#nino and alya are loyal

[purplecatghostposts]

Miraculous Ladybug characters and what character in Mario Kart 8 I think they choose as well as if they’re good at the game, based on the vibes I get from them!

Marinette: Used to play Peach but now is purely loyal to Toadette and Toadette ONLY! Canonically great at video games, so Mario Kart is naturally included.

Adrien: CAT PEACH. If anyone else chooses Cat Peach, he immediately gives them a DEVASTATED look and they swap immediately. Very good at the game, he has three stars on every cup!

Alya: Daisy. She will FIGHT anyone else trying to pick Daisy. Nobody is taking Daisy from her. She’s pretty decent at the game but is mostly just here to have fun and maybe kick some ass.

Nino: Strikes me as either a Yoshi guy or Shy Guy guy, though he’s chill if other people wanna pick them. Also decent but has a grudge against certain NPC opponents.

Chloé: Pink. Gold. Peach. Threatens to sue if anyone else takes her. She’s actually pretty good at the game and tends to be VERY agro. No mercy, she needs to WIN.

Kagami: Has swapped between a lot of different people but settled on Link. Incredibly intense in-game. She’s willing to battle to the death.

Félix: Isabelle from Animal Crossing. Do not let it fool you. He wants to WIN and he will red shell you at the worst time to do it.

Luka: Claims he’ll ‘Choose anybody’ but he’ll go for Rosalina if given the choice. He’s just trying to have fun and is 90% of the reason why controllers are not thrown at the TV. Juleka claims he’s “Going easy” on everyone so less feelings will be hurt. (She’s right, he loses on purpose a lot.)

Juleka: Dry Bones or Dry Bowser, she thinks they’re both cool. Doesn’t usually get top 5 if everyone is playing but consistently gets 6-7th! Hitting people with red and blue shells is kinda cathartic for her.

Rose: Sometimes picks one of the baby versions of the characters, but other times chooses one of Bowser’s kids, like Wendy or Roy. The former is for when she’s playing to have fun, the latter is for when she’s gunning for top 3.

Zoé: Pretended to be bad at the game until she realized she didn’t need to spare anyone’s feelings. Very good at the game, knows a lot of the techniques to give herself mini boosts. She LOVES Boswer Jr., especially after becoming Kitty Noire.

Sabrina: Genuinely one of the best players… When she’s not playing with Chloé. Otherwise she’s always letting her win, aiding her the best she can, and pretty much always gets whatever rank is directly behind hers. Claims her favorite character is Baby Peach (it’s actually King Boo).

Kim: DONKEY KONG. Also occasionally Wario. He’s actually kinda terrible at the game but he tends to spams items and makes that everyone else’s problem.

Max: Chooses one of the Inkling Kids (he strikes me as someone who also probably loves Splatoon). He’s good at the game but with how many other people are also good at the game, sometimes he gets overshined. He’s better at fighting games.

Alix: Waluigi 100%. She thinks he’s hilarious and while she doesn’t actually care, she WILL bring up ‘Waluigi should’ve been in Smash Ultimate’ At some point, because she thinks it’s funny. Not great at the game, is here purely to spam items and fuck over as many people as possible.

Myléne: Terrible at the game but plays to have fun! Likes to play Boswer because Ivan has cosplayed as him before.

Ivan: Also terrible at the game but likes losing alongside Myléne. Likes to play as Luigi, though occasionally chooses Dry Boswer if no one else has.

Nathaniel: Rarely plays but will choose Rosalina or Lemmy if he does. Likes to play against other casual people but usually dips if too many competitive people are playing at once.

Marc: Surprisingly really good though isn’t always good about asking if he can have a turn or not. Loves to pick the animal crossing villagers if they haven’t been chosen.

Lila: Claims she’s won a championship before. Is actually terrible at the game with the worst luck and very rarely plays. The first time she was gonna play with the class, she selected Cat Peach. Everyone stared at her as Adrien gave her the most devastated look. She panicked and faked an injury to stop playing altogether.

[breadnauppercrust]

some designs i came up with for the girls in miraculous. the idea was 'what if they could have multiple outfits like sailor moon, as told by ginger, or totally spies?' and 'what if their clothes reflected their story arc?' however, i kind of gave up on them because i no longer have time to work on it as much as i would like to, so below this are copy+paste from my wip instagram account. lowkey its fanfiction-y lol

Alya:

Alya redesigns! tbh don’t know if they’re cohesive but 🤷‍♀️

S1: dresses for comfort & is geeky - think DrWho/Marvel/Tumblr. Obsessed w superheroes & has dedicated blog for each one, & that includes LB. Beginning of her & Maris friendship, starts to dates nino halfway s1.

S2: Mari influences her way of dress, still geeky but experimenting w clothes. Ladyblog becomes popular, interested in finding out her secret ID. Is also investigating akumas, HM, The Who/what/where/whys. Lowkey figures out who ladybug is but doesn’t say anything. Has been given fox miraculous at least a couple times.

S3: notices changes in Maris behavior & confronts her. Becomes fox miraculous holder full time, helps LB figure out who HM is & shares all the info she’s found. CN lowkey pushed to the side, causing friction, bc wrapped up w finding out who HM is ig. Constantly wears a Fanny pack now for trixx. Goes w comfortable but stylish clothes (ig lol idk) also at this point is BFF w Mari

Chloe:

S1: wears preppy designer brands to impress mom, despite living in diff countries. Basic mean girl, her only friends being Sabrina and Adrien - whose a childhood friend & lowkey helped him attend school. Both know how it feels to “lose” a parent & Adrien has seen a softer side of her. Probably has a crush on him ig. Maris bully, jealous of her talents at sewing & making friends easily, & prob her knit tight family.

S2: still preppy but w 60/70s inspo. Given bee miraculous a couple times, has resisted akumas - info she uses to help others later. Helping ppl & being somewhat nice makes her feel good & likes the appreciation from others+LB. Maybe Mom moves back to Paris w half sister, Zoe - might be significantly younger than Chloe idk. Didn’t like her at first but warms up to her as season goes on. Sees lil sister copying her & their mom, has an epiphany ig. Connects dots on akumas & feelings & tries to be better.

Should Zoe exist tho??? idk

S3: preppy but more casual. She’s nicer but still sarcastic, has made a few new friends, treating Sabrina better. Still trying to get moms approval tho & follows her around, even to fashion things w the Agreste. Notices Gabriel is acting strange, more distant towards Adrien, doesn’t notice what he’s doing or where he’s going. pt queen bee ig, probably given towards the very end of the season tbh by Adrien/CN after being ignored by LB bc of RR involvement w finding out HM id. AND noticing Chloe change significantly in the past several months (?) does Adrien reveal to her IDK he is still loyal to LB but eH

Mari:

1st Mari is shy, her outfits are safe & she kind of disappears in a crowd. She just became 🐞 & isn’t 💯 with her role yet. She’s designed and made her own clothes but doesn’t wear them outside of the house bc Chloe, oof

2nd she’s now comfortable being 🐞 & that boosts her confidence as Mari, she’s wearing more bold colors & outfits that she may or may not have designed herself 👀

3rd 🐞 is now the guardian of the miraculous box, has bigger responsibilities & problems to deal with. Being 🐞 has creeped into her daily life. Doesn’t have time to design/make clothes so wears w/e, but tries to appear happy.

Kagami:

i like the idea of kagami being prim and proper looking all preppy at the beginning, but after making friends she starts to rebel by modifying her school clothes w accessories but eventually wears w/e she wants w a punkish vibe. lowkey worried about falling into a trope so idk

[greentrickster]

While Shady and Claw found out Hesperia's backstory pretty soon after joining the resistance, Chloe doesn't end up hearing about it and the Butterfly Miraculous until she's been with them for about three months. Her instant response?

"Yeah, sounds fake."

Which is a take absolutely no one was expecting, and Alya in particular takes exception to. "I beg your pardon, why, exactly, would Hesperia lie about that? His wife's death is public knowledge!"

"No, I believe that bit," Chloe waves a hand dismissively from where she's perched on a table she's not supposed to be sitting on (and which Claw is also lounging on), "But the rest doesn't make sense - if he could make a kamiko to heal sterility, why not make one that could just fix the Peacock?"

"Oh, he's actually told us that one!" Nino chimes in, "It's because Miraculous are really powerful already and it takes a lot of magic to effect them! So in order to make a kamiko strong enough, he'd have to kamikoize as Miraculous holder with a Miraculous at least on par with the Peacock or stronger!"

Chloe, fully filled in on the Miraculous power scale by now, "And the Miraculous that would qualify for that are...?"

Nino, listing off on his fingers, "Well the Butterfly's on the same level as the Peacock, but he can't Kamikoize himself, so that would leave the Turtle, the Fox, the Bee, the Ladybug, or the- ...Black Cat..."

Slowly Nino, Alya, Shady, and Claw's eyes all drift to where Hesperia is standing, while Chloe nods in satisfaction. "See? It's ridiculous! If he was telling the truth, he'd have asked one of us to help by now, and Shadybug and Claw Noir may be babies about kamikos, but I'm not!"

Claw, meanwhile, sits up, a slight threat to his movements. "Got something you wanna share with the class, Butterfly man?"

Hesperia, for his part, is looking shocked and has one hand to his forehead. "You're right, that's- why didn't I think of that sooner?"

"Because you've been busy reorganizing our plans to include the noobs and also training the noobs," Alya, ever-loyal second-in-command that she is, steps in, "Also, when was the last time you slept?"

"When do you sleep?" Nino adds, "Just, like, in general? You're doing this most nights and you have a day job."

Unfortunately for Hesperia, it genuinely takes him five minutes to remember that he has, in fact, slept in the past twenty-four hours. Well, fortunately in it convinces the skeptics that this really was something that just slipped his mind in the crush of everything else that's been happening, but unfortunately in that he's now got five teenagers judging him for having a crap sleep schedule, go home and get some sleep, fashion man, you're old.

Hesperia: (miffed) I'm not old, I'm forty-three.

The assortment of 14/15-year-olds: Oh gods, he's already halfway dead.

Long story short, Hesperia gets sent home for the night to get some sleep, and the next night he brings the Peacock with him, Shadybug gets kamikoized for the first time into Menderbug*, and the Peacock is finally fixed and safe to use again.

.

*(stares directly into the eyes of anyone reading this who has also played Hollow Knight)

[twisted-art-wounders]

More short profiles of AU ppl!

Luka Couffaine Son of prominent pirate Luka made his way to the village after they'd been cut off form supplies due to Chole. Luka took a shining to Marinette right away and they both started to grow closer, until he saved her form a curse which resulted in him turning into a giant himself. Now like Adrien he lives in the village helping to protect it form the king's forces.

Lila Rossi An agent working for King Gabriel Lila's duty to prevent anyone form discovering any truths the king wants covered by any means necessary. But Lila wishes to use this information as away to instill herself onto the throne. She plans on using both Adrien and Felix to do so.

Alya Cesaire The local record keeper and roommates with Marinette, Alya is always researching and trying to uncover the truths of the past. Alya has done extensive research on the great tragedy that caused the twin kingdom to fall, and has made a connection to Adrien and the lost prince.

Nino Lahiffe Owner of the local bar Nino knows everything that goes on in town and is great at organizing events and people. He becomes close friends with Adrien and even helps him with his love life.

Nathalie Sancoeur The King's right hand and most loyal servant, Nathalie was tasked with taking care of the newly cursed prince. She would visit him weekly to deliver food and other supplies, but one week Adrien vanished so he spent quite some time hunting him down only to find him aligned with the village that means to disrupt the kingdom.

[therand0mwriter]

IDOL-Chapitre un

Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir x Male!Idol!reader

When a young American idol and his band tours in France, every one in Adrien's class wants to go. Unfortunately for them, tickets sold out as soon as they were for sale. Fortunately for Adrien, his father was able to get him tickets, but with a cost. Even though theres an underlying reason on why he's going, Adrien decides to take his best friend Nino, and his other two close classmates/friends, Alya and Marinette.

When they all got to the concert and the idol started singing, it mesmerized Adrien, pulling him to the front of the stage. Seeing the idol perform made Adrien feel things he never felt before, and it didn't help when the idol lent down and kissed Adrien's hand. Now that caused quite the ruckus.

"𝐔𝐡, 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭?"

[Unedited]

[(h/t) = hair type, i.e. curly, wavy, straight, ect.]

[Everyone in the story is 18 or older unless it is specifically said otherwise.]

*Y/N's POV*

"We're going to France!" Your manager, Sheena, just cheered. It was silent in the conference room as you and your band mates took this in. "Huh?" Was all you could say. "What do you mean: 'huh'?! You guys are going to tour in France! Be more excited!" Sheena yelled at us while shaking her fists.

"Are we that popular to be touring in a different country?" Your bass player, Jiraiya, questioned. "Oh boy, I don't know any french..." Your drummer, Loyal, worried out loud. "Relax, I'm sure this'll be a fun, new experience for all of us." Your guitarist, Kylian, said as he patted Loyal's shoulder in comfort. "Ah, I can't wait for the food!" Your keyboardist, Kairo, was already drooling at the thought of French cuisine.

These are your bandmates. You five, including yourself, make up the band: Ensnare. There was you, Y/N L/N, age 18, 5'9", the leader and vocalist. Then there was Jiraiya Duran, age 19, second in command and the bass player. Jiraiya is of Asian and pacific islander descent, around 5'8", has straight black hair, sharp dark brown eyes, glasses, tan skin, a Medusa lip piercing, sharp features and a slim but fit figure. You honestly think he could become a model if he wanted to. You could call Jiraiya the cool but serious type.

Next is Kylian Thatcher, age 18 and the guitarist of the group. Kylian is of European descent, 5'7", has wavy light brown hair, blue eyes, peach colored skin, dolphin bites lip piercings and a sharp jawline, giving Jiraiya a run for his money. He's definitely the most cocky in the group, constantly butting heads with Jiraiya when you're not around. You could consider him the bad boy out of everyone.

And finally, the twins, Loyal and Kairo Elsher, age 17, mix of European and African descent. Loyal is our drummer while Kairo is our keyboardist. They're identical twins with a height of 5'6", heterochromia eyes (one hazel and one green), light brown skin and a beauty mark under their right eye. They both have curly, colored hair, but their natural black hair is starting to show at the roots. Loyal's hair was dyed blue while Kairo's was dyed orange. The only difference between the two, minus their hair color and their instruments, was their personalities. Loyal was nervous and introverted, Kairo was care-free and extroverted.

Oh, and we can't forget our manager, Sheena Wright, age 40. She is of European descent, 5'6", dyed red hair, blue eyes, freckles, peach colored skin and has multiple ear piercings. Sheena's personality is very outgoing, she's headstrong but determined, she knows when it's time to be serious but also knows when it's time to let loose. In a way, she's kind of like a cool mom to all of us.

"Wait, wait, wait," You started, placing your hand on the table to calm everyone down. "Isn't France notorious now because there's villains constantly running rampant?" "Oh yeah, will we be safe?" Loyal sat up, instantly starting to worry. Sheena waved us off, "Of course you'll be safe! You'll have your bodyguards and Frances hero's."

"'Frances hero's?'" You repeated, not sure if you heard her correctly. "Oh, that's right," Jiraiya started, opening the conference room laptop. He started typing then projected an image of a dark blue haired female in a skin tight, red suit with black polka-dots and a blonde haired male in a skin tight, black cat suit with cat ears on top of his head. "This is Ladybug and Chat Noir, Frances hero's. They're the ones who take care of the villains." Jiraiya explained, pointing to the duo.

You sighed then asked, "When is it?" "It's in six months, you'll be doing the same tour you did earlier this year." Sheena informed. All of your bandmates look to you, their leader, for your decision. "Seems like we need to start learning French." You shrugged. Kairo and Kylian cheered, Loyal got a nervous look and Jiraiya smiled.

*Time Skip, Adrien's POV*

When I entered my class, every one was absolutely buzzing. I went up to Nino, Alya and Marinette as they were huddled together watching something with large smiles. "Whats going on you guys?" I smiled, peeking over Nino's shoulder. Marinette jumped and squeaked at my presence and Nino greeted me, "Hey dude! We're just watching the announcement for Ensnare's France tour!"

"'Ensnare'?" I questioned. "Yeah man," Alya started, smiling. "Ensnare is an American boy band that's totally amazing. Everyone in the group is super talented and not to mention super hot! And they have mentioned some of the best news I have ever heard: they're coming here!" Her and Marinette squealed in excitement. "Here, watch this!" Alya said, pulling up the video they were watching earlier.

On the screen was a... really attractive guy. He seemed to be around our age, but he had a mature air about him. His soft smile, (e/c) eyes, (short/long) lashes, clear (s/c) skin, sharp jawline, and (h/t) (h/c) hair all screamed hot model.

"Depending on when you're seeing this, bonjour or bonsoir République française! This is Ensnare announcing that we will be touring all of France in six months! The tickets will go on sale at 10 in the morning your time, so get them while you can! They're limited! And if you get the VIP tickets we all can't wait to meet you! The VIP tickets include a meet and greet before the concert, a picture with us, and a signed piece of merch! But we are giving out a handful of Deluxe VIP tickets where you get everything a VIP ticket does, but you also get to have dinner with us! The meet and greet will be after the concert though. Remember, premier arrivé premier servi. À bientôt!" The male ended with a smile and a wink.

Ba-bump

'What was that?' I shook my head. "Who was that?" I ask, pointing to the male on the phone. "That's (Y/N) (L/N)! He's the leader and singer of Ensnare! Then there's Jiraiya," Alya excitedly explained, hurriedly moving on to the other members before I could ask more questions about the bands leader. 'Oh well, guess I'll do my own research tonight.' I mentally shrugged to myself as Alya continued to explain every member to me.

"Wow, it seems like you guys really like them. Are you going to their concert?" I questioned, getting pouts from the girls in return. "We're gonna try! That is, if the tickets don't sell out." Marinette answered. "I'm sure you guys will get them!" I encouraged, giving her a smile. Her face immediately turned red and she gained a nervous smile, she started stuttering before Alya stepped in, "Well it's going to be hard since pretty much every one I know is going to try to go to that concert. But we're going to try too!" "I'm sure you'll get them, babe." Nino said, kissing Alya on the cheek.

"Wait, when you say every one you know is going to try to get tickets, does that include our friends?" I ask, referring to the other students around me. "Definitely," Alya sighed. "Well, fingers crossed." I gave Alya and Marinette a comforting smile.

*Time Skip*

"I'm sorry you guys," I tried to comfort my sad friends. "We were so close to going to their concert..." Marinette mumbled. "At least no one else in our class was able to get tickets!" Nino also (poorly) tried to cheer them up. "Still..." Alya sighed in a sad manner. Everyone in our class was bummed out that no one got tickets. And not to mention Chloe who had a temper tantrum when even her dad couldn't get tickets. Even I was a little sad that I couldn't get tickets, I don't know the band very well but I wanted to see that (Y/N) in person... 'Wait, what's up with my thoughts?' I shook my head.

*Time Skip*

I just got home after a photoshoot, heading straight to my room. After I closed my door and made sure Nathalie didn't follow me, I let Plagg out of my shirt. "Gosh! Its about time!" I ignored the kwamis complaint and went to my computer, logging in.

I went to the search engine and typed in: 'Ensnare'. The American boy band popped up and I clicked on the members. "Um... excuse me? I think you're forgetting something." Plagg flew next to me, opening his mouth. I rolled my eyes and tossed him a piece of camembert, successfully quieting him.

I turned my attention back to my monitor and clicked on the bands leader. "Hm... let's see, Y/N L/N, age 18, Ensnare's vocalist..." I was mumbling to myself as I read information about him. After a couple minutes I watched some of their music videos and covers. "His vocal range is amazing..." I mumbled to myself again.

"You seem to really be into this guy, you like him or something?" I jumped as I heard a voice in my ear. I turn to see Plagg with a smug look on his face. "W-What? N-No! I just found out about him today!" I explained, confused at my stuttering and racing heart. Plagg flew circles around my head, "Doesn't mean a thing!" He teased in a sing-song tone. "Whatever..." I waved him off.

I saw a thumbnail of a video and it looked like Y/N in an interview. The only thing was, it was titled: 'ENSNARE'S Y/N'S TYPE'. I clicked on it, curious. You could tell the video didn't start at the beginning of the interview with how it was edited.

"So," The interviewer started, "All of your fans want to know: does Y/N L/N have a secret girlfriend?"

Y/N uncomfortably laughed, "I'm not going to lie, I wasn't expecting this question."

The interviewer laughed, "C'mon! Every one wants to know!"

"Fine, fine. No, I do not."

"Wow! Really?! Why not?!"

"Haven't met the right person yet."

"Can we at least ask who your type is?"

Y/N was quiet for a bit, thinking. But he finally smirked, "Blondes."

Ba-bump

"Blondes? Like me?" I unconsciously said, making Plagg snicker in amusement.

*Time Skip*

I was eating dinner by myself in the dining room, picking at my food. "Adrien," Nathalie called out to me, "Are you alright? You seem to be thinking about something." I blushed and waved her off, "O-Oh, yeah, I'm fine." It looked like she wanted to say more, but left it at that.

In fact, I was thinking about something. More accurately, someone. I couldn't get his face or voice out of my mind! 'Y/N L/N... what are you doing to me?'

"Adrien," I look up to see the owner of the deep voice. "Father!" I stand up from my seat, pleasantly surprised and confused. "I don't have much time, but have you heard of the American band: Ensnare?" He got straight to the point. "U-Um, yeah." I answered.

"I have 4 Deluxe VIP tickets to their concert in six months, I want you to go."

"Really?!"

"There's a catch. I want you to befriend them and convince them to collaborate with me for a new fashion line. I've asked them multiple times myself, but they keep turning me down. So, go to the concert, befriend them, and convince them. If you fail, I'll be disappointed."

"...Yes, father."

"...You can give the 3 extra tickets to your friends if you would like."

"Thank you, father!"

He nodded at me and walked out. I was excited but nervous at the same time. Me and a few of my friends get to go to Ensnare's concert! But... if I can't convince them to collab with my father he'll be upset. 'One step at a time, Adrien!'

*Time Skip*

"AHHH!" Alya and Marinette screamed in excitement. "I can't believe you're taking us to see Ensnare!" Alya shouted, large smile on her face. "This is amazing! Thank you so much, Adrien!" Marinette also shouted. "Yeah man, we all really appreciate it!" Nino added, patting my shoulder. All I could do was laugh at their reactions, "It's no problem, you guys are my best friends, of course I'll take you!"

...

"Did you guys hear that?" I asked, after hearing a faint scream. Alya and Marinette snickered to themselves, "I think Chloe is a little upset you didn't ask her to go to the concert." I frowned and shrugged, "If I had an extra ticket I would."

[imthepunchlord]

Zodiac Heroes Poll: Dog

Another idea I kinda want to play around with and plan for is the chaos of Fu only having the Chinese Zodiac and he releases them all to spite and deal with HM, cause how dare he misuse a Miraculous.

Only there are 12 heroes and a struggle to decide who gets what as possibilities are endless. I have tried and just kept going back and forth and constantly changed my mind.

So for fun, let's do them in polls! I'll be doing three a week, and provide links to other polls as they get released.

Choose very carefully, as each Zodiac will have a variety of potential characters to use it. What character wins in this poll is what they get and that option is removed from future polls.

Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Pig

Dog Miraculous offers the power Fetch, where the user tells the ball the object, person, or even soul they desire and the ball will fetch them for the user. User does need to be specific in their request, and they cannot summon Miraculous or Miraculous holders (though if you know the name of one, you can have the ball bring you the holder).

Barkk is playful, optimistic, loving, loyal, and dedicated. She's a kwami who understands there's a time for play and a time for work, and that humans all have special needs, and will adjust herself to best work off her humans. Barkk is full of unconditional love and quick to accept humans she meet, and can be very protective and dedicated to who she's with.

[mymiraclebox]

If Team Miraculous had the Season Box, since this one was made in Europe, instead of the Mother Box, which miraculouses would they have?

So the Season Box is two Miraculouses smaller than the Mother Box, so I'm not going to account for Felix or villains in this line up (sorry Felix).

Marinette - Crab of Adaptation. With Marinette's planning skills I think she'd be very effective with the Crab. Adrien - Swan of Loyalty. Whose more loyal than Adrien? Alya - Scorpion of Truth. Perfect for reporter Alya! Nino - Gecko of Equality. I think Nino matches this concept well, and also like the Turtle I feel a reptile kwami suits him. Chloe - Dove of Peace. I've done this pairing in another post before, but Olivv and Chloe would both really benefit from each other and their perspectives, especially with the paths they're heading down. Luka - Lynx of Intuition. Is it cheating to give Luka the same concept he has in canon? Oh well, this one fits too well. Max - Ant of Cooperation. I think Max would be really effective with operating under Hivemind. Kagami - Hedgehog of Precision. I just think Kagami fits both the literal and metaphorical aspects of this concept well. Kim - Polar Bear of Endurance. Kim would want to have the Polar Bear. Zoe - Elk of Growth. I don't know why, but I've always seen Zoe as one that would have a connection to nature. Mylene - Seahorse of Fear. What better way to master ones fears than to be the one to wield that power? Rose - Moth of Hope. It's just perfect for Rose! (Especially since the kwami is based on the rosy maple moth!) Juleka - Kelpie of Water. First of all Juleka would love this creepy swamp-creature looking kwami, and second of all I trust her with wielding a powerful Miraculous like an Elemental. Sabrina - Lion of Courage. Valoree would just be so good for Sabrina, while she'd also provide a good balance for this power. Marc - Aurochs of Reversion. I don't think there's any particular one holder that's a good match for this Miraculous, but I think Marc would be a good person to trust with a Timekeeper. Nathaniel - Ibex of Friction. No escaping a Goat-based Miraculous, Nath. xD Ivan - Mouflon of Strength. Raw power mixed with Ivan's kind heart is a good combo.

[mari-monsta]

I was ?? abt alyadrien until I read a cute fic abt them. What are ur hc abt how they realized they had feelings?? How'd you think they got together?? Thoughts on what their dates would look like!

OKAY SO SORRY FOR THIS RANT INCOMING

So my thing about alyadrien that I had to accept to really take them into consideration is that I don't think they would happen/are possible in canon verse. Just because of them meeting and happening to become close to nino and marinette when they did and in the ways they did first.

I don't think there are any mutual feelings between them in canon whatsoever and I don't think there is ever going to be. BUT. They do have something that is integral to a relationship that makes me so interested in them: chemistry. These two have LOADS of chemistry enough that other characters have actually acknowledged it in canon.

Adrien and Alya are both excitable and high energy people by nature, something that if Adrien let her, Alya could naturally bring out in Adrien a lot more. Due to this their interactions as civilians are restrained and limited at best. Where we really get to see them shine is their hero forms. Nino was not just seeing things. Alya (in whatever form she takes) and Chat Noir have palpable chemistry and get along with an ease not seen between a lot of other characters. They're both extremely playful, which they amplify in one another, and somehow seem to fall into accidentally flirting with each other whether they're conscious of it or not (hint: they're definitely not)

Because of this, and because of the way that Alya and Adrien individually approach relationships, speaks a lot to their potential in the right circumstances. Alya and Adrien, of the main characters, honestly approach romantic relationships in kind of a similar way. It has been remarked about Alya constantly through the series that Alya is the type of character who would not fall for someone who she doesn't truely know. Adrien on the other hand has been shown to be someone extremely steadfast and loyal in his feelings, and likes to nurture trust and intimacy with someone as he gets to know them. Alya had been able to develop feelings for Nino despite having previously not thought of him that way at all, while Adrien spent many seasons trying to glean the exact nature of his feelings for Marinette. For both of them, they had strong instances of platonic love come first for their current relationships. This to me means that if the opportunity presented itself, they might be able to see something there.

Alya clearly has been attracted to Adrien in the past, while that doesn't mean she has any feelings for him, if she didn't have significant reason not not having feelings for him as she does in the series, why not?

ANYWAY. I think Alyadrien is the type of couple who is just. SO casual. You would not know that they were dating unless they told you because they act like best friends more than anything, but at the same time they're always together and always sharing excitement about something. I think they'd like doing nerdy things together like playing DnD and seeing superhero movies. Adrien is definitely the romantic of the two and it makes Alya embarrassed.

[msweebyness]

MiracOlympus- Formal Introduction

Howdy, ya'll! Here's the formal introduction to the characters from my new AU! The background is pretty simple, the Miraculous characters are the Gods from Ancient Greece! Enjoy! @imsparky2002 @artzychic27

Adrien:

(Zeus)

God of the sky, king of Olympus

A much fairer and more compassionate ruler than Zeus

Still a sunshine boi

Doesn't sleep with a bunch of women, actually loyal to his queen

Team Dad

Kim:

(Poseidon)

God of the seas

Crazy-ass Middle Child

Constantly losing his trident

Protective of the ocean and its creatures

Likes challenging the other gods for fun

Nathaniel:

(Hades)

God of the dead, lord of the Underworld

Oldest child, protective of his two younger brothers

Chose the Underworld because he likes peace and quiet

Not the bad guy mortals make him out to be

Very respectful of Marc, i.e. never kidnapped him

Marinette:

(Hera)

Queen of the Gods, goddess of marriage and family

ROCKS that peacock aesthetic

Acts more like a team mom than a queen

Doesn't try to murder any other girl who's interested in Adrien

Likes to ship people with Rose

Mylene:

(Demeter)

Goddess of the Harvest

Loving and nurturing, makes sure mortals are taken care of

Protective of Marc, her younger brother

VERY passionate about the environment

Mediates conflicts on Olympus

Sabrina:

(Hestia)

Goddess of the home and hearth

Gentlest and humblest of the Gods

Gave up her throne for Nino, since she never really wanted it

Has a hard time saying no

Amazing cook

Kagami:

(Ares)

Goddess of war

Believes in honor and fighting for a worthy cause

Has never lost a battle

Rides a kickass motorcycle

Always armed, just in case

Rose:

(Aphrodite)

Goddess of love and beauty

Supportive of all sexual identities, ACE PEOPLE ARE VALID

World's biggest shipper

Very humble about her looks

Adores Juleka beyond all sense of reason

Juleka:

(Artemis)

Goddess of the hunt and the forest

Shy, prefers to spend time with animals

Always has her bow and a quiver of arrows

Gets pissed if you insult her mom or Rose

VERY against abusive relationships

Luka:

(Apollo)

God of music and prophecy

HE CAN SEE THE FU-TURE

Never seen without his lyre

Most beautiful voice in the history of all time

Juleka's wingman

Ivan:

(Hephaestus)

God of fire and blacksmithing

In his forge 70% of the time, Mylene drags him out to take a break and get some sun

Buffest of the gods, but super humble about it

Olympus' repair man

Still a soft, gentle boi

Alix:

(Hermes)

Goddess of travelers, thieves and messengers

Carries messages between all the realms

Has a winged pair of rollerblades

The ultimate prankster

Fastest of all the gods

Max:

(Athena)

God of Wisdom & Innovation

Always accompanied by his owl, Markov

Gets exasperated with the foolish choices of his peers

Actually still good friends with Kim

Always working on something new

Nino:

(Dionysus)

God of Wine & Festivity

Ironically, drinks in moderation

Has so much energy

Plans all parties on Olympus

Shares a passion for theater with Jean

Alya:

(Themis)

Goddess of truth and justice

Oversees all trials conducted on Olympus

WILL call you out if you're acting unfairly

Only Nino can get her to cut loose a little

DESPISES Lila

Chloe:

(Helios)

Goddess of the sun

Has an ego the size of, well, the sun

Nothing can shine as bright as her

Knows EVERYONE'S business, because the sun sees all

Has a soft spot for her sister, the moon goddess

Ondine:

(Amphitrite)

Goddess of sea creatures, queen of the oceans

Rules over the sea with Kim, makes sure he doesn't do anything too reckless

Has tea meet-ups with fellow Goddess Queen, Marinette

Unceasingly bubbly and optimistic

Lila:

(Eris)

Goddess of strife and discord

Thrives on conflict between the other gods

Lies to get her way constantly

Starting wars is a hobby

The others only put up with her because they have to

Keep an eye out for more of this AU! Leave thoughts in the comments and reblogs!

[sizzleissues]

So in process of making a page of Chat Noir’s but thought I’d explain and get some help here so I don’t messy up the actual post. I’ll go through each Chat I have included and a little about them and ask for some suggestions of different names or another Chat to include.

More under cut

From left to right, top to bottom.

Chat Noire- Genderbent Chat Noir

Chat Night (better name please suggest)- Miraculous if it turned you into the animal. A cat with a smoky quality. Adrien would first dress in a homemade Chat Noir get-up and then transform so he could switch between forms in battle without revealing his identity. He can be as small as a regular cat and as large as a house. Gets distracted by mice frequently mid-battle.

The Dashing/Daring Black Cat- English Adrien and a vigilante. A Robin Hood type figure who faces the Red Knight. Of course she soon becomes smitten with his charming antics and eventually switch’s to the side of the rouge, becoming the Ladybird

Kitty Noir- Zoe with the miraculous. Gave her a pony tale because I wanted to

Ladynoire - Marinette ofc

Lord Cattus (please suggest names)- Felix with the miraculous if he was going full morally grey antagonist mode and not masking as Chat Noir. Sort of regal and dangerous, even if he used his powers for good. He would totally act like Batman, all broody and dark. I’m really conflicted on his name because I wanted to go Ancient Greek for cat but that word is already tied up in something…… else

Plagg- Favourite boy

Dark Claws (name suggestions?)- Nino with the cat miraculous. A situation where he’s permanent holder, alongside Alya as Ladybug. Very anti-establishment and uses his power a little irresponsibly. Nino is the type of dude who shouldn’t have such a destruction power, it’s in his nature to protect so he’s fiercely loyal to Scarabella and very reactive. Liable to fall down a dark path. Or Adrien gives it to him one day for the goofs and they terrorise Ladybug

Ears on his hood, a cropped hoodie with a turtle neck underneath and loose jogger style pants. Debating on dropping the mask and giving him black circular glasses (since miraculous hide identity anyway with magic buffering)

Cat Walker- Chat Noir x200 times the Adrien

Chat Noir- little baby man

[thenerdblog]

~Character Information~

(Princess) Marinette/Ladybug

The infamous forest girl and the lost princess of Dupain; Marinette, also known as Ladybug, lives a happy and adventurous life in the forest, completely unaware of her royal origins as the lost princess of Dupain and the only child of King Tom and Queen Sabine. She was raised by the wise Master Fu, whom she affectionally calls "Uncle Fu", she was taken in as a baby to his cottage (though abounded by her kidnapper) and grew up with love, curiosity, and a touch of mischief. Her constant companion and very own kwami, Tikki, the lady kwami of creation (who known her since she was a baby), Tikki helps as she navigates her daily life, from climbing trees (even when her clumsiness gets in the way) to exploring the depths of the forest, where she interacts with animals, her closest friend Lady Alya, and builds her her dream of becoming a seamstress.

Her favorite red cloak and her ladybug mask symbolize her playful and daring spirit, blending into the world around her while hiding the secret of her royal identity. Despite her humble upbringing, Marinette's heart is filled with wonder and creativity, and she remains unaware of the grand destiny awaits her.

Prince Adrien

The charming golden Prince of Pariez; Prince Adrien of Pariez, the "Golden Prince," is known throughout the kingdom for his striking handsome looks, which he inherited from his late mother, Queen Emilie, and for his prowess on the battlefield. His charm has captivated many, including his betrothed, Princess Chloe (who known her since childhood), and countless maidens of the court.

Yet, behind this perfect facade, Adrien carries deep personal burdens. His life has been shadowed by loss and hardship - his beloved mother passed away when he was just a child from a unknown disease, and his relationships with his father, King Gabriel, is strained. The king, ruling with an iron fist and taxing the commoners heavily (a policy Adrien despise), keeps his son confined to the castle, isolating from the world despite being unaware that he would escape. Adrien's heart, however, holds onto the memory of his betrothed, Princess Marinette Dupain Cheng, whom he met only once as a toddler before she mysteriously vanished. Though he has no idea she is still alive, living as the mischievous forest girl Ladybug, he remains determined to find her and longs to escape his arranged marriage with Princess Chloe. His only solace comes from one of his closest friend and squire, Nino Lahiffe, with whom he shares laughter and companionship amidst the pressures of royalty.

Like Marinette, Adrien possesses his own kwami, Plagg, who has been his loyal companion since birth. Gifted with a miraculous by an unknown benefactor, Adrien was destined for greatness, though his father, King Gabriel, remains completely unaware of the existence of the miraculous and their power (before Emilie's death). Plagg, mischievous yet wise, aids Adrien in times of need, though his laid-back personality often contrast with Adrien's more dutiful nature. Despite his outward image as the ideal golden prince, Adrien quietly dreams of freedom, love and a life away from the suffocating expectations of the court and his father's rule.

King Gabriel

the tyrant and the grieving king of Pariez; once a proud and respected ruler, has become a cold and ruthless tyrant after the death of his beloved wife, Queen Emilie, and the collapse of the alliance between Pariez and Dupain following the mysterious abduction of Princess Marinette. Grief-stricken and broken, Gabriel withdrew from the world, allowing his sorrow to harden into a cruel obsession with power and control. His kingdom suffers under a rule, as he heavily taxes even the poorest peasants, showing no mercy in his pursuit of total authority. He keeps his son, Prince Adrien, locked away in the castle, unaware that Adrien can easily escape when he needed along with his squire.

In his desperation to bring back Emilie to life, Gabriel has turned to dark and dangerous means. He secretly wields the Butterfly Miraculous and has enslaved its kwami Nooroo, forcing the tiny creature to bend to his will. His ultimate goal to obtain the Miraculous of creation and destruction (like in the canon), which believed hold the power to resurrect Emilie, regardless of the devastation it might cause. He arranged Adrien's marriage to Princess Chloe of Bourgeois States after the alliance with Dupain crumbled, seeing it as a strategic move to secure his kingdom's future, though he remains oblivious to Adrien's true feelings. Gabriel Agreste's grief has transformed him into a villainous king, blinded by his ambition to undo the past and resurrect the love of his life, even if it mean plunging Pariez and its people into darkness (especially his own son). His reign of tyranny continues as he relentlessly pursues the power he believes will restore his broken family, unaware that his actions are pushing his son further away.

Princess Chloe

the spoiled Princess of Bourgeois states; Princess Chloe of Bourgeois states is the quintessential spoiled royal, accustomed to getting her way and using her charm to manipulate those around her. Confident in her beauty and status, she is determined to win the affection of Prince Adrien, even though their marriage is arranged. Chloe is relentless in her pursuit of him, believing that her wealth and influence will eventually sway his heart, despite Adrien's clear reluctance.

Her demeanor is often accompanied by her loyal but overshadowed lady-in-waiting, Sabrina, who provides support but also bears witness to Chloe’s jealous outbursts. Chloe’s jealousy is a constant presence, especially toward anyone she perceives as a rival, particularly Marinette, whose spirited nature and connection to Adrien only fuel her insecurities.

Chloe’s self-absorption often leads her to act without regard for others' feelings, using her social standing to belittle those she deems inferior. Despite her outward confidence, her actions are driven by a deep-seated fear of inadequacy and a desire for validation. As she schemes to secure her place beside Adrien, she remains oblivious to the complexities of their lives, viewing her royal position as a means to an end rather than a responsibility to the people she rules.

Squire Nino

The prince's trusty squire; Nino is Prince Adrien’s most trusted companion and closest friend, having known him since childhood. Their bond is built on years of shared experiences, laughter, and playful teasing. Nino's light-hearted nature brings a sense of levity to Adrien's often serious life, providing a much-needed escape from the pressures of royalty. The two friends share a love for adventure, frequently embarking on horse rides through the enchanting forests surrounding the castle. These rides are not just a means of exploration; they serve as a cherished time for the pair to connect, free from royal obligations. Nino also enjoys engaging in friendly sword fights with Adrien, allowing them to hone their skills while deepening their friendship.

Nino is a loyal friend who often provides a listening ear for Adrien's struggles and dreams, especially concerning his feelings for Princess Marinette and his aversion to his arranged marriage with Princess Chloé. His support helps Adrien navigate the challenges of being a prince, and he is always ready to lighten the mood with a joke or a mischievous plan, ensuring their adventures are filled with laughter

Lady Alya

The forest girl's noble best friend; Lady Alya, a noblewoman of the Cesaire house (though the Cesaire house were very good friends with Master Fu), she is Marinette's dearest friend and confidante ever since they were children. With a vibrant personality and a keen sense of curiosity, Alya often regales Marinette with stories and gossip from the royal court, providing her a glimpse into the world of royalty that feels just out of reach.

Loyal and supportive, Lady Alya is always in Marinette's corner, encouraging her to pursue her feelings for Prince Adrien. She recognizes Marinette's deep affection for the prince and often pushes her to be more adventurous and assertive in expressing her love. Alya’s enthusiasm for romance is infectious, and she frequently dreams up scenarios where Marinette and Adrien could be together, often urging her to take bold steps to win his heart. Alya is not just a source of gossip and encouragement; she also serves as a grounding presence for Marinette. While she revels in the excitement of courtly affairs, she also reminds her friend of the importance of staying true to herself.

Lady Sabrina

The princess' fidgety lady-in-waiting; Lady Sabrina, Chloe's ever-loyal lady-in-waiting, she is characterized by her obedient nature and slightly anxious demeanor. Often seen fidgeting with her hands or adjusting her dress, Sabrina is dedicated to serving Chloe, even when it means being subjected to her whims and sometimes harsh treatment.

Sabrina follows Chloe closely, attending to her needs and desires, but her loyalty is often tested by Chloe's demanding personality (24/7). She is also prone to eavesdropping on conversations, whether to gather information for Chloe or out of sheer curiosity. Though she has a penchant for gossip, her loyalty to Chloé blinds her to the more compassionate side of her character; she often feels caught between her friendship with Chloe and her own sense of right and wrong.

[wisteriasymphony]

RONGEUR D'OS - Reverse!AU

(for @nocturnal-notes :3 )

15:34

My name is Alya Césaire, loyal member of the Resistance against the Supreme. As an aspiring reporter, I believe it is my solemn duty to share my experiences with the world, so that the truth may be uncovered to all.

I say this because...

As of a few months ago, 6 million bodies were estimated to be hidden away in the Catacombs of Paris, underneath the 14th arrondisement.

As of writing this, dear reader... the number is now estimated to be under 250,000.

Hesperia has urged me to not worry about it, but my intuition persuades me to believe there are evil intentions behind these disappearances. This, in addition to a sudden rise in missing persons and unexplainable cases of murder, seem to imply something has gone deeply wrong... whether that's the work of the Supreme, or another entity entirely... Well, that's what I want to find out.

19:02

My partner, Nino, has accompanied me into the Catacombs. All things considered, I'd say we're well armed: I've seen enough horror movies to know we should pack an abundance of flashlights, and I'm able to contact Hesperia via radio should anything go terribly wrong.

Shadybug... Claw Noir... I don't know if you're behind this or not, but I'm after you.

19:07

I never took Nino to be such a scaredy cat! He keeps hearing things, like nails scraping the walls or bricks crumbling, but I think it's either coincidence or a psyop. In our quest for the truth, we should stay vigilant but not unnerved. All things considered, our search has gone quite well.

19:35

I have photographic confirmation that somebody else is in these catacombs with us. It's too blurry to make out specifics, but the silhouette is there. Let's hope they're friend and not foe.

19:37

In chasing after our mystery guest, I may have left Nino behind. Oops. I'll get right back to you in a bit, buddy.

19:38

A reporter has a duty to speak nothing but the unbiased, entire truth. Dear reader... whoever you are... take my insistence of this to heart regardless of what I may say next.

To describe what I found in these halls in even half its detail would be, dare I say, a violation of your sanity. When I was spotted, the creature turned its head to face me—its body did not. Only then was it I realized what I mistook for a friendly smile was merely a chunk of a decaying femur within the creature's jaws. If it ever was human... that part of it had rot away and been overtaken long, long ago.

If it were affiliated with the Supreme, I would have known such right away. But that moment of hesitation I experienced while I met the eyes of that monster assured me (or lack thereof) that its only motivation was a hunger for flesh.

I'm sorry for doubting you, Msr. Gabriel. I don't know if you knew what was down there or not... but in some sense, you knew enough. I'll find a way to dress my wounds to prevent infection. Maybe even research one more time to make sure lycanthropy really doesn't exist.

----

okay thiiiss is what i meant. i have more to this obviously, an unfinished shadybug + The Creature in place, plus one that describes the creature better. let's say it's like how Karra turns into Xocoyotl except if it went horribly wrong. but this gives you the jist! :)

btw i'd love to see what you have in mind for hero!claudia :D i do think you're right that she'd be a lot closer to lydia, more athletic and upfront with people but also somewhat frail from chronic illness. not to out myself but maybe like a dr3 kaede akamatsu personality? yeah, like that.

[someonesrealityshifting]

🪐,🕸️,🐞!<3

Thank you for the ask! I’m sorry it took so long, I’ve been busy and forgot it in my drafts 😭.

For this particular post, I’ll answer for my Miraculous Ladybug DR, because I think that’s the only one I’ve really shared!

🪐: Who is your comfort person in your DR? Name three specific reasons why.

Luka Couffaine!

He’s such a kind person. He just lights up any space he’s in and I find it to be so endearing.

He’s an absolute dork. He’s funny and talented, but he never lets it get to his head or acts like he’s any better than anyone.

He is so so loyal. He’s so patient when people cause him harm, but when people hurt people he loves? You better watch the fuck out, you are in serious danger.

🕸️: Where will you be when you first wake up in your DR? What clothes will you be in?

I will be in my bedroom, sleeping, at approximately 2:00 am (Parisian time) when Marinette decides she wants cookie dough but cannot possibly make it herself. So she’ll wake me up, drag me downstairs, and force me into the kitchen with her. We’ll talk about life, and school, and boys, ofc, and it’ll just be quality bonding time. Illl be wearing this>

🐞 Name three oddly specific things you’re excited to witness in your DR.

Nino and Alya’s relationship dynamic. I just think they’re so wonderful together, and they’re great people. Also my parents’ relationship dynamic, too. They’re the sweetest couple ever.

Luka performing. I’ve scripted that Kitty Section (which will have a cooler name, ain’t no way I’m dating the lead guitarist of a band called Kitty Section) becomes France’s Måneskin, so they get to travel and see the world and experience so many things and I’m so excited to see him on a massive stage, cheering for him and my friends in a crowd of thousands.

Miraculous transformations. My own, my friends’. I think it’s gonna be so incredible to see what the universe comes up with to see such incredible magic take place. I’m also incredibly excited to see the Kwamis, which (in my reality) have more characteristics similar to the animal they represent.

[sweetcloverheart]

Public Enemies: Lunch Date

A small snippet regarding Lila in the AU

Curious olive eyes dart back and forth between the courtyard in the rare moments she had no attention on her as she entered the space, watching the students scurry as she spied on the two groups her class had split into to try to decide which one would make a better meal.

To the left was Marinette - surrounded by her beloved court as always with the clearly loyal Alya by her side. Normally, it would have been a simple choice of aiming for her - after all, her lies tend to land better when she has support from the class leaders, and the brunette, despite her (seeming) obliviousness to it, used her position quite effectively. It'd be so very easy to spin a few stories about her old school and worm her way into the pack so she could get a taste of that popularity pie and find a way to make it hers permanently.

But in the end, that's really all she'd get from it. True, Marinette might have been popular (and those scones she shared from her parents' bakery were to die for), but in the end, she's really only college popular - the kind that gets you facebook updates and wedding invites. While it might be useful in the short-term, it was nothing of use or substance that Lila could actually make something of for herself, especially when it was the last year and she herself had no clue if her stay in Paris was permanent or not. The best she'd get would be control over her little army of useful idiot worryworts.

Which brings her to her prey on the far right - Adrien Agreste, curled up in the corner all by his lonesome (a shocking sight, seeing how often he had that other famous blonde or that Nino kid hanging off him). Now that was someone with good books worth getting into! Son of a famed fashion mogul, friends with the mayor's infamously mercurial daughter (who had all sorts of connections), and handsome to boot! Under different circumstance, she could never even dream of ever having the chance to even meet someone like him off the street, let alone at school. Boys like Adrien Agreste were the very definition of "Untouchable", and often with a sea of admirers required to fight through to back it up. Yet here the boy was, all alone and clearly looking like he was in desperate need of company - and here was little old Lila, completely unattached. If she played her cards right and smoozed him up properly, her future would be set in diamonds and paved in gold.

But such a high end prize came with unfortunate high risks; Adrien might be the precious son of the world's most renowned and wealthiest fashion designer to the world at large, but as far as the tiny garden society of Francois Dupount and Bustier's class seemed concerned - Adrien was a bug, unworthy of their dear princess Marinette and by extension them. From what she had observed in her short time in class, it was clear some sort of divide had occurred some time before Lila's transfer, with Marinette and Adrien obviously the center of it, resulting in him being on the outs of the class's social ring. Boy was lucky to even get a hello that wasn't socially obligated, and really only seemed to interact with one or two people. Which was a problem because in Lila's experience, being in the outs with the class didn't really do your reputation any favors (and especially so when you had lofty goals and a big social appetite like she did). No matter how much of a useful golden goose Adrien was destined to be in the future, it wouldn't do her much good to set herself against her classmates and Marinette, who clearly had enough pull within the classroom to make that a regrettable decision on her part.

There was also-

"ADRICHOU~!"

Lila attempts to look disinterestedly distracted by the hustle and bustle of passersby as Chloe Bourgeois skipped into view, her little redheaded shadow not that far behind. Despite her efforts, however, Chloe manages to catch her eye and sneered before turning back to Adrien with a honey-filled smile, purposely blocking him from her view.

(It took all her strength not to roll her eyes)

As stated - boys like Adrien were the definition of "untouchable", and because of that, girls like Chloe made certain you were aware of this. Despite doing her best to hide her intentions, it seemed Lila was unable to avoid the blonde's eagle eyes, and had thoroughly landed herself on Chloe's hit list. Any attempts to approach Adrien ("accidentally" or otherwise), were likely going to be blocked by her unless she found a way around the gaudy gem-studded blockade.

"Come come Adrichou, this place is way too crowded for us." Chloe chirps loudly as she pulled him to his feet, purposely throwing a knowing and smug look both her and Marinette's way "I called you father ahead and he said we can hang out, so I got papa's secretary to reserve a spot for lunch at Lablanc's bistro - you know, that super expensive and exclusive restaurant that helped film that documentary on maman! They almost never take last minute appointments, but the minute I told them who I was, they cleared their whole schedule for us! Isn't that great!"

What she can barely see of Adrien's depressive shoulders visibly slump, but Chloe seems to be paying more attention to his face (and Marinette's annoyed glower) than anything, which is likely sporting a faked smile of gratitude. She's only observed them a short while, but it's clear the heiress tends to only look at things that pleased her.

It's probably why she also misses that little look of distraught on her little secretary's face before she starts complaining -

"B-but Chloe, you said we were heading to that new cafe downtown! We were gonna get their limited time frappes to post on Insta!"

She turns to her, blue yes narrowed in displeased at the interruption "I said maybe we could go. Besides, that place won't have anything Adrien likes and is outside the range of uncle Gabriel's approved lunch spots - the bistro is the better option."

She tries to argue, but the blonde puts up a stopping hand as riotous laughter from another group drowns out what she says, and Lila's finally able to put a name to the redhead's face; Sabrina Raincomprix - daughter of the police chief, who is very good friends with the mayor too she hears. She recalls her mother ranting to one of her ambassador friends on the phone that the main reason Mayor Bourgeois gets away with what he does with so little push back is directly thanks to him.

Understandable really. There's a lot one can get away with with the law directly in their pocket.

(and she bets daughter dearest gets those same perks by being buddy buddy with his kid)

Someone bumps into her and she's forces to school her expression into something kind and benevolent to hide her annoyance. Once all the apologizing and "graceful forgiving" is done, Lila turns her attention back to see the arguing had ended with Sabrina looking defeated, Adrien seeming a bit apologetic, Nino having suddenly materialized and joined the group as he glared, and Chloe making more orders.

"Now let's hurry! We need to beat traffic and - Oh, Sabrina, make sure to delete those unnecessary stops I mentioned before! Anyways, you're going to love their Ratatouille. Maman said it..."

And so Chloe drags Adrien off with Sabrina and that Nino kid following at a distance, and it's only when they pass her by that Lila sees soft turquoise eyes narrow and turn a tad greener as Sabrina glares at Adrien's back while practically stabbing at her digital tablet.

She hummed curiously as they disappeared around the corner.

Oh? Well isn't this interesting.

"Hey Lila!" she hears, and turns to see Alya bounding up to her "We're all about to head to Marinette's place to grab some pastries for lunch. Wanna join?"

Lila gives a faux apologetic smile, hand pressed to her heart to add to the reluctant air about her "Oh, that's so nice of you Alya, but I already have lunch plans sadly. Besides, I'm on a wheat-exclusion diet right now."

The brunette raised a brow, and she pressed on "You remember me mentioning having to leave my last school partially because of an illness right? The diet was recommend by my doctor to help with recovery - no wheat or bread products for at least three days."

Alya winces sympathetically at the last part and nods "Oh, sorry to hear that, but maybe next time? I think she mentioned that they sell gluten-free stuff on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so maybe we can find something for you to be able to eat then."

Lila beamed. So naive "That's so kind of you to offers." she hums before adding "Oh, and don't worry, the place isn't too far, so I'll be sure to come back quick so I can do that secret lunchtime interview with you about how I became friends with Ladybug!"

"I'll hold you to it then!" the other girl laughs, and quickly runs back to the group as they leave, joining lockstep with Marinette before disappearing from view.

Lila just scoffs as she turns to follow the route she saw Adrien's group go, opening four tabs on her phone -

[Search: Nearby Cafes Grand Opening]

[Search: Photoshop alternatives]

[Search: How to make Frappe]

[Search: Sabrina Raincomprix Instagram]

[graaythekwami]

I would love to see a full list of the concept swaps

Okay! Here's the concept swaps I have between all twenty canon kwamis, alongside their holders' names. A few things to note about this swap is that while I am sticking to the "-ion" rule and keeping powers basically the same, the name of a few concepts will be changed to something I find more fitting .

So: Adoration=Detection, Freedom=Liberation, Illusion=Deception, Elation=Action. (Also I'm keeping Subjection and not including the retcon into Action. Elation is the one being changed to Action for this AU).

The second thing is that the Eagle is included in the swap and will be in Paris, and Zoe will be the one assigned to Liberation (since both the Eagle and Zoe are from New York, and I think the concept fits Zoe), allowing me to include both Chloe and Zoe without replacing one.

Anyways, here's the list of the concept swaps!

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Wayzz the Turtle, kwami of Creation -Holder is Marinette, who goes by Bixi when transformed. -I chose Creation for Wayzz as turtles are symbols of life and are connected to creation myths in multiple cultures around the world. I also considered the Bee for this concept as well.

Stompp the Ox, kwami of Destruction -Holder is Adrien, who goes by Blue Cape when transformed. -With sayings like "bull in a china shop" and the images a charging bovine brings to mind, it wasn't hard to choose Stompp as the new kwami of Destruction.

Sass the Cobra, kwami of the Subjection -Holder is Chloe, who goes by Diamondback when transformed. -With the idea of snake charmers in mind, along with the many negative things snakes can represent, Subjection felt fitting for the snake.

Plagg the Cat, kwami of Deception -Holder is Alya, who goes by Panthera when transformed. -While no animal matches illusions quite like a fox, I still felt a cat could fit well for powers that let one slink about and hide. I also considered the snake for this concept as well.

Pollen the Bee, kwami of Protection -Holder is Nino, who goes by Stinger when transformed. (And Fu will go by Topaz Mìfēng.) -With bees literally sacrificing their lives to protect their hives, who else could I have put as Protection?

Mullo the Mouse, kwami of Transmission -Holder is Gabriel, who goes by Rat King when transformed. (Lila's name will be Piper.) -I don't often use Nooroo's canon concept, but when I do I'm giving it to the mouse. I mean... rodents and diseases are kind of infamous, and while that's not what Nooroo's powers are meant to do, akumas are kind of like a disease on the city.

Barkk the Dog, kwami of Emotion -Holder is Nathalie, who goes by Bloodhound when transformed. (Felix will be sticking with his canon dog name of Flairmidable.) -Dogs are not only receptive to other's emotions, they often are used for emotional support and are known for being human's loyal companions, I couldn't give Barkk another concept but this.

Roaar the Tiger, kwami of Perfection -Holder is Kagami, who goes by Byakko when transformed. -I always have headcanoned that mythical animal kwamis are exceptional powerful, so it was hard to find one within canon to give the Dragon's powers. But with how powerful tigers are, I thought it was the most fitting match.

Duusu the Peacock, kwami of Evolution -Holder is Alix, who goes by Peafoul when transformed. -Peacocks are covered with eye spots, so why wouldn't they get the power to see into the future and move through time?

Nooroo the Butterfly, kwami of Intuition -Holder is Luka, who goes by Psyche when transformed. -With the theory of the butterfly effect, I needed to give the Butterfly time powers. And the power of Intuition works perfectly with that idea, the holder able to redo time and make a change that impacts the future.

Longg the Dragon, kwami of Pretension -Holder is Marc, who goes by Gale Wing when transformed. -The Dragon should always be powerful, and the powers of Pretension are very overpowered. It's perfect.

Tikki the Ladybug, kwami of Jubilation -Holder is Rose, who goes by Lucky Bug when transformed. -Ladybugs can symbolize positivity, and Tikki as a character just radiates happiness and an upbeat attitude.

Orikko the Rooster, kwami of Determination -Holder is Ivan, who goes by Chanticleer when transformed. -Roosters can be very stubborn, and are very protective of their flocks. The concept determination can mean stubborn, and the power is a defensive one.

Fluff the Rabbit, kwami of Multiplication -Holder is Mylene, who goes by Savanna when transformed. -Rabbits are litterally known for how quickly they multiply, why wouldn't I give the Rabbit Multiplication?

Kaalki the Horse, kwami of Liberation -Holder is Zoe, who goes by Shire when transformed. -Horses represent freedom and being free spirited very well. I also considered the monkey for this concept.

Trixx the Fox, kwami of Derision -Holder is Kim, who goes by Cáo Roux when transformed. -Who else but a sneaky fox for this concept?

Ziggy the Goat, kwami of Action -Holder is Juleka, who goes by Fauna when transformed. -While a goat isn't a big and muscular animal like a tiger, I can differently see the idea of a ramming goat delivering a single powerful blow.

Liiri the Eagle, kwami of Migration -Holder is Max, who goes by Turul when transformed. -Eagles migrate, and a flying animal I think is a good representaiton for being able to travel to different places.

Xuppu the Monkey, kwami of Passion -Holder is Nathaniel , who goes by Monkey Business when transformed. -Monkeys are very energetic and passionate animals, and some are known to use tools.

Daizzi the Pig, kwami of Detection -Holder is Sabrina, who goes by Curly Tail when transformed. -Pigs have a fantastic sense of smell, so I think it is fitting for a power that tracks down and retrieves an object.

[aidanchaser]

Boulangérella: A Miraculous Fairy Tale AU - Chapter Thirty-Five

Table of Contents Read on Ao3 Prologue

The moment that Chat Noir—that Adrien—destroyed the miraculous gift of subjection, Hawk Moth dropped his transformation and hurried down the tower.

This day had been one disaster after another. Two miraculous gifts stolen from his hidden safe, Adrien and Félix alike unwell, Adrien’s ring stolen—and as he checked for the band that ought to have been around his ring finger, he realized that Félix’s ring had been stolen as well—and, as if all of that wasn’t enough, he had just learned that Adrien was the very thief he had been hunting the past year. The miraculous gift of destruction had been in his palace and he had failed to uncover it.

Gabriel was furious. But as long as he managed to get Adrien’s ring from Chloé and the miraculous gift of destruction from Adrien, he would have everything he needed to claim the miraculous gift of creation from Ladybug.

Nothing else mattered.

As he left his private office and crossed the enormous throne room, he called for his guards. They had to reach the ballroom before Ladybug and Chat Noir—Adrien—fled. It would be just Gabriel’s luck to lose them when he was closer than he had ever been.

The guards leading the way pushed open the doors of the ballroom and Gabriel’s chest swelled with pride as he saw Ladybug sink to the ground in the midst of a yellow haze. She fell on top of Chloé and Chat—Adrien. None of them moved.

All he had to do was take their miraculous gifts and the power of the wish would be his.

However, the power of any fay was not easily gained. All power came with a cost—and Nino Lahiffe wished he had more time to consider what this power was going to cost him and the people he loved.

But there was no time. Ladybug and Chat Noir were unconscious, subjected to the pollen of Chloé’s miraculous gift, and Nino had to make a choice.

He didn’t feel, though, that it was much of a choice at all. If there was something he could do to protect Ladybug and Chat Noir, then he would do it, whatever the price. It was the least he could do for them after all that they had done for the city. And now that he knew who they were beneath their masks, he was more determined than ever to help.

As King Gabriel flung the ballroom doors open and Ladybug collapsed in the pollen, Nino set Master Fu down on the terrace. He could only pray that Alya had gotten somewhere safe. Given her new powers and ability to move unseen, there was no way for him to know if she was also lost to the pollen.

“Just tell me how I can help,” Nino said.

Master Fu tugged on the jade bracelet around his wrist. He had always planned on Marinette succeeding him, but this young man was right; there was no time for other options.

At least Master Fu trusted Nino. He was a strong friend to Marinette and loyal partner to Mademoiselle Césaire. He carried the qualities that a Guardian of the Fay needed.

“Wayzz’s power is a lifetime commitment and responsibility, Monsieur Lahiffe. Are you certain this is a role you are willing to accept?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his voice. Nino’s plans for his future had always been about his relationships first, and if he didn’t do this, there was no telling what might become of Marinette and Alya. Protecting them was the only thing that mattered.

“Then this is goodbye, old friend,” Master Fu said with a sad smile.

Wayzz clung to Master Fu’s hand and rubbed his head against his old friend affectionately. “It is time,” Wayzz agreed, then slid the jade bangle from Master Fu’s wrist.

Most of the fay did not think much of how humans passed time, but Wayzz did. He had known for this past year that Master Fu was reaching the end of his time as Guardian, and despite Master Fu’s plans to train Marinette in magic and Marinette’s plans to give Tikki and Ladybug up after this fight, it was time to admit that Tikki had truly claimed her, and that Marinette, as much as she protected those she loved and cared for the fay’s safety, was ultimately blessed with the miraculous gift of creation.

It was truer to who she was. Marinette was loyal, heroic, and pursued fairness in all she did. These qualities had assured Master Fu that she would be a capable Guardian. But it was her creativity and determination to solve puzzles that had made Master Fu think she would be a good fit for Tikki. He just had not realized that he would be giving up his apprentice for good.

But Wayzz had felt the change in these last few months; Marinette’s bond with Tikki, though it had been verbally recorded in exchanges of sugar and power, had grown far stronger since.

Wayzz had also seen enough of Nino to know that he would resonate well with the power of protection. Though he was perhaps not as prepared to take on all of the duties of Guardian as Marinette might have been, Nino would be a fitting lifetime companion. Wayzz was sad to see Master Fu go, as he was sad to say goodbye to each Guardian, but he had hope that the new one would be a fine companion.

Wayzz handed the bracelet to Nino Lahiffe. “The price is steep, but your power will not wane and cannot be stolen. You may call on my magic as you wish.”

Nino slid the bracelet around his wrist without hesitation. “What’s the cost?”

“It has already been paid.”

Félix was still thinking about sacrifices when he came to. He felt the pulse of the brooch’s magic beneath his jerkin, felt its tug between the ring around his finger and the ring around Lila’s.

Félix would have given anything to snip that thread between him and Lila. He flexed his hand and tightened it into a fist, as if he might somehow adjust her control over him simply by moving, But she was also coming to, stirring on the floor of the ballroom, and Félix knew this brief moment to himself was all he would get.

It occurred to him that if he had awoken, then Ladybug and Chat Noir must have won. He scanned the room and found them crumpled in the center, alongside Chloé, all three collapsed in a billowing yellow cloud.

As Lila reached for his wrist, a woman in a red gown took his shoulder and Lila’s and pulled them backwards. Her face was masked in a magical red and gold paint, obscuring her identity, and she pulled him and Lila aside as if they were no heavier than a pair of high-backed chairs.

“Stay back, Your Highness,” she said in a steady but low voice. “There is no telling what the miraculous gift of subjection is capable of when untethered.”

Félix was tempted to step past her and into the mist, if only to trade the devil he knew for one he didn’t.

But Lila whispered, “Stay with me,” in his ear, and he no longer had any interest in stepping forward.

The musician that Félix had used briefly as cover was also moving away from the pollen in the center of the room. He kept a wary eye on the cloud, as if he knew exactly what it was capable of.

Gabriel stood on the other side of the room, flanked by a phalanx of officers. The king opened his mouth to give an order—what the order might have been, Félix couldn’t imagine; the guards’ swords would be no better than twigs against magic—but the glass doors behind Félix flew open and everyone turned to see a young man dressed in full plate armor.

The armor was as green as the foliage in the Forest of Fay, fastened with glistening gold rivets. The helm that shielded his face was streaked with fiery orange and yellow, like the war paint of a snapping turtle, and the newcomer carried a shield decorated like a turtle’s carapace.

“King Gabriel!” the young man shouted. “As Guardian of the Fay, I ask you to please stand back and allow us to handle this.”

Gabriel’s cool gray eyes flicked up and down the new hero. He even spared a glance for the woman in red. “Two new heroes,” he said flatly. “Two more champions of chaos and calamity.”

The woman in red placed a hand on one of the two hilts at her waist. “I did not claim the miraculous gift of perfection to be accused of chaos.”

The Guardian put his hand on her shoulder. “We have no quarrel with you, Your Majesty,” he said. “Please clear the ballroom so we can fix the damage Hawk Moth’s curse left behind, and you can return to your festivities.”

Félix clenched his jaw. He wanted, desperately, to announce to everyone in the room that Gabriel and Hawk Moth were in fact one and the same. But if he did, Lila, who still clung to his arm, would know that he had read the letter she had stolen from him, and he would lose any sort of advantage he had against her. He had to keep his mouth shut for now, but if he could get information to this Guardian without Lila or Gabriel’s knowledge…

“You are not in charge here.” King Gabriel’s upper lip curled back in a sneer. “Guards, arrest Ladybug and Chat Noir!”

“You will do no such thing!” The Guardian declared, and raised his shield.

At the Guardian’s command, a glowing green carapace sprang from the ground, shielding Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Chloé from the guards and King Gabriel.

“Time is not on your side, Guardian,” snarled King Gabriel. “Their powers and yours will fade in a moment, and then even your magic will be unable to protect them from me.”

“My power will not fade,” the Guardian replied, but he felt a twinge of doubt in his chest. He and Wayzz were one, and he knew for certain that he was not limited in the strength of his magic, but Ladybug and Chat Noir certainly were. In only a few minutes, King Gabriel would know that Chat Noir and Ladybug were actually Prince Adrien and Marinette Dupain-Cheng if the Guardian did not take a more dramatic action.

“Then I shall make you release it,” said King Gabriel. “Guards, arrest this ‘Guardian’ of the Fay.”

But the guards did not step forward. There was hesitation among the group, and they glanced uneasily at each other.

A few notes of a reed flute echoed softly in the ballroom, passing through the crowd of guards, heroes, and the few remaining guests who had not been able to flee Queen Wasp. Within the notes echoed only a few questions.

Will you really arrest the heroes who have saved this city time and again? Will you really steal from the fay and anger the magic of those who live at our borders? Is this who you are?

The Guardian did his best to restrain a grin, but it slipped out in a half-smile. Leave it to Rena to use her powers of illusion to spread the truth.

He tightened his hand into a fist and the shelter protecting Ladybug and Cat Noir began to contract. It passed over them harmlessly, shrinking until it was no bigger than his helm, with all the pollen from the Fay of Subjection contained within.

“If you do not need heroes, Gabriel,” the Guardian said, both surprised at his own audacity and bolstered by the magic that flooded his veins, “then I shall return the power of subjection to the Forest of Fay, where it will not bring harm to your kingdom, and I shall take Ladybug and Chat Noir with me. We will no longer trouble you, and you may deal with Hawk Moth as you wish.”

But King Gabriel was unsatisfied. As Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Chloé, now free of the pollen, began to stir, King Gabriel shouted, “Whoever brings Ladybug and Chat Noir to my throne room shall be paid double the bounty!”

This spurred a few of the guards into action, greed overcoming any doubt they had about following their king’s unethical orders. They charged forward, and so did the Guardian and the woman in the red dress.

She drew her sword and it clashed against one of the guards. Lightning crackled along the blade and the clouds in her gown turned dark. Her magic, like the Guardians, showed no signs of fading.

But Kagami had made a great sacrifice for the miraculous gift of perfection. She had given up the only thing she had ever wanted: her mother’s approval.

For the rest of her life, she would know her mother’s disappointment, and in exchange, she had the power to protect her kingdom in her own way. There might come a day that Kagami regretted that trade, but in this moment, as she got between one of the guards and Ladybug, who was only just struggling to her sit up, she was quite pleased with her choice.

Ladybug did not know what to make of the scene around her. Her head felt full of cotton and the clanging of swords and shields did not help. She blinked blearily at a young man in green armor defending her from one of King Gabriel’s guards. Though she was unsure who he was, she was at least grateful he was helping her.

As Chat Noir pushed against her, she got to her feet and fumbled for her bandalore. His ring flickered and so did her earrings. Suddenly, her grogginess vanished.

She needed to leave—now. They both did.

She glanced to the doors where Lila Rossi and the prince lingered, but her vision was quickly obscured as the guards encircled her and the other heroes.

She and Chat Noir stood shoulder to shoulder, pressed up against the backs of the woman in red and the armored young man. Chloé clung to the young woman’s dress sleeve, helpless now that her miraculous gift was no more than yellow dust. She blinked at the scene around her, vision and thoughts still fuzzy with the effects of the pollen and Hawk Moth’s curse.

“You need to get out of here,” Chat Noir said to Ladybug.

She glanced down at the emeralds on his ring. Only two were still illuminated. She was likely down to her last minute.

“So do you.”

“I think this might be the end of Chat Noir. If you take my ring and go—”

“I won’t leave you,” she snapped.

He looked for a moment like he was about to argue with her, but his green eyes softened. “Up or through?” He blocked a sword swing with his staff and thrust back, creating a brief opening for them and answering his own question.

Ladybug took his hand and ran.

“Wait—”

Chat Noir’s fingers slipped through hers and she stumbled. She turned back to see Chloé with her hand around Chat Noir’s wrist.

“Chloé, let me go—”

“This is yours,” Chloé said, and pressed something into his hand. “I don’t—” Her nose wrinkled as she struggled to fight through the haze left by Hawk Moth’s curse. Her time as Queen Wasp was little more than a blur, but the jolts of emotion remained. She knew, with certainty, that this ring belonged to Adrien, and she also knew that Hawk Moth… She knew something about Hawk Moth, something important, but it struggled to take clear form in her mind.

“I don’t remember why,” she finally said, “but you need to have it.”

“Chat Noir!” Ladybug shouted, but Chat Noir did not turn to look at her. He was too busy looking at the ring Chloé had given him.

It was not his. It was his father’s wedding ring. But he did not have time to dwell on how Chloé had come by it. He turned to Ladybug, but someone was already pulling her away and one of the guards grabbed for him. He ducked only just in time.

Ladybug fought against the hand that grabbed her and pulled her towards the exit. “No, not without—”

“Ladybug you need to go.”

She turned to see Prince Adrien, looking just as empty and drained as he had in the fitting room that afternoon, like he was exhausted from a fight that he was still caught in, a fight he was still losing. His hand brushed her cheek, just as he had before their kiss.

“Your Highness—” Ladybug froze, breath caught in her lungs and heart still with shock.

“Please,” he said, voice soft and earnest, “leave.”

“Ladybug!” Luka shouted as the immediate future spiraled out before him suddenly and certainly. He scrambled to his feet, but he knew he would not make it to her in time.

His shout seemed dim and distant to Ladybug as she stared at the pale pink lips that seemed to be growing closer to hers, even as the prince begged her to leave. Then her gaze flicked up to meet his gray eyes.

Prince Félix’s hand closed around Ladybug’s earring and pulled. She felt her transformation fall as he did, as her earrings both dimmed and the red dress and mask began to fall away.

She pushed him away before he could reach for her other earring and a shrill note of a reed flute filled the ballroom. Ladybug’s disguise held, but Marinette knew the magic itself was no longer protecting her. It was only an illusion.

Félix swallowed hard and met Ladybug’s eyes, wondering if she could see the apology in them. He wanted her earrings—Lila had told him to get them and so he wanted them—but he did not want to hurt her. He needed her if he was going to save Adrien, save himself. He’d tried to warn her, had even told her to run—

Luka grabbed Marinette’s wrist. He was grateful her disguise was holding, but he did not know how long it would last. All he knew was that Marinette was in danger here, and he had to get her to safety.

“Get out of here,” he begged, pulling her towards the door.

But even without her magic, with only one earring and a thin disguise, she hesitated and turned back to the fray at the center of the ballroom. If Prince Félix was the prince she had entered with that evening, then Chat Noir—

The guards had, in the interest of claiming the heftier bounty, separated Chat Noir from the other two heroes. He used his staff to block the sword swipe of one, but another kicked him from behind and he stumbled. A guard caught his arm and wrenched it back. Chat Noir winced but flexed his claws, aiming for the guard’s wrist.

The Guardian wanted desperately to create another shield to protect Chat Noir, but though his power had no time limit, he could not produce a new shield without releasing the first, and he had no interest in dousing the ballroom with the power of subjection. He shoved the metal shield on his arm against a guard’s chest and ran for Chat Noir, but he was too late.

The final emerald on Chat Noir’s ring flickered out and the black disguise peeled away. Every guard stepped back in shock, ending the battle abruptly, as Chat Noir transformed into one of the princes. The black and silver thief’s attire was replaced with mourning attire, and the mask vanished, revealing in full a heavy bruise plastered across one cheek and a pair of soft green eyes.

Gabriel pressed his lips together into a thin line. He had hoped to avoid a scene like this, with Chat Noir’s identity bared to his kingdom, but he supposed there was little hope of undoing that now. At least Adrien had the sense to look embarrassed as struggled to meet Gabriel’s eyes and fidgeted with his ring—one of his rings. Gabriel counted two plain silver bands around Adrien’s hand.

“Father,” Adrien finally said, voice soft.

Several heads turned swiftly to Félix, who did not flinch, not even as Lila’s nails dug into his wrist.

“We’ll discuss the consequences for this in my office,” Gabriel said. “Guards, I believe everyone here is guilty of treason. See to it they are dealt with.”

“No!” Adrien shouted as his father took his arm. “Ladybug’s done nothing wrong! None of them—”

“This is not a debate,” Gabriel hissed as he yanked Adrien from the ballroom. He had no interest in having a public argument with his son.

“But—”

“I’m going to take you to see your mother.”

It worked as intended. The fight evaporated from Adrien and he stumbled after his father, unsure if this was supposed to be a punishment or an attempt to genuinely connecting with him. Adrien wasn’t sure he cared either way. He hadn’t been allowed to see his mother in a year, and he wasn’t about to give up this chance, whatever the context.

Marinette pulled her wrist from Luka’s grasp. “Chat Noir, no!” she shouted, not quite able to bring Prince Adrien’s name to her lips. But the ballroom doors closed behind them and the guards leveled their swords at her.

The young man in green armor pulled her back, putting himself and the woman in red between Marinette and the guards.

“He’ll be all right,” the man said. “Let’s get you to safety, Ladybug.”

With Ladybug out of reach, Luka turned to at least try to retrieve her earring from Prince Félix, but the glass doors on the other side of the ballroom shuddered suddenly as Lila yanked them closed, disappearing into the palace gardens with Prince Félix in tow and Ladybug’s earring clenched in her fist.

Though Luka could not be certain what was going to happen, a dread lodged in his chest told him that the Guardian was wrong. Prince Adrien would not be all right, no more than Prince Félix would be. And if they did not get Marinette out of here, there was a chance they could lose Ladybug, too.