The real trick to all this is trying to obtain good stories to finish off the story. I know what I want for the last four, but getting there is getting hard. Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, the Persona series, Lupin the Third, or any other referenced media.
Forty-Ninth Caper: Twins in a Mirror, Living a Lie
Nino winced as his bro Adrien got his butt handed to him by Ren in a round of Mecha Strike III. "So I hear your team is rounding out nicely," Ren noted before sipping his soda. Recently two new heroes had been selected, with Nathaniel Kurtzberg becoming the Rooster hero Phoenix and his recent boyfriend and comic partner Marc Anciel becoming the Goat hero Aran. That only left three Miraculouses left to be distributed. Master Fu had been more open to handing them out after Gabriel agreed to retire as Hawk Moth, though still with the caveat that they be capable of using the power for good.
"You'd think with Dad not being a supervillain anymore we'd have nothing to do," Adrien noted, "But I guess he was the only thing keeping other supervillains out of Paris." "I'm honestly surprised you and Marinette weren't there for Lupin's attempted theft of the Mona Lisa," Nino said, "Alix told us all about that incident." Adrien sighed. "That came right after the Copycat incident, so I didn't want to risk any misunderstandings. As for Marinette, she heard that Inspector Zenigata was in town and didn't feel as confident flashing her superhero credentials before an Interpol inspector who likely hadn't heard of Ladybug."
"What's your excuse?," Nino asked Ren. "Oh, I was involved," Ren clarified, "I had just gotten finished exposing a con man passing off fake art who happened to have a piece of the Joestar Collection. When I heard Lupin was after the Mona Lisa I felt I had to stop him." Just then, the three boys heard the doorbell ring. When they looked out the window and saw who was at the front door, Nino rubbed his eyes and blinked while Ren was slack-jawed. Adrien sighed. "Great... It's Aunt Amelie." Nino and Ren looked at each other in shock. The woman was a dead ringer for Emilie, Adrien's mother. Standing right next to the woman was a young man that could pass for Adrien, save for the cleaner cut hair.
The three boys hurried to the manor foyer, where Amelie was looking a little surprised herself, staring at Emilie. "Why dear sister! You should have told me you were back! Just where have you been?" "Cut the crap, Amelie," Emilie said, "We both know you were hoping to take advantage of my sudden disappearance. Did you know I was actually comatose for all those months? Probably not, you never did think Gabriel was good enough for me. But let me remind you... I really love that dork." "Dork?," the three boys asked in surprise. "Oh, so Amelie's here," Gabriel said, appearing behind them, "At first I thought I was seeing double. So much for my dreams."
The three boys each got a different reaction. Nino groaned instinctively, Ren looked gobsmacked, and Adrien burst out laughing. "Dad you never told me you were a jokester." "You didn't get all your best qualities from your mother," Gabriel pointed out, "And contrary to what Nino thinks, I wasn't born with a stick up my rear. I actually shoved it up there after college once I got my first job." Adrien laughed even harder while Ren and Nino facepalmed. "So let me guess," Ren said, "During your time as Hawk Moth...?" "I did indulge in stereotypical villain ranting," Gabriel admitted, "It helped relieve stress."
Ren nodded, but noticed something when he looked back to Amelie and the young boy. "So who's the kid?" "Amelie's son Felix," Gabriel said, "His birth is something of a miracle. According to Emilie her sister was supposed to be barren. He was born shortly after Adrien." Ren narrowed his eyes. His enhanced senses, powered by his Stand, were picking up the familiar Stand energy surrounding Felix. But even stranger, Amelie was exuding a similar energy. Interestingly, Emilie showed no such energy at all. "Something wrong?," Adrien asked. "I think so," Ren admitted.
Back in Adrien's room, Ren clarified a few things. "Every Stand is unique in some way. Some may have similar powers, but function on a different wavelength." He started emitting Stand energy. Normally Adrien and Nino wouldn't be able to see it, but beings Holders of the Miraculouses counted as possessing a supernatural affinity, allowing them to observe the aura. "Now my power is manipulating shadows," Ren pointed out, "But that doesn't mean my power is exclusive. For example, there might be another Stand user capable of walking through solid objects, or traveling through shadows. These hypothetical Stand users would have a different Stand energy wavelength from mine."
"Okay, so what's the point of this?," Nino said. Wayzz appeared. "What Ren is trying to point out is that it's highly unusual for two people two possess an identical Stand wavelength, the way Amelie and Felix do." "You followed all that?," Adrien asked. "You gotta remember Adrien," Plagg called out from his cheese cupboard, "We Kwamis have been around since before humans evolved. We know all about the meteorite that brought Stand power, the origins of the Gigans, the secrets of the stone mask... All that jazz."
Ren nodded. "The only time I've ever felt two beings possessing an identical Stand wavelength is when I met Ryota Mitarai and his Stand I Am Nobody, or Ian for short. Ian is a purely independent Stand with the power to perfectly mimic anyone Ryota has heard of, even himself, using a glamour so that people ignore his girth." "You're thinking Felix might be the same?," Adrien asked, "But he's definitely aged over time." "Stands can have all kinds of powers that defy logic," Ren pointed out, "And some that fit neatly within logic." Adrien put a hand to his chin. "You know, I always felt like I didn't know enough about Aunt Amelie. It's about time that changed."
Felix was hanging around Francois Dupont for most of the rest of the day, his actions confusing a lot of the students, who at first mistook him for Adrien. Only Adrien's classmates weren't fooled. Felix was rather curt in his speaking, but surprisingly skilled, more so than a human should be capable of without some sort of supernatural aid. "Is he some kind of Stand user?," Marinette asked. "I'm not sure," Sumire replied, "Ren is investigating right now. He says he'll contact me if he finds anything important." She was passing out treats to the various Miraculous Holders for their Kwamis to snack on.
"Thanks," Alya said as she accepted the batch of berries for Trixx, "You're quite the little smuggler." Sumire gave a knowing wink. "Even Phantom Thieves need supplies." She was always the one getting snacks and drinks for when Violet and Joker needed to go on a long stakeout. In fact, she'd be doing just that for later tonight, since Ren said he intended to scope out a person of interest with Adrien and Nino. "It's too bad Felix might be evil," Lila noted, slipping some sunflower seeds to Nooroo, "It'd be like a second chance with Adrien." Marinette gave a snorting chuckle at that. "I thought things were serious between you and Aurora!"
During a recent sleepover at Chloe's, Alya had heard noises coming from a nearby closet. Imagine her surprise to see Lila and Aurora making out, both having become enamored with the other's beauty and discovering they each swung both ways in terms of sexuality. Lila blushed at the memory. "Yeah, one more reason it likely wouldn't work out. Too little, too late, right?" Her face turned serious. "But seriously, what do you think is the deal with Felix and his mother?" Marinette shrugged. "We may find out tomorrow..."
That night, the security at the Agreste manor was down for "technical upkeep". Joker and Carapace were able to slip in without any issues. "Plagg, Claws Out!" Adrien's voice rang out nearby, and Cat Noir stepped out of the shower. "Never thought I'd be playing cat burglar for real." Carapace groaned and Joker facepalmed. "I don't know what's worse...," Joker muttered, "That it's a cat pun or that it's a thief pun. Does anyone besides your dad laugh at them?" "Well, Marinette's dad Tom enjoys them," Cat Noir noted.
"Let's just get moving," Joker said, "Follow my lead." He lead the heroes to the guest room where Amelie had been set up. On the wall, Joker noted a painting of a suited man with the head of a water buffalo, wearing a monocle. "That's Living a Lie, from the Court of Montonessi. It's a piece of the Joestar Collection." Cat Noir was trying to open a special trick box that Amelie had on her dresser. "Allow me," Joker said, "You remember why I had Violet give Ladybug some of that special metal that negates Stand power?"
He phased his hand through the puzzle box, retrieving a simple diary. "Dude...," Carapace said, "These things are like Secret Central Station. Normally a guy shouldn't be going through these, but..." "But these aren't normal circumstances," Cat Noir noted. Joker nodded and flipped through the pages. "My sister now has a bouncing baby boy, and here I sit unable to have children. What I wouldn't give for that sort of gift. Something to put myself on equal level." Joker turned the page. "A miracle. My desire for a child triggered a new power within me. I've heard of this power, called a Stand. My Stand, My Child, my new life."
Joker tapped on the words "My Child". "These are deliberately capitalized. I think My Child is the name of Amelie's Stand." "Does it say anything about what it does?," Cat Noir asked. Joker kept reading. "My Child keeps growing, just like a real child would. Yet his physical capabilities are beyond what a normal human would possess. I have given him the name Felix so that no one asks questions." The three of them whirled around with weapons drawn, as if expecting Felix to be behind them all of a sudden. But thankfully the room was still empty save for the trio.
"You always see that in movies," Cat Noir noted. "Keep an eye out just in case," Joker said, "I'm going to keep reading." He turned the page. "Gabriel and Emilie recently got back from Tibet with special jewelry called the Miraculouses. I've heard of these, they can give great powers. I know at least two are rings. Could they be the new wedding rings Gabriel and Emilie are sporting? I must obtain them and give them to Felix. With them I might be able to turn him human." Cat Noir gasped. "She wants to steal my parents wedding rings!? Dad only got new ones because the old ones got damaged while in Tibet!"
"I know that anyone who possesses the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous can obtain a wish at the cost of an opposite reaction," Joker said, "But that's about it. All the other Miraculouses are supplementary, aiding the holders of Creation and Destruction as they serve the greater good." Carapace suddenly a premonition and stood in front of his friends. "Shell-Ter!" His shield was out and emitting a powerful barrier as a heavy chair impacted against it. Carapace then chowed down on a donut infused with tea, a special snack for Wayzz.
Master Fu had deciphered enough of the spellbook to learn that Miraculous Holders who were too young to maintain the power could recharge without ending the transformation by consuming their Kwami's favorite snack. For Wayzz that was tea, but Nino obviously couldn't carry tea bags around and canned tea didn't have the right flavor. Luckily, Marinette had the perfect solution, having her parents make some tea donuts for Nino's use. Joker peeked out from behind Carapace to spot Felix. "So we meet in person Felix. Or should I call you... My Child. Your mom's diary revealed a lot."
Felix chuckled. "And what about it? You know the rules. Only a Stand can harm another Stand. You know in the sixteen years since I've been in existence, I've never once taken ill or suffered an injury? I'd like to know what it feels like though. That's why Mother wants to use the Miraculouses to make me human. All we need are those rings." "You're barking up the wrong tree," Cat Noir said, "One of the Miraculouses your looking for is a ring. This ring in fact." He showed his own Miraculous. "But the Miraculous of Creation, the other one needed to make a wish," Carapace said, "It's Ladybug's earrings."
"Which reminds me," Joker said, "I'm surprised your mother never encountered any other Stands in her lifetime. W Boiled Xtreme!" Felix got a shock when the shadow Stand struck him in the chest with a hard punch. A little different from his normal attacks, but Joker had no intention of leaving any evidence of brutality. "We have what we need," Joker decided, "I need to inform Violet of this for the heist. You two let the other heroes know of the situation." Cat Noir and Carapace nodded as the three of them leapt out the nearby window.
Amelie sighed when she got the calling card. "Amelie Graham de Vanily, we are the Phantom Thieves Joker and Violet. Today we will steal Living a Lie from your possessing." Sure enough, she caught a glimpse of the two thieves as they rushed off, painting in hand. "It seems they've sent a clear message," she said to Felix, who was still recovering from the attack. "So what now?," Felix asked. "At least we got some better information," Amelie admitted, "For all the good it does us. If Hawk Moth and all his villains couldn't beat Ladybug and Cat Noir, what chance do we have. We'll have to make other plans." Before long, the two of them were out of Paris, not yet ready to give up.
Been a while since I've included a new Stand.
My Child (Song by Disturbed)
User: Amelie Graham de Vanily
Ability: Created in response to Amelie's desire for a child, this Stand can easily pass for a human, going by the name Felix in public. He grows according to normal human growth rates, but his physical capabilities are a bit beyond what is normal for humans. And of course, he cannot be damaged by anything that is not another Stand.
Power: B
Speed: B
Range: A
Durability: B
Precision: C
Potential: A
Next time, Hikari's biopic is ready for its debut, but she's learned that one of her relatives is involved in trying to shut down the production. Eager to find out why, Joker and Violet decide to make an investigation as part of their deal. Yet even now the true mastermind may not be exposed. Read and review.