(This AU came from the idea and inspiration of the great Bryce Papenbrook who voices both Kazuto Kirigaya or as we know him as Kirito as well as Adrien Agreste or again as we know he as, Chat Noir :3)

_FLOOR ONE: THE TOWN OF BEGINNINGS_

"Hey Marinette! How's it going in China?" Asks Alya through the phone, Marinette sighs with a smile and falls down onto a chair, sinking into the cushions. She was in her temporary room at her mother's relative's house in Beijing, China.

"It's great, except for the part that my Chinese is almost as good as my ability to walk in a straight line." Explains Marinette, glancing around her room, the colours were a bit dull for her standards but the furniture made it feel traditional and historical, the small golden figure of a dragon twirled in a circle giving it that finishing touch.

"Oh. Well, hopefully you can come back to Paris soon so you won't have to worry about speaking Chinese anymore." Replies Alya, a smile in her voice. Marinette laughs slightly and stares at a plant sitting on a coffee table, it looked like a miniature tree, with branches and leaves and everything but... Smaller.

"Yeah, just one more week and I'll be able to come home." Says Marinette, dying for the day to go home to her room, to her school, to her bakery. To her reality.

"Why are you in China anyways?" Asks Alya, Marinette sighs and gets up from the chair, pacing the room in her red and pink flower patterned sleeveless kimono. Her hair was up in a bun with a small pink flower attached to it, and she wore her plain black earrings.

"I'm in China because my mom wants me to get to know her side of the family better, and she also wanted me to see China for myself." Explains Marinette for what she felt like was the 7th time explaining that. She hears Alya groan and she almost felt bad for her.

Almost.

"Can you meet me Online?" Alya asks, her tone lighting up in hopes for her friend to say yes. Marinette considered, her schedule at the moment was free and her mom didn't need her right now so...

"Sure, but only for a bit, I'm busy later." Replies Marinette smiling, she hears Alya nearly squeal in excitement and quickly says her goodbye's before hanging up. Marinette stares at her phone for a moment, then gives a short laugh.

"What a weirdo."

She walked over to her bed and stared at the device sitting on her bed-side table. The Amusphere. Her way of getting into her own reality. Her own fantasy world. It was freedom and it was hers.

She laid herself down on the bed and put the glasses-like device over her head, covering her eyes. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, she could hear the sound of the Amusphere turning on, and she knew soon she would be hearing a lot more than just the sound of a device turning on. She would be able to hear the sounds of another world.

All she had to say was, "Link Start!"

She arrived at the Town Of Beginnings in ALfhiem Online in no time, since her last save point was just outside the town, the fly there was nothing. She sat at a bench and swung her legs patiently, playing with her braid as she waited for her friend to arrive. After a few minutes of waiting, a flash of red caught her eye and she looked over to spot Alya walking through the town looking for her. Marinette smiles and runs towards her, calling out her name just in time for Alya to turn around and catch her in a hug.

"Hey girl! It's been ages since I've seen you last, I almost didn't recognize you." Jokes Alya, Marinette rolls her eyes and smiles.

"Haha, very funny, but my Avatar hasn't changed since the last time you saw me like this so don't make it seem like it's been years." Replies Marinette, poking Alya in the shoulder where a part of Alya's breastplate wrapped around to the back. She laughs and puts an arm over Marinette's shoulders.

"You can't blame me for missing my BFF, can you?" Says Alya, acting like her usual self. Marinette had missed that, the way Alya got so comfortable around her so quickly, making Marinette feel just as comfortable.

They continued to walk and talk through the town, discussing the latest gossip happening in Paris so Marinette didn't feel left out. Even in the game, Alya was an Info Broker, she always had the latest gossip at the tips of her fingers, for a fair price of course but with Marinette, it came free.

Alya's avatar was a Salamander, a race of fairies known for their strength and powerful fire magic, and though Alya wasn't interested in any of that, she still became one. She never complained, so Marinette just thought she must not have cared about what race she got, as long as she was having fun.

"Hey Alya, has anyone in our class join ALO yet?" Asks Marinette, curiously. Alya thinks for a moment then snaps her fingers like she just figured out a puzzle.

"Yeah actually, a few people. Juleka and Rose, Nathaniel and Nino even Chloe and Sabrina joined." Explains Alya, Marinette stops dead in her tracks at the mention of Chloe and Sabrina's names. They were here? In ALfhiem? Marinette's one safe haven?

"I think my life is ruined..." Mutters Marinette, almost falling to the cobblestone ground. Alya laughs and pulls her forward,to keep walking.

"You're so dramatic, it's not that big of a deal Mari- I mean Ladybug." Alya corrects herself, Marinette's avatar name was Ladybug just so anyone she might know doesn't find out, unless she wants to let them know of course, like Alya.

"ALfhiem is a huge place, what are the chances of you meeting up with her?" Continues Alya, Ladybug shrugs and nods her head.

"Yeah I guess you're right, I mean at least she isn't a Pooka like me right?" Says Ladybug, asking but yet not wanting to know the answer.

"Um, yeah she is actually. She's a Pooka too, and Sabrina is a Slyth." Explains Alya, Marinette nearly melted into the ground just to hide from this world.

"My life is officially ruined... I should just log out now and never come back..." Complains Marinette, falling to her knees dramatically. Alya rolls her eyes and crosses her arms patiently. Her friend sighs and shakes her head.

"Girl, girl, you need to get yourself together."

"I think she needs to get together more then just herself." Comments a voice behind the two, they turn their heads to find a Gnome wearing dark blue armour and a axe sitting behind his back. Marinette smiles, jumping up to her feet quickly.

"Nino!" She squeals, giving her friend a hug before stepping back to look at him again. His avatar had changed from the last time she saw him, he used to be a newbie, a player that had the default armour on and a simple one-handed sword. Now he had a thick chest-plate, clear goggles to replace his glasses, a dark blue shirt under the metal plate and an axe that was too heavy for Marinette to carry.

"Hey Mar-Uh, I mean Ladybug! Long time, no see. I've heard you've been hangin' in China past couple of weeks, how's it goin'?" Nino asks, starting conversation. Marinette was glad to see an old friend again, and now that both of her good friends were here she dreaded the thought of logging out.

"It's been good," Marinette half-lied. She loved China and meeting her mother's relatives but she missed Paris more than anything, and her friends that lived there.

"Yeah, we miss you back here. I swear, Alya's been a wreck since the day you left." Nino says, quickly regretting it as Alya laid a punch to the arm. Hard. He stumbled over and caught his balance before he completely fell over, rubbing his arm cringing. Alya just looked pissed, her fists planted on her hips and her posture saying 'try me'. Marinette just awkwardly smiled, not wanting to get in between this.

"Yeah well, she's my best friend! Of course I was upset!" Alya nearly shouts, trying to defend herself. Marinette wanted to sneak away quietly to leave them be but she knew she would never get away from this Salamander.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry, okay? I should've known you would've freaked out like this.." Nino mutters, earning a glare from Alya. Marinette stared at the two for a moment, then burst into laughter. The two turned their heads to Marinette who continue to kill herself laughing and raised their eyebrows.

"She's gone crazy."

"Yep."

Marinette wiped her eye that had begun to water and calmed herself down, smiling widely.

"You guys are so weird,"