The violent clash of metal against metal erupted into a jarring symphony under the silent Parisian night sky.
Two figures, as dark as night, transformed into two swift flashes of lightning on the narrow rooftop. Each intersection was accompanied by dazzling sparks and sharp gusts of wind.
Their movements were almost blindingly fast, their metal staffs darting like venomous snakes, precisely and fiercely aiming for each other's vital points, only to be parried in the next instant with equally precise angles.
"You damn imposter!"
Cat Noir's fury was almost spewing from his emerald green eyes.
His voice was filled with the rage of his violated territory; every word was heavily bitten.
Today had been absolutely terrible for him. First, Felix, his cousin who shared half his blood, used a despicable method to impersonate him and insult the precious friendship he had built.
And now, when he arrived for his partner's appointment, a complete replica appeared!
This guy not only copied his appearance, his weapon, his voice, but even tried to use his identity to deceive his most trusted partner!
It felt like watching a vile, dirty rat trying to burrow into his cleanest, most precious grain jar.
New and old grievances combined, making him completely lose his usual nonchalant composure.
Every one of his attacks carried an undisguised anger, wanting to tear the opponent completely apart.
"I'm the real one! You're the imposter who crawled out of some sewer!"
The fake Cat on the opposite side was not to be outdone.
His eyes also gleamed with obsessive and crazy light, and the staff in his hand whirled with formidable power.
In his Akumatization world, he was Cat Noir, Ladybug's only, fated partner.
And this guy, who appeared out of nowhere and looked exactly like him, was undoubtedly the most detestable thief who had stolen his identity!
"Bang!" Another fierce collision, and both were sent back by the immense recoil, regaining their footing at opposite ends of the rooftop.
They gazed at each other from afar, their chests slightly heaving from the intense exertion, their eyes clashing fiercely in the air, as if wanting to flay each other with their gazes.
"Ladybug!"
Cat Noir anxiously looked at his partner, who was still in shock, trying to prove his identity.
"I'm the real one! This guy is fake! Don't let him trick you!"
"No! I'm the real one!"
The fake Cat immediately retorted, his logic clear, even with a hint of grievance.
"Ladybug, think about it, you were the one who texted me to come!"
"As soon as I received your message, I rushed over immediately and have been by your side the whole time!"
"And this guy, he's the one who suddenly showed up to cause trouble! He must have been sent by Hawk Moth!"
Suddenly, Ladybug found herself in an unprecedented predicament.
These two Cat Noirs, whether in appearance, voice, or the fighting style unique to Cat Noir that they displayed during the battle, had almost no flaws.
His brain raced, trying to find clues from the recent conversation, but he found nothing.
His gaze subconsciously drifted towards the apartment building diagonally opposite.
Inside the window, Jaden was gently saying something to Duusu, who was floating in mid-air, like a final farewell.
Then, Duusu obediently flew into the jewelry box he had meticulously arranged, which looked like a luxurious dollhouse.
Immediately after, with a "snap," Jaden turned off the room light. The window instantly plunged into darkness.
A chance! Ladybug's heart suddenly pounded. She clutched the substitute brooch in her hand, her mind rapidly calculating.
Now that Jaden was going to sleep, it was the best time to execute the "substitute" plan.
But these two indistinguishable Cat Noirs had become the biggest obstacle.
She knew that until she dealt with this imposter, she couldn't go anywhere. Moreover, if she made a mistake in distinguishing and let this imposter approach Jaden's room... the consequences would be unimaginable!
She took a deep breath, allowing her heart, which had been in turmoil due to her worry for Jaden, to become calm and sharp again.
She raised his head, and in his azure blue eyes, the unique wisdom and decisiveness of Ladybug shone.
"Alright, stop arguing."
His voice was cool and calm, instantly silencing the two Cat Noirs' argument.
"Since you both claim to be the real one, I'll ask you a few questions. Only the real Cat Noir can answer them."
She began to throw out questions about battle details that only she and Cat Noir would know when fighting side by side.
However, what made him difficult was that both Cat Noirs answered all of them fluently!
For every question, they gave completely correct answers, even mimicking the tone of voice at the time perfectly!
Ladybug's brows furrowed tightly. This was troublesome.
Just then, Cat Noir also seemed to realize that this "written test" could not distinguish between real and fake.
A hint of determination flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly took a step forward.
"Then, this,"
His voice became deep and full of pressure, "You imposter, certainly don't have this!"
With a roar: "Cataclysm!" a visible, pure black energy, filled with destructive aura, instantly burst from his right palm!
That energy, like boiling black mist, wrapped around his entire right arm, emitting a chilling "sizzling" sound.
In the air, a terrifying aura of all things returning to nothingness seemed to permeate.
However, a scene that stunned him occurred. The fake Cat opposite him also, at the same time, in the same posture, shouted the same move!
"Cataclysm!" The exact same, pure black destructive energy also wrapped and surged on his right hand!
Two completely identical forces, representing "destruction," faced each other in the night sky, like two black holes about to collide, distorting the surrounding light.
"This... how is this possible?!"
Cat Noir was completely bewildered. His proud, unique ultimate skill was... also perfectly replicated?!
"Ha!"
The fake Cat, seeing the other's shocked expression, let out a triumphant, mocking laugh.
"Fake, now you know who the real one is, right? You've tangled yourself up!"
He took a few steps forward and began to use his logical advantage to bewitch Ladybug.
"Ladybug, did you see that? He's the one who's flustered and fake!"
"And think again, just now, it was him who suddenly rushed out and pushed me away without a word!"
"What exactly does he want to do? He just wants to take advantage of the chaos to snatch that important thing from you! You absolutely must not be deceived by him!"
As he spoke, he also cast what he considered a deeply affectionate and trusting gaze at Ladybug, and even called him in an extremely intimate tone: "My Ladybug."
However, he didn't notice.
The moment he uttered the address "My Ladybug," a cold and sharp light flashed in the depths of Ladybug's azure blue eyes.
It was him. The imposter.
And Cat Noir, who was opposite him, after the initial shock, showed an uncontrollable, almost ecstatic expression on his face.
He didn't expect that this imposter would be so stupid as to reveal himself in such a place! Excellent!
He and Ladybug, to outsiders, might seem like a match made in heaven.
The media and fans were always tirelessly portraying them as a superhero couple.
But only they themselves knew that between them, it was a pure, ordinary partnership.
Perhaps at first he was, but, as time went on, Adrien's admiration for Ladybug had gradually been replaced by curiosity and friendship for Jaden.
And Marinette's heart was completely filled with only one boy named "Jaden."
That sickening, ambiguous "My Ladybug," Cat Noir hadn't called him that in a long time.
Ladybug moved.
She slowly walked towards the still smug fake Cat, even with a hint of approving smile on his face.
"Okay, Cat Noir."
As he walked, he said, his yo-yo in his hand beginning to spin imperceptibly, "Together, we'll deal with that annoying imposter opposite."
She stood beside the fake Cat, facing the real Cat Noir.
In the real Cat's eyes, he quickly and subtly gave a tactical signal that only the two of them understood.
Cat Noir on the opposite side instantly understood. But the expression on his face was still that angry look of "I'm not convinced" and "How could you do this?" His acting was good enough to win an Oscar.
"I'm the real one!" He was still "struggling in his death throes" here.
"Cat Noir,"
Ladybug suddenly turned his head and said to the fake Cat beside him, "Help me throw something, quick!"
With that, he casually pulled out a small paper ball and, without thinking, threw it towards the fake Cat's right hand.
This was a complete trap!
The fake Cat, currently immersed in the immense joy of "about to fight alongside the goddess," his mind blank, instinctively extended his right hand, ready to catch the paper ball.
He completely forgot that his right hand was still wrapped in the "Cataclysm" that could destroy everything!
"Oh no!"
By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late!
The moment the paper ball touched the black energy on his right hand, with a "poof," it didn't even last a hundredth of a second before directly turning into a wisp of black ash and dissipating into the night wind.
Now! "Got you!"
A sharp light flashed in Ladybug's eyes!
His yo-yo, like a drawn sword, was suddenly flung out, the red rope drawing a perfect arc in the air, and with a "swish," it tightly bound the fake Cat, who had lost his balance due to his own mistake!
"What?!" The fake Cat let out a cry of surprise, his entire body uncontrollably falling backward, and with a "thud," he awkwardly fell to the ground.
He was completely dumbfounded.
He didn't understand why Ladybug, who had been on his "united front" just a second ago, would suddenly attack him.
He looked up and saw Ladybug's pretty, smiling face, and... Cat Noir slowly walking towards him.
"You... you guys..." the fake Cat Noir was still futilely trying to argue, "I'm the real one! My Ladybug, you've got it wrong!"
Cat Noir walked up to him and looked down at him, his emerald cat-like eyes filled with pity.
He slowly shook his head and spoke the final verdict that would bring this farce to an end.
"You thought we were a couple,"
His voice was calm, yet carried the undeniable force of fact, "but you were wrong."
"We are just partners."
"Wh-what?"
The fake Cat Noir, tied up like a dumpling on the ground, was completely stunned.
His mind went blank, unable to comprehend this sudden reversal.
Partners? Just... partners?
He stared incredulously at the two perfectly coordinated superheroes before him, feeling his worldview, even his romantic fantasies about "heroic lovers," shatter into a million pieces at that moment.
He still wanted to say something, still wanted to defend his ridiculous logic, but Ladybug had already seen through his thoughts.
"Don't even think about it."
Her voice was as clear and cold as an autumn night breeze, "All those rumors about us being 'a couple' were just made up by bored media reporters for clickbait."
But the truth is, we are just partners."
She paused, her azure eyes unconsciously glancing at the dark window diagonally opposite, and her voice held a hint of gentle warmth that even she hadn't noticed.
"And... I already have someone I like."
With that, she no longer looked at the fake Cat Noir on the ground—as if he were just an insignificant interlude.
She turned to face the real Cat Noir, who was standing with his arms crossed, watching everything with a relaxed air, and said, "Alright, Cat Noir, the rest is up to you."
Before she finished speaking, she was already walking towards the other side of the rooftop, as if to distance herself from the conclusion of this farce.
"Of course, leave it to me."
Cat Noir's lips curved into a playful smile as he stretched his wrist and slowly walked towards the imposter, who was still dazed by Ladybug's last words.
"Alright, my 'dear' Mr. Imposter,"
He walked to the fake Cat Noir, who was still lying on the ground, and squatted down.
His right hand was still enveloped in that unsettling, crackling black power of destruction;
And his left hand unceremoniously searched the fake Cat Noir's black battle suit,
"Let me see... where Hawk Moth hid your 'soul' after all."
He knew very well that for someone who was dark transformationed due to "fan jealousy," the akumatized object would most likely be merchandise related to their idol.
Sure enough, after a few searches, he pulled a photograph from the fake Cat Noir's inner jacket pocket.
It was a carefully cropped, even laminated, candid shot of Ladybug leaping in battle.
The girl in the photo was heroic and spirited, full of power and beauty.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Cat Noir shook his head, "Quite a deep love."
Just as he was about to touch the photograph with the Cataclysm in his right hand, the fake Cat Noir, bound and unable to move on the ground, suddenly spoke in a voice filled with despair and malice, like a curse:
"You're a loser... just like me... we're all losers! We didn't win! We... are all failures!"
Cat Noir's movements paused slightly. He looked down at the man beneath him, who was already lost in a trance, and a complex emotion flickered in his emerald cat-like eyes. There was pity, and also... disdain.
"Losers?"
He chuckled softly, his laughter exceptionally clear in the quiet night, "Love is either a one-sided obsession or a miraculous mutual affection. There's never any winning or losing. Besides..."
He stood up, a relieved, genuine smile curving his lips: "I never truly... confessed to her. So how can there be any 'losing'?"
With that, he no longer paid attention to the poor soul who was trapped in his own logical loop.
With a gentle wave of his right hand, his fingertips, imbued with the power of destruction, touched the photograph.
"Poof."
The photograph silently turned to dust. A pitch-black butterfly, full of ominous aura, flew out from it, trying to escape in a panic.
At the same time, the dark transformationed attire on the fake Cat Noir on the ground receded like a tide, and he reverted to the bewildered and confused appearance of the sculptor, Theo.
Cat Noir skillfully retrieved the yo-yo that had bound him, flicked his wrist, and accurately threw it to the other side of the rooftop.
Ladybug, who had her back to him and was looking towards Jaden's room, caught the yo-yo with a backhand without even turning her head, gripping it steadily.
The subsequent process was fluid and seamless.
"Got you!"
The yo-yo captured the Akuma Butterfly within it.
"Goodbye, little butterfly."
A moment later, a pure white butterfly, symbolizing new life, flew out from the yo-yo and disappeared into the night.
Ladybug simply pointed her yo-yo at the sky and whispered in a voice only she could hear: "Lucky Charm."
A small, band-aid-like object descended from the sky and landed in her hand. This was to complete the process, providing a medium for the subsequent "Miraculous Restoration."
Then, she gently tossed the band-aid into the air: "Miraculous Restoration."
A soft pink glow spread like ripples, sweeping across the entire rooftop.
The photograph that had been destroyed by Cat Noir's "Cataclysm" earlier reformed perfectly in Theo's hand.
Theo looked at the photograph in his hand in a daze, then at Cat Noir and Ladybug nearby, his face full of confusion.
Cat Noir walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "You were controlled by Hawk Moth just now, but you're fine now."
Theo then realized what had happened.
He glanced at the photograph in his hand, then looked at his idol not far away, a shy yet eager expression on his face, and stammered a request to Cat Noir—he wanted an autograph.
"Here, your superfan," Cat Noir said teasingly as he walked up to Ladybug with the photo.
Ladybug sighed helplessly, took the photo and pen, quickly signed her name, and handed it back to Cat Noir for him to pass on.
After escorting the still somewhat dazed Theo back to his studio, Cat Noir returned to the rooftop.
By this time, the energy in the ring on his finger had fully recharged.
And Ladybug, in the few minutes he was gone, had found a hidden corner for Tikki to recharge, and transformed again—after all, both of them had used their ultimate moves.
"Alright, now can you tell me?"
Cat Noir walked up to her, looking at her still serious profile, and asked, "What exactly is going on? I'm still not quite clear on the situation."
Ladybug was silent for a moment, then opened her yo-yo and showed him the photo of Jaden and Duusu: "Look at this."
Cat Noir leaned in to look, and when he saw the indigo, never-before-seen mini peacock in the photo, his face showed the same surprise as Ladybug's first reaction: "Woah! Is this... a new miraculous?"
He asked curiously, then became suspicious, "Wait... I remember that miraculouses can't be photographed by any technological products, right? How did your yo-yo..."
Ladybug rolled her eyes at him helplessly: "I told you, Cat Noir, did you forget? These things in our hands are magical products, not technological products."
"Oh... right!"
Cat Noir scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a silly grin on his face.
Sometimes, he really did mistake these magical items for high-tech equipment.
"So..." he quickly became excited again, "Does that mean Jaden... can also transform into a superhero? Just like us?"
The thought of fighting alongside his good friend made him uncontrollably excited.
However, Ladybug slowly shook her head.
"No," her voice became incredibly heavy, "He can't."
"Why?"
"Because..."
She took a deep breath, painstakingly telling her partner the cruel truth,
"That peacock miraculous is broken. Using it will bring extremely terrible consequences.
Even... even using it just once will plant a permanent illness in his body. If he uses it multiple times..."
Her voice trembled slightly with fear: "...He will... die."
"What?!"
The excitement and curiosity on Cat Noir's face vanished the moment he heard the words "die."
Instead, there was the same extreme shock and disbelief as Ladybug's initial reaction.
"So,"
Ladybug opened her palm, and the fake peacock brooch lay quietly in her hand, gleaming with a cold and false luster under the moonlight,
"We must, tonight, swap back that real, dangerous item."
"Now, we can act."
Cat Noir looked at her eyes, filled with sadness and determination, and then at the cold brooch, finally understanding the reason for everything tonight.
"Yes, now we can."
He nodded, then said softly in a half-joking, half-serious tone, "However, this kind of 'dirty work' of sneaking into someone else's room still needs to be done by me, this 'Cat Noir.'"
He tried to ease the heavy atmosphere with this teasing—because he could clearly read from Ladybug's words and eyes how unwilling and pained she was.
"Oh, I understand."
He looked at Ladybug's tense profile, deliberately drawing out his words, "After all, that's... your own... beloved."