#teacher kwamis

[sallertiafabrica]

Finally got a new stylus!! And my main course of action was to draw these guys again cuz I’m hyperfixating

I’ve used up all my shoe-drawing energy on Trixx and nooroo

[thetraingotsetonfireonmidnight]

𝕶𝖎𝖘𝖘 𝕶𝖎𝖘𝖘, 𝕱𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖎𝖓 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 ~ 2

(Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir x reader)

This was highly requested! Thank you all for the support. The fact that KKFIL got so much support shocks me! I appreciate all of you!

< Part one

"You're pathetic." Plagg said ever so bluntly in-between his chews. He took another bite of cheese, crumbs falling onto Adrien's newly cleaned desk, "Just admit that you like them and move on."

Adrien grumbled in response, "I don't like them, Plagg." 

Living with the kwami of destruction always presented a challenge. There wasn't a day that passed by without the mischievous cat trying to pull some dirty prank behind Adrien's back. At first, he didn't mind it. It added something new to his day, and it was usually harmless.

But apparently hiding his phone or ruffling his hair before a photoshoot wasn't enough for Plagg anymore, because as of late, he's been turning off Adrien's alarm so he doesn't wake up for school on time. So now he was stuck in this position, shoving everything in his backpack last minute while trying to rush out the door.

Right now wasn't exactly the best time for him and Plagg to be having a conversation about his upside-down love life.

"You don't like them?" Plagg pushed, "Sure, and cheese is my worst enemy."

"Look Plagg, it's too early for this conversation." 

"So let's end it right here with you admitting that you like them."

"Get in my jacket or I'm throwing out the cheese you stored in my desk." Adrien opened up his jacket as Plagg let out a shrill gasp before immediately flying into his pocket. 

"For the record, this is called manipulation."

"You're insufferable sometimes."

Monday.

Adrien walked into the classroom ten minutes late, and he'd never forgive Plagg for ruining his perfect on-time attendance. 

He huffed and sat down next to Nino.

"Woah, dude, you look like shit. Totally unexpected from the model of the class."

Adrien smiled at Nino's bluntness, "I had a bit of a rough morning." He made sure to subtly flick his pocket as he said that. He felt Plagg pinch his side in retaliation.

"Yeah, I can tell." Nino shook his head, turning his attention back to the teacher. Adrien wanted to follow suit, but he couldn't help but notice you.

You sitting in your desk.

You looking wonderful as ever.

You…staring…right at him.

He smiled and waved.

You waved back.

And time stopped.

He wished he could sit next to you. Ask about your morning, hold your hand under the table, and pass notes throughout the class, giggling every time you nearly get caught.

But, alas, he wasn't sitting next to you, he wasn't holding your hand, and passing notes from this distance would be a guaranteed detention. 

Life was cruel and unfair sometimes.

"Psst." He raised a brow at you, silently asking you what you needed. You smiled, looking a bit bashful as you put your fingers to your lips and blew him a kiss.

Maybe life wasn't so cruel and unfair.

Tuesday.

"Are you ok? You look tired." 

Your voice was something Adrien would never get tired of, and it was just the remedy he needed after dealing with an akuma who had a…not so melodic voice. 

The fight was harder than he had assumed it would be. A few scratches littered his arms and legs while stubborn strands refused to stick with the rest of his gelled and styled hair. Though most of the ringing had gone away, his hearing hadn't quite recovered yet. He questioned the miraculous ladybug and why it decided that fixing a civilian's ripped tie was important, but Adrien (the person who helped stop the villain) would have to suffer the rest of the day with hearing loss. It needed to get its priorities straight.

You looked him up and down, your nose scrunched at the sight, "Did you lose a fight to a pigeon or something?"

"Very funny." He reached to scratch the back of his neck, but quickly remembered how Plagg had made fun of him for doing that when he got nervous the night before, and quickly put his hand down. "I tripped. I can only imagine how happy my father will be when he sees me." Adrien laughed, "I have a photoshoot after school. He's going to kill me."

You smiled awkwardly, "And you're laughing about that?"

He paused, realizing how strange it must've seemed for him to be laughing at the idea of upsetting his father and maybe another day, he would've been more worried than joyful…but…

A part of him felt like sticking it to his dad. It was something he never would've considered doing before, but dressing up in a cat costume everyday can change a man.  

"Well, good luck with your dad." You pressed a kiss to his cheek and turned to leave. He could still feel it on his cheek, his face growing increasingly warmer. 

"You like them~" Plagg whispered.

"It's completely platonic."

Wednesday.

A festival was in town.

Adrien didn't exactly get permission to go, so he had his good old friend, Chat Noir, help him get to where he needed to be. It was a risky game he was playing, but he couldn't miss seeing you.

You ran into his arms the second you saw him, hugging him for longer than necessary (not that he was mad about it).

You walked through multiple booths, picking up small snacks.

Soon a dance broke out, and Adrien couldn't resist asking you to dance. 

He bowed deeply, grabbing your hand and pressing a kiss to it. "Would you like to dance?"

You looked bashful.

It suddenly didn't feel so platonic anymore.

Thursday.

You were trapped in a closet with him. 

Chat noir had run in to detransform, not realizing that you had already occupied the space.

He tried to quickly turn back and leave, but the door handle broke in his hands, leaving the two of you in the closet alone. 

"So…you like jazz?" Chat asked. He felt like banging his head against the wall. Talking to you was so easy as Adrien, but it was difficult as Chat Noir. 

How could pretend like he knew nothing of you when all he did was think about you?

You gave him a very confused look, "Uh…is the akuma gone?"

"Yeah! And so is the doorknob!" 

The joke didn't land as well as he wanted it to. You just nodded and shifted back and forth on your feet. He was terrible at this.

He knew the two of you couldn't stay in there forever, but the only way you could get out was if he cataclysmed the door….

But in order to do that, he'd have to detransform.

"Do you mind closing your eyes?"  

"Uh…how come?" 

"I need to detransform."

You stared at him for a few more minutes. He wondered what you thought of Chat Noir. He had never asked you about it before.

He could only hope that you liked him. 

You finally closed your eyes, and Chat whispered the magic words that rid him of his magic.

Plagg shook his head disapprovingly at the blonde, though Adrien wasn't sure what the cat wanted. There was nothing else he could do, and he knew you would be trustworthy. 

He fed Plagg quickly.

"I just wanted to say…"

Adrien froze, scared you would someone know it was him if he breathed too loudly.

"I'm very grateful for what you and Ladybug do for Paris…really. Thank you."

Adrien smiled, relaxing slightly. He wished to respond, but without the quantum magic to mask his voice, he knew speaking would only screw him over. Thankfully, you seemed to understand that, as you didn't say anything about his silence.

He waited for Plagg to finish eating before transforming back. 

He cataclysmed the door and stepped to the side, "Victims in distress first!" 

You smiled and stepped out, he followed quickly.

"Thanks again."

"There's nothing to thank me for, all I did was get you stuck in a closet."

You laughed, "I meant for stopping the akuma…and getting me out of the closet."

You smiled, and Chat could've sworn his heart stopped. He wanted to kiss you now more than ever.

Not on the cheek.

Not on the hand.

A real kiss.

Chat couldn't do such a thing, but he knew someone who could.

Friday.

It was raining. 

Neither you nor Adrien brought an umbrella.

The smart option would be to seek shelter immediately, but instead you ran in the rain.

Adrien had offered to walk you home, and during the walk, rain poured down on you. It wasn't cold or uncomfortable, but freeing. Your clothes stuck to your sides and your poor shoes would struggle in the puddles, but you didn't care. You didn't care because Adrien had grabbed you by the hand, leading you down the street in a fit of giggles.

Each drop of rain let out its own ring, like the weather was singing its own love song for the both of you.

You twirled and spun, grabbing both of Adrien's hands. He seemed flustered, but he effortlessly followed your movements. 

Perfectly in rhythm, you and Adrien were stuck in your own world.

"I love you." 

You stopped, face heating up as you locked eyes with a now embarrassed Adrien. 

"What?"

"I…I love you." He repeated. Despite his stutter, his voice was confident. He couldn't be more sure of his words.

You smiled, "I know, I heard you the first time." 

You leaned forward and pressed your lips to his.

Finally, your first real kiss.

[nobodyfamousposts]

This is totally random and out-of-the-blue, but with how much more genuinely God-awful Marinette’s life has gotten since the time you wrote it, have you ever thought of expanding your Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun-inspired fic into more than a one-shot? The one you wrote a little over three years back? The idea of Demon!Uncle Jagged and Familiar!Fang is both funny and awesome, and I seriously love how you handle your fix-it fics, with the Lament Series being my most recent favorite.

Thank you very much!

And I'm debating it? Maybe if I ever get back in the mood.

Admittedly the original plan for Marinette in the Demon World was for all of the Miraculous cast to be demons she meets there (except for Lila, who causes enough trouble as a human as it is).

With Fu being the Headmaster of the school. Tikki and Plagg as teachers with Plagg in Kalego's place of being turned into Marinette's familiar....only he enjoys it.

Plagg: (In lil kwami form) Oh no! I've been summoned! Looks like I can't go to work today. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tikki: Plagg!

Marinette: I'm so sorry!

Marinette meets the classmates and makes friends. Maybe eventually becomes the Demon Queen and rules the world with kindness and fashion!

[fruitdragon1a]

WIP: Loveybug AU

Well, I did say I would, didn't I? This is a WIP, but I thought I'd post the first part here anyway, so--

Also, disclaimer: this is very much unedited.

“He’s not in love with me anymore, Tikki,” Marinette sobbed, curled up on her bed. “I asked him out and nothing.”

“Oh, Marinette,” Tikki said, giving her a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

Marinette sniffed and wiped her nose. “And now I’ve embarrassed myself in front of him, and I can’t show my face again, and I have to move somewhere far away– what about Mexico? That’s practically on the other side of the world.” She swiped at her tears and rushed over to her computer. 

“Marinette–” Tikki started.

“A one-way ticket to Cancún costs almost 400 euros. If I sell off most of my clothes plus my sewing machine, I should have enough–”

“Marinette–” she tried again.

“Is it legal for minors to change their names? What would my new name be?”

Tikki had had it. “Marinette!” she yelled, startling her holder into spamming gibberish into the search bar. “You can’t just leave Paris to the mercy of Monarch!”

“But–”

Tikki sighed. “There… is another way. If you really feel you must, you can change your costume and your superhero name. It’s not easy, though.”

Marinette blinked at her kwami. “Wait. I could have done that this whole time?”

“It’s not easy,” Tikki repeated. “But it’s possible. When a holder’s personality changes, their costume changes, too. If you tried, you could be a completely different Ladybug.”

“Okay. A different personality, huh?” Marinette frowned. “How do I do that?”

“Think about it this way,” Tikki said. “When you talk to your teachers, you show a different side of yourself than when you talk to your friends, right?”

Marinette nodded. 

“And a third side of your personality is displayed when you become Ladybug. So now, you need to change the side of your personality that you’re showing when you transform.”

She frowned, nodding. “So, no more serious, responsible Marinette, right?”

“Right,” Tikki said.

“Okay.” Marinette nodded, trying to focus on not being responsible and serious. “Tikki, spots on!” Warm pink magic washed over her, revealing Ladybug standing in the mirror. “Spots off,” she said. “It didn’t work.”

“Well… maybe you need to plan,” Tikki suggested. “The part of your personality that you tried to use was probably too similar to yourself as Ladybug. I did say this wasn’t easy, didn’t I?”

[keketopia]

luka couffaine headcanons

• luka is a pretty laidback person

• he sometimes stargaizes at night, just so he can look at the constellations

• he isn't actually afraid of snakes, in fact, he's actually considering having one as a pet

• he and juleka have a secret communication system through music. like when one of them asks a question or speaks they would respond by playing a few notes on an instrument and they would know what it means.

juleka: "luka, have you seen my phone?"

luka: *plays a few strings on his guitar*

juleka: "found it, thanks!"

____________________________________________

luka: "what happened to my toffee pudding?"

juleka: *plays a few strings on her bass*

luka: "really, jules? I was saving that!"

juleka: *plays some more strings on her bass"

luka: "how was I supposed to know that spaghetti was yours? I didn't even see your name"

juleka: *aggressively plays some more strings on her bass while also pouting and glaring at luka*

luka: "okay, it was half finished. but i was hungry and i wasn't really craving any other foods"

juleka: *plays some more strings on her bass*

luka: "whatever, i'll just buy some"

____________________________________________

• might want a houseboat when he's older. he just loves listening to the calm waves of the water when he's sleeping or meditating

• writes songs for marinette even when they broke up

• sometimes uses juleka's head as an armrest because he's taller than her. just a way for him to tease her and laughs when she gets annoyed.

• he has really good memory. this stems from his obsession with music. not to mention that he's pretty observant. like if someone places a book somewhere and they can't remember where they put it, luka would tell them where it is.

• luka's love for music comes from when his mom used to play guitar for him and juleka as a kid. in fact, the guitar was the first instrument he learned how to play

• luka goes to the pet store to buy mice because sass admits that mice are his favorite food.

• luka is pretty chill, it's rare for him to get angry. there are only a few times where he gets angry (silencer for example)

• remember when I said that luka isn't afraid of snakes? yeah, may I mention that snakes are his favorite animal? he's considering having a snake tattoo when he's an adult, although he's not sure if he wants it on his arm or on his back.

• an empath

• his favorite flower is the devil's trumpet

• studies psychology & philosophy

• he keeps his hair his natural color for a while because keeping his edges blue can be a pain in the ass since the color washes off very quickly. so he keeps it black until he gets bored and dyed them again

• he has chromesthesia

• he firmly believes in rebirth and that there is life after death

• reads past life regression books

• he doesn't really have any aspirations for fame. despite his dad being a famous rockstar, he doesn't want to be in the spotlight. he instead wants to teach music to other people, which is why his choice of a career is a music teacher

• he is a buddhist. he believes in the majority of buddhist beliefs, including samudaya

• allergic to seafood

• plans on getting just a few more piercings

• luka is explicitly against sass calling him master

• luka will sometimes play with sass' tail whenever the kwami sits in an elevated position

• he knows how to play the lyre (due to being viperion), keyboard, & the cello.

• he is very protective, especially towards juleka. he has gotten in trouble a lot as a child for starting fights with people that bullied her.

• despite being french, he does not like cheese. he once passive-aggressively (but in a good way) gave adrien deodorant because he couldn't stand the smell of camembert

• when luka is stressed. he plays notes on his guitar with his eyes closed and tries to guess what pitch the note is at

• he is pansexual i refuse to believe he's straight!

• jokingly refers to himself as an old man because he mostly hangs out with juleka's friends, who are all two years younger than him

[aalissy]

Soulmate Markers

Just a short fluffy lil soulmate AU for today's chapter :). I hope you like it! I love writing my fluffy Adrienette hehe. Plus, I always loveee writing soulmate AU's. Lemme know what you think <3

AO3

Adrien lay flat on his stomach in bed, a smile slowly stretching across his lips as he watched Marinette’s doodles come to life on his own arm. He delicately traced over the little flowers and stars that she had drawn, breathing out in awe. 

Every day he was grateful that he had found her. That very first day when he crashed into her and found that the little sketches she doodled on her arm matched the ones his soulmate had drawn on his own arm was everything.  

After finding each other, the two could barely stop writing little notes and messages to each other. Most of the time it was Adrien teasing Marinette that she was late. Again.

He shot a longing glance over at Plagg, wishing he could transform and head over to see her. But, alas, his kwami was passed out on the pillow next to him, snoring as dreams of cheese were surely filling his head.

Not wanting to disturb Plagg, Adrien quickly grabbed for a pen, scribbling on his unmarked arm.

You seem to be doodling instead of working on our physics homework there, Mari.

He bit his lip to stifle the large smile as the doodles suddenly ceased. There was a slight pause before his arm began to tingle as Marinette began to write back.

How do you know I haven’t already finished it yet and am taking a much-needed break?

Adrien snorted at the idea of Marinette having already finished all of her homework. Usually, she waited until the last minute for the classes she disliked the most.

Do you mean besides the fact that I also haven’t finished the whole assignment yet? 

He took a short pause, letting Marinette read the words that he had scrawled across the inside of his wrist before he struck an even bigger point.

Or, how about the fact that you haven’t stopped doodling since we left school? Did you have time to even start the physics homework yet?

Shush you! I’ve only just gotten home! I don’t need to worry about the homework yet.

Marinette's protestations were met with a playful chuckle from Adrien. He knew her procrastination tactics well. There was a brief enough break from her scribblings that Adrien felt a twinge of sadness in his chest. It hadn’t even been five minutes yet and already he missed talking to her. He couldn’t imagine what life would be like if they didn’t have this constant method of communication.

Soon, though, the tingle on his forearm appeared again and Adrien eagerly stared down at the words that were slowly appearing.

Have you gotten the answer to number 3 yet?

Hold on!

Springing up out of bed, he raced over to his desk. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out the piece of scratch paper that he was using to solve the equations. 

Together, they began working on the problems, their minds synchronizing as they tackled the physics problems. Adrien marveled at Marinette's ability to grasp concepts quickly, her work clear and concise even as they used their arms to describe the answers they were getting. Quickly, with both of them working together, the two finished their homework.

Great work, Mari! 

Can I go back to doodling now, teacher?

Only if you keep doodling on your arm so that I can see.

Adrien could only imagine the light pink tinge that would light up her cheeks and for about the millionth time he wished he was with her so he could see it. This time, no reply of words came from Marinette. Instead, just as he requested, a trail of doodles began to replace over the words that they had previously written to each other.

He sighed happily, rubbing his thumb over the tiny images that were blooming along his arm. His father was certainly going to yell at him about his soulmate's pictures again. Something about how it tainted his perfect skin, but Adrien didn’t care. Not with the way Marinette was currently sketching a tiny heart with the letters A + M scratched into it.

Adrien beamed before he gave a series of happy cackles. Every day he sincerely wondered how he had gotten so lucky. His soulmate was the best one of them all and no one could ever... would ever get in the way of that.

[mcheang]

Spot the difference

When Zoe and Alya become replacement heroes, Marinette could have told the kwamis to pass on the message to avoid wearing the rings! Except she was kinda depressed and their decision had been a shock to her.

However as she went to visit Alya to congratulate her, she also had a list of things to beware and avoid, among which was the alliance ring.

Alya dismisses Marinette’s concern, reluctant to give up the latest technical fad and unable to think of an explanation for even doing that. Besides, does Marinette know how much these things cost?

After the events of Deflagration, Marinette, Alya, Tikki and Plagg are curious how Monarch discovered their secret identities so quickly.

What is the difference between Marinette and Alya? Could it really be the alliance ring?

Plagg: actually, now that you mention it, Chat Noir doesn’t wear an alliance ring, but Kitty does.

Everyone is stunned.

Alya hesitantly says, “And Kouki wore 5 alliance rings on his hands, Nora was complaining to me about him being such a spendthrift. That was the only time we faced an akuma with the powers of 5 miraculous. Did the other akumas wear multiple alliance rings?”

Marinette: no.

Alya said what everyone must be thinking. “So the alliance rings are how Monarch transfers the powers of the kwami.”

Tikki: you think Gabriel might be Monarch after all?

Marinette: i don’t want to think it could be true, but we can’t discount the possibility. I know he was the Collector before but the arrival of Mayura means he has at least one ally who could akumatize him on his behalf.

Alya: it is too much of a coincidence that Gabriel should be akumatized right after he loses the grimoire, the most incriminating clue that would lead to Hawkmoth.

Plagg: if Gabriel really is Monarch, there’s only one way to know for sure. He’ll have my mark on him after the wax museum.

Alya: right…how are we going to see Gabriel’s arm? A vaccine?

Marinette: not to mention, i am certain that Monarch would want to hide such a clue with makeup.

Plagg: there’s only one way to know for sure. A spy mission. Send me Marinette, no offense but out of all of you, I blend in the most easily.

Alya: right, then how do you explain kwami buster?

Tikki, who knows Plagg knows the Agreste mansion best of them all, speaks up. “No, he’s right. We need to send in Plagg.”

Marinette twiddled her fingers. “Especially since the Resistance’s last plan with Gabriel epically failed.”

Plagg avoids meeting Adrien, knowing he won’t take kindly to his father being accused again. But he really goes all out in exploring the house. He does more than sneak into Gabriel and Nathalie’s rooms, he searches for hidden lairs and vaults. He finds Monarch’s lair easily enough, and his captured friends!

Plagg reports this to Marinette. Grimly, she starts planning. “Gabriel must be hiding the rings under his gloves.”

Alya: what are you going to do now?

Marinette: I’m going to arrest Monarch in the last place he expects. When do you think Gabriel is making his next public appearance?

Alya: uh…no clue. I’m still surprised he went to the parent teacher conference.

Marinette: we need more heads. Plagg, you can go to Chat and-

Plagg: actually, it might be better if you leave Chat out of this.

Marinette: why?

Plagg: I can’t say.

A pause before they move on.

Alya: what if Adrien has his friends over, is that enough of a public setting for you?

Marinette nodded. It will do, but I have to ambush him easily.

Alya: you can count on the resistance.

Sure enough, Alya knocks Gabriel unconscious and lets Ladybug in through the window. Adrien is stunned when Ladybug exposes his father as the villain.

As the resistance stands watch over the bound villain, Ladybug summons her lucky charm to find his lair.

She frees the kwamis. Gabriel is arrested but there is still the question of who Mayura is, either Tomoe or Nathalie. Anyway, they are both taken into custody where Nooroo happily outs them.

Adrien then has to move away to Paris after the public backlash and stay with his aunt. Plagg offers the miraculous again but Adrien politely declines, instead promising to help recover the Peacock from his cousin should he show his face again.

[princess-of-the-corner]

(hi, I wrote this short bit inspired by your class knows au and since I'm not going to do anything with it, I thought I'd share)

The Guardian of the Miraculous chooses a selfless girl, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, who risks herself for strangers, and an empathetic boy, Adrien Agreste, who would risk his bid for freedom in order to lend a hand to the helpless, to wield The Earrings of the Ladybug, and The Ring of the Cat. 

But in this world, instead of leaving the jewelry boxes in the teens' rooms, he slips them into their backpacks. Several minutes later, the teacher running late, the class is crowding around two desks as their occupants simultaneously open the mysteriously matching boxes that somehow made their way into their bags.

Light flashes.

“Greetings!” the kwami of creation squeaks, as her counterpart yawns. “Oh shit-”

Fourteen pairs of eyes are watching them.

“Bugger,” Plagg says.

The embodiment of destruction hovers, briefly contemplating the current dilemma, before nodding once decisively.

“We grant superpowers to the chosen holders through dumb accessories, capiche? No? Oh well. Now where can I find some cheese?”

Tikki swearing is GREAT but also Plagg just rolling with it? *chef's kiss*

[ledalasombra]

The granddaughter Chapter 3 - a single family

Marinette entered her apartment, closing the door behind her. She checked if everything was organized, closing the curtains and windows, heading straight to her room. The day had been hectic, she was still jet-lagged, her anxiety over the conversation she'd had with her grandfather was at its peak and she was tired from dinner with Jagged. She took out her cell phone sending a quick message to her grandfather, letting him know that she was already home, as she had previously promised.

Mari: Hello grandpa, I just got home. We'll talk tomorrow. Sleep well!

Grandpa Al: Rest well my dear.

She smiled slightly when she saw the message from her grandfather that appeared on her cell phone just a few seconds later, placing the device on the table next to her bed. Marinette made a beeline for the closet, where she stopped in front of a dresser, reciting a few words almost inaudibly, with the palm of her right hand over the top. At the end, she opened the top of the furniture, removing the miraculous box, performing the sequence to open the box lid. She waited a few seconds until all the Kwamis got out of the box and started to disperse around the room. The young guardian smiled slightly. She liked to see the little gods free, even though she knew they would be creating chaos in the place.

"Okay everyone, you know where your food is. Remember the rules we talked about, try not to break anything and don't make too much noise, please. Sass and Wayzz, if you could hold on for a moment, I'd like to have a chat with you" she said watching the Kwamis disperse seeing only the two of them stay. She held out her hands for them both to sit down, moving towards the bed and watching Tikki enter the room through her peripheral vision. She sat on the bed, thinking about the right way to start the conversation.

"Did something happen, guardian?" She heard Wayzz speak, directing her attention to him.

"I need to know if you know the name Alfred Pennyworth" she said looking at the two Kwamis

"Masssster Alfred wasss a good holder. Masssster Fu judged him to be a reliable person with good instinctssss."

"Master Fu had a good friendship with him. It was a difficult decision to trust someone with a miraculous, especially after the disappearance of Nooroo and Duussuu, but he saw something else in Alfred. He said that his essence was in harmony with Sass. After we found him barely alive, Master Fu needed a lot of effort to make him well again. It took almost three days for him to regain consciousness."

"Alfred undersssstood that the miraculous should not be involved in the war directly and accepted its use very reluctantly. Monthsssss later with the end of the war, he returned the miraculoussss to Master Fu. We saw each other a few timesss after that, before Masssster Fu made the decision to hide." Sass completed watching Marinette carefully. "Both ssstayed in contact for many yearsssss and I can say that he, besidessss Marianne, wassss the only person that Masssster Fu trusted. May I ask where you heard that name Guardian?"

"Alfred is my grandfather Sass. I went to visit him today. I talked about my Mandarin teacher and then he started telling me about his days in the war. He said Master Fu made the same tea for him." She smiled slightly.

"That's great guardian. I said you don't have to go through this whole process alone." Wayzz smiled slightly looking at her "You don't have to do like Master Fu. Having someone to rely on is important and Alfred is certainly someone you can trust. Or do you think not?"

"He's the person I trust the most right now Wayzz" she smiled caressing little Kwami "I'll think about it. He knows that I know about the miraculous, that I've heard about Sass, but he doesn't know that I'm the new guardian. I don't I want to have to lie to him. Thank you both so much. You can go, if you need anything let me know." She stopped looking at the wall in front of her, lost in her thoughts. It would be a long night...

*********

The day seems to have gone by in one big blur. After having spent most of the night panicking about what to do about her grandfather, she ended up sleeping late and therefore missing most of the morning. Marinette had received a message from her grandfather saying that he would not be able to meet her during lunch. She took the opportunity to cut the fabrics that had arrived in the early afternoon, then getting ready as she was going to meet her uncle in the late afternoon to go out. As soon as she left the apartment, she already found the car stopped, seeing the bodyguard outside.

"Bruno! How are you? We almost didn't talk yesterday." Marinette spoke with a wide smile heading towards the bodyguard. "You were too busy keeping the paparazzi away…" she said as she got in the car next.

"In the rush that Jagged puts me through, mia cara…" he smiled, getting in the car right after. "It's good to see you mia bella. It seems happier outside the city of love…"

"I think I am? Things are simpler here" she smiled slightly turning her attention back to the rock star

  "Jagged, Penny... Did you have a good day?" She greeted the couple in front of her "where are we going? You said everything and nothing yesterday Jagged and I'm just riding the wave with you" she laughed, seeing jagged smile and Penny smiling and shaking her head.

"Own M, we're going to see my childhood friend Bruce. I think you're going to love him and his kids. They've been trying to convince me to bring you here for years."

"Bruce?" Marinette asked looking at Penny

"Bruce Wayne, billionaire and extravagant. His children are... one of a kind, you might say. It's a short drive from here to there. We should get there quickly, the apartment you've chosen is in a great area"

"Ah… yes. Remember yesterday I mentioned that I was going to see my grandfather?" Marinette laughed lightly at the incredible coincidence. That's probably why Alfred couldn't go out today.

"Yes, you spent the afternoon with him yesterday, didn't you? I thought you were having lunch today?" jagged replied

"So he can't just come…" Marinette stopped talking as soon as she heard her cell phone ring, quickly apologizing to the couple, frowning. "Do you mind if I pick up?"

"Make yourself at ease dear.." replied Penny

"Adrien. How are you? It's kind of late to call me, isn't it? It must be close to 11 pm in London." She spoke as soon as she picked up, listening to him speak and responding with simple words and quick responses. "I told you I wasn't going to tell you where I was Adrien…" she sighed as she noticed the car slowing down.

"Here we are. M, do you want some time?"

"You can go Jagged, I'll see you soon." She responded to the rock star turning her attention to the phone when she saw both of them get out of the car "Adrien, I told you I was going to follow Jagged on his tour for a while. I won't go into detail with you." She replied in quick French, in a low voice, getting out of the car and turning her back to the door of the mansion beside Bruno.

Jagged and Penny got out of the car and stopped in front of the door, which was already open, with Alfred waiting outside to welcome the guests. Raising an eyebrow slightly at the sight of his granddaughter talking on the phone and gesticulating quickly, the butler turned his attention to the couple in front of him. "Mr and Mrs Stone, it's always a pleasure to see you again"

"Heya Alfred, how are you? It's been a while and it looks like you haven't aged a bit." Jagged said hugging the butler

"I guarantee the guys have added a fair amount of gray hair to my head," he replied to the rock star who laughed at the comment.

"It's always good to see you, Alfred. I hope we're not bothering you by coming so suddenly." Penny commented as she greeted the butler.

"It's no bother. Let's go inside and I'll come back for the young lady. That way she'll have the privacy to end her call." he spoke indicating the way for them to follow, leading the couple to the living room where the family was talking animatedly.

"Heya Bruce my friend! It's been a long time! My goodness, they don't stop growing…" Jagged said as soon as he entered the room seeing the boys in a heated discussion. The loud talk stopped almost immediately with the arrival of the singer and his wife "I'm getting old…"

"Jagged, it's always a pleasure to see you. You haven't changed a bit! I was surprised when I heard you were in Gotham. I thought you were on tour." Bruce replied as he watched the two enter the room, hugging his friend next. "Did you decide to take a vacation?" The eldest smiled.

"Nah… my life is on stage. I came to see if my niece was well accommodated, she came here to attend Gotham University." he replied as he greeted Bruce's children in the room. "Dick, my boy, did I hear you have a daughter now?"

"Yes, she's traveling with her mother. She should be back in a week or two… she's already 5 years old." Dick responded by sitting down after greeting Penny and Jagged.

"Geez, I'm old" he joked taking a light slap from Penny on the shoulder.

"Oh no need to exaggerate Jagged… your kids are the same age as Mari and if you're getting old that means I am too" she told him "It's good to see you again, I'm glad to hear you're doing well." she said turning her attention back to the patriarch "Thank you for having us Bruce."

"It's always a pleasure to see you again. I'm glad you decided to stop here, it's been what... 5 years since the last time you came." Bruce said making a thoughtful face

"Oh Man.. has it been this long since we've seen each other?" Jagged exclaimed "Whenever I go through Gotham you're busy."

"It's been more complicated every year…" he smiled politely "I thought someone else would come with you... your design, if I'm not mistaken"

"Yes, my honorary niece!" He smiled extremely enthusiastically "Mari is on the phone outside, we thought it best to give her some privacy with the discussion she was having with her ex over the phone.."

"Jagged" Penny cut him off, pinching the bridge of her nose "you know she's very private…"

"Oh come on Pen, you know they broke up because of him and now he's running after her asking her to come back… He is a good guy, but I won't let him make her suffer like this. Especially after all the trouble he's caused with the media."

"Media? If he is famous, the paparazzi certainly must have made a mess of the relationship" Tim commented, taking a sip of his coffee and remembering the countless times that the family was involved in similar events.

________________________

Ok guys, sorry for the delay, but my life is crazy. Sorry for the grammar mistakes, I hope you all enjoyed it

@sknerd101 @kathygene @waffleyunsure @nightfallsthings @taewinterbear95 @occulta-lacrimarum13  @kathygene  @tinybrie  @kitsun369  @iglowinggemma28  @crazylittlemunchkin  @nightfallsthings  @fangirlingfanatic  @nightmarewasteland   @laydeekrayzee  @the-ruler-of-death  @iamablinkmarvelarmy  @sarcasticbambi

[imthepunchlord]

Do you think Marinette getting the ladybug miraculous and Adrien getting the cat miraculous could have worked?

Oh yes, they could've.

As Marinette is set power wise in how she uses the Ladybug, the biggest issue that needs to be addressed is Tikki. Tikki doesn't bring anything new to Marinette, she teaches to be responsible, be considerate of others, step up as a leader, be dedicated and productive and stay on top of things; and guess what, Marinette is already a lot of those. Tikki is just hammering those nails even deeper. And while Tikki can be supportive and affectionate, she doesn't truly back her humans, she wants them to handle things themselves. So paired with this, it's easy to get why Marinette is developing and Atlas complex with Tikki.

It's a big reason Plagg I think would've been the best kwami to pair with her, for he's her best foil. He's the best set up to have Marinette grow, learn to adjust herself. He's lazy to her being overly dedicated and productive, and he's selfish to her selflessness. I don't see Marinette flipping a coin and becoming like Plagg, but I can see her learning that she needs to draw a line somewhere, to not pile so much on her plate, that sometimes she needs to prioritize herself and her own needs and wants before others. It's also a big plus that Plagg will be in Marinette's court and have her back and get upset for her, something she really doesn't have in canon (at most she had Luka but they moved him to Brazil so... yeah she doesn't really have anyone in her corner).

But to make Tikki work, there are a few options.

1 is to have Marinette realize that Tikki doesn't always know what's best, and she shouldn't listen to everything Tikki says, calls out, or advises. That she should probably challenge Tikki and her stances sometimes.

2 is to make use of Master Fu, he could be the one to advise Marinette to not have full faith in Tikki and her stances, or you can make use of him being someone Tikki works for and have him tell Tikki that she needs to adjust herself and how she's handling Marinette.

3 is having a different kwami to work with Marinette and Tikki, having someone counter Tikki's words with their own, and Marinette has someone else to listen to and consider than Tikki. Ideally, I do think it needs to be a kwami who's going to recommend prioritizing Marinette's needs since Tikki is there to guide her humans to be a humanitarian.

Adrien with the Cat is good, but he can be better. I do think he needs to learn some self control and self restraint with the power of destructive, given he can be quite reckless and emotional with it (destroying things out of anger is not great, accidentally murdering Aeon is not great, moving to kill Scarabella is not great...). I do also think the Cat is meant to be more stealthy in combat, so Adrien could work at being a better planner and sneak attacker.

Plagg ideally should've helped with Adrien's rebellion, help him gain independence, to stand his ground against his father and play by his own rules. These are what Adrien needs, and plays into his wants. He wants to be more independent, and he does need to rebel against his father and his unreasonable rules. And Adrien can be a pleaser so he does need to learn to do things his way and not just go with the flow like his father/Chloe want him to.

Only drawback is that Adrien himself is pretty selfish and entitled (especially with Ladybug), and Plagg can feed into that. Plagg is also the sort to let consequences be a teacher than actually be involved in guiding humans to grow, but Adrien isn't the sort to take up blame or faults on his part, he'd pass it onto others and deny his own faults. And it especially doesn't help having Plagg deep in Adrien's corner that he'll get upset for him, like Kuro Neko, technically he needs to get Adrien off his butt and get moving instead of getting upset at Marinette. Like, good for Adrien to have that, he needs it in his household, but this isn't what he needs either.

So for Adrien to work with Cat, ultimately, Plagg needs to adjust and step up his game. Likewise, can make use of Master Fu to stress to Adrien that he needs to adjust how he uses the Cat if nothing can be done about Plagg. Honestly, Master Fu should've been very put off and wary in Syren when he came upon Adrien threatening to quit instead of being a hero and helping those in need.

Honestly, between the two, Adrien is the dicey choice. And given that quitting as come up three times with him, and he still hasn't changed much with how he is as a hero, he probably shouldn't have been a full time hero.

[miraculousfanworks]

Fanfiction Prompt

In the time since her akumatization, Mendeleiev has been studying footage of the event. After much careful experimentation, she believes she's able to recreate the technology she used to capture the kwami. The only thing it's missing is a little Miraculous magic. Quietly pulling Alya aside after class, she asks her to contact Ladybug. Marinette is hesitant, but decides to trust her teacher since she already knows about the existence of kwamis and never tried to expose them again. Ladybug and Chat prove unexpectedly helpful in completing the device. They test the technology on Plagg, since worst case scenario he should be able to Cataclysm his way out, and confirm it works. A week later, the heroes get a few miles out of the city so Mendeleiev can activate their wide-range Kwamibuster Field. If things go according to plan, all of the kwami under Monarch's control could be out of his custody within the hour.

Prompt by techRomancer

[sallertiafabrica]

It’s Just… I Wish Someone Would Listen

Chapter 1: Meow if You’re Present

It’s hard for Félix to talk. He prefers listening, and sometimes, he wished someone would listen with him.

OR:

In which Marinette is a new student, Félix is the school’s pretty boy, and Plagg is a high school teacher.

(Ao3 link)

This AU’s version of the first ep of Komi-san.

[the-delta-42]

Hindsight - Chapter 2

Hindsight

Chapter 2

Marinette tried not to itch the gauze that covered her ears, everything was muffled, although her phone had practically blown up with texts, mostly from her friends, some from her teachers and a few from some people she’d never met before. Adrien sat not too far away from her, his leg bouncing.

“Can you please stop that?” Asked Marinette, her voice raised so she could hear herself speak.

“Oh, sorry.” Said Adrien, getting to his feet.

“You don’t have to hang around, Adrien,” Said Marinette, putting her phone down, “my parents are coming to pick me up, they haven’t yet because the Bakery’s been flooded with the press.”

Adrien looked down, before glancing towards the door. He could see Gorilla’s shadow over the window, his bodyguard had taken to preventing any unwanted persons into the room. Which included the multiple journalists that were crowded outside the hospital.

“Are you sure you want me to go, Marinette?” Asked Adrien, hesitantly.

Marinette looked out the window, there was a practical sea of people outside.

“Adrien, I’ll be fine.” Promised Marinette, smiling at the model.

Adrien looked like he didn’t believe her, but got up and headed for the door anyway, “If you need anything, just call me.”

Marinette hummed and nodded, looking down at her phone. Gorilla guiding him towards the car as soon as they were out of the building. Marinette dropped her phone on the bed and popped her mouth, before following it up with a series of noises as she shuffled around.

“Why can’t I transform again?” Marinette asked Tikki, as the Kwami devoured a cookie.

“Because,” Tikki hiccupped, “when your ear was ripped off, your body entered a state of shock and still needs time to recover.”

Marinette frowned, “And you’re not using this as an excuse to eat as many cookies as you want without getting in trouble?”

Tikki froze and glanced at the pile of cookies behind her, “Noooo…”

Marinette hummed and looked out the window and saw her parents van pull up, “You better eat fast, because we’ll be leaving soon.”

Tikki looked at the window and then at the pile of cookies. Marinette heard a loud, sucking sound, before she pivoted and saw Tikki seemingly passed out next to where the pile of cookies sat.

“Okay, didn’t expect that.” Said Marinette, as her mother entered the room.

“Marinette!” Cried Sabine, before grabbing Marinette and pulling her into a bone crushing embrace.

“Maman, can’t breathe.” Gasped Marinette, as her mother smothered her.

“Why didn’t you say anything? What were you thinking? How long have you been doing this?” Demanded Sabine, unconsciously tightening her grip on Marinette.

“Sabine,” Said Tom, entering the room, “she needs to breathe.”

Sabine loosened her grip, allowing Marinette to suck in a large gulp of air.

“Thank you.” Whispered Marinette, as she regained her breath.

Tom spotted Tikki, sleeping on the table, “Is this the mouse we’ve gained?”

Marinette nodded, as Tom picked Tikki up and gently placed her in his pocket.

“Be careful with her, she just Kirby-ed a plate of cookies.” Warned Marinette, stretching her arms, “I’m actually amazed that Hawkmoth hasn’t tried to make an appearance.”

H

“What do you mean I can’t bail her out?” Demanded Gabriel, as the Duty Sergeant idly looked at him.

“National Intelligence don’t want anyone to speak to her until they’ve questioned her.” She said, in her bored tone.

“I have work that needs to be done.” Snarled Gabriel, trying to intimidate the woman.

“Then hire someone else.” Retorted the sergeant, “We can’t release a domestic terrorist because you don’t have anyone to schedule your meetings.”

Gabriel puffed up and demanded, “Do you know who I am?!”

The Sergeant looked at him, before grabbing her radio. Gabriel smirked, satisfied that he’d get what he wanted. Then the sergeant spoke, “Chief, can you come to the front desk? There’s a guy who doesn’t know who he is.”

The Sergeant gave Gabriel a smug smile and rested her chin on her fist.

Gabriel spun on his heel and stormed out of the Police station, not noticing a journalist that had been listening to him demanding Nathalie be released.

H

Marinette blew air through her teeth and spun around in her chair, while all her friends stared at her.

“I’m bored.” Whined Marinette, getting a wince from everyone.

“You’re not supposed to do anything that could further damage your ears.” As soon as Nino said that, Marinette perked up.

“Mullo!” Yelled Marinette, summoning the Mouse Kwami and reached out for the necklace.

Ivan quickly grabbed Marinette around the middle as the petite girl tried to reach for the miraculous. Alya’s phone beeped, alerting her to a new news headline.

“I don’t believe this!” Exclaimed Alya, drawing everyone’s attention, “The press found out about Marinette’s expulsion, and Damocles is saying Marinette attacked people!”

Everyone froze, before a rock sailed through Marinette’s bedroom window.

“They’re saying that Marinette carried out an unprovoked attack on a fellow student and was expelled on the spot.” Stated Alya, venom dripping from her words, “I’m going to kill that fat bastard!”

Nino looked over Alya’s shoulder, “It also say that there is no evidence to support or contradict those claims and the expulsion was illegal because Marinette didn’t receive a hearing.”

“Damocles is performing a smear campaign to cover up his own failings.” Snarled Alya, while Alix picked up the rock and threw it back out the window.

H

Damocles tried not to squirm as the two inspectors stared at him.

“You… refused to investigate the claims Mlle Dupain-Cheng was making, because you saw Mlle Rossi sitting at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Was Mlle Rossi harmed in any way? Did she have any visible bruises or marks?”

“W-well, no, but-” The female inspector cut him off.

“You were granted several thousand euros to refurbish the school and its contents, and yet, this is the only room that has been visibly altered.” She said, her voice cold, “It is well known that you have an…unusual hobby. There have been concerns about you embezzling funds. As well as accusations of unfair dismissal and blatant favouritism towards the wealthier students.”

“I-well-erm-you see-” Damocles was interrupted again.

“M. Damocles, you’ve shown us evidence that you are both inefficient and incompetent in your job.” Warned the male inspector, “Now, you will tell us everything, the whole truth and then we will decide your next course of action.”

H

Marinette’s leg bounced as M. Coleman read the article. The principal looked up at Marinette, before running a hand over his face.

“If I’d known the severity of your situation, I wouldn’t’ve accepted you,” Began Coleman, making Marinette wilt, “You were expelled under dubious circumstances at best, with no evidence supporting the course of action, and you’ve been bearing a burden that you shouldn’t have to.”

“S-sir, what does that mean?” Asked Marinette, quietly.

“It means, Mlle Dupain-Cheng, that Hector Damocles made a catastrophic mistake and has no way of recovering from it.” Clarified Coleman, before glancing at the clock of the wall, “Class will be starting soon, I suggest you head there now.”

Marinette silently nodded and hurried out of the room, leaving Coleman to his thoughts. Arthur glanced at his phone, before frowning and picking up the receiver and dialling a number.

“Michael,” Started Arthur, “I need a favour.”

[blueberrypancakesworld]

Umbrella - Marieltober 2023

Day 21 : Rain For the Marieltober in 2023 by @irenea666

warning : aged up, marinette is in her early 20s and gabriel is in his early 40s, fluff, mutual feelings, proffesor/student

Info : This is my first time doing such an event I hope I did everything right. Even though it's not the 21 of October anymore but I hope that is all right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An actual warm sunny morning had settled over Paris and lured the city dwellers outside. Warm temperatures, a cloudless sky and warm rays of sunshine were perfect. So Marinette had also thrown herself into an airy dress. A creation of her own in red tones and black embellishments, she had designed it herself over several days. Inspired by her Ladybug outfit, of course.

With her bag over her shoulder and Tikki in it, she had made her way to the Paris University of Fashion.

Not only the university, when it comes to clothes and creating, but also her opportunity to become a fashion designer. But that was not the reason why she put her bright lip gloss on her lips and a little mascara on her eyelashes in the bus. She felt so pretty too, but Friday was always her favourite day when she was with a certain someone. Gabrielle Agreste.

The fashion designer Paris. He had been a kind of substitute professor since the building and always had a helping hand over the works of his students. Which is why she at least wanted to dress up a little. What do you think he'll think of my blouse? she murmured to herself and looked out of the bus window to see the colourful university. ,,He must like it," she heard Tikki's voice from her pocket and the little red and black kwami winked at her encouragingly.

,,You're right, I'll do my best," she replied, smiling gratefully at the mystical being before hurrying to the university to avoid being late. The first hours were dry theory, colour teachers and which fabrics harmonised best with each other. Until the time finally came when the professor ended the lesson and she went to her favourite lesson with a joyous heart. 

Like everyone else, Marinette had her own table, her own doll to dress up and her own sewing machine. Her little kingdom from where she could watch Gabriele hidden behind mountains of fabric. She saw with her blue eyes the little smile on his lips as his white hair bounced slightly every time he took a step.

The bright eyes behind the glasses that flew over the students. As handsome as a butterfly, she thought, smiling slightly at the comparison. But as much as she loved to dream and look at the older man, she knew she had to work too. Time flew by as she cut more and more fabric and sewed more and more.

The woman in her early twenties hardly noticed that raindrops were falling on the windows and the sun was disappearing behind rain clouds. ,,I think that's enough for today, students, before you get too wet, have a wonderful day," he announced cheerfully and the students left one by one. All except one. Marinette.

The blue-haired woman was so absorbed in her work that she did not notice how the older man looked at her. His gaze wandered over her work and herself. ,,Little Ladybird…I must say your work is phenomenal, quite enchanting. I'm just afraid you'll have to take the needle off too," he said softly and saw Marinette flinch, she seemed to have only just noticed him.

The student turned around and he saw her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, he saw her lip gloss and her accentuated eyes. He himself felt the warmth coming to his cheeks. ,,Thank you Monsieur Agreste it meant a lot to me that you are pleased with it" she replied and cleared the way to let him have a better look at the blouse.

The purple fabric with the silver ascesoirs and butterfly buttons was perfection. Maybe Marinette liked Hesperia? ,,I hope the other professors see it that way," she murmured, packing her things before swinging her purse over her shoulder.

All of a sudden she felt his hand on hers, a brief touch like the flutter of a butterfly's wings. ,,Hope is the best thing you can do Marinette" he said and the two decided to walk together to the main exit. She knew that the spot on her hand was tingling and he wanted to give her words of hope again.

The two walked together through the corridors, glancing at each other furtively from time to time. They had always understood each other well, what was initially excitement and curiosity had now become respect and love.

The creations of his little ladybug were beautiful and the endless hope and kindness of her handsome butterfly was always during. ,,Rain? Oh no…no umbrella" the younger one stated as she scurried back under the roof of the university and Gabriel stopped, a little taken aback. His eyes went to the dress and he understood what had happened.

He had brought his own large lilac umbrella with him and stepped towards Marinette. ,,Miss Cheng, may I take you to the station…or home?" he asked after a moment's hesitation, not knowing if he had crossed a line. He saw surprise, then consideration and then something like hope in her eyes. Before he handed her the umbrella and took off his coat to put it over her shoulders. ,,Misseur Agr-" she wanted to say, but he took the umbrella from her before he sat down next to her and said, ,,Gabriel please, if I may also call you Marinette" and was pleased to see the hasty nod.

Before she grabbed his arm on impulse and the two of them walked down the street together under the umbrella. The older man felt her press herself closer to him, her hand sliding from his arm to his hand. A smile crept onto his lips as he saw the flush on her cheeks as he squeezed her hand lightly. ,,The rain gives hope for another fine day," he murmured, looking at the drops around him.

He heard her agree with him and the two fell into a small conversation about hope, rain and fashion. It was only when the two arrived in front of the younger woman's flat that they fell silent. ,,I hope you didn't get too wet," he said and saw her wipe a few drops from her bag. ,,No, it's fine," she smiled and saw how the white-haired man seemed to be thinking.

But about what. ,,Marinette, I totally understand if you say no but…would you like to come to dinner and create an outfit together?" He asked, fearing that she would refuse, stay with him or even leave.

His thoughts ran amok, but when he suddenly felt her take him in her arms, he heard her say, ,,Oh, I'd love to, Gabriele, I'd love to". The younger one had embraced him so stormily and they were both standing in the rain again, the umbrella rolled to the ground and she gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. In the end, the happiness of the Ladybug and the hope of the butterfly won out, because together they found love.

[milarqui]

Scarlet Lady: Zombizou

Directory | Prime Queen

“As requested, I looked into whether or not the Bee or Cat has ‘extra’ powers,” Master Fu said, passing the pages on the Grimoire as Adrien looked on, his mind still on the events of the previous day.

“Hm,” he noncommittally said, distracted.

“There is something here, but…” Fu continued, fingering the characters in a page underneath a picture of Marigold's top. “It's unclear, as usual. Something about powers manifesting in times of great need. But my training didn't include decoding ancient vague posts.”

Fu shook his head.

“From what I gather, it's dependent on the holder to unlock any new–”

That was when he noticed Adrien was not paying his full attention.

“Is something on your mind, Adrien?” he asked, shaking him off his mental elucubrations.

“Huh? Ah, no, nothing! Thank you for updating me, Master!” he quickly replied, standing up to get ready to leave. After a few words of goodbye, Adrien left the shop and closed the door behind him.

“You didn't tell him you think Goldilocks might be Pigtails,” Plagg pointed out, and Adrien looked away, uncomfortable.

“Uhh…” he said, trying to find an answer that would actually work, only for Plagg to nod at him.

“Good choice. If you find out her identity, you'll have to give up your Miraculous.”

“Well, that's dumb. And shouldn't it be the other way around?” Adrien pointed out. “Giving the Black Cat to a noob at this point would be a disaster. Either way, it's not like I have proof. No need to involve Master Fu.”

“Right…” Plagg awkwardly replied.

—

Meanwhile, at another house near Françoise Dupont, Marinette was talking with Pollen on a similar matter.

“Pollen, should I try to find out Chat Noir's identity?” she asked her Kwami partner, who nodded with a grin.

“Whatever you think is best!” she replied.

Pollen was not up to date with current protocols, needless to say.

—

The next day, all of Marinette's classmates were ready to celebrate the day they had been preparing for the past weeks.

“I drew Mme. Bustier as a superhero for her birthday,” Nathaniel explained, “cuz she's always solving problems!”

Their teacher's birthday.

“I wish her solutions included less hugging,” Nino replied with a deadpan look.

“My gift is to thank her for the meditation minute,” Mylène said as she got her present on the table. “It keeps me calm.”

“Yeah, free nap time is awesome!” Kim added, causing Ivan to roll his eyes.

“Kim, that's not the point of meditation,” the gentle giant pointed out.

“I, for one, am a big fan of our morning compliment time,” Lila said, sparkling as she twirled around with a smile. “Isn't it great to start the day exchanging compliments?”

We all know why you enjoy it, Alix, Max, and Nathaniel thought as they thought of the latest such event.

—

Three days before

It was morning compliment time, and Mme. Bustier had picked two girls she could tell were having some difficulties with each other (or, as her students would put it, hated each other's guts) so they would say nice things about each other. Maybe this would help them become friends!

Or so she thought. because, as it turned out, people had the ability of making insults sound like praise, and neither Chloé nor Lila were shy about it.

“Oh, Chloé, I love how confident you are in your makeup skills,” Lila said, grinning at the Mayor's daughter, “despite being a total amateur!”

“Hmph! Well, I love how entertaining it is when you lie about having an amazing life even though you're a total nobody!” Chloé fired back.

“O-ho! You know, it's really brave of you to wear so much white when your fake tan is so runny.”

Chloé glared at the smirking Italian girl… while Mme. Bustier kept smiling, oblivious to what was really going on.

—

“What about you, Marinette?” Adrien asked. “I'm sure you came up with something awesome, as usual.”

“Heheh˜” she giggled, pulling out the box she had prepared. “I got her favorite shade of lip balm, and I made a makeup back with the first thing Mme. Bustier taught us: ‘If we want to change the world, we must all learn to love each other’.”

“AWW!” several of her classmates said.

“Isn't that lesson kinda… juvenile?” Alya asked with a grimace, which Marinette answered to with a side-eye.

“Well, she's been teaching some of us since we were six,” she replied as she put things back in place.

“Hey Chloé, what did you get Mme Bustier?” Sabrina asked with a smug look on her face.

“Ugh! Uh…” Chloé groaned as she tried to find an answer, but Marinette interrupted.

“C'mon, Sabrina, you know Chloé didn't get anything just like every year since Cours Preparatoire.”

“Whatever,” Chloé said, looking away and crossing her arms. “All that nonsense about compliments and love? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!”

“What a shocker,” Marinette sarcastically replied as she opened her locker and put her present inside. “Caring about someone other than herself would require Chloé to have a heart.”

“Um, of course I have a heart? I could even buy yours,” Chloé replied, causing Marinette to roll her eyes at Chloé’s stupidity as she closed the locker.

—

The door to Marinette's locker opened again, but this time it was Chloé at the other side, marker in hand, as she grabbed the box.

“I can't believe I have to take my own cap off my own marker,” she complained. “What I go through to make sure Dupain-Cheng knows her place.”

—

“BON ANNIVERSAIRE, MME. BUSTIER!” the class cheered as their teacher entered the classroom, looking at the small pile of presents on the table.

“You're all so sweet, thank you!” the teacher said, smiling and blushing at her students’ generosity.

“Oh, Marinette made that one!” Alya said, pointing at the present that was closest to Mme. Bustier, who gently opened it… to find a box with an ugly scribble made with marker and covering what looked like a beautiful sewing of a sentence she could barely make out.

“Huh?! What's this?” the teacher asked, showing her students the contents.

“WHAT?!” Marinette shouted, turning to glare at Chloé. “I know you did this, CHLOÉ BOURGEOIS!”

Mme. Bustier raised her hands, trying to calm her student down.

“Now, we don't know that it was Chloé–”

“Of course it was Chloé!” Marinette interrupted, pointing at the blonde's face, who wasn't even bothering to hide how pleased she was. “Just look at her smug face!”

“Seriously, Chloé?!” Alix shouted.

“Why do you have to make everyone around you miserable?!” Nino yelled.

“Students, calm down. We don't want to be upset on my birthday, do we?” she asked, before checking the box over. “Well, I think it's a wonderful present. And I'll be able to think of both of you when I use it!”

Something inside of Marinette… snapped.

“Ex-CUSE ME?!” she shouted, unable to comprehend what was going on. Mme. Bustier looked at her student and walked up to the door.

“Marinette, would you come with me, please?” she gently asked, opening the door to the corridor, as Marinette slouched in shock.

“What is happening right now?” she mumbled.

“Alya, don't let things get out of hand while we're gone,” the teacher commanded, and Alya nodded.

“Oh, I'll keep us right on track,” she replied, as everyone else in the room aimed their death glares at Chloé… who suddenly realized she might have made a miscalculation as thirteen people made their best to drill holes into her with their eyes.

—

Hawkmoth had noticed it. How could he not? Such anger was usually the type that produced the best Akumas.

Yet… he also noticed who was this angry, and he knew all too well what had happened every other time an Akuma aimed at Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

But… it might be his best chance.

He sent the butterfly.

“Please let this be worth going after the girl for,” he said as he saw the black Lepidoptera vanish through one of the windows in his lair. “No risk no reward, I guess.”

—

As soon as they were outside, Mme. Bustier put a hand on Marinette's shoulder… who wasn't feeling placated at all.

“Chloé vandalized my work and I'm getting punished?” she asked, morose.

“Don't be silly, Marinette. You’re not in trouble.”

“But you are punishing me,” she fired, making Mme. Bustier lift her hand. “You're giving Chloé credit for my gift. My time and energy and hard work. That's punishing me.”

Mme. Bustier remained silent for a moment, and for that moment Marinette thought she might have got through her…

“... as class representative, I want you to be a good example for the class.”

Nope, she hadn't. Marinette felt her eye twitch.

“Chloé is capable of great things, but she only thinks of herself because she doesn't know how to love.”

The twitching became more intense.

“But you can show her how! You just have to forgive Chloé!”

Something snapped. Again.

This time, it was any kind of self-control.

And Marinette glared at her teacher.

“ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME?!” she yelled, for once in her life completely furious.

“Marinette–” Mme. Bustier tried to interrupt, but Marinette didn't care.

Chloé had stepped on her berserk button, and Mme. Bustier had not only done the same, but acted as if it were perfectly good.

“NO! Chloé did this maliciously! And she's not even SORRY!” Marinette continued yelling, her frustration pouring through. Almost ten years of her teacher mollycoddling Chloé, ignoring everyone else's requests in favor of favoring the mayor's daughter, had accumulated. And with the dam burst open, she just released it all. “All ‘forgiving’ her does is tell her that no matter how awful she is, she'll get away with it! Or even be praised for it!”

“That's–” Mme. Bustier attempted to stop her, but Marinette was on a roll, and no teacher was going to stop her.

“And what about me?! Why should I ever do nice things when I'm told to suck it up when my efforts are spat on?! Why do Chloé's feelings matter more than mine, the wronged party?!”

“Now, listen here–” Mme. Bustier said. Marinette could recognize the teacher was getting angry. But Marinette recognized something else.

She did not care.

“Well, I'm done! If you don't want to punish Chloé, fine, I can't make you! Just like you can't make me pretend Chloé isn't the meanest, rudest, most despicable person I've ever met!”

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”

Oh, resorting to full names? Marinette's subconscious noted. Time for the coup de grace.

“All that's necessary for evil to succeed, is for good people to do nothing,” she said, giving the teacher a look as she walked away. “And you did nothing, Mme. Bustier.”

With such Parthian shot she left, not wasting the time to look back at her teacher. 

Mme. Bustier had sowed the wind, and now the harvest had included hurricanes.

And, as she walked off, Marinette gave a sigh of relaxation. That had felt amazing.

—

Hawkmoth realized that his original target had somehow managed to get rid of her negative feelings - or, at least, enough of them that she would be hard to Akumatize. But right next to her was another potential target… one that was angry with his original target.

“Well, switching from the girl to someone upset with the girl is marginally better, I guess,” he said, ordering the butterfly to move for the new target. “In for a penny, in for a pound. I mean, I already sent out the butterfly…”

—

“Chloé, you're worse than Hawkmoth!” Alya yelled.

“You've caused half the Akumas in Paris!” Alyx shouted.

Not that Chloé cared.

“Is it my fault that I'm better than all of you?”

“Just because your mom forgets your birthday doesn't mean you get to take it out on Marinette or Mme. Bustier,” Sabrina venomously fired, causing Chloé to turn to her former friend, furious.

“How dare you?! I don't have to sit here while you spill my life story! Keep your big mouth shut, Raincomprix!” Chloé yelled back, putting all her stuff back into her bag and then moving to leave the classroom, just as the door opened to let Marinette in. “Out of my way!”

“Hey!” Marinette shouted as Chloé shoved her aside.

“Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!” she grumbled as she left the classroom. “Where does she get the gall–huh?!”

“Zombizou, I'm Hawkmoth.”

“Oh, great,” she complained. First her moron classmates and now she'd have to deal with her moron sidekicks and her moron teacher.

“Your student spoke so hatefully towards you. I'll give you the power to spread love and compassion in exchange for the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous,” Hawkmoth said, and Chloé decided to carefully get herself out of the way to avoid getting caught in today's nonsense.

“I won't stop until everyone on Earth feels the love!” the teacher declared as Chloé reached the stairs. “Starting with Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”

Chloé stopped.

Now… maybe she didn't need to leave so fast…

—

“GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE!” Mme. Bustier said as she reentered the classroom - but this was clearly not their teacher.

“Wha–?!”

“Mme. Bustier?!”

Because… to be honest, what her teacher was wearing now was making Marinette's eyes water. The teacher's usually loose brown hair was now tied in a green-gray bun held together with two massive needles, her face had a pink domino mask over her face, and her outfit was now black with a large pink heart on the torso and more hearts spread over it.

Marinette liked pink as much as the next girl, but this was an abomination.

“From now on, everyone is going to hug and kiss and feel the love!” the Akumatized teacher declared, causing Alyx to grimace.

“But not, like, literally, right…?” she asked.

“Starting with my role model student, Marinette! MWAH!”

“AH!” Marinette shouted as she jumped aside, while a small black heart slammed just behind where she'd just moved away from. “What the heck is that?!”

“Tch. Missed.”

“Mme. Bustier!” Rose shouted. “Snap out of it!”

“I'm not Caline Bustier anymore! I am Zombizou!”

Quickly, the students grabbed their backpacks and tossed them at the Akuma.

“Sorry for this, Mme. B!” Nino shouted while jumping off his seat.

“Ah! OW!” Zombizou yelled as she got slammed by multiple heavy backpacks.

“Get out, quick!” Marinette ordered, and everyone followed, knowing that putting distance between themselves and the villain was their best option to survive.

“You won't escape my love!” Zombizou declared. “MWAH!”

And the heart flew… straight into Sabrina's neck.

“AH!”

“Hahaha, smoochies my poochies!”

—

As the class ran, Sabrina almost tripped down the stairs and held onto the rail, her face flushing.

“I… is it suddenly very hot in here?” she asked, trying to stay on her feet as her mind clouded.

“Huh?” Adrien asked, wondering what had happened to their friend.

“‘Brina?” Lila asked in a worried tone.

“Can you keep going?” Adrien asked.

“Try to make it to the nurse's office at least!” Lila encouraged, even as Sabrina sat on the but stairs.

“Lila…” Sabrina mumbled… before she tackled Lila, her pupils somehow replaced with pink hearts, and pushing her to the ground. “Kissou~!”

“Wah!” Lila yelled in shock, and stunned as she was, she was unable to keep Sabrina from… kissing her in the cheeks.

“Sabrina! Stop smearing your lip gloss all over me!” Lila begged, embarrassed. “Now's not the time to realize how amazing I am!”

But then, when Sabrina stopped kissing her, Lila had the same pupils, and she tackled the closest person - Mylène.

“Kissou~!”

“Ah!”

“Mylène!” Ivan shouted, worried about what was going on, but one thing was clear: this was starting to get out of hand – particularly as Mylène started to turn around.

“It's contagious! Don't let yourself get kissed!” Alya warned him... but Ivan chose to stand at the bottom of the stairs, as the three girls tried to rush him, shouting 'Kissou~!'.

“Go! I'll hold them off!” Ivan shouted.

“Ivan!”

---

Nathaniel ran to the Art Club room: he knew that splitting from the rest of his class was tempting fate, per every horror movie he had seen, but he had to do something! His friends there were unaware of the newest threat!

“Quick, you have to hide!” he shouted as he opened the door. “There's an Akuma, and–!”

“Go on, Nathaniel,” his teacher's Akumatized form's voice sounded right behind him. “Tell us all about the Akuma.”

He wasn't the type to throw ugly words around, but he felt that this time, he totally deserved to be able to do so.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU–

Unfortunately, he got hit by Zombizou's kiss before he could utter that aloud.

---

As his classmates ran upstairs to avoid all the kiss zombies that had suddenly sprung out, caused by Zombizou's power, Adrien realized he had the perfect excuse to get away and transform.

He faked slowing down and looked away, so Nino would be unable to see his face as he lied like a rug.

“Oh, noo, I–I feel faint. I think I– ugh, ki–kissou–”

“Dude, I love you but not enough to makeout with your zombie, stay away!” Nino warned as he followed Juleka to the top floor.

…

He wasn't going to go into how that sounded like. He had enough trouble already.

---

“I'll find you sooner or later, Marinette!”

“Kissou~!”

“You'll have to accept my love!”

“Kissou~!”

“Whether you like it or not!”

If she weren't an Akuma, she'd have probably been piled on by a zillion police officers already.

---

“I don't want to make out with strangers!” Max moaned in distress from his perch on Kim's back, as the survivors of the group holed themselves up in the locker room.

“What do we do?!” Alya asked, still shaking from the shock of everything that happened in the past few minutes.

“We're gonna hide until the heroes fix this!” Marinette ordered, while internally aware that that meant only Chat Noir would be there to do anything.

“Hey.”

“FUCK!” Marinette yelled after the 'heroine' suddenly showed up from within a locker. “Scarlet Lady, what the HECK?!”

Then she realized something was very much out of place.

“Why are you hiding in a locker?”

Scarlet Lady looked on, silently, before turning around and waving her hand.

“Anyways~”

“She ignored me?!”

Though, Marinette wasn't sure why she was that surprised – it wasn't as if Scarlet Lady ever paid attention to anything that wasn't her ego.

“Kissou!”

“Kissou!”

Everyone turned to look at the room's inner window, horrified to realize it was swarming with... well, the kiss zombies created by Zombizou.

“Oh no, they found us!” Kim yelled.

Scarlet Lady ran to the outer window and opened it, pointing upwards.

“Quick, we need to get on the roof!”

The students looked at her, suspicious.

“Why's she suddenly so helpful?” Alya asked, a sentiment shared by everyone else. Scarlet Lady never did anything that didn't benefit her.

Of course, they were completely right in being suspicious.

If I want a front row to the Akuma getting Dupain-Cheng, I'll have to stay with the group for now, the 'heroine' thought, hiding her evil grin from her classmates.

---

Fortunately (and no thanks to Scarlet Lady), the entire group managed to reach the roof, and much more fortunately, Chat Noir landed just next to them as they took a breather, and Marinette pulled out her phone to check the situation.

“Hey everyone! Let's hold off on the usual greetings, yeah?” Chat Noir suggested as Marinette opened her TVi app.

“Hordes of kissing zombies are spreading through Paris – ah!” Mme. Chamack reported, only to get interrupted by Zombizou, who turned to look at the camera.

“I'm coming for you, Marinette! And Chat Noir, Scarlet Lady, and Marigold!” the Akuma declared, and Marinette quickly turned it off, in shock.

“S–She's after me?!” she said, stunned.

“Maybe we should give them what they want,” Scarlet Lady added, and everyone else turned to glare at her.

“Don't even think about it!” Max shouted, clearly angry.

“You'd have to get through us!” Kim added, just as angry as his best friend.

“Come near her and I'll throw you to the zombies myself!” Chat Noir threatened.

“Aw! Guys!” Marinette replied, although she wasn't as happy as she should be. Though ditching me would make it easier to transform.

“Kissouuuu!”

“Kissou!”

“They're getting on the roof!” Nino alerted.

“What do we do now?” Rose asked.

“Over there! A bus!” Marinette suggested, pointing at the large vehicle. “Think you can drive, Chaton?”

“About as well as anyone else, ma belle,” Chat Noir answered, as he tried to think on how to reach it from their current position. “One of us has to throw my belt back to the roof and the other has to catch it–”

“I'll catch the belt!” Scarlet Lady offered, and Marinette and Chat Noir looked at each other.

“Super sus,” they both agreed.

Chat Noir jumped down to distract the zombies after giving his belt to Alix, and they all quickly used it to slide down a cable that led near the bus.

Unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough, and...

“Please hit Zombizou extra hard.”

“Kissou!”

“MAX!”

“For being top tier uncomfortable!” their genius classmate said, having moved away to keep the zombies distracted from Marinette just long enough for her to escape.

“Ho–kay!” Kim exclaimed, grabbing Marinette and putting her on the improvised zip line. “Gotta go fast, 'Nette!”

“Wait, what–” and Kim shoved her down. “AHHHHHHHH!”

Scarlet Lady pouted.

There goes my chance to throw her to the zombies.

Then Kim turned, realizing she was still there, and pushed her off the roof.

“Hurry up and save everyone already!” he shouted.

“Wah –!”

“Kissou!”

As he got grabbed by the zombies, Kim noted that he was glad Max wouldn't remember what happened.

---

Thankfully, Marinette's sudden travel down the line was brief, and Rose was there to help her down, while Chat Noir jumped between vehicles to keep the zombies' attention away from the bus.

“Hey-yo! Don't you want to kiss me?!” he taunted, as he happily noticed Marinette was safe(r).

“Kissou!”

“I've got you, Marinette!” the blonde girl said.

“Just be careful behind you, Rose!” Marinette warned, and the two of them ran towards the bus –

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Rose yelled as one of the zombies grabbed her wrist.

“Rose!”

“LET HER GO!”

Juleka's shout was accompanied with a mighty punch that forced the zombie away from her girlfriend.

“Juleka!” Marinette added, as the goth girl pulled them into the bus, and Rose hugged Juleka.

“My hero!” she exclaimed, unaware of the mark left in her right arm.

“That was an awesome right hook!” Alix complimented, and Juleka looked bashful

“I've been, uh, practicing.”

That was when Chat Noir jumped in, and after a few false starts he managed to make the engine run.

“If we get to the Eiffel Tower, we can lure the Akuma out,” Marinette suggested, and Chat Noir nodded.

“Hopefully, Marigold had the same idea–”

“AHHHHHH!”

“Rose, Juleka!”

“G–Get back!” Scarlet Lady shouted, backing off, as Rose turned around.

“Kissouuuu~”

None of them had realized Rose had been hit with a kiss, and she had just given another to Juleka. They had a zombie in the bus!

Which was when Alix jumped ahead and grabbed Rose by the shoulders, keeping her at arm's length.

“Hngh!” she grumbled, struggling to hold her off.

“Alix!” She was doing a lot of yelling her friends' names, wasn't she?

“Kissou! Mwah!” the zombified Rose mumbled as she tried to kiss Alix.

“Everyone! I'm trusting you to protect Marinette! And to get back at Hawkmoth and Zombizou for this nightmare!”

“Mmwah!” Rose kissed Alix, sealing her fate, as Marinette was pulled out of the bus by Alya and Nino, followed by Chat Noir and Scarlet Lady, as they finally reached their destination, still followed by zombified Parisians who were eager to try and kiss them.

“Kissou!”

“Kissou?”

“C'mon, c'mon, faster!” Alya shouted as she pressed the button to open the elevator's doors. They did, and–

“No–!”

“Kissouuu!”

“Mwah!”

“Alya!”

“Get off of her!”

The zombies had lied in wait, and too fast for Alya to avoid before they kissed her. While Chat Noir and Nino were able to force them away, it was too late.

“Alya–!” Marinette cried out, kneeling next to her best friend, and Alya gave her a wan smile.

“Hey, it's okay,” she replied. “Chat Noir and Marigold will save us. So keep yourself safe.”

“For both of us, 'Nette,” Nino added, holding Alya's hand.

“Nino?!” Marinette asked in shock, and Alya gently shoved her towards the elevator.

“You two...” Alya started, then she thought it better. “You better take care of my best girl, Kit-Kat.”

“Of course,” Chat Noir replied, and Scarlet Lady pouted.

“Uh, I'm still here too, you know.”

Nobody cared.

Not when the situation was so dire.

Chat Noir pulled her into the elevator and closed the door, pressing the top floor button.

---

“Don't forget our deal, Zombizou!” Hawkmoth said, glad that he was safely ensconced in his secret lair.

“They won't escape my kiss by hiding out at the Eiffel Tower!” his latest Akuma promised.

He knew it was close! Those Miraculouses were already his!

---

Nino could notice when his girlfriend's resistance to the Akuma's effect collapsed, as her face blushed and her eyes turned into those creepy heart-like pupils.

He sighed.

“It's not the first time we've been in trouble together,” he said, as Alya tackled him.

“Kissouuuuu!”

“Yeah, yeah, 'kissou' or whatever.”

---

As the door closed behind her, Marinette felt her eyes tear up, and looked down to hide them from Chat Noir.

The pain... it felt like her heart was tearing itself apart.

“Why?! Why didn't they protect themselves?!” she cried out, sobbing as the tears cascaded off her eyes and hit the elevator floor. “How could they sacrifice themselves for me?! I HATE THIS!”

“Hey!” Chat Noir gently said, lifting her head and cleaning her tears with his thumb. “Marinette, no one saw it as a 'sacrifice'. They protected you because they love you.”

And when he smiled, so softly and beautifully, her heart forgot for a moment its pain.

“And that's why I'm going to protect you too.”

“Chat Noir...” she replied, stunned. Had he... did he just...

“But also don't get sloppy because I have zero faith in this 'helpful' Scar,” he whispered, making her feel a bit of whiplash from the change of matter, but she had to agree with him.

---

After the long climb up, the elevator's door finally opened, and they were at the tower's highest terrace. They should be safe there, but...

“Damn, they're here too!” Chat Noir complained as they realized there were a few zombies there as well.

“It's not too many, stay sharp!” Marinette told the others.

Here's where you get what's coming to you, Dupain-Cheng! Scarlet Lady thought... and she tossed her yo-yo at Marinette.

Chat Noir, however, had been ready for this, and blocked it with his staff.

“What do you think you're doing, Scar?!” he shouted.

“Chat Noir, look out!” Marinette warned.

In his haste to protect Marinette from Scarlet Lady, he had forgot about the other dangers in the tower.

And the zombies promptly swarmed him.

“AH!”

“CHAT NOIR, NO!”

Chat Noir was able to force them away from Marinette and block their advance with his own body and staff... but his face was now covered in kisses.

“Chat, don't leave me!” she begged, tearing up again.

“Hey, Princess, don't cry. Everything is going to be okay,” he replied, still smiling.

“You don't know that!”

“Marigold will defeat Zombizou, and Scar will fix everything.”

“You haven't even heard from Marigold!” she exclaimed, feeling guilty. “How do you have such faith in her?!”

“She's the best partner in the world, Marinette,” he replied, and the glint in his eyes told her he knew much more than he ought to. “Believe in her like I do.”

“Chaton...”

“If you're done with your spappy moment,” Scar interrupted, tensing the yo-yo rope, and Marinette turned to face her. “Now that all the roadblocks are out of the way, you'll finally get what you deserve for making fun of Chloé!”

She tossed the yo-yo again, but Marinette dodged it (silently thanking her work as Marigold for it).

“Hold still!” Scar shouted.

“Where are your priorities, you menace?!” Marinette angrily yelled, furious that she had just caused her to lose Chat Noir to the zombies.

Not that Scar cared.

“I'm gonna hand you over to the grossest zombie I can find–”

“Kissou!”

And Chat Noir kissed Scar in the cheek.

“Huh?”

Marinette took advantage of the distraction to slip back into the elevator room.

“Ew ew ew, cat lips!” she heard Scar yell, but Marinette had something else in mind.

“B–Buzz On,” she mumbled, and felt the transformation take her.

But it was too late. She collapsed, sat with her hands over her head, as she realized what just happened.

“Scarlet Lady... Scarlet Lady's infected... she can't reverse the Akuma...” she mumbled. She was all alone now... and she had no way to fix what the Akuma had just caused. She... had she lost? “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god–”

“HAHAHA!”

And, of course, just to make things worse, Zombizou showed up.

“Marinette, Marigold, come out come out wherever you are! Witness the final triumph of love before I claim the Miraculouses!”

She couldn't do anything.

She might be wearing a Miraculous... but, right now... she needed an outright miracle.

“What can I do, what can I do?!” she mumbled, and in her despair, her shock, she imagined as if bees were buzzing around her. “I have to... I have to...”

And, like a dam that had overfilled... something burst from within her.

“AHHHHHHHH!” she screamed.

She didn't know if it was pain, or shock, or just plain need to yell out her feelings for everyone to know.

But what sprung from her was an explosion of light.

And suddenly... she knew she could do it.

She had found her miracle.

---

The explosion of light blinded all the zombies surrounding the elevator cabin, and forced Zombizou to cover her eyes.

“WHAT IS THIS LIGHT?!” the Akuma yelled, surprised at the sudden turn of events. She had finally cornered Marinette, and then this had happened. Her sweet hearts were now rubbing their eyes and collapsed on the floor, and so they were out of place when the door opened again. “Marigold, YOU–”

But there, she stopped.

Because Marigold's costume was now, somehow, shining. Black and gold had moved around the surface, with her leggings going from gold to black while her sleeves did the opposite. And she was twirling her top around, looking at her with an impassive face.

“Why–?! What's with that suit?!” Zombizou yelled, but Marigold didn't answer.

She threw her spinning top.

“BEE BALM!”

And suddenly everything was swarming with bees.

But when Zombizou realized the bees were not attacking her, she laughed.

“Ha. Hahaha! All that flashy light and it did nothing, Marigold–”

“Where am I?”

Zombizou turned to look at her sweet hearts... which were no longer under her control!

“Wasn't I at work?”

“What are these glowing bees?”

“WHAT?! My SWEET HEARTS!”

“Marigold freed them from your influence?!” she heard Hawkmoth shout.

Before she could react, try to bring them back under her love –

“Venom.”

“Wai–!”

Too late.

Zombizou became paralyzed.

And the nightmare was finally over.

---

“No fair, why does she get a new look?!” Scar complained.

Nobody cared.

“Wow, you unlocked a new power!” Chat Noir exclaimed, his eyes sparkling in joy as he took in her partner and her new uniform. “I knew you could do it! You really saved the day! How'd you pull it off?!”

Marigold... didn't answer.

She just bonked her head on his chest.

And...

“M–Marigold?!”

… she sniffed.

What happened?

---

As Scar finally deigned to do her work and use the Cure, Mme. Bustier was brought back to normality, and the woman collapsed on her knees as she realized what had just happened.

“Oh no, I... I let my negative emotions take over, how terrible!” she moaned in distress. “I'm terrible.”

“Hm,” Marigold joined in, turning to look at her. “Then I guess that means nearly all your students are 'terrible'.”

“What?! No, that's not–” the teacher protested, but she was interrupted by Chat Noir.

“Exactly. Feeling things like anger or sadness or jealousy is normal, and nothing to be ashamed of,” the hero stated. “How we react, how we use these emotions, is what matters.”

“And the only one to blame for taking things too far is Hawkmoth,” Marigold finished, before the two of them jumped off as her timer began to beep.

And the teacher was left alone with the last of the group.

“Scarlet Lady, you're friends with Chloé, right?”

“Huh?” the 'heroine' said, before realizing what was going on. “Oh, uh, of course! Best friends!”

The teacher approached her, and put a hand on her shoulder.

“I'm so glad she has you as a good influence,” she said, and Scarlet Lady looked nervous as she did so.

“Uh, thanks?”

“Chloé's friends aren't being very nice right now, so I was worried.”

“Oh, that's no big deal,” she declared, smug. “Chloé only surrounds herself with the best after all! They're just being dramatic.”

“Thank goodness!”

And the teacher hugged the 'heroine'.

“Thank you for not leaving Chloé alone.”

“Heheh, yeah, sure.”

---

Marinette mentally sighed in relief as she saw all of her friends and schoolmates milling about, as if they hadn't been struck by the latest Akuma.

Save for the fact that they were actually talking about said Akuma, it was all good.

“Did you wake up before the cure went out?” Mylène asked Alix.

“I saw bees and then ladybugs!” Nino told Adrien, who was nodding with a smile.

“G–Good morning, everyone,” she timidly interrupted.

“Marinette!” her friends exclaimed as they realized she had just arrived.

“Thank you all for protecting me yesterday and...” she sighed again. “I'm really sorry. When Mme. Bustier pulled me out of class, I went off on her. So it's my fault she was Akuma–”

“You really did that?” Ivan asked.

“That's amazing!” Alix and Nathaniel exclaimed together.

“Awesome,” Juleka added.

All of them were actually sparkling.

“H-Huh?!”

Marinette was so shocked she could barely show her shock at how... well her classmates had just taken the news.

“Mme. B didn't hold back pictures even though she knew I was in the bathroom,” Juleka explained, retreating back into her shell.

“And she let me do Chloé's work for years and never stepped in to stop it!” Sabrina added, angry at the reminder of what she had done in the name of her 'friendship'.

“If you mess up a little, she sends you to the Principal,” Ivan joined in, “but I knew I'd look like the bad guy if I said anything negative about the 'nice' teacher.”

Marinette was surprised to see everyone nod to Ivan's words. It was as if everyone had been in the same boat as Ivan regarding their teacher...

“No one blames you for losing it on Bustier,” Adrien said.

“Not when she was letting Chloé get away with bullying you again,” Nino added.

“We'd dive in front of a hundred Akumas to protect you!” Alya offered, smiling.

“Thanks, but PLEASE DON'T!”

She had already been traumatized enough. She didn't care to repeat the experience.

---

When Mme. Bustier arrived to her off, she found a small box with a card where Chloé thanked her for putting her ahead of the others.

Unfortunately, Mme. Bustier didn't realize the real meaning of it, and accepted it as proof that she was right about her student.

---

The Mime

Welp, the memetic molester of Akumas just passed through. Glad to see her leave, not so glad she never learned the lesson.

Apologies for the lateness, I have too many things in hand and too little time to work on them. Still doing this, though, just as the SL comic enters its finish line.

So, that's 514 pages, 205324 words, 1108074 characters.

I'll do my best to get the next chapter ASAP!

[taldigi]

Can we please know more about your version of Amber Clairmont

What I wanted to achieve with Amber was to do what Chloe and Lila were trying to do + some of what really pissed me off about Alya. Chloe is a bully, she's mean, and the stereotype of the queen bee- popular, beautiful.. and Lila is a petty manipulator who seems to press the exact buttons needed to get her way.

Amber is.. well... she's a real queen bee with the school buzzing all about her! She's beautiful, she's popular- and with good reason, too- she's generous, she's patient, she's polite. she's top of the class and she's the rep too! She's an overachiever and a perfectionist.. she can read you like a book and twist you in the right way to keep that reputation. Even the teachers love this golden girl!

So when she does do anything particularly despicable? Not a soul would believe you! Thing about Amber is that she has ambitions, and she uses her empathy, popularity, and ability to manipulate people and uses it to get ahead... when she sets a target, you better hope you're not in her way.

She's head of the journalism club, and duh, why wouldn't she be? People hang on to her every word.. and what words are more exciting than the exploits and drama of Ladybug and Chat Noir? Sure, she polishes it up a bit, but nobody notices- and it brings in the views, sells the papers, and gets people subscribing to her blog all about it.

The Ladyblog is hers in my stories, more of a gossip column and dramabait site than anything truly newsworthy. It's wildly popular, and she often gets the spotlight as the utmost authority on the heroes- which she laps up eagerly. this props her up against Alina, who is less of a "obnoxious reporter" and more of a tech wiz who is trying her best at using her abilities to help people.

Only a few people seem to see through her- those who have been wronged by her (Alina, as well as the other three), those who are aware of her intentions (Claude, Alix), and those who are unable to justify her lie by living the truth (Marinette and Felix as LB and CN, specifically.).

in Fashion Club, it's revealed that her ability to do this has been magically boosted by a kwami called Brocc. Her desire for attention and power leads her to gaining an internship, and eventual job at Pergue/Fury- where she uses her charisma and sway to fuel a slander campaign against LB & CN as well as prop up the company. What little humanity she may have had is eventually stripped away by Null (due to being too close to Richard/Null) and her vendetta against the heroes for slighting her goes from personal to just her default state of being. She's one of the few people who go down with Richard at the end of the world, and reveals that her Nullification was very very willing.