Miracle Box - an MLB rewrite

Book 2 - Of Heartbreak and Swords

Warning: I got a tad bit violent with the slicing and dicing. 

"Where did you hide Adrien?!" Riposte shrieked. Ladybug had cornered them far, far from her family's bakery.

"Like I'd tell you!"

Beside them, the beheaded mannequin rolled up against Ladybug's ankle. She kicked it away. Her decoy worked for a while. She didn't feel exactly comfortable knowing that Riposte had been willing to go for the kill. Adrien was far from safe, even if she placed him on the furthest corner of Paris.

Just then it started to rain.

Fire.

"Oh come on, now of all times?"! Ladybug complained as flaming locusts fell from the sky. It had been a while since the locusts had infested like this. Ladybug had actually almost forgotten about Fraay's curse. But Fraay was still an issue. The fire locusts and the rest of her wretched curse was definitely still an issue.

Riposte took the opportunity of distraction to slash at Ladybug. Ladybug didn't even have the chance to react, fully expecting to have to take the blow against her abdomen and hope that her miraculous would keep her intact.

However, someone intervened. Chat Noir's staff was just quick enough to get between the two and deflect the blade. Shortly after, Chat Noir appeared at Ladybug's side.

"Chat Noir!" Ladybug felt her knees nearly give in. Chat Noir swiftly twisted his baton, a maneuver that would have ordinarily thrown the sword out of an opponents hand. Riposte's hands were the swords though, so it didn't really have much of an effect.

"Sorry I'm late," Chat Noir said, "I was trying to convince Plagg to give me a sword instead of a baton but he said 'the last time I did that, my user used it for bull fighting and killed his enemies' so I guess I'm not getting a sword."

"Maybe I will," Ladybug said, summoning her lucky charm. Indeed, she got a sword. A katana to go up against Riposte.

She offered it to Chat but he shook his head. "I'm a fencer, I don't know how to use a sword like that."

"Neither do I..." Ladybug frowned. Riposte made another effort to behead her, screaming as she did so. Chat Noir, again, deflected her blade with his baton.

Unfortunately, Riposte predicted the move and maneuvered themself around Chat Noir, tripping him up and stomping harshly on his ankle. Chat Noir yelped, going down after Riposte slashed him across the back. Riposte glared at Ladybug who now pointed the tip of her own sword at Riposte's neck. "You shouldn't have done that," Ladybug said darkly.

Riposte laughed. "You have healing powers! What's it matter if he gets a little hurt?!" Behind them, Chat Noir was groaning, trying to get back on his feet. Clearly, his back was flaring up with pain but it seemed like his ankle was causing him more trouble. Ladybug felt her blood boiling. Without thinking, she attacked with her own sword, officially starting their duel.

Ladybug sucked at sword fighting. It especially wasn't fair that her opponent had two swords. Riposte easily cornered her on a rooftop against a chimney, Chat Noir barely climbing up there just in time to try and join. But by then, Riposte had disarmed Ladybug. She was screwed.

At the most inconvenient time possible, Ladybug's hanfu caught on fire. (Everyone, say thank you to the raining flaming locusts!)

"OH HELL!" Ladybug screamed.

"LADYBUG!" Chat Noir vaulted his baton into the square of Riposte's back, pushing them right off the side of the rooftop so he could launch himself over Ladybug. Landing clearly made the condition of his ankle worse but he wasted no time pulling his jacket off and throwing it over Ladybug to smother the fire. "God, of all times for Fraay's curse to act up, now?!"