Ok, so this just isn't a FanFic I'm writing just because I can, well not that I don't want to write it. Anyway, for this month all my stories will be on hold as I am doing the Miraculous Ladybug Competition with Flicka7. This comp will be judged on reviews, follows and favourites so your support would be much appreciated as, well you can't say I wouldn't like to win ;). Anyway, I would go check out her entries as well so you know what I'm up against. And it finishes on the last day of April so I hope you can all help out :)!

Identity Isn't Everything – Miraculous Ladybug Competition

Chapter 1

"Time to de-evilise!" I shouted, throwing my red polka dot yo-yo into the air.

"What? Where am I?" said the local green grocer. Together, we had just defeated Veginator, another akuma victim. This one was surprisingly difficult, I even had to admit that Chat Noir actually saved my life this time. I was just about to get squished by a giant broccoli when he pushed me out of the way. It wasn't the first time either. The time he jumped in front of me when Time Breaker was about to absorb me came to mind; getting himself absorbed in the process. However, I was glad I had managed to fix it before he vanished for good.

"Pound it!" Chat Noir and I declared in unison, doing our mandatory celebratory fist bump.

"Sorry Chat, gotta go!" I said, hearing the sound of my earrings beeping.

"Don't want you to see me without my mask; you might just faint at the sight of me," Chat Noir teased and I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"Right, I'm sure I would."

Giving one last wave and leaving Chat Noir behind me, I ran around the corner just as I was engulfed in a flash of light and I changed back into plain old Marinette.

"You were great out there Marinette!" Tikki enthused. "Even Chat Noir said so!"

"Yeah, but when had he not said that?" I liked that he loved me so much; I mean, he's said so often enough. And if it wasn't for Adrien, I might have liked him back… No wait, I couldn't. I loved Adrien. Not Chat Noir. Even if his eyes, his bright green eyes shining at the challenges every akumatised victim presented, his humor despite when we were up against overwhelming odds, and his unshakeable confidence both to me and himself... 'No!' I shook my head furiously. 'Stop thinking like that!' I am friends with him, nothing more. Very good friends. And his partner. I-I mean, fighting partner, not the other partner. Yeah.

"Stop doubting yourself Marinette! You were chosen for a reason and you are amazing, maybe even more amazing than any other Ladybug I had ever met," the pink kwami insisted.

"You really think that?" I asked hesitantly, still unconvinced. Sure Ladybug was amazing, but at the end of the day I was still just the baker's daughter, and the end of most of Chloé's stupid jokes.

"Of course I do! You aren't just Ladybug when you're wearing costume, you are still the same girl. Marinette, stop comparing yourself to yourself!" I laughed, Tikki always knew how to cheer me up, even if it is a short lived confidence.

"When you say it like that you make me sound ridiculous! Thanks Tikki." I smiled and stroked her soft pink head as she grinned happily. "Now I should get back to class before anyone realises I'm missing." Tikki nodded and flew into my bag as I ran through the streets and towards my school. As I entered the classroom, I bumped into Adrien, who seemed to be entering late, just as I was.

"What are you doing here?" was all I managed to say before my cheeks flushed and I started stammering. "I-I- I mean, well you probably, well not probably, defin-" Thank God he cut me off.

"I…was at the dentist," he interjected with a quick grin before opening the door for me. I apologised for running into him again but he waved me off casually. He seemed almost relieved as I shakily walked by him, although I couldn't think of reasons why. Did he not like talking to me? Did he think I was a pain? Shrugging off those thoughts before they consumed me, I walked into the classroom sitting at my usual seat behind Adrien. I grinned at Alya in acknowledgment as the teacher started the lessons.

Ô-Ô

Silently congratulating myself for the quick excuse, I sat down in my seat at the front of class, trying to focus. But all I could think of was the way Ladybug had silently thanked me for saving her from the giant broccoli. After I pushed her out the way, she had landed on top of me. Just before she got up again, she had kissed me on the cheek and whispered her gratitude into my ear. She had kissed me. Even if it was just a light peck, she had done it none the less. Just the thought of it made me smile and I could feel my cheeks go pink at the memory of her lips on my cheek and the whisper of her breath as it ruffled my hair.

"Dude! Where were you?" Nino whispered into my ear, bringing me out of my head and crashing back to reality. "And what's with the goofy grin?"

"Uhh…" I scrambled to come up with a valid excuse before he could reach the conclusion I hoped he wouldn't reach.

"You totally have a crush on someone don't you." He winked at me and I was slightly annoyed that he knew me so well.

"None of your business Nino," was the only answer he was going to get as I looked back at the teacher, who was staring at us in warning.

"Whatever you say," my best friend shrugged.

"All right class, just do this worksheet and you can go to lunch break as soon as you finish." I groaned as a sheet of physics was placed in front of me. I only managed to do the first two questions before I got bored and found myself drawing pictures of ladybugs in the margins.

"Adrien! Pay attention!" I sighed and tried to get my mind back on the photo shoot I was doing for my father.

"Yes Father." I pulled on my best smile and looked at the camera as the flash, well, flashed. For once we weren't in a fancy studio but in a park, just around the corner from my school. I posed again when my eye caught on some movement to the left. I was surprised to see that it was Chloé and Marinette. They rarely, if ever, hang out together. I kept looking on out of the corner of my eye and used my cat hearing to listen in.

"You're hopeless Marinette, he will never think you are anything more than an inconvenience." Chloé's voice cut the air shrilly, her tone full of venom.

"Back off Chloé!" I heard Alya say fiercely, standing up to Chloé for her friend. I knew Alya could be a little obsessed with Ladybug but she was a good friend. Her Lady-Blog also made it easier for me to keep track of my Lady.

"No, Alya. Leave it, she's right." I can't believe she had let Chloé get to her so easily, I thought Marinette would be stronger.

Ô-Ô

"Marinette! Don't listen to her!" Alya was calling after me, and I didn't turn back. Chloé was right. I'm just a hopeless girl, the only thing special about me is Ladybug, and that was Tikki, not me. I stormed off sullenly in my own deep fury.

"Alya, why don't you just leave me alone! You're not being helpful right now!" I regretted my words as soon as they left my mouth. I turned around to quickly apologise when I saw the purple akuma fly in out of the corner of my eye. 'Could someone be akumatised twice?' I wondered, alarmed. I got my answer when I heard a soft voice in the background.

"Yes Hawk Moth, I will show them all I am always right!" Gasping, I quickly ran around the corner and opened my purse, letting Tikki fly out.

"Tikki! It's all my fault!" I wailed, my regret and guilt pouring out.

"Don't worry Marinette, we can free her from the akuma!" Tikki always knew what to say to me.

"You're right! Tikki! Spot's on!" I smiled as Tikki flew into my earring and the Ladybug magic quickly ran over my body, transforming me into Ladybug. I ran back out to the park and saw that Chat Noir was already there, swinging his baton.

"M'Lady," he greeted, turning to smile at me, in obvious delight. "This one may be a little harder to defeat than the last."

"Why? What's different?"

"She has the power of truth, anything she says becomes reality!"

"The cat's right, what ever I say, IS RIGHT!" Alya laughed and Hawk Moth's mask glowed in front of her eyes. "And in… let's see… 20 seconds, Chat Noir will take Ladybug's Miraculous and give it to me!"

"M'Lady! Run!" Chat Noir screamed as his body seized and convulsed before he walked stiffly and haltingly towards me. Horrified, I realised what had happened to him and I didn't need anymore motivation than that. I turned around and sprinted as fast as I could so I could find somewhere where he couldn't find me. But he seemed to appear after every corner. Like he knew where I was going to go. I realised then that Chat knew me better than I thought.

"I can't stop Lady!" he cried out as he swung his baton at me, his mouth at least still remaining his. "As soon as you're out of sight, transform and hide!" Nodding at the logic of his words, I slid from underneath him, ran around a sharp corner and transformed before heading out cautiously onto the street. As Marinette, I walked through the crowd. We had avoided it this time but next time… Next time we might not be so lucky. I watched him as he ran out onto the street and when he passed me, I sighed in relief, leaning against the wall for support.

Ô-Ô

I can't believe I almost stole Ladybug's Miraculous! I shook my head and rolled my shoulders as I relished in the feeling of moving my own limbs again. We really need to start being more careful with this new villain, Cajolester I think she called herself. I picked up my baton that I dropped as Cajolester's powers wore off and hoped that Ladybug had had enough time to transform back. I jumped when it buzzed and chirped. Flipping the screen out, I sighed with relief as her face filled the tiny screen.

"M'Lady! I am so glad you're okay! I am so sorry 'bout that," I hung my head, angry and upset at myself for not being able to protect her again.

"That's all right Chat, we have to meet somewhere where she won't find us, give us some time to plan."

"Yeah, but where?"

"I'm not sure… Maybe this old warehouse. I'll send you the address."

"Ok Lady, see you there." I closed my baton and started running towards the address Ladybug had sent me. I felt elated. She'd forgiven me already! I kept running and before I knew it I was at the warehouse, with Ladybug hung up on a rope, gagged and blindfolded.