Literal Princess of Love, not Princess of Pine Trees or Princess of Nesting Dolls
Ladybug sighed to herself, she knew they should keep their personal and private lives completely separate. But lately… it had been harder and harder to do so. After everything with Luka… For a moment, just a brief moment she’d considered telling Cat who she was.
Then decided against it. No, he was working out his own problems, she could tell that much. Better not to burden her partner with her disaster area of a life! Alya was her rock right now, the first person she could go to with anything.
Sure, Cat was Cat but there were certain things only another girl could understand. Ladybug fought back a bitter chuckle. “Though… I’m not sure even Alya could help you with this mess. Man, it’s going to take a minor miracle to fix this. One hell of a Lucky Charm.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them, and too late she realized. She felt a tug, and the fresh breeze of powerful magic rushing through the air. Far more powerful than she’d ever felt, Ladybug realized. This wasn’t her doing, not completely.
“Tikki…?” Ladybug whispered before the very air rippled and warped in front of her.
“Sorry little filly, I’ve been called a few things in my time. A pain in the flank, sexy bitch, Goddess, Princess, Candy, Caddy, and Heartbreaker amongst other joyful titles but never that,” came a voice, answering in a sassy tone as the air shimmered in front of the heroine. “Admittedly, all and above do apply. I love that really, but if you’re going to call me something, please dear, call me by my real name. We’re not at that stage in our friendship yet. Name’s Cadence. Princess Cadence of the Crys…”
The owner of the voice paused, trotting and yes trotting into view as it dawned on her.
“Oh, okay. Yep, usually, it’s the stallions who I steal breath from,” the candy-colored pony -like what?- said in a tone of staunch disbelief. “But this is a first, I admit.”
Oh, okay, this is weird even for her. There was a miniature horse in front of her. And by miniature, she didn’t even mean regular pony-sized. No, the horse(?) couldn’t have been much larger than a golden retriever. Could Ladybug call it even a horse? As far as she knew, no regular horses were this pink nor did they wear tiaras as fashion statements.
“Oh, okay, uh... huh! Yep, my sister-in-law told me about you guys, though I was pretty sure she said you were a bit more colorful. Not that you aren’t mind as you’re really rocking the spots but I think you need to be a bit pinker,” the possible escapee from a laboratory remarked. “Anyways, I suppose it’s better than being summoned by a demon to help spice up his sex life. Never have that done to you, understand! Consider that free advice for the future, no bits needed.”
Finally, Ladybug managed the strength to speak. At first, it was an odd strangling sound that no normal human being should have been able to make. Then, a: “...wait, WHAT?”
“By my Auntie’s royal flank, it’s like you’ve never seen a pony before,” the creature said, again in that sassy, teasing tone. “So, first time? Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you. I assume you need my help, right? I mean, I’m used to it by this point. Not the first time I’ve had to help someone with their issues. So, spill the beans. I’ll see what I can do. Not to worry, the Princess of Love is on the job.”
A thud. Ladybug had fainted dead away in front of her.
The apparent Princess let out an: “...Oh. Was I a bit much?”
“So, long and short of it is, you’re a superhero defending Paris against a magical butterfly peacock man and your partner is an Abyssinian but not really,” the pony, Cadence as she’d called herself, said. “And right now he’s a bit distant from you and you don’t know why?”
“Basically…?” Marinette managed to squeak out.
“Your life’s complicated,” Cadence observed, trotting along the floor. “Love triangles, magical jewels, and someone preying on emotions. Yep, a real humdinger of a situation you got yourself into. Oh, how I love helping teenagers. It’s never a simple easy fix with them.”
Somehow, Marinette got the distinct feeling that the pony horse thing was being sarcastic. And why did she have wings? Okay, the horn she could roll with but wings?
“Except it is a simple fix, isn’t it? Instead of dancing around your emotions, you could talk to your catboyfriend,” Cadence said. “I know dear. Trust me on this, truth and honesty are your bywords for a relationship.”
“Except…” here Marinette went off on a partially incoherent babble about alternate timelines and suits of white. Cadence was nodding along, following the best that she could.
“Mhmm, yes, that is a bit of a pickle, isn’t it. But I doubt it was your love that destroyed the world. Take it from me, it usually does the opposite. Love is about the most powerful force where I come from,” Cadence said kindly, dropping the sarcasm. “Dear, I know figuring things out at your age is tough. Hormones and now you have to add masks to the mix. Love dramatic and all that. But right now? I’m getting a premonition, a vision of your lead romance!”
“But… you really think it’s so simple? Just talk about my feelings for Cat? Assuming I have feelings for him, like… sure he’s my partner but he’s Cat. He’s kinda dorky for me…”
“I have a husband who plays Ogres and Oubliettes,” Cadence said with a sort of lovesick smile on her face. “Trust me dear, the dorkiness only adds to their charm.”
How many times had she heard her partner crack a dumb pun, or make some reference to something. Usually an anime? Her heartbeat sped up a little, just remembering.
“Aaaaah, there it is. I know that smile!” Cadence said, with a slight smirk of triumph. “Act all about being the Queen of Cool that you want. Never giving an inch. I can tell what you really feel.”
“What I… I really feel?” Marinette mumbled.
“I’m the literal Princess of Love, don’t try to lie to me about this kind of thing,” Cadence went on. In the background, Marinette’s laptop was open to a picture of whom she assumed was her partner. “Trust me, it never works. You may not have worked it out just yet, but I can tell there’s something there. Which is good for me really!”
Marinette gave her a confused look and a sort of dumb little: “Uh?”
“I can’t force feelings, much as ponies would love me to. I’m not Cupid. I don’t play that sort of game,” Cadence explained, her voice still gentle as can be. “I can only work with what’s already there. I’m a relationship fixer, not a relationship maker.”
Clearly, she had been this desperate for her Lucky Charm to suddenly summon a pony out of the blue. One who apparently thought that she knew everything, and saw her and Cat’s relationship for something that it so clearly wasn’t!
“Me and Cat, we’re just friends…” Marinette continued to mumble.
“And now we’re backsliding,” Cadence sighed to herself, slamming a hoof to her face while shaking her head. Rubbing her head with that same hoof, she said: “I’ve been there, denying my feelings. Unable to say that my best friend is a little something more to me. Unwilling to cross that threshold. It’s scary. Just…”
“Trust you on this?” Marinette said, her visitor nodding. “You keep saying that, but you haven’t given me any reason to. I keep hearing what you’re saying, but are you sure that…”
“Literal Princess of Love, not Princess of Pine Trees or Princess of Nesting Dolls. Princess of Love,” Cadence said, that sassy tone back again. “I’m pretty sure I know what I’m talking about.”
“Marinette, is someone else up there with you? I’m hearing another voice,” came Alya as she apparently rushed up the stairs, judging by her trampling footsteps. “I can come back later if you want!”
“Hide!” Marinette hissed to the pony as Alya barged in.
“I just wanted to tell you what I’ve found in the Grimoire and… Hello!” Alya started, before her eyes widened.
Cadence hadn’t hid.
“Ah, so you’re the best friend,” the pony was smirking again as she trotted around the room. “Forgive me, but is Marinette always like this? This stubborn, I mean?”
“....er…” Alya started, understandably not sure what to say as she looked towards her best friend.
“Lucky Charm went wrong…” Marinette moaned. “So very wrong.”
“She’ll come around, promise you. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m probably the best thing that could have happened to her,” Cadence said with an unrepentant grin. “It’ll just take a bit of work for us to get there, that’s all. Feelings are a tricky business after all!”
“Ah, I see,” Alya nodded, as if this explained everything. Sitting down next to the pony, she said: “So Marinette’s already started to put her foot down, huh? Try to deny everything?”
“Ah, so you do know!” Cadence said, eyes sparkling as Marinette felt something pass over her soul. A sense of impending doom, she supposed. “Well then! Maybe we should double-team her then? Put our heads together for this problem?”
Another inhuman noise from Marinette, as she pleaded to the gods for this to end.
“I dunno Marinette, I’d listen to the pony. Weird as it is for me to say that,” Alya admitted. “From the sounds of it, she seems to be just as done with you denying your feelings for Adrien as I am.”
“Adrien?” Cadence said. “I thought we were talking about Cat Noir!”
“Oooooh, so there’s another boy?” Cadence said before her horn glowed, as pictures flew out of cabinets. “Okay, maybe I was going at this the wrong way. Maybe Cat’s not the one!”
“Yes, finally, some sense!” Marinette said. “Cat’s my partner!”
“Mhmm, maybe. Maybe not,” Cadence seemed to shrug, as best a pony could do that anyways. “Ooooh, these are professional quality. Did you take them? The boy looks like a model!”
“He is,” Alya confirmed with a nod before slinging an arm around her best friend. “My girl’s been head over heels for him for a year and a half now. Can’t string two words around him though.”
“Ah, teenage hormones! Tricky, but workable. But from the sounds of it, Adrien and I apologize for this Marinette but it sounds like he’s not who you love,” Cadence said, the photos still grasped tightly in her magic. “Oh sure, it’s a nice little teenage crush, but those flare up pretty quickly. As far as I can tell, it’s only his looks that got your interest.”
“It’s NOT HIS LOOKS!” Marinette suddenly shouted, prying the photos away from Cadence with almost inhuman reflexes. “He’s so impossibly kind and so supportive to his friends and I… that’s what I like about him! He could be the ugliest guy in the world and it wouldn’t matter!”
Alya let out a wolf whistle and shouted: “You say it girl!”
“There we go, now we’re finally getting somewhere,” Cadence said. “Took us long enough. Okay, so maybe we’ll put Cat aside for now. Focus on this.”
Something seemed to pass over her face, something unreadable but it was only for a brief second before vanishing.
“Maybe you don’t have to ‘talk’ to Adrien, not in the traditional way. You don’t have to look him in the eyes,” Cadence said. “You still write letters I assume?”
“Even better! My girl can text him over the phone!” Alya jumped up, ready to shoot out suggestions.”
“Letters are more romantic but baby steps. We’ll get there a little bit at a time,” Cadence said, giving another equivalent of a shrug. “Do what you have to do, Marinette. Whatever makes you feel comfortable. It all adds up. The ending is the same. Now if you excuse me…”
Cadence was walking up towards the balcony.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“For a fly.”
“People might see you!” Marinette hissed.
“So? From what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t be that strange by this point anyways and if it helps, I have ways of making myself invisible to the eye. But I won’t think I need to,” Cadence said, with a reassuring look. “But don’t worry about me, focus on your sunshine child.”
With that, she walked up to the balcony and extended her wings before taking flight. There was more than one end of this mess of spaghetti noodles that she had to unwrangle.
To her, the city wasn’t that different from Prance back home. Everything was in familiar places, and there was even a form of magic in the air. Crackling, humming in an undercurrent just below the surface of a regular person’s perception.
It felt… different compared to Equestria, Cadence wasn’t sure how to describe it. Livelier, wilder.
That being said, just because she wasn’t home it didn’t mean it was any more difficult to find the source of someone’s troubles. Cadence saw the world differently compared to most ponies. She saw strings. Little threads connecting people.
And right now, she was following Marinette’s to the other end. She chuckled, for someone apparently caring so deeply for two different people…
Heh. This was more of a mess than anyone realized. A Love Square, but with only two participants! It was like Lucky Lead and Supermane all over again. They were like that for decades, stuck behind masks.
Funny how the comics got that much better when they dropped that whole aspect of their relationship.
In any event, there was only one string to follow making her task that much easier.
Going into a glide, Cadence gently nudged open a window and landed directly inside a room. She frowned, the entire atmosphere of this manor felt… very cold. Like an aching soul was crying out.
It was a house of tattered relationships. The Princess of Love shook her head, no she wasn’t here to fix everything. As much as she wanted to, she had been summoned for one thing and one thing only.
Her hoofsteps clopped against the floor, the pony quickly casting a spell to muffle the sound. Better not attract any undue attention.
Another sigh escaped her lips. There were threads in this house, almost close to snapping clean in half. They were frayed, perhaps beyond repair.
Most homes felt livelier than this, like a warm hearth on a snowy night. But this one… There were several threads here. Some were more intensely connected than others.
“Best not to think about it,” Cadence mused to herself. “You’re here to help one person, not a whole family. You mend this, and you get to go home.”
Cadence knew the longer she stayed here, the more she’d overstep her boundaries. The less likely it’d be for her to be able to leave anytime soon. Good grief!
Her own heart ached with so many tattered relationships to fix, but she knew it wasn’t her responsibility. This wasn’t her realm, her world even. She had her own family to think about.
She was a mother now, with a daughter to care for and raise. Were she a younger mare, with more free time, she might have been tempted to stay longer. Help everyone.
Cadence gently nudged a door open and tried not to flinch. The air was rife with chaos magic, and she nearly laughed. Creation and destruction, intertwined in a romance for the ages! Now, if only they could admit it!
Well! That was what she was here for, wasn’t she?
“...I must have fallen asleep because this has to be a dream,” Adrien said as she walked up. “No… No, I would have known. Are you a sentimonster?”
“I’ll excuse you for calling me a monster. And no, you’re not dreaming,” Cadence smiled, calmly. “Though, I think I know who you do dream of. You’re Ladybug’s Number 1 fan, aren’t you?”
“Who are you?”
“Someone sent me to help. Now just let me say my piece before you transform. And yes, I do know who you are,” Cadence said, observing the shocked look on the blond’s face. “Now if you listen to me, maybe you’ll be with your Lady Love eh?”
“Good luck with that one, pinkie,” said a sarcastic voice from above, a little black thing floating over her head as it darted from the rafters above. “I’ve been trying to help this one since I got him. A hopeless case if there ever was one!”
“Mhmmm, we’ll see,” Cadence said. “I don’t believe in hopelessness. Only difficulties. This one may be a mountain to climb, but I think I can get to the peak.”
“Alright, I’ll bite,” Adrien said. “What’s your advice?”
“Talk to your Lady Love for one thing,” Cadence said. “She summoned me because something’s amiss, and honestly, communication is key for any successful relationship. Business or otherwise.”
“Alright, I suppose it’s like this-”
Cadence held up a hoof. “Don’t tell me, tell her. Look, I’ve already had one hero bare their heart and soul to me today. I’m not even the one these feelings should be directed towards!”
“It’s not like she’ll listen…” Adrien muttered bitterly. “And I don’t feel like we’re even in a partnership. At least, an equal one. I feel… Well, suddenly she’s keeping secrets from me.”
“And you’re keeping secrets from her. This whole thing is moronic if you ask me. You need to tell her about it,” Cadence said, shoving her hoof into his chest for emphasis. “Don’t tell me, tell her. You’re a teenage boy, I know, so you brood. But you’re also a superhero fighting to protect a city from a supervillain, you can’t have any secrets between you and your partner!”
“I suppose... I admit, I want to tell her everything. But we’re not supposed to talk to each other about our personal lives. Master Fu said so. We’d only put the other in danger.”
“Is Master Fu right here, right now?” Cadence asked, grumbling under her breath about stupid-ass mentors and their stupid-ass decisions. “I don’t see him! I suppose he thought what he was doing was right. I don’t know, as this whole conflict hasn’t been something I’ve been around for. I’m only an outside observer, providing an opinion.”
“You’re right. Master Fu isn’t here,” Adrien said, before giving a sad sigh. “Not anymore…”
“Again, outside observer so I don’t know the full details and part of me is past caring,” Cadence said. “Actually, you know what, I’m going to be doing what I should have done in the first place. Bit of a drastic measure but I’m a mother so I think I know what’s best for children. Do you want to talk to your Lady? I can arrange that.”
Her horn was beginning to glow, the air crackling with magic. There was a sound like the snap of a finger before Adrien’s whole world vanished in a flash. He and Marinette found themselves on a rooftop somewhere between their respective homes.
“A-Adrien?” Marinette shrieked.
“...Marinette?”
Maybe she shouldn’t have forced the matter, Cadence reasoned to herself. But given how apparently desperate things were? Given how Ladybug herself had summoned her with her magic?
Well, maybe she was right to put her hoof down.
Time to listen, see how this went. Enjoy the fruits of her labors.
“So it’s been you? All this time?” Adrien asked. “...and I called you our Everyday Ladybug! To your face! You were laughing at me, weren’t you?”
“Maybe a little, I admit. But… shit. We’re idiots aren’t we?” Cadence heard Marinette say, the pony peering out to see her shoulders shaking with laughter. “I guess I should be finding it difficult to string two words together around you, given… well, it’s you but I can’t find it to be all that hard to talk to you. Now that I know it’s you. The irony right?”
Mhmmm, maybe she should have gone for the Nuclear Option, to begin with! If she’d known it would be this easy...
“I know what Cadence is doing, why she wants us to talk to each other. I guess… Maybe I should start. Why don’t you trust me, Milady?”
Adrien’s voice was bitter.
“Of course I trust you!”
“Not enough, apparently. You don’t let me know what you’re doing half of the time, are we really partners? You brought Rena back, without saying anything! Her identity was exposed, her family is in danger. Or does that not matter to you anymore?”
“You’re right, I should have told you. I guess I just couldn’t find the time, and maybe…” here Marinette’s voice grew softer. “Maybe I did make a mistake, and maybe it is going to come and bite me in the ass. But Rena… it’s Alya. I had to tell someone, otherwise, I was going to burst.”
She let out a little sob. “Keeping all of these secrets… I hate it, Cat. Adrien. I hate it. But Master Fu put his trust in me, to be the Guardian.”
“Did you ever consider…” Adrien said. “Did you ever consider you didn’t have to be like him? I loved Fu like a grandfather, Mari, but you have to admit he was paranoid. Maybe not without reason, sure, but you’re not him. You shouldn’t try to be him.”
“Maybe…” Marinette said, rubbing an arm insecurely. “I just wanted to do what I thought was working.”
“It wasn’t working though, was it?” Adrien asked, not unkindly. “You’re not Fu. You need to be you, Marinette. I’m sorry I didn’t know it was you, Milady. Or that I didn’t know anything you were going through. If I did, I would have come rushing to your side.”
“Y-You would?” Marinette squeaked out.
“Every time. We’re partners, Milady.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but your partner is a bit of a screw-up. I can’t even keep my secret right.”
“That’s the thing though, you don’t have to. At least not from everyone. You need friends, Marinette. People you can trust by your side. I’m happy to say I’d be the first in line to sign up,” Adrien said. “It’s always been us against the world right?”
“Right…” Marinette agreed, gently pressing her forehead to his.
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Cadence chanted.
Sadly, she’d have to wait.
“I guess knowing it’s you though… I’m not sure what to think. Like sure I feel a bit of an idiot for not recognizing it’s you, but I don’t feel worthy of you either,” Marinette said. “Like I’m not exactly the best hero outside the mask. I’m a flake and a clutz.”
“Everyday Ladybug, remember? Nobody cares about that, least of all me. We love you for who you really are,” Adrien said. “No matter what you’re wearing, whether it be a spotted suit or a white flowery tank-top.”
Marinette sniffled, wiping her eyes as she hugged him a little. “I’m sorry for not trusting you enough to let you in on my secrets. Any of them. I’m sorry if I made you feel inferior or anything like that.”
“You had your reasons and I admit yes I’m bitter about them, but you were doing what you thought was best,” Adrien said before he looked upwards. “The stars are pretty tonight, aren't they?”
“Mhmm, they are.”
“They remind me of your eyes, in a way I suppose,” Adrien went on, his Lady Love letting out a little squawk. “Maybe that’s what I should call you, outside the mask. Star Eyes.”
“You’re such a total sap,” Marinette said, gently shoving him away. “Stop!”
“But I’m your sap. Oh, look at you, pushing this poor kitty away! You’re cruel to your partner, so cruel!” Adrien teased. “I should file a lawsuit, trade you in for someone else!”
Marinette was giggling. Biting her hand to stop herself from laughing any further, she said: “But if I didn’t have you, well I wouldn’t be able to face Hawk Moth! Sorry to say, but we’re stuck together.”
“I can live with that,” Adrien said, leaning in to… “Sorry, do you mind?”
Marinette giggled. “Shut up.”
She gently captured his lips for her own, wrapping her arms around him as they kissed softly in the moonlight. Cadence was cheering, not even mentally by this point.
Suddenly, however, Marinette shuddered and pulled away. “I’m… I’m sorry, but…”
“Surely my kisses aren’t that terrible!”
“No, it’s just… I remembered something. I… oh god, it’s going to happen again now, isn’t it? Now that we know who we are. He’ll come for you again, Shadow Moth.”
“That was always a danger.”
“But in one timeline, it became reality…” Marinette whispered. “I saw you… in a suit of white. I didn’t know it was you at the time, but you said…”
“I was an akuma,” Adrien reasoned. “They’re never in their right minds. I’m sure whatever he said, or I said or whoever said what. I’m sure that it’s not true.”
“It’s just… should we risk it?”
Cadence screamed. “For Celestia and Luna’s sakes! I give up. You’re both excruciating. You kissed, you’re in love so stay together.”
She took a deep calming breath.
“I’m sorry, but I’m just frustrated. Look, Adrien, Marinette. Take it from me, from someone who’s been around the block before. As I said, where I come from love is about the most powerful force. It can challenge anything. Including the apocalypse itself. Just this once… be brave.”
“Be brave?” Marinette looked towards her partner, who confirmed it with a nod.
“Be brave,” Adrien said. “No matter what happens, I’ll face it with you Milady.”
Marinette’s eyes watered. “Cat…”
She closed the gap between them again, and this time -even as she felt herself pulled back home- Cadence knew everything would be alright.
Alya knew something had changed between her two best friends. They talked differently when they were together. Well, to be more accurate, they were talking in general. Marinette wasn’t falling all over herself just to speak to Adrien.
“Good morning Marinette,” Adrien said, greeting the bluenette with a fresh cup of coffee. Okay, damn it, she was jealous. Why didn’t Nino do that with her?
“It is now that you’re here,” Marinette said, her voice practically a purr.
At this, Alya’s brain broke. Huh?
The rest of the class wasn’t far behind. Then the screams of joy started. If Shadow Moth were watching, suddenly any chances of akumatizing anyone today were now zero.
Alya was the one cheering loudest of all. It seems she had a little pink pony to thank for the change in their dynamics. Not an ordinary Lucky Charm indeed!
“You’ve got quite the way with words, Princess…”
“Well, what can I say?” Marinette giggled. “I know exactly what you like to hear. And man… It was only a good morning when you appeared, pretty boy.”
Okay, yep, this was going to take some getting used to! If Alya didn’t know better, she would have sworn an Akuma hit. Because that was NOT the Marinette and Adrien dynamic she’d gotten used to. (Unfortunately.)
“I am so confused right now…” Nino uttered.
“Shush, Nino. My ship is finally happening!” Alya cheered as the class looked on, whipping out her phone. “I gotta record this for the wedding!”
“ALYA!”
Author's Note
This is a bit of a crosspost from AO3 and annoyingly, I've discovered that my supposed beta didn't really correct anything. Like I found more mistakes than he did just by skimming over this.
sigh
In any event, somewhat concerned that the mods won't let this by, but then again it's no different from my Ducktales crossover in a lot of respects. And no, I don't own Ladybug. Just playing in ZAG's sandbox.
Also, because I do this with every Ladybug piece on Archive, here you go. Are you a fan of the franchise? Join us here at the Fanworks Discord!
