~THE NEXT DAY~

"School goes by too slow," Plagg ragged into Felix's ear as they left the premise, "and there isn't enough cheese."

"Keep your stomach's thought to yourself. People are going to stare."

School have been as almost-but-not-quite uneventful as ever, something Felix wished he could enjoy like the other students. It had been dull, but he also hadn't harmed anyone with his out of control bad luck, which had not only led to the scuffing of his shoes but the dripping of applesauce on his new sweater and an experiment in science class causing the teacher's hair to go hot fuchsia.

...Okay, so it was a bit more uneventful that I had planned...and Marinette wasn't there, either, he realized, at least that explains why it was so quiet. I wonder what happened…

"…104 degrees. You're staying bed for as long as I can keep you, Marinette, until this flu clears."

"But grandma, school!"

"Not until you're better. I'll ask Alya to bring you your homework, so take your time and rest for now."

As her grandmother left the room and Adrien made himself comfortable at the end of the bed, Marinette sat up and gazed out the window. "Why did I have to get sick now of all times? Just when I told Chat Noir we could work together again…what bad luck!"

"Oh dear," Tikki murmured to herself as Marinette fell back onto the pillow, "maybe Chat Noir is rubbing on Ladybug in more ways than one."

…She may be loud, Felix sighed inwardly, but she also makes things far more interesting.

"Hey, Felix," Alya ran up to him in a flowery, tangerine spaghetti-strap dress, sunglasses tucked in her hair, "I was wondering if I could borrow your science notes. I had a doctor's appointment and missed class, and I need some to take to Marinette while she's sick."

"Oh, I see. Yes, here," he reached into his bag and pulled out his binder, "will these do?"

"Are you kidding? I've seen the way you write. They'll be way, way more than enough, trust me."

"What's up, kiddies," Denzel strolled up in his gym gear, "looking over some boring notes?"

"Kiddies?" Alya gave him a playful punch in the arm and smirked. "At least these 'kiddies' know when to takes notes. I so overheard Mr. Dimmest gnawing you out for not paying attention in history."

"Is it my fault I'd rather be running laps than listen to him running his mouth off about Napoleon?"

"Yes. Yes it is."

If I didn't know any better, Felix eyed the two as they shared a chuckle, I'd say they were flirting…and to be honest, I don't think I know any better…?

Loud screams burst from behind them. "Hey," Denzel's eyes went wide, "it's coming from the school!"

The trio turned to find students running in terror as dozens – no, hundreds – of angry pigeons flew out of the doors and open windows and began to surround them, pecking at their arms and clothes.

"It's gotta be Monsieur Pigeon," Alya surmised as Felix and Denzel pulled her away, "but why's he attacking now?!"

Before any of them could take a guess, a large cluster of pigeons caught up and spun around them in a tornado of wings and caws. They backed up close to each other, keeping their eyes on the birds.

"Ah," Alya shrieked as one zipped over her head, "no, my sunglasses!"

"Hey, my hat! Give that back, man-er, bird!"

Three pigeons flew at Felix and yanked his binder from his arms before disappearing back into the cluster. "I'd call this quite unprovoked!"

"Alright, birdies, you wanna play?" Denzel took a step back and, lowering his head, plowed through the birds. Felix watched as he tucked and rolled into the clear and stuck his tongue out at the birds. "Come and get some, you fat dove-wannabes!"

The pigeons didn't take the insult well. The whole cluster tore after him as he booked it across the street and into the further buildings. "Run, you two!"

"Denzel!" Alya went to run after him until ten or so pigeons dove and grabbed her arms. "No, no, no, I don't like heights!"

"Alya!" Felix ran over but was too late to help as the birds carried her off over the rooftops. "Drat! Plagg, we have to do something."

"You mean transform, dummy," Plagg poked out from his bag, "though I don't see Ladybug anywhere."

"She'll find us. Come on, before too many people get hurt! CLAWS OUT!"

As he donned his suit, Chat Noir climbed up a tree and leapt to the nearest building roof, where he could see pigeons for days. "I've gotta find the man in charge."

"Look no further, cat boy!"

Chat turned to find a bug-eyed man in a pink and grey suit riding a chair – made entirely of pigeons. It hovered over the chimneys as he cross his arms and cackled. "So we finally meet! Monsieur Pigeon is your opponent today! Master HawkMoth has been ever so curious about you and your lady partner."

"You haven't done anything to her, have you?" Chat made sure his claws were extra sharp. "If you have, I swear…"

"Hm? Well I can't say for sure," Monsieur Pigeon grinned, "but my special trained birds are very particular about their feastings, and they just love bugs!" He poked the long, dark grey whistle around his neck. "I can command them to do anything I command – even to eat their victims alive!"

Two dozen pigeons flew up from behind the bird chair and dove at Chat, who quickly swiped them away and lunged at Monsieur Pigeon. The chair shimmied out of the way and more birds dropped from above, keeping Chat at a distance.

I need to get the whistle, he hid behind a chimney as pigeons scoured for him, and hope that Ladybug is alright – and not about to be eaten alive!

...What? It's an anime origin version. Anime's always have their leading ladies getting sick right before a villain appears. I'm keeping Monsieur Pigeon like he is in the cartoon, only much more bloodthirsty and crazier, with PIGEONS! I love pigeons. I hope you guys are ready for some cat vs. bird action next chapter...with a surprise guest coming...well, okay, not really a surprise, but whatever.

Until the next chapter!