| 1 | -> ''"On Sunday, Marinette discovered who her arch nemesis really was. On Monday, she made Adrien's father a deal."'' |
| 2 | -->-- Summary for Truth and Consequences. |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Marinette and Adrien have been heroes for four years. Graduation and college are right around the corner for Paris' heroes, while Marinette and Adrien are in the beginnings of a relationship, but sadly, no end to the war against Hawk Moth is in sight. That changes when Ladybug accidentally discovers the true identity of her ArchEnemy, leaving her with a choice she never expected to face: expose him then and there, potentially ruining Adrien's life... or give him what he wants in return for an end to the conflict? |
| 5 | |
| 6 | Ladybug chooses the latter. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | What follows is a downward spiral, as Ladybug and Chat Noir find themselves at cross purposes for the first time in their careers, resulting in an ever growing conflict that threatens to drag both heroes down, and all of Paris with them... |
| 9 | |
| 10 | ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/15678903 Truth and Consequences]]'' is a ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' Fanfic by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/siderealSandman/pseuds/siderealSandman siderealSandman]], and is complete. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | Its sequel, ''Mending Warped Designs'' is ongoing, and can be read here: [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/28993800/chapters/71155896 Mending Warped Designs]]. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | ---- |
| 15 | !!Tropes found in this fanfiction: |
| 16 | |
| 17 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 18 | |
| 19 | [[folder: Tropes For ''Truth And Consequences'']] |
| 20 | * TheAbridgedSeries: [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/21998065/chapters/52494541 There's a side-story]] that retells the fic in a shortened and far more humorous manner. |
| 21 | * AccidentalPun: |
| 22 | -->'''Carapace:''' ''[fighting skeleton enemies]'' Hey numbskulls! I got a bone to pick with you...ahhh man, even Chat Noir would have groaned at that... |
| 23 | * AdaptationalSuperpowerChange: [[https://twitter.com/Thomas_Astruc/status/968965208822644736 According to Thomas Astruc]], canon Sarutobi Sasuke wielded the Monkey Miraculous. Here he's a Cat. |
| 24 | * AdaptationalVillainy: The final chapter reveals [[spoiler:Felix has gone from simple jerkass to full-blown supervillain]]. |
| 25 | * AllForNothing: Marinette name-drops this trope when it ''finally'' becomes clear to her that allying with Hawkmoth was a horrible mistake, and now even ''correcting'' it will probably lead to her losing nearly everything she held dear. [[ZigZaggedTrope By the end of the story]], she ''does'' manage to salvage a ''few'' more benefits, but [[PyrrhicVictory her partnership with Hawkmoth]] ''[[PyrrhicVictory did]]'' [[PyrrhicVictory cost her nearly everything she had hoped to gain in the attempt]]. |
| 26 | --> “What happens afterwards?” Marinette said, glancing at Tikki. “He isn’t going to let me keep you after all this is over...no ring, no wish...Adrien’s mom is gonna die...and this was ''all'' for ''nothing!”'' |
| 27 | * AllTakeAndNoGive: In a twist on this trope, everything falls apart because Ladybug and Chat Noir feel that they’re in this sort of relationship, but they both feel that they’re the exploited “Giver!” Ladybug feels that she has to be [[TheReliableOne the “responsible one,”]] the one one who ultimately needs to [[TheStrategist make all the decisions]] when it comes to the battle against Hawkmoth and can never, ever fail in battle. Meanwhile, Chat Noir appears to take absolutely nothing seriously- he shows up and battles at her direction, but does nothing else to lighten her burden. Because she feels this way, she ends up [[NoRespectGuy treating Chat Noir like her sidekick]], unknowingly or not, while in the meantime Chat is increasingly resentful that [[LockedOutOfTheLoop nobody is willing to tell him anything]]. From his perspective, he shows up whenever he’s called and fights to the best of his ability- he’s been BrainwashedAndCrazy and even [[DeathIsCheap killed]] several times in defense of Paris! - and yet, no one is willing to do much as offer him an explanation! |
| 28 | * AmicableExes: Prior to the story, Marinette was involved with Luka, and Adrien with Kagami. Both relationships have since ended, but both remain on friendly terms. |
| 29 | * AnachronicOrder: Starting with Chapter 30, the fic bounces between the InMediasRes opening and the final leadup to HowWeGotHere. As of chapter 35, the author is removing and rewriting some of the "future flashes" so they are not boxed into anything. |
| 30 | * AndIMustScream: [[spoiler:Luka's fate, for a while after "Mayura" takes control. With the Ladybug Miraculous gone, the heroes are left with no way to purify him from the Mayura Akuma, and they don't want to kill him. So, they're forced to imprison him in an inter-dimensional cell, with no way to speak to ''anyone'', and Mayura constantly trying to regain control of him, until a way to purify him can be found]]. Eventually [[spoiler: Luka and Duusuu are able to take control back, breaking free in the process]]. |
| 31 | * AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:Adrien continues to be Chat Noir, and is last seen fighting vampires on a train alongside [[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Jade Chan]].]] |
| 32 | * ArbitrarySkepticism: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]]. When Kagami (who at this point is working with Adrien) learns from Master He that she believes Hawk Moth is a warlock, she initially finds the idea ridiculous. Adrien sets her straight: |
| 33 | --> '''Adrien:''' A thumb-sized talking cat powered by stinky cheese lives in my ring and gives me unfathomable powers of destruction, and you're having trouble buying the fact that Hawkmoth might have gone to [[Literature/HarryPotter Beauxbatons]]? |
| 34 | * ArcWords: As things go FromBadToWorse, Ladybug begins fixating on the phrase "I (We) can fix this." [[spoiler:Hawk Moth utters the same phrase when the heroes finally ruin his plans to save Emilie.]] |
| 35 | * ArmorPiercingResponse: Adrien delivers a brutal one to Marinette when confronting her about [[spoiler:making decisions about him and his family without his knowledge]]. |
| 36 | -->'''Marinette:''' I'm not ''asking'' you to be grateful but ''don't'' say I don't ''care'' about you! I...I love you Adrien.\ |
| 37 | '''Adrien:''' ...yeah? Maybe...but you sure as hell don't ''respect'' me.\ |
| 38 | That's not true! ''Marinette's mind screamed but as she opened her mouth to protest, she struggled to come up with evidence to disprove Adrien's claim. Adrien's point of view didn't factor into her decision...and she actively ''ignored'' her partner's advice which might have saved everyone but Gabriel from the mess they found themselves in. Marinette struggled to fill the hollow silence with some kind of assurance; struggled against the mounting worry that Adrien might actually be ''right''. Because as much as she loved him, she was beginning to realize that she never had the whole picture; there had been an invisible wall between them since the day they had met, preventing them from truly being their complete selves. Lies of necessity were still ''lies''.'' |
| 39 | * ArtisticLicenseBiology: Admittedly a somewhat pedantic example, [[spoiler: but Hawk Moth has five large black butterflies he feeds purified Akumas to. Real butterflies have proboscises instead of mouths, and are generally incapable of consuming anything but nectar]]. |
| 40 | * TheAtoner: |
| 41 | ** After [[spoiler:Hawk Moth takes the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses, Marinette swears to fix her mistakes and defeat him]]. |
| 42 | ** During Lila's cameo, she expresses a desire to put her sociopathic actions as a teenager behind her. |
| 43 | * BadassBoast: |
| 44 | -->'''[[spoiler:Gamemaster]]:''' But is it really a good idea to discuss battle strategy in front of your enemies?\ |
| 45 | '''Master Crane:''' It is if you know there's ''nothing'' your enemy can do to stop you. |
| 46 | * BecauseYouCanCope: |
| 47 | ** [[spoiler:At the end of the story, Marinette admits that on some level she believed Chat Noir could survive whatever she threw his way while Adrien wouldn't be able to.]] |
| 48 | ** Master Fu, after waking up from his coma, also confesses that this was the ''real'' reason he focused on training Marinette over him: being the Guardian is a lonely, secretive existence. He figured Adrien was already lonely enough and didn't want to force even more isolation on him, but believed that Marinette, with her many friends and loving parents, would be able to handle the burden. |
| 49 | * BeingGoodSucks: The four years of non-stop superheroing have really taken their toll on Marinette: she can't leave Paris for even a day for fear of an akuma attack, severely limiting her options for college, and she's lost several jobs due to vanishing every time Ladybug is needed, all of which contributes to her desperation to see the whole thing finally ''end''. |
| 50 | * BelievingTheirOwnLies: Marinette ends up telling a ''lot'' of lies throughout her [[FaceHeelTurn alliance with Hawkmoth]], and many of the most insidious are to herself. The first and most damaging of these is that Chat Noir was being spiteful and irrational by refusing to go along with her plan to give Hawkmoth what he wants. |
| 51 | * BeneathTheMask: There’s a ''lot'' going on behind Chat Noir’s image of a [[BumblingSidekick dorky sidekick]] who [[FightingClown never takes anything seriously]]. As his former partner, Ladybug knows and [[FlawExploitation exploits]] some of his depths- such as [[HeroicSelfDeprecation his insecurity about his place on the team]]- but as the story goes on, she [[BelievingTheirOwnLies convinces herself]] that he ''is'' just a goof so she can justify ''[[ForYourOwnGood stealing his Miraculous]]'' by insisting he isn’t thinking rationally. However, even ''Ladybug'' is taken off guard by Chat Noir’s [[{{Determinator}} utter determination]] to fight the good fight and bring justice to the citizens of Paris. |
| 52 | * BigDamnHeroes: Right as [[spoiler:Gamemaster is about to capture Kagami, Chat Noir shows up with the fully mastered Fang at his side]]. |
| 53 | * BittersweetEnding: Emphasis on bitter over sweet. [[spoiler:Hawk Moth is worm food and Emilie gets her one-up, but Marinette has destroyed her friendships with the other heroes, Kaiser Long and Firebird are still running amok with eleven stolen Miraculouses and will eventually become a new threat, and Tikki vanishes to take care of her own business.]] |
| 54 | * BlackSpeech: Late in the fic, Adrien starts speaking in this manner whenever he is extremely emotionally compromised. |
| 55 | * BlindObedience: Ladybug’s popularity as a hero leads a large portion of Paris’s population to lean into this trope. Certainly, Chat Noir [[NotHelpingYourCase didn’t exactly help himself]] by attacking her and her team at the press conference, but still, Ladybug’s story is basically built upon her ''word'' and Chat Noir’s “inability” to provide evidence [[MovingTheGoalposts that absolutely couldn’t be faked]]. [[spoiler: By the final chapter of ''Truth and Consequences,'' Ladybug’s pedestal [[BrokenPedestal has been]] ''[[DownplayedTrope slightly]]'' [[BrokenPedestal damaged]], but she remains the most popular hero in Paris- popular enough that [[KarmaHoudini the other heroes can’t expose her]] without sinking their ''own'' reputations. And even ''three years'' after Ladybug and Chat Noir disappeared from Paris, the populace is still eagerly waiting for Ladybug’s return- and have failed to make amends to Chat Noir for what they had done to him due to Ladybug’s story.]] |
| 56 | * BluffTheImposter: When Queen Bee infiltrates [[spoiler:Agreste Manor using Rena Rouge's illusions to disguise herself as Adrien, Nathalie catches her by bluffing that Marinette is pregnant with Adrien's child]]. |
| 57 | * BodyCountCompetition: Queen Bee and Carapace have one during the FinalBattle. |
| 58 | * {{Brainwashed}}: |
| 59 | ** [[spoiler: Luka, after being given the Peacock Miraculous, is being influenced by some kind of super-Akuma inside of it, turning his affection for Marrinette into dangerous obsession and slavish loyalty. Eventually, it takes control of him completely]]. |
| 60 | ** [[spoiler: A subtler form, but Gabriel, upon learning Marinette's name and after conditioning her to do what he says after saying a trigger phrase, was able to use magic to control her without her knowledge; anytime he says "I insist" she ''has'' to obey, and doesn't even realise it for most of the fic]]. |
| 61 | * BrokenPedestal: Several. |
| 62 | ** Ladybug to Chat. While she's convinced that this is just a feud and that eventually they'll both be friends again, Chat holds almost no affection her any longer and is more than willing to take her down if she continues to stand with Hawk Moth. |
| 63 | ** Chat expresses the sentiment that he's not going to be calling Fu "Master" for much longer after finding out how badly his training was neglected. |
| 64 | ** Alya, Nino, and Chloé become increasingly disillusioned and mistrustful of Ladybug as her behavior becomes overbearing and it becomes more obvious that she's lying to them. |
| 65 | ** After being tricked into thinking Chat Noir is a traitor, the Parisians tear down the statue of him they'd erected. |
| 66 | ** Obviously, Marinette doesn't hold Gabriel in high esteem anymore after learning he's Hawk Moth. [[spoiler:Obviously, neither does Adrien.]] |
| 67 | ** Alya and the Ladyblog end up with this in the eyes of Adrien and Kagami after [[spoiler: Ladybug convinces the reporter to run ''[[MaliciousSlander her]]'' [[MaliciousSlander side of the story]] while ignoring the evidence Chat Noir provided.]] Before that decision, Adrien trusted Alya enough to choose ''her'' out of all the reporters in Paris to run his story. Afterwards, he and Kagami might have other things to focus on, but it's clear that they've come to regard the Ladyblog as little more than a pro-Ladybug tabloid. Kagami barely makes an effort to hide her contempt when she runs into Alya at a coffeeshop, makes [[PassiveAggressiveCombat thinly veiled jabs at the recent integrity of her blog]], and completely refuses to clue her in on the ''real'' story of what's happening. This pedestal ends up ''somewhat'' [[RebuiltPedestal rebuilt]] by the end of the fic, once [[InternalReveal things get explained]] and Adrien and Kagami learn ''why'' she chose to compromise her journalistic integrity. |
| 68 | * TheBusCameBack: Lila Rossi returns to Paris after years away [[spoiler:only to see the hellish mess the city is in and head off for Maui.]] |
| 69 | * ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler:Marinette, Adrien, Tikki, and Plagg all leave Paris for various reasons at the end of the story.]] |
| 70 | * ButtMonkey: Mayura. Chat Noir effortlessly flings him around every time they fight, Kagami feigns not knowing who he is the first time they meet, Team Paris is put off by his slavish devotion to Ladybug, and at Mayor Bourgeois' gala Adrien deliberately gets his name wrong and wonders why ''he's'' Team Ladybug's new leading man when Carapace should have gotten the title by virtue of seniority. All of this contributes to the festering anger in Luka [[spoiler: stoked by the creature in his Miraculous.]] |
| 71 | * CameBackWrong: [[spoiler: The "resurrected" Emilie, once Gabriel ''finally'' gets his hands on both Miraculous, is described as "like Adrien's mother if his mother had been made out of wax and left out in the sun for far too long. Spindly, uneven fingers pulled up a body that was too thin, too gangly, too badly proportioned. Its hair was patchy and thin and fell off its head as it moved, bones cracking in a way that suggested they hadn't been put together properly."]] Subverted [[spoiler: when it's made clear that that isn't even Emilie at all, just a ''thing'' the Miraculous had created to try and grant his wish. The ''real'' Emilie is still in her life-support chamber. After all is said and done, Ladybug uses her HealingHands to [[AvertedTrope save her for real]].]] |
| 72 | * CassandraTruth: In Chapter 36, [[spoiler:Ladybug tries to tell Chat that Gabriel Agreste is Hawk Moth, but he doesn't believe her]]. |
| 73 | * CavalryRefusal: After all hell breaks loose in Paris, Master He tries to call on [[spoiler:[[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Section 13]] and [[WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown the Xiaolin Temple]]]] for aid. Unfortunately, ''they'' have their own problems to deal with at the moment, and aren't willing to help France until their own territories are secured. |
| 74 | * ChaoticNeutral: InUniverse, Queen Bee jokingly refers to herself as a Chaotic Neutral wildcard when she reveals [[spoiler:she swiped the Tiger Miraculous]]. |
| 75 | * ClicheStorm: InUniverse, Chat has this reaction to [[spoiler:Gamemaster kidnapping Kagami and using her as collateral for his Miraculous. Pointing out how overused this plotline is goads him into releasing her.]] |
| 76 | * ClusterFBomb: [[spoiler:Adrien]] descends into a fit of enraged profanity when he learns [[spoiler:Hawk Moth is his father]]. |
| 77 | -->'''[[spoiler:Adrien]]:''' Shut up! Don't ''touch'' me! Don't ''fucking'' touch me, you ''monster''! You ''fucking'' monster, I- [...] I...I hate you! I fucking ''hate'' you! I hate you [[spoiler:and ''mom'''s gonna hate you too! She's gonna call the ''fucking'' cops on you the ''second'' you bring her back to life!]] |
| 78 | * ConsummateLiar: Gabriel Agreste has spent four years honing his skills as a ManipulativeBastard, and the events of ''Truth and Consequences'' represent his ''masterpiece.'' This occasionally makes it [[AmbiguousSituation hard to determine]] what he ''truly'' believes, and what he's [[ILied just saying]] [[MoreThanMindControl to ensure that Ladybug stays on his side.]] This includes his actual opinions on [[VillainRespect Ladybug]] and [[NoRespectGuy Chat Noir]], what [[NoPlaceForMeThere his actual plans are]] after he gets his Wish, and how much of the situation is [[AllAccordingToPlan just as planned]]. |
| 79 | * ConvenientComa: Almost literally, since Master Fu is the only one who knows the identities of both Ladybug and Chat Noir; however, his health fails him early in the story, leaving him unconscious and thus unable to help defuse the situation. |
| 80 | * CoolSword: Fang, a sword of destruction wielded by Sarutobi Sasuke, fueled by the PowerOfHate and [[spoiler: created by the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous being used together]]. |
| 81 | * CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler: Ladybug dismisses Chat's desire to Hawk Moth brought to justice as [[RevengeBeforeReason revenge]], largely as a means of rationalizing her actions. This finally ends up becoming the case at the end, after everything she's done to him finally causes him to [[RageBreakingPoint snap]].]] |
| 82 | * CurbStompBattle: Mayura and Chat Noir, to the surprise of exactly ''nobody''; not only is the Black Cat Miraculous acknowledged as stronger than the Peacock, but Chat has four years of experience as a superhero, while Mayura has been at it for a few days. |
| 83 | * DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Wielding the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous simultaneously would, in ''theory'', grant any wish their wielder desires. In ''practice'', it requires an incredibly strong will, and perfect spiritual balance. Only one person has ever successfully pulled it off, with the consequences of the failures ranging from turning the wielder's hair orange, to transforming them into a potted plant, to [[RetGone Ret Goning]] an entire ''civilization''. Marinette is convinced she can pull it off; everyone else, not so much. [[spoiler: When Gabriel gets his hands on both, not only does he [[CameBackWrong fail to resurrect Emilie]], but he himself is seemingly annihilated - taking both Miraculous with him.]] |
| 84 | * DamnedByAFoolsPraise: In Chapter 37 [[spoiler: Mayura]] is given particularly barbed dialogue. |
| 85 | ** About the idea that [[spoiler: Marinette]] shouldn't have to deal with problems. |
| 86 | --->'''[[spoiler: Mayura]]:''' He ''upset'' you, [[spoiler: Marinette]], [...] He ''disobeyed'' you; he failed to treat you as the pure, perfect creature that you are...and anyone who does that needs to be eliminated. |
| 87 | ** About the idea that [[spoiler: Adrien]] should be punished for his flaws [[spoiler: after being beaten to near-death.]] |
| 88 | --->'''[[spoiler: Mayura]]:''' Finally... ''finally!'' [...] He's gone...he's finally gone! [...] No more M. Sunshine! No more ''smug'', spoiled, selfish, bratty little [[spoiler: Adrien]]! No more supermodel outshining me at every turn! |
| 89 | * DamselInDistress: [[spoiler:Gamemaster kidnaps Kagami and demands Chat's Miraculous. He gets out of it by pointing out how cliche this plotline is, causing Gamemaster to release her.]] |
| 90 | * DareToBeBadass: [[spoiler: Kagami, upon becoming Monarch, the new holder of the Butterfly Miraculous, gives one of these to Max, Juleka, Kim, and Nathaniel, when she asks to empower them to stop Hawkmoth and Mayura]]. |
| 91 | * DarkestHour: |
| 92 | ** The InMediasRes prologue. The Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses are destroyed, Hawk Moth is dead, everyone has turned on Marinette, and the fact that Adrien and Luka are still alive is described as a miracle. |
| 93 | ** Chapter 41's author's notes neatly summarize how far to hell everything's gone. |
| 94 | --->''"TL;DR. [[spoiler:Adrien and Marinette are going to take a field trip into their Sanctuary to soak up some magical energy that will either outright kill them, horribly horribly mutate them, or bestow on them the power to save the world. Gabey the Baby and Kaiser Long's Putty Patrollers are invading Paris, the 5-0 just got Jurassic Park'd, and Luka is composing a post-emo album about possession and powerlessness in the basement.]]\ |
| 95 | [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Oh, and Wayhem has been sentenced to 30 years for tax-fraud but that's unrelated to this story.]]\ |
| 96 | This is probably going to end well, right?"'' |
| 97 | * DatingCatwoman: An example neither party is aware of; Adrien is dating Marinette, unaware that she is Ladybug and has betrayed Paris out of a desire to protect him. |
| 98 | * DemonicPossession: In Chapter 34, [[spoiler:the monster inside the Peacock Miraculous fully possesses Mayura and forces him to kidnap Kagami]]. |
| 99 | * {{Determinator}}: An important, possibly the ''most'' important, part of Adrien's character. |
| 100 | * DeusExitMachina: Master Fu, the only one who could reliably defuse the conflict between Ladybug and Chat Noir (or failing that, reveal Ladybug's identity and be done with it), falls into a coma early in the story. |
| 101 | * DidntThinkThisThrough: |
| 102 | ** Hawk Moth [[spoiler: sends an akuma in order to quietly kidnap Kagami.]] Unfortunately for him, [[spoiler: akuma are terrible at being quiet and he gave this one the power to summon endless hordes of monsters.]] |
| 103 | ** Chloé is one of the self-appointed PR experts of Team Miraculous, and she makes a compelling argument to Mayura about how important it is to interact with the public on patrol. But for all she's well-versed in presenting an image to the public, she fails to really consider how things would look to Chat Noir, the hero "Team Paris" were trying to lure in for a proper explanation. By posting selfies of herself on patrol with Mayura, Queen Bee just implied that she was ''solidly'' Team Ladybug. Actually, ''immediately after'' Team Paris decided [[ChoosingNeutrality that they needed to take their time and carefully determine who to trust,]] Chloé thought it would be a good idea to milk "That horrible villain Chat Noir [[NotHelpingYourCase destroyed my childhood home"]] ''so she could [[SkewedPriorities get preferential treatment at school.]]'' In fairness, she [[DramaticIrony couldn't have known]] that Chat Noir was ''right there watching,'' but by the time the dust settles, Chloé is left sadly wondering why Adrien, her ChildhoodFriend, [[DramaticallyMissingThePoint never came to]] ''[[DramaticallyMissingThePoint her]]'' with the stolen Miraculous box, never considering that she hadn't given him many ''reasons'' to trust her. |
| 104 | ** In general, Alya failed to consider some of the consequences of Team Paris' ChoosingNeutrality plan. Namely, after "Alya Cesaire" posted [[MaliciousSlander Ladybug's article]] while disregarding the evidence Chat Noir provided, she [[EtTuBrute lost all credibility]] with Chat and his allies. Meanwhile, Chat was willing to take "Rena Rouge's" information on patrol routes- but between Ladybug's skill as TheStrategist, Rena's [[BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible dubious reliability]], and her high standards for "undeniable evidence" re: Ladybug's guilt, Chat was ''not'' interested in taking her into his confidence in turn. Alya may be an IntrepidReporter, but she effectively put herself into a position where the investigation inevitably stalled until [[spoiler: [[ImplausibleDeniability Hawk Moth created an akuma who]] ''[[ImplausibleDeniability monologued to the whole city]]'' [[ImplausibleDeniability that Chat Noir had been making a nuisance of himself to Hawk Moth]].]] |
| 105 | * DirtyCoward: When everything goes tits up, Mayor Andre flees to New York rather than stay and help. |
| 106 | * DisappointedInYou: Tikki towards Marinette, for obvious reasons. |
| 107 | * DistractedByTheSexy: Alya ''and'' Chloé, upon seeing Nino in only a ModestyTowel [[spoiler: after using the [[SizeShifter Jade Colossus form]] caused him to grow several inches]], are more than a little... flustered. |
| 108 | * DramaticIrony: |
| 109 | ** Marinette rejoices in the "best day of my life" after her fashion show in London, [[spoiler:unaware it was a set-up to get her out of Paris for an akuma attack and that the day is going to get much worse for her.]] |
| 110 | ** Chat tells Ladybug that he wouldn't care if Hawk Moth's family got hurt as a result of him being caught. He is unaware that he himself is Hawk Moth's son. |
| 111 | *** One of the very first things he says when Ladybug tries to justify giving Hawk Moth what he wants for the sake of his family, is that if he were related to Hawk Moth he'd still understand that the villain needs to face justice. |
| 112 | ** [[GoodIsNotNice Chloé]] is rather blasé about the way Team Paris is forced treat [[HeroWithBadPublicity Chat Noir]] for most of the story. From her perspective, if Ladybug ''is'' telling the truth, then Chat ''does'' need to go down. If Chat is telling the truth, well, [[NothingPersonal Team Paris just did]] [[IDidWhatIHadToDo what they needed to]] in order to get their Miraculous. [[LackOfEmpathy Chat would understand, surely]]. But, given that Chloé ''also'' prefaced the formation of Team Paris by admitting that she didn't trust Ladybug, things would probably go a lot differently if ''[[ChildhoodFriend Adrien]]'' gave her the full story. But given Queen Bee's [[EtTuBrute public support of Ladybug]], Chat is reluctant to so much as message her, much less unmask for her. [[spoiler: When Chloé ''does'' find out who was behind the mask, she is [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown less than pleased with Mayura and Marinette]] for what their actions [[TraumaCongaLine ended up]] [[EyeScream doing to]] [[BeingGoodSucks Adrien]].]] |
| 113 | ** From the very beginning, Gabriel was focused always and only on subverting [[TheAce Ladybug]] to his side. First, he informed her that [[NoRespectGuy Chat Noir]] couldn't be trusted to keep his cool and think rationally if he was let into the negotiations. Next, he suggested that Ladybug would be able to [[UnderestimatingBadassery get the ring within an hour]] if she attempted to by ''[[CuttingTheKnot force]].'' Finally, he [[EvilMentor advises her]] that she's been ''too lenient'' in merely [[spoiler: [[MaliciousSlander framing Chat Noir for joining Hawkmoth]],]] since [[BrutalHonesty her decisions have already ensured that her partner will]] ''[[BrutalHonesty not]]'' share their "[[EarnYourHappyEnding happy ending]]." Being [[ConsummateLiar Gabriel]], it's [[AmbiguousSituation hard to tell]] how he ''really'' feels about Chat Noir, but he eventually [[spoiler: clears the way for [[PsychoSupporter Mayura]] to murder him, knowing that the Hero of Destruction [[{{Determinator}} would never stop]] until Hawkmoth was defeated.]] Naturally, Gabriel is ''[[ThisCannotBe horrified]]'' to learn that he'd been actively working to ruin his own son's life, [[spoiler: and had even given the green light for his ''murder,'']] and is left [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes stammering that he "never would have" if he'd known]]. |
| 114 | * DrowningMySorrows: At one point, Gabriel is shown chugging vodka and lamenting how low he's sunk in order to save Emilie. |
| 115 | * EarnYourHappyEnding: [[ZigZaggedTrope Zig Zagged]], but actually seems to be leaning towards being ''[[DefiedTrope defied]]'' as time goes on: Marinette's motivation is that she feels she ''has'', and would like nothing better than to retire, become a fashion designer, and pursue her relationship with Adrien... something she feels would be threatened by the revelation of Gabriel's identity. Tikki, however, points out that it simply ''doesn't work like that''. Being a hero does ''not'' guarantee a HappyEnding, and it certainly doesn't make her ''entitled'' to one. [[spoiler: Gabriel even uses part of this-her dream of becoming a fashion designer-to manipulate her into leaving Paris for a weekend so he can kidnap Kagami]]. |
| 116 | * {{Eagleland}}: Stigma, the American mercenaries Mayor Andre hires to bring in Chat Noir, are a definite case of the Boorish; gun-toting thugs who do more to rough up the citizenry than anything useful, and [[spoiler:flee in terror when an actual Akuma shows up]]. |
| 117 | --> '''Mayura:''' And here I thought Americans with guns were the answer to all life's problems. |
| 118 | * EnemyWithin: [[spoiler: Mayura for Luka]]. [[spoiler: Even though he and Duusuu are able to get control of Luka's body back, and force the Akuma down, it isn't ''gone''. Dormant, apparently, but they still don't know how to actually get rid of it]]. |
| 119 | * EmpoweredBadassNormal: [[spoiler: Kagami was ''already'' an Olympic fencer before she got the Butterfly Miraculous and became Monarch]]. |
| 120 | * EpicFail: The first time Ladybug and Chat Noir outright ''fight,'' Ladybug discovers that it’s [[UnderestimatingBadassery harder than she thought]] to get Chat Noir’s ring off his finger in hand-to-hand combat. So she decides to use her Plan B- [[LethalJokeItem Lucky Charm]]- and gets [[HyperDestructiveBouncingBall a rubber ball]]. She plans out a fairly typical scenario to bring her victory- [[PinballProjectile bouncing the ball between two surfaces]] to strike Chat from his blind spot so she can grab his ring. Unfortunately, she [[DidntSeeThatComing didn’t realize at the time]] that half of "her" WindsOfDestinyChange powers had not only abandoned her, but ''turned'' on her since the last time she had used her Lucky Charm. Certainly, as the Hero of Good Fortune, things [[BornLucky naturally tend to go Marinette’s way in battle]] - but she had never put together the fact that ''[[TheJinx Chat Noir’s]]'' powers had helped make sure ''[[FinaglesLaw their enemies]]'' [[FinaglesLaw got the brunt of whatever plan she threw at them]]. With those complementing abilities now turned on each other, [[spoiler: Ladybug’s plan gets somewhat derailed by the rubber ball bouncing straight back into her face instead of nailing the target with pinpoint precision. Her ''second'' try at this plan results in her slipping and hurling the ball harmlessly into the distance.]] |
| 121 | * EtTuBrute: [[spoiler:All of the heroes are horrified when they finally discover Ladybug's betrayal, and it gets even worse when they learn she's Marinette.]] |
| 122 | * EveryManHasHisPrice: |
| 123 | ** Defied by Ladybug. During their initial meeting, Gabriel briefly considers ''buying'' her Miraculous off of her, but her DeathGlare shuts that offer down before he's even finished taking out his checkbook. |
| 124 | ** When [[spoiler:Hawk Moth launches an attack on Paris through Gamemaster]], Chloé is able to board a sold out train to Paris by bribing a couple of American tourists for their tickets. |
| 125 | * EvilMentor: Tikki outright refers to Hawk Moth as Marinette's "new master" at one point. Marinette vehemently denies it, but several of their interactions give the impression of a lesson from a teacher to their student, such as his explaining why making Chat into a HeroWithBadPublicity works to their advantage. |
| 126 | * EyeScream: [[spoiler:Adrien]] is blinded in his left eye as a result of a beatdown he suffers in Chapter 37. |
| 127 | * TheFace: [[spoiler:Ladybug assumes the role of public spokesperson for Team Paris at the end because her popularity is too great to squander.]] |
| 128 | * FaceHeelDoubleTurn: A [[DownplayedTrope downplayed example]]. For most of the story, Ladybug is the villain working with Hawk Moth to protect Adrien while Chat Noir opposes her for the sake of justice. [[spoiler:In Chapter 33, Ladybug has a HeelRealization and extends an olive branch to Chat, but in Chapter 34 a badly timed case of DemonicPossession leads Chat to swear revenge on Hawk Moth's son just to hurt her, and Ladybug fights to stop Chat Noir from doing this. As indicated in comments on the story and on the author's blog, however, reader sympathy remains almost entirely with Chat and against Ladybug. This is largely because readers know Chat ''won't'' frame Hawk Moth's son due to ''being'' said son, Ladybug's sudden principled stand is much too little, too late and reeks of hypocrisy after she's spent the entire time hurting innocent people (Chat, Team Paris, Luka, the city of Paris itself), and Chat's pursuit of revenge is in retaliation towards what appears to be Ladybug's most loathsome betrayal yet in a series of betrayals (while she's actually innocent this time, Chat and everyone else has every reason to believe she's behind it considering what she's already done). This is compounded when the fight reveals that while Ladybug has accepted helping Hawk Moth was wrong, she still hasn't learned much from her disastrous choices; she can't shake a WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou mentality in her fight with Chat, and then, after beating Chat and taking his Miraculous, attempts to salvage some of her original plan anyway by using both the Miraculous.]] |
| 129 | * FaceHeelTurn: |
| 130 | ** The story begins with Ladybug turning to Hawk Moth's side in order to protect Adrien from the fallout should it get out that Gabriel Agreste is a supervillain. |
| 131 | ** It's implied at the end that [[spoiler:Nadja Chamack has become a follower of Kaiser Long]]. |
| 132 | * FightingFromTheInside: In Chapter 36, [[spoiler:Luka has a brief moment of lucidity when Rena Rouge tells him he's working for Hawk Moth; he manages to mutter "get...get...", most likely telling either the akuma to get out of his head or the heroes to get away from him before he hurts them]]. Later on in Chapter 38, his voice can be heard mocking [[spoiler:Mayura]] as the final battle progresses. |
| 133 | * {{Flanderization}}: A justified example. As the fic progresses [[spoiler:and the monster in the Peacock Miraculous exerts its influence]], Luka's crush on Marinette warps into fanatical devotion. |
| 134 | * FlashBackEcho: Ladybug and Chat Noir's first ''real'' fight as enemies is intercut with flashbacks to their first sparring session after they defeated Stoneheart. |
| 135 | * FlippingTheBird: Plagg flips off Ladybug when he confronts her in Chapter 27. |
| 136 | * {{Foil}}: Ladybug and Chat Noir: For all that they complement each other, as partners and as a couple, there's one key difference that drives a lot of the conflict: becoming a hero was the best thing that ever happened to Adrien, and he has no plans to quit even if Hawkmoth is ever beaten; he ''loves'' being Chat Noir. Marinette, by contrast, never wanted to be Ladybug. She even confesses in the FinalBattle that whatever else it was, it was never once ''fun'' for her, and she only wants to retire and pursue her own dreams. It's why she believes Chat didn't take their responsibilities seriously: for him, it was a dream come true, but for her, it was a job. |
| 137 | * ForcedTransformation: [[spoiler:Gabriel's use of the Black Cat and Ladybug backfired like this: he has now been transformed into a [[KarmicTransformation giant purple moth monster]]]]. |
| 138 | * FreakOut: At the end of Chapter 38, [[spoiler:Marinette finally loses it when she realizes that there's nothing she can do to fix the mess she's made]]. |
| 139 | * {{Geas}}: The kwami are magically bound to certain rules, including their promise to Master Fu not to reveal Ladybug and Chat Noir's identities, even to each other. They can't consciously do ''anything'' that might lead to anyone learning a Miraculous holder's identity. Tikki outright refers to it as a geas in Chapter 14. |
| 140 | * GenerationXerox: Gabriel's story of his and Emilie's youth is a mirror for Marinette and Adrien's own, with Emilie as the wealthy child celebrity with a controlling father and Gabriel as the wannabe fashion designer too nervous to talk to her. And there's the whole LoveMakesYouEvil thing... |
| 141 | * GetOut: Adrien's response after learning that [[spoiler:Nathalie was knowingly serving Hawk Moth]]. |
| 142 | * GondorCallsForAid: During the FinalBattle, [[spoiler:the heroes rally pretty much every akuma ever victimized by Hawk Moth to take power from the Butterfly Miraculous and help bring him down once and for all]]. |
| 143 | * GoodIsNotNice: In their final conversation, [[spoiler:Master Fu appropriates Adrien's conclusion that [[SophisticatedAsHell to be a Guardian is to be something of a dick]] - you have to put up walls, see the worst in people, and assume everyone will betray you]]. |
| 144 | * GoodIsNotSoft: Master He. In chapter 38, she makes it clear that she won't hesitate to [[spoiler: kill the Akumatised Luka, since they no longer have Ladybug to purify him]], if it ultimately saves lives. |
| 145 | * GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Gabriel dies smiling at the thought of how his son has surpassed him.]] |
| 146 | * GunsAreWorthless: Subverted. [[spoiler:Nathalie draws a gun on Queen Bee, who simply laughs at her. So she turns it on herself, and finds that she makes a much better hostage.]] |
| 147 | * HealingHands: After realizing that Plagg is teaching Chat to access more of his powers, Tikki (reluctantly) teaches Marinette how to use her powers like this, if only to keep her safe. [[spoiler:She retains this ability even after the Ladybug Miraculous is destroyed.]] |
| 148 | * HeelFaceTurn: |
| 149 | ** After [[spoiler:Hawk Moth double-crosses her and takes both yin-yang Miraculous for himself, Marinette returns to the side of good]]. |
| 150 | ** Lila pulled one offscreen over the course of four years, thanks to six highly paid therapists. |
| 151 | ** After [[spoiler:realizing just how far Hawk Moth is willing to go in the name of his goals, Nathalie turns to the heroes' side. The ending makes her assume the same role for Adrien that she did for Hawk Moth, managing his mundane day-to-day business while he deals with super-work.]] |
| 152 | * HeelRealization: |
| 153 | ** Marinette has one late in Chapter 18, but instead of turning back from the path she's on, she doubles down on her actions. It ultimately proves temporary, as subsequent chapters reveal she's gone back to her previous mindset that she's the one who's thinking about the greater good. |
| 154 | ** Marinette has another one at the end of Chapter 33 in the aftermath of [[spoiler:Hawk Moth's attack on Paris. This time, she actually swallows her pride and asks Chat to work together one last time.]] |
| 155 | * HeroismWontPayTheBills: It's noted at the end that while Adrien, Chloé, and [[spoiler:Kagami]] come from wealthy backgrounds, Marinette, Alya, Nino, Luka, and [[spoiler:Juleka]] have to handle their own income in addition to hero work; Marinette's juggling in particular may have contributed to her breakdown and FaceHeelTurn. [[spoiler:Adrien brings the other heroes sans Marinette onto his payroll in the end.]] |
| 156 | * HeroWithBadPublicity: Ladybug invokes this on Chat by convincing Paris that ''he's'' the one who turned traitor, forcing him on the defensive. Even before [[MaliciousSlander Alya's article]], Chat Noir's behavior didn't earn him as much support as you would think, as one of the first duo of superheroes in Paris. Looking at his [[TalkingIsAFreeAction banter]], [[PopCulturedBadass constant comic references]], repeated [[TheWorfEffect defeats]] [[BrainwashedAndCrazy by akuma]], and obvious crush on Ladybug, most bystanders- ''including'' Hawkmoth and Ladybug herself- saw him as a [[FightingClown goof]] that saw the whole thing as a game and was only a threat as long as Ladybug was giving him directions. [[BeneathTheMask In reality]], Adrien ''does'' [[GoodFeelsGood love being a superhero]], and often jokes as a coping mechanism. But he is absolutely, unshakably driven in his determination to fight the good fight, and ultimately ''Hawkmoth'' is forced to acknowledge that he would never stop until Paris receives justice, making him perhaps Hawkmoth's greatest enemy. |
| 157 | * HopeSpot: Chapter 34. [[spoiler:Ladybug has had a full HeelRealization and successfully convinces Chat Noir to put aside their animosity and take down Hawk Moth once and for all. Then the creature in Mayura's Miraculous completely possesses him and abducts Kagami, leading Chat Noir to conclude Ladybug was leading him on, and he completely loses his shit and swears revenge on Hawk Moth's innocent son.]] |
| 158 | * HowWeGotHere: The prologue shows a confrontation between Marinette and Adrien; their Miraculouses are apparently destroyed, and all that's left of Hawk Moth is a crater. The fic then rewinds three months to the main story. |
| 159 | * HumanityEnsues: [[spoiler:Tikki and Plagg both assume human forms at the end of the story.]] |
| 160 | * {{Hypocrite}}: Many of Ladybug's assaults on Chat's character (particularly his "refusal" to bite the bullet in order to stop Hawk Moth) can apply truly, or at ''best'' equally, to her. |
| 161 | ** She spends most of the story fuming at how “selfish and spiteful” Chat Noir was being in refusing to help her end the war in Paris. Chat Noir’s point that if her plan is such a win-win situation, she should poll Paris to see whether Hawkmoth should [[KarmaHoudini get his wish]] was immediately dismissed as ridiculous without a second thought. |
| 162 | * IaijutsuPractitioner: [[CoolSword Fang]] is sharpest in the moment it is drawn from its sheath. |
| 163 | * IChooseToStay: [[spoiler: Nooroo, after being freed from Gabriel, chooses ''not'' to return to the Miracle Box, but instead to fight with Kagami to save Paris. Wayzz, Pollen, and Trix agree with him on this]]. |
| 164 | * IgnoredEpiphany: After framing Chat and failing to capture him during his furious confrontation with her, Marinette briefly realizes that her motivations for aiding Hawk Moth are ultimately selfish, but doesn't reflect very long on this and ultimately goes back into denial and convinces herself that ''she's'' the true good guy in all of this. |
| 165 | * ImGoingToHellForThis: Hawk Moth when [[spoiler:using his powers to rip Chat Noir's identity out of Kagami's mind]]. |
| 166 | -->'''[[spoiler:Kagami]]:''' Go...to... ''hell''...\ |
| 167 | '''Hawk Moth:''' I undoubtedly will. |
| 168 | * ItsAllAboutMe: Ladybug's reason for helping Hawk Moth ultimately boils down to her wanting Adrien for herself. |
| 169 | * IKnowYourTrueName: [[spoiler: Knowing Marinette's real name allowed Gabriel to gain magical control over her without her even realizing it]]. |
| 170 | * INeverToldYouMyName: [[spoiler:When a desperate and de-powered Marinette begs Rena Rouge and Queen Bee to save Adrien, she's so out of it she calls Rena "Alya," which is how the latter finds out Ladybug's real identity]]. |
| 171 | * InternalReveal: |
| 172 | ** Chapter 36 has [[spoiler:Ladybug and Chat Noir learn each other's identities and Chat Noir and Hawk Moth learn each other's identities]]. |
| 173 | ** Chapter 37 has [[spoiler:Rena Rouge and Queen Bee learn Ladybug's identity]]. |
| 174 | * IronicEcho: |
| 175 | ** In Chapter 36, [[spoiler:when Gabriel suggests that they deal with Kagami, Ladybug shuts him down with the line "We? Who's ''we''? What makes you think there's a ''we'' anymore?!" After Adrien finds out Ladybug's identity, he drops the same line on her.]] |
| 176 | ** The TriggerPhrase. [[spoiler:Gabriel uses the phrase "I insist" to convince Ladybug to do what he wants. When she finally arrives for the final battle against him, she angrily declares, "I ''insist'' you fork over my Miraculous, ''Mothman''!"]] |
| 177 | * JerkassHasAPoint: The day after Chat Noir's [[NotHelpingYourCase ill-advised]] attack on the mayor's mansion, Chloé [[CrocodileTears milks the event for all it's worth]] so [[SkewedPriorities people will be nice to her at school.]] When Alya and Nino confront her about how unhelpful that is to their mission to gain Chat Noir's trust and learn what's ''really'' going on, Chloé retorts that that's rich to hear from the girl who [[EtTuBrute wrote an article]] [[MaliciousSlander accusing him of terrorism.]] She [[CharacterDevelopment immediately takes the jab back,]] but the point stands. |
| 178 | * KarmaHoudini: |
| 179 | ** Downplayed by Ladybug. [[spoiler:In the end, she is so powerful that she may be needed again, and her reputation as a hero is too important for establishing the new hero team for her to face any real punishment for her crimes. She only loses friends.]] |
| 180 | ** Played straight by Nathalie. [[spoiler:She avoids prison and becomes CEO of ''Gabriel'' in the aftermath so that Adrien has someone to manage the family business and fund his hero activities. On the other hand, Adrien despises her, and she's fully aware of this.]] |
| 181 | * LaserGuidedKarma: During the FinalBattle, [[spoiler:Monarch akumatizes a repentant Nathalie and uses Hawk Moth's own "make an akuma that gives me uber-powers" strategy against him, resulting in ''nearly every single akuma he ever made'' coming to get a piece of him]]. The narration describes it as "the sins of his past literally gathered to confront him." |
| 182 | * LiterallyShatteredLives: [[spoiler:After losing control of the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous, this is what happens to Gabriel: literally exploding into shattered fragments of violet light]]. |
| 183 | * LivingWithTheVillain: The fic's final plot twist is that [[spoiler:Firebird and Kaiser Long are actually Marinette's cousin Brigitte and her husband Felix, who an ignorant Marinette has just moved in with]]. |
| 184 | * LockedOutOfTheLoop: Chapter 35 confirms that the Gorilla is not in on Gabriel being Hawk Moth. |
| 185 | * LoopholeAbuse: When Theo complains about covering monster battles not being part of his contract, Nadja points out "''Other duties as assigned'' covers battlefield journalism". |
| 186 | * LotusEaterMachine: When [[spoiler:Marinette enters her Sanctuary to claim the true power of the Ladybug Miraculous, she is taken into a vision where she is HappilyMarried to Adrien and has three children with him]]. |
| 187 | * LukeIAmYourFather: |
| 188 | ** Adrien has to deal with the fact that both his father ''and'' his girlfriend are the villains who've been making his life a living Hell for the entire story. |
| 189 | ** [[spoiler: Marinette's cousin Brigitte and her husband Felix are Firebird and Kaiser Long. Who, by the way, Marinette is ''living'' with at the end of the story]]. |
| 190 | * MadnessMantra: |
| 191 | ** [[spoiler:Mayura]] gets hit with this twice. |
| 192 | *** [[spoiler:When confronted with extremely damning evidence that Ladybug has been working with Hawk Moth, Mayura's head starts ranting "Marinette doesn't lie; Marinette is never wrong."]] |
| 193 | *** [[spoiler:When demanding that Alya take down the Ladyblog article that questions Ladybug's integrity, he rants "TAKE IT DOWN". 55 times.]] |
| 194 | ** "I can fix this" slowly becomes one for Marinette in the final act, as things spiral further and further out of control, [[spoiler: before Alya finally tells her that, ''no'', she really can't anymore]]. |
| 195 | * MassiveMultiplayerCrossover: [[spoiler:The story is revealed to take place in the same universe as ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' and ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'', when Master He has a conversation with two people heavily implied to be Captain Black and Clay. Adrien's final scene has him fighting vampires on a train alongside Jade Chan.]] |
| 196 | * MeaningfulRename: After [[spoiler:overcoming the akuma's influence on him, Luka abandons the Mayura identity and renames himself "Bluebird"]]. |
| 197 | * MirrorCharacter: The parallels between Marinette and Gabriel get increasingly pronounced as the fic progresses, namely in their relation to their respective love interests (Adrien and Emilie): both fell in love with someone seemingly unattainable, managed to get them anyway, and are now performing morally questionable actions for their loves' happiness. By chapter 29, she's having nightmares about becoming the same kind of workaholic Gabriel is, ruining her relationship with Adrien as a result. See if this line sounds familiar: |
| 198 | -->'''Gabriel:''' Never mind the fact that she was as beautiful then as she is now and I was a skinny fourteen year old nobody who could barely say two words to her without making a total fool of myself...still honestly a bit surprised that she gave me the time of day. |
| 199 | * MissingTime: Being Akumatised is described like this; a big blank space in a person's memory. [[spoiler: Luka gradually begins experiencing the same thing, which is what tips him off that there is something ''very'' wrong with his Miraculous]]. |
| 200 | * MistakenForCheating: When Adrien and Kagami begin spending a lot of time together, their friends suspect Adrien is cheating on Marinette. In reality, they're working together to defeat Hawk Moth and Ladybug. |
| 201 | * MotivationalLie: A ''very'' [[DownplayedTrope subtle]] example, but it is there. When Marinette is [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone reeling from]] the consequences of her decision to help Hawkmoth, and asking Tikki what she can do to fix things, Tikki attempts to calm her by saying that [[BittersweetEnding even with Adrien's father in jail, Marinette can still make a life with Adrien and work to achieve her dreams]]. The very next chapter, however, features [[SecretKeeper Tikki and Plagg]] confirming via a private conversation that they know the identities of ''all'' the players at this stage of the game, and so [[ThisIsGonnaSuck they]] ''[[ThisIsGonnaSuck cannot]]'' [[ThisIsGonnaSuck imagine things ending well for the young heroes]]. |
| 202 | * MyGodWhatHaveIDone: In the InMediasRes prologue and its aftermath, Marinette is horrified at what her actions have led to. |
| 203 | * MyMasterRightOrWrong: |
| 204 | ** Mayura slowly degenerates into a fanatical sycophant who is slavishly devoted to Ladybug in spite of any and all evidence she isn't on the level, [[spoiler: caused by the creature possessing his Miraculous]]. |
| 205 | ** The Stigma mercenaries hired by Mayor Bourgeois insist on arresting Chat despite damning evidence of his innocence [[spoiler:and an active akuma attack]]. |
| 206 | * MysteriousBacker: Gabriel tells Ladybug that he received the Butterfly and Peacock from a mystery patron, but neglects to reveal [[spoiler: he's still taking orders from said individual. And in chapter 27, we find out he's coming to Paris...]] [[spoiler:He's revealed to be someone calling himself Kaiser Long, a student to Master Fu and Master He's EvilFormerFriend Master Li]]. |
| 207 | * MythologyGag: |
| 208 | ** Marinette's cousin, who lives in England, is named Brigitte, and her husband is named Felix, aka the prototypes of Marinette and Adrien. [[spoiler: Stops being a gag in TheStinger, when it's revealed that they're Firebird and Kaiser Long]]. |
| 209 | ** In Chapter 37, Mayura nearly directly quotes his love confession from canon "Silencer" [[spoiler:in the context that anyone who dares displease Marinette needs to die, right before beating Adrien to within an inch of his life]]. |
| 210 | ** An employee of Gabriel named Marcel is metioned a few times, with Gabriel advising Adrien to fire him if he ever inherits the company. The character is a reference to the author's older story ''Satisfaction Brought it Back'', an AU fic in which Gabriel has died and the interim CEO is Marcel Dubois, an incompetent and corrupt manager with no understanding of fashion despite working in the industry for a decade. |
| 211 | * NeverMyFault: |
| 212 | ** Ladybug in spades. Everything, or almost everything, is Chat's fault in her view. [[spoiler:She finally owns up to some of her mistakes at the end of Chapter 33.]] [[spoiler:And starting with Chapter 37, Marinette does [[ItsAllMyFault a full one-eighty]] as she's confronted with ''all'' of the consequences from her decisions.]] |
| 213 | *** Chat struck the first blow by trying to steal her Miraculous first! Never mind that this was after ''she'' issued an ultimatum to give up his Miraculous. |
| 214 | *** She only framed Chat Noir because he tried to get the media involved first! The fact that she actually ''is'' a traitor trying to help the villain who has terrorized Paris for years, [[MindRape mind raping]] countless people, and jeopardizing the lives of thousands is irrelevant. |
| 215 | *** Chat Noir should have had her back and did what's best for Paris, but instead he's motivated by "bitter self-righteousness" and a thirst for revenge. Let's not think too hard about how she's willing to deny the thousands who've suffered at Hawk Moth's hands justice and that she's really doing this because she can't ''bear'' to hurt Adrien. |
| 216 | *** Even after [[spoiler: she recognizes that helping Hawk Moth was wrong]], in their final fight, Ladybug still insists that she doesn't want to hurt Chat and ''he's'' the one forcing her do this. Chat Noir finally has enough with her rationalizing, and bluntly tells her that ''nobody'' is making her do anything, and that, "Everything you've ''done'' has been ''your'' choice. Not ''anybody'' else's." |
| 217 | ** [[spoiler:Kagami]] snarkily mocks Hawk Moth's refusal to take responsibility for his own actions when he tries to blame Chat Noir for refusing to surrender his Miraculous. |
| 218 | * NewEraSpeech: [[spoiler:Kaiser Long gives one to his followers at the end of the story.]] |
| 219 | * NiceJobBreakingItHero: It's repeatedly noted in the mid-to-lategame that one of the main reasons the situation escalated as far as it did is because Master Fu failed Chat Noir as a mentor and overly favored Ladybug, leaving him unprepared to deal with her betrayal. |
| 220 | * NobleDemon: [[spoiler:Firebird]] WouldntHurtAChild and targets the boorish Stigma goons for death first in order to gain infinite power. |
| 221 | * NoBiologicalSex: When Alya asks if Trixx is a girl kwami or a boy kwami, Trixx says it'd take at least one month to explain why the question makes no sense. |
| 222 | * NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: From [[spoiler:the akuma-possessed Mayura/Luka]] to [[spoiler: the newly de-powered (or so it seemed) Adrien]]. It was bad enough that the author felt the need to put trigger warnings at the start of the chapter. |
| 223 | * NotHelpingYourCase: When Adrien finds out Ladybug convened a massive press conference to accuse ''him'' of turning traitor for Hawk Moth, he's ''furious''. So furious he... goes and attacks her in the middle of the conference. On ''live TV''. And accidentally Cataclysms the Mayor's house in the process. Afterwards, Kagami berates him for doing something so incredibly stupid, as it all but confirms her accusations in the eyes of the public. |
| 224 | * NotSoDifferentRemark: At the end of the fic, [[spoiler:Marinette gives Nathalie shit for betraying Paris for the man she loved. Nathalie fires right back that Marinette is guilty of the exact same crime.]] |
| 225 | * NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: Ladybug ''claims'' to be doing this all for the greater good, but ultimately her claims fall flat because it's blatantly obvious that she just wants to be done, and is simply lying to herself [[SecretlySelfish to cover up her]] [[ItsAllAboutMe naked self-interest]]. Even ''she'' eventually admits that she's doing this because it's the right thing for ''her'', only to quickly slip back into [[BelievingTheirOwnLies Believing Her Own Lies]]. |
| 226 | * ObliviousGuiltSlinging: |
| 227 | ** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. Marinette ''thinks'' this is what is happening at the gala when Adrien gives a toast about how noble and selfless Ladybug is. In reality, Adrien is Chat Noir and knows ''exactly'' what effect it will have on Ladybug. |
| 228 | ** Played completely straight, however, between [[FallenHero Marinette]] and [[IntrepidReporter Alya]]. After the evidence that ''Ladybug'' is the one who [[FaceHeelTurn joined up with Hawkmoth]] mounts to the point where it can't be denied anymore, Marinette ends up asking her best friend over text whether ''she'' believes the hero has betrayed Paris. Alya responds that she should have [[CassandraTruth listened to Chat Noir]] ''months'' ago, and that [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot they'd be in a much different place if she had]]. Alya then proceeds to call herself an "idiot Ladybug fangirl" for trusting [[YouHaveToBelieveMe Ladybug's word]] over the evidence provided by Chat Noir, and grimly confirms that she's going to have to pay the price for overlooking her journalistic integrity on her behalf. Marinette is left overcome with guilt over the way she had manipulated her best friend's trust and possibly ''destroyed her dream entirely'' by recruiting her against Chat Noir- and now, it's looking like [[AllForNothing she won't even get anything to show for it]]. |
| 229 | * OCStandIn: Due to being written before he was introduced as a proper character in Season 4, Felix in this story has basically nothing in common with his canon-counterpart beyond living in England. He's instead the husband to Marinette's cousin Bridgitte, both of whom are much older than the main cast, and is significantly more polite and personable. [[spoiler: He's also the Supervillain Kaiser Long, and the ManBehindTheMan to Hawkmoth, along with his wife Bridgitte/Firebird]]. |
| 230 | * OhCrap: Ladybug and Hawk Moth share a ''big'' one when [[spoiler:Chat Noir returns to fight Gamemaster]]. Ladybug directly namedrops the trope, while Hawk Moth drops a RapidFireNo and [[spoiler:orders Gamemaster to throw everything he's got at him]]. |
| 231 | * OldMaster: In addition to Master Fu, we're introduced to his colleague Master He (actual age unknown), a respected medical professional, [[spoiler: wielder of the Crane Miraculous]], and [[spoiler: member of a group called "The Viziers", which is implied to be related to the Guardians Fu was one of]]. Once she finds out what's going on, she offers to help Adrien and Kagami. |
| 232 | * OneWingedAngel: Chapter 39 reveals that [[spoiler:Hawk Moth has transformed into a horrific insectoid abomination as a result of his misuse of the Miraculous]]. |
| 233 | * OriginalPositionFallacy: Marinette never really protested about the way Chat Noir was LockedOutOfTheLoop by her and Master Fu; part of this was because she genuinely [[PoorCommunicationKills didn't know]] the extent of the secrets they were keeping, but also because she accepted that it was "safer that way" and expected Chat Noir to do the same. After the heroes' DarkestHour forces the Masters to reveal more details about the Miraculous, Marinette is more than a little [[BrokenPedestal taken aback]] that the backstory Master Fu had shared with ''her'' was MetaphoricallyTrue at ''best''. |
| 234 | * OutOfCharacterAlert: Tikki finds it odd that Duusu fawned over Luka because Duusu never fawns over anything other than "their own reflection on the mirror". Marinette just thinks it's because it's been "a while" ever since Tikki and Duusu last met. |
| 235 | * PassiveAggressiveKombat: Adrien pulls this on Ladybug during a gala in Chapter 27. |
| 236 | -->'''Adrien:''' Now, most sane people would have just up and moved. But as anyone who has lived here recently can tell you, you can always count on the Heroes of Paris to do the right thing. Every one of us, in some way or another, has been saved by the efforts of Ladybug and her team at some point. Whether that's being protected from direct akumitization or being protected from all the...frankly silly ways Hawkmoth has attacked our city, we can always count on Ladybug to step up and do the right thing.\ |
| 237 | Even with the...unfortunate business involving Chat Noir, I know we can rely on Ladybug and her new team to bring Hawkmoth to justice and avenge the thousands of innocent people he's harmed over the years. I believe now, more than ever, we are on the road to a future without Hawkmoth and whatever cronies choose to support him!\ |
| 238 | To Ladybug. The most honest, faithful, and truest friend this city has. |
| 239 | * ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: Hawk Moth is fool enough to make the code to his secret lair his wife's birthday. |
| 240 | * PersonaNonGrata: At the end of the story, [[spoiler:Ladybug (distinct from Marinette the civilian) is banished from France by her former comrades]]. |
| 241 | * PersonOfMassDestruction: A fully-trained wielder of the Black Cat Miraculous would be one of these; Diomedes (yes, ''[[Literature/TheIliad that]]'' Diomedes) killed enough people in his day to populate an entire ''city'' in the underworld, and fought two Greek gods one-on-one. |
| 242 | * PetTheDog: In Chapter 49, Gabriel tries to comfort Marinette by claiming [[spoiler:all of her selfish actions were due to his brainwashing. She doesn't believe him, but points for trying.]] |
| 243 | * PlayingWithFire: One of the new powers Chat Noir unlocks is the power to conjure green flames at will. |
| 244 | * PocketDimension: Sanctuaries. Special dimensions each miraculous have for the express purpose of training their wielders. They feature YearInsideHourOutside, the kwami can conjure inanimate objects out of thin air inside one, past wielders of that Miraculous can come BackFromTheDead inside it to give lessons, and [[spoiler: if a Miraculous wielder is killed during training, they come back to life]]! Adrien's less enthused about that last one. |
| 245 | * PoorCommunicationKills: |
| 246 | ** The only reason this story can function is due to the MutualMasquerade, since a large portion of the plot boils down to: Marinette fights Chat Noir to help Adrien. Yeah. |
| 247 | ** This is also part of what contributes to Adrien's unwillingness to consider Ladybug's plan, since, from his perspective, she's giving over their Miraculous to their mortal enemy for the sake of total strangers, not realizing her relationship with Hawk Moth's son (him). |
| 248 | ** It eventually becomes clear that a ''lot'' of the conflict stems from unresolved resentments the two had been building up for years, but never talked about; Ladybug for feeling like she was the one shouldering all the responsibility in their partnership while Chat didn't seem to take anything seriously, and Chat for feeling like Ladybug and Fu were keeping him LockedOutOfTheLoop because they didn't trust him. |
| 249 | ** After Chat Noir tries to alert the media to Ladybug's betrayal, Alya, Nino, and Chloé form a group they name "Team Paris," and dedicate themselves to protecting the city despite the feud between Ladybug and Chat Noir. Both the newly-made team and Chat Noir would love nothing more than to talk things through and form a united front against Hawkmoth. However, both sides have reasons that make communication with the other difficult. Team Paris is reluctant to throw in with [[PersonOfMassDestruction Chat Noir]] lightly, given [[NotHelpingYourCase the beatdown the furious hero had given the three of them, along with Ladybug and Mayura, the last time they met in person]]. But from Chat Noir's perspective, their last meeting was a [[EtTuBrute fairly definitive declaration]] in [[TheStrategist Ladybug's]] favor- so how could they ''possibly'' assure him that they weren't [[FalseFriend setting him up?]] Not only that, but since the city had already dismissed all the evidence Chat Noir could provide for Ladybug's betrayal, any explanation he could give Team Paris [[YouHaveToBelieveMe would have to rely upon his word]]- which had ''already'' proven to be cheaper than [[BlindObedience Ladybug's]]. Ultimately, Team Paris isn't able to make a decision until it's very nearly too late- after [[spoiler: an akuma ''summoning a horde of monsters and nearly leveling Paris'']] pushes Ladybug's story well into the realm of ImplausibleDeniability. |
| 250 | * PowerHigh: [[spoiler: One he finally has both Miraculous united, Gabriel takes a minute to revel in the raw power he's experiencing]]. |
| 251 | * ThePowerOfRock: What is [[spoiler:Juleka/Nightwisher]]'s opening salvo against [[spoiler:her brainwashed brother]]? A magically powered rendition of [[spoiler:''[[Music/{{ACDC}} Thunderstruck]]'']], what else? |
| 252 | * PrivateMilitaryContractors: After Ladybug tricks Paris into believing Chat has turned traitor, Mayor Bourgeois hires a bunch of American mercenaries to keep the peace. They quickly prove to be little more than mindless thugs. |
| 253 | * PunctuatedPounding: Chat Noir delivers this to Hawk Moth in the final battle. |
| 254 | -->'''Hawk Moth:''' [[spoiler:Adrien... Wait...please! I have a plan...a plan to bring your mother back to life...I just need-]]\ |
| 255 | '''Chat Noir:''' [[spoiler:You just ''need'' to draw the life out of everyone in the city to do it! You ''need'' to kill all my friends and destroy the whole ''world'' to do it]], you ''selfish''- ''[punch]'' -''arrogant''! ''[punch]'' -miserable [[spoiler:excuse for a ''father'']]! ''[punch]'' |
| 256 | * PunnyName: At the end of the story, [[spoiler:Plagg adopts the alias Cameron N. Bert after becoming human, an obvious pun on Camembert cheese]]. |
| 257 | * PutOnABus: In the end, Ladybug is [[spoiler:exiled from France in her superhero identity, getting a new job in fashion design in London. [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou She is so powerful that she may be needed again, and her reputation as a hero is too important for establishing the new hero team, for her to face any real punishment for her crimes]].]] |
| 258 | * PyrrhicVictory: |
| 259 | ** [[spoiler:Hawk Moth revives Emilie and gets to keep his public reputation, but dies in the process and completely alienates his son.]] |
| 260 | ** [[spoiler:Ladybug ends the war, gets her ordinary life, and escapes with her public reputation intact, but in the process alienates all of her friends.]] |
| 261 | * RageAgainstTheMentor: As the situation deteriorates and it becomes apparent how badly Master Fu screwed the pooch with Ladybug and Chat Noir, the other heroes become increasingly angry at him. [[spoiler:At the end of the story, he's firmly in the doghouse with them all, but they can't exactly toss away his many years of wisdom.]] |
| 262 | * RageBreakingPoint: Chat Noir hits his twice. First, when Ladybug frames ''him'' for the very crime she is committing and turns Paris against him. Second, [[spoiler: after Mayura kidnaps Kagami in the midst of Ladybug's attempt to make peace with him and reveal Hawk Moth's identity, which ends up making it look like that Ladybug was stringing him along to commit her worst act of betrayal yet.]] |
| 263 | * RapidFireNo: When [[spoiler:Chat Noir returns to Paris to fight his akuma]], Hawk Moth can only respond with a panicked "No... No, no, no, no, no, ''no!''" |
| 264 | * RapidFireShutUp: Hawk Moth's reaction when [[spoiler: Gamemaster]] starts monologuing to all of Paris. |
| 265 | * RedemptionPromotion: [[spoiler:Kagami wielding the Butterfly Miraculous is able to empower multiple people at once without an external power boost, something Hawk Moth could never do.]] |
| 266 | -->'''[[spoiler:Monarch]]:''' You're right about one thing, ''parasite''. I am ''not'' [[spoiler:Hawkmoth]]; my kwami actually ''likes'' me...and as it turns out, that comes with one or two perks [[spoiler:Hawkmoth]] didn't have. |
| 267 | * RegretfulTraitor: Marinette never exactly ''stops'' regretting that she and Chat Noir are on opposite sides now- she's just ''very'' good at [[BelievingTheirOwnLies convincing herself]] that it was ''Chat'' who had betrayed ''her'' by [[NeverMyFault not having her back]], or that she hasn't done anything to him that can't be [[MustMakeAmends fixed]] as soon as [[WellIntentionedExtremist she gets his ring]]. [[spoiler: By the final chapter, Marinette has [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone fully realized the damage that she had done]], and admits that on some level, she was convinced that [[BecauseYouCanCope Chat Noir could survive whatever she threw at him]], so she had prioritized [[SecretlySelfish her own concerns]] above his wellbeing.]] |
| 268 | * RelativeButton: During the confrontation between [[spoiler:Luka and Mayura, Luka is finally spurred to beat the crap out of him when he threatens to break Juleka's neck]]. |
| 269 | * RevengeBeforeReason: Ladybug maintains that Chat Noir's desire to bring Hawk Moth to justice is this, prioritizing revenge over the well-being of Hawk Moth's (legitimately innocent) family. [[spoiler: It's not true at first, but Ladybug ultimately ends up [[CreateYourOwnVillain making this true]] when one (perceived) betrayal too many finally causes Chat to snap and he actually slides into RevengeByProxy]]. |
| 270 | * RevengeByProxy: After [[spoiler: believing that Ladybug's peace offering was a trap, Chat declares his intent to let Ladybug go free, but ''guarantee'' Hawkmoth's son (unknowingly, ''himself'') is sent to prison for life, because he knows that would hurt her more than anything he could do to her personally]]. |
| 271 | * ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Lila returns to Paris in the hopes of putting her past behind her, but takes one look at [[spoiler:the devastation caused by Hawk Moth]], says "fuck this shit", and promptly nopes right out to Maui. |
| 272 | * SecretSecretKeeper: |
| 273 | ** Both Luka and Kagami had figured out Marinette and Adrien's (respectively) identities years ago, and kept it to themselves until now. |
| 274 | ** [[spoiler:By the time Chapter 30 rolls around, Gabriel has already sussed out all of the heroes' identities except Chat Noir and Master Crane, and for obvious reasons keeps this to himself.]] |
| 275 | ** [[spoiler:Sabine figured out Marinette's secret a while ago. Apparently, the latch on Marinette's skylight isn't as quiet as she thinks it is]]. |
| 276 | * SecretlySelfish: Marinette is very quick to take up the position that ''she's'' the only reasonable one for looking for a win-win solution. [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Gabriel Agreste's]] arrest would effectively orphan his innocent teenage son, and potentially leave thousands of people out of work once Gabriel's label felt the backlash. Ladybug is therefore willing to "bite the bullet" and [[TeethClenchedTeamwork work with a man she despises]] to grant his wish and ensure Adrien has at least ''one'' actual parent left. [[TheConfidant Tikki]] is unimpressed by this argument, as she knows full well that if Hawkmoth had turned out to be anyone ''other'' than her crush's father (not to mention [[BrokenPedestal a former idol of hers]],) Marinette would have focused on bringing the supervillain to justice ''first,'' and done everything in [[TheAce her considerable power]] to mitigate the fallout to their dependents afterwards. |
| 277 | * SelfMadeMan: In this story, Gabriel Agreste is an orphan who built his company from the ground up, because Emilie's father would never have permitted her to marry a poor working class schmuck. |
| 278 | * ShadowWalker: After Chat Noir takes a level in badass, one of his new tricks is the ability to create shadow portals to move through. |
| 279 | * ShoutOut: ''Tons'', mostly from Adrien. |
| 280 | ** "You know the drill," Chat said, waving his hands over the priest's head. "Say ten Hail Mary's, four Our Father's, one [[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus Dead Parrot Sketch]], and all will be forgiven." |
| 281 | ** Chat initially has trouble with the ShadowWalker Black Hole technique Plagg tries to teach him... until he realizes it's functionally the same as [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device]]. Ladybug makes the same connection one chapter later when he uses it against her. |
| 282 | ---> '''Chat:''' This was a triumph. |
| 283 | ** When introduced to the [[YearInsideHourOutside Sanctuaries]], Chat immediately makes the connection to the [[Franchise/DragonBall Hyperbolic Time Chamber]]. Master He just asks why he thinks she would have any idea what that is. |
| 284 | ** After Kagami hears Adrien mention a "[[Manga/{{Naruto}} Sasuke]]" after coming out of the Sanctuary, she wants to know if he spent his time in there watching [[TakeThat bad anime]]. |
| 285 | ** When Chat is in a sparring match with Sarutobi Sasuke, Sasuke informs him that the duty of all Black Cats is to protect the world from devastation. [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Chat promptly retorts with the line "-and you unite all peoples within our nation?"]] |
| 286 | ** Chapter 29's ending introduces a man named [[Creator/MatthewMercer Mercer]] who wants to set up [[WebVideo/CriticalRole a tabletop game with his friends]], including one named Creator/{{Liam|OBrien}}. |
| 287 | ** At one point in Chapter 31, Mayura calls Carapace "[[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Michelangelo]]". Carapace responds that he's more of a Donatello guy. |
| 288 | ** When [[spoiler:a {{kaiju}} attacks during the big battle in Paris]], Carapace asks for a HumongousMecha and namedrops ''Film/PacificRim'', ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', and ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''. |
| 289 | ** [[spoiler: Kagami]] quips that she wouldn't be surprised if [[spoiler: the Gamemaster]] put her in a [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi gold metal bikini]] after [[spoiler: he kidnaps her to invoke the DamselInDistress trope. Chat Noir agrees but cheekily admits Kagami would look great in Leia's GoGoEnslavement look]]. |
| 290 | ** In Chapter 35, Queen Bee jokingly calls the Gorilla "Franchise/DonkeyKong". |
| 291 | ** When sifting through Gabriel's books on sorcery, Queen Bee notes that they probably aren't [[Series/TheOprahWinfreyShow Oprah's Book Club]] favorites. |
| 292 | ** In Chapter 40, Kagami snidely calls Master Fu "[[Franchise/DragonBall Master Roshi]]". |
| 293 | ** When arguing that [[spoiler:they need to retreat from Paris]], Master Fu angrily decries Master He as wanting the Order of the Guardians to be a bunch of [[Franchise/PowerRangers teenagers with attitude]] running amok. |
| 294 | ** When monsters get around the barricaded police station front door through the roof, Roger mutters, "[[Film/JurassicPark Clever girls...]]" |
| 295 | ** Carapace calls Hawk Moth a [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo Ikari]] knockoff. |
| 296 | ** When [[spoiler:Bluebird saves Monarch from a bunch of monsters]] in Chapter 43, he quips, "[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening This party's getting crazy, huh?]]" |
| 297 | ** At the end of the story, Adrien compares several of the heroes' triple shifting to [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker]]'s situation. The same conversation sees Nino compare [[spoiler:Adrien's desire to privately fund their superhero team to ComicBook/NickFury and ComicBook/TheAvengers]]. |
| 298 | * SideBet: Master Fu and Master He make a couple, implicitly as a way to deal with their own nervousness. The first is on [[spoiler:whether Marinette or Adrien will emerge from their respective [[PocketDimension Sanctuaries]] first]]; two chapters later, Master [[spoiler:He]] collects. Later on, they make another bet on [[spoiler:which Miraculous will be recovered first]]; Master [[spoiler:He]] collects. |
| 299 | * SinsOfOurFathers: Ladybug fears this befalling Adrien if word gets out that his father is Hawk Moth, leading to her FaceHeelTurn. |
| 300 | * SizeShifter: [[spoiler: Carapace, in Chapter 30, unlocks the power to transform into a ''giant'']]. Master He calls it the [[spoiler: Jade Colossus]] and remarks that she never thought she'd live to see it again. |
| 301 | * SlowlySlippingIntoEvil: Ladybug commits more and more morally questionable actions in her quest to get Hawk Moth's wish so she can retire without costing Adrien his family. |
| 302 | * SmugSnake: Ladybug, believe it or not. She's dismissive of Chat Noir's fighting ability even after he fights her to a draw three times and becomes more powerful than she can handle solo, and insists that she has all the power in her relationship with Hawk Moth [[spoiler: despite him knowing her secret identity and turning Mayura into his UnwittingPawn, unbeknownst to her]]. |
| 303 | * SoapOperaDisease: According to Gabriel, the illness killing Emilie is so rare, it didn't even have a name; he was less than amused when the diagnosing doctor decided to name it after ''himself''. |
| 304 | * SoProudOfYou: When Alya takes command of everything after it all goes to pot, Marinette is proud of her and thinks that maybe she should have given her the earrings all those years ago. |
| 305 | * StolenMacGuffinReveal: Queen Bee reveals that [[spoiler:she palmed the Tiger Miraculous before the villains could get ahold of it]]. |
| 306 | * StopOrIShootMyself: [[spoiler:Nathalie prevents the heroes from interfering with Hawk Moth]] by taking herself hostage, correctly gambling that they wouldn't want her to die. |
| 307 | * StrangeMindsThinkAlike: In the abridged version, Ladybug screams "Sacre-tittyfucking- ''bleu!"'' when she finds out Gabriel Agreste is Hawkmoth and he cries the same expression upon learning she knows. |
| 308 | * SuddenlySpeaking: In Chapter 35, the Gorilla unexpectedly starts speaking regularly. |
| 309 | * SummonMagic: The Peacock Miraculous gives its wielder the power to summon and control four knights. [[spoiler: After his Akuma takes over, Mayura can summon ''hordes'' of them.]] |
| 310 | * SuperMode: [[spoiler: Queen Bee unlocks one in her fight against Mayura. It includes six insectile wings, her top transforming into a chain weapon, and gives her SuperSpeed]]. Master He calls it "a coronation." |
| 311 | * SuplexFinisher: Carapace uses this against [[spoiler: a freaking ''[[{{Kaiju}} Tarrasque]]'']]. |
| 312 | * SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: In the abridged version, when Gabriel asks how Ladybug found out he's Hawkmoth, she says she ''wasn't'' peeping in his son's room and ''didn't'' accidentally see him transform. |
| 313 | * SycophanticServant: [[spoiler: Due to the [[DemonicPossession monster]] infecting his Miraculous,]] Mayura slowly degenerates into a mindless sycophant who worships the ground Ladybug walks on and goes berserk at the slightest hint of disagreement with her. |
| 314 | * TheTake: One of Chat Noir's complaints about the newest recruit of Ladybug is said hero's utter lameness -- being the type to write "Music/{{Gorillaz}} fanfiction in his underwear". Chat Noir gets a "Who told you about that?!" for an answer, and both he and Ladybug stare bewildered at the new Peacock wielder. JokeAndReceive, indeed. |
| 315 | * TakeThat: |
| 316 | ** In Chapter 32, Carapace mentions he never liked the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies, "especially [[Film/Godzilla1998 the shitty American versions]]." |
| 317 | ** The second chapter of the Abridged version has a big one to Damian Wayne and to the Fanfic/MaribatAU and its imitators: |
| 318 | --->"Le ''sigh''...I just wish I had someone who understood me," Marinette pouted, opening her closet shrine to DC comic book hero/Worst Robin Damien Wayne with a loving sigh. "Oh Batboy...why can't you take me far away from this life? Surely you, a petty, spoiled, murderous little shithead, would be the one to take all my cares away..." |
| 319 | * TeachHimAnger: Sarutobi's training for Chat boils down to this; according to him, the powers of destruction are fueled by negative emotions, and Ladybug's betrayal has left him with ''plenty'' of those... |
| 320 | * TheTeamBenefactor: The final chapter has [[spoiler:Nathalie assume leadership of Gabriel's fashion empire and use it to fund Adrien and co.'s careers as superheroes]]. |
| 321 | * TeethClenchedTeamwork: |
| 322 | ** EnemyMine aside, Ladybug and Hawk Moth still ''despise'' each other. At one point, Adrien even wonders if they couldn't just hide from the two until the partnership implodes on its own. |
| 323 | ** The rest of Team Miraculous with Mayura (Luka). Though, in his defense [[spoiler:his Miraculous is infected with ''something'' worse than an akuma]]. |
| 324 | ** When everything goes to pot, all of the heroes make it very clear [[spoiler:Marinette]] is number two on their shitlists, but are forced to put aside their anger with her to save Paris. |
| 325 | * ThemeMusicPowerUp: |
| 326 | ** When [[spoiler:Chat Noir returns to Paris to save the day from Hawk Moth]], the fic links to "[[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} From Shadows]]". |
| 327 | ** When [[spoiler:Luka regains control of the Peacock Miraculous and saves Monarch's life]], the fic links to "[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry5 Devil Trigger]]". |
| 328 | ** And of course, when [[spoiler: Marinette and Adrien engage in TheFinalBattle with Hawk Moth]] the music provided is [[spoiler:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyXF8dfl0Ao Bad Apple by Cristina Vee]]]]. Really, what else were you expecting? |
| 329 | * ThenLetMeBeEvil: After spending the whole story up to this point doing mental gymnastics to try and justify her actions as "the right thing to do", Marinette confesses in Chapter 18 that, no, it's not the right thing to do, but it's the right thing for ''her'', and after four years of self sacrifice, hasn't she earned the right to do something selfish for once? |
| 330 | -->'''Marinette:''' Just once...this one time, we're doing the right thing for me... even if I'm the only one who will... |
| 331 | * TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: Ladybug admits that she only saw Hawk Moth as an anonymous force of evil, and finds it somewhat unnerving to see him cooking dinner like any other family man. |
| 332 | * TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential: After Ladybug's FaceHeelTurn, Chat is approached by Master Fu's colleague Master He, who offers to give him the opportunity to wield the full power of the Cat Miraculous. |
| 333 | * TooCleverByHalf: Tikki bemoans that this is one of the reasons why Marinette refuses to listen to anyone. She's so used to coming up with the clever plan and calling the shots that she hasn't truly considered whether she's wrong. Gabriel also says that this is something they have in common. |
| 334 | * TookALevelInBadass: In response to the circumstances, Plagg and [[spoiler: previous Black Cats]] start teaching Adrien how to access a wider variety of the Black Cat's powers, including how to [[ThinkingUpPortals create portals]], generate a caustic fire, and using Cataclysm with more finesse and creativity (such as destroying a ''color''). It reaches a point where [[spoiler: he can injure the other heroes through their supposedly indestructible suits]]. |
| 335 | * TookALevelInJerkass: Luka, after getting the Peacock Miraculous and becoming Mayura. [[spoiler:The akuma infecting his Miraculous isn't helping.]] |
| 336 | * TranquilFury: |
| 337 | ** [[spoiler:After Hawk Moth goes behind Ladybug's back and sics an akuma on Paris. The narration describes her voice as a venomous whisper.]] |
| 338 | --->'''[[spoiler:Ladybug]]:''' You...are a '''fucking''' dead man. |
| 339 | ** [[spoiler: Queen Bee is like this for most of her battle with Mayura. After finding out Marinette is Ladybug, seeing Adrien on the brink of death, and Mayura saying she ''doesn't deserve to be a hero'', she goes from utterly furious, to dangerously quiet before entering her SuperMode]]. |
| 340 | * TriggerPhrase: [[spoiler:"I insist."]] |
| 341 | * TheUnfavorite: A mentor version. Master Fu horrifically neglects Chat Noir's training in favor of Ladybug, which bites them all in the ass when Ladybug goes rogue. Fortunately, his colleague Master He is more than willing to pick up the slack. |
| 342 | * UngratefulBastard: Ladybug not only dismisses all the times Chat Noir sacrificed himself for her but ''criticizes him for not being good enough to avoid it.'' Admittedly, several of these moments in canon have been criticized by fans as either StupidSacrifice or SenselessSacrifice, which could have been avoided if he had been more professional to begin with, but still... |
| 343 | * UnwittingPawn: |
| 344 | ** Team Miraculous is being used by Ladybug to get Chat Noir's Miraculous so she can deliver it to Hawk Moth. Alya, Nino, and Chloe downplay this, as they suspect Ladybug may not be on the level, but Luka plays this fully straight. |
| 345 | ** [[spoiler: Mayura to Hawk Moth. His Miraculous was infected by ''something'' that not only fuels his negative emotions, and turns his affection for Marinette into a borderline obsession, but lets Hawk Moth see through his eyes; by the times the story reaches its climax, he's used this to figure out the identities of all of Paris' heroes except Chat Noir]]. |
| 346 | * VictorGainsLosersPowers: Sarutobi Sasuke challenges Adrien to a duel with his CoolSword as the prize. |
| 347 | * VillainOfAnotherStory: Played for laughs; the author's notes for Chapter 41 reveal, completely out of the blue, that Wayhem got 30 years for tax fraud. |
| 348 | * VillainousBreakdown: Gabriel, after remaining calm and in control for most of the fic, spirals into this towards the end. It begins when [[spoiler: his patron announces his intention to come to Paris, which terrifies him and pushes him into self-destructive recklessness in the hopes that he can claim the Black Cat Miraculous before he arrives, and climaxes when he discovers that ''Adrien'' is Chat and that while he still has a shot at resurrecting his wife, he will not have a happy ending with his family.]] |
| 349 | * VillainWithGoodPublicity: Paris at large is unaware that Ladybug has defected to Hawk Moth's side. |
| 350 | * ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: In Chapter 33, Mayura subtly threatens Carapace in front of Rena Rouge, whispering how [[IKnowYourTrueName Nino]] should take responsibility for Carapace's actions. Ladybug arrives on the scene to find [[TranquilFury Rena]] pinning Mayura rather painfully to the ground. |
| 351 | * VirtueIsWeakness: Marinette and Gabriel might be working together for the majority of the story, but [[TeethClenchedTeamwork saying that they "have their differences" is a massive understatement]]. Still, there is ''one'' thing that they are total agreement about. Both of them agree that Adrien Agreste is a [[NiceGuy kind]], [[AllLovingHero compassionate]], and [[PurityPersonified altogether perfect]] young man - and because of that, he ''desperately'' needs other people's protection if he's to survive in the real world. [[KnightTemplarParent Gabriel]] utterly ''refuses'' to involve Adrien in his plans. Even though he continues to claim that everything he does is for his son and his wife, he is convinced that that same son doesn't have the willpower to [[IDidWhatIHadToDo stomach the unfortunate methods he needed to use]]. Marinette, meanwhile, agreed to [[FaceHeelTurn start helping Hawkmoth]] because she couldn't ''bear'' the thought of hurting her crush, and never considered asking for his opinion on the matter. She was so certain that Adrien [[HeroicBSOD wouldn't be able to handle]] the AwfulTruth- never mind [[SinsOfTheFather the storm that would follow that revelation]]- that it would be best if he [[IgnoranceIsBliss never learned who his father really was]]. |
| 352 | * WasItReallyWorthIt: [[spoiler:A heartbroken Adrien furiously asks Marinette at the start of Chapter 37 this question. Fresh off the revelations that Adrien was Chat Noir, Gabriel had been secretly hypnotizing her to the point she handed him both Miraculous, and now Gabriel, Tikki and Plagg are seemingly vaporized because of the former's Villanous Breakdown... Marinette can only tearfully conclude No, it hadn't been worth it. What follows for both of them [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone only reinforces her guilt]].]] |
| 353 | * WhamEpisode: |
| 354 | ** Chapter 26: [[spoiler: Hawk Moth's mysterious backer, and someone else, is coming to Paris soon, and Gabriel is terrified.]] |
| 355 | ** Chapter 27: [[spoiler: Hawk Moth, at the behest of his patron, has five black butterflies that he ''feeds'' ex-akuma butterflies to regularly. They're extremely malevolent, they frighten Hawk Moth, and there used to be six. The sixth one is possessing ''Mayura's Miraculous.'']] |
| 356 | ** Chapter 29 ends with [[spoiler:Hawk Moth going behind Ladybug's back to akumatize a man and force him to bring him Kagami]]. |
| 357 | ** Chapter 30 has [[spoiler: Nathalie remove the battery from Marinette's phone when she's in London to prevent her from learning of the akuma attack, confirming what was long suspected that Hawk Moth knows her secret ID.]] |
| 358 | ** Chapter 33 [[spoiler: is when Marinette finally realizes how little control she had in her alliance with Hawkmoth (i.e. ''none'') and how badly she's abused the trust of her team and Paris as well as the strange behavior of Mayura since she gave Luka the Peacock Miraculous. Realizing she won't get her perfect ending after all, Marinette finally calls Chat Noir so they can bring down Hawkmoth]]. |
| 359 | ** Chapter 35 has [[spoiler: Hawk Moth psychically compel Kagami to reveal that Chat is Adrien, but he absolutely refuses to accept this revelation.]] |
| 360 | ** Chapter 36: [[spoiler: Ladybug defeats Chat Noir and claims the Black Cat Miraculous, at which point Gabriel uses his hypnotic TriggerPhrase to force her to surrender both Miraculous. Then Adrien emerges from where Ladybug threw him, and all three finally realize who it is they've been fighting.]] |
| 361 | * WhamLine: In Chapter 36. |
| 362 | -->[[spoiler:'''Gabriel:''' Give me Chat Noir's ring... ''now''.\ |
| 363 | '''Ladybug:''' And why, pray tell, would I do that?\ |
| 364 | '''Gabriel:''' Because I...''insist''. ''[cut to all of the times Gabriel has used the word "insist" when convincing her to follow his orders]'']] |
| 365 | * WhatWouldXDo: When [[spoiler:faced with an akuma who has his friend hostage and no apparent way to rescue her]], Chat finds himself wondering what kind of half-baked scheme Ladybug would cook up to get out of the situation. He quickly hits a EurekaMoment thinking along those lines. |
| 366 | * WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Whenever Ladybug grumbles that she just wants the whole Hawk Moth thing to end, someone (typically Tikki or Chat Noir) asks her why she doesn't just turn Hawk Moth in and be done with it. |
| 367 | * WorkingClassHero: Several of the protagonists have to juggle mundane jobs with superheroism; Kagami speculates that the reason many historical heroes were nobles was because they didn't have to worry about money and could focus on being superheroes. Luka in particular is unable to attend the final press conference because he has a shift at work. |
| 368 | * WouldntHurtAChild: [[spoiler:Firebird]] orders her minions not to attack children. |
| 369 | * {{Yandere}}: [[spoiler:When completely under the influence of the akuma in his Miraculous,]] Mayura is perfectly willing to murder people just for "disrespecting" Marinette. |
| 370 | * YouAreInCommandNow: At the end of the story, [[spoiler:Alya succeeds Ladybug as the new leader of Team Paris and becomes the de facto Guardian of the Miraculous]]. |
| 371 | * YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Downplayed; [[spoiler:Hawk Moth's backer]] makes no effort to prevent the heroes from defeating Hawk Moth since they have what they need from him, but doesn't actively turn against him either. |
| 372 | [[/folder]] |
| 373 | |
| 374 | [[folder: Tropes For ''Mending Warped Designs'']] |
| 375 | * AdaptationalBadass: Zoe is a [[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Section 13]] agent now, with everything that implies. |
| 376 | |
| 377 | * ArmorPiercingQuestion: When discussing Firebird and Kaiser Long's goal to create a new perfect world, Ladybug corners them when she asks how they're going to bring the people of the old world into their new one. They are forced to admit that by their calculations, only about 14 million people will survive. |
| 378 | * ArmorPiercingResponse: After Nino indulges in some AngerBornOfWorry after Adrien's injuries, he askes Plagg how he could be so cavalier as to ''focus on food'' while his partner has yet to wake up after a battle. Plagg's response stops Nino in his tracks for a moment, throws some light on the TraumaCongaLine that Adrien has been going through recently, and reminds him that things are a ''little'' more complicated than Adrien [[IWorkAlone refusing help over stubborn pride]]. |
| 379 | --->"Kid, if I had a nickel for every time Adrien almost died in the past four years, I’d be rich enough to buy every block of American Cheese on Earth, build a rocket, and shoot them into the sun... Oh, what, you thought we were on a road trip?" |
| 380 | * ArchnemesisDad: [[spoiler: Toad/Andre]] to [[spoiler: Chloé and Zoe]]. |
| 381 | * AtLeastIAdmitIt: A yakuza working for Firebird holds politicians in contempt. He figures that they both steal from innocent folk, but at least he's honest about it. |
| 382 | * BadassCrew: The heroes of Paris have grown into this during the TimeSkip; the first chapter shows them easily dealing with a MadScientist and his robotic t-rex, with all the practiced ease that only experience brings. |
| 383 | * BigDamnHug: In Chapter 26, [[spoiler: Adrien gives one of these to Marinette after she [[TakingTheBullet takes a near-fatal hit for him]] and [[HeartfeltApology profusely apologizes to him]] for all that she's done, while telling him that she doesn't expect his {{Forgiveness}} or even tolerance, but begging him to at least ''work'' with her because she can't do this alone. This action emphasizes that while he still hasn't forgiven her, he's at least willing to try]]. |
| 384 | * BrokenAce: After three years of training and fighting in the field, Chat Noir has fully mastered his powers and is practically [[OneManArmy in a league of his own]] among the heroes, not to mention he's made a lot of allies among supernatural organizations. However, he's also become distant, gruff and short to even his friends, and the fact that he ''still'' isn't on par with Firebird or Kaiser Long, let alone both of them, wears at him. He refuses to accept any help save for Plagg and Master He, and remains ''very'' bitter about how his partnership with Ladybug ended. For that matter, Chat doesn't even think highly of [[IHatePastMe the "dopey sidekick" he used to be]]; he believes (or rather, tries to believe) that if he had been a little more proactive and independent before it all went wrong, he could've stopped Ladybug and protected Plagg from getting captured in the first place. Ultimately, Chat Noir can't forgive himself any more than he can his ex-partner. |
| 385 | * ContrastingSequelAntagonist: The differences between Hawkmoth and the team of Firebird and Kaiser Long become even clearer as the story progresses. Gabriel Agreste was a ManipulativeBastard and TheChessmaster- his masterstroke lay in engineering circumstances in which his enemies [[DividedWeFall turned on each other]] by convincing Ladybug that [[WellIntentionedExtremist his crimes were all in service to his family]]. Firebird, who [[{{Troll}} has some jab to make about]] ''[[{{Troll}} anyone]]'' [[{{Troll}} who isn’t on board with her goals]], enjoyed mocking him for his ControlFreak nature- for the most part, events in ''Truth and Consequences'' proceeded AllAccordingToPlan until the climax, but developments that deviated far enough from his plans tended to [[VillainousBreakdown drive Gabriel to self-destructive recklessness]]. Firebird and Kaiser Long, on the other hand, seem to favor XanatosSpeedChess. They have spent ''years'' gathering all the cards they'll need for their plan, but Firebird attributes her success as TheStrategist to being "Flexible enough to not get [her] hair in a knot when [they] hit a snag." She claims that one of the main perks of their SuperpoweredMooks is that despite their power, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness they can be replaced]] by just about ''anyone'' if necessary. The power couple ''also'' [[WeCanRuleTogether make overtures]] to the heroes on several occasions, but ''theirs'' have a lot more elements of JoinOrDie than manipulation; they and their henchmen [[SmugSnake place very little faith]] in the heroes' ability to get in their way, whereas Gabriel [[VillainRespect gambled a lot on Ladybug’s ability]], even if he [[UnderestimatingBadassery expected to roll right over Chat Noir]] with her help. Gabriel [[GoodPowersBadPeople grievously misused]] the power of the Butterfly Miraculous for his villainy- he used the power to create champions along with his ''own'' [[{{Brainwashed}} magical abilities]] to create the akuma. Kaiser Long and Firebird are such a threat because ''they'' are a proper team of [[YinYangBomb Creation and Destruction]]- they have been studying those forces since Ladybug and Chat Noir were in kindergarten, and mock the heroes as complete amateurs. And finally, one of the first things Gabriel made clear from the start of his "alliance" with Ladybug was that he would not be taking to the battlefield himself. Sure, with the power of the Butterfly Miraculous, he ''technically'' doesn’t have to be a NonActionBigBad… but he ''is'' a tier below [[ExperiencedProtagonist Ladybug and Chat Noir]] in power, [[OrcusOnHisThrone so why would he take the insane risk of meeting them in battle?]] Kaiser Long and Firebird, however, are ''[[ArrogantKungFuGuy all too happy]]'' to demonstrate how [[TheAtoner Ladybug]] and [[IneffectualLoner Chat Noir]] couldn’t beat them on their ''best'' day. |
| 386 | * CurseCutShort: Queen Bee nearly drops the F-bomb in front of a six-and-a-half-year-old girl, but catches herself in time. |
| 387 | * DidntSeeThatComing: Kaiser Long and Firebird [[SmugSuper saw themselves]] as the true masters of Creation and Destruction by virtue of studying those forces from the ground up. Ladybug and Chat Noir, meanwhile, are simply naive kids who need their Miraculous [[UnequalRites as a crutch]]. Because of this, the couple saw no issue in [[DePower draining their counterparts’ strength]] to add to their own as soon as the brats refused to [[WeCanRuleTogether join up]]... and [[spoiler: they never once considered that said brats might be capable of [[LaserGuidedKarma draining their power in turn]].]] |
| 388 | * DistantPrologue: The first chapter takes place 19 years before the main story. |
| 389 | * DivorceAssetsConflict: Andre signed over his hotels to Chloé to avoid losing them to her mother during their divorce. |
| 390 | * DoubleStandard: Nino's argument that [[TookALevelInCynic Adrien]] [[NoSympathy should suck it up]] [[GondorCallsForAid and come back to Paris]] to help deal with the rising threats there despite feeling uncomfortable there (bear in mind, he's been WalkingTheEarth fighting {{Eldritch Abomination}}s [[TraumaCongaLine for three years]]) comes off as [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]] when he says he won't make ''Alya'' uncomfortable by forcing her to bring [[WeUsedToBeFriends Marinette]] back if she doesn't want to. {{Lampshaded}} by Masters He and Fu: |
| 391 | --> '''[[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe Master He:]]''' Oh, so when ''Alya'' is unhappy about Marinette, the world stops turning, but when ''Adrien'' is uncomfortable being in Paris, it’s ''his'' problem?\ |
| 392 | '''[[DeadpanSnarker Master Fu:]]''' My dear, you should know by now that double-standards are humanity’s most prolific invention. |
| 393 | * DramaticIrony: Kaiser Long and Firebird believe that Masters Fu and He murdered their teacher Master Li; the DistantPrologue in the very first chapter, however, shows very clearly that he killed ''himself'' as part of a failed attempt at [[TakingYouWIthMe Taking Them With Him]]. |
| 394 | * EvilPowerVacuum: With Hawkmoth gone, other villains showed up to terrorize Paris and it reaches a level Alya says Hawkmoth used to keep Paris safe from them just by being around. |
| 395 | * ExactWords: When Adrien says he won't hurt a demon, he "can't imagine being instantly obliterated is very painful". |
| 396 | * FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Andre]] is very heavily implied to have joined Kaiser Long's group as the Toad. |
| 397 | * {{Foil}}: Kaiser Long and Firebird are like the evil versions of Chat Noir and Ladybug: teenagers chosen by a Miraculous Master and trained to wield the powers of Creation and Destruction, who fall in love and become a deadly BattleCouple. Aside from the whole evil thing, their interactions paint a picture of what Adrien and Marinette could've been if the events of ''Truth and Consequences'' hadn't driven them apart; even their civilian lives closely resemble the life Marinette ''wanted'' to have with Adrien. |
| 398 | * FromTheMouthsOfBabes: When Queen Bee nearly says the F-word, a small girl calls her out on it. |
| 399 | * HeartfeltApology: Marinette's biggest goal aside from stopping Firebird and Kaiser Long is to make amends with Adrien and their friends for her FaceHeelTurn. Part of her fears, though, ''no'' apology, no matter how heartfelt, [[ThisIsUnforgivable is enough]], so she can't find the right words to prove her own sincerity; she herself admits sorry doesn't mean anything coming from her. Chat Noir for his part is [[{{Understatement}} reluctant]] to even give her a chance [[spoiler:until the second half of Chapter 26, where they talk things out, and Ladybug tearfully apologizes for everything she did to him. Chat responds with a BigDamnHug; he hasn't fully forgiven her, but it's a start.]] |
| 400 | * HeroInsurance: Without Ladybug and her Miraculous Cure, the property damage from villain fights is a lot harder to clean-up; Monarch can empower Evillustrator to repair what he can, but it's not the WorldHealingWave Marinette could bring. |
| 401 | * HistoryRepeats: The events of the first fic were set off when Ladybug discovered that her crush's father was a supervillain, and she had to choose whether to [[CruelToBeKind tell them the truth]] or [[ForYourOwnGood keep them in the dark to avoid breaking their heart]]. During the course of ''Mending Warped Designs,'' Rena Rouge discovers that [[spoiler: The Toad is Chloé's father,]] and has to make a similar choice. |
| 402 | * HourglassPlot: At the start of ''Truth and Consequences,'' Ladybug and Chat Noir had very well-defined roles in the [[StatusQuoIsGod Status Quo in Paris]], which had inspired no small amount of [[TheResenter resentment]] in both parties. Ladybug ''hated'' being the one [[TheChainsOfCommanding ultimately in charge of the defense against Hawkmoth]]. Master Fu devoted the majority of his attention towards training her as his replacement- burdening ''her'' with huge amounts of responsibility while [[TheUnfavorite leaving Chat Noir totally in the dark]]. While he never ''[[BecauseYouCanCope intended]]'' to neglect Chat Noir, that didn’t stop the hero from hating that [[LockedOutOfTheLoop neither his partner nor his mentor cared enough to tell him anything]]. Plus, this uneven allocation of training led Ladybug, and ultimately most of Paris, to treat Chat as a NoRespectGuy at times. [[InvincibleHero Ladybug]] always had a plan, and always saved the day, while Chat… he had good intentions, but [[UngratefulBastard he was a liability as often as he helped]], so he was mostly regarded as Ladybug’s [[BumblingSidekick sidekick]] at best, and the [[PluckyComicRelief comic relief]] at worst. [[DramaticIrony On the surface]], everything seemed to be going well, but the issues this relationship caused would end up ''nearly destroying Paris.'' It’s safe to say that [[FromBadToWorse the events of this series]] shook up the Status Quo ''big time.'' By the time the heroes all reunite in ''Mending Warped Designs,'' Ladybug and Chat Noir find their roles largely swapped- if imperfectly, at times. After three years of living the "normal life" she [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor wanted so badly]], Marinette comes back to Paris to find that all her friends had [[TookALevelInBadass grown to be powerful, effective superheroes]]- ''without her.'' Nobody is going so far as to drive her away, but after the way [[GoneHorriblyWrong her last three months as Ladybug went]], even the team members who ''aren’t'' still furious with her are more focused on making sure that she doesn’t take too much on herself and make things worse, ''[[OnceDoneNeverForgotten again]].'' That means sending her home to get some rest while ''they'' work at being superheroes, and ''certainly'' not including her in all the discussions they have regarding their plans for moving forward. Marinette is left wondering painfully to herself, "Oh my god, is this what it was like being Adrien?" As for Chat Noir, as one of the two [[PhysicalGod top-tier Miraculous users]], the ''most'' experienced superhero of Paris, and the one pre-existing hero who had ''never'' worked for Hawkmoth as part of [[FaceHeelTurn Marinette’s “plan”]], he has ''more'' than earned his "place at the table." However, now that people are ''finally'' valuing Adrien as a teammate, the [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest trust issues Marinette’s betrayal caused him]] ''prevent'' him from working with them. And after [[TraumaCongaLine three years]] of constant superhero activity [[IWorkAlone with little to no support]], he is rapidly heading towards his ''own'' breakdown- which all of his teammates can see, but [[PowerfulAndHelpless they’re left at a loss as to how to help him]]. And of course, there’s also the fact that Marinette spent a large portion of ''Truth and Consequences'' pitying Adrien because she had learned the AwfulTruth that he’d been unwittingly [[LivingWithTheVillain living with Hawkmoth for a father for the last three years]]. She assumed that the news would be enough to destroy him, ''before'' [[InternalReveal learning]] that he had been ''[[ArchnemesisDad fighting]]'' his father as Chat Noir. In ''Mending Warped Designs,'' [[spoiler: the [[DramaticIrony reader is aware]], long before any of the characters are, that ''Marinette'' spent the ''following'' three years living with the villains who had ''[[TheManBehindTheMan sponsored]]'' Hawkmoth- her cousins [[UnholyMatrimony Bridgette and Felix]]! The jury’s still out on how ''Marinette'' will react to that reveal.]] |
| 403 | * IfIHadANickel: Plagg says that, if he "had a nickel for every time Adrien almost died in the past four years", he would be "rich enough to buy every block of American Cheese on Earth, build a rocket, and shoot them into the sun". |
| 404 | * IHatePastMe: Crossed with OtherMeAnnoysMe. [[spoiler: Adrien and Marinette have... conflicted feelings toward Ladybird and Cat Noir, their younger [[AlternateSelf Alternate Selves]], viewing them as a painful reminder of [[MyGreatestFailure past mistakes.]] Though it's only really hatred in Adrien's case, as he resents how happy-go-lucky, blindly trusting and dependent on Ladybird Cat Noir is. Marinette on the other hand doesn't hate Ladybird so much as she feels guilty in the presence of who she used to be in contrast with who she became.]] [[spoiler: They later manage to get past this in Chapter 26, as both of them are starting on the road to [[{{Forgiveness}} forgiving]] themselves.]] |
| 405 | * ImmuneToBullets: Master He tests Nino's durability by shooting him with a handgun. The bullet bounces off him. |
| 406 | * IronicName: Nathaniel still goes by Evillustrator under the effects of the Butterfly Miraculous even though neither he nor the Butterfly's wielder are evil anymore. |
| 407 | * IShouldHaveBeenBetter: As much as he hasn't forgiven Ladybug for selling him out, Chat Noir blames himself just as much, if not more, for how everything ended in the previous story. He thinks that he was too lax with the whole hero business and too busy trying to impress his partner, thereby stunting his own abilities and leaving himself helpless once she turned on him. Even saving Plagg from Hawkmoth is little comfort because Plagg shouldn't have ''needed'' saving in the first place in Adrien's eyes. Since then, he's been keeping his allies and friends at arm's length, even damaging his friendship with Nino in the process, in an effort to [[NeverBeHurtAgain never let himself be vulnerable enough]] [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest to be backstabbed a second time]]. Needless to say, he's dangerously close to breaking down come the start of the story. |
| 408 | * IWorkAlone: Aside from Plagg, Adrien has spent the TimeSkip chasing down Kaiser Long and Firebird, as well as any other magical evil he comes across, more or less on his own. While he does occasionally team up with groups like [[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Section 13]], he's become far more withdrawn from his former teammates, to the point where he and Nino have had a major falling out that's implied to be over how aloof and isolated Adrien has made himself; it's all but stated that the events of the previous story have left him with trust issues. |
| 409 | * TheMagicComesBack: Not that it ever ''completely'' left, but after ''Truth And Consequences'', it's a lot more widespread: the events of that story's finale apparently blew open every SealedEvilInACan on the planet, with organizations like [[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Section 13]], the [[WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown Xiaolin Warriors]], the Mircaulous wielders dedicating all of their efforts since to keep them under control. |
| 410 | * MakeAnExampleOfThem: The Scorpion name-drops this trope during her ''second'' recruitment speech to Team Paris. She insists that there's still a chance for the heroes to [[YouWillBeSpared save themselves and their loved ones]] from the fallout of the [[ApocalypseHow "plan"]]. However, that offer did ''not'' extend to "the bug and the cat"- they had shown themselves to be [[UnderestimatingBadassery "disappointing"]] in the BigBad's eyes, and so now they would be used as an object lesson. |
| 411 | * ManipulativeBitch: The leaking of the Fox Miraculous' powers into Alya makes her extremely good at manipulating people, and she is afraid she will become a sociopathic chessmaster as a result. |
| 412 | * MindlinkMates: As a side effect of their becoming Avatars of Creation and Destruction respectively, Ladybug and Chat Noir now have an apparently permanent psychic link to one another. They have initially little control over it, causing them to pick up each other's thoughts at random, and Adrien for his part isn't exactly thrilled about this connection to the girl who betrayed him. [[spoiler:As time passes, though, Marinette and Adrien discover exchanging thoughts isn't the extent of the link, but they can share emotions and even perception. This actually helps them down the road to reconciliation, as Marinette understands just how exactly [[WasItAllALie her actions hurt her former partner]], and Adrien realizes she is genuinely ashamed of her choices and [[MustMakeAmends wants to do right by him and their friends]].]] |
| 413 | * MookHorrorShow: Adrien and Plagg inflict this on Firebird's yakuza goons in Chapter 3. |
| 414 | * MoralMyopia: ''Definitely'' a good way to describe Kaiser Long and Firebird. When they aren't [[SmugSnake looking down on the Miraculous wielders as ignorant children who couldn't possibly hope to oppose them]], they're talking about the righteousness of their [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans plan]] and expressing their fury towards those who would stand in their way, ''especially'' Masters Fu and He. In particular, they [[YouKilledMyFather blame them]] for [[DramaticIrony killing Master Li]], their mentor and the one who originally came up with their plan, and they seek to kill them in revenge. They neglect to consider that [[EvilMentor Master Li had already killed most of his old allies]] when Fu and He cornered him. In fairness, [[OneSideoftheStory it's possible that they didn't know about that fact]], but it's just as likely that [[WellIntentionedExtremist they believed those deaths were for the "greater good"]], and so Master Li's death was the only "unjustified" death. But in the years since, Firebird and Kaiser Long have fallen far, ''far'' down the slippery slope. They acted as TheManBehindTheMan to Hawkmoth, enabling him to torment all of Paris for years on end, simply to obtain funds, collect some super-akuma and get a chance at some of Ladybug and Chat Noir's powers. They formed an organization that has funded yakuza, stole cultural artifacts, and generally endangered and victimized the public. Oh, and then there's the fact that their "master plan" involves [[spoiler: killing ninety percent of humanity.]] And yet, they remain convinced that ''they're'' the good guys here- they have no qualms [[CurbstompBattle stomping on the heroes]] for being stupid kids getting in the way, and then leaving them to ''die'' in their apocalypse. They [[NayTheist believe that the kwamis should be using their powers solely for humanity]] - so they have no problems enslaving them for their purposes. And [[spoiler: once Firebird and Kaiser Long have the chance, they ''incinerate'' Master He as [[RevengeMyopia vengeance for their "murdered" teacher]].]] |
| 415 | * NayTheist: A big part of Kaiser Long and Firebird's motivation: they see the Kwami, and by extension the fundamental forces they embody, as selfish, uncaring gods for refusing to do more to help humanity; their goal, at least in part, is to take all that power and put it in the hands of humanity to "shape its own destiny." |
| 416 | * {{Polyamory}}: Alya and Nino have entered into a triad with Chloé. |
| 417 | * {{Reconstruction}}: Where ''Truth And Consequences'' deconstructed the partnership of Ladybug and Chat Noir and led to them splitting apart, ''[[MeaningfulName Mending Warped Designs]]'' picks up the pieces again. Yes, there ''were'' lots of flaws, but even so, they both enjoyed those four years protecting Paris together. Ladybug misses those days dearly, and for all of his bitterness, so does Chat deep down. Part of this process is aided by [[spoiler:Ladybird and Cat Noir, younger alternate versions of the duo. Chat initially sees only the flaws of his younger self and how in the dark he is, but after Ladybug gives her an abbreviated explanation of what happened, Ladybird tells Chat that as annoyed she can be with her partner at times, she's still very glad to have him as her partner.]] |
| 418 | * RejectedApology: {{Discussed}} by Adrien, Plagg, and Master Fu. Adrien [[spoiler: initially]] refuses to accept [[TheAtoner Marinette's]] apology, despite their PsychicLink proving to him that she truly ''is'' [[HeelRealization sorry]] and believes [[ItsAllMyFault It's All Her Fault]]. After all, "sorry" doesn't change the fact that she ''chose'' to do all of that in the first place or give him his life back. Fu agrees that Adrien has every right to say that ThisIsUnforgivable and refuse to accept her apology, but he also notes that while an apology can't SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong, it ''can'' be a start to something new, something better. |
| 419 | * RelationshipUpgrade: During the timeskip, Luka and Kagami have started dating, while Alya and Nino have turned their relationship into a triad with Chloé. |
| 420 | * SelfServingMemory: A slight case on Nino's part. Frustrated by Chat Noir's recent IWorkAlone attitude, he ends up venting about the poor decisions he has made along those lines [[spoiler: after Chat Noir's [[LeeroyJenkins determination to take out Firebird and Kaiser Long]] leaves him comatose]]. One of the points Nino ends up making is that "He just can't act like we wouldn't have fought Ladybug for him [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot if he'd just asked]]." Nino seems to be forgetting at this point that Chat Noir ''had'' asked them to stand against Ladybug, if indirectly- he had gone to Alya with a ''pile'' of evidence and asked her to expose what was going on to the people of Paris. However, given the fact that Ladybug was aware of all of their identities and controlled their access to the Miraculous, "Team Paris" had decided that "ChoosingNeutrality" was the only option they had- and [[NotHelpingYourCase they announced that position]] by ''going up against Chat Noir in a five-to-one brawl''. Is it ''really'' surprising that Chat Noir didn't make any further efforts to convince them that Ladybug had [[FaceHeelTurn gone to the dark]], when Carapace had dismissed the evidence he'd already provided as "not good enough"? |
| 421 | * ShoutOut: |
| 422 | ** The title is one to a Sidereal Charm from ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}''. |
| 423 | ** The first chapter sees Team Paris fighting a villain with a penchant for building robot dinosaurs named "[[Franchise/PowerRangers Dr. Thomas Oliver]]." |
| 424 | ** After Dr. Oliver is subdued, the heroes tell him YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood in a manner almost exactly like a conversation ComicBook/SpiderMan once had with an enemy. |
| 425 | ** Marinette compares Nadja to [[ComicBook/SpiderMan J. Jonah Jameson]]. |
| 426 | ** Adrien derisively refers to Firebird as "[[WebAnimation/{{Hololive}} Shit-bird]]." |
| 427 | ** When Marinette meets Plagg for the first time since her exile from Paris, she finds him wearing neon pink shorts. He declares that "[[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} they're comfy and easy to wear]]". |
| 428 | * TakingTheBullet: At one point, Chat Noir grouses about how whereas he would've happily put his life on the line for the sake of his partner and ''had'' done so more times than he could count, Ladybug would ''never'' do the same for him. [[spoiler:She proves him wrong in Chapter 26, pushing Chat out of the way of Kaiser's stinger so it hits her instead. She then discusses this with him afterwards, wanting to prove how much she values her partner.]] |
| 429 | * TeethClenchedTeamwork: A one-sided example on Chat Noir's part. He absolutely ''hates'' having to work with [[TheAtoner Ladybug]] again, and for the most part treats her as simply a [[GodzillaThreshold necessary evil]] at best, and views her as TheLoad at worst. [[ItsAllMyFault Ladybug,]] on the other hand, ''desperately'' wants to [[MustMakeAmends make amends]] with him by any means, despite fully resigning herself to the fact that [[ThisIsUnforgivable he will likely never love or even tolerate her again.]] This even includes [[spoiler: TakingTheBullet for Chat Noir to prove that she's sincere. It's this that convinces him that she's truly changed.]] |
| 430 | ** Adrien's equally unhappy about working with Nathalie, and even outright admits in Chapter 22 that he ''hates'' her. |
| 431 | * TimeSkip: Picks up three years after ''Truth And Consequences'' left off. |
| 432 | * TookALevelInBadass: Pretty much ''everyone'' during the timeskip - between Adrien WalkingTheEarth fighting evil, and Team Paris protecting the city without either of its premier heroes around, they've all grown into incredibly competent and experienced superheroes with much better grasps on the powers of their Miraculouses, so much so that Marinette feels like a rookie by comparison. Credit where it's due, though, Marinette is no slouch as she's spent the TimeSkip mastering Creation's powers, and her EstablishingCharacterMoment has her casually run-off a flesh-eating [[TheFairFolk Changeling]] by conjuring up an iron bar. Too bad the villains did ''not'' [[VillainForgotToLevelGrind forget to level grind]]. |
| 433 | * WasItAllALie: The crux of Chat Noir's lingering frustration with Ladybug is that he believes she never trusted or respected him, and their time as partners (which he grudgingly admits were four of the best years of his life) meant nothing to her. After all, if she cared about him, why was she so eager to make a deal with Hawkmoth and turn all of Paris against him? It takes Ladybug a lot of work [[spoiler:including TakingTheBullet for Chat]] to prove to him [[ItMeantSomethingToMe she]] ''[[ItMeantSomethingToMe did]]'' [[ItMeantSomethingToMe and still does treasure their partnership.]] |
| 434 | * WeCanRuleTogether: Kaiser Long and Firebird make this kind of offer to Ladybug at the beginning of the story, offering to let her and her family be among the chosen few to live in their new world. Marinette, however, learned from her experience with Gabriel. |
| 435 | * WhyCantIHateYou: PlayedForDrama; In a heated argument at the end of Chapter 22, Chat Noir finally confesses to Ladybug that as much as he ''wants'' to hate her for what she did, and for all his efforts in trying to hate her as he does his father and Nathalie, he just ''can't''. Hearing this increases Ladybug's guilt all the more. |
| 436 | -->'''Ladybug:''' Really? ''How?'' Your father wouldn't have ''won'' if it wasn't for me.\ |
| 437 | '''Chat Noir:''' ''Yeah,'' but ''he'' was always horrible to me, but ''you''… you just ''had'' to give me four of the best years of my life before taking it all away. And in some ways…that's worse.\ |
| 438 | '''Ladybug:''' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Do you…not hate me then]]?\ |
| 439 | '''Chat Noir:''' I just don't feel safe trusting you… Someone has to protect ''me''. Someone has to look out for me…no one else is gonna do that. So it has to be me...and I can't protect myself so close to you. |
| 440 | * YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood: The heroes call out Dr. Oliver for wasting his talents on robbing banks when he could cure cancer, and point out that there are plenty of legal and moral ways for him to indulge in his obsession. |
| 441 | ** Funnily enough, this is a fairly good way to describe [[BigBad Firebird and Kaiser Long's]] attitude towards ''Ladybug''. Though the older pair certainly seem to [[ArrogantKungFuGuy see themselves as above the heroes]] due to their mastery of magic not relying on the Miraculous, there ''are'' a few hints that they do [[VillainRespect hold a certain amount of respect for Ladybug]]. It can be difficult to get a proper read on them- at the end of the previous fic they attempted to recruit Chat Noir, citing Ladybug's treachery, but at other times they seem to have followed Hawkmoth's lead in considering the Hero of Destruction [[UnderestimatingBadassery a stupid child, only a threat because Ladybug was there to make the plans]]. But at the very least, Kaiser Long and Firebird ''did'' respect Ladybug enough to give her the opportunity to [[WeCanRuleTogether lend her aid to their master plan]], rather than try to stand against it. [[SarcasmMode Unfortunately]], Ladybug was ''never'' likely to join them, and outright attacks them once they threaten Tikki and the other kwami. Firebird and Kaiser Long take a moment to express some disappointment with the young heroine during the ensuing battle, since from ''their'' perspective, she's choosing to hang onto the "old world" and the shackles of [[NayTheist uncaring deities]] rather than aid humanity in taking a step forward. |
| 442 | [[/folder]] |
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FollowingContext Fanfic / TruthAndConsequences
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