A/n: Hey guys! Welcome to my first multi-chapter fanficition story in a long while, and the first I've ever written for the Miraculous Ladybug fandom! I hope you enjoy it!
Be sure to read the author's note at the end!
The rails clacked along beneath the metal wheels of the train as it sped along the tracks. Heroic Eagle marveled at how fast the machine traveled. The steam engine had only been introduced to the States a few years before, and was still fairly new technology, but had quickly proven its worth to the country's business moguls, and enterprising citizens had quickly taken advantage of the fact, designing new locomotives for the American rails.
The 4-4-0 that Heroic Eagle was on was heading for New Orleans, having been rented out specifically for a New Year's party, to celebrate the ringing in of 1857 and to toast the latter half of the decade. The No. 25 steam engine was top-of-the-line, with a reported top speed of 55 miles per hour- an astounding report that no one had tested since it had been made- so naturally the heads of several well-known and respected companies had jumped on the opportunity that American capitalism had provided them, and rented the train for a trip from Chicago to New Orleans.
Eagle suspected they also wanted to turn their noses at those claiming there was 'war in the air'.
The car itself had been outfitted with a long table on one side that was covered with platters of food. The middle was cleared for people to dance, and a small but impressive band had set up a stage in the corner. In another corner, boxes of fireworks had been placed, ready to be lit at midnight.
Heroic Eagle had known it would be a risk to accept the invitation. Even though he had sold off his portion of the massively successful steel company that he had started with his brothers many years ago, he had known many of the people on this train during his time as a head of the company, and worked with them very closely. So, he had received an invitation- handed to him by a Pinkerton, no less, though how the company had managed to find the hero that had been so long and so deep in hiding was a mystery, unless they'd been following his trail from the beginning- and while he had at first been inclined to decline, he had needed to head South, and New Orleans was a perfect place to disappear, especially with a war between the Northern and Southern states apparently looming so closely on the horizon for the practically infantile United States. So, Eagle had accepted the invitation, coming out of hiding for the first time in seven years to board the train that would hopefully take him to the South and safety.
Luck, unfortunately, chose not to be on his side.
He had known that the Serpent might be here. They had both become affluent while working as superheroes; Eagle in steel and the Serpent in- of all things- copper. Eagle had always teased the other miraculous holder that he should change his name from the Serpent to Copperhead in recognition of his newfound fortune, and the other man would always joke back with a tease of his own- always meant in good fun- and they'd both laugh and continue whatever job they might be working on together.
The days when all of the holders had been alive and worked together ad been like that- happy, full of jokes and flirtations between the men and women that had never meant a thing for most of them.
Now, catching the Serpent's eyes across the room only sent shivers of fear down Eagle's back. The other man was mingling amongst the crowd quite easily, as though he were familiar with each person, unlike Eagle, who hadn't been in the spotlight in seven years and was finding he had become distant from the world he had just plunged back into. It made sense- the snake miraculous holder hadn't been forced to sell his company off, nor hide from the public eye. No, the snake had been the hunter these past seven years, and tonight it seemed he had found his prey.
Eagle knew the moment the Serpent recognized him. Brown eyes, almost the color of copper themselves— though not quite, as though some had tried to imitate copper's color—locked with his sky-blue ones across the long train car where the party was taking place, and the Serpent managed to pull his face into an imitation of a grin, though the joy never reached his eyes, which filled with a grim determination. The other hero turned back to the two older gentlemen he had been speaking with, and tipped his hat as he said goodbye. Eagle braced for a confrontation.
Heroic Eagle lost sight of the Serpent after the other hero left his conversation. The Snake miraculous wielder vanished into the groups of affluent gentlemen the crowded the train car, and Eagle couldn't locate him. But Eagle felt when the Serpent appeared beside him. A strong hand gripped his shoulder, slender fingers wrapping around his arm like a vice. "Your presence truthfully astounds me. I did not expect this… happy coincidence." The voice was light and jovial, with only a hint of a hiss after each hard s, but Eagle could hear the thinly veiled anger masked beneath.
"Neither did I, old chap. But since we're here I suppose I'm cornered." Eagle began reaching for his sidearm, but the Serpent's other hand grabbed his arm, another firm grip.
"Now, now! This is a joyous occasion! Why would you want to ruin our reunion by drawing your weapon straight from the starting gate?" The Serpent's voice was directly in Eagle's ear, every hard s a loud hiss, sending alarm bells ringing through the hero's head.
"I just thought I'd start things off with a loud bang, old friend." Eagle fought to keep his voice steady. Even out of his suit, the Serpent's voice carried power. "I believe there's an empty car further down the train. Perhaps this business would be better conducted there." The private car would be empty right now, with plenty of room for him to confront Serpent, even with all the decadent outfitting done to turn it into a small home on rails instead of a traditional train car.
"I agree." The Serpent released him, but Eagle knew better than to imagine that he could escape. Here he was in the other hero's element- a crowded, enclosed area. There would be no way for the eagle- themed miraculous holder to beat his reptilian counterpart. Eagle led the way towards the back of the train and the empty car, dodging party guests left and right.
They reached the door, and Eagle could hear the rushing wind on the other side as the train raced onwards towards New Orleans, muffled though it was by the door. He pulled it open, feeling the wind rip at clothes as he stepped out between the train cars. His legs carried him forward, even as his head turned to look at the landscape rushing by.
He wondered if this would be the time he saw it.
As the second door opened before them, Eagle ducked under the Serpent's hand as the other hero tried to shove him forward. He rushed halfway down the car before spinning and planting his feet firmly, his eye's glued to the man slinking into the room. The door clicked shut behind them, and the two former heroes were alone.
"You don't have to do this. America still needs great men like us, to help protect-"
"'To help protect Lady Liberty, Justice, and Freedom', Yes, I've heard you give this same speech before. In fact, I'd say I'm rather tired of it." Eagle braced, expecting the serpent to strike with those biting words, but instead his opponent turned to the window. Gesturing outside, he indicated the landscape Eagle had been admiring moments before.
The train was passing through a pine forest. Giant trees, untouched by the march of civilization, stood tall and silent, shadowy in the night, seeming to barely move past even as the train kept its speed. The grass had been turned a pale blue by the moon- and starlight from the sky above; a blanket of stairs in the dark sky accompanying the full moon as it lit the peaceful scene it watched over.
Eagle watched the scene for a moment, taking in the beauty of the land. Serpent's voice snaked into his head. "We fought to protect all of this. We saved it all from evil. But now, America no longer needs people like us." Serpent turned back to him, his hand already reaching for his sidearm. "America no longer needs heroes."
Eagle hit the other hero before he even realized his feet had moved, knocking him back into the door they had just come through. The Serpent let out an 'Oof' of surprise, the air leaving his body from the powerful blow. Eagle grinned at the noise, untucking his head from the tackle so he could raise it to look at the snake miraculous holder, only to let out his own gasp of surprise and horror.
An ornate wooden box sat open at the Serpent's feet, and his eyes were fixed on its innards, a confused look on his face that was slowly growing angrier by the second. Eagle took a step backwards before realizing he had no retreat. Serpent's eyes rose from the box, and for a moment, Eagle could swear they were the slits of snake eyes, instead of a human's. "Where. Are. The. Miraculous?"
Heroic Eagle could only grin at the Serpent as the former eagle miraculous holder shrugged his shoulders. "I distributed them. Left each one at a different spot across the country, in hopes that the next generation would find them and rise up to take our places." Eagle lifted his hand to his collar and tugged, revealing his bare neck. "Even mine. They could be anywhere now. You'll never find them, and there will be a new generation of heroes…" Eagle paused, taking a step back as the Serpent slowly began to rise from the floor," … With or without me."
With an angry hiss, the Serpent lunged forwards, his fist set to connect with Eagle's face. With practiced ease, the former Guardian dodged the blow, dropping into a crouch as Serpent threw himself sideways across the cart to avoid a blow that wasn't coming. The two eyed each other warily. Then, without warning, the Serpent struck again, moving swiftly across the train car to plant his foot directly in the former Eagle's chest. Eagle flew backwards, crashing into a window on the side of the train car, shattering it. He just managed to catch himself on the sides of the window to keep himself in the car, though the fierce winds howled and snipped at his back, trying to pull him from the window. He glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes widening to see not solid ground behind him, but a cliff, dropping into a ravine.
Eagle threw himself back into the car, only to realize Serpent wasn't unarmed. "So, you're still willing to fight. Even without your powers, even with everything you gave up..."
"Think about the consequences here, Serpent..." "
" What consequences? With you gone, there won't be any more heroes!" The Serpent stepped forward, his pistol aim right at Eagle's chest. "Every move you've made, everything you've said since that day... Each and every bit of it has been a mistake."
"That's why I'm doing this. I'm trying to fix things." Eagle stepped forward as well, his eyes trained on the Serpent's, reaching for the gun. "It's time to correct our mistakes."
Eagle saw uncertainty flash in the Serpent's eyes, and set his jaw. The former eagle miraculous holder grabbed his opponents arm and pulled him forward, pushing the gun to aim towards the floor as Eagle flung the Serpent towards the broken window.
Serpent stumbled towards the window, his eyes wide with fear. He teetered on the edge for a moment, before- with a loud cry- he fell forwards. Eagle rushed to the window, wanting to be sure that the Serpent had died.
Instead, Eagle found him gripping the windowsill, his hand impaled on a piece of glass, bit still gripping the ledge. His other hand was still wrapped around the gun, which was pointed right at Eagle's chest. The shot itself was lost to the wind, but Eagle felt the bullet rip through him. He stumbled backwards a few steps, before a jolt in the cart sent him tumbling forward through the window.
Serpent felt a tug on his leg, and looked down. Eagle had managed to grab his leg, still holding on for dear life as though there weren't a bullet hole in his chest. Throwing the gun away, Serpent held out his hand for the other man to grab onto. Serpent pulled hard, managing to pull Eagle up enough to be able to hear the Snake miraculous holder. "Goodbye, old friend," Serpent yelled over the roaring wind, "It was a pleasure to work with you, and I'm sorry to see you die!"
Eagle's eyes widened, even as Serpent opened his hand and kicked the other man off into the ravine. The snake miraculous holder pulled himself back into the car with both hands, though the glass still in the windowpane cut at his skin. As he fell to the floor, gasping at the air for breath, a dark shape pulled itself from his breast pocket to float above him. "That wasss ssstupid and dangeroussss." Tiberas scolded his wielder.
"It was. And I'm glad that it's done with." Serpent worked his way to his feet, and walked back to the broken window. The ravine had long since passed beneath the train, and once more they were traveling through pine forests. Suddenly, the sky was alight with bright fireworks, and Serpent realized it must be midnight. He frowned at the sight, and held out his hand so his kwami could land in his hands. "With those miraculous scattered all over the country…" The man let out a sigh, and his kwami looked up at his holder. "We can't retire yet, Tiberas. I wonder if we ever will… Look at us, still cleaning up his mess after all these years."
Tiberas hugged his chosen's thumb, then disappeared back into the breast pocket as the door to the train car slid open. "George? Jacob? Someone said you two had stepped in here- Oh my God! What happened?"
Jacob Adderton waved off the question, grinning sheepishly at the other gentleman. "We had a bit of an accident with a firework, but everything is fine now. George had to… step out." Serpent vaguely jerked his head down the train car. Let the other man make of that what he would. "I'll come back with you."
The other man studied Jacob's face for another moment, then nodded, giving him a grin. Serpent made his way over to the door, pausing before he closed it to examine the room one last time. His eyes stopped on the box that had once contained the seven miraculous pieces that it had been Eagle's duty to protect. He stepped over to it, picking it up and sliding it under his overcoat. Then, turning on his heel, he strode from the car.
George Skyrider was never seen or heard from again after that night.
A/N: Whew! What a beginning, right?
Well, here we are, a fanfic that uses completely original characters! We're going to America, and we're going to explore the world of the miraculous a little more in depth, and hear a story about another set of miraculous holders.
I'm going to be doing this every chapter, so please be ready: I would really like to thank my editor Plaggerism, who worked very hard to make sure that this prologue was perfect, and has promised to help me every step of the way as we go through the story of the Miracle 7. Without him, this story really would not be possible! As well, I would like to thank my pre-reader- who asked to remain anonymous for now- who did one last read through of the prologue before I posted it!
And lastly, I would like to thank everyone reading this! We hope that you'll stick with us until the end!