Miraculous Knights Chapter 13

Fifteen year old Adrien stood at attention by his father’s side, yawning as he scanned the crowd for a certain someone.

“Who are you looking for darling,” Adrien’s attention was drawn away from the crowd to his mother, Queen Emilia who sat beside his father on the opposite side. Adrien joined his mother on her side, kissing her cheek as he greeted her.

“No one particularly special mother.”

“Adrien, I’d know that look anywhere.”

“What look?”

“The same look your father had when he searched for me at our first ball.” Adrien’s face went pink with embarrassment as his mother gave him and all knowing smile. From where Adrien previously stood, Chloe Bourgeois scowled.

Adrien resumed his search from his mother’s side.

“Although my question is dear, why you chose to go with the silver mask instead of the black, you know how stunning you look in black.”

“Thank you mother, but father insisted as future king I should wear the silver.” Queen Emilia turned to her husband, who wore a golden mask covering the area around his eyes.

“What? I wore that same mask at his age.”

“Oh Gabriel, let the boy wear what he wants. He almost a grown man now.”

“He’s fifteen.”

“And a very mature one at that.”

“If he’s mature enough to pick his own clothes, he’s mature enough to pick an eligible wife.”

“He’s not that old dear.” The king smirked at his wife’s response and kissed her forehead.

“Next year then he can wear the black mask.”

“Next year he can where whatever mask he chooses.”

“Fine,” the Queen kissed her king to seal the agreement while Adrien chuckled over their nonsense quarrel.

He resumed scanning the room, his eyes finally coming to rest on a girl looking about his age with with a red mask covering the area around her eyes. Ladybug.

“Excuse me mother,” Adrien rushed forward, but then remembered where he was. He was the prince and she was a normal girl. They weren’t suppose to know each other. But maybe she would recognize him without his normal Chat Noir mask and sauve.

He found her standing by, presumably her parents.

“Pardon me,” Adrien gave a slight bow while Ladybug gave a deep curtsy, which her parents followed in a deep bow and deep curtsy.

“May I please have this dance?” Ladybug gave a quick glance over the room, but apparently not find who she was looking for, she nodded.

Adrien extended his hand, which she shyly took, and led her onto the dance floor. He held her waist while she reached for his shoulder, and began to spin her around the room with the rest of the couples on the dance floor.

He felt a small tap on his shoe, and looked down to find ladybug’s cheeks tinged pink.

“Sorry your highness, I’m afraid I’m not a very good dancer.”

“You are doing just fine Princess.” Ladybug giggled at the comment.

“I’m afraid you must be mistaken your highness, I’m not a princess or any sort of royalty.”

“Really? I was so certain when I saw you across the room you belonged to a noble house.”

“I’m afraid not your highness. My family and I live here in the capital and haven’t a drop of royal blood in our veins.”

“Your grace on the dance floor says otherwise,” as Ladybug stepped on his other foot.

“Now my feet have matching shoe prints.” Ladybug giggled then fell into silence, looking around the room as they danced.

“Looking for someone?” Ladybug’s face nearly matched her mask as she became self conscious of her actions.

“A friend your highness.”

“Must be a very dear friend to garner your attention so.”

“He is.” Adrien nodded, slightly disappointed his lady didn’t recognize him out of the normal clothes he wore for training and as Chat Noir. Then again, maybe the silver mask seem uncharacteristic of Chat Noir.

“Then I shall let you find him.” Adrien escorted off the dance floor and gave a slight bow, which she returned with a curtsy. He needed the black mask to spend more time with his lady.

“Excuse me father, I believe I shall retire early,” Adrien excused as he stopped by his father and mother.

“Alright, good night darling,” his mother stood and gave him a kiss on the cheek. As his mother returned to her seat, his father pulled down on his arm.

“Was that Ladybug?”

“Yes sir.” The king nodded and resumed to watching the dance.

“But Adrikins! You haven’t danced with me yet.”

“Not tonight Chloe.”

“Aw come on, please, just one dance?”

Before he could say no again, his hand was tugged onto the dance floor as a new song began to play. Chloe gave his a slight curtsy and he returned the gesture with a bow. Chloe eagerly grabbed his hand and pulled it around her waist as she grabbed his shoulder. They began to dance with the other couples, Adrien’s eyes following Ladybug as she stood in the corner as two acquaintances of hers joined the dance floor.

“Adrikins, you’re suppose to keep your eyes on your partner when dancing.”

“I’m sorry Chlo, like I said, I’m ready to retire for the night.”

“At least finish this dance with me.”

Adrien sighed and glanced to Ladybug who continued to scan the room, eventually stopping her search as her parents joined her, introducing her to a young man whose hair matched her red dress.

“Chloe, I think I’ve had enough-” in an instant the room was dark.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Nobles and Peasants. Thank you for attending tonight’s ball,” a single light shown upon the royal couple, namely the king who stood up as he spoke.

“The harvest and our trading has been good to us, and for that I am thankful to you.” He raised his glass and took a sip as the audience cheered. Adrien looked to see Ladybug in her corner with her parents, almost ready to spring into action if need be.

“To celebrate, I have invited a special guest. Please welcome, Hawkmoth.”

People gasped in a panic, searching the room for the nationally acclaimed enemy.

“Nooroo, Dark Wings Rise!” Where the king once stood was their long sought enemy in a silver mask and purple robes along with a wizarding staff.

“Miraculous Knights! To arms!” Adrien recognized Ladybug’s voice amongst the crowd and everyone ran in terror. Adrien left Chloe behind and sprinted to the nearest corridor to change.

“Everyone get out!” He could have sworn to have heard his mother’s voice as he dodged into a secluded hallway.

“At least you got one dance with Ladybug,” Plagg consolidated as he zipped out of Adrien’s coat, and Adrien tossed him a piece of cheese.

“But she didn’t even know it was me.”

“So what you can dance with her after you save the day.”

Adrien signed, trying to find solace in Plagg’s words, but only remembering his deal with Hawkmoth.

“Kid, you don't have to listen to him.”

“If I don't he'll hurt Ladybug.”

“Just saying.”

“Plagg, Claws Out!”

In a flash of green light, he was transformed into Chat Noir. He reached out of his secluded place and around the halls, searching for his team.


“Marinette, come on dear.” Marinette turned to see her parents as they hurried out with the rest of the crowd.

“I need to make sure my friend is ok,” Marinette urged, heading back towards the ballroom, when she felt a strong hand reach out for her. She looked up to see her father with his caring eyes.

“It's too dangerous.”

“Don't worry sir, I'll watch out for her,” Marinette smiled as she heard the reassuring words of Chat Noir as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you Chat Noir. Please take very good care of her,” Marinette’s dad extended his hand toward the country’s hero, who shook it in return.

“As if my life depended on it sir.”

“Be careful Mari,” Marinette’s mom gave her a kiss on the forehead just as Chat Noir led her back down the palace corridors.

“Where were you tonight?” She whispered as he brought her down a dark corridor out of view from the strangling crowds still trying to escape.

“Sorry my lady, I was running a bit late. Was the ball that bad while I was gone.”

“Well other than the king announcing he is Hawkmoth, I got to dance with the Prince.” Tikki flew out of Marinette’s skirt folds as Marinette obligingly gave the kwami a cookie.

“And how was that.”

“Alright I guess, I stepped on his feet twice.”

“My lady, who knew you were so clumsy outside of mask.”

Thanks to the night vision the Chat Noir suit provided, Chat Noir saw Marinette’s smirk as Tikki finished her cookie.

“Tikki, spots on!” In a flash of red and pink, instead of Marinette stood Ladybug.

“Although, I must say my lady,” Chat took her gloved hand in his and gave her knuckles a light kiss. “You looked paws-sitively ravishing tonight in your dress.”

“Puns? Really? Now of all times?”

“You know you like them.”

“Let’s go find the rest.”

“My lady, are you sure?” Chat Noir dropped their clasped hands to his chest, holding close and dear.

“What do you mean Chat?”

“What if we aren’t ready for Hawkmoth. What if he is too much to handle?”

“Chat,” Ladybug brought her other hand to Chat’s cheek, who closed his eyes at her gloved touch.

“We are a team. Not just you and me, but Le Paon, Honey Bee, Volpina, and Jade Turtle as well. We’ll get through this together.” Chat opened his eyes and smiled and kissed her forehead.

“You are absolutely wonderful, you know that?”

He pulled back to see her blushing in the dark.

“Come on kitty, we need go find the others.” She led his back down the way they came and headed back to the ballroom, Chat refusing to let go of their hands.

“Took you long enough love birds,” taunted Volpina, who stood with the rest of the group. Light had been restored to the room, now a mess from the chaos.

“Where’s Hawkmoth?” Ladybug ignored Volpina’s comment and went straight to Le Paon, who was poised with her bow and arrow.

“He seemed to have disappeared in the commotion. I don’t know if it is safer to wait or to explore the castle for him at this point.”

“We should separate, cover more ground,” offered Honey Bee, her trombo ready to shock the next person who entered the throne room. Chat cringed on the inside, knowing what Honey’s plan was. By splitting up the team, it made them easier for Hawkmoth.

“We should stay here and set up our defenses.  If Hawkmoth wants us, he would find us , and we would be more ready if we were prepared,” Chat offered. Honey Bee scowled at him, but he didn’t care. He had to protect Ladybug at all cost if he was going to betray Hawkmoth.

Le Paon considered the options as her younger peers awaited

“Honey Bee is right, if we split up, we will cover more grounds. Volpina, Jade Turtle take the south. Ladybug and Honey Bee will take the West, and Chat Noir and I will take the East. If anything goes wrong, meet at Master Fu’s.”

Chat squeezed Ladybug’s hand, reluctant to let her go.

“Don’t worry Chat, I’ll be fine. I’ve got Honey Bee with me.” Ladybug smiled as she walked away with Honey Bee.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” mumbled Chat as he followed Le Paon.