The rest of Marinette's week has been relatively uneventful, with the exception of Hawkmoth sending out his akumas to terrorize Paris as per usual. Lila's been trying twice as hard to get underneath Marinette's skin, but thankfully both Chloé (surprise, surprise) and Rose were able to shut things down before any chaos could start. Other than that, nothing else really happened in school or in Marinette's personal time, though she did manage to get her designs up on her website for back to school season.

Now the Eurasian was currently sitting in her therapists office right now sketching up some new designs, the eventual meeting with Master Fu later tonight still plaguing her mind. Not only was she going herself, but she will be with both of her parents and Chat Noir studying the ways of the Miraculous under Master Fu. With the concept of furthering her powers and coming up with a temporary solution to reduce the amount of akumas Hawkmoth could produce, needless to say Marinette was pretty excited.

It seems Mary-Jane had took notice of that too.

"You seem more happier than normal?" Mary-Jane raised an eyebrow as Marinette chuckled.

"Me and my friends have made plans for the weekend," Marinette said in a partially-truthful tone.

Yes, she and the band had made plans for the weekend, but Marinette didn't want to reveal to her therapist anything related to her alter-ego. It's odd enough that her parents know now (and are permanent members of her and Chat Noir's hero team), but Marinette wants to hold off on telling people until she gets the 'ok' from Master Fu. After all, she has a secret identity to maintain.

Mary-Jane decided not to press onto the matter and instead opted to talk about a different topic. She knew Marinette was lying, (she's not a fool), but at the same time had a feeling that whatever her client is hiding should probably stay hidden for the time being.

"And so Lila tried to ruin my big art project for class, but that didn't exactly go out very well for her," Marinette made an explosion gesture, "She probably should've watched where she was going."

"Oh!" Mary-Jane looked at Marinette in surprise, "Did she.."

"Land in a huge tray full of paint and got it everywheres (except my project of course)? Yes, and needless to say she's temporarily suspended from class for the time being. Not exactly the smartest move on her behalf," Marinette finished.

"Oh my," Mary-Jane gasped, "Is she alright?"

"Physically, yes, but her ego took a huge hit as a result. All I got to say is that she's had it coming. You don't mess with the art or theatre kids (they're a force to be reckon with)," Marinette responded as she finished up her sketch, "Anyways, I finally got around to posting my designs on the MDC website and sales have reached its maximum peak. I swear, I don't know what I'm going to do with Jagged these days.."

Mary-Jane chuckled, "Perks of being friends with celebrities?"

Marinette nodded, "He alongside Laura Nightingale have been promoting my brand since the release of my website. It also doesn't help out any that I got recognized by the Style Queen herself as a talented designer (though I don't know if Audrey's opinion should matter or not). I swear, my life's pretty exhausting."

"It sounds pretty exciting for me," Mary-Jane commented.

"Trust me, it really isn't (especially if you're Ladybug)."

"Well I suppose that's it for our session today. Oh, and tell your mom she and Mr. Dupain did an amazing job on those strawberry macaroons," Mary-Jane said as Marinette gathered her stuff.

"Will do," Marinette responded, "Oh, Ms. Gardner?"

Mary-Jane looked at her, "Hm?"

"What exactly do you think of Ladybug and Chat Noir?"

"Paris' two heroes? Well I think they're doing a fantastic job defending the city. Such a shame Hawkmoth doesn't know when to stop akumatizing people.." Mary-Jane sighed at the thought of yet another helpless victim getting turned into a super villain against their will, "I just hope Ladybug and Chat Noir put a stop to his reign of terror soon."

"Yeah, I hope so too," Marinette solemnly responded as she walked out the door.

—

It was officially time for Marinette and her parents to go meet Master Fu for official training, and Marinette is quite nervous to say the least. Yes a lot of things have happened over the past few weeks, ranging from her parents finding out about her obsession with Adrien to Lila trying to sabotage her project for art class. All Marinette wanted to do was just lay down and get some much needed rest, but she made a promise to herself and the rest of Paris that she will find a way to temporarily prevent people from getting akumatized, and Marinette sure as hell wasn't about to back down on that promise.

Landing on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse alongside her parents and Chat, Marinette anxiously waited for Master Fu's arrival, completely unaware on what Miraculous he's going to be using for their training. Suddenly a huge portal opened out of the air as an old man wearing what appears to be a Chinese horse-themed superhero suit landing in front of them. Seriously, he chose the horse miraculous? Marinette wonders why...

"Greetings, students. My name is Master Fu and I am the last Guardian of the Miraculous. I have called you four here today to come and train with me in hopes of further improving your powers and skills."

"Wait, we can actually go beyond our limits?" Chat Noir asked him with a shocked tone to via voice.

Master Fu nodded, "It has been theorized by the past guardians that there is more to these powers than they originally suspected. Ladybug here has bought up the theory that since she is the wielder of the Ladybug Miraculous, she could possibly create anything she wants within reason. If she were to somehow create something that could temporarily ward off Hawkmoth's akumas, then that would reduce the amount of akumatized people the four of you would have to deal with."

"And since we are equals, Chat, I believe the same would apply to you. Our miraculous' along with Hulì and Sternotherus' are matching pairs. One cannot exist without the other, and both are required to balance each other out," Ladybug added on as she watched Chat's eyes widened, "I know I haven't exactly been the best partner here recently, and I do apologize for leaving you in the dark about certain things in the past, but for now on I'll try to be more open with you about everything (except my secret identity of course). I do hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me."

"No, M-Ladybug, I haven't been the best partner to you either. I haven't been respecting your personal boundaries, have constantly flirted and distracted you in the middle of akuma attacks, have done some things out of jealousy that I shouldn't have done in the first place, and not to mention I have been adding onto the pressure you've been feeling since the beginning. From here on out I'm going to atone for my actions and try to be the best partner and Cat Miraculous holder you could ever ask for. I apologize for my actions and I do hope you forgive me with time," Chat Noir said as he was slowly engulfed in a hug by the Ladybug-themed heroine.

"Chat.." Ladybug teared up as her partner gently retired the hug, "I forgive you."

"And I forgive you as well, Ladybug," Chat Noir responded.

"I don't mind being called 'M'Lady', but I would rather it stay between us and not in the public eye," Ladybug said as Chat Noir gently chuckled.

     "Got it, M'Lady."

     Master Fu smiled as he watched the two heroes embrace each other. It was about time those two were finally able to talk things out. He knew that overtime their bond would slowly fade if they weren't able to sort out their differences and apologize for their past mistakes. Now their bond was stronger than ever, and seeing his two pupils finally communicate with each other and apologize put a smile on Master Fu's face.

     Sabine and Tom looked at the duo with admiration in their eyes. They both truly were the perfect match (even if it's in a platonic sense). The two superheroes knew that this was a part of Master Fu's training for the duo, the first step being for them to sort out their differences and atone for their past mistakes with time. For a guy who seems to have a knack for choosing inexperienced people to be entrusted with superpowers, he sure did know what he was doing when he picked out the Cat and Ladybug Miraculous holders.

     "Anyways, M'Lady, I've been meaning to ask you this question for a few days now, but I didn't know when was the perfect time to do so: Who exactly are Sternotherus and Hulí?" Chat Noir asked with a straight face, making Ladybug snicker as a result.

     "Sternotherus and Hulí are my parents," Ladybug responded as she gestured over to the two superheroes standing behind her.

     Chat Noir looked at the trio in shock, "Oh my fucking god, I can't believe I acted like a dumbass in front of your parents..."

     "Don't worry, the feeling is mutual," Sternotherus responded as Hulí gently nudged him with her elbow.

     "Papa!" Ladybug groaned as Sternotherus snickered.

     "Don't worry, we've already forgiven you," Hulí warmly smiled before pulling Chat Noir down onto her level by his bell, "But don't ever think about doing that shit again, got it?"

     Chat Noir immediately nodded without hesitation, "Yes m'am!"

     "Now that everything is all said and settled, let's get on with training!" Master Fu said before looking Chat Noir in the eyes, "You sir are with me. We need to get you caught up on a few things."

     Chat Noir nervously gulped.

—

     Lila Rossi was steaming in rage. Just how exactly was Marinette and her friends always a step ahead of her? How exactly does Marinette still have friends after everything that's happened? Was Lady Luck on her side? Could it just be a sheer coincidence? Lila wishes she could find out, it would make her job more easier if she knew.

     This ever-growing pressure of trying to get by in life rapidly increases everyday. It was like her entire existence was just one big act in a play where she has to act a certain way in order for the next part to begin, rather it be playing the lovable daughter her mother wants her to be or Hawkmoth's pawn in his sick little game.

     Lila was just so tired from all the acting, but she knew the moment she started acting like her true self everything she worked for would crumble to pieces. She needed the paychecks she got from modeling so that she can finally move out of her mothers apartment and go back to Italy and be with her grandparents again, the only people who truly understood and supported her. The only way she could keep her modeling job though is to make Marinette's life a living hell so that Gabri-Hawkmoth can akumatize her, which she doesn't have much of a problem doing as the Eurasian reminded her of her arch-nemesis, Ladybug. It would probably be a win-win situation if she wasn't paid to act like a damn fool around everyone else (those mindless sheeps couldn't point out a damn liar if it hit them in the face).

     Glancing over at a framed picture of a younger version of herself standing with her grandparents, Lila smiled at the idea of being reunited with them after so many years apart. Just the thought of being back in her hometown was enough of a reason for Lila to still continue on going down the path she's on, even if it isn't exactly the most legal one...

     "Don't worry, I'll be back soon," Lila hummed as she glanced over at her lab top, "But first I need to get some things sorted out."

—

     "Rose, it's fine, I've already forgiven you,"   Marinette reminded the blonde as she helped Rose carry a heavy box up the steps.

     "Still, it wasn't right of me to push you down the stairs like that," Rose responded with a determined tone, "I don't care if you've already forgiven me, I still want to make things right with you."

     "And that is why you would make a great future miraculous holder," Marinette thought as she fondly looked at her friend, "All of you would."

     After training with Master Fu and her fellow teammates last weekend and her talk with Ms. Gardner, Marinette has put a lot of thought into forming a new and more effective hero team that would be able to help her and Chat in the fight against Hawkmoth and his partner, the elusive Mayura. Marinette wants the new Team Miraculous to have more of an organic relationship with each other, are very confident and comfortable with the idea of being heroes, not to mention can prove themselves to be trustworthy when the time comes for her to reveal her identity and big plan.

     So far Marinette has gotten her parents and Chat's advice on who should be a part of this new Team Miraculous. Chat bought up that since Chloé does have past experience with the Bee Miraculous and it's powers, she should be allowed to become Queen Bee again with the addition of her changing her costume and hero name and not revealing herself to the public like last time. Marinette has considered Zoé a possible candidate for the Bee Miraculous, but thinks that she would be better off wielding a different miraculous than the one her sister has wielded in the past. Would she and Master Fu allow Chloé to become Queen Bee again? Only time will tell.

     Luka would be a perfect match for the snake, even Master Fu agreed with her on that, but they both decided to wait until the situation calls for the miraculous to be put into play.

     The Ox? Mouse? Horse? Pig? Tiger? Monkey? Rooster? Dragon? Goat? Dog? Bunny? So many people to choose from...

     At least Marinette knows for certain who she plans on choosing next, but she would have to wait until the time is right for her to enact her big plan against Hawkmoth. After all, it was about time that guy got knocked down a few pegs.