45. Captain Hardrock

Scene: Seine

Marinette: Oops! Sorry Mylène. My bad! (picks up a box) I think this is yours, Rose. (hands a microphone to Rose)

"Oh! Our very first concert as Kitty Section!" Rose cheered at the memory of her band's first concert that day.

Rose: Thanks, Marinette! Do you realize? It's our very first concert! It's going to be awesome.

"We get you're excited, Rose, but next time, please try not to shatter our eardrums," Marinette joked to her friend and everybody laughed hard in response.

Marinette: He's not here yet.

Alya: No worries girl. The gig hasn't started yet.

Marinette: What if he doesn't know Juleka's address? Or he got the wrong day? Or he's lost? Could you check with Nino please? You know, of course, just... casually.

Alya: Hey, Nino, did you hear from Adrien, by any chance?

Nino: He had something to do with his old man. He said he'll come right after. (Marinette and Alya giggle)

Anarka: Captain Anarka speaking to ya'! So how's it comin' along me young pirates? Ready to celebrate the- (adjusts her glasses) Whatcha up to, there, matey?

"That's your mom?" Sabrina asked Juleka curiously and the latter confirmed it with a nod.

"Your mom thinks she's a pirate? Shouldn't she be in a nuthouse somewhere?" Lila sneered, getting death glares from everybody else, the most angry ones from the Couffaine siblings.

"Look, Lila! Why don't you focus on insulting only me instead of everyone else here and their families!" Marinette said in defense of her friends.

"Only you?! Too easy!" Lila said as she laughed haughtily at her enemy. After once again glaring at the sociopathic girl, the audience turned their attention back to the screen.

Marinette: Uh, hello ma'am. I'm cleaning up for tonight! Your boat's gonna be clean as a whistle!

Anarka: You're cleaning (laughs). We never pick up in this house! Didn't me daughter tell you? We like the lived-in look. We have no rules on The Liberty! Out of chaos comes creation! Messiness is life.

"That is so not my father's motto! Well, when he's not Hawk Moth," Adrien joked about his father and everyone chuckled in agreement.

Scene: Adrien's Room. Adrien is playing the piano. Adrien accidentally plays the wrong key.

Gabriel: I've heard enough. Are you sure you're practicing, Adrien?

Adrien: I'm just doing the same exercises over and over again. I think I could make better progress if I could just play with other musicians. After all, music's meant to be shared with other people, don't you think?

Gabriel: We Agrestes are soloists. We're not mere group members. I suggest you rehearse your piece some more. You'll play it for me again later today.

Adrien: But Father, you promised that I could attend my friends' concert.

Gabriel: Not after that performance you've just given, which is probably due to their influence! You need to refocus, Adrien. (Adrien calls Nino)

"That's not fair! He barely knows you guys!" Adrien complained once again about his father and everyone grumbled in agreement with frowns on their faces.

Scene: Seine

Nino: (his phone rings) Wassup dude?...Wow, what happened?...Whoa, that's real rough. Good luck dude, see you tomorrow!

Alya: Well it's not exactly the first time his dad's kept him from hanging out with us. Actually, I'd have been super surprised if he hadn't.

Anarka: Whoa, sailor! Never place a metal object next to a compass, ya hear lass? Metal attracts the needle, just like a magnet, which is why you can't get them anywhere near each other.

Marinette: I know how they feel. Maybe I'm just like this statue and Adrien's my compass. Maybe we're meant to stay away from each other forever.

"Well, that's a depressing analogy," Max noted and everyone nodded in agreement.

"At least it won't be that way much longer," Adrien said as he smiled at his girlfriend and put his hand on hers. Marinette smiled and blushed in response.

Alya: I think it's the other way around. He's the statue and you're the compass that goes crazy whenever he gets close! There'll be other chances Marinette.

Marinette: That's what you said last time and the time before that.

Rose: We're ready Captain! Uh... but Luka's missing.

Anarka: Marinette, right?

Marinette: Yes, ma'am... uh, Captain!

Anarka: Since you're free from your cleaning duties, could you go and tell Luka that we're waiting for him to start rehearsals?

Marinette: Of course. Uh, but who's Luka? And where is he?

"You don't talk about me, Jules?" Luka asked his sister with a teasing smile.

"Have you just met me, bro? I can barely talk about anything!" Juleka retorted back and everyone chuckled in agreement.

Anarka: Luka's my son. You'll find him in his cabin.

Scene: Below deck in Luka's cabin

Marinette: (sees Luka) Uh! (Luka looks up at her) Hey, my name's Ma-ma uh Mamamarinette! Your mom sent me down here. The groove...uh... the group's waiting for you.

"You actually stuttered and stumbled your words around another guy, m'lady?! I thought I was the only one!" Adrien joked dramatically to his girlfriend in jealousy.

"Who are you to talk, Mr. I See A New Girl With Pink Bubbles?" Marinette retorted back to her boyfriend.

"It was the show!" Adrien said in defense and the audience laughed hard in response to the exchange between the couple.

Luka: Hello, Mamamarinette. (chuckles) Sorry. I tend to make more sense with this. (picks up and starts playing guitar) That's strange. It seems you have something like this in your heart. (continues to play)

"You can actually read people through music?" Mylene asked Luka curiously.

"I'd like to think so," Luka answered honestly.

"That is a pretty interesting talent to have," Kagami noted to the blue-haired boy next to her with a smile and he smiled back at her.

Marinette: How do you do that?

Luka: Music is often simpler than words. (picks up guitar pick)

Marinette: You like Jagged Stone's music?

Luka: He's my favorite singer!

Marinette: Mine too.

Luka: You can have it if you like. I've got plenty.

Marinette: Oh! Thanks!

Luka: I think I'd better go join the... groove, you said?

Marinette: Did I really say that? Oh, no.

Luka: You're a funny girl, Marinette.

"No offense, M. I love you and all, but you're awfully shy and pretty clumsy. How did you become some sort of guy magnet?!" Alix asked her friend curiously who blushed hard in response.

"Believe me, Alix. I wish I knew. Given my past luck with Adrien, I honestly didn't think that was true," Marinette answered honestly while still blushing.

Scene: Adrien's room

Nadja: For this year's National Music Festival, Paris's city hall has organized numerous free concerts featuring big stars in some pretty prestigious locales! We're joined by our honorable Mayor, Andre Bourgeois. If you will, please tell us about the line-up!

Mr. Bourgeois: Well, XY will be performing at the Place de la Concorde, Clara Nightingale at the Louvre, The Philharmonic Orchestra outside City Hall, and Mr. Jagged Stone at the Eiffel Tower! And let's not forget the many concerts and gigs given by the people of Paris across the city!

Nadja: This is likely to be the most incredible music festival since the first one was held, right here in Paris, in 1982! I'm Nadja Chamack. Tune in here, to hear more tunes.

Plagg: Come on, now. Don't be so down in the dumps. Look at the bright side. Now you can enjoy all of the concerts without leaving the comfort of your own room!

Adrien: I just wanted to go to my friend's concert, Plagg!

Plagg: Then why didn't you say so? As your friend, I'm going to give you a private concert you'll never forget! Ahem! (singing off-key) Camembert! You're the cheese of my dreams! Camembert! You make life better than it seems!

"No offense, Plagg. But, you're a lousy singer," Trixx said to his fellow kwami and everyone else giggled in agreement.

Adrien: Thanks Plagg. Best concert ever. (Adrien starts playing the piano)

Plagg: Aww...

Scene: Seine

Alya: Are you okay girl?

Marinette: Mmm-hmm.

Alya: I'm thinking "Marinette the Compass" has found herself a new statue.

Marinette: What? Luka? No way! You're being ridiculous! Pff! Sure he's cool and nice and everything... but there's only one statue that drives this compass crazy!

"Whatever you say, girl," Alya teased her best friend who blushed in response while everyone else was giggling.

Anarka Ho, ho, sailors! Let's give them a show! Whenever you're ready, Luka!

Mylène: You're going to need these, believe me. (hands Alya and Marinette earplugs. Luka shreds his guitar which makes a very loud sound that's enough to make cars on the streets go flying. Alya, Marinette, and Nino are shocked by how loud it was. Police helicopters, boats, and cars rush over to the houseboat and Roger comes out.)

Roger: (sirens) Mrs. Anarka, are you completely out of your mind? I'm reading 160 decibels! That's 10 times the sound of a jet engine! You just can't do this. You'll have to play something else!

Anarka: It's the National Music Festival today, Officer Roger! My crew's allowed to play whatever they want!

"In my dad's defense, that was pretty ridiculously loud," Sabrina noted and although reluctant, everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

Roger: It's a music festival, not a noise festival. If you don't turn the volume down, I'll ban your concert altogether!

Marinette: Uh, maybe we could turn the volume down a bit Captain? Then there'd be no more problem, right?

Anarka: No, out of the question. I didn't name my galleon Liberty for nothing, you know! It's a matter of principle! Haven't you ever heard of freedom of speech, Roger? This is me home! I will do as I want!

"Our mom's a pretty huge advocate for being more open and free-spirited and I admit she does take things a bit too far," Luka explained about his mother and everyone nodded in understanding.

Roger: Do you have a document stating you can moor your houseboat in this location?

Anarka: The Seine belongs to everyone!

Roger: You are not allowed to moor here without a parking permit! Which means you can't play your concert here either. Not to mention this incredibly messy deck! (starts handing Anarka tickets) Public visual disturbance you get a ticket! And this decoration it's too decorated! Another ticket! (Anarka rips the tickets and then laughs) You asked for it, One more ticket for making me use too many tickets, one more for your attitude, one because I can't sleep, one more because I'm seasick, one more because I say so-

"Your dad's temper getting the best of his judgement again?" Max asked Sabrina who answered with a reluctant nod.

Scene: Hawk Moth's lair.

Hawk Moth: Ah, the suppression of a soul demanding liberty and freedom. A perfect target for my akuma! (charges akuma with dark energy) Fly away my little akuma and evilize her. (akuma flies out into Paris)

Scene: Seine

Anarka: I refuse to give in. (the akuma lands on the compass of the ship)

Hawk Moth: (from his lair) Captain Hardrock, I am Hawk Moth. Is the establishment censoring your right to make as much noise as you'd like? From now on they won't hear anything but your music. I'm giving you an indestructible ship and you will use it to sail around Paris and blast your music out everywhere you go as loudly as you please. In return, you will bring me the greatest of all treasures, Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculous.

Anarka: A treasure in return for freedom? Ho, ho, ho then I shall be your pirate Hawk Moth. (black and purple smoke covers the ship)

Marinette: Oh no!

"Even though I'm totally against that whole evil pirate plan, that's a pretty cool sail Captain Hardrock had there," Ivan noted about the akumatized ship.

Captain Hardrock: Raise the mainsail me deckhands let's get swashbuckling around here. (laughs)

Juleka: Mom?

Luka: What's going on?

Captain Hardrock: Your mom has weighed anchor, me lad, I'm Captain Hardrock and today Paris's timbers are about to be shivered by my cannons. (looks through a telescope) Westward ho! Liberty next stop, Jagged Stone at the Eiffel Tower. Soon, there will only be one concert in Paris, only one Music Festival. We will destroy all the others. Now, get to your instruments and rock those decibels!

Luka: Mom please, you can't ruin the Music Festival.

Marinette: You can't force people to listen to your music!

Ivan: No way we're playing like this!

Captain Hardrock: Mutiny? On my ship? Liberty, seize these scallywags and throw them down into the hold! (chains wrap around the crew and they go below deck) Liberty! Fire! (fires at a bridge) Nothing and no one will stop Captain Hardrock from playing her music! Fire! (Fires small speakers at the Eiffel Tower)

Scene: Adrien's Room

Nadja: Paris is yet again under attack, a new villain is destroying all the music festival concerts one by one. Please take shelter as soon as possible!

Adrien: I may be grounded, Plagg, but they're playing my song.

Plagg: Yeah, I know it by heart.

[ Transformation Sequence ]

Adrien: Plagg, claws out! (Adrien transforms into Cat Noir. He jumps out of his window)

Scene: Below deck of the Liberty. Tikki looks at Marinette from her purse. Marinette nods as Tikki unlocks the chains holding Marinette and Luka together.

Luka: Wow, how'd you do that?

Marinette: Uhh, I, uhm... With this. (holds up guitar pick)

"It's a good thing you gave me that, Luka. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a good cover explanation for setting us free from those chains," Marinette noted to Luka and he and everybody else nodded in agreement.

Luka: You're amazing. A real magician Marinette.

Marinette: You think so? Oh, it was nothing, uh, amazing, really?

Alya: Excuse me, but some of us are still chained up here you know. (Captain Hardrock walks downstairs laughing) Marinette, she's coming.

"Sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt your flirting!" Alya loudly teased both Marinette and Luka, and while Adrien laughed along with everybody else, he had a hint of hidden jealousy.

Marinette: We'll come back, I promise. (Marinette and Luka lock themselves in a room. Captain Hardrock breaks in)

Luka: Run, Marinette quick.

Captain Hardrock: Seize him. (chains surround Luka) She won't get very far. (leaves room. Marinette slides out from under the bed)

"That was brave of you, Luka," Kagami noted to the boy next to her who smiled in response. The two then blushed furiously at each other.

Tikki: Phew, that was close.

Marinette: Tikki, I have to save my friends.

[Transformation Sequence]

Marinette: Tikki, spots on! Yeah! (Marinette transforms into Ladybug)

Scene: On the Liberty. Captain Hardrock looks through the telescope.

Captain Hardrock: New target located. Fire at XY. (Liberty fires) And now. (looks to the right) Huh? What was that? (looks left, at Cat Noir) Fire at Cat Noir. (Liberty fires) Seize him. (Cat Noir is caught by chains, however Ladybug breaks him free) Seize them. (Ladybug and Cat Noir dodge the chains)

Roger: I command you to stop in the name of the law.

Captain Hardrock: Fire, Liberty. (Roger's ship is launched out of the water. Ladybug catches them with her yo-yo string)

"No offense to your dad, Sabrina. He's a great police officer committed to his job, but he should know that akumatized supervillains are our territory," Adrien noted and everybody else, including a reluctant Sabrina, murmured in agreement.

Roger: Thank you Ladybug and Cat Noir.

Ladybug: Stay undercover, we will take care of her.

Captain Hardrock: Time for the treasure hunt.

Ladybug: I hope you've got your sea legs kitty.

Cat Noir: I'll be purr-fect, as long as I stay dry.

Captain Hardrock: Seize them.

Cat Noir: Any idea where the akuma is?

Ladybug: It's gotta be on the ship somewhere.

Cat Noir: In that case a Cataclysm will settle this. (raises hand. Ladybug stops him)

Ladybug: Wait, there are prisoners down in the hold, if you sink this boat, they might drown.

Captain Hardrock: Fire at Nightingale. (Liberty fires)

Ladybug: We've gotta stop this ship.

Cat Noir: It's time we got this vessel anchored. Let's rip this off! (attempts to rip the sails apart) It's no good. (Ladybug tries to turn the wheel)

Ladybug: It's blocked.

Captain Hardrock: (laughs) Liberty answers only to me, seize the-. (Cat Noir attacks. Ladybug sneaks away below deck)

Scene: Below deck of the Liberty

Alya: Ladybug. (Ladybug breaks all of the chains with her yo-yo)

Luka: Ladybug, is Marinette okay?

Ladybug: She's safe, she's the one who alerted me.

Luka: That girl is unbelievably brave.

"Another guy's got you blushing, Dupain-Cheng?!" Chloe teased her former arch-rival and everybody else chuckled in agreement including Marinette herself.

Ladybug: Lucky Charm! (a chain appears) Huh? Another chain? Some pliers would've come in more handy. Don't worry guys, I'll find a way to get you out.

Scene: On the Liberty

Captain Hardrock: Seize him. (Chains tie Cat Noir to the crow's nest)

Scene: Hawk Moth's Lair

Hawk Moth: Well done Captain Hardrock.

Scene: On the Liberty

Captain Hardrock: My treasure will be your Miraculous, kitty cat. (Ladybug pulls Captain Hardrock to the deck) Don't be an impatient scurvy Ladybug, you're next in line. (Roger is following on a pedal boat)

Roger: I command you to stop your acts of piracy in the name of the law.

Captain Hardrock: Him again? Fire! (Roger lands in a tree) En garde. (Turns to where Ladybug was) Huh? Where did you go? If you refuse to give me your Miraculous, my next target will be Mayor Bourgeois and his land lubberin' Orchestra. Liberty, next stop City Hall. (Liberty fires at a bridge)

Cat Noir: Thanks my lady, any longer and I would've been fish food.

Ladybug: We've got a problem Cat Noir. I couldn't free the prisoners, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with this.

Cat Noir: It's probably just trying to tell you that you're chained to me, forever. (Ladybug looks around and sees Liberty's wheel and the edge of the Seine)

"OK, that was just bad, dude," Nino groaned at his best friend's flirty line and everyone else also groaned in agreement.

"Yeah, I heard it," Adrien admitted with his palm in his face.

Ladybug: You're pulling my chain Cat Noir. It's time to take the ship, follow me.

Cat Noir: Aye aye Captain Ladybug.

Captain Hardrock: Aha, there y'are again, the time has come to send you to the bottom once and for all. (Chains fire at Ladybug and Cat Noir, Captain Hardrock rides one. The duo jump on the chains, holding one end of the Lucky Charm chain each and use it to chain Captain Hardrock to the wheel) Noooo- Get away from the compass. (Liberty steers right. Roger is following on an inflatable ducky, rowing with a paddle)

"Oh, I get it! The metal Lucky Charm chain magnetically attracted the compass, therefore changed the direction of the ship," Max said as he observed how the heroes used the Lucky Charm and the two nodded in confirmation.

Roger: For the last time, stop your boat in the name of the law. (The boat lands on grass, barely missing a couple eating ice-cream)

Ladybug: Do it, Cat Noir.

Cat Noir: Cataclysm! (touches the Liberty. Liberty dissolves and the akuma emerges)

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

Ladybug and Cat Noir: Pound It!

"Pound it!" Marinette and Adrien once again fist-bumped and kissed in victory.

Anarka: What happened?

Cat Noir: Oh not much, you just had a bout of... Seasickness. (his Miraculous beeps) Time to raise the sails my lady. (jumps away)

Ladybug: Miraculous Ladybug! (The Miraculous light fixes all of the damage caused) Enjoy your gig, bug out. (jumps away)

"Good thing you have the Miraculous Ladybug cure, Marinette. Otherwise, us Couffaines would be homeless," Luka pointed out and after realizing it, everyone else nodded in agreement.

Scene: Hawk Moth's Lair

Hawk Moth: For the sake of Neptune, Captain Hardrock didn't manage to seize your Miraculous. But one of these days Ladybug and Cat Noir, your treasure will be mine. (laughs as the window closes)

Scene: Adrien's Room

Adrien: Would you like to play this piece with me father, as a duet?

Gabriel: I... I don't think-

Adrien: Please father, if I'm not allowed to go to my friends concert, at least grant me this. (Gabriel walks over and sits next to Adrien. They begin playing)

"OK, that was an uncharacteristically nice moment you had with your father, Adrien," Kagami noted in shock and everyone nodded in agreement, similarly shocked.

"Like Miss Bustier said, there is some love in your terrorist father's heart," Angel said. Adrien looked at the screen with a sad smile on his face.

Scene: On the Liberty, Adrien and Gabriel can be heard playing in the background. Roger is checking the volume of the band's instruments.

Scene: Adrien's Room

Gabriel: You can go to your friends concert if that's what you really want.

Adrien: Thank you father. (he hugs Gabriel)

Scene: On the Liberty

Roger: It's still a bit loud by my standards and a couple decibels over the legal limit... But I'll let it slide on this occasion, after all it's the music festival.

Anarka: Thanks Roger.

"Good thing your dad and our mom worked things out, Sabrina," Juleka said to Sabrina and the latter smiled at the quiet girl.

Roger: Have a good gig. (walks off. Adrien walks on)

Adrien: Hi everyone.

Marinette: Watch where you're walking, the- (Adrien trips over something as a case falls over)

Nino: Adrien are you okay buddy?

Adrien: Nah it's all good, I- (opens a piano case) Whoa, an original ZX20.4, I love the sound of this instrument.

Anarka: Aww, that old thing, no one knows how to play it.

Adrien: I know how to play it.

Luka: Great, welcome to the band Adrien.

Adrien: Thanks, uhh.

Luka: Luka.

Adrien: Thanks Luka.

Alya: (to Marinette) Is the compass going crazy?

"Well, are you, girl? I mean two hotties you have the hots for touching each other," Alya teased her best friend with a smirk.

"I was not hot for Luka!" Marinette lied in defense, but the audience wasn't buying it given their stares at her. "OK, maybe I did. But not as strongly as I was for Adrien." Everybody else laughed at her in response while she blushed a heavy shade of red.

Anarka: You know matey, sometimes disorder can be a good thing, if this keyboard hadn't been lying around, we wouldn't have gained us a keyboard player.

Scene: The Liberty, later that night

Rose: Evening everyone, our name is Kitty Section. One, two, three. (The band starts playing) (singing in a deeper voice) I love unicorns, I love unicorns, and cute little fluffy cats! (Luka and Adrien look at each other while they are playing a musical instrument)

"OK, that's a wrap for today, everybody! We'll watch the rest of the second season tomorrow. Have a good night!" Angel announced as she snapped her fingers and put a pissed-off Lila back to her bedroom while the rest walked to their rooms.

"Do you wanna talk before we turn in?" Marinette asked Adrien as she pulled him aside. After a moment of thought, Adrien nodded with a smile.