Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir

Stranger in Town

The Madness of Love's Flame

What has gone before:

Kyrie paused a moment, as though lost in thought. "I tried and tried to get him to tell me what it was, what had frightened him so. I mean, he's an invulnerable warrior of a galaxy-spanning empire! But he never would. He still won't." Another pause. Then, "He's never said, never even implied it, but I get the distinct impression that it would be dangerous for me to know." Another pause, and she looked up, up towards the ceiling…and the stars beyond. The normal stars… "Dangerous in the sense that if I did know, whatever that had, had sterilized that universe…

"...might follow us here."

The room grew very quiet as everyone pondered the significance of what she'd just said.

….

The Madness of Love's Flame Chapter 31: The Girl Who Got Lucky

….

Chloe cleared her throat, an attention-getting sound. "Kyrie? Do you trust Z?"

"With my life. I already have, many times."

"Then…then there you go." The rest of them looked at her. What did that mean, anyway? She looked around. "I mean, sometimes, you just gotta trust those you love. And it's pretty obvious you gotta major jones on for him. I think it works both ways…he wouldn't keep this from you unless he had good reason. Like, the best reason, I mean. The best reason there could possibly be." While she was talking, her hand had slipped, unconsciously, into Sabrina's, who looked at her with shock and surprise…and adoration.

"Oh, come on," blushed Kyrie, "He doesn't see me that way, I'm sure of it."

"Girl, you are literally the center of his universe. He's moving heaven and Earth to get you home. Everyone here can see that. Don't blind yourself to it. Don't wait for tomorrow, to tell him how you feel." Had anyone been paying attention, they might have seen her fingers tighten around Sabrina's. "'Cos sometimes…sometimes tomorrow never comes."

Ladybug stared. Was this the selfish, superspoiled urban princess she'd come to know and loathe?

"But enough of that," said Chloe, withdrawing her hand from Sabrina's. "Tell us the important stuff." Rubbing her hands together in gleeful anticipation. "Like, how is he in bed?"

Everyone groaned while Ladybug and Rena Rouge both rolled their eyes. Well, at least things were back to normal. Sort of.

….

Flying over the city, Morax and Luan directed Z's attention to the worst parts of the destruction, the fire. "And you say your senses can determine that this is an…encroachment upon this universe by another? Fascinating. Even our own metrics have never been able to ascertain that."

Z nodded. Morax wondered if that was a gesture he'd picked up through association with his human friend. Not all human cultures had that gesture, meaning the same thing. "I am definitely detecting such an encroachment, an intersection. Tell me, is there a focal point for this?"

"There is. However, the Madness Flame tends to inhibit our ability to locate her."

Z turned to him. "It is a living being? A woman, a female?"

"Indeed. She somehow managed to find herself in such a situation as to become a, well, a 'carrier,' I suppose is the best term, for this Flame universe's nature. Which, as you've seen, is inimical to our sort of life."

They stopped and hovered, there at the edge of the Flame. Z thought. "I could perhaps disconnect, separate the two universes. But it might produce more harm than good. It might conceivably result in the destruction of this planet."

Morax quickly checked with Adriel; the ARCs were just then entering the solar system. ("But I do not know if they will be enough," Adriel replied, "They will intercept Earth's orbit within the next three hours.") That was going to be pushing it, he reasoned. The Flame was growing worse, and expanding geometrically. "Then we'll save that for a last resort. Can you do anything on a smaller nature?"

Z shook his head. "Nothing of a lasting, or complete, nature. This effect, this flame bears a resemblance to standard flame, in that it can re-light itself from other areas still on fire. But perhaps I can limit it, control its spread. Would that be acceptable?"

"It is better than what we've got. Now, in the meantime…can your senses detect the one so infected?"

….

Damien's apartment: Ladybug's elbow had just left Chloe's ribcage ("I can't take you anywhere!" she whispered, to the latter), when a blushing Kyrie, in a clear attempt to alter the conversation, and after a last glance out the window, walked over to the closet. "Say, what's in here?" All assembled followed her to the walk-in closet.

"Clothes, I imagine," said Ladybug, shrugging. Why was Kyrie asking about that? It was just a closet.

But she seemed hypnotized by the…door? "There's something in here," she said, in a low tone of voice, like someone talking in their sleep. She reached out and opened the door.

Behind the clothes hanging on the hanger, all assembled could see a large, green crystal, about the size and shape of an old-style coffin, leaning up against the wall. It apparently was not well balanced, because almost as soon as she opened the door, it tipped forward and fell to the floor, practically at their feet. "What th'?"

Now in the light of the room, all could see something inside the crystal…

"Uh," began Kyrie, "do people normally sleep inside crystals in these parts?" They were looking at the back of a sleeping(?) form…one they were familiar with…

"Damien!"

"I've heard you mention that name," said Kyrie, "Is that him? Is this, like, normal, for him?" Inside the crystal, Damien was motionless, face down on the carpet.

"What's he doing inside that?" asked Sabrina.

"Okay, I guess that means, 'no,'" responded Kyrie. "Here, we gotta get him out. He'll suffocate in there." She drew a small sheath knife, reversed it, and began tapping on the crystal with the blunt metal end, starting down from Damien's head. "There's gotta be a, a fault line or something…"

Ladybug started to tell her that the crystal was probably (well, make that "certainly") the result of shadonai magic, and was therefore likely immune to anything up to and including atomic weapons, when one of Kyrie's taps made a "cracking" sound. "I knew it!" exclaimed the blond girl, and gave the area a sharp rap.

Striations formed in the crystal, rapidly spreading downward, destroying the crystal's integrity. Damien pushed up from the falling shards, holding his head. "Ohhh, Dee…you didn't have to do that." Then his gaze sharpened. "Well, on second thought, maybe you did." His extranormal senses came to the fore, and he could sense the Fire, raging out of control. "Oh, this is bad. I…I gotta do something." He turned about and happened to see Kyrie, just then putting up her sheath knife. "Did…did you do that?"

"If you mean busting you outta that crystal, yeah, that was me. Hope I didn't screw anything up."

Damien smiled a bittersweet smile. "Well, I don't think you did, but that might not be a universally-held opinion.

"And there are those who say I know how to keep a secret." But now he straightened up, obviously casting about with his senses. "I…cannot sense Akane directly, but…I can sense an area of, well, least visibility, shall we say. It's coming from…" His eyes widened. "Chloe. Go get your father. Now. Bring him here."

Chloe paled. "You mean-*"

"Hurry!" But Chloe only heard the first syllable before she was out the window.

…..

Ladybug swiveled her attention to Kyrie. "Is that a magic knife?"

"No," replied the blond, somewhat reluctantly, it seemed. "You might say I…got lucky." There was a peculiar inflection to her voice. "I…seem to get lucky…when I need to."

Ladybug raised an eyebrow. "Soo…any chance this, er, luck, might help us out here?"

"It might." She had resheathed the belt knife, and was smoothing down her clothes. "Where is this place where Chloe's father is?"

"Several blocks over. C'mon; I'll carry you-*"

"No. I have to make my own way there."

"What? Why?"

"Because," said Kyrie solemnly, "if Z saw you or anybody carrying me into danger…

"...he'd kill you."

Something worse than the Flame, maybe?-reflected Ladybug, as she gave directions.

….

Several blocks over: "Here," said Morax, "This should make an acceptable test site." They were at the very foot of a large plume of Flame. "You should know, this Flame is, as far as we can determine, completely impervious to anything we have."

"And impervious to anything I have," responded the being known as Z, calmly. He automatically adjusted his internal response/attack systems, what Kyrie had called his "Nemesis" factor, while simultaneously locking his own reality. "Or at least, anything I had, then." He moved forward, towards the Flame.

There; he could perceive the conjunction of the two universes, the one he was currently immersed in, and the one Morax had called "The Madness of the Flame." Yes, that was a very hungry universe.

He extended his hands, and readied the fomet that encircled his head. What he was about to do was very dangerous, but millions of years of careful genetic manipulation had equipped him with the necessary senses and tools… He aimed his new weapon at the base of the Flame…

-discontinuity-

The explosion was not just earth-shaking, but universe-shaking, as well. Morax and Luan, forewarned, had withdrawn to a safer distance. When their senses cleared, they saw Z, standing unharmed…

…in the middle of the area previously consumed by the Flame. "Previously," because…for a short distance around, the Flame was no more. "It will re-light, of course," he said, as though this were something he did every day, "but now, perhaps we have a means of dealing with this individual of whom you spoke. Hopefully, a less than lethal one." Now he turned his energies towards locating the epicenter of the universal intersection.

…

Kyrie had found an official-looking motorcycle, and was busy navigating the few streets of Paris that were unburning. There'd been no sign of the officer who'd owned the bike, and she didn't like to think what might've happened to him. From what the others had said, this Flame went for intelligent beings first, objects, second. Well, she couldn't help that.

Lucky for her she'd found it. Yeah. Lucky. That's just me aalllll over. Once again, there came the guilt.

She reached up and toggled the earpiece Ladybug had given her. "Bug, you there?"

"Present and accounted for. Rena Rouge, Phantasm, and I are on the way."

"What about Cat?"

"He, uh, had an errand to run. He'll be there."

Earlier: Ladybug turned to Cat Noir. Phantasm had already left, following Chloe's trail. Sabrina knew where she was going…and it scared her almost as much as it did Chloe. "Adrien," she said, putting a hand to his chest, just as he was unlimbering his stick, "Go see about Kagami. I know you're worried, no, no, no! Don't try to deny it! Now that's an order. You won't be at your best until you know she's okay." Then, to her own vast surprise, she reached up and kissed his cheek. Smiled in an impish way. "I'm not sure if I could court-martial you for disobeying a direct order, but why take the chance? Just get her back here and then join us at Hotel Bourgeois." She sighed. "I doubt things'll be resolved before then."

Besides, she thought as he left, if things go pear-shaped…

…You won't be there.

….

The Tsurugi's: the townhouse had only been partially rebuilt, but Cat Noir knew no amount of rebuilding was going make it safe. He smashed in the front door (nope, not safe at all). "Kagami! Where are you?"

"Young man!" Tomoe Tsurugi was emerging from the below-ground areas. "Do you always make such a destructive entrance?"

"Every chance I get. Ms. Tsurugi, where's your daughter? Where's Kagami?"

"I'm right here!" said Kagami's voice, just then coming up from below. She sounded a bit excited…more so than the fabled "Ice Queen" normally did. Then she caught sight of him, and visibly deflated. "Oh. It's you." Her disappointment was evident in her voice. "Where's your partner?"

Well, I guess I can't blame her, thought Adrien Agreste / Cat Noir. In neither incarnation had he really fulfilled her expectations: she'd essentially dumped Adrien for lying to her, and he'd occasionally overheard her to say she didn't think Cat Noir took to the heroing business seriously enough. Still, when she'd heard what she thought was Adrien's voice…

…she hadn't sounded disappointed at all.

Ah, it was probably just his imagination.

"I'm here to get you to a place of safety. I can tell you right now, this townhouse isn't it."

"Well, of course not," grumped Ms. Tsurugi, "It isn't finished yet."

"That's magickal fire out there, ma'am. No amount of insulation or armor would stop it. I know, from personal experience." He paused, then beckoned over his shoulder. "Don't worry; I brought some help for carrying anything you can't leave behind."

Kagami gasped as several of the devils Exalted Darian had placed under his command surged in around him. Tomoe drew her katana, a determined expression on her face. "Oh, please," groaned Cat Noir. "Look: bottom line, if you want to live, come with us. Now, where was this other one I'm told about, Yuijin, I believe? And any servants or house staff. Bring 'em."

….

One short, teleport-pentagram later. Tomoe Tsurugi, who had her VR glasses on, looked around Damien's apartment. "So. We're back here again. Perhaps we should start chipping in for rent."

"I'm sure he'd appreciate that. Make yourselves at home," said Cat Noir, turning to the window. Down below, Yuijin was making himself comfortable in the back quarters. Technically, the creature wasn't inside the protective spells around Damien's apartment (he thought), but it was the best he could do. What mattered was Kagami was safe. "Look, I have to go. Just chill until we get back, okay?" He moved to the door, while Ms. Tsurugi went into the kitchen area. He heard her open the fridge. "Sandwich makings? Lunchmeat?" he heard her mutter, in a shocked tone of voice. "Barbarians. Troglodytes! We'll starve!"

He opened the door, only to have Kagami grab his arm. "You can't leave us here with those…things!" She gestured at the dozen or so devils, who had deposited what few house staff had been at the townhouse and were then busy arranging the few treasures Tomoe had been unwilling to leave. Kagami had to admit, however, these beings, whose kind she'd only experienced once, down in Hell, were acting remarkably civilized. The ones she'd encountered down there had been absolutely savage, slaughtering a whole pride of creatures like Yuijin, and appeared quite prepared to do the same to her and Yuijin, had Lord Morax not intervened.

"They're under my command, and they're here to protect you, and serve you. And believe me, they'll do it, too. I've seen." He turned to her. "Look, be safe until I return, okay? I'll explain everything then." He looked her straight in the eyes. "No more lies. I promise."

He immediately knew he'd said the wrong thing when her eyes widened. She drew back, and put her hand up to her mouth. "A-Adrien?"

Without saying another word, he turned and left.

To say that Kagami had mixed emotions would have been a vast understatement.

…..

Kyrie and her found motorbike were closing in on Hotel Bourgeois, where Ladybug had said Damien had sensed Akane. She had no idea what she was going to do once she got there; wing it, she guessed. Like always. No doubt she'd get a stern glance from Z when all this was over (and always providing either of them were still alive to give and receive stern glances), but she couldn't just sit idly by while the world went to hell.

She came upon a group of Parisians milling about one of the transit stations, where the evac buses had been. Had been, because they were all gone…and there were still some people left behind. Exasperated, she blew a strand of hair out of her face. Figures. Murphy's Law strikes again.

But I am the living embodiment of the exact opposite of Murphy's Law. "People!" she shouted. Nobody heard; no-one looked her way. She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled: "Phe-yor-WEEET!" Now she got some glances. She waved. "This way!" She'd spied an underground transport system just a block over; there'd been some people milling about at the entranceway to it. "Follow me!" She turned…

"We're not leaving!" she heard a man's voice say. "Not without our daughter!" Looking around, she saw a group of people towards the rear of the crowd: a large aproned man who had "cook" written all over him, a smaller Asian woman by his side (and who looked equally determined to remain), flanked by a short, florid man and a tall, athletic looking older woman. In spite of the danger, she was certain that the only way of getting them to the evac point was to hogtie them and drag them behind her bike. And here she was, fresh out of rope.

Then the Flame shifted, and she got a better look at them. Ah hah…she remembered them. Ladybug had showed her pictures of her family, back at Damien's apartment, in case she found them, or they found her. She stood up in the bike's seat and shouted across the roar of the Flame. "It's all right, sir! I met your daughter-Marinette, isn't it?-and I just saw her getting on this very transport I was telling you about! She'll be in the forward section; you'll have to hurry!"

"She was…getting on the train?" And Kyrie heard what wasn't being said: without us?

"She was helping some people, don't know who, get some pre-schoolers on! The kids' transport, I dunno, must'a got full, or somethin'! But you have to hurry! The train won't wait! So c'mon!" And she turned the bike around and scooted off for the station.

She knew the train would still be there.

By now, she knew how to work her peculiar power. Just get on the train, more or less in back of and along with everybody else…give enough time for the people behind her (if there was anyone) to get on (mostly)...and then, just as the train started to move, scoot off of it through some other exit. It wasn't perfect but so far it worked.

But she did hope she hadn't missed anyone.

Okay. Back to business. Hotel Bourgeois…down this way. Lucky she could read the street signs.

Yeah. Lucky.

"Kyrie?" Ladybug's voice sounded over her bugpiece, in her ear. "You okay? I noticed you stopped there."

"Yeah, no prob," she shouted, over the crackle of the Flame. Even though it wasn't all that close, it was still huge. She decided not to tell 'bug about her parents; it would only worry her. "Just had to shepherd some people into an evac train. They're fine." I hope. "This is slow going for me, as a lot of these roads are impassible." A lot of damage had been done, she didn't know how, but various and sundry wreckage blocked the road. I only hope there's nothing to that. I hope Z doesn't need me, and me not be there. She hunkered down behind the plexiglass windscreen.

"Kyrie?"

"Yeah, 'bug?" She knew what was coming.

"I notice you don't seem to like the word, 'luck,' very much. Why is that?"

Well, there it was in plain language. She'd hoped it wouldn't come to this, that they'd just never think to ask her…but it was not to be. "Ladybug, I've overheard you an' some of the others wondering if I had a 'superpower' or not. Well, I do…sorta."

"Does that relate? What is it?"

"I'm-you're gonna laugh-I'm lucky."

Brief pause. Then, "I was asking a serious question. If we knew what it was, perhaps we could figure out a way to use it best."

"I gave you a serious answer. I'm lucky. Like, superhumanly lucky. I know it sounds strange, but it's the truth.

"Look. There I was, stranded, all alone, on a tropical world, no way home, predators all around. And, out of nowhere, along comes Z, who could take out entire armies all by himself without even breaking a sweat. And he decides-I honestly don't know why-to 'adopt' me, and promises to get me home. Why? What was I to him? I mean, we're not even the same species.

"We come here. I'm with the one guy in all Creation who can protect me better than an entire Starfleet-and he'll do anything I say. Coincidence?

"Chloe said I was the center of his universe. How'd that happen? Gee, I dunno. Just lucky, I guess.

"And just now. I knew that train, or one like it, would be there to take on those refugees-because I hadn't gotten on it yet. I made sure I was in the very tail end of that crowd, so no doors could slam shut on anyone, trapping them outside. And they didn't. Yeah, maybe coincidence.

"And maybe not.

"That green crystal we found your guy in. Yeah, I can guess such things can't usually be broken into with just an ordinary camping knife. But I…got lucky. I found a fault line where none should be. For that matter, I was lucky to find where whoever had spun that spell had stashed him in the first place. All that just means he'll be needed.

"I couldn't begin to tell you how many other things, great and small, there've been like that. Z arrives just in time, or, or something else happens. Once or twice, I could see it. But this is a rolling, ongoing thing. It happens all the time. To me."

High overhead, Ladybug mulled that over. "But, but that's a good thing, then! I mean, you just being here…Akane can't destroy the world with you on it!"

"Yeah," said a disconsolate voice in her ear, "At least, not quite so suddenly, I guess. No big boom or anything. But she may cause enough damage, do something, that humanity might not survive. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be of whatever help I can. But there's something else…look at it from my point of view.

"I guess you can tell I've got it bad for Z. And he can't see it. So maybe that means it'd be dangerous to me if he did? So the guy I'm in love with…can never return my love? Does it get more depressing than that?

"And my getting home. So far, in spite of all our efforts, we've not been able to find any way of getting to my Earth, my family.

"What does that say about my Earth, my family?"

….

To be continued…