#runaway catwalker

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 38. Call for Help (Chat Noir, part A)

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Description below the cut

Rena Furtive watches over the city, perched atop a tall building, and places a call over her flute to Catwalker.

Catwalker (over comm): Hello?

Rena Furtive: Hey, Catwalker?  Sorry I didn't get in touch before with… well, everything.  Did you still want me to check detransformation spots for you?

Catwalker (over comm): I'd appreciate it.  Thanks, Rena.

Cut to Catwalker leaping across buildings.

Rena Furtive (over comm): The chimney a few buildings to your right looks all clear.

Catwalker: Got it.  Are you helping Ladybug find a good spot too?

Rena Furtive (over comm): She probably doesn't need it, but let's see where she—what?

Catwalker: What is it?

Cut back to Rena looking frantic over what she’s seen in her flute telescope, and taps at her phone screen to add a new person to the call.

Rena Furtive: How is Ladybug talking to Chat Noir right now?

Catwalker (over comm): What??

Rena Furtive: I know!  Hold on, I'm going to make this a 3-way call…

Cut to Ladybug witnessing Chat Noir (?!) stepping towards her from the alleyway.

Ladybug: What are you doing here?  How are you here?  Catwalker still has the cat miraculous.  And you're supposed to still be in hiding.

Chat Noir dramatically places one hand against his forehead and the other on his heart.

Chat Noir: It is quite simple: I'm a time traveler!  I've come back to the past to get your help.  It's a matter of life and death.  And I can't save her without your powers.

Ladybug touches her own heart in sympathy as her yo-yo’s phone starts to ring.

Ladybug: Oh Chat, I—Hold on, I should answer this...

Ladybug answers her bugphone.

Rena Furtive (over comm): What's the deal with—?

Ladybug: Time travel.

Catwalker (over comm): Are you sure?

Ladybug: Catwalker, why are you on the phone?

Future Chat Noir leans in towards Ladybug’s bugphone and projects his voice.

Future Chat Noir: Are you talking to my replacement?  Yoo-hoo, Greenie!  Good news!  You're now superfluous!  My Bugaboo and I will handle this without you.

Cut to an annoyed Catwalker pointing at his baton’s phone screen.

Catwalker: Don't call her 'Bugaboo.'  She doesn't like being called that.  Someone calling himself 'Chat Noir' should know better.

Cut back to Ladybug waving her hand dismissingly with a big smile.

Ladybug: It's fine!  I don't think I'm minding so much!  In the future, I mean!

Future Chat Noir: She's right!  The future has brought all sorts of changes!

Ladybug listens to her phone and holds up a finger.

Catwalker (over comm): Well, did 'the future' bring anything useful with it?  Like, maybe, a lucky charm?

Ladybug: Good question.  Chat, did you get a Lucky Charm?

Future Chat Noir holds up a hand and touches his heart regretfully.

Future Chat Noir: Alas, there wasn't time for you to give me one before I came back to the past.  I did have a lucky charm from Marinette Dupain Cheng, once.  But that's hardly as miraculous as one of yours, Bugaboo.

Ladybug looks away with a lingering sadness over Marinette’s inferiority to Ladybug in Chat’s eyes.

Ladybug: That-that's right.

Catwalker (over comm): Excuse me?  Marinette isn't—

Ladybug: I mean, Marinette told me about that!  When I helped her hang up her 'Missing Adrien' flyers!

Future Chat Noir holds out a hand reminiscingly.

Future Chat Noir: Oh yes!  I remember the 'Adrien' manhunt like it was yesterday!  He wasn't nearly as 'lost' as everyone believed he was.

Close-up of Future Chat Noir pointing at his face juxtaposed with Shadowmoth holding up Adrien’s ID card—an amok.

Future Chat Noir, blending into the voice Shadowmoth feeding lines to his sentimonster: Why, Ladybug, if you come with me… I'm sure I can show you 'Adrien Agreste'…

Cut back to Future Chat Noir Sentinoir holding up his hand in request.

Future Chat Noir Sentinoir: I must request, however, that you view him without an audience...

Ladybug: Right.  Thanks for your help, Catwalker—

Catwalker (over comm): But he—

Ladybug: —but I'm going to hang up now.  Bug out!

Cut to Catwalker looking at his baton phone as Ladybug hangs up and Rena is still on the line.

Catwalker: I don't like this.

Rena Furtive (over comm): What, finding Adrien?

Catwalker: It's not that.  I can't prove anything, but 'Chat Noir' seems... off.

Cut to Rena holding her flute phone, trying not to say too much about Ladybug’s relationship with Adrien.

Rena Furtive: Yeah, I admit this whole thing is weird, but Ladybug wants to handle it without us.  She probably has her reasons for going along with him.

Catwalker extends his baton and starts to leap into motion, all the while his ring begins to beep.

Rena Furtive (over comm): Besides, you're about to turn into a pumpkin.

Catwalker: I've still got a minute before I change back.  I'm going to get a closer look…

Cut back to Ladybug shutting her yo-yo and Sentinoir taking her by the hand.

Ladybug: Sorry about that.  I haven't told Catwalker your identity, so unless you told him...?

Sentinoir: There's no need.  All I need is you.

Ladybug playfully points at Sentinoir, while he vainly points at his own face.

Ladybug: Still trying to charm me, I see?  I suppose you have a very pretty face...

Sentinoir: Oh, do you mean this pretty face?

Sentinoir moves behind Ladybug, changing to Adrien in a flash, and gives her a model smile.  Ladybug is blushing too hard to notice that Sentinoir is moving his hand towards her earring.

Sentinoir: Or maybe you're more of a fan of this pretty face?

Ladybug: You!  Pretty—hot!  I mean!

Shadowmoth (through amok): Yes!  Yes!  Seduce her, Sentinoir!  Lower her guard and create an opening to steal her miraculous!

Cut to Shadowmoth hiding behind a Find Adrien poster, peeking from behind to see Catwalker dashing across the rooftops.

Shadowmoth: And while you do that... I will take Chat Noir's pathetic replacement off of the board…

Cut to Catwalker as he hides behind a wall and spies on Ladybug and Sentinoir, still talking to Rena.

Catwalker: I've got a visual on the guy claiming to be Chat Noir.  He just detransformed.

Rena Furtive (over comm): Don't tell me who he is, I'm not peeking.  But Ladybug knows who he is, right?  She should recognize if he's not Chat.

Catwalker tries to correct Rena.  Shadowmoth drops in from behind, raising his cane to attack.

Catwalker: Mayura knows his identity too.  She could still be behind all this.

Rena Furtive (over comm): Yeah, that kinda puts a damper on—LOOK OUT!

Shadowmoth brings Catwalker to the ground.  Catwalker tries to escape from the position by pushing back on Shadowmoth’s cane, but is backed up against the wall.

Shadowmoth: Poor Catwalker.  Never the one Ladybug wanted for her partner.  Tossed aside the moment Chat Noir reappeared.

Catwalker: Is that supposed to make me feel jealous?

Shadowmoth smiles as he and Catwalker grapple with his cane.

Shadowmoth: Oh, so you believe you are better than Chat Noir?  Well, maybe you could see what he missed: The way to end our conflict painlessly.

Catwalker: Let me guess: by giving up our miraculous?

A close-up of Shadowmoth with a prideful smile.

Shadowmoth: It's not as unthinkable as you might assume.  Chat Noir never realized that my goals have noble ends.  With the miraculous, why, I could even bring back his mother.  Join me and we can create a perfect world, one Chat Noir never dared to dream of.

Catwalker pushes the cane upwards with a retort.

Catwalker: A world created from people's suffering could never be truly 'perfect'!

Shadowmoth: Then you bring this suffering upon yourself...

Shadowmoth presses down on the cane with all of his strength towards Catwalker’s neck.  Catwalker clenches his eyes shut as his miraculous begins to beep frantically.

Catwalker (internally): No!

The ring continues beeping as Catwalker tries to stop the transformation from traveling any further down his hand.

Catwalker (internally): Not again!

Shadowmoth lets out an ‘OOF!’ as Rena Furtive leaps in, kicking him in the head and off Catwalker.

Rena Furtive: Hi-YAH!

Shadowmoth pulls his head up in a daze from being face-planted.

Shadowmoth: Rena… Rouge?

A close-up of Rena’s boots, while in the background, Adrien pulls the shirt Rolland lent him over his head and dashes behind the wall.

Rena Furtive: Rena Rouge?  Don'tcha know she's retired?

Rena, having taken down her ponytail and tied her tail around her waist like a mini-skirt, points at Shadowmoth with a big shōjo grin.

Rena Furtive: I am Fox Furtive!  Completely different hero who's fighting for love and justice!

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

[pisoprano]

Runaway Catwalker Alternate Scene 2

For my own enjoyment, I've written out two alternate versions of the scene of Runaway Catwalker that takes place on Page 32 and Page 33.

Below the cut, you'll find Alternate Scene 2, which is a non-canonical exploration of a different path. The other non-canonical exploration of an unexplored path, Alternate Scene 1, can be found here. Please see @runawaycatwalker for the canonical update.

I hope that you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it :)

The path not considered

Ladybug bites her lip.  “I know you said I shouldn’t worry about what Catwalker did to Adrien, but it just keeps nagging at me.  Like, where did Adrien go when he disappeared?  I looked everywhere and I couldn’t find him.  If Catwalker didn’t drop him down a hole, then he’d have had to flown and—wait…”

“Ladybug?” Chat Noir asks.  “I don’t like that look on your face.”

“I know how he did it,” Ladybug breathes.

“Are you sure?  You might have missed something.”

“I did miss something.  So big that I couldn’t see him staring me right in the face.”

“’Him’?”

“Adrien Agreste.  He’s Catwalker.”

Chat crosses his arms in an attempt at nonchalance.  “Interesting guess.”

“No, it’s not a guess,” Ladybug asserts.  “Everything about him… his mannerisms, the way he speaks, his eyes?  How could I have not recognized it when he was standing right in front of me?”

Chat Noir, standing right in front of her, grimaces.  “And you think Adrien is capable of everything he’s been pulling behind your back too?”

Ladybug waves him off.  “Half of that stuff was just how he treated Adrien.  But it makes perfect sense if he was Adrien—he’s the type of guy who’d toss himself off a building if he thought it’d help someone.  He’s selfless and self-sacrificing.”

“And a liar.”

“So am I!” Ladybug snaps.

“Sorry!” Chat squeaks.  “I just meant… does the thought that Catwalker might be Adrien really change so much of what you think of him?  You’d know where his ability to act ‘perfect’ came from, but I doubt you’ve spent enough time around him to know what he’s really like when the mask comes off.”

“His friends have.  They’ve seen how much Adrien goes out of his way to comfort people who’ve been hurt, to see the best in others and believe they can become better.  The type of boy who’d hand you his umbrella without expecting anything in return.  He’s not a person who could hurt anyone.”

“You do remember that he tried to beat Mayura up with a stick the moment she showed up, right?” Chat asks.

“Oh yeah, I forgot he did that,” Ladybug says, not particularly concerned.

“You... forgot?”

Ladybug shrugs.  “I mean, it’s Mayura.  If Catwalker hadn’t rushed in first, I’d probably have tried to punch her in the face too.  She'd certainly deserve it: it is all her fault that I don’t have you anymore.”

“And if you’re right that he’s Adrien,” Chat Noir says, “that means you can’t have him either.”

“I… I know,” Ladybug chokes out as the gravity of her accidental revelation sets in.  “I know I can’t live with the risk of having Catwalker as my partner anymore.  It probably wasn’t even possible that we could have been good partners in the first place...”

“So you think he was a bad partner?”

Ladybug shakes her head.  “That’s not it.  You weren’t around for this, but Adrien spent three months with the snake miraculous, rewinding time over and over to help me.  That’s three months of proof, backed up by every battle I’ve fought with Catwalker: I physically can’t think straight around him.  Even when I didn’t know who he was, I got so distracted I couldn’t be Ladybug the way I needed to be.”

“I bet there was some way you could have gotten it to work,” Chat tries to assure her.  “Not that we can try it anymore, now that the whole cat is out of the bag.  Allegedly!”

“No, it’s definitely out of the bag, Chat,” Ladybug says, patting her partner’s cheek.  “And he can’t get put back inside.  But maybe…”

A light appears in Chat’s eyes.  “Maybe…?”

“This is a longshot but… what if I brought you back without Mayura realizing it?”

***

“Rena!” Ladybug calls from the trap door.  “Are you still out there?”

Rena Furtive pops out from behind the wall of Marinette’s balcony.  “Still out here.  No signs of Catwalker or any other potentially untrustworthy people secretly trying to spy on your meeting.”

“Good, good,” Ladybug says.  “I need you to make an illusion for me: see if you can turn Chat Noir into Catwalker.”

“Excuse me?”

“I figured out Catwalker’s identity, so—”

“Say no more,” Rena says.  “Give me a minute alone with Chat and I’ll see if we can come up with a solution that will withstand public scrutiny.”

Ladybug nods and sends Chat Noir up onto the balcony, before closing the trap door on herself.

“So…” Rena says, “did you want me to handle creating the illusion, or did you want to keep using your camouflage trick?”

Chat’s eyebrows raise.  “You know?”

“You mean did I see Astrocat fly out of a building Catwalker was in, hide behind a wall several blocks away, only for Astrowalker to emerge from behind that wall a moment later?” Rena asks.

Chat groans.  “I should have known you didn’t get frozen by Oni-Chan with everyone else…”

“All the Adrien posters became Adrien-less before I could get a good look at them,” Rena explains.  “Speaking of, do you know what’s the deal with him?”

“Yes, but I can’t talk about it much.  Just that he can’t come home, but he is alive and well.”

“Good, Nino will be happy to hear that much.”

“Wait…” Chat says as his eyes light up with an epiphany.  “You’re the ‘little birdie’ who asked Nino to look into Catwalker, aren’t you?”

“Guilty as charged,” Rena admits.  “Who did you think it was?”

Chat avoids her gaze, mumbling, “…Mayura.”

“Hah!  Definitely not!  Nino would rather smash all his records to bits than work for her!”

“I’m not saying he would have known it was her!” Chat protests.  “But at least I can be pretty sure you and Mayura are different people, since I called you while literally looking at her.”

“You should know that I’m still salty that you stole my personal phone number from my flute, even if it did come in handy,” Rena pouts.

“I didn’t steal anything.  I got it legitimately.”

Rena’s eyes widen.  “That raises so many questions.”

“And I can’t answer them right now.”

Rena puts her churning thoughts to the side.  “We do have other things to worry about right now.  Ladybug is still expecting an illusion of Catwalker.  We’ll need to make it look not just good, but perfect.”

Chat Noir grins.  “I think I can handle that.”

***

Ladybug sits on her bed, waiting.  Above her she hears three knocks.

“We’re ready for you!” Rena says.

Ladybug returns to the balcony, where one ‘Catwalker’ stands with hands behind his back and a pleasant smile.

“Good evening, Ladybug.  I’m the new Catwalker.”

Ladybug gives ‘Catwalker’ a once-over.  “Hmmmmmm… No, sorry, this isn’t going to work.”

‘Catwalker’ furrows his brow.  “You think it’ll be too hard to work with this face, even though it’s just me?”

“No, that’s not it,” Ladybug sighs.  “You’re just too obviously you.  Everyone’s going to see that you’re really Chat Noir.”

Rena laughs.  “I sincerely doubt anyone is going to notice a thing.”

“Look at his eyes!  Look at his tail!  Even the way he breathes just screams that he’s in disguise!”

“You only think that because you know who you’re looking at,” Rena says.  “I bet if we showed you the real Catwalker and Chat Noir in disguise, you wouldn’t be able to identify the fake.”

“You’d need to have the real Catwalker for that,” Ladybug points out.

“I can go get him,” ‘Catwalker’ offers.  “He’s not far.”

“We’ll have each one come over here at random, Chat wearing the illusion and Catwalker as himself,” Rena suggests.  “Let’s see if you can really tell them apart, Ladybug.”

***

A catboy with green hair lands on the roof in front of Ladybug.

“Hello, Ladybug, I’m Catwalker.”

Ladybug walks around Catwalker and ogles him thoughtfully.  “Hmm… well… I guess if…maybe…?”

“Yes?” he asks.

“I’m pretty sure I know,” Ladybug says confidently.  “But... send in the other one just to be sure.”

“As you wish,” Catwalker replies with a smile.

***

A catboy with green hair lands on the roof in front of Ladybug.

“Hello, Ladybug, I’m Catwalker.”

Ladybug laughs triumphantly. “Okay, now it’s definitely obvious which one’s which!  The last one was Chat Noir, so you’re clearly Catwalk—” Ladybug pokes his chest, only for the illusion to disappear as she touches a bell, leaving Chat Noir in his place.

“You were saying, m’lady?” Chat asks.

Ladybug’s face reddens.  “That!  You!  He’s!  I’m!”

“And what did I tell you?” Rena says, completely smug.  “He’s indistinguishable from the real thing.”

“Fine, you win!  Chat can become Catwalker!”

“I’ll let Catwalker know I’ll be keeping the ring.” Chat moves to jump back towards where Adrien is supposedly hiding.

“Wait!” Ladybug calls out, grabbing Chat Noir’s wrist.  “I just… I want to say goodbye to him.  Can you send Catwalker here again?  I think I need some closure…”

“Of course,” Chat replies, smiling.  “I’ll send him right to you.”

***

“Are you sure you don’t want to get a peek behind Catwalker’s mask?” Ladybug asks while waiting for Catwalker’s return.

“I’m sure,” Rena says.  “Trust me, it’d be a really bad idea.”

“Ladybug?” Catwalker asks, landing light on his feet.  “You needed me for something?”

“Yes, follow me,” Ladybug says as she leads him through the trap door to Marinette’s bedroom.

“Can you detransform?” Ladybug asks once they’re in private.

“Chat Noir is replacing me permanently, then?” Catwalker asks.

“He is,” she confirms.

“I’m glad.  It’s better that you’ll have someone you know and trust by your side.  Claws in.”

Catwalker’s costume falls to reveal Adrien Agreste.

“Adrien…” Ladybug says, trailing off before gathering her resolve and trying again.  “Adrien, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright,” he says, giving a reassuring smile.  “I always understood why you felt the way you did about me.  And I wasn’t exactly making your job any easier.”

“But I was such an awful partner to you!  It’s my responsibility to be a leader people can look up to and I only ruined everything.  I never wanted to hurt you, Adrien… but I did.  And that never would have happened if I’d just trusted my partner.”

Adrien takes Ladybug’s hand.  “One of the reasons you’re Ladybug is because you use your brain to ask questions about what’s really going on in a situation.  Chat Noir was usually above suspicion since you got to build that trust with him naturally.  I think you only trusted me as long as you did because I was a similar hero and might have subconsciously reminded you of him.  But the second it became obvious that my approach to secrets was fundamentally different from Chat Noir’s…?”

Ladybug shakes her head.  “It’s more than that.  Adrien… I can’t say how or when, but you’ve become incredibly important to me.”

Adrien’s eyes widen.  “I… really?”

“Yes.  I get tunnel vision whenever you’re involved.  More than most of the people I save.”

“Like trying to stuff me in a sarcophagus to keep me safe,” Adrien realizes.  “Or almost giving up your miraculous to save an illusion of me.”

“Or completely losing it when you vanish without a trace,” Ladybug finishes.  “But since you won’t be Catwalker anymore, you can come back home without having to worry anyone ever again!”

Adrien winces, looking down.  “Sorry, Ladybug.  But—”

Ladybug’s heart sinks.  “No…”

“I have to stay missing,” Adrien tells her.  “If it was just about having the freedom to be Catwalker, I wouldn’t have done something as drastic as going into hiding for it.  I still have secrets to keep from someone who knows that ‘Adrien Agreste’ has the answers they seek.  Someone who has gotten close to my friends with no one realizing.”

“Who…?”

“I don’t know for sure yet.  But Chat Noir will have to take the lead in trying to find out.”

“You trust him,” Ladybug realizes.

Adrien smirks.  “Almost as much as you do.”

“I’m glad you have him.  Chat’s the best friend anyone can ever ask for.”

“And he’ll still be the best partner you’ll ever have, Ladybug, even if he’s borrowing my face to do it.”

Ladybug looks down.  “I’m just scared that one of us is going to break character and everyone will find out about him.”

“Maybe I can put in a few appearances as Catwalker?” Adrien suggests.  “If you’re not still mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you,” Ladybug says.  “Not anymore.  Just... if you do show up, don’t tell me when you’re using the miraculous or I’m going to be completely useless in a fight.”

“You’re never useless,” Adrien says, placing a hand on Ladybug’s shoulder and looking into her eyes.  “You’ve been there for Paris with every attack we’ve faced.  Even at your lowest, you’ve figured out a way to win every single time.  And I have faith that you’ll be able to do it no matter which of us is there to help you.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re really good at encouraging people?” Ladybug asks, wiping away a tear.  “Like scary good, it’s almost as helpful as when Chat Noir does it.”

“I’m honored to receive such high praise.”

“You deserve it.  You deserve the world, Adrien,” she says, hugging him.  “I wish I could give it to you.”

“You already have,” Adrien says, basking in the embrace.  “You’ve saved me so many times just by being you, Ladybug.  I could never ask for anything more.”

“If you don’t want anything…” Ladybug muses, “could I ask a favor instead?”

“Anything, Ladybug.”

She looks straight into his eyes.  “Treat Adrien Agreste better.”

Adrien blinks.  “I…”

“I know you’re too selfless to count yourself as a person worth protecting,” Ladybug says, squeezing his hand, “but you have people who love you so much.  We couldn’t bear it if you disappeared and came back broken or not at all.”

“I won’t let anything happen to me— at least, nothing that can’t be fixed with a little miraculousness,” Adrien promises.  “You won’t need to worry, Ladybug: I’ll be back before you know it.”

[asukiess]

It was all he could do just to break away and run. I’m so sorry, Ladybug.

a gift for @pisoprano

this is inspired by the first chapter of their comic, runaway catwalker! I have thoroughly enjoyed it since discovering it this year, and the author just so happens to be a very sweet and kind person 🥺🫶🏻 I highly recommend it (especially to those who appreciate adrino friendship because it’s portrayed so well!!)

[flightfoot]

So in Runaway Catwalker, what are you hoping Ladybug chooses?

@pisoprano

Hm... I think I'll lean towards Ladybug wanting to know the truth about her partner. Rena Rouge and Carapace are already getting a clue on that front as well, and I'd love to see Ladybug's reaction to finding out that Cat Walker, the person she's been so suspicious of and who is so "perfect", is actually her partner. She'd be shocked that she didn't figure it out, and that Chat's that GOOD at pretending to be someone else. I'm betting she'd have a minor crisis about not knowing her partner.

But of course, finding out that Chat is Adrien would also impact things - I just don't think it'd be as dramatic. If she finds out that Chat is Adrien, then she'll probably have the "Chat Noir is Adrien" freak out that we already saw in Ephemeral. Aside from that, it'll mostly change her worries from "Adrien is missing for an unknown reason, is he alright" to "Adrien is in hiding because Mayura's after him". It would be fun to see her reaction to Adrien just hiding out with her grandpa (and also to him shaving his head bald). But I think it'd be a lot less dramatic than finding out that Cat Walker is Chat Noir.

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 36. A Perplexing Encounter

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Description below the cut

Marinette descends down the stairs to the kitchen, where she is met by Sabine Cheng, who holds her phone in one hand and waves at her daughter with the other.  Behind her, a blue apron is left on the kitchen table.

Sabine: Glad to see you're awake!   Your father just got a call from Grandpa Rolland.  He needs one of us to bring an apron over.  Something about the last one being the wrong size?  If you’re not too busy, do you think you could take care of it, Marinette?

Marinette looks down from the stair railing with a smile.

Marinette: Yeah, I can do that today.  I don't have... quite so much to worry about right now.

Sabine: Thanks, dear!

Sabine holds the top of the apron flat and straight as her daughter folds bottom of the apron into a more portable form, wrapping the apron strings around the bundle.

Sabine: Have you heard any news about Adrien?  You've been searching for him non-stop since he disappeared.

Marinette: I... heard that Ladybug managed to talk to him.  But it didn’t last.  He’s already gone again...

Sabine smiles and holds her hand out in an offer of optimism.

Sabine: At least you know more than you did yesterday.  And who knows?  Maybe you’ll be the next person to find him!

Marinette holds the apron bundle and looks away with a smile, lightly blushing.

Marinette: I highly doubt that.  But wherever he is now?  I know he'll find ways to reach out to the people he loves.

Sabine: And that includes you!

Marinette: Yeah...  He does love me, doesn't he...?

Cut to Marinette at the gate to Rolland Dupain’s residence as she speaks into the pipe that serves as an intercom.

Marinette: Hello, Grandpa!  It’s me!  Your wonderful granddaughter, Marinette, with a special delivery!

Adrien (through intercom, muffled): Come in!

Marinette peeks around the door, holding up her apron bundle with a smile.

Marinette: I brought you the apron you wante—

The apron falls to the ground, unfurling, in front of a pair of feet wearing shoes covered with Ladybug spots.

Marinette: —EEEEHHHH??????

Adrien gives a joyful wave.  He, in addition to being bald, now wears an oversized blue and white striped shirt and too wide shorts, kept up with a belt—in other words, Adrien wears the same clothes as Rolland Dupain.

Adrien: Hey, Marinette!  It's so good to see you!

On a bright blue background, a white pixelated outline of Marinette depicts her standing with mouth agape, her brain having fully ceased to function.

Error alert caption: MARINETTE.EXE has stopped working...

Adrien holds up the apron in his hands and examines it with a smile.

Adrien: This apron looks like it'll be perfect!  It should fit me much better than the one your dad used to wear as a kid.

Marinette, halfway to ascending to heaven, vibrates in lost thought.  Adrien, concerned, holds her up by the waist and reaches towards her face.

Adrien: Uh... Marinette?  Do you need to sit down?

Marinette: Adrien?? Here???  And you're turning into my grandpa????

Adrien sheepishly rubs the back of his neck.

Adrien: Oh, you mean the clothes I'm wearing?  I kinda made a huge mess with the flour earlier and had to borrow these from Mr. Dupain.

Marinette: But why are you—?

Rolland peeks his head out from behind the door dividing the kitchen and the living room.  Adrien looks at him, having guided Marinette to the couch.  Marinette rubs her temples, muttering ‘Wake up wake up wake up…”, hoping that it might help her rouse from this bizarre dream.

Rolland: Come back to the kitchen!  You need to practice feeling the proper texture of the dough— Oh, Marinette!  How wonderful you are here!  Have you met Baldy?

Adrien points at his face with a large grin.

Marinette: Baldy???

Adrien: Yep, that's me!  That is the name by which I am known and no other!  Apprentice baker to the great Rolland Dupain!

Marinette jumps about on the couch, flailing like a crab.  Adrien points his thumb behind him at Rolland, who stands with crossed arms.

Marinette: But I thought you were out in the woods learning hermit kung fu!

Adrien: Technically speaking, your grandpa is a hermit!

Rolland: Ex-hermit!  I go outside sometimes!

Marinette points in realization.

Marinette: Hold on!  That boule Catwalker brought me!  That's why I recognized it!  It was literally my family's bread!

Adrien: Sort of!  Mr. Dupain helped me bake it!

Rolland rubs his chin in confusion.

Rolland: What is this?  You had a walking cat deliver your first boule to my granddaughter?  I had wondered why it disappeared so fast...

Adrien looks into Marinette’s eyes, placing a hand on her shoulder.  Marinette stares into his eyes with a big, squiggly, lovesick smile.

Adrien: I know you don’t really need more bread, but bread is all I have to give you.  And it seemed right to share my first loaf with someone special.

Marinette giddily holds her clenched hands near her face, squeeing in delight.

Marinette: You think I'm special?

Adrien: Of course you are!  You're Marinette!

Rolland points a finger at Adrien with a knowing smile.  Adrien holds up his hands in protest.

Rolland: Oh, I see what you are doing!  You are trying to marry into the family!  Clever, Baldy!

Adrien: What!  No, it's nothing like that!  Marinette is just a friend!

Marinette’s head whips to the side in horrified realization.

Marinette: Just... a… Friend…?

Rolland: You are sure?  She comes from a strong line of bakers and makes excellent bread herself!

Adrien: It’s not like that!  I’m in love with someone else!

Marinette clenches her eyes shut, tears forming in her eyes.

Marinette (internally): Of course.  Just because Catwalker called Adrien my 'secret admirer', he never meant it romantically.  Chat is only in love with Ladybug.  Not Marinette.  Even though he knows this me is in love with him, he'll never reciprocate my feelings, not as long as I'm not her.

Marinette looks towards her grandpa, clenching the side of her jacket as she relinquishes the relationship she dearly wants with the boy she dearly loves.

Rolland: Baldy, have you considered that you should fall in love with Marinette!  She is—

Marinette: Let it go, Grandpa.  Baldy probably really misses the girl he… he loves…

Rolland: Fine.

Rolland sits Adrien down on the couch with a smile.  Adrien folds his hands in front of him, looking down forlornly.  Marinette slips onto the couch beside Adrien, looking away from him.

Rolland: But you must explain why you came to me for help before my granddaughter who is your friend!

Adrien: I wanted to, but... I can't be seen anywhere that people expect me to be.

Marinette: And this is the last place anyone would expect to find you.  I sure didn't.

Adrien places his hands together in front of his face, pleading.

Adrien: Marinette, please don't tell anyone where I am now.  I'm sorry I can't explain why, but...

Marinette’s expression becomes one of dedication and resolve.

Marinette: I'll keep your secrets safe, I promise.  As far as anyone will know, I only saw my grandpa today.  Not you.  And you never need to tell me the reason why you're asking, I will support you no matter what.

Adrien throws his hands around Marinette and embraces her.  Marinette hugs him back, though her head is turned to the side, showing her regret that their mutual love—even though she knows the truth now—still can’t be fully realized the way they both wish it could.

Adrien: You have no idea how much of a relief it is to hear you say that!  I'm so glad that, if I got to see any of my friends, it was you.

Marinette: Right.  Friends.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 37. With You

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Description below the cut

Rolland’s telephone sits on its table and rings.

Rolland picks up the telephone receiver and holds it to his ear.

Rolland: Hello?  Hello?  Who is calling me?  Hello?  Bah!  There’s no one there!  Why call someone if you’re not going to say anything?

Adrien looks over his shoulder with an understanding “!,” recalling who he previously asked to give him a call.  Marinette sits next to him with a confused “??”

Adrien: Hey Marinette, can you check the news for me real quick?

Marinette: Sure, I guess...?

Marinette checks her cellphone with a look of flat irritation.

Marinette: Oh, great... Chloé got akumatized again.

Adrien: What set her off this time?

Marinette: Who knows?  Maybe she's mad that no one can find you?  All the akumas have been about you lately.

Adrien: Haha, that's so weird...

Marinette looks towards her exit.  Adrien looks down at the folded hands in his lap, saddened at the realization that his time with his very good friend has ended so soon.

Marinette: I should probably head home, just in case...

Adrien: Oh, right...

Marinette moves to her feet and turns back to touch Adrien’s face as he reaches his hand up towards her.

Adrien: But can I ask you for a favor?

Marinette: What do you need?

Adrien: Could you come visit me again?

Marinette: Of course.  Whatever you ask, I will always be here for you.

Cut to Ladybug leaning on a railing as Catwalker leaps from behind to join her.

Catwalker: I'm here, Ladybug.  Where are the other heroes?

Ladybug: They aren't coming.  It'll just be you and me.

Catwalker: Are you sure you feel comfortable with that?

Ladybug, pulling out her yo-yo, looks over her shoulder at Catwalker, who stands confident, with his staff at the ready.

Ladybug: Chat Noir asked me to trust you, so... I'm trusting you.

Catwalker: I won't let you down this time.  What do you want me to do?

Ladybug: Just... whatever you think Chat Noir would do?

Catwalker: ...I think I can handle that.

Montage of the battle, like a dance:

Catwalker and Ladybug leap into action.

Side panel: Chloékins (akumatized!Chloé) raises a megaphone to her mouth, which amplifies her magic-infused words, ‘UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!’ into a yellow and cyan sonic wave.

Side panel: As Catwalker and Ladybug fly through the air, Chloékins uses her megaphone to fling an unmanned firetruck at the heroes, the sonic wave making it difficult for them to dodge.

Catwalker reaches his hand out to touch the firetruck, Cataclysming it into dust before it can hit Ladybug.

Catwalker uses his staff to deflect debris from hitting Ladybug while she calls up her Lucky Charm.

Side panel: The Lucky Charm is summoned: a scarf covered in Ladybug spots.

Ladybug holds each end of the scarf and looks towards Catwalker with a confident smile.  Catwalker is, for the first time, highlighted in her Ladybug Vision as a component she knows how to use in her plan.

Side panel: Ladybug hands off the scarf to Catwalker.

Catwalker moves in quick and low to Chloékins, using his staff to trip her while using the Lucky Charm scarf to gag her.  As Chloékins flings out her arms in a futile attempt to regain her balance, Ladybug leaps in from the other side, using her yo-yo to grab the akuma’s ankle to further debalance her, and grabs the megaphone out of Chloékins’ hand.

Catwalker catches Chloékins so she doesn’t hurt herself falling to the ground (though she does still fling her arms about, quite miffed about being gagged).  Ladybug looks at Catwalker with a warm smile while she breaks the megaphone over her knee to release the akuma.

Side panel: Ladybug lets the purified akuma of her yo-yo.

Side panel: Chloé, having not gotten whatever it was she wanted, saunters away in a huff while the Miraculous Ladybug fixes the damage caused by the fight.

Catwalker and Ladybug use their baton and yo-yo to reunite with one another, him taking her by the hand with a smile (making her blush).

Catwalker: How was that?

Ladybug: N-not bad!

Catwalker: I'm glad.  Until next time?

Ladybug: Until next time.

Ladybug watches as Catwalker leaves, a hand resting on her cheek as she smiles to herself.

Ladybug (internally): So Chat was right.  Working with Catwalker could feel better again.  I won't have to worr—

Ladybug turns her head, startled by the sound of a mysterious figure standing in the shadows behind her.

Mysterious figure: Ladybug!

Ladybug: What?  How…?

Close-up on a steel-toed black boot.

Mysterious figure: Everything has gone disastrously wrong.  I need your help, Bugaboo.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 40. Conflict of Interest (Chat Noir, part C)

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Description below the cut

Catwalker opens the lucky charm doorway, taking Ladybug by the hand as she comes up behind him. Together, they exit the pile of rubble, only to encounter Sentinoir.

Ladybug: Okay, let's—YOU!

Sentinoir holds up his hands in surrender.

Sentinoir: I surrender!

Ladybug: Yeah right, like we believe that!

Rena Furtive: Believe it, Ladybug!

Rena Furtive beams proudly as she holds up the amok (Adrien’s ID card) that she got out of Shadowmoth’s hands.

Rena Furtive: Hey, Sentinoir!  Would you like to change sides?  You could tell us more about Shadowmoth!  Like, what's his secret identity?

Sentinoir looks down at his hands, conflicted as someone who has been given their first actual choice only can be.

Sentinoir: But he's my f-creator?  I shouldn't... betray him like that, right?

Rena holds out her hands and gives an inspiring tirade of heroism.

Rena Furtive: Shadowmoth doesn't deserve loyalty.  He ordered you to kill everyone.  You might not be Chat Noir, but you're still a Chat Noir.  And I think any version of Chat Noir would choose to fight against m.  To be a hero.

Sentinoir places his hand on his chest and smiles.  He is interrupted in a closeup of Shadowmoth snapping his fingers, making Sentinoir dissolve out of existence.

Sentinoir: A hero, huh...?  You know, I think I would rather be more like Chat Noi—

Rena Furtive: No!

Rena throws up her hands in frustration.  As she does so, Ladybug throws her yo-yo at the feather coming out of the amok, capturing it before it turns white.

Ladybug: Gotcha!

Rena Furtive: We almost had him!  If I'd just been faster...!

Catwalker places his hands on Rena’s shoulders and tries to encourage her.  In the background, Ladybug throws the lucky charm above her head with a ‘Miraculous Ladybug’ to fix all the damage.

Catwalker: It's not your fault—you did everything you could.  You saved so many people today without anyone's help.  And I think that Sentinoir—no, Chat Noir—was happy he at least got to make a choice for himself.

Rena, not much reassured, looks down towards the hand holding Sentinoir’s former amok.

Rena Furtive: I suppose...

Catwalker: Trust me: if I was Chat Noir, I wouldn't want an amok controlling my life.

Rena Furtive: An amok...

Rena holds up the card for Catwalker to examine.  Catwalker plasters a smile on his face and snatches the ID he’d left behind when he ran away from home, not wanting to explain why he wasn’t surprised that the villains have been stealing his things.

Rena Furtive: Catwalker, do you have any idea how Shadowmoth got his hands on this?  I assume it's Chat's ID, but I can't check.

Catwalker: Yes, it's his!  Shadowmoth probably just broke into his room!  I'll make sure he gets it back!

Ladybug’s head turns towards the conversation, pointing her finger in astonishment.

Ladybug: Hold on, since when did Catwalker know Chat's identity?

Catwalker rubs the back of his neck and uses gestures towards Rena, whose eyes widen in realization at what he’s insinuating.

Catwalker: I... erm... can't talk about that around...

Rena forces a smile and points her thumb behind her, making up a justification for why she suddenly needs to leave her two fellow heroes alone.

Rena Furtive: Well!  I'm going to go check if Shadowmoth left any more clues behind!  Bye now!

Ladybug and Catwalker stand together in an alleyway as Rena leaps off into the distance.

Ladybug: How did you find out who Chat is?

Catwalker: It seemed obvious?

Ladybug folds her arms and looks away.

Ladybug: I'm pretty sure you're the only person in the world who'd think that.  You probably recognized the sentimonster as an imposter instantly too, didn't you?

Catwalker: I... had my suspicions, yes.

Ladybug slumps down to the ground in frustration as Catwalker stands in shock.

Ladybug: I'm such an idiot!  I'm supposed to be better than this!  But the instant Chat's face shows up again, I get sucked in by the fantasy of getting to kiss him!

Catwalker blushes hard, his eyes widening in wonder and awe.

Catwalker: ...'Kiss'?  You... want to kiss Chat Noir?

Catwalker lowers himself to sit by Ladybug as she hides her face in her knees.

Ladybug: Nghhhh...  When you give Chat his ID back, please don't tell him, but... Yes, I do.

Catwalker: I'll... try not to mention it.  But you've previously talked about a boy you were in love with.  Did something... happen with him?

Catwalker places his hand on his chest in sympathy as Ladybug looks away, discouraged.

Ladybug: Sort of.  'The Boy'... Well, someone accidentally told the Boy that I've been trying to confess my feelings to him.  And the next time I saw him?  He couldn't put me in the friendzone fast enough.

Catwalker: I'm so sorry.  That must have felt awful.

Ladybug: It's alright.  Knowing that Chat Noir still loved his Lady... it helped.  Like, even if 'The Boy and Civilian-Me' getting together isn't happening, 'Ladybug and Chat Noir' is still a possibility.

Ladybug points an accusatory finger to cut off Catwalker’s likely line of thinking.

Ladybug: Not that Chat Noir’s a consolation prize!  He's definitely not just a rebound guy!

Ladybug interlaces her fingers together so that her two hands have melded into one whole.

Ladybug: It's more that… when I reevaluated everything I've felt about the Boy and about Chat… It became clear that all the feelings I held for each boy were the same: I love him.

Ladybug throws her hands out in front of her.

Ladybug: And I can't do anything about it!  Because it's not safe for Ladybug to know where Chat Noir is hiding!

Ladybug mournfully looks down at her hands side-by-side, now completely separate from one another.

Ladybug: Even if I did somehow find him, I’d still be just a civilian in his eyes.  A 'friend' at best.  He loves 'Ladybug' so much that that girl couldn't be someone he would love back.

Catwalker brushes back Ladybug’s bangs and places a gentle kiss on her forehead with a ‘mwah!’, to Ladybug’s blushing bewilderment.

Ladybug: E-eh?  W-what are you...?

Catwalker smiles and points a finger at his lips.

Catwalker: Chat Noir told you that I would act on his behalf, yes?  That kiss is from him.

Ladybug: From him?

Catwalker: Reproduced from his very lips!  He wanted to make sure that his love could always find its way to you.

Catwalker sheepishly rubs the back of his neck as he realizes that it’s possible for Ladybug to kiss him today.  Ladybug points a finger at him, disbelieving.

Catwalker: He... even left a proper kiss for you with me.  If you ever requested it.  So I could return your kiss back to him.

Ladybug: People can't just transmit kisses like it's a game of telephone.  And even if you did, it'd be nothing like him.

Catwalker lets his love bleed through his mask enough to trigger a daydream haze as he meets her gaze with his genuine smile.

Catwalker: You underestimate me.

Ladybug places her hand on Catwalker’s chest and leans toward him, her lips coming within centimeters of his, nearing the kiss they both yearn for so desperately.

Ladybug turns away at the last second.  Catwalker closes his eyes, resigned that this was never going to happen.

Ladybug: No, I can't do this.

Catwalker: I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have brought this up.  I am still an unwelcome sight in your eyes...

Ladybug: It's not you.  You were just honoring Chat's request.

Ladybug looks away, touching her fingers to her lips and clutching at her chest.

Ladybug: But I was already this close to kissing one facsimile of Chat Noir today.  I don't want to do that with another copy.  Even if your imitation was perfect, it still wouldn't be with my kitty.

Ladybug places her hand on Catwalker’s shoulder as a supportive friend.  Catwalker, knowing that Ladybug’s advice is impossible for him to act upon, looks away half-heartedly.

Ladybug: More than that, it's not fair for me to treat you as nothing more than an empty vessel for Chat.  You're a real person too, with your own feelings.  I know you just want to help.  But you shouldn't have to suppress who you are to make Chat and I happy.  Just be yourself, yeah?

Catwalker: ...Yeah.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 39. Come to Your Rescue (Chat Noir, part B)

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Description below the cut

Ladybug smiles at Sentinoir (a sentimonster currently with the appearance of Adrien Agreste), who reaches his hands towards her face.

Ladybug: Anyway!  You need help!  Did Bunnix send you?  We should go meet up with her!

Sentinoir: Not yet, my dearest.  Let's be alone for just a moment first.  I want to bask in your beauty for a little while.

Ladybug: O-oh?

Sentinoir: I've missed it ever so much.

Sentinoir makes a sad face while Ladybug touches his cheek and places her hand on his chest.  Sentinoir’s hands slowly inch closer towards her earrings.

Ladybug: How long has it been, Kitty?

Sentinoir: An eternity.

Ladybug: You haven't aged a bit.  Are you sure you aren't too old for me?

Sentinoir gives Ladybug a joking smile as she gets closer, touching his shoulder and moving her hand to the back of his head.

Sentinoir: I exaggerate, of course!  My future timeline is mere weeks away!  But I cannot bear the thought of going another second without your kiss...

With Ladybug’s eyes closed, Sentinoir finally moves in to take her earrings.  As Ladybug puckers her lips in anticipation of being kissed, however, her brow furrows as what Sentinoir just said catches up to her.

Ladybug (internally): Wait...  'Mere weeks'...?

Ladybug runs her fingers through Sentinoir’s hair, completely unlike the bald head she knows present!Adrien to have—and far too perfect to have grown completely back in so short a time frame.

Ladybug (internally): And yet... Not a hair out of place...

Ladybug flips Sentinoir, throwing him to the ground as he lets out a “WAH!”

Ladybug: Nice try.

On the ground, wincing from the pain, Sentinoir changes form so that he looks like Chat Noir again.

Ladybug: But you don't know nearly enough about the person behind the mask to truly replicate him.  And you never will.

Ladybug points down at Sentinoir in righteous fury, throwing her yo-yo towards him.

Ladybug: Because my Chat Noir is real.  And you're just a cheap copy.

Cut to Adrien hiding behind the wall with the shirt he borrowed from Rolland pulled up over his head to shield his face, as Plagg hovers above him.  In the background, Rena Furtive gives a classic hero speech to stall for time while Shadowmoth starts to get to his feet.

Rena Furtive: ...and in the name of the Fox, I will punish you!

Plagg: Ready, kid!

Adrien: Plagg, claws out!

Catwalker emerges from behind the wall with a smile and his staff rested on his shoulder.

Catwalker: A pleasure to have you join the team, Fox Furtive!  Now let's show him what we understudies are capable of!

As Shadowmoth stands, he holds up the amok (Adrien’s ID card) and gives Sentinoir an order.

Shadowmoth: Sentinoir!  Ladybug's timer is almost out!  Destroy everything in your path to seize her miraculous!

Cut to Sentinoir catching Ladybug’s yo-yo and cataclysming it.

Sentinoir: Yes, Shadowmoth.  Cataclysm.

Sentinoir uses his powers to destroy the ground.

Sentinoir: Cataclysm.

Ladybug leaps away as everything around her starts to break apart from Sentinoir’s powers.

Sentinoir: Cataclysm.

Cut back to Catwalker panicking at the thought of Ladybug being in danger.  Rena—recognizing that this is Chat Noir freaking out over his Lady and that he won’t be able to focus on fighting Shadowmoth right now—gives him an order.

Catwalker: No!  Ladybug!

Rena Furtive: Go!  Protect her!  I'll follow Shadowmoth!

Cut back to Ladybug as she dashes through Paris as the buildings and ground fall apart, the cataclysmic energy getting in close behind her.

Ladybug: You're going to destroy all of Paris!

Sentinoir: Irrelevant.  I obey my creator.  I must seize your miraculous.

Ladybug: Not a chance!

Sentinoir, wearing a look of resignation on his face, summons another ball of cataclysmic energy.

Sentinoir: Once you have no suit to protect you, it is you who will stand no chance.  Cataclysm.

Closeup of Ladybug’s face as her earrings beep and the last spot disappears.

Ladybug (internally): No…

Ladybug curls into a ball where she stands when the transformation drops, trying to cover her neck and head from falling debris.  As a collapsing building is about to topple onto her, Catwalker leaps in to protect her, all culminating with a CRASH!

Catwalker: Ladybug!

In the rubble, Catwalker is positioned above Marinette with his eyes closed and arms wrapped around her.

Catwalker: Ow…

Marinette: Catwalker?

Catwalker: Are you alright?

Marinette: Y-yeah.  Did you see—?

Catwalker: No, nothing.  Your identity is safe.

Catwalker does his best to make sure the rubble doesn’t get past him and his indestructible super suit as Tikki goes for Marinette’s purse, which is partially under a chunk of debris.

Marinette: That's good.   Tikki, can you get to your cookies?

Tikki: Found them!  They're just a little crumbled.  Give me a minute.

Marinette touches Catwalker’s arm and looks up towards, grateful he’s there, but also feeling guilty for becoming a burden he never asked for.

Marinette: Catwalker… thanks.  For saving me.  I know you don't want to even be here and are likely only staying with me because 'Ladybug' is too important to leave unprotected, but...

Catwalker: That's not why I saved you.

Eyes still closed, Catwalker gives a declaration of devotion that makes Marinette’s eyes go wide at its intensity.

Catwalker: It's never been the role you play that made you worth protecting.  You're so much more than that.  You're the girl who cares so deeply, who always stands up for what is right.  And you've saved me in more ways than I can say.  Though I may try to help everyone who needs it... Any sacrifice I made for you would be worth it to me, Ladybug.

Marinette looks down, rather speechless, as Tikki comes back from eating her cookie crumbs.

Marinette: I…

Tikki: I'm ready!

Marinette: Right.  Tikki, spots on!

Ladybug creates a lucky charm: a door on edge of the rubble, presumably leading out to safety.

Ladybug: Lucky Charm!

Catwalker: A door?

Ladybug tries to reach her hand through the rubble to get through to the door, but isn’t able to reach far enough.  Catwalker, in response, extends his hand next to hers and summons his powers to destroy the debris in their way.

Ladybug: There's too much debris.  Can you make a path?

Catwalker: On it.  Cataclysm!

Cut to Rena Furtive pursuing a fleeing Shadowmoth to the top of a tall building.

Rena Furtive: You can run, Shadowmoth!  But you can't hide from me!

As Rena catches up, Shadowmoth quickly turns and grabs Rena’s flute to fight over it and destabilize her.

Shadowmoth: Do you really think a novice like you could ever defeat me?

Rena lets the flute go, instead swerving to the side and bonking Shadowmoth on the head with her fist, taunting him by sticking out her tongue and pulling down her eyelid in an akanbe expression.

Rena Furtive: How 'bout I make a fool out of you and leave the 'defeat' part for when Ladybug and Catwalker get here?

Shadowmoth holds up the amok and calls his sentimonster again to give him a new order.

Shadowmoth: If they get here.  Sentinoir!  Kill them all!

Rena Furtive: No!

Shadowmoth holds the amok over the building’s edge as Rena tries to rush towards him.

Shadowmoth: Now this is the only thing that can stop my sentimonster.

Closeup of Shadowmoth’s hand as he deliberately drops the amok.

Shadowmoth: And, oops!  Clumsy me!

Rena leaps off the building and tries to catch the amok, knowing that Shadowmoth will take this opening to get away, but not willing to risk people’s lives.

Rena Furtive: Curse you!

Rena catches the amok in her hand.

Rena Furtive: Belay that order!  Don't hurt anyone!

Cut to Sentinoir standing outside the lucky charm door as he leans against it in relief and lets his destructive powers dissipate.

Sentinoir: At your command.

Below is the same image as above, only without text: