No, I didn't skip over episodes, I just wanted to introduce Luka soon.

This was tough because this one did look as Luka having some feelings for Marinette? It was weird. But, I tried.

The music festival had to be some sort of strange tourist event but Marinette was not going to put much thought into it as she helped out on the dock of the Liberty for her friend's gig. She would be more excited about it but Adrien hadn't arrived yet and she just didn't feel as much excitement without him around.

Marinette used to have a love (in the admiration kind of way) hate relationship with the person known as Gabriel Agreste. After discovering he was Hawkmoth, well that respect went down the drain.

Besides, she thought as she kept cleaning around, the man was insufferable, stick in the mud restrictive jerk towards his son. It was a music festival! Adrien loved music despite being forced to practice the same piece over and over for his father's ears only (which, was technically not true since he'd shown her some of his composition attempts on few occasions). Point was, Adrien should have had the chance to spend time with friends, get to enjoy different music presentations and just, enjoy being a teen.

"Oh, I sense a disappointment in the distance" Alya brought her back from her thoughts "sunshine won't be able to make it?"

"I don't know yet," she sighed as Nino kept working on some hangers "his father is a prick."

"Agreed on that" Nino said from above the ladder "he did say he had something to do with him first so, fingers crossed."

Marinette couldn't help but squint at that. Sure thing he would.

The sudden shout of Juleka's mom startled her, as she took away the box Marinette had been using to pick up the mess on the dock, only to toss it back all on the floor.

"Out of chaos comes creation! Messiness is life!" she exclaimed and went around to talk with the other band members.

Marinette had to muse about that. Chaos and creation huh? She couldn't help but to smile a little, thinking on Adrien and her regarding those words. It was true, in a sense, even if Anarka wasn't referring to the superheroes, it was an interesting point of view.

She went back to move things around instead, to at least not have them as danger hazards for the others, when Nino's phone buzzed, his expression turning sour and then emphatic, no doubt talking with Adrien. Sure enough, after he hung up there was a buzzing on her pocket, Marinette pulling her phone out to see a big spam of crying emojis from Adrien's phone.

Catdrien: I mess up ONE note and he says it's the influence of my friends, how!?

Buginette: Are you sure I can't toss him out to the Seine? :

Catdrien: I wish at this point, 'we Agreste are soloists' my ass. I so wanted to go :'(

Buginette: I could facetime you when they start? It's better than nothing?

Catdrien: My hero 3

Buginette: Try not to sneak out this time :/ we don't know if he'll restrain you more if you do

Marinette put her phone away and sighed when Alya stood next to her to give her a small hug.

"Adrien says I can't toss his father to the river" she almost pouted "it's not fair Alya."

"I know girl, but you know better than anyone how that old geezer is,"

"Yeah…" she turned around "well, I'll face time him for the gig so he doesn't get to miss it,"

Said gig was soon to begin their last adjustments when Rose peaked into the room to mention they were missing one member of the band.

"Marinette right?"

"Yes ma'am, I mean, Captain,"

"Since you're free from your cleaning duties" Marinette had to wonder which ones "could you go and tell Luka that we're waiting for him to start rehearsals?"

"Of course" Marinette smiled. She knew of Luka, at least by name only from Juleka, who sometimes mentioned about her older brother who was a musician.

"But uh where is he?"

"Most likely in his cabin" Anarka smiled at her, sending Marinette on her way.

Marinette made her way to the other side of the boat, the disappointment still in her face. She shouldn't let it show to the others though, why would she have to show a sour mood and ruin the others' day? No, Marinette shook her head, she had to snap out of that funk and just enjoy the festival. So what if Adrien wouldn't be able to come? It wasn't the first time they had to postpone or cancel because of his father.

Except this was probably the first time it happened since she realized her feelings for him. Would that be it? Was she even sadder because of them?

"Feelings are complicated" she muttered.

"That's why I prefer to share them through music," a deep voice said next to her, startling the poor girl all the way back to the wall "oh, sorry about that."

"Ah…haah, I didn't see you s-sorry, uh you m-must be Luka right?" he nodded "I'm Ma-ma, Marinette, uh your mom sent me down here, the groove, uh the group! The group is waiting for you."

Great, her nerves had got the best of her, she could go dig a hole and hide there forever now. To her surprise, Luka just chuckled a little, pulling his guitar and motioning her to sit beside him, playing a beautiful chord that made her nerves ease little by little.

"Wow… how do you do that?"

Luka smiled at his guitar, playing another calm chord.

"Music if often simpler than words," he said "I've always had this talent of perceiving people by their personal tunes, it's…a unique ability,"

Marinette hummed, probably some type of synesthesia? She'd have to look that up. She did feel calmer as she looked at the big poster of Jagged Stone on the wall.

"You like Jagged Stone?"

"He's my favorite singer," he smiled "you can take a pick too if you like, I have plenty."

"Mine too," Marinette smiled "wait, what? No, I don't really play but I bet a friend of mine would love to, well, he's more of the piano than guitars but, I mean."

Luka placed the pick on her hand.

"Don't want to let the groove wait, don't we?"

Marinette tried not to frown at that. Words scrambled in her head when she got nervous or startled. So much for the first presentations with someone.

"it was funny" Luka shrugged "shall we get going?"

"Right, of course," Marinette followed him back to the deck, where the other members were getting ready. She found a seat next to Alya but had to blink at her when she saw a smug smile on her face.

"Uh…what?"

"You certainly took your time," Alya jabbed her at the rib "did something happen?"

"What?" Marinette hissed the question through her teeth "of course not."

"Hey it's ok," Alya waved her hands in a defensive motion "you can like a guy Marinette it's not the end of the world."

"I-I know that" she frowned "but I like someone else already so- "

"Say what?!"

Marinette slapped her hand on Alya's mouth so fast it was probably more attention bringing than her squawking. The fact Alya was glaring at her was proof enough of it.

"Excuse us one minute" she pulled Alya back to the cabin part where she knew no one would listen "Alya!"

"You like someone?" she asked as soon as Marinette pulled her hand away "what? Who? Since when?"

"Please, stop" Marinette rubbed her temples "too many questions."

"Uh, right, sorry" Alya held her hand, squeezing it to reassure her "I just, got very excited for you."

"I know, and I appreciate that," Marinette offered her a small smile "I just, have been trying to figure it out myself and I didn't think of sharing it with someone yet I…"

"Hey, girl, it's ok" Alya held her by the shoulders "liking someone, as liking someone can be a little terrifying."

"What if…" Marinette bit her lip "what if it's someone you never saw in that way before because you were already very close friends?"

"Oh, this is Adrien we're talking about, isn't he?" Alya asked, even if the girl was not surprised by it, a part of her knowing it was a matter of time before any of them would end up falling in love with the other.

Don't get her wrong, Alya knew guys could be friends with girls and the other way around, have good strong connections and not fall in love with each other. And for a while, she thought of that being Marinette and Adrien. But recently, as in around Valentine's Day, there had been a change. A very, very obvious change between them.

She didn't want to say anything, knowing she needed to have more evidence before reaching a conclusion (she had learned the hard way) but the way Adrien would sometimes look at Marinette, or the way Marinette would stare at him fondly during classes, those were definitely not "only a friend" stares.

Not to mention how down Marinette got after knowing Adrien wouldn't be able to join them.

"Does he know?"

"Oh no!" Marinette got startled again "no, no way I am telling him."

"W-what!? But – "

"Not yet at least" Marinette sighed "I just, I don't want to lose him as a friend or get awkward with him, can I…get a few days to think this more?"

"Of course," Alya made a motion of zipping her mouth shut "you have my word, and hey, whatever you need girl, if it's talk about boys? You got me, a pepperoni pizza and unhealthy amounts of ice cream to do so."

Marinette laughed. That did sound like a good plan. Until a very loud chord startled them both, the boat shaking from the strength of it.

"What was- "

'Great' Marinette thought as she followed Alya 'just what we needed, and Akuma possibility.'

Adrien meanwhile was wondering how much risk he was willing to take by sneaking out. Plagg had tried to cheer him up but he still wanted to go out and just, enjoy hanging out with other musicians. He was thrilled to find out his classmates had a small band and even if it wasn't a genre he was used to, just the idea of sharing that in common was a big thing.

He remembered bits and pieces of how it was playing with his mom, both sitting on the piano while he barely reached the floor, his mom teaching him how to play easy pieces until he could do it without her hands moving his around the keys.

Music was meant to be shared, not to be locked up inside a room.

"Paris is yet again under attack. A new villain is destroying all the concerts- "

Adrien squinted at the tv. It wasn't the most ideal way to sneak out but if his father wanted to ruin the festival then he was going to make sure that wouldn't happen. Besides, he grinned at Plagg, now he had a bigger reason to show off his music puns.

"I may be grounded Plagg but they're playing my song! Claws out!"

Chat leapt his way out of the room and towards the Seine. An akumatized ship wasn't that hard to find, after all, the massive boat destroying the bridges as it moved. Just his luck that the akuma spotted him, sending blasts of speakers his way.

Well, he always wanted to know how it felt to jump like in a Mario maker stage, this was close enough. He jumped on each speaker, thankful of his reflexes enhanced by the miraculous as he landed on the ship, only to be caught up in chains.

"Hey!"

"Heads up!" he heard Ladybug from above, destroying the chains to join him. He had to wonder how she managed to sneak out if his guess was correct and they were on the Couffaine's ship.

"Ok, do I want to know the reason for this attack?" Chat asked while they evaded more chains.

"It's a little silly to be honest" Ladybug deflected another chain targeted at them, turning to see the police being tossed away from the blasts "hey!"

She created a net with her yo-yo with just enough time to catch them, landing safely on the ground.

"Stay undercover, we will take care of her,"

"And here I thought I'd get to use my music puns, I worked hard to find those,"

"Aw, clam down, you'll get to use them afterwards,"

"I sea what you mean" Chat smirked, both ignoring the stare of the police as they moved to safer grounds.

"I hope you've got your sea legs kitty" she smirked one more time.

"I'll be purrfect, as long as I stay dry!"

He had to admit jumping towards the balls as leverage and the chains at platforms was way funnier than expected. Despite of course, the fact they were fighting an akuma.

"Any idea where the akuma is?"

"It's gotta be on the ship somewhere, I didn't get to see,"

"So cataclysm the ship?"

"No, wait! There are prisoners down in the hold,"

"Oh, right, the gig" Chat frowned "so what if we send the ship out of water?"

"That…is a good idea" Ladybug smiled "but also we need to rescue them too."

Chat tried to jump and rip the sails, but there were not made of cloth as he thought, not to mention the steering wheel was blocked, the ship only responding to the Captain. Well, this was becoming frustrating.

"You take care of the prisoners, I'll fight the Captain" Chat twirled his baton, jumping towards the akuma.

Ladybug took the distraction opportunity to sneak back in where her classmates were, freeing them from their chains.

"Ladybug, is Marinette safe?" Luka asked as soon as he was free. Right, Marinette who was supposed to be hiding and somehow got to sneak out of a moving boat.

"She's safe, she's the one who alerted me."

"Wow, how? That must have been brave to sneak out of the boat."

'Tell me about it' Ladybug thought as she summoned her lucky charm, another chain falling in her hands. Well, some pliers would have been best but she'd make do.

"Chat!" she called out to him when she saw him chained to the big post (they had a name she was sure of it but she was not going to try and remember in a crucial point of battle), pulling the akuma down from there to avoid her from taking his ring.

Ladybug took advantage of the police trying to stop her as well, sneaking back to where Chat was to free him, both hiding behind one of the cannons.

"Good news is I unchained our friends,"

"Bad news is they are still on board?" Chat frowned.

"Yeah, and I have no idea of what I'm supposed to do with this!" she showed him the chain.

"Maybe to chain something up? Wait, is it made of metal?"

"Yes, supposedly"

Chat smiled "well if the compass is the one guiding the ship- "

"Metal will make it go crazy!" she smiled at him "you're brilliant!"

Chat felt his cheeks flush.

"It's time to take the ship, follow me!"

"Aye, aye captain Ladybug!"

They managed to chain the akuma to the steering wheel, the metal indeed affecting their course until they were soaring out of the river and crashing right on a small park nearby. Good thing people had evacuated everywhere.

"Cataclysm!" Chat called it out, the ship rusting away below their feet, every occupant safe and unharmed as the akuma flew out of the rubble.

Ladybug smiled and caught it, glad things worked out.

"Time to raise my sails LB" he motioned at his ring "hopefully we'll sea each other later,"

"No fair if you repeat a pun kitty" but she got it, waving at him and throwing the miraculous cure to put everything back in order. Now to do a full turn around and get back in the ship as Marinette, glad that no one questioned her about it.

Except of course…

"So, how did you get Ladybug to come?" Luka asked her once they were getting things ready again, the police officer checking on their decibel levels.

"Oh I uh…I texted Adrien who I knew was at home and he knew how to send the akuma alert better,"

"Oh?"

"Y-yeah" she smiled "he was looking forward to coming but his father is a little strict,"

"Is he the pianist you mentioned?"

"Oh, y-yes" Marinette smiled a little "he's really good at it, but a total dork when playing popular theme songs."

Luka smiled at her, playing a chord that was so soft and soothing Marinette felt her heart skip a small beat.

"That's just how you sounded right now, talking about him, he must be very special to you."

"W-what?" she felt her face heat up now "I m-mean, we are friends, best friends, close friends! And he's just so nice and smart of course I, I mean…"

"It's alright Marinette," Luka placed a hand on her shoulder, a reassuring smile on his face "he must be one lucky guy to get your heart," he looked up "and lucky too."

Marinette turned to see where Luka was staring, a smile on her face when she saw Adrien showing up, only to trip on the clutter of the dock.

And they said she was the clumsy one.

"Adrien! You ok buddy?" Nino pulled him up, Adrien waving it off as he looked at the object he had stumbled on. Marinette knew that look the moment he opened the case. It was the utter fascination look of a child wanting to try something new.

"An original ZX20.4? I love the sound of this instrument!"

Marinette didn't need to guess what was going to happen, a smile on her face when Luka went to introduce himself to him, inviting him to play along at the gig. She gave him a thumbs-up sign and went to sit back with Alya and Nino, happy to see Adrien catching on what they were going to play and just enjoying the concert.

It didn't take away how… surprising it was to listen to heavy rock with soft glittery lyrics.

Technically speaking, if I want the four to actually spend time together, I should go with Frozer next. I am debating because I'm missing 12 eps of season 2 (I'm not choosing all of the season but I do want to add the other miraculous wielders too) So I'm most likely to go for Sapotis first.

Don't believe me until you see it posted tho, you've seen I change my mind a lot.