#miraculous gang of secrets

[wordsofrowan]

From Ashes to Embers

Chapter 14 - You Can't Cover All Your Wounds in Band-Aids

Time passed, with each second feeling like a cruel reminder of how lonely I was. The weight of my double life as Ladybug and the constant battle against Shadow Moth consumed my days. I yearned for a way to bring an end to his reign of darkness, to regain my freedom and be myself once more.

In my room, photographs adorned the walls, capturing moments of joy and friendship. Adrien's charming smile, Luka's gentle gaze, and the laughter shared with my friends stared back at me. Barkk and Ziggy fluttered over to the corkboard where the pictures were displayed.

Barkk, ever the worrier, chimed in, "I told you we should've taken the photos down! They only bring you sadness, Marinette."

I held my gaze on the photos, my voice barely a whisper. "Please don't," I pleaded, my words tinged with a mix of determination and sadness. "Stop, Barkk. I'm not sad, and these photos don't bother me. They're a reminder of who I am and what I'm fighting for. So it's all good." I forced a humorless chuckle, desperately trying to convince myself. "There's no problem, you see?"

Amidst the emotional turmoil, my phone buzzed incessantly, another call demanding my attention. Frustration surged within me, and I sent the call straight to voicemail, not wanting to face the outside world just yet. A couple of minutes passed, and the phone buzzed again, indicating that a voicemail had been left.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I played the voicemail. The familiar voices of my friends filled the airwaves, their warmth seeping through the recording. I heard Alya's energetic voice followed by the cheerful greetings of Rose, Juleka, Mylene, and Alix. "Hey Marinette, it's us!" they chimed in unison. "We're just calling to tell you that we're here if you need to talk. Whenever you want, wherever you want, give us a call back." There was a brief pause, and then I heard Alya's voice again, softer and tinged with sadness. "We miss you."

I felt a mix of emotions well up inside me, a combination of longing, guilt, and a deep sense of isolation. Unable to bear the weight of their words, I deleted the voicemail, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. In a moment of frustration, I impulsively chucked my phone across the room, the sound of it hitting the wall echoing my inner turmoil.

“Come on we gotta do something!” Barkk shouted out as he hovered over my frame. I grabbed one of my pillows and put it over my head. 

“If only Tikki were here,” Wyazz chimed in, “She would know how to help Marinette.” 

“I got an idea!” Trixx announced as he pulled the pillow off my head, “Why aren’t you using the light box to talk to your friends?” he asked as he floated in front of my face. 

“What’s there to talk about?” Turning my head away from Trixx, I said, “Everything’s fine.” 

Trixx persisted, "Don't you think you should detransform then? Maybe it's time to take a break."

I shook my head, “No I’m better off like this, better off staying as ladybug,” I said as a fresh bout of tears started welling up in my eyes, “this way if Shadow Moth attacks Paris, I’ll be ready for action at any time.” 

“Yes but what about Tikki?” Trixx said, pushing gently “She could use some rest and she needs to eat something as well.” 

Overwhelmed with guilt and worry, I shouted, "Oh my God! Tikki, spots off!" Tears streamed down my face as I cradled the tired kwami in my hands. "Are you okay, Tikki?"

Tikki let out a tired sigh, “better than you Marinette,” she replied, her voice filled with compassion. "We should have a little talk." Tikki and I went up to the balcony so we could talk. 

Feeling the weight of my struggles, I poured my heart out to Tikki. "I don't know what to do anymore, Tikki," I confessed, my voice trembling with sadness. "My life as Marinette is too complicated. As long as I'm Ladybug, I can't have loved ones in my life. I had to break up with Luka because I couldn't tell him the truth. It would be the same with anyone else I date. I can't share my secret with him or anyone else, for that matter. I can't be honest with my closest friends or my parents about anything. I'm doomed to be a big liar to everyone, forever. What do I do, Tikki?"

Tikki's voice carried understanding, yet a hint of helplessness. "I wish I could give you a clear answer, Marinette," she sighed. "But kwami relationships are very different from human ones. We have a natural soul pair, like me and Plagg. I am the kwami of Creation, and Plagg is the kwami of Destruction. We are complementary to each other, balancing one another out. Without me, there is no Plagg, and without Plagg, there is no me. The same goes for other kwamis, like Fluff and Sass," Tikki continued, her voice filled with wisdom. "Fluff is the kwami of Evolution, and Sass is the kwami of Intuition. They are bound together by the burden of time, forming a natural pair. Kwamis have a unique balance and understanding of one another."

I listened intently, my heart heavy with the weight of my secret. "But with people, it's so different," I murmured, tears staining my cheeks. "I long for true, genuine connections, for the freedom to be myself without hiding behind a mask. I want to share my secret with the ones I love, but it just can't and it hurts Tikki, it hurts so much"

I let out a heavy sigh, sinking into the plush cushions of my balcony lounge chair. The weight of my thoughts seemed unbearable as I gazed out into the clear blue sky. Lost in my own world, I was startled when the balcony door swung open, and Alya's voice pierced through the silence.

"Marinette, there you are!" Alya's voice carried a mix of concern and urgency as she stepped onto the balcony. Tikki fluttered nervously, seeking shelter within the confines of my hair, sensing the tension in the air. I turned to face Alya, my expression a blend of surprise and frustration.

"What are you doing here, Alya?!" My voice rang out, laced with frustration and confusion. The events of the past few days had left me feeling raw and vulnerable, and I longed for a moment of solitude. Yet here was my best friend, barging into my private space.

Alya's eyes softened, her concern evident as she took a step closer. "We came to check on you, girl. We've all been worried about you," she replied, her voice filled with genuine care and friendship.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips, my weariness evident as I slumped in my chair on the balcony. "Aw, look! It's just like a real house! Look, the roof even comes off!" Rose's excitement echoed in the air, reaching my ears with an unexpected pang of panic. My heart skipped a beat as I realized what she was referring to - the miniature house, I was creating for the Kwami’s to serve as somewhere they can be outside of the Miracle Box.

My heart raced as I leaped off the balcony, my feet carrying me swiftly into my room. The miniature house stood proudly on my desk, its presence a constant reminder of the hidden world I guarded so fiercely. With each hurried step, worry and protectiveness fueled my actions, propelling me closer to the source of my concern.

As I positioned myself between Rose and the delicate structure, a surge of urgency coursed through my veins. The weight of my words hung in the air, trembling with a mixture of concern and pleading. "Please, don't touch this," I implored, my voice quivering with an underlying fear.

But before I could prevent the inevitable, the roof of the miniature house slipped from Rose's grasp, crashing onto the floor in a cacophony of shattered secrets. The delicate pieces scattered across the room, a visual representation of the vulnerability that now lay exposed.

A pang of disappointment surged through me as Rose's apology reached my ears. "I'm so sorry, Marinette," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret. I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and sadness, the knowledge that my secret had been unintentionally laid bare.

"Can you please just leave?" My plea hung in the air, a delicate thread of weariness that seemed to dissipate into the tension-filled atmosphere. The weight of my emotions pressed upon me, threatening to drown me in a sea of turmoil.

But Alya stepped forward, pushing Rose gently behind her. Her eyes met mine with unwavering determination. "Chill out, Marinette," she said, her voice steady and reassuring. "It's just a stupid dollhouse. We can totally help."

My patience, already frayed at the edges, threatened to snap as Alya's words fell upon my ears. The desire for solitude burned within me, an unyielding longing to escape the suffocating presence of well-intentioned intruders. I raised my voice, the frustration simmering beneath the surface now boiling over.

"Can you just go?!" I shouted, my words echoing with a mix of desperation and exasperation. "Can't you see? I want to be alone!"

Alya's expression softened, her concern etched onto her features. She took a step closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "Look, Marinette, we know something is wrong, and we are not leaving until you tell us what it is. We're here for you."

The room fell into a tense silence as Alya's words hung in the air. The weight of their presence tugged at my heart, a reminder that true friendship meant standing by each other's side, even in the face of uncertainty. I took a deep breath, realizing that shutting them out would only deepen the divide between us.

Just as I was about to speak, Mylène, usually soft-spoken, stepped forward. In her hand, she held a delicate bracelet, its surface adorned with intricate designs."Look, Marinette," Mylene interjected, her voice gentle yet firm as she stepped forward “Each of us told our secrets to this bracelet. It's your turn."

"The only thing wrong is that you guys are still in my room, even though I explicitly told you to get out!" I shouted, my voice laced with a mix of anger and desperation. Each word carried the weight of my frustration, echoing through the room as a testament to my shattered peace.

Alya reached out to me, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "Marinette, we're your friends," she said softly, her voice attempting to soothe the storm raging within me. "You can confide in us."

“Yeah marinette, we only want to be good friends to you. Real friends don’t let each other down!” Rose said with a smile on her face. A smile that felt like a stab to my heart.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, laced with a mix of anger and frustration. I took a step back, my arms folding protectively across my chest, a barrier against the mounting tension in the room. The weight of past conflicts surged to the surface, fueling the fire of my resentment.

"Yeah, real friends don't ever let each other down, right?" I retorted, my voice dripping with venom. The bitterness in my words was a reflection of the wounds that still festered within me. "Oh, so now you want to be my friend, Rose? I distinctly remember you telling me, in Juleka's own house no less, that you couldn't stand a 'bully' like me. And Alya, let's not forget the New York incident. You haven't had a single concrete conversation with me since our fight. But now you suddenly want to say that you’re my friend?"

The room crackled with tension, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts. Alya's determination matched my own as she took a step forward, her eyes narrowing with defiance. "Marinette, we're your friends," she shot back, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "But don't act like you're blameless in all of this. You've been distant, shutting us out. We've tried to reach out to you, but you keep pushing us away."

The anger within me roared to life, drowning out any sense of reason or understanding. The walls I had erected around myself fortified my position, shielding me from the vulnerability of self-reflection. I scoffed, my voice dripping with disdain. "Oh, so now it's all my fault? I'm the one who's been distant? Let's not forget how you've all hurt me, how you've all turned your back on me when I needed you the most! How the second Lila comes around all of you abandon me!"

My words hung in the air, a poison seeping into the cracks of our fractured friendship. The room felt smaller, suffocating under the weight of our escalating fight. 

Alya's eyes blazed with a mix of hurt and defiance, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. "You think you're the only one hurting, Marinette? We've all made mistakes, but you're so focused on your own pain that you can't see how it's tearing us apart!"

Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of anger and sorrow. The walls I had constructed around my heart threatened to crumble, but my pride held strong. "Maybe we were never really friends to begin with," I spat, my voice laced with bitter resignation. "Maybe it's time we all moved on."

Alya, Mylene, Juleka, and Rose walked away, their backs turned to me, their expressions a mix of shock and disappointment. The weight of their abandonment settled upon me, a heavy burden that threatened to crush my spirit.

Alix lingered for a moment, her hesitation palpable. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the indecision playing out on her face. Her mouth opened and closed as if searching for the right words to say, but ultimately, she too turned away, her footsteps echoing with a sense of resignation.

The silence that followed their exit was deafening, a stark reminder of the void that now existed between us. The room felt emptier, the air thick with the remnants of shattered friendships. I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, a gnawing ache in the depths of my soul.

“I had no choice Tikki, I had to do it.” The weight of my decision bore down on me, the cardboard house I had constructed now lay there tattered and broken. I stared at it, my heart breaking a little more with each passing moment. The Miracle Box, once housed within its walls, was now safely tucked away in the hideaway drawer, hidden from prying eyes.

Tikki hovered beside me, her presence a source of comfort in this moment of turmoil. "I know, Marinette," she whispered, her voice tinged with sadness and understanding. She had been with me through it all, my confidante and guide in the face of adversity.

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I tried to find a silver lining amidst the wreckage. "At least now I won't have to lie anymore," I mused, the words laced with a mix of resignation and relief. "There'll be no one left to lie to."

But as the words left my lips, a pang of loneliness pierced through me. The realization that I had severed the bonds of friendship, willingly or not, left an ache in my heart. The thought of facing each day without the laughter, support, and camaraderie of my friends was a daunting prospect.

"And I won't have anyone trying to stab me in the back either," I added, my voice tinged with bitterness. The wounds inflicted by betrayal still fresh in my mind, I sought solace in the absence of potential harm. Yet, the emptiness that lingered in the wake of their departure felt like a void that could never be filled.

I took a deep breath, my gaze shifting to the hideaway drawer. It held the key to our secret, the source of our power and responsibility. The weight of its presence reminded me of the duty I carried and the sacrifices I had made. It was a burden I would bear alone, but one that I was determined to shoulder.

XoXo Rowan

#writing #spilled ink #miraculous au #miraculous fandom #marinette deserves better #akuma class salt #Miraculous s4e3 #Miraculous Gang of Secrets #miraculous ladybug #alya salt #alya bashing

[asti-doodles]

MERRY CHRISTMAS @ninadove !!!!!

I'm your anarchist gang secret Santa!!!! It was a great honor to create for you!!!!! Hope you have a great time next to family and friends!!!!

#mlb felix #miraculous ladybug #miraculous #mlb #miraculous felix #felix graham de vanily #felix fathom #Amelie #amelie graham de vanily #Amelie and Felix #baby felix #anarchist gang server #anarchist gang secret Santa #happy holidays #Merry Christmas

[galahadwilder]

After a week of insisting to Alya that no, he and Marinette were not going to get together, he's in love with another girl, Adrien is both delighted and mortified to learn that actually, the other girl is Marinette and he's been acting like an ass all week. He falls into being Marinette's boyfriend quickly and easily, with all the gooey idiocy expected from a Lovesquare relationship, but one question keeps eating at him:

What is he going to tell Alya?

After all, he's been telling Alya no for a week. It won't be believable if he just suddenly claims he changed his mind, and he doesn't want her to think that he considers Marinette a second choice or backup option. He needs an explanation that sounds plausible while also not making it clear that he's not settling.

He shuffles through explanations with desperation. Maybe he and Marinette were secret pen pals? Or they knew each other from virtual Mecha Strike events, but only by their gamertags? They've actually been secretly dating for months but had to hide it from his dad? He'd realized he'd fallen out of love with the "girl from his work" and realized he'd actually been in love with Ma--no, she'd never believe that. He was so used to Anime relationships that he'd mistaken respect for love? Maybe, hard stretch, not great.

The next day at school, Alya sees the two of them necking and asks what changed, and Adrien launches into a long, complicated, incomprehensible explanation that he hopes will mollify her while protecting their identities.

This is approximately when Marinette realizes that she forgot to tell him that Alya found out a year ago.

#miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #alya cesaire #adrienette #adrinette #identity reveal #post reveal established relationship #original content #crack #post gang of secrets

[juxsweet]

Sentitwins hugging for @trishacollins, my giftee for the Anarchist Gang's Secret Santa ♡

#miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #felix fathom #senticousins #sentitwins #miraculous fanart #my art #anarchist gang secret santa 2023

[halfahelix]

Merry Christmas @luckychatons, I'm your Anarchist Gang Secret Santa!! Here's a little what-if animation inspired by Re-creation where Mirakung Fu Luka witnesses Bug Noire in action!

#helix draws #helix animates #my art #miraculous ladybug #lukanette #lugnoire #lukabugnoire #whatever their ship name is haha #lugnoire makes me laugh more XD #luka couffaine #ladybug #bug noire #Anarchist Gang Secret Santa 2023 #you can only imagine all of the feelings Luka may be feeling considering she is wielding both of the miraculouses!! #also....funny how I drew Felix and Feligami for Ashville but not the Felix server haha #posting at 2am after Christmas like the rebel I am even though I shared an earlier version in Discord yesterday lmao

[megatraven]

“I used to be in love with Ladybug!” Alya blurts out, immediately clapping her hands over her mouth as if that would stop what she’d just said from reaching her best friend’s ears.

It’s too late, though, and Marinette’s shocked expression sends Alya’s heart plummeting. She can’t stop herself from saying more- the powers of the truth akuma that struck her are too strong.

“From that very first day I met her, I couldn’t really think of anyone else, but it’s impossible to date a superhero!”

The words are muffled against her hands, and she squeezes her eyes shut trying to stop it.

“But then it started to change and I-” she clamps down hard on her lip, nearly drawing blood, even as her words pile up on her tongue.

It hurts to resist the draw of the akuma, but it’s just as painful to spill her secret heartaches to Marinette.

Marinette, her best friend in the world. Marinette, who’s a little flakey and a lot crazy. Marinette, who she trusts more than anyone else.

Marinette.

Her girlfriend.

Alya shudders, then, and drops to her knees. It’s taking all of her willpower to deny her truth, it’s unbearable, it’s smothering, it’s-

A hand sets gently on her shoulder, and then another. They’re calm points, something to ground her against the tide of ever-growing secrets that yearn to spill from her lips.

She looks up, and Marinette is smiling at her. Brilliant and beautiful, she steals Alya’s breath away, like always, only she’s confused now, too.

“And then what happened, Alya?” she coaxes, impossibly sweet, somehow understanding even though Alya’s never told her this before.

Slowly, she lets the words stream out.

“...and I kissed her. And... I think I scared her away.”

Her cheeks grow warm with shame, and her vision blurs, just a little. She’s never said anything about this to anyone, even though months have passed. It still hurts.

Alay draws a shaking breath, nearly breaking further when Marinette wipes away some of her tears.

“She fights terrifying and dangerous akumas and amoks every day and I scared her.” She sniffles. “I fucked up, so badly. And I tried to move on.”

Pausing, she notices Marinette looks sad now, too. Guilty, maybe, but what would she have to be guilty for?

“I did move on, I swear I did, but I-”

And she stops again. The next words might hurt the most, not just for herself, but for Marinette, too. But she doesn’t even have to say them.

“But you still love her. Don’t you?” She says it softly, and somehow, Alya knows that she feels the same sort of heartbreak.

“...Yes. I do.” 

The akuma’s power begins to wear off, but it’s already done what it set out to do, and there’s no reason to hold back anymore. Not that there’s anything left to say.

“Marinette, I’m-”

“I’m sorry,” Marinette says, cutting her off. “I never meant...” 

She shakes her head, and laughs a little, though it sounds forced.

“I never meant to make you feel that way. Alya.” Something hardens in her, Alya can tell. There’s a firmness in her touch, in the way she looks at Alya now. “I was afraid. Not of you, but of the danger you could be in. I thought, maybe, cutting off contact completely would keep you safe.”

#this was written before gang of secrets :) anyways. #miraculous ladybug #alyanette #alyabug #alya cesaire #marinette dupain-cheng #ladybug #my fic #wip

[rosie-b]

Tough Luck, Tender Love

Written for @ladrienjune days 17 & 20, Bad Luck & Passionate Declaration, 5756 words

A bead of sweat rolled down Marinette’s forehead as she stood frozen in front of Adrien, who still hadn’t spoken a word. She raised an arm to wipe it away quickly as her heart stuttered out an unfamiliar rhythm, and a red and black design came into view.

She froze. She’d put on her usual outfit today, but she was very obviously not wearing it now. The black spots on her red sleeve and glove could only mean one thing: Marinette Dupain-Cheng hadn’t confessed her love to Adrien — Ladybug had.

Read the rest on AO3 or just below!

After this, nothing will be the same, Marinette thought as she bit out the last words of her confession and winced as she prepared herself for rejection.  

Adrien stared silently at her, his mouth hanging open, as whispers swirled around them like the first winds of a storm. 

Marinette bit her lip. She always knew that asking Adrien out at school was a mistake, but it wasn’t supposed to cause such an uproar! Everyone at François-Dupont seemed to know about her crush on Adrien except for the boy himself, so why did it seem as though everyone had just received the shock of their lives? 

Within seconds, people started nudging each other and exchanging money. They were probably trying to be discreet, but that was impossible when nearly everyone had a bet to settle. Some people were pumping their arms in victory; most were shaking their heads in disappointment; even Ms. Bustier had a discontent frown on her face. 

A bead of sweat rolled down Marinette’s forehead as she stood frozen in front of Adrien, who still hadn’t spoken a word. She raised an arm to wipe it away quickly as her heart stuttered out an unfamiliar rhythm, and a red and black design came into view. 

She froze. She’d put on her usual outfit today, but she was very obviously not wearing it now. The black spots on her red sleeve and glove could only mean one thing: Marinette Dupain-Cheng hadn’t confessed her love to Adrien — Ladybug had. 

--*--*--*--*-- 

To be fair, Marinette hadn’t had much — or any — luck in confessing to Adrien so far, which was something that Rose had repeated multiple times during the intervention she was holding in the park near their school. 

But maybe it was just fate! Maybe she and Adrien were destined to be star-crosses lovers, like Romeo and Juliet, or the cowherd and the weaver girl. She could love Adrien, but only from afar, as the universe confined her to saving Paris as Ladybug and sacrificing her only chance at love until Hawk Moth was finally defeated.  

I can’t tell them that, though, or I’d lose my secret identity, Marinette realized. She nervously chewed on her lip as the girls continued urging her to either take up their new, foolproof plan and confess to Adrien or give up on him once and for all. 

“—And the best part is, all you have to do is sign this card! We’ll put it on Adrien’s desk for you, and that way no one else can claim to have written it themselves or steal it before he has the chance to see it. Foolproof! Right, Juleka?”  

Rose nudged her girlfriend, who nodded her head and muttered something that sounded like a yes. 

“We all agree! Don’t you see, Marinette? This is your best chance yet. If this doesn’t work, then nothing will.” Mylene folded her arms and set her face determinedly. 

Alya sighed and pushed up her glasses. 

“I know why you don’t feel like doing this, girl,” she said softly, her gaze darting to the purse Tikki was hiding in and returning to Marinette’s shimmering eyes. “But I do think this might work. There’s no reason for Adrien to turn you down now that he and Kagami aren’t dating anymore, and he’s started smiling at you more often. That’s a great sign, girl!” 

“Alya, I can’t date anyone while I’m you-know-who,” Marinette whispered. “It would be too dangerous. Besides, I barely have time for my school responsibilities! How would I have enough time to date Adrien on top of everything else?” 

“Are you really still hesitating?” Rose cried in exasperation. She had had enough of Marinette’s indecision, and since she was certain that Adrien returned her emotions, she was determined to put an end to her friend’s struggles once and for all. “Just give us your answer, Marinette!” 

Straightening, Marinette turned away from Alya to look at her gathered friends, who were sitting on the park benches and grass, looking at her in confusion and impatience. Alix checked her watch and popped her bubblegum as she looked at Marinette. 

She sighed. 

“It isn’t that I don’t appreciate your plan, girls,” she said slowly. “I just don’t think dating Adrien is a good idea anymore. It isn’t that I don’t love him, because I do! But...” She rubbed her arm and puffed out a sigh. “I don’t think I’m the best person for him. He deserves someone who can be there for him all the time, and you know that girl is not me. I’m flaky, remember?” 

Mylene sighed. “That’s true, but that doesn’t mean he can’t love you, or that you don’t love him! Your emotions speak louder than you think they do, Marinette. Trust yourself!” 

“Yeah!” Alix said, holding back a knowing smirk. 

Rose headbanged her way through an agreeing nod. “You’ve done so much to help us, Marinette. Now, it’s finally your turn to let us help you!” 

Juleka mumbled in agreement, even brushing her bangs back to give Marinette an encouraging smile. 

“You can do it, girl,” Alya said, putting her hand on Marinette’s shoulder and turning her around so that she had to look at her. “You don’t have to, but I want you to know that you can . Put us out of our misery, huh? I want to go on a date without worrying that you’ll never go on one with your ‘Buttercup.’” 

“Please don’t remind me of that name,” Marinette muttered through a strained smile as a blush covered her cheeks. She dropped her head down and pulled Alya’s arms off her shoulders. 

The group watched her expectantly as she turned to face them all. 

“Fine,” she said in a confident voice. “How about a compromise? I promise to try to confess to Adrien on my own before the end of the school day tomorrow. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll take your plan. And if that doesn’t work—” 

“It will work!” Rose declared ecstatically. “I’m so happy for you, Marinette!” 

She hopped up from the bench and threw her arms around Marinette. The other girls quickly followed suit, forming a giant group hug around a beet-faced Marinette. 

“Thanks, girls,” she said in an embarrassed voice. She awkwardly patted their arms as they continued to hug her. “I’ll handle it from here.” 

__*__*__*__*__ 

It was bad luck. That was the only explanation for what happened next. 

Marinette had been planning to confess to Adrien with a fresh bag of chouquettes, drizzled with a chocolate heart design by Tom, after lunch ended. She would catch up to Adrien just as he was walking back into school, and that way she wouldn’t have any time to chicken out of her confession. 

Of course, an akuma had to strike just as Marinette finished scarfing down her grated carrots and was getting ready to dash over to the bakery to pick up the chouquettes. There was a new sentimonster to defeat, and so the akuma took twice as long as it should have. By the time it was over, it was time for Ms. Mendeleiev’s class to finish. Marinette would have to hurry if she wanted to catch Adrien before he walked back over to Ms. Bustier’s class. 

And hurry, she did. Focused on nothing but speed, she didn’t notice that her yo-yo never vanished as she replaced it at her hip. Usually, she’d be detransformed by now, but she’d had to quickly recharge and help the former akuma victim after purifying the akuma. Chat Noir had had to rush back to school, muttering an excuse about attendance and his crappy father’s punishment system.  

So, Ladybug had stayed behind to help the former akuma victim, who’d had some bad luck of his own. He had suffered a broken leg before his akumatization and had no one to help him to the hospital, into the ambulance she’d called and then headed back to the school. 

She found Adrien just in time, skidding into the hallway as he stepped out of Ms. Mendeleiev’s room beside Nino. 

“Adrien! I have to talk to you!” 

Marinette knew she probably looked like a madwoman, her hair frizzy and falling out of her pigtails. She licked her lips and quickly tightened her ribbons. That should help her appearance at least a little. 

Adrien’s mouth fell open as he watched Ladybug shift nervously on her feet, clasping her hands tight and breathing deeply to shake off her nerves. 

“Wha...?” He couldn’t manage to finish his question. 

Nino, who looked similarly confused, gently closed Adrien’s mouth and back away, whispering a quick assurance as he left. 

“A-Adrien, I...”  

Ladybug closed her eyes. No! She would not give in to fear this time. If Chat Noir was brave enough to take her rejection, she could be brave enough to take Adrien’s. At least then she would know his answer. 

She opened her eyes and looked into Adrien’s green ones with a determined huff. A camera flash went off to the side, but she ignored it. 

“When I first met you, I misjudged you,” she began.  

Adrien’s jaw dropped down even lower this time.  

“I thought you were conceited and superficial. But then, I got to know you. I saw who you really were deep down—someone sweet, sincere, and generous. Since then, there's something I've been wanting to tell you. But every time I try, it's like my brain suddenly freezes. But now, I think I'm ready.” 

One of the younger students hollered across the hall. Ladybug ignored whatever he said and kept her gaze steady as she finished her declaration. 

“Adrien.” The boy’s eyes widened as she said his name again, and he stared at her like he was hanging on to every word from her lips. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for the painful ending to this surreal moment.  

“I love you.” 

Immediately, the whispers and camera flashes that Marinette had been blocking out rushed into her ears. She caught sight of people laughing, exchanging money, gawking at her as they spoke with their friends. Down the hall, Ms. Bustier waited for her last students with a frown. 

Adrien still hadn’t spoken. 

Marinette reached up to wipe the sweat off her brow, and that’s when the depth of her bad luck hit her. 

Really, what superhero would be reckless enough to publicly confess their love to a civilian, especially a famous one? 

There was no way this would end well. 

“Sorry!” Marinette rushed to salvage the burning ruins of her confession. “I don’t—I’m sorry—I—” 

“I love you, too,” Adrien said, his eyes full of wonder. 

Ladybug licked her lips. “What?” 

“When you see Marinette again,” Adrien continued, keeping his eyes fixed on Ladybug’s, “Tell her that I love her, too. You were delivering her message for her, weren’t you?” 

Icy shock mixed with guilty relief flooded Marinette. 

“Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, the confession was from Marinette. Because she loves you, but I don’t love you! That would be ridiculous!” 

“Utterly,” Chloe muttered from behind Adrien. Ms. Bustier directed her back into the classroom. She rolled her eyes as she left. 

“So, you’ll tell her, then,” Adrien was saying, and Marinette snapped her gaze back to his. 

“Yes! Absolutely! She’ll be thrilled,” she said with an awkward laugh. Then she shot finger guns at him. Another camera flash went off, and she cringed. 

“Perfect,” Adrien said, holding the ‘r’ just a second too long. “And tell her I’m sorry that she had to go home sick. I’ll visit her after school, and we can talk about it more then, okay?” 

Ladybug nodded, unsure whether to swallow down the hope she felt or let it grow. “Okay,” she whispered.  

But her eyes narrowed as she continued gazing up at Adrien. He seemed like he’d figured out more from her speech than she’d thought. How did he know it was Marinette’s confession? Had someone told him? 

It had to be Chat Noir. But why would he tell Adrien? 

And who else had he told? 

Ladybug felt a stab of betrayal. 

“No,” she told Adrien, clenching her fist and ignoring the wild pounding of her heart. “I’ll come visit you after school. I mean, if Marinette is sick—”  

That was another thing. Adrien had provided her with the perfect cover for her tardiness, but how had he known to do that? 

If he knew, then Ladybug might as well personally deliver her Miraculous to Hawk Moth. 

“—If she’s sick, then you’d better not visit her, or you might catch whatever she has. I’ll deliver your message to her and keep being your go-between for the day. Is— is that okay?” she finished nervously. 

Her excuse didn’t make sense. If Adrien didn’t know who she was, he would just suggest he and Marinette talk over the phone, something way more normal and far less complicated than communicating through Paris’ busiest hero. 

But Adrien only nodded, stars in his eyes, and Ladybug’s heart sank. 

“I’ll be waiting by the window for you, m— Ladybug.” 

Yeah, he knew. But he looked so excited to see her again that Ladybug almost didn’t care. It was hard to remember that her world was crumbling when the boy of her dreams was gazing at her like she’d granted his every wish by just existing. 

“All right, if you’re done delivering Marinette’s message, you can leave now, Miss Ladybug,” Ms. Mendeleiev’s nasal voice called out. 

The superhero jumped and whirled around. “Oh! Sorry! Yes, good students don’t hold up class time. Er, good heroes! Heroes like me,” she said, giggling nervously as she walked into the wall. 

Adrien caught her as she fell. She practically leapt out of his arms. 

“Byedrien! Bye, Adrien! And Ms. Mendeleiev! And the other students who I definitely do not know! ” Ladybug pushed the nearest door open and scurried through it. 

It led to the bathroom, but that was okay. She was very experienced in escaping from bathroom windows.  

And there were definitely no pictures of Ladybug entering the men’s room being posted right now. Nope! Those thoughts could wait for another time. Marinette had finally confessed to Adrien!  

And it had only cost her secret identity. 

Was it bad luck, she pondered, or had its opposite led to her passionate confession? 

__*__*__*__*__ 

After she managed to convince her mother that she really was sick (of school, at least), Marinette sat in her room, watching the video of her confession play in a loop on the news. Apparently, superheroes confessing to supermodels on behalf of other, normal girls was headline material in Paris. 

It was amazing that Marinette hadn’t noticed what she was doing, that she hadn’t felt her suit on her fingers and known before she opened her mouth. It was also amazing that Adrien, although he had figured out her secret identity, had protected it instead of sharing it with anyone. 

It gave her hope when she shouldn’t be able to feel any. 

Well, she had to feel some hope now that she knew Adrien loved her, too! It was the best outcome of a love confession she’d dared to dream of (almost, after the one where they got married and moved to the beach with their cute, fuzzy hamsters). 

He’d really said that he loved her! She hadn’t dreamed it up, Marinette marveled as she watched the video for the fifteenth time. As soon as it ended, she went to hit the replay button again, but Tikki landed on the mouse and blocked her from clicking it. 

“Marinette, don’t you think this is a bit excessive? School has been over for almost half an hour now. Shouldn’t you go visit Adrien like you said you would?” 

Tikki had seemed very excited by the prospect of her visit, though Marinette could not fathom the reason why. After all, she’d just lost her secret identity to the same person who’d found it out before in a doomed timeline that led to her poor kitty being akumatized. 

Oh, right, Marinette remembered. That was the real reason she was watching these videos. She needed something to distract herself from the sense of impending doom she’d been feeling. 

“Well, the Gorilla could be late to pick Adrien up,” she said to Tikki, offering her weak excuse with a wide grin that was probably less reassuring than she’d hoped. “I don’t want to be caught by M. Agreste if he’s the only one at the mansion now.” 

Tikki quirked her brow. 

“You need to talk to him, Marinette! How else will you know if he figured out your secret identity or not?” 

Marinette sighed. “I already know he did! He even knew I’d panic about it and made up an excuse for me to go home instead of staying at school!” 

“He was also the first to suggest that you talk more after school! Which means that he’s probably in his room now, waiting by the window for the girl he loves to come say hello! But instead of doing that, you’re watching a scratchy recording taken on a phone for the umpteenth time! Marinette, when I picked you to be my holder, I thought you’d be much braver than this.” 

Oh, Tikki could play dirty when she wanted to. The other kwamis snickered to themselves as they watched their Guardian splutter her excuse as she evaded the only true course of action. 

“I can be brave! But right now I’m being cautious, which is another heroic quality I should have! After all, the whole ‘leap before you look’ is Chat’s thing, not mine!” 

Tikki giggled. “Well, leaping before you look sounds an awful lot like what you did earlier today, Marinette. The two of you are more alike than you might think! Now,” she said, moving off the mouse and clicking the power button on the computer, “Get off that chair and go visit Adrien! If you still haven’t transformed in one minute, then I might murder you before Alya gets the chance to.” 

Tikki’s eyes glittered playfully as Marinette glanced at her discarded phone, which was still blowing up with ignored notifications from her reporter friend and what seemed to be half of Paris. 

Marinette swallowed. “I guess anything’s better than that. Tikki, spots on!” 

Throwing open the trap door, Ladybug flung her yo-yo around a distant building and took off towards Adrien’s house, swallowing the butterflies in her stomach back down.  

Why, oh why had she confessed to Adrien as Ladybug? Why hadn’t she just taken the girls’ idea and signed a card as Marinette, or would her awful luck have ruined that plan, too?  

Would she have signed the card as Ladybug? Or worse, would she have asked for more constipation medicine instead of drawing a heart by her name? 

Why do some people think ladybugs are lucky? Marinette wondered as she deftly avoided crashing into Adrien’s window. If I was lucky, I would have never fallen in love!  

Ladybug straightened up on the windowsill and looked into Adrien’s room. He probably wasn’t home yet, because Tikki had been exaggerating about the time and oh no he was looking right at her!!!  

Ladybug did a panicked dance that looked a bit like she was Vogue-ing and fell off the windowsill. 

She landed in a tree. 

“Ow,” she commented blankly while internally slapping herself. The fall had been so short that it hadn’t hurt! 

 But Adrien didn’t know that. Clapping his hands to his cheeks, he gaped at Ladybug in horror. 

There’s the reaction I was expecting earlier, Ladybug thought drearily as Adrien threw open the window and started climbing down the wall to help her out of the tree. 

“Ladybug! Are you okay? I am so sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you like that! I thought I told you I’d be by the window earlier!”  

He reached out for the branch that Ladybug had landed on, but just barely couldn’t reach it without coming in danger of losing his grip on the wall. 

Ladybug’s eyes widened.

“Adrien, be careful! You’re going to fall!” 

Adrien shook her worries off. “It’ll be fine, my lady, I’ve done this a million ti—!” 

He grabbed onto the end of the branch and let go of the wall as he started speaking, but the branch was not as strong as he’d given it credit for. Unable to support his full weight, it cracked off from the rest of the branch and fell, dragging the model down with it. 

“Adrien!” Two voices cried out in harmonized horror. 

Ladybug jumped up and tossed her yo-yo to catch Adrien as a black blur zoomed out of his window and dropped down after him. 

The yo-yo string wrapped around Adrien’s waist while Ladybug’s brain short-circuited as she registered both the reason the black blur’s voice was familiar and the nickname Adrien had just used for her. Unable to handle the surprise of finding out her partner’s identity, she fell off her perch for the second time that day. 

Plagg moved out of the way as she tumbled past him, and milliseconds later, she wound up tangled upside down in the yo-yo string with Adrien about a meter and a half above the ground. Luckily, Plagg hurriedly wrapped the end of the string around a thicker branch, which brought their progress to an abrupt and jarring halt before they could come to a crash landing. 

“Ugh,” Adrien groaned, and Ladybug nearly shivered out of her skin. 

“I am not a cat!” she snapped, and Adrien twisted around to look at her. The yo-yo string spun around accordingly, intensifying the queasy feeling in Marinette’s stomach. 

“I beg your pardon?” 

Why had Ladybug ever opened up her mouth? She should have known only gibberish would come out! Still panicking, she did it again without thinking. 

“It’s pawdon! And you’re not getting any until we get out of this tree!” 

Adrien blinked. It probably would have been adorable if Ladybug hadn’t been looking at them upside down while she got spun in dizzying circles by her own weapon. 

“My lady, I really am sorry about the reveal, but I was so scared when you got hurt! And I can’t think straight when the girl that I love is in danger!” 

He pulled out his best pout while Plagg sat on top of the yo-yo string tied around the branch and stared wide-eyed at him. 

“Transform, you rollot-headed cheese curd! Transform and destroy the string!” he cried impatiently. 

“But then we’ll fall,” Adrien pointed out, and Ladybug craned her neck upwards in the direction Plagg’s voice had come from. 

“Why don’t you just untie the string, Plagg? That would be a lot easier!” 

“Yeah, I thought you hated transforming!” Adrien called. 

Plagg flew down and landed on the string tying Ladybug and Adrien together.  

“You’d still fall if I untied the string, you solid slices of Swiss! Only Adrien wouldn’t be protected from it, because he wouldn’t be wearing a suit!” 

“But it’s only a meter drop,” Adrien protested. “I’ll be fine!” 

Ladybug jerked, swinging the string in a sideways motion. “Do you want to get hurt? Take Plagg’s advice!” If you really are Chat Noir, she added silently. 

Adrien stared up at Ladybug for a moment. “Whatever the lady wishes. Plagg, claws out!” 

Good, we’re at this part of the dream. Shouldn’t I wake up now? Ladybug asked herself.  

But that must not always be the way dreams worked, because there was that one time after Oblivio when she’d dreamed that Adrien turned into Chat Noir and then he’d kissed her and she— 

As she was still thinking, the string disintegrated around Ladybug and she and Chat Noir fell to the ground in a tangled heap. 

“Your foot is covering my eye,” Ladybug complained. Chat Noir moved it immediately. 

“Sorry,” he apologized as he moved Ladybug’s heels off his chest and stood up. Offering Ladybug a hand, he pulled her to her feet. She nearly fell over again, and he steadied her with a hand. 

“I really am sorry,” he repeated as Ladybug carefully stretched out her arms, which had been pinned to her sides by the string. 

“It was my fault, I should have remembered you’d be at the window,” she said sheepishly. “And, as for the identity reveal? I wouldn’t have figured it out if it weren’t for Plagg.” 

Adrien detransformed and frowned at his kwami.  

“I’m entirely innocent,” Plagg said, crossing his arms. “I am also starving. I need cheese!” He looked pleadingly at Adrien. 

“I don’t think now is a good time for cheese, Plagg, but if you need some, you know where it is.” 

With a cheeky wink at Ladybug, Plagg zoomed off to Adrien’s room before she could say a word. 

“All this because of a poorly executed confession,” she grumbled, scuffing the dirt under the tree. 

Adrien tilted his head. “Poorly executed? My lady, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven because I was so happy! Your delivery was perfect. If it wasn’t for the fact that you were Ladybug at the time, it would have been purrfect!” 

Ladybug pursed her lips. “You made that joke before,” she said, wagging a finger at him. “I can’t believe I didn’t get it! I can’t believe I didn’t notice you were Chat Noir,” she groaned, covering her face in embarrassment. 

Adrien laughed and delicately peeled her fingers apart so he could peer into her eyes.  

“I can’t believe I didn’t notice you were Marinette,” he said in a voice so sweet it made her heart skip a beat. “But I guess that’s the way the Miraculous work, isn’t it? Or else we would have figured it out on the first day.” 

Ladybug giggled as she lowered her hands from her face. “We really should have,” she said. “But I guess I was too busy falling under your spell, instead.” 

Adrien blushed. “You— really?” he squeaked.  

Ladybug smiled as she reached up to ruffle his hair. He leaned into her touch the way he always did. 

 “Yes, really,” she said softly. “Weren’t you listening to my confession? It’s always been you, Adrien,” she said, tapping his cheek with one finger. “I fell for you the moment you gave me your umbrella and showed me who you truly are.” 

Adrien grabbed her hand and held it to his cheek, gazing into her eyes with a look so tender it made her want to melt. 

“I fell for you on the first day, too,” he breathed. “You were so scared, but so courageous! You stood up to Hawk Moth and gave hope to all of Paris. I’ve never met anyone so brave.”  

Turning his face, he pressed a kiss to the inside of her palm, and Ladybug gasped as a blush took over her face. 

“I said to myself back then that I’d love whoever you were under that mask. And I was right,” he said, tracing its edges with a smile. 

Marinette looked at him in wonder. “You do? Even though I’m the worst Guardian ever? A-and even when I can’t talk right to you most of the time?” 

“Even then,” Adrien assured, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose and smiling when her blush got even darker. “For the record, I think you’re a wonderful Guardian. And I think your stuttering is quite adorable.” 

Surrendering her face as a total loss to the flames licking at it, Marinette dropped her head onto Adrien’s shoulder. 

“You’re abhorrable,” she said into his shirt. Holding up a finger, she took a breath and tried again. “Adorable! I think you’re adorable, too. And now that we’re finally out of that tree, I think I know how you can earn my pardon.” 

Wrapping his arms around her, Adrien hummed quietly. “What is it?” 

“Take me on a date. Next Saturday, in the park, after your piano recital. I’ll bring the pastries,” Marinette said as she returned his hug. 

“I’ll bring the flowers,” Adrien said happily.  

Marinette felt her heart swell as he kissed her hair and held her closer to him.  

“I’m so happy it’s you,” he whispered into her ear. 

“Me, too,” she confided. “I’m so happy. I don’t think Chat Noir could be anyone else.” 

A camera flash went off in her eyes as she lifted her head.  

Ladybug pushed herself away from Adrien and spun him around so he could see the problem. 

“Alya!” she gasped. “What are you doing here?” 

“You weren’t returning any of my calls, girl,” she said, putting a hand on her hip. “All you did was send one text panicking about how Adrien knows who you are now. Listen, all of Paris knows that you were planning to visit Adrien after school. You guys are lucky it’s just me who showed up. I was expecting there to be at least a dozen camera crews here already.” 

“Hold on a minute,” Adrien said, scrunching his eyebrows. “Do you know?”  

Alya hesitated, her gaze wandering from Adrien back to Ladybug. 

“She does,” Ladybug said, wrapping her arms around herself. “Alya knows. I’m so sorry, but I had to tell someone!” 

“Ma—Ladybug was basically having a panic attack when she told me,” Alya said, defending her friend to Adrien. “It only happened because she needed the support, and she couldn’t see another way. She hadn’t been planning to reveal her identity to me, or you for that matter.” 

“Trust me, I know she wasn’t,” Adrien said. “I only figured out who she was because of a weird coincidence, actually.” 

“Oh? And here I thought it was obvious,” Alya commented. “We’re lucky you covered for our girl, or all of Paris would have figured it out from that confession. Which you had better have accepted, by the way, or I will have Chat Noir cataclysm you for me.” 

“Oh-h, you will?” Adrien asked in a strangled voice. 

Ladybug laughed nervously. “Well, we won’t be needing that, Alya! He said yes.” 

“Good,” Alya said, folding her arms with a smile. “I’m so proud of you, girl! You finally faced your fears and confessed to Adrien. And see where it got you!” 

Ladybug grinned at her friend, but as Plagg reappeared behind Alya’s head and zipped back into Adrien’s pocket while she wasn’t looking, she remembered something important. 

“Actually, Alya... there’s another reason that threatening Adrien with Chat Noir wouldn’t work. Right, Adrien?” She looked up at him imploringly, hoping that he got the message. You don’t have to tell her, but we need to think of something to say!  

Adrien cleared his throat. “Oh, yeah! Are you sure it’s okay for her to know that, though?” 

Marinette shrugged. Telling Alya would be simpler than trying not to act like she was in love with Chat Noir or coming up with some explanation of her sudden turn to polyromanticism. It also carried a large danger with it, but she’d proved herself to be capable of handling it before. 

Alya was frowning as she looked between Adrien and Ladybug. 

“What’s going on, Marinette?” she asked quietly. 

Adrien twisted the silver ring on his finger. “I’m Chat Noir,” he said, watching Alya’s reaction closely. 

She blinked twice, then adjusted her glasses as she peered at him. Plagg peeked out from Adrien’s shirt pocket, and her jaw fell open. 

“Oh, wow,” she breathed. “You really are him! I totally called it!” 

“What?” 

Ladybug flushed. “You put a filter on a photo of him one time as a joke, Alya. That does not count as calling it.” 

Alya grinned. “Was it a joke? Or was it my awesome reporter skills coming in handy? Because I seem to remember you being the one who thought it was a joke.” 

Adrien smirked at Alya. “But you didn’t guess who Ladybug was, right? I did,” he bragged. “Back during Kwamibuster. Of course, my lady was clever enough to cover her tracks, but I knew there was a reason Multimouse looked so cute!” 

Ladybug let out a squeak, which made Alya smile. 

“You didn’t tell me about using the Mouse! I bet you looked adorable,” Alya said, and Adrien nodded his agreement. 

“You should have been there! It was the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen.” 

“It wasn’t that impressive,” Ladybug said, wishing the fire in her cheeks would cool down. “I just did what I had to do.” 

“She’s so humble, too,” Adrien said, looking at her with a smile. “My heart never stood a chance.” 

Ladybug spluttered and hid her face in her hands as Alya laughed good-naturedly.  

“Well, since you’re safe from the paparazzi, I think I’ll leave you two alone now so you can keep talking. You should probably keep an eye open, though. Oh, and if you ever want to formally announce your relationship as Ladybug and Chat Noir? You know where to find me,” she said with a wink. 

“Thank you, Alya,” Adrien said politely. “We’ll think about it later, once we figure all the details out.” 

“I wouldn’t expect anything else. All right, then, Alya out!” 

With a cheeky salute, she turned and walked toward the wall around the mansion, which she scaled with an ease that would have sparked the opposite feeling in M. Agreste had he been there to see it. 

“Alya was right about the press, you know,” Adrien said casually as Ladybug watched the spot Alya had disappeared from. “If you want, we could go somewhere else to talk. There’d be less of a chance of causing a scandal.” 

“I think you mean causing another scandal,” Ladybug sighed. “You’re both right, of course, a press intrusion is the last thing we need right now. Still, it could always be worse! I might have messed up my confession, but I was lucky enough to have— well, you. You’ve always got my back, kitty.” 

“You and me against the world,” Adrien said in agreement. “I think I got lucky, too. Until recently, dating you seemed like an unattainable dream. And yet, here we are,” he said, lifting her hand for a kiss. “I finally get to be with the love of my life.” 

Ladybug couldn’t stop a smile from blooming on her face as she gazed back at Adrien warmly. 

“And I, mine,” she said, her breath tangling with his as she moved closer. “I love you, Adrien Agreste.” 

He didn’t need to say anything back as he leaned closer and wrapped her in his arms. 

The kiss said more than enough.

#ladrienjune2023 #ml fanfic #ladrien #rosie-b writing #identity reveal #miraculous ladybug #takes place after in season 4 after gang of secrets and glaciator 2 #the ending tried sooo hard to turn into marichat but i managed to keep it ladrien

[bananagreste]

days of marinette dupain cheng #196 >> heartbreak? me? ha, ha! that is not it at all. everything’s fine!

#miraculous ladybug #mledit #miraculousedit #ladybug #mine #ep: le gang des secrets #project: daysofmarinette #narrator's voice: nothing is fine

[flightfoot]

Got the craving for a specific kid of fic and knew you'd probably be the best person to ask for recommendations! I'd really like to see some fics of Alya recontextualizing all of her interactions with Marinette/Ladybug after Gang of Secrets, since we didn't get to see that in the show.

(Especially stuff like "How did Marinette set up a Ladybug interview with Alya?" and "Holy crap Lila has been claiming to be Ladybug's best friend since day one but I'M her best friend, and that's why Marinette has been calling her a liar!")

Yeah I've got a few!

Inferiority Complex by CartoonBee

Alya, after finding out her best friend is Ladybug finds herself feeling small and insignificant in comparison. Luckily, her boyfriend understands.

learning to bare her soul by Heyguysitsme

Marinette revealed the truth to Alya, but after such a long time of keeping secrets, she still struggles to fully open up.

My Best Friend is Ladybug by MikeXeno

Marinette's confession risked changing everything between her and Alya. But how much will really change? (Note: It is necessary to watch the episode "Gang of Secrets" before reading this story.)

#ask #ml fanfic rec #miraculous ladybug #gang of secrets #alya cesaire #marinette dupain cheng

[sunfoxfic]

Post-Gang of Secrets

#alya cesaire #marinette dupain cheng #ml memes #miraculous ladybug #gang of secrets #animan #djwifi #meme

[new-kit-on-the-block]

So I was going back to re-watch the scene where Alya breaks free from her akumatization in Gang of Secrets for my analysis and I'm sorry I was originally going to let this go but I can't.

Here's a screenshot of Marinette in Stormy Weather, the episode that is now officially labeled as "Episode 1"

She looks perfectly fine. Just as I remember. When it was starting out, Miraculous had some pretty decent animation for what it was.

Now look at her in this scene.

I knew that Miraculous' animation had been steadily declining throughout season 4 but wHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING

I'M CRYING WHY DOES SHE LOOK LIKE THAT

#try actually watching the episodes too #in the first one her movements and expressions feel natural but still very much animated #in gang of secrets she moves and looks like a wooden doll #the shading also looks flat to non-existant #plus the background in the first screenshot looks better and sabine is blurred to give a sense of depth #while the second scene just takes place in a dark alley/empty colorless void #miraculous ladybug #ml #ml critical #miraculous critical #animation

[wordsofrowan]

From Ashes to Embers

Chapter 15 - And The Room Falls Silent

Just as I glanced at my phone to check the time, a vibrant pink glow enveloped the screen, revealing the presence of Lady Wifi. She materialized before me, her digital form flickering with an air of both vengeance and malice. 

"I'm here for you, Marinette. I'm your friend," Lady Wifi declared, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "You will tell us all your secrets, and you will feel so much better!"

A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I realized the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, I sprinted up the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest, desperate to escape her clutches. Lady Wifi's persistent attempts to pause me only fueled my determination.

I burst out onto my balcony, the cool afternoon air hitting my face as I scanned the surroundings for an escape route. Lady Wifi, searching for me, looked around frantically, her gaze darting from one corner to another. But this time, I had a plan.

As Lady Wifi's eyes fell upon the illusion of me created by Trixx, confusion washed over her. "How did she...?" she muttered, her voice laced with bewilderment. The clever illusion led her to believe that I was running towards Collège Françoise Dupont, throwing her off my trail.

Under Lady Wifi's lead, the Gang of Secrets followed the illusion, their footsteps echoing through the silent streets. Lady Wifi's desperate call rang out, her words a mix of frustration and feigned friendship. "Don't run away, Marinette! We're friends, aren't we?" she shouted, the echoes fading into the distance.

Back in the safety of my room, I turned to Trixx with gratitude shining in my eyes. "Thank you, Trixx," I whispered. With unwavering determination, I called upon my transformation, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

"Wait Trixx," My voice carried a note of concern, "when a kwami uses its power without a holder to channel its energy, doesn't it often set off some kind of catastrophe?" I asked, worry etched on my face.

"You're right, Ladybug. My power, however, creates illusions," Trixx explained, "Illusions have a way of playing tricks on the mind, so the side effects will hopefully remain confined to their imaginations," Trixx added, a hint of optimism tugging at his voice. He glanced back at Wayzz and Barkk, who seemed slightly annoyed by his recent display of power.

Rolling my eyes, I made my way to the balcony, my determination unwavering even in the face of uncertainty. The scene before me unfolded with an air of surrealism as the Eiffel Tower began to dance, its movements strangely distorted due to the Mirage.

"Oh, Trixx," I said as I sighed, a mix of exasperation and affection lacing my voice. With a flick of my wrist, I unleashed my yo-yo, using its power to transport me to the heart of the unfolding spectacle.

As I surveyed the cityscape from the rooftops, my focus was suddenly interrupted by Chat Noir's voice in my ear. "Hey there, m'lady," he greeted, his tone laced with playful banter. "Somebody is having a supervillain party and didn't invite us."

nodded, my focus shifting to the imminent danger we faced. "They're looking for Marinette Dupain-Cheng," I explained, my tone tinged with both concern and confusion. "One of their own classmates."

Chat Noir's voice held a hint of incredulity as he echoed my thoughts. "Haven't we already saved her a bunch of times? Funny you'd think everybody would like her."

A pang of sadness tugged at my heart as I thought about the recent events that had caused Marinette to become estranged from her friends. The weight of the situation settled upon my shoulders, reminding me of the complexities of human relationships.

Pushing aside my thoughts, I focused on the task at hand. "Well, apparently, she's managed to alienate all her friends at once," I said, my voice filled with determination. I could not let personal emotions hinder my duty to protect the city.

Chat Noir's reassuring presence provided a much-needed anchor amidst the chaos. Sensing my momentary lapse, he gently prodded, "You still there?"

Shaking off my thoughts, I refocused on the task at hand. "Just thinking," I responded, determination seeping back into my voice. "With five villains, it's not gonna be easy finding the object that has the akuma."

Chat Noir, his unwavering faith in my abilities shining through, chimed in with a hopeful tone. "I bet you already have an idea, right?"

A determined smile graced my lips as I formulated a plan in my mind. "I'm going to isolate one of the villains from the others," I explained, my voice filled with conviction. "I'll convince her to reveal the location of the akuma. Meanwhile, you track down Lady Wifi. She seems to be the one in charge of the others."

Cat Noir's support echoed in his response. "Good luck, M'lady," he said, his unwavering faith in me bolstering my spirits. 

I smiled, grateful for his unwavering support. "Thanks, you too," I replied, my voice filled with gratitude. Together, we were a formidable team, ready to face any challenge that came our way.

With a graceful leap, I descended from the rooftops, the wind caressing my face as my yo-yo spun effortlessly through the air. The city streets blurred beneath me as I guided myself toward Timebreaker, skillfully luring her away from the clutches of the other four villains.

As I swiftly retrieved her pocketwatch and shattered it, a surge of disappointment washed over me. There was nothing within it, no trace of the akuma we sought. Timebreaker couldn't help but taunt me, relishing in her temporary victory. "Sucks to suck, Ladybug. I don't have the Akuma," she teased, a smug grin playing on her lips.

Maintaining my composure, I shrugged off her mocking words, responding with calm confidence. "No biggie," I replied, my voice steady. "I just wanted to talk to you anyway."

Timebreaker scoffed, turning her head away in defiance. "Like I have anything to say to you," she retorted, her voice dripping with disdain.

Undeterred, I pressed on, determined to bridge the divide between us. "Listen, Alix," I began, my voice filled with empathy and understanding. "From what I understand, you've been facing some challenges with your friend, Marinette. I may not know the details of what transpired between the two of you, but I want to share something about a friend of mine."

A flicker of curiosity danced in Timebreaker's eyes as she reluctantly turned her gaze back to me. I seized the opportunity to paint a vivid picture of the bond I shared with my own loyal companion. "She is the epitome of loyalty, headstrong, and dependable," I explained, passion infusing my words. "We may keep secrets from each other at times, but the trust we have in one another is unwavering. I know she will always have my back, just as I will always strive to do the right thing for her."

I locked eyes with Alix, my belief in her potential shining through. "And I trust you, Alix. I believe that you have the strength to reject the power Shadow Moth has bestowed upon you," I declared, my voice filled with conviction.

As my heartfelt words reached Timebreaker's ears, a visible struggle began to unfold within her. The grip of Shadow Moth's control weakened, a flicker of resistance shimmering in her eyes. A distinctive purple butterfly outline materialized on her face, a symbol of the menacing influence that sought to keep her enslaved.

"Don't listen to her, Timebreaker!" a distorted voice echoed in Alix's ears. "If you resist, you'll never uncover your friend's secret. Or Ladybug's, for that matter!"

My voice grew stronger, filled with determination as I implored Alix to trust in herself. "I trust you, Alix," I affirmed, my words carrying a weight of importance. "I need you. You're the only one who can help me."

Timebreaker's struggle intensified, her body wracked with spasms as her inner battle reached its climax. With a resounding scream, swirling clouds of black and purple engulfed her, transforming her back into Alix. I acted swiftly, catching her fragile form in my arms as she teetered on the brink of fainting.

Gently cradling Alix, I whispered words of reassurance, my voice a soothing balm against the residual effects of Shadow Moth's control. I couldn't contain my admiration and excitement. "Wow. No one has ever done that before... you're amazing, Alix," I exclaimed, a genuine smile lighting up my face.

Alix returned the compliment, her voice filled with gratitude and sincerity. "It's because you're an amazing friend, Ladybug. I see that now"

We raised our fists in unison, our hands meeting in the air. Smiling down at Alix I knew I made the right choice in allies, If she was going to continue to be by my side in the future I need her now as well. 

But our moment of triumph was abruptly interrupted by the urgent ringing of my phone. With a sense of urgency, I retrieved my phone and glanced at the screen, my heart racing with concern.

"Which object holds the akuma?" I asked Alix, my mind already racing to formulate a plan.

Alix furrowed her brow, her eyes reflecting deep thought. "It's in a bracelet," she responded, her tone filled with concern. "Alya must have it, but you and Chat Noir won't be able to take on four villains at once."

A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of my lips as an idea formed in my mind. I reached for my yo-yo, spinning it open to reveal the Fox Miraculous nestled inside. "I think this calls for the master of Illusion," I declared, my confidence shining through. 

Alix's eyes widened with awe as she took in the sight of the Fox Miraculous. "Woah! That's so awesome," she exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

I chuckled, a playful sparkle in my eyes. "I have loads of tricks up my sleeve, being the Guardian and all," I shared cryptically, knowing that I couldn't reveal too much.

Alix nodded emphatically, a newfound sense of responsibility shining in her eyes. "You can trust me, Ladybug. Your secret is safe with me."

I put the silver chain in her hands "Put it on, Alix, and when you're ready, say 'Trixx, let's pounce!'" I instructed, my voice filled with encouragement. "With your power of Mirage, you'll create illusions to aid us in our battle."

Alix followed my guidance, slipping on the Fox Miraculous. In a dazzling display of light, Trixx, the wise and mischievous kwami, materialized before her.

Filled with determination and a renewed sense of purpose, Alix took a deep breath. "Trixx, let's pounce!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with confidence.

My eyes widened in astonishment as Alix underwent her transformation. Pink fox ears sprouted from the top of her head, accompanied by a fluffy pink tail swaying behind her. She wore a sleek black bodysuit, accentuated by vibrant pink and silver jean shorts that hugged her form perfectly.

But it was the rest of her outfit that truly caught my attention. A stylish pink and white bomber jacket adorned her shoulders, adding a touch of flair to her ensemble. Her footwear consisted of thigh-high black platform heels, exuding confidence and power with every step she took.

To complete her striking appearance, Alix wore a white fox mask over her face, adding an air of mystery and intrigue. The mask accentuated her determined gaze, as though she was ready to take on any challenge that came her way.

Alix beamed with pride, her voice filled with wonder. "This is incredible!" she exclaimed, spinning around to fully appreciate her new form. 

I couldn't help but share in her excitement, a genuine smile gracing my lips. "You look absolutely amazing, Alix," I complimented, my voice filled with admiration. Curiosity piqued, I couldn't resist asking, "What should I call you now?" My eyes met hers, eager to learn the name she had chosen for her heroic alter ego.

A mischievous grin spread across Alix's face as she responded confidently, "Vixen, of course." The name perfectly captured the essence of her newfound powers and the grace with which she carried herself.

I nodded approvingly, acknowledging her choice. "Vixen suits you perfectly," I agreed, my voice laced with enthusiasm.

As the sun began to set over the picturesque Canal Saint-Martin, its golden rays cast a warm glow on the surrounding buildings and the tranquil water below. Cat Noir found himself in a perilous situation, pinned to the ground by the formidable Lady Wifi. With Vixen by my side, I quickly formulated a plan of action. 

Lady Wifi's voice dripped with confidence as she taunted Cat Noir, her grip tightening on him. "No Cataclysm to save you this time," she sneered, relishing in her perceived victory.

My mind raced, searching for a way out of this dire predicament. Summoning my Lucky Charm, a pool lifesaver appeared before me, offering a glimmer of hope. My eyes quickly scanned the area, desperately seeking a solution. "Okay, I've got a plan," I declared, my voice filled with determination.

Interrupting our conversation, Cat Noir couldn't resist adding his clever remark. "At the very moment you touch it, I'll summon my power, and then who knows what's gonna happen to you," he warned, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Princess Fragrance, always reveling in her own schemes, interjected with a sinister proposition. "Why bother taking it when I can make you my slave and order you to give it to me?" she suggested, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

Calculating the best course of action, I issued a command. "Give them what they want, now!" I urged urgency lacing my voice.

In the midst of the chaos, Vixen, with her incredible ability to create illusions, sprang into action. "Mirage!" she exclaimed, her voice resonating with power.

Suddenly, a lifelike illusion of my alter ego, Marinette, appeared before the gang. The sight of our friend seemingly running away ignited a chase as the Gang of Secrets, fueled by their desire to uncover the truth, began pursuing the illusion.

Meanwhile, in his lair, the villainous Shadow Moth seethed with anger. "No! Take his Miraculous first! Come back!" he shouted, his frustration palpable.

"Thank you, M'ladies. I was a whisker away from cat-astrophe," he quipped, relief evident in his voice.

My unwavering loyalty shone through as I reassured him. "That's what friends are for, kitty cat. Okay, you two get to the pool now," I instructed, determination coloring my voice.

 "What about you?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

My resolve remained unyielding. "I'll keep our guests busy. Vixen will explain the rest of the plan," I reassured him, my voice filled with confidence.

I looked out of the corner of my eye where the illusion of Marinette continued to elude Lady Wifi. The tension in the air was thick as Lady Wifi closed in on her prey.

"It's time to give up your secret, Marinette!" Lady Wifi taunted, her voice dripping with malicious intent.

Outside the swimming pool, Princess Fragrance and the other akumatized villains reveled in their temporary victory. Their demands grew more audacious as they sought to control my every move.

In a dramatic turn of events, Vixen once again utilized her illusion powers, causing the Marinette illusion to vanish into thin air. Lady Wifi, left confused and disoriented, found herself suddenly submerged in the pool, a captive of her own misjudgment. Cat Noir, who had been waiting in the pool, used the pool lifesaver to trap Lady Wifi, effectively neutralizing her threat.

With Lady Wifi de-transformed, my attention shifted to the ongoing battle outside the swimming pool. Princess Fragrance, Horrificator, and Reflekta were still in relentless pursuit, their intentions clear.

As the battle against the Akuma-infected villains came to a close, I found myself standing outside the glistening swimming pool, catching my breath. Princess Fragrance, Horrificator, and Reflekta de-transformed, revealing their true identities. In my hands, I gently caught Rose, the innocent victim of their chaos.

"Thank you, Ladybug," Rose expressed her gratitude, her voice filled with relief and admiration.

I couldn't help but smile, my heart swelling with pride. "You're welcome, Rose. Protecting the people of Paris is what I do."

My attention shifted to the fluttering akuma, a small dark butterfly that symbolized the source of the villains' powers. With determination in my eyes, I prepared to capture and purify it, putting an end to its evil doings once and for all.

"No more evil doing for you, little akuma," I declared, my voice brimming with unwavering resolve. Swiftly, I extended my yo-yo, skillfully capturing the akuma in its grip. "Time to de-evilize!" In a dazzling burst of light, the akuma was purified, its negative energy dispersing into the air.

"Gotcha! Bye-bye, little butterfly!" I exclaimed, tossing the lifesaver-like object into the air. The Miraculous Ladybug power was activated, its magic spreading throughout the city. The damage caused by the villains, including the peculiar movement of the Eiffel Tower, began to reverse, piece by piece.

A sense of relief washed over me as the chaos subsided, replaced by a newfound tranquility. I turned to Vixen, my trusted companion, who stood by my side, their support unwavering.

"Pound it?" Vixen suggested a mischievous glint in her eyes.

A smile graced my lips as I mirrored their playful gesture. "Pound it," I replied, our hands coming together in a celebratory high-five. In that moment, Vixen, Cat Noir, and I shared a bond of victory and camaraderie, understanding the importance of our unity.

With the battle behind us, we retreated to a quiet alleyway, seeking a moment of respite. Vixen, weary from her first battle, de-transformed, returning to their human form. She exchanged a heartfelt high-five with their kwami, Trixx, who retreated into their miraculous.

Alix, still catching her breath, turned to me, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Ladybug," she expressed sincerely, her voice filled with appreciation.

I met her gaze, my own eyes softening. "You know, without you and Chat Noir, I wouldn't have made it through today," I confided, my voice tinged with sincerity. "I'm truly lucky to have friends like you. So, thank you."

Alix and I embraced, our connection strengthened by the battles we faced together. In that alleyway, surrounded by the remnants of our recent triumph, I found solace in the knowledge that I had loyal friends who stood by my side. Together, we would face the challenges that awaited us, united in our determination to protect the city and preserve the balance of the Miraculous.

As I reluctantly released Alix from our embrace, I gave her a knowing smile. "Stay safe, Alix," I said, my voice filled with warmth and affection.

XoXo Rowan

#writing #spilled ink #miraculous au #miraculous fandom #marinette deserves better #akuma class salt #Miraculous s4e3 #Miraculous Gang of Secrets #Alix gets the Fox Miraculous #Fox!Alix

[h-sunnywet-d]

Alone, with a roommate

When Marinette first expressed her desire to move out to an apartment on her own, her parents were surprised, but admittedly not too much. She got a taste of living on her own when she moved to her university’s dormitory, then had her room to herself because of absent roommates, and they could see that she wasn’t willing to let this freedom go.

Their only concern was with how she would pay for a place by herself, in the middle of an expensive city, while still having a year left until graduation. She told them not to worry - she earns more than enough money from scholarships and commissions.

What she did not tell them was that half of the expenses would be paid by her secret superhero boyfriend of two years.

Read the rest on AO3.

Part of only one bed: a miraculous challenge. Thank you for the opportunity!

And a huge thanks to @chocoluckchipz​, @thelibraryloser​, @ladyofthenoodle​ and @jennagrinsoverml​ for helping me with beta-reading 🥰

#miraculous ladybug #ml fic #only one bed #only1bed #LadyNoir #living together #canon divergence from Gang Of Secrets #ml leak free

[breakandbuildfiction]

Ladybug is actually awful

Throughout the show of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir or whatever the full title is we see both main characters act kinda... not so great, but I maintain that the worst of the two, by far, is Marinette/Ladybug herself. Specifically in regards to being a partner to Char Noir.

Yes Chat has his own issues, mostly in terms of constant flirting and asking for a date despite being told no, but he is not nearly as bad as some people say he is.

Now ignoring things like not going to the date which was justified, the NY special thing and the trashcan incident which while not excusable were done in the heat of intense and stressful moments, there are still a LOT of things that Ladybug has done that could qualify as gaslighting, abuse of trust, and just straight up disrespect.

First up is the Grimoire, she never even tells Chat Noir it exists, and even if we say that only Guardians are allowed to read it she still doesn’t bother to tell Chat anything she learns from it that could affect him. I’ll put that as a minor infraction but it plays into some other things.

Second is how even when she learns-- via Alya’s outside perspective-- that the power of a Miraculous can be evolved, altered, and enhanced via imagination and doesn’t have to strictly follow it’s default she again never tells Chat Noir anything about it. Don’t say its a right of passage, she didn’t learn it herself either.

Third, Alya herself. Marinette tells her her secret ID and makes her a permanent holder in Gang of Secrets, but Chat isn’t told for twelve episodes-- a timeframe that is at least two weeks and is likely closer to two (one episode every three in universe days as a lowball still means five weeks) months-- and then only in the form of Ladybug being a no show for a fight and Scarabella taking her place. Now, even if you say there was ‘no way to tell Chat about Scarabella before Marinette had to leave to go to her aunt’s and she tried to get out of it!’ that one doesn’t track because she had time to call Alya, for Alya to go to the bakery, and for the hand off to happen but apparently not enough time to transform and leave a fifteen second voicemail, and two Chat should have been told about Rena being a permanent holder LONG before that because news flash, she is a BIG security risk seeing as Shadowmoth-- or Monarch-- knows her secret ID. Not telling Chat Noir was nothing but disrespect and showcasing distrust in her partner. Then she just gives a placating ‘I won’t abandon you’ to him and everything is all okay because Chat loves her and wants to believe her.

The last thing I’m going to bring up-- though its not the last instance to be found-- is her plan in Ephemeral. There is absolutely NO way to excuse that plan. She emotionally manipulates him and abuses his trust with the express intention of betraying any and all feelings he has for her. She literally uses the line that Chat would only ever give up his ID to her because he loves her. And the only reason she ‘doesn’t go through with it’ is either A) she finds out its Adrien and her simp mode activates so hard she can’t bring herself to react or give up his ID, or B) Time goes crazy and she loses her chance. So really she does go through with it, she did go through with it, and it should not be given a pass.

Ladybug is in fact a toxic partner to Chat Noir who does not respect him, only trusts him as far as using him as a meat shield or a distraction, and actively pushes him aside for practically an entire season before she is forced to start using him again because all the other heroes are no longer available.

#mlb #miraculous ladybug #marinette dupen chang #character study #chat noir #adrien agreste #ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #adrien deserves better #gang of secrets #ephemeral #cartoons #show critical #critique #unpopular opinion #hack-san #marinette salt

[leboo]

they literally make me so happy

#the way I wanted to cry whenever these two were onscreen #like the parallels to gang of secrets #and optigami #this is THE alyanette spot #the way the whole episode we're shown mari #not being able to think about anything but the events of strikeback #and how her intricate (and literally genius) plan didn't end up working #but by the end of the ep she's laughing and enjoying herself #and it's all because alya's there with her #like ;-; #the way Tikki was looking at them at the end of the ep #that was exactly my face #just....them<3 #alyanette #alya #marinette #ml spoilers #destruction #miraculous ladybug #ml #miraculous

[strawberrystar7]

There’s 3 types of stopping an Akuma and here’s how:

How I see it there are 3 types of stopping an Akuma. Maybe 4 if you want to be very exact to the tiniest detail but I categorized 2 of them in 1 category because I think they are close enough. This does not include defeating the Akuma and cleansing it with the Ladybug Miraculous.

People oftentimes argue that Chloé has been the very first character to resist an Akuma when others bring up Alya as the first to reject an Akuma but that’s the thing. She was the first to resist an Akuma’s influence but she wasn’t the first to reject an Akuma and she was not the first to repel an Akuma. People tend to treat all of these the same but I think they are different cases and categories.

Now this may be a bit confusing without knowing what I mean by the categories repulsion, resistance and rejection so here are my explanations as to what these categories are supposed to mean and include. (If anyone has better fitting names for the categories I am open for suggestions. Those were the best fitting ones I could come up with but they may not match like I wanted to).

1. Repulsion:

What do I mean by repulsion? Well usually this includes instances where an Akuma does not touch an object and therefore gets repelled.

Examples for this are: Su-Han’s mantra in the season 4 episode Furious Fu. Or that time in the season 3 episode Chameleon where Marinette calmed down before the Akuma could touch her belongings. But I also include instances like in the season 5 episode Revolution where Mister Damocles almost gets akumatized but because of his students encouragment he gets courage again which results in the magical charm manifesting as a shield allowing him to cleanse the Akuma before it could touch anything. But then there is the instance in the season 5 episode Collusion where Miss Bustier manages to cleanse an Akuma through meditation (at least I am assuming that was some form of meditation technique). Yes an object of hers got touched by the Akuma so technically it’s a bit different compared to the other instances but it’s also kinda similar to Damocles case since the Akuma got cleansed so I’d still count it as repelling.

So generally we can summarize this category with characters and instances where characters have calmed down before an Akuma could touch them or when they have cleansed the Akuma. (Those are actually the 2 sub-categories which I have categorized in one category because to me cleansing an Akuma and stopping the Akuma before getting touched are both ways of repelling an Akuma to me.)

There is a bit of a side effect to this tho. While in some cases the Akumas do get cleansed because of meditation or the magical charms, it can also happen that an Akuma instead gets redirected to the next victim because the Akuma hasn’t been cleansed.

2. Resistance

What do I mean by resitance? Well usually this includes instances where an Akuma does manage to touch an object but the target managed to resist the temptation and offer of power. However the Akuma doesn’t get cleansed.

Examples for this are: Chloé Bourgeois resists getting turned into an Akuma Villain even after the Akuma touching her picture by rejecting the temptation and Hawk Moth’s offer for power in the season 3 episode Miraculer. Or Félix Fathom when he resisted getting turned into an Villain even after the Akuma touched his stuff simply by rejecting Shadow Moth’s offer (and Senti!Gabriel’s threats) in the season 4 episode Gabriel Agreste.

However because the Akumas don’t get cleansed they just target a new victim so someone else gets turned into an Akuma instead.

3. Rejection

What do I mean by rejection? Well usually this includes instances where an Akuma manages to akumatize the target and fall under some semblance of mind control (since Akuma Villains do tend to act in a way the target would never have acted like without the Akumas influence). However the target eventually manages to break free from that control and manages to deakumatize themselves.

Examples for this are: Alya Césaire in the season 4 episode Gang of Secrets, when Alya managed to break free and turn herself back from Lady Wifi into Alya. Nino Lahiffe in the season 4 episode Rocketear, when Nino managed to break free and turn himself back from Rocketear to Nino. Chloé Bourgeois in the season 4 episode Penalteam, when Penalty got sick of her clones and eventually turned herself back into Chloé. Kagami Tsurugi in the season 5 episode Perfection, when an akumatized Kagami sees how much other people actually care about her. She breaks free from the Akumas control in that moment and managed to turn herself back from Ryukomori into Kagami. Lila Rossi/Cerise (or whatever her name is. I’ll call her Lila for simplicity) in the season 5 episode Revelation, when she manages to deakumatize herself from Hoaxer to Lila after she got the information she wanted from Nathalie.

What I’ve also noticed about the instances in this category is that the characters seem to retain their memories from when they have been akumatized which is something that usually never happens after getting deakumatized. Usually characters are disoriented and don’t remember anything but whenever a character manages to deakumatize themselves they seem to know where they are and what happened. Take Lila as an example. She smirked right after deakumatizing herself like she knew exactly what she did. Or Alya, she didn’t look confused at all and could instantly respond to Ladybug’s comments which is something that Akuma Victims usually never do due to the disorientation and confusion. They usually take a moment to collect their thoughts and realize where they are or why they could be there meanwhile Alya didn’t take that time. She only took a little time to catch her breath. Or Kagami who seemed to remember what happened while she was Ryukomori. It’s similar like with Alya where she didn’t seem disoriented at all and she didn’t seemed confused on why Marinette’s classmates where there with a big picture of Kagami. It was like she knew exactly what happened similar as Alya and Lila.

Anyway…

There really are differences between how a character may stop an Akuma from targeting them.

Anytime someone brings up the characters that have rejected an Akuma there is always someone who brings up Chloé Bourgeois. The character who had a picture touched by an Akuma in the season 3 episode Miraculer and then resisted the Akuma’s influence by rejecting Hawk Moth’s offer for power. People keep bringing up Chloé was the first to resist an Akuma. And that is true but the problem is that they throw it into the same category as repulsion and rejection. How I see it’s not the same thing so I don’t think Chloé should be brought up when people talk about characters who have rejected an Akuma. Same thing the other way around. And same thing with characters who have repelled Akumas. Characters like Alya should not be brought up when talking about characters who have resisted an Akuma. At least not if you are trying to say they are the same thing. It would be like trying to compare apples and pears.

Even if we would act like repulsion, resistance, and rejection are all the same thing, Chloé would still not be the first to stop an Akuma from targeting herself. In that case, it would be Marinette who was the first to stop an Akuma from targeting herself since the season 3 episode Chameleon (in Chameleon Marinette managed to stop the Akuma from targeting her by calming down) was canonically before the season 3 episode Miraculer (in Miraculer an Akuma landed on a picture Chloé was holding and Cloé managed to resist the Akuma’s influence by rejecting Hawk Moth’s offer for power). However like I previously said these are not the same thing. Yes generally speaking all 3 are ways to stop an Akuma from targeting a specific person but they are different ways to do that. Some stop the Akuma from targeting only one person, others stop the Akuma from targeting everyone and the rest stop the Akuma from controlling someone (which kind of is also a form of targeting in a sense. Maybe not the traditional way but it is kinda targeting someone if you try to control them). I don’t want to treat them the same because to me they are not the same. If we go as a whole then yes, Marinette would be the first to stop an Akuma without explicitly using the Ladybug Miraculous. Chloé would be second, and Alya would be 3rd. However, if we divide this into sub-categories like I did Marinette is the first to repel, Chloé is the first to resist and Alya is the first to reject. It just makes more sense to me to divide them into separate categories.

#miraculous #miraculous ladybug #mlb #Did I just write an essay about different categories on how to stop an Akuma? #Yes. Yes I did. #miraculous tales of ladybug and chat noir #mlb season 3 #mlb season 4 #mlb season 5 #Akuma #akumatization #Miraculous S3 Ep Chameleon #Miraculous S3 Ep Miraculer #Miraculous S4 Ep Gang Of Secrets #Miraculous S4 Ep Gabriel Agreste #Miraculous S4 Ep Penalteam #Miraculous S5 Ep Perfection #Miraculous S5 Ep Revelation #Miraculous S5 Ep Collusion #mlb magical charms #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Alya Césaire #Chloé Bourgeois #Félix Fathom #Kagami Tsurugi #Lila Rossi #Denis Damocles #Caline Bustier #ml analysis #mlb s5 spoilers