A week had passed and Marinette had rested as long as she was willing too, however her ankle had not fully healed to where it should be because in a dancer's brain three days rest is enough. The chances of doing a waltz or a quickstep were slim, and the idea of a Charleston or jive made her skin crawl. Any of those dances on the damage she'd caused and she'd probably end her career before it started.

It was Halloween week, and there was no chance she was missing out on this. Halloween wasn't really celebrated in France, and the idea of being able to dress up like a 'spooky' character and enjoy being scary seemed exciting. Marinette, herself, hated horror films. It was always the one genre she refused to watch during her film nights with Luka and Sass. Though, the few times she caved she couldn't deny the adrenaline kick she got out of it.

"Just watch them with the sound off," Adrien explained as they began to piece together this week's dance.

"Why?"

"It's the music that adds to the scary atmosphere. Watching it with the sound off just makes it all seem a bit silly. The jump scares don't work. It's the tense build up and then the crescendo that makes you jump."

Adrien carried on moving around the room as Marinette instructed him and corrected him. This week was not going to be a very high scoring routine for them technique wise, so Marinette had to be creative, and to be honest she liked what she'd produced so far. It was dynamic and dramatic, everything you'd want from a tango.

"Am I going from the rondé into the crab walks, or is there a hold?" Adrien asked with a frown on his face.

"No, it's rondé, into the pivot turn, close, head, head, then walk."

Adrien nodded and performed the section of steps again.

"We should try it." She said, walking over to Adrien and pushing his shoulders to bend into his knees more.

"Try what?" He asked.

"Try watching a horror film without the sound on, you can prove to me if it actually works."

"Oh, it definitely works. My friend Chloé lives by the idea."

Looking in the mirror, Adrien watched himself perform the steps again. Marinette, however, scrunched up her nose. Something was twigging in the back of her mind.

Chloé?

Chloé?

And then it hit her. Chloé Bourgeois. School bully and arch nemesis.

"Chloé Bourgeois?" Marinette asked, joining her arms with Adrien to perform the sequence of steps with him.

"Yeah, and before you say anything, I know she's a cow."

Marinette guffawed, losing her rhythm and falling on her foot funny. She hissed in pain and stopped moving.

"Wow, easy there Tiger." Adrien steadied her on her feet, keeping her from putting too much pressure on it. She slapped him on the arm.

"That's you making me laugh!" She said with a grimace. He could see the tears pooling in her eyes.

"Come here," he swept her up into his arms and began to walk over to the chairs. She'd completely over done it. He'd warned her numerous times it wasn't going to end well but she just wouldn't stop.

"What do I need to do to get that treatment?" Both heads turned to the door to see Tikki and Plagg, smiles gracing both their faces.

"I sweep you off your feet all the time! What are you complaining about?" Plagg stood aside his counterpart, a pout pulling his bottom lip.

Adrien and Marinette laughed as Adrien positioned her on the chair, taking off her shoe and pulling her foot up onto the one opposite cushion already waiting for her leg.

"To what do we owe this visit? Is Plagg coming to dress me in less than Disney week?" Adrien looked towards the two judges, watching carefully as Tikki closed the door and Plagg made his way over, arms folded and a frown on his face.

Instantly, Marinette and Adrien's faces mirrored each other. A look of concern taking over their usually happy faces.

"We shouldn't be here," Tikki said, keeping herself at the doorway. Adrien couldn't help but think it looked as though they were on a stake out.

"Listen, carefully and closely. You need to do us a favour."

Adrien and Marinette exchanged a glance before turning back to Plagg.

"Adrien you need to dance with Lila at some point ... I know you've already made plans for the group dance this weekend, but next week you'll be partnered together."

"But I should be fine next week." Marinette announced.

"No you won't," said Tikki.

"Listen, you need to just trust us. Marinette, you will not be capable of performing the group dance next week. Adrien will dance with Lila. When asked after Saturday's show you need to stick with this story." Plagg expanded.

"And if we don't?" Adrien asked, causing the judges to exchange a quick wincing glance between them.

"Don't expect to go any further in this competition."

The two dancers gulped and nodded their heads in agreement. They weren't sure what was happening, but they trusted Tikki and Plagg and would appease them.

"Ok," Adrien responded, followed by a quick ok from Marinette.

"Listen, kids, we know this isn't what you want, but believe us and do what we say."

Plagg was interrupted by a knock on the door. Tikki stepped to one side and opened up to find Luka standing on the other side.

"Oh, um, I'm not interrupting anything am I?" He looked between Plagg and Tikki, and Adrien and Marinette unsure if he should continue into the studio.

"No," Adrien replied standing up. "It's fine."

Luka looked again before deciding he believed them.

"Ok, well, Adrien, we're needed for rehearsals now."

Adrien stood up next to Marinette and placed a gentle kiss on her hair before leaving her to attend the group performance rehearsal alongside Luka. The group dance was slowly becoming one of his favourites, and dancing with Luka was a whole different experience, and while he enjoyed it, it wasn't like when he was dancing with Marinette and the all encompassing feeling of moving to the same rhythm as someone else.

"Tell me the truth." Marinette looked at Tikki before turning her frown to Plagg.

Again, they checked the door was shut before conversing with Marinette.

"It's best if you don't ask too many questions." Plagg said, making his way to the young dancer. "But we will tell you, we're on your side and nothings going down without a fight."

Marinette looked between them both, feeling her eyes fill with tears.

"This is all my fault, isn't it?" Her words come out small and timid, nothing like the Marinette they knew from the dance floor.

"Marinette, no!" Replied Tikki, walking to the girl and placing an arm over her shoulders.

"It is," she replied exasperated. "If I wasn't in the competition he would probably be with Lila?" She halted for a second to consider what had happened up to this point.

"Why is he paired with me?" Marinette asked. Both Tikki and Plagg looked away, neither of them holding eye contact with anything but the walls.

"Tell me!" She demanded. "Why has Adrien been partnered with me and not Lila?" Her voice came out a lot more confident than she felt as she eyed her two olders, challenging them to answer.

"It was Fu," Plagg said.

Fu? Marinette played that name through her head. Fu? Fu? Fu! Her eyes widened!

"The head of the International Dance Federation."

Tikki nodded.

"We can't tell you anymore Mari, but please trust us. We are on your side with this."

Marinette agreed, more confused than anything.

"Ok," she agreed.

"We'll leave you to it then," they began to make their way out the door, when suddenly Tikki stopped and turned to Marinette.

"We need to ask you one more favour ..."

•••••

Time to vote

Do they want her to:
❤️ For the sake of the plan, purposely make mistakes to get a lower than usual score

🖤 Perfect the routine with Adrien and active a high score from three out the five judges bringing attention onto Nooroo.