Character Bashing - Blog Posts
shout-out to that episode of Spongebob where he gets amnesia and becomes mayor of a completely different town and that family guy fanfic i read years ago where meg gets paralyzed bc of peter and gets placed in a foster while the rest of the griffins are on a public trial, yall are the reasons I grew up to love bashing/groveling fics
This, this is what I would also say to Setinal. 
@gritsandbrits thank you for this wonderful speech.
The Reason You Suck Speech ~ Sentinel Prime Edition.
After being fed up with the way Optimus Prime gets treated by his so-called friend, GritsandBrits finally reads Sentinel the riot act. Sentinel Prime Bashing, Optimus Defense Club. Warning for any Sentinel stans this is very negative towards him and tbh he needed that.
Tv Tropes: Someone delivers a speech to another character on all the reasons why that other character sucks or is a horrible person. There are several contexts in which this can happen.
In this context, it's giving 10yo me the chance to finally say what she wanted to say about Sentinel. He may have gotten off easy in canon but we aren't in canon are we?
Okay. I have had enough of you badmouthing Optimus! Now I'm not saying he's perfect - who gives a damn! Perfection is boring and the way I see it trying to achieve it only leads to more problems! And I have never seen a more clear example than you Sentinel Prime! You like to rub everyone else's failures in their faces yet do nothing to help them grow. You strut around like Primus's given gift to the universe expecting people to like you yet barely have a good word to say about anyone. Even the few bots who do give a damn about you you treat with contempt.
The show may have let you off the hook then but it's been over for twelve years now and nothing is holding me back from calling you out. Even years later I'm still mad no one actually called out you for being an asshole, save for that one time Optimus told you to take your attitude and stuff it. That part made me laugh. And deserved.
You went around making everyone feel bad about themselves. You nearly put your own team in danger when you bribed Decepticons, said an ageist statement towards your boss In the Almanac, and would've endangered both planets has that fourth season been made! All the hurt you caused you got away with it... Not this time! Nobody ever talked to you like that? Good. Perk up those antennae I got more.
You are part of one of the most powerful defenders in the universe. You are a candidate for what is the most powerful position on your planet. You're like almost royalty to your people yet here you are acting like you part of a school clique talking shit about people behind their backs. Ever since you came to earth you been carping and sniping at Optimus more than usual. For what? Because he's a college dropout? Or is it because he made something of himself with being a dropout and without you! Him being happy ticks you off, so you gotta cling on to what little control you have left by undermining his work. Bad enough he had to drop his things to bail you out and having to waste precious time and energy foolin' up with you!
His job was to maintain the space bridges not be your personal lapdog! Just because he's a janitor doesn't give you the right to make messes for him on purpose. It's basic courtesy. Then again, you wouldn't understand courtesy if it hit you in the chin!
It's not just the way you treat Optimus it's also how you treat everyone else. You make fun of Bee and Bulkhead, they told me about how you were at boot camp by the way. You pick on Jazz and the Twins for expressing interest in our planet. You even had the gall to insult Prowl's memory when he was the one who gave his life to save Earth AND your world! If not for him you wouldn't be here now bullying the way you do.
Yeah I said it! You're a bully! A prime bully who throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way. Who likes to make everyone else miserable! Who bullied his way into positions of power! We're all happy and content with our lives with all its faults and follies and fun and freakiness. Even you with your lack of courtesy, we still accept you, so why can't you accept us? Do you have to destroy everyone to make your life worthwhile? The worse part is you don't own up or express remorse. Rather, you blame other people for suffering the consequences of YOUR actions!
You complained about Optimus lying to you about Miss Spider, well what about the other times he told you the truth? When he warned you about the Decepticons' presence on Earth, or Wasp's innocence, or organics not being a threat, all you said was: you're lying, I don't believe you, you're just a dropout, arrest them all! Not a 'let's settle down and figure this out together', nope! Just straight up threatened them with prison! He tries to be honest with you but you refuse to hear him out!
You complain about a lack of communication but how can we when you go around insulting everyone! The rare times you do speak positively it always come out so backhanded, like you have to point out something negative no matter how inconsequential it is. Everyone's forced to walk on eggshells around you. Why? Because we know you got a negative remark loaded on your tongue. That and you like to brag. Loose lips sink ships as they say.
And back on lying, honey he never lied to you. If anything he was protecting you! He didn't want to hurt the both of you so he had to make a hard decision at the cost of his own wellbeing. When you did learn the truth, instead showing the poor thing a bit of compassion, you tell her that she was better off dead! What is that to say about someone? Especially someone who was your girlfriend?
She probably didn't have much of a choice, and you know good and well how slick Megatron is! But besides that, you were hurt yes, but you have the time to seek closure. Instead you denied your ex a chance to heal from her traumas. You continue using Optimus's own trauma against him.
You plot and scheme to further your ambitions not caring who gets hurt. You try to inflict trauma on every organic on this Earth. Tell me, are we really a threat? Or are you just venting your anger over not being told about Blackarachnia? Given your past behavior I would not be surprised if it ends up being the latter.
That's another thing every time you faced with a difficult situation you immediately lash out. Optimus has been your biggest victim. When it's not dumping your the responsibility on him, it's sneering or picking on him. You ever stopped to think how Optimus might've felt? The guilt he feels over not saving her? The fear that someone could hurt her, or that she might hurt innocent beings. How he has to shoulder not just his own grief but yours as well. How he has to deal with your hatred.
You say you don't haye him yet that doesn't stop you from treating him like a tool. Do you ask him how he feels? Did you offer him comfort in his time of need? Or are you the only one ever allowed to feel sad? Maybe you can learn his side of the story if you bothered to give him a chance! You claim it's too late for apologies but the thing is, that's not a reason for you treating everyone like junk. When others make mistakes they at least try to fix them, or move on and take steps to do better in the future. Even if it's not verbal, there's other ways to apologize and grow.
You could've worked with Detroit. You could stop calling Optimus that awful name. You could've open you heart - excuse me - your SPARK to others and learn about our planet. Sure you can't change the past but that don't mean you can work on yourself now. Everyone even in the fandom been nothing but patient and kind to you, and you returned it with spite. You can't fathom being happy with yourself so you hafta drag everyone down with you.
But yet Despite all the garbage you hurl at Optimus you know he never spoke badly about you? Sure an exasperated sigh here and there but never slander. He never went out of his way to hurt your career, hell he gave up his future for you! Yet you still treat him like a threat to the point of attacking his teammates to get at him. All the harm you've inflicted on him, he still helps you out! He could've left you at the mercy of Headmaster but helped you get your body back. He could've let you get killed or hurt but he comes to your aid like a real friend should. He saw something worth salvaging.
Are you willing to toss all that away for temporary catharsis?
You let one tragic mistake sour your worldview so you project that onto others. They make a mistake you don't give them grace. You don't give it yourself. You expect everyone else to think and act exactly like you, selfish and mean, yet you see the opposite. Bee and Bulkhead try new things and has hobbies. Jazz plays our music, Ratchet studies our medicine, Prowl loved our wildlife, and Optimus loves everyone. Even you, you hateful self-centered jerk. He cares so much about you though I can't see what it is that makes you worth saving.
Every day they go out to help the city not expecting to be rewarded or even thanked, but because it's the right thing to do. Meanwhile you're just standing around huffing and puffing, refusing to lend a hand. Stubbornly clinging on to that cynical mindset that being flawed is inherently evil and that nobody can be good. We fought things bigger than you, yet you treat us like a bunch of idiots who don't know anything no it's you who don't know anything! But even those aren't a good enough reason to carry on acting like that.
Your whole life has been challenged, and now that everyone seen you for the sad, scared soul you truly are, they stopped entertaining you. You lied to yourself, you're stuck with that lie and nobody is around for you to dump your frustrations on. You can't keep living off lies you know. You can't force everyone else to live in them either.
Now I know what I just said won't get you to change your mind and honestly, I've stopped waiting for you to have an epiphany a long time ago. It's clear you're content with the path you're going down but you will have to walk it alone. The rest of us will continue to enjoy ourselves. We'll love our flaws and freaky grossness. You? You be all alone with only your crown for company. It's sad it has to be that way. But I hope you take it as the time to reflect on the choices you've made and will make. That when you do eventually become the Primer Prime, those choices had better be worth it.
Title: Stealing HER Fate
Summary: In an alternate take on the Miraculous Ladybug universe, an outsider wakes up in Marinette's world and steals her fate as Ladybug, determined to claim the life and destiny that wasn’t hers. With manipulative cunning, the reader becomes Paris’ celebrated heroine, earning Adrien’s love and the world’s admiration while ensuring Marinette never steps into the role of Ladybug across all timelines.
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
Gaslighting and manipulation, Villainous protagonist, Bittersweet outcomes,and Character alteration and reimagination.
Word Count: 3,718
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You never expected to wake up in Paris—not the Paris you knew, but a version straight out of a TV screen. The last thing you remembered was falling asleep after yet another late-night binge of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir, grumbling about how Marinette didn’t deserve the Miraculous of the Ladybug. She was clumsy, obsessive, and a borderline stalker when it came to Adrien.
“She doesn’t deserve it,” you’d mutter to yourself, turning off the screen. “I could do so much better.”
When you woke up, everything felt… different.
You weren’t in your bed, in your small, cozy apartment back in your real life. Instead, you were in a room you didn’t recognize, adorned with pictures of a family you’d never seen before. The soft morning light seeped through lacy curtains, and outside, the faint sound of Parisian streets hummed. Paris.
No. It couldn’t be.
You bolted upright, scanning the room. It was utterly surreal, yet painfully familiar. The pictures of the Eiffel Tower, the smell of croissants wafting through the house—this was Paris. But it wasn’t your Paris. It was the Paris of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir.
You stumbled to the mirror, half-expecting to see your usual face. But no, it was still you, albeit… younger. A moment of panic set in, but the surreal reality quickly overtook it. Somehow, impossibly, you were in the Miraculous universe. And if you were here, you knew exactly what was going to happen next.
Your initial excitement quickly morphed into envy. Marinette, in all her awkwardness, was destined to become the heroine, to wield the Ladybug Miraculous and save Paris. But why? You were smarter, more decisive, and less distracted. If anyone deserved that kind of power, it was you.
And then you realized—you could take it.
The memory of the Origins episode was fresh in your mind. Master Fu would soon be in trouble, and Marinette was supposed to save him. But if you acted first, you could claim the Miraculous and rewrite destiny itself.
The plan was simple: stay close to Marinette, wait for the right moment, and steal her fate.
That morning, your new parents—kind strangers who felt oddly warm—called you down to breakfast. They smiled as though you’d always been their child, and while it was disconcerting, you played along. Over croissants and jam, your mother handed you a small box of mooncake. “For your first day at your new school,” she said with a smile.
You nodded, murmuring your thanks. But your mind was already racing. You knew the plot. You knew what today would bring. You were determined to take the chance Marinette was supposed to have. After all, why not? If fate had given you this opportunity, then wasn’t it meant to be yours?
The streets of Paris were just as lively as you imagined, the sights both foreign and familiar. You approached the school with your cookies in hand, keeping an eye out for the key moment.
At the crosswalk, you saw him: Master Fu, the elderly guardian of the Miraculouses, hobbling across the street. You watched from a distance, your heart pounding as you spotted the scene unfolding. This was the moment. This was where Marinette was supposed to step in.
But not today.
You ran forward, reaching him just in time. “Sir, watch out!” you shouted, grabbing his arm and pulling him to safety. The car whizzed by, the driver honking angrily.
Master Fu looked up at you with a warm, grateful smile. “Thank you, young lady. That was very brave of you.”
You smiled warmly, masking your inner glee. “It was nothing, sir. Are you okay?”
He nodded, adjusting his cane. He wobbled precariously, and you helped steady him. “Here, let me help you,” you said, guiding him to the sidewalk.
“That’s very kind of you,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
You noticed Marinette standing a few steps away, her box of macarons clutched tightly. She had seen the whole thing, but she hadn’t had a chance to act. You shot her a quick glance, a small smirk playing on your lips.
Would you like one of these?” you asked, pulling a mooncake from the box and handing it to Master Fu.
“Thank you,” he said, taking it with a smile. “You’re a very thoughtful young lady.”
Marinette hesitated, her eyes darting between you and Master Fu. “Um… I was going to—”
“Oh, were you?” you interrupted, feigning surprise. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
Marinette frowned but didn’t respond. She tightened her grip on her macarons and walked away, her excitement from earlier dimmed.
As you made your way to school, a flicker of guilt passed through you. You now destroy Marinette’s chance to be Ladybug. No. You stole her chance to be Ladybug. But she didn’t need to be Ladybug. You were here now, and you would be better.
The classroom buzzed with energy as you entered. Marinette Dupain-Cheng sat near the front, she stares at you but quickly looks away. It's obvious she didn’t like you when a frown curved her mouth. You didn’t care, you're not here to be friends with her anyways. You took a seat a few rows away, watching as the class dynamics played out like clockwork: Chloé Bourgeois asserting her dominance, and Alya standing up for Marinette, But your focus was elsewhere. Your mind was on what would come later.
Later that day, the akuma attack on Stoneheart interrupted class. You feigned fear like everyone else, though inside, you were buzzing with anticipation. This was how the story began.
Because of what happened, school was suspended, sending every student back to the safety of their homes. You returned home to find a small ornate box on your desk. You opened it with trembling hands, revealing the Ladybug Miraculous. Tikki appeared, her tiny figure glowing with excitement.
You fake shout in surprise, asking what she is.
“Hello! I’m Tikki, your kwami. And Y/N, you’ve been chosen to wield the Ladybug Miraculous and protect Paris!”
You feigned shock, though inwardly you were thrilled. “Me? Are you sure? I’m just… I don’t know if I can do this.”
Tikki’s eyes sparkled. “You can. I believe in you. You have the courage and heart to protect Paris! Just wear the earring and say the phrase: Spots On!”
Meanwhile, Marinette couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Her first day had started with such promise, but it had ended with a strange, gnawing emptiness.
She vented to Alya the next day. “It’s just… that girl, she swooped in and saved that man. I wanted to help, but she just… took over.”
Alya raised an eyebrow. “You mean Y/N? I don’t know her that well, but she seemed nice enough. Maybe you’re just thinking too much about it, Marinette.”
Marinette frowned. “Maybe…”
But the doubt lingered.
The battle against Stoneheart played out just as you had anticipated, though with one key difference: you were in control and you already knew what to do. With the help of Chat Noir, you used your Lucky Charm to defeat the villain and purify the akuma, restoring Ivan to normal.
The people of Paris cheered as you stood victorious. You had done it. You were Ladybug.
Days turned into weeks, and you quickly became the perfect hero Paris needed. You saved the city countless times, each victory cementing your role as its protector. Fighting alongside Chat Noir was exhilarating. The people adored you, showering you with praise and gratitude.
But Marinette hated you. She didn’t hide it, either. She avoided you at school, her glares sharp enough to cut glass whenever you crossed paths.
You returned the sentiment. Marinette’s bitterness annoys you to no end.
“I know you’re hiding something!! You’re not what they say you are!” Marinette snapped one day after school. “I know it!! You stole something from me!!
You smirked, leaning against a wall. “I don’t know what you're talking about Marinette, you can’t just convict me without evidence~ who knows I might slip and suddenly post this to the internet~” You said whilst holding a phone with evidence of Marinette stalking adrien.
Her face turned a lot more pale than it already was, her hands balled into fists, but she said nothing, storming off.
Despite your animosity, you excelled as Ladybug. Every akuma was defeated swiftly, every crisis averted. You were meticulous, calculating, and unyielding. Where Marinette would have hesitated, you acted decisively.
Paris flourished under your protection, and even Chat Noir—still oblivious to your identity—admired your skill and determination.
“You’re amazing, Ladybug,” Chat said one night after a battle. “I can’t imagine anyone else doing what you do.”
You smiled, leaning casually against a rooftop ledge. “Thanks, Chat. It’s nice to hear that.”
But deep down, you knew the truth. You hadn’t just stolen Marinette’s fate—you’d rewritten it entirely. And while guilt occasionally gnawed at you, the adoration of Paris drowned it out.
This was your destiny now, and you wouldn’t let anyone take it from you.
Marinette remained an ordinary girl, but something in her seemed to shift. She began to grow more suspicious of you, plagued by dreams where she was Ladybug.
The dreams started weeks later. Marinette woke up in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. In her dreams, she was Ladybug—fighting akumas, swinging through the city, standing beside Chat Noir.
“I am Ladybug..”
But when she woke up, reality hit her like a brick wall. That wasn’t her life. It was yours.
“No!! I am supposed to be Ladybug!!”
Confused and angry, she cornered you one day after class, eyes blazing with determination. “I know,” she said, her voice trembling with anger. “I know I was supposed to be Ladybug.”
You tilted your head, a cold smile playing on your lips. “Oh? And what makes you think that?”
“It feels real,” she insisted. “Like it’s a memory, not just a dream. No. I know it's real!! I am Ladybug!! You stole it from me! You're a thief Y/N!!”
You stepped closer, your voice dropping to a low, mocking tone. “Maybe I did. and Maybe I am. But let’s face it, Marinette—you’re no hero. You’re obsessive, and distracted by your crush on Adrien. Your stalker behavior is not something a heroine should possess. Paris deserves better, and that’s me. I already have the Miraculous, and doing a REALLY GREAT job at it, what makes you think you deserve it anymore??”
Her face flushed with anger, but she had no response. You walked away, triumphant. The Miraculous was no longer hers to claim, and you will make sure it stayed that way.
Paris sparkled under the moonlight as you stood on the Eiffel Tower, gazing over the city you had come to love—and rule as its heroine. With the weight of the Ladybug Miraculous and the Guardianship on your shoulders, you felt untouchable.
That was until a glowing portal split the sky open.
Out stepped Bunnix, her expression hard and accusing. She didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “We need to talk, Ladybug.”
You crossed your arms, feigning nonchalance. “Bunnix. To what do I owe the pleasure of a time traveler’s visit?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Cut the act. You know why I’m here.”
Chat Noir appeared at your side, his baton at the ready. “What’s going on, Bunnix? You seem… tense.”
Bunnix pointed at you. “She’s not supposed to be Ladybug.”
Chat Noir blinked, stepping protectively in front of you. “What are you talking about? She’s Ladybug. She’s saved Paris more times than we can count!”
“She’s not supposed to be here,” she said, her voice sharp as her glowing portal shimmered behind her. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng was supposed to be Ladybug. This version of reality shouldn’t exist! You’ve disrupted everything!”
You crossed your arms, unfazed. “Paris is safe, isn’t it? I’ve done my job. Heck I even did a good job saving this world”
Bunnix stepped closer, her tone accusatory. “You’ve changed it, I’ve seen it. Marinette was supposed to save Master Fu. She was supposed to receive the Miraculous. But you—you interfered. You stole her destiny!!”
Chat Noir stood protectively in front of you. “Hey, back off. Ladybug’s saved this city countless times. Who cares what was ‘supposed’ to happen and who can receive the Miraculous?!”
Bunnix glared at you both. “This isn’t just about this world. The timelines are unraveling because of her!”
You smirked, letting your mask of innocence drop. You gently push Chat noir aside, stepping closer to Bunnix.
“It doesn’t matter what was supposed to happen. I’m Ladybug now. I’m the Guardian, the center of this world. And if Chat Noir protecting me despite what I did isn’t proof enough that her fate as Ladybug now officially belongs to me… *smirk* Haven’t realized it yet? This world is now synchronizing with me, just like how a world favors the protagonist… Marinette wasn’t fit for this responsibility, and I made sure Paris got the hero it deserves. And unfortunately for her, this world agrees, whether you like it or not~” You whispered lowly to her
Bunnix clenched her fists. “You’ve broken the balance. Do you realize what you’ve done? The entire multiverse is at risk!”
You shrugged. “Then I’ll fix it. As the Guardian, I have authority over all the Miraculouses, including yours.”
Bunnix’s eyes widened in realization. “You wouldn’t—”
With a wave of your hand, you summoned the Bunny Miraculous. The portal behind Bunnix flickered and closed as her powers were stripped away. She staggered, powerless, and glared at you with fury.
“You can’t do this!” she shouted as she was returned to the timeline she came from.
“Oh, I can,” you said, your voice icy. “And I will.”
You donned the Bunny Miraculous and rewrote reality, ensuring Marinette never became Ladybug in any timeline.
You stood tall, the portal you had summoned with Fluff's guidance shimmered with an ethereal glow, its swirling energies casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the rooftop. Beside you, Chat Noir’s green eyes were filled with uncertainty, a rare crack in his usually confident demeanor.
“Ladybug,” Chat Noir said softly, his voice almost pleading, “are you sure this is the right thing to do? I trust you, but... tampering with time feels... dangerous.”
You turned to him, a small, serene smile gracing your lips, the halo of your presence making him instinctively relax. The effect was subtle but undeniable—your words carried weight, as though the universe itself bent to support you. This power, this influence, wasn’t yours initially. You had stolen it, just like Marinette’s fate. But now, it was yours, and you wielded it masterfully.
“Chat Noir,” you began, your voice steady and filled with conviction, “this isn’t about what’s easy. It’s about what’s necessary.”
“But the timeline—changing things could destroy—”
“Destroy what, exactly?” you interrupted gently, your tone laced with practiced sincerity. “I’ve already disrupted it simply by being here. If I don’t act now, the balance will collapse entirely. I’ll vanish, Chat. We’ll vanish.”
He froze, his hands clenching tightly around his staff. “Vanish? What do you mean?”
Your expression softened, your red eyes glistening with what seemed like vulnerability. “I wasn’t meant to be here, remember? If the universe realizes I don’t belong, it’ll correct itself—and I’ll disappear, taking everything we’ve built with me. Paris will lose its Ladybug. You’ll lose me, Chat.”
The thought seemed to strike him deeply. His jaw tensed, his emerald gaze flickering with desperation. “I can’t let that happen. But why go to every timeline? Why stop... Marinette?”
You reached out, placing a gloved hand on his cheek. The gesture was intimate, calculated. “Because Marinette was never meant to have this power. She wasn’t strong enough. Look at what I’ve accomplished, Chat. Paris has never been safer. The people trust us, they trust me. Can you imagine what would’ve happened if someone weaker had been given this responsibility? She would’ve crumbled under the pressure, endangering everyone.”
Chat Noir looked away, guilt and hesitation written all over his face. “But... Marinette never seemed... bad.”
You tilted his chin back to face you, your voice a quiet murmur, dripping with affection and manipulation. “That’s because you don’t know what she would’ve done with this power. Trust me, Chat. I’m not doing this for myself—I’m doing it for Paris. For us.”
His resolve wavered, the pull of your halo overwhelming his doubts. The world revolved around you now, and it was only natural that he would follow your lead.
“I don’t want to lose you, Ladybug,” he finally admitted, his voice barely audible.
“You won’t,” you assured him, your fingers brushing against his. “But I need you to trust me. Together, we’ll ensure that this world—and every other—is safe and whole. I’ll fix everything. I promise.”
With a reluctant nod, Chat Noir stepped back, his staff lowering in submission. “I trust you, Milady. Always.”
The portal grew brighter, illuminating your face with a crimson glow as you stepped forward. Inwardly, you reveled in your triumph. This wasn’t just about fixing timelines or ensuring balance—it was about solidifying your place as the center of this world. The Ladybug. The hero. The one who mattered most.
Marinette would never again have the chance to be Ladybug, not in this timeline or any other. The universes would belong to you now. With one last glance at Chat Noir, you stepped through the portal, ready to rewrite reality itself.
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ADDITIONAL SCENARIO:
The sky above Paris was a canvas of pink and gold hues, a fitting backdrop for the triumphant end of an era. Hawkmoth had been defeated, his Miraculous reclaimed, and the balance of power restored. The Miracle Box was secured, its treasures now beyond the reach of those who would misuse them. For the first time in years, Paris was at peace, its people celebrating the heroes who had brought them here.
Standing atop the Eiffel Tower, you gazed over the city with Adrien by your side. The red and black of your Ladybug suit shimmered faintly in the setting sunlight, a symbol now synonymous with victory, hope, and resilience. Adrien, still in his Chat Noir guise but no longer bearing the same burdens, looked at you with admiration.
“You did it,” he said softly, a smile spreading across his face. “Ladybug, you saved everyone.”
The words should have brought unmitigated joy, and they did—partially. The world was safe, and Paris adored you. People cheered as your identity was revealed, their faith in their heroine unshaken. Even Adrien, your partner in battle and in life, stood unwaveringly by your side, his pride in you radiating like the sun.
Yet, beneath the surface, you couldn’t quite shake an unfamiliar tension. It wasn’t guilt, not exactly. It was a feeling you couldn’t name, a quiet unease that lingered despite the cheers and celebrations.
“Do you think it’s really over?” you asked, your voice barely louder than the wind.
Adrien’s hand found yours, squeezing gently. “It’s over, my Lady. You’ve done more than anyone could have ever asked for. Paris, no—the world owes you everything.” His green eyes met yours, filled with warmth and certainty. “I owe you everything.”
His words should have been enough, and in many ways, they were. You leaned against him, allowing the comfort of his presence to settle over you.
The streets below were alive with celebration. Parisians rejoiced, the weight of fear and uncertainty finally lifted. Even beyond Paris, the world had embraced you as their Ladybug, their symbol of hope. For the first time, everything felt aligned, as though the universe itself had recognized your place at its center.
And yet, in the quiet moments between Adrien’s reassurances and the city’s applause, that tension remained.
Elsewhere in Paris, Marinette sat on the balcony of her cozy apartment, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched Luka strum his guitar. The melody was soft and soothing, wrapping around her like a warm embrace.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” she said, her voice wistful but not bitter.
Luka glanced up, his expression calm and understanding. “The city is safe now. That’s what matters.”
She nodded, her gaze drifting to the distant Eiffel Tower. She didn’t envy you—not entirely. She had carved out a life for herself, a happy one. The bakery was thriving, her designs were starting to gain recognition, and Luka’s steady presence brought her a sense of peace she hadn’t known she needed.
But deep down, there was an ache she couldn’t quite ignore. She had once dreamed of being Ladybug, of carrying the weight of the Miraculous and protecting Paris. That dream had been taken from her, rewritten in a way she couldn’t change. And while she didn’t begrudge your success—how could she? You had saved them all—there was a part of her that mourned what might have been.
“Do you think she’s happy?” Marinette asked suddenly, surprising even herself.
Luka’s fingers paused on the strings. “I think she did what she believed was right,” he said after a moment. “And I think she’s still figuring out what happiness looks like.”
Marinette nodded, her faint smile returning. It wasn’t the life she had imagined, but it was hers. And with Luka by her side, she could find contentment in that.
Back atop the Eiffel Tower, you stood with Adrien as the last rays of sunlight disappeared, casting the city in twilight. Paris was happy. The world was happy. And you were, too—or at least, you told yourself you were.
“Do you feel it?” Adrien asked, breaking the silence.
“Feel what?”
“The peace,” he said with a soft laugh. “It’s overwhelming. I’ve never seen Paris like this.”
You smiled, his words grounding you. “It’s everything I worked for.”
“And you deserve it,” he said firmly, pulling you into an embrace. “You deserve all of it.”
The weight of his belief in you was as comforting as it was daunting. For now, you let yourself believe it, let yourself bask in the happiness you had fought so hard to create.
Paris was safe, and you were its hero. The world had accepted you, embraced you, celebrated you. Yet, as you looked out over the city, the faint tension lingered—a quiet reminder that even in victory, some battles are never truly won.
THE END
Defending Luther 2: Electric Boogaloo
This will be a sequel to my previous post defending Luther but this will be a character analysis(my first actually). I would like to thank the kind people on a TUA discord server who I had a nice chat with about Luther as a character. So lets begin
Luther is number 1, with the power of super strength and enhanced durability he is the leader of The Umbrella Academy. Although you may think that because he is Number 1 he is the most important but he is quite the opposite. Thanks to a good pal on discord, I have learned that the numbers go from the least powerful to the most powerful(according to the creators), which would make Luther the least powerful. 'But Floral!' I hear you shouting, 'he prides himself being number 1 and he's Reginalds golden child, why would he care is Luther wasnt powerful?' Well let me explain. Its a grooming tactic, a common emotional grooming tactic is being kind to your victim to gain their trust and make them vulnerable to abuse. Sound familiar? Luther is the weakest link, Reginald stroked his ego to get him to be his perfect little soldier which caused a rift in the siblinhs relationship. Reginald MADE them hate each other so they would see each other as competition, which in turn made them vulnerable to his false praise. A child strives for attention and affection, especially Luther in this case, as said before in the show Luther is highly sensitive. He gets overwhelmed by his emotions and often crumbles when they become to much for him. Perhaps Reginald taught him that his sensitivity is a weakness which is why he's so emotionally stunted, not wanting to disappoint his father. He never saw anything wrong with Reginalds parenting, he's the most emotionally naive and he slurped up all of this scum bags bull shit. He didnt understand why it was so bad for the others because Luther was treated differently because Reginald saw him as a weak link.
Now we get into his relationship with Allison, its weird and gross but it has a reason. Yet again thanks to someone on discord, I realized that Allison and Luther didnt see eachother as siblings. They were more than that because they had a special bond, they had eachothers back and that trust turned into love. They were children, they are not blood related and they once again never saw themselves as siblings so to them they never saw anything bad about it. Luther's pining for Allison is a result of their abusive childhood, when you're in a miserable state of living you find anything to bring you joy. That thing for Luther was Allsion, in a way she was his light in their dark fucked up childhood. Does it make it right? No of course not but it sheds light upon why they like each other. Don't forget that they are very awkward around each other, because their relationship never went anywhere, they never kissed and they never did anuthing romantic at all. Luther was a virgin for 30 years until he had a mental breakdown in season 1 and had sex with the rave girl. Allison had a daughter and a husband, she had her own life when she left home. Now in season 2 when Luther find out that Allison is married he has a small breakdown and stress eats(because he is emotionally stunted and cant deal with his emotions in a healthy way). For years he lived in a fantasy world, where he and Allison would end up together and live happily ever after, but that fantasy was a dream that he made up to get through life. He is upset that Allison didnt wait for him because he truly thought she would but he does end up getting over it, because he's grown as a character. He is happy for Allison and sure he's still upset but he understands, he understands how alone she was and he... Forgives her. His fantasy and dreams were smashed when he finally opened his eyes to Reginalds bullshit, he was blissfully ignorant for his whole life because it was his coping mechanism, to deny everything. He's a poor kid who never had a REAL chance to grow up, being subjected to his fathers impossible standards and getting turned into a ugly monster in return.
So that's all I can say for right now, in short he deserves a hug. Let me know how I did, this is my first character analysis :D
In defense of Luther
So umbrella academy season 2 is officially out and I think I can safely say that, Luther is not that bad and he is my favorite character. I probably lost most of you but I think this needs to said, this will be me explaining why I dont hate Luther(quite the opposite really) and you shouldnt either.
1. The Moon
One of the biggest points of hating Luther is that he wont shut up about the moon and how he should just get over it because it was 4 years. But lets be honest, how many times did he really talk about the moon? Because its not that much in the grand scheme of things. Luther was left on the moon ALONE for 4 years, doing things that he thought were meaningful and helpful to his father but it turns how Reginald didnt even bother reading his reports and letters. Its not just about the 4 years either, Luther spent his entire life in that house and once again he was ALONE both physically and mentally. Physically, his siblings left him and started their own life. Mentally, his siblings were never really there for him they all were put up against each other striving for their fathers attention.
2. Fatherly love
The hargreeves siblings never got their fathers love, which effected them differently. They didnt even get real names, their names were given to them by Grace and no their father. Now as you know Luther is the only sibling you trusts Reginald, why? Because he's never given a reason to not trust him. He is number 1 and that means he has the most responsibility and the most trust from his father. Which royally fucks your mindset up, he has a superiority complex of course, but why shouldnt he? He's the most emotionally naive and pair that with the grooming tactics from Reginald, you have a poor kid wrapped in their fathers web. Not to mention that he was deformed and turned into a monster by the only person he trusted
3. The "Betrayal"
So as you know at the end of the season Luther hugs Vanya and then throws her in a tight cell. Most of the fans hate him for this very specific reason, but should you? Of course its a really scummy thing to do and its good reason to hate him, but you have to understand why. Luther has only seen the destructiveness of her powers and moments ago he saw the woman he loved(which is super gross but there's a reason for it) almost die at the hands of his sister, who he didnt even know had powers. In his mind she's the reason for the apocalypse and locking her up will stop it, but of course it doesn't. How was he supposed to know that? Its what his father did and in his mind it seems right. Also the other siblings(except Allison) didnt really try to stop him either, why pick and choose based on what character you like. They had no fucking clue what to do and it seemed to be the right choice.
I have a genuine request, if you hate Luther tell me why. That doesnt include "he's annoying" or "he wont shut up about the moon", I'll wait