As they walked out of the way of the door, Adrien and Ella couldn't help but glance at their respective parents in the corner. They could tell from body language, that the two adults physically present, were tense and that there was a serious discussion going on, but their faces gave nothing away. And when Nathalie shifted, the pair could see Adrien's father face looking as stoic as usual- though there was a glint in his eyes.
"…are we sure either of our parents are human like that?" Ella whispered, making Adrien almost snort in laughter. He clapped his hand over his mouth to keep the noise in, and beside him, Ella was biting her lip to keep her snickers in.
"I've always wondered." Adrien joked back, making Ella shake with renewed giggles.

Kagami watched her mother alongside the others. She could tell her mother was angry, and understandably so. The teen was more than acquainted with the business deal the adults were in no doubt discussing.
Her mother had been thoroughly unhappy when she had received the notice about changes to whatever contract she and Mr. Agreste had signed... and had told Kagami not to cease going after Adrien. But the seventeen-year old couldn't help the realization as she followed just behind the couple, and watched them interact, Kagami already knew there would be no breaking them up.

The event went on as well as it could have. The trio stood off to the side talking for a good chunk of the time, going on about random things like school and what they like.
"Well I'm more of a dog person." Adrien said at one point, and that had Ella stifling laughter.
"Dog person? That's a surprise, chaton~" Ella had whispered in his ear when Kagami turned to greet someone. Adrien blushed pink; he poked her cheek but kept silent, his smirk saying everything.
When it seemed their parents were done with whatever they were doing, the trio were chatting as they moved back towards them, when Kagami stopped.
"Kagami? What's wrong?" Ella asked, as the girl shifted to balance on one foot and slid off the shoe of her other foot. There was gum stuck to the bottom.
"These shoes belonged to my grandmother."
"People really need to learn how to throw things away. Why don't you find a chair, I'll go grab a towel or something to clean it off- Ella can wait with you." Adrien offered. The girls nodded and Ella helped Kagami over to a table by the window while Adrien wandered off to the refreshments table.
"This is the first time you've left your girlfriend out of your sight in weeks." Plagg teased, poking his head out of Adrien's suit jacket.
"She's not out of my sight- she's just over there." Adrien explained, grabbing a towel.
"You've been stupid protective for a while- make sure you don't smother her or Raven. I doubt either one will take too kindly to that." The cat kwami mused, shrugging his little shoulders before slipping back into the warmth of the cloth.

On the other side of the event, Thomas was standing by himself minding his own business when a crowd of children come running in, yelling Ladybug- and they bowled Thomas over in their excitement.
"Woah! Hey, kids!" He reset himself, smiling at the kids.
"Ladybug! Where's Ladybug?" The kids cheered, looking around for the spotted heroine.
"Ladybug isn't here children. We came here to meet the director of the movie." The teacher calmly explained to the group of kids, trying to placate them.
"Aw..." The kids whined, all looking upset; Thomas couldn't help his own face falling in disappointment.

Marinette, finally getting a moment to relax, realized that she still had the special macarons for Adrien and Ella in her pocket. Taking them out, the blunette skirted around party-goers and found at least the blond teen.
"Hey, Adrien! I was testing a new recipe and wanted you and Ella to try these! There's a passionfruit one for you and pomegranate for Ella- please tell me what you think!"
"Thanks, Marinette!"

Adrien thanked Marinette and headed back to where he left the girls, when a reporter stopped him and wanted to ask a few questions. Agreeing, Adrien absentmindedly placed the macrons on the table beside him in oder to take the mic handed to him. A few minutes went by and the impromptu interview ended, Adrien walked over to the girls... accidentally leaving the macrons behind.

Thomas, thoroughly upset at how the event was turning out, sat down and sighed. Glancing around, he spotted the special macarons on the table (where Adrien left them); the director had yet to eat one, so with a grin, he took out the dark purple macaron and popped in his mouth. It took a few seconds, but the allergic reaction hit and Thomas panicked as red hives popped up all over his face.
"What's happening?"
"Eww!" The children from the class pointed and laughed, as Thomas took out his phone and looked at himself in the camera, before sniffing the macaron packet.
"These macarons contain almonds!" He realized, running over to Tom and Sabine, "I specifically told you that I'm allergic to almonds!"
"We were so careful about that. All the macarons are made from coconut." Tom countered, explaining as the blunette server from earlier paled beside him.
"Uh, oh. All but two! Those were for Adrien and Ella!" She exclaimed, apologetic.
All around him, the children laughed at Thomas, making him angry. It must has shown on his face cause the kids ran away.
"I spent three years of my life working day in day out for this! What was meant to be my night is ruined!" He pointed out dejectedly, as the party-goers all went back to what they were doing.
"Oh, nobody could care less about me." Thomas sighed sadly, walking dejected out of the event.

Gabriel quickly got Nathalie's attention and had her end the call. The man slipped away to his lair, transforming the moment he got there, as the circular window slid open.
"Ah! The behind-the-scenes creator who never gets any of the credit. The perfect type of injustice for my akumas. Fly away, creature of the dark and evilize his broken heart!"

Ella froze as Adrien rejoined the two girls, cutting off their conversation. Her vision went black as she witnessed yet another akuma fluttering on the breeze... headed right for the theater.
"I'll be right back- bathroom." She whispered to Adrien, barely letting him nod before she was gone.
She ran towards the bathroom but ducked down an empty hall and around a corner.
"It happened again. This has to be some sort of evolved power." Ella spoke, as Kiismet flew out and floated in front of her face.
"It must be. So many things have changed and powers do evolve- they're only limited by your imagination of the Miraculous."
"Well that'll be something to investigate later. Kiismet, touch the sky!"

It was only a minute or two before the akuma landed and established contact, that light purple butterfly mask illuminating over the director's face.
"Animaestro. You're going to show everyone who you really are with a power as limitless as your imagination. All I ask in return are Cat Noir, Raven's Wing and Ladybug's miraculous'." Hawk Moth cooed, smirking as he felt the director bend to his will.
"I want them all to see what a director is capable of!"

Adrien sighed inwardly as he knelt in front of Kagami. He felt awkward doing this, considering her mother was sitting just to the teen's left, but he played the part of a gentleman and peeled the gum off Kagami's shoe.
"Now I understand why Kagami had spoken much about you. Your father has raised you to be a refined young man!" Mrs. Tsurugi commented; Adrien blushed a light pink, embarrassed by the comment, and slid Kagami's shoe back on for her.
"Thank you Adrien." The older teen offered a sad smile, Adrien just shook his head and stood, glancing around for Ella.
"It's no trouble, Kagami."

"Who are you? You can't come- wah!" A loud commotion came from the door and grabbed Adrien's attention, the teen turning just in time to see the doorman thrown from the door and a black-white sketch/drawing looking man was there instead.
"So you really think a director does nothing? Let Animaestro show you exactly what I'm capable of!" The villain exclaimed, as the party-goers began to run for cover. Realizing that must have been what Ella left for, Adrien ran for the hall leading to the theater and let Plagg out of his coat.
"Plagg, claw out!"

"Tikki, spots on!"

"Oh, come on! Don't leave! The show's just getting started!" Animaestro taunted, transforming into a giant green cartoon dinosaur with a spotted Ladybug mask, with a puff of pink smoke.
"Roar!" He spit a laser out of his mouth that destroyed various buildings around the theater. Raven couldn't help but giggle at the absolutely cartoonish look of this villain as she stood on the rooftop across from the dinosaur, before she composed herself and narrowed her eyes.
"Raven's Flight."
Instead of transforming into a bird like before, a shadow of her former feathered self emerged from her chest and darted off. Its eyes glowed a glimmering grey, mimicking Raven's own glowing orbs. The raven flew over the villain as it fired lasers as the news helicopter and the surrounding buildings, and with one glance below, the red and black mask on the villains face ignited black and purple in the raven's vision.
With a breath, Raven closed her eyes and cut off the connection, her shadow vanishing. She took a deep breath and got back on track as she heard two thuds sound on either side of her.
"We'd have come to your movie premiere, if we'd have known how upset you were gonna get." Cat yelled, getting Animaestro's attention.
"Cat Noir. Ladybug. Raven's Wing."
"What's with that trailer too? I am not scared of cats, at all."
"Really, bugaboo?" Raven sighed.
"You haven't even seen the movie and you're already slamming it?"
"He does have a point, you know." Cat added; the trio jumped quick as Animaestro spit a laser at them.
"I wasn't slamming it. It's called constructive criticism!" Ladybug argued as she landed, throwing her yo-yo and wrapping it around Animaestro and the Montparnasse. Below the trio, civilians cheered at Ladybug's seeming success but Raven frowned, her eyes scanning the villain.
"Nice work, LB."
"I wouldn't count my chickens just yet." Raven countered, shifting to a defensive position as Animaestro growled.
"So it's always about you, isn't it? From now on, everybody will be looking at me!" Animaestro knocked away the yo-yo string and transformed into a cartoon robot, "Let's see how much you enjoy the true power of animation!"
The villain shot a laser out of the giant horn on his head at the heroes, and Cat grabbed the girls each by a wrist and yanked them out of the way and down to street level.
"Have to admit: this animation thing is a really cool power- if he wasn't akumatized." Raven lightly commented, staring in somewhat awe at the complexity of the robot. There was another bright flash of light... and Animaestro was suddenly an animated black and brown dog-looking thing.
"I am the only true hero." Animaestro puffed up his "chest" at Raven's comment, making the heroine sigh. Ladybug groaned, while Cat fully pulled Raven behind him with a frown.
"Stay behind me, love."
"Love? That's a new one~" Raven cooed as Cat ran towards Animaestro who threw a black circle on the ground- a hole. Cat proceeded to fall into the hole, while Raven ran forward and hooked him by his belt and yanked him up to the rooftop, her and Ladybug following right behind.
"You okay, kitty?" The words were barely out of Raven's mouth when Cat was shouting his own warning, and giant red boxing gloves were flying towards them. The trio jumped down to the street and ran, hoping to lead the villain away from random citizens.
"How do you beat a 2D character?" Cat asked as they ran. Ladybug went to speak but Raven cut her off.
"The akuma is in his mask." The feathered heroine spoke, earning a confused glare from her leader.
"How do you know that, mon merle?"
"...let's just say some things have changed." Raven decided on vague but to a point, as her Miraculous beeped a three minute warning and she turned herself to face Animaestro again, who just finished transforming into a cartoon version of Alya's old favorite superhero, Majestia.
"Fear the power of cartoons!"
"How about you fear the power of the Lucky Charm! A camera?"
"Of course! Who better to make a movie about the three of us, than us?" Cat theorized while Ladybug took a second to study the charm before putting it around her head.
"HA!" Apparently, the villain didn't like that idea and shot a laser out of his eyes, creating a decent sized hole and causing the trio to fall down into the subway.
"He really doesn't take kindly to competition." Cat moaned, picking himself off the ground. Raven stood quick, helping Ladybug up as Animaestro landed on the edge above. He transformed again into a cartoon ninja, performing a series of hand movements before summoning pink smoke that filled the subway. The smoke was thick, causing the heroes to cough as it invaded their lungs.
"I can't see anything. This smoke is making my eyes burn!" Cat called through the smoke.
"Stick together- take a point!" Raven yelled back, putting her back to Ladybug's a second before she felt Cat arrive to her left.
"Protect your Miraculous. He could be anywhere!" Ladybug ordered, and Raven mirrored her actions of covering her Miraculous and closing her eyes. It was silent for a few seconds, before Cat shouted "Move!" and pushed the girls out of the way. They reorient themselves and keep their eyes closed, the smoke still too much for them.
"Everything okay down there?" A male voice called down into the hole and Raven decided that's it. Unhooking her grappler, she started spinning it.
"LB, Cat- hit the deck!" She yelled, raising the grappler up above her head. She heard two thuds, and turned up the speed of her spinning. All around her and her partners, she could feel the wind she caused, hopefully clearing up the smoke.
"He just flew away, Raven's Wing!" The voice at street level called again, and Raven let her hook slow and hit the ground. She opened her eyes to reveal an empty subway and her partners picking themselves off the ground.
"Why didn't he attack us while we were blinded?" Cat wondered, his eyes dancing over to Raven as her Miraculous gave her a one minute warning.
"I don't know. It doesn't make any sense. Something must have happened that we didn't see which explains why the Lucky Charm was a camera."
"Review the camera footage, see if that has anything of pertinence. I have to go recharge."

Raven didn't even give the pair a second to even answer her; she was up and out of sight in seconds.
"Did you see her use her special power at all?" Ladybug asked, blue eyes meeting green.
"No. But when she identified the akuma, her Miraculous was already down two feathers. So it had to be before then."
Ladybug frowned, not liking the feathered teen keeping secrets, but she decided to deal with that later as she pulled the camera off her head and rewound the footage. She found the moment the smoke started and hit play. Her and Cat Noir watched the moments they were blinded by the smoke...
"Protect your Miraculous. He could be anywhere!" Animaestro was running towards them but suddenly stopped.
"Did you just pause the image?"
"No, did you see him freeze?"
"No. I had my eyes closed because of the smoke."
"Me too."
"Okay, so that's why he didn't take our Miraculous."
"Nobody's watching him..."
"...he stops moving!"
"Just like a movie. If nobody watches it it's as if it didn't exist!"
"Now we know how to defeat him. Let's go find mon merle and let her know."

The pair leapt out of the hole, into a world of absolute chaos. Animaestro was now a unicorn that was spitting out rainbows at various buildings, turning them into brightly colored stars before they burst and vanished.
"Uh oh. It won't be easy getting people to stop watching him now. Looks like this show is a sellout!" Cat Noir realized, making Ladybug frown. Her Miraculous gave a beep and she grit her teeth.
"Time for the end credits, Cat Noir."
Ladybug and Cat Noir jumped towards the villain, passing some civilians watching the spectacle.
"Close your eyes! Everybody stop watching him."
"Just because it's colorful and shiny doesn't mean it's not extremely dangerous."
All around them, civilians closed their eyes, but Animaestro was still moving...
"LB! The TV broadcast! Cat and I will keep him busy." Raven's voice yelled, said girl swinging past and pointing at the news crew arriving on the scene with their camera already rolling. Ladybug nodded and jumped that way, while Cat Noir headed up after Raven. Ladybug landed in front of camera and stared seriously into the screen.
"You. Yes, you who are watching from the other side of the screen. Close your eyes, do not look at Animaestro. Turn off your screen. Come on, we need each and every one of you. It's the only way to stop him."
"Ha! You can tell everyone to close their eyes and switch off their TVs, but there will always be at least one person watching me." Animaestro exclaimed, now looking like something out of one of those anime cartoons.

"I wouldn't miss this show for anything." Hawk Moth crooned, smirking at his tablet.

"I'm sorry Nadja, but this time there will be no live coverage." Ladybug quickly apologized before she smashed the camera lens with her yo-yo, cutting off the broadcast.

"What? No!" Hawk Moth almost cursed, throwing his tablet to the floor, "Animaestro. Hurry up and bring me their Miraculous."
Hawk Moth exited his lair and ran into his atelier, but the live footage on his computer was off too. The villain detransformed back into Gabriel... and ran outside.

"Cataclysm!" Cat yelled, activating his power and dodging an explosion. To his left, Raven and Ladybug landed in defensive positions.
"Everybody must watch ANIMATION!" Animaestro fired another explosion at the trio but missed in his anger.
"Funny, cause I think we're the last ones." Cat mocked.
"And animation requires people to watch, so you're done." Raven added with a smirk.
"And once we close our eyes, it's time for the end credits, Animaestro!" Ladybug mirrored Raven's smirk, standing tall.
"No!" Animaestro transformed back into original form and ran at the trio of heroes.
"Shut your eyes tight, you two." Ladybug ordered, closing her eyes.
"You know we trust you blindly, LB." Cat and Raven chorused, shutting their eyes. A heavy thud sounded and signaled that Animaestro had stopped, frozen with no one to watch. Using his super hearing, Cat took a step closer to where he heard the thud and reached up with his Cataclysm. He touched the villain's mask, causing it to fall to the ground and the akuma to fly out. At the sound of the crack, Ladybug and Raven opened their eyes, and Ladybug got out her yo-yo.
"No more evildoing for you, little akuma! Time to de-evilize! Gotcha! Bye-bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!"The Miraculous Cure swirled around Paris while Ladybug grabbed the ID as Animaestro was consumed by energy and turned back into Thomas.
"Huh? What am I doing here? Cat Noir? Raven? Ladybug?" Ladybug smiled at the man and handed over the ID.
"In the flesh." She winked and stood tall as her Miraculous beeped with a two minute warning.
"You're about to transform back, Ladybug. Raven and I can finish here." Cat offered, winking at his girlfriend. Ladybug nodded, but before she left, she shot Raven a look- one that Cat read as 'we need to talk'.
"Bug out!"

"Ladybug, Raven's Wing, Cat Noir. Enjoy your apparent victory, because as in all the best tragedies, triumph always comes before failure."

Marinette sighed. The movie was about to start and here she was, standing outside the theatre doors handing out the last of the macarons.
"I'm sorry, Mari. I tried to see if there was an extra ticket, but they gave out everything already." Ella said, her expression sad as she and Adrien waited outside with their friend.
"It's alright, Ella. I'll see it eventually. You two go, it's about to start." Marinette waved her friends in, sighing once more as she turned back to the theater lobby, when the director approached her.
"You know what. Take my seat and enjoy the movie. I've seen it ten times or more. What matters the most for the movie is to be seen by people who really want to see it right?"
"But... I-I... Uh... But..." Marinette stuttered; she couldn't believe this!
"Sorry, I guess you don't know who I am either."
"Of course do. You're Thomas Astruc the movie director!" Marinette beamed, taking a step forward and hugging the man, "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" The blunette squeezed once and then turned, running inside the theater.
"She recognized me. Somebody actually recognized me! This is the best day of my life!" The man wiped away a tear, before grabbing one of the leftover macarons and taking a bite.

Marinette quickly found her seat and claimed it happily, seeing Ella and Adrien directly to her left.
"Mari! How'd you get in?"
"The director gave me his ticket! He said the movie should be seen by people who wanna see it."
"It's awesome you could get in, Marinette. And I'm really sorry we didn't get to taste your macarons. They looked delicious."
"It's no biggie. There will be tons of other occasions- I'll make them for you and Ella anytime you want!"

The movie started and it was so much fun! As the credits began to roll, a little piano tune began to play... and the couple to Marinette's left stood, moving to the stage-like area under the screen. They both grabbed a microphone as a member of staff introduced the special performance of 'Ce mur qui nous sépare' by the voices of Cat Noir and Raven's Wing.
Marinette could barely contain her squeals and awes at the song her friends sang, the love song between two heroes.