As nighttime began to fall Luka suggested the team should stop for the night. They had traveled quite some way but Félix was resistant to the idea of stopping because he could feel Adrien was getting closer. Kagami could sense his exhausted, her own Miraculous connection to him becoming stronger after their wedding, and she convinced him that they should stop and rest.

"You need to sleep." Kagami said, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. Nino and Alya had started a fire and Félix had his eyes fixed on the flames, his bowl of soup barely touched beside him.

"I can't sleep." Félix replied. He took her hand from his shoulder and kissed her palm. "It's strange really, but ever since this Miraculous became one with its Kwami again I feel things more intently. Not just my own emotions, but everyone around me... even Adrien. I know we must be getting closer."

Kagami sat down beside him, still holding his hand. "The emotions will only become stronger once the Miraculous are at full power." She observed. "Even our own connection through the Miraculous has strengthened. I feel your exhaustion, Félix, both mentally and physically. You will be no good to your cousin if you collapse." She watched a deep frown creep between his brows, but she knew it wasn't at his words. He then closed his eyes. "How does he feel?"

Félix was unsurprised at her perceptiveness. "Afraid." He said sagely, opening his eyes again. "But not for himself. For someone else."

"The Ladybug?"

Félix nodded. "It would make sense considering what Dussu told us about the reuniting of their Miraculous."

"You mean the bond that freed the kwamis." Kagami said with a small blush. Félix pulled her closer, bushing his nose against hers and rubbing his finger over her wedding ring.

"I think it was about more than just freeing Kwamis." He whispered. "I know Adrien well enough to know that he wouldn't do anything if his heart wasn't in it."

"Like you." Kagami smiled softly, kissing Fèlix on the cheek.

"We aren't so different really, Adrien and I. He loves her, I can feel it and I hope for his sake she loves him too. At least Luka seemed to have thought so. Adrien and I didn't have a lot of friends growing up. Chloè used to come around sometimes when Adrien was visiting, but that stopped after his mother died. Then Lila came to DuPont when we were around 12 or so. My Uncle told me he had plans to arrange a marriage for me, but I didn't really believe him. For all I know he might have been planning to marry me off to Chloè."

"How tragic." Kagami said dryly, but Félix could hear the sarcasm in it.

"And what about you Mrs Fathom? No regrets?"

"Not a single one." She replied, cupping his cheek and kissing him softly. "Right here, right now, I'm the happiest I have ever been. Whatever else Lila might have done, I'm glad she goeded you into seducing me." Kagami leaned into him seductively with half lidded eyes and Félix finally cracked a smile and laughed.

Luka came and sat down by the fire and began to softly play on his lute, the trio simply enjoying the quiet and the peace of the evening.

Alya and Nino were taking the first watch of the night, scouting a few meters away from the campsite to keep an eye on the road for any troops or spies. 

"Did you test that rifle?" Nino asked her as they stood behind a ridge, the moon just slightly visible stealing through the canopy of trees above them. "That was one of the ones from the Liberty right?"

"Of course I did." Alya replied defensively. "I know how to handle a weapon you know."

Nino flinched. One thing Nino had begun to learn very quickly was that an upset Alya was not something you wanted to encounter if you valued your life.

"Sorry." Nino backtracked, looking away from her. "I didn't mean to sound like you didn't know what you were doing, it's just when my kid brother was 15 he almost lost an eye when his gun backfired. He was too keen to go duck hunting and didn't check his weapon first." He fiddled with his glasses nervously. "I just, you know, wanted to make sure you are being safe. I... I wouldn't want anything bad happening to you, that's all."

Alya's face mellowed and she leaned her back against the broad tree trunk behind her. "I'm sorry for snapping at you." She said sincerely. "Sometimes I can be too defensive for my own good. You were just trying to look out for me and... and I appreciate that, truly."

"I'll always look out for you." He replied simply. "You... you're special to me Alya, more than any woman I've ever met."

Alya's eyes widened slightly. Nino looked back at her and Alya saw a look in his eyes she hadn't noticed before. It was the same look Félix had when he had said his vows to Kagami on the Liberty - a look of complete and unmistakable love.

"You're special to me too, Nino." Alya replied softly, her eyes shining at him from behind her glasses. "When we were captured, and even when we were in prison, I wasn't afraid because you were there with me. I feel stronger when we're together, like I could face anything with you."

Nino looked up at the streaks of monlight through the leaves, breathing in the cool, crisp night air. "War makes you think about things. Things that are important to you. People you want to protect and keep close to you."

Feeling a boost of confidence, Nino slung his rifle over his shoulder and approached her, resting his arm on the tree truck above her head. Alya felt her breath catch, the smell of the gunpowder on Nino's uniform and the cedar wood of the surrounding trees filling her senses. The air hung heavy around them, their chests rising and falling in tandem.

Nino rested his hooked finger under her chin, his thumb lazily running across her lower lip. The sense of anticipation vibrating between them. "There's so many things I want to tell you, Alya, but I can't find the words. I'm not as eloquent as Luka or Felix or even Adrien. I'm just me."

Alya ran her hands up his chest, fisting his coat lapels in her hands and pulling him closer. "You don't need words when your lips can do the talking." She whispered in his ear, pulling back just enough to look up at him, her eyes telling him what she wanted. "I'll hear you."

Closing the gap, Nino pressed his tentative lips into hers. Alya confidently reciprocated, her whole body tingling as she pulled him even closer to her, ignoring the tree bark that was scraping at her back.

"Could you hear me?" Nino asked as he panted for breath, his whole being overtaken by just her.

"Loud and clear." She replied back, taking his hand and placing it over her heart. "Right here." Alya snaked her arms around his neck and captured his lips again. Nino picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he held her in place against the tree, his lips moving feverishly from her mouth to her neck in a hazy fog of love and desire.

Crack!

The sound of a twig breaking in the silence startled them both and they froze perfectly still. Nino slowly lowered Alya until her feet touched the ground once more and he took his rifle from his shoulder, cocking the barrel and pulling Alya down beside him behind the ridge.

Out of the shadows, two figures emerged - or more specifically two masked women. One was clad in orange and white with two ears and a bushy tail, the other was in yellow and black. Nino lifted his head and readjusted his glasses. Both women were carrying swords.

"Miraculous holders?" He whispered to Alya.

"Maybe." She replied. "A bee and Fox, but they could be working for Bardot for all we know."

As the women approached they could hear them talking.

"... and that's when I knew something was wrong."

"Yeah, sure. You didn't look like you thought anything was wrong when you were hanging all over that red head at the dinner."

"It's my defense mechanism... and he was cute. What? Don't look at me like that, you saw him. I have a soft spot for the shy, quiet types. Pitty little sis seems to have already made a claim on him."

"I don't think their relationship is like that, that wasn't the impression I got at all."

"Whatever. How much further is this town anyway... and how do you know the Captain will be there?"

"I can't be sure, but the last message from the courier came from there, so that's where we are going."

Alya shifted nervously. "They seem to know a lot." She whispered.

"Yeah, too much." Nino replied. They couldn't take any chances. Nino leapt up from where he had been hidden, blocking the road and aiming his rifle at the Bee while Alya took aim at the Fox.

"Don't move." Nino warned. The two women stopped and held their hands up in front of them. "Who are you and what is your business here?"

"Who are we?" The bee retorted back in annoyance. "Clearly we are Miraculous holders on important business and you're getting in our way."

Lila shot her a glare to shut up, but Chloè wasn't getting the message, continuing to rant about their important business.

"Put a cork in it buzzy." Alya shot back in annoyance. "We don't know whose side you're on or if you are even real holders."

"It's Queen Bee to you." Chloè scoffed. "And if our full powers were working I would sting you for being so damn rude."

"Shut up will you." Lila snapped with a more stern glare at Chloè. "This isn't the palace and you are not in charge." The blonde pouted but let Lila speak. "You're Lieutenant Nino right? I recognise you from the DuPont King's Guard."

Nino kept his defensive stance. "Depends who's asking."

"Call me Vopina. You've already met Queen Bee here. We were given these Miraculous from Lady Sancour with a message for Captain Couffaine. I trust you know of his whereabouts. You two rarely travel apart."

Nino eyed her suspiciously. Only someone on the inside of the palace would know him or Luka well enough for that kind of observation. "Why should I believe you?"

"I understand your suspicion but if you know where either Captain Couffaine is or even Félix Fathom then I need to speak with them immediately. The life of the Prince is in danger."

"So he is alive?" Nino gasped and Volpina nodded her head.

Nino looked over at Alya and she gave him a slight shrug. "Alright, I'll take you to them, but you have to hand over your swords first since I know your Miraculous weapons don't work."

Volpina was reluctant to make herself vulnerable, but she had promised Nathalie she would deliver the message. Once the swords were in Nino's hands he led the way back to the encampment. It was no surprise their arrival back to the camp startled Luka who was still sitting by the fire.

"It's fine, they are unarmed." Nino said, handing the swords to Luka. "This one here says they have a message from Lady Sancour for you."

Volpina took a parchment from her bag and handed it to Luka. He was understandably cautious as he took it, but noted it had the akuma seal on it. The group stood in silence as Luka read the letter, the quiet broken when Félix had returned from out of the woods.

"Felikins!" The bee hero shouted and Félix had to make a double take. "I haven't seen you in so long. My, how handsome you have become."

What Félix saw in front of him didn't match the words, nor the nickname he hadn't heard in years.

"Chloé?" He asked in almost complete disbelief. "You can't be serious."

"What?" Nino practically choked. "You mean as in Chloè Bourgeois!"

"Good one Chloè." Volpina grumbled. "The whole idea of the mask was for anonymity, not to blow your cover the moment you see someone you know."

Queen Bee folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "It's Félix, not some random person on the street. Félix has known me since we were toddlers together, isn't that right Felikins?"

Félix rolled his eyes but he did agree with her. Chloè might be a lot of things, but Félix hardly considered her capable of deception, she was too conceited for that, and he believed her when she explained what had happened to her parents, the discovery of her half sister and what Bardot had planned to do with her after her parents were exiled.

"Alright, alright." Luka said, waving her rambling off and handing Nathalie's letter to Fèlix. "You seem genuine enough, Lady Bourgeois, but I need to speak with your Kwami so I can corroborate your story and this letter. Since you have feely outed your identity to us I'm sure you won't mind."

Chloé shrugged and called off her transformation, plopping herself down by the fire while Luka and Sass spoke to Pollen to determine how the daughter of one of their enemies had somehow switched sides. Félix on the other hand continued to read through Nathalie's letter.

"Lord Barbot has declared himself king." Félix spoke out loud. "And he has the Miracle Box." He ran his hand down his face. "How the hell did he manage to find it?"

Chloè was about to say something when Volpina approached Félix. "Barbot is becoming deranged with power." She said, the urgency and gravity of the situation evident. "And he now has the Jade Turtle, the one person who can lift the magic that opens the box and gives the kwami's their full power. It's only a matter of time before the old man breaks and Barbot gets hold of the other Miraculous still in the box. We have to find Prince Adrien."

"I knew he was alive." Félix said more to himself, a little vindication to his intuition.

"Yes , he is alive, but he is about to walk into a trap."

Fèlix regarded Volpina for a moment and she could see him thinking. "How do you know so much about all this?" Félix asked, still unsure who he should be trusting here. "Not many people in that palace could be privy to the kind of information you seem to know and I've already been betrayed by someone in that place already so my faith has been somewhat broken."

Lila knew he was talking about her. She was the one that had sent him to Gabriel's chamber that day and let him walk into a trap. If only she had known then the things she knew now, but how would she ever be able to convince him to trust her now if he knew Lila was the one behind the mask.

Lila was about to speak again when Kagami suddenly made an appearance from behind one of the tents, sword in hand. Lila had forgotten about her, almost hoping Félix may have sent her back to Tsurugi.

"It's alright darling." Félix said, holding his hand out to her. Lila felt something crush in her chest hearing the tender endearment pass Félix's lips. "They have come with news from Nathalie."

Kagami approached cautiously, taking Félix's outstretched hand. Lila, quickly remembering herself and gave Kagami a gracious bow.

"I'm pleased to see you are unharmed Princess Kagami."

"There is no need for the formalities. I am no longer a Princess." She said, her eyes gazing lovingly up towards Fèlix. "It's Kagami Fathom now."

Lila felt like the world had begun to spin. They were married! Only now did she notice the De Vanily wedding rings proudly on display on their fingers. It wasn't the kind of news Lila had prepared herself for, or for the way it made her feel.

"Volpina?" Luka asked, approaching her. "Are you alright? You seem pale."

Lila pushed past her growing emotions. "Just a long journey, that's all. I'll be fine after some rest."

Volpina saw a slight frown between Fèlix's eyes and she could tell he was trying to figure her out.

"Please, feel free to drop your transformation." Kagami offered. "We are all either holders or allies here. You are safe with us."

Volpina shook her head, a sense of panic setting in. She didn't want Félix to know it was her. After everything that happened and all the lies she had told before, Félix really had no real reason to trust or believe Lila Rossi, but he might just believe Volpina, Miraculous holder. Besides, it was easier to hide her feelings behind a mask. He didn't need to know she was still in love with him.

"I would prefer to keep my identity to myself for now if that's alright." She said, desperately trying to stop her voice from quivering. "I fear that revealing myself at this time could compromise our mission, but if I could have some privacy..."

"Please, use this tent." Félix offered, pointing to one of the tents that was set up. "We'll bring you some soup."

Volpina thanked them graciously and went into the tent leaving Chloè to talk with Luka and Félix. Sometime later, Chloè came into the tent with a bowl of soup and some fruit. "I have something for your Kwami." She said, placing the food down. "It's just me in here, you can drop the mask for a while."

Dropping her transformation, Lila gave Trixx a scratch on the head before letting the Kwami tuck into the fruit. Chloè observed her as she ate her own meal. With the mask out of the way, the tears on Lila's cheeks were more evident.

"You know you told me yourself that he was in love with her." Chloè pointed out with little tac. "So why are you so surprised?"

"I don't know." Lila sighed, wiping at her eyes in annoyance. "Maybe I just hoped..."

"Hoped you could swoop in and save him and he would want you instead? Is that why you don't want to tell them who you are now?" Lila just looked at her and Chloè shook her head. "You told me this little trip of ours wasn't personal. That you wanted your Uncle overthrown and for Prince Adrien to take his rightful throne."

"That is what I want." Lila insisted. "So why are you here?"

"I have no fight with DuPont." Chloé replied. "Adrien was one of the few friends I had until my mother started to hate King Gabriel, now I know why." She added bitterly. "But I would rather take my chances with the Miraculous holders than find out which old man your Uncle might marry me off too." Chloé then gave her hair a little flip. "Actually I quite enjoy this hero thing, and finding out I have a half sister now... well it could be fun."

"Especially if she helps set you up with Mr RedHead?" Lila said flatly. Chloè chuckled.

"Sure, why not. At least it's something to look forward to right?"

Lila rested her back against the wall of the tent, her sigh full of melancholy. "I just want things back the way they were, before this whole war happened."

A silence fell between them before Chloè spoke again. "Nothing will be the way it was before." She said quietly. "My parents are exiled, my family lands have been taken and even Félix has lost the De Vanily estate. Why didn't you tell him?"

Lila shook her head. "He doesn't have to know yet."

Chloé shrugged. "What's the point in holding off the inevitable? It's not like we can change anything."

"No... there is a way." Lila smirked with an air of mystery. "Before we left, Nathalie told me about the Miraculous of the Rabbit. She said that the holder of this Miraculous can travel through time and she is almost certain it's not in the box. She's terrified what might happen if my Uncle got hold of it but..." She took the paper back from Chloè, folding it back up neatly. "What if we found it first? What if we could go back in time and stop this war from ever happening in the first place and could still get what we both wanted?"

Chloé considered what Lila had said and didn't seem convinced. "If this is about you and Félix..."

"It's not just about that." Lila interjected. "We could stop the whole war."

Chloè shook her head. "How far back though Lila? To before the war? To when you first went to DuPont? When my mother had an affair? If you change one thing will it really solve the problem?"

Lila could see Chloè wasn't going to be party to this. If she was going to get hold of the rabbit, she was going to have to do it herself.

"You're" right Chloè, it's a bad idea. Forget I said anything."

~~~~~

The white, crisp snow of the higher parts of the mountain gave way to the crunch of rocky terrain under their feet as Adrien, Marinette and Alix continued their descent from the peak and towards the valley. The trio had long since disembarked their horses, navigating the barely visible path on foot.

"It isn't usually this cold so early in the season." Alix explained on the decent. "But hopefully it should keep curious soldiers closer to their campfires and less on patrol. There is a contact from the resistance in the village nearby. He's one of the new recruits, Wayhem."

Marinette pulled her hood further over her head, trying to protect herself from the bitter wind. "Wouldn't it be faster if we traveled using the Miraculous? And maybe a little less cold?"

"It would." Alix replied. "But it wouldn't be prudent. Miraculous heroes have not been seen by the public in centuries. It could cause concern and alarm, especially at this time of uncertainty. People are often afraid of what they don't understand. We also don't know how much Barbot knows. While the Miracle Box is sealed, he doesn't know how many of the Miraculous are possibly active."

Adrien and Marinette weren't sure they completely agreed, but respected the fact Alix was most likely following Master Fu's instructions. Still, Adrien was sure he would not hesitate to transform if the situation called for it.

Suddenly Alix stopped and held up her hand. Adrien and Marinette also stopped, unsure what the issue was. Alix handed the reins of her horse to Marinette and took out a telescope from her saddle bag. Concealing herself behind a large tree trunk, she surveyed the road ahead.

"I see the village. It seems quiet... too quiet." She added before closing the telescope.

"Is something wrong?" Adrien asked.

Alix frowned as she looked down the path that led to the village. There was no reason to think anything was wrong. They hadn't passed any troops along the way, and she couldn't see any sign of a military camp anywhere in the surrounding area. Maybe she was just being paranoid.

"No, it's fine." Alix finally replied. "It's just without Master Fu around I don't know who's been vetting the new recruits, that's all. Come on. I'm sure we are all in need of a good feed and a warm bed."

Mounting their horses, Adrien and Marinette followed Alix's lead down the dirt path towards the village. It was still quite early, but there didn't seem to be much of a sign of any people around - in fact all the houses appeared to be empty, and the eerie silence was starting to send a shiver down Marinette's spine.

"Where is everyone?" She whispered against the sound of the horses hooves.

Adrien was thinking the same thing and Alix didn't answer, instead she dismounted and proceeded on foot towards a house with a pale blue door that had smoke rising from its chimney.

"This is the safe house." She said, tying her horse to the post out the front. "Someone must still be here."

Adrien and Marinette followed suit and walked with Alix up to the door where she knocked three times. A moment later the door opened and a nervous looking man eyed them from behind the latch.

"Are you Alix?" He asked, focusing on her signature pink hair.

"You must be Wayham?" She replied. "Are you going to let us in, or just let us freeze our butts off out here?"

Wayham stepped back and fully opened the door, directing the travelers to where there were some chairs by the fire. Closing the door, he offered them hot tea and fresh bread and butter, which they gratefully accepted.

Something about Wayhem's manner was making Adrien... well he couldn't quite put a finger on it. Why was he so nervous and constantly looking out the window as he poured the tea? And why did he seem oddly familiar? Unconsciously he reached over and held Marinette's hand in his, the firmness of his grip was not lost on her.

"So where is everyone?" Alix asked abruptly. "It's not like the resistance to leave a member anywhere on their own."

Wayham's hands shook as he placed his cup and saucer down on the table. "There was an outbreak of plague in the next village." He replied. "The local magistrate thought it prudent that the residents of the town move away temporarily. The other members of the resistance went with them. I offered to stay behind and wait for you."

Well that was one explanation Adrien supposed, but it was clear that Alix wasn't entirely convinced. "So what's the plan then?"

"Plan?" Wayham asked, looking perplexed.

"Yes Plan!" Alix reiterated, sounding more irritated. "What do you think we are doing here? This is the crown Prince here if you didn't know, and we need to get him back to the Capital. There must be a plan for crossing the checkpoint."

"Oh, right... that plan." Wayham said, standing up and moving towards a door at the back behind them. "Just... ah... let me go find the.... the um... maps. Yes, that's right, the maps." With that he disappeared into the other room, shutting the door behind him.

"There's something very weird about him." Alix said, standing up. "And I'm going to find out what he's..."

"Marinette!" Adrien suddenly exclaimed, grabbing his wife before she slumped onto the floor.

"Adrien..." She said weakly. "Adrien..."

Alix picked up Marinette's tea cup and sniffed it. "Sleeping draught." She hissed. "That little traitor."

Outside came the rapid sounds of horses hooves and the shouts of men. Adrien held Marinette closer to him as Alix ran to the room Wayhem had gone into and found that the little rat had snuck out the window. Alix cursed the see her breath, shutting the door.

Adrien gently laid his sleeping wife down and took out his rapier. Pressing his back to the wall he carefully looked around the curtain and out the window. Outside he saw Wayhem talking to a man on horseback before accepting a bag of money and running away. The man then slid off the horse and turned around to face the house.

"Oh no." Adrien breathed out. Alix came and stood on the other side and looked out the window too.

"You know him?" She asked.

"Unfortunately." Adrien replied. "It's General Both Roth. He's XY's father and let's just say, there was little love lost between him and my father."