#give me a friendship like mari's and alya's

[generalluxun]

Miraculous: The Movie Reaction/Review

A little more ordering of my thoughts now, and I can go through in a little more detail why I loved this movie so much. This will be a solid look at things, and so... yeah, SPOILERS! And just for the record this will be looking both at the movie itself as a movie AND in comparison to the series. I know that there are different pressures on both, but I do feel there are narrative through lines tackled better or worse.

Putting a cut here for the Spoiler free folks.

This will be somewhat chronological, with some asides.

Okay, so the opening, a great setup. It's a Lore dump, but it's clean and neat and we are already introduced to the vibrant colors we will see throughout the movie, and Mr. Overdramatic Fu who I find priceless.

Marinette:

Oh Marinette, I love this Marinette. She feels downtrodden to start. The type of person for whom one too many hiccups have become a self-fullfiling way of life. The movie spends a lot more time with her on this. Which is to the benefit because her choice and ascension are much bigger payoffs. She's still a dreamer, and energetic, She's our Marinette, but vitalized.

Okay I'll put this here: The Songs. They're fine. They're not great, but they're find. they have a stage-style vibe to them which fits in with the change to Emilie's career. They are also pushing the narrative through most of the time, so even if the song isn't to your liking, you've got a lot going on.

School&Chloé: Marinette seems a lot more jumpy/unpopular in general, it's not JUST Chloé which is a good shift. Don't get me wrong, the blonde is still clearly a nightmare, but it's not she alone among the student body that thinks something's off about Mari at the beginning.

Alya&Nino: What is there to say? She's Alya, she's great. Nino and Adrien friendship! yay! And Alya&Nino are a cute secondary couple-in-the-making. The movie loved it's secondary characters.

Adrien: Sad Adrien, but gentle. Marinette's first interaction with him was great. She's Marinetting, but she actually gets up the will to talk to him. I liked this balance. Yes some of it comes from a shorter runtime, but it comes across as just... healthier?

Gabemoth: Gabriel outside! GASP! He's a human being! Clearly still flawed, but this Gabe is one I buy the ending for, and I quite enjoy it. Both Gabe and Adrien being over the top theaterical fits having Emilie in their lives. and.. OMG we got to see and hear Emilie as a person! I loved this. I'll add in Nathalie here. She didn't have a lot but we get her care for Adrien and the family right away.

Rescue Fu Alleyway and Tikki: Saving Fu felt much more earned in this one, give a bonus to whoever storyboarded this. Marinette pulling him from in front of a bus then bodily putting herself between him and the danger of another oncoming car? This girl! Go Marinette, you've earned these earirngs(want them or not) also: Her reaction to this crazed little man screaming about death and end of the world was awesome, I LOVE them lamp shading this trope.

Little aside about Sabrina She's adorable in the whole movie, but we get a hint of her own independence when she covers for Marinette in the Alleyway, and I loved that. Tiny Character building moments are a sign of great writing.

Tikki: They amped up Tikki's energy and I can see why. Marinette's more reluctant heroine role needed someone with a bit more push to keep her going. This is honestly the most I've ever enjoyed Tikki (not that TV Tikki was awful)

Cathedral: So, We meet Cat Noir here, and he's a cocky goofball, and it works. They balance it well. He gets instant karma a few times, he tries hard, and he does quickly acknowledge Ladybug later on when *she* acknowledges herself. This is an important lesson, people do treat you better when you believe in yourself, it shows. Much like I said with Gabe, Adrien being an overdramatic theater kid fits perfectly in this story.

The back and forth between these two is great. And here's something else: It's instructive for Marinette. If Cat Noir was just a fawning lovesick boy from square one, she wouldn't learn to stand up for herself, which she later uses vs Chloé. People fuss at chat for the watermelon, but Ladybug's throwing her own zingers in there too.

I do like that we bring Fu back here, and then again at the end. He's a little more sane, a little more mentor, so his use as comic relief isn't one note. That's another sign of good writing.

Marinette's refusal: I liked this a lot. It felt right for Marinette. This was dangerous, scary, and she was barely managing for a lot of the fight at the cathedral. I love how the scene evolved from loud and frustrated, to comedy, then finally settled on sincerity. Marinette curling up in her chair was more earned emotion and heartbreak than S5 wrung from me in 13 eps.

Plagg and Adrien: Okay so yeah, Fart jokes. The show had it's share of 'stinky cheese' jokes so we shouldn't point too many fingers. I love dad-Plagg in the TV show, so I was slightly bummed it wasn't as prevelent here, but with Tiki needing a more energetic role, Adrien not being a shut in, and Gabriel not being a complete and total heel, Plagg's role is going to be different. It's worth noting that after Chat's failed confession Plagg does Dad-Plagg him, so all is not lost for that dynamic.

Fairground: Just a showcase of fun. Marinette&Adrien, Alya&Nino, the Akumas, Marinette making the *decision* to be a hero and triggering her first voluntary transformation. The two of them working together. This was a great celebratory event, and it kicks off:

Montage!

You knew they'd need this in a movie covering this much ground. We got to see a few fun akuma designs, a few Adrienette dates, and how the changes wrought on the fairground played out. We had enough time with sad, isolated, Marinette that this does feel like a triumph.

Third Act low point: This is where everyone fails. Chat's confession to Ladybug burns out. Marinette's confession to Adrien burns out. Even Gabriel has burned out. All three of our main players are at their low (which is a brilliant way to hint they're framing Gabe as not just a villain, he's treated to the narrative beats of a hero) All three felt solid and hit hard. It's the Lovesquare cliff notes, but it hits all the right elements. You still come away thinking 'If only they knew!' because the movie has really built up both Adrienette and Ladynoir in equal parts.

Final fight: Damn son, what is there to say? Akumatized Hawkmoth is not playing. Plagg telling Adrien to get his stuff together. This battle is just plain brutal. Mari unmasked! Chat punching his dad. Marinette being a hero without the suit, saving Chat in the same selfless way she saved Fu back at the beginning of the movie. Chat unmasked. and Gabriel's breakdown. *Adrien hugging his dad!* CLOSURE. Ladybug getting her Miraculous Ladybugs and it being a BIG DEAL, like it should be!

The Dance: Cute character moments. Chloe is big enough to give Marinette a 'truce' it seems, but mean enough to let her know it's not over yet. Sabrina's shrug is great :) Oh wait MARINETTE'S DRESS. It's Ladybug, it's beautiful. This girl is a designer. A reveal in snow. The two of them together, yes!

Post-script: Mayura next Villain? I'm hype.

End Notes: I feel this movie hit all the notes it needed to. We got the characters, they were compressed clearly because it's a movie, but still felt themselves, but fresh. Everything about this word feels a little more 'real' which is funny considering how ethereal all the lighting was.

I'm notoriously prone to critique and dissecting media, even media I enjoy. Yet my nitpick sensors were surprisingly mute while watching this. They told a huge amount of story, accessible both to long time fans and newcomers.

I probably have more thoughts, but that's already a lot for a Tumblr post. Feel free to engage my Asks or replies if you have questions or would like opinions on anything specific.

#miraculous ladybug #Miraculous Awakening #Ladybug and Cat Noir the movie #Miraculous Movie #Spoilers #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #chloe bourgeois #alya cesaire #sabrina raincomprix #nino lahiffe #gabriel agreste #nathalie sancour #Master Fu #review

[sweetcloverheart]

Clover Rants Miraculously: Power Of Love (Not) So Strong

I think I (and many others) complained about this already, but it annoys me that the show hypes up how being a good person means being a loving, empathetic person and how love can overcome evil selfish intents...only then to proceed to punish the characters for being loving empathetic people and rewarding evil selfish intents

Marinette realizes she was in the wrong for humiliating Lila like she did as Ladybug and apologizes? Lila becomes her greatest enemy in and out the mask.

Adrien accepts Felix's apology for tricking his friends and tries to be friends with him again? Felix uses it to help screw over his partner and give their main enemy a huge power bonus.

Marinette tries to empathize with Chloe and give her a chance to be good? Chloe betrays her to Hawkmoth and the resulting events of this cause Marinette to lose Fu as a mentor.

Adrien accidentally causes someone to get Akumatized because he lies about his and Ladybug's relationship status? Ladybug takes the blame for this.

Gabriel controls and manipulates his son at every turn? Just a man who loves his family. Clearly a misunderstanding on Adrien's part. Can't he see how much his father loves him!

Adrien realizes telling Marinette to let Lila be was a bad move and tries to help her convince Alya and Nino something's off? He's immediately dismissed and is claimed to only be saying that because Marinette's his girlfriend.

Marinette helps Chloe almost humiliate Kagami at the movie premiere to try and break her and Adrien up? She gets rewarded with being allowed to sit next to Adrien (Sorry Mari but that was absolutely bad on you)

Nathalie realizes Gabriel doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself anymore and quits? She still continues to let him commit crimes and doesn't even try to give the heroes a hint on how to find/capture him

Bustier recognizes Chloe clearly has something going on at home and tries to be kind to her? She's presented as wrong for doing this and gets fired later on

Andre continuously enables his daughter's (and wife's) worse behaviors and uses his position as mayor to aid in her torment of the city and her classmates as he prevents her from facing consequences? He's given a brand new sparkly undamaged daughter to dote on as he abandons his position to live out his abandoned dreams of being a director.

Chloe secretly gives Bustier a birthday gift to make up not initially getting her one? Bustier throws in back in her face to try and emotionally browbeat her during a teacher-student meeting.

Felix helps his uncle become even more dangerous and powerful and leaves Marinette with tons of trauma from the act? He's given immediate forgiveness despite never apologizing and allowed to keep his miraculous (that he had previously used to commit mass genocide with mind you), despite his identity being known to everyone and others on the team being bench for less

Chloe makes an attempt to actually be nice (by threat of Adrien ending their friendship)? She has to be threatened into keeping it up the whole time by her butler with Mr.Cuddly, and then is humiliated when the toy is exposed to everyone

Audrey constantly neglects her family and insults her children to their face? Presented as just Normal Parent Things™

Lila is finally exposed as a liar and revealed to have nearly messed up everyone's future class schedules/graduation forms alongside Chloe? Doesn't hurt her a bit! In fact, now she can go sneak off into one of her fake IDs and cause more trouble, and Chloe pretty much gets a slap on the wrist for what she did.

Bustier gets Akumatized over being fired and the fake video of Andre, and is clearly not in her right mind as she hunts down the mayor? Ladybug and Chat lead her straight to him and all but help her demand Andre resign (IDGAF he did so willingly that scene was not a good look for anyone involved) and Bustier is given the title of mayor, qualifications be damned!

Chloe gets used by Gabriel, Lila, and Tomoe to terrorize the city in a way that clearly couldn't have been done by her alone and is made obvious there's another party involved? She takes the full blame and is taken away to be abused by her mother forever in New York while the actually masterminds get away scotfree

Marinette decides to sympathize with Gabriel despite everything he's done to her, Adrien, Kagami, and the city and tries to convince him to work with her to find a way to save his wife? Gabriel not only backstabs her, but uses his control "shared love" of Adrien to manipulate Marinette into hiding the truth about what he's done as Hawkmoth as the show rewards his obsession "love" for Emilie by letting him make the wish in his final moments and getting him praised as a hero to all of France!

#ML Salt #Clover Rants Miraculously

[princess-of-the-corner]

Okay finally a proper liveblog of Shadybug and Claw Noire!

Gabriel's VA is having so much fun in that intro

How'd they get video from the other dimension? Is that explained?

FUCKING BETTERFLY I refuse to call him that we're calling him Hesperia. Anyway buddy boy everything is crumbling you don't have time for the speech!! You already know she's doing this shit just say yes!!

Well someone went whole hog on the intro sequence

NATHALIE SENDING GABE RIGHT TO VOICEMAIL

Also I forgot this is right after Destruction no one is getting any fuckin sleep

Mari and Alya are real gay here

TIKKI STEALING MACAROONS

Hesperia asking Mari not to panic after all that has big "B̷̬͇̬̏́̿̚Ȩ̸̬͇̠̓̏͐ ̵̛̝̠̖̤̱͎̻̱͗̉͊́̾̂̔̓̐̃̆̾̽͘N̸̝̠͓͍̺͔͉̮̰̈́̈́̍̒̒̊͐̒̈́̃͜Ǫ̶̧̡͓̥̤̪̤͛T̵͈̳̝̾̀͒ͅ ̴̺̾̈́̾͂̋̇̒̆À̴̢͔͖̯̺̜͇͎͎̬̻̖̲̏̒́͘͜͠F̴̧̧̘͇̈́̏̔̀͜Ŕ̶̨̟͎͕͓̤̟̤̺͓͚̺̰͒̊̌̅̂̈́͝Ḁ̶͙̈́͝Ĩ̵̢̘̩͉̳̯̼D̴̡͉͇̳̮͎̜͐̐́̍̎̉͝" energy.

rest in fucking pieces Markov!

Claw explodes a wall and Sabine just calmly goes to check like?? I'd be sprinting up there???

I was really hoping Shady would say 'Lucky Harm'. I would've also screamed and lit something on fire, but it would've been funny

so. not only can SB make binoculers that track butterfly pheramones. But Hesperia /gives off butterfly pheromones???/ I guess the fandom making everyone more animalistic was right? We won but at what cost?

Also SB and Claw's banter kills me I love the rivalmance

Okay this is a personal thing but I hate this because if it were a more appropriate couple, Hesperia being so soft and carrying Marinette away would be adorable shipping fodder but it's Hesperia and Marinette so I'm like sir step like three feet away

Once again, rip the Eiffel Tower.

I know it's said that Gabriel stole the Miraculous, but does he say it later or are we taking SB's word for it? Because that could be a lie from that 'the supreme' guy.

Tikki. Everything you just said about parallel universes went over my head and this is coming from someone who loves Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle.

Also fuck this existing with Bunnyx's One True Timeline thing

Okay so I 100% called why the Timers are in place. But why does 'being used for evil' override the security system???

... I'm yoinking Claw's nunchucks.

Okay that's the context for Claw doing that. So uh. Buddy boy needs a fuckin therapist NOW

Ladybug: "I'll explain everything to you later." Me: "ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?!"

Why.... why did time freeze when making Celestial Cat? It's not a thing that happened any time befre??

THE ONE LINERS. CLAW NOT CATCHING SHADY. I LOVE THEM

Also LB should be having Chat Blanc flashbacks right now

DID SHADY JUST CALL CLAW A DOUCHEBAG??? I SWEAR TO FUCK THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID????

First mention of 'The Supreme'. Saying he'll spare whichever gets the Butterfly. But also like. Ya don't have to be so happy about it.

So like. /is/ the other world some evil hellscape where only a few are good? Or is it just that SB was bullied and Claw lost his mom and The Supreme is manipulating them? Because Hesperia is going on about shit being awful, but if there's more changes then just the slightly altered path, that kinda ruins the idea that they're all just a touch different. But if that world's so fucked how'd they turn out good?

I love how Mari's beartrap diary comes back just to get easily broken into because no one would care about minor property damage if they're breaking into her house to read her diary.

Hesperia: "Claw Noir knows nothing about friendship" Me: "GEE I WONDER WHY"

ofc Alya leaves before seeing who Claw Noir is.

.... Hearing that Andre is on the 'never too late to do good' show or whatever is hurting me knowing the abuse abandonment and kidnapping he takes part in during season 5.

GOD EMODRIEN AND EMONETTE JUST FUCKIN but also their lovesquare is great.

We see a glimpse into the other world in a flashback and things seem? Fine?? ???

So SB and Claw didn't know about the Wish that could give them what they want, but joined The Supreme because......?

"MOM GET OFF MY BACK!!!" Peak middle school emo phase.

Okay but question of how bad things /actually/ are aside, the acting in this? It hurts hearing her cry and all and just want to have the life with friends.

Monarch has finally shown up and he's also having fun but also SB, Claw? This would be the time for regular knives!

Okay but why are they trusting Monarch so easily? You'd think they'd have some trust issues with people offering to make their dreams come true

Giant Shady and Claw. If they're not Akumas, I'm assuming Illusions. Why doesn't Mari think of that?

Alya is the MVP tho!

Mari honey your plans are ALWAYS convoluted it's your thing.

Stilll a little bullshit on why they didn't do the identity reveal but... I mean they gotta ya know?

GOD Monarch's stained glass butterfly lapel is the only thing about his design that absolutely FUCKS

THE BAD ACTING OMG

Oh hey Multiplication makes Gabe a normal height instead of fucking 220cm/7'2"!!!!!!!

Here's how Maribug and Adrichat(the ships) can still win!

Chat without an ear looks cursed

So the Guardian Angel thing saves them, but why didn't Monarch try to Venom them a second time?

Still hate how Shady pins all the bad things in her life on Chloé even though either 1.) all the pain is from The Supreme making everything a hellscape and filled with assholes, or 2.) everything was the same up until Origins where she had friends and loving parents and all.

Okay other than the :/ on the Chloé bashing and the question of what's going on in their world/why things are Like This, the scene is fucking fantastic. No commentary. For as much as I dunk on ML, when it's good it's REALLY GOOD

Okay only one note: Mari has way to much faith her speech will work. Like girl at least dodge.

I do think it's a little weird that Claw stopped though. Like, he and Shady already signed up for murder. He's probably killed someone's mother before. Why would he care about the Wish doing it for him?

Also like. Monarch wasn't watching this shit? Really?

They still have the dunking on each other dynamic.

So. The Rooster can do interdimensional travel. Because sure that doesn't break it's bullshit rules I guess. Why doesn't Monarch do this later when no one's paying attention?

HATSUNE MIKU????

Scarabella and Kitty Noire universe! I'm just gonna assume they're the lovesquare in that one.

anime universe lmao

The comic one is a copout

Wait. The implication with the Mr. Bug and Lady Noire one is that it's still the original LB and CN just swapped. How did. How did they swap in 10 seconds without revealing their identities???

Mari's final speech once again implies that everything was the same until Origins.

Also the Alyanette is STRONG today

Get these girlss a fuckin NAP

Okay overall thoughts:

While I do think it has it's flaws, some of which piss me off a lot. This was mostly a very fucking good special holy fuck.

[blueberry-macaron]

Looking back I still find it funny how when Gang of Secret was airing at the time,Alya Stans calls people who criticize Alya or say that she's a bad friend as clowns,but here we are in Season 5 and Alya is worst (and more dumb) than ever and Stans keep making stupid excuses for her and I seriously saw somebody say that Marinette is the problem in their friendship with how controlling she is towards Alya,and don't even get me started on the "If you criticize Alya that means you're racist" logic,imma say it any girls in Mari's class (except Lila and Chloe because hell no) are better best friends than Alya

I remember that too and I honestly didn‘t understand how Alya becoming Marinette‘s first confidant disproved any salty claims against her. It didn‘t change the fact that Alya‘s main role in the show was to pressure Marinette into confessing her feelings to Adrien and sometimes other things. Alya makes a lot of decisions for Marinette, so the take that Marinette is the controlling one is bs (I assume this refers to her as Ladybug giving orders bur like, she‘s the permanent hero and therefore authority in this case? And it‘s not like she just blindly ordered Alya around without ever considering her ideas and opinions)

Alya is the best friend because by the show‘s standard, she „guides“ Marinette into the right direction which is the love square. For example in the NY special, Marinette decided she didn‘t want to confess to Adrien, which goes against the show‘s ultimate goal of „canon Love square“, so Alya „fixes“ this by pushing Marinette into romantic situations with Adrien in order to get her to „be honest with her feelings“ (which really makes no sense because Marinette isn‘t lying to herself, she has a goal of being normal friends with Adrien without the romantic attraction). By real life standards, Alya would not be a good friend.

Basically, Alya‘s entire role is being Marinette‘s helper and guidance to her end goal and I‘ve already talked about this, but if anything‘s racist here, it‘s Alya‘s writing reducing her to a tool to push the love square together (black best friend trope where the black bff only exists to help out the white bff, or in this case half white/white passing). That‘s her number one reason to exist. Outside if that, she has little to no arc of her own (expect for love problems with Nino here and there but that‘s more background), and that‘s why I honestly was excited when she became a confidant. (After being a little mad that Luka didn‘t get the same treatment but that‘s another can of worms) I thought this would give her more to do as a superhero and give her more purpose than „mindless shipper“. Boy was I disappointed, she‘s still nothing more but an „Adrienette shipper“

I‘m not gonna deny that some Alya salters are probably racist (especially people who write Alya salt fics with Chloe becoming Mari‘s new bestie instead of redeeming Alya? Yeah sorry but that‘s sus), but salting on characters of color doesn‘t automatically make someone racist.

#ask #anon #ml salt #alya salt #love square salt #writers salt #Alya honestly deserves better writing #she could be great but the crew are lame middle aged white men so #same goes for Nino btw #he doesn‘t really do as much dumb shit but like he‘s barely a character and that‘s a crime

[brickercupmasterx3]

Miraculous Ladybug Rewrite, anyone?

I feel like I may as well go through with it. Canon is absolute trash nowadays and there are certainly lots of things that need to be reworked/fixed.

I will be reworking the plot, but here are some things you should expect to get out of it:

First: It is no surprise that my heart belongs to Lukanette, so they will be the main ship here. Meaning, obviously, it should go without saying that if you hate ship, this won't be the rewrite for you. So block the tag.

Second: Chloe will get better treatment here! Whatever development she undergoes will be consistent. We will dive a little deeper into Chloe & Sabrina’s friendship & her past with Adrien & Felix. I will also share headcanons on how she deals with her parents and why she acts the way she does. (I don’t like Zoe, so she will NOT exist in this rewrite.)

Third: Expect salt and consequences for characters that get none. Adrien & Lila will primarily get the worst salt treatment. They're horrible human beings. Alya & the rest of the girl group (minus Juleka) are likely to get some salt too, for trying to force Mari to get with Adrien, but they will give up on that goal inevitably.

Fourth: No Lila & Kagami BFF storyline. Kagami is Mari's best friend, from the start, so she will always take Mari's side.

Fifth: In case you're wondering why there won't be Juleka salt, it's because she does set sail for Lukanette before any of the other girls come around to it. She wants her brother and close friend to be happy, and realizes earlier on that Mari feels more at ease with Luka. She will be supportive of that.

Sixth: The Ladybug & Chat Noir holders will change in time. With Mari having taken over the Guardian position, and her responsibilities becoming too much to bear alone, she takes both miraculouses and hand them over to the two people she trusts the most: Luka (LB) and Kagami (CN).

//

Ships?: Like stated before, Lukanette is the main/primary ship.

For side ships that will be involved: JuleRose, Chlogami, Feloe, Adrigami, Lilya, Ivan/Mylene, Kim/Ondine, Nathaniel/Marc.

Anti-ships: LS (salt, just salt), LilAdrien, FeLila.

//

This is all I will be disclosing right now. I will go more in depth later on, but these are some of the things you should expect. I am laying stuff on this post so you get to decide whether or not you want to follow along.

I make no promises for when you can expect a proper layout, so don't ask me.

Tagged as: BMX3's ML Rewrite. Block the tag, if this doesn't interest you.

#BMX3's ML Rewrite #Lukanette AU #Lukanette gets a happy ending.

[unhitches-similes]

Miraculous Fic: Crushes and Antics

So, when I came to the next on my self-appointed list of random dialogue prompts, I quickly decided I was due to write a Miraculous fic. Way back forever ago, when we were still somewhere in Season 2, I was enamored with the idea of a Best Friend Swap AU. I know a couple people made posts about it, but my most recent search shows there's still not a lot of content for it. I've decided I wanna help change that, if only a little bit. Sooo here's my attempt at a Best Friend Swap with a little dash of Crush Swap in the lovesquare for funsies. (I have not read the others to avoid copying anyone.) ~*~

Crushes and Antics

Summary: Marinette corners Nino to interrogate him about his latest crush, but he’s not about to let her get away with that so easily. Cue typical BFF antics. Notes: AU Season 1 somewhere, probably; Best Friend Swap AU; Reverse Crush AU

Dialogue Prompt – “Care to join me for a bit?”

~*~ Read on Ao3

or

Nino was distracted enough that he was nearly startled when a slim arm slipped into his as he walked down the hall. Not that he had any real reason to be. Marinette hooking his arm with her own and dragging him off somewhere had been a common enough occurrence throughout their years of friendship.

She tugged him gently off-course, which was a shame as he had nearly gotten close enough to overhear what Alya and Adrien were talking about ahead of him. “Care to join me for a bit?” she questioned in a somewhat shady-sounding undertone.

“What? Dude, no!” Nino replied, immediately suspicious of his best friend’s intentions. He withdrew his arm from her clutches and took a precautionary step away from the girl.

“What?” Marinette echoed, giving him a perplexed look in response. “Why 'no'? Why are you so suspicious?”

“Why are you acting so suspicious?” he shot back.

She exaggeratedly rolled her eyes at him before unceremoniously grabbing his arm and dragging him into an empty classroom. Depositing him against the teacher’s desk, Marinette hopped up onto the desk across from him and gave him an expectant look. “Well?”

Nino frowned back at her. “Well, what?”

“Well, somebody obviously has a new crush he hasn’t told me about, and since you’ve been making up excuses to avoid talking after school…”

“Dude, I haven’t been avoiding you. I really have been busy the last couple of days,” the boy protested.

“Right,” Mari drawled skeptically. “Well, here we are. Now spill.”

Folding his arms over his chest, Nino met her gaze head-on. “You first.”

A bright flush spread across the girl’s face. “We aren’t talking about me, right now,” she told him primly.

“What even makes you think I have a crush in the first place, huh?” he tried. “Maybe you’re just projecting.”

“Remember the crush you used to have on me?”

It was Nino’s turn to blush a bit. “That was ages ago,” he protested. “We were, like, eight!”

“Surprisingly little has changed,” the raven-haired girl stated dryly.

“Yeah, well, at least now I know better than to crush on a mean girl like you,” retorted Nino, to which Marinette stuck out her tongue at him. Sighing, he rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and scuffed a toe against the carpet. “There’s not really much to say, Mari. Alya’s just… Well, she just seems kind of awesome, y’know? The way she stands up to Chloé and is so fearless whenever there’s an akuma. And she’s wicked smart, too. I just – I just think she’s pretty cool, is all.”

“Nino…” Marinette said softly, her expression verging on what he had long classified as her determined-mom-friend look. “That’s it. I’m going to help you come up with the perfect plan to confess to her!”

“Uh uh – no way!” countered Nino. “Your plans are always way too complicated.”

“They are not!”

“Are too!” he insisted. “Look, I’ll confess only if you do it first.”

Mari was suddenly doing a rather good impression of a tomato. “I said we weren’t talking about me, right now!”

“Oh, so you can meddle in my love life, but I can’t meddle in yours? Is that it?”

“It’s not the same thing, at all!”

“Okay, fine. Then I don’t wanna hear you going on and on about your crush, anymore,” he declared.

The girl gave an offended gasp. “I do not go on and on about him!”

“Really? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure I remember you going on about how green his eyes are, and you wonder if his eyes are really green? Or how strong and brave he is.”

“Shut up!” Mari exclaimed, somehow turning even redder as she jumped down from the desk and rushed to try to put a hand over Nino’s mouth. He fended her off, craning his head back to make it even harder for her to accomplish her goal.

“And let’s not forget about how witty he is!” Nino practically crowed, enjoying teasing his friend. “Oh, he’s got to be clever to think up so many puns and all that!”

“I said sto—”

They froze as the classroom door opened abruptly. The two teens must have made quite the tableau. Marinette leaned up against Nino, stretched up on her tip-toes, a wrist caught in one of his hands while the other arm simultaneously tried to evade his grip while finding a way to clap over his mouth. Meanwhile, Nino was half arched back over the desk, trying to twist away from his friend without releasing the hand he had caught in his grasp. His cap had been knocked off in the struggle and his glasses were askew.

“Ugh, gross, it’s you two again,” declared Chloé, staring at them from the doorway, her sycophant Sabrina peeking in over one of her shoulders. “Don’t you two ever stop being weird for, like, ten seconds?”

Nino and Marinette just stared back at her. Honestly, even if they had an explanation for their current positions, they wouldn’t waste it on Chloé. The spoiled girl would just make up whatever story she wanted, anyway.

“Whatever, I don’t have time for this,” the blonde decided, flouncing away and continuing down the hall. “Sabrina!”

“Coming!”

For a minute they continued staring at the now open door. Then they looked back at each other and were immediately reduced to laughter.

“‘Ugh, gross, it’s you two again!’” Nino mimicked in an exaggerated, high-pitched snooty impression of Chloé, causing Marinette to laugh so hard she started wheezing. 

“Can you—” Mari began, having to stop because she’d started coughing for a moment before trying again. “Can you believe we actually used to be in-intimidated? By her?” 

“‘Sa-BRI-na!’”

“Nino, stooo-op!”

The absurdity of the situation and their own antics finally passed and they managed to compose themselves again. This new school year sure had brought about a lot of changes for the duo – a lot of them for the better. It might turn out to be the best school year yet, even with Hawk Moth turning people into supervillains.

Linking an arm with his, Marinette led Nino out of the classroom and towards the stairs. “Are you able to come over today or are you busy again?”

“I am commitment free for the night, I just have to call my mom,” Nino told her. “So I totally have the rest of the day to help you figure out your confession to Char Noir.”

“I am not confessing to Chat Noir! It’s not happening.”

“Uh huh, sure, Mari-dude. Bet you anything you end up confessing before I do.”

Marinette responded with a harrumph, sticking her nose playfully in the air (and subsequently counting on Nino to keep her from tripping over her own two feet). “We’ll see,” she told him imperiously.

-End.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous fic #ml fanfic #best friend swap au #reverse crush au #ml fic #miraculous au #marinette dupain cheng #nino lahiffe #mari and nino are bffs from childhood #nino may or not know mari's secret identity #i haven't decided #best friend antics #crushes #they're totally those bffs who are sometimes a little weird together #you know someone long enough #it just happens #they're way less intimidated by chloe because they've had each other #and also because alya inspired them #like the boss she is #good-natured teasing #may write more #this was fun to write #i love them #unhitches writing #mine #also posted on ao3

[dizzying-faust]

Uhh Marinette for the character thoughts ask game (if already answered then do a character no one had asked yet for that ask game)

I had this in my inbox for a long time, sorry for answering now.

Send Me a Character

First impression

She was pretty much a fav at first sight for me. I just enjoyed how funny and relatable she is.

Impression now

Now I wanna protect her from the fandom and people outside of that because they really are doing her dirty. Whether by people who hate her because of her early season actions or misunderstanding her character, or by her so-called “fans” who pretty much use her as an outlet for their salt fantasies. Marinette deserves better than what she gets.

Favorite moment

I don’t have a particular favorite moment with her, so I’ll just say all of them.

Idea for a story

More crossover stuff regarding her that isn’t salt related or just her being a self-insert. Like, give me her teaming up with characters to fight other villains (maybe they can be akumatized as well) or how about them finding other kwamis that exist.

Unpopular opinion

Personally, outside of a personal crackship, I don't really ship Marinette with anyone, not even Adrinette.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Adrinette (or the Love Square in general), it’s a fine ship. But honestly, I don’t really care about the shipping stuff when it comes to the show.

Though another reason I'm not really into the ships is because of the fandom, mostly regarding ships outside of the Love Square. Everytime I encounter those ships they tend to heavily bash the Love Square and use their ships for salt. Whether they're ships that are fine but got twisted into salt ships (Luka//nette or Mari//gami) or just pure sodium pairings (Feli//nette or Damin//ette/Mari//bat). And as someone who doesn't like ship bashing, it really became a major turn-off for me.

Not to say there aren't toxic Love Square shippers, I have encountered them, but I've seen more toxicity from anti-LS people than people who do ship them.

And yeah not all of the non-Love Square shippers are like this, but the salt poisoned the well on them that I can't look at them without being reminded of the salt shippers.

There are a lot of other unpopular opinions I have regarding Marinette but everyone and their grandparents have said it already and better than I could.

Favorite relationship

As much as I don’t ship them, you can’t deny Marinette and Adrien have such good chemistry together. Plus, I enjoy her friendship with Alya and the girl squad.

Favorite headcanon

I’m all for autistic Marinette

#anonymous #miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #ml fandom salt

[that-was-anticlimactic]

📓:D

HI BELOVED!!! imma give you an angsty but heartwarming mlb fic idea that i'll never finish and hate a lot of but also love with my entire heart and refuse to delete <3

so, it's called "road to recovery" right now... hate the name, tbh. anyways, it's a miraculous chat fic except... okay so like, being akumatized is so traumatizing??? like, alix basically killed all her friends, ivan almost destroyed the city, nino basically attempted to murder all the adults in paris, rose took control of people's minds and manipulated them, kim almost got chat noir to kill ladybug and he was close to doing it, alya almost unmasked her hero and put her in danger, etc...

anyways, they're all traumatized. ivan is also canonically the first person to get akumatized. he's like. fourteen. please that has to have been so traumatic. so, nino is the second one in the class to get akumatized and he really struggles with it and texts ivan asking for help because he doesn't know how to cope. anyways, this causes them to become good friends, and they hang out a lot and talk a lot and rant a lot and just overall try to cope together. they thought it would just be them, but little did they know...

so, then alya gets akumatized and doesn't really take it well (understandably), so after awhile, nino texts ivan and is like "yo alya isn't okay... do we want to make a chat and add her?" so ivan makes a chat and adds alya. then alix gets akumatized, they add alix.

eventually, it's a chat for the classmates who've been akumatized and once it happens to someone, they get added. well, ivan or nino (since they started it) reach out and ask if they want to be added because they aren't going to just Add them without asking.

i'm like... really into the classmates as characters and i love their friendship because they are friends!!! so many people write them all as these big jerks because of freaking lila episodes that mischaracterized them all so people make them like. harass mari and i'm??? i hate it??? they deserve better??? and like nino is my favorite character, so getting to explore his character and interactions with others is SO FUN FOR ME!!! and kim is another favorite! and rose! and i've gotten to really explore sabrina and i have So Many headcanons about their families (and everyone can pry my headcanons about kim's family from my cold dead hands i Know Him and His Family)

anyways, it includes: learning that it's okay to ask for help, friendships being made / becoming stronger, alya correcting nino's typos, chloe redemption, the kids coping with ptsd, occasional fun jokes, nightmares, trying to be stronger for each other... etc :) oh and mari and adrien aren't in it so it's the classmates minus them not that i don't love them but a lot of the time, their characters are used to advance the main two's characters and also they've never been akumatized sooooo they do get cameos, tho, and i did plan on adding them after everyone in the class was in it (sometime around s2) because everyone was like "they've been through enough trauma due to akumas tbh also it feels mean to basically have a whole class chat without them lol"

anyways i really love the classmates as characters and wish they got more love and less hate and got more opportunities to be friends like ik they are and okay so this is Technically a wip, but it's something i don't think i'll ever finish, so it counts <3

#dahl tag #hi i hope you like this iuygfdfuiouygfdfghujiouytfd #i actually have 25k written so like. if you Want to read it i can share the doc with you jhugffgopoiuygfdfghu #it's like... my baby that i'll never finish and wish i could change bits of but still love you know? #like i kind of had most everyone be okay talking about their feelings without like. accounting for people who don't like sharing their #feelings or the kids who have a really hard time being open which is something i want to go through and fix but don't have the time to lol #i also wrote like 5k-ish of the chat after mari and adrien join lol #and the fic has a set of extra fics (non-chat fics) where each student has their own fic about them dealing with their trauma <3 #alix's is actually 5k words and still not done oiuyftiouf granted i started them in 2019 and then a.tla brainrot got to me and i forgot #about them and then i got stuck but i do really want to finish alix's because i Really like it #i also finished kim's but hate it and want to rewrite it entirely and i am 3/4 of the way through rose's and like most of it but want to #change Some of it and i started nino's and chloe's and ivan's but they're all like. one page lol #sorry for the ramble iougfxfcgiougf #anywayssssss thank you for indulging me! sorry it took so long lol #corey rambles:)

[miraculousmusictragedy]

Gang of Secrets Mini Rant

DUDES THAT CONVERSATION ALYA AND MARINETTE HAD AT THE END OF THE EPISODE HAD ME IN TEARS. LIKE PLEASE I LOVE THEIR FRIENDSHIP, (THANK YOU ZAG FOR SHOOING AWAY ALYA SALTERS). WHAT I LOVE EVEN MORE IS THE FACT THAT THIS CHANGES E V E R Y T H I NG. THE PLOT IS MOVING FORWARD, CAN U IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF INSIDE JOKES ALYA AND MARI WOULD HAVE DURING CLASS, ALYA COVERING UP MARINETTE'S ASS BETTER THAN SHE EVER COULD FOR HERSELF DURING AKUMA ATTACKS, EVEN SNEAKING OUT AT NIGHT AS RENA AND LB TO LIKE HAVE GIRL TALK OR SMTH. AND BEST OF ALL, MARI FINALLY HAS SOMEONE TO SUPPORT HER THROUGH ALL HER STRESS AND I'M SO HAPPY. DAMMIT I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT EP. S4 HAS BEEN SUCH A ROLLER COASTER AND WE'RE STILL JUST IN THE THIRD EPISODE. NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING, I LOVE ROLLER COASTERS HAHAHA.

#miraculous ladybug #mlb #season 4 spoilers #mlb season 4 spoilers #gang of secrets spoilers #mlb s4e3 spoilers #i'm so happy and emotional i love this ep so much #everything is in all caps because yes #mlb thoughts #give me a friendship like mari's and alya's #alya cesaire is an amazing friend #and so are the rest of the akuma class girls #marinette dupain cheng #alya cesaire #ladybug #rena rouge

[thecapturedafrique]

I’ve seen debate after debate about Alya in That Scene, so let me remind you all of the two lines she says in Risk, verbatim:

> “It’s cause Lila’s going with him, isn’t it?”

> “Marinette, you can’t decide what Adrien does with his life, Lila or no Lila. As your BFF I refuse to follow along with this plan, for your own good as well as his. You cannot risk messing with someone else’s life.

The first ends with a question. At most, one can argue that Alya is assuming Lila is the issue, but she is still giving Marinette the chance to argue otherwise. And guess what? Marinette does! She says she’s not trying to rescue Adrien from Lila but from his dad!

And when Mari tells them all that Adrien told her himself that he was unhappy, Alya responds that regardless of Lila, Marinette cannot make decisions about Adrien’s life, and refuses to support her plan because it’s a risk to interfere.

Thematically, we know the show is arguing that Adrien needs to take charge of his own life (cue Kagami my beloved) rather than wait for others to save him (cue Felix my gremlin child). So the show is positioning Marinette to be in the wrong: she’s only going forward because of Risk, despite the advice of both Alya and Tikki.

The two often serve as the show’s mouthpieces to let Marinette (and more importantly the VIEWERS) know when she is on a path the writers have deemed to be incorrect. We also have seen the evidence in Bubbler when Nino tried to interfere. Yes, he and Marinette are well-intentioned as they are only seeking to help their friend, but that doesn’t make Alya wrong.

However, I’m not here to argue with the show’s take about whether Marinette is right to stand up to Gabriel on Adrien’s behalf when he told her he’s unhappy. I’m only here because you people can’t seem how to figure out what “Lila or no Lila” means. People keep mentioning that Alya never should’ve brought up Lila, as if she’s not well aware of her best friend’s jealousy and tendency to act out because of it, and ignoring how she brought Lila up as a QUERY and gave Marinette the space to ANSWER.

You’re allowed to disagree with your best friend. You’re allowed to argue with them. You’re allowed to make assumptions about them based on previous behavior. Friendship does not come with a set of parameters beyond the basic “caring about one another.”

Yet time and time again, people keep treating Alya like the Black Best Friend trope she was designed to be and determining her entire worth as a character in regard to Marinette. Putting Lila aside the way Alya literally said she was doing, do you have an actual problem with her advice? And why?

#miraculous ladybug #ml spoilers #ml risk #ml risk spoilers #alya cesaire #trick question the answer is cause she didn’t center mari’s feelings obviously #if i see one person on this post say that i’m implying that everyone who takes issue with alya is racist i will refer to you only as “RR” #(it stands for “Racist Rhetoric” btw and i will use this label freely and with extreme prejudice ❤️)

[arty-shadow-morningstar]

A Failed Betrothal /Betrothal AU: Take Two

So here is the second part of the betrothal AU that I decided to name "A Failed Betrothal. This takes place before Part 1 which in hindsight should have been done first. Part 2 got too long so I cut it and started Part 3. I have no idea and nothing planned on how long this will go. Hope you enjoy ❤.

[Masterlist]

(Part 1)

PART 2

Marinette also wasn't having a good day or a good week.

Lila Rossi had been up to her usual tricks. You know, spewing lies from her mouth. How she met these awesome celebrities during this trip and they worship the ground she walks on for her amazing and humbling help. There were stories of these charities, trips and galas that she had been to or was invited to. She has problems with her wrists and can't do simple stuff like carry her own bag or do her homework. She has tinnitus in her ears so she needs to sit in the front where the only seat available would be next to Adrien.

And for the finale.

The desert after feeding the class a banquet of lies.

"Mari...nette..has been bullying me, she...told..me not to tell anyone..*sobs*..that she would kill me if I did.."

Lila dramatically gasped and slapped her hands over her mouth. Turning on the waterworks for a more dramatic effect. They all ate it up, jumping on the ‘let’s hate Marinette, a bad person’ train.

"She is going to kill me now and I am so scared." That snake managed to snuck an evil smirk past her glaring, oblivious classmates.

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

Marinette, at this point of her life, had frankly given up caring for them due to the class's lack of brain cells and Agreste's spineless 'High Road' Approach.

For Kwami's sake, she went through a brutal torture that was training in some jungle temple in Asia before Sabine Cheng, former mercenary/assassin, kidnapped her (Little Marinette took a risk. She ran away and followed her around until Sabine begrudgingly accepted that she was now the 6- year-old girl's mother because screw it, Tom said he wanted children.) to raise/train as her own while she settled down with a baker whose mother may or may not have ties with the Mafia and other illegal activities.

(Mother-daughter bonding days became much more fun once she had Guardianship of the Miraculous. Sabine was ,at first, furious at Master Fu for dumping everything on the girl and losing his memories before swearing to help protect the jewels. Adopted or not, Marinette is her daughter and no one should let a child, even one with training, fight a war. A good thing to come out of her reveal was that her mother was a great tiger to have as back-up. But now, her training regime had become harder and challenging.)

The point was that Lila Rossi would be dead and body missing since that first time she threatened Marinette in the bathroom. The Italian was in perfect health despite what she claims otherwise, because Marinette didn’t want to be the person she was raised to be and also she didn’t want to disappoint Tikki, she was fond of the little red kwami. But sometimes, she just wanted to give into the urge to kill.

She had met and dealt with unsavory characters of all types and she can safely say that Lila Rossi was a manipulator that thrives on attention and like a parasite, latches herself onto the fame of others. None of the unsavory people she had met get under her skin like Rossi had.

Marinette had enough self-preservation to drop the nice girl act and sometimes let the dragon underneath to surface. She stopped doing last-minute favors and giving away free stuff which Lila uses to her full advantage to further destroy her relationships with her ‘friends’. It was better than sticking her neck out for classmates that were no longer worth her time. Attempts to expose Lila had backfired due to the denial they are in, believing the liar to be a sweet, nice girl living the high life.

Adrien with his rose-tinted glasses firmly stuck to his eyes was not happy at all with her decision. That may also have to do where she suggested he shove his advice after he tried to reason her to take the high road for defending herself for the umpteenth time. She felt like the biggest idiot to ever have a crush on him. Every time, Rossi blames Marinette for a problem, he would shoot disappointed looks in her direction.

Alya being Lila's biggest guard dog tore into Marinette for her newfound 'bad' behaviour. The rest of Lila's supporters backed her up with "How could you do that to Lila","I can't believe you changed." Nearly all her so-call friends had turned their backs and lost all common sense to the Italian's manipulations.

(Alya was supposed to be her best friend, aren’t you supposed to listen to your ‘bestie’ over a complete stranger)

The designer took it all with a bored expression on her face, used to the lecturing which was a waste of time because her behavior isn't going to change, no matter what, Lie-la will keep up the act of being the bully's (*cough*Marinette*cough*) victim.

Her heart that cracks the tiniest bit at the accusations. A small part of her, she admits, is hurt that they think so low of her.Was she really that worthless to them? All those times and efforts helping them out on last-minute favors and giving them free treats. Were they not enough to earn their friendship? Their trust or at the very least, a benefit of doubt?

The only ones who didn’t join the berating to 'correct' the raven-haired girl’s attitude were Chloe (who had proven herself to have changed after the miracle queen incident and Lila stole the spotlight and Sabrina. There were a lot of apologizes, gifts and ‘making up to do’) Alix (she came to her senses when the supposed bullying started) and Nathaniel (Lila blatantly claimed to be the artist for the Ladybug comic to his face).

“Girl, Marinette, are you even listening to me?”Alya demanded.

“Maybe. Did you say anything that doesn’t have to do with Lila or how I did her wrong or how I am no longer the person you knew?”

Marinette knew that being sarcastic would backfire but nothing she does or says will change what they think of her. One word from Lila and they will turn back on her. As much as she hates to admit it, Lila’s threat has fallen through and she was alone. Mostly.

She still had Chloe, Nathaniel, Alix, Luka and Kagami as friends. The trust-worthy and loyal kind.

“Girl,” Alya says in a disappointed tone, shaking her head,“when I look at you, I don’t see that girl who stood up to Chloe the bully-”, Chloe snorted, she had changed but they were too blind and prejudiced against her to notice her efforts, “-Picking on Lila, threatening and harassing her. This isn’t you and you know it. Just get over your jealousy on Lila being close to Adrien and apologize to her.”

If Alya had talked to her in the past 12 months other than demanding things that took away her time or anything relating to Lila, she would know that her infatuation had turned into annoyance.

Marinette sighed, too tired of this routine, tired of trying to knock heads so the brain cells can work again. Apologizing would mean that Lila had won. She was petty and stubborn enough to allow that to happen. Lila said she will take the class and Adrien. Fine, she can have them but Marinette Dupain-Cheng will not admit defeat. Bigger men had fallen to the ravenette for lesser offences. A year has passed since the expulsion and the class still hasn't regained common senses, so they can deal with the consequences after the inevitable downfall of Lila and Marinette will be there to see them lay in the grave they dug.

Steeling herself for the pain that will come with the execution of her plan,

“What if I don’t. I won’t apologize to her because I have not done anything to her or even interacted with her. If I apologize, it would be insincere and a lie. And I hate liars.” The former assassin said evenly.

“Lila is not a liar. I don’t know why you are like this.” Alya said, frustrated.

Marinette knew there would be a small chance of an akuma with Gabriel Agreste having an important meeting to attend on this day that would last for the next hour. This was the small window of opportunity to start the plan and also further confirm the identity of Hawkmoth. Killing two birds with one stone.

“Alya, this has always been me, you just never took the time to get to really know the real me.”, she replied, the last part with an icy tone.

“Well-... I- ..You-, fine, then if you can’t say those simple three words, we can’t be friends. I clearly don’t know what a selfish bitch you are. God, I can’t believe I wanted to be best friends with you. You are now replaced by Lila because unlike you, she is genuinely nice and selfless.” Alya declared. The rest of Lila’s supporters murmured in agreement.

Phase 1, complete. Lure the Lie-la into a false sense of security by making her think she won.

Marinette tried not to show how hurt she was, to be replaced by the scheming bitch. But at the same time she felt relieved, she no longer had to walk on eggshells in fear of losing the friendships of people she used to care about. It felt final as she maintained her stoic expression, hoping they didn't notice the glassy sheen her eyes had.

“Then, it is official. We are no longer friends.”

They haven’t been friends for a long time.

Mme. Bustier finally walked into the classroom to start the afternoon classes, signalling the end of the conversation. After class, Marinette resolves to inform them that she was resigning as class president which she was sure the class will be glad for. She was right.

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

Ladybug was, as the Americans say, pissed at Hawkmoth which was nothing new. He had sent out another akuma just as Marinette was back home and trying to relax after the stressful day. The akuma was not any of her ex-friends which she wasn’t sure to be thankful for or not.

Louise Martin was a boy about Luka’s age and mad at his friends who had blamed their fifth loss-in-a-row on him despite the fact that it was his skills that were getting them any progress. They were playing one of those recently released 5V5 skills and strategy battle games. (League of Legends or Mobile Legends. Take your pick, I am going with the latter)

He was akumatized into Hayakuma as proof of Hawkmoth’s lack of creativity. Hayakuma was a bleached out version of Louise’s chosen hero avatar, Hayabusa whose outfit was basically what the media portrays ninjas to look like with some samurai aspects.

Unfortunately, he also had the hero’s ultimate special powers which were making four shadow copies of himself and being able to switch positions with them. Thanks to Rattlesnake’s Second Chance, they know that he can only make a switch once every two minute. Hayakuma also wields a sword, showing off his skills.

Just lovely.

Hydra and Ladybug were the only ones able to counter his attacks with Hydra’s sword and Ladybug’s summoned one. (Let’s go with that headcanon(?)/trope that she can summon weapons for plot convenience and the others can too but just don’t have enough practise yet.)

The others managed to dodge and shield themselves from Hayakuma’s really sharp sword.

The shadows themselves were annoying as they would distract or hinder the miraculous users by grabbing them by their shadows and making them unable to move. Until Bunnix had the brilliant idea of shadow boxing which gave the heroes gain more even ground.

With how strong and handful the akuma was, it was code ‘all hands on deck’. Ladybug, Stinger, Rattlesnake, Hydra, Bunnix, Trickster. Well, nearly every hand. Lady Mǔ lǎohǔ was busy with the bakery. Chat Noir was nowhere to be seen or very late which had been the norm for the last year ever since Ladybug wanted to form a new miraculous team consisting of permanent heroes.

(He didn’t show up for the first few months because the first permanent member was Ladybug’s mother who did not like his attitude towards her daughter. He ran away with his tail between his legs once he found out how she was related to Ladybug. His face when he realized it, was something Marinette will cherish forever)

At least when Lady Mǔ lǎohǔ was around, he would not dare act out of line. When she is gone however, he is back to his old ways.

After saving one of Louise’s teammates from Hayakuma’s sword, they gathered the rest of the team and hid them someplace safe. Using Trickster’s illusions to trick all the shadows and the original to one place, the heroes were going to surround and ambush them and get the akumatized item. The plan would have been a success if it weren’t for Chat Noir hugging Ladybug from behind, making her miss her cue.

“Hey~ Bugaboo~ Did you miss me~? Your Chaton~?”

Thwack! Smack!

Chat Noir was on the rooftop, groaning pitifully in pain. Especially his crotch area. Ladybug glared at him and looked to the ambush point to see the illusions had disappeared and everyone else gone from their hiding place.

She sighed and turned on the comms, (Thank you, kwamis)

“Sting, did you venomed the akuma?”

“No, he escaped before I could. What happened, LB?”

“A certain cat got me delayed. What’s the status update?”

“Hydra is holding him off and Bunnix found that an umbrella is a good substitute for a sword. The rest of us are keeping track of the shadows. They split up but none of them are getting near where we hid the targets.”

“Where are you? I will meet you later with back-up.”

“Near Notre Dame and tell Mama Tigress I said hi.”

“Tell her yourself.”

She looked down at Chat No-, no he is not worthy of being a hero anymore with the amount of times he had derailed and hijacked the plans to defeat the akumas just so he can ‘earn’ Ladybug’s heart.

She looked down at Adrien Agreste, who was sitting and sulking like a child that was unfairly punished. (Once she got over her crush and started looking at the right things that she managed to piece together her ‘partner’s’ identity by accident. Tikki’s confirmation sealed the deal.)

“Chat Noir, this partnership of ours,” she said, gesturing to the two of them, “ is going to change tonight. Meet me at the ‘spot’ at 11 sharp. Now, go home.”

He left with a small glimmer of hope in his eyes at her words. She felt a little bad about the subtle manipulation but with the way things were now, it can’t go on. He was hindering more than helping and the people of Paris that weren’t shipping ‘Ladynoir’ saw that.

As she jumped towards Notre Dame, she called the bakery with her yoyo.

“Mama, are you free now? I need a little help with the akuma and can you bring the horse miraculous.”

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

Chat Noir waited excitedly at what they both dubbed at their ‘spot’, in the good old days when it was just the two of them. Maybe Ladybug was finally open to the idea of dating. Or maybe she must have seen what a great hero he is and was going to get rid of the team. Or realized that having her mother on her team was a bad idea. Parents are the worst and they both can be two rebellious teenagers in love. Like Romeo and Juliet. So romantic~.

He was so deep in his daydream that he didn’t hear his lady land.

“Chat Noir.” Startled, he nearly fell off the roof. No, don’t make a fool of yourself in front of Ladybug.

“Yes, Bugaboo.” Hoping she didn’t know that he was very distracted. His attention will always be hers 100%.

“Don’t call me Bugaboo. Tikki wants to talk to Plagg about Kwami stuff. So you go over and hide behind that chimney. Then, we can talk about why I told you to be here.” Adrien frowned and then smiled. His lady must be very embarrassed about her mistake that must be why she is taking her time. He tried listening to what they were saying but the kwamis were talking in their special Guardian Language. Was it him or did Tikki’s voice sound more like his lady’s voice?

Whizz!

Adrien was tied up with Ladybug’s yoyo. “M’Lady? Bugaboo!? LADYBUG! WHAT IS GOING ON?!! PLAGG-”

Ladybug cut in, “Adrien Agreste, you have been slack in your hero duty and choosing your own feelings over supporting your partner, me, the holder of the Ladybug Miraculous and current Grand Guardian, in the efforts to defeat the enemy of Paris, Hawkmoth. Due to those reasons, you are no longer worthy to be the Holder of the Black Cat Miraculous” in one swift motion, she took the ring off his finger, “As such you are hereby revoked of Plagg’s Ring.”

“NO, YOU CAN’T. YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME! I LOVE YOU AND I KNOW YOU LOVE ME BACK. WE ARE SOULMATES, WE ARE MEANT TO BE-”

Adrien went slack at Lady Tigress’s pinch on his pressure point.

“I don’t what you ever saw in the boy.”

“I don’t know either. I think I dodged a bullet here. Can you carry him back to his home? I think I have dealt with enough of him tonight.” Ladybug muttered, as she erased Adrien’s memories of being Chat Noir.

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Tag list: @alysrose-starchild, @buginetye, @lookatthestars1, @blackroserelina, @macncheesemonster, @mochinek0, @myazael, @tonicxworld, @thewitchwhowaited, @t1dwarrior-of-earth, @kissa-chan, @iwantasecretidentity, @theymakeupfairies, @user00000003, @woe-is-me0, @kashlyn, @mochegato,@moonlightstar64 , @greatcatblaze, @moongoddesskiana, @tazanna-blythe.

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(Part 3)

#maridami #maribat #damian x marinette #mlb x dc #Betrothal AU: Take 2 #A Failed Betrothal #sorry. No Damian this chapter #there is salt #Alya salt #Adrien Salt #Lila salt #class salt #I don't know if it is mild or not #Marinette is an assassin

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Reviews: ML season 4 episode 5: Psychomedian

Spoilers below

-So it starts with the girls remembering all of Marinette's greatest hits (Her attempts of trying to ask out adrien)

-Honestly this is not giving me hope at the moment.

-"There is no love without friendship" then rose leaning against Juleka... I SEE YOU! JULROSE SHIPPERS GET YOUR MOTHERF***ING JUICE

-Okay so now Marinette is with the girls making a plan to elevate herself out of the friendzone

-Also I just find it REALLY funny that this is right after Mr.Pigeon 72. Like Marinette dumped Luka, had her emotional breakdown in front of her friends, told Alya her secret, then tried to help Kagami get back together with Adrien, had another adrien encounter and bam, girl is RIGHT back to where she was before, thirsting like a champ.

-That image popped into my head

-THE HAMSTER WOULD BE CALLED MARINETTE! But she said it would be to weird.

-Also 30 KIDS MARI? I think thats a sub error but I pray it isnt. Because I the THIRST matches

-So Nino is showing adrien the comedian, but Adrien is more amused by Marinette's action. (also its a cute laugh)

-So Alya comments on humor and Marinette decides THATS the route to go. (I will at least give credit for it)

-Marinette sweetie, you are hilarious, you dont need help being funny

-Harry clown is the name of the comedian. Points to Nino for helping

-HOW DOES MARINETTE KNOW ALL THESE CELEBRITIES

-Marinette you are an adorable bean

-Okay the nose thing is getting annoying

-GABRIEL AGRESTE MADE A FRIENCH FRY COSTUME. WHAT IS HIS BRAND!?

-Also Harry Clown is an absolute bro

-Harry is offering adrien a part in a movie, to get Gabriel to let him go to the show! This is bonkers

-So Gabriel is ashamed of it, okay that tracks. (the things we do for money)

-Harry, I have no idea what the f*** kind of movie you are proposing. But its still better than the movie they shot in Queen Banana

-Gabriel agrees if he can approve the scenes adrien is in and they BURN THE COSTUME.

-Gabriel knows this movie wont work (also his hair suddenly was blond)

-Marinette thinks Harry is his favorite comedian, sorry dear. You are his favorite comedian. Marinette doesnt even know

-The guy isnt wrong, Marinette is naturally gifted at being funny

-Harry does not understand comedy.

-I feel like I am about to witness a car crash

-Adrien clearly looks awkward, (i dont think he finds Harry funny.)

-Oh.... Oh no

-The sketch isnt funny. Harry you are a fool

-Adrien looks so confused

-Bob's the producer? Of course he is... Well this will end poorly

-Okay so Harry left and Marinette got nervous. She squirted on adrien and Adrien looked so sad.

-Ladies and Gentleman, I think we have done it, THAT was the cringiest scene in all of ML.

-Okay look, Bob is a dick, but he is right. The movie being serious seems ridiculous.

-Wow... still a massive dick move by Bob Roth. You gotta feel bad for Harry here

-So thats the face of a man with broken dreams

-And Cue shadowmoth.

-Gabriel basically predicted this would happen.

-OH...

-Marinette and Harry are down in the dumps.

-So okay, I like the design. Its really cool

- (also I am a sucker for masks, see masquerade)

- Adrien realizes something is off and heads out

-Ladybug taunting Psychomedian

-and the true clown arrives. Hi Chat noir

-Chat noir is the true comedic king

-I am now realizing how actually dangerous Psychomedian is. Its a cool power

-Ladybug summons a make up kit

-"But you already look great naturally" Chat noir you flirt

-OH THATS BRILLIANT! (ALSO HOW DID SHE DO THAT SO QUICK!

-They thought it was the NOSE! Oh thats not good.

-RAGE BUG! DAMN, Get him girl!

-Chat noir realizes this isnt good (look at him saving civillians and taking charge)

-Did... Did Chat noir just win a fight against Ladybug? Well would you look at that. I guess being manipulated by an akuma makes you not as skilled of a fighter as usual. Give it up for consistency

-Also Chat noir restraining a Feralbug is hilarious. Its like an angry chihuahua

-Bob is being tortured. And I love it.

-angry tikki and Marinette give me life

-Chat noir has to keep Ladybug restrained the entire time

-ANGRY LUCKY CHARM

-Ladybug broke the charm because it was too simple. (I cant)

-Chat noir "Oh he can be funny when he wants to be"

-GASP! CHAT NOIR IS DOING IT! HE IS DOING THE LADYBUG THING! SEE HE CAN DO IT! I KNEW HE COULD

-He is making it look like the lucky charm... DAMN IT CHAT NOIR THATS FUNNY

-Great team work.

-Ladybug purification while angry is amusing

-wait... THAT WORKED! It actually worked?! IM SO CONFUSED

-So if it is Ladybug print... miraculous healing works?! (Edit, I found out it was the original Lucky charm)

-WAIT A MINUTE. THERE WAS NO FIST BUMP! HOW DARE.

-Okay the ending moment was really cute. He told her the that she was the one that made him laugh.

_____________________________________________________________

Okay so overall. I think this was a really good episode.

There was some cringe, and I think it wasnt the funniest episode but this had really good pacing, good choreography, great moments and just an excellent feel to it.

I feel like this was an indirect apology for Reflekdoll.

It was a little silly and I do have some questions... But I cant see them as bad.

I think this was a solid 9 out of 10

#ml #ml spoilers #gale reviews #psychomedian #miraculous ladybug

[princess-of-the-corner]

I mean, let's be real abt these retcons:

They started in Origins.

Chloe going from Marinette's rival and the two being on mostly equal footing in S1 to a long time bully so bad Mari was dreading the new school year in Origins

Was there ever any hints of Adrien and Chloe being close childhood friends until Origins?

Even Alya being a new kid feels like it wasn't initially intended thanks to her saying Nino was 'like a brother' to her in Animan, which usually implies 'these two characters have known each other for years', not 'this girl hasn't been in this city a whole year yet'

There are probably more but those are the three that always stick out to me

People just didn't notice or weren't burnt out by the show enough to realize just how retcon-y the show was even early on.

It's gotten much worse and is just blatantly in everyone's faces now, instead of being just a few things that get brushed off bc the rest of the show seemed good

Not... really?

Like we know Chloé's been bullying people for a while and that Mari started standing up to her. Origins still has her standing up to Chloé a bit, but it increases after gaining the extra confidence boost. That's not a retcon.

The Alya and Nino friendship I could see being just that they became fast friends. Especially for going 'he's like a brother to me' to dating in just an hour or so. And Alya did feel a little disconnected from the class dynamics, even with her being quick to make friends.

I'll give you the fact that Chloé and Adrien being childhood friends never seemed like a thing, but even in later seasons it never comes up unless Adrien is trying to use it to curb her behavior. Season 1 at least had two whole episodes(three if you consider that Origins is a two parter) where we see Chloé's genuine care for Adrien as a friend.

[sassyduckqueen]

Don’t Pull My Strings- ML Prompts and One Shots 8

Ok so here's the story featuring Puppet Queen and Marionette. I worked them into a request for my friend, @naruwitch​, where Marinette and Luka get akumatized and Adrien learns his inaction and bad advice has serious consequences. I had a lot of fun writing this so yay me. Also I'm closing requests for these prompts for a little bit. I have a few I need to catch up on so I'll reopen requests when I'm caught up but I'm not sure when that will be. Anyway hope you guys like this :)

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Tears rolled down Marinette's face as she held onto the lucky charm Adrien had given her for her birthday. She was sat on her chaise lounge with a number of her handmade dolls near her. She had a Volpina one on the floor, along with the Bubbler and the Lady Wifi doll. She had been talking to them as if they were their real life counterparts. She was trying not to bottle up her hurt as she knew it wasn't healthy. Normally, it worked but today she was finding it harder then usual. Today in class, Lila had claimed that Marinette had attacked her and had been bullying her. As a result, Alya and Nino had renounced their friendship with Marinette and turned their back on her. They completely believed Lila's lies about her supposedly bullying her and told Marinette in front of the whole class, including Miss Bustier, that they would couldn't be friends with a jealous bully like her, which in turn had caused the rest of the class to turn against her, expect for Juleka. She had been the only one who tried to point out that it wasn't Marinette's normal behavior. Sure, she had her moments when she got jealous of people but always got past it. As usual everyone ignored her but the real blow had came when Marinette tried to stick up for herself and tell them the truth. Hoping that Adrien would tell the truth, she turned to him and asked him to tell them. Adrien, however, didn't. She wasn't sure if he panicked or if he just didn't want to call Lila out but he turned around and said that he didn't know what she was talking about. As if that wasn't bad enough, he then pulled her aside and told her to drop it, telling that 'they were just lies', that 'no one was getting hurt' and long as they both knew, it didn't matter if Lila was lying or not. She didn't stay after that. Despite Miss Bustier calling for her, Marinette rushed home and straight into her room, where she cried for a few minutes before taking out her dolls. She tried to talk them, telling them about how she felt but the real string of betrayal had come from Adrien. Since she didn't have a doll of him, she took out the lucky charm he had given her but instead of talking, she just began to cry again. In a simple act of trying to 'keep the peace', he had broke her heart in two. She jumped a little as she heard a knock on her trapdoor.

 "C-Come in?" The trap door opened and to her surprise, Luka climbed through. As soon as he fully in the room and the trap door closed, Marinette rushed over to him, throwing her arms around him. He caught her and held her close as she began to cry.

 "Ssh, it's ok, Melody," He whispered, leading her back over to her chaise longue. Marinette let him sit her down before he sat next to her and held her close to him. "Juleka messaged me and asked me to come by to check on you. She didn't tell me what happened but mentioned that you ran out of the school in tears,"

Marinette nodded as she held onto him. He frowned a little as he held her, stroking the top of her head.

 "Li-Lila's been telling everyone that I've been b-bullying her," She sniffed, making him frown. He knew she wasn't capable of bullying anyone, giving how she reacted with Chloe. She only ever stood up to Chloe. She never was malicious about how she spoke to her and definitely didn't single her out or torment her. Luka frowned as he held Marinette. He was certain the bully in this situation was Lila. He had met the girl when she came to one of Kitty Section's practice. Unfortunately for him, he ended up with a migraine for the rest of practice. When she had gone home, he told the rest of the band that she cause his headache. The very next day, he ended up getting kicked out of the band. Juleka had tried to defend him but she was outvote by two to one. Since they were discussing kicking him from the band, he didn't get a vote. He was upset by it but suspected that it had something to do with Lila so he did his own digging into her, seeing if he could find out anything on her. He already believed Marinette when she had told him that Lila was a liar and he knew her claims about been Ladybug's best friend and knowing Jagged Stone were bull but he wanted to find out what else he could find. Unfortunately, he didn't find anything other then the ladyblog but it didn't surprise him. Marinette's gentle sobs caught his attention, causing him to frown as he rubbed her back. "T-They believed her, Luka. A-Alya and Ni-Nino to-told me that t-they couldn't be friends with me a-and the r-rest of the c-class d-did the same,"

 "What about Adrien?" He asked, feeling unsure. Marinette had told Luka that Adrien knew about Lila's liars and had given her advice. Not that you could really call it that but while he didn't agree with Adrien's advice, he was happy that Marinette had someone else on her side. Or at least, he hoped that he was but judging by Marinette's heartbroken expression, that was not the case. "Melody?"

 "I a-asked him to tell them and he d-didn't. He said he didn't know what I was talking about and th-then he pulled me aside and told me that L-Lila's lies aren't h-hurting anyone and as long as we knew it didn't matter if she was lying but she's hurting me, Luka," She cut off as another sob escaped her lips. Luka frowned deeply and hugged her again, causing her to lean into him as she closed her eyes. They stayed like that for a good ten minutes or so before Marinette slowly looked up at Luka with an expression that made his heart break. She looked down at the lucky charm in her hand with a hurt expression. "She's hurting me... do I not matter?" 

"You matter more then anyone in the world, Melody," He whispered, gently placing his hand over the lucky charm so she didn't have to look at it. It still hung from her hand but she had glanced up, looking up at him as he gently kissed her forehead. "He isn't worth your time or your tears,"

 "I-" She began before her eyes widen as an akuma entered the lucky charm. Luka's eyes widen at the same time as well before a purple butterfly mask appeared over their eyes. Tikki gasped from her hiding place and rushed over as Hawkmoth's voice echoed in their minds. 

 "Puppet Queen.... Marionette... I am Hawkmoth," The villain said in their heads. "So Lila Rossi has spreading her lies again and turning everyone into her puppets. Well, I'm giving you two the power to make them your puppets and let the truth be known. In return, you will get me Ladybug's and Chat Noir's miraculous... do we have a deal?"

 "Rossi will no longer pull the strings," Luka muttered as Tikki gasped and carefully took the earrings off Marinette's ears before she could reach for them. She flew over the window and gasped back with a sorrowful look before fazing through the window.

 "And the truth will play out," Marinette replied before the purple mist engulfed them, changing the lucky charm into a cross control. Luka's form flopped forward as if he had become inanimate as the purple mist disappeared from Marinette. Her eyes were closed but she was holding two identical cross controls in her hands. Her hair was a little bit longer but in the same style as before. It's color had changed. It was a bright blue with bright pink tips. She was wearing a light pink shirt, a brown corset belt with an over skirt attached to it and dark gray shorts. She had a red jacket with a gold hem and gold buttons and a pink ribbon around her neck. She had white stockings on but one only when up to her calf where the other was thigh high. She had black Mary Jane styles shoes and dark gray fingerless gloves on her. Her mask was light pink and her lips were blood red. However, her skin resembled porcelain and was 'broken' in some parts, making her look like a broken doll. She opened her eyes, revealing cold blue eyes that were dull and lacked emotions. She glanced over to where Luka was stood as the purple mist disappeared from him. He was standing but his torso was slumped forward and his arms hung motionless by his side with his head bowed, causing his hair to flop in front of his eyes, which were closed. Like her, his skin resembled porcelain but there were no cracks across his face. His hair was the same shade and cut but he was no longer wearing his usual clothes. He was dressed in a light blue shirt with a black ribbon around his neck that was secured with a blue brooch, which resembled a sapphire. He had a black waistcoat with a red hem and a dark blue belt around his waist. His pants were black but had patches of bright fabric sew onto them as well as some tattered patches. His boots were dark brown with a red heel. He had a mask around his eyes which matched his waistcoat and his nails were painted black. Unlike Marinette, who had cross controls, he had string attached to each of his fingers and his wrists resembled a doll's joints. She tilted her head aside before walking over to her sewing machine. She placed her cross controls down on the table, next to her sewing machine before grabbing the materials she needed. She turned it on and sat down, beginning to work on more dolls. A purple butterfly mask appeared over her eyes, making her frown as Hawkmoth asked her what she was doing. "Patience, Hawkmoth. We only seven dolls between us and as you well know, those ones will only work for me. He needs his own set. Besides no one knows about us yet,"

 "Very well, Puppet Queen but I expect results," He growled before disconnecting it. Puppet Queen smiled and continued working. She stopped when she heard her mother calling her name and got up. She grabbed one of her cross controls and connected it to the Volpina doll, causing a real life size Volpina to appear out of pink smoke. Like Marionette, she was stood completely still with her torso and head hunched over and her arms hanging at her side. Puppet Queen moved her controls, causing Volpina to stand up before she took out her flute and played a tune, creating a ball of light at the end. She threw it in the room, engulfing it in a bright orange light. The trap door opened, revealing Sabine but she did not see Volpina, Marionette or Puppet Queen. She just saw Marinette and Luka curled asleep on her chaise longue. Deciding to leave them in peace, Sabine closed the door and disappeared downstairs to let the captain know that Luka would be staying over that night. The illusion disappeared, causing Puppet Queen to let out a small sigh before she detached the strings on her Volpina doll, making the full size version disappear before she continued to work on the dolls.

 ~Next Day~

 Puppet Queen stretched as she finished the last doll, putting it with the others. Hawkmoth had checked in on her a couple of times but in the end, decided to let her make the dolls. She had made Marionette a set of dolls based on her classmates. She was unable to make one for Adrien as she didn't have the right material for him and there was no point in making one of herself. She also decided not to make one of Juleka as the girl had tried to defend her. It wasn't her fault that she was easily ignored. Besides, she wouldn't want to hurt Marionette in that way. Juleka was still his sister. She had made some more akuma dolls for herself. Ones with powers she thought as useful. She picked Silencer as his power would be useful to shut people up. She made an Oni-chan doll because she had the power to track Lila and give her a horn. She wouldn't admit as Marinette or Ladybug but she found it very satisfying to see Lila terrified and with the horn on her head. She had a field day when she realized it grew every time she lied. She picked out Malediktator as well as Stormy Weather and Reverser. She picked Malediktator and Reverser because their powers were useful but she actually just picked Stormy Weather because she liked the look. Her inner designer influenced that choice. With all her new dolls done, she picked the class dolls and placed them on the ground in front of Marionette before standing up and gently cupping his cheek.

 "It's time to play, Marionette," She declared, Almost instantly, Marionette opened his eyes, revealing their color. They had changed green again but unlike his previous forms, they weren't full emotion at all. In fact, they looked almost lifeless and glazed over. He straightened up, clicking a little as he tilted his head to the side with a slightly confused expression. She giggled a little. "I made you some dolls,"

 He glanced down at them before glancing back at her with a puzzled expression.

 "I didn't have enough material to make an Adrien doll," She replied, frowning. She would have loved to have seen him been controlled like the dummy he is. Maybe then he would realize how much Lila's lies hurt. She frowned a little before hearing another click as Marionette lifted his arm and gently placed his hand on top of her head, patting it in a comforting manner. She smiled a little before shaking her head. "I'm fine,"

 He moved his hand from her and gave her a smile, making her giggle again. However, he turned his head to the side and lifted his arm, pointing to the trap door. Puppet Queen frowned and picked up her cross controls, reattaching one to the Volpina doll, re-summoning her then attaching the other one to the Lady Wifi doll. She used Volpina to create an illusion of Marinette and Luka leaving the house and saying goodbye to her parents before using the Lady Wifi doll to lock the trap door so they would not be disturbed. She knew full well that Miss Bustier wouldn't notice if she wasn't in class today and even if she did, she wouldn't bother calling her parents right away. Satisfied that they wouldn't be disturbed, she detached the dolls and turned back to Marionette, who was leaned down. He picked up one of the dolls, which happened to be Nathaniel's and tilted his head to the side before looking at her, as if asking permission. She smiled and nodded, causing the strings attached to his fingers to move on their own and connect to the doll, attaching themselves to the arms, legs and neck of the doll. He let go off it, causing it to fall onto the floor, slumped as he held out his hand and wiggled his fingers before he moved the doll, causing it to straight up and look around. Puppet Queen smiled and grabbed her computer chair, moving it in front of Marionette before grabbing her own dolls and placing them in front of her. She picked up the Ladybug doll, allowing her strings to attach to it before letting it fall to her side, slumped as well. She moved her hand, causing the doll to stand up straight.

 ~Meanwhile in School~

 Nathaniel was doodling in his book as he listened to Mrs Mendeleiev rambling on about science when he suddenly slumped against the desk, like he had fallen asleep. Mrs Mendeleiev noticed and began to tell him off before he suddenly stood up and walked from his desk, making her frown. He walked over to the white board and picked up a pen before beginning to write the same sentence repeatedly on the board, causing everyone to gasp.

 Lie-la, Lie-la, fox on fire

 "Nathaniel! Stop that at once!" Mrs Mendeleiev demanded, causing him to stop before he turned his head slowly towards her, making her frown as his eyes were completely glazed over like he wasn't living at all. It made her extreme uncomfortable as he turned back and continued to write. "Nathaniel, that's enough,"

 He completely ignored her, making her frown.

 "Nathaniel! I said stop that at once!" She barked but he ignored her again. "That's it! Go to the principle's office,"

 He stopped, making her think she had gotten through to him before he wrote on the board again. This time he wrote no but then stopped writing on the board before he turned his head slowly again and smiled at her, making her jolt back. However, he turned to the class with slowed movements, causing the class to feel freaked out.

 "Hickory dickory dock, a Fox went up the clock. The clock struck one. The fox fell down and broke her crown, Hickory dickory dock," He sang, causing the class to look at him with a mixture of confusion and fear. "Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock,"

 "What the hell, Nathaniel?!" Alya shouted, causing him to turn and glance at him. 

 "Ah, the tabloid writer," He deadpanned, making her frown. "Wait your turn,"

 She blinked as he walked over to Lila with slowed movements. He stopped in front of her, making her blink at him.

 "Lila the Liar. How ironic that your name has lie in it," He replied, making her gulp.

 "I'm not-"

 "I'm not done talking!" He shouted, slamming his hands down on the table before tilting his head to the side. "I know you're a liar. Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar-"

 Alya frowned as she noticed something shining above his head, making her frown. She grabbed the nearest pair of scissors and cut the shining thing, causing her to realize it was a string. She noticed four others and cut them too as Nathaniel tried to grab her, causing him to slump as soon as she cut the last string before he straightened up and looked around confused.

 "What? How did I get over here?" He asked, looking around confused but the sound of slow clapping caught the rest of the class's attention. Alix was slowly clapping in a mocking manner, making Alya look at her with concern before she stopped and looked at her.

 "So you're not as dumb as you look," She replied, making Alya frown as she smirked. "And here I just thought you were nothing more then a trashy tabloid writer,"

 "I'm not a tabloid writer," Alya growled back, making Alix laugh. "Who are you anyway? You're clearly not Alix!"

 "I'm Marionette," Alix replied, doing a dramatic bow before her limps hung a little. She looked up and tilted her to the side as she smiled. "And you're all my puppets now,"

 "Marionette?" Alya questioned, frowning but Lila gasped. 

 "Oh, no. It's Marinette!" Lila cried, crocodile tears rolling down her cheeks. "She must off been akumatized to get revenge on me! It's bad enough that she bullies-"

 "LIAR!" Alix suddenly screamed, cutting Lila off. "One I am not Marinette! Two! Marinette never bullied you! You bullied her!"

 "You would say that, Marinette!" She cried out, causing the rest of the class mutter. It did make sense that Marinette would have gotten akumatized over this. They had stopped been her friend but it's not their fault she was a bully. Before they could get say anything else, Ladybug flew through the window and landed on the floor before straightening up. Lila gritted her teeth but gave a fake smile. "Oh, Ladybug! Thank goodness, Alix has been possessed by Marinette! She's using her to bully me!"

 "No, she isn't," Ladybug replied, causing everyone to gasp. "Marionette isn't Marinette, Lie-la,"

 The class blinked at Marinette's word before Alya gasped. 

 "Wait, how did you know about Marionette, Ladybug?" She asked, causing the rest of the class to gasp and back away from the heroine. "She's only just appeared,"

 "Because, Alya, he's my loyal knight," Ladybug smiled, making the class gasp in shock and question why she was working with an akuma. She completely ignored them as she threw her yoyo up in the air. "Lucky charm!"

 A giant sword appeared out of thin air, causing the class to gasp before Mrs Mendeleiev ordered them to retreat, following them as they ran out of the classroom. They locked the door behind them, causing Ladybug tilted her head to the side before she gave Alix a smile. She would make sure they didn't escape.

 "I'll get the doors," She replied, kicking the door down and walking out as Alix followed. "Lila! Alya!! Why don't you come and say hi to your favorite hero?!"

 ~In the Courtyard~

 The class ran out of the class as soon as Mrs Mendeleiev shouted at them to do so. She locked the door behind her and ordered them to escape the school while she informed the headmaster of the situation. The class ran down the stairs and rushing over towards the doors as they did but to their surprise, Lady Wifi, jumped down in front of them and fired her commands at them. They managed to dodge them but Lady Wifi took the chance to use her lock command on the main doors. Alya gasped and ran over to the locker room, opening the door. The rest of the class followed her, rushing inside as they heard the door been kicked down and the fake Ladybug calling out for Lila and Alya. Nino turned to her, causing her to look at him.

 "Ok, how is Lady Wifi here when you haven't been akumatized?" He asked, making her frown.

 "It must be the akuma," She replied, making most of the class agree with her. "But if Marionette can use akumas, why not just go for that in the first place?"

 "Didn't Ladybug refer to Marionette as her loyal knight?" Mylene asked, causing Alya to nod and for the rest of the class to be confused. "But if Marinette is Marionette... why did Ladybug call her a he?"

 "Isn't it obvious?" Chloe asked, crossing her arms and causing everyone to look at her. "Lila was wrong. Marionette isn't Marinette. I know Hawkmoth isn't very creative but even he's not that dull,"

 "But if Marionette isn't Marinette and is in fact a boy, who is he and why is he after Lila?" Nino asked, making everyone mumble in agreement. Juleka gasped to herself and grabbed her phone, causing Rose to glance at her. As usual, no one else paid attention to her as she tried to call Luka but it went straight to voicemail. As soon as she hung up, she glanced up to see Rose staring at her with glazed over eyes. She gasped again and went to say something but Rose lifted her finger to her lip, making a shush noise before she blinked and looked around confused. She noticed Juleka looking at her.

 "Juleka, are you ok?" She asked, making the goth girl nod before she looked around. "Where's Adrien?"

 "I don't know," Juleka replied, glancing around. The blonde boy was no where to be seen but before they could do anything else, the door was sliced open by the fake Ladybug as she held her sword. Alix stood next to her, along with Lady Wifi. However, Cat Noir's baton flew above them, cutting the strings attached to them, causing Lady Wifi and Ladybug to disappear and Alix to slump before she gasped and looked around as Cat Noir jumped down and ordered the class to follow him.

 "What the hell?" She asked but she didn't have time to think as Nathaniel grabbed her arm and ran out of the locker room. 

 "Cat Noir, the doors are locked," Alya gasped, making him frown before he jumped down in front of the door.

 "Leave it to me," He grinned, lifting his hand. He went to summon his power but a bolt of lightening made him jump out of the way. "What the?"

 "I don't think so, Kitty Cat," A voice gasped, making the class look over. To their surprise, Stormy Weather was hovering above the courtyard. "No one is leaving here until I say so,"

 "Why don't you come yourself instead of hiding behind these puppets?" Cat Noir asked, making her laugh. 

 "And let you take my akuma? I don't think so," She giggled, making him frown. "I don't think so. Marionette, sweetie, be a dear and keep our favorite feline busy while I deal with the liar,"

 "Marionette is gone, Puppet girl," Cat Noir grinned, making her frown a little. "I destroyed his strings,"

 "Dumb kitty cat, I'm not Puppet girl. I'm Puppet Queen!" She laughed, making him frown. "And what makes you think Marionette is gone, just because you destroyed his strings?"

 Cat Noir went to answer back but ducked as Kim suddenly took a swing at him. Ivan suddenly grabbed hold of him, causing Stormy Weather to laugh as he struggled.

 "Take his ring, Mon Cherie," She ordered as Juleka looked around panicked. Nino walked towards Cat Noir, reaching for his ring. "We'll grab the earrings later,"

 Cat struggled, kicking Kim back and freeing himself from Ivan. Kim stumbled back before charging at him with Ivan. Stormy Weather smirked and turned over to the rest of the class, who had moved in front of Lila, expect for Juleka, who was torn about things. She realized that Marionette was Luka which meant this Puppet Queen was Marinette. Somehow, they had both been akumatized.

 "Move," Stormy Weather growled, pointing her umbrella at the class. However, none of them moved out of the way, causing Stormy Weather to narrow her eyes but before she could strike, Juleka moved in front of the class, holding her arms up. Stormy Weather's eyes soften a little as she looked at the Goth girl. "Juleka, move. You're protecting a liar,"

 "I know," She mumbled, making the rest of the class look at her with shock. She looked up at Stormy Weather as the puppet narrowed her eyes. "But I don't care about her. I care about you and my brother. Just tell us where the akuma is, Marinette,"

 "I'm not Marinette anymore!" Stormy Weather shouted as the class stared in surprise as well as Cat Noir, causing him to get punched by Ivan. Stormy Weather flew down and landed on the ground, walking towards Juleka and the class as Lila began to cry fake tears again. "Do you want to know why I got akumatized, Juleka? Because those people you're trying to protect turned on me like a pack of rabid dogs the more Lie-la claimed I harmed her! It didn't matter that some of them had known me for years or that I never even got physical with Chloe! It didn't matter that they were no-"

 Stormy Weather disappeared as Alya cut the strings, causing Juleka to gasp in surprise. Cat Noir kicked out and sliced Kim's strings with his claws before diving out of the way as Ivan tried to punch him. Alya grabbed Kim's arm and pulled him out of the way as Ivan continued to fight Cat Noir. He kicked him back, knocking him to the floor before slashing his strings with his claws. Ivan slumped before sitting up and looking around confused. Cat Noir helped him to his feet before turning to Juleka, who was playing with her hands.

 "How did you know that was Marinette?" He asked, making the class look at her before she sighed.

 "Because of what happened yesterday," She mumbled, making him frown. As Adrien, he knew that but as Cat Noir he had to play dumb. 

 "Why? What happened?" He asked, making Juleka frown as well.

 "Lila accused Marinette was attacking her and bullying her, which caused Alya and Nino to call her out and disown her as a friend," She mumbled, making him frown. He remembered as clear as day. Marinette's broken expression was almost enough to get him to tell the truth but then he realized that if he told them, they would throw him in the trash as well. After all, the class didn't believe Marinette so why would they believe him and the only reason why this was all happening was because Marinette couldn't be the bigger person and walk away. After all, Lila thrived off attention and if she didn't have it and was ignored, she would just disappear like a tabloid newspaper. Also it would keep the peace with the rest of the class since they wanted to get on Lila. He just didn't understand why Marinette just didn't follow his advice and take the high road. He was sure that Lila would end up exposing herself. Of course, he didn't think Marinette would get akumatized over it. She hadn't been akumatized before so he thought she would be fine. "But she isn't the only one akumatized,"

 "What?" Cat gasped, looking up at her. He didn't expect that at all. Juleka was playing with her hands again. "Juleka?"

 "Luka is as well..." She mumbled, making Rose gasp as Ivan and Mylene stared at her, along with a lot of the other class. The color drained from Cat's face as he stared at her too. This was worst then he expected. When Luka was Silencer, he was a formidable opponent. After all, he took Ladybug's voice and was tactical as he thought them but teaming up with an akumatized Marinette... well, this was not a good thing. "Luka went to check on her yesterday to make sure she was ok but he didn't come home last night. Ma said that Mrs Cheng had decided to let him stay over but..."

 "Are you certain that Luka is also akumatized?" Cat asked, making the goth girl know.

 "I tried to ring him earlier and it went straight to voicemail," She mumbled, making him frown. "I think Marionette is Luka as Puppet Queen is Marinette,"

 "Very good, Juleka," A voice echoed before Oni-chan jumped down and landed in the courtyard, causing Lila to gasp and hide behind Ivan, who glared at the puppet. Cat Noir charged at her but she blocked his attack and threw him into the rest of the class, knocking them down before jump over to Lila, who backed away. "Well, you know how this power works already, don't you Lie-la?"

 "I d-don't know what you're talking about," She gasped, backing away.

 "Let me remind you," She replied, taking out the sword but Cat Noir blocked it before she could hit her.

 "Marinette, listen to me, you don't have to do this," Cat gasped, trying to get through to her. "Just give me your object and I'll bring it to Ladybug,"

 "Silly Kitty, Ladybug isn't coming," She grinned, making him frown before she knocked him back and diving at Lila, pressing her sword to her forehead. Cat Noir got up and knocked into her as the class gasped. Lila felt her forehead, gasping as she felt a horn on there. How was she going to lie now? Oni-chan got up and smirked at her before lifting the sword to fight with Cat Noir.

 "Marinette, this isn't who you are," He gasped, holding up his hand. "Didn't Adrien say you were the everyday Ladybug?"

 "Agreste is a traitor," Max growled, making everyone look at him with surprise, expect for Oni-chan. Seeing the chance to run, Lila slipped away and headed back into the locker room. Not that it mattered, Oni-chan could easily track her. Instead, she leaned against her sword to watch Marionette rip into Chat. Max walked over to him and poked the hero in his chest surprising him. "And you sound just like him!"

 "No, I'm just-"

 "Don't lie!" Max roared, causing the class to step back in fear. They should try and escape but they were too interested in what the Puppet had to say. "You don't care about Marinette! You just want to keep the peace, just like Agreste! Well, all of this is because of that dumb model! He's known from the beginning that Rossi is a liar since he was there when Ladybug called her out but he doesn't care that she's lying to his classmates and making people's lives miserable! No, all he cares about is keeping the peace and taking the 'high' road! Well, the high road is bullshit! Lie-la isn't gonna lie herself into a corner and even if she did, it isn't down to him to decide who gets hurt by her lies!"

 "Adrien never said-"

 "Shut up! I'm not done!" Max roared. "He told Marinette that it didn't matter if they both knew. Well, it does matter! Did you know she's nearly been akumatized almost everyday for the last few weeks and every day she resisted because she didn't want to hurt her friends?! Did you know she cried herself to sleep over these people who turned their backs on them every time that lying fox spun a new story?"

 Cat Noir frowned as he glanced down, feeling bad. He didn't think she had been so torn up by the whole situation. She didn't seem like it when in class. Alya stepped forward. 

 "If Marinette had been resisting been akumatized this long, why did she end up akumatized this time huh?" She asked, placing her hand on her hips and holding the scissors threateningly. Max turned to her and smiled.

 "If I answer that and you don't like it, are you gonna cut my strings?" He asked, making her blink before he rushed forward and grabbed the scissors off her. Cat went to charge at him but stopped when Oni-chan pointed her blade at his throat. Max crushed the scissors in his hands, making the class gasp before dropping them on the door, rendering them useless. "No, no...you're gonna listen to me. The reason why this time was different is because of you and Adrien, Cesaire. You turned your back on your so called BBF and having been so for ages but yesterday was the last straw. You believed Lila that Marinette had assaulted her and renounced your friendship with her in front of everyone without a single shred of proof. And you wonder why I call you a tabloid?! Honestly, that's too nice for you! And Agreste! Urg! He knew Lila was a liar and when all of you... expect you, Juleka... turned on her like a rabid pack of dogs and she begged him to tell you the truth, he ignored her and worst denied it! As if that wasn't bad enough, he then proceed to pull her aside and told her to drop it because and I quote 'it's just lies' and 'no one is getting hurt'. Well, news flash, you mangy cat! Her lies are hurting someone and that someone is Marinette or doesn't she not matter?!"

 "Of course, she matters-"

 "Then Agreste should act like that instead of choosing a liar over her!" He shouted, making Chat step back. "And that is what was different this time! The two people who Marinette believed would always have her back turned on her! Marinette had been able to resist the akumas before because she believed that no matter what she had Alya and Adrien on her side. It broke her heart when they turned on her. There's only so much pain and hurt a person can take and this time she just didn't have the strength to fight the akuma,"

 "But Adrien was just trying to-"

 "Keep the peace," Max growled, making Chat gulp a little. "Well, if he hadn't been trying to keep the peace, hadn't given Marinette that frankly awful advice and actually told the truth about Lila, then we would not be here right now, would we chat?! We also wouldn't be here if Alya actually checked her sources like she should have! Tell me, Alya, did you even have proof that Marinette attacked Lila?"

 "Of course, Lila-"

 "Did you seen bruises? Cuts? Injuries?" He asked, making her frown. "How about text messages? Or any witnesses? Did any of you actually see Marinette targeting Lila like how Chloe targets people? Or did you just see her trying to tell the truth? Well, it doesn't matter what you saw,"

 "What do you mean?" Alya asked as Oni-Chan walked over to Max. Cat Noir went to move over but Oni-chan pointed her sword at him as Max moved his arm over to her.

 "Don't worry, Chat. We're gonna make sure Lila shows her everyone her true colors," She replied before her horned glowed and they disappeared, causing Officer Roger to appear in their place. Alya gasped as she looked around, causing Cat Noir to look at her.

 "They're going after Lila!" She gasped, making him blink. "We have to help her!"

 "The best way to help her is to find Puppet Queen and Marionette. Did Marinette come to school today?" He asked, making the class frown and shake her head. "Then she might still be at her home. Stay here. I'll go stop them,"

 He jumped up onto the roof and out of the school, heading over to the bakery. He went to jump up to Marinette's balcony but jumped back as a number of red bubbles were fired at him, exploding as they did. He blocked them with his baton and dodged a green one before he glared up at the balcony. Bubbler was stood on the edge but was surrounded by a number of red and green bubbles. If Chat tried to get in the balcony, he would get attacked and possibly end up trapped in a bubble but he also knew he could get in through the bakery. He rushed inside, causing Tom and Sabine to look up in shock as he rushed by them and into their apartment. Sabine rushed after him as Tom began to tell the customers that they were closed and ushered them out, locking the door behind them before he jointed his wife. Chat rushed up to Marinette's room and tried to open the trap door but found it was locked. He held out his hand and summoned his cataclysm, slamming his hand on it. It broke the lock on it and he forced it open, rushing inside but he found the room empty. He frowned and knelt down as he saw a number of dolls on the floor. He walked over to one of them and picked it up, frowning. It was one of Kim but it had strings attached to it's limbs and neck but the strings looked damaged, like they had been slashed by claws. 

 "Chat Noir, what's going on?" Sabine asked, getting his attention as he turned around. 

 "Where's Marinette?" He asked, making her frown. "Did you see her this morning?"

 "Yes, she left for school with Luka. He stayed over last night," She replied, making him frown. "Why?"

 "Are you sure you saw her?" He asked, noticing the doll of Lady Wifi and Stormy Weather. Puppet Queen was able to use the abilities of the akumas. He gasped as his eyes widen before he turned to Sabine. "Mrs Cheng, what dolls did Marinette have?"

 "Well, she had Ladybug, Lady Wifi, Bubbler, Volpina and of course one of yourself," She replied, making him frown. "Chat Noir, please tell me what's going on?"

 "I'm afraid Marinette has been akumatized," He replied, making her gasp as Tom got there. "She has the power to use these akuma puppets to summon the akumas and use their powers,"

 "But we saw her come downstairs!" She gasped, making him sigh.

 "She must of used Volpina's power to create an illusion," He replied, walking over to her sewing machine and seeing a number of materials that could be used to make dolls. She had a number of akuma dolls and Marionette must be using the dolls that resembled his classmates. He leaned down and picked up the Alix doll. Like the Kim doll, it's strings were tattered. "Had she made any dolls that resembled her classmates?"

 "No," Sabine answered as she looked at the doll in his hands. "Marinette's never showed me that one,"

 "She must of made them before they attacked them," He frowned before it clicked. They couldn't have been akumatized this morning. Marinette, in her right mind, wouldn't make dolls that resembled her classmates and if she did, she probably would have given to her classmates. "Did you see them last night?"

 "Yes, she had fallen asleep in Luka's arms," She replied, making him frown. "It's why we let him stay over. He's been a godsend during this hard time,"

 "Hard time? You mean at school?" He asked, making her nod.

 "We're trying to build a case against the school due to their mishandling of the situation," Tom explained, making Chat frown.

 "Mishandling?" He asked, getting a nod of them. "I don't want to pry but how did the school mishandle? And what situation? It will help me understand why Marinette got akumatized,"

 Tom and Sabine looked at each other with identical expressions.

 "Well, for one thing, her expulsion but she's been severely bullied and when we met with her teacher, she had the nerve to let us about how our daughter should apologize and forgive her bullies!" Sabine gasped, making Chat frown a little. He wasn't sure what to say. "She kept going on about Marinette setting a good example and how she should preach forgiveness and that's not even getting started on Mr Damocles,"

 "Well... correct me if I am wrong but isn't forgiving a good thing?" Chat asked, half expecting the bakers to bite off his head. However, the two of them shared a glance and nodded at each other. "Shouldn't Marinette be the better person and ignore them?"

 "Chat, have you ever been bullied?" Sabine asked, making him frown. Of course, he hadn't. He had been home schooled all of his life and by the time he got into normal school, he was famous. No one in their right mind would try to bully him out of fear of what his father might do. He shook his head, making the bakers frown as Tom gently placed his hand on Chat's shoulder. "Imagine you were in school and a boy in your class came in and told a glorious story that you knew was fiction... but when you tried to tell everyone the truth about the boy's story, he spun it so you seemed like the bad guy and a bully. So that everyone around you began to distrust you. How would you feel?"

 "Well, I'd feel awful but surely my friends would believe me when I told them the truth," Chat answered. 

 "What if they didn't?" Tom asked, making him frown. "How about this one? What if the same boy claimed you had pushed him down the stairs and that you had stolen something off him? Say a watch his grandfather gave him and you were expelled despite the fact that your locker had been broken into on a number of occasions and that there was no real evidence that you had pushed him down the stairs. How would that make you feel?"

 "Well, I'd be frustrated and hurt," He replied, frowning. Those situations mirrored what happened to Marinette.

 "Ok now imagine if you told your teachers what was happening and they just told you to be the bigger person and forgive your bullies. To show them that they don't need to bully but they get worst. They twist your words and make you seem like a bully. That boy continuously targets you no matter what. He trips you and threatens you but when ever you try to stick up for yourself, he makes it look like you were bullying him and begins to convince the rest of your classmates to ignore you and isolate you. He convinces your classmates that you're not worth their friendship and to give you a taste of 'your own medicine'. They begin to bully you in revenge of you bullying the boy despite that you're actually innocent but when you try to tell them, they claim you're just jealous," Tom explained, making Chat frown even deeper. If that really happened to him, he'd feel awful. "But imagine one of the students knows about the boy lying but instead of telling everyone and trying to support you, this student keeps it to themselves, believing that the boy will reveal himself and that no one is getting hurt by it. That they're worried that the boy will ended as an akuma but they don't even acknowledge that you're hurt by this. That you could be an akuma. Now imagine that happening every single day without fail. Imagine your teacher refusing to help you and blaming you for been a victim, even when your parents come in try and get a solution. How would you feel, Chat Noir, if that was what you had gone through? Because that's what our daughter has been going through the past few months. She has been fighting off akumas almost every day. It is exhausting trying to fight them off and we have tried our best to help her but it wasn't enough. She didn't have the strength anymore and now she has fallen prey to that madman, all because of a liar and Adrien's stupid advice,"

 "I... thank you for explaining it to me, Mrs Cheng and Mr Dupain. It has been enlightening," He replied, holding back tears. He had never thought it had been that bad but with the way they explained made him realize it had been so much worst then he realized and he had only made it worst by been quiet. He claimed Marinette was his friend yet he completely turned his back on her when she needed him. All because he believed that Lila wasn't really a threat and would disappear like a tabloid. Well, he was wrong and now Marinette, one of the strongest people he knew, had broken down and Hawkmoth took advantage of her, which resulted in both her and Luka been ensnared. The worst part was he was to blame. Because of him, two people had fallen victim to Hawkmoth. He turned to Tom and Sabine with regretful eyes. "I will do my best to get Marinette back, I swear,"

 With that, he ran outside to find the akumas and recharge Plagg.

 ~Puppet Queen and Marionette's POV~

 Marionette suddenly dropped his control on Max, causing Puppet Queen to look up at him and frown as he tilted his head and looked up at the skylight before pointing to it. She frowned deeply as she looked at it. He had warned her when her parents came up and chances are he could feel someone else coming up as well. Chat Noir. Once he worked that they would going after Lila, he would try and track them down. It's what she would do and though Chat acted like a clown, he wasn't stupid. He would work out that they were at home once the class told them that she hadn't turned up yet. She lifted her second cross and attached the strings to the Bubbler puppet, creating him on her balcony before gasping as she saw Chat coming towards the bakery. She directed a number of bubbles towards him as she turned to Marionette.

 "Collect the dolls that can be used and placed them in that basket," She ordered, causing him to move as she used Bubbler to set a number of bubbles around the balcony to stop Chat from getting in that way. With that done and most of the puppets collected, she freed the Oni-chan doll and Bubbler doll before placing them inside the basket. Marionette gave it to her and picked her up bridal style before jumping up onto her bed and through the skylight. He landed on the balcony as they heard Chat trying to get into the room. Marionette tilted his head and jumped to another roof, just as Chat used his cataclysm to get into the room. Marionette jumped across the city before landing on the top of the Eiffel tower. He jumped down, landing in front of Gustave Eiffel's office before putting Puppet Queen down and ripping open the door to the office. She smiled as he held it open for her and stepped inside. He followed and closed the door as she placed the basket on the table and took out the Lady Wifi doll. She attached her strings to it, making Lady Wifi appear before using her to lock the door as Marionette moved the wax figures off the chairs and placed them in front of each other. He took out his dolls and sat down, taking control of Max again as Puppet Queen switched Lady Wifi for Silencer and took out Oni-Chan again. She needed to make sure Chat couldn't use his power again to get into the office, once he found them. That should keep him busy enough while they dealt with Lila. 

 ~Tikki's POV~

 Tikki didn't know what to do. Marinette and Luka had been akumatized and she knew she couldn't tell Chat. If she told him then he would realize who Ladybug was and it's not like she could turn to Master Fu. There was the chance that he would try and take her from Marinette and she was certain that he would panic. No, she had to find a temporary holder for herself. Keeping herself hidden, she kept an eye on the apartment, hoping that maybe Marinette and Luka would resist been the akumas and break the object. However, they never did. She briefly thought they had when she saw them leaving the house but that thought disappeared when they did. She curled to herself and kept watch. She gasped when she saw Chat Noir come to the bakery and frowned when he had to go through it instead of in the balcony. She kept hidden when she saw the two akumas jump away from Marinette's room and frowned when Cat Noir left about ten minutes later. He looked upset but she had a feeling that he might finally understand Marinette's situation. Her parents must of told him. Her eyes widen and she mentally cursed herself for not thinking about it before. She knew who turn to. After all, the perfect person to save Marinette was none other then her own mother. With new hope and determination, she flew over to the bakery and headed inside.

 "I can't believe we didn't notice our little girl had been akumatized," Sabine gasped, making Tikki frown before she gasped. "Oh no, Luka was up there with her. You don't think she hurt him, do you?"

 "No, I don't even Marinette would, even as an akuma," Tom replied as Tikki flew into the back, causing the two adults to see her. Tom instantly screamed as Sabine looked at her with curiosity. "W-What is it?"

 "I'm a kwami," She replied, making them both blink. "My name is Tikki. Pleased to meet you,"

 "A kwami? But you look like a ladybug?" Sabine asked, frowning when Tikki looked down a little sad. "Is something wrong?"

 "I'm afraid so," She replied, making the bakers frown. "As a kwami, I can power up miraculous and give people super powers. To be precise, I give Ladybug her powers,"

 "Then why aren't you with Ladybug?" Sabine asked, frowning as Tikki looks sad again. "Is Ladybug ok?"

 "N-No, she's not," She gasped, tears in her eyes. "L-Ladybug needs help... she's... she's..."

 "Marinette," Sabine replied calmly, making Tom look at her with surprise as Tikki sniffed. "She is Ladybug, isn't she?"

 Tikki nodded, making Tom gasp.

 "H-How did you know?" She asked as Sabine gently cupped her with her hands.

 "My daughter gets akumatized and then Ladybug's kwami turns up. If Marinette wasn't Ladybug, she would have been saved by now," Sabine confirmed, making Tikki nod. "So what do you need me to do?"

 "I n-need someone to wear the earrings," She explained, making Sabine nod and take them, putting them in her ears. "But you must give them back to me once we've done,"

 "I will... but will you find a new Ladybug after this?"

 "I... I don't want to..." Tikki admitted, surprising Sabine. "Marinette's my friend and she is the best Ladybug I've ever known. If anyone can defeat Hawkmoth, I know she can but-"

 "Then we need to save her," Sabine smiled, surprising Tikki. "How do I transform?"

 "Say Tikki, spots on," Tikki explained, making Sabine nod. "You must capture the akuma or it will multiple and the special power is Lucky charm. Since you're an adult, you won't detransform after five minutes,"

 "Ok," Sabine nodded. "Tikki, spots on!"

 ~Back to Chat Noir~

 Chat jumped across the roofs as he headed back to the school, trying to work out where the akumas would go and hoping to come across Lila before they found her. While Plagg charged up, he went to visit Master Fu and told him that Ladybug was missing. Master Fu seemed shocked to find out that Marinette had been akumatized. He had given Adrien the fox, the turtle and the bee miraculous, telling them who could use them. He was surprised to find out that Rena and Carapace were Alya and Nino but he didn't have time to think about it. He needed to get back to the school. He jumped down and noticed Lila running down the street with Oni-chan and Max chasing them. He jumped down and slashed both of their strings before grabbing Lila and jumping away with her. For once, she didn't try to shout at him and just held onto him. He brought her back to the school and put her with her classmates, ordering them to split up and hide. As soon as the rest of the class began to run off, he pulled Alya, Chloe and Nino aside.

 "I'm so sorry to do this but Ladybug is missing," He explained, taking out the miraculous. "I need Rena Rogue, Carapace and Queen Bee,"

 "About time," Chloe gasped, grabbing the comb and fixing it into her hair. She greeted Pollen before transforming into Queen Bee. "Well, are you two gonna transform or not?"

 "Right," Nino replied, grabbing the bracelet and transforming into Carapace. Alya nodded and grabbed the pendent, transforming into Rena Rogue. "Ok, what's the plan?"

 "It seems that Puppet Queen and Marionette can't use the puppets who's strings we cut," Chat explained, getting a nod of the others. "We have to destroy the strings of all their puppets to force them to come and face us,"

 "Alright," Rena replied. "But how do we get them to send their puppets to us?"

 "They'll come for Lila," Chat replied, walking outside with the others. "Chances are she's probably ran off already,"

 "Really?" Rena asked as Chat took out his baton and smirked. "You tagged her?"

 "I did," He replied, putting the baton away. "She's heading towards Tuileries garden. Let's go,"

 The four heroes jumped up and out of the school, heading towards the Tuileries garden. Almost as soon as they got there, they heard Lila scream as Reverser attacked her. She dived out of the way as Reverser growled and saw the heroes, flying over to them and attacking them. 

 "You're defending a monster!" Reverser growled. "From heartfelt to heartless! Reversion!"

 Chat dived out of the way and ducked as Queen Bee jumped over him and kicked Reverser. Meanwhile, Rena and Carapace rushed over to Lila, who was getting up. They helped her up and tried to get her to move but she gasped and looked at them with worry.

 "I can't move!" She cried out. Rena went to lift her up but Chat knocked into her, causing her to fall as Carapace turned. Reverser smirked and hovered over them as Queen Bee charged at him, slamming her fist into the ground as he jumped out of the way.

 "Queen Bee, what the hell?!" He gasped as she engaged with him. Reverser began to attack Chat and Rena, keeping them busy. With none of the heroes defending Lila and her unable to move, Puppet Queen smirked as Malediktator manifested in the pink smoke on a building near by, waiting for the right moment. "Queen, stop attacking me!"

 "I can't!" She gasped, grabbing him and throwing him. "My body is doing this on it's own!"

 "What do you mean?!" Carapace gasped, blocking her punches as Chat and Rena teamed up to take out Reverser. However, that proved to be very difficult. Seeing the perfect chance, Malediktator lifted his fingers to his mouth.

 "By the power invested in me," He whispered, creating a ball of light and throwing towards Lila's chest. It hit her, causing the heroes to gasp as they saw him. "I order you to tell the truth and nothing but the truth!"

 Rena growled and destroyed Malediktator's strings as Chat took down Reverser. Lila covered her mouth, trying not to tell the truth but it was too late.

 "I hate Ladybug!" Lila suddenly gasped, causing everyone to stop as Malediktator smirked. "I wish she was dead and I'm not her best friend! I despite her with all my might. So much so I willingly took an akuma and helped Hawkmoth. I lied about Marinette too. She never threatened me or bullied me. It was the other way round. I threatened her and bullied her,"

 "Why?" Chat asked, making everyone look at him.

 "Because she knew I was lying and was in my way," Lila replied, smirking evilly. "The best part is she's not the first person I've done this too nor will she be- Aaahhh!!!"

 "What's wrong with her?" Rena asked as Queen Bee threw Carapace into a head lock before she looked at them. Lila was continue to scream, gripping her head as tears filled her eyes.

 "I'm making her suffer, just like how she made my melody suffer," She replied, making the heroes gasp as she smirked. "You had no idea I could do this, did you?"

 "It's Marionette! He's controlling Queen Bee and Lila!" Rena gasped before she threw her flute above Queen Bee, cutting her strings and causing her to blink before Carapace threw her over his shoulder and placed his shield against her neck, making her gasp. Chat went to run over to him but Rena suddenly began to attack him.

 "Rena!"

 "Oh, please, I'm definitely not Rena right now," She smirked, tripping him and pinning him down. "Time to take that ring,"

 "Catac- hmm!" He gasped as Silencer suddenly placed his hand on his mouth, causing his voice to disappear. Silencer held up his hand to his ear and stole Chat's voice, causing Rena to smirk and reach for his ring but before she could a boomerang flew across the area, destroying all the strings. Rena blinked and helped Chat up as they looked around before a woman dressed in a ladybug themed outfit appear. She had short black and red hair, the classic ladybug mask on but she wore a red tunic with black spots with black pants, black gloves and black pants. She was holding the boomerang in her hand, causing Chat to notice that it was Ladybug themed. He gasped but no sound came out, making him frown.

 "I think Chat is trying to stay 'Ladybug?'" Rena replied, causing the woman to shake her head.

 "Not quite," She replied, making the heroes blink. "I'm Lady Beetle, Ladybug's mother,"

 "Whoa," Carapace gasped. "Is Ladybug ok?"

 "Yes, she is fine. The poor dear broke her leg though. Hence why I'm here," She replied, making Chat frown. "Only it only happened the other day, Chat Noir and she was very upset that she couldn't tell you but she needs her rest,"

 He took out his baton and texted something, causing her yoyo to vibrate. Lady Beetle took it out and read it.

 "I'm glad you do," She smiled before turning to Lila, who had ran off after been freed from Marionette's control. "So I see you found the truth about Miss Rossi,"

 "Y-Yeah," Carapace mumbled, glancing to the side as Rena frowned. "She was lying but what I want to know is how Marionette was able to control us?"

 "Marionette?" Lady Beetle asked. "I thought the akuma is Puppet Queen?"

 "It is but it's also Marionette," Queen Bee replied. "He can control people where Puppet Queen can summon and control past akumatized villains and I think I know how he was able to control us. It's public knowledge that everyone knows that Chloe Bourgeois is Queen Bee and since he was controlling our class members, it makes sense that he could control me as well. Since he knew that Chloe and Queen Bee are the same person, he could control me even when I'm Queen Bee,"

 "If that's the case then he must have known our identities too but how did he find out?" Rena asked, causing Lady Beetle to frown. "Only Ladybug knows our real identities,"

 "But where did you think she got the idea to give them to you?" Lady Beetle asked, making them look at her. "Someone must have suggested people for her to pick as Miraculous users,"

 "Oh my god... of course!" Rena gasped. "Marinette must of been the one to recommend us! Well, expect Chloe but she was able to get me that interview with Ladybug... oh god, I've been such an idiot,"

 "Same here, dudette," Carapace gasped before frowning. "We need to save Marinette and Luka!"

 "I assume you have a plan?" Lady Beetle asked, making the young heroes look at her. 

 "Well, the plan was to destroy all of the puppets in order to force them to face us in person but honestly, I'm opening to any idea you have," Rena replied, getting a nod of everyone else.

 "We'll stick with that for now," She replied, frowning. "But I don't think Lila was Marinette's only target. Chances are she's gonna go after Adrien Agreste as well,"

 "To Agreste manor then," Rena declared, jumping off with the rest of the team following her.

 ~At Agreste Manor~

 "Where is he?!" Volpina growled as she, Lady Wifi, Mylene and Sabrina searched through Agreste manor and Adrien's room. Unfortunately, the heroes burst in before they could search farther. Volpina played her flute, creating several versions of herself and Lady Wifi as Mylene and Sabrina tried to attack the girls but with Lady Beetle on their side, they soon cut the strings of the akumas and their classmates. Carapace and Queen Bee checked on Mylene and Sabrina, who were confused. Almost instantly, the Bubbler manifested and attacked them with a full on attack, causing the heroes to jump back and move Mylene and Sabrina out. It was so fierce it was almost desperate, causing Lady Beetle to realize that it was desperate.

 "I think they're running out of Puppets," She replied, dodging a bubble and destroying it's strings, causing a second Chat Noir to manifest. "Out the window!" 

 The group jumped out the window, causing him to chase them. Lady Beetle lead them to the school and landed in the courtyard, spinning her yoyo. Almost instantly, Rose jumped at her but Rena and Carapace grabbed her, allowing Chat Noir to slice her string as the puppet Chat Noir landed on the ground.

 "Marionette!" He called out before jumping out of the school. The heroes chased after him, causing Queen Bee to throw her spintop around his waist. He smirked and disappeared in pink smoke, causing her to land on the roofs with the others.

 "Marionette must have run out of puppets," Lady Beetle declared, making the group nod. "And that Chat Noir is Puppet Queen's last one..."

 "So if we destroy his strings, they'll be forced to face us," Carapace explained as Chat nodded. "But she won't manifest it unless we force her,"

 "We need to find them then," Lady Beetle replied as Chat texted her something. She read it and frowned. "So they were in Marinette's room originally but had to escaped... hmm.."

 She took out and checked something.

 "I think I know where they are," She replied, holding up the yoyo. "The Eiffel tower had to be evacuated after two people, believed to be akumas, broke into Gustave's office,"

 "They must be hiding there," Rena agreed before the rest of them jumped away and headed there. The police were surrounding the tower but hadn't actually gone up yet. The team climbed up and landed on the very top.

 "Cataclysm!" Cat Noir shouted, diving at them with his hand out stretched. The original chat slid over and grabbed the fake, slamming his hand into the door, destroying it before the fake chat began to fight with them. The other heroes rushed over but stopped when they saw Marionette stood in the door way. He tilted his head, causing it to click as he did before stepping forward in a slowed manner. One of his leg was slightly twisted and his head was tilted to the side. The group stepped back from him, creeped out but he took advantage of the situation, firing his strings at them. Lady Beetle and Queen Bee jumped back but Rena and Carapace weren't so lucky. Marionette twitched his fingers and moved his hands, forcing them to fight against the other two.

 "Use venom on him," Lady Beetle ordered, causing Queen Bee to nod and jump up as Rena charged at her.

 "Venom!" She declared, throwing her spintop and catching it. She jumped down and dodged Carapace's attack, allowing Lady Beetle to capture Rena and Carapace with her yoyo. She jumped up and slammed her spintop in the middle of his chest, freezing him, along with Carapace and Rena. 

 "No!" Chat Noir screamed as she did, allowing the real chat to destroy his strings before Queen Bee, Lady Beetle and Chat to run inside the office. Puppet Queen jumped up from her chair and fired her strings at them but they dodged them and Lady Beetle threw her yoyo, capturing the girl. It broke her heart to see Marinette with cracks on her skin, reflecting how broken she felt on the inside. "No! Let me go!"

 "It's ok, Marinette," Lady Beetle spoke in her motherly voice, causing the girl to look at her with tears in her eyes. Her strings stopped in the air as she looked at the woman in front of her. Chat glanced at her, unsure what to do. "It's going to be ok,"

 "How can it?" She asked, tears rolling down her face. "Everyone hates me!"

 "No, they don't," Lady Beetle reassured, stepping closer. "Your parents don't, Luka doesn't and I don't. Lila has been exposed. Your work is done,"

 "I..." Marinette gasped as Lady Beetle took the cross controls out of her hands and broke them in half. Nothing happened with the first one but when she broke the second one, the akuma fluttered out. She opened the yoyo and captured it before releasing it. She took the boomerang off her back and threw it up into the air, declaring the magical words. Marinette collapsed to the floor as she turned back into herself, tears rolling down her face as she looked up and blink, seeing Lady Beetle. "I... I was akumatized, wasn't I?"

 "Yes," She replied, kneeling down. "But it's ok now,"

 "I'm sorry," She muttered before her eyes widen. "Oh no! Luka! He was with me when I was akumatized! Oh god, he's gonna hate me for sure,"

 "I don't think he is," Lady Beetle smiled, helping Marinette to her feet and leading her out of the room. Luka was stood with Rena and Carapace, looking stressed out but as soon as he saw Marinette, he rushed over to her and engulfed her in a hug.

 "Marinette, I was so worried," He gasped, holding her close to him. Marinette closed her eyes and pressed her face into his chest, missing the looks of guilt from Carapace and Rena. Chat cleared his throat.

 "Um we should go," He stated, getting Rena, Queen Bee and Carapace's attention before turning to Lady Beetle. "It was nice working with you, Lady Beetle. I hope Ladybug's leg heals soon,"

 "I'm sure it will," She smiled as the four heroes left the tower. "Why don't I get you two home? I'm sure your parents are worried about you,"

 ~Later that Day~

 "Marinette?" Sabine asked, coming into her room. Marinette looked over as she came in and closed the door. "I think we need to talk,"

 "Y-Yeah," She replied, nodding as her mother sat on her chaise. "The captain wasn't angry was she?"

 "No, she wasn't. She was worried about you," She replied, making Marinette nod but she looked sad and Sabine knew how Marinette was. She was blaming herself for her and Luka been akumatized. Sabine walked over to her and sat next to her. "Marinette, no one is angry that you were akumatized. It was not your fault. I know you feel guilt but you were pushed over the edge. I know you've been resisting akumas for months and I am so proud that you were able to but I need you to know that it is ok that you were akumatized. You're not weak or evil because of it,"

 "I just... I just couldn't take any more, Mama," Marinette gasped, fresh tears falling down her cheeks as she covered her face. "Lila turned the class on me and they believed her. A-And Adrien... he just let her... he knew she was lying and he let her, saying it wasn't hurting anyone but it was hurting me,"

 "Ssh, it's ok," Sabine stated, wrapping her daughter in a hug as the girl cried her heart out. "Let it all out, Marinette,"

 "B-But akumas?" She gasped, looking up at her mum but she didn't seem worried.

 "Don't you worry about those nasty little butterflies," Sabine reassured, rubbing her back. Marinette nodded and just let tears fall as Tikki guarded the house, consuming every single akuma that came their way. Gradually, Marinette calmed down and wiped her eyes as her mother smiled. "Feeling a little better?"

 "A l-little," She admitted but both knew she had far to go. "It still hurts though,"

 "I'm afraid it will but like all injuries, it will heal over time," She reassured, gently kissing her forehead. "But there is something else I need to talk to you about,"

 "It's about the miraculous, isn't it?" Marinette asked, playing with her hands. Sabine nodded. "How did you find out?"

 "Tikki came to me," She replied as Marinette listened to her. "She wasn't originally going to tell me but I worked it out. She was very distressed and worried about you,"

 "Y-Yeah, Tikki's sweet like that," Marinette replied, unsure of what will happen. Will Master Fu take her miraculous away? She knew she couldn't handle losing Tikki but she was glad that Tikki went to her mother to save her. "Thank you for helping Tikki and saving me,"

 "You don't need to thank me, sweetie," Sabine smiled, rubbing her arm. "I'm your mother. It's my job to look after you. I just wish you had told me before,"

 "I c-couldn't," Marinette frowned. "Master Fu... the man who gave me Tikki... insisted that I couldn't tell anyone my identity but I guess it doesn't matter now. There's no way Chat doesn't know..."

 "Well, actually, he doesn't," Sabine replied, making Marinette look at her. "I told him that the reason why Ladybug couldn't make it to battle was because she broke her leg. It does mean that you might not be able to turn up for battle for a few days but when you tell him, just say your leg healed faster because of the miraculous. I know he'll buy it,"

 "But you wore the miraculous?"

 "As far as he knows, I'm just Ladybug's mother," She smiled, making Marinette hug her. "Only me and your father know about your identity now and we have some ideas to help you deal with this burden,"

 "Wait... you're not going to make me retire?" She asked, blinking in surprise. 

 "Part of me wants to but I don't think it's been Ladybug that made you miserable. I think it was everything else," She explained, making Marinette nod. "And I don't think breaking you and Tikki up would be good for either of you,"

 "But Master Fu-"

 "Leave this Master Fu to me," Sabine stated, making Marinette nod. "Now I'm thinking you should get some rest then went you're feeling a little better, we sit and talk about how to go forward,"

 "O-ok, Mama," Marinette nodded before heading up to her bed. Tikki flew in and smiled at Sabine, who smiled back before she went downstairs to her husband. She let him know that Marinette was resting before she started to make dinner. After a couple of hours, Marinette came downstairs and had dinner with them before they began to discuss how to help her. Marinette was prepared for them to send her back to Miss Bustier's class but to her surprise, her mother suggested having her transfer class or if she preferred transfer schools. She said she would have to think about it but she knew she didn't want to go back to Miss Bustier's class. Sabine and Tom agreed. They then decided it was time to talk to Master Fu. Marinette called him and asked him to come to the bakery. It didn't take long for him to arrive but when he did, he was surprised to see her parents. They invited him in and began to talk. By the end of it, he had agreed that Marinette should be allowed to keep Tikki and that if she wished to step down from battle, that Sabine would be allowed to become Lady Beetle again. Marinette couldn't help but feel relieved. It was a nice feeling, not having to lie to her parents about her identity. They swore they would be extra careful about becoming akumas as well. Marinette couldn't be happier with the outcome.

 ~A Few Days Later~

 Marinette took a deep breathe as she looked up at DuPont High. It had been a week since she and Luka had been akumatized and a lot of things had changed. She intentionally thought that Luka would hate her but to her surprise, he didn't. In fact, he reconfirmed his feelings for her and they had grown closer. She took another deep breathe and smiled a little as Luka gently took her hand in his. She asked him to come with her and her parents when they were called to come back into the school. They were also going to use the chance to finalize her transfer to a new school, which happened to be his school. Luka was more then happy to help her through today. They had also brought the family lawyer with them. She glanced at him before glancing at her parents with a nod. The four of them walked inside, causing a number of students to look towards them. Almost as soon as she walked through the door, Alya charged up to her.

 "Marinette, I can't-" She started but Luka stepped in forward of Marinette with a glare that reminded her of Marionette.

 "Back off, Cesaire," He almost growled, making her gulp. 

 "I just want to see how my bestie is," She replied, placing her hands on her hip.

 "Your bestie?" Marinette asked, surprising her as she stepped aside. "I'm not your bestie, Alya. In case, you've forgotten you renounced your friendship with me,"

 "Well, that was before Lila was revealed to be a liar," Alya pointed out, making Marinette frown. "So we can go back-"

 "No, we can't," Marinette replied, making her frown. "I'm sorry, Alya but I can't be friends with someone who's a bully,"

 "But I'm not!" She argued before gasping and stepping back as she realized what Marinette had done. She had used the exact same words that she had when she renounced her friendship. Marinette spared her a glance before their lawyer handed her a file, making Alya blink at it. "W-What's this?"

 "You have been served, Miss Cesaire," She replied, making the girl blink. "My clients are suing you for emotion distress and harassment. As you are a minor, a copy has been sent to your parents,"

 "W-What?" Alya gasped but Marinette ignored her. They moved on, followed by her parents who glared at her. Her shoulders slumped and she walked over to Nino, who comforted her. The next person who walked up to them was Adrien but unlike Alya, he had actually looked remorseful and like he hadn't had a lot of sleep. However, Marinette didn't feel sorry for him. In fact, she didn't feel anything for him. She was officially done and over Adrien Agreste.

 "Marinette..." He muttered, looking at her as she crossed her arms. Naturally, Luka was at her side, ready to defend her if he needed to. Tom was glaring at the young boy as well. The only one who didn't look angry was Sabine but her expression wasn't much better. It was one of pity. She pitied him. He licked his lips and looked at her. "Marinette, I am so sorry. I should have told everyone from the beginning that Lila was a liar and I should have supported you. I don't have the right to call you my friend,"

 "You're right, Adrien, you should have," Marinette stated, harshly. "And we're definitely not friends. Friends help each other and have each other's backs but you never did that because I didn't matter to you,"

 "I thought that she would disappear, just like a tabloid,"

 "I get that your upbringing has affected how you interact with people, Adrien but there's only so much that can excuses," She explained, making him frown. "I can't sue you as technically you did nothing but that's exactly it. You did nothing. Now if you excuse me, Adrien, we have to sort out something,"

 With that, they walked away and headed into the office. To their surprise, Lila was sat on a chair with her arms crossed. Behind her was a woman who they guessed was her mother. Mr Damocles, Miss Bustier and their case worker from the school board was there. She instantly walked over to Tom and Sabine and shook their hands.

 "I am so sorry for the trouble my daughter has caused," She stated, making them nod. "I requested that you be here so Lila can apology for her actions,"

 "Mama!" Lila gasped but her mother glared at her, making her go quiet.

 "You will be quiet unless I say so," She glared, making Lila gulp as someone knocked on the door. Marinette's family lawyer walked over and let Officer Roger in. "Now you will apologize to this girl and her family for the stress you put her through,"

 "I am sorry, Marinette," Lila mumbled but it was obvious she didn't mean it. Miss Bustier, on the hand, stood up and clapped her hands together.

 "Well done, Lila," She smiled before turning to Marinette. "And what do you say, Marinette? Do you accept her apology?"

 Marinette took a deep breathe as Luka squeezed her hand before she looked at her teachers and Mrs Rossi.

 "No, I don't," She replied, making them gasp but her parents gave her proud smiles. "It's clear that Lila doesn't mean it and even if she did, her apology does nothing. It doesn't undo all the pain and suffering she's caused me. It doesn't undo that she tried to isolate me and destroy my life so no I'm not going to forgive her but I am glad she is here,"

 "Mrs Rossi, here," The lawyer stated, holding out papers. "Your daughter has been served and is been sued for slander, defamation, emotional distress, cyber bullying and assault,"

 Lila stared at Marinette in surprise as the lawyer turned to Mr Damocles and Miss Bustier, handing them both files.

 "You both have also been served," She explained, making them blink. "You are been sued for emotional distress, abuse of authority and child abuse and neglect. My clients' are also filing charges against you ad Miss Rossi. I recommend you get yourselves a good lawyer because I will be pressing for prison time. Officer Roger, if you may,"

 "Mr Damocles and Miss Bustier, you are under arrest for child abuse and neglect. You have the right to remain silence but anything you do and say can be and will be used in a court of law," He declared as a couple of other officers came in. "And Miss Lila Rossi, you are under arrest for physical assault, obscuring the course of justice and terrorism-"

 "Terrorism?!" Mrs Rossi gasped before looking at Lila. "What did you do?"

 "According to our sources, Miss Rossi confessed to working with Hawkmoth willingly," Officer Roger explained, maker her mother go pale and gasp. "We have video evidence of her confession,"

 "I was cohered by her!" Lila screamed, pointing to Marinette. "She used her 'powers' to force me to tell that lie!"

 "Officer Roger, my daughter would not-" Mrs Rossi started but cut off as Roger showed her the video showed Malediktator hitting Lila with a ball of light before ordering her to tell the truth before she confessed everything in front of the heroes below the person filming it. Sabine hid her smile as best as she could.

 "As you can see, she was ordered to tell the truth. There was no threat, no blade to her neck," He pointed out, making her sit down as the other office went to place hand cuffs on Lila. However, things took a dramatic turn as an akuma into the room. Lila broke free from the officer and made a grab for the akuma with a wicked smirk on her face, placing it into her bracelet and accepting whatever power Hawkmoth promised her. During those moments, Luka pulled Marinette out of the room with her parents. Lila, now Obscurer, came looking for Marinette. Chat Noir was first on the scene but soon Viperion and Ladybug turned up. Chat was happy to see her and asked about her leg. Ladybug told him that the miraculous made it heal a lot faster before telling him to focus on the fight. Obscurer was defeated in record time and Lila was arrested as soon as she was deakumatized. She was dragged out kicking and scream in front of the whole school and Alya had even caught it on her live stream. She rushed over to Ladybug, asking for an interview but Ladybug refused it. She told Alya she needed to talk to her and Nino and that she would come and see them later before calling Chloe to the side. She explained to Chloe that she could never give her back the Bee miraculous as it was too dangerous, especially if another akuma got a similar power to Marionette. Chloe was disappointed but understood. Ladybug nodded and ran off with Viperion. Marinette came out from her hiding place with Luka. He gave her a smile before they joined her parents and left DuPont for the last time. Marinette linked her hand with his, giving him a smile as they followed her parents to the bakery.

 ~Later That Night~

 Alya gasped as she saw Ladybug at her window. She woke up Nino and let her, followed by Viperion. She was excited until she saw Ladybug's expression, making her and Nino frown. 

 "Alya, Nino.. I'm sorry to say this but I will not be calling on Rena Rogue and Carapace anymore," She explained, making them frown. "As of tonight, you two are retired and should the need for the fox or the turtle come up then new holders will be found. I advise you not to harass the new members when they appear and to accept my decision with grace. Understood?"

 "Y-Yes, Ladybug," Alya muttered, glancing down as Nino nodded. "C-Can we ask why?"

 "There is a number of reasons but the main ones are due to Marionette been able to control you, Chat and Queen Bee having to learn your identities and your recent behavior in your civilian life," She explained, making them frown.

 "But we didn't know Lila was a liar!" Alya argued but Ladybug held up her hand.

 "While that is true, you still had a choice and you decided to harass someone. It didn't matter if you believed her to be a bully or not, you still choose to do that. You turned on someone who you called a friend so how can I trust you won't do the same to me?" Ladybug asked, making the two frown. "But I am partially responsible for this. As soon as I heard about the Lila interviews I should have tracked you down and cleared up the situation. For that, I am truly sorry but it also goes both ways. You never once asked me if I was her friend or tried to check your sources, Alya. Instead, you just believed her and brushed off your friend's concerns as jealous. You never thought to verify Miss Rossi's claims both about me and Marinette. I may be partially responsible it but you are equally responsible for that as I am and Nino, you threw one of your oldest friends under the bus and picked the side of a girl you barely knew,"

 Nino frowned and looked down as Alya looked like she was about to cry.

 "For the record, I wish it had never come to this," Ladybug sighed before turning to to Viperion. "Viper, let's go,"

 "After you," He replied as she went to leave.

 "W-Wait... Ladybug, can I ask you something off record?" Alya asked, making Ladybug stop and nod. "W-Was it Marinette who recommended us to you?"

 "Yes, it was," She replied, making Alya feel worst. "She saw heroes in both of you-"

 "And we turned out to be villains," Alya gasped, sinking to her knees. Ladybug frowned and didn't say anything as she left with Viperion. Nino wrapped her arms around Alya as she cried. "We fucked up so bad, didn't we?"

 "Yeah, we did,"

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

Tag list:

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If anyone else wants to be tagged for the next prompt, let me know. However, requests are closed for now. I have a number of requests to finish up so I'll be reopening them when I'm all caught up

#angry luka #lukanette #marinette dupain cheng #sad marinette #hurt marinette #adrien agreste #alya cesaire #Nino lahiffe #lila rossi #juleka couffaine #akumatized marinette #akumatized luka #akumatized #akumatized lukanette #akumatized ladybug #Lila exposed #lila salt #class salt #ml class #bustier salt #juleka sugar #alya salt #adrien salt #kind of redemption #realization #but too late #puppet queen #marionette #lady beetle #sabine cheng

[mochinek0]

The Moon and her Shadow

LONG STORY

Luka sighed as he walked to the front of François Dupont Lychee. Juleka had left her notebook on the table and she had mentioned how important it was the night before, for a test. He looked around the campus, hoping to spot his sister's purple locks when he noticed blue instead.

He shifted on his feet before he weaved his way through the crowd, hoping he wasn't wrong. It had almost been three years since they broken up. He wished several times that Marinette would give him another chance, once she was ready to openly tell him the truth about herself. He hadn't expected to see her in the arms of another guy or for him to kiss her.

"Luka!" he heard Juleka call, waking him from his stupor.

"Who?" he demanded.

'Why hadn't she told him Marinette moved on?'

Juleka tilted her head in confusion until her brother turned back to glance at Marinette under the shade of a large tree. Juleka's eyes widened when she saw Marinette with some guy she didn't recognize.

"I don't know." his sister replied, "I had no idea she was seeing anyone. It's the first time I've seen him, but I'll ask the girls. I'll get back to you, okay?"

Luka handed over her notebook and left without a word.

'Has she really moved on?'

"You're dating?" Alya shrieked as they made they're way into the classroom, "Marinette!"

"What?" Marinette asked, confused as to why everyone was suddenly staring at her.

"Why didn't you tell us you got a boyfriend?" her friend questioned, "How could you keep this from us?"

"Oh." Marinette spoke, trying to find the right words, "Well, we just haven't been as close since College. None of us really talk anymore like we use to in Bustier's class; we all sort of do our own thing. I work two jobs and still have to strangle out doing homework."

Sure they had grown apart, but they never really thought it had caused that much of a change. Kim and Alix were usually at the sport's table and sometimes with Max in the library for help with classes. Kitty Section and Nino stuck together to get things done faster so they could have band practice and he could work out some new songs. Chloe, Adrien, and Marinette shared some of the same business classes. Alya was usually with Nathaniel and Marc for help with her blogs and getting and new perspective on how she could make things better. Ivan and Mylene had some classes with Sabrina. Everything had changed and none of them had realized it. No one was really sure what to say. Adrien took a step forward. He was the one who took the first step for their friendship, he wasn't gonna let it fade.

"How did you and your boyfriend meet?" he asked.

Marinette smiled, "He was visiting Paris with his father and cousin. I ran into them several times and ended up inviting them to the bakery. We all talked and we stayed in touch. He asked me out and I said 'Yes'. We visit each other when we can and we talk daily."

The Agreste heir smiled, "You sound happy."

"I am happy, Adrien." she replied.

Adrien put an arm around her shoulder, "Good. That's all that really matters."

"Can we meet him?" asked Rose.

"Yeah!" shouted Alix, "We should get to know him."

"We have plans for lunch, but I can see if he's up to meeting you guys after school. Would that be okay?" Mari questioned.

Everyone nodded.

"What did you find out, Jules?" Luka asked, when Juleka arrived.

"I found out in class that Marinette started dating two years ago." Juleka spoke, softly.

'Two years ago? All this time, I was still waiting; for nothing.'

"No one knew because she's been working two job; she was always so busy. Even she brought it to our attention on how we never really hang out anymore." she continued, "She said she was going out with him for lunch and see if he'll meet us after school. If so, we're gonna meet in the park after school."

"I'll be there." Luka responded.

'Luka?'

"I'll listen to his song." he insisted, with a smile, "We have to know if he's good for her, right?"

'Have you really not moved on? What if you don't like what you hear?'

Luka was the first one in the park. He had made sure to get there five minutes before the school let out. He left his yellow bike near the tree and waited by the park bench for everyone else to arrive.

Suddenly, a low, deep song approach the park. He turned quickly to see the guy from this morning. He sounded horrible.

'There's no way his song will be harmonious with hers!'

"Dami!" Marinette shouted, running right past him.

When she kissed him, their songs played together so clear, as if he was listening to a concerto. He had never heard her song so clear, so beautiful.

'How?'

After Marinette introduced everyone, she turned to 'Dami'.

"I haven't told them anything, other then we got together two years ago. I haven't even told them your name." Marinette spoke.

"My name is Damian Wayne." he stated.

'So formal.'

"Damian Wayne?" Max questioned, "As in, Wayne Enterprises?"

"Yes. My father and Drake are Co-CEO. Father doesn't understand the meaning of retirement." Damian answered.

"What about you? What do you do?" Max asked.

"Well, I'm very knowledgeable about business, but I haven't decided which direction to head in. I'm sure I'll eventually do something for the company." Damian replied.

Luka smiled. He already knew what he was gonna do; he had a plan. He was going to follow in his father's footsteps and go into the music industry.

"Just...business?" asked Nino.

"No. My mother made sure I had a wide range of knowledge growing up. I have already acquired three doctorates in different fields. I got bored so right now I'm pursuing veterinary school." he stated.

Everyone's jaw dropped, while Mari just smiled at his accomplishments. Next year, Luka had planned on going on tour with his father, taking college courses online. This guy, here, was already lightyears ahead of him. He could have a job right now if he wanted to.

Adrien quickly stood up, walked over to Damian, and placed his hands on his shoulders.

"Never, ever, meet my father, please. I'll be homeschooled again if he learned that was possible." Adrien pleaded.

Damian smirked, "I don't intend to."

"You're my new best friend." Adrien claimed.

"Hey!" shouted Marinette, Nino, and Chloe.

"Damn!" shouted Kim, "Agreste out here throwing out best friend cards like they were bachelor roses." making everyone laugh.

"What do you plan to do later?" Alya asked, "Do you have a place you want to travel to or-"

"I'll go wherever My Angel goes." Damian stated, looking at Marinette.

"Dami!" she cried, blushing madly.

"You know I don't say anything half way." Dami responded, admiring the blush on his girlfriend's face.

"What do you mean?" questioned Rose.

"Dami is very blunt about his opinion. He will tell you exactly what he thinks of you, your decisions, and anything else." Mari explained.

"Like?" Adrien asked.

"Ooh! Say soemthing about me!" Alya volunteered, raising her hand.

"Your two-toned hair reflects you indecisions. You are brass and push your way onto other to get what you want." Damian spoke, looking her over.

Alya wasn't sure how she felt about his opinion of her and turned to look at Marinette.

Marinette shrugged, "I mean, he's not wrong. That pretty much describes you to a tee. When you go after a story, you have blinders on, like when I work on clothes."

Alya pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

'He said it rudely, though. I let my music speak for me. My music is soft and mellow, but it holds the truth. He use harsh, cold, unfeeling words.'

"Dami is honest and that's something I've always looked for." Marinette announced.

Luka frowned at her words. They had broken up because she couldn't be honest with him.

"What about when there's secrets to keep?" Luka asked, letting his feelings be known.

Marinette turned to Luka and glared at him. Damian immediatley brought her into his arm.

"I don't keep secrets from her. She knows about my past." he declared.

"What about the secrets she keeps from you." Luka growled out, making everyone look between the exes.

"I know there is a reason and she will tell me when she is ready." Damian spoke up.

"That doesn't sound fair." the guitarist sneered.

"Maybe not to you, who has no knowledge of business, but I know she signs NDA contracts. I know she has to keep secrets because of her work. Father does the same. I know that once she is allowed to say something, she will come to me first and I will listen to every word she has to say. She's very excited to share her accomplishments. I am proud of her every time I see her clothes be worn." Damian growled out, glaring at the musician.

'Does he know who I am?'

"Habibiti?" Dami whispered, but Mari only shook her head.

Damian tilted Marinette's chin up, making sure her sole focus was on him.

"I plan to go wherever you go. I know you will work late and I know I will have to remind you to eat." he began, "I can assure you, I don't see anything in my future, but you and I plan on keeping it that way."

Marinette eased into his hug and nuzzled her face into his chest.

"Hey, I've seen you at a bunch of animal charities." Alix brought up, turning the couple's attention back to their audience.

Luka frowned at the unasked questioned. He knew Marinette loved animals; he, unfortunately, didn't share her sentiment. He had an allergy to fur. Marinette had expressed how she wanted a pet when she finally moved out of the bakery. When she had asked what kind of animal he had wanted, he had answered he would prefer a snake.

'Wouldn't a cat or hamster be cuter?' she had asked. 'I'm allergic to fur.' he replied. 'Oh.' she frowned and the matter had been dropped. She never brought up animals again, at least to him.

"I am an animal lover. I turned vegetarian after rescuing a cow from a slaughter house, one night." Damian answered Alix's question, "I donate to several charities and visit the shelters to make sure all animals are treated respectfully."

"A cow?" questioned Mylene.

Damian nodded, "She lives on my friend's farm at the moment. They make sure she is well fed."

"Do you have any other animals?" Asked Nino.

"Five." the young Wayne answered.

"We would have to keep Adrien away from Jerry though." Marinette stated.

"Jerry?" Adrien pondered, out loud.

"He's a turkey." Marinette smiled.

"But-" he began to argue.

"Feathers." Mari sang.

"Yeah." Adrien laughed, "I'll keep my distance."

"Another rescue?" questioned Ivan.

"Yeah." Marinette laughed, "I've always been indecisive about what kind of pet I would get later in life, but Dami has most of them. I get to baby them all when I visit him for the holidays."

"Marinette introduced me to Jagged and Fang last year." Damian announced, "Fang is very well trained. Once father learned about where I went, he declared he wouldn't be allowing me to build a moat."

'Father knew about this!'

Everyone began to laugh.

Marinette tip-toed up and kissed his cheek, "Maybe when we get our own place, you can build a menagerie for the animals in the back."

"You always know how to cheer me up, Angel." Damian whispered.

Luka looked away, frowning. It hurt to hear that Marinette shared his sentiment about living toegther in the near future.

"Why are you all dressed up?' asked Rose, "Are you going to a party later?"

"I was involved in several meetings in Father's company earlier, but I'm usually in suits." Damian admitted.

Alya noticed Marinette's cheeks begin to tinge pink.

"Why are you blushing, Mari?" Alya teased, "Are suits a thing for you?"

Luka huffed at that notion. He had never worn a suit. They felt too stuffy and would deprive him of his creativity.

Marinette began to take a red hue, "No!" and admitted, "I...I was just thinking what he looks like out of the suit."

"You two have....you know?" mumbled Nathaniel.

"No!" Marinette cried, blushing as Damian chuckled, "No! No! No!"

"But?" Alya goaded, hoping to get a real answer out of her friend.

"Dami....works out, a lot. Sometimes I watch." Mari explained, blushing, "He's very athletic and it shows."

"I bet I'm more athletic!" declared Kim, flexing his arms.

Kim raise his shirt, revealing his slim and flat stomach.

"Adrien looks more athletic then you." scoffed Alix.

"No way! Put it up, Agreste!" he demanded.

Adrien blushed and reluctantly reveals his four pack to his friends. Kim's jaw dropped, shocked. He thought Adrien was just skinny. He didn't know it was all lean muscle. On the bench, Luka tried to hide his disappointment. He was slim like Adrien, but he had Kim's stomach. Biking was great for his legs and stamina, but he never actively worked out.

"How did you know?" he asked Alix.

"Your photoshoot last week in the park. I was passing by on my blades." she smirked.

"HOW?" shouted Kim.

"Father keeps me on a diet. Modeling is more then just being a pretty face and posing. I have to actively keep my figure throughout the year." Adrien sighed.

"What exactly is your diet?" asked Marinette, "He's not feeding you only salads right?"

"No! Father has me on a low carb-high carb diet. I really enjoy it. Low carb has me eating a lot of vegetables and fruit, but I can't eat carbs during those days. By the time I get to my high carb days for rice and bread, it's just really heavy. Then I work it off." Adrien explained.

Marinette sighed in relief to his answer, "I'm glad you enjoy your diet, Adrien. If he was only feeding you salads, I was gonna march over and have some words with him. If you ever decide you want to continue modeling and you don't like the way he tells you to do it, you are more then welcome to come to my world of fashion."

"Yeah! Join the dark side, Adrien!" Nino shouted, "Marinette will feed you cookies!" making everyone laugh.

"Would I really get cookies?" he questioned.

Everyone just laughed harder.

"Okay. Okay. It's your turn." Kim spoke, pointing at Damian.

Damian turned to Marinette, who shrugged.

"It's completely up to you. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to." she stated.

Damian smirked as he removed his blazer and placed it in her hands. He untucked his shirt, revealing nothing , as he unbuttoned his shirt. Once Damian finished, he lifted up his undershirt and exposed his eight pack. No one spoke a word as he lowered his shirt and began to fix his state of dress.

Alya and Luka look to Marinette, only to find her openly staring at her boyfriend.

"You need a minute alone there, Girl? You're drooling." Alya spoke up.

Damian chuckles as Mari turned her face away form him and buried her face in his blazer.

"I'd ask what you eat, but you said you were a vegetarian. Even Adrien has better abs then I do." groaned Kim, "I think I'm gonna have to change my diet."

"You're ripped!" Alix shouted, "How? It can't be just fruits and vegetables!"

"I was trained in martial art since I was three." the Wayne heir admitted.

"Why so young?" inquired Max.

"My mother demanded perfection in many aspect of my youth. Martial art was one of those." he explained.

"Father just demands that I should fence, play piano, and learn Mandarin. He'd freak out if I bruised or broke something." Adrien sighs, "It seems really cool, though.

"I haven't attempted piano, but Mother had me classically trained for violin and my friend Jon taught me guitar." Dami spoke up.

"You told me he made you play Guitar Hero!" Marinette shouted.

"It wasn't all that different. Chords were the same and the plucking is similar to a violin." he declared, unintentionally pissing off Kitty Section.

"Right." Mari stated, "I don't even know why I was surprised. You beat Gar at DDR, on extreme, despite having never played it."

"It's all about coordination. Once your brain recognizes the pattern, it's very simple to follow through with. The same way you react to playing UMS4." he continued.

Marinette glared at him.

"Now I feel like you're not taking me seriously when we play. I know I can beat Tim 'cause he whines about it and demands rematches. You don't do that; you're analyzing my style!" Marinette realized.

Damian kissed her head as she huffed in defeat.

"So, can you fence and speak Mandarin?" Adrien asked, brining the questioned full circle.

"As well as seven other languages." Damian stated.

"Mari, where do you find these guys?" Alya questioned, "Adrien. Luka. This guy!"

"Me?" Adrien asked, confused.

"Oops." Alya whispered, trying to shrink in on herself.

"I had a crush on you, years ago." Mari admitted.

"Really?" the Agreste heir asked.

Marinette and Damian nodded in response.

"When I relaized you weren't gonna see me as anything else but a friend, I let go of my crush. Later, I dated Luka for a bit." she explained.

"Yes." Luka spoke up, "Until we broke up because you couldn't be honest with me."

Marinette nodded in response, not denying his statement.

"Beside, Alya, it's not like I dated Adrien and Luka had been the one to ask me out. He confessed several times before I finally agreed to date him." Marinette turned back to answering her best friend's question.

"Yes, but your attention was still on Adrien." Luka sneered.

"No, it wasn't! Adrien was happily with Kagami. When I found out that they broke up, my first reaction wasn't 'Oh my god! I can try to get Adrien to like me this time!'. I immediately sought out Kagami and tried to get them back together." Mari glared at Luka.

"She did." Alya announced, "I was the one who told her they broke up. I told her it was her chance, but she insisted that Kagami was perfect for Adrien. Any time I went over to see her, she was head down in her sketchbooks and wouldn't let me see what she was working on."

"And that focus, is what made me see the Angel hidden in Paris." Damian spoke, turning Marinette's eyes away from her ex, "Your head floats into the clouds when you are very busy, Habibiti."

"Good thing have a Demon to drag me down to Earth." she giggled.

"Demon?" asked Rose.

"My brother's nickname for me. I carried my mother's last name until my father changed it to his. It means 'Demon' in her native tongue so they took to calling me 'Demon Spawn'." Damian reassured her.

"You were also a bit of a troublemaker, as a kid." Mari smiled, "You weren't use to sharing a parent."

"Also true." he smirked, "Though that shouldn't be an issue for my heir." causing Marinette to blush.

"So, your parents are cool with him?" asked Nino.

"Yes." Marinette smiled, "Damian has met my parents and I've met his very large family."

"How large?" wondered Ivan.

"Twelve." Mari stated.

"Woah!" Nathaniel exclaimed, "That's a lot of mouths to feed."

"Indeed, although I am the only blood heir. I have three legally adopted brothers. My sisters are all but in name. My eldest brother has his own family, as well." Damian explained.

"And you're the baby of the family." Mari teased.

Damian glared at her answer, but it had no effect. She kept smiling until he sighed and gave in.

"It will be amusing to see what the media comes up with when I have you permanently by my side, while Father still circles around Selina." the Wayne heir admitted.

Luka could see it was worse then he had originally thought. They weren't just thinking of living together. This was something they saw leading for long term. They were thinking marriage and kids.

"Marinette, it's almost seven." Damian interrupted.

"Oh!" Mari gasped, "Sorry, Guys, but we have some dinner plans."

Luka could hear the well wishes for their relationship, as they hugged her. It annoyed him to no end. He saw Adrien tap him on the shoulder and guide him away from Marinette.

"Hey, is it okay that Marinette had a crush on me before?" Adrien questioned, "I didn't know and I still view her as a friend."

"It's of no issue, Agreste." Damian spoke, "Marinette already told me when we started dating. I knew exactly who you and Luka were, when I laid my eyes on you. I am not one to decide how Habibiti operates her friendships."

'He knew who I was when he arrived. Bastard didn't even introduce himself. He just let me think I was a threat this whole time!'

"What does that word mean?" Adrien asked.

"Habibiti?" Damian inquired.

The Agreste heir nodded.

Damian leaned in and whispered something in Adrien's ear. He wasn't sure what was said, but Adrien's ears exploded in red.

"Do-Does she know?" Adrien garbled out.

"She does. That is the feminine term. Mother calls Father by the masculine term when they meet up. Would you like to hear it, as well?" Damian teased.

Adrien's cheeks heated up and shook his head.

"Shame." Damian spoke, walking back to Marinette's side, leaving a flustered Adrien in his wake.

Luka stomped over to his bike and slammed his helmet on. Without meaning to, he looked back for one more glance at Marinette. He saw Damian pull out a small remote and press something on it. Out of nowhere, a motorcycle appeared, leaving them stunned.

"Anti-theft." he announced.

"Cool!" shouted Kim.

Luka gripped his handlebars tighter.

'Is this guy just showing off or does he simply not care?'

Damian opened the back seat and pulled out two helmets, handing one off to Marinette.

"You're getting on?" questioned Alix.

"Of course!" Marinette smiled, "Why?"

"You're not scared?" Mylene asked.

"My Nona use to take me on her bike all the time. I actually planned on getting one years ago. Dami bought me a bike. It's just at his home; I use it when I'm visiting." she answered.

"You have a motorcycle license?" Juleka quizzed her.

"Yep." she replied, "Nona taught me everything she could. Damian and his brothers gave me pointers and let me practice on their bikes before the test, too. This was nice, but we're gonna be late for dinner. Bye, Guys."

Marinette got onto the back of the bike and slid her arms around Damian's waist. She smiled as they drove off.

Without a word, Luka peddled off. Juleka frowned as she watched her older brother leave. She never thought he was still holding out Marinette and they both knew it was already too late. Juleka could tell from his outbursts that he still harbored feelings for her classmate, but she never realized the depth of his feelings. Even now, she wasn't sure if he wanted to date her or have a detective question her until she explained why they weren't together anymore. She knew he would have called Damian out if he thought for one moment he wasn't good enough for Marinette.

'Sorry, Brother.'

"Aren't you excited that Marinette found someone she's happy with?" Rose questioned, hugging her girlfriend.

"Yeah." Juleka replied, before looking back to where her brother had been.

By the time Luka got back to the Liberty, he was itching to hold his guitar. On the bike ride over, he realized the only thing he had going for himself, in terms of getting Marinette back, was that he lived in Paris. Damian Wayne was a whole ocean away and he wasn't even sure how long that was an option. He made plans around his dream of being a musician. Damian Wayne made plans revolving around Marinette's whole life and it didn't seem like he was going anywhere. They had openly spoke about moving in together and the possibility of a child. He hated it. He hated how perfect they fit. He hated their song and how it demanded to be heard by millions. He hated how everything that was wrong with their realtionship was perfect in theirs. Any issue they had, Damian had no problem with. Damian Wayne was everything he wasn't. Marinette still shone as bright as the moon and it looked like she had gained her shadow, her other half.

PERMANENT TAG LIST: @animeweebgirl @a-star-with-a-human-name @meme991001 @rosiesimone819 @vixen-uchiha @abrx2002 @alysrose-starchild @fandom-trapped-03 @dood-space @moonlightstar64 @saltymiraculer @loveswifi @marveldcedits20 @09shell-sea09 @icerosecrystal @animegirlweeb @insane-fangirl-of-everything @daughterofdeathgod @blueblossombliss @jumpingjoy82 @nickristus-dreamer

#damian x marinette #marinette x damian #maridami #damimari #lukanette #jealousy #luka bashing #adrienette #damidrien

[dakotacrisis]

Topsy Turvy

Hyper-fixation has been activated! Who needs to work on their wips when they can start something else entirely? Hahaha...it’d be funny if it wasn’t true.

Anyhoo! Saw this cute comic by @hannahyonana and my goblin brain latched on and wouldn’t let it go. So I give you this unofficial expansion of this wonderful comic. In short: these children are disasters in more ways than one.

---

Two weeks. That is how long Adrien would be gone. Two long and painful weeks without seeing his face or hearing his voice. Pictures and videos were well and good but they were no proper substitute for the real thing.

Marinette came to the train station to see him off and steal a few more blessed minutes with him before he departed on his work trip/vacation. She had tried to convince Alya and Nino to come so she wasn’t totally alone with him but they already had plans. Marinette hadn't heard about any plans before this so she could only assume this was another Alya scheme to give Marinette a chance to confess.

Marinette had thought about it. Telling Adrien how she felt would get a lot off this nervous tension and anxiety off her chest. He didn’t even need to respond or give her an answer. Just having him know would be enough.

But could she do it? She had tried countless times before to no avail. What made this different?

Adrien and her walked along the platform full of people bustling to get here and there. Marinette gripped the box of macarons her parents made for Adrien behind her back.

The Gorilla took Adrien’s luggage and carried it onto the train. He looked back to see if Adrien was following.

"You go on ahead, I want to say goodbye real quick." Adrien ushered his bodyguard away. The Gorilla looked between them and with a curt nod of his head disappeared inside the train.

Adrien turned back to Marinette. His hair was stylishly tousled and his smile bright and beaming. Could the boy stop modeling for even a second? How was anyone meant to keep their wits about them with that thousand watt smile?

"Thanks for coming to see me off, Mari." Adrien said.

"Of course," Marinette replied, shuffling from foot to foot. "Even if you're only gone for two weeks…"

She brought the box out from behind her back and held it out to him. "Also, this is for you from my parents. A little something to snack on during the ride."

"What! That's so sweet! Literally." Adrien took the box with glee. "Be sure to give them my thanks."

"I will,"

BEE-BOOP!

The pair looked up at the sudden sound.

"Oh, that means it's time for me to go," Adrien said with a small shake of his head.

Gone again. In just another minute he'd be out of her reach once more. Even after all this time saying goodbye felt so hard. He was only going to be gone for two weeks! He was gonna come back! Why did it hurt so much being away from him?

That familiar weight settled on her chest. So many feelings left unspoken. Secrets she was dying to share. It felt like they were smothering her.

"Before you go," Marinette halted him before he could enter the train, "I have something to tell you."

"Oh yeah?" Adrien tilted his head like a curious little puppy. Why did he have to be so cute? Marinette was sweating he was so cute. Or maybe that was just her inner terror at what she was about to say.

"Well I--you see--I…" Marinette stammered and lost her nerve, "I uh, make sure to send us pictures."

"Of course!" Adrien responded with glee. "Alright well, see you later, Marinette."

He turned to get on the train and Marinette’s heart sank. Another chance at happiness, wasted. Perhaps it was for the best.

She forced her feet to move, to carry her from this painful moment. When they did though they didn't back away. They surged forward. She was barely aware that she had reached out for Adrien until she grabbed the back of his shirt.

"Wait! That's not it!" She proclaimed loudly. Her nerves came out in the shakiness and desperation in her voice. She kept her eyes shut tight. Afraid of what she would see if she opened them.

"The truth is, I'm in love with you!" She  blurted out. She let go of his shirt, her hands fisted into tight balls by her side as she quickly explained, "I'm not expecting a reply. I know you don't like me back. But have a nice trip!"

She turned on her heel and fled. Tears of anxiety or fear stinging her eyes. The last thing she heard was Adrien calling out for her to wait. Once she was far enough away she risked a glance back and saw Adrien’s face staring out the closed door in shock before the train pulled away from the station.

She stared at the now empty train track for a long time before it truly hit her. She just told Adrien she was in love with him. He was going to be thinking about how she told him she loved him for the next two weeks. Then she was going to have to face him knowing all that when he returned home.

Marinette whipped out her phone and called Alya. “I did something stupid and I need help.”

---

Adrien pulled himself away from the train door and sat down in his seat. Marinette’s parting words echoed in his ears. She loves him. She is in love with him.

When did that happen? He knew they were friends but he hadn’t expected her to be in love with him. Marinette…

He glanced down at the box in his hands. Something small and sweet to take with him. A reminder of home. A reminder of someone petite and kind that just spilled her heart out to him on the train platform.

She said she didn’t expect a response but he felt like he owed her one. She had also said she knew that he didn’t like her the same way she liked him. While it was true that Adrien’s heart had belonged to Ladybug for as long as he’s known her he did feel a warmth around Marinette. Was that love? Or was it just friendship?

Nino had a crush on Marinette. Maybe he would know. Adrien pulled out his phone and hit Nino’s number. “Hey, I’m on the train heading out but I had a question about Marinette.”

---

“Oh dear,” Alya shook her head, she covered the receiver of her phone so Marinette couldn’t hear. Not that Marinette could hear anything over the sound of her own panicked ramblings. She turned to Nino on the couch with a sly smile.  “Marinette just confessed to Adrien before he went on his trip and she’s freaking out.”

“Wow, good for her, do you think Adrien will respond?” Nino asked.

“No idea,” Alya shrugged, “It’s a good thing we left them alone though. Marinette finally got the guts to say something to him.”

“Speak of the devil,” Nino held up his phone where Adrien’s contact picture flashed on the screen. He hit answer. “Hey dude, what’s up? Miss me already?”

Alya went back to listening to Marinette and trying to calm her down while Nino talked to Adrien. The both of them were panicking messes as they ranted and lamented at their respective best friends over the phone.

“I don’t really know what to tell you about your own feelings, dude,” Nino told Adrien, “Yeah I had a crush on Marinette but it only lasted a week. That’s kind of how it is with most of the people from our class.”

“What?” Adrien said.

“Yeah, literally everyone has had a small crush on Marinette at one point or another growing up. You’re like the only person who hasn’t. Which is weird considering how much she dotes on you and swoons around you. Did you really not know about her crush until today?”

“No!”

“Ah...then again you have been head over heels for Ladybug I don’t suppose you would have noticed anyone else unless they confessed to you point blank.” Nino said. He had thought that Adrien’s crush on the spotted hero of Paris was something that had been waning recently once he had agreed to go out with Kagami. But when they broke up it had returned full force.

“Marinette, hold on a second,” Alya shushed Marinette on the other line and turned to Nino with wide eyes, “Did you just say that Adrien has a crush on Ladybug?”

“Uh yeah? Why?”

“What’s going on?” Adrien asked.

“Alya is--”

Alya snatched the phone out of his hands. She held up the other phone with Marinette on the line. “Girl, I know you are spiraling right now but I am gonna need to call you back. I swear I will only be like ten minutes max. Goodbye.” she turned to Nino’s phone, “Now you, pretty boy, I’m gonna need you to repeat that for me.”

“That I have a crush on Ladybug?” Adrien answered timidly.

“How long has that been a thing?”

“Since she first showed up in Paris. Why?”

Nino saw the calculations going off in Alya’s head as she processed this information. Had she not known? He was sure she had to have known but apparently that wasn’t the case.

“Adrien, listen to me very carefully,” Alya said, “You are going to want to accept Marinette’s feelings.”

“Listen, Alya, I know that you are her best friend but--”

“No buts, Agreste!” Alya snapped, “Really listen to me here. I know that you have feelings for Ladybug. Who wouldn’t? She’s amazing but she’s also a superhero with a secret identity. Do you really think you can take Ladybug out to the movies or invite her home for dinner? How are you gonna call her? How do you plan on making that work?”

“Well I--”

“Moonlight rendezvous over the rooftops of Paris sound fine and dandy but you know what else is nice? Marinette. Tangible and readily available with romantic feelings already pre-downloaded in her core. You already call her our Everyday Ladybug. What more do you want?”

“I see your point. But that situation is a little more complicated than that.”

“No it isn’t. Do you not think Marinette is great?”

“She is. She really is.”

“Do you not think she is cute?”

“She is very adorable and attractive. I will confess to that.”

“So if Ladybug wasn’t a thing then would you consider dating Marinette?”

“I mean I guess. But Ladybug is still real and she owns my heart. I can’t just give up on her that easily.”

“Adrien, I do not know how to tell you this but you are not giving up anything by dating Marinette. She is every bit as amazing as Ladybug and you would do well to remember that. As a wise man once said, “far better than any dream girl, is one of flesh and blood, one warm and caring, and right before your eyes.””

“Did you steal that from The Little Mermaid?”

“Not the point! Just think on it. You have two weeks before you come back and make a decision. I suggest you use the time wisely and really consider what I’m telling you. I’m not just saying this because Marinette is my best friend but because I know deep in my gut that you two were made for each other. The only one that doesn’t see it is you.”

“You think we’re made for each other?” Adrien’s voice was soft and quiet. It made Alya’s heart melt.

“I do. I think that you two would make each other so incredibly happy.” Alya sighed, “But no pressure or anything. At the end of the day it is your heart and your choice. I’m just asking you to look at all the possibilities before you make a decision.”

“Okay, I’ll think on it. I promise.”

“Good. Now I gotta call Marinette back before she worries herself into a human pretzel. Bye.” Alya handed the phone back to Nino. She dialed Marinette back and wandered into her room for privacy.

“Why did you hang up on me?” Marinette asked. “I am having a crisis here!”

“Girl,” Alya’s face broke into a grin that would put the Cheshire Cat to shame. “You are not gonna believe this. Adrien’s had a crush on you this entire time. Or rather, a huge, massive, fanboy crush on Ladybug that is.”

“WHAT!”

*Two weeks later*

Well that was the longest two weeks of Adrien’s life. He had done what Alya suggested and really thought over his feelings for Marinette and Ladybug. The more he compared them the more he realized how alike they were. He knew he called Marinette their Everyday Ladybug but he hadn’t realized how true that was until now.

His heart belonged to Ladybug but he would be lying if he said he didn’t feel anything for Marinette. Adrien knew that through Alya and Nino’s eyes the answer was obvious. Marinette was their friend and classmate and she was so much closer to them then Ladybug. But they didn’t know that Adrien was Chat Noir. They didn’t know that he had a direct line to Ladybug. They didn’t know he had this already huge connection to her.

So what was there to do? Have a happy civilian life with Marinette and stop his pursuit of Ladybug? Or let Marinette down gently and keep trying to make things work with his Lady? He needed to come to a decision quick since his train was getting closer to the Paris station. What if Marinette was waiting out on the platform? What was he going to tell her?

The train came to a screeching halt that flung everyone forward. What in the world was that? HE scrambled to the window and saw the leg of a huge a robot. An akuma.

He was thinking up an excuse to leave his bodyguard when the roof of the train was ripped off. The giant robot looked in and reached out its hand and started grabbing random people and dropping them into its mouth.

He had to get out of here and transform! He made a bolt for the bathroom but the robot got him first and lifted him off the ground. He struggled to get free but he was no use against thousands of pounds of metal and magic.

“Oh no you don’t!” the robot’s arm lurched away from its mouth. Ladybug stood on a nearby building with her yo-yo drawn tight to keep the robot from dropping Adrien down its gullet. “Rena! Now!”

Rena Rouge leapt out from behind Ladybug and pounced at the akuma. She dug her flute down between Adrien and the clamp holding him captive. With a large heave she pried the clamp open enough for Adrien to wiggle free. She reached to grab him but at that moment the robot had broken free from Ladybug’s hold and the pair of them were thrown off.

“I got ya!” Ladybug swooped down and grabbed hold of Adrien. Rena was quick on her feet made a safe landing down on the ground.

They landed on a nearby rooftop for Ladybug to deposit him. “You okay?” She asked.

“Yeah, never better,” Adrien’s heart was beating wildly in his chest.

“Good,” Ladybug looked back at the akuma with a small frown, “I gotta go take care of this guy but you should be safe here.”

“Alright,”

“By the way you’re really cute and I think we should go to a movie sometime. Bye!” Ladybug said quickly and leapt back into the fight.

“Wait! What?!” Adrien shouted after her but she was already gone. He was so stunned that by the time he remembered he was Chat Noir and should be helping Ladybug and Rena Rouge had already defeated the akuma.

The miraculous cure swept across the city and Adrien was deposited back in the fixed train in his seat like nothing had happened. Well this got a whole lot more complicated!

---

(Part 2)

#affectionately named after a tag in OPs post #post gang of secrets #miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #marientte dupain cheng #alya cesaire #topsy turvy #ladrien question mark? #adrinette question mark? #writing