Another Saturday, another day at the market. Over the past several weeks that we had worked there, we had gained a few regulars. The masks drew a crowd. It was our gimmick. Everyone gathered around to see the cat and bug duo, even though all we were doing was selling Ladybug's creations. At the end of each day, Ladybug offered me half of the profits, but every time I shook my head vigorously. She ended up donating anything we didn't need to charity. It wasn't to try to make herself out as a nice and generous person, she was simply nice. She put her friend's, family's and even stranger's needs over her own. I loved her for that.
We closed shop after the three hours. I began to pack up the one garment that we had attempted to sell for what felt like years, but Ladybug snatched it out of my hands. She held it up in a way so that she was eye level to the neckline and looked it up and down.
"Why," she muttered angrily, "won't you sell?"
The top was a deep blue with green tones that shifted and blended together, giving the impression of the ocean. I thought it was one of her greatest triumphs and I didn't have any clue how she did it. To be honest, I don't think she did either. It annoyed me how uninterested people were in it. She bit her lip and pondered the design, before carefully folding it and stowing it in the bag which she had brought all the designs in.
"What's wrong?" I asked, knowing fully well what was bothering her.
"It's the stupid top." She sighed. "Maybe we should just give up on trying to sell it and dump it. No one cares about it."
I took a step back, startled. I began to protest.
"No, this is your best one. If no one can see how good it is, then the entire world is an idiot. You could improve it somehow, but don't give up."
Her bluebell eyes met my green.

"You're right," she said.

We started to leave, but a girl who was nearby tripped and the candles that she was holding spilled out of her arms.

"Oh no," she groaned and bent down to pick them up. Ladybug and I reached down to help her. I grabbed a lemon colored stick and passed it to her.

"Thanks" she said and took it. Eventually we had gathered all of them and had given them back to her.

"Aren't you a little young to be working?" I asked her. She looked to be only 12, but her brown eyes showed sadness that no adult could handle. She smiled all the same and her face lit up. She tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"Pardon?" Ladybug said. "but, you're so young. You shouldn't be trying to make money."

"Well, tough circumstances."

"What's your name?" I said to the girl, who had begun to shift into an awkward stance and expression.

"Manon. Manon Chamack. Thank you for the help and all, but I'm going to go now." She left.

It made me angry. So many people were poor and needed help, so poor that they needed their children to slave away. I was raised rich. I never wanted anything. My father didn't care about anyone other than himself, mom and I. It was his bubble and nothing outside the bubble was worth anything. Since mom died, the bubble grew smaller and he only pretended that I was anywhere near it. I just wanted to pop the bubble and expose him to the real world. The real, terrible, cursed world that he lived in.

However, the past week had been the best times of my life. My father finally relented and decided that he didn't want to send people to chase after me every time I went to school. So, he demanded for Nathalie to organize me a new schedule, that revolved around my school hours. Gorilla had to escort me everywhere, but I think he preferred that over running a freaking marathon every day.

Ladybug and I strolled over to the manager of the market and paid him the small fee to rent the stall. I mainly stood in the background. My purpose was to carry the bags and call people over to the stall, but Ladybug appreciated me. I think.

We turned around and were about to part ways, but a giant man knocked us to the floor. I got to my feet and offered my hand to her, which she slapped away before standing up by herself. We scowled in unison at Rodgercop, the most feared Akuma of all. We took a step behind Mr. Manager, who's name I couldn't be bothered to remember at that moment. Rodgercop was wearing his ever-present helmet that concealed his identity. I absent-mindedly brought my hand to my mask, wondering if his helmet was subconscious inspiration for Ladybug and I.

He scowled deeply.

"Hawkmoth demands that you and your merchants pay taxes. This is non-negotiable."

"And what happens if I don't?" The manager said in a neutral tone, but I could tell he was fuming.

"Curse." Rodgercop said simply, but the manager's eyes widened in fear. I wanted to say something, but I bit my tongue. Ladybug obviously didn't have as much self-control.

"Hey!" She snapped. "You can't just go around, threatening to curse people."

His scowl deepened.

"This is none of your concern, kid." He shoved her away, but she pushed him back.

"It is. You're threatening my workplace."

"Yeah." I muttered, but nobody heard me.

"Go. Away." Rodgercop growled but Ladybug continued to annoy him.

"No. You have no rights here. Hawkmoth has no control over the Young Market."

How did she sound so fearless while Rodgercop was growing even more furious? So furious that he swung his fist at the love of my life's head. Time moved so slowly, but my feet were glued to the ground. I tried to call out in alarm, but my voice wouldn't work either. The manager's eyes widened in unison with mine, but Ladybug didn't flinch. She caught the fist and flipped him over in one, swift movement. The manager gasped. Rodgercop was lying on his back on the soft, muddy ground. He attempted to get up, but Ladybug put her foot on his chest. However, he grabbed her ankle and knocked her over. He attempted to punch her again, but my brain snapped into focus. I threw myself in front of her and the blow struck me instead.

"Chat!" she screamed, but I was vaguely heard her through the roar of my pain. I decided to shrivel up into a little ball. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again and sat up, there was a strange sight awaiting me.

Rodgercop was attempting to hit Ladybug, but instead he contacted an invisible wall. Ladybug had one hand raised to defend herself. She looked shocked, and I realized she was creating the force field that was protecting her. Her eyes popped out of her sockets. So did Rodgercop's.

"What?" he quietly muttered. "How is that…" his voice trailed off.

I was thinking the same thing.

Ladybug forced herself forward, and luckily the invisible shield forced itself forwards as well. With a burst of red light, the wall exploded and the force knocked Rodgercop to his back once more. He went slack on the ground in accepted defeat.

"Tell Hawkmoth," Ladybug spat. "That the girl with the earrings says hello."

MLBMLBMLB

Plagg was the most excited that he had ever been, which was not much but still something.

"She said earrings, right?"

"Right."

"Earrings as in rings you put in your ears?"
"For the last time, yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Oh no."

"What do you mean, 'oh no'?"

"I mean, oh no. This is bad. I thought you had more time."

"Had more time for what?"

Plagg was being stubborn, refusing to give any information. I snatched him mid-air and clenched him in both fists.

"Alright Plagg, spill."
He sighed.

"It's a long, tedious story. One you probably don't want to hear."
"I'm pretty sure I do. Now, spill."

He sighed once more.

"There was once a girl, and this girl was cursed because the earrings she possessed gave her great power, that she could activate when she turned seventeen. She was destined to defeat the man who cursed her. There was a ring to go with it, and the ring would give the boy who possessed it equal power."

I lifted my finger and pointed to the ring.

"This one?"

"Yup." He chirped and dug into the cheese I had brought him.

*And so, the horrible author finished the story's set-up. I threw Manon in there, hoping I can make her semi-important later, but I aged her up a little because I don't like working with toddlers seeing as I cannot remember being a toddler. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the latest installment of Running From Fate. Please leave a little feedback if it's no bother. I used a grammar checker to improve my writing, so I hope it's a little better. Peace out!"