"Good Morning Students," greeted Principal Damocles to the Third year class of Francois Dupont, who had all been congregated into their auditorium. "The time has come to choose Francois Dupont's new student government. Student Body President is a magnificent burden, an excruciating opportunity. Now, let's have some nominations for this glorious, thankless task."
Marinette looked around at the students gathered, trying to guess who would be a good president for their final year of high school.
"I nominate Chloe Bourgeois," exclaimed Sabrina, gesturing to the smug girl sitting next to her.
"Anyone but Chloe," groaned Nino, who was sitting next to Adrien, who sat next to Marinette, who sat next to Alya.
"Anyone else? This is a democracy people."
Marinette looked around, people shifting nervously in their seats. Marinette wouldn't be surprised if Chloe blackmailed several of them into not running.
"I nominate Marinette Dupain-Cheng!"
Marinette turned to the voice, to see Alya standing, lifting her hand as she did.
"What? no!" Marinette whispered as she pulled Alya down beside her. "What are you thinking?"
"This is perfect for you girl! You are way more popular than Chloe."
"Ladybug is more popular than Chloe."
"Who is you. Plus you would be way better at the job than her."
Marinette shrugged, no rebuttal for that other than anyone would be better than Chloe.
"Plus this is the perfect distraction after… you know. I'll even be your campaign manager."
"Ladies, is Marinette running or not?" The girls turned to Principal Damocles, Marinette biting her lip. True, this would be a good distraction, but her missions had been doing a good job of that. But this would also be a step toward maybe being a little more normal than a teen hero, maybe even help get a boyfriend.
"Fine," she grumbled, Alya immediately standing, pulling Marinette up with her.
"She's running."
The student body erupted into cheers, Marinette blushing as she smiled at the crowd.
"Perfect, you'll have one week to campaign!"
Marinette sat in the cafeteria trying to eat her lunch in silence, but Alya was quick to join her, followed by Nino and Adrien.
"Girl this is going to be so exciting, I can picture your win already. Oo, we should go miniature golfing later."
"Miniature golf," asked Nino?
"Some of the best campaigns are thought of on the golf course."
"Look Alya, I don't care about big political deals! I just wanna help the students."
"Which we know Chloe won't."
"So we'll just run this honestly, saying I'll give it my all if they vote for me."
"Which they will. But it still doesn't hurt to come up with some strategies."
Alya kept rambling, Marinette looking at her other two friends. Nino was on his phone, openly not paying attention to whatever Alya was saying. Adrien though was looking over at Marinette, swallowing his food before mouthing, "Are you ok?"
"Overwhelmed," she mouthed back.
"Marinette!" Marinette turned to see Rose and Juleka approach them.
"Way to go, Marinette! You are going to make a wonderful president," cheered Rose, Juleka giving Marinette a thumbs up.
"Thanks you guys. Why didn't you run though Rose?"
"Chloe told me that if I ran for the election, I'd get kicked out of the decoration committee for prom!"
Marinette offered a small smile in understanding, her confirmed hunch that Chloe had blackmailed people out of running being correct.
"That monster," growled Alya. "We will make sure justice is served, and Chloe can hurt no one anymore after this election."
Rose stared at Alya in awe, even Juleka's eyes sparkled in reverence.
"Alya, how come you didn't run for president if you are so invested in this?"
"I'm applying for secretary. There's another girl running for it, but if we doubled our campaign, we'd be shoe ins!" Alya clasped Marinette's hands in hers, her face wild in excitement.
"Now, about our strategy…" Alya started, Nino quick to interrupt.
"Sorry to interrupt your strategizing Alya, we got a hit from the majesty King Ahmed."
"And should I know who that is," asked Marinette?
"He rules a tiny European nation."
"How tiny," asked Adrien, leaning over.
"The Le Grand Paris Hotel is more crowded. Anyway, he has a son, Prince Ali, who needs your help."
"Prince Ali!" Everyone at the table turned to Rose, whose face turned as pink as her clothes when she realized that statement was said out loud.
"You know him," asked Adrien.
"Of him, he came to Paris last year hosting a charity drive for the children's hospital. But in the last few months, he disappeared from mainstream media. No one knows why though."
"Fishy, we're on it Nino."
"They sent the royal jet," exclaimed Marinette as she and Adrien approached their transportation, both properly dressed for their mission.
"Spanking," commented Adrien as he stepped ahead of Marinette, who had taken a pic for the blog.
"As your campaign manager, I must veto this mission. This helping the people who don't go to our school isn't helping you in the polls," argued Alya over a skype call.
"What polls," argued Marinette.
"These two people sitting behind me." Alya turned her phone to show two kids Marinette did not recognize waving at her. Looking more into the view, Marinette noticed Nino ordered at a counter of a restaurant she hadn't seen before.
"Where are you guys anyway?"
"A new restaurant across the park opened up called Bueno Nacho. Mexican fast food. Nino wanted to try it out."
"Bueno Nacho?" Adrien was suddenly next to Marinette examining the view from Alya's phone.
"You heard of it," Marinette asked.
Adrien furrowed his brows really hard, as if trying to remember something.
"Nope doesn't ring a bell." Adrien continued on into the jet.
"Anyway Alya, we'll talk about my poll numbers later. Right now, we gotta jet."
"Oo, that's a good one," Adrien grinned at Marinette as she hung up her phone, following him into their transport.
"What can I say? I learned my puns from the best."
Marinette and Adrien were driven from the small stretch of land the people of Achu called an airport to the royal castle in ten minutes, getting a full tour of the royal city included in their drive. Once securely inside the castle gates did the vehicle stop, allowing the two teens to exit the limo. The front door of the castle peered open a smidge, the head of a boy about their age peeping out. Once three sets of eyes met, he quickly opened the door a little more before running out to meet them.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir! It is, how you say, totally awesome to meet you!"
He took Marinette's hand in his own, shaking it vigorously.
"Ladybug, it is an honor to meet you. I have been following your blog ever since our country was able to get internet."
"Great, um, nice to meet you…" Responded Marinette as Ali continued shaking her hand.
"Prince Ali. But you may call me Ali. And you must be Chat Noir."
Ali switched from Marinette's hands to Adrien's, Adrien returning the gesture enthusiastically. "To be honest I almost applied for the assistant position when Ladybug asked for a partner, but I knew my schedule would be to busy to be of any help. But after reading the blog when you came in, I am so glad she picked you."
"Thank you! That means a lot to me."
"Please tell me you brought Plagg!"
Adrien smiled, lifting the pocket of his pouch to reveal the sleepy cat, Ali cooing at the sight of the cat before reaching to pet him.
"Prince Ali! Prince Ali!" A woman's voice rang out from inside the palace, the voice belonging to a woman who could compete with Rose with how much pink she was wearing.
"Prince Ali!" She rushed over to him, pulling his hands out of Adrien's before wiping them with a wet wipe from her purse.
"You must be more careful. Plus greeting guests is not on the schedule."
"But it's Ladybug and Chat Noir!"
"And you don't know where they have been, plus you father is expecting them. We can't keep him waiting."
Ali sighed as the woman finished cleaning his hands.
"Yes Rosalba."
"Actually ma'am," Adrien stepped forward, placing a hand on Marinette's shoulder. "Ladybug here usually handles the formal work, I'm just the sidekick. But I would love for a tour of the castle from Prince Ali."
Rosalba frowned as she pulled out a clipboard from under her arm, "I'm afraid Prince Ali doesn't have time for a tour."
"Oh really, not even for the son of Gabriel Agreste who might consider visiting Achu if he finds my report favorable."
The woman's eyes widened, the she furiously began searching through her notes on the clipboard.
"What are you doing," whispered Marinette to Adrien, "We're partners. You're not my sidekick."
"I know, but how she treats him made me feel… it reminded me, of home. Before Chat Noir. And you heard Rose, Ali hasn't been seen out in public for months. Probably doesn't really have much friends based on her schedule."
Marinette nodded in agreement, understand Adrien's plan. He basically wanted to give Ali a chance to make a friend, even while under this woman's thumb. He seemed like a nice kid, and who better to befriend him than Adrien.
"I'm sure we can make time." The woman looked up and smiled, Adrien returning the gesture.
"Follow me!" Ali raced back to the castle, followed by Adrien, with Marinette and Rosalba following.
"So you are in what relation to Prince Ali?"
"His chaperone. I oversee the Prince's schedule, education, and protection. Especially in case of, well, his majesty will brief on it."
Marinette and Rosalba stepped inside the castle, Ali and Adrien already gone from sight.
"Oh no! Prince Ali!" Rosalba began running down the halls searching for him, leaving Marinette alone in the entry hall.
"Miss Ladybug!" Marinette turned at her name to find an elder gentleman dressed in in a white military suit, with several medals and honors pinned to his chest.
"King Ahmed, I presume," Marinette gave a slightly before the king extended his hand, Marinette immediately straightening from her position to accept the handshake.
"Yes, I see you have met my son and his chaperone."
"Yes, though I'm not quite sure where they went off to."
"I thinking I heard him talking to Mr. Chat Noir about Go-karts before they ran off. But so long as Mr. Chat Noir is with him, they should be safe."
"Safe from what?"
The king sighed, "Follow me Miss Ladybug."
King Ahmed lead her down the great hallway to their right, making a couple more turns until they reached a hallway filled with old tapestries depicting kings of old.
"I have a problem, a terrible, ancient problem."
"Ancient?"
The king gestured to the tapestry above them. "It all started centuries ago with our first king. Unfortunately my ancestor ruled the country with cruel arrogance. He was despised by his own subjects, particularly his own knights. The Knights of Darkblade. They were determined to dethrone him. Secret plans were drafted, but they failed. Their grudge was passed down from generation to generation. Even today the descendants of the royal knight still hope, still plotting to end he royal lineage."
"But if your family has been ok for all these generations, what's the problem now?"
"You've met my son."
"Yeah, nice kid."
"Yes, although he has a hard time stepping up for himself. The charity thing was great for a while, but there are other diplomatic matters of state he needs to start assuming. And I am afraid he just isn't ready for that."
"Because of Rosalba?"
"While she is strict with him, I don't believe she is limiting his full purpose in anyway."
"Right…"
"Can I wear these," asked Adrien as Ali stepped out of the changing room with his go kart riding gear on. The prince opened his mouth, but the sound that came out was of his chaperone.
"There you boys are. And what are you doing with the Prince's royal riding wear?"
"I wanted to know if I could use them? You know, to ride the go kart?"
The woman crossed her arms to ponder. "I suppose we could burn them later."
Adrien frowned at the comment, but putting on the riding equipment, watching how the chaperone tried to talk the prince out of riding go karts.
"Are we ready to ride," he asked, drawing the attention of the two other persons.
Ali smiled and quickly jumped into his go kart, putting on his helmet. Adrien jumped in his own, putting on his helmet as Ali drove off, Adrien following shortly after. Leaving a nervous Rosalba behind.
Ali leaded them out onto the royal track, which was most dirt and sand if anything.
"You got be careful here, the turns are very tricky. It helps to drift into the turns, "warned Ali through the helmet comms.
"Lucky for me then that I am a master of Mario Kart."
"What's Mario Kart?"
"It's a racing game."
"Oo, I should try that if I ever get to visit your country."
Ali shifted into gear, drifting easily into the first major turn. Adrien though, instead of drifting right, ended up turning left.
"I thought you knew how drift," exclaimed Ali.
"In video games. Keep going, I'll catch up with you."
"Ok, to head back to the palace try to keep making a circle then with your turns, so since you just turned left, keep turn left."
"Got it."
"I can't believe there are knights, in this day and age," commented Marinette.
"Oh, they are quite modern. They have a website."
"A website?"
"They have embraced the 21st century, and they are more determined than ever to abolish the monarchy."
"Well, no offense your majesty, but how do you know this website really is run by these knights? It could be hackers playing a prank."
"No, I fear for my son." The king's lament was interrupted by a boyish scream from outside, Marinette and King Ahmed rushing to the window to see what was the matter. Peering over the balcony, they could see the royal go-kart track, lasers being fired at one of the go karts.
Marinette pulled out her grabbing yoyo and attached it to the balcony before flying over the edge, landing at the entrance of the go kart stalls at the attacked go-kart passed by.
"Ali, come in Ali!" Marinette heard Rosalba's voice from inside, rushing into to see her watching footage of the go kart track from multiple black and white camera feeds, including ones from the boys' helmets.
"Which one is Ali," asked Marinette?
"I'm not sure. They got separated, but their tracks look the same I can't tell who is the one in trouble and who isn't."
Marinette frowned, calling Nino in on her wrist communicator.
"Nino! Come in Nino!"
Nino's bed head came on screen as he pulled his glasses off his bedside.
"Do you have any idea what time it?"
"Um? Still the middle of the day."
"It's time for my afternoon nap."
"Ri-ight. Anyway, are you picking up any aircraft in this area."
"No, my scans show nothing."
"Scan higher, there's gotta be something."
Nino looked away as something began beeping in the back of his room near his desk. He pulled his phone up with him as he went over to the computer.
"That's weird."
"What?"
"I'm pulling up a satellite that's in geosynchronous orbit."
"Government? Military?"
"A private company called… Darkblade Industries."
"The Knights of Darkblade! I need the communicator to broadcast a scramble signal."
Marinette ran out to the course where the targeted driver was last headed, jumping on his kart when he passed.
"Stop," she instructed as she held up her watch.
"On it LB," came the reply, Marinette recognizing the voice of Adrien. Adrien began slowing down the kart to a halt.
"Laser fire should stop about … now."
On queue, the firing stopped.
Adrien slumped in relief, pulling out Plagg who looked scared to death by the whole ordeal.
"You rock Nino!"
"Can I go back to my nap now?"
Marinette smiled at the watch before hanging up, Adrien taking off his helmet.
"What was that," asked Adrien.
"Prince Ali!" came the panicked voices of Rosalba and King Ahmed.
"Where's my son," demanded the king.
Just then, another go kart came into view, the driver lifting the visor to reveal a shy Prince Ali.
The king breathed a sigh of relief while Rosalba rushed over to Ali in a tizzy.
"Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?"
"No, I'm fine. Chat -"
"That boy is the reason you could have been killed. You should have stuck to your schedule like I told you to," Rosalba continued to ramble on, the king stepping beside Marinette and Adrien.
"As you see Miss Ladybug, I have urgent need of your services. You simply must stay. My son is not safe here. Every step outside here places a target on him."
"Can't. Chat and I have school. Plus there's the election."
"What's an election," asked Ali?
"Something Alya will be made about if Marinette doesn't show for school."
Marinette grimaced at the thought. Never mind disappointing her classmates. Mad Alya was never a good Alya.
"I've got it! Why don't you take Ali back to France with you? France is larger than our country. Not as large as America, which would be preferable, but still, large enough to hide in."
Adrien and Marinette smiled at the idea, Ali's grin reaching from ear to ear.
"Your majesty. I must beg you to reconsider," insisted Rosalba, "Two teenagers alone would not be able to protect him in Paris if they have their own lives and this election. If Ali is leaving, I simple must accompany him and make sure he sticks to his schedule and education."
Three smiles immediately dropped.
Marinette, Adrien and Gabriel Agreste stood in the foyer of the Agreste home, watching the whirlwind that was Rosalba take over the mansion, Ali following dutifully at her side.
"Thank you for allowing Ali and Rosalba to stay here. You have a lot more space than my family's apartment."
Gabriel only frowned as Rosalba made her way to the chef.
"And make sure to remove the crusts off any sandwiches before they are presented to Prince Ali. Especially the cucumber sandwiches. And their skins must be completely peeled."
Gabriel's frowned grew darker.
"It won't be fore long, " insisted Adrien, "Just until he's out of danger."
Gabriel nodded, sighing as he turned to leave, "I'll be in my office. Please let me know when she leaves."
Rosalba was about to make her way to Gabriel when he slammed the door behind him to his office, Nathalie immediately stepping in front to block.
"At least he didn't say anything bad about Ali," offered Marinette.
Marinette sat in front of her house, waiting for Adrien and Ali to show up. From what Adrien had reported, Ali seemed excited to go to school, even wearing some of Adrien's clothes made him giddy.
Marinette remembered how excited was about school back when he first started. He was so cute how he got excited with everything related to school, and that probably how Ali would be, although not as cute as Adrien. In a friendship-not-crushing sort of way.
Adrien's car pulled up along the curb, the door opening to reveal a depressed Adrien, depressed Ali dressed in normal clothes, and a resolute Rosalba stepping out of the vehicle.
Marinette immediately pulled Adrien to her side.
"Please don't tell."
"I won't then. But she might."
"I have decided it is in Ali's best interest I accompany him to school," announced Rosalba.
Marinette forced her grimace into a smile.
"Rosalba, the point of Ali being here is to keep a low profile. If you follow him, he isn't really keeping a low profile."
"I think Prince Ali's 'low profile' has already been blown." She nodded to across the street, where at the school were a few dozen reporters waiting.
Marinette paled.
"Maybe they are here for Chloe's campaign," offered Adrien.
"Yeah," Marinette squeaked, "let's hope."
Adrien frowned, turning towards his friend.
"You told Alya, didn't you?"
"I told Alya because I blew her off last night to make posters by helping Ali get situated," Marinette groaned into her hands.
Adrien shook his head, leading the group to the lion's den. They were immediately surrounded by reporters.
"Prince Ali!" "Prince Ali, how do you like Paris?" "What do you think of the state of relations between Achu and France?" The reporters kept questioning as they pressed to the group.
"People! People! Back up!" Yelled a familiar voice, Alya stepping out of the crowd. "The press conference will begin shortly." Adrien and Marinette both simultaneously smacked their heads before grabbing Alya by the arms and pulling her away from the reporters, a terrified Ali, and Rosalba who looked ready to drop kick anyone who got too close to Ali.
"Press Conference?! Alya, I told you Ali staying here was to be a secret."
"Marinette, your campaign needs a boost. And what's a better boost than getting endorsed by a Prince?"
Marinette's rebuttal was cut off by the cheers of other students who had gathered.
"Nadja Chamack. Don't be bemused, it's just the news! I have here with me Prince Ali from the kingdom of Achu, here with his chaperone and personal body guard, Rosalba Lira. Prince Ali, we were told you wanted to endorse someone for this school's upcoming election."
Ali was about to speak, when Rosalba stepped closer to the microphone Nadja was holding.
"Oh yes, I believe she was running," Rosalba pointed towards Marinette, who immediately stood at attention, awkwardly smiling. "Miss Ladybug, I believe. A bit high strung to ever be a world class leader, um, but perfectly adequate for a public high school."
The moment the cameras had shifted away from Marinette, Adrien was certain he could see Marinette's face turn red.
"I suppose you think Prince Ali would be a better class president then?"
Ali was about to speak again, when Rosalba cut him off, her face beaming with pride, "Well of course! He has been groomed for greatness!"
"Are you saying Prince Ali would be a better class president than Marinette Dupain-Cheng?"
"Oh I'm not saying that."
Four teens collectively sighed in relief.
"Because it goes without saying," Rosalba began to chuckle, several of the other news reporters chuckling with her, Nadja chuckling nervously.
Now Adrien was certain steam with coming out of Marinette's ears, he face fifty shades redder than before.
Rosalba then began flipping through her notepad, glancing up and smiling, "Perhaps his highness will toss his crown into the ring after all."
Several people cheered, Marinette calming her composure as Nadja and her camera man came over.
"Marinette how do you feel about running against royalty?"
Marinette took the mic from Nadja to respond, "I relish the competition, because that's what democracy is all about. Earning the right to lead."
"Unless of course one has the birthright to lead," answered Rosalba for Ali.
"And the person who has the birth is who exactly? You? Because Ali hasn't even said for himself if he wants to run."
Several people gasped from the crowd, including an "Oh snap" that sounded like it came from Alya.
Ali was about to take the mic, but Rosalba grabbed it before him.
"He will run and he will be victorious, I as his guardian shall make sure of it. It is his natural right to lead."
"And there you have it folks," Nadja quickly took the microphone back. "Francois Dupont is in for Battle Royale."
"Who will win, the prince or the pauper," concluded Nadja Chamack, as a Marinette, Adrien, Nino, Alya, and Ali gathered around Nino's laptop.
"Pauper," Marinette grumbled, scooting in her seat before sending a glare to Rosalba, who was busy planning Ali's campaign trail at another table nearby. Luckily, she was too busy planning to notice Marinette's scowl.
"Sorry girl, I thought it was going to help," apologized Alya.
"Oh it helped, because I am going to make sure to win against that… that… chaperone now."
"Marinette," Ali's small voice spoke up, drawing everyone's attention at that table.
"I'm sorry about this morning. I did really want to endorse you. But Rosalba…"
"Got ahead of herself," answered Alya for Ali.
"At least you can tell she is really proud of you," offered Adrien.
"Proud of me, or what she groomed me to be," moaned Ali as he traded his perfected sandwich for Adrien's sandwich with crusts on.
"Um, excuse me, Prince Ali?"
The group turned to see Rose, unable to look Ali in the eye for more than a second, hands clasped behind her back.
"Um, my name is Rose Lavillant, and I, uh, well, I really admired the work you were doing with the sick children a few months back. I just wanted to let you know you are the most kind hearted person I have ever met. I known. I meant met, because I just met you, now. I real life."
Ali grinned from ear to ear, patting the space beside him for Rose to join him. Rose returned the smile as she sat beside him, Juleka sitting beside her.
"Maybe Rose can help actually win the competition for himself," teased Alya.
"Whose side are you on," scolded Marinette.
"Yours of course. Maybe Ali if he and Rose come up with a campaign."
Marinette scowled as she put away her lunch.
"Come on, let's go plan out campaign." Marinette grabbed Alya by the wrist, pulling her and their stuff to another table.
Adrien looked between Ali, Rose, and Juleka, who were deep in a discussion, and Marinette and Alya who were writing notes and talking animatedly with each other.
"Should we do something?"
"Nah, but check this out," Nino shifted his laptop for Adrien to look at.
"What am I looking at?"
"Darkblade's website. But I can't exactly figure out what this line means."
Nino pointed to a short quip of a line.
"The tapestry holds the truth."
Both boys thought about the line, Adrien snapping his fingers with recollection.
"Marinette mentioned when she met with the king, there was a tapestry of the evil first king."
"That's probably it," I'll see if I can find someone who can help."
Adrien and Nino entered one of the back restoration rooms of the Louvre, King Ahmed on video call.
"I assure you Mr. Chat Noir, my best people have examined the tapestry. They found nothing."
"Can't hurt to double check. Thanks for shipping it over so fast. We'll let you know if we find anything. Bye." Adrien hung up the call.
"All right boys," announced Mr. Kubel from another room behind glass with a control panel in front of him, "A couple more minutes and I'll be ready to run the sequence."
"Sure thing Mr. Kubel," called out Adrien," It's awesome Alix's dad has this equipment."
"We he does restore art," answered Nino, "and close chemical examinations is what they sometimes need to do. Should we let him know to wait for Marinette?"
"Marinette told me to go on without her since she's a day behind planning the campaign. Apparently Ali and Rose are already planning a toy drive for some children, but Rosalba is running a mile a minute with planning his campaign, from what Alya was able to gather. She hear Rosalba mention playing mini golf."
"Well there go all of Marinette's strategies to win if the golf course if taken. Although, that Bueno Nacho Alya and I went to would be a good alternative."
"Maybe we can grab some after this?"
"Dude, it would totally wreck your model diet."
Adrien shrugged, "Maybe a salad then."
"I think I saw that on the menu. Not 100% since I wasn't looking for salads."
"And we are ready," announced Mr. Kubel as he pulled down his goggles, the boys doing the same.
"Thanks for letting us use this Mr. Kubel."
"No problem. It's the least I could do after you saved me from Hawkmoth."
The lights began to dim as a machine was lowered from the ceiling. Mr. Kubel began to move the light beam it projected slowly across the tapestry.
"See anything," he called out.
"Not yet," responded Adrien.
The beam was lowered, a sparkle flickering as it moved.
"Hold it, there's something there. Can you widen the beam," called out Nino.
"Sure thing."
The beam was widened to reveal several lines of a poem.
"Awaiting the light of a full flower moon, Darkblade's foe will soon face his doom. In the shadow of the palace we will not be detoured, the monarchy ends with Ali the Third."
The boys repeated this information at lunch the next day to Ali, his chaperone/campaign manager, and the girls.
"So should we go back to a low profile," asked Ali.
"Don't worry your highness. You have me here to protect you, plus your campaign is going so wonderfully, I heard the other girl running, Chloe has practically dropped out of the race, pledging you her support," insisted Rosalba.
"This is serious," scolded Marinette, "Ali we can definitely confirm is the target, and this weekend is a full moon."
"This Friday also happens to be the election, which you would very much like to win," accused Rosalba, glaring at Marinette.
"Would you just stop about the election," yelled Marinette, getting closer to Rosalba.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Rosalba returned the menacing glare, her face closer to Marinette's.
"I would like to save Ali from the Knights of Darkblade."
The women continued to glare at each other, not even noticing as Ali slipped away to join Rose and Juleka at another nearby table.
Rosalba eventually sighed and resumed her seat, going over Ali's campaign notes.
"Miss Ladybug, the prophecy clearly states that Prince Ali would need to be in the shadow of the palace. Now do you see the palace? I don't, do you? Plus it stated Full Flower Moon, which," she chuckled at the notion, "It entirely ridiculous. Moons don't have flowers"
Marinette lowered herself back into her seat. "That's true I guess. But there are other palaces here in Paris. Flower moon could be a code or something they use for full moon."
"So we'll just keep Ali away from those until the full moon is over . No need to go historical sightseeing of failed politician homes," taunted Rosalba as she gathered her documents, and moved to the table Ali was currently occupying.
"Not all of them failed," grumbled Marinette before she took up a bucket of campaign pins to pass around the lunch hall. Alya turned to the two boys and shrugged before following after her bff, leaving the boys alone to lunch in peace.
That Thursday, Marinette saw the full effect of Rosalba's campaign plan for Ali. Posters in every corner of the school, giant flags with his face in the entry hall. Nearly every student was wearing his campaign button including Chloe and Sabrina who were now campaigning for Ali.
Marinette grumbled under her breath, Alya supporting a wicked grin as the other boys scooted away to their lockers.
"How do you feel about the campaign now," Alya teased.
"Rosalba is going down."
Long after school hours were over, a lone dark figure ran through the hallways, replacing Ali posters with posters of Marinette and Alya. A a ringtone disrupted the quiet, a screen illuminating the intruders face to reveal Marinette, her hair tied up in a bun.
"Hey Adrien, what's the sitch."
"I've been doing some research… is that a new look?"
"Yeah, voters wanted it pulled back for a more mature look. What do you think?"
Marinette held up her watch to the side of her head to give Adrien a better look, not seeing the blush creeping across his cheeks.
"It um. You look, um cu-mature. Like you were going for. Shouldn't you be working on your campaign speech?"
"Already have it done. Alya took the early shift for campaigning while I wrote it, so now I'm doing last minute campaigning as she writes hers."
Marinette pulled back down the watch as she continued to put up posters around the school.
"Smart, I guess. Anyway, I was doing some research on Full Flower Moon like the prophecy said. Turns out it refers to a full moon during the month of May. Ancient civilizations believe it meant increased fertility for plants, animals, and people. Also a popular time to propose."
"That explains why prom is in May."
"Probably. That also explains that attack back in Achu. They know the prophecy should be fulfilled on a full moon this month."
"Yeah, but like Rosalba said. No palace, no prophecy."
"I guess. I mean the only places he's gone while in Paris is here, your house, the school and miniature golf."
"Where is he now anyway."
"By process of elimination, I'm going with the mini golf."
Marinette suddenly gasped in realization, "The sixth hole?"
"The what now?" Marinette brought her watch back into her field of view.
"The sixth hole at the mini golf. It's a palace."
Adrien's eyes went wide.
"Meet you there in 10 minutes tops."
Marinette and Adrien leapt over the fence just as an explosion sounded from the fifth hole. They quickly rushed over, Marinette jumping between a man in a knight's armor wielding a quarterstaff who had been approaching Rosalba and Ali while Adrien jumped behind in case of a second opponent.
"I can't allow you to smash my presidential opponent," snarked Marinette as she crawled towards the man, using her foot to push him back into the rumble of the destroyed pyramid.
"Oh thank goodness you've arrived," whined Rosalba as she clung to Marinette's arm. As Marinette looked at Rosalba in disgusted, she noticed another knight approaching them from the side. Rosalba and Ali both screamed as they clung to Marinette and Adrien.
"Watch out, he has a mace," announced Adrien and he pushed back Ali, guarding the boy.
All of a sudden, the charging knight's weapon began to glow orangish-yellow, shooting lasers from its spikes.
"A mace that shoots lasers," Adrien amended as he and Marinette urged the prince and his chaperone to run, the two heroes following while dodging the lasers. Taking the lead, Marinette grabbed Rosalba's wrist and pulled her over a knoll, Ali and Adrien following close behind. The group was then stopped by the knight they had knocked over before looking at the top of the hill.
"Awaiting the light of a full flower moon,"
A second voice joined in, the group turning to see the knight with the mace had caught up to them, "Darkblade's foe will soon face his doom. In the shadow of the palace we will not be detoured, the monarchy ends with Ali the Third."
As the knights closed in, Rosalba's frightened countenance turned in a dark glare as she push Ali away from the group.
"Run your highness," she insisted as she positioned herself to fight. Ali quickly turned on his heels and ran only to be stopped by the knight with the quarterstaff. Just as the knight reached out to grab him, Marinette whipped out her yoyo, latching it onto the match's wrist.
"Leave him alone!"
"That's none of your concern little girl," the knight chided as he pulled on the yoyo, pulling Marinette after it and onto the ground.
"Voters will not like this," remarked Rosalba more to herself than anyone. Adrien shook his head as he pulled the golf club out of her hand.
"LB, Catch!" He tossed Marinette the club, Marinette immediately jumping up to catch it before landing into a defensive position.
The knight with the mace immediately sparked the weapon, smiling a victorious grin. Marinette brought down the club as she launched her yoyo into the tree above latching onto a sturdy branch. Marinette quickly grabbed Ali, and pulled him up with her as the Mace Knight fired a laser, hitting the Quarterstaff knight, knocking him into the tree, which caused Ali to lose his grip on Marinette and fall back to the ground.
As the smoke cleared, the knight lifted up his visor to look at the other knight, who also lifted his visor.
"Be careful with that thing!"
"Oops," the Mace Knight offered apologetically as his comrade stood up and pulling up Ali to his height by the collar of his shirt.
"No let him go!" Rosalba then jumped out from where she was, clutching onto the Quarterstaff knight's arm, trying to release his grip on Ali. Only for the Mace knight to pull her off.
"Let him go! The king will give you anything, gold jewels, property! He give you-"
All of a sudden a miniature cruise liner came sliding down the hill crashed into the two knights, separating them from their captured prey. The only thing remaining of the former hole was a very smug Adrien
"-nothing. On second thought the king will give you nothing," Rosalba taunted. The boat began to rise, revealing one knight lifting it off himself and his partner, both of them immediately stalking towards Rosalba and Ali. Rosalba fell to her knees, pulling Ali with her.
"Please don't hurt him, the King with give you anything!"
Before either knight could blink, a string appeared out of the tree, wrapping around Ali and Rosalba, quickly pulling them into the hidden foliage of the tree and next to Marinette.
"Stay here and be quiet," she warned them, keeping her pointed finger on Rosalba a moment longer before jumping out of the tree onto the top with a miniature windmill, facing the two knights.
"The prophecy never mentioned her," questioned the Quarterstaff Knight to his comrade.
"Prophecy smophecy," she taunted. The Quarterstaff Knight began running towards the windmill, using his weapon to pole vault him onto the roof of the windmill, Marinette falling off when he landed. She quickly grabbed onto a rotating arm of the windmill, using its momentum to launch a kick at the knight, knocking him off the windmill and setting her back on top.
"Maybe you should rethink this whole career choice," she recommended as she watched them from her perch.
The Mace Knight was looking over his wounded partner, who briefly moved his head up before it fell back down again.
"That's it," the Mace Knight yelled out as he swung his glowing mace over his head, "No more mister nice guy!" He swung the mace over his head, the laser firing at the windmill, creating a giant cloud of smoke in its wake.
He chuckling as he examined the rubble, "All to easy."
His victory was short lived as he heard a female grunt, turning to find Marinette clinging on to the miniature Tower of Pisa.
"Give it up girl," he called out as he approached the tower.
Marinette noticed the ground beginning to shake, eyeing a popular American themed course. She jumped off the tower and rolled near the hole.
"We don't want you. We only want the prince," stated the Mace Knight as he changed his direction, a bell ring as the ground continued to tremble. Just as the knight was about to step over the hole, a burst of water appeared out of it, shooting the knight into the air. The man made geyser eventually ceased, returning the knight to the ground, where he too fell unconscious.
Marinette smirked as Adrien came over and rolled the knight up in a chunk of the fake grass before kicking him down the hill.
"I would have to say this hole is appropriately named," teased Marinette as she approached Adrien, gesturing to the hole's wooden sign.
Adrien chuckled, "Old Faithful indeed."
Police crowded around the mini golf, leading away the two knights into their police cars.
"You expect me to believe that two knights came to Paris' Mini Golf to carry out some ancient prophecy," asked Officer Raincomprix, lifting his cap in mild suspicious.
"I can't make this stuff up," argued Marinette, but the police officer just scratched his eyebrow with his pen.
"Let go over it one more time," Adrien breathed in as he began repeating his account of what happened, including the tapestry.
Meanwhile, Marinette noticed Ali helping Rosalba out of the tree.
"Ladybug, you saved the Prince's life, and mine as well," gushed Rosalba, Ali grinning from ear to ear as if he knew Marinette would save the day, which he probably did.
"No big, just doing the teen hero thing."
"No, you are a true leader, you have my vote," Rosalba extended her hand in a truce, Marinette accepting the shake.
"Um, I don't think you actually can vote since you aren't a student," corrected Ali.
"Well then, you may vote for her in my stead."
Ali offered Marinette a small smile on behalf of his chaperone, "I'll vote for you because I know you would be a great class president."
"Thank Ali."
"Your highness?" Both teens turned to Rosalba, who was looking quite ashamed of herself.
"I know I have been pushing you with the campaign. I know you will make a great king some day, with some more learning of course. If you wish to drop out of the race, I completely understand."
Marinette and Ali both looked at each other in shock, then back to Rosalba, then Marinette back to Ali.
"Actually, I think I still wish to run, but Rose's way. I mean to way Rose helped me figure out. I even wrote a speech," he patted his jacket packet, "And if the people still want me after that. Then so be."
"And honest race then?" Marinette extended her hand to shake.
"An honest race. I look forward to it." Ali accepted Marinette hand in his own, both their eyes wild at the challenge.
"Alright, that's two votes for Marinette," announced Principal Damocles at the school assembly the next day.
"Zero votes for Chloe and 997 votes for Prince Ali." The students erupted in cheers at the announcement of the Student Body President for next year as the crowd began leaving the auditorium.
"Sorry girl," whispered Alya, who was sitting a row behind Marinette, having won the vote for Student Body Secretary.
"Well, this has been most invigorating race! Or as you would say, amazing," cheered Ali as he rose from his seat.
"Congratulations Son!" King Ahmed ran up to Ali, pulling him into a bone crushing hug, followed by Rosalba who was for once without her clipboard and all smiles. Following behind her was Ali's new campaign manager, Rose and her assistant, Juleka.
"Daddy! You made it!"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Now we must go home so you may continue to prepare to take over the crown."
"Yes, well actually, about that, there's been something I've been meaning to speak to you about. I've decided that after you retire, I would like to run for president of our land."
Immediately Marinette's ears perked up at that announcement.
"This contest has shown me is, as my Parisian home boys would say, totally radular."
Marinette immediately turned to glare at Nino, would had move to stand beside Alya, for the new phrase Ali picked up.
"Democracy?" Pondered the king, "But that would mean no more kings."
Adrien gasped from beside Marinette, "The prophecy! The monarchy ends with Ali the Third. It came true."
"So it has," agreed Rosalba.
"Cool, now you can go home and show the democracy thing," offer Marinette.
"No Marinette, I've decided to stay in Paris and finished my term as class president."
"But you won't even be class president until next fall," explained Marinette.
"Never to early to start. Come on Rose, let's take a look at our school budget for seat cushions," announced Ali, Rose quickly coming up beside him as he led his entourage out of the gym.
"So, looks like we get a new classmate," commented Nino, preparing to take an exit as well, when Alya pulled back his arm.
"Hold up just a minute there. Marinette only got two votes. Explain yourself, you too Adrien."
"Wait, Ali though was the other person who voted for Marinette, so why are you getting mad," asked Adrien.
"I'm mad because I voted for my best friend, but you two…"
The numbers sunk into the three at once, all turning to a guilty looking Marinette.
"The speech he and Rose wrote was really good. He'll be a great class president so long as he isn't under Rosalba's thumb."
"Girl, but that was your chance at, you know, normal teen thing, like you wanted."
Marinette shrugged.
"Eh, maybe the teen hero thing isn't so bad." She looked over to Adrien, who gave her a wink. Yeah, being a hero with Adrien wasn't that bad at all.
"So, celebrate Alya's victory at Bueno Nacho," asked Nino.
"Yes, no idea why, but the thought is making me hungry," responded Adrien as Nino lead them out of the gym.
So I'm going with adding the last two chapters to set up somethings, then jumping into So The Drama. This was more setting up the Bueno Nacho since it hadn't been included other than Adrien's time in California that no longer exists in this timeline (Which is why he keeps having weird Deja Vu).
I like Ali in the show, so that's why the assistant was the actual Wally replacement.
Fun fact, there are some little Easter eggs littered throughout the series, referring other things already established in the universe or involved with the show. Example would be the Chaperone, who doesn't have a name in the show, so I combined two of her voice actor's names. Same with the door man during Go Team Miraculous and Hyper Storm (the company that made Ultimate Mecha Strike in Vitru-Ladybug) is the name of one of the move sets Marinette uses. Those are the ones I can remember.
Thank you for your encouraging words for this story. I look forward to finishing it with you all.