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 difficult to write as well. There was so much in the episode that needed to be included here. I struggled to find the right way to change Adrien's poem. I decided on a subtle change and I think it works okay.
It's Valentine's Day in Paris, and Miss Bustier is teaching a lesson related to the days festivities, "In most fairy tales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess. Can anyone tell us why?" She asks the class.
Rose stands up, and swoons, "Because only love can conquer hate!
Miss Bustier smiles, "Correct, Rose."
Max interrupts, "Technically speaking, this reasoning is only exhibited in about 87% of all fairy tales and-"
Miss Bustier stops him, "Thank you, Max. That's enough."
Meanwhile, Marinette is looking over Adrien's shoulders as he writes a letter. She can't make out the words he's writing.
"Adrien, I hope what you're writing has to do with my lesson." Miss Bustier scolds as she approaches Adrien "Can you tell me what I just said?"
Adrien answers easily, "That's why in most fairy tales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess because only love conquers hate."
Miss Bustier smiles, "Very good, Adrien! Now, everyone, don't forget to finish Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault tonight, and happy Valentine's day, students!"
Marinette turns to Alya, "Hey, go ahead, I'll meet you outside."
Alya nods, "Mhm."
Marinette continues to look over Adrien's shoulder as he continues to write his letter before Adrien crumples it up, stands up, and tosses the letter in the garbage can.
Chloé catches him as he leaves, "Hi Adrien, sign here please."
Adrien sighs, "Oh, come on, you know I hate signing autographs, Chloé."
Chloé quickly responds, "Oh, that's not what this is. This is a petition against cruelty to hamsters. Have you seen some of the ugly sweaters they are forced to wear? It's appalling."
Adrien begrudgingly signs the poster and walks away. Chloé hugs the poster and Sabrina smiles before they notice Marinette digging through the trash can as she pulls out the letter Adrien had thrown away.
Chloé mocks, "Well well, Marinette, looking for something to eat?"
Sabrina laughs, "Maybe she's looking for some better clothes!" Both girls laugh as they leave.
Marinette groans, "ughhh."
Tikki lies up to Marinette, "Don't give them the time of day, they don't deserve it." She says.
Marinette smiles, "You're right, Tikki." She looks at the letter in her hands and begins to read, "Your hair is dark as night, your pretty bluebell eyes, I wonder who you are beneath that shy guise. Every day we see each other and I hope that you'll be mine, together our love could be so true, please, will you be my Valentine?" She finishes.
"Whoa, now that's a love poem." Tikki breathes.
"Who could he be talking about? Hair as dark as night, bluebell eyes?" Marinette asks.
"Uh... you?" Tikki says
Marinette laughs nervously, "Me? No way. There are plenty of girls at school with dark hair and blue eyes."
Tikki speaks, "Yeah, but bluebell eyes..." Tikki continues, "He wants to get to know you Marinette! He's talking about you!"
Marinette laughs and jumps up and down excitedly, "Pinch me!" She yells as they exit the classroom. She laughs before she shrieks from Tikki's pinch. "Not literally!" She yells while rubbing her arm.
~Later in Adrien's Room~
Adrien is sitting up to his desk daydreaming about Marinette before Plagg interrupts, "So she's got eyes, arms, legs, big deal! How can you possibly be in love with Marinette? You can barely talk to each other!" He exclaims.
Adrien sighs "You don't know anything about love..."
"Oh sure I do, I love Cheddar, I love Swiss and I love Camembert." Plagg says.
Adrien stands up causing his chair to spin as he heads for the window, resting his arm and head against it in distress.
Plagg mocks "Aww, the poor boy's frustrated because he can't finish the poem for his pigtailed sweetheart?"
Adrien replies wistfully, "I don't need a poem when I can tell her to her face... I love you." He sighs.
Plagg groans, "Bleh, gross. You're making me lose my appetite." Plagg eats his Camembert. "Almost"
~Dark Cupid~
Outside Le Grand Paris, Chloé is complaining to the deliverers of Adrien's portrait. "Ugh! I never said 18-karat gold! Those gold tones will never match my 24-karat toilet! Idiots!" She yells.
Dark Cupid spots Chloé from afar and shoots an arrow at her, but Ladybug stops him, making him miss.
Chloé gasps as Dark Cupid turns his attention to Ladybug, "Ladybug!"
Ladybug yells, "Stop, Kim!"
Dark Cupid snarls, "I'm not Kim, I'm Dark Cupid! I'll never stop! If I can't have love, then no one can!" He yells.
Ladybug groans, "Okay, Dark Cupid, I get it. Chloé totally burned you. But that doesn't mean you have to take it out on all of Paris!"
"Oh yes, I do! I won't stop until everyone's heart is crushed. Say adios to your loved ones. From now on, you'll hate them!" He yells back!
Dark Cupid attempts to shoot his arrows at Ladybug who dodges them with her yo-yo. She soon falls, but catches herself on a roof gutter with her yo-yo.
Hawk Moth speaks to Dark Cupid, "If you want to continue destroying love, bring me Ladybug's Miraculous, or I'll remove your powers!" He demands.
Cat Noir finds Ladybug and pulls her up. "Falling hard this Valentine's, my lady?" He teases.
Ladybug turns to Cat Noir to bring him up to speed on the akuma, "Dark Cupi-"
Cat Noir listens before seeing an arrow coming for Ladybug, he interrupts, "Ladybug, look out!" Cat Noir spins around to shield Ladybug, and is struck by one of Dark Cupid's arrows.
Ladybug gasps, "Cat Noir!"
Cat Noir's lips turn black, "Ladybug, I—I loathe you!" He seethes.
Ladybug's eyes widen, "Cat Noir, snap out of it!"
Cat Noir squeezes Ladybug incredibly close to him, "You're nothing Ladybug, and nothing to me! I hate you!" He yells.
Ladybug stomps on Cat Noir's foot and she uses his staff to launch herself into the air before grappling her yo-yo onto a street lamp and rolling into Le Grand Paris.
Chloé sees her and says, "Ladybug, it's about time, where have you been?" She asks annoyed.
Meanwhile, Cat Noir meets Dark Cupid, he's still holding on to his staff before he retracts his it. Then he puts his staff on his back and climbs up the wall to meet face to face with Dark Cupid.
Hawk Moth speaks again, "Offer to help him in return for Ladybug's Miraculous." He suggests.
Dark Cupid speaks to Cat Noir, "I can help you crush Ladybug, but you must give me her Miraculous in return." He holds his hand out to Cat Noir.
Cat Noir reaches up and says, "No...problem." Cat Noir cackles as he agrees to help Dark Cupid defeat Ladybug.
Hawk Moth praises, "Yes. Yes! And once I have Ladybug's Miraculous, taking Cat Noir's will be child's play!"
Back with Ladybug, she speaks to Chloé and Sabrina, "You gotta get out of here. Your friend Kim's turned into Dark Cupid and I don't know what he'll do if he finds you here."
Chloé acts surprised, "Moi? But how could he possibly have a vendetta against me?"
Ladybug mutters, "Who doesn't?"
Chloé smiles, "Duh! It's because of this. Everyone would love to get their hands on it." She refers to the poster of Adrien. "That's Adrien, a super hot guy in my class. And rich, too! He's hot for me of course." She brags.
Ladybug speaks under her breath, "Not according to the poem."
Sabrina points at the poster of Adrien, "It's alive!" She yells.
The poster begins to seemingly walk into the Hotel and from behind it emerges Dark Cupid, he fires his arrows at Ladybug, Sabrina, and Chloé. Ladybug deflects them with her yo-yo. She then grabs Chloé with her yo-yo and pulls her onto the street.
"Daddy!" Chloé yells.
"Run Chloé! Run!" Ladybug calls.
Chloé begins to run down the street, followed by Sabrina.
Cat Noir drops down from above and stands in front of Ladybug."Well, well, Ladybug." He says.
Ladybug stops, "I don't want to fight you, Cat Noir."
Cat Noir groans, "Ugh, that friendliness. It's so revolting. You are definitely not my friend!" He yell as he leaps into the air and swings his staff directly at Ladybug. She dodges it and jumps up onto the roof to run away, and Cat Noir pursues her.
Ladybug uses her yo-yo to grab Cat Noir's staff, and pulls him towards her. "Why are you so full of hate, Cat Noir?!"
"Because hate conquers all!" He responds.
"I hate to burst your bubble, but hate doesn't conquer all. Love does!" She says as she recalls what Miss Bustier said about love.
Cat Noir interrupts her thinking, "You're just buying time! Fight!"
Ladybug smirks, "I'll do better than that."
Cat Noir steps back slightly, "Huh?"
"Come on, kitty kitty, just a peck..." She calls as she tries to kiss him, but she misses. "Almost!"
Cat Noir yells, "Get back, you savage!" He runs away from her.
Ladybug chases him, "Here, kitty kitty kitty! Come here!"
Ladybug ties Cat Noir's leg with her yo-yo and he drops his staff then she ties him to a lamppost. She suspends herself from the top of the lamppost and leans closer to Cat Noir so she can kiss him while she hangs upside down.
Cat Noir squirms, "No, no!"
Ladybug reassures him, "Don't worry, I'm not looking forward to it either..." She tries to kiss him again, but she misses so she holds his nose to prevent him from dodging. "I can't believe I'm doing this..." She says to herself as she tries to kiss him again and Cat Noir whimpers.
An arrow appears between them, shot by Dark Cupid, but as he shoots more arrows she dodges them and frees Cat Noir from the lamppost. Cat Noir picks up his staff and places it on the back of his suit then he joins Dark Cupid while Ladybug hides behind a tree.
Cat Noir speaks, "How you gonna fight both of us now, bug eyes?" He taunts as he fist bumps Dark Cupid. Then Cat Noir activates Cataclysm. "I've often wondered what would happen if I use my Cataclysm on someone..." He says as he walks closer to Ladybug.
Ladybug calls, "Lucky Charm!" A candy apple lands in her hand. "A candy apple? What am I supposed to do with this? Think, Ladybug..." She looks around and spots the fountain, Cat Noir's ring, and Dark Cupid's brooch. "Hey! I've got a Valentine's gift for you!" She calls out as she steps from behind the tree.
Cat Noir and Dark Cupid prepare to attack Ladybug together. Dark Cupid shoots arrows at her and she deflects them with her yo-yo. Cat Noir prepares to use his Cataclysm on her but she avoids it. She grabs him by his belt and jumps onto the statue. She throws the candy apple at Dark Cupid's head but he removes it.
"Looks like you got yourself in a sticky situation!" She jokes.
Dark Cupid removes the candy apple and tries to shoot an arrow at her, but his hand is stuck to the bow.
Dark Cupid growls, "Ladybug!!"
"And now, for the pussy-cat!" She calls.
Cat Noir stands up and continues to fight Ladybug by chasing her until he sits on top of her. He leans close, preparing to use his cataclysm.
Dark Cupid tells Cat Noir to take Ladybug's Miraculous from her, "Cat Noir, her Miraculous!" Dark Cupid washes his hands in the fountain while Cat Noir follows his orders.
Cat Noir grins, "With pleasure! Finally, I'll find out who you are, Ladybug! Your little secret will be out of the bag!" He yells.
Before Cat Noir gets her miraculous, Ladybug grabs his face and kisses him to break the spell. He stops moving and lightly kisses her back as the spell breaks.
Cat Noir looks around, confused, "Huh?" He gasps. "What am I doing here?"
Ladybug grabs his hand and she carries him. She yells, "No time! The quiver pin, Cat Noir! Now!" She throws Cat Noir as he screams and lands on top of Dark Cupid. "Grab it! Grab the pin!" She commands.
Dark Cupid yells, "No!"
Cat Noir smiled, "Sorry, need that." Cat Noir says as he destroys the sash with Cataclysm. "Happy Valentine's Day!" He says as he tosses the sack to Ladybug.
Ladybug smiles, "Awww, you shouldn't have..." she drops the quiver pin, "Whoops!" she says as she stomps on the pin to release the akuma. "No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!" She catches the akuma with her yo-yo. "Gotcha!" She releases the akuma to turn it back to a normal butterfly. "Bye bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" She throws the Lucky Charm into the air and its energy restores everything back to normal.
Kim transforms back to his normal self and looks around, "Huh?"
Ladybug and Cat Noir call, "Pound it!"
Ladybug's Miraculous beeps, "Oops!" She looks at him a bit nervously, "Look, the kiss... I had to break the spell, or..."
Cat Noir gives her a confused look. "Kiss? What kiss?" He says as his miraculous flashes. Completely lost on what Ladybug is talking about.
"Look out, Cat Noir, your ring is flashing!" She says quickly.
"Uhh... yours too!" He responds.
Ladybug laughs, "We're about to turn into pumpkins, and personally, I'd rather not see that." She says as they run away in opposite directions.
~That Night~
Plagg laughs as Adrien groans at how he treated Ladybug today. He was horrible to her. "Hahaha! Can you believe all the horrible thoughtless things you said to Ladybug?" Plagg says as he eats his Camembert.
Adrien gave him a look, "You think it's funny, huh?"
Plagg laughs, "What's the big deal? You've got so many cards from all these lady fans of yours! Take your pick!" He says as he looks through them, "maybe one of them is from your crush" He says as he chooses, between all the cards and picks a heart-shaped one by tossing it to Adrien. It's a card from Marinette, although they don't know that.
Adrien sees the card and his eyes widen as he sees that someone responded to his poem. "Whoa, hold up! Someone answered my poem? But I threw it away!" He calls as he starts to read it aloud. "Your hair shines like the sun, your eyes are gorgeous green, I look at you and wonder your innermost thoughts and dreams. Yes, your Valentine I will be, our love will be so true, together for eternity, my heart belongs to you." He gasps.
"Aww, well, anyone who writes as sickeningly sweet as you must be your soulmate." Plagg declares.
Adrien looks at the card. "It isn't signed..." He says sadly. "Could it have come from Marinette?" He says as he smiles blissfully.
Plagg groans, "Oh, please."
