"I will be on my way now. Good evening Mother, Father." The black clad child rose from the dining table, wiping his mouth gently with a white napkin before rising from the table with his dishes in hand. He put them in the sink and walked towards his younger brother, Denis, who was sitting at the table, still fiddling around with his spaghetti, poking around it with a fork while laughing. He looked nearly like a replica of Daniel, only younger and playful. Daniel is very strict and exhibits professionalism, he has since his brother was born six years ago. However, Denis was definitely lively and frolicsome.
"As for you, young one, get some sleep, it's half past seven and you still need to clean up." Daniel wiped the boy's face off and patted his head, only to realize he was wearing a certain bracelet. "And do not go into my room. What have I been telling you?" He snatched the bracelet back and put it in his pocket, leaving Denis dejected.
"Now now, Daniel. No need to snap at your brother." His mother also stood up, collecting the remaining dishes and washing them in the sink.
"I know, Mother. I am just, erm, protective, I suppose. I'd prefer something not to be misplaced or taken." Daniel patted his brother's head once more. "Good night all of you. I will be attending to some extra curricular work." Daniel walked out and back into his bedroom where he sat at his desk boringly.
"Daniel, I know you are protective of your identity, but there is no need to be so irritated towards your family, especially Denis. You know feelings can be fragile at such a young age." Nooroo flew out from the drawer of his desk, sitting on top of it with his legs crossed.
"I know, I know, and why were you listening in?"
"Well, I went to see if your family was all done with dinner so I could sneak and get more food, but it turns out you all were just putting away the dishes, so I decided to wait and hear everything out. My comment is just a suggestion, however."
"I thought I provided enough food to last you until tomorrow morning." Daniel crossed his arms, Nooroo just sat chuckling.
"I guess I was a bit hungrier than usual!"
"Okay, I will get you some more lettuce, I suppose." Daniel tore off a few more pieces of lettuce and snuck back to his room. If his parents caught him, then he would have to explain his 'new found lettuce addiction.'
After feeding the kwami, he changed into his pajamas and sat on his bed, grabbing a French translation of the book War & Peace on the way back. "What is this story about?" Nooroo flew around to catch a glimpse of the words. Daniel was about a quarter way through it so far.
"Well it is quite a complicated Russian novel, but right now there is a war going on out there somewhere, it takes place in the year 1812, the war is most likely in the west."
"Well this seems entertaining, I may go through it while you are at school!"
"Very well, but I do have a question."
"Yes, Master?"
"While Denis was in my room, he could have stumbled into my closet at any time to be bombarded with butterflies, correct?" Nooroo nodded and took a seat on top of the book Daniel has open. "So I was thinking that we should most likely be based somewhere else, and I know a spot, no one ever goes there."
"I am just afraid you will be in the wrong place at the wrong time." The kwami frowned.
"I am aware, but if I am always at school, and the place I speak of is down the street from it, I believe it would be more beneficial than not."
"Then it is set, we shall inspect it tomorrow after school, I hope this decision will be favorable." Daniel remained on his bed, picking up at where he stopped in his book.
"Alright, Victor, I haven't heard much from you tonight, care to share any thoughts?" Ms. Moreau asked as Victor was just about to put down a mug of tea. "Or are you just the quiet type?"
"Well," Victor stopped to clear his throat, his voice low and exhibiting slight apprehension. "You could say I am the quiet type, I suppose." He shrugged and took another sip of tea slowly and gently.
"That is why I usually talk for him, though I prefer him to speak words directly from his mind, not mine." Nicolas added between gulps of his drink. "I wish he hadn't changed from before." This statement earned a glare from Victor, him knowing that an explanation will be asked for.
"So I see that you three have some tension between each other! I will just be in the kitchen over there. Do you two boys want dinner?" Ms. Moreau once again offered.
"Oh, my aunt is preparing something for my family, so we will be leaving in a few minutes." Nicolas replied.
"Whatever you say, I will just give you three a bit of privacy before you leave."
"Changed from before?" Celestine whisper yelled, knowing her mother would still be attempting to listen in to the conversation. She began coughing from the roughness of her voice combined with the cold she was beginning to get. "What do you mean, Nicolas?" Disquiet was heard from her voice.
Understanding that Celestine knew to whisper due to the circumstances, Nicolas responded whispering as well. "He used to be well known, around the time you got switched into our classes. He was outgoing until Genevieve took advantage. He said things to close people that he regrets, and it was all part of Genevieve's plan to get more popularity. Now he prefers not to talk at all." Victor punched Nicolas in anger and gave him a scowl, meanwhile Celestine just gasped in guilt. "Don't blame me Vic, she had to find out soon enough. If we all want a decent friendship, we shouldn't keep something from her."
"I am sorry." This was all Celestine could muster up to say through all of the thoughts she processed in this moment. She was the reason Genevieve went crazy for power in the first place, and she was so unaware that people, innocent peers, were dragged into the problem, and she caused issues outside of the fight. She felt like she was the one responsible for Victor's change, for his attitude, for his life making a turn. "This is all my fault."
"No, Celestine, don't blame yourself for it." Victor patted on her shoulder from across the table. "You aren't the one who used me."
"But I was the one who caused her to feel like she needed more, and then she used you, it is a chain reaction I began."
"Genevieve is a leech, she grabs hold for anything she can find and sucks the life out of it. You are the opposite, helping everyone in need that you can find. If not you, it could have been anyone else she was competing with that caused her to create this deadly game of chess." Nicolas pointed out, eliciting a small grin from the girl. "It is nice if we all open up to each other, it helps us all group closer moment by moment."
"Come on Nic, we do not want to keep your aunt waiting. But thank you for the hospitality, Celestine. We are glad for you to have us tonight." Victor nudged as the three stood up. After a quick sneeze, Celestine lead the way to the door and walked the boys outside. "Good evening, Celestine." Nicolas bowed down in front of her, holding out one of his hands in the process to accentuate his gesture. Victor, on the other hand, shook her hand like a normal person, and the two walked off.
As the doors to the school opened, about thirty minutes before classes began, Vincent and Genevieve were already running towards each other and stopped as they were about to collide.
"Great news!"
"Terrible news!"
"Terrible news? What happened, Vincent?" Genevieve inquired, knowing she had made progress in the plan over the past day and night.
"We need to hurry up with the plan, we have a better opportunity today, word is coming around that Celestine is not attending school today, I overheard her two sidekicks mentioning it on the way here."
"So you're suggesting I tell her followers to join me today during lunch?"
"Indeed, and it wouldn't be so hard, we just need to be convincing. She will come back to nothing!"
Genevieve was eager to continue to the next phase, but was unsure of everything moving so quickly. "Are you sure about this? We wouldn't want to rush everything to the point where domination seems obvious."
"One hundred percent." Vincent smirked and gestured for her to walk through the doors of the school to head to their classes. "And what was the good news you mentioned before?"
"Forget about it, we need to figure out this whole plan against Celestine now when we have the chance. How do I approach her group?"
"Try to see her lunch table and if they congregate there, that would be a start. Just go there and prove to yourself that you have changed and want to make more friends. Do some kind gestures and improvise, it won't be too hard considering Celestine isn't even here."
"Got it, and if it fails?"
"Then we go with your plan B, whatever you mentioned earlier."
"Perfect, but I do not necessarily believe you would agree with it." Genevieve tapped a finger on her chin.
"Why wouldn't I? And would you mind telling me what it is?"
"I will tell you if it comes to those measures. Now let's go to class, shall we?"
Following the morning classes, their sinister scheme was to be commenced. By then, Nicolas and Victor looked over to see Genevieve and Vincent bickering about their own problems, and the students were constantly flowing out of the school. Victor noticed that every now and then, Genevieve would smile and wave to a student who was not well acquainted with her. After a few more minutes, Victor picked up on her little trick.
Genevieve decided to rise up from the step she was sitting on and went to a group of students that formed in the courtyard, beginning her speech. Trying to blend in, Victor grabbed Nicolas' wrist and dragged him into the group so they could see everything she's trying to say. They knelt down so they wouldn't be seen directly by Genevieve.
"... and this is why I want to ask for all of your forgiveness. I do promise to adjust my attitude and be acquainted with all of you!" Genevieve was actually quite convincing, but Victor knew what was up, considering their conversation from yesterday.
"Nic," he whispered while kneeling down with his friend, "We need to do something, fast!" Nicolas simply nodded and played along.
"How do we know you're not faking this?" Nicolas popped up from the ground and asked dumbly, then began looking around in a coy fashion once people looked back to see who had just questioned the speaker.
Unknowing of who had yelped that statement, Genevieve just tried to think of a 'genuine' reply. "Trust is a concept that friends should bring upon each other, and that is what I am trying to speak about today. I trust you all enough to give out my friendship and share kindness, so I want you all trust me on my decision to change as a person. Please, give me this chance."
Thinking about Nicolas' concept from earlier, Victor decided to yell out as well, this time not hiding himself from the others. "But I don't think we should be giving trust to a gal who is suddenly pulling this shtick when her number one opponent isn't here." This caused Genevieve to glare at him, her face turning red in anger as Victor was getting in the way of her plans again.
Foolishly mimicking some type of feminine voice, Nicolas once again spoke out. "That other guy has a point!"
"Then I shall prove myself!" Genevieve crossed her arms and looked around the courtyard only to find an old oriental man struggling to find his cane on the ground. She ran towards him and smiled. "Here you go, sir." She handed him the cane and graciously helped him up.
"Thank you, young lady."
"Of course. Do you need me to walk you home or anything of the sorts? It may be on my way, I live only two houses down after making the second left and-"
"No worries, I can make my way back myself. Many thanks go to you." He put his palms together while holding his cane on his arm, then continued on satisfied.
Once he was out of sight, Genevieve found her way back into the crowd and was once again in the center of attention. "I did that to prove to you all that I am worth your friendship, worth your time, so I am once again asking for your forgiveness."
"Yup, still not buying it. Maybe next time, Genevieve." Nicolas whistled and walked away from the crowd with Victor, some of the crowd following behind them.
"How do you do that?" Victor whispered, still skittish following the whole situation.
"Do what?" Nicolas inquired.
"Speak up and against one of the top people in our school's social hierarchy. Duh."
"It is not really how you do it, but whether or not you choose to."
"Nic, use real words and phrases, please."
Nicolas stopped in his tracks and turned to his friend. By now, the crowd had dispersed throughout the school and outside. "There is no science to it, it is just the choice on whether or not you want to do it. Just get up and say what you need to say." He smiled and patted Victor's back, then continued down the hallways to wait for their next class.
Meanwhile, Genevieve and Vincent were still at their place, sitting on a step. "Urgh!" Genevieve grunted as she angrily crosses her arms, the remaining group eventually dissipating. "This isn't fair! Celestine is still better than me and she is not even here!" She mocked a sob.
"Do not fret, we can still conduct that backup plan, whatever it was." Vincent gave her a side hug and was pushed away shortly after as Genevieve buried her face in her palms. "Mind telling me now?"
Coming to realization that the new scheme had to come into play as realistically as possible, Genevieve whispered the words, "Go with it, don't talk to me until after school in front of the abandoned building down the street, got it?"
"Yes, but I don't understand the whole-"
"I KNEW IT!" She popped up and screamed, grasping everyone's attention.
"What are you talking about!?" Vincent stood up in a stance.
"How you do actually love Celestine, that is why you have been sabotaging me the whole time, for heaven sakes just keep your composure!"
"Since when have I even mentioned her once, I was just saying-"
"Cut the act, blondie. Don't pretend like I don't know what has actually been going on here." She sashayed away with a few other girls and Vincent was both confused, but on the same track. He huffed and walked in the other direction for the remainder of the day.
After school, confusion was the only feeling Nicolas and Victor could experience after word about Vincent and Genevieve's fight began to go around. The two had stuck together like glue for as long as anyone could remember, creating their little shenanigans since day one. Something as drastic as this made it especially difficult to tell whether or not this was some elaborate scheme on their agenda.
Being a former victim of Genevieve, it would normally be easy for Victor to identify whether or not she was actually lying about a certain situation, but he wasn't completely sure this time. How exactly would Vincent being in love with Celestine benefit Genevieve at all, even if it were just a plan? Vincent and Genevieve being against each other, even if it were staged, would not really have any type of goal, unless one of them were to try to get closer to the friend group. It would do more damage than good for their side.
The only flaw with that approach, that everyone is aware of by now, is that Celestine isn't one who would get into - or desire, for that matter - relationships. No one knows why, and she prefers to keep things like that a secret. Rumors have been circulating, and they're all miscellaneous. Nicolas is even aware of these conditions, but is still in love with the girl.
Genevieve has already done the relationship trick, with Victor of course, and it wasn't necessarily successful in the long run. After they broke up, Victor was only against her, so it only hurt her more. Vincent trying to pursue Celestine as part of a plan would not make any sense, so was their fight genuine?
Aline Le Roux was also suspicious, and she tried to play along and see if the whole fight was real, so she quickly adjusted her curly platinum hair and ran up to Vincent, trying to make a good impression since their last encounter wasn't exactly positive. "Can I help you?" He asked, ticked off by her presence.
"No need to be aggressive, I just wanted to help you out." She looked up to him, being roughly eight inches shorter than him.
"With?"
"That whole thing with Genevieve, exposing your crush and sabotage, that's pretty bad rep if you ask me."
"Cut to the chase, please."
"I just wanted to help you get with Celestine. After all, that's the least I can do after you conquered the school's main villain basically."
"How did I conquer her if she just humiliated me in front of everyone, exposing my crush?"
"You basically sabotaged her from the inside out, you know everything you need to know to defeat her, and she just lost her best asset to her opponent. Check mate."
"I guess you could put it that way, but I am still bummed out because I cannot be on both sides of this useless war." The two walked in silence for a couple minutes down the boardwalk until Aline could gather up her conclusions.
"So you really like her?"
Vincent, knowing this whole thing was an act, had to think of a response that wasn't direct, but not idiotic either. He had to be practical from here on. "Yeah, I guess." He gave out a bit of a smile, as if he were hiding feelings. The whole acting thing wasn't really his forte, but Aline was seeming to buy it. The pretending part was usually Genevieve's job.
"Sounds cool, later man." Aline patted his back and walked off, satisfied with the information she gathered.
Maybe this whole shtick won't be hard after all... Vincent thought to himself as he snuck to the building where he was to meet Genevieve. He looked around the abandoned building but had no luck in finding her, until he heard her whispering from the inside, Genevieve was waving at him to enter and he did.
"You can't be seen with me anymore, and you better agree with the plan because it is already in play. Got it?" Genevieve mentioned cautiously, trying not to be heard.
"Yes, but I still do not completely understand this concept."
"I need you to court Celestine, no matter how much of a nuisance she may be."
"How would courting our enemy benefit us? You know the outcomes of past situations such as this."
"Exactly, this plan failed with Victor, so they would find it illogical for us to be doing this for our service. It only makes it more believable on your part. All you need to do is win her heart and find ways to ruin her reputation in a couple months time."
"That is the equivalent to getting Hell to freeze over. How do you expect me to do so?" Vincent sat on the ground and tapped a finger on his chin, Genevieve following him a few moments after.
"I don't have that part figured out just yet, but I just need you to act as nervous as possible around her, let her confront you first, or better yet get with her sidekicks and become a part of her posse. Today is only Wednesday, and she is bound to be in school next Monday for the arts fair, so you have a few days to establish your new reputation before she returns."
"I feel unsure of this, it is all rushed."
"And that is what I said during lunch today."
Vincent put his arms up in defeat. "Fair enough, we can go with this plan for as long as we need, she will end up traumatized either way."
"Indeed, her first relationship being a setup will lower her self esteem enough to allow me to reign! Finally, I will claim back the throne." Genevieve cackled and began walking out through a side door. "Leave through the front, we cannot be seen together anymore."
Meanwhile
"That was close, those people downstairs could have exposed your identity, Master." Nooroo fluttered back around freely after hiding in an unoccupied closet in the attic of the building they were in.
"I understand, but we may be able to get away with barricading that trap door to ensure no one comes up here." Daniel looked around once again and saw the black haired girl stroll out through the side exit.
"Agreed. Now may I?" Nooroo looked at his holder in anticipation, and he knodded in acceptance. Just as the phenomenon was the first day Daniel was given the miraculous, Nooroo's eyes glowed and the pure butterflies appeared from thin air, filling the room and flapping about.
"This is so majestic, I cannot get over it." Daniel marveled at the sight and looked out the window, Nooroo following and resting on his shoulder.
"Oh Celestine, you must watch who you are with and when. That boy made you ill!" Celestine's father, Jacob, mentioned as he rested an ice pack on her head.
"How was I supposed to know," she paused to cough a few times, "- that he would get me this sick?"
"Oh Celestine, you just need to be more observant when it comes to these types of situations." He sat down in a seat next to her bedside and continued reading the newspaper.
"Papa, are you able to get me some sparkling water?" She peeped after a while.
"Of course, darling." He laid his newspaper gently on the wooden rocking chair behind him and head to the kitchen to prepare a glass of carbonated water. As he was about to return to his daughter's room, there was a knock on the front door. Mr. Moreau put down the drink and went to answer the door. He was greeted by two teenage boys who had taken off their caps to properly greet the man. The slightly taller one, being Nicolas, gave a smile.
"Good afternoon, Sir, we are friends of Celestine and wanted to check on her quickly." Next to Nicolas was Victor, who stood silent and offered a canteen of tea.
"I suppose you two are Nicolas and Victor?" Mr. Moreau inquired, getting two nods in response, then he gestured to her room. "Then please, come in. Her room is right down there." The boys walked in and to her room, Nicolas sitting down on her bed looking at her closed eyes, while Victor picked up the newspaper on the rocking chair and took a seat.
"Celi, are you asleep?" Nicolas looked down on her, lovestruck.
"Nope," She replied lazily as she sniffled. "Just resting my eyes." She yawned as her eyelids fluttered open to reveal her sparkly hazel eyes.
Unlike usual days in school, Celestine wasn't wearing any of her makeup - no eyeshadow, rosy blush, or her signature red lipstick. Her face was natural but still exhibited the upmost beauty; even at her worst state, her face still glowed to Nicolas. "Beautiful," Nicolas unconsciously muttered to himself.
"Come again?" Celestine asked.
"Riiiight, the day was, err, beautiful! Such a shame you could not come out today." He tried to cover up his mistake. Although his undying love for the girl is painfully obvious, Nicolas is in denial that anyone would notice it. Victor always mentioned how lucky he was that Celestine did not know about this crush, as she had little to no experience with these kinds of relationships.
The girl readjusted herself so her back was against the headboard, then she looked around and reacquainted herself with reality. "Well Victor, you are quiet today."
"It happens." Was his reply, nearly silent and solemn, but he showed her the warm tea he brought her and that elicited a smile from her.
After a few coughs, Celestine drank a sip of tea and slouched down a bit. "What are you guys doing here, other than bringing tea, of course."
"Just checking on you, and we have news too." Nicolas held her right hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles while they shared eye contact.
"Very well," they shared a smile. "So what is the news?"
"Right!" Nicolas flinched and released her hand. "Vincent and Genevieve broke apart, they haven't even looked each other in the eye since lunch break when Genevieve tried to take a stand."
"What? Why would they ever-" Celestine's eyes widened but Nicolas pressed his index finger on her lips.
"Because Vincent is in love with you." Nicolas looked down, meanwhile Victor put down the newspaper he was reading to see Celestine's reaction.
"Woah." Celestine was expectedly confused - she didn't really ever know when someone felt any sort of adoration towards her, and she never had people who would tell her such until now.
"Everything alright in here?" Mr. Moreau leaned against the door frame of her bedroom with a glass of sparkling water.
"Yes, father." Celestine smiled and he put the glass on her bedside table.
"We will be heading back home how, thank you, sir." Nicolas bowed down and exited the home with Victor behind him.
After the boys left, Jacob sat back down on his rocking chair and found his place in the newspaper. "Well those are two nice boys, but the one with the blue eyes is a bit off."
"Oh, that one is Victor, and he has his reasons for his silence." Celestine took a sip of the water her father just brought, savoring the carbonation. She then carefully placed the cup back on her nightside table.
"Well I see you have gotten closer to these two in the past days, why is that?"
"That story I tried telling you on Monday, how I met them."
"I see we never got to that. Proceed."
"Have you heard word around about Liberté, or Le Protecteur?"
"Right, that man giving out powers to teenagers to save the city, with butterflies, I believe. I think it will be on the papers by tomorrow. Your point is?"
"I was Liberté, I was transformed into the first hero and saved three people from that burning building. Nicolas was Le Protecteur."
Mr. Moreau took a minute to breath and look at his daughter with a strange expression; Celestine couldn't tell if it was anger, surprise, or proudness. "What?"
"You heard me right! It was spectacular too! Are you alright, Papa?"
"Yes darling, that's just, hard to imagine. Please, explain this all to me."
"So Mite Sauveuse is this masked hero, and his power is to send out those butterflies to a person feeling positive emotion, and they fuse with an item of significance. He then grants them some sort of powers, mine was immunity, and Nicolas had inhuman strength. It's truly magnificent, father!"
"And he chose you? Of all of Paris? Aren't I proud of my daughter this afternoon!" He chuckled and rubbed his thumb on her cheek. "What was your item?" He was starting to get more intrigued, he was on the edge of his seat wanting to learn more about this phenomenon.
"My ring." Celestine said, lowering her face a bit.
"I really don't understand why you need to wear that thing all the time, or at all for that matter." He attempted to take it back, but she pulled away her arm and kept it from him.
"And you don't have to."
"I could buy you a new one, one as beautiful as the stars in the sky, one free of dark meanings."
"Maybe the dark meanings give me motivation." She crossed her arms.
"Whatever you say, Celestine, but that ring gives us all a bad vibe. Now I need to head out to work, stay good young lady." He kissed her forehead and head out, still in confusion of why his daughter would keep a rusted object with a tainted past.
Genevieve was on her way home, making sure not to cross paths with anyone in school that could cause her to be questioned. "Urgh, this plan better work, or everything will be in jeopardy." Genevieve muttered to herself as she went through the front door of her dwelling and stormed to her room. After following her normal routine and placing down her backpack and folder on her desk and chair, she realized a black box next to her jar of pens. "Mom? Are you home?" She yelled, running around her house to find no one.
"Did she leave her jewelry in here again? Where did she even get this?" She curiously picked up the box and inspected it before cracking it open, only to be embraced by an unimaginably bright blue sphere that illuminated her room.
Before her was none other than a very tired, very emotional, whining Duusu.
A/N: I tried making you all an extra long chapter with 5,026 words! And I wanted to ask some fun questions to see your opinions now, as we have completely finished the whole 'Introduction' phase of the story, because Chapter Five is where is REALLY starts!
Who do you expect to be together at the end? Which ship will sail in the Epilogue?
Do you believe that other Miraculouses will be given out? What will they be and who will get them?
What do you think is up with Celestine's ring? Why do her parents hate it so much?
And last but not least, what are some ship names for different characters in the story that you want together? I really have no idea what they would be, but I want to hear your ideas!
Note that I already have the whole plot planned out, so I thought it would be cool to see how the readers think everything it going to pan out.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, can't wait until next time!