Adrienette and Lukagami

When Marinette and Adrien arrived, Kagami was there to meet them with no Luka insight. Kagami seemed tense, looking around for something or someone. Marinette smiled, "Hey who are you looking for?"

"Uh, no one. So do you bowl?"

"You never went bowling? Even Adrien has gone bowling and he is locked up mostly."

Adrien rubbed the back of his head as the group headed into the bowling alley. "This is my first time at a bowling alley too," he admitted. "I don't think a five pine in your bedroom counts. I know how to bowl, just never played a real game."

"Seriously, how much stuff is in your room?"

Adrien shrugged, "I don't know. I think my father put all that stuff in there so I would not have a reason to leave the house except for photoshoots. That was before I started going to school."

Marinette gave him a look of pity. "Well, I guess it's a good thing that you have a girlfriend who will force you to do fun stuff outside of your bedroom." Adrien grinned but before he could comment she shut him down, "Twist my words in the slightest and I will slap you." He closed his mouth.

The trio headed over to counter to sign in to collect their bowling shoes. "Agreste plus three."

Kagami stiffened, "Who else is coming?" Marinette and Adrien exchanged a knowing smile that clued her in. "You said Luka wasn't coming." She shot Adrien a hurt look.

He shrugged as they collected the shoes and headed to their lane, right at the end farthest from the door. This ensures Kagami wouldn't be able to escape once she realized they tricked her. "Not really, I just left out the fact that we didn't ask him yet." Kagami glared at him as they sat down. Marinette noticed Long zip under the table, letting Tikki and Plagg out her purse to join the dragon kwami. She knew Long hadn't had a permanent holder in a long time, so the other kwami's would be good for him.

As they were almost ready, Kagami caught sight of a blue sweater. "No, no, no. Not now, too soon. I'm gonna mess up and he will think I'm weird."

"And now I am getting flashbacks," Marinette groaned. "Just take a deep breath and relax. It will be okay."

Adrien waved at Luka getting his attention over to there spot. "Hey, Luka! Over here!" He smiled, grabbing his shoes and joining them. Kagami found something interesting on the ground while Marinette caught Sass zipping under the table.

Alya and Nino

After the class split up, they headed back to Alya's house. Once there, they started to write an email for Principle Damocles with the email from Lila's mom attached. This should be more than enough to get her expelled or at least punished by the adults. Neither of them brought up the hard truth that they would have to face once Lila was outed: they hurt Marinette by their own choice. Lila never told them to destroy her sketchbook, that was their plan. She was just an observer of the crime, making Nino and Alya the guilty party.

Once the email was sent, Alya couldn't take it anymore, bursting into tears, unable to control herself. Nino pulled her close, knowing what had made her cry. "We were manipulated," he reasoned.

"She, she was our best friend. She didn't have a bad bone in her body and we chose to destroy her life's work. She gave us everything and was there for us every time. But when she needed us, we turned our backs on her than stabbed her in the back." Alya couldn't even speak anymore, consumed in her grief and shame of what she had done.

"Then we try to make it up to her. There has to be something we can do." Nino held her tighter.

Alya only sniffed, "How can we even reach her? She switched schools and blocked our numbers. Her parents won't let us past the front counter. Adrien is just as distant now, he told you he doesn't want to be friends. What Nino? What can we do to change all that?"

Nino was only silent. After a while when Alya finally settled down, they got a reply. Principle Damocles had seen the evidence against Lila and promised to reach out to her parents to make his inquiries. Satisfied that Lila had no chance of squeezing out of this, they relaxed. Nino's phone set off, a message from his parents. "I need to watch Chris."

Alya sighed, "I have to watch Ella and Etta. I wish we could just hang out together."

"Why don't we all go bowling? I'll go home to grab Chris and meet you there." Alya nodded, smiling for the first time since they got back from the park. As Nino headed out, she set out to get the twins ready. Maybe she would feel better having some fun.

Adrienette and Lukagami

Marinette jumped in joy. "Strike!" Adrien and Luka laughed as Kagami gave a small smile. They were over halfway into the game, with Adrien and Marinette completing while Luka was losing points on purpose not get too far ahead of Kagami. She never knocked over all the pins, hitting the ones on the outside one at a time. Now it was her turn again.

Kagami got up unwillingly, "What's the point, I never get it to hit all the pins together!"

"It's all about technique," Marinette commented as she got a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Hey, Luka, why don't you help get in the right position and show her how to roll the ball properly. Adrien, could you be a wonderful boyfriend and give me a hand getting some food?" Without waiting for an answer she grabbed Adrien's hand and pulled him away from their startled friends.

Luka and Kagami looked at each other, not sure how to react being left together so suddenly. "So that happened," he commented. Kagami could only nod, not trusting herself to comment without stumbling over herself. "Do you want some help with your technique?" He offered, nervous at how she might react. She only nodded her head as she moved to get a ball. "Ok try holding it this way, your fingers positioned like this. Then when you move to throw it, arc your throw so it's lined up with the center pin, like this." He moved her arm the way he told her. Kagami's face was flushed red at the contacted, only capable of saying a simple okay. "Then release it at the lowest point of the arc so that it rolls smoothly and doesn't bounce.

Kagami took a deep breath, focusing on the positioning he told her. She threw the ball down the lane hitting the pins dead center, knocking every one of them down. "Yes!" She threw her arms around Luka in joy, but after a second realized what she did, apologizing for her sudden reaction.

Adrien laughed as he saw the mess Kagami became once left alone with Luka. "I never saw her lose her cool this way before." Marinette smiled as she retrieved their order, poutine which Adrien insisted on so Plagg would not complain about no cheese. "I thought you were kidding but it is a real thing."

"She is almost as bad as me when I fell for you. All they need a push and they will realize each other's feelings. If they keep being idiots, we will lock them in a closet and not let them out until they figure it out."

"Or one of them gets impatient or desperate and uses their miraculous to escape." Marinette wanted to glare at him but he had a point.

When they got back, Adrien commented on how close they were and asked what was up. Luka blushed and went back to the lane for his turn while Kagami put her head in her hands, radiating embarrassment. Marinette and Adrien took advantage of their distraction, putting some of the food on the ledge below the table for the kwamis below.

The group finished their game, Marinette just topping Adrien's score, while Luka and Kagami were both over a hundred points behind them. They watched as Marinette rubbed her victory in Adrien's face, laughing as he pretending that his pride was hurt. "We got enough time left for another game, why don't I give you a chance to try and top my score model boy."

"All right than fashion girl, but you are going to regret it." As Luka headed over to set the game up, Marinette caught sight of a group entering. Adrien saw the change in her expression and turned around to follow her gaze. Alya, Nino, and their younger siblings have just entered the bowling alley, signing in and getting settled at their lane. When Alya looked up, she made eye contact with them, shocked to see them here as well.

Adrien felt Marinette shiver against him, she was not okay. He needed to get her out of there and find out what was wrong. He looked over at Luka and Kagami, "You two should play that last game. We have to leave now. Sorry, have fun!" He turned and started to lead Marinette out, Plagg and Tikki phasing back into her purse.

Alya ran up to them, "Hey Adrien, Mari! I need to talk to you!"

Marinette clung tighter to Adrien as he leveled a glare on Alya, "We have to go, maybe another time." With that he led her out, ignoring Alya's pleas to speak with them.

"What just happened?" Luka asked.

"I don't think she is ready to face Alya or Nino just yet. The last time she saw them they destroyed her sketchbook. And got her akumatized."

"Juleka told me the same thing, but there is more isn't there?" he gave her a questioning look.

"I heard that Alya became an akuma and went after her. Even after Ladybug purified her, she still raged at Marinette." Kagami glared at the redhead, now heading over to Nino and the children that they brought. "In my book, she doesn't deserve Marinette's forgiveness or her friendship. If she tried to follow them just now, I wouldn't be able to hold myself back."

Luka was startled by the sudden seriousness and how defensive of Marinette she became all the sudden. "You wouldn't actually do anything bad right?"

Kagami looked him in the eye, "Marinette was my first real friend in a long time. She listens and trusts me. I intend to honor that by being there for her no matter what." She thought of the dragon necklace around her neck, the power it granted her. Her discipline and the trust that Ladybug had in her demanded to only use it for good, not revenge.

Luka nodded in agreement, also thinking of the snake bracelet he wore on his wrist. "I know what you mean." He turned back to the lane, "Let's allow Adrien to handle it. If he needs us he will call. For now, we still have a game left. Wanna try another round now that you know what you are doing?"

"Only if you stop missing on purpose." He was surprised thinking that she didn't notice. "Yes, I know you were doing it on purpose to be kind but I prefer someone who isn't afraid to do their best no matter what."

"I thought I was being a gentleman."

"No, you were faking. I don't like fakes." She gave him a serious look that slowly turned into a smile.

He smiled back at her, "Ok, but you asked for it, Belle Fleur." He smirked as she flushed at the nickname. Before she could comment, he spun around to take his turn.

Adrienette

They didn't talk until they were in Marinette's room. She was still shaking, laying against his chest on her chaise. "Mari, what happened?"

She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "When I saw, when I saw Alya I remembered everything. It all flashed backed. When she was an akuma and attacked me. Destroying my sketchbook and live streaming me becoming an akuma. Fighting everyone as Princess Justice and getting yelled at by everyone. It all came back at once like it was happening again." She clung tighter to him, his arms pulling her closer.

"You don't have to be afraid. You have overcome so much and I am always here for you no matter what happens."

Plagg flew out in front of them, "We are here for you too, Marinette." Adrien looked at him startled. "A kwami's first loyalty is to their chosen holder, but our true loyalty is to the guardian or future guardian in training," he explained.

"It does matter what mistakes you make and what haunts you. You are always going to be a hero, possibly one of the greatest we have ever seen." Tikki took a deep breath, 'I should tell them it's almost time for the next step as holders of the miraculous. But it may be too soon.' Plagg gave her a warning glance, knowing her thoughts. Letting a holder know of increased abilities too early had lead to disastrous situations in the past. One even led to the formation of the guardians to ensure it won't happen again. Marinette and Adrien may be the perfect yin and yang for them but better safe than sorry.

It's just I lost control, I became the akuma. If I didn't get rid of my earrings, you would have been able to purify the akuma. What would have happened then?"

"He would have to cataclysm it." Plagg's expression went to one of disgust. "The butterfly would have to die to ensure Hawkmoth doesn't win. When Ladybug is akumatized, the threat level is worldwide destruction."

"The butterflies are innocent like Nooroo, being corrupted by Hawkmoth for his evil," Tikki added. "They are also victims which is why we never told you to kill one. But this is an extreme measure only.

Marinette rests her head against Adrien. All of it was too much. She didn't react until today, seeing Alya triggered it inside of her. "I didn't feel innocent when I was akumatized. I remember feeling good, happy has I hurt them. Threatening and toying with them."

"That's not the real you. Only the evil inside of you that never exists. You were akumatized out of pain, not anger. You are good Marinette, you are a hero, not the villain. Nothing can change that because you are kind, thoughtful, brilliant not to mention beautiful. Doesn't matter if you are wearing spots or pink. Your Ladybug and the best thing that ever happened to me."

Marinette stared at him stunned by the sudden confession. She smiled, then pulled his head down, kissing him. He kissed her back, pulling her close.

Unknown to them, Tikki dragged Plagg away before he could interrupt with a rude comment. They kept kissing for some time, But when they eventually pulled away Adrien was only able to say, "Wow." Marinette smiled, blushing.

"At least you get to remember this one."

Volpina

Volpina landed on a rooftop near Chloe's parents' hotel. She spotted the spoiled brat that Hawkmoth was interested in recruiting. However before he proposes his offer to her, he wanted Chloe's anger against Ladybug to increase. "Mirage!" her illusion landed on Chloe's roof, still unnoticed. Perfect.

Chloe

She sat on her balcony, still in a mess from everything. She had everything taken away from her, her one true friend Ladybug left her. As if things couldn't get worse, an angry Ladybug appeared. "Who do you think you are? A hero? No, you're a spoiled brat and a bully. You caused more akuma's then you helped stop. You got even Sabrina, the one person who tries to be your friend, akumatized not once but twice. You are no hero, you are a villain just as bad as Hawkmoth. Even when you first got a miraculous you got akumatized and almost lost it to him." Ladybug's rant hit Chloe deep, causing Chloe to cower in fear at the anger she radiated. "You think you are on the path to redemption? You were never worth giving the chance to redeem yourself. Making you a hero is the one mistake I ever made. I should have let Stoneheart kill you. Maybe then we would have defeated Hawkmoth without you holding us back." With that Ladybug swung off, leaving Chloe broken.

How could her idol do that? What did she do to deserve this? Chloe sat there, anger, fear, and confusion all raging inside her. Ladybug was no friend of hers no more.

Max

Max was hacking into a government-owned security network. If he got caught, he would go to prison for life. But if he succeeded, he may find out who stole the Fox miraculous from Alya. The screen lit green, signaling his success. Cheering quietly, he accesses the cameras at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, there was no camera on the level Alya fell to, so no footage of the theft. But another piece of footage caught his eyes: Mister Bug holding a crying Marinette, his earrings beeping. Max gasped, this could be the reveal of Chat Noir's identity.

But before the transformation wore off, a white-gloved hand slammed the laptop shut. "No spoilers." Max looked up, surprised by the sudden appearance of Bunnix, looking tired and frustrated. "Took me a while, but I finally found the source of the time quake: you."

"Time quake?"

"When a disaster has a huge effect, it shakes the timeline. You going public with what you see here causes one." When Max gave her a questioning look she clarifies, "At one point the sixty-sixty seals were broken and the devil himself got akumatized. Made life Hell, literally. So hand me the laptop so I can wipe this footage and the future will remain intact."

"But can I see his identity at least?"

"No, then I would have to erase your memory and believe me that tech is not reliable. Give me the laptop." Max handed over the laptop, disappointed. Bunnix quickly tapped some keys, then stratified with her handiwork gave it back. "No telling others what you have seen. Or I will find you and drop you in the age of the dinosaurs."

"Wait, who stole the Fox miraculous?"

Bunnix looked back at him just before she entered her burrow, "Spoilers."