The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

"Don't forget to read chapter one of the first volume of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by tomorrow everyone! Class dismissed!" finished M. Bernard, the new history teacher, as the boys filed out of the classroom. Nino and Adrien walked out together heading towards the stables, in the place where the Eiffel Tower would eventually stand.

"Hey Adrien, do you want to come over to my place and hang out? I just wrote a new song that I could play for you."

"I'd love to, but you know how my father is. He would be really upset if I didn't come straight home, unless I texted him or something."

"Tech-stead? What is that?"

"What? Oh, I guess it's a kind of fast carrier pigeon. I just don't have it with me." He chuckled nervously, hoping Nino wouldn't notice, before he reached the back door of the stable and pulled it open to reveal a musty yet cheerful room. Sunlight filtered in through the roof and landed on piles of straw. Young boys were busy grooming and saddling up the horses, trying to finish before the after school rush came through. Nino's horse was already saddled and waiting in his stall.

"Are you ready to go M. Lahiffe?" asked a small boy of about ten.

"Yes, thank you, Jacques. Adrien, are you sure that you can't come over? It shouldn't be that big of a deal."

"Yes, I'm sorry Nino. If I am late getting home my father will be positively livid. How about I ask him if I can come over tomorrow? I'd really like to hear your new song."

"Sure! That sounds great!" Jacques came back leading a tall black horse.

"I still can't believe that we named our horses Lightning and Thunder. I mean really? How cheesy was that!"

"Hey! It was a great idea! Plus, you said you liked it!"

"Whatever. See you tomorrow. I need to saddle Lightning up and get home before my dad gets upset."

"Alright. See you tomorrow, dude!" With this Nino rode off and Adrien turned to go saddle up Lightning. He had told the grooms that he wanted to be the one to saddle up his horse so that they had a better relationship. As he entered, Plagg popped out and looked around.

"Did I hear someone say something about cheese? I'm starving!"

"Really, Plagg? Enough with the cheese already!"

Lightning was a large white horse with big gentle eyes. He was apparently of champion lineage, given to Adrien because his father wanted him to appear in and on nothing but the best. Adrien picked up a firm brush and began his work. He began to hum as he swiftly worked his way across the horse's body, and in response Lightning snorted with delight. Plagg had snuggled into the horse's mane, and with the sudden movement he tumbled into the air.

"Hey! Watch what you're doing, horse!"

Adrien chuckled and pulled the saddle onto the broad white back, pulling it tight, "Plagg, you don't ever worry about anyone but yourself and your precious cheese, do you?"

"Yes, I do! But... just not very often. Speaking of cheese, do you have any?"

"Fine, Plagg. Here you go. Now let's get home." Adrien handed Plagg the putrid cheese with a grimace, then mounting Lightning and heading home.

Adrien entered his room, took his riding gloves off, and began to do his homework. Plagg floated around the room inspecting everything, much like on the first day Adrien had him, until he finally looked out the window and saw a figure in black pulling herself up onto one of the towers of a nearby building and instantly called his chosen's attention to it. Adrien stood up quickly and, having no idea what it could be, called for his transformation.

Moments later, a newly clad Chat Noir was edging his way around the Bastille tower and began to climb the tower that the mysterious figure was on. He slowly and quietly tried to extend his pole, but when he had almost reached the top it scraped across the stone and made a loud noise. Knowing that he would have been heard, he flung himself up and landed in a fighting pose before the figure could run away. Instantly he dropped his pose as well as his jaw. Standing before him was his lady, in all of her glory.