Chapter 18: Misgiving Tree
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad so many of you enjoyed my holiday special and let me tell you after seeing season 4 of Miraculous end I am very eager to see what direction it goes now. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
At Metropolis High, we see Jess hard at work typing up her story for the school paper the Daily Planetoid.
Smiling Jess handed her papers out to every student she could and feeling pretty good about herself.
In the cafeteria, Sam and Marinette were in line for food. Slowly glancing at each other both looked away with small blushes.
The memory of their kiss under the mistletoe was still fresh in their minds and needless to say they both were trying to figure out their next move.
Making their way to their table where Babs, Diana, Zee, Kara and Karen were sitting.
As they ate, Jess showed up and handed them all an article.
"Well, it looks like people are finally starting to read my "EnviroBeat" column." Jess smiles proudly.
"Uh…" All of them cringed.
"What?" Jess asks oblivious to it.
Slurping up her instant noodles Babs pointed to the trashcan which was literally overflowing with her articles.
"Jess, sorry, but your column might just be a lost cause." Zee frowns.
Growling Jess slams her hand down. "There's no such thing as a lost cause! That's literally the name of my latest article!" Jess said showing them.
"Jess I know you're passionate about this stuff, but if people won't even read them..." Sam shrugs.
Walking past him, Jess grabs the papers from the trash and put them in the recycle. "You could have at least recycled, you animals!"
Stepping up Jess sees one student crumbling up her paper about to throw it.
"Don't you dare." Jess glares acting like a goalie.
But instead, the boy threw the paper ball over Jess hitting a girl with long hair and baggy clothes eating in the corner.
Looking at her, Jess sees her all alone with only a potted plant as a companion while more people threw paper at her.
Walking back to her table, Jess sat down.
"That poor girl. No one to eat lunch with, no one to talk to, no friends at all." Jess frowns.
"Oh, Jess! Poor unobservant, unperceptive Jess. Don't you see her hair carefully placed to hide the face? The downward direction of the gaze. The oversized baggy clothes, that tuck her away from society. It doesn't take a super sleuth like me to figure out Pam Isley doesn't want friends." Barbara points out.
"Nonsense! Everyone wants friends. Pam just hasn't met the right one." Jess said.
"Oh no please Jess don't." Zee begs.
"Yet." Jess finished.
"Dude. Seriously, leave it alone. Pam Isley's a lost cause." Kara said.
"There's no such thing as a lost cause." Jess said.
"Jess. You can't force friendship." Marinette said.
"I'm not forcing it. I'm just giving her a chance." Jess said getting up.
At her table, Pam was inspecting her school sandwich.
Taking off the bread she sniffed it suspiciously before taking it off revealing a piece of lettuce. Instantly she teared up and put a napkin over it in respect, but when she got to the lunch meat she began knawing it like an animal.
"Hi." Jess said startling her. "Is this your plant?"
"This is Phil. He complains if I leave him home alone with the rhododendrons." Pam said.
"How fascinating! I have a peace lily at home who wilts when I forget to water him." Jess said.
"Do you mind? Phil and I would rather eat our lunch alone. Photosynthesis is most optimal in silence." Pam said asking her to leave.
"Oh I know how that is. Silence is so silency. I love silence." Jess chuckles.
"Come on, Phil. There's more sunlight out in the quad." Pam said leaving.
"Bye! See you around school, friend. That went well." Jess said completely oblivious to what happened.
Throughout the day, Jess continued to follow Pam constantly trying to bond with her: in Chemistry class, leaving notes in her locker, she even tried to talk to her while Pam was in a bathroom stall.
At the track Pam was running in PE class with Jess right beside her.
"He! You wanna…come help with the community garden this weekend?" Jess pants.
"Leave me alone!" Pam yells running ahead.
"It'll be fun! It's all organic!" Jess calls out.
On the bleachers, everyone was watching this and cringed.
"This is going too far right?" Kara asks.
"Things went too far when she tried talking to Pam in the bathroom." Marinette said.
"Agreed. We need to stop this." Sam said.
Later that day, Jess was looking at a flyer as she entered the room.
"Hi I'm here to help with the…" Jess looks up to see all her friend sitting in chairs. "Orphaned puppies?"
"Jess we need to talk." Marinette said.
"Where are the puppies?" Jess asks.
"The puppies were just a clever ruse." Diana said.
"Sorry Jess but this is an Intervention." Sam said sitting her down.
"Kind Jessica, it may not be apparent to you, but, Pamela is not exhibiting signs of receptiveness to your amicable advances." Diana said.
"What do you mean? We've been chatting all day. We're becoming quite close, actually." Jess said.
"No, you've been chatting all day. She's been trying to avoid you." Marinette said.
"What no way." Jess said.
"Jess you always do this. You just do what you think is best while ignoring other people's opinion. Just let it go." Sam said.
"Easy for you guys to say, aside from the people I bet none of you have even tried making new friend." Jess counters.
"This is not about us." Marinette said.
"Jessica! Wake up and smell reality! She's just not that into you." Zee said shaking her.
Hearing this, Jess walks out with an emotionless look on her face.
"That went well." Babs said.
"She's not right is she?" Diana asks.
"Well…we have been hanging out a lot." Babs cringed.
"Because we're a team. Teammates should be close." Zee said.
Despite none of them wanting to admit it, they really didn't have many friends.
Walking out, Marinette went to her locker.
"What do you think Tikki? Did we cross the line?" Marinette asks.
"You were just looking out for a friend and no offense but Jess really took it too far with the whole bathroom thing." Tikki said.
"But maybe we should try making new friends. I don't really know many people here." Marinette said.
"Shame we don't know if there's an Alya in this world." Tikki said.
"Tell me about it." Marinette said closing her locker.
As she walked by the news room she sees Lois and Lila inside.
"Ugh our papers are in the garbage all over campus." Lois said pulling Jess's article out of the garbage. "Maybe I should stick to writing about superheroes."
Popping her head in, Marinette looks at Lois interested.
"We need an article, a hook, something that can get us some readers. Or at least so all our trashcans aren't full of them." Lois said.
"Uh excuse me." Marinette said walking in. "Uh I know it's not any of my business but maybe the problem with your paper is the fact that it's…you know paper?"
"What are you talking about?" Lois glares.
"Well no one likes reading papers so why don't you just ditch the paper route and make a school paper website? That way you don't have to deal with trash cans full of paper." Marinette suggests.
"Hmm not a bad idea." Lois said.
"Yeah and that way you can fill it with things people might like. Videos, artwork, all that stuff." Marinette adds.
"I like the way you think Marinette. What do you say we go talk ideas? I'll buy a doughnut on me." Lois offers.
"Hmm I think I eat enough baked goods. How about a smoothie?" Marinette offers.
"Meh why not. Since we are doing new things. Olson! Get to work on getting the okay for a website!" Lois orders as Olsen ran out.
Down the hall, Sam was looking around for his guy friends but most of them were busy.
Walking to a board of clubs, Sam examines the list.
"Hey check out that one." Faang points to a flyer.
"The Fencing Club?" Sam said grabbing it. "It's at the Community Center."
"You might meet some people there, plus it can help you train for when you're Silver Claw." Faang suggests.
"Not a bad idea Faang." Sam smiles walking out with it.
Near the vending machines, Kara punched it taking a can of soda.
"I don't know what the heck Jess is talking about. I got plenty of friends." Kara said sipping her drink.
Down the hall, she heard a powerful explosion noise.
"Oh yeah! Die you newbie scum!" A male voice calls.
"Hmm explosions, saying die a lot?" Kara said interested.
Walking to the noise, she opens the door but to her surprise she sees a short kid with black hair going to town on a video game. This was Garth.
"Oh yeah come on! Come on!" Garth said when his character died. "No!" He screams.
"Oh great, the geek room." Kara frowns before shrugging. "Well I could use a laugh."
"Why can't I beat you?!" Garth whines.
"Hey Geek what are you dweebing?" Kara mocks walking in making Garth flinch.
"Please don't beat me up." Garth panics.
"Please you get your butt kicked by a nerd game. You don't need me to do that." Kara mocks.
"It's not a Nerd Game. It's Battle Mania. The most epic fighting game ever made." Garth defends.
"Hmm cool name." Kara admits.
"Here check it out." Garth said gesturing to the screen. "You see you're brought to a random arena filled with players from all over the world and do battle. Last one standing wins."
"Okay not bored yet. Keep talking." Kara said crossing her arms.
"You get to give your character cool weapons and powers too. Check it out mine is a fearsome sea warrior. I even have a trident." Garth said.
"Hmm can you unlock super strength?" Kara asks.
"Oh yeah." Garth nods.
"What's your name nerd?" Kara asks.
"Garth."
"Well Garth mind showing me how to make my character?" Kara asks.
"Pull up a chair." Garth smiles.
At her locker, Karen was getting her stuff when the door slams shut.
"Found you Beecher." Doris grins.
"Uh Doris hey." Karen whimpers.
"You know what time it is?" Doris asks.
"Uh actually it's 4:15." Karen said.
"Wrong it's locker knocking time." Doris grins.
Immediately Karen made a break for it.
"Get back here!" Doris yells chasing after her.
As Karen made a tight turn she ran into the music room and slammed the door shut.
Panting heavily Karen tried to catch her breath when she heard a guitar-strumming startling her.
Turning around she saw a teenage boy with black hair and cyan tips, a hoodie, and a cool rocker-like outfit.
"Uhm hi there." Karen said.
"Hide in there." He said pointing to the closet.
"Wh-Why?" Karen asks confused.
"Trust me." He said opening a window and walking to his chair.
"Where are you Karen?" Doris calls out.
Seeing she had no other choice; Karen ran into the closet just as Doris swung the door open.
"Hey you!" Doris calls out looking at him.
"Yeah?" He asks looking up.
"You see a small fry girl run through here?" Doris asks.
"Yeah I did, she went that way." He said pointing to the open window. "Something about escaping through the field."
"Oh no she doesn't!" Doris yells running out to try and cut her off.
Waiting a few seconds, he looks to see if the coast was clear.
"You can come out now." He said.
Opening the door, Karen walks out to see she was in the clear.
"Thank you so much." Karen smiles.
"Think nothing of it. Happy to help." He smiles.
"I-I'm Karen Beecher what's your name?" Karen asks.
"I'm Luka nice to meet you Karen." He smiles.
"Well thanks a lot Luka. Is there anyway I can thank you?" Karen asks.
"Not unless you know how to solve today's Chemistry homework." Luka shrugs.
"As a matter of fact I do." Karen smiles.
Sitting down next to him, Karen took out her notes to help him.
As Sam, Zee, and Diana left the school we find Jess out front with a booth to help save a tree.
"Please, please, just take one, please! An ancient tree is about to be destroyed. Knocked down for another LexBucks coffee house!" Jess said but everyone ignored her.
Sighing Jess dumps the flyers in the recycle knowing their reaction and sits down in defeat.
Walking over Pam grabs a flyer.
"Is this true?" Pam asks getting her attention. "It says you're going down there to try and save the tree."
"Yup. It probably doesn't matter but I am." Jess sighs.
"Can I come?" Pam asks.
"Yes, yes! Oh, my gosh! Yes!" Jess said getting up excited. "I mean yeah cool. Sure."
"So what's the plan?" Pam asks.
"The plan?" Jess pauses confused.
At the Comic Book Store, Babs walks in to see new comics being brought out.
"Ah new comic book day." Babs sighs.
As she scanned the aisles she grabbed the newest issue.
"I don't know what Jess was talking about, I made new friends on my first day of school easy." Babs said.
"You always talk to yourself?" A voice asks.
Yelping Babs turns around to see a boy with red hair sitting at a table drawing something. This was Nathaniel.
"Sometimes I'm the only one who listens." Babs said.
"I get it." He smiles as Babs looks to see he was drawing his own hero.
"Wow who is that?" Babs asks looking at it interested.
"It's my hero Mightyllustrator. He uses his magical drawings to fight villains and save Metropolis." Nathaniel said.
"That is so cool. Wait…is that the Batmobile?!" Babs gasps seeing a drawing of a familiar black car.
"Yeah Batman has tons of cool gadgets. I just wish I knew them all." Nathaniel said.
"Well it just so happens I know everything there is to know about Batman." Babs declares proudly.
"You don't say. I'm Nathaniel." He said holding out his hand.
"Barbara Gordon but my friends call me Babs." Babs smiles.
"Well Babs ever thought of making your own comic instead of always reading them?" Nathaniel asks.
Across the street at the department store, Zee was looking at new clothes.
"Hmm I need a new style. Maybe something that Sam might like." Zee smirks when she noticed a girl in a blue and white sundress holding a matching parasol nearby.
"Hmm I wonder." She paused.
"Uh excuse me." Zee said tapping her on the shoulder. "I love your outfit. It just screams summer."
"Thank you. You're pretty stylish yourself. Really gives off a fantasy book vibe." She smiles.
"Thanks, so what are you doing here?" Zee asks.
"Oh trying to find something nice, thinking of trying some new colors." She said.
"You want it to match your parasol?" Zee points.
"Wouldn't mind. What about you?" She asks.
"Hmm just browsing for new fashion statements. I never thought of using a parasol." Zee said.
"Well they are very handy on sunny days. Plus they make you feel fancy." She giggles.
"Not to mention it's not bad luck to open them indoors unlike umbrellas." Zee jokes making both girls laugh. "I'm Zee."
"Aurore. Aurore Beauriel." She said.
"Ooh love the name. Sounds like that Aurora Borealis." Zee points.
"So Zee want to compare outfits?" Aurore offers.
"Love to." Zee smiles walking away with her new friend.
At the Community Center, Sam was in the back trying on gear.
"I gotta say Sam this is pretty cool that you're doing this." Faang said.
"You know I remember Adrien always saying that fencing club was fun. Kinda wish he was here to help me through. I bet it would have been fun being on the same team with him." Sam said grabbing a helmet.
"Well maybe you'll find someone to play against here." Faang said.
"I hope so." Sam said grabbing his fencing sabre.
As Faang went into his pocket Sam walked out to see a fencer in red take on two members at once.
"Whoa." Sam said as the red fencer took out one with ease before turning to the other.
"Okay Sam, before we start you out do you have any fencing experience?" The instructor asks.
"Not really but I'm a fast learner." Sam assures.
"We'll see. Once our guys finish up they'll run you through some drills." He said as both fighters fell to the ground in pain.
"Uh I don't think those guys are able to continue at the moment." Sam cringed.
"Oh boy I really didn't want to do this. Looks like you'll be training with our best fighter." He gestures to the one in red.
Gulping Sam headed over to the red fighter.
"Uh hi there, I just want to say that was pretty cool back there, but if you could possibly go easy on me that would be great. It's my first day." Sam said.
"I don't show my opponents mercy." The red fighter said taking a stance.
"Good to know." Sam said putting the helmet on and taking a stance.
"En garde. Prez…Alle." The instructor said as the red fighter attacked him.
Yelping Sam tapped into his Silver Claw experience and dodges the attack.
Moving around, Sam managed to dodge the attacks but the red fighter would not let up.
Lunging forward the red fighter thrusts nailing him in the chest.
"Point!" The instructor said.
"I almost feel bad for the new guy." One kid said.
"He's not gonna last much longer." Another said.
Recovering Sam took another stance.
"Is that the best you got?" The Red Fighter taunts.
"En Garde!"
Deciding to go on the attack, Sam lunges attacking the red fighter, but the fighter seemed dodge and parry all his moves.
"So predictable." The Fighter said whacking the saber out of his hand and tapping him again getting another point.
"Final round." The instructor said as they both took a stance.
'Come on this is humiliating. I gotta get at least one. I beat the Queen of the Amazons for crying out loud.' Sam thought.
"Begin!"
As the red fighter goes on the attack, Sam blocks the strike and moves in.
Clashing blades and dodging strikes both fighters were determined to win.
Pushing him back the red fighter tried to trip him up.
Stepping back the Red Fighter lunged forward but at the last second, Sam spins out of the way and jabs them in the gut.
"Y-You hit me?" The Red Fighter said.
"I'm a fast learner." Sam pants heavily.
"Whoa he actually got a point." The instructor said as everyone looked at Sam impressed.
"Well even with that point, the winner is still our best fighter…Kagami." The Instructor declares.
As Sam took off his helmet he sees the red fighter take off theirs revealing them to be a girl with dark hair similar to Marinette's and vermillion eyes.
"That was a good match Kagami." Sam said holding out his hand.
"How were you able to counter me back there?" Kagami asks.
"I took a gamble. When you lunge forward you rely on speed and attack so you don't have much defense." Sam shrugs.
"Well it's nice to know I might have one decent opponent on this team." Kagami smiles as they shook hands.
At the mall we see Diana entering the bookstore.
"Excuse me, I am looking for the Ancient Greek section?" Diana asks as the clerk pointed her down the hall.
Making her way to the back, she sees a book on Orpheus.
"Aha Orpheus, a truly amazing story." Diana smiles reaching out when another hand grabbed it.
Looking over Diana saw a teenage girl with blond hair with a pink highlight, a beanie on her head and a black jacket and jeans.
"Oh sorry about that." She said.
"Quite alright. Are you a fan of Orpheus?" Diana asks.
"Somewhat. I'm going to musical Hadestown and it references Orpheus so I wanted to refresh myself on it." She said.
"Hades has his own town? But why he has the whole underworld to rule?" Diana asks confused.
"That's just the name of the musical." She said.
"Sorry but this Town of Hades sounds interesting. I would very much like to know more." Diana said.
"It's a Broadway musical that's traveling around. I love the theater." She said.
"As do I, at my home the performing arts were an amazing outlet for conveying our artistic creativity through song and dance." Diana said.
"Wow you have quite the strong voice. You wouldn't happen to do theater?" She asks.
"No, I've never tried that before." Diana admits.
"I love the theater. You know they do Shakespeare in the Park on weekends." She said.
"That sounds quite enjoyable. I am Diana Prince and who might you be my new friend?" Diana asks.
"I'm Zoe it's nice to meet you Diana." Zoe said.
"So Zoe tell me more about this Brodway Town of Hades." Diana said mispronouncing it.
"Sure thing." Zoe said grabbing the book so they could talk.
Finally, at the site of the oldest tree, we find Pam and Jess chained to it as Jess was singing chants.
Looking out Pam saw a sign that said the cutting would be tomorrow morning.
"Tomorrow?" Pam said in disbelief as Jess continued singing.
"We shall not! We shall not be moved! We shall not! We shall not be moved!" Jess chants.
Groaning Pam went around to the opposite side of the tree.
After hours of singing Pam had finally had enough.
"All right! All right! Stop!" Pam yells as Jess stops singing.
"I'm sorry, Pam. I know I got the day wrong but we're still going to—" Jess apologizes but Pam shushes her.
"Do you hear that?" Pam asks looking up.
As the wind blew the tree they heard a small chiming.
"I've been waiting all night, and now, he finally speaks." Pam said.
"Uhm who?" Jess asks confused.
"Him. He wants to tell his story." Pam smiles.
"Uh okay." Jess said not sure what was happening.
"He came here, no more than a humble seed. Carried from across the land by a sparrow. The soil welcomed him. He was only a sapling in those days. He never dreamed he'd grow as big as the others. But he did. He cared for his neighbors. Providing them homes and nourishment. Centuries passed, he grew as wise as he was magnificent, until one day, he became the king of the forest." Pam recites.
"Wow. Pam that was beautiful." Jess said.
"And then, the monsters came. They drove off the animals. They murdered all the king's subjects. They ripped up the earth. Buried it under concrete. They destroyed every last remnant of his kingdom. Leaving him eternally... alone! All he wanted was to protect his forest. Now, he's the one who needs protection." Pam said as her voice filed with anger and rage.
As the sun began to rise, Jess saw the construction workers coming towards them.
"Oh no." Jess gasps. "Hang on, Pam! This is the moment we've been waiting for!"
However, Jess got no response and suddenly large vines shot out of the ground and began attacking the construction workers.
Using her ring, Jess created powerful clippers to break the chains. "Pam, get out of here!" Running to the opposite end, Jess saw Pam was long gone.
Breathing in relief, Jess turned into Green Lantern.
Firing beams from her ring, Green Lantern shot down as many vines as she could trying to protect them.
"Oh great another hero." Looking up Green Lantern saw Poison Ivy descend.
"So you're Poison Ivy. What are you doing here?" Green Lantern asks.
"Reminding these people of their place in the world!" Ivy snaps attacking the construction workers.
As vines wrapped around their legs, Ivy threw them up into the air.
Creating a giant pillow Green Lantern catches them.
"I don't know where you came from, but, stay out of this." Ivy said as she made her vines grab drills.
Creating a giant wall, Green Lantern stops the attack.
"I won't let you hurt them, Ivy." Green Lantern said.
"We'll see about that!" Creating even more vines, Ivy grabbed all the construction and trapped them in a wall of roots and branches.
As Green Lantern tried to cut them all free more just showed up.
"Oh having trouble keeping up?" Ivy said as she used her powers to lift the entire bulldozer. "Let's just finish this!"
Hurling the bulldozer at them Green Lantern creates a giant shovel and whacks the bulldozer away.
Unfortunately, it flew right into the tree making Ivy scream in horror.
Using this chance, Green Lantern freed all the workers.
"Quick run!" Green Lantern said as they ran as far away as possible.
As the cracks spread the tree split in half and fell to the ground with Ivy kneeling by it.
"You could have killed those people!" Green Lantern snaps.
"You killed this tree!" Ivy snaps turning around revealing tears in her eyes.
Gasping in horror, Green Lantern looks around.
"I-I didn't mean to." Green Lantern stutters.
"You're unworthy of the color of life, Green Lantern, and one of these days, you will pay." Poison Ivy vows disappearing into the ground.
Later that day, Pam and Jess see the whole tree being cut and sawed.
"300 years he reigned. And they just didn't care. People are a lost cause." Pam said.
She was about to walk away when Jess notices something.
Grabbing her shoulder, Jess points to the remains of the stump and they see an acorn had remained.
Bringing Pam to the park they planted the acorn in the ground.
"There's no such thing as a lost cause." Jess said as Pam smiles back.
After planting the tree, Jess and Pam walked away.
"Pammy I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Jess said.
"Don't push it." Pam said pushing Jess away.
While Jess may not have exactly made a new friend she did push the rest of her team to make new friends.
At Shakespeare in the park, Diana and Zoe were watching a play.
"I have come to this park many times before but I've never seen this." Diana said.
"I know a few plays and musicals coming to this town. Maybe you'd like to come see one with me." Zoe offers as they applauded the actors.
"I'd like that." Diana smiles.
At the Fencing Club, Sam and Kagami were practicing forms.
"Too predictable." Kagami taunts as Sam counters.
Clashing swords, Sam went on the attack but Kagami counters and knocks him to the ground.
Groaning Sam lifts his helmet off to see Kagami lift hers.
"You can do better than that." Kagami smirks.
Smirking Sam put his helmet back on and got up.
At an Internet Café, Marinette and Lois were talking ideas.
"And what about here we can post school info like easy stuff that people often forget." Marinette suggests.
"Love it." Lois smiles as they clinked their smoothies in agreement.
In front of a computer, Kara and Garth were playing.
"Come on! Come on!" Kara growls when her character got blown up.
"Ooh sorry Kara." Garth cringed.
"Are you kidding me…I love this game!" Kara smiles.
At the comic books store, Nathaniel and Babs were talking comics.
"I'm just saying you can't beat the original." Babs said.
"Well even so the newer additions allow for more creative ideas and to branch outside your comfort zone." Nathaniel counters.
"Hmm touche." Babs smirks.
At the library, Luka had put on a little techno music as they studied in a cubicle.
"Hey this is pretty cool." Karen said.
"Helps me study." Luka said as they got to work.
At the mall, Aurore and Zee were walking out each holding a bag.
"You were totally right about my colors. I can totally pull of spring." Zee said.
"Thanks for helping me pick out some new shoes." Aurore said.