Yay! New Chapter!

Disclaimer I do not own Miraculous Ladybug.

Verity

"Smile, like momma with the spaghetti no?" The Photographer said as Adrien sat at the fountain a smile on his face. To the average teenage fan girl, it would appear as though, he was actually happy, but I knew better; he was exhausted.

"Are we done yet?" I asked my arms crossed in front of me. "I mean, we've been here for hours."

"Quiet!" The Photographer hissed at me. "We are done when I say we are"

Adrien's bodyguard turned to glare at me. I rolled my eyes the Gorilla's glare didn't scare me.

I saw Marinette and Alya and a little child walking past.

I turned behind me and stared at my own body guard Cynthia. "I'm going to talk to some friends" I said. She peered down at me before nodding and I slowly ran towards the three girls.

"Hey Marinette, Hey Alya" I said running up to them. "Whatchya doing here?"

"Just taking a walk in the park" Marinette said peering over my shoulder.

I looked over my shoulder to Adrien. "Adrien!" I called ignoring Marinette's squeak of protest. "Alya and Marinette are here!"

The little girl at Marinette's feet gave an indignant growl. "And Manon!" She yelled.

"Oh, I'm sorry" I said bending down so I was eye level with Manon. "I didn't hurt your feelings to, badly did I?" I asked her.

Manon looked at me her eyes wide and innocent. "No…" She said with a small pout.

"You're adorable" I looked at Marinette and Alya. "She one of your siblings?" I didn't know much about Marinette and Alya's family to be able to tell if they were both only children or not.

"Oh… no, we're just babysitting, she's just a daughter of one of my mom's friends"

"Oh yeah? Who?" I asked.

"Uhh Nadja Chamack" Marinette said quietly.

My eyes cooled, the fiasco from several weeks ago, still fresh in my mind. Nadja had tried to call to apologize but I had been unwilling to listen.

"Oh yeah, my parents used to know her too, I was aware she had a daughter, wasn't aware how old though" I said softly.

Manon pouted. "Momma doesn't talk about me?"

"Oh No, Manon, Annette here is just a very forgetful person that's all." I said with a smile.

"How do you know, Mrs Chamack?" Marinette asked curiously.

"Used to go to school with my parents," I said gruffly.

"Your parents knew my mom when she was little?" Manon said eyes wide.

"When she was younger, yes"

"What was she like?" Manon asked me her eyes. "Do you know?"

"A lot like Alya, always desperate to know the truth." I said with a half glance at Alya.

Alya hmphed and looked away.

"Which can be a good thing" I said softly. "Being able to differentiate between, a truth and a lie and wanting to tell the truth can be good"

"Was my momma good"

"Oh, yes very" I smiled and whispered consipirtorily in her ear. "She reminded me a lot like Verity, the Hero of truth."

Manon's eyes went wide. "Hero?"

I nodded. "A woman with the amazing ability to sense when someone was lying" I said.

Manon pouted. "That doesn't sound very interesting"

"Oh really? What if I told you, she could tell no lies? That everything she said became reality?" I said. "Would that be cooler?"

Manon looked at me wide eyed.

"Did she win always?"

"Of course, she did" Marinette cut in. "What kind of hero would she be if she lost?"

A realistic one? I thought to myself.

I smiled. "Should I tell you of the time, she fought an entire coven of witches by herself?" I said as I picked her up.

"Witches? Sounds Epic" We turned to see Adrien walking toward us.

"What happened photographer run out of film?"

"He gave me five minutes while he went to look for a female model, thinks that will help the shoot,"

I looked down at my body. "He does know I am a girl, right?"

"He also knows you will only model if your handcuffed to my arm, and he has no handcuffs"

Marinette, Alya, Manon stared at him wide eyed while I buried my face in my hands.

Alya laughed. "I didn't know you were into that sort of thing Annette"

I pointed at Manon. "five-year-old!"

But Manon wasn't listening she was focusing on the man selling balloons a ways away.

She turned and reached for Marinette. "I want a Mireille balloon, I want a Mireille Balloon" She cried.

Marinette looked toward Adrien. Alya at that moment decided to step In "How about I get it for you?" Alya said. Manon latched tightly to Manon's leg. "No Marinette's my baby sitter."

"If I take you I can tell you more stories of Verity, would you like that?" I said softly.

Manon blinked at me "Really?"

"Of course, I can" I said with a half glance toward Marinette.

"If I find out you're only trying to be with my cousin because of his fame, money, or looks, I will sic Chloé on you." I whispered in Marinette's ear. Chloé had long ago given up on Adrien, constantly telling him to go for Ladybug since in her opinion she was perfect, I wasn't actively keen on the idea of my brother dating – well anyone, but I wouldn't deny him oppurtinities.

I smiled at little Manon.

"Did Verity have a secret identity?" Manon asked. "Superheroes always have a secret identity"

"Perhaps" I said. "But I can't tell you"

"Why not!" Manon cried as I pulled out my wallet took out a couple coins and paid for the balloon.

I bopped little Manon on the nose. "it's a se-cr-et" I said giving Manon her balloon.

Manon pouted. "That's not fair!"

"Do you want to hear the story?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Annette!" I turned around to see Nicholas Croix running towards me.

I smiled at him politely holding Manon's hand tightly. "Hello Nicholas" I said to him tilting my head in his direction. "Surprised to see you here"

"Just thought I'd take a walk in the park, what brings you here?"

"I'm here with my cousin" I said pointing to the fountain where my cousin was having his picture taken.

"And who's this little one?"

"I'm Manon" Manon said before she started to pull on my arm.

"She's being babysat by a friend of mine, but she got stuck with something important, so I took her off her hands for a bit"

Nicholas stared at me. "Well that's… very kind of you."

I didn't like the way he said that, but I let it go.

Manon pulled on my arm. "Story!" She said.

"Ok, ok, ok, Manon" I said. "Good bye Nicholas" I said.

"Listen, I actually wanted to ask you something it's why I called you, I was going to wait till school, but…"

I stopped and waited. "Yes?"

"Would you do me the honor, of having a smoothie with me?"

"Umm, maybe later" I said. "I'll talk to you later Nicholas." Walking away as quickly as I could.

Maybe I was just being mean. But the guy gave me weird vibes, and like my mother always said follow your instincts. It might seem rude and mean, but's always better to be safe then sorry.

I smiled at Manon. "So… the witches"

It wasn't long afterwards that Manon and I were encased in a dome of ice. Manon's balloon popping in front of us.

"Y'know" I said thinking. "I think Verity was encased in a dome of ice just like this, her mouth frozen completely shut."

Manon turned to me her eyes wide. "How'd she get out?"

I saw Ladybug running toward us and threw her Yoyo it wrapped tightly around the icedome but then slipped off the ice.

Manon ran towards Ladybug the icy barrier stopping her from touching.

She looked around. "Where's Marinette?" She asked wide eyed.

"She hasn't forgotten about you Manon, she asked me to check in on you."

I put a hand on Manon's shoulder and smiled putting a hand on the glass. "We're fine" I told her. "Where's Cat?"

Ladybug turned her head and winced. "I have to go, don't worry you'll be out of here in no time." She told us before running off.

I smiled at Manon. "How about that story?" I said picking her up

Verity, looked out upon the city of Paris, her other two cohorts right beside her.

"I'm not seeing much on my end" She said into her walkie talkie. "I don't think their here tonight, I think I should turn in tonight"

"Fair enough" Her teammate, The General said. "Make one more sweep of the town, and then turn back in"

"Oh, look who it is, the side kicks"

"Sidekick?" Manon pouted. "Why are you telling me stories about sidekicks?"

I smiled. "Because sometimes they can be of help to"

Verity became angry. "Sidekick, am I?" She hissed. "The roof the witch was standing on collapsed from underneath him"

The roof collapsed from underneath the villain's feet and he fell to the floor below.

She jumped into the warehouse the villain had fallen through.

"Chains seemed to appear out of no where, and wrap tightly around the witch's torso" She said as in front of her eyes the very thing she said happened to the villain.

"Got ourselves a witch, you should probably-" But before Verity could say anymore she found herself tired and before she could think to leave, the walkie talkie dropping from her hand.

"No!" Manon said shocked. I smiled and put a hand. "Don't worry Verity will be ok." I heard a strange sound and I went outside to look. My eyes widened when I saw that giant icicles were starting to grow inside the ice dome we were stuck in. I smiled at Manon. "Don't worry, Manon, I don't think that sound is anything to worry about." I said with a smile. "Want to hear more?"

Manon looked at me wide eyed. "OK!" She said.

Verity woke up in a cell dark in a locked room. She found herself unable to utter a single word. A spell must have been put on her to stop her from speaking.

Manon looked at me wide eyed,

"Hey, hey, hey it's ok, Verity get's out alright"

Verity stood from the chair and tried the door, but it was locked. She bent down low to take a look at the lock but before she could do anything the door opened to see a group of wizards staring down at her.

She smiled at the witches. "Can't we talk like regular people? Is locking me away really necessary?" She held her neck in surprise.

"Oh yes, you can talk now, but we changed your powers, we kept them the same, but took away the reality bending aspect of them"

Verity stared down at the bracelet that gave her powers in surprise. "Y-you can do that?" She asked.

"The magic that gives you your abilities is very week in comparison to us?" He said and bent down low to talk to her. "What are the real identities of Team Miraculous?" He asked her.

"Team miraculous?" Manon asked.

"The name of the team she was apart of" I told Manon.

She growled and banged her head hard against his. He jumped away in pain and glared at her.

The witch glared at her and snapped his fingers she flew back into the chair, and encased her in ice her mouth frozen shut.

"Maybe you'll be willing to talk in a few moments."

"I thought you said this was a happy story?" Manon groaned.

"Verity will be fine, Manon, but you have to have faith," I told the young girl.

So she struggled hard trying to get out of the ice, and she struggled hard to get a pocket knife out of her pocket and slowly she started to chisel away at the ice, surrounding her, bit by bit until…

"She was free?" Manon asked. I nodded. The sounds of the icicles getting bigger was hard to ignore so I plunged on through.

Taking out her knife she started cutting away at the door until she could leave, she snuck slowly fighting as many witches she came across until she was outside.

Once Verity was outside she ran to the nearest payphone and called for help.

"Who did she call?"

I smiled and whispered in her ear. "Ladybug and Cat Noir"

Manon looked at them wide eyed. "What happened next?"

By that point the ice had finally started to thaw and Manon and I could leave. "That's a story for another time Manon" I told her.

I also have no idea how to explain what happens next either. I thought to myself.

"Aww" Manon pouted. But her attention was then taken away by Marinette running toward them. Manon wiggled around trying to get down, and I quickly put her down.

"I know your secret" Manon said.

Marinette's eyes went wide. "What secret?" She said almost fearfully.

I tilted my head confused.

"That your friends with Ladybug!" I blinked and almost laughed. Superheroes generally didn't befriend anyone in their hero persona.

"Adrien!" I shouted when I saw him. "Your photographer find another female model yet?"

Adrien chuckled. "Well, Marinette actually volunteered, until…"

"The Akuma struck?" I asked he nodded. "Yeah make's sense."

"Are you ok?" Adrien asked me looking me up and down.

"I held tightly to Manon and told stories" I said with a shrug. "I'm fine"

The Photographer, Carlo appeared and angrily then he stared at all of us surrounding Adrien and tilted his head.

"Yes!" He said. "All five of you in the photo now."

Carlo positioned us until I was kneeling behind my cousin. Marinette was sitting beside leaning against his shoulder and Alya was leanig on her arm using her free hand to create a piece sign while Manon, was being held by Adrien.

All things considered not a terribly bad way to end the day

"Annette" Nathalie came to me in the basement, where my Gymnastic's equipment was set up. I had been right in the middle of perfecting a very complicated jump when she had called.

"Yeah?" I asked sitting on one of the highest bars.

"Nadja Chamack would like to speak with you"

I nodded to myself hesitantly. "Bring her in"

Nathalie nodded and stepped out of the room, a few minutes later Nadja came in her eyes blazing.

I motioned for Nathalie to go.

"Verity" She hissed. "You told her about Verity?"

"Relax I kept out your connection to Papillon," I said. "Which by the way was hard by the way, since that 'connection' is how you escaped."

"Why tell her about Verity though?"

"Because what happened to you, helped bring down the Coven, through your kidnapping and subsequent escape and what you found there allowed the Other miraculous to win, Verity's achievements deserve mention too you know."

Nadja raised an eyebrow at me I relented. "Also I wanted payback for what happened last month."

"You kept out a lot of my fight scene's?" She asked.

"I also kept out exactly how you were kidnapped" I said. "And how you got out." In truth Verity from what my parents had told me she had been put to sleep with a sleeping spell, and after she had awoken, she had found herself unable to talk, when the witches had come down and ripped off every item that could of been the source of her power, only stopping when they saw the little white butterfly, flutter away. When she had continued to refuse to talk they encased her in ice - that part having been true. What hadn't been true was the amount of blood that had been shed in her attempt to escape, or that Team Miraculous had essentially saved her. "I may have been angry, but I'm not cruel enough to want to give her nightmare's."

Thankfully from what she had gleaned from them (thanks to people talking outside her door) she had been able to provide invaluable information to the team.

Most importantly what the weapon of power looked like. Passing by it as she tried to escape.

Nadja pouted. "Alright, fine, but seriously no more stories about my past."

"Fine in return though, I want no more press visits from well anyone associated from the press."

Nadja nodded. "Deal."

I smiled and jumped down from my bar before shaking Nadja's hand.

Nadja stared wide eyed in the room her eyes trained on the giant glowing stone that seemed to be made from power.

Everyone in the room seemed to be chanting in front of it and as they did so every single person placed their hands upon it where it would glow brighter before dimming.

Nadja backed away slowly her hand clenching tightly to her pocket knife.

Unfortunately someone saw her as she tried to leave and he ran at her his mouth open to recite her spell.

Nadja didn't think she just reacted and through her knife hitting the man squarely in the neck he fell to the ground choking on his own blood.

More people turned to her and she stared at them her face contorted in a sneer before she fell to her knees in inexplicable pain.

"Think you can look upon our power source and live?" A man yelled at her. "Think again"

He had been about to do something worse when a yoyo shot out and hit him in the head.

"Nadja!" Ladybug shouted running to her. "Are you ok? Papillon said that you had wound up captured"

Nadja nodded. "We need to talk later" She said holding her voice in surprise, before she looked upon the dead body in shock. Killing him must have ended the spell upon her voice - interesting.

Ladybug turned to her partner. "Cat!" She shouted.

Cat nodded once "Cataclysm!" He shouted before placing his hand on the on the wall the roof collapsed blocking the witches path just long enough for them to escape.