This chapter introduces my OC, Taylor. She'll act to Nathaniel like Alya and Adrien do to Marinette; as a friend and potential love interest.


Le Chien Kim / Dark Cupid

It was Valentine's Day, and love was in the air.

Outside the collège, Le Chien Kim met with Max Kanté.

"Operation Valentine's Day is commencing," reported Max, staring at incomprehensible calculations on his phone. "According to my extensive research and cross-referencing of online shopping sites, this particular jewel was ranked highest in popularity."

He handed Kim a crystal brooch, consisting of two clear, heart-shaped diamonds laid end to end, surrounded by an outline.

"That's perfect, Max," replied Kim. "I better hit a home run with this one."

Max gave a puzzled look.

"Love is like baseball, right?", continued Kim. "You gotta have a strategy or you'll strike out. But if you aim right, you'll hit it out of the ball park. Score!"

"Oh, yes Kim. Lovely metaphor."

"Meta-who?"

Alya noticed the jewel in Kim's hands. She leaned in for a closer look. "Ooh, sparkly! Is that for moi?"

"Negative," replied Max. "The recipient of this gem has already been determined. It's-"

Kim covered Max's mouth. "Shhh! Keep it on the down low!"

"Scoop!", shouted Alya excitedly. "Kim's got a major crush!" She took a photo of the brooch. "So, who's the lucky lady?"

Before he could answer, Marinette noticed the jewel too. "It's gorgeous, Kim. She's gonna be ecstatic!"

Kim rubbed the back of his head, uncomfortable. "Technically, she's still gotta accept it." He became visibly anxious. "What if she says no?"

"She won't, Kim," reassured Marinette, "no way! Don't hold back, Kim. Go for it, no regrets!"

He stretched, cracked his knuckles, and high-fived Max. "Operation Valentine's Day is underway!"

Max showed him a map. "Her route is highlighted here in yellow, yours in red. If you run at ten miles per hour, you're going to gain a four and a half minute advance on her. Halt and wait where you are facing northwest - the third most romantic spot in Paris!"

His friends cheered. "Go, go, go!"

"Thanks, guys!"

And with that, Kim jogged away.


Ten minutes later, Kim found himself on the Pont des Arts, one of the most romantic places in Paris - behind only the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.

Much to his surprise, Chloé was already there. She seemed to be preoccupied with calling someone.

"And that's right, in a 24 karat gold frame," she blabbered, "Deliver it to Hôtel Le Grand Paris and bill it to Daddykins- uh, I mean, Mr. Bourgeois."

When she noticed Kim, she abruptly ended the call. "What are you doing here?"

"I... I...", he stammered.

"You... you...", she mocked.

Kim cleared his throat and kneeled down, unknowingly in a small puddle. He presented the brooch to Chloé and proposed, "Will you be my Valentine?"

Before she could reply, a passing bike splashed the puddle water all over him, and to add insult to injury, a discarded chip bag blew into his face.

"Don't move!" She took a photo of the embarrassed Kim, and posted it online. "Wait till everyone gets a load of this! Hahahaha!"

Annoyed, he glared at her, partially hidden by the bag.

"No offense, Kim, but my heart's saved for someone more awesome than you." Chloé turned around, showing no remorse for her actions. "Don't you just hate how harsh love can be?"

Saddened, he dropped the brooch, tore the bag off his face, and feel to his knees, crying.

The pure hate radiating from Chloé collected in the brooch, tainting it blood red. When Kim picked it up, he was immediately transformed.

Instead of his sports gear, he was now wearing a tight-fitting spandex suit that stretched from his neck to his fingers and toes. Huge, feathery wings extended from his sides, and he now had a bow with four limbs. The brooch itself was now a pin that fastened a quiver to his back.

"I am now Dark Cupid," announced Kim. "No love affair or friendship will escape my fury. No one will ever love again!"

He glided down the Seine, noticing two lovers out for a stroll, carrying flowers. He shot two rose-tipped arrows at them, and they instantly changed.

Their lips turned black, and their strong love became pure hatred of equal strength.

The woman threw her bouquet at a wall, and the man wrestled himself away from his now ex.


Nathaniel and Taylor exited a candy shop.

"These candy apples are delicious," remarked Taylor.

"They're the best on the block," replied Nathaniel.

"Can you believe we've been together for so long?"

"Yeah. I still remember that vacation like it was yesterday."

"And to think that we met in an animation studio on a cruise ship of all places!"

"Me neither. All my life my love for art and animation was my little secret. It was only when I met you that I decided to share my creations with the world."

Taylor blushed. "I never expected us to meet after that day."

"Who would've thought that such a cute little budding animator was staying next door from me at my hotel?", asked Nathaniel, booping her nose.

"Or that I was moving to Paris on the same flight as you."

"Or that our families sat next to each other on the plane."

"We really are made for each other!"

Unbeknownst to them, Dark Cupid was hovering above. Scanning the area for potential targets, he noticed the heart-shaped candy apples in Taylor's hands.

He shot an arrow at her. "All hearts must be destroyed!"

Immediately, Taylor's loving smile transformed into a snarl.

"Taylor?" Nathaniel called in surprise.

She didn't say a word. She just stuck the candy apples to his shirt, even squishing them all around to make it extra sticky. A sadistic smile was on her face throughout the entire ordeal.

"Hey, seriously?"

Taylor ran away, cackling like an old witch. "You're not my friend; you're a joke! We were never made for each other. And everyone's gonna laugh their heads off at your lame attempts at 'art'!"

Her remarks hit Nathaniel where it hurt the most. He had no choice but to go back home.


In total despair, Nathaniel held his tablet pen dangerously above the shredder in his father's office.

He sighed, accepting his fate, and loosened his grip.

"Wait, no!"

The suddenness of the plea made him tighten his hold, his objective now being to find out who spoke.

Much to his surprise, he saw his drawing tablet on the desk.

"Sketch? What did you do that for?", he asked, annoyed out of his mind.

"Don't quit now!", came her desperate reply.

"Why not?! Don't you know what Taylor said? I'm just a joke, and my art is lame. You know what? She's right."

He threw the pen towards the trash bin, but it hit an invisible force field and bounced back into his hand. He growled, frustrated.

"Even if she's right, I don't want you to stop you from creating art," continued Sketch.

"Why? It's worthless anyway."

"I'm your character, remember? If you stop creating, our stories will end and we won't know what to do!"

"So what? My favorite TV show got cancelled in the middle of season 1. It happens all the time."

"Nathaniel, be honest with me. What do you really want to do: draw or quit?"

Somewhat taken aback, Nathaniel thought long and hard.

"Listen to your heart, Nathaniel!"

Regaining his confidence, he stated his answer loud and clear. "I wanna draw till it hurts. I wanna become a famous artist and wow the world with my talents."

"That's the Nathaniel I know!"

"Thanks for being here with me, Sketch. I really needed that confidence boost today."

Although he couldn't see it, he felt Sketch blush.

"Say, Sketch, why do you think Taylor was all mad at me earlier? We were doing just fine when she suddenly snapped at me."

"Did you notice anything strange about her?"

"Well, something from the sky hit her... and now her lips are black and she's mean to me."

"Maybe she's been hit by a flying supervillain! Quick, you must transform!"

"Art on!"

Super Nathan drew a telescope and looked out the window.

He could see Dark Cupid still hovering where he was. Zooming in, he immediately recognized his face. "Kim?"

With no time to spare, he blasted off on his jetpack.


Back at the hotel, Chloé received her delivery. As usual, she found something to belittle it.

"Ugh! I never said 18 karat gold!", she complained to the delivery guys. "Those gold tones will never match my 24 karat toilet! Idiots!"

Not knowing how else to react, the deliverymen just climbed into their truck and drove off.

Dark Cupid spotted Chloé and swooped in on her. Noticing him, Sabrina dragged her "master" away, but they were still no match for the winged humanoid.

"You can't outrun me, Chloé!", taunted Dark Cupid.

The two girls dashed down the sidewalks, weaving through swaths of people without a single "excuse me". They were so focused on outrunning the villain that they failed to notice a flower stand at a corner store, which they promptly crashed into. "Help!"

It was the perfect opportunity for Dark Cupid to attack them. "Happy Valentine's Day, Chloé. Now you'll get what you deserve."

She freed herself from the mess, prompting the villain to load his bow. But that wasn't what she was concerned about.

"My hair!", she complained. "There is nothing worse in this world that a bad hair day! First my new jacket was wrinkled and now you totally ruined my hair! Just go ahead and change me already! This day can't get any worse..."

But he didn't. "I don't need to waste this arrow on you. Your heart is so dark and shriveled, there's no room for love." He cackled as he flew away.

"Ugh! How dare you talk to me like that?" Suddenly, she bumped into Sabrina. "Huh? Why are you just standing there? Help me up!"

Sabrina turned to her, with lips as black as night. "Ha! You think I'd help someone as stuck up as you?" She took a photo of the embarassed Chloé, and posted it online. "Wait till everyone gets a load of this! Hahahaha!"

She ran away, but Chloé chased her. "Sabrina!"

"Chloé, I... I loathe you!"

"Sabrina, snap out of it!"

Sabrina grabbed her master by the collar. "You're nothing Chloé, and nothing to me! I hate you!"

She threw Chloé on the pavement and ran away, hoping to spread hatred towards the one she served.


Chloé, now in uncharacteristically dirty clothes, found Sabrina waiting at the front of the hotel. "Well, well, Chloé."

"I don't want to fight you, Sabrina."

"Ugh, that friendliness. That longing for us to be together. It's so revolting. You are definitely not my friend!"

"Why are you so full of hate, Sabrina?"

"Because hate conquers all!"

Suddenly, Super Nathan landed between the two girls, swinging two drawn pocket watches like shields in both of his hands. "I hate to burst your bubble, but hate doesn't conquer all. Love does!"

"Hey, you're just buying time," cried Sabrina. "Fight!"

"I'll do better than that," taunted Chloé.

"Huh?"

"Come on, Sabrina..." Chloé walked towards her, her lips forward, as if kissing. "Just a peck..."

Sabrina was furious. "Get back, you savage!"

"Here, Sabrina! Come here!"

The two girls ran away, playing cat and mouse with each other.

Now that there was nothing to do, Super Nathan tapped the eraser on his tablet, allowing him to delete his weapons.

He drew a chair to sit on, and whistled an old folk song like it was a normal day.

"Ah, Super Nathan."

The hero turned to see Dark Cupid aiming his arrow at him. "The hero everyone loves. But you don't deserve any of it!"

Thinking quickly, Nathan stood up, using his chair to deflect the projectile.

"Stop it, Kim," ordered Nathan.

"Call me Dark Cupid. And I'll never stop! If I can't have love, then no one can!"

"Okay, Dark Cupid, I get it. Your crush totally burned you, but that doesn't mean you have to take it out on all of Paris!"

"Oh yes, I do! I won't stop until everyone's heart is crushed. So say adios to your loved ones. From now on, you'll hate them!"

He pulled his bow, but Super Nathan pushed it down.

"Listen, Kim," said Nathan calmly. "I want you to explain everything to me. First of all, who's your crush?"

The hero's soothing voice seemed to soften the heartbreaker's heart. "Her name is Chloé Bourgeois. Y'know, the Mayor's daughter?"

"Chloé? Of course I know her. You know she has really high standards when it comes to... well, everything. Maybe she thinks you're inferior in some way."

"How can I be inferior? I've won several gold medals at the County Athletics Tournament." Dark Cupid counted on his fingers. "Soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, swimming..."

"Sports probably isn't one of her criteria," replied Nathan. "She cares only about fashion... and money."

"Then how you do think I can win her heart?"

"I know you probably wouldn't like it, but don't."

"Why not?"

"I think you should find a crush who shares the same interests as you. Do you know any girl who's into sports?"

Dark Cupid taught long and hard. "Actually, I do. Come on, let me introduce you to her."


Dark Cupid and Super Nathan floated into the public swimming pool.

The former dove into the water and fished out a thin girl with short red hair. "Super Nathan, I'd like you meet Ondine."

"Hi, Ondine," waved Nathan.

She waved back. "Hi."

"So, what do you want us to do?," asked Ondine.

"Your friend Kim here just got rejected by his crush," replied Nathan. "So I've suggested that he start dating you."

"Really? That's perfect!", exclaimed Ondine.

"Whaddya mean?", asked Nathan.

"Ever since we met at the swimming tournament," Ondine related, "I've always felt attracted to Kim. I always kept my feelings secret, waiting for the perfect moment to tell them. And it seems that moment is today!"

And with that, she hugged Dark Cupid.

Touched, he hugged back.

The pure love radiating from their hearts purified the corrupted brooch, making it sparkle like the sea. Dark Cupid instantly detransformed into the regular Kim, and all the hate he spread across Paris was replaced too.

The brooch fell onto Kim's hands, prompting him to kneel and say, "Mind if we go on a Valentine's date?"


Later, Nathaniel was in Taylor's bedroom, teaching her how to use the drawing tablet she recently bought.

Suddenly, his phone beeped. Kim had posted something on Instagram.

It was picture of the two of them at a riverside cafe, with their signatures digitally added over the photo. Its caption read, "Date with ondinethesiren. I hope we'll get married someday!"

Nathaniel immediately grabbed the tablet and handwrote a message.

"I'm glad you and Ondine are doing well together, Kim. I wish all the best for your relationship. PS: If anything goes wrong, you can play Heroes and Villains with Stormy Weather, Lady Wifi, and Super Nathan. Just make sure not to spread too much hate. Signed, Nathaniel."