#oh man is she hurting chat noir

[jennagrinsoverml]

Any good fics featuring Marinette or Adrien akumatized?

There sure are! (And wow did I ever get a lot of asks for this!) Now, to be clear, I won't be reccing any Chat Blanc fics, since that's a category in and of itself (and as a result this list favours akumanette). But let's have some akumanette and akumadrien!

Confessions by @spuk-goodness

S04 Alternative beginning where Marinette shares her biggest secret with her partner and where 'We are a team' means 'I love you'.

Or the one where Hawk Moth notices that Marinette is a bit overwhelmed and decides to take advantage. A new akuma appears in Paris the very next day and Chat Noir has to fight by himself. Where could his Lady possibly be?

One-shot. Akumanette. This is a different take on akumanette than we usually see, which I loved. I absolutely think it makes sense for an akuma to target Marinette with how overwhelmed she is, especially in early season 4, and I love the way that it was handled here.

when you weren’t mine to lose by @bugsandchatons

Change is a scary thing, especially when it feels like nothing has stayed the same.

It’s been a year since Marinette became the Guardian of the Miracle Box - a year of struggling beneath a burden she never asked for, a weight that has her leaning on her partner more and more as the hours fly by, of letting him come to her, too, when he needs a soft place to land. A year of falling for the boy who takes on the world by her side with a smile made of sunlight, and fighting the growing urge to tell him what he means to her.

After all, they’ll have time enough for that when Paris is safe.

But when the unthinkable happens, Marinette learns the tragedy of loving someone quietly, and the lines she’ll cross to save him.

Multi-chapter. Akumanette (Akuma!Ladybug, really). This is what happens when Ladybug loses Chat Noir. It hurts in all the best ways and the writing is absolutely gorgeous and somehow we still get a happy ending!

Lovelace by @p-artsypants

Convinced that he's unlovable, Adrien is quickly thrown for a loop when Marinette confesses her love for him out of the blue. An akumatization and reveal later, he changes his mind about being unlovable.

One-shot. Akumadrien. I love when Gabriel is a horrible bastard and that results in Adrien being akumatized, and this fic is aboslutely perfect for that! It's also an original take on akumadrien, which I love.

Echoes of You by @kittinoir

In the day time, she’s Marinette - a normal girl, with a normal life. A normal girl, with a normal life. A normal girl, with…

Multi-chapter. Akumanette. Marinette gives up the miracle box and her memories, and Chat is frantic trying to figure out what happened to his Lady. (And the love square content, including a lot of Marichat, is fantastic!) Meanwhile, Chloe is trying to do better following the events of Miracle Queen.

A Different Approach by ShawnaCanon

Adrien finds out Ladybug's true identity. Since Cat Noir has been thoroughly friend-zoned, he figures maybe he can woo her as Adrien. But that means doing it without his mask. And that's scarier than any supervillain Hawk Moth could throw at him.

Multi-chapter. Akumadrien. It takes a while to get to the akumadrien, but I really enjoyed the journey. This poor boy is so romantically inept, but ultimately that's not what leads to his akumatization. This is a different take than we usually see and it's very much Adrien that is akumatized, rather than Chat (or any kind of Chat Blanc variation).

A Sound of Thunder by Tempomental

“Bye-bye, little… actually, that’s your line, isn’t it? Sorry.”

Ladybug stared at the man in front of her. Tall. Shaggy, but not unkempt blond hair. Oh yeah, and he was wearing a Ladybug costume.

“Who - who are you?”

“Oh, right, sorry.” He drew himself up to his full height and proudly announced, “My name is Adrien Agreste, and I’ve come from the future to rescue you!”

Multi-chapter. Akumadrien. In our time, Adrien and Marinette use their traditional miraculous. However, Adrien also comes back from the future to help out with the ladybug miraculous. It’s extremely intense and well written and every time I thought I had spotted a problem in the writing, it turned out to be a plot element but holy shit I thought I was going to die with how intense this is. If you like plot, you will absolutely LOVE this fic.

some truths are as loyal (as the shadows we lead) by @carpisuns

When Marinette wins a design contest hosted by Gabriel Agreste, it seems like a dream come true. Until everything goes wrong. (A Marichat akumanette fic)

Multi-chapter. Akumanette. This was actually the first akumanette fic I ever read and it gave me a bit of a taste for it! @carpisuns is an amazing writer, and I always enjoy everything she gifts us. This is no exception! My favourite part of this was seeing just how much it took to break Marinette, as well as Gabriel being The Worst.

too little, too late. by @madibug

“Ladybug.” Chat’s voice cuts in like molten steel. It’s a tone that Ladybug hasn’t heard him use with her before and so it surprises her into turning to him and - It feels like smacking into a wall. Chat is no more than a foot away from her but when their eyes meet, it hits her just how much distance has grown between them. Her heart hiccups out of rhythm, as hearts often do when something feels… wrong.

Multi-chapter. Akumanette. I really enjoyed this one, especially all of the different plans and how the crew adapted. This is @madibug's answer to the Ladybug version of Chat Blanc, and it's really creepy and interesting!

fleeting. by @agnes-writes

e·phem·er·al (/əˈfem(ə)rəl/), adj. - lasting for a very short time. But no matter how fleeting Ephemeral's powers may make things, the damage has already been done. And Ladybug pays the price. OR: A drabble based on what I want to happen in Episode 100: Ephemeral.

One-shot. Akumadrien. I really enjoyed this alternate imagining of Ephmeral! It was written before the episode aired, so it's not entirely consistent, but it's still really interesting and well done.

And, for a bit of a self-rec, The Closest Thing to Love features akumanette, if you're interested in fake dating and PRPR 😊

[starguardianniom]

The Paris Special

Ok so here's what I thought of it:

Loved it.

Shadybug and Claw Noir owns my heart entirely now.

Seems Shadybug's backstory is a bit more than just Chloé bullying her, given that in her universe, the world is controlled by the Supreme who rules with fear. Her outright saying that she will be spared if she gets the Butterfly back also seems to imply that she will probably get killed if she doesn't, so she's threatened with violence too I guess, and same goes for Claw Noir, yikes. Oh and them using their powers for evil while so young apparently is destroying them from the inside? Double yikes. 14 years old being threatened to not be spared if they didn't complete their missions, kind of see why they're so intense they don't really have the luxury of failing or they'll probably be killed, ouch. Angry, sad kids being offered power in exchange for living, because even if they hate their lives now they also want to live, I'll probably get more in details with that in another post.

Ok so alternate Gabriel was not a good man at first either, then after losing his wife he decided to redeem himself by trying to do the right thing, unfortunatly seems he neglects his son in the process. So here he's the not main big bad, the Supreme seems to hold that position and being nastier than he is/was so there is a huge difference between that universe and the one we've been in for the show, and maybe losing his wife made him realise the errors of his ways. He's not perfect either since his son seems to resent how he moved on so fast probably, and well, I have feelings about that too, but well, he was able to move on, because he has bigger problems than grieving his wife and wanting her back.

Claw Noir is freaking insane, he Cataclysmed himself and kept walking and going without any trouble, wow, meanwhile Chat Noir and Gabriel kept groaning and flinching and being in pain the entire time they were cataclysmed. Also he got a crush on Marinette from watching her in the bakery the first time around, she didn't know about it but reverse love there, too bad Shadybug didn't have feelings for him, but well, I dunno, found their bickering also entertaining for some reason. He doesn't take Shadybug's crap, he fights right back and isn't passive at all.

Shadybug and Claw Noir struggling to work together was believable, they try to take each other's miraculous, and insults and hurt each other too, and neither takes any crap from the other and gives back as good as they get. But they also still manage to work well together despite it all, and manage to calm themselves and let go of their anger to focus on their objective. In the end they get better and they also know each other's identity so they might become a couple too, given Adrien already loves her it seems, so they won't be alone anymore, would be funny if they revealed themselves to Betterfly and Betterfly to them and Adrien realise it's his dad and then says Marinette is gonna be his girlfriend and Gabriel ships them so hard and welcomes her into the family and Marinette just takes it all in shy stride and stuff and I need to see them again one more time to see how it goes in their universe RIGHT NOW!!!!

So Tikki knows about the multiple universe stuff and thought Marinette's life was too short to get into that so she stuck to the basics, given the trainwreck that Marinette is sometimes I find it understandable that Tikki wouldn't want to burden her with other universes either so.

Slow motion akumatized Chat Noir, that was weird, but ok.

Alternate Alya, love her hair and looks. Ubiquity looks amazing.

Shadybug realising Ladybug is also her in that universe and reading Marinette's diary and keeps commenting and then tearing up over it, my heart. Then she finds the stuff about the wish, tries to do it, but apparently the Supreme fucking put a lock on that somehow? Wow! Ok. Meanwhile Adrien being restrained on the floor blushing at Shadybug's civilian self looks a bit kinky to me, and I'll leave it at that.

Ladyfly looks ok I guess, still weird to see her with the miraculous that she's been fighting against for the entire show but ok.

Shadybug and Claw Noir being talked out and become better, Shadybug using her Miraculous Cure which cures Claw Noir, and them getting new costumes, not gonna lie here, I prefered their villain looks, but well they still have more style as heroes too. Shadyclaw for the win, love how Claw Noir likes her new looks too.

It was hilarious to see Monarch working with Shadybug and Claw Noir, teaming up with villains versions of the heroes he's been fighting against the entire time is pretty ironic but it was ok too, but most likely they would probably have all turned on each other the moment they succeeded too if they would have won.

The parallel universes fights between akumatized Ladybug (omg it finally happened but with a good kamiko instead of an evil akuma what a time to be alive and she reminded me of a purple Sailor Moon) was nice, Scarabella and Kitty Noire (glad there's a universe where they are the heroes), Mister Bug and Lady Noire universe also is nice because it means Adrien can lead probably, and of course animated 2D cartoon universe, let's go.

So yeah I loved the special more than the others, now it dethrones the Shangai special in my heart.

Shadybug and Claw Noir are my kids now.

[wilygryphon]

Ugh. Okay. Derision is out on Gloob. I have been exposed to the leaks already and I have been completely disgusted by this episode and everything in it. I refuse to watch it, even when it comes out on Disney Channel in the States. But I will still offer to you my commentary.

Okay, the prank. I actually don't mind the story of the prank... on its own. I can absolutely see pre-series Chloé pulling it and Kim, as he was portrayed in Season 1, participating in it. But then it quickly falls apart.

It's pretty transparent that the episode only exists to further demonize Chloé, but it doesn't really send much of a message as it doesn't tell us anything new about how she acted; it only shows us more of what she did and what we already knew she did back then. "Back then" is important, as there is no point in showing this to us now, four seasons and seven years later, except to further push the narrative of Chloé being pure evil even now. (Which she isn't, but I digress.)

It's a blatant retcon meant to say that Chloé is the reason why Marinette has trouble talking to Adrien. Not general shyness or anxiety—it's all because she was traumatized by a mean prank that Chloé pulled. Marinette's biggest personal struggle is all Chloé's fault, as are her stalker tendencies (which were previously just supposed to be kid's-show-comedy exaggeration), because she is oh so evil.

It contradicts so much characterization, or otherwise makes characters come off as worse.

It also shows that Marinette was so afraid of Chloé’s cruelty that she would fake being sick to avoid going to school.  But even in Origins, before she got the confidence boost from being Ladybug, she was never afraid of Chloé, just exasperated and resigned.  When Chloé demanded that she change seats, Marinette argued before relenting.  When Chloé put gum on her seat (and she thought she had Adrien do it), Marinette snapped at both of them before simply covering the gum up with a tissue and putting up with it.  Oh, also, if she was oh so twaumatized by the prank, why did she agree to help Chloé do something similar to Kagami in “Animaestro”?  The whole thing is disingenuous to Mari, because she wouldn’t have let Chloé cow her like that or scare her away from going to school.

This prank is supposedly the reason why she has trouble talking to Adrien and telling him how she feels, because she is afraid that she could get hurt if she doesn’t know everything about him or any boy she likes.  Except she only has that problem with Adrien.  Not with Luka, and not with Chat Noir.  Heck, she only stammered around Luka for a second, when they first met. (Not to mention the fact that her issues with “maybe I don’t really know Adrien at all” is because Félix tricked her. (Yeesh, he hasn’t even come back yet and the writers might already have been trying to give him the Easily Forgiven treatment.))

Kim probably would have done that back then.  He was kind of a jerk in Season 1.  But still being of the mindset that “it’s just a prank, bro” four seasons into his nicer, more himbo-ish characterization, does not do him any favors.  But here is where this episode really ignores characterization in pushing its narrative: In “Dark Cupid”, when she heard that Kim was planning to ask out the girl he had a crush on, Marinette encourages him to go for it, and when she realizes that it was Chloé, she says that she wouldn’t have given him the encouragement if she had known.  If he was so cruel to her, if she was so traumatized by the prank that he took part in, she shouldn’t want anything to do with him, let alone support his romantic prospects.  But instead she cared about his feelings and felt awful that he had been hurt, as opposed to recalling the incident and thinking “serves him right”.

Adrien/Chat is down to murder Kim for a mean but otherwise not-physically-harmful practical joke that he helped play a year ago when he finds out.  I can understand him going “For the Man Who Has Everything” on Darker Owl after being put through the fantasy and being forced to give it all up, but this is overkill and not at all heroic.

Chloé ironically gets off the easiest, since it’s just her Season 1/pre-series characterization that we already knew was a jerk and a bully.  But the indication in this episode and in “Transmission” that she effectively forced Marinette to not go to school still contradicts her past characterization and actions.  She was generally petty, plus she loved tormenting Marinette for whatever the reason is.  It just doesn’t seem like she would do it, and again, Marinette would not have let someone force her to avoid school.

This is another episode that bends over backward to make Chloé out to be irredeemably evil due to TA's unexplained hate boner for her character, but it brings everyone else down in its character assassination. The general gist of it might have fit in Season 1, as it would have made sense to add more depth and context to Chloé's treatment of Marinette and her peers in that stage, and it would have given legitimate character development to Kim (and "Dark Cupid" would have then shown his and Marinette's relationship improving). But at this point in the show, it only exists to further dunk on Chloé, take all of the nuance out of Marinette's flaws in favor of blaming them on her, and insist that she is pure evil.

[lady-charinette]

10 years later and Ladybug and Chat Noir are still fighting against Hawkmoth every day.

Akumatizations happen every other day, the citizens of Paris have grown weary.

They are angry.

"10 years of this stupid nonsense and you still couldn't defeat that freak?!"

"My baby has been akumatized so many times since he was a toddler! I can't stand it anymore."

"My wife left me after I got akumatized..."

"Hawkmoth ruined my life!"

"Ladybug and Chat Noir are no heroes, they're useless!"

Ladybug shared a concerned glance with Chat Noir next to her and she speaks into the microphone:"People of Paris, please! We understand your concern, we know Hawkmoth ruined and hurt many people, that's why we fight every day in order to stop him! We will stop him!"

Another man shouted, "Oh, yeah? And when's that? When I'm old and gray?!"

"Ladybug, you have magic and technology on your side, can't you just track him down? Or follow his akumas back to his lair? What about installing cameras everywhere in the city?"

Officer Rodger immediately stepped up. "Ma'am, that is a violation of privacy for the citizens of Paris!"

"I don't care anymore! It's a violation for Hawkmoth to be running rampant for as long as he did! Do something!"

"You don't deserve to call yourselves superheroes if you can't defeat villains!"

A smoothie cup was thrown in Ladybug's direction but Chat Noir's staff quickly deflected it. "Hey!" Ladybug held a hand out to pacify her partner, but the crowd only grew angrier.

"You're no heroes! You're just kids in costumes with magic jewelry playing them!"

"Defeat Hawkmoth or go home!"

"Stop Hawkmoth's tyranny and Ladybug and Chat Noir's incompetence!"

The crowd threw expletives at the duo, Ladybug's shoulders set and her hands clenched into fists.

Her legs began to tremble.

Chat Noir acted quickly and grabbed his partner, using his staff to propel them off the stage and into the safety of the rooftops, away from prying eyes and offending mouths.

"Are you okay, m'lady?" Chat rubbed her back gently, biting his lips when he felt the weak tremors still wreaking over her body.

Ladybug's whisper sounded like a defeated confession. "...They are right, kitty... if we are heroes, then we should've defeated Hawkmoth a long time ago..."

Chat Noir grabbed her hands in his, tenderly caressing over her black spotted knuckles. "Hey, we're doing the best we can with what we have, LB. Hawkmoth is more experienced, he most likely has the resources to keep himself hidden. We can't just track him down with magic, if he could we would've already tried that. Don't listen to them, they're wrong."

Ladybug shook her head. "No...they aren't. Did we try everything? Maybe Alya should've disguised herself as Mayura and waited for Hawkmoth to contact her. Maybe if I had studied the miracle box and found a way to sense Nooroo and trace his presence back to Hawkmoth then-"

"Ladybug!"

The spotted heroine froze, it was very rare for her beloved partner to raise his voice at her. By the narrowed pupils in his eyes, she knew he was furious. "We. Are. Doing. Our. Best. They don't know how we work, they don't know how many other responsibilities and problems we have aside from being heroes! I would wanna see any of them try and be us for a single day!"

Chat Noir crossed his arms, pacing back and forth, the telltale click clack of his clawed feet hitting the concrete of the roof they sought refuge on.

And suddenly, Ladybug had an idea.

"...Maybe you're right."

Chat shook his shoulders. "Of course I am- uh, m'lady?" Spotting the familiar light, Chat Noir automatically turned around and kept his gaze to the sky to avoid spotting his partner's identity. "Mind telling me why it's a good idea to transform back on top of a roof?"

He heard Ladybug walk closer towards him. "Maybe you're right Chat Noir, maybe Paris deserves a chance at being better heroes than us."

Chat stopped himself midway from turning his entire body towards his partner in shock. "Wh- what?! Hey, wait, don't hissunderstand meow!" Chat Noir failed with his hands helplessly. "I was just joking! Do you know how dangerous our miraculous could be if they get into a random person's hands?! Master Fu tested us! But what if a bad person gets their hands on our miraculous."

His partner chuckled. "Remember the fail saves we programmed into our miraculous? In case we ever use our powers for evil, they transform us back into civilians and Tikki and Plagg would hide somewhere safe with the miraculous. It's to prevent Hawkmoth from ever getting them should he mind control us again."

Chat huffed, thinking of incidents where he got brainwashed under Hawkmoth's control. "Yeah, we could've used those a while back." He shook his head, inclined his head in his lady's direction without fully turning. "But... still, I don't know. It's dangerous. Our miraculous in the wrong hands could really mess things up."

Ladybug smirked. "Since the people of Paris think we mess things up, it would be a good opportunity to see them try better."

Slowly, the idea began to warm up to her partner, because he transformed back in the next second.

Marinette and Adrien kept their backs turned, staring down at their worried-looking kwamis.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Don't worry, Tikki, you know what to do if something goes wrong. We still have the other miraculous in case things go south."

"Ugh, why not just give them a different miraculous? How am I supposed to fund my camembert cravings?"

"I'll pack you an emergency bag, Plagg. And please don't destroy the city while I'm not with you."

"No promises, kid."

Marinette smiled, glancing down cautiously at the still rowdy crowd of dissatisfied people. "If the citizens of Paris think being a hero is so easy, why don't we sit back and watch them do it better?"

Adrien moved towards the other side, watching a different crowd slowly disperse. "Maybe we could learn a thing or two."

TLDR: What if Paris isn't satisfied with Ladybug and Chat Noir as their heroes so they get an opportunity to be heroes themselves?

[the-delta-42]

The Truth 1

The Truth

[1 The Truth] [2 Soul] [3 Through a Shattered Mirror] [4 Healing]

Marinette took a deep breath. Adrien deserved to know the truth, about her identity and how his father, who is now being hailed as a hero, was Monarch, the man who terrorised Paris for the past couple of years. Adrien stared down at her, his eyes soft and loving. Marinette hoped he didn’t hate her.

“Adrien?” Murmured Marinette, glancing up at him, “I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” Adrien murmured back.

“I…” Marinette’s mind went blank, “can’t remember.”

Adrien winced, “I hate it when that happens, you know what your gonna say and then to flies out of your mind.”

Marinette hummed, quietly pondering on what she was going to say.

TT

Ladybug looked down at Adrien, he was staring up at his father’s statue, with a troubled look on his face.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Asked Ladybug, making Adrien look up at her.

“I’m thinking about my father,” Confessed Adrien, “He gave his life to defeat Monarch, and he’s a hero for it, but all the stuff he did to me and my friends. How he hurt me and was unnecessarily cruel to my friend. He hated my girlfriend because she made me happy. I, I wanted him to be Monarch, j-just so I could feel justified in why I hated him so much.”

“I,” Ladybug paused, “I never knew you felt that way.”

“Yeah, well,” Scoffed Adrien, “He’s a hero now, everyone loves him. No matter how horrible he was or how bad he made others feel.”

Ladybug felt her mouth and voice move on their own accord, “I’m sure he was just doing his best, Adrien.”

Adrien scowled and scoffed again, “No offence, Ladybug, but you didn’t know him, you didn’t live with him, you didn’t have to work for him, and you didn’t have to try to reach out to him every day and get rejected.”

Adrien spun around and stalked off, as Ladybug gnawed at her bottom lip.

TT

Ladybug gnawed on her bottom lip, she’d asked Chat Noir to meet her, she’d made sure to specify that she wanted to see Chat Noir only, much to the rest of the team’s consternation. Since Monarch had been defeated and Gabriel’s statue had gone up, she’d tried to tell Adrien who his father really was, but every time she tried, the words wouldn’t need her mouth.

“Okay, LB, what’s the news?” Said Chat, making Ladybug jump.

“How many time do I have to tell you not to do that?” Gasped Ladybug, before straightening up, “Never mind, I have a problem.”

“Is it boy trouble? I promise not to cataclysm him too hard.” Rattled off Chat Noir, getting a sigh from Ladybug.

“It’s to do with Monarch’s identity.” Said Ladybug, not hearing the team all gasp underneath her.

“Oh, really?” Questioned Chat, “Who was he?”

“Gabrilllll- Gabb- for fuck’s sake, the guy who dressed like a candy cane before being bleached.” Spat Ladybug, internally cursing whatever was going on with her.

“Gabriel Agreste?” Asked Chat, slowly, “I’m sorry, M’Lady, but I thought he helped defeat Monarch?”

“In a roundabout way,” Dismissed Ladybug, “I can’t remember how, but he got the Miraculous, made the wish and then, nothing, I don’t know what changed, but he seemingly wished himself out of existence.”

Chat Noir swallowed, “W-why didn’t you tell Adrien this?”

“I’ve tried,” Sighed Ladybug, “that’s the problem, every time I try and tell him, my mind goes blank, and I keep forgetting what I’m trying to tell him. Then my mouth suddenly gets a mind of its own and tells him ‘Your father was a hero, he helped defeat Monarch’. It’s like my brain’s trying to erase that he was Monarch!”

“What?” Ladybug and Chat whirled around and spotted Carapace, “Adrien’s dad was Monarch?”

Ladybug groaned, before pinching the bridge of her nose, “Okay, okay, who else decided my instruction of ‘Chat Noir Only’ was a suggestion?”

Slowly, each and every member of the team crawled out from their hiding places. Ladybug groaned again.

“Yeah, I know, we didn’t listen to you and you’re not mad, just disappointed.” Said Rena, “However, in our defence-”

“Rena, be quiet.” Said Ryuko, walking up to Ladybug, “Ladybug, look at me.”

Ladybug slowly looked up and everyone jerked back, Ladybug had blood running from her eyes and nose.

“What?” Asked Ladybug, before her eyes rolled back into her head.

“Oh shit.” Swore Rena, rushing forwards, helping Ryuko lower Ladybug to the floor, “What the hell?”

Chat shook himself out of his stupor and knelt down next to Ladybug, “What just happened?”

“Ladybug said Adrien’s dad was Monarch, before she started bleeding from the eyes and nose and then she collapsed.” Said Pegasus, getting everyone’s attention.

“I think he meant that metaphorically.” Suggested Purple Tigress, as Rena frowned.

“I’m going to have to remove the earrings.” Stated Rena, “Hopefully, Tikki can tell us what’s wrong.”

Rena went to grab the earrings, before hesitating. She frowned, before looking over at the rest of the heroes, “Argos, I need your coat.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t have a blanket to hide her identity!”

Argos grumbled as he shed his coat and held it out to Rena.

Rena took it and carefully adjusted it over Ladybug, before reaching under it and pulling the earrings off. Chat stared at Ladybug’s shoes, they looked familiar to him, before Ladybug suddenly started convulsing.

“Oh fuck!” Yelped Rena, attempting to restrain Ladybug with Ryuko, “Now what?!”

“Stop restraining her!” Yelled Pigella, rushing forwards, “You’re at risk of harming her!”

Shoving the two out of the way, Pigella went to remove the coat, Rena opened her mouth, but a glare from Pigella silenced her.

“I’m sorry.” Whispered Pigella, before pulling the coat off Ladybug and rolling her onto her side.

Marinette suddenly expelled blood from her mouth, everyone except Argos, Ryuko and Rena froze. Pigella shook her head and looked at them, “We need to get her to a hospital.”

“How?” Asked Ryuko, “we can’t just charge in there and say ‘Hey this unconscious and bleeding girl is Ladybug, we don’t know what’s wrong with her!’ can we?”

Chat shook his head and looked away, before rushing over and grabbing the earrings form Rena and jammed them onto his ears.

“What are you doing?” Demanded Rena, as Chat flicked the earrings.

“Tikki might be able to help.” Said Chat, as the Kwami appeared.

“What?” Said Tikki, “Where’s…?”

She spotted Marinette, “Marinette!”

“Tikki, can you tell us what’s happening to her?” Asked Chat, quickly catching her attention.

“It’s a side effect of witnessing a reality changing wish, she tried to reveal what happened in the old world and now it’s trying to kill her.” Answered Tikki, “It was a stipulation Monarch made when he made his wish.”

“Is there any way to reverse it?” Demanded Rena, from Marinette’s side.

“The Celestial Guardian might.” Said Tikki, getting a frown from Chat, he didn’t particularly like him very much.

“They trained me to succeed Su Han-” Started Viperion, before someone snorted.

“You were trained because you were a loose end,” Said a man, appearing with a shimmer, “You are simply a soldier, not a commander.”

“Li.” Chided a woman, appearing, “At ease.”

The man scoffed, before jumping down, “Move aside.”

Ryuko reached for her sword, before the woman spoke up, “Li has a blood connection with the girl. He can help in ways the Grand Master cannot.”

Li crouched next to Marinette, ushering Pigella and Rena out of the way. He sliced into his hand, and started muttering under his breath.

Viperion scowled, before Marinette coughed up some more blood, with some red markings appearing on her. Li frowned, before resuming his muttering. Marinette coughed again, the red markings vanishing.

“She should be healed enough to go to a healer without anyone asking too many questions.” Said Li, after he was finished, “They’ll likely say that she’s exhausted, but she’ll be fine.”

Rena nodded, grabbed Marinette, with Ryuko helping her and jumped off the roof. The rest of the team stood in silence as the Guardians left, with Li casting a sharp glare at Viperion.

T

Marinette coughed blood into the paper bowl the doctors had given her.

“She’s incredibly lucky.” Said one to her mother, “if she’d ingested any more, you’d be making funeral arrangements.”

Sabine glanced at Marinette, before looking at the doctor.

“That being said,” they continued, “it may also be down to the fact the glass wasn’t ground fine enough.”

“Why didn’t anyone notice?” Asked Sabine, making the doctor look at her.

“Ground up glass looks a lot like sugar when ground up.” Said the doctor, “Does she had sugar in anything?”

“Practically everything she eats or drinks.” Said Sabine, frowning.

“Has she had any reaction to anything she’s eaten?”

“No, she’s hasn’t.”

“How about drinking?”

Sabine froze, “She threw away a coffee she got, she said it hurt her tongue.”

“Where did she get it from?” Asked the doctor, frowning.

“A coffee shop near her school, Petunia’s.”

The doctor didn’t move, before looking down at his notes, “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Marinette spat some more blood into her bowl, “Maman, am I going to die?”

Sabine sat next to Marinette and gently wrapped an arm around her, “I don’t think so, the doctors don’t seem to be too concerned.”

The door opened, with the doctor re-entering the room, “Right, I’ve contacted the police, we’ve had a number of other patients with similar symptoms. They’ll want to talk to you.”

“Is she going to be alright?” Asked Sabine, getting the Doctor’s attention.

“She’ll be fine.” Assured the Doctor, “Fortunately, the blood’s mostly coming from her tongue, but her fainting is down to another issue. Does your daughter suffer from insomnia?”

“I don’t think so.” Answered Sabine, “But she does drink a lot of coffee at home.”

The doctor sighed, “I’m going to suggest you put her on a caffeine hold and see what happens from there.” They handed Sabine a prescription, “These are a mild sleep medication, she should take one after a meal. I’m going to see about discharging your daughter.”

Sabine watched after the doctor as they walked out, before looking at Marinette, who, for some reason, had stuck four cotton balls in her mouth.

“Habe bhe beebin stobed?”

T

“Don’t be bemused, it’s just news,” Said Nadja on the television, “Petunia’s, a local coffee shop, has been closed by police after it was discovered they were giving some of their customers ground up glass in their coffee.”

Marinette stopped with a cheese puff half-way to her mouth.

“The owner of Petunia’s has not been arrested, but had declined to comment.”

Marinette shrugged, before going back the spell book, pausing when she saw a particular spell.

[celestiall0tus]

Tales of Bloody Bug and Chat Noir - Chapter 43 - Retaliate

Beginning || Previous || Next

            Bloody Bug and Taureau landed on Liberty’s deck. Taureau dashed below deck while Bloody Bug trotted after him. They entered Juleka and Luka’s bedroom to find them and Rose present. The trio glanced at one another before they met Bloody Bug’s eyes.

            “What’s going on?” Juleka asked.

            “Is there trouble?” Rose asked.

            “Not exactly. We have word from the old man,” Bloody Bug said.

            “Oh yeah? Did someone get an earful?” Juleka teased.

            “Why would we?” Bloody Bug asked.

            “Are you serious? Why wouldn’t you? You and Adrien tried to take on Mayura alone and ended up wounded! How would that not merit something?” Luka yelled.

            Bloody Bug and Taureau raised their brows and exchanged glances. They looked at Juleka and Rose, who shared their surprise.

            “Quite the outburst, Luka. What brought that on?” Bloody Bug asked.

            “What-? You were badly hurt! You could have-,” Luka’s breath caught, and he trailed off.

            Bloody Bug shrugged off Luka’s words. “Yeah, well, it wouldn’t have been the first time I died.”

            “What?” Luka yelled.

            “I don’t think he knew about that attempt,” Taureau pointed out.

            “Huh. I thought he did.”

            “When was this?” Luka demanded.

            “It doesn’t matter. Look, we came here for Plagg. The old man is letting Adrien take him back,” Bloody Bug remarked.

            “Uh, isn’t that dangerous?” Juleka asked.

            “Not since I got this!” Taureau exclaimed as he held up the wedding band.

            “A ring?” Rose asked.

            “That’s right. It’s what Mayura was using to control me since I’m just like the monsters she creates… apparently.”

            Juleka, Rose, and Luka all shared puzzled glances.

            “And, not to worry! We have a new miraculous for you, Juleka,” Taureau announced as he took off the monkey circlet.

            “What’s that one?” Juleka asked.

            “The monkey of deirison. You can cause powers to malfunction. I know it’s not like destroying things, but-.”

            Juleka snatched the circlet from Taureau’s hand and gave him the black cat ring.

            “Oh. Well, that was easy,” Taureau commented.

            “Right. Well, we’ll be-,” Bloody Bug started.

            “Hold it! Where do you think you’re going?” Rose demanded.

            “Yeah. We’re not done,” Luka added.

            Bloody Bug sighed and pivoted on her heel. “Look here, Luka. I’ve pretended long enough, but I’m done here. I know you care about me deeper than a mere friend, but you’re too much of a little bitch to be honest about them. That and you’re too pussy to have an honest conversation with me about them, especially when you’ve done a piss poor job of hiding that fact. So, while I respect that you care that much, shove your concerns until you grow a pair to confront everything else. And, Rose, can we talk later? We need to give out these other jewels.”

            “Tell me why you’re giving out the other jewels first,” Rose commanded.

            “Ok. The old man isn’t going to have us keeping the miraculous to ourselves anymore. He figured an Amalgamation unification would have been enough to handle Mayura in a Primal Form, but he was wrong. Alone she was able to take on two, proving that she is far more dangerous than anticipated. As such, we’re to hand out the last of the jewels and work as a team to take her down. Where Amalgamations failed, a team succeeded. If we’re to bring down Mayura, we’ll need a full team.”

            “Who are you getting?” Juleka butted in.

            “Likely our friends. I don’t trust many others. On top of that, we’ve been ordered to retrieve the goat miraculous from Marinette as she’s under Mayura’s thumb, as are Nino and Kagami,” Bloody Bug explained.

            “Nino is? How come?” Rose asked.

            “Likely their emotions. To feed into whatever she is so she can reap the harvest. Just like she did with Anarka at your party,” Taureau pointed out.

            “Is there anything we can do?” Rose plead.

            “Be there for them. All of them. They’ll need us,” Bloody Bug said.

            “Even Marinette?” Juleka asked with a sneer.

            “I… not if you don’t want to,” Bloody Bug answered.

            “Good. I don’t want anything to do with her. Mayura or no. Not after everything she did to Luka, who still hasn’t broken up with her,” Juleka hissed.

            Bloody Bug pursed her lips and nodded. “That’s fine. Just… be there for each other. Help each other. And… don’t let her in.”

            Bloody Bug retreated before the others could get another word in. Taureau tilted his head before he de-transformed and transformed again with Plagg. He ran after her and joined her on the deck. She grabbed her yo-yo when she saw his new outfit. She snorted seeing him in a sleeveless black, full body suit with a golden bell at the neck, a pair of belts strapped around his torso, thigh-high boots, and a black coat with lime green fur that hung off his shoulders.

            “Inspired by those magic girl shows you and Piggy watch?”

            Chat Noir beamed. “How’d you know?”

            “Hard to say. Let’s call it a hunch.”

            “Speaking of my darling Porcelet, should we return her miraculous now? Along with Gallic Chick’s?”

            “Not yet. We need to figure out who should get what. And we need to get the goat back.”

            “Yeah, about that. Could you get that back without me? Even knowing Mayura had a hand in… I just… I don’t… you know?”

            Bloody Bug paused as renewed guilt gnawed at her mixed with a sense of determination. “Yeah, it’s good. I can take care of that.”

            “Thank you. I know I can’t handle that.”

            “I understand. Let’s sort out these remaining jewels, take care of your family business, then I’ll get the goat. Sound good?”

            Chat Noir nodded. He and Bloody Bug moved atop a nearby isolated rooftop and looked out at the city.

            “So, I was thinking of giving the horse back to Felix. Give me and him a fast way out,” Chat Noir said.

            “Only for as long as he’s here. Once he goes back to London, we get that jewel back.”

            “That’s fair. I’m sure he wouldn’t want to keep the horse when he wants the peacock.”

            “Agreed. With that, we need to figure out which of our friends we can trust.”

            “That’s going to be a little difficult. There aren’t many left, are there?”

            “Well, there’s Ivan. I suppose Nathaniel and that writer boy. But who else can we trust?”

            “Well, what about Max and Kim? We did sort of say that if we had to trust them we would. I would say this is one of those times. Wouldn’t you?”

            Bloody Bug sighed. “Fine. Not that I relish the idea of working with the meat head.”

            “I don’t either, but who else do we honestly trust that isn’t Mayura’s target?”

            “I know, I know. Still don’t have to like it. So, who should get what?”

            Chat Noir hummed. “Well, I think Kim would be best with Stompp. He is stubbornly determined. Remember Chloe?”

            “Please. That little bitch is as hopeless as Luka.”

            “I’m about to go a bit off topic, but don’t you think you were a little harsh?”

            “What? I mean, maybe? What does it matter? Why doesn’t he just say something? I mean, he makes it painfully obvious. Why not just say something?”

            “Because not everyone can. We aren’t all you and do have issues talking. I mean, talking is very hard. I imagine it’s much, much harder for Luka too. I know I worry myself sometimes about what I should say, how, when, and all that. I can only imagine how much harder that is for Luka. I mean, he never talked before. Still barely does. I wanted to be friends with him, I still do, but he was just closed off. I pushed, and, well, you know how that turned out.”

            Bloody Bug snorted and turned away. A chill ran up her spine as she felt a thousand eyes fall on her.

            “Just… be gentle with him.”

            Bloody Bug opened her mouth, then closed it and considered. “Gentle has never been my strong suit.”

            “No, but you can be gentle when you want to be.”

            Bloody Bug tsked. “Fine. I’ll try.”

            “And?”

            “Ugh. And I’ll apologize to him later. Happy?”

            “Yes. Now, back to the team. Perhaps we could-.”

            Bloody Bug covered Chat Noir’s mouth. “Not here. I feel extremely uncomfortable.”

            “Oh. Where should we go then?” Chat Noir asked.

            “Where the rooster crows.”

            Chat Noir raised a brow before both his eyes widened and he nodded. He and Bloody Bug headed off to Le Grand Paris. They slipped in through the rooftop entrance, de-transformed, and headed to Chloe’s room. They knocked once before Sabrina opened the door. Tears rimmed Sabrina’s eyes as she tackled Adrien in a hug.

            “You’re ok! I was so worried. You hadn’t answered any of your texts or calls this morning and I-.”

            “Hey, it’s all good, but we need to talk. Is Chloe up?”

            Sabrina nodded and lead Adrien and Alix inside. Adrien sat in the armchair while Alix sat on the arm, opposite Chloe who sat on the couch.

            “About time! What happened? Where’s my miraculous?” Chloe demanded.

            Adrien tossed Chloe Orikko’s rings and gave Sabrina Daizzi’s anklet. He shared the events of the night before, Wang Fu’s decision, and what they were doing moving forward.

            “So, who’s getting what then?” Chloe asked.

            “Well, I think Kim would be good with Stompp. We were going to discuss the others until Alix felt uncomfortable. So, now we’re here,” Adrien said.

            “Which ones are left?” Sabrina asked.

            “Uh, the mouse, fox, snake, and tiger. All the ones that Alix had.”

            “And who are we considering?” Chloe asked.

            “Ivan, Max, Nathaniel, and the little writer boy,” Alix answered.

            “Writer boy? You mean Marc?” Sabrina asked.

            “Sure, whatever. I do think Nathaniel would be efficient with the fox. Man’s an artist, so illusions would be best suited for him,” Alix remarked.

            “You should give that mousy little writer the mouse,” Chloe teased.

            “I dunno. I was thinking maybe Max should have the mouse,” Adrien admitted.

            “Max? Why?”

            “Well, having some knowledge of the powers, I think Max would be able to effectively use the mouse’s powers. And I do think Max would be suitable for the snake, it’s just giving the snake’s powers…,” Adrien trailed off.

            “Oh, yeah, no. Last thing I want is Sass anywhere near Kim. Max may be responsible enough, but Kim would find a way to either convince Max to help him or take Sass for himself. Anything to get a second chance,” Alix remarked.

            “Who do you think we could trust with the snake? Marc or Ivan?”

            Alix let out a noise. “I would honestly sooner trust the writer boy than Ivan with that kind of power.”

            “Alright, so, we have Kim with the ox, Max with the mouse, Nathaniel with the fox, Marc with the snake, and Ivan with the tiger. What do we think?” Adrien asked.

            “Good enough, I suppose,” Chloe mumbled.

            “Yeah, sounds good,” Sabrina said.

            “Works for me,” Alix commented.

            “Perfect. Now, we do need the fox still. Perhaps we should take care of my father, then we hand them out?” Adrien suggested.

            “Are you sure?” Alix asked.

            “I’m sure. I’m pretty confident he’s not Hawkmoth. Sure, he had a rough year after Mom died, but he’s getting better with Amelie’s help. It’s not perfect, but it’s something of a start.”

            “Alright. Sabrina, we’ll need you. You ready?”

            Sabrina nodded. Alix tossed Sabrina the fox miraculous, then transformed. Sabrina transformed and unified as she took on a tapir-themed outfit. Adrien gushed over it before he transformed. They headed out to the Agreste mansion. Chat Noir de-transformed before they headed into the main foyer. They took a few steps before they heard Amelie screech and she tackled Adrien. Bloody Bug and Porcelet watched the display as Gabriel and Nathalie joined them.

            Gabriel rushed up to Adrien. “Where have you been? Were you kidnapped? What happened?”

            “Questions that can be answered later. Mr. Agreste, we need to ask something of you,” Bloody Bug butted in.

            “What? Absolutely not! My son-!”

            “Can wait. We have evidence to believe that you might be affiliated with Hawkmoth.”

            Gabriel’s face dropped for a moment before he corrected himself. “And what evidence would that be?”

            “We’ll find out. Porcelet, if you would do the honors.”

            Porcelet nodded and stepped up. “Forgive me, Mr. Agreste, but I must do my part as a hero.”

            Gabriel opened his mouth as Porcelet used her combined power, Paradise. Mist swirled in the area and surrounded everyone. Illusions rose from the mist and revealed everyone’s inner wish. Adrien wanted friends along with Gabriel back in his life. Bloody Bug ignored her desires for everyone to be happy just as the paradox Bloody Bug had described. Amelie wished to see Felix happy and with Kagami. Nathalie longed for Gabriel and a family. Gabriel wanted Emilie and Adrien, nothing more.

            Adrien shot Bloody Bug a side-eye before he turned to Gabriel. “Father, do you still want Mom?”

            “I… I…!”

            “So much for not playing second fiddle to the dead,” Nathalie hissed.

            “Wait, Nathalie, please! Of course, I will always love Emilie. These illusions, these tricks, mean nothing!”

            “Not quite. These illusions look into your heart and show what you wish for most,” Bloody Bug explained.

            “Is that why you wish for Adrien to be with the girl that assaulted him?” Porcelet retorted.

            “You what?” Amelie yelled.

            “Off subject. Gabriel, I have-,” Bloody Bug started.

            “We’ll come back to it, Bug. Father, what is going on? Why do you still wish for Mom? I thought you had moved on. I saw you and Nathalie together. I assumed… you moved on,” Adrien explained.

            “I did. I have! That was all in the past. She isn’t what I want anymore! I just want to be there for you. I want to start anew with Nathalie. I want-!”

            “Liar! You’ve done nothing but lie and lead me on. And after everything I’ve done for you. The long hours, the ridiculous tasks, the endless reworking of your schedule, even… even…!”

            “Nathalie, stop. Please, you mustn’t let these hero’s lies get to you. Trust me. You trust me, right?”

            “I never should have… Hawkmoth.”

            Gabriel’s face dropped as shock and disbelief darkened his face. He opened his mouth as Nathalie ripped off the ascot to reveal a brooch beneath it.

            “How did…?” Gabriel started.

            “How stupid do you think I am? How stupid did I think I was? I let myself believe you were good. I let myself believe you had moved on. You stopped being weird. You stopped the random disappearing once a week. But I’m a fool, and you’re a bastard!”

            “Wait! Father, you’re not… you’re not Hawkmoth, are you?” Adrien begged.

            Gabriel looked between Adrien’s desperate face, Amelie and Porcelet’s horror, Nathalie’s hysteric grief, and Bloody Bug’s stoic expression. He looked at the floor and opened and closed his mouth a few times before he managed a small nod.

            “No. No! How could you! Why did you do it? Why were you Hawkmoth?” Adrien demanded.

            “I… I wanted her back, Adrien. I wanted your mother, my wife. I wanted her back so bad. I didn’t want what we did to be for nothing. To have it rob her of her life and never see you truly live yours,” Gabriel explained.

            “What did you do? Gabriel, what did you and my sister do?” Amelie demanded.

            Gabriel looked up at Adrien. “We gave ourselves a miracle, but it cost her greatly. We didn’t know the price back then. We didn’t know it’d rob her of her life. I just… I wanted to correct our mistakes. I wanted her back. I needed her back.”

            “But I… you… that means… you let those girls assault me. You gave them the Akumas and let them do what they wanted with me! And then you blamed it all on me!”

            Amelie’s eyes widened as rage consumed her. “You did what, Gabriel?”

            “I… I had to do what I had to… at the time. I thought… I had complete control! They… they wouldn’t have actually…! C’mon, Adrien, it’s just some kisses and touching. Any boy your age would love that!”

            Adrien covered his mouth and shook his head. Tears poured from Adrien’s eyes as Porcelet hurried over to comfort him. Gabriel’s anger melted and was replaced with fear. Gabriel reached out for Adrien, but Amelie punched Gabriel in the jaw. Gabriel staggered back as he was grabbed by Nathalie and kneed in the groin. Gabriel let out a guttural shriek and collapsed.

            Bloody Bug stepped closer to grab the brooch when Nathalie and Amelie stepped in the way. The pair punched, kicked, and stomped on Gabriel. Bloody Bug opened her mouth when the women dragged Gabriel away, kicking and screaming for help. He attempted to transform but was stopped when Nathalie drove the heel of her stiletto into his jaw. They disappeared behind a closed door where they only heard Gabriel’s cries, and the women swears and threats.

            “Ah, fuck me. Porcelet, stay here with Adrien. Get the brooch too once they’ve had their fun beating him up,” Bloody Bug instructed.

            “Speaking of, I’m not an advocate for violence, but if I were to tell Chloe and she just happens to want to settle a score-,” Porcelet started.

            “As long as Chloe gets a few punches in for me too, go for it. But I will need the fox miraculous.”

            Porcelet nodded, de-unified, and handed it to Bloody Bug.

            “Adrien, do you want me to wait, or-?”

            “Just give them out, but come back, please. I’ll want my sister.”

            “You have my word. I’ll be back tonight. Leave a window open.”

            Adrien hugged Bloody Bug. She returned the embrace, and they stood in it for a few minutes before she stepped back. She offered him a weak smile and a nod, then left.

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[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Ranks: Miraculous Ladybug Classmates

Thats Right! I am going to be ranking Marinette and Adrien's classmates from my Least Favorite to My favorite.

Rules:

I will be judging based on Bustier's Class. So No Zoe, Kagami, or Marc. Even if they hang out.

Marinette and Adrien will be Excluded from this list (Think of them as Honorary 1 and 2 if included)

I will be using all of the episodes that have come out as reference. And there will be potential spoilers up to Episode 20 of season 5.

This isnt about which classmates are the best or worst. Its about My personal like or dislike of a classmate.

Including Marinette and Adrien there are 15 students. So this will be out of 13.

____________________________________________________________

13th. Sabrina Raincomprix

(She doesnt deserve a gif.)

Yea... after the recent episodes I really cant bring any sort of desire to like you. Oh sure Chloé is cruel and Lila is a manipulator... Sabrina is just a spineless worm that lets others get hurt or even ASSISTS in it. There is a corrupt cop joke here but its too easy. Also even with that she has no personality outside of Chloé Lackey. Chloé wouldnt be able to pull off most of her evil schemes without someone doing the dirty work and sorry Sabrina, thats you.

12th. Chloé Bourgeois

A moment of silence for the wasted Character potential... Okay. So yea Chloé sucks. Granted the season 4 and 5 have gone so over the top with showing that season 2 and 3 were not actually important that it causes massive whiplash. I cant find myself hating her like I can with sabrina. I just pity this character. And that is even AFTER I saw what happened in Derision, though at this point I have no interest in seeing a redemption. The writers could have made her heel turn back to evil more believable IF they did it gradually with more effort. But its clear that there was no effort to do so.

11th. Lê Chiến Kim

This man went from top 4 on my list to BARELY missing the top 10. Just goes to show how much one episode can change one's view on a character. In some ways I actually would say I like him less than Chloé now... but Kim at least did apologize and did say he would make an effort to be better. But MAN, when I found out what he did I was watching Chat noir BEAT HIS ASS ON LOOP. You know I was about to give that boy THESE HANDS for that s***. Derision really shifted everyone's view on this once lovable himbo, now he is a dumbass.

10.Rose Lavillant

I just dont like her design that much. Her personality is the stereotypical bubbly girl. And while she does get some exploration on why that is... its never touched on again. Also I am a touch salty about Migration. Juleka was expecting to hear a confession but WE ALL GOT BAITED AND SWITCHED. Guess the show cant have any girl confessing to another girl unless that girl being confessed to is Marinette.

9. and 8. Ivan Bruel and Mylène Haprèle

So to me these two are basically interchangable in terms of ranking. Ivan is the gentle giant that is misunderstood. Mylene is the soft scarred cat that wants the world to be a better place. If I had to pick, i would say I prefer Myléne more, but thats because she gets more character development.

7. Lila Rossi

So Lila always struck me as a character with huge potential. The problem is the writers have no idea how to write a cruel, calculating and manipulative character without dumbing down everyone else to make her seem smart. Now in season 5 I have found myself starting to like her more. Is it because the writing got better? F*** no, its just been more fun with her in it. She is just clearly having more fun with it, and just seeing how the ridiculous plans somehow work almost makes it funny. Also its clear she is being set up as the next big bad, so I cant wait to see how convoluted the show makes her to make her WORSE than Gabriel. So unlike Chloé whose cartoonish evilness feels like a waste, with Lila it feels more fun to watch.

6. Max Kante

He built Markov. Plus after Gamer he has been a pretty solid character. I also do enjoy his support of his Idiot Friend Kim. Even if Kim doesnt deserve it. Also, he has the best transformation sequence. Boy goes WAY too hard for it. I also just think he is a charming character.

5. Nathanael Kurtzberg

Tomato son. While it took me some time to forgive him for Reverser. He is basically a shipper with Marc and its a fun time. I enjoy their plans and adorable antics. But part of me still misses season 1 Nathanael, wonder if he still had a crush on Marinette. Not much else to add, just that he is fun to have on screen and his english dub voice is still dope.

4. Juleka Couffaine

She has my favorite design of the Classmates. She does develop more as the show goes on, I would say she has the most consistant development of the classmates outside of the top 3 contenders. Juleka is now the lead of Kitty Section, and has some incredible Lyrics within her. She wants to stand out and wants to stop being a wall flower. I can respect her guts and attempts at growing and improving.

3. and 2. Alya Cesaire and Nino Lahiffe

The respective best friends of Adrien and Marinette. They are likely the most known about classmates of the Miracuclass. Well Alya is. Nino sadly doesnt get as much delved into. That being said, both are supportive friends and go to great lengths to help them. Nino is surprisingly the more chaotic of the two resulting in him thinking Chat noir was stealing his girl OR forming a resistance against Monarch. Alya learning her best friend's identity and being her emotional rock. Now I thought I would put Alya higher than Nino, but Nino's charm and antics make it hard to dismiss and so I have them both as a tie. Though they also had some moments (Thanks to bad writing) that make me cringe a bit.

1. Alix Kubdel

The most consistently written character in the entire class. The Time travel hero, a character that in my opinion is slept on a lot more than she should be. While I am not crazy about time travel, I do enjoy Alix as a character. She is fun loving and ready to call people out on their BS, also she gets some great lines. She also shows how much of a supportive friend she is to nathanael, Marinette, Ladybug and Chat noir. Its sad she had to go into the time stream to hide from monarch, but it is still a fun way to send a character off for a time

[zarnzarn]

okay watching the ladybug and chat noir movie here are assorted thoughts:

The animation is SO FUCKING COOL. LIKE SERIOUSLY WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO BE SO SMOOTH.

i appreciate that it does have cartoonish movement (like when the police cars arrive, when marinette has clumsy moments) but it's all so??? grounded??? everything looks like it has WEIGHT to it, like it's based in reality somehow.

nino u king of comedy

WHOEVER DECIDED TO ADD GLITTER TO CHAT NOIRS MASK DESERVES A RAISE

i fucking LOVE how plagg and tikki first showed up as animals!!!!!!

tikki is. something. "I'm about to kick your butt" was hilarious to me. she was SO done and uncaring lmao.

sabrinas hair is cool!! and i didnt expect the jolt of seeing all the other characters in the movie for some reason I love how they've done all of them

marinettes singing va. girl. holy fucking shit. what a VOICE. why is it so deep. why is it so cool. what the fuck. it is a jolt from the series but also DAMN.

also speaking of the songs!!! I have never liked musicals much but goddaMN IS THIS SOUNDTRACK GOOD. WHY IS IT SO FUCKING GOOD. I NEARLY CRIED WHEN MIRACULOUS DUET STARTED AND IVE NOT EVEN BEEN ABLE TO WATCH HALF THE SERIES.

oooh love square DRAMA!!!

damn they did a good job with disheveled gabriel

GABRIEL DOES WHAT NOW???????

oh those wings r fucking BALLING!!! oh and I love the detail of the butterfly screeches that's absolutely horrifying I love it

oh that's a good apocalypse

FUCIIGN CARELSS WHISPER HELP IM WHEEZING

"less interested you are the more they run after you" adrjens such a unbothered bitch in this I love it

o shit that window run was something

(bitter) LMFAO

oh shit first times shes shown signs of being hurt

what

WHAT

WHAT???????

HELLO????????????????

HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS MOVIES INSANE

THE TOWER???? WATERFIRE???? WAS THAT CATACLYSM???? CAT NOIR GETTING KNOCKED OUT LIKE THAT????

maris breathing to swim them away was so visceral it got me damn

butterflies seething....

WHOO PUNCH HIS ASS

the akuma thinning as she hallucinates tikki.... storytelling.....

man the way gabe still ain't listening during his speech... Adrien get ur ass Away

oh hey cat eyes Adrien tho

miraculous of CREATION WHOO

the dove fluttering at her feet... NICE

HOLY FUCKING SHIT HELLO OMFG THAT RESTORATION WAS PHENOMENONAL GO GIRL GO

oh shit chloes dress is absolutely gorgeous!!! and her eyes have been crazy well animated too.

"bullyings back on" the way marinette leaned in after that was from a whole different genre

sabrina looked happy!! wonder if she and Chloe got into something in the timeskip

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OH HES CRYING CRYING

THE HANDHOLDS FUCK U MAN

the subtle tiptoes was something what an ending

NATHALIE???? HELLO????????

[artzychic27]

What about DC!Nathaniel AU? An AU where Nathaniel is the one somehow related to a DC character? Not sure who his father/mother would be, but he would dye his hair red to match his found family. And then we can get Caprikid using his powers to get revenge on his toxic hero father. I like angst, okay.

I know you said hero, but... Nathaniel's the son of Trigon, 'kay byeeee!

After finding a safe haven on Azarath, Arella gave birth to two children, a boy, and a girl.

For years, Raven and Nathaniel are taught to control their emotions and suppress and control the demonic powers they inherited from Trigon, and while Raven is shown to be making progress, Nathaniel constntly loses control

Trigon knew of their whereabouts, but did nothing to intervene, except when a monk named Juris had cast Nathaniel into another dimension to avert disaster

This action, in the process, erased his memories and reverted him back into a baby to avoid disaster and hopefully have the unlucky people who find him be able to control his temper

Trigon struck Juris down at the moment of the deed and went to search all across the universe for his son, knowing Nathaniel will be the twin to continue his legacy and conquer the Universe, seeing as Azarath corrupted his daughter

Nathaniel ends up in a basket at the doorstep of Aya and Maison Kurtzberg's home. They think nothing of it and immediately bring the ebony-haired purple-eyed baby into their lives

And to match his parents, he dyes his hair red when he’s seven! Aaw!

So, Nathaniel grows up normal with no knowledge of his parentage and everything is fine until his father dies

Overcome with grief, Nathaniel reveals his inherited power. His skin turns red, his hair turns white, an extra set of eyes appears and all four of them glow a bright yellow

Instead of running away when he lets out a demon scream, Aya comforts her son until he turns back to normal

Neither of them have any idea what just happened, but one thing’s for sure, Nathaniel’s got to keep his emotions under wraps

… Then he starts middle school

It's incredibly difficult for him to stay calm when Chloé's going around tormenting the students, the principal is a spineless moron who does nothing to stop it, and... Oh, yeah! It’s middle school!

And just when he thinks things can’t possibly get any worse, this creep named Hawkmoth shows up. He’s stressed out of his mind trying not to get Akumatized, and some prick named Louis is being a real pain in the ass

Nathaniel nearly reveals his powers in fits of rage by making things float or causing glass to shatter, but people only assume there’s an Akuma

It’s not long before Nathaniel gets Akumatized into Evillustrator, but because of Trigon’s DNA, his appearance is slightly altered- Extra set of eyes, horns, longer hair, and a nice set of fangs

He summons demons made of ink to ravage the streets, and what makes this more scary is that Hawkmoth has no control over him. And this isn’t Nathaniel’s own doing, either

It takes Ladybug and Chat Noir hours to defeat him, and the second he’s deakumatized, Nathaniel runs away before they can ask if he’s alright

Meanwhile, Master Fu has been sensing a dark presence for years now, but is nowhere close to figuring out where it’s coming from… Until he sees Evillustrator

Later, for about a week, Nathaniel is plagued by nightmares of a man who looks similar to him when in his demon form, and all he can hear is the name Trigon, something about him fulfilling a prophecy, and being a portal

This leaves Nathaniel on edge, causing some slip ups with his powers and keeping his emotions in check, so he starts to “fix” things that annoy him

-Every time Kim attempts to do a dare, it suddenly turns safe and he has no chance of hurting himself… Or others

-Chloé’s mouth disappears

-A black bar covers Adrien’s face wherever he goes

-Rose’s voice is muted, Juleka’s voice is louder

-Two shadowy hands come up from behind Marinette and pull at her pigtails every time she mentions Adrien

Master Fu summons Ladybug and Chat Noir and tells them to capture and bring Nathaniel to him

He performs some sort of ritual that undoes everything Nathaniel used his powers on and makes him less evil looking

After assuring Ladybug and Chat Noir that he’s not an Akuma, Master Fu explains that Nathaniel is the son of Trigon, devourer of a million souls, conqueror of countless worlds, and one of the most powerful beings in the universe

Ladybug/Chat Noir: … *Drawing their weapons*

Master Fu: Don’t.

He explains that Nathaniel’s destiny is to act as a portal which will allow Trigon to enter their world and conquer it. However, when that will happen is a mystery. But, the more he taps into his dark side, the more Trigon comes close to discovering his location

Nathaniel: WHAT?!

Master Fu: Do I need to spell it out for you?… You are a living portal for your demon father, and he’s going to tear open our universe with his bare hands!

Ladybug: … But?… There’s a ‘but,’ right? There’s a solution?! Yes?!

Chat Noir: Say yes!

Nathaniel’s dreams become more frequent, and occasionally, he goes into this sort of headspace where all the land around him is desolate with blood-red skies and not a living soul around. And this man in a strange mask keeps following him and telling him to accept his destiny as he causes these glowing red marks to appear along his skin

When he wakes up, the markings are gone, but his hair becomes longer. While he can cut his hair, this glowing S-shaped mark remains on his forehead, which he covers with his bangs

Ever since he learned of the prophecy, Nathaniel has been attempting to become closer with his classmates- Modeling some of Marinette’s clothes, going to Kitty Section rehearsals, listening to some of Nino’s demos, making posters for Ivan and Myléne’s protests, trying out rock climbing with Lacey, doing some makeup art with Cosette, watching some of Jean’s performances, and even creating a comic with this cute guy named Marc

Alix wonders what’s gotten into him as of late, but Nathaniel remains secretive

One night, Nathaniel, with the advice of Master Fu, tries meditation to clear his head and relax. But he comes into contact with Trigon, who warns him that his destiny is drawing nearer, and then shows him horrifying images of everyone he loves suffering under his wrath

Nathaniel wakes up, and like always, his hair is longer

It’s the next morning when things take a turn for the worse. The marks that are usually only in his dreams are all over Nathaniel’s arms, and he becomes aware that this is the day Trigon will turn him into his portal, so he tries to make his friends’ last day one they’ll remember fondly by suggesting an outing at the park, going for ice cream, and doing a quick sketch of all of them together

This has them all concerned and thinking something’s wrong with Nathaniel, but only Marinette and Adrien truly know what’s got him acting this way

Before he can tell them exactly what he is, a spontaneous solar eclipse blocks the sun, and Nathaniel collapses. When Kim tries to help him back up, he accidentally reveals the marks on his arms and forehead, which Alix recognizes from one of the museum exhibits

They take him home where Aya reluctantly tells them everything, from finding Nathaniel on her doorstep to discovering his powers after Maison died

Of course, they’re horrified and come to the conclusion that Nathaniel is the reason so much weird stuff has been happening to them, but Alix and Marc are quick to shut that down

Meanwhile, when it seems all is fine and well, Nathaniel is kidnapped right out of his bedroom and dragged into some decrepit building by people in cloaks. And standing there is the same masked man from his dreams, who calls himself Slade

They perform the ritual to summon Trigon, and by the time his friends locate him, it’s too late. Nathaniel is gone, and Trigon returns to take over the world

But, somehow, the Akuma Class and Science Kids survive his attack and not be turned into stone like everyone else.

Simon: ... Everything is gone. Everyone's dead. Nathaniel's probably dead, and we're gonna die soon! Can this get any worse?!

*Suddenly, a black portal appears in the sky*

Simon: Of course! Why not?!

From the portal emerges a young woman in a purple cloak, accompanied by four other people

She introduces herself as Raven, daughter of Trigon and the twin/elder sister of Nathaniel. While Trigon has been searching for Nathaniel, so has she. After Nathaniel was banished from Azarath and de-aged, she spent years looking for him before their father could find him with the help of the Teen Titans

Bombarded by all sorts of questions, Raven goes on to explain the prophecy

Raven: Children on Azarath heard the prophecy so many times, but… “The gem was born of evil's fire. The gem shall be his portal. He comes to claim, he comes to sire. The end of all things mortal.” My brother, your friend, is that gem.

Akuma Class: …

Science Kids: …

Teen Titans: …

Ismael: … They told that to kids?!

While things seem hopeless, Raven assures them not all is lost. Nathaniel’s existence as an inter-dimensional portal is complete, but another part lives on elsewhere. They just have to get him back and have him battle Trigon

Alix, of course, is going, along with Denise and Ivan for muscle, and Beast Boy for some extra power

Ladybug and Chat Noir pass along the Miraculous so the others can help them battle against Trigon with the Teen Titans, though, it gets tricky when he summons nega versions of the team to taunt and fight them on an equal playing field

The trip is long and perilous, but they successfully find Nathaniel… Only he’s seven and has no memory of any of them

Back on the surface, the heroes are battling their nega-selves and are nowhere close to weakening any of them while the others battle Trigon’s minions in case they go looking for the others

Carapace then suggests that, since they can't defeat themselves, maybe they could defeat each other. And surprisingly, it works, but according to Trigon, all they did was prolong their suffering and he sends more of his minions after them

Going back the way they came, Raven carries Nathaniel and tells him about their time on Azarath, about Trigon and the prophecy to try and return his memories with Alix adding a few things about his life in Paris, but nothing’s coming to him

They are soon accosted by a horde of fire demons. The group successfully escapes while keeping Nathaniel out of harm's way. And amidst the battle, it’s revealed-

Nathaniel: Alix, why are you doing this?

Alix: You do remember, don't you?

Nathaniel: … The stories you were telling...I can see it. Bits and pieces. You...our friends...my dad...like it was a dream. A nightmare. Whatever it was, it's over.

Ivan: But, there may still be a way to--

Nathaniel: Nobody can stop him. I remember that. You came down here for nothing.

Raven: … I came down here for you, baby brother.

Back on the surface, the large group run away with Trigon's minions in pursuit. They take down most of them, but then Raven and Beast Boy appear to finish them off

At first, everything seems well, until they see Nathaniel

Roi Singe: WE’RE DOOMED!

Wyvern: Shut up! You’re gonna scare the damn kid!

Rena Rouge: We’re dead. We are so dead!

Just then, Trigon commands his army to expand throughout the universe and enslave everything until all bow before him

Before going to battle their father, Raven comforts Nathaniel by saying he is no longer a slave to any prophecy and he will know what to do when the time comes

At that moment, Ladybug’s only lucky charm is a pair of hair clips, which she gives to Nathaniel since he lit up with her lucky vision

The Titans, Miraculous heroes, and the survivors without powers take Trigon head-on. To their shock, he takes damage only thanks to Raven's added power. But, as one final attack, Trigon envelopes them all in a massive blast, immobilizing them

As Nathaniel begs them to get up, Trigon unleashes another heat ray to kill him off, but Nathaniel somehow shields himself and the others with his powers. And while Trigon charges up another blast, the Goat Hero transforms back into Marc, and Nathaniel discovers that the Miraculous is a pair of hair clips like the ones Ladybug gave him

When he fails to kill Nathaniel again, Trigon only mocks him, claiming that Nathaniel’s only purpose is to serve him as his portal, his creation, and declaring that he has no power over him

Nathaniel: ... You created me… But you were NEVER my father! Fathers are present in your life! Fathers protect you! Fathers raise you! I was protected by the monks of Azarath and searched for years by my sister. I was raised by Aya and Maison Kurtzberg, and my friends! They are my family! This is my home! And you are not welcome here!

As Nathaniel renounces any biological ties with Trigon, he returns to his original age while wearing all white, and his original hair color is restored. His power returns, and he transforms into CapriKid

Genesis, combined with his own powers augments both of them, allowing him to create bursts of white energy he uses to blast and weaken Trigon before creating a massive burst of energy that engulfs and obliterates Trigon for good, and propels a wave of restorative energy that washes over the earth and undoes Trigon’s corruption

Akuma Class: …

Science Kids: …

Teen Titans: …

Nathaniel: … Uh- *Gets tackled into a hug by the Akuma Class* H-hey, guys.

Nino: That was awesome, dude! You were a badass!

Juleka: So. Fucking. Wicked.

Chloé: You’re not entirely lame, Kurtzberg.

Adrien: So, is the black hair permanent?

After all comments on his powers and how he defeated Trigon are out of the way, Nathaniel and Raven have a proper (and tearful) reunion

Weeks pass, and everyone other than the Akuma Class, Science Kids, and Teen Titans has no recollection of Trigon's temporary reign

Nathaniel has better control over his powers, is able to use them around his friends, he occasionally visits Raven over in Jump City, and has recently begun dating Marc

... Also, somewhere, that Slade guy who kidnapped Nathaniel is nothing but a living withered husk, and... Cliffhanger. Just like the Original Teen Titans, which I am still bitter about.

[jmakumatized]

WHEW it's late here already but after watching this episode I just had to find somewhere to pour out my feelings and what better way than the cold black void also known as my Tumblr blog? 😭👊 P.S. sorry in advance if this is a mess

⚠️ Jubilation Episode Spoilers Ahead⚠️

Same Old Creepy Lunatic

Okay, let's start with Mr. Cotton buds here. We all know that this man is actually insane but, oh man, seeing who seems to be Emily as his Siri rip-off got me off-guard. We saw in "Multiplication" that he had to do a full body scan of Adrien in what I assume is a facility owned by the Tsurugis to make his 3D model. I doubt he would have requested Amelie to do this for a number of reasons. So, did he just secretly drag Emily's unconscious body to the facility to get her scanned just so she can be his personal virtual assistant? 💀

Also, we've seen Hawky change costumes many times but I honestly like his old classic costume way better than any other else ESPECIALLY this Monarch one. The new one just looks so much more hilarious 😭😂 like PLEASE why did he randomly decide to have his ears out? And I see that his fake grandkids got their grandpapi's piercing blue eyes.

Kwami and Technology

Ya'll, they literally reminded us in this episode that Kwamis aren't supposed to be detected by tech but then we now see that they're largely being controlled by... guess what? Technology! Like, Hawky is literally transferring their powers to the akumatized's ring as if he were just sending an email. But ya know what? this is Miraculous we're talking about. The logic in this show is non-existent so let's just not think too deeply about this and move on *cough cough*

The Dream

Oh my god. This... this part was a rollercoaster of emotions

Firstly, this shot kinda caught me off-guard again because... Chat Noir in all white... *sobs* at least it didn't give Ladybug any traumatic flashbacks I guess 😭🏃‍♀️💨

Secondly, I love how they get more creepy babies with each next shot 😂 I guess they'll have more than just Louis, Emma, and Hugo.

"Neither do I, my sweet kitten. So Join me!"

yeah, you heard that? That was my heart shattering into a million pieces. The moment when the umbrella theme music started playing, I knew that this scene would destroy me. the fact that Chat Noir tried to break the clock makes my heart hurt so much. He wanted to stay in this dream so bad that he'd risk everything else. The fact that he also had to stay behind a little longer to grieve everything that he just lost is- is- AGHHHHH 😭 this poor boy just let him be truly happy FOR ONCE! And the way they kissed each other with tears streaming down both their cheeks 🥺😫 Ladybug's line was also seriously so romantic: "But I don't want to lose all of this!" "Neither do I, my sweet kitten. So Join me!" She's saying that she still wants to have this life with him but to truly have this future, they have to wake up 🥺😭 SO IT KILLS ME HOW IN DENIAL SHE STILL WAS DURING THE END SCENE!!! At least we see that Chat was slightly smiling during their conversation about it, which could mean that he knows it wasn't really manipulated and what they both saw are truly what they both desired. *deep inhale of copium*

If you made it this far, thanks again for reading my rambles. *hands you a cookie 🍪* till next time!

[sizzleissues]

masquerade au nonsense

Had an adventure trying to finish it, backgrounds are for schmucks

Now, a little writing that surrounds the scene (Summary: The Black Cat (Chat Noir) approaches Marinette with a deal);

Marinette had never been one for the opera. It was too childish for her taste. Princesses willing to give all of themselves to strangers, handsome rogues playing tricks and jokes on poor bystanders. It was maddeningly predictable.

It was not on purpose that she then sat watching it, barely propping up her head. The Black Cat would be in attendance, the devious scoundrel that had been running rings around the royal courts of France.

And it was sponsored by her parents. Their royal majesties.

Less important, of course.

There was certain benefits to being crown Princess. Her booth overlooked the entire theatre, allowing her to survey the crowd below. If he even so tried to approach the stage, she'd see him. If not by her eyes but by the guards she'd stationed around the theatre. The Black Cat would be brought to justice tonight.

“A pleasant show, is it not?” A voice said in her right ear. She jolted, shivers running down her skin. She could feel the heat of a body she hadn’t even noticed until he spoke.

“Don’t turn around. You wouldn’t want to miss my show.” A finger graced the peak of her cheek, guiding her eyes back to the performer on the stage. Her heart squirmed in her chest.

“Did you hurt them?” The question felt cold in her mouth.

“Who?”

“The guards. They’re good people.”

“Oh.” She heard him shift on his feet. “Can the French even be hurt?”

“This isn’t time for games, Chat.”

“Then no. They’re having a nice nap outside.”

“Good.” She took a breath to try slow her racing mind, but it did little. Why had he come for her? Did he know she was Ladybug? Was he here to kill her?

“You’re perfectly safe Princess. I simply want to talk.” A claw tipped hand twirled a lock of her hair in her peripheral. He was trying to tease her. “Remove your mask.”

“What?”

“It’s in the way. Hides your pretty pretty face.”

A muscle in her body twitched, responding to the low growl that wrapped his voice. He was too close, too warm, too much. He was one thing when she was Ladybug. Ladybug was wise and had conquered her weak desires. Marinette was a lady. She was fallible.

His hand moved from her hair to her chin, lifting it gently. She could imagine him behind her, clinging to the shadow. Eyes glowing and resting intently on her head.

She removed her mask.

"There, much better." She could hear his smile. Smug kitty.

"Chat, why are you here?

"Chat? Is that a cute nickname? I didn't know we knew each other that well." He rested his chin on her head. Every word she felt in her soul.

"English idiot." The Black Cat made a purr like sound, more annoyed than happy, that scratched her brain. "It is French for cat. I am speaking English for your benefit."

"And you speak it so well. What a good studious Princess you are. Brings me to why I'm here."

"Not to 'talk' then."

"I do love our conversations, Princess. No, I need your help to uncover a conspiracy to overthrow the English monarchy."

"It is not my place to handle foreign affairs. I also shouldn't be helping the man responsible for so many 'accidents'."

She felt him stand back. A weak part of her missed the warmth.

"I just need you to translate some documents. No one will ever know you helped me."

"Couldn't you find a qualified translator?"

There was a silence and Marinette worried he'd walked off. She didn't even get to see him.

"It has to be you."

A loud bang and flash of light went off on stage. It almost covers the sound of him slipping out the door. Someone has set fireworks to erupt in the shape of a winking cat.

"Silly cat."

[chickensoup1025]

Onto Bubbler...

Before it starts I wanted to say I have beef with Nino in this episode cause he makes his best friend's birthday about his hurt feelings and it's annoying and he didn't even get him a present

It was actually pretty nice of Plagg to try to give him that present

We love Sabine on this blog

Did Nathalie not even try to get him something herself??? She practically raised him!

Y'all should throw a small party at school if a house one isn't gonna work

Marinette is beyond thoughtful for MAKING him a gift.

EVEN CHLOE DIDNT REMEMBER IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY???

Are you seriously telling me Paris's Teen Sweetheart didn't have a fan club that is celebrating his birthday at all? He's not getting letters in the mail? Or fans coming up to him at school? Or MORE people telling his dad to throw a party/throwing one for him??? This episode is just. Idk man.

Marinette has been a called a push over in the last two episodes (and this is the SECOND EPISODE) so it's amazing to see how far she's come!!!!

ADRIEN HAD A PHOTOSHOOT SCHEDULED ON HIS BIRTHDAY? THATS SO UGHHHHHHHHHH AND DURING HIS LUNCH BREAK TOO

Bro. Nino says he's gonna go to Adrien's house and Marinette and Alya are in the background. Cut to only Marinette and Alya at Adrien's house. Did Nino get lost????

Alya can you please tell Adrien later that it was from Marinette?

NATHALIE YOU SNAKE

Wild how Gabriel really did come out to talk to Nino. Ohhhh he wanted to make Nino an akuma. Gotcha.

DONT SIT ALONE AND BE UPSET NINO. THIS ISNT ABOUT YOU. BE WITH ADRIEN. HE WAS JUST TOLD ON HIS BIRTHDAY THAT HIS BEST FRIEND COULDNT EVER COME AROUND HIS HOUSE AND YOURE JUST GONNA WALK AWAY??? GO BACK TO SCHOOL TOGETHER AT LEAST????? Speaking of, that photoshoot was super quick? And why was he dropped off at his house? No way lunch break is that fast???? Go to school??????

Ugly ass akuma

Gabriel seriously made an akuma who specifically hates and is mad at him 🤦🏽‍♀️

What even counts as an "adult" here? 18+ or like out of university or like old enough to have kids or-

I'm a Nathalie hater I dunno yall I can't believe her this episode.

Just a weird ass akuma

This being his first party makes me wanna cry.

NINO IF YOU TURN ON A SLOW DANCE BECAUSE CHLOE ASKED YOU TO THEN YOU DONT KNOW SHIT ABOUT ADRIEN. HE WAS VISIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE EARLIER THAT DAY WHEN SHE WAS UP ON HIM OH MY GOD.

NO ITS THE ADRIENETTE SLOW DANCE SONG NO NO NO

I think Ladybug should be allowed to use her power selfishly like this more often.

Did no one hear when Ladybug said "yours truly"??? It was pretty loud

No one knows how old ladybug and chat noir even are so people might be imagining they're also just stuck in bubbles lol. Oh god, if Adrien and Marinette were adults then they wouldn't be able to transform like that out in the open and THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A GOOD PLAN TO TRAP THEM OR FIND OUT THEIR IDENTITIES HAWKMOTH JESUS. What you have to do is: Bubbler brings all the bubbles together so you can see them all in one spot. Have Bubbler WATCH, not just throw a party. If someone inside transforms then great! You know who they are. But if LB and or CN show up anyway then you know they're not an adult and that whittles down your search BY A LOT.

Girl is pretty brave for writing "Love, Marinette"

Nathaniel has some Shuichi energy hm

Cool moves...

"But adults keep children, safe, and protected. They care for their kids, they love them!" "Most adults do, anyhow." JESUS CHRIST WAY TO GO STRAIGHT FOR THR HEART

Him throwing his staff for her to swing her yo-yo around was completely unnecessary-

You can really see how the stakes change between the beginning and end of the show. "Oh I'm stuck in a bubble for awhile and just have to wait an hour at most to go back to my normal day" to "oh the world is ending"

Adrien is such a good boy...

One day- NO ONE HOUR of no adults and suddenly every thing everyone is trying to mail will be late for another week. Huh

Marinette didn't take the credit 🥺

"You're amazing Marinette, someone Adrien will see that too." Cut to not even a full season later Adrien leaning back in Marinette's desk chair, "You're amazing, Marinette."

SOMEONE GET THIS BOY A LEGIT BIRTHDAY OR SO HELP ME

[moneeko]

Double Standards

I stopped watching this show for a while after season 4. However, when I found leaks, mostly on Tiktok… I lost hope. I watched season 4, saw season 5, and started having a red alert. That every rich kid is a sentimonster? That Zoe Lee is just there to replace Chloe as Queen Bee… Even though they had more choices like Aurora from StormyWeather?.

The best part is that the 40-year-old man who has been terrorizing the city for a year (the timeline is messy btw) has created supervillains who have been destroying the city and would have been killed (Qilin) If it wasn't for Lucky Charm. Treating his son harshly… In episodes like Chat Blanc and Ephemeral… He used him to get the Miraculous…. Despite traumatizing his son in these alternate universes. and he went crazy. No, I'm not wrong. It became his obsession to get the Ladybug and Cat Noir Miraculous. And when he won all the MIRACULOUS, i.e. from the 5th season. Oh, sir. He's the one who becomes obsessed that Nathalie notices and leaves. It's not to save Emilie, it's just a fucking obsession to get those Miraculous. Gabriel in the episode Gorizilla (season 2); She is worried about her son that she releases her enemy (ladybug) to save his only son.

and the contract becomes obsessive in later seasons when he uses his own son.

Adrien He may have phobias of loneliness or rejection

The fact that according to the leaks he is to be purchased, get a fucking statue. And considered by the creator that he is a good man… So that he can move on and go to therapy...

But what moved me the most. is Chloe being abandoned by her own father… She takes her half-sister (who's not his, what about Mr. Lee?). By your own class. living with a mother who can't remember her name and abandoned her when she was about 3-4 years old… I kind of identified with Chloe because of her family situation

Chloe had her stuffed animal Mr. Cuddle which was a kind of emotional support. As defended by Sabrine in "Ladybug", she shielded her from the akuma. And in Zombibozu, she apologized to Miss Bustier and gave her a gift. If the developers did a redemption Arc then Chloe would look to Miss Bustier as a role model to change.

Chloe showed that during seasons 2 and 3 she has the element to be a good person.

In MIracle Queen, after taking Pollena from her, she looks at her with longing and compassion.

And what did they do? They made a 14 year old the worst. The incarnation of Satan. Where next to her Lila is a sweet lamb, and Gabriel is a good dad… Really?

If Chloe is the worst she hurt while Kim threw Marinette in the pool. Why don't they slander him too? Because the guy? If not and only Chloe. Sabrina had a part in it too and they forgave her? Who too? And Chloe doesn't. I am anti-bullying and anti-violence.

I have the impression that they force only Chloe to be the worst … and my hunches come true

[k7l4d4]

K Reviews and Rants: Miraculous Ladybug Season 5! Episode 2

Hello all! Welcome to my slow descent into insanity as I gradually tear Season 5 a bigger and bigger new one! As always, a Warning for profanity on my part. Seriously, this season got me so mad...

Episode 2: Multiplication 

Oh boy, not even two minutes in and we've already got Su-Han showing up and shouting about how Ladybug has 'failed as guardian.' Oh, and a brief aside about Flairmidable being Felix, not Adrien... I forget, how did she find out about that again? Either way, it makes a later plot point much stupider. 

Now we get Gabriel threatening the Kwami... yeah, THIS is the man that the authors sympathize with. Seriously, no, even with the Kwami being really flat, this is disgusting beyond reason, and there is no excuse for the writers thinking THIS MAN should ever be considered sympathetic. FUCK THAT NOISE WITH A SPOON. 

Su-Han, rightfully pissed off at Marinette's negligence, although I'll throw the writers a bone and at least acknowledge that this was all Felix's fault for being a complete and utter shit-heel... and then Chat Noir and Ladybug just verbally steamroll Su-Han. Okay, we have already gotten this guy established as an aggressive hardass, why in the world did he not just shut them down right out of the gate!? Not giving someone a word in edgewise does not make Ladybug or Chat Noir look responsible, and the fact that all they said about the Rabbit was that they had "trusted it to a holder" makes me face-palm because IT'S NOT AS IF TRUSTING A RANDOM PERSON INSTEAD OF LOCKING THE THING UP AGAIN OR GIVING IT TO SU-HAN DIDN'T BACKFIRE WITH THE FUCKING DOG!!! 

Deep breathes... deep breathes... 

And now Su-Han... collapses and cries about how sorry he is. No. NO. FUCK THAT. Seriously, even if he's a hardass, this man is a trained monk of an ancient order, which I'm pretty fucking sure includes parts about resisting temptation... and he GOT DISTRACTED OVER PRICY SNEAKERS AND PHONES!? NO. FUCK THAT NOISE. SCREW OFF. There is no bigger way to disrespect even a FICTIONAL CULTURE OR ORDER than by portraying someone meant to be a grandmaster of it as someone able to be swayed from their sacred duty, ONE THAT CAN IMPACT THE FATE OF THE WORLD I MIGHT ADD, by "modern gadgets and gizmos." Thomas, you are a fucking HACK who created a lazy cop-out to avoid having Su-Han ACTUALLY ACT AS A FUCKING MENTOR TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HIM, and they STILL NEED HIS FUCKING HELP YOU IDIOT!!!!! 

And after his fucking whining the guy runs off "to get some backup from the temple." Instead of, you know... HELPING!? Seriously, the dude is IMMUNE TO BEING AKUMATIZED, he could be a bigger help by STAYING and FIGHTING with the heroes!!! What the fuck is this shit!? For fuck's sake, having Felix trade-away all the Miraculouses was already pushing the forced "you and me against the world" BS to the point of stupidity, but this!? You could not be trying to isolate them more transparently if you TRIED. Ugh... just... onto the next scene. 

Oh boy, NOW we get Felix's actual last name. And... his dad's name is Colt. Ugh... seriously, can I just comment on what a stupid name that is? Because I am. 

And now we get to Adrien saying to his dad "I don't want to be a model anymore!" Like... I get that they are intending for this to be an impactful moment... but have we EVER gotten a serious reason why he doesn't?? Or even why he IS a model in the first place?? 

I'm... honestly surprised that they made Gabriel go just "okay, fine, is that all?" Because dude, you just massively undermined what should have been a suspenseful moment, because I don't know, it's not as if you haven't portrayed (and WILL portray) Gabriel as a toxic, selfish OVERBEARING CONTROL FREAK!? Why in the world is he just giving in so easily!? (I know why, but still) 

Heck, if anything, this just hurts Adrien's character as well because it makes his struggle to stand up for himself seem... petty. Like it's no big deal. It just trivialized all the effort they have insisted he's been putting in to assert himself, and he just... goes about his day. What the hell? No drama? No tension?? Seriously, after stringing along Adrien being a doormat for FIVE SEASONS, you aren't even gonna give his first big step towards independence the respect of having him put up a fight against his dad's control? No, he just rolls over, because WHY THE HELL NOT, RIGHT!? 

...And now we get Alya trying to reassure Marinette at how well she knows Adrien. I'm gonna get to that, but first, I'm gonna talk about Marinette's concerns. 

She's worried that maybe she doesn't know Adrien as well as she thought, because Felix fooled her. Marinette... are you fucking delusional? I am not taking that back, Felix is FUNCTIONALLY IDENTICAL TO ADRIEN aside from his clothing and hairstyle, WHY THE FUCK WOULD MARINETTE BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE!? So on this, Alya actually makes a good point that beating herself up over getting fooled is stupid. 

On the OTHER hand, Marinette questioning herself over Adrien... THAT would be an honestly interesting plot, and could've been interesting to see Marinette analyze her obsessive crush/stalking behavior up until now. Instead... Alya holds up the FLIMSIEST argument against Marinette's concerns I've ever seen. 

They've played video games together... once. Exactly ONE FUCKING TIME that I know of. That's something that he could've done with ANY of his friends, so it's not some fucking sign of how close they are. Adrien modeled Marinette's clothes... BECAUSE HE IS A MODEL. It's literally his JOB to model clothing. It's AGAIN not a sign at how close they are or how well she knows him. And... they went out to the movies, with Marinette being "incognito" for some reason. 

If anything, Thomas, you have highlighted HOW LITTLE THEY KNOW ONE ANOTHER. Of the THREE "stellar examples" given, only TWO of them have anything to do with Marinette being friends with Adrien, and they aren't something that is magically unique to her in the slightest, so why the fuck is attention being called to her going to see a movie and playing video games!? Heck, the third was literally all about Adrien DOING HIS FUCKING JOB, and if the image is any indicator, it's the Pigeon Hat, SO HE COULD NOT EVEN ENJOY IT. For FUCKS SAKE this is stupid. 

You have presented the most tepid, poorly constructed argument to reassure someone of their feelings I have ever fucking scene. By all rights, Marinette should be looking at Alya as if she grew a second head if she thought THOSE examples were supposed to reassure her!! How in the world are three minor examples that he could've done with FUCKING ANYONE supposed to be proof to her?! If THIS is the extent that the two of them hang out together, it looks MORE like Marinette doesn't fucking know Adrien AT ALL. Rusty Spoon Fucking SHIT!!! 

Wait wait wait, NOW we get a fourth example... of Marinette kissing what she thought was a statue. How. In the fucking WORLD. DO these two not realize how absolutely CREEPY that is!? Do they just- just think reality works like a romance novel or something?? At fucking minimum Marinette is embarrassed by it... but I'm pretty damn sure it's not for the reason I hope. 

And now we get into Marinette's ranting over how stupid she is, and to be honest? I'm kinda agreeing with her. Now, I don't blame her for mixing up Adrien for a statue, they were in a fucking wax museum, her not realizing him standing perfectly stock still was the real deal is ALL ON HIM for thinking that would be a funny joke. It's still creepy as hell that she tried to kiss what she thought was a statue of her crush, though. 

This is just another classic case of Tommy and his boys presenting a GENUINELY REASONABLE CRITICISM of the characters... and we just fucking KNOW that they are gonna go "but but wait!" about all this and explain why this is "wrong" and do so in a way that doesn't even bother to fucking address the criticism!! And now we of course get Alya fucking bringing up Marinette's brief relationship with Luka (obviously not by name, of fucking course) as a guise for "not being in love with Adrien," and fucking hell are they seriously treating this as her "not being able to resist him" or some shit like that!? NO!!! YOU DO NOT DO THAT. 

What she had WAS A REAL RELATIONSHIP and it fell apart for reasons THAT HAD NOTHING TO FUCKING DO WITH HER CRUSH ON ADRIEN!!! In what way was her and Luka's relationship ending having to do with Adrien? Explain that to me. Go on. I WILL WAIT FOR YOU TO COMB OVER THE SERIES AND PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION, DUMBASS. Answer? There isn't one. What happened between her and Luka was a lazy copout to get rid of the romantic false leads at lightning speed, and trying to tie it to her crush on Adrien is just in bad taste. Like, are you saying that she was unfaithful to Luka?? That she didn't maintain a healthy relationship with him because she was still obsessing over Adrien, and NOT because the guilt and inconvenience of trying to maintain a double-life was eating her up inside!? How in the world are we supposed to know that!!! 

And... Alya, trying to act as if Marinette putting the safety of fucking Paris ahead of her crush as something she won't be able to pull off, and almost silly. Alya... is not being presented as a good best friend. Quite frankly, she is doing the fucking opposite in that she is going against Marinette's wishes, and it is disgusting. And I KNOW it's gonna get worse. 

And then... we get a scene of Adrien calling, and Marinette's inner spaz kicking in where, instead of just DECLINING THE CALL WHICH WE KNOW SHE CAN DO BASED ON THE SCREEN IMAGE, she throws it at Alya who, naturally, answers, and gets told to tell Adrien Marinette isn't there... for fuck's sake, this is pathetic. They are making it transparently obvious that Marinette "no longer pursuing her crush" is doomed to fail right out of the gate by signaling she's not gonna put in the effort to go through with it. FUCK. THAT. 

And Adrien apparently took Marinette telling Alya to "tell him she's not there" literally. Wow, what a brilliant young man, isn't he? Clearly he can recognize sarcasm! Why don't we all give him a long, slow, round of applause!! And the fact that the show treats him having a short, no-effort confrontation with his dad that resulted in his dad just... giving in, right out of the gate, as a "heart to heart" is depressing, and seriously stupid. 

Now we get Adrien trying to tell Marinette how much she means to him... and I gotta ask. WHAT good advice has she given you that isn't what amounts to common sense!? Now, I get that he wouldn't have a lot of that, given how sheltered he is... but the show treating her extremely minor moments of being a very basic friend to him as her being this irreplaceable figure... again, do these idiots have ANY CLUE how to establish a meaningful relationship? AT ALL?? 

See... this would be sweet... if Marinette's reaction weren't painfully clear that she has no clue what the fuck he's talking about. And the episode is trying to frame this as her being "in denial" or something stupid like that, and immediately has Alya ignore Marinette's wishes by pushing her to pursue him again. Again, NOT BEING A GOOD FRIEND. Friends don't push their friends to pursue someone they've said they don't WANT to pursue. And Astruc, if this little incident was meant to be some kind of joke about Marinette "running from her feelings," it falls completely flat on its face because all you've done is build up a case on just how TERRIBLY the Love Square is put together. If your best efforts to show how well Marinette knows Adrien are two incidents that he could have had with ANY friend of his, one moment of him being on the job as a model, and a moment of Marinette being CREEPY AS FUCKING HELL... then I think that says so much more about your skills as a writer than it really should. 

And after a moment of Adrien's "she's just a friend" commentary getting called out as BS and musing at how "special" she is, we get a scene of Nathalie reappearing (No, Nathalie, don't leave your lunatic boss and expose his crimes to the world, and get his abused child away from him, go BACK, that won't make you look bad AT FUCKING ALL!!) and smiling at a sleeping Adrien. Seriously, why in the fuck is this show trying to set up Nathalie as some kind of mother figure!? In Season 1, she treated him like he was an annoying consequence of her job, and apparently has been getting him pens for his birthday in place of his dad getting him ANYTHING for years... and when a classmate came over, she decided to steal the present and pass it off as Gabriel's. Yeah, THAT is a woman who deeply cares about her boss' child right there!! 

And... Ladybug... AUTHORIZED... Alix's dad to spill the beans. Heh. Heheh. HEHEHEHAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!! YOU KNOW WHAT'S FUNNY!? ESTABLISHING REPEATEDLY WHAT A MASSIVE DEAL IT IS FOR A SUPERHERO'S IDENTITY IS TO BE SECRET, AND THEN HAVING IT BLOWN FOR THE WORLD TO SEE, INSTEAD OF ESTABLISHING A BASIC FUCKING COVER BECAUSE HOW IN THE FUCK WOULD THEIR CLASSMATES KNOW!? HECK, IN THE BURROW, SHE CAN EVEN RESEARCH THE COVER STORY ON HER OWN TIME TO MAKE IT CONVINCING!!! YOU ARE JUST SETTING THIS MAN TO GET FUCKING TARGETED TO LURE HER OUT YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!! 

Just... fuck this ENTIRE load of shit altogether. Fuck it good and slow. 

...And after a brief round of the class being "worried," we get Chloe being used as the strawman to insult Ladybug and Chat Noir so that her claims that they are all in danger because of their incompetence is nonsense. Like, it's still more Felix's fault then theirs, but this shit ONCE AGAIN just highlights how absolutely fucking stupid the Love Square has gotten. FOUR FUCKING SEASONS and Marinette still cannot get her shit together regarding Adrien, and it lead to a disaster!! A disaster she had no fucking way of predicting, BUT STILL A FUCKING DISASTER!! You don't use a Strawman to attack complaints against your characters, IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A LAZY CHILD WHO CANNOT PUT IN THE WORK TO SHOW SOMETHING MORE COMPETENT!!! GAAAHHHH!!!! 

Okay, and then we get a scene of Lila encouraging the class (well, "encouraging" the class) to support Ladybug, while also taking lowkey digs at Ladybug and Chat Noir's age and experience (didn't we have an entire episode in the past based around Ladybug obfuscating her actual age to conceal her identity!?). 

And we get a montage of the groups trying to suppress negativity... which I would like if it weren't interspersed with Adrien attempting to repeatedly kiss Marinette. Like, I don't care if they are meant to be French. Cheek-kisses are a thing, but given he is aiming for her lips, THIS IS NOT A CHEEK KISS SITUATION, and more scenes of Alya refusing to accept Marinette's choices by pushing her in Adrien's direction. Astruc, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU PORTRAY A RELATIONSHIP!!! Oh, and we learn WHY Gabriel was so cool with no longer having Adrien as a model... he's intending to use his image without his approval or consent. And Then Nadja jumping to "is Paris free from Monarch!?" leading up to Ikari Gozen making a return shouting about making Paris a "modern city." 

Like... okay, a villain goes silent, WHY does that equate to a villain no longer being a threat exactly...? 

Ugh... And... I do not even GET why Ikari Gozen is talking about Ladybug and Chat Noir being outdated and needing more "modern heroes" because they haven't even been active for TWO YEARS!!! 

Also, why in the world is Marinette immediately jumping to the Akuma being in the same place it was last time!? 

And how are Ikari Gozen's Mouse Miraculous powers STILL GIANT SIZED!? Seriously, they should be smaller than the size of her FOOT!!! That's how it was when Marinette AND Mylene used it! Ugh... 

And now we get Marinette giving Tomoe a useless Magic Charm... and the reveal that Tomoe is Gabriel's accomplice because WHY THE FUCK NOT, AM I RIGHT!? Seriously, this is idiotic. And now we get the reveal of the Alliance Rings... THIS is gonna be a fucking fiasco. Seriously, not even remotely subtle about this. AT ALL. 

Seriously, AGAIN, why are we supposed to sympathize with Gabriel IN ANY FUCKING WAY WHEN HE PULLS SHIT LIKE THIS!? He cannot be stupid enough to not get that using his son's image without his permission is no fucking different from being a model, especially since he didn't even TELL Adrien about it!! GAH!!! And apparently either Felix showed up back home sometime since Chat and Ladybug went to look for him, or he was there the whole time and Amilie lied through her fucking TEETH. I'm willing to bet it's the latter... YUP it's the latter. Seriously, protecting your son from the consequences of his actions DOES NOT MAKE YOU A GOOD PARENT!! Heck, he literally could've LIED TO THEM and they probably would've BELIEVED HIM BECAUSE THEY CLEARLY WANT TO TRUST HIM!!!

[readersmoon]

Between the Heavens and the Embers - Chapter 1

Paris was going up in flames.

The City of Light was brighter than ever before. Fires everywhere were burning houses and stores down to the ground. Hundreds of people were running in the streets, seeking refuge or trying to help the unfortunate ones. Sirens could be heard from everywhere over the sound of the screams, tears, and prayers.

Only a week ago, Hawkmoth had promised chaos. “Ladybug and Chat Noir,” he had said, “if you don’t give up immediately, I will bring Hell here and the only thing left will be the ashes of those you failed to protect.”

They all took it as an empty threat. The words of a desperate man. After all, Hawkmoth was well known for his dramatics.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t been exaggerating this time.

This akuma was the strongest one he’d ever sent. It called itself The Angel of Darkness. Standing at almost nine feet tall, he was clad in all black, from his boot to his cape and feather wings. The only color came from the flaming halo over his head.

In mere minutes, Paris had been turned into Pandemonium. The smoke in the air was so dense that breathing was near impossible and even though it was the middle of January, the fires made it feel like a hot night of July. But worse than all, the red sky that seemed to be bleeding alongside the victims who were dying left and right in the streets.

The whole team had been called to help. They had put up a good battle, but it hasn’t been enough. After almost four hours, the only ones still standing were Ladybug, Chat Noir, Carapace, and Rena Rouge. The others were either hurt or their kwamis were too exhausted to fight.

They meticulously moved the combat into a street that had been completely evacuated. They could see that The Angel of Darkness was growing tired, or at least bored with the confrontation. But instead of getting weaker, he was more aggressive. He wanted it all to be over and didn’t even care about the miraculous anymore. In a fit of rage, he threw a ball of fire directly at Chat Noir.

“Chat Noir!” Ladybug screamed when he disappeared behind some debris.

She was pretty certain that her heart had stopped beating.

No, no, no, no…

“I’m fine!” he yelled back a second later and she breathed again. “It didn’t touch me!”

She glanced at him, making sure that he was indeed fine, then at Rena and Carapace. Her best friends. She was worried. Their attacks were getting progressively weaker and their reactions, slower. They wouldn’t be able to fight like this for much longer. She already had to run away and detransformed four times to feed Tikki and none of her lucky charms had worked. Same with Chat. No matter what he cataclysm, nothing happened. They were running in circles.

She couldn’t help but worry about what was gonna happen. Viperion, Ryuuko, and Vespina were already in terrible shape. She couldn’t risk another one of them getting hurt…

Once again, she looked at her partner. Even covered in ashes, he was breathtaking. She thought about the previous night and the kiss they had shared. They were at their spot, on a rooftop with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. He was laughing about something she had said and seemed so happy, his skin glowing with the last rays of sunset. She realized at that moment that she couldn’t fight her feelings any longer and kissed him, somewhat surprised by her own move, even though she had wanted to do this for a while now. After all, their relationship had changed so much over the past few weeks…

Chat’s initial reaction was to freeze, certainly even more shocked than she was. But only a few seconds later, he was moving against her lips with the same urge, the same passion, his hand cupping her face oh so delicately. It had felt so … natural. Like they were meant for each other.

And they were.

No, she couldn’t risk him. She couldn’t risk any of them. They had to end this. Now.

“Ladybug, please tell me you have another plan!” Carapace said after coming back from recharging.

“I’m thinking!”

They fought for a couple more minutes before she noted something they hadn’t seen before. Thanks to Chat’s last attack, the armor protecting The Angel of Darkness had slightly cracked, exposing a small part of his chest and the top of a tattoo. It was barely noticeable, but Ladybug was certain it was a little candle. It explained why her first lucky charm had been a candle snuffer!

“His tattoo!” Ladybug exclaimed. “Right near his heart!”

“LB, that’s his skin, I can’t use my cataclysm directly on him…”

She froze. He was right, of course. She was about to backtrack, to try and figure out yet another plan, when Rena, breathless, turned around and screamed out of exhaustion at Chat Noir: “Oh because you have a better idea?”

“Maybe we could—Attention!”

Mere seconds before it touched the girls, Chat Noir and Carapace jumped in front of them and pushed them out of the way of a new fireball. Ladybug’s eyes met Chat’s and understanding passed between them as they held one of their silent conversations.

“OK, we’re doing this,” he finally said, his eyes unconvinced and his trembling arms still holding her close. “Your lucky charm will repair everything anyway, right?”

Ladybug immediately noticed how desperate he looked. The way his eyes were searching hers, begging for reassurance. Please, he seemed to say, don’t make me a murderer.

“Of course,” she answered.

She persuaded herself that it was the truth, although she still wanted to backtrack and find another plan. Anything else, really. Because even though she knew her lucky charm would bring everything back to normal, Chat would always remember that no matter what, he had killed the men. And she knew without a doubt that it would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Seemingly sensing Ladybug's hesitation, Rena Rouge affirmed, “We really don’t have a choice, guys. We have to do this.”

Chat Noir simply nodded, his arms leaving Ladybug. Without his touch, she suddenly felt panic wash over her as if she knew something horrible was about to happen. But instead of focusing on what was probably the beginning of an anxiety attack, she shook her head and squared her shoulders. She couldn’t think of this now. She would have all the time in the world to regret her decisions. Right now, she had a fight to win and people to save. Paris was counting on her.

Ladybug looked around, trying to find a way to approach the akuma without getting fried. Moving to be close to him truly was a pain in the ass. And even worse, they were running out of time. Their kwamis were exhausted and they had less and less time between each transformation. Even her earrings had started beeping again, although she hadn’t called her lucky charm yet.

Carapace, Rena, and Ladybug ended up on rooftops, with the couple on one side of the street and their leader on the other. They were running and screaming at him, distracting the villain while Chat, previously hiding, jumped from behind him, his cataclysm ready. But just before Chat’s hand touched him, The Angel of Darkness’ face lit up with the purple butterfly mask and he used his attack one last time.

Everything then happened simultaneously.

“Lucky…”, Ladybug started saying, but she couldn’t finish the sentence.

The burning house next to Ladybug collapsed on top of her at the same time that the akuma flew away, leaving on the ground a dead man. The three other superheroes froze for a second, their eyes open in similar terror.

“Chat Noir, no!” Carapace yelled, watching as Chat ran inside the ruins while struggling to hold back his own girlfriend.

“Marinette!” Rena Rouge wailed, secret identities forgotten in the midst of the chaos. “Please, no!”

With all the debris and the smoke, they couldn’t see well when Chat Noir came back outside with a detransformed Ladybug in his arms. But they couldn’t miss the sound of the house exploding, or Chat Noir’s scream. A cry that would haunt them for years, so loud and so full of agony that it drowned out the sound of the sirens in the near distance.

***

Ladybug’s funerals were the biggest event of the last ten years. It lasted for three days and almost the whole world watched, either in person or on the news. Even Hawkmoth stayed silent, never once sending an akuma, although there were a lot of opportunities. Superheroes from all over the globe came to pay their respect to the girl whose identity had not been revealed, thanks to the paramedics that had arrived first on the scene.

“We’re just gonna say that this girl is another one of the casualties. What’s her name, so we can tell her family?”

Although they probably would have preferred to speak to Chat Noir, Ladybug’s real partner, they talked to Carapace, as he was the only one still able to pretend to be strong. He had to, for the other two who were crying in each other’s arms in the middle of the street.

“Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” he’d answered, still shocked by the revelation.

“From the patisserie?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. We will have to confirm that Ladybug is dead, but we won’t declare that it’s her. You have our word that her identity will be preserved.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank us. It’s the least we can do, trust me.”

And right before leaving with Marinette’s body in the back of their ambulance, which had its lights off, one of them had said: “We’re awfully sorry for your loss.”

So no one knew who Ladybug was, even though people were speculating on the internet, comparing her to the list of deaths. Marinette’s name was mentioned quite often, as she was one of the 175 girls between the age of fourteen to twenty-six that had died, but nothing was ever confirmed.

The whole world watched as Ladybug’s team came forward to say goodbye to their leader, Rena Rouge, and Carapace never leaving Chat Noir’s side. He never talked, simply looked into the distance, his eyes blurry and unfocused, gripping his friends’ hands as if it was the only thing holding him to reality. For weeks, people talked about how miserable he looked and sobbed as the Ladynoir kiss was leaked to the public after an anonymous source released a picture taken from a nearby apartment.

He disappeared the same day.

Marinette’s funerals were a bit more private, even though a lot of people, famous and not, came. It took almost six weeks before they could hold a closed basket reception since almost everyone in Paris had someone to mourn and the salons were all full. That day, no one really paid attention to the three nineteen-years-old in the back who were silently crying.

Weeks passed before things started to be normal again. Life moved on, and Paris was being constructed back up. Of course, some things couldn’t be repaired, but it was a start. After about four months of silence, Chat Noir came back when Hawkmoth sent his first attack in months. He wasn’t the same, and would probably never be again, but still. He laughed a lot less, didn’t interact much with the civilians, and couldn’t restore the everlasting damages that the akumas created, but he was back and that was all that mattered to the people of Paris. They loved Rena Rouge and Carapace, who had taken the responsibility of protecting Paris during Chat’s retreat, but still. It wasn’t the same.

“Alya,” Adrien suddenly blurted one evening as they were lying on a rooftop, untransformed, their eyes glued to the sky.

Adrien didn’t remember the exact moment when his identity had been compromised. Sometime after Marinette’s death. It could have been minutes, hours or days, he didn’t know nor did he care. He simply recalled waking up at some point in Nino’s bed, Alya, Nino, Plagg, Trixx, and Wayzz asleep next to him. Alya had said that they had all dropped their transformation while crying in each other’s arms, but he couldn’t remember that. Nor could he remember going to Nino’s place. But lately, there were a lot of missing moments in Adrien’s memory. He often found himself someplace, not knowing how he got there. His therapist claimed it was part of his grief. After all, losing a friend so young was painful. But they didn’t understand, couldn’t understand. Would never understand.

He hadn’t lost his friend. He had lost his best friend, soulmate, and partner. The love of his life. Every time he closed his eyes, he had the image of her, broken and covered in blood. And as if it wasn’t enough, he had to live with the fact that he had killed someone.

But as they were lying on the rooftop, Adrien’s brain seemed to finally awaken. The mist cleared as the revelation he had just had made his heart beat faster in his chest.

“Yeah?” Alya replied, not looking at him and therefore not seeing the panic setting on Adrien’s face.

“They left with her.”

“Adrien…”

“They left with her and we were too busy crying to—”

“Stop it, we already talked about it, it’s not your—”

“No, no, no, hear me out,” he pleaded, sitting, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “Alya, they left with her. They took her body from my arms and I was so … so shocked, so in pain, that I didn’t realize that she still had her earrings still on.”

The girl sat up straight. “Oh, my god.”

“Yeah.”

“So, she was either buried with her earrings, or…”

“Or we lost the ladybug miraculous.”

SEVEN YEARS LATER

“Shh, shh, you’re alright, love,” he whispered, holding her close to his chest, rocking her in a soothing movement. “It’s just a nightmare. You’re okay, nothing can hurt you. Do you wanna talk about it?”

“No,” she answered, crying and burying her face into his chest. “I don’t even remember.”

She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Her whole body was trembling and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. Even though she should’ve been used to it by now, it just never got any easier. Thank god she had him by her side. He never complained about her waking up in the middle of the night. Never said anything about losing precious minutes of sleep. Never forced her to tell more than what she was willing to share.

Not that there was anything to share, anyway.

“Do you wanna go back to sleep, then?”

She glanced at the window, at the lights that shone no matter the time of the day. It eased her, made her feel a little bit more at peace knowing that, no matter what, Los Angeles never really slept.

“Vee?” Dylan pressed her when she didn’t reply.

She nodded before laying down on the bed, pressing her cheek against his chest. With her boyfriend’s hand stroking her hair, Victoria closed her eyes and went back to sleep, praying that the nightmares wouldn’t come back.

If only she knew what they meant.

Click here to chapter 2.

[temporalbystander]

Oh no. I'm laughing too hard again. Oh this hurts.

So Kagami goes on a spiel about how crazy Felix sounds. Sounding the most emotional I've heard from her in... Well, ever. Spending time with everyone must have really helped her open up a lot. We should have gotten her to hang with us all sooner. But that's not why I'm dying.

Have you ever seen Felix act so much like Adrien when he wasn't trying to be? Even better, he sounds like Chat Noir in the early days after upsetting ladybug when he hasn't thought things through. Oh man my chest hurts...

*shaking from silent laughter* oh... Stop... Cant breathe... *Wipes eyes* when Kagami is the one saying it... You know it's true... *Cracks up laughing again.*

(Faybon is still laughing relentlessly so I'll mention this. Why are we getting no movement from Kwami's this season? It used to be that you could see them following the conversation and get an idea of their thoughts on it. Duusu has just been sitting there ever since the transformation ended and I know the animators didn't forget about her because her feathers are moving and she keeps bobbing up and down. Can the peacock kwami not sense her own sentimonsters or did Felix tell her not to say anything and she took him a bit too literally?)

Heh.heh...heh...*more deep breaths*... Why does Kagami look so shocked that someone is upset on her behalf? And... Why do I suddenly feel like I'm not going to like the rest of their conversation?... Well, at least I got a good laugh out of this...

Anyway back with Marinette, who somehow walked all the way home and only now decided to talk to Tikki, she finally see Makagi Gozen. She split into four when the scent trail faded after Argos detransformed and I wasn't sure then but with the bakery and Marinette for comparison? This form is definitely smaller than Ikari Gozen. She split into six when she first got the powers of multiplication and each one of those was still taller than a building. Trust me, that's not something you forget.

See what I mean? No way any of the six Ikari's would be trying to pull this off. Anyway this is how Adrien finds out, he was just swooning over Marinette standing up to his father. That knight in shining armour fairy tale Marcus and Nathan made up seems to be a lot accurate than I originally gave them credit for. So now both have transformed, let's see how this goes.