Christmaster Crisis
is an Alternate Universe Fic made by RockSunner, for Miraculous Ladybug. Part of the Smart Adversaries AU for Miraculous Ladybug on AO3, in which Ladybug villains make smarter decisions. The series has a tropes page here.
This is a three-chapter work and it is now complete.
This fanfiction series contains examples of:
- Alternate Universe Fic: A What If? with the change that Hawk Moth persuades Christmaster to keep fighting and not surrender the snow globe, with the result that Ladybug is badly injured by the Ultimate Destructor.
- A Wizard Did It: Ladybug's extra-long time before timing out after using her Lucky Charm is explained as time-stretching magic by Santa Claus (who normally uses it to help himself deliver presents in a single night).
- Badass in Distress: Ladybug is badly injured and requires help from Chat Noir and Santa Claus to finish saving the day.
- Love Confession: Marinette admits the box of presents is for Adrien, to Chat Noir. This breaks through the false impression of her Blatant Lies when she said she wasn't interested in him in that way.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Adrien understands why Ladybug said this when she was able to recite what Santa Claus said word for word about the rules of Christmas. It shocks him and causes a Broken Pedestal moment about Ladybug.
- Never Trust a Title: Christmaster is the titular villain, but he gets taken out in the first chapter out of 3. The rest are dedicated to Chat Noir figuring out Ladybug's identity.
- Summon to Hand: Ladybug can normally summon her Lucky Charm object right before she does the Miraculous Ladybug cure. This time she is too weak from her injuries. Fortunately, Santa Claus has her letter in his pack and he can give it to her directly.
- The Unmasking: Adrien pieces together enough clues to solve the secret identity of Ladybug. Chat Noir also reveals his own identity to her.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Downplayed. Chat Noir expects Ladybug to be remorseful for "killing Santa Claus," but she is Easily Forgiven after they talk it out and take time to mourn for him.
- Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Chat Noir was willing to believe in Santa Claus, but the logic collapses for him when he finds out that this Santa Claus thinks that Marinette is one of his elves.
