The Miraculous Tale of Red Beetle & Chat Noir

Simon Says

Marcel lounged lazily in his desk chair, spinning slowly as he watched The Challengers, the game show that Nino had told him about. "Welcome back to everyone's #1 live game show: The Challenge! Let's give it up for our awesome contestant, Nino!" Alec cheered as Nino stepped onto the stage, a mix of excitement and nerves radiating off him. Alec turned to Nino, who was fidgeting with his hat, and grinned. "So, Nino, you're a student and a DJ? That's pretty awesome! Come check out the decks we've got for you!"

"Marcel!" A voice jolted him from his thoughts, and he glanced up to see Tikki, a confused look in her eyes. "Please come down, we need to talk!" The teen raised an eyebrow, catching her shrug as she nibbled on one of the macaroons his father had made.

With a reluctant sigh, Marcel pushed himself up from his chair, stuffing his phone into his pocket. Tikki darted and nestled herself inside his baggy shirt near his neck, her tiny presence a comforting weight against his skin. He walked down the stairs.

(MDC)

Down in the living room, Marcel stood in front of his parents, his back to the TV, confusion etched across his face. They sat on the couch, papers in hand, ready to deliver the news. "Grounded? Why am I grounded?" he asked, bewildered.

His father sighed, holding up the paper as if it were a trophy of shame. "Let's jog your memory, Marcel," he began, raising a finger. "Monday morning, absent from P.E..."

'Saving a helicopter,' Marcel thought, but instead, he said, "I was in study hall."

"Friday evening, absent from science class," his father continued, adding another finger to the tally.

'Must've been when I rescued a kitten stuck in a tree even though the firefighters could've been called,' Marcel concluded, answering, "I was at P.E."

Tom raised an eyebrow, his frustration palpable. "And absent from almost all day of school, you're never where you're supposed to be, Marcel!" Tom placed the paper down on the coffee table, and sighed, "The only way we can keep track of you is by keeping you here, grounded."

"I understand that, but I was invited, and Nino is my friend," Marcel protested, motioning towards the TV, where Alec's voice rang out. "So, the challenge the viewers have chosen for you is...to get the mayor of Paris, André Bourgeois, to dance! Thank you for agreeing to play with us today, sir. What are Nino's chances tonight?"

From the screen, André scoffed, "Zero. I despise dancing. The last time I set foot on a dance floor, Madonna was in kindergarten."

"We know Nino's your friend. But until your unexcused absences come to an end, that's the way it's going to be," Marcel's father said, crossing his arms, his tone firm.

Marcel frowned, a sigh escaping his lips. "I understand." He turned and trudged up the stairs to his room, flopping onto his bed as Tikki flew out of his baggy shirt. "Can you blame them? How are they supposed to know that you're missing class to save the world?" she asked, perching on his desk.

"I knew being grounded came with the territory of having a secret identity; it's still just annoying," Marcel muttered, his voice softened against the pillow.

"It is, but hey, if Nino wins, you're not grounded next week, and you can see him at the show!" Tikki reminded him, her eyes sparkling with encouragement.

"Yeah, that's true," Marcel mumbled as he pushed himself up, moving to his chair. He powered on his computer, turning on TVi to watch Nino.

(MDC)

Shadows danced across the walls, flickering in the dim light cast by a the sunlight shining through the window. The air was thick with an unsettling mix of anticipation and malevolence. Papillon, a figure cloaked in darkness, murmured to himself, his voice a low, melodic whisper that echoed through the cavernous space.