"That's true," Marinette replied with a shrug. She didn't care if her dad got angry about making a new friend while she was grounded. "Let me at least walk you out." She took him down the front the gate of the palace. The rain was starting to ease up. "Well, good night. Will I see you tomorrow? I'll most likely be on the beach."

"I'm doing stuff with my parents tomorrow, but I'll come looking if I have any free time. You shouldn't be hard to find," he said with a smile. "Good night."

He left the palace and headed back toward the beach being extra careful not to go on the black rock that had almost gotten him killed earlier. He was glad he remembered the way back since he had been focused on following Marinette.

He entered his cave and glanced around to make extra sure no one was there before sitting on a rock and letting the transformation end. It was nice to have his tail back after being with legs for so long. "That was great," he said as he pushed himself into the water.

"You almost got hit by a car," Plagg muttered in annoyance.

Adrien ignored him and dove under the water. He didn't need to hear about how stupid his first moments in town had been. He could hear Plagg grumbling as he followed behind him.

He told Plagg to shush as he arrived at the palace and tried to sneak in through a window near his room.

"And where do you think you're going?" said a voice and grabbed by the fin. It was his mother Queen Iris. She had a smirk on her face. "Care to explain to your mother how you were able to get legs and spend your day with a princess?"

Adrien's eyes widened as he was caught red handed. It had only been one day. How did he get caught so quickly? Was he really that bad at this? "I have no idea what you're talking about. I was swimming around all day," he tried to play dumb a little too late after pausing to think.

Iris just laughed and let go of his fin. "Don't you dare lie to your mother. I was wondering where you were today. I know you human watch so, when I peaked out of the ocean I saw you with Marinette. How did you meet her?"

Adrien stared at her for a moment. How did she know Marinette? Should he tell her? He couldn't lie since she had already seen him.  Well, she already knew too much. Hopefully, telling the truth about the ring would be okay...  "I saved an old merman from a shark and he gave me a magic ring that can change me into a human for up to a day."

"Oh wow!" Iris was at awe. She wondered how this merman was capable of such powers.  She then frowned. Her son took something from a stranger. A stranger with magical powers."Adrien, are you sure you can trust his powers? Merfolk like him can be fishy."

Adrien shrugged. "He seemed harmless. Besides, I tried to tell him no and he insisted. The ring works really well."  He held up his hand so she could see the magical item. "It has a magical guide, too."

At this, Plagg showed himself, a look of exasperation on his face. "You know, the first thing about magical items is they're supposed to be a secret," he muttered.

"Aww a mercat! He's so cute!" she scratch Plagg's head. "Now let's go talk in your room. We have a lot to discuss." Iris swam off and Adrien followed right behind her. She closed the door behind them, when they got to his room. "Adrien, I think it's great that you're able to go to the surface. I promise I won't tell your father."

"Really?  Thank you!  Father would be so mad if he knew what I was doing." Adrien said, excitedly.  Not that he thought his mom would try to get him in trouble with his father. "So, how do you know Marinette?"

"I was hoping you would ask! I always thought it was stupid that your father never wanted you to learn about the old alliance." Iris sat down on his bed. "When both of the kingdoms were united, your father and I would visit the royal family. We would also vacation there before you born. I wanted to take you with us so you could meet Marinette, but your father was against it. He said you could come, when you were teenager." she rolled her eyes. "He said you were too naive for the human world. Anyway. I have met Marinette numerous times, but she had no idea about your father and I being merfolk. She went to a normal school and her father was afraid that she would tell her classmates about us. Kids will blab anything after all. So we all decided she would find out, when you were allowed to come." Iris sighed. "Then her mother died from a boating accident. Her father blamed us and of course your father broke the alliance and distrusted humans ever since."

Adrien stared at his mother as the information sank in. So, there was the answer he'd been wondering about. He wondered what it would have been like if he met Marinette when they were kids. She would have known him when he came to the surface. Would he have been more careful or would he have forgotten or not cared?

He was pulled out of his thoughts at the sound of Plagg's laughter. "Oh boy, I think your husband knows this kid extremely well. The first thing he did when he went into the town was investigate the road and almost get hit by a car. I'd say that's naive enough for him not to go to the surface as a kid."

"You almost got hit by car!?" Iris nearly yelled. "Adrien, I understand you don't know what cars are, but use some common sense. Study your surroundings do as the humans do." she got up from the bed. "Well it's bed time. You had a long day. Tomorrow I will teach some human basics." she paused for a moment. If he almost got hit by a car.." I will also teach you how to swim as a human. Good night." She left the room.

Adrien wanted to protest, but his mother was already gone. There were humans crossing the road (as Plagg called it). That had to mean it wasn't completely off limits. Right? He shook his head. Okay, arguing about it in his mind was stupid.

"Why'd you have to tell her that?" He asked, accusingly.

"Why not. Now she's going to help you. Be happy you'll actually learn something. Oh, and get me some of that gross sea cheese. I'm really hungry," Plagg answered.

Adrien sighed and went to get the food. He grabbed a few other things, thinking maybe the kwami would be satisfied with something else, and headed back to his room. He handed the food off to Plagg before going to bed.

The next morning Iris entered a secret room. Gabe was off in a meeting so it was easy for her sneak in without getting caught by him. She opened a safe and pulled out a bracelet which would give her the powers to turn into a human. She used this during the alliance. She shut the safe close. Iris would have gave this to Adrien, but Gabe would notice it missing. She was positive he checked on his magical items often. Plus Adrien's magical ring was amusing. Plagg seem like an intersting character. She hoped they would become friends.

Iris left the room and went straight to Adrien's room. She came on in. "Get up sleepy head! You're father is away for the day so we can start on those swim lessons!"