Explanation II: Dawn of Storyteller

The kwamis came to the edge of thier containment units. They were all voicing varios opinions about the newcomer.

"Ooh? Who's the new guy?" Daizzi asked.

"Is he here to save us?" Barkk inquired, shaking their tail in anticipation.

"Silence fellow kwamis." Sass added in thier snake-like manner. "If anything, he's likely one of Monarch's new villains in the making."

All the kwamis sighed in disappointment.

"Say, Monarch, it appears some of your cages are without these strange creatures." Vance noted.

"The peacock is with my nephew, and the bunny is with its holder in the timestream. I'm sure I don't have to explain why the other two are empty." Monarch explained.

"Because the other two kwamis, the cat and the ladybug, are with their permanent holders." Vance added.

"You don't have an alliance." Monarch added, looking at Vance's hands.

"Sorry, I only had money to pay for the plane tickets for me and my cohort to get here." Vance explained.

"That's fine, I have one spare, since Adrien's bodyguard is so silent he would be unable to use his, plus, have you seen how big his hands are? I'd need to have Tsurigi-san make one twice as big for him to fit one on there." Monarch explained and he produced the ring in question.

"Is there a reason why I would need one?" Vance asked.

"Well, you do want to share in my bounty," Monarch moved his arm like a quiz show presenter would introduce a question on the big screen next to both them and the player. "Don't you?"

"Is that how you transferred one of the miraculous powers to Tomoe?"

"It is, I can give you any power you desire. But I can only do so if you have an alliance."

"If I needed such a thing, I would have accepted it by now."

Monarch put away the alliance. "Fine, if you think you can do it without a kwami's essence, then so be it. I suppose you want me to akumatize you."

"I prepared a notebook." Vance opened his suitcase. "Here's a copy of my manuscript, which you'll be holding onto. Beyond having you obtain the miraculous you seek, I also would like this story published as an additional reward."

"And the notebook on the other side, that is what you wish my akuma to fly into?"

"Correct, you will grant me the power to gain access to the story of the heroes and the villains they face and to alter the story as I wish, and those alterations will be reflected in reality."

"It sure does sound complex, but are you sure this will work?"

"I'm a deviser of complex plots, and I don't usually fail. Now, I do need time to read through the story so far and make a proper plan to cause the downfall of Ladybug and Cat Noir, you've already waited a long time, why not a few weeks more?"

Monarch rolled up his sleeve. "Just don't take too long, I no longer have years on my clock."

"What is that black mark?"

"This is Cat Noir's cataclysm. It is spreading, and slowly, it will kill me."

"I see the urgency, but patience, you will have what you need before it does too much damage."

"You better be right. I can't afford too much patience for one plan." Monarch held out his hand and a white butterfly flew to his hands. He then turned it into an akuma. "Go my little one, and allow my friend's dreams of creating a new path for us to follow."

The akuma flys into the notebook and the butterfly is absorbed into the cover turning it a shade of purple. A glowing mask appeared on both his face and Vance's. "Storyteller, I am Monarch, I am granting you the power to adjust the tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir to your heart's content, in return I'll enable your story to take flight and you will bring me the miraculous of Ladybug and Cat Noir."

A purple wave went over Vance's body and he looked like how he was described at the end of the fourth part of Ladybug's trail. He gained a magical pen and he took the notebook, which was now a massive tome entitled 'Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.'

"My first decrees, which I'll write on the back of this book, will be as follows. 1: Monarch will be allowed to summon another akuma while I'm active to decrease the suspicion that I am around. 2: Bunnix will not be able to come here while I'm active, as she is beyond the reach of my powers, I can't get her miraculous, but I can at least prevent her from interferring. 3: I shall appear as myself until it is necessary to reveal I am indeed akumatized." Storyteller announced and he was back to looking like Vance. "Last rule: I will now control my lie detector at will instead of it activating when I lie."

"You have an inbuilt lie detector?" Monarch questioned.

"You've akumatized a baby to be a giant and you're confused about that?" Vance asked.

Monarch shrugged. "I guess you're right, are you sure you won't be needing extra power? I still have the spare Alliance."

"No thanks, I can handle the story without it. Now I have some research to do." Vance added as he knocked on the book. "I still haven't got a place to stay."

"Don't worry, Gabriel will take care of it." Monarch laughed.

So, that is how a secret villain was created within the shadows, and thus the first piece to our puzzle has been fit into place and rather perfectly, I may add. Ryan met with Vance later and Vance informed him of everything.

"Ha, figures, you planned to go looking for Monarch if Gabriel didn't agree to publish your book or just attract his attention by getting mad, but the fashion man turned out to be Monarch. I wonder if he's designed after a silk moth?" Ryan spoke after listening to the full tale.

"No, unfortunately he cannot use his powers to get new clothes." Vance added using his initial tone. "Besides, I need you to hold on to my akuma."

"But, don't ya need it to use your power."

"Don't worry, Q, I can use my power at any time, I'll be giving you the pen, I can call out to the book if I choose to, but only the pen can change what's written within, when the time comes, you'd be the one to make sure I come out smelling like daisies, I need you to wipe everyone's memories but Gabriel's and your own if things look choppy."

"How would I know when I need to be back-up?"

"The story at the end is live, showing what's happening in the lifes of Ladybug and Cat Noir as they happen, if you see something problematic, take the pen to rewrite it in my favor. But that will all be in due time."

"Ah right, you need the book to find the perfect way to defeat the bug and feline duo."

"Correct, my slang-filled cohort, just pay attention at any time I am not monitoring the book."

"You mean I have to read?" Ryan asked with a face whiter than bleach.

"Unfortunately, you do."

So ends the conversation as Ryan faints in a fake manner. For the time being, Storyteller focused on reading the story.