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[Scene]
Chat Noir is standing in the middle of the town square. He's currently leaving a voicemail to Ladybug.
Chat Noir: (talking into his stick-phone) I still can't find Caprikid anywhere. It's been three days! I'm seriously worried for him. I'll keep looking, just in case. (he ends the voicemail and places his baton behind his back) He has to be here somewhere...
(On cue, an extremely fluffy orange cat strolls towards Chat Noir and nuzzles its face on his leg.)
Chat Noir: Hey, another cat! (he picks it up lightly) What are you doing, little guy? No owner? (he checks the cat's collar, it's a simple black choker with a silver dangling triangle)
Cat: Meow. (it licks Chat Noir's face a couple times before purring)
Chat Noir: (chuckling) Hey! That tickles! (he pats the cat's head) How about we find you a safe space?
Cat: Meow... (it wriggles out of Chat Noir's hold and runs away)
Chat Noir: Huh?
(Before he could process what happened, the ginger cat comes back with Caprikid's paintbrush between its sharp teeth.)
Chat Noir: Oh! This is Caprikid's....where'd you find this, buddy?
Cat: (drops staff) Meow!
Chat Noir: If Caprikid's staff is still here, then he must still be transformed! But where...? (Chat Noir picks up the staff and looks at it sadly) What if the akuma captured him?!
Cat: (sympathetically) Meow. (it jumps on Chat Noir's shoulder)
Chat Noir: (he sighs) I'm sure we can find him somewhere!
(Chat Noir uses his baton and lunges onto a roof. He transforms his stick into a phone, about to leave another voicemail to Ladybug.)
Cat: Meow! (it desperately slaps Chat Noir’s stick-phone out of his hand. The stick falls onto the roof.)
Chat Noir: (surprised) Hey!!
(The cat uses Chat Noir's baton to scroll through the call list of Miraculers, landing on Rooster Bold. It clicks it urgently.)
Chat Noir: (deeply confused) Huh? Rooster Bold? What do you need him for?
Cat: (fed up) Meow.
[Scene]
Marc is sitting in his room, scribbling in a book.
Marc: (holds up book towards kwami) What do you think, Orikko?
(Orikko is snoring loudly inside a pen pot.)
Marc: (in a sing-song voice) Orikko~?
(Orikko is still sleeping. Marc picks up a pen and stabs him with it.)
Orikko: (awake) Ow! (he rubs the sore spot) What was that for?!
Marc: You said you'll help me!
(Orikko throws a pencil at Marc. Silence ensued.)
Marc: ...I deserved that.
Orikko: Hmph! (he flew back in his pen pot)
Marc: (feels signal in his miraculous) Orikko?
Orikko: (angry) What?!
Marc: I need Rooster Bold.
Orikko: Ladybug can summon somebody else!
Marc: Chat Noir called.
Orikko: (flies around energetically) Plagg called us?!
Marc: (confused) Who?
Orikko: Uh— no one!! And I'm not going!
Marc: Why??
Orikko: (crosses his arms) I'm not very fond of kwami abuse!
Marc: (sighs) I'll give you a weeks supply of corn.
Orikko: ...Deal.
[Scene]
Rooster Bold joins Chat Noir on the roof.
Rooster Bold: Hey, Chat. Why did you call?
Chat Noir: I didn't call you. He did. (points to the fluffy orange cat.)
Rooster Bold: The cat??
(The cat leaps into Rooster Bold’s arms stares up at him with wide cerulean eyes, purring.)
Rooster Bold: (smiling) Aww, he's so— (he notices the cat's silver triangle connected to his collar)
~FLASHBACK~
(Rooster Bold and Caprikid sat on a roof, a view of the lit-up Eiffel Tower.)
Rooster Bold: Have I ever told you how cute you are? (twirls a rose in his hand)
Caprikid: (rolls eyes, but smiles) You tell me all the time, sweetheart.
Rooster Bold: I can't help it! You know I don't tell lies~
Caprikid: (laughs, then points to the rose) Who's that for, anyway?
Rooster Bold: Isn't it obvious? It's for my gorgeous caprine. (he winks.)
Caprikid: Ugh, you're so cheesy. (he shoves him kindly and smiles.)
Rooster Bold: (moves closer) Isn't that what you like?
Caprikid: (takes the rose away from Rooster Bold and slides it behind Rooster's ear) You're lucky I like pretty birds. (he kisses him deeply, then pulls away.)
(Rooster Bold's face reddens under the moonlight.)
Caprikid: What? Flustered? (he teases.)
Rooster Bold: (lying) Me? Never. (he pulls Caprikid by his zipper and kisses him again)
~END OF FLASHBACK~
Rooster Bold: (talking to himself) That same cute zipper... (he pauses) Chat Noir?
Chat Noir: Yeah?
Rooster Bold: (he holds out the cat) This is Caprikid.
Cat: Meow!
Chat Noir: ...Oh.
Rooster Bold: "Oh?" (shouting) What the hell are we going to do?!
Chat Noir: Can't you change him back?
Rooster Bold: I'm not a genie!
Chat Noir: (raised voice) Then what are you good for?
(Rooster Bold transforms his fountain pen into a metal pan and smacks him across head with it.)
Chat Noir: Ow! (he waves his arms around in defense) Kidding, kidding!
Rooster Bold: You better be.
[Scene]
Rooster Bold, Chat Noir, and Caprikid waited for Ladybug in an alleyway. Caprikid was curled up on Rooster Bold's lap eating a croissant.
Rooster Bold: (patting Caprikid) You're hungry, aren't you?
(Caprikid — or Capricat — ignored the rooster and kept eating.)
Ladybug: Hey guys!
Chat Noir & Rooster Bold: Ah!
Ladybug: What?
Chat Noir: Y-You popped out of nowhere!
Ladybug: Oh, right. Sorry!
Rooster Bold: (squints eyes) No....
Ladybug: No what?
Rooster Bold: You're not Ladybug.
Chat Noir: Huh? (turns to Rooster Bold) What are you saying?!
Capricat: Meow?
Ladybug: (she sighs bitterly) Your perception is too good, RB. I won't even try to convince you.
(Rena Rouge jumped down from above and waved her flute.)
Rena Rouge: Vanish!
Chat Noir: Rena?
Rena Rouge: (bows) The one and only!
Rooster Bold: Why did you create an illusion of Ladybug?
Rena Rouge: Welllll....Ladybug isn't really available right now.
Chat Noir: Don't tell me...
Rena Rouge: Yup. (takes off her backpack and pulls a dark-blue cat out of it) Meet Kittynette!
Kittynette (Marinette): Meow.
Rooster Bold: For fuck's sake.
Chat Noir: How did this happen?
Rena Rouge: She got sniped by the akuma during our lunch. On our 3-year anniversary, nonetheless.
Chat Noir: Man, this villain is a serious probl-
Rooster Bold: (gasps) Where's Ladybug's miraculous?!
Rena Rouge: Oh, it's right here. (she places Kittynette down and pulls Ladybug's earrings out of her pocket)
Rooster Bold: Phew.
(Capricat strolls up to Kittynette and sniffs her curiously.)
Chat Noir: What are we going to do?
Rena Rouge: We could do...this. (she clips on Ladybug's earrings)
Chat Noir: (stands up) What!?!
Rena Rouge: Who else is going to fix everything? Definitely not giving the Miraculous of Creation to the Miraculer of Destruction. Same with you, Mr Pretension.
Rooster Bold: Huh?
Rena Rouge: Anyways, I don't see any issue with me using it. Any objections~?
Chat Noir & Rooster Bold: ...No.
Rena Rouge: Good. Trixx, Tikki, unify! (transforms into Lady Rouge)
Rooster Bold: Oooo, nice threads!
Lady Rouge: Thank you!
Chat Noir: Okay! Let's go kick some evil ass! (when he tries to leap, Caprikid and Kittynette bite his ankles) What is it, you guys?
Capricat & Kittynette: (frantic) Meow!!
Chat Noir: You know I don't actually speak cat, right? (Capricat gestures with his paws) Uh...rain? (Kittynette makes a circular motion with her paws) A night at the opera? (Kittynette facepalms) Can you help me out here, Rooster Bold?
Rooster Bold: What do you want me to do?
Chat Noir: We need to understand them!
Rooster Bold: Hm...Sublimation!
Chat Noir: So, what now?
Rooster Bold: I gave myself the ability to pass other abilities. The Miraculous of Pretension has its rules! Just wait. (he touches Chat Noir and Lady Rouge on their shoulders) Sublimation!
Lady Rouge: (confused) I don't feel any different.
Chat Noir: Same here.
Capricat: [What about now?]
Lady Rouge: Oh! He's talking!!
Kittynette: [You can understand us?]
Lady Rouge: Yes, we can!
Capricat: [Finally!]
Rooster Bold: So what happened?
Capricat: [There's an akuma that keeps turning people into animals!]
Rooster Bold: I figured that. But why??
Kittynette: [I don't know, because they're a sick monster?!]
Capricat: [What I do know is that they love being in far and high places. Before I transformed, I saw a figure holding something like a gun.]
Lady Rouge: Like a sniper! Just like what happened to Marinette! But how are we going to find them?
Chat Noir: Oi! Genie man!
Rooster Bold: (mumbling) I'm not a genie...
Chat Noir: Can't you pinpoint their location?
Rooster Bold: Maybe...but I'm not really sure on an ability ー that doesn't sound like a wish ー that I could do.
Kittynette: [The ability to sense akumatized villains?]
Lady Rouge: The ability to paralyze akumas?
Chat Noir: (flatly) The ability to grant wishes?
Rooster Bold: No, No, and definitely not. Who do you guys think I am?
Capricat: [Why not Marinette's idea? It seems pretty solid.]
Rooster Bold: I can't interfere with other powers. I could do a scan of Paris, but I'm already using two Sublimation powers at once: The ability to pass powers to others and understand animals.
Lady Rouge: Are you only limited to two?
Rooster Bold: No, I can do as many as I want! But it's dangerous.
Capricat: [Please, Rooster Bold?] (he curls around his ankle and looks at him with big eyes)
Rooster Bold: ... (reluctant) Fine. Sublimation! (he closed his eyes, visioning an overhead live sight of Paris. Not even 10 seconds later, he was clearly reaching his limits, flashes of gold spilling past his closed eyes. Finally, he spots the akuma posed at the Eiffel Tower.) I found them! (opens eyes) They're hiding in the Eiffel Tower. It looks like they're not planning to end their mischief either.
Chat Noir: Way to go, Genie!
Rooster Bold: (chuckles weakly) I didn't grant any wishes, just used my powers!
Lady Rouge: (notices his visibly tired demeanour) You okay, RB?
Rooster Bold: Yeah...Yeah! I'm fine, Rena.
Chat Noir: (Impatient) Now can we go?
Lady Rouge: Alright then.
[Scene]
Lady Rouge, Chat Noir, Rooster Bold, Capricat, and Kittynette are near the Eiffel Tower, devising a plan.
Lady Rouge: Any ideas?
Chat Noir: Teleport behind them?
Kittynette: [Not possible.]
Chat Noir: Huh? Why not?
Rooster Bold: I can't replicate powers that already exist. Teleportation belongs to the Miraculous of the Horse.
Chat Noir: Ah, right.
Rooster Bold: Super speed?
Capricat: [What if the sniper gets you?]
Rooster Bold: Can't I use my powers after I get hit?
Capricat: [Nope. I couldn't use my paintbrush anymore.]
Rooster Bold: We could always call Viperion.
Kittynette: [He's still in Brazil. I wouldn't want to waste his time.]
(Rooster Bold takes Caprikid's paintbrush from Chat Noir.)
Rooster Bold: Genesis! (draws a sniper)
Chat Noir: What are you doing? We can't shoot them!
Rooster Bold: I'm not aiming for them, I'm aiming for the weapon. That's probably where the akuma is.
Capricat: [And this nightmare can be over! Great thinking!]
Rooster Bold: (proud) I know. (he sets up the weapon) And just for extra measure, I'll give myself the ability to have perfect aim.
Lady Rouge: Are you sure you're willing to use your Sublimation again?
Rooster Bold: Huh? I'm already using it.
Lady Rouge: I know, but you've been using it a lot. I just don't want you injured.
Rooster Bold: Really, I'm fine. (he peers through the sniper scope in full focus) Sublimation! (a gold aura flashed around him, before disappearing quickly. He made a perfect shot, smacking the long-range gun out of the akuma's hands) Yes!
Kittynette: [You did it!]
Rooster Bold: Sublimation! (he waves his arm, elevating the falling weapon and brings it towards Lady Rouge)
Lady Rouge: (stomps on weapon) No more evil doing for you, Ultrakuma— (no Ultrakuma flies out) Huh?!
Kittynette: (frustrated groan) Are we serious?!?
Rooster Bold: (stares at gun) I really thought the ultrakuma was here..
Lady Rouge: It isn't your fault, RB. What's important now is-- (the akuma shoots at the group but narrowly misses) Ah!
(Everyone ducks.)
Chat Noir: They have another one?!
Capricat: [But did you see where they pulled it out from?]
Chat Noir: No.
Kittynette: [The backpack!] (she points towards it) [The akuma has to be in there!]
Rooster Bold: But how do we get it?
(Everyone turns to Rooster Bold.)
Rooster Bold: (confused) What? (realizes) Oh. Absolutely not.
Chat Noir: You could take them down in an instant!
Rooster Bold: Why can't Lady Rouge use her Lucky Charm?
Lady Rouge: Oh, right! Lucky Charm! (she receives a short rope) I don't see how this helps.
Kittynette: [Try looking around!]
Lady Rouge: Okay... (spots Caprikid's paintbrush on Chat Noir's back) Hey, Chat, can I use that?
Chat Noir: Sure!
Lady Rouge: (takes staff) Genesis! (she summons an extension rope)
Capricat: [What's that for?]
Lady Rouge: For a longer rope! I have an idea.
(The akuma looked around suspiciously, trying to find the superheroes. Rooster Bold flew overhead, attempting to catch them off guard.)
Rooster Bold: Agh! (winces. He misses and lands next to the akuma.)
Viper: Looks like a can catch another one!
Rooster Bold: (whispers) Sublimation. (he turns invisible)
Viper: (looks around) Huh? Where did he go? (butterfly mask appears over her face)
Chrysalis: He's right in front if you!
Viper: Huh? You sure?
Chrysalis: Yes. He's just invisible. He can't use teleportation because it belongs to the Miraculous of the Horse. Shoot him and retrieve his miraculous if you want nobody to stop you!
Viper: Okay then...(skeptical, but aims sniper at Rooster Bold. He closes his eyes.)
(A yoyo zoomed across the air, knocking the weapon out of the akuma's hands.)
Viper: Hey!
Lady Rouge: Not so fast! (she directs her yoyo towards the sniper, attempting to retrieve it. She misses.) Oops.
Kittynette: [You'll get the hang of it!]
(Viper picks up the gun and tries to shoot Lady Rouge.)
Lady Rouge: Woah! (she expertly uses her flute to fling the beam back to the akuma. Viper dodges.)
(As Viper and Lady Rouge fight each other, Capricat and Chat Noir steadily walk towards Rooster Bold, trying to find his invisible body.)
Chat Noir: (using his stick as a prodder) RB? Where are you? (his stick is met with force as he pokes around. He bends down and shakes Rooster Bold.) Hey!!
Rooster Bold: (appears) What...
Capricat: [You don't look good...]
Rooster Bold: I'll be fine. (he uses his powers to lift Viper off the ground and drop her, causing her to fall. Fractions of electricity buzzed around him.)
Chat Noir: You don't look fine.
Capricat: (confused) [Wait. You don't have to say "Sublimation" to activate it?]
Rooster Bold: Not anymore.
Chat Noir: You need a break, Rooster. This can't be healthy.
(Lady Rouge is kicked by Viper in full force. She flies a great distance before roughly landing on the ground.)
Kittynette: [Rena!!]
(As Lady Rouge is on the ground, Viper makes her shot at her. Kittynette jumps in front of the beam. Lady Rouge staggers as she stands back up. She pets Kittynette's head endearingly.)
Kittynette: [I've been hit already, so there's no effect!]
Lady Rouge: Thank you.
Viper: Ugh! (she runs towards Lady Rouge and Kittynette in rage)
Rooster Bold: (weakly) Oh no you don't. (he holds his hand out, then clenches his fist. Rooster fights back the excruciating pain he's now experiencing.)
Viper: Huh— (before registering what's happening, she falls to her knees, clutching her chest in agony. She hyperventilates.)
Chat Noir: Rooster Bold! What are you doing?!
Rooster Bold: Immobilizing her. (he turns to Chat Noir, revealing his eyes to be bright red)
Chat Noir: You can't do that! Stop it!! (he whacks Rooster's hand with his baton)
(Rooster Bold finally snaps out of it, letting his invisible grasp on the akuma go.)
Viper: (catching her breath, angry) Is he trying to kill me?!!
Chrysalis: Like I've told you, the Rooster Miraculous holds great power. Heroes want to make you think they're using it for the greater good, but in reality, they want civilians to bend to their will. Even by hurting them.
Viper: A guy like that shouldn't have a Miraculous.
Chrysalis: Exactly.
Chat Noir: (picks up Rooster Bold) I'm taking RB out of this. Will you be okay, Capri?
Capricat: [....I'll be okay. I'm just not sure Rooster will be.] (he looks up at Chat Noir solemnly)
Chat Noir: I'll go figure out what's wrong. (he leaves.)
(Chat Noir lands in a narrow alleyway and sets Rooster Bold down. He takes off his thumb ring, causing him to detransform.)
Chat Noir: (concerned) Marc...what was that? You were going ballistic!
Marc: (in a remorseful broken whisper) I don't know.
Chat Noir: You don't know...?
Marc: (terrified) I-I don't know what happened to me. For a moment I lost control of myself.
(There was a silence.)
Chat Noir: I'm staying here with you until everything's over.
Marc: You don't have to do that.
Chat Noir: But I'm doing it anyway. (he looks at Marc's red eyes sorrowfully before sitting next to him) You're not alone, Marc.
Marc: ...Thanks.
(Lady Rouge jumps to a safer distance, trying to find the purpose of her Lucky Charm.)
Kittynette: Meow!
Lady Rouge: Huh? Oh, right. Rooster Bold probably detransformed, so I can't understand you anymore.
Kittynette: (sad) Meow.
Lady Rouge: But don't worry! I'll end this.
Kittynette: Meow! (she jumps on Lady Rouge and presses her nose against the Ladyfox's)
Lady Rouge: Awww. I'll get you back to your normal cute self! I promise. (She looks around, highlighting Kittynette, Capricat, and her flute. She takes off her flute from her back.) Huh. Why didn't I think of using this earlier?
Kittynette: Meow! {You're Lady Rouge, not Ladybug. You should use your special assets!}
Lady Rouge: (smiling) I'm not sure what you said, but it was probably smart. (she pets Kittynette again) Yo, Caprikid!
Capricat: Meow?
Lady Rouge: I need you and Marinette to distract Viper by any means.
Capricat: Meow! (he and Kittynette run towards Viper, dashing around her)
Viper: What are you doing?! (she tries to shoot the both of them)
Lady Rouge: (blows on flute) Mirage!
(The Mirage creates a huge orb of light above, blinding the akuma's vision.)
Viper: Agh! I can't see!
Chrysalis: Let me help.
(Chrysalis blows multiple antikumas, aiming for Lady Rouge. The Ladyfox narrowly dodges them, closing distance between her and the akuma. Instead of grabbing Viper's backpack, she ties her up by her feet. When she takes a step forward, she collapses.)
Viper: Hey! What gives?!
(Searching through the light, Capricat and Kittynette grab Viper's backpack with their teeth, and brings it towards Lady Rouge.)
Lady Rouge: (waves flute) Vanish!
(The dismantling Mirage causes the light to disappear.)
Lady Rouge: Great job, guys! (she pats both cats on the head)
(The Ladyfox picks up the backpack and smoothly rips it apart. An ultrakuma flew from it.)
Lady Rouge: No more evil-doing from you, ultrakuma. Time to de-evilize! (captures ultrakuma and purifies it) Gotcha! Bye-bye, little butterfly. (throws rope into the air) Miraculous Lady Rouge!
(A flurry of red and orange ladybugs flew around Paris, fixing most of the damage. Caprikid and Marinette revert back to their normal human selves.)
Marinette: (happy) That's so much better! (she hugs Lady Rouge and kisses her)
Lady Rouge: (laughing and blushing) Mari! Not here!
Marinette: (embarrassed) Oh, right. Heh!
(Caprikid walks to the deakumatized villain.)
Caprikid: Manon?
Manon: Huh...? What happened?
Caprikid: You were akumatized, and turning people into animals!
Manon: I did...?
(Lady Rouge discreetly gives Ladybug's earings to Marinette. Rena Rouge walks up to Manon.)
Rena Rouge: Do you remember what happened before you were akumatized?
Manon: Not much. (she admits.) I've been looking into cases of mistreatment towards animals, and I guess I couldn't take it anymore...
Rena Rouge: Oh.
Manon: But I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me. I know that now. (she smiles.)
Rena Rouge: That's good to hear.
Caprikid: (groans) Being a cat for three days sucked. Do you know how tiring it gets running across Paris on all fours?!
(Rena Rouge and Manon laughed.)
Rena Rouge: Well, at least you're back, CK.
Caprikid: (worried) Do you think Mar— I mean, Rooster Bold is okay?
Rena Rouge: I won't stop you from finding out. But I hope so.
Caprikid: Same here.
Caprikid & Rena Rouge: Pound it!
[Scene]
Alya's room. Alya is updating the Lady Blog on her laptop, until she spots Ladybug on her balcony.
Alya: Mari? What are you doing here?
Ladybug: Can I stay here for a bit?
(Alya notices her worried face and fidgety attitude.)
Alya: Anything for my girlfriend. (closes laptop)
Ladybug: Thank you. (she walks inside and sits on her bed)
(Alya joins her and softly strokes her short dark hair.)
Alya: So, what's on the great Ladybug's mind? (she teases.)
Ladybug: ...What if Chrysalis knows my identity?
Alya: What makes you think that?
Ladybug: Earlier today, when I was shot by Viper.
Alya: And?
Ladybug: I found it strange that only I was targeted. We were in a public place. Viper could've gotten anyone!
Alya: Hmm...It's a possibility, (sees Ladybug's terrified expression) But it's not confirmed! (she strokes the heroine's face) Maybe you were just unlucky.
Ladybug: (sighs) But I can't rest with the thought in my head that they know!
Alya: Then let's keep it like that. A thought. You stay here while I make you cup of tea, okay? And when I come back you better be detransforned and relaxing.
Ladybug: (in defeat) Fine.. (calmer) Thank you, babe.
Alya: (surprise) 'Babe?' You never call me that.
Ladybug: (smiling weakly) Stress?
(Alya grins at her before kissing Ladybug on the head.)
Alya: Don't worry your pretty head about it.
(She leaves.)
[Scene]
Marc's room. Marc is staring at his mirror, his eyes now a blood orange instead of red. Chat Noir is watching from a distance.
Marc: (beyond upset) What's wrong with me, Orikko?!
Orikko: I'm not sure! I've never seen this before.
Chat Noir: (flicking through a book) Nothing in the History of the Miraculouses mention anything about this!
Marc: (cries) I'm a monster.
Orikko: (flatly) If you're a monster, then what does that make me?
Marc: (sniffling) I don't kn—know.
(A knock on the door is heard. Chat Noir opens it to see Nathaniel on the other side.)
Nathaniel: (urgently) Where's Marc?
Marc: O-Over here...
Nathaniel: (sympathetic) Have you been crying, doll? (he walks up to Marc, hugging him tightly.)
Chat Noir: I've been trying to convince him it isn't that bad.
Nathaniel: Your eyes are still different.
Marc: (to Nathaniel) You look terrible.
Nathaniel: (tired, he ruffles his own matted hair) Yeah...being Caprikid for three days straight isn't fun. Looks like we both got the short end of the stick. (he chuckled lightly.)
Marc: How is this amusing to you?
Nathaniel: (holds Marc's hands) You always look for the silver lining in things when I feel hopeless in a situation, now it's my turn.
Marc: (sniffling, voice cracking) I guess so.
Nathaniel: We'll figure something out. I promise, doll. (he kisses him in a meaningful manner.)
(Chat Noir only smiled before leaving the two alone.)
Nathaniel: This is something that can be fixed.
Marc: And if it can't?
Nathaniel: I'll still love you anyway.