A Year in Review…

Author's Note: How goes it, everyone? Here is that bonus content I promised.

The Death of Chat Noir is an alternate premiere for season 3. This is how the rest of that fanfic season would've gone. It starts counting from "episode 1", but if there were episodes you love from the real season 3, pretend they're all in the first half of the season, and that my episode 1 takes over after the midseason break or something…

Anyway, here you go…

Episode 1 – Chat Blanc (aka chapters 1-4 of this fic)

Chat Noir is akumatized, and after an unfortunate series of events, he transforms back at the wrong time and nearly dies. The episode ends with Plagg sacrificing himself to save Adrien.

Ep. 2 – Tangler (aka chapter 5-9 of this fic)

Ladybug loses one of her earrings during a fight against Mayura and Tangler. That night, Marinette is guilt-tripping, and she concludes that none of the day's disasters would've happened if not for her crush on Adrien. Determined to get over it, she burns all her pictures of him.

Well, almost all.

She saves one of her, Adrien, Alya, and Nino posing in front of the LB and CN statue in the park.

The "New Chat Noir" sees her crying on her balcony and goes to comfort her, and in the end, she manages to comfort him.

Ep. 3 -

Tikki is still in bad shape, so Master Fu gives Marinette the Dog Miraculous to use until Tikki can transform again. ("Barkk, time to howl!")

But WAIT! Only Ladybug can capture and purify akumas. When Chat Noir and "Howler" stop the villain, there is nothing they can do to prevent the akuma from multiplying and infecting others. Chat thinks fast and uses his cataclysm on it, destroying the akuma.

That solves one problem, but leaves another: Without LB, they can't repair the damage left after the fight, so Chat and Howler stay to help people clean up the wreckage. The pair get to talking, and for some reason, Marinette/Howler doesn't tell Chat that she's really Ladybug with a different Miraculous. Instead, she claims that Ladybug gave her the Dog Miraculous to help Chat until Ladybug comes back.

"Until Ladybug comes back?" Chat repeats. "Comes back from where? If Ladybug was leaving Paris, you'd think she'd tell me herself," he says. From his perspective, it looks like Ladybug disappeared, leaving him with a rookie to train and to defend the city.

The longer Adrien thinks about it, the angrier he gets. It's one more strike against her in his book. He already blames her for breaking his heart, for losing her Miraculous, and most importantly for what happened to Plagg. (Logically, he knows none of that is her fault, but that doesn't stop him from wondering why he ever crushed on her in the first place). In his rage, he deletes all his pictures of her off his phone.

Well, almost all.

He saves one with Marinette, him, Alya, and Nino posing in front of the LB & CN statue in the park. Looking at the picture, he decides to go talk to Marinette again. The episode ends with them chatting on her balcony

Ep. 4

In school, Adrien tries to get close to Marinette, but she shuts him down. In fact, she says she wants nothing to do with him. When Alya asks her about it, Marinette claims she's over him. Later that day, someone gets akumatized, and the city's heroes go out to face him.

Tikki isn't 100%, but she can transform briefly, so for the first time in weeks Ladybug goes out to fight. In the middle of the battle, she tries to flirt with Chat Noir, but her partner is having none of it, telling her that he's over her.

The battle continues, and LB summons her Lucky Charm. As soon as the Charm falls into her hands, her earring starts beeping erratically. She barely makes it behind a column before transforming back. Tikki is too weak to transform again, so Marinette puts the Dog Collar on and goes back out as "Howler."

Together, Howler and Chat defeat the villain. But when Ladybug doesn't return to purify the akuma, Chat just cataclysms it.

Once again, there is no LB to restore the city's damage.

Ep. 5 – Crown Jewel

In this episode, Hawkmoth akumatizes a jewel thief, granting them the power of teleportation. Now known as "Crown Jewel," she leads CN and LB on a chase all over Paris before Ladybug summons her Lucky Charm to lay a trap.

Just like in the preceding episode, Marinette has to de-transform immediately after using her Charm. Switching into Howler, she comes back to help CN stop Crown Jewel. An advantage of the Dog Miraculous is the ability to track anyone anywhere. ("Paw prints!") There are certain restrictions, such as needing to start with something the target has touched, but against a teleporter, it is very useful.

In the end, Chat Noir cataclysms ANOTHER akuma, and this time the audience sees a tiny wisp drift back to the jewel thief and absorb into her skin.

The episode ends with another Marichat scene. Perched on Marinette's railing, Chat idly compares Ladybug to Howler and Marinette, oblivious that all three are the same person. (Hey, the only thing better than a love square between two people is a love PENTAGON)

To Marinette's surprise, Chat says he prefers her (and even Howler) to his actual partner because Marinette and Howler are reliable. He knows they will be there for him when he needs them. Marinette defends Ladybug at first, before taking a risk. She decides to tell Chat Noir the truth.

She confesses that she is… Howler. "I'm new," Marinette lies, "I'm inexperienced. Ladybug doesn't want me getting involved unless she really needs me…"

"Which lately is always."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do." His face breaks into a true smile. "And what is more, I'm glad it's you, Marinette. In fact, I couldn't imagine anyone better to get a Miraculous." The last scene is the pair standing hand in hand in the moonlight.

Ep. 6 – Volpina 2

At school, kids are getting wise to Lila's tall tales.

When one of her lies is exposed publicly, she runs out of the classroom crying. Hawkmoth senses her frustration and sends her an akuma.

As Volpina, Lila uses illusions to make all her lies appear true. First, Prince Ali sends her roses to convince her to come back to him. Then, XY's manager begs her to be in his next music video. It goes on and on.

Most of the class regrets doubting Lila, but Marinette and Adrien see through the ruse. They spot Volpina and chase her down. Marinette/Howler tracks Volpina, and Chat Noir cataclysms her akuma.

Again, the audience sees what the heroes do not, a tiny ember drifting back to Lila and absorbing into her skin.

Ep. 7

This one is simple. A sentimonster gets its hands (paws? Tentacles?) on its own amok and develops sentience. It defies Mayura and befriends the heroes. Mayura and Hawkmoth team up to retake control of the sentimonster. When that fails, they destroy it instead.

Ep. 8 – Chameleon

Ladybug is officially back!

… with one glaring exception. She still can't "Miraculous Ladybug" the damage away after a battle. Fortunately, when Ladybug purifies Lila's akuma, anyone still asleep wakes up.

That night, Chat visits Marinette to break the bad news to her. "You probably heard, but Ladybug isn't having transformation problems anymore."

"Yeah. She already came to take back the Dog Miraculous," Marinette lies.

"She thinks the city doesn't need 'Howler' anymore, but if I'm being honest, I'm going to miss having you out there with us."

"Come on, Chat, I'll still be there, er, um, in spirit. Besides this is for the best. Ladybug is your partner, after all."

"Yeah, I guess, but, Purrincess…

"Yes?"

Chat looks her in the eye. "I prefer you."

Ep. 9

Adrien/Chat is still a bit sore about losing Marinette as a partner. It is just one more thing to ruin his already difficult life. At the start of the episode, he is having a particularly bad day when his power slips. He touches a book, and it crumbles into dust.

Adrien is horrified. As far as he is concerned that shouldn't be possible. He isn't even Chat Noir right now. He's Adrien, but he still used a cataclysm without meaning to. In his fear, he runs to find a private place to hide.

Nino sees Adrien dart out of class, and he goes to check on him. Still in a panic, Adrien accidentally uses his power in front of Nino, and feels there is no recourse but to tell his friend everything.

To his surprise, Nino takes it very well. Later, in the episode when a classmate gets akumatized, it's Nino who helps Adrien slip away to transform.

Ep. 10 – Jewel Heist

The episode begins with a news report showing that the jewel thief arrested in the episode "Crown Jewel" has escaped police custody. Marinette watches the clip as she gets ready for school, but since there's no mention of akumas or supervillains, she concludes the police can handle this without her.

Cut to the school courtyard, where Adrien and Nino speak in hushed tones under the steps.

"Bro, you sure you're ok?"

"Nino, I'm fine. There hasn't been another 'accident' in a while. You can stop worrying about me."

"Yeah, I could… except being a friend comes with responsibilities. Sorry, bro, but if you won't admit when you need help, I'll just have to keep checking in on you."

"Checking in on who?" someone interrupts. The boys turn to see Alya arrive with Marinette.

Adrien fumbles for a cover story, but Nino has his back. "Checking to see when Adrien's pops will let him out of the house. Old man Gabriel really needs to lighten up, am I right?"

Alya buys it, and we see Adrien relax. Further, Adrien smiles. It has been a while since someone looked out for him like that (an overbearing father and household staff do NOT count.) Going on, Nino suggests they all meet up at the Museum to work on a homework assignment, and the others agree.

At the museum, we get a little humor as Adrien tries to flirt with Marinette. The audience can tell that she isn't over her crush, but she is determined to resist the old feelings that keep rushing back.

The adorable fluff is cut short when a figure in black appears to steal a jewel-studded artifact. Marinette and Adrien jump into action (Nino even covers for Adrien, so he can get away without making Alya suspicious.).

From there, the episode proceeds with Chat Noir and Ladybug chasing after a teleporting thief. They snatch off her goggles and jacket, searching for the akuma, but they don't find it in either. They later see the black butterfly hovering near the thief, and they split up. Ladybug captures the akuma, while Chat ties up the escaping thief.

"Sorry," he tells her, "the akuma can't get you out of jail this time." To his surprise the perp starts laughing. "Did I miss something?"

"That nasty bug never touched me," Jewel says, "It certainly didn't get me out of prison."

"Then, how did you escape?"

"Like this." The woman vanishes, and the ropes holding her fall uselessly to the ground. The woman reappears 20 paces away lounging casually against a wall. She blows them a kiss before disappearing altogether.

It occurs to Ladybug and Chat Noir that this woman had teleportation powers before Hawkmoth akumatized her, but the better question is where did she get them from? Technology? Magic? A Miraculous? Innate superpowers? There was no way to know until Ladybug and Chat Noir crossed paths with her again.

Ep. 11 – Ladybug (Part 1)

Marinette is having an awful day.

Public opinion has turned on Ladybug and Chat Noir ever since Ladybug lost the power to restore damage after a fight. Meanwhile Marinette is so busy as Ladybug that she doesn't have much time for studying, so her grades are slipping.

The last straw comes when Lila claims she had a big date with Chat Noir last night.

Marinette is furious, and Hawkmoth tries to exploit it. He sends an akuma, but Marinette manages to resist him. Not the sort to waste an akuma, Hawkmoth sends the butterfly to someone else: This time, Alya.

Guilt overwhelms Marinette as she transforms.

Sensing Ladybug's distraught flurry of emotions, Mayura sends out an amok to weaponize the heroine's feelings. Hawkmoth is surprised that an amok works on Ladybug, but Mayura makes the comment, "Many can control their choices, but no one can control what they feel."

While Chat Noir and Ladybug help Alya, the sentimonster "Ladybug" is born.

Ep. 12 – Faux-bug ("Ladybug" Part 2)

The sentimonster "Ladybug" embodies Marinette's guilt and frustrations. The Faux-Bug shouts from the rooftops that she has 'failed her city.' She tells everyone that she lost one of her Miraculous, that she failed her partner, and the list goes on…

"I do not deserve your trust," she tells the people of Paris, "stop looking to me to save you. Sooner or later I'm only going to let you down."

News drones record her speech to air on tv, and when Adrien sees it, he rushes to help his partner.

Chat Noir tells Ladybug (or the sentimonster he THINKS is Ladybug) that she isn't to blame for her so-called failings. "The attacks on Paris are Hawkmoth's doing. Losing your earring? That was not your fault. None of this was."

"Yes, it is."

"No," he says. "Ladybug, you do not need forgiveness, but if you'd like, you can have mine." He adds, "I am more to blame than anyone. I blamed you because it was easier than looking in the mirror and admitting that what happened to Plagg was MY fault. If anyone has failed Paris, it's me. Ladybug, can YOU forgive me?"

The sentimonster turns away dramatically, "Chat, you have every right to hate me. Don't lie. All Paris knows how you feel."

"Ladybug, I was angry at what happened, but I could never hate you. After everything we've been through together, you mean the world to me. I love you." he says, reaching for her.

The sentimonster turns back to him, letting him take her hand (slowly angling for his ring). "You love me? After everything that's happened, you still love me?"

"Yes, Ladybug, I do. During these past few months, I've finally fallen in love with someone else, but one part of my heart still belongs to you. And it always will." He steps closer, and the sentimonster does the same. Tilting her head back, she brings her lips close…

Just in time for the real Ladybug to wrap a yo-yo around her waist and yank her away.

The battle commences.

After defeating the sentimonster, Chat goes home. He can't believe he bared his soul to a sentimonster instead of his partner or Marinette or even Nino. It's the first time, he has to face the fact that he still has feelings for LB. He could've sworn he was over her. And with so many camera drones around, all Paris got to witness his humiliation. He simply wants to curl up into a ball and die.

The last thing he wants to do is face anyone, so he lets his phone go to voicemail seven times before finally answering Nino's calls. "What?" Adrien demands.

"You're in love with Ladybug? Dude, I thought you were into Marinette."

"It's… complicated."

"Bro, 'complicated' is the theme of your life. I've got time. Start talking."

The friends talk, and Nino finally convinces Adrien to go talk to Marinette.

While Adrien is convinced that she will never forgive him, Marinette confesses that she knows exactly how he feels. The pair works things out and plan their first date.

Just before the end, Marinette and Chat Noir share their first real kiss

(well, at least, the first that Chat remembers)…

Author's Note: I have no clue what the Dog Miraculous actually does, but hey, this is my headcanon