In the heart of the School of Heroes, where the walls smelled like freshly baked cookies and the floors creaked like an old pirate ship, there was a girl named Addison. Her cape was as soft as a brand-new teddy bear, and her laughter rang out like tiny silver bells. Every morning, she practiced her hero moves—ZOOM! SWISH!—dodging imaginary villains with the grace of a dancing butterfly.

But one day, something strange happened. The school buzzed with whispers, and the air carried the sweet, milky scent of baby powder. Pssst! Pssst! went the whispers, like little mice scurrying in the walls. Addison’s teacher, Ms. Sparkletoes (who had shoes that squeaked like rubber ducks), gathered all the little heroes in the Great Hall. "Class," she said, wiggling her toes so her shoes went squeak-squeak-squeak, "we have an exciting announcement! A new hero is joining our school… and it’s a baby!"

Addison’s eyes grew wide as saucers. A baby? At the School of Heroes? She pictured a tiny creature with a cape, tripping over its own feet, BOINK! into a pile of pillows. The thought made her giggle, but then her tummy did a funny little flip. What if the baby stole all the attention? What if Ms. Sparkletoes didn’t have time to listen to her stories anymore?

The next morning, the school was abuzz like a hive of happy bees. The baby had arrived! Addison tiptoed into the nursery, where the walls were painted the color of cotton candy, and the floor was covered in squishy mats that felt like marshmallows under her feet. There, in a crib that looked like a spaceship, lay the tiniest hero Addison had ever seen. The baby’s cape was barely bigger than a napkin, and its little fists waved in the air like it was trying to catch invisible fireflies. Goo! it cooed, and a tiny dribble of milk rolled down its chin.

Addison’s heart did a somersault. The baby was adorable, but also… a little bit messy. A little bit loud. And definitely not ready to save the world. She watched as the baby grabbed a rattle and shook it with all its might—CLANK!—only to drop it on its own nose. WAAAAH! the baby wailed, its face turning as red as a tomato.

Addison bit her lip. She could walk away. She could go back to her own hero training and forget about the baby. But then she remembered the time Ms. Sparkletoes had helped her tie her cape when it got all tangled, or how her friends had cheered when she’d finally mastered the Super Spin Jump. What if the baby just needed a little help?

Taking a deep breath, Addison stepped forward. She picked up the rattle and shook it gently, shhh-shhh-shhh, like the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. The baby’s crying slowed, and its big, round eyes locked onto Addison’s. Then, something magical happened. The baby’s tiny hand reached out and grabbed Addison’s finger. It was warm and sticky, like a little starfish clinging to her.

"Hi there, little hero," Addison whispered. "I’m Addison. Want to learn how to fly?" She lifted the baby carefully, cradling its head like it was made of the most delicate glass. The baby gurgled, and Addison giggled. Together, they practiced "flying" around the nursery—whoosh!—dodging stuffed dragons and bouncing on the marshmallow mats. The baby’s laughter was like the tinkling of wind chimes, and Addison’s heart felt as light as a balloon.

When Ms. Sparkletoes peeked in, her shoes squeaking, she gasped. "Addison! You’re a natural!" she said, clapping her hands. "The baby hasn’t stopped smiling since you arrived."

Addison beamed. She hadn’t realized it, but she was a hero—just not the kind she’d expected. She didn’t need to leap tall buildings or outrun speeding trains. Sometimes, the bravest thing you could do was help someone smaller than you. Even if that someone drooled a little.

From that day on, Addison and the baby became the best of friends. She taught the baby how to crawl like a superhero (vroom-vroom!), how to share toys without throwing them (oopsie-daisy!), and how to give the biggest, squishiest hugs. And every time the baby giggled, Addison knew she’d made the right choice.

Because kindness, she learned, was the most powerful superpower of all.