Dear Journal,

So, my morning did not goes as I thought it would as the first thing I hear and see is Plagg playing with my Alliance ring and talking about cheese. Does he know, he's not supposed to play with it? Its not a toy! Sorry if I seem a little grumpy in this entry, Journal.

Then the ring talks about something I've never said and I tell it to Plagg, my fits balling up in anger. "I never said that," I tell him, my green eyes sparking with anger. "Yet, you say it with such conviction," Plagg says admiringly. "How does this happen?" I ask, sitting down on my white couch, my voice tinged with a bit of sadness. "Since your father digitized you and Lila, you two have become virtual puppets," Plagg explains, floating up holding my ring. "The Alliance ring makes you say anything people want," Plagg says, and hits another button and of course its something about cheese.

"Isn't great?" he asks. "I don't think its great at all," I say, standing up and taking the ring and walking out my room. I've like a stove lid or teakettle ready to boil over with madness instead of steam. Don't hold back when you talk to him, I tell myself. If you do that, nothing will change and you have to stand up and defend yourself.

I start to walk down the stairs just as Natalie is entering the foyer area. "Natalie, I need to talk to father right away," I say, my voice serious and has a angry tone to it.

I'm surprised when she tells me he's waiting for me in the kitchen. Well, this is new. "My father's waiting for in the kitchen?" I echo, not knowing if I heard right, or believe it. "I'll be accompanying you to school this afternoon," Natalie starts to say when Father calls out, "No need, Nathile, I'll go myself."

When the kitchen door shuts, Father is bent over the stove and making something. Maybe Plagg's Camembert smells are getting to me, Dear Journal, because I haven't seen Father cook a meal since Mother disappeared. "How do you like your French toast, Adrien?" Father asks, and for a moment I stand there, tongue-tied. "Well, toasted, Father," I say, giving a little shake of my head as if this is all just a illusion.

"Call me Dad," he turns to me with a smile. Okay, now I know something going on here, or there's some very stinky cheese in my room! "Your parent-teacher conference is scheduled for today, right?" he asks, flipping the French toast sizzling in the pan. "Yes, Father, er, Dad."

"Perfect, I cleared my schedule to go with you. Its about your future, its important." "Um, are you sure your feeling okay?" Is all I can ask, because this isn't the father I'm used to. (Sad as that is, Dear Journal.)

"I've never felt better," he smiles at me. "You know, Adrien, you and I were a lot closer before your mother disappeared," and I can only stare up at him, a bit of sadness welling up in my chest as I think of her.

The memories are a bit foggy, but Father loved to play basketball with me, and chess (he taught me) and we would be silly at the piano together, and Mother would have to come and see what all the noise was about. I miss her so much.

"After, I spent to much time working and let to much distance come between us," he explains. "How do you like your eggs, son?" he changes the subject. "Soft boiled, Father," because its so weird to call him Dad.

"Ask Alliance how long there supposed to cook, will you?" Do it, Adrien, I tell myself, "Speaking of which," I start to say, "Dad, I'm not comfortable having my face on all these rings," I tell him. "That's why I didn't want to be a model anymore."

If I were a little older, Journal, and wasn't Cat Noir, would I just disappear? Not like Mother, mind you, but somewhere where I can just be myself?

"Do you understand?" I ask, asking slowly so the message will hit home. "Of course, I understand, my son. But that's the point, its just a image, its not you. Its since it frees you from your obligations we the Agrestes are able to spend more time together. But if you rather everything went back to the way it was, just say the word."

Ms. B reminds us when I get to school that their won't be any afternoon classes this afternoon because of the parent-teacher conferences.

"I know what I'm going to be," Nino whispers to me, "I'm going to be a superhero." "I thought Ladybug couldn't hand out Miraculous anymore," I remind him. "Who's talking about a Miraculous?" Nino says. "That's not the only way to be a superhero. Monarch going to have deal with a new enemy. The Resistance!" "There's a Resistance starting up?" This is the first I've heard. "Not yet. But you can be my first recruit if you want to. You could be Comrade Mayo, and I'd be Comrade Ketchup."

My friends are surprised when I follow them to the cafeteria. "Hang on, your old man is okay with you eating in the cafeteria," Nino asks in disbelief. I just smile at them.

When we get there, Nino hands me a tray. "Here, you get in line and choose what you want." There's so many options! "What I want," I say, looking at all my choices. I take a salad plate, (I know, Journal, old habits die hard!) As I start to take a plate of eggs, my Alliance ring goes off.

"Does it feel weird," Marinette asks, "being on all these rings?" Wasn't I asking myself the same question just this morning, Journal? "Well, its just my image. And its allowing me to spend time with the people I care about. My father, my friends, you." Yes, Journal, Marinette is very special to me. "We can see each other outside of school," I say, and I see she's a bit flustered as she starts grabbing random dishes off the counter.

"Yeah, I mean, we spend a lot of time at school together as it already," Marientte says. "This is all thanks to you, Marinette," I say, my voice softening as I tell her how much I appericate her. "You gave me the courage to stand up to my father."

Nino resumes the conversation we started from the classroom by starting off, "eat like everything's normal," just as I'm about to take a bite. "Isn't everything?" I ask, my fork and knife in midair. Remember, Journal, first day in the cafeteria!

"This lunch is just a cover, Comrade Mayo," he says. "Comrade Mayo?" Alya repeats, confused. "From now on, you will call me Comrade Ketchup."

"Right, I summoned you to this secret meeting because-" "You didn't summon us to anything," Alya cuts in. "What's up with the sauces?" Alya asks. "What's up is Ladybug and Cat Noir don't have us to help them anymore." "Um, what do you mean?" Alya stammers. "Well, you Rena Rouge, me, Carapace." "What's the big deal? We can tell Marinette and Adrien we used to be superheroes." Everyone's mouth drops open at Nino's words as he continues, "Its not like we have a Miraculous Monarch can steal from us. The only ones who need to protect their secret identities are Ladybug and Cat Noir. And anyway, I already told Adrien about Carapace."

I chuckle uncomfortably as Nino spills the beans. Nino tells us that we're going to film a akumatization. "And how are we going to do that?" Alya asks. "I'm going to make it happen."

"Isn't that cruel?" I ask. "But your going to put yourself in danger, and you don't have superpowers to protect yourself. Ladybug would never agree to that."

Suddenly a group of my "fans" swarm the cafeteria, so we run to the boiler room to continue our "meeting." "The parent-teacher conferences are today," Nino says, "now, who loses their temper easily?" I have a image of Father leap into my mind, even if I don't like it. "A parent! Almost all of them have been akumatized this summer," Nino explains. "And today, we have the ideal parent," he says, pointing at a picture of my father.

"My father? But Nino, he's changed. He's making an effort. And its his first time coming to school." A cold feeling like a iceberg drifts into my tummy, ready to cut this happy feeling. "Has he changed for real?" Nino asks. "Or is it just a publicity stunt for his awesome ring?" My heart sinks as the last question is asked, because what if Nino is right?

"Sorry, man, I shouldn't have said that." "Seriously, though, Ladybug would never approve of this plan," Alya tells us. "Your with me on this one, right, Marinette?" "Well, if could help defeat Monarch maybe Ladybug would agree. After all, Nino's right. She could fix everything afterwards."

"Are you okay with this, Adrien?" Alya asks, as I stare down at my ring. "If it can help Ladybug and Cat Noir, why not?"

So, are plan is stain Father's white suit with anything with red sauce and Marinette is up first, then me.

"Adrien? Are you coming from the cafeteria too?" Ms. B asks, probably suspicious now. "Yes, I forget my schoolbag," I say, and "trip" into father with a plate of spaghetti. We ask if he's if he's annoyed or upset as he stands up. "Come on, Adrien, we're going home."

The car roars with silence, and I know I have to say something after what happened at school. "Dad," I try, "Father," he says, his voice cold. The voice I know all to well. My hand starts shaking, even if I don't know why. "Go to room, Adrien."

I don't want to wear the ring anymore, so I set it next to my phone. My phone buzzes just as I set it down, and its Marinette.

"Adrien, we're outside your house, we'll explain everything to your father and make things right," my friends say. "That's nice of you, but talking to him would make him even more angry."

I hear sounds coming from the office and I leave my phone on the call, and I walk down the stairs towards Father's office.

I point my camera at Father as he kneels on the ground, talking to Mother. The akuma enters his tablet and he talks to Monarch.

Running back upstairs, I slam the door shut. "My father's really furious! Plagg, Claws Out!"

My father has once again turned to The Collector and his weapon hums a high note as it tries to trap M'lady and I.

He uses the power of Voyage. "Monarch gave him the Miraculous of the Horse," Ladybug turns to me. "And the Collector has new apps to play with on his tablet, this isn't going to be easy."

The boomerang sings out again, and Ladybug jumps knocking me out of the way. "Cat Noir!" The Collector keeps appearing and disappear, like an illusion. "Lucky Charm!" Ladybug calls and a block of cheese falls into her hands.

"Shredded cheese?" she asks. "Plagg would be happy," I grin at her. Collector reappear yet again, and we follow him into the sewer. As soon as I start to run forward, a feel a stab and I find myself frozen.

Ladybug's POV

I twirl my yo-yo like a shield looking for what stung and froze my partner. I see mice squeaking in fear. "What are you afraid?" I ask. "There's nothing…" but then I see a splash in the puddle and realize that something invisible is in the puddle. I keep whirling my yo-yo, knowing if I stop I will become immobile too. Yellow points of light sparkle and I leap up onto a ledge. Pictures of the puzzle appear and I spread the cheese over the invisible villains. "Lunchtime," I call out and spread the cheese around.

The mice are perfect, chasing my invisible enemy around the corner, and I am free from danger. "Ladybug, you can't save me," the Collector says. "I did it out of love for my son, but I only but I only continue to disappoint him."

"Its not to late," I say, reaching out a hand towards him. "Anyone can change," I try to use a voice as soothing as possible. "Let go of your anger." Mr. Agreste falls backwards into the water, and I scream. "No! Power up!" I dive into the green water, but there's no sign of Mr. Agreste anywhere.

Back to Cat's Pov…..

I run forward suddenly seeing Ladybug down in the water. "M'lady," I call down to her, "What just happened?" "Cat Noir, I can't find Gabriel Agreste." Then we hear a coughing sound and Ladybug smiles.

Nino apologized to Father later, and shows us that its "Magical Lighting". "This is a huge step forward, but you and your friends also took a big risk today." Father tells her not to be to hard on him. "Now, that's some awesome sauce. Pound it."

I'm staring at my ring when Father comes in, sitting next to me on the bed. "Adrien, I was so worried," he tells me. "I'm so sorry for making a public scene. The anger spilled over again, but, Ladybug made realize that I couldn't give up on us."

I hug my father tightly, squeezing my eyes tight. "Father," I ask, "I think I don't want to wear an Alliance," I say.

Diary, a few things are on my mind as I close these pages for now.

I don't feel like its "Magical Lighting" as Nino told Father. And how come I feel like Father's good mood is only temporary?

At least I have you talk to, Dear Journal.

I'll write soon!

Adrien Agreste

-Cat Noir