On Point

New Birth and Rebirth

By Rena Rouge

Exciting news has been shared today! We are proud to announce that Tikki Fu (38) has given birth to a darling little girl. Going by the name 'Cheesecake', we are happy to announce that the baby and mother are doing great, and Plagg Fu (38) has already taken to the role of father by stepping down from all his working commitments for the rest of the year.

Plagg wanted us to thank everyone for their support and left us with a comment that there is more to life than just dance, sometimes it takes the reveal of new feelings and new hopes to change your outlook.

We wonder if anyone has passed that message onto Gabriel Agreste?

In other news, we are now only two days away from the Agreste Gala and we are sure things are getting heated down in the studios.

*****

Rehearsals had been strange without Plagg. Marinette hadn't realised how much she depended on him until he wasn't there to flash her a reassuring smile, or give her raised eyebrows questioning what the hell she was doing.

Plagg was now off until the end of the year being the doting husband and father. It seemed Tikki's experience wasn't exactly straight forward, her recovery time being prolonged due to an unplanned operation. But she was doing well, and Leena (not Cheesecake) was tiny but perfect, she couldn't wait to go and see them.

All of this meant they would have to continue without their mentor and pretty much hope for the best during the final rehearsals. Where Marinette didn't worry too much for herself, she knew how much Adrien needed and depended on Plagg being in the studio. The one person who could keep him focused and performing his best.

After ice skating the previous evening, they had gone back to Adrien's home and she just couldn't help but jump onto the sewing machine again. Her mind was filled with weird and wonderful ideas of what she could do with the pink fabric he'd smuggled for her, before opting for the one which would suit their dance the most. She was going to look wonderful and it was all thanks to Adrien.

Never would she have dreamed of dancing such an iconic role in a ballet, and even though technically you couldn't class their duet as a pure ballet performance, she was still dancing as the Sugar Plum Fairy. She couldn't believe how lucky she was.

Today was the last day in the studio before moving to the rehearsals on stage the following day. They were having a full run through and as Plagg had planned it, all cast were allowed to sit in and watch. Marinette couldn't help but be surprised Gabriel had allowed such chaos.

They were being directed today by one of Plagg's friends and from what Adrien had explained, another of Fu's little gang.

Dusuu was originally from England and worked with Adrien's cousin, Félix Fathom. She knew of Félix's name, of course, yet she'd never had the opportunity to meet him. He was as much of a legend as Adrien was, although his personality was meant to be the complete opposite. Where she'd managed to pull the fake levels away from Adrien and arrive at the most caring and genuine part, Félix was meant to have no layers — he was just an asshole.

So far, the show had been running like clockwork; each and every dance had been performed to perfection and from what Marinette could tell it was going to be one hell of a show, and that was without her and Adrien's performance, of which she wasn't sure when they would be performing it.

She knew Lila and Adrien had the one within The Nutcracker set, so, if she had to guess, she'd say herself and Adrien were either performing at the end or just before intermission. Whichever it was, she was growing more and more eager to get up and dance, there was a certain buzz within the studio today, one she hadn't experienced since that first day when they were allowed to dance altogether.

"Do you mind if I sit here?"

Marinette looked up from where she was sitting and stretching on the floor to see Zoé looking anxiously down at her.

"Oh," Marinette suddenly responded, looking around to see if she meant someone else. She hadn't really spoken to Zoé, the awkward breakfast encounter being enough to keep her going at least until the New Year.

"Sure," Marinette finally replied.

Uttering her thanks, Zoé sat beside her and flipped the cap off her drinks bottle. Marinette didn't know what to do. Did she engage in conversation? Did she start the conversation? Maybe she should mention the weather? That was always a good starting point... right?

"How are you feeling about the performance?" Zoé was the first to speak which helped level down Marinette's anxieties. She knew the answer to this question, this wasn't hard.

"I'm excited, but nervous. How about you?"

Zoé shifted uncomfortably in her spot, Marinette watching her curiously. She couldn't sit still, it was almost as if there was something she wanted to get off her chest, and the way she seemed to be searching for Luka in the crowd, Marinette was very sure why.

"You and Luka looked amazing together. You're both incredible dancers." Marinette didn't want this to be uncomfortable, she was happy for Luka and Zoé, Luka was an amazing guy and when he 'loved' it was with his whole heart — just like her boyfriend. Cue the adolescent screaming in her head. Adrien.

"That means a lot coming from you," Zoé said, before placing a hand over her mouth. "I didn't mean that the way it came out. What I meant was..."

As she continued to ramble on, Marinette couldn't help but smile, she could see why Luka had been attracted to both of them, they really were similar in many ways.

"Zoé," Marinette started, a chuckle causing her to stop for a second, "it's fine, I swear. I'm good friends with Luka now and that's all it's meant to be. You two are made for each other and, from what he's told me, he obviously loves you. There's someone else for me now."

Without realising, she'd found Adrien, watching where he was currently walking through the routine he would be performing with Lila. She'd seen him perform it alone a couple of times, even standing in for Lila away from the school, but seeing it with her, made bile rise up in her throat.

Her partner, her boyfriend, was currently performing with the one girl here she despised. She couldn't help the spiralling in her stomach as she thought of what they'd done in the past. Had he kissed Lila the way he kissed her? Did he call her beautiful? Treat her like a Princess? Or did he tell she had brought him back to life? As she watched Adrien perform like the professional he was, she couldn't help but think where the acting stopped.

She wasn't a fan of Chloé either, but since gaining her position to go to London Royal Ballet she'd become... Well, not nice because this was Chloé Bourgeois after all, and leopards couldn't change their spots, but she was definitely more tolerable.

"He's a great guy, you know," Zoé said, the soft tones of her voice soothing Marinette's anxieties. "He's just had a lot of bad luck. He seems to be opening up to you though, and that's a huge step for him."

Marinette twisted her attention away from Adrien and instead looked straight at Zoé. She was smiling softly, almost knowingly as Marinette felt her eyes flicker once again to Adrien.

"He's spoken to you about me?"

"Not with words, no. Adrien has a way of expressing himself, and as much as he tries to be this carefree person unfazed by anything, his body has always given him away. To me at least."

Marinette understood. When Adrien was relaxed he was so much fun; smiles and happiness radiated off him in the immature way he sometimes allowed himself to be – whether he was giggling like a toddler playing laser tag, or spinning in circles praying he wasn't going to break his leg on the ice rink. She held back a giggle as she remembered some of the cursing from their night under the moon.

He caught her staring, lifting a hand to his mouth and blowing her a kiss. He hadn't shied away from expressing his emotions in front of everyone. Instead she felt he had a sense of pride to be with her, just something else to send her heart racing into orbit. They'd walked into the studio hand in hand, he'd hugged and kissed her whenever possible, proudly announcing his girlfriend had made him breakfast this morning to everyone else in there.

She thought she should be embarrassed, but seeing him so happy and feeling the love bloom out of him only made her feel more elated to be his.

Zoé was called back to the studio floor. Slowly standing, Marinette stretched a hand down to Zoé and helped her up.

"Maybe we could hang out sometime? Just the two of us, I'd like to get to know you more."

Zoé's eyes lit up. "I'd really like that, Marinette."

She watched her go before feeling an arm circling around her waist. "That was nice," Adrien said, pulling her into his side.

"It was," Marinette responded, leaning on him and not caring about the sweat dripping off his body.

They stood side by side as they watched Luka and Zoé dominate the studio floor and command everyone to watch them. The chemistry was undeniable between them, so much so there was a warmth in her stomach and butterflies swirling around her heart. They were mesmerising and wonderful. The perfect combination of love and lust in an impossible love story – one, which for them, was no more. She could watch them dance all day, glad to be able to see such beauty in her lifetime.

All of sudden the door to the studio slammed open and Gabriel stormed in. His face like thunder. He snapped his fingers together and ordered Sass to stop playing the piano, Zoé and Luka falling out of their last move and eyes on their choreographer.

Marinette noticed Alya and another couple of members of the corps de ballet stumble in behind him. Marinette quickly glanced at her friend for any indication of what was going on, and for the first time since they'd started at the school, the dancer was smiling, her eyes finally finding some life again. They'd done it! They'd actually done it. But obviously, Gabriel wasn't impressed.

Adrien had ventured out to the studio early that morning, just so his father wouldn't know the costume had been taken or altered, covering their tracks as best as possible.

"Adrien, Lila!" Gabriel shouted across the room before clicking to the Sass once again. It seemed Gabriel's anger strategy was the same as Adrien's – take it out on other people without the care for the aftermath.

Adrien slipped away from Marinette giving her a look which only seemed to increase her nerves. If Adrien was on edge this couldn't be good.

"I want to see the duet," Gabriel said. Adrien glanced over to Marinette before looking back to his father. "Both of them."

Everything inside of Marinette was telling her to get out of there. That this wasn't going to go the way either of them thought it would and as Adrien and Lila took their positions on the floor, she couldn't help but think she was right. The atmosphere had darkened and although Alya seemed happy and safe for the day, Marinette was almost certain the same couldn't be said for her.

*****

The moves flowed effortlessly with Lila, as always. They worked well together, both professional and skilled at their craft, but dancing with Lila was nothing like dancing with Marinette. This was just a selection of movements and a part they were playing — nothing here was real.

He moved through the motions lifting and positioning where he needed to, smiling at her the way the Cavalier should his Fairy Princess.

A glance in the mirror showed Marinette watching him, taking note of every step as she danced the choreography with him in her head, he closed his eyes briefly in a respite opening them to envision Marinette in Lila's place. The soft edges of her face glowing under the spotlights of the studio, the way she felt in his arms, her looks of determination and pride. Everything about her.

He'd told her numerous times how he had to pretend Lila was her to get through the routine, asking her time and time again to rehearse with him so he could picture her instead. Holding Marinette, supporting Marinette – Marinette, Marinette, Marinette.

Gabriel held his hand up, stopping the music and stepping forward.

"Perfection," he announced to the studio. "That is how a duet should look. Intense. Step perfect. Flawless."

The way his father had turned to Marinette, Adrien couldn't help but feel the shiver progress down his spine. There was something going on, something he didn't know about and he was sure he wouldn't like.

"Now, Adrien and Marinette."

Adrien stood still, watching as Marinette headed over to the centre of the studio.

"You're exhausted," she said, her eyes clouded with worry, as her hand caressed his cheek. She wasn't wrong.

"I won't let you down, Marinette." And he swore he wouldn't. The extra training he'd been having to do built his stamina and he was ready for whatever Gabriel could throw at him. His father would not be getting one up.

"I haven't got all day!" Gabriel scolded, his arms coming behind his back and face stern.

This was it. The moment of truth. Adrien signalled for Sass to start their variation of the famed song and they began to dance.

Their movements synchronised effortlessly, a seamless blend of practised precision and sheer passion as they wove through the dance routine with a grace that spoke of countless hours of dedication.

The chatter around the room grew silent, and as the music enveloped them, a subtle chemistry sparked between their glances, and every step became an intimate conversation, a silent declaration of emotions that transcended the choreography.

Like always, within the dance, they found a language of connection that whispered of a shared, tender intimacy. This was dancing. This was performing. This was being in love.

Adrien noticed how everyone was watching them, their eyes trailing every move as they waited to see what was next — Marinette finally getting seen for the true talent she was.

They danced their hearts out, every move full of power and precision, and even though he was tired from his previous routine with Lila, this wasn't straining at all. It was almost second nature and he was enjoying himself.

He moved away, the two performing their solo sections when something, or should he say someone caught his eye. It all happened in slow motion, yet far too quickly to stop. He watched as Lila reached up to her bun and pulled a pin out. Her eyes homed in on Marinette, a smug smirk on her face as she bent down.

As Lila slid the grip along the studio floor, Marinette's foot met it, causing her to slip over and fall onto the ground. Not at all delicate. Not at all choreographed and not at all to Gabriel Agreste's liking.

An audible gasp echoed around the room, Sass stopping instantly and Adrien's feet moving on their own accord towards her. He dropped to his knees next to her, wrapping an arm over her shoulders and cradling her head into his chest, defending her from the cruel and unkind remarks calling out around the studio.

"Adrien!"

He heard the tell-tale signs of a sob depart from Marinette's mouth and cuddled her closer, defending her more.

"Adrien!"

A sudden explosion of laughter echoed around the room. Lila and her cronies took pleasure in the fall as everyone was seemingly oblivious to Lila's foul play.

"Adrien!"

He looked at Marinette's friends next. Luka, Alya and Zoé each looked mortified by the fall, Alya covering her mouth as her eyes had blown wide open.

"Stand up at once, Adrien." He'd completely missed his father shouting to him. His attention was all on the girl in his arms – his girl. His father was positively red with rage, and it seemed they were about to take the wrath of whatever had originally pissed him off.

Slowly standing, Adrien supported Marinette and led her back to her full height, keeping his arms around her and body slightly in front. He was ready to defend at all costs.

"She slipped —"

"I can see that!" His father almost growled back. His father was turning more ferocious by the second, not even giving Adrien a chance to explain. "Off pointe too! I knew she'd never be the correct standard for this company."

"She didn't do anything wrong!" Adrien argued back, his hand gripping around her tighter.

"She didn't do much right either," Lila snickered, her group laughing along with her.

"Marinette, I think you're done here." Gabriel didn't even look at her as he signed her off. Adrien knew exactly what he had meant by it and from the way Luka had stepped forward, he did too.

"No!" Adrien demanded, leaning down and grabbing the hair pin from the floor. "This is the reason she fell. We've done it perfectly every single time, just ask Plagg!"

As Adrien turned to look in the direction where his mentor would usually be standing, it suddenly hit him that Plagg wasn't here and he was well and truly on his own.

"Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng, I believe your time with us is complete."

Turning on his heel, Gabriel marched out of the room and Adrien couldn't help but think even with a swooshing villain cape he couldn't be more evil.

Adrien gestured for Luka to come and take Marinette.

"Leave it Adrien! It's okay." Her soft voice did nothing to calm him, every inch of him was pumped with adrenaline and high on alert.

Even without saying anything she could read his mind. She knew what he was about to do, and this time she wouldn't talk him down. It was time he took the stance and stood up to his father. Plagg wasn't here to save him this time... but it wasn't him that needed saving. This was about Marinette. His beautiful, sweet Marinette, and his father could be damned if he thought he was going to manipulate things to his liking. Not anymore. Adrien had things to fight for now, and he was going to do it.

"I'll meet you all back at the dorms," Adrien told Luka, handing Marinette over to him.

"Adrien!" she hissed, but it wouldn't work this time.

The room began to clear out, Marinette remaining unmoving as Luka tried to guide her away.

"Trust me once more, please," Adrien begged.

Silence wrapped around them, as he knew she was considering her options. Finally, she exhaled and stepped forward, kissing him softly on his lips.

"Be safe!" She turned and walked away, Luka, Zoe and Alya huddled around her as she passed the gaggle of girls pointing and laughing.

Once the studio was clear of his girlfriend, he took his first step to freedom, and right into the face of Lila Rossi.

"I suggest you think about how you treat others, Lila. After all, it would be such a shame if you missed the gala on Friday."

The laughing came to a halt, Lila crossing her arms over her body as her face morphed into her real one.

"Are you threatening me, Adrien?"

He bent down to grab his drink and hoodie, shrugging as he stood up. "Nope, just giving you a friendly piece of advice, but that's what we are isn't it. Since you broke up with me during my mother's funeral – we're just friends now."

Not waiting for a reply, he began to walk out of the studio leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Nobody knew about the day Lila broke up with him, it was something he'd kept hidden out of shame, but this girl had none. And it was about time she had a taste of her own medicine.

As he reached the doorway, he was surprised to see someone blocking the exit. Someone who had always been there on the sidelines whenever he needed them. As selfish as Chloé could be, when it came to him she was all in.

"I'll meet you at the dorms, Adrikins. If you're taking your father and Lila down, I want in!"