Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug.

Antibug

The one time I leave him alone. Marinette looked down in horror at Chat Noir and Antibug. In the few moments that she left him, while she was in the hotel, he had been tied to his pole and was being bounced up and down by an amused Antibug.

"Hurry up, Tikki!" Marinette whispered urgently to her kawami on her shoulder.

"I'm eating as fast as I can." Tikki took another large bite out of the cookie in her hands, but it still wasn't fast enough for Marinette. She needed to help Chat right away.

Below, the akumatized Chloe was taunting Chat with the prospects of leaving Ladybug. "Doesn't she tie you down?" Anitbug asked, devilishly.

"And aren't you tired of copying Ladybug?" Chat retorted. Antibug stilled as she listened to Hawkmoth, and Marinette knew she should use that time to pull the wool over Chloe's eyes, but she found she couldn't move. Her eyes were glued to Chat's body as it slowly inched towards the end of the pole.

Chloe once again started to move, and she bounced up and down on the tiny pole that Chat was tied to. Chat's body came closer to the edge. That poor kitty must be sick by now, Marinette thought.

"I know you can hear me, Lady Brat!" Antibug yelled. "You're going to have to choose. If you want to keep Chat Noir alive, you'll have to give me your miraculous. And if you refuse?" A devilish grin creased Chloe's face. "Down comes kitty, cradle and all!" Antibug laughed maniacally. "I'll give a count to ten ….1….2…3….."

"Could you make that twenty!?" Marinette could hear Chat shriek.

"I need more time. Go save Chat Noir, Marinette." Tikki whispered to her holder. Marinette gulped, and shakily looked away from her partner.

"But I can't transform!"

"You're Ladybug," Tikki said, matter of factly. "With or without the costume."

"I don't kno-"Tikki cut off Marinette.

"I'm giving you advice, Marinette. Don't make the same mistake twice." Marinette's face grew determined, and her spark returned to her eyes.

"I got an idea." Marinette took out her phone and brought up a news feed of her up, and put it on loop. She placed her phone carefully on the edge of the balcony that she was on, then climbed down the roof to hide behind the couch.

Her voice from the phone caught Antibug's attention, and Chloe went to investigate, leaving Chat alone for a few minutes.

Marinette darted out of her hiding spot, and ran to Chat's pole. With some effort (she was in her civilian form after all), she pulled Chat closer to safety.

"Ladybug!" Chat cried cheerfully. Marinette grimaced. She leaned through the railings of the balcony and started unraveling the bonds that held Chat's legs, then she moved to his hands.

"Nope, not Ladybug. But we still need to get you out of this position. We can't leave you out there to dry," Marinette whispered. Chat carefully slid himself off of the pole and onto the concrete of the balcony, but his head snapped towards the feminine voice.

"Marinette? What are you doing here?" Instead of looking surprised, Chat's face was riddled with anger and protectiveness as he tried to get her to a safer place. A place where she can properly transform. I may know her identity, but she doesn't know that. She is so stupid thinking that she can help me in her civilian form, Chat thought to himself.

"I came to visit the hotel and I saw you dangling from a very high pole. And since I noticed Ladybug wasn't around, along with anybody else to help you, I thought I might come to your rescue." Chat smiled in gratitude, and she returned it.

"I thank you, my princess in shining armor, but you really do need to hide. Chloe will be back any minute."

"Ok, I'll hide, but you need to hide as well."

Chat looked at her, bewildered. "Why?"

"Because then she will still think that you are tied to the pole, and it will give you the element of surprise." Marinette said, as if it was common sense. Chat nodded in understanding.

Both of the superheroes, one in a mask and one as a civilian, hid in their respective hiding spots and waited for Chloe to return. In a matter of moments, Antibug stormed back towards them, or rather to Chat's pole. She was ready to dump him off the roof, but Chat instead pounced on her from behind.

Marinette nodded with satisfaction, and she turned to Tikki. "You all energized?"

"Yep. I'm ready for anything!" Tikki said cheerily.

"Alright. Tikki, SPOTS ON!"A wave of red light spread across Marinette's body, and she lovingly spread her hands out, accepting the latex-like suit to cover and protect her.

"I think it's time to show that copycat what being a real hero is all about."

Hey Readers! Here is the new installment. When I was watching this episode I was really wondering how Chat would react to Marinette helping him, so here is what I thought happened. The support I have had in this story is amazing, thank you guys so much. We are getting closer to the end of the story, and I truly have no clue how each chapter will pan out, so we are all in for a surprise. Please comment, favorite, or follow if you like. I will probably update tomorrow about the puppeteer episode, but if my brain decides to shut down, it will come Saturday. Until I write again, TTFN!