Okay. New story! If you're following me, don't worry, I'm working on I Can Dream, Can't I? as we speak. Well, not exactly as we speak, but you get the idea. Anyway this story has been lingering in my mind for a while now and after listening to a bunch of royalcore playlists on YouTube I just had to get it started.

The pairing is Ladynoir and there's going to be a mixture of romance, comedy, fluff, and angst all through it. No trigger warnings this chapter. Enjoy!

ooOOoo

"Listen, I'd like to escape this plane of existence as much as the next guy," Chat Noir muttered, pressing his back flush against the alleyway. "but this is just ridiculous."

Ladybug merely nodded in tired agreement before peering out from their hiding place, taking a sweeping scan of their surroundings. All of Paris was in a fantastical upheaval. Fairies and dragons and horses with wings flew overhead, gracing the pink skies in an almost ethereal way. Towers and castles shot up from the earth, replacing the usual buildings with expanding kingdoms. Even the citizens had been turned into fairytale characters, some wrapped up in royal garb, others clad in the tattered clothing of townsfolk. Some even seemed to be dressed as sorcerers and witches, playing the villains of their stories. And the entire scene was covered in a rosy haze, as if under some sort of spell. It was, for a lack of better wording, beautifully chaotic, but no matter how whimsical it looked, both Ladybug and Chat knew it was merely a sugarcoated nightmare in the making.

All the pandemonium of Paris could be traced back to an enchanted scepter in the hands of the latest victim of Shadow Moth's akumas. The Godmother, as she went by, used her scepter to transform the city into a city of dreams- of her dreams- claiming that fantasy was so much better than reality. She was one of the smarter villains, one who's evil was born from holding onto hope for far too long, only to have her faith shattered by the tribulations of life. Both heroes understood her broken heart, knowing well what it was like to wish with all their beings that their sorrows were lighter.

Ladybug watched The Godmother float about in the sky, zapping everything in her sight and turning it all into something allegedly better. The heroine eventually pulled herself back against the wall, turning to her partner.

"I'm pretty sure the akuma is in her scepter," she concluded. "There isn't anything else on her that could hold it. At least, not that I can see."

"Let's hope you're right," Chat replied. "There's no telling what'll happen if we get hit by that thing and frankly, I'd rather not find out."

So far, the two had seen nothing but costume changes and switches in scenery, but the akuma had claimed the heroes of Paris deserved a "special fantasy" as a thank you for valiantly protecting the city, and needless to say, the two weren't thrilled about what that fantasy could entail.

Ladybug winced at the possibilities.

"Same here," she concurred. "I would say to use our go-to tactic, but it's too risky this time."

"You mean the one where I lure the akuma into a tight spot and you jump out and grab the object while they aren't looking?"

"Yeah, that one. But this akuma has the best aim I've ever seen, so the chances of you getting hit are high."

Chat grimaced. He knew she was right, but he greatly wished she wasn't. It would've been nice to simply go with their default and quickly defeat the villain before calling it a day and going home. He usually enjoyed fighting crime by his lady's side, but today was different. All day, he had possessed this eerie sort of intuition that whispered over and over and over that something terrible was going to happen. It made his stomach turn just to think of all the possible endings to this battle. Of course, he still forced a smile for Ladybug's sake. She was worried enough over the situation as it was. She didn't need his senseless negativity to add to her anxiety.

"So what do we do then?" he inquired, pushing his concerns aside. Ladybug had already been searching for an answer to his question, even before he'd asked it.

"I have a plan," she replied, thoughtfully. "I think it'll work."

oOo

The plan did not work.

In fact, the plan had been so ineffective that it had caused the transformation of several people into magic beings, not to mention a slight argument to break out between Ladybug and Chat that was currently still going on.

"Will you stop with the stupid puns?!" Ladybug shouted, flipping out of the way of another blast from The Godmother's scepter. "This is serious!"

Chat narrowly dodged an attack of his own, landing somewhat clumsily but still acting as if he'd pulled it off flawlessly.

"I agree with you completely, M'lady!" he called back. "It's very serious! One might even call it Grimm!"

Ladybug let out a groan, spinning her yoyo to shield against oncoming fire.

"That was terrible!"

Chat dashed in her direction, evading blasts left and right until he came to a halt directly behind her.

"To each their own," he replied with cheeky grin. Ladybug rolled her eyes, but said nothing more on the matter, concentrating on keeping the villain at bay.

"Plan A didn't work," she said. "And I don't really have a plan B."

After a quick look at the quickly advancing villain, their retreating footsteps, and the building at their backs that proved to be a dead end, Chat found that he was just as helpful.

"Neither do I," he returned. He noticed the dejectedness of his own voice and quickly added in a lighter tone, "But I'm sure we'll think of something."

Chat stiffened at feeling solid brick against his back. They were cornered. He placed a hand at Ladybug's shoulder to keep her from backing up any further.

"Let's switch," he suggested. "I'll deflect while you think."

Ladybug tilted her head and gave him a nod before Chat took out his staff and began spinning it. In one smooth motion, the two swapped places with Chat in front, defending Ladybug.

The villain continued to approach in the air, a little slower now that the two heroes were stuck, as if enjoying defeating them at her own pace. Chat extended his free hand behind himself, bracing himself against the wall and therefore stretching his range of protection over Ladybug.

He heard her call on her lucky charm, followed by a loud thump.

"What is it?" he asked, a bit impatiently if he was honest.

"It's… a book." She huffed. "Great. What the heck am I supposed to do with a book?"

"I'm sure whatever you come up with will be a novel idea," Chat returned, smiling despite his sore arm.

The Godmother placed a hand over her heart, soft expression on her face.

"How sweet. The knight in shining armor nobly defending the fierce princess," she cooed over her unyielding fire. "It's obvious you two are right out of a fairytale. Why won't you just let me give you a happy ending? You've done so much for this city as it is."

"Slight setback," Chat answered, hoping to distract her with banter. "It's not actually armor. It's more of a leather, I think."

The villain touched down to the ground.

"Ah, of course," she replied. "My mistake. Leather. So… an archer? Yes, I think that would suit you. A chivalrous archer, fearlessly protecting his lady and never resting until he wins her heart." She practically swooned at the thought. "Isn't it so romantic?"

Chat had to agree that her little story did sound very romantic. And the picture of Ladybug dressed in a sweeping ball gown with her hair falling around her shoulders in disheveled curls wasn't exactly an unwelcome sight…

"I'm so glad you agree," The Godmother said. Chat blinked in surprise.

"What? I didn't agree! I mean, sure, it's kinda romantic, but I didn't… I mean, I don't… I…" After fumbling over his own words, he gave out a frustrated huff, ignoring the embarrassed warmth creeping up the back of his neck. "Leave me outa this."

The knowing smirk on the akuma's face was unbearable.

"Ugh, I've got nothing," Ladybug finally said, apparently either missing or ignoring the conversation that had just occurred. Chat's brows furrowed.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

The akuma clicked her tongue.

"Oh, Ladybug. Always working. Always thinking. You never take a break."

"I wonder why," Ladybug muttered bitterly. Chat snickered.

"Wouldn't you like to have your own happily ever after?" pressed the villainess. "Maybe with a certain archer…?"

"Archer?"

Judging from the confusion in her voice, Ladybug hadn't heard Chat's discussion with The Godmother, which he was abundantly thankful for.

"Don't be coy," the akuma retorted. "You can't honestly look me in the eyes and tell me you don't have just the slightest crush on your partner."

Chat had expected an impatient huff from his partner or a cry of indignance or maybe even a long list of reasons why that statement was false, but all he heard was enduring silence.

The villain grinned, apparently taking the lack of a response as a "yes." She ceased her incessant fire, finally allowing Chat's poor arm a break from twirling his staff. He reached up to soothe his aching shoulder, finally catching a glance at his partner. Her expression was unreadable.

"Just picture it, you two," The Godmother continued. "A princess and her steadfast archer who is secretly a prince in disguise. You have grand times exploring the palace, dancing across an empty ballroom floor, laughing over silly inside jokes, planning to run away together. You love each other with all that you are. No akumas, no conflicting ideals or emotions, no secrets, no hardships, no Paris. Just the two of you against the world."

To Chat, her voice and her fable were the makings of a dream. To run away with his lady and never have to think about this city or Shadow Moth or his job or unbearable secrecy ever again… Admittedly, he was having a hard time blocking out the siren song, reminding himself that it wasn't real, that it never could be real. He was no prince. Ladybug was no princess. And they weren't in love. Not mutually, anyway.

"That's impossible," Ladybug bluntly stated. Chat still couldn't decipher her eyes or tone, which was usually a sign that she had a million thoughts running through her head. It was a familiar face of hers, but it was usually used to keep her emotions in check or hidden. But she had nothing to hide at the moment. At least, nothing that he was aware of.

Chat looked away from her, a vague sense of confusion settling in him. The akuma continued to stare the duo down with her piercing eyes that seemed to see straight through them.

"Is it really impossible?" she pressed.

"Yes," Chat snapped. The villainess merely hummed lightly, clearly enjoying her little game of cat and mouse.

"In your world, it might be," she crooned in that sugary sweet tone. "But in my world?"

She lifted her hand, rolling her wrist and creating a small swirling cloud at the scepter's tip. The two heroes locked their wary eyes onto it.

"In my world, anything is possible."

Anything. Anything.

Unbeknownst to the other, both felt a strange tug in their chests. It wasn't strong enough to startle them from their reveries, but just strong enough to pull them a step forward. The continuous thought of a potential happily ever after where all their silly fantasies could come true, where their troubles in Paris were no more, where it was just the two of them and nothing else... it was unbearably alluring. Irresistible, even. They could almost see it, hear it, touch it with their own senses. That warm, comfortable, fantastic world, just at the tips of their fingers. It seemed so painfully close…

And then, it happened. With a quick flick of The Godmother's wrist, a bright light flashed and struck our two heroes, sending them far away from their world and deep into another.

ooOOoo

First chapter signed, sealed, and delivered. I'm actually really excited about this story. I've always been a huge fairytale fan and I'm SO looking forward to writing one of my own with my two favorite characters. I will warn you that since they're going into another world, there will be quite a few OCs including the villain, but the story still revolves around Ladybug and Chat. Anyway, tell me if you liked it. Thanks for reading!