The story below is based on the characters from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. I own nothing of the show. This is purely fictitious and written for the enjoyment of my readers and myself. All rights go to the proper parties.

This chapter was interesting to write. It took me some time to decide on how I would go about writing this chapter. I think it went well though.


Cat Noir lands excitedly at the statue unveiling at the Place des Vosge. The sculptor looks at him before saying, "Excuse me, Cat Noir, but Ladybug's not here."

Cat Noir smiles, "Don't worry about Ladybug. I'm sure she'll be here any minute. I can handle this situation alone for now. I'm the one in charge anyway, you know." He boasts.

Théo nervously responds, "It's just that, I wanted to ask her to autograph this photo. She's amazing. She's so brave and smart, the way she always saves everyone..."

Cat Noir looks at the photo before understanding dawns on him. The sculptor has a crush on Ladybug. She would never date a civilian while in the suit. It's not safe. He should let him down softly for Ladybug.

"Perhaps the ceremony should commence. It might bring her here faster." The mayor suggests.

Théo startles, "Please, just one minute more, Mayor Bourgeois, she's going to come, I can feel it..." He begs.


Meanwhile, Marinette is trying to find Adrien's phone so she can erase her embarrassing voicemail.

"...I'm there!" She says as she sees all the lockers.

Tikki sighs, "Oh boy."

"Which one's his?" Marinette asks allowed.

"If you call him, you'll make his phone ring." Tikki suggests.

Marinette brightens, "Nice, Tikki!" She calls Adrien, and puts her ear against each locker to figure out where the ringing is coming from.


Back at the Place des Vosges. The ceremony is about to begin.

Mayor Bourgeois speaks, "It's only proper for Paris to pay homage to those to protect us from evil." He unveils the statues, "Ladybug and Cat Noir!"

Alya calls above the crowd gathered, "Can I get some photos for the Ladyblog?"

Théo looks at Ladybug's statue and sighs sadly. She didn't show.


Meanwhile, Marinette is still looking for Adrien's phone.

"Hurry, they're finishing up!" Tikki exclaims.

Marinette hurries, "Here it is!" She tries to open the locker, but finds it locked. "Gah! It's locked!"

Tikki phases through the locker and opens it. "Ta-dah!" She flourishes.


Back at the Place des Vosges, the ceremony has just ended, and Cat Noir stays to say a few last words to the sculptor.

"These statues are amazing. One thing's slightly off though— I'm actually taller than Ladybug." He says casually.

Théo doesn't respond to his criticism. "Ladybug didn't show up. I just wanted to express my adoration for her. Let her know that everything I had went into her statue. I'm sure if she took a little time to get to know me, she would see how much we have in common. Our devotion to the things we love." He finishes.

Cat Noir takes a breath, he needs to let him down. "Hey, don't mean to burst your bubble, but you know, Ladybug isn't available, you know?" He says, hoping the man takes the hint.

"Really?" Théo asks.

Cat Noir responds, "Yeah, we're like this." He crosses his finger, referring to their friendship and how he knows Ladybug best, at least as her superhero self. He doesn't realize what he just implied to the sculptor.

Théo growls and walks away angrily, "What does Ladybug see in him?"


Meanwhile, Marinette is trying to unlock Adrien's phone.

Tikki yells, "They're coming! Put back the phone!"

"I haven't erased the message yet!" Marinette says, flustered.

"We're out of time and we really ought to be getting to that ceremony, come on!" Tikki urges.

Marinette hides behind the door as it opens. A few fencing students walk in, one says, "Whew! That was rough. Ha ha."

Marinette sneaks out the door without anyone seeing her. As she leaves the building, Cat Noir lands on the roof. Having changed back, Adrien opens the locker room door and steps in, whistling. He opens his locker and takes his bag without noticing his missing phone.


~Fight With Copycat~

After tracking down Copycat, Cat Noir lands outside Théo's studio. "Gotcha, Copycat." He says.

Meanwhile, Ladybug is at the top of a building, when her yo-yo receives a call. She answers it, "Huh? Cat Noir, where are you?"

Cat Noir smirks, "I found his den."

"Who?" She questions.

Cat Noir responds, "My Copycat."

Ladybug, still confused, says, "I'm not getting you."

Cat Noir chastises, "If you'd been there this morning, you'd know what I was talking about."

Ladybug bristles, "Well? Tell me where you are."

"No, this is between me and him. I got myself into this mess, so I'm gonna get myself out." Cat Noir says, determined to handle the akuma he accidentally caused.

Ladybug groans, "Uhh, Cat? Cat!" She checks Cat Noir's location on her yo-yo and heads for it.


At Théo's studio, Cat Noir finds a note on a box and reads it aloud, "Cat's in the bag?"

The box bursts open, and Cat Noir finds himself in chains. He quickly yells, "Cataclysm!"

Suddenly, Copycat appears and places a square object in front of Cat Noir's hand. He destroys it instead, wasting the Cataclysm.

Copycat speaks, "I don't get what Ladybug sees in you. A fool who so easily falls into my trap." Cat Noir sees Copycat with his staff as it begins to ring. "Looking for this? Which one should I pick up? My one or my one?"

Copycat imitates Cat Noir, "Ladybug, hurry up. I've caught the impostor at Théo Barbot's workshop."

"I'll be there in thirty seconds." She responds.

"Don't come here, Ladybug! It's a trap!" He yells as Copycat ends the call.

Copycat smiles. "Too late, Cat. Ladybug's on her way, which was my plan all along." He brags.

"She won't be duped. She knows me too well." Cat Noir says confidently.

"I know you well too." He says, looking at his akumatized photo. "And from now on, she'll love me, not you!" He yells.

"Love me?" Cat Noir says confused before deciding to use this knowledge to his advantage, "...You're right! She loves me! That's why she'll be able to reveal your true identity" He yells back.!

Hawk Moth speaks to Copycat, "Copycat, stop this small talk and get me Cat Noir's Miraculous!"

Copycat obeys and knocks Cat Noir down and is about to take his ring, but then Ladybug appears.

"Huh?" He says, startled.

Cat Noir laugha, "Ha ha!"

Copycat smiles, "There you are."

Ladybug looks at both cats in front of her. "Cat Noir! He really looks like you!" She yells.

Cat Noir yells, "That's because I am me!"

Ladybug ignores him, "Where is his akuma?" She asks Copycat.

Copycat responds, "Inside his ring, of course. Grab it."

Hawk Moth speaks again, "Ladybug's doing all the work for us. What sweet irony."

Cat Noir's ring beeps, startling Ladybug, "He even has the same powers as you."

Copycat says, "Simply amazing, isn't it?"

Cat Noir speaks up as Ladybug reaches for his ring. "If you don't believe I'm the real Cat Noir, ask him about our love for each other."

Ladybug makes a puzzled face. "Uhh..."

Cat Noir winks, "Have I ever lied to you, Bugaboo?"

Ladybug looks to Copycat, "I hope you didn't tell him about us."

"What?" Copycat asks.

Ladybug continues, "That we're... you know, we made a secret promise?"

Copycat smiles, "Uh, yes! Of course!"

"We never made a promise. Copycat!" Ladybug exclaims, preparing to fight.

Copycat bristles, "I love you, Ladybug! I'm way better than this mangy alley cat!"

Ladybug responds dryly, "Sorry, but liars are losers. Cat Noir may annoy me to pieces, but he's never lied to me."

Cat Noir smiles, "Thanks for the compliment. I think."

Hawk Moth speaks once again, "Do it now, take his Miraculous!"

Copycat yells, "If I can't have you, then nobody will! Cataclysm!"

Ladybug responds, "Let's wrap this up! Lucky Charm!" A spoon appears. "A spoon? What am I supposed to do with this?"

Copycat is about to use his Cataclysm, but Ladybug holds Cat Noir's chains up so that Copycat breaks them and frees Cat Noir.

Cat Noir smiles at Ladybug, "Excellent job, m'lady."

"Where's his akuma?" She asks.

Cat Noir responds, "The photo in his pocket. Let's make it snappy."

Copycat laughs as Cat Noir's ring beeps again. "Ha ha ha! You're going to change back before me."

Copycat and Cat Noir fight, and Ladybug joins in. "He's pretty good." She says.

"Don't need to rub it in!" Cat Noir says with wounded pride.

Copycat rubs it in, "I told you I was better than him."

Ladybug takes Cat Noir's staff "But I'm better than both of you!" She gives the staff to Cat Noir.

The two Cats keep fighting, and Ladybug grabs Cat Noir's arm on accident.

"Hey, it's me!" He calls.

Copycat yells too, "He's lying! I'm the real one!"

Ladybug groans, "Ugh, now you're both annoying me to pieces! Show me your ring. How many pads do you have left?"

Cat Noir's ring beeps first, showing only one pad left, while Copycat refuses to show his and his ring has three pads disappear at the same time.

"Cat Noir, scratch attack!" Ladybug yells.

Cat Noir smiles, "Gladly. I love a good cat fight." He meows.

Ladybug looks around and sees Cat Noir's staff, a wooden rod, her yo-yo and the spoon. Ladybug uses these to make a fishing rod while Cat Noir used his feet to prevent Copycat from attacking and Cat Noir blinks as he unzips the pocket that has the photo in it.

"Time to go akuma fishing!" Ladybug jokes.

Ladybug uses the fishing rod to lift Copycat up to the ceiling and grabs his photo. She tears it to release the akuma.

"No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!" She catches the akuma. "Gotcha!" the akuma turns into a butterfly, "Bye bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" She yell, throwing the spoon in the air and watching as everything turns back to normal, and Copycat turns back into Théo, who is caught by Cat Noir.

"Nice catch!" Ladybug calls.

Cat Noir smiles, "I'm so glad you could tell the real cat from the fake one."

"Once I figured out which cat was really in love with me, it was a no-brainer." She responds.

Cat Noir's ring beeps as he smiles at Ladybug. "Better help the fellow out. His crush just got crushed. I would be sad too if my crush turned me down." He says.

Théo groans, "Ugh... What am I doing here? Ladybug?"

Ladybug stops to talk to him, "I'm sorry I couldn't make it this morning, Théo."

Théo holds the photo out to her, "Can you autograph it for me?"

Ladybug smiles, "Of course I can! You've got some real artistry here. You've really captured my essence." She compliments.

"Thank you, Ladybug. And don't worry. I know about you and Cat Noir. It's okay." He responds.

Ladybug gives him a confused expression, "Huh?" She says.


~Later At School~

Later at school Adrien is talking to Nino about his missing phone. Marinette holds it close by, grateful that she was able to delete the message on it.

"Maybe you dropped it somewhere." Nino suggests.

Adrien sighs, "Well, if I did, then, whoever has it found it in the boys' locker room. I was checking my voicemail in there during fencing practice."

"Do it now!" Alya whispers to Marinette.

Marinette puts Adrien's phone in his bag, which falls over.

"Huh? What in the... I already looked in here a thousand times!" He yells.

Nino shakes his head, "You need some time off. Hey, I know, let's go to the movies tonight."

Alya butts into the conversation, "Hey, dudes, mind if a few friends tag along?"

"Sure thing!" Nino says.

Marinette and Adrien look at one another. Both hiding their excitement but blushing furiously as they smile.