They're back! I'm finally decided on Avery's alter ego: Apidae! I know I said I'd be posting two at once, but my second story's not done yet, and so far it really isn't going anywhere, so I need more time to work on it. This one's also not great, but it does show Avery's interaction with people from her hometown and I got some emotions and flaws that weren't really touched upon before. Now, continuing off the epilogue, let's explore her new abilities!

Avery stares in wonder at the bee Kwami, Peeka, hovering in front of her.

Peeka: Uh, hello? You there?

Avery: Whoa! Giant talking bee, not the weirdest thing I've seen this week, but, it's up there! Wait a second, you're a Kwami, aren't you?

Peeka: Yep. How'd you know that?

Avery: I know Ladybug and Cat Noir.

Peeka: Really? Cool! So, I guess you already know the deal then.

Avery: What?

Peeka: Ok, you don't, well, this is awkward! Let's see, where do I start? You gotta forgive me, I'm a little rusty. Did you know that no one has held the bee Miraculous since ancient times? No respect for the bees, not cool!

Avery: Can you just explain, pretty much everything? I'm pretty new to this whole "helping superheroes" thing.

Peeka: Let's see here. Bees represent teamwork, you good with that?

Avery: I'm a lazy antisocial misfit, I literally just started making friends.

Peeka: I'm sorry, I just, I don't remember much of anything, being cooped up in that comb for so long! I guess you should put it on.

Avery pulls her hair up into a bun and attaches the comb to it.

Avery: I guess that one painful year of ballet class wasn't for nothing.

Peeka: Alright, so, don't ever take that comb out.

Avery: Aw man! I don't want to walk around with my hair constantly in some pretty princess style! It's kinda uncomfortable and it's not me!

Peeka: Being a superhero comes with sacrifices.

Avery: Fine, but do. Not. Take. My. Jacket.

Peeka: It's fine! That's all yours, until you transform.

Avery: So, what are my powers?

Peeka: I'm not exactly sure. Let's see, maybe you have a stinger? No, wings? No, I'm pretty sure it's...

Evelyn: Avery?

Avery: Hide! Come in, mom!

Evelyn: Avery, oh, interesting hairstyle. Anyway, I got in contact with Chloe, and she gave me her friend Adrien's number, who gave me Marinette's number, who gave me Hiro's number, and...

Avery: Now you know how to stalk my friends on the internet?

Evelyn: No...Anyway, Hiro put me on the phone with his aunt and she cleared some things up, so I've decided to let you go to the party!

Peeka: Yay!

Evelyn: What was that?

Avery: My stomach! Oh, I feel sick!

Evelyn: I'd better call the school tomorrow morning. You should get some rest.

Avery: Goodnight!

Evelyn walks downstairs.

Avery: Congratulations, you just got me out of school tomorrow. Wait a second, you got me out of school tomorrow! Yes!

Peeka: I did something right? Yes!

Avery: You did something amazing! Now I get to stay home and play video games all day instead of sit around and be taunted by my classmates!

Peeka: Yay! I sure wish I knew what all this meant, but if you're happy, I'm doing my job right! At least I hope so, anyway.

Avery: Wait, let's really take advantage of our time. Maybe there's something I can do to help you remember what the powers of the bee comb are.

Peeka: Hmm, I'm trying to remember the last owner. Yes, now I remember! She was a beautiful warrior dressed in black and yellow. She was very smart, far ahead of her time. People often shunned her because they believed she used black magic. The girl didn't appear to be heroic either. Many often felt she didn't belong on the battlefield, but as a poor housewife. However, her superpowers and her brains gave her an advantage that even the strongest of men didn't have. While she was small and frail, she was full of heart and courage, and she never let anyone break her soul!

Avery: I wish I could more like her. The only thing we have in common is I look like I could grow up to be a poor, frail housewife, and I guess I don't suck at academics. Other than that, I'm just better off being sidelined.

Peeka: Don't say that, I mean, of course you aren't going to be exactly like her, you're you, not anyone else.

Avery: I'm going to bed, hopefully we'll figure this whole thing out in the morning.

It is the next day at school, Ms. Robin, Avery's homeroom teacher, is taking attendance.

Ms. Robin: Avery Bourgeois?

Jewel: She's probably late, as usual.

Ms. Robin: Now Jewel...

Avery: Sorry I'm late!

Ms. Robin: You were correct. Avery, please take your seat.

Chris: (obnoxiously) Hey Avery! How was your trip? Did you meet anyone of your own species?

Avery: I made tons of friends, and I even met a boy. He's really cute, and smart, and funny, and nice...

Chris: Guess what, Jewel? Avery here's got a boyfriend!

Jewel: (loudly) You have a boyfriend?

All of the students talk about Avery at once.

Chris: She finally found someone who's immune to her freak show disease! I bet he's an alien!

Jewel: I bet SHE'S an alien!

Both laugh.

Avery: (forcing a smile) Ms. Robin, can I go to the bathroom?

Ms. Robin: Of course, but hurry back!

In the bathroom, Avery stands in a stall, her face tear-stained.

Peeka: I'm so sorry, Avery.

Avery: This isn't your fault, don't blame yourself. All I know is I'm not worthy of your powers. I break down in tears from simple teasing, I'm not meant to fight evil.

Peeka: Master Fu chose you for a reason, you just can't see it yet, but I know it's there.

Avery: What is it?

Peeka: Well, what are you compared to those other kids?

Avery: A freak. Creature of the night. "Special."

Peeka: I meant in your own words.

Avery: I don't know.

Peeka: How about this: Ladybug and Cat Noir, how would they describe you?

Avery: I'm not sure, I wish they were here!

Peeka: *sigh* You're an individual! Unique! You have a personality to call your own, and you seem proud of it, at least a little bit.

Avery: But it's in a bad way, I'm nuts!

Peeka: You look pretty stable to me. Those other kids back in there, while they may be denying it, they're losers! They depend on each other and stereotypes in order to have social lives! You walk your own path, you choose the more outrageous side of things because none of them would dare follow you, and it's not because they're smarter than you, which they aren't, it's because they're all secretly afraid! This was what I was getting at before. Within you beats the heart of a hero, but you keep locking that side of you up because you're starting to become scared like them, but that spirit is breaking free, and if you follow it, you'll become one with the bee Miraculous and the amazing powers it gives you, whatever those powers are. You know what, after school, I'll transform you and you can tell me all about it.

Avery: Wow, if everything that you said is true, I guess there's more to me than just that awkward girl.

Peeka: See what I mean? Even if you aren't sure of yourself yet, I believe in you.

Avery smiles. Jewel enters.

Jewel: Are you done yet, Avery? Oh come on, I know you're in here!

Avery: (whispering) What do I do?

Peeka: (whispering) Go out there and let that hero inside shine!

Jewel: Why do I hear two voices in one stall? You'd better get out here right now or I'm getting a teacher!

Avery: (opens stall) Hearing voices again, aren't we?

Jewel: What? There was another girl in there, and you were talking to her!

Avery: (sarcastically) Yeah right, and there's a unicorn outside the window! See you around!

Jewel: That girl makes me angrier than I thought was physically possible.

The school day is over, Avery is sitting in her backyard with Peeka.

Avery: If you remember my transformation phrase anytime today, that would really work out great.

Peeka: I'm trying to remember what she said. Her battle cry, I think it was...I got nothing.

Avery: At this rate I'll never transform.

Peeka: Wait! I've got it! To transform you say "Stripes On." And to activate your power, say "Super Wings." The rest you can figure out, because I'm clueless! I hope I didn't give you the wrong information!

Avery: Be the hero, be the hero. Peeka, Stripes On!

Avery transforms into Apidae.

Apidae: Whoa! Sweet! Let's see here, what's my weapon? It looks like I've got...a slingshot! Awesome! (presses button, slingshot extends into the air, lifting her up) Ahh! Ok, this is insane, this is insane, this is insane! (slingshot tips over) Gah! (crashes on the ground face first) Ow. (retracts slingshot.) Not doing that again! Alright, who needs saving?

Bank Robber: Nobody move!

Apidae: Not a supervillain, but I'll take it! Hey you! Put that money back right now or deal with me!

Bank Robber: A little girl in a bee costume, I'm so scared! Get lost, kid!

Apidae: You asked for it! (launches rocks at him)

Bank Robber: Ow! Hey! Take it easy! Ow! Ok, I surrender!

Apidae: Do you?

Bank Robber: No. (runs off)

Apidae: (chases after) I can't fail on my first mission. Time to bring out that superpower! Super Wings! (sprouts wings) Oh my gosh, this is the coolest thing ever! (flies after Bank Robber)

Bank Robber: Is that girl flying?

Apidae: Yep, you wanna fight me now?

Bank Robber: You know what? Yes! If I tell my crew I lost the money because I was chased down the street by a giant bee, I'm history! So bring it on!

Apidae: Let's go! (launches more rocks and extends slingshot to block him off)

Officer: We'll take it from here, miss.

Bank Robber: This isn't over, Wonder Bee!

Apidae: Wonder Bee? Nah, I think I'm gonna call myself...Apidae. Yeah, Apidae!

Officer: Welcome, Apidae. We need someone like you around here.

Her Miraculous beeps.

Officer: That's one fancy comb, why do the stripes disappear, though?

Apidae: Gotta go, bye! (flies away)

Officer: She's a strange one. Strange but efficient.

Apidae transforms back.

Avery: That was amazing! I totally kicked that guy's butt!

Peeka: Hey, I gave you the right instructions! Congratulations, Apidae!

Avery: I can't wait to tell all my friends!

Peeka: Avery...

Avery: It's only fair, I know Ladybug is Marinette and Cat Noir is Adrien, and Hiro is the boy with the purple armor, and Baymax is the flying robot, and...

Peeka: I get the picture. How about this, you can tell all you SUPERHERO friends, but don't tell any of your normal friends. Got it?

Avery: Relax. Although, I gotta say, it would be kinda funny, Chris and Jewel begging on their knees for me to protect them from evil villains!

Peeka: Avery...

Avery: And then when they decide to pick on me at school, and a bunch of baddies gang up on them, and I'm all like, "You should've been nicer to me! See ya!"

Peeka: Avery, sit down. You can't let personal feelings distract you from what's really important. Those two are awful, I agree, but please take this seriously. The choice to use your powers for good or evil is yours. However, that decision can be life changing. You have been akumatized before, but Shadow Shifter is gone. The actions you do and the choices you make, that's on you this time, not her. This is your big moment to reform and become one with the people you're close to. Being a true hero is more than just reading comics and watching pretend superheroes in media, you need to have the right point of view, value others before yourself, and never, I repeat, never, use your powers for revenge.

Avery: Ok, so basically I just took up karate class.

Peeka: Something like that.

Avery: I promise you, I'll try my hardest to be less selfish, and not start pelting Chris with rocks. Maybe.

Peeka: You're getting there. So, you wanna try again on that whole "staying home sick" thing?

Avery: Mom's already onto me, but if there's any way you could magically give me a mild cold, let me know!

Yeah, not very exciting, I know. This is basically just a set up so you know how Avery adjusts to her powers before the second story. I decided I would make Peeka a little bit confused, but she's still more mature than Avery, so I tried to get the best of both worlds with her curiosity and forgetfulness, but still have her take on a more serious tone when Avery does something wrong or needs some support. She'll interact more with the other main characters in a future one-shot. The next one will be about Adrien trying to hide his identity as Cat Noir from Nino and his parents. I also felt the need to add Chris and Jewel to the story since Avery and Chloe are on good terms and I wanted to have a male and female leading the group of kids who torment her. And yes, Avery has friends at her school, they just weren't introduced yet. See you next time!