The Pied Piper [Miraculous Ladybug]

Chapter 1

Marinette was tired. Just so tired of everything.

She always tried her best to be positive and nice, but after 3 days of sitting beside her father in the hospital, seeing his whitening face and listening to his shallow breathing, she didn't know how to be positive anymore.

She wasn't sleeping, so when her mother suggested she go back to school to get her mind off things, of course she was going to throw a fit. But of course her mother insisted, and Marinette couldn't say no to her breaking mother.

As she walked to school she couldn't help but think about how worthless she felt. She was Ladybug! Hero of Paris and savior of people. But no matter how much she thought she could do something to help her father, she just couldn't. It was up to the doctors and the hospital to do what they could.

Alya met Marinette at the front of the school as always, but this time she looks just as sad. The father of her second family no longer fit to be so.

Nino and Adrien were standing a ways behind her. They were both friends with Marinette, but nowhere near as close to her family like Alya was.

They were trying to be strong, but as the redhead embraced the other they couldn't help but break down just a little. Alya was unable to visit the hospital like she wanted, being forced to watch her sisters as her mother ran around to report incidents while Ladybug remained MIA.

The girls sniffled one last time together and then pulled away, cleaning their cheeks and sharing a solemn smile before the boys walked towards them. They both gave Marinette a small hug, Adrien lingering slightly more than needed, knowing just how painful it was to be losing a parent.

As the first bell warned them, Alya took Marinettes hand and they walked into the schoolyard, the boys close behind like they were shielding her. She was thankful for that though. Though a few people that were close to her did come up to her to talk to her about her father, she was relieved that the majority just simply made eye contact and gave her a small smile.

But Marinette should have known that the morning shouldn't have been going as smoothly as it was.

As the group made their way into the classroom, they were greeted by the sight of Chloe, sitting on the bench with her feet kicked up on the desk. She was glaring at the door, and as the group made their way in she snored and tipped her nose into the air.

Ignoring her, Marinette made her way to her desk, sitting down silently and pulling out her tablet and just waiting for the bell to ring on the one day she comes to class early.

She was surprised to see Juleka stop next to her desk, kneeling down and getting close, whispering to Marinette, "I'm so sorry about your dad, Mari. We are all here for you, ok? Don't be afraid to talk to any of us."

Marinette's lip quivered as she nodded to Juleka, thankful that her friends were all so sweet. But the moment was ruined as Chloe slammed her feet back onto the floor and stood up.

She looked out the classroom windows but everyone knew she was talking at Marinette, "Oh please, it was only a matter of time before one of those dusty baker's collapsed from all the inhaled flour."

Marinette's breath hitched and Alya stood up tall from her seat, slapping her hands on her desk before screeching, "What's your damage, Chloe? Are you serious right now?"

"Of course I'm serious," Chloe turned around and crossed her arms, her eyes a plethora of mixed emotions, "I'm just convinced its all fake. I mean, your lowly father was fine a few days ago, why all the sudden is he dying in the hospital? I mean it's not like I care about the peasant people but nobody should be fawning over Marinette's pathetic fath-"

She couldn't handle it anymore, the red she was seeing was too much for her to handle. She lunged before anyone could stop her, landing a half-hearted blow to Chloe's face before jumping on top of her and pinning her down. She couldn't stop herself, it felt too good. Letting out all the frustration and anger out from the last few days on the one person who deserved it the most right now.

She saw blood after the first punch, but it didn't stop her. Everyone around her was too stunned to do anything, but Adrien was the first to snap out of it. He jumped forward and dragged Marinette off of Chloe, the blonde crying and trying to cover her face from the wailing blows from before.

Marinette was screaming from Adrien's arms as she was dragged through the door and into the corridor, trying to get loose from his hold, just wanting to get one more hit in. But he wouldn't let her go.

Finally, he got her far enough down the hall before he practically tossed her wailing form against the wall. Her bloodied hair gripped her hair and she sank to the floor, sobs loudly wrecking her body, no longer knowing out to let out what she was feeling.

Before he knew what he was doing, Adrien wrapped his arms around the blue haired girl. He didn't care that her hands and clothes were bloodied. He didn't care that he wasn't as close to her as Alya. All he cared about was the way his heart felt as he held the small girl close. Both of them crying, both of them breaking a little more with each passing moment.