A/N: Enjoy this latest chapter!

Fun at the Water Park

"Aw, my precious little baby Marinette!" Alya wailed dramatically, wrapping her friend in a massive hug. "I'm such a bad influence on you, I'm sorry!"

"Alya, I'm not that much younger than you," Marinette protested, carefully trying to extract herself from her best friend's death grip. "Lemme go!"

The shopping bags in her hands made this a little more difficult than it needed to be. Of course, she hadn't expected to run into Alya in the park near her house.

"You're thirteen still!" Alya responded, relinquishing her grip and smooshing Marinette's cheeks together. "You're so young and innocent. So full of hope for the future; not like us cynical older folk!"

"Again, less than a year, Alya," she replied, removing Alya's hands from her cheeks.

"But you're the baby of the class! Everyone is fourteen at least, except you. Were you moved up a grade?"

"Yeah…" Marinette answered, avoiding her friend's eyes. "You don't have to remind me."

"Aw girl, you know I don't mean anything by it," Alya smiled, giving Marinette a hug. "We just need to give you a big party and invite everyone when it's your birthday."

Marinette winced.

"Who would come to my birthday party?" she asked. "I haven't had one since I was eleven anyway."

"WHAT?!" Alya screeched.

It was so loud that birds flew away from the tree they were walking by.

"You haven't had a birthday party since you were eleven?!" Alya repeated, eyes wide with shock.

"Yeah, not a proper one. After no-one came to my party I decided not to bother anymore," she admitted, looking at the floor. "I made cards and party bags and-,"

She cut herself off.

"I really don't want to talk about it…"

Alya grabbed Marinette by her shoulders.

"Marinette, you are the sweetest, kindest, most gentle person in this class! How is it possible no-one came to your birthday party?"

At that Marinette came alive, her eyes alight with a familiar fury.

"Take a guess," she growled. "It begins with C and rhymes with pee."

"Wow, she really has it out for you, huh?"

"Tell me about it," Marinette agreed, shifting her grip on her shopping bags. "I could probably write you a book."

Alya put a closed hand on her chin.

"Well, now I have a new goal, Marinette!" she pointed dramatically. "I promise you that by the time of your next birthday party, everyone in our class will want to come, except for Chloe."

Marinette raised an eyebrow.

"That seems kind of… well… impossible, even for you."

"I see you're underestimating me," Alya smirked. "Many have made that mistake before. Don't worry, Marinette."

Alya threw an arm around her shoulder.

"By the time of your next birthday, you'll be the most popular girl in class. You've just got to let everyone see the real you!"

"How will that ever happen?" Marinette sighed. "Most people in the class have known me for years; they're clearly not interested in the real me."

"Aw… girl…" Alya tilted Marinette's chin up. "You've just got to put yourself out there! No one who knows you like I do could possibly hate you."

"They don't have to hate me, they just have to not care," Marinette muttered, before brightening up. "But that doesn't matter. I've already got the greatest friend I could ask for!"

"Aw Mari, you're making me blush! And I think you're challenging me for the title of 'greatest friend'. I mean, you put up with all my rants about Ladybug and Chat Noir."

Marinette smiled warmly in the embrace of her best friend. As much as she worried about Alya finding out her identity it was flattering to hear her gushing about her alter-ego. Almost everybody loved Ladybug and even still it was so strange and overwhelming to think that she was so beloved.

"-I just wish I could have gotten footage of that fight a few months ago," Alya continued, making Marinette blink.

"Wait, what? What fight?"

Alya held Marinette at arm's length, hands still around her shoulders.

"Didn't you hear? It was on the news this morning! Apparently, someone found some old security camera footage at the school from a few months ago," she exclaimed, barely able to contain her excitement. "And you'll never guess what the footage was of!"

Marinette went white. There were cameras in the school? Had they caught her transforming?! How had she never noticed?

If Alya noticed Marinette grow stiff in her arms she didn't say anything.

"Ladybug and Chat Noir fighting each other!" Alya said with childlike delight. "Like completely going at it! Ladybug was kicking his ass! I never knew she got controlled by an akuma. You know, I had always wondered who would win in a fight and I was right! Take that Kim, what do you know-"

Alya's voice warped and twisted in Marinette's ears. Her head began to spin as the greenery bled away until she was Ladybug inside an old dusty room full of matted colours, sitting triumphantly on top of broken and bruised Chat Noir, her trusted yo-yo tight in her grip, the string wrapped tight around his neck. Ladybug could see the green light fading in his eyes as she pulled tighter and tighter, harder and harder. She was doing it, he couldn't beat her, she was too strong. She felt so happy as the voice in her mind praised her endlessly, promised her everything, how she would make the man so happy if she just got rid of Chat. Oh, and she wanted to, she wanted to make the man happy, nothing else mattered, just getting rid of Chat, of her partner-

"Marinette!" Chat choked out.

No wait, that wasn't-

"Marinette!"

With the suddenness of an engine backfiring, she was suddenly back in the park. Alya had her hands on her shoulders, a look of worry on her face.

"Are you alright? You look pale."

Marinette opened her mouth to reply, only to realise she was out of breath. She forcibly took in a deep breath.

"I'm-I'm fine," she choked. "Just not feeling too good, must be something from lunch."

The lie slipped shamefully quickly from her lips. She might have felt guilty if the ghost of Chat's battered face hadn't hovered at the forefront of her mind.

"You look awful," Alya declared and it was then Marinette realised the girl was practically holding her up.

"Yeah, I'm just going to go home and get some rest," Marinette said, trying to muster a smile. "It's getting late, I'll sleep it off. Tell me all about it tomorrow, ok?"

Alya was still frowning.

"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you home?"

"It's literally over there, Alya. I'll make it."

"If you say so. But if you're not feeling up to school tomorrow, let me know?"

"You'll be the first person I tell!" Marinette promised.

Alya's eyes narrowed in suspicion, before she shrugged.

"Ok then. Anyway, don't forget what I said about your next birthday," she ordered. "I've got to go quickly buy a new swimsuit for tomorrow! Can you believe I've already outgrown my old one?"

"Ok, bye Alya!" Marinette waved stiffly as her friend walked out of sight.

Marinette could practically feel Tikki's concern leaking through her purse, but they were in public and the kwami was holding herself back for now.

It barely took a few minutes before she was back in her room, the trapdoor shutting behind her and her shopping bags thrown into the corner before Tikki was out in front of her, ready to talk.

Silence enveloped the room. Marinette sat down on her chaise, waiting for the lecture that she knew Tikki would give her.

Tikki smiled kindly at Marinette, before floating in front of her face.

"It is nothing to be ashamed of, Marinette," she spoke with a strange gentleness. "Every Ladybug has had fears."

"But it happened two months ago, Tikki!" Marinette protested. "I should be over it by now! Ah, I nearly lost it in front of Alya!"

She groaned, putting her head in her hands. Tikki silently marvelled at how young her chosen really was before pressing further.

"These things take time."

"It shouldn't take this much time!" Marinette argued. "I hate feeling like this!"

Tikki looked thoughtful.

"Let me teach you something," she decided, floating over to the floor. "Sit with me."

Perplexed, Marinette joined her kwami on the floor. She knelt down, folding her legs underneath her with her hands in her lap as Tikki watched expectantly.

"Now close your eyes and clear your mind."

Marinette obeyed, letting darkness envelop her vision.

"Focus on your breathing," Tikki murmured, her voice becoming softer, like a gentle breeze. "Breathe in for five seconds through your nose, then exhale for five seconds through your mouth."

Marinette did so, letting the air slowly enter and leave her body.

"Focus on what you are feeling right now: the feel of the floor underneath you, the warmth of the air around you."

As Marinette felt her breathing slowly even out, she became more acutely aware. The feel of the cold floor against her bare feet. The hot kiss of the sun on her back through the window. The hum of her computer that she'd left on before leaving. The ever so slight creaking of floorboards underneath her, as her parents strolled around below. The faint crackle of the TV downstairs. Outside, the distant ever-present roar of tires across tarmac. Little snippets of conversation flittering through her windows and into her ears like mayflies in the dark.

Marinette spent a few minutes just sitting there, simply feeling.

"Now, whenever you feel overwhelmed," Tikki spoke. "I want you to close your eyes, to breathe; and imagine you are back in your room, sitting in front of me like you are now."

Tikki watched as Marinette nodded, clearly feeling more at ease than before.

Eventually, Marinette would have to come to terms with certain truths about herself – but only when she was ready to hear them. Until then, this should help keep her calm.

Marinette felt Tikki land on her head, a bright ball of warmth amongst her hair. Tikki was always oddly warm to the touch - part of being a kwami Marinette assumed. She wondered if Chat's kwami was the same.

"Do you think it will happen again? That I might be forced to hurt Chat?"

"It is very possible," Tikki didn't believe in concealing painful truths and this was no exception. "But if you are cautious, then you can minimise those chances."

"Cautious?"

"Analyse a situation before you rush in. Look for potential escape routes, look for a chance to study the akumas powers before engaging if possible. Your brain is your most powerful weapon and the more you use it, the easier it will become."

"But there's so much to think about during a fight!"

"I know it is difficult," Tikki said soothingly. "But you've demonstrated an aptitude for it already – you have good instincts, Marinette. It takes many people a very long time to even be calm enough to think in a fight at all! You have so much responsibility on your shoulders. But I know you can do it, just know that no task is insurmountable for Ladybug."

"Yeah, for Ladybug…"

Tikki sighed. Perhaps Marinette was not yet ready for this conversation. Confidence and self-assurance would come with time. Marinette had already made remarkable progress compared to when Tikki had first met her. To push too far too quickly could invite disaster. Sometimes those chosen would need to find things in their own time.

"Get a good night's rest, Marinette," Tikki advised. "Tomorrow is a new day."

"You're right, Tikki," Marinette agreed, and began to prepare for bed.

A few minutes later, Marinette had changed into her pyjamas, brushed her teeth and laid down in her bed. Slowly, she allowed her eyes to drift closed as sleep began to claim her.

She sprung bolt upright.

"Wait, did Alya say we have swimming tomorrow?!"

X

X

Adrien wasn't nervous, of course not. It was ludicrous to think that he'd be in the slightest bit anxious over something like this. Sure, he had more or less asked for it – had even pleaded with his father to allow him to take part. Had argued past all the protests of 'chlorine would be bad for your skin' and 'what if there are photographers there' and even the old 'what if someone makes advances on you without your bodyguard there'.

But that's what they all surely were, excuses. He shouldn't be so nervous; it's not like his father was actually right to be as paranoid as he was. It was just some skin and he was a model. Granted a model that had never done anything more risqué than a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, but still! It wasn't like many people would see him – only the people in his class and maybe some members of the public.

Yet, despite all this, Adrien still felt nervous as the class entered the large building in which they would be swimming today. A well-known fitness centre, it had an Olympic sized swimming pool that the school had rented out for teaching. Of course, what the rest of the kids were more interested in was the water park the building also hosted.

"Urgh," Nino groaned as the class walked towards the changing rooms. "It's so annoying that we have to swim in the boring pool. Why can't we go in the water park when it's right there!?"

He gestured towards the much louder part of the building. Where people rode on large water slides inside big tubes and splashed into warm pools full of all sorts of other attractions. Adrien had never seen anything like it outside of his computer screen.

"Aren't they dangerous?" Adrien questioned, walking next to him. "I mean I heard there are rapids there."

"They're only dangerous if you're harmed by fun," Nino argued. "And the rapids are super cool! Not to mention all the slides and whirlpools and other rides. Yet here we are stuck in the boring part."

Before they could arrive at the changing rooms, the sounds of people arguing reached their ears. To Adrien's ever-dwindling surprise, it was Chloe and she was talking to a tall man in shorts wearing a whistle around his neck.

"You mean we don't get to go into the water park?!" she screeched. "Then why are we even here?!"

"You are here so you can learn how to swim properly, not to goof off," the man replied sternly. "Your school reserved one of our pools for this, so you had best appreciate it young lady, or I will let them know about your poor behaviour."

"How dare you!" Chloe gasped. "Your minimum wage ass cannot make me do anything; my daddy won't let you. Anyway, I'm on my period so you can't make me go swimming anyway!"

Adrien heard someone sigh in frustration in front of him.

"Prepare for her to be on her period every week…" he heard Marinette mutter to Alya.

Meanwhile the man was furious and red-faced.

"Fine!" he spat. "Go sit in the stands and watch your class."

He stomped away to try and calm down.

"Oh, don't worry, I will," Chloe said, turning and winking at Adrien.

She then levelled what he could only describe as a malicious smile at Marinette, who obviously stiffened in response. It was pretty clear to him that she was going to take this opportunity to humiliate the girl again.

Adrien tried to show his disapproval with a frown, but Chloe had already taken her phone out and was stalking away towards the stands with not even a backwards glance towards him.

"Come on, bro," Nino clapped him on the back. "Let's get changed."

The boys went into one room whilst the girls went into another. The changing rooms were large, full of benches and lockers to put their clothes.

He glanced surreptitiously around to see if there was any hidden etiquette he should follow. No one was using the private changing stalls, merely undressing where they were. The other boys were all talking and undressing as if nothing was wrong, no one even paying him a glance. Adrien even had to look away to make sure he didn't see more of Kim than he had ever wanted to see.

Steeling himself, Adrien pulled his shirt over his head and began changing. After finishing, he shoved his clothes into a locker, took a moment to make sure Plagg was still asleep and had his Miraculous tucked next to him along with some cheese. Then, clad only in his swimming trunks, he turned to face the others.

"What?" he asked, looking at Nino's stunned expression.

The boy shook his head.

"Adrien, I knew you were a model, but man I always thought you were pretty scrawny," he admitted. "You're really making me feel inadequate."

"Huh?" he blinked in confusion.

"Dude, you're shredded!"

Adrien glanced down at himself as if he had never seen his own body before. Before meeting Plagg and becoming Chat Noir, Nino's statement would have been true. He had always been rather wiry if not downright puny. Now however, he was comprised almost entirely of hard muscle.

He had well-defined abs with muscle covering his arms and legs. His shoulders were much broader than they used to be, and his chest was far larger as well. He looked like a world-class gymnast, with little traces of fat, a strong core and skin pulled tightly over lean muscle.

"Woah, Adrien! You look great!" Kim cheered, giving him a thumbs-up. "You must work out a lot, we should swap routines sometime!"

The athletic boy had a vague impression of a six-pack himself. It was impressive, but it was nothing compared to Adrien's physique.

"Indeed, I would never have guessed that he was hiding that sort of musculature," Max agreed. "You two should compare ab size later, for now let's not keep the girls waiting."

The boys left the room and Adrien followed after them, feeling a little embarrassed that his first real friendly interaction with his fellow classmates involved him being nearly naked.

"Hey, cheer up dude," Nino said. "Plenty of people would kill to look like you do. You have nothing to be ashamed about."

"It's just, I've never had so many people see me in just my trunks before," Adrien admitted. "At least not in person. And definitely no girls."

Nino snickered.

"You're pretty shy, huh? Believe me, you have nothing to worry about, the girls will love you. You'll definitely impress them."

Adrien couldn't help his face flush at the thought. It wasn't that the girls in his class were unattractive, it was just that there was only one girl he wanted to impress, and it would probably take a little bit more than some muscle to accomplish that.

The pool was clear of other people with the instructor and the rest of the boys standing over by one end of the pool. Chloe was in the stands, fully dressed and on her phone. She looked up briefly and must have caught sight of him, as she held up her phone.

Adrien looked away bashfully, hoping Chloe wouldn't post those pictures of him anywhere publicly. The boys were all standing together as the girls began trickling out of their changing rooms.

"Looking good, Alix!" Kim cheered, waving as the tiny girl walked up to them in a blue one-piece. "Still gyming it up I see."

Her one-piece didn't let her show off her torso, but her arms and legs were on full display and she certainly had nothing to be ashamed of.

"Thanks, muscle-head," she responded, grinning at him. "I see you haven't slacked off either."

"Well, if I did then you might actually beat me one of these days."

"According to my records," Max piped up. "Alix is only one challenge victory behind you, Kim. It's best not to get sloppy."

"Yeah, four-eyes ain't wrong," she said good-naturedly, before turning to Max. "I keep forgetting what you look like without your glasses."

"In this instance, you might need to think of a new nickname," Max responded smugly.

"Nah, you're still four-eyes; it's in your very soul."

At that point, Alix caught sight of Adrien and her eyes widened comically.

"Holy- Agreste, I see you've been hiding things from us!"

Adrien balked under the attention as everyone looked at him.

"Er, yeah… I work out?" he squeaked, making Alix smirk.

"Damn right you do!" Alix replied, slugging him on arm. "Damn, you're like made of iron."

"Hey, I'm pretty tough too," Kim protested.

"Maybe you should start challenging Agreste as well," Alix suggested. "Then you could prove it."

"Fine, Agreste, I bet I can swim more laps than you today!"

"Umm… Ok?" Adrien responded, feeling a little isolated. "Why though?"

He had never really interacted much with Kim and his friends before. Before Kim could answer his question, two more girls left the changing rooms.

"Hey everyone!" Rose cheered, wearing a pink one-piece.

"Yo," Juleka spoke, wearing a dark purple swimsuit and swim cap.

"Hey, you two, come look at Agreste!" Alix grinned.

"Wow, Adrien! You must eat really healthily!"

"I think he would look cooler if he had some scars," Juleka commented.

Adrien did not think he would look cooler with scars. His Father most certainly would not think that he'd look cooler with scars and might possibly never let him leave his room for the rest of his life.

"No pleasing some people," Alix shrugged as Adrien awkwardly thanked the two girls.

"Don't mention it," Juleka drawled. "If scars aren't your thing, you could always get some tats."

"Tats?" Adrien blinked cluelessly.

"You poor boy…"

"Juleka!" Rose giggled.

"Hi, Ivan," Mylene said shyly, looking up at her boyfriend as she stood abashed in her light blue swimsuit and swim cap.

"Hey Mylene," he responded equally shyly, before holding out his hand.

With a smile, Mylene put her hand in his and grinned lovingly up at him. Adrien smiled and looked away, silently wishing Ladybug would look at him like that.

"Sorry everyone," Alya finally appeared, wearing a pale orange swimsuit and swim cap. "Marinette's being a bit shy. She'll be out soon."

Alix groaned.

"I hope so, I want to get this over with."

"Why is Marinette taking so long?" Rose asked innocently.

"I think we all know why," Juleka folder her arms, her eyes flickering towards Chloe. "Chloe's been impossible lately."

"Has it really been that bad?" Nathaniel asked, making Adrien blink as he hadn't noticed the boy until now.

"Marinette won't even come out of the changing booths," Alix rolled her eyes. "Probably afraid of Chloe's little minion taking indecent pictures of her."

"That's true, I've already caught her skulking about," Alya admitted, before catching sight of Adrien and gaping. "Oh no, Marinette's gonna pass out."

Adrien couldn't help but wince either. Marinette wasn't exactly the most composed of people. If Chloe took pictures and posted them everywhere making fun of her than it would be disastrous. The poor girl didn't deserve that; she was so sweet and kind.

"Oh well," Alix shrugged. "Maybe it'll inspire her to actually take care of herself for a change."

Alya frowned.

"Marinette takes care of herself just fine," she spoke loyally.

"Oh please, we've all seen the cookies she keeps in her purse," Alix snapped back.

"We should be supportive," Ivan's deep voice spoke.

Mylene also nodded.

"Just because Marinette is a little bit… bigger than average doesn't mean that she deserves to be bullied for it," she piped up strongly.

"Nice sentiment, are you willing to stand up to Chloe for it?" Max asked.

No one spoke up at that.

Adrien opened his mouth to say something, but at that point Sabrina came running out in her cyan swimsuit. She looked pale and her eyes were wide.

"No running!" the instructor yelled.

"Sorry," Sabrina apologised, before running up to Chloe, who was smirking viciously.

"Did you get pictures of Mari-fat?" she asked her.

"N-not exactly," Sabrina answered nervously. "Ch-Chloe you're really not going to like it."

"What?" she asked impatiently. "Has she gained even more weight?"

"Erm…"

The soft pitter-patter of bare feet on the ground behind them drew the classes attention.

"Um, sorry I took so long?" a soft voice spoke up.

Adrien turned to see Marinette and his brain stopped.

"I just got a bit shy, don't worry."

Had it not been Marinette's voice coming from Marinette's face underneath an adorable red swimming cap, he would never have guessed it was her. She had always worn somewhat baggy clothes that hid her full physique. He had never seen her arms and legs exposed before.

Adrien tried to swallow only to realise his throat was bone dry and looking around he wasn't the only one. All the boys were gaping incredulously and most of the girls had lost their voices as well.

Well, most.

"Holy crap girl, you're ripped!" Alya shrieked.

Marinette looked a little flustered at the attention, but there was no hiding the considerable muscle she was packing. Her whole frame screamed strength, with serious defined muscles on her arms and legs. Adrien couldn't see it, but he would have bet every bit of his father's money that she had a six pack underneath her red swimsuit.

It was a strange sensation that consumed him. Like a fire it drew his breath from his body, his blood drained from his head and seemed to settle as an intense heat below his stomach. He couldn't take his eyes off her, trying desperately to burn the image of Marinette posing sweetly in that red swimsuit into his brain forever.

Behind them, Chloe looked like she had simultaneously eaten something way too spicy and sucked on a lemon. Her face was red, and her lips pursed so hard they were near invisible.

Not that Adrien noticed - that would have involved looking away.

"Now I really feel inadequate," Nino muttered besides him, though he didn't look away either.

"M-Marinette! W-what happened?" Alya was stunned, looking her best friend up and down. "I was gone for like a minute!"

"Did you do drugs over the break?" Alix demanded.

"What? No!"

"Have you been Akumatized?!" Kim asked.

"Wh-what? Why would you think that?!"

"You must have worked out so much!" Rose cheered. "I'm so proud of you, it must have been super hard."

"Err, thanks Rose."

"Y-yeah, well done, Marinette," Nathaniel piped up. "You-you look great."

Marinette smiled warmly at the boy, her face bright red from all the praise.

"Thank you, Nathaniel"

"Alright!" the instructor barked before anyone else could say anything. "Now everyone's finally here we can start the actual lesson."

At his voice everyone was shocked out of their trance and turned towards him.

"Now you should all know the rules of this pool," he began. "No running! No diving other than off diving boards. No pushing each other! No dive-bombing, no shouting or pushing each other under the water. Follow these rules and the pool will be a safer place for everyone. Now line up in groups behind the diving boards."

It was as if another power had taken control of Adrien as he sidled up behind Marinette as everyone began to form lines. The class had split into lines behind each diving board and Alya, Marinette, Adrien and Nino had ended up with their own little line.

"Dude," Nino whispered, nudging Adrien's side. "Stop staring at her."

"You first," he responded.

"R-right."

Adrien shook his head, trying in vain to clear his thoughts, but it was like Marinette had some ethereal grasp on his brain. Even when he wasn't looking at her, he felt somehow very aware of her presence. He couldn't believe that he had ever thought of her as overweight – in fact she seemed so obviously muscular now that the idea of anyone thinking otherwise was laughable. Yet he had, they all had…

Was it an akuma? Had Marinette become akumatized due to the fear of Chloe?

For a moment he seriously considered it, before shaking his head.

'Akumas never answer to their own names,' he remembered, more than a little bit relieved he wasn't going to have to fight his classmate. 'I'm just being paranoid. I still can't believe it though – how did I never notice how she looked before?'

"Hey Adrien," Alya piped up suddenly, making him straighten in fear.

Had she noticed him staring? She had a knowing gleam in her eyes as she smoothly moved behind him.

"I need to adjust my swimming cap, why don't you go after Marinette?"

"W-what?!" he moaned.

"What?!" Marinette squeaked, turning to look at him.

Her eyes immediately darted downwards to his chest before returning to his face. She looked utterly adorable, her eyes staring at him open-wide like that, her mouth gaping. Wow, Marinette had really pretty lips…

She squeaked.

"I mean, I-don't-mind-you-coming-after-me!" she babbled, face as red as her swimsuit. "I MEAN, NOT-LIKE-THAT, just you can swim on my behind, BEHIND-ME-NOT-ON-ME! I mean you can come on me-I-MEAN-NO-ERDJABPLFFF!"

Her eyes darted behind him where Alya was making some insistent gestures. She took a deep breath.

"I… don't… mind…" she spelled, eyes darting behind him to Alya's signals. "You… swimming… after… me!"

She grinned widely.

"That's cool, Marinette, thank you," he said sincerely. "What was that other stuff?"

"Nothing! HA-HA-HA!" she laughed, though it sounded more like screaming.

Adrien discarded it. Marinette was probably just a little bit nervous from all the attention. He was still getting used to it after all. At least she hadn't caught him staring; that would have been embarrassing and might have even ended whatever tenuous friendship they had.

Marinette clambered onto the dive board, lining up against Kim, Alix and Ivan. At the instructors signal she dived into the water and easily began outpacing the others. Adrien let himself relax a bit, before stepping onto the diving board himself.

The cold water seemed to wash away whatever grasp Marinette's body had on his mind. It soothed and cooled him to the point Adrien swore steam seeped off him. He swam perfectly to the other end, outpacing the others to touch the other side.

At least now they could focus on the swimming lesson.

X

X

This was the best day of Marinette's rather barren love life. Sure, she had utterly failed to even talk to Adrien like a normal person, but Alya had sworn to her that Adrien had been checking her out.

Him and half the class as well.

She had nearly had a panic attack in the changing room when she realised there would be no hiding her formidable physique from her classmates. Alya's attempts to calm her down had come from the right place but weren't exactly the most helpful. Ironically, it wasn't until Sabrina took pictures of her over the private changing room door she had taken shelter in that Marinette realised she had to just roll with it.

The look on Chloe's face when she left the changing room was a memory Marinette would cherish forever. She felt like she was walking on sunshine itself, flying so high that nothing could touch her. Finally, finally she didn't have to pretend to be something she wasn't, she didn't have to hide herself from her classmates. No one suspected her of being Ladybug, and she could finally make Chloe eat every single one of those nasty words that she had spread across the school last term.

And best of all, Adrien was talking to her!

Marinette climbed out of the pool, unable to keep the smile off her face as she basked in yet another victory over her classmates at swimming. She had left them all eating her metaphorical dust, even Adrien!

Mmmm, Adrien…

It took everything she had not to stare at his bare muscular chest. It just wasn't fair that in addition to being the nicest person on the planet, that he also had a physique resembling Michelangelo's David. And the way the water ran down his chest, trickling over his golden skin…

"Damn, nice technique, Mari," Alix complimented her, giving her arm a friendly punch and bringing her back to reality. "I don't know what routine you used to get muscles like that, but I want in!"

"Oh, er… well it's pretty intense," Marinette said honestly.

There was a splash of water by them as Kim pulled himself out of the pool and shook his hair like a dog.

"Ew, gross!" Alix laughed, covering her face.

"You just can't handle how much of a beast I am!" Kim joked, posing and flexing his biceps.

The girls laughed at that and Marinette dared to smile.

"But seriously, Mari, why'd you hide these?" Kim asked, gesturing to her biceps. "There's no way you could have gotten arms like that in less than a month."

Marinette flushed.

"I just…" she searched desperately for an appropriate lie.

"Oh please, I can't believe anyone is impressed with man-arms over there!" shrieked a familiar voice.

'And there it is,' Marinette thought to herself.

Surprisingly, it wasn't her that Chloe was yelling at, but the instructor.

"Look," the man said, clearly trying to reign in his temper. "She scored the quickest time of anyone here, so that is what's going in my report. I'm not going to lie."

"She doesn't deserve it!" Chloe screeched. "She cheated, she always cheats!"

"What right does she have to say that?" Marinette muttered, unable to keep the curl of distaste out of her voice. "It's not like she's ever tried."

Beside Marinette, Alix huffed in agreement.

"How pathetic," she muttered. "All that talent and she wastes it without even trying. She could be top of the class if she put in the effort."

"Give it a year," Max declared, walking up to them. "And she probably won't even be in the top three in the class."

"Oh well, her loss," Kim spoke, folding his massive arms behind his head.

"I will have you fired, you peasant!" Chloe continued, already taking out her phone. "Just wait until I tell daddy!"

"Your daddy isn't in charge here, I am!" the instructor responded, a vein bulging dangerously in his forehead. "This is my pool and if you don't obey the rules I will have you thrown out."

"How dare you speak to me like that! My daddy will make sure you never work in this city again!"

Chloe stomped off as the instructor visibly had to calm down.

"Lesson's over, you're all dismissed."

The instructor stomped away, leaving the rest of the class staring awkwardly at his retreating form. Alya, who was still in the pool, rested her elbows on the side.

"Well looks like we all have an extra fifteen minutes before the lesson is supposed to end!" she grinned. "I suggest we use it."

"Are you sure that's allowed?" Adrien questioned, only for Nino to put an arm around him.

"Don't worry about it, man! Now that we have some time – we can go to the fun part!" he gestured towards the water park.

The entire class lit up at the sight. There were no barriers between them and the actual water park – they could go in and actually have fun!

The class surged towards the water-park, with those still in the pool hastily trying to get out. Marinette helped Alya out, before they also followed everyone there.

"Did you see Adrien?" Alya asked slyly.

"O-of course I saw Adrien!" Marinette blushed brightly. "How couldn't I?"

"No, I mean did you see the way he looked at you?" Alya said. "He was totally checking you out again."

"No," she gasped, the very thought sent way too much blood to her head. "You must be seeing things!"

"Marinette, no one has been able to keep their eyes off you today," Alya smirked, grabbing one of Marinette's biceps. "I never knew you were hiding all this from us!"

"I just…" Marinette struggled for an excuse. "It's a bit embarrassing?"

"It certainly grabs attention. If you want to grab Agreste's attention, just wear some short sleeves one day," Alya winked. "See if you can get him to trip up for once."

"Adrien likes muscular girls?" Marinette muttered to herself – it seemed almost too good to be true.

"Marinette, if his jaw had dropped any further, he'd have been able to swallow you whole," she then grinned. "He almost looked like he wanted to try."

"Alya!" Marinette felt like her head would explode if Alya kept talking like that.

She looked over towards where the boys were gathered. Adrien was with Nino and the two looked like they were about to get into the rapids. Marinette's eyes narrowed. She was going to do it. If he thought she was as attractive as Alya said, then what was the harm? She was Ladybug, the hero of Paris. No challenge was too great!

Gathering her courage, she began to march over towards Adrien.

'Hey Adrien, do you want to go out for some coffee?' Marinette repeated in her head. 'That's all I have to say. Nothing else. Then we'll see what he says. Then we'll go from there…'

She walked calmly towards Adrien, her heart beating wildly as she came close enough to reach out and touch him. Was she sweating? She felt like she was sweating.

"Oh, hey Marinette," Adrien smiled perfectly at her. "What's up?"

This was it. She breathed in heavily, reciting her mantra in her mind, heroically resisting the blink panic that threatened to swallow her up.

"Hey Adrien, do you-,"

The ground shook and they nearly lost their balance. A deep booming laughter filled the air as the concrete beneath them split open and massive brightly coloured tubes shot into the sky.

People began to scream as more and more erupted from under the ground, twisting into intricate patterns and connecting with one another.

"What is that?!" Adrien cried out.

"It's a giant water slide!" Marinette realised, staring up at the sky in horror as a large figure became clear.

He was wearing what seemed like an unholy cross between a lifeguard's outfit and a black business suit and grinned down at them menacingly.

"Fear me, Paris! I am Le Suaveteur! And I declare the Paris Water Park, open for business forever!"

He raised his arms and the ground shook even harder. More and more rides burst forth out of the ground, uncaring of the people trapped inside.

Adrien and Marinette ran towards the changing rooms, desperately trying to reach their Miraculous and kwamis hidden in their lockers, only for the ground to split open between them.

"Marinette!" he cried out in alarm, watching as she was lifted high up into the sky.

Water rushed over her as she struggled to gain her bearings. She could feel herself being raised into the sky as the tube, that she just realised was part of a large water slide, connected with another.

Marinette immediately began to slide down. She had to get out of here, find Tikki and rescue everyone!

The tube seemed to fall down nearly vertically as Marinette built up speed. She grit her teeth as the tube went one way and then another, the sheer forces pushing her back into the walls. Precious minutes went by before she was blinded by a sudden light and was dumped out the other end.

She landed in a massive pool with the force of a cannonball and quickly tried to gain her bearings. It was incredibly warm, she noticed. What should have been the middle of winter now felt like one of the hottest days of Paris' summer. The sun hung unnaturally high in the sky, with no clouds in sight to hide its full majesty.

Marinette quickly swam to the edge of the pool and pulled herself out. There were numerous other people in the pool as well and barely any of them were wearing anything approaching swimwear.

Where was she? The surroundings were almost completely unrecognisable. Water flowed in massive rivers curling around buildings and through the sky. Massive water park rides dwarfed even the Eiffel Tower, standing menacingly against the horizon, like dark giants coldly stooping over their servants.

This was really bad. She didn't have her Miraculous or Tikki with her. She'd need to go back towards the water park, which seemed to be where the largest ride was located.

"This is one powerful akuma," Marinette realised, looking around. "All of Paris has been turned into a water park!"

"Yeah, no kidding," wheezed a familiar voice.

"Nino!" Marinette ran towards the pool where the boy was holding onto the side like his life depended upon it.

She grabbed his arms and pulled him out. He coughed and spluttered a bit, before giving her grateful thanks.

"Are you alright?" she asked, helping him to his feet.

"I've been swimming for ages," Nino gasped, pointing over towards the pool. "Some tube dumped me in the middle of this giant whirlpool. I nearly got pulled under."

"I'm glad you're safe," Marinette replied. "Where's everyone else? Where's Adrien?"

"I don't know. I was knocked into the water and next thing I knew I was swimming for my life," Nino looked back at the pool. "I hope the others made it."

"I'm sure they did," Marinette said resolutely, refusing to believe otherwise.

She was Ladybug, she needed to be strong for Nino.

"Ladybug and Chat Noir will clear up this mess soon," Nino spoke, getting some breath back. "There's no way they didn't notice this."

"That's true," she smiled, before gazing back.

That tube had taken them some distance. It would take some time to get back to the pool where her Miraculous and Tikki were. Even now she could see people appearing out of the countless tubes and falling into the pool. Many were fully dressed, clearly not suited to go swimming, and were frantically paddling towards the edges of the pool. This must be happening all over the city!

Chat Noir would without a doubt have noticed all this happening and was probably already there. He would need her help! She began to walk towards the largest ride, where a huge banner displayed the words 'Paris Water Park is Open for Business!'.

"Marinette, where are you going?!" Nino called out.

"I need to get back there, err… I need to make sure everyone else is alright!"

"Are you crazy?!" Nino yelled after her. "I'm going home! Let the superheroes sort it out!"

'That's what I'm doing!' Marinette thought irritably.

"Good for you," she replied.

"Hey, wait," Nino ran after her, nearly slipping on the wet ground. "You can't just run back. You'll be a hostage, you'll just get in Ladybug and Chat Noir's way!"

He darted ahead of her.

"Nino, I need to get back there," Marinette said, annoyed.

"You'll just get yourself hurt," he responded resolutely. "Let's just… go to my place and relax. We haven't hung out in ages, Mari. Let's do that."

Marinette's face became stone.

"Years Nino," she responded, clenching her fists. "We haven't hung out in years – since I was ten."

Nino winced.

"Yeah, but you still can't go."

"Not your decision," Marinette passed him, knocking his shoulder aside with her own.

"Hey look, I just want you to be safe," he argued, before putting his hands on his hips. "If I have to pick you up and carry you I will."

"Just go home, Nino, this will all be over soon," she turned away from him. "I don't have time to deal with you."

Nino followed after her.

"Hey Mari, wait! Look I'll come with you alright?"

Marinette suddenly stopped. Nino's face lit up at her acquiescence.

"You're-,"

She shoved her hand over his mouth and plummeted into the water with him. Nino couldn't resist at all as she pulled their heads above water and to the side of the pool, keeping their heads under the rim of the pool and hidden.

"Shhhh," she ordered quietly.

Nino had no time to contemplate before the steady thud of two feet landing boomed overhead.

"It looks like someone was breaking pool rules!" the akuma's voice screeched.

The people who were still in the pool started screaming as those on the sides began to run. Nino tried to move, to swim away, but Marinette's arms were like steel bars keeping his arms trapped by his sides. What was wrong with her? The akuma was literally standing right above them! If he walked two steps forward and looked down he'd see them!

"What did I just say?" Le Suaveteur muttered, before pulling out his whistle. "NO RUNNING!"

It wasn't so much a noise as a force. The water vibrated around them as Marinette and Nino did their best to stay above water. Marinette had her eyes open and could see the enlarging energy rings that enveloped everyone else in the pool. She watched, unable to look away, as their clothes melted away to reveal identical dark blue swimsuits, any semblance of individuality, of personality, vanished immediately as they all turned a blank stare towards their new master.

"Now that you're all in a more agreeable mood," the akuma began, smiling warmly. "I need some new employees to manage the Park. Patrol the place and punish any rulebreakers, got that?"

A purple butterfly appeared over the man's face, making him shake for a second.

"Of course, boss. And if you see any sign of Ladybug and Chat Noir? Do let me know!"

They all saluted.

"Excellent!" the akuma grinned, before standing up straight. "Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have some more rulebreakers to recruit."

The akuma leapt up into the air, easily clearing buildings, before vanishing out of sight.

Marinette relaxed, letting Nino go, who slumped against the side of the pool, his face paralysed with fear.

"That was close," Marinette breathed, trying to keep the tremors out of her voice.

Why, why did it have to be a mind-control akuma?

"Marinette," Nino whined. "They can see us."

Marinette gave a glance towards the akuma's minions. Unlike the akuma himself, they had had the two of them within perfect line of sight the whole time. Yet they hadn't made any move to attack them or reveal their presence to their boss.

"It's because we haven't broken any rules yet," Marinette realised. "The akuma told them to go after rulebreakers. To them we're just people using the pool as it's intended."

Sure enough, most of the minions were calmly getting out of the pool and leaving, not paying them even a second glance.

"Oh man," Nino breathed, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "What were the rules? Do you remember? What if we break one accidentally?"

"I don't," Marinette admitted. "At least 'No Running' is obvious."

It was a mixed bag, a part of her analysed. If she didn't run then the minions wouldn't bother her, but it would take ages to get back to where her Miraculous and Tikki were. But if she did run…

Marinette caught the sight of one of the 'lifeguards', a teenager no older than her. He stared blankly at the two of them, no hint of the person, the individual, he had been a mere minute before.

She shuddered.

She couldn't fall apart now. This was no different than any other akuma; just avoid its attacks and get to her goal. So what if she didn't have her Miraculous? She wasn't scared!

Marinette carefully climbed out of the pool, ignoring her trembling hands. That teenager was the only one still here, having apparently taken this pool as his guard post, and made no move to stop her.

"Marinette, where are you going?" Nino asked, incredulous he pulled himself out of the pool.

"Don't run," Marinette commanded, eyeing the lifeguard out of the corner of her eye.

Nino paused, shaking a little, before walking stiffly towards her.

"You're not seriously still going up there?"

"I have to. Go home, Nino. I can deal with this."

"Are you hearing yourself right now?" Nino asked. "I could feel you shaking when that akuma was above us. You saw what he could do. There's no way we'll do anything but get in the way."

"I was not scared," Marinette growled.

She was Ladybug, she had beaten akuma before breakfast, one little akuma wasn't going to scare her. It wasn't…

"There's nothing wrong with being scared, Mari."

Marinette took a deep breath.

"I can't just sit here when my friends might be in danger. Either come with me or go home and wait for Ladybug to sort everything out."

Marinette walked off and Nino, reluctantly trailed after her.

"Look, I don't agree with this," he explained. "Just promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"I certainly won't do anything 'stupid'," Marinette answered, gathering her courage. "As long as you promise to do the same."

"The same-!" Nino began to shout, before her hand clamped around his mouth.

"Don't shout," she hissed. "That was one of the rules – remember at the beginning of the swimming lesson?"

She looked towards the lifeguard and Nino's eyes followed hers. The lifeguard was staring at them, his hand holding something hanging from his neck – a whistle.

"I think they can summon him," Marinette breathed, slowly pulling her hand away from Nino's mouth. "With those whistles. If they see us break any of the rules, they'll draw him right here. In fact, I think something like that might be why that akuma came here just now. You were running, and maybe that attracted him somehow…"

She looked up to see Nino staring at her, mouth open.

"What is going on with you?" Nino wondered. "You're like a completely different person than before."

"Oh, well I'm just a little bit stressed right now," she excused with a forced smile, hoping that he wouldn't connect any dots to a certain superhero. "Let's get going, we have a long journey ahead of us."

Marinette stared up towards the top of the water park, a mountain of intermingling multi-colour tubes and flowing rivers stared back at her. She shivered at the dark sense of foreboding, before marching onwards regardless.

X

X

The ground shook and a chorus of people screaming awoke Tikki.

'Figures,' she thought idly, before floating outside of the little den that Marinette had made for her inside her gym bag.

Tikki phased through the locker walls into the empty changing rooms as the ground continued to shake.

'Oh, it'll be fine Tikki, it's just for an hour,' Tikki worriedly mocked her chosen in the privacy of her own mind. 'What are the chances Hawkmoth will attack in the hour my Miraculous are off?'

Well apparently,, not zero.

Tikki sighed. If it was anyone's fault it was hers. Unlike the thirteen-year-old Marinette, Tikki had no excuse for letting her charge take her earrings off, no matter how weird it would seem to people. The magic infused within the Miraculous would stop people from suspecting her identity either way.

'Please be alright, Marinette,' Tikki hoped in her mind.

Suddenly the whole building shifted and lurched onto its side. A massive red tube slammed through the wall and knocked it down, before it slithered up through the ceiling like a giant metal snake.

"This looks like a strong akuma," Tikki realised. "Oh, Marinette, get here soon!"

"Plagg!" a voice shouted.

Tikki instinctively ducked. The wall that the tube had brought down had exposed the boy's changing area in which the kwami could spy a familiar blond boy.

"Plagg, where are you?!" he cried out, trying to sort out the lockers that had been crushed and knocked into piles.

He was frantic, tears on his face as he threw battered lockers aside, screaming his kwami's name.

"Plagg, please!"

Tikki quickly laid out the pros and cons. Adrien was Chat Noir, not exactly shocking, but wow Marinette would freak when she found out.

If she found out.

Marinette shouldn't have been too far from Adrien, if she still wasn't here then it was likely that something was preventing her from returning.

The kwami quickly flew back to her locker to fetch her Miraculous, before shooting straight back towards the hysterical boy.

"Chat Noir!" she called out, floating in front of him.

He stared up at her, eyes frozen. Inwardly, a part of her wanted to chide him for responding to his alter ego's name out of costume, but clearly now was not the time.

"Y-you're…" he realised.

"I'm Tikki, Ladybug's kwami," she explained. "I need your help."

"I'm Adrien, i-is Ladybug hurt?" his face grew pale.

"We've been separated," Tikki explained. "I need you to help me find her."

"But, I-I can't find Plagg!" Adrien yelled. "What if he's hurt or in pain? I-I need him to become Chat Noir!"

Tikki gave him a motherly smile.

"Oh Adrien, Plagg is a kwami. Neither of us can die – or even be hurt - from something like this. He's just being lazy."

She smiled at the distraught boy kindly, before she floated over towards the smashed-up lockers and took a deep breath.

"PLAGG, YOU LAZY BUM! COME OUT THIS INSTANT! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!"

Adrien blinked. The room was silent, but it was a different silence; the silence of someone who didn't want to come out and see what kind of trouble he was in.

"I know you can hear me, Plagg!"

One of the lockers doors creaked open slightly, and Adrien saw two tiny green eyes poke out.

"Err, hey Tikki…" Plagg said, looking anywhere but towards her. "… I was just finding my Miraculous. You know how it is – it's dark in there…"

"You can see in the dark," Tikki responded, unimpressed.

"Yeah well…," he searched for words, before putting on an exaggerated tone. "The lockers fell off the walls and I hurt my head."

Adrien then watched as Plagg did something he had never seen the kwami do before.

He used the kitten eyes.

"It really hurt…" Plagg whined, gazing imploringly up at Tikki. "I got dizzy and you know what I'm like when I'm dizzy – my tummy hurts as well."

Tikki rolled her eyes.

"Oh, Plagg."

"You can't stay mad at me."

"No…"

Plagg cheered, flying a loop in the air before tackling Tikki around the middle. The two kwami spun through the air holding onto each other and screaming in delight. Plagg nuzzled Tikki possessively as she hugged him tightly. It had been so long since they'd seen one another, and they couldn't help but savour every moment.

"Um," Adrien began awkwardly. "I don't mean to interrupt…"

"Oh right, sorry," Tikki untangled herself from Plagg and zipped in front of Adrien. "Well Adrien, Plagg, I need you two to transform and give me a lift while I look for Ladybug."

"Still don't want to reveal her identity?" Plagg scoffed.

"You know perfectly well why that is," Tikki said sternly and Adrien was astonished to see a look of shame flash briefly across Plagg's inhuman features.

"Let's just hurry up and finish this. I want to go nap," he tossed the ring to Adrien and crossed his tiny paws.

"Plagg, Claws Out!" Adrien posed.

Plagg was sucked into the ring and with a bright flash of green light, Chat Noir stood ready for action.

"Nice work!" Tikki flew towards the superhero and snuggled into his hair. "Oh, you have very nice hair!"

"Thank you," Chat Noir answered, blushing at the praise. "Are you sure you'll be fine there?"

"Don't worry about me, this isn't the first time something like this has happened," Tikki spoke. "Now it's possible that we'll miss Ladybug and she'll return here where she left me. If that happens we need to figure out a way to let her know I'm safe with you."

"I'll write her a note!" Chat planned, reaching into the locker where his stuff was. "I always come prepared."

Tikki nodded in approval.

"Good work. Once you're done, I suggest you look for your classmates," she said. "It would also be wise not to engage the akuma until Ladybug is with you."

"What, you don't think I can handle it?" Chat countered with a dismissive wave. "I'll be fine. If I beat the akuma and take his item, then the danger will be over, right?"

"Or you might fail," Tikki admonished. "This akuma seems abnormally powerful, so you shouldn't confront him until Ladybug is with you. I would suggest laying low and looking for your classmates – they might be in trouble."

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see," Chat Noir said absent-mindedly, finishing his note.

Tikki quickly took the note and ordered him to turn around whilst she put it in Marinette's locker. It was a bit of a calculated gamble, Tikki acknowledged, that Marinette wouldn't show up here before they could find her, but Chat Noir could simply move far faster than Marinette could on her own. Not to mention that if the girl was in trouble, then they would have to rescue her, and she'd likely never show up then.

"Alright, Chat Noir," Tikki returned and settled back into his hair, the earrings gripped tightly in her little paws. "Let's go!"

"No problem, Tikki!" he replied, smiling as he opened the door. "I'll have this akuma beaten before you know it! We probably won't even need Ladybug!"

With that, Chat Noir leapt into action, his claws digging into the side of a nearby metal tube.

'I have a bad feeling about this,' Tikki thought to herself, as Chat Noir began the arduous climb to the very top of the magical water park.

A/N: Let me know what you guys thought! Also the season two finale was great! Hopefully the show only gets better!

Thank you to everyone for your support.