The Raven in Paris
Chapter 3: The Carving Competition
Sunrise on the city and a new day begin, our heroes are already awaked and ready for a new day at school. At Marinette house she just awakens and about to have breakfast with her family.
"You're up early honey?" Marinette mom asked.
"Yeah, I just feel like it. It's a good thing for a chance" Marinette reply "What is for breakfast Mom?".
"Fresh baked croissants with strawberry jam, a cup of milk and some macaron for dessert, all for my little princess" Mr. Tom said while holding a tray of croissants "Have it when it hot, darling"
"Thank dad" Marinette thank in an exciting voice since she always a fan of macaron.
As they sat down and started to have breakfast. The Morning News started.
"Good Morning every one, I'm Nadja Chamack and hope you all have a wonderful morning. Let's take a quick look at the headline of today shall we" Ms. Nadja speech "Last night, three jewel stores have been break in and stolen, but luckily with the help of our superheroes no citizen were injure and the stolen jewel have been return to the store, once again our city thank the help of Ladybug and Chat Noir…"
"Three times a night, seem like the burglar had gotten a little touchy" Ms. Sabine said.
"I agree, but they have been arrested so we don't need to worry about that anymore" Mrs. Tom reply "Even if they break in here I will make sure they won't get to you or our daughter"
Marinette smile and continue her breakfast.
As Ms. Nadja continue the news and when she about to finish the new, she suddenly received a shocking news.
"This just in, last night there was a 4th case and according to the police this is the truth purpose of the gang, but the burglars were capture by the mysterious person. From the declaration of the burglars, a shadow figure attacked them and tied them up that is only thing they remember. At the scene, the police have seen a flower symbol carve on the gate door" Ms. Nadja said.
Marinette choked and try to keep her calm and remember the symbol on the door it was she have seen last night. She confused and quickly finished her breakfast.
"I Finish and I will go to my room to prepare to go to school, now" Marinette said in an anxious and worry voice like she is about to let the cat out of the bag.
"And also according to the police the 4th case Ladybug and Chat Noir didn't involve in this case, that is all till this moment" Ms. Nadja continue "The question that everyone maybe asking here is who had captured the burglars? What is this person identity"?
Marinette rushes to her room and quickly prepare her bag to go to school as she is packing. She looks around to find her books, as she looking around Tikki fly out.
"Who do you this person is, Tikki?" Marinette asked.
"I don't know Marinette; but I have a feeling that I see that symbol somewhere before, I just couldn't remember" Tikki respond "Beside if that person is the one that help us then whoever it was isn't bad person"
"Well let's put that a side, I have to run now or else I will be late for school again" Marinette continue while packing her back.
While she on her way to school she continue to think about the mysterious person that had helped them, she was thinking if this could be someone she known. As she was arriving at school she meets up with Alya.
"Hey girl, you up earlier than usual" Alya asked.
"Well it isn't bad to wake up early once a while" Marinette reply.
"I'm proud about you girl, Oh have you heard about the news" Alya continue "I couldn't believe this. Another superhero arrived at our city, I really want to interview this new hero and put it on my blog"
"Whoa there, don't be too exciting about this we don't even know who this person could be and what is his or her intension. What if that person is evil?" Marinette reply in a worrying voice.
"Nonsense girl, I believe that whoever that was is a good person. Beside if they were evil why did they decided to help Ladybug and Chat Noir?" Alya asked back.
"Yeah, you could be right" Marinette reply in a more relax voice "Maybe it's just me, now let's get to school"
When they just get to the school gate they see Adrien and Nino just arrived at the school.
"Marinette you get up early than usual" Nino asked.
"You too Nino" Marinette reply "It feel so great to get to school before it's too late".
"Have you guy heard the new? A new hero arrived" Alya ask.
"Oh yes, I just watch the new this morning" Adrien reply "That symbol on the gate is really elegant and fascinating, I wonder if that could be that person symbol".
"What do you think about it Marinette?" Adrien turn to Marinette and asked.
"Who?! Me?! …I…I…thank! I mean I think… that sambol…Symbol is very fashionable. I think I have a lot of inspirations from it, that could also become a logo of a famous brands" Marinette shutter and tries to make up a complete line. They continue to talk till the bell ring, they get to their art classes to participate new lessons.
"Kid welcome to my art classes" Ms. Laurent said in front the whole classes.
Everyone were surprised and shocked, mostly Chloé. They though Ms. Laurent only teach Fencing and weren't expecting this. They started to babbling and rumoring.
"Ms. Laurent?" Nathaniel ask "Do you know where our professor is?".
"Oh about that, he just goes on a vacation and since I have plenty of time. Mr. Damocles have positioned me at art teacher as well" Ms. Laurent kindly reply.
"This is ridiculous; I couldn't believe that I have to stand her for two days straight. Just looking at her face make me disgust" Chloé said.
Ms. Laurent glance at her and turn her attention to Chloé.
"Oh, you again? Are you the infamous Chloé Bourgeois" Ms. Laurent said "I think I meet you yesterday right? Hope you remember what I said, if you have already forgot I won't mind remind you".
"Oh please, Ms. Laurent who do you think you are? You're just lucky that my father is busy, hope you enjoy your last day of teaching at this school" Chloé arrogantly talked back to Ms. Laurent.
"Well you could be arguing as much as you like but I won't be sitting here all day to argue with you, if you would like to call your 'daddy'. I won't hold back so mark my words" Ms. Laurent reply with an intimidate voice, her arrogant manner making she even more frightening.
"Huh! Seeing you being fired will be the last thing I do" Chloé continue try to talked back.
"We shall see about that" Ms. Laurent continue and smirk.
"Now kids, as you all know Art and Fencing may not have much in common but in fact they share some similarities" Ms. Laurent after her 'little' talk with Chloé continue the classes "Like when you draw an apple you have to be precise and timing perfectly, if the drawn are to slow it will cause the line to be too depth, if you are too quick the line will become useable. Exactly like Fencing you have to timing perfect, choosing the right moment to strike will be the different between victory and defeat you won't have the second chance when you missed it".
"So today we would learn about the first aspect of art. Precision" Ms. Laurent said.
As she finished, she brought out a log and a couple of carving tools with some safety gloves and googles.
"Classes today we will have a small test. You all will be having 1 hours to carved this log into whatever you like, I will be judging base on 3 categories: Creativity, Elaboration and of course Precision".
Everyone still confused a little but they started to carving. The carve are varies, they mostly choose an animal some carve a figure of a person.
"Alya do you have anything in mind yet?" Marinette asked.
"I don't know girl, but I think I will carve an animal. Maybe a fox will be good" Alya reply "And you? What do you think you gonna carve?"
"I don't really have anything I could thought of" Marinette reply.
"Come on girl, I know you will think of something soon. For example, you could take your passion and turn it into a carve" Alya said to try to inspirer "You are very good at fashion designing so you could recreate your design or created a new one, like the hat that you create when we were having the hat designing contest".
"You are right Alya, I think I do have some things I could carve now. Thank you Alya" Marinette reply.
"That the spirit girl, hope you come out on top" Alya said in a happy voice.
Time quickly passing by and in a flash everyone had nearly finished their sculpt. Ms. Laurent walking around the room and glancing upon every carve in the room, she seems to be impressive a lot. When the time up everyone is finish, even Chloé.
"Time up, class place your 'carves in front of the table" Ms. Laurent said "I will begin judging, and remember this is just a little test there will be no winner".
Ms. Laurent started at Kim's table, she confused and wander what she is looking at. The log is badly hack away and it mostly resemble a badly dismember figure of human.
"Kim? Do you mind explaining what are you trying carve?" Ms. Laurent simplify ask.
"I'm carving a human, since it's the mostly simplest" Kim confidently reply.
"That supposed to be a human?" Ms. Laurent confusingly continue.
"Yes, it's a walking person" Kim continue.
"Well this do look like a walking person" Ms. Laurent sarcastically said "A person that just walk off from a car accident".
Kim's mouth shut and look quite disappointed about himself, he doesn't expect this harsh judgement from Ms. Laurent. But just before Kim said anything, she takes a carving knife and started to recreated Kim's carve. Her move is quick and delicate, in a flash she turns a disfigure humanoid carve and turn in to a detail and cute looking monkey. Just like magic.
"Here this is very suit you, a monkey" Ms. Laurent talk in a comfort voice "A symbol of young and playful spirit, very cheerful and slight silliness".
"Don't be so bump out on your first try, everyone make mistake but the courage to continue that count. It isn't too bad for the first try" Ms. Laurent cheering Kim up.
"Thank Ms. Laurent" Kim happily take the carve.
She lightly nods and continue to Kagami table, she looked pleased to what Kagami had created. A beautiful and flawless carve of an eastern dragon. It looks alive and very detail, the carve looked like it's a real thing.
"Oh, a dragon" Ms. Surprised "This is very fascinating Kagami, do you mind explain what is the inspiration of it?".
"Dragon is the symbol of auspicious in my culture, according to the legend. A dragon carves or sculpts in a house will bring good luck and health to the house owner" Kagami explain "This is my recreation of one of the dragon sculpt in my house".
"Very good Kagami, the carve is so detail and I could see the scales of the dragon. This dragon resembles a fierce and mighty creature that roam the sky like the king of all-creature" Ms. Laurent continue "This carve is near-perfect, it has Precision and Elaboration but it's too classic and you forgot the third elements of this test, Creativity".
"Even though this carve is beautiful, it's basically another person creation and you just recreated it".
Kagami even though feel a little disappoint of herself, but thank to Ms. Laurent she realizes her flaw.
"I see thank you Ms. Laurent, I will improve my creativity next time and create my own next time" Kagami respectably reply.
She pleased and continue. And come to the Cholé, to her surprised Cholé did created a carve and a good one to be exact, she looks at the carve and glancing back to Cholé.
"What the matter Ms. Laurent, isn't this is the most beautiful carve in the classes. This carve should get a prize and a carve of myself really shown the different between a high rank person like me and the normal person like all of you" Cholé arrogantly speech like she is a celeb.
"This does look good, but I think it could use some improvement" Ms. Laurent reply.
Ms. Laurent took her carve knife and quickly carve Cholé and turn it into a carve of Sabrina. The real person that make that carve, quicker than the time it takes for Cholé to applause herself.
"WHAT THE?!" Cholé said loud and clear "How dare you destroy my precious carve".
"I said to do it yourself, not making someone else to do your own job" Ms. Laurent reply in serious tone and handing the newly carve to Sabrina "I believe you is the one who deserve this carve".
Cholé blush and embarrassing, speechless is the only word that could descried Cholé at this moment, Sabrina taking the carve and very happy for her carve to be recognized. Ms. Laurent moving on and stop at Nathaniel's table.
"Nathaniel right? I heard that you are an artist is that true?" Ms. Laurent asked.
"Y-yes" Nathaniel shutter and answer back.
"Well lil'artist, do you mind explain what your' carve is?" Ms. Laurent continue.
"This is our city beloved heroes. They are Queen Bee, Carapace, Rena Rouge and finally Ladybug and Chat Noir. I try my best to recreated them as a team"
"Oh so this is the city' heroes that I heard about" Ms. Laurent happily reply.
"This carve even though isn't a flawless and beautifully carve and the curved is quite rough, but this is very creative if you compare to every carve I have seen, not too bad for a first time" Ms. Laurent said.
"Thank you Ms. Laurent" Nathaniel reply.
She continues to next table and mostly everyone does the same things as she expected, she judges and appreciated mostly all of the carve. No one really amuse her, as she proceeds she come to Marinette and Adrien tables.
"Oh if I remember correctly, I fought you two yesterdays' right?" Ms. Laurent said "Let's see, we have here a wheel of cheese and a plume hat. Let's started off with the cheese"
"Adrien what is your inspiration behind this, would you mind explain that?" Ms. Laurent ask.
"I just do what I like, I like cheese a lot and I really want to implement it into the carve" Adrien reply.
"I see; this look like a camembert. A very famous cheese of the town with the same name located at the Normandy, northern region of France" Ms. Laurent briefly explain the origin of the cheese "I like how you detail it here, the cheese oozed out very nature and I like how you still keep the ridged edge of a cheese. Very good Adrien"
"Thank Ms. Laurent" Adrien happily reply.
"Now Marinette, explain to me what is the inspiration of yours carve" Ms. Laurent switch over to Marinette.
"Well this is an upgraded version of the previous hat I did, the previous one was a derby hat with artisan edge and a feather. This time I took inspiration of a pillbox hat and plume, a type of bird feathers that are make for hat" Marinette said.
"I see; you have a very unique taste of fashion Marinette. If this hat was on a fashion show, I think it will get recognized. This is quite detail and creative of you" Ms. Laurent applause Marinette.
After all of the judging, everyone all get good and bad review. And though everyone know this isn't contest and there won't be a winner, they still excited about this test.
"Now class, after what I seen. Everyone here did a good job for the first time, most of you did what I ask for. The most beautiful carve I seen is Marinette and Kagami 'carve very elegant and detail from both of you" Ms. Laurent speech in front of everyone "But the most creative carve belong to Nathaniel, even though his carve isn't the most delicate nor precision. But his carve is a big thank to our city' heroes, and I give credit for that as well"
"Now classes, you could bring you carve home or leave it here. But the next time I will be expecting more than this, so be prepare. Class dismiss" As she finished her sentence the bell ring and everyone head out the class.
Everyone go one their way to the yard and talk, Cholé is still angry after what have happen.
"Wow girl, I didn't know you know carving" Alya Surprisingly ask.
"Oh it's nothing Alya I just do it by instinct" Marinette reply.
"Yeah you have some great skill there, Marinette. Yours carve are better than mine" Adrien said.
"T-thank you Adrien" Marinette said in a little shutter.
"Yeah, you have the greatest crave in the class Marinette" Nathaniel said
"Thank Nathaniel, you have a very nice carve too. I didn't know you really like our city heroes" Marinette continue.
"Who doesn't, they protect our city countless time" Nino said
"Well I always want to be a superhero. But that will just be a dream" Nathaniel continue.
"I think that you are a great person Nathaniel, I think that someday that your dream will come true" Marinette said in an encourage voice.
"OH please, do you think that he even has what it takes to be a superhero. He just a wimp" Cholé sarcastically insulted.
"Come on Cholé, just because you get humiliate because of your own flaw doesn't mean you have the right to insult someone else" Marinette defended "Beside if Ladybug was to chooses a new person to join the team, I believe that Nathaniel will have a good chance to become one".
"After all everyone could be a superhero as long as they have a will to protect Paris even without the Miraculous" Marinette continue.
Everyone are agreeing with what Marinette said, Cholé her mouth shut and her inner flame ignite she try to trash talk back but no used. She angry and try to take Nathaniel carve by force.
"What are you doing!" Nathaniel yelled while continue to protect the carve.
"You don't have the right to own this" Cholé said.
"YES I DO" Nathaniel continue to hold the carve "I CARVE THIS MYSELF"
"When I said something is mine its mine" Cholé arrogantly and overbearing continue the fight.
When a sudden the carve fall out of two of their hand, fall to the ground and break into pieces, Nathaniel desperately try to take every pieces back and try to put it together, standing aside Marinette hand him a hand.
"This is what you get for not doing what I said!" still arrogantly like a b#tch.
"Really Cholé do you think that what you are doing is right?" Marinette angrily yell at Cholé "You don't feel any guilt about what you have done? I couldn't believe a superhero could have said that without any hesitate, no wonder that you aren't worthy to be a superhero anymore" Marinette was furious.
As Cholé ready to talk back, she feels a chill down her spine and feel like something is approaching her. A shadow indicate that someone is standing behind her, it's Ms. Laurent with a killer intent coming from her.
"Ms. Laurent?" Marinette surprisingly.
"Miss Cholé, what are you doing?" Ms. Laurent said in a cold voice.