Okay okay okay.

I have been assigned to be a superheroine named Ladybug in a skating competition with famous skater Chloé Bourgeois, with choreography done by my idol, Adrien Agreste.

If I lose, Adrien goes back to his father's rink with Chloé, to be her coach, but more importantly, her partner in couple's skating.

If I win, Adrien stays here and coaches me.

So I need to be the greatest superheroine ever in order to win!

Adrien clapped his hands, making Chloé look up from filing her nails and made me refocus on skating, instead of taking inventory of the risks I was taking.

"Okay girls," Adrien said, putting his hands on his hips, "I'm going to show you both your pieces, then I'll talk to each of you individually."

He pointed at Chloé, "Start the music please, we'll start with Queen Bee."

Chloé rolled her eyes and pressed the play button on the remote.

The music started off very sassy, with lots of snapping and alto voiced singing to a heavy beat. Adrien matched it perfectly, he moved exactly on time with the snaps. Then the music changed to a saprano voice singing with lots of harmonies, and Adrien jumped high in the air on the climax of the high note, landed in a spin, and just as the song finished he was standing at center ice, his hands high in the air, crossed and flaired above his head. It seemed impossible for anyone else to do it. This was made for him.

"Yeah, I got it." Chloé said casually. I gaped at her, how could she know it by heart just by watching?

"Great." Adrien replied, going back to a relaxed position, "Marinette, could you play the next song?"

My mouth still hung open. I realized he was talking to me and I yelped, stumbling for the remote and finally pressing the right buttons.

The music began with a soft violin, accomponied by an angelic choir and a soft techno beat in the background. Adrien matched it with slow, flowing arm movements circling around his body. The music seemed to ascend to a new height, changing to a strong, powerful beat played by the violin. This definetly described a superhero. Having to overcome shyness in order to save the world. I could never pull this off, but Adrien definitely could.

Adrien finished with his hand high in the air, the other down by his side, as if he was releasing something from his hand.

I was standing with my chin in my hands, leaning my elbows on the edge of the rink, watching with wide eyes. I didn't realize he was done until he said, "So, what do you think?" He motioned for me to come onto the ice.

I jumped in shock. Quickly, I opened the gate and skated onto the ice and stood across from him. "I-it... It was very... Very heroic, I suppose! I mean- I don't suppose- I know- I know it looked great! It was great." I stuttered, rubbing my hand across the back of my neck.

"I'm glad you think so. I think this piece suits you."

"Y-you think a piece about a superhero... Suits me?"

"Of course it does." He said with a laugh, "You don't think so?"

"I mean I just don't have the qualities that a superhero has...."

"Qualities like what?" He asked, putting a hand on his hip.

After consideration, I told him, "Confidence...."

Adrien smiled and closed his eyes, "Chloé, why don't you go ask Alya if she has some headphones, I want you both to listen to your music while the other is skating."

Chloé sighed, then nodded and exited the rink.

Adrien opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Marinette."

He skated towards me, I froze, but he kept moving forward until his skates were straddling mine. He cupped my cheek with one hand and pulled me close to him with another.

"Marinette, you have more confidence than you realize. I've seen it in you. It may be when you're wearing a mask, but it's still you. You have confidence. Maybe I could... Help you show it?"

He closed his eyes and for a moment... So did I. I felt him pull me closer and-

"ADRIEN AREN'T YOU TEACHING ME FIRST?!" Chloé shouted.

Adrien slid backwards away from me and I shook my head, trying to regain focus.

"Yes Chloé, of course." Adrien said. He turned to me, "Think about you as a hero. Create your identity. I'd love to know who you are. Then I'll start teaching you. Until then, practice the basics."

He skated towards Chloé, leaving me stranded on center ice.

-----

"So you were just practicing jumps all day?" Alya asked when I had finished telling her my story.

"Basically." I replied as I untied my skates, "I couldn't figure out what to tell him about my hero. I've figured out the story in the song, I just-"

"What's your hero's story?" Alya asked, curisosity lacing her voice.

I sighed and shook my head, "I can't believe you're making me tell you."

"Come on!"

I laughed and started the tale I had come up with...

"Her name is Ladybug. She is a superhero who saves Paris on a daily basis from the forces of evil. She uses her heightened abilities to save people. But she has a secret love for a boy in Paris, she tried to talk to him when she's not a superhero, but she's just to shy. But then she transforms and she becomes confident and strong. But she can't talk to her love when she's a hero, she's to busy trying to make Paris safe for him. She swears to protect Paris, her love, and... And something else that I haven't thought of yet... But eventually she protects everything she loves and emerges victorious!"

Alya was silenced, then she laughed, "You think you can do that, Marinette?"

I frowned, "I can pull it off!"

"Let me guess, the boy is Adrien."

"WHAT?!"

"It's kind of obvious."

"Okay okay maybe it's him but-"

"You're gonna need a lot of confidence to impress him. And what is she trying to protect?"

"Something close to her, something she loves-"

"Besides Adrien."

"Jeez Alya if you would stop interupting me I might come up with something!"

We both laughed.

-----

"No no no Chloé this is all wrong!" Adrien said.

Chloé panted and leaned against the side of the rink. She flipped her hair and turned to face Adrien, "What do you mean it's wrong?! I DID IT EXACTLY THE WAY YOU SHOWED ME!"

Adrien clicked his tounge, "But your greed is too obvious. You're supposed to be selfless, not selfish."

"I AM NOT SELFISH!"

"Show me that. Prove to me that you can be a hero."

"If you know so much about heroes, what do I need to do to be one?"

Adrien chuckled, "I'm not a hero, but I know you have to believe you are one before you can make other people believe you."

Chloé was silenr for a moment, then she straightened up and said, "I am Queen Bee, and I'm a hero."

They were both silent.

"And what are you fighting for?"

Silence again.

"Think." Adrien said, "Let's go back to Marinette's place for dinner."

-----

I sat at the dinner table with my parents on either side of me, Adrien and Chloé sitting on the other side.

Upon coming into my house, Chloé said, "Oh my God, this place is a mess! Did your maid quit or do you just like living like pigs?" Adrien glared at her, which made her mumble, "Well, at least the bakery smells good."

My parents were still gracious enough to let her stay for dinner, she couldn't stay here since Adrien already was, so soon she would be going back to her father's hotel.

I barely touched my dinner as the rest of them ate. I was to busy trying to focus, what was close to Ladybug, what did she want to protect? I would say her love, but if I told Adrien that he would ask who it was, and if I answered that....

"So, Marinette, have you figured out your hero's story yet?" Adrien asked.

I nearly fell out of my chair. I managed to get through the story of Ladybug without stuttering, dispite the fact that Chloé was laughing the whole time. When I got to the part about Ladybug wanting to protect something, Adrien asked what.

I panicked, I had to think of something to tell him! I looked around, what was near and dear to me?

My mom cleared the table and set out a plate of chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

It came to me.

"THAT'S IT! COOKIES! BAKED GOODS!" I shouted.

Everyone stared at me for a moment.

Chloé burst into laughter, "Your hero is sworn to protect... BAKED GOODS?! HA!"

"NO NO I MEAN SHE'S PROTECTING HER FAMILY'S BAKERY! AND SHE LOVES COOKIES AND-"

"I think it's cute Marinette." Adrien said, grabbing a cookie.

I stood up, "If you'll excuse me."

I ran upstairs to my room, slammed my face into a pillow, and screamed, "OH MY GOD HE MUST THINK I'M SO IMMATURE THEY MUST THINK I'M CRAZY DEAR GOD-"

-----

We practiced the next few days until the rink had to close, and came back the next day as soon as it opened. Eventually it was only one for day until the "Césaire Rink Skate Off", as they were calling it.

Chloé and I were both their at the break of dawn, as instructed, but Adrien hadn't arrived yet.

It took all the courage I had, but it was my last chance to ask. I turned to Chloé, who was sitting silently, staring at her skates.

"Chloé?"

"What do you want?"

I stuttered, "Will... Will you teach me how to land the jumps you can land?"

She turned to me, "Now why would I help you do that? We're competiting against each other remember?"

"But you aren't really beating me if we aren't at the same level when we compete."

She considered it.

"Come with me." She said, standing up and heading towards the rink.

She showed me multiple times how to land a quad salchow, but when I tried I always failed and fell.

When I tumhled to the ground for the fifth time Chloé shouted, "You're completely incompetent! Get up stupid-"

"Sorry I'm late," Adrien said as he walked in, "My father was- Oh what's going on here?"

We both looked at each other, then skated to opposite sides of the rink, and practiced our choreography.

-----

Adrien and I had just gotten home from practice, Chloé was in a cab heading home on the other side of the city, when Adrien asked, "By the way, I forgot to ask you, what did you want to do for your costume tomorrow? Chloé said she had one specially made."

I groaned, "Oh my goodnesz I completely forgot about costumes."

"Maybe Chloé will let you borrow one of hers?"

"No no no no no. I think I have a better idea. You go eat dinner, I'm going to visit Alya."

He nodded and smiled, then went into the dining room.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Alya's phone number, "Hey Alya? Do you still have that old costume I made when a few years ago?"

"Yeah," Alya replied, "Why?"

I walked up to my bedroom and found a pile of old fabric I never used, "Could you bring it over? I have a project and I'll need your help."

-----

Chloé and I were standing on the edge of the rink, with our warm up suits covering our costumes. Adrien came through the double doors, followed by Manon holding up Alya's phone (probably live streaming the event), and a bunch of reporters with cameras. They shouted questions at him but he only responded to the tiny Manon. As he came in I heard him talking to her.

"Welcome to the Césaire ice rink! It's been an honor to skate here- Oh look! Here are our two skaters! Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Chloé Bourgeois!" He ran over and put his arms around us. I could feel myself blush.

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng! What do you have to say to the media!" One of the reporters shouted.

"U-um... Visit the Dupain-Cheng bakery?" I stuttered.

Chloé shoved me out of the way of the camera, "No no no, don't advertise! You'll make us look cheap!" She looked straight into the camera, "I'm going to win and bring Adrien back to his father's rink. I swear." She gave a hair flip and walked away.

The reporters tried to follow her, but Manon, with her strong personality said, "REPORTERS MUST STAY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RINK!"

Adrien and I followed Chloé to the gate of the rink as the announcers introduced the skaters. Chloé unzipped her jacket and slipped off her sweatpants, revealing her specially made costume.

Her costume was a skin tight bodysuit, yellow from head to toe, well, her skates were blake with yellow laces. Her suit had black sequins sewed into it in big black lines. Her hair was tied up in her signiture pony tail.

She skated out onto the ice as the announcers introduced her and her program, titled, "Queen Bee".

A hush fell over the crowd.

The music began to play.

The begining of her piece was played out exactly as she was instructed to, with sass. She seemed determined to prove something as she glared at me from across the ice.

She performed her piece perfectly, all her jumps were exectuted perfectly. But something seemed... Off. It didn't described the story well. She didn't seem to be a hero... Maybe she was more of a villain?

Either way, she was amazing at her skate, and I started to get nervous. My vision started to blur... If I don't win, Adrien won't coach me. I have to win. I have to win.

She finished her skate and seemed to be happy it was over. She didn't even look at the audience when she skated off of the ice. She stared at the ground and ran a hand through her hair. As she moved through the gate she shoved me with her shoulder and I fell backwards...

Into Adrien's arms.

He held my shoulders and turned me around so I was facing him.

"Marinette, you're up next, are you ready?"

"Y-yes..." I said. I unzipped my jacket and pulled off my sweatpants, showing my homemade costume.

It was a red leotard with black spots, and a black skirt. Attached to my gloves were sheer red and black wings that I had made last night, and painted on my face was a red and black ladybug patterned mask, like the one I wore in the video Adrien saw me in.

"Wow." Adrien said.

I blushed. Now I have to show confidence to make this piece right. I thought to myself.

I took a deep breath and walked to the gate. Then I turned around and faced Adrien. I wrapped my arms around him in a big hug.

"This may be the last time I see you..." I said, "So please... Please watch me."

And I skated out onto the ice.

People cheered as I got into my beginning pose, and were silenced as the music came on.

As I rolled through the movements I knew who Ladybug was fighting for.

Everything molded together into my performance. I didn't remember much of what was going on, but I remember how the crowd was reacting. They were amazed by this new me, this new hero, Ladybug.

I may have missed my landing on a jump or two, but by the end of my performance the crowd was on their feet. A much larger reaction than Chloé's.

I turned and saw Adrien clapping with a big smile on his face.

-----

Chloé was already out of the rink, walking down the stairs in her warmups. Someone came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. Chloé whipped her head around, "What do you want?" She shouted.

A girl with orange hair cut in a bob cut shyed back, she was holding a sign with Chloé's picture on it.

"I-I was just wondering if you could sign this..." The girl said, "I'm your biggest fan. And you should have won that contest, but I know you'll win gold at the Grand Prix Final!"

Chloé's expression softened, then she broke into a dazzling smile, "Of course! Who can I make it out to?"

"Sabrina!"

Chloé took Sabrina's pen and signed the poster with curly swirly handwriting that she had been practicing for years.

"You aren't going to stay for the results?" Sabrina asked.

"No. The result was obvious. Marinette and I are at the same level now, so the next time we meet, I'll prove I'm better than her, with or without Adrien. In the end he will be mine."

And with that she walked down the rest of the stairs to a cab and got inside, and the driver drove off.

-----

I stood on the podium and accepted a bouquet of flowers from one of the announcers.

Manon was on the ice and held up Alya's phone and asked, "Marinette, you've won the Césaire Ice Rink Competition! What's your next goal?"

I stuttered, trying to come up with something to say, when Adrien wrapped an arm around me.

I starred into his green eyes for a moment, then smiled to Manon, "My next goal is to win the Grand Prix Final!"

-----

Author's note:

Wow this chapter was long. Episode 3 had a lot of events in it.

Anyway how are y'all likeing this story so far? How can I improve?

Anyway. WHO'S SEEN THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL BECAUSE WOW IT'S SO GOOD (a strange lack of mistletoe but) SO GOOD

ARE Y'ALL EXCITED FOR SEASON TWO?!? SEASON 1 IS GONNA BE ON NETFLIX IN FEBRUARY IF IM CORRECT AND SEASON TWO IN JUNE HOW LIT IS THAT

Anyway, hope you liked the chapter

<3

~The Author