Finding The Perfect Harmony

A Partnership Made

The battle which occurred last night, was all the students could talk about in class. Alya, the owner of the Ladyblog had somehow manage to get the footage and posted it. What she didn't think about was editing out Dalia from it since it caused the girl to be the center of concern from other students and teasing from Chloe.

"Not so tough and strong are you now boy-girl! You were so weak to be akumatized by Shadowmoth and you dared to threaten me! Ha!", Chloe teased Dalia at her seat across from Lila.

"Chloe, leave Dalia alone, we all have at least once been akumatized even you. So does that mean you're weak too?", said Lila very sweetly.

"Ugh! Whatever!", Chloe said fuming in her seat.

"It's very nice of you to stand up for Dalia, Lila. And Chloe, please stop or you'll be hearing from the principal. Like what Lila said, all of us weren't strong enough to resist Shadowmoth's power especially you, Chloe", Mme. Bustier kindly spoke to her and the entire class.

'Not everyone has been akumatized', Marinette and Adrien thought.

"Now class, I'm about to begin today's session so please take out your tablets and I'll walk around to see what you wrote inspired by yesterday's class on limericks."

Classes went as per usual but a thorn in Dalia's path appeared. Lila.

"So new girl, I'm not like Chloe who demands your respect since I'll be making it easier for you to comply. You seem smart so fall in line", the Italian whispered in her ears.

"Looks like the same thing is to be said to you. I'm very aware of your partnership with Shadowmoth. Yeah I do research before I feast. So this is how it will work, you get me in touch with your partner while I get your lost sheep back, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Sounds fair?", Dalia proposed to the astonished girl.

"It's fair. One question, what did you mean by 'feast', dear Dalia", Lila said sweetly but sickly.

Dalia grabbed the girl by her chest and lifted her off the ground. Fortunately for her, they were in an alleyway next to the school so nobody heard nor saw them.

"Listen to me, Lie-la. What you are experiencing is a fraction of what I meant. IF you back out of this or slip something, your illnesses will be real. Got that?", the tomboy sneered. She released her hold and caused Lila to stumble to the ground. Dalia left her there and went to her next class.

Lila upheld part of her end of the deal which was similar to what she puts Marinette through to Dalia. After their third class for the day, Marinette went to talk to Dalia afterwards.

"Hey Dalia, I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees through Lila's lies", Mari told her.

"Yeah, at my old school, I had to deal with people like her which caused me to come here. I thought I would have escaped that here but nope", Dalia groaned.

"Do you want to come over and try some of my dad's new macaroon recipes at my parents' bakery?", the girl offered smiling.

'Perfect.' "Sure but I have to get my sister first, she's at my aunt's place", Dalia replied.

After school called, Dalia, Alya and Marinette made their way out of the school. That's when they saw Luka walking to them.

"Hey Alya, Mari... and Dalia", he greeted.

"Wait how do you know Dalia, Luka?", Alya questioned.

"I actually met her yesterday in one of the empty classrooms playing her violin."

"So that's where you went. Juleka was asking yesterday if we knew where you'd gone", Marinette answered.

"Yep, I actually thought he was a stalker since he was the first person I met in school and he somehow came into the same room as me", Dalia giggled.

"Yeah and we actually stayed behind in school, talking away and didn't even realize that it was so late last night", Luka said as he chuckled. "So Dalia, did you look at the symphony by Vivaldi?"

"Yes I did and thanks for referring him to me. I love the melody in it and how it just seems so magical", the girl replied. "I was also thinking about the duet you proposed to do with me. I think..."

"So what brings you here, Luka? Are you taking Juleka home again?", Alya asked interrupting the two teens' conversation.

"Oh um, after not bringing Juleka home and Rose did, Mom decided that I won't be dropping or picking her up. Plus I wanted to make sure Dalia was ok after what happened yesterday", Luka responded.

"Well thanks for checking up on me Luka and I'll text my answer to you later. Right now I'm going to Marinette's bakery to try some of her dad's new macaroon recipes", Dalia answered him.

"Oh! Before I forget, I have something for you", he said as he took out a charm that looked like a quaver (musical note) which had the word 'Harmony' engraved in it.

"This is beautiful Luka! Thank you, I'll put it next to my violin charm", she said smiling.

'I never got something like that from Luka...', Marinette thought feeling a little sad.

Luka's phone rings in his pocket and told the girls goodbye as he took the phone call. Dalia, Alya and Marinette walked to pick up Ada and headed back to the Dupain-Cheng bakery. Inside the bakery, Marinette's father, Tom was making the pastries whilst his wife, Sabine, Marinette's mother was at the cash register.

"Hi sweetheart! How was school today and who are your new friends?", Sabine asked her daughter after attending to a customer.

"School was fine Mom and this is Dalia and her little sister, Ada", Marinette replied. Ada immediately went to check out the pastries and cakes in the display.

"I want all of them!", the little girl exclaimed happily pointing to the display.

"That's the biggest order I've ever heard", Marinette's dad said after putting the goods in the oven. They all laughed at his comment and soon got to tasting his new recipes for macaroons.

"Yum! Mr. Dupain, this banana and strawberry macaroon is the bomb!", Alya said savouring her dessert.

"I think this blueberry and blackberry combo is better. Do you have any names for them yet?", Dalia said as she took another one.

"Nope, but it sounds like you girls have some ideas for names", Mr. Dupain said happily.

Indeed the girls did, Alya named the banana and strawberry macaroon "Sundae Delight", Marinette named the raspberry and pistachio macaroon "Unique Unity", Dalia named the blueberry and blackberry macaroon "Melody's Sound" and Ada named the vanilla and chocolate macaroon "Ada".

"You can't name someone else's dessert after you Ada", Dalia said playfully when her sister named it.

"It's fine, but I'll need to tweak the name a bit. How about 'Adalynn's Touch?'", Mr. Dupain proposed to Ada.

"I like it!"

"Perfect, well I guess you would want some to show father right?", Dalia asked her. Ada nodded in response smiling at her.

"I'll make a batch tomorrow and you girls can pass by to pick it up."

"Thanks Mr. Dupain for letting us taste them and if possible could you squeeze me in for a batch as well?", Alya sheepishly asked.

"It was nice meeting you all but Ada and I have to go now. Bye!", Dalia said as they both left. Alya had stayed back to help Marinette clean up with her parents.

At the Rodriguez household, there was a parcel addressed to Dalia. The girl picked it up and opened it once her sister was settled.

'What is it Dalia?', Aargus asked as she perched herself on Dalia's shoulder.

"It's from Luka", she answered. The parcel contained a letter and a necklace with a treble clef pendant.

The letter said, 'Hey Dalia, you're a pretty cool girl and I wanted to give you something more special. I know we've only met each other yesterday but I feel like I've known you for longer. It's good to know someone is passionate about music like me. By the way, the charm I gave you earlier is suppose to go with the necklace. Wherever you put it, doesn't matter to me. Tell Ada I said hi.'

From your new friend, Luka.

"Thanks Luka", Dalia said softly, feeling butterflies in her stomach after reading the letter.