The next day, Marinette had a boot on her foot and was walking with crutches. Everyone at school questioned her injury, but, to Adrien's surprise, she told the truth. Adrien figured she would say something cooler like helping Chat Noir or defeating an akuma instead of falling down the stairs like an idiot.

Because of her injuries, there was definitely no way Marinette could fulfill her Ladybug duties. She was lucky enough to have an easy akuma last time, but she had still needed help. Adrien would have to figure something out.

Adrien rested his chin on his fist. Class was starting, but he wasn't paying attention.

"What if I find that guardian guy? The one that gave me that colored cheese for transforming Plagg. "Adrien thought to himself. "He knows all about us and our powers, so he's probably our only chance. I'll have to wait till after school, but get it done before my photoshoot at six."

After school, Adrien ran to the locker room and let Plagg out of his bag.

"So what are you gonna do?" Plagg asked. "You can't just take Ladybug's miraculous and keep it. And you need a partner in crime for missions."

"I know, Plagg." Adrien reached into his bag and pulled out a business card. "But I need to find this guardian first and . . . all he gave me was this card for a massage shop."

"Master Fu works and resides there." Plagg said, looking at the card. "He obviously can't give you a card that says 'Miraculous Holder Secret Meeting Place full of Important Information that Could Destroy the World'."

"I get the idea, Plagg. Wait, what was that last part." Plagg waved it off and Adrien raised his eyebrows. "Let's just go see him."

Adrien ran out of the school to search for the shop. He found it hidden on a street corner. He walked up to the front door and knocked before walking inside.

"Come in, Chat Noir." Master Fu spoke.

Adrien came in and sat down on the floor.

"So what seems to be troubling you?" He asked, pouring a cup of tea.

"Well . . . " Adrien started, unsure of what exactly to say. "Ladybug got injured. Nothing too serious, but . . . She won't be able to fight. And I came to you since . . . I'd need to some help or . . . guidance."

"Well I could give out another miraculous, but . . . " Fu sighed. "I'm hesitant about having too many out." Master thought aloud while giving Adrien a cup of tea.

"What about Rena Rouge?" Adrien suggested. "She's been on multiple missions with us before and seems to be trustworthy."

"Yes." Fu agreed, feeling his beard. "Rena Rouge did do a good job and . . . if you somehow captured an akuma, you could bring it back to Ladybug to purify. You could probably trap it in a jar, but . . . you would have to get it to Ladybug quickly before it multiplies."

"But as long as we bring the akuma to Ladybug, me and Rena Rouge would be a good enough solution?" Adrien sipped his tea.

"Yes." Fu said, standing up. He walked over to where his miraculous box was hidden. He punched in all the codes and removed the fox miraculous before putting the box back in its place. "I'll pay a visit to Rena Rouge's civilian self later. It might be time for her to meet me. I'll personally give her her miraculous."

Master Fu put the fox necklace in its tiny black box and set it aside.

"Alright, thank you." Adrien waved to him and they bid each other farewell.

Adrien transformed once he was far enough away from the shop. He leaped from building to building until he reached Marinette's balcony. Chat Noir lifted the hatch and dropped inside.

Marinette was sitting in her desk chair, writing in a pink book.

"Hello . . . Marinette." Chat waved.

"Ah!" Marinette screamed, falling out of her chair, scattering her stuff. "Chat Noir?!" She peeled her book off of her head to look at him. "Why would you sneak into my room like that?!"

Chat Noir jumped down and helped her up. "I came to see you." Chat Noir picked up the pink book and looked at it. "Oooo. What's this?"

"Hey!" She snatched it. "That's my diary."

"Oh, now I'm interested."

"No." Marinette held the book away, stumbling with her boot. "Why are you here anyway? Why'd you want to see me?" She glared.

"I've found a solution to our problems." Marinette raised her eyebrow at him. "Rena Rouge and I are gonna be partners while you're out. And after we capture an akuma, we bring it back to you so you can purify it."

Marinette crossed her arms at him. "Well it didn't take too long for you to go off and replace me."

"It's not like that." Chat Noir held up his hands in defense. "You're . . . injured."

"Then give me my miraculous back." She said blankly, holding out a hand.

Chat Noir dug into his pocket and pulled out the spotted earrings. He placed them in her hand with an awkward smile, unsure of what to say in this situation.

"Is that all you came here to do?" Marinette asked.

" . . . yes." Chat Noir answered.

"Then leave." Marinette crossed her arms again.

She sat back in her chair and swiveled the other way. Chat Noir turned around and left. He felt too out of place to stay any longer.

Marinette signed and put her earrings on. She had hoped he'd at least apologize to her about everything. But she figured it might have been too far fetched right now. Tikki reappeared in front of her in a glow.

"Marinette! What happened?!" Tikki shouted at her chosen.

"It's a long story, Tikki." She said, tiredly.

After the Next Akuma Attack:

"What do we do now, Chat Noir?" Rena Rouge asked. "Ladybug's not with us."

"We need to give this akuma to Ladybug." He answered, trapping the purple butterfly in a jar. "She needs to purify it before it multiplies."

"Well let's go."Rena smiled. She was excited to be a hero again. "No time to waste." She ran ahead along rooftops.

Chat Noir smiled her way. He was happier too.

"Wait . . . where are we meeting, Ladybug?" Rena asked, turning around.

Chat Noir chuckled and followed after her.

Ladybug sat atop a roof that was a few over from her balcony. She didn't want Rena Rouge/Alya to know her identity also, so she tried her best to swing on over to the spot she's at now.

The two superheroes dropped down in front of her.

"Here's the akuma." Chat said, holding out the jar.

Ladybug stood up and took the jar. She released the akuma and took out her yo-yo. She swung it around and caught the small butterfly. This time, she didn't say her usual catch phrase.

"Here's your jar back." Ladybug tossed it to them.

Chat Noir barely caught it, but thanks to his fast reflexes, he did.

"Well Rena Rouge, it's been nice fighting with you, but I gotta go before this chat loses his nine lives." Chat Noir happily held out his fist to Rena Rouge. His transformation was about to go, but he waited for a fist bump.

"Oh . . . yeah. See you next time." Rena Rouge gave him a fist bump back and smiled.

They both left in opposite directions with Ladybug left in the middle.

Ladybug stood still. She knew at that moment. At that very second that their fists touched and they had looked into each others' eyes . . . time had stood still . . . Ladybug knew then . . . She had been replaced.