Chapter 8: The big dance approaches
Wednesday
Marinette yawned as she forced her eyes open. It had been four days since the discovery of the alien temple beneath the City of Love and the blunette designer was absolutely exhausted. She wanted to learn everything she could about the Jedi Order, but that had cost her sleep. And now she was about to run late for school. The designer grabbed everything she could think of, showered, dressed in gym clothes, and ran as fast as she could downstairs. After grabbing a quick on the road breakfast and kissing her parents goodbye, Marinette ran all the way to school. She slid into her seat right as the final bell rang.
"Alright get settled down class," Ms. Bustier ordered to the rowdy class. Once the class was settled she continued, "We will be going to the dojo today but I have to take roll before we go and tell you some announcements."
"Do you still have the tickets?" Alya whispered to Marinette.
The blunette nodded, thankful they were still in her purse.
"Good. Because today is a good day to give those tickets to the twins. Speaking of which, have you finished the dresses?"
"Almost," she answered. "I just have a few more modifications to make, and I was wondering if you could come over today so I could see if it fits."
"Present!" Alya snickered. "Sure thing girl. I can't wait to see it!"
"Okay so now that everyone is present, I have several announcements to make," Ms. Bustier said. "First, Madame Turon is sick today so her daughter and son, Madeline and Michael are instructing the class today, so I want you to treat them like you would treat Madame Turon." She said that with a hard look pointed at Chloe. "Secondly, remember there are only a few spots for chaperones left so if your parents want to chaperone, they better sign up soon. Let's go everyone."
The class moved simultaneously out the door, causing a slight congestion at the door but it soon cleared. Marinette and Adrien both felt their stomachs drop as if in anticipation for something horrible like right before an innocent gets akumatized. Both secret miraculous holders felt suddenly their anxiety and nervousness levels increase, causing both of them to tap their fingers or bite their nails. Both felt something on the horizon, like a storm cloud waiting to loose its destruction on the city.
-Line break-
"Master you need to stop," Madeline pleaded. She watched Selma throw another punch to the dummy, her face sweaty and pale. There were dark purple bags under her brilliant green eyes, which were duller than yesterday. "You need sleep."
"I'll sleep when I'm dead," She answered. Madeline felt her heart drop. This wasn't the Selma that brought two renegade Jedi Padawan to the city of love, who kept the two hidden from the world, who pushed them in training, who continued to train them in ways of the force and who was the last Jedi master to survive. Despite all odds, it was Selma who kept the force sensitive twins safe during the first few days as the power of a democracy shifted to the power of a dictatorship. She had gotten a ship to get them out of the Inner Rim and had back end jobs when they arrived on Earth to keep them afloat.
Something was wrong with Selma Turon….
After several more minutes of Madeline begging Selma finally allowed herself to stop. The Jedi/Dojo master sat down in a lotus flower position, her silver-gray aura of her meditation engulfing her. But the brunette noticed something was wrong. The silver outline kept flickering, not solidifying like it usually did.
"Can't…" Selma muttered. Madeline felt her heart start to race suddenly. The force engulfed the room, swirling so fast it caused her ears to pop. "No…. unable to…. please."
"Master? Master! What's going on?" Madeline made a grab for Selma's shoulders. She was suddenly pulled back by an unseen force. Her back hit the wall, knocking the breath out of her.
"Madeline?" Michael barged into the room, hearing her screams. He stopped in his tracks when he saw his sister lying against the wall with the breath knocked out of her and his master engulfed in a tornado of the force, muttering pleads under her breath. Suddenly, Selma's eyes flew open. Both twins were shocked to see two pure white orbs take the place of brilliant green.
"When the shadow of the Bogan falls upon them, the Ashla will not desert them because in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savoir and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns." Selma recited, her voice completely alien. It sounded as though there were multiple people struggling for control of her mouth.
"The Prophecy of the Chosen One," Michael whispered. Madeline regained her bearings and stood by her brother's side, watching carefully as the silver outline turned almost blinding white. Selma's expression twisted into that of horror as her gold and silver hair started to float upwards.
"No….please….I don't want to see this anymore!" The Jedi master shouted. She covered her ears, shut her eyes tight and curled up into a ball but Madeline suspected that did nothing to quell the voices or the images. Selma suddenly arched her back like she was being struck by lightning, screaming like she was being murdered. She straightened out and rose a few inches off the ground, her aura pooling around her like fog.
"There is only one hope for the galaxy, there is only one way for light to return to the universe. Step forward Jedi." Against her will, Madeline did as she was told. "Tell me, Jedi, do you wish to learn the secret?"
"Yes," Madeline heard herself say.
"All you have to do is ask."
"What is the secret? How will we defeat the Sith?"
Selma didn't speak. Instead she lifted her hands up, palms up. Tendrils of grey started to entangle Madeline. She screamed as raw force power entered her body, her master's training room fading into a blur until there was complete darkness. Three planets entered her view-no scratch that. One was a large dusty planet; the others were two small moons.
"The secret lies on a planet with twin moons," the alien voice informed her. "He is the only one who will stop the evil that spreads across the galaxy like a weed."
Then almost in a jerky movement, Madeline's spirit was flung back into her body and whatever was using Selma's body vanished. The Jedi master slumped against the floor, her forehead damp with fever. Michael and Madeline went into battlefield training, grabbing their master's body and placing it on her cot. Michael grabbed a cloth and wet it, placing it on Selma's shivering, sweaty form. There was a bell chime down stairs.
"Blasted!" Madeline cursed as she checked the video feed. It was the group of kids from the school. Selma had told the teacher, Mademoiselle Bustier, that she wasn't going to be teaching the class…Madeline was. The young twin turned to her brother. "Keep an eye on Selma. If she wakes up come and find me. Do not let her leave no matter. Understand?"
"Yeah," Michael nodded. "If you need any help just shout."
Madeline scoffed. "They're a bunch of school kids Mike. Why would I need help?"
On the roof, where the class had gathered, Madeline felt her confidence drain right out of her. She took a deep breath to calm her beating heart. She had seen many Masters and Knights easily teach their Padawans and Younglings. She could do this. She started by clearing her throat, gaining the class's attention. Everyone turned towards her, and Madeline felt herself straighten her spine in an attempt to make her taller, more dominating.
"Welcome class," she started. "My mother is unfortunately indisposed with a fever so…I'll be teaching. Are there any questions before we start?"
A hand in the back shot up. It was Chloe Bourgeois, the girl who gave her mother hell the last time she was here. Trying to keep a civilized atmosphere she said calmly, "Yes?"
With a stuck up pout that Madeline only saw on corrupt politicians Chloe said, "I'm not going to be listening to some girl my age order me around."
"Well unless you want my sick mother to exert herself to death I suggest you shut your mouth and listen."
The little burst of anger shut Chloe up and brought Madeline's confidence level up higher. After a small stretch of silence, Madeline started again.
"Anyway, last time you were here, you learned how to meditate and center yourself and the basics of fighting. But today we will switch tactics. Today we will learn how not to depend on your sight."
"But I thought we needed our sight," a voice in the back cried out.
"True but your sight can be deceiving. A person could easily be deceived if they relied on their sight alone. Sight is only one of five other senses that could be utilized." Madeline picked up a blindfold and tied it around her face. The world was black around her, but her other senses suddenly became strengthened. "One day we may loose our sight. Some might loose it naturally; others might loose it not so naturally. What happens when one ability is lost?"
"The others get stronger," Alya answered.
"Correct. With the ability of sight gone, your other senses: touch, smell, hearing, taste, get stronger. Marinette," she pointed in the general direction of the blunette. "I want you to try and hit me. Don't worry I won't hurt you."
There was a vibration in the ground, a disturbance in the air, a scent of a bakery, a slight taste of perfume in the air and heavy breathing before Madeline felt it. The disturbance in the air sent tingles through the back of her neck as her training kicked in. She easily dodged the fists that Marinette threw at her. Madeline gently grabbed the designer's fist, stopping the girl's attack. The young Padawan removed the mask, blinking several times as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. The primitive human's faces were aghast in shock. She smiled as she released the girl's fist and patted her back.
"Today, I want you to learn about how to use your other senses," Madeline explained. "Your sight is not always going to be there. It is crucial to know how to use your other senses." She pulled out several blindfolds. "I'm pairing you up with a member of your class. When you place the blindfold on, I want you to memorize everything you can about what you feel in the ground, what you hear around you, what you smell and taste in the air."
After pairing up everyone, Madeline watched everyone do as they were told, even Chloe, though the Mayor's daughter was doing it very weakly. The Padawan shook her head as she chuckled to herself silently. Some of these kids had great skill though others had no right being near a battlefield. The brunette paid close attention, however, to Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste. Those two had the skills of a highly trained warrior, though they needed to work on certain things. Like how to not to rely on their sight. Marinette and Adrien both took tumbles and hits due to their slow reflexes.
Smiling, Madeline snapped her fingers, ceasing all activities. "Excellent. Now switch and do the same thing."
They followed orders. Alya and Nino did a little better than their friends did but Madeline saw that if she could teach them a little more…. the Padawan shook that thought out of her head. She was still a Padawan learner; she didn't have the authority or the wisdom to teach others. Madeline still had a lot to learn herself.
"Excellent," Madeline complemented. She glanced at her watch. She still had about thirty minutes left. "I guess you guys can chill or practice something while you wait. If you have any questions I'll be over here."
Silently Madeline went over to the AC unit and climbed on top. From her position the young Padawan could see the entire roof. Madeline watched the students mingle among themselves while some attempted to fix their skills. The young Padawan took a deep breath and closed her eyes in meditation. It didn't last long however as Madeline heard her name being called. Opening one eye, the brunette saw Marinette and Alya in front of her, standing kind of shyly.
Madeline smiled happily. "Hey girls. What's up?"
Alya elbowed Marinette in the ribs. The blunette smiled. "Oh! We just wanted to give you tickets to our dance."
The designer handed the Padawan two tickets. They had this sci-fi look to them, but it was very pretty. It had times and a date on it. The date was about two days from now, Madeline realized.
"I don't know if my mother would let my brother or I out of her sight for that long." Madeline admitted.
"We've already thought of that," Alya spoke up. "There are several openings for chaperones so if your mother is interested, she can chaperone at the dance."
Madeline thought about it for a moment. She knew Selma would want to keep an eye on the two of them but…. would she really want to mingle with all the 'primitive natives' for about two hours?
"I'll have to ask her later," Madeline answered honestly. She handed the tickets back but Marinette just held her hands up.
"Keep them," she ordered. "Just in case she says yes."
Madeline smiled and nodded, stuffing the tickets into her pocket. Michael timidly opened the door. His coffee brown eyes scanned the small crowd that had congregated on the roof before spotting Madeline speaking to Marinette and Alya. He weaved his way gracefully through the crowd before stopping before his twin, who glared down like a queen on her throne.
"Hey Madeline can I talk to you?" he asked. The girls didn't seem to take the hint so he added, "alone?"
Thank goodness Alya got it. The blogger nodded before steering her friend back over to the crowd. Once they were gone, Madeline stood, did an unnecessary back flip and landed right next to her brother.
"What's up bro?"
"Senator Organa has contacted us, asking to set up a secret meeting here with some of the Rebel cell leaders."
That caught Madeline completely off guard. She pulled her brother further away from the students and lowered her voice, "Why does he want to do that?"
"Well it's really Ahsoka who wants to do it," Michael explained. "She wants to discuss the protocol she and Bail had came up with for the Rebellion."
"What did you tell them?"
"I told them that Master Selma would have to get back to them, but Mads I think she should go through with it."
"Why?"
"Well think about it," he explained. "This planet is deep enough in the Outer Rim that no one will even think twice about it. And this is the only planet that I can think about at the moment that is not under complete control under the Empire, which makes it very easy to hold a secret meeting where the percentage of someone listening in and reporting back to the higher ups are very slim."
"Go on," she insisted when he took a breath.
"Secondly," he continued in a low whisper. "We can easily schedule the meeting to coincide with an earth holiday. That way we can close the dojo without raising suspicious." He thought for a minute, obviously pulling up his mental calendar. "We can hold it on Lundi de Pâques."
"Easter Monday," Madeline translated quietly. She slowly nodded in agreement, surprised at her brother's genius plan. "That just might work. Is Selma awake?"
He nodded. His voice returned to normal volume. "Yeah. She's up and eating though I 'ordered' her to stay in her room until her fever is gone. It might be gone by tonight."
"If it's not then we'll call the doctor about it tomorrow morning." Madeline suggested. A thought suddenly came to mind but she pushed it down for now. Her master-her mother-needed her now than ever and she couldn't go run off of on some hunch. A quick glance at the clock informed Madeline that the class had about fifteen minutes left. Some of them were starting to gather their belongings that they brought with them. Adrien asked Mademoiselle Bustier something but she just shrugged and gestured to the twins. The blonde practically raced over to the secluded siblings before squealing to a stop.
"Hey," he greeted breathlessly.
"What's up Adrien? You need something?" Madeline asked.
"Yeah. Where's the bathroom?"
Madeline pointed to the door. "Downstairs take a left. It's the first door on the right."
"Thanks," he shouted as he dashed over to the door. Madeline raised an eyebrow in question. That boy…that boy was a mystery she was sure to crack.
-Line Break-
Adrien quickly made a grab for Plagg as he dashed out of his secret pocket when they approached a vacant room. It looked like a personal training room with multiple staffs in display cases, flags on the wall, three meditation mats, and a drawer near about hidden underneath a large flag. The blonde model frowned when he spotted the biggest flag. That was the emblem of the Jedi Order.
He remembered the time when he, his Lady and Peacock went into the Catacombs and found a secret temple hidden deep within the tunnels. They encountered the ghost of an alien that apparently had been apart of an Order of intergalactic peacekeepers. The biggest shock of all for the young boy was to know that Peacock was once apart of them.
Now staring at the flag hanging predominately against the far back wall…. Adrien felt the ground drop out from underneath him. The flag told him that Madeline, Michael and their mother, Selma were aliens as well. Which also meant that either Selma or Madeline was the Miraculous Peacock. And that they probably had something to do with the strange craft that was spotted over the Seine a day or so after they moved in.
"I think I need to sit down," Adrien whispered. Plagg looked over at his charge curiously before shrugging.
"What's the matter with you?" The kwami asked as he examined a staff. He wrapped his fin-like hands around the base of it before lifting it off of the stand. Adrien saw what he was doing and rushed forward. The blonde model didn't want anything to happen that would put the blame on him.
Once Adrien had a firm grip on the staff, he gently swatted Plagg away from it. The secret hero noticed a button on the staff. Curiously Adrien pressed it. The hilt suddenly weighed like a ton as an emerald green blade of pure light sprang to life. It hummed as the blonde model swung it several times. He accidently hit the edge of the desk it was resting on. The smell of smoke suddenly filled the room causing him to sneeze. The light sword suddenly fell from his grip. As soon as the bottom hit the floor, the blade retracted back into the hilt, leaving a blonde human and a cat kwami alone in silence.
Quickly, Adrien swiped the thing off the floor and put it back where it went. But before he could chastise Plagg for his stupidity, the magical fairy phased through the drawer of the dresser. The drawer opened and Adrien caught sight of something that caused him to gasp out loud.
There was a family portrait gently laying on a bunch of quilts.
There were three people in the family portrait: A young beautiful woman with blonde hair that was braided over her shoulder and brilliant green eyes, a man with silvery blonde hair combed back and glasses over his grey blue eyes…and a young boy that was an exact copy of his mother. Adrien suddenly found it hard to take a breath.
This was his family portrait.
His heart rate was now skyrocketing when he spotted a certain hexagonal red and black box. One that usually contained Miraculouses. Quickly he grabbed his kwami and darted out of the room. He didn't notice that Plagg had taken one of the staffs and stuffed it in his bag that he carried with him. Adrien didn't dare to look behind him as he joined the group. He tried to act natural as Mademoiselle Bustier took a head count before they left. Adrien felt eyes on him but he tried not to look back behind him.
-Line break-
Selma watched Adrien Agreste leave with the group. The Jedi Master felt the boy's attempt not to look around the room for the eyes that bore into his neck. She was hidden in the shadows of the stairs, a cold cloth wrapped around her neck to keep what was left of the fever down. She had watched Madeline train the students and heard the conversation between Alya, Marinette and the brunette. She knew that Madeline would want to go to the dance and the Padawan would never let her master hear the end of it if Selma didn't let her go.
Footsteps behind her caused her to turn around. Michael looked at her with the same scolding a mother hen would give her child.
"I'm going," she assured the Padawan as she slowly and stiffly made her way back to her personal dojo. Selma smiled slightly when she noticed a light saber missing from the display case. Her son was finally finding out about his true heritage. Many if only's travelled through her head as she placed her hand on the empty display case.
If only he had been found.
If only the Order hadn't fallen.
If only she hadn't deserted her family for the War.
If only she had left a note.
If only she had told them who she was, what she was.
Selma wiped her tears away and stood definitely in front of the banner of the Jedi Order. Mistakes in the past were made to stay in the past. And there was no use in blaming herself for what she thought was right. If Adrien learned of his heritage when she was called back to Coruscant, then he would've been caught in the slaughter. If she had told Gabriel who she was and where she came from…. well, he would've thought her to be crazy. And gossip travels fast in the Fashion Industry especially when one of the top producers' wife claims to be an alien clone from a planet far from Earth.
There was a knock at the door. Selma swiftly swiped the tears away and fiercely straightened her spine. There was no way on Moraband that either twin would catch Selma crying in her room.
"Come in.," she ordered. The door opened to reveal Madeline. Selma's pupil looked at her hesitantly but relaxed, like she had been worried about her health since the moment her fever appeared. In her hand, the young Padawan clutched the tickets she had seen Marinette and Alya gave her. Selma knew what Madeline wanted to ask even before it left her mouth.
"Madeline," Selma breathed. "What a surprise."
"How are you feeling Master Selma?" The Padawan asked with surprising reverence and respect. Selma hadn't heard her talk like that since…
"Better," Selma answered. She had to turn her thoughts away from the approaching third anniversary of the fall of the Jedi. "Though I don't suppose you came here to talk about how I am doing, no?"
"No," Madeline agreed. Selma gestured to a meditation mat. Madeline nodded and took her seat. Once the brunette was situated, she continued, "I was wondering if Michael and I could go to the dance Marinette's school is having. I know I'm not apart of the school but each student is allowed to bring at least two guests. And Marinette was gracious enough to get us the tickets." She waved the tickets in Selma's face proudly. "I can pay her back for the tickets and buy my own dress. And you can chaperone if you like and keep an eye on us."
Selma held up a hand before Madeline could say anything else. The young twin was on a warpath to go to the dance, to have one night to abandon her life and responsibilities as a Jedi Padawan and to be a normal teen. And Selma could become a normal woman for once, not burdened by abandoned families or the ghosts of her past. She thought about it for a little more. She sighed, knowing that it would be a loosing battle if she did not let her go.
"Okay. You can go." She relented. "I will take care of reimbursing Marinette for the tickets."
"What about the dress? And you chaperoning the dance?"
"I will chaperone the dance if only to keep an eye on you two," Selma answered. She stood up and made her way towards her room.
"What about the dress?"
"Follow me," Selma ordered instead of answering. Madeline hesitantly followed her master to Selma's room. She waited while Selma rifled through her closet. Her jaw near about dropped to the ground when her master pulled a strapless dress out. The dress had a silky feel to it, almost like it was made from real silk. The blue-green fabric shimmered in the dim light. It was almost like the fabric was the sea and the shimmer was like the stars above.
It was absolutely beautiful.
Selma handed the dress to her Padawan and sat on the bed. She watched the young girl gently run her hand over the silk, watching the shimmering on the dress like stars.
The dress was a gift from Gabriel Agreste on their first wedding anniversary. Selma was Madeline's size back then and still was. But that dress was an anchor to a past she no longer wanted to go back to. So since there was a formal dance coming up and she couldn't afford to buy a nice new gown, Selma decided it would be frugal to give it Madeline. The daughter she never had.
"It's beautiful," she breathed.
"Yes," Selma agreed. "There was a time when I wanted to be courted, much to my hatred. I bought every single dress that I could get my hands on. One time I was at this ball and I caught a young man's eye. He courted me and eventually won me over. We stayed together for many years. Our first wedding anniversary, he gave this dress as a present. Go and try it on."
Madeline nodded excitedly before dashing off to try her new dress on. While she was gone, Selma dug around in her drawer for the final pieces of the dress. For her protection. Two Mandelorian cuffs, designed to best a Jedi. Both of the armguards were made of pure Mandelorian Iron, which were part of a group that was indestructible to a light saber. Selma had worn these in secret to protect herself underneath thick cloth cuffs. Selma sighed as she checked the cloth cuffs for tears. It was in marvelous condition for being stuck in a drawer for many years.
The young brunette returned in Selma's dress. The blue-green fabric complemented the young woman's tanned skin. Madeline's toned biceps were shown off thanks to the dress for being sleeveless. Selma smiled at the beauty of her Padawan…no daughter. She had come a long way since the destruction of the Order. Both of the twins had been through a lot and come a long way but Madeline had endured so much more than her twin brother. Her Master, Mace Windu, was among the first Jedi Masters to fall during the initial slaughter. She had felt the severing of her connection, which was the most painful experience any Jedi could experience.
Selma remembered the few days after the massacre when Madeline locked herself away from the rest of the world. The former Master was worried that the young girl would try to harm herself. She kept a close eye (spiritually speaking) on Madeline until the girl finally emerged from her room.
"Well?" Madeline asked her master. In truth the dress fit perfectly, except the front was sliding down a little bit. They were going to have to go and get it altered a little bit.
"How does it feel to you?' Selma asked back.
"A little loose in the upper areas," Madeline replied pulling the dress up to prove her point. "But I can ask Marinette to help me with it."
"Very well," Selma bobbed her head. "Go and text your friend. And tell her that I agreed to chaperone the dance."
Madeline nodded happily before racing off. Once she was gone, the small smile that was on Selma's face dropped. The brief experience when the Daughter borrowed her body and showed her the future and the past. It was painful, and near about killed her. She wouldn't even think about what affect it had on the twins.
A sudden yawn hit Selma as the day's events caught up with her. What she experienced in her vision was horrible: a massacre here on Earth, the twins lying dead on the floor, and her fighting a cloaked figure. There wasn't any indication given that the fight would happen at the dance coming up or in the near future. Selma could only hope that they had time to prepare.
-Line break-
Far above the planet Earth, a young inquisitor leered as he took in the planet. His assignment was in front of him, along with the identification of the three Jedi suspected of being here.
Madeline and Michael Moraes.
And Selma Turon.
They weren't going to know what hit them.