Curse of the Black Cat (Miraculous Ladybug)

P a r t 1

(CHAT NOIR'S POV)

"Pound it!"

My fist collided with Ladybug's as we congratulated each other over our latest victory. Her bluebell eyes glinted back at me, and I couldn't help my smile. Whenever she was happy, I was happy.

"Bye, Kitty!" she called, playfully saluting to me as she raced off and swung away on her yo-yo.

"Bye, m'lady," I said softly, waving to where she'd just been, then turned and propelled myself off the ground with my baton. Winds rushed in my face as I made my way home over top the buildings of my beautiful city. As soon as I landed on the floor of my room through the tall, narrow window, I announced, "Claws in," which triggered my miraculous' deactivation. The black suit vanished, leaving my kwami Plagg floating beside me. Since I was used to it, I expected him to immediately start complaining and begging for camembert, but this time he stayed quiet. His brilliant green cat eyes were unusually wide with fear.

"Hallow's Eve," he whispered. "It's Hallow's Eve."

"Yeah," I replied, a little confused. "You know we usually just call it Halloween, right?"

"Hallow's Eve," he murmured again. "The curse . . ."

"'Curse'?" I echoed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Hallow's Eve," he repeated. The little cat kwami stared up at me in terror. "Don't transform," he ordered abruptly. "Whatever you do, don't transform until it's over."

". . . What?" I frowned, more puzzled then ever. "But what if someone's akumatized?"

"Don't transform!" Plagg insisted. "Just don't!"

I paused, then shrugged despite my bewilderment. "I probably won't have to. My class is having a Halloween party at the park this evening." Suddenly I gasped as something hit me in realization. "The party!" I exclaimed. "I forgot to ask Father if I can go!"

Plagg just shook his head slightly and floated off towards my bed. I muttered, "Be right back," and raced out my door, heading for my father's room. I hesitated at the door and knocked formally, though the familiar bitterness at the fact that I had to make an appointment in order to talk with my own father stung pretty badly.

"Yes?" Gabriel's voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open a little and stepped inside. My dad was standing at his computer tapping around the screen. He barely glanced over when I appeared in his sight.

"Adrien." His tone sounded brief and mildly interested, but also more like he was simply acknowledging my being there. "What is it?"

He didn't even call me 'son.'

I suppressed a disappointed sigh, then said nervously, "Father, my friends are holding a Halloween party at the park tonight, so I wanted to ask you if I could go . . . ?" As I spoke I fidgeted worriedly with my fingers, terrified he would refuse for the hundredth time, and I would have to disappoint my friends once again.

He paused in his work momentarily and glanced at me. The look in his dark blue eyes was unreadable. I stared back anxiously.

"You can go," he said at last, and the relief that surged through me was so intense that I felt weak. "Just keep in contact with your guard or Nathalie, and be back by at least eleven."

"Thank you, Father!" I blurted out, incredulous that he'd agreed so quickly. He nodded and resumed his work, and I turned and raced out of the room back to mine to find a costume.

"Plagg, he said yes!" I declared happily as soon as my door was closed. Guiltily looking back on it, I didn't even register that he just stared at me in response, near trembling. I was half-tempted to dress up as Chat Noir, but didn't want to risk my identity and freedom, so I chose something different — a grim reaper minus the scythe, since I didn't have that part. Once I was set, I called for my kwami, just in case, and headed out the door after filling Nathalie in. The whole walking trip to the park, I couldn't disguise my ecstacy. I even texted Nino with, Je peux y aller!

My father had finally let me enjoy time with just my friends. A party with all of them together dressed up as ridiculously awesome weirdos in a public place just having fun with each other sounded like the most fun idea ever. This night would be epic!