So here is the first part of an episode like story. Its way to big to put as a one shot so TADA! No worries though it will be posting every three days until I get to the end of this one. I really really enjoyed writing this so I hope you all enjoy it too. Oh and thanks to those people that reviewed and followed and stuff. You all blew up my email and I loved every moment of it lol. So without further nonsense on to the story!

A plant akuma attacks Paris drawing the superhero duo into a battle that will change their lives forever. Rated T just to be safe.

Oh yeah I forgot this last time... I dont own this show.

The Meaning of Marigolds

Her name was Mary and she was a normal happy little 6 year old girl. At least she was a happy little girl until her mom had ended up in the hospital due to an accident. She had been distraught over it until her teacher had come up with a brilliant idea. Since Mary often talked of how she gardened with her mom she had every one bring in a small flower pot and had given each child a random seed for them to take care of. Out of every ones Marys had done the best growing swift and strong as the days went by mirroring her moms recovery in the hospital. She had overheard the doctor say her mom might be able to come home soon and she was excited to be able to show her mom the tiny blossom at the end of the week. Knowing how much Mary related the tiny plants well being with her moms recovery her teacher wrote out a special pass with a smile. The children were supposed to keep their plants at school for safe keeping but she wanted Mary to bring it to the hospital so she could show her mom its progress that day on her lunch break. Little Mary was practically overflowing with joy as she made her way home from school on her lunch break skipping past the park where the older children played. She forgot to be alert as she passed the park her mind all tangled up in how proud her mom was going to be. Usually she had to be alert when she passed the park because sometimes the boys in the park were mean to her. After a small run of bad luck the boys had dubbed her Marigold, which normally wouldn't be a bad thing but because little Mary liked gardening and flowers she knew that the meaning of Marigolds were misfortune. It annoyed her but her mom had always taught her to turn the other cheek so that's what she did.

Until today.

Today they had gone too far and now she was kneeling by her broken pot that had 4 Mommy written on it, clutching the limp blossom in her hands as tears silently slipped down her cheeks. She didn't notice the black butterfly land on her limp plant nor did she notice the boys still laughing at her distraught form. She did take notice of the smooth warm voice that seemed to echo as if it came over a vast distance.

"Little Marigold. Those boys are so cruel. I can help you take revenge. I can help you grow a magnificent garden to show your mother. All you have to do is bring me the Miraculous. How does that sound little Marigold?"

"Yes Please." Little Mary answered and the darkness consumed her.

Marinette aka Ladybug was on her lunch break. She really loved having the ability to go home and eat or nap as she pleased. Living above a bakery meant she always had fresh snacks and sweets many of which she stored in her purse for her kwami Tiki.

"Oh Tiki I don't want to go back to school." Marinette said stretching out on her lounger in the sun. It was a perfect day not too hot or cold with a light pleasant breeze.

Tiki giggled floating just above her charges shoulder. "I'm not surprised! Its such a nice day it's a shame to have to go back indoors."

Marinette groaned as her alarm on her phone went off telling her that she needed to start heading back to school if she didn't want to be late. Slowly she climbed to her feet with a sigh. "Maybe I will have the courage to ask Adrien to the botanical garden this Friday."

"You will have to get to school first!" Tiki replied earning herself another groan from Marinette before diving into her purse. Marinette was out the door moments later bookbag in hand and she made it to school on time getting there even before her friend Alya. She sighed as her crush Adrien walked in talking to Nino and blushed fiercely as he asked "Did you have a good lunch Marinette?"

She nodded her heart fluttering wildly and managed to stutter out "Y-yep all good. Did you lunch eat… I mean lunch…" her voice trailed off in a squeak as he beamed a smile her way.

"My lunch was pretty normal." He answered good naturedly having become more accustomed to her inability to speak coherent sentences around him. Marinette nodded jerkily and Adrien had to hide a smile. He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy seeing Marinette so tongue tied. She was so darn cute blushing like that. As an echoing blush started in his own cheeks he had to turn away thanking the fact their teacher chose that moment to walk into class. The bell rang moments later and as the class quieted down their teacher got out the needed supplies for that lesson before finally looking up as silence settled over the room.

"Welcome back class. We will be continuing… Yes Marinette?" their teacher asked pausing mid sentence.

"Um Alya hasn't come back yet. May I call her and make she hasn't overslept or something?" Marinette asked.

Their teacher nodded and Marinette darted out the door phone in hand and on what looked like a video of some sort. A strange niggling in the back of Adriens mind made him pull his own phone out from under the desk and scroll to a favorite site called the Ladyblog that Alya ran. A new video was posted and he watched in horror as a live feed of vines taking over down town played on the tiny screen. He stood up so fast his chair slammed to the ground causing the whole room to jump and the teacher to whirl on him.

"Mr Agreste!" she cried flabbergasted by his actions.

Adrien barely heard her, his attention solely focused on the little screen before him. Plants were coming to life and the riot of green was coming their way. Ladybug would need his help!

"I… I mean we… that is…" Adrien managed still eyeing the screen with growing horror.

Nino stared at his friend wondering what on earth had happened. It was rare to see his friend fail, and so spectacularly at that. In the next moment he didn't have to wonder though because over the speakers came the principals voice issuing and alert.

"There seems to be a wall of plant life attacking downtown and it is no longer safe on these premises. Please exit in an orderly fashion and head away from the downtown area."

Adrien was up and over the desk in a moment darting out the door before his friend could think to call after him. He made his way up to the roof managing to get to the third floor before the halls became mobbed with dozens of students and teachers.

"Plagg… PLAGG!" he called jiggling his coat pocket roughly until the tiny kwamis head poked up from his pocket.

"What? I was having a nice nap…" the Kwami complained yawning.

"No more time for napping Plagg there's an akuma on the loose we've got to help Ladybug! Claws out!" Adrien snapped and transformed as Plagg was sucked into his ring.

The transformation took mere seconds and then he was leaping from rooftop to rooftop watching for any sign of his lady. As he headed towards the center of town vines came to life attacking from every angle and more than once he was forced to use his claws to break some poor person free of the clinging vines. He was starting to panic though he still hadn't found Ladybug though her could practically feel she was nearby. Finally he spotted her in a small square fighting to free herself from several vines that had blocked off the usual exits. She was wielding her yoyo like a weed-whacker as she spun it round her petite form to keep the vines off her. From his vantage point he could tell she had no way out. She couldn't use her yoyo to escape because the moment it stops spinning the vines would swarm her. Running was out of the question too because other than the small circle surrounding her feet vines had covered every other inch of space in the courtyard. Biting his lip Chat looked around and after a moment spotted a cord that spanned the distance over the courtyard. Hoping his luck would hold just once he slashed through the cord and swung out over the space like Tarzan.

"My Lady!" he cried as he swung right at her.

Ladybug glanced up and timing it perfectly leapt straight up keeping her yoyo spinning beneath her to keep the attacking vines from ensnaring her. Chats free arm slid around her waist and she covered their backs as he landed on the rooftops. Keeping his hold on her Chat darted away from a thicket that sprang straight up through the roof pulling her along with him as the vines tried to capture them.

"I've heard the phrase 'growing like a weed' but this is ridiculous!" Chat said and Ladybug groaned as she shoved him out of the way of a particularly thorny bramble.

"Focus you silly cat, unless you want to become fertilizer!" Ladybug snapped slashing her way through several vines though they were quickly becoming backed into a corner.

Chat caught her eye as he tore several vines to ribbons and completely deadpan answered "That would stink My Lady."

"I guess I stepped right into that one." Ladybug snorted unable to keep the nervousness from her voice as their backs met a chimney.

Chat managed a dry chuckle but he realized that the only reason she was cracking any kind of joke was because they were in trouble. A wall of greenery surrounded them on all sides and they were both panting, tired from the way they had to fight this strange new foe. The vines shivered to a halt and they remained back to back ready for the next attack. Suddenly from the main wall a bud began to swell. A large Marigold flower, the size of a humans head bloomed from the bud and like something from Alice in wonderland the thing began to speak.

"I am Marigold and I am her to take your Miraculous!" The flower announced

Chat and Ladybug shared a 'what the heck?' glance before turning their attention back to the talking flower.

"Wait so that's it? You just want our Miraculous and you will stop this growing frenzy?" Ladybug asked directing Chat to get behind her with a hand. He glanced down at his staff then up realizing the vines hadn't grown over them. Nodding he moved behind her one arm pulling her firmly against him as he awaited her signal.

"Well no those boys deserve to be punished and the butterfly man promised he would help me grow a pretty garden for my mommy if I got them." The flower answered the cadence of her voice slipping to sound more like a child.

"Your Mommy? How old are you?" Ladybug asked

"Im 6." The flower answered and Ladybug felt Chat stiffen against her. This was the youngest Akumasized victim they ever had to face and so far it was the most potent.

Trying to keep her voice calm and soothing Ladybug spoke softly since the child seemed to be in a talking mood. "Instead of fighting how about we help you get to your mom? Chat and I can…"

"NOOOO!" the Flower wailed "I can't see her till the garden is done! They will be mad! Its all their fault!" the vines slung forward in an attack and Chat activated his staff sending them sky high.

The vines swarmed up the staff after them and Chat snapped it back to its normal shortened length forcing the vines to drop away as Ladybug to slung her yoyo out to a higher building to pull them away from the danger below.

"They won't get away!" Marigolds voice yelled even as Chat and Ladybug ran for their lives.

"We need to find her main body!" Ladybug yelled to Chat as they ducked, dogged and weaved around attacking vines.

"Lets get out of this tangle of weeds first!" Chat replied

"My garden is not weeds!" Marigold screeched as the skidded to a halt at the edge of the last rooftops.

A plaza lay before them the cobbles completely coated in vines. Ladybug glanced around and seeing the river knew it was their only option.

"Ready for a bath Kitty?" Lady bug asked as she started a sprint for the corner of the roof.

Seeing her gaze Chat groaned "Plagg is going to hate me." Before following her lead and sprinting for the side of the roof closest to the river. It was a mad dash with the vines coming from all sides following hungrily, eager to wrap them in their clutches. The superhero duos feet left the roof at the same time and as they jumped Chat knew they hadn't jumped far enough. Ladybug could always use her yoyo to swing them back so they didn't splat on the vine covered cobbles below but it wasn't much of an option. The plaza streaked below them covered in vines as they began their decent and the rooftops behind them held the same green promise.

"Ladybug!" he yelled holding out his hand to her falling figure. Trusting him completely she twisted midair into his arms wrapping hers tight around his neck. For a moment Chat purred at the feeling then swung his staff out forcing it to swiftly grow. It slammed into the ground jolting them both roughly before their added forward momentum drove them onwards launching them into the river. They splashed down hard, the current immediately sweeping them up as they sank. Chat immediately tried to swim for the surface but Ladybug pulled on him shaking her head as she swiftly tied her yoyo around his then her waist. He was confused for only a moment as they floated beneath the surface because in the next second a vine struck through the water missing them by less than a foot. Twisting round under water they swam with the current as fast as they could swimming deeper into the murky depths as the vines drove into the water again and again as they searched for them. They stayed under for over a minute before their limited air ran out. Chat gave in first tugging Ladybugs arm and swimming rapidly for the surface bursting upwards to gasp in great gulps of air. The river had swept them deeper into Paris and by the time they managed to get to the bank they found themselves in a whole new world of greenery. Ladybug snagged a pylon with a free hand and between the two of them they managed to climb from the water even though they were connected at the waist. As soon as they stood on firm ground Ladybug untangled her yoyo from his waist blushing slightly at the extreme close contact. Trying to ease her embarrassment the moment he was free Chat shook himself much like a dog would spraying water everywhere.

"Chat!" Ladybug squealed backpedaling as some of the water hit her.

Chat grinned rather lopsided at her his hair poofing up around his ears before he managed to try and smooth it down. "Well it has to come off one way or another! Although to be totally honest I think you look very becoming uh…" Chat trailed off turning red as she glared up at him from squeezing out her hair. He had never seen her with her hair down before and seeing it now made hit heart twist and his mind hit a dead end as he stuttered over his final words.

Feeling herself start to turn red under his unabashed gaze she straightened and flicked water from her fingertips into his face while snapping "Alley cat."

She stalked forward trying to squeegee as much water from her suit as possible leaving a trail of water as she climbed the embankment to the street determined to ignore her partner. Chat followed a moment later when he had his heart slightly more under control although he didn't think he would ever be able to get the image of his Lady hair down and soaking wet out of his head.