It was early in the morning. Chat and I had just finished battling another challenger before class had begun. There was a small crowd, mainly my classmates, but we were still buzzing with excitement from the win.

"Excellent work as always my Lady." Chat said, smirking at me as we walked up the stairs of the club.

"Thanks Kitty," I said with a smile, "You were great with that combo today."

"Thank you Bugaboo."

We walked out of the club and into the storage closet. The small crowd flowed out of the door and went back to the classrooms, since lessons were about to start.

I went to the bathroom and changed into my ballet clothes.

Once I was done I walked out and grabbed my bag from the hallway where I had left it, and walked into the classroom.

"Marinette!" Alya said, "I can't believe you missed it, there was such a cool battle this morning at the club! It-"

"Let me guess, it was the best dancing you've ever seen." I responded with a laugh.

"How'd you know I was gonna say that?"

"That's what you say every time Ladybug and Chat Noir dance." I laughed.

"Don't judge me!" Alya said shoving me in the shoulder and laughing, "They're amazing, and I still can't believe you've never seen them in person."

"Seeing them on the Ladyblog is good enough for me."

The classroom went silent as we heard the doorknob turn. The club was still a secret, so we couldn't let Ms. Bustier catch us talking about it.

But the person who opened the door was not Ms. Bustier.

The door opened slowly to reveal our real teacher, not the sub we've known for so many months.

It was Master Fu.

I remembered the first day he came to class. The memories were not pleasant. Chloé making fun of me, my tumble, crying, running out of the classroom, the only good part of that day was getting my Ladybug costume from The Turtle.

"Good morning class." Master Fu said, hobbling in on his cane, "Sorry I've been out for so long, I've been very busy coming up with choreography for your recital next week."

The class whispered to each other, "What recital?" someone asked.

"Ah yes," Master Fu said, stroking his beard, "I have arranged for the owner of this studio to come in and see how well you've improved over the summer."

"You haven't taught us anything!" Chloé said, outraged, "How are we supposed to put together a ballet in two weeks?!"

Master Fu clicked his tongue disapprovingly, "Believe in your teacher, I already have the whole thing planned out." He looked at the class, "It's a short ballet, you just need to learn the choreography for your parts."

He sat down in the chair, "It's a Cinderella story, as you would say. A young girl is abused, then she goes to a ball in disguise and meets a prince, they fall in love, she leaves her mask at the masquerade ball, then the prince finds her and," he clapped his hands together, "Happily ever after."

Chloé rolled her eyes, "Fine. When are auditions?"

"As I said, I already have the whole thing planned out." Master Fu turned in his chair, "Mr. Agreste, you will play the prince."

Chloé perked up, "Perfect! Then I'll be the princess, and-"

"Actually, you're going to be the ugly stepmother."

She gasped, "WHAT?! I CAN'T BE THE STEPMOTHER! I'M THE BEST DANCER IN THIS STUDIO! DO YOU KNOW WHO MY FATHER IS?!"

Alya and I snickered, whoever was the princess was definitely going to feel the wrath of Chloé.

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng will be playing the princess."

My eyes widened. I straightened up and looked at the ground.

"ARE YOU KIDDING?!" Chloé shrieked, "MARINETTE?! HAVE YOU EVEN SEEN HER DANCE? SHE A CLUMSY OAF!"

Master Fu made eye contact with me and smiled, "I've seen her dance plenty, and I assure you she is perfect for the part."

He looked back to the class, "Lets get to work."

-----

We started learning right away.

The first scene was me. I had a broom as a prop and I was piquéd and pirouetted across the floor, sweeping. Then I picked up the broom and danced with it, pretending it was my prince.

Then came the bad part.

Chloé took great pleasure in coming in with Sabrina and another girl in her wake, then pretending to slap me before putting on her mask and leaving the stage. Whenever I faked a fall to the ground, she always kicked me on her way off stage.

I glared at her, she smirked back.

Luckily Alya was chosen to be the fairy godmother, which was fun for the both of us.

She pas-de-chat-ed onto the stage and did a little dance, before waving her wand and pulling a mask out of her pocket and handing it to me, then shooing me off to the ball.

We were all using black masks from the storage closet today, but when we actually performed we would have personalized costumes.

After running the first scenes over and over we got to where the ball scene was supposed to be.

Master Fu choreographed for everyone, except for Adrien and I. He said he would give us special lessons later.

And after doing the last scene, except for, again, Adrien and I's parts, we finished for the day.

Master Fu motioned for Adrien and I to come over once he dismissed the class.

"Kids, I haven't choreographed your parts because I want you two to do it. I highly encourage student creativity, and I was to display it. I have arranged for the classroom to be empty tomorrow morning so you can start working." Then he walked off.

I screamed inside. I'm going to be working with Adrien! Alone! With no distractions!

I tried to hold back my smile as I walked off.

-----

The next morning I came in early, ready to work.

I walked into the empty classroom and sat down on the bench, pulling out my pointe shoes and trying them on.

I looked up when I heard the door open again.

"Hi Marinette!" Adrien said with a big smile. He walked over to the bench and sat down next to me, taking his shoes out of his bag and putting them on.

I blushed and stuttered, "H-Hi Adrien...."

"Ready to start?"

I smiled, "Yeah!"

We both stood up. Adrien walked over to the stereo and picked up the cd with the music on it that Master Fu left for us. He put it in and pressed play, "I was thinking we could just improvise and see what we like, and then we can make definite choreography."

"Sounds good to me." I replied.

The music began and Adrien went to a spot on the dance floor.

He danced as gracefully as a prince would. I was amazed. I watched him in awe...

"Psst!" He whispered, "This is where you come on!" He laughed.

"Oh!" I said. I had been lost in thought. I danced onto the stage, trying to be graceful.

I did a little combo I had been thinking about when I heard the music, ending with an arabesque on pointe.

Then Adrien ran over and took my hands, "Keep going!" He said, "This is good!"

He took my hands as I held the pose, he walked me around in a circle, spinning me. As I put my leg down and went into fifth position, he gently grabbed my waist, making me blush. I brought my leg into passé and span around multiple times, Adrien helping me keep momentum with his hands. Then he knelt down on one knee and I went into a penché, balancing by holding Adrien's hands.

The music ended, but we didn't stop. Time seemed to freeze. My jaw dropped slightly as I stared into his green eyes. Eyes I felt I have seen and looked into a thousand times, but I couldn't put my finger on who's they reminded me of. My eyes were wide with shock. His eyes were wide too. He looked as shocked as I did. I don't know why though.

I was pulled out of my revelry by the click of the cd ending and being pushed out of the player, and the sound of my pager buzzing.

I gasped and jumped out of my pose. Adrien jumped up too, rubbing the back of his neck and laughing nervously.

"I think m-my phone is-" I started to say, motioning to my bag.

"Y-yeah, mine too." He said with an awkward smile.

"Take five?" I asked.

"Yeah."

We both ran to our bags.

I grabbed my bag and sat at the end of the bench, my back towards Adrien, so he wouldn't see the contents.

I was right, my pager was buzzing with the notification of a challenge.

I wanted to stay with Adrien, but if I didn't my title would be taken away, and Chat needed me....

I put the pager away and zipped my bag back up. I turned around just as Adrien turned to face me.

"I-I have to-" We both started to say.

We laughed.

"Sorry, you first." We both said again.

We laughed again.

"My father needs me to... um... go back to the house for a quick interview." Adrien said, "With a magazine. I completely forgot."

"Yeah..." I said, "M-My mom needs me home, there's... there's a big order at the bakery and she needs my help! Yeah...."

"Okay, so I'll see you at class later?"

"Yeah."

We both smiled nervously, looking away, then grabbed our bags and left the classroom.

If only he knew.

I waited until I saw him walk out of the studio, then I bolted to the bathroom to change.

-----

I ran down the stairs of the club and looked down at the dance floor. There was no crowd since it was so early in the morning, just DJ N and the challenger.

There was a man on the dance floor, dancing professionally. It was better dancing then I had ever seen. Nothing like Chat and I are used to facing... he seemed like had been training his entire life, but where could he have been dancing? Breakdance training was not allowed at our studio, and no one else would know about the club.... Maybe they danced somewhere else? No. Our dance studio was the only one in Paris that could train someone well enough to dance like that....

My train of thought was interrupted when Chat Noir ran down the stairs, panting. He stood next to me and tried to talk through his breaths.

"No crowd My Lady?" He asked, "Why would a challenger want to try to defeat us when no one's around to see it?"

"I'm not sure Chat... Why are you so out of breath?"

"I... I had to walk around the block to get here. My identity was almost revealed so I had to come in and change through the back door."

I was about to ask another question when DJ N called us down to the floor. He had jumped down off of his podium and motioned for Chat, the challenger, and I to meet in the middle.

"Okay okay." The DJ said, "So this guys went to my girlfriend's blog and commented on a video of you and Chat, wanting to arrange a meeting about some big challenge. So... meet. I guess. Tell me what happens and I'll tell her to post whatever you need on her blog." And he walked back to his stage.

Chat and I looked at the man.

He had his arms crossed, smirking at us. He wore a purple and black vest with a hood, his stomach and arms revealed. He had matching baggy purple shorts, and grey knee high socks with black brand name sneakers. His face was covered with a purple and grey mask, specially fitted to his face. He wore a necklace of a butterfly, with grey wings and a purple jewel in the middle.

"So what do you want, Old Man?" Chat said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm here to challenge you to the ultimate dance battle." The man said.

"Okay." I said, "Then come to the club when people are actually here."

The man snickered, "Kids, I'm a busy man. I need order. So I want to arrange a time and date. I also want to make a deal."

"Get to the point." Chat said. Whatever he was doing before this, he must have not wanted to be interrupted....

"This Friday. Four o'clock. If I can reveal your identities, this club is closed."

I gasped in shock. Close the club?

I looked at Chat, he looked down at me, the same amount of shock and concern in his face.

"Scared kids?" The man asked with a smirk on his face, "Cause if you are, you can always surrender your title to me-"

"We'll do it." Chat and I said at the same time.

The man smirked, "Good luck kids." He walked towards the staircase, "You'll need it."

"Hey!" Chat shouted, "Who are you anyway?"

The man chuckled as he walked up the stairs, "Why... I, am Hawkmoth."

And he walked out.

-----

"THAT'S A HORRIBLE DEAL!" DJ N shouted, throwing his hands in the air.

"Would you rather have that guy being your champion?" Chat said.

DJ N sighed, "Okay you're right. But you two better beat him. This club is my life." He walked towards the stairs, "Now get out, I gotta get to class." He said, starting to take off his makeup mask.

-----

I changed quickly and came into class just as most of the students were coming in. Alya ran up to me.

"Marinette!" She said, "You will not believe what Nino told me! Ladybug and Chat Noir were just accepted a challenge that could get the club shut down for good! It's gonna be the best battle ever! I'm so excited!"

Then Master Fu walked in.

"Attention students!" He said, "I have an announcement! The date of our little show has been changed."

There was some whispers through the class.

"The owner of this studio, and the chain itself," he continued, "Is busy the week that was previously arranged. We will now have to show our recital this Friday, at 3:30."

I cursed inside my head.

"Oh no!" Alya whispered to me, "How am I gonna record the battle for my blog now?!"

"How am I gonna be in the battle now...." I mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

I would have to find a way.

-----

We rehearsed all day everyday.

Master Fu continued to not give Adrien and I any choreography, insisting that "Whatever you feel in your hearts will be perfect for your parts."

We tried to tell him that wedding have time to come up with any choreography, he just chuckled and continued working on the other people.

-----

Finally Friday came.

We were given our costumes. For my maid part i was given a dress made out of rags and patches, but for the ball I was given a pink tutu ensemble, and my mask was red... with black dots... just like my breakdance costume. I looked at Master Fu and he just smiled at me...

No way.

He couldn't.

But...

It had to be true.

Master Fu was the Turtle, the guy who gave me my breakdancing identity.

I wanted to ask him, to make sure it was true, but before I could he said it was time to rehearse.

-----

We rehearse until 3:30, when someone knocked on the door. Two men in security guard outfits opened the door and walked in, followed by a man in a suit that I recognized.

It was Gabriel Agreste, the fashion designer. Adrien's father.

My class started to whisper to each other.

"Before you ask me any questions," Mr. Agreste said in a monotone voice, "Yes, I have owned this studio chain for a while now, in secret. I'm planning on revealing my ownership after I make this studio perfect... And free of... rule breakers." He seemed to stare at some of the students for a second, then sat down in a chair that was placed in front of center stage, "Well. Begin."

We scrambled to our beginning positions as Master Fu put the cd in.

In my dress of rags, I grabbed my broom prop and ran center stage just as the music began. I swept the floor as I danced around, pretending the broom was my prince.

Then the music shifted and Chloé and her two followers, my 'stepmother and stepsisters', came on. I held my hands together, pleading to go to the ball, and braced myself for the fake slap. But it wasn't fake.

Chloé slapped me for real, making a loud clapping sound.

I fell to the floor, clutching my cheek in pain.

I glared up at Chloé as she laughed, and as she walked off she kicked my stomach, which hurt especially bad since she was wearing pointe shoes.

I calmed my breathing as she went off stage, reminding myself that I was the one who was going to be Adrien's princess, not her.

Then Alya came over in her fairy godmother costume. She helped me stand up and brushed the dirt off my dress. I smiled. She was such a good friend. She pulled my pink tutu costume and red mask out from behind her back, giving it to me. I hugged her and ran off stage.

The music stopped and the security guards and Mr. Agreste clapped politely.

Master Fu took out the cd. "We will have a short intermission so our dancers can change."

Mr. Agreste stood up and left the room.

I looked at the clock, it was 4:00 exactly. I could go to the club, defeat Hawkmoth, and get back in time for my part with Adrien. Hopefully....

I ran to the bathroom to change, grabbing my bag on the way out.

-----

I snuck out of the bathroom, careful to look around and make sure no one saw me. Then I ran into the storage closet and through the door to the club.

I walked down the stairs, rubbing my hands against the wall, taking it all in since this might be the last time I get to walk down this staircase.

I walked into the club and walked through the crowd, high fiving members of the crowd and even signing one autograph.

I met Chat at the center of the dance floor.

"Glad to see you Bugaboo." Chat said with a smirk, putting his arm around me, "Ready for the best battle ever?"

I smiled and leaned my head on his shoulder, "You know I am Kitty."

Just then Hawkmoth walked down the stairs. The crowd booed as he walked through, onto the other side of the dance floor.

"Get ready to lose kids." Hawkmoth said, cracking his knuckles.

"CLUB MIRACULOUS!" Nino, or DJ N, shouted into the mic, "TONIGHT WE HAVE THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE, A CHALLENGE FROM THE NOTORIOUS HAWKMOTH HIMSELF!"

The crowd hissed and booed.

"THE RISKS ON THE TABLE; IF LADYBUG AND CHAT CAN SURVIVE THE BATTLE WITHOUT GETTING THIER IDENTITIES REVEALED, HAWKMOTH HAS TO LEAVE THE CLUB ALONE FOREVER. IF HAWKMOTH CAN REVEAL THEIR IDENTITIES, THE CLUB IS SHUT DOWN."

The crowd shouted against it.

"YEAH YEAH I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER." DJ N said, "BUT JUST IN CASE THIS IS OUR LAST BATTLE, LETS PARTY!!!!"

He pressed a button and a song started playing.

Hawkmoth went first.

He did a top rock and span into a back walkover into the splits (for an old guy, he had moves) he span around on the floor then put one hand down and lifted himself up into a one handed hand stand. Hawkmoth bent his arm, pushing his body off the floor and flipping, landing on the floor with his feet planted firmly. He pointed at us with challenged, stepping back a few times, then doing a forward roll towards us and popped up right in front of us.

"Reveal yourselves kids." He said, "Here! I'll go first!"

He pulled off his hood and ripped off his mask.

Chat and I gasped.

It was Gabriel Agreste.

"No...." Chat whispered.

"But... but..." I stuttered, in shock, "If you're Mr. Agreste, and you own the studio... why are you giving people supplies to challenge us?"