Painted Lady AU One Month
For contexts watch my Miraculous Ladybug Human Animatic.
I don’t know about the France school system or anything like that. I’m American sorry. Also in the animatic, I forgot Adrien asking Marinette not to call out Lila at the end of the episode. So slight fix. This is my first fanfic of any kind, so if anyone characters are weird, I’m sorry. Enjoy.
Warnings: Slight character bashing. Not really bashing just not in a good light.
(Master Fu, Adrien sorta, the class in general.)
I was falling. I don’t know what falling is supposed to feel like. No, I do. I trip and fall all the time. No, I don’t know what falling to your death feels like. There was no Ladybug to catch me. My body feels all the gravity of the world pushing down on it. At the same time, it felt like I wasn’t moving at all. Why am I falling? Thinking for a second… Ah, I remember now. I was akumatized. It all comes back to me. The gift, their harsh words, throwing Tikki, and accepting Hawkmoth. Other than that it was blank. Why did this have to happen… If only I hadn’t agreed with Adrien.
I make my way to school, I had missed the prior day due to being sick. I had worked all weekend to build up my portfolio and hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep. Stretching, I yawned. Still tired. I start thinking of more designs.
“Hey, girl! Where were you?!” A loud yelling voice broke my thoughts. Regaining focus I see its Alya. Smiling I wave back. Walking over to her.
“Worked my self ragged. Ended up getting a bad fever because of it.” I explained.
“Why are you working so hard? Making something for Adrien?” Alya teased. Blushing hard I tried to respond but was cut off by a familiar but unknown voice.
“Marinette! It’s so good to see you.” Before I could identify the voice a body hugs mine. It wasn’t a friendly hug or even a hug that had nice intentions. This hug was hard and unconformable. Prying myself away I see that its…. Oh no. When did Lila return?! My heart was pounding so hard I felt it in my eardrums.
“Lila, when… When did you come back?” I questioned.
“I came back yesterday. I was so sad to see you weren’t there.” She replied with a fake sadness in her voice. Lila’s hands are still holding on to my arms. As she spoke she squeezed hard. “ I do hope that we can be better friends the year.” The snake lied through her teeth. Breaking my arms away. Alya looks at me through questioning eyes.
“Sorry, Lila I had a fever and don’t want to get you sick as well.” I eased Alya. Lila smiled. I don’t like this. Heavens knows what she’s been feeding them. My mind starts to race. I faintly hear Alya say that she and Lila are heading to the library for a pre-school study group and wants to know if I want to come. I can’t muster any words and simply shake my head. Lila said something about me being flushed and making others sick. As they leave I rush to the bathroom. Thankfully no one was there. I splash cold water on my face to calm down.
“Are you okay Marinette?” Tikki asked from my bag. I guess she doesn’t want to risk being seen.
“Honestly. No, Lila is a bad liar. The last time she was here she caused a lot of drama, for both me and Ladybug.” Honestly, I was just worried. Lila had the ability to make the class bend to her will. With me being sick yesterday and Chloe the only other person who doesn’t believe the lies coming out of the snake’s mouth, visiting her mom in America. Lila had free reign of the school. Luckily no one was akumatized yesterday while I was sick, so at least that was good. I dry off my face.
“I have to figure out what damages Lila has done and set things straight.” I resolved.
“What if she didn’t do anything?” Tikki proposed.
“No, knowing Lila she had up some grand story involving some celebrity and some politician. Last time she lied about Ladybug.” I shot back. Tikki didn’t reply, so I think I won. Looking at my phone class was starting in about 10 minutes. As I leave the bathroom and start making my way to the class, a hand grabs me. Turning I see, Adrien?!
“ Marinette before you say anything, I need you to promise me you won’t call out Lila for anything.” He all but demanded.
“Wait, what?” I yank my hand away. “Why? What did she do yesterday?” I questioned back.
“She hasn’t… She hasn’t hurt anyone.” He stuttered.
“Adrien, that is a low bar. What did she say.” My comeback caused him to falter. He quickly straightened himself back.
“Marinette ‘she hasn’t hurt anyone’ is a fine bar for her to reach. Yes, she has lied but the lies haven’t caused anyone to be akumatized.” His reply was weak.
“No one has been akumatized because they don’t know she lying. If they find out then they’ll be akumatized.” His argument wasn’t bad but it wasn’t perfect. “Marinette if you tell them anything, you will be the reason why they become akumatized.”
My brain couldn’t keep up with his words. Adrien grab my arm again, “Marinette promise me.” His grip didn’t tighten but it felt unconformable. All I could do was nod. He didn’t let go, “Marinette swear to me.” Swear? Swear on what…
“I swear on my earrings. They are a gift from a family member. They mean the world to me. I swear on them.” My horsed voice said. He seemed satisfied and let go of me. I make my way to class. My arms burned but the feeling didn’t come pair to the burning in my chest.
I don’t know how far it is from the top of the Eiffel tower to the ground but it feels like it has been hours. I muster up the courage to open my eyes… A ceiling? Moving my body, I feel a sheeted bed. My body hurts. I’ve felt pain from a Ladybug battle before but this is far worse. Wait! I quickly reach for my ears. I don’t feel any earrings. Pulling my body up with a groan. Looking around, I’m definitely in my room.
“Sweetie!” A voice joy-full called. Looking I see my dad. We lock eyes and he just starts crying. I want to move to comfort him, but when I go to reach out to him, I recoil in pain. I hear the door shut. Sitting in silence, I hear moving and crashing from downstairs. No doubt that dad is telling mom I’m up.
“Tikki?” Geez, my voice is strained. She doesn’t answer but I do hear some light movement.
“Marinette!” My mom bursts through the door. Rushing towards me crying. She and I hug, dad joins in.
“I love you guys, but everything hurts.” I meekly said. They pull away. “What happened? How did I get here?
“Ladybug brought you home. She said she caught you and you passed out… She also told us what had been happening at school.” Mom answered. Ladybug? I’m Ladybug or at least I was. Master Fu replaced me so quickly. I could feel tears growing in my eyes. Maybe he never believed in me, maybe he always had a backup plan for when clumsy Marinette messed up to much. I feel a hand caress my face. Mom is looking at me her eyes red from crying.
“ We’re not making you go back there. Do you remember Clover-Bloom academy?” Mom asked, not moving her hand away.
“I thought I missed my chance,” I remember. A month or so after Lila returned and started to turn everyone against me. I received a letter saying that if I was able to make one of the outfits I designed and send it to them I would be accepted… I was so depressed I couldn’t even think of holding a pen let alone making a dress.
“You did. But! We contacted them and they told us that we were very lucky because a student in your grade, had transferred out. They said if you can design a few more designs and take a few tests, you’ll be able to get in.” Dad’s voice was joyful.
“How long do I have?” I meekly asked. This voice started in the back of my head saying ‘ They pity you. It is all your fault. If only you kept your mouth shut. You would still have Tikki, Adrien, and all your friends.’
“Well, you have about a month… But, you’ve been passed out for a few days.” Mom or dad said I couldn’t be sure. A few days! Why? Did… Did anyone come to see me? ‘ Why would they? Dirty lying, bully Marinette. You don’t deserve to be in their presence.’
“We had a doctor come by and check you out. She said that you were fine, just exhausted.” Mom… Yeah, it was mom who said that.
“Has… has anyone come to see me?” I whispered. Mom and dad look at each other than to me then back to each other. Mom sighs.
“Some did. Nino, Juleka, Rose all came to see you.” Mom said.
“We didn’t let them. We were so angry about what they did to you. We told them you were ‘sleeping’, and I don’t know if they wanted to say sorry or wanted answers. We couldn’t let them near you. We hope you understand sweetie.” Dad finished.
“No..no Ayla or Adrien?” I barely got out. They didn’t reply verbally, only shook their head. ‘ See they now how evil you are. The others pity you. Using a akuma to manipulate them. How are you any better than Lila? Its good Fu got a different Ladybug. You. Are. Not. Deserving. Of. The. Title. Ladybug.’
“Is it alright if I can be alone. This is a lot to take in.” They nod.
“Is there anything you would like to eat for dinner?” Dad asked.
“Nothing in particular.” I smiled falsely. They smile back as they leave. I move my body to have my legs off my bed. I feel wetness falling on my legs. I’m crying again. ‘Cry baby.’ I laugh weakly. My laugh is cut off by the sound of movement again. It wasn’t Tikki, the who was it.
“I know you’re there. Show yourself!” I try sounding tough. The moving stopped and hushed whispers can be heard. The whispers stopped. Then, Pollen?
“Hello, my lady.” Pollen greeted gesturing for some to also come out.
“Good to see you again.” Trixx? One other kwami came out, but I didn’t recognize them.
“Hello, Marinette. My name is Nooroo. I am the kwami of transmission and connected to the butterfly miraculous.” Nooroo introduced. Wait, the butterfly miraculous, as in Hawkmoth!
“How are you here? Didn’t Hawkmoth have you! And why are Pollen and Trixx here?” I asked.
“You saved Nooroo!” Trixx gleamed.
“As for us, you had taken us from my late queen and the former fox.” Pollen answered.
“Late queen, former fox?” I repeated. Late, former. Did I kill them?! “Are they okay did I-”
“They are fine minus a few bruises and scrapes. I will do my best to recap what happened to you.” Nooroo interrupted.
“If I had taken all of their miraculous’ then where is Wayzz?” I asked.
“They left to rejoin Master Fu.” Pollen answered.
“And you all didn’t? Shouldn’t we take Nooroo back to Master Fu?” I was very confused. “And why did mom and dad say that Ladybug brought me home, when there was no Ladybug in the fight?” All the kwamis look at each other and start whispering. Nooroo pulled away.
“To answer all those questions I first need to tell you about Duusu.” Nooroo said floating over to me. I open my hand for them to sit in. Pollen and Trixx settle next to Nooroo.
“Yes, Duusu is another kwami that Master Fu lost. Duusu is the kwami of Emotions. They however are… how shall I put this? Corrupted? Yes. Corrupted. Anyone who uses them will fall ill and Duusu themselves will start to fade. In other words, Duusu is dying.” I gasp. “I can not tell you why Duusu is corrupted, but I will tell you this I do not trust Master Fu to protect us,” Nooroo stated.
“Master Fu is the reason we were all lost,” Nooroo said.
“All? Master Fu only told me he lost the butterfly and another miraculous.” The other miraculous must have been Duusu.
“He lied. Master Fu lost everyone other then Wayzz.” I moved my hand to my face, cause them all to fall. I need air, I can’t breathe. I move ignoring the pain and open one of my windows. The sound of Paris is calming. ‘You didn’t deserve the truth.’ I grab my head. I feel a small body hug mine. Then another, and another.
“I’m sorry. I- I don’t know. I thought Fu trusted me.” I tried to justify.
“Fu is an old man. He made a lot of mistakes. Perhaps he thought that if he told you an alternate story after he died it would be the truth. Wash him of his sins?” Nooroo questioned. “Due to an old curse put on us I can not tell you who Hawkmoth was. Hawkmoth is desperate to get the Ladybug and Cat miraculous’ so no doubt he will use Duusu.” They continued.
“Speaking of the Ladybug miraculous.” Nudged Trixx.
“Right. There was no Ladybug. After you retrieved Pollen and co… I had taken over your body.” Nooroo hushed voice said.
“Taken over my body? How?” I asked.
“Kwamis have a lot of different power. We’ll tell you about them later. Back to the story. I had taken control and did a mass akumatizing. This one is permanent.”
“When I myself akumatize someone, the effects are stronger and in this case permanent. I made everyone believe that Ladybug came and saved you. I also made Hawkmoth and anyone else forget that you had me. So Hawkmoth no matter how are he tries can not remember who saved me from him.”
“What about Chat and the others? They should know that I had taken their miraculous’ as well?”
“I altered their memories as well. No matter how hard they try they will only remember that they lost the miraculous’ through there own incompetents. And before you ask, Wayzz and Plagg both said they would lie for us.” Nooroo smiled. I simply nodded. This was a lot to take in.
“What happens now.” I’m not sure if it was a statement or a question.
“Now. I need, no we need your help.” Nooroo said floating to be in front of me. “I need you to my power to help find and fix Duusu.”
“I can’t,” I whispered. “I was akumatized. I lost Tikki. I-I..” I start to cry. ‘I’m worthless’
“My lady. You were the best Ladybug. You can not hold the fact that you have emotions against your self.” Pollen said comforting me.
“Yeah, when Tikki would come to see us, she would praise you to no end! We heard what happened to you. You are human.” Trixx joins Pollen in comforting me.
“You saved me. You went against what Hawkmoth told you to do and saved me. I would have no one better to be my new holder.” Nooroo said holding my face.
“I have a month. One month to get in Clover-Bloom and start anew. There we will save Duusu.” I resolved. Standing up I walk over to my computer, they fallow me. “Chat Noir visits me. So staying here would be a bad idea. Clover-Bloom has dorm rooms. We won’t be bothered.” Turning to face Pollen, Trixx, and Nooroo. “I promise I will save Duusu. I will heal them. And I will protect every single Kwami.” Nooroo smiles.
“That’s all we can ask for, Marinette.” Nooroo gleamed. They all fly over to me and we hug. I don’t care what my old classmates think of me anymore. I have Pollen, Trixx, Nooroo, mom, and dad. Stretching, I log on to my computer.
“I better get started on these test.” I smiled. For the past year, I had nothing to look forward to, and now I have everything.
The next animatic is Painted Lady 1.5 Wolf in Sheep clothing. I’m not sure when it will come out but I’m working on it. Adrien’s and Plaggs art will be coming out sometime.
