[Image Description: Tiki and Plagg from Miraculous Ladybug in a more realistic redesign. Tiki's head and belly is now black and she has white dots above her eyes and larger spots on either side of her head, a red spot is on her head. Her face shape matches closer to a ladybug’s real face. She has 4 arms and ladybug wings. Her eyes no longer have whites, being purely blue and black. Plagg looks the same as canon but more accurately proportioned to a (bipedal) cat. Tiki has 2 arms raised as if for a hug and her lower arms close to her chest. Plagg has his arms crossed, smirking. End ID]
*shrugs* I wanted to make a more “realistic” design for the kwamis... mostly just Not Chibi.
Summery: An AU where Adrien never went to in-person school, not getting the cat miraculous, and found the peacock miraculous. -Gabriel Agreste sets out his plan to protect his identity as Hawkmoth. (and try to get some miraculous)
(this is like... twice as long as the first one...whoops)
Adrien felt like a ragdoll. Chloé squeezed him around his shoulders and shook him; squealing the entire time. He just went limp. Resigned to being dragged around from the doorway.
“Hi Chloé. Hi... Sabrina? Er…" Adrien stared at the comically tall stack of luggage, only identifiable as Sabrina by their favored shorts over tights style on the legs behind the luggage. "Is this… a sleepover?” His father barely let them over anymore, how did Chloé convince his father to let them stay overnight?
“Hi,” Sabrina said, muffled from under the piles of luggage.
“It is Adrikins! Your father finally stopped being a stick in the mud for once! I have sooo much for us to do. It simply can not be all done in a measly hour. Sabrina, the guest room is over there, we’ll be sleeping there.” Chloé pointed, and Sabrina grunted in effort before they made their way towards the room.
“Do you need help, Sabrina?” Adrien asked, watching her fumble with the tower of luggage.
“Oh she’s fine, aren’t you Sabrina?”
“Uhhh, yep! Just fine!” They kicked open the door before Adrien could escape Chloé’s hug to help. She stumbled, and the luggage fell into the room. Sabrina rebalanced themself with the skill of a gymnast, avoiding the fate of the luggage. They looked at the mess and sighed, shoulders sagging.
“See? Now!” Chloé grabbed Adrien’s arm and pulled him towards his own room, “I need to tell you everything about this new hero I met!”
“Oh. Okay?” Chloé had been most of his first-hand information on the superheroes of Paris. Obviously he’d seen the newscasts, and, despite Chloé’s insistence that the “Ladyblog” was unreliable, he followed that too. But Chloé was who he got the details from. He’s been reconsidering some of the stories from Chloé’s hand in causing the last akuma.
While listening to Chloé embellish her own role in a story he was in, Sabrina eventually returned. She smiled and sat, listening to the last of Chloé’s tale. “After the fight I did get a good look at Paon Lilas. He was kinda cute. Not as cute as you, though, my Adrikins!”
Adrien chuckled and shook his head. “I’m sure he’d look just as cute with a team of people doing his makeup, hair, and wardrobe for him.”
“Shh, you’re not giving yourself enough credit.” She rolled her eyes, waving a hand dismissively.
"Well, I don't know about him..." Sabrina said cautiously, "When I came in at the end there... Ladybug seemed pretty suspicious of him. Maybe there's something we don't know?"
"He did seem sorta new, but he gave me a real Mr Cuddles! No strings attached like with Hawkmoth. Really, he can't be that bad."
Adrien nodded, "I'm sure he did what he thought was right…"
Sabrina hummed, "Probably..."
Chloé shook her head and waved a hand "Anyway, Sabrina show Adrien our surprise!"
"Oh! I'll go get it!" They stood up and raced off to collect whatever it was.
-
Sabrina stared up at the stack of suitcases and sighed "This… may take longer than intended."
Plagg zipped out of her purse and propped himself on top of one. "Ugh why go through the effort? Just tell her you broke it when you tripped."
"Chloé is my best friend Plagg, and Adrien is a good friend too. He's been pretty upset since he couldn't go to school. Least I can do is find the gift."
"Blegh, what kid wants to go to school. If I lived in this fancy place I'd be eating camembert all day long!"
Sabrina chuckled and shook her head "You do that anyway. Come on you lazy kitty, at least help me look." They hefted the first suitcase and started carefully looking through it.
Plagg groaned. Then dramatically huffed. Then sighed twice as dramatically and zipped away to find something more interesting. Like cheese, perhaps.
Sabrina looked up and frowned at the lack of kwami. "Plagg!" She whisper-yelled. Abandoning their task, they ran after their kwami.
"Oooo, what's this?" Plagg disappeared into a room, and Sabrina followed. He glanced around the room then shrugged, "Boring, next?"
"What's that?" She gestured at the ajar painting. A… door? She stepped over to find a safe.
Plagg hummed. "Okay, interest spiked. Let's see what they're hiding in there."
"Oh I don't think we should. We should get back to finding Adrien's gift-"
Plagg already disappeared into the safe. The door opened and Plagg riffled through the contents, muttering about what was there. Sabrina tilted their head, and Plagg handed her a book. "Pretty mundane if you ask me. I was hoping for a secret food stash, maybe the World's Finest Camembert."
Sabrina shook her head and flipped through a few of the pages. "Miraculous? Why do the Agrestes have this in a safe?" They glanced at the portrait. "Behind a painting…"
"Sabrinaaaaaaa what's taking so long? And fetch my nail kit! My nail chipped!" Chloé called.
"I'll go down and help her-" Adrien responded. Sabrina gasped and closed the safe, and ran back to the guest room…. And they still had the book! Ohnoohno. She scrambled for a place to put it before shoving it under a pile of clothes in Chloé’s suitcase.
Adrien walked in with Chloé trailing behind. "Adrikins it's a surprise, don't you know the meaning of surprise?"
He chuckled "I do but Sabrina, don't you want some help?"
They stared a bit at him, "It might be nice? There's… a lot of suitcases here…"
Adrien gave Chloé a 'See?' look, and picked up a suitcase to look through. "What am I looking for?"
"It's a surpriseeeee," Chloé huffed.
Adrien smirked, and picked up a shirt, showing it to Chloé "This it?" He picked up a lipstick "This it? Oh what about this?" He picked up a set of earrings, placing them against his ears. Sabrina giggled as he continued, shaking her head.
Chloé groaned and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her nails with a pout. Sabrina quietly handed her a nail kit from their own purse, earning a smile.
Adrien found it. He pulled out the DVD and tilted his head "What's this?"
"I uh, convinced the class to do a virtual hello- since you couldn't- uh, I also have something else if you don't like it."
His eyes got shiny, and he rubbed his cheeks, smiling, "Thank you. Really." He pulled Chloé and Sabrina into a hug.
Chloé looked a little startled. She likely was used to having to start the hugs, but softened into the hug.
He pulled back with an awkward giggle, "Sorry, uh, I'll watch this later. Really, thank you."
"Yeah, no trouble at all. Apparently one of the kids is like, all about film making. He kinda took over, actually."
Adrien giggled and nodded, "Well, I'm sure you have other plans too-"
Chloé fluffed her hair, "But of course! I have the whole day planned!"
Adrien gave Sabrina a look, clearly looking for comradery in the exhaustion of Chloé’s day-long itinerary. She smiled and shook her head, ready to help Chloé make her plans reality.
-
Chloé had the book. Sabrina stared at it. Why did Chloé have the book? Chloé did not waste a minute to dramatically show off the book.
"Can you believe there's tons of other superheroes that aren't active?" Chloé called, almost immediately summoning the class to surround her and the book.
Sabrina was going to die of mortification. How were they going to get that back to the Agreste house? Chloé wasn't going to just let her put it back now that it was her newest attention magnet.
Marinette wasn't late for once. Although, she did feel late. She hopped up and down trying to get a look at what was at the center of the small crowd.
"Is there a horse superhero?"
"I wonder if Ladybug and Féline Sombre have powers we don't know about."
"Do you know what language that is?"
Tiki gasped. Marinette’s eyes widened as Tiki weaved in and out of the group of teens’ legs.
Marinette stared anxiously. Tiki returned quickly. “We need to get that book, Marinette!”
“What?” Marinette cried, but thankfully the only weird look she got was from Ms. Bustier.
Ms. Bustier clapped and the group dispersed disjointedly. “Alright class, that’s enough. We do have more to learn about than superheroes.”
Marinette anxiously watched Chloé’s new book the entire class period. The book was mocking her, sitting on the desk like it was innocent.
Marinette eventually got her chance at the end of the school day. Chloé was once again showing off, as Sabrina tugged on her arm, apparently trying to get her to come with her.
Lila was on her other side, with her head tilted in curiosity. "Where did you get this?" Lila asked.
"It's one of a kind and totally a secret~" She fluffed her hair.
"Come onnn Chloé." Sabrina tugged on her arm again. Hard. Chloé stumbled backwards, and Sabrina caught her, face flushed with embarrassment. "Ohmygosh I'm so sorry!" The book was on the floor.
Chloé gaped. She pulled herself from Sabrina and walked away without a word. Sabrina immediately followed after, abundant with apologies.
Marinette dove for the book. And hit her head against Lila's.
She grinned uneasily at her. "Hi Lila." She tugged on the book, with resistance from Lila.
"Hello Marinette, I've got it don't worry." She tugged back, and Marinette's grip hardened on it.
"I can go to return this to Chloé, they look like they're going my direction anyway. No need for you to go out of your way!" She smiled broadly.
"Oh no, it's fine, I wanted to ask her more about it anyway."
Marinette's smile strained, "Funny, so was I."
Lila yellped. She jumped up and twirled, as if she was stung. Marinette only just barely noticed a red blur return to her purse. She raised a brow. Tiki sure was going to great lengths to make sure Marinette had this book.
Marinette pressed the book against her chest and ran in Chloé’s direction. "I'll tell Chloé you said hi!"
Lila huffed and crossed her arms with a frown, watching the girl run off.
-
"Chloé could be Hawkmoth!?" Marinette cried, dragging her hands over her face as Master Fu gave her a confused look. "Bah-wha? I need a plan of attack! Paon Lilas did immediately try to protect her so they must be in cahoots. That must be why she torments so many people! She's not waiting for people to have bad days, she's causing them! How do I confront my own classmate? Do I-"
"Marinette! Chloé isn't Hawkmoth." Tiki said, hands on her hips.
"No?"
"Chloé is a teenage girl, Hawkmoth seems to be an adult man."
Marinette blinked repeatedly. She giggled awkwardly, "Right, right I knew that."
Master Fu shook his head, "But.. Find out where Chloé got the book, and we may find Hawkmoth. I will start translating the book. I am glad you found it, it should be useful."
Marinette gave a firm nod and set out to find Chloé.
-
Adrien stared at the video of Sabrina taking the book and was suddenly very grateful he had thought about cameras when he finally took that brooch…
"Did you know about this?" His father demanded coldly.
He shook his head "No, no. I- didn't know you had that back there!"
"Your friends will not be allowed back here again. Ever."
"What?" Adrien felt like he was sinking, falling, "But father I-"
"They stole the source of my inspiration and betrayed my and your trust. That is not the sort of people I want you associating with. That is all."
Adrien slumped into his chair as Natalie and his father left the room. He stared out the window as a numbness settled into his chest. He didn't know how long he sat there until he noticed Duusu was curled against his chest. A bird flew past outside.
"... Paon Lilas can fly free."
"Huh?" Duusu tilted his head. "Adrien you know what will happen if you transform too often-"
"I just need to get out of this house. Duusu, spread my feathers." Transformed, he leapt out the window and ran.
-
"Not quite what I expected but the result is the same. Kids, so nosy, taking what does not belong to them. It is time I got my 'book of inspiration' back, and perhaps a few miraculous while I'm at it." Gabriel Agreste picked up the empty book. "Come my Akuma, and evilize me."
The Collector grinned. "Surely they won't mind becoming part of my permanent collection."
Natalie and Adrien’s bodyguard were all too willing for their likeness to be captured, but the bump in the road came with his son. Adrien seemed to have run away. He growled under his breath. But, as long as he was out of the way of the fight, it didn’t matter. He huffed and made his way out to cause as much of a show as possible. Eventually the superheroes would show their faces.
-
“Chloé, I didn’t mean to! But really we should return the book as soon as possible! I don’t want Adrien to get in trouble.” Sabrina pleaded.
“Ugh, but I finally had something that Lila didn’t!”
Sabrina tilted her head “I- Why would that matter?” Chloé just pouted. They sighed, “Can we please return the book now? Uh… Where is it?”
Chloé looked up. “Oh nooo, you made me drop it!”
“Sabrina Raincomprix and Chloé Bourgeois,” an ominous voice called. Sabrina spun on her heel. It only took them a glance at the akuma to fall into a fighting stance in front of Chloé. “I am the Collector. You stole my book of inspiration, and for that you shall help me build a new one!” The Collector threw his book like a boomerang towards the teens.
Sabrina pushed Chloé onto the ground before it could touch them. Sabrina got up, and taking the opportunity of distraction, ran.
“Sabrina! You- ” Chloé looked around, finding her friend had already left. “….Sabrina?”
“Looks like your friend left you,” The Collector grinned, “She seems to be all around unreliable, hm?”
Chloé took a page out of Sabrina’s book and ran.
“I knewwww I should’ve just put that book back! Now Adrien’s father is akumatized,” Sabrina turned a corner as Plagg zipped out of her purse.
He shrugged, “Eh, not your fault the door was open.”
They shook their head. “Plagg, claws out!”
They vaulted up and returned to the spot they’d left Chloé and the Collector, only to find both of them gone. “Sorry Chloé…” She gritted her teeth and began to search for the Collector.
They found Paon Lilas before they found the Collector. He was sitting on the roof of a building, legs dangling over the edge, eyes distant. Féline Sombre vaulted onto the roof and walked up next to him. “What are you doing up here, tweety bird?”
He chuckled and looked up at them. “Just enjoying the fresh air. Did you and Ladybug reserve this spot?”
“No, but we do have an Akuma to deal with.”
Paon stood up, “Where?”
“No idea, he disappeared before I could catch him. I already know it’s Gabriel Agreste.”
Paon stumbled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, he’s aiming to add to his ‘collection’ whatever that means.” She gives the boy a glance over, frowning, “Can I trust you to help find and keep him busy until Ladybug shows?”
He nodded firmly. “I’ll follow your lead, kitty-cat.”
Féline Sombre blinked a little then nodded, “Okay, you go to the left, see if you can find him. We’ll meet up at the Eiffel if we can’t find him. Otherwise, call me.”
“I can call you?”
They blinked “Er- There’s a phone in both mine and Ladybug’s weapons so I’m sure there’s one in your fan?... Good luck. I’ll avoid crossing your path.” She smiled a little then they vaulted off.
He watched her go, the numbness sinking deeper into his bones. He took a deep breath in and headed to the left, watching for someone who would look like an akumatized version of his own father… He let the tides of emotions lead his way more so than his vision, looking for some sense of an exaggerated version of familiar cold anger or disappointment.
He found his father, and the expected feelings were there, but it didn’t seem to fit in with the severity he’d noticed from the last akuma. He didn’t know what that meant. He glanced at the fan, fumbling for whatever would activate a phone. He blinked as the fan created a pop out screen. He found a contact for Féline Sombre, but no Ladybug. He raised a brow, and shrugged, tapping the contact icon. She picked up quickly. “Féline Sombre, I found him. He’s just outside the Louvre.”
“Okay, try to keep him busy and away from the civilians. I’ll call Ladybug.” They hung up, and Paon Lilas dropped off the roof down towards his father.
“Looks like someone got trapped in a race car paint booth,” Paon taunted. His father turned around and smiled at him. He did not like that smile. Was it bad that he was unnerved by his father smiling?
“Hello to you too, little peacock. You’ll do lovely in my new collection,” He lifted his book and aimed, “But before I do, allow me to seize your Miraculous for Hawkmoth.” He threw the book at Paon Lilas.
He ducked and the book hit the guardrail causing it to disappear. He blinked and his father showcased the guardrail's place in his book before swiping it away, erasing it from the page.
"Just stand still, pretty feathers like those need to be immortalized!"
"I'm allergic to paper, actually." Paon Lilas joked. He circled the Collector, getting a sense of his surroundings and how to keep him there. He really didn’t want to hit his father, even if it was an akumatized version of him...
"How unfortunate." The Collector said coolly. He threw the book at him again and Paon leaped out of the way.
"Really, I'm not much of a by-the-books person!"
The Collector growled and caught his book, glaring at Paon Lilas. “I’m starting to see that. You’re all just troublemaking children.”
Féline Sombre did not seem to have the same reservations as Paon Lilas about hitting his father. She vaulted in and kicked him from behind. “Whoops, cat’s out of the bag.”
-
Marinette was definitely glad for the Ladyblog. Having notifications on for Alya’s obsessive tracking of Akumas and the superheroes movements has certainly allowed her to find the Akumas that didn’t show up right in front of her. She turned down an alley, and double checked for onlookers before transforming. She found Féline Sombre’s message, and listened to their briefing while she set out to the Louvre.
Féline was already there keeping the Collector at bay. ...And working with: “Paon Lilas?!”
“Oh! Hello m’lady!” Paon grinned. The book flew at his head and his eyes widened as he leaped into the air to avoid it. “Don’t let the book touch you, it will trap you in its pages!”
“M’lady? I love that!” Féline Sombre giggled, “Can I use that too?”
“But of course, Mittens. I’ve got plenty more where that came from!”
Ladybug landed next to Féline, giving Paon a glare “Oh hush Feathers.”
Paon Lilas gave her an uneasy grin which was quickly erased as the Collector threw a kick at him while throwing his book towards Ladybug. Féline Sombre moved in front of her, blocking with her staff. The staff disappeared from their hands.
“I think we need some luck right now Ladybug!” Féline said, shifting into a hand-combat pose.
Ladybug nodded, calling “Lucky Charm!” The magic provided a miniature trampoline. She looked around with a frown.
The Collector meanwhile, threw his book at the entrance pyramid. He kicked Féline Sombre into the resulting hole in the ground, jumping down after them.
Ladybug and Paon Lilas immediately leapt after. Ladybug caught Féline, swinging in from her yoyo. Paon tumbled onto the ground, and looked over to the Collector. The Collector grinned, throwing his book towards where Ladybug had hooked her yoyo.
“Ladybug!” Paon called. It only earned him a frown and a sharp spike of suspicion rather than her following his gesture toward the book. She and Féline tumbled onto the ground as the yoyo was sucked into the pages of the book.
The Collector caught his book in the other hand, tapping the page with the yoyo, “My collection really isn’t complete with some superheroes in it, but, I promised Hawkmoth your Miraculous first.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not much of an option!” Paon Lilas went for a punch, only to get blocked with one hand. He ducked the swipe with the open book.
Ladybug looked around, glancing at Paon Lilas’ fan and the book. “Of course! Bird Brain, I need a friend who likes to play ball!” Ladybug raised her trampoline.
Paon jumped back away from the Collector and plucked a feather from the fan. He tried to focus on Ladybug’s determination and imbued the feather with power, sending it Ladybug’s way, “Fly away, little amok.” The feather fluttered into the trampoline. “Got a plan? I assume?”
Ladybug tilted her head at the presence of Paon’s voice sounding much closer than it should be. The mask of light had surrounded his face, and assumedly hers. She nodded. “We’re going to try to see if we can fill up his collection.”
Paon nodded and a bouncy ball dropped onto the ground, and multiplied on the impact. “Meet Doubounce!” Paon winked and caught one in his hand, “Hey, wanna play ball?” He threw it towards the Collector who caught it with his book, frowning. Ah, yes, that looked like the usual response to that question.
Ladybug rolled her eyes and used the trampoline to rebound the multiplying bouncy ball sentimonster towards the Collector “We need Dou and the Collector a little more contained- Féline?”
“On it! Cataclysm!” They touched the stairwell, causing it to crumble, blocking everyone against the ruin and a wall.
Paon started using his fan like a tennis racket, while Ladybug redirected the senti-bouncy balls towards the Collector. He walked towards her, catching the ones that got too close to him. The Collector pressed the book against Ladybug’s lucky charm trampoline, but it didn’t disappear.
“What? Full already?” He flipped through the pages and made a move to erase a page, but Féline kicked it out of his hands. They grabbed the book and tore it in half.
“Miraculous Ladybug!” The swarm of ladybugs returned Ladybug’s yoyo, allowing her to catch and purify the butterfly. Féline Sombre meanwhile, hugged their baton against their cheek.
Paon Lilas snapped Doubounce out of existence and raced to his father’s side. “Fa- Sir? Are you okay?”
He looked up with confusion, but he didn’t… feel confused. Which only made Paon confused. Gabriel looked at the hero, frowning. “What happened? Where am I?”
“Er, the Louvre. You were akumatized by Hawkmoth.” Paon offered his father a hand up, which he accepted. “Don’t worry, it’s over now.”
“You’re… The new one, on the news.”
“Oh uh, Paon Lilas.” He smiled uneasily, and glanced at Ladybug. Who was suspicious again. What was so suspicious about talking to people?
His father nodded, and then gasped, “Adrien! I must find him.”
“I’m sure he is safe. If he was caught by your book, the miracle cure should’ve returned him to wherever he was last,” Ladybug explained.
“Nothing must happen to him. He’s too precious to me.” Gabriel said, placing his hands on Paon’s shoulders (daringly close to the miraculous clipped to his chest). Paon smiled softly, hearing his miraculous beep, as well as Ladybug’s and Féline Sombre’s.
“I’m sure he’s fine sir!” Féline said, “But we’re about to transform back… Goodbye!” Féline waved and vaulted up to the entryway of the Louvre.
“Paon Lilas. We need to talk.” Ladybug said.
“Oh…” He stepped away from his father and placed a hand over his miraculous protectively. “Er… Get back to you on that, M’lady…. Goodbye!” He ran.
Ladybug gave a glance towards Gabriel and smiled, “Sorry sir, goodbye!” She zipped up and away.
Gabriel huffed and called up Natalie. “I’m going to need a ride… I have found a few interesting bits of information about this ramshackle team.”
-
Paon Lilas stumbled into his room. "Fall my feathers."
Duusu appeared with a whoop and giggled. "That was awesome!"
Adrien closed his eyes, standing still as he tried to let the dizziness fade. "Yeah…" He braced a hand against his temple and huffed, "But… Do you know how we can fix the miraculous?"
"Oh no, you're hurt?" Duusu cried.
"I'm fine…" He sighed and sat on his bed, "But it's probably a good idea to fix it if I'm gonna keep using it…"
"It should be in the spell book!" Duusu said, collecting some seeds from a drawer.
"There's a spell book? Where?"
Duusu tilted his head, munching on his snack, considering. "I remember it somewhere!"
Adrien sighed and dropped himself against the bed. "Alright. Guess we gotta find a spell book." He yawned and closed his eyes, quickly succumbing to sleep.
Summery: An AU where Adrien never went to in-person school, not getting the cat miraculous, and found the peacock miraculous. - Marinette and Sabrina try out for D’Argencourt’s fencing academy, and a mysterious person challenges Adrien for a spot in the academy.
-
“You've been reviewing the fencing rules all weekend, it's going to be great!” Tiki exclaimed cheerfully. Marinette smiled and nodded.
“Oh! Marinette!” Sabrina waved cheerily, holding her fencing helmet under her arm. Tiki squeaked and hid in a fencing helmet as the other teen ran up to Marinette.
“Hi? Sabrina?” Marinette said slowly, looking around the room, “...Is Chloé here?”
They nodded, “Yep! She’s going to be watching!”
Marinette grimaced. Great, now she had to worry about Chloé judging her too. She shook her head, “I… didn’t know you were interested in fencing?”
“I thought it’d go well with my self defense training. It should be fun too! For lots of reasons! Chloé and I roleplay as superheroes sometimes... Well, actually, Chloé’s always Ladybug-” Marinette made a face, but Sabrina didn’t comment on it, “and I used to play the villains. But now that Paon Lilas showed up, I finally have a superhero to play as! …. Anyway, while I researched the sport, I noticed much of his combat style is informed by fencing-” she shifted into a fencing stance, making a few combat poses (which did in fact, remind Marinette of Paon Lilas), “You can tell by the way he moves.”
“You roleplay as… Paon Lilas? Why?” Marinette frowned, crossing her arms, “What about Féline Sombre? They’re cool.”
Sabrina straightened their posture, smiling almost nervously, “...You think Féline Sombre’s cool?” she shook her head, “I, uh, do too... but... I uh- I... Paon Lilas matches my color scheme! Blue and purple!”
Marinette sighed, “Of course… Well, good luck Sabrina-” She grabbed a fencing helmet, and dropped it on her head. Marinette yelped, stumbling back, noticing something inside the helmet. Tiki stared at her from inside with wide eyes. After the initial shock, the kwami had to cover her mouth to contain her giggle.
“...You okay Marinette?” Sabrina asked.
She gave Tiki a glance and took the helmet back off to allow Tiki to subtly hide in a better spot. “Yep. Yep, don’t mind me, just- thought a loose hair was a spider for a second…” she pointedly brushed some of her hair away from her face and grinned awkwardly. She ran from the room to get in place with the rest of the prospective students.
-
“I am the fencing master, Mr. D'Argencourt. Instead of the estimated one open spot, we have two, due to an… unexpected drop out…. The coward,” Mr. D’Argencourt said, flourishing his saber, “So, in order to select the best possible candidates, I will observe the beginners performing a number of attacks on the experienced students,” he gestured to the group of the current students, “Get into position!”
Marinette squeaked as one of the students walked towards her, “Actually, maybe I’m not cut out for this…”
“If you’re worried about why Landon dropped out, it’s because of the akuma attacks, not because of the classes. He and his mom are moving out of Paris,” the fencer explained.
“Oh thank goodness- Oh well, I mean, not for Landon because that must be hard- I- It’s just- I mean, the akumas certainly aren’t great- ” Marinette sputtered. She sighed, and offered her hand, “I’m Marinette.”
The fencer raised his helmet. Adrien smiled, “I know. It’s nice to see you here.”
“Wh-” Marinette’s brows furrowed, “Wait, weren’t you sick? Why are you doing sports?”
He blushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck, “I’ve been feeling better since last week. And, uh, skipping class… wasn’t an option. Don’t worry, I talked to Mr. D’Argencourt beforehand. If I ever raise both of my hands in surrender, it’s because I got dizzy or something, and we’ll stop. He’ll get you rotated with a different partner.”
Marinette nodded firmly, “As long as you’re being safe.”
“Get into position!” D’Argencourt commanded.
Adrien smiled at her and dropped his helmet back over his face. With a quick instruction on her form, Adrien stepped back into his side of the strip, waiting for Marinette to get a hang of what she was doing. They fenced for a while as Adrien explained how saber fencing worked. Eventually, he regretfully had to request a time out.
Marinette pushed her helmet up, “You feeling okay?”
He nodded, pushing his own up, taking in a deep breath of the unrestricted air, “Just winded, I’m gonna get some water and I’ll be good to go for another bout.”
When Adrien returned, the class was bunched together. He easily spotted Chloé in the crowd (being the only person not in fencing gear) and walked next to her. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, Adrikins!” Chloé hugged him, and really, he’d rather not have had the air squeezed out of him at the moment, but resigned himself to it anyway. “This kid in red showed up and says they’re the best fencer everywhere they’ve been- but don’t worry, they’re obviously not as good as you.”
He raised a brow but said nothing.
“All right!” D’Argencourt exclaimed to the newcomer, “I may consider your admission, shall you defeat one of my students.”
The fencer in red strode forward, “Which one of you is the best combatant?” the fencer demanded. The crowd parted, and Adrien found himself alone in the center. He glanced towards Marinette, who gave him an awkward thumbs up.
D’Argencourt gestured to the primary fencing strip, “Adrien, please give our visitor a lesson in chivalry.”
He halfway suspected D’Argencourt had entirely forgotten he wasn’t at his best, but, if everyone thought he was the best here, who was he to disappoint? He nodded, “Yes sir.”
-
Chloé could care less about fencing. It’s all sweaty and involves clashing and clanging metal together. But, it's her Adrien's sport, and Sabrina seemed to think it was fun too. Least she could do was watch in support. With Marinette’s incessant questions and the answers other students were giving, Chloé could somewhat follow the bout. Really, who did this random red rouge think they were? Trying to take her Adrikin’s place as the best fencer in the Academy?
“Uhhh… Abstention!” D’Argencourt called. The fencers returned to their starting line.
Adrien pulled his helmet up to breathe, and looked up at the fencer in red, brows furrowed in determination. He dropped the helmet back over his face.
“Tired yet?” The fencer taunted.
“Just getting started,” Adrien called back, straightening his stance.
“... Shall I request we do this the old fashioned way then?” they turned to D’Argencourt, “We'll be much more at ease without the machine.”
D’Argencourt considered it, “Adrien?”
He smiled behind his helmet, “Fine with me.”
Chloé focused on each move and clash and blow. Freed of their attachments, the fencers moved with agility and panache. Jumping, spinning, clashing. Some boring person muttered “Aren’t they supposed to stay on the strip?” The fencers raced up the stairwell and Chloé made her way to the front to watch them closely. Chloé didn’t pay much attention to the fact that Marinette was the only other person who had kept up with the fight. Nor did she pay attention to the fact that Sabrina had been clearing her path among the crowd before.
The fencer would lunge, Adrien would parry. Adrien feinted a step and pulled back, drawing them in, and the fencer would leap out of the way of his counterattack. Blades clashed and clamored. Adrien knocked the fencer through the doors of the Library. Marinette stood in front of the opened doors as the pair fought, watching intently.
“Out of my way,” Chloé huffed, shoving Marinette to take her spot in watching the pair fight. She yelped as a book cart was sent her way and she narrowly jumped out of the way, “Hey!”
Neither fencers paid any attention. (Which, ouch, really? Is she not important enough here?)
“Let’s finish this!” the red-clad fencer announced, and they both lunged. Chloé blinked and both sabers were being pulled away from the other fencer’s chest.
The fencers turned to look at Chloé. “Who got the first hit?!” The figure in red demanded, “Who?”
Adrien pulled off his helmet and rubbed the spot he’d been hit, grimacing slightly.
“Er…” Chloé frowned and the group finally caught up to them, whispering curiosities. “Adrien?”
“Wait, you’re not even one of my students….” D’Argencourt noted, “Are you sure?”
Chloé huffed, tilting her head up, "Of course! And I'm sure my father, the Mayor, would love to explain to you why I’m right~” she side stepped closer and lowered her voice, “You already lost the election to him, do you really wanna lose your job as well?"
Adrien frowned. “Actually, I think they touched me first,” Adrien said, turning to D’Argencourt.
“Er- Referee has the last word!” D’Argencourt exclaimed, “This victory is… certainly an honor to the D’Argencourt Academy!” He chuckled nervously as Chloé grinned.
Adrien frowned and watched as the fencer walked away and thrust their saber into the ground. “I’m going to offer them a decisive match,” he said, and raced after them.
“Hey! Adriekins, why are you following them? You won!” Chloé sighed and followed him, rolling her eyes.
Adrien pulled the fencer’s sword from the ground and ran towards the fencer’s car. “Wait! Your saber!”
Chloé raced down the entrance, “Come on Adrikins, you won, what’s this...” she halted as she looked up. The red clad fencer removed their helmet and…well she was unfairly pretty. Dark hair and dark eyes and a dusting of freckles like stardust on her cheeks... “About…”
Adrien continued forward anyway, “Let’s do a, er, decisive match?” Adrien offered, smiling.
“Like she said-” The fencer said, gesturing to Chloé, “You won. There’s no such thing as second chances in my family. Goodbye.” She turned and got into the car.
“Hey! What’s your…” The car door slammed and the car drove off. “...name.” He frowned and glanced down at the red saber.
Chloé shook him. “Who was that? I must know immediately.”
He sighed, watching the car retreat into the distance. “Well… I saw her ring, it reminded me of something... Give me a second-” He grabbed his phone and looked up the imagery of the ring.
-
“Oh curse the passage of time,” D’Argencourt grumbled, “We will finish the last rounds of candidate selection next Thursday. Er, you four-” He pointed at Marinette, Sabrina, and two other students, “You’re in for the last rounds. Everyone else, farewell, no need to return,” he waved the group of prospective students away and the group dispersed.
Sabrina was suddenly next to Marinette. Marinette yelped as she noticed the other teen so close. “You’re in the last bracket! That’s awesome!”
Marinette raised a brow, “Uh… Thank you. Congrats to you too.”
They smiled, “Yeah! I’m super excited!” she bounced in place, “I can’t wait to master the blade.”
Somewhere outside, Chloé screamed.
Sabrina gasped, “Chloé! I’ve gotta check on her!” Sabrina ran off, brow furrowed in determination.
Marinette frowned and ran off in another direction, finding somewhere to transform. Chloé’s screams usually meant akumas.
-
“Adrien!” Chloé cried out as the akumatized villain pointed their sword at him. Adrien was on the ground, holding the red handled saber against Riposete’s sword.
“I’m taking you up on your offer for a decisive match!” Riposte exclaimed.
Adrien strained against the sword. He gave up and rolled out from under her. “I can’t fight you like this!”
“Fight!” she demanded with another slash. Féline Sombre tumbled in and knocked the sword away with her staff.
“Hey now, play nice,” Féline said, shifting to get in front of Adrien.
“I’m not playing,” Riposte said, “I will show you all just who the greater swordsman is!”
Adrien groaned and scrambled to a stand, moving through a blur of dots in his vision, only to run into someone. Strong hands balanced him. “Careful,” Ladybug said.
“She’s after my Adrikins!” Chloé explained to Ladybug, hiding behind a pillar, “You need to protect him!”
“I can protect my-” his body decided this was a perfect time to betray him. He stumbled and coughed. ...Probably too much exertion today.
Riposte knocked Féline Sombre back, and rushed towards Adrien and Ladybug. Ladybug wrapped her yoyo around Riposete’s sword and yanked. Riposete’s arm was pulled away from Adrien, but the yoyo slipped off.
“It’s fused to her hand?” Ladybug exclaimed.
Féline Sombre got back up and vaulted towards Adrien and Ladybug.
“I guess you can’t dis-arm her!" Féline Sombre chuckled awkwardly.
"Puns? Seriously?" Ladybug shook her head, “Féline, get Adrien somewhere safe, I'll keep her occupied.”
"Can do Bug, come on Adrien," Féline grabbed him around the waist and he yelped as they extended their staff into the air and the ground twirled away from him without his input.
Riposte growled under her breath and sliced a pillar and kicked it towards Ladybug. She stumbled back and lassoed the pillar before it could fall into her. Riposte was already bounding off after Féline Sombre. Ladybug sighed and hooked her yoyo on a nearby chimney to follow after.
"I really need somebody who's better at distraction than I am."
-
Féline Sombre landed on a bridge, gently dropping Adrien. She looked around, "Okay, okay, we're probably far enough to pause and make a plan of action. If she's looking to fight you then hiding might be your best bet, but that could become dangerous if she finds you and you're somewhere you can't escape-"
"No, hiding is great!" Adrien grinned awkwardly, already stepping away. He glanced around for places to transform. "I can do that! I'll just-"
Riposte landed just a few feet away from them before Adrien could run away. "Stand and fight, you coward!"
"I’m not going to fight you like this!” Adrien protested, “You're not yourself! What's the honor in this?"
Riposte lunged forward and he ducked, rolling out of the way. Féline Sombre twirled on their staff and kicked Riposte away.
Riposte growled and slashed the lampposts. Féline Sombre’s eyes widened as the old metal lamps crashed and caged her against the edge of the bridge. They strained against the metal, “Adrien look out!”
Riposte immediately turned to him. She advanced quickly and he scrambled back, automatically shifting into a fencing form, red handled blade in hand. Riposte slashed at his feet, forcing him to leap up onto the edge of the bridge.
Féline Sombre called for their cataclysm. Riposte prepared to strike at him. Féline wouldn’t be able to interfere fast enough. He knew it.
-
“If you really are Paon Lilas, transform, Adrien,” Hawkmoth muttered under his breath, brows furrowed in concern. Because if he didn’t, what did that mean? His son was in danger and he put him there. Does he have to hope for yet another failure? Is it a failure if his son is safe? He practically growled under his breath, pushing such things out of his mind. “Come on. What are you waiting for?”
-
Adrien closed his eyes. He jumped. Riposte’s sword crashed on brick. Wind whipped around him. He held his breath and splashed into the water below.
It was cold. His lungs were already protesting. He opened his eyes and spotted a red figure dive in after him. Ladybug’s arm wrapped around him, securing him as she pulled him up and secured her yoyo to land. He hacked on coughs as soon as they breached the water.
Ladybug dropped him on the ground and he groaned.
"You're kinda reckless, aren't you?" Ladybug noted with some sort of half smile on her face.
His lungs hated him. He wheezed with a cough, "I trusted Féline Sombre not to leave me."
Ladybug frowned at him briefly. She glanced towards the bridge as Riposte looked down at the waters below. Féline Sombre gave Ladybug the quickest of a wave, and she ran out of sight, presumably to detransform.
"Come on," Ladybug said. She picked him up (really these superheroes have got to stop doing that, it's making his vision blur) and bounded away.
"What about Féline Sombre?" Adrien exclaimed, closing his eyes and tightening his grip on Ladybug’s shoulders to keep the dizziness from overwhelming him.
"They'll be back, we need you somewhere safe before Riposte figures out you're not in the water." Ladybug landed and gently put him on the ground. He looked around, finding she had brought them to a park.
He coughed more, shaking from the wind-whipped, damp, cold settling in his bones. Ladybug frowned at him again strangely.
"How are you doing? ...You seem ill."
He forced a smile, "Just the after effects of my little dive I think. I'll be fine."
Her expression changed strangely yet again and she nodded, “Okay…” she looked around and nodded to herself, “here,” she grabbed Adrien’s hand and tugged him towards a statue, “Hide behind here. I’ll uh, come get you when we deakumatize Riposte.”
Adrien nodded and watched as Ladybug dashed to the edges of the park, activating the phone in her yoyo. “Duusu,” he whispered, “we should help them-”
“You’re sick,” Duusu said, coming up and pushing against his cheek, “I’m sure Ladybug and Féline Sombre can handle it from here, right?”
Adrien frowned, glancing back towards where Ladybug was talking to Féline Sombre on the phone. “Maybe…” he muttered, “but it’s also the easiest way to get Adrien out of the way while still doing something, right?”
“You’re not in the way,” Duusu whispered.
Adrien grumbled anxiously, watching from behind the statue.
-
“She’s coming your way, bye Bug!” Féline Sombre exclaimed as they ended the call.
“Bye Kitty,” Ladybug searched for the silvery akuma with a frown. “Hm, better safe than sorry- Lucky Charm!” Ladybug called. The charm produced a metal wireframe chair. She tilted her head. “A...chair. Am I supposed to sit around for Riposte to come attack Adrien?”
Riposte dove in, sword aimed, and Ladybug yelped as she tumbled out of the way.
“Where did you hide him?” Riposte demanded, flourishing her weapon.
“You think I’d tell you?” Ladybug scoffed, briefly glancing to where Féline Sombre was inching forward. Hidden. Waiting for an opening. “This is just between us. Unless you’re scared to test your mettle against me?”
Riposte huffed, turning her full attention to Ladybug, “Oh? I’ll defeat you swiftly and then I’ll take your miraculous!” Riposte lunged and Ladybug twirled to block with the chair, gasping as she noticed the sword slip between the backrest supports. Riposte was too fast however, and the sword slipped back out before she could do anything about it.
Féline Sombre vaulted in on her staff and kicked Riposte from behind, into the park fence. They shifted into a fencing stance, staff aimed like a sword, “You wanted some fencing, right?”
“Who told you all these puns?” Ladybug frowned, glancing at her redheaded partner.
“Would you be mad if I said all the puns is because I’m kinda missing Paon Lilas’s jokes?”
Ladybug made a face, “What? No, but-”
“Your face says otherwise!” Féline Sombre exclaimed, chuckling.
“Oh hush!” Riposte exclaimed as she lunged towards Féline. Féline Sombre used her staff to block the sword and shifted to get behind her.
“So Bug, what’s our plan?” Féline asked, extending her staff to hit Riposte again. They twirled out of the way of the counterattack.
“The sword!” Ladybug said, “That’s got to be where the akuma is. But she’s too fast!”
Adrien frowned, “I- I can’t just watch. Duusu-” he was caught off by a cough.
Riposte huffed and leaped out from the middle of Ladybug and Féline Sombre, skidding backwards. She turned her head to the sound of a cough. “Of course,” she sent a slash through the statue.
Ladybug gasped, “Adrien!”
Adrien dropped to the ground, then leaped up over the broken base of the statue. He tightened his grip on the fencing sword, frowning towards Riposte. “You want a fight? Fine. Let’s fight.”
Riposte grinned, “Finally.” She lunged and he doubled back, towards Ladybug and Féline Sombre.
Ladybug looked between the fighters and Féline Sombre and ran forward to meet them, smiling. “Féline, I’m gonna need your ribbon soon.” Adrien continued to retreat and block.
The cat hero tilted their head briefly but pulled the ribbon off. Féline Sombre moved in around Riposte’s other side.
With the heroes in the right positions, Adrien drew in another attack from Riposte and called, “Ready?!” He twirled, switching positions with Ladybug. Féline Sombre came around with the ribbon and secured the sword into the metal bars of the chair’s backrest. They ran and tugged backwards to keep it secure as Riposte struggled in the snare.
“Prêt, Allez!” Adrien and Ladybug announced as they both used their combined weight to snap the sword trapped in the chair’s back.
Ladybug grabbed the back of the chair as Adrien fell into the seat, keep him from falling with the chair. Adrien blinked, “Huh, handy.”
Ladybug smiled at him as she grabbed his arms and pulled him up to a stand.
He looked up and down at her and barely flickered a smile at her. He turned towards Riposte with a frown.
“Wow, impressive fencing,” Féline said.
He shrugged, “I’ve been in fencing since I was really young.”
Ladybug caught and purified the butterfly. “Bye bye little butterfly...” She grabbed the Lucky Charm, frowning towards Adrien, “You didn’t have to do that. You put yourself in danger.”
“What happened?” Kagami muttered, looking up in confusion.
Adrien frowned and glanced down at the ground before shaking his head, ignoring Ladybug in favor of the fencer. Ladybug sighed and called for her miracle cure.
He leaned down to the fencer and offered a hand. “You were akumatized,” he said softly, “It’s… a… whole thing. It’s fine now though.”
Ladybug walked over to Féline Sombre. They high-fived and smiled at each other.
“Hey, Adrien,” Ladybug said, “...take care of yourself…” she smiled, and waved as her miraculous beeped, “Bug out!”
Féline Sombre waved goodbye to Ladybug and turned towards the two civilians, “Do either of you need a lift home?”
“I have a chauffeur,” Kagami said.
“Same,” Adrien chuckled awkwardly.
Féline shrugged, “Alright! In that case, I should probably head out too. See you later!” She vaulted away and Adrien turned back to Kagami.
“So…” Adrien muttered.
“Listen I-” she sighed and glanced at the ground.
“I’m sorry” both teens said.
Adrien laughed and offered the saber, “Here’s your saber back… Maybe, uh, we could do a proper rematch?”
She shook her head, pushing it back towards him. “No, I lost. Keep it.”
“Chloé really doesn’t know anything about fencing. I personally think it was your point. Besides… red’s not really my color.”
“She certainly acted like she knew.”
“She can be… enthusiastic, she just… she means well, just goes about things wrong.” Adrien sighed and shrugged, “but I… I think- If you want, we could uh, be friends?”
She looked almost shocked, “You… You want to be my friend?”
“Of course! I- Here, let’s start over-” Adrien huffed a smile and offered his hand, “My name’s Adrien. What’s yours?”
She paused, glancing between his face and his hand. She took the offered hand and shook it. “Kagami.”
“Nice to meet you, Kagami.”
“...Yeah. Nice to meet you too, er, Adrien,” she smirked, “You better get ready for that decisive match.”
He laughed, “Oh, I will.”
-
Fencing swords clashed. One fencer lunged, and the other spun and hit. The buzzer sounded.
“Point!” D’Argencourt called, “Sabrina Raincomprix, welcome to the academy!”
Sabrina pulled up her mask and smiled at Marinette as she disconnected herself from the buzzer cord. Marinette raised her mask up with a sigh. They saluted with their sword and Marinette did the same.
“Good game,” Marinette muttered with a sigh, preparing for whatever mocking she would receive.
“You did awesome! It was a close game, you almost had me there."
Marinette raised a brow. "Uh. Thanks?"
Sabrina sighed, "It's really too bad there's only two spots, I was looking forward to sparring more with you. Next time there's an open spot you should definitely try again."
"I… you really think so? Chloé would've hated seeing me outside class on a weekly basis."
"I- I’m not Chloé’s clone, I... don’t hate you. I’m...sorry if I’ve ever made it seem like that," they sighed, and offered a hand, "Seriously. Good game, Marinette."
She smiled awkwardly and accepted the handshake. "Same to you, Sabrina."
Marinette walked into the equipment room and Tiki zipped out.
"You did great, even if you didn't get in. You can always practice on your own or get Adrien to help again!" Tiki cheered.
Marinette sighed and nodded, "True. ...I think that fencer- Kagami? and Sabrina wanted it more anyway. I wouldn't change a thing… and… Sabrina was weirdly nice."
"Without Chloé around she seems much more open."
"Yeah, I guess. ...Actually- huh. I guess they've never exactly been outright antagonistic… I guess I just… associate her with Chloé that much…" Marinette shook her head, "Weird."
