"So, Ashley," Chloé said as she turned her attention to the bewildered brunette beside her. "I understand a mutual friend visited you last night and asked you to do something? Have you gathered all your things? I mean, it looks like you have, but is this all of it?"

Ashley, completely confused, held up a grocery bag full of items. "Um, yes? All my stuff is right here."

"Fantastic. Sabrina, is everything in place?"

Sabrina nodded as she checked her iPad. "I just confirmed it. Her mother just sent the okay via digital signature. She's good to go."

"Come on, Ashley," Chloé said as she steered her towards the courtyard. The principal, a thin, gaunt-looking man with combed back grey hair, was standing to the side, talking to the aforementioned group of girls. They collectively looked up as the trio approached them.

"Principal Harrison?" Chloé asked. "Hi there. Chloé Bourgeois. Charmed, I'm sure. I understand daddy talked to you this morning?"

The principal swallowed and nodded. "Um, ye, yes ma'am. These young ladies were just telling me some rather interesting things that corroborated your father's statements." He looked to the group. "Ladies? Do you have something to say?"

The group, now hiding behind Stephanie, looked to a nervous Ashley.

"We're, um, we're sorry we posted those videos and made fun of you," Stephanie mumbled. "We just took them down. It won't happen again."

"And we won't text you anymore," a girl with auburn braids, Courtney, said.

"We're really sorry," Melissa said. She was the shortest of them and had a blonde bob cut.

Ashley didn't say anything, but she nodded back at them.

"Chloé?" A familiar voice cut in. "Is that you?"

Chloé turned and broke out into a huge grin. "Kagami!" Chloé cried out in a cheery voice. She hugged the Asian student, who was smiling back. "My goodness! It's so good to see you!"

Courtney grabbed Stephanie's arm and whispered, "She knows the Ice Queen. She knows the Ice Queen!"

Kagami gave Chloé a small smile. "What in the world are you doing here?"

Chloé glanced at the group of girls. "Oh, you know. Just helping out a friend. Nothing major."

Kagami glanced towards the group of girls and frowned. "Oh," she said. "Is this the group you were talking about last night?" She made a disgusted noise and crossed her arms. "I'm not surprised."

"You know them?" Chloé asked as casually as she could.

"They're known," Kagami said, her smile now gone. "I take it they're attempting an apology?"

"We are!" Stephanie said frantically. "We're sorry. We didn't know Fla… Ashley was friends with you. We'll back off. We promise!"

Chloé glanced to Kagami, genuinely impressed. "Hmmm. And I thought I was scary."

Kagami didn't immediately respond. She just glared at the girls.

"Would you like me to deal with them?" Kagami asked. Her eyes never left the group.

"No need," Chloé said with a toss of her hair. "I've got this one. Just please let Sabrina know once they've apologized in front of the school?"

"Now, now," Principal Harrison said. "The girls have apologized to Ashley and admitted their wrongdoing to me. I really don't think that there's a need for an assembly. I mean…"

His words died under Chloé's stare.

"You know what they did," Chloé said. "Do you even register how serious this got because you refused to get involved?"

Principal Harrison frowned at Chloé. "The school has protocols to protect all parties involved from any accusations that might prove damaging. Don't lecture me about policy. This matter was handled by the book, and…

The gathered students watched as Chloé grabbed the suprised principal and dragged him into the nearest classroom. She shoved him forward and slammed the door before spinning to face him.

"I'll say this once, and I'll do it in here because the school doesn't need to hear this unless Ashley wants them to."

"How dare you do this! You don't get to put your hands on me like that. I'm calling…"

"I PULLED THAT GIRL OF A LEDGE LAST NIGHT!"

Principal Harrison froze as Chloé stared him down.

"Excuse me?" Harrison asked.

"I said I pulled her off a ledge last night. Your 'policy' led to that poor girl trying to kill herself. It was sheer luck that I happened along, otherwise you'd be dealing with a helluva lot more fallout than my father breathing down your neck!"

Principal Harrison went slightly pale, but he kept his poker face on. "In this matter, it's on your word alone that this happened. How do I know this is true?"

Chloé gaped. "Are… Are you serious? A superhero flat out tells you one of your students is in such dire straights that they're willing to end their own life, and the first thing you do is try to discredit it?"

"I'm saying your accusation could lead to a lot of fallout on its own, and without proof, it's a rather weak claim to make."

"Well then next time I'll film it! Christ, you'd really just let them go on like this? You're honestly going to stand there and let them continue to torture their fellow students?"

"I'm telling you that a lot of girls in that young lady's place find it easy to get the attention they crave by acting out, and if I have to weigh the word of four girls with good records against one with a borderline pornography video online, well then. That's not a hard decision."

Harrison adjusted his jacket and glared at Chloé. "This happens all the time, young lady. You of all people should know that, what with your galivanting around the city. Then again, if the press is to be believed, that's the sort of behavior I'd expect from someone whose own mother doesn't even have time for her."

Again, by this time Chloé had come a long way. She didn't hit. She didn't scream. She simply took a breath, mentally counted to five, and spoke in the calmest voice she could muster.

"Thank you for putting this into perspective. I thought I was dealing with an educator who cared. I guess I've been spoiled in that regard. Let me make this clear, even for you. If they don't apologize by noon, you'll be blacklisted from anything involving education in France by one," Chloé said with a glare. "I promise."

"Agreed," Kagami said.

Both of them jumped as they turned to see Kagami standing in the doorway. "My mother's company would be remiss to find out that the donations being made to this establishment were wasted on your continued employment. I'm sure they would convey that sentiment to the Board."

"If you can't understand the gravity of what nearly happened here, then removing you would be a service to the students of this school," Chloé growled. "I'd hoped this would make you understand how far things can get because people stand by, that it would make you just a little more vigilant, but now I see that's not happening here."

"And you two think you can bully me into doing what you want?" The principal said, his voice not quite carrying the weight it formerly had. "Doesn't that make you the same as those girls out there? Nothing but petty little bullies?"

"They did it to hurt someone," Chloé said. "I'm doing this to protect someone. Big difference, there. Also, nice of you to acknoweledge that they really are bullies."

Chloé held up her phone. "Last chance. Make this right or pack your bags. I guarantee your replacement will care more about what goes on with their students. I'll see to it, personally."

"And you think your father would honestly do this to an established educator?" Harrison glared at Chloé. "You think you can cut class, walk in here unannounced and threaten an adult? You..."

"I," Chloé intterupted, "am the mayor's daughter. And if, as you so kindly put it, the press is to be believed, I'm a bratty, spoiled little girl who always gets what she wants. I once got the chief of police fired just because I wanted to. And right now? I'm thinking I want you out of a job. Your call."

Harrison locked eyes with Chloé for several seconds before he marched past Kagami and back into the hall. He looked to the group of girls and cleared his throat.

"Girls? It has come to my attention that it would be in the best interests of all parties involved if you provided an apology for the claims against you."

"Which I'm sure they'll do at the assembly today," Chloé said from behind him.

The group stared helplessly, but then nodded in agreement.

"Right then," Principal Harrison said with a nod. He turned to Ashley. "And while it's not a huge loss, you're sure you would rather run away than face your problems here, young lady?"

Chloé advanced, but Sabrina put her hand on her shoulder. "Later," she whispered.

"Wait, excuse me?" Ashley asked, now extremely confused.

"She's already been transferred," Chloé said. "But that doesn't alleviate you of your duties. Kagami will keep me posted. Thank you again for your… Understanding."

Chloé didn't bother to wait for the principal to respond. Instead, she just nodded to Kagami, who smirked and nodded back.

"Come on, Ashley," Chloé said. "Our chariot awaits."

"Wait," Ashley said. She looked to Stephanie and the others.

Ashley's voice was wavering, but to her credit, she didn't crack. "Thank you for apologizing. I'm still mad you hurt me, but I appreciated hearing that."

The girls stared at her, not knowing what to say in return. After a moment, Chloé gently took her by the arm and guided her away.

As they left, Harrison turned to Kagami and huffed. "And what do you have to say for yourself, young lady?"

Kagami turned the fury of her gaze on him. "You even touch me and I will burn you down. I'm not like Chloé. I don't hesitate."

The group watched, slightly terrified, as Kagami strolled off in the direction of class.


Notes:

I love writing Kagami. I should use her more, but I'm never sure how.

NEXT TIME!

Will Sabrina follow through with her threat?

NARRATOR: I mean, probably, but we'll see...

Where is Ashley being taken? What new mysteries await her?

NARRATOR: Okay, seriously? You've got the vibe of this story by now.

Will there be cake?

NARRATOR: The... Wait, what? You... Are you teasing something, or are you genuinely asking? Are you hungry? Do you want cake?

All this, a slew of cameos, and more... ALL! NEXT! CHAPTER! Be here tomorrow, same Bug Time...

ADULT MARINETTE: ~Spits coffee out~ What did they say?!

GINA: Told you.

...Same Bug Channel!