Finally! I figured out how to post multiple chapters! It was a nightmare trying to figure this out! I had to find a youtube tutorial. Anyways, I look to see if I got any reviews (I got two! Squeeee), and I find that I also have 5 favorites, and 8 follows...

What the heck did I do right?

But thank you guys so much! I really do feel special. Be sure to give me criticism so I can write better stories/chapters in the future.

Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous, no matter how much I just want to bring them to life, shrink them down, and put them in my pocket. (I will give a shout out to whoever guesses which show I was thinking about when I said that!)

The weeks following Marinette's departure were torture. The entire kingdom felt the effects of their missing princess. Everyone missed the kind, warm-hearted girl who often visited the village. But out of everyone, Adrien missed her most of all.

No one ever saw him smile, except for Nino, when he was able to force one out of him with a joke. But even then it was small, and it never lasted long. He rarely spoke unless he needed to. Nino saw that the light in his eyes was almost completely out. He also knew that Adrien barely ate anything the first few days. All in all, Nino was worried for his friend. It was clear to him how important Marinette was to Adrien. He needed to do something to cheer him up and fast.

"No." was all Adrien said. Then he went back to loading brightly colored fabric onto his father's cart.

"Oh come on dude." Nino said. "Everyone in the village will be there!"

"I said no! Why would I want to go to a crowded street, crawling with creeps, just to get a look at a family that will turn their noses up at every one of us?"

Because of King Tom being at war, and Marinette not fully educated, the Bourgeois family would be watching over the kingdom until their return. The only thing qualifying them was the fact that Andre Bourgeois was Tom's cousin. Today was the day that the Bourgeois family would arrive. The village had planned a parade in order to greet them.

Nino sighed. "Adrien, we don't have to go to the actual parade, we can go hunting, or visit Friar Fu. I just want to get you out of this house. You've been upset and distant ever since Marinette left, and I'm worried about you." he saw Adrien wince at the princess's name. "It's been almost a month, and you haven't gotten over it."

"Three weeks and five days." Adrien corrected. He stopped what he was doing, and turned to his friend, "And I will never get over it." Adrien finished up his work, leaving Nino exasperated

"Dude, seriously, you're scaring me. Marinette will come back eventually, and you guys can get married, and live happily-"

"That's just it Nino." Adrien stated quietly. Nino just looked at the blond confused. "Even when Marinette comes back we can never be together. I'll never be able to court her, or marry her, or kiss her. She'll be married off to whatever prince offers the most money, and then she'll be carried away to the castle where I'll never see her again." Nino snorted.

"Oh come on, give Marinette a little more credit. She'd never let any crappy prince touch her if she can fight back." Nino mentally celebrated when Adrien started chuckling at that.

"Yeah." The smile left his face. "But she's still a princess, and I'm still a filthy commoner. A boy who doesn't fit in with the upper-class, and is given a limited amount of rights. I can't marry her. I can't even express my love to her. I can't give her what she deserves, and she deserves everything."

Nino stayed silent. Drinking in the sorrowful words of his heartbroken friend. Nothing else was said for a while. Nino finally spoke, "Adrien, I'm sorry I really am. I know that you love her." Adrien said nothing, so Nino continued. "But I'm worried about you Adrien, it's like you've lost the will to live. All I ask is that you come to the parade with me, find something worth living for again. Marinette will be back, and even if you might not be able to marry her, she definitely wouldn't like it if you died without telling her." Adrien's lips twitched upward. A small victory.

Adrien took a deep breath, and said, "Alright. I'll come." Nino smiled, and wrapped an arm around Adrien's shoulder. "Good choice buddy. Who knows? Maybe you'll find something to occupy your time until Marinette gets back."

Adrien just gave a small smile and nodded, not believing his friend. But he walked with Nino into town, rubbing the ring on his finger.

Two Months Later

Adrien arrived home after his delivery to the palace. His father was lucky enough to become a seamster at the palace, and often wrote to Adrien asking for more fabric. Though Adrien was sure that he was only asked to do this chore because his father knew Lady Chloe took an interest in him.

Lady Chloe was Andre's daughter, sixteen, and while beautiful, was vain, selfish and cruel. The first time he visited his father, he was absolutely disgusted with her behavior. Ordering the servants around, and threatening them with the power she and her father had over them. She even had the audacity to demand everyone call her a Princess. The only servant who remained far from Chloe's threatening, was her maid Sabrina. Sabrina followed Chloe around like fleas to a dog.

However even though Adrien was disgusted, Chloe was intrigued. Adrien knew he was fairly attractive, but he thought nothing of it. He immediately regretted ever coming when Chloe started flirting with him. Finding every excuse to touch him, and even started calling him "Adrikins". Worst of all Adrien could do nothing to fight her. Just because Chloe liked him didn't mean he could get away with rejecting Chloe, and telling her off, especially with her father acting as King. She made sure to tell him that.

There were no signs of the war ending either. Soldiers were called from their homes every month. Adrien found himself lucky enough not to be called yet. Though he didn't know what was worse, fighting in the war, or being subject to Andre's tyranny.

Andre was taxing the poor people of Fontainebleau into poverty. The village that was once happy, and prosperous, was now sad, poor, and selfish. Nearly everybody had nothing to give, and yet Andre still asked for more and more. Adrien was highly sure that most of the money taken was given to his spoiled brat of a daughter Chloe. Even if it wasn't, Andre made it very well known that he was a very greedy man.

As Adrien entered his house, he exhaled deeply, and ran a hand through his hair. Then brought his hand down to the ring on his finger, and started fidgeting with it. A small habit that started every time he thought of his beloved Marinette.

"I wish you were here Princess." he whispered to himself. "You were always so much braver than me. If you were here, you'd know what to do."

As Adrien thought more on that last phrase he started asking himself: What would she do? Well one thing was clear, she would have fought for her people. She would do everything in her power to defy her cousins, and find a way to bring happiness to the kingdom once again.

Well I can't do that, I'm just a commoner. Yet he couldn't get the idea out of his head. What if he did fight. His father taught him fencing, and he was decent with a bow and arrow. He wouldn't hurt anybody, whether they were innocent or guilty. Besides, Chloe doesn't use all of that money. It's utterly useless just lying everywhere. If he gave it to the peasants it would be put to good use. Wait… my face is too well known. I'd be hanged on the spot if I tried anything.

Adrien caught sight of some black fabric left on the table. A prototype he meant to bring it to his father. But…

Adrien smiled. He might be able to pull this off. With help of course.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!" Nino shouted, before Adrien clamped a hand over his mouth and promptly sat Nino back into his chair.

The two men were currently in a dark bar, with dusty tables, dark wood, and low lit lanterns, with not many people. Though that was mostly due to the fact that no one could afford drinks anymore, and the ones who did come through wasted it all on getting drunk. Not smart.

"Keep it down!" Adrien whispered. Nino shoved Adrien's hand away.

"But Adrien! This plan of yours is crazy. You're gonna get arrested at best. Hanged at worst. Besides, one of the guards will recognize you!"

"Which is why I'll be wearing a disguise, and go by a fake name." While Adrien was grinning at the idea, Nino just scowled.

"And that's supposed to make me feel better? What would you even call yourself?"

Adrien's smile never faltered. "I was thinking Cat Noir."

Nino didn't react. "Cat Noir? Really?" Adrien chuckled.

"Well, think about it, cats are sneaky which is what I need to be so I can pull this off. Plus, black cats blend into the night." Nino face-palmed. "Well I think it's clever."

Nino just groaned and looked back at his friend. "So why are you telling me? Do you need someone to cover for you or something?" Adrien gave a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Actually, I was kind of wondering if you wanted to tag along." Nino raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

Adrien took a breath. "Look, you're right that this is stupid, I'll give you that. But I need your help. Families are being evicted from their homes every day because they couldn't pay those unfair taxes that keep raising. I'm not the best when it comes to the planning part of things, I need someone who can help me. You're one of the smartest guys I know, and I don't want to find help from just anybody."

Nino was silent, thinking it over. "Alright dude. I'm in." Adrien smiled. "But if we die, I'll kill you."

Adrien laughed. "I have no doubt about that."

One more thing...

Yes to the Hollow crossover or no? If I don't get a response, I'll post it anyway.

Because I can do that now! XD