Not even one minute after leaving the elder dragon cave, Adrien found himself trapped in Plagg's claws, pinned against the mountain.

"Listen here kid, technically under the agreement Marinette and I have, I can injure you for breaking her heart like that."

Adrien blinked several times, trying to process what Plagg said.

"I...I broke her heart?"
"Yeah, a lot apparently as she barely stopped crying in time for the meeting. But that's besides the point. Because you are acting with her approval as a so-called Knight, I'll spare your limbs for now. But any funny business like before and I'll make it impossible for you to pick up a sword again. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Good."

Plagg released his claws and proceeded walking down the hill, Adrien stumbling after he caught his breath.

"Marinette's been crying?"

"I already told you, yes. She cried to me, she cried to Tikki. The princess is going to make a new lake with how much she's been crying."

"I didn't mean to hurt her."

"That's what all males say. Win over females with flowery words and sensitivity, the next day kick them to the dirt in favor of a prettier one."

"You're a male."

"Your point?"

Adrien grimaced, hand tightening on his sword. He was nothing like what Plagg said. Marinette was every much a princess both in title and personality, and he would not cast her aside. He would treasure their time together, and maybe once they return to the kingdom, resume their friendship or something more with the permission of her parents.

Plagg though, based on what he was insinuating, made Adrien grip the hilt of his sword tightly.

"If you hurt Tikki…," Adrien growled.

"I'm not, I'm not. That Bug gets to attached to things that show the slightest bit emotion. I'm not with her, and never plan to be."

Adrien frowned, but released his hold on his sword, continuing their walk down the mountain.

"How well do you know the mountains?"

"Enough, although it has been awhile. Although our main problem will be the wyvern's frost breath."

"Frost breath?"
"Rather than fire, they breathe ice. Goes with the whole winter wyvern thing."

"So, do sea serpents breathe water?"

Adrien felt himself being knocked forward, looking behind him to see Plagg moving the offended wing back into place.

"Don't be stupid. They breathe under water. Nothing special about them other than their record on most destroyed ships."

"What about dessert dragons?"

"Like to burrow, and create fairly convincing mirages. They are the only dragon able to fly in either sun or moon because it's impossible to keep their scales clean."

"You know a lot about dragons."

"When you travel, you learn things."

"What about Tikki's kind?"

"Bug's?"

"She has a name you know."

"I know, I know. Elder dragons call them the young generation. Elder dragons use to be specifically assigned for protection or hoarding gold. Young, like Bug were bred from mixing dragon species to fight, able to fly in overcast weather so long as their rider had a moonstone. The moonstone would collect moonlight before a battle so that they could fly when elder dragons could not. A strategy that won many battles."

"I've never heard of a moonstone before."

"It was a secret between kings, not shared with the common knights. Moonstones were hoarded by grand dragons, long dead species that refused to learn human language. They have similar body build like Tikki only on a … grander scale," Plagg chuckled at his pun.

Adrien nodded his head in understanding before his eyes lit up.

"Are there any moonstones here? We could bring them with us just in case."

Plagg rolled his eyes, Adrien frowning at the dragon's rudeness.

"Elder dragons don't use moonstones to fly. But feel free to spend the rest of the night looking through every cave for them. I'll be here," Plagg circled around in a spot before laying down, "napping."

Adrien looked towards the hills, thinking of how the moonstone might have alternate uses. If only he had paid attention to his alchemy master more. Plus, spending a night looking for rocks was probably not the best way to train before a fight. Best to use what they have."

"Let's get to training," Adrien announced, turning to the dragon. Plagg didn't move.

"Plagg, we need to practice flying and fighting if we are going to take down Theo."

"Perfect, you practice fighting then."

"I've never fought on a dragon before."

Plagg yawned, still not moving from his spot.

"Ideally, archers stand a better chance at aerial combat. Sword fighters though would just have to worry about balance if they were to fight on a dragon."

"Balance," Adrien hummed to himself, thinking about the situation. Even though Plagg had probably been resting with Marinette all day, he was still too lazy to go out and fly. Maybe he should have flown with Tikki instead since her type was meant for military use. But Theo was requesting Plagg.

Maybe there was a way he could practice with the lazy dragon.

Adrien clambered onto the dragon's back, cautiously bracing himself as he stood between the dragons wings.

"If you cut either of my wings, I will throw you off," threatened the dragon.

Adrien nodded as he cautiously drew his sword. Plagg shifted his shoulder, Adrien nearly falling off balance as he sheathed his sword.

"Needs work," corrected the dragon.

"Then help me."

Plagg growled as he stood, Adrien falling off the dragon.

"Fine, get on," moaned Plagg.

Adrien looked at the dragon, his body higher up now that he was standing.

"Can you bend down a little?"

Plagg huffed, "Too tall for you?"

"A little."

"The princess could do it."

Adrien looked up at Plagg, the dragon meeting his gaze with a challenging expression. Adrien frowned, going back to looking at Plagg's body. If he got a running start…

Adrien backed up at an angle, Plagg turning his head to watch. Adrien ran to the dragon, grabbing a hold of what could be called the dragon's elbow. Using the edge it provided, Adrien pulled himself up, climbing back to sit between the dragon's wings.

"Not bad," Plagg nodded as he began walking.

"How did Marinette do," asked Adrien.

"She just walked up from the tail."

Adrien frowned, realizing he had been played by the dragon.

"You are going to want to be able to do it quicker though. I can fly low, but you still need to be able to grab on and secure yourself."

"Right."

Adrien began rising from his sitting position, wobbling as Plagg continued walking.

"When are we going to start flying," asked Adrien once he was standing, his knees slightly bent.

"When you can handle walking. Which hopefully you'll learn before the night's out. Otherwise we'll have to rely on my maneuvering abilities and keeping distance."

Adrien nodded, still focusing on keeping his balance. When it came to training, his balance had been praised by his instructors. Hopefully, he could get the hang of this before sunrise.