Authors Note:
I got the inspiration for this story from a writer on Wattpad. I don't particularly remember who, but a certain part in the plot really made me inspired to write my own version of a Miraculous Fan fiction. You can also somewhat call this an AU, because some things I add onto this story will be unusual for the Miraculous World. Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this first part :)
The early sun shed it's first few rays through Marinette's window as she made a few finishing touches on something she was working on. Glancing at the time on her computer she started packing up in a panic.
She carefully balanced the small cardboard box in her left hand and hastily grabbed her backpack off the side of her desk and ran downstairs. There she gave her mom and dad kiss on the cheek and ran across the street to school.
"Tikki I'm soooo late! Alya is going to kill me."
"Late? Marinette, it's 6 in the morning, and school starts in 2 hours," Tikki says with a confused expression as she flew alongside a distressed Marinette. "Besides, Alya is your best friend, she would totally understand!"
"But," countered Marinette, "I promised her I would be there super early so I could give her this broach I made for her, and because were working on an art project together!"
They approached the school.
"Quick Tikki, hide!"
She ran into the school, up the stairs and into the classroom where she saw a few students from their art class spread throughout the room with their own partners, and Alya working on their poster.
"Where were you girl? I've been waiting for half an hour! I was beginning to think you weren't gonna show u-"
Marinette cut her off apologizing profusely,
"I am SO sorry I was putting a few finishing touches on the broach and I could barely get up this morning, didn't get much sleep last night. hahahahaha" she said with a sheepish look. She flash-backed to last night, where another akuma attack took place. It was one of those that really took her energy away, and it was really late, a horrible combination. But of course she couldn't tell Alya that.
"It's all good, now let's see how it turned out!"
Marinette let down her backpack, and opened up the box. Inside was a golden lined broach with a purple gem embedded in the middle with a butterfly carved inside. Alya started gushing over the broach and held it up. "Ooooohh girl!!!! This is probably one of the best broaches I've ever seen! My hawkmoth cosplay will be perfect now! Thank you so much, you're the best." This caught the attention of a few of their peers, creating a circle of "oohs" and "aaahs".
"Thank you! You're all so sweet." She said as a faint blush brushed over her smiling cheeks. Then, a familiar voice made its way into the middle of the cirle
"Wow Marinette, this is amazing! You're insanely talented." Adrien said with one of his dazzling smiles.
Her once light blush turned into a deep scarlet red and she felt the stuttering in her throat, but she managed to make out a, "Thanks Adrien!"
The circle dispersed and Alya came up next to Mari. "Dang girl, when'd you learn how to speak like that? You almost sounded like a natural." She laughed.
"I-I don't know" then she sighed and swooned into the chair of her desk. "Adrien called me insanely talented."
She awoke from her daydreaming with Alya knocking on her head, "Earth to Marinette? Let's get to finishing this poster, lovebird." Alya proceeded to pick up a paintbrush and splatter some green paint onto her cheek.
"Hey!" Yelled Marinette with a smile "I'll get you back, just you wait."
"Yeah, good luck with that!" Challenged Alya.
They got to working as Alya started up the conversation.
"Did you hear about that contest our school entered towards the beginning of the year?" She said.
While wiping her cheek with a tissue, Marinette racked her brain thinking until it striked familiar. "Oh yeah, didn't it have something to do with a scholar thing? Where the schools with the best grades get prizes?"
"Yeah! Rumor has it that we might be qualified enough to place. And get this, the awards ceremony is going to be held in New York! The best qualified homeroom class will get on an all expenses paid trip there!" She practically squealed out of her seat.
'America' she thought to herself. She's never been out of Paris, except to meet her family in China, but that wasn't even much. The thought of roaming around and experiencing American culture was a stunning idea to her.
"That sounds amazing!!" Marinette quipped.
Just as Alya was going to say something else, the final bell for class rang and Mms. Bustier walked in, clearly ready to get down to business.
"Alright class, lets get settled in. We are going to skip our daily exercise of complimenting one another, since I have some very exciting and important announcements after roll call today." She winked at all of us and started calling on names.
"Agreste, Adrien?"
"Present"
"Chloe, Bourgeois.."
Alya nudged her shoulder and passed her a note. 'A: do you think she's gonna talk about the trip to America today?' Marinette quickly jotted down an answer, 'M: I hope so! cuz if she is, I'm stoked!' She passed it back as Mms. Bustier called her name.
"Dupain-Cheng, Marinette?"
"Present"
This trip got Marinette thinking really hard. What if her homeroom won? What would that mean for ladybug? Surely, she can't just leave Paris, but she can't pass up this opportunity either! She tried to push the thoughts aside, but mentally noted to meet with Master Fu when she had the chance.
As Mms. Bustier finished up attendance, she set down her clip board and pulled up a presentation from her computer. It was titled, "Educational Scholars International Contest"
"As you all might know, our school entered a competition in the beginning of this year to test how well our students can be, grade wise." She switched the slide to a picture of an airplane dotted towards New York City, on a world map. "This year has gone especially well for us, and I am happy to say that our school did indeed qualify for the finals!"
As she clicked a button on her computer, a trophy appeared on the screen as well as a picture of the Statue of Liberty, and cheers were heard from around the room. "Now, it's only a matter of which homeroom will get to go on a plane to America to attend the awards ceremony." This is when the chatter in the room started growing.
Mms. Bustier closed her computer and faced the classroom. "The homeroom that is chosen will be posted on the class bulletin by the end of today." The room was now occupied with conversations.
Marinette was getting nervous. She couldn't take her mind off the fact that she could possibly be leaving this city for a trip to America. She was interrupted in her thinking by Nino asking Adrien a question. "You okay dude? You look stressed out bro."
"Yeah man I'm fine, just thinking." He said with an exasperated tone.
"What about? You know I'm here for you man."
"It's just that, since people know Ladybug goes to this school, what if her homeroom wins with the best grades? What will Paris do?" He said.
Marinette tensed up, but then relaxed.
"Dude, you have nothing to worry about. I doubt that theory is even true."
"You're probably right Nino."
Adrien went back to thinking, until he was interrupted with an offended Alya.
"Excuse me, Nino, my theories are always backed up with evidence. In fact, I bet ladybug is right here in this classroom."
In attempt to throw them off, Marinette said "HahahahhahaHhHha pffft, I doubt ladybug even goes to this school. I've been thinking more about Rena Rouge. She looks like a schoolgirl our age, don't you think, Alya?" She internally giggled when she saw how nervous Alya got.
"I don't know what you're talking about. She's probably a responsible adult!"
"Yeah, a responsible 5'2'' adult" Marinette laughed.
Adrien looked up at Marinette confused. "Rena Rouge? But she's not usually out there saving Paris."
"Uh, y-yeah but you know it's not like ladybug really goes to this s-school, right?? Oh, never mind." she said.
He went back to what he was doing as Marinette slid down in her seat sighing. This was going to be a long day.