Time the Pernicious Blaireau

In a little white loft house with a baby blue roof, atop a small but ever busy bakery in the romantic city of Paris, lives a normal teenage girl with a normal life. Well…almost normal. Marinette Dupain-Chang also just so happens to be the superhero Ladybug, who holds the power of creation in her hands.

Having been entrusted with this huge responsibility for almost two years now, some days it just doesn't seem real. One day she had no clue magic even existed, and the next she was using it to transform into a superhero to save Paris from a supervillain named Hawk Moth. How she even got chosen in the first place still makes her wonder, despite it being explained to her.

All she did was save an old man from being hit by a car, and he just so happened to be the protector of magical beings called Kawmis. Kawmis who have the ability to turn normal people into magical superheroes through their specific Miraculous stones. Anyone would have done the same. It was all circumstantial, yet Master Fu kept insisting it was fate. Fate that showed up in her room in the form of earrings each holding a Miraculous stone.

Now her normal, everyday life consists of her trying to pass school, working on her future as a fashionista, trying to work up the courage to talk to the boy she likes, being class president, and the odd aside of fighting for Paris, along with her trusty partner Chat Noir. The more she did the whole superhero gig, the more she realized it was almost like a side job. All they had to do was rescue and cleanse the people Hawk Moth changed into villains with a Miraculous of his own (they still aren't sure how he obtained it, or even who he is). What they do know for sure is that he seems to have an obsessive thirst for more Miraculous power; hers and Chat Noir's specifically.

And all for some unknown wish. Probably an evil one considering his reputation of using normal Parisian citizens to do his dirty work. Granted that is his Miraculous' ability, but it still seemed downright cowardly in her opinion.

Lately, for some unknown reason, Hawkmoth had been oddly inactive and today was no exception. Which to her and all of Paris's relief was a much-needed break. Now the blue eye, raven-haired, half Asian girl, could have time to work on another pressing matter that just won't leave her be: a new design for a dress.

If anyone knows Marinette, they know that once inspiration hits then nothing short of Hawk Moth striking up trouble again, can stop her until she gets it on paper and turns it into something real and wonderful. Thus, the new designer had immersed herself in her own world, sketching and coloring her new creation so she could bring it to life.

And inspiration had struck rather hard just an hour before. Funny how that can happen, where out of nowhere you can find it in the most unusual places. Earlier that afternoon, Marinette had been enjoying the bright blue sky and gentle warm breeze that tickled her face while taking a leisurely stroll down the narrow streets of Paris. She'd been on her way back home after a typical school day when she'd noticed all the colors that surrounded her. She'd known it was spring, of course, but it had just hit her at that moment and no matter where she turned her eyes she couldn't seem to avoid seeing a flower of some kind. Instead of the dull browns and grays that tended to be the only colors that painted the winter months, the change had metaphorically slammed into her.

Over the last couple of days, she hadn't had time to admire her surroundings between running late for school every morning, running home to work in the bakery, and daily patrols to make sure the city was safe. So the subtle changes to the city had been forgotten until now. Finally taking it all in, she was just awestruck. With all the plants sprouting in the corners of almost every shop, hanging from window seals, next to doorsteps, and practically spilling over window ledges, it just screamed new life, new warmth, and new hope.

One flower, in particular, had kept catching her eye: a bright, yellow tulip. As she'd stopped to observe one a little closer, she'd been intrigued by its round shape, multiple layers, and gentle curves that all seem to come together flawlessly. At that very instant, her imagination was ignited, brightening her eyes with wonder.

Forgetting the rest of her casual stroll, she'd fished out her phone and taken as many pictures as she could, for reference, before standing up and rushing home. All she'd wanted to do was to bring the image in her head to life - to make it real and tangible.

Marinette had ran home as fast as her legs could carry her and almost immediately found herself seated on her flowery pink, rolling chair, in her bright pink bedroom as she scooted up to her work desk, vigorously drawing her new design on her worn out sketch pad. She'd been so absorbed in her work, she hadn't noticed when her ladybug Kwami, Tikki, emerged from her round custom made purse.

By now Tikki was used to Marinette's obliviousness while creating a new design. So, paying her chosen no mind, she had decided a yummy, chocolate chip cookie would hit the spot.

Floating up and over Marinette's head to a pink and brown bed above, she searched for some of her favorite treat. She'd stashed some under her own little hidden bed on the headboard above Marinette's pillows. It hadn't taken her long to find what she'd been searching for, and she now could relax and slowly enjoy her treat while her chosen worked below. After finishing every last bit of her snack, Tikki decides to head back down to observe her chosen at work. She always loved watching her chosen create new things.

As she perches herself on top of Marinette's head, Tikki looks down in awe of what she could already tell would be another one of Marinette's wonderful creations. And, being the Kawmi of creation, she would know.

So involved in her sketch, the young designer hadn't noticed time passing her by. A sudden knock at the hatch door made her jump in surprise and caused her to fall out of her chair, landing hard on the wooden floor below. Thankfully Tiki managed to catch herself midair after being flung off of her spot on Marinette's head.

As Tikki shot back up to her little space above, Marinette called out to allow entrance to whoever was at her door.

While Marinette got up off the floor and rubbed her sore backside, she looked over to the hatch door and saw the top of her mother's short, bobbed hair emerging into her room. Upon reaching Marinette, she gave her daughter a warm and loving, yet mischievous smile. Then she held out an official and expensive looking letter and said, "I think you will want to look at this now."

Confused, yet curious, Marinette grabbed the letter from her mother's outstretched hand and examined it. Then her mouth dropped open in shock. She couldn't believe her eyes. The sender was none other than the famous fashion designer Gabriel Agreste!

Observing the shocked look on her daughter's face, Marinette's mother, smiled in amusement and gave Marinette a quick hug before heading to go back down to finish working in the bakery. Right before she exited, she simply said, "I expect to hear every detail at dinner."

After a quick assurance that she would, her mother left Marinette staring at the letter in befuddlement. As she looked up, wide-eyed, at her Kwami, who was now by her side, the only thing Marinette managed to get past her lips was, "What am I looking at?"

Tikki giggled, not at all surprised at her chosen's response. "A letter from THE Gabriel Agreste. I can't believe you haven't even opened it!" said the Kwami who swirled in excitement.

Marinette hesitated. "I know, I know, but... but what if this is a rejection letter that he's sending me before I send anything in to him so he doesn't have to look at my awful work?! My dreams would be ruined! No designer would want to take me as their apprentice after being rejected by the top designer in the world. My life would be over!" Marinette gushed and dramatically plopped herself over her work desk in despair.

Rolling her eyes at Marinette's antics Tiki simply responded, "That's just silly. Why would he send a nice and official looking letter just to tell you that? Besides, remember the day when you fought Style Queen? Which also happened to be the day your wonderful hat was showcased at a fashion show. Gabriel Agreste himself came and complimented your work! So did THE Audrey Bourgeois - the strictest fashion critic that ever lived! Come on Marinette, think positive. It must be good news! Open it! Open it!" Tikki bobbed up and down, even more anxious to know what the letter contained.

"I guess you're right Tikki," Marinette said as she smiled sweetly up at the best and cutest Kwami anyone could ask for. Tikki just grinned back and gestured with her tiny hand for Marinette to open the letter. Taking a deep breath, she paused for just one more second before tearing open the top of the envelope with her pink polka-dotted letter opener. Trying not to shake, Marinette nervously pulled out the surprisingly heavy, off-white pages and began to read.

As she continued to read her eyes got bigger and bigger with each passing sentence. Was this really happening to her? Could she really be this lucky? There must be a mistake. Ladybug was the lucky one, not Marinette Dupain-Cheng the clumsy mess of a person who couldn't even talk to her crush. Yet, here she was, being offered an opportunity of a lifetime to intern with said crush's father and her favorite fashion designer of all time!

"Tikki there has to be a mistake! This can't be real. I must be dreaming. Pinch me to wake me up." Doing as told, Tiki floated up to Marinette's cheek and pinched hard.

"Ouch! Okay, definitely not a dream. Did you really have to pinch me so hard?" Marinette asked rubbing her sore cheek. She really hadn't expected her Kawmi to have such strength.

Tinker bell-like laughter echoed near her ears as Tikki circled around her head then landed in front of her bluebell eyes and responded, "Would you believe that you weren't dreaming if I hadn't? This is definitely not a dream. Gabriel, wants YOU to intern at his company! This is wonderful news! You have to respond right away and say yes!"

Looking warily back at Tikki, Marinette didn't know if she could just do that. "I... I... Can't! What if he realizes I'm not good enough and then I really do get banned from the fashion industry and instead of this letter the new one I get will be pink!" Tikki sighed and shook her tiny head at her chosen.

"Come on Marinette, if he didn't think you had any talent to do this, he wouldn't have asked you. You are the smartest and best designer I know. You can do this!" Touched by Tikki's words Marinette steeled herself.

"You're right, Tikki! How did I get so lucky to have a friend like you? Okay, I'll do it! I'll respond and send the letter right now!" Barely had the words escaped the young and recently empowered designer's mouth before she began to frantically search her room for the best quality paper and pen.

"Just don't forget to sign it!" Tikki teased while Marinette finally found what she was looking for and sat down to write her carefully constructed and professional answer. Or at least as professional an answer as a fifteen-year-old girl could write.

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