Hello everyone. Now this chapter is a little out there but I assure you, it is all part of the plan.
GUIPA: Well this is FanFiction. Everyone is OCC since this would never happen in the show. I am curious on how it will be revealed in the show.
Bloody Rogue dragon deity king: Indeed.
Uooomman: Thank you.
Running Bug: Thank you, that means a lot to hear.
Kurai Amaya: I am glad you are enjoying. It will be interesting I assure you.
Kaymeance: Indeed.
BibiloveMarichat: It is coming soon.
ItsASecret123: I am glad you are enjoying.
Demiavenger567: A lot of people would agree with you.
Fanfictions4ever: I am glad to hear that.
Wingsaber: It's coming.
kyubbiman564: Cliffhangers are always lovely to see.
Nampayo: I am glad you love it.
lownick67: Pure poetry right there. There will be an epilogue.
M'ladyandherPrince: I am glad you like Morgana.
DiamondHeart31: This chapter my answer your question.
Ohma flame: It is in Paris, just a little away from the current school.
RavenNM: This chapter will interest you then.
bloody dragon fang: Indeed.
Tikki: She will fall incredibly hard.
cyiusblack: I hope you enjoy.
USoGoodIComment: Aurore needs more credit.
Gold TestamentL You have no idea.
You could have heard a pin drop. Crickets. Literal crickets. Lila was frozen to her seat as her brain went into panic mode as she tried to think up an excuse. Most people in the class looked confused. Adrien looked worried, Marinette was doing her best to hide the glee but Morgana oddly enough… sat with a stoic look on her face. One of my pieces is about to be taken, Morgana thought. Now one of the things Morgana could do was predict a victory. It was so natural to her. However, in this particular moment, while she had all of the ammunition, she knew that this would not turn into a victory. If it did, then she could have taken down Lila in a day.
"Ummm…" Alix said breaking the silence.
"Why would she say that?" Rose said in confusion. Marinette looked around the class, seeing who would piece this together. Come on, use your brains!
"…" Juleka mumbled.
"She's obviously saying it to protect Lila," Alya said with an eye roll. Wow, and I thought she was stupid before, Morgana said, resting her chin on her palm.
"Can we change the topic?" Adrien asked meekly.
Marinette almost threw a book at his head. Don't you dare! Not now! People in the class started voicing their annoyance as well as questions but then Lila did something no one expected. Well, excluding Morgana of course. She burst into tears. No that wasn't what was so surprising. It's what she said.
"I-I'm sorry everyone… I lied about being sisters with MDC!" Lila cried.
"What?" Alya said in shock, as everyone let out shocked gasps, especially Marinette. What on earth was she planning?
"You lied?" Nathaniel said with hurt in his eyes.
"Why would you do that?" Sabrina asked.
"Well…I thought you would think more of me as a person," Lila sniffed as she rubbed her eyes. Don't think I'm out just yet, Lila thought sinisterly. She could draw back in these fools like moths to a flame.
"Lila you're already great. Why would you need to do that?" Alya asked in concern. She didn't even look angry. Frankly that annoyed Marinette. Why was she not opening her eyes?
"MDC was already a name going around with Gabriel. I thought if I could get her on board, then she could collaborate and impressed the company. But I did message her… and she turned me down… calling me an attention seeker!" Lila said as she burst into tears once again.
"How could she do that?" Nino said in shock.
"Father has been on about enlisting MDC…" Adrien said quietly, only enraging everyone else.
Gah, where was that book, Marinette thought angrily. She wasn't exposing herself, she was manipulating the situation to make MDC, well her, look like an online bully! Adrien was again enforcing it! Marinette knew well enough that companies were looking to hire her. She didn't respond to any of them per the group's discussion. Not yet anyway. So, this didn't help either.
"And after all the praise we gave her! That's it, I'm going to write an entry on how MDC mistreats fans!" Alya declared.
"There's no evidence Alya. She blocked me and deleted the messages," Lila said as she rubbed her eyes. Oh, I have to applaud that, Morgana thought. Deleting evidence without giving any. Good move.
"Either way, that sucks," Kim said.
"Agreed. It's not how you should treat someone," Max said, with everyone nodding. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black, Marinette thought with a quiet huff.
"Well, we don't think any less of you Lila. I understand why you lied," Alya said, making Marinette bite down hard on her hand and resisting the urge not to flip a chair or anything else.
The double standards in this room stunk. Really stunk. Everyone seemed to agree with Alya, infuriating the bluenette more. For Morgana, it was more concerning. She had her eye on Adrien. She sensed his change of mood when she saw him look at Luka and Marinette. This… could be useful. Something else to add to the file. It would be very risky though. She had to time it right and made predictions. Seems she'd have to move a pawn in a strange direction. Her brain started to turn as the teacher re-entered the room, clearly about not being able to vote. Time to make the move.
After two more classes, Tikki was currently waiting up in the vents for Plagg. After the events of the teacher going crazy and trying to catch them, they figured going up in the vents out of sight. Speak of the devil, Plagg shot up through the floor to see an angry looking Tikki.
"I know what you're going to say Sugar-Cube," Plagg started but he was cut off.
"I don't even know where to start! What is going on with your holder?! He's fine when he's Chat Noir but his civilian form…. I just! You have no idea how upsetting it is to watch my holder cry herself to sleep!" Tikki exploded.
"I know! It's horrible! It is so hard to listen to him preach like this and watch her suffer. I want to cataclysm that sausage haired girl! I almost did once!" Plagg argued.
"The only thing getting me through it is Morgana! She's been giving my holder a new set of confidence. I will not have that jeopardised because your holder is a-a coward!" Tikki continued.
"I know… I've seen the change. The class today… even I know pigtails is MDC. Man, they are dumber than the dinosaurs," Plagg said with an eye roll.
"Plagg this is such a mess," Tikki said as she rubbed her eyes.
"I know. I have tried, honestly. I broke through at one point. But now… I think he's gone back. And I thought I didn't like people," Plagg stated.
"It's not that your holder doesn't like people. He's been alone so much he doesn't know how to talk to people. He doesn't know what bullying is because no one has ever done it to him. Everyone loves the idea of him. But no one knows him," Tikki said sadly.
"Yeah. It puts me off cheese," Plagg said.
"Really?" Tikki asked.
"Eh," Plagg said as his stomach grumbled.
"Either way, we can't do anything. Morgana has something big planned. I saw her look in class today. She's going to do something," Tikki said.
"You got it Sugar Cube!" Plagg teased.
"So funny Stinky Sock," Tikki said as she stuck out her tiny tongue.
Marinette rubbed her head in exhaustion. After the events from the class, and the next ones with the gang coddling Lila, she was sure she was getting a migraine. Tikki had gone off somewhere and had come back, although she wouldn't say where. Marinette didn't bother her about it, it was probably something to do with the kwamis and she trusted Tikki completely. She was sitting by herself as usual, but she did feel slightly better today. People had come up to her and apologised for not doing enough after the incident the other day, to which she was very thankful about. As Marinette day-dreamed about designs and more, she felt a pat on the shoulder. Her head turned to see the cracked sunshine boy looking at her.
"Hey Marinette," Adrien said with a small smile. Marintte didn't return it but gave a polite nod.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Is it okay if I have a word with you? In private?" Adrien asked, gripping the sides of his bag. Marinette almost said yes but then Morgana's voice entered her head.
"Never be alone with anyone. Your bullies are your cameras."
"No, I am eating lunch. If you have something to say to me, please say it here," Marinette said, with false politeness. Adrien seemed irked at this answer.
"Please can you just-" Adrien started but Marinette held her ground.
"No. Now what do you want?" she asked firmly. Adrien could see that she wouldn't budge so he ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath.
"So how come you're dating Luka? I thought you were just friends," Adrien asked. Oh, this old chestnut again? This'll be fun. Doing a quick scan of the room, she did see people looking over. No one from her class mind, including Morgana. Keep calm.
"We were friends but then I realise I liked him more than a friend. Same with him I suppose," Marinette answered, feeling the familiar twang of guilt for stringing him for so long over this… poster model boy.
"Oh, I see. Well, I mean, do you think he's right for you?" Adrien asked. Marinette visibly twitched at this. Who the heck was he to judge someone?
"Excuse me?" Marinette said in annoyance.
"Well, he doesn't exactly socialise with anyone here, he's not really in our friend group," Adrien stated.
"You were home-schooled for how long again?" Marinette said bluntly, making him flinch with hurt.
"It's not the same," Adrien tried again.
"He's also in Kitty Section, Juleka's sister and quite frankly, he probably doesn't hang around because of…oh I don't know… because they kicked him out of Kitty Section?" Marinette replied.
"Well, there's probably a good reason. He's not exactly in tune with everyone," Adrien said with a shrug, making Marinette even more annoyed.
"Don't you dare talk about Luka like that. The reason he's not there is because the liar decided to spread a rumour. Even making Juleka doubt him. Her own brother!" Marinette argued.
"How do we know she was lying about that?" Adrien burst. There was partial regret about that as he saw Marinette's pupils shrink down massively.
"Excuse me?" she practically hissed.
"Just listen," Adrien tried.
"No, you listen Agreste. Luka is the sweetest, kindest, and loveliest person I've ever met. He listens to me; he comforts me when I cry, and he loves me and I love him. So don't you even try and use Lila's rubbish to sway me. He is twice the person you will ever be," Marinette declared, her voice raised now. Other people were noticing more now, and unknown to Marinette, the akuma class were coming into the hall.
"Marinette, I am only trying to look out for you," Adrien said, his own voice being raised now. Why didn't she get it? He was only looking out for her as a friend. Luka was just clouding her judgement. He wasn't good for her! He was…! Wait what?
"Excuse me?" a timid voice said. Adrien was in such an annoyed and confused day, he didn't even register someone was behind him.
"Not now!" he said, swatting his hand.
Only his hand didn't swat the air. He felt it hit something. A crash and a yelp were heard. Both students turned around to see Morgana lying on the floor looking up at them both. This made the cafeteria burst into commotion.
"What the heck Agreste?!"
"Just cause you're used to getting your own way, doesn't mean you can hit someone!"
"He's in that class, it's a trait."
"Morgana, are you okay?" Marinette said, getting up and going around Adrien to comfort Morgana, who was trying to sit up from the floor.
"Play along," Morgana whispered. Marinette didn't know what was going on, but she didn't respond verbally but gave a slight nod.
"What happened? Marinette what did you do?" Alya demanded as she came over and came beside the girls.
"It w-wasn't Marinette," Morgana mumbled as her green eyes looked up on the horrified Adrien. The class followed her gaze to look at Adrien, who didn't even know what to say.
"What is wrong with you dude?" Nino shouted.
"I didn't do it!" Adrien defended.
"Yes, you did! The whole cafeteria saw you!" Marinette said and was surprised when no one in the class aruged with her. Well bar one person.
"Marinette, don't be rude! I am sure there is an explanation for this! What did you do to provoke Adrien?" Lila said. Marinette almost punched the girl.
"Hey, just because she may have provoked him, gives no excuse for him to hit someone," Alix said, making Lila flinch slightly. Oh the hypocrisy were overwhelming today.
"Marinette wasn't listening to me!" Adrien argued, making her eyes narrow. Oh that is it.
"Do you want to know what he was telling me? He was telling me that Luka was a bad person and to stay away from him," Marinette said, deliberately looking at Juleka.
"What?" she said, her voice raised.
"I know we are not happy in the class with things, but I would never insult Luka," Marinette said, her voice almost pleading at this. There was a pause.
"I believe you," Juleka said, almost making the girl cry.
"Oh, come on, I was just trying to warn…" Adrien said, but cutting off at Juleka's glare.
"Don't speak to me again," Juleka said with a scowl, storming off with Rose quickly following her.
"The rest of you should go with her. Especially you Lila. Maybe you can cheer her up with something that you did on your trips. I can take Morgana to the nurse," Marinette suggested.
"Good idea," Alya almost forced out. Lila was annoyed at this but even she knew she couldn't help Adrien with this one. She avoided everyone's gaze and followed the girls off to find Juleka.
"Keep an eye out for akumas!" she called, hearing a yell back in response. The boys remained with the girls, surrounding Morgana protectively.
"This was an accident," Adrien insisted, panic coming into his mind.
"This has happened twice!" Kim shouted.
"What is your issue?" Nathaniel asked.
"Nothing! I just wanted to talk to Marinette about Luka and I didn't see her!" Adrien replied.
"Is it true?" Max asked, turning to the girls.
"I-I saw Adrien was m-making her uncomfortable. I went to… ask if everything was okay. He s-swatted me," Morgana said quietly.
"See?" Adrien said with a wave.
"Do you not see what's wrong with what you did?" Marinette said in shock.
"Dude, if you have an issue, talk to her normally! Not assault her!" Nino said.
"I would never assault Marinette!" Adrien said in horror.
"No. you would just keep harassing me when I said I was happy with Luka. I cannot believe I ever loved you!" Marinette yelled. There was dead silence after that. The boys looked surprised while Nino looked amazed. While everything had been up in the air with Marinette, he knew that babbling about a crush was a no-no.
"What?" Adrien said in shock.
"You heard me. I used to have a crush on you. I used to think you were amazing, kind and such a great person to be around. Now I see I was wrong," Marinette said sternly.
"I still am those things!" Adrien cried. "I love hanging out with you."
"After everything that has gone on this past year… I can't look at you in the same way. You ignore my feelings, you disrespect others when they disagree with you and you don't seem to understand how to be a good friend," Marinette said. "I am glad I got to see the real you before I got myself hurt even more."
"Whoa…uh…I mean, you should take her to the nurse. We'll, uh…make sure he doesn't follow you," Nino said awkwardly. Marinette nodded in thanks as she helped Morgana up and guided her out of the cafeteria.
All Adrien felt in that moment, as everyone was judging him with their eyes, was alone and ashamed.
I predict that people will be yelling at me for this one. But this is how Marinette felt many times. It isn't nice when the shoe is on the other foot.
- Star