I'm powerful but helpless (8)
I believe the answer is:
impotent
'helpless' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'i'm powerful' is the wordplay.
'powerful' becomes 'potent' (similar in meaning).
'im'+'potent'='IMPOTENT'
'but' is the link.
(Other definitions for impotent that I've seen before include "Useless" , "Mon petit may be powerless" , "Ineffective" , "Powerless like mon petit" , "Helpless, powerless" .)