Queen Veliean sat alone in the cold, desolate silence of her chamber, her heart weighed down by the actions she had taken with her son. Though she knew it was for his own good, the sorrow in her heart gnawed at her, unrelenting. The sound of her own thoughts was interrupted by an unfamiliar energy, sharp and wild, crackling through the air like a storm ready to strike. The balance of Damsel was suddenly thrown into chaos, and the creatures of this realm, once harmonious, now felt the turbulence.
King Blaze, his brow furrowed in confusion, turned toward his wife, seeking answers, but even she didn't know what was happening.
"What is this?" he demanded, his voice echoing in the now-turbulent air.
While the kingdom around them crumbled in confusion, Veliean's thoughts spiraled. She could feel it, a connection to something... or someone. Then, a terrifying thought struck her. "Where is Ambrose?"
Blaze, distracted by the sudden energy disrupting their kingdom, turned to her just in time to see the blast of energy crash into him. Frozen, he stood—entombed in a statue of ice. Veliean's eyes widened, her heart gripped by dread. She now understood—this was no random disturbance. This was connected to Ambrose.
Desperation clawed at her as she tried everything in her power to reverse the curse on Blaze, but her magic failed. None of it worked. The terror of losing him consumed her as she struggled to find the answers.
Meanwhile, Ambrose, torn between confusion and fear, felt the relentless pull of an unknown force dragging him back to Damsel. The forest around him seemed to fight against his every step, but the unseen force overpowered him. When he finally arrived, his heart sank as he witnessed the devastation—a kingdom he loved, torn apart.
Before he could process his emotions, a blinding ray of light pierced the air, blinding him. From that light appeared a figure—The Miraculous. His gaze locked with Ambrose's, piercing through him like a blade. Without a word, the Miraculous raised his hand, chanting an ancient incantation, and sent a violet ray of energy directly into Ambrose's chest.
The impact left Ambrose gasping for air, his knees buckling beneath him. Weakness and exhaustion flooded his body. As he struggled to stay conscious, Queen Veliean arrived, her heart shattering at the sight of her son's pain. She rushed to his side, her voice frantic, "What have you done to him?"
The Miraculous turned toward her, his eyes filled with anger. With a final word, the destruction in Damsel halted. Blaze, released from his icy prison, stood in confusion. Everything had stopped—but the tension remained, hanging in the air like an ominous storm.
Blaze approached the group, his voice low but filled with fire. "What's going on? What did Ambrose do? Why is he like this?"
The Miraculous finally spoke, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Ambrose left Damsel. He stepped into the human realm."
Veliean's heart stopped. She looked to Blaze, horror in her eyes. "What?" she whispered.
Miraculous continued, "Not only did he step into their world, but he saved a human—a human whose death was already sealed. By doing so, he defied nature itself, giving up his own life force to save her."
The words hit Veliean like a physical blow. She sank to her knees, unable to fathom what she was hearing. Her son, her devil prince, had given away a life—his life—for a human. It was too much to bear.
The Miraculous looked at her with a somber expression. "Ambrose has now given up one of his three lives. He is left with only two. But because of this, his powers are unstable, and if left unchecked, the destruction will continue. I had to place him in a temporary barrier to prevent further harm."
Blaze's rage flared. "Who is this human? I'll take his life back from her. I'll make her pay for this."
Miraculous's eyes glowed with fury. "You cannot take what was freely given. Ambrose sacrificed his life for her, and only she can return it. The only way to save him is to bring her here. Only she can restore balance."
Veliean's mind raced. "But where is she?"
"The locket," Miraculous said sharply. "Ambrose's locket—where is it?"
Veliean's heart skipped. She remembered it, falling in the garden when she had drained Ambrose's power. She immediately summoned it to her hand. The locket sparkled, untouched by time, and she placed it around Ambrose's neck, hoping it would stabilize him.
As she tied it, tears streamed down her face. Ambrose stirred, his weakened eyes flickering open for a brief moment. He reached out a trembling hand, wiping her tears away before everything went black. He collapsed, unconscious.
Veliean, sobbing uncontrollably, turned to the Miraculous. "Please, tell me how we can save him. What must we do?"
The Miraculous looked at her with deep regret. "Until the human he saved is brought here to return his life, Ambrose will remain weak—uncontrollable. His powers will keep growing unstable, and he will lose himself."
Blaze's mind swirled with questions. "But no humans are allowed in Damsel. They can't handle this energy."
The Miraculous nodded. "Now, the human holds a fragment of Ambrose's essence. She has the strength to withstand the energies that would destroy any normal being. She must come here, or Ambrose will be lost."
Veliean and Blaze, desperate, combined their powers. Their energies intertwined, forming a brilliant blue light that pulsed with immense force, intensifying with every second. The pressure of it felt unbearable, and just as they feared they might break under the strain, the light flared and coalesced into a ball. Inside it, a delicate figure appeared.
The girl fell to the ground, exhausted, her body drained by the pull of their combined energies. She was fragile, pale, and disoriented, but she had arrived. Veliean's heart sank as she saw her—this human whom Ambrose had saved.
They carried the girl into Ambrose's room, certain that she was the one. As the door creaked open, Ambrose stirred weakly, his vision blurred. He saw the girl—the same one he had met under the bridge. Her face was pale, her body shaking. She seemed familiar, yet alien, as if a dream had become reality.
Confusion swirled in her mind. Where was she? Why was she here? How had she ended up in this strange place?
Before she could voice her questions, a terrible sound broke the silence—a thud, followed by a wave of destruction. The walls seemed to crack. Ambrose's powers surged uncontrollably, and a red beam of energy shot from him, his eyes flashing with pain and rage.
Pearl, the girl, froze in terror, her body numb with fear. She could see it now—her death. Those terrifying, blood-red eyes locked on her, and she knew this was the end.
But Ambrose, his body trembling with exhaustion, fought against his own powers. With the last of his strength, he redirected the energy out the window. The garden below turned to ash, but Pearl remained untouched, standing like a statue.
Everyone in the room watched in stunned silence. Blaze and Veliean, horrified by the power Ambrose still possessed, stood frozen. Yet Pearl, somehow, was unaffected.
Then, as the last of Ambrose's strength faltered, he fell to his knees. Pearl, without thinking, rushed to him, grasping his hand. The moment their hands touched, something strange happened. Ambrose's eyes flickered open, and for the first time, he felt something he couldn't explain—a bond, a connection, something more than just power.
And in that moment, everything changed.