"I was only like that because I thought you didn't like me. I thought you hated me for leaving you..."
If it had been my father, I might've done the same if I wasn't aware that's you'd die. And anyway, now we know Hawkmoth's aim..."
"I won't let him kill you... I've been aware of my mother's illness since I was just a kid. She told me not to worry about her... She told me to have a happy future."
The prince began to shake again, reminiscing his mother's words.
"You think we can be a team again? Like the old days?" She asked, weakly.
"Of coursework can... And I'll go back, and I'll face my father, and I'll become king. I can't count the akuma soldiers we've brought down together, but all of my father's crimes will be punished... And we can be happy. Sound good?"
"Sounds wonderful..."
...
The remaining days before the ball were spent intricately plotting every detail of their master plan.
Many foreign princesses had arrived a few days early, and were always trying to get close to the prince. They would follow him around all day. All except this one girl, princess Juleka, who could be found alone, sitting on a window ledge staring at the sky for hours.
Until the day came when Marinette was to be fired.
"Is this true, Mr Cheng? Did you 'forget' to report back to Nathalie three times in a row?"
"Yes, you majesty. I am incredibly sor-"
"Silence. You are dismissed. I will find someone else to fulfil the role, seeing as you are incompetent."
Marinette flinched as the king's harshness, but smirked inside, knowing that the first phase of the plan was running smoothly. The carriage ride to her family manor was one of glee and anticipation.
Her parents welcomed her with hugs and kisses, telling her she was invited to a ball at the palace the very next day. It was perfect.
...
All the morning was spent preparing her for the party, in the hopes that she would be selected as the future queen.
She was shepherded into a large horse drawn carriage, and sent off to have her fate determined. Or so they all thought.
The princesses and nobles filed in, some foreign, some French, all in beautiful gowns and expensive jewellery.
The prince was stood upon a large balcony overlooking the grand ballroom where he waited patiently yet nervously for his Lady to arrive.
However, the first to arrive and draw his attention was not Marinette. It was Chloe. Her arrival was almost as grand as her lemon yellow dress that filled up half the ballroom. She looked smug and confident, with a striped fan in her hands. There was jewels everywhere you looked, and ugly, excessive lace adorning every edge. She walked in with all the sass in the world, practically glowing, which was why it was no surprise to her when every one stopped and stared.
"I know, I know... Oh stop it, you're making me blush..."
She could hear the whispers around her.
"Is that who I think it is? No way..."
"I haven't seen her at one of these events ever since..."
"It's been years, hasn't it? She's beautiful..."
It didn't take much for Chloe to realise they weren't talking about her. She turned to see a face that she thought she'd never see again. And she was infuriated.
"What the hell are you doing here?! I thought you'd learned your lesson, you ugly foreigner! Have you forgotten what happened?!" Chloe laughed cruelly. "Makes sense, since you're so stupid!"
A young woman stood in the entrance, in a large, beautiful gown with baby pink chiffon fading into a darker pink. It had a Chinese style top with a high neck and navy accents. In her hand she held a soft pink fan with gold spots and handle. Her dark navy hair was tied up in a high bun, with red wooden sticks and pink tassels protruding from it.
It had indeed been years since Marinette Dupain-Cheng had shown her face at an event like this. She was stronger now.
*seven years ago*
"Oh, look who it is. It's that foreign girl. You know, the one with the weird clothes. Isn't she stupid, Adrikins?"
The girl with the dark hair stiffened up. She could never speak to the prince. She stuttered whenever she tried to do so, so she kept out of his way and low on his radar. All because of a childish crush.
"Chloe, that's mean." The prince attempted.
"Ugh. I mean, just look at her, always hiding in the corner, like she doesn't want to be around you! But, I guess that's why you're going to marry me, because I always give you lots of attention... Hey, Pigtails! Why won't you come over here!" The bossy teen with the golden hair shouted.
"Chloe, leave her alon-"
"I said come over here! Who do you think you are? Ignoring me... Tch."
The whole room had turned to watch the commotion. Nobody could touch the Bourgeois Family, so they remained silent.
The little girl with the pigtails shuffled over, mortified. She could kick Chloe's butt in a matter of seconds, but that would jeopardise her family.
"H-Have I don't something wrong?" The shy girl asked.
Adrien thought she was very pretty, but he didn't even know her name.
"Ugh YEAH of course, don't think I'd waste my precious time on you for no reason... You should leave. And never come back. You're just a baker's daughter, you're lame, you don't deserve to be near the prince!"
"Actually I-"
"Don't talk back!" Chloe screamed, throwing her drink all over the poor little girl. The drips echoed like thunder as they hit the floor. Chloe grabbed a slice of cake off of the table and smooshed it in the girl's hair. The little girl began to cry.
"That's what I thought, your so pathetic-"
The girl paused. Then in a split second, she sent the whole dessert table flying towards Chloe, demonstrating immense strength and gut.
Marinette turned on her heel and stormed out, never to show her face again.
Or so she thought at the time.
*End flashback*
"No way," the whispers continued, "dessert table girl is back? Good on her!"
Somebody yelled.
"It's dessert table girl!"
People began to laugh and clap, reminiscing the first time anyone held their own against Chloe.
Aside from Mari herself, only two people remained silent.
A furious girl and an awestruck boy.
The girl who flipped the table was Mari?! He hadn't known who she was, but looking back now, it was so obvious! He'd laughed for days about that, in private obviously, and thought it was the funniest thing that he'd ever seen! He'd always wanted to know who dessert table girl was, but never had the right chance to ask, especially not with Chloe around.
The clapping died. And it was then that he took the time to look at her.
She was every bit as beautiful as the time he met Ladybug, in that dark room, if not more so now that he could see her face. Despite their plans, tonight was going to be incredible.