Sorry for those of you who gave me suggestions and never got an answer. Fanfiction is eating the reviews again so they won't show up for a day or so I imagine. That's how it worked out last time anyway. Someone mentioned Marinette having good luck vibes or something, well you're right on the nose! BTW, this is officially my most popular Miraculous fic WHOOOOO! Now, on with the show!=^-^=

Ch.4 - Bad Luck's Fail-safe

The next two weeks at school were peaceful. Only two in the building knew why, but everyone else just took it as things calming down. "Lila sent me a picture from the refugee camp she's helping to fund-raise for." Rose exclaimed as she entered the room. Alya immediately went over to look while Adrien rolled his eyes in the back of the room.

The peace was gone. He couldn't help lamenting it internally. Even when she wasn't around, Lila still found a way to have the class fawning over her. He looked over to his right to see Marinette's empty seat. "She must be running late again."

"She usually is." He turned to see Alya suddenly right next to him. The expression on her face told him it wasn't a simple hello. "Can I talk to you about something before she gets here?"

"Sure, Alya. What's up?"

Alya pulled a crumpled up paper from her back pocket. "It's about Marinette and Lila."

It took everything Adrien had not to frown at the mention. "Lila? But she's been gone for the last few weeks."

Alya nodded. "Yeah, and I was hoping Marinette would work out her issues with Lila right away but well..." She sighed. "Anyway, could you maybe help? I've been holding onto the design Marinette threw away while waiting for her to come around. I thought it would be easier if I could give Marinette the design so she could return it with an apology."

Adrien let out a sigh. He knew Alya was just trying to be helpful. She didn't hate Marinette, they were best friends after all. He just wished she wasn't so blind. Heck the whole class was blind really. He then took the sketch and unfolded it. The practiced lines were obviously done with a skilled hand, which only made Lila's story even more ridiculous. Even people with a talent don't start being good on their first try. His fingers brushed over the uneven edge of the paper as he thought back to what Marinette told him. "Before I help, can you tell me something? When did Lila draw this?"

The question was a bit surprising, but Alya didn't see any harm. "Uh... hmm, it's been about a month, but if I remember right, Lila said she sketched it on the plane home from that charity with Prince Ali."

Adrien couldn't help the slight smirk at hearing that. "On the plane huh?" There was no way Lila could work around this. "Alright, I'll help you out with the problem between Marinette and Lila. When Marinette comes in, I'll bring it up. It'll probably be better if we're both here to talk to her though." The blond reasoned with a smile.

"Sure, thanks, Adrien." Alya was relieved Adrien decided to help. She really missed talking with Marinette, and the last few times she tried... it got awkward.

"Alya?" She turned to find Marinette just a few feet away holding her bag pensively.

She leaned around to see Adrien who waved her over with a small smile. "Come on, Marinette, Alya and I want to talk to you about something." The young designer sat down in her new normal seat without a word. Adrien could see how tense she was. The air between them has been tense for weeks, especially when Nino wasn't around. "Before I start, can I see your sketch book?" Adrien winked at Alya as a sign he was starting. The reporter nodded as she stood by him to look over and join in with support.

"Uh, sure, Adrien..." She pulled it out and the model slid it over to his side of the desk.

"Alya was just reminding me of this issue you had with Lila and a design. I know how important your designs are to you... that was when again?"

Alya took a moment to count. "The 9th, I'm pretty sure."

Adrien looked at the dates on the sketches to find the page he was looking for. "Right, and so you more than anyone know how it's terrible for someone to mess with your designs." Marinette took in a sharp breath as she turned away from them. Adrien wasn't trying to upset her, but he knew this needed to be done. "Here we go. Alya feels you should apologize to Lila for throwing her design away." Though Adrien was addressing Marinette, he was looking at Alya. His smile was gone, and it was replaced with a cold gaze. Alya was confused as he showed the torn stub left from a missing page. He then pulled the crumpled sketch out and placed it in the gap. The edge matched perfectly. "After all, you and Alya are friends. You shouldn't let a little misunderstanding stand in the way." Alya's confusion fell away as she finally realized Adrien wasn't actually talking to Marinette. "You know each other better than anyone right?"

"T-that's..." Alya started before the horror finally hit her. She knew that was the same sketch Lila had shown her before. She'd grabbed it immediately after Marinette threw it away so there's no possible way it was changed. She took a step back before rushing out of the room as if being chased by a demon of some kind. Adrien watched not entirely surprised. If it worked out, then Alya will understand, and if it didn't? Well, Alya has enough sense to see reason. He shouldn't have to worry about it.

He then turned around and placed a hand on Marinette's shoulder. "It's okay, Marinette, I know how it sounded, but I was just showing Alya something." Marinette turned to him looking torn and possibly close to tearing up. "I promise, Mari. You know I'll believe you no matter what." He gave her a smile and she nodded before taking a calming breath.

"Yes... I know." She smiled back genuinely and he felt the peace return.

Tikki dashed into Adrien's bag about halfway through class. She was sure everyone's attention was on the front so she wouldn't get caught. "Plagg!" She whisper yelled as she dug through the boy's bag. "Get out here! I know what you did!"

The grumpy kwami popped out of an inner pocket in surprise. "S-Sugar Cube... Uh, how's it going?"

Tikki scowled at him. "You used your bad luck charm on Lila didn't you?"

Plagg looked anywhere but at the red kwami. "What? What would give you that idea?" Tikki gave him a dead pan stare for about a minute before he cracked. "Okay fine! Yes, but you know why I did it. My chosen are dangerous when they get really angry, and that Lila girl was getting the kid all riled up. I had to do it for his safety." Plagg explained with his paws in a begging position. "You understand right, Tikki? That girl needed some karma! Did you want her to keep abusing your chosen?"

Tikki rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Of course not, but did you tell him the risks?"

"I told him about the two times things went bad when he asked. Besides, you can stop it if it gets out of hand. Plus, Marinette is enjoying the extra good luck isn't she?"

Tikki couldn't stop the smirk that rose to her face. The luck was coming out as lots of extra time with Adrien, and Marinette was over the moon. She didn't know it was the effect of the converse good luck, but she didn't really need to. "Okay, but what about everyone else? What if someone gets caught up in the bad luck?"

Plagg waved it off. "You worry too much. Those other kids are figuring it out." Tikki raised a brow. "Okay, maybe they aren't actually avoiding her yet, but they are noticing her weird string of bad luck. I'm sure it'll work out." He placated with a confident expression.

Tikki rolled her eyes again. "I'm going to tell my chosen about this, and if she wants to end it, it will end."

Plagg scoffed. "As if she'll want Lila to have good luck."

"Don't underestimate her Plagg." Tikki countered but Plagg still didn't look worried.

"Chat Noir is causing it!?" Marinette questioned a little too loudly even for her room.

"Shh! Calm down, Marinette." Tikki implored as she looked towards the hatch door. "Yes."

Marinette looked bewildered but took a calming breath. "How? I thought his power was destruction?"

Tikki sat down on the desk when she didn't hear any steps approaching. "Yes, but he can also wield bad luck. Remember, he and I are opposites. Creation for destruction, so good luck for bad luck."

"My Lucky Charm?" Tikki shook her head.

"Not quite. It's not really an ability like that. Both he and I have passive abilities that let us influence karma. Plagg will deny it, but he's the reason why black cats crossing your path mean bad luck. In order to activate his ability he needs to cross a target person's path. Previous Chat Noirs have used this ability as an outlet for negative emotions."

Marinette raised a brow. "So what? Magical stress relief?"

"You could call it that." Tikki agreed with a shrug. "It's dangerous for Plagg's chosen to get too angry or depressed, so Plagg will sometimes share this ability since it redirects the energy of the negative emotions. It's saved dozens of previous holders to be sure." Marinette still looked surprised about the whole thing. Why would Chat Noir go that far? Sure, she knew Lila had interfered and even caused several akumas but so has Chloe even if she didn't actually mean to. "I want you to understand, Marinette, although there were extenuating circumstances, this ability has caused people to die."

The designer brought her hands over her mouth with a gasp. "Lila could die!?" Her surprise was panic for all of 2 seconds before she became serious and calm. "No, Tikki, how do we stop it?"

Tikki smiled up proudly at her chosen. Lila was terrible to her, and yet she was still worried about her. "Well, if Chat Noir stops feeling negative emotions for her then it will stop, but you can make it permanent." Tikki went over to a stack of paper and pulled one out along with a pen. "You see, my passive ability is good luck, like I said earlier. When transformed, it's concentrated in the suit to be released with your Lucky Charm, and Miraculous Cure abilities. While wearing my Miraculous as a civilian, however, it extends around you. It's for this same reason that Chat Noir having strong negative emotions is bad." She drew out a stick figure with some wavy lines and a few other stick figures near them. "The bad luck will come out around Plagg's chosen the same way. That's why I can't really fault Plagg for doing it. Whenever he does, I leave it up to my Ladybug to decide to stop it."

Tikki gave her a sad look and Marinette pat her head with her fingers. "I understand, Tikki, but I don't get this." She pointed to the picture. "I'm a total klutz out of the suit, and I mess things up all the time." Adrien's birthday for example...

Tikki smiled and pointed to the picture. "Well, like I said, it extends around you. When you give off positive emotions as Marinette, those feelings give good luck to the people around you that cause those feelings."

Marinette's eyes widened at that. "I'm giving people good luck?"

Tikki nodded. "Yup, you're a walking good luck charm to your friends and loved ones. This balance is why mine and Plagg's chosen are always in the same place. There can't be too much bad luck or good luck in one place."

"To keep the balance right?"

"Uh-huh, and that's why if you want to stop it, it has to be as Marinette. It's not all that complicated, but it can be depending on the situation."

"What do you mean by that?" Marinette asked before it dawned on her. "Wait... I don't like Lila."

"Exactly, and to counter Plagg's ability on her you have to sincerely wish her good luck."

The designer let her head drop to the desk. "That's impossible! I really don't want her to get hurt, but I doubt I could sincerely wish her anything good!"

Her groaning was expected. Tikki didn't care for her either, but she knew what to do. "You can help it out with a catalyst." Marinette looked up. "Create something while thinking of giving her that luck. It'll be easier if she's not right in front of you. Then give it to her and wish her good luck. Even if your feelings falter a bit, the item should dispel Plagg's bad luck as long as she accepts it." Tikki watched as Marinette mulled it over.

She didn't look completely convinced but she eventually nodded. "I will at least try. Even if Lila is a terrible person, she doesn't deserve to get hurt or..."

"I know Marinette, so let's get to work."

Chat Noir sat quietly on a beam of the Eiffel Tower. Ladybug had called to meet instead of patrol, and he was hoping for something more romantic. He really should have known better. "Chat Noir, I'm not mad at you." Ladybug crouched down to sit next to him. "Tikki explained how it worked, and I know you did it for all the right reasons."

Chat glanced at her with a weak smile. "I just didn't want to watch Marinette be targeted like that. I wanted to keep her away you know? Plagg assured me it wouldn't get out of hand."

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "And Plagg wasn't lying to you. The power itself doesn't, but sometimes consequences go farther than we see. I don't want anyone's blood on your paws, Kitty."

Chat smiled more as he looked at his lady. "I understand Ladybug, and... wait... did you just make a cat pun?"

Ladybug nodded with a teasing smirk. "Yes, do you feel better? If I'm gonna fix this, I don't want you getting all depressed on me, Kitty." She popped his bell and stood up. "Besides, I'm sure if Marinette knew what you did for her, she'd be thanking you Chaton. Just do me a favor?"

"Anything, Milady." Chat responded as he stood up as well.

"Next time you feel like turning to this power, give me a warning? We're partners, so don't hold it in." She then gave him a quick salute before swinging away.

So yes, Marinette is a walking faunt of good luck! If Lila wasn't such a bitch, she'd be able to benefit from knowing such a wonderful person herself. (Despite her stalker like tendencies.) So who thinks Lila's gonna mess up this golden opportunity Marinette's way too nice to give her? Yeah, I know. LOL. Anyway, please put any questions and comments in a review. Please and thank you!=^-^=