"I-I don't understand."

"Well…" Tikki tilted her head thoughtfully. "Kwamis can control transformations, kinda. We usually only change the suits every time we get a new partner depending on the time period and culture. The only thing is, it's really hard keeping up a different transformation for someone we've been partnered with for a while so I can't keep you transformed for too long; you'll change back eventually even if you don't use your power."

"You can change my suit?" Marinette asked incredulously.

"Yes, but after a few transformations, a specific appearance of Ladybug gets associated with a person," Tikki explained patiently. "It's kind of like a really, really hard habit to break. It's easy to make a new appearance on a new partner because they're like blank slates, but suddenly changing it for an existing partner is hard. The best I can keep you transformed in a different appearance is for a few hours at most."

"I thought that every Ladybug wore the same suit…" Marinette frowned. It had never actually really occurred to her that past Ladybugs looked any different than her. Sure, they may have been different people so therefore had different hair, eyes, or skin color perhaps, but she thought that other than that, the appearance of "Ladybug" was uniform.

Tikki shook her head. "It varies with each person. The only thing that stays the same is the mask. One of the things that I cannot change is the mask. Once, I was partnered with a girl from Japan who wore something like a ninja outfit. Generally, we keep it simple so remaking your dress will be kinda hard."

"So it'll be like I'm wearing my dress...but as Ladybug."

"Yep," Tikki confirmed with a nod. "Even if Marinette cannot go, Ladybug can at least."

"I don't know, Tikki…" Marinette trailed off uncertainly. She had wanted to go as herself, not as someone she wasn't. This ball was one of the rare chances that she could show off what Marinette could do, not Ladybug. It was a chance to prove herself, and now it was gone.

Tikki sighed impatiently. As gentle in nature as a kwami she was, even she was getting tired of Marinette getting in her own way sometimes.

"Marinette, let me help you," Tikki tried, her voice coaxing. "Think of me as your fairy godmother."

At this, Marinette couldn't help but let out a small smile. "My fairy godmother?"

Tikki shrugged. "I overheard it once during your class on fairy tales. But Marinette, why wouldn't you want to go as Ladybug?"

"For one, I'll attract too much attention, Tikki."

Tikki pouted.

"And besides...there isn't any point in going if I'm not going as Marinette," she continued. Marinette smiled grimly at the kwami. "The main reason for going was to, as Alya put it, 'flirt with the hottie' who Alya will apparently make my boyfriend or die trying, remember?"

"Marinette," Tikki huffed. "Haven't you been excited about going all week?"

"Well, yes…"

"Then why should you let your decision of going be affected by whether a boy will notice you or not? Why are you letting your life revolve around a boy? Your happiness shouldn't have to depend on anyone else," Tikki scolded. "I know that you're better than that; the question is, do you?"

Marinette hesitated. It was true; she had been excited about the ball and not just for Adrien alone (admittedly, however, that was a huge plus). She knew what the Agreste mansion looked like and it would look gorgeous for a ball given the right interior decorating. If the quality of the invitation hinted at anything at all, it was that the ball would be beautiful and perhaps one of the fanciest events Marinette would ever get the chance to go to. On top of all of that, it was a fashion contest. She'll be able to meet and see the work of fashion designers from across Paris—no—across Europe. Maybe even the world, given how famous the Agreste name is in the fashion industry.

Tikki, seeing the change in Marinette's eyes, smiled brightly. All that was needed was one more push.

"You'll be able to cheer Alya up too," Tikki added. "She'll be sad that Marinette couldn't go, but seeing Ladybug there will definitely cheer her up. Don't you want to make her happy?"

Yes, it was manipulation to a certain extent. That was a skill that everyone picks up given long enough, kwami or not, and Tikki has lived a very, very long time. Any guilt that the kwami felt was soon chased away by the resolution in Marinette's eyes. The girl scooped up her kwami in both hands.

"Alright, Tikki. I'll go as Ladybug."

"Chloe, for the last time, we should really be getting back," Adrien tried once more. He was on the verge of giving up on asking the girl about returning so he could get ready for the ball; she'd refused to listen every single time so far.

"It'll be fine," Chloe assured him, her voice high and sugary sweet as she clutched onto the boy's arm. Her perfectly manicured nails dug just barely into his arm. "I said I'll get you back home before nine, didn't I?"

"But," Adrien shifted his weight as they walked, bags from various designer stores clutched in his hand. "I left my phone in the car. At least let me go back and get it—"

"There's no time," Chloe interrupted firmly. Her grip on his arm tightened by just the slightest. "If something is wrong, your dad would contact me. You don't have to worry about anything, Adrikins. Where do you want to go next?"

"I want to go home," Adrien sighed, but he knew that it was a lost battle. He knew from years of experience that what Chloe wanted, Chloe got. Given their different personalities, it was a wonder that they had gotten along at all as children.

Chloe ignored his comment. Instead, her eyes lit up as she spotted a building through the crowds of Paris.

"Look, Adrikins! A movie theater! Let's go there!" Chloe exclaimed, already dragging the model through the crowd, none too gently. A few people gave the pair a dirty look as she shoved past them, annoyed of having their last minute dinner shopping interrupted until they recognized them. As the daughter the Paris, Chloe wasn't an unknown face. Adrien was even more well-known with his face plastered on many advertisements across Paris.

"A movie?" Adrien asked in disbelief. "Chloe, we don't have time—"

"Of course we do," Chloe interrupted again, her smile still plastered onto her face. "What do you want to watch? I heard that Twenty Shades of Pink is, like, really popular right now."

"Chloe—"

Chloe turned to face him, a perfectly practiced pout on her face. "Please, Adrien? You know I don't have many friends…" Her voice was quiet.

Adrien groaned.

"One movie."

"Yay! You're the best!" Chloe hugged his arm, a grin on her face. "Like, the very best!"

"I still want to get my phone first though."

"Your phone? I'm sure nothing important is happening," Chloe dismissed with a flip of her hair. "And after this movie, we can, like, go to my hair appointment! It's like, a short walk from here. And then we'll go over to my place and get ready!"

"But Chloe—"

"Shhh," Chloe held a finger to his lip. "I had your outfit delivered to my house and I already got permission from your dad. Your stylist is already set up at my house too. Everything is planned out."

Adrien started to speak but Chloe simply pressed her finger against his lips once more. With a sigh, Adrien let his protest die unspoken. Chloe smiled.

"Everything is planned out."