Alya had her phone to her ear, pacing back and forth, just listening to the dial tone with frustration. 'Please Leave a Message' her phone eventually spoke monotony, and Alya sighed and shoved the phone in her pocket.
Nino and Adrien looked up at her, from where they were sitting on the stairs in front of the school. "She won't pick up." Alya told them, plopping down beside Nino. "I don't get where she ran off too! Her parents said she wasn't home either!" Alya stressed, pulling at her hair with worry. Nino rubbed circles on her back soothingly.
"She has to turn up somewhere." He comforted. Adrien nodded, with a supportive smile.
"Guys!" The trio turned. Juleka and Rose were running down the steps, Rose with...Marinette's bag? "She left her bag here, and her phone! Its been ringing for the past fifteen minutes!" Rose chimed, handing the bag to Alya.
"That was me. Why wouldn't she bring her phone?"
"She must want to be alone." Nino suggested.
Alya tilted her head at the small pink bag. "But she brings her bag everywhere with her."
"Maybe she forgot it. She was really upset..." Adrien consoled. He took the bag out of Alya's hands, which were trembling slightly. "Hey, its all going to be ok, Al."
Alya sat down again, rubbing her temples. "How do we know that?" She questioned. Everyone exchanged nervous glances. Rose's eyes watered.
"We don't Alya. But Mari's smart. She'll be fine, she just needs to recollect herself." Nino assured. He pulled his girlfriend into an awkward but comforting side hug.
"I'm gonna beat that Chloe girl into the ground." Alya ground out.
"We all want to, its ok." Nino hushed, patting Alya's ginger curls.
:
Marinette was standing in an abandoned warehouse, perfectly still. Her hair was done up in a perfect bun, and a simple black mask reminiscent of her Ladybug one adorned her face. She wore a blood red traditional cheongsam, which made her porcelain white skin ever more washed out. She appeared to be a perfect little doll, with ball joints and glassy champagne red eyes. Around her wrists and ankles were thick strings, more like rope, that lay limp for now.
The purple butterfly lit up her face once again.
"Are you ready?" Hawkmoth asked.
"Yes." She answered.
"Then go, my Marionette. Find Chloe and any others who have done you wrong, make them pay, and stop anyone who gets in your way."
"Of course" She smiled, and the strings around her wrists and ankles went taught, as she started to move.
:
As Adrien, Alya, Nino, Rose, and Juleka returned to the school, they heard screams. Everyone's face went pale. No way. It can't be-
Their classroom door burst open, and the students ran out, hollering and crying. They rushed down the stairs, herded by teachers. After them an Akuma followed, walking calmly. Alya gasped.
"Marinette?!" She yelled, about to run forward. Nino and Adrien both grabbed one of her arms. Alya wrenched out of their grasps. "Mari! What's wrong with you?! You're stronger than that!" Alya said, disbelief filling her eyes. 'Marinette' slowly turned her head Alya's way, and everyone's breath caught.
The Marionette's face remained a mask of peace, small doll-esqe features turned up in a smile. She walked down the stairs with stiff movements, then tilted her head when she neared Alya. "I know I'm strong. I am the Marionette." Her perfect voice knelled. She reached a pale hand out to Alya, but stopped when Nino and Adrien tugged her back.
"Alya! That isn't Marinette anymore!" Adrien warned, as they ran from the school. Alya sniffled and nodded.
"I just thought- no, now she's just like any other Akuma..."
"Chat Noir and Ladybug will get her back!" Adrien grinned, as they jogged across the street. It was quiet for a moment, before the front doors erupted off their hinges, Marionette walking out. Kids screamed and ran, cars screeched to a stop.
"Chloe. Show yourself." She demanded, wine eyes searching the crowd. She heard a whimper from beside the tall stairs, and red ribbons from her outfit flew forward and snatched the previously hidden Chloe up, dragging her towards Marionette. Chloe screamed and tried to untangled herself, but she couldn't as she was slowly dragged towards the doll.
She was lifted in front of Marionette's face.
"Am I perfect enough for you now, Chloe?" Marionette asked, voice syrupy sweet. Chloe nodded desperately, mascara running from her tears. The Marionette frowned.
"Are you telling the truth, Chloe?" Marionette growled. Chloe nodded again.
"Yes, yes I swear!"
"No, no Chloe. Tell me the cold hard truth. I can take it." Marionette warned. Her kind smile remained, it was like a mother scolding a child, except about a thousand times more terrifying...
"You- You're scaring me Marinette! I'm sorry! I won't make fun of anyone ever again, I swear-"
"Don't call me that. Don't make empty promises." Marionette scolded once again, shaking Chloe around, who was faint hearted at this time.
Adrien scowled. Chloe deserved this...but Marinette didn't. He looked to Alya and Nino, who were both frozen and fear, and decided on that moment to flee. He went around to the back of the school. As he was running, his foot accidently caught a root and he tumbled head-over-heels, and dropped Marinette's pink bag. It spilled open, and Adrien cursed. He forgot he was holding it! It was a little squished from his white knuckled grip on it.
He quickly gathered the phone and lip gloss, but stopped when he heard a tiny groan of pain. He froze and peaked inside the bag, and his eyes widened.
Small blue eyes widened back at him.
The little red Miraculous squeaked and pulled the purse closed, quite quickly despite her weak state. "Wait!" Adrien gasped, opening the bag again. "You're a...a?"
"Nothing!" Tikki cried, and fought Adrien to close the bag. They tugged back and forth for awhile, before Tikki finally gave up, plopping down from exhaustion. She looked up at Adrien, then mumbled something. "A Miraculous." Tikki started. "Wait- how do you know?"
Adrien opened his own bag, and Plagg burst out. He glared at Adrien, and was about to complain, but stopped when he saw Tikki. He zipped down and landed in front of Tikki. "Long time no see?" He chipped. Tikki gave him a half hearted glare.
"You're Chat Noir?" She asked. Adrien nodded. Tikki chuckled and smiled sadly.
"What?" Plagg questioned.
"Oh, nothing." Tikki shook her head. She looked a lot paler, less of a vibrant red and more of a pink.
"So, that does this mean that Marinette-"
"OH! No! Ladybug is very sick, Chat, so, erm, Marinette was taking care of me! Her and Ladybug are friends, y'know!" Tikki blurted. Plagg raised an eyebrow, but Adrien looked convinced. There was no way that clumsy, sweet Marinette could be Ladybug. Both were great girls, but their personalities didn't match up.
The three were about to further the conversation, but screams echoing around cut any other questions about to be asked. Adrien stood, after glancing around. "Plagg, claws out!" He shouted, and the transformation started. With a flash of green and black he was Chat Noir.
"Here, little lady." Chat smiled, holding Marinette's pink purse open. Tikki hopped in. Chat slipped on the purse, hesitating for a moment. Would this give him away? Eh, whatever. He can just say he found it and return it to Alya. He whipped out his bowstaff, and let it boost him onto the school's roof. He ran across it, then peered over the side.
Wait.
If Ladybug is sick, will she be able to help him? No, of course not! He has her Miraculous! How will he purify the Akuma? Better question, how will he, all by himself, take down this Akuma? Ladybug is usually the brains...
He heard Chloe and some other students scream. He furrowed his brows then jumps onto the edge of the roof. He'll cross that bridge when he gets to it. Right now people need his help.
Marinette needs his help.
:
A/N
Whoopsie, Marinette's scaring me. Oh Chloe, when will you ever learn? I hope she gets some type of redemption in the show, really (Like Pacifica from Gravity Falls). It would make her much more interesting. Anyways, hope you enjoyed! Hopefully your just as thrilled for the next chapter as I am! Thank you for the wonderful reviews last chapter, they were very inspiring =3 You are all simply majestic. Now, do you want two chapters today, or do you want me to keep spacing them out? I usually write two chapters a day, for now. Or should I just combine them?
Hah, anyways, thanks so much for reading, and I'll see you again soon! ;3
