Between Good and Evil
It didn't take Black Cat long to reach the wall that surrounded the Japanese home. When he arrived, the young man felt an aura to one side, and decided to investigate. Upon reaching one room, he stopped upon hearing Kagami call out "Come in..." Sliding the wood and paper door to the side, he watched as she sat two feet off the ground, her entire body wreathed in red and gold flames, her eyes open, matching the glow of Longg's. The little Kwami in question was floating next to her, his entire body looking the same as his wielder.
"Kagami?" he asked breathlessly.
Closing her eyes, the young woman slowly lowered herself to the ground. The flames dispersed within seconds, and her Kwami floated over to rest on her shoulder. "Hello, Adrien." Standing up, she lightly rubbed Longg's head between his horns. "How can we assist you?"
"We've found Vixen."
Nodding, the young woman smiled. "Longg, bring the storm." Within seconds her body was covered in red samurai armor with golden dragon horns, a black face mask, and black clothes under the armor. On her hip a paired golden daisho with black lacquered wooden sheathes, tsuba, and wrappings. His eyes widened at her golden draconic eyes looking out between the helmet and face mask. "Now, let's kill this meinu."
They were off before another word could be spoken, but along the way Adrien informed her of the newest development. He initially spoke about how she didn't fight back, or use her illusion powers against them, and then talked about how they had to face off against a supposed Guardian. He then told her about what Plagg had said about the group so that by the time they landed next to Ladybird Beetle she was fully caught up. Lila's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the armored warrior, her mouth dropping open. "Wh-Who are you?!" she gasped.
"Ryukishi, the Dragon Warrior." Kagami answered. Stepping forward, she kept one hand on the scabbard of her katana. "Know that if it were up to me, I would have your head on a pike right about now," narrowing those blazing golden eyes at Lila, she growled, sending streamers of smoke out the mouth of her mask, "but these two have convinced me to let you live. Fight with honor beside us, and I will leave you alone. Betray us, and I swear I will have your head!"
Closing her eyes, Lila bowed her head. "I'm done making the wrong decisions." she breathed, her arms wrapping around herself. Looking back up at the trio, she sighed. "After this, I'll hand over my Miraculous without even an argument, and go with the militia. They can decide my punishment when I'm in their custody, but first I'm going to help you take down Raptor."
Everyone nodded in agreement. "Tikki, spots on!" Marinette called out as she was enveloped by the power of her transformation. Lila stared at the young woman who glared at her. "Transform."
"Trixx," she said softly, "let's pounce." The sensation of power swirled around her as Lila was transformed into Vixen. Opening up her eyes, she looked at the trio in front of her. "Follow me."
Lila led the other three away from the alley they had secreted themselves into, and dropped down onto Anarka's roof. "There's a cellar under this building where the Assembly would meet in order to plan the coup." She looked at the other three. "Anarka had no knowledge that her son was part of the group, and... part of me wants to keep it that way." Looking away, she felt a tear slide down her cheek. "She's been kind to me, kinder than even my own mother... and I don't want her hurt anymore."
"Who all was part of the coup?" Kagami asked.
For several seconds it looked as if she were fighting against talking, but eventually relented. "The only ones that aren't either dead or imprisoned are Bishop Damocles, and Nadja Chamack. I was simply a go-between for my mother, who was one of the financiers." Looking back, she saw all three of her companions glaring at her. "Don't ask who the other one was, I don't know."
"How can I believe you that Bishop Damocles was part of the coup?" Ladybird Beetle scoffed. "That man has been like a grandfather to me."
Gritting her teeth, Lila hissed. "If only you knew the price I had to pay for this," she placed her fingers on the fox amulet, "you wouldn't speak nearly so highly about him."
Ladybird Beetle glowered at the young woman, opening her mouth to rebuke the claim when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning to regard the owner, she saw Kagami's eyes through the helmet and mask. "I know pain, Beetle. She's not lying." Returning her eyes to Lila she finally realized just how much pain and torment the young woman had been under. Scooting closer, she wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry," she breathed, "we'll make sure that he doesn't..."
Something in the girl seemed to flip causing Lila to push Marinette away before she could even finish the sentence. "I don't want your pity, and I don't care if you actually understand what I've gone through!" she hissed. "I just want to make sure we take down Raptor! Afterward, you'll have me out of your life... and if the courts follow the same protocol... it will be permanent!" With that, she leaped off of the roof, landing on the bridge that spanned the Seine. Glaring at the cathedral across the river, she stalked toward her target with the other three following suit.
"What do you know about Raptor's capabilities?" Ryukishi asked, her golden eyes narrowing at Vixen. They had just finished crossing the bridge, and were getting closer to the cathedral before Lila had a chance of answering.
"Unfortunately, I've never seen what he's capable of, I just know that during the coup he was the one who killed King and Queen Bourgeois personally." Lila pressed her body against one of the double doors that led into Notre Dame proper. "We can't get in this way." Backing out of the massive archway, she peered up at the statues on nearly every level of the cathedral, her body shivering. "The bell tower is our best bet." All four of the Miraculous wielders made their way up to the left bell tower, while a pair of malevolent amber eyes narrowed at the approaching quartet.
oOo
Vixen landed in the south bell tower, her eyes scanning the shadows while the ears on top of her head turned in anticipation. At the sounds of the other three landing on either side of her, the young woman held her arms out to the sides. "Did you hear something?" Beetle asked, her blue eyes scanning the area.
"No." Vixen answered, "That doesn't mean anything." She glanced at Black Cat and Ryukishi on her left. "My every sense is telling me we're in danger, but I just... I can't see..."
Her voice was cut off as a figure flew in from behind the quartet, slamming into her back. The momentum sent the pair into one of the larger bells in the tower, before they were propelled down faster than what gravity could do. "LILA!" Beetle screamed seconds before the bell rang out, causing the trio or teens to cover their ears. "We have to get down there!" she yelled, trying to be heard over the cacophonous noise, but when neither of her companions moved, Marinette rushed forward and leaped down the rope hole.
Black Cat, having seen his partner leap down the hole grabbed Ryukishi's arm so that she would look at him. He then motioned to the hole, and followed his lady love down. Catching onto his meaning she followed, the pair leaping from one side to the other. When they were nearly at the bottom, their ears stopped ringing, and they could hear again, although with much needed concentration.
Lila clutched at her head as she was sent down the bell tower, clutched in the arms of Raptor. After hitting her head on the bell, her senses were assaulted by the ringing above her. Twisting around, she pulled daggers out from her hair, and stabbed them at her captor's back, only to be thrown down before she had the chance to make contact. The black and white checkerboard tiles cracked in a spider-web design as she impacted, while her abductor landed with a dancer's grace on one of the wooden railings for the stairs going up. "Foolish, stupid girl. You disappoint me."
Rolling over, she felt her every vertebrae pop as she took in Raptor's appearance. Golden cloth covered his biceps, while he wore scale armor that looked like brown and tan feathers. A pair of wings lay folded against his back, and a full helmet that looked like an owl's head, leaving his neck and most of his face remained visible. "Y-You wanted the black cat and ladybug Miraculous..." she gripped the side of her head as she spoke, "and we lost the dragon, so... I brought them to you..."
"Do not think me so weak minded that I believe even half of your lies, child!" Raptor remarked before he looked up to see Ladybird Beetle, Black Cat, and Ryukishi leaping down after them.
The first to reach him was Ladybird Beetle, but as she swung her yo-yo at him, he brought up his weapons, a pair of climbing claw styled blades that looked like owl talons. Deflecting the weapon, Raptor lunged forward, his talon taking her in the abdomen, and sending the young woman crashing through the iron banded mahogany door as it shattered like balsa wood from the impact. Black Cat swung at him with a staff, but he blocked it and spun, kicking him in the side of the head, and planting the younger male into the wall. "Ow..." he muttered.
Ryukishi, however, swung with the practiced skill of a samurai warrior, her blades bringing sparks from the larger male's weapons. He landed on the ground between her and Vixen, but as the latter picked herself up, he sent Lila through the same portal Beetle had been punched through, sending her sprawling against the other young woman. The pair were equally matched in both speed and deadly capabilities, but that only caused him to smile at the young woman as they bound up their weapons. "You know, if I had an opponent even half as skilled as you back when I was training to be a Guardian, perhaps things could've been different."
"You're not half bad... for an old man." Ryukishi commented.
His wide eyes narrowed and a smirk played across his lips. In a move that could only have been performed by someone super-human, he thrust out with his weapons, a foot coming up to impact her abdomen, before his other foot took her under the chin, the wings flared out as he spun, kicking her in the side of the head, sending her spinning on her feet, before he grabbed the back of her armor, and while falling, kicked her out of the bell tower, and into the other two women as they attempted to extract themselves from each other. "Foolish girl..." he started to say, only to feel the end of a staff slam into the back of his head.
"If you're done playing with the lovely ladies, perhaps we can have a bit of fun?"
Looking back at Black Cat, now crouched on a railing, Raptor smirked. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty." He then lunged for the younger man, his talons coming out while the staff was spun and thrust down at him. For several seconds, the pair fought in mid-air, with the older male's wings giving them the needed lift. It didn't last long as the older male spun around, kicking him down to the ground below.
Barely managing to get up to his hands and knees, Black Cat grunted as he heard "LOOK OUT CAT!" from Ladybird Beetle. Without thinking, he instinctively lunged toward the doorway, and managed to get through just as a heavy weight slammed down behind him, destroying the floor, and sending masonry dust into the air. Going into a roll, he slid on his feet, one of his hands splayed out in front of him while sending his staff out behind him, facing their opponent.
Ladybird Beetle stood behind him, swinging her yo-yo in a blur behind him, while Ryukishi was behind his left shoulder, her two swords out and ready, while Vixen was behind his right shoulder, her hands filled with her twin daggers, ready to start when the dust cleared. "Any suggestions?" Lila asked from behind him.
"Be careful. We don't know what all he's capable of yet." Beetle answered.
It was then that Black Cat added, "He can remove your transformation with a single strike, so if he goes for a palm strike, try to defend as best you can..." he then glanced back to see the stricken look on Beetle's face, "because if he does, your Kwami will be unconscious, and you won't be able to help continue the fight."
"Oh, it's worse than that, little kitty." Raptor's voice filtered through the dust before he emerged. "See, I've progressed past simply knocking out just the Kwami. I'm also good enough to knock out the wielders as well." Holding up a talon gauntlet-clad hand, he smirked as his eyes narrowed "Once you're unconscious, I'll know who you all are, and have all of your Miraculous." He then noted the trio of women. "Far be it from me to refuse such lovely ladies my... company... afterward."
"Not if we have anything to say about it, Raptor." Ladybird Beetle snarled. "Everyone, go!"
Lunging forward, Black Cat swung his staff at their opponent, but the gauntlets and shins came up, blocking and deflecting each strike. When he jumped back, Cat was replaced by Ryukishi, her swords moving in concert, but being deflected and blocked each time, before she leaped back, and was replaced by Beetle. Unfortunately, when she wrapped her yo-yo cord around his wrist, she watched his hand grab the line, twisting it around his arm and leg, yanking her off her feet, and kicking her back so that the young woman slammed into her black clad partner.
Vixen came in next, her daggers being turned away repeatedly, before Raptor's foot came up, kicking her in the abdomen, and sending her flying into a column. Ryukishi leaped in, not letting him get any closer to her, but after only a few strikes, she watched as he caught each of her blades in his claws. Twisting his lower body, he kicked her straight in the upper abdomen, sending her skidding back five meters. "Pathetic." he taunted. "I'm barely trying here."
Disentangling herself from Black Cat, Ladybird Beetle rushed forward from behind him. "I'll show you who's pathetic!" Everyone watched their opponent lunge backward, with his arm going out, clothes-lining the young woman. When she landed on her back, she skidded to a stop only a few paces away from Vixen.
"Yes, you certainly did." Raptor then spun on the balls of his left foot, sending the right into the face of Black Cat as he stayed their crouching. That one impact sent him against the wall hard enough to pop all his vertebrae, and cause him to go dizzy. Placing a hand on his hips, he sighed with a shake of his head. "Untested, and untrained children. This fight really is going to be one-sided."
Picking themselves up, the quartet glared at their opponent. "Even outnumbered," Vixen barely managed to get out, "we're outmatched."
"We need your illusion ability, Vixen." Beetle breathed.
Nodding at the order, Vixen whispered "What should I make?"
"Multiples of all of us so that he doesn't know which ones are real." A smirk lifted one side of Ladybird Beetle's lips. "On this next strike, go!"
Replacing her weapons with the flute, Vixen played the Melody of Confusion, her eyes closing as she focused on making as many clones of her companions and herself attacking Raptor. "Illusion!" she called out, sending the light up into the air, only for the flash to dissipate with two dozen other fighters, each person getting six clones each. She watched as they all attacked with a smile on her face.
The smile promptly disappeared as Raptor closed his eyes, his body only reacting when Beetle, Cat, or Ryukishi physically attacked him. "How is he doing that?!" Black Cat growled as he saw two of his illusory clones splashed harmlessly against his wings, but his claws came around, deflecting sword strikes from Kagami. A spin-kick later, and she slid on her side down the corridor between the columns toward the center of the cathedral.
"How, foolish boy?" Raptor sneered. "It's really quite simple." He then turned to Vixen, still not having moved the entire time. "When it comes to illusion, your eyes can deceive you." He smiled. "But if you're well versed in Chi or Ki manipulation, as every Guardian is taught, then you can focus on the energy that every warm body holds and disperses with their movements." Opening his eyes, his smile turned into a smirk. "For me, you're all as bright as the sun on a cloudless day."
Vixen suddenly replaced her flute to retrieve the daggers from her hips. Rushing forward, she leaped and brought her weapons down toward him, only for Raptor to reach up with a strong arm and catch her about the neck and jawline. "I HATE YOU!" she shrieked moments before he grabbed her. The trio watched as he held the struggling young woman.
"Liberation." Raptor whispered. "I liberate you from your..." suddenly a staff slammed against his head, moments before a foot struck him straight in the face, and a pair of swords cut across his forearm. He dropped the young woman, only to elbow Black Cat in the face, and sock Ladybird Beetle in the jaw. Both went down, but as he tried to kick at Ryukishi, she crouched down and swept her leg behind his shin. Vixen dropped onto her rump, her hands to the side of her body as she coughed.
From that point, it was a fight between Ryukishi and Raptor, the pair kicking and slashing at each other. Sparks splashed away from their weapons as they made contact, while feet were blocked by arms and legs in alternating movements. Neither spoke, there were no taunts, no witty repertoire, just two warriors intent on killing the other. Ladybird Beetle pulled Vixen away from the fray "Was that the power?" she asked softly.
Vixen nodded. "It... was..." she coughed watching as the pair wove their ways through the cathedral. Black Cat separated his staff into a pair of fighting sticks, ready to get involved the moment Ryukishi faltered, but all three of their eyes widened in shock and horror as flames seemed to appear on both with the Dragon Knight glowing red, while Raptor's flowed out white and blue. After only a few seconds, they had to turn away as the flames flared out, wreathing both.
"I-Is that what... we can do?" Vixen asked, mouth agape.
Black Cat nodded "Ryukishi is so much farther than we are..." he breathed, and yet he could tell the massive disparity between the two warriors as they continued to fight.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Raptor suddenly shouted, his arm flashing out with his fingers and thumb curled back, so that his palm struck Kagami in the chest. The move was too fast for the young woman, and as he struck, a golden light flashed between them. She suddenly flew back, her transformation dissipating as the young woman landed on her back and slid, completely unconscious from the move. Beside her, an equally unconscious red and black dragon Kwami.
"NO!" Beetle and Cat screamed. The latter rushed forward with his weapons to engage Raptor, his weapons barely touching the man as they were turned away from the fighting claws. He was most definitely not Kagami's equal in hand-to-hand combat, but he still managed to hold his own, letting instinct drive his actions. When he saw Raptor about to perform the same move, he mirrored it while calling out "CATACLYSM!" at which point, their palms struck each other's chests at the same time.
Gold and black flashed, sending Raptor back nearly three meters, his chest smoking, and one of his arms going around his front. Coughing out, he watched as Black Cat flew back, transforming back into Adrien Agreste, with Plagg sliding to a stop right next to the sleeping noble. "Adrien! NO!" Beetle called out, only for Vixen to grab her arm.
"Marinette," she breathed, "I'm sorry for everything I've done..." tears fell down her cheeks as she looked at the baker girl, "but I know how to defeat him. I'll face off against Raptor, and give you an opportunity. When I do... you must take it and end this." The look in her eyes was one of fear, but also acceptance. "Promise me that he will not live past this night."
"Lila..." she started to argue.
Gripping her arms harder, she whisper shouted "Promise! Me!"
Nodding slowly, she agreed. "I promise."
Standing up, Lila took a step toward Raptor. "Thank you." she breathed out as she continued on walking toward the older man. While she did, Marinette went to Adrien and Plagg. Picking up the latter, she pulled the former over to where she had secreted Kagami while her beloved had fought with their worst opponent. Setting the Kwami down next to Longg, she turned to watch her final ally run away.