Chapter 2:(2091 words)

It was the next day, a Tuesday, and it was early in the morning, at around six o'clock.

School doesn't start for another two hours but Adrien always wakes up earlier than normal to have a moment to himself to think. He mourns his mother, ponders over Ladybug and her identity and he talks to Plagg about everything and anything.

This morning though, he thinks about what will happen tomorrow. He's never seen or heard a musical before, since his father would never care to show him and he never really thought to try them out, not since his mother's disappearance.

From those reasons, he has no experience about any musicals.

He's seen Disney movies before, but doesn't remember the songs, just the story, and he has no time in his routine for watching movies. He must remember some of the songs, right? Maybe when he hears them, it'll all come back. Yeah, maybe.

His routine is always filled with photo-shoots, modelling practice or meeting famous people and the public. Anything else is spent at school, doing homework, eating, sleeping and such.

He hardly has any free time so he wakes up earlier than most to at least have the time to think.

With this in mind, he wonders if he'll like the musicals, or if he'll like the songs. But first of all, he has to ask his father if he can go. He really hopes that he'll allow it. He'll just use a stupid reason, like, his reputation, and therefore his father's, will improve if he gets involved in the competition, and to enter, he has to go over. Yeah, that'll work.

He checks the time, and the digital clock on his expensive bedside table reads '6:19'.

After summoning up enough courage to even dare speak to his father, he makes it down stairs. Gabriel Agreste was a famous fashion designer, and woke up at half five every morning to begin designing some type of clothing or another.

This worked great for Adrien since that meant that he was already up.

He quietly walked down the polished marble stairs and peaked into one of the dining rooms, the largest one. The table was very long, and had enough room for twenty people, maybe more.

The walls were covered with antique paintings, though at the end of the wall was Adrien's favourite, and at the same time, least favourite, painting in the entire mansion. It was a detailed painting of him, his father and his mother. The only painting or photograph of them all together.

He loved it as it reminded him of his mother, and whenever he looked at it, he felt loved again. Just by seeing her emerald-green eyes, which were so similar to his. He hated it as well though, since it also reminded him that his father was so very unlike his beloved mother. The man was cold and uncaring now, though before his mother's disappearance, he tried a bit harder to talk to him, to show that he was loved.

It turns out that this certain painting also attracts the eye of a certain Gabriel Agreste.

Adrien opened the door, making a slight noise to show his father that he was there.

His father turned around to look at him, his face looked a bit embarrassed, but he wouldn't know, since he's never seen that look on his father's face before now. Why would his father be embarrassed?

"Hm-hm. Son, what are you doing up so early?" he questioned, his feathers clearly ruffled.

"I'm usually awake at this time, but I stay in my room. I came here this particular day because I wish to ask for your permission for something, sir." His posture was straight and almost seemed like a military stance. No son should have to speak to his father and stand in front of him like this.

"Whatever for?"

"My school is hosting a singing competition using songs from musicals. Since I have no experience in songs or musicals, my friend from school invited me and our two other friends who are also inexperienced in this subject over to her house to teach us about it."

His father seemed to consider it, and after a few seconds, seemed undecided.

"Our reputation would be seen in a more positive light if I knew these sorts of things since most of the population know these songs. It gives the public another reason to search us online and buy your designs."

After a few more seconds, his father nods. "Very well. Do not disappoint me, son. Reach the finals. Do not embarrass me or ruin our reputation. When will this… visit, take place?"

"Tomorrow after school, sir."

"And how long shall you stay?"

"I'm not sure, since I don't know the length of most musicals. I'll call my driver to pick me up at a reasonable time, sir."

His father nods once more, and walks out of the room, signifying the end of their conversation. Adrien shook his head and mumbled under his breath, "I can't believe he treats me like a puppet, just another step of the ladder to success."

"Neither can I, kid. I've been around for thousands of years and I hardly see a father as harsh and professional as him compared to the norm," Plagg whispers from his shirt.

Adrien sighs sadly and walks back to his room. 'At least I can go to Mari's house tomorrow! It's full of food and I'll probably get to hear her sing!'

Now fully cheered up, he gets ready for school, excited to see his friends, no matter how little there are. Three is good enough for him. At least, he thinks that Mari and Alya are his friends. They're friends to him anyway.

He just can't wait for tomorrow.

It was fifteen minutes before first bell rang, and Marinette was on time for once.

There was no akuma last night or this morning, meaning she had a full night's sleep for once. She just couldn't wait for the next day. She has a love, a passion for musicals and singing the many songs that are just so damn good at portraying emotions.

Sometimes, when she feels a certain emotion strongly, songs from musicals play in her head, correctly describing the feel of her mood. She loves them for that.

And there was always something about bursting into song and dance that seemed so fun!

"Hi Alya, I'm on time for once!" she exclaimed when she saw her best friend (other than Chat, of course).

"Hey what's that up there," Alya questions and points a finger at the sky.

Marinette looks up and sees nothing but sky-blue, not a single cloud in sight. "Alya, wha- "

"It's a flying pig with wings, girl! Honestly, you? Early for once? Seems impossible to me!" she laughs, exaggerating her words by motioning with her hands.

"Hah! Oh, sorry, Nette. It's true though, you have to admit," Nino states, walking up to them and throwing an arm around his girlfriend, Alya.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Hey, where's Adrien?" she asks.

"I'm here!" he shouts from the entrance of the school, near the top of the stairs. He walks over to them, clearly looking excited.

"What's gotten you so pumped then?" Alya asks, her journalist skills kicking in.

"I asked my dad if I could do the musical marathon thing tomorrow and he actually agreed!" He grinned excitedly. "I mean," the smile faltered slightly, "I did have to persuade him, saying that it's good for our reputation if I knew about it better. But still!" The grin returned.

Marinette grinned right back. She had forgotten about their meet-up when she saw her friends, but now that it was on her mind, she grinned eagerly, impatient for the end of the school day tomorrow.

"At least you can come!" she beamed at him, bouncing on the heels of her feet.

The three were once again stunned at her sudden stutter-less phrases.

"Hey, bros," began Nino, "I asked my mom and dad and they said that it's fine. I can stay as late as I want. It's a good thing they like music, huh."

"Yeah, I'm good too, girl. We can even have a sleepover, after the boys go home," Alya squeals, Marinette soon joining.

"Yeah! That's perfect. Wow, tomorrow will be amazing!"

The four friends continue talking until the bell rang, meaning that classes would start soon and that they should make their way there.

It was the last lesson of the day, in the middle of Physics. It was extremely hard to not say any puns or jokes during the whole thing.

Twenty minutes until the end of the day, and an akuma just had to attack.

The whole class was in panic as the akumatized villain was right in front of the school building. Adrien and Marinette stammered out some kind of excuse and rushed out, heading in different directions.

They both transformed, Marinette in the bathroom and Adrien behind a tree outside of the school.

They headed to the front of the school to see a woman, seemingly in her early thirties, standing next to a huge vine like plant. It separated into many different vines, some of which were wrapped around some civilians. The woman seemed to control the plant with a rake in her hand, most likely containing the akuma.

She was distracted by the struggling citizens that she didn't notice Paris' superhero duo land on the roof of the school.

"Bonjour, mon petit minou. How are we going to deal with this one?" Ladybug asks the leather-cladded superhero.

"Well, Bugaboo, we find the akuma first, like always."

She nods to her best friend. 'Maybe he's just as tired of losing precious time fighting akumas as I am.'

She looks at the akumatized villain, named Poison Ivy, closely, trying to find something special about it. She noticed the woman waving the rake around, controlling the large plant.

"It's in the rake, kitty. Think you can distractPoison Ivy for me to snap her rake?" she challenged.

He smirked at her, "I sure do. Wish me luck, m'lady!"

She shook her head at his antics, "Bonne chance, Chat."

He jumps off the roof and starts shouting at the akuma, betting that she can't catch him with the vine. He jumps around using his baton, dodging all of Poison Ivy's attempts.

After a few minutes of this, the akuma gets so frustrated that she starts swinging the rake more violently, trying to capture the very person who has one of the miraculouses Hawkmoth wants.

Ladybug sees an opportunity when the akuma stops for a moment, clearly tired of swinging the rake around.

The superheroine jumps down from the roof and swipes the rake from Poison Ivy's hands, and snaps it in half using her knee.

"Time to de-evilise!" she shouts, like normal.

She purifies the akuma and lets it go, quoting herself from before, "Bye, bye, little butterfly."

The two superheroes regroup and shout, "Pound it!" They fist bump as Chat Noir's ring beeps, signifying that he has five minutes until he de-transforms.

"Well, as pleasant as it has been, m'lady, I must get back to my own school."

She nods. "Of course, me too." She smiles softly, "See you on patrol, Thursday."

He grins and nods back, "Until then, m'lady," He bows and uses his baton to jump away, probably to his school.

She runs back inside and into the bathrooms where she de-transforms and checks to see if Tikki is doing okay. When she's told that everything's fine, she runs back to class.

She sees that Adrien and Alya aren't in their seats. She sneaks into her own seat. Nino seems too worried about his best friend and his girlfriend to question her absence.

Adrien sneaks back inside and ignores Marinette's suspicious glares. Seriously, who is this girl and where is the Marinette he knew?

He sits down as Alya comes rushing in, her phone in her right hand, "Hey, Mari! I just recorded an awesome video of the fight in front of the school! Did you see how well Ladybug and Chat Noir work together? It's like they can read each other's minds!"

The other three of their friend group just tuned out the rest, though Marinette and Adrien seemed a little bit proud of their closeness with their best friend, though Nino and Alya didn't know that.

It was the end of the day, and Adrien wondered what tomorrow will bring.