Chapter Four: Dreams
"Who are you?"
"Your worst nightmare!"
Chat flinched, finding his gaze up at the stars once again he quickly sat up. Scanning his surroundings he realized he was alone, empty alleys, vacant rooftops, not a lit window, and most importantly not a shadowy figure in sight, letting out a small sigh of relief the hero realized that it had been a nightmare. Taking out his baton he checked the time and realized that he was late for his meetup with Tony Stark.
Extending his baton he began to vault from one roof to another, quickly crossing the many districts of Paris Chat Noir quickly found himself atop Le Grand Paris. Scanning the roof, Chat Noir saw a skinny figure laying on one of the tanning beds. Making his way over, Chat Noir entered Tony's line of sight.
"Good morning sunshine." The man greeted.
"I am paw-sitive that it is night," Chat Replied, "Anyhow, what is it you wanted to talk about?"
Tony smiled, "While I would love to talk about the Accords I would much rather know more about the miraculous are, and why Hawkmoth wants them."
Chat was hesitant. Should he tell Mr. Stark? should he withhold the most important information, or should he tell him anything at all? Would he leak the information? Or would he keep it secret?
"I understand if you don't want to tell me anything," Tony began, "I just feel like we could get an upper hand on Hawkmoth if we know why he may want them, be it personal or world domination."
Chat took a breath before responding, "If someone was to acquire both the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous, he or she could get almost unlimited power." Chat Noir had found this out when Master Fu had shown up to 'tutor' Adrien with his mandarin, he told the blonde almost all the same information that he had told Ladybug about the Miraculous.
"So you're telling me that an old man keeps terrorizing Paris for the jewelry of two children possible twenty years younger than him?" Tony began to laugh, his smile encompassing his whole face.
The blonde tilted his head to one side, "I've never thought about it like that." A smile pulled at the corners of his lips.
The pair of heroes laughed as they looked out at the many dazzling buildings of Paris. Chat Noir smiled, "Thanks, I needed that."
Tony's gaze found its way to Chat's smiling face. He smiled, this young hero reminded him of another young hero who lived in Queens, they would get along Tony concluded.
Suddenly the light from Chat Noir's face left, the light from Tony's face left almost immediately after. Both heads turned toward the now blackened buildings of Paris, where dazzling lights had once been, darkness had taken its place.
Checking his watch Tony's eyes went wide, "There are casualties at the nearby power plant, a fire's broken out and the power plant had been damaged!" Standing Tony walked toward his suit and looked over his shoulder, "Come on! There are injured we need to help!"
With a nod, Chat Noir began to get up on his feet and opened his baton calling Ladybug, "My Lady, there is a fire near a power plant, I suspect an Akuma, we'll need your help if we're gonna fix this!"
Leaping off the parapet the two heroes made their way to the power plant, as they did the light from the flames coated the streets in red and orange hues. As they entered the industrial district they began to feel the fire, ash was drifting from the fire, burning Chat's unprotected gaze. Smoke infiltrated the pure oxygen, choking anyone within the neighborhood making it almost impossible to breathe the closer the heroes got.
"Make sure to get any bystanders away from the buildings!" Tony shouted through his suit, "I'll go inside and get the wounded!" Not waiting for an answer the suit powered the doorway of the power plant and entered the smoke-filled interior.
"Friday, get me any biosignatures that are making any signs of life." Tony requested, strain clear in his voice.
"Copy that boss!" The Irish robot responded.
The inventor squinted his chocolate colored eyes, straining to see the hallway in front of him. Melted metal, sparks, smoke, and a partially collapsed roof blocked his path. A green blob appeared on his hud, gritting his teeth Tony began to move. pushing past the collapsed roof and metal the suit made its way through the hallway, green blob growing larger as he did so, within a minute he could clearly see the figure.
The figure was feminine, she was pressed against the floor with both arms outstretched in front of her palms on the rapidly heating floor. Tony could feel the sweat run down his cheek, while he was protected from the smoke the heat didn't change at all it was like a human oven in his suit.
Finally entering the room Tony managed to find the woman. She was trapped underneath a part of the roof that had collapsed, Tony grit his teeth and looked behind him. A window! He had found a window! Turning back toward the woman he lifted the collapsed roof with one hand and gently grabbed the unconscious woman with the other.
Once she was out of harm's way Tony pointed his repulser toward the window and fired, shattering the window instantly and leaped through it soon after, women hung over his shoulder. With his thrusters on the soften the fall, he landed on the ground with no obvious impact. A quick glance up and down the street showed a decent amount of fire trucks trying their best to douse the flames. Making his way toward the flashing lights Tony hoped that they had been bright enough to have brought an ambulance for anyone who needed immediate help.
Chat gave a pat to the old man's shoulder, "Stay safe, and stay away from danger." With a smile, the cat turned on his heel and began to move back toward the fire. Luckily there had only been a few bystanders that had to be evacuated and those who lived in the nearby apartments had already been evacuated by their landlords.
The only questions that seemed to remain were whether Mr. Stark needed the help of not, where Ladybug was, and if this was the cause of an Akuma. While Chat was starting to it was an Akuma, there was still a possibility, after all, there were Akuma that had chosen surprise rather than a full out frontal assault.
Vaulting over yet another alleyway he caught a faint purple glow in the corner of his eye. With a turn of his head, Chat Noir was able to say that it was the Akuma. Atop her head was a large witch's hat with the top being bent toward the left, she had long blonde hair that was waist level that was parted to only reveal a masked covered face. She wore a light grey bodysuit with a black shoulder cape that extended in a flower pattern, her knees were covered in a red diamond shape. She also had a small black cape around her waist and thigh high boots with tips on the front. Last but not leads was a star necklace, that glowed with a purple light, and a pack of cards in her hands.
Landing on the opposite roof from the Akuma Chat leaned on his baton and smiled, "Why hello there, how may I help you?"
The Akuma frowned, "I want to show Paris what real magic really is!" She roared, gesturing wildly as she did so.
Chat Noir's smile disappeared, "How will you do that, by setting fire to a building!" Standing up straight he pointed his baton at the magician.
The Akuma narrowed her eyes at her accuser as a purple moth outline appeared over her face.
As the Akuma and Hawkmoth conversed, a red and black spotted yoyo wrapped around the nearby chimney. By the time Chat turned to greet his lady she had already landed on the roof and began to scan the Akuma.
"Good evening my Lady!" Chat greeted, "How have you been this fine evening?" He put his baton over his shoulders and gave Ladybug a warm smile.
"I'm fine chat." Ladybug mumbled, rubbing her eyes in the process. Opening her eyes her gaze found Chat Noir and the fire behind him. Ladybug perked up, and her face twisted in worry, "Is the fire under control?"
Chat gave the worried hero a comforting pat on her shoulder, "Mr. Stark is getting any injured out and the Sapeurs-pompiers is currently fighting the fire."
Ladybug let out a breath, reassured, "Good," the young hero turned her gaze toward her opponent, "Now we can defeat this Akuma without needing to worry about the fire."
Chat smiled, "As always you are right my lady." He split the baton in two and prepared to fight.
The Akuma's face twisted into a crazed grin, and moved a hand over the deck of cards in another hand, "You willing to test the odds of a magician?"
Without answering the magician Ladybug threw her yo-yo and Chat Noir vaulted across the street, Dodging card after card thrown at them.
The magician dodged the yo-yo, failing to notice the sudden presence of Chat Noir on the roof, suffering a quick tackle to her back as a result. She rolled toward the edge of the roof and managed to push the hero off the roof, giving herself a moment to isolate Ladybug.
She grabbed her deck of cards once more and began to throw what seemed like an endless stream of cards. In response Ladybug began to swing her yo-yo in a circular rotation, disintegrating the cards as they hit the magic shield. Every moment Ladybug would begin to close the distance between her and the Akuma, only for the Akuma to take a step backward, keeping her distance.
Taking another step backward the Akuma gained a larger distance. She prepared to throw another card when a clawed hand wrapped itself around her ankle and pulled her toward the edge. Once the Akuma fell flat Ladybug took this as her chance and sprinted toward the Akuma, at the same time Chat Noir had pulled himself back onto the roof and had pinned the Akuma against the roof.
"Get the necklace!" Ladybug shouted, closing the distance between the Akuma and herself.
Flipping the Akuma around, Chat Noir pinned the Akuma's arms and legs down with his own. He gave a quick glance toward the spotted hero, "Little hard to do my lady, some help would be appreciated."
Ladybug smiled at the kind cat in front of her and grabbed the glowing necklace, destroying it in an instant. Quickly catching the fleeing Akuma Ladybug purified the corrupted butterfly and watched as the corruption left the magician.
Chat Noir's gaze found its way behind the spotted hero, "Ladybug?"
Turning away from the frightened little girl, Ladybug raised an eyebrow, "Yes Chat?"
Chat didn't answer, however, his hand moved and began to point past her, "Look." His eyes were full of worry and disbelief.
Ladybug narrowed her eyes at the cat before turning to follow his gaze. Her gaze found streaks of red and orange, flashes or red and blue, and the splash of water. The fire hadn't gone out.
She turned back toward the girl, and gave her best smile in this situation, "Chat Noir will get you home okay sweetheart?"
The little blonde smiled back, "Okay Ladybug! Have a nice night!" Waving to the spotted hero Ladybug waved back and watched as Chat scooped the girl up and vaulted from building to building.
As soon as they were out of sight Ladybug turned toward the fire and began to make her way toward the scene, hopefully, the wouldn't need her help.
"Good for you to finally join us," Tony greeted. At this point, he had left his suit and was in his tuxedo. He had a frown on his face, and an injured man hung over his shoulder, "Where have you been?"
Ladybug frowned at the inventor, "I was dealing with the Akuma that created this fire, Chat is taking her home now."
Tony set the injured man down and flagged down a flagged down an EMT, "Did you beat the Akuma?"
The spotted hero crossed her arms, "Yes we did."
Tony looked Ladybug in the eye, brown eye piercing Ladybugs gaze, "Then why is the fire still going?"
Ladybug's gaze fell to the ground, "I don't know, it's supposed to work."
Tony stood up and crossed his arms, "Well obviously it didn't." he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "What are you gonna do about it."
Ladybug blinked at him, "Huh?"
"What, are you gonna do about it?" Tony repeated, gaze still on Ladybug.
"I'll have to talk to Master Fu about it." Ladybug mumbled to herself, bringing a hand to her chin.
Tony tilted his head slightly, "Who's master Fu?"
Ladybug cringed, then looked behind the inventor, "Is the fire under control?"
Tony narrowed his eyes, "No thanks to you."
The spotted hero sighed, "I'll do better next time." Glancing up at the avenger she continued, "I'll get answers, don't worry!"
Before she could leave Tony grabbed her shoulder, "I have questions for you and Chat Noir tomorrow, meet me on the roof of Le Grand Paris." Ladybug gave a nod before throwing her yo-yo, leaving the scene.
Tony sighed and sat down with his back to the ambulance. He took in a large breath and violently coughed.
"Do you need any help, sir?" An EMT asked, kneeling next to the avenger.
Tony waved him off, "Help someone who actually needs it, I'm fine no need to worry."
With a nod the EMT walked past Tony, promising to help him after everyone else had gotten treatment.
Meanwhile, in a dark alleyway, a pair of bright yellow eyes watched Stark reject the EMT. As they watched Tony, a smile touched their lips, and a quiet laugh escaped their throat. The time had come, the pieces were on the board, the game was about to begin.