3 Years Later.

"You little punk." The guard said as he whipped the old man making him scream in pain he finally dropped. In this war prison of enemy territory men of many ages and sizes were chained up to walls holding onto their hopes of escape.

"You don't steal bread. You can only eat what we give you." The guard sang as he let the old man fall to the ground in a heap of sweat, blood, hair, tears, and a skin sack of bones. Each prisoner had overgrown hair and beards from the years they spent in the prison.

"I'm sorry." The old man cried before being locked in his cage again. his body was slowly bleeding out as they left him in the cage to rot for his crimes,

"Who else stole bread?" The guards asked looking around at his prisoners, who all cringed into balls cowering in fear.

However, a young man of 21 with long blonde tangled hair and long blonde tangled beard looked straight ahead with his peridot cat eyes and they locked on with the caramel eyes of the painted man who was strung up across the dungeon, the bread hidden underneath the painted man's cloak. The blond man had seen the act himself but felt no need to act against the thief.

"I did." The blonde man said looking right at the painted man whose eyes got big in worry for the sun-blessed man who spoke up but not with any intention of outing the truth but trying to cover it up and he thought the man incompetent.

The blonde man watched without fear as the guards came up to him and undid his chains and pulling him towards the stand, he saw the old man's blood covering it as well as old blood crusted over it, he did not flinch as he laid across it and his arms were held down, the painted man stayed quiet and watched in observation at the stupid man who was about to be punished for a crime he didn't commit.

"This will teach you to steal food." The guards said as 2 of them were preparing to lash him front and back, his long blonde nest of hair still had blood from his prison neighbors who were chained next to him and their lashings caused blood splattering around and getting on him. Both of the guards reeled back to whip, but suddenly the blonde man used his restraints to pull his captors forward just in time for the whips to hit the guards' eyes blinding them instantly and they released his ropes in pain holding their bleeding eyes and screaming in agony the blonde man used one of his bare feet to grab one of their daggers with his toes and with cat-like reflexes he threw it up easily slicing through the ropes before catching it in his hand. With one hand free he cut the other rope freeing himself with ease.

As he fought he also grabbed a pole and began using that as a weapon bounding and thrashing as many of the other prisoners were pulling at their chains and begging him to help them escape as well. However, he couldn't use the pole or his dagger to unlocks any of the locks or break any of the chains.

"Christian. Over here." The painted man said calling out to the blonde man, not by knowing his name but calling him by his religion.

The blonde man used the dagger to spin slicing the throats of the guards or knocking out other guards than with quick reflexes he threw the dagger to the painted prisoner easily letting him cut through his ropes, the blond man quickly pulled out the swords of the 2 guards he then ran to the painted man.

"Let's go." He said tosing one of the swords to the painted man who caught it easily.

They ran through the dungeon opening cages, cutting the ropes, and unlocking shackles releasing each of the prisoners with ease and the two men leading the escape. They made quick work of releasing as many prisoners and fighting off more guards before they slipped one by one into the sewers.

The escape was less than graceful but no more heroic, they were all silent as they slipped back into the city like alley cats. As many found their way out each one bid their farewells and slipped away into the night. Once they were all free the blonde man ran to hide in the darkened market while the painted man followed.

The blonde man hid behind a fruit cart in the darkened market looking around for signs of guards before turning back to the painted man.

"You don't need to keep following me." The blonde man said as the painted man grabbed a large fruit, he hit the fruit on a rock splitting it open and handed half to the blonde man who dug in gratefully the sweet flavor of the fruit was heaven while the cold juice healed his parchment then half of the bread the painted man stole was before his eyes and he dug in with gratitude.

"You saved my life so I will spend the rest of it serving at your side until one day I can return the favor." The painted man said also eating happily as the blonde man wiped his face with his sleeve.

"I'm Adrien." The blonde man said making the painted man look at him.

"I am called Carapace, but you may call me Nino." The painted man said as the men shook hands. They gathered more food quickly and quietly before they slipped back into the night toward freedom.

4 Months Later

The city of Paris was quiet on this covered and lightly rainy day, while some were working diligently at their day jobs, the Candlestick maker was heating his wax, the Baker was putting bread on the cooling rack while putting more bread dough in the oven, the fishermen were pulling their nightly haul for the shop, the Farmers were organizing their produce by color and piles looking like shiny jewels of different colors.

A small boat was slowly rafting down the Seine, it was a cloudy day and the fog was a great cover so it was easy for them to the bank just outside of Paris. Adrien stood at the front of the boat feeling the wind blowing through his newly cut blonde hair and shaved face, he traded the tattered soldier tunic he wore in the prison and now he wore black and gold clothes, Nino stood behind Adrien and watched him in his happy behavior at being back in his home country.

"Yes," Adrien said with happiness as he dismounted the boat sloshing in the shallow water with his knee-high black boots before laying on the bank, his short blond hair falling and getting wet. His face felt the cool fall wind while his black coat and trousers got wet from the cold water, he loved it.

"You are very strange Malik," Nino Said as he also joined him on the bank but only standing, he now wore a coat of green with brown trousers and a cloak of green, his head, and beard now shaved.

"I gave you your freedom so why not just take the boat and go home to be with your family?" Adrien said standing and brushing off his clothes with happiness and looking back at his dark-skinned companion.

"My only place is by your side, Malik," Nino said as he walked away from the bank and Adrien followed smiling with happiness at being back home easily twirling his cape around with a burst of child-like laughter.

"So where are we headed?" Nino asked looking around making Adrien come up behind him. They began walking inland and along a small rock wall that separated different farming lands.

"To my Palace in Paris, we shall dine with my father the King and we will be welcomed home together," Adrien said as he practically danced along a rock wall with frivolity and happiness at being home.

"It must be a shining palace for one who is made of sunlight," Nino exclaimed looking up at the blonde man who stopped his twirling to look behind him and down at the painted man with intrigue.

"Where do you come from Nino to talk like that?" Adrien asked him making Nino stop and look up at Adrien.

"I come from the Moors, Malik," Nino stated calmly.

"Is it a Moorish custom for you to not walk beside me? You're constantly behind me." Adrien said with a challenging smile.

"No Malik. In this country you have slaves. It is easier to tell people that I am your slave and not your equal." Nino explained returning the challenging smile to his blonde companion, they stood smiling to each other in understanding. The Moors was a forest in England that were full of what people called Godless savages, and there are many people who blame life's problems on them and their savagery, but to a chivalrous man like Adrien, he didn't see anyone other than a free man with his own beliefs and lifestyle.

"Then I hope you don't find Paris to be too different and hopefully someday feel like home," Adrien said giving the man a promising nod before jumping from the wall and coming up to Nino and wrapping his arm around him.

"Thank you, Malik," Nino said with a warm look on his painted face.

~o0o~

It was nearly nightfall when they arrived at the vast shining palace of King Gabriel. Its Spires, bay-windows, and roof of slate held regality to all who viewed it, Adrien had a beaming smile on his face as he was incredibly happy at being home once again.

"Come Nino. We are almost home." Adrien said pulling the man up by wrapping his arm around the other man's shoulders as they were walking along the bright green grass towards the gate.

"Halt, who goes there?" The Guards said as they pointing their swords at the 2 men.

"Put down your weapons and let the King know that his son Prince Adrien has returned," Adrien said happily as he approached the men with a smile and as he did so both of the men looked startled because the blonde man in front of them did indeed look like the Prince, however, due to the funeral and the belief that the Prince was dead he guards were awestruck and very confused.

"But how? We got word that you died?" One of the guards said his soldier demeanor faltering and lowering their weapons gently as the Prince came closer.

"Only captured in the war but I was able to earn my freedom with the help of my friend Carapace here." He said pulling the painted man up to stand at his side and not on his flank.

"Sire." One of the guards said bowing in submission easily making the other do the same.

"Thank you," Adrien said as they let him and Nino pass without further yielding.

If the outside of the palace was regal then the inside was majestic, tall ceilings with flying buttresses, beautiful scenery painted on every wall and ceiling, wrought iron gates, silver sconces, and gold embellishments a classic and beautiful French Palace.

"What happened?" Adrien said as he saw that the curtains had been drawn and there was almost no light in the palace. They traveled through the darkened halls carefully and almost sneakily.

"Is it not supposed to look like this?" Nino asked looking around at the beautiful but depressing Castle with cold chills blowing through it.

"No when the curtains are open the sun fills the palace with golden light like you wouldn't believe. I don't know what happened, I've never seen the palace look like this," Adrien said looking around as they began walking through the palace where servants and guards all gasped in shock when they saw him and bowed in submission to the newly returned Prince.

"I knew your gold hair was a gift from God," Nino said as he looked at the once shining palace as they passed by each room and easily looked back at Adrien with a cheeky smile.

"HAHA, your funny old boy," Adrien laughed as his happiness picked up just as they arrived at the vast Office of King Gabriel.

Adrien easily pushed the doors opened to reveal the room that was once filled with sunlight was now filled with darkness and depression as the lavender curtains were now dark purple and the gold was replaced with deep silver, at its center there was once a gold and rose gold desk made from Birchwood and delicately carved that has been replaced with a dark oak desk with carving of butterflies that have been painted a deep purple and embellished with silver instead of their signature gold.

Sitting at the desk was King Gabriel himself, his gold and lavender clothes had been replaced with a plain white and red suit, his gold hair now twinged with shiny silver hair and age had not been kind to him as wrinkles were forming on his handsome face, his eyes were focused on a document he was writing making his quill pen fly across the page in a light but focused rage.

"Father?" Adrien said happily as he entered the room with his Princely grace and holding his arms open in welcoming happiness.

The old King stopped his writing and looked up with a blank and focused look, but at the sight of the young blonde man before him, he rubbed his eyes and tried to focus again.

"Adrien?" He questioned as his eyes focused on the familiar face.

"Yes, father. I am home." Adrien said happily coming up to the desk to stand in front of it as Nino stayed behind to watch the old King with careful eyes, Nino was always a cautious man and he easily noticed that there were certain weapons mounted on the wall such as a shining black bow with a silver handle, its black leather was almost shining as the bowstring was still fresh and a matching black leather and silver quiver that held diamond-tipped arrows they were accompanied by a shiny green turtle style shield and matching sword.

"But how? You died?" Gabriel asked standing in shock and backing away with uncertainty and with growing rage.

"No, Father I was only captured. I was able to escape with help from my friend Nino here." Adrien said pointing behind him towards Nino with a dignified swoop of his arm making the King look at the painted man with matching uncertainty.

The King looked at both men back and forth then continued and easily getting enraged by doing so and forgoing the Prince imposter and the unwelcome moor man.

"No, you can't be here." He said bringing his hands to his face and holding them tightly to try and remove the illusion before him.

"Father? What do you mean?" Adrien said coming around the desk to get in his father's line of sight and trying to remove his hands from his face.

"No, you died. I won't mistake a beautiful ghost for reality again." Gabriel said going to stand in front of the fireplace trying to ignore them.

"Father I promise it's me. I'm here Look at me." Adrien said gently but roughly pulling on his father's shoulder to get the man to look at him, but the old King was adamant that what he saw was nothing but an illusion and thus retaliated

"YAgH, AhhHgGHHh," Adrien screamed in pain as Gabriel had thrown a handful of ash at the handsome ghost of his imagination. Nino grasped Adrien around the arms and held him back as Adrien was vigorously rubbing his eyes to clear them.

"You are nothing but an imposter," Gabriel said unsheathing his sword and pointing it at the young blond man and his dark-skinned companion.

Adrien was lucky that none of the ash actually got in his eyes he crouched low on the ground with his green eyes slitting in defense as Nino stood in defense behind him.

Gabriel looked down at what he was seeing, the blonde man wearing all black, bright green eyes that were almost shining and a thick line of black vertically slit his eyes, he was crouching low to the ground on all fours and a growl releasing from his mouth as his canines shined in the darkened room, while the hooded man in green stood tall and proud like a turtle.

"You're not my son. Your nothing but a black cat." Gabriel said slashing at him just as Adrien pulled out his own sword and they began to duel each other. Nino looked around for what to help with, but a yowl of pain caught his attention making him look to see that Gabriel had slashed Adrien's black coat leaving his right arm bare except for his black leather studded cuff the covered his forearm which he used to block the next swipe of Gabriel's sword.

Nino looked at the weapons on the wall, the King quickly knocked the hilt of his sword into Adrien's stomach and caused a yowl of pain and thus caused Nino to quickly get to the wall and grab them quickly pulling the shield on his back just as another yowl resounded through the room. After grasping the bow and arrows Nino watched as Gabriel had slashed Adrien's other sleeve now both of his muscular arms were bare save the leather cuffs.

"You put those back you thief," Gabriel shouted at Nino throwing a dagger at him but missing just as Nino tossed the bow and arrows to Adrien who was quick to draw an arrow and shoot it at his own father in his right shoulder.

Gabriel was slumped against the painting of him, his wife and young son while his blood was tainting the painting.

"Father," Adrien shouted as he watched his father slump in pain he was in disbelief that he had attacked his own father, while the arrow only pierced his shoulder and caused not too much damage, Adrien was prepared to run to his father in fear and apology but he was pulled back by Nino.

"Malik," Nino said grasping Adrien by the shoulders of what was left by his coat and holding him back.

"It isn't safe Malik we must go," Nino said pulling him back towards the door as the King grasped his shoulder and pulled out the arrow and began sweating in pain.

"SEIGE." A loud voice sounded throughout the palace making them all look while loud bells began to ring throughout the palace.

"SO that's who you are," Gabriel said making the boys look at him.

"Your nothing but part of those Merry Men thieves come to torment me and steal my Son's weapons," Gabriel said putting pressure on his wound just as 2 guards pounded into the room and looked at the scene before them.

Nino was quick to use the hilt of the green sword to knock out one guard while Adrien shot the other only succeeding in piercing his leg. Both of them ran out of the room with great haste.

The bells were sounding and the shouts were loud.

~o0o~

She held her pink skirt as she lightly ran, her pink strappy heels clicked along the tiled floor in her haste, she needed to get back to her room, her ladies in waiting must be worried, especially with intruders in the palace and hiding who knows where.

"I have to hurry." She exclaimed as she cursed her pink and red corset that constricted her breathing, her midnight hair was slowly falling from its delicate curls in the bun Tikki did, she stopped a moment to try and catch her fleeting breath and hold her corsetted stomach, but she was failing, however, when a loud clatter sounded nearby and reverberated back to her ears she picked up her skirt back up and continued to run.

In another hallway both Nino and Adrien were dodging statues and walls trying to avoid the guards, they stopped to stand against a wall and take a breather.

"That didn't go as planned," Adrien said as he ran his hand through his hair letting the sweat make it stringy and fall flat and spikey.

"So what now?" Nino said taking deep breaths looking at the young Prince who was looking more and more like a villain than a Prince.

They stood there for a minute when a distant clacking caught their attention and instantly noticed that they were footsteps.

"Come on," Adrien said running down the opposite hallway but just as he rounded the corner he hit something short and soft.

Marinette grunted as she suddenly collided with a tall muscular wall.

"OOF." She exclaimed and was matched by a masculine sound as her run was abruptly halted. She felt her body being wrapped in strong arms before she began to flip around on the floor. The large body was hot and sweaty as they turned on the ground, she was gasping as she found herself lying on the ground, her hair was down and flared out and her skirt had risen just enough that the body above her she felt was well underneath it.

Adrien tumbled with the small person of pink that he held until he felt their momentum had finally stopped, he held himself above the small body then decided to open his eyes to apologize but he gasped in shock.

Marinette was quick to open her eyes and gasped at the sight as her Bluebell eyes met familiar and handsome shining emerald eyes. Her midnight hair was flared around her as her pink and red corset was moving against her gasping chest it was evident that she was having difficulty breathing, but she was still just as beautiful as he remembered her.

He held himself above her, though he had gotten taller and muscular, his hair was now longer and hanging like gold vines framing his face while peaking out of the black hood that was on his head giving him a dark and mysterious demeanor while the black smudge across his face accented his familiar green eyes, her delicate hands with red nail polish held onto his muscular and sweaty biceps.

They stared at each other in longing as Marinette's breathing shuddered and her vision was beginning to fade not just because of her constricting corset but also because of shock while her mind was still unsure of whether she was dreaming or hallucinating.

he was quick to notice her shuddering breath and her eyes fading so as quickly as he could he sat on his knees right over her legs but not putting too much pressure on them before quickly taking out his dagger and slashed open her corset, she gasped taking in a deep breath and waking up to see the worry and love in his eyes and she looked back at him with wide eyes filled with admiration and love.

"Malik," Nino said grasping Adrien's shoulders and hauled him up before pulling him away just as many footsteps were pounding in their direction.

Adrien held Marinette's gaze as he let Nino pull him away, she was older and more beautiful then she was when they were younger, her body had plumped up into womanly curves and her midnight hair was longer and fell like black water.

He could barely contain himself as she was sitting on the floor with her pink sparkly skirt was at her knees showing off some her undergarments, stockings, and lovely pink heels, while her newly sliced open corset was showing him her pink undershirt that was barely hiding her bountiful bosom but her arms hid the rest.

His eyes were glazed over as he was lead out of the palace just as a large group of men also bounded out of the large structure with happy shouts while they hauled candelabras, gold plates, and sacks of unknown treasures and the 2 men were caught up in the crowd that they had no choice but be hauled away with them into the forest just as night was falling creating a bleak cover of darkness that aided in their escape.

~o0o~

Marinette held her arms over her chest and curled her legs under herself as she just sat there in shock.

"Adrien." She said to herself just as tears were falling down her face and for the first time in years a true smile graced her face as she stared in the direction he left but she couldn't help her emotions.

"Princess." She barely heard, just as Tikki and Alya came up to her, she was on cloud nine as she cried remembering every single detail she could about what had just transpired and try as she might for the first time in years she was incredibly happy so with wails that sounded like pain she grasped onto Alya and Tikki and cried in pain as she remembered everything that just happened down to the very last detail.

Both Alya and Tikki looked at the pain-stricken face of their Princess and her state of dress. However, they both bypassed her smile and only noticed 2 things. Her tears, and her clothing (or lack thereof) then they made a horrible assumption that caused both of them to enrage at the possible defilement of their beloved Princess.

"Princess? Your virginity." Alya exclaimed as Tikki quickly pulled off her cloak and wrapped it around her Princess who wailed in great pain though it was not the pain they were thinking it was the pain that her heart had been closed off for years but now suddenly blossomed in happiness.

"Guards," Alya shouted making 3 guards come around the corner.

"Take heed, one of those rogues has assaulted the Princess," Alya said in her firm authoritative tone as she clung to her charge.

Marinette was too far gone to care as she was lead by hands on her shoulders back to her room and guards had been posted around her door to keep her safe.