Chapter 0:vol 1:pilot 1/2

Earth Prime, the most primal and original Earth, stands as the central point to all Earths in creation. It is home to many, a gateway to countless others, but above all, it is the birthplace of the Miraculouses—the most ancient and powerful artifacts. Among them, the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculouses hold unmatched power, far more primal and potent than the others. When combined, they connect the wielder to the origin, the genesis, and the ultimate truth of the world, granting the ability to make any wish without interference.

To protect the Miraculouses and their Kwamis from those who would use them for chaos and evil, an order of guardians was formed. Their sole mission: to ensure that no one abused the Miraculouses' immense power.

Yet in the present day, the Miraculouses have been all but forgotten—barely known, if at all—along with the protectors who once safeguarded them. Who, then, will protect the Miraculouses now?

In the morning, the city of Paris stirred with the aroma of freshly baked goods wafting from a small bakery. Sabine and Tom, a happily married couple, had opened their shop not long ago, and business was thriving.

From the back of the shop, Sabine's voice rang out, calling toward the stairs that led up to her son's room. "Alex! It's time to wake up, you don't want to miss your first day of school!"

She returned to serving customers, her voice fading into the background.

Alex—Alexander Dupain-Cheng—groggily sat up in bed. His medium-length, jet-black hair cascaded down to his mid-back, soft and silky like fine satin threads. His eyes, the same dark color, were framed by striking white spade-shaped outlines. His skin was smooth and flawless, as if it took care of itself naturally—without a single imperfection. His small, boyish frame was lean and agile, with a surprisingly perky backside that drew the attention of those who were observant. Though only 13, Alex was noticeably shorter than his peers.

He was cute—almost beautiful—with just a touch of boyish handsomeness.

After getting dressed, Alex stood before his bathroom mirror. His hair was neatly tied into a single braid that fell just below his shoulders. His outfit consisted of a black flannel jacket with no buttons or zippers, a white T-shirt underneath, light blue jeans cuffed at the ankles, and white shoes. He finished the look with his black glasses and grabbed his schoolbag before heading downstairs.

"Morning, Mom," Alex said, munching on a piece of toast.

"Morning, sweetie," Sabine replied. "Are you planning to be late? Your first class starts in eight minutes."

Alex nearly choked on his toast. His eyes widened, and he sprang into action.

"Crap!" he muttered, dashing out the door.

As Alex rushed toward school, he dodged through the bustling crowd, narrowly avoiding speeding cars. He pushed himself harder, adrenaline pumping, when he noticed an elderly man in the middle of the road, trying to cross. A car was coming directly toward him, and Alex realized the collision was imminent.

Without thinking, Alex sprinted faster, leaping forward to push the old man out of harm's way. They tumbled to the ground, narrowly avoiding the car's path.

"Sorry about that," Alex said, quickly helping the man to his feet. "A car was coming. I didn't want you to get hurt. You okay?"

The elderly man smiled warmly.

"Yes, I'm fine. But you'll be more than fine soon," he said cryptically.

Alex was puzzled, but before he could ask more, he glanced at the clock and realized he was running out of time.

"Uh, well, I'll be off then! Don't want to be late!" he shouted, running toward school.

The old man watched him, a knowing smile lingering on his face. "You already are," he mumbled, chuckling to himself.

When Alex arrived at school, he rushed straight to the office to grab his schedule and then made his way to class. As soon as he entered, all eyes were on him, including those of his bully, Chloé Bourgeois.

"I assume you're Alexander Dupain-Cheng," the teacher said, acknowledging him as she had seen him around the school before.

"Y-yes, that's me," Alex replied, his voice quiet and shy.

"Well then, sit down," the teacher said. "You didn't make much of an impression on your first day, but since it's your first day, I'll let that slide. Don't expect me to be so lenient next time."

Alex sighed. He looked around for an empty seat, but all the desks were taken—except one, next to a new girl.

Sighing again, he sat down beside her.

"This teacher seems a bit mean, doesn't she?" the girl remarked, glancing at the teacher while reading a comic book.

"Yeah, I guess," Alex muttered, feeling down.

"And it seems like Chloé Bourgeois has it out for you," the girl added, noticing how Chloé kept glaring at Alex from across the room.

"Yeah, we've had a rough past," Alex admitted, slumping into his seat.

"And I'm guessing she's the villain?" the new girl asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Alex said, surprised. "How did you know that?"

"Intuition," the new girl replied with a smirk, her tone sarcastic.

"I'm Alya," she added.

"And I'm Alexander, but you can call me Alex," he responded with a small smile.

And so, a new friendship began.

At lunch, Alex decided to find the library, his usual quiet spot. He wandered through the halls until he finally found it, slipping inside to enjoy his meal in peace.

As he wandered between the aisles of books, something caught his eye. Through the stacks, he saw a boy reading.

It was Adrien Agreste.

Alex had heard his name before but hadn't paid much attention. Now, seeing him up close, he couldn't look away. Adrien had a beauty that seemed almost unreal—his silky blonde hair framed his face perfectly, and his bright green eyes shone like emeralds. His skin was fair, and his body—slim, toned, and lean—had the kind of subtle strength that came with natural athleticism. He wasn't overly muscular, but his figure was perfectly sculpted. At that moment, Alex couldn't help but blush.

Adrien was even more captivating in person.

Alex took a step closer, but in his distraction, he tripped over a book cart. The loud crash startled him, and he fell to the floor.

Adrien quickly stood and rushed over, concern in his eyes. "Hey, are you okay?"

Alex, flustered and embarrassed, simply stared up at him, his face turning bright red.

"U-um, y-yeah, I'm good!" Alex stammered.

Adrien smiled kindly, helping him to his feet. "You sure? You seem a little... off."

"Y-yeah," Alex said, still struggling to gather his composure.

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Adrien gave Alex one last look before heading toward the door, muttering, "He's so weird."

Alex could only watch, still stunned, as Adrien disappeared into the hall. His heart raced, and he couldn't stop thinking about the way Adrien had looked at him.

Adrien continued to make an impression on Alex throughout the day. Later, as the final bell rang, signaling the end of school, Alex let out a sigh of relief. He had survived another day of dealing with Chloé.

As he walked out of the school entrance, he accidentally bumped into Chloé, spilling a droplet of coffee on her shirt.

"Alexander Dupain-Cheng!" Chloé shrieked. "How dare you! This is my favorite shirt!"

She immediately began chasing him, and Alex ran, trying to escape her wrath.

"Come back here, Alexander! You won't get away with this!" Chloé yelled, her voice dripping with anger.

Alex darted through traffic, cutting through the streets in a desperate bid to evade her. He finally ducked into a small alley and hid there, taking a few moments to catch his breath.

"Ugh, this day is getting worse and worse..." he muttered. It was already getting dark, and he was still being chased on his first day back to school.

As he crouched behind a crate, he heard Chloé and her assistant/best friend, Sabrina, approaching. Alex quickly ducked behind the crate, but he misstepped, causing Sabrina to spot him.

He motioned to Sabrina, silently pleading with her not to tell Chloé. However, before Sabrina could respond, Chloé stormed over to her location, demanding, "Did you find him?"

Sabrina quietly pointed towards his direction with a slightly troubled expression.

Groaning in frustration Alex quickly made a break for it, with Chloé and Sabrina hot on his heels. He darted into a small, secluded shop and, with a glance over his shoulder to make sure they weren't following, collapsed into a corner. Catching his breath, Alex sank to the floor in a fetal position, the frantic energy of the chase fading away. His eyelids grew heavy, and within moments, he drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Elsewhere, in a dimly lit, cluttered room, the old keeper of the Miraculouses, Master Fu, felt the subtle yet unmistakable surge of power. Not just any power—the Butterfly Miraculous had been activated.

With urgency, Fu approached the Miracle Box, his hands steady despite the rising sense of responsibility. He unlocked the box, revealing the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses. His fingers hesitated over them for a moment, uncertainty weighing on his decision.

"Wayzz," Fu spoke to his Kwami, a small green turtle-like creature who rested nearby. "Do you think I should send these Miraculouses out?"

Wayzz, wise and serene, smiled reassuringly. "Whatever you decide, Master, I'm sure it will be the right choice. But if you cannot trust yourself, trust your heart."

Fu's shoulders relaxed at the reassuring words. "Thank you, Wayzz," he replied with a smile, taking a deep breath. He then released the Miraculouses, setting them free to find their destined wielders.

Back in the small shop, Alex's peaceful sleep was interrupted by a strange, tingling sensation. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. The dim, cluttered shop was filled with odd trinkets and mysterious items. Curiosity piqued, he took in the strange symbols around him. As he wandered deeper into the shop, he heard faint noises coming from the back, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

Cautiously, Alex made his way forward, accidentally knocking over a few items on a shelf. The clink of metal echoed in the silence. He jumped, his unease growing with each step. He turned to walk backward, only to bump into a tall statue of a knight, causing him to jolt upright.

"You don't have to scare me," Alex said, his voice trembling slightly, "I can easily scare myself, so can you please come out?"

As if answering his call, a ladybug fluttered toward him, landing delicately on his outstretched finger.

Alex blinked in surprise, eyes wide. "And why might you be here?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with both wonder and confusion.

The ladybug remained still for a moment before suddenly glowing with a mystical pinkish-red energy. Alex stared in awe as the light intensified, wrapping around the tiny insect like a shimmering aura.

The ladybug swirled around him, its energy creating a sparkling trail in the air before it flew toward a large stone tablet. The tablet was inscribed with a phrase that Alex could barely make out in the dim light:

"Who saves a life, saves the world."

Alex read the words aloud, his voice echoing softly in the silence of the shop. The ladybug continued its flight, lighting candles along the way before finally making its way toward a large cauldron. The symbol beneath it glowed faintly, as though the very presence of the ladybug had awakened something within it.

Intrigued, Alex took a step closer, kneeling down to inspect the cauldron. Beneath it, he spotted two circular earrings, glowing in the same reddish-pink hue as the ladybug. They each had five black dots—four arranged in a square pattern around a central dot.

Alex gasped softly, reaching out to pick up the earrings. His fingers brushed the cool surface before he instinctively placed them in his ears.

A sudden burst of bright pink light exploded from the cauldron, temporarily blinding him. A startled cat, perched on a garbage can outside the shop, darted away as the flash of light flooded the room.

"Ah!" Alex yelped, his heart pounding as he stumbled backward and fell to the ground.

In the wake of the explosion of light, a small, reddish creature with black dots appeared before him, hovering in the air. Its tiny form sparkled with mystical energy as it blinked up at him.

"Finally, a new holder!" the creature exclaimed, its voice high-pitched with excitement.

Alex stared in awe as the creature hovered in front of him. It noticed a hanging lamp nearby and, with a sudden flick of its antennae, tapped it, causing the lamp to flicker on.

"Nice, humans have finally discovered how to use electricity," the creature said in a tone of amused wonder.

"Ahhh!" Alex screamed, stepping back in shock. He bumped into a hanging pot, knocking it with a loud clang.

"I forgot how loud this part can be," the creature sighed, its tone sounding almost exasperated.

"Anyways, let's get this out of the way," the creature continued. "My name is Tikki, and I'm a kwami. A kind of genie, though I don't grant wishes. Well, I can, but not the kind you're thinking of. I'm a kwami—a truly independent, platonic archetypal being. I'm completely transcendental and unbound by the rules of reality, even beyond the dualities, concepts, and existential makeup of all existence. We kwamis exist in a higher dimension, and we are made of infons, though I'll save that for another time."

"We are spiritual beings, immune to the constraints of reality. We're immutable, unchangeable, and we can transcend time and space. In our true form, we're beyond all laws and principles of cause and effect. But, we can manifest lesser avatars of ourselves, which is how you can see, talk, and interact with us."

Alex stared blankly at Tikki, trying to make sense of what she had said. The flood of information was overwhelming.

"We're here to help you save the world from evil people who want to misuse the power of the Miraculouses for their own gain," Tikki said firmly.

Alex, still overwhelmed, rose from the floor. He lowered his head in thought, feeling unsure of himself.

"Yeah, Tikki, this sounds great and all, but I don't think I'm cut out to be a hero," Alex said, his voice heavy with doubt.

"But the Miraculous chose you," Tikki countered. "You're the one who's meant to do this."

Alex sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Even if it chose me, I don't think I'm capable. I can barely stand up to my bully. I'm not even confident enough to speak up in class. How am I supposed to save the world?"

"You just need courage and spirit," Tikki encouraged, trying to lift his spirits.

Alex walked slowly toward a nearby mirror, examining his reflection with a tired expression. "But that's something I don't have, Tikki. I'm sorry, but I can't be your hero." He fought to hold back tears, feeling defeated.

Tikki's voice softened, but her determination remained. "Well, if you won't become the hero I need, I'll just have to force you."

Before Alex could react, Tikki unleashed a burst of pink energy, striking him with such force that the air was knocked from his lungs. The world spun as he blacked out, consumed by a blinding flash of magical energy.

When Alex came to, groaning as he pushed himself up, he felt sore all over, his body aching like never before. He slowly rose to his feet and noticed his reflection in the mirror.

"Ahhh!" he screamed, his voice cracking with panic.

His entire body was now clad in a form-fitting suit, red and black with black polka dots, and his face was covered by a red mask with the same dots.

In a state of shock, Alex reached up to touch his face, running his fingers along the cool surface of the mask. His hands roamed over the rest of his suit, now fully aware of the dramatic transformation.

His suit was skintight, with a red section covering his torso and shoulders, forming a "V" shape down to his hips and upper thighs. His legs were covered in the same red material, decorated with black polka dots. The black sections of the suit reached up from the neck and extended down the arms and legs.

His hair had changed too—now split into two braids at the back, tied with a long red band, with the tips of his hair now reddish in hue.

Alex stepped back, inspecting his new appearance in the mirror. He couldn't help but think, I don't look too bad in this suit... or maybe I'm just trying to be optimistic.

As he scanned his body, a blush crept onto his face. The tight fit of the suit left little to the imagination, and he couldn't help but notice how noticeable his butt had become in the form-fitting material.

"Ugh, why did it have to be me?" Alex groaned in frustration, his tone almost sarcastic.

His eyes fell on the yo-yo strapped to his side. He picked it up, inspecting it closely. It was red with black polka dots, matching the design of his suit. There was also a golden marking on it that made it look almost regal.

"This is a weird weapon, especially if I'm supposed to save the world with it," Alex muttered, baffled.

He tapped the yo-yo, and in response, it activated, floating around him in the air. Before he could react, the yo-yo shot out of the shop window, pulling Alex with it.

"Ahhhh!" he screamed as he was yanked out of the shop and flung through the air, flying across the city before crashing through a cathedral window.

The last thing he saw before everything went black was the silhouette of a large black cat.

Hanging from the ceiling of the cathedral, Alex and the mysterious new hero were both caught by Alex's yo-yo. Slowly, they began to regain consciousness.

Alex opened his eyes, blinking through the haze of sleep, his vision still a bit blurry. As it cleared, he looked around, taking in his surroundings. His breath hitched as he realized he was hanging from the ceiling.

"Ahhhhhh!!" he screamed in shock, panic setting in.

He struggled to calm himself when a voice interrupted his rising anxiety.

"Ahem, bonjour," a boy's voice said.

Before Alex could process the words, they both dropped down. The boy landed gracefully on his feet, but Alex landed awkwardly on the ground, his legs flailing over his head as he hit the floor with a loud thud.

Groaning, Alex pulled himself into a sitting position, his yo-yo landing beside him with a soft thunk.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" the boy asked, sounding mildly irritated as he glanced at Alex from behind a shadowy corner.

"It's dangerous for a lady to be out here," he added, his tone teasing.

Alex's face flushed with irritation. "First off, I'm not a lady. I'm a boy," he said firmly, a bit of pride in his voice.

The boy jumped down in front of him, surprised.

"Wait, really?" The boy circled around Alex, inspecting him from every angle.

"Yeah, really," Alex shot back, his body stiffening as the boy eyed him up and down.

"Well," the boy said, raising an eyebrow, "you're pretty short for a boy, your hair's long, and you even smell like flowers and a hint of vanilla."

Alex's cheeks turned pink at the unexpected compliment. He couldn't help but feel flustered as the boy continued his assessment.

"And most of all..." The boy's smirk widened. "You have a big butt."

Before Alex could react, the boy reached out, trying to poke at his backside.

"Hey!" Alex shouted, his face going red. He slapped the boy's hand away. "Watch where you're touching!"

"My bad," the boy said with exaggerated innocence, though there was a playful tone in his voice.

Alex grumbled under his breath, still feeling embarrassed. "Anyways, what's your name?" the boy asked, cocking his head to the side. "Mine's Cat Noir."

Alex hesitated for a moment, the realization dawning on him that he hadn't even thought of a superhero name yet. He shrugged sheepishly.

"I haven't thought of one yet," he admitted.

Cat Noir burst into laughter, clutching his stomach as he doubled over. "You haven't even come up with a superhero name?" he gasped between chuckles. "And you're trying to be a superhero?"

Alex rolled his eyes, his irritation growing. "Haha, very funny, Mr. Cat Noir. FYI, I just started this whole thing, and I barely had time to adjust to my new life. Besides, your name isn't all that creative either," he shot back, crossing his arms with a smug expression on his face.

Cat Noir faltered slightly at the remark, his playful smirk faltering.

"Well," he muttered, "at least I came up with one."

"Yeah, yeah," Alex said, dismissing the conversation. "Anyway, what are you doing here? My yo-yo led me here, so what's the deal?"

"I'm here because I sensed the monster we were supposed to fight around here," Cat Noir explained, casually walking around, as if the whole situation was nothing to worry about.

"As you can tell, I'm as sneaky as a mouse." He made exaggerated movements to demonstrate his sneakiness, almost knocking over a glass vase in the process.

"And as quick as a cat!" He struck a playful cat-like pose, directing it toward Alex.

"And finally, I have nine lives," Cat Noir said smugly, leaning on a long candelabra, causing it to topple over.

"So much for being sneaky!" Alex muttered in a forced, muffled tone, clearly unimpressed.

Both of them failed to notice a large, monstrous figure lurking outside the cathedral, watching them through the windows.

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway," Cat Noir continued, unbothered. "I have night vision and super-strong claws." He backed up, unaware of the impending danger.

"Uhh, Cat Noir," Alex said, his tone now tinged with concern, trying to warn him.

"And most of all," Cat Noir added, pulling out his weapon—a long, black stick adorned with a green cat paw print—"this all-in-one thingamajig!" He brandished it proudly.

Unfortunately, while pulling it out, he accidentally struck the monster's nose.

Alex winced at the sight.

Cat Noir chuckled nervously. "It's right behind me, isn't it?"

"Umm, yeah," Alex replied, grinning.

"Well, I know just what to do!" Cat Noir shouted. "RUN!!" He dashed off, with the gargoyle-like monster immediately giving chase.

Alex groaned and reluctantly began to follow them.

As they ran, Cat Noir spotted a large pile of pipes and quickly formulated a plan. He sprinted and leapt from wall to wall, landing nimbly on the wooden area beneath the pipes. The monster, charging after him, collided with the pipes, and a surprising series of notes rang out from the impact.

Cat Noir grinned and dramatically declared, "And the winner is Cat Noiiirrrre!" He struck a triumphant pose.

The monster, undeterred, quickly recovered and took to the air, charging toward Cat Noir.

Seeing this, Cat Noir attempted to jump onto the monster's back to tame it, but the plan failed spectacularly. The creature flailed around violently, trying to throw him off.

Both Cat Noir and the monster hurtled toward the ceiling, crashing through the cathedral's glass once again. However, Alex managed to use his yo-yo to latch onto the monster, following them as they soared through the air.

As the monster continued to struggle, Alex crashed into the bells of the cathedral, the clanging sounds producing a chaotic melody.

Cat Noir laughed. "Ahh, music to my ears!" he yelled to Alex, completely enjoying the chaos.

Alex let out an exasperated sigh but focused on trying to stop the monster from causing any more damage.

After crashing through several parts of the cathedral, the monster finally descended, landing in front of a large crowd of onlookers.

Still in the air, Alex used his yo-yo to descend and landed gracefully on his feet just in front of the crowd, who immediately began snapping pictures and recording the scene.

Looking around, Alex's eyes landed on a familiar face in the crowd.

"Alya?" he said, surprised.

Before they could exchange any more words, the monster took off again, and Alex was yanked into the air as his yo-yo pulled him back, chasing after the creature.

Alya, excited, smiled and called out to her friends. "Guys, look, we have heroes!" she said, holding up her phone to record the moment.

The crowd followed the action, gathering near the railing that separated them from the water below.

Up above, a helicopter hovered, broadcasting the scene live.

"Hey folks, don't be bemused, it's just the news!" the reporter, Nadia Chamack, announced cheerfully. "It seems we have a large creature running amok, with two new heroes trying to stop it."

The camera switched to show the two heroes in action, still pursuing the monster.

"Let's hope they can stop it," Nadia said, turning back to the camera.

The monster, meanwhile, was heading straight for the water, rushing toward the massive lake beneath the bridges.

"Hey, it would be nice if you would help! Cats don't like water!" Cat Noir shouted, his grip tight on the monster as they plunged into the water.

"I'm trying my best, alright!" Alex responded, pulling on his yo-yo in an attempt to reel in the creature.

Alex began skidding across the water's surface as the monster moved through it with ease.

"You alright, Cat Noir?" Alex called, concerned.

A few seconds passed before Cat Noir gave a thumbs-up from beneath the water.

Alex sighed in relief.

As the monster continued moving underwater, it suddenly shot up out of the water and went over a bridge. Alex, caught off guard, was forced to dive under it, only to land awkwardly on the rocky train tracks below.

He quickly checked himself for injuries, surprised to find none.

Cat Noir, meanwhile, yelled as the monster barreled toward a train tunnel, crashing into the tunnel's entrance and sliding along the train tracks until it reached the subway station.

Cat Noir sprang off the monster just as it tried to get back up, causing it to crash into a set of subway lights, electrocuting itself. The sparks made the monster shriek, causing the subway passengers to panic and flee.

The creature stood up again, facing Cat Noir.

"Alright, boy, you want this?" Cat Noir taunted, holding his stick out. The monster suddenly acted like a playful dog, looking at the stick.

"Then go get it!" Cat Noir said, pretending to throw the stick. The monster turned around, searching for it, but quickly realized it wasn't there.

Furious, it turned back to face Cat Noir.

"Okay, maybe that was a bad idea," Cat Noir muttered as he turned and ran.

"Partner, help!!" Cat Noir called, his voice full of desperation as the monster chased him down the tunnel.

Hearing his cries, Alex quickly got to his feet and ran to help.

Just moments later, the sound of a train chugging reached Alex's ears.

"Oh, crap," he muttered. "Welp, let's hope this yo-yo isn't just for show."

He threw his yo-yo at the railing on one side of the tracks and swung off of it.

As Alex swung through the air, he experienced a strange sensation. His instincts guided him, and he noticed a few objects under the street near the train tracks. They were shaded red, with black dots on them, almost as if something was pulling him toward them. Trusting his gut, he swung toward them, finding it much easier than expected.

As he neared Cat Noir's location, Alex almost lost control, but quickly regained his footing and made it just in time.

Meanwhile, in a car driving nearby, Sabine and Tom were worrying about their son, Alex.

"Man, I sure hope Alex is okay," Tom said, glancing over at Sabine.

"I'm sure he's fine," Sabine replied, trying to comfort him. "He's probably at home, resting."

"You know what, Sabine, you're probably right," Tom said, smiling slightly.

Just as they drove by, Alex spotted them. The unexpected sight threw him off balance, and he fell.

"Mom, Dad? Oh, I am so going to be late for dinner!" Alex said helplessly before swinging off again.

While Cat Noir was running, he tripped, his leg getting stuck between the train tracks. He struggled, but it wouldn't budge.

Panic set in as both the approaching train and the monster neared him.

With the train and the monster closing in, Cat Noir braced himself for impact, but suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Leave my partner alone!" Alex yelled, spinning into a kick that hit the monster at speeds exceeding 1,000 miles per hour. The impact caused a sonic boom, sending a shockwave that knocked the creature hundreds of feet away. The force also collapsed the train tracks, causing them to fall into the ground beneath.

Miraculously, no cars were under the tracks at that moment, but the damage still caused a traffic jam.

Quickly realizing the danger of the crumbling tracks, Alex grabbed Cat Noir and swung them both off to a nearby building rooftop. The landing was rough, especially since it was Alex's first time swinging like that.

Alex stood up and offered a hand to Cat Noir, helping him off the ground.

"Sorry about that, but not too bad for a superhero with no name," Alex said with a grin.

Cat Noir blushed, clearly flustered.

This was the first time he'd gotten a clear look at his superhero partner.

As Alex stared at Cat Noir, he began to unknowingly admire him. The hero's sharp but slightly soft facial features, those mesmerizing black eyes, the silky jet-black hair, smooth unblemished skin, and most of all, those perfect, pink, kissable lips.

Before Cat Noir realized what was happening, he found himself leaning in to kiss Alex. But Alex's voice broke him out of his daze.

"Cat Noir! Are you listening to what I'm saying or not?" Alex snapped, clearly annoyed. "I've called your name three times!"

Cat Noir blinked, snapping back to reality, and sheepishly smiled. "Yeah, sorry about that. You were saying?"

Alex rolled his eyes with a sigh.

"We need to figure out how to stop that train with those people inside," Alex pointed out, gesturing toward the massive gap in the tracks.

"But I've got a plan," Alex continued, a determined look in his eyes. "First, we're going to need to slow it down. And for that, we'll need your staff." He pointed at Cat Noir's weapon.

Cat Noir raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. "Hmm, it's a good one, but I'm not sure how to extend my staff like you do your yo-yo," he admitted, looking at Alex's spinning weapon.

Alex grimaced. "From what I know, the length of my yo-yo depends on my willpower." He glanced at his yo-yo. "Maybe it's the same for you," he said, looking back at Cat Noir.

Cat Noir thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, worth a shot." He concentrated on his staff, willing it to extend. To his delight, the staff stretched by two feet. A smile spread across both their faces.

"Alright, let's get this plan in action!" Alex said, swinging into position.

Cat Noir grinned. "After you, partner," he said, following swiftly.

Once they were both in position, they signaled to each other. Alex began by tossing his yo-yo around the front of the speeding train, pulling it in the opposite direction with all his might.

It put a lot of strain on him, considering the train was moving at 210 mph.

As Alex reeled in the train, it slowed down significantly, but the force was immense. He had to be careful, though—if he wasn't careful, the friction between the yo-yo and the train could melt through the metal.

The train's momentum shifted, crashing into Cat Noir's extended staff. The staff bent under the pressure but held strong, preventing the train from derailing and bringing it to a complete stop.

Alex let out a sigh of relief, smiling.

The passengers inside the train cheered.

Cat Noir jumped onto the train to meet Alex, grinning. "Woah! We stopped a train!" he said, his excitement obvious.

Alex smiled gently, trying to stay modest. "It wasn't that hard, Cat Noir."

"Yeah, but we still saved a train with a couple hundred people in it!" Cat Noir countered, still grinning.

Alex chuckled. "I guess you're right," he agreed with a smile.

But their celebration was short-lived.

The monster, which had been quiet for a moment, suddenly charged toward them. Cat Noir noticed it first and yelled to warn Alex.

"Hey, watch out—!"

Before Alex could react, the monster's tail whipped out, hitting him with a powerful strike. Alex was sent flying through the air, crashing into buildings, windows, and cars. He finally landed, coughing up dust and waving the debris away from his face.

"That kinda hurt," Alex groaned, slowly pushing himself up.

Cat Noir's eyes widened as he realized the danger. He immediately sprang into action, leading the monster away from the train to avoid further destruction.

Taunting the creature with his staff, Cat Noir shouted, "That's it, good boy!" while skillfully dodging its swipes

The monster, enraged, charged at Cat Noir, but he effortlessly leaped over it, landing behind with ease. "You'll have to do better than that!" he taunted, a grin spreading across his face.

Alex, recovering from the impact, quickly rose and prepared to regroup. He couldn't let Cat Noir face the creature alone.

As Alex swung toward his location, a loud boom echoed from the direction of Cat Noir.

"Oh no," Alex muttered, swinging faster and arriving at Cat Noir's side in record time.

When he got there, he found Cat Noir trapped between the monster's claws.

"Uh, a little help?" Cat Noir called, flashing a sheepish grin.

Alex groaned inwardly but quickly wrapped his yoyo around the monster and pulled and threw the monster away from Cat Noir.

"You okay, Cat Noir?" Alex asked, his voice almost blank.

"Not as okay as you are," Cat Noir replied, his tone flirtatious, his expression matching.

Alex rolled his eyes and smiled. "Okay, kitty, let's save the flirting for later," he said, his tone almost as playful.

Cat Noir blushed for a moment before preparing to face the monster again.

The two heroes, weapons in hand, charged at the creature, launching into battle. The clash tore through the city—buildings shattered, street lamps were broken, and the ground cracked beneath their feet.

"Ugh, we're getting nowhere with this!" Cat Noir grumbled, clearly frustrated.

"Be patient, Cat Noir. This is our first time, and we don't know how most of this works. The monster probably has a weakness; we just have to find it," Alex said, dodging another attack.

"I know, but it's getting really annoying!" Cat Noir snapped, launching another attack.

In his frustration and haste, Cat Noir got caught off guard, his tail whipped into the air by the monster.

"Cat Noir!" Alex shouted, rushing toward him.

The monster, seizing the moment, hurled a car toward Alex, trapping him between it and a building.

Using the opportunity, the monster flew after Cat Noir.

Regaining his composure midair, Cat Noir turned to face the oncoming monster, his staff in hand.

"You're going to pay for that!" Cat Noir yelled.

Unknowingly, he triggered one of his staff's hidden features.

"Take this!" he shouted, striking the monster with his staff. This time, the blow sent a shockwave of power through the creature.

The monster howled in pain, its massive form sent tumbling across the ground, leaving a large crater in its wake.

With a forceful push, Alex finally freed himself from the car. As he stood, he saw the massive crater left by the monster's fall.

"Whoa, what happened here?" Alex asked, awe evident in his voice.

"I don't know! I just hit it, and this happened!" Cat Noir replied, just as surprised as Alex.

They turned to look at the monster, now surrounded by a strange, purplish-black goo that morphed it into a human form.

"WHAT?!" both Cat Noir and Alex exclaimed in unison.

"Did you know it was a person?" Alex asked, shocked.

"I didn't even know it was a person!" Cat Noir shot back, equally astonished.

Recovering from their shock, they cautiously approached the disoriented man.

"Hey, sir, are you okay?" Alex asked.

Rubbing his temple, the man tried to make sense of the situation. "Y-yeah, I'm okay... where am I?" he asked, still confused.

Alex and Cat Noir exchanged a glance before turning back to the man.

"This is gonna take a while," Alex said with a sigh.

After explaining the situation to the man, Alex and Cat Noir left and perched on a tall building, watching over the city.

Sitting on the edge, Cat Noir gazed out at the city with a smile.

Then he noticed the frown on his partner's face.

"Hey, something the matter?" Cat Noir asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Alex's frown deepened. "Look at all this destruction we caused. If I were better, none of this would've happened. I'm just not good enough to be a hero," he said, his voice heavy with self-doubt.

Cat Noir's expression softened. "Well, yeah, but because of us, we lessened the damage. If it weren't for us, the monster would've done a lot worse. We saved the city from a lot more chaos," he said, trying to cheer up his partner.

Alex's voice cracked with guilt. "Even if that's true, I'm sure there's someone out there who could've stopped it all. And now because of me, the city has to rebuild everything."

A tear threatened to escape Alex's eye.

Suddenly, a flash of purple lightning streaked across the sky, striking a dark purple butterfly, causing a pink outline to form around it.

"That's weird," Cat Noir remarked, intrigued.

But when he turned back to Alex, he found him gone. He heard a soft "I'm sorry" carried by the wind and sighed, a frown settling on his face as he swung off toward home.

After jumping across rooftops, Cat Noir finally reached the Agreste mansion. He slipped through the second-floor window and detransformed.

"Claws in," Adrien muttered, his voice tired.

In the room with him was his kwami, Plagg, a small black creature with cat ears, long whiskers, and green eyes.

"Whew! That was fun, wasn't it, Adrien?" Plagg said cheerfully.

"Yeah, it was," Adrien replied softly, though his frown lingered.

"So what's the matter? Everything went well, didn't it?" Plagg asked, concerned for his holder.

"Yeah, it did. But... I don't think my partner wants to be a hero anymore. Is it because of me?" Adrien asked, anxiety creeping into his voice. He was afraid he'd done something wrong.

"I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding," Plagg reassured him. "The holder of the Ladybug Miraculous will come around. Just wait and see."

Adrien gave a soft smile. "Yeah, I'm sure you're right, Plagg."

With that, Adrien fell asleep in the comfort of his room, his worries momentarily pushed aside.

Meanwhile, Alex landed on the balcony just above his room and entered, detransforming.

"So, did you like being a superhero?" Tikki asked, her tone cheerful.

Seeing Alex's frown, Tikki grew worried. "Tikki, I'm sorry, but I can't be the hero you need," Alex said, his voice heavy with regret as he took off his earrings and handed them back to Tikki. "Please tell me you understand."

Tikki looked down, her eyes full of sadness. "I understand," she said quietly, taking the earrings before flying off to search for a new holder.

Afterward, Alex changed into his sleepwear and went to bed, his mind still troubled.

Later, Alex's parents arrived home and checked on him, sighing in relief to find him safe and sound, sleeping peacefully in his room.

The next morning, Alex groggily woke up to his alarm, got dressed, and headed to school.

At lunch, he sat next to his new best friend, Alya, who was eagerly showing him footage of the previous night's battle.

"Alex, look! We have new superheroes!" Alya said, almost yelling in excitement.

"Oh, yeah, I've... umm, heard about them," Alex replied sheepishly.

"Oooh, and look! You can see them fighting the monster!" Alya said, pointing at the screen with excitement.

"Uhhh, yeah... me too," Alex mumbled, trying to brush it off.

"And look at this! It seems like the red and black hero is a female, but I have a feeling it's a guy," Alya said, showing a clear image of the hero's face she'd captured.

"W-well, we don't know anything for sure, so you might be wrong," Alex said, trying to hide the fact that the hero she was talking about was, in fact, him.

"True, but also," Alya leaned in closer, whispering in his ear, "you didn't hear it from me, but people are saying that the red and black hero has a pretty big butt." She chuckled, clearly amused.

Alex's face flushed, and he began stammering, making Alya laugh even more.

"Chill out! You're acting like you're the hero," Alya teased.

"O-oh," Alex muttered, still red-faced and flustered.

Now in class the students wait for their teacher to come.

The teacher entered the room, and everyone quickly settled down as class began.

The day went by, and during 5th period class, Chloe plotted to embarrass Alex.

"Sabrina, come over here," Chloe commanded.

"Yes, Chloe," Sabrina replied, eager to serve her.

She took out her gum and spat it onto a piece of tissue, then handed it to Sabrina. "Go put this on that lame Alex's seat."

"Alright, Chloe," Sabrina said, a little unsure but still obedient.

As Adrien walked in, he saw Sabrina putting the gum on Alex's seat and quickly stepped in to stop her.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Adrien asked, walking up to Sabrina.

Seeing Adrien, Sabrina immediately stood up and tried to brush off what she was doing with a nervous smile.

Adrien looked at the gum on Alex's seat and sighed. "I expected more from you, Sabrina."

Sabrina felt a pang of guilt as she watched Adrien walk away. She returned to Chloe to report what had happened.

"Chloe, Adrien interfered with the plan," Sabrina said, sounding a little worried.

Chloe chewed a new piece of gum, unfazed. "It's okay if Adrikins wants to help that lame Alex. We have plenty of time to embarrass him later."

"If you say so, Chloe," Sabrina said, unsure but going along with it.

When Alex entered the classroom, he saw Adrien fiddling with the gum on his seat and decided to confront him.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked, frustration in his voice.

Adrien stood up, trying to explain himself, but Alex quickly interrupted, taking the situation out of context.

"I thought you were better than this, but it seems you're just like Chloe," Alex said, his voice upset and disappointed as he walked away.

Adrien watched him leave, his expression falling.

Sabrina, having witnessed the exchange, felt a little guilty, while Chloe, from across the room, smiled slightly, satisfied with the scene.

The rest of the day, Alex avoided Adrien, who tried repeatedly to talk to him and clear up the misunderstanding, but his attempts were futile.

The tension between them grew, and it seemed like nothing could repair their strained relationship.

In a large, dome-like room, a tall man stood at the center, his purplish suit accented with grey and a purple cane in hand. He stood still, sensing the negative emotions around him, searching for the perfect individuals to manipulate. His goal was clear: to control others and use them as pawns to acquire the miraculous.

And then, he found them—two people brimming with strong negative emotions. A wicked smile spread across his face.

His akuma, the butterfly that granted the victims their powers, remained singular but was powerful enough to control both of them. It had multiplied, its power enhanced because the holder of the Ladybug Miraculous had failed to purify it previously. It was nearly perfect.

Two people—rejected by a bank, their dreams shattered—felt a mixture of anger, frustration, and sorrow. A mime and a magician, unable to perform their show, were denied the money they needed. They had no choice but to let their emotions take over.

The man saw his chance and seized it.

"Hello there," he spoke, his voice echoing through the space.

The magician looked around, confused. "Who are you?" she asked.

"You can call me someone who simply wants to help," the man replied, his voice smooth and cold. "I will give you the power to start your own show and make it greater than you could ever imagine. All I ask in return is the Ladybug and Cat Noir Miraculous."

The magician hesitated, considering the offer. "So... do you accept?" the man said, his smile growing wider.

The magician, her heart clouded with anger and frustration, smiled back. "I'll be thrilled to help you." The mime nodded beside her in agreement.

With a surge of power, the man controlled his akuma, sending it to possess them both. Under the influence of the akuma, they were transformed into Magica and the Mime. Their emotions were no longer theirs to control; they were now the puppets of his will.

"So, what should we call you?" Magica, the newly transformed villain, asked.

"Hmm..." The man grinned wickedly. "You can call me Hawk Moth."

In an instant, Magica and the Mime infiltrated a bank, wreaking havoc and destroying the money inside. Chaos erupted, with the bank shaking from the force of their powers.

Soon, the sound of sirens filled the air, and police arrived at the scene.

"Come out with your hands up!" one of the officers yelled.

Magica, peering out of the bank's window, sighed in annoyance. "Interrupted," she muttered. But then, her face lit up with a devious smile. "A little chaos won't hurt now and then." With a swift motion, she stepped out, wielding her black-and-white magic staff. Arcs of lightning shot from the staff, sending police cars flying and terrorizing the officers.

Above, a news helicopter circled, capturing the scene. The voice of the reporter filled the airwaves.

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news. Nadia Chamack here, and we're live downtown Paris at the Central Bank, where two new villains are causing havoc. It's unclear who's behind this destruction, but we're all waiting to see if our two heroes will show up to save the day once again."

Hearing this, the school took immediate action, locking down to avoid further damage.

In the chaos, Adrien saw his chance. He snuck out of the classroom, rushing to a secluded spot to transform.

"Alright, Plagg, there are magical villains attacking the city. It's time for Cat Noir to save the day. Plagg, claws out!" Adrien said, his voice filled with determination. As he spoke, his miraculous activated. Plagg was sucked into his ring, turning it black with a green paw print on it.

In the blink of an eye, Adrien waved two fingers over his eyes, creating a magical mask that turned his eyes green with black cat slits. He rubbed his head, and black cat ears sprouted from his hair. With a dramatic stretch, his magical suit materialized, followed by his belt. A moment later, he struck his signature pose, ready for battle.

Moments laterHe jumps out of the school window, and uses his stick to speed up his journey to the villains' location.

Inside the school bathroom, Alex heard the loud explosions outside and quickly took shelter. Peering out of the window, he saw Cat Noir being tossed around by two villains.

Alex's heart sank. He couldn't just stand there.

"Oh no, Cat Noir's facing two villains on his own! He's not going to make it without my help."

A wave of guilt gripped him. If I hadn't given up my Miraculous... The thought hit him hard. If he'd kept it, he could've been out there, fighting beside Cat Noir, not watching helplessly from inside a bathroom. He was the reason Cat Noir was in this mess.

No one else would come to help. It was up to him.

Swallowing his fear, Alex dashed out of the school, determined to make things right. Hero or not, he couldn't let Cat Noir get hurt—especially when he knew he was partly responsible for putting him in danger in the first place.

One of the villains, a mime, relentlessly pursued Cat Noir.

"This guy is really starting to get on my nerves," Cat Noir muttered, clearly frustrated, dodging the mime's attacks.

The other villain, a magician, fired arcs of yellow lightning at Cat Noir, barely missing him with each blast.

"Give us your Miraculous!" the magician shouted as she sent cars flying toward him with a flick of her wand.

"Never!" Cat Noir yelled back, hurling one of the cars back toward them.

But just then, Cat Noir got caught off guard. As he threw the car, the mime seized the opportunity. Invisible ropes shot out, wrapping around his limbs and pulling him into an invincible wheel that locked him in place, rendering him immobile.

"Perfect! Now, take off Cat Noir's Miraculous and bring it to me!" the magician ordered eagerly. The mime reached for the Miraculous, just inches away from grabbing it. But before he could, a rock suddenly struck him from behind.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" a voice shouted.

Alex stood a few feet away, his arm raised after throwing the rock.

"Stay out of this, kid, or you'll get hurt," Magica threatened, her voice dripping with menace.

"Then come at me," Alex said, his voice steady and determined as he threw another rock at them.

"Alright, brat, you asked for it!"

Magica's eyes narrowed as she raised her wand. With a flick, she hurled a car straight toward Alex. The heavy vehicle came flying through the air with terrifying speed, but Alex quickly sidestepped, the car barely missing him. He felt the gust of air as it whizzed by and heard it crash into the pavement behind him with a deafening bang.

The impact shook the ground beneath his feet, but Alex didnt falter. He began to run away at full speed, his heart pounding. The villain's anger only fueled his determination.

Frustrated by his persistence, Magica

shouted to the mime.

"Help me go after him!" Magica says angrily.

The mime complied, and they both began chasing Alex.

"No! One of you stay and get Cat Noir's Miraculous!" Hawkmoth's voice crackled through the air, full of irritation.

"Oh, relax, Hawkmoth. The kid can't do anything. It'll be easier if Mime and I work together to catch him," Magica said arrogantly, dismissing the threat Alex posed.

Hawkmoth let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Fine, but make it quick."

Leaving Cat Noir behind, the two villains pursued Alex.

Cat Noir, still trapped, was relieved to see someone was finally helping, but boredom quickly set in as he stared up at the sky, counting clouds to pass the time.

Meanwhile, Alex led the villains through narrow streets and alleys, staying one step ahead.

"Just stay still, brat!" Magica shouted as she fired more magic bolts at him, the blasts barely missing his heels.

Alex darted into an alley, then ducked behind a trash can, waiting for the villains to pass by. He could hear them rushing past, their footsteps growing fainter. As soon as they were out of sight, Alex turned and sprinted back toward Cat Noir.

Cat Noir, still stuck, heard footsteps approaching. He turned around and saw Alex coming toward him.

"What are you doing here?" Cat Noir asked, surprise in his voice.

"Here to help, obviously," Alex said, his voice filled with resolve, his eyes locked on Cat Noir's restraints.

"Well, hurry up! I don't want them to come back before you free me!" Cat Noir urged, anxiety rising in his voice.

Alex nodded, quickly getting to work.

Thanks to the mime's limitation of being able to mimic only one person or object at a time, Alex realized that if something interfered, the illusion would break.

"How did you do that?" Cat Noir asked, genuinely curious.

Alex thought for a moment. "I'm guessing the mime can only control one thing at a time. That means if something else interferes, it'll break his hold."

Cat Noir's eyes widened. "Woah."

Alex, hearing the praise in Cat Noir's voice, crossed his arms, a determined smile on his face. It wasn't smug—just resolute. He had made the right decision, and now he was doing what he could to help. But deep down, the guilt lingered. He couldn't undo the past, but he could make sure Cat Noir stayed safe now. That was all he could do.

"So,How did you figure all of that just by seeing his powers?" Cat Noir asked, still impressed.

"Intuition and a bit of brain," Alex said with a hint of pride.

"Where did that boy go?!" Magica shouted, now frantic, more frustrated than she had ever been before.

Then it hit her.

She realized she'd been played.

"How dare he?!" Magica seethed, her voice filled with rage.

Hawkmoth, realizing that Alex had tricked them, became extremely upset.

"How could you let him play you for fools?!" he snapped, his voice crackling with anger. "Go get Cat Noir's Miraculous!"

Magica and Mime immediately turned and headed back toward where they'd left Cat Noir.

Suddenly, the air around them vibrated with the sound of an enormous boom. Both Magica and Mime whirled around to see an enraged Magica and a visibly irritated Mime, floating on arcs of magic lightning.

Magica quickly fired bolts of magic toward them.

"Get them, Mime!" she ordered as she unleashed more magic at Alex and Cat Noir.

Reacting instantly, Cat Noir sprang into action. Just before the bolts of magic could strike, he scooped Alex up in a bridal carry and leaped to safety.

Flustered, Alex's face turned bright red.

"Hey, why did you do that?!" Alex blurted out, still stunned.

"It was the only way to get us out of there in that short amount of time," Cat Noir replied, his tone calm as he continued to leap through the air, carrying Alex to safety.

Finally finding a safe place to land, Cat Noir gently set Alex down. He flashed him a cheesy grin, his confidence returning.

"I'm gonna go face the villains again. Be careful, alright?" he said with a wink before leaping back into action.

Alex stood there, watching him go, but his mind was racing. I need to help Cat Noir, but I don't have my powers anymore.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Without the Miraculous, he was powerless.

His thoughts began to spiral as he leaned against the brick wall of the alley, sliding down into a crouch, hugging his knees. He rested his forehead on his knees, trying to think of a way to help.

But no matter how hard he tried, his mind was blank. The pressure of the situation weighed on him, and soon, frustration boiled over. He was on the verge of tears, his thoughts filled with self-doubt.

I'm still as useless as ever. His voice trembled, barely a whisper. The tears threatened to fall.

Just as Alex's frustration reached its peak, he heard a small clink nearby. Curiosity sparked in him, and he wiped the residue of his tears from his face, forcing himself to focus. He turned toward the sound and saw something glinting behind a crate.

With hesitant steps, he moved closer and found a pair of earrings.

Alex's eyes widened when he saw the earrings. It wasn't just any pair—it was the Ladybug Miraculous. A rush of excitement filled him as he carefully picked them up.

He smiled to himself. This is it. This is my chance.

As he slid the earrings on, a swirl of pinkish energy formed in front of him, and, with a soft shimmer, Tikki appeared.

Tikki smiled gently at him. "Are you ready now?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

Alex, feeling a newfound sense of purpose, looked at her and nodded. "I think I know what I'm supposed to do now," he said with confidence.

Tikki's smile brightened. "I think I'm going to name myself Overbug. Is that okay with you?"

Alex grinned. "That's more than fine!" Tikki replied, her excitement clear in her voice.

Alex's smile faded slightly as a thought crossed his mind. "So... how do I transform?"

Tikki lightly giggled at his question. "It's easy! Just say 'Tikki, spots on!'"

Alex took a deep breath, gathering his resolve. He showcased a smile full of purpose and shouted, "Tikki, spots on!"

In an instant, Tikki was absorbed into the earrings, and the transformation began.

First, his mask formed. Then his hair shifted, followed by his body, and finally, his Yoyo materialized, completing the transformation.

Alex grinned, feeling the power surge through him. With newfound confidence, he swung his yoyo and leaped toward Cat Noir's location.

Meanwhile, Cat Noir was facing off with Magica and Mime.

"For a magician, your magic tricks aren't that amusing," Cat Noir taunted as he dodged another bolt of yellow lightning aimed at him.

He was still running, trying to stay one step ahead while trying to find a way to defeat the villains. But nothing was clicking yet.

Magica's frustration grew as Cat Noir's constant taunting seemed to fuel his evasive maneuvers. She tried to trap him with more arcs of magic, but he dodged every attack, making her angrier by the second. Mime was standing by, waiting for the right moment to strike—but it never seemed to come.

With each bolt of magic that narrowly missed him, Cat Noir couldn't shake the feeling that this situation was growing hopeless.

"Oh, how I wish he was here," Cat Noir thought, his mind drifting for just a moment.

He thought of Alex—his beautiful hair, his perfect body, those pink, kissable lips. And above all, that strong, determined personality.

Distracted, Cat Noir's thoughts finally caught up with him, and in that moment, he was struck by a magical bolt.

"Yes! Finally! Get him now, Mime!" Magica yelled, her voice filled with triumph. The mime rushed forward, miming a super-strong villain as he prepared to strike Cat Noir.

Feeling dumb for letting his thoughts distract him in battle, Cat Noir closed his eyes and braced for impact.

Hawkmoth smiled widely as he watched the scene unfold.

"Yes! Your Miraculous is mine!" he shouted, his voice brimming with victorious excitement.

But then, something strange happened. Cat Noir felt no impact. Slowly, he opened his eyes and found himself staring at an unexpected sight.

Alex stood there, his yoyo wrapped around Mime's arm, preventing the villain from landing the blow. Mime struggled in vain as Alex twisted his yoyo, sending the mime flying into Magica, both villains tumbling several dozen feet away.

With a confident smirk, Alex turned to Cat Noir and extended a hand to help him up.

"You're too careless to get distracted in the heat of battle, Kitty," Alex said, his voice a mix of arrogance and genuine relief. His smile was warm, but with a touch of playful confidence.

Cat Noir stared at him for a moment, his heart racing, his mind slightly overwhelmed. He took Alex's hand, his cheeks flushed.

"You're so beautiful," Cat Noir blurted out, not thinking.

Alex blinked, momentarily stunned. "Uh, thanks, but let's deal with these villains before we work on compliments, Kitty," he said with a teasing grin, pulling Cat Noir up.

Cat Noir, flustered, found himself embarrassed by his own words. He shook his head, trying to regain his composure.

Before he could say anything else, Alex leaned in closer and quickly shared what he'd learned.

"While coming over here, I discovered that in our weapons, there are guides. Mine says I have the power to create and purify. It also told me how these villains and monsters are appearing. They're caused by the Butterfly Miraculous—it akumatizes people who experience strong emotions. In this case, it's being used by its holder to give people powers, turning them into villains by exploiting their negative emotions."

"Woah, that would've been useful to know a bit earlier," Cat Noir said sarcastically, his eyes still wide with surprise.

"Well, better late than never, I guess. Oh! And also, some of my yo-yo's features include the ability to capture Akumas so I can purify them. My yo-yo's length is determined by my willpower, and I can make my yo-yo shapeshift into any shape I want," Alex continued, his tone growing more serious as he explained.

Cat Noir's eyes sparkled with curiosity. He quickly checked his staff, pressing the main paw print on it to find his guide.

"Okay, so here's what it says. I can increase my staff's size, weight, and density. And my special ability is called Cataclysm—it destroys, corrupts, and erases anything it touches. What about you?" Cat Noir asked, eager to learn more.

"My special ability is Lucky Charm. Apparently, I can create anything I need to suit the situation, and I can restore everything back to normal as well," Alex said, smiling confidently.

Cat Noir paused, then chuckled. "Hmm, creation and destruction. They say opposites attract."

Alex shot him a playful smirk. "Puh-lease. The only opposites you're going to attract are the lunatic villains we face."

Cat Noir grinned, his mood lifting at Alex's teasing.

"We'll see, milady," Cat Noir said in a slightly arrogant and flirty manner.

Alex blushed and became slightly flustered.

"Why would you call me 'milady'? I'm a boy," Alex said, pouting slightly, his expression a mix of irritation and embarrassment.

"Well, one, because you smell like a girl; two, you kinda look like one—and even better than most of them; and three, that cute pouty look you're giving me right now." Cat Noir winked, his voice teasing.

Alex rolled his eyes and turned toward the villains, who were finally starting to recover after being incapacitated for two minutes.

Hawkmoth, immediately recognizing Alex, warned his akumatized subjects.

"That's the Ladybug Miraculous wielded!" he shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Bring both of their Miraculous to me!"

"With pleasure," Magica replied, shooting Alex a look of disdain.

"And who are you supposed to be?" she sneered at him.

Alex stood tall, a determined smile crossing his face. "I'm Overbug. And me and Cat Noir are the ones who are going to kick your butt!" he said, pointing at her confidently.

Magica's eyes narrowed, her teeth gritting. "You'll pay for throwing me like that!"

Magica says, charging at Overbug, while the Mime went after Cat Noir. Both pairs of heroes and villains rushed toward each other, the impact of their clash sending a shockwave through the air.

Magica quickly jumped back, firing a bolt of magic from her wand aimed straight at Overbug.

Ducking out of the way, Overbug shot his yoyo forward, wrapping it around Magica's leg. With a swift motion, he threw her through several buildings, sending her tumbling across the cityscape.

"Not so fast!" Overbug said, swinging toward Magica's location. As he neared, he launched a powerful kick that sent her flying into a parked car.

Magica, now enraged, quickly recovered. "You're going to pay!" she yelled. She charged up a magical bolt and shot it directly at Overbug.

Overbug sidestepped, easily dodging the bolt.

Magica's smile turned wicked. "Unknowingly, Overbug, you've just fallen into my trap."

Her spell bent space around him, causing his movements to be useless. Even if he dodged, the magic still connected.

Overbug gasped as he was suddenly thrown around by the force of Magica's spell.

With a sneer, Magica sent him soaring into the air, throwing him hundreds of meters up. She followed it up by launching a car at him for good measure.

The car hit Overbug mid-air, sending him crashing down and slamming into a small building, the debris piling around him.

"Overbug!" Cat Noir shouted, his voice full of concern and worry.

He barely had time to react before Mime launched himself at Cat Noir. Almost caught off guard, Cat Noir just barely managed to push the Mime off of him. Taking this chance, he sprinted toward Overbug's position.

"Overbug!" Cat Noir called frantically as he arrived at the scene. "Are you here?"

"Yes, yes, I'm here, okay. Just cut down on the yelling," Overbug replied, slightly annoyed but relieved to be conscious.

Cat Noir rushed to hug him, but Overbug let out an "Ouch!" as Cat Noir squeezed him too tightly.

"Be careful, I think that attack hurt my ribs," Overbug warned, wincing slightly.

"Oh, my bad," Cat Noir said with a sheepish smile, pulling away gently.

"So, do you have a plan to beat them?" Cat Noir asked, eyeing Overbug with curiosity.

"Yeah," Overbug replied confidently.

With a swift motion, Overbug tossed his Yoyo into the air and called out, "Lucky Charm!" In an instant, a swirl of pinkish-red magic erupted, and a medium-sized rod appeared, shimmering with the power of Ladybug's magic.

Cat Noir, puzzled by the strange object, blinked. "What is that?"

Overbug examined it thoughtfully. "Hmm, I think it's a magical lightning rod," he said, his eyes narrowing with determination.

Just then, Magica and Mime appeared, ready to engage once more. Overbug noticed something strange—a series of objects nearby were glowing red with black dots. It was as if a sixth sense had kicked in, guiding him on how to use the Lucky Charm.

Trusting his instincts, Overbug's confidence soared. "Cat Noir, handle Mime again. I've got a plan," he said, his voice steady and sure.

"Whatever you say, milady," Cat Noir replied, winking before darting off.

Overbug rolled his eyes at the nickname but turned his attention to Magica, who was already preparing for another attack.

"You ready for round two?" Overbug asked, his tone laced with a hint of cockiness.

Magica smirked, her eyes glinting with malice. "I'm going to make you regret even saying that."

In the blink of an eye, Overbug rushed toward Magica, dodging the incoming bolts of magic she fired at him. He raised his Lucky Charm—the red and black lightning rod—just in time, and it absorbed the magic blasts, leaving Overbug unharmed as he prepared for the next move.

Magica, growing frustrated, began to yell at Overbug.

"Stay still, you brat!" she shouted, firing off more magical bolts.

Meanwhile, Overbug dodged and absorbed the bolts, his rod filling with enough power to execute his plan.

Quickly, Overbug wrapped his yo-yo around Magica and the Mime, using the magical energy from her wand to stun both of them.

"Alright, Cat Noir! Use your Cataclysm to destroy the Mime's indestructible hat—that's where the akuma is!"

At the command, Cat Noir called out his special attack, Cataclysm. After striking his dramatic pose, he activated the attack, touching the Mime's hat and watching it disintegrate into nothingness. At the same time, Overbug shattered Magica's hat.

Both akumas were freed from their dark influence, returning to normal.

With a quick flick of his yo-yo, the case slid inside to reveal a pink light. Overbug spun the yo-yo rapidly and hurled it at the two akumas.

"Time to Evilise!" Overbug announced as he captured both akumas.

As soon as the yo-yo's case snapped shut, Overbug pressed it, and two beautiful white butterflies emerged.

"Goodbye, little butterflies," he said softly.

Afterward, Overbug turned to Cat Noir, who gave him a nod of approval. Overbug returned the gesture, tossing his lucky charm into the air.

"Miraculous, Overbug!" he called, and magical ladybugs, surrounded by pinkish-red energy, restored everything to its original state, if not better.

A helicopter overhead reported the scene.

"Hey folks, Nadia Chamack here. It seems we have two new superheroes, and one of them has just fixed everything the villains and monsters destroyed," the reporter announced as the camera panned down to show the heroes standing before the Eiffel Tower.

Suddenly, a burst of dark energy appeared.

In the sky, a swarm of akumas formed the face of a man—Hawkmoth.

"People of Paris," he proclaimed, his voice booming, "my name is Hawkmoth, and your heroes, Overbug and Cat Noir, have something I want—the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous. If they do not hand them over, I will continue to terrorize all of you until I acquire them."

Hawkmoth's maniacal laughter filled the air.

Overbug, seeing the countless akumas, felt a pang of worry. They had barely managed to defeat two, how could they handle so many?

With a frown, Cat Noir placed a reassuring hand on Overbug's shoulder. Both nodded, determination clear on their faces. Overbug stepped forward.

"Hawkmoth!" he shouted, cutting through the villain's laughter.

Swallowing his fears, Overbug smiled confidently.

"You won't terrorize anyone on our watch! Every moment of the day, we'll be there to stop you. We'll defeat any akuma you send, and eventually, we'll find you and take you to prison where you belong!" The people of Paris cheered in response.

Cat Noir grinned softly.

Overbug then leaped into the air, using his yo-yo to capture all of Hawkmoth's akumas, purifying each one in turn.

Standing tall on a bus, he and Cat Noir faced the crowd below.

"People of Paris," Overbug called out, his voice strong, "I, Overbug, and my partner Cat Noir, swear to protect you all from Hawkmoth! And we promise that soon, Hawkmoth will be captured and defeated—for the greater good!" The crowd erupted in cheers.

As the cheers died down, Overbug and Cat Noir's miraculous began to beep, signaling their imminent detransformation.

"Oh crap, sorry Cat Noir, I have to go—I'm about to change back," Alex said hurriedly.

"Wait, before you go, shouldn't we have some kind of victory declaration or something?" Cat Noir asked, his eyes hopeful.

Overbug paused to think. He didn't want anything too flashy, just something simple. After a few seconds, he smiled.

"How about this?" He raised his fist towards Cat Noir.

"We bump fists and say 'Pound it.' Sound good?"

Cat Noir's face lit up, and he raised his fist in return.

"Yeah, sounds great."

The two bumped fists, both saying in unison, "Pound it!" Afterward, they parted ways.

Cat Noir leaped away with a grin, his heart racing.

"There's no wonder why I like him so much," he murmured, a flutter in his chest.

Back at school, Alex transformed back into his normal self. Because of the akuma attack, the school had dismissed early, leaving only Alex and Adrien. It started to rain.

Alex sighed, realizing he hadn't brought an umbrella.

Adrien, noticing, walked up and offered his.

"Hey, Alex. Just hear me out. I wanted to let you know I wasn't the one who put gum on your seat. It was Sabrina, and I was actually trying to get it off."

Alex quickly looked away, still unsure. He had assumed Adrien was the culprit in the gun incident.

"Oh," Alex muttered, feeling awkward. "I... I'm sorry I accused you of something you didn't do."

Adrien smiled warmly.

"It's alright. I didn't take it to heart."

Adrien held out the umbrella again, and as Alex took it, it suddenly snapped shut, hitting him in the face. Adrien burst out laughing.

"W-wait, I'm sorry! It just surprised me!" Adrien said, wiping tears from his eyes.

Alex lifted the umbrella off his face and smiled shyly. He felt his chest flutter, his heart racing.

"Anyways, see you tomorrow?" Adrien asked with a grin.

Alex stammered, still blushing. "U-umm, yeah, see you tomorrow. I mean, you see tomorrow... I mean, yeah. W-well, see you tomorrow." He quickly looked away, embarrassed.

Adrien simply nodded, a smile playing on his lips as he turned and walked away.

Alex walked home with Adrien's umbrella, his mind still racing. When he entered his room, Tikki emerged from his jacket pocket, looking a bit drained.

"Hey, Tikki, are you alright?" Alex asked, concerned.

"Yes, I just need some food. Transforming takes a lot out of me," Tikki said with a soft smile.

Relieved, Alex went downstairs and grabbed a macaroon. Luckily, his parents weren't home yet.

He set Tikki down on his desk and handed her the macaroon.

"Oh my!" Tikki exclaimed, excited. "What kind of food is this? It smells so good!"

Alex chuckled.

"It's a strawberry macaroon, Tikki. It's a type of pastry."

As Tikki happily ate, Alex felt a sense of peace, knowing he had done something good today. His parents returned home, talking excitedly about the new heroes Paris had witnessed.

After dinner, Alex prepared for school the next day.

The following morning, Alex sat next to his best friend Alya at school, deep in conversation, when Chole approached.

"Alexander, I want this seat, so give it up," Chole demanded, her voice dripping with attitude.

Alex ignored her, continuing to talk to Alya.

Chole grew increasingly frustrated.

"Alexander Dupain-Cheng! Give me your seat now!"

Alex finally looked up, standing to face her.

"Chole, how about you find yourself a seat and stop whining like a 5-year-old?"

The class chuckled, and Chole stomped back to her seat, red-faced.

Alya raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Woah, seems like something in you's changed. What happened?"

Alex grinned, a spark of confidence in his eyes.

"I guess I'm just tired of putting up with her nonsense."

"Seems like more than that." Alya says in an slightly surprised and glad tone.

Sitting back down Alex responded.

"Well I guess you can say I've changed, found my true purpose." Alex says with a smile, facing Alya.

Before she could saying anything else Alya noticed Alex deeply staring at the direction of the door to the classroom.

Adrien just arriving in, went to go sit by his best friend Nino.

Alex began to deeply stare at Adrien, drooling even.

"Hey Alya, don't you think Adrien's so dreamy." Alex said, a hand uplifting his face while he obsessively stares at Adrien.

Alya lightly smiles at Alex.

"Seems like someone actually did change Alya says aiming her sentence towards Alex who is too stuck drooling over Adrien to pay attention to what she said.

Alya seeing this rolled her eyes in amusement and went back to reading her comic book.

In a circular lair, Hawkmoth stood, his face twisted into a frustrated expression. But in an instant, he quickly masked his irritation with a sly smile.

"Nooroo, dark wings fall," he muttered, and with a dark flutter of wings, the akuma flew into the shadows.

As Nooroo took flight, Hawkmoth revealed his true identity: Gabriel Agreste. The shift was subtle but undeniable, his face hardening into a wicked grin.

"Hmph," he chuckled, "It's just a matter of time, Overbug and Cat Noir. This is only the beginning of our war. Will you be able to last until the end?"

Standing on a platform that began to descend, Gabriel's smile grew colder as the lair's walls seemed to close in. The platform carried him downward, taking him back to his home.