"Come on, come on. Let's go." Macao said as he was making sure all of the students leave the school.
"Sorry, Levy. I've got something to take care of." Lucy said.
"My brother wants me home, Gray. You know how he is." Natsu said. Both of their friends were disappointed that they weren't available, but there was a good reason behind it. When the last student left the school, Macao closed the door.
"Finally." Macao said. He hurried up the stairs and went straight to his office. When he made it to his office, he turned on a computer program he designed himself. "Time to go to work." He flipped a hidden switch on his bookshelf and it revealed a secret compartment. Inside was a purple suit that was obviously handmade with purple boots and mask. "Here comes Purple Flare!" He actually changed into the costume and was pretending to be a real superhero. "Burt, anything in Paris?" He looked at his computer and showed a map of Paris. It was suppose to detect crime, but nothing was going on. "Nothing, but I better patrol to make sure." He was acting like he was a real superhero. That's why he went up to the roof and shot a grappling hook. He tried swinging over to the other side, but the grappling hook was broken and he was going to fall, but Celestria used her whip and got it around his leg to prevent him hitting the ground.
"Mr. Conbolt..." Celestria complained as he and Salamondra arrived just in time to save him from himself.
"It's Purple Flare! What are you trying to do? Reveal my secret?" Macao said.
"We might as well if it will get you to stop this." Salamondra said as he helped Celestria pulled him up to the roof.
"This is the fourth time this week we had to save you." Celestria said.
"But I always wanted to be a superhero myself." Macao said. "You two do it all the time and you appear to be younger than me."
"That's because we have powers with suits that are practically indestructible." Salamondra said.
"I just want to help." Macao said. "I also want to be the kind of father my son, Romero, can be proud of."
"I'm sure your son is proud of you, but this isn't a good idea." Celestria said. "There are other ways to help without being a superhero. We've got to go, but this better be the last time. This has to stop. You just don't have what it takes to be a hero like us." They left him like that and hoped he would listen, but all he felt now was shame.
...
Celestria and Salamondra
With that little detour, they had to make sure no one else was mimicking his behavior.
"You have to admit that it is a good thing he wants to help." Salamondra said as the two of them sat on a rooftop.
"I get that, but what he's doing is dangerous." Celestria said. "Not to mention, what if someone else needs our help while we're dealing with him. What if someone tries copying his behavior?"
"To be fair, it is mostly our fault. We're just that amazing that people want to be like us." Salamondra said.
"I just hope we got through to him." Celestria said as she was hoping for the best, but it might not be how she thinks.
...
Macao
Later that night, Macao went back in his office as he tried getting stuff in order. He still felt like a failure and a loser. He was just trying to be a hero, someone who can make a difference, and wanted to be a cool father to his son. All that didn't work so well. While he was cleaning his office, he heard his phone go off and saw some messages from his son.
"This was taken earlier today." He was shown a picture of him being saved by Celestria and Salamondra. Someone had to have taken that when he wasn't looking.
"That was you, wasn't it? That's pretty pathetic and childish."
"You are so embarrassing." Macao wanted to seem like a hero and appeal to his son, but it only had the countereffect. Now he feels even worse if his own son thinks he's embarrassing and a failure, and his dream of being called a hero appears to be dead.
...
Black Wizard
"Being another fellow hero is one thing, but I prefer the darker heroes." Black Wizard said as he could sense Macao's misery. "I prefer the kind that will do anything to prove they are the better heroes." He took an etherious and filled it with his power. "Go, my evil etherious. Let's give this man what he lacks!" Celestria and Salamondra said he lacked powers. That's about to change.
...
Macao
Macao closed his Burt program. He really felt like he should give up his stupid dream of being a hero, but Black Wizard is about to change that. Just as he closed the program, the etherious arrived and entered the computer. When that happened, Macao was now connected to Black Wizard.
"Purple Flare, I'm Black Wizard. You want to prove you're a valuable hero to Paris? The only way you can do that is proving you're better than Celestria and Salamondra. If you bring me their miraculous, you will be the only hero of Paris. What do you say?"
"Thank you for giving me the chance, Black Wizard. I'll show that I can be a better hero than them." Macao accepted the deal with him and his office changing. Fixing himself a cup of coffee, and being able to heat it himself, he begun his plan. It's going to be one long night.
...
Lucy
Lucy was working on her own personal projects back home, but she can't stop thinking about what happened with Principal Conbolt.
"Stella, what do you think of all this with Principal Conbolt?" Lucy asked.
"You can't blame him for wanting to help out." Stella said. "Celestria and Salamondra have been a big influence on the city. He just wants to be a hero like you."
"Yeah, but we have powers and our suits cut some of the damage we take." Lucy said.
"True, but there are other heroes without powers out there." Stella said. "There are doctors, firemen, and police officers. I think he just wants to help out and make a difference in the world. He just think he needs to be some sort of superhero to do that."
"I just hope he doesn't do anything foolish." Lucy said and tried to get back to work. That was when things really began.
"Hello, people of Paris! I'm Purple Flare!" Purple Flare appeared on her computer, and every other screen in Paris. Purple Flare's entire body was purple with muscles. His hair was combed back and all he wore were purple tight shorts and boots. "Celestria and Salamondra, I'm challenging you to see which one of us would be better off to protect Paris."
"Principal Cobolt?!" Lucy said with shock as this was what she didn't want to happen.
"Behold what I have planned." Purple Flare said as he showed footage of the Eiffel Tower. It showed a bus being suspended and it was filled with animals. "You see? This bus filled with poor animals is about to drop down on cases of liquid nitrogen, and this poor kitty." He showed a poor little kitten surrounded by cases of liquid nitrogen under the bus.
"Meow"
"You have until the timer runs out to try and save them. If you fail, those helpless animals will be frozen, smashed, and shattered." Purple Flare warned. "Of course, the only way to really save them is to get the detonator, which I hold! I could drop it now if I want, but I'm willing to give you a fighting chance. Come to the stadium. You just better chose your next move carefully." This wasn't looking good at all. Being the hero she is, Lucy can't let this happen.
"Stella, Twinkle!" She had Stella go into her earrings. Paris needs its real heroes now.
...
Natsu
"That is one kooky principal you've got." Igneel said as he and Natsu saw the broadcast as well.
"Come on, Igneel. We've got to move fast." Natsu said.
"Yeah. Meat isn't good when it's frozen or raw." Igneel said.
"Igneel, Fire Up!" Igneel was pulled into the ring and he became Salamondra. A battle to see who would make the better hero is about to begin.
...
Celestria
Celestria moved as fast as she could to the stadium. When she saw it was in sight, she needed to be ready for anything. Salamondra soon arrived and joined her.
"I'm guessing he took what we said harder than we thought." Salamondra said. "Can we do something fast? I'm really the only hot stuff in this town."
"We've got to do what he says and plan our move carefully." Celestria said. "You keep him busy while I sneak up on him and try to get the etherious. Let's keep in touch." She reached for a compartment in her whip and pulled out a communicator for her ear. Salamondra pulled out one himself from his staff. The two of them split up and just hoped they make it in time. As for Purple Flare, he waited at the top of the stadium for them to show.
"I'm here, Mr. Purple!" Salamondra called as he entered the stadium. Upon entering, he did see a freight there as well.
"Where's Celestria? Both of you were suppose to come." Purple Flare said.
"She'll be here, but what's in the massive crate?" Salamondra asked.
"Cooperate and you won't have to worry about that." Purple Flare said. While they were talking, Celestria snuck around and got behind him. She looked around, but saw nothing that really stood out.
"I don't see anything that might be where the etherious is." Celestria said into her earpiece.
"Try and grab the detonator." Salamondra said. While he kept talking to Purple Flare, she spotted the detonator in his hand. She tried moving closer carefully.
"Nice try." Purple Flare said. He jumped in the air and aimed right at Celestria. He fired a barrage of purple fireballs, but she used her whip like a shield and blocked each of his attacks. He came down at her and the two of them tried fighting hand-to-hand.
"Give me!" Celestria demanded as she reached for the detonator, but he grabbed her arm and tossed her into the stadium with her landing near Salamondra.
"Is it too late to consider being a trio now?" Salamondra joked.
"Paris only needs one hero now." Purple Flare claimed as he jumped inside. "That will be me."
"A real hero doesn't put innocents in danger just to prove a point." Celestria said.
"All I'm proving is how incompetent you really are." Purple Flare said as he tossed the detonator on top of the freight. He used his flame like a rope and got it around Salamondra's leg. He pulled hard and threw Salamondra in the opposite direction. Celestria got back in the fight as she tried giving him a good kick, but he blocked her attack and pushed her back. He threw a fist at her, but she caught his arm and threw him to the ground. She tried to keep him pin down so he wouldn't get in the way.
"Salamondra, go for the detonator!" Celestria ordered.
"Got it!" Salamondra said as he tried to go for it.
"I don't think so!" Purple Flare said. He unleashed some of his fire-like power and knocked Celestria off him. Salamondra was able to catch her, but he trapped them as he formed a rope of fire around the two of them and tied them together.
"How can fire be used like this?" Celestria said as she didn't quite get it.
"I wouldn't say it's so bad." Salamondra said. Seeing how close to her face he was, he actually tried to kiss her.
"Really? Now?" Celestria complained as she tried pulling away.
"Looks like it's getting a little hot here. Let me give you two some air." Purple Flare said as he took the fiery rope and tossed them both in the air. Once they were both free from his fire, he took off like an actual purple flare and attacked both of them and got knocked back to the ground. This guy was a lot tougher than he looked. However, Salamondra looked and saw he was right next to the freight. Knowing the detonator was right up there, he took his staff and threw it right Purple Flare. It hit and it distracted him for Salamondra to get the detonator. He jumped on the freight and grabbed the switch, but nothing happened when he pressed the button. The timer was still going.
"What?! Why won't it work?!" Salamondra said as he kept trying, but it wasn't responding.
"I've got you now!" Purple Flare said as he flew straight at Salamondra, but Celestria got her whip around Purple Flare's leg and pulled so he would crash.
"Salamondra! Quit fooling around and turn off the timer!" Celestria said.
"I'm trying! It won't work!" Salamondra said. The clock was ticking and the timer wouldn't shut off.
"Try using your Dragon Fire on it! Maybe that will stop the timer!" Celestria said as she hoped that would work.
"Dragon Fire!" Salamondra called on his power and destroyed the detonator. Celestria hurried over to him and jumped up to stand with him.
"Do you think that worked?" Celestria said.
"I don't know. Maybe get your Miraculous Starlight ready just in case." Salamondra said. With no other choice, Celestria called on her power.
"Open the Celestial Gate!" She used her powers and it ended up being a case with the Gemini symbol on it. She opened the box and inside was paint an props. "An arts and crafts kit? What am I suppose to do with this?"
"There's nothing you can do! Burt, open the hatch!" Purple Flare called. The freight was voice activated. The top opened up and they both fell inside with them ended up trapped inside. Inside was a screen and it showed the situation at the Eiffel Tower. "You failed, you dynamic duo. Burt, drop it!"
"No!" They both shouted. The bus dropped down and it was about to land on the cat. It looked like they failed, but they saw it all just disappeared. What happened at the tower was just one big hologram.
"It was fake?" Salamondra questioned.
"Of course, but the situation you're in isn't." Purple Flare said. "You have nowhere to run now. Surrender your miraculous or else." They both heard something opened up and showed it was filling with a white substance. "You are about to drown in whip cream. Can't breathe in it, too thick to swim or float in, and there is no escape. You have no other option."
"Now would be a good time for your brilliant plans." Salamondra said. Celestria looked around to see what she could do. It didn't look like Purple Flare can see what's happening inside. She looked at the case and saw the paint with a couple pieces shaped like stars and a ring.
"I've got an idea." Celestria said. She told her plan to Salamondra. It seemed risky, but it might be their only chance. It took them a moment, but Purple Flare didn't suspect a thing because he didn't see how they could pull off a win.
"Are you sure?" Salamondra asked.
"There's no other way. Just close your eyes." Celestria said. Salamondra trusted her and just did it. "You win, Purple Flare!" She called out and was actually admitting defeat. Both of them closed their eyes so they wouldn't see each other. "Lights Out."
"Fire Down." Both of them changed back to normal and tried their best not to see each other's true identity. Igneel and Stella were a little surprised to see who the other was, but they kept quiet. With Purple Flare thinking he won, a small hatch opened for the miraculous. It sounded like she dropped the miraculous inside. The hatch closed and opened on the other side with Purple Flare taking the miraculous.
"It is done!" Purple Flare claimed as he actually might have won. "Burt, drain the freight. There's no reason to hold them in." The process went in reverse with the whip cream being drained out, but both heroes tired their best not see anything.
"Excellent, Purple Flare! Now just bring those miraculous to me!" Black Wizard demanded with delight as he believe victory is his.
"Yes, Black Wizard. I shall..." He was about to depart to give the miraculous, but he noticed something strange in his hand. He looked down and saw pain was rubbing off the miraculous and in his hand. "They're fake!"
"Dragon Fire!" He saw the heroes broke out as their little trap turned to ashes.
"How did you do it?!" Purple Flare questioned.
"You're not the only one that can pull a fast one." Celestria said. "I made fake miraculous with my celestial item. Since you couldn't see inside, we could keep our identities hidden. With our eyes closes, we got our powers to recharge."
"I think it's time we snuff out this fire." Salamondra said as they were ready for a fight.
"That's it! I think it's time you two met your maker!" Purple Flare said as he was furious.
"We still don't know where the etherious is." Celestria said.
"Try opening the gate again. Maybe it's a clue." Salamondra said as he pulled out his staff and charged at him.
"Open the Celestial Gate!" Celestria used her powers again and it ended up being a piece of paper with the Scorpio sign on it. "A comic book page?" She looked around the page and saw most of the panels were of a computer. That was when she remembered that he kept talking to someone named Burt. "That's it! The etherious isn't on him! It's in his office! Keep him busy a while longer!"
"I'll try!" Salamondra said. Celestria jumped in the air and hurried to Macao's office.
"You're not going anywhere!" Purple Flare claimed. Salamondra tried attacking with his staff, but Purple Flare exerted some of his power and blew Salamondra away. Not going to let Celestria win, he took to the sky and chased after her.
...
Celestria
Celestria hurried as fast as she could to Macao's office. She went in through the window and saw a bunch of cables all hooked to his computer that was more advance than a regular computer.
"A supercomputer!" Celestria said. She could see that's where the etherious is. Just before she could do anything, Purple Flare came from behind her and grabbed her.
"You've lost, Celestria!" Purple Flare said as he took one of her earrings. With one earring gone, her suit began to fade away. Knowing she had to think fast, she spotted a cup of coffee left near the computer. She took her whip and threw the handle at the mug. It managed to hit and spilled all over the computer. "Burt! No!" With coffee spilling against the computer, it ended up damaged and ruined. Celestria took her earring back and fixed her costume as the etherious flew out. Once that was done, she shoved him off and grabbed her whip.
"No more evildoing for you, little etherious." Celestria activated her whip to finish this. "Time to de-evillize!" She threw her whip and was able to catch the etherious. "Gotcha! Bye-bye, little guy." Another villain ended up loosing the battle. "Miraculous Starlight!" She threw the comic page in the air and unleashed the magic stars that fixed everything. With the etherious gone, Purple Flare turned back to Macao.
"Celestria? What are you doing in my office?" Macao asked.
"Looks like she just pulled off another win, as we superheroes always do." Salamondra said as he was able to catch up and enter through the window.
"Pound it!" Both heroes did as another villain bites the dust.
...
Black Wizard
"I thought I had it this time!" Black Wizard complained. "You heroes might have triumphed again, but not every hero can continue to win. I know will succeed in the end!"
...
Later
"Excuse me, Miss?" Macao said as he saw an elderly lady trying to cross the street. "Do you need help?"
"Thank you. What a nice man." The lady said as she grabbed Macao by the arm and helped her cross the street. After what happened with Purple Flare, the two heroes had another talk with him. They saw what he did and was most pleased.
"Now he's getting it." Salamondra said. "He's calling the fire department for emergencies, helping poor people, and signed up for a couple charity cases. I even heard his son thinks he's a pretty good guy."
"It goes to show you that you don't need powers to be a hero. You become a hero based on your actions." Celestria said. With Macao able to get the lady across the street, he looked up and spotted the two. They gave him a wave as they were most pleased with what he's done. Powers or no powers, a hero can really be anyone. In a way, Macao is living his dream.
