Aurore deals with the fallout of the Stormy Weather incident.
A/N: This chapter features an OC from Mrs. Mendeleiev's class - Ange Chatelain! I was looking through the class photo again and all of the untapped potential in that class really makes the cogs start turning! (She's the brunette version of that one girl that appears like three times in the photo with different hair colors.)
I really, really do like Aurore and Mireille. I've always wanted to include them more in my fics, and now I suppose I finally have an opportunity to give them more of a spotlight!
"Hey, Ange," Aurore greeted a brunette as she walked up the front steps.
"Oh, Aurore!" The girl beamed, embracing her for a moment. "How was your weekend?"
The pigtailed girl shrugged loosely. "It was… quiet."
As soon as the girls got inside, a couple of others stopped and stared at them. Whispering between themselves, a blonde took a second to send her a nasty look.
Aurore shrank away, gaze dropping to the floor.
Ange's smile dropped, and she leaned in. "Are people leaving you alone?"
She shrugged again.
Sharp red acrylics dug into her shoulder, though the wavy-haired teenager glowered at the whispering girls.
"Pay them no mind," she said flatly. "If they've got nothing better to do than gossip and harass you, they already give you way too much attention already. Where's Mireille?"
"I don't know."
"Well, let's go find her." With a tight-lipped smile, she steered her friend through the locker room.
"Good morning, students," Mrs. Mendeleiev began as she tapped her papers against the desk. "Let's get through roll call quickly so we can tackle our work."
Aurore looked around the room quickly, hope dwindling to dread as a certain face was missing.
A hand shot up. "Ma'am?" Ange called.
"What is it, Miss Chatelain?" The teacher questioned, brow pinched in irritation.
"Where is Mireille?"
"Miss Caquet is absent today." Adjusting her glasses, she looked around the room. "Alright. Allard?"
"Here," a dark-skinned boy spoke up.
"Oh no." Aurore slumped in her seat, not looking up at her concerned seatmate. "Mireille… why'd you have to stay home…?"
"Just gotta lay low," Aurore told herself as she slunk through the lunch line, finally bringing her tray to the back of the cafeteria. "Where's Ange? She said she would be right back!"
Thoughts were swimming around her head. Today hadn't been a complete disaster so far - but even in her own classroom some of her classmates still looked at her weirdly.
She hardly had time to register a leg sticking out in front of her before her foot caught it. With a gasp she fell forward, tray flying out of her hands and spilling across the floor with a noisy clatter.
Conversations stopped, the entire room staring at her in surprise as she landed hard with a wheeze on her chest. Cold seeped through her shirt.
"And I thought Marinette was clumsy," Chloe sneered as she turned her nose up at the fallen girl.
Aurore struggled to get up, breath coming in short gasps as she looked down. Milk slowly creeped across the tile and through her clothes.
"Aurore!" A boy hurriedly knelt beside her, hand extended. His green eyes searched her red face worriedly. "Hey, are you alright?"
"Peter, what are you doing ?" His sister harshly whispered.
"Yeah, what are you doing?" Another girl chimed in. "That witch attacked Mireille!"
Tears burned her eyes as the redheaded boy helped her to her feet. When he handed her his sweater, she stood there numbly.
"Leave her alone, Chloe," another boy spat, giving the blonde a nasty look.
"Or what?" She looked down her nose at the shivering girl. "Is she gonna hit me with her dumb umbrella? Is she gonna strike me with lightning? Once an monster, always an monster."
"That's right," Sabrina nodded deferentially. "We're less safe having a known psycho at our school. What if she turns into a monster again?"
"You don't know that!" The redhead insisted, pulling her away from the center of the room.
"I'm surprised you even came back to school!" Another student exclaimed.
"Yeah, after being that sore of a loser?" Another jeered.
"Nobody wants a monster in our school!"
Aurore shook free of the boy's protective arm, racing out of the room. Her shoes skidded as she went, and she nearly tripped and fell against the door.
Chloe watched her go with a mean smirk on her face as students began to laugh.
Aurore's mind was a static mess, though one thought was clearer than the rest, frantic. Run. You have to run!
She stumbled through the halls, choked whimpers escaping her. Her feet felt almost numb, and she tripped and collapsed onto the ground.
Pressing herself against the wall, she curled her arms around herself and hid her face in her knees, beginning to sob.
"Aurore!" Ange exclaimed in shock as she knelt beside the fallen girl, gently pressing her hands onto her shoulders. "Oh, what happened? Your shirt is damp!"
The blonde continued to shake, quiet sobs muffled by the arms of the sweater.
The brunette watched her in despair, eyes widening at the clothing item. "That's… that's Peter's jacket. Did you just come from the cafeteria?"
Aurore could only manage a tiny nod.
"C- Chloe," she whimpered.
Ange's heart froze to ice.
Neither of the girls saw the butterfly slipping, unfettered, into Ange's bracelet.
"What's going on in here?" Alya gasped as the other girls walked in.
Marinette scanned the dirty floor and the janitor mopping up spilled milk, to the students talking among themselves, and then to where Chloe sat primly with a smug look on her face. She scowled. "Whatever happened, it's Chloe's fault."
Rose clasped her hands together with a worried frown as she turned to a table full of sour-faced kids. "What happened?"
"Chloe tripped that weather girl wannabe," one of them explained in a huff. "She ran off."
"Oh." Alya froze, turning to her friend. "Nette, that- that was Aurore. What if she-?"
"I sure hope not," the girl anxiously answered, opening the cafeteria door and peeking into the hall.
Nobody could be seen.
As soon as she shut the door, it slammed open with a loud bang - silencing the cafeteria. Marinette flew away from it, skidding across the floor and coming to a painful stop.
"CHLOE!" A figure roared, a sneer curling her dark feline face. "I'm going to make you pay for what you did to Aurore!"
"Akuma!" One of the girls shrieked, and like a switch had been flipped, suddenly there was an uproar.
Students scrambled from their seats, chairs were overturned, and trays were knocked over.
Marinette groaned as she struggled to sit up, only to yelp as someone grasped her arm and hauled her to her feet, making her stumble as they led her from the room. Behind them, there was a ragged scream and a sick-sounding slice .
"Ow- ow, hey!" She protested, finally wrenching her arm from an older boy's grip. "What's going on? Who was that?"
"That- I don't know," he admitted with a haunted look towards the cafeteria. Through the doors he could see the feline akuma chasing Chloe around the room, the heiress screaming at the top of her lungs. "There's no time to wonder, though! She could come after us next!"
"You're right. Go hide," Marinette pointed down the corridor. "I'll find a spot for myself!"
The boy nodded and whirled around. The second he was gone, Marinette ducked into an empty classroom.
Tikki flew from her pocket, beady dark-blue eyes blinking back at her in surprise. "Some day, huh?"
" Tell me," the noirette wryly responded with a sigh. "Tikki! Spots on!"
With a flick of her hand, hair flying out of her face, she cupped it around her ear as the magical being flew into her earring. All at once the onyx stud was changed into a red-and-black spotted earring, and Marinette's hand reached for the sky as a magical shower of pink sparkles engulfed it.
It made its way down her arms, changing her pink sweater and navy skirt into her signature Ladybug outfit. With a twirl on her toes, she passed her fingers over her eyes in a peace sign, and once the domino mask was in place she struck a pose.
"Let's catch this kitty," she announced, throwing open the door and rushing to the cafeteria.
"Halt, Akuma!" She shouted, pointing at the big cat.
"Ladybug," the girl sneered, turning from where she held Chloe by the collar, sickeningly-sharp red-tipped claws raised. Dropping the girl into a heap on the floor (and ignoring her scandalized cry), she took a step towards the heroine, her golden eyes aflame with determination. She tried not to look at the pile of ashes crunching underfoot. "Forget that spoiled brat; once I get your and Cat's Miraculouses, then I can take my sweet time on revenge!"
"What did she even do?"
"She HUMILIATED my friend!" With a snarl, she leapt at the heroine - only to fall back with a grunt as she was hit in the throat with a magical staff.
"Cat Noir!" Ladybug sucked in a breath out of surprise at the cat hero appearing in front of her.
"We need to move this fight elsewhere," he instructed with a glance towards the courtyard. "Too little space, too much rubble."
"Got it." With a nod, she darted towards the door.
"COME BACK HERE!" The enraged akuma shrieked, getting down on all fours to chase them out of the cafeteria.
Cat Noir cackled with glee as he pole-vaulted from one of the corridors to the middle of the courtyard, scaring a bunch of students into fleeing when the akuma dropped in after him. "Let's go! Catfight, you and me."
"Bring it on, hairball," the akuma sneered. "You're no match for Hawkmoth's chosen, Démolionne!"
Me-owch, what a mouthful," grumbled the hero as he swung his staff.
Démolionne leapt over it, swiping at him. He barely managed to dodge, bending over backwards with a breathless grunt. Thinking quickly, he swiped at her legs and sent her tumbling.
Ladybug swung her yo-yo around, eyeing the fight with narrowed eyes. The akuma's entire body was alight with angry determination, so much so that she seemed to forget all about the red-clad heroine.
With only a moment's thought to her plan, Ladybug turned and ran away from the scene unbeknownst to the two in the middle of the courtyard.
"Okay," she told herself, huffing for breath. "If I were to hide someone... where would...?"
A loud bang caught her attention, and she turned.
Another thump.
"Oh," her face went agape in horror. "The locker rooms...?!"
Racing into the girls' locker room, she heard the thumping grow louder and faster.
"Help!" A familiar voice screamed, followed by a sob. "Help me, please..."
"Aurore!" Ladybug called, finding a locker that seemed to vibrate.
"Ladybug?" She asked, and her voice seemed to grow more panicked. "Please, you have to help me! I- I'm stuck, and it's dark...!"
"I've got you, don't worry!" Stepping back from the locker door, she threw her yo-yo into the air. "Lucky Charm!"
As the pink flash of light and fading sparkles dissipated, a small item fell into her hand - and she grinned in relief. "Tikki coming in clutch today!"
"Hang on, I'll bust you out!" Narrowing her eyes, she found the lock and advanced with the pick. "Just gotta... remember... how to pick a lock..."
"Démolionne, think about what you're doing!" Noir exclaimed, dodging another swipe of her deadly claws.
"Oh, I know exactly what I'm doing!" Her fanged teeth gleamed in the daylight as she sneered at him, taking another hit to the chest without so much as a flinch.
"Aurore wouldn't want this! She wouldn't want you to fall victim to Hawkmoth's akumas just like she did!" Noir's green eyes were wide, even as she knocked him away with a swipe of her leg.
He skidded across the ground with a grunt, his staff rolling free of his grip and coming to a stop several feet away.
"It's all Chloe's fault! Her and everyone else in this stupid school!" Démolionne shouted, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "It's not Aurore's fault she lost, and it certainly isn't her fault that all she wanted was to make things right!"
"Lashing out is not how you make things right!"
Démolionne's advance towards the fallen cat hero didn't stop, even as he leapt to his feet. His faux tail swished nervously behind him, ears twitching.
"SHUT UP! You don't know ANYTHING!" Démolionne's claws glinted malevolently as she slashed at him.
He barely managed to jump out of the way of the first, but right as the second was about to hit-
"ANGE!"
The akuma froze in her spot, her claws scant inches from Cat's throat.
Aurore ran to the courtyard panting, cheeks still red and streaked with tears, with Ladybug close behind.
Démolionne stared at her for a moment, and then her posture changed. "... Aurore, how…?"
"I need you to stop," she demanded, voice wobbling as she stomped up to the girl. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm- I'm avenging your honor!" She protested, brow knit in frustration.
"How? By joining Hawkmoth?" Aurore let out a sardonic bark of a laugh, grabbing her shoulders. "Ange, it's not worth it! He's not worth it! He's just using you!"
Démolionne stumbled over her own words, deadly hands raising as if to explain. But the akuma fell silent when Aurore cupped her cheeks, unshed tears shining in her sky-blue eyes.
"I don't want you to go through what I did," the blonde whimpered. "Please. Ange, please . Stop ."
"I… I can't," she answered, choking up. "Look at how powerful I've become! I have the power to turn anyone I want to ash! As soon as I get rid of everyone that bullied you-"
" Killing people won't make me happy," Aurore said slowly, quietly, determinedly.
Démolionne's face crumbled into one of despair.
"Démolionne, what are you doing ?!" Hawkmoth hissed in her ears as the butterfly visor appeared before her face. "Don't listen to her - I need you to obey me!"
"Fight him, please !" Aurore cried.
"I- I-!"
"Démolionne!"
"ANGE!"
"STOP IT!" The akuma howled, knocking Aurore away as she grasped her head. She let out a loud groan of pain.
"Ladybug, he's hurting her!" Cat shouted in disbelief, gripping his staff. "Where's the akuma?!"
The heroine was frozen in fear. The butterfly visor flickered in and out, punctuated with the akuma's cries. Aurore leapt to action, trying to pull her closer.
"Hawkmoth!" She shouted, hiccupping a sob, pulling her friend into a tight embrace. "Stop! I'll- I'll take the akuma instead! Stop torturing her!"
"The- the bracelet! It's the bracelet!" Ladybug guessed. Twirling the yo-yo around, she got into position. "Don't use Cataclysm! That might kill the butterfly with it!"
Cat Noir nodded firmly, and with one swift move he grabbed Démolionne's wrist, yanking at the shining metal.
It gave easily with the force, and as soon as the chain broke free from her wrist a tiny purple butterfly fluttered away from it.
"Go!" Marinette swung her yo-yo. "Gotcha! Time to de-evilize!"
Pulling it back, she opened the top like a ladybug and smiled fondly. "Bye-bye, little butterfly."
Throwing a lockpick into the air, she declared, "Miraculous Ladybug!"
The de-akumatized Ange remained in her spot, brow knit in pain as Aurore rocked back and forth with her in a hug.
"Ugh…" she grunted, pressing a palm to her forehead. "Wh… what? Aurore…?"
"Don't you ever do that again, stupid," the blonde snapped, wiping her eyes as she stepped back. "You'll only make things worse for yourself by getting upset like that."
"I…?" Ange scrunched up her nose, then a cold realization dawned on her and her face fell. "No. I didn't."
"You did," Ladybug confirmed with a sympathetic, grimacing smile. "How are you feeling? Still groggy?"
"I… can't really remember what I was doing," she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself. Then, ashamed, she hung her head. "Oh, right. Chloe happened."
Ladybug and Noir let out exhausted sighs, exchanging a look.
"I just got so angry for you," she explained wearily, bottom lip trembling. "You were my first friend when I transferred here, and… the last thing I wanted was to see you so unhappy."
Aurore's face softened. "Oh, Ange… it's okay."
"No, it isn't!" She snapped, flipping wavy brunette hair out of her face as she tilted her head back, blinking rapidly. "Ugh, I can not afford to cry right now…"
"While it was noble for you to get upset on a friend's behalf," Ladybug spoke up softly, resting a hand on Aurore's shoulder, "Taking it out on others will only cause more problems than it solves."
"My partner is right." Cat Noir nodded, making the girls look at him. "Ange, I'm not blaming you for falling for the promise of revenge. God knows I've thought about it more times than I can count." He pointed a finger at her, making her flinch. "But you're stronger - and better - than stooping to their level. If everyone lived by 'an eye for an eye', sooner or later the whole world would go blind."
"I know," she sighed. "I'm… I'm sorry, really. I didn't mean to cause trouble."
"That's what we're here for." Ladybug squeezed the blonde's shoulder with a reassuring smile.
"Hello?"
"Aurore?" A sickly voice exclaimed from the other end of the line. "I heard about what happened. Are you okay?"
The pigtailed girl sniffled. "Yeah. Yeah, I'll… be fine."
"... How is Ange?"
"She's coping." A quick glance to the brunette at her locker showed a contemplative countenance and stiff hands. "We… ah, don't really want to talk about it."
"I understand." She could almost picture Mireille's relieved smile on her end, and the thought alone was enough to make one of her own creep onto her face. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there today. When I get better…"
She trailed off into a hacking cough, and Aurore clutched the phone tighter as Ange turned to glance at her in confusion.
"Mireille?" She asked.
"S- sorry, I just-" another cough. "I don't know where that came from. A tickle, I guess."
"Yeah," she let out a tiny laugh, though she wasn't feeling funny. "You were saying…?"
"Oh, right. When I get better, we'll have to go for lunch. There's this little cafe that just opened up that looks really good."
"Sounds like a plan." As Ange shut her locker, she cleared her throat. "I have to go. Ange wanted to speak with the principal about a little plan we came up with. Talk to you later?"
"Mhm. Bye."
"Bye."
Stuffing the phone into her pocket, she turned to her friend with a braver look than she felt. "Ready?"
"I guess." Ange shrugged, lips pressed into a line.
The walk to the principal's office was silent. Students still milling about turned and openly stared at them, some whispering frantically. A boy in a white sweatshirt turned with a nasty look towards the brunette, yet she tried her best to ignore him.
Swallowing, Aurore reached for her hand.
Her friend turned in question.
"We're gonna get through this," she reassured her.
With a tiny nod, Ange let her first smile that afternoon spread across her face.
A firm knock at the office door.
"Come in," Damocles called from within.
Taking a breath and saying a prayer for luck, the two girls opened the door to the office.
"Oh, Miss Beaureal, Miss Chatelain." He looked rather uncomfortable, but still clasped his hands together. "What can I do for you this afternoon?"
Aurore stepped forward, a few pieces of paper in hand. "Principal Damocles, we, uh, we had a proposal to clear before we go to the teachers about it…"
A/N: The akuma was kind of lame since at first I wasn't really sure what I wanted her to be. Sorry if the fight scene was kind of lame - I still struggle with writing a compelling one ^^;
Please tell me what you thought!