So basically these chapters aren't always the same length. So yes this one is shorter. Sue me.

Also I wrote the Heartstring Harp poem. Don't judge me.

Heartstring harp, play me a tune,

play me a tune to captivate my mind,

intertwine my soul with your sad melody,

bring me to the land my emotions rule.

Marinette couldn't see. There was nothing to see, nothing to say, nothing to hear, nothing warranting her time of day. Where was she? Asleep, she concluded, the faint memories of succumbing to slumber gracing her throbbing head. Her head was throbbing, most likely from dehydration of the body. She'd blame the excessive crying for that. But why was she here, trapped in a silent dream space, and why now of all times?

Heartstring harp, sing me a song,

sing me a song to teach me how

the emotional stress of a soul so sweet

could turn the whole world black and sour.

Marinette wasn't one for poetry, yet the words echoed in her mind read with such precision she wondered how it was possible. Of her years in life she'd never once heard or read a poem like this one, and refused to believe it was her head making it up on the spot. It was a sad string of words, existent in a pattern that struck her with whirling emotions once more. It was somehow about her, she could make that out. Strangely enough, the emotions running through her once more didn't effect her in the slightest. She lay there in the darkness of the space, calm and devoid of any physical reactions. Was it that she no longer cared? No, that wasn't true. She still did. So why no reaction?

Heartstring harp, lend me a hand,

do not let my blood run cold,

do not let my tears run dry,

do not let my heart die.

She let her eyes wander the blackness. There was something strangely comforting about it. Who would ever be comforted by soul-sucking voids of darkness? It didn't add up to her. Perhaps the blackness was the key to accepting every single self-deprecating thing she'd ever thought to herself. Chat would be so disappointed.

'Chat...' Marinette thought suddenly. Chat. Chat Noir, that damned black cat. Black. This was him, somehow, this was his comfort seeping into her dreamland. She should be mad. Right? If his comfort was here, did that mean he was there with her, in her bed? That cat was going to get it later.

Later.

Marinette curled up on herself, floating there in the emptiness. As much as the negative emotions wanted to rule her heart, the subtle comforting that surrounded her fought it back. It was nice. And for a fleeting moment, she forgot about all of the things she hated herself for.

Heartstring harp, do not ever leave,

do not let your strings snap.

Your melody keeps me here,

alive and well in your trap.

To the waking world you must seem grim,

plucking away your songs of sorrow,

but its the beating heart you play from

that keeps my heart beating for tomorrow.

"Tikki, how did she ever come to this point in the first place?" Chat Noir asked, laying next to the sleeping girl and stroking her hair softly. 'She's so beautiful... how could I have ever missed my Lady so easily... shame on me.' He thought.

Tikki shrugged, staring at her chosen sadly. "Marinette is selfless to her own extent. She loves to help people, just not herself. I don't mean to point fingers, but I have a large suspicion the seed sprouted because of Chloe. As much as it seems like Marinette can just blow off everything that girl spews at her, I don't think it was that easy in the past."

Chat Noir growled. Of course Chloe had something to do with it, why did he ever think otherwise? It was always Chloe. She always had to be the reason.

Beep beep.

Chat almost choked on his own spit as the shrill beeping of his Miraculous cut through the space. Making sure Marinette was still asleep, he whispered 'Plagg, claws in' and dropped his transformation. Plagg came zooming out of the ring and immediately opened his mouth to complain, only to be muffled by Tikki.

"Mmphf!" The cat kwami said, startled by the sudden appearance of hands over his mouth. He turned around and was met by his opposite. His eyes widened and Tikki removed her hands.

"Tikki?"

"Plagg!"

The two embraced happily, having missed each other. Adrien watched the two gods with a soft gaze, hand still unconsciously stroking Marinette's soft hair.

"So you finally found out, eh kid?" Plagg said, a cheeky grin plastered on his face. The grin dropped when he saw Adrien's sad smile. "What happened?"

Adrien sighed. "It was an accident. I wasn't supposed to know, but I'm glad I found out. Ladybug- I mean, Marinette- has been under attack from Akuma after yesterday's depressing show. I've learned things today that horrify me, things that Marinette does to herself. Tikki explained she's had a lot of self-esteem problems lately and I'm here to help."

Plagg was unusually silent. He was never known to be considerate during serious situations, and while he was starving for some Camembert, he knew better to keep his mouth shut. Just this once.

"Plagg, I know you're probably tired from being transformed for awhile, but my chosen doesn't have any Camembert. Adrien doesn't seem to have any either. Could you please, just this once, eat a different type of cheese?" Tikki pleaded with her opposite, pulling a puppy-dog face.

He stared at her for a second, eye twitching, before groaning in defeat. "I guess... just this once... but Adrien owes me a giant piece of Camembert later!"

Tikki rolled her eyes before dragging the tiny god downstairs, both phasing through the trapdoor like nothing. Adrien was left alone with his dear Marinette.

He took the time to calm down and think about the recent events. Everything had happened so fast, he didn't have time for his emotions to properly catch up. Until now. His face grew red and hot as he realized everything. Marinette was his Ladybug. She'd been sitting behind him THE ENTIRE TIME. He was truly a blind idiot. But he had found her!

Wait.

Didn't Marinette hate him? She never stayed around him for long, she could never speak to him without that-cute-stutter... hold on. Adrien glanced around her room, and was met with posters of him. A LOT of posters with his face on it. What? But she hated him, right?

He then put two and two together, a hand coming up to smack his forehead. 'Idiot! She didn't hate you, she has a crush on you!' So that meant...

Adrien smiled. His feelings weren't so one sided after all.

"What do you mean we need the Fox, Turtle and Bee miraculous activated?! I can understand one of them as a backup, but all three?! That's absurd, Tikki!" Plagg shouted through a mouthful of cheese.

Tikki sighed. "Ladybug is in danger of being Akumatized! Ladybug. She's the only one who can purify Akuma, may I remind you! Either one of our chosens being Akumatized will be bad news. They've experienced the two most powerful Miraculous of the seven, if they were fought against it would be the toughest battles Chat Noir or Ladybug could face! We need back up if this ever happens. And it's not a far off reality right now! There's no harm in being over-prepared. Being under-prepared will get all of Paris killed."

Plagg grumbled, swallowing his cheese. "I never liked that fox, you know. She was always mean to me."

"Wayzz will stop that from happening. But of course, there's the decision of whether or not the three new chosen will divulge their identities. Marinette never wanted to, this was a happy accident."

"I think it'd be better for them to just know."

"That's for Master Fu to advise them on, not you. You're terrible at giving advice."

"Very true! I am the god of bad luck and destruction after all."

Tikki sighed exasperatedly as Plagg continued to gorge himself on the provided cheese.

R&R?