An Ever After By Chance

Marinette

Present Day

Last week, Marinette was a girl without a destiny. There was no villain waiting to inflict harm on her and no prince to save her. She was just an ordinary girl in a sense that she was blessed with the freedom to be whoever she wants. Not everyone in the fairytale world was blessed with the thing called "choice". In a world where destinies and stories are valued however, she is seen as an empty shell. She could've been a beautiful princess or a scheming villainess but no story called for her presence.

Frankly she was content with simply that. The absence of a destiny allowed her to look inward and she found she loved designing dresses. After she graduates she was on her way to become a famous fashion designer. At least as famous as a village girl could be. If she was the daughter of some famous fairytale character then maybe she wouldn't have to work this hard.

Her destinyless life was a gift somewhat. Unlike her peers, she doesn't have to worry about any foregoing destiny and destiny won't always guarantee a fairytale ending for everyone.

Until the day a mysterious letter flew to their porch. The seal of the letter spells the letters EAH. A letter from Ever After High? Ever After High was the school for the descendants of fairy tale characters. As far as Marinette is concerned, her mother never played a major part in any fairy tale. Perhaps the letter was a mistake...

She heard a gasp from behind. It was from her mother whose cheery face turned into one of sadness. "Is this real?" she heard her mother say. She snatched the letter off Marinette's hands. "Mama it must be a mistake!" Marinette said. "No it isn't." her mother whispered to herself.

She turned to Marinette. "You have to leave for Ever After High." Marinette exclaimed, "But what about my destiny?!". Her mother ran into the cottage. From outside, she heard the sobs of her mother. She rarely cries. Marinette approached her mother who was on her knees in the kitchen, crying like a baby.

Her mother knew how to comfort Marinette when she was younger and when she wanted a destiny. Her mother would give her a hug and tell her it is all right. A younger Marinette didn't believe the sentiment "Everything will be alright", so how could her mother? What should she do?

She placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. "Mama, what's wrong?". Perhaps it needed to be worded differently. "Later Marinette. Later" her mother rasped. Marinette flinched. "I need to be alone, okay?". Marinette left her mother's side and continued with her day as if nothing happened. It may not be about something she did but it hurt nonetheless.

Outside, she saw another envelope with the wax seal of EAH. She tossed the envelope to the trash bin before taking it out the bin to check it again. At the back of the letter was undeniably their address and her name. She opened the letter.

Dear Marinette Dupain-Cheng,

Application accepted. Your destiny is waiting for you. You are invited to attend Ever After High, a high school where the sons and daughters of famous fairytales attend to fulfill their parents' destinies. First day of school would be on September 1.

P.S. Please meet Headmaster Grimm once you arrive in school

Sincerely, Headmaster Grimm

The letter ended there. Inside the envelope there was also a brochure of Ever After High that plastered faces of smiling students. Going to Ever After High, having a destiny would mean...

Her mother didn't tell her. A brief flush of anger colored her cheeks. She looked at her mother from the window, washing her face. Mother smiled at the face of dangerous situations such as venturing to a high top mountain for berries or reprimanding a Wolf.

It was strange to see tears fall out off her eyes because of words written on a piece of parchment. There were other fairytale characters who lived their lives peacefully even after their destinies. She went on with her routine while the question of destiny hung in her head. One thing can be certain, that destiny must've crushed her.

---

"Marinette no one should know this." her mother said. "You will become the next Ladybug like I was from the story the Tale of the Ladybug and Chat Noir." She heard of popular stories such as Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. There was also Pinocchio and Little Red Riding Hood but she never heard of The Tale of Ladybug and Chat Noir. "I'm sorry Marinette I didn't tell you because I don't want this destiny for you."

"Tell me mama, what is that story?" she kept her voice as soft as she could to not startle her mother. "Once upon a time, Ladybug had the power to bring good luck to the villagers." The weak voice lulled into a soft enchanting voice one would mistaken for a princesses'. "While she wondered into the forest, a man called Chat Noir approached her and asked for a kiss to break his curse of eternal bad luck."

"But he didn't wish for her good intention for once Ladybug kisses Chat Noir, she'd be cursed too."

She wore them everywhere even in the marketplace where descendants of the Notingham thieves ran. According to her mother, the earrings grant them good luck. Marinette saw magic performed and happened in her own eyes but doubted the earrings grant good luck. It felt too convenient. Or maybe it was good luck that the thieves never took interest in the earrings.

Her mother cried. Marinette held her mother's hands. "Mama a destiny isn't your whole life, it is just a very small part everyone perceives as important but it isn't everything." She hope that was destiny. She couldn't speak much for the descendants of evil and royalty.

"Marinette you don't understand." her mother rasped through her tears. "It was my fault." The handkerchief was soaked from the tears. The earrings on her mother's ears twinkled. "I kissed Chat Noir."

"But your life seemed ok, even after you kissed Chat Noir right?"

"Headmaster Grimm didn't take it kindly. After I kissed him, I fainted. The Headmaster found me. I thought I would go poof." her mother took a breath and faced her daughter. The same strength was there, albeit a bit more dim. "You're right about that. My life was ok. I have you. Headmaster Grimm placed a curse on Fe- I mean Chat Noir to rectify everything. We didn't go poof."

A small uneasy smile rested on her mother's face. Marinette kept her mouth shut, stopping herself from asking any more questions. "So all I have to do is not kiss Chat Noir, right?"

"That's it." her voice rasped from the crying. "Then I won't make the same mistake as you did. I promise."

"I know you would but Chat Noir is a tricky man. He looks as dashing as a prince but inside, he is a little conniving shit because of that damn ring." Hearing mother curse is a good sign she is feeling a bit better. For the rest of the night, they both packed Marinette's things for the journey to Ever After High.

Marinette brought her sketchbook. She gazed at the rough sketches of dresses she planned to create in the future. She looked at her mother who was preparing snacks for travel. Perhaps things would be alright even with a destiny. If her mother came out alright for the most part, she could too.

Or not.