"Mr. Damiculcues?" My principal is wheeling a mannequin with a dress on it, with more feathers then I ever seen. He stopped whistling and smiles at me. "Good morning, Marinette. Better scoot along to the auditorium. Your class is having a mock fashion show this morning!" I sallow hard, but point to the dress. "Isn't that dress a little…." How do I say this politely? "Feathery?" he just laughs and continues on his way. "Here has a thing for birds," a voice says behind me, and I whirl around. "Adrien!"

His lips twitch as he steps closer. "You have a little something," he brushes doughnut crumbs from my cheek. I jump back in embarrassment and pain. Wait, pain? The light-hearted look from Adrien's face vanishes. "You okay? Did you hurt your cheek?"

"No, no. I…." I don't finish, I just spin around and sprint to the bathrooms. My cheek felt sore this morning as I sleepily put on makeup, but didn't think much of it. I splash water on my face, and scrub the makeup away. Then, I gasp in horror. Spider-like lines criss-cross down both my cheeks and onto my neck. No, no, no! Just as I started to feel more confident, this happens! And how?

I think back to the times I used the Lucky Charm and there was always a sharp bite of pain as the object would drop into my hands, but since it only lasted for a second, I didn't think much of it. Until now.

Tears threaten as I shakily rummage in my bag for my makeup kit, when the door bursts open with a bang. Though the minute feels like it lasts forever, it was only a second or two that Chloe stares at me, her eyes zeroing in on my scars.

"Having troubles, Marinette?" she asks, walking close. "Go away, Chloe," "You know, with those scares you kinda look like a spider. And everyone hates spiders. Remember the nursery rhythm about Miss Muffet?"

"Chloe, please. Why are so mean to me? Is it because of Adrien?" an evil smile crosses her face. "You still don't get it, do you? He's mine and you'll never be a good designer as me. And now when the world sees you, you won't be a model either."

I want to transform, and transform badly. But I don't. "Don't anger me, Chloe. You don't want me to hurt you." She just laughs, tossing her perfect hair and slams the bathroom door shut.

I can't go out there now, I can't. Just as I'm about to let the tears fall, a blue portal opens in front of me. Is the Supreme coming? Am I supposed to go to him? All I know that I'm supposed to go through the portal, and I do. Anything to escape hurt.

But when I step to the other side, I'm either back at home, or with the Supreme. I'm in a quiet forest, with a stream gurgling at my feet. I finally let the tears fall, and I don't hold back. Tikki holds one of my fingers for comfort, and I pull her to my cheek, cuddling her close. At the moment, she's the only friend I have, and I feel so very alone.

Eventually, I stop crying and splash cold water onto my face. I stare at my reflection in the water, slightly moving as the water flows. But just then, the water begins to swirl, creating a mini-whirlpool and images begin to appear on the water's surface.

Its the other Ladybug, surrounded by her Kwamis, but lying face down on her bed. She's in her aqua suit, and I can feel emotions, she feels alone to. It seems like after her Cat got akumatized, she's clammed up and keeping secrets. She hates this, but she doesn't know what else to keep him safe. Though she denies her love for Cat, she loves him down to her core.

I blink, and the water is water once more, no more images on the surface. My stomach growls and I look up, hearing a muffled thudding sound, coming through the trees. Curious, I decide to investigate.

I come across a boy around my age, splitting logs for the fire. His hair is the color of water, and I clear my throat. He turns around seeing me standing there, and walks over. "How long have you been standing there?" "Oh, not long. Do you live in here in the forest?" the boy nods. "I don't think I've seen you around here. I'm Hydra." He extends a hand. "Marinette. And I'm just passing through."

"Nice to meet you. Could I offer you some food and drink?" I smile, feeling a bit calmer. "That would be lovely." He ties the wood together and I follow him to a small cabin. Its simple and plain, but my eyes are drawn to two things: the guitar-like instrument hanging on the wall, and the breathtaking view of an ocean. "Great view, isn't it?" he asks, and I turn nodding my head.

Hydra's meal is simple, goat cheese, grapes and a small assortments of breads and meats, but to me its a feast. "I don't mind cooking, but my real love is music. I'll show you after we've eaten." I poke at my plate, though my stomach grumbles. Chloe's words sting like an angry bee, hot and painful.

"Are you okay?" "Okay, I ran away from home because there's this girl at school who hates me, and this morning she made fun of scars. She even called me a spider!" "I'm so sorry, Marinette. A pretty girl like yourself doesn't deserve that, or any girl really." My head jerks up. "But you can see my scars, can't you?" Hydra nods. "Even with your scars, if people truly care about you, they look past them and only see the love in your heart."

I silently digest Hydra's words and they fill me more then food ever would. "You have good wisdom," I smile at him. "Oh, I don't know about that. More like I picked up a thing here and there and this," he shows me a bracelet with a snake's head on it. "Is this a Miraculous?" "Yes. Let me show you how it works. Also, I'm late."

I scrambled up from chair. "Late? For what?" "You'll see."

My mouth drops open as we reach the water and Hydra points his hands at the water. Then, without warning, water shoots out of his hands. "Is that your Miraculous?" I ask, and Hydra shakes his head. "No, but it is a magical power. Oh, here she comes!"

As if from nowhere, an adorable little seal romps up onto the shore, and butts its head against Hydra. "Marinette, let me introduce you to my friend Romper. He loves my little showers." Romper waddles up to me, and I stroke his soft baby fluff. I laugh as he flips over, asking for a belly rub. "He seems to like you," Hydra says, sitting down in the sand next to me. "There's been more time's then one that this little girl has pushed me into the water. That's where My miraculous and its power of second chance come in."

If I wasn't rubbing a baby seal's tummy, I would leapt up. "Second Chance, of course! That's why the Supreme sent me here! I may have felt like I failed back home, but that doesn't mean I don't get a second chance to try it again!"

Just then, the portal opens again, and I leap up dashing towards it. Dimly, I hear Hydra calling me, but I'm already on the other side.

"Marinette, you have ten minutes before your on! Hurry!" One of teachers scurries by, and I find myself staring at my dress, a pretty thing with red-and-black pattern….wait a minute.

Quickly, applying my makeup, I slip into the dress and hold my head when I approach the runway. Am I nervous? Absolutely. Do I like the spotlight? Questionable.

But I know there's one person in the crowd that loves me, and would do anything to make feel better. If anything, I want to show Adrien that I am not a quitter, but a fighter. A leader.

Backstage, he swoops me up into a hug. "You were so awesome!" "I was scared, but I didn't let it show. Besides, I knew you were out there loving me."

The clouds gather at the end of the day, and by the time I leave school, its drizzling. This time I remembered my umbrella, and find myself walking in the rain. Ducking into an alleyway, I transform. "Meet up for doughnuts?" I text Claw. My sweet tooth is acting up.

I lose myself in my thoughts, and don't hear Claw approach. "Toxinelle." I look up to see him staring at me, and I reach up to touch my face. My makeup has been washed away, leaving all my scars to see.

He steps closer, staring into my eyes. "Your scars, how did it happen?" Rain splatters against the umbrella. "It happens every time I use the Lucky Charm. Do you…."

Rain is now mingled with tears. Sure, I've learned a valuable lesson today, but who knows what Claw thinks of my scars? "Do you still love me? Even with my scars?" Claw ducks under my umbrella, and places a gentle hand on my cheek, and I nestle into the softness. "Toxinelle, I've always loved you, ever since we met." My cheeks warm as I meet his eyes. "Even if I'm a Cockroach?" "Even as a cockroach."

"Please kiss me." Claw gently backs me against the wall, and the umbrella is forgotten as our lips meld, our hands tangling into each other's hair. It only lasts for a minute however because Claw murmurs, "I'm a very wet cat." A giggle escapes my lips. "And a wet cat smells awful." "Even worse then fleas?" "Come on. Let's get the food and I know a place where we can go, just you and me."