"Since the beginning of time, the kwamis had seen the disaster of the world. They combined their powers and created their own unique miraculous to channel their powers into so that they may be lent to humans. From there, heroes arose in times of such a
greatpower, it was only a matter of time before a miraculous fell into the wrong hands. Thus, the Miraculous Wars began. A battle that persisted with each generation of miraculous holders. Not surprisingly it has begun again," Plagg groans. "This time it's Nooroo's miraculous that is causing these curses."

"And what is... Nooroo's power?" Ladybug counts the number of kwamis on her fingers. There was Tikki and Plagg whom she had met. Then there were five other kwamis with equally as confusing names and an amazing array of abilities.

Chat Noir flips through an ancient text to find the answer. "He is supposed to... Fulfill a person's deepest wish? Hmm... maybe I should have been Nooroo's apprentice..." He thoughtfully gazes at Ladybug as he considers.

"You have the second most powerful miraculous, you ungrateful brat! What more do you want?" Plagg gripes.

"Whose is the most powerful?" Ladybug wonders.

"Yours you silly girl."

"M-mine!?"

"Yeesss." The sarcastic master hisses in exasperation. "Ladybug and Chat Noir are technically equals, but he is useless without you."

"Pardon you!" Chat Noir shouts.

Ladybug hardly listens, her mind is so deeply troubled. "Tikki never told me any of this..." Another piece of her mask chips off from her distress. During the short history lesson most of it had fallen. Thankfully, only two dim candles are lit in the underground warlock's chamber. She turns away from the light for good measure.

"How could Nooroo lose his miraculous like this?" Chat Noir demands.

"Well he didn't go for a stroll and drop it by chance." Plagg critisizes, "It was stolen of course! Nooroo has too much sense to be giving it away to an unworthy student!"

"Well then who is wishing for vicious butterfly giants?"

He groans at his curious Chat and cuts himself a slice of cheese. He proceeds to shove the wedge into his entire mouth and reason aloud, "How should I know? Haven't you pestered me enough today? Why don't you find out for yourself!"

The argument between Plagg and Chat is playful despite the master's laziness, Ladybug observes. Why then has Tikki left her all alone? Why hasn't she told Marinette anything about wars or a partner or how to use her powers? Or why her mask breaks after being in disguise for so long!

A flash of pink suddenly illuminates beneath her hood. A high pitched scream fills the room. It is her own voice she realizes too late. It would seem that no more answers remain here that she could spare any time for. She runs for the exit with a goodbye of, "I must be going!"

This startles Chat, who had his nose deep in his readings. "Hey! Wait for me!"

"Farewell children." Plagg transforms into a small black kitten and scampers up to a stack of books in the corner to find a cat nap.

"Cataclysm!" Chat's hand illuminates with green as he chases after her. He is climbing the stairs to catch her when he is stopped by Ladybug's hand that is pushing him back.

"My magic has run out... I-I need to leave alone." Chat sees then she has her hood pulled over her forehead as she speaks to him. Her mask had disintegrated completely? The darkness in the stairwell protects her from being recognized. His heart beats
faster. He realizes that if any light fell upon her face he would discover who she is. If he raises his glowing hand he would see her.

"Promise not to follow me, please?"

"But Ladybug... You can trust me."

"Promise!" She insists, her patience wearing thin, but he also hears the fear in her voice.

"I cross my heart... But you will need me. I have to get the door for you." He carefully takes her with the glove that does not destroy and leads her up to where another switch releases the hidden door. The outrageous contraption's gears squawk in protest
as he wishes he could. The door cracks open and allows a slit of light to pour in.

"Thank you." As she turns he catches the smallest glimpse of sunlight on freckles speckled across her cheek. Then she is gone as she vanishes into the woods before he could change his decision.

Chat Noir lets his disguise drop as he removes his cloak with frustration. He falls into his master's chair with a sigh. "Why doesn't she trust me with her identity?"

"Would you tell her you are the prince?" The fat, black kitten scoffs at him with disgust. Adrien supposed his expectations are hypocritical.

"I would tell her if she told me..." He decides aloud.

"And have her become nothing more than an infatuated slave in your presence as a result of your royal status?"

He lets out a glum groan, "That is the problem, isn't it?"

"That's why I picked you. Your bad luck was already apparent. That and you hang out in creepy forests much too often, your highness."

If only he had been born a normal citizen of the kingdom. Having so many servants and escorts is suffocating. He would rather be a peasant farmer. At least then he would be free to marry who he wished and not be promised a bride from a neighboring country. How could he tell the king, his father, that he didn't want any of his royal responsibilities and glory? All he wants is... freedom. The freedom to live his own life in a way that would bring him happiness.

At least no one would think to look for him here if they ever discovered that the prince had been leaving the castle walls. There are so many rooms in his home it would take them a year to search them all. What they didn't know is that he had found a
way out from the second story garden tower. With the aid of the overgrown vegetation and two tiny daggers he could escape, but with great risk. Now with his powers he could now leap on top of the wall and into the garden with the aid of his new vaulting skills.

The forest gave him a clear mind and a fresh breath of lungs. Until he met his stinky cheese loving friend Plagg. In exchange for all the Camembert the castle had stocked he had agreed to give the prince an opportunity to leave his royal life behind, if even for a few hours. The young boy was forever grateful.

Adrien pats a now slumbering Plagg, saddened that he must leave to return to his lonely home. If he stays out much longer he would be missed. "I will return tomorrow."

It doesn't take him long to vault over the wall and into the garden. He detransforms for the second time and strolls away with a book in his hand. It makes him appear as though he had been keeping up with his studies, whether it be for personal gain or otherwise.

It serves as a good excuse for his private instructor, Nathalie. She is the first to track him down. She is clearly displeased that he had disappeared from her again for the entire afternoon.

"And where have you been, young lord?" Her crossed arms indeed display that she is cross with him. He supposes that is what he likes most about Nathalie. She is blunt with him even if he is a prince.

"I was reading in the garden most of the day." He fake grins, only the location was a lie. Gardens and forests aren't all so different. "The sunshine was marvelous. It's too stuffy and bleak inside."

"Your father has been requesting you for hours. At least one of us should know of your location!" She scolds, "Come with me. He is already impatient with you."

"Grand... How grand..." The prince mutters under his breath. If there is one rule he knew well it is that no one kept a king waiting. Not even his son is an exception.

To say that the king is annoyed would be... a mistake. He is furious at best. A buffet of a meal is cold and untouched on the long table of the dining hall. The line of his mouth is straight as usual, but his eyebrows cast shadows over his eyes.

"Hello father... I didn't know we were having dinner."

"Sit down."

The ice in his voice sends a chill down his spine. Nathalie takes a seat before Adrien could process the command. No one moves afterwards, the food remains still. The king holds his glare until he breathes in relief, "I'm glad to see you haven't been
harmed."

Harmed?

"Where did you disappear to after the attack in the town square, Adrien? The guards couldn't find you anywhere."

"Oh! Ladybug saved me." That is the last thing that had happened as Adrien, before Chat Noir had stepped in.

"Ladybug? So I heard. One of the criminals that intervened..."

"What!? She isn't a criminal!"

Despite his sudden burst of anger the king doesn't flinch. "How can you be so sure? No one knows who those two are because they don't show their faces. Why would they have a need for anonymity if they were guiltless?"

"They saved all those people!" The prince defends. "They are heroes!"

"They put you in danger." His stubborn father insists. "Until they are captured I do not want you going outside the castle."

"You misunderstand! Leave Ladybug and Chat Noir alone. They mean no harm, I swear to you!"

"Must I remind you, there is no other heir to this kingdom. You are this country's most valuable treasure. Your life is at stake every time you leave these walls. We cannot afford to take the risk." The king confirms the decision despite Adrien's input, "You will stay here."

"What good is my life if I cannot live!" Adrien shoves his palms against the edge of the table to leave his chair. Nathalie grips his arm to steady him; to keep him near. This ambush of his freedom is closing him off in more than one way.

"Would you mind telling us how you returned to the castle? No one reported to me that you had arrived." His father presses further. "I've been worried sick."

"Chat Noir brought me... Because he is noble. As is Ladybug."

"Yet he didn't have the decency to bring you to our front gate..."

"I will tell you no different! Believe what I say about them, Father!"

The king nods once, "You are dismissed."

"Finally," he hisses under his breath. The prince tears away from them, having lost any appetitive at all.

Once out of hearing range, Nathalie dares to speak up, "You cannot expect to protect him forever, Gabriel."

The king stands to leave, not wanting to hear anymore on the matter. "Watch me."