Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir

Stranger in Town: The Madness of Love's Flame

The Fire, Part IV, Chapter 27: A Father's Sacrifice

Earth (Midgard): The fireball struck the ground outside of Paris with the force of a mortar shell. It heralded Akane's second arrival on the planet.

Damien was still in contact with Sauelsuesor when she suddenly winced, putting a hand to her head. "Sauel?" he asked, concerned. Had Akane turned around and found her? "Are-are you alright? What's going on?" Deanna, still naked, crowded around him, too concerned, right then, for it to even register that they were both still in the buff. She knew of Sauelsuesor; normally the Star Woman was strong enough to deal with most ordinary or even many extraordinary violent events herself.

But the Madness of the Flame was easily beyond either of those categories. "Sauelsuesor? Are you alright?" she asked, mirroring Damien's question.

But Sauelsuesor recovered quickly. She even smiled. "You must be Damien's sister, Deanna. He's spoken of you, quite frequently."

"Yeah," she said, with a grimace. "Don't put too much faith in what he says. I know I make his life miserable-*"

"That is not what he tells me. He practically worships you. Hardly a time goes by but that he's bragging on his 'perfect' super-sister."

Deanna looked up at a blushing Damien, startled. "You do?"

"Er…"

"He certainly does. And I'm glad that you're there with him now. If what my senses are telling me is true, the one touched by the Madness has landed on the outskirts of Paris. I expect her location will change, once she gets her bearings.

"Neither he nor I could ask for a better ally and comrade in the upcoming struggle than you." Now Deanna was blushing. Memories of the other night…he hadn't actually given consent…what would he think of her, if he knew?

"Uh, Sauelsuesor?" began Damien, "Can you tell me-that is to say, tell us," Deanna had shot him a hard look, "anything, even in general, about where she might have landed?"

"Given the nature of the Flame, I can only sense her general location. But this is what I have gathered." She raised her hand, and a 3D map, made entirely of light, sprang up from her palm. It showed a map of the Earth, with highlights indicating Paris. Now the map zoomed in, to consist of a map of Paris and the environs. More highlights: there, on the very edge of the city, was a splotch of light, and leading from it, was a line heading, in an irregular path, down towards the city.

Damien turned to Deanna. "Dee, we have to warn Marinette and the others. They might not be able to do anything, but they need to know. And we need-*"

"To contact Lord Morax, yes, Damien, I know. But, uh, let's get dressed first, 'kay?" Suddenly, impulsively, she turned and hugged him, a tight hug. "Bro…don't do anything…stupid, okay? Please? For me?" Memories of the other night…the feel of his bare skin against hers…she would have loved nothing more than to take him to bed, right then, and do what she'd done then, only more so. But with him fully awake this time.

But no. Even if they didn't have a job to do, surely, he'd be disgusted by what she had done to him that night. He'd probably hate her. She couldn't have handled that. From anybody else, maybe. Not from him.

"Come on, little one. You can come home with me. I'll look after you, just as if you were my own sister. And I'll see to it that no one will ever hurt you, ever again."

No, she couldn't endure it if he thought ill of her.

….

Piotr Ivanovitch was making the most of his shore leave, drinking beer with some buddies in their favorite seedy and mostly-legal establishment when the apparition passed by the front window. He, alone of the three, was facing the window, and so was the only one of them to see. His eyes widened to three times their normal size. "Oh. Mygod."

"What?" asked one. The one sitting next to him snickered, elbowing him. "That must be one really good beer."

Piotr found his voice. "I just saw a goddess walk past the window."

"Yep. Really good beer."

"No, seriously, guys. I'm sober as a judge. But I just saw-oh, never mind. Look, I gotta go. I, I'll meet you back at the boat."

The other two rolled their eyes. "Okay. Just don't get-harrumph-overinvolved. We can only make so many excuses for you, ya know."

Piotr raced out of the bar, scanning the street in the direction he'd just seen his goddess go. There! A flash of red…she'd been wearing red…just then turning into an alley… He dashed after her in desperation. He just had to get to know her.

Piotr was basically a decent guy. He simply wanted to meet this extraordinarily lovely young woman, this angel, this goddess, whom he'd just caught a glimpse of. If she said no, well, he'd be heartbroken, but he'd respect that.

But he had to try!

Behind him, his two friends were also exiting the bar, heading the other way, back to the shipyard. They saw him running down the sidewalk, and smirked. Yep. That was Piotr all over. They turned to go…

…and at that exact moment, the blast hit, knocking them flat. "What th' hell?" Had somebody set off a bomb? Then it hit them that the explosion had come from behind them. From the very spot they'd just seen their erstwhile shipmate running. "What?! Piotr!"

But his crewmate grasped his sleeve. "Hold it! Look!" There was fire, strangely coloured fire, but definitely flame, spreading out from the very alleyway they had just seen Piotr run into. "Look!"

"Never mind! We gotta get Piotr!"

"You can't get him! He was right there! And look!" He pointed to the walls of the buildings nearby. The strange fire was spreading, and it was actually burning the very brick and substance of the buildings themselves…structures that should inhibit fire…weren't. "Piotr's gone! And look! That fire is spreading to the buildings! We gotta go!" The other gulped; this was no natural condition. They both turned to run…

"Boys! Wait!" said a woman's voice behind them. Startled, they turned…

An indescribably beautiful young woman, wearing some sort of red uniform-like outfit, was emerging from the very heart of the strange fire. They were momentarily paralyzed by both her beauty…and the fact that she was completely engulfed in the strange flame. Her expression was one of nervous desperation. She was actually wringing her hands. "Your friend didn't know anything. But maybe you do? Maybe you can help me? Oh, I hope so!" And she reached out and grasped them by the front of their jackets, drawing them closer to her with inhuman strength. "You both look like nice men. I'm sure you want to help me!" Too late they saw the disturbing sheen to her eyes, even though she was barely more than a silhouette against the backdrop of the spreading fire…

But, to her dismay, they also knew nothing about her One True Love. "Oh, no." She unclenched her hands, in a gesture of releasing them…but there was nothing in her hands to release. She didn't notice, so consumed was she with her mission, her passion, this fire on the inside of her soul. She looked back at the brightly-lit city. Her countenance lifted a bit, that strange glaze in her eyes, had anyone been around to see it, growing stronger. "W-well, surely, there's bound to be someone here who does." Off she went, zeroing in on the bright lights and denser population.

Behind her, the fire continued to spread.

….

"This is Nadia Chamack, coming to you live from Paris.

"It's 5:38 AM, and Paris is burning.

"No one knows the origin of the fire, though it is thought to be the work of arsonists. However, our brave firefighters-in concert with law enforcement officials-have been working around the clock to try to contain the blaze, which seems to have its beginnings down by the dockyards. So far, their efforts have been met with…limited…success, and an orderly evacuation of the city is underway. This is…unprecedented.

"The international community has responded to our plight, with additional personnel from both Russia and the United States being sent in on an emergency basis. China has also pledged support, as has the United Kingdom.

"As said, the origin of the blaze is unknown, but the usual methods of containment and control…for some reason, have not been working. So, whatever you do, do not, repeat do not attempt to fight the fire yourselves. There are unverified reports that even materials normally considered flameproof…are not. Your only guaranteed safety is in distance from the fire.

"All civilians are directed to move in an orderly fashion to the locations shown on your screens. Evacuation vehicles are waiting to transport you to a place of safety.

"Keep your loved ones close and, yes, pray."

"I think it safe to say," said Morax, drily, "that Akane's overall location is no longer in doubt." He, along with Ladybug, Rena Rouge, and Cat Noir, along with Adriel, Red Wasp and Sabrina (now in her eudaemon form of Phantasm) were standing atop of a tall building, not too far from the epicenter of the blaze. "Now the question is, what to do about it?" He turned as Deanna shadowcloaked into their midst. "Well?"

"He's…agreed to stay on the sidelines, Honored One. He's not happy about it, but he sees how his presence could only make matters worse. Uh, Lord Morax? Have you heard from the Black Throne?"

He was shaking his head. "They're still deliberating, Deanna. Although I am convinced they will suspend or even reverse their exile of him, in light of recent evidence, they have not yet done so." He sighed. "It's a waiting game."

"Who," asked Ladybug, is this 'Black Throne' we keep hearing about?"

"The Black Throne is the ultimate power in Hell, and something of an enigma to us all. They're often referred to using terms of plurality, but no-one knows, for a fact, whether or not they are more than one entity.

"And their power extends beyond Hell, even to here, to some limited degree. But that is a matter of no import right now. What is important is, they exiled Damien long ago. He is not permitted to return to Hell. What we are hoping is to be able to return him to Hell, where the Black Throne's power could protect him from Akane and her Madness Flame. Otherwise, if she catches him, here, well. Deanna has informed you of the consequences of that."

Chloe spoke up. "Lord Morax, what can we do about this…this…catastrophe? I mean, the city is on fire. And there's not that many of us, since Monarch took control of the kwamis."

"At the moment, damage control. I've sent for reinforcements, and Adriel, here, has reported the matter to her higher-ups, as well. I can't see them as ignoring the issue-*"

"Neither can I," Adriel interjected.

"*-but where the Madness of the Flame is concerned, all bets are off."

….

Paris, southside: The Warwolves had set up a temporary base of operations not far from their old one, that one having been compromised. It was a one-story abandoned building, and High Lord and Commander Mastron Pureblood was feeling the lack of a high elevation from which to oversee the city. But hopefully, they wouldn't be here much longer.

One of their number, their technologist, one Silverclaw Moonshadow, had managed to get the humans' communications devices working, and so they had seen Nadia Chamack's emergency message. Mastron Pureblood had seen the reports of the fire…and wondered.

He turned to Thornmoon Ironpaw. "Have you any input on this? Is this related to what you sensed, earlier?"

Ironpaw hesitated. Then, "No, sir." He put his nose to the wind. "Though I sense a strong similarity."

"Can you describe it?"

"Only barely. I sense *altered life-form, self and other destructive.* But there is a component I cannot identify."

"Is it similar to Corporal Bloodfang's *altered human female*?"

"No, sir. There is an *aggression* component. And yet, a weird *love* component, as well."

" A *love* component?"

"Not an ordinary *love* component, but one with a *desperation* aspect to it. A *desperate love* component. Or perhaps even an *aggressive love* component. Whatever I sensed was definitely aggressive, but not in any normal sense."

Pureblood was silent for a moment, during which Ardent Bloodfang joined them. Then, "Well, our first priority is to secure the Princess. Then…we'll see.

"But the Princess is our top priority." He noticed Ironpaw's expression. "Is something the matter?"

Thornmoon Ironpaw stirred, a bit restlessly, Pureblood thought. Then, "I…I know it doesn't relate to our mission here, but…I would hate to leave innocents in the path of whatever it was that I sensed."

Behind him, Bloodfang snorted. "You cannot be serious. The humans are not our friends."

"These humans are not our enemies," said Ironpaw, emphatically. "To leave someone to the tender mercies of this, this living fire would make us no better than their own worst elements." Bloodfang snorted again, and turned away, crossing his arms. "Come now," said Ironpaw. "You know the one who calls himself 'Wolfy.' Surely you wish him no ill."

"It is true he seems like a decent sort. If only he did not wear-*"

"This is another world, Ardent! He has no way of knowing what has transpired on ours. Or of what happened to you."

"It is not," muttered Bloodfang, still with his arms crossed, "my favorite topic of conversation."

….

"Nathalie, it's time." Gabriel Agreste, as Monarch, had summoned Nathalie to his den, below the mansion. At her quizzical look, he pointed with his walking cane at the numerous LED visiscreens he'd installed in the chamber, especially at the ones showing the blazing parts of town. "This is what I was telling you about. This is no natural fire. I want you to be prepared to take Adrien to Damien's apartment at a moment's notice. But first," he turned and, raising his hand, summoned Kaalki. "Kaalki, you will serve me."

"Would that I did not have to," muttered the little kwami. None of the kwamis served Monarch willingly.

"Kaalki," said Monarch, his voice surprisingly gentle, for once, "In this that I require of you, you may find that our goals coincide. A great evil has come to Paris, and you will help me acquire needed information about it."

"A great evil? More so than you?"

For an answer, Monarch directed Kaalki's attention to the monitors overhead. "You see."

Kaalki gasped. "That…that is no mere fire! I have heard of it! It is the Madness of Love's Flame!" She turned back to a grim-featured Monarch. "We must all get away! That fire will destroy everything!"

"You let me worry about that. But I must know more before I can act. Now. Kaalki! Full gallop!"

Now wielding the power of teleportation, Monarch instantly transported himself to a rooftop overlooking the outskirts of the fire. He noted its strange colour, and the fact that it seemed to be burning even the very stones and bricks of the buildings. He shuddered; no place was safe.

But he had to find the being or beings responsible.

"Yaaay!" said a voice from the street level. He looked down to see a woman, dressed in red, standing in the very heart of the flame, clasping her hands together and bouncing up and down with delight. Looking up at him.

Looking up at him.

There was a swirl of black, and suddenly she was right there, almost within touching distance of him. He backed away, an automatic gesture, all the while noting that the heat didn't seem to be as hot as he'd originally estimated. But there was something about it that was more uncomfortable than mere heat. It confirmed his worst suspicions. "Gabriel Agreste!" squealed the young woman (?). "You came to help me, didn't you? Oh, I'm so glad!" And she reached for him…

…only to have him teleport away, having gleaned all the information he safely could. "W-what?" Her disappointment was evident in her voice. "But…Gabriel!" She stopped and a change came over her expression. "So you want to play, do you? Alright."

Back at the Agreste mansion, Monarch returned to his human guise as Gabriel Agreste. "Here, Nathalie. Take these rings…and the kwamis. And I now hold you to your word: get Adrien to Damien. Take Mr. Placide, too, if you can, but let nothing stop you from getting Adrien to Damien."

She accepted the rings, noting that he'd altered the security feature so as to give her access. She, herself, would be uneasy about using them, since her use of the Peacock Miraculous had resulted in her injury. Gabriel had repaired the Peacock Miraculous, but her injuries, sustained before that, remained. All the while wondering just what could be so dangerous that Gabriel Agreste would actually give up his power as Monarch, that he'd spent so much time and effort to become. "You remember, I told you that forces were about to be unleashed, against which even these reinforced walls, would be of no effect?" He closed her hands about the rings. Looked her straight in the eye. For a moment, within the depths of those eyes, she saw the man she'd pledged her loyalty, her fealty, to, oh so long ago. "Now is the time. Go." She noticed he'd kept the Horse Miraculous.

"But what about you, sir?" The boy needs his father. And Nathalie couldn't help but feel as though the boy would soon no longer have one.

"My place is here. And, Nathalie…tell Adrien something for me, will you?"

At her raised eyebrow, he continued. "Two things. One, I love him very much. And, two…" He drew a deep breath. "Tell him…I'm sorry. For, for everything." Then, before she could ask any questions, his face closed up. "Now go."

….

No sooner had she left but what looked like a cloud of ebony smoke appeared in the chamber. I'm sorry, Emily, Adrien, thought Gabriel Agreste. Son, don't think too harshly of me. I did the best I could.

"You wicked, wicked man!" fumed Akane, stepping out of the shadowcloak. "I thought you were a nice man, who, who wanted to help me! I thought-*" But then she trailed off as he strode up to her, ignoring the remnants of the flame around her.

"I do want to help you," he said. He was within touching distance of her now…now he wrapped his arms around her, heedless of the searing pain of the fire…

…and teleported them both to a spot mere inches out from the event horizon of the supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy…

To be continued…