Somewhere overlooking the streets of modern Paris, an enormous aperture opened with mechanical whirs to reveal a decorative window of curving metal and clear glass. Blue light streamed into an otherwise pitch black chamber from the circular opening, inlayed with crisscrossing beams that formed a symmetrical butterfly. A hole in the very center allowed the brightest stream of light into the lair, and its glow landed squarely before the feet of a tall man in an extravagant violet suit. He wore a silver mask that revealed only his piercing blue eyes and a vicious scowl upon his thin lips.
“Nooroo!” he shouted in a harsh baritone voice.
There was no answer. The man’s eye twitched. He sighed heavily and glanced down at his own chest. A silvery-white brooch in the shape of a slender butterfly held a purple collar in place. He groaned, grabbed the brooch between two black-gloved fingers, and gently removed it from his person.
In a flash of dark light, the man’s costume evaporated, and from the brooch in his palm rose a tiny creature, no taller than ten centimeters, floating in the air before him. It was entirely purple ― mostly a very light shade, with darker violet coloring its irises and a curious spiral adorning its forehead ― and though four butterfly-like wings hung behind its tiny body like a cape, it hovered in the air without a trace of movement. In fact, its large, smooth head was bowed, and its mouth curved down in sadness.
“Nooroo,” said the man in a quiet but sinister voice, “why did you not answer me?”
“I can’t communicate with you while your Miraculous is active,” the tiny creature squeaked in a high-pitched, timid voice. “I didn’t even know you had called. I can only see glimpses of what happens while I power the brooch.”
“Practically useless,” the man sneered. He sighed and held his forehead in a slender hand. “There must be more that you are not telling me. No matter how many times I try or how many villains I influence, Ladybug and Cat Noir consistently outmatch me!” He growled and stomped his foot. “I want their Miraculouses, Nooroo. There must be some way I can take them, some power you have not revealed to me!”
“Ladybug and Cat Noir own the most powerful Miraculouses in the universe,” Nooroo whimpered. “The powers of Creation and Destruction are… difficult to overcome.”
“But I’ve come so close!” The man ran his fingers through his slicked hair. “My villains are always distracted by their own desires. If I could imbue myself with greater powers and take on Ladybug and Cat Noir personally―”
“The Moth Miraculous doesn’t work like that,” Nooroo said, broken-hearted. “It is meant to empower those inspired by superheroes, not turn hurting souls into monsters.”
“You have no right to accuse my methods!” The man smacked Nooroo with the back of his hand, sending the little creature twirling sideways through the air with a whine. “Tell me now, Nooroo! What more can I do?”
“N-Nothing!” Nooroo whimpered. “The holder of the Moth Miraculous is meant to be selfless and share great power among many. Your powers are limited, yes, but the power you give others knows no bounds.”
The man narrowed his eyes. “Limitless power for others. How ironic.” He folded his hands behind his back. “Very well, Nooroo. Tell me something else. What am I missing here? What knowledge do I lack about the Miraculouses that might finally give me the upper hand? What are their weaknesses?”
Nooroo shook his head. “I don’t know what you want, Hawk Moth. Ladybug and Cat Noir hold the most powerful objects in the entire multiverse. They are safest in innocent hands.”
Hawk Moth took a step closer to the purple kwami. “Did you say… multiverse?”
Nooroo’s face took on a paler shade of violet as his irises shrunk. “Uhhh… no?”
In a swift and furious motion, Hawk Moth grasped Nooroo’s tiny body in a tight fist and squeezed mercilessly.
“I know you cannot die,” growled Hawk Moth, “but you can still feel pain.”
Nooroo wheezed and moaned as his eyes began to bulge.
“What is the multiverse?” Hawk Moth shouted.
“Dim-en-sions!” Nooroo choked out. Hawk Moth loosened his grip just enough for the creature to speak. “The universe ― the m-multiverse ― is made of up of infinite dimensions, all harboring diverse forms of life! I’m from one of them! All the kwami are!”
“You’re from another dimension?” asked Hawk Moth, surprised.
“Yes! One of great power.” Tiny tears welled in Nooroo’s eyes as his bottom lip began to quiver. “Thousands of years ago, we were brought to this dimension, to this very world, because it needed us. It needed all of us…”
“How do I access the other dimensions? Show them to me!”
“I c-can’t!” Nooroo wailed. “I don’t have that power! No one does!”
“Hmmm…” Hawk Moth let go of the purple kwami, and it plummeted helplessly to the ground with a doughy thump.
Hawk Moth paid him no mind, stroking his chiseled chin. “No one has that power… yet.”
Below, Nooroo gulped.
With a cold smile, Hawk Moth replaced his brooch. “Thank you, Nooroo. It seems you were useful after all.”
Nooroo yelped as his body melted into swirling color, absorbing into the silvery brooch. A wave of magic covered Hawk Moth’s body, and soon a dark purple suit and tight silver mask adorned his looming figure once again.
“Now, Ladybug and Cat Noir,” he said, turning to face the sprawling cityscape of Paris below his window, “even your powers of Creation and Destruction will stand no match against Hawk Moth and his limitless akumas.” He smiled wickedly and spun his black cane. “I hope you’re ready to face infinity.”
🐞
MIRACULOUS
RIDE OF THE GATEBREAKER
🐞
“Aaaaand… GO!” screamed Pinkie Pie at an absurdly inappropriate volume.
Rainbow Dash took off in a multi-colored streak. Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes and grit her teeth. Beads of sweat on her brow reflected the magic glowing in her horn, brighter and brighter every moment.
Though they tried to keep their eyes on her, Fluttershy and Rarity eventually had to shield their eyes from the searing strobes of magic emanating from Twilight’s charging horn.
“Goodness, how do you manage it, darling?” Rarity asked. She had to raise her voice over the vibrating hum that accompanied the light. “My horn would surely have burst by now!”
“Almost… there…” said Twilight through clenched teeth.
“Wowee zowee!” Pinkie shrieked, beaming at the radiant beams. Her wide eyes sizzled in their sockets. “It’s like the closest up fireworks show ever!”
“RrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaAAAUUGH!” With an herculean roar, Twilight Sparkle tossed her head back and vanished with a thunderclap. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all tossed backward by the blast, landing on their rumps some twenty feet from where Twilight had stood. Now there was nothing but a patch of burnt grass in the shape of four hoofprints.
“Wow! That wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been,” said Pinkie Pie.
Rarity cleared her throat as she fixed her mane. “I still think this is a juvenile idea. But I will admit, Twilight’s magic never ceases to surprise me.”
“Ow,” whispered Fluttershy, rubbing her flank.
Nearly ten miles away, far from the Ponyvillean field where the three mares stood, across the lengths of Ghastly Gorge and approaching Canterlot Mountain, Applejack sat on a prominent hill and munched on a hoofful of trail mix. Her tired green eyes scanned the skies expectantly as she reached into a little sack and scooped out more raisins and peanuts.
“Didn’t take into account how borin’ this part’d be,” she mumbled to herself. “Why do I always gotta be so accomodatin’?”
A brilliant flash of light suddenly burst to her right, and Applejack promptly screamed. Her trail mix flew into the air and splashed on the ground as she swiveled and took on a defensive stance. The iron scowl on her face suddenly dissipated when she realized what she was looking at.
“Twilight?” asked Applejack.
The wings of Twilight’s feathers were singed, her mane stood up at awkward angles, and her horn fired hot sparks into the air without warning. She couldn’t focus her spinning eyes as she stumbled in Applejack’s direction.
“Hey, Snapplecrack,” she slurred blearily. “Did I win?” She fell face-first into the ground and laid there motionless for several silent seconds.
In another flash of much more colorful light, Rainbow Dash swooped over Applejack’s head at full speed, blowing her hat off her head. As Applejack scrambled for it, Rainbow Dash made a tall loopty-loop to slow herself down and landed hard on the peak of the hill.
“Is she here yet?” she asked, panting. “Did I win?”
Applejack plopped her hat between her ears, smirked in Rainbow Dash’s direction, and pointed a hoof at Twilight’s collapsed body.
Rainbow groaned. “Uuuuggghh! I can’t freakin’ beat her!” She slammed her forehooves into the ground and dropped her head despondently. “Gosh darn it.”
“Ye’r still crazy fast, Rainbow,” said Applejack in a nonchalant tone. She shrugged. “But y’er basically racin’ Celestia here. The day you outrace an Alicorn is the day appleseeds sprout wrappin’ paper. It just ain’t gonna happen.”
“Yes it will!” Rainbow yelled, rising into the air on quivering, exhausted wings. “I just have try harder! I will beat Twilight!”
She flew away just as Twilight began to stir.
“Nnnnghh…” Twilight struggled to her hooves, shaking all over. “What happened?”
“Looks like ya passed out, Princess,” said Applejack. “But you did, in fact, win the race.”
Twilight beamed. “Yes!” She lifted one leg for a hoof-pump, but the supported leg immediately gave out and she toppled over again. “Ouch.”
“Hyuh hyuh hyuh!” Applejack laughed. “RD’s pretty ticked off. Ya might wanna go easy on ‘er next time.”
“Ohh… but it’s the only thing I can win against her!” Twilight said, pouting. She smiled a second later. “I’m sure she’s fine. I’ll talk to her.”
“I gotta say, Twilight,” Applejack began, helping her friend to her hooves, “sometimes it really seems like yer magic knows no bounds. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could raise the Sun all on yer own.”
Twilight snorted. “Not yet, Applejack. Maybe not ever.”
“I mean it! Now, I ain’t one to shower ya in compliments, so I’ll shut up soon enough. But really, Twi… I’m just glad to know somepony so dang powerful. Makes me feel safe.”
Giggling, Twilight shook her head. “You’re a stronger pony than I’ll ever be, Applejack. But that means a lot. Thank you.” She nuzzled her dear friend. “I wouldn’t be anything without you and the girls.”
A small, sad smile twitched on Applejack’s mouth. “Yeah. Ahem. Well, come on, then.” She helped Twilight limp to a nearby cart. “I figured somethin’ like this might happen, so I brought along a little help to carry ya home.”
“Oh, Applejack… that’s really nice of you,” Twilight said, climbing into the cart. “I’ll get out and trot as soon as I can. Promise.”
“Knowin’ you, Princess,” Applejack said with a wink, “you’ll fall asleep in three minutes and be zonked out the whole way to Ponyville.”
“Will not!” Twilight argued. “And stop calling me Princess!”
Applejack laughed again, and started the two of them down the hill toward their beloved home.