Marinette was eating a bowl of cereal as her father worked in the kitchen to clean the dishes while the TV played hte morning news. On it, Nadja Chemak was reporting on the immobile stone giants spread through out Paris. Tom immediately picked up on her sour mood when the news turned to discussing how everyone was relying on Ladybug and Cat Noir.

"I know how upsetting and scary this is, but don't worry, sweety. We got two superheroes looking out for Paris, and the best way to help them is by showing we're not scared because we trust them."

"But what if Ladybug fails?" Marinette voiced her concern of not being good enough.

"Then I'll save us. Super-Baker to the rescue!" Tom had grabbed a loaf of french baguette from the table and posed with it like a sword. His silliness was successful as he brought a smile and chuckle from his daughter.

Marinette stood up and hugged her dad. "Thanks, Dad." She then went to grab her things for school.

"You're father's a baker?" She heard Adrien in her head.

Marinette quietly grumbled, "Good morning to you too."

"What's wrong?"

"Can't you just go away?" Marinette opened the trapdoor to her room a bit more violently than usual.

Adrien frowned. "I don't want to go back on meds ... but I have to take them three times a day." Marinette could hear the frustration and longing in his voice. Not knowing how to deal with it, she choose to ignore it and go back to getting ready for school.

Marinette slipped the jewelry box with the Ladybug Miraculous into her purse. She felt shame in doing so, but she felt she had to give it to someone better. "Alya would make a great superhero." She had a habit of talking to herself.

"Who's Alya?" the boy's voice said in her mind.

Marinette frowned. "Why can't you leave me alone? You left me once, do it again."

Adrien felt depressed. He was already up, eating breakfast, but no one else was at the table to see his face fall. "I didn't want you to leave. The doctors made you leave. I was so upset ... but Father would have none of it. If I wasn't perfect, I wasn't good enough."

"Whatever. School is difficult enough without everyone thinking I'm going crazy."

Marinette closed the mental door again and left for school.

Meanwhile, Adrien finished his breakfast and went up to his room. He was going to try again to get to public school. "Plagg, claws out!" Out the window he went, unseen by any in the household, and once away he transformed back to Adrien to run to school. His path took him through a park, there was an arch entrance across the corner from his house, aiming diagonally to the main entrance, which was across from the school. He had barely noted a bakery on the corner.

Marinette made it to school, where she was greeted by Alya - who had wanted to show her something.

"Isn't it great? A blog devoted to Ladybug. I call it, the Ladyblog. Bringing all the latest news about Paris's coolest superhero, Ladybug. I already uploaded the video from yesterday. Check out the number of views since I posted the video."

Marinette fell behind her walking friend. "But why do you trust Ladybug so much? All these stone beings ..."

"She's going to handle them." Alya sounded sure and confident.

Marinette couldn't look her new friend in the eye. "What if she isn't cut out to be a superhero like everyone think she is?"

"What are you talking about?" Alya gazed at Marinette in concern. "Oh, I get it. You're afraid. But don't worry. I seen Ladybug in action. She'll protect us." And with that Alya continued her way through the school.

Marinette gazed over, she found her classmates all bunched up in the courtyard. Ivan was looking depressed as he moped on the bench and everyone else looked curious. "You really don't remember?" Alix asked the boy.

"You went, like, totally ballistic - it was so cool!" Juleka's face was hidden by her hair, from the angle Marinette could see her from.

Kim nodded. "You were seriously out to crush me, dude."

"I'm sorry - it wasn't me!" Ivan's voice was full of pain and shame.

Chloe, in a snotty tone, berated the large teen. "Once a monster, always a monster."

Marinette felt bad for Ivan as he angrily stomped off. 'Oh no!' she thought to herself. 'What if he becomes an akuma again? I didn't get Alya the miraculous yet.'

While Marinette fretted, she heard Chloe get a parting remark in. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Her tone was sing-song, but the words were clearly hurtful.

Marinette was worried Ivan might become a monster again, what with all the rock monsters around Paris waiting for Hawkmoth to change him again. "Maybe ... I could try talking to him. You don't need powers to make someone feel better."

"And that's why you're a hero," she heard Adri's voice in her head. He sounded like he was running. Meanwhile, Adrien was running still, almost to school.

She fumed as she followed Ivan. "Get out of my head." She then imagined slamming a door. Which didn't really accomplished much, but she hoped he got the message.

She found Ivan amongst the lockers. He was sitting, listening to some music through headphones. She approached him gently and got his attention with by laying her hand upon his arm. She smiled as Ivan noticed her and took his headphones off. "You know, you should tell Mylene how you feel."

Ivan couldn't look her in the eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on, I saw the way you looked at her."

Ivan shot her an upset look.

Marinette rallied. "No, no negative emotions, Ivan."

He glared at her for a moment, then looked away.

"Uh! What I mean is: be positive. I'm sure Mylene has feelings for you too." She then leaned in closer to his ear, and whispered, "Go talk to her."

Ivan looked down. "Phooey. I'm no good with words anyways."

"Who needs words. You could draw her a picture, send her flowers -"

Ivan looked up, hope filling his voice. "I could write her a song?"

Meanwhile, Adrien was being led to class by Chloe. A lot of fans were saying hi to him as he walked the halls with her. A few tried to get his autograph, or even his phone number. Chloe was soaking in all the attention that Adrien brought and she got to share by being by his side. They made their way through the courtyard and up to the second level where the classroom was. Soon they approached the classroom door.

"Wow!" Chloe enthused as she practically danced into the classroom, leaving Adrien by the door. She spun and gestured to his spot. "This is your seat, Adrikins. I saved it for you, right in front of me."

"Thanks, Chloe." Adrien entered the room and slid into his seat. He held his hand out to the kid he would be sharing the desk with. "Hey, I'm Adrien."

Nino quirked an eyebrow. "You're friends with Chloe there, huh?" He then pointed his chin towards the blonde girl.

Adrien glanced over. He could see Chloe handing a piece of chewed gum to another girl who then squished it upon a seat.

"Hey! What's that all about?"

Marinette had rejoined Alya and now was heading towards class with her. "So ... that Ladybug - she's pretty cool, huh?"

"You know it, girl."

"Alya, wouldn't you like to be a superhero and go out and fight monsters and villains?"

Alya pumped her right fist. "Totally! I'm not scared of anyone. Why?"

Marinette rubbed her head, sheepish. "Oh, no reason." As they neared the classroom, Marinette took the Miraculous out and, after one last look, slipped the box into Alya's bookbag.

Then, as the arrived at the door, both could see a strange kid kneeling by their seats. Marinette stormed in, "Hey, what are you doing?"

The kid spun around. "Oh - I ..." And at the moment, they could see themselves through the other's eye. And the proximity felt, to Marinette, like being next to Cat Noir. But any thought she might have given to this was sidetracked when Chloe and Sabrina began to laugh out loud.

Marinette growled and made shooing motions with her hand. "Very funny. You can go now."

Adrien felt bad and wanted to defend himself. "No, wait, I was trying to get this off." But Marinette merely glared at the laughing girls and pushed the boy away from her seat. It was one thing to be made fun of by Chloe, but the last thing she wanted was a reminder of the boy and her failure at being a hero.

After considering the gross gum, she pulled a napkin out and covered the offending object before sitting down. She ignored the boy, who she could feel was feeling down as he returned to his seat. And as much as she didn't want the connection, she couldn't tune out the bond with nothing to distract herself with.

"Now do you see what I mean about respect?" She could hear Chloe say, which was normal as Chloe wasn't trying to be quiet. But she did hear the quietly huffed sigh. She also heard Nino whisper, "Why didn't you tell them it was Chloe who did it?"

Alya then shoved her phone in front of Marinette's face, and Marinette could see photos of the boy on it - he was the son of Gabriel Agreste. Marinette merely frowned and pushed the phone away. She just wanted to forget him and Tikki and everything.

"I've known Chloe since we were little kids. I know she's not perfect, but I can't just throw her under the bus. She's like the only friend I have."

Marinette couldn't help feeling sorry for the boy, what with feeling his loneliness through the bond. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Nino spin in his seat and hold his hand out. "I'm Nino, and it's time you made some new friends, dude."

Marinette bit at her lip. 'Maybe things are working out for the better, anyways.' And with that, she tried to put Adrien out of her mind. Which might have been possible had Ivan not relapsed once more into Stoneheart.

Ivan came crashing in through the door, causing chaos. Marinette could see Adrien trying to catch her eye, but she pretended she didn't see him. As Ivan held Mylene, Adrien hesitated. "Come on, partner," he whispered as he slipped out of his seat towards the door.

Marinette shook her head. Meanwhile, Ivan and Mylene's discussion took a turn for the creepy. "My name is Stoneheart."

"Why are you doing this?" Mylene pleaded.

"So we can be together - forever!"

And then, Stoneheart had found Chloe and kidnapped her too before crashing through the wall.

Marinette cowered behind a desk. She once more heard Adrien calling her out. "Come on, we can't let him get away."

Meanwhile, Alya had turned from the hole in the wall. "Come on, let's follow them."

She answered both at once. "Oh no. You go on. I'm finding a safe place to stay out of this."

Alya rolled her eyes. "Girl, you're going to miss all the action."

And she heard Adrien in her head agreeing. "I can't do this alone."

Marinette groaned, then noticed Alya's backpack. She grabbed it and held it out. "You and Ladybug will be better off without me."

Adrien made a confused noise. "But you're Ladybug."

"If you say so." Alya than ran out the room.

"Wait your bag!" Marinette gave chase. But, outside the door, she ran into Adrien.

Adrien gave her a comforting smile. "We were chosen for a reason. Please, believe in yourself."

Marinette shook her head. "I just can't. You should go." Then she grew snarky. "You're friend Chloe needs saving."

Adrien sighed. "You're stronger than you know, Marin." Then, seeing they were all alone in the hallway. "Plagg, claws out."

Marinette sighed at the retreating back of Cat Noir, then continued her chase of Alya.

She arrived in time to find Alya taking a video as Cat became surrounded by the Stoneheart clones. She panted as she came to a stop. "I brought your bag, Alya."

Alya, distracted, replied, "Glad you made it. Try to get some pictures or a video."

Marinette gave Alya a look that went unnoticed by the blogger as a fight broke out. Cat was dodging and avoiding, but then the stone monsters started throwing cars. Marinette dove to the street, but Alya almost died - she was saved at the last minute as Cat Noir used his baton to propel himself at the girl. He tossed her safely aside as he took the hit. "I could use help, you know," he said in a low voice from where he got back up again. Alya, meanwhile, used the distraction to slip away and chase after Ivan, figuring Ladybug would be chasing him down instead of dealing with the minions.

Marinette looked at where Alya was rushing towards danger, after nearly being crushed by a car, and then at Cat Noir, who was holding out a hand to help her up with. She glanced at Alya's bag and came to a decision. Accepting the hand up - which felt weird with there strange connection - she then dug the miraculous out.

"Guess there's no running from this."

Adrien gave her a gentle hug. "There's never any running from who we are." She put the earrings in and became Ladybug once again. "Glad to have you back, partner."

Marinette blushed at his smile. "Wouldn't Alya have made a better superhero?"

Adrien shook his head. "She's too reckless. That's my job." He gave her a wink. "Plus, with us, we know what the other will always be doing. We're two halves of the same coin. We share a bond no monster can ever understand or defeat. So come on, we have our classmates to save."

"But, if I only captured the akume the first time, none of this would have happened."

Adrien held her by her shoulders. "The city needs us, it needs you. And we're going to show them that we're the only ones for this job. Not Alya. Not the police. You and me. Trust me."

When they arrived at the scene, in the nick of time to save Chloe, was when Hawkmoth gave the city his ultimatum. Marinette didn't know where she suddenly found the resolve and fire, but listening to the self-important villain made her angry. Her friend Mylene, her classmate Ivan, and even her nemesis Chloe were endangered because of his selfish wants and plans.

She looked at Cat Noir as he looked at her. A glance passed between them as they nodded their heads. They had a job to do.

"Nice speech, Hawkmoth," she applauded as she clapped her hand. "But let's not reverse the roles here." And Marinette didn't even know where she found the words - public speaking wasn't her forte previously - but the words came pouring out: an inspirational speech as she got rid of the evil messengers and made a vow to the city. "People of Paris, no matter what, me and Cat Noir will do everything in our powers to keep you safe." And then she released a cloud of purified butterflies.

"Wow," she heard Cat Noir say. "Marin, you make me love you more and more every day."

Marinette blushed. "I can hear you, you know."

"Uh ... oops." She heard his shy reply. "But it's true. So you'll just have to put up with it."

"Come on, we still have one more butterfly to purify." And not a moment to soon as Ivan began scaling the Eiffel Tower along with his minions.

After a quick and heroic battle, the duo managed to save the day. The plan was simple, get Mylene to accidentally kiss Ivan. Capture the possessed object. Purify the butterfly. And the extra wrinkle was catching the freefalling classmates before they hit the ground.

"Oh, look at your ring. We better get back before time runs out."

Cat Noir nodded and grinned. "I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership." Then the two left the scene together, to make their way back to school.

"You know," Cat Noir said as they raced through Paris, "you shouldn't let Chloe bully you. Stand up to her."

"You know, Kitty, I think I will."

And she did. When she got back to school with Adrien, they found Alya. "You two look chummy." Alya eyed the two warily, unsure about Adrien.

"Did you get your scoop?"

"Man, by the time I got to there on foot, it was already over." She sighed. "Better luck next time, I guess."

Marinette smiled. "That's the spirit."

"Why, I might even unmasked Ladybug."

Marinette and Adrien shared a look behind Alya's back. "Good luck with that."

That's when Adrien's bodyguard drove up. Nathalie exited the car, holding a tablet. "Adrien."

Adrien looked over and sighed. Marinette patted him on his arm. "Be strong."

"Go on ahead, I'll catch up."

And so, Marinette caught up to Alya and they entered the classroom. Marinette, feeling confident and remembering Adrien's words to her, got an idea. She led Alya up to her rightful seat. "I realized that the only person that can make me give up my seat is myself. So come on." And when Chloe tried to get her to move again, Marinette showed the same spirit that filled her when Hawkmoth tried to turn the city against her.

Later, when school was done for the day, Marinette was put out to see it was raining. While she lived the closest of all the students, she still did not fancy walking even a short distance in the rain. Then she heard an umbrella open behind her and then she was covered from the rain.

"I'm glad I didn't lose your friendship after all." Adrien was right next to her. "You're the first friend I ever made, Marin."

Marinette looked down to her feet. "Call me, Mari. And I wasn't mad at you, this morning, but myself. Sorry for taking my frustrations out on you. I knew you were just trying to do the right thing and get rid of the gum, but I didn't want to see you because you reminded me I failed as Ladybug."

"Hey I get it." He smiled softly at her. "Chloe's been bothering you, huh? If she was bullying me, I'd probably lack self-esteem too. But I think today you proved something important."

"To Paris?"

"No. To yourself. Here, take this. You can give it back to me tomorrow." And with one last smile, Adrien handed her his umbrella and walked off.

Marinette smiled and blushed at his retreating back, then the umbrella snapped closed on her as her finger accidentally triggered the button on the handle.

"Let's get home, Tikki."

Should I leave it here? If I can figure out a mostly logical chronological order to the episodes, I suppose I could try more. But, I think this gets the general idea across. Maybe the second season will inspire me?