Important Author's Note: When the previous chapter was uploaded, I accidentally uploaded the wrong version which was missing an important plot point. If you read Chapter 12: Everything I Want before this chapter was added, please go back and re-read! It's a minor change, but the events in the next few chapters rely heavily on the change. As always, thanks for reading!

"Tikki, spots on!" Marinette said as soon as the coast was clear. She had been separated from Adrien fairly quickly after they took off. As much as she hated it, she couldn't deny that it wasn't convenient. Otherwise, it might have been difficult for Ladybug to show up and save the day. Her transformation complete, she took off into the park, yo-yo at the ready.

When she got to the scene, Cat Noir landed right next her.

"Good to see you again, milady," he said, smiling at her. "My, you look mew-tiful."

"Not now kitty!" she said, annoyed as usual. She glanced around. The akumatized victim was setting off fireworks in every direction, causing damage to surrounding buildings and statues. Definitely one of the more dangerous villains we've faced, she thought to herself, someone could really get hurt!

"What's the plan, Ladybug?" Cat Noir asked, awaiting instruction. The villain hadn't noticed them yet, so they still had the element of surprise, but she also needed more time to assess the situation.

"You take the front, Cat Noir," she instructed, "I'll come from behind. Keep him busy and I'll try to figure out where the akuma is."

"You word is my command, milady," he bowed to her before charging of towards the fight. "Hey, clown-face! Don't you know Bastille Day was a few months ago?"

She chuckled at his joke before using her yo-yo to pull herself up onto a nearby building, sneaking her way around the square.

"I am Lord de Feu! Now give me your miraculous!" the akumatized victim yelled back towards Cat firing a roman candle in his direction.

"Fat chance of that!" Cat Noir teased as he dogged the attack. Ladybug jumped across the rooftops circling the pair until she was behind Lord de Feu. She glanced around, trying to come up with a plan, but nothing was coming to mind.

She watched as her partner kept taunting Lord de Feu and dodging the attacks that followed. The villain's kept pulling fireworks out of his backpack which never seemed to empty. That's it, she realized, the backpack!

There was another loud explosion as another firework hit a statue, causing it to tumble, nearly landing on Cat.

"Missed me, missed me, don't you want to kiss me!" Cat taunted as he rolled out of the way in the nick of time. Lord De Feu screamed in anger, and Ladybug saw her chance. She flung her yo-yo towards the bag, but the villain sense the attack. He lifted his arm and the yo-yo wrapped around it. He pulled down, causing Ladybug to lose her footing. She fell down to the ground, her yo-yo string slipping from her hands.

"Nice try, Ladybug! But don't you know, one of you always comes from the front and the other behind? Do you think I'm an idiot?" he reached for another firework, a large rocket and fired it towards her. Still dizzy from her fall, she tried to dodge it. It missed, but a large crack told her she wasn't safe. Looking up, she saw a large stone statue about to fall on her, still on her hands and knees she tried to back up, not sure if she was going to make. Suddenly, she was sent flying across the ground, knocking her into a nearby building. Her vision blurred, but she struggled to get to her feet. What just happened? She blinked her eyes until they started to refocus. Lord de Feu was laughing in triumph. When her vision was clear, she saw why. And instantly, she knew what had knocked her out of harm's way.

Just a few feet in front of her was a large pile of rubble and underneath it was a limp, yet familiar black form.

"Cat?" she whispered, more to herself than anything else. He didn't move. Hot tears started sliding down her face. "CAT!"

"Looks like the cat finally ran out of lives! And now it's time to squash a bug as well!"

Ladybug turned to face her enemy, a hundred thoughts and emotions racing through her mind.

Cat Noir, her partner, her friend, the one who had fought faithfully by her side all these years was now laying lifeless under a pile of stone.

"You!" she screamed, channeling all her angry and pain towards him, "You did this! And you will pay!"

Ladybug charged with such fury that Lord de Feu took several steps back in hesitation. She didn't even bother picking up the yo-yo from where the villain had dropped it after detangling his arm from it's string. She came at him with fist and feet swinging in every direction. With every blow that landed, her heart screamed out in fury for what he had done to Cat Noir.

How dare you! Her mind was racing. How dare you harm him! He's everything to me! EVERYTHING! Tears streamed down her face, but she didn't let up. It wasn't until Lord de Feu landed his own blow to her chest that she slowed down. The force of his punch pushed her backwards.

This isn't doing Cat Noir any good. She realized. Still crying, she ran for the yo-yo. Tossing it into the air, she summoned her lucky charm. A water gun fell from the sky and Ladybug instantly knew what to do with it.

"Time to put your fire out!" She screamed in pain and fury as she started dousing her opponent in water. When the gun was empty, she charged again. He tried to light another firework, but everything was too damp. Ladybug ripped the backpack off of him and ripped it in two. The akuma appeared and after a quick fling of her yo-yo, it was captured and purified. She didn't even bother to say goodbye to the butterfly. Her only thoughts were of Cat Noir. She tossed the water gun in the air. Please work. She begged as she cried out for her miraculous ladybugs. Sure enough, the sky was soon full of ladybugs zooming around repairing all the damage Lord de Feu had cause. She raced back to where Cat Noir had been. The statue was repaired, but there was no sign of her friend.

"Cat Noir!" She screamed desperately. Looking everywhere. "Cat Noir! Where are you!" Tears streamed from her face. No, no, no! He can't be! He can't! People started to emerge from hiding. "Has anyone seen Cat Noir?" she screamed, but no one answered. Her earrings beeped. She used her yo-yo and swung to the closest rooftop. Even higher up, she couldn't see him.

"CAT NOIR!" she screamed his name, desperately jumping from rooftop to rooftop, searching every street. Please don't be gone. Please don't leave me! I need you kitty! Please come back to me. Memories of last few years flooded her mind. How many times had Cat saved her? How many blows had he taken on her behalf? Yet, he had always faithfully followed her every command. He let her take the lead. He trusted her.

I failed you. This time, I failed you. Her legs gave way underneath her. She caught herself before she fell off the roof, but she couldn't stand back up. Her body shook with pain. It was too much to bear. Her heart breaking into a thousand pieces, she screamed out in agony.