Ben and Gwen were heading to the Grand Palais to watch their friends audition to be extra's in some famous singer's (that Ben has never heard of) music video. Ben originally declined to go but Gwen forced him to come along despite his protests. She had kept saying that Marinette needed his support or something like that. Ben can understand why it would be nice of him to do so but not why Marinette would need him and when he asked Gwen why she needs him there she just said it was because that's what friends do and not give him a real answer.
The Rustbucket parked near the Grand Palais and Grandpa Max told them to come back when they were done and that he would stay here in the RV. So with that Gwen dragged Ben into the building and to the seats by the dressing trailer Adrien had gotten for them.
When they arrived they saw Adrien leaving the trailer in a 100% accurate Cat Noir costume. The only thing that gave it away was the tow have different eyes and Adrien wasn't wearing a mask.
Adrien looked a little intimidated by the size of the crowd that wanted to play Ladybug.
"Hey it'll be fine Adrien if you can handle doing photoshoots almost everyday you can handle this." encouraged Gwen.
"Thanks Gwen and thank you both for being here. It's always good to have friends here supporting me." thanked Adrien as he then had to go to the stage for the tryouts to determine who will be Ladybug.
In the central area of the main room, a stage with a backdrop has been set up, and two long lines of auditionees to either side have formed in front of it, those for Ladybug on the right, those as extras on the left. Clara Nightingale the singer of the music video is standing on the stage with her star-adorned microphone, greeting the auditionees.
"Thank you for coming, all of you! This is like a dream come true! Together we'll all dance and sing; It's going to be awesome and amazing! "Thank you for coming, all of you! This is like a dream come true! Together we'll all dance and sing; It's going to be awesome and amazing! And now, meet our rising star Adrien as Cat Noir!. greeted Clara.
Adrien walks out toward the stage, waving briefly. The extras react excitedly, Marinette was gasping, and Rose and Alya waving with raised arms. Adrien smiles nervously at the line and waves some more. Adrien walks up to the front of the stage, where Nathalie is holding a tablet with Gabriel seen on it, and the stagehand stands nearby.
Ben couldn't really hear the conversation but it sounded like there was an issue since a stagehand ran off but then the Ladybug auditions began and those had Ben laughing at the hilariousness of those that tried out. They were little children obviously to young for the role. Officer Roger who was just making a fool of himself, and some others that looked ok but were too clumsy for the part.
No one seemed to work well with Adrien on the stage either so even if they were good for the role of Ladybug Clara wanted someone who could work well with Adrien. It ended up with the line becoming empty and no more applicants were left to audition. Eventually Clara sees this too and glances at the extras, and gets an idea. She picks up a tray of snacks from a table by the stage, and carries it over to the extras.
"You must be starving from all this waiting!" says Clara as she brings over the snacks. However while carrying the tray of snacks, Clara deliberately trips herself up, tossing the tray in the air, and falling to the floor. Many of the extras gasp, and Marinette gets out of the line, and runs over to help Clara back to her feet; but Clara hugs Marinette instead.
"There you are! Here's a hug, Because you are Ladybug!" exclaims Clara
Marinette's friends gasp including Ben and Gwen.
"What?! I have no idea what you're talking about!" says Marinette anxiously.
Clara stands herself and Marinette up, and twirls her around then says " You did what Ladybug would have, just the same. Your heart is pure, like hers. What's your name?"
"Uh, Ma— Marinette." stutters Marinette
"Marinette! Say it's so! (Clara gets down on one knee, arm raised) Will you please play Ladybug in my video?" asks Clara
Marinette puts her hands over her mouth in shock.
Marinette's friends in the extras line cheer for her to take the role.
Marinette turns to look over at Adrien onstage, and envisions being there with him, and sighs euphorically, before glancing down at Tikki in her purse and then to Ben and Gwen by the trailer.
"That's so nice of you, and...I'm one of your hugest fans, but...I came here to be an extra with my friends, and I really wanna stay with them." replies Marinette
"That's a pity, a shame; but I understand it's true. That's a very cool gesture, very Ladybug of you! (takes Marinette over and sits her in a chair by a trailer) Just sit over here for make-up, okay? I'll ask your friends to be sent over right away!" says Clara and she then turns and walks away to continue looking for Ladybug auditions.
"Oh! Thank you! Thank you!" thanks Marinette to Clara as she sits by Ben and Gwen.
The rest of Marinette's friends come over and hug and compliment her.
"You're crazy!" said Mylene
"You turned down filming with Adrien to be with us?" said Alya
"You really are the best!" said Rose
After they let Marinette go Ben says "I'm surprised you didn't take the role of Ladybug you look perfect for the part."
Marinette blushes and replies "You really think so?"
"Yeah you both have pigtails tied in ribbons and they same hair color and maybe the same eye color..." says Ben seemingly starting to connect the dots. Marinette begins to panic a bit so she changes the subject to the exact opposite. "Thanks but I'm definitely not right for the part of Ladybug. I'm too shy and clumsy to possibly be Ladybug."
"Marinette you don't actually have to be Ladybug just act in a video in a costume." said Gwen
"Uh yeah I know but I've also never done acting before so I'd probably be terrible at it." replied Marinette still trying to keep the subject on how she is different from Ladybug.
Ben shrugged and added "Only way to know for sure is to try."
The discussion was cut short when Chloe and her father showed up late to the Ladybug auditions but she did have a good costume and wig but of course was bragging and gloating. "Thank you all for coming. You can go home now."
"Uh, heads up; brat alert in the immediate vicinity." said Alya
"Don't worry. Knowing Nightingale, Chloé doesn't stand a chance of being chosen." replied Marinette.
"Wow! What's happening to you today? I have to bow before so much wisdom!" said Alya bowing.
"That's right. From now on, the name's Master Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" declared Marinette
They all laugh but Ben ends their laughter "I wouldn't be too sure. Nightingale is out of applicants so if Chloe passes the tests then despite her character Nightingale may just choose her to do the video." said Ben pooping everyone's party.
"Your "Ladybug" has arrived! So when does the shoot begin?" declared Chloe right into Clara's face
"Chloé, everyone has to audition. You know that!" said Adrien.
"Oh yeah, that little formality." said Chloe before showing off her dance moves. "Aaah...ha ha. It's been a while. Eight years of private classes with Aurélie Dupont from the Paris Op-er-a. I know. I'm breathtaking." bragged Chloe.
"You've definitely got enough talent for me, But you and Cat Noir have to be a good match, you see." rhymed Clara
"No problem! Adrikins and I have known each other since we were little!" replied Chloe whilst hugging Adrien.
Clara still seemed unsure her dance moves were good and she apparently worked well with Adrien but her personality seemed wrong for the part.
"The son of the world's greatest fashion designer and the daughter of the Mayor of Paris — that would be just perfect!" said Chloe's father
Marinette growls at the fact that Chloe is actually being considered for the role.
"Is there a problem, Master Dupain-Cheng?" jokes Alya
"Chloé playing Ladybug? No way! Not gonna happen!" replied Marinette angrily
"Oh? That bothers you more than not being with Adrien in the video?" said Alya surprised
"Uh, if I were Ladybug, I wouldn't want a brat like Chloé playing me." added Marinette
Back to the stage Clara thinks a moment, and walks to the stage edge where Nathalie is standing holding a tablet with Adrien's father Gabriel on the other side in a facetime call, and kneels down.
"What do you think, Gabriel?" asks Clara
"Hmmm. Artistically speaking, the young lady with ponytails would've been ideal; but it's time to start filming. We'll make do with Miss Bourgeois." answered Gabriel.
"I trust you, Gabriel." replies Clara
"Woohoo! We're both going to be in a music video, Adrikins! ...Or should I say, Adri-cat! Get it? "Adri-cat"?" laughs Chloe
"Adri-cat, yeah." replied Adrien clearly not being serious.
Marinette was about to stand up and agree to be Ladybug but Gwen beat her to it.
"Hey wait! I want to try out for Ladybug." shouted Gwen rushing over to the stage.
Clara scratched her chin and said "All right I think we can afford a few more minutes for one more tryout. Go ahead Mrs..."
"Gwen. Gwen Tennyson." said Gwen introducing herself.
Before Gwen could begin Chloe butted in "You think you can do better than me. In your dreams! I am the best at everything! No one is better than me!"
"That is up to Ms Nightingale and Mr Agreste Chloe, Not you." calmly replied Gwen not letting Chloe get under her skin. Chloe stormed off of the stage and decided to stay and watch Gwen's 'pathetic' attempt to be better than her.
Gwen surprised everyone in the tryout (Minus Ben) with her dance moves and ability to keep her balance when doing flips and and even using a yoyo without accidentally hitting herself on the head.
After the tryout she was met with applause from all of her friends and Clara. "Well done indeed. I much prefer your moves to that of Ms Bourgeois here." started Clara but was interrupted by Chloe shouting "WHAT! HOW DARE YOU!". Clara ignored her outburst and resumed "But like I mentioned to Chloe, you and Cat Noir have to be a good match."
"I think me and Gwen could work well together. We may not know each other very well yet but I am willing to do this with Gwen." interjected Adrien not wanting to be close to Chloe.
"Hmmm Gabriel your thoughts?" asked Clara.
"It does seem possible but I must ask. Ms Tennyson where did you learn your skills clearly one requires much training to utilize such form and balance." asked Gabriel.
"I've taken many years of judo and some other martial arts as well as cotillion although I don't think that could be of much use here." answered Gwen.
"I think this could work if She wears a wig, maybe some contacts, and maybe see how well she dances with my son." stated Mr Agreste.
"Wonderful. Then it looks like we have our new Ladybug." declared Clara earning claps and cheers from the extras and Gwen's friends.
Clara then thanks Gwen "Awesome! This will be the best video yet! Thank you Gwen. (turns to Chloe) I'm really sorry, what's-your-name, But you can still be an extra in the video, if you're game!"
"What?! You want me to be a mere...extra?! Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" growls Chloe stomping away followed by her father.
Gwen looked at herself in the mirror. She liked the look of the suit except that it lacked detail. It was mostly just completely red with black polka dots but it does look accurate to the real thing. She put the mask and wig on and then looked at herself again. she looked completely like Ladybug except maybe a little taller and with green eyes.
knock knock
"Come in." said Gwen. Ben entered and closed the door behind him.
"Wow if I didn't know better I'd say you were the real Ladybug." said Ben.
"Thanks Ben."
"Yup right down to the bossy personality with some added dorkiness." added Ben clearly joking.
Gwen playfully hit Ben on the shoulder and the two laughed. After they stopped laughing a stagehand knocked on the door and said "You ready Gwen?"
"Yeah be out in a sec." replied Gwen.
Before she could leave Ben grabbed her wrist and asked "Wait tell me. Why did you choose to be Ladybug in this? I mean if you had actually wanted to you would have auditioned so why the change of heart?"
"Because I couldn't let Chloe be Ladybug and I know Marinette really didn't want to and I knew she would have said yes just to keep Chloe from playing Ladybug so... I guess I did it for Marinette because she's my friend and a really good friend to (with emphasis on that last part)." explained Gwen.
Gwen then left the trailer to go shoot the video leaving Ben wondering why she had added emphasis that really good friend part.
As Gwen walked over to the stage she could hear Alya, Marinette, her friends, and others cheer for Gwen.
"Spot on! And spotlight!" said Clara as the spotlight guy switches on the spotlights.
"So, you're Ladybug and Cat Noir, right?"
Gwen nodded yes but Adrien was more uncertain saying "No! Uh...uh...yeah! (chuckles) Aah..."
Clara than instructs Gwen and Adrien on arm movements for dancing.
"One, two, and three." says Clara.
Gwen and Adrien, facing Clara, copy the moves, Gwen is lagging a bit behind Adrien. Their friends (and Ben) watch from just in front of the stage.
"Your dance moves need to be synchronized if you can, So you'll need to hold each other by the hand." instructs Clara
Gwen and Adrien turn to face each other, and clasp their right hands as if shaking hands.
"Okay." replies Adrien chuckling as he and Gwen smile nervously at Clara, and their friends giggle.
Clara quickly corrects them "Not like that. Don't be shy! (puts Adrien's left hand in Gwen's right hand) Like lovers do. Give it a try!"
Alya whispered in Marinette's ear "You feeling jealous yet?"
"What me no it's just doing something big and awesome with Adrien and oh my gosh yes I'm feeling jealous." replied Marinette slumping her shoulders.
Alya there thered her with a pat on the back and then began taking phone pictures of Gwen and Adrien, as the other girls watch.
Pictures are seen of Gwen and Adrien gaping, then smiling bashfully as they look up away from each other clearly embarrassed by their awkward situation.
"Oh! I can't believe how much they look like the real Ladybug and Cat Noir!" exclaims Rose
"One final task: Put on the mask." said Clara
Adrien nervously replies "Uh, I didn't see it. I looked everywhere in the dressing room for it but it was...nowhere to be found!."
Clara laughs, prompting Gwen and Adrien to laugh, then their friends (and Ben) as well.
"They don't look a thing like the real Ladybug and Cat Noir now!" said Alya looking back at the awkward pictures of the two.
A Stagehand then shouts from next to a dressing trailer "It's okay! I found them!"
Adrien gasps in dread. Moments later, Clara hands Adrien his mask.
"Go ahead, put it on Adrien. We've got a lot of singing and dancing to do!" says Clara
Adrien anxiously stares down at his mask in his hands, the eyes of the whole room upon him as well as his friends cheering for him to put it on.
Adrien slowly raises his mask to his face, closing his eyes when he had his mask near, until...
Mayor Bourgeois came walking in, carrying a stack of papers about a foot tall, as Chloé smiles smugly and smirks behind him. "I'm sorry. My administrative staff just realized you never submitted permit A38 as stipulated in the circular B65 that one can only get at counter C, third floor of City Hall, which is, alas, closed for renovations until August, which means you don't have a permit to shoot...anywhere in France, including Paris." said Chloe's father dropping a heavy stack of papers in Clara's hands.
"I...I don't understand." replied Clara bewildered.
"It means no more dancing, no more singing today, (grabs Clara's microphone, and throws it off the stage) The nightingale can spread her wings, and fly away! Oh! Did you hear that? I made a rhyme! How talented am I?" mocked Chloe.
Clara tosses the papers aside, and tearfully runs down from the stage to her fallen microphone, and picks it up to see the damage. The star decoration on it is cracked.
"No! The video needs to be shot here, in Paris, the capital of love, the city of Ladybug and Cat Noir. This ruins all of my plans! I'm so sorry, my beloved fans!" cries Clara as she runs away in tears, and into a dressing trailer, where she leans back against the door, crying.
Ben ran up to Chloe and shouted "Not cool Chloe! Why do you always have to have your way and why does that always mean trampling upon other people! It's not right!"
"Puhlease. I always have to have my way because I'm better than you peasants will ever be. And if I don't get my way well you saw what I did to Nightingale." bragged Chloe
Chloé claps several times for attention as she addresses the extras and everyone else there.
"The show is over! You all have to leave now." ordered Chloe who then laughs in evil triumph.
The extras start to leave. A glowing whip suddenly strikes Chloé and her father, giving them pink auras.
"Sing, dance or rhyme, Or you'll be frozen in no time!" shouts the new akuma Frightningale.
Adrien, Gwen(back in their regular clothes),Ben, Marinette and everyone else witness from the trailer area. Extras gasp.
As she and her father approach Frightningale Chloe says "What is she talking about? Dancing and making rhymes? And why not play the trumpet too, while you're at it-" Suddenly she is turned into a shiny pink statue, causing everyone in the room to gasp.
"Chloé, hon'! Please! Please! I'll keep up this rhyme, Don't make me freeze, not this time!" pleads/rhymes Chloe's father.
"Oh, bravo! And you've got the right tempo!" says Frightningale. She then spins her whip, and starts whipping some of the extras below, who turn into shiny pink statues while the rest flee in panic.
Marinette runs inside a trailer to transform and Adrien in a secluded spot. Ben and Gwen run away with all of the other extras to find a place outside the Grand Palais to transform.
Ben and Gwen eventually hide in a nearby subway tunnel and find a secluded area in it that only railway workers go to. Inside the two cousins both transform with flashes of green and pink light.
Ben changed into Eye Guy and Gwen into her Lucky Girl disguise. The two superheroes ran out of the subway entrance to see Ladybug already fighting Frightningale on top of the Grand Palais.
"I thought you were a fan of Cat Noir and me, Nightingale; so you should know that we fight villains!" said Ladybug
"I'm Frightningale from here on out, forever and ever, there's no doubt! And if you stand in my way, There'll be a price to pay!" replied Frightningale
Ladybug tried to reason with Frightningale "You have to come 'round! Don't let negative emotions take you over!"
Ladybug flings out her yo-yo at Frightningale, but she catches it, and spins the end of it as she approaches Ladybug.
"Song and dance will make the world a better place. Don't agree with me? Ha! Then you're a disgrace!" insults Frightningale
"Eye've got her!" shouts Eye Guy preparing to blast Frightningale but is stopped by Lucky Girl.
"Wait if you fire now you might hit Ladybug!" said Lucky Girl
"Then how am I supposed to stop the bad guy?" asked Eye Guy
"We need to wait for an opening." answered Lucky Girl.
Eye Guy slumped and said to himself miserably and sarcastically "Great. Just great.".
Meanwhile Frightningale tries to hit Ladybug by twirling the end of the yo-yo she's holding. Ladybug's dodging it, takes their fight off the roof, and down to the ground in a sea of pink statues that were once people. Ladybug regains control of her weapon and tried one last time to reason with Frightningale. "I can help you if you give me your akuma!"
"I won't let you take my akuma away. I like the new me, and I'm here to stay!" replied Frightningale
Frightningale charges toward Ladybug, but she is tripped by Cat Noir's staff.
Cat Noir recovers his staff and spins with it then says "Do you mind if I join the dance?" He extends his staff to the ground in front of him and rests his chin on it, on his hands.
Before Frightningale could leap back up Lucky Girl placed a pink dome over her trapping her inside.
Frightningale hits the dome with her hands and demands to be released. After that doesn't work she tries hitting it with her whip which also doesn't work.
"Well that was easy." said Cat Noir placing his staff between his shoulders and behind his neck.
"Its not over yet we still need to recover her akuma." said Ladybug. "Let her out and then we'll spring a four way trap." added Ladybug
"I hope you're right about this." said Lucky Girl as she dropped the shield.
Unfortunately this was exactly what Frightningale needed to gain the advantage for as soon as the dome fell she was kneeling then sprang up and sun her whip 360 degrees whipping all of the heroes.
All of them gained a pink glow except Eye Guy who wasn't hit but the Omnitrix was.
"Welcome to my musical show. I hope it will be your fatal blow!" cackles Frightningale not noticing that Eye Guy is unaffected
Cat Noir starts forward for another attack, but Ladybug grabs his arm.
"Wait! Stay right here and dance, Or else you'll be frozen... uh, without a chance!" said Ladybug as she begins moving rhythmically in place.
"Yeah, you're right. We have to rhyme. Not so easy, um...all the time?" rhymed Cat Noir
Eye Guy stood up only to realize that he isn't glowing and dancing like everyone else but pink sparks were coming out of the Omnitrix.
"Uh oh Eye've got a bad feeling about this." said Eye Guy as a pink orb began forming around the Omnitrix drawing everyone's attention.
"What is that... uh could it be a bat?" rhymed Lucky Girl whilst dancing.
"What is this why are you not dancing freely? And why must your chest piece glow so strangely?" questioned Frightningale when suddenly a purple outline appeared over her face indicating she was communicating with Hawkmoth.
"Frightningale I don't know why your power isn't affecting him but it seems to have damaged his miraculous. Get away from him before whatever destructive side effect takes place!" warned Hawkmoth. The purple outline fades and Frightningale begins to run away but is tripped by Ladybug wrapping her yoyo around her leg and pulling her down.
"Let me go you fool! Or we'll all be doomed!" insulted Frightningale.
"Not a chance-" Ladybug didn't get to finish as the ink orb forming around the Omnitrix burst and covered everything in an expanding pink sphere absorbing everyone in the plaza outside the Grand Palais.
Ben woke up to find that he was back to being himself and was laying in front of the unconscious forms of Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Lucky Girl with Frightningale nowhere to be seen.
"Ugh what happened." thought Ben. It was then that he looked at his wrist to see that the Omnitrix was just a badge on his wrist and was sparking off some pink electricity when he tried to touch it.
Ben also noticed that they weren't in Paris anymore but in a place that looks like it is made of Diamonds as well as all of the pink statues being there along with them.
"Oh man." was all Ben said as he realized that he wasn't on Earth anymore.
To Be Continued...
The next part should be up by next Saturday as long as school and travel doesn't interfere too much. Hope you all liked this chapter and I plan on making Frightningale more like her name in the next chapter if you know what I mean... anyways thanks for reading and please review, fav, and follow if you haven't already.