#yes i know my ring looks like adrien's miraculous ring

[shinydreamtacoprune-blog]

marinette cosplay but as a coquette girl 🎀

[mochinek0]

Daminette December 2023: 25-Plain Clothes

Marinette sat on the hotel bed, easing her nerves.

'This is a simple mission; a test. Best outcome: we find ShadowMoth. Worst: Zero progress.'

Robin knocked on the door, startling her.

"How are you?" He questioned "Are you ready to leave?"

"Nervous." She answered with a sigh.

"Why? It's a simple mission, is it not?" he replied.

"It's my first mission, as myself. No one but Batman and Wonder Woman knows who I am." She called out.

"We can use an alias." Robin declared.

"Can't." Mari groaned, "I know people at the event. I was going to be here, one way or another."

"I take it that you are well known, then." Robin spoke.

"Yes and you?" Mari asked.

"Correct." he answered.

"Okay." Marinette said, before taking a deep breath.

Tikki shook her head a flew through the door, startling Robin. He quickly put his emotions back in order and glared at her. Tikki giggled.

'He reminds me of Plagg.'

"I am Tikki. I am the Kwami or Goddess of Creation." she spoke, "I am what makes the girl behind the door, Ladybug."

He nodded in response and looked back at the door.

"We will have somoene looking out for us in the shadows." he called out.

"Batman is here?" Ladybug asked.

"No, Superboy. Apparently, he saw your tiny companion here through a door once. His X-Ray vision works on her. Superman couldn't see her, at all." Robin declared, "I know his identity and he won't say anything, unless they have proper clearance. So far, that consist of you, me, Superboy, and Batman. We will have earpieces on and he will be able to communicate with us, if he notices anything."

"Meaning if ShadowMoth is in the crowd-" she stated.

"He should sense it." Robin answered, "If he tried to leave, he is capable of following him and giving us directions to his location."

Marinette walked out of the room, full of confidence and hope. Robin couldn't believe his eyes. Ladybug was a leader. She was strict. She reminded him of his parents, at times; dedicated. This girl in front of him didn't look deadly or commanding. She looked small and shy; she looked like an angel.

"You look.....beautiful." he spoke.

Mari smiled and tried to fight off her blush, "Thank you. How did the suit fit?"

"Um, well. Thank you for the suit." Robin replied, "Where did you get it?"

"I made it." she spoke, "I'm a fashion designer."

Damian looked down at his clothes. He hadn't appreciated them until that moment. He thought it had just been another suit. He looked back up before bowing to her.

"Damian Wayne." He announced.

She smiled back and curtsied, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

Marinette walked in on Damian's arm.

"I can see you both. I am still able to see Ladybug. I can see your earrings glowing and your little friend in your bag."

Mari gripped Damian's arm after hearing the voice speak

"Thank you, Superboy." Damian whispered, squeezing Marinette slightly, "He's on our side."

She just nodded. Soon, everyone crowded around them.

"I can see two other people with glowing items in attendance, aside from her."

Damian felt Marinette tense up again.

"Where?" Mari asked, "Who?"

"An older gentleman."

"Must be ShadowMoth." Damian inquired.

"The other?" Mari pressed.

"Our age."

Marinette bit her lip confused.

'Could Felix be here? No; Hawkmoth got the peacock miraculous back from him two years ago. That's why I used Kalki to get into the Justice League's headquarters in space.'

"Heads up. Incoming fast!"

"Hey, Marinette!" Adrien cried out, "I didn't expect you to have a date."

"Watch him."

Damian felt the tiny Ladybug grip his arm like her life depended on it, but on her face was plastered a smile.

"F-Felix?" Mari whispered.

"Uh, no." the blonde answered, "It's Adrien, Adrien Agreste. Did you forget about me?" 

"Why wouldn't my girlfriend have a date?" Damian demanded, moving his arm from to her waist to stabilize her better.

Marinette turned to him and smiled.

"His ring is glowing and he has a creature in his right breast pocket."

Marinette glanced at the familiar ring he wore throughout middle school. An image of it painted black with a neon print came to her mind.

'Adrien is Chat Noir!'

"There's something else. There's a....it looks like a feather inside of him. It looks like it branching out, like veins."

Marinette buckled, feeling faint.

"Mari!" Adrien shouted.

"Angel!" Damian cried out, catching her.

Adrien held her hand as Damian checked her over quickly.

"Are you okay?" Adrien asked.

"Do you think we can get some air?" Marinette questioned, "Still not use to these heels."

"Of course." Damian chuckled, "Did you remember to pack the bandages that Selina recommended?"

Marinette nodded, struggling to get to her feet. As she got up, she slipped the ring off of Adrien's finger, using her Guardian powers. Unfortunately for Adrien, Plagg was asleep and unable to warn him.

Once outside, Marinette burst into tears.

"Marinette?" Damian prodded, confused.

"Adrien is...was my partner." Marinette sobbed, showing him the ring.

"Why did you take it?" he questioned.

"The feather he saw." Mari declared.

"What about-"Damian began.

"He's a sentimonster! That's not the real Adrien and if it is.....who is to say he hasn't been helping Hawkmoth since the beginning?" she stated.

Marinette looked at the ring and placed it on her finger.

"Hey, Kid. What-" Plagg demanded, but once he saw Mari he changed his mind, "Where is he?"

"Did you know?" Marinette questioned.

"Know what?" Plagg asked, confused.

Tikki flew out of Marinette's bag, "Adrien is one of Duusu's creations."

Plagg's jaw dropped, "No!"

He floated down onto the Guardian's hand and sat down.

"You couldn't sense it?" Tikki asked.

"No." he answered shaking his head, "How big were the branches?"

"Large." answered Damian, "According to the half-alien who has x-ray vision and can see through people."

"It is possible that Adrien was never real." Tikki spoke, "For small times, it wouldn't be that much."

Tears poured down her cheeks. Adrien not being real opened up so many possibilities. She wiped her tears away.

"Bug?" Plagg questioned.

Marinette took a deep breath and reached into her bag. She quickly fixed her makeup and grabbed Damian's hand. The ring change from its once silver color to a dark metal with a large emerald.

"You are my partner for this mission." Mari declared, "It is only fitting that you now wear Plagg."

"Will he not notice?" Damian questioned.

"No." the Guardian answered, "The magic of the miraculous will keep him for recognizing it."

"Are you coming?" he asked.

"I need a moment." she whispered.

He nodded and walked back into the venue.

"Marinette?" Tikki whispered.

"I may have to kill Adrien." she answered.

"I have eyes on another."

Marinette stood up and walked back into the gala.

"Male, 40's. Maybe 50's. White suit and glasses."

Marinette looked around and spotted Gabriel Agreste.

She took a deep breath and asked, "Where is it?"

"Under his tie. It's red and white."

'Yep. That describes Gabriel Agreste, perfectly.'

Before she could make her way towards him, Adrien jumped out of the crowd, in front of her. From his eyes, she could tell he was panicking.

"Mari, hey, did you see me drop my ring?" He pressed.

"Ring?" Marinette asked.

"The one I always wear. The silver one!" Adrien stated.

"No." she answered, "I'm sorry. I didn't notice it. We can go back to where we were and see if It fell off. Maybe, someone kicked it under a table or something?"

Adrien nodded and followed her towards where they had been. He looked through the crowd.

"Where's your boyfriend?" he asked.

"Talking with other people about his father's business." Mari shrugged.

"Oh." he answered, "So, uh, how long have you guys been a thing?"

"Oooh, maybe he likes you. Robin, you need to step you're game up. Someone is trying to steal Ladybug from you."

'Yeah, right.'

"Be silent. This isn't a commentary show."

'Thank you, Robin.'

"Two years." Marinette answered, quickly.

"Nice save. Using how long you have been coming to the League, I'm assuming."

"Oh, that's nice." Adrien replied.

"Incoming."

"Miss Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel spoke.

"Hello, Mr. Agreste." Marinette smiled back.

"I couldn't help but notice that you came in with young Damian Wayne." he declared.

Mari answered back, "Yes. He is my date for tonight's event. We figured since we were both coming, why not announce our relationship?"

"I see." he spoke, not noticing his son wilt at her answer, "I was hoping you would come work for Gabriel. I understand Audrey still has an invitation open for you, as well."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Agreste, but Damian has offered me my own studio." She announced, "Not an internship. He will be paying for the building and I will take care of the rest. My boyfriend has confidence in my work."

"Well, Miss Dupain-Cheng, good luck to you." Gabriel stated, "Will your studio be here in Paris?"

"No. I'll be leaving Paris at the end of the week to Gotham." Marinette declared.

Adrien quickly turned to her in shock.

"You're leaving?" the model exclaimed, to which she nodded, "Why haven't you said anything?"

"Adrien." Gabriel growled.

"I've been so busy and my apartment can't really contain my designs and equipment." Mari answered, "I've been working out of my place and have been so focused on my commissions."

Damian created a distraction by throwing five silver platters at the giant windows, as if they were shuriken. People began to scream when all the windows shattered at once. Many believed it was the work of an akuma and started to scream. Many began to push people out of the way to get towards a door, faster. Marinette took notice of Gabriel leaving during the middle of the chaos, leaving Adrien behind. Quickly, an akuma appeared out of one of the scared party-goers.

"I have him."

Adrien began to look around the room, after he lost sight of Marinette. He spotted her again, hoping to see her transform into his Lady.

'She had to of taken the ring!'

Adrien noticed bits of the ceiling beginning to crumble above her head. He watched through the chaos as the ceiling began to collapse overhead.

'Transform!'

Damian grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest, as he dodged the debris. Marinette sobbed into his chest. Damian picked her up and ran out of the building with her. Watching his friend cry in the arms of her lover, he realized it wasn't her. She wasn't Ladybug.

'Shit! Where the fuck is my ring?'

Marinette jumped out of Damian's arms, as he moved them to the side of the building.

"You're positive you have eyes on him?" Marinette questioned, getting into Ladybug mode.

"Yes."

"Spots on." Mari spoke.

"Claws out." Damian whispered.

"Can you creep up on him and knock him out?" Ladybug asked.

Damian smiled, evily, "I was trained in stealth."

"Do it." she replied, "I'll deal with the akuma."

He nodded and followed Signal's directions. There stood Gabriel Agreste in another room of the building, transformed as Shadowmoth. Damian quietly snuck up on him and used one of the techniques his mother had taught him to temporarily paralyze someone. Shadowmoth was caught off guard as he collapsed to the floor.

"My apologies, Shadowmoth," a new cat like figure spoke, taking the brooches off of him, "but the hunt is over. I have acquired them, Ladybug."

Ladybug quickly destroyed the akuma and announced, "Shadowmoth has been defeated. This plan has been in the making for along time."

Paris began to cheer in happiness.

With help from the Batfam, they were able to clear out certain evidence out of Agreste Manor. They placed Emilie and Natalie into a hospital. Gabriel was still paralyzed on his right side; the doctors believed he had a stroke. Adrien was temporarily staying at the Bourgeois hotel. Gabriel lay in the hospital bed upset. At the foot of his bed was Ladybug and Chat Noir's stealthy replacement.

"Your days are over." he growled, "I'll come back!"

"The miraculous will be out of Paris, tonight." Ladybug replied.

"You-" he hissed.

"Do you realize I have to kill your son, Adrien?" She asked, causing him to freeze, "I know he's a sentimonster. The question is was he always a sentimonster or is the real one hidden away like your wife?"

"My wife wanted a child!" Gabriel declared, "We couldn't have one and that was all she wanted. I jus wanted her to watch him grow up."

"Adrien is sucking the life out of her." The Guardian stated, "It's one or the other; not both."

Gabriel paled at the news.

"Will you kill her son, who she did everything for, just to bring her back? Or will you give him the life she wanted for him?" Ladybug questioned, "She will remember everything."

"We will find them again." Gabriel stated.

Ladybug sighed, "No, you won't. I've asked the Justice League to take them off planet and onto another. They could bury it on the center of Pluto or send it to another planet that Earth could never reach. No one will ever find them again."

Hawkmoth sagged in defeat.

"Adrien doesn't know." he spoke, "He had nothing to do with this."

"Then, let him live his own life, like your wife would have wanted." The Guardian whispered, "Spend time with him. The Justice League will be keeping an eye on you and your movements from now on."

Ladybug walked up to Adrien Agreste.

"Ladybug, I had no idea-" he began.

"Chat, I'm sorry." she whispered.

"Huh?" the model stammered, "Did you steal away from Plagg? You replaced me?"

"I had too." She answered.

"When did you find out?" Adrien asked, "Did you-"

"You know we've been getting help from the Justice League." Ladybug spoke, "At one point I had to recharge and someone was able to sense Tkiki. They came along hoping to sense ShadowMoth's kwamis. I had to take him from you; they sensed you were in danger."

"I don't understand!" he cried out.

She sighed, "Your father was Hawkmoth."

"No!" Adrien exclaimed, "We ruled him out!"

"He got smart. He threw us off his trail." Ladybug continued, "He won't go to jail, but he will be under Justice League surveillance. They will know every keystroke on his computer and be able to listen to every phone call. You can still have your father; be thankful you are not losing him too."

Adrien sagged in defeat, "What happened? Did he really have a stoke?"

"The temporary chat snuck up behind him and knocked him out. We think realizing he lost the miraculous caused the stroke." Ladybug declared.

"Why?" Adrien asked, "Why did he-"

"Your mother is very ill." She admitted, "He wanted to heal her."

"That's it?" he shouted, "All these years? All of Paris' pain and suffering, the nightmares.....it was for my mother?"

"I'm sorry." The Guardian apologized.

"Can I know who you are?" Adrien questioned, "You promised."

"I wish I could, but you're too close to him." Ladybug answered, causing him to pale, "Plagg is in good hands for now. I will be giving up my mantle today. I won't even remember you; I don't want to cause you anymore pain. Can you really handle seeing me everyday when I won't be able to remember my own name?"

Adrien's eyes began to water.

"I wish you a good life, Chat." She smiled, "Find love. Be happy. Your father can no longer design. Gabriel will likely fall so you won't have to model anymore."

He smiled through his tears.

"Do what makes you happy." Ladybug declared, before leaving.

"Are you sure that was a wise thing to do?" Damian questioned.

Marinette nodded, "He deserves to be happy. The Justice League will have him under heavy surveillance and if he starts to follow in his father's footsteps, I'll use the Peacock to undo him."

"I thought I was meant for the Kwami of Destruction." Damian smirked.

"Oh, shut up." Mari scoffed.

TAGLIST: @maribat-calendar-events @animeweebgirl@a-star-with-a-human-name@meme991001@vixen-uchiha@abrx2002@alysrose-starchild@fandom-trapped-03@dood-space@moonlightstar64@saltymiraculer@marveldcedits20@09shell-sea09@icerosecrystal@animegirlweeb@insane-fangirl-of-everything@blueblossombliss@nickristus-dreamer@megawhitleycalderonpaganus@missmadwoman@meira-3919@princessdaisysolosyourfaves@blep-23@fangirlingfanatic@darkhinauniverse@ravenr22@im-a-satanic-ritual@ravennm84@bianca-hooks123@a-slytherinish-gryffindor@starling218

[generalluxun]

Half-Baked, An ML fanfiction.

So this comes out of my 'Chloe goes back in time' AU. set after she's stolen the black cat Miraculous, but before the repercussions of that have really gone full swing.

This AU came about mostly from asks, so the tag can be searched on my blog for getting up to date on our collective ramblings for it.

Super short Summary: Post S5 Chloe goes back in time into her Origins-timeframe body. She is angry at everyone and everything. She gets herself akumatized early on and steals the Cat Miraculous from Cat Noir(who wasn't taking things seriously, it's S1) Seeing it's Adrien she freaks, breaks akumatization and runs off before Ladybug arrives. Adrien is keeping who stole it a secret(though he tells LB he lost it) hoping he can get it back himself to make up for losing it.

Fic is under the cut because it is 4172 words. I'll also be posting it on AO3 tomorrow.

With the smell of fresh baked goodies taunting her nostrils, Marinette dodged between racks laden with hot trays and mixing bowls of fresh dough. She was already late for school, but seeing her parents frantically running around made her pause.

“Dad?”

Tom flashed her a big smile but immediately turned and fled into the back. Her mother turned from where she was scooping still-warm pastries off cooling trays and into boxes too soon. “Honey, your father and I are very busy today. A large catering order came in unexpectedly. It was extremely short notice, but you know your father.”

Marinette couldn’t help but puff up a little, “It’s the Egyptian opening at the Lourve, right?”

Sabine paused. “Why, yes honey. How did you-”

Marinette gushed, “I knew dad was bummed about missing out on it, so yesterday I took a few freshly baked pastries over to the museum before school. I managed to find a way back to the curator’s offices and wouldn’t leave until he tried one. You should have seen the look on his face! ‘Young lady I think that is the best confection I have ever tasted.’ It looks like it was worth being an hour late.”

Marinette froze mid-pantomime. Her story had run away with her again, perhaps to a few places her mother didn’t exactly need to know.

Whatever Sabine’s thoughts, she kept a gently serene face. “That’s… very clever dear. Only… perhaps you could ask before helping next time? This really is such short notice.”

Marinette winced. “Is it really? I could help! I can just call in sick, then I would be able to-”

Rushing back towards the kitchen, Marinette snagged her foot on one of the giant mixing bowls. She tripped and collapsed into it as it spun, coming to rest blinking up into her mother’s even more concerned looking face. Sabine reached down and helped Marinette extract herself, brushing some wayward flour dust off her backside.

“No, no, that’s quite alright, dear. Your father and I will handle it. It’s not as if sleep is necessary every night. On your way now. You don’t want to be late, again.”

That last word carried the only hint of maternal reprimand, but it was enough. Marinette let herself be ushered out the door. On the way to school she managed to convince herself everything would be okay. It would be fine. It wasn’t the end of the-

The Agreste Limo pulled up in front of the steps to the school, and ‘end of the world' took on new meaning. Adrien got out, but his walk up the steps had none of its usual spring. Even knowing the truth, it was hard for Marinette to overlap the image of him with Cat Noir. Hard, and maybe a moot point.

Marinette shook herself. No. Not a moot point. We will get the ring back. I will get it back. Anyone can make a mistake. She hop-stepped to catch up with Adrien and gave him her biggest smile, “Morning, Adrien!”

He might not know it, but he’d helped her become Ladybug. Now it was up to her to return the favor.

------------------------------------------------

Time was not on Marinette’s side though. Not even half the day had gone by when the school shook as if in an earthquake. Sirens sounded in the distance. Alya had her phone open to a news cast before anyone else even had theirs out.

“-eaking News. A giant man…monster…thing… has once again been sighted in downtown Paris. Police are on their way, but as we approach the presumed akuma I have to wonder, what can they hope to do? Will Ladybug and Cat Noir show up once again to save our fair city?”

Nadja’s voice rose clearly from the tiny screen. Marinette couldn’t make out the akuma clearly as the helicopter circled though. All at once the helicopter lurched.

Nadja turned to ask someone off screen, “What’s that smell?”

The camera jostled, the helicopter lurched again, and the image went dark.

Marinette jumped up, “We have to do something!”

“Do something?” Kim blurted out from the back before anyone else. “Ivan got turned into a giant monster and almost turned half the class into crepes! What are you gonna do? …No offense big guy.”

Marinette heard Ivan mumble something even as she watched Adrien’s shoulders slump in front of her. She had to think fast. “What am I gonna do? I’m gonna go to the bathroom! Can’t think on a full bladder, right? Haha. Ms. Bustier can I go please?”

Another rumble shook the entire classroom.

Nino scrambled to his feet, “It sounds like there won’t be a bathroom to go to pretty soon.”

Ms Bustier raised her voice clearly but gently, “Alright class, everyone out. We rendezvous at the park. Stay with your seatmates.”

Sorry Alya. Marinette bolted for the door.

It wasn’t until she set eyes on the akuma that Ladybug’s forebrain took control back from her reflexes. Fear grabbed ahold of her and queasiness dropped her on unsteady legs on the nearest rooftop. The akuma was huge, topping even stoneheart. It was visible head and shoulders above the rowhouses. The only saving grace was a strange familiarity. It was dressed like a baker, complete with toque on its head and giant wooden peel in its hands.

The combination of silliness and fear forced a nervous giggle from her lips. The giggle reminded her that she was alone this time, her partner couldn’t help her. That sealed her lips once more with fear. It’s all up to me, alone.

Doomsday scenarios pressed into her thoughts even as the akuma strode on in the distance. What’s its power? Why is it here? What is the item? Where is it go-

Ladybug’s brain did the math and drew the line from the akuma right through the school towards… Our bakery!

She was in motion instantly, vaulting two streets closer. She was crouched for another leap when her senses shoved another fact through her emotions. Screams.

Screams weren’t surprising, but the tone was wrong. The akuma swung its peel and something scattered below it. If only for a cat’s sight. Screams of fear turned to joy then fell silent.

Ladybug balked again. She had to think. Emotion wanted her to act, but she couldn’t afford to be wrong. How close could she get? The akuma moved on and she followed from a distance, trying to pick up any clues she could. How close is too close? The akuma plowed through a building in its way. More screams of fear, a swing of its peel and fear turned to joy then silence again.

She needed to get closer. But-

Ladybug was stuck.

----------------------------------------------------------

“Go away!” Chloé stalked across the square, away from the class.

Sabrina trotted after her. “But, Chloé… we’re seatmates! We’re supposed to stick together.”

Chloé spun around and screamed, “Stick together? Is that what you call it? You sure didn’t stick with me when I needed it! Save me the trouble and go play with your new friends right now. Go!”

She jabbed a finger over Sabrina’s shoulder, but didn’t wait to see the results of her outburst. Her stomach felt hollow and sick. Her fingers tingled and her eyes itched. She wanted to scream until she ran out of air, but that hadn’t done any good before.  So instead she was getting away from the others as fast as she could. Chloé jogged across the street from the park and was around a corner in seconds. Sabrina didn’t call after her again.

For some stupid reason that made the sickness in her stomach worse.

Chloé stalked blindly, immune to the cracking of masonry and the heavy tread that threatened to knock her off her feet. Out of her tunnel vision a single figure resolved in the distance. Red, spotted, standing still on a rooftop. Ladybug.

She was just…standing there. The crunch of another building rang out but the hero didn’t move. “DO SOMETHING!” Chloé howled at her, unheard.

She hated Ladybug. Ladybug was lame. Ladybug was a loser. Ladybug was a failure. Ladybug was a traitor. Ladybug… was a hero. Ladybug was supposed to be saving the day. The thoughts rattled around and fought until Chloé squeezed her eyes shut and dug her nails into her hair in frustration.

With a sudden clarity Chloé’s eyes snapped open again. She whipped a hand around in front of her. “You! Come out now!”

The black cat kwami sparked into existence, anger evident on his tiny features.

“Tell me how to transform!” she demanded.

He crossed his arms smugly and replied, “hmmm Mm mffm Hmm.”

Chloé growled, “Talk! You can talk! Tell me!”

The Kwami gasped but still grinned, “That’s the one thing you can’t order me to do, Miraculous or no.”

“Rrraaaaaggh!” Chloé pointed at the distant Ladybug, “She’s not doing anything. Tell me the password or we’re doomed!”

Plagg crossed his little arms, “Give me back to my rightful holder, and she’ll have a partner again.”

Chloé stomped her foot, “No! I can do this! I know what to do better than any of them do right now! I’m the hero!”

Pagg seemed unimpressed. He rolled his eyes,”You? Nobody would make you a hero. What would you even do with a miraculous?”

Chloé's world narrowed again,to a haze of red with a floating black blob in the center. She advanced on him, “I’ll cataclysm the stupid  akuma. I’ll cataclysm stupid Hawkmoth. I’ll cataclysm everyone and everything that gets in my way. No one will take you away and nothing will stop me this time.”

She was seething. Memories of disappointment, failure, and humiliation broke down into the core emotions and blended into a hateful spiral. She waited for the next barb to come, but instead Plagg’s green eyes turned towards her with a spark of devilish curiosity in them.

“Really?” he drew the word out, “That just might be interesting to see.” One fingerless hand thrust at her face. “Don’t think I’m out of tricks though. You just watch yourself.  It’s ‘Plagg, Claws out.’”

Emotion spoke before thought could form, “Plagg, Claws out!”

----------------------------------------------------------

The akuma waded through the remains of the school and Ladybug knew she had to act. The bakery was at hand, and though she couldn’t see from back here, she could just imagine her father standing out front with a rolling pin. She still didn’t have a plan. She hadn’t risked getting close enough to get a good look. It had seemed prudent, but a nagging voice whispered she might just be too scared on her own. Had Cat No- Adrien been brave enough for both of them?

She tensed for a leap, but a sound like a thunderbolt stopped her. A black blur streaked at the akuma. It struck clean, staggering the giant, and clung before scuttling across the akuma’s bulk.

Ladybug was airborne before she had time to doubt. The blur had resolved into a person, a cat person. Her foolish heart leapt for a moment at the impossible idea her partner might have returned. No- it wasn't him. This person darted and leapt from point to point, tearing at the akuma. Buttons, hat, pockets were all ripped and torn. The akuma reeled and swatted at the attacker. One meaty hand connected and sent the black-clad fighter into the pavement in an impressive crater. Ladybug didn’t even have time to gasp before the fighter leapt from the cracked road and was back in the fight.

Ladybug landed, still one block away. In part she was still gathering information, in part she wasn’t sure how to engage with that black buzzsaw in motion. She had time now, her partn-

The other fighter was buying her time.

Ladybug was still trying to understand the ferocity of the assault. The -Ladybug mentally decided on cat hero just to organize her thoughts- was fended off time and again, taking blows that had to hurt. They were -she was- was relentless though, rebounding from being knocked clean through nearby buildings.The akuma’s apron fluttered to the ground like a torn parachute.

It clicked, akumatized object!, just as the akuma found space to swing its bakery peel. This time Ladybug could discern pastries showering down from the end of it. The cat hero was crouched for another leap but instead raised her head and sniffed the air. She reoriented herself and pounced… the confections.

Ladybug had her info. She raised her yo-yo, “Lucky Charm!”

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The smell was irresistible. Chloé dove at the showering pastries, and she wasn’t the only one. Civilians swarmed out from everywhere, her classmates among them. Each and every one scrambled for the treats. There was no stopping it. Chloé bit down on a tart even as she scooped up half a dozen croissants. That she was aware of the compulsion made it worse. She growled around oozing jam and ground her teeth on buttery crust.

The too familiar feeling of helplessness was poison in her veins. Control, she needed to have some kind of control. She couldn’t stop so she pushed in the other direction. She crammed her mouth full until her jaw ached and she could barely breathe. It worked! She had a muffin in each hand but she could move freely again.

She launched herself at the akuma again.

A patch, no. A giant thermometer, no. She broke and broke. The muffins were goo, smashed against her palms. She couldn’t breathe but she wouldn’t stop.

Wouldn’t. Did. She bent double while crouching for another jump. Trying to inhale had dragged a chunk of her food-muzzle into her throat. She choked, coughed, heaved, choked again, and gasped for air. Her stomach twisted around the magical treats she’d already swallowed and dropped her to her knees.

Ziiiiip *thwip*

She was wrapped in a too-familiar away, airborne, grabbed, thumped on the back. She was spun again, free, something was shoved up her nose. Her overstimulated senses finally managed to focus. Her vision focused. Ladybug stood before her, with a tissue box in hand and polkadot tissues up each nostril.

Chloé hissed, “What do you think you're doing?”

“Saving you!” Ladybug grabbed her arm, “What do you think you are doing?”

Chloé pulled free and snarled, “He’s got an akumatized item on him somewhere, I’ll find it.”

Ladybug reached for her, “Do you have any idea what it is?”

Chloé recoiled and scanned. The akuma had turned away from them. It looked over the Dupain-Cheng bakery of all things. A petty part of her wanted to let it smash the place. That part of her became one more thing to be angry at.

She bared her teeth over her shoulder. “No, but I’m not the kind of hero who stands around doing nothing.”

She vaulted away with a protest lost in her wake. She landed and jumped again, elation mixing with rage. Her claws scored the doughy skin on the back of the akuma’s neck, checking the downward bakery-dooming swing of his peel. He swung it at her instead, showering her with sugary bait that no longer had any power over her. Her mouth was open, panting as a part of her breathing. What next? She picked a target and broke it. Then another, and another.

“The peel! Destroy the peel!” Ladybug’s voice rang in her ears.

Ladybug was a loser and probably wrong, but that wooden peel sure was big and this sure would be fun… “Cataclysm!”

She met the akuma’s swing with an outstretched hand. A grove’s worth of wood turned to powder at her touch. The butterfly flew free.

*Thwip* -snap- Ladybug caught and purified it. The akuma shrank to a befuddled looking baker. Chloé stood victorious in the center of a wasteland of violence and destruction.

Elation beat out anger, for just a moment. She threw her head back, spread her arms and, “Raaaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhhh!”

-------------------------------------------

The primal scream from right beside her made Ladybug cringe and fumble the lucky charm she had been about to toss into the air. Once she recovered herself the fact that the crisis had passed gave her a moment to actually evaluate her erstwhile companion. Evaluate, and remember that she was not a partner, she was a thief.

A ragged looking thief. Her blonde hair -did the cat miraculous make the user blonde?- was a voluminous mane down her back, bedecked with black metal hooks and barbs throughout. She turned post scream to give Ladybug a maniacal grin, revealing her needle-like fangs in place of incisors. Her heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one green, were feline as Cat Noir's had been, and her pupils were currently giant black moons swimming in color. 

“What are you looking at, Ladybum?” The thief drawled, raising the hand still dusted with cataclysm remains and flexing her fingers slowly.

Her gloved fingers ended in wicked looking black ‘claws’. She wore black leather, that much remained consistent too, but her V-neck collar was torn, not tailored.  Lastly, in place of Chat’s amusing belt-tail she had a razor thin wire wrapped around her waist with a heavy cat's paw pendant hanging from the end.

Ladybug narrowed her eyes, “You stole Cat Noir’s miraculous.”

The thief turned her hand, revealing the paw print ring with three toes left. “Finders keepers.”

Ladybug swapped hands and spun her yo-yo up, “Give it back.”

“No!” The thief lunged, catching Ladybug’s yo-yo mid-spin.

Ladybug countered, wrapping her line around the other girl’s arm ensnaring her. The thief’s other hand went for Ladybug’s neck. Ladybug blocked the lunge with the remaining length of her string, but the other girl’s palm pressed within scant centimeters. They were locked taut. Whoever gave ground would lose.

Those wild eyes were narrowed to slits. No akuma had ever scared Ladybug this badly. The anger melted from those features but the fingers still stretched for Ladybug’s throat. Ladybug felt a prick against her skin. “It has to be a pun, doesn’t it? Of course it does. Call me… Purrge. I’m going to turn Hawkmoth to dust, and anyone in my way.”

Ladybug strained. Her own anger fueled a push that took Purrge’s claws from her skin. “You’re crazy! I’m taking that ring back. You don’t deser-”

*Chirp* *chirp*

The overlapping sounds cut across the tension. Purrge’s eyes darted to Ladybug’s earrings. Ladybug’s were drawn to Purrge’s ring. Her mind raced. Has it been three or four?

Purrge’s lips curled into a sharp fanged grin, “You used yours first. You think you can take me down in time?”

Ladybug wanted to, oh she ached to, but there was more riding on this than personal satisfaction, but how to- A very slight easing of the pressure against her line; was it a ceasefire? Ladybug took a chance.

She pulled back, letting the line go slack. No claws cut off her breath. She didn’t wait. She scooped up the lucky charm and turned, “This isn’t over!  Miraculous Ladybugs!”

Ladybug tossed the charm even as she began her swing. Triumphant cackling bubbled up behind her. She didn’t look back. Paris rebuilt itself as Ladybug swung further away, seeking out a quiet spot and settling for behind a dumpster.

Marinette burst from the shadow of the dumpster at a run. If she got back quick enough maybe she could catch a glimpse. Maybe there would be a clue. Maybe she could get her partner back.

There wasn’t, and she couldn’t. Not yet at least. All that awaited her was the rest of the class. Alya almost knocked her over, grousing and shaking her by the shoulders while delivering a friendly but stern dressing down. At least she wasn’t the only one gone. Chloé had unsurprisingly run off and still wasn’t back. It took some of the heat off at least.

A few of the class, plus her parents, were gathered around a baker who sat head in hands on the curb. Marinette recognized him immediately, from even before the akuma. She scooted into the semi-circle.

“Mssr. Levure?”

He looked up in confusion.

Marinette gave him a guilty smile, “I’m Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

She saw surprise, anger, then guilt pass over his features.

She continued, “I’m sorry. I think I’m at least partly responsible for all this. I convinced the curator to switch bakeries. I just wanted to help my family… but I didn’t stop to think about how doing it this way would impact them, or you. I know my dad and he’ll run himself into the ground to do all this work. Not only that but our bakery will probably be closed so he can do it. All our other customers will suffer.”

Marinette looked at her parents, who watched her with proud curiosity. She looked back to Mssr. Levure.

“Maybe… both bakeries can share the catering? I’ll make signs. We can promote both and have an even better, more varied selection for our guests. Would that be okay?”

Marinette held her breath. Mssr. Levure, her dad, and her mom held one of those ‘glance and head tilt’ conversations adults so often did. Then he stood and brushed his hands off before holding one out to Tom. “A temporary partnership?”

Tom shook hands, smiling. “Done.”

A small cheer erupted from the half dozen onlookers, and Marinette had the satisfaction of righting at least one wrong today. Still, there was one other… She looked around and spotted Adrien sitting by himself.

“What a day huh?” She announced her presence.

She might be right next to him, but he was still sitting far apart. “Did you see? Ladybug’s got a new partner.”

“Partner?! Oh no no, that’s not what it looked like to me at all. More like a new enemy, or a stray cat, or an enemy cat, or a stray enemy. There’s no way Ladybug would just replace her partner.”

Adrien turned to face her for the first time. The hope on his face was heartbreaking. “You really think so?”

Marinette fidgeted. Instinct said he needed a hug, but, but… he was… and she was…  Nervous laughter bubbled up without warning, “Ha! Sure sure No way! Oh look! It’s Alya! No one knows Ladybug like her. She runs the Ladyblog! Why don’t we go ask her together? I’m sure she’ll know! Come on!”

She waved her arms frantically to signal Alya, kicking herself internally the entire time.

---------------------------------------------------

On a rooftop balcony nearby Purrge landed hard. What should have been a hero landing turned into a stumble, a stagger, and a few lurching steps. A flash of green enveloped her, then Chloé collapsed face first onto the pavement.

Plagg zipped in a wide loop through the air, “What a debut! I think you broke three whole blocks before Ladybug put it all back together. Crack! Boom! That was fun, and you still beat the akuma, so Master Fu can’t yell at me!”

Chloé’s persistently prone repose caught his attention.

“Kid? Kid?”

He floated over, sitting atop her head, no response.  He turned an ear down against her skull, then floated to her back to do the same.

“Tsk, You gotta let the timer run out when it wants to, kid. You’re still pretty small.”

This got a response. The fingers of one of Chloé’s hands curled into a white knuckled fist for the space of a breath before uncurling again.

Plagg hmphed.

A CCTV camera, set up for security footage but never watched, recorded something odd that day.  The blanket from Chloe’s bed lifted itself by a single point and dragged itself out to the balcony(after one of the balcony doors mysteriously rotted off its hinges) The blanket was spread haphazardly over the recumbent heiress.

A little later the trashcan in the suite tipped itself over, and trash began emptying itself onto the floor.

------------------------------------------------

“Master Please! Calm, Master! Here, your beads.” Wayzz hovered nervously with the prayer bracelet in his hands.

“Calm? Calm!” Master Fu paced between the gramophone that hid the miracle box and the small TV in his room. He would stare at the TV, then go reach for the gramophone, then pace back to the TV.

When he turned to Wayzz his face looked pained and afraid, not angry. He pointed at the TV, “How can I be calm when… that?!”

Frozen on the TV was a still frame of Ladybug and a Black Cat wielder who was obviously not Cat Noir, locked in a struggle.

“The Cat Miraculous is out there in an unknown holder’s hands. It could be in danger. The Ladybug could be in danger. If Hawkmoth were to get his hands on the Ladybug…”

He went back to the gramophone again and laid his hands atop it,

“We must get it back. We must be careful, but we cannot delay. Ladybug will need help in the meantime, someone she can rely on, a power that can aid her when there are so many variables in play.”

“Master, do you mean…?”

Fu keyed in the secret combination to open the antique player, and reached for the Miracle Box hidden within. “Yes Wayzz, him.”

[redtippedfox]

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Old followers remember my Akuma! Adrien Eros design! For this Valentine’s Day I decided to bring him back! I even wrote a small snipet! I know by the time I upload this it’s gonna be late but I had a pretty busy day and I am just glad that I was able to even finish this!

—————————————————————————————————————————-

She couldn’t see anything, Eros’s wings were covering her, she couldn’t see, she couldn’t hear. All she could feel was Adrien’s-no…Eros’s magic trying to transform her, make her surrender to his power. Become what he wanted her to become. The intense feeling of his love was like a noose around her neck, suffocating and sweet. Oh god it was so sweet and warm and it…She was suffocating, she needed air but if she desired air she would have to give in.

Marinette tried to claw at the golden armor of her lover-no! Her friend! He wasn’t her lover! He was her friend! He made that clear that he wasn’t in love with Marinette!

Yes he is, you can have his love if you just give in

Her fingers pulled and scraped against the metallic metal as Eros squeezed tighter, his golden armor shining as bright as the sun. She can feel Adrien’s breath, he’s chuckling, he waiting.

Waiting for her to stop fighting and just surrender

Marinette lets out a muffled cry as another wave of love slams into her, his feathers so soft and comforting, so tempting to just surrender and see the sun again.

He is the sun, you can see him again if you just stop fighting

“Adrien please.” She begs, his wings shift, becoming tighter as he buries his face into her hair. “Please, let me go…Adrien!”

Marinette can’t tell which Miraculous is being used, Juliation, Passion, Pretension? It’s strong, familiar, it might be Diazzi or Ziggy. Orikko could work to but he can’t do anything with love for those concepts belonged to others.

“Adrien, you have to let go! Please! You’ve been Akumatized, this isn’t what you want!” She tries to pull his real self out, but the wings fold in more, Adrien’s head shifts from his place in her hair.

You are what he wants, just give him what he wants, he just wants you

As she struggled Marinette could remember how quickly Adrien had given into Monarchs control, one minute Lila had been whispering something to him, the Akuma sank into his ring and the next he was Eros, flying high into the sky and the diving down, grabbing Marinette and trapping her in his wings.

He learned the truth, he knows you love him, he loves you too…so why fight when he knows?

Marinette couldn’t breathe

He’ll be your oxygen, just give in

Marinette couldn’t see

He’ll be your eyes, just give in

She wanted it to stop!

She needed it to stop! She had to transform! She had to save him!

You can save him by loving him

No! She needed to get out! She needed to-

“Marinette please…just give in…just let me love you the way you did all those years ago”

His voice is the same but it’s weak, it’s vulnerable, it’s needy…it’s full of love.

She gives in

———————————————————-

Marinette intakes her first breath of air, her vision reappears as the soft wings gracefully open up, she feels lighter. Eros’s wings flair out revealing the world around them has changed, it’s prettier and softer. Marinette feels dizzy for a few seconds as he sees the rest of her legs transformed. Her pants and slippers gone as a light pink dress replaces her original clothes.

“There we go, isn’t that better? It feels good to give in rather than fight it.” Adrien chuckles as he looks down at Marinette, his face beaming brightly almost as bright as his halo that resides on his head.

Marinette doesn’t say anything as her conscious is drowned by the loving feeling.

Eros smiles and holds her tight.

“I love you Marinette.”

“Say you love me too”

Marinette gives in.

“I love you too…Adrien.”

Eros has found his Psyche and he doesn’t plan on letting her go.

He’ll make sure she stays

[baenyth]

Bethany's Bizarre Miraculous Reviews Episode 5-12: The Dragon Miraculous: Kagami Got Fed Gullible Soup...

I heard in this episode 1. Adrien sings a song, 2. Marinette Moos, and 3. Kagami's character goes down the toilet. Let us proceed.

Oh right. The romance subplot.

They're so in-sync. I love it.

Yes! She said it! She said the Chloe line!

Those were some good moments. Did the animators have fun too?

Not even shoving the two together works.

This show's romance plot is watching all the steps to cause the apocalypse happen in real time. Doomed.

Well Sabrina, at least you're still Chloe's girlfriend.

Well, if you can't say it to Adrien while looking at his face, just do it with your eyes closed!

Cowe

Wait, Marinette's phone has personalized alarms like that? How? Is there an app for that?

At this point I'm looking at all this Adrienette stuff like ._. This is going to cause the apocalypse. Adrienette is a doomed hetero relationship and I will die on that hill except I won't. You'll be the one dying on that hill when I kill you for trying to kill me on my hill.

Good song. Good melody. Good instrumentation.

Kagami's gonna get akumatized because of Marinette cutting her out without Mari even realizing it, isn't she?

Quitter

And there it is. After Lila kissed her boyfriend that one time I don't know why Kagami would ever trust her.

Oh god she really has no friends.

At least she's not going to become Lila's puppet, at least.

Honestly that one scene just makes me believe my "Lila kills teenage girls and steals their identities" theory even more. Part of the theory is that Lila's, like, 36 and just looks like a teen, btw.

"Are you depressed and friendless? Don't worry! I'll just make you blind and deaf!"

Big cloud

Oh. She just can't sense other people.

So the time limits have extended and it just hasn't been mentioned, right? There's no way this plan could be done in five minutes.

Oh. Suicide by evaporation.

SHE STILL TRUSTS LILA!?

Don't akumatize Tomoe's daughter in the ring. Got it. I think this is the only evidence for sentikagami before it's revealed.

Honestly I'd befriend Kagami. She's autistic and has no irl friends like me. I think there's a good chance we can vibe.

[queenofmistresses]

comforting chat after a big battle, maybe a reveal that he’s adrien and then lots of cuddling and kissing

A/n well the answer to that was yes apparently! I loved doing this! Please send more fluffy stuff guys! (Btw haven’t proof read so sorry!!)

I hate watching the battles from a distance, never quite sure who’s winning or what’s happening, I promised Chat I wouldn’t put myself in danger. I don’t see how I could help anyway, I don’t have superpowers.

Even though I have complete faith in Chat, and know that Hawkmoth has never come close to winning, I still worry. Hawkmoth is getting better, the battles are getting more brutal.

Chat’s struggling more and more every time, all I want is for this to be over.

This battle is even worse, because ladybug isn’t there. Ladybugs powers means that she can reverse any damage done during the battle, without her or her miraculous, the damage is permanent.

so far they seem to have kept away from the city, I’m watching the live newstream on the edge of my seat, waiting and hoping. Chat doesn’t look good.

After an hour of watching them struggle, Chat wins, using his cataclysm to destroy the miraculous. He doesn’t engage with the news reporters and once he sees the akuma’s victim is safe, he leaves.

He looked terrible.

It’s not long before I hear a knock at my window, I turn and see my kitty there, bleeding. I let him in and sit him down on my bed, grabbing the first aid kit.

When I walk back in the room I see tears streaming down his face. I put the kit down on the floor and pull Chat into me, holding him and trying to soothe him, telling him he’s safe now, he did it, Paris is safe again, it’s okay.

He only sobs harder and clings to me tighter. I would hold him like this forever if I could, knowing he’s safe. The problem though, is that his ring is beeping.

“Chat, sweetheart, your ring is beeping, I have some cheese to recharge Plagg and you can hide in my bathroom?” He shakes his head and leans in impossibly closer to me. “Chat, if you don’t then I’ll know your identity.” Once again he shakes his head, not moving.

“Please, I need to tell someone.” He weeps and grips into my shirt. “I can’t do this alone anymore.” I hold his face gently and lift his chin up to look at me, he looks so scared, and so so alone. No one should have to face this alone.

I ask if he’s sure that’s what he wants, he says he is, so I nod and bring him back into me, letting the timer run its course. I can’t see his face, I want to give him a chance to back out up until the very last moment, just in case.

It’s not long before the suit vanishes, leaving a seemingly ordinary boy in my arms. A black creature that can only really be Plagg, though we’ve never met face to face before.

He looks at me, then down at Chat, he seems as worried as me. “Kid? Are you sure about this?” He flies to him, close to his head. Chat nods and slowly lifts himself up to look at me, really face me for the first time.

Well, it turns out, not for the first time. “Adrien?!” I gasp. He nods again, looking pale and worried and expectant. I throw myself at him and hold him tight. “I didn’t have any guesses to who you are but I’m so glad it’s you.” I say quietly.

I feel him deflate in relief and hold me tighter. I see Plagg sigh and give me what I think is a smile, and fly down to give Adrien a hug against his back.

When Adrien has calmed down enough to be able to let go of me, I help him with his injuries, they’re not nearly as bad as they initially look, thank goodness.

I bring him and Plagg some food, not wanting either of them to be uncomfortable, and then Adrien asks if they could stay the night. Of course I don’t even hesitate before I say yes.

A part of me wants to spend the night asking the mountains of questions that have come to mind since he revealed himself, but I know that this isn’t the right thing for him.

So I give him some of my dads clothes that I stole when i was younger to make him more comfortable and then we lie down for the night.

I don’t know how long it took either of us to fall asleep, but we don’t say anything to each other, we just cling onto each other as much as we can until next thing we know it’s the late morning and we don’t know where the time went.

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 24. Misaligned Approaches (Oni-Chan 2.0, part A)

< First | < Previous | Next >

Bonus: The bread lesson Rolland teaches Adrien immediately before this page takes place that I had to cut to save space.

Description below the cut

Alya sits on Marinette’s chaise lounge looking at her phone.  Marinette looks upwards, clenching her fists in vindication.

Alya: Preliminary results about Catwalker are in.  Verdict: Pretty skeevy.

Marinette: I knew it!  Tell me everything!

Alya scrolls through the messages on her phone.

Alya: My informant doesn't have any concrete evidence yet and most of this is just vibes, but...

Alya: Catwalker did specifically mention you by name.

Marinette: What??

Alya: When confronting my informant, Catwalker got defensive and asked if 'someone Marinette knows' sent them.

Marinette places her hand on Alya’s shoulder, looking shaken.  Alya looks up at her with a look of uneasiness.

Marinette: Does that mean he knows you're Rena?

Alya: Or he might be on the verge of discovering your identity.  Either way, I'm certainly not comfortable working alongside him anymore.

From behind, we see Marinette hold a hand up to the sky and clench her other hand in a fist in resolution.

Marinette: Because of Mayura we can't just fire him, but we can contain him.  We'll rely on the rest of the team for all battles and restrict his interactions with everyone.  If he steps out of line, all bets are off and we treat him like he's another akuma.  And we keep investigating.  I just know that he's up to something terrible right now and we've got to put a stop to it!

Rolland shuts a book between his hands entitled Pain.  Adrien holds up a hand and offers a wishful grin.  Behind them is the cabinet of things in Rolland’s living room, including the Lost flyer of Adrien, which is draped over a box.

Rolland: So: Shall we bake?

Adrien: I sure wouldn't mind if you showed me how to make baguettes...

Rolland: Bahaha!  Baguettes!  You are in no way ready to bake baguettes!  No, we start with something far more traditional: the boule!

Rolland holds up a finger.

Rolland: But first: you must wash your hands.

Adrien: Of course!

Rolland: And take off that ring.

Adrien: Wh—what's wrong with my ring?

Rolland grab’s Adrien’s hand and points at the indentations in his ring.

Rolland: Just look at it!  Flour is going to collect in all of those crevices!  It is much simpler to just take off your ring while baking.

Adrien looks at his miraculous in thought.  Behind him is the sink with the handle of a knife poking out of it.

Adrien (internally): I shouldn't take any chances of being caught without wearing my miraculous.  But maybe if I don't stop wearing it...?

Adrien kneels on the ground and uses a knife to cut through the front rubber part of his shoe.

Rolland: What are you doing?

Adrien: Making a hole in my shoe! If I can't wear my ring on my finger... I can still have easy access by slipping it on my toe instead!

Adrien turns his knife aside and uses his other hand to slip his miraculous through the new hole in his shoe.  Rolland’s hand reaches down from above dangerously close to the knife.

Rolland: You are using one of my knives to cut through rubber?!

Adrien: I'll clean it after I'm done, don't worry.

Rolland: That is not the point!

The knife’s edge cuts the back of Rolland’s hand.

Rolland: Give that b—Aaack!

Adrien touches his hands to the bottom of his face.  One hand is still holding the knife, which now has a small spot of blood near the tip.

Adrien: I'm so sorry!  I didn't mean to—!  Please don't fire me!

Rolland: Oh, hush.  It's barely a scratch!

Adrien: I'll get the first aid kit!  Where's the first aid kit?  Do you have a first aid kit?

Rolland: I'll handle that without you.

Rolland waves his hand grumpily.

Rolland: You just worry about washing up my knife!  Without cutting anything that is not food this time!

Adrien: Y-yes, sir!

Rolland slams the doors between the kitchen and living room shut, so that Adrien is alone in the kitchen and Rolland is alone with his collectibles.

Rolland (internally): Don't lose your temper, Rolland.  Baldy's still a child.  He's probably never been in a kitchen before.  Whoever raised him had no idea how it's done.  Teaching him that is your job now.

Rolland digs through the box on his cabinet, one hand picking up the Lost flyer to move it out of the way.  As he does so, Oni-Chan teleports behind him with her sword pointed over his shoulder.

Rolland (internally): Now where did I put those banda—?

Oni-Chan: Where are you keeping Adrien Agreste?

Oni-Chan grabs Rolland’s shirt and holds her sword above his head threateningly.  Rolland is still holding onto the flyer and looks panicked.

Rolland: Aahhh!

Oni-Chan: Tell me where Adrien is before I strike you right where you stand!

Rolland: You mean the missing angel boy?  I don't know!  What does a Chinese monster want with him?

Oni-Chan swings her sword.

Oni-Chan: I'm not a monster!

Rolland has now become frozen in place, covered in splotches of white, red, and black.  Oni-Chan stands behind him, looking back over her shoulder.

Oni-Chan: If anyone else stands in my way, they're getting petrified too.  And for the record, I'm Japanese.

Oni-Chan kicks down the doors into the kitchen.  No one is there, only a slight movement of the window drapes in the background.

Oni-Chan: Hi-yaaah!  Shadowmoth!  He's not here!

Shadowmoth (over akuma connection): The old man must have seen Adrien somewhere.

Oni-Chan: The only sign of Adrien anywhere is on the flyer that man was looking at!  Wait...

Oni-Chan, a butterfly light mask in front of her face showing her communication with Shadowmoth, grabs the Lost flyer and slices through Adrien’s face with her sword.

Oni-Chan: I was promised the ability to track the last person who saw Adrien, but these powers sent me to someone who was just looking at an Adrien picture!

Oni-Chan throws up her hand in frustration.  There is also a closeup of Shadowmoth (also with the butterfly light mask) from his lair, holding out a hand negotiatingly.

Oni-Chan: Do you have any idea how many people are looking at pictures of Adrien?

Shadowmoth: Millions every day.  ...I presume.

Oni-Chan: I will not sift through millions of people merely because you gave me unusable powers!

Shadowmoth: Would you rather I take your powers away and leave you without any leads at all?

Oni-Chan: No!  No, I'll keep my akuma.  But I'm not going to try to get Ladybug and Catwalker's miraculouses for you until after I find Adrien.  You want me to help you?  You help me first.

Shadowmoth: I could create a sentimonster to destroy all instances of Adrien's image until you find the real one.

Oni-Chan: Then do that!

Shadowmoth: I'll need time to prepare the amok.

Oni-Chan starts to teleport away, her expression resolute.

Oni-Chan: Well, I'm not wasting my time waiting.  Have your sentimonster summon me when it's ready.

Cut to Adrien and Plagg outside Rolland’s residence, watching as the light of Oni-Chan’s teleport flashes through the window curtains.  Adrien still has the knife and replaces his miraculous back on his ring finger.

Adrien: Do you think Oni-Chan really came here because Rolland saw me on Marinette's flyer?

Plagg: Probably not.  Akuma powers usually work however the akuma expects them to and Rolland was the last person to see you.

Adrien: But her expectations just changed.  So maybe people seeing pictures of Adrien will be tracked by her powers now?

Plagg: Even if you do turn out to be that lucky, you're still better off being Catwalker instead of Adrien.

Adrien: Right.  Plagg, claws out!

--

Bonus Scene:

Rolland holds up a hand invitingly.

Rolland: Baldy, you have returned from your morning walk!  Now we can begin your lessons in flour!

Adrien: Yeah, okay.

Rolland: What do you mean 'okay'?  I thought you wanted to be my apprentice?

Adrien pulls off his beanie, looking discouraged.

Adrien: Sorry, I just saw a friend and he... Never mind.  It's nothing.

Rolland: Nothing?

Adrien: Bread is the most important thing, right?  Teach me everything I need to know.  I'm... ready.

Rolland: You are not quite ready yet.  First...

Cut to Adrien taking a bite of bread, happily going ‘nom! nom! nom!’.

Rolland: ...You must eat!

Adrien: Ooh!

Rolland: It's from yesterday, but it is better than nothing!  We French know the value of bread, for we remember the days when we did not have it!

Rolland holds up the book Pain : pour les enfants! and reads to Adrien as he finishes his bread.

Rolland: This is today's lesson: how wheat shortage caused the Revolution!  Wheat gives us flour, flour gives us bread, and bread is life!  And when the wheat harvests failed, we survived by eating whatever awful bread from bran we could afford—if we could even afford that!

Rolland points to a picture of Marie Antoinette holding a purple rose in the book, which has the caption “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”.

Rolland: But who wasn't starving?  The nobility!  They still ate fancy Viennese breads made with refined white flour!  And while France suffered, Marie Antoinette had the gall to tell us ‘Let them eat cake!’

Adrien holds up a correcting finger.

Adrien: Isn't that quote apocryphal?

Rolland: What?

Adrien: No one ever verified that it was Marie Antoinette who said that.  And even if she did, she would have been just a kid at the time.

Rolland: Bah!  That’s not important!

Rolland holds up the book in front of his face.  On one page, a pie chart with 75% blé (wheat) and 25% seigle (rye).  On the other page is a guillotine surrounded by bread and centering the French flag, below which is the caption “Pain d'égalité”.

Rolland: The point is that the people of France revolted because of this, because of bread!  And once we got rid of those pesky nobles, France could have one bread: the bread of equality!  It would be made from all our grains, from wheat to rye, and everyone would eat it!

Adrien: Sounds much simpler.

Rolland: Very simple!  But it wasn't to be.  People still want their fancy flour.

Rolland holds up his wooden peel in one hand and his metal peel in the other in a pose reminiscent of the painting Liberty Leading the People.

Rolland: But once there was no more shortage of wheat, the government decreed that bakers must follow strict rules.  You want to make a baguette?  It must be the right size and made with the right ingredients!  You run a boulangerie?  You must make your bread on-site!  And you must never close shop without warning!  We do this so no one will suffer the pains of being forced to eat terrible bread—or no bread—ever again!  Because here in France, that is how it is done!  So: shall we bake?

Below are the same images as above, only without text:

[familyagrestefanblog]

If the woman at the pool really is Amilie then from S6 onwards we will have 2 orphans in the main narrative: Adrien and Lila

That fact that it's these two is honestly weirdly giving me hope

and yes, Adrien is an orphan. Just because he doesn't live alone and has legal guardian/s and a girlfriend doesn't it mean he isn't an orphan anymore. Marinette holding his hands and kissing him is not undoing the fact that Adrien's mother died harshly of illness almost 2 years ago and he thinks his father now died because Ladybug was partnerless and Gabriel as the only adult member of the Resistance and as Adrien's father - Adrien, who was thought to have been kidnapped - filled in Chat's place to defeat Monarque.

The amount of death surrounding Adrien's narrative right now - if the woman truly is Amilie - is beyond concerning.

Add Adrien blaming himself for Monarque having been cataclysmed in "Destruction" to the mix, plus depending on how Ladybug will go about Monarque's defeat she may use as a cover story towards the world in a panic reaction that Monarque crumbled to dust because of the cataclysm, which would indirectly but very directly include making Chat Noir responsible for Monarque's death in front of the whole world which in normal Miraculous fashion Marinette probably only accepts 20 episodes later to sweep it under the rug because *sighs; unfortunately insert random excuse for why she's blameless*

And let's not forget the fact that Adrien still had to wittness Nathalie having been sick like his mother (though Adrien never saw Nathalie in her worst state) and he also knows that Nathalie and his father were very close to the point where he has already given his blessing in season 3 and in s5 Nathalie has worn his mother's ring.

And now Adrien has every reason to blame himself for his father's death.

Take a damn guess if Nathalie being his legal guardian is enough for Adrien to not be or feel like an orphan anymore!

Then there is Amilie being around who looks like his dead mother and most likely can't stand either of his dead parents

Or Félix being around who gave ShadowMoth the 15 miraculous' which made Monarque as powerful and dangerous as he was (that's an objective fact) which for Adrien also would have lead into his father's death which is gonna be awful when Félix bad mouths Gabriel with Kagami, Marinette, Ladybug or in general.

Depending on what everyone else thinks and remembers, Adrien's friends may bad mouth Gabriel as Adrien's father too since that's what everything has lead up to by "Representation".

And let's not even get into Lila now.

The way Lila at this point would have such alarmingly easy game taking Adrien from Marinette and the rest of his friends and family, and also Chat Noir from Ladybug and her team that has barely ever been his anyway - especially now that there are 4 people in Ladybug's team who know her identity and he will continue not being allowed to be included in any of that, because I don't know how realistic it is to hold onto any hope regarding this - is ... insane. This is absolutely insane.

I know hoping that the new villain will latch onto everything bad and unfair is a shitty and biased thing to do, but Lila's villain narrative will be all about her being an orphan (right? That makes sense with the whole mothers thing and her extreme attention seeking behavior while not having a home. Just dialed up to the worst 11) and now Adrien is one too after.. all of THAT and how Adrinette and especially Ladynoir are at risk because of all the lies and secrets Lila is perfectly aware of.

For me there is a difference between wanting a new villain to latch onto the unfair treatment of a character because of one's own personal biase and just straight up refusing to get out of one's denial to acknowledge it when a new villain not only as an established character but story wise too has every reason in the book to do that now.

Do what you want, but I'm not putting my TRUST into LILA for her to not be as stupid as Gabriel because that's "mean to Marinette/Ladybug"

[coq-courage]

What are you most excited about that's coming up in your au's? I like your rabbit Marc a lot.

awwww thaaaaank ye i love Wonderland a lot too

uhhh lets see, in my AU's....

well today i was mostly messing with my akuma city one, but since we both like Wondieboi, lemme tell you about my current block with his story

okay so, i am torn in which direction i wanna take it, that is legitimately the only reason i haven't posted more about him, and considering he's a rabbit i could technically just like, do every route, show every possibility

A Few Choice Endings Below Read More

Really Happy Go Lucky Ending: Marc returns to his little parisian suburban cottage and forgives Nath for hiding things, they cancel the divorce, they live happily ever after....... its nice but like, it's not much of a story, its more of an already healed story and those are short and sweet

More Realistic But Still In The End Happy Ending: Marc returns after he calms down and they try to talk things out but he can't help but get angry again because he lost. his. sister. (non biological) because of Nath's inaction. And maybe there's a hatefuck or a crying fucking and they're just messy and all that. That's a good story, it's a relatable one (if you ignore the magic), you could include rebuilding of the world in there since ya know, no ladybug, could even throw a funeral if i wanted. This could easily turn into any ship.

Also More Realistic But In The End an UNhappy Ending: He doesn't calm down first. He throws the rings, he has a good cry in the burrow, and he's right back seconds later Nath's time, starting a fight immediately because how DARE you hold something so secret when you knew all of his secrets, how dare you not tell him when something was going on that he could have prevented. This story would hurt and you would enjoy it. Again, any ship possible. Could become a toxic yaoi with nath offering anything and everything to make marc feel better, could end with marc deciding he needed to turn his hate to marinette's actual killer, adrien, whom he's always had a crush on but never acted on because marinette had shown interest once

Much Less Realistic Version With Major Misunderstandings But Inevitably Happy Ending: Marc takes plenty of time to calm down and give nath time to calm down and a few months later, after running around timelines and worlds trying to find some joy, he returns to their cottage and he's ready to talk and he sees a small child in the garden and the child looks at him, brown hair, turns around and calls "Daddy! There's a bunny in the garden!" and Marc looks in the direction they called and sees a shock of red hair and he remembers his hair is black and yes Nath is trans but he had very clearly told him No Children once and Wonderland runs before Nath can get closer and he could see that it's an older Nath and he got out too far in the future. That would be a story of figuring out misunderstandings had happened, forgiveness had happened. It would be fun and you'd want to strangle the lad but its okay, he'll get there eventually.

And then....

My Realism Be Damned This WIll Be Unhappy For The Sake Of Ending: this is where I would introduce his evil rabbit self, a right and total bastard that well, you see.... at the end of the posted ficlet, bunny!Marc had THREE (and a half) Miraculous on him.

Rabbit

Black Cat

Half a Ladybug earring...

and the Butterfly.

The Mad Hatter is a Rabbit + Butterfly duo and I can easily edit his timeline to let him have the Cat too. Just imagine the destruction he could create

And his only goal? Destroy everything after taking everything from Nath, everything he ever loved or will love, and go back through his timeline from childhood on and just ruin him

All while working with older Mad Hatters, up until the oldest Mad Hatter. Presumably his plan works and the universe is destroyed and that's why there's no Mad Hatter older than a specific age

I've actually written quite a bit on this one if ya want?

[depressed-teacup-inc]

Ok what was that play

Ok hi everyone, episode 24 out (yes I’m aware episode 23 isn’t out so we lack a whole bunch of fucking context) but let’s try to analyze this anyways.

So. Let’s try to take this a little bit at a time.

Episode starts, and Adrien is in London (probably happened in episode 23) and clearly had a bad falling out with marinette, courtesy of abuse mcbusive dad. Great.

Listen Adrien this episode was a mixed bag for me, because on one side I’m so happy that he finally got to stand up to his dad and tell him shit as it is (especially considering what happens in the season 5 finale which I will not spoil for those who didn’t see the leaks, but let’s just say he doesn’t get the chance to ever stand up to that man again) but the fact that all of that eventually boils down to “I’m done with you because you won’t let me be with marinette” is kinda upsetting?

And that’s really my biggest disappointment with Adrien’s character this season! Adrien was always a compelling and sweet protagonist that beyond romance, held friendship and support above everything, and craved freedom to live his own life, but all of this is kinda gone? He’s just a reward for marinette to win and save now, and everything he does (rebelling for his freedom) is only because of marinette.

If Gabriel decided to suddenly approve of Marinette or Marinette grew up to become just as bad as Gabriel (which frankly, considering the dynamic ladybug has with Chat Noir, where she constantly screamed at him until he became her yes man is unfortunately likely), Adrien would let it be, because he and marinette can be together! He would let himself be abused because he never actually grew as a person! If anything, he was downgraded by the show to purely Marinette’s love interest and it’s just such a disappointment because I genuinely enjoyed Adrien’s character (for all his flaws and bad writing in the show).

Anyways Adrien tangent aside, marinette goes looking for him during the end of year party (which just sidenote, a trampoline on the Eiffel Tower sounds super dangerous, and Marinette’s dress? Ugly as hell, for the dress that’s supposed to represent how much she’s grown and her talent in capturing people’s hearts with her designs, it is really bad, and I would have just put her in that concept art gown they had for her with the butterflies and warm pink gradient) and ends up in the art room of her school, where Felix and Kagami reveal to her the entire truth about the Agreste family!

…ok so several notes on this entire situation:

1. I’m sorry but for the life of me I couldn’t take this fucking play seriously. The masks and the poor props (the pillow for the baby bump) and Felix and Kagami’s super stiff abstract acting made me lose my shit and laugh, they could have literally just used the camera amok to make something with a bit more of a budget and an interesting art style, and had Felix and Kagami be the narrators instead of this shit

2. The sheer absurdity of this show to reveal all the biggest plot points and the entire catalyst for this story (if Emilie never made the sentibabies she would have lived and peacock miraculous wouldn’t have been broken, hence Gabriel wouldn’t be Hawkmoth) through a fucking play is beyond me and shows how little care the writers put into the plot of this show that doesn’t revolve marinette and true love, we should have figured this out not from two side characters but rather through Gabriel himself (bonus points IF ADRIEN GETS TO KNOW THE FUCKING TRUTH RATHER THEN HAVE MARINETTE KNOW IT AND CONTROL ADRIEN)

3. Felix and Kagami’s motives

Ok so this is a bit of a longer point, so let’s break this down. So I don’t understand Felix and Kagami’s motive change at all? I thought Felix all this time was working towards getting the peacock miraculous and stealing all the rings from the abusive parents because it was a moral thing for him? Like he is a sentimonster and he knows Adrien is a sentimonster, and therefore he keeps fighting to protect and save his cousin?

BUT APPARENTLY THATS NOT THE SITUATION ANYMORE??? So apparently Kagami is a sentimonster too (tho she never before season 5 gave that impression at all? If anything she seems very headstrong and independent, and her mom was never villain levels abusive, BUT I GUESS SHE IS NOW?!) and Adrien is not (this I believe is purely Felix being misinformed and not having the full picture, because there’s no way in hell this show would literally use the same visuals they used on Adrien to describe Felix being controlled by the ring without wanting people to draw a connection, but I thought Felix knew? I mean he was saying how he did all of this in hopes of freeing his dear cousin, so I assumed Felix knew all this time)

And because of that? Felix’s motive? True loveeeee.

…ok listen I don’t hate Felix and Kagami together but holy shit I hate that motive

Cuz it’s not like Felix can have a compelling motive for doing less then ok things because of devotion to family and protecting someone who’s the same as him (tho I will concede Kagami and Felix are apparently in love for being sentikids together and they are a cute dynamic so good for them) NO YOU GUYS WE NEED A HETEROSEXUAL ROMANCE, AND SCREW FELIX TAKING DIRECT ACTION TO SAVE ADRIEN AND TELLING HIM THE TRUTH, LETS JUST TELL MARINETTE EVERYTHING AND SHE’LL SAVE ADRIEN WITHOUT TELLING HIM ANY OF THE TRUTH BECAUSE SHES MARINETTE!

…but yeah I thought that entire debacle was a lot.

Also the way they removed akuma alerts this episode so Marinette can just not go to battle and be justified for chasing Adrien crazily, because otherwise she would have looked like a hypocrite? They literally had to remove something they had from day one of this show (an emergency alert for akumas) just to justify the fact marinette didn’t go to battle and chased Adrien so she wouldn’t seem like an awful person (and the way she’s literally not even feeling bad about missing a whole battle, and Chat Noir was berated for missing battles for not being able to escape his civilian life, BUT YEAH YOU GUYS ITS FINE LETS NOT THINK ABOUT THE DOUBLE STANDARD TOO MUCH)

Also Natalie’s hair going white to show she’s dying was kinda weird (was it supposed to show how she’s so sick she’s not even dyeing her hair red anymore?) and Gabriel’s akuma design was ugly as fuck.

But yeah I’m dreading the finale as I already know what is happening there and im fucking scareddd

(P.S. can everyone calm down saying Kagami and Felix are fucked up for how they got Marinette’s attention? They literally did the one thing they knew she’d care about aka she’s obsessed with Adrien she’d follow if Adrien is involved, this isn’t bringing up her trauma settle down girlies)

[haphira]

Miraculous Ladybug and the Valiant Annuler By: Haphira

37. Step 1 – Planning. - Talking of taking chat noir’s ring, the plan, and meeting up with teammates to tell them of the changes.  

When Marinette reached the door of the parlor, she knocked and stood back. In a few moments Master Fu opened the door and gestured for her to enter. Taking a familiar seat across from Master Fu, Marinette made herself comfortable as he brought out tea. It was starting to become a routine when Marinette came over. Taking a sip Marinette sighed in contentment, the tea was just how she liked it.  

“Marinette, I would like to discuss how to handle Chat Noir going forward.” Master Fu said. Looking over his cup at her, he suddenly looked as old as he was supposed to be.  

“Master...?”  

Master Fu sighed and set his cup down, “I told you before that I made a mistake in the Black Cat holder before? Well, after watching the most recent Akuma fights, I have an idea for a new holder of the Black Cat, but I must ask you, do you feel ready to take Carapace back?”  

Marinette thought about it, Nino had been quiet but supportive lately, texting her periodically and checking in to see if she was doing okay. She knew things were tense between Alya and Nino but that didn’t stop him from trying to be a good friend.  

“I think, he needs a make-over but, yes I would like him back on the team.” Marinette eventually stated. She was surprised at how comfortable she was with the decision.  

“And what of Rena Rouge?” Fu questioned; his expression soft but open. 

“No, I don’t feel comfortable having her back on the team, besides Sionnach has been doing a fantastic job!” Marinette explained, feeling confident in her thoughts.  

“But- what about Luka?” Marinette looked a bit sad and disappointed. Fu realized that she used his civilian name, so she was close with Luka. As he thought back over the fights he saw, he realized the good chemistry they had. Better than what was her and Adrien’s chemistry was, and he wasn’t sure how good that chemistry was anymore.  

“Marinette, you know how I always said that secret identities are important?” Fu asked. Looking very serious. 

“Yes, o-of course Master Fu! I’ve never told anyone!” Marinette drummed her fingers on the table looking nervous. She was worried that maybe she gave something away to someone and now must lose her miraculous? Or maybe someone put it together and now she can't be Ladybug anymore? Or maybe- 

“I think that way of doing things isn’t as helpful anymore.” Fu cut into her derailed thinking, shocking Marinette for a moment.  

“I-I don’t under-s-stand?”  

Master Fu sighed, “During my time with the miraculous it was important for it to stay hidden as much as possible. But it was also I different time back then.”  

“So you’re saying...?” 

“Yes, I believe it would be more beneficial for you and your teammates to share your identities and create stronger bonds. You don’t have to, but I think giving the option is a good thing.”  

“So what does this have to do with Luka?” Marinette asked, still a little confused, it was a relief to not have to hide from her teammates anymore, but it still didn’t make sense to her. 

“Simply, I wish to give the Black Cat to Luka. I believe you two would work well together and give each other support when you need it.” 

“Oh,” Marinette said softly, “Oh! You mean-!” 

“Yes, it is time to replace Chat Noir.” Fu smiled gently. Marinette could help the relief that flowed through her. No more having to deal with his flirting and interruptions and confessions. She would get to work with someone who understood her and helped her out. Oh, the relief was brimming over to tears in her eyes.  

“Thank you, Master Fu, thank you!” Marinette cried. Wiping away tears and smiling widely at Fu. Master Fu smiled back just as brightly. 

“You’re welcome, Marinette, I think I have a plan in mind, but I wanted to hear your thoughts too.” Fu said, refilling their empty teacups. Marinette smiled and went into detail about an attack plan to get Chat Noir’s ring. They went back and forth for a while before a solid plan was made and it was time for Marinette to leave.  

After the meeting with Master Fu was done and Marinette was back in her room, she transformed into Ladybug and sent a message to Hachi, Sionnach and Dìonadair, to meet her in an hour at the place they trained at. She cautioned them to be careful not to be seen by anyone. She didn’t want Chat to get a whiff of something going on, it was better to be careful and safe.  

After collecting a few treats from the bakery after her parents had gone to bed, Marinette transformed once more and headed out. She was going to arrive early, but it gave her time to think about what she wanted to say and how to say it.  

After about 10 minutes, Hachi landed on the platform and gave a nod in greeting. Then shortly after Sionnach and Dìonadair landed at the same time.  

“Thank you all for coming on such short notice.” Ladybug started, gesturing to the rest to sit down.  

“What’s going on Bug?” Dìonadair asked, concern coloring his voice, “You usually don’t ask to meet so suddenly.”  

Ladybug nodded, “Yes normally I wouldn’t but there are some important things I need to go over with you all that couldn’t wait.” She had the attention of them, not wavering in the slightest, it felt good to have people listen and pay attention when she needed them to. 

“There is a Guardian of the Miraculous, he is the one to protect them and give out Miraculous in times of need. You will all meet him eventually; I think it's important that we are all on the same page, so if you have questions, you can always ask the Guardian, Master Fu, or myself.”  

“I remember you mentioning a Guardian once, in your um, spat? With Chat Noir.” Dìonadair said, looking thoughtful. “Is this Master Fu going to help us moving forward?” 

“Yes, he will provide power-ups, and other things related to the Miraculous.” Ladybug answered. The rest nodded and looked at Ladybug once more, knowing there was something they needed to talk about.  

“Master Fu has also given his permission for us to share identities.” Ladybug stated, Hachi looked vaguely surprised, with her eyebrows reaching up above her honeycomb mask. Sionnach frowned and Dìonadair looked thoughtful.  

“You don’t have to share if you don’t want to. But it might be more beneficial for us to share and create stronger bonds if we do. That is to say, we can’t share our identities with anyone outside this group. But we can create a support group for all of us, to lean on each other as people who gets what it is like to be a superhero and the stresses that come along with it.” Everyone was nodding along at this point. Dìonadair had one more question though. 

“Are you going to share your identity, and what about Chat Noir?”  

It was a fair question and one that made Ladybug smile. “Yes, I will share myself with you guys, and the last thing I wanted to talk about was Chat Noir.” She took a deep breath and situated herself to sit more comfortably.  

“The Guardian and I have made a plan to take back the Black Cat Miraculous.” Everyone was silent. “And we have a plan in mind of who to give the Cat Miraculous to, if he accepts.” Ladybug added.  

“Who?” Hachi asked, curious as to why Ladybug was giving so much information about this. 

“You, Dìonadair, if you accept, I have someone in mind for the Turtle Miraculous if you choose to accept the Black Cat.” Everyone turned and looked at Dìonadair, he was looking deep in thought.  

“This is more than just a swap around of Miraculous,” he said, Ladybug nodded in agreement to his unvoiced question. “I would become your new partner and holder of one of the Miraculous that Hawkmoth wants to get.” Ladybug nodded again, anxiety slightly creeping up, wondering if Luka was going to say no. 

“Then I accept, I would love to support you and be your partner, Bug.” Dìonadair said with a smile. Ladybug released a breath and smiled back. 

“Thank you, Dìonadair, when we get the Black Cat back we can talk in more detail about things.” Dìonadair nodded. 

“As for the plan, I’ll need your guys’ help, think you can do that?” ladybug asked, three sets of Yeses sounded back. Ladybug smiled and dived into telling them the plan to get Chat Noir’s ring.  

Chapter 38

[mlbigbang]

2022 General Fic Rec List

It's the end of the year which means it's finally time for the ML Big Bang's yearly fic rec lists! We're really excited to bring you our contributors' favourite fics started this year to supply you with plenty of reading material while you're waiting for the Big Bang fics' publication in January.

deliverin' by @fragileizy 5,750 words, General, 2/2 chapters

“Is everything okay?” “Yeah. Yes, of course it is, I just”—she swallows ash and ice—“it was just the Book I was reading. It, uh… their family separates after a bit, and it’s all a misunderstanding, and—” she can’t finish. She’s not allowed to. “Do you need a hug, Jules?” I need you to stay, she wants to cry. You’re my only brother. And I’ll miss you so terribly when you’re gone. Every day, I’ll be alone without you, because Mom will try to visit as often as you always visit me, but she’ll keep feeling guilty for the rest of our time together because she knows how upset I am. And she’ll be upset, too. I’ll never be able to watch her cry, but I’ll hear her. And I don’t think I’m strong enough to deal with that. “I do,” she says instead, wings closing up around her like a ball. “Please. Just for a little while.”

"Cute!!!"

Telling the bees by @feather-dancer 5,768 words, Teen, 1/1 chapter

Chloé and Zoé have a routine where at least once a week they meet up somewhere for a chat which is an excuse to get away from their shared mother and to vent as much as anything. Folklore says it is very important to keep the bees up to date with the coming and goings of their keepers, these two are no different. Part of Haven of Strays.

"Canon has denied us any real Zoe&Chloe sisterly content. It's up to the fanfic community ot make up the difference. This author does all that and more in a weighty interaction between two sisters who are not friends, but are sisters."

Chaotic Company by ADeadmansBliss 5,450 words, Mature, 1/1 chapter

It's been nearly a week since Adrien's acquisition of a new pet and unfortunately traumatic injury is not something that can be recovered from quickly. Bored with only an unconscious former hero for company he decides to sneak out to find some entertainment which goes fine until Hawkmoth decides to ruins it.

"It's unlike anything I've read before and it's so super fantastic!!!"

Stranger Acquaintance by @bugchat 1,885 words, Teen, 1/1 chapter

Marinette just wants to live her Special Agent life as quietly as possible. Put bad guys behind bars, maybe make friends with three people at work, and eat pizza once they close a case. What makes its way into her life is a mop of blond hair with a stunning smile and too much of a back-talking mouth to be healthy for her.

"It's an good AU concept with fun dynamics, and it's a short, easy read! Detective Marinette and her team of four being Alya, Nino and Kagami. There's so much room for sequels if the author chooses to!"

maybe shake a tambourine by noirshitsuji 1,703 words, Teen, 1/1 chapter

Written for a Miraculous Writer's Guild blog request: Start a story with "I need a place to stay." Felix looks at his cousin, sometimes. Looks and wonders. The silver ring he’d taken to wearing a couple of years ago is gone. But the Adrien he’s known since childhood isn’t there either, and, much as Felix would like to attribute the tapping he’s noticed his fingers do every time Adrien doesn’t answer one of his questions to annoyance, he knows it’s truly because he feels unnerved by it all.

"It's a lovely exploration in Felix's character and his feelings toward Adrien while absolutely teasing a glorious plot about Adrien, Marinette, and Gabriel"

(may we write it all down) in cursive light by @sunfoxfic 3,503 words, Teen, 1/1 chapter

Since retiring as a journalist, Alya hasn't been involved in an interview in several years. But now that her identity is out, that's about to change.

"An amazingly written future!fic that beautifully explores a time long after Hawkmoth's defeat and "our" heroes' retirement."

Off the Mark by @buggachat 4,632 words, General, 1/1 chapter

Ever since Nino's (frankly embarrassing) akumatization into Rocketear, Chat Noir's behavior had taken a strange and sudden turn in the presence of Carapace, and Nino could only think of one possible explanation: Chat Noir hated him. Somehow, Adrien didn't seem to agree.

"Any fic that focuses on Nino and Adrien being bffs is important. After Rocketear, Nino may have rambled a bit to Adrien about how weird it's been being around Chat Noir. Adrien is weirdly invested in this problem. A lot of misunderstanding leads to heightened emotions and eventual revelations. Just a really good examination of the difficulties of secret identities and being best friends."

Infestations and Maladies by @sunfoxfic 100 words, General, 1/1 chapter

Bunnix called Chat Noir to go to a mysterious version of the timeline and fix… something.

"A well-written drabble exploring a reverse Chat Blanc. A very clever concept written in a very clever way!"

In Memory Of by @graaythekwami 3,012 words, Teen, 1/1 chapter

Gabriel Agreste was never good with kids, but his granddaughter needed him.

"A very interesting story with a dark backstory, but it's very sweet and well-written."

I Am Your Ghost by @emmalylis 1,559 words, General, 1/1 chapter

Adrien attends one of Gabriel’s galas in his mother’s old dress.

"Adrien in a dress. Need I say more?"

goodbye, goodbye, goodbye (you were bigger than the whole sky) by @hanaasbananas 865 words, General, 1/1 chapter

Distantly, he hears the music still blaring behind him, the song mocking in its cheerfulness, imprinting itself into his memory as the soundtrack to his devastation. For a moment–the longest of his life–everything stands still, the universe holding its breath and then Sabine shrieks and it shatters like glass beneath his feet.

"This is short but its just so damn sad😭 hit me right in the feels"

Moon mission by @ultrakart 2,789 words, General, 1/1 chapter

For Fei, escaping her past is as difficult as trying to escape the Earth’s orbit.

"Kart is the king of the Shanghai special and this is such a sweet short fic that showcases just how great his writing over it is."

[princess-of-the-corner]

ML Plot Points: S4 Outline

To recap, at the beginning of S4 we have:

-Gabriel, who has the grimoire, fixed the peacock and learned how to unify.

-Seven active heroes: Ladybug (who is now the guardian but doesn’t have a box), Chat Noir, Carapace, Rena Rouge, Queen Bee, Ryuko and Viperion.

-Every miraculous without a permanent holder except the Horse has been scattered across the city.

In the last season, Gabriel realised that he cannot afford to use a lot of akumas over a short period of time because of the seven active heroes, so he’s a lot more strategic about how he does things, with fewer, more dangerous akumas and a longer wait time in between them. However, he also knows that he needs to stall the heroes so they cannot get the scattered miraculi. If someone else finds them first, he can wait to corner the lone holder and retrieve the miraculous. If the heroes find them, he’s not going to get a chance. So the first episodes would be a bunch of akumas and sentimonster duos in a relatively short time.

The akumas, would be more about finding out the heroes’ identities than about winning a fight. After all, he didn’t get any info on the heroes in the S3 finale. As such, Truth and Lies would happen (with the akumas being Jagged and Tomoe respectively). Wishmaker is also early in the season (I would probably change their looks and the sentimonster’s power). At around four episodes in, he would stop with them and we would get plot number 2.

In spite of the heroes’ best efforts, they would not find all of the miraculi. I have not decided exactly which miraculi were found by someone else and which ones were found by the heroes. Some of my Idas are:

-People who found a miraculous and try to be a hero but mess things up; Dog!Roger (Legálsatian*), Pig!Damocles (Broke: Boar Owl; Woke: Pierre Pietrain*; Joke; Dark Hog, the Pork Knight rises).

-People who found a miraculous and want to use it for their own purposes; Rooster!Ramier (Mister Rooster Pigeon, yes I will go there)

-People who found a miraculous and use it for crime; OC!Tiger (uses it to rob banks. I couldn’t think of any canon characters who would do something like that. I just want one character who gets a magical artefact and chooses to do crime about it), Mouse!Lila (Hamelin)

I’m not sure if I’ll add more of these, but for now those are it.

Whenever one of these people are found, both the heroes and Shadowmoth do everything in their power to get their miraculous. In at least one case (Mr. Rooster Pigeon) Shadowmoth akumatises the villain and tells them to just get the miraculous to him. By the end of the episode, either the heroes have gotten the miraculous, or the holder escapes. 

Plot number 3 would involve the Order of the Guardians. Su-Han arrive in Paris and demands Ladybug give him the miraculi. Like in canon, he has no plan for Shadowmoth or any of the other villains. Unlike in canon, he cannot track Marinette using the miracle box because it was broken in the S3 finale. The Hero Squad rightfully tells him to fuck off and conflict happens about it.

Plot number 4 would involve the Hero squad trying to get more heroes, usually temporary ones. Noy necessarily to fight a villain, but to train them so they can use their miraculous better for if/when they become permanent.

Plot number 5 would be Felix. In season 3 he has his debut episode where he steals the ring (before the Ladybug replacement arc) and in early season 4 he would show up to visit Adrien and stay with them. In the meantime he’s plotting how to take the peacock miraculous from Gabriel and trying to not show his cards to the Heroes since he doesn’t trust them. This would be a background plot until the finale, where he makes his play and betrays the heroes, bringing about Monarch.

Things I didn’t write about above:

-Shadowmoth knows Lila has the Mouse miraculous. This is the only reason he keeps her around and the reason why most of the Canon Chloe salt episodes are about her. Once she loses it, he discards her. At some point after she loses it, Nathalie finds out she used to harass Adrien and has Gabriel akumatise her into Safari (Don’t you just want to go apeshitt?).

-I’m thinking about the Tiger Villain and what to do with them. I think I might elaborate on them in a different submission.

-As the scattered miraculi are retrieved, more temporary holders would be possible.

-Gabriel at some point learns about the anti-akuma charms and that Alya has one, leading to the Sentibubbler incident.

-Felix would try his best to act like a nice, polite guy. But sometimes, the facade cracks and people see how messed up he really is.

-Because of how much stuff is going on this season, S4 would probably be the longest so we can get more character interaction. Probably the length of two seasons. In contrast, S5 would be a lot more streamlined and the shortest at only the length of half a season.

-

Beautiful.

[rosie-b]

Married in Black (know that she loves you back)

AO3 link

When Monarch learns that Chat Noir loves Marinette, he jumps at the chance to exploit the hero's weakness, but after mutiple failed attempts to capture Marinette and hold her ransom for Chat's ring, he decides to switch tactics. Monarch creates an akuma that can summon anyone's future spouse, sure that finding out Marinette will marry someone else will break Chat Noir's heart, priming him for akumatization. But what happens when Chat Noir doesn't react the way Monarch expects?

Spoilers for Season 5 through E:9 Elation/Exaltation! You can use the AO3 link above or read the entire fic below!

Chat Noir has feelings for Marinette Dupain-Cheng.  

Ever since the evening he’d nearly akumatized Marinette, Gabriel had been trying to figure out a way to exploit the hero's uncovered weakness.  

If Chat Noir was in love with Marinette — although this was likely just another short-lived crush, like his affections for Ladybug — then there must be some way to twist his emotions and force him to give up his Miraculous for the sake of his super-fan! 

But no matter how many akumas Monarch sent after Marinette, he’d never been able to capture her for long. Most of the time, she was already rescued by the time Ladybug and Chat Noir even showed up!  

More surprisingly, Ladybug, not Chat Noir, was the hero who saved her the most often. Monarch’s akumas had overheard Chat Noir complaining about this fact to Ladybug too many times for him to miss that detail. It seemed that Ladybug was just too efficient, too quick; by the time Chat slipped away to transform, she’d already found Marinette and moved her to safety. 

Monarch hated to admit defeat, so he wouldn’t. But he would change tactics, and quickly!

Creating an akuma to directly attack Marinette would be too predictable, so he would have to try hiding his true goal inside of a more innocent-seeming akuma attack. After all, any akuma could be sent to target Marinette; it didn’t have to be someone who was specifically upset with her! Even if Monarch did choose someone upset with the baker girl again, he could just warn them not to go around shouting about how much they hate Marinette while they were akumatized this time.

In fact, if Monarch—

“Sir.” 

Nathalie’s voice interrupted Gabriel’s pondering. Sitting up in his armchair, he looked up at his assistant, a frown on his stern features. 

“What is it, Nathalie? I’m rather busy at the moment, as you can see.” 

Nathalie scrutinized the thin book dangling from Gabriel’s listless fingers. “Yes,” she said drily. “I see that. However, I need to inform you that your son is considering something important, and I think that, as his father, you should know about it.” 

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “He's considering something? Like finally getting an Alliance ring of his own?” 

Nathalie closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, knowing that Gabriel would chalk any strange reactions up to her poor health. “No,” she sighed, opening her eyes. “He’s considering pursuing another girl romantically. He’s quite serious about her,” she continued, feeling her heart sink as Gabriel’s fists clenched and the corners of his mouth turned further downwards. 

“A girlfriend? Is she one of those hooligans from that public school, or is she at least somewhat acceptable as my son's love interest?” 

Nathalie sighed, pushing up her glasses, and relinquished all hope that this conversation would go pleasantly. 

“Actually, she is, sir. Both from your son’s school and up to your standards of what a girlfriend for Adrien should be. It's Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” she said, and the book slipped from Gabriel’s fingers. 

“What?” 

“She’s one of his closest friends,” Nathalie said, keeping her composure cool and collected. “And you’ve admired her ingenuity in fashion design before. I think they make a good match for each other, a strong couple that you should approve of.” 

Gabriel waved a hand in the air dismissively. “No, no, no, I don't care about that; I'm concerned with something else!” he said excitedly, standing up and walking a few paces over to where Nathalie stood, supported by her leg braces. “My son is in love with Marinette Dupain-Cheng? The girl Chat Noir has a crush on?” 

Nathalie frowned. “Yes, but I think that Adrien stands a better chance of winning her heart. If you look at these pictures,” she explained, swiping through a folder on her tablet, “You can see that Adrien’s feelings of love for her seem to be reciprocated, even if the girl herself doesn’t know about them, yet. Adrien stands a good chance of stealing Marinette's affections away from Chat Noir permanently if we help Adrien woo her properly.” 

Gabriel’s mouth slowly stretched into a grin as he took the tablet from Nathalie, zooming in on Marinette’s face as she smiled bashfully at Adrien, unaware of the hidden camera. 

“Good, Nathalie,” he said, and paid no attention to the woman’s confused, exasperated expression. “Your information is quite valuable. Thank you for sharing it with me.” 

Yes, Monarch could make something of that little cat’s emotions yet. Gabriel could almost taste his long-awaited success... 

  __*__*__*__*__

  There was another akuma, once more originating inside Francois-Dupont's brick walls. 

But this time, Adrien noted with relief, the akuma was not targeting Marinette! 

“Congratulations, girl,” Alya said jokingly as she ran off with Marinette ‘to find a safe hiding place.’ “You managed to not make anybody mad at you today!” 

Groaning as her best friend laughed, Marinette turned the corner, disappearing from Adrien’s view as her voice echoed down the halls. “For the last time, that coffee I served was not too hot! Lila was just looking for an excuse to come after me with some new, villainous powers. And as for the other day, you know how Chloe is!” 

Agreeing with Marinette in his head, Adrien ducked into an empty classroom and transformed into Chat Noir. This akuma might not be targeting his just-a-friend (for now), but Adrien would do his best to protect her from it by defeating it as quickly as possible! Now, he just had to figure out which way Tell-Tale went.

Probably outside the building, he decided. Adrien had seen her ex, a boy named Ali Monpourchien, running outside as soon as the akuma alert went off. 

Ever since Lili Anger found out that he'd been cheating on her while they were dating and promptly broke up with him, Ali had seemed tense. He'd been expecting this akuma attack for nearly three days, knownig on some level that he deserved Lili's wrath.

And with Monarch's help, the newly named Tell-Tale would bring it to him, dressed in a high-collared black wedding dress, covered in lace and dripping with blood.

Just as he usually did with his minions, Monarch must have drained all the love from her heart, so she could be targeting anyone now! Chat Noir rushed through his transformation, hoping he'd be in time to protect Marinette (and everyone else) from this new monstrous akuma.

  __*__*__*__*__

  Tell-Tale did not want to target Marinette. She was a great class president, even if she wasn’t Tell-Tale's, and she’d had just as much trouble in the love department as Tell-Tale herself had, probably even more! 

But that’s just another reason to find her, Monarch’s voice whispered in Lili’s head as she stalked down the hall leading to the courtyard door. If you touch her with your bouquet, you can use the power of the Horse and transport her future spouse to her, revealing who is truly worthy of her affections! Marinette won’t be plagued by uncertainty anymore; don’t you think that’s beneficial? You’d be helping her, not hurting her!  

That’s true , Lili mused, and she took another step down the hallway, listening carefully for Marinette’s voice. Maybe this plan of Monarch’s wasn’t so bad, after all. 

Excellent! Monarch cackled to himself. Now Chat Noir will learn how fickle girls’ hearts are. When he sees that Marinette’s true love is not him, his heart will shatter! And then... I shall have a new akuma, one far more powerful than any before! I think I’ll call him—  

A small body slammed against Monarch’s akuma, breaking off his internal monologue as he looked to see which unfortunate student had run straight into the akuma they thought they were escaping from. 

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” the clumsy student apologized.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng looked up from the floor and gasped as her eyes met Tell-Tale's dark black ones. It was if her entire eyeballs had been subsumed by the pupils, leaving them an inky black that sucked up light like a black hole. Unable to look away, Marinette froze on the floor, sitting with her legs splayed uncomfortably.

“Hello there,” the akuma purred, bending down so that her face was eye-level with Marinette's. In the background, Alya ran around the corner, freezing when she saw what had happened to her best friend. “It seems you’ve taken another nasty spill, Marinette! But don’t worry, I’m here to make sure you only fall for the right guy from now on!” 

Tell-Tale reached out and touched Marinette with the bouquet she’d been carrying in her right hand as Alya screamed, throwing herself in front of Marinette to protect her too late. 

A red flash traveled up Tell-Tale's arm from the bouquet, racing along the lace covering her black bodice and circling around the jagged heart cut-out on her chest. 

“What did you do to her?” Alya screeched, pulling Marinette up and away from the akuma. She stood in front of her friend defensively, eyes searching the hall for a weapon to use. 

Touching her left hand to the glowing heart on her chest and draining the energy from it, Tell-Tale smirked at the two cowering girls.  

“Why, I found her future spouse for you,” she said in a sickly-sweet tone. “If I bring them to you, Marinette, you’ll never need to worry about falling for the wrong person! I know I did,” she growled, wrenching her hand away from her chest and throwing the energy gathered in it out into the air. “Voyage!”  

As Marinette flinched and Alya looked mildly interested, Tell-Tale continued, “But now, you will never need to worry about making the same mistake. Here you go, Marinette: one future spouse, specially delivered just for you! Now, I can’t waste all my time here,” she said, turning to leave through the courtyard door just meters away. “I have one cowardly ex to find and punish. But I wish you the best of luck with your husband!” 

Pushing the door open and walking through it casually, long, black skirts swishing behind her and leaving a trail of blood on the floor, the akuma left the building. Meanwhile, a blond man, freshly summoned through the space-time portal and lying on the floor of the school, began to stir. 

Marinette clutched Alya’s arm tightly, hiding behind her friend. “I need to go,” she whispered urgently. “Tell him I’m sorry, but I have to stop that akuma before she finds Ali!” 

As Alya opened her mouth to respond, a different voice cut her off. “You know where the akuma is?”

Hearing the familiar inflection of the speaker, Marinette turned red and let out a little eep! as Chat Noir jogged up behind her, having come back inside after an unsuccessful outdoor search for the akuma. 

Alya grinned and waved him over. “Marinette just got hit by the akuma!” she squealed excitedly. 

Chat Noir blanched. “WHAT?! How? When? Just now?? And you’re okay with this? Some best friend you are! Did you get hit, too, or why aren’t you more concerned about poor Marinette? Marinette!” he gasped as he rushed to the girl’s side, spinning her around by the shoulders and checking her over for injuries. “Are you okay?” he asked worriedly, concern swimming in his green eyes. 

“She’s fine,” the man lying on the floor said groggily. Pushing himself up off the floor and tossing his blond hair out of his face as he stood up, he reached up to adjust his glasses, found that they were not on his face, frowned, and squinted down at the group gathered in the hallway.

He was in his pajamas, and his features had changed somewhat with age, but there was no mistaking it. Marinette's future spouse, pulled through time and space by Tell-Tale's powers, was none other than Adrien Agreste.

Before the group had time to react, the akuma barged back in through the courtyard door, dragging her ex behind by his hair. The unfortunate Ali yelled in agony, his leg getting caught in the door several times as it bounced shut. Blood landed on his face as it dripped off the akuma's gown, falling on his crisp white shirt and staining it red.  

“Sorry, guys,” Tell-Tale said cheerfully, gesturing with the bouquet in her hand. “Monarch and I nearly forgot to check out who Marinette’s lovely future spouse would be for ourselves. Oh! That’s Adrien, isn’t it! I’d recognize that face anywhere after seeing it on the billboards so many times. Congratulations, Marinette, I know you’ve got a thing for him!” 

Lili turned to leave again, but Monarch's glowing symbol appeared over her face, and she paused to listen to him, sighed, and turned back around, frowning.

"Are you happy, Chat Noir?" She asked huffily, with an aggrieved air.

Towards the bottom of her black wedding dress, red blood slowly oozed from the picots of the lace and began to pool on the tile floor.

"Happy seeing that you've lost our dear Marinette, that is," Tell-Tale continued at Monarch's prompting. "Seems to me you lost her before you even began to woo her," she added in a low mutter.

Chat Noir blinked, breaking out of his trance-like staring at the older Adrien's features. He scrunched up his brow as he thought of how to respond to the akuma's question.

"Yeeees," he said unsurely, remembering that Monarch knew about his crush on Marinette, and so might be trying to target him through this. "I'm... devastated." Chat Noir clasped his hands together over his chest, playing up his supposed heartbreak.

Tell-Tale squinted at him. "Your ears are still pointy," she said. "According to the Ladyblog's cat section, that's how they look when you're happy. I think you've just been faking your emotions for Marinette," she said in a gossipy voice. "Trying to make Ladybug feel bad about turning you down before. You don't really care about Marinette, do you?"

Yes he does! Monarch spat in Tell-Tale's mind at the same time as Chat Noir spoke out loud.

"Yes, I do!" he insisted angrily, and Adrien, who had rubbed the rest of the sleep out of his eyes and was now standing at Chat's shoulder, facing Tell-Tale with the rest of the group, nodded firmly, supporting his apparent love rival.

Oh, now Chat's ears are back, Tell-Tale noticed. And his tail is lashing. He's finally mad!

"Well, if your affections for Marinette are not false," Lili found herself saying Monarch's words out loud as they appeared in her head, which felt weird, "Then do something to prove it! Perhaps the facts simply haven't sunk in yet.

"This is Adrien Agreste," Tell-Tale said, gesturing to the half-asleep man wearing red and black spotted pajamas. "He is Marinette's future husband. Him, not you," Tell-Tale sneered, and the blood on her costume dripped faster in response to her growing anger. Ali let out a complaining whine at the growing red spot on his shirt.

For a second, Chat Noir looked as if he might flinch back from the vengeful akuma as she glared at him.

But his back suddenly straightened, and he looked Tell-Tale in the eye and declared, "You're saying that like I should object to her future marriage, but Marinette can love whoever she wants! If that's Adrien, then I'm glad to step aside and let her have a happy ending. I'm not angry," he said, "Though I am hurt that I will lose her affections. But I'm sure that, in time, I'll find my own purrfect partner. Now, let's get back to the point — you're targeting Marinette again, Monarch, even though I warned you not to do that!"

Widening his stance, Chat Noir frowned at Tell-Tale threateningly and pulled his baton from behind his back.

"Take Marinette and Alya to safety," he called over his shoulder to his future self. 

Adrien nodded. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll make sure they're protected."

He turned to Alya, who was recording everything on her phone, and Marinette, who was in a state of shock and kept staring at Adrien's Ladybug-themed pajamas, glancing up once in a while to frown at Chat Noir with her brow scrunched up.

"Marinette," Alya said, nudging her. "We have to go with Adrien now! Come on, let's find a place to hide!"

Marinette's gaze snapped over to Alya.

"'We don't have time to waste talking," Adrien said, grabbing Marinette's hand and pulling her with him as he and Alya ran from the akuma. "Trust me, this akuma might not look like it, but Tell-Tale is a dangerous fighter when she puts her mind to it. We need Ladybug, and soon!"

Lips thinning into a line, Marinette nodded once and looked back to Alya. 

"I think we might need to split up," she said. "I have some questions for Adrien, and then, well.. you know," she explained, feeling awkward with the akuma's eyes still on them as they ran.

Looking slightly disappointed, Alya shot her friend a brief, reassuring smile. "I know," she said. "Don't worry about me, focus on what you need to do! Just promise to tell me about it all later."

"I will," Marinette said, waving to her friend as she turned the corner and pulled Adrien into an empty classroom with her.

"Now," she said, her face growing serious as she dropped Adrien's hand, "I don't know how much you know, but I don't think I could let you wear these pajamas without making sure you know what they mean to me. Not that they mean something too specific! Or that you need my permission to wear clothes! You can wear whatever you'd like! I just—" Marinette covered her face as a blush spread across it.

Adrien smiled comfortingly at her as she peeked at him from between her fingers.

"I know what you mean, little bug," he said, gaze softening as Marinette let out a little squeak. "Don't worry about how your question came out when we have other things to get to, and so little time! Chaton Noir is going to be caught off guard soon, and you need to be there when he does. Now, I know that you are Ladybug... and I know that you still love Chat Noir, too. I get it, he's a tough guy to get over! So before you leave, let me assure you that mini-Adrien, your Adrien, understands this, too. It's okay that you love Chat Noir, Marinette— just like it's okay that he is still in love with Ladybug, even if he doesn't know it."

Marinette stared at Adrien, her mouth open in a little 'o'.

"He still loves me?" Her voice was broken even as she looked hopefully into his eyes.

Adrien nodded, still smiling gently at her.

"And he always will," he confirmed. "I know it doesn't make sense now, but picking which one of us to love is not a decision you need to make. You see, it's just the same," he said, glancing down at his watch. "You love Adrien and Chat Noir, and so does Ladybug, because she's you. And I love Marinette and Ladybug, and so does Chat Noir, for the same reason! Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Marinette tilted her head, considering Adrien's words. Suddenly, she grabbed his right hand, looking over it for a simple ring she thought she might recognize.

"It's me, Milady," Adrien said, and Marinette gasped.

"It can't be," she said, thunderstruck. "It can't be! Why would you tell me this now, anyway?"

A surprised shriek echoed in the hall outside the classroom.

"Because that would be the sound of my wife arriving," Adrien said, and walked over to the door. "She's transformed, so don't worry about Monarch discovering our secret identities, but you need to hurry over there and help Chaton Noir! My Ladybug can help in the fight, but it's your Lucky Charm that will send us back to our proper time."

Dazed by the speed in which the reveal had come about, Marinette murmured her transformation phrase quickly and strode to the door, which Adrien held open for her.

"Since I'm currently stuck as a civilian, I'm going to stay here," he said to her as she stepped over the threshold. "I won't see you again until you send your older self back to me, so I wish you the best of luck! It's not going to be easy, but I promise that everything turns out well in the end."

Nodding, Marinette looked back at Adrien, still feeling a bit shell-shocked but knowing that she had to face the akuma again sooner or later.

"Thank you," she said, offering a small smile. Walking down the hallway with a firm stride, she hissed under her breath, "I cannot believe an akuma just revealed my secret identity to Chat Noir before I could! Tell-Tale had better watch out."

  __*__*__*__*__

  As Tell-Tale fought off Chat Noir and an older Ladybug at once, Monarch's voice growled in her ear.

This can't be happening! Chat Noir was supposed to be upset by Marinette's marriage! And if he was still in love with her, as he seemed to claim, then finding out he was doomed to marry the same woman who rejected him time after time should have broken him! Clearly, this is a marriage of convenience for them. It's more of a business partnership! Why isn't he upset??

"If you would shut up already," Lili responded out loud, which startled Chat but didn't faze the future Ladybug, "Then it wouldn't matter, because I could just focus on defeating Chat Noir, grab the ring off his finger, and force Ladybug to yield to me! But you keep on distracting me," she huffed as she took another blow to her arm. "Honestly, you couldn't even give me a weapon?" she complained.

Monarch glowered in his lair as he took the teen's scolding. What would you do with a weapon? he asked. You aren't a fighting akuma! Your whole thing is looking scary but pretty and showing people who their true love is! Occaisionally, I can lend you the power to physically summon a spouse or two, but that takes a five-minute recharge time. Honestly, the more I think about it, the worse this idea seems! I should never have akumatized you, Monarch fumed.

Scowling, nearly vibrating with rage, Lili ducked another attack from the future Ladybug and spun to the left, landing a right hook on Chat Noir.

I'll have you know I've trained in MMA for years now! she responded mentally to Monarch's complaints. I'm only not a 'fighting' akuma because you decided it was a good idea to give me a full-skirted dress! And I'm still holding my own even in that, so who says that I'm not a fighter?

Monarch's voice fell silent for a moment, giving Tell-Tale the chance to dive under Chat Noir's swinging baton and grab his leg, wrestling him down to the floor.

I see, he observed. You have my sincerest apologies for underestimating you. And a new outfit, as a symbol of my thanks and trust.

The black, lacey skirts vanished in a surge of purple energy, leaving behind a tight black suit with red accents, the bouquet and heart cut-out on Tell-Tale's chest the last remnants of her old costume. Even her eyes had changed, Lili's hazel pupils returning, and her hair had changed from an elaborate, curly updo to a short ponytail more practical for fighting in.

Chat Noir blinked up at Tell-Tale. "Hey, what happened to the akuma?" he called out, confused.

"I got an upgrade," she replied smugly. "And so will you, if you'd just hand over your ring! I'm sure Ladybug will prefer a scrawny, powerless boy to a cat with two black eyes."

Chat Noir blanched as Tell-Tale curled her hand into a fist, bringing it back to swing at his face.

Before she could test her new powerset, two yo-yos wrapped around Tell-Tale's arm, pulling her off Chat Noir and spinning her off-balance.

"My Lady! You're here!" Chat Noir said excitedly, pushing himself off the ground and shooting her a flashy grin. "Twice over! I must be the luckiest cat, getting to work with two Ladybugs again! Now there's the younger you and the older you— not that you're old!" he squeaked, ducking to the side as Tell-Tale backflipped away from future Ladybug's assault, nearly hitting him in the head with her feet. "At least, I think you're not! And if you are, then you look very good for your age!"

"Less talking, more fighting, Chaton," the older Ladybug huffed. "And, mini-me? It's time for that Lucky Charm!"

Minibug nodded. "Lucky Charm!" she called, catching a single rose in her hands. "Got it! But I think you already know what it means."

"You know it," the future Ladybug agreed, and threw her yo-yo around Tell-Tale's right wrist, pulling her down and backwards. "Chaton Noir!" she called. 

"On it!" he responded, avoiding Tell-Tale's flailing limbs and prying the bouquet out of her hands. Now that her outfit had changed, it was the only possible option for where her akuma could be, and the Lucky Charm seemed to confirm it.

"Cataclysm!" The deep red flowers of the bouquet blackened and crumbled, allowing a little purple butterfly to flap its way out of the sweet-smelling prison.

"Ughhh," Lili grumbled as Minibug caught the akuma. Her fight suit had vanished, leaving a normal-looking girl on the floor in jeans and a t-shirt. "What happened? I have a headache, and my arm feels like it's been ripped out of its socket!"

"Miraculous Ladybug!" was the response she got, and it was all she needed, though the sight of a second, older Ladybug waving goodbye before vanishing caught her off guard.

"Oh," Lili said, her face flushing pink. "I'm so sorry, Ladybug and Chat Noir! I didn't mean to get akumatized! I've been fighting my negative emotions off, but I guess finding an old bouquet from my ex this morning pushed me over the edge."

Walking over to Lili, Ladybug smiled reassuringly as Chat Noir helped her off the floor. "It's all right, we understand," she said.

"Yeah," Chat Noir agreed. "Everyone's anger gets the best of them sometimes. Get it? Anger? And your last name is Anger? I guess it only makes sense in English," he sighed as Lili and Ladybug shook theiir heads at his attempted pun.

"Your emotions aren't something to be sorry for," Ladybug said simply. "Are you going to be okay?"

Lili nodded, her face solemn and resigned. "There's not really anything I can do," she said sadly. "But I know I can handle this situation. I just wish I could make sure I never fall for the wrong boy again."

Chat Noir gave her a gentle smile. "I hope so, too," he said. "Everyone deserves to be with someone who truly loves them."

Lili's face softened as she looked at the two heroes. "Yeah," she said wistfully. "They do." Flinching at the sound of the schoolbell, Lili smiled nervously. "Well, I guess I'd better get back to class," she said, jerking her thumb backwards in the direction of her classroom. "I don't know if they'll excuse my being late just because I got akumatized."

"They should," Chat Noir said. "And if your teachers don't, let us know and we'll talk to them!"

Flashing a grin, Lili waved at Ladybug and Chat Noir. "Thanks, guys! Have a good day," she said, and darted off to her class.

The two heroes waved back, waiting for Lili to disappear around the corner before turning to each other.

"So, you're 'sure that you'll find the perfect partner?'" Ladybug asked, crossing her arms and raising a brow at Chat Noir. "I guess you being Adrien explains why you didn't look as heartbroken as Monarch seemed to expect."

Chat smiled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. "I wasn't wrong, was I?" he asked, his smile growing fond as he looked at his lady — who was also Marinette! "In all honesty, My Lady, I wasn't really expecting to find out who you are under the mask today, but as soon as I did, I couldn't hide how happy I was! It nearly cost me my ring," he chuckled, remembering how aggressively Tell-Tale had fought while Chat was in shock and the future Ladybug was getting her bearings. "I was overwhelmed because, really, how lucky can one cat be? First I found out that I'd get to marry Marinette-you, and then I found out that you're not just the caring, talented girl who sits behind me in class, but also my amazing partner, who's actually been in love with me this whole time! I nearly swooned," Chat gushed, grinning widely.

Ladybug blushed furiously as her earrings beeped a one-minute warning. "Chat," she protested, raising a hand to her ear, "You shouldn't say such sweet things to me when we should both be finding a safe place to detranform!"

"Why not?" asked Chat Noir, leaning closer to Ladybug. "You were the one who started this conversation. We still have plenty of time... unless you plan to use it for something else."

Ladybug scoffed, turning her face away and trying in vain to look unaffected by the hopeful gleam in Chat's eyes, somewhat dampened by his partner's rejection.

"Like what? Come on, Chat," she said, and walked over to the courtyard door, holding it open for Chat Noir to walk through. "We should at least get outside before our transformations drop. You don't have much more time than me," she pointed out, and Chat's ring beeped in agreement.

Glancing down at it, Chat Noir looked surprised, but he smirked as he walked up the open door. "So, you do have some plans for our time together?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows at her.

Still blushing though her face had cooled down considerably, Ladybug offered Chat a smirk of her own. "Maybe I do," she said smoothly. "But you won’t find out unless you stop acting so catty and follow me!"

Shocked, Chat Noir's mouth fell open. "My Lady!" he gasped. "I can’t believe it! You— you—”

As Chat Noir clasped both hands to his chest dramatically, as if he’d been shot through his heart, Ladybug’s smirk faltered. Had she come off too harshly? She hoped Adrien knew she’d only been joking!

Suddenly, Chat grinned, looking down at Ladybug gleefully. “You punned! This day can't get any better!" he cheered.

Ladybug sighed in relief, letting go of the door to hook her arm around Chat’s as he stepped into the courtyard with her.

"I can think of a few ways to prove that wrong," she said, looking up at Chat with a grin of her own. "Beating me in UMS and Lila Rossi switching schools being two of them. But for me, nothing can beat finding out that you still love me! For a while, I thought I'd blown all my chances with you."

"Never!" Adrien insisted, vehemently shaking his head. "Milady, my father himself could tell me to give up on you and I wouldn't listen to him. You're my partner, my best friend, my future wife," he said, a blush prettily covering his cheeks. "I've always loved you, and I always will."

"And I will always love you, mon chaton," Marinette said, gazing tenderly into his eyes. "Now and forever."

  __*__*__*__*__

  "I may not know the first thing about this MMA fighting thing, but I'm certain that Ms. Anger was nowhere near as practiced as she claimed to be," huffed Gabriel as he paced in front of an exhausted Nathalie, who was sitting up in bed and patiently suffering through Gabriel's intrusion on her privacy as she worked on updating Adrien's schedule for next week. "Why else would she have lost even with her new suit? We had not just Chat Noir and Ladybug, but a future Ladybug, too, within our grasp! If Ms. Anger had actually made an effort, we could have—"

"Sir," Nathalie cut Gabriel off in a cold voice, "Ms. Anger is just a teenager. Are you even listening to yourself? All you did was change her outfit, not even granting her superhuman strength like you did with Anansi, and expect her to somehow overpower not one, not two, but three superheroes, one of whom has had more years of practice fighting with her Miraculous than even you! You can lour all you want to about the outcome of today's attack, and rightly so, but, Gabriel, you can not place the blame for your defeat on Lili."

"But that's not even the worst part about the attack!" Gabriel exclaimed loudly, pausing to take a sip from the coffee cup he was holding. "For a while, everything went to plan! Tell-Tale hit Marinette, and revealed her true love to the world! Chat Noir found out about it with no time to prepare for the shock... but he wasn't even a little bit hurt! If anything, he was excited! And then, when I had Tell-Tale summon his own future spouse, thinking he would finally show some disappointment, he was only surprised and confused to see Ladybug! And he got over it in a matter of seconds, and became nauseatingly happy, instead! I don't understand why my plan failed to work! I could have akumatized Chat Noir into Chat Blanc and won his and Ladybug's Miraculous by the time Adrien came home from school, but instead, he— he—"

Gabriel gestured aimlessly with his oversized coffee cup. Nathalie took it from his hands before it could spill over the edge and land on the white inner sheets of her bed.

"Of course, Chat Noir wasn't going to be upset after finding out that he's going to marry Ladybug," Nathalie said in a vexed tone. "Any fool could see that he hadn't gotten over her yet. And it turns out that he never will," she observed, looking back down at her tablet. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a bit busy at the moment. But thank you for sharing your information," she said with a smirk. "It was very valuable."

Gabriel held back a scream of rage as his assistant took a sip of his coffee.

[celestiall0tus]

Miraculous AU - Chapter 4 - Allies

Beginning || Previous || Next 

            Chat Noir made his way to Le Grand Paris hotel. He scanned the top balconies and saw Chloe on a lounger. He jumped over, but his foot caught on the railing. He tumbled and collided with the floor. When he looked up. Bits of his outfit glowed lime green, and peeled off him. The black ring reverted to silver as more of his outfit vanished. Once it was fully silver, Plagg fell from the ring onto the floor.

            “Next time, say ‘claws in’ so I don’t go through that,” Plagg said.

            “Sorry.” Adrien scooped up Plagg and stood but was pushed down by Chloe.

            “Stay down for a moment.”

            Chloe walked over and grabbed a blanket that was folded on a lounge chair. She threw it over him, so it hooded his face and hid his clothes. She gave him the thumbs up and gestured him to follow. They headed inside where Chloe closed all the curtains of the living area of her room. Once they were shut, he put the blanket down and took a seat on the couch.

            “So, can we get some food or something?” Plagg asked.

            “Plagg!” Adrien scolded.

            “He didn’t offend, Adrien. Now, what does yours like?”

            Adrien looked at Plagg. “Camembert, right?”

            “Correct.”

            Chloe nodded and walked over to the phone.

            “So, will you tell me more about all of this?” Adrien asked Plagg.

            “What is there to tell?”

            “I don’t know. Maybe all my powers, how this all works exactly, and about whatever that butterfly thing really was?”

            “Can’t you just learn as you go?”

            Adrien scowled.

            Plagg sighed. “Well, you know about the destruction powers and the Miraculous. You also have something called Cataclysm. It allows you to curse people with bad luck, so nothing goes their way for about maybe five minutes.”

            “Does Ladybug have a similar power?”

            “Yeah, her Lucky Charm. Which, you can’t get close to her when she uses it. It’ll cancel her charm, same if she gets close to the person that you curse.”

            “Something like when I touched the blanket she created, and it canceled out both our powers.”

            “Pretty much. Creation and destruction at its finest.”

            “I see. And why exactly did the Miraculous have that kind and after effect? Is there a limit to the powers that we can use?”

            “Kinda. You really only get five uses of all your powers combined, with some more taxing than the others. Destruction can be used five times per transformation while Cataclysm and Miraculous can only be used once. So, say you use Destruction, then Cataclysm, that’d be five uses right there. Or if you didn’t use any powers but used Miraculous, that’s all five right there too. You can technically use some powers and then the Miraculous, but you’ll turn back faster if you do.”

            “Oh. Is that all? Just five uses?”

            “Well, you will be able to use them more the more they’re used. You gotta build to it basically.”

            “Ok. And what about the butterfly?”

            “Was Ladybug’s explanation not enough?”

            “She didn’t say how exactly it worked. How and why whatever that butterfly thing was that went after that boy.”

            “Fine. In this state, the butterflies will feed on desires, the type you mortals like to repress and never let see the light of day. Because of this twisted nature, if you accept the Akuma, that butterfly thing you destroyed, it’ll turn you into a monster.”

            “Has this happened before with the butterfly?”

            “Yes. This is far from the first time we’ve had to step in with a rogue kwami. The butterfly has his fair share of moments, but typically we’ve had to step in with other certain kwamis like the rooster, spider, bat, snake, and especially him.”

            “Him, who?”

            Plagg crossed his arms and turned away from Adrien.

            “Can you at least tell me what kwami it is so I know?”

            “Don’t worry about it.”

            “But-!”

            “He might be talking about the peacock,” Chloe said as she put the phone down.

            Plagg bristled. “Don’t mention that little demon.”

            “Wait, how do you know?” Adrien asked.

            Chloe put a finger to her lips. She disappeared behind wall. She reappeared and headed to the door. “I’ll be right back, but she’ll explain.”

            Chloe left and a bee kwami appeared from behind the wall. It flew over to Adrien and bowed.

            “Greetings, young Agreste. Chloe told me that we’d be entertaining you,” the bee kwami said.

            “Uh, who are you?” Adrien asked.

            “I am Pollen, the kwami of devotion. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Been some time, hasn’t it, Plagg?”

            “What are you doing here, Pollen?” Plagg asked.

            “I live here, with darling Chloe. She’s my surrogate daughter and possible holder, at least now that you and the ladybug are active.”

            “Daughter? Since when were in the market for adoption?”

            Pollen chuckled as she sat on the coffee table. “Oh, darling, I’ve always done this. Maybe if you weren’t up your own tail end all the time, you’d notice.”

            Plagg’s ears twitched. “I’m leaving.” He flew up but fell back into Adrien’s hands.

            “Maybe wait until you’ve eaten?” Adrien suggested.

            “Fine, but we wait in silence,” Plagg said.

            “Fine. It’s not like I could talk with you around anyway. Not anymore at least.”

            They waited in an uncomfortable silence until Chloe returned. She walked over and placed a cake slice for Pollen and handed Adrien a plate of camembert. Plagg inhaled the cheese and flew up.

            “Now I leave. I’ll see you at home.”

            Pollen scoffed after Plagg vanished.

            “Is he always like that?” Chloe asked.

            “Sometimes, but when the peacock is mentioned, he gets worse,” Pollen answered.

            “What’s the deal with the peacock anyway?” Adrien asked.

            “Oh, there was an incident with the last peacock holder and the ladybug holder at the time. She was left in bad shape and Plagg blames the peacock for what happened. Which, I find a little unfair as we can’t directly influence you guys, at least from the start.”

            “What do you mean?” Adrien asked.

            “Plagg had mentioned one way your power will grow, but he didn’t mention the other. That is through the bond between holder and kwami. The stronger and healthier the bond, the stronger your defenses are as well as you gaining passive abilities. These abilities are based on the concept and the animal we become the personification of. And with you being in possession of a combative kwami, it’s in your best interest to establish such a bond.”

            “Why exactly? And what do you mean by a ‘combative kwami’?”

            “See, we all fall into one of three categories: combative, defensive, and hybrid. These characteristics define some of the abilities you can gain. Combative kwamis innately give their holders martial prowess, which can grow stronger. Your claws, talons, and so on can pierce the toughest of materials, even another holder’s kwami suit. However, you are the most prone to dangers compared to a defensive kwami.”

            Adrien frowned and looked at the ring. “How would I create a bond like that then?”

            “You’ll have to figure that out on your own, Adrien.”

            “But-!”

            “Well, he’s a cat. So, just treat him like you would a cat,” Chloe suggested.

            “I’ve never interacted with animals aside from Plagg when he was a cat, so I don’t exactly know how to treat him. Besides, it feels different knowing that he’s not really a cat.”

            “Sure acts like one,” Chloe remarked.

            “More than you may think. Now, I have been wanting to ask, how was school today? I heard there was a monster attack?”

            “Yeah, some golem thing practically destroyed the school before class even started,” Chloe said.

            “Was it the butterfly?” Pollen asked.

            Adrien nodded. “Ladybug found where the… Akuma was hiding, then I destroyed it. Then we used our Miraculous power to fix the school.”

            “Well, at least you can have a second first day tomorrow, right?” Chloe said.

            “That’s if Father lets me. I’m sure if he hears about what happened, he might decide to keep me at home.”

            “Ignoring the monster, why? Why keep you cooped up like that?”

            Adrien shrugged. He grabbed one of the couch pillows and hugged it. “It’s been like this since Mother passed away. He doesn’t let me out of his sight, always knows where I am, and micromanages every part of my life. I’ve wanted to ask that question so many times, but I can never bring myself to. I’m even surprised he let me go to school.”

            Chloe scooted closer. “I know it wasn’t long, but did you enjoy it? School, I mean.”

            “Well, I enjoyed meeting people that weren’t the adults that Father has me interact with for business. Most of everyone was really nice, a bit strange, but nice.”

            Adrien sighed as he looked at the ground. It was nice seeing other people his age. They were all so unique compared to the adults he was usually around. All their faces fresh in his mind, but of all of them, Marinette’s stuck with him. Her long black hair that shone blue when the light hit it just right. The way that her blue eyes brightened when she smiled. Even her simple, yet outlandish red and black dress with a rose patterned skirt were adorable.

            Adrien’s phone rang, breaking him from his thoughts. He pulled it out and his stomach dropped when he saw it was his father calling. He gulped and answered it.

            “H-hi, Father.”

            “Adrien, where are you?”

            “With Chloe.”

            “Where?”

            Adrien shrank back. “At Le Grand Paris.”

            “Stay there. Nathalie is coming to get you.”

            “Wait, please.”

            “No. You are coming home this instant. I refuse to allow you out in this city. What if another monster were to attack? What if you get hurt?”

            Adrien’s breath caught. “Please, don’t do this. I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt. Chloe-.”

            “Enough! I won’t hear of it, Adrien. I will not lose you too.”

            “But, Father-!”

            “Give me that.” Chloe snatched the phone from Adrien. She ended the call and chucked it across the room onto her bed.

            “Chloe, he knows. He won’t let me go back to school. He’ll shut me back into that mansion again!”

            “Well, why don’t we make the most of it then?”

            “What do you mean?”

            Chloe smirked. She trotted over to her bed, dropped off her phone with his, and left a paper with them. She grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

            “Let’s go.”

            “Go where?”

            “Hang out. Go shopping. What people our age do.”

            “But Father told me to stay here.”

            Chloe rolled her eyes. “That’s why we don’t stay here.”

            “But-!”

            “This is the first time in years that I’ve gotten to spend time with you. If your father is going to lock you away again, I want to enjoy as much of it as I can. And no better way of doing that than going out on the city. What do you say?”

            “I don’t know.”

            “Look, we can disobey your father, have fun, do normal teen stuff, and you return to your prison with happy memories, or we can just stay here. The choice is yours.”

            Adrien blinked. He looked down at the ring. He stared at it for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Let’s… let’s go.”

            Chloe grinned and ran off, dragging Adrien along. She had them dropped off at a shopping district, then sent the chauffeur back to the hotel. They spent the afternoon hopping from store to store and evaded Nathalie. By the end of the afternoon, Chloe had a large collection of bags from their trip while Adrien had a few plus a new beret that Chloe had picked.

            “Before we head back or Nathalie finds us, I need to make a quick stop,” Chloe said. She led Adrien to a little bakery. They stepped inside as Tom greeted them.

            “Welcome! What can I get for you today?”

            “I’d like to see Marinette. I want to check on a commission piece.”

            “Sure. One second.” Tom disappeared into the back.

            “Wait, Marinette is here?” Adrien asked.

            “Hmm? Oh, right. This is her parent’s bakery. They live in the space above.”

            “That seems a little strange.”

            “Maybe, but it’s not that strange.”

            “If you say so. Hey, what’s the commission piece anyway?”

            Chloe was about to answer when Marinette burst into the room, her sketchbook clutched in her arms. Marinette approached Chloe, not noticing Adrien.

            “I’m glad you came. I have the design.”

            “Design?” Adrien asked.

            Marinette turned and held her book tighter. “Oh, uh, Adrien. When did you get here?”

            “We were spending the day shopping. This is our last stop before he returns home. He never had a chance to try the pastries I ordered earlier, so we made a quick stop. I figured while I was here, I could see how the dress was coming along.”

            “Are you a fashion designer, Marinette?” Adrien asked.

            Marinette chuckled nervously as she thumbed the corners of the pages. “Oh, no. Not really. I just doodle.”

            “Come now, let’s see it,” Chloe said.

            Marinette sighed and flipped through the book. She opened it up to a page with the commission design. It was a simple halter dress that hugged the body until it flared at the knees slightly. Chloe took the book and examined it closer.

            “Kinda reminds me of what your father designs now,” Chloe remarked.

            “Is that bad?” Adrien asked.

            “It means he’s boring. Now, I saw something in here before,” Chloe said.

            “Chloe, wait,” Marinette started.

            Chloe ignored Marinette and rifled through the pages. Adrien saw the crazy, colorful designs that ranged from runway fashion to casual streetwear. It reminded him of other designers and what his dad used to make before his mother’s passing. They were all unusual, but oddly beautiful designs. Chloe stopped on a design of a strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline. Like the first design, it hugged the body up to the knees where it flared out into a larger skirt like a mermaid dress. The dress had fire like designs that broke it into four segments, colored like a sunset with yellow, orange, red, and purple. The gloves ended with the same fire design and were gradient, starting with red and transitioning to purple.

            “This. I’d like something more like this.”

            “Are you sure? I thought you wanted something like what Gabriel Agreste designs.”

            “Well, I changed my mind. Is that ok?”

            “I guess.”

            “Good. Now, let’s get some snacks before we leave,” Chloe said to Adrien.

            Adrien watched Chloe approach a display but hung back with Marinette.

            “Your designs are lovely.”

            “You think so?”

            “Yeah. They reminded me of high fashion designers, and what Father used to make when he was getting into the industry.”

            Marinette’s eyes lit up. “Really? You really think so?”

            Adrien nodded.

            Marinette giggled, twirling around as she hugged her book. She went on about her dreams of becoming a famous designer. Adrien smiled as he watched and listened, loving the sparkle in her eyes, her smile as she gushed about her passion, and the joy in her voice.

            “Adrien!” Nathalie yelled.

            Adrien flinched. He turned to see Nathalie in the entrance.

            “Uh, hi, Nathalie.”

            “Adrien, this game is over. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you are coming with me right now.”

            “Wait! Please.”

            “No, you’ve had more than enough time and your father is eagerly waiting for your return.”

            “Before we go, can I maybe get a picture with my friends before I go back… forever? Please?”

            Nathalie paused. She looked at Chloe, then at Marinette. “Very well. One picture, then we leave. Do you have your phone, young lady?” she asked Marinette.

            Marinette nodded and handed Nathalie her phone. She placed her book on a display, then stood next to Adrien. Chloe stepped up to Adrien’s other side and posed. Adrien followed Chloe’s example while Marinette sheepishly stood there. Nathalie took a few pictures, then handed Marinette’s phone back.

            “Let’s go, Adrien.”

            “Yes, Nathalie.”

            “Wait,” Marinette said.

            Adrien turned as Marinette approached, handing him a box and a piece of paper. “What is this?”

            “You can’t forget your order, and so we can stay in touch.”

            “Thank you.”

            “Hurry now, Adrien,” Nathalie said.

            Adrien looked at Nathalie, then at Marinette. “Good-bye.”

            Adrien headed out and to the car parked outside. Once in the car, Nathalie handed him his phone, then headed towards home. During the ride, Adrien added Marinette’s number into his contacts, messaged her so she got his number, then looked out the window.

            “Nathalie, I’m sorry for disobeying and going off with Chloe.”

            “You should save that apology for your father. He’s the one you disobeyed.”

            “But he wasn’t the one chasing us down.”

            Nathalie chuckled dryly. “No, no he wasn’t. What did possess you to go against him finally?”

            “I don’t want to stay in that house all my life. I don’t want my life perfectly planned for me down to the letter. I want real friends and connections that aren’t the cut and dry business associates Father has me socialize with. I just want to live my life.”

            “I’m sorry, but this is what your father wants. He knows what is best for you.”

            “Do you really believe that?”

            “No, but my opinion will never carry any weight.”

            “But-!”

            Nathalie parked the car and turned towards Adrien. “I am not your mother and I’m especially not your father. I am just his PA. Nothing more.”

            Adrien frowned and looked away. Nathalie wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t right either.

            “Now, go on. Your father is waiting, probably in his office. I’ll take care of your bags.”

            Adrien nodded and headed inside. Once he closed the door, he heard Gabriel clear his throat. He looked up and saw Gabriel standing at the top of the stairs.

            “Father, I can explain.”

            “Explain the blatant disregard for your safety? Your thoughtlessness as you galivant around this dangerous city, actively avoiding Nathalie?”

            “Father, I-.”

            “It was that Bourgeois girl, isn’t it? I should have known better than to let you near her. I had hoped better of her, but it seems she’s just like her mother, always causing trouble.”

            “No! That’s not-!”

            “There’s no need to defend her, Adrien. It’s clear you shouldn’t be around such negative influences. In fact, I’ve decided to resume your homeschooling. It’s clear that school is too dangerous with random monsters attacking on top of the negative influences of those teenagers.”

            Fear gripped Adrien’s heart and his stomach plummeted. Bile rose in his throat, but he choked it back.

            “Please, I want to go to school. I want to make friends.”

            “Absolutely not. I tried, but it’s clear that this world is too dangerous.”

            “But it’s not.”

            “You could have been killed today!”

            “But I wasn’t!”

            Gabriel scowled and his nostrils flared. “Are you truly so careless? You’d want to risk your very life just to be out there? The very world that took your mother from us?”

            With each word, Gabriel took a step down, until he was face-to-face with Adrien, who shrank back.

            “I just wanted-.”

            “I don’t care what you wanted. You are my son, and you will not leave this house without me or my consent. Do you understand?”

            Adrien met Gabriel’s eyes briefly, then dropped his gaze. He closed his eyes. He nodded as tears stung his eyes.

            “Good. Now, go to your room. You will reflect on your behaviors before dinner. After dinner, straight to bed. Go.”

            Adrien headed to his room. Once inside, he leaned against a wall and slid down to the floor. He brought his knees to his chest and buried his face in his knees. Tears fell from his eyes once he stopped holding it back. In one day, he had his dreams and more, then lost them all again.

            “Are you okay?” Plagg asked.

            Adrien shook his head.

            “What happened?”

            “I went against Father’s orders and went out on a shopping trip.”

            “What’s the big deal?”

            “He’s angry that I went against him and ventured into a ‘dangerous’ world. Now I’m trapped in this house again. I won’t be going to school, and I won’t get to make any friends. I lost it all.”

            “Well, not exactly.”

            “Huh?”

            “Come with me.”

            Plagg flew over to the window. Adrien heaved himself to his feet and joined Plagg.

            “The sun is going down. Know what that means?”

            “That it’s almost night.”

            “Exactly! And when the moon is out, that’s when the cat comes out to play.”

            “I don’t understand.”

            Plagg sighed loudly. “We sneak out. Go and enjoy the night.”

            “What? How? Why? No.”

            “You want to be free, right? Explore the world?”

            “Yes.”

            “You don’t want to be trapped here, right?”

            “Of course not.”

            “Then it’s settled! Once night has arrived, out the window, and we’ll be free.”

            “What if I’m caught? I’ll be in even more trouble.”

            “Not if you’re Chat Noir.”

            Adrien looked at the ring. “Are you sure?”

            “Of course.”

            “Fine. After dinner, we’ll head out, ok?”

            “Great! Now, if you excuse me, I’m going to take a little nap.” Plagg vanished into one of the nightstands.

            Adrien shook his head and sat on his bed. He pulled out his phone to see two messages, a response from Marinette and a message from Chloe. They both sent him the photo they all took together. Marinette said:

            Chloe said she’d send this to you, but in case she forgets. It was great meeting you. I hope you stay in touch.

            Adrien smiled and blushed. He responded to Marinette, reassuring her that he’d stay in contact with her. After the message sent, he looked at Chloe’s message that said:

            Got Marinette to send me the photo of all of us. Hope you had fun, Adrikins. And remember, I’m here for you.

            Adrien grinned, thanking Chloe. He hadn’t lost everything yet.

[baenyth]

Bethany's Bizarre Miraculous Baseball Episode!?

I decided, while I was readying myself for the finale and Chloe's character death, why not write one of the Miraculous ideas buzzing in my head not related to my fic? This one's a baseball episode because I like baseball episodes.

In terms of background plot, the Peacock Miraculous is fixed and Hawkmoth (no, not Shadowmoth, this is my canon,) has whittled down the identities of Ladybug and Chat Noir to being in Mme. Bustier's class. He doesn't immediately think Ladybug and Chat Noir are the only two students unakumatized in class because he knows Miraculouses can be swapped around, and Miraculous wielders can change their appearance. As for the episode prior,

Ms. Bustier's class is playing baseball for whatever reason. Gym class or something.

Hawkmoth, knowing Ladybug and Chat Noir are in the group, decides to strike, but instead of the overdone and constantly-failing akuma method (not to mention no one's having that bad of a day,) he decides to get creative.

Hawkmoth shows up at the baseball field the Miracuclass is at, in full baseball gear as well? The exits are blocked off by a mass of mold created by the peacock Miraculous, and Ladybug and Chat Noir have trouble running and transforming due to said mold having eyes everywhere, including, yes, the toilets.

He's also created a full robotic baseball team with the peacock miraculous, with 7 basic robot players, 1 armored catcher, and 1 pitching machine on wheels. The latter wields a bat by having it duct-taped to its "head," btw.

Hawkmoth merely wants to wager a game of baseball. If the home team wins, Hawkmoth will leave the class alone. No more akumas or amoks targeting them. However, if Hawkmoth wins, and he might, he gets to take all their accessories! Necklaces, Bracelets, Jewelry, Earrings, Rings, etc.

After the initial cries of shock, confusion, and "Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!", the class decides on what to do. Some members see this as a low-cost high-gain game, not to mention they were already playing baseball in the first place.

Marinette and Adrien, being Ladybug and Chat Noir respectively in the first place, realize Hawkmoth's plan and are not for playing, although they have problems explaining why for reasons that don't expose themselves. Same with the classmates that have figured out their identities (Ivan, Nathaniel, Juleka, and Max,) although they fare a bit better in the reasoning department. Also Chloe is on team no for obvious reasons. As is Sabrina.

Lila's with team 'no' at first for the same reasons as Chloe, but changes sides when she figures out Hawkmoth's scheme and comes to the same conclusions as him.

Ultimately, not willing to risk what would happen if they said no, the Miracuclass takes up Hawkmoth's offer. Also they have uniforms now. From the power of baseball or something.

Since a baseball team only needs nine players and Ms. Bustier's class has fifteen people (six too many,) Chloe, Sabrina, Rose, Mylene, Lila, and Marinette form a cheer squad instead with uniforms as well. Very modest uniforms. Like at the lightest no sleeves and yes modesty shorts.

In terms of positions (because I care deeply about this,) Alix is the pitcher (a great one at that!), Ivan is the catcher, Nino looks over first base, Max looks over second base (he can catch and throw well by calculating the trajectories), Adrien looks over third base, Alya, the girlboss that she is, handles Shortstop, while Kim, Juleka, and Nathaniel are all outfielders. While Kim's highly athletic and a runner and Juleka is frequently at the right spot to catch the ball in midair, Nathaniel is an art kid that wants nothing to do with this and would rather doodle comics.

As for batting, it's as you'd expect. The students that are muscular, sporty, or have spent time as superheroes (mainly Alya and Nino for the latter,) bat better. Ivan's a bit on the slow side and Juleka's a deceptively fast runner, however. It helps that her girlfriend's cheering her on.

Finally, the cheer squad. Chloe, being a talented gymnast and Mean Girl, kills it as a cheerleader, with Rose and Sabrina not being too far behind. Mylene's doing her best, Marinette keeps on tripping over her own feet, and Lila's doing the bare minimum and using faked health conditions as excuses. She also tries to take the other cheerleaders' earrings and rings in case they're Ladybug or Chat Noir, and makes more fake excuses when noticed. At one point Chloe and Lila start fighting. Sabrina tries to break it up.

Hawkmoth's really getting into the sport, by the way. Yelling, telling the enemy team what to do when they mess up, getting mad when his robot baseball players try to cheat, etc. Mostly because some of Gabriel's best times with Emile were at baseball games. He even proposed to her after a game!

Adrien, sweating a bit: "Why does Hawkmoth keep on looking at me? Has he figured out my identity?"

Hawkmoth, looking at Adrien: "My son isn't doing as well as I'd hoped. A pity. Is he not interested?"

Also the bleachers are filled up with some audience members, let in by the Mold. Not a full crowd by any means, but there's people! It helps Nadja is broadcasting the game as well. Marinette's parents are there. The Gorilla is whistling in support of Adrien and has a foam finger. Nathalie isn't there, though. She was never into the sport.

Of course, a bunch of middle schoolers don't fare too well against a team of lifeforms designed to be good at baseball. Alya, using her own form of Ladybug vision (or whatever it's called,) on the cheer squad, determines that Marinette should join the team in place of someone else. Nathaniel seems like the best choice due to being the worst player.

Nathaniel: "NO! I am not becoming a cheerleader! Can't I just sit on the bench or something?"

Alya: "We need six cheerleaders. We can't have a full pyramid with only five!"

Murmur of agreement from the others

Nathaniel: "...Well can't you get someone else to be a cheerleader instead? Why can't it be someone like Jule-Gets hit by a thrown baseball mitt and shoe-OW! Hey!"

Adrien: "Everyone, calm down. I'll be the cheerleader. I've never liked competitive team sports like baseball anyways. I'd rather be my own rival."

Adrien walks over to Marinette and hands her his hat and baseball mitt

Adrien: "Win the game for everyone here, okay?"

Marinette: (Internally) Adrien's counting on me. I can't let him down again! I'll win this game not just to keep my Miraculous, but so I can rebuild Adrien's trust in me!

For the record, I decided in my canon this episode takes a while after Marinette and Adrien got together before having a horribly messy break-up three episodes later, and in general this is meant to be platonic, but if you make art of this and change that dialogue a little for the sake of Adrienette, I won't be cranky.

But yeah. The entire cheer squad welcomes Adrien in with open arms because they're nice girls, Lila, Chloe, and Chloe's girlfriend. Also maybe I'd have Adrien in a skirt but I'll need consultation on that.

As for Marinette, her passion and muscle give the team the nudge and morale to outplay Hawkmoth's team and ultimately win. Taking the pitcher position from Alix, she throws fast, unpredictable balls to strike out the basebots, and she manages to outbat the pitching machine and hit a home run at the ninth inning while three of her teammates are on each of the bases.

Hawkmoth is a man of his word, thankfully. A pretty good sport, too. Very impressed. He dispels his baseball team, skedaddles away, and finally dispels the Mold so Ladybug and Chat Noir can't immediately chase him.

At the ending part, in the Agreste Manor, Gabriel goes over to his son and said he heard all about his game, including what he said about competitive team sports.

"Did you mean all that?"

"Yes, father."

"Would you rather be a cheerleader than be in the basketball team?"

"Yes!"

And so Gabriel puts Adrien in the cheer squad instead of playing basketball and the two of them play a game of catch because Gabriel realized he's never done that with his son.

With baseball mitts and a baseball.