Fuchsia was a flop of a flapper when she came out of her chrysalis. She emerged by a rancid swamp and at once concluded she was born to fail. But she loved distance flying and longed to be good at it. So, like many fools before her, she sought out Dr Rat Finkensen.

Finkensen knew an easy mark when he saw one, and realised Fuchsia’s only problem was self-confidence. So he gave her a cheap plasma ball for the princely price of 5 GM, and told her it would give her astonishing powers. Fuchsia believed him, and became the fastest thing on wings.

Sick at heart of being called a cheat, Fuchsia remained afraid that she would be found out, so she was reluctant to back Piàn xióngmāo’s rebellion. She did nothing to prevent it, but could not find the courage to quit using the plasma ball and become a nobody.

Once the Power Pets Sports Club was rebranded, Fuchsia sought out the Mouse in Trousers to explain her deception. But when she told him, the Mouse surprised her by asking how much the plasma ball had cost. When he found out, he asked her, if the plasma ball could really make such a difference, why would Finkensen have sold it to her for a mere 5 GM?

“He thought you were worth what you could pay, and no more,” said the Mouse. “If you had only had 5 SM, he would have sold it to you for that. He realised all you needed was self-confidence. That’s all the ball gives you. Now have confidence in your own abilities, and teach others to do the same, for you never did anything crooked in your life!”

Fuchsia’s antennae were as wide as could be, but she found the mouse was right. Now she has branded her plasma ball as the icon of self-confidence, and uses it to inspire countless winged insects who love her sport just as much as she does.