~~Recap~~"I give up, ok? You win. Adrien's yours. Now just leave me alone. Please." She finally cried and ran away. Lila stood there, puzzled. She was frozen and lost in thought. 'Did she hit her head or something?' Lila thought to herself.~~Recap Over~~

Marinette's legs grew tired of all the running. So, she eventually stopped. Deep breaths were the only source of comfort she had right now. What was she running from though? She didn't know. When she was able to walk again, she did. As she finally reached her home, she felt something dark. She turned to face the windows of the bakery. Normally, you'd expect her to see her reflection but that wasn't the case this time. What she saw was a paler version of herself. Her clothes were all black and blood was dripping off of her hands. But what concerned Marinette the most, was the wicked smirk on her reflection. What was that? Why did her reflection look so proud of herself? Was she actually happy? Her thoughts were interruppted as she heard a bell ring. She turned around to find Sabine giving her a dissatisfied look.

"What's wrong dear? You're not coming inside?" Her voice was sweet and polite. With a hint of worrisome hidden in it.

"Yeah... I'm just tired. Can I just go to my room?"

No matter how long her day got in school, she somehow always managed to help her parents out for an hour or two before she disappeared into her room. Her parents never asked her to do it, she did it by choice. Probably since she wants to be there for everyone.

"Of course dear. Get some rest. You look tired anyways. I'll fix you up a treat." She quickly replied back.

"Thanks mom but I don't feel like having a treat right now." She faked a smile.

With the door still opened, Sabine gestured her to enter. Marinette took one last look of her reflection but to her suprise, the horrifying figure was gone. She could only see herself. A sad, broken bakery girl. With one final forced smile, she entered the bakery.

The sweet scent of freshly baked macaroons and cookies were delightful. Just being there to enjoy them was a treat. For a second there, the scent was enough for her to forget about her troubles. Until they magically came back. Images flashed in her mind of the horrible monster that destroyed Paris. And that monster was none other than the sweet baker girl herself. As a last resort to save herself from the memories that haunted her, kept her up at night, she grabbed onto herself. Her grip tightening around her arms as she reminded herself that she is safe. Vexer is no more. Yet... It still feels like she's still there. Maybe inside of her. Without paying any attention to her father's concerned look at her, she rushed upstairs and into her room.

As she closed the trap door, she couldn't help but sob a little. She finally got what she wanted. She was alone for a while. No one was around her. Except for her pocket sized kwami who jumped out of her purse as soon as she heard the door slam shut. Tikki did her best to comfort her. Tapping her shoulder with her little paw while whispering sweet nothings to her owner.

"It's alright Marinette. Vexer's no more. You can forget about it." She concluded.

"How? How can I just forget what I've witnessed? I destroyed Paris when I should have been the one to protect it."

"And that's what you did. You saved the future!"

"I saved it... From MYSELF! Who is to say I won't get akumatized again? That I won't become that rotten version of myself? That I won't turn against the people I love?"

"Marinette. I'm sure you'll-"

She was cut off by a loud muffled scream they heard. But where did it come from? Couldn't be Marinette's room. Then it must be from outside. The two turned to the window, the only source in the room that connected them to the outside world. From their perspective, they saw a young blonde boy in a cat costume swinging away. This could only mean one thing... Someone's akumatized...again.

Tikki switched her view to Marinette who was all too busy lying on her bed in despair. Her eyebrows furrowed. And a small angry (yet cute) pout was fixed on her face.

"Marinette, what are you waiting for?" The kwami asked impatiently. It's not like her owner to take this long to transform into her superhero form when she knows the city needs her.

"I'm not going." She mumbled.

"What?"

"Going after the akuma means going out in public. I can't do that. Not even as Ladybug." She explained while curling herself up into a ball. "I can't face anyone right now."

"But Paris needs you!"

"What it needs is a hero. Someone brave and strong. Someone who can protect them 24/7. Not a clumsy girl juggling her double life and still not being able to pull through."

"I have served as a kwami to many people in the past. But I've never met anyone as capable as you." She said while flying over to her owner to comfort her once more.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"No, I mean it. You're an honest and a hardworking person, Marinette. But most of all, you're pure of heart. The purest of the pure."

"But still not pure enough." She whispered to herself as she fought off the memories of Vexer once more. She held onto her head and swung it a few times to make them go away. But it wasn't working. She ended up yelling from frustration.

"Keep it down. You're parents will hear you."

"I don't care, Tikki. I don't care anymore."

"Marinette listen to me." She said and flew up to her owner's face. Too close for comfort actually. More like invading personal space. "You are Ladybug. Like it or not, it's true. Nothing you say or do will ever change that. If you want to make up for what Vexer did, then now's your chance. By saving Paris from Hawkmoth's victims. You can't give up now. It can only be over when you've done what you're supposed to: take away the butterfly miraculous from whoever's responsible for bringing havoc on Paris. You can do this! I believe in you!" Her speech may be small, but they were encouraging.

"But we don't even know who he is." She finally said after giving some thought to Tikki's words. "How can we bring justice to the criminal when we don't even know who it is!?"

"Then we're just gonna have to keep our eyes and ears open. There must be some clues or hidden messages being left behind by the akumatization. We must be missing it. Like... How does he even manage to find people all the time?"

"You're right. There must be something I'm missing." Her confidence in herself seemed to increase drastically. "Except for... How am I going to face Chat Noir now? Espically when I know who he is and all." Her heart pounded at an enormous rate after just speaking of her crush.

"You'll be fine. Just pretend you don't know."

"That's easier said then done. I still can't believe that Adrien Agreste, the boy of my dreams, the most perfect guy in the world is actually a clingy, flirtatious not-so-funny alley cat."

"But do you still love him?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"And he loves you."

"No, he loves Ladybug. Not me." Her voice died down as she realized he's into her superhero persona rather than the girl she really is.

"And that's still you! He might not know this, and that's okay. But right now, he needs Ladybug's help. Are you going to abandon him just like that?"

Marinette's fist tightened as the word "abandon" reached her ears. She recalled her nightmare. The one she just had moments ago. She was being blamed for something she hadn't done. She felt hurt. "Of course not! Tikki, spots on!" Her tone was a little enraged but the kwami considered it to be 'confidence'. And that's something her owner has been lacking for a few weeks now. Good to see she's finally healing.

As Chat Noir remained pinned down by Style Queen, she teased him at his misery.

"Looks like your girlfriend isn't here today. Pity, guess I'll just have to take your miraculous for now Cat Boy." She cried as she reached for his ring.

"She's NoT My GiRlFriEnD!" He cried. "No matter how much I want that." He uttered only to be heard by himself. That would be amazing, wouldn't it? Ladybug and Chat Noir: the best duo and couple in Paris! Imagine the headlines. But quickly, he snapped back to reality and saw the akumatized victim already close to his ring. He yelled "cataclysm" which was enough of a precaution for her to pull her hand back. Wouldn't wanna turn to dust now would she? She groaned at the slight misstep that was taken. No matter though, all she has to do is wait for his ring to beep a number of times before she can take it away.

Alas, she didn't get the chance though. She felt her free arm getting wrapped in something and then being pulled away. She didn't have the time to process what it was but she heard a familiar voice yelling Chat's named. "Chat Noir, now!"

The next thing she knows, her hat was in that alley cat's hand and was slowly turning to dust while it's remains drifted away with the air. It was completely destroyed except for a blackish purple butterfly that was able to escape-but not for long! It quickly got caught in Ladybug's yoyo who managed to purify it before it did any more harm. "No more evil doing for you little butterfly." She said in her sweetest voice possible.

She didn't need to use her 'Lucky charm' so yelling 'miraculous ladybug' is also pointless. Besides, no serious damaged was done anyway. Aside for a nearby Agreste store that was covered in glitter, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Cleaning it will be a pain though. Oh well. That's someone else's problem now.

Chat Noir got up again to praise his Lady for coming. But also to ask her not to keep him waiting for so long next time. However, he was more stunned as Ladybug held Audrey on the roadside, with her yoyo still wrapped around her.

"Alright Audrey, spill the beans. What happened?" She demanded answers. But to what? That wasn't specified.

"Well I came back to Paris to witness Gabriel Agreste's fashion show this weekend but then that no good daughter of mine said that-"

"I'm not asking why you got akumatized. Tell me everything you remember when you were Style Queen."

"How am I supposed to know that?"

"Speak up!" She yelled as she pulled the string that tightened around her. She grunted as the string stung her skin a bit.

"I don't know." She manged to yell.

But Ladybug wasn't satisfied with the answer. Surely there must be something she remembered. Anything. It might help her find out who's behind all the akumatizations. Were they even planned? If so, then what's the endgame? Who's the mastermind here? Her questions were left unanswered and her patience was dropping. Disappointed, and a little enraged she pulled the string again, causing it to tighten even more around the fashion icon who eventually yelled in pain. But Ladybug eventually felt all her anger die down when she felt a supportive hand being rested on her shoulder. It was none other than her trust worthy partner's -no- it was Adrien's hand.

"M'lady, she's no longer a threat to anyone. You can let her go now." A smile was all it took from his end to melt her heart. Though her eyes saw Chat Noir, her brain saw Adrien. He was talking to her. He was saving her from making a mistake i.e hurting a civilian. Her heart was pounding yet she knew she had to play it cool. Without any hesitation, she let go of the string and Audrey was finally free.

"Chat I-" no words left her mouth. Why did she even open it in the first place? Probably just to talk to her crush. But now that she has started, what is she going to say? An awkward silence was present. He waited for her to finish but she couldn't find any words to use. All she could think of, was how hurt he must be when Vexer killed him. She had let him down. How will she ever face him again? "You?" Chat Noir repeated slowly, still waiting for her to finish.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." She finally managed to say.

He chuckled lightly. "That's alright. Atleast you got here. That's all that matters." His soft smile made her blush as she imagined him without his mask. Oh how cute Adrien would look giving her a look like that and calling her his 'lady'. That would be something. Thank God for the Ladybug mask that was able to cover somewhat of her bright red face.

"You okay m'lady? Something seems off about you."

Dammit! Even though he can't see under her mask, he can still tell she's not herself. Her Ladybug self atleast.

"I um... I gotta go." She finally explained before she took out her yoyo and swung away. Chat wanted to run after her, but his beeping ring insisted him not to. He ran towards a small alley where he de-transformed back after making sure no one was around.

"What's wrong with her?" He mumbled to himself, however, it was easily heard by his own cat kwami.

"Who?"

"Ladybug. Obviously."

"Why? What happened?"

"She hasn't been herself lately. She's always late, passes these weird smiles at me all the time. And she barely talks to me anymore. But worst of all, we haven't had a 'pound it' moment for over a month now. And that's my favorite part! Does she maybe... Hate me? Did I upset her?"

"All I heard is 'Blah blah blah... Always late... Bla bla bla... weird smile... Bla bla bla... Barely able to talk to you' sounds like someone I know."

"Who?"

"Nevermind."

"Well it's obvious that something's wrong."

"Look kid, she doesn't hate you, alright? Maybe she just wants to be alone."

"As if. No one wants that."

"Just because you don't, doesn't mean she doesn't either. She's probably going through a phase right now. It'll be alright eventually."

"I can't wait for 'eventually'. I need to know if there's something I can do for her."

"You don't even know her! If you wanna help someone so bad, why not that Marinette friend of yours. Don't tell me you haven't noticed her strange behavior." Plagg's voice sounded a little disappointed in him. His tiny arms were bent over and his hands rested on his hips.

"Of course I've noticed. But right now, Ladybug needs me more."

Plagg remained disappointed but hid his expressions and went back to his usual hiding spot: the inside pocket of Adrien's jacket. 'God I swear if this kid even had a single brain cell, things would have been so different right now.' he thought to himself.