Hi! Sorry about the wait - but the next to chapters are intense so writing them is taking forever. And only partly because I'm distracted with a gazillion other things.
It might be a while until the next chapter gets up, but it will be up eventually!
Chapter 49: Princess Fragrance, Part 2
As the assistant drove, Chat Noir watched the reports on Princess Fragrance on his baton.
Being a superhero had its perks - while the mayor, Chloe, and Prince Ali were stuffed together in the backstreet, Chat Noir had been able to claim shotgun. Neither father nor daughter (nor prince) looked thrilled at being squished together.
" - think she's heading for the Eiffel Tower," a reporter reported.
"That's good," Chat Noir commented. "We'll get you all to safety. There's a subway station just around here. You'll be safe there."
The assistant frowned. "Surely there's a health risk in being in an underground subway?"
"Don't worry about it," Chat Noir replied. "The city has been improving-" well, saying they were going to improve "the subways since so many people take refuge there."
"I assure you Paris's subway is quite impressive," the mayor added.
The assistant sighed and relented, and Chat Noir gave her the directions. They pulled up right next to the stairs, and the five of them got out of the car.
"What is that?" Prince Ali asked, pointing towards the Eiffel Tower.
Chat Noir looked over his shoulder, noticing a large pink cloud expanding in the sky.
"Perfume," Chat Noir said. "Let's get you underground."
Marinette sat down on a bench in front of the store she had just been.
She opened the bag of balloons, leaving one out with the lighter and clothespin she had just bought.
"Alright, I think I have everything," Marinette said.
"What are you planning?" Tikki asked.
"Just using what worked last time," Marinette admitted. "We need to get going. Chat Noir's been left alone for long enough."
She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching.
"Ready?" Marinette asked.
Tikki nodded.
"Tikki, spots on!"
"Prince Ali is safe," Chat Noir reported when Ladybug landed.
"Good job, kitty," Ladybug replied. She flicked his bell playfully. "I'm glad I have a partner I can count on."
"You can always count on me," Chat Noir answered. "You have a plan for Princess Fragrance?"
Ladybug nodded and grabbed the lighter and balloon from her yo-yo. "The lighter will take care of the perfume cloud, and the balloon should cover the perfume bottle."
Ladybug clicked open the lighter, and Chat Noir used his baton to hit it like a baseball.
The cloud erupted with a bang.
Princess Fragrance screeched. "No!"
She landed on the ground, surrounded by the Parisians already affected by her perfume. "Who dares interfere with the search for my love?"
Chat Noir and Ladybug landed in front of her.
"We do," Ladybug said. "It's game over!"
With her enhanced aim, Ladybug threw the balloon and it landed over the top of Princess Fragrance's perfume bottle.
"Get them!" Princess Fragrance yelled.
"At your service Princess Fragrance," the Parisians chorused.
Ladybug threw her yo-yo, wrapping it around Princess Fragrance's wrists. Chat Noir held back the civilians, but it was difficult without injuring anyone. Someone managed to duck under his block and tackle Ladybug.
Ladybug yelped and stumbled. She easily dislodged the civilian, but the distraction was enough for Princess Fragrance to rescue her wrist and perfume bottle.
Ladybug used her yo-yo to block two more dive-bombing Parisians.
"She's escaping!" Chat Noir called.
Ladybug looked up to where Princess Fragrance was heading back up the Eiffel Tower via the elevator.
"Let's go join her." Ladybug swung her yo-yo and wrapped it on a pole on the top, and a second later she had take off.
Her ankle screamed in pain, and Ladybug looked back to see what caused it.
A civilian had managed to grab onto her bad ankle, and was coming up with her. It was too late to shake him off without him being injured in the fall, so Ladybug grabbed his shirt with her free hand and lugged him onto the platform.
She landed next to him, and Chat Noir landed next to her.
The civilian stood up just as the elevator dinged.
"At your service, Princess Fragrance," the civilian sung.
"It's over," Ladybug said. "You're surrounded."
"Looks like the odds are even from where I'm standing," Princess Fragrance replied. "Get them!"
"At your service-"
Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around his ankle and tossed him over the side. Her yo-yo slowed the decent enough that he wouldn't be injured, but he was stuck on the ground again.
"You know you can't fight us both," Ladybug said.
"We're unstoppable," Chat Noir added.
"So is true love!" Princess Fragrance said. "No one will stop me from finding my prince!"
Ladybug sighed. "Let's finish this."
The two superheroes moved as a team. Ladybug swung her yo-yo, wrapping it around Princess Fragrance's torso and trapping her arms. Chat Noir extended his baton, and the end rammed hard into the perfume bottle.
It shattered easily.
"Simon Says next?" Ladybug asked.
Chat Noir took a shaky breathe. "Yeah I guess."
He was pretty sure a civilian had almost died - nearly been thrown off the Eiffel, if Ladybug hadn't reacted like she had - and it made him worry, since-
Ladybug sighed and put her hand on his arm. "I know this one hits closer to home for you."
Chat Noir frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I know the man he targets is your father."
More will come! And this time - with plot! And Hawkmoth! And Nino!