Secrets of Sherwood: An Account of Nottingham's Most Renowned Heroes

Chapter V:

"The Adventures of Ladybug: The Red Archer"

In the writing hand of Nathaniel a'Dale

circa. 1192

AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION

There's been a heap of legends and tall tales about the red-hooded archer called "Ladybug"... all of them different too.

Well, we English folk have our own way of telling it. It's the story of what really happened in Nottingham and its neighbouring wood; the great, green canopy of Sherwood Forest.

I was one of the first people to know Ladybug long before she ever became the most famous outlaw of our time. Some folks, to this day, believe that such a girl had never existed, or that the infamous "Red Archer" had never been a girl to begin with. Therefore, as Ladybug's friend and ally, I have sworn to put the truth of her adventures to paper, for the sake of putting all these needless doubts and fickle rumours to rest.

My name is Nathaniel a'Dale. I am a minstrel, singer, and storyteller from Nottingham. My job is to tell it like it is, or, more appropriately, like it was.

This account was recorded in my youth, during the years when King Felix the Lionheart embarked on his crusade of the Holy Land. His younger sister, Princess Chloe – known today as the "Phoney Queen of England" – took advantage of the king's absence and began inflicting heavy taxations on the poor people of England, driving them into poverty and despair.

Nottingham was hit the hardest during this time, with its less-than-honourable Sheriff Roger sweeping the streets for tax dodgers and, more commonly, the chivalrous outlaws who sought refuge within the fairy-esque folds of Sherwood.

One outlaw, in particular, evaded the relentless Sheriff and his posse at every turn: a young woman who "robbed from the rich to feed the poor", as was her motto.

This is where we shall begin her story...

CHAPTER ONE:

OO-DE-LALLY

It was a beautiful day in Sherwood Forest.

The evergreen leaves shielded the earthy pathway from the onslaught of the afternoon sun, yet the air still prickled with buttery, summer heat.

Though it looked like there wasn't a soul to be seen, Ladybug knew the little critters who called this wood their home were watching from the foliages. Squirrels, raccoons, foxes, moles, rabbits... She could just imagine them poking their furry heads out of their hovels to get a glimpse of the colourfully-cloaked human taking a stroll into their territory.

Ladybug just smiled and lifted back the hood of her bright-red cloak, which hung all the way down to her knees behind her. The field of red was peppered with large, black polka-dots. Definitely not something a proper lady would wear, especially at the height of summer.

But Ladybug, despite what her name suggested, was no proper lady. She was an outlaw – a rogue on the run from the law.

Beyond the magnificent trees of Sherwood lay Nottingham, the decrepit village to which Ladybug was never to return upon pain of death. Yet she returned there all the time. Nottingham was her home. It wasn't the sharpest jewel in the treasure horde, but every creak and crack was evidence of all the hard work Ladybug's people had achieved just to keep a roof over their heads.

Ladybug shook out her two small ponytails, which glistened with the blue hue of a midnight sky. The breeze she created kissed the back of her sweaty neck, and she sighed with content.

The blunette knew she was taking a huge risk walking out in the open wearing red, not to mention the faded white tunic and pants, the beautiful red belt with golden accents that carried a small knife, and the worn, leather arm-guards and matching boots that a cobbler had given her as a gift for saving him from the stocks. Any decent outlaw would've tried to be a little less conspicuous. But conspicuous was never one of Ladybug's best qualities.

Luckily, what she lacked in stealth, she made up for in speed and finesse. Oh, and archery. The quiver of red-fletched arrows on her back, along with the beautifully-carved oaken bow, were proof of that.

She might be needing them soon enough, if that ruffling sound Ladybug heard in the bushes behind her were any indication she was being watched.

She had a hunch it wasn't a squirrel, or any animal, for that matter.

Ladybug's mouth curled upward, her bluebell eyes bright with mischief, and she started to whistle a merry folk tune to herself. She never once turned around or reached for her bow, or even her knife. She just kept walking at a steady pace, her boots stepping in time with her song.

A normal young lady of eighteen years would've made a run for it by now. A crack of a twig or the shiver of a nearby bush was enough to make anyone jumpy. It could've been bandits waiting to leap out and threaten to slit your throat if you didn't give them all your valuables.

But Ladybug knew better. She knew these characters had been following her for about half-an-hour, waiting for the perfect opportunity to corner the red-hooded archer and take her by surprise. The Sheriff probably thought that was very clever of him.

He'd learn soon enough.

Ladybug continued along the trail, until she caught the blissful sight of flowing water just ahead of her.

A narrow, crystal-clear river cut through the forest like a stitch cutting through fabric. The bank was all steep earth, and the water looked deep enough to swim in. There was also a large, fallen tree that someone had cut down to make a bridge for people to walk decently across.

The sight of fresh water was enough to make Ladybug's throat dry, and she hastened over to the edge. Since it was too steep for her bend over while on her knees, Ladybug sank onto her stomach before reaching down and cupping up some water with both hands. She took a healthy drink, smacking her lips with a shudder.

The more she drank, the more she was keenly aware that her tailgaters were getting antsy. No doubt they were now realizing this was the opening they had been waiting for: their opponent vulnerable and sprawled precariously beside the river, with nowhere to run or slink off to.

Sure enough, by the time Ladybug finished drinking and crawled up into a sitting position, she wasn't alone on the bank anymore.

Five men in archery garb blocked the trail, each one bearing the yellow-and-blue checkered colours of Princess Chloe of England. Their black arrows were nocked and pointed directly at Ladybug. Their scowls and leering eyes were all she should make out underneath their broad hoods. Some of them had a handsome bit of stubble on their chins, which meant these archers took proper care of their appearance.

Yep. Definitely royal guards.

A nearby bush shook with laughter, and when Ladybug glanced over, another man stepped out to join his comrades.

This one brandished a thick-bladed sword that went nicely with his thick round belly, which looked like it would tear through the tight, blue tunic at the slightest movement. Along with those white leggings, puffy blue pants and shoulder cuffs, and a blue hat with a long white feather atop of his mop of brilliant red hair, he looked like a court jester.

Ladybug almost said as much out loud, but she knew Sheriff Roger of Nottingham had a fuse as short as his reach.

She just smiled brightly at him like a noblewoman greeting a guest at a fancy party. Again, her fingers didn't twitch towards her weapons, even though death was literally five feet in front of her.

"Well, well, well," Sheriff Roger sneered, patting the flat of his blade against his palm like a butcher ready to slaughter a pig. "Look what we got here, boys. A little lady lost in the woods."

A few of his men snickered.

Ladybug couldn't help but grin. "Lost?" she repeated with raised eyebrows. "Why, my good Sheriff, I was under the impression that you were lost. Did you forget where Nottingham was?" She pointed westward. "It's just down that way."

Roger's sneer crumpled into a tight frown, and he lifted the point of his sword under her chin. "You can't talk your way out of this one, Ladybug," he snarled. "You're under arrest, and you'll be coming with us to the princess."

Unfazed by the sharp tip at her throat, Ladybug rose to her feet, still grinning. "A meeting with Princess Chloe herself? I'm honoured!" She carefully shimmied her feet towards the edge of the river bank. "But I'm afraid my schedule just won't allow it. Places to go, stuff to steal, poor people to help out... I'm booked."

The Sheriff smirked again. "Did you not hear me the first time? You'll be coming with us... whether you like it or not." He beckoned his men forward.

The royal guards took a few steps closer, herding Ladybug further against the river and cutting her off from quick access to the fallen tree. She was trapped.

Exactly what she was hoping for.

"Hmm... well, all right," Ladybug shrugged. "If you boys insist. But um..." She pointed a dainty finger past Roger's head. "You might be interested to know that there's someone behind you."

"Ha! You think I'm gonna fall for that old trick?" Roger chortled, his belly shaking like a pouch of water. "You peasants never learn. Men, take her!"

An arrow went flying... but it wasn't one of the guards who had fired the shot.

This one snapped the feather on the Sheriff's cap clean off before shooting straight over the river and out of sight.

Ladybug's eagle eyes caught the orange fletching of the arrow before it sailed over her head.

She grinned bigger. "Told ya."

Roger's baby-blue eyes shrank, and he snapped around with newfound terror.

The rest of his bewildered posse followed suit, their backs to their prisoner.

But no one was there. Just an empty path surrounded by undisturbed forest.

Ladybug giggled. "You soldiers never learn," she jeered.

Then, the blunette turned to the guard blocking her from the fallen tree and kicked his feet out from under him in one swipe.

The man shrieked as he fell backwards over the edge of the river and landed with a huge splash. His feet were the last to go under.

Lightning-fast, Ladybug sprinted for the makeshift tree bridge, her red cloak fanning out behind her. She stepped as lightly as a tightrope walker along the narrow trunk.

"After her!" Roger bellowed to his men.

Ladybug smiled as she ran into the thick maze of trees, enjoying the fresh, leaf-scented wind blowing against her. The exhilaration of the chase gave her all the speed she needed.

Moreover, the guards had to stop in order to fire their arrows, so they fell even further behind.

But their shots didn't.

Whizz! Chunk! Chunk! Whizz! Chunk!

Arrows flew all around Ladybug, some just missing her by a smidgeon before embedding themselves into the dirt like black darts on a board. One whizzed past the blunette's ear, singing harshly as it went by.

Ladybug tensed. Heh... They've been practicing, she thought.

But she still had one other advantage over her pursuers: the trees.

Once she was certain she was out of sight, Ladybug jumped and grabbed onto a low, overhanging branch belonging to an enormous birch tree. With the slinkiness of a cat, she hoisted herself up and climbed up delicately to the higher branches, which were all thick with green foliage. Not even her red cloak could be seen through it.

Ladybug stopped and pressed her back to the tree trunk, easing her breathing out in slow, controlled bursts.

It wasn't long before she heard the thumps of hard footsteps on grass, along with the panting and irritated grunts of sweaty men. Ladybug stood silent and vigilant, making sure to stay clear of any small openings in the canopy in case a soldier's gaze wandered upward.

"Where'd she go?" one of them asked sharply.

"I'm telling ya – that lady runs like a demon!" wheezed another.

"Well, she ain't gonna run forever. Keep going, or the Sheriff will have our heads!"

There was more pounding of feet upon the earth, which gradually faded until there was nothing but the frequent chirps of birds and the soft brush of leaves in the breeze.

Just then, a smooth feminine voice spoke from the other side of the tree, "I think you took too many chances back there."

Ladybug smiled and eased her way around until she saw another hooded figure balancing on the thick branch she stood upon.

It was a girl of similar age to Ladybug, but with darker skin and auburn hair that streamed out of the hood of her orange-coloured cloak. Beneath it was a white tunic, black leggings, and black boots. She had a quarterstaff leaning against her shoulder, and a hand propped on her hip in a suave manner.

The girl's amber eyes gleamed up at Ladybug warily, like a fox sniffing its surroundings. A fair description, considering the name the public had given her: Rena Rouge – the red fox. Ladybug's partner-in-crime.

Not that either of them were criminals. At least, not in the minds of the poor people of Nottingham. Sadly, once you rebelled against the likes of Princess Chloe and her tax collectors, it was either jail or the gallows for you. Maybe both.

Ladybug sighed as she came to stand before her friend in their treetop sanctuary. "Chances?" she repeated with a smug grin. "C'mon, Rena, we were just having fun with those guys."

While Roger had followed Ladybug, Rena Rouge had followed Roger. Earlier that day, when the girls had spotted the Sheriff and his posse on patrol, Ladybug decided to play around with the rotund redhead and make herself noticeable. All Rena had to do was keep a healthy distance away from Roger until it was time to spring the surprise.

It was worth it. Ladybug was tired of watching the cruel princess's cronies strutting around and doing whatever they pleased, bringing the fearful peasantry lower than they already were. It always made Ladybug's blood boil. Humiliating Sheriff Roger counted as an act of justice in her book.

Rena Rouge smirked at her best friend. "Fun, huh?" She pointed downward. "Take a look at your cloak. It's not a candle on a cake."

Blinking, Ladybug lifted the side of her cloak up. It caught in the faint breeze like a sail, revealing a few bulging stitches in the fabric; scars of previous arrows and knives that had come pretty close to nicking the red rogue.

Now, a fresh tear opened up in the back. A black arrow hung in the web of stitching like a useless reed.

Ladybug's freckled face scrunched with disappointment. "Ah, man," she whined. "That's the third one this month." She yanked the arrow out and passed it to Rena. Then, she poked her fingers through the hole to assess the damage.

It wasn't too big, and Ladybug was particularly good with a needle and thread. If she had the power, she would stitch all of Nottingham back together into the beautiful tapestry it had once been... before King Felix unwittingly left England in the hands of his tyrannical sister.

Ladybug sighed and affixed Rena with fresh concern. "They're getting better," she said, letting the end of her cloak fall back against her legs. "I will admit that much: they are getting better."

Rena stopped examining the arrow and let out a mirthless chuckle. "Yeah, and next time, the Sheriff might have a rope around our necks." She grasped her own throat, crossed her eyes, and let out a strangled "Ahck!" Rena's face fell solemnly as she rubbed her neck. "Pretty hard to laugh when you're hanging, LB."

Ladybug shuddered. She'd be lying if she said the thought of a hangman's noose never frightened her. No one had been publicly executed in a long time, but Princess Chloe was always one to be descriptive when threatening anyone who opposed her. Ruling through fear, apparently, was more appealing to the blonde bimbo than ruling through love.

Ladybug couldn't let those morbid thoughts discourage her, otherwise there would be no one else to keep Nottingham safe.

"Relax, Rena," she told her friend, staring out through one of the holes in the forest foliage. "The Sheriff and his whole posse can't even tie a proper knot."

Rena shrugged, fiddling with the black arrow in silence.

Then, out of the blue, the redhead shouted, "En garde!"

Ladybug snapped back to attention and ducked just as Rena's new toy came flying through the spot where her head used to be.

The arrow clinked against the branches as it toppled down to the forest floor.

Ladybug reeled with shock before frowning incredulously at her chortling partner. "Rena Rouge!" she rasped.

Rena's eyes gleamed gold in the sunlight, and she folded her arms. "You see what I mean?" she asked. "If you don't keep your head up, you're gonna lose it."

Ladybug huffed and quickly checked to make sure her scalp and ponytails were still intact. She knew her best friend was trying to offer a nugget of wisdom, but still. "You worry too much," Ladybug grumbled.

Rena shrugged again, as though she hadn't tried to take her friend's head out a second ago, and she turned to stare out through the evergreen canopy.

Ladybug straightened and smoothed out her uniform. "I know what I'm doing, Rena," she said with soft assurance. "Trust me on this."

Rena smiled begrudgingly and looked over at her. "You know, LB? I was wondering earlier... Do you think we're good guys or bad guys?"

Ladybug blew a raspberry. "What kind of a question is that?"

"Well, cause you're always saying things like "I'm robbing the rich to feed the poor"." The redhead made a face. "Rob is such a naughty word, you know what I mean?"

Ladybug tilted her head to the side. "True. But we never really rob. We just... you know, borrow a bit from those who can afford it."

Rena looked at her amusedly. "Borrow?" Her mouth twisted into a grin. "Boy, are we in debt."

Ladybug broke out cackling, her voice carrying along the trees. Rena Rouge joined her.

At that moment, another bellowing sound broke the silence of the wood: a proud, piercing trumpet.

DAAdaadaaDAAAAAAAAAA!

Ladybug and Rena Rouge froze, listening intently.

Then, a whole chorus of trumpets burst into song, playing the foot-marching tune of the royal fanfare.

Ladybug squealed with excitement, rubbing her hands together. "Oo-de-lally! That sounds like another collection day for the poor. Don't you think?"

Her partner brought that sly cunningness of hers back out, and her amber eyes sparkled. "Oh yeah," Rena said, extending her fist to Ladybug. "Sweet charity."

Ladybug fist-bumped her proudly.

It was time for Nottingham's most notorious outlaws to go to work.

LXP: Greetings, FanFictioneers!

This crossover has characters from the cartoon Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir in the story of the 1973 Disney film Robin Hood. I'm just going to say this once this time: I do not own either franchise or anything involved with them, including songs and characters.

Also, the book title in the beginning is completely made up, although the year date is a nod to the time of Richard I of England's reign.

So without further ado, enjoy the story!