Pixelator Picks
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:
- Adaptational Villainy:
- In the original series, Théo is never shown to be aware that Ladybug is a teenager when he crushes on her. Here, he is portrayed as an outright hebephile who is dating Mireille, a girl in her mid-teens.
- Canon Mireille is never shown to be evil in any way. Here, she attempts to murder Ladybug to prevent her from turning her boyfriend in.
- Alternate Universe Fic: A What If? with the change that Pixelator hears Ladybug say, "Yeah, right" and he realizes she has no intention of keeping her deal to let him photograph Jagged Stone, so he simply zaps her with his camera.
- And I Must Scream: Ladybug finds herself in a Blank White Void with only Mireille Caquet and Théo Barbot, with the real possibility of being trapped forever.
- Bittersweet Ending: Everyone is freed and the villain is stopped. Due to learning about Chat Noir's false boast about their relationship before learning his secret identity, Ladybug rejects him both as Chat and as Adrien. She will still work with him as a superhero, so there is a bit of hope she will ultimately forgive him.
- Blatant Lies: Ladybug learns from Théo of Chat Noir's boastful claim that he and Ladybug are "like that." She is not happy.
- Broken Pedestal: Ladybug is not pleased when she finds out that Chat Noir claimed to be dating her and never confessed or apologized until he was caught. She severs her friendship with him in both of their identities.
- Cut the Safety Rope: Théo is forced to drop the yo-yo line Ladybug was using to explore the dark space below their Prison Dimension when Mireille tackles him from behind, since she was worried Ladybug would send Théo to jail for dating a teenager.
- Don't Look Back: Ladybug tells Chloé to cover her eyes and ears because the charm she is about to use could damage her sight and hearing. This gives cover to Adrien to transform to Chat Noir and Cataclysm their way out.
- Great Escape: Ladybug plays the role of a Tunnel King when she uses her yo-yo to make a hole in the floor of the Prison Dimension. It leads only to the next prison, where Adrien and Chloé are trapped.
- I Heard That: Pixelator hears Ladybug whisper to herself that she has no intention of keeping the deal. He acts accordingly.
- Jailbait Taboo: Théo doesn't want to admit his relationship with Mireille, because Ladybug is "unofficially law enforcement." (It's implied that Ladybug will turn him in.)
- Karma Houdini Warranty: Chat Noir lying to Théo about his relationship with Ladybug comes back to bite him in the ass when Ladybug finds out from Théo himself, causing her to break off their friendship.
- Magic A Is Magic A: The apparent exception (in the original "Pixelator" episode) to the in-series rule that releasing the akuma butterfly is the prerequisite to a Miraculous Ladybug charm is explained. (Pixelator being in a different dimension than his akumatized object severed the link just as effectively as a breakage would have.)
- Saying Too Much: Two characters are done in by their inability to keep their mouth shut.
- Ladybug tips off Pixelator to her intent to deceive him when she mutters "yeah, right" under her breath and he catches her.
- Mirielle confesses to causing Théo to drop Ladybug to her possible death completely unprompted, instead of keeping quiet and letting her believe he innocently lost his grip.
- Shout-Out: The Sartre play No Exit is referenced by Théo when the situation between him, Ladybug, and Mireille deteriorates.
- The Unmasking: Adrien is forced to reveal himself to Ladybug when they are all caught by Pixelator.
