I do not own Miraculous Ladybug

"Pound it!" Ladybug and Chat Noir said, giving each other a fist bump. Ladybug was practically bouncing with excitement. They had defeated Stoneheart and captured the akuma, and she felt like she was on top of the world. She could do this, be a hero and all. And, she had to admit, it was addicting. Not only the rush of adrenaline from swinging all around Paris, fighting villains, and the danger. But also the fact that she could walk again. Run again. Be herself again. No longer broken.

A beep sounded from her earrings, making ladybug freeze. The sound was like a bucket of cold water dumped over her. All of a sudden, she was pulled back into reality. She couldn't be Ladybug all the time. She had to go back to being Broken Marinette. Marinette who couldn't walk. Who couldn't do all of the things she could as Ladybug. Marinette who she was starting to hate.

"My Lady, are you okay?" Chat Noir asked, noticing the change in Ladybug.

"I…" Ladybug's eyes were shimmering with tears. "I have to go," she said, tears starting to stream down her face. Swinging away on her yo-yo, she headed back to the school, as fast as she could. Hoping to make it back to her chair before the transformation ran out. As she practically collapsed into her chair, the final beeping of her earrings rang through the empty classroom. Her transformation dropped, and she breathed a sigh of relief that she made it in time. That she was safe.

"That was close," Tikki commented, her voice chipper as always. She didn't seem to notice the fear that struck Marinette's heart. As she realized how dangerous it was for her to cut it so close. What if she didn't make it back to her chair on time?" "Mari?" Tikki asked, when she noticed the look of fear on her chosen's face.

"What if I cut it too close? What if I don't make it back in time? I can't really go anywhere without my chair." Marinette worried aloud. "I knew I shouldn't have agreed to be Ladybug. I can't do it. I just… I just don't know if I can give up my ability to walk again. I don't want to… But…" Marinette's hands went up to her earrings, as she started to remove one. Tears flooded her eyes, and rolled down her cheeks.

"Wait, Marinette, Stop!" Tikki said, panicking. "You just defeated Stoneheart. You are doing a great job. Really." Marinette's hands dropped into her lap. But she still wasn't convinced.

"But what if I don't make it back on time?" Marinette asked, already sounding slightly defeated. It was hard for her to find the will to give it up so easily. She wanted to be selfish, but she knew that whomever chose her, chose wrong. And knowing that, she knew she had to give it up. For the good of the victims. For the good of Chat Noir. For the good of Paris. But this once, just this once, she wanted to be selfish.

"Then just make sure to keep extra cookies with you. Remember, I can transform again after I've had something to eat. If you keep me stocked up on cookies I will be good to go." Tikki said making Marinette give up just a little more. "And besides, you were chosen for a reason. You are Ladybug, and you were destined to be Ladybug. The guardian knew you in a wheelchair when he chose you. And, your willingness to give up on what you really want, for the good of all of Paris… For the good of others, instead of for you. That proves to me that you are by far the best choice for Ladybug."

"I can't keep fighting with you. I may be selfish, but I don't want to give this up." Marinette said, as Tikki came up and snuggled against her face. Drying the tears of her Chosen.

"I don't think you could be selfish if you tried, Marinette," Tikki commented, smiling at her chosen. She liked this ladybug, more than some of the others. And she didn't want another chosen. She wanted this one. The sound of a door opening sent the kwami flying into Marinette's purse, so she wouldn't be caught.

"I can't believe I left my bag in the classroom, seriously…." Alya ranted, as she entered the classroom. Freezing when she saw Marinette still there. "Mari?"

"Hi Alya…" Marinette said, meekly, looking up at her.

"Girl, what are you doing still here?" Alya asked, hurrying over to her friend.

"Well…. You see…. I was going to go home, after the akuma left, but then I realized that I didn't know where he was going, and the only place that was safe was inside the classroom…. And I was…. I was scared," Marinette rambled, lying. She hated lying, especially to her friends, but she had to, to keep her identity secret. But some of it was true, she had been scared, terrified, but she fought through it, and won.

"It's alright to be scared, it's not like it's normal for you class to be interrupted by a stone monster." Alya said, before noticing Marinette's red rimmed eyes. "Mari, you've been crying," she said, worried.

"It's nothing," Marinette said, looking down.

"It's not nothing, girl," Alya put her hand on Marinette's shoulder.

"I don't want to talk about it…" Marinette trailed off.

"Alright girl, I won't push it. But I may push you home. Your parents are probably as worried about you as I am." Alya said, trying to lighten the mood with humor, which got a smile from Marinette.

"That I won't object to. Not if it means having your company. I don't mind if you push me around," Marinette joked back, already feeling better. "You know, if you bring me back home, you better be ready for my parents to shower you with pastries. Or at least, ask you to stay for lunch."

"That I don't mind, girl." Alya said, maneuvering the chair for Marinette. Which Marinette did not mind. After everything that happened that day, Marinette was exhausted. She had forgotten how much energy it took to run around like that. And honestly, she had a lot less energy after the accident. And so, and Alya pushed her home, she looked forward to collapsing into her bed, and falling asleep almost immediately. She was utterly exhausted.

Hey, I hope you like the second chapter of Wheeled into my heart. I absolutely loved this chapter while writing it, because I feel that Marinette's conflict only proves that she is the perfect ladybug. This chapter came out of one paragraph that I tacked on to the first chapter. And when I edited it, and removed that paragraph, I got the idea for this chapter, which I like much better. I hope you are all are having a wonderful day. And I would love to hear from you! - Alice O'Flynn