"Ladybug, the Target has been neutralized. The Akuma is now heading west from Pont des Arts bridge," Tikki's voice buzzed on her earpiece.

"I'm on my way. Tikki, Spots On!" the masked heroine uttered as she summoned her magical yo-yo and used it to propel herself in the air.

The Akuma was calling himself as Glaciator, and according to her Kwami, he was a gigantic colorful snowman who turns people into ice creams. She didn't know the story behind the ice cream, but so far, Glaciator has affected the entire quay of François Mitterrand and was planning to march towards the Louvre.

"Either our Target is an ice cream vendor or someone who has been denied for some ice cream," she muttered bitterly "Any ideas on his weaknesses?"

"Based on the reports that I've gathered, he shoots anyone but couples."

She cocked a brow "Oh wow, I didn't expect that. At least he wasn't as weird as Mr. Pigeon. How about the casualties?"

"We have eleven – okay, that's twelve now – civilians who are currently transformed into ice cream statues."

"Shit."

"And they're starting to melt," Tikki informed her in a rueful tone "Hurry up, Ladybug. These people can still be saved."

Of course, she thought as she gripped her weapon tightly at the sight of the giant Akuma "I see him!"

The heroine flung her yo-yo hastily around Glaciator's arm, but the Akuma immediately caught the weapon before she could yank it back. She was glad that her ladybug-themed suit absorbed the impact when she crashed into the brick wall, and with its flexible fabric and lightweight materials, it helped her to roll and dodge the incoming ice cream canons that shoot out from Glaciator's arms.

"Ladybug, are you alright?"

"I'm not, Tikki," she rasped, exhaustion already evident on her face "I need some - wait a minute."

She realized that Glaciator stopped pursuing her.

So she went out from her hiding place and prepared herself to pounce the Akuma from its behind when all of a sudden, it shrieked: "Adrien! Let me help you find your soulmate!"

Please don't tell me that the Adrien he was chasing was not the Adrien I know, she groaned inwardly, especially when she spotted a familiar mop of blond hair from afar.

Without any second thoughts, Ladybug threw her yo-yo just above Glaciator's head. Using her momentum, she dived towards the running boy and scooped him by the arm.

"La – Ladybug?!"

"Hang on tight, civilian," she uttered without looking at his bewildered face. "You're safe now."

"Tha – thanks."

"Do you have any idea why the Akuma is targeting you?" she asked with an underlying words of 'what the fuck did you do?'

"Erm, you see...watch out!" he screamed when Glaciator roared angrily and spewed several balls of ice cream on their way.

The heroine, however, remained unfazed and evaded them with composure "What did you just say?"

If she was looking at his way, she might've seen his blush from embarrassment "Erm, I didn't treat his magical ice cream seriously?"

"What's with his ice cream anyway?" she asked again, still swinging themselves to escape from Glaciator's attack "Is it something that can bring you happiness?"

"Well, he said that his ice cream will give me clues about my one true love."

Ladybug made a non-committal hum when another ice cream ball splattered on their left "Is that so? No wonder you didn't take him seriously."

"André's a good man. He...he wants to cheer me up and I am nothing but an ass for allowing myself to believe on something impossible," the blond said despondently then remembered "Is André okay? We saw how the black butterfly clung to André's ice cream scoop and how it shapeshifted into a giant snowman."

"We?"

"Uhm, I'm with my friends," was his sheepish answer "Actually, it was a double date and I played as the chaperone."

"Why? Can't you find a date of your own?" it wasn't her intention to sneer but she slipped.

Good thing Adrien, still as dense as a rock, didn't find her tone offensive "The person that I want to date with was nowhere to be found, so...yeah."

"I see," she murmured, trying to null the happiness that swelled on her chest "By the way, André's fine. We were able to extract him from Glaciator's control. He's stable now."

"Phew, that's great!" he sighed with relief "Erm, Ladybug?"

"Yes?"

"Is it true that the Akumas absorb their summoner's life to fuel their powers?"

"If no one cut the strings then yes," the heroine replied as they landed on a secured rooftop "Otherwise, it's just a moppet."

"So Glaciator is nothing but a haunted ice cream scoop, huh?"

"If you put it that way," she answered then settled him to the ground "I highly suggest if you go inside, look for covers and don't you ever dare go out before Glaciator has been defeated, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

If she only looked at his way, she might've noticed his fake smile.

Before she could leave the premise, Adrien called her attention "Ladybug?"

"Yes?"

"You're going to defeat Glaciator, right?" he asked, "That you'll save those people who got turned into ice creams?"

Ladybug looked at the area where she believed the Akuma rampage was going on, and with a clenched fist she answered: "You have my word, civilian."

Adrien genuinely smiled, clutching his softened left leg that was starting to thaw "I trust you with your life, Ladybug."

The heroine turned her back as she mustered all of her strength not to cry.

"Just wait for me, civilian," she declared with a fury burning on her bluebell hues, I will save you, Adrien.