"Micah, where have you been?" I asked, tapping my foot impatiently. Micah had come walking out of the school like he didn't have a care in the world...until he saw me.

...

"Shoot...I thought Marinette was going to Alya's today. What do I tell her about you?" I whispered to the lady beside me.

The Lady in Purple smiled, "She can't see me."

Still looking forward at an upset looking Marinette, I whispered, "What do you mean she can't see you?"

"Just what I said, Micah."

"Micah! What's going on? You haven't been around, you're falling behind on your grades-" Marinette started.

"Wait...how do you have access to my grades?" I asked, bewildered.

"Max hacked the teachers' site, but that's beside the point. Mic, if you don't get your grades back up, it means less and less chance of getting into a good college," Marinette worried.

I tried to make light of the situation by saying, "Sorry, mom."

But Marinette just ended up looking hurt, "Micah...I want you here, but if your parents see you're doing bad, they could take you home...then you'll be taken away," Suddenly, Marinette was hugging me. I knew she was crying when I felt the water.

I bent down so I could look at my cousin in the eye, "Mar, I won't let that happen...together forever, right?"

She nodded into my chest, not looking up. She was still crying.

Suddenly, the Lady in Purple was right behind Marinette, looking sad. I gave her a questioning look, then nodded at Marinette. The Lady raised her arm and pointed back at the school.

"Hey...I'm guessing this isn't just about my grades going down...right? My guess is you wanted to talk to me, but when you couldn't find me, you got worried about me leaving. So you asked Max to hack to teachers' site and found out about my grades, then you started to worry even more...right?"

"No," Marinette moaned.

"You're lying."

"Yes," She moaned again.

I pulled her back from me, making her look me in the eye, "What's going on, Buganette?"

She looked up at me with her big watery blue eyes...They hadn't changed. Not since she was five years old.

"C-Chloe. I swear, Micah. She hates me. Every chance she gets, she attacks me. A-A-And I don't even know what I did! Today s-she locked me in a bathroom stall, so I had to climb over the sides to get out, and was late for class. If coming in late wasn't embarrassing enough, I heard her whispering to some of the other kids that I'd probably tripped over my own clumsiness, and that's why I was late," Marinette started crying harder.

I was suddenly full of hatred. So this was what was going on. Marinette was being bullied.

"Why am the way I am, Micah? I wish...I wish...I wish I was someone else! Someone brave enough to stand up for themselves. S-Someone like Chat Noir...someone so perfect, some person or another made him a superhero! I-I wish..." But she couldn't finish her sentence.

I stood and wrapped my arms around her, just like I used to do, "Let's go home Marinette. I think you need a cup of tea or something. Don't worry, we'll figure this all out."

Without Ladybug, Marinette's world was crumbling. She didn't have her Tikki there to support her, and without the confidence, Ladybug gave her, Marinette... remained a pushover. I needed to find my confidence. And for that, I needed a purpose. A real purpose. I was always destined to be a superhero...but when you can't do what you're destined to do... you to begin to crumble.

...

"Who is Marinette hugging...No...you don't think...is that Marinette's boyfriend?" I asked Plagg. We were kinda sorta spying on Marinette. I know Chloe had said some pretty awful stuff about her today, I just didn't know how much Marinette heard. Now, she was crying into the shoulder of this super tall senior...I really didn't like that.

"Wow! If that's Marinette's boyfriend, tell her congratulations! I mean that boy is HAWT...oh umm, I mean, he's average," Plagg tried to recover, "Slightly above."

"I'm doomed! Why would she want me when she has a boyfriend like that."

"Maybe she's not his girlfriend. Maybe they're cousins or something?"

"Sure Plagg. Whatever you say."

"Oh, come on Adrien! I get that you like her and stuff, but I mean, seriously. It's just a girl. Besides, why have a crush on a girl, when you could be eating CHEESE!" Plagg asked, spinning around at the thought of his precious dairy product.

"You don't know anything about love," I sighed, feeling very alone.

"Oh please, I know plenty! I love cheddar, I love swiss, and I LOVE camembert!" Plagg exclaimed. I could tell he was trying to cheer me up.

"You're something special, aren't you?" I smirked.

"Well, DUH."

...

"And now she's being bullied and...and...I don't know what to do!" Micah exclaimed.

I watched frowning, silent as Fu spoke, "Have you tried talking to Marinette's parents?"

"She won't let me. She says she'd probably just getting all upset over nothing... I couldn't convince her otherwise," Micah said, exasperated.

"Oh my...that really is the dilemma," Fu sighed.

I suddenly stood, "Stay here till I get back," I ordered.

Micah and Fu looked at me in surprise, but I knew they'd obey. Only a fool disobeyed a former Queen of Egypt.

Carefully, I took a golden stick from my purse. Then, I drew a perfect oval into midair, and stepped through it.

When I turned around, I found Fu sleeping on his matt, Wayzz watching me from his perch. Micah was nowhere in sight.

I put back my golden stick into my purse, and walked out of Fu's shop. It was bright and sunny outside, and pigeons flew from the doorstep as I strolled away from Fu's shop.

I went towards a bakery where the owners were just leaving. I went inside the bakery. No one was there. On the counter, there was a bell and a sign that read, 'Ring for service...multiple times'.

I went towards one of the glass cases, and took out a hidden bag from it.

I opened the bag and pulled out a phone with a purple phone case.

I sat at one of the tables and clicked on the news app.

"Kung Food? Hmm...interesting name...World's greatest chef...Marinette's Uncle...Ladybug and Chat Noir save the day again...perfect," I murmured to myself.

Ladybug and Chat Noir were working perfectly as ever. Now to check on Marinette herself. I rung the bell several times, and after a moment, the rosy-cheeked teen ran into the bakery, "Oh my goodness! I'm so so sorry! I was listening to music, and not really thinking and...oh, good evening Ms. Pandora! How are you today? Come for more cookies?" Marinette asked, smiling as always.

"Yes...but I've also come to see you," I said.

Marinette frowned, "Is everything okay?"

"Yes and no...you see, my niece has been facing bullying. It's really bringing her down...but to put it plainly, I'm not surprised about the bullying. She can never seem to stand up for herself...only for others, which she does all the time...but she's miserable. Her world seems to be crumbling."

"Oh no...that's awful! How can I help?" Marinette immediately asked.

"I...I need advice. If it was you being bullied, what would help you the most?"

Marinette was silent as she packed several cookies into a bag, "I...I think what would help me the most is my...my purposes. I know you've said in the past your niece is a lot like me...and what helps me is honestly my purposes. Weird right? I don't know...it's just something about having a purpose...it...it gives you something to lean back on, you know? I'm sorry...I'm not sure if that helps."

I smiled, "That is exactly what I needed...and what my niece needs. Thank you Marinette," I took my bag of cookies, and gave Marinette a wad of cash, "Keep the extra for yourself, love."

"Thank you Ms. Pandora! Have a nice day," Marinette smiled. I watched her, good as she was, put all the money into the cash register instead of keeping the extra for herself.

Marinette then turned and walked to the back of the shop. A little red kwami peeked out of Marinette's bag, and gave me a wave.

After she was gone, I hid my purple phone again, and snacked on my cookie as I walked back to Fu's.

...

"Ya, I'm fine mom!" I called down, wiping the tears from my eyes. Another miserable day of Chloe Bourgeois. I honestly wasn't sure how much more I could take.

I walked towards my desk, and turned on my computer. Immediately, the news came up with an Akuma warning. Scarlet Lady and Chat Noir were fighting a villain who called herself, 'Princess Perfect'.

Suddenly, I noticed a small box beside my computer. It had a Chinese symbol on top. It must be from my mom.

I opened it, and suddenly there was a brilliant flash of light.

Surprised, I dropped the box and scooted away from it. Then, a small creature appeared. She was yellow and black with two antennas. Briskly, she said, "Hello my Queen."

I watched it silently for a moment, then I sighed, and looked down. A tear slipped from my eye, "Where's the hidden camera? Who's hiding in my room? Come on, I'm sick of the jokes, Chloe," I said, defeated.

But the creature just looked confused, "My Queen...what are you talking about?"

"My Queen? Wow. Good one Chloe...please...please just stop!" I exclaimed, beginning to sob.

"No! Oh no! Please don't cry Your Majesty...please don't...umm...oh no!" The creature came, and suddenly hugged me tightly. Though because she was only the size of my finger, she hugged my face.

Startled, I gasped, "You're-You're not a hologram?"

"No...well, at least I don't think so, my queen. I'm not exactly sure what a hologram is my empress," The creature said. She had a humm in her voice, and spoke as though she were royalty, even though I was the one she called Queen.

"I...umm, what are you?" I asked, starting to believe maybe this wasn't a joke.

"I am a the kwami of the grand Bee miraculous. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you have been chosen to wield the power of immobilization. Do you see the box I came from? Reach inside and take out the comb..."

I did as the kwami said, "Perfect, now put it in your hair. Don't worry, it won't fall out!"

I put the beautiful comb on one of my pigtails...what was so special about it?

"The comb is the Bee miraculous. With it, you can call upon your special power called, 'Venom' and freeze someone for a certain amount of time."

"I...you...WHAA???"

"Remember, 'Venom'. Now, go help Chat Noir. He needs you!"

"Chat Noir...why does he need-"

"Say, 'Buzz on'...oh, and I'm Pollen, your humble servant, my Queen."

"Pollen? Buzz on? I'm sorry but-AHHHH!" I suddenly screamed.

Bright lights suddenly flashed, and I felt like a hundred bees were crawling down my body. Then, it all faded away.

"Wha-AHHH!" I screamed again.

"Marinette, are you okay honey?" My mom called.

"Oh, umm...ya, I'm fine, mom. I just...umm, saw a bug. A bee!" I lied, quickly.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

Looking back at me from my mirror was not Marinette Dupain-Cheng...it was a superhero.

I was now wearing a skintight bodysuit. The top half was black with two golden stripes on my arms, then the suit transitioned into a gold bottom. I had three black stripes on my legs. Black ankle boots were on my feet and had black fuzz around the tops. My hair that normally had a bluish tint was now a pure black that matched my suit. It had golden stripes, with two golden ribbons sticking out in each. The silver comb I'd put in my hair was now shaped like a bee with yellow and black.

Finally, a mask covered my eyes...though when I looked closer, the mask was more like tiny hexagons put together tightly that were molded with my skin. The mask seemed to be split in half longways color-wise. It had a golden top half and a black bottom half.

"Marinette! Are you okay up there?" Micah suddenly called.

"Umm, YES! Perfectly fine!"

"I'm coming up-"

"No! Don't do that...I'm...uhh..."

I heard the stairs squeak.

Shoot.

I ran up to my balcony. How to getaway? If only I had one of those sticks Chat Noir used or Scarlet Lady's yoyo...Then I noticed a top around my waist. It was attached to a string.

"Please work, please work, please work," I prayed silently, taking out the yoyo.

"Marinette, where are-" But that was all I heard. I'd thrown the top and it'd done...something...and now I was being flung through the air. I screamed the entire way.

Oh no...I was falling...and falling meant hitting the ground... "NO NO NO NO NO NO No-"

I landed on my feet.

I stood tensed, panting intently, then I fell to the ground and kissed it, "I am NEVER doing that again. Never ever!" I swore, still laying on the top of the roof.

Suddenly, I heard a scream.

I immediately got up and looked out from the rooftop...the Akuma that had been on the news earlier...she had a little girl in her arms. The little girl was crying, obviously terrified.

Acting solely on instinct, I whipped out my top and threw it towards the Eiffel Tower, where the Akuma was.

I realized what I was doing a second too late, "Shoot...ahhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

...

"Scar, there's a kid involved! She might get hurt!" I yelled again, practically begging my partner to help.

"Ya, ya...just one minute...I need to finish my make-up," Scar replied, "I mean, it's not like anyone ever get's hurt anyhow! We're superheroes. It's against the rules for people to get hurt," Scar explained saltily.

I looked at her in total awe. I had no idea someone could be so utterly stupid. She should get a medal or something for it.

"Scar, that is literally the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Come on, there are people in danger, are you gonna help or not?"

Scar looked around, then shrugged, "Hmm...I feel like I'm hearing the annoying voice of that lame superhero, Chat Noir, but I don't see him. Oh well. Must be my imagination."

I groaned in frustration, then walked away. Looks like I was on my own...as usual. I honestly didn't know why I even tried.

I began to head towards the Eiffel Tower, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Suddenly, I heard a yell, and *thunk* there I hung. Upside down...but I wasn't alone.

"Chat Noir! I-You- Oh no! I'm so sorry. I think I can try and get us down-" The cord that held us suddenly released, and I fell, with a girl landing on top of me. She was immediately up, and sitting beside me, "Oh no! Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay. Please don't die! Ugh, I'm such a clutz!"

I sat up, "Ow...that wasn't pleasant..." Next to me sat a girl. She wore a yellow and black skin-tight suit with a similarly colored mask. Her jet black hair in pigtails had yellow streaks in it was all ruffled. A bee comb, which I guessed was her miraculous, sparkled in the sunlight. The girl had bright blue eyes, that reminded me of someone I couldn't place, and her cheeks were currently blushing pink.

"I'm so sorry! I'm such a mess-up all the time..." The girl sighed.

I looked her over, "Who are you?"

"Umm...I guess I'm the holder, (is that what Pollen called it?) of the Bee Miraculous... But not a very good one. I'm so sorry for landing on you...I'm still getting used to this magic top thingy."

"Hmm...well, you apparently know who I am, and I can only guess you're another 'superhero'. Congrats. You can go sit on a building over there and do your nails or whatever. I have a city to save," Then I shot off. I was not getting my hopes up on another wannabe supergirl. No. Better to go it alone. Besides, the girl was obviously a clutz and was probably just gonna get in my way anyhow.

...

I honestly wanted to cry. Great. I'd blown it as a superhero, and I hadn't even done anything remotely super. Why'd I let Pollen talk me into this? I was just gonna mess it up like I always did... I just had to land right on top of Chat Noir leaving us both hanging in the air. He probably thought I was so stupid! Who am I kidding? I am that stupid!

I contemplated going home, but Chat Noir had told me to sit on the roof...and I was too scared to disobey...he also told me to do my nails...I looked down at my hands...my bodysuit covered them...and my boots didn't come off...so...

I sighed, and sat down. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't-*BANG* I looked up. Chat Noir was attacking what seemed to be his identical twin. They were matched for every defense, every attack, every lock of hair. The only difference was the fake Chat Noir was bright pink. Suddenly, the Akumatized Villain, Princess Perfect came from behind Chat Noir and yanked his stick from the back of his belt. Then, the Chat Pink called on his cataclysm and destroyed a giant hole into the ground.

Chat Noir fought, but pretty soon, he was at the bottom of that hole.

"Oh no..." I whispered.

Suddenly, I caught sight of a running figure.

Micah.

I took my top, and opened it, watching the scene unfold on my tiny screen that acted as a microphone and a magnifying glass.

"Maddalena! Please stop!" Micah shouted.

WHAT WAS MY IDIOT COUSIN DOING?!?

The Akuma floated down towards Micah, "I'm not Maddalena anymore, Micah. I'm the better, even perfect Princess Perfect."

"Messie, you don't have to be perfect-"

"Yes, I do!" Shrieked Princess Perfect, "Don't act like you understand, Mic. You don't have an annoying little brat for a sister. A sister that always seems perfect no matter what they do! A sister that steals every bit of my parents' attention, till finally, I'm invisible. No one seems to notice me, or care about me!"

"Messie...I care about you. We're friends, right?"

"I...you...no! NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME!" Princess Perfect shrieked, then Chat Pink lifted a car and threw it towards Micah.

"MICAH!" I screamed. But he couldn't hear me. I closed my top and stood.

I was relieved to see that somehow Micah was fine, and simply trapped between the car and a wall.

Then, Princess Perfect, still holding the sobbing child, began to float towards the middle of the city, Chat Pink following her.

I looked around desperately, but no one was around...no one could help...but then I realized there was one person...me.

I suddenly caught my reflection in a window of a neighboring building.

My hair was blowing in the wind and my eyes were glistening with tears...I looked...I looked weak.

No. I was not weak. I was not weak! I WAS NOT WEAK! "I AM NOT WEAK!" I shouted.

I was tired of being pushed around.

I was done with being Chloe's plaything.

I was ready to begin something new...something amazing...something miraculous.

And that was the birth of a true hero.