Hello! I hope you enjoy the story since I'm excited with this project. This is actually a remake of a discontinued story, so I hope I made a good decision by continuing it. Just to let you know, our dear characters have never kissed on this version. And this story will take the basic concept of the show but it won't be based on any of the seasons of the show. Thank you once again and let's start with the story!
"So you're telling me, that Ladybug -amazing and incredible superhero Ladybug- who fights against evil daily and is an example to all citizens worldwide, has been defeated by hairstyle choices?" Tikki said giggling, floating up the eye´s level at the mirror, looking at her chosen´s reflection. Marinette sighed miserably while trying to untangle a brush from her abused hair.
Friday nights are supposed to be a wonderful day for teenagers specifically since it's a well-deserved break from high school. The perfect time to listen to music, maybe reading a book, or spending time with family and friends…but no. At least for Marinette Dupain-Cheng, things in her life were far from what normal people call ordinary.
"I don't know which style I should choose! This is a very important night for Ladybug Tikki, and I don't want any traces of Marinette's clumsiness or bad decisions coming in the way. This night needs to be perfect." Marinette replied while pacing around her room in small, rapid circles. "Should I keep my hair down? In a bun? Should I use pigtails?"
"Marinette, you are capable of anything you put your mind into, and you'll look beautiful in any way you fix your hair," Tikki said while snuggling in the girl's cheek affectionately. "I'm so proud of you. I can't believe it's been three years."
"I know." The blue-eyed girl replied smiling, as memories of the past flooded her mind. "So much has happened….I can't believe they're making a ball in our honor," Marinette said with wide eyes, thrilled to imagine this was actually happening.
Three years have passed since Chat Noir and herself were chosen to become Paris' heroes, and today was the anniversary of that extraordinary day. Time had changed many aspects of her. No longer was she the fourteen-year-old that used to trip on her own words or stumble on the stairs. She was now seventeen, with her passionate dream of developing a career as a fashion designer vividly present as always, while enduring the struggles teenage life often brings. Yes, some things occasionally triggered her old Marinette-self to come alive, but it was more controlled now, getting better at dominating her erratic feelings. Doing all of this, while trying to balance her personal struggles, responsibilities at schooland her far from normal duty at being Paris' superhero, Ladybug.
"And it's exciting that Master Fu taught you how to change clothing while still being Ladybug. Chat Noir is going to faint at the sight of you!" Tikki said spinning in the air eagerly.
Marinette smiled while a dark shade of pink appeared on her cheeks. "What makes you think that?" she asked her kwami while finally fixing her hair by letting it down, strands of midnight hair falling at the sides of her face and bare shoulders.
"Marinette, you know how Chat Noir feels about you. And remember he's not the only one feeling that way either." Tikki said grabbing a red lipstick from the pink- wooden dressing table and carefully applying it on Marinette's lips.
"He feels something for Ladybug, not Marinette. I know it took me a lot of time to realize his feelings for Ladybug were genuine." The girl said, an embarrassed grimace forming on her face. "He is my best friend, and to be honest…ever since I started to pay attention to the kind of person Chat is, I realized I've never felt more comfortable and happy with anyone else." Marinette continued, a small smile resting on her face, as the recollections of past memories came to her mind.
When they first met, the new commitment of becoming protectors of the city and the difficulty that brought was already excessive to even acknowledge her partner. He was Chat Noir and he was her new partner.
End Point.
It was how she thought it was going to be until that endpoint became a set of commas.
She started to learn two basic things. His age and superpower. Since the nature of their circumstances didn't allow for more information to come out, the curiosity to probe any further than what was permitted was not in her priority list.
And then she noticed he liked her. His flirtation and advances made the fact too obvious. But it never occurred to her that the feelings were real and present, since her thoughts and feelings belonged to someone else already, and that had clouded her mind.
After two years of being partners, she comprehended her feelings for the one that held her heart for so long were not going to be reciprocated. And she managed to accept it. Many tears and resignation eased her heart at last and in exchange, she gained Adrien Agreste as an amazing friend in her life. That gave her the chance to know the boy for real, learning to love and cherish him without the nervousness and clumsiness that characterized her coming in the way.
As for her feline partner, the commas became a paragraph. She slowly began to see the personality behind the person. His allergy to feathers, his habit of explaining history facts and random knowledge about the world, his hatred of enclosed spaces, his love for dancing and singing, his love for animals, his enthusiasm for pastries, and of course his ridiculous and amusing love for puns. The puns that were always there, even in the worst of situations.
It evolved into friendship. An unusual friendship formed from an unusual situation that at the same time became so much more for her than what she initially thought.
She never showed any interest in him in the romantic field though. Sure, she liked to follow his game and fool around when they were together, but nothing ever occurred beyond that line. She thought he was just having a playful crush that probably would barely last. Until she realized that it wasn't. And weeks later after that realization, she came with another epiphany.
Chat Noir, slowly, became more than just her best friend and partner.
Tikki sighed audibly, with a small smile on her features while looking apologetically at her chosen. "Don't refer to Ladybug as if she was a different person. Marinette makes Ladybug. You are Ladybug with or without the mask. That's what makes you an amazing chosen. And I'm sure Chat Noir will love the girl behind the mask because she is the same with or without it. What I'm more concerned about is the danger that those feelings for each other can bring." The little creature commented with a crestfallen look on her tiny features.
"I know the risks Tikki, you don't have to worry about me. My feelings won't come in the way when it comes to my responsibility." Marinette responded, a blank expression on her face as she turned to her full-size mirror, giving herself time to examine that everything looked in its place. She remained silent, reluctant to continue the subject anymore. Just like her emotions resigned on Adrien, she knew that also needed to occur with Chat Noir, regardless of how hurtful that was for her.
If only…
She examined the evening gown caressing her body. It took her a ridiculous amount of time to design and make the dress. But after sleepless nights and not so healthy amounts of coffee, the results were worth it. It was a red, ball gown that went all the way to the floor. Intricate flower patterns made of lace garnished the satin surface of her gown with small sequins embedded on the center of each flower, and sleeves falling gracefully on her upper arms. She felt prideful of her creation, though she never imagined she was going to use something so…extravagant. She didn't recognize herself. Simple and casual daily garments are what Marinette was used to wear, nothing compared to this. But for once, to feel graceful and beautiful is what she desired, something that was not in her list of adjectives to describe herself.
"Ready," Marinette announced excitedly, nodding in the direction of the little kwami. She had already said goodbye to her parents, probably thinking their daughter was drooling in her sleep hours ago. The meticulous arrangement of pillows in her bed was going to help to create the illusion of her presence in her absence as well.
One thing was missing though…
"Tikki, transform me!" Marinette murmured enthusiastically. The small kwami was absorbed into the earrings resting on the girl's ears. This caused pink glitter to envelop her frame as her signature red, polka-dotted mask materialized and finished her look.
Marinette sighed anxiously, "Okay, now the awkward part of the night..."
She proceeded to go to the trapdoor and climbed the ladder. Something that was so ordinary had become extremely difficult given her current predicament. Her yo-yo was released to the vast sky night while launching her body into the void, disappearing in the skyline.
If someone would have told her that she was going to a ball to celebrate the third anniversary of her achievement as Paris' guardian, she would've laughed at the absurdity of such thought. But as soon as her feet touched the ground, they felt like they were about to give up any minute, making the absurdity a reality.
She had seen the Palace of Versailles thousands of times, but never like this. Over 800 hectares were displayed at her sight. Beautiful extensive fountains with numerous designs releasing spurts of water, creating a calming sound as the water flowed. Realistic statues were displayed there too, sundry stories untold in the eyes of the solemn figures.
The gardens delicately designed through the grassy lawns, in a way that showed the glory of the nature modified by men. The water and garden parterres that stood out through all the place, filled with meticulous designs to show off the beauty of landscape design. The groves of Versailles that were filled with statues, vases, and fountains, where royalty would often go for walks. And the aroma of the flowers that sent her into a state of almost tranquility.
It made her feel like she had gone back in time to the seventeenth century, where queens, kings, and noble society used to spend their lives surrounded by luxuries and prosperity.
She then realized how small and humble her bedroom was. This definitely wasn't how I thought my life would turn out to be.
Oh well, her life was never normal, to begin with.
This was their night, and she was going to enjoy it.
She started walking, feeling her legs functioning properly again. She mentally recited bits of advice on her agitated mind, her heels hauling the small pebbles of the ground as she walked forward.
Okay, let's go over the basics again. She said to herself, repeating the pieces of advice she had received from Tikki for the millionth time that night, as they literally made a list of the fifty ways this could go wrong. A sacred mantra she needed to follow diligently. Stand straight, smile at everyone, don't stand on anyone's feet, don't confuse the function of each fork and knife, try to walk decently with these high heels, don't dance like a drunk, don't say incoherent words and don't stumble on your own feet.
After concluding her inner turmoil, she realized she was already inside. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. Come on Marinette, you're Ladybug. It's just a party…a big luxurious party…filled with strangers…
Inside was even more thrilling and overwhelming. Long, spacious hallways with refined gold structures were in front of her. Majestic, crystal chandeliers illuminated the palace in a way that the environment seemed ethereal. At the top, paintings of Hercules' apotheosis were displayed through the entire ceiling, showing the history behind it through detailed artistic work.
She continued walking as tapestries and portraits were displayed at the sides, the eyes of the painted following her. She gulped nervously. She imagined how it must have felt to be here hundreds of years ago, where Parisian royalty used to walk the same path she was taking. It was so overwhelming, to say the least. How Parisian royalty were used to this kind of life every single day?
After accidentally losing herself through all kinds of confusing hallways, the huge doors to the correct ballroom were a few inches apart from her. Her stomach tightened, filled with anxious knots. Inhaling and exhaling, the young heroine stood there for a few seconds, as a way to calm her racing heart before throwing herself to the Parisian elite that was waiting for her arrival.
And without notice, the doors to the ballroom were opened for her.
The ballroom was no less captivating. She passed through the golden archway and came to stop on top of a long and wide staircase, where all the guests were addressing their gaze to.
She widened her eyes as she realized the silence that had developed in the spacious place, due to her presence. Self-consciousness hit her like a ton of bricks. Great way to go unnoticed, Ladybug.
She gained some courage from who knows where and walked down the stairs as gracefully as she could, with her eyes gazing through the crowds, trying to locate her feline partner.
Nothing.
She was received with serene smiles and piercing gazes from all the people who had come to commemorate this day with them. Her heels clicked against the polished floor. As she looked down, she met her reflection. Three crystal chandeliers hung and were illuminating the floor in a soft way, showcasing a whole distinct world beneath her. Everything just felt like a dream, as if she had traveled back in time and history was developing right in front of her.
She was not very tall, but her heels gave her an advantage in trying to locate black cat ears through the masses of people currently in the room.
While waiting for Chat Noir, nibbling offensive microscopic appetizers and meandering among the crowds, attentively gazing through the masses of individuals located in the opulent room it's what she did. But as time went by, her solitude was causing her uneasiness. The subtly gazes of some guests shifting with her every movement, the respectful nods and robotic smiles felt vacant, if not, hypocritical and false.
She wanted to be with her partner. Having someone she knew by her side, someone she trusted is what could ease her troubled thoughts. The raven-haired girl was willing to enjoy the evening as this was an occasion to be memorialized, and yet, she couldn't avoid the lack of genuineness her being was experiencing. Was her anxiousness causing her these thoughts? There was something about the place and the public currently in the room around her. Ladybug had never felt so out of place like at that moment.
Something felt off.
The concept of the event was the city mayor's idea, André Bourgeois. To be fair, the young heroes were slightly bewildered with the decision. This was a new experience for them, and the question as to why did the mayor chose to conduct such ceremony lingered in their brains.
Rambling through the center of the ballroom, she paused her actions and stood where a royalty shield was inserted on the lustrous floor, a design that intrigued her with curiosity at the delicate yet mighty pattern. A shield that was once used to represent a family.
Through all her admiration and inner analyzes at what was under her, she didn't hear that the same tensed silence had repeated around her.
A familiar and comforting presence was felt by her not too far behind. She raised her head and turned around, only to find Chat Noir smiling shyly at her.
Her heart somersaulted in wonder and happiness at the sight of the boy in front of her.
I hope to hear from everyone and I hope you liked the introduction. Have a wonderful day/afternoon/evening! ❤️😊