Chapter 4
When she got home, nothing was normal. Something didn't feel right. Her parents greeted her like normal, dinner was getting prepared, and they didn't seem to share her feeling of trepidation. She wandered through her house, checking to see if anything was out of place, not finding anything, not even in her own room. "Marinette?" a squeaky voice asked beside her.
Turning, Marinette saw Tikki floating next to her with a worried look on her face. "Tikki, do you feel that?"
"Feel what, Marinette?"
"I'm not sure. Something about the house just feels… off. It's like something is different, but I can't find out what."
"I'm sure it's just because you're tired. Exhaustion can do that to someone."
"I suppose you're right, Tikki," Marinette relented with a sigh. "No use to dwell on it now. I think Ladybug will be more useful than Marinette!"
"That's the spirit! Just say the words."
"Tikki, spots on!" Marinette exclaimed happily while she waited for the warm and tingly sensations of magic to envelop her body. She waited. And waited. And waited, but it never came. She peeked an eye open and stared at an equally confused Tikki, before it dawned on both of them. "I can't transform in this world! Tikki, what's wrong?!"
"I'm not sure, but freaking out right now won't do us any good. Let's just think for a moment. It seems like the akuma changed everyone to either a peasant or royalty. Why would someone do that?"
"I'm not sure, and magic apparently doesn't work here either. It's almost like… oh my gosh."
"What? What did you discover Marinette?"
"It's almost as if… we're part of a fairy tale."
"Fairy tale? You don't think it's Nana Sophaline, do you?"
"I'm afraid so, Tikki. She might've seemed okay, but knowing her, she didn't want to inconvenience anyone. She most likely made it home before overthinking everything again, causing her to be akumatized."
"Oh dear," Tikki gasped and covered her mouth with her nubs. "She must be so scared right now."
"Perhaps, I'm just worried about what kind of akuma she is."
"I'm not sure, but perhaps a good night's sleep will do you some good." With that in mind, Marinette got ready for bed, gently tucking Tikki in her own bed. With the darkness fully encompassing her body, she couldn't help but hear all of the noises that were normally drowned out from the sound pollution of cars and music and such. It was in this darkness and silence that a wave of unease settled over her, as if someone was watching her. The thought alone made her shiver.
Across Paris, Adrien was pacing in his room. Everything about this akuma was confusing. Why was everyone transformed into peasants, except Chloe and himself. Chloe was a princess, he was a prince. He didn't like the implications of that at all. He wanted to contact Ladybug, but he didn't know if she was sleeping or not. "Plagg, I need to see if I can contact her."
"I thought you just said you didn't want to wake her up?" Plagg drawled as he stretched on Adrien's pillow.
"I know, I know I said that, but I won't be able to get any sleep unless I contact her, and calm her confused mind."
"Are you sure you're not talking about yourself?"
"Hush, I would just feel better if I met up with her and we talked about it."
"Fine, whatever," Plagg relented as he sat up, waiting for the call.
"Plagg, claws out!" He waited for the magic to flow to his ring and flow over his body, changing him into Chat Noir, but it never came. "Uhm, Plagg?"
"Hm?"
"Why didn't I transform?"
"Not sure, that's weird."
"Weird. Weird?! Is that all you have to say?! I'm not able to transform into Chat Noir, and all you can think about is that 'it is weird?!'"
"Calm down, there must be a reason. Perhaps the akuma is responsible."
"How is that any better?"
"I'm just saying, perhaps there's something you need to do as Adrien before you could defeat the akuma."
"Like what?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe after a day the akuma will come out. Let's just go to bed, staying up longer won't help us solve the mystery," he concluded as he laid back down on Adrien's pillow. It was silent for a few more moments, before Adrien sighed and went to bed himself.
