A/N: Hi guys, Juli here! Long time no see! I got inspired by a Tumblr post and just HAD to write this AU. It'll most likely be 10 chapters long, updated every Thursday. Also, apologies for the crappy cover image. I tried to draw pixel art with a mouse.

Normally, Pacifica Northwest woke up to birdsong and morning light. Breaking glass and darkness? That was new.

She rubbed her eyes blearily and sat up in bed. "Marie?" she called out, hoping her maidservant could explain why her beauty sleep had been interrupted. No answer.

"Mar-umph!" Pacifica's exclamation was cut off by a wadded piece of cloth being shoved into her mouth. She spluttered at the sudden greasy taste, the cloth effectively cutting off her sounds of protest. Hands roughly grabbed her upper arms and hauled her out of bed.

"Mmph!" Pacifica grunted as she was forcefully propelled across the floor. She struggled against the iron grip on her arms, throwing out elbows and kicks at random, but her attacker was never within reach.

Correction, Pacifica thought. Attackers. In the patch of moonlight by her shattered window, she could see two distinct forms. Both were taller than her, and lean. Their faces were unilluminated, but she could tell enough about their bodies to see that one was male and the other female.

The duo hoisted her up onto the windowsill by the arms, then jumped up on either side of her. "I'll go down the rope first," whispered the boy, his voice surprisingly young-sounding. "Then, Miss Northwest –" here his voice became sarcastic – "you'll slide on down. Nice and easy!" He resumed a normal tone. "Mabel, you go last so she can't climb back up."

The girl saluted. "You got it, Dippin Dots!"

The boy sighed, like he was used to being called strange nicknames, and nimbly hopped out the window, grabbed onto the aforementioned rope, and began to slide down.

Mabel prodded her shoulder, just a little harder than playful, and said, "Your turn! Slide on down."

Pacifica turned to look at her, giving her kidnapper an are-you-even-serious-no-way-am-i-doing-this stare. Mabel nodded encouragingly.

"There's always the other option," Mabel said cheerfully. "And trust me, you won't like it."

Pacifica shuddered and sat down on the window sill. She felt around for the rope, getting a good hold on it before tentatively beginning to descend.

Above her, she saw Mabel climb out the window and rappel down the length of the rope, her flowy skirt billowing out around her.

"Hey, hurry it up down there!" she said, catching up to Pacifica. "You climb like an armless siren."

Pacifica rolled her eyes, but climbed a little bit faster.

It felt like hours before Pacifica touched the ground. She'd never realized just how tall seven stories was before. Scaling her house had given her a new appreciation for its height.

The boy glared at the two of them upon their arrival. "Could you two have climbed any slower? I waited forever."

Pacifica fixed him with a glare. "Mmph mmph mmph," she said, forgetting momentarily about the saliva-soaked gag still in her mouth. She made a sound of frustration and pulled it out, thankful her arms were still free. "If you're going to kidnap me, at least do it with some manners," she said angrily.

The boy scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to bring the velvet carpet for you to walk back to the ship on, will satin do? And my sincerest apologies for making you climb down a rope. We should have used the grand stairway."

"You've got some real nerve, breaking into my bedroom and trying to kidnap me. I'll have you know that the Northwest Mansion is guarded around the clock. I could literally scream for help right here, right now." Pacifica's eyes slowly brightened as the idea sank in. "Wait… I could scream for help!" She cupped her hands around her mouth and began to yell at the top of her lungs. "HELP! I'M BEING KIDNAPPED!" She sprinted back toward the house at full tilt, still screaming. "HELP! HELP!"

Suddenly, a sharp pain registered on the back of Pacifica's head. The ground teetered, then swooped towards her as the world faded and went black.