Hidden ~ Miraculous Ladybug AU

Chapter 34

Third Person POV

The people around Ladybug pushed her up towards the stage, forcing her to take Firefly's hand and climb up, and into the spot light.

"Firefly. I can't do this. I'm not ready!" She cried to her friend.
"Calm down, Ladybug. I wouldn't do this if you weren't ready. I know you can. This isn't what you think it is anyways. Lady WiFi will explain it in a sec." Firefly glanced at the announcer who was amping up the crowd and took the bag from Marinette.

"Just, remember this Ladybug. Nobody but Plagg and I know who you are, and you know we won't judge you. You can be the true you. Don't ask how I know, but I know you used to be outgoing, and confident. Bring the real you out again. Chloe can't take that away this time. In fact, she'll probably worship you, Ladybug. If you embarrass yourself, which you won't, you can always just change your identity."

Those words echoed through Marinette's dark mind.

"Chloe can't take that away this time."

"Nobody But Plagg and me know who you are,"

Maybe Tikki was right. Maybe, just maybe, she could really be herself here, in Club Miraculous.

"I'll explain the rules real quick everyone! It's been a few since we had a big round of Copycat. So, basically we take some competitors, at least two, and then choose an additional person, or team. That person will do a series of moves, then each of the competitors will repeat that. There are three rounds, at the end we vote to see who did the best job replicating the dance, with a dash of their own style." Lady WiFi wiggled her fingers and stuck them in the box pulling out a name.

"Volpina! Up to give these two a challenge?"

A girl with brown hair pulled up into a messy bun with two strands framing her face, made her way up to the stage. Volpina has a cropped orange tank top that faded to white at the bottom, which ended at her belly button. She had orange and black shorts on with a small clip on tail and a orange hat with fox ears sprouting out of the top.

"You bet, WiFi." She smirked, making her way up to the raised platform on the stage. Chat Noir was carefully watching the new girl, Ladybug.

Probably a fake like the rest of them. Just by speaking to the real Ladybug he could tell she was extremely talented, and even if her specialty wasn't dance, she wouldn't give up.

This Ladybug's style was different from all the other girls' who tried to be the disguised fashion designer, not nearly as showy, in fact he couldn't see any unnecessary skin, a feature he found quite nice, and refreshing. Her mask especially, it was made the same way his was. By Ladybug. Perhaps.

It was always a possibility she was just a wannabe, like all the others. She carried herself differently too, very self conscious, and introverted. He was honestly getting tired of all these fakes, he wondered if he'd ever meet her, or if she even went to his school, probably not, but he could hope. Though, with her talent, she would surely make it in.

He hadn't spoken to Ladybug in a while, not since before college, even though she was still releasing clothing lines.

Volpina eyed Chat and gave him a sweet smile, which he returned, a little uncomfortably. Firefly walked over to Ladybug one last time,

"You got this. I'll be watching right there 'kay?" Marinette met Tikki's eyes and the redhead could tell she wanted to do this. She was just very unsure of it, but her desire to dance would win over, she had no doubt.

Ladybug closed her eyes for a second,
You can do it. Nobody knows you. This can't effect my actual life in any way. Just, dance. You'll be fine.
She drew in a deep breath,