Chapter Text
Sigh. Another day, another long drawn out headache. Honestly, school begins tomorrow, but she still keeps running into Chloe while walking around the city. And of course, the mayor's daughter did all she could to annoy and insult her. If this was any other year, she would be torn up on the inside, but things are different now. All she feels is something that...reminds her of annoyance. It was odd, it's only been a year since she noticed they were fading away, her emotions, and now she barely even registers them anymore. The only time they even seem to appear is when she is at home with her parents, either baking or playing video games with them, or when she is working on some of her fashion commissions. Sadly, she found it hard to even notice her feelings while doing what she loves, or loved? She wasn't sure anymore.
When did this start again? All she remembers is feeling small and helpless thanks to Chloe's constant harrassment in and out of class. She wanted something to change. She just wanted to feel stronger. Strong enough to finally stand up to her bully. She had attempted to actually stand up to her when she was bullying Aurore, but it just ended with Chloe rounding on her and making her feel horrible about herself for the next two days. She tried again a week after that, but it ended the same way...except worse.
Finally, she decided to try a different approach. Maybe improving herself physically would help her build up the strength that she needed? So she began a workout exercise that she had intended to only use for a couple of months to build up her strength before switching to a more intense regimen. However, she was surprised when she found out that 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run was actually very intense on her body. After three months, she was surprised at how strong she had gotten. Deciding to stick to it so she could get as strong as she needed too in order to stand up to Chloe, Marinette kept at it while also balancing school, the bakery, and her fashion commissions.
A year and half later, she had gotten used to her work out regimen. She had kept her strength under wraps though because she was scared people would think differently of her for it. Also, she had a brief scare when she noticed that her hair was falling out. She had no idea what was wrong with her hair, but she ignored it in hopes that everything would work out. Thankfully, two months later, her hair was fine and was growing in quite strong...maybe too strong...she couldn't cut it anymore. All the scissors broke when she tried.
Not only was her hair inhumanly strong, Marinette began to realize that she was as well around the two year mark. One of the sheets in her sketchbook had torn out and was carried off into a tree by the wind. In an attempt to get it, Marinette had jumped up to the branch to try and get it, but quickly found herself flying over Paris and crashing onto the ground in a mountain. This...terrified her. She wanted to be strong, but this strong? It was a little too much...
She wanted to stop, but her mind kept returning to the constant pep talks that she gave herself during the first few weeks of her training. Did this new strength scare her? Yes. Would this help her finally stand up to Chloe though? Definitely?! Deciding to continue her training, she headed back to Paris (not after smashing into various other locations though). She also realized that she had to practice controlling the outputs of strength that she used in every day tasks now.
Sadly, Marinette didn't realize that as she grew stronger, she began losing something precious. Something that she held dear. Something that was essential to being a human. Her emotions. She was too powerful to really feel scared about anything. She had gotten over her amazement of how strong she had become very quickly thanks to how annoying it was to constantly break things because she couldn't control her strength. Her self-doubt was gone because she no longer cared about what Chloe said to her. Honestly, it was hard to really feel anything anymore.
It was odd. She started all this just so she could stand up to Chloe, but now she would gladly reverse time if it meant she could continue feeling emotions like everyone around her. She hid her strength, not because she was scared of how others would treat her, but mainly because she didn't want to deal with everyone bugging her about constantly showing off her strength for them. She saw how some of her classmates reacted to clips of those American heroes. She didn't want to deal with that.
Looking back on everything, she kind of got her wish now that she thought about it. Chloe didn't pick on her as much thanks to Marinette flat out ignoring her whenever she started. It irritated the heiress at first, but she eventually seemed to lose interest and back away. Although one time, Marinette did step in when Chloe was taking things way too far with Juleka. She might have scared her now that she thinks about it. She had glared Chloe down and all she remembers is Chloe tensing up and quickly turning on her heel before fleeing the room. Chloe had remained quiet for the rest of the week while avoiding her. She kind of felt bad, but it helped Juleka so she didn't feel too guilty about it. Not that she really could.
Honestly, Marinette hated her new found power and just found it a burden. She was just too strong.
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As Marinette walked down the street, she noticed an elderly man walking into oncoming traffic. "Crap," Marinette muttered as she moved over to him. Surprisingly, a different girl had tackled him out of the way of an oncoming car...that was now being held in the air by a stoic looking Marinette.
"Sir! Are you...al...right?" The girl began to ask the man before seeing the insane sight of a girl smaller than her holding a car in the air with one hand like it weighed nothing. Marinette saw this so she quickly placed the car down and turned around to leave before anybody could ask her any questions. Thankfully, the girl was the only one to notice her holding the car up in the air so her secret was safe. After all, who would believe that a 13 year old girl lifted and held a car in the air with one hand? No one. That's who.
The older man had secretly flashed a smile at the girl that saved him as she had passed his test before noticing her face of disbelief. Glancing back, he spotted the girl who had originally been one of his choices for this role. Sadly, he noticed how unfeeling she was. He needed someone who cared deeply about other people and would do all they could to save everyone. So he had to pass on her. It was unfortunate really. He felt like there was something spectacular about that girl after all.
"Thank you for saving my life, mademoiselle. I would certainly not have made it had it not been for you," he seemed to have pulled her out of whatever kind of trance she was under. She looked back down at him before scratching the back of her head sheepishly. Honestly, she was just in the right place at the right time.
Bridgette had been heading to the bakery nearby. Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie, was it? She was new to town and had heard about how amazing the sweets and pastries were there. When she spotted the man walking into traffic, she was shocked and felt her body move on instinct. She was overjoyed that she managed to save his life.
Helping the man back up to his feet, she wished him a good day before continuing on her way. She didn't want to let this incident ruin the trip to the bakery that she had planned after all. However, as she continued walking in the direction of the bakery, what she had witnessed back there stayed at the forefront of her mind.
Just who was that girl back there?!