clone, Phantombug?" She asked.
"How could I forget?" He replied, the memory of the battle flashing through his mind. "Our buddy bear, PJ helped us when he was Paint Panda. But why bring that up now?" Ladybug took a deep breath. "I had a nightmare of Phantombug coming back, only that she was going to take over my body if my negative emotions get a hold of me." Ladybug confessed. "So now… I'm scared."
Cat Noir's eyes widened with concern. "Don't worry, Ladybug, I'll always be there to save you, no matter what happens." He assured her, placing a comforting hand on hers. "Okay. If my negative emotions ever cause me to be turn against my friends, or even you… Please promise you'll help me find the light." She requested. "I will, Bugaboo. I'll be there. Miraculous or not." Cat Noir said. "Thanks… and Cat?" Ladybug asked. "Yeah?" He asked. "Don't call me "Bugaboo"."
Then, Chloé Bourgeois came out from the Le Grand Paris Hotel with her half sister, Zoé and her parents, Audrey Bourgeois and her father, Mayor André Bourgeois standing with her for her speech. Gabriel Agreste then comes out walking to the podium. "Good afternoon, everyone." He greeted. "That's Gabriel Agreste. Adrikins' daddy." Chloé said to Zoé. "That's the one you said was Hawk Moth? He doesn't look evil." Zoé stated. "Trust me. They never do." Chloé spoke to Zoé as Mayor André Bourgeois comes to the podium to speak to the public.
"People of Paris, we are gathered here today for my daughter, Chloé and Mr. Agreste to show their humblest apologies for what they did these past few weeks." Mayor Bourgeois spoke. Chloé looked up and saw Ladybug and Cat Noir watching her. "I hope that after this event, we hope to maintain the peace that we all fought for Paris that fateful Halloween, and put the past behind us. First up to speak will be my daughter, Chloé Bourgeois." He spoke as everyone clapped as Chloé went up to the podium for her speech.
"Everyone in Paris, I know you see me as a spoiled brat, a target for akumatised villains, especially my bestest best friend, Sabrina…" She said as Sabrina Raincomprix was with her father, Officer Roger in the crowd. "…and a failure to even be called a hero. I failed to be a good girl for Mommy and Daddy, and I failed to be a hero as Queen Bee." Chloé spoke remembering those events and when she was akumatised as the Miracle Queen helping Hawk Moth. She took a deep breath.
"I know I made some mistakes and tried to make up for them when helping Ladybug and Cat Noir take our town back from the Akuma Wars… As Miss Paris, I take full responsibility for my actions and the harm I've caused to the city, the people I love and my classmates. I know I can never take back what I did, but I promise to work hard to regain your trust and love for me. And if Ladybug and Cat Noir are here with us, I'm sure they'll point me in the right direction. Thank you for listening." Chloé spoke into the microphone, her voice cracking with emotion as everyone clapped.
"I'd give her a week." Alix said rolling her eyes. "Same here." Alya Césaire stated as Chloé stepped down and went to her mother's side. "Did I do good?" She asked. "It was adequate." Audrey stated, causing Chloé to slump.
Next, Gabriel Agreste comes to the podium for his apology speech. He looks towards the crowd and takes a deep breath, clearing his throat.
"Citizens of Paris, I stand before you today to express my deepest regret for the recent events that have transpired due to my actions as Hawk Moth." His voice is firm and sincere, holding the podium tightly. "I was consumed by my obsession to save my wife, and in doing so, I have brought fear and chaos to the very people I care about. Even causing one boy, Dark Mills to expose my identity, and that he became Dark Moth creating the Akuma Wars." He spoke as Zoé turns to Chloé. "It's true."
"But with the help of Ladybug and Cat Noir, I've realized the error of my ways." He paused as the crowd remained silent. "I will do everything in my power to make amends and ensure that such a tragedy never befalls our great city again." His words resonated with sincerity. "From this day forward, I vow to be a better father to my son, Adrien, use my resources to help our city, and use the Butterfly Miraculous for good. Thank you." Gabriel said as the crowd was silent, and they began to clap.
As the applause subsided, there was a sound of cooing noises and the sound of flapping wings filled the air. People looked up to see a massive flock of pigeons swarming around the area, their eyes glowing with a sinister light. "Look coo's back!" A voice shouted as the pigeons revealed Mr. Pigeon. "That is coo-rrect! Mr. Pigeon has returned!" He shouted. The crowd then looked at Gabriel Agreste. "Don't look at me. I didn't evilise Mr. Ramier this time." He said. "But I'm right here." The real Xavier Ramier spoke. "Then, who's that?" Sabrina asked as she hid behind her policeman father, Roger as something was off about this Mr. Pigeon.
Roger placed his hands on his hat as he goes to confront Mr. Pigeon. "Alright, whoever you are. I'm taking you and your pigeon buddies in." He said going to arrest him. "Not this time. You'll never take me alive!" Mr. Pigeon said as he uses his bird call to make all the pigeons turn from medium gray to very dark gray and turn into ravens. They then swoop down and turn Roger into a raven-hybrid. "Daddy!" Sabrina shouted in horror.
"From now on, everyone will have to accept us pigeons, because everyone will be just like us!" Mr. Pigeon sneered with his eyes glowing yellow. The pigeons then start to attack the citizens turning them into pigeon-raven hybrids. Chloé quickly runs inside the hotel with her family as Gabriel then hides somewhere. "Not so fast, birdy!" Shouted Ladybug as she and Cat Noir leaped down to where he was. "Ah, Ladybug and Cat Noir. I was wondering when you'd show up." Mr. Pigeon smiled.
In his hiding place, Gabriel has his Kwami, Nooroo come out. "Alright. It's time that we did something good for once. Using the Butterfly Miraculous for good." He said as Nooroo started to smile in awe. "What?" He asked. "This was the Gabriel I always hoped to be there." Nooroo said. "Whatever. What is the phrase to say for us to be Betterfly?" Gabriel asked. "Simple. Instead of saying "Nooroo, Dark Wings Rise", just say "Nooroo, Light Wings Rise!" Nooroo instructed.
Gabriel nodded and said, "Nooroo, Light Wings Rise!" He shouted as Nooroo warps into the Butterfly Miraculous as his body began to glow with a bright purple light and he was in a different suit than Hawk Moth becoming Betterfly.
He saw the citizens of Paris in danger as he saw Ladybug and Cat Noir fighting off the sentimonster Mr. Pigeon and his minions. "My son and daughter-in-law need some help. And I think I know who to call." Betterfly said as he turns a butterfly into a Kamiko. "Go, my little Kamiko and heroize him!" He sent the butterfly into Mr. Ramier's whistle, to make him into a bird themed superhero.
"Birdman, this is Betterfly. Not Hawk Moth. Your akumatised double is out there wreaking havoc with his pigeons, and now it is time you assisted Ladybug and Cat Noir. I fight for the greater good, and so will you. You will have the abilities of the great birds of the world. So, do you accept my offer?"
Mr. Ramier looked up from his hiding spot, his eyes wide in shock. He had been watching the chaos unfold, feeling a strange tug at his heart that this was wrong. "O-Of course!" He stuttered, as he stood up and began to transform into Birdman. Ladybug and Cat Noir continued to fight, but Mr. Pigeon wasn't slowing down. "He's somehow getting stronger!" Cat shouted. "I have just the thing." Ladybug said.
"Lucky Charm!" She shouted having her yo-yo sent into the air, turning into a small object. "What am I supposed to do with this?" She asked. "Ladybug, Cat Noir! I brought someone to help!" Betterfly shouted as Birdman flew up as he attacks Mr. Pigeon midair. "Mr. Ramier?" Ladybug spoke. "Non, non. Better than Mr. Ramier…I am Birdman!" Birdman spoke.
The battle grew more intense as Birdman's whistle emitted a powerful sound that caused Mr. Pigeon to stumble. "He's open!" He shouted as Betterfly made Mr. Pigeon trip, and the pigeon minions were thrown into confusion, and Ladybug saw her chance. She threw her Lucky Charm, a pack of blinding powder at Mr. Pigeon. "Cat, now!" She exclaimed. Cat Noir leaped up and activated his power.
"Cataclysm!" He shouted destroying the bird whistle, releasing an Amok, a blue feather that Mayura used to create sentimonsters out of it.
"No more evil doing for you, little Amok." Ladybug said opening her yo-yo, spinning it and swinging it around. "Time to de-evilize!" She captures the amok. "Gotcha!" Ladybug then opens her yo-yo, releasing the purified feather. "Bye-bye, little feather." She spoke as she tossed her Lucky Charm into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!" She shouted as the magical Ladybugs restore the people who were turned into pigeon-raven hybrids back to normal. Mr. Pigeon began to disappear.
"What? Did he just disappear?" Cat Noir asked in surprise. "He was a sentimonster… but how did this get made?" Ladybug asked. "Birdman, you done good. Kamiko, to me." Betterfly said taking the Kamiko back from Birdman and returning to his cane, restoring Mr. Ramier to normal. "Thank you for your help, little Kamiko." Betterfly smiled. "Thank you, Ladybug and Cat Noir… for letting me help you." Mr. Ramier said.
"You're welcome, Mr. Ramier. And thank you, Betterfly for helping us." Ladybug spoke. "I suppose you have something to prevent him from being evilised?" Betterfly asked. "I think I do." She replied. Ladybug then expands her limits, gains a new suit since she has the title of the Guardian, and creates the first magical charm.
"Wow, cool new suit. And what's that?" Cat asked. "It's a... Magical Charm." Ladybug said. "Mr. Ramier, always keep this with you. It will protect you from negative emotions. "Oh, does this mean that I won't be able to be akumatised anymore?" Ramier asked joyfully. He turns to the pigeons. "Oh, do you hear that my friends? We will never be Paris's villains again!" Ramier then happily runs off as the pigeons fly off with him. "Pound it!" Ladybug and Cat Noir said pounding their fists together, and Betterfly joined in.
The crowd cheered as they saw their loved ones returning to normal. "There you have it, Ladyblog! Paris is saved, thanks to Ladybug and Cat Noir, and their new ally, Betterfly!" Alya Césaire said on her livestream for the Ladyblog.
Meanwhile, Chloé and her family watched the events unfold from the hotel window. "Well, that was unexpected." Chloé said. "But, who's that new hero?" Audrey asked. "That has to be the Betterfly Mr. Agreste was talking about." Mayor Bourgeois said. "At least he's doing some good." Zoé said as she and Chloé began to notice the sky was starting to darken.
The joyous atmosphere was suddenly pierced by the ominous cackle of Dark Moth's transmission. His voice boomed across Paris as a swarm of akumas form Dark Moth's face at the Eiffel Tower, sending a shiver down everyone's spines. "People of Paris, this is Dark Moth…" He spoke as he looked down at Ladybug and Cat Noir. "Ladybug and Cat Noir, my old friends… How are you?"
The duo looked up at the tower, recognizing the voice immediately. It was Dark Mills, taking the form of Dark Moth, the same Dark Moth that had caused the Akuma Wars in Paris. "Dark Moth!" Cat Noir shouted. "But we defeated you! That sentimonster of Mr. Pigeon was your doing, wasn't it?" Ladybug exclaimed. "Ah, so you enjoyed that little show I gave you earlier. I didn't make him all by myself… I had some help from my new friends from the Other Side."
"The Other Side? Like the Underworld? This guy a DEMON now?" Cat Noir asked in shock. "Ooh… You noticed my new look. It's something that I put together since our last fight. Now, I have been making something new. Demon Akumas, so now my villain army will be stronger than you. They'll put fights like you never seen. This time, Paris will become our playground with us to rule… Villains over all." Dark Moth frowned. The crowd below gasped in horror. "We won't let that happen!" Ladybug shouted back, her voice filled with determination.
"Cat Noir, my friends and I… we beat you during the Akuma Wars to take our town back…" Ladybug started. "And we can do it again." Cat Noir said finishing his partner's sentence. "Is that a challenge?" Dark Moth smirked evilly. "You bet it is!" Ladybug shouted in a tone of anger and seriousness.
"Very well… But this won't be a simple takeover this time. This time, it's personal. I've made connections with the Other Side, and we'll be taking something that is dear to you… Starting with… the Agreste family!" Dark Moth declared causing Betterfly's eyes to widen. "Until then… I leave you these two words: Be Prepared…" Dark Moth said as his transmission ended.
Everyone in Paris was in a slight panic. "Everyone, don't panic! We will stop Dark Moth. The Miraculous heroes got your back." Ladybug spoke to the crowd, calming them down as they left. Even though Marinette's classmates were in the crowd, and they were the Miraculous heroes who helped them take back Paris.
Cat Noir's ring started to beep since he used his Cataclysm. "Uh oh…Gotta go!" He said about to de-transform. "See you soon, Adri- Cat Noir." Ladybug smiled until her smile faded. "What did Dark Morh mean by… "taking something that was dear to you"? And why'd he bring up the Agrestes?" Ladybug asked. "Emilie and Nathalie!" Gabriel exclaimed. "I must head back to the Mansion."
"You're going to de-transform, and so I am… So, I'm going to give you this." Ladybug takes out the Peacock Miraculous from her yo-yo. "The Peacock Miraculous? Are you sure?" Betterfly asked. "Yes. I saw that you repaired it… I'm trusting you to use it for the greater good. Now, go help your family." She said. "Very well, Guardian…" Betterfly nodded as he went somewhere to de-transform back to Gabriel.
He then takes his car and goes to the mansion. Adrien was in the car as he had de-transformed from Cat Noir. "Take us home." Gabriel said to Adrien's bodyguard, Placide I.T., aka the Gorilla, who nodded and drove them to the Mansion. Meanwhile, Dark Moth takes the form of Dark Mills and smiles, watching the car leave as he teleports to the Agreste Mansion.