"Girl, I'm telling you, since Nino refuses to record for the Ladyblog with me, you should totally join me!" Marinette simply rolled her eyes at Alya as they were walking to school.

"There's a reason Nino doesn't want to do that Als, it's way too dangerous," she told her best friend. "Honestly, I don't know how it doesn't scare you."

"Well, yeah, sure, it can be scary. But I know Ladybug and Chat Noir will always bring me back."

Marinette frowned. She really wished Alya wouldn't rely so much on her and Chat Noir. It's a big responsibility to protect all of Paris, but she would never forgive herself if anyone got hurt, especially her best friend.

"At least consider joining me," Alya said as she waved to Adrien and Nino, who were standing on the stairs, waiting for them.

"Hey, babe," Nino greeted Alya with a kiss to her cheek. "What's up?"

"Just trying to convince Mari to film for the Ladyblog with me," Alya replied looking back at the other girl.

"I think Marinette is smart enough to know how dangerous that is," Adrien told Alya. Marinette blushed.

"Are you trying to say something, Agreste?" Alya said in mock hurt with her hand placed dramatically on her chest.

Adrien paused, his eyes going wide. "No! You know that's not what I meant!" Alya only chuckled in response as the warning bell rang throughout the school. The group headed to class, only stopping when Marinette tripped on the stairs.

Alya sighed. "Girl, how are you so clumsy?" She asked as Adrien helped the poor girl up. Marinette shrugged, she couldn't help it, really.

The bell rang right after they sat down in their seats, starting one of the strangest days Marinette would ever see.

Marinette, Adrien, Alya, and Nino were sitting outside, eating their lunch, when the akuma arrived.

"No one ever wants to talk about classic literature anymore! It's always realistic fiction, mystery books, and comic books! Comic books! It's hardly even a book; it's mostly pictures! No one ever talks about fairy tales anymore. And when they do, they're talking about the anime! It makes me so mad! With my powers, no one will be able to ignore the art that are fairy tales any longer!" The villain started using her wand to shoot beams of bright blue at the students.

Alya cried out, "Sweet!" She brought out her phone and ran off to film the akuma fight.

Nino sighed, then ran after her.

Adrien frowned at the akuma, glanced back at Marinette, then grabbed her hand. "Let's get out of here," he said, then quickly dashed off, Marinette following behind.

Marinette looked behind her, but couldn't spot the akuma. Adrien led her to a janitor's closet and said, "You can hide here, I'll-"

"I thought I said no one would be able to avoid the magnificence that are fairy tales any longer," the akuma interrupted. The pair's eyes widened. Adrien tugged Marinette's arm, trying to escape, when a bright blue beam came towards them.

Everything went black.

"Ugh, you're useless, utterly useless!" Marinette was startled awake as a shrill voice yelled at her. She looked around, then saw a much fancier version of Chloe Bourgeois glaring down at her. "I thought Mommy told you that I should be able to see my reflection on the floor, and you're sleeping on the job! Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!" Chloe stomped off, leaving Marinette lying on the floor.

The bluenette looked around, her eyes widened as she took in the huge room.

Where was she?

"Adrien! Remember your manners." Adrien awoke with a start, seeing his father dressed up like royalty with a scolding look on his face. "It's incredibly rude to fall asleep during dinner. This better not happen at the ball tonight."

"The ball?" Adrien asked, extremely confused.

"Yes, the ball. The one where you are to pick a wife?" Adrien choked on the water he was drinking. A wife? "Honestly, Adrien, were you even listening when I explained this?" His father sighed, then excused himself from the long dining table.

With his father gone, Adrien was finally able to take in his new surroundings. The dining room was incredibly large, even more than the one at his home. But why was his father dressed so strangely?

What was going on?