Chapter 11

Near the School

Cat Noir was running and jumping down the street to avoid the flurry of fireballs being shot at him by Flashfire. He had succeeded in leading her away from the busier areas of Paris, although he was starting to run short of breath all on his own. But he kept going, waiting for Ladybug to return with help.

"Hold still kitty! I think it is time for you to get a cleaning!" -Flashfire said in frustration as she shot a stream of water at Cat Noir, hitting him and knocking him off his feet.

He was able to get back up but was feeling the exhaustion hit him.

"I know not all cats like to be wet *cough* but I don't mind a nice bath from time to time." -Cat Noir quipped back.

Flashfire looked irritated at his remark.

"Well then, maybe you need some singed whiskers!" -She exclaimed, pointing her fire nozzle at him, about to fire.

Cat Noir was too tired to get out of the way and braced himself, but just as she fired, she was hit from behind by a kick from Rena Rouge. The fireball came at Cat Noir, but it was suddenly blocked by Carapace with his shield. Suddenly Cat Noir looked down to see his torso get wrapped around Ladybug's yoyo as he was pulled up to the roof of a nearby building.

"Cat Noir are you alright?!" -Ladybug asked as she sat her friend down against the roof.

"I am now bugaboo." -Smiling as he looks into her eyes.

Ladybug looks back at his eyes and starts to form a small blush before she composes herself to the situation.

"Well I'm glad she didn't hurt you too badly. I got help so rest up so you can rejoin us!"

"I can do that." -Cat Noir gave Ladybug a thumbs up as she jumped off the roof to rejoin the battle.

Carapace and Rena Rouge were working together the best they could on Flashfire. Carapace constantly used his shield to defend Rena Rouge who attempted to strike when there was an opening, but so far the battle seemed to be at a stalemate.

Flashfire was about to launch another attack when she was kicked in her mask by Ladybug and knocked back. She got herself back up and looked on at the heroes with frustration, just as Cat Noir jumped down to rejoin them. Now she was facing 4 heroes against her and started to feel uneasy, until a purple moth surrounded her face.

"Flashfire, you disappoint me. I thought you would be more than enough to handle these issues. Maybe you are not worthy of my power." -Hawk Moth spoke, annoyed with her.

"No, I can beat them if I just find an opening. Give me a chance!" -Flashfire replied frantically.

"If you are going to beat them then you need to be more….creative in your ways to separate them." -Hawk Moth suggested.

Flashfire looked over to the four heroes who were prepared for whatever she was about to do.

"Listen here Ladybug! I want all of you to hand over your miraculous. No one innocent needs to get hurt here." -Flashfire advised them.

"Never! We are here to protect the innocent and defeat the evil that would bring them harm!" -Ladybug responded.

"Very well." -Flashfire glared, raising her fire nozzle.

She pointed it at the heroes, but then suddenly had an idea. She quickly turned and shot the fireball at a nearby building. It happened so quickly the heroes had no time to respond, and now a building with people trapped inside of it was on fire!

"Quick Cat Noir, Carapace, rescue the people! Rena Rouge and I will handle Flashfire!" -Ladybug explained.

"Right!" -Carapace and Cat Noir said in unison.

Carapace and Cat Noir immediately ran over to the burning building as Rena Rouge and Ladybug attacked. Flashfire immediately went on the defensive as Rena Rouge fought up close as Ladybug kept swinging around and attacking. Flashfire was not as accurate now and was more desperate in her attacks, which the two heroes were able to dodge with ease.

Cat Noir broke down the door of the burning building. It was a 3-story residential building. With it being afternoon a lot of the residents were away at work, but they could hear screaming from various points in the building. Cat Noir and Carapace split up to cover more ground. They began to break down doors searching for anyone they could, choking on the thick black smoke.

Flashfire was spraying high pressure water at Ladybug and Rena Rouge, who were now trapped behind a car to avoid getting blasted.

"No matter how many times we hit her she doesn't seem to be phased or weakened. And I can't tell where the akuma is hiding either." -Ladybug told Rena Rouge as the car shook.

"Well we need to find it soon. I don't prefer to be either soaked or burnt! Leave it to me Ladybug, I will distract her so you can find what you are looking for. That's what heroes do!" -Rena Rouge put her hand on Ladybug's shoulder to reassure her, then jumped from the back of the car to attack Flashfire as Ladybug watched on, studying.

"Is that the last of them?" -yelled Carapace, holding an old man over his shoulder.

"I only have one room left upstairs, you go ahead and get out of here." -Cat Noir replied as he waved at Carapace to leave.

Breaking into the last room, Cat Noir looked frantically around for anyone. By now his eyes were burning from all the smoke. He called out to see if anyone was there, and he heard a cry from the back corner. He ran over to find a girl, probably around 10, in the corner.

"I tried to get out but the smoke was too thick and I couldn't see!" -she cried out.

"Don't worry I will get you out." -Cat Noir reassured her, picking her up in his arms.

He was about to run out the way he came when he saw the door engulfed in flames. He looked around to see if he could escape another way, but all he saw was the window. He ran over to it and kicked the glass, shattering the window. Without thinking, he jumped with the girl in his arms, landing on the ground. Carapace was a little way away and gave Cat Noir a thumbs up as the girl was set down and ran off to safety.

Suddenly there was a large explosion behind Cat Noir from the building where he just jumped out of. Several large chunks of fiery debris came falling at him, and he was too stunned by the blast to move. Carapace began to run over to Cat Noir to attempt to shield him but was too far away. Cat Noir braced for impact when suddenly he felt himself grabbed and knocked to the ground, just out of the way as the debris crashed on the ground.

"Woah Cat Noir are you okay! That was close. Wait….Mr...I mean-" -Carapace tried to ask, shocked to see who had knocked Adrien out of the way.

It was Mr. Croix.

"I was driving home from teaching, saw a fire, and thought I would try to help. Looks like I got here just in time."

"Thank you!" -Cat Noir got up and thanked him. "But you better get out of here before you get hurt."

"I think I will do that and leave the hero work to you, I will just…" -Mr. Croix tried to explain, as he watched a stray fireball meant for Ladybug hitting and destroying his car.

"Dude, that's rough." -Carapace remarked, looking at Mr. Croix whose eyebrow was twitching in anger and frustration.

"CARAPACE WE NEED YOUR HELP!" -cried out Rena Rouge.

Carapace quickly jumped over to join the fighting. Cat Noir was about to join when he felt Mr. Croix grab his arm.

"Wait a second Cat Noir, take a look at Flashfire and try to notice what changes when she attacks."

Cat Noir stood there and waited, watching as Flashfire switched between blasts of water and fireballs attacking the other heroes. Suddenly, he noticed when she switched between attacks, a spot on her chest would change colors, the badge.

"I get it now! Thanks Mr. Croix" -Cat Noir suddenly had an idea come across his mind and vaulted away to tell Ladybug.

Mr. Croix started to walk off to get away when his cell phone received a message. He looked down at the text from Welkin, the shop owner. The text said just one word: GALLIA. Mr. Croix's face paled when he read the text, and immediately took off running in the direction of the shop, only a few blocks away.