AAAAAA NEW STORY!

Ok, so a little bit of an intro... this is a fairytale type of au. I've loved seeing comic dubs of Cinderella Marinette and fairytale versions of Miraculous Ladybug and have wanted to read some of these kind of fanfics. Only makes sense I write one of my own, right? I hope this works well and everyone enjoys it!

I didn't want a typical type of fairytale story, so I've decided to take little snippets of inspiration from fairytales and hopefully, combined them into something new and interesting.

Side-note: to better communicate with all of you, I have made a twitter account! The idea is to give some indication of when a new chapter will be released and perhaps hints of upcoming things. My twitter is fireandfairy (cus twitter won't allow the dust at the end). So check it out if you'd like!

Anyway, on with the story!


A blue sky with a few speckled clouds. A hint of sunshine beating down upon the rooftops. Tiny pinpricks of dust motes swirled in the air.

All was busy in the town village. People scurrying about, carrying their tasks with them and numerous errands to run meant there was only little chit-chat in the markets. The stench of meat would waft over from the butchers while the sweet scent of baked goods would emerge, determined to overpower it. All was well.

In a small house not far away, there was a stark contrast to this scenery. All was quiet. The scent of polished wood was in the air. Birds chirping here and there. The soft sound of water droplets hitting the ground from the bucket propped on the well nearby.

All was silent.

Except, if you listened closely, this was not so.

A little musical murmur could be heard. A giddy, gentle, delicate little melody broke the silence in this small house. Up in the small attic, which looked like a tower on top of the house, this sound could be heard.

It was the sound of a music box.

The gentle 'plink' of sound of the notes colouring the air into a thousand little shards of glass, each a different shade. In the centre of the box, a woman and a man danced in a modest circle as this sweet hum continued, the lady's ballgown sweeping while the gentleman had an arm delicately placed around her waist.

A young woman watched the music box as it continued with its harmonic journey. Her skin was fair, a hint of a blush left on her cheeks. Little tendrils of raven black hair framed her face while the rest of this mane was pulled back in a ponytail. A tint of blue could be seen as the sunlight struck her hair at an angle.

Despite her plain clothes, the lack of gaudy jewellery and ostentatious accessories, the woman exuded beauty. Not the conventional kind perhaps to the onlookers in her village, but it was certainly there. A beauty that radiated from inside that made her already lovely features even more exquisite.

This young woman watched the lady and man dance together, a dreamy gaze on her cerulean eyes. Her elbows were propped up on the desk that held the music box and she sat in silence, listening to the melody and smiling.

Everything was peaceful.

Sadly, this moment of tranquillity had to be broken. The house's bell sounded, and the girl sighed. The music box gently dulled to a stop.

The girl didn't bother turning the screw so the box would continue playing. Instead, she closed it gently and placed it carefully within the drawer.

"Marinette!" a woman's voice called.

"Coming!" the girl replied. A sort of wistful glance filled her face as her fingertips rested on her drawer but she drew back quickly and grabbed a cloth on her bed and wrapped it around her hair.

A determined but weary look filled the young woman's face as she bounded down the steps to start work once more.

"Ah you're here!" a middle-aged woman said. Her face was round and her eyes were twinkling. "Carry these for me to the cart will you dear?" she said kindly, handing her a large crate.

"Of course mother," Marinette replied as she grabbed the crate off her arms and went outside. The young woman stepped outside, squinting a little at the brightness of the sun hitting her face but nonetheless enjoying the feel of warmth on her skin.

She walked over to the small horse-drawn goods carriage outside and carefully placed the crate onto the back of the carriage.

"Sweetheart you are here!" a jolly man called out.

"Papa!" Marinette smiled as her father came from inside the house. He took her into a deep hug and she smiled at the scent of baked goods on his shirt.

"Working late with mother again, were you?" Marinette asked in concern, noticing the dark circles under her father Tom's eyes.

"Ah, it wasn't too bad! We're lucky to have more orders anyway!" Tom replied jovially.

Marinette tried to return the smile but the effort was weak.

They were poor. There was no other way to describe the circumstances they were in.

Marinette's father and mother were both bakers. Their baked goods would be made in the early morning by Sabine, Marinette's mother, while Tom sold them in the market. If there were more orders made, Sabine would begin baking at night. Each day, Tom would come back, tired and exhausted and the routine would start again.

Marinette was too young to help out before. And even when she was a little bit older, her parents refused to let her help them.

"Focus on your studies darling," her father and mother would say.

Every day Marinette would attend the small village school as per her parents' wishes. But her heart wasn't really there. She wanted to leap and run and be free. But despite the fact that she had no passion for school, she would rank first anyway because she worked hard to respect what her parents wanted.

But now, things were getting difficult. So Marinette was helping out whenever she could. Waking up early to bake the fresh goods. Sometimes going with her father to sell them and also getting to visit the village market while she was at it. But it still wasn't enough.

The rent was due soon and Marinette knew her parents were worried. She had begged them to let her get a job so she could help but they refused adamantly.

Marinette sighed as she watched her father hop onto the carriage.

"I'll come with you," she called. "School's finished for a while anyway," she added.

Her father scrunched his eyebrows. "But dear, your exams-"

"I need supplies anyway," she interrupted.

That worked. Her parents were eager to let Marinette have whatever she needed to succeed in her education.

"Fine," Tom conceded. "Hop on!"

Tom snapped the reins and the horse neighed in response. The carriage started moving.

Marinette waited until the carriage was moving fast enough. And then she ran, chasing it, the wind whipping through her raven hair, fluttering the simple dress she wore.

She finally was in line with the carriage and grabbed onto the edge, propelling herself onto the back of the carriage, a laugh of exhilaration exiting her body. She would always do this. It was a rare moment of freedom.

It didn't take long to get to the market square. Marinette waved at the people she knew as she leaped down just before the carriage stopped.

"Alright, set up the stall for me will you?" Tom asked her, as he clambered off his horse and gave him a pail of water to drink. His daughter obliged and began removing the protective wraps of cloth placed over their modest stand.

Their deft hands and quick demeanour meant the stall was set up in minutes. Tom ruffled his daughter's hair.

"Off you go then," he said, his kind eyes sparkling. "Go get your supplies and study hard for me, okay?"

Marinette felt her heart break in pain for her father. She swallowed a lump in her throat. "I'll be back soon papa," she vowed as she gave him a sad smile and left.

The baker's daughter walked through the crowds, too deep in thought to notice the turning of heads her way or the baleful looks of jealousy from the town's folk. Her thoughts wondered about how her hard her parents were working to feed her and educate her and the pitiful amount of help she could offer them.

Without realising, Marinette stopped in front of the bookshop. Her feet always led her here without her knowing.

The girl smiled. This was her little haven after all.

She stepped in, hearing the little chime of the bell as she opened the door.

"Ah Marinette, how wonderful to see you!" Madame Bustier called.

She was the bookshop owner, as well as Marinette's teacher at school. When she was teaching, her brother would take over the shop's care but since it was exam leave time, she was back, as there were no classes to teach.

"Madame," Marinette greeted, inclining her head a little. Her head was already in the clouds as her fingertips touched the spines of books and her eyes were filled with a loving gaze.

Madame Bustier chuckled. "I'll leave you to it," she said softly as she smiled and whisked herself away to the back of the shop.

Marinette barely heard her leave. She was immersed in this world now.

Swashbuckling heroes and dangerous horse rides into the unknown. Tales of witches and warlocks and magic. Dragons and sirens battling in a stormy sky. Charming princes but wittier princesses and maidens. Strong women who didn't conform to society's rules.

Marinette wanted her life to be like a fairy tale. Perhaps a little less perilous than these books but still, filled with excitement and mystery. Maybe…a little love in the midst too? But she was always scorned by the classmates at her school.

"Stuff like that doesn't happen in real life," they said, not a trace of belief of magic, or wonder within them.

But Marinette still believed.

And she would continue believing for the rest of her life.

No matter what.


Please let me know thoughts by reviewing and if you like it, please favourite and follow!

Fun fact, this story was meant to be a one-shot but I got carried away so it seems like it is going to have a whole plot now! This was meant to bridge the gap between another story I'm working on (which I am so excited about) but since that one is taking so long, I have decided to write this in the meantime. Despite that, I will work hard at it!

Thanks for reading!