Chapter Text
Ms. Bustier’s classroom was fairly quiet as she taught. Though there were some whispered conversations going on, most students were paying attention as she went over the details of poetic structure. The chalkboard behind her was a mess of rules and examples.
For Marinette Dupain-Cheng, however, poetry wasn’t on her mind.
Marinette was bent over her notebook, scribbling furiously. It might have seemed like she was taking proper notes, but in reality, she was working out the latest plan to finally, *finally* get Adrien Agreste to notice her.
The corner of her notebook page folded upward slightly, revealing a small message in Alya’s handwriting:
*“What if you ‘accidentally’ bump into him after class? Classic rom-com style.”*
Marinette stifled a laugh as she wrote back.
*“I’ve tried bumping into him before! It never works because I freeze like an idiot! We need something subtle.”*
Alya, sitting beside her, grinned as she read Marinette’s note. Her pen scratched across the page in response.
*“Subtle, huh? Like falling into his arms and letting him stare into your eyes so you won’t need to speak? :P”*
Marinette snatched the notebook back, her cheeks blazing red. That was the very opposite of subtle. She was about to reply when Ms. Bustier called on her.
“Marinette? Could you share your thoughts on how the poet uses metaphor in this stanza?”
Marinette’s head snapped up. “Oh! Uh…” She glanced desperately at the board, trying to piece together a coherent answer. “The, um, the metaphor of… birds? Represents… freedom?”
Ms. Bustier smiled. “Good, Marinette. The bird imagery does convey freedom, but there’s more to it. Let’s explore that idea further…”
Her teacher continued the lesson and Marinette sank lower in her chair, casting a helpless glance at Alya, who stifled a giggle.
The room’s lighthearted mood was shattered by the sudden crash of the window shattering into pieces.
A figure stood among the broken glass, their presence immediately imposing. They were draped in a variety of colors and textures, their outfit reminiscent of shattered mirrors glued together into the shape of clothing. Their mask—a shifting, kaleidoscopic display of faces—gleamed as they looked around the room.
“I am Multiverse Shipper!” the akuma declared, their voice echoing unnaturally. “For too long, I’ve searched in vain for my perfect match, only to face rejection after rejection. But now, I have the power to show every possible pairing in the multiverse!”
Gasps rippled through the classroom.
“And you,” Multiverse Shipper continued, pointing dramatically at the students, “will help me test my power. I will reveal the ultimate truths of your hearts—those who you’re destined to be with across all timelines!”
Before anyone could react, the akuma raised their hands, releasing a burst of swirling, multicolored energy. The class erupted into chaos as the energy cascaded outward, tendrils of light spiraling toward the students, instantly enveloping several of them.
“Run!” Marinette shouted, grabbing Alya’s arm.
Chairs clattered to the floor as everyone bolted for the exits. Ivan shielded Mylene as they sprinted toward the back door, while Alix dove under a desk to avoid the shimmering threads of light. Adrien, visibly torn between fleeing and staying to protect his classmates, ultimately followed Nino toward the hall with the intent of splitting up later.
Marinette and Alya darted toward the side door, narrowly dodging a beam of light that scorched the floor where they had stood moments earlier.
“How many people have been hit by this thing?” Alya gasped as they turned a corner.
“I don’t know, but we can’t let it get us!” Marinette replied, her heart pounding.
They rounded another corner, the hallway thankfully empty. Marinette reached for her purse, fingers brushing against the zipper where Tikki waited.
“Once we’re clear, I’ll—”
Her sentence was cut short as a flash of multicolored light enveloped both of them. The world tilted and spun, colors blurring into a dizzying vortex. Marinette barely registered Alya’s startled cry before everything went black.