I do not, and never will own Miraculous Ladybug. But Adelaide Cygne is another story. I do very much own her.
Yes, I am doing an OC fiction. I would love any and all feedback. Thank you for all your continuing support. Love you all! - Alice O'Flynn
I stepped out of the car, and walked into Francois Dupont High School. I never really wanted to be there, but it was the only school in Paris that my parents trusted. Since I refused to stay at the dance academy in London, too many memories, too much pain. Everything there reminded me of Isa, and that's why I needed to leave London. My parents welcomed me back with open arms. But they didn't know just how much I was hurting, and just how much it had changed me.
I looked down at my necklace, the only thing I had left of Isa. The Swanstone necklace started out white, pure white, but when Isa and I were last in Paris, something had changed it. The black cracks formed almost immediately. A proof that something dark had inhabited it. Someone seemed to try and take over Isa, and although she agreed, willing to let this Hawkmoth control her, willing to be turned into something….. dark…. something evil…. In return for revenge…. I….. For some reason I was able to say no. I wasn't sure how it happened. Wasn't sure how I had a say in the ordeal, but I did. Because I said no, Isa didn't turn into something evil, and everything was alright, or at least I believed it would be. And it was, in a way. But with the change of the necklace, came Idri. When Idri appeared, Isa came to me immediately. Freaking out that this small bird like creature had just appeared. We were always so close, she came to me with everything, but then…. then….. then she was gone. Isa died in a car crash.
I couldn't bare to think of it anymore. It hurt too much. I felt my necklace start to bubble up around me, and I took a deep breath, calming down, and making the bubbles disappear. I had to stay in control. I entered my classroom, and found a seat in the back, hoping to go unnoticed by everyone. I wouldn't be able to stand it, if attention was drawn to me. I had never been good in the limelight, especially now that I was on my own, the limelight was always Isa's place, while mine was in the shadows. This wasn't like the times onstage, where I was able to be confident, and calm. When the audience was blocked out by the light, and I was able to let the music guide me. No, this was real life, and that's what made it so scary.
"Don't worry, you'll get through this, I promise. You're strong." Idri whispered from her hiding spot, inside my inner jacket pocket. I looked down at the small creature. Idri was half black, and half white. With one blue eye, and one black one. I had always thought she was adorable, with her feathers, and small yellow beak. And I was glad to have her with me, even though I knew some of her was born out of darkness. She had both darkness, and light, in her. Both good, and bad. Even though Idri had the potential for evil, she had the potential to do great good. She told me…. She told me that I was a hero, that she could make me a hero. The day after the crash… That was the first day I transformed. Being a hero, being beneath a mask, had freed me. And ever since, I spent a portion of my evening as Swan, in the fresh air of the city. Idri had become my escape. And even when she wasn't giving me powers, she was still my best friend, a constant help, and support to me. She was a bit of Isa to me….
"You think better of me than I think of myself. But… But you being here, makes it a little easier." I whispered, not really fearing that anyone would hear me, since I got to class extremely early. "Thanks for sticking with me."
"That's why I exist," Idri smiled through her beak, before she started to plume her feathers.
"I don't know what I would do without you." I whispered, leaning down, and kissing the top of her head, before returning my attention to other things. I looked around the classroom that I would spend most of my day in. Others started entering the classroom, and I noted each of their appearances. Most of them looked up at me, too. Only for a moment. And I could hear them all chattering about the 'New Student'.
"Attention class," The teacher said, as she wrote her name on the board. "We have a new student in class today, Adelaide, please come up to the front, and introduce yourself." The teacher said, calling attention to me. I put my head down, shaking it slightly. I felt the bubbles start to surround my necklace again, but I calmed myself down yet again. I stood up, and walked quietly down to the front of the class. I didn't want to talk…. I couldn't talk. I hadn't talked to anyone but Idri since Isa's death. Idri felt like a part of Isa, and so she was the only one I could talk to. I was shaking by the time I made it to the front, and I felt everyone's eyes on me. I scribbled a note in the notebook I brought up with me, asking the teacher if I could use the blackboard, and she nodded to me, wiping away her name from the blackboard. I took up some chalk, and started writing on the board.
"Hello everyone, my name is Adelaide Cygne," I wrote at the top, introducing myself through the board. "I will be joining you in the class for the rest of the year." I wrote, and I could already hear murmurs from the students behind me.
"Is she deaf? Or just so stupid that she doesn't know how to speak?" I heard an annoying voice from behind me say.
"Chloe!" A male voice scolded.
"No, I am not deaf, Chloe. I can hear everything you are saying." I wrote, and I could hear some chuckling, as well as an indignant huff. "I just don't speak. Thank you all for welcoming me into your class," I wrote, turning around, and giving them a small curtsy.
"Thank you, Adelaide, you may return to your seat." The teacher, Mme. Bustier, said, and I smiled at her, returning to my seat. Class went well, though I could still hear people talking about me.
When class ended, I got up from my seat, and headed towards the front of the class. But there is an unfortunate thing about covering your eyes with your hair, in hopes of disappearing. And it is that it is hard to see where you are walking. The heel of my shoe caught on the edge of the step, and I was sent flying forwards. My book bag fell with a clatter, as I finally landed on the ground. I chuckled to myself, knowing that if people saw me fall, they would never believe that I was actually a world famous dancer. They would just think that I was a regular old klutz…. Which I actually was as well.
"Miss Cygne, do you need a hand up?" I heard someone say, it was the same voice that had scolded Chloe earlier. I looked up, and saw a boy with golden hair, and emerald green eyes. He was holding a hand out to me, a kind smile on his face. I took his hand, and he helped me to my feet. He leaned down again, picking up my bag for me. "It's nice to finally meet you in person, Miss Cygne. Or should I say, Rose Red. I'm Adrien Agreste," He introduced himself.
"Thank you, Mr. Agreste," I said, quietly, forcing myself to speak. It would have been rude of me not to thank him. "But how….. How did you know I was…."
"Rose Red? The perks of being the son of a famous fashion designer, I know a lot about other famous people." He explained to me. "And please don't call me Mr. Agreste, it sounds too much like you're talking to my father." He said, and I nodded. "Your mother owns La Cygne Blanc, right?" Adrien asked, and I nodded again, with a smile. Of course he would know about La Cygne Blanc, since his father, and my mother were fashion rivals. La Cygne Blanc, and Le Papillon Noir had been at each other's throats for years.
"What would your father think about you helping out the daughter of the enemy?" I asked, joking. My voice still extremely quiet. "I've seen you often… In magazines… It's… It's different to see you with such a sincere smile on your face."
"How did you…." Adrien's voice turned quizzical.
"I'm not only a dancer, remember…. I'm a model too…. I know what a fake smile looks like…. I've spent my life looking through other people's mask." I admitted, trying to give him a smile, but I knew he would see right through it.
"I understand, when your life is a mask, it's easier to see through the masks of others." Adrien said, and there was a sad, yet thoughtful glint in his eyes. "I forgot to ask, are you alright? That was a pretty nasty fall."
"Yeah, I'm alright," I said, lying through my teeth. In truth, I was not alright. I hadn't been 'alright' since the crash. But I knew that wasn't what he was asking. He was asking if I was hurt. Which, taking inventory of my body, I realized I wasn't. Not really, just a bit sore….. And my ankle was starting to hurt…. but it was nothing.
"Are you…." Adrien started to say, and I knew he was going to call my bluff.
"I'm sorry, I have to go…. photoshoots and all." I said, before running out of the room. I bit back the pain, as my ankle was getting worse, and worse. Instead of going home for lunch, I ducked into an alley, where I was hidden from the public eye. I leaned against a wall, breathing heavily. I hoped I hadn't hurt my ankle too much, I needed to be alright…. I needed to not have a broken ankle, which I was hoping that I didn't have. There was no way the fall would have broken my ankle, I was not that fragile, but I could have seriously injured it, by running away. Why had I opened up to him? Why had I talked to him? There was something kind about him, something inviting. But that didn't mean I had to spill my secrets to him. "Why, Idri? Why did I even speak to him? I'm sure he saw through my mask….. I…. I can't let that happen. I can't let anyone know…." I whispered to her, and she flew up to my face, and hugged my nose.
"Oh, Addy. You don't need to worry about making friends. It's what Isa would want, and you know it." Idri said, giving me some encouragement. "You need to let someone in. You need to have someone else you can rely on. You need to be yourself again." Idri said, and a tear started to roll down my face, as I realized how right she was. Isa wouldn't have wanted me to hide away. She always wanted me to share the limelight with her. To get the recognition she believed I deserved. She thought much better of me than I could ever live up to.
"Idri, if you don't mind, I think I need to be Swan again…. Is that alright with you?" I asked, and Idri simply nodded. "Idri, Feathers out." I called, transforming into the hero that had been my own escape. Using my baton, I launched myself onto the roof of one of the buildings. I still favoured my left foot, trying not to injure it more, though it felt better when I was in the suit. I ran and jumped from roof to roof, building to building, finally feeling free. My heart racing, beating faster than it probably should have, but it was a release. Being a superhero was the only way I felt like myself anymore. Maybe it was because I felt like I had a bit of Isa with me, in these times of being the hero, it felt like she was by my side.