Author's Notes: Hey everyone sorry for such a long wait. Life is busy and if I'm being honest I lost interest in Miraculous Ladybug for a little while. But with the new season coming out at last, my interest has rekindled and I am back to finish this story. I want to warn you I did add some Biblical references in this chapter. I don't normally mix my faith too much in my stories that are not specifically labeled Christian Based, but I couldn't get it out of my head with my current ministry studies on my mind. So please no bashing, feel free to skim over that part or just don't read it if you want to. I do hope I make it all worth the wait.
At the park after school, despite only getting confirmation from Max, Kim, Rose, and Juleka the whole class minus Marinette and Lila met up at the park right after school.
Even Chloe and Sabrina who had over heard Adrian and Nino talking about the meet showed up. Though no one could decide if they were more suprised by that or innoyed.
Maylen convinced Ivan to come while Rose and Juleka convinced Alex to come. Nathaniel just simply showed up.
Alya stepped in front of the group. "Okay everyone I do believe I owe an apology for this morning. I should have known that I would need more proof of Lila's behavior.
"Well that is a bit of an understatement." Alex snorted.
Alya nodded. "Nevertheless thank you for meeting with me again." Alya said.
"Juleka and I saw Lila follow Marinette into the bathroom after class today. I didn't believe what you had said earlier so we followed them to disprove you but... (Sniff, sniff.)" Rose did not get to finish as tears filled her eyes and she placed both hands over her mouth to keep from sobbing.
Juleka rubbed Rose's back comforting. "But Lila spoke to Marinette in a rather evil manner, while Marinette merely asked Lila to do the right thing before passively walking away." Juleka mumbled shyly as her and Rose held one another.
The class looked at the two in shock for a moment before Max stepped forward hesitantly. "Um, earlier when we took Lila to the nurse's office to take care of her sprained ankle Nurse Cecilia looked it over and said there was nothing wrong with her ankle."
" She said if it was sprained or even just twisted there would be swelling, but there was no signs of an injury and even if it was sprained Kim carrying her around was unnecessary as only a break would cause that type of pain."
"The fact that I did not know that after all the sport injuries I have looked up for Kim makes me feel kinda stupid. " Max admitted sheepishly.
No one really knew what to say to that. Alya stood there dumbfounded at how quickly everything switched up since that morning.
Perhaps Lila's demise would be a lot more simpler to achieve then Alya had originally planned.
"You know, after I saw for myself Lila's true colors I was filled with righteous fury and wanted to gather all of you together so we could chase her off with pitchforks and torches." Alya said, earning some strange looks from all her classmates.
"However that was very impulse and ill-considered of me. It just never dawned on me that just because I gained a different view of Lila, does not mean you all had done so yourself." Alya admitted swallowing her pride.
"You got that right." Alex said though she seemed a little more receptive now. Alya nodded and continued.
"That being said let me start over. I personally have not taken the time to stop and look into things before making assumptions or dubble check the facts first. As a result the effects of my impetuous behavior has carelessly caused Marinette problems."
"And while I don't want to point fingers at anyone, I know I am not the only one to have made that mistake." Alya said.
Before anyone could agree or disagree with that statement a rather notorious high pitched voice cut in.
"Get to the point on how you intend to fix it Césaire, cause I am the only one allowed to make Dupain-Cheng's life miserable and I want to go spa after dealing with all you peasants." Chloe snapped impatiently.
"I don't believe anyone asked you to be here in the first place." Ivan grumbled, most of the class muttered in agreement.
Chloe scoffed and was about to reply but was cut off by Adrian. "So what do you want to do about this Alya?" He asked redirecting the conversation back on topic.
"Well as I said earlier, I had wanted to go all pitchforks and torches; gathering as much dirt on Lila and her behavior as possible then march it down to the embassy where her mother works to expose her."
"Logically speaking because her mother is an ambassador between France and Italy, revealing Lila's behavior to her mom would cause a ripple effect that would take care of Lila efficiently. However I'm no longer sure that route is correct or really necessary." Alya explained holding a hand up to Adrien who tried to comment before her last sentence.
"So what are you thinking now?" Maylen prompted.
"I'm thinking we should stop taking everything at face value. Ask for clarification or proof on things Lila has said. Start looking up proper treatment for her 'disabilities'. Maybe even start asking her for some of the things she has promised us."
"That way if anyone is still uncertain about whether Lila is a good person or not can learn for themselves. It will also take away the control Lila has been slowly trying to gain over the class."
"I also think we should at least hear Marinette out when she tries to tell us something instead of just brushing it off as jealousy. Marinette has done alot for us and has always been there when we needed her. We should pay the same courtesy and care to her." Alya said firmly.
For a few minutes there were mutters amongst the whole class as they mulled over Alya's suggestion. Chloe's voice broke through the chatter like nails on a chalk board.
"Ridiculous Utterly Ridiculous! How is that going to solve anything Césaire? Your original plan to chase her out of Paris with pitchforks and torches was a far better idea. I could even have daddy buy me one of each in gold." The spoiled blonde said flipping back her hair.
"It is a starting point for revealing Lila's true colors. Nothing I suggested is unreasonable and are things we probably should have done from the beginning." Alya said firmly feeling rather innoyed.
"By their fruits you will know them." Maylen muttered quietly. However the class still heard her.
"What about fruits? Do you have any on you? Oranges are my favorite!" Kim said causing Max to roll his eyes at his friend.
"I don't think thats what she meant." Max said plainly.
Maylen blushed shyly but spoke up. "Um someone really important once said you will know them by their fruits. Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit or none at all. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit or none at all is cut down. So then, you will know them by their fruits." She quoted firmly.
"What?!" Alex asked forcefully as everyone looked at Maylen perplexed. However understanding and recognition flashed across Alya's face.
"Thats a parable in the Book Of Matthew isn't it?" Alya asked which Maylen nodded to.
"A parable?" Adrian asked confused.
Alya nodded. "Its a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. I have never seen that one applied to real life before but it makes sense." The reporter said more to herself than anyone else.
"Okay I am really confused. What does a story about fruit trees have anything to do with Lila and Marinette?" Kim asked scratching the back of his head.
"It is an illustration about character and deeds. We all know despite her sometimes questionable tendencies, Marinette is a good person who bears good fruit or deeds. What Alya was suggesting was to take a step back and look at Lila's 'fruit' to determine if she is a good or bad tree which will determine if she should be cut down or not." Maylen explained.
Kim still looked puzzled and Chloe scoffed looking bored but the remainder of the class seemed to understanding.
"Okay so you are essentially asking us to unbiasedly watch Marinette and Lila's behavior to determine what is truly going on before deciding what to do about it." Alex summarized which Maylen and Alya nodded to.
"You could have just said that from the start." Kim said finally getting it.
"I still like the idea of pitchforks and torches better. That plan is one I would have even been willing to partake in. But I think I have heard enough of you imbeciles." Chloe declared walking away much to the groups relief.
The next day at school Marinette walked into the classroom not sure what to expect. Alya had told her she would take care of Lila and asked her to step back since her temper normally only makes thing worse.
Marinette couldn't really disagree but was not sure what her friend was planning. The day before the class still fawned over Lila but also seemed to show Marinette special attention.
If Alya's plan to take care of Lila is to get the class to try and spoil Marinette long enough to make Lila mad so she shows her true colors; then Marinette is going to need to have a serious talk with her BFF.
It will not do to have the class watching her so much that she can't easily escape during an akuma attack. Marinette also did not really want Lila's wrath directed at her more than it already was.
"Morning Marinette." Alya greeted with a wide smile.
"Morning Alya. Hey what did you tell the class yesterday? Because everyone seemed to pay extra special attention to me but nothing actually seemed done about Lila." Marinette inquired.
Alya smiled at her friend. "I just reminded them how much you do for the class and asked them to spoil you a little bit in return." She said playfully.
Marinette gave her friend a soft glare. "Alya I don't do that stuff for the class so that they will spoil me. I do it because I like helping others." Marinette states.
"That doesn't mean you don't deserve it every once and a while. And as for the Lila situation, that is going to take a little bit of time. I need you to just be patient and withstanding for the time being. Okay?" Alya explained giving her BFF a serious look.
Marinette let out a sigh. "Okay." She said turning to look at Adrien who just walked through the door.
At that moment Tikki and Plagg slipped away from both of their holders and hid up in one of the upper windows seals in the far back corner of the room.