The Salt Files: Additional Cases (MLB)

A Christmas Miracle

Marinette should've known that when she woke up, things were different

Marinette was getting ready for bed when Tikki started buzzing around her room. "Why are you going to sleep so early, Marinette? Didn't you want to watch the snow?"

The baker girl just smiled at the kwamii. "Yes I do Tikki, but Santa is coming tonight! And you know what that means?"

"We make sure Adrien doesn't go missing again?" The kwamii deadpanned as Marinette laughed.

"No, we go to sleep earlier! The faster we are asleep, the faster the night will pass. Then we can do some Christmas activities with everyone else, and it will be a great day! I might even be able to sneak you more cookies than usual at the party." Yes, believe it or not, Adrien's dad let him host a Christmas party with Chloe. The main location was Adrien's house, then the afterparty was at Chloe's hotel.

Tikki giggled, nuzzling up next to her chosen. "I hope you enjoy the party, you deserve a break."

"I just need Lila or Alya not to ruin it and it will be great."

"Especially since Luka will be there, right?" Tikki smirked at Marinette's red face.

"I think it's time for sleep, Tikki." Both of them laughed as they fell asleep, not realizing how crazy the next morning would be.

❄️❄️❄️

Marinette woke up feeling like something was wrong. Like there was something in the air, maybe tension or adrenaline? The girl rose up, realizing Tikki was already awake. She also felt like something was off.

"Is everything alright, Tikki?" Marinette asked warily. She kept looking around her room looking for something out of the ordinary. Nothing was wrong or even out of place. Marinette even checked her balcony and nothing was wrong there either, just a light blanket of snow. 

The girl shivered as she came back into her room. There doesn't seem to be an akuma and nothing is sticking out to her. So why was she so on edge this morning? She could tell Tikki felt a shift too, but neither of them could figure out what it was.

Then there was finally an answer.

As Marinette went down the stairs, she saw her parents speaking in hushed voices. The tv was on as well, and it was the news headline that shook Marinette to her core.

'TEENAGE GIRL ARRESTED AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH DEFAMATION AMONG OTHER CRIMES'. And the girl on the screen was none other than Lila Rossi. Marinette couldn't believe it, Lila actually got caught? But how?

The stairs creaked under Marinette's foot, startling her parents. They both looked at her with pity and sadness as they saw that their daughter recognized her own classmate.

"Honey, I'm sorry this is how you had to find out." Sabine hugged her daughter. "I'm not sure who she was to you but-" She stopped when she heard Marinette laugh a little.

"Maman, it's okay! I never liked her, she always lied and made me out to be the bad guy. If anything, she got what she deserved." Both of her parents were in shock at Marinette's quick answer. What all did that girl do to her that she just didn't care about her fate?

And with interesting timing, the family heard a knock at their door. The universe seemed to be loving the drama because there were two police officers at their door.

"Good morning, is there a Marinette Dupain-Cheng here?" An officer asked.

Needless to say, it was an eventful morning. Turns out the cops showed up because everyone knew Marinette was a target to Lila's bullying. Not only was is the Cheng family able to sue, but they could also sue for cyberbullying, harassment, and more defamation of character charges, and also drag Alya into it because she was also an accomplice. The police were also able to get evidence because of the Ladyblog, which explained the defamation charges.