Chapter 1: Ladybug and Marinette (Failure)


Hi, guys. This story, which is not related to my other two - MLB: Murder in Lyon and MLB: Saving Adrien (and Emma, too), is a satire of sorts; it's going to be an alternative timeline for the characters of MLB. Some face success, others yet face failure.
This particular story is on Marinette, as well as Ladybug, and it's a failure for her. Now, I don't really hate Marinette, but there's something very problematic about her: she stalks Adrien in the show. And that's not alright - it's probably dismissed because she is a girl, and therefore her behaviour is seen as 'cute'. See the double standard?
As for Ladybug, she's a bit of a jerk to Cat Noir, her partner - putting him down, making fun of him unreasonably, and being mean to him in general (watch "Reflekdoll", for example). And in addition, the public seems to forget that Cat Noir exists. So, Cat Noir will finally express his displeasure at this in the first story.
I know a lot of you will disagree with me about Marinette, since she is loved universally by the fandom. And I don't hate her either. I am just exploring possibilities of what could happen - what could go wrong (or right, depending on what you think) by writing this. If you disagree, you're entitled to your opinion.
But anyway, let's get started:


"Fat lot of help that's going to be, Cat Noir," said Ladybug crossly as she and her partner fought the latest akuma.

"C'mon, M'lady, I'm just trying to be of assistance," replied Cat Noir flirtily, Cataclysm at the ready. Ladybug just rolled her eyes at him.

"Well, you're more hindrance than help to me," said Ladybug, as she continued fighting the villain.

Cat Noir was hurt.

He didn't mind her making fun of his bad jokes (bad in her opinion), or rolling her eyes at him, or occasionally bossing him around.

However, it seemed to be getting worse these days.

The public saw with their own eyes that Ladybug and Cat Noir fought baddies together. Yet, they always flocked to thank Ladybug, and no-one seemed to notice him. Was it because she was the leader of the pair, or perhaps could it have been because she was female?

Anyway, this game seemed to be going to her head. Her good-natured teasing towards her partner (now her subordinate, it seemed) was fast traversing into mean-spirited jibes, ordering him around all the time, and refusing to take his ideas into account.

Only the day before yesterday she had told him that he was stupid, for asking if they could know each other's identities.

Stupid.

This was too much.

Cat Noir had no time to think about all this, for a battle was to be fought. And it was ultimately won as usual.

The akuma was purified, the possessed was looked after, and the townspeople rushed to thank Ladybug. Only a handful of them acknowledged Cat Noir.

It was getting too much. Cat Noir decided, once he regenerated, he'd have a talk with his Lady.

He approached her, at the end of the battle.

"M'lady?"

"Not now, Cat Noir," snapped Ladybug, "I'm tired and I have to go home."

"Well, I wanted to have a word," said the black-clad superhero.

"If this is about our identities," said Ladybug, "I'll leave you to fight the next akuma on your own."

Cat Noir began to crack.

"That's the problem," he began. "M'lady, I value your partnership. I know you don't like my jokes. And I know you don't like it when I call you Bugaboo. But... you've been acting strange lately."

"If you mean, by acting strangely, keeping you in line?" said Ladybug acidly. "Cat Noir, you're a loose cannon! I can't have you goofing off while we fight the baddies! How many times has that happened before?"

"THAT'S THE PROBLEM!" shouted Cat Noir, losing his temper. "ALL THIS TIME, YOU'VE BEEN TREATING ME AS THOUGH I'M BENEATH YOU! YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AS EASY TO GET ON WITH AS YOU WERE EARLIER! YOU'VE TURNED INTO A TOTAL..." he paused to find a word.

"I can't believe this is coming from you!" retorted Ladybug. "What have I done to deserve this?"

"JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING! DON'T YOU REMEMBER WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH? DON'T YOU REMEMBER HOW I'VE LITERALLY DIED FOR YOU? AND YOU'VE BEEN LEAVING ME IN THE DUST!"

"How the hell so?" snapped Ladybug.

Cat Noir thought.

"Have you ever entrusted me with someone's secret identity? Rena's, Carapace's? The only reason I know Queen Bee's is because she's flaunted it," he said. "No! It's all, we can't know each other's secret identities!"

"Don't you have any respect for Master Fu's rules?" said Ladybug furiously.

"ALL I'M SAYING," Cat Noir raised his voice again, "IS THAT YOU DON'T TRUST ME AT ALL! YOU THINK I'LL GO AND TELL EVERYONE UNDER THE SUN ABOUT THE IDENTITIES OF OUR ALLIES, DON'T YOU? WELL, YOU OUGHTA KNOW, I'M MORE TRUSTWORTHY THAN THAT! YOU'RE JUST TOO BLOODY NARROW-MINDED TO SEE IT!"

He stopped his tirade.

"I'm sorry, Ladybug, but I can't do this," he said, with an air of finality. "I'm not your kitty anymore. We're done."

And he swung away, leaving Ladybug befuddled.


"What has gotten into that cat?" raged Marinette to Tikki, as they were in Marinette's room the next morning. It was Sunday, and school was out.

"He did have a point, Marinette," said Tikki sagely. "You have been acting rather mean to him lately. This version of Ladybug isn't supposed to be the idealised version of yourself!"

"But Tikki," protested Marinette. "When I'm Ladybug, I'm more confident than ever!"

"If by confident," deadpanned Tikki, "you mean a jerk. Confidence doesn't mean putting people down, Marinette. It's quite the opposite."

But Marinette had forgotten about that - something else was on her mind.

"Ah, I just remembered!" she said brightly. "Adrien's at a photoshoot today!"

"And?"

"And I just had an amazing thought! Perhaps I could go to his house and surprise him when he gets home, and then he'd see how good I am at surprises, and he'll fall in love with me and then we'll get married and buy a big house in the countryside and have three kids and a dog and a hamster named..."

"Marinette," said Tikki impatiently, "you and Adrien are in the same class! Go to school tomorrow and tell him how you feel."

"Nuh-uh," said Marinette. "I have a better idea. Tikki, Spots On!"

"You've got to be kidding meeeeeeeeeeee..." cried Tikki, as she flew into Marinette's earrings.

Marinette, who was now Ladybug, jumped through her trapdoor and swung from rooftop to rooftop. It wasn't long before she landed at the Agreste Mansion.

She stopped outside Adrien's bedroom window. It was unlocked, and Ladybug pushed it open to enter.

"Ahh," she sighed. "Adrien's climbing wall."

She looked at the climbing wall.

"Adrien's gaming consoles..." she looked at the arcade games - "Adrien's bookshelf..." - then at his bookshelf - "Adrien's bed" - then his bed - "Adrien's pillow" - she sniffed his pillow - "Adrien's perfume" - she sensed his scent - "Adrien's bathroom" - she walked into his en-suite bathroom - "Adrien's toilet" - need I say anything more?

But Ladybug was so engrossed in her raving that she didn't notice footsteps entering the room.

She didn't notice the door opening.

She didn't anything until she heard a gasp.

"Oh my God," said a small voice, before it amplified into a blood-curdling yell.

"GUARDS!" shouted the voice, a man's deep one. "SEIZE HER!"

Ladybug turned. It was Adrien's father, reclusive fashion designer and mogul, Gabriel Agreste.

Gulp.

"You," he snarled, "stay where you are."

"I haven't done anything," said Ladybug, in her most timid voice.

Just then, Adrien entered. Ladybug's pulse skyrocketed... until she saw the confused look on Adrien's face.

"Father?" he said, nervously. "What's going on?"

"Adrien, you have been stalked by someone who appears to be a superhero on the outside," explained Mr Agreste.

"Who?" he said, then he turned.

Gulp.

"Oh my God," he breathed. "LADYBUG?!"

"Adrien," explained Ladybug. "I can explain - I was just inspecting your room -"

"That's not what it looked like, Ladybug," rumbled Mr Agreste. Just then, the security guards arrived.

"Take her to the police station," instructed Mr Agreste. "This so-called superhero has some explaining to do."

Ladybug was dragged by the guards and put into the back of a big black van. Adrien and his father got into the Mercedes-Benz limousine that was parked nearby, and they headed to the police station.

Lieutenant Roger Raincomprix was at the interrogation room.

"Mr Agreste, good to see you," he said genially, "ah, and young Adrien too. What brings you here?"

"As a matter of fact, Roger," said Mr Agreste, "we've a surprising arrest to make."

Ladybug, handcuffed by Mr Agreste's guards, was dragged into the room. Officer Raincomprix was surprised.

"Ladybug?" he gasped. "But surely there must be some mistake...?"

"Roger," said Mr Agreste, "if you would be kind enough to watch this..."

One of his guards, who had secured some CCTV footage, showed Officer Raincomprix the video of Ladybug breaking into Adrien's house. The policeman could only watch in horror.

"You see?" growled Mr Agreste. "This woman who calls herself a 'superhero' was abusing her powers, breaking and entering my house, and did it for the purpose of stalking my son!"

"I see," said Officer Raincomprix. "Well, this is very unacceptable and illegal. First of all, you will have to unmask yourself, Ladybug, so we can punish you."

"NO!" protested Ladybug. "I can't do that! We can't reveal our identities, it's not safe! Besides, I haven't done anything wrong!"

"Funny you should say that, just as we watch your misdeeds," said Officer Raincomprix. "Now, go on!"

Ladybug looked resigned.

"If Hawk Moth kills us, you're to blame," said Ladybug. "Tikki, Spots Off."

And the red spandex suit peeled off, to reveal a black jacket over a white tank top, and pink jeans.

Adrien watched, aghast.

There was only one person he knew who had those clothes.

"Marinette?" he gasped.


"Tom, have you seen Marinette today?" said Sabine Cheng, as she and her husband worked in their bakery.

"No I haven't, Sabine," answered Tom Dupain. "She must have gone out with a friend."

"It's not like her to go anywhere without telling us first," said Sabine, worried. Just then, her mobile phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Mrs Cheng?" said the voice of Officer Raincomprix. "It's Officer Roger Raincomprix."

"Officer, good afternoon," said Mrs Cheng.

"I'm sorry to tell you this," said the policeman nervously, "but... your daughter's been arrested."

"I beg your pardon?" sputtered Mrs Cheng.

"I'm afraid so," said the officer. "We'd appreciate it if you could come round as soon as possible."

"We will, Sir," said Mrs Cheng. "Thank you for telling us."

She hung up. Tom looked quizically at her.

"Marinette's been arrested," Sabine told her husband quietly.

"WHAT?" cried Mr Dupain, "we'd better check on her immediately!"

"That's what we were told," said Mrs Cheng. She and Mr Dupain shut the bakery, put up the closed sign, jumped into their Renault Trafic, and headed to the police station.

"Marinette," cried Mrs Cheng as she entered the room. "What happened?"

"This," said Mr Agreste venomously, "this happened, Mr and Mrs Dupain-Cheng."

He showed her parents the footage. They were confused.

"But that's not Marinette," said Mr Dupain. "That's Ladybug!"

"As a matter of fact, Mr Dupain," interrupted Officer Raincomprix, "you might want to see this as well."

The officer had filmed Ladybug dropping her transformation, turning back into Marinette.

"Wow," said Mr Dupain, awed. "Ladybug is our daughter!"

"And Ladybug also happens to be a criminal," said Mr Agreste furiously. "She abused her powers to break into our house, all for the purpose of stalking my son!"

A wave of realisation washed over Mr Dupain and Mrs Cheng.

"Of course," they thought.

"I - I apologise for my daughter's actions," said Mrs Cheng contritely. "I should have noticed her tendencies when they first appeared."

"She had posters of Adrien all over her room," continued Mr Dupain ruefully, "and she always seemed to know where he was."

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, what do you have to say for yourself?" scolded her mother.

Marinette blanched.

"I - I've loved you, Adrien," she said, "ever since the day you gave me your umbrella. I've been in love with you ever since."

"Marinette, I know what you mean," said Adrien, "but you don't know the real me well enough. You're in love with my image: the perfect idea you have of me. And to truly love me... you need to know me well enough. You hardly know me at all."

"Well, in that case," said Officer Raincomprix, "seeing as you're still a minor, you won't be sentenced, Miss Dupain-Cheng. But you will have to attend a youth counsellor, and also participate in the foundation's summer camp next month."

"And as well as that," said Mr Dupain sternly, "your deeds won't go unpunished at home either."

"What are you going to do?" squeaked Marinette, not daring to hear the last of it. Her father stood up, and raised his voice.

"Well," he boomed, "to quote those GoAnimate videos that you watch, you are grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded, grounded for a year, missy! That means no TV, no computer, no phone, no outings with your friends, and you'll be working in the bakery with us once you get home from school."

"We should have taken action earlier," said Mrs Cheng. "Now, let's go home and talk this over."

Each parent grabbed Marinette's arms, and marched her out of the room. Officer Raincomprix turned to Adrien.

"As for you, Adrien," he said, "you'll have an intensive protection programme from now on, to make sure that no-one stalks you."

"Thank you," said Adrien.

"That's my duty, son," said the Lieutenant jovially.

"Well," said Mr Agreste, "thank you for addressing this promptly, Roger. Now we should be on our way home."

He took his son's shoulder. "Come, Adrien," he said, and led him away.

Adrien's new bodyguards were quite friendly with him, and he appreciated that. Marinette would be expelled from school on account of her actions, and the students would be lectured on stalking and harassment. Although everyone who shipped Marinette with Adrien, knowing her crush on him, would be confused at first, it would dawn on them that their friend's behaviour was irrational.

But Adrien couldn't understand: why did the girl who had been mistreating him as of late have to be the same girl who was stalking him?


And that's what happened to Marinette. Sorry if I got any facts wrong - I don't understand France's criminal justice system too well, and I think Marinette got off pretty lightly, all things considered.

Stay tuned for Chapter Two. Constructive criticism is welcome.