A bit of a warning, a few characters who will have a bit of a bigger place in the plot down the road will appear in this chapter, and also spoiler and trigger warning, before the hearing we will meet a racist cop, soon to be ex-cop who will be not as important.

All in all, enjoy the show.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As Alya moved through the school she saw people talking about her interview with Chloe and Sabrina as the New Bee and smiled. Already the talks she could hear were more pro-Chloe than she thought they would be, and that was good. After having a sit down with her and talking about a lot of things, Alya had to admit that Chloe was trying to be better and this might work, especially if what they wanted to happen.

Alya had been looking into homeschool options for a day, and the ones offered by the education department were good. With Hawkmoth's campaign, they were offered to a lot of students if their families felt it would be better for them. Funny, the students at François Duport never got them, something that Alya was going to talk to the investigators about.

As she and Chloe headed into the main courtyard she saw the others all looking around with worry. "Didn't find her?"

"No, where is she?" Chloe said with a scowl. "It's just like that witch to do something like this!"

"You know, looking back you're right. And I can't believe I didn't see it before," Nino said as he pulled his hat as the others all nodded.

Nino and Kim shared a look, the two of them were childhood friends with Mari, they couldn't believe that they had let that snake slither through the school biting at her for so long without seeing it! Kim knew he couldn't see things people did sometime, but he should have seen this!

Chloe looked at them and grinned, happy that they agreed with her. Lila had been a slippery little witch, and she was so happy people were finally wising up to it! Now all they had to do was find Lila, set her down in front of the investigators and then, well then she knew a nice reform school on an island in the north sea that wasn't coed.

A few moments later a cough was heard from behind them. They all turned and saw a slender and fairly tall French boy with rock-style black hair, tan skin, vivid green eyes under thick eyebrows and visible lashes, natural pink lips on a slender face and his chin was pointy. He was wearing a V-neck rainbow tie-dye shirt which displays the colors in a ripple pattern originating from the center under an open bright red jacket, moderate azure jeans with the bottoms rolled up and several horizontal rips around his knees, and black boots with rainbow oil slick blotches.

"Yeah Marc, you looking for Nath?" Kim asked and Marc shook his head.

Marc looked away for a few moments as he wondered if he should get involved. Do I owe him any loyalty at all? He's the stereotype of every bad teacher in the movies plus 'jocks over all', and there's what happened to Mari. He thought and nodded, having come to a decision. He took stock of himself and he scowled as looked back at the group.

"If you're looking for Lila, d'Argencourt let her out the door by the gym," Marc said with a hard look in his eyes.

"He did what?!" Chloe snarled out as she looked at him with a glare as the others behind her watched in shock. I just thought the owl and the appeaser were the only slime in this school, but him!? He's a bastard, but letting her go after hearing what happened!? I thought he had more principals than that! She thought with a glare. "Show us."

Marc said nothing and brought out the recorder she had been using and sent the file to Chloe's student account. As the others listened to it their respect for their gym teacher was destroyed completely, Chloe glared even harder and she started to growl in anger. It was when she heard Marc gasp that she looked up and saw him pale in fear as he backed away from her. she looked away and cursed her old actions.

"Not mad at you writer, I expected some of the teachers would be better," Chloe said and Marc went still before he nodded.

Above Rebecca walked out of a meeting room and closed the door, sighing as soon as the door was closed. So far this school was even worse than she thought it would be, even with the history of this place! The problem in the lunchroom alone, the way some of the teachers didn't seem to match what their files said they were plus how the students described their classes… she knew this would be a problem but this, this was beyond anything she expected! The sound of talking caused her to look down and see kids gathering below and frowned. She had specifically said where they could gather, what were they doing out there?

She scowled as she walked down the stairs and cleared her throat to get them to look at her. "Excuses me, can you all tell me why you're all out here?"

Chloe looked up as Rebecca came closer to them, she didn't know how to react to the question, having no idea how it would be taken. The Education Department wasn't something that she knew a lot about, how it was under the President and not her father, they spent most of their time away from the city and dealt with problems all over the country and they never bothered with Politics at all, so Chloe didn't have any idea how she would react. But before she could come to a decision Alya jumped the gun, causing Chloe and Sabrina to facepalm.

"Lila's gone!" Alya spat out and Rebecca blinked and then went still as she remembered who Lila was and how she was connected to this.

"She left a few minutes ago, and I've got proof of who helped her," Marc spoke up and Rebecca looked at him and frowned.

"How do you have proof?" Rebecca asked as she tried to figure out how this all happened. If the only student of the two at the core of the issue that brought her here ran away, that

"I'm a writer mam, and I always record myself while I walk, better than writing on my phone…. Anyway I was going to the gym to maybe make a video for help writing sports scenes when, well I came across them," Marc said and Rebecca looked at them all with a raised eyebrow.

"I see," Rebecca said as she turned around and looked up at Damocles as he stood at the top of the stairs. So far Rebecca was convinced he was hiding something, and she wouldn't like whatever it was when she found out. Now this happened, and the picture is slowly becoming even worse! If a student helped Lila get away, then it makes it seem that someone else was involved in this situation, and that meant it wasn't a simple frame job. She felt that she could call it a trick to frame Marinette, everything was probably going to be a lot harder. "So another student is involved in this?"

The students looked at each other as Rebecca turned around and took a step up the stairs, she would have kept going but Marc spoke up.

"It wasn't a student ma'am," Marc said and Rebecca turned towards him and he cowed a little.

Chloe had a moment when she thought that she should step back when she saw the look in Rebecca's eyes.

"What did you say?" Rebecca asked with a dangerous tone and Marc swallowed and removed a small recorder with a camera that he handed over to her.

"Download from the USB port, has a few Gigs of memory," Marc said and Max nodded.

"Some of my best work, good microphone too," Max said and Rebecca looked at it and frowned.

"Really…." She muttered before she pulled out her phone, a wire that she plugged into her phone, and then she pulled out two headphones. Playing the most recent file she found, she watched. Nice picture at least, good sound…. If this is from that far away, then up close might be even better. She thought before she looked up at Max. "You're name and Class young man?"

"Max Kante, Miss Bustier's class mam," Max said and Rebecca winced.

"Of course," She muttered as she held her forehead. So far the other students from that class had told her things that raised so many red flags that she was surprised that they could function normally! So far she had to wonder how that woman had passed as a teacher in the first place! The other teachers were good, but they were mostly overworked and had blind spots and she wondered if their training was up to date.

All in all, it seemed that no matter what happened they would need to close the school for a while, at least the home school programs could handle them. She might need to release a few laptops or something, but she knew she could find a way around all the problems to help these kids. And then there was the worst duty she had, talk to the person who was 'expelled' and tell them the truth about the paperwork. This is gonna be painful. And to think, this might have gone unnoticed if I didn't come here. After all, she could have been expelled…. Rebecca's thoughts stopped and she went still as a dark thought appeared in her mind and she knew she had to look into a few files, she had a bad feeling about this.

"Okay, all you kids go back to wherever you're all next on the list to interview. After that, once everything is done, you all stay home until we contact you all, as of the end of the day, this school will be closed for a while," Rebecca said bitterly as she turned and walked towards the office, trying not to let what she had thought of bother her.

Chloe looked around at the other's faces and tried to keep calm. The fact that another teacher, one that once ran for office against her father was slime was bad, the fact that he was Adrien's teacher was even worse! She just knew when she told the others about this, Adrien was going to take it hard, and Marinette was going to take it just as badly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Marinette smiled and looked towards the door, smiling as she looked at the sky through the glass. The lunch rush was over and her parents were enjoying a break and late meal, and for a moment she saw the good homeschooling might let do for everyone and sighed. The last few days were the most chaotic she had ever experienced since Tikki had come into her life. But she was stronger, with the team knowing each other's identities, the school and Lila being dealt with, and the family looking into homeschooling for her, she felt that she was in a better position than she was before. With her team knowing how Lila was and the hearing soon, she had a good feeling that the Lila problem would soon come to a close.

The bell dinged and she turned and smiled, expecting a customer but saw Louise walk into the building looking concerned.

"Louise, what is it?"

Louise looked up and smiled shakily. "Hey kid, your parents here? As in here downstairs?"

"No, Dad and mom are having lunch upstairs and playing a game with our guest for an hour while I watch the store… what's happening?" Marinette asked and he swallowed.

"Well the board of education reached back, they sent a team to investigate the school…their agent is gonna come over here soon," Louise said and Marinette went still. On the surface that was something that could be good, but then she thought of Adrien hiding out here until his hearing… if this person found him, then he might be taken back to his father, even if the restraining order was held up or with their luck, the person ignored it!

"Go now, tell him to hide in my room!" Marinette said as she noticed a woman walking towards the store. Louise must have seen something in her eyes because he dashed past her and she heard him head upstairs moments before the woman walked in and smile at her. Marinette smiled as she heard someone come down the stairs and her father came to stand next to her.

"Can we help you?" Tom asked and the woman nodded.

"No actually, I can help you. My name is Rebecca, I work for the education department…. Now I have a few things to tell you, first your daughter hasn't been expelled yet," Rebecca said causing Marinette and Tom to blink in shock.

"I'm Sorry, what!?" Tom demanded and Rebecca nodded as Louise appeared from the door to the apartment with Sabine behind him.

"Yes, he never filled out the paperwork, I expect that if I hadn't come then he might have made it out that he expelled you for being absent too much Miss Marinette," Rebecca said and Marinette went still as her parent's mouths dropped open before Tom started to growl as Sabine clenched her fists.

"How dare he! Who the hell does he think he is!?" Sabine demanded and Rebecca sighed and shook her head.

"I don't know, frankly that school was supposed to have been a lot better, I mean really!" Rebecca said as she looked at them before turning to stare a Louise as she brought out her phone. "During the investigation, I came across some data that will affect the case, I turn it over to you here and now because I have to."

"What data?" Louise asked and Rebecca sighed and pulled out her phone and after a moment Louise gave her an email address and she nodded and sent it over.

As the Dunpain-Chengs, all listened to the file, Marinette's parents glared at Rebecca who raised her hands.

"Now I'm just the messenger, please understand. Finally, the hearing for this terrible situation will be on Wednesday," She said as she bowed and left the building before they could say anything.

Sabine looked around and scowled, her good mood from watching Tom and Adrien play the game was gone, she was almost tempted to curse before she sighed and took a deep breath.

"Well, this changes a few things. Let me think and I'll get back to you tomorrow and go over our strategy and what I expect the hearing will be, good luck and stay safe," Louise said as he left through the door. However, a moment after he left Alya appeared with a scowl that told Marinette that she had bad news to share.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Two days later, Marinette and her parents walked towards the courthouse, her nerves shot. Hawkmoth had been silent the last few days, no Akumas at all. Lila had gone home early from school the other day, escaping the investigators and her classmates, part of Marinette wondered if she had left the country. But then she half expected Lila to come and with a sob story turn the entire case around and have Marinette punished for wasting the court's time. And with everything else that happened she still didn't know what they would do.

But then she thought about what Rebecca had told them about what Damocles did or didn't do, and she knew that the record had to be set straight. And then when Alya told them how Lila had gotten away and how d'Argencourt had helped Lila and insulted Marinette, it had taken a lot of talking on Marinette's part to keep her parents from finding d'Argencourt and shaking him on her father's part before her mother introduced her to her staff. That night, she and Adrien had talked, both of them and their kwami's were worried that Damocles had done something like this before.

"Don't worry Marinette, this will be easy," Sabine said softly and Marinette grinned at her.

"Yes mama," Marinette said and she hoped that this would go well, but her thoughts were on what the holder of the Dolphin Miraculous had told them. Master Fu had gone through the Grimoire page by page, nothing at all about Atlantis or the Mage, and Fu was hurt. He said he almost made himself believe that whoever had brought the Miraculous from Atlantis to the Order had cast the spells for a reason and forgotten about them over the years, a secret carried to the grave by accident or death in battle, but the book had been recreated half a year after he had been conscripted, for it to not have the truth, that was painful for him to admit that the Order didn't deserve his loyalty.

Max meanwhile had made a program to look up oriental myths and another to look up lore about flowers and gemstones, trying to find anything that might give them a clue to the ingredients they needed and Markov was searching as well, so she hoped they could find what they needed soon.

"Don't worry Marinette, the case is open and shut, we'll win," Tom said and Marinette nodded as she caught a flash of black on the rooftop. They had thought that Lila or Damocles would be a great seed for Hawmoth, so above them Chat Noir, Carapace and Roi Singe were ready to come in to fight while Viperion was ready to Second Chance to make sure every civilian got out okay.

"THERE YOU ARE!" A voice bellowed and they turned to see a bald man in a black suit walking towards them with a scowl on his face and had been arguing with Louise the lawyer. "I don't know how one of your kind thinks, but how dare you try and get out of your just punishment! When I'm done, you won't even be able to get into a school in any of Europe!"

"Louise, who is this…. person?" Sabine asked as Louise made it to them.

"All I know is this person came up to me and started to yell at me. He has yet to give a name at all," Louise said with a glare and the man puffed up and glared right back.

"All you filth need to know is that I am empowered by the education board to handle cases like you!" The man said and Tom started to get angry himself. Marinette saw movement above and shook her head, hoping that her team wouldn't move and that Weredad wouldn't make another appearance.

"No, I don't think that's right at all," A voice caused him to turn around and took a step back toward Tom. Marinette saw that his whole body was paling in what she thought was fear. Following his gaze, she saw Rebecca walking toward them with a smile on her face that hardened as she looked at the man.

"Hello, I didn't fully introduce myself when I met you all before. I'm Rebecca Clynefluss, the head of the Education Department for all of France. When I heard of this travesty I had to come and see it personally, and then I heard what this man said just now," Alice said and the man paled as the family looked at Rebecca in shock.

As they all watched the man swallowed and looked at Alice who grinned back and Tom thought he saw the man begin to sweat and lose color on his face.

"You didn't have to mam I was…." He said and Rebecca smirked at him and interrupted him.

"I find it amazing that you're here and made those threats just now, as I am the only person who has that authority in ALL of France," Rebecca said softly and the man paled as she looked at him. He gulped back up until he walked into Tom who glared down at him and he swallowed nervously.

"I can explain!" He said and Rebecca smiled evilly and he paled more as she shook her head.

"No, you won't," Rebecca said as two men in black uniforms appeared behind her and grabbed the man's arms. Rebecca smiled at him as one of the two men hit the back of his head and knocked him out.

Tom took a step backward in shock before he took another step forward, even if the man was a bastard he wouldn't let the man be kidnapped in front of him. Rebecca held up her hands to placate Tom as the man was picked up.

"Easy. That was an Anti Hawkmoth protocol that the Union allowed that after the last contract/wage negotiation," Rebecca said and looked back at the man. "Good luck in there, and if something happens that was affected by what just happened to you, we'll be in contact."

As they watched her turn and follow the two men and their prisoner to a car, the family looked at each other in confusion.

A cough behind them caused them to see Nadja standing there with a smile. "Well, that was interesting, maybe a good story too."

"What are you doing here Nadja?" Sabine asked and Nadja grinned.

"After I learned what happened, I decided to look into the school, I'm just here to take a few notes. When I show my story, I will keep Marinette's name out of it I promise," Nadja said and the family looked at each other before Marinette nodded.

Moments later all of them walked into the courtroom and saw Mr. Damocles and Miss Bustier sitting at one of the two tables in front and Ivan, Mylene, Nathaniel and Nino sitting all over with Aurore and Millie sitting with Miss Mendeleiev, Rose and Juleka sitting together near the left exit. A cough caused Marinette to turn around and see Nora in her street clothes with Alya standing against the right wall. Alya waved and gestured with her chin at her phone that was recording everything. Nadja grinned and walked over, getting into a short conversation that ended with Alya and Nadja shaking hands, evil grins on their faces.

At the other end of the room was a high table with a woman with blue eyes, red hair in a bun in a green blouse, and black pants, who banged a gavel, the sounds caused everyone to look at her.

"It is now noon, and I am Lenore Zarklis, assigned head of this hearing; sent by the Education Department of Paris. My friend to my right is Judge Daniel Rortarn of the greater France Justice Department and the final member of our panel is Doctor Leonard Carlson of one of the local hospitals," Lenore said as she gestured first to the right and then to the left. Daniel Rortam was a judge who had severed Paris for over thirty years, his tan skin, bald head, and black eyes behind glasses held a trace of wisdom in them, while his white shirt and blue pants gave off an air of peace. On Lenore's other side Leonard Carlson was a young man with black eyes, pale skin, blond hair dressed in black slacks and pants, a look of disdain on his face as he looked at Damocles.

"Now this is the hearing that is required by law to happen in cases where the principal or a teacher feels a student has done something to warrant expulsion, as according to the law I am one of a trio of judges who will hear the issue, the evidence and then render judgment. And for everyone here I am talking this way so the automatic record that will hear everything, it's one of the procedurals that's being tried out after a lawsuit against a ruling on a case last year, so let us start with the bare bones so to speak," Lenore said and Daniel snorted.

"Let's get this over with, I've got plans later," Daniel said and Lenore glared at him.

"Yes well, may the principal please speak the name of the school and the charges," Lenore said and Damocles stood up.

"Of course Madame, I am Damocles, principal of Francoise-Dupont College. The incident that resulted in the expulsion of the student in question; One Marinette Dunpain-Cheng cheated on a test, pushed a student down the stairs and had stolen from said student," Principal Damocles said and Marionette heard her father growl at this. Damocles looked at them with a cold expression, but the look in his eyes caused Marinette to gasp, as she realized he had been behind that man outside. "And I offer the other parties the chance to end this as it is, no need to drag it out."

Louise smiled at them and stood up next a savage grin on his face. "Your honor I am the lawyer for the Dunpain-Cheng family. I will prove by the evidence and testimony that such actions were not only illegal but immoral as well. And we are not backing down!"

Damocles looked at them and blanched before he looked at the door as if he was expecting someone to come in and stop all this, an action that didn't escape the three people at the high bench.

"So let's begin with the paperwork, more specifically the school's version of events," Judge Daniel said as the judges each opened the folder before them and started to read them, Leonard felt a frown growing on his face as he did so as he read the papers.

After a few moments, each of the judges looked at each other and moved to talk to each other, each of them covering their microphones as before Leonard sighed and nodded

"This makes no sense at all, did this happen as it's written?" Leonard asked and Damocles looked a little confused.

"Yes, that is what happened, at least after I left my office," Damocles said and the judges all face palmed in unions ion and Marinette fealty a

"This is a travesty! If a lawyer had brought this to my court it would have been thrown out!" Daniels spat as Damocles looked shocked.

Marinette looked and saw with some surprise that Caline Bustier wasn't reacting at all. And that worried her, she had been expecting that Lila or Caline to make a show about being a better person but the silence, and that bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

Sabine meanwhile looked at the two people who failed her daughter and barely kept from going over to them and tearing them apart with her bare hands.

"Gotta agree with the lawman here, this doesn't make sense. Let's start picking apart from the test… Miss Bustier if you had the answer sheet stolen before the test, why on earth didn't you change it?" Leonard said as he looked at Bustier who looked away as she realized something and palled in shock.

Daniel and Leonard looked at each other as Lenore stared at Bustier, something about the woman was bothering her but she couldn't figure out what it was.

Leonard looked at the other board members and sighed. "Madame, answer the question please."

"The answer sheet was stolen after the test Sir," Miss Bustier said as she turned her head back to the front and then winced at the incredulous looks she was getting. Next to her Damocles jerked slightly and paled in fear, he was starting to think that this was going to be bad.

Behind her Marinette could hear Alya start to snicker when they had all realized when the answer sheet had to be taken after the test, it was all Marinette could do to keep Alya and Adrien from going to kill Bustier, saying that this was better.

Aurore meanwhile was starting to grin evilly, next to her Mirelle giggled. The two of them were here to see the Owl become an endangered species.

"I'm sorry, the sheet was stolen after the test?! That doesn't make any sense at all if anyone wanted to cheat!" Daniel spat out and glared at Caline Bustier who looked back with a blank look on her face.

Leonard looked at the woman's face and tried to figure out where he had seen her before, there was something about her that he couldn't place.

"More how cheating was even possible at all. I… let's table that for now," Leonard said and took a deep breath and looked at the others.

Daniel looked like he was going to argue, but he took a deep breath and nodded, Lenore only huffed and looked away.

"The next thing that's bothering me, why didn't anyone go with them?" Lenore demanded and Caline looked at her and took a deep breath.

"I trusted them to walk on their own," Bustier said and even Damocles looked at her in shock. As she looked around a confused look was on her face.

"Both of them accused the other, or as you saw it, one thought the other was framing her, what did you expect nothing to happen?" Daniel asked with a scowl and Bustier looked at him and frowned.

"I trusted Marinette to be a good example to Lila, not cause any trouble at all, I didn't expect anything like this to happen," Bustier said and she was obvious to how the people behind her reacted, but the judges saw it all.

From how Ms. Mendeleiev was face palming to Aurore and Mireille scowl while next to her Marinette swallowed as she saw her parents look at her with a 'you will explain this to us later' look on their faces. Lenore, Daniel, and Leonard only stared at Bustier as they tried to understand her reasoning and failed.

"I know that she was a bad role model in this situation, but Marinette has such potential…." Ms. Bustier tried to continue but Daniel held up a hand.

"You shut up now, every word you say makes me want to hurt you," Daniel said and Bustier looked shocked that he said such things.

A commotion at the doors behind them caused them all to turn and see Lila being dragged into the room by her mother, an apologetic look on her face.

"Apologies, I was told it was an hour later, I was just lucky enough you sent one to my work address and my home," Dolores Rossi said as Lila tried to hide behind her.

As the three judges looked on they smiled and grinned at each other.

"Well, good, you were right on time. Now the record says that you said that Marinette pushed you down the stairs in the courtyard, stole a necklace, and then hide it in her locker," Leonard said and Lila nodded as Dolores looked at her.

"It hurt so much! I could barely stand but I…." Lila began only for Daniels to interrupt her.

"Show me proof then," He interrupted Lila and she went still as she looked at him. "Show me proof that Miss Marinette stole your necklace and pushed you down the stairs show me proof that you were even injured, and no your word doesn't count."

"It was found in her locker!" Lila said and Dolores looked up with a scowl only for Leonard to snort.

"Except the lockers at the school don't have locks," His blunt answer caused Lila to stare at him and her mother to jolt and opened and closed her mouth.

"They don't have locks?! WHY!" Dolores demanded and Damocles looked a little embarrassed and looked away. "What about the cameras then!"

"I'm sorry mam, but the cameras weren't checked and we have no paperwork because your daughter didn't go to the hospital or even to the nurse," Lenore told Dolores gently, only for her to stare in total confusion.

"What? My daughter fell down the stairs and they didn't send her to the nurse!?" Dolores demanded and inside she was shocked beyond words, she had been around for a long time and this, this was shocking her to the point she was almost sure this was a dream. She knew the school had issues, but maybe she should look into changing schools before she had her new coat.

"And again mam, this is happening because the person who your daughter blamed said she didn't push Lila and didn't steal a necklace that she, your daughter, said was a family heirloom and the girl in question was expelled without a hearing before this or being able to defend herself at all," Louise said and looked at Dolores who's mouth dropped open in shock.

"That's illegal!" Dolores said and then jerked and looked at him. "And what heirloom!?"

"And hence why we are here today, and why I'm particularly mad, especially since the last time this happened, well I don't need to tell you about that sir!" Louise spat out and Damocles looked at him and did a double take as he realized who Louise was and paled in fear.

"What…..what do you mean the last time?" Caline asked as she looked at her boss and Louise looked away with a glare on his face.

"It's a little something that the school it seems took great pains to hide but years ago a liar almost pushed a teen to suicide with just their words, turning most of the school against them. Since that happened this school now needs more than one person's word to do anything about anything and always check the cameras first," Lenore said before looking at Damocles with a glare in her eyes that made him shiver in fright. "Something that you should know sir! As you were the vice principal back then! And this entire episode has become nothing more than he said she did, with no paperwork to back it up!"

Damocles swallowed and looked down, pale and shaking as Miss. Bustier looked at him in total shock. The other students were all looking at him with disgust and part of Marinette was just as happy to have this happened if only to bring this to light.

"Your honor, about the video, I was able to grab a copy from the school's servers before they were delegated, defense exhibit A," Louise said and took out a folder from his briefcase and took it to the judge's table. As they read it he stepped back and smiled at Damocles. "And as you can see from the paperwork this is verified by the police's data experts, and here it is now."

The door to the street opened and Officer Rodger walked into the room, holding a briefcase with a key around his neck. Setting it down on the table before the judges, he opened it and revealed a disc as two officers rolled a TV and DVD player into the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In his lair, Gabriel smiled as he, Nathalie, and the Kwami all gathered around a TV on the wall showing the courtroom. Gabriel felt a little giddy, he was wondering who would be his target today besides Lila. The plan they had was solid, and soon they would have more options open.

Nathalie looked at the screen and tried to think about what to do to bond with 'Lila', the backstory they had crafted had been perfect, and another of her Champion forms had gotten the records they needed into the computers and a fire at the location where the 'original' hard copies had gone up in flames thanks after

"What do you think, Lila or her mother?" Gabriel asked and Nathalie looked at him.

"We are betting about this? This is so wrong and immoral!" Nathalie said and then she smirked a little. "And it will be the teacher or the principal."

"You know, this time why don't you give him Sentimonsters like the pirate lady?" Duusu asked and Gabriel blinked and grinned, that might cause enough chaos that they could counter the heroes numbers! All they had to do was have Lila follow after Ladybug when she went to get them and they could track down the Guardian and find out their game!

Nathalie looked at Duusu as Nooroo could only look on blank-faced, not reacting at all.

"You're more helpful than the other one," Nathalie said and Duusu looked at her with a hard stare.

"He's still bound by the Order's Spells, I'm not," Duusu said bluntly. A chuckle from Gabriel caused Nathalie to smile. As they saw the video reach its end Gabriel smiled and looked at the others around him. He had never expected to have come this far, or to have gathered such a group around him.

"It's time my dear, let us…get dressed in our costumes," Gabriel said only for Duusu to fly in front of his face.

"BOOO! Weak, very weak. Better have your ending phase better!" Duusu said and Gabriel laughed as Nathalie giggled.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back in the courtroom, everyone looked at the TV as it showed Lila sitting at the bottom of the staircase, Louise couldn't believe that Lila's plan had actually worked. Dolores stared aghast, shocked and horrified that she would inherit such bad karma, that she might have to act so stupidly. Sabine was gripping her chair's seat to keep from attacking Lila herself.

"Wait a second…. If I remember right, doesn't your class have a great view of the stairs Ms. Mendeleiev?" Lenore asked with a strange look on his face

"Yes, but I had taken my class on a trip to the local zoo that day," Miss. Mendeleiev admitted and the judges nodded. "But really, when I heard about what happened… I have no excuse for not pushing harder against this your honor, I accept any punishments you feel I deserve."

"Miss Mendeleiev, from what we have learned you weren't even in the building when this farce went down. It's not your fault if they didn't listen to you," Daniel said kindly and Mendeleiev smiled at him.

"Tell my heart that," Miss Mend said and sighed, shaking her head.

"Impossible to tell the heart anything it doesn't want to acknowledge. But that is why you are a truly good teacher mam," Lenore said and

Damocles looked at the TV, pale as he tried to figure out how to fix this.

"In light of something that I should have seen…. I suppose that the events didn't happen as I thought….." Damocles trailed off as Lenore looked down at him. "What?"

"Exhibit 2," Louise said with a savage grin.

"This is Aurore Boreale, activating a recording app on my phone before myself and Mireille Caquet to go to our Principal, Mr. Damocles, to talk about what happened when he 'expelled' Marinette. I hope that this won't be needed, but better safe than sorry," Aurore's voice came from the speakers as Mr. Damocles suddenly went white.

The sound of a door opening came from the recording and then Mr. Damocles's voice came on.

"Can I help you?" Damocles's voice asked.

Miss Bustier looked at Damocles next to her and saw him pale, she hoped whatever this was didn't hurt the children too much.

"Sir, we heard about what happened with Marinette and we were wondering when her hearing would be," Aurore's voice came over and Marinette looked at her as she preened.

"There will no hearing, she is expelled with no way to come back ever!" Damocles voice said and Tom growled under his breath and

"Sir that's illegal!" Aruore said and the sound of a chair scraping against a floor was heard.

"This is my school and what I say goes!" Mr. Damocles voice thundered from the speaker.

"Sir, that doesn't matter, they are rules about this! You aren't allowed to do that without a hearing!" Aurore's voice came out as Marinette looked at Aurore who winked at her with a grin.

"OUT NOW! Any more and I'll suspend you for talking against the authority of the principal!" Mr. Damocles voice thundered.

Marinette looked around until she saw Aurore looking at her and smiled. Marinette nodded and promised herself to give Aurore a nice gift for this, this might win the case.

"Wow, there is so much in this recording to talk about, I don't know where to even start!" Daniels said with an evil smile on his face as Damocles sank into his chair.

"I know that I should have handled this better, but I saw a… an escalation of events. I acted to protect my school," Damocles said bleakly and Alya looked at him as Nora nodded, having seen what made him decide to do that, but logic wasn't always the right call.

"That's enough from you," Lenore said bluntly and looked at them before scowling and standing up. She picked up two folders and walked towards a small step on the left side before the judge's table.

"This hearing finds that the actions against Marinette Dunpang-Chang were unlawful. The expulsion will be stricken from her records," Lenore said as she put one of the folders down on the table before the defense and the other before the Damocles and Miss Bustier. As he opened the folder and read what was within, Damocles paled as Miss Bustier smiled.

"Well, that was a terrible situation that I'm glad is done, I suppose I'll see Marinette back in class by Friday then?" Ms. Bustier said with a smile on her face, blind to the reactions of the entire room around

"No, she won't. And nothing it done!" Lenore interrupted her as she walked back and one more sat behind the judge's table before joining the others in glaring at the two behind the prosecutor's table. "Caline Bustier, everything that was found has caused the school board to have….. doubts about your future as a teacher. You will be suspended until a decision is made! But I would expect to have a hard time proving you should remain a teacher Madam! And finally, due to a contract signed when he became the principal, Mr. Damocles alone is responsible so if you want to sue the school you can only sue him."

As Damocles paled in horror, if they investigated then they would find everything! he had thankfully gotten all his treasures out of the school, all he had to do now was use his escape plan, and then after he shaved his facial hair and washed out the die, he could relax. He had everything ready, all he needed to do was get through the day and not be held, but he did feel a little bad that his cushy extra retirement was canceled. He had to get away before he lost everything he had worked for!

Miss Bustier blinked, wondering why Marinette would even think of doing that as it wouldn't make a Good Example for others. She would have to talk to the girl and show her the right way to go, she did need guidance after all. But she couldn't understand what they meant, her teaching records were perfect, and she always had a Good Example Student for the others in her class to learn from and follow once they understood what was right! They sometimes needed to be shown the way, but before they left her loving care, they understood just how to inspire others! She couldn't think of anything that could have caused this to happen!

As Marinette grinned Tom and Sarah smirked as Louise grinned evilly. The people watching were all smiles and some even cheered, but Lila fumed as she looked at Marinette with a glare that could cull milk.

Marinette looked around then palled as she saw something, an Akuma had just flown through the open door. As others saw it the Judges looked up and paled as the Akuma hit the papers masks formed on the faces of Caline and Damocles.

"Oh god, a double attack!" Marinette said shakily as she got up and everyone started to scream and run towards the doors.

"Lila follow me!" Dolores ordered and Lila's eyes went wide before running after her mother, r9ight past Alya who got a perfect screenshot of her face before Nora pulled her behind her and out the door.

Sabine grabbed her daughter and pulled her towards the right side door, Tom following behind them as the Judges all reacted and most of them started to back away as Daniel grinned. Mirelle went weak and almost fell before Aurore grabbed her and pulled her as Ms. Mendeleiev glared at Damocles and Bustier, she kept still until all the students left before she flowed them and closed the door as Louise made it through. Looking around she saw Lila and her mother had kept moving, running towards an exit leaving everyone behind.

As Louise looked around he saw a long wooden bench and grinned. "Quick, help move this thing! We can block the doors, give us and the heroes some time!"

Aurore looked up from her phone as she activated the Akuma alert and Mireille nodded as she did the same as her coworker. Ms. Mendeleiev looked at him before rushing to help as all their phones started to beep with the Akuma Alarm. Nora pushed the bench in front of the doors and looked around for anything

"Need some help?" A voice from behind caused them to turn their heads to see Chat Noir, Carapace and Roi Stinge.

"Roi Stine, find anything to help keep the door closed! Carapace, get ready to block whatever comes out! Who are we looking at here?" Chat Noir asked as the others went to work as the civilians moved away.

"Double attack, both Damocles and Bustier, the Akuma is in a folder!" Mendeleiev said and Chat Noir almost went still as he realized what they were facing. "Wait how did you know to come in?"

"Lila Rossi and who I think is her mother made a new land speed record, yeah we came in," Carapace said as Roi Stinge handed a wooden chair to Nora.

"We heard about this and what almost happened, figured some of us should be on standby," Chat Noir said and Mendeleiev looked at them moments before a gunshot rang out.

"Everyone move now! Out!" Chat Noir commanded and everyone ran towards the exit, the heroes watching their back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Inside the room Bustier and Damocles were still standing there, not moving an inch as two energy masks formed slowly over their faces before Shadowmoth could speak to them.

"Dark Owl, hello again. And hello to you Moon Raven! I am Shadow Moth! So these fools dared to go against your Authority Dark Owl, grant me my prize and I will make you the head of all Education in the City! Moon Raven, why should these people not understand the lessons you were trying to teach the students under your care, serve my goal and I will make you the teacher who sets the rules all must follow, with your Midnight Coven, bring me the Miraculous!"

"Let Justice be done under the claws of the Coven!" Damocles called out as the slime covered his and Bustier's bodies in a ten-foot sphere.

From the sphere came ten balls of slime that shot out and hit the ground, each one grew into an androgynous humanoid the size of a teen. They had grey skin and all of them were dressed in orange shirts and pants that formed into brown gloves and boots with an orange cloak on their backs. Their heads were all covered by beaked helmets that exposed the grey skin of their mouths.

The energy died down and revealed the Dark Owl was the same as he had been before, a grey-skinned being with yellow round eyes with half white, half orange sclera. His face was still covered by a black mask with white edges of the eyes, above were two brown tops that started over the eyes and went around the face to point backward. His beard was visible and brown, his mustache had grown to be more notable with the tips sticking out while the whole thing had black strips going up it. His black suit was the same down to its brown coveringing and padding over the arms, legs and upper body, and the covering had darker lines and a brown owl's face on the chest. His arms were ended with brown gloves with brown ridges and on his feet were brown boots with steel soles. His brown cape flawed out and turned into wings and back and there were feathers on the edge

Caline Bustier stood there in her new Akuma form. Her skin was a stark gray, and she wore a form-fitting golden bodysuit with a red raven's head on her right breast. On her head was an open helmet with a beaked visor that went to just above her golden lips. Around her waist was a black belt with white lines on the outside and small pouches and on her shoulders was a golden cape that went to her feet, feet that were in high-heeled knee-high boots. In her hands was a fighting staff and she grinned evilly as she looked around the chambers.

"Come Moon Raven, let's find these fools and show them what true justice is!" Dark Owl declared as Moon Raven laughed and nodded. "Quick Moon, take the documents of justice and keep them safe!"

"Got it Owl, let's hunt down those misguided ones, Marinette will be a perfect Sparrow to spread our message!" Moon Raven said with a grin in her voice. Before they could move a slow dark laugh caused them to see Daniel was still behind the table, a crazed look in his eyes.

"You know, this is great! I finally get to see if Akuma are bulletproof!" Daniel said as he brought up a double-barreled shotgun and with a boom, one of the Midnight Crew's heads was blown off. As it collapsed into slime Dark Owl and Moon Raven moved backward as the Midnight Crew rushed towards the door. As they tried to open it Daniels grinned and lined up another shot on Dark Owl as he jumped around the room. "Stop jumping! You're gonna make me get out the axe!"

Dark Owl threw a small ball at the ground before the judge's table and a blight light flashed and Daniels closed his eyes instantly.

"To the side door crew, follow me!" Dark Owl bellowed and led the way, two of the Midnight Crew attacked Daniels and he shot again hitting one in the head but the other was on him before he could draw a bead. As he fell backward he let go of his rifle and grappled with the Sentimonster.

However moments later someone bashed the Sentimonster's head off, and its body collapsed into slime that pooled away from Daniel. Looking up he saw Lenore holding a chair in her hand, breathing heavily.

"Come on, we need to get away now!" Lenore said as she reached down and Daniels sighed and nodded. A bubbling sound caused him to turn and pale as he looked towards the remains of the first Sentimonster he 'killed'.