DISCLAIMER: I don't own "Miraculous: The tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir", and that's probably for the best, because if I did, the story would've probably taken a way different course by now :D Also, English isn't my mother tongue so please, don't kill me if you find some mistakes. Instead I would appreciate if you told me, so I could correct them. Enjoy the reading :)

Chapter 1: New Faces - New victims

It was another day at Collège Françoise Dupont and everything went on as usually. Class after class with breaks in between, admiring Adrien, laughing with Alya, admiring Adrien again, having an argument with Chloé, getting nervous in front of Adrien and listening to Alya's Ladybug rant – a day like any other for Marinette. That was until later, when Mr. Damocles came to the class with a guest.

„Hello, students." He began. „I would like to introduce a rare guest, Professor Victor Arbet. He's a botanist who's been traveling around the world. And since we're having that floral festival this week, I thought he might tell us a thing or two about his job and, of course, plants, maybe even some rare ones."
„That's about right." Mr. Arbet let out a short laugh. „I've dedicated all my life to the research of especially exotic plants. One cannot even imagine, what beauty can be found in the depths of rainforests. Once our team even managed to discover a completely new species of plants. I could tell you about that..."
Mr. Arbet was so enthusiastic when talking, that it was difficult to stop him, but he was actually a good speaker, and most of the kids listened to him with great attention. In the end, he announced that there will be an opening of a new exposition of exotic plants in a botanic garden, saying that they are all most welcome to come and watch the event.
„Thank you for your interesting words, Mr. Arbet." Headmaster Damocles said.

After that Ms. Mendeleiev turned to the students. „ That would be the end of your classes for today. And don't forget, that you have time until the end of the week to submit your biology assignment on the physiology of plants, which you are supposed to work on in pairs.

Mr. Damocles added: „Maybe you could pay a visit to the botanic garden for some inspiration." He laughed, and left talking with his guest on their way.

„So Mr. Arbet, what really brings you to Paris? It can't be just the opening of a new exposition, even if you contributed greatly to it's creation."

„You are right. In fact, I might not even make it in time for the opening ceremony. You see, that story about our team finding a new plant species is from our last journey. I'm here to present our discovery."

„Now that sounds interesting. And who knows, maybe in a few years, our students will read about you in their biology books. Hahaha."

„It's still kind of incredible for me. I mean, discovering a whole new species...that happens only to a very few people, and I had the luck to become one of them. It's an honor."

„I understand. And I wish you good luck at the presentation of your discovery."

„Thank you. I won't be there alone though. Another botanist from the team will be there to help me. After all, I'm not the only one who found it, the others deserve to be there and take credit for it too. However not all of them could come. And Luc – the one who will be there today – he is my assistant, but he's almost like my own son. He's young and doesn't have so much experience but loves botany and has talent. If someone has the potential to become a great scientist, the it's him."

„Then good luck to both of you. And thank you once again for coming here. Good bye."

„You're welcome. It's been a pleasure. like talking to the young once. It gives me the opportunity to make them interested in biology. So I might thank you as well. Have a nice day. Good bye."

„When are you going to have time to work on that assignment?" Alya asked Marinette when they were leaving school."

„I don't know." Marinette sighed. „I had planned to start yesterday but I was too busy."

„That's Marinette for you. You should manage your time better." Her friend sighed.

„But I promise I'll find the time for it today. Maybe we could really go to the botanic garden."

„Why not. I'll finish my homework quickly and we can meet there at...let's say 3 p.m.?"

„OK. I'll be there. Let's meet in front of the main entrance."
„Sure. Just don't be late. Haha." Alya parted ways with her and went home. So did Marinette.

„Are you free this afternoon, dude? Maybe we could go and see some movie?" Nino walked out of the class with Adrien.

„I'm sorry. I have a photo shoot...again."

„Don't worry. We can go another time."
„Thanks, Nino. Why don't you ask Alya. I'm sure she would be glad about it."
„I already called her. She's working with Marinette on that biology assignment today and they are going to the botanic garden."
„The botanic garden? That isn't far from where I am having my photo shoot. Maybe I could stop by there afterwards to do some research too..." His stream of thoughts was interrupted by a honk. His personal chauffeur was already waiting for him. „I have to go. See you later."

„Mr. Luc Germain. May I talk to you for a moment?"

„Mr Cuvier? You are the organizer of today's conference, right? What can I do for you?"

„Actually, I would like to talk to Professor Arbet, but I can't find him anywhere. Do you have any idea where he could be"

„I think he said something about visiting a school."

„So he really isn't here. That's bad. I wanted to tell him, that the place of the conference has been changed. It will take place in the botanic garden, where they are opening the new exotic-plants exposition."

„That's some big change. Why did you decide so?"

„We wanted professor Arbet to be there, since he was one of the biggest contributors to that exposition, and also the one who came with the whole idea."

„Wai...Excuse me sir. But..." Luc seemed surprised by

We wanted him to be the guest of honor there. That's why we changed the place. That way he might make it in time. Could you please give me his telephone number. I'll call him."

„Erm...Sure." Luc somewhat disappointedly told him the number.

„Thank you, Mr. Germain. I'll see you at the conference." After that Mr. Cuvier left, and Luc stayed there alone, in his thoughts. He still couldn't believe what he had heard a moment ago. His mentor, and almost idol, a father-like figure he had admired for years was going to take all the credit for the new exposition, when it was also his idea? The pieces that were contributed there were also gained by his hard work. The world began to spin around him and he dropped all the papers he was carrying. He pulled himself together for a while, picked up all the papers, returned to professor's Office, left the papers there and ran out of there as quickly as he could.

„How could he do that?!" His inner world was crumbling to pieces. „How could he betray him like this?! After all that work he had done with him and for him! Wait! What if he'll also claim that plant species discovery as his own too?" He just kept walking aimlessly, completely oblivious of the fact, that in other part of Paris, in his secret hideout, a certain masked villain could sense all his negatives feelings of betrayal and misery.

Now I've done it. I've actually written a fanfiction on Miraculous: The tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, and I did it in a record time compared to how long it usually takes me to write something. Anyway I hope you will like it.

For those who plan to continue reading even after this slow and probably slightly boring start, I have a good news for you. I've already written the whole story, therefore it won't take long before I add the second out of five chapters. And maybe if people will like it, I'll think of writing some short bonus chapters ;)

So if you actually liked this and you are interested in reading more, I would really appreciate your reviews. And that's all for today :)