Chapter Text
“I love you, Rose.”
“Well, I don’t.”
The two continue to stare at each of for a few seconds more, as if the world held its breath.
Then various chains shoot forward from Hellfire’s back.
Juleka jumps back in time to dodge a few of the chains as they close around air, the target they were trying to grasp no longer there.
However, there are more chains surging forth at the same time, aiming towards where Juleka is going, where Juleka would try to escape. That was the problem, wasn’t it, when one decides the best thing to do with an enemy with the equivalent of a thousand hands is to stand next to them. The effect was there, but the strategy was not exactually sound. If this were a one-on-one fight, Juleka would have been overwhelmed easily.
However, Chat Noir and Viperion both jump forward, managing to strike and block enough for the Tiger hero to get safely past them.
The Akuma snarls, and makes moves forward, but freezes at the sound of footsteps behind her.
Rena Rouge takes a swipe at the Akumatized object at the Akuma’s waist. However, chains move to cover the object just before the attack hits, with more chains lashing out to strike her.
Expecting the counterattack, she swipes at few of the chains with her flute. Chat and Viperion also continue to move in, helping to cover her escape.
However, with so many chains, it was expected at least one would get through. As Viperion swings to knock one aside, he sees another out of the corner of his eye, much too late to stop it himself.
Instantly, a flash of purple, and Juleka is standing there, one of the claws that had been secured around her wrist, a three-claw Tekko-Kagi, extended to block the attack.
Both gives each other a quick nod before moving back farther out of the strike range, Juleka keeping her eyes down at her weapon. She moves her hand and the claw that she used retracts. Another wave and the other two come out before retracting again. She holds up her other hand, having the claws come out one by one before instantly retracting.
With a nod, Juleka brings out all six claws before getting into a battle stance, full attention on the chains with everyone else.
Just in time, as Hellfire pushs herself forward with renewed fury, advancing on them.
The top of the Eiffel Tower becomes an echo of metal on metal. The four move as fast as they can, working to hold off the chains, working to stay together to keep themselves from being isolated.
Rena tries to take a step back to gain some breathing room. Instantly, Hellfire is in a new position, the same number of chains as before surrounding her.
Chat Noir takes a step forward to try to do something more. However, even the single step increase of the volume of chains exponentially, forcing him to step back. However, Hellfire uses that one step back to move up herself, increasing the force on all the group.
Juleka feels the stress. With no experience she is moving too slow. It is just inevitable that . . .
Juleka feels something wrap around her waist and panics, but quickly sees at a glance it is Ladybug’s yo-yo. Quickly, she feels herself moved to a different location. She is farther away from the Akuma, with less of the mass of chains to deal with at once.
She would thank the hero, but even a nod of acknowledgement is too much right now.
After all, its not like the Akuma is only moving forward when they move back. She is pushing forward herself, ever increasing the pressure of the sea of chains.
They continue, pushing, retreating, moving, advancing, swinging on and on and on. To an onlooker, it would appear both sides are in a perfect stalemate.
But it is not a stalemate, is it?
Two beeps ring out across the battlefield.
Hellfire, whose face these past seconds, which felt much longer to the heroes, had been full of rage and scorn, breaks out into a wicked grin.
Ladybug gives a long whistle. Three of the four heroes adjust their stances.
“We’re falling back to regroup,” Viperion whispers to Juleka, attempting to keep the Akuma from hearing.
“Ha, great. Thought we were already trying to do that.” Juleka also adjusts her stance, with no idea if it will be of any more help than the first one.
Hellfire cracks her knuckles before advancing on them again, knowing she had all the time the heroes didn’t.
Potentially thousands of whips come down upon the heroes. They continue fighting their hardest, with Ladybug doing all she can to help them be in the best position possible, maybe allowing new avenues of escape.
But the onslaught is endless. The most is a split second of reduced tension before the chains are on them hard as before. They need to get away, but one wrong step, one of them trying to break and run themselves, would guarantee they all fall at this point. So all the four can do is wait for an opportunity to present itself.
With another wizz, Ladybug’s yoyo wrapped itself around Juleka. She prepares for another relocation . . .
Only to find herself being pulled straight back.
She watches as she was pulled away from the group, the writhing of the already oppressive chains increasing as they start moving towards the other three . . .
Only for them to stop as Hellfire locks eyes with Juleka.
“NO!” She shrieks as she charges forward, chains forcing the other heroes to step out of her way. To let her follow after the one girl her focus had been on this entire time.
The sound of metal on metal echoed as the chains dragged Hellfire forward like legs, the sound almost like an inhuman orchestra.
Rapidly, she gains on the free-flying Juleka . . .
Only to be pulled to a halt.
Several of the chains turn back to see the other three heroes each standing on one of the chains.
Without taking her eyes off Juleka’s face, several chains swipe at them, forcing the captured chains free, while others madly pull the body forward, refusing the let Juleka escape her grasp.
Just as the Akuma shoots forward again, Ladybug catches Juleka in her arms, swings her towards the edge . . .
Only to throw her back towards the Akuma.
Both girl’s eyes widen as they fly near each other. The chains, also surprised, hesitate before they move. Some chains that were not used for movement begin to move to catch the girl as she flies past . . .
But tightens, just in time, as Ladybug strikes at where the Akumatized object is hanging, the chains cushioning the blow as the Tiger hero flies past.
However, cushioned as it may have been, it is still a solid hit on a midair foe who was not entirely prepared for it. Hellfire feels the direction she is flying in the air change, feels her chains taking a moment too long to retake purchase.
She sends several chains directly into the ground as anchors, slowing her down enough as she collides with the railing. The air is knocked out of her, but the chains do quickly help her right herself.
She quickly scans the platform. Only two of the heroes remain. Chat Noir quickly sets down Juleka, who he had caught after she flew past, down on the ground, leading to them both running back down the path Hellfire had just flown down.
No sign of the other three heroes.
Hellfire brushes her hand against her side one quick time to ensure that the Akumatized object is still there, then gives chase on the two heroes.
Juleka and Chat Noir run full sprint, but the sound of metal on metal gets closer and closer as they approach the corner.
“Think fast,” Chat whisper to the Tiger hero.
She looks towards him, confused, just before seeing him extend his staff in her direction. She just has barely enough time to put her hand in front of her chest, her claw catching the weapon before sending her flying into the air and around the corner.
At the same time, Chat Noir held onto the other end of the extending pole, which flew with him under the railing opposite of where Juleka was currently going. The pole then retracted, leaving the speeding Akuma to crash into the railing before she could react.
Several of her chains grip the railing tight, keeping her from going over the edge, but she does not right herself fast enough before Chat Noir is gone and Juleka has almost flown over the railing in the other corner.
But she did not need to right herself. Her chains did not need to wait till she could react.
While many of them help Hellfire regain her footing, others shoot after Juleka, or began pulling the Akuma closer to the falling hero.
Of them, only one chain is fast enough, moving just fast enough to where, uninterrupted, it would grab Juleka’s wrist.
But as it closes in, from around the corner, a red and black spotted yo-yo flies, crashing against the chain before recoiling.
As the chains pull her along the path, Hellfire can just barely hear the tightening of the yo-yo on the other side of the Floor.
Ignoring the other hero, she doesn’t stop clawing forward until she gets towards the corner and looks down, seeing Juleka is no longer there.
The chains all stiffen as the Akuma begins to shake, a growl of pure frustration escaping her lips.
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Juleka can feel the vibration of metal on metal as she uses her claws to catch herself, sliding down the tower’s side before coming to a stop. As she did, she saw Ladybug swing down from the side Juleka had last seen her, before instantly swinging towards the Eastern leg of the tower. The bug-hero motions for Juleka to move, so she quickly swings herself to the inside of the leg she is currently on, just out of sight from the top.
Not a moment too soon either, as Juleka hears a sound of frustration from above her. However, she knows she is still too close; if Rose flies down, she could still see her instantly.
She watches as Ladybug disappears beneath the tower’s second floor. Definitely better hiding spots there. Unfortunately . . .
Juleka looks at her claws again.
Can’t exactually swing on these.
Though, now that I think of it, neither Rena Rouge or Viperion swing around. They just sorta . . . jump?
She turns again to look at second floor, at least still 100 meters below her. Specifically, the inner portion, opened up to the ground and the lift below.
Great.
Juleka takes a deep breath, before pushing off the wall and going straight towards the gap.
Nope! Nope! Nope! Bad! This is bad!
Mid air and with nowhere to really go but down, Juleka just focuses on making sure her feet remain down. As the ceiling of the floor becomes closer, and closer and . . .
Her foot lands on the gap’s edge, her instincts causing her to automatically push off towards the other side.
There, she hits the wall on the other side of the gap, using what control of her trajectory she has to kick off towards where she last saw Ladybug.
She reaches her claws out, catching herself just before the edge. Metal on metal again, making her wince. However, after a moment to confirm that it was just her, she finally releases her breath.
Not too bad. Perk one of being a superhero; landing on your feet.
She looks forward, seeing the other four heroes gathered right next to the leg, all of them pressing close enough to the metal to limit the ability to see them except from the right angle.
Ladybug motions for Juleka to come closer.
Superhero challenge 2. All of us are lucky I’m not scared of heights.
Juleka carefully lets go with one of her claws, then gingerly tries poking them into the floor. However, a few attempts see her claws not piercing the floor.
Come on. Come on. Stick you . . .
Confused and frustrated, Juleka looks to see how her other set is holding on, only to see that they are also not piercing the metal, seeming to just hang onto it.
. . . Weird.
Carefully, Juleka touches her free set of claws to the bottom. Then, taking a deep breath, let’s go with the other.
Juleka swings forward a bit, but the claws manage to hold her weight.
Juleka then puts the other set of claws forward, releasing with the other set and swing forward. Then she repeats twice more.
Curious, she pulls herself up till her body is parallel to the metal before releasing her tension. She finds not only her claws, but also her knees staying attached to the metal at her will.
Perk #2; magic climbing powers. Perk #3; enough strength to do a pull-up.
She winces as two beeps sound out simultaneously in front of her, but a few second wait shows no Akuma.
Carefully, Juleka scurries across the bottom of the floor towards where the others are still tense. However, they seem to have come to the conclusion that Rose is not following behind them yet, as they have begun talking.
“Glad to see you made it,” Viperion says, looking the most relaxed, almost looking like he is peacefully laying down instead of hiding in the shadows.
I can tell he and my brother would get along already.
“Still getting use to the powers. Being pushed off buildings isn’t helping.” She glances pointedly towards Chat Noir (who is clinging to an almost vertical part of the metal. Guess it’s a cat thing).
“Sorry ‘bout that. Just had a feeling-“
“You’d land on your feet.” “I’d land on my feet.”
“Sorry, I already beat you to that one.”
Viperion snickers. “You’re doing fine so far, Ms. . . .”
“Tigress will be fine. Not like it matters, given the circumstances.”
Juleka makes her point by motioning in the general direction of where she thinks the news helicopter currently is. Rena and Viperion nod in understanding, while Ladybug winces, making no moves to hide her guilt.
Chat Noir, for his part, smiles
“Come on; you could add a little more color to your name.”
Juleka gives him a blank stare.
“That might work for you, but try making ‘Purple Tiger’ sound heroic.”
“Ah, matter of perspective, I guess.”
“I like banter as much as the next guy,” Rena Rouge buts in as she, in an attempt to get a better view of above, moves a step or two up a metal piece connected to her hiding stop before swiftly returning, “but we’re not in the greatest position. Any plans, Bug?”
Ladybug, herself safely kept anchored to the pillar by her yo-yo, raises her eyes to each of the heroes in turn.
“I’ve said this before, but this is going to be one of the strongest Akuma we have come up against. We need to have everyone at 100%.” She turns to Rena and the Viperion. “We need to have you both recharge. I don’t know how long we can hold out if you don’t.”
“Got it.”
“Probably gonna need a minute, but if you guys think you can hold out that long . . .”
“We can.”
Ladybug nods to her partner before continuing. “Chat, Tigress, and I should be able to at least distract her long enough to give you time to. More importantly, if we are going to finish her off, we need more information. Tigress?”
Ladybug’s eyes fall on her.
Here we go.
“Did Hellfire tell you anything?”
A few things, actually, but . . .
“Have you guys figured out the chains can act on their own yet?”
Ladybugs eyes instantly shoot open as wide as possible, showing that she, in fact, had not.
“That makes so much sense. It’s how they react so fast. It’s why we can’t sneak up on her . . .” Ladybug trails off, seeming to consider the new information.
If anyone is going to think of a way to get us out of this, it is going to be Ladybug.
However, I can’t just rely on Ladybug saving the day.
If I want to save Rose with my own hands . . .
I need to know what they can do.
“Ladybug.”
The eyes of the heroes all return to her. In any other circumstance, her shyer tendencies might have convinced her to turn away. However, she could not afford that today.
If I am going to be of any help . . .
“What can I do?”
For Rose.
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“The Tiger Miraculous is the opposite of the Dragon Miraculous. Likewise, it’s power is not one power, but three, each representing a different element.”
The voice of Hawkmoth echoes in Hellfire’s head as she stalks around the tower’s top, ensuring that she is ready to jump into action should any of the of heroes try to make a run for it. If Juleka tries to run from her. As per her request, he was currently informing her about everything he could tell her about the Miraculous she was up against.
“Juleka!” “Where have you gone?” “Why did you leave me?” “She said she loved me.”
“I want you.” “I need you.” “Need the Miraculous. Need the Miraculous.” “Juleka!”
“I can’t go back!” “Don’t want to go back!” “She looked so beautiful.” “Damn that Ladybug!”
And then there were these voices in her head. The part of her that became the chains. The Akuma. Or at least that is what she thought it was. Dozens of voices that began sounding shortly after she had taken in the butterfly. She had been worried at first, but they seemed to have no control over her. In fact, most of the time they only gave voice to her feelings. The feeling she could not describe herself. And they were the chains, protecting her, and the reason she had not lost right away as she would have if she just had her fire powers. Even after having time to experiment with them, she still thinks her fire alone could not match up to how much her chains were able to do. It also helped that not mentioning how much the chains were able to act on their own had given her an edge.
“The first is Stone Tiger. It seems to give the power to transform the user into any earthen material.”
Apparently, Hawkmoth’s information was limited. Most of the other Miraculous users he had seen before, so he could give clearer warnings outside of whatever his source was. Here, he seemed in the dark.
“Stone.” “Where are you Juleka?” “Oh, does this mean we get to play in mud?” “Juleka!”
“Hey, is lave earth?” “Pretty crystals.” “Don’t leave me!” “Sand counts, right?”
“If sand counts, does glass?” “Juleka!” “Is this a case where metal is earth?” “Why, Why, Why?”
Yikes. Half of those she probably would not have considered herself. Thanks chains. Hellfire stalks to one of the sides quickly to ensure the heroes are not just sitting on the ground before darting back to where she can see the whole area.
“The second is Wood Tiger. It seems to give the user the abilities to become like a tree.”
For the seventh time since the heroes disappeared, she scanned the entire horizon to ensure they did not try to escape the tower.
“How many minutes has it been?” “I need you!” “What does ‘like a tree’ mean?” “You need me!”
“Defensive? How can it be used to attack?” “Not here!” “Where are you?” “Juleka!”
“Roots and branches.” “Sturdy and flexible.” “I don’t want do be alone anymore!” “Why?”
Right. Hellfire was about to dismiss this power, but trees can be kind of flexible. If she doesn’t limit its movement, it could be trouble.
“Finally, Shadow Tiger, which allows one to merge with and travel along shadows.”
Hellfire freezes.
No.
No, no, no.
“Sundown!” “Shadow!” “Trying to escape!” “Accursed Ladybug!”
“Trying to keep her from us!” “Trying to run!” “Towards the East!” “Hurry!”
“Juleka!” “Juleka!” “Must not let her get away!” “She’s mine!”
Hellfire jerks her head towards the East. There, the shadow of the Eiffel tower is cast due to the setting sun. The patch of darkness stretches over the buildings of Seventh Arrondissement, the tip resting on the Seine River. So many of the shadows of other buildings currently intersect the largest one, scattering around various buildings, into alleyways, some main streets.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. Ladybug didn’t give her the Tiger Miraculous to fight. That’s why she waited for so long.
“Is there a way to tell if the Tiger is in a shadow?”
Hawkmoth, who had just been giving Hellfire information without response, took a moment to register the interruption. “Unfortunately, I have never seen this Miraculous in action before, so . . .”
“I don’t know.” You don’t know. Fuck.
As Hawkmoth uses the silence as a reason to move on to information about the Cat Miraculous, Hellfire violently messes up her hair, eyes on the shadow. She periodically looks over her shoulder to ensure the heroes aren’t trying to escape while she is distracted, but she knows this is probably not a bluff.
“Don’t leave me!” “Hurry, before she escapes!” “Juleka!” “We need those Miraculous!”
“It’s so dark!” “It’s so cold!” “They cannot take her away from us!” “Stop running!”
“She’s going to run!” “Juleka!” “We need to attack now!” “Is she already gone?”
The chains upon her back start rattling frantically, scraping one over another, all calling for her to attack, to get Juleka back now, to . . .”
Hellfire breaths in a deep breath, then releases it slowly. She starts petting her chains, trying to calm them down without alerting Hawkmoth to what they really are. She cannot trust him either, after all.
“Is there any further questions?” Hawkmoth asks, likely having finished up the information dump while she had focused on calming herself.
“. . . No, I understand perfectly.”
“I am planning on sending in Myura as assistance t-“
“No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!”
“No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!”
“No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!” “No!”
“No! I will be the one to get the Miraculous. If either you, or her, or one of those weird walking toys she can make come anywhere close to here, you will be giving me extra time in exchange for your own Miraculous.”
“. . . If you are that confident, do not fail me.”
With this, the butterfly outline disappears from around Hellfire’s face.
Hellfire breaths in deeply before going over her opponents again.
Ladybug. Power to create random objects. Smart enough to use them. Most dangerous.
Chat Noir. Front line fighter. Along with the power to destroy any one object.
Or inflict one hell of a migraine trying, she recalled the time he Cataclysm her chains with a slight shudder. Also dangerous.
Two Miraculous users who have spent their powers. According to Hawkmoth, they will turn back to normal within five minutes of using their powers, giving them limited options at the moment. They also did not have as much experience as the other two, meaning they should be easier to fight. If they did somehow regain their powers, however, the snake boy was definitely trouble, but the fox could easily use her powers to trick her, to help Jule-
“Juleka!” “She can’t escape us!” “We will never let you go!” “Please, we need you!”
“Why did you betray us?” “What did those damn heroes tell you?” “Juleka!” “Why!”
“Please come home.” “We need you so much.” “We love you so much.” “Please!”
Juleka Couffaine. No combat experience. Skilled with music and art. The most beautiful girl I have ever seen. She’s shy, but she is always there when I need her. Always there on my worst days. She deserves to smile more, to laugh more, to dream more. She deserves only the best. She said she loves me, so I need to be the best. This is not about me. This was never about me! I became Hellfire to be the girl she deserves, right? That had to be it, right? Hellfire is nothing like Rose! And to prove that . . .
“Well, Rose did have some good qualities. So, the Eiffel tower . . .”
There was one large misconception people seemed to have about Rose.
“La Dame De Fer.” “Three Floors.” “Where are you?” “Don’t forget the gardens.”
That was that Rose was stupid.
“And the Esplanada.” “We can see the gardens. They aren’t there.” “Juleka.” “324 m.”
Ya, Rose was many things. Hellfire wouldn’t have existed if that were not the case. But being a bit of a smiling ditz does not make her stupid.
“210 m to nearest structure.” “50 m to the lake.” “This is MY home.” You will never escape.”
Rose was actually pretty good at math. True, next to Max she was nothing, but she seemed to be able to put the pieces together easily on problems her friends would struggle with. Even if she never loved the numbers, never wanted to do anything with them when she grew up, that did not mean she did not understand them.
Hellfire looked down over the railing she was on, giving her a clear view of the Esplanada. Unless they were hiding in the ticket booth or kiasks, they were not on the ground. From what she knew of the heroes, that would not be where they would hide anyway.
“First floor.” “The buffet.” “Culture path.” “Pavillion Fierre.”
In addition, she never had gotten lost in her life. Even when she was a child, she was quick to pick up on where everything was. Paris was HER city, even if Rose never truly did anything with it.
“Second floor.” “La Verrière.” “Jules Verne.” “The other buffet.”
As the Akuma list off everywhere they could be hiding, the girl quickly goes through the layout of the tower in her head. They could easily hide inside, especially if they do need some heroes to recharge.
But . . . is that where Ladybug would hide?
Going over all she knew from previous Akuma attacks, Ladybug had fought villains indoors plenty of time. However, when she was the one planning where they fought, she tended to try to get the fights out in the open. For the best; while both of Paris’s hero proved how slippery they are to her, their powers were not really built for confined spaces. Which means they probably won’t try to fight within the tower, and instead . . .
If she were to hide on the outside . . .
If the plan was to be ready to run away at a moment’s notice . . .
If they currently were someplace they were expecting her not to see them . . .
Hellfire closed her eyes and visualized the tower as the chains continued to interject random design information she was sure she must of heard somewhere.
She looked over the open space left by the towers design, to the three most solid parts of the tower. Below the three floors.
If they wanted to use the Shadow Tiger power to escape, they needed to be on the east leg.
And considering where the place they would likely think best to hide. Not visible from the ground. Not below my feet. Leaving . . .
Hellfire broke out into a wicked grin.
“We found you.” “Juleka!” “You won’t get away.” “We will take your Miraculous.”
She steps upon the railing.
“I need you.” “You need us!” “We will not let you get away.” “You belong to us.”
She turns he face towards the sun, her arms held wide.
“Stay with us!” “Stop running away!” “We will take all your worries away.” “We love you.”
And she leans back, going headfirst over the edge of the tower.
I know where you are.
I know what I’m up against.
All I need . . .
The only thing stopping me from my happy end . . .
Is to stop you from running away from me,
My sweet Juleka.