Marinette waved to Alya, walking down the street. She plugged earbuds into her phone and hit play on her favorite playlist. It started with an acoustic guitar playing a riff twice.

"Dance with me?"  

Although Marinette's vision was stolen to be replaced by Chat's face, she kept her gait steady. She smiled sadly, focusing on the happiness, embarrassment, and pride she had felt in that moment. 

When she reached the bakery, she strolled in and smiled at her father. Tom was surprised and wrapped his daughter in a hug. "That's better." He said, letting Marinette go.

Marinette smiled in response and walked up the stairs. It began to amaze her instead of upset her that Chat had stepped in the same places she had, teased her from there, on the bed. Pulled her into his lap in the computer chair. 

Marinette could practically see his ghost moving about. Of course, an Akuma had to strike right then. "Tikki, Spots On!" Marinette smiled, finally able to enjoy the feeling of her transformation again.

Ladybug flexed, the familiar mesh stretching against her skin. Ladybug launched herself out of her room and swung to the scene. Ladybug landed in front of the villain, ready for a fight. Ever since the fake fight with Hawkmoth, Ladybug had been finding the Akumatized victims easy to beat. "Come on, ice queen." Ladybug said, raising her fists at the woman, dressed in an icy blue dress.

"It's not ice queen, Ladybird." The woman spoke with a British accent, which took Ladybug off guard.

She snorted and the woman glared. "What's so funny?" She asked.

"Nothing." Ladybug said, regaining her composure.

"As I was saying, my name is Miss Frost!" She yelled, throwing her arms in the air, raising columns of ice behind her.

Then the Akumatized item was obvious: a purple necklace on Miss Frost's neck, two heart halves, the friendship necklace kind. It seemed she had no one to share it with. "That's a marvelous necklace you have." Ladybug remarked, stepping closer to inspect it.

"Oh, yes I know!" Miss Frost said, putting a hand under the charms and leaning forward to display it better.

Once close enough, Ladybug swiped at the necklace. She tugged half a heart off, effectively disabling the Akuma. Out flew a purple butterfly, and Ladybug caught it, cleansing it. She recalled not using a lucky charm. "Lucky Charm!" The lucky charm was a simple black stone, the same thing every time Ladybug gained when asking for a lucky charm after cleansing the Akuma.

This one shaped remarkably like a circle with four others sticking off it. Like a paw. Ladybug noted.

"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybugs cleaned up the ice mess.

Ladybug left before the cleaning process had ended, landing on her balcony with a roll. She de-transformed, revealing Marinette. Feeling tired, Marinette prepared for bed and decided to sleep. The sun had just set, which meant it was still early. "Whatever," She mumbled aloud.

Marinette fell into her bed and shut her eyes. 

"I know." 

Marinette's eyes flew open. She didn't see his face. Just the words echoing in her head. Every other night, Marinette had cried at this, but tonight, she smiled weakly. He knew. He knew I love him, that I'd give anything for him.

Marinette shut her eyes again, this time uninterrupted. Uneasily, despite her resolve, Marinette fell asleep. 

Marinette woke up, blankets falling to the ground as she stood up. "Who are you?" She asked, opening the window to reveal a precariously balanced cat on the window.

"I'm Felix." Chat Noir said. 

"You look different than my Chat." Marinette complained.

"That's because I am." Felix rolled his eyes.

"You're mean." Marinette observed.

"So?" He asked.

Was this the replacement for Chat Noir? Was there a replacement? Tears brimmed Marinette's eyes. "You'll never be as good as him." Marinette put five finger tips on Felix's chest and pushed him back.

He grabbed Marinette's hand pulled her with him. Suddenly, Marinette was Ladybug and falling from the Eiffel Tower. Out of the corner of her eye, Ladybug spotted a flash of black as it crashed into her, changing her course. "Chat." She breathed, tears that wouldn't stop getting blown away in the wind.  He wasn't smiling, face quite grim. He glanced at her, hair blown back. 

This time, instead of both of them landing on the tower, safely, Chat's eyes widened and he threw Ladybug at the place they were supposed to land. Chat's body collided with the tower and he fell from it, toward the ground. "Chat!"

Ladybug squeezed her eyes tightly as she fell towards the floor of the platform. Then, she was back to Marinette and wrapped in warmth. Looking up, Marinette recognized Chat Noir's bell. She pulled back, glad to see he was okay. "Chat." She breathed.

"Marinette," Chat began.

"Yes, Chat." She said, desperate for whatever he was going to say.

"I know."

Marinette jolted from her sleep, her vivid dream lingering. She was sweating and panting. Marinette shivered at the thought of Felix, whoever he was. If someone like him replaced Chat, she wasn't sure if she'd carry on being Ladybug. 

"Chat Noir, what have you done to me?" Marinette asked.