Miraculous World: Paris - Tales of Shadybug and Claw Noir is a Miraculous Ladybug special, set within the third episode of Season 5, released on October 21st, 2023.
Betterfly, a good version of Monarch from another universe, seeks the help of Ladybug and Cat Noir to help defeat his villains, Shadybug and Claw Noir.
Tropes:
- Alternate Universe:
- The theme of the special. Betterfly comes from a universe where an entity called "The Supreme" possesses all the Miraculous and has used it to dominate the world, with the existence of the Miraculous being unknown to everyone except the ones the Supreme entrusts them with. He formed a resistance, alongside the likes of Nino and Alya, and stole the Butterfly from the Supreme. Shadybug and Claw Noir use their powers in the pursuit of evil and domination, and hate one another, while Betterfly wants to use his abilities to share power, and has the help of allies to do this. Betterfly even sings his own rendition of the theme song.
- In addition to Ladybug and Shadybug, as well as Cat Noir and Claw Noir, and Monarch and Betterfly; we also see Marinette as Ubiquity in a universe where Alya and Zoé became the heroes, Ladybiquity when in the 2D and Comic universes, and Ubiquity Noire when in the Swapped Roles universe.
- Ambiguously Human: Alternate Max appears at the beginning of the episode as a computerised avatar on a screen (that Shadybug destroys in the next scene). It is not clear if the screen was simply a transmission device or if this version of Max was an artificial intelligence (making him a merged counterpart of both Markov and Max).
- Art Shift: One of the universes Ladybug chases Monarch to is depicted in 2D Limited Animation, and another as static comic book panels.
- Bad Boss: Shadybug brings up how the Supreme never mentioned that a consequence of using their powers multiple times would involve their lifeforces being drained.
- Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Despite their Tainted Veins, Alternate Marinette and Adrien are still as attractive than their main timeline counterparts.
- Big Good: Alternative Gabriel/Betterfly fulfills this role in the special. He crosses the multiverse to seek help from Ladybug and Cat Noir to fight Shadybug and Claw Noir, who comes to their world to steal the Butterfly Miraculous from him, and then tries to reform his villains to the side of good. Likewise, he encourages Ladybug and Cat Noir when they feel down after losing all the other Miraculouses to his bad counterpart.
- Blinded by the Light: Celesticat radiates bright white light that temporarily blinds Shadybug and Claw Noir, allowing him to grab Ladybug and Betterfly before the villains realize what's happened. Shadybug quickly conjures a pair of sunglasses to counter it, allowing her to snag Celesticat's tail before he flies out of range.
- Body Horror: Tame, but overuse of their Miraculouses has given Shadybug and Claw Noir visible tainted blue/purple veins up to their faces, displaying the Cast from Lifespan consequence.
- …But He Sounds Handsome: Claw Noir likes to brag about Adrien, going by Shadybug's comments.
- By the Power of Grayskull!: Shadybug, Claw Noir, and Betterfly have their own variants of the transformation phrase.
- Shadybug: "Blots on/off!"
- Claw Noir: "Daggers out/in!"
- Betterfly: "Light wings rise/fall!"
- Breaking Old Trends:
- Cat Noir and Ladybug are finally "akumatized" in the main timeline...except that's coming from an alternative and good version of Gabriel called Betterfly, who enhances their goodness by turning them in Celesticat and Ladybiquity, respectively, and only for a few minutes.
- Ladybug has the chance to unify with the Butterfly miraculous for the first time, becoming Ladyfly. Again, this is an alternative version of said Miraculous.
- Call-Back:
- The limited control range of the Butterfly Miraculous introduced in "Startrain" becomes important here, as both Monarch and Betterfly can cancel out the other's akuma/kamikotizations as long as they're in range of the akuma/kamiko, and in turn can't do so if the akuma/kamiko is hidden elsewhere.
- Adrien comments to Plagg about how dangerous his Miraculous can be if he isn't more cautious. As seen in Destruction, Monarch let himself be hit by Cat Noir's Cataclysm, so he could escape from Ladybug's trap.
- Cat Noir's night vision is used again, after four seasons’ absence.
- By the ending, Cat Noir explains to Claw Noir that he can change his uniform if he wills it, referencing Adrien's brief stint as Cat Walker in season four.
- Call-Forward:
- This is technically the first time Monarch uses Voyage to send his Megakuma to his victim at a faster rate and later uses the Multitude-Invisibility-Venom combo in an attempt to ambush the heroes.
- The alternate Tikki and Plagg are forced to reveal their true forms when Evil Marinette tries to make her wish, which Gabriel does with the prime versions in the season five finale.
- One of the universes Monarch invades is protected by Alya and Zoé using the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses as Scarabella and Kitty Noire, who in this universe will fill the role about seven episodes from when this is set.
- Shadybug uses a baker's peel as a weapon against Betterfly. Marinette as Bug Noire does the same in the season five finale.
- Wishing a better and fairer world to all, Betterfly believes that power isn't meant to be focused in one person, but shared. By the end of season five, Marinette decides to not keep guarding all the kwami and make Team Miraculous into permanent Miraculous holders.
- Car Fu: Shadybug at one point uses Lucky Charm to conjure a car in midair before dropkicking it at Betterfly and Ladybug to pin them to a wall.
- Cast from Lifespan: Shadybug and Claw Noir are able to use their full powers despite not being old enough because they're using them for evil, but as a consequence doing so drains their lifeforce.
- Close-Call Haircut: A variation in that Cat Noir narrowly dodges being Cataclysmed in the back of the head by Claw Noir, but it does result in one of his false cat ears being knocked off and disintegrated.
- Daddy Issues: Ironically, Evil Adrien's relationship with his own father is as bad, or worse even than in the Prime Universe, in spite of, or because Gabriel/Betterfly is the Big Good of the AU. At minimum, Claw Noir is much more resentful towards his father, and vocal about it, than Adrien in our universe. Instead of overprotecting his son, like in our verse, Betterfly seems to have got caught into his mission, leaving Evil Adrien dealing alone (badly) with his grief.
- Decadent Court: Based on Betterfly's descriptions, the Supreme grants Miraculous powers to a select few who can maintain his grip on the world. And given that Good Gabriel was a famous fashion designer who was part of his court, it's heavily implied that the Supreme grants powers to the upper class. It's unclear why he chose two teenagers to wield such powers given that context, though perhaps Gabriel's betrayal makes him wary of trusting those with loftier goals.
- Deliberate Injury Gambit:
- Claw Noir deliberately forces Cat Noir to hit him in the chest with Cataclysm, being crazy enough not to care about the potential damage so long as it depowers his foe. This leaves a cracked spot on his chest that is eventually cured when Shadybug uses her World-Healing Wave.
- As part of their gambit against Monarch, Betterfly kamikotizes Alya into Ubiquity as an "ally" for Ladybug and Cat Noir, then allows Ladybug to unify with the Butterfly Miraculous to kamikotize him, giving him the power to provide a shield for the heroes that will protect them against other Miraculous powers. He then hides his kamikotized object in his own universe so Monarch won't detect it. When Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Ubiquity head into battle, Monarch cancels the latter's transformation, thinking he's a step ahead, unable to detect his double's presence until it's too late.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Gabriel sings a variation of the Miraculous theme song in the opening.In the daytime, I'm Gabriel
Just a normal man, with a normal life
But I have a secret I must keep at any cost
Or all hope will be lost.
Miraculous!
Fear is a cage!
Hear the message, answer the call!
Miraculous!
Yes, you can change!
The power of love will free us all!
Miraculous!" - Empathic Environment: As Marinette and Adrien manage to convince their evil counterparts to rethink their life choices, the morning sun begins to rise and shine light onto them.
- Entertainingly Wrong: When Monarch tries to akumatise Shadybug and Claw Noir, they assume that Betterfly sent a Kamiko to transform them. Entirely plausible, but also entirely incorrect.
- Evil Hero: In Betterfly's world, all of the Miraculous had fallen in the possession of The Supreme, an Evil Overlord who had conquered the world and turned it into a Crapsack World. He then gives these miraculous to those who have sworn loyalty to him, Betterfly being the Token Good Teammate who eventually rebelled.
- Extremely Short Timespan: The majority of the special takes place in one long night and ends at sunrise.
- Fighting Across Time and Space: Ladybug has Betterfly kamikotize her when they realize Monarch is invading other universes, spreading herself across the multiverse to battle him in every reality so he'll give up.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: When Alya uses Marinette's computer, two files on her desktop are titled "English_Essay_Final" and "English_Essay_Final_Final".
- Giving Them the Strip: Shadybug manages to lasso Celesticat's belt tail as he's flying off with Ladybug and Betterfly, so Ladybug kicks the belt off to drop her.
- Glamour: Downplayed. Shadybug and Claw Noir don't resort to magic to hide their scarred face, but go for the mundane makeup solution. Although...
- Glamour Failure: Being simple makeup, it goes away much more easily than an enchantement. Shadybug is still stunned to see that her universe's Adrien, despite being a famous model, has to resort to the same basic trick than her to stay presentable, and is as mildly disfigured as herself.
- Good Colors, Evil Colors: Shadybug and Claw Noir's costumes are darker compared to the heroes', whereas Betterfly is much lighter purple compared to Hawkmoth.
- Good Counterpart:
- Alternative Gabriel/Betterfly is this towards Prime Gabriel/Monarch. His desire to give people hope is spawned by the death of his wife, he has a healthy relationship with Nooroo, and uses his powers to turn willing subjects into powerful versions of themselves who are still on the side of good. Also, his versions of Monarch's akuma are known as "kamiko".
- Celesticat is basically a heroic, green-eyed Cat Blanc with angel-like wings.
- Good Costume Switch:
- Betterfly, in a way, since he's a good version of Monarch. His suit is very reminiscent of Prime Gabriel's old Hawk Moth suit, but with lighter colors, a cape and a mask instead a full cowl.
- Shadybug's costume switches to a close copy of Ladybug's when she uses her World-Healing Wave at Marinette's behest. Claw Noir, having also turned good, wills away the more villainous aspects of his costume while retaining the jacket after Cat Noir explains that he can do so as well.
- Good Powers, Bad People: Simultaneously played straight and averted with the Butterfly Miraculous being used on both sides of the spectrum. Shadybug and Claw Noir endlessly abuse their powers, unknowingly costing them their life energy.
- Greater-Scope Villain: In Betterfly's universe, someone only known as "the Supreme" rules Betterfly's world and doles out Miraculous to those he chooses to enforce his rule. We never get to see who this is and only hear what is presumably their voice once. Whoever they are they're powerful enough to put binding spells on kwamis to keep them from ever speaking and prevent Tikki and Plagg from becoming Gimmi.
- Guardian Angel: The design concept around Celesticat and the actual name of Betterfly's kamikotized form. The former is winged and glowing brilliantly to help his allies escape their enemies, while the latter infuses their power in allies to neutralize any assailant that connects a hit.
- Hope Bringer: As Betterfly, the heroic version of Gabriel embodies all the ideals of hope and freedom he stands for to the heart. He only uses his powers to kamikotize willing subjects who seek to help others, instead of preying on those with negative emotions and manipulating them into becoming villains.
- I Can't Believe I'm Saying This: When Ladybug faces Shadybug and Claw Noir to protect Betterfly, she has this to say of the unlikely scenario:"I never thought I'd ever say this, but let go of the Butterfly Man!"
- I Have Your Wife: The evil counterparts threatened Nino's life in order to force Ubiquity to let them cross into the new world.
- I Just Want to Be You: After reading Good Marinette's diary, Shadybug is jealous of her alternate self and hits on the idea of using a wish to swap their lives. She's stopped from doing so by a spell placed on her Tikki and Plagg that blocks their fusion into Gimmi.
- Immediate Sequel: The special takes place almost immediately after Monarch is hit with Cataclysm in "Destruction", not counting the final scene of that episode. Notably, this results in the events of "Strikeback", "Evolution", "Destruction" and the special all happening within a single day, which explains why Marinette and Alya are so tired the next morning.
- In Spite of a Nail: Betterfly's world has followed a vastly different track, yet the lives of the main characters have followed remarkably similar paths. The opening implies Alternate Gabriel's wife died from the use of the Peacock Miraculous, just as Emilie is kept in stasis in the main reality for the same reason. The cast all still live in Paris and are at least familiar with each other. Alya is still an ally of the good Miraculous holder(s). Chloé is apparently no different than she is in the main reality, with her bullying being one of the reasons Shadybug turned out the way she did. Finally, Evil Marinette and Adrien were given their powers by the Supreme, even though Gabriel explains that the Supreme usually gives such powers to those in his inner circle.
- Instant Chucks: Claw Noir's staff is able to bifurcate and generate bladed ends connected by a cord, turning it into a pair of nunchucks.
- Irony:
- Shadybug and Claw Noir discover each other's identities when Evil Marinette steals Evil Adrien's Miraculous to wish herself a better life. It turns out that Adrien has a major crush on Marinette, who in turn has never met him before (though Adrien is still famous, so she does recognize him), as he does not go to their school and was always too nervous to talk to her. In turn, Marinette has few friends (if any), making her very distrustful. This is further highlighted by their venomous barbs towards one another, with her calling him 'Fleabag' and him calling her 'Cockroach', not out of endearment but spite for one another.
- In a further twist of irony, Alternate Gabriel was spurred into defecting after Emilie's death, while Adrien didn't take it well at all, blaming him for becoming distant; in the main universe, Adrien moved on while Gabriel tried to find ways of bringing her back to life. Adding even more irony, Gabriel and Adrien's relationship is strained in both universes.
- At the end of the episode, Marinette thanks Alternate Gabriel for bringing her back hope. The cause for her despairing at the beginning of the episode is none other than Main Universe Gabriel.
- The only person who could help Ladybug defeat Monarch was a good version of the same man.
- Marinette is finally akumatized, or, rather, kamikotized, but only when it is good.
- It Began with a Twist of Fate: Marinette and Alya discuss this at the end of the episode: if Alya had not sat down next to Marinette at the beginning of the year, she would not have given her the courage to stand up against Chloé and Marinette might have ended up a different person. Given that Evil Marinette is certainly not friends with Alternate Alya and blames Chloé for making her what she is, the implication is that she is one possible way Marinette's life could have turned into without Alya's fateful choice of seat.
- Killer Yoyo: Shadybug's yoyo has retractable blades.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Monarch gets the idea to invade other universes as an alternative source of the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses. However, when Ladybug becomes Ubiquity and repels him in every universe he invades, he ditches that plan.
- Light Is Good: In contrast to Hawk Moth akumatizing Cat Noir into Cat Blanc, an evil psychotic villain dressed in pure white, here Betterfly uses his kamiko to transform Cat Noir into Celesticat, an angelic pure white hero whose main purpose is to fly the heroes away from danger.
- Loophole Abuse: The victory plan is a multistep, complex process that takes advantage the nature of the miraculous, and how they function in and across parallel universes.
- Minimalist Cast: Aside from Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Hawkmoth, alongside their counterparts, only.Alya and Marinette's parents show up. Nino and Max get cameos.
- Mirror Universe: Betterfly's universe is a dark mirror of this one, where he is the hero fighting the villainous Shadybug and Claw Noir.
- Motive Rant: Shadybug gives a blistering one to her heroic counterpart, jealously raving about how her life vastly differs from Marinette's, and how all she's ever experienced is heartbreak.Shadybug: You think it'd be any different than how it is now?! Well, guess what? I don't have your nice little life! In the world I come from, there are no awesome girlfriends to inspire me every day, no amazing BFF, a calm and gentle mom, or a boyfriend who doesn't think I'm a total loser!
Ladybug: You read my secret diary...(holds up her Lucky Charm mirror to Shadybug) So you know that we're the same, you and I.
Shadybug: (on the verge of tears) Are you kidding?! I'm the opposite of you! All I've gotten is pain and suffering from that horrible Chloé Bourgeois, who made me suffer throughout my entire life! Until the Supreme entrusted me with a Miraculous! Now, no one will hurt me anymore! WE HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON! - My Significance Sense Is Tingling: Ubiquity can sense that Monarch is creating his own portals when he starts opening them after hitting on the idea of giving himself that power, allowing Ladybug to stop him before he can steal any other universe's Ladybug and Cat Miraculous set.
- No-Sell: Monarch uses the power of the Ox to block Shadybug and Claw Noir's powers, convincing them to hear him out.
- Not Brainwashed: Betterfly offers kamikotization to willing subjects, so the heroes he creates retain their sense of self and remember what they did while kamikotized. This is in contrast to Monarch, who amplifies negative emotions to get his victims to accept, and who don't remember the experience after they're defeated (with a few exceptions).
- "Not So Different" Remark: Near the third act, Ladybug gets a mirror from her Lucky Charm, inspiring her to try to reach out to Shadybug by appealing to their similarities to argue she still has a chance to turn her life around for the better. Shadybug denies this at first, but eventually relents with Ladybug's encouragement.
- The Omnipresent: Tikki reveals that not are there nigh-infinite parallel universes, but she exists in all of them simultaneously.
- Pajama-Clad Hero: Marinette and Alya spend the whole special in their pajamas, which makes sense since they're having a sleepover when Betterfly crosses over.
- Pet the Dog:
- Shadybug threatens Nino to force Ubiquity to open the portal, but once that's accomplished she tosses him back without harming him, even though she's depriving herself of potential leverage.
- When Alternate Marinette tries and fails to make the wish, she resigns herself to her fate and frees Alternate Adrien. Now that they've learned each other identities, Claw Noir tries to display some sympathy for his partner. She rebuffs him, but at least he tried.
- An annoyed Alternate Marinette starts snapping at Sabine, which could have got Marinette in trouble, but after a look from Alternate Adrien she quickly changes her tone and apologizes.
- Power Limiter: It’s revealed that every Miraculous has a "failsafe" that prevents any younger bearers from abusing its power at cost of their lifespans, since said power is too much for a young body to handle it. Using it for evil bypasses the failsafe.
- Power Makes Your Hair Grow: Alya's transformation into Ubiquity doubles the length of her hair. Similarly, Ladybug being granted the same power causes her twintails to grow almost to her knees, and her "tail" as Ubiquity Noire reaches the floor.
- Properly Paranoid: The Supreme placed a binding spell on his universe's version of Tikki and Plagg that not only seals their ability to speak, thus preventing them from sharing knowledge of the Miraculous without his consent, but even stops them from granting a wish should their holders somehow learn of their ability to do so.
- Rage Against the Reflection: Ladybug's Lucky Charm gives her a hand mirror she directs towards Shadybug to emphasize their deep-down similarities. Shadybug looks at her own reflection for a few seconds before furiously shattering it, denying any shared traits, personality- or life-wise.
- Refusal of the Call: When fighting Shadybug and Claw Noir, Betterfly sends a kamiko to Cat Noir, who understably rejects it at first, but accepts it when Betterfly reassures him he isn't a villain. Also earlier, a literal example when main Gabriel tries to call Nathalie but only gets a voicemail from her after their fallout in "Evolution".
- Scenery Gorn: The first shot of the opening is a drawing of Paris on fire, to emphasize Alternate Gabriel's Crapsack World.
- The Reveal:
- Akumas when created for heroic intentions, are called Kamikos and are attracted by positve emotions.
- There's billions of Alternate universes with their Miraculous holders.
- If a minor uses his/her Miraculous for evil, it will override the 5 minute countdown, but it also will drain their life force and make black veins grow on the user.
- Scenery Gorn: The first shot of the opening is a drawing of Paris on fire, to emphasize Alternate Gabriel's Crapsack World.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Monarch realizes he's been outplayed, he teleports back to his lair before anyone comes after him.
- Series Continuity Error: Adrien demonstrates full knowledge of the consequences of making a wish, despite Ladybug having to explain that to him in "Passion", an episode that takes place weeks later.
- Something Only They Would Say: Adrien is able to figure out that Claw Noir is another version of himself based on his description of his home life, though he had already suspected as much even though Plagg wouldn't/couldn't confirm it.
- Spanner in the Works: Thanks to Alya secretly recording Monarch's meeting with Shadybug and Claw Noir along with explaining his Evil Plan, Ladybug comes up with a counter-plan using Betterfly as protection against the stolen Miraculous powers.
- Stalker with a Crush: Evil Adrien is infatuated with his version of Marinette, having the Gorilla stop by her bakery so he can admire her through the window, but Evil Marinette has never actually met him before learning his Secret Identity.
- Tainted Veins: Evil Marinette and Adrien have purple veins running up their necks from overuse of their powers.
- Teeth Clenched Team Work: Shadybug and Claw Noir work as a duet, but don't use this when fighting. Moreso, they can't stand each other, exchanging vitriolic banters constantly, and are (rightfully so) distrustful of one another.
- Unskilled, but Strong: Claw Noir has full mastery of the power of Destruction, but Cat Noir is clearly the better fighter of the pair, suggesting Evil Adrien doesn't have the same training as his counterpart. By contrast, Shadybug can fight as well as Ladybug and has mastery of her powers, so Ladybug is on the back foot against her whenever they fight.
- Villain Team-Up: Monarch convinces Shadybug and Claw Noir to work with him to help take down their good counterparts.
- Weapon-Based Characterization: Shadybug and Claw Noir both have retractable blades in their weapons. Shadybug holds her yoyo loose on its string like it's a flail, with a neutral stance, contrasting Ladybug holding hers in her hand with her other arm up in a defensive posture. Contrasting Cat Noir's staff fighting, Claw Noir likes to turn his staff into nunchucks with the claw-shaped blades extended, emulating a cat viciously swiping with its claws.
- With Friends Like These...: Unlike their more heroic counterparts, Shadybug and Claw Noir hate each other. Their barbs are more mean-spirited, they fight independently and they aren't above trying to steal each other's miraculous in a moment of weakness. This might have been deliberate, as Betterfly claims that The Supreme had outlawed "mutual aid".
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Marinette and Adrien separately convince their counterparts that they can use their powers for good and don't have to be miserable in their personal lives.
- You Never Asked: Tikki has multiversal awareness and knew about the evil duo, but never thought it would matter because there are infinite universes and the odds of one affecting another are astronomical.
- You Wouldn't Shoot Me: When Cat Noir threatens to cataclysm Claw Noir, Claw Noir grabs his arm and takes the hit, knowing his counterpart is too heroic to actually do the deed (as well as establishing how Ax-Crazy he is).
