Beams of light seemed to sear her skin as she skipped along the dirt pathway. Her eyes reflected the light just as a loud thumping noise echoed through the garden. Startled, she twirled around, her elaborate nightgown billowing as she twisted in an effort to see what had made the noise.

But there was nothing there other than the rose bushes and the faint outline of the back of the castle. The fog around her obscured her vision, but she fought against it, whipping her head around this way and that to get a better look at her surroundings.

"I never should have gone out in the middle of Akuma Night," she whispered to herself, wiping her trembling fingers on her nightgown, "Such terrible things have happened on this night, I'm simply out of my mind for going out for fresh air."

The wind howled in response, and she shivered in her short sleeves. Shaking her head and scolding herself, she headed back the way she came towards the castle. The soft grass tickled her nearly bare feet and she quickened her pace to get back to her room.

"Marinette!"

Jumping, she twirled once again, but this time there was a man standing behind her. His impish grin contrasted sharply with his knights armor, and she frowned at his laid back position.

"Sir Adrien, why are you out here at such an hour? And on this night as well?" She asked, her brows furrowed almost playfully.

The knight gasped in a mock display of shock before pulling his sword out of its sheath. The sharp sound echoed through the night, causing Marinette to wince.

"I'm your personal guard," he said, smiling up at her, "Don't act like I'm just another knight."

"A personal guard that's shorter than me?" Marinette retorted, "I find that highly unlikely... Wait."

A chill that had nothing to do with the wind slipped down her back as she took a step backwards, towards safety. Her heart racing, she forced herself to stand tall, to appear unfazed.

Adrien grinned, his posture suddenly menacing. "So you figured it out, Mari? Aw, such a shame. I was having fun pretending to be a dead man."

"Dead...?" Marinette whispered, shocked stiff, "No...no it can't be. Bring me to my knight at once!"

Silence met her request and she wilted into her own thoughts. This man seemed to have ill intentions. But he was shorter than her, and maybe even slower, given how heavy a knights armor is. She was prepared to make a run for her life when a sound from behind her made her freeze.

"Good work," a voice said, it's tone a melody, "She's ours. Chameleon, go find the others and have them clean up the mess when you come back."

Though Marinette couldn't see the person behind her, she could tell that it was someone noble or at least someone who had lived around royalty. Their voice was commanding and their tone seemed like the practiced civility that came with being under constant watch. She whipped around as the short knight ran off, surprisingly quiet in all of his clanking armor.

Before her stood a tall figure, their features shrouded by a cloak. But the broach that lay innocently on the fabric had her chest tightening and her breaths quickening.

"No...," she whispered, her head still held high through her terror. The figure merely tilted its head before grabbing her wrist with a strong yet manicured hand.

"Oh yes," they hissed back, "You are coming with us. And I'm afraid that you're never coming back to your happy little life over here in Kwamilia."

Before Marinette could answer she saw the large sword that peaked out from underneath the strangers cloak.

Well, I'm not dead! Sorry about not posting another one shot for so long, I've been super busy.

Have a Miraculous day!