"Marinette, my belly aches from all this laughter!" Nikki laughed, as Marinette had the Nutcracker doll of Cat Noir prance in front of her, as the Nutcracker music played in the background.

Oh, it felt good to laugh with her Kwami! Outside, a snowstorm had hit Paris, and even if Marinette missed Cat tonight for their daily patrol, she was glad to spend some quality time with her Kwami.

Eventually, Marinette yawned, smiling. "Come on, Nikki. Don't forget, I'm meeting Adrien in the morning for breakfast."

After changing into her pajamas, Nikki snuggled up to Marinette, watching her owner look at her Nutcracker prince. Gradually, Marinette's eyes grew heavy, and she floated off into a different world…..

The trees were heavy with snow, and Marinette took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of pine. She had been in her own pink bed, one moment and now…..

Marinette raised her head as she heard music coming towards her through the trees. Quietly, she walked, pausing as she came to a clearing, a perfect circle among the trees. She smiled as a Cat in a red jacket danced and frockled about to the music she had heard.

Then, suddenly, the music stops as the boy caught sight of her hiding in the trees. Marinette ducked back into the shadows, not feeling frightened, per se, but curious.

"Don't be shy, I mean you no harm," the cat-boy called, his voice warm, soothing and familiar. Marinette felt something hard and plastic-like in her hand, and found her Cat Noir nutcracker. She looked from the boy to her doll and back. "Did my doll come to life?" she gasped, stepping out of the shadows. The cat boy laughed. "No, but he sure is a handsome fellow!"

He bowed, taking Marinette's hand, giving it a gentle kiss. "My name is Cat Noir. Though I'm guessing you already knew that!" "Pleased to meet you. My name is Marinette." "Ah, when I first laid eyes on you, you looked like a Princess." Cat cocked his head, then snapped his fingers. "Princess, would you mind if I called you that?" Marinette stepped closer. "When I first saw you, you looked like a Prince."

Cat sighed, the playful look leaving his face. Marinette instinctively reached for his head. "What's wrong?" "The butterfly King, Hawkmoth, cursed me and turned me into a doll. Only Ladybug's magic can break the spell."

"Oh, Cat," Marinette whispered, clutching the doll to her chest, and the doll made a slight rattling sound. Cat perked up. "Might I see your doll?" Marinette nodded, handing it over. "Nutcrackers aren't just a pretty face," he joked, and Marinette felt her face grow pink. "There also good for cracking nuts, but there seems to be something inside."

Cat carefully shook the doll, and two red-and-black spotted earrings fell into his hands. Cat stilled, his eyes transfixed. "Cat, are you all right?" Cat looked up at Marinette, his voice barely above a whisper. "These are Ladybug's earrings. Which means your the holder of the Ladybug Miraculous. You can defeat Hawkmoth."

"What do I have to do?" Marinette asked, sliding the earrings in. "All you have to do is say, "Spots On."

"Spots On," Marinette gasped, as a pink light gently swirled around her. A red-and-black suit, identical to her earrings covered her.

"Ladybug. Ladybug?" Cat's voice brought her back down to earth. "You can open your eyes now." Ladybug opened her eyes, sparkling with confidence. "Let's go."

Cat carried her through the forest, his breath an even tempo. The woods smelled sweet. "Everything here is made from candy. After all, this is the Land of Sweets."

Cat told her that Hawkmoth lived in a castle, but he was cut off as a man in a dark purple suit suddenly confronted them. "I sensed your presence, Ladybug. Now, hand over your Miraculous!"

"No one should kept prisoner, or under a wicked spell. I challenge you!" Back and forth the heroes dueled, and at long last the Butterfly brooch flew off into Cat's hands.

"We did it!" Cat yelled in victory, but a mysterious fog swirled around them. Ladybug felt herself fading. "Wait, I didn't break the spell!"

Cat smiled at her, holding her hand as long as he possibly could. "You'll be back. Maybe now is not the time."

Marinette woke, morning sunlight streaming in the window. She still held the doll from last night, but during the night, her fingers had closed around Ladybug's as well.

"Marinette?" Marinette started, listening. "Adrien's here!" "My Prince! Come on, Tikki!" Little did the Princess know, Cat Noir, the Nutcracker prince as Adrien all along.

But that adventure would be a different day, when Marinette Dupain-Cheng, now Ladybug, would once again, visit the Land Of Sweets.