The akuma alert came through on everyone's phone at once, but it was a bit moot, as the screaming from downstairs was a bit of a giveaway.

"Oh Hell," Caline said. She bolted for the door to her room and threw it open. "What's going on?" She called out to the fleeing students.

"It's Ms. Mendeleiev!" A student cried out. "She's been akumatized! She's holding her class hostage!"

Caline sighed and turned to face her class. "Okay everyone, since Ms. Mendeleiev is akumatized and everyone else's class is on their way to the gym, I want you to take the back stairwell and get out of here. Class is dismissed for the day." She blew a hair out of her face. "It's not like we were learning today, anyway."

An explosion shook the school. The kids cried out in a panic, but Caline was having none of it. "Everyone, calm down!" She looked to Chloé. "Sweetie, I hate to ask, but…"

"Of course you can ask! Be amazed, peasants! Pollen, buzz on!" Chloé shouted. She transformed right then and there. "Queen Bee is on the case!"

"Wait," Caline said. She held up a hand. "Dear? What have we talked about?"

Chloé's body language completely shifted. She instantly cringed and mumbled, "Don't call other people peasants."

Caine nodded. "And what do we do when we call someone that?"

Chloé glanced at the class. "...Sorry."

The class murmured something back. It might have been an okay? Maybe a don't worry about it? Honestly, it was kind of hard to tell.

Caline patted her on the shoulder. "Thank you, dear. And I get it, your transformation is awesome. Now, recon first, okay? Let us know what just happened and if it's safe. If things look bad, pull back and give some other heroes time to back you up."

"But I can do this," Chloé said. "It's just the science teacher, for crying out loud. I can…"

"Chloé," Caline said. "Right now, you're the senior hero here. That means you're running point. Do you understand that?"

Chloé's eyes widened a bit. "Um, yes Ma'am."

"Good," Caline said. "That means I need you to do the leader thing and make sure you know what the situation is, so when your team gets here, you can fill them in. Can you do that for me and be careful? Please?"

Chloé frowned, but she eventually nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, okay, you're right. I guess I can."

"Good. That blast came from the back of the school. Can you make sure we still have an exit?"

"On it," Chloé said as she bolted out the door. Caline watched her go and then downed her cocoa.

"That kid is gonna give me an ulcer," she muttered.

Meanwhile, Adrien had scooted closer to Marinette and was holding her hand.

"Hey," he said. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Marinette said, slightly distracted. She was trying to figure out a way to get her earrings to Caline, but with Adrien right there, as well as the rest of the class…

"How are you feeling? That blast shook us up pretty good. Um, are you, um, okay-okay?" Adrien asked, his voice dripping with concern.

Marinette glanced at him and smiled. She kissed his cheek. "I'm pretty tough, actually. I'm okay. Promise."

"Okay," he said, still concerned.

A moment later, a very singed Queen Bee shuffled back into the classroom. She was smoking. Literally.

"Are you okay?" Caline asked in a slightly panicked voice.

Chloé nodded and grabbed a water bottle off Marinette's desk.

"Um, that's mine?" Marinette said.

"And I thank you," Chloé said back. She drank some of it and poured the rest over her head, dousing her smoking bits. "Yeah, I'm just great. Listen up! The back stairwell is too close to the akuma. It's too dangerous, but we might be able to sneak past and go out through the front."

Mylene raised her hand. "What about the akuma? What is it?"

Chloé shook some of the water off of her and pointed at Mylene. "Great question! She's called Romantica, and so far, all she's done is put a force bubble around her classroom. Pretty docile. That was the explosion, apparently. From her monologue, it sounds like only romantic couples can get in."

Adrien raised his hand.

"Yes, Adrikins?" Chloé asked.

"Do you know where her akuma is? Or what caused this?"

Chloé shrugged. "No clue on what caused this. And I didn't see anything that popped out."

Marinette raised her hand.

Chloé sighed. "Dupain-Cheng?"

"What was she wearing? Did she have anything strange, or unusual? Anything that looked out of place or that her powers were focused around?"

Chloé stared for a moment. "That's a really good question. Huh. Well, she's in a tacky green heart-covered bodysuit and she's got Bunsen Burners on her wrists. Um, she was wearing an owl necklace that was admittedly out of place, but other than that… Okay, yeah. It was probably the necklace."

"Owl?" Caline asked. She put her hand to her forehead and took a deep breath. "Dammit, I told her, I told her that was a bad idea."

"What's wrong?" Marinette asked.

Caline looked to her and bit her lip. "Well, it's not really my place to say, but, um, Ms. Mendeleiev may have, um, been involved with Principal Damocles."

The class stared.

Caline looked back at them.

"…Romantically."

"EEEEEEEW!" The class cried out as one.

Sabrina raised her hand. "So, what's the big deal?"

"The school board has a strict policy about employees dating," Caline said. "My guess is he must have called it off, and she probably snapped. Great. Just great. Juleka's idea was on point. I actually had a nice art walk planned for this afternoon, and we were going to read outside to finish our day."

The class made various disappointed noises. Admittedly, that did sound nice.

"Okay," Caline said. "Queen Bee, get everyone outside and to safety. In the meantime, it looks like we'll just have to wait for the most famous romantic hero couple in Paris to arrive."

"But," Rose said. "Ladybug hasn't been seen in weeks! How can she team up with Chat Noir if she's missing?"

"And what if they're not romantically involved?" Marinette asked.

The class went quiet. All eyes were on Marinette.

"What?" Marinette asked. "They're just friends."

The class continued to stare.

Kim finally yelled out, "Seriously?!" Before Alix elbowed him.

"Give me strength," Caline muttered. "I was referring to Rena Rouge and Carapace. I'm sure once everyone leaves, they'll be happy to jump in and help."

Alya and Nino both blushed and took each other's hand. "I bet you're right," Alya said, her eyes blazing. "Come on, everyone. Let's get moving!"

As the class filed out, Marinette was sure to leave a small box on Caline's desk. Caline in turn nodded and winked as Adrien led Marinette out and to safety.

Five minutes later, Chloé was standing in front of a pink barrier and poking at it with a measuring stick. Each time she did, the stick would sear as the barrier crackled around it.

"Yeah, not touching that again," she muttered.

"Hey," Mamabug rounded the corner and whistled as she saw the barrier. "So, she really pulled this number?"

Chloé shrugged. "I mean, it could've been worse. Like, it's better than a zombie army akuma. I'd… Oh crap. Sorry! I'm sorry. I didn't…"

"It's cool," Caline said. "And yeah, I agree."

"Yeesh!" Chat Noir said as he dropped down the stairwell at the end of the hall and ran up to them. "That's, um, very pink?"

"Don't touch it," Chloé warned. "Unless you're into pain and all. In that case? Go for it."

Chat shook his head. "I'm good. Where's Rena Rouge and Carapace?"

Chloé glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. "Why would you be concerned where they are for this akuma?"

Chat nervously scratched the back of his head and grinned. "Um, because they're valued team members?"

"We're here!" Alya called out. The group turned to see and out of breath Rena Rouge and Carapace arrive.

"Sorry dudes," Carapace said, smiling. "We got a little hung up, but we're ready to rock."

"FOOLS!" Romantica hollered. "Only true love may get past this point! All others shall fall in a fit of fiery doom! If your heart be unsure, or even slightly out of sync, then you will tase my wrath! True love is the only thing that matters here!"

"This is so stupid," Chloé groaned.

"Fit of fiery doom?" Chat asked.

"She's always been dramatic," Caline deadpanned.

Nino smiled and took Alya's hand. "You ready, babe?"

Alya stared at the akuma for a moment… And hesitated.

"Uh, babe?" Nino asked. "What's wrong?"

Alya looked to Nino and quickly smiled. "Nothing," she said. "It's nothing. I, um… Let's do this!"

Nino nodded. The two heroes held each other's hands and marched into the portal…

…Only to be electrocuted and blasted back into the hallway.

Oh, snap!

This one was short, but the next part made it too long, so I split it. Also, the site wasn't letting files upload yesterday. Sorry for the delay.

NEXT TIME!

A couple in peril!

A certain someone tries to help!

And... Chat Noir finally connects the dots on a shocking realization!

Be here tomorrow! Same bug time, same bug channel!

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