SURPRISE!
Chapter 2: The Lady Rises
Marinette was never afraid of transforming into Lady Luck. She had done it many, many times in training. But that was training! This was real, the get up and go fight that she always wanted but was never allowed. The rush with that fact made the transformation all the sweeter. She could feel when Tikki finished phasing into her earrings and meld perfectly within her mind. She felt new power flow through her, banishing her fears with each ripple of energy. Her jacket fell away in a burst of crimson light as her wings opened and changed color from blue scales to crimson. They were much stronger and wider now with scarlet braces that protected the fine, hollow bones within her natural protective armor. Her top morphed and shifted into a v-cut kimono style that fell into loose sleeves around her arms and ended at the waist. A black obi with golden stitching wrapped around her middle while black, form fitting pants and boots transformed into place with crimson buckles on the ankles. Black gloves encased hands to just below her wrists, the material feeling thin enough for her to grip comfortably but thick enough to provide some level of protection. Each finger was tipped with a razor sharp claw, reinforced by her own natural ones from within. Her hair swept back into a tighter ponytail and the ribbons changed to crimson color. Lastly she drew on her mask of crimson and black scale pattern with two fingers just as her barrier shattered and fell away into specks of blue light.
Instantly her wings came up to shield her some loose rubble from above fell down around her. When all was still again, she peeked out between them to face Chat Blanc. The werecat hissed furiously at her, hands ready to fire the dangerous seals at her. Slowly she lowered them, facing her first akuma one on one.
"Can you hear me, Marinette?" Her charge jumped as Tikki's voice echoed from somewhere in her mind.
"Y-yes."
"No, don't answer out loud. Calm your heartbeat, it's too loud. Now, remember, this is a partnership between us."
Marinette struggled not to nod as she took a breath to help calm her racing heart. "Uncle is going to kill me."
"You're all that's here? Where are the others?!" Chat Blanc demanded, purple eyes darting around to seek and destroy any target. Lady Luck took a breath and began walking out into the open, feeling her familiar's confidence with every step. Chat Blanc's eyes zeroed in on her instantly. When she stepped into the light, she felt the sun's heat instantly in her wings. How long has it been since I felt that..? she wondered. It feels so good to have them in direct sunlight. No coats or covers; no glamour... just free. "Are you deaf? I asked you a question!"
"I heard you," Lady Luck was internally shocked at how calm she sounded to this person. She folded her arms across her chest and cocked a hip out to the side. "I'm choosing not to answer."
Her blunt answer made Chat's pissed expression slip slightly and a moment of clarity entered his eyes. The seals fell away and he began twirling his baton in his clawed fingertips. He began to circle her, like a lion circling prey. Lady Luck turned, following him. Her boots crunched on some broken glass but she didn't dare take her eyes away from her opponent. He was good at hiding his moves, she decided. He didn't telegraph... just her luck. As he drew closer to the alley, she remembered that the portal had been down there just seconds ago. She hesitated, eyes flicking down as if expecting to see a flash of white light there. There was none. However, Chat Blanc caught it and hissed sourly.
"So your friends abandoned you, is that it?"
"They didn't abandon me, I stayed behind," flew out of Lady Luck's mouth before she could stop it. She fought the heat that wanted to surface on her cheekbones and met his eyes instead. Chat Blanc flicked long strands of blond hair out of his eyes with a claw, laughing. She didn't like it. It was cold and it felt like he was freezing her bones with sound.
"You're a terrible liar."
So I've been told, she thought.
"So where did they run off to? The palace?"
"I have no idea and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you akuma."
Instantly Chat Blanc's cold humor disappeared. "Well, I did ask nicely. I'll have to be more... purr-suasive!" He snapped his baton into two parts and lunged at her.
Lady Luck's own hands instinctively when behind her and drew out two crimson fans that were edged in black. She opened one, revealing a dragon etched in ebony on the crimson field as she blocked and knocked away the other baton with her free hand. The white werecat froze in mid strike, ears perking in obvious curiosity. "You're not Phoenix... no it's impossible, she already used Sacred Flame didn't she? And the bug's leg is broken... you... I don't know."
"Nope," Lady Luck popped the 'p' and took personal pleasure at the annoyed look on his face.
Chat Blanc broke off the attack and they circled each other again. He twirled his batons lazily, taking her in from top to toe. "Don't you know the rules of proper battle etiquette? You're supposed to give your name." Lady Luck flinched and the werecat grinned, ears pricking in interest.
"You can call me Lady Luck."
Chat's eyes widened to a near comical size if it weren't for the obvious danger they were in. His eyes shot to her ears where twin earrings, both scarlet with ebony spots on them, gleamed. "Luck indeed," he laughed, twirling his baton again. "I'm sad to say this isn't your lucky day." He shot forward and Marinette just raised her fans up in time to block against his blow. She skidded back from the force, the heel of her boot almost catching on some stray garbage. Oh my Lord and Lady, out of all the akumas I had to get the one who cracks bad puns!
"I don't know, I think I'm feeling pretty good about my odds. You spoke of rules earlier, didn't you Chat Blanc?" The werecat blinked, surprised that she knew his name. "Rule one, never rush into a fight with an unknown opponent." She shifted her weight and her tail lashed out, knocking him square in the stomach. Chat bent, surprised and she kicked, sending him flying. She gaped, surprised as well at the power she just exhibited. He hit the wall across the street and crumpled to the ground and laid there. "Holy shit! Did- I didn't kill him did I?"
She couldn't hear Tikki's response as she rushed to check her fallen opponent. Uncle Fu warned me that my abilities would be stronger, but he never said by how much! She carefully pushed back his blond hair and pressed a finger to his neck. She waited before feeling a fluttering there where the artery lay. Chat Blanc lashed out, capturing her wrist in his claws and squeezed. One purple eye opened and he winced, "That... hurt."
Nope, not dead. Alive, most definitely alive!
"Marinette!" Tikki's voice cut through to her, "Remember to look for his possessed item! You have to purify his akuma!"
Right, the akuma- what was she supposed to look for?!
Lady Luck yanked her wrist out and started checking him over for the possession that Tikki told her about. However before she could even get to his pockets, he had grabbed her again and held her firm. "Ooh purr... my Lady, I knew I was attractive but there's no need to outright jump me. Purr-hapse when I take your Miraculous, we could sneak away somewhere."
Repulsed, Lady Luck scratched at him, tearing at his suit. He hissed, releasing her so that she could scramble away. She grabbed her fallen fans just as he threw one baton at her. The weapons clashed and the baton boomeranged back into his hands. He held out the other and it clipped her wing as it flew back to its mate. She backed away, trying to assess his movements but he wasn't giving anything away. Chat looked at his arm and sniffed it carefully and she wondered for a second if she had accidentally drawn blood. When he licked his arm, she saw a thin trail of crimson trace down his tongue. I'll tend to it when I free him, she thought. "Well, I wasn't expecting to get slashed today," he muttered.
"You'll forgive me... I'm a bit new to this."
Chat's head whipped to her, one eye screwing shut as if in pain. He did hit that wall pretty hard, I bet he's going to have one massive headache later.
"Mew've got to be kitten me... con-cat-ulations, you caught me off guard. It won't happen again." He was on her in a flash and they clashed again in a ring of weapons. Lady Luck met his purple eyes steadily and sucked in a deep breath. "Did it hurt?"
"What?"
"When you fell for me?"
What?! Momentarily stunned, Chat landed a kick of his own in her side, sending her flying. She rolled, dropping into a practiced maneuver and sprang back up on her feet. However he was faster and quickly grabbed her in his arms again. "Cheater!"
"I never said this was a clean fight, mew-bie," he hissed, claws digging into her side. She half expected to feel them bite through her skin at any second so she thrashed harder to get away.
"Marinette, he has werecat ears. His hearing is sensitive!" Tikki urged her. Marinette gritted her teeth, it was a dirty trick but it was clear that this akuma wasn't going to let her go anytime soon. She turned and met him face to face and summoned the most ear piercing wail she had in her. It was short but it did the trick as Chat Blanc released her and clutched his head with a cry of pain.
"You witch!" he hissed angrily.
"Aw, did that hurt? I'm terribly sorry," Lady Luck simpered, taking stance again. Chat Blanc glared at her, fangs bared in outrage. They clashed again and again in a flurry of flying fists and feet, each trying to get the upper hand until a thunderous explosion went off down the street. Momentarily distracted, Lady Luck turned to look just in time to see a combination of midnight blue and electric blue fly through the air. She gasped, "Chronogirl!" Without giving it a second thought, she jumped into the air, wings unfurling to their fullest length. She barely registered how they easily scooped air back and lifted her high enough to catch her flying friend. She winced, trying to angle her wings to slow their fall. They landed roughly but on their feet. "Are you alright?"
"I'm f- Lady Luck!? How... when did you-"
"I don't really have time to explain," the red dragoness told her apologetically. "But we've got a huge problem!"
"I'll say!" Chronogirl pointed to the akuma she had just been fighting. "He's faster than I am! No one is faster than me!"
"Chronogirl!" Aracna appeared, skidding around the building to join them. "Lady Luck?!"
"Yes, yes now we're all here but you two need to know-"
"Three against two? I find those odds hardly fair," Chat Blanc groaned dramatically. "Oh, I have an idea! How about one of you hand over your Miraculouses and that'll even the playing field? Since it's my idea I'll choose who gives it up; Lady Luck, your earrings."
"At least he's cut down with the puns," Lady Luck muttered and pointed. "We have two akumas."
"Two?!" Aracna whipped around.
"That's not just any akuma... that's Chat Blanc," Chronogirl muttered, looking scared. Chat must've heard her because he took a mocking bow.
"I see my reputation precedes me."
"Please don't encourage him," Lady Luck urged her friend. "Who's your dancing partner?"
Suddenly another explosion went off and Lady Luck instantly unfurled her wings again to brace her friends against the force... however her hearing paid the price for it. Her head swam dizzily and she had to lean on Aracna for support. One downfall over transforming, I have no say over which ears I use, she thought, cupping one elongated, pointed dragon ear. It's an even exchange I guess. She felt Aracna pulling her away and using her gossamer silver web cape to block falling debris from a nearby building from falling on their backs. She was shouting, Lady Luck knew that... but she was talking too damn fast for her to follow a word she said. She glanced back, seeing the two akuma rapidly advancing. The newer one was clothed in some sort of red and gold bodysuit with rippling lines over his arms and chest. He began to run at them... and then disappeared. Chronogirl joined in tugging at her arms just as the akuma reappeared just feet in front of them and the air exploded. Lady Luck flew back with her friends, stunned again as she rolled gracelessly on the ground.
That's unreal! He just runs and boom?!
"He's creating sonic booms, only the akuma is amplifying the power to an insane degree," Tikki informed her. "We've got to retreat!"
Lady Luck agreed without question. She watched as Aracna had apparently read her mind and threw her lasso to a nearby gargoyle and began climbing. Chronogirl was nowhere to be found but she guessed that the time keeper was somewhere close. Taking a running leap, she dug her claws into the stone as easily as a hot knife through butter and climbed after Aracna, joining her on the rooftop and breaking into a run. They crossed rooftop after rooftop, escaping their opponents when Lady Luck's hearing began to return. "Are you listening to me!?" Aracna spat in mid rant.
"I am now," Lady Luck informed her. "I'm sorry if I was deaf for a few minutes in the middle there."
"Deaf?" Aracna's face smoothed and Lady Luck could see traces of Alya behind her silver, web-designed mask. The spider transformation had changed her some, giving her spiked heeled black boots and a black bodysuit that was decorated with spider webs. However, it was sleeveless with the exception of silver gloves that ended at her elbow and spider embellishments in her hair. Aracna grasped Lady Luck's head and turned it so that she could check her ears. "But you can hear me now, right?"
"Yes," the dragoness informed her and pulled away. "Any chance you know where Chronogirl disappeared to?"
"She's circling-"
"I'm right here," Chronogirl shot up the side of their building and landed gracefully. She was a slight blur of her midnight blue and electric blue tones for a few seconds before settling again. Her suit was aerodynamically designed for her speed demon tenancies and decorated with electric blue lightning bolts on her skates, up her gloves and around the lenses of her helmet. Pink hair peeked out from underneath, showing that it was indeed Alix, one of Marinette's other best friends. Chronogirl lifted her lenses to get a better look as she spoke again, "Not that I'm not glad you're here but what the hell are you doing in the field Lady Luck?"
"It's a long story and I'll tell it to you after this fight is over. Who's Super Speed on Steroids down there?"
"He calls himself Shock Wave, and we're having a hell of a time getting his possessed item," the timekeeper announced.
"I couldn't tell," she murmured dryly.
"He's wicked fast and if he's truly teamed up with Chat Blanc we're in serious trouble."
"I've tried getting behind him, around him... everything," Aracna added. "I can't get anywhere close for any one on one combat. The guy won't stay put!"
Not good, Lady Luck thought as she peeked down over the edge. She gasped, seeing the two akumas searching below, watching rooftops. It wouldn't be long before one of them got smart enough to climb up to get a better view. Or they collapse every building from here to the palace, she thought with a jolt.
"This fight has gone on far too long for my liking," Chronogirl panted. "I can't even get close enough to freeze him!"
"Then maybe... close range isn't the answer," Lady Luck offered, looking down again. If only they could somehow get Shock Wave to stay in one spot... or get him off the ground. Wait a second, Lady Luck's eyes widened as an idea began forming in her head. She turned to her friends, "Where is Shock Wave's akuma?"
"In the whistle around his neck. I know that look on your face, dragon-girl, what are you thinking?" Aracna prodded.
"Where are you Slow-nogirl?" Sound Wave snapped from somewhere below. "You can't hide forever."
"Have you tried an ambush?" Lady Luck suggested.
"An ambush? How? I can't even get my hands on him to freeze his time!" Chronogirl complained.
"Where are you going with this Lady Luck?" asked Aracna.
"It's crazy... but I seriously think we need to fight smarter, not harder. If we manage to get him either off the ground or to stay in one spot at least, we'll have a shot at winning this."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
Lady Luck bit her lip, thinking fast. The easiest way she could think of for an ambush was a net, she turned to Aracna. Her divine ability was linked to connections and communications. "If Chronogirl and I can get them separated, do you think you can cause some miscommunication?"
"Sure," Aracna answered, though her brows were pinched together in confusion. "But how would that equate an ambush?"
"I'm getting there, when we have the akumas distracted, set your lasso out in a snare. Do whatever you need to hide it really well. When it's set, get creative and draw the two back to each other." she turned to the time keeper. "I think we need to switch dance partners. You take Chat, I'll take Shock Wave."
"What?!"
"Look, I know it's not ideal but I honestly think-"
"No way, it's way too risky," Chronogirl shook her head. "While I like the idea, there is no way I'm letting you take the noise maker!"
"Actually, I think Lady Luck's got it right,"Aracna objected. "But Chronogirl has a point too, it's very risky. We need to be lucky for this plan to work."
At this, Lady Luck grinned. "Well, it's a good thing I'm on your side yes?"
Chronogirl groaned, "I can't believe this! This is way too dangerous for your first mission. If you get hurt, Kame will kill me! Papillon will kill me!"
"Then we've got to make every move count," Lady Luck grasped her friends hands in hers. "I promise I'll be careful. This is what we've trained for, right? Not every akuma fight is going to be a walk in the park, right? And I've got Tikki backing me up."
"And if something goes wrong?"
"We improvise!"
"What do you think we're doing now?!" the time keeper growled out. "I hate this idea!"
"But it's the only one we've got," Aracna put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I... I think we should trust her with this one, Tick-Tock."
Tick-Tock..? Lady Luck blinked, confused by the nickname until she looked at Chronogirl's Miraculous, a small silver watch that glowed blue on a chain around her neck. Oh, makes sense then. Chronogirl turned slowly on Lady Luck, mouth set firm in a line. "If you end up getting hurt, your butt is on the line."
"I wouldn't expect anything different." She held out her fist, to which Chronogirl bumped it and did the same with Aracna. "Right, we've all got our parts. Are you ready?"
"No, but I don't have a choice do I?"
"Do you think this will work?" Aracna finally asked, a tinge of doubt in her voice. Lady Luck hated that... she knew the plan was open to an innumerable amount of flaws and problems and failures. Seeing that kind of fear reflected in Aracna's eyes made her want to banish that away forever. So, she grinned her widest and brightest at her.
"I'm feeling lucky," she giggled.
Both women looked at her. "Why do I get a very bad feeling when you say that?" Chronogirl muttered, getting to her feet. Lady Luck followed and looked down.
"What was it that you called him? Noise Maker?"
The Time Miraculous wielder grinned at her, "Yeah, he hates that."
Lady Luck smirked and leaped off the building they hid on, opening her wings to slow her descent. When she landed, she instantly spotted both akuma making their way slowly down the street. Chronogirl joined her, taking up position. "Give Aracna two blocks and then wait for the signal before starting back," Lady Luck murmured.
"I sure hope this works, dragoness. Hey! It's Noise Maker and Cat Nip!"
"There they are!" Shock Wave snapped, pointing to them. Chat Blanc was slower to react, but Lady Luck could tell he wasn't pleased by her friend's name calling. The sonic akuma began running in their direction. This time, though, Lady Luck was prepared for the inevitable explosion that was to come.
"Now!" she shouted and instantly Chronogirl shot off towards the werecat. His eyes widened in surprise and brought his baton in front of him in time to block her attack. Lady Luck took off running, covering her ears just as another explosion ripped through the air. The shock waves nearly knocked her off her feet but she kept running.
When she lowered her hands, she could hear Chat Blanc hissing out, "What are you waiting for?! Get her earrings!"
"Cat-ch me if you can, cat man!" Chronogirl's distant voice taunted. Lady Luck turned just in time to see Shock Wave getting his bearings before raising the whistle to his lips. When he blew, she had to duck as a beam of purple light flew from it and hit the ground in front of her.
"Ha! You missed me!" she taunted, turning around and running backwards. Shock Wave's red face twisted in fury as he took off after her again. It was then she realized something... the akuma couldn't change direction once he started running. So she quickly cut a corner on a block and ducked into an alley just as another explosion ripped through the air around them. Sucking in a breath, she ran out of the alley just as debris began falling all around them. Hurry Alya, she begged. I don't know how long I can keep this up!
She continued this pattern for the two blocks she suggested, taunting him with how slow or clumsy he was. Each word seemed to make Shock Wave more and more angry... and his sonic attacks more and more violent.
"Shock Wave! I got her!" Chat Blanc's voice yowled from somewhere nearby. For a second, Lady Luck wondered if it was Aracna's distraction when she heard Chronogirl scream out in pain. That sounded real. Lady Luck's blood turned to ice at the sound as it happened again, along with Chat Blanc's sickening laugh. "Come here, Lady Luck or else I'll snatch Chronogirl's Miraculous right off her throat! It'll be a shame if my claws... slashed some of that pretty skin."
Lady Luck bolted into action, wings extending and flying back towards the road. Shock Wave followed, "That'll make two Miraculouses in this whole mess. Hawk Moth will be pleased."
"Shut up!" Lady Luck snarled, smoke beginning to haze at her lips. "Or I swear I'll burn you to cinders!"
"Chat Blanc loves to toy with his prey," Shock Wave taunted back. "It's what makes working with him so damn fun!" Another scream of terror made Lady Luck turn and bolt to get to her friend. Shock Wave followed, cutting her off just as they rounded the corner. She gasped just in time to cover her ears as a sonic blast made her fly back and into the building. Pain seered up her back and through her wings, but otherwise she didn't feel any bones break. She fell, head spinning just in time to see Chronogirl and Chat Blanc racing their way; both looked battle worn. Chronogirl had obvious scratches in her suit while Chat Blanc was sporting a developing black eye. Lady Luck flew at Shock Wave, surprising him as she drove her foot into his chest and knocked him down. However, she didn't stop. She raced with an energy she didn't know she had possessed just as Chat Blanc leaped onto her friend's back, claws extended and ready to slash.
"No!" the dragoness snarled, sweeping low and bringing one fan into Chat Blanc's chin. The blow snapped his head back and she swung her tail into the open section on his chest and shoulders. The cat flew back a few feet, but landed in a low crouch. "Are you alright Chronogirl?"
"Me?! You were the one who called for help!" the time keeper snapped and they both froze. Aracna, they both realized. Suddenly, Chronogirl gasped, "Ears!"
"What?" But it was too late, wave after wave of sound pierced the air at such a rate that Lady Luck was stunned stupid. Tears leaked down her eyes as pain split through her mind. Inside she could feel Tikki crying out in agony.
"If there was ever a time for you to use Lucky Charm, it's now!" her familiar urged. Somewhere between Tikki's order forced her body into action and she felt someone press against her back. It was odd, like some sort of pyschic switch has been flipped. She didn't have to glance back to her friend to know it was her that was back to back with her. She watched as Chat Blanc got to his feet, twirling his baton and spouting words. My brain feels scrambled. I can't even make sense of his intults, she thought. However, she couldn't pay much attention as she threw her fans into the air.
"Lucky Charm!"
Crimson and black light engulfed both her weapons and a red silk bag dropped back into her waiting palms. It was small and lumpy... which meant there was something inside it. "Please tell me it's ear plugs," Chronogirl begged. "I swear my ears are going to bleed if we get hit again." Lady Luck didn't answer right away as she fumbled with the black cord that sealed the ticket their victory.
"It's not," she murmured as she opened the bag. "Marbles."
"Marbles?! Really Tikki? What am I supposed to do with marbles?!"
"Found your marbles, did you?" Chat laughed, swinging his baton again. "It's a shame such a find came at an inopportune time for you!"
"Shut up!" Lady Luck snapped, glancing around. Suddenly, Chronogirl grasped her arm.
"The plan failed, we have to go," she announced.
"Oh no you don't, you cant' get away that easy!" Chat threw his baton, a sharp blade appearing in the end. Lady Luck gasped and caught it out of reflex, dropping her bag and making the marbles explode all over the road.
"Wh-wh-whoaaa!" Chronogirl shrieked, rolling over several of them and beginning to lose her balance. It was then that Lady Luck looked down and noted... a strange circle in the street. It was so fine that she would've missed it entirely, but the crack's pattern was almost perfectly round. She gasped, Aracna's lasso! Brilliant!
She turned, slipping on a few of the marbles herself and wrapped both arms around her friend. "Hold on!"
"To what?! What are you-aaaah!" Chronogirl screamed as they took off into the air just as Sound Wave appeared in front of them. The sonic wave gave her the boost she needed to get airborn, her wings instinctively beating to gain more and more altitude. Unfortunately with her friend's extra weight, it was harder for her to climb into the air... and she was already sinking! A sharp beeping in her ears made her start slightly. Shit, I forgot! I've only got five minutes before I transform!
"Now Aracna!" Lady Luck shouted. The spider warrior clenched her fists from her hiding place and pulled. Her lasso flashed into view, snapping up from the crevices where it had been hidden and snapped shut around both Sound Wave and Chat Blanc. Netting from the Spider Miraculous wielder's cape created a make-shift net, catching them up in her trap. The snare wrapped around both akumas up to their necks and raised them into the air. "It worked! Uh oh-"
"What uh oh?" Chronogirl asked, voice clearly shaking with how high up they were.
"We're going down! Grab the whistle!"
"We're what?!" Chronogirl shrieked as they began to drop despite Lady Luck's relentless beating of her wings. However, the pair had enough sense to snatch Sound Wave's whistle on the way down, making the akuma snarl in fury.
"What in the pits of hell?!" Chat Blanc gazed around, shocked. He watched as Lady Luck dropped like a stone, making both herself and Chronogirl land harder than necessary on the marbles. He laughed as the crimson dragoness slipped on her own charm and fell in a heap. "Have a nice trip there, Lady Grace?"
"Oh shut up or else I'm going to call you Chat Windbag," Lady Luck grumbled, getting up and rubbing her tail. She picked up the whistle and crushed it in her hands, watching the tainted black moth flutter out of the item.
She shivered, feeling it flutter against her fingers for a second before instinctively reaching for a compact on her belt. "Your time is over, little akuma!" She opened the compact and flew after it. She easily swiped it out of mid air and landed with a triumphant cry. Opening it again, she released a completely purified white butterfly. Butterflies are good... moths not so much, she thought. Both akumas snarled in fury, watching it go. To add extra salt to their defeat she waved to it, "Bye bye little butterfly!"
"You've got to release Lucky Charm. It will repair all the battle damage from this fight," Tikki told her, pride lacing her voice. Going to the empty bag, she picked it up and looked Chat Blanc in the eye.
"Dragon's Miracle!" she shouted, throwing the bag in the air. A sound, like a gong, rang through the whole area as crimson and black light flew out and around them. Lady Luck watched in awe and delight as the magick lifted broken pieces of buildings and put them back into place and sealed them there; broken windows mended themselves, gouges in the road filled in as if they were never broken. When the charm was done, all the light formed into a massive crimson mountain dragon that formed over Lady Luck's head. The dragon opened its mouth and roared into the air once before dissipating back into the air.
"Lady Luck that was amazing!" Chronogirl suddenly swept her friend up in a hug. "Truly miraculous!"
"That was an impressive display," Chat Blanc drawled, drawing their attention. His eyes were fixed souly on Lady Luck, sneering down at her. "You must think you've won the war here, my Lady. Hate to burst your bubble... oh wait! No I don't! Cataclysm!" Black mist gathered around Chat Blanc's claws and he swiped at the snare that held him captive. Instantly the netting and lasso gave way and Aracna yelped out in surprise. Both Chronogirl and Lady Luck were in shock by what they had seen. Nothing could break divine power... except... another divine...
Both Chat Blanc and the once akumatized victim dropped to the ground; one knocked out, the other landing with obvious feline grace. When he straightened, he flicked back his long golden mane and grinned, taking pleasure in the female's surprised expression. Deep purple clashed with sky blue and the dragoness instantly dropped into a guard. His smirk widened, "Well clearly I'm out numbered and I, purr-sonally don't care for such odds. I assure you, though, we will meet again." He held out his hand and the baton flew from Lady Luck's grip and he used it to pole vault away.
The three women stood there for a second before Lady Luck's earrings beeped again. Her hand shot to them and jumped as a door ripped itself open... and out stepped Kame. Oh I'm in so much trouble.
Surprise!
Hope you enjoyed the first akuma battle in Court of Miracles. No real soundtrack inspired this scene, just a mash up of sound on YouTube to drown out the inner critic and the whine of the computer.
I debated LONG AND HARD over this and thought, 'ALL THE MARBLES!' This will more than likely be the last update before finals. Maybe. I've already got next chapter written up and the next one after that in the works *winky wink*
MMhmmmmm... can anyone else feel the tension here between our cat and dragon?
See you next chapter!
-Kestra