A/N: Guys....I have a confession...

I couldn't think of a good pic to put in this chapter. Which kinda sucks because...it just does -_-

Thank you for your understanding and hope you enjoy!

 Though the sun was rising higher and higher over the forest, Marinette and Chat Noir were suffering from lack of sleep. Due to the misfortune of their recent shelter being blown up in flames before the crack of dawn, they were up all night making their way through the tunnel and were now exhausted.

Hence, they both decided it would be a good idea if they both took a small nap before continuing their journey.

After she found a comfortable sleeping spot amidst the scattered leaves and fresh green grass, Marinette laid down on her side, gathered her endless yards of hair around her for warmth,and instantly fell asleep, sweet and happy dreams floating through her mind. 

She barely heard when, a hour later, Chat Noir shook her shoulder gently and said he would be back in a few minutes--to which Marinette only gave a small nod and murmur in response. 

"Hello, my Marinetta."

Marinette's immediately woke up with a jolt and her heart beating furiously...only to find herself alone. She anxiously searched her surroundings, wondering where in the world that cat had gone off to. 

Did he leave her? No, he must have gone off somewhere to find water or something.

But Marinette was sure she heard a voice...

  Befana, who had been hiding behind a dense ticket close by, suddenly came into view. Marinette immediately stood up from the ground, her eyes wide with surprise and shock. 

"M-Mother?" she managed to get out. "What...what are you doing here? How...why.."

"Oh my fairy, I'm so glad to see you unharmed," Befana cooed, embracing Marinette tightly in a hug. "I've searched everywhere for you. Oh my, what lovely perfume you're wearing!"

"I- I'm not wearing perfume, Mother," squeaked Marinette, who was still completely shocked her own Mother was standing right in front of her. 

Befana loosened her hug and placed her hands on Marinette's shoulders. "Oh, but I can definitely smell it's fragrance. It smells like...disobedience and betrayal."

Marinette's heart sank. "I'm sorry, Mother," she whispered. 

Befana, who had been smiling in mock earnest, was now frowning sternly at her step-daughter. "I don't want to hear it. We're going back to the tower immediately, no exceptions."

She instantly grabbed Marinette's wrist and began to pull her along, but Marinette pulled her hand away from Befana's grasp. 

"Mother, wait!" Marinette spoke up. "I'm...I don't want to go!"

"You do not have a choice, Marinette. We are leaving immediately."

"No!" The word instantly escaped Marinette's mouth before she could blink. 

Beafana's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Excuse me?"

Marinette began to feel a rush of adrenaline through her entire body. She had never defied Befana's orders before, never questioned her when asked to do something, and certainly never said no. 

But that was in the past, and Marinette had only just started taking steps to a new future.

One that didn't consist of spending the rest of her life in a tower. 

She usually was never this defiant toward Befana, but she had already came this far, and the opportunity to finally see the Miraculous Flight was just within her grasp. 

She couldn't go back now. 

Marinette took and deep breath and said as calmly as she could, "I'm not coming with you. I can't. I...I know you want me safe and want to protect me, but I can't stand being caged up like an animal. I'm tired of being shut out from the rest of the world, with nothing and no one to talk to--"

Befana massaged her temple in irritation. "It's because if that thief your travelling with, isn't it?"

"What?"

"Don't try and pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. He obviously filled your head with all this ridiculous rubbish your blabbering about, and now you've fallen in love with him and don't want to leave him, right?"

Marinette's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "Mother! I'm--he--it's not like that at all!" she sputtered. 

With a snort, Befana rolled her eyes. "Of course it isn't, dear. Which is why it will be perfectly fine if you leave him by himself, yes?"

Now Marinette was getting a little annoyed. Finally, she decided to pull out her best card.

At least, she hoped it was her best card. 

Marinette raised her chin and said, "Well, at least he doesn't lie to me."

Her mother's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"Remember all those stories you told me?" Marinette asked, her eyes looking straight into Befana's with a steady gaze. "About monsters and zombies and vampires...you said there were many dangers outside and people who were evil. Well, Chat Noir said none of that was real."

She paused, then said, "I know you were trying to protect me and you mean well, but...why did you feel the need to lie to me? I feel so stupid for believing you..."

"There is nothing stupid in believing what your mother says, Marinette," Befana huffed. "And even if I didn't make those stories up, I'm sorry to have to say this, but you'd still be very stupid. You have little knowledge of how this world works, and this young man who's accompanying you is living proof."

"What do you mean?"

Befana threw her hands up in frustration. "Child, are you really that blind? He's a criminal for heaven's sake! He's a wanted bandit and murderer in the kingdom, yet you trust him?"

"He promised me..."

"How can you know for sure that he'll go back on this so-called promise?" Befana yelled. "He's playing with your feelings, Marinette. He's luring you into a dangerous trap, and one he has you in his claws, you're going to end up tossed aside like garbage."

"No, he's not!" Marinette replied angrily. There was so much more she wanted to say, but for some reason she couldn't put her scrambled thoughts in words. 

"Oh, really?" Befana suddenly pulled a familiar object from the folds of her cloak. Marinette gasped. 

It was Chat Noir's satchel. 

Befana tossed it into the air. The leather bag fell at Marinette's feet. "If you're so sure, give that to him the moment you see him and see if I'm wrong."

Marinette picked the satchel up from the ground and raised her chin. "I will."

With that, Befana turned her heel and began to leave. However, she turned around to face her daughter for the last time, giving her a cold glare that sent terrifying chills down Marinette's spine. 

"Just remember," Befana said, her tone as icy as her glare, "When all I have predicted comes to pass, don't come crying and wailing saying that I was right all along...we both know I had always been right from the very beginning."

Finally, she left. 

    Not knowing what else to do, Marinette sat down on a log and bit her lip in deep thought. She was actually surprised that her mother didn't persist further and make her go back. But her words began to cause conflict between Marinette's mind and heart. 

Her mind was telling her to obey the woman who had raised her and go back, but her heart urged her to push forward. 

She slightly doubted this was a good decision, but Marinette decided to listen to her heart for the time being and see where it leads her.

Hopefully, it'll lead her to a magical place beyond imagination.

Hopefully. 

Marinette patiently waited for Chat Noir to show up as she sat on her log, though with each minute flying by, Befana's words began to repeat over and over in her poor head. 

What if her mother was right? What if Chat Noir was only using her?

"Hey, Princess. Miss me?"

Marinette whirled her head around to find a smirking Chat approaching her with a small basket of food. 

Chat Noir stopped in his tracks, his silly smile falling from his face when he saw Marinette's troubled frown. "You okay?"

"Uh, yeah..." she replied as she smoothed her hair from around her face, suddenly feeling self-conscience. 

Shrugging, Chat Noir sat down beside Mari and handed her an apple and a few pieces of bread. She started to eat it, but a thought began to process in her mind. 

"Chat Noir, where did you get this?"

Chat Noir bit into an apple loudly before replying, "A place. Why?"

"Did you steal this?"

"Maybe..."

"Chat Noir!" Marinette shrieked. 

"Hey, chill. I was going to steal it, but the guy caught me before I could swoop. He said that since I didn't have any money, I could help him carry crates and stuff in his shop and he'll give me a few apples and bread."

Relieved, Marinette bit into her apple, it's sweet juices satisfying her tongue as well as her rumbling stomach. 

"Anyways," continued Chat. "I finally found the main road leading to the outer parts of the kingdom. We'll just follow the river close to it, and we should make it before late evening."

Marinette nodded eagerly in spite of herself. 

She was going to fulfill he dream, no matter what it takes. 

*Author's Note*

Quick question: What's your favorite episode from Miraculous Ladybug? 

Mine is Troublemaker ;-)

Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this chap! And if you did, don't be shy and drop a comment, leave a vote, or just post a friendly message on my feed. Now if you'll excuse me...I have to go to a therapy session to get over this Frozer trailer atrocity -_-

See you guys next weekend!