A/N: Hello! I am sorry it has been a while. Update… testing has started and I have lost some free time so I apologize for not posting as frequently. My goal right now is at least once a week.
I have very much enjoyed writing this story, but I have a few regrets. My biggest regret, not actually having some sort of outline for the entire story. When I started writing this I had 5 plot points I thought could make a cool story, and I have just been stringing things together. I sat down and kind of outlined the rest. What I can tell you is the next few chapters are chapters I'm just going to have to write all out. I am not sure if what I want will all fit in one chapter, but any place I find to split is a horrible (and I mean horrible) cliff hanger that even makes me nervous. So if it takes me a while, know that these next two chapters are going to be a lot. What I want to write can either be placed in one massive chapter, or from what I outlined 5 chapters. I'm not sure yet though, but I will write them all out so you will either get one massive chapter soon, or fie chapters that get posted back to back. Just an update on the planning and writing process.
Anyway I love you all! Thank you for so much support! Holy cow! Thank you thank you, I can't say it enough.
Traditional Twist
Chapter 37: A Change of Character
The red light faded away, and Marinette was able to open her ears felt heavier. The gems that had attached themselves were still warm. She looked at her lap to see she was still in her civilian form. "Did anything happen?" She asked.
"Your black earrings, they now have a red spot in the center," Gabriel noted. "Other than that you are the same." Gabriel reached into his pocket and pulled out a small mirror. He handed it to the girl and she began looking at herself in the mirror.
Adrien gaped at his father. How had he known to just pick up these jewels? "How did you know to hold onto these?" Adrien asked.
"I can't quite explain the feeling. Something about the vender made me realize how important these stones were. I have been collecting them for years. I have two green gems, the one blue that is now on the brooch, and a yellow gem beside those two now on Mrs. Dupain-Cheng's ears." Gabriel closed the box he currently held and walked over to the large golden painting of Mrs. Agreste. He pulled back the portrait, opened the safe and placed the box inside under a shelf. "I keep the gem boxes in here. Now you may know, just in case."
"Are we sure these gems were for Ladybug?" Marinette asked, still examining here earrings.
"Of course they are," Adrien answered automatically. "Why wouldn't they be?"
"I don't look different?" She turned to Adrien. "When you got your gem, you looked different."
"You probably have to transform," Adrien said. "Do you feel any different?"
The young designer thought for a moment. She could feel a rush of energy flowing through her. The room was beginning to feel slightly cooler each moment. Tikki began to flutter in Marinette's purse. "I feel a little different."
"Different, how?" Adrien asked. He noticed his father staring intently Marinette's earrings.
Marinette's stomach began to rumble. Her tongue suddenly began to cry out for something sweet. The craving was less of an obsession and more like gasping for breath. "I'm actually hungry," she mentioned casually. "I need sugar, and Tikki is buzzing."
"We can go to my room so you can check on Tikki and eat," Adrien replied. "Father, I'm going to take Marinette to my room if you don't mind." His voice wavered the smallest amount, but Gabriel heard the anxiety and raised an eyebrow. "I think we need to figure out what just happened; alone."
"I understand," Gabriel nodded. He looked past Adrien and straight towards Marinette. "You can request anything from our chefs. They will deliver it to Adrien's room. If there is anything I can do to assist, please let me know."
"Thank you," Adrien spoke and Marinette nodded her head. He carefully stood up, with assistance from his partner. Without a word, Marinette followed Adrien out of the office and to his room.
As soon as they entered the room, Tikki bounded out of Marinette's purse. She began flying around ceiling, and up around the loft. Books resting on the bookshelf fluttered as she zoomed past them.
Marinette was shocked at this wild side of her kwami. "Tikki, you need to calm down."
"How can I calm down when I have so much energy?" She squeaked.
"Those gems are like a rush," Plagg commented, emerging from Adrien's shirt. "I was lucky to be the suit when Adrien found the gem."
"I can't hold still!" Tikki yelled out.
"Maybe transforming will help then?" Marinette suggested. "Tikki, Spots on!"
The red light flashed and filled the room. With warm bright heat. Ladybug emerged, but was slightly different. Her hands to elbow were now black as if distinguishing gloves. From her knees to her toes, a solid black boot pattern appeared as well. Her suit was shinier, like it was made of something plastic.
Marinette moved her shoulders and felt them rub against something. She reached her hand over her shoulder and felt a hard shell outline her shoulder blades. She reached back to touch the hard shell with her left hand. Upon contact, the hard plastic like shell latched onto the heroines forearm. She whipped her arm forward to show a spotted shield.
"Woah!" Adrien exclaimed.
"This was on my back?" Ladybug stared at the shield confused. She stared at the winged shield. She reached her right hand to touch the shield latched onto her right arm and split into to two. "What the…!" Marinette flinched and pulled her arms to her side. The split shield remained on each forearm. Its size grew and sprawled out behind her. She stared at the cupped ceramic looking shield that now extended out of each arm. She swung her arms back together again and the parts reattached into the shield on her left are. "What are these?" She asked.
"It looks like a shield," Adrien said flicking the casing.
Plagg flew around the heroine. "It also kind of looked like wings when it was on both your arms," The kwami concluded. "Though, I suppose flapping seems like an odd choice for you."
"I think they are like gliders," Ladybug concluded after continuously messing with her new attachment. "I mean, It's definitely a shield, but I think when it breaks apart I can kind of catch the breeze."
"You're like a kite now," Adrien chuckled. "With your yo-yo as your string, I can now take you to the park and fly you around on a breezy summer day."
Ladybug rolled her eyes. "Ha, ha, very funny." Her eyes lit up with a smirk as she thought about what Adrien had said, and inspiration filled her head. She separated her shield to two arms again. She walked towards the wall of windows ling Adrien's room, and pushed one of them open. "I'm going to test this out," she announced. "Be right back."
She jumped out the window and fell. Ladybug pressed the shield pieces against her side and felt the rush of air passing her slow. She was gliding, and the smile that filled her face with this new ability could not be contained. As Ladybug saw the ground approaching she removed her right arm from its position to grab her yo-yo. The sudden loss of balanced caused the spotted heroine to spin out of control. She quickly grabbed her yo-yo and tossed it to a nearby structure. She swung wildly, before landing on top of a nearby building.
She looked across from the building she was on to see Adrien's green eyes staring back at her. She had only managed to make it across the street. "I'm going to need more practice," She thought to her partner and waved to reassure him she was okay.
"Are you going to practice now?" The blonde asked. "You almost died just crossing the street."
"I'll be fine."
"Do you want a feline, companion?"
"I'll be fine on my own. Besides you need to order some food. You did tell your dad we were going to eat."
"I can do that. What would you like?"
"I'm still craving something sweet, but I feel like i should eat real food as well. So if you could just add something with sugar with real food, I will eat it."
"Sure thing." Adrien chuckled and picked up his phone to call his chef.
"Thank you. See you soon," Ladybug tossed out her yo-yo to further building and waved as she jumped off the roof.
Adrien sighed as the food arrived. He had the butler place the extreme array of sandwiches, fruits, and desserts on the coffee table in front of the white leather couch. His Lady had not yet returned, so he decided to wait to begin eating until she arrived. Plagg however was impatient, and hovered over a covered dish impatiently. The kwami squealed with glee as Adrien unveiled a round of melted camembert.
"Oh glorious cheese!" The kwami began devouring the precious morsel.
"At least you're happy," Adrien mumbled.
"I'm easy to please," the black cat said between bites. "What's your problem?"
"I don't know, maybe it has to do with the fact that my dad has known everything! I have a crazy family member that caused my mom to run off. I think is bothering me most is that it's still hard for me to believe my dad knew so much and yet did nothing."
"I'll admit all this history pouring in from your dad has me on edge too," Plagg spoke between bites.
"How can I feel bad, when I finally know answers to questions I have had my whole life?" Adrien flopped on his bed. "Shouldn't knowing what is going on provide more relief? I mean, I get why my dad was so overprotective. Did you see how upset he was as we talked about it? I should be happy I finally have answers." He grabbed his pillow and pulled it over his face and groaned.
Plagg's ears drooped. "Try not to think about, kid. You need to distract yourself."
"How can I possibly distract myself? Do you even realize what has happened over the course of just a week?"
"Life is never simple," Plagg hummed. "Why don't you call that goofy friend of yours? The one who makes the music?"
"Nino?"
"Yeah, Nino. He can give you something to do besides complain to me about something that I have no control over," the cat sassed back.
Adrien rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll leave you alone." The blonde pulled out his phone and dialed Nino' number. The phone rang.
"Hey dude," The djs voice echoed through the receiver.
"Hey Nino," Adrien tried to sound cheery, but his voice came across slightly melancholic.
"Are you okay, man?" Nino asked. "Adrien could hear the slight pang of concern elevate in his voice. "You don't sound like yourself."
"I'm fine, Nino," the blonde responded sitting on his couch. "I'm just processing."
"Processing what?" There is was; that knowing tone. Adrien realized he had said too much. Nino was good at reading emotions. Maybe it was just the Dj's superior listening abilities, but Nino could pick up the slightest hint of wariness in someone's voice. He had trained himself to especially to detect pitch changes with Adrien. That's what made Nino such a great friend; he didn't let Adrien hide anything.
"I found out I have an uncle," Adrien admitted to his friend.
"Dude, that's great!" Nino cheered. "Uncles always get you the gifts your parents won't let you get."
"It's not that great."
"How do you know? You're just learning about the guy."
"He's the reason my mom had to leave. He's done a lot of not great things I don't want to go over." Adrien's voice was cool and serene as he spoke.
There was silence on Nino's end. Adrien knew that Nino understood his mother's importance in his life. "Woah, dude. That's um, that's kind of crazy."
"Yeah, I just want to distract myself at this point."
"Why don't you come to the race this afternoon?" The DJ suggested. "Alix and Kim have another bet going. I don't know all the details, but I do know they both are out for each other this time."
Adrien smiled. "Do those two have no one else to compete with?"
"I know, right?" Nino snorted. "So what do you say dud? I bet you could even bring Marinette."
Adrien could see Nino taunting him with either puckered lips or flapping eyes. "Only if you are bringing Alya."
"Of course Alya, will be there. She's got to post the race on her blog." The phone fell silent for a moment. "Dude, you should have told me you liked Marinette. All of this could have happened quite a while ago."
"Would you believe me if I told I didn't really know it was Mariette I liked?"
"Probably. You're pretty clueless."
"You are always so understanding," the blonde commented sarcastically.
"Duly noted. So am I going to see you this afternoon or not?"
"You definitely will."
"Awesome! It's at four at the school. I will see you there. And dude, don't let your family get to you. This is why you got your buds. We are here for you."
"Thanks, Nino," Adrien smiled. "I'll see you later." He hung up the phone and turned around to see Ladybug finally back at his window. She hopped down, transformed back into Marinette and took a seat on the couch. Adrien laughed as the girl and her kwami began scarfing down deserts. He realized he needed to move fast if he wanted anything to eat as well.