History Fanfic / BackToUs

-->'''Marinette''': …Seven years ago, my best friend was akumatized. Hawk Moth took advantage of her when she was at her lowest point, and I knew that. Even afterwards, not once did I hold it against her. She’s such a spirited and compassionate person, always concerned with truth and justice… and if it weren’t for her, I honestly don’t think I’d be the person I am today. Are you telling me someone like that deserves to die just because a supervillain used her for his own schemes, once upon a time?
-->'''Chat''': …Is she really so great, if she was willing to go along with the schemes of a supervillain?
-->'''Marinette''': She was feeling ''trapped''. She was in a {{moment of weakness}}, with nothing and no one to turn to. And then someone came along and offered her power beyond her wildest dreams, the power to change her life. Are you really so arrogant that you can claim ''you'' wouldn’t jump at such at such a chance immediately? (''Grabs his hand and holds it up to his face.'') How can you sit there and judge ''anyone'' for wanting the power to change their life with this ring on your finger?

* BigBad: The Butterfly, [[spoiler:also known as Shade]].

* CardCarryingVillain: [[spoiler:Shade, who taunts Ladybug with the fact that she has no other motive for her actions and no redeeming qualities.]]

* MoleInCharge: [[spoiler:Alya infiltrates AVA, using the Fox Miraculous to impersonate Lila, and, after Alix is hospitalised during the protest at City Hall, attempts to take charge at a meeting and steer them in a more peaceful direction. She seems to have succeeded as of Chapter 32, but her plan has put her relationship with Nino in jeopardy, and Adrien isn't in a forgiving mood after how they treated Chat Noir.]]

-->'''Bomb-flinging woman''': ''We’re'' not the ones tearing up the city and threatening innocent folks every other night!
-->'''Emerald Shell''': Yes you are! You’re persecuting ''victims'', damn it!
-->'''Another AAT member''': Those people are inherently evil if they allow themselves to let a madman possess them! Chat Noir taught us that!
-->'''Chat Noir''': I was ''wrong''! Some of ''you'' have even been akumatized, for fuck’s sake! How are you not choking on your own hypocrisy by standing here and claiming that akumatized victims are inherently evil?! At least ''I'' realized that there’s something wrong with this mindset!

* DoorStopper: The longest ''Miraculous'' fic on Archive Of Our Own at 354000+ words, and it's [[http://insanitysscribblings.tumblr.com/post/157892654532/btu-challenges-part-twenty-five reportedly]] around 90% finished.

* MoleInCharge: [[spoiler:Alya infiltrates AVA, using the Fox Miraculous to impersonate Lila, and, after Alix is hospitalised during the protest at City Hall, attempts to take charge at a meeting and steer them in another direction.]]

** During [[spoiler:the AVA attack on the mayor's office]], when the group encounters Lila Rossi/Volpina ([[spoiler:actually Alya using the Fox Miraculous to pretend to be her]]), Chat accidentally lets slip that he knows Lila was Volpina. Emerald Shell just as quickly blows the fact he knows Chat was talking specifically about Lila '''Rossi'''.

* WhatTheHellHero: Ladybug gives one to Chat after he tries to kill Patchwork during a fight rather than let her purify her as they've always done. His response to this makes it pretty clear that he's ''not'' that kind of hero anymore. [[spoiler:But as noted, he does get better eventually.]]

''[[http://www.archiveofourown.org/works/7253290?view_adult=true&view_full_work=true Back To Us]]'' by [=DarkReyna16=] is an ongoing ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' fanfiction published on ArchiveOfOurOwn.

* WouldHurtAChild: Like Hawk Moth before him, the Butterfly is willing to akumatise young children, in this case a young girl afraid of her abusive father, responsible for the death of her mother, regaining custody of her.

* AprilFoolsDay: Reyna posted a link to Chapter 32 [[https://insanitysscribblings.tumblr.com/post/159059547483/reyna-writes-back-to-us-updated-4117 on her Tumblr]], [[spoiler:which turned out to be a {{Rickroll}.]]

* SleepCute: Marinette and Adrien fall asleep together while watching Christmas movies. Marinette' parents even put a blanket on them.

* AprilFooslDay: Reyna posted a link to Chapter 32 [[https://insanitysscribblings.tumblr.com/post/159059547483/reyna-writes-back-to-us-updated-4117 on her Tumblr]], [[spoiler:which turned out to be a {{Rickroll}.]]

* ContrivedCoincidence: Despite the Butterfly Miraculous being in the hands of an apparent enemy for seven years, the second wave of akuma attacks only begins within days of Adrien's return to Paris. Adrien admits that this had him paranoid for a while, but he can't see any way the Butterfly could have known who he was or that Chat Noir was back. [[spoiler:As it happens, she did, and [[SubvertedTrope it was not a coincidence]].]]

* HypocriticalHeartwarming: As much as Plagg makes fun of Adrien, [[spoiler:he gets genuinely disgusted at the graffiti tags insulting and threatening him after his reformation.]]

* ThouShaltNotKill: Ladybug makes this resolution due to guilt over causing Hawk Moth's death.

* {{Interquel}}: A one-shot side story set during the time frame of the prologue, about Adrien's relationship with Erika.

* DoorStopper: The longest ''Miraculous'' fic on Archive Of Our Own at 354000+ words, and it's not finished.

* RelationshipUpgrade: [[spoiler:Adrien asks Marinette to be his girlfriend after their dinner on Valentines Day.]] Elsewhere, Nino and Alya progress from dating to engagement.

-->'''Ladybug''': …You know, I once pitied you. All of you. I thought your mistaken convictions were my partner’s fault — ''my'' fault. I thought I had failed you, that I somehow fell short of your expectations of what a hero ''should'' be. But now I see you. You’re nothing but scared children, lashing out at something you don’t understand in exactly the wrong way, making the situation ''worse'' than it actually is. So in the name of your ‘justice’, you terrorize the city I love in your own way — with fearmongering and ignorance. And then you accuse ''me'' of 'throwing my weight around', acting like I’m a hypocrite, when you know damn well that the difference between what you want to do to the akumatized victims and what I did to Hawk Moth is ''intent''. I didn’t mean to kill Hawk Moth. I was responsible, but I never wanted him dead. But you threw ''bombs'' into ''another citizen’s house'' for something he had ''no'' control over! If you think the akumatized victims are monsters, then what does that make you?

* RedemptionRejection: Chat Noir turning his back on Ladybug during her speech under Shaming the Mob. [[spoiler:As noted elsewhere, it doesn't last.]]

* SecretSecretKeeper: Alya after she finds out that Marinette is Ladybug and Nino is Emerald Shell.

* ShamingTheMob: Ladybug attempts this on a group of anti-akuma protestors after narrowly preventing the latest victim from committing suicide. Much of her speech is directed at Chat Noir, watching from a nearby rooftop.

** Non-romantic example (kinda) [[spoiler:from Emerald Shell to Chat Noir after he returns to Ladybug's side. "If you’re actually serious about helping us fix what you’ve done… then I think I could come to trust you. Maybe. But if you screw LB over again, I’m gonna take my shield and bash your skull in, got it?"]]

* PlotAllergy: Chat's allergy to feathers flares up [[spoiler:while he's in a car with Felix. Bridgette asks if Felix happens to have a pet bird, to which he replies, "Something like that."]]

* DoorStopper: The longest ''Miraculous'' fic on Archive Of Our Own at 341000+ words, and it's not finished.

* FantasticRacism: The new wave of akuma attacks and Chat Noir's approach to it spawns a number of protestors taking the attitude of "Once an akuma, always an akuma." [[spoiler:Even after Chat renounces these views and returns to Ladybug's side, the protestors remain, eventually forming the Anti-Akuma Taskforce. Opposing them are Akumatized Victims Anonymous, led by Alix and including Nathanael, Kim and Mylene among others, who refuse to cooperate with Chat, and Team Miraculous by extension.]]

* MythologyGag: The protagonists of the ''Miraculous Ladybug'' pilot video are both referenced by supporting characters: Felix Chevalier is introduced as Marinette's co-worker [[spoiler:and is revealed to be Adrien's cousin]], while Bridgette (a common fan nickname for the original version of Marinette) Reine is the Deputy Mayor of Paris.

* RedemptionRejection: Chat Noir turning his back on Ladybug during her speech under Shaming the Mob.
* ReformedButRejected: [[spoiler: Happens to Chat Noir to varying degrees, and he knows that he has no right to expect otherwise. While Ladybug is ready to welcome back her partner with open arms after his heartfelt apology, Emerald Shell is grudging at best - he doesn't like him or trust him, but he's willing to work with him and see if he's serious about fixing the mess he created. The Paris public are largely hostile, with most former akuma victims still feeling betrayed (with exceptions such as Ivan and Alya) and the Anti-Akuma Taskforce feeling betrayed by his reformation.]]

* TeethClenchedTeamwork: [[spoiler:Chat Noir and Emerald Shell after the former returns to Ladybug's side.]]

* {{Troll}}: Alya, in particular after [[spoiler:Nino accidentally gives her the Fox Miraculous: The first thing she does is to mess with him by pretending she thinks it's an ordinary necklace. In reality, she's already met Trixx, has transformed, and is talking to him through an illusion at that moment.]]

* WhatTheHellHero: Ladybug gives one to Chat after he tries to kill Patchwork during a fight rather than let her purify her as they've always done. His response to this makes it pretty clear that he's ''not'' that kind of hero anymore. But again, he does get better eventually.

** Non-romantic example (kinda) [[spoiler:from Emerald Shell to Chat Noir after he returns to Ladybug's side. "If you’re actually serious about helping us fix what you’ve done… then I think I could come to trust you. Maybe. But if you screw LB over again, I’m gonna take my shield and bash your skull in, got it?"]]

* TookALevelInJerkass: Adrien, by the time he returns from Italy, with much of his uglier behaviour being directed at Marinette and Nino. And then there's the fact that Chat Noir has become an {{anti-hero}} willing to kill akuma victims. He gets better, in both personae.

* ContrivedCoincidence: Despite the Butterfly Miraculous being in the hands of an apparent enemy for seven years, the second wave of akuma attacks only begins within days of Adrien's return to Paris. Adrien admits that this had him paranoid for a while, but he can't see any way the Butterfly could have known who he was or that Chat Noir was back.

-->'''Ladybug''': Citizens of Paris. Today, I am forced to say something I have never had the cause to say ever since becoming Paris’ hero: I’m disappointed in you. Just a minute ago, a woman’s ''life'' almost ended, because she was dreading this ''exact reaction'' from you. Tell me, Paris — when did this behavior become acceptable? Standing here before you now, I’m ashamed to be a citizen of Paris myself — ashamed to be your hero! Who in their right mind would want to defend a city that’s so determined to destroy itself from the inside out? When did you lose your heart, Paris? How could you act so thoughtlessly? How could you have become so cruel? (''glances up at Chat on a nearby rooftop'') This madness ''has ''to end. The akumatized victims have no more control over their emotions than any other citizen of Paris. To blame them for being taken advantage of is to blame them for daring to be upset, which is ridiculous. ''No on''e can control their emotions like that. And before you say something ridiculous, like they had the darkness inside them all along or something, ''think'': how would you feel if it was someone you loved? A relative you adore? Your best friend? …What if ''you’re'' next? Is this how you want to be saved? Coming back to yourself, confused, scared… surrounded by angry people who have no idea what they’re talking about? I’m trying. I’m doing everything I can. But I’ll say it: I’m scared, too. Scared of what this new enemy means, of the damage he’s causing… and what we’ve become as a result. I’m scared, but I know that this is not right. Things shouldn’t be like this. I’ll always be here to protect Paris… but just because I ''can'' do it alone doesn’t mean that I ''want'' to. The only way I can keep going…is to know that you’re on my side. I need your support. I…I need you. Please, please don’t make me do this alone anymore. Come back. (''She watches as Chat turns and leaves. When she looks back to the mob, she notes that at least some of them have been affected by her loss of composure.'') We can be better than this, Paris, and we ''will'' be. I’m going to get to the bottom of this, and I’m going to stop this second Hawk Moth… but I can only do that if I know that Hawk Moth’s victims will ''not'' be harassed for something they had no control over. I don’t judge or blame any of the victims, and neither should you. Please, let’s bring back the Paris that I love. The Paris that I’m proud to protect. Let’s be better together, Paris.

* TheStoic: Felix.

** Marc Bonnhomme, a politician who commits suicide by jumping from the Arc de Trimophe after being linked to multiple planned anti-Akuma attacks and labelled a terrorist. His wife is akumatised the following day (the spider-themed Black Widow) and blames Ladybug for failing to stop it. Indeed, Marinette likewise blames herself because if she hadn't turned off the news all day to focus on her sewing she would have found out in time to save him.

* HeroOfAnotherStory: [[spoiler:Erika Soriano, a friend of Adrien's from Milan who is soon revealed to be Camille, the holder of the Chameleon Miraculous.]]

''[[http://www.archiveofourown.org/works/7253290?view_adult=true&view_full_work=true Back To Us]]'' is a ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' fanfic, wriiten by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/DarkReyna16/pseuds/DarkReyna16 DarkReyna16]] and published at Archiveofourown.

!!!''Back To Us'' contains examples of:

* SecretSecretKeeper: Alya after she finds out that Marinette is Ladybug and Nino is Emerald Shell.
** SecretKeeper: [[spoiler:Alya again after she runs into Adrien when he's about to transform into Chat Noir.]] In addition, Adrien tells Ivan his secret during an unscheduled therapy session.

* WrongInsultOffence: Chat picks up the nickname "Whiskers" thanks to Nino/Emerald Shell, despite his mask not ''having'' whiskers, as he points out.

* FantasicRacism: The new wave of akuma attacks and Chat Noir's approach to it spawns a number of protestors taking the attitude of "Once an akuma, always an akuma." [[spoiler:Even after Chat renounces these views and returns to Ladybug's side, the protestors remain, eventually forming the Anti-Akuma Taskforce. Opposing them are Akumatized Victims Anonymous, led by Alix and including Nathanael, Kim and Mylene among others, who refuse to cooperate with Chat, and Team Miraculous by extension.]]

'''''[[http://www.archiveofourown.org/works/7253290?view_adult=true&view_full_work=true Back To Us]]''''' is a ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' fanfic, wriiten by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/DarkReyna16/pseuds/DarkReyna16 DarkReyna16]] and published at Archiveofourown.

* UnfortunateItemSwap: [[spoiler:Nino, while planning to offer Adrien the Fox Miraculous, accidentally mixes up the box with the earrings he was planning to give Alya, and he realises this too late to stop her opening the box. Thankfully, Alya would have been his second choice.]]

* WouldHurtAChild: Like Hawk Moth before him, the Butterfly is willing to akumatise young children, in this case a young girl afraid of her abusive father regaining custody of her.

* ReformedAndRejected: [[spoiler: Happens to Chat Noir to varying degrees, and he knows that he has no right to expect otherwise. While Ladybug is ready to welcome back her partner with open arms after his heartfelt apology, Emerald Shell is grudging at best - he doesn't like him or trust him, but he's willing to work with him and see if he's serious about fixing the mess he created. The Paris public are largely hostile, with most former akuma victims still feeling betrayed (with exceptions such as Ivan and Alya) and the Anti-Akuma Taskforce feeling betrayed by his reformation.]]