Chapter Text
Scene: Fu's massage shop. Master Fu is meditating with Wayzz beside him.
“Master Fu!” Adrien exclaimed.
“Wait, Master Fu?” Luka repeated. “Who is that?”
“He’s the Guardian of the Miraculous and the Miracle Box,” Marinette explained.
Mocha snorted. “Also, he’s like…really old. I don’t understand how he’s still alive. Isn’t he like two hundred years old?”
Lanna pinched the skin between her upper lip and her nose. “186, Mocha.”
“Hey, I think I met him once,” Kim commented. “At Adrien’s big party.”
“You did meet him,” Winter confirmed. “And you have the rare honor of personally being chosen by the Guardian himself instead of by Marinette to wield your Miraculous.”
“Even though he immediately regretted it,” Myla added promptly, her eyes alight with mischief.
Wayzz: Master, are you okay?
Master Fu: She's here!
“Wow, that’s cool!” Alya exclaimed. “Can all Guardians sense Miraculous holders?”
“With enough time and practice,” Tikki said with a nod.
(Marinette knocks on the door and Wayzz flies off and hides inside the phonograph.)
Master Fu: Hello, Ladybug!
Tikki: I know you never wanted me to bring her here again but... you must see what she's discovered. Show him, Marinette.
Marinette: I've been here; I've met you before. You're the healer that cured Tikki when she was sick! (Marinette has flashbacks of her meeting Master Fu.) Soo... I'm guessing you're not really a vet?
“Wait, when did that happen, M’lady?”
Marinette shrugged. “She got sick right before Rose got akumatized for the first time. I should have gotten her help sooner, but I wanted to finish school for the day. Then I ended up losing her, and she pretended to be a stuffy.”
Chloe coughed in surprise. “You mean when found a ladybug stuffy, and I tried to get Prince Ali to like me by acting like I was really generous?”
“Yeah, that would be the time,” Marinette agreed.
“So you were the weirdly-dressed pizza delivery person!”
“Uh huh.”
Master Fu: Not really. That was your first day of school, that wasn't a chance meeting either. (Master Fu has flashbacks of Marinette helping him.) Marinette, you're always ready to help others. I knew that day, that very moment, that you'd make a fantastic Ladybug!
“Something similar happened to me,” Adrien realized. “Is that really why he chose us? Because we decided to help a strange old man?”
“Yeah, I think he did that to me too,” Kim agreed.
Plagg nodded to both of them. “Master Fu wanted to make sure he gave Miraculous to people who had goodness in their hearts.”
“So he decided this off of a potentially one-off rescue attempt?” Alix pointed out. “I’m no Guardian, and I hope I never have to be, but I feel like it would be better to take more time to ensure the Miraculous are given to suitable holders.
Tikki frowned. “Master Fu did the best he could at the time.”
Marinette: But, who are you?
(Master Fu stands up and guides Marinette to the phonograph and uses the code which unlocks access to the Miracle Box.)
“Shouldn’t he use more than three buttons for the code?” Max commented. “Statistically, the longer and more separated the code is, the more difficult it would be for someone to replicate it.”
Mocha purred. “You should have seen the sewing box Marinette makes to hide the Miracle Box when she becomes Guardian.”
Tikki: Master Fu is the last known member of the Order of the Guardians!
Wayzz: (Wayzz gets out of the phonograph and starts talking to Marinette.) Guardians of the Miraculous! I'm Wayzz, Master Fu's kwami. It's a pleasure to meet you, Marinette.
Marinette: Uhh, you too! (chuckles)
Nino smiled when he saw the turtle kwami.
“You seem startled, Marinette,” Kagami said.
“And definitely really flustered,” Alix added.
Marinette groaned. “Of course I was startled. Before then, the only kwami I’d ever seen was Tikki. How was I supposed to know what others were out there?”
Master Fu: We guardians are responsible for protecting and distributing the Miraculous, for the good of all humanity. We are chosen in childhood and trained for many years, specially for this mission. When we were much, much younger, we... (sighs) I made a mistake. The guardians' temple was destroyed, all because of me! Two of the Miraculous were lost that day. The Butterfly and the Peacock. Also gone forever was the ancient spellbook!
“Wait, is the guardians’ temple the one that strangely appeared a couple weeks ago?”
“It disappeared because of Feast,” Adrien said quietly. “Once Ladybug and I destroyed him, everything and everyone returned, including other Miracle Boxes.
Marinette: But all it has are drawings of old superheroes and a bunch of strange symbols.
Master Fu: Not strange to a Guardian. Back in the days, I was never given the opportunity to even have a look at it, but I've been taught enough to be able to partially decipher the code.
(Marinette looks at Tikki, then hands the Miraculous book to Master Fu.)
Master Fu: These pages contain various spells capable of giving Ladybug and Cat Noir special abilities we haven't known about, until now! Obviously, this book is invaluable.
“You know what’s really annoying,” Myla commented, looking at Marinette. “After you and Master Fu figured out how to make the upgrade potions, he brought Adrien seven different colors of them, yet you’ve only ever used three.”
“Hmm, that’s a good point,” Alya agreed. “I’ve always wondered if there were any other power-ups besides your underwater, ice, and space ones.”
Adrien grinned. “Of course there are. We just haven’t gotten a chance to use them yet.”
Everyone stared at him impatiently. “So, what are they?” Ivan asked.
“Yeah, don’t leave us in suspense!” Kim begged, as everyone else made pleading noises.
Marinette put up her hands in a placating manner. “Okay, okay, calm down. Let’s see, you all know about the water, ice, and space powerups…There’s also the fire powerup, which makes us impervious to fire and extreme heat.”
Adrien nodded. “There’s a powerup that enables us to automatically understand, speak, and write in any language. Another powerup gives us enhanced speed, even more than what the Miraculous normally gives us.”
“And the last one allows us to override the five minute time limit on our transformations, but it makes us extra exhausted and one of the ingredients belongs to a nearly-extinct creature, so we can’t use it too often,” Marinette finished.
“There’s always checks and balances,” Winter rumbled. “When one is entrusted with so much power, there are always…sacrifices.” He looked over at Lanna, who met his gaze for a few seconds before looking back at the screen.
Scene: Adrien's room. Nathalie shows CCTV images of Adrien stealing the Miraculous book from Gabriel's safe.
“It’s a really good thing kwamis can’t be videoed, Plagg,” Tikki chastised sternly.
“Hey, if I hadn’t opened the safe, we wouldn’t have gotten the Grimoire back to Master Fu,” Plagg defended himself. “And everything worked out fine in the end.”
She glared at him. “Plagg, that’s exactly how Ms. Mendeleev got akumatized. Thanks to your cheese addiction, she tried to record us and failed.”
Alya narrowed her eyes. “Hold that argument, guys.”
“What is it?” Mylene asked.
Alya looked around at everyone. “How and why exactly does Gabriel Agreste have the Grimoire, or the Peacock Miraculous in the first place? I thought Mayura was the Peacock holder. I’ve seen her before and I’m fairly certain Miraculous magic doesn’t disguise someone that much.”
Nino nodded in realization. “And if the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculous were lost together, along with the Grimoire than that means Hawkmoth is–”
“Don’t say it!” Adrien burst out.
“Adrien?” Marinette murmured gently.
“We went through this before!” he exclaimed. “He was akumatized, which means he can’t possibly be–”
“Butterfly holders can still akumatize themselves,” Lanna said quietly, cutting him off. “All they have to do is prepare the akuma in advance, and then detransform and renounce their Miraculous. Chrysalis did that exceedingly well.”
“Who’s Chrysalis?” Luka asked.
Both Myla and Mocha shot Lila a not-so-inconspicuous look. “Let’s just say that she’s worse than Hawk Moth could ever be because she knows how to get to people,” Winter answered, before they could say anything. “But she’ll never get her hands on the Butterfly Miraculous because after this, you’ll have everything you need.”
Gabriel: Why did you take the book?
Adrien: I... I just wanted to know what you were hiding behind that portrait that was so important. You.. you never told me about those things. I was intending to give it back to you, I swear! But then... I lost it.
Gabriel: How can I possibly trust you again, Adrien?
Adrien: Sorry... I'll get you another copy.
Gabriel: It's one of a kind! The book's the source of my inspiration.
Adrien: I didn't know that. I hardly know anything about you, Father.
Gabriel: You won't be returning to school. You'll be home-schooled again...with Nathalie.
(Adrien is disappointed. Nathalie looks at Adrien and Gabriel leaves the room.)
“It was all your fault!” Nino yelled at Lila. “if you hadn’t stolen the book in the first place, he would have never been pulled out of school!”
Lila shrugged. “I may have taken it first, but Marinette was the one who brought to the old Guardian. She’s the reason Gabriel pulled him out.”
“No, she’s the reason he let me go back!” Adrien snapped. “She brought the Grimoire back to my father; she explained things to him and gave me back my freedom.”
Lanna took a deep breath. “Adrien, you need to realize, the way your father treats you is wrong.”
“No, it’s not,” Adrien replied. “I broke into his safe and took the book first; he was right to punish me.”
Chloe scoffed. “Not like that! You and I both have terrible fathers. Mine doesn’t discipline or punish me for anything, even though I deserve it, and yours would rather lock you up in your mansion for the rest of your life!”
“Exactly.” Lanna nodded. “Your father treats you like a piece of property, like something he can control.”
“But aren’t I supposed to obey him because he’s my father?”
“Kid, there’s nothing wrong with being obedient,” Plagg conceded, “but you’re still a person with thoughts and feelings who should be allowed to make some of his own choices.”
Nooroo sighed. “Plagg’s right. The way Gabriel acts is not like a father but like a taskmaster, or worse, a jailer. He expects absolute obedience from everyone around him and he’ll do whatever it takes to force that obedience.”
“You’ve got a strong will for your kind, just like your cousin and Kagami,” Mocha meowed. “But you let…certain factors quell any of your will to resist Gabriel.”
“It’s okay to admit that you’re not comfortable with the way he treats you,” Ivan reassured him. “You don’t have to deal with this alone.”
Adrien swallowed. “I-I don’t know…”
“That’s okay too,” Winter said. “It takes time and more strength than most people have to fight back against something like this.”
“We’ll be here for you no matter what, Adrien,” Marinette promised, the rest of the group nodding encouragingly.
“Thank you, Marinette.”
Scene: Fu's massage shop. Master Fu is seen reading the Miraculous book. Tikki is chasing Wayzz through the air in circles around the room.
“Awww, you guys are so cute!” Rose squealed.
“How long had it been since you’d seen each other?” Marc asked.
Tikki shrugged. “It hadn’t really been that long, just a few months. We were more excited to spend time with each other outside of the Miracle Box.”
“Don’t the kwamis get to go in and out as they please?” Luka questioned.
Plagg shook his head. “Unless a kwami’s Miraculous has a proper holder, they don’t get to leave the box. It’s too dangerous.”
Marinette sighed. “I’ve never understood that. You have feelings too, and such amazing personalities. I don’t think the kwamis should be kept inside the Miracle Box so much.”
“You’re right, Marinette,” Adrien said. “I can’t even imagine trying to lock Plagg away.”
“That’s what you said after Sandboy,” Plagg remembered. “Even after I didn’t tell I was leaving, you still forgave me for it.”
Adrien stroked Plagg’s head with a finger. “And I told you I understood how it felt. I could never do that to anyone else.”
Myla spoke up. “I think you’ll all be happy to know know that when Marinette becomes Guardian, the kwamis are able to move freely in and out of the box.”
“Really?” Nooroo asked in surprise. “But the Miracle Box would only be that way if it were reflecting a guardian’s strong conviction that the kwamis deserve such freedom.”
“I do believe in that freedom,” Marinette answered. “And I’m going to make sure you and Duusu get it too.”
Lanna cleared her throat. “Do I have your permission to make a suggestion, Adrien, Marinette?” They both nodded. “As part of my responsibility as multiversal watcher, I can’t leave this place, but with my powers, I can send you back anywhere in your world, including Hawk Moth’s lair. Then I can match all of you with the Miraculous you’ll be given later on so you can fight and take him down together.”
“You can do that?” “There will be other Miraculous heroes?” Marinette and Adrien asked at the same time.
“Yes, to both your questions,” Lanna said. “And, I can send Winter with you, briefly, anyways. As you’ll soon see, you’re going to need him for something important.”
“Just out of curiosity, how are you going to give all of us our Miraculous?” Chloe asked. “Aren’t they on our earth?”
Mocha grinned. “Doesn’t matter. She can just summon them here.”
“That’s…terrifying,” Nathaniel muttered. “I can’t believe you can just summon Miraculous like that.”
“Yes, but I also can never leave this place,” Lanna reminded him. “So it all balances out.”
Master Fu: I've always believed that whoever possessed this spellbook must also have the Peacock and the Butterfly Miraculous.
Marinette: Wait a sec, you mean whoever owned the spellbook could be Hawk Moth?
Master Fu: How did you discover this book, Marinette?
Marinette: (Marinette has a flashback of Adrien with the Miraculous book.) I... uh... I found it, lying on a bench in a park close to... close to the school.
“Did you really think I was Hawk Moth?” Adrien asked, sounding both amused and offended.
“Given the evidence, there were only a few likely candidates,” Marinette pointed out.
Nino smacked his forehead. “Marinette, there have been akuma attacks when all of us were in class.”
“And that crazy party at Adrien’s,” Ivan put in.
“Not to mention during the garden party,” Juleka mumbled.
“What garden party?” Kim asked.
The six girls who had partaken in the aforementioned plan exchanged an embarrassed look, but no one answered.
Master Fu: You didn't see who it belonged to, then?
Marinette: No. No, I...didn't.
(Tikki looks at Marinette in a bewildered manner.)
Master Fu: What a shame. For a moment, I thought we were about to discover the identity of Hawk Moth. We would've had a chance to defeat him.
“Sadly, Fu can’t defeat Hawk Moth on his own,” Winter announced.
Nooroo trembled. “I hated being used to help capture him.”
“That wasn’t your fault, Nooroo,” Adrien said gently, stroking the butterfly kwami. “It was Hawk Moth’s, but we’ll defeat him.”
Marinette: Uh... I could investigate if you want.
(Master Fu closes the book.)
Master Fu: But you must be very careful, Marinette. If you succeed, you may well find yourself face to face with Hawk Moth.
Marinette: I'll be very careful, I promise.
(Marinette stands up and leaves the shop along with Tikki.)
“You, careful?” Alix teased. “I think most of us can agree you’re overly careful.”
Scene: Street. Marinette is seen running frantically with Tikki consulting her.
(Marinette is panting.)
Tikki: (pops out from Marinette's purse.) Why did you lie to Master Fu?!
Marinette: I couldn't tell him that Adrien was the one who had the book. Adrien can't be Hawk Moth! (gasps) But what if he is? (runs to a nearby Gabriel advertisement pole, right next to the school. She then imagines that Adrien is Hawk Moth.) Th-That would mean that I'm crazy in love with a supervillain! I can't be crazy in love with a supervillain... I... I'd have to fight him and...
Tikki: Calm down Marinette, I'm sure there's an explanation.
“Girl, seriously?” Alya laughed.
Sabrina shook her head. “That’s a little excessive.”
“More than a little,” Kagami said. “A warrior must always be in control of their emotions if they want to win their battles.”
Marinette: I need to get to the bottom of this.
Tikki: Do you know where to find Adrien?
Marinette: I know that boy's schedule by heart.
“Okay, that’s just creepy,” Lanna reprimanded. “Marinette, I know you’re in love with Adrien, but you need boundaries.”
Tikki: Let's go.
(Marinette runs towards the school.)
Scene: Locker room, with several fencing students present
Marinette: I don't see him. Something's up. Adrien never misses his fencing lessons.
Scene: Hallway. Marinette tries to search for Adrien.
Chloé: Oh no! (Marinette runs over to the sound of Chloé's voice)
(Marinette arrives at the classroom, only to see her classmates crowded around Chloé, who's holding her phone and crying while Sabrina attempts to comfort her.)
Chloé: This is a terrible tragedy! (crying)
Marinette: What's up with her?
Chloé: Adrien's never coming back to school! Ever! Oh.. (continues crying)
“Aww, Chloe, you really cared?” Adrien asked.
“Of course I cared,” Chloe said defensively. “You’re my oldest friend, and the best friend I have besides Sabrina.”
Kim: His dad grounded him!
Max: For life.
Marinette: What? Why?
Nino: Something about losing this major important book that belongs to his dad.
Marinette: His dad? Ha! Phew!
“Phew!?” Several of the kids repeated incredulously.
Adrien looked at Marinette grimly. “I know you were relieved it wasn’t mine, but…I don’t want my dad to be Hawk Moth. I don’t want the person we’ve been fighting, the villain who’s been terrorizing Paris to be my dad.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Marinette apologized. “My priorities were way out of order.”
He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I forgive you.”
(Everyone stares at Marinette.)
Chloé: (irately) "Phew"?!
Marinette: (initially sheepish) "Phew". Cause I... I was scared it was super serious. I mean, yeah, sure, it really is serious but it's not like he's sick or anything, you know. Surely we can fix this, right? We won't just stand by and let this happen! Ha! (then runs off and leaves the classroom)
“Nice pep talk, Marinette,” Alya teased.
Scene: Girls' bathroom. Marinette enters into a stall and lets Tikki out of her purse.
Marinette: So it wasn't Adrien's book. It was his father's! Adrien isn't Hawk Moth! (sighs in relief) I knew it! Adrien doesn't have an evil bone in his body.
“Thanks for believing in me,” Adrien said warmly.
“I’ll always believe in you,” Marinette promised. “Both as Adrien and as Cat Noir.”
Alix snorted. “That would be a little more touching if past you weren’t actively blushing while you were thinking about Adrien.”
Nathaniel nodded. “Yeah, when it comes to him, you’re a little biased.”
“I am not!”
“Yes, you are,” several teens said.
Tikki: Except, according to Nino, Adrien did take the book without his father's permission.
Marinette: Well, he must've had a good reason to do it.
Tikki: You realize, based on Master Fu's theory, Adrien's father could be Hawk Moth.
Marinette: No way! It couldn't be! Hmm... An eccentric artist who never leaves his home. Mysterious, very intelligent, but cold, even with his own son.
“Your logic is sound but Gabriel is worse than just cold with Adrien,” Winter rumbled.
“And he’s really not that intelligent most of them time,” Mocha added. “I believe the correct term is smooth-brained.”
Marinette blinked. “Huh? What does that mean?”
“I would say that you’d see, but all the stuff we’re watching is Gabriel in top strategic form,” Myla grumbled. “Totally unfair that the chosen video evidence doesn’t match the accusation.”
“Well, that’s just too bad,” Lila scoffed. “Guess you won’t be able to convince them.”
Lanna gave her a stern look. “Don’t get cocky, Lila. The episodes I’m showing have you in top form.”
Marinette: This is a very strong lead, Tikki!
Tikki: Please be careful, Marinette!
Marinette: I will.
[Transformation Sequence]
Marinette: Tikki, spots on! Ha! (Marinette transforms into Ladybug.)
“Quick question,” Marc said. “How often do you guys transform in the bathrooms at school? I feel like someone should have noticed by now.”
“Considering they’ve also transformed behind park benches and trees, I don’t think anyone in Paris is observant enough to notice them,” Myla meowed dryly.
Scene: Rooftops. Ladybug flings her yo-yo and flies above the school roof until she reaches a certain spot, where she attempts to call Cat Noir.
Cat Noir: (voicemail) Has the cat got your tongue? Leave a message!
Ladybug: Cat Noir, I think I know who Hawk Moth is! Get your whiskers over here fast!
“Why does your bugphone only go to two rings?” Mylene asked. “Wouldn’t it be better for it to have gone on for four or more?”
“I never really thought about it,” Marinette admitted.
“Me neither,” Adrien said.
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Gabriel is looking at the Klimt-style painting of his wife with Nathalie talking to him.
Nathalie: What will you do without the book?
(Gabriel opens a blank notebook then closes it before handing it to Nathalie.)
Gabriel: You know where this goes.
(Gabriel storms around while Nathalie walks toward the painting. Gabriel grabs a picture of Adrien off the wall and throws it on the floor, followed by a second picture of Adrien. He walks over to a small shelf in a cupboard, briefly looking at a drawing Adrien made when he was younger before throwing that as well. He proceeds to smash other objects.)
“Is it just me, or did that seem very…intentional?” Marc commented.
“Yeah, it’s almost as though he wants everyone within earshot to hear things breaking.
Scene: Adrien's room. Adrien is listening to music and playing around with the Foosball table.
Plagg: Look on the bright side. Your father could've found out about me! It's a good thing we kwamis can never be filmed or photographed. Ah, those photographers have no idea what they're missing!
Adrien: I've gotta find that book, or I'll never be allowed to return to school.
Plagg: Return to school?! Are you crazy?! No more homework, no more alarm clocks! We should be celebrating! Hey, I know! (flies off, only to return carrying a huge jar of Camembert) I named this piece El Plaggo. It's been maturing for nine hundred and ninety-nine days!
“Seriously, Plagg?” Tikki groaned. “Your holder is understandably upset and worried and you suggest a celebration?”
“I was trying to cheer him up!”
Max looked at Adrien thoughtfully. “Judging by your reaction to Plagg’s ‘gift,’ I’m going to assume you weren’t all that eager to receive it.”
Adrien rolled his eyes. “I know Plagg’s obsessed with the stuff, but I can’t stand it, especially the smell.”
“On the bright side, delivering gifts to the people they care about is an incredibly catlike behavior,” Markov observed. “At least Plagg didn’t bring you a dead mouse or bird.”
“I think I would have preferred that,” Adrien muttered.
(Adrien hears objects being broken to pieces and runs out of his room with his bodyguard following close behind.)
Adrien: What was that?!
(Adrien and his bodyguard run downstairs, only to be greeted by Nathalie guarding the door to Gabriel's atelier.)
Nathalie: Your father is very busy.
“Yeah, no kidding,” Kim said.
“Busy trying to set up a crime scene,” Alix added.
(Gabriel has been continuing to smash things to pieces inside his atelier in displeasure. He throws a mannequin on the floor, breaking it in two. He then breaks another mannequin before heading over to something else. No more breaking is heard.)
Nathalie: Shouldn't Adrien be practicing his piano right now?
(Gorilla nods and looks briefly at Adrien before escorting him upstairs. Nathalie watches silently as Adrien looks back sadly.)
Suddenly, a punching bag materialized in front of Adrien.
“Why is this–?” Adrien began.
“You’re going to want it in a minute,” Lanna said sadly.
He stared at her. “Does that mean?…” He trailed off, eyes fixed on the screen.
Scene: Hawk Moth's lair. His lair window opens.
Hawk Moth: I feel...the wrath of a father betrayed by his son. What perfect prey for my akuma! (A butterfly flies into his open palm and he then transforms it into an akuma.) Stay close, my little akuma!
(The akuma flies towards the window, but then stops and hovers at the opening.)
Hawk Moth: Dark wings, fall! (detransforms, and Nooroo comes out of the Miraculous, facing the all-too-familiar man)
“Nooo!” Adrien yelled, all the blood draining from his face. He handed Nooroo, who was trembling more than ever, and Plagg to Nino. “Take care of them.”
“Of course,” Nino promised, holding both kwamis gently.
Immediately, Adrien spun around and began to send all his pent-up rage, frustration, and pain into the punching bag, slamming it with kicks and punches. “He lied to me! He attacked Paris! He’s targeted innocent people over and over again! He tried to make everyone lose hope!” He stopped to take a few deep breaths before he continued. “How could he do this!? What kind of wish is so important that he would risk killing so many people!?” With a last burst of anger, he lunged forward, tackling the punching bag.
Briefly spent, Adrien dropped to his knees, hands on the floor. Chloe quickly went over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a tight hug. “I’m sorry, Adrien,” she whispered.
“Why is he doing this?” Adrien breathed. “What does he want?”
Lanna closed her eyes, an infinity of pain flashing in them. “Are you sure you want to know the reason your father is doing this?”
He turned his head to stare at her. “Please, you have to tell me!”
She didn’t answer right away. When she did, her voice was barely audible. “If you made a wish, what would you wish for?”
“Mom…”
Lanna nodded slowly. “You’re not the only one.”
“But my mother is gone! She got sick, really sick, and disappeared.”
“Your mother didn’t disappear,” Winter rumbled. “She’s closer than you ever thought possible.”
Scene: Agreste Repository. Gabriel is looking at his phone, where Audrey is calling him. He doesn't pick up the phone.
Gabriel: I'm sorry, it took some time, I know. But today, I can feel my prey has more malice in her than anyone I've ever akumatized before. She will be my masterpiece.
(He places flowers on Émilie's coffin and bows to her and walks back)
“Mom!?” Adrien gasped. “Where is that? Where is she!?” he demanded.
“Your mother and father never told you the truth about what happened to her,” Lanna told him grimly. “She didn’t just have a mysterious illness with an unknown source. Her illness was caused because she used the broken Peacock Miraculous.”
“What!?” several teens gasped.
Marinette stared at Lanna. “But why would she do that? Didn’t she know it was dangerous to use a damaged Miraculous?”
Lanna nodded. “Of course she knew of its dangers. But she was willing to take the risk because of something she thought far more important than her health.”
“What could possibly be more important!?” Adrien demanded. “What mattered so much to her!?”
It was Winter who answered. “You.”
“Me?”
“Neither your mother nor your aunt could have children naturally,” Lanna explained. “But thanks to the Peacock Miraculous, there was a way they could.”
Adrien stiffened and Chloe hugged him more tightly. “Are you saying I’m a Sentimonster?”
“No!” Lanna said firmly. “I’m going to say this now so everyone understands. Nothing and no one created by the Peacock Miraculous is a monster. I don’t know why the guardians deemed them that, but they were wrong. Sentibeings have feelings just like everyone else. They are literally created from emotion. And just because they’re created differently does not mean they’re any less important, yet most Peacock holders create them purely to act as weapons or distractions, only to destroy them immediately after. As Marinette once said, well, will say, ‘The Peacock's superpower can be so cruel when wrongly used. Even more than the Butterfly's one’.”
“But if I’m a sentimonster, why have I grown up like any other kid?”
“Sentibeing,” Lanna corrected. “You grew up normally because that was what your parents wanted. I’m not going to pretend to understand exactly how it works, just know that it does.”
Adrien winced. “Why did they never tell me?”
“I assume it was because they wanted you to feel, in their terms, extraordinary, but also normal,” Winter said. “And because it’s a lot easier for someone to resist something they’re prepared for.”
“Resist?”
Kagami spoke up. “Resist the power of the rings in which your amok lies.”
Marinette glanced at her. “How would you know where it–”
“I made an assumption,” Kagami stated. “After all, my mother’s ring is where my amok lies. Unlike Adrien, I was never under any pretense of what I am. It is part of the reason I push myself to be perfect. If I am not, then my mother will make sure I am.”
“Oh, Kagami,” Marinette whispered, giving her friend just a brief hug, knowing the other girl wasn’t a fan of excessive physical affection.
“The rings are where all the amoks of human sentibeings reside,” Lanna confirmed. “Kagami and Adrien are two, but there is a third as well.”
“Felix,” Adrien rasped.
Lanna nodded. “Yes.”
“My uncle treated him terribly,” Adrien said. “Did Felix…did Felix know the truth?”
“He did,” Winter replied. “Colt wanted Felix to know everything, to understand why he was to blame for his father’s death, that if he hadn’t been created, Colt would never have gotten sick.”
“That’s awful,” Nino said. “Is there any way we can help them?”
Lanna nodded. “Felix is fine for now,” she explained. “With Colt gone, he is safe. As for Kagami and Adrien, you will get their rings and set them free for good.”
“Start the episode again,” Adrien muttered. “Let’s get this done with.”
Nooroo: Uh, why is the akuma still here?
(The view faces the man, who takes off his tie, revealing the Butterfly Miraculous under it, and showing that Hawk Moth is Gabriel Agreste.)
Gabriel: I must become someone else to lead them astray.
Nooroo: I don't understand, Master.
Gabriel: Nooroo, I renounce you... (takes off the Butterfly Miraculous, causing Nooroo to get sucked into it; then puts the Miraculous into a small box) ...temporarily. (A spotlight shines on his empty replacement notebook. Gabriel walks over and grabs it. He then opens it) Come to me, my little akuma, and evilize me!
(The akuma flies into Gabriel's notebook, transforming him.)
“Natalie was the one to return the book,” Max remembered. “Does that mean that she knows?”
Myla growled. “Natalie knows everything.”
The Collector: I am now...the Collector! My book of inspiration has been taken from me, so I shall build a new one! And perhaps pick up a Miraculous or two while I'm at it! (laughs evilly)
“Never! You will never get our Miraculous!” Adrien shouted. “We’ll stop you and save Mom another way!”
Marinette joined Adrien and Chloe. “We’ll do it together,” she said quietly, resting a hand on Adrien’s shoulder.
Scene: Adrien's room. Adrien uses a remote to open his window, planning to evacuate his room.
Adrien: My father's angry because of me; he won't forgive me until I find that book.
Plagg: May I remind you that you're actually grounded?
Adrien: Adrien is, but Cat Noir isn't.
[Transformation Sequence]
Adrien: Plagg, claws out!
Plagg: Oh my!
(Adrien transforms into Cat Noir.)
(Cat Noir receives a notification from his staff and opens up a message he's received from Ladybug.)
Ladybug: (from recorded message) Cat Noir, I think I know who Hawk Moth is. Get your whiskers over here, fast!
Cat Noir: Wow! I guess the Spellbook will have to wait a bit longer.
(Cat Noir extends his staff and vaults off, leaving his room.)
“Is this when you first learned Gabriel might be Hawk Moth?” Ivan asked.
Adrien nodded. “I was so relieved when I found out he wasn’t, but at the same time…”
Scene: Agreste Mansion. Nathalie is guarding the atelier door only to be knocked down by the Collector when he kicks open the door.
The Collector: Nathalie! You'll be the first of my many inspirations to come.
Nathalie: Mr. Agreste?
The Collector: You will call me...the Collector.
(The Collector swings his book at Nathalie and traps her inside his notebook; then does the same to Gorilla a moment later, before going up to Adrien's room and knocking on the door)
“No! Leave them alone!” Adrien shouted.
“Yeah, no one gets to hurt Gorilla!” Nino agreed.
The Collector: Adrien...I have a great collection I want to show you.
(The Collector kicks open the door to Adrien's room and enters. When he sees that the piano music he heard had been coming from a CD player perched on the piano, he angrily swipes up the CD player, and growls.)
“Was he seriously going to put Adrien in that book too!?” Nathaniel exclaimed.
“That is wrong on so many levels!” Kim added.
Scene: The Louvre. Pedestrians are taking photos until the Collector suddenly approaches and traps famous monuments and objects.
August's mother: Cheese!
(As the Louvre pyramid gets trapped inside the Collector's notebook, people start screaming and run away with fear. Inside the Louvre, the Collector traps the portrait of the Mona Lisa, and, outside again, Jagged Stone along with Fang.)
“The Louvre! He took the Louvre! My dad was working there!” Alix shouted. “Not cool!”
Scene: TVi Tower, Nadja Chamack is about to make a news report, until the Collector approaches her.
Nadja: Don't be bemused, it's just the news. I'm Nadja Chama—
The Collector: (swipes Nadja into his notebook) Since the book that used to fill my life is gone, I'm going to use your life to fill up this new one!
Scene: Hôtel de Ville. Mayor Bourgeois is about to deliver a speech.
Mayor Bourgeois: People of Paris—
(Lieutenant Roger and the other pedestrians gasp after the mayor gets trapped inside the villain's notebook.)
Scene: Rooftops, near the Eiffel Tower.
(The Collector throws his notebook across the Eiffel Tower, trapping it inside his notebook book with the notebook returning to him like a boomerang)
The Collector: Nothing can inspire me more than imprisoning Ladybug and Cat Noir in these pages forever.
“Sorry, Hawk Moth, but I don’t find that very inspirational!” Marinette said to the onscreen villain.
Scene: Collège Françoise Dupont rooftop. Ladybug is starting to get impatient waiting for Cat Noir.
Ladybug: (grunts and slides open her yo-yo to contact Cat Noir) Cat Noir, what did you do? (suddenly sees Cat Noir arriving) Cat Noir, did you get my messages?
Cat Noir: Yeah, and I can't wait to know more, M'Lady-tective. So, who's the suspect?
Ladybug: Gabriel Agreste. (Cat Noir gasps and almost trips after hearing the suspect's name) You know, the fashion designer?
Cat Noir: You got proof?
Ladybug: (stammers, as it is mostly secret) I can't tell you.
“That’s not a particularly convincing argument,” Lila sneered. “Then again, you always did struggle with proof.”
“One shouldn’t have to look for proof to tell the truth about something anyone can see,” Winter told her.
Cat Noir: So, I'm supposed to just... accept that?
“I’m sorry, Adrien,” Marinette said. “I wish I’d been wrong.”
“And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” Nooroo apologized. “I wish I could have.”
Adrien gave him a sympathetic look. “No kwami can say their holder’s name or disobey them. I don’t blame you. None of this was your fault.”
“It was my power that was wrongly used,” Nooroo lamented.
“When evil people take advantage of someone’s power that can be used for good, it not the fault of the victim,” Lanna said, glancing at Marinette. The other girl looked away, wincing.
Ladybug: You must trust me on this. But it all makes sense. Gabriel Agreste is a secretive man and he never leaves his house. And get this. (shows Cat Noir images of Gabriel's fashion design logos on her yo-yo screen) Check out his brand's logo.
Cat Noir: (stunned) A butterfly? (has flashbacks of the butterfly patterns on furniture inside his house, and sighs after thinking about it)
Ladybug: You okay, Cat Noir?
Cat Noir: (with grim determination) It's time to get the bottom of this.
(Cat Noir and Ladybug leave the school to go and investigate.)
The Collector: (behind a statue) My plan is working perfectly!
“A rare occurrence indeed,” Mocha said dryly.
“Yeah, his plans don’t work out much, do they,” Sabrina agreed.
Mylene frowned. “It’s a good thing for everyone they don’t.”
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Ladybug and Cat Noir find many broken pieces of furniture as they come to investigate.
Ladybug: (shocked) Whoa, what happened here? Looks like somebody had a little tantrum.
“A very careful tantrum,” Juleka mumbled.
(Cat Noir sees his painting of him and his family that was thrown on the floor by his father. Cat Noir sighs with heartache.)
Ladybug: Are you sure you're okay?
Cat Noir: Yeah. Yeah, let's keep going.
Ladybug: (gasps) He's got a son! Let's go check his room; make sure nothing's happened to him.
“Not this time,” Adrien said darkly.
(Ladybug and Cat Noir run towards the front hall until they see the Collector at the top of the main stairs.)
Cat Noir: Where's Gabriel Agreste?
The Collector: There is no more Gabriel Agreste. There is only...the Collector!
“He’s so dramatic,” Myla grumbled. “Seriously, he spends more time ranting in most battles than he does actually fighting, unless he’s there personally.”
(He throws his notebook towards Ladybug, trying to trap her inside of it; but she manages to dodge the hit, which leads the notebook to trap the Mansion entrance door instead. The notebook heads back the way it came, towards Ladybug and Cat Noir. Ladybug knocks Cat Noir to the floor before the notebook manages to touch them.)
The Collector: You won't be able to escape!
(The Collector's notebook continues chasing Ladybug and Cat Noir around the room as they both vault away from it using their yo-yo and staff. They then come to the large dining room.)
“That notebook is crazy,” Marc said.
“In theory, a notebook like that would only last for so long before its pages got filled up,” Markov announced.
Marinette blinked in surprise. “How did you–Nevermind.”
Ladybug: (to Cat Noir) Wait!
(Cat Noir throws his staff towards the Collector, only to have it trapped inside his notebook, which causes the superheroes to gasp.)
The Collector: Nice piece, wouldn't you agree?
“I’ve seen better,” Alix said. “Some of which you’ve already collected.”
“Yeah, the staff is way better in Cat Noir’s hands than in the Collector’s notebook,” Nathaniel agreed. “And as an artist, I think I’m qualified to make that assessment.”
(Cat Noir throws a chair at the Collector, which gets trapped inside his notebook as well. Ladybug and Cat Noir continue running away back into the main hall. The Collector erases the trapped chair inside his notebook.)
“Oh, come on!” Alya muttered. “He can do that; that’s not fair!”
“Things are rarely fair when fighting villains,” Luka pointed out. “But you have to find the way back to harmony no matter who you’re facing.”
Ladybug: The akuma's gotta be in that book!
Cat Noir: Yeah, but if we touch it, we'll disappear!
Ladybug: Lucky Charm! (A set of pedals appears) A pedal? (Ladybug tries her Lucky Vision to figure out what to do with the pedal, but sees nothing.) I have no idea what to do with this. We need to stall him.
The Collector: (uses his notebook to make the staircase disappear) Ladybug and Cat Noir, you shall be the masterpieces in my new book of inspiration.
“You know, it looks much emptier in there without the stairs,” Sabrina said.
(The fight continues with Ladybug and Cat Noir trying to avoid getting touched with the Collector's notebook. The Collector grunts when he vigorously tries to touch Cat Noir with his book but fails. Ladybug then attaches her yo-yo onto his arm, making his notebook released from his hand, which gives him the opportunity to touch Ladybug but that doesn't work either. Cat Noir kicks the notebook away from his hand, but the Collector kicks Cat Noir and tries to reach for his notebook. Ladybug uses her yo-yo and attaches it to the Collector's leg, pinning him on to the floor. However, the Collector manages to grab his notebook and traps Ladybug's yo-yo inside. Ladybug shrieks as the loss of the yo-yo string throws her off-balance.)
The Collector: My collection's growing!
“He got both your weapons!” Ivan exclaimed. “How is that possible?”
“It isn’t usually,” Adrien admitted. “Usually Ladybug doesn’t get hit at all.”
Marinette frowned at him. “That’s because you insist on taking all the hits for yourself.”
Ladybug: No!
(Ladybug, Cat Noir and the Collector are grunting as they are fighting. As the Collector continues chasing Ladybug and Cat Noir, they jump up to the second floor.)
Cat Noir: So that must mean...Gabriel Agreste can't possibly be Hawk Moth, since he's been akumatized!
Ladybug: You call Agreste turning into the Collector good news?!
(The superheroes are still running away from the Collector.)
“It was good news for him,” Adrien muttered. “I can’t believe I fell for it!”
“We both did,” Marinette reminded him. “You can’t blame yourself for something out of your control.”
Nino nodded. “We’ll make him pay for it.”
Scene: Adrien's room. Ladybug and Cat Noir arrive there after the Collector chases them up there.
(The superheroes barricade the door entrance using the furniture in Adrien's room to prevent the Collector from entering.)
“Wow, Adrien, you really have a lot of giant stuff in your room,” Kim observed.
Adrien shrugged. “I guess my father thought having all of it would make up for the fact that I had no freedom.”
Ladybug: Gabriel Agreste's son isn't at home?
Cat Noir: Maybe the Collector's already captured him.
Ladybug: (gasps in shock) You think he'd take it out on his own son?
Cat Noir: Uh…
“The fact that you weren’t sure is the worst part,” Lanna said seriously.
“I know,” Adrien replied.
The Collector: You cannot escape from me. (laughs after making the objects blocking his way disappear)
Ladybug: What if he has no pages left in his book? (uses her Lucky Vision again, seeing certain objects, and figures out a plan)
“Hmm, I believe I mentioned something about that,” Markov said.
(After the Collector manages to free himself from the barricaded entrance, he chases Ladybug and Cat Noir around the room. Ladybug hides behind the TV out of the Collector's sight.)
The Collector: But before I immortalize you, allow me to seize your Miraculous for Hawk Moth.
Ladybug: Cat Noir, I need ammunition!
(The Collector traps the TV and chases Ladybug.)
Cat Noir: You need what?
Ladybug: We're gonna complete his collection! (throws a trophy at the shelf)
“Are those all videogames?” Rose asked.
Adrien shrugged. “Some of them are movies, others are cds.”
“Either way, that’s a lot,” Juleka mumbled.
Cat Noir: Very smart M'Lady, quite ingenious.
Ladybug: Less talking, more doing!
(Ladybug detaches Cat Noir's tail from his suit and leaps next to the Foosball table while Cat Noir continues fighting the Collector by his library, until the Collector is thrown onto the rock-climbing wall.)
Cat Noir: Cataclysm!
(Cat Noir uses the cataclysm on the bookshelf, with CDs dropping down. Ladybug then attaches the pedal along with Cat Noir's tail to the Foosball table to create a makeshift device)
“The speed and angle required to make that work make it seem like an implausibility for you to accomplish it,” Markov commented.
Max smiled. “Sometimes the magic of the Miraculous override the laws of science.”
Ladybug: Ready, Cat Noir?
Cat Noir: I'm always ready for you, M'Lady!
(Ladybug uses the makeshift device to fire numerous CDs dropped down by Cat Noir towards the Collector as he approaches Ladybug, capturing the CDs, thus neutralizing the pages inside his notebook.)
Ladybug: Come on! Come on!
Cat Noir: No more ammo!
(As the Collector closes in on Ladybug, he traps the Foosball table itself inside his notebook, and then touches Ladybug; but the pages of his notebook are filled up.)
The Collector: Huh? It's already full!
“Wow, talk about a close call,” Nathaniel said. “If he hadn’t gone out of his way to collect the Foosball table, you would have been gone.”
“Thanks, Nathaniel, I knew that.”
(The Collector is about to remove one of the CDs from his notebook, but Ladybug kicks the notebook out of his hand, with Cat Noir catching it and then throwing it to Ladybug)
The Collector: My book! No!
Ladybug: (rips the book into two pieces and the akuma flies out) Miraculous Ladybug!
(throws the Lucky Charm into the air and turns everything back to normal, including returning Cat Noir's baton and he kisses it and Ladybug's yo-yo to them)
“Huh, so you used Miraculous Ladybug before purifying the akuma?” Alya asked.
Marinette laughed. “I needed my yo-yo back first,” she pointed out. “Sometimes I have to switch up the order of things.”
“Like with Reverser,” Marc guessed.
“I wouldn’t have even caught the akuma if I hadn’t fixed everything,” Marinette admitted. “I was too much of myself that time.”
Ladybug: No more evildoing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! (catches the akuma with her yo-yo) Gotcha! (releases the akuma, turning it back into a normal butterfly) Bye bye, little butterfly. (The Collector turns back to Gabriel.)
Ladybug: Pound...Uh. (Ladybug sees Cat Noir heading towards Gabriel.)
Cat Noir: Are you okay, Faaa...sir?
Gabriel: Cat Noir, Ladybug, what happened to me?
Cat Noir: You were akumatized by Hawk Moth. But don't worry, it's over now!
Gabriel: Thank you, thank you, both of you! (gasps upon realizing that his son is nowhere to be seen) Adrien...where is my son?
“Like you care!” Plagg growled.
Nooroo shook his head. “Gabriel truly does love his son.”
“He has a funny way of showing it,” Plagg growled again. “On your birthday, when Adrien was hit by Sandboy’s dreamsand, his nightmare was being caged up even more than he already is. I should have been there to get him out.”
Adrien shook his head. “Finding and helping Nooroo was more important,” he argued. “Nooroo’s more of a prisoner than I am.”
“Which is why I brought him and Duusu here,” Lanna said. “They both deserve the freedom, or at least as much as I can give them.”
Cat Noir: He...must be hiding?
“That was not convincing,” Myla meowed.
“She and Adrien are both bad at lying,” Winter commented. “It’s what makes them such great people and superheroes, if not at keeping secrets.”
Ladybug: Cat Noir is right, otherwise your son would have reappeared right here.
Gabriel: Nothing must happen to him. He's too precious to me. (puts his hands on the shoulders of Cat Noir, who gazes at him, smiling)
“I wish he would show me that more often,” Adrien said sadly. “Most of the time I just feel like I’m a tool, an asset to him.”
“And you don’t deserve that,” Chloe sighed. “We both need better parents, ones who care about us and remember our names.”
Sabrina nodded. “And ones who don’t just care about how useful you are to them. That’s not what a parent is supposed to do.”
“No, it’s not,” Lanna said. “A parent is supposed to show love to their children, not make them afraid. Hopefully, Gabriel will someday stand a chance of learning this.”
Ladybug: (notices the spots on her earring are about to wear off and warns Cat Noir) We're about to transform back. Goodbye, Mr. Agreste.
Cat Noir: Don't worry yourself, sir. I'm sure your son is safe and sound.
(Ladybug and Cat Noir vault off, assured that everything is fine with Gabriel. Gabriel smiles evilly to himself.)
Gabriel: See you very soon!
“Okay, that’s just creepy,” Kim said.
Scene: Fu's massage shop. Tikki and Wayzz are playing with the phonograph while Marinette is being consulted by Master Fu.
Marinette: So, since Gabriel Agreste was akumatized, he can't possibly be Hawk Moth, right?
Master Fu: That's very probable, but...how did you find out that Gabriel Agreste was the owner of the Spellbook?
Marinette: At first, I was thinking the book belonged to Gabriel Agreste's son, Adrien, 'cause I saw him with it at school — well before it was stolen by a girl and before Tikki got it back; and I'd only just met you so I...I didn't know if I could tell you that, so yeah.
Master Fu: You were afraid in case the one you love turned out to be Hawk Moth.
“How did he guess that?” Alix demanded. “He’s only met you, what, three times?”
“Oh, believe me, Fu was shipping them from the beginning,” Myla announced cheerfully. “Just like everyone else.”
Marinette: (stammers) Wha... Uh, no, uh, how did you know that? I mean, I don't love him at all. (chuckles nervously as Master Fu giggles) Oh, all right, yes, Adrien is amazing. I couldn't stand the thought of him being a supervillain.
Master Fu: You know, Marinette, if we want to be stronger than Hawk Moth, we have to trust each other.
“But not enough to reveal our identities to each other?” Adrien asked quietly. “Wouldn’t it have been better for us to know from the start?”
“As long as Gabriel doesn’t find out before you can confront him, I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Lanna said.
Marinette flinched. “But what about Cat Blanc!?”
“Cat Blanc?” the others repeated.
Winter frowned. “You will all find out soon. And, Marinette, you will find out the rest of the story, the things you didn’t get to know, that would have made things much clearer.”
“I have to go through it again?”
“Not if you don’t want to,” Lanna replied. “But you won’t be alone this time, and I think it will really help you to learn everything.”
“Ok.”
Marinette: I know; but now, Adrien will never be able to come back to school because I can never give him that book back. I'll never ever see him again! (falls over on the floor, whimpering)
“Girl, that’s really over-dramatic,” Alya sighed.
“Yeah, it’s like the exact same way I reacted,” Chloe agreed.
Nino laughed. “Except you weren’t curled up in the fetal position,” he pointed out.
Master Fu: There isn't a single problem that can't be solved, Marinette. (starts taking pictures of the contents of the Miraculous Spellbook using his phone) These modern inventions really are quite incredible. Hmm.
“Ladies and gentlemen, behold, the one and only time the senior citizen thinks of using a cellphone before the teenager,” Mocha purred.
Scene: Agreste Mansion. Marinette talks to Gabriel about the "incident" of her stealing the spellbook.
Marinette: So, when Adrien put the book down and walked away, I wanted to take a peek. You see, I thought it was a portfolio with lots of pictures of him 'cause he's so cute. Uh, but you already knew that. (giggles) Anyway, um, when he came back, I was scared he'd see me staring at his book so I hid it in my backpack and I know it was a dumb thing to do. I'm really, really sorry.
Gabriel: I see. So, you're one of his admirers?
“Absolutely!” most of the people in the room said. Marinette glared at them, offended.
Marinette: Admirers? Yeah. That's the word. (gives the Miraculous book back to Gabriel, who passes it to Nathalie) You won't say anything to him, will you? (Gabriel shakes his head for "no") Are you going to let Adrien come back to school?
Gabriel: Well, considering he didn't actually lose my book as it was borrowed by you, yes I will.
Marinette: (chuckles) Thank you. (Nathalie guides Marinette out the door) Hmm, can I ask you a question? (Gabriel nods) I flipped through the book and it looked really awesome. Those illustrations of legendary heroes are super...inspiring. Where did you get it?
Gabriel: I found it while I was on a trip overseas with my wife. I've never seen another copy of it.
Marinette: Well then, you're very lucky to own it. (waves and leaves)
“Luck has nothing to do with it,” Nooroo sighed. “Though in my case, I suppose would be bad luck.”
“I’m sorry, Nooroo,” Adrien said.
With a determined look on her face, Marinette announced, “We’ll save you, and Duusu.”
Tikki: It was really brave what you just did for Adrien.
Marinette: Thanks, Tikki. All that really matters is for Adrien to be allowed out of the house again. (slowly walks away from the Agreste mansion)
“Thank you for saving me, Marinette,” Adrien said.
“Of course! Any time!”
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Gabriel returns the Spellbook to its shelf and talks to Adrien about the incident.
Gabriel: I'm sorry I became so furious over a book.
Adrien: I shouldn't have taken it without your permission.
Gabriel: That book...was the very last gift your mother gave to me before...before she disappeared. All I have left of her is this book...and you. But I know I can't keep the book or you locked up in this house forever.
“He certainly has a lousy way of showing it,” Nino grumbled. “I swear, it’s like his idea of not locking Adrien up is to keep him ridiculously busy at all times.
Adrien: Does that mean you'll let me go back to school, then?
Gabriel: Hm. (nods his head)
Adrien: Thank you, Father! (hugs his father in gratitude)
“I honestly thought I had gotten something good out of that day,” Adrien sighed.
“You got one good thing,” Sabrina said. “You got to come back to school and see the rest of us again.”
“And I’m so glad you came back. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Chloe put in.
Scene: Collège Françoise Dupont. The students see that Adrien has returned and run up to him.
(Nino first shares a hug with Adrien, until Chloé pushes him aside and leaps into Adrien's arms and takes a selfie. A crowd of students, notably those whom Adrien is familiar with, also surround him. Marinette then sighs in relief with Alya by her side.)
“Best welcoming committee ever,” Adrien said, smiling at the others.
Lanna sighed. “It must be nice to have reunions.”
“You don’t go to reunions?” Luka asked.
She shook her head. “Like I said, I’m can’t leave this place. It’s been a few years since I saw my family. You all are lucky to have each other.”
“We won’t take it for granted,” Mylene promised.
Scene: Gabriel's atelier. Gabriel is looking at the pages of the Miraculous book on his monitor, revealing that he owns a digital version of the Spellbook.
“He had a copy the whole time!?” Adrien exclaimed.
“It seems he and Master Fu shared the same idea,” Marinette realized.
Nathalie: So then, if you already had a copy of the book, why'd you go through all that trouble?
“She does know everything,” Adrien whispered.
Gabriel: I did what had to do to keep my secret.
(Gabriel presses a code that is incorporated within the painting of Emilie Agreste, which then displays a secret floor hatch that takes Gabriel to a secret place, revealing his lair.)
“Wait, he’s got a secret lair and a secret entrance from your house?” Kim gasped.
“Not for much longer,” Kagami said.
Scene: Hawk Moth's lair
(Gabriel opens up the small white box where the Butterfly Miraculous is stored, and Nooroo pops out.)
Gabriel: Happy to see me again?
Nooroo: At your service, Master.
Gabriel: Nooroo, dark wings rise!
(Nooroo is absorbed, and Gabriel transforms into Hawk Moth and grunts ferociously.)
Hawk Moth: Ladybug, Cat Noir — you almost managed to find out who I am; but now I am more above suspicion than I've ever been. As of today, nothing will prevent me from getting your Miraculous, and making my greatest wish come true! All I need to do now is wait for my next prey. (cackles deeply)
“I wouldn’t be so sure about your secrecy, Father!” Adrien exclaimed. “We know who you are and where to find you.”
“And this time there will be no surprises waiting for us,” Marinette added.
“We’ll defeat you, together!” Nino shouted.
Lanna looked around at everyone. “I’m glad you’re all willing to fight. But it’s not time for that yet.”
“What else are we going to see?” Luka asked.
Seriousness filled Lanna’s gaze. “Heroes Day.”
THE END.