A/N

The story is a few years after canon. Things might seem different and perhaps confusing in the beginning.
Please give it a chance, the reasons will be revealed as the story progresses.
Also, they would have all probably have moved to different schools by now, but we will ignore that.

I would like to thank Snavej for beta-reading my story. For all her great advice and assistance.

I also want to make a call out to "Princess Kitty 1". I enjoyed reading your stories so much that it inspired me to write my own.

Disclaimer - I do not own Miraculous Ladybug.

Chapter 1: Antibug

Mornings were always difficult. They were difficult even before life became a three-ring circus. Almost daily shows of performing numerous acts fulfilling the parts of all the performers. She was the flying trapeze over Paris with plenty of acrobatics and gymnastics. Target shooting was common with her being the target. There were dog tricks or rather cat tricks. She had the part of the lion tamer. More like a pussycat who thinks he's a lion.

That was the public circus, with the acts she used to be proud of. The most difficult act in her circus was the juggling. Always juggling. Day in day out, in costume and out, always juggling. Hero, idol, star, student, daughter, friend, girl. That is, until she was no longer juggling.

Then there were the clowns. That was her best act, she could do it without thinking, it comes naturally. That was the only act she remembered doing, the only one she knew. Awkward and clumsy her very presence inspired jokes. Everyone around her must burst with laughter at the comedy which is Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

So mornings are difficult. Getting up and facing the world with a brave face and little energy. She was not getting enough sleep to recharge her body.

School.

That had its own level of difficulty.

Marinette picked herself up to get ready.

Picking an outfit was usually easy with always a pang of regret. She had so many outfits in her closet she has designed and made herself, but she could never bring herself to wear any of them out of the house. She always reverted to a t-shirt and jeans with a blazer of sorts. Her black-blue hair pulled back into twin-tails. Nothing fancy, nothing special - just like Marinette.

She always admired how Ladybug wore that skin-tight bodysuit showing all her curves to the world, with plenty of curves as she got older. She has seen the sites dedicated to Ladybug. The pictures and art and meme were quite startling. Some were gross, even freaky. But most were entertaining, even flattering. There were photos, GIFS, stories, and even songs all dedicated to Ladybug. It could get very overwhelming.

It could have been, that is, for Ladybug it would be. But for Marinette, it was just a thing out there. Another thing that Ladybug had that she didn't.

"Marinette," that's her name, she was certain.

"Marinette!"

Marinette's head snapped up to attention. This was class and she was sleeping. Again.

Let me think. Where am I? Yes, Physics. That would explain the sleeping.

"Marinette, please sit up and pay attention. I do not tolerate this rude behavior. I expect more of you."

That was Mr. Belrose. He was a nice teacher. She used to like his lessons.

"I am sorry Mr. Belrose," piped Marinette in the most awake voice she could summon, "I'm listening. This won't happen again."

"I sure hope so, now everyone please turn to page one hundred and twenty seven and work through items six to ten."

Marinette's eyes were drifting again as the words swam on the page. She did not seem to be able to find item six. All the numbers on the page looked to be eight.

Ok, item eight it is. I'll do all the eights.

"What's going on, Marinette? Still insomnia. Did you get those pills I suggested?"

The elbow in her side indicated that Alya was the one pestering her. At least she still cared.

"Sort-of and no. I told you I don't think they will help."

"I'm sure they will. They helped me last year when I needed. I told you I spent a whole week awake when you-know-what with you-know-who. These pills dropped me like a sack of green beans into a pleasant comatose."

"Since I have no you-know-what or any you-know-who, then they will not work on me."

"Really?" you could hear the slyness creeping into Alya's voice, "You-know-who is two rows in front on the right. I would think he would inspire pill taking."

Marinette growled under her breath. She didn't have to look who Alya was referring to, but her eyes shifted towards him of their own. Starting with the neat short blond hair, her gaze lowered to caress his neck and wander along the white shirt covering his shoulders. She has known Adrien Agreste about as long as she's known Alya, although "know" is too strong a word. Throughout the years they never had a conversation for more than a few minutes. It was her fault, she knew that. They used to be good friends but whenever she spoke to him she would get all flustered and confused saying the most muddled sentences, embarrassing herself all the time. She knew everything about him, but did she know him?

"Enough, I told you I'm over him. He's just another guy. Ok, good looking. Fine, gorgeous. Yes, he is kind and amazing and has a smile that makes my knees wobble and I'll do anything for him if he looked at me and asked. But even with those amazing broad shoulders he's grown into he is still only a friend, and barely that." Marinette growled again and covered her face.

"Yep, that's what I thought. Same old Marinette. Almost the same, you aren't such a goofball around him anymore."

She knew how to embarrass herself when near Adrien. She spent most of her earlier years tied up in knots trying to be with him but not able to form a cohesive sentence once in his presence.

"That's because I'm not around him, thanks to you" muttered Marinette under her breath so Alya would not hear.

"Ah!" ok, she heard.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Marinette rushed to apologize, "I'm not sure what got into me. Not your fault at all. You have been great and wonderful and it was the right decision and I back you up all the way… so everything is fine, just hunky dory."

The silence stretched while they pretended to concentrate on the book. It has been almost a year since Alya and Nino broke up. Theirs was not an explosive separation with lots of drama and theatrical accompaniment. It was nevertheless painful, especially for Alya. They argued all the time and eventually made the mutual decision to go their own ways. Marinette suspected that Alya wasn't so ready to let go. She was holding on to the Nino she fell for so many years ago, searching for a way back to how they were. Nino hooked up with Cheriss within two months, leaving Alya staring at her empty hands. Cheriss, a year younger, was a music enthusiast who cherished the ground Nino walked on. Going to all his gigs and parties where he was the DJ, they soon became a couple. It was a rare sight to see Nino without Cheriss close behind - or beside or on top.

To Marinette, it seemed Adrien also suffered from the arrangement. He would keep himself busy while beside him, his best friend and Cheriss kept each other busy. Even though Marinette knew Nino from before Alya and Adrien came into their life, they never hung out anymore. That meant that she would not hang out with Adrien. Adrien would be with Nino and Marinette was with Alya. The friendship she had with Adrien suffered to the point where they rarely exchanged more than a word or two.

"It's ok, it's all fine," Alya said at last. She recently upgraded her conversations with Nino from a few words to whole sentences. Needless to say, she was still single.

"By the way," Alya voice changed hopeful, "what's the answer to number eight?"

"Which one?"

By lunchtime, Marinette felt better and could enjoy lunch with Alya and Nathaniel. That did not last long.

"...and he didn't stop there. He just didn't know when to stop. He kept on claiming that's it doesn't make sense. Mrs. Faure eventually told him to hold his thoughts and come speak to her after class. It was so ridiculous, he is such an idiot why does she even bother" Chloe's aloof voice was mocking Kim at a nearby table.

Marinette could feel the vein throbbing in her temple. Even though she's known Chloe most of her life, she was always surprised by how cruel Chloe would be. Chloe often aimed her snide remarks at Marinette, who tried to improve at ignoring her. It has become more difficult. Chloe's words used to ricochet off her, armed with the knowledge of Chloe's fears and insecurities. But for a few months now, every taunt, every jive, and every word would sink into Marinette's heart and stick there.

It was worse when Chloe shifted her ray of destruction onto others. Marinette felt so bad for them her heart would burst. She identified with how they felt, wanting to tell them it was not true and they should not listen to her. She had enough hearing Chloe spitting venom on everyone around her. She should get up and tell Chloe to shut up and leave Kim alone, make herself the target and not let others suffer. She believed in it and used to do that. Now she just sat there, red in the face her fist crunching up the page she was busy doodling on.

Alya looked over to Marinette and stopped mid-sentence.

"You ok, Mari?" she looked at her with concern.

"Chloe is getting to her again," Nath volunteered, "I caught a few words, she is on about Kim again."

"Ooo, that girl grinds me the wrong way," Alya eyes turned deep and menacing. "Someone should put a stop to this." She looked pointedly at Marinette who just twisted into herself covering her face with her hand. "What's happened to you? I used to have to hold you back." She shook off a puzzled look, leaned forward, rising out of her seat.

"Chloe, that's enough." From somewhere behind Marinette a low but firm voice cut into Chloe's. Alya froze mid-movement and flopped down onto her seat.

"Adrikins," Chloe voice rose an octave, "come sit with us Adrikins."

"No Chloe, you are being cruel again and you need to stop it. We've had enough hearing you spitting venom on everyone around you." Although Adrien's voice was low, you could hear the anger in every breath.

Marinette was so shocked at hearing Adrien repeating her thoughts she forgot all about Chloe. Her heart once again threatened to burst, this time from the warmth and love she felt, lifting her spirit out of her body floating to the wonderful soul of the man she did not see with her eyes but could feel his heat warming the whole room. How could she stop loving him? He is so kind and caring, and brave to stand up to Chloe that way, even if Chloe would not say anything nasty to Adrien. He was the only person Chloe was nice to. Overly nice really. She always said how he was her childhood friend. He would always give her attention even though she was nasty and spoiled but that never stopped him from being her friend. He was such a kind person he was even kind to those who don't deserve it.

"Earth to Marinette." Alya was nudging her, trying to get her attention

"Huh?"

"Seriously Mari, you've been staring blankly into space for over two minutes." b

"What? What happened?"

"Adrien walked away and Chloe chased after him, apologizing. Can you believe it, Chloe apologizing? I think she was more shocked than anyone to hear Adrien talk to her that way," Alya relayed with wonder.

"Well, she deserved it. She shouldn't make fun of Kim, he's a really nice guy. She shouldn't laugh no matter what he did. I should know. I make a fool of myself all the time."

"That's why we love you so much" Alya smiled at her.

"What does that mean? If I'll act all proper and perfect, saying the right things and doing amazing things — you won't love me anymore?"

"Then it won't be you, Mari. That would be someone else."

"So you don't want me to be perfect. Thanks. I'll stay the same goofball self forever. Go through life tripping and falling over everything, embarrassing myself everywhere, no one will ever want me. I'll die alone in a tiny apartment with a cat for company. Ah, No! Not a cat. Definitely not a cat."

"Mari?" Alya was suddenly worried, "Are you ok? I thought you were joking."

"I thought so too," said Marinette laying her forehead on the table. "Now, I'm no longer sure."

"Don't worry Mari," Nathaniel reassured her, "we don't need you to be perfect. No-one is perfect. You are wonderful the way you are and one day, some lucky guy will realize what he's been missing all this time without you in his life and will crawl on his knees asking you to shed some of your beautiful light on the shadows of his heart."

"Nath." sighed Marinette, looking up with a smile on her face. "That was beautiful."

"Anyway, not everyone can be perfect," Alya happily announced. "After all, there is only one Ladybug."

Marinette's forehead sunk down to the table again. She let out a groan.

"What?" asked Alya in surprise, "What did I say?"

Marinette met Alya at the café after school. Alya was insisting they need to discuss Alix's party the coming Friday night. Alya was already sitting at a wooden table when Marinette walked into the small café. The tables, chairs and floor were wooden, pot plants lined two of the walls. Several landscape paintings hang in strategic positions, giving the place a homely feeling. Most of the tables were still empty, creating a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Marinette tried to absorb the calm from the air as she sat.

Alya was typing on her phone, her brow wrinkling as she concentrated. She looked up with a small jump as Marinette took her seat.

"Great, I ordered us coffee, it should be here in a minute."

"Updating the Ladyblog?" Marinette asked in a bored voice. "You'd think a great reporter like yourself would find a new scoop to chase after. I've been telling you to move on for a while, but would you listen?"

"Hey, you used to love my Ladyblog. There were even a few blogs about you. And that one time, when you organized a private interview with Ladybug. Ah, wow. I still tremble at the memory. You're amazing. There is no one else who's had so much personal interaction with Ladybug and Chat Noir. You are always in the right place at the right time."

"You mean the wrong place at the wrong time. Interacting with those heroes is not a fun walk in the park. It usually involves a lot of running away and getting hurt. Anyway, that was long ago. I work hard to stay out of their way and be nowhere near them. Not that it helps," she finished lamely.

"Don't spoil the memory Mari, you had fun and you know it. You were beaming when you gave me the details for my blog, you encouraged me to add more and more. What happened? Now, you are dissing it all the time and trying to get me to stop. Even with all the new sites, Ladyblog is still the number one place for anything Ladybug and Chat Noir related, having a constantly increasing number of subscribers. It is good, I'm doing good work."

Marinette looked away, embarrassed by Alya's words. She was right. She had no right to ruin this special project of hers. It was good; she was good at it.

The silence was stretching too long it was becoming uncomfortable.

The waitress arrived with a cheerful smile handing them their drinks. Marinette thanked her with a smile which did not quite reach her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Marinette said, attempting to fix things. "I didn't mean to put the blog down, and definitely, most definitely not you. You're a brilliant reporter. Maybe you should show your brilliance in diverse ways." She flashed a smile attempting to dispel the tension.

"Diverse ways, eh?" a small smile crept up Alya's face. "So you're sorry about what you said?"

"Yes, Alya, of course."

"You have had to apologize a few times lately."

"I'm sorry."

"I have an idea how you can make up for it." The smile turned mischievous.

"Oh no, I don't like that smile."

"Alix's party!" exclaimed Alya "I know what you going to wear!" Everyone in the café turned to look at the sudden disturbance in the quiet, restful atmosphere.

Alya spread an apologetic smile to the other customers until they all went back to their own business.

"I know what you going to wear to the costume party," Alya repeated in a low voice.

"I will not like it, am I?"

"The way you've been talking, I expect you'll hate it," Alya had a huge smile.

Before Alya could relate the cruel and sadistic idea she had for Marinette someone screamed outside the window.

They both turned in time to see a young woman turnaround and sprint in the opposite direction. Within a heartbeat, there were more cries and people running past the café, away from something not yet visible.

"Great," sighed Marinette. "Another akuma attack. You'd think people would be used to this by now and will stop all the screaming and running. It really gets kind of repetitive."

Alya's mouth hang open for ten seconds before she snapped it shut. She shook her head at Marinette and got up.

"Sit, please," Marinette grabbed hold of Alya's elbow pulling her down. "Stay and drink with me. Tell me what you were thinking. I'll do it, whatever it is, just stay. Ladybug and the cat can deal with it and we can sit here and enjoy our drinks."

"Mari! I have to go. I need to film this. This is important. I'll speak to you later."

With that Alya rushed out the door, holding up her phone, filming the running people.

"That is important? That is important, but I'm not?" Her headache was starting again. The other patrons were trying to find a safe place away from the windows. They did not hear Marinette muttering to herself. "Go. Run to your perfect Ladybug. Leave me here, I don't mind. I know I don't measure up. I'll just stay here by myself and enjoy this wonderful…"

Marinette's lap was getting wet. She looked down to see the coffee cup got knocked over when Alya rushed to get up, the coffee oozed over the tabletop until it reached the edge and dripped on Marinette.

"Great." Marinette looked up and watched Alya searching the roofs surrounding the café. Marinette watched how she was once again losing her best friend to Ladybug.

Many in the artists' community liked Kaden, even if he was aloof at times, especially when talking about his art. Most did not hold that against him knowing it was his way of relating to the world through his talent. He would capture his unique look of life in his beautiful paintings, paintings so good they were displayed in many galleries in Paris and a few abroad. Kaden was talented. He simply wasn't very patient.

Faigin was a young art student whose painting of "The Seine at dusk" won the competition. The prize was a week of apprenticeship with Kaden. A prize Faigin prized beyond anything else. He worshiped Kaden. Faigin put his heart and soul into "The Seine at dusk" hoping he would get to spend a short time with his idol. After winning the competition there was nothing which could put him down, floating beyond the reach of anyone around him. He flew with the clouds which brought him to Kaden's "Palace of Inspiration". He was destined for greatness.

Faigin was painfully disappointed.

On the first day, Kaden's demands from Faigin seemed realistic. Bring him the paints, clean them up, do the floor while you are at it. Not the best way to start, but acceptable. Faigin wished for more interaction with the art. Maybe some painting or even sketching. The most Kaden allowed him was to stand silently on the side and watch him paint.

For the first day—that was enough. Faigin loved watching Kaden and was still walking on air on the way home if on a lower altitude.

On the second day, Kaden got Faigin to wash the windows because the dirt was distorting the light on the painting. Kaden ignored Faigin requests to work with the brushes.

On the third day, Faigin walked into the house holding his brushes and explained politely but with a fervor that an apprentice should work in the art and not cleaning up around it.

Kaden kicked him out the house shouting about the impertinence of the youth and how they do not appreciate what is given to them.

Paintinator waved his brush and silver paint shot out and covered a lamp post. The silver blended with the black of the pole creating swirling shades of gray turning the metal pole to a canvas painting of a pole. Beautiful if not very practical.

"I will show you beauty!" shouted the Paintinator. "I will show you my great talent."

With a flourish of brush strokes, a two-story office building was beautifully depicted with bright oil paints on a massive canvas standing in place of the building. With only two dimensions the floors of the backrooms disappeared. People previously standing on a floor were falling through the air to land on the road below. Not all managed to get up

These were luckier than the people in the front rooms who could be seen in the painting, mute screams painted on their faces looking out the painted windows.

"I'll have you know, I've seen good art. This isn't it. This more reminds me of the finger painting we did as kids."

Paintinator spun, spotting Chat Noir leaning leisurely from the top of a nearby building.

"You mock me! You mock my work!" Paintinator sent silver paint at Chat who knocked it aside with his baton. The paint landed on the ground to the side leaving a gray-painted sidewalk.

Chat used his baton to close the distance, then swing it around to smash it against the paintbrush. Paintinator swiped upword, the brush moved out of the way. The baton swung harmlessly.

The two sparred with their weapons neither getting a hit, producing a painted road sign, a painting of a shop's display window and a canvas of a stone lion previously proudly topping a nearby fountain. With a lucky stroke, the brush passed Chats defenses and rushed towards his face.

A yo-yo wrapped around the brush pulling it back, not enough to yank it out of Paintanator's hand but enough to save Chat's face. Keeping a strong grip, Paintinator was thrown to the side ripping the canvas of a pretty lamp post.

Chat flipped backward and away landing smoothly next to Ladybug who was retracting the yo-yo back to her hand.

"Thank you for the save, my Lady, I am happy you joined us."

"Sorry I'm late, I see I got here just in time to save your whiskers."

"My whiskers thank you greatly. They are twitching with excitement at your arrival, no matter how late."

Ladybug's brow dropped as she concentrated on the akuma. "I'd rather you concentrate on the job at hand. We need to get that brush away from him."

Paintinator sent a blast of paint at the pair. The two jumped apart, the paint changing the tree behind them to a work of art.

Ladybug used her yo-yo to pull a bench and throw it at Paintinator. A blast of paint and the bench was floating down as a piece of canvas.

"Chat, distract him," Ladybug called.

Chat hopped over to the side, picked up a nearby post box and threw it at him. Paintinator easily brushed it aside, the distraction allowed Ladybug to close in.

"Wonderful, " called Chat, "We're painting by numbers."

Chat glowed watching his Lady swing using a pole net yet a painting, and smash into Paintinator's side as Chat called out "One", wrap Paintinator with the yo-yo "two", swing him in the air twice "three and four" and send him flying against what was left of the fountain, "and five."

Ladybug landed back next to Chat.

"Wow, Bugaboo, that was paw-erful. Why do you even keep me around?"

"Not for your puns, that's for sure," Ladybug retorted. "It is useful having you around as a distraction."

"Nice to know you find me distracting."

"Distracting me isn't the useful part, so stop talking so much."

Paintinator was recovering quickly

Ladybug stretched her lean arm up above her sending her yo-yo up in the air. "Lucky Charm!"

Ladybug examined the black spotted red bottle in her hand. "Nail polish remover?"

"I'll let you figure that out while I keep him busy." Chat smoothly vaulted over to the other side of the street searching for an item to launch at Paintinator.

While the other two were rapidly converting the whole area into a collage, Ladybug's eyebrows knotted in concentration looking at the items spread around her.

"Got it!" The words left her mouth leaving a fierce smile on her face.

She picked up the canvas pretending to be a bench and poured the contents of the bottle onto it. Holding it up in front of her she jumped at Paintinator.

Paintinator brought his brush up and sent a spray of paint in her direction. The paint hit onto the canvas and bounced back landing on Paintinator.

In his place was a painting of the screaming akuma, remaining vertical for two seconds before tipping over to the ground.

Ladybug moved in and tore the painted paintbrush, a purple butterfly emerging from the tear.

She captured and purified it with her yo-yo, then sent the empty bottle up to the sky calling "Miraculous Ladybug!"

"Pound it!" Ladybug and Chat punched their fists together. All these years and it was still their signature winning solute.

Ladybug looked at the man groaning on the ground and shook her head. Her disappointment showing on her face.

Chat Noir leaned down gently to comfort the young man.

"I'm sorry, you took quite a beating. Ladybug miraculously repaired the damage but your body still remembers it. You'll feel the pain for some time."

"What? Ouch! Where am I? How did I get here? Chat Noir? Oh no - I was akumatized!" The pain etched on Faigin's face. It was not clear if it was the shadow of physical pain or the realization he was Paris's latest villain/victim.

Over the years a debate broke out about how to react to people previously akumatized. Many were the cries to punish them, for the police and courts to hold them responsible for their actions and the damage they have done. Ladybug's magic would repair the physical damage but the shock, grief, and anguish do not magically disappear. The social media was aflame with the debate even flowing over to actual court cases where victims have sued the akumatized person. Ladybug and Chat Noir have been vocal in the defense of Hawkmoth's victims, testifying in court that akumatized people have almost no control once they are in Hawkmoth's power and we must direct all the blame at him. Anger and pain are human emotion and we must not blame people for feeling them.

The increasing number of people who have been akumatized over the years had created strong opposition to those cries. Especially when a few of the most vocal advocates of "anti-akuma action" were akumatized themselves, quickly vanishing from public life. One of them was brave enough to come out and apologize.

Watching the strength of the media during this debate, Ladybug utilized it for a better cause. Over the last year, Ladybug has been campaigning for people to learn from what they see and control their own tendencies to get angry. People should not let their negative emotion get the better of them and allow Hawkmoth the opportunity to akumatize them. Some claim the campaign has had an effect as the number of akuma attacks has decreased - especially over the last six months.

"What is your name?" Chat softly asked as Ladybug stood restlessly beside him.

"Faigin."

"Faigin." He smiled. "You will be fine, I am sure." Chat's soothing voice was calming Faigin, his breathing slowing down and the color returning to his face.

"Next time control your negative emotions." The words burst from Ladybug's mouth with such force that Faigin flinched. Ladybug shut it closed, looking away from Chat Noir's accusing look.

"Ladybug! Chat Noir! That was amazing!" The two turned around to watch a red-haired young lady running toward them, her phone pointing at them in her outstretched arms. Ladybug walked towards her, meeting her next to a small café.

"Alya, nice to see you are still on the ball. Filming the latest for the Ladyblog?"

"Yes, of course. You guys are the best. Why did the paint to bounce back on him that way?"

"Every artist knows that paint does not stick to the acetate in the nail polish remover," Ladybug replied with a slight flourish.

"Oh. You're an artist." Alya was bouncing with excitement at the new titbit she learned about Ladybug.

"I am glad you are happy," Ladybug smiled at Alya with a small chuckle. She moved her gaze to the camera on the phone. "Happy is good everyone. You must all strive to be happy, even when things are not going as you want. Nothing is perfect, we all know that. Things will not always work as we want. You might not get to be the painter you want to be, or whatever happened to this poor man. Nevertheless, do not let this bring you down. Hold on to your happy thoughts to get you through the difficulties. Remember, no negative emotions, no Akumas."

Chat walked over and stood next to Ladybug, his hand slipping into her's, looking at her with adoration.

"Listen to her guys," he smiled at Alya's phone, "she knows what she is talking about. We want more love, not anger."

Alya zoomed out to capture as Ladybug turned and smiled at Chat, holding each other's eyes for a few seconds.

"Can we get a kiss for your fans?" Alya eagerness was overflowing, her eyes moving from one to the other with a hopeful grin. "Show us the love we should all have."

Ladybug eyes twinkled as shifted her gaze to Alya and then back to the camera. "For our fans, of course."

She pulled Chat to her, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. Chat brought his own hand to her head as their lips met. The kiss was short but passionate making both Chat and Alya blush.

Ladybug looked back at Alya with a big smile, then the smile slipped.

"I recognize this café," Ladybug looked around in confusion. "I've been here before."

"You have?" cried Alya with excitement. "It is a great place, I come here often with my friend."

"You do?" Ladybug words were a cross between a question and a statement. She pulled her eyebrows together as if trying to solve a puzzle. "Were you there before the attack? With a friend?"

"Why yes," Alya answered, slightly confused, "how did you know?"

"I'm not sure," Ladybug seemed confused. She looked at the shop, her own image reflecting on the shop window. She saw herself standing there, next to Chat and Alya.

She altered her focus to look into the shop.

Standing in the shop looking back at her, right on the other side of the window, almost part of her reflection - was Marinette. In her hands she was holding a red box with black spots.

"I have to go now," Ladybug said distractedly. She pulled out her yo-yo, tore her gaze away from the window, and swung away.

A/N

I will admit, I did not see that coming - and I was writing this. I was about 80% through the chapter when I realized this was going to happen. My whole story took a left turn and I had to change parts of the plot. But don't worry, things will be explained - eventually.

Next chapter: "Confrontations"