History Fanfic / TruthAndConsequences

* 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''.

* 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.

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: 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.

* 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 what she had done to her partner]], and admits that on some level, she was convinced that [[BecauseYouCanCope he could survive whatever she threw at him]].]]

** 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]].

* BalefulPolymorph: [[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]]]].

* 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.
* 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.

** 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.
** 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.

** 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 [[ForWantOfANail they'd be in a much different place if she had]]. She 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]].

* 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 [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome 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.]]

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** The only person surprised by Chat Noir's unwillingness to give up his ring when Ladybug asks is Ladybug herself, not least because of her unwillingness to explain herself.
** Making Chat into a HeroWithBadPublicity has consequences Marinette failed to predict, like causing the owners of an animal shelter he supported to fall under suspicion of aiding and abetting him.
** Ladybug might have an innate talent for making her plans work regardless of the odds, and has no doubt [[TalentedButTrained honed it]] over her years of superhero work, but the only way her [[LethalJokeItem Lucky Charm]] can realistically work consistently is because AWizardDidIt. When [[BornLucky Ladybug]] and [[TheJinx Chat Noir's]] [[WindsOfDestinyChange powers]] turn on each other for the first time, Ladybug's plans turn out [[EpicFail to have some technical difficulties to work out]].

* 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, an 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]] [[OneHundredPercentAdorationRating considerable power]] to mitigate the fallout to their dependents afterwards.

** 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]].

* 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]], [[IncorruptiblePurePureness 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]]- so it would be best if he [[IgnoranceIsBliss never learned who his father really was]].

* 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 [[PyrrhicVillainy her partnership with Hawkmoth]] ''[[PyrrhicVillainy did]]'' [[PyrrhicVillainy cost her nearly everything she had hoped to gain in the attempt]].

* PyrrhicVillainy:

* 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.

* 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.''

** 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'' [[BeingGoodFeelsGood 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.

** [[GoodIsNotNice Chloe]] is rather blase 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 Chloe ''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 Chloe ''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]] [[BeingGoodSucksAdrien]].]]

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