Chapter 4
THE NEXT DAY - MORNING: Collège Françoise Dupont (François Dupont High School)
It is a sunny day at the school. Akumas seem to be appearing with less frequency over the last week, which allowed Marinette and Adrian to focus more on school and their other activities besides being the saviors of Paris. For once in a long while they are beginning to feel like normal teenagers again.
"Marinette, over here!" -Alya called out, waving her over to where she and Nino were sitting in the courtyard.
"Hi guys." -replied Marinette waving at the same time trying to hold back a yawn.
"Staying up all night again working on your designs?" -Alya said in a concerning tone.
"Just a little. I feel really good about what I have made, but I want it to be perfect!" -Marinette replied with a small burst of energy.
"I'm sure whatever you come up with Marinette will be totally cool!" -Nino chimed in.
"Thanks you guys" -Marinette smiling at her two best friends.
After talking a little bit more and watching other students come into the school, everybody started to head for class. So far everything seemed to be coming along as any other day. The day was sunny but not hot, the sky was blue with soft clouds, and somehow Marinette felt calm, that today was going to be a good day.
Walking into history class before lunch everyone seemed to be in a routine: Sabrina was waiting on Chloe's every wish; Ivan, Juleka, Mylene, and Rose were all talking with each other; Kim was throwing paper airplanes; Max and Alix were arguing with each other trying to figure out which of their games was cooler; Nino took his seat next to Adrien and began to chat, same with Alya and Marinette; Nathaniel was still sick; and Lila was gone (which did not bother Marinette at all).
Taking it all in, Marinette sat down and started to get her sketchbook out, only to yawn again and lay her head down on her arms in front of her. She was able to close her eyes for a few minutes before Adriene figured that something wasn't right.
"Hey guys, shouldn't the teacher have been here by now?"
"Hey you are right Adrien, it is not like Mr. Stein to be late for class. I wonder if something happened" -Max stated agreeing with Adrien's observation.
"Well it is about time! I can't take any more of his lectures! They are so boooooring." -Chloe whined.
"Well maybe if you actually paid attention for once you might get something through that head of yours" -Alya replied sarcastically.
Chloe glared at Alya just as Mr. Damocles walked into the classroom.
"Now that is enough students."
"Mr. Damocles, where is Mr. Stein?" -Mylene asked.
"Sadly Mr. Stein will be out for a while. Early this morning his house caught on fire and while he was able to make it out safely, he is really shaken up by it and the only place for him to stay is out of town, so I have given him some time off."
"That is horrible! But then who will teach us?" -Alya asked.
"I am glad you said that, because your substitute teacher is here right now. I will let him introduce himself. Now you guys be good for him otherwise I will see you in my office!"
As Mr. Damocles turned around and stepped out of the classroom. In walked a man who looked to be in his early 30s, wearing white dress shoes with white dress pants, a blue dress shirt with a crimson red vest over it. Across his face sat a pair of round spectacles. To everyone's shock and surprise, it was someone who they were not expecting.
"Good morning students, my name is Mr. Croix, and I will be your history teacher today."
It had been a few weeks since Mr. Croix had walked into the class and told the students they had a day off and led to Adrien and Marinette having a special day together. A lot of the students were excited to see him thinking they would get another day off.
But Adrien, Marinette, Alya, and Nino saw something different. He didn't look the same as they had last seen him. He seemed tired, down, and out of his element.
Mr. Damocles shut the door behind him as Mr. Croix sat his briefcase on the table and began to get out some files.
"So is this another special visit? Are we about to get the day off again?!" Kim said with excitement.
"Haha not today, and besides that is not my decision to make anymore" Mr. Croix responded, shuffling through the papers.
"Why is that Mr. Croix? You don't look like you are here on official business." Alya asked inquisitively.
"That is because I'm not and no longer will be. As of two days ago I am no longer the Deputy Minister of Education. In fact I am no longer a part of the government at all." Mr. Croix explained while he continued to organize the papers, acting as if nothing had happened.
"That is horrible and unfair!" Marinette exclaimed.
"That is politics, you are used until you are no longer useful, then they find someone else. If you guys know anything about French history, this is pretty normal. But I figured since I have not taught in a while I should refresh myself, so here I am!"
Mr. Croix finished organizing his papers and took a deep breath as he figured out what he was going to do.
"From looking at the notes here, it looks like you were studying the early parts of The Great War…..I mean World War I in France. Now who can tell me why it was so important?"
The class murmured to themselves, but no one really said an answer, either from not knowing or not wanting to speak.
Mr. Croix gathered himself and tried again.
"What do you think would have happened to Paris if Germany had won?"
Again, the class didn't respond. Mr. Croix began to worry he would not be able to engage the students, especially the heroes he had taken under his wing, but then an idea hit him.
"I want all of you to close your eyes. While your eyes are closed, I want you to think about all that you love. The things you enjoy doing. What you love about Paris." -While Mr. Croix said this, he began to play relaxing music on his phone to add to the images the students were creating.
As he looked across the room he saw some of the students smiling from happiness, others blushing, and some on the verge of falling asleep. He continued to prompt the students as he turned around and began to write and draw on the chalkboard behind him.
While he was drawing Max tried to squint his eyes to see what Mr. Croix was drawing, only to suddenly feel a piece of chalk strike him in the head knocking him back in shock.
"No peeking!"
Max quickly slammed his eyes shut as Mr. Croix turned around and continued to work on the board. This continued for a few more minutes before he told the students to open their eyes.
When they opened their eyes, the students were all in shock. What before had been just a blank board, suddenly looked like the most detailed map any of them had ever seen before. There was such a precision to it none of them had ever seen, even in their textbooks.
The students began to point out things they saw on the map.
"Oh there is Paris!" Marinette pointed, obvious by the little Eiffel Tower drawing.
"And that is the Marne River." Pointed Adrien.
"What are all those different boxes with different numbers in them?" Nino inquired.
"Those must be some identification markers!" Max chimed in.
"Uh that looks like the French flag, but what's that other one?" Questioned Juleka.
"I am glad all of you like my map but now think of this. (Mr. Croix begins to draw a line dividing the various marked boxes) Remember all those things I told you to think about, now imagine this line is the only thing preventing you from losing what you love."
"But Mr Croix, you didn't connect the line, there are several gaps in it." Alya noted.
"Exactly, and that is why I am going to tell you what this map is and why this is far more important than you ever knew before."
Mr. Croix went on to give a lecture and detailed explanation of the Battle of the Marne. Unlike Ms. Bustier and their other teachers, he did not leave out the true details of war. What was eerie was how knowledgeable he was on the topic, as if he had a personal connection to it.
By the time Mr. Croix finished, class was over. A lot of the students told him how cool it was, and they hoped to see him again tomorrow. A few students hung around as the heroes went to the front to talk to him.
"That was really awesome Mr. Croix, but I am sorry to hear about your other position." Marinette gave her condolences.
"Thanks Marinette. I am sorry I was not able to be around when you and Alya were out yesterday, but I hope you both had a lot of fun"
"We did! And I think Marinette wants to see her designs modeled by Adrien on Blitz." -Alya whispered to Mr. Croix as she pointed to Adrien, who was oblivious as he talked to Nino.
Marinette's face grew bright red as she grabbed Alya by the arm and pulled her away.
"Haha I think that would be a great idea Alya! Speaking of that, Marinette, have you figured out a way to pay your entry fee into the Caen Gala?" Mr. Croix inquired.
"I am trying but the price is so high! I have been trying to sell baked treats and do some custom design work on the side, but I can only do so much, and I am exhausted." Marinette began to yawn.
"Well, it is a lot to ask someone of your age to pay that fee, but even if you don't make it, the fact you were accepted to participate is huge! That means things will continue to climb for you." Mr. Croix encouraged Marinette.
Everyone had finally left the classroom and was heading out to the courtyard and preparing to either hang around on their lunch break or leave for a little bit before afternoon classes started up.
As Mr. Croix was walking down the staircase, he heard a voice from below shout up at him.
"How dare you show your face here again! I thought you had long been exiled to Normandy. You dishonor yourself by showing up! Prepare to fight!"
The voice below came from Mr. D'Argencourt, the school's PE and fencing teacher. He had his fencing sword in his hand and looked serious about fighting Mr. Croix. A lot of the students were shocked and had no idea why he wanted to fight.
Mr. Croix did not seem to flinch or back down, instead quickly grabbing an umbrella that was leaning against the railing. He finished walking down the stairs and turned to face D'Argencourt.
"Ha you really think that will help you! You fight like a peasant." D'Argencourt boasted about the umbrella facing him.
"And it was the peasants that overthrew the lords." Mr. Croix quipped back.
Enraged, D'Argencourt lunged forward with his fencing sword and the two men began to fight. A lot of the students gathered around and began cheering. Neither men were able to land a hit on each other, with Mr. Croix using the umbrella to focus on defense while D'Argencourt kept attacking.
After a few more minutes of sparring D'Argencourt was able to get the upper hand and with a quick blow was able to disarm Mr. Croix and knock him to the floor. The students looked shocked, when all of a sudden Mr. Croix swept his feet under D'Argencourt and knocked him to the floor as well. Mr. Croix quickly got up, grabbed the umbrella, and stood over his defeated opponent, pointing the umbrella tip at his face.
Suddenly both men began to chuckle and laugh out loud as the students looked on with confusion. Mr. Croix reached down and grabbed D'Argencourt by the arm and pulled him up.
"Haha Raymond it is good to see you again! It seems you still have some honor left in you." D'Argencourt boasted.
"Armand it seems your ancestors would be proud of the fighter you have become"
Both men began to talk like old friends as they walked away from the courtyard to the entrance of the school.
"Well that is something you don't normally see teachers doing everyday" -Adrien commented.
"Yeah but dude that was awesome! It can get really boring around here but that makes it worth it! You know, maybe I will have to take you on in a courtyard duel. I feel inspired," -Nino joked, acting like he was sparring with Adrien.
"So where do you want to go to eat Alya? I packed a few things for us so we can just find a nice peaceful spot." Marinette inquired with her friend.
"Mmmmm I have an idea of where to go and I think you are going to like it" Alya grinned, looking over at Nino, giving him a thumbs up. She then quickly grabbed Marinette's hand and started to pull her toward the entrance.
There in front of the school was Henri and his horse carriage. He was standing next to it talking to Mr. Croix.
"Henri right on time! Are you ready to go, Marinette?" Alya said.
Marinette shook her head in excitement.
"Great! Nino, are you ready?"
"Yep, me and my boy Adrien are."
Suddenly Marinette's heart began to race as Adrien walked over with Nino. Alya got up into the carriage with Nino's help. Marinette and Adrien both awkwardly stared at each other for a second. Both a little embarrassed, blushing.
"Come on, let's go!" called out Alya.
Marinette began to get ready to step on the carriage when she felt a hand touch hers and on her lower back.
"Here let me help you," Adrien said, smiling.
Marinette turned bright red as she was helped into the carriage, though in classic fashion as soon as Adrien let go when she tried to sit she stumbled and fell into the seat across from Nino and Alya. They both chuckled as she sat up and Adrien sat down next to her.
Both Henri and Mr. Croix looked over at the four sitting in the carriage.
"Thanks for doing this for me Henri, I owe you one." Mr. Croix said.
"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be able to do this anymore. Consider this a thank you from me. Besides, I love it when couples get to enjoy it. You are welcome to ride up in front with me if you want." -Henri replied.
"Thanks, but I have a place I want to visit while I can. Just make sure to have these guys back for their afternoon classes."
"Will do!"
Henri got up into the driver's seat and flicked the reins to start the carriage going. As it went on, Alya waved at Mr. Croix.
"Thank you for the help with this! See you later!"
Mr. Croix waved back with a smile as he walked off. Marinette looked at Alya with a scowl realizing this had been set up, though she was not going to complain since she was getting to do it with her best friends and Adrien.
