Manon's tiny frame was buried in Marinette's soft embrace. She'd just been sobbing over the fear that Jaden might dislike her, but now she was lost in a more innocent fantasy—
Her Prince-brother was handsome and gentle, a figure straight out of a fairy-tale—how could he possibly hate a cute little girl like her?
Tom, Sabine, Nadja, and An Marinette all assumed that, with Marinette's gentle comfort, the small storm stirred up by the child would soon blow over.
Yet in a child's world, logic is always straightforward.
Suddenly Manon lifted her head from Marinette's arms; those big, tear-bright eyes stared unblinkingly at Marinette,
her voice still husky from crying but brimming with hope: "Sister Marinette, will Prince-brother have time this weekend?"
"Uh… well…"
Marinette's brain crashed. Looking at the longing written all over Manon's little face,
she found the words of refusal stuck in her throat like a wad of cotton she couldn't swallow.
She knew Jaden and Mylène were attending a charity event together—time that belonged to the two of them—
and she herself was still agonizing over whether to "accidentally" run into them; how could she bring an energetic kid along?
Seeing Marinette hesitate, Manon's mouth drooped, on the verge of tears again.
The clever child swiveled her head, sending a silent plea toward Tom and Sabine behind the counter.
Tom had never been good at handling delicate emotional crises.
He instinctively scratched at the flour-dusted white streaks in his hair and gave his wife a helpless look.
Sabine saw deeper. Setting down the plate she'd been wiping, she pondered for a moment.
She understood her daughter's feelings and also sympathized with her friend Nadja's situation.
In a gentle tone she tried to give Marinette an out: "Marinette, does Jaden have anything particularly urgent this weekend?"
It was a hint, a shield a mother offered her daughter to refuse gracefully.
Yet under the sustained assault of Manon's watery eyes, Marinette's CPU was now completely overloaded.
She caught her mother's signal but misread it,
just as Manon twisted back, melting her with those glacier-melting eyes,
while Nadja and An Marinette also turned inquiring gazes on her.
Under multiple layers of pressure, Marinette blurted, "Actually it's nothing urgent—Jaden… he has a charity event this weekend…"
Before she could add "but bringing a child might be inconvenient",
Manon in her arms seized the lifeline, eyes sparkling: "A charity event? Perfect! I promise—absolutely, positively won't cause Prince-brother any trouble!
So… let me come, okay? Sister Marinette, please, please!"
She began rubbing against Marinette like a kitten begging for snacks.
Marinette surrendered completely.
She looked at her parents: Tom's face said "Daughter, you're on your own"; Sabine shook her head slightly—silly child, you've walked into the trap.
They all knew that when cute little Manon threw a tantrum, her destructive power could rival an Akumatized Person.
Tom cleared his throat but still looked to Sabine for the final verdict.
Sabine's eyes told him clearly: let Marinette decide and learn to handle such situations herself.
So she spoke gently, trying to guide: "Marinette, actually…"
She meant to say "you can refuse; this needs careful thought",
but Marinette misinterpreted again.
Thinking her mother meant "bringing Manon along is fine", and with the child's magical attack continuing,
she gave up, sighed, and surrendered: "All right… no problem."
The instant the words landed, Manon let out a loud cheer: "Hooray! I knew Sister Marinette is the best!"
She planted a loud, wet kiss on Marinette's cheek, leaving a shiny saliva print.
"Marinette…"
Nadja started to protest—something like "this is too much trouble for you".
But her daughter cut her off again.
Like a triumphant general, Manon popped out of Marinette's arms, hands on hips, and announced in a baby voice: "Big Evil Dragon! Don't even think of keeping me from my Prince-brother!"
Nadja looked at her daughter's smug expression, half amused, half exasperated.
She heaved an exaggerated sigh and put on an overly dramatic disappointed face:
"Oh… my goodness.
I was going to say I completely agree and thank Marinette for her generosity.
I never imagined that in your heart Mummy is the 'Big Evil Dragon' blocking your happiness.
In that case, Mummy will just have to…"
She deliberately stretched the words, pretending to reconsider, while watching Manon from the corner of her eye.
Sure enough, before she could finish, Manon slipped like a little fish from Marinette's lap,
scampered over, and hugged Nadja's leg, beaming up at her: "I knew Mummy is the best mummy in the whole world!"
"Oh?"
Nadja bent down, tapped her daughter's nose, eyes full of fondness. "Just now you called me 'Big Evil Dragon'?"
"Did I?"
Manon instantly played dumb, shaking her head like a rattle. "Manon doesn't know. Manon didn't say anything."
Her cheeky, adorable look made everyone burst into laughter.
"All right,"
Nadja lifted her daughter and looked at everyone. "Since that's settled, if you promise, Manon, that this weekend you absolutely will not cause Sister Marinette or Prince-brother any trouble,
then Mummy also promises not to show up with a camera and disturb your 'date' with the prince. Deal?"
"Of course! I knew Mummy's the best!" Manon joyfully kissed Nadja on the cheek.
Deal done, Nadja hugged her contented daughter and said goodbye to Tom and Sabine.
As they left, Manon peeked her little head from Nadja's shoulder and waved hard at Marinette: "See you tomorrow, Sister Marinette!"
"Mm… see you tomorrow."
Marinette forced a smile uglier than a sob and waved stiffly.
She could already picture the "disaster" this weekend would be.
Nadja carried her jubilant daughter out of the bakery,
but after only a few steps Manon's tiny ears twitched.
"Mama," she asked puzzled, "do you hear pigeons cooing?"
"Pigeons?"
Nadja shrugged with a smile. "This is Paris, honey; pigeons are everywhere."
"No,"
Manon insisted, shaking her head. "The sound is different—coo-coo… lots and lots."
Prompted by her daughter, Nadja noticed it too.
The monotonous, repetitive cooing came from every direction, swelling into a low, dense wave, nearer and louder.
The sound lacked the usual liveliness of plaza pigeons fighting for food; instead it carried an eerie, mechanical monotony that made her skin crawl.
As a veteran Reporter, Nadja's nerves tightened.
She recalled a Parisian urban legend—anyone who disturbs Mr. Ji Mu's private life without permission faces "pigeon" retribution.
The executor of that punishment is one of Jaden's most fanatical followers, the Akumatized villain who has thrown Paris into chaos time and again—Mr. Pigeon.
At the thought, Nadja's face went white; she spun to dash back into the bakery with her daughter.
"Flap—!"
A huge rush of wings. Hundreds of gray pigeons dropped like a gray waterfall, instantly forming between them and the bakery
a writhing "wall" of flesh, feathers, and sharp beaks!
Sunlight vanished; shadow fell.
A hoarse, shrill voice, laced with pigeon coos, sounded coldly behind her.
"Coo-coo… Isn't that the notorious News Anchor, Miss Nadja?"
Nadja turned rigidly, heart hammering.
It was Mr. Pigeon! The Akumatized villain Ladybug and Cat Noir had defeated countless times, yet who always returned!
Behind him, on rooftops, lampposts, and the street, countless pigeons perched, their icy eyes all fixed on her.
"I've waited so long for you…"
Mr. Pigeon intoned theatrically, advancing step by step, his pigeons pressing forward with him.
"Without Jaden's permission you filmed his private life and exposed it… Now I shall punish you on behalf of every pigeon in Paris!"
Nadja's heart sank, but years of professionalism kept her calm.
She hugged Manon tight and tried to reason: "Mr. Pigeon, I think you misunderstand.
I'm a Reporter; covering public figures is my job.
And my report hasn't really harmed Jaden, has it?"
"Excuses! Still making excuses!"
Mr. Pigeon stamped in rage; the surrounding pigeons rustled uneasily.
"You Reporters always spy under the guise of 'work'!
Are Jaden's smile and kindness cheap commodities for your ratings?"
He raised a hand, poised to attack.
Just then, Manon in Nadja's arms turned, teary-eyed, and sobbed at Mr. Pigeon:
"Uncle… Uncle Pigeon… my mama… she didn't hurt anyone… Mama—though she sometimes sneaks photos of Prince-brother and ruins my dates with him—
she isn't a bad person… please, can you let my mama go?"
Her pitiable, tear-brimming look struck the softest spot in Mr. Pigeon's heart.
"Oh, coo-coo…"
Mr. Pigeon clutched his chest theatrically, love-struck hearts in his eyes,
"Here… here's such a cute little girl!
Coo-coo… don't worry, I… I never harm little girls!
Because you… you are all pure, adorable angels!"
He flapped his hands exaggeratedly, imitating pigeon wings.
Then he lifted the Bird Whistle hanging at his neck and blew gently.
"Tweet—"
A crisp whistle sounded.
From the flock behind him, dozens of pigeons flew out at once.
They spiraled overhead, wings crossing, feet linking, forming a gigantic "hand"!
Yet the pigeon hand felt gentle, not menacing.
It slowly reached toward Nadja and, under her terrified gaze, carefully "lifted" Manon from her arms.
"Mama!"
Manon squealed, only to find herself lying safely on the soft, warm "palm" of pigeons—tickly and cozy.
The pigeon hand carried Manon through the seemingly solid pigeon wall and set her gently at the bakery door.
"Mama—!" The moment her feet touched ground, Manon tried to run back, but the pigeon wall wouldn't budge no matter how she pounded.
She could only dash back into the bakery sobbing.
Inside, Tom and Sabine panicked. Tom yanked down the roller shutter while Sabine hugged the crying Manon,
soothing her: "Good Manon, it's all right, your mama will be fine.
Ladybug and Cat Noir will be here to fix this soon."
Meanwhile, upstairs in Marinette's room,
Marinette and An Marinette watched everything through the attic skylight, tense.
"I told you!"
An Marinette crossed her arms, looking smug. "Mom clearly meant you could refuse!"
"Refuse? How could I refuse?"
Marinette paced irritably around the room, hands buried in her hair. "Didn't you see the look Manon gave me? Put yourself in my shoes—could you have said no?"
An Marinette was instantly lost for words. She pictured the scene: if Manon had stared at her like that,
begging her to help arrange a meeting with Alternate Adrien… she knew she wouldn't have been able to refuse either.
"All right, all right."
She pursed her lips and forcibly changed the subject. "So for this Mr. Pigeon incident, are you going or am I?"
Marinette stopped in her tracks and collapsed onto the chaise longue with a look of despair.
"You go."
"My head's a mess right now. I have to think hard about what kind of catastrophic fallout taking Manon along to Jaden and Mylène's—no, Jaden and Mylène's—charity event might cause."
"If Manon behaves, it'll be fine."
"If not—heavens, it'll be an unprecedented disaster of the century!"
"Don't worry, Marinette!"
Tikki poked her tiny head out of the bag, waving a little fist. "You're the best! You can handle everything!"
"Sigh…" Marinette let out a long breath.
An Marinette shook her head helplessly; sometimes this world's version of herself was so indecisive it drove her crazy.
Without another word she turned, climbed the ladder inside the room, and headed for the rooftop door.
She would finish this quickly and come back to give her useless self a good talking-to.
"Tikki, let's go!"
Behind the shelter on the rooftop, a dazzling pink flash vanished with a spirited shout.
Meanwhile, down on the street.
Mr. Pigeon, having safely seen the "little angel" off, turned his full attention to Nadja.
Hands on hips, he declared, "Now no one can interrupt us."
"Are you ready to receive the pigeons' 'sentence,' Miss Nadja?"
Nadja took a deep breath and gave up resisting.
As a front-line Reporter who had covered multiple Akumatized Person incidents, she knew her situation better than anyone.
She straightened her back, the calm resolve of a professional journalist settling on her face.
"Bring it on."
She spoke calmly and slowly closed her eyes.
Mr. Pigeon nodded in satisfaction at her 'cooperation.'
He had no intention of truly harming her—only of teaching her an unforgettable lesson.
Yet after a moment the expected pain never came.
She only heard a smug "coo" from Mr. Pigeon followed by a soft rustling.
Nadja cracked an eye open in confusion and saw that Mr. Pigeon wasn't launching an attack;
instead… he had pulled out a phone.
What was he planning?
Mr. Pigeon aimed the phone at her, grinning widely.
"You Reporters love to record everything with a camera, don't you?"
"Today you'll be the star!"
"Coo, my children, are you ready? Give this lady a grand 'baptism'!"
Over Nadja's head the flock of pigeons grew restless.
They adjusted formation like a bomber squadron, locking onto her as their target.
Nadja instantly realized what the 'sentence' meant—the nightmare of every Parisian: a blanket bombing of pigeon droppings.
Her face went pale; the journalist's composure crumbled in the face of such a humiliating 'execution.'
This was harder for her to accept than any physical attack!
Just as the pigeons were about to 'open fire'—
"Hey! Bullying an unarmed lady isn't very gentlemanly, Birdman!"
A flippant, familiar voice rang from above.
Cat Noir dropped from the sky, landing steadily atop a streetlamp, then swung his staff with a crisp metallic clang,
sending Mr. Pigeon's recording phone flying!
"Cat Ror!" Mr. Pigeon shrieked in fury.
"And me!"
A red blur flashed; the nimble yo-yo traced a brilliant arc,
snaring Mr. Pigeon's ankle and yanking hard!
With a cry Mr. Pigeon toppled backward; the pigeons overhead lost their command and scattered in chaos,
and the impending 'rain of filth' was averted at the last second.
"Ladybug!"
Mr. Pigeon trembled with rage at the two uninvited heroes. "You again! Always ruining my righteous crusade!"
Ladybug landed steadily, shielding Nadja while keeping a wary eye on Mr. Pigeon.
Cat Noir stretched elegantly beside Ladybug, his emerald cat-eyes sizing Nadja up with a playful smile:
"Looks like we arrived just in time, ma'am. Otherwise you'd be needing a very thorough shampoo today."
Seeing the two heroes, Nadja's taut nerves finally relaxed;
her legs nearly buckled, but she forced herself to say, "Thank you."
"No need to thank us—it's what we do."
Ladybug gave her a reassuring smile, then turned back to Mr. Pigeon, Her tone turning stern.
"Mr. Pigeon! Hand over the Akuma Butterfly and stop this pointless game!"
"Pointless?"
Mr. Pigeon sprang up from the ground, jabbing a finger at them furiously.
"I'm delivering justice! I'm protecting Paris's most precious treasure!"
"You art-blind fools have no idea of Mr. Ji Mu's greatness!"
"Coo! My darlings, attack!"
He blew his Bird Whistle again, and from the streets, rooftops, even the sewers,
countless more pigeons surged forth, forming a grey torrent that swept toward the two heroes!