Chapter 1

Marinette was in a dark place. The only thing she knew was that she had no clue where she was or how she had gotten there. Her vision was hazy, her hearing was fuzzy, and she could make out distant shapes, that might have been moving? She didn't know. When her vision finally cleared she saw something from the past. She could have sworn that this had happened before.

What's going on? Where am I?

Suddenly, she heard a voice. It sounded…familiar.

"Hang in there Ladybug!" shouted Chat Noir from outside the hotel's locked kitchen doors.

I think I remember this, but how am I seeing it? Am I dreaming?

Alya or rather Lady Wifi had pinned Ladybug against the wall with two giant purple circles, both with lock icons in the center. Chat Noir, still locked outside of the kitchen, frantically searched for a way inside. He grabbed his silver staff and scanned a blueprint of the Bourgeois' hotel.

This was when Alya was akumatized.

"Of course! The service elevator!" he cried with relief and ran to the elevator.

Meanwhile back in the kitchen, Lady Wifi was attempting to unmask Ladybug (on video for the public to see), with no luck.

"Why won't it come off?" she asked becoming visibly frustrated.

"Uh because it's magic," Ladybug dead panned.

Suddenly, Chat Noir burst out of the elevator.

"Oh would you look at that! How romantic. Tom cat's come to save his love bug!" Lady Wifi snickered.

"I am NOT his love bug!" Ladybug made very clear.

"We'll come back to that later," Chat Noir grinned.

Yeah, you wish.

Lady Wifi attacked, and Chat Noir dodged many of her assaults, but eventually got locked in the giant freezer. His ring had fallen off in all the chaos, and he was frantically searching for it.

"Plagg! A little help here?!" Adrien shouted at his kwami.

Wait? What?! Adrien is Chat Noir?! No way! I don't believe this! What is happening to me? I must be hallucinating.

"Fine! But I want cheese after this! Why is it so cold in here?"

A purple butterfly-shaped mask appeared on Lady Wifi's face.

"Take her earrings while she is pinned to the wall," Hawkmoth ordered.

"Of course, but for extra measure," she trailed off, then pinned ladybug's legs against the wall as well.

"No! Stay back!" Ladybug struggled against her magical bonds but could not break free. Lady Wifi sauntered over toward her ever so slowly, reached over, her gloved hands hovering slightly over Ladybug's ears with anticipation, and removed the precious jewels.

What? This didn't happen last time! What's going on? We defeated her. Right?

A bright pink flash filled the room and then there was only Marinette pinned against the wall. Everyone must have been watching, including her parents and all her classmates. Lady Wifi showed the slightest hint of excitement and shock, but was quickly reminded of her task by the purple butterfly outline around her face.

"Finally one of my minions has done something right. Lady Wifi, get rid of her," Hawkmoth commanded.

Lady Wifi glanced around the kitchen and spotted a knife on the counter. Marinette saw where she was looking and began to panic.

Oh heck no.

"Alya, snap out of it!" she screamed at her akumatized best friend, but it was no use. She wailed in terror at the sight of Alya and still couldn't break free. "Chat Noir! Help me!" she yelled loudly.

What did I just say? Was I that desperate? This didn't even happen!

Adrien had finally found his precious ring and transformed when he heard his lady's call for help, then he shouted, "Cataclysm!" He burst through the door and hesitated when he saw Marinette.

"Marinette? What are you doing here? Where's Ladybug?" but this gave Lady Wifi the time she needed to stab her victim.

Aaaaaaah! What?! She just stabbed me! Come on Chat! Are you really that blind?

Marinette lashed out in pain when Lady Wifi pulled out the knife, and her ear-piercing scream could be heard throughout the whole hotel. It raised the hair on the back of Chat's neck.

"No!" he shouted and reached for her, his bright green eyes growing wide in mortal terror.

She turned toward him and just laughed.

"Why do you care so much about this girl? She wasn't there when I needed her, and she's been keeping the biggest secret from me."

"What secret…?" Chat Noir trailed off coming to realization. He went stark white seeing as his lady was in distress. She was his lady. Marinette was Ladybug.