47. Frightningale

"Good morning, everybody! Let's get the rest of the second season over with!" Angel said as everybody sat in their respective seats. Angel then snapped her fingers to bring a still-restrained and cranky Lila to her seat. "We're going to start the day with Frightningale a.k.a. Clara Nightingale."

"I remember that day! Didn't you two almost play your superhero selves in her music video?!" Alya asked the two heroes who then blushed in embarrassment.

"Well, it wasn't by choice! My father forced me to play Cat Noir in that video," Adrien said, defending himself and the others nodded in understanding. "You, m'lady, on the other hand, had a choice. What's your excuse?" Adrien then asked his girlfriend with a playful frown.

"It's not that I wanted to play Ladybug. It's just…" Marinette was about to explain before being interrupted by Alya.

"You didn't want Chloe to play you, right?" Alya asked as she still recalled that day with a teasing smirk.

"Exactly," Marinette quietly answered and everyone chuckled in amusement. "Let's just get this over with!" She then said loudly as the episode started to play.

Scene: Marinette's room. On Marinette's computer, music is playing called "Big Bang" by Clara Nightingale. Marinette is dancing to the music in the middle of her room.

Clara:

Don't you stop, dancing to the music.

Baby! Yeah, it's like a miracle.

Don't you stop, dancing to the music,

Music, oh, it's getting physical!

Don't you stop, dancing to the music.

(Marinette falls on her back while attempting a handstand walkover.)

"OK, OK. I don't have what it takes to become a professional dancer," Marinette said while she blushes in embarrassment at seeing her dance to Clara Nightingale's song as everybody burst into raucous laughter at her.

Alec: (on the screen) And that was Clara Nightingale's hit single "Big Bang" for us! (Marinette sits at her desk.)

Tikki: Wow! That girl is incredible!

Marinette: I love her! She's totally passionate about her art!

Alec: (to Clara, who dances while he speaks to her) Clara, in just a few short months you've become an international sensation with your ultra-unique singing and style. Apparently, you even sing and dance in your sleep! Do you ever stop?

"I seriously doubt that she could actually sing and dance in her sleep. That sounds like a 2% probability," Max said about Alec's comment towards the young singer with a mocking raspberry and chuckle.

"I think Alec is just making a figure of speech based on her commitment to her musical talents, Max," Angel pointed out in a matter-of-fact manner and the other teens snickered while the young genius blushed a shade of pink.

Clara: Never, you see. Dancing and singing are everything to me. And I'm happy to share the joy of song and dance. To the amazing people of France!

Marinette: See that, Tikki? She's a true artist!

Alec: You've come to Paris to film the video for your next song, which is gonna be titled "Miraculous". (Marinette gasps.)

Clara: I really admire and adore Ladybug and Cat Noir. An homage to them I wanted to pay. Because they inspire me every single day!

Marinette: (shrieks in delight) She's gonna be doing a song about me! I mean — Ladybug! Oh! I'm so excited I could... (falls backward off her chair) ...faint!

"Two clumsy falls in your room in a couple minutes? That must be your personal record!" Alix snorted along with everybody else at Marinette's fall from her chair on-screen while she continued blushing in embarrassment.

Alec: Auditions will be held at the Grand Palais Hotel, is that right? A little birdie told me that you already found your Cat Noir. Care to share the good news?

Clara: My lips are sealed. But soon he'll be revealed. We must still cast Ladybug and extras, by the way. So come on out and audition today! (Marinette's phone buzzes. She runs over, tripping onto the floor on the way, and answers it.)

Alya: (seen on the phone, with Mylène, Juleka, Alix and Rose standing around behind her) Marinette, did you hear that? All us girls are heading over to audition and you're coming, too! (view zooms in on Alya) So don't go pulling one of your Marinette specials on us, okay?

Marinette: And miss my chance to meet Clara Nightingale in the flesh? No way! I'll meet you there.

Alya: See ya! (Marinette ends the call, and goes and grabs her purse from her chair.)

Tikki: You're not auditioning for the role of Ladybug, are you?

Marinette: (lets Tikki rest in her hands) Of course not! We just wanna have some fun as extras in the video, that's all. I'd never do anything that could reveal my secret identity.

"Why didn't I keep my word?!" Marinette asked herself loudly in exasperation as she buried her face in her hands while everybody else had their eyes glued to the screen, intrigued to see what happened that day.

Tikki: All right then, Marinette. (flies up and kisses Marinette on the nose) I'm proud of you!

Scene: Gabriel's atelier

Gabriel: It will be an excellent promotion for the upcoming opening of our stores in Korea and China. You don't have a choice. (Nathalie presents Adrien with a folded-up imitation Cat Noir costume, with face mask and collar-bell.)

Adrien: (gasps in alarm) But Father—

Gabriel: (paging through exotic fashion designs on his computer) I've been designing Clara's costumes since she started out. She was very pleased with my humble suggestion of using you. She's only seen you in our advertisements, but she does admire you a lot. I'm hoping you won't let us down.

Adrien: (dejectedly) Of course not, Father.

"He barely lets you make your own choices, doesn't he?" Marinette asked her boyfriend in disgust to the latter's father forcing him to play Cat Noir on-screen.

"Are you new here, Bugaboo?" Adrien rhetorically asked his girlfriend with raised eyebrows that made her giggle in response.

Scene: Grand Palais. Auditionees for Clara Nightingale's video have gathered out front.

Stagehand: (pointing) Extras on the left; auditionees for Ladybug on the right. (In a dressing trailer, Adrien has put on the suit, bell, tail, and ears components of the Cat Noir costume he was given, and is examining himself in a mirror while holding the face mask.)

Plagg: Great choice of fabric! And these seams! (gasps) Amazing craftsmanship!

Adrien: There's no way I can wear this!

Plagg: Yeah, I've always found that little bell so ridiculous! Then again, the costume is what you really wanted deep down, isn't it?

Adrien: No, Plagg. I mean that everyone's gonna realize that I'm the real Cat Noir!

Plagg: No way! People are blind!

"Well, Plagg wasn't really wrong about that! I mean the heroes' suits don't really disguise them very well and yet, you all still couldn't figure it out!" Angel pointed out in exasperation which got the entire audience blushing in embarrassment.

Stagehand: (through the door, which he knocks on) You ready, Adrien?

Adrien: (anxiously) Aah, uh, coming! Just a sec! (worriedly, to Plagg) If they see me with this mask on, they're all gonna recognize me for sure! (places the mask within a pile of folded fabric on a shelf) I can't wear it! (with resolve) Right. Now I'm gonna try to act as lame as I possibly can. Hopefully they'll have no choice but to replace me. (opens the door and gasps when he sees the array of people gathered in the main area. 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 is standing on the stage with her star-adorned microphone, greeting the auditionees.)

"That's exactly what Marinette did with her mask when she dressed up as Ladybug!" Tikki pointed out in amusement and everybody else chuckled in response to how alike the heroes think.

Clara: 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! (Alya, Marinette, Rose, Juleka, Alix and Mylène are standing in the extras line.)

Alya: (excitedly) We're gonna be in Clara Nightingale's music video! This is humongous!

Marinette: (shrieks with delight) I can't believe this is happening!

Clara: And now, meet our rising star, Adrien as Cat Noir! (Adrien walks out toward the stage, waving briefly. The extras react excitedly, Marinette gasping, and Rose and Alya waving with raised arms. Adrien smiles nervously at the line and waves some more. Marinette waves back. 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.)

Gabriel: (to Adrien) The costume fits you like a glove, as I knew it would. But, where is your mask?

Adrien: (nervous about lying) Uh, I couldn't find it anywhere.

Stagehand: I'll take care of it! (dashes off)

Clara: (to Adrien, as she helps him up onstage) It's no biggie; it's okay. We don't need the mask for tryouts anyway. (to the Ladybug auditionees) Come on! (The first few Ladybug auditionees step forward, including Officer Roger. There are brief shots of various, often inept, auditionees onstage with Adrien, and Clara's skittish reactions; one is a little girl spinning a Hula Hoop.)

"Sabrina, is that your dad auditioning to play Ladybug?!" Kim asked in shock as he burst into laughter along with everybody else while Sabrina buried her face in extreme embarrassment.

"Oh, Daddy!" Sabrina as she still had her face buried while everyone else continued laughing hard.

Alya: (to Marinette) Didn't I tell you that Adrien looks a little bit like Cat Noir?

Marinette: Unh, whatever! (excitedly) He's a thousand times more amazing than Cat Noir! (More auditionees include Roger and his cringeworthy dancing, and a little girl who offers Adrien a black cat, which meows. Eventually Clara sees that there are no more Ladybug auditionees, but then glances at the extras, and gets an idea. She picks up a tray of Chouquettes from a table by the stage, and carries it over to the extras.)

"Yeah, I heard that ironic comment so many times before," Adrien sarcastically deadpanned in response to his girlfriend's comment about his superhero alter-ego while everyone else chuckled in agreement.

"I can't believe those were the people who auditioned for Ladybug! Ugh! The talent must be sorely lacking in this city!" Chloe said in disgusted response to the people who have auditioned for Ladybug.

Clara: You must be starving from all this waiting!

Marinette: (excitedly) Oh, look! She's coming in our direction! (While carrying the tray, 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.)

"Wait! She tripped herself on purpose?!" Marinette asked in shock along with everybody else, previously unaware of this.

Clara: There you are! Here's a hug, because you are Ladybug! (Marinette's friends gasp.)

Marinette: (anxious about the implication) What?! I have no idea what you're talking about! (chuckles nervously. Clara stands herself and Marinette up, and twirls her around.)

Clara: You did what Ladybug would have, just the same. Your heart is pure, like hers. What's your name?

Marinette: Uh, Ma— Marinette.

Clara: Marinette! Say it's so! (gets down on one knee, arm raised) Will you please play Ladybug in my video? (Marinette puts her hands over her mouth in shock.)

"SERIOUSLY?! You help her up after she falls and she picks you to play Ladybug in her music video?!" Lila asked in angry shock.

"Well, that's basically how I became Cat Noir in the first place," Adrien pointed out to the sociopathic girl and everyone nodded in agreement, remembering that moment.

"Maybe Clara's an undercover Miraculous guardian!" Alya jokingly commented and everybody burst into laughter at the thought of that, especially Master Fu.

"I wish!" Tikki genuinely said in-between laughs. "A Miraculous guardian with a pop singer persona would definitely be one of the most exciting things in all my years of living."

Alya: Yes! She'd be awesome!

Rose: Go Marinette! You deserve it! (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.)

Marinette: (to Clara) 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. (Marinette's friends gasp in shock. Clara stands up again.)

Clara: 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! (turns and walks away)

Marinette: Oh! Thank you! Thank you!

Tikki: (sticking out of Marinette's purse) Good job, Marinette! You didn't give in to the temptation! (pops back inside)

"Well, that didn't last very long!" Tikki pointed out and the people who were there chuckled in amusement while Marinette once again blushed in embarrassment.

Mylène: (hugging Marinette) You're crazy!

Alya: (joining in the hug) You turned down filming with Adrien to be with us?

Rose: (joining in as well) You really are the best! (Juleka and Alix also join in the group hug. Outside the hotel, a stretch limousine pulls up. Chloé steps out, dressed in her Ladybug costume, and sporting a Ladybug-style wig.)

"No offense, Chloe. But, you really can't pull my look off. Especially my hair," Marinette gently and amusingly criticized Chloe's costume of her.

"Ugh! You're right! I look ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" Chloe said, burying her face in embarrassment while everyone else chuckled in agreement.

"Honestly, I don't think anyone can pull Marinette/Ladybug's look off. I think she has a one-of-a-kind look," Angel stated her opinion and everybody nodded in agreement after some serious thought.

"Marinette does have more of a one-of-a-kind look than I do and I'm the supermodel," Adrien said with a smile towards his girlfriend and everyone giggled in response while Lila scowled in jealousy.

Chloé: (now inside, walking past the line of extras) Thank you all for coming. You can go home now.

Alya: Uh, heads up; brat alert in the immediate vicinity.

Marinette: Don't worry. Knowing Nightingale, Chloé doesn't stand a chance of being chosen.

Alya: Wow! What's happening to you today? (bowing to Marinette) I have to bow before so much wisdom!

Marinette: That's right. From now on, the name's Master Marinette Dupain-Cheng! (Marinette and her friends laugh.)

Chloé: (to Clara, while walking up onstage) Your "Ladybug" has arrived! (in Clara's face) So when does the shoot begin?

Adrien: Chloé, everyone has to audition. You know that!

Chloé: (doing arm stretches) Oh yeah, that little formality. (walks to one side, then launches into a series of expert dance moves, after which the extras in line cheer wildly) 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. (The air sparkles around her.)

"Well, I hate to admit it, Chloe. But, you really were better than the other people who auditioned to play me," Marinette admitted reluctantly and everyone else nodded in agreement. Sabrina even gave Chloe a thumbs-up making the latter smile proudly.

Clara: (to Chloé) You've definitely got enough talent for me. But you and Cat Noir have to be a good match, you see.

Chloé: No problem! (hugging Adrien) Adrikins and I have known each other since we were little!

Clara: Hmmm.

Mayor Bourgeois: (standing up just offstage) The son of the world's greatest fashion designer and the daughter of the Mayor of Paris — that would be just perfect! (Marinette growls.)

Alya: (to Marinette) Is there a problem, Master Dupain-Cheng?

Marinette: (angrily) Chloé playing Ladybug? No way! Not gonna happen!

Alya: Oh? That bothers you more than not being with Adrien in the video?

"You just love to goad me into fighting against Chloe, do you, Alya?" Marinette rhetorically asked her best friend who shrugged with a teasing smile and everybody else chuckled in amusement.

Marinette: Uh, if I were Ladybug, I wouldn't want a brat like Chloé playing me. (Clara thinks a moment, and walks to the stage edge where Nathalie is standing, and kneels down.)

"Excuse me?!" Chloe said, still offended though she's still trying to change herself into a nicer person.

"Chloe, imagine me sporting a blonde wig along with a knock-off replica of your outfit and saying things like "Oh, Adrikins!" or "Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!" How would you feel?" Marinette bluntly asked, trying to make her point.

"Point well taken," Chloe reluctantly admitted to her former arch-rival and everybody chuckled at the thought of Marinette dressed up and acting like the former.

Clara: (to Gabriel) What do you think, Gabriel?

Gabriel: Hmmm. Artistically speaking, the young lady with the ponytails would've been ideal; but it's time to start filming. We'll make do with Miss Bourgeois.

Clara: I trust you, Gabriel.

Chloé: (still hugging Adrien, who has been resisting) Woohoo! (to Adrien) We're both going to be in a music video, Adrikins! ...Or should I say, Adri-cat! (laughs) Get it? "Adri-cat"?

Adrien: (nervously) Adri-cat, yeah. (chuckles likewise)

Marinette: (standing up) Hey wait!... I've changed my mind! I do wanna be Ladybug! (In Marinette's purse, Tikki gasps.)

"Wow! You just made one of the dumbest moves yet!" Lila said as she laughed haughtily at her enemy while getting glares from everybody else though they couldn't argue against that comment.

"You're right, Lila. You of all people would know about stupid decisions and actions!" Marinette retorted back with a teasing smirk and everybody else laughed hard in agreement while Lila furiously growled.

Clara: Awesome! This will be the best video yet! (hugs Marinette on both cheeks) Thank you, thank you, Marinette! (to fuming Chloé) I'm really sorry, what's-your-name. But you can still be an extra in the video, if you're game!

Chloé: (outraged) What?! You want me to be a mere...extra?! (storming away, followed by her father) Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! (Outside the hotel, Chloe's butler lets Chloé into the limousine, and then gives her her teddy bear, Mr. Cuddly, on a tray. She takes Mr. Cuddly, and tossed him on the seat next to her) Unh! Stop annoying me with that stupid dumb bear, Jean-Eudes! (sits for a moment, then picks up Mr. Cuddly and starts sucking her thumb, until she gets a wonderful, awful idea and gasps) Hmmm. (Inside a dressing trailer, Marinette has put on a Ladybug costume given to her, except for the mask, which she is holding, and she examines herself in a mirror.)

Tikki: (to Marinette) Ooh! Great choice of fabric! And these seams! Amazing craftsmanship! Almost like the real thing, don't you think?

"Wow, sugarcube! You sure are pretty calm for a kwami whose holder is at risk of exposing herself. You even said the same thing when my kid put on his costume!" Plagg pointed out in amusement, getting an annoyed eye-roll from Tikki herself.

Marinette: Uhh, yeah, it's too well done! Oh wow, Tikki; I really messed up this time! If they see me with this mask on, they're all gonna recognize me for sure! There's no way I can wear it!

Stagehand: (through the door, which he knocks on) You ready, Marinette?

Marinette: (anxiously) Yes, I'm coming! (places the mask within a pile of folded fabric on a shelf, and runs out to the stage)

Alya: (pointing) There she is! (Alya, her friends, and others cheer for Marinette.)

Clara: Spot on! And spotlight! (Spotlights switch on. To Marinette and Adrien) So, you're Ladybug and Cat Noir, right?

Marinette and Adrien: No! Uh...uh...yeah! (both chuckle) Aah… (Outside, Chloé, minus her wig, is pushing her father toward the entrance.)

"You two better be careful when being asked those kinds of questions," Master Fu pointed out as he lightly chuckled along with everybody else while the two heroes blushed in embarrassment.

Mayor Bourgeois: But sweetie, there's no way we can cancel the shoot now.

Chloé: (pulling out her phone) I'm going to call Mom and tell her how all my dreams have been crushed! (feigns sorrow)

Mayor Bourgeois: (stammers anxiously, then grabs Chloé's phone and starts punching in a phone number) Let's not disturb our beloved Queen for such a little matter; right, my little Princess? (Back inside, Clara is instructing Marinette and Adrien on arm movements for dancing.)

Clara: (demonstrating arm moves left arm out, right arm out, both up, then down) One, two, and three. (Marinette and Adrien, facing Clara, copy the moves, Marinette lagging behind Adrien. Marinette's friends 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. (Marinette and Adrien turn to face each other, and clasp their right hands as if shaking hands.)

Adrien: Okay. (chuckles as he and Marinette smile nervously at Clara, and Marinette's friends giggle)

Clara: Not like that. Don't be shy! (puts Adrien's left hand in Marinette's right) Like lovers do. Give it a try! (Marinette and Adrien gape anxiously at their clasped hands — Adrien's left hand oddly wearing the Cat Noir ring.)

"OK, I can imagine Marinette acting like that when holding Adrien's hand, but I don't understand how it was the same the other way around if Adrien claims to be in love with Ladybug," Sabine pointed out in amusement at the heroes' reactions to holding each other's hands on-screen.

"Well, obviously, Adrien has self-unknown and unresolved romantic feelings for Marinette which he was trying to push away because of her superhero alter-ego," Angel said in a matter-of-fact tone. After serious consideration, everyone agrees with that statement, even Adrien who looked somewhat ashamed.

Alya: (taking phone pictures of Marinette and Adrien, as the other girls watch) Marinette's jaw will drop when she sees these pics! (Pictures are seen of Marinette and Adrien gaping, then smiling bashfully as they look up away from each other.)

Rose: Oh! I can't believe how much they look like the real Ladybug and Cat Noir!

"And yet, you all couldn't figure out that they're the real deal!" Angel once again pointed out in exasperation, leading to once again the audience blushing in embarrassment.

Clara: One final task: put on the mask.

Adrien: (nervously) Uh, I didn't see it. I looked everywhere in the dressing room for it but it was…

Marinette: (simultaneously, also nervous) Uh, well, I...found the costume, but the mask was, um…

Marinette and Adrien: ...nowhere to be found! (Clara laughs, prompting Marinette and Adrien to laugh, then Marinette's friends as well.)

Alya: (as Marinette and Adrien are viewed on the phone fidgeting awkwardly, still holding hands) They don't look a thing like the real Ladybug and Cat Noir now!

"Great! I feel really stupid saying that now!" Alya loudly said in exasperation and everybody else laughed hard in agreement.

Stagehand: (shouting from next to a dressing trailer) It's okay! I found them! (Marinette and Adrien gasp in dread. Moments later, Clara hands Marinette and Adrien their masks.)

Clara: Go ahead, put them on, you two. We've got a lot of singing and dancing to do! (Marinette and Adrien face each other, anxiously staring down at the masks in their hands, the eyes of the whole room upon them.)

Alix: Woohoo!

Mylène: Come on! (To the sound of their heartbeats, the anxious Marinette and Adrien slowly raise their masks to their faces, closing their eyes when they have the masks near, until...)

"Not that I support what they were doing to Clara, but in retrospect, Chloe and her father really saved our butts from getting our identities exposed," Adrien said as he sighed in relief and Marinette nodded in agreement.

Mayor Bourgeois: (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. (gives the heavy stack of papers to Clara)

Clara: (bewildered) I...I don't understand!

Chloé: It means no more dancing, no more singing today. (She 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? (Clara tosses the papers aside, and tearfully runs down from the stage to her fallen microphone, whose star has cracked from the impact, and picks it up to see the damage.)

Clara: 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! (Clara runs away in tears, and into a dressing trailer, where she leans back against the door, crying.)

Scene: Hawk Moth's lair. The window opens up, and the butterflies scatter from the floor.

Hawk Moth: Ah... Tears of disenchantment. Such sweet music to my ears. (charges an akuma) Fly away, my little akuma, and evilize her. (The akuma flies out the window)

"And another akuma caused by Chloe's spite!" Marinette deadpanned while Chloe looked down sheepishly and everyone glared at the latter in agreement while Lila sported a careless and uninterested look.

Scene: Grand Palais. In the trailer, Clara drops to the floor as she continues crying. The akuma flies into the trailer, and enters Clara's microphone, causing the butterfly image to appear before Clara's face.

Hawk Moth: (from his lair) Frightningale, I am Hawk Moth. So they tried to silence you? With the power I'm giving you, the world will be nothing but song and dance!

Clara: Yes, Hawk Moth, thank you. (stands up) For making this dream come true! (transforms. In the main room, Chloé claps several times for attention as she addresses the extras.)

Chloé: The show is over! You all have to leave now. (laughs in evil triumph. The extras start to leave. A glowing whip suddenly strikes Chloé and her father, giving them pink auras.)

Frightningale: (from a catwalk) Sing, dance or rhyme, or you'll be frozen in no time! (Adrien and Marinette, back in their regular clothes, witness from the trailer area. Extras gasp.)

"Does she mean that literally or figuratively?" Kagami asked curiously and the two heroes pointed to the screen, indicating that she should watch and see what happens.

Chloé: (as she and her father approach Frightningale) What is she talking about? Dancing and making rhymes? And why not play the trumpet too, while you're at it— (suddenly turns into a shiny pink statue, causing everyone in the room to gasp)

"Oh! Never mind," Kagami said in calm shock to her question being answered.

Mayor Bourgeois: Chloé, hon'! (Frightningale cackles) Please! Please! I'll keep up this rhyme. Don't make me freeze, not this time!

Frightningale: Oh, bravo! And you've got the right tempo! (Frightningale spins her whip, and starts whipping some of the extras below, who turn into shiny pink statues while the rest flee in panic.)

"Thanks a lot, Daddy!" Chloe said in angry exasperation at her father's cowardice towards the akumatized supervillain.

Marinette: (runs inside a trailer, where Tikki flies into view) Time to transform!

[Transformation Sequence]

Marinette: Tikki, spots on! Yeah! (Marinette transforms into Ladybug. Adrien runs to a secluded spot, as Plagg flies into view.)

Adrien: (to Plagg) Ready to vocalize?

[Transformation Sequence]

Adrien: Plagg, claws out! (Adrien transforms into Cat Noir.)

Scene: Outside the Grand Palais. Frightningale stands atop the Grand Palais, whipping people below, who turn into pink statues.

Frightningale: Sing, dance or rhyme, or you'll be frozen in no time! (From behind Frightningale, Ladybug uses her yo-yo to catch Frightningale's whip-wrist.)

Ladybug: I thought you were a fan of Cat Noir and me, Nightingale; so you should know that we fight villains!

Frightningale: 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!

Ladybug: 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.)

Frightningale: Song and dance will make the world a better place. Don't agree with me? Ha! Then you're a disgrace! (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, where Ladybug regains control of her weapon.)

Ladybug: I can help you if you give me your akuma!

Frightningale: I won't let you take my akuma away. I like the new me, and I'm here to stay! (Frightningale charges toward Ladybug, but she is tripped by Cat Noir's staff.)

Cat Noir: (recovers his staff and spins with it) Do you mind if I join the dance? (extends his staff to the ground in front of him and rests his chin on it, on his hands. Frightningale leaps up back onto the roof of the Grand Palais.)

Frightningale: You're like all the others; but you can't silence me! I'm just trying to make the world better, can't you see?

Hawk Moth: (in his lair) Strike them, Frightningale! It'll be easier for you to overpower them if they're forced to sing and dance! Then no one will be able to stop you from accomplishing your dream. Now's your chance!

Frightningale: Do you really think the two of you can win this battle through and through?

Ladybug: Two is always better than one! (to Cat Noir) Cat Noir, I'll take the left.

Cat Noir: I'm on it! (Ladybug and Cat Noir run over to the Grand Palais, and run and scamper up columns to leap above the roof, attacking Frightningale with their weapons. Frightningale maneuvers to cause Ladybug's yo-yo to merely snag Cat Noir's staff.)

Ladybug: Hey, look out!

Cat Noir: Whoops! Sorry, M'Lady! (On the heroes' second attempt, Frightningale's dodge causes Ladybug's yo-yo to entangle Cat Noir himself, and land him on the edge of the roof's dome. Ladybug quickly reels him back down to her, but in their momentary discombobulation, Frightningale strikes the two heroes with her whip, giving both of them pink auras.)

"You two have been hit?! Does that mean that you guys are gonna be rhyming?" Kim asked curiously as well as the rest of the audience.

"Yep," Adrien answered on both his and Marinette's behalf and the audience chuckled at the thought. "It wasn't easy. Believe us. From what I remember, Frightningale even once tried to trick me."

Frightningale: Welcome to my musical show. I hope it will be your fatal blow! (cackles. Cat Noir starts forward for another attack, but Ladybug grabs his arm.)

Ladybug: Wait! Stay right here and dance, or else you'll be frozen... (her arm starts to become a statue) ...uh, without a chance! (her arm recovers. Ladybug begins moving rhythmically in place.)

Cat Noir: Yeah, you're right. We have to rhyme. Not so easy, um...all the time? (Ladybug sighs in relief, while Cat Noir also begins rhythmic movement.)

"Well, that was close, dudes!" Nino commented chuckling along with the rest of the audience.

Hawk Moth: (in his lair) Nice work. Ladybug and Cat Noir cannot fight back! They're too busy singing and dancing while we're on the attack. Now hurry, sweet Nightingale, it's both of their Miraculous that I lack.

Frightningale: Hawk Moth, you bet! Miraculous you'll get!

Ladybug: (flings her yo-yo, but Frightningale fends it off) Stay in charge, Cat Noir; don't blow a fuse! Don't forget your dancing fight moves!

Cat Noir: Dancing fight moves...? Like my Capoeira grooves! (Cat Noir launches into a series of Capoeira moves, and then the battle briefly resumes until they reach a stand-off.)

Frightningale: (chuckles) Why is Cat Noir so dumb? He doesn't even know fifty plus fifty is a sum!

Cat Noir: Yes I do; the dummy is you! It's—

Ladybug: (cuts off Cat Noir) Fifty plus fifty's a hundred and two!

Frightningale: Huh? (Ladybug and Frightningale resume battling.)

"See what I mean?" Adrien pointed out on how Frightningale almost tricked him and the audience nodded and chuckled in both amusement and understanding.

Cat Noir: Your math is crazy. Count again, M'Lady.

Ladybug: Fifty plus fifty — the sum doesn't rhyme! One more false move and you're trapped, big time!

Cat Noir: I almost made a serious boo-boo, but I didn't, thanks to you! (The battle continues until Ladybug and Cat Noir leap to the ground, followed by Frightningale, who looks around for the heroes, but doesn't see them.)

Frightningale: You think you two are being so clever, but soon you'll tire yourselves, and be frozen forever! (Ladybug and Cat Noir are hiding behind a bus, continuing to move rhythmically.)

Ladybug: (to Cat Noir) It's not in our favor at a glance. Because we constantly have to advance, while keeping up this song and dance. We can leave nothing to chance.

Cat Noir: Sweet Bugaboo, I agree. But what possible plan do you see?

Ladybug: Our last weapon can do her harm. It is my...Lucky Charm! (A set of handcuffs appear) What is this thrown our way? Handcuffs, I would say.

Cat Noir: We know we have to stop her, but what solution do you offer?

Ladybug: (sees the cuffs, Cat Noir's ring, and her yo-yo) They're not for her; they're meant for us! Now, Cat Noir, do your stuff! (Cat Noir hesitates) What's with the frown? What's going down?

Cat Noir: I can't find a rhyme. Can you help me this time?

Ladybug: Cat Noir, you're a sweet-talker, rhymer, dancer and walker. Look at the bright side today. Don't be pessimistic, and make way...

Cat Noir: For optimism! Cataclysm! (Ladybug handcuffs her right arm to Cat Noir's left, and uses her yo-yo to lash her right ankle to his left. Then Frightningale, who had seen Ladybug's Lucky Charm activation, lifts up the bus the heroes have been hiding behind, and tosses it away, and is surprised to see them bound together.)

"Whew! Thanks for the save, m'lady!" Adrien said to his girlfriend for helping him find a way to rhyme with his Cataclysm.

Ladybug: Connected, we're one; our movements are synched. So let's get a move on, because we are linked! (Ladybug and Cat Noir start toward Frightningale, his Cataclysm still active.)

Cat Noir and Ladybug: As if we were dancing without thought, take this shot! (They strike Frightningale)

Ladybug: By any chance, will you grant me this dance?

Cat Noir: Let's cut a rug, M'Ladybug! (The heroes fight and kick Frightningale back inside the hotel.)

"Yeah, dudes! You're slaying the rhythm!" Nino cheered for his two hero friends along with the rest of the audience (except for Lila of course).

"And yet, you still couldn't get a high score on Freestyle Clash, girl!" Alya pointed out to her best friend teasingly.

"Well, Freestyle Clash isn't exactly a life-and-death situation," Marinette said, defending herself and Alya good-naturedly rolled her eyes in response.

Scene: Interior, Grand Palais. Frightningale runs and climbs onto the stage.

Frightningale: You can't bend the rules! Dancing tied up is cheating, fools!

Ladybug: When someone's akumatized, we never compromise.

Cat Noir: (as he and Ladybug climb onstage) You're feeling unsteady. You know you've lost already! (The battle between the heroes and Frightningale is pitched, until Ladybug and Cat Noir push Frightningale back, and grab her whip-wand together. Ladybug lets go, and the wand crumbles to black dust in Cat Noir's hand, freeing the akuma. Ladybug releases the handcuffs, and throws them in the air.)

Ladybug & Cat Noir: Miraculous Ladybug! (The Miraculous wave restores all the petrified people to normal, and removes Ladybug and Cat Noir's pink auras.)

Ladybug: No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! (captures the akuma and purifies it) Gotcha! Bye bye, little butterfly. (Frightningale turns back into Clara Nightingale.)

Ladybug & Cat Noir: (fist-bumping) Pound it!

"Pound it!" The two heroes once again fist-bumped and kissed in victory.

Clara: Ladybug? Cat Noir! What are you doing here?

Cat Noir: You were akumatized by Hawk Moth; but everything's back to normal again.

Clara: I was saved by the two of you? How amazing! Too good to be true!

Ladybug: And, I have an idea how you can finish your video without anyone getting in your way! (walks up to Clara, and whispers in her ear; Clara smiles)

Scene: Collège Françoise Dupont library. The finished "Miraculous" video is being displayed on the large screen, incorporating the main series theme song, while the students watch.

Marinette: (on-screen voice-over, only for version 1 of the episode — KidsClick version) In the daytime, I'm Marinette — just a normal girl, with a normal life. But there's something about me that no one knows yet, 'cause I have a secret. (During Marinette's narrative, the video shows various people, to include all of Miss Bustier's students except Chloé, dancing in sync while wearing either Ladybug or Cat Noir masks, starting with Juleka and Rose with the Eiffel Tower in the background, followed by Alya in front of the Arc de Triomphe, which pulls out to reveal Alix, Nino, Alya, Kim and Max, and then Ms. Mendeleiev, Miss Bustier, Mr. Haprèle, Mr. Damocles, Mr. D'Argencourt, Officer Roger, and another woman in the school courtyard.)

Chorus: Miraculous! Simply the best! Up to the test when things go wrong! Miraculous! The luckiest! The power of love always so strong, Miraculous! (During the verse the video's dancing shots continue with one of Marc, Nathaniel, Mylène, Ivan, and Sabrina in front of the Hôtel de Ville, followed by Ondine at the swimming pool, and then Adrien, Marinette, and Luka by the Canal Saint-Martin.)

Rose: (in the library) It's so much better like this!

Mylène: At least now everybody gets to be in it!

Alya: Besides, even though Marinette and Adrien kinda look like Ladybug and Cat Noir, they really weren't believable.

Marinette: I couldn't agree more! And I wouldn't have had any fun playing Ladybug. It was so much better being with you guys! (Rose runs over to hug Marinette, followed by Mylène and Alix, as Kim, Alya and Juleka also lean in for the hug.)

Adrien: Yeah, I prefer this version, too. I couldn't have pulled off playing Cat Noir.

Marinette: I know. (dismissively) Worlds apart!

Adrien: (gasps wondering what Marinette meant) What?

Marinette: (runs over to Adrien) What I meant was that you'd be more lame as Cat Noir than in real life. No! N-Not that you're lame in real life, right? It's just, compared to Cat Noir, you're just, I mean...you don't look a thing like him, that's what I mean.

Adrien: (chuckles) And you don't look a thing like Ladybug either.

Marinette: Huh?

Adrien: Uh, yeah, I mean, I'm sure she's not as funny as you are! (Marinette and Adrien laugh.)

Marinette: Yeah.

"You know you two could've prevented that very awkward conversation if you just told each other who you are!" Alix loudly commented to the two heroes as she and the rest of the audience laughed at the irony while the hero couple blushed at each other in embarrassment.

"Alix has a point, you two. Anyway, the next episode is Syren a.k.a. Ondine, Kim's girlfriend," Angel announced.

"Boy, am I gonna look like a complete doofus in this one!" Kim said, burying his face in embarrassment, remembering that day.

"That's not hard to imagine," Alix muttered about her athletic rival as the episode started to play.