SORRY I WAS AWAY TOO LONG! Things happened and I'm sorry to say I had a bit of a block to finish this chapter, I'm starting to get around it, just letting the words flow. Happy Easter Everyone!
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Hawkmoth scowled as he watched the projection from the robotic owl of Thunder Lord and Nekhbat jumping away as Mayura petted the Sentimonster dog. The plan to leave a second Sentimonster to spy on the rooftops was successful beyond their dreams.
"So they were keeping something back from me after coming to ask for permission to stay here? Bold of them, but then who in our line of work aren't bold?" Hawkmoth asked and Mayura nodded as well.
Without a word, Mayura dismissed the two Sentimonsters and then both of the villains turned back into their civilian forms. As Nathalie looked at the gems in her hands she felt a wave of weakness hit her and crushed them by accident, a golden glow enveloped her and she blinked as she felt a sense of power, a power that she thought might heal her and she felt aches she had developed heal.
"NATHALIE! What were you thinking doing that?" Gabriel demanded as he looked at her. She smiled back as she picked up her tablet she started to look over the reports that had come in the hour or so they had been out, forcing down a smile as she saw how the company was doing.
"I wasn't, it was an accident but I feel great!" Nathalie said and Gabriel blinked.
"So they were telling the truth, it worked?" Gabriel asked and Nathalie nodded.
"Yes, but let's think about this. So they have another reason for being here, one they want to use against us then or they have goals we can't even understand?" Nathalie asked and Gabriel frowned and looked down as he started to think.
Gabriel stood there and nodded, considering her point. So far all they knew was what they had been told, before they had gone to the meeting they had looked over the list of known 'Supers' around the world and found no one who was even rumored to be active that even looked like Nekhbet. That they had stayed away from public knowledge for so long, that bit of information was both amazing and concerning.
Gabriel looked at Nathalie who had done as instructed as soon as she had dropped her transformation, and so far she seemed to be back to perfect health, and looking at the translation matrix they had been giving, the spell to repair Miraculous in the book matched what they had been giving and already the program one of Nathalie's Champion forms had created the rest of the book would be translated before too long.
"Still what they want might not have anything to do with us, and they didn't know what the Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir are capable of, a good thing for us. And my health as well, I feel great, better than the first time I used the Miraculous. But since it needs a will to direct it we can't use this method to save her, but they might have others like they said," Nathalie admitted and Gabriel nodded.
"Still Seven more Miraculous, and they might know how to bring more into the world!" Gabriel said out loud and shook his head as he looked at Nathalie. "Can you think of the power that that one act represents; just what we could do if we had that power?"
"A lot Gabriel; but the spell they gave us to fix the damage? I used the translation key they gave us on the book and the spell is the same, a bit more flowery but it's the same," Nathalie said and she looked at him. "I used a Swiss account to order what we didn't have, and I set up delivery protocol 3, we should have it soon."
"Good, very good. With your health returned we have more options. But if this works then I will use them together first, only after you rest will we begin to plan another Hero's day," Gabriel said and Nathalie looked at him and nodded.
"Yes we do," Nathalie agreed and looked down at her tablet, an evil smirk forming on her face as she started to giggle evilly. Oh, this is perfect! What a perfect test run for both of them together! But what should we do if anything after her…. Wait. Yes, that could work, and it would make my life that much easier… and if it worked then the Company would only benefit from this. She thought as she giggled as Duusu orbited her head.
Gabriel meanwhile was thinking about all his past Akumas; how some of them might have won if any one of them had been giving a Sentimonster help. From Dark Cupid to Oni-Chan; even Mr. Pigeon might have won if he had backup. But with the new heroes and how the last few times heroes had backup, he was worried that with his new power the stalemate was looked up
"Sir, do you remember my old Champion forms, how we used to use one to get you and her ready for that party once?" Nathalie asked with a blush and Gabriel looked at her confused.
"Your Champion…..Oh. Yes well, why did you bring that up?" Gabriel asked, blushing as well when he remembered what the three of them did after the party.
"Miss Dupain-Cheng will have her day in court within days, after Lila is revealed perhaps we should…rescue her. She did try and use us so let us use her, combined my old form with a Sentimonster to…erase her could have possibilities. After all, I could do with a new assistant myself, and she could become an asset if properly used," Nathalie said and Gabriel looked at her as what she wasn't saying sank in and grinned back as he realized her intentions, nodding.
Nooroo looked on in horror as Duusu grinned and laughed. To use my abilities to hurt someone, even this Lila girl is wrong! Sooner or later karma will strike you my master, and when it does I will be able to do nothing. And you my brother , how far the damage has affected you. The one good thing is you might be healed, but is it better for you not to understand what's happened to us? Nooroo thought as he looked at his friend with worry and pain.
Dussuu only laughed and spun around as he felt such sadness. He still didn't feel anything but pain and sadness about what happened to his old holder, no matter what she had used his abilities for. Miss Nathalie seemed to be a better person than she was, she cared about Adrien and Gabriel a lot more than his old holder had. And while he had to admit she did run a tight ship, most of the time she argued for Adrien to have more freedom, controlled freedom but the chance to talk and make friends on his own. He didn't know what was bothering him about Adrien, but something about how the time when her Miraculous was broken was bothering her, but she couldn't remember just what it was, and her memory was missing a few things, at least he thought it did, some of his old holder's commands made that hard to see or even to understand. They were talking about fixing his Miraculous, and part of his broken psyche hoped that it would shed some light on just what that woman had done and commanded.
Gabriel meanwhile was thinking about how they had made the lair with a few Champion forms. He had to admit that the idea had possibilities, and with someone else on his side then the chance for victory was that much stronger. And it seems my 'Tower plan' to use Lila to cause another Scarlet Swarm won't work. If the hearing will happen that much sooner, then so be it. And we still haven't found Adrien yet! Gabriel thought with a scowl and looked at Duusu for a moment as he imagined what a Sentimonster tracker could do to find Adrien before dismissing it. That way led to his unmasking, as bad as it was, he needed to use more ordinary methods to find his son.
"Maybe, we will wait until we repair his," Gabriel said as he looked at Duusu who kept laughing and Nathalie looked up at him and frowned.
"Of course…. Wait what?" Nathalie asked as her tablet started to beep. Frowning she looked down and paled in horror before slowly looking up at Gabriel.
"It seems that the shipment of new fabrics from Russia will be late," Nathalie said and Gabriel raised an eyebrow as he looked at her and took in what she said.
"That's not like them, what is the trouble?" Gabriel asked as he frowned, surprised that they would even think of being later after all the time he's worked with them. His company's relationship with their suppliers was something he was proud of, they had worked well over the years since his second collection and they had always delivered on time, they were never late. If they were then something must be seriously wrong on their end, but if this was the result of a new owner then he would have to look elsewhere for some shades.
"The trouble is that the entire region is under ten feet of snow and giants are attacking the city," Nathalie said and Gabriel went still as the Kwami looked on, Duusuu laughing as Nooroo shot to Nathalie as Gabriel shook himself back to his senses and stalked over to her.
Nooroo looked at the screen and kept his face blank, knowing exactly what they were and hoping that Gabriel wouldn't ask the right questions of him to make him talk. He was worried about just what his master would do if he even had a single idea that they were real, but something told him that he would find out about them sooner than he would like.
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Ladybug landed on her roof and moved to the door to her room, opening it, dropping down through it into the room below and smiled as she sighed. She felt a little lighter, the talk she had with Chloe had helped them to clear the air and she felt a lot better. And with everything that was happening now, that was something that she needed, a team and allies who knew and trusted each other. She knew that Chloe and her mother didn't have a typical relationship but after learning everything, she should have tried to get the woman thrown out of the city, not stay and connect with Chloe. I know she hasn't been in the city and with her husband for years, but for her to do that? And to think I almost went to New York with her, what would that woman have done if she had me long enough, what would she was molded me into? Ladybug thought with a shudder as she held herself.
Looking around she saw nothing out of place and she almost detransformed before hitting her forehead when she remembered she wanted to call Eagle but then she remembered the time difference and laughed, detransforming she grabbed a piece of paper and jolted down a note to text her penpal in New York tomorrow.
"So what do you think Tikki?" Marinette asked and Tikki smiled back.
"Chloe is trying to change. Pollen always said that Chloe had something good in her, just that something was blocking her from showing it. Pollen was worried about her mother this morning, something about someone who one of her old holders was related to," Tikki said and Marinette looked towards the hotel.
"Yeah, if the Style Queen is there, she'd destroy any sense of harmony giving how I've seen her act," Marinette said and Tikki shook her head.
"No, there's something else, something that's bothering her," Tikki said softly and Marinette looked at her and sighed, shaking her head.
"Of course," Marinette muttered and looked down. She's probably responsible for about 80 percent of Chloe's issues, and if she's
Her phone started to ring and she looked at it in confusion for a moment. "Kagami? What's she want….. she's back from her vacation already?"
As soon as she accepted the call Kagami's voice came from the speakers. "Marinette, have you heard about Adrien?!"
Marinette looked at Tikki who smiled back at her. Marinette sighed and clapped her cheeks before taking a deep breath.
"Kagami calm down, now what's this about Adrien?" Marinette asked calmly
"Don't you know?! I saw a post from a student at Duport that said that Adrien wasn't at school the other day and someone posted that the photoshoot went bad and he's been silent since then! I can't get a hold of him and he won't respon to my texts!" Kagami said and Marinette looked down and away. The idea for Adrien to get the battery out of his phone and stay silent until the restraining order came through was smart but they thought Kagami would be away until it came through.
"Gami… I've been expelled from Dunport," Marinette said and Kagami stopped and Marinette was worried, she
"Wait, what? You mean suspended right? It takes too long for a hearing and I would think I would be called as a witness for you," Kagami said softly and Marinette had this feeling that Kagome had gotten out a katana for some reason.
"It was on the spot after something Lila did, a plan that I walked into when I fell into her trap," Marinette said and Kagami went silent.
"Lila, Lila Rossi?" Kagami asked with a hard edge to her voice. "The liar who claimed to be related to one of the first fencing champions at the Olympics? The filth who kissed Adrien and sent it out to make it seem he did?"
Marinette looked at her phone, a few thoughts going through her head as she suddenly got a strange thought.
"Kagami, when you were Akumatized the second time, what were you thinking?" Marinette asked and prayed that she was wrong.
"I was thinking about how that witch had assaulted Adrien, I could tell right away that she had taken the picture and I was just so mad… but don't change the subject, what happened to you?" Kagami demanded, Marinette laughed lightly and sighed.
Marinette looked down at her phone and for a few moments stayed silent as she tried and failed to think of anything to get out of this, and she didn't want Kagami to come over and see Adrien.
"It's a long story, but please don't act out and stay calm, please," Marinette said and Kagami sighed over the phone, causing Marinette to smile.
"Fine, until I know what happened I will stay calm," Kagami said and Marinette grinned.
"Okay, this is the story…" Marinette began and she hoped that her friend wouldn't act out.
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In the living room downstairs Adrien laughed as Sabine beat Tom again, feeling more at home here than he ever had back at the mansion. He didn't know why that was but he didn't let it bother him as Sabine handed over the controller as Tom smirked.
"Ready for another round son? This is the last match of the night, for all the marbles," Tom challenged and Adrien grinned back.
"Fine but I pick the zone," Adrien said and when Tom nodded Adrien grinned. Perfect, now I just need to use that one battle-zone type and one I know well… that one! Adrien thought as he chose a cityscape and within moments he and Tom were battling for supremacy controlling giant robots.
Sabine smiled at this, and for a moment she saw Marinette cheering the two of them on. As she looked around the room she saw phantoms of Alya, Nino, Kim, and Alix where they had each sat the last time they had been here for a video game tournament separately. She laughed softly before looking up as she felt her phone vibrate and brought it out and saw an app notification and Sabine smiled. So she's back, I wonder where she went? I know she didn't go on patrol, Adrien's still here… he was trying to keep our attention on him so Marinette could go and do something, smart. If I didn't have this app then it would have worked when she snuck out the first time to patrol. Still, I wonder if I should mention that we know soon, everything is getting worse and they might need more help than they have right now, knowing we're there to help might be enough. Sabine thought as she watched the game and shook her head as
Tom laughed as his robot ducked behind a building and it charged down the street as Adrien fired at him through the building. "You're going to have to try harder than that to get me Adrien!"
As he controlled his robot he smiled, but inside he was worried about a lot of things. For one, Gabriel might find where Adrien was hiding even with the restraining order. Two; Lila might truly be a diplomat's child and have protection from being sued, but then he didn't even think that was enough given some things his godmother had said over the years. But then there was the school, he didn't want to be alone with that principal, he didn't trust himself.
"Then how about this?" Adrien asked as he sent his robot into the building and crashed into Tom's.
As Tom tried to recover Adrien fired post blank, all his weapons, and moments later they saw the screen flash 'DUEL TAKEDOWN' and Adrien smirked as he saw the points screen. As he saw the minus from the 'Suicide Takedown' he saw the bonus points he grinned as Tom gasped while Sabrina giggled.
"HOW!?" Tom cried out as he looked at Adrien who grinned back
"I led you around the map, destroying all the buildings to get bonus points and the last building was where the shelter was. Learned about these levels when I watched the tournament Max and Marinette won a while back!" Adrien said and Tom looked at him as Sabine laughed
"So you were going for points, and then you tried to beat me…. Nice strategy," Tom said and Adrien grinned. Tom shook his head and laughed, now understanding why Adrien had picked that level to play on. He didn't know about those battlefields as he normally played the open field type and the city was something he's rarely if ever played.
As Sabine clapped Adrien bowed and laughed. "Thank you, thank you. That was too kind!"
Even Tom grinned and shook his head. Even he could learn a few tricks and maybe if he played right the next time he could beat Marinette. "Good trick Adrien, mind showing this old wolf some of the other game modes?"
"Sure, I'll start with the base level, if you pass through a building it repairs about twenty percent of your damage," Adrien said as he used the controller to start explaining the different game zones types.
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Luka looked at Rose and Juleka as they sat together as Anarka finished putting their plates into the washer. Luka was worried, for the last day or so their songs were wrong, they weren't there was a note of shock and sorrow in them, Rose even sniffed a little as his sister leaned against her. He frowned and sighed, he liked to let his sister hold back until she reached out, but this was too much. Something was bothering them and he would have to bring it up now, as their mother was heading towards the top deck to look at the sky as she read a book.
"Okay you two, what's wrong?" Luka asked as soon as Anarka was gone, Rose and Juleka looking up and away as they stayed quiet. "Come on you two, your songs are telling me something's bothering you, so fess up before I go and call mom on you."
Rose and Juleka looked at each other for a few seconds, having a conversation with their eyes and after a few minutes Rose nodded and Juleka sighed.
"Marinette was expelled by the principal a few days ago," Juleka said and Luka went still.
"How, why?" Luka asked and Juleka looked away and he frowned. "Juleka, sis please. Trust me."
"It started when Ms. Buister called Marinette to the front, something about an anonymous tip that Marinette stole the answer sheet for the test-" Juleka began but Luka held up a hand.
"Wait, someone stole the answers before the test? And your teacher still did the test?" Luka asked and Rose shook her head.
"No it happened after the test was done, then Marinette accused Lila of doing it, and then Ms. Buistier sent them to the principal alone, Lila fell down the stairs saying Marinette pushed her, Lila led the class to the lockers saying Marinette stole a necklace that her grandmother gave her, supposedly an heirloom. After it was found in Marinette's locker Mr. Damocles expelled Mari on the spot," Juleka explained and Luka blinked shocked beyond words. For a moment another girl's face was suddenly in his mind's eye, then it was gone and he looked at Juleka with a hard glare.
"And you two didn't do anything?" Luka demanded and Rose looked away as Juleka looked at her brother with a hard look in her eyes.
"We argued that someone should have gone with them, and when Kim tried to bring up what happened today, Ms. Buistier shut it down and Lila started up about how we were defending her bully," Rose said sadly and Luka looked at Juleka who only nodded.
Juleka had wanted to speak up but she wasn't sure how, something about the situation after Lila had fallen down the stairs was still bothering her. She was couldn't tell what it was, but something was so wrong with the events that happened, the sequence of them made her sense that something was off but she couldn't tell what. And the worse thing was that she knew that as soon as she realized what it was when she finally did she would feel so stupid for not seeing it.
"What? That place did it again?" Luka asked with a growl and Rose looked at Juleka who had a strange look on her face.
Rose looked at Luka, a horrible feeling going through her as she tried and failed to understand just what he was talking about, the way he said that sounded all the wrong bells in her head. Luka meanwhile was trying and succeeding to keep calm and not summon an Akuma.
"What do you mean again?" Rose asked shakily as Juleka spoke up.
"Does this have something to do with how you hated that I was going to Duport Bro?" Juleka asked Luka looked at her and sighed and nodded.
"Yeah, it does. As bad as you said Chloe was, there was a girl who was worse back in my day before I started at my school. It was my only year at Duport, there was this queen bee type who transferred in and after a few weeks, she had most of the teachers eating out of her hand, all but Miss. M. It all happened when she was away, the old principle was tricked or bribed and expelled the only girl who saw through her on the spot; just like Marinette," Luka said and looked away, a shadowed look on his face. "The girl killed herself a week later, and after that everything came out. The queen was tormenting her, she sent terrible emails to her and destroyed everything she did to try and build a future….she was an artist like that friend of yours, what's his name? Nate?"
"Yeah Nathaniel, he's in a relationship with a friend of ours named Marc," Juleka said and Luka nodded.
"Good for them," Luka said softly with a small bitter tone to his voice the girls could detect. They looked at him for a few moments, trying to understand until Rose gasped and Juleka realized what her friend did and they both looked at Luka, seeing tears at the corner of his eyes.
"You liked her didn't you?" Rose asked and Juleka looked from her brother to Rose, trying to remember how he was back then.
Luka looked away, a bitter smile on his face as he gathered his thoughts and sighed, shaking his head.
"Yeah, no. I had a crush on somebody else, I just tried to help her with her own crush, didn't work right," Luka explained and Rose frowned.
"But if you tried to help her, what happened?" Juleka asked and Luka looked away with a bitter look.
"Remember I broke my leg that year? Well, it was a few days before it all happened, the result of another plan by the 'queen'. I tried to contact her but by the time I was out of the hospital, it was too late," Luka said with sorrow and looked up at the girls. "The only good thing is that she was sent to jail for life, and she isn't getting out ever, even her mother disowned her."
"Was the mother abusive?" Rose asked and Luka shook his head and Rose looked down, not understanding how anyone who was not abused could do what this queen bee was said to do.
Juleka looked at Rose out of the corner of her eyes, knowing what Rose was thinking and
"No, I learned later the 'Queen' went to acting classes for years and used them on her mother and the school," Luka said bitterly and Juleka whistled.
"Smart. Vile, but smart, gotta hand it to her, great planning," Juleka said and Luka nodded with a scowl.
Luka didn't tell the girls that the 'queen' was proud that she had forced the girl into suicide; that she was right in how she thought that there were only two people in the world; the sheep and the wolves. Luka hoped that she was made a prison toy by someone stronger or a corrupt guard, let the little witch see how it looked like from the other side.
"Yeah, and get this, her aunt was even proud of what the little witch did," Luka said and Rose gasped and looked at him as Juleka's mouth dropped open in shock.
"No….." Juleka said shocked and sought out Rose's hand, both of them squeezing the other's as they tried to gather strength from each other.
"Yeah, and cursed her victim for being so weak. That got her punched at the courtroom by said victim's mother, I left the school a few days later with most of my class and we all separated to other schools, while at Duport a whole new staff came in and a year or so later you started there," Luka said and Juleka looked down as Rose held herself, trying to deal with what Luka told them.
Luka looked at them, his mind going old places. He thought maybe he should get in contact with that lawyer that sued the school and got the old principal fired, if he knew about it then he would probably do something for Marinette. And maybe he should contact his old friend about this, see if they had heard anything about the teachers who had come into the school.
Up above in the bridge, Anarka turned off the one-way intercom and shook her head. That school she sent her daughter to was one of the best in the city, but when her eldest went there and that circus the 'Queen Witch' caused, she almost sent her to another school. Only seeing that one of her daughter's bullies went to the only other one she would even think about sending her daughter to had stayed her hand. But this, she wondered just what was wrong with that school, was it cursed or something?
She remembered a few home school programs she had researched once a long time ago and wondered if she still had the pamphlets, if not a small matte to fix. As she sighed and shook her head, she wondered if she should call her brother-in-law, given how he cared about the little lady. As she looked at the stairs she never noticed behind her a beam of light from the moon reflect off something on Notre Dame, hit the water, and for a moment a red glowing circle formed above the water before it broke apart.
When Anarka turned back around and looked at the sky she frowned when a small wave caused the boat to rock for a moment. She looked around as Luka poked his head up and signaled her.
"What happened Mom? Did a boat pass by?" Luka called out and Anarka shrugged.
"Didn't hear anything and saw nothing, don't know… have the girls stay below by the doorway and check the lower levels for leaks. I'll check the rest up here and get the papers if we have to scuttle," Anarka called back and Luka nodded.
As he ducked back down into the Liberty he met Rose and Juleka as they looked at him with fear in their eyes. He smiled and shook his head. "Phantom wave girls, stay here in case anything is damaged below, I'll just open the door and check, if it is we get to the land fast and safe okay?"
"Is this that bad Juleka?" Rose asked as Luka moved away from the girls. Juleka looked at her and smiled.
"Not too bad, a phantom wave is a wave that we don't know the cause of. It could have been anything really, we're just checking to make sure the boat is okay," Juleka said and looked towards her brother who had gone below to listen to the rest of the ship. But we rarely get them in Paris. I think we've only experienced them about three times since we've been here. Juleka thought as she tried to keep Rose calm.
Below Luka looked around, a flashlight illuminating everything the beam hit as he tried to hear anything that might give him a clue to let him know if there was any damage below the water.
As he moved through the lower level, he kept his eyes open and all his senses active but he felt nothing. As he was about to turn around and move on, he went still as he detected a song. He went still, the song was almost like an Akuma, but somehow worse more….. primal if that was the right word to explain what he felt.
As he put a hand onto the floor he tried to listen to what he heard more but it felt like it was muted somehow. As he looked around, he shook his head as the song faded away, looking around for anything he shrugged and sighed. As he turned back to head back upwards, he sighed again and wondered if he should say anything about the song he heard.
Rose held her head as it throbbed for a few moments, Juleka held her and looked around, hoping to find anything that could tell her what she should do. Rose started to breathe more evenly and after a few moments, she looked up at Juleka and smiled.
"Thanks Juleka, that was….. unlike anything I've felt before," Rose said and Juleka looked at her and stepped back, smiling as she looked at her friend. "I'm fine."
"What happened?" Juleka asked Rose blinked a few times as she seemed to take stock of herself.
"It was…. I can't describe it. It was like something broke and I feel…..better. My headache, the low constant one…it's gone," Rose said in wonder as Juleka looked at her friend and smiled at her.
Juleka knew Rose had been stricken with those headaches for years, but this was wonderful. Even if it was only for a little bit, she deserved not to have it weigh her down. But she was worried, Rose's sickness had been with her most of her life, but what had caused that attack?
As Luka came up and shook his head, Juleka sighed and smiled. Whatever had caused the wave, their home wasn't damaged and that was enough for her, for now at least.
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"….So that's what happened Kagami," Marinette finished and for a few moments she didn't hear anything and she was starting to get worried. "Kagami, are you there?"
"I'm getting out my katana Mari-Chan, I have an appointment with M. Rossi to get ready for," Kagami said and Marinette stared at the phone as Tikki started to laugh.
"Kagami you promised!" Marinette exclaimed and Marinette heard the sounds of Kagami sharpening her katana.
"Yes I promised. I promised that until I know what happened I will stay calm', that's what I said. And I kept my promise, my planning to talk to Lila forcibly based on what I learned from you doesn't break my word," Kagami said and Marinette looked at her phone as Tikki giggled. "Now how to find a single liar in a city this size?"
Marinette shot a look at the Kwami and then turned back to the phone. "Kagami, please stay calm. We're planning to sue her; she's not worth you going to jail!"
"I won't leave evidence behind," Kagami said softly over the phone and Marinette looked at the phone in disbelief and for some reason, she blushed a little.
Tikki only giggled, watching the way the three of them danced around each other was some of the best entertainment that she's had in centuries. All those three had to do was talk it out, but the parents of two of them would be a problem, but if things happened like she thought it might only be one parent who might be a problem.
"Kagami, promise me you won't attack her, promise me!" Marinette finally said and Kagami was silent for a long time, long enough that Marinette was starting to get worried.
"Fine, but when you sue this Baka for slander, my family's lawyers will take part in the case
Tikki giggled as she looked at Marinette's flushed face. These kids were something else, she hadn't seen something like this since before the Order took her Miraculous!
"Okay Kagami, just come over tomorrow after school and we'll all talk it out, and maybe you can have some fun and try out one of my games," Marinette said and Kagami sighed and nodded.
"My mother is getting the car fixed, I could say I was visiting you to help you find a way to deal with this," Kagami mused and Marinette looked at her phone as Tikki laughed.
Tikki grinned and somersaulted. She knew that Kagami was a good choice for Longg and this proved it. She had the heart of a dragon, anyone or thing that threatened those she saw as hers were due for the 'wraith of a dragon', that was something even the greatest and most powerful kings were scared of.
"Okay I'll see you tomorrow Kagami," Marinette said as she closed the call and looked at Tikki with a glare. "You weren't that helpful Tikki!"
"Sorry Marinette, but let's just say that I learned not to do anything but watch when my old wielders talked to others in situations like this," Tikki said with a grin.
Marinette glared at Tikki for a moment before she realized what Tikki was talking about and blushed as Tikki started to giggle. Tikki grinned as Marinette stammered and blushed, this girl was one of her favorite Chosen yet. Say what you would about them, the Kwami all loved to gossip about their chosen and Holders' lives. And she, Longg and Plagg would a lot to tell the others once what she thought would happen happens!
Marinette kept calm and walked towards her door down, Tikki following behind her giggling zipping towards a vent to find Plagg.
Marinette came into the family room and saw Adrien talking to her father as he gestured towards the screen. Sabine saw her and smiled, she smiled back and came up behind her father and Adrien quietly.
"Can I play winner?" Marinette called out and Adrien and Tom turned and smiled at her.
"Sure, zone with a base, points based on what we destroy, or a good old capture and hold with respawn or minions?" Adrien asked and Marinette took the controller and grinned at him.
As Sabine laughed she got up and walked towards the kitchen, and as she walked she heard what sounded like two people whispering to each other at the edge of her senses and she smiled. If those two watched over the two of them, then she hoped their long experience would be listened to and they would guide them to make the right choices.
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Alya smiled as she finished helping her parents clean up as she saw Trixx go through the sink to grab a bit of the chicken before it went down the drain. So far this won't be too bad. I mean I've got my own fridge and I played it off as keeping some leftovers in my room if I ever get hungry at night. And the twins know that I want them to stay out of my room when I'm away, so the next thing to get is gonna be a lock of course. She thought as Trixx shot back into hiding within one of her pockets moments before Nora came towards her and smirked as she hugged Alya from behind. "SIS!"
"Hey little sis, keep your mind on the game and watch yourself!" Nora scolded her as Ottis laughed as he looked up from his book at his two eldest as Elle and Etta giggled as they watched a movie.
As Otis shook his head he called out. "Now Nora, don't hug your sister when she's cleaning up the dishes, and El, Et? Learn from your sister on what not to do."
"Yes dad!" Ella and Etta said as Alya laughed and Nora scowled.
"Heading to my room to finish some of my homework, call me when mom calls!" Alya said as she put the last dish away and Nora walked over to sit with their sisters as Otis nodded.
As she walked away Otis frowned as he watched her. He had been angry when he heard what had happened to Marinette, the idea that a school would go so far on something that supposedly happened between two students and not even checks the cameras, they were so pulling Alya out of that place the first chance they got. And the pamphlets for homeschool programs seemed almost as good as the school, how the student could work in groups on projects that they presented over the web or with the teacher coming to examine it, and with the students putting down who they wouldn't work with, everything seemed perfect!
Nora meanwhile smiled as she sat back, watching her little sisters enjoy a movie as she thought about recent events. While her career in the ring was going great, this happened with that witch Lila. She knew her little sis was hiding something from her, but as long as it didn't lead to something or someone like Lila, she would let it go.
Ella and Etta meanwhile knew something was different with their family, but they didn't know what it was. As long as their family was happy and Ladybug and Chat Noir kept saving the day, they were happy.
In her room, Alya closed her door and locked it as Trixx flew out and smirked at Alya. "You've got a good family kit."
"Yeah, they're great. Okay, science or math first?" Alya asked herself as she set her phone down sideways and Trixx giggled as she moved over and called up a show she liked.
As Alya worked Trixx thought back to the hexes the Guardians had cast on all the Kwami they once held.
She hated how she wasn't able to talk about the creatures that she and her friends were called into the world to battle, or about their home. After the fall of Atlantis, she had spent years in what was known now as Africa, battling the worst humanity had to offer and others had to offer for generations, being held by a family line that she had come to love before the Guardians found her. They had spoken of balance and such, how they were gathering all the Miraculous and their Kwami to protect it and how it was their choice, but when Trixx had declined to join them, the monks had attacked the next night. Her wielder had sent his family away as they drew them the monks away in another direction until they had knocked him out and taken Trixx, using a spell to force him back into his Miraculous, and Trixx never learned if they let him live.
And they were true about their intentions at least. The Guardians were all about protecting the balance and they did it perfectly, the perfect tyrants and brainwashers who followed what they saw as Balance.
Sometimes she wondered if Duusuu hadn't influenced the Sentimonster that Fu created, or if the little guy had the same kind of stories she and a few others had. And if the book had the way to destroy the hex on them, they would all tell Fu the truth; that while they respected him they didn't feel too bad for what happened to the Temple. If she was honest then a lot of the way the world had developed wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't happened. She felt that the Order had strangled invention and growth, all to keep the world in what they saw as Balance, with them on top of course.
As Alya tried to work on her homework, her mind wondered. She wondered what the Guardians had done to the Kwami, and why. Fu seemed to be a great guy, but how much of that was because he had grown up away from the Order? How much of their practices were truly helpful and not the result of controlling who used the Miraculous? She made a note on a piece of paper to ask Fu if she could learn about the history of the Order, if that didn't put to rest her fears then she didn't know what would. And if the Temple was back, then they might have more problems than just Hawkmoth coming their way.
"AAAAGGGHHHH!" Alya said and put her head down on her desk and closed her eyes. Trixx flew over and nuzzled against her, causing Alya to smile at the Kwami.
Alya smiled at Trixx and wrote the words 'Order bound you', Trixx gasped and covered her mouth. Alya just nodded and sighed as she hugged Trixx against her cheek with one hand, Trixx purred in response.
Trixx hated the fact she couldn't say anything, but the work Fu was doing was something that she hoped would break the chains on them all, and return the memories that were still blocked from them. Alya felt Trixx's feelings and the sense of hope from her, and for a moment, just for a moment, Alya knew that together the two of them would be fine.
Outside Alya's room Ottis put his book down as the door opened and his wife Marlena walked in. He gestured towards the kitchen and she nodded and moved towards it as he got up. Walking by the TV he saw that the movie was heading towards the climax and shook his head and chuckled.
As soon as he reached her he kissed Marlena's lips and she smiled at him as she drew back.
"Hey wild man, how was the madhouse today?" Marlena asked and Ottis laughed.
"Not too bad, how was the inn?" Ottis countered Marlena shrugged.
"The Wife was in rare form today, and the Heir seemed to be turning over a new leaf, not trying to be a copy of her," Marlena said and Ottis nodded.
Ottis sighed and looked at Marlena who sighed and shook her head. The school seemed perfect, with good ratings and all but looking into it deeper like that case Alya told them about, a different picture was painted. If the school did close down like he thought it would, a lot of students would transfer to other schools, and the paperwork for all of the students would be a nightmare, getting started before the trial was the best thing for them to do.
"Yeah, so homeschooling Alya, that might be the best thing we could do," Marlena said and Ottis nodded.
"Yeah, so we'll start to fill out the paperwork to pull Alya and send it through once the trial breaks, I'll stop by the bakery and ask them what program they'll sign Marinette up for," Ottis said and Marlena nodded.
"Yeah, good idea," Marlena said absently and Ottis looked at her and sighed.
Ottis knew his wife, when she had bad news to share she always had it on her mind even when they were talking about something important.
"Okay, what is it?" Ottis asked and Marlena looked at him before sighing.
"I just got the news, there might be someone important coming in soon and they want my best, so the boss wants me to try and create a new dish… I've got a few ideas for some chicken and meat but if they want fish…. And he wants me to stay over the night before…. I might be warned within three days and it might happen sometime after a week!" Marlena said and Ottis smirked at her, infuriating her for a moment before she started to laugh a little.
"Don't worry, whatever happens, we will handle it, the four of us will weather this storm," Ottis said and Marlena nodded, frowning for a moment.
"Four of us?" Marlena asked with a raised eyebrow.
Ottis smiled at her and winked. "Why you, me, Nora, and Alya of course! With the four of us working together there is nothing we can't do!"
Marlena only looked at him and laughed, Ottis grinning back at her.
Nora paused the movie as her mother walked towards them, Alya peeking out of her room after the twins called out 'MOMMY!' and ran to hug their mother, no matter what happened the family would survive and thrive.
Marlena patted the twins heads and looked at Nora and nodded, looking at the twins and whistling. "Come on you two, the movie's almost over then you two hit the racks,"
Marlena walked over to Alya and hugged her, Alya hugged her back and led her mother into her room.
"So how are you Alya, did that girl contact you yet?" Marlena asked and Alya shook her head and Marlena nodded. She wanted to have a quick word with that girl's mother at some point, and so help her if that little witch tried to get Alya to do her dirty work.
As Trixx watched from hiding as her chosen's mother sit down on Alya's bed, she almost phased into the wall behind her before darting to an air duct and hiding in it instead, watching as they talked.
"I hope that we'll know what the education department will do soon, I mean she gave that lawyer her version of events, and well… I just hope it's not slow," Alya said and Marlena nodded and sighed, shaking her head.
"Yeah, me too," Marlena said and mournfully looked away.
Privately she blamed herself. Her job was why they had moved and she should have looked more into the school, not put everything on Alya. She cursed that Alya had worked so well and so hard that they never looked into the old reviews themselves, if they had then they might have found something.
Alya looked at her mother, knowing exactly what her mother was thinking. "Mom, it was hidden deep, no one could have found it, even when I knew what to look for, the school was never named."
"And the twins?" Marlena asked and Alya grinned at her.
"I'm asking a friend of mine at school to check the web if their school has anything at all honkey, we'll know by Monday," Alya said and Marlena sighed and nodded.
Alya knew exactly how her mother felt, she didn't want the girls in danger at all. As Alya and her mother talked, Trixx smiled and slipped away, going through the vent until she saw the living room, Nora carrying Etta and Ella away to their rooms and she giggled lightly and slipped back towards Alya's room, never noticing Ottis looking up and frowned.
Ottis looked back towards his book and shook his head, he was sure that he had heard something up there but he wasn't sure beyond a strange sound he barely heard. He looked around the room and then shrugged, going back to his book as he put it out of his mind for now.
As Nora put her sisters to bed, she wondered if she should reach out to any of her friends at the gym. If they heard about anything at the schools her sibs went to, then maybe she could rearrange her schedule to let her watch the twin terrors if they try homeschooling for them. Still, she wondered about her upcoming match, and she hoped that this out-of-towner puts up a good fight.