Author's Note: For this chapter, I'm taking the idea of calling the Snuggly Duckling "The Miracle Box" from GameGirl31996. Her MLB/Tangled fanfic is what inspired me to write my own, so please go show her fanfic some love. Anyways, onward with the story.
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Tangled Or MLB. Those belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 6
As Ladybug and Adrien made their way through the woods, a small cafe came into view.
"Ah here it is, The Miracle Box," Ladybug announced, gesturing to the small cafe, hidden under some leaning trees and shrubs. "Don't worry, this place is very friendly, go here all the time."
"Well, alright." Adrien replied, a little nervous to see people for the first time.
With that, Ladybug opened the door, calling out, "Garcon, your finest table please!"
Adrien gasped as he saw the inside.
The place was dark and dusty, full of menacing-looking people, who all turned to face him. There was a man in a pigeon suit with a dozen pigeons surrounding him, a black and gold figure with a head shaped like an Egyptian pharaoh, a female in a pirate outfit who pointed a sword towards the blonde boy. This wasn't a friendly cafe; this was a scary pub!
Adrien swiftly held his sword in front of him defensively. Plagg pounced in front of Adrien and hissed at the shady strangers, his tail sticking up.
"Easy there, Blondie," Ladybug placed her hands on Adrien's shoulders and steered him through the crowd. "Just take some deep breaths. So, what are you getting, cause let me tell you, Kung Food can make anything with his bare hands." She looked over in the direction of a dark-skinned man wearing a chef's hat and apron, stirring some kind of porridge in a large pot.
Adrien can feel his anxiety rising. Ladybug said they would avoid criminals and thugs, yet here they are in place full of them! He stumbled backwards as a tall man in a neon green and purple suit and matching top hat gripped a clump of his blonde hair.
"That's a lot of hair," He remarked.
"Sure is, Simon Says" Ladybug said in agreement. "He's growing it out. Say, are those some new cards you got there?" she gestured to a deck of cards in the man's hands.
"Hey, Goldie, check out all the new cards he got. Perhaps Simon here can show you a magic trick or two."
Adrien, who was stepping backwards in an attempt to distance himself from the crowd, bumped into someone hard. A stone figure who was apparently alive turned around and glared at him, sending shivers down his spine.
"Hmm, you don't look so good there, Adrien. Let's get you home." Ladybug proceeded to escort him to the front door. "Clearly you can't handle this amount of people, so I don't think you can handle a kingdom where there will be hundreds of people."
Just as they were about to leave, someone slammed the door shut. A female known as Reflecta leaned against the door, glaring at Ladybug. She has white and purple makeup on her face, pink hair in pigtails that looks like jello, and wore a goofy-looking pink dress that made her look like a porcelain doll.
"Hey, is this you?" She moved her hand to reveal another wanted poster of Ladybug, this one having her nose look even worse than before, as well as having her hair look like two wavy lines.
"Oh, come on," Ladybug mumbled in annoyance. "Now they're just being mean."
"Oh, it's her alright," the female pirate from earlier confirmed, smiling sinisterly. She turned towards a red-headed boy with a striped shirt and black pants, holding a sketchbook in one hand. "Evillustrator, go find some guards."
"On it, Captain Hardrock." With a nod, Evillustrator ran out the door.
"Oh, I'm gonna be rich being the one who caught the kingdom's lucky bug thief." Captain Hardrock pointed a hook under Ladybug's chin.
"Hey, I could use the money too." The stone figure from earlier, known as Stoneheart, snatched up Ladybug in his arms.
"No way, I saw her first!" The pigeon man protested, grabbing the bug-themed lady next.
Soon, a tug-of-war arose, all the pub people fighting over who gets to turn in Ladybug for the reward.
Adrien knew he had to stop this. He needed Ladybug to take him to see the lights. Noticing some barrels stacked on top of each other, Adrien climbed on top of them, tapped his sword against a hanging pot, and shouted. "Everyone! STOP!"
The scream abruptly shook the room, and all the people in the pub paused, turning to face the blonde boy once more.
"Put her down!" Adrien demanded.
All of the pub people just continued to stare at him in confusion.
"Please, listen," Adrien pleaded. "I don't know where I am, and I need her to take me to see the floating lights that I've been dreaming about my entire life! Find your humanity! Haven't you ever had a dream?"
Captain Hardrock proceeded to walk over to the blonde boy, holding her sword out as if preparing to strike.
Adrien held out his own sword, gulping as the pirate got up close in his face, staring him down.
"I've had a dream...once." She then threw her sword at a man with a guitar in hands in a corner, barely missing his head.
Getting the message, Guitar Villain strum a tune on his guitar as Captain Hardrock began to sing.
"I'm malicious, mean, and scary,
My sword could curdle dairy,
And violence is why my hand are not the cleanest,
But despite my evil looks, and my temper, and my hook,
I've always dreamed to be a concert pianist,"
Captain Hardrock sat down by a piano and began to tackle the keys.
"Can't you see me on the stage performing Mozart,
Tickling the ivories till they gleam,"
She knocked some keys out with her hook, which Adrien deflected with his sword.
"Yeah, I'd rather be called deadly for my killer show tune medley,
Aye!
Cause way deep down inside I've got a dream."
The other pub people joined in, singing along,
"She's got a dream, she's got a dream,"
Captain Hardrock smiled at Adrien with an outstretched hand as she continued singing,
"Now I ain't so cruel and vicious as I seem,
Though I am a great big schemer,
You can count me with the dreamers,
Cause like everybody else I've got a dream."
A few pigeons bob their heads to the music, to which Plagg meows curiously, raising a paw above their heads contemplating if he should strike or not.
(Outside)
A hooded figure approached The Miracle Box, pausing at the sounds of music coming from inside. The figure lifts off the hood, revealing it to be Mother Natalie.
(Back inside)
"I've got a body made of stone,
And an intimidating tone,
And let's not even mention my complexion,
But despite my hardcore bones,
And my eyes and my nose,
I really wanna make a love connection."
Stoneheart proceeds to sit in a wooden rowboat, holding two oars for rowing. A little red and yellow figure, known as a Sapoti, sat in the small end of the boat, holding an umbrella with a mischievous smile.
"Can't you imagine me with a gentle little lady,
Rowing in a rowboat down the stream,
Though I'm one scary blighter,
I'm a lover, not a fighter,
Cause way deep down inside, I've got a dream."
Stoneheart launches the Sapoti across the room, who comically flies around, tossing flowers at the crowd. The crowd joins in the chorus once more.
"I've got a dream!"
He's got a dream!"
I've got a dream!"
He's got a dream!"
"And I know one day romance will reign supreme,
Though my image leaves people fleeing,
There is a girl among them gleaming,
Cause way deep down inside I've got a dream."
Now everyone in the pub is singing, each listing their own dreams and desires.
"Stormy Weather wants to be a forecaster,
Style Queen does wardrobe design,
The Mime is into mime,
Kung Food's cupcakes are sublime,
Pixelator Pics, Timebreaker rolls,
Puppeteer does little puppet shows,
"And Glaciator makes miniature ice cream cones."
A giant snowman called Glaciator held up a couple ice cream cones, a smile forming on its frosty face.
"And what about you?" Captain Hardrock turns to Ladybug, who was casually standing off to the side.
"What about me?" The spotted female replied.
"What's your dream?" Captain Hardrock asked, all eyes turning on Ladybug.
"Oh no, sorry guys, I don't sing." Ladybug replied.
Immediately all the pub people pulled out their weapons and pointed them at Ladybug.
"I have dreams like you, no really,
Just not so touchy-feely,
They mainly happen small and cozy,
In a workshop of my own,
Sewing, knitting, and alone,
Surrounded by large amounts of macaroons."
A group of pub folk grabbed Ladybug and tossed her in the air with a cheer. They then turned their attention to Adrien as he got on a small stage and sang about his own dream.
"I've got a dream,
He's got a dream,"
"I've got a dream,
He's got a dream,"
"I just wanna see the floating lanterns gleam,"
Mother Natalie peered through one of the pub windows, her eyes widened as she spotted Adrien, singing with all the criminals and thugs cheering for him.
"And with every passing hour,
I'm so glad I left my tower,
Like all you lovely folks,
I've got a dream."
Adrien, Ladybug, and all the people in the pub sang and danced, throwing barrels of ale back and forth and celebrating their dreams being heard and appreciated.
"He's got a dream,
You've got a dream,
We've got a dream,
They've got a dream,
So, our differences are really not that extreme,
We are one big team."
Stoneheart grabbed Ladybug and pushed some barrels from under her, making her balance on the rolling barrels as other pub people danced and directed the rolling barrels around the room.
"Call us brutal, sick, sadistic,
And grotesquely optimistic,
Cause way deep down inside I've got a dream,
I've got a dream,
I've got a dream,
I've got a dream,
I've got a dream,
I've got a dream,
I've got a dream,
Yes, way deep down inside I've got a dream,"
"Yeah!"
Everyone struck their final pose, with Stoneheart lifting Adrien and Ladybug with both arms.
The pub people laughed in conclusion, conversing with each other about how great it felt to speak about their dreams and have their voices be heard.
Just then, Evillustator busted through the front door, exclaiming, "I found the guards!"
All the excitement and conversation abruptly stopped. Everybody turned towards the guards, remembering how they had the most wanted runaway thief among them.
"Where's Ladybug!?" one of the guards, the captain, spoke up, demanding to know where the spotted thief was.
The pub people looked at one another and shrugged.
The captain, who went by Luka, turned to the other guards. "I know she's here. Search around. Turn the place upside down if you must!"
Unbeknownst to the guards, Adrien and Ladybug hid under a table, giving each other a knowing look that they had to get out of here. Ladybug peeked above for a look, her eyes widening. Two of the guards held Rena Rouge and Queen Bee, their wrists bound behind their back.
A sword encountered the back of Ladybug's head. She slowly turned to see Captain Hardrock. She gestured with her hook for them to follow her, leading them to the back of the pub. Captain Hardrock pulled a lever on the wall, which opened a secret underground tunnel that would lead them outside.
"Go, live your dream." She spoke.
"Thanks, I will." Ladybug replied, surprised that someone actually cared about her wish.
"Your dream stinks. I was talking to him." Captain Hardrock said, gesturing to Adrien.
"Thank you for everything," the blond boy said gratefully, giving the pirate a hug.
With that, the two started to make their way into the tunnel.
"I believe this is the girl you're looking for," Simon Says held up the Sapoti, trying to distract the guards long enough so that Ladybug and Adrien could make their escape.
"You caught me," the Sapoti said, holding out his hands as if to be arrested.
"Do you think we're stupid!?" Captain Luka said angrily.
"Sir, there's no sign of Ladybug," another guard told the captain.
Suddenly, the pub front door slammed open again, revealing the palace horse.
"Lila." Captain Luka exclaimed.
The horse, Lila, made her way inside, sniffing the ground for Ladybug's scent. The scent took her towards the back of the pub. She pointed a hoove at the wall, giving a smile.
The captain and rest of the guards raised an eyebrow in confusion.
With a frown, Lila pulled down the lever, revealing the underground tunnel.
"A passage." Captain Luka exclaimed. "This way!"
The guards proceeded into the tunnel, with one guard staying behind to make sure Ren Rouge and Queen Bee don't escape. Rena Rouge headbutted the guard, knocking him out. The two cut each other's binds, with Rena Rouge no longer paralyzed from Queen Bee's venom.
"Let's go get that crown, Chloe," the fox themed female said with a grin.
"For the last time, it's Queen Bee!" She said in frustration.
Mother Natalie, who watched everything from the window, pursed her lips together, wondering how she was going to get into that tunnel.
The Sapoti from earlier made its way out of the door, singing to itself. "I've got a dream, I've got some dreams.." the Sapoti pauses when it notices Mother Natalie. "Hey, pretty lady. Wanna have some fun?"
"Oh, I'll tell you what we're gonna do." Mother Natalie pulled out the dagger and pointed it under the Sapoti's chin. "Tell me where that tunnel goes, and I'll spare your life."
Author's Note: Hello again, beautiful readers. I really enjoyed rewriting the song to fit the villain's dreams, and I hope you guys enjoyed it too. Please let me know what you think in your reviews. Until next time, live your dreams and have a great weekend.