Chapter Text
The air was thick with ancient magic as a lavender soft luminescence traveled through a secret room. Nooroo, the small purple kwami, who has the power of Transmission, drifted about suspended in mid-air, his thin wings swinging slowly. His eyes glowed softly as he started to talk, as though whispering an ancient truth into the stillness.
"Right from the start, the universe entrusted its equilibrium to the Miraculouses—giants of unbeatable strength, one each with a great force. And among those stood three whose power conquers over the rest: the Ladybug Miraculous, the Cat Miraculous, and the Phoenix Miraculous."
And as Nooroo's words echoed like drafts of wind across stone, he uses his magic to conjure sparks of gold, red, and green that momentarily flashed in the air, showing symbols of the miraculous trio.
"Whoever possesses these three. possesses the very essence of destiny itself. Ladybug creates, and the Cat causes destruction. But the Phoenix... the Phoenix is rebirth and untamed force. It is ancient and is far more powerful than the rest. Together, these three Miraculouses can either bring balance or chaos to the world."
A metallic click sounded through the hush, ending Nooroo's story.
The kwami spun around. Before him was a tall, cold, dark-suited man. There was a small brooch, silver-plated with an image of a woman locked within, shining on the palm of his gloved hand. His thumb stroked the face of her image like a prayer and vow entwined.
"I desire this power," spoke the man to himself, and his words were deep and heavy with obsession.
Nooroo's eyes widened a fraction. "The Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses are hidden. No one has the slightest idea of where they could be. As for the Phoenix Miraculous... it disappeared ages ago. Even I no longer feel it."
The man spoke again, remaining calm. "Then I'll bring them out."
He looked down at the brooch in his hand—the Butterfly Miraculous, glimmering softly with pent-up power.
"Tell me," he said peacefully, "what is the power of this one?"
Nooroo shivered, his little wings shaking with hesitation. "It gives powers to others... b-by amplifying their feelings. You can build superhumans through sheer willpower alone."
The male's lips curled into a twisted smile.
"Beautiful. I'll make supervillains out of the evil in human hearts. There will be destruction to follow, and the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous holders will have to reveal themselves. Then... I'll take what belongs to me."
"No!" Nooroo shouted in protest, leaping up. "The Miraculouses were never meant for nefarious purposes! That's contrary to all we were created for–!"
But now it was too late. The man lifted the brooch, and Nooroo cringed as light blazed around them as the kwami was sucked into the brooch. The Butterfly Miraculous settled on the man's chest, clinging like an evil badge of purpose.
"I don't care what they were intended for," he said coldly. "They're mine now. YOU are mine now." Purple light raged. A dark violet mask creased his face. Shadows coiled about his body like storms called up on an act of will.
He extended one hand, which was bunched into a fist, as if the world itself could be crushed in his palm.
Hawk Moth pushed out of the darkness.
The runway shimmered softly under the fading stars as a shiny private plane landed with a smoothness into the approach of morning. The horizon blushed with the early hints of sunrise, tender orange stretched across languid clouds. The door hissed open, and the first to come out of the jet's steps was a girl, slow, and her eyes were barely open.
Avelyn Cadieux blinked at the dawn light, dark brown hair spilling loose from behind as her twin buns bounced on her head when she walked. Her half-lidded amber eyes roamed the airport runway with exhaustion.
Her father, Guiren Cadieux, trailed behind with his usual crisp composure, a tablet clutched in one hand and a jacket draped over the other arm. The man had style even when he was without sleep.
And as they made their way toward the airport, their bags quietly followed, escorted by two dressed attendants. Avelyn dragged her feet slightly, yawning behind her hand.
Inside, the terminal echoed with quiet emptiness, and the warm lights of early morning flickered overhead. And then, outside the glass entrance, a small, old-fashioned electric mini-car stopped at the curb.
The driver's side window rolled down. "Yào bù yào wǒ bāng nǐmen dǎ gè hū chē? (Do you want me to call you a ride?)" a teasing voice called in Mandarin.
Avelyn's tired eyes sparkled. "Nai Nai!"
Her grandmother, Li Li-Hua, beamed from the driver's seat, her hair fastened in a practical bun and her silk scarf streaming from the window. Her jasmine tea and vanilla perfume preceded her wherever she went.
Still swaying from jet lag, Avelyn made her way to the car and flopped into the backseat with a mumbled, "You're the best, Nai Nai." Her eyes fluttered shut before the sentence ended.
Guiren stayed for a second outside the car, his gaze sweeping the dusty blue hue of the little car and the slightly dented bumper. He gave his mother one of his piercing stares—his face set hard, grim, and unimpressed.
"I could have called for the Lexus," he grumbled as he got into the car.
Li Li-Hua smacked her hand lightly on his shoulder. "Fix your face, Guiren. I don't need a machine to bring home my family. I drive." She hesitated, her tone weakening. "Unless... you'd like me to drop you at your place?"
He didn't answer immediately. He glanced behind him at Avelyn, who was now sleeping soundly with her cheek pressed into the seat and arms wrapped around her backpack like a pillow.
He let out a sigh, "No. Let's just stay at yours... I could use a break." Li Li-Hua smiled warmly and started the car again. When the car eased away from the curb, the soft purr of the engine mingled with the early morning sounds of Paris waking up. Avelyn, in the backseat, murmured gently in her sleep, dreaming of old stories, firebirds, and homely comforts.
The early morning mist still lingered as Li Li-Hua steered her compact car down the familiar side streets of Paris. The city was just waking up—bakers setting out their different types of pastries, shutters creaking open, and the gentle jingle of bicycle chains whirring by.
She pulled up to a narrow street lined with aged buildings, eventually stopping before a small but endearing structure. A painted sign above its front stated:
'La lanterne d'or de Li — La Cuisine Chinoise Authentique. (Li's Golden Lantern - Authentique Chinese Cuisine.)'
Thin tendrils of steam curled up from a vent near the back, carrying with them the strong aroma of ginger, soy, and freshly baked hot buns. The air was warm and cozy, like an embrace.
Li stepped out first, smoothing her scarf before she rounded the car. Guiren followed, still standing tall despite his fatigue. His sharp eyes swept the deserted street; every detail etched into his memory since boyhood. Li opened the back door.
"Wǒ de xiǎo huǒ yàn, (My little flame)" she whispered into the girl's ear as she smiled.
Avelyn stirred at the sound of her voice, her eyes slowly opening. Her long curls were tousled, and her cheek had the crease of her backpack zipper. Wiping the traces of drool from the corner of her mouth, she yawned widely. "Are we home...?" She looked lost.
"Almost," Li laughed. "Come. Before the aroma of baozi puts you back to sleep."
Together, they walked around the restaurant to the back alley. The paint on the walls was old but clean, and red lanterns were suspended above the narrow walkway. A set of wooden green stairs led up the building's side—every step creaking with familiarity.
The three climbed those steps with Grandma Li leading the way. As they reached the door, she unlocked it to reveal a modest but warm and cozy home. Red and gold decor dotted the interior—calligraphy scrolls, old family photos, a couple of incense were burning. Avelyn smiled at the aroma of sandalwood and sesame oil, which never failed to give her a sense of warmth.
Guiren stepped in first, removing his shoes and laying his coat tidily aside. Avelyn did the same, slipping out of her sneakers and stretching like a cat as she sighed.
"I know you two must be ti—" Li started to say, but was interrupted mid-sentence.
Guiren didn't wait. He gave a soft grunt and made his way into the living room, flopping down on the couch with no regard for form. Avelyn slowly blinked, mumbling a muffled "G'night," and shuffled down the hallway to a peach and gold coloured painted room, the same one that her Nai Nai had reserved for her all these years whenever she came over to spend time with her. She collapsed onto the bed and was out in seconds.
Li stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "Tch... just like when they were small."
She went into the living room and gently covered her son with a blanket folded over her arm. "Your daughter is so much like you... If only you would stop ignoring her." She stood up and watched him, his left hand over his head and the right hanging from the couch as he lay there sprawled out. She then proceeded to Avelyn's room and placed her stuffed phoenix plush beside her.
She bent down, lightly kissing Avelyn's forehead. "Welcome home, my little fire," she said softly. With a fond huff, she got up and made her way downstairs. The day had just begun, and the restaurant had to be opened in a couple of hours—but for the moment, her heart felt full.
The gentle hum of Paris morning stirred outside, filtered through the open window as the golden morning sunlight streamed into the small bedroom. It passed through sheer, colored curtains—colors bathing the light in hues of rose, amber, and jade as it landed directly onto the tangled mop of hair sticking out from under a blanket.
Avelyn groaned.
She shifted onto her back with a dramatic flop, dark brown curls becoming a bird's nest of frizz and chaos. Her amber eyes were half-lidded, puffy with sleep and betrayal, because nothing betrays a sleep-deprived teenager more than sunlight.
"Mmmf... make it stop..."
Stretching blindly for her phone on the nightstand, she squinted at the light and lowed the damn brightness down. The screen lit up with notifications, half of them being from her bestie, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
Marinette (5:58 AM): I HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU OMG 😭
Marinette (6:01 AM): Did you get in yet?? Did you sleep well?? Wait, you're probably sleeping right now, huh...
Marinette (6:37 AM): WAKE UP MY BELOVED I MISS YOUUU 🥹💕
Avelyn snorted gently, warmth spreading in her chest. She replied drowsily with an open eye:
Me: G'morning, bugbrain. I'll see you in a bit ❤️
She tossed the phone gently onto the bed and shuffled out from under the blanket like a zombie rising. Her hair was a fluffy mess. Her arms and legs were noodles. She trudges through the hallway just in time to see a blur walk past her in the opposite direction. "...Morning, Baba."
Guiren Cadieux drifted like a gentle breeze—sleek, poised, and already suited up in tailored navy and gray. His tie was neatly centered, his shoes polished, and not a single strand of his jet-black hair out of place on his head.
"Morning, Avelyn," he said, pausing long enough to glance at her. "You need to get ready."
"Huh?" she croaked, wrapping her arms around herself. "Get ready for what?"
He blinked.
For a short moment, the poised tech billionaire stumbled. "...Ah," he replied simply, a flicker of guilt crossing his unreadable face. "I forgot to mention. You're starting school again today. I submitted your transfer last week. Your clothes are in your closet."
She gazed at him, stunned as her mouth hung open. "You're kidding," she whispered.
"I'm not," he replied, already making his way to the door. "Your Nai Nai will be up soon. She'll drop you off."
"Wait...! I haven't— BÀBA!" But the door clicked shut behind him.
Avelyn stood frozen in the middle of the warm, open-concept kitchen and living room, in mismatched pajamas and tangled curls, still processing what had just happened. She slowly tilted her head to the side.
"...Tā jìngrán wàngle gàosu wǒ guānyú xuéxiào de shì?! (He forgot to tell me about the school?!)" Silence. She sighed and face-planted onto the couch.
A few minutes later, the morning was anything but peaceful. Inside the cozy upstairs home above Li's Golden Lantern, Avelyn was tearing through her suitcase like a storm in slippers. "Where's that hoodie—ugh, not the one with the juice stain—wait, where are my jeans?!"
Clothes were flying everywhere. Her favorite oversized orange sweater lay tangled with denim shorts, and her sneakers were buried under a stack of traveling clothes. She had one sock halfway on, spinning around in mad circles around the room, when her grandmother's voice thundered up the stairs like a temple bell. "Avelyn! Ten minutes!"
"I KNOOOW!" she yelled back, hopping into the bathroom to fight her hair into submission while shoving a granola bar between her teeth. Her curly-straight hair was a mess of bed-fuzz and flattened buns, one of which had undone itself to inconveniently migrate to the back of her neck.
She styled her hair back into her usual twin buns, a few loose strands of hair coming out from behind her, and a pair of curled ones framing her face. Not ideal, but sufficient.
She ran down the stairs, bag over her shoulder, only to be pulled back by a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder. It was Li Li-Hua, standing with quiet dignity, dressed in her full embroidered robe and clutching something in her fingers.
"Wait, A-Lin," she said gently, using that nickname only she called her by. Avelyn blinked, still panting. "Nai Nai? What's wrong?" Her grandma didn't answer at first. Instead, she held out a small, ornate golden phoenix-shaped hair clip, delicate, feathered with fine engravings, and softly radiant in the morning light.
"For you," she said. A family heirloom. "I believe it is time now."
Avelyn studied it, tilting her head to the right. "Whoa... this is lovely. Thank you. It looks like it's really old." But Li was serious, almost ceremonial. Her back straight, her voice strong but gentle, she said:
"This clip has been passed down through generations. Worn by women of our bloodline during times of change, strength, and purpose. May it give you clarity in times of fire—and remind you of the flame that lives in your heart."
Avelyn blinked at her, the hair clip, and back to her grandmother as she tried to process the weight of it. "...So... It's just a hair clip?"
Li only smiled faintly. She stepped closer, brushed Avelyn's bangs to the side, and carefully fastened the hair clip above her right temple. Then she adjusted the buns and tucked a loose strand into place. "You'll understand someday." She leaned forward and pinched the cheeks of little Avelyn gently, like she used to when she was a child. "Now come on, little rice ball. We have places to go and restaurants to run."
Avelyn groaned in affectionate exasperation. "Nai Nai, come on?" But she smiled anyway.
Morning traffic rolled outside the car windows as Avelyn sat in the front seat, chin resting on palm, eyes slowly adapting to the sun's brightness creeping across Paris' rooftops. Her grandmother, Li Li-Hua, was behind the wheel with the same soft-spoken authority.
Avelyn's eyes flicked to her phone, and she quickly texted Marinette:
"On my way to school now! 😖"
In a flash, her screen lit up with Marinette's response:
"Girl, HURRY!! The bell just rang! 😬😬😬"
Avelyn's amber eyes widened in horror as she checked the time. "Nai Nai! I'm late!"
Li raised an eyebrow, unfazed, and effortlessly pulled out her peach-scented lip gloss from her robe's pocket. "So?" she said nonchalantly, reapplying it with a small compact mirror. "You'll live. We'll make it."
"But the bell—!"
The light turned green.
And before Avelyn could complain further, Li slammed the mirror shut, wrapped both hands around the steering wheel, and swooped down a narrow side street with the skill and speed of a pro rally driver. Avelyn let out a shriek as her whole body leaned with the turn. "Whoa! Nai Nai, how'd you learn to drive like this?!
Li grinned, eyes fixed on the road. "Just because I cook with love doesn't mean I don't have a lead foot, xiǎo fàn tuán. (little rice ball.)"
The roads intersected, and Avelyn knew she was filming a chase sequence from a film, sans flames. As they pulled up in front of Collège Françoise Dupont, Avelyn flung open the door and stepped out, her legs shaking like jelly beneath her. "I think I left my soul back at that roundabout..."
She leaned back into the car and quickly kissed her grandmother on the cheek. "Thanks for the ride—love you!" Li grinned smugly. "Don't doze off in class. And if you do, dream big." And with a laugh that echoed behind her, Li drove off, the wheels of the small car screeching slightly as she disappeared down the street.
Avelyn hesitated at the steps of the school for a moment, catching her breath and balance before standing up straight and walking towards the entrance. As Avelyn approached the front entrance of Collège Françoise Dupont, tightening her bag strap and smoothing a stray curl from her cheek, a boy dashed around the corner, glancing backward over his shoulder as if something or someone was chasing him.
Avelyn didn't even get a chance to react before—
THUMP!
Both she and the boy collided into an awkward crash, tumbling up in a clumsy heap of limbs and school bags on the concrete. Her phone slid a few inches across the sidewalk, vibrating again from a message she never got to read.
"I'm so sorry!" the boy blurted out immediately, already scrambling off of her and offering his hand to help her up. "I wasn't watching where I was going—are you okay?"
Avelyn blinked, slightly dazed. "Méi guān xi. Wǒ méiyǒu shì... wǒ zhǐshì— (I'm fine. It's nothing... I just-) "
Her Mandarin slipped out unconsciously as her eyes locked onto his. There was something about him... a strange, familiar feeling that pulled at the edge of her memory. His green eyes stared into her own amber ones, wide with concern.
"I mean—yeah! I'm fine," she quickly corrected herself, dusting off her sweater. "It's okay, you didn't mean to."
He didn't have time to answer before the screech of tires was heard through the air. A sleek car swung into view and stopped sharply by the curb. The back window rolled down, and a sharp voice shouted.
"Adrien Agreste!"
Both teenagers turned towards the voice as Nathalie Sancoeur stepped halfway out of the car, clipboard clutched in one hand, her expression cold. "Your father did not approve of you going to school. Get back in the car. Now."
Avelyn's eyes widened in shock as she slowly turned to the boy, Adrien Agreste. The name sounded familiar... wasn't he the son of that well-known fashion designer?
Adrien took a fidgety step back. "But I—"
Before he could even get the words out, a low grunt caught everyone's attention. Across the street, an elderly man had tripped and fallen over with his cane a few feet from him. Adrien didn't hesitate and hurried to the man, cutting between Nathalie and the huge bodyguard who had also stepped out of the car. With gentle urgency, he helped the man to his feet and gave him his cane, speaking in a kind tone.
The man nodded his gratitude, his eyes sharp despite being old. She heard him say his name was Wang Fu.
As Adrien sighed and turned back to head, Nathalie and the bodyguard blocked off the school stairs, directing him away in silence. With a frustrated sigh, Adrien gave Avelyn one last look her way, his emerald green irises lingering on her for just that moment too long. Avelyn gave a sad smile at him and waved at him, to which he smiled back at her and returned the gesture. He was then guided firmly into the car. The door slammed closed, and the car drove away.
Master Fu, still in the position where Adrien had assisted him, straightened his cane and observed as the car drove away. Then slowly, his gaze landed on Avelyn. His eyebrows shot up in silent surprise.
He looked at her—not with recognition, but as if something long forgotten had suddenly occurred to him. She stood there frozen under his gaze, uncertain as to why this old man was looking at her as if she had grown two more heads. He smiled at her knowingly and waved at her, then he turned and walked away with his cane tapping the sidewalk lightly with each step.
Avelyn stood frozen in shock, heart racing, with no clue what to do with everything that had just happened. With a quick exhale, she shook it off and ran up the school stairs. There was no possibility that her first day of returning could be anything normal.
Back in the Literature class, morning light filtered through the windows while Miss Bustier made some notes on the board. The pupils sat in silence on their chairs and tables, already halfway through the class.
Miss Bustier paused and addressed her class with a warm smile. "Before we wrap up the last lesson for today, I wanted to inform you all that we're having one of our returning students join us today."
A series of low murmurs passed around the room. "I won't spoil the surprise," she added, clapping her hands and playfully smiling.
At the front row, Marinette sat in her chair with her eyes wide in anticipation. She wasn't talking to anyone, just fiddling with her pencil and checking the door every now and then. Her hands were getting a little sweaty.
Next to her, a new student named Alya leaned in close and whispered, "Any idea who it is?" Marinette's face instantly lit up in a wide grin. "She's... my best friend." Alya leaned in even closer. "Oh? What's her name?" Marinette hesitated, her shyness creeping in. "You'll see."
Suddenly, the classroom door flung open. "I'M HERE, I'M HERE!!" a breathless voice rang out. Heads turned all at once.
"AVELYN?!"
Several students who remembered her from last year called out in surprise, including Chloé and Sabrina, both caught off guard by the dramatic entrance. Avelyn, wild-haired and panting slightly, grinned as she walked straight up to Miss Bustier and pulled her into a tight hug. "I missed you!"
Miss Bustier smiled back and hugged her, her eyes shining with happiness. "It's good to have you back. Go sit up front with Nino for the time being." Avelyn turned around and plopped herself down next to Nino with a quiet thud. "Geez," Nino whispered, laughing. "Took you long enough." She grinned. "Blame my dad. You know how it is."
The class resumed with only twenty minutes remaining, and the lesson flew by as everyone settled back in. When the bell finally rang, students stood up from their tables and chairs and started to move towards the door. But Marinette didn't move. Instead, she sprinted straight towards Avelyn. She threw her arms around her. "You're really here!"
Avelyn smiled and hugged her in return. "Of course, I am. Miss me that much?"
"You have no idea."
When they pulled apart, Marinette turned to Alya, who was watching with raised brows. "Oh! Avelyn, this is Alya. She's new."
"Nice to meet you," Avelyn said, holding out her hand. Alya took it with a smirk. "Same. You made quite the entrance."
"Only way I know how."
Just then, Nino strolled over casually. "Hey, I'm Nino," he says, waving slightly in Alya's direction. He turns and slings his arm around Avelyn's shoulder as he gives her a side hug. "Good to have you back, Avelyn."
"Thanks, Nino. Now come on, tell me what juicy details I've missed while gone." She smiled as all four of them left the classroom.
Avelyn's eyebrows furrowed, her amber-brown eyes flashing with concern and a flicker of irritation. "She really started doing that again?" she muttered, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. Nino nodded gravely. "Yeah... I tried to stop it, but... Chloe made it pretty clear that she'd make my life a living hell if I kept interfering. Said something about her dad having some kind of 'pull' with the school's board. And I'm not here for that mess, dudette."
Avelyn huffed and settled back into her chair, her arms crossed over her chest and jaw clenched as a memory crossed her mind—one she hadn't let herself indulge in for months.
It was during one of her final weeks before leaving Paris. She had just turned into the courtyard of her school when she heard Chloe's voice: loud, mocking, and clear. "What are you wearing, Marinette? Is that a shirt or a curtain?"
Sabrina laughed on cue as if that was the funniest thing she had ever heard. Marinette looked like she could melt into the ground. Avelyn's legs carried her forward before she even realized it. "Chloe."
The blonde whirled around and rolled her eyes. "Ugh. What do you want, Cadieux?"
"I want to know what your problem is," Avelyn replied calmly but with clear weight beneath it. "Why do you always bother Marinette so much?" Chloe scoffed and pointed at her. "Excuse me? Do you know who I am? I don't need to explain myself to you."
Avelyn stepped closer, her eyes steady. "Do you know who I am?"
Chloe blinked in surprise.
"I'm Avelyn Cadieux," she said, her tone sharper now. "My father owns one of the most influential transnational companies in both Europe and Asia. And unlike you, I don't flaunt that around. But if I did, trust me, you'd know it."
Sabrina's eyes widened, stepping back instinctively behind Chloe. Avelyn finished. "I don't believe in exploiting power to intimidate individuals. But when it comes to protecting the people I care about? I will take action, and my father wouldn't hesitate to follow with me either. So let me make this clear..."
She leaned forward enough to Chloe's face. "You're going to apologize to Marinette. Not because I'm telling you to, but because you owe it to her and it's the right thing to do. For yourself and for your own honor."
Chloe's lips compressed, like she'd sucked on a lemon. "Tch... Sorry or whatever," she grumbled under her breath, then turned on her heel and strode away, dragging Sabrina with her. Avelyn's face softened a bit, and she sighed, "I guess that's a start... I just wish she didn't have that attitude all the time and treat Sabrina so harshly sometimes, too. What is it that ticks her off on people?"
Marinette stood rigid, eyes wide open, mouth open in a small 'o'. She practically melted onto the bench behind her a second later, with a half-smile. "Avy," she'd breathed, "that was... awesome." Avelyn chuckles. "I think Chloe's okay, but I just don't like the way she speaks and bully others and puts herself on this pedestal. She needed to be knocked down a peg." She then sits next to the girl and comforts her.
Back in the library, Avelyn blinked into the present with a soft smile. "You remembered all that?" she asked Marinette, whose lips were twisting into a half-smile. Marinette nodded slowly, her eyes misty with emotion. "Yeah... You saved me many times, but when you left, I guess she thought of that as an opportunity. And I was too afraid to say or do anything..."
"You've got more strength in you than you know," Avelyn said softly. "And you don't need to wait for someone to ride in and rescue you every time. You can fight back, Mari. You should." Marinette sighed, glancing down at her hands. "I know... It's just hard sometimes."
Alya, now fully caught up in the moment, leaned forward with a reassuring grin and patted her shoulder. "Well, you're not alone anymore. You've got us now." Avelyn smiled warmly and reached over to squeeze Marinette's hand. Before anyone else could say a word, a voice echoed down the halls.
"I. AM. STONEHEART!!"
The whole library trembled at the boom of a sound from somewhere in the school, followed by bone-rattling beats of heavy footsteps. Fluorescent lights flickered in the library, and some students screamed as they fell to the ground, tumbling to the floor as books fell off the shelves.
Marinette landed on the floor with a thud, and Avelyn grabbed the corner of the reading table as her amber eyes were wide in shock, looking in every direction. Nino groaned, rubbing at his side. "What the heck was that?!" Alya, equally as frightened, yells, "I don't know. Is it a villain attack?"
A chorus of frightened voices erupted all around them. Someone pointed to the mounted TV in the corner of the library. The screen transitioned from static to a breaking news report.
On the screen, the rocky monstrous form of Stoneheart appeared into view. He stood tall, made of nothing but shattered dark stone, and he stomped down the streets, eyes glowing, and his voice booming out of the speakers, yelling out a name.
"KIIIIM!!"
"Wait... isn't that Ivan's voice?" Marinette asked, darting between the TV screen and the sounds of destruction coming from the hall. "It is," Avelyn muttered, backing toward the wall. "What the heck happened to him?!?"
Nino suddenly gasped. "My music discs! I knew I left them in the music room this morning!" He began to run but turned around and gestured at the girls. "You girls, stay there and don't move, alright?!"
"Wait—Nino!" Marinette cried out, but he had already vanished. Alya, however, did something else. She grabbed her phone and ran toward the exit. "Alya?!" Avelyn called out, already standing. Alya spun around, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is it! A real supervillain attack, and I just know a superhero is going to show up later. I need to catch this on video for my new blog!"
"Are you serious right now?!" Marinette shouted after her. "You'll hurt yourself!" But Alya was already sprinting down the corridor, phone raised, taking a video of whatever was in sight. "Alya, stop!" Avelyn shouted, running after her before realizing she was already gone. She scowled, pushing hair from her face. "She's actually doing this now..."
Suddenly, a crack came from outside. The girls stood there, turning to the window just as Stoneheart was on the school grounds. With an ear-shattering roar, he grabbed a parked car off the road and sent it flying straight for the building.
CRASH!
They then looked at the TV screen in the living room when it flickered off, and lights started flashing again. The sound of glass shattering filled the air. Marinette and Avelyn looked at each other with their mouths agape. "...Did he just throw a car at the school?" Avelyn asked in a daze.
Marinette nodded her head slowly, eyes wide open. "Yup."
.
.
.
"Screw this, we gotta get the heck outta here!"
"Right behind you!"