LadyBug: hey, chatnoir, i was thinking we could do an episode based on the prince coming to paris. opinion?

The message taunts Adrien all day. Yes, he wants to reply. Yes, definitely do an episode based on Prince Ali coming to Paris. I would love to help you. I'd love to sit in my room and draw with you, m'lady.

Unfortunately, Adrien can't do any of these things, considering he's about to meet Prince Ali in person.

Oh, how he'd love to draw him instead.

"Mr. Agreste?"

One of the hotel staff opens the door. Adrien knows he's actually speaking to Gabriel, whose face is on a screen in Nathalie's hands.

"See us through," Gabriel says. The staff member nods, and they enter. The interview with Nadja Chamack has clearly just ended, because she and her crew are packing up.

"It's a delight to have you here," Mr. Bourgeois is saying to the prince. "An absolute delight. I hear you're running a toy drive for the Children's Hospital?"

"I am," Prince Ali replies. He's barely older than Adrien himself. "I would like to help everyone in every way that I can."

Behind her dad, Chloe starts making goo-goo eyes at the prince. Adrien feels bad for him, but he's laughing inside. Chloe could do with a bit of "help everyone in every way".

"We've arranged for you to meet some of the most prestigious people in Paris," says a woman that Adrien assumes is Prince Ali's assistant/guardian while he's in Paris. "This is Gabriel Agreste, owner of the worldwide successful brand Gabriel, and his son Adrien."

Prince Ali turns to look at Adrien and Gabriel. Occupied by Mayor Bourgeois, he clearly hadn't noticed them enter the room.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Agreste," he says. "I was born into royalty, and so I have the utmost respect for you as you have made yourself a role model on your own merit."

Adrien has never heard anyone refer to Gabriel as a role model, but maybe that's simply because he wasn't listening. Marinette designs clothes, maybe she'd consider Gabriel a role model. It's strange, to think his dad inspires people when Adrien feels so down in his presence.

"It is nice to meet you too, Prince," Gabriel says, but you didn't need to be his son to know the words were hollow. Gabriel doesn't care about Prince Ali from Achu. He's doing it because it would be considered rude to refuse. "I'm sure you and Adrien will get along splendidly."

Adrien groans quietly to himself. Now Gabriel's said it, he'll have to become friends and spend time with Prince Ali, when he really just wants to go home and draw with LadyBug.

"A pleasure to meet you too, Adrien," Prince Ali says.

"And you," Adrien replies. "Are you enjoying your stay in Paris?"

He doesn't care. He just wants to go home and draw.

"Most definitely!" Prince Ali says. "You live in a beautiful city."

"Hey, Adrien!"

Adrien's shocked. Chloe didn't use any of her pet names. Maybe because she's trying to win over Prince Ali's favour. It'll be a nice change.

"Hey, Chloe," Adrien says. Prince Ali looks surprised.

"You two are friends?"

"Since childhood," Adrien admits. "We're in the same class at school, too."

"We'll leave you to get acquainted, Adrien," Nathalie says, and takes Gabriel out of the room. Gorilla stays in the room, but hangs around near the door.

"You attend school?" Prince Ali says. "What is it like? I would love to attend school!"

And in that moment, seeing the wishful look in Ali's eyes, Adrien suddenly realises that maybe the two of them aren't so different. That maybe Ali is like him, just a lonely boy who goes places to please his parents and just wants to be a normal boy.

"It took a long time to convince my dad to let me go," Adrien says. "But it's worth it. You're in a class of fifteen to twenty kids your own age, and the teachers are really nice."

They spend the next half hour describing school life to the Prince, and Adrien is pleasantly surprised to find him to be much nicer than he'd expected. It's just gone noon when Mr. Bourgeois comes in.

"The toy drive is beginning!" he says. "Come, come!"

Adrien, Ali and Chloe (who is still trying to flirt with Ali), all file into Mr. Bourgeois' car. Gorilla isn't happy about this, as he isn't allowed in the car, but he drives behind them. They arrive at the hospital just before the toys do. Thousands of people, all driving up and parking to donate a few toys to the hospital. Ali stands at the front of the line, and thanks every person as they donate.

"Rose, are you sure...?"

"Yes!"

Adrien grins at the familiar voices. Juleka and Rose, in the line. Rose is holding what looks like three bin bags full of toys, and Juleka's holding another. Adrien can place the exact moment that Rose sees Ali. He can't hear what she says to Juleka, but he can guess.

"Hey, Rose," Adrien says, as she reaches the front of the line. Face-to-face with her idol, Rose can't help but go pink. "Ali, this is Rose and Juleka from school."

"It's a delight to meet you," Ali says. "Especially since you are making such a large donation! Thank you!"

Rose goes even pinker as Ali takes one of the bags from her.

"It's no trouble. I'd just like you to know that, um, you're a huge inspiration. You're my age and hosting this huge event, and, um..."

Rose's voice gets quieter and quieter until she just stops speaking. Ali beams.

"Thank you, Rose. It's very kind of you to say that. Would you and Juleka like to help us take the toys?"

Adrien grins as Rose nods.

"I've got to go home," Juleka says. "Have fun, Rose."

"I probably ought to be heading off too," Adrien says. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Ali."

"And you, Adrien," Ali says. Adrien winks at Rose as he and Juleka leave.

"That was really nice of you, Adrien," Juleka says. Adrien shrugs.

"Least I could do, to be honest. Hey, I'm ready to go home now."

Juleka starts walking home, and Adrien marvels that she and Rose carried all those bags by hand from their homes. Gorilla drives Adrien home, and it's only when he's back in his bedroom that he remembers LadyBug's message.

LadyBug: hey, chatnoir, i was thinking we could do an episode based on the prince coming to paris. opinion?

ChatNoir: definitely. sorry about the delay, i was at the toy drive. there was this blonde girl who was invited to help prince ali with the donations, maybe we could base it on her?

LadyBug agrees, and he spends the rest of the day helping her to draw the comic. And, just as a special touch, he makes sure that Ali says that meeting Rose in the comic was "a delight."

[A/N: What do you guys consider "too many chapters to dump on Wattpad in one go"? I've always thought more than three is about too many, but I've written, without spoilers, a LOT more chapters. How many do you want me to dump on here in one go?]