"There once were two outlaws, in a time long ago Who were swift with a sword and great with a bow.
With the flight of an arrow or clash of broad swords,
These outlaws would bring down their cruel feudal lords.
As a hero to others, it wasn't too long,
Before minstrels and poets put their deeds into song.
It might be a legend. Who they were, still unsure,
But they robbed from the rich and they gave to the poor."
Chapter 1: The Masked Bandits
It was late in the afternoon when a certain carriage had stopped in the middle of the forest due to the untimely damage of one of their wheels. In the mean time, the passengers along with the coach have gathered by the river to refresh themselves after spending hours on the road. It was another two hours to Normandy and it seemed impossible to walk.
"This is all your fault, Perette! If it wasn't for your humongous deriérre, we wouldn't be stuck in Paris for who knows how long!" A rather large girl had spoken, visibly upset by the look on her face and the sound of her shrill whining.
"My fault! Ypolita, you have an even bigger deriérre! You broke the wheel and it was on your side, too!" The girl named Perette squeals like a pig.
The coachman was stuck in between, rather fed up from their bickering. But who was he to step in and yell at them? He was simply being paid to shut up and drive.
In actuality, it was no one's fault. The wheel had come across a sort of rock it simply couldn't withstand.
Well, it felt slightly different. Almost as if the wheel broke on purpose. Brushing that aside, he continued to sit by the two fat women, sighing quietly as they waited for help to arrive.
"Manfroy!" Ypolita claps her hands twice. "Fetch my pillow! This rock is far too hard for me to sit on!"
The coachman bows and obediently walks back to the carriage.
To his utter shock, the carriage was found completely empty. Even the remaining wheels have been stolen.
"Mistresses!" Manfroy runs back, struggling with his short legs, terror in his face.
From a tree a little further from the carriage sat all the items. Extra large dresses, shoes, handfuls of jewellery, packs of breads and grains, and pouches full of golden coins.
"Not our best, but this is enough for three whole families." A hooded lady whispered to her companion. She was shrouded in a scarlet red cloak, covered by a mask that only showed her smile.
"We should head back soon. Sunset is fast approaching. We move better in the dark, anyways." Her hooded partner whispered back, returning her mischievous smile. Both mysterious figures begin their move, running off as the sky began to grow dim. From afar, they could hear the horrified screams of the two women, whose bickering only intensified.
It was nighttime. The sky, being a dark shade of blue with the moon high and brighter than ever.
It was little Manon's sixth birthday. Her mother was a simple woman who worked hard in the market selling vegetables. Her father had died when Manon was just an infant.
Tonight was going to be a special one for the two.
Someone was rapping quietly on their door. When Manon's mother Nadia opens it, two hooded figures come inside with a large sack.
"Happy Birthday, Manon." The first figure said.
"Ladybug! Chat Noir!" She comes up to them, wrapping them around with her little arms.
"We came bearing gifts." The second figure said. The pull their hoods down. The first figure is a girl, seemingly young with raven hair and bright blue eyes while her companion was an equally young boy with blonde hair and striking green eyes.
The girl opens up the sack, revealing its contents. Inside, she pulls out two loaves of bread.
"Manon, this is for you to eat. To grow healthy and smart and especially strong." The girl said. Then, she turns to the Nadia, handing the remaining sack. "Ma'am, inside is a dress. It's far too big but you can make out dresses and washcloths with it. There are also two pouches of gold good for at least a year or two."
"Thank you, Ladybug, Chat Noir! Won't you stay? We have enough fruit and milk for the both of you." Nadia says.
"Thank you, madame but Ladybug and I still have unfinished work. Please enjoy and happy birthday, Manon." Chat Noir says. Quickly, they exit, continuing from door to door as they bear gifts and treasures to the poor until the candles began burning low.
"I heard from a little bird that the king will be doing a tour around the kingdom on Thursday." Chat Noir says, leaning in on Ladybug.
Ladybug, startled at the news, pushes him back. "And you didn't tell me sooner?"
"Kinda wanted to see the look on your face." Chat Noir says mischievously. Then, he pins her against a wall. "And by the looks of it, I seem to know what's going on in that head of yours."
Ladybug pushes his face back with her hand. "Don't push it." She says. "Let's meet that day. Dawn. I think I've got a plan."
"Marinette!" Her mother calls. "Fetch some water by the well!"
She was sitting by the window, sewing a piece of cloth and humming quietly to herself. She seemed almost lost in the moment, confined in her peaceful state of mind. By her side, her cat lay sprawled out, sound asleep.
"Marinette!" Her mother calls again.
"Coming!" She jolts up with a start, running for the steps.
Tomorrow, the king was coming to tour around the city. It was a rather exciting day indeed.
Imagine all the riches he'd be bringing with him.
His garments, his gold.
His crown.
Marinette shakes her head, but considered the idea. She takes her bucket and sets off to fetch water.
Another thing that immediately brightened her day was a certain young boy by the name Adrien. His golden hair and beautiful eyes had always taken her breath away. Today, he was practicing his sword fighting with his best friend, Nino. Fortunately for her, they enjoyed spending time in the same field Marinette would go to to fetch water or milk the cows. It was an open field, large enough for all sorts of activity.
One of them being secretly watching Adrien.
Oh, how she loved the way he smiled warmly as if he were like the sun. He always appeared perfect. His face, angelic, his eyes, a reflection of his soul and oh, his laughter, absolute music to Marinette's ears.
"Marinette! Good day to you!" Adrien stops to notice her walking by with a bucket in hand. He offers a nod of respect.
She bows back, blushing a little. "Good day to you two." She says, her blush increasing.
"Adrien, I'm going ahead. I think I'm needed at the shop!" Nino says, running off immediately.
Adrien turns around to face Marinette. He walks to her, sheathing his sword. "Did you hear news of the king? He's coming here tomorrow. Guess he finally wants to check up on this part of the kingdom."
"Y-Yes." Marinette says. "I'm rather excited! I've never.. seen him in real life."
Not to mention, the stunt she'd be pulling tomorrow.
"I hope once he gets here, he sees all this." Adrien sighs. "It isn't right that he gets to live apart from the kingdom. That he deserves to live better than all the rest who are starving and sickly."
"That's true." She says. Another thing she admired about Adrien is his devotion to the poor. He was raised in the castle, an apprentice of the knights. Because of his good looks, he won the favour of the princess and lives lavishly. But he had always told Marinette about how he did not enjoy the injustices served by the king.
He was definitely ahead of his time.
"Anyway, I need to get going." Adrien says, backing away. "My lessons will be starting soon. I'll see you around." He gives a single bow and walks back home.
Actually, he had a big day ahead of him. The king is on his way so that means Chat Noir is out to play.
Morning has broken and the royal trumpets have begun to sound. The royal procession was now starting, the head of the line being the royal guards followed by the guards carrying a chest full of the king's treasures. The king believed it to be a rather smart idea to parade them around, representing his symbol of status over his people. Next came in the royal carriage of the Princess. She, with all her heart did not want to go with her father to the procession but willingly obliged all of a sudden right after Adrien had suggested she do so. Following her carriage came in the king's grand one. The horses practically heaved it along as it carried a rather heavy man who brought far too many precious metals along with him. A tail of guards followed behind, being the tail of the procession line.
Before reaching the town, the procession would have to first go through the forest. This, of course, is breeding ground for trouble. Especially when it concerns the two young bandits.
"I can already taste the gold." Chat Noir says. Today, they wore different disguises. Ladybug donned a patched up skirt that had bells on the hem, a veil to hide her hair and of course the same mysterious mask. Chat Noir wore a dark green cloak and had on many woven necklaces.
They plan to have a little fun today.
"He's coming this way!" Ladybug tugs him down. "Just remember your lines."
"I'm always prepared, my lady." He says with a smirk.
As the procession makes a turn, the two step in front of the road, hands in the air. "Fortune telling!" Ladybug calls out, attempting a heavy foreign accent. "We can tell your fortune for free!"
"Stand aside!" One of the guards bark at them aggressively. "You're in the way of His Royal Majesty."
"If it's not too much trouble, and if the king would like to, we may read his zodiac! We practice special readings that originate from China, these are fortunes for kings!" Chat Noir chimes in.
"What's the hold up?!" It was the princess who was yelling. Her head was poking out from the carriage, her brows furrowed and her expression irritated.
"Fortune telling!" Chat Noir called out.
"Fortune telling?" It was the king! The steps out of his carriage and is now walking towards them.
"Your Majesty. We humbly thank you for gracing us with your presence. Allow us to do you this humble deed. To read your fortune and to foretell of your long and prosperous life."
"Come with me to my carriage." He says.
"Your Majesty! They could be bandits!" One guard warns.
"Nonsense! These are my people!" He says with pride in his expression, not bothering to listen to his own guard.
Inside the carriage is a lavish cushioning of the finest velvet seating. Below them, the floors are well carpeted with only the finest materials that are most likely imported from the south. And of course, piles and piles of gold-filled pouches.
"Please sit, sire!" Ladybug instructs, drawing the curtains so that her workspace is dark enough. Discretely, she prepares her pocket knife.
"Now.. close your eyes and give me your hands." She says in a hypnotising, soothing tone. As he closes his eyes, her knife springs into action.
Practically offering the huge rings on his fingers, Ladybug plucks out the gemstones one by one. With a swift turn of her left heel, a heavy load of gold is now under her skirt.
"Your... fortune!" Ladybug says, starling him a little, he opens his eyes.
"What?" He says expectantly.
"Eyes close!" She covers them with her hand. "Yes... hmmm... very interesting."
"What do you see?"
"I see a great crowd!" She says. "They're screaming something! Tears of joy!"
"Yeees?"
"They call for you! Your name!" She says. Now, she has two bags of gold under her skirt. She lets his hands go.
"Do not open yet." She says, still keeping up the accent. She gets up briefly, tossing pouches of gold to Chat Noir who hides it inside his cloak.
She goes behind the king, being careful not to have him notice as she lifts the heavy fur coat off his back and wearing it.
She returns to hold his hands again.
"I see a great misfortune ahead of you." She says grimly. "Goodness."
"Is it death? An early death?" He asks worriedly. "Will I have grandchildren?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Ladybug says, slapping the king's palms unnecessarily. "But! It's something even worse!"
She takes her hand off his again, getting up, she walks out of the carriage.
"Chat, let's go!" Ladybug calls out.
The king opens his eyes, his surroundings practically empty! His bags of gold are now gone and his rings hold no gems.
And he was now half naked.
"Guards!" The king roars in anger. "Check the chest!"
The guards gather around the chest they have been carrying the entire time.
The bottom had been cut through, all of its contents now gone.
"After those bandits!" The king yells. His head was practically about to explode from all the rage.
Speaking of head, his crown was gone as well.
The guards spread out quickly, searching the forest for the bandits from every corner, but it seems that those two have long gone; too quick for these men seeing that they've successfully escaped with the king's riches.
"I'll get them if it's the last thing I do!" The king announces. "This procession is put to a stop. Call the royal announcer. Tomorrow, I have a word for the people. Especially anyone who stands in my way of rule!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."