Hello everyone! I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS! I've actually outlined (including this chapter,) FOUR CHAPTERS PLUS an idea of where I want the story to continue headed past those 4 chapters. PROGRESS AND DETAILS!

There is actually a chapter that I am VERY excited about because timing is AWESOME and HILARIOUS. Just keep a lookout for numbers and Chapter titles.

But with out further adieu...

It took longer than usual, because of the tacolings, but the akuma was captured and purified.

"What was that?" Queen Bee slumped against a wall, panting. "I've never seen you go up an akuma like that before." The other heroes were also in various positions of exhaustion.

"I don't know. The little taco things didn't come fromEl Campesino. It's… like they manifested from him, almost as if something inside him caused them." Ladybug appeared to be on the verge of collapse.

"Ladybug, we need to get you somewhere before you transform back." Chat Noir, despite his exhaustion, pulled her arm around his shoulders to support her weight. She stopped him, turning to the new hero.

"Are you the one Master Fu told us about? Is your kwami's name Pollen?"

Queen Bee attempted to hide her surprise. "I don't know about any 'master', but yeah, Pollen's my kwami." A sudden though filled her with dread. "Do- do you know who I am? Under the mask?" It was all she could do to keep from trembling. Bee did not want her idol to know who she was… at least not yet. Queen Bee needed to help undo the bad image Chloe had developed with Ladybug and Chat Noir first.

Ladybug shook her head. "No, we don't. Master Fu mentioned that your kwami was training you and that you would be ready to help us in time." Smiling, the spotted heroine stuck out her hand. "If you need anything from us during your training, just let us know." Warmth and relief flooded Bee as she shook Ladybug's hand.

"What's your name, anyway?"

Tossing out her spinning top, she replied, "I'm Queen Bee." Then she was gone.

xXx

"Pollen, Buzz Off!" Gently touching down on the Grand Paris'rooftop, Chloe released her transformation. Panting, she slipped off her shoes and dipped her feet into the chilled pool.

"Chloe, I am in need of food to recharge." Pollen buzzed around the girl impatiently. "I need energy after battling your first akuma with you." Chloe brushed the kwami away from her head.

"Ok you little foodie! What do you want? I can have anything brought up from the kitchen."

"I've heard of these delightful human inventions of, 'honey sticks'?" Pollen's little nubs formed air quotes around the words. "I've always needed to harvest my own, but so much honey in one tiny package? I've wanted to try them for so long!" If the kwami weren't so dignified, she might drool.

The girl scoffed. "What a cliché. A bee eating honey?" She shook her head as she lifted the in-room phone to call the kitchen. Something had changed between the two, Chloe thought. They had begun to feel comfortable enough to tease each other, almost like friends…

"You did well today, My Queen."

Chloe spun as she dropped the receiver. "What?"

"I said, you did well today. You learned the next virtue of being a hero without my having to teach it; it was buried deep down inside of you. You showed Kindness to that lost child during the battle." Pollen flew to sit on Chloe's knee. "Being kind often requires its own strength and courage. This world has become cruel." As Pollen blinked, Chloe could see in the kwami's eyes how old she truly was.

"People hate each other for no reason other than saying the wrong thing. No one is kind to each other anymore. I've seen bad ages in my time as a kwami, but this…" Chloe rubbed Pollen's head as a tear made its way down her cheek. She responded to the touch, nuzzling her new Chosen. "The phrase 'Have Courage and Be Kind' has never been more important than now. You should always be on the lookout for people for people in need of kindness- with and without the mask. Do you understand, child?"

Chloe's blonde locks bounced as she nodded. "Yes, I understand. Being kind is so new to me, but I've got some good teachers." She pulled the kwami into a quick embrace.

"Hey! Don't squish the fluff!"

"Pipe down, puff ball."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PUFF BALL?"

"Room service!" Both heads snapped to the door as the knob began to turn. Pollen ducked under a nearby pillow just as Butler Jean entered.

"I've brought Mademoiselle the honey sticks she requested along with the latest Agreste Fashion magazine. I also thought you might enjoy a few fresh blueberry scones Chief just made." Butler Jean set the tray on the lounge by the end of the bed. "Is there anything else I can get for you, Mademoiselle?"

The blonde smiled. "No thank you, Jean Baptiste. You've been very kind."

Butler Jean bowed to take his leave. Closing the door behind him, Jean let out a deep sigh and smiled. He knew something had changed in his charge recently. In Jean's opinion, it was a change for the better.

Back in the room, both Chosen and kwami were refueling with some much needed snackage.

"So, what did you think of your first akuma fight as a hero?" Pollen slurped the honey from its tiny tubing.

"Well, I'll say it's definitely different from actually being the akuma or being there because you caused the akuma. I had a different motivation." Chloe swallowed her bite of scone. "I wanted to save everyone versus save myself or do whatever I wanted."

Chloe suddenly found herself with a face-full of Pollen. "YES! Exactly! That is the switch we needed to flip in you!" It was humorous to see the normally dignified kwami this excited. "As heroes, we fight for the justice and goodness in the world! And…"

"Let me guess," Chloe stopped Pollen mid monologue. "THAT'S the next virtue of being a hero?"

Pollen was not as thrilled with being interrupted. "If you would let me FINISH; yes. Goodness is our next virtue. As a hero, it is your duty to fight for the good and justice in the world."

As the kwami returned to her honey straw, Chloe waited patiently for her to continue. Once it became clear the only thing Pollen was focused on was the honey, Chloe cleared her throat. "Is that it?"

"Is what it?"

"Your explanation about the hero's virtue of goodness."

"Yes. That was it."

"Why was it so short?"

Putting aside her honey stick, Pollen sighed. "Not every virtue is going to be cut and dry. Some of these are up to your discretion. YOU are the hero, child. YOU were given these powers for a reason. While they can be taken away if misused, YOU get to decide how to use them. Will you use them for some convoluted version of what society deems 'good and just', or will you use them to fight for those who do not have voices?" Flying to her pillow nest Chloe had made for her, Pollen began preening for bed. "It's getting late and you have much to think about. Good night, My Queen."

"Good night?" Chloe turned the tableside clock to face the kwami. "It's 4:30 in the afternoon!"

"Ever hear of beauty sleep? You might need an extra bit tonight."

Before Chloe could respond, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. "Oh! It's Sabrina!" Turning the phone to face away from where Pollen was resting, Chloe answered the video call. "Hi, Sabrina!"

"Chloe! How are you! I know I talked to you a couple days ago, but it feels like forever!"

"I'm good. Better than good, actually." Glancing over to the sleeping kwami that had changed her life, Chloe smiled. "Are you back? Your plane should have landed by now."

"We're back. Mom's trying to decide what to do for dinner. American food is so fattening!"

Knowing her father had a late mayoral meeting that would miss dinner, Chloe decided to show her friend a kindness. "Why don't you and your family come over for dinner? Daddy has a meeting, so I would be eating alone anyway. I want to hear about your trip!"

"Really? I know Mom and Dad still feel a bit gross from the plane…"

"You guys freshen up really quick and we'll have dinner up here in the penthouse, so they don't have to be seen in public." The girl grinned conspiratorially. "Maybe we can weasel your mom into letting you stay over tonight too."

"That sounds like a great plan, Chloe! That's…" Sabrina blinked. "…really nice of you."

"What can I say? It's part of the new me. I'll tell you more about it tonight."

"Okay! See you in, an hour and a half?"

"Sounds good. We'll have it ready when you get here."

As the girls said good bye, Chloe could feel the stink eye from her kwami across the room. "Come ON, Pollen. I'm not going to tell her everything that's happened."

"Well pardon me. Who knows what might slip out of that big mouth of yours?"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING BIG MOUTHED, SHORT-STUFF? AND WHAT HAPPENED TO KINDNESS?"

Until next time, STAY CREATIVE!