Chapter: Miraculous chaos
The Next Day…..
Madeline frowned as she flipped through the multiple pages the book held, trying to translate the text in her head. The young Padawan wanted to find out where she heard about Miraculous Ladybug. She was certain it was somewhere in China but she couldn't quite remember, so she went to the Library to see if they had anything. All day she had been searching every source she could think of and still came up empty handed. So far she couldn't find anything. Not even any lore on the hero. Searching the Internet earlier that day hadn't helped any, except she found a blog dedicated to the polka dotted hero. It seemed that there was an entire forum, a fan club, heck even videos of the mysterious hero and her sidekick fighting strange people. But none of the websites or books held any information on who exactly these real life superheroes were.
Groaning with defeat, Madeline placed the book down and lay down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Yesterday was pretty eventful, which surprised Madeline. Normally, the three Jedi in hiding would have a dull two months before something spooked Master Selma into moving. Going over the day in her head, she smiled slightly. Yesterday she went to the library, met a girl named Marinette whose parents were bakers, actually met Adrien Agreste and spoke with him, which was pretty cool, and that was it. Nothing else happened, and when she arrived back to the dojo, she found that Selma was still at her meeting with Monsieur Damocles. So Madeline ate a light lunch and retreated to her room, while her brother was playing on the gaming cube, to try and decipher the mystery that was Cat Noir and Ladybug.
Sighing, Madeline glanced back over to the book, the golden Chinese lettering mocking her. Sitting back up, the young brunette decided to flip through the book once more, but slowly, her trained eyes scanning the spine or the cover for any hidden pockets or tabs. It was then she noticed the very back cover in the back of the book had some peeling coming off it, revealing some sort of false back. Madeline picked at the peel, pulling it back gently to reveal a false part. Jackpot. Taped to the back was an old map of some sort. It looked yellow and cracked, so Madeline was afraid to touch it. Unable to take the temptation any longer, the young Padawan slowly untapped the map. Opening up, she saw it was an old map of the Parisian Catacombs and sewer systems from 1830. The date was elegantly marked on the very bottom, next to an emblem of what looked like a turtle shell. Madeline remembered that the turtle was a symbol of longevity, strength, determination, and endurance, along with other things. It is said to provide protection good fortune, and brings happiness. But what was this map doing in a book of Chinese mythology? The young Padawan rubbed her head as she attempted to quell an upcoming headache that was forming. Nothing made sense, so she decided to head down to the dojo to work on some problems she was having with Form 5, or Shien/Djem So. The first part of Form 5, Shien, was mainly used to block blaster bolts, but it was soon adapted for lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, hence the second part Djem So. While Madeline preferred Form 2 or Makashi, Master Selma made them relearn all of the forms, allowing them to put their own little flare to them. She sighed as she picked up a wooden bow from the side of the upstairs training wall.
Taking deep breaths, Madeline quieted her mind, letting the force transport her to the place she felt more at home, besides the Jedi Temple: the battlefield. It was the one place she felt like she could lose all her problems, in the midst of blaster fire, and explosions. In her practice, she placed herself in the middle of a droid squad of a hundred, their weapons locked and loaded on her. The wooden bow transformed, the handle shifting to become a slightly curved light saber hilt, the blade glowing with a light blue glow. The droids suddenly opened fire, which prompted Madeline to block the saber, moving her feet and adjusting her form accordingly. After all the imaginary droids had been destroyed, she willed her imagination to form more, this time OG-9 homing spider droids. After that was taken care of, Madeline willed herself out of her trance, to see Master Selma standing in the doorway, with a slight smile on her face.
"Sit please," Selma ordered gently. "I need to speak with you."
Madeline silently took her seat in front of the Jedi Master, still out of breath from her practice. Master Selma took her time getting comfortable in front of the Padawan, letting the silence thicken.
"I know that you and your brother have had a rough time since the fall of the Order," Selma started. "And I am well aware that moving around for the past two years hasn't helped matters any either. But you know as well as I do that there others that escape and the Emperor will not stop until all the Jedi are dead." Madeline started to say something but Selma held up a hand to cut her off. "I know that you and your brother aren't the younglings that studied at the temple. But there are assassins that are more advanced and trained than you. Besides I had a talk with Monsieur Damocles and he said that it was too late in the year for any new students to be enrolled. I wish that I could give you a normal life."
"I have accepted the fact that I won't get one," Madeline admitted. She had to blink back the tears that threatened to spill. Selma sighed dejectedly as the silence returned.
"But it is not your fault nor is it mine," Selma told the young Padawan. She lifted Madeline's chin so their eyes were meeting. "It is just how our life was fated. It is because we are Jedi, and please don't ever forget that." Madeline couldn't help but break down, sobbing into Selma's shoulder. The Jedi Master stroked the young girl's back in soothing circles until her sobs quieted down. The two pulled away and Selma stared into the brown eyes of Madeline Moraes. They held secrets and had seen things no child should ever see. But that was the life and fate of Jedi.
"How about you go and take a nap?" Selma suggested. "Michael told me about how you haven't been sleeping well since you've been having nightmares."
"Okay," Madeline agreed. She suddenly sagged with exhaustion. Madeline felt so exhausted that the fact that Michael told Master Selma about her nightmares didn't register. She yawned, and started to wearily make her way to her room, where she collapsed on her bed in exhaustion.
-Line break-
Marinette sighed as she tried to focus on her homework but it was so difficult. She decided to call Alya over so they could hang out and help each other with homework. The young reporter readily agreed so, and announced that she was on her way immediately. Eventually she arrived and they worked on their chemistry homework for about an hour before chatting about things such as the recent gossip, wondering who was going to play at the dance, who was going with who and laughing at Chloe's fake spray on tan that she recently gotten. Eventually they decided to enjoy the spring day and went on a walk. The two ended up at the new dojo, though they had no reason why they ended up there even though they had been aiming for the Eiffel Tower. When the two best friends entered, they were both overwhelmed with a sense of peace and tranquility that washed over them. The place had plan crème colored walls, with a banner with a strange symbol on it hanging on the right wall. The walls also held multiple weapons, which included katanas and other Japanese weapons. There was a stairwell that Marinette assumed went up to the living places. The entire place was very well put together and just had a sense of calm that the raven-haired designer desperately needed. Especially these days with her being a super hero.
"Hello?" Alya called out.
"I don't think anyone's here," Marinette suggested. But then they heard rustling upstairs before a pretty cute guy came running down the stairs. It wouldn't be too bad, except for the fact that he was shirtless, showing off his abs and six pack. The two girls blushed as they stood in awkward silence, until the boy cleared his throat.
"Sorry girls but my mother's not here right now, so you'll just have to come back," the guy said and Marinette just melted slightly at the sound of his voice. It was very deep and smooth but she immediately overcame it. She did love Adrien.
"Oh we're not here for your mother," Alya said. "We just were walking around.'
"Oh," the guy said. His eyebrow scrunched up. "Hey aren't the girl who interviewed my mother for that website? What was it….uh Ladyblog?"
"Totally."
"And who are you?"
"Oh I'm her friend Marinette."
"Pleasure to meet you." The two shook hands until there was a yawn at the top of the stairs. The three of them turned to see a girl with hair that deified gravity and slight bags under her eyes.
"Michael who's there?" she asked drowsily. Marinette and Alya both heard her scratchy voice and immediately deduced that she woke up from a nap.
"The girl who interviewed mother a couple of days ago," Michael explained. The girl stared blankly at them, smacking her lips slightly before nodding and walking down the stairs.
"That's my twin sister Madeline," Michael explained to the two girls as the brunette sat down on what looked like a mediation mat. "Yo Mads, wake up."
The girl shook her head and sniffed before her eyes lost the glazed look that usually accompanied waking up from a nap. She yawned, blinking in surprise at the faces that appeared to be staring at her. She stretched hugely before saying, "Sorry you guys. I haven't been sleeping really well lately. Nightmares and stuff. You know how that goes."
Don't I ever? Marinette sarcastically thought. Ever since she became Ladybug she had been plagued with nightmares about loosing everything to Hawkmoth. And since she couldn't reveal her identity to anyone she couldn't talk to anyone about the nightmares. Except maybe Tikki
"So do you guys want something to eat? We have some pancakes in the fridge." Marinette and Alya turned down her offer politely in favor of sitting on the other mats that seemed to be place in a tight circle.
"It must be cool to have a mom that's a martial artist." Alya commented awkwardly. "This place is pretty cool. I can't believe we'll be here on Wednesday!"
"Yeah it's pretty alright," Madeline muttered with a shrug of her shoulders. "I mean once you've known how to fight with any weapon up here in a matter of seconds, it's pretty chill."
The bell over the door signified someone entering jingled, with a 'I'm home kids!' following it soon after. A woman with bright green eyes and silver and blonde hair tied up in bun with a silver bee shaped comb holding it together. In her hands the woman held several grocery bags filled with vegetables and fruits. She smiled slightly when she spotted the four teens in a meditative position talking quietly.
"Ah and who do we have here?"
"Mom this is Alya Césaire and Marinette Dupain-Cheng," Madeline introduced. The two girls waved while the woman bowed her head slightly. "They were just curious about the dojo and what they were going to be learning on Wednesday."
"I believe I informed you on those two questions when you came over for an interview last week Mademoiselle Césaire," Master Turon explained joining the teens on the mat.
"Yeah but it's just so interesting when it's coming from someone else," Alya said. She made karate chops with her hands. Master Turon just chuckled and shook her head, getting up and heading to the kitchen to put up the groceries.
"Don't forget my children that we have a visitor coming over in a couple hours." Selma said. That caught the twins off guard.
"What visitor?" Michael asked.
"The esteemed senator," was all Selma said before disappearing. Michael and Madeline looked at each other as they tried to decipher Selma's cryptic answer. The only senator that they knew personally was Senator Amidala and she passed away two years ago during Order 66 and the formation of the Galactic Empire. That didn't make any sense.
Another hour passed and the teens were still joking around. Madeline felt happier than she felt in a long time. Here she was with her brother laughing and having an all of good time with two very good girls. They were ….how did the earthlings say it...having a ball. While they were hanging out, Master Selma was in the kitchen cooking dinner that smelled like cooked bantha stew by the smell of it. Which made Madeline wonder for the fifth time since she announced it who was coming over. It couldn't be anyone in the Imperial Senate since those guys were puppets of Sidious and did anything they told him and believed everything he told them. So if it wasn't anyone currently holding a position then it must've been someone who was a senate during the Clone Wars who was an ally to the Jedi and wished to stop the war. That caused Madeline to be confused because most of those either 'died mysteriously' or 'vanished without a trace'. Shaking her head she returned to the conversation in which they were discussing their interests. Alya was totally into journalism ever since moving here and being the first person to catch Ladybug on camera. Marinette designed and made her own clothes, and also cooked on the side with her parents.
"Wow that sounds really cool," Madeline commented.
"So what interests you guys?" Alya asked.
"I'm a master at Ultra Mega Strike III," Michael commented proudly.
"And I do different things depending on my mood." Madeline decided to go for a half lie since she couldn't tell them about the Jedi training. "So one day I might be nose deep in a book but the next day I might in the middle of crocheting a hat."
"Well if that's the case then maybe your mother needs to get you out of the house more." A new voice joked. All heads turned towards the source and saw a man in his late thirties with dark hair with stripes of grey on the side standing in the middle of the doorway. The man was wearing a nice suit with a strange pin on his collar. He had medium dark skin and his dark goatee was peppered with grey. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Madeline and Michael sat there with their eyes as wide as saucers and jaws basically on the ground. Alya and Marinette attempted to snap them out of their trance but they were unable too until Master Selma walked in.
"Senator Organa," she welcomed with a large smile and actual joy in her voice. "Welcome to our humble home." She glared at the two Padawans who had yet to pick up their jaws from the ground. "Do you two want to pick up your jaws and greet the esteemed senator or continue to gap?"
That shook the two out of their stupor as they rushed to hug the only senator left (to their knowledge) loyal to the Galactic Republic and Jedi. Of course they would've never done this type of thing on Coruscant, but since they were technically no longer Jedi they could do whatever they wanted. The Senator from Alderaan chuckled at the children's hug while Alya and Marinette just stood there awkwardly.
"My you two have grown." The senator noted. He ruffled the two's hair causing them to giggle. "And who are these fine ladies?"
"Oh these are my friends, Marinette and Alya. Their locals," Madeline introduced adding the last part in English. Senator Organa smiled slightly at the code phrase, mentally telling himself not to slip. "Do you want to stay for supper?"
"Sorry but we've got homework to do and Marinette's mother will be bouncing off the wall with worry." Alya immediately answered all the while pushing the young designer out the door. Madeline and Michael both looked at each other wondering what that was all about before returning to speaking with the esteemed Alderaan senator.
"What are you doing here Senator? It would seem that someone as busy as you would be busy with trying to keep the Emperor from snooping around in your personal business." Madeline was more than surprised to see the Senator from her home world. It was always a pleasure to see Bail Organa but for him to be here…something must be up.
"The Emperor gave several Imperial Senators some time off, due to the preparations of Empire Day on the different worlds."
"Isn't Empire Day next month?" Michael asked slightly confused.
"Yes, yes it is," The senator answered. The air filled with the aromatic scent of cooked Bantha, causing the Senator's stomach to give a large growl, which caused the twins to once again giggle.
"Someone call Master Windu," Michael joked. "I think there's a Zillo Beast nearby."
"Ha ha," Madeline laughed sarcastically. "That's not something I would being joking about. Too soon." Michael raised his arms in the universal sign of surrender as Selma informed them that dinner was ready. They ate in silence, giving Madeline too much time to dwell on Michael's lame attempt at a joke. Master Windu, according to the Holonet, was killed after he and a few other well-known Jedi attempted to remove Chancellor Palpatine from power forcefully and take it for themselves. Mace Windu was also responsible for protecting the Zillo Beast when it surfaced after a recent testing of a new weapon that was supposed to help the Republic win the war. The conversation steered away from how the three-exiled Jedi were doing so far to the plans on Empire Day.
"So Senator what are you're plans for the third annual Empire Day?"
"The Emperor himself is travelling to Alderaan for the celebration before going to Naboo," Bail explained, stirring his soup. "I was thinking we could give him something to remember. I mean it is the third celebration. It's time for something more…explosive."
"If anything you need to do is be discreet,' Madeline warned. "If the uprising against the Separatist government on Onderon has taught me anything is that discretion is you're best and safest option."
"The Padawan is right. Who knows what the Empire will do if they connect this uprising to you and your planet?" Selma added.
"It will be more than a mere uprising Master Jedi," Organa said mysteriously. The three Jedi looked at the senator with eyes that asked him if he was serious and pleaded with him that he wasn't.
"Senator I don't mean to assume anything," Selma started. "But do you mean that you are going to be forming a rebellion?"
"Well not me personally," Bail Organa explained. "I have someone who has a contact on every planet."
"Assuming this person isn't a spy for the Empire, how do we know that the contacts aren't as well?" Madeline argued.
"Fulcrum can be fully trusted I assure you. I've met Fulcrum before and so have you."
"Unless this 'Fulcrum' was a Jedi," the youngest twin crossed her arms stubbornly while Selma just glared at her for her rudeness. Michael, on the other hand, just scooped another helping of soup into his bowl, seemingly unaware of the growing argument.
"Fulcrum was a Jedi but left the Order before the end of the War."
"Jedi can be corrupted." Madeline added, "I think what happened at the is a perfect example of that."
"That's besides the point." Bail Organa continued. "Fulcrum has offered to call in favors for men, money, supplies, training and so on."
"What about bases of operations and trained officers?"
"That's enough Madeline!"
"I'm sorry but when did I get excluded from the affairs of my planet?" Madeline demanded. "If the Emperor gets wind of this rebellion, not only will people die, but he may make an example out of you, just like he did with the Jedi!" She threw her napkin to the ground before storming out, slamming the door for extra measure.
-Line break-
Madeline ran until her feet hurt and she was out of breath. She eventually ended up at the Seine, sitting on one of the benches, watching the river move. The young Padawan suddenly started to sob uncontrollably as she recalled the conversation she had with Senator Organa and her master on starting a rebellion. Having a riot and teaching the evil sith a lesson was one thing; starting a full on rebellion against an empire that had better equipment, better soldiers and better everything was another thing. She also couldn't let anyone die in a war that, in reality, was pointless. Madeline wiped her eyes as a couple walked down the street, avoiding her sadness as if it was a disease. The sun had disappeared, the streetlights turning on simultaneously.
"Hey are you okay?" a voice asked. Madeline looked up to see Adrien Agreste with another boy that looked like he needed help with his fashion.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Madeline assured the boy. She placed a face smile on her face before starting to walk away.
"Wait up!" the boy called. Medline turned around and saw Adrien and the other boy jog to catch up with her. "You look like you could use a friend right now."
Madeline genuinely smiled. "Thanks."
"I'm Nino by the way," the boy with the strange fashion introduced.
"And I'm Adrien."
"Oh I know," Madeline said before what she said sounded super stalker like. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh uh what I mean is that I'm a big fan of you and your father. You're kinda like my idol." Except Yoda of course. "I guess you have a lot of fan girls sometimes."
"Yeah but it's weird for them not to practically throw themselves on Adrien," Nino said laughing. Adrien blushed and Madeline found herself wondering if this boy and Master Selma had any connections. The young Padawan would hear her in her bedroom late at night sobbing softly and when she went looking for her Holonet projector she found a picture of this boy and another man. Something told her that Master Selma Turon was leading a secret life here on Earth.
"Really?" Madeline asked returning to the conversation.
"Yeah," Adrien admitted rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not all that bad except one girl that no one likes keeps thinking that she and I are in are a relationship."
"Wow that bad huh?"
"You have no idea," Adrien muttered. The three walked in silence before Nino asked if she was free Monday night. Apparently there was a sci-fi movie marathon going on at the Eiffel Tower. Madeline readily agreed to it even though her life was just one giant science fiction movie, but it would be nice to just chill for a few hours. Maybe Michael would like to come.
"That sounds pretty cool. Are you a science fiction fan?"
"Totally! Steven Spielberg is like my favorite director!" Nino exclaimed. "I love the Galaxy Wars saga though I'm not too sure about the prequels."
"Eh, not really a big fan but I do enjoy it." Adrien explained. About . She didn't want to go back to the conversation, but before the two boys could do anything, a voice called her name. When she looked behind her she saw Senator Organa rush towards her. When he finally approached her, he embraced her, causing her to tense up.
"Don't ever run off like that again do you understand me?" the senator scolded her, causing her to look down and feel truly disappointed in herself. But that didn't last long as Master Selma rushed up to her out of breath as well as her brother all coming from different directions.
"Madeline, oh thank goodness!" Michael embraced his sister. The two boys were still there, looking at them strangely.
"I thought I warned about running off like that." Selma scolded.
"I'm sorry okay?" Madeline was fed up with this. If only fate had given her a different life other than a Jedi Padawan.
Selma sighed, her expression immediately softening. "It's okay. You just scared me, Madeline. Who are your friends?" The two boys straightened their spines when they realized they were being talked to.
"I'm Nino and this is my bro Adrien," the guy in the blue eyeball short said quietly. Selma's gaze lingered on Adrien just a little too long before nodding and walking off into the night back towards the dojo. The others just stood there before walking off as well, with Madeline confirming the date with Nino and Adrien, getting a strange look from Senator, who thankfully they didn't ask any questions about.
"See ya guys," Madeline bid the guys goodbye before following her brother and the Senator.
-Line break-
A figure dressed in a bright red Hawaiian shirt and a cane stared as the group of people split up. He held an umbrella as the rain started to pour in small droplets, smiling slightly as he caught sight of the girl with coffee brown hair and eyes. A small green creature resembling a turtle with an antenna floated out of nowhere, looking where his master was watching.
"What do you think Wayzz?" The elder Master Fu asked with a raised eyebrow. He pointed a finger "That girl with the brown hair will make a perfect holder don't you think?"
"I don't know master," the kwami said uncertainly. He watched the said girl walk away with a woman, and two men, one of them an adolescent male. "Do you think she's ready? I mean she's pretty young."
Master Fu hummed thoughtfully as he stroked his beard. He smiled a little as he pulled out a small hexagonal black box with red designs on the top. It was time to give out the Peacock Brooch. A storm was brewing on both horizons and it was going to be one hell of a storm.
-Line Break-
The Padawans immediately went to bed, bidding the Master and Senator goodnight. Later in the night the two were still up talking about what they were going to do about the rebellion.
"Madeline has a point about the consequences," Selma said as she poured the tea. She handed a cup to the Senator who graciously took it and sipped it slowly, enjoying the taste. "If the Emperor connects you to the uprising then you and the planet of Alderaan will be made an example of. Both you and you're wife and child will perish as well as your people."
"I have a plan to make sure we aren't connected." Bail assured her.
"I know you wish to keep Fulcrum's identity but I beg you, Bail, please. Do not put the lives of your family or people in jeopardy." The Alderaan Prince sighed as he placed his half empty glass on the small tea table that was in the middle of the room, rubbing his eyes as time caught up to him aging him two more years. He looked tired; exhausted to the bone.
"Fulcrum's a female, a Togruta who was a Padawan during the war," he explained. The senator glanced up at the Jedi Master who was trying to read what the esteemed senator. "Her name is Ahsoka Tano."
Selma Turon immediately knew whom he was talking about though that didn't stop her hand from loosing its grip on the glass. The delicate china clattered to the floor, shattering to many pieces. Ahsoka Tano was a young Togruta female who was Anakin Skywalker's, or the Chosen One, Padawan. She was as reckless and outspoken as her master, but slightly cautious when it came to speaking out to the Council. She was smart, clever and very grown up in her decisions regarding battle field plans. The young Togruta could be mistaken as an adult if she held herself right. Unfortunately, she never went past the rank of Padawan, leaving the Order due to being unfairly and unjustly accused of attacking and bombing the Jedi Temple Hanger killing multiple Jedi and Padawans.
"The Padawan who was accused of bombing the temple? Where has she been in the last several years?" Selma asked after a few minutes of tense silence.
"Gathering her forces to fight this evil tyranny." Bail answered.
"Does she know her master was behind the murder and annihilation of the Jedi?" Bail shook his head as an answer not able to look Selma in the eye. "Very well. I will supply anything you need: resources, money, and military expertise. Padawan Tano will most likely acquire anything else. If you need anything else please do not hesitate to call but please make sure that it is done over a secure and private line. I would like to stay hidden."
"Very well." Bail got up to move.
"Please Senator stay the night. It is not safe to drive a star fighter this late all the way back to Alderaan."
"Thank you Master Selma," Organa thanked getting up. "The gesture is extremely appreciated."
"Anything for you Senator. And please, its just Selma now." The senator just looked embarrassed but Selma assured her it was all right. After giving him some sheets and extra clothes before directing him to the guest bedroom. On the way to her own room she stopped by Michael and Madeline's room. Both twins were asleep, though Madeline left her lights on. She gently shut the door, and walked ot her room, where a little Kwami by the name of ZeeZee was waiting.
"Ready for patrol?" the little bee creature asked smiling.
"Yes." Selma closed the door before taking a deep breath. "ZeeZee, transform me!"
To be continued…..
A/N: HEY guys what up? Sorry about he lack of updates…. been busy with online classes and what not. But anyway without further ado here is Chapter 3…..next chapter will be uploaded asap…..enjoy and have a good rest of the summer.