CHAPTER TWENTY:

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Many folks who lived to see the day Nottingham Castle burned called it the "Day of the Red Dawn". In fact, they made a certain holiday of it, celebrating the defeat of the wicked Princess Chloe and the return of their beloved hero Ladybug.

And while I was fortunate enough to have seen it all happen, I must vainly admit that many of these facts would never have been known if I had not been there to record it all.

But I digress. It's time to bring our story to it's long-awaited close.

In the days that followed Ladybug's flight from the castle, no one had seen or heard anything from Princess Chloe or Sheriff Roger. Now, with respect, most of the townsfolk had taken sanctuary deep in Sherwood Forest at this time, so very few were aware of what was happening in Nottingham.

Would Chloe return with an army and hunt us all down, as many of us feared?

Had she thrown herself into the fires of the burning tower in her madness, as many of us assumed?

Thankfully, our hearts and our fears were put to rest on a beautiful autumn afternoon beneath the interweaving branches of Sherwood…

Flickers of red, orange and brown danced through the air as they fell from the trees, creating a carpet of leaves between the two rows of onlookers facing the rose-covered archway.

Standing in the archway was Friar Fu, clad in a warm robe and holding an open book in his hands. Occasionally, he would glance up as he read aloud, smiling at the bride and groom standing before him.

Marinette and Adrien held hands as the priest spoke, unable to tear their eyes off each other for more than five seconds. Not that it was their fault.

The groom looked remarkably dashing in that dark-green tunic and soft, black vest that went well with the black pants, boots, and a belt that bore the proud lion of England on the buckle. Adrien's golden hair was combed through, and a small crown made up of birch twigs, autumn leaves and pine cones adorned his head.

Marinette wore an identical crown, but hers bore daisies and bits of bluebell. To match your eyes, Rose had said when she had shown it to her.

The bride's dress had been a gift from Nadja – a small token of her gratitude for saving her daughters' lives. It was old and threadbare, but Nadja had kept it tucked away in her trunk in the years that followed her marriage to her dearly-departed husband. It wasn't much, but it was all anyone could produce on such short notice.

Marinette thought it was perfect. The silk bodice and long skirt were the colour of buttercream, with fleur-de-lises stitched along the hem of the dress. The sleeves where puffed along the shoulders and upper arms, and the cuffs were tied at the wrist with matching ribbon. The square neckline allowed room for an arrowhead necklace, handmade by Alya. Beneath her crown, Marinette's midnight-blue hair fell along her shoulders in soft watery waves.

Each time she caught Adrien looking at her with that warm, mischievous feline smile, Marinette's stomach would spin around inside her, and she would hide her giggling beneath a smile of her own. I can't believe this is really happening, she thought.

It had only been four days since she had fallen from the burning tower, but it felt like months. The wound on Marinette's leg was almost completely healed, thanks to Friar Fu, and the rest of her injuries were nothing but barely-noticeable scratches. Her back and leg muscles were still stiff, but they too would stretch out soon enough. It wasn't the first time Marinette had to take it easy after a rigorous heist.

She and Adrien had saved each other, and now they would be together forever.

Behind them, their friends stood among the crowd, jittery with happiness and excitement. A few sniffles sounded here and there, but the only tears being shed today were the good kind. At long last, the people of Nottingham would enjoy a moment of sheer bliss.

"By the power vested in me, and by God's Holy Church," Friar Fu's deep voice sounded, his eyes now casting over the crowd, "if any man or woman… or child… has any reason why these two should not be joined, I ask that you speak now or forever hold your peace."

Marinette and Adrien exchanged another glance before turning to face their silent audience.

Nino teasingly raised his hand, until Alya elbowed him in the ribs with a smirk. Otis chuckled at that as he leaned on his crutch. Alix stood beside her mother and sister, looking around as though she wanted someone to speak out just so she could have the pleasure of landing that poor soul on his rear. Kim, Max, Rose and Juleka covered their mouths to stifle their snickering. Nathaniel looked down at his lute, put his ear to it, and then straightened before shaking his head with a smile.

"Now kiss!" Manon called eagerly, and no one could hold back their laughter anymore.

Marinette smiled big at her people. Her friends. Her family.

Friar Fu closed his book with content and crossed his arms before him. "In that case, I now pronounce you –"

"Hold!"

Marinette and Adrien turned suddenly at that strong, sharp voice that sounded from down the aisle.

The onlookers gasped at the sight of three knights on horses approaching them. Two of them wore mail, helmets and strawberry-red uniforms. They both carried a tall banner bearing the roaring golden lion upon a field of black.

Marinette's heart skipped a beat. She recognised that crest.

Sure enough, when her eyes fell upon the third knight, he bore the same insignia proudly on his black chest. Instead of a helmet, a broad hood concealed his face. Several flat protrusions poked up underneath the hood.

Adrien was gaping at the man with something between surprise and glee.

The black knight dismounted and then carefully removed his hood, revealing a triangular face thick with a golden beard. A crown sat upon his head, studded with rubies, sapphires and diamonds.

Marinette immediately saw the resemblance between the man and her husband-to-be: the golden hair, the sharp features, the green irises. The only thing missing was a smile, for the man appeared stoic and expressionless as a marble statue.

A collective cry of recognition rang out. Then, every man, woman and child hastily dropped to their knees, bowing their heads. Friar Fu did the same.

Adrien just stood there grinning from ear to ear. "Felix!" he said, his voice loud in the background of shocked silence.

Marinette's heart pounded at the name, even though she knew it to be true: Felix the Lionheart, the King of England. Chloe's older brother. Adrien's cousin.

The King's eyes – so unlike those of his sister – lingered heavily over the townsfolk before stopping at Marinette.

The young bride immediately sank to the ground in a deep curtsy, hoping that the king wouldn't see her cheeks reddening.

"I will speak," King Felix called more softly, though his words still carried that royal edge to it. He strolled down the aisle and glanced between his cousin and the outlaw.

Marinette couldn't help but lift her head to gaze up at her king and liege lord. Adrien stood beside her, his grin fading as though he just realized that the king's presence here might not be a good sign.

Only when King Felix approached the couple did he declare, "I will not allow this wedding to proceed."

More gasps from the crowd, this time of horror.

Something like a stone dropped in Marinette's stomach, which had been giddy with joy a moment ago.

Adrien's face darkened. "Cousin…"

"You heard me, Adrien," King Felix said without a hint of remorse. "It is not fitting for a man of noble blood to be joined with a common outlaw, especially one who has caused considerable havoc in my kingdom."

Marinette shot to her feet, a retort ready on her lips. King or no king, she had been torn away from Adrien too many times. "My lord…" she said in an almost-pleading tone.

King Felix lifted a finger. "However…" he added quickly, raising his eyebrow at the bride. "I could be persuaded otherwise… on one condition." Then, to Marinette's surprise, he smiled big and broad. "I give the bride a royal pardon."

Behind the king, the villagers talked confusedly amongst themselves.

Adrien eyed his cousin with a slackened expression.

Marinette just held the king's gaze, unsure what to say or how to react.

King Felix broke the confusion at last by announcing to all in the vicinity: "As your King, I hereby absolve the heroine Ladybug of her alleged crimes against the people of Nottingham. Henceforth, she will be cleared of all charges and be granted a token of her services to the crown."

Marinette's eyes widened, and her mouth parted.

Before she could say anything, King Felix waved one of his knights over. The man approached his king and extended a small red bundle in his arms.

It was a cloak. A new red cloak peppered with large black polka-dots. The clasp bore the lion insignia.

Marinette inhaled deeply, covering her mouth. Even Adrien looked amazed.

King Felix took the cloak and held it out to the astounded bride. "I am told you have a taste for the theatrical," he said with a curl of his mouth. "I hope this will serve you well… as Nottingham's protector."

Nobody was keeping silent anymore. They chattered excitedly like birds in spring. Alya was practically squealing with delight.

Marinette forced herself to breathe, and she kept glancing between the king and this gorgeous new cloak, as though wondering if this was some kind of joke.

"Go on, Milady," Adrien said to her. "It's not everyday the King of England gives you a new set of clothes."

King Felix cast his cousin another smirk. "I see you're still as humorous as ever." He looked back at Marinette. "I admire your courage, my dear. No woman has ever endured his witty remarks for too long."

Laughter broke out from the crowd.

Marinette considered the laughter a good omen, and she graciously accepted the cloak with a dip of her head and a bright smile. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm honoured."

King Felix shook his head. "It you who has honoured me, Ladybug," he said. "Thanks to you, I still have a throne… and a kingdom." He looked back at his people with saddened eyes. "Had I known that my sister was trying to usurp me, I never would have left. Much of England has suffered in my absence." He turned back to the couple with the resolve of a monarch. "But I promise you this: I shall never again abandon my people. The two of you have done so much for Nottingham, and for that, I am eternally grateful." He took Marinette's hand and kissed it on the back. "So, I ask that you accept my gift… and my blessing."

Marinette nodded, her eyes almost filling with tears.

Adrien embraced his royal cousin and muttered a thank you before taking his place at his bride's side again.

As soon as the couple joined hands, King Felix stepped back and said, "Friar, proceed."

Friar Fu bowed low. "Of course, My Liege. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Um…" He shrugged and announced with a smile. "Husband and wife!"

More chuckling from the crowd. Marinette never wanted it to end. After so much suffering and despair, they could use a little more laughter in their lives.

The bald priest nodded to Adrien. "You may kiss the bride."

"No need to tell me," the lordling sneered before turning to face his lady.

As Marinette threw her arms around Adrien and kissed him more fiercely than she ever had before, King Felix raised his arms to praise the married couple, and all of Nottingham cheered as one.

High above, the leaves of autumn rained down from the sun-streaked canopy, glinting like jewels in a treasure trove.

And Marinette felt like the richest girl in all of England.

With Nottingham Castle burned to the ground, Adrien's father, Lord Gabriel, decided to re-establish his estate and holdings in London. This time, however, his son refused to join him. Upon learning that Adrien had married a notorious outlaw – and a peasant girl, at that – Lord Gabriel had been furious and humiliated. Fortunately, there was nothing he could do now that King Felix knew that the nobleman had been conspiring to put Princess Chloe on the throne with Adrien as her king and consort.

Lord Gabriel left a small fortune behind with Adrien – begrudgingly, of course – and even set foot in Nottingham again. The young lordling decided to put it to good use by renovating the local bakery that had once belonged to Marinette's father. Another large portion of the money was given to Friar Fu for his humanitarian efforts.

As he promised, King Felix ensured that his sister and her associates would never cause trouble to Nottingham or any other town ever again.

Princess Chloe, deemed mad and mentally-unstable, was forgiven by her brother and sent to live in a convent on the edge of the kingdom. She would spend the rest of her days under the watchful care of the Sweet Sisters, a group of nuns who took charge over the chronically and mentally ill. King Felix often visited his sister when he could, but in time, the former princess would become nothing more than a hollow husk of her former self.

Sabrina was given a kinder fate, and was allowed to join a nunnery somewhere near Wales. They say she continues to pray each day and thank the Lord Almighty for sparing her of the atrocity she had once served.

As for Sheriff Roger, King Felix stripped him of his authority and sentenced him to ten years of public service. And for his first act of duty, Roger was given the honour of publicly announcing Ladybug's royal pardon…

They were all laughing at him. They didn't show it, but he could see it in their eyes. It made him squirm inside his skin.

No more enforced taxes, which meant no more poor peasants to swindle. Roger missed staring down at them all like the cockroaches they were. Now, as he stood at the great oak tree in the main square of Nottingham, the former Sheriff seemed so much shorter. About a hundred people had crammed into the surrounding streets to hear his announcement, and their gazes lingered over Roger like a hundred arrows ready to shoot him down.

On the bright side, the two royal guards – the king's guards – served as protection, as well as insurance that Roger would perform his duty. They weren't Trigger and Nutsy, that's for sure, but they were better than nothing.

At least the old vulture and his ditsy sidekick were in jail, safe and sound and undisturbed in a cell. Far from the leering eyes of the commoners. Not to mention Trigger and his "Old Betsy" would never rouse anyone from their sleep ever again.

Roger turned to the tree, where a withered wanted poster lay nailed into the bark. Ladybug's face almost sneered down at the plump man, as though saying, "You soldiers never learn."

Scowling, Roger ripped the poster off, savouring the tearing sound. He threw the pieces to the ground before removing a roll of parchment from within his tunic. Roger unrolled it and cleared his throat loudly.

"By order of His Royal Majesty King Felix the Lionheart," he stated with a bile taste in his mouth, "the renowned archer Lady Marinette of Nottingham, also known as Ladybug the Red Archer, is hereby pardoned of all crimes and restored to a high state of honour for her valiant services to the people of Nottingham and to the Crown." Roger grumbled until he caught one of the king's soldiers glaring at him, and he continued. "Henceforth, the Lady Marinette will be bestowed the title "Defender of Nottingham", decreed by His Majesty and sanctioned by the Holy Church."

The crowd whispered excitedly, and Roger caught a few children sticking their tongues at him. He ignored them and turned back to the tree, smoothing the decree against it and placing his hand up in the centre to hold it steady. He stretched his fingers apart to get at both corners.

That's when he realized he was missing something, and Roger sighed irritably. "I need a nail," he said.

A few chuckles escaped the lips of the onlookers.

Roger frowned at them over his shoulder, his wounded pride refusing to sink any lower. "Someone! A nail!" he shouted.

WHIZZ!

Roger never saw it coming, but he felt the impact vibrating through the bark beneath his fingers.

Everyone gaped with surprise.

Something cold slithered down Roger's spine, and he gulped. Then, ever-so-slowly, he turned back to the decree.

Nailing the parchment to the tree, embedded right in the spot between his middle and ring fingers, was a cherrywood arrow. Its fletching was as bright and bold as a ladybug's wings.

In his panic, Roger looked around, but the large crowd had already parted to reveal a grinning young woman in a red hood, her bow still raised at him.

Beside the former outlaw stood Sir Adrien – or Cat Noir, or whatever he called himself these days. He was leaning casually on his staff and shooting Roger a bemused look that said, "Gotcha."

There were three other people in hoods: orange, green, and teal. Roger recognised them all. Rena Rouge in all her roguish glory. Adrien's shield-bearing manservant. That pink-haired peasant brat with the big mouth. All of them hovered close to Ladybug like devoted knights to their lady.

Roger's face reddened with anger and dread. They never stop coming!

Ladybug giggled and lowered her bow. Then, she lifted her hood to brush her midnight-blue hair. "Morning, Sheriff," the girl said with a bright airy tone, as though she were addressing an old friend. "Beautiful day, huh?"

Roger blinked at her with a gaping mouth, and only then did the crowd start chortling amongst themselves, waving at their heroine or otherwise pointing at the old man's face.

Ladybug saluted the two guards beside him, and they both saluted back with a smile.

That's right. "Defender of Nottingham" – that's what she was now. Her and her merry little band of brigands. No more running from the law. No more evading the guards. The sheer incredulity of it all gave Roger a burning stitch in his side.

Ladybug gave Roger a glittering wink before she took Adrien's hand and turned away. Together, they headed down the main street, their red and black cloaks fanning behind them as they caught in the breeze. The rest of her retinue followed, their weapons propped on their shoulders as they marched in a single row of five, with Ladybug at their centre.

And while the townsfolk continued savouring their former Sheriff's pale-faced terror, Roger wondered if he would ever be free of that red-cloaked renegade ever again.

Well, folks… that's the way it really happened.

From that day forth, Ladybug and her Merry Men – as they were so innocuously called – protected the people of Nottingham from danger and injustice for the rest of their days.

Even as the legend continues to change, the truth of it all will never leave these pages, or the memories of those who lived to see it all happen. In times of peace and in times of war, the folks of Nottingham knew they could always count on Ladybug, Cat Noir, Rena Rouge, Carapace, Bunnyx, and all others who joined their cause.

And some today believe that Ladybug is still out there, even after all these decades. Maybe not the one we knew, but someone who has taken up her mantle and motto – someone from a new generation to continue the Red Archer's noble legacy. Whatever the case, this author does not doubt that the legend of Ladybug will live on for centuries to come.

End of Chapter V: "The Adventures of Ladybug: The Red Archer"

Signed,

Nathaniel a'Dale

circa. 1192

THE END

LXP: Finally! After such a long break, it's all finished. Thanks for sticking around this long, readers.

Once again, I do NOT own anything associated with Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir or Robin Hood.

If you haven't already, please check out my other ML crossovers. I promise you they're a lot better than this one! They are my 3-part "Miraculaddin" series, "The Little Miraculous", and my 2-part Once Upon a Time Xover series.

My next project is a gender-bent rendition of Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Stay tuned!

Spots off! :)