With a big jerk, Marinette tripped and ripped away from Adrien. Before the blond could catch her again, she sped away, taking advantage of the confusion. Ducking into the empty locker room, Marinette slid down with a groaning wince, her wrist throbbing uncomfortably.

Cracking her purse open, she called, "Juu-"

"No," the kwami cuts in a dark, tired grimace.

"Akuma," Marinette said.

Juuno gave her a look. "Well, because someone decided not to contact Ladybug..."

Marinette huffed, slumping back against the locker.

Juuno snips, "I have little energy to spare. I'm exhausted! We transform now, I'll be out for a week! And you'd be lucky to even move your arm!" He drooped down into the purse, sighing. Meeting Marinette's tired frown, the blue god sighed. He lectures, "Cleanse only if we have no other option. Like there being no Ladybug around. Till then, help her anyway you can. Just..."

Her head bangs on the back of the locker. "No more cleansing."

He gave a relieved hum, sinking down into the purse. Only to perk back up, blinking at her tiredly. "Are you in a safe place?" Juuno asked.

"Relatively," Marinette said, pulling her knees up and resting on them.

The attack was happening outside, it didn't seem like the akuma would pursue anyone hiding in a room.

She still personally thought she would've been fine in the classroom, but it was sweet that Adrien tried to get her somewhere safe. She'll have to thank him when she was feeling better. Maybe some cookies. She noticed he always stared so wishfully at cookies.

"You."

Marinette gave a start, looking up to see the akuma, a mermaid based one this time, sliding along the ground like a snake. She grabbed the doorframe, helping her get along.

Marinette blinked at her in surprise. "Mireille?" she uttered.

The akuma gritted her teeth, golden eyes gleaming in a jealous rage, "You dare be prettier than me? Meribelle?!"

Marinette held her hands up in defense, warily pleading, "Personally I don't think I am?"

"You are!" Meribelle snarled, ripping shells out of her vibrant pink hair and throwing them at Marinette. Grabbing her purse, Marinette rolled away, leaving the shells to shatter. Marinette tensed when she stopped, putting pressure on her sore wrist.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch," she mutters as she scrambled up, hiding behind the rows of lockers. Ducking down, she rubbed her wrist, trying to soothe the throb.

"You won't be prettier than me!" Meribelle snarled aloud, and Marinette flinched when she heard the scrape of scales on the floor. The akuma sounded just around the corner. Meeting Juuno's tired gaze, Marinette hurried along, ducking down another row as Meribelle tailed her, growling and muttering. Spotting the dark haired girl, she threw a wild shot, scratching Marinette's elbow and earning a hiss from the tired girl.

"Marinette," Juuno stressed, shifting the purse.

"Just need to get out," she mutters, covering her elbow and she kept moving, trying to stay ahead of Meribelle and a difficult target.

She stopped when she heard a loud squeal.

Stiffening, she leaned out to see Chloe in the opening of the locker room, gaping at the akuma. "How horrendous!" the blonde cried out unhelpfully.

Marinette gaped. "Are you kidding me?!"

Meribelle snarled angrily, twisting around to face the blonde.

"Gross! Gross!Gross!" Chloe crowed, running from the room.

Roaring, Meribelle pursued, shouting and spewing about how she was going to scratch the rich girl up. Flinching, Marinette hurried after them, stressing as the akuma went after Chloe. Before she could rush out and redirect the attention back to her, she jumped when she was grabbed from behind.

Twisting, she instinctively rammed her elbow back, only for it to be caught by a dark brown glove. "Woah there!" a familiar voice lightly scolds. Marinette blinked at the coy green eyes staring down at her.

"You... your," she squawked, "fox."

Drawing away with a cheeky grin, he brought her hand up and kissed it. "Malin," he clarified, green eyes gleaming, "here to save you Princess."

"S-save me?" she echoed.

He pulled her close, their noses brushing as Malin wrapped his arms around her. "As you wish," he whispered to her.

Marinette blinked rapidly. Before she could comment, Malin drew her up and spirited her away.

Malin didn't leave her side like she expected. Tucking them both away and out of view, the blond fox just hang close to her, holding his flute closely.

Eyeing him oddly, she asked, "Aren't you going to help?"

She could see Ladybug and Chat down there, struggling with Meribelle. Wasn't Malin a hero? He's saved her enough that she thought he was. Why wasn't he down there helping?

"I am," Malin reassured. His smile grew at her skeptical look. "Just waiting for the right moment..."

Marinette jerked when she saw Ladybug pinned.

Malin moved, bringing his flute to his lips. A tune fluttered put, and an orange orb of smoke grew from the other end.

Shooting her an eager smile, he threw that orb down. A fake Malin burst out from behind a bench and obnoxiously shouted, "Hey ugly!"

Hissing angrily, Meribelle completely forgot about the pinned bug and went for the annoying fox.

Malin flashed her a smug smile.

Marinette relaxed, not minding the scarf like tail lightly swatting at her ankle.

Belle Bleue wasn't needed this fight.

When the akuma was cleansed, Malin pulled her close and dropped down into the courtyard.

Marinette noted the tight grip he had on her shoulder, eyeing the other two heroes warily as they turned to them.

Chat blinked at him, golden green eyes wide.

Ladybug narrowed her eyes, locking onto Marinette. "Who are you?" the red heroine demanded, eyes flicking between them. "What are you doing with her?"

Pulling Marinette close and giving them a two finger salute, the fox lightly declares, "I'm the dread pirate Malin."

The two heroes balked at him.

"D-Dread pirate?" Chat uttered.

"I admit it with pride!" Moving away, he took Marinette's hand and pressed another kiss to it. "Take care Princess." He jumped away before anyone could move.

... I had Princess Bride on the mind ok.