Trouble at school, knowing your classmates better is what awaits our heroes.
It's been a month now that Carmen Sandiego became Ladyfox. She was now at ease with her power and abilities. Lone Wolf was letting her taking head and plan their attacks from time to time, the one having the best plan was in charge. As for their relation, it was one of trust. Lone Wolf was a quiet partner, only talking when needed. Player had finally found a way to detect akumas' wavelength, allowing to detect it faster in a victim. It was also useful for patrolling, with a larger sight. This surprised Lone Wolf when Ladyfox brought it the first time :
" You're letting your little brother being involved into this ?"
" He only built the machine and pilot it at a distance. I only switch it far from his location, and once I'm transformed, nothing is recorded so it's safe." explained Ladyfox.
The young man had to admit that patrolling with this was indeed practical. Red Drone, as the drone was named, was useful to track an akumatized faster than them. About life in school, Carmen was appreciated of her classmates : always willing to lend a hand, supportive, everyone liked her. As for the ongoing day, she was heading to the geography and history classroom. The courses were given by Miss Argent. That was one of Carmen's favourite academic subject, she loved discovering other countries' past and culture. Carmen sat near Ivy. She greeted her classmates when they arrived. Chase sat at the row next to her, right near the young woman. Then, the teacher entered.
" Good afternoon. We'll continue our lesson about the impact of 1929 crisis. Then, you'll be paired with a classmate to make a presentation." announced Miss Argent.
" Aaaaw already a presentation ?" said Graham.
" Well yes, this is the exams year. Anyway, open your books at page 5."
Carmen's class being rather a calm one, the lesson unfold peacefully. Then, before the end of the lesson the teacher announced the pairs for the presentation :
" Jean-Paul with Graham, Antonio with Michel, Carmen will be with Chase …"
Both were relieved : someone who wasn't Sheena. Carmen smiled to Devineaux, who grinned back.
" Ivy with Sheena …"
The ginger hold back a huge yell of despair.
" Oh my." said Carmen.
" We'll pray for you, Ivy." commented Chase.
" Yeah, pray that I don't strangle her." grumbled the concerned one.
Carmen tapped her shoulder. Ivy let her head fall on her desk. Whyyyy her ? Did she offend a superior entity ? What offering or sacrifice should she do to appease it ?
" Say, how much do you think the teach' would accept to change my binomial ?" moaned Ivy.
" Try a physical payment." ironized Chase.
Ivy emitted a disgusted sound. The bell rang at that time. Recess was more than welcome. Sheena went directly to the teacher.
" I want to change my pairing !" she said authoritarian.
" And why, Sheena ? Everybody else have a partner, I can't change you like that." replied Julia.
" But this is ridiculous ! I don't want to be paired with that girl ! It's totally ridiculous !" insisted Sheena.
Ivy heard that while packing.
" The girl has a name and it's time that you remember it !" she exclaimed.
" Anyway, I don't need anybody for my presentation." continued Sheena, disdainful.
" Sorry Sheena, but it's that way."
" I'll talk to my father about this, you can expect trouble !"
Ivy face-palmed. What did she do wrong to deserve such a partner ? Carmen and her brother tried to cheer her during recess, but in vain. Nothing could comfort their friend. She knew how painful that work would be. Miss Argent went to rest in the teachers' room. What Sheena said was preoccupying her, nonetheless. She was the mayor's daughter, and that one always intervened in her favour, even if she was wrong. And Sheena was always wrong. What if she got a reprimand ? That'd be so unfair.
" A teacher whose authority is questioned. A fear for a career, of injustice. What an ideal prey for my akuma." declared Lord Butterfly.
He devilized a butterfly he sent to the school. On the meantime, Chase and Carmen had decided to begin their presentation. They settled in the library, and each went to find the books they'll need.
" Sooo … impacts of this crisis. Well, since it caused some suicides we could say that the funeral home sector was perfectly fine." made Chase.
Carmen flashed surprise before that statement.
" Are you serious ?"
" What ? It's a positive impact, no one said we have to focus only on the bad ones. And you can't really tell otherwise, this sector don't know crisis the way others do."
Carmen couldn't help but had a laugh. Worse that he wasn't wrong. But they wouldn't mention that detail. More seriously, they established a plan, which points approached, causes, consequences and all. Behind them, a dark butterfly passed. It entered the teacher's room, and found his target : a leather briefcase.
" Professorus, I'm Lord Butterfly. Those ill-mannered kids don't respect you right ? Well with the power I'm bestowing to you no one will dare to disobey."
The dark wave enveloped Miss Argent. Then, a loud sound of a bell resonated in the whole campus. It sort of rang inside each student's head, petrifying them. Then, a voice commanded them to line and come to the courtyard.
" What's this ? I can't control my own body !" exclaimed Carmen, standing up.
But she quickly understood it was the work of an akumatized. All students came out each room two by two. They were all frightened. Walking in perfect discipline, the young gathered in the courtyard. Chase and Carmen tried to resist, in vain. They lined with their classmates. From the top of the stairs, a woman was standing, fists on her hips. She was dressed with old clothes : all black, a long dress covering her from head to toe she resembled a teacher from the 1900 years. She was tapping a wood wand in a hand. Her hair were longer and tied in a bun.
" Welcome dear students. I'm Professorus and I'll handle your education from now on. You'll follow my every rules or you'll be severely punished. Rule n°1 : complete silence during class, only speak when asked. Rule n°2 : no contestation is admitted concerning a lesson or homework."
" This is your fault Sheena !" whispered Graham.
" What ?!" exclaimed the girl, low voice.
" Yeah ! She got akumatized because you complained ! When are you going to grow up !" added Jean-Paul.
" She got in this state because she's weak, not because of me !" protested Sheena.
Then, a weird sound interrupted their quarrel. Lots of human size paper dolls appeared. They descended and positioned at each side of the courtyard. They were armed with tools : setsquare, ruler, paper clip transformed in sword, giant chalk … they were to survey the students. Then, after a move of her wand each paper doll was assigned to a class. The bell resonated, with the order of returning to their class. Before entering, they all had to hand their phone over. Ivy moaned : how was she going to cover Ladyfox and Lone Wolf's intervention ?
" Miss Argent what are you doing ! Stop this !" intervened Mr Monchamp, the French teacher.
His intervention distracted Professorus : the young noticed that her hold stopped. They immediately seized this opportunity to flee.
" I will not accept any opposition, even from a fellow teacher ! Seize her ! Seize all of them !" she ordered her dolls.
She also told them to capture the fugitives. The dolls ran after the young ones. They took refuge in the library, of which Jean-Paul and Antonio closed the door and pulled a chair to block it.
" Now what ?" asked Sheena.
" Don't worry, Ladyfox and Lone Wolf will solve this." assured Antonio.
" On the condition they're alerted." objected Graham.
" Then go and warn people outside." suggested Chase.
Right at that moment, loud thuds resonated. Their enemies had found them. This decided them to move. The students scattered. A paper man blocked Chase and Carmen's way. Devineaux stopped the square falling on him. Sending a kick on a leg, he disarmed the doll before piercing it. Then, lifting the tool he cut it until the top of its head. Chase grabbed Carmen's wrist to flee.
Other dolls came. Chase ordered her to flee, he'll hold them back.
" What ?! No I can't possibly let you fight alone !" she exclaimed.
Even if that was the occasion she needed, this was above her. Leaving someone in danger was unthinkable for Carmen. Chase insisted, adding he was able to fend for himself, and that once Ladyfox and Lone Wolf here everything would be alright. Carmen still hesitated. He had to yell at her to decide her. Carmen fled to the toilets. No one here, perfect. She opened her inside pocket, located in her shirt. Suri exited.
" Let's go Suri."
Carmen metamorphosed. On his side, Chase had done the same, to be back as Lone Wolf. Ladyfox ran to find her little brother. His classroom was the 117 at this hour. When she arrived, she saw her brother on his knees, a paper man lifting a ruler in wood. Cedric had a hand in the air. The doll was about to hit his fingers.
" Oh don't you dare !" hissed Carmen.
Her yoyo wrapped around the arm holding the ruler. She pulled and dragged the doll out of the class. She slammed it to the wall. Ladyfox grabbed its head, and began to tear it. However, it was thicker than she expected. The paper man struggled. Lone Wolf had arrived when she launched her yoyo. Using his tick he folded the doll's leg. The young man helped his partner tearing the head. It fell down, immobilized. Ladyfox signalled the defeat to the young, and invited them to get out. Player gave his sister a strong look.
" What happened here ?" asked Ladyfox.
" We don't really know. A loud bell resonated, and suddenly we couldn't move freely." explained Player.
" Which means we have to plug our ears." guessed Ladyfox.
" How about the sick bay ? We should find cotton there." proposed Lone Wolf.
" Good idea. You, get out of that school." said Ladyfox.
Cedric nodded, he indicated where to find the sick bay. The heroes ran to the sick bay. Chase found some cotton he gave to his partner.
" Here you go, foxy." he said.
" Thank you wolfy. Will that be enough ?"
They added compresses all maintained with bandages. Plugging their animal ears wasn't easy, let's hope they'd be fine. Now, they could go fight the main villain. On their way, they met with Sheena, hidden in a closet.
" Wooooh Lone Wolf save meeee !" she whined while jumping at his neck.
Ladyfox rolled eyes. Lone Wolf repelled her.
" For that, let me move okay ?"
" Hey where are you going ? Aren't you supposed to escort me outside ?" Sheena resumed, indignant.
At that moment, Chase wondered if it would be bad to escort her through a window.
" There's probably dolls in the halls now, you'd be safer in a hideout." intervened Ladyfox quite loud due to her plugged ears.
" But I don't want to stay here – hey !"
Ladyfox had pushed her back in her closet she slammed. Lone Wolf giggled.
" Well done, I was wondering if I shouldn't throw her out, she could distract our paper men." he said, while running.
Ladyfox launched her yoyo which bounced on paper dolls, folding their legs or head.
" Seems to be a pest that one, right ?"
" Oh yes."
Lone Wolf flattened a doll.
" Ugh ! The more we handle them the more they are !" he said, noticing a fresh arrival.
" What ?"
But Ladyfox quickly understood what her partner was talking about. If they wanted to defeat Professorus, they had to vanquish her army first. Suddenly, Lone Wolf made her fall with his staff. When she turned her head to question this, she saw a big map flying above her. Oh what now ? Well, Professorus was able to give life to anything school related. Soon, pile of books forming other dummies appeared, throwing books to them. Thick ones preferably.
" Normally I favour education but here I'd like to test truant school for once !" commented Lone Wolf.
" Way to get school phobia !"
They managed to defeat all of their attackers. However, they'd get tired before reaching the final boss. The bewitching bell resonated again.
" Augh ! That's hard, but I can still move on my will." said Ladyfox.
" It's just tiring us, we have to end this." made her partner.
Yes, especially since she let Chase facing those things all alone. Carmen felt guilty about it. Hopefully he was fine.
" Lucky charm !"
The yoyo delivered a match box.
" Huh ? What am I supposed to do, burn them all ? That would be too long." she said.
" So you have to use it otherwise. Hmmm … let's see …"
They looked around them. Their opponents were principally made of paper.
" The showerheads !" they exclaimed.
Finding paper wasn't very hard : Ladyfox teared an arm from a doll. Then, Lone Wolf ignited it, let it burn before his partner breathed on it and tended it to a showerhead. As planned, the smoke triggered it. Water spread everywhere, startling the students. They soon yelled joyfully when they understood it was damaging their keepers. The heroes ran to find Professorus. That one went to meet them in the courtyard. Lord Butterfly incited her to fight them.
" The akuma must be in her briefcase !" exclaimed Ladyfox.
" Got it !" replied Lone Wolf.
He picked a setsquare with his staff he threw to Professorus. That one replied by launching globes. Ladyfox protected herself, while her partner sent them back. Then, they both attacked her. Professorus called her minions, but none responded. She tempted to create others, but the heroes didn't let her. Ladyfox snatched her briefcase. Lone Wolf used his Wolf mist to destroy it. The akuma exited.
" You did enough harm like this, little akuma."
Ladyfox caught it in her yoyo, before releasing it once harmless. Then, she sent her match box in the air.
" Miraculous Ladyfox !"
Every paper doll, furniture disappeared. The students were free again. They all gathered in the courtyard to cheer them.
" Thank you everybody !" said Ladyfox, waving.
Ivy approached, requesting some words for her blog.
" Respect your teachers if you don't want them akumatized." said Lone Wolf.
" Exactly. Now if you'll excuse us."
They both leaped to exit the school. The director complained he couldn't thank them. Oh well. Lone Wolf and Ladyfox landed on a roof.
" Well, another mission completed." he said.
" Sure. Well played, wolfy."
" You too, foxette."
Their jewel beeping, they separated.
" You won again, Ladyfox and Lone Wolf. But one of these days, I'll be the one teaching you a lesson." commented Lord Butterfly.
Once back to normal, Carmen hastened to find Chase.
" Are you alright ? What happened to you ?"
" Just knocked down a paper man before fleeing and hiding." he smiled.
Carmen was relieved. She apologized for not coming earlier. Chase objected that she better wouldn't have to return, he clearly told her to run away. The teachers helped their colleague to stand up and regain her senses. After ten minutes during which everyone evacuated the stress due to this incident, the young were encouraged to return to their classes. Carmen and Chase went back to their presentation in the library.
" I don't know how to thank you for protecting me. You were very brave." she said.
" Well, if we get a good grade for our work, you can give me all the credits." casually responded Devineaux.
" Ha ! And if we get a bad one I'll make sure all the honours are given to you."
He grinned, amused. They did a good amount of work. Carmen went to check on Ivy, whom she found quite desperate. Turned out that Sheena only wanted to do the oral part while the ginger would do all the research. Carmen sighed. She encouraged her friend to split the work, and be firm about what she'll do. Too bad if Sheena obtained a bad grade : she would deserve it. Ivy agreed : she thought about it, but couldn't expose it since they got attacked. Then, the ginger inquired about how Carmen was doing on her side. Pretty well, Chase was willing to do his part, and proved to be funny. She invited him to her home so they could finish their work, which he accepted.
" I can't believe we still have our presentation despite what happened." commented someone.
" The director said we shouldn't let that incident compromised our work, that would be giving a reason to Lord Butterfly who just want to ruin everyone's life, blah blah blah." added a classmate.
" Well, I would have loved it to be cancelled." said Ivy.
" I know. Just do your part of the job and let her face her responsibilities." said Carmen.
A psychological cell was settled to allow everyone to speak about what happened. Carmen waited for Chase once the day over. He grabbed the back of her scooter to accompany her home. Once there, they went through the bakery so Carmen could warn her parents about Chase's presence and her return. Dexter and Carlotta hugged her as soon as they saw her.
" We learnt what happened at school through the news channel. Oh sweetie are you okay ?" asked Carlotta.
" Yes mom, I'm perfectly fine. Mom, dad, this is Chase Devineaux, a classmate. He's my binomial for a presentation we'll continue to work on here. And he protected me during the akuma episode." explained Carmen.
" Really ?" asked Dexter.
" That was just a mere paper doll, nothing extraordinary." responded Chase.
" You still fought it and allowed me to flee and be safe." insisted Carmen.
" Well thank you for helping our daughter, young man." smiled Carlotta.
Carmen invited him to follow her until her bedroom. Dexter pouted a bit, not so thrilled that his daughter made a boy enter her room. His wife saw that and nudged him, a bit amused. On the way, they met with Player, already home since his classes ended earlier.
" Oh hello, I'm Cedric, Carmen's brother. Pleased to meet you." smiled the teen.
Chase displayed a brief surprise.
" So I see."
He shook the young's hand with a smile. Entering Carmen's room was amusing : it was in the attic and well furnished. Carmen told him to be at ease. Chase had barely put his bag near the sofa that the trap opened on Dexter.
" I thought you'd like some cookies." he said.
Chase's eyes shined. Carmen accepted the plate and put it on her dresser. Then, she took her work and some of the books she borrowed at the library. Devineaux did the same, before sitting on the sofa while she was doing the same on a chair. She proposed some cookies, before resuming on their presentation. Five minutes after coming with the cookies, Dexter was back with drinks. His daughter asked why the hell didn't he brought them with the cookies. The man stood an instant, as unsure of what to do next. Carmen gave him an interrogative look, he left.
" Where were we ? Oh yes, the crisis arriving in Europe." she said.
Chase had opened one of the others books he borrowed too. Ten minutes later …
" Does someone want a croissant ?"
" Dad, are you trying to fatten us up, by chance ?" wondered Carmen.
" Not at all deary, just trying to make your homework agreeable." said Dexter, entering.
He put a plate on her desk. Like earlier, he watched them an instant before leaving. Chase narrowed eyes.
" So." made his classmate.
They started writing. Chase picked up a croissant. Carmen noticed his expression, thrilled like a child in a toy store. That was cute in fact. Same for the cookies. But after some time, he asked to put this away from him. That amused Sandiego, who understood he was gourmand.
" Up for some macarons ?" made a familiar voice.
" Is that a joke ?!" exclaimed Carmen.
Chase closed his eyes.
" What ?" wondered Dexter.
" We are working here dad ! So please leave us alone !" replied his daughter, walking to him.
" But !"
" Goodbye !"
Carmen pushed the trap, forcing him to get down. His wife and son stared at him, arms crossed and jaded.
" What ?" he asked again.
" Seriously honey. Your daughter is a big girl, and she's a serious one so stop bothering her." made Carlotta.
" Yeah dad, plus Chase must be a good guy since he saved her today. Don't worry." added Cedric.
" But I did nothing wrong." protested the man.
" And who do you think you're fooling ?" retorted his wife.
Up here, Carmen apologized for her father's behaviour.
" I think we should work in a library." said Chase.
" But why ?" wondered Carmen.
" Because I think that your father isn't thrilled that his daughter is with a boy in her room."
Carmen sighed. Yeah, she sort of suspected that. Maybe her classmate was right : at least they should be left alone in there. His father was compelled to stay here for his job. So she accepted. They worked a bit more before the young man went back home too. Carmen casted a reproaching look to her father.
Once home, Chase freed Tagg who rushed to eat cheese.
" Sooo, it's been a month now, what do you think of your partner ?" asked the kwami.
Chase stared at him, then unpacked.
" Well she's finally operational." he said.
" Told you she would." resumed Tagg before biting in his piece.
Devineaux sat on his bed. So that was her. Ladyfox. He knew her secret identity. That wasn't supposed to happen, it was for protecting both of them should Lord Butterfly capture one of them. He asked Tagg when she appeared, what would happen if that secret was discovered. The kwami said that they had to give up their miraculous to preserve them. No. No way. Chase didn't want to stop being Lone Wolf. Apart from being a duty he was taking very seriously, he had to admit it was nice to have a partner, someone to trust and who had his back. So, he decided to play by his rules. He'd keep quiet. Tagg wouldn't know about this, no one would. Plus, Carmen too had someone who knew her secret. Surely her kwami was aware, but she still had her miraculous. Exceptions were possible then. Anyway, he had some homework to do before going to work.
