Allegra, a daughter of the prestigious Sphinx family, sat in the back of her limousine, quietly nibbling on a unicorn cupcake as sadness clouded her expression.
She had originally planned to visit her friend Marinette one last time before returning to London, but she knew her father would never allow it.
There was a time when she would have defied him without hesitation, but now she couldn't. Not after everything that had happened.
The circumstances were too unforgivable—and left her with no choice but to obey.
"Are you all right, miss?" her driver, Alexis, asked sincerely.
"No, Alexis," Allegra admitted softly. "I just miss my friend. I know I have other friends back in London, but I never connected with them the way I did with Marinette. She was like a real sister to me—much more than Nathan ever was."
"Well, young master Nathan is… let's just say he's quiet and serious," Alexis replied carefully. "That doesn't mean he doesn't care about you."
Allegra scoffed. "I highly doubt that."
Several minutes passed in silence before Allegra finally spoke again.
She wasn't ready to return home—not yet. She needed more time before facing her family.
The thought of that suffocating atmosphere made her chest tighten. She needed a moment to clear her head.
"Alexis, please stop by Notre Dame," she ordered, noticing the flicker of worry on his face. "Don't worry, I won't take long. I just need some time to myself."
Alexis sighed but nodded, adjusting the car's direction. "As you wish, ma'am. Should I take out the flute as well?"
Allegra gave a small nod. "Yes, please. And keep this secret from my family, all right, Alexis?"
"You have my word, young miss," Alexis replied, retrieving the flute from the glove compartment.
—
After arriving at Notre Dame, Allegra stepped out of the limousine with her flute in hand, while Alexis remained behind to watch over the car.
He made sure to keep her within his direct line of sight, lighting a cigarette to calm his nerves—and to brace himself for the inevitable scolding he would receive from his employer once this escapade was discovered.
Allegra sat down on a nearby bench, tuning out the noise of the city and the curious glances of passersby. She gazed at her flute—a gift from her friend Bridgette in London, who had been the one to teach her how to play—and took a deep, steadying breath.
Slowly, she lifted the instrument to her lips and began to play Somebody That I Used to Know.
The gentle melody floated through the air like a wistful sigh, pure and haunting. One by one, people began to gather around her, drawn by the sheer beauty of her music.
The fluid grace of her movements, the effortless control of her breath—everything about her performance spoke of refined talent and heartfelt emotion.
Some in the crowd wondered if she belonged to a family of musicians, while others found her face strangely familiar. Whatever their thoughts, they all stood in silent awe of the girl whose flute seemed to sing straight from the soul.
"She's a skilled flutist," Mightyfly remarked quietly, watching from a nearby rooftop.
Even he was impressed.
"Why do I have a feeling her family doesn't know about this?"
When Allegra finally stopped playing, she blinked in surprise at the applause that erupted around her.
Dozens of people clapped and cheered, their admiration echoing across the square.
She hadn't meant to draw attention—she had simply wanted a moment of peace—but now her secret would surely reach her family's ears.
And once they learned of her talent, they would either forbid her from playing altogether or force her into fame without ever asking what she wanted.
"That was amazing, miss!" a young child exclaimed with bright eyes. "Please play another one!"
The others echoed the child's plea, urging her to continue, but Allegra hesitated.
She didn't see herself as truly talented—not compared to Bridgette—and she didn't want her flute, or her passion, to become something for the world to consume.
As much as she longed to keep playing, she reluctantly stood and turned away.
"Prep the car, Alexis," she said quietly.
Alexis looked at her with concern. "Are you certain, miss? I can tell you want to play. You're gifted—there's no need to hide it."
"I can no longer think for myself, Alexis," Allegra replied, her voice trembling.
She looked down at the flute, torn between her love for it and the weight of her family's expectations.
"I can only follow my father's commands. I'm not a musician. I'm just the daughter of the Sphinx family—destined to design pretty clothes that will rival the Agreste line."
"Don't pretend to be someone you're not, young miss," Alexis urged, hoping to change her mind. But when she didn't respond, he sighed and started the car.
Meanwhile, Mightyfly could sense a powerful surge of emotion radiating from Allegra. Her longing to play freely, her yearning to let the world hear her music—all of it pulsed with raw, unrestrained feeling.
He hesitated, unsure whether granting her power would cause more harm than good, especially if it brought her family's wrath upon her.
But he couldn't ignore the spark within her heart—the same spark that defined true heroes.
He raised his cane, releasing a Kamiko and infusing it with his energy. "Fly away, my Kamiko," he whispered. "Magnify the glimmer of hope that shines in Allegra Sphinx's heart."
As Allegra glanced back at the crowd still waiting, their hopeful faces made her heart ache. She wanted so badly to play again, to share the music that lived within her—but fear chained her spirit.
Then, the Kamiko merged with her flute, and a telepathic voice resonated in her mind.
"Melodie, I am Mightyfly," the voice said gently. "I give you the power to express your music however you wish—to your heart's desire. With this gift, you will show the world that you are more than a daughter of prestige. You are an artist whose soul sings through sound. Do you accept this gift?"
"But… my family will stop me," Allegra whispered, trembling. "They'll never allow it."
"Since when has that stopped you?" Mightyfly replied. "You are brave. You are defiant. Do not let fear smother your ambition. Do not let others define your worth. Be yourself—and go beyond. Once again, do you accept this gift?"
Allegra hesitated, torn between fear and yearning. Then, with a deep breath, she made her choice. "Yes, Mightyfly."
In an instant, a radiant light surrounded her. When it faded, Allegra stood transformed as Melodie—her attire now a sleek jumpsuit with a white torso and black lower half, a sweeping treble clef emblazoned across her chest.
Along the base of her suit, white musical notes intertwined to form an infinity symbol. Her boots were pure white, her gloves a dark gray, and a white mask framed her face like porcelain.
Mightyfly smiled, his heart swelling with pride. "Let your symphony be heard."
When the people—and even Alexis—saw Melodie, their reactions were a mix of shock and astonishment. Yet whispers quickly spread through the crowd; they had heard of a mysterious hero named Mightyfly, known for granting ordinary people temporary powers to reveal their true potential. Perhaps, they thought, this was one of those rare miracles unfolding before their eyes.
Melodie lifted her gaze to the sky, a rebellious and confident smile curving across her face. With a graceful motion, she swung her flute, summoning a radiant yellow platform beneath her feet. She leapt onto it effortlessly, the energy shimmering beneath her like sunlight captured in sound. Phones rose all around her as the crowd began to record, captivated by the spectacle of the young flutist who now stood poised to defy gravity—and perhaps destiny itself.
"Paris," Melodie declared with quiet strength, raising her flute. "Hear my music."
Taking a deep breath, she began to play. The song that flowed from her heart was titled Courage in Me, and from the first note, it carried both grace and fire.
The melody swelled and spread through the air, its resonance amplified by her newfound power until it swept across the entire city of Paris like a golden tide.
The sound was soothing, yet empowering—gentle as a lullaby, yet fierce as a declaration of freedom.
Those gathered at Notre Dame felt the music's power most intimately. Their hearts lifted, their spirits renewed, their eyes shining with wonder.
Even Alexis, usually so composed, found himself overwhelmed by emotion. He had never felt anything like this before—an awakening of courage he hadn't realized he'd lost.
Across Paris, life seemed to pause.
A family of three aboard the Liberty Boat set aside their instruments, entranced by the celestial harmony.
A frail, blonde-haired teenager confined to her bed felt her pain ebb away, replaced by a warmth that reminded her of life before her illness.
In a cluttered workshop, a young inventor set down his tools, his restless mind stilled as the melody spoke directly to his soul.
In a grand mansion, a golden-haired model—burdened by the weight of expectation and a longing to be truly himself—stood by his window, feeling the music wrap around his heart like understanding itself.
Somewhere across the city, in a humble bakery, a young designer looked up from her work. The music drew her toward her balcony, her anxiety momentarily forgotten.
Each note whispered reassurance, as though the unseen flutist knew her pain and wove her healing into the melody.
Even Mightyfly, watching from above, found himself deeply moved. The song seemed to tell his story—the years of mockery, the endless ridicule for dreaming of heroism without a Quirk, the feeling of being worthless.
Yet, through that pain, he had found purpose. Now, hearing Melodie's music, he understood the truth of his mission more clearly than ever.
"Quirks aren't just made for fighting villains," he murmured to himself. "They're meant to inspire. To give hope. To remind people that even in the darkest moments, there's always light. And that's the power I'll continue to protect."
The concert in the sky continued for nearly an hour, with Melodie performing song after song, each more passionate and stirring than the last.
Her flute sang of sorrow and triumph, loss and renewal.
Every melody painted a piece of her soul for the world to see.
And when she finally played her last note, a thunderous wave of applause erupted—not just from the crowd below Notre Dame, but from rooftops, windows, and streets across Paris.
The entire city clapped as one.
For the first time in years, Allegra felt something ignite within her—a spark long buried beneath fear and obedience. Pride. Confidence. Freedom.
She had spent so long bowing to her family's will, too afraid to resist their threats against Marinette's bakery.
But now, with the echo of her music still ringing through Paris, she realized she could no longer remain silent. She could no longer live as a prisoner to their demands.
Once Melodie transformed back into Allegra, she offered a heartfelt thanks to Mightyfly for reminding her of what she had lost—her courage, her pride, and her sense of self.
With renewed determination burning in her heart, she returned home to the Sphinx family estate.
Alexis, though outwardly calm, couldn't hide the faint smile of pride tugging at his lips. Deep down, he was happy to see the young miss reclaim her fire, even if he had to remain neutral in the face of what awaited them.
—
Outside the grand mansion, two figures stood waiting—her father, Richard Sphinx, and her older brother, Nathan. Their presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavier.
"Allegra, where have you been?" Richard demanded, his voice sharp and authoritative, carrying the tone of a man accustomed to absolute obedience.
"What do you think, Father? Having some personal time," Allegra replied evenly, meeting his eyes without flinching.
Richard raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her sudden defiance. It was the same tone she had once used before he broke her will years ago.
He sighed, irritation evident in his expression. "You listened to that ridiculous song that played all over Paris, didn't you? And now you think you're empowered, my daughter? Have you already forgotten what I told you?"
"Oh, I remember perfectly," Allegra said, stepping forward with fierce resolve. "But it seems you've forgotten that I'm your daughter."
Her voice hardened, her confidence unwavering.
"I'm quite well-known back in London as your perfect, obedient child. But how would it look if I revealed the truth? If every major news station in Paris and London heard what you said to me years ago?"
She pulled out her phone and, with a single tap, played the recording of a long-buried conversation—Richard's cold threat warning her to stay away from Marinette Dupain-Cheng and to obey him, or else he would destroy the Dupain-Cheng family bakery.
The color drained slightly from Richard's face, though he quickly masked it beneath a composed, stony expression. His eyes flickered with fury, barely contained beneath the surface.
Nathan, meanwhile, allowed himself a faint, almost imperceptible smile that his sister didn't catch.
"You wouldn't want your reputation tarnished, would you, Father?" Allegra continued, her tone dripping with bitter sarcasm. "After all, your company is finally rivaling the Agreste fashion empire. It'd be a shame if all that came crashing down because of this."
Richard clenched his jaw but remained silent, forcing himself to maintain his composure. "What do you want?" he finally asked, his voice low, controlled, and edged with reluctant respect.
"I'm not going back to London," Allegra declared. "I'm staying here in Paris. I'll spend time with my friends, and when school starts next week, I'll see them every day. And one more thing—don't try to restrict my freedom."
She held her father's gaze firmly.
"If you agree to these terms, I'll delete the recording and keep my end of the bargain. I'll work in the family business, as you've always wanted—but only if you keep your promise."
Richard fell silent, weighing her words. For the first time, his daughter stood before him not as a frightened child, but as an equal—strong, resolute, and unyielding.
He glanced toward Nathan, whose steady, knowing look urged him to accept.
"Very well," Richard said at last, exhaling slowly as he composed himself. "You may stay here in the estate while I return to London. Your brother will remain here with you. Accept this condition, and I'll accept yours."
Allegra blinked, surprised by how easily he relented. She had expected him to fight back, to threaten, to manipulate—but instead, he seemed almost calm.
Yet the inclusion of Nathan in his terms gave her pause. Their relationship had always been distant, marked by misunderstanding and silence.
Still, if it meant her freedom, she was willing to accept.
"Fine," she said curtly, avoiding his gaze.
Richard nodded once before turning toward the mansion. "You've grown up, daughter," he said over his shoulder, his tone unreadable. "Continue to do so—for our family."
As he disappeared inside, Allegra and Nathan exchanged a brief, tense glare before he too followed their father indoors.
Only then did Allegra let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift from her chest.
Alexis approached her gently and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Congratulations, young miss," he said with a faint smile. "You actually stood up to your father. Your mother would've been proud."
Allegra's expression softened at the mention of her mother. "Mother always valued intelligence over brute strength," she murmured before glancing upward.
On the rooftop of the mansion, she spotted a familiar silhouette—Mightyfly—watching silently. As their eyes met, he smiled faintly before leaping away into the night.
Allegra smiled to herself. "And I should thank someone else for opening my heart again."
"You'll see him again, young miss," Alexis said kindly. "Come on now. Let's go inside—it's getting cold."
Allegra looked once more at the moon above, its light silvering her hair. "Yeah," she whispered. "It's the perfect night to start figuring out how to help Mightyfly."