"You took a very big risk the other day." Friar Fu told Adrien. "If Nino didn't have one of my special herb balls you would've lost your head."

"I know and never I have I been more grateful for those herb balls in all my life." Adrien said.

"If you don't mind me asking what on earth possessed you to do such a risky thing?"

"It was a girl." Nino said. "Adrien wanted a kiss from Maid Marinette."

"Is that true my son?" Fu asked.

"I know it was stupid but I just had to see her again." Adrien said. "She's the most amazing woman I've ever met."

"Ah love." Fu sighed. "One of our lord's most beautiful yet complicated gifts. I knew Marinette when she was a child, a sweet little girl she was and she's now become an even more kind young woman. You know she comes here regularly to give me jewels to give to the poor."

"Really? Oh could any woman be more perfect?" Adrien asked the Friar.

"Now Adrien you know very well no one is perfect."

"Well she's awfully close to it then."

"Adrien while I encourage the pursuit of love you mustn't let it lead you into trouble. Speaking of which I do believe the prince's men are on their way here any moment so you two better get out of here if you know what's good for you."

With those words the two young men quickly slipped out of the church into the quiet of the night. On his way back to they spotted the sheriff and his men at a house and forcibly pulling a woman with long blue hair out. In her arms she was clutching a baby and following behind her was a teenage girl with yellow hair and three children who he recognized as Plagg, Tikki, and Trixx.

"I swear on my life Sheriff we have no gold here! Honest!" The woman said.

"Oh really?" Theo said. "Then I guess you all belong in jail!"

"No please! Not my children! Spare them! Please! I'll do anything."

"Anything?"

His lustful eyes went to the teenager Pollen who was clutching Tikki and Trixx protectively. He walked over to her grinning and grabbed her face.

"Your oldest daughter is quite pretty Miss Duusu. How old is she? Fourteen? Fifteen? Perhaps she could be used to pay for your taxes?"

"Never!" Duusu shrieked. "How dare you-"

But she was silenced by him striking her to the ground, while she received a painful blow she was able to protect her baby from it.

"Mother!" Her children gasped.

"I think we should let her decide. What do you say my pretty one? Would you mind spending some time with me to save your poor family from sleeping with the gutter rats?"

He brought her closer to him and smelled her hair making her tense up then his hand began to run up and down her body only to have it stopped by an arrow being shot into it by Plagg.

"Keep your dirty hands off my sister you creep!" The boy said.

"You little wretch!" Theo said striking Plagg. "I've had just about enough of you!"

"No stop!" Duusu cried.

"It's a hangman's noose for you boy!"

"Over my dead body!" A voice shouted and another arrow was shot right into Theo's leg. It was Adrien who had his arrows ready with Nino. They had their arrows coated in a new paralyzing oil that Fu concocted so each other the men they shot their arrows with found themselves unable to move and would remain paralyzed for at least an hour. The two men then took Duusu and her family with them back to their hideout.

"You and your children can sleep in mine and Nino's bedroom until we have new house built for you." Adrien told them. "We also have plenty of meat from bucks, apples and nuts from trees, to feed you and your children, we also have fresh water from streams and milk from does for them to drink though deer milk is quite bitter. Tomorrow I'll try to get your money back."

"Oh bless you Adrien. Bless you." She said tucking her baby Nooroo into the basket cradle Nino had made.

"I heard you lost your husband in the war. I'm very sorry."

"It's okay but for some reason I believe he's still alive."

"Why is that?"

"They never found a body so I have hope that he's still out there."

"Hold on to it then ma'am because hope is something we really need right now."

"I will especially with you helping us. You know you've done a lot for us."

"All I did was save you."

"And that is truly one of the greatest things a person could ever do. But you did something else to, something just as grand."

"What?"

"You've given my son someone to look up to. After my husband left Plagg has felt like he needs to take care of us but he's so young and anxious to do great things that sometimes it leads him into trouble. He needs someone to be a role model for him, I think he sees you as the big brother he never had and I thank you for that."

"I'm just here to help ma'am however with your kind permission I wouldn't mind teaching him how to shoot properly tomorrow."

"Well...Just make sure he doesn't hurt himself."

"I won't."

Meanwhile Marinette and Alya had cleverly sneaked out the castle and were making their way through the woods on horses. They had brought a satchel with them that carried some candles, a rope, some money, extra clothes, paper, a bottle of ink, and her dagger.

"I can't believe that scum thinks you'll marry him." Alya said. "I mean he's so old."

"I know not to mention he's selfish, cruel, ruthless, and absolutely horrid." Marinette said. "I'd rather die than marry him."

"So what are we going to do now?"

"Well first we need to find a place to stay then I'm going to write my father a letter asking him to return as soon as he can because as of now our kingdom is edging closer and closer toward destruction."

"Agreed Miss."

As the two rode on further they were completely unaware that they were being watched by some of Adrien's accomplices. They didn't recognize Marinette because she was wearing a red hood to hide her face but they did see her fancy dress, the locket around her neck, and the ruby earrings in her ears. Thinking they were wealthy noblewomen like Chloe they decided to rob her. Once the first bandit gave the others the signal they dropped from the trees with their swords ready.

"Stop!" The first said. "Hand over the jewelry and nobody gets hurt."

"Leave us be." Marinette said. "We are just two women trying to make our way through the forest."

"Of course but we insisted you give us the jewels you bear."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that."

"Then we shall take them but force."

Marinette quickly pulled the dagger from her satchel.

"Try it." She said bravely.

"No my lady save that for a far more dangerous challenge. Leave these thugs to me." Alya said. She got off her horse and approached the bandits.

"Look lady we're not big hitting girls." One said.

"Why not? I'm sure I can take you."

They burst out laughing only to have Alya punch one of them in the jaw so hard that it knocked them out.

"Anyone else wanna go?" She asked.

Another lunged for her but she caught him and flipped him into a nearby creek. Two more tried to grabbed her but she kicked one them in the shin and the other in the one spot no man wants to be kicked in. Using her scarf Marinette began slinging small rocks at their heads she then slid her leg under their feet, knocking them over and giving Marinette a chance to lasso and tie them with a rope she brought.

"Oh God these women are mad." One of the bandits said.

"How dare you rob us!" Marinette said to the leader holding his neck to the point of her dagger.

"We were just doing our job Miss."

"And who is your employer."

"We are sworn to secrecy Miss and no blade can frighten me into talking."

"What about your other men?" She held up her dagger and began to polish it with her skirt. "Would they mind losing their tongues?"

"Wait! We work for Adrien!" Another shouted.

"Franc!" The others scolded.

"Sorry but she scares me."

"So you all are allies of Adrien?" Marinette said.

"Yes but please don't turn us in Miss."

"Don't worry I won't." Marinette said taking down her hood.

"Marinette!" They gasped.

"A thousand apologies your ladyship." The leader said. "If we had known it was you we wouldn't have bothered you. We thought you were one of those selfish, greedy noblewomen like Chloe."

"Well maybe our little defense attack will teach you not to assume who people are before you consider robbing them." Marinette said cutting them loose. "Where is Adrien anyway?"

"He's at our secret hideout planning another attack."

"I'd like to speak with him."

"Sorry no can do your ladyship we are forbidden to allow anyone in our hideout."

"Is that right?"

Five minutes later...

"No! You can't go down there!" The men argued as Marinette and Alya followed the secret passageway that had been made to the hideout. It wasn't that difficult to find, that is if you had a good eye and understood the symbol of the leaves and pebbles. "Come back here! You can't go down there!"

"Stop her!"

"I'm trying to stop her! You can't go down there!"

"Oh cease your infernal yapping!" Alya cried annoyed.

"Shut up and move out of the way you bloody cow!"

"Don't you call me a bloody cow you urchins!"

Marinette giggled as she listened to her lady in waiting and the bandits argue then found herself gazing in awe at the numerous tree houses built and the many people living there. She recognized them as prisoners from the dudgeon and you can imagine how relieved she was to find them free and living happily. Her eyes then met with Adrien who was standing on top of a tree.

"Adrien you have visitors." One of his men said causing Adrien to glare at him. "Don't look at me like that! I tried to stop her! But she's a stubborn one!"

"That she is." Adrien said swinging down from the tree and landing next to her. "And it makes her even more irresistible."

"So this is where you've been hiding. Clever hiding spot but not clever enough to hide from me." Marinette said.

"Welcome to humble abode my lady." Adrien said bowing. "To what do I owe this wonderful visit?"

"I wish to have a word with you if you don't mind."

"Not at all. Right this way."