Ladybug's slim fingers split open her yo-yo. "No more evildoing for you, little akuma!" She let the glowing orb bounce on the string before spinning it and lashing it at the flying butterfly.

"Time to de-evilize!" The yo-yo swallowed the moth whole and melted the poisonous indigo into an angelic white color. The small wings fluttered and lifted the insect back into the blue sky.

"Bye, bye, little butterfly," she said with a smile. She then tossed her Lucky Charm object into the air.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

——————

"Finally! Some rest!" Marinette sighed. Tikki crossed her arms and glanced at the clock with worry.

"Marinette, don't you have patrol with Chat Noir tonight?" she squeaked with a tilt of her head. The teenage girl shot upright on her bed.

"Oh, no, you're right! I totally forgot! Argh!" She dug her nails inside her hair and leaped out of bed to check the time.

"Ten minutes. I have ten minutes to get ready!" she said. "I can do this!"

"Ten minutes for what?" a voice questioned. Marinette squealed and Tikki hid as her mother popped into her room.

"Mom! I-uh-I mean ten minutes until I go to bed! That's all!" She laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head nervously with shaky fingers. Her mother smiled kindly.

"Oh, all right, then. Good night, sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Night, Mom!" She pecked Sabine's cheek. "Love you!"

When her mother disappeared, the girl sighed in relief, but her heart still pounded rapidly against her rib cage.

"How long will I have to keep making all these excuses?" she breathed to herself. Tikki flew over to her friend and nudged her cheek.

"Don't worry about that, Marinette! It's all to keep your identity safe from Hawkmoth!" The girl giggled and gently ruffled the top of the kwami's head.

"I know, I know. All right, so let's not waste any more time and get to that patrol! Tikki, spots on!"

The ladybug kwami swirled and zipped right into Marinette's earring. Almost immediately after, her superhero mask materialized around her bluebell eyes and her signature outfit was quickly replaced by the noticeable red suit with the circular black dots that scattered across her uniform.

Finally, her yo-yo popped into view and she grabbed it with her open palm. A smile played on Ladybug's lips as she swung open her balcony window and flew through the night like a shooting star.

When she arrived at the Eiffel Tower, Ladybug saw that her battling partner was already there, waiting for her.

The moment she landed on the thick metal railing, the blonde-haired cat turned his head and brightened into a jolly smile.

"You're here!" he said with glee. His emerald eyes glowed in the darkness, and he scooted over to make room for Ladybug to sit down.

Grinning, the bug hero happily plopped down next to Chat Noir and together they watched Paris light up with a rainbow of neon colors.