Chapter 24: Change Their Minds (The Castle Pt. 2)[]
Pouchy opened his eyes. A familiar, cool, crisp air blew across his fur, feeling dreamily real despite its artificial composition. That same, bright, purple tainted glow began to reflect across his face as his vision slowly adjusted.
The lighting was the same, but around him, the cathedral from before, nowhere to be found. Beneath him, Pouchy saw bright green grass; though having been tainted by a light lavender color, as if somebody had placed stained glass over it. Pouchy felt a drop hit the top of his fur. Then another. And another. Soon superseded by a vast amount of them.
Pouchy looked up, expecting to find clouds. Above him, a blue sky hung, though looking to have a similar stained glass shading to its surface as that of the grass beneath his wings. Pouchy continued looking up, the rain continuing to fall and pitter-patter against the soft tainted grass, as if to spite him for believing in the laws of logic.
Thunder crackled above his fuzzy head; though its presence was not of any sinister nature, almost the opposite. It echoed throughout the drop-filled sky that seemed strangely clear for how much rain it was letting out.
Pouchy flew through the lavender colored grass, the soft blades brushing through his fur intricately. Suddenly, through the curtain of purple-tinted rain, he could make out a figure with his narrowed vision. They seemed to be holding something above their head, as if to protect them from the rain. Pouchy flew over to the figure, though when he approached, they did not seem to respond at all.
It was Honeybun. He was sitting with his legs crossed through the grass, umbrella raised above his head carefully. Pouchy looked above and around him, noticing small flickers of static, as if those seen when reliving an event long passed. Pouchy waved and attempted to speak, but despite his actions, they fell on deaf ears.
Honeybun did not move, nor did he flinch. Not even a slight change in his ear direction could be observed despite Pouchy’s repeated pleas. “(That’s.. Weird..)” Pouchy said to himself this time, as he continued to watch Honeybun.
Beside Honeybun, was a small Bee. She seemed to be wearing a crown and a beautiful gown; though her appearance was cracked and grayed, as if it had had all the color meticulously pulled away from it. Honeybun looked at the Bee. His eyes looked completely different to the ones Pouchy had seen recently. They seemed warm and energetic. Almost like him. “Do you like it, Crim? I made it just for you!” He looked at the Bee, smiling eagerly.
She laughed warmly and with a very distinct tone of sincerity in her voice. “Like? I love it, Bunny! It’s so pretty. As much as I love the real world, I.. I haven’t seen anything quite like this.. Oh, the colors are so beautiful! My brother hates purple, however. He would be losing his mind in a place like this.” She laughed again, tears nearly falling out of her eyes as she rolled around on the ground, Honeybun following suit.
“Why does he hate purple so much?” The Bee looked at Honeybun, shrugging nonchalantly. “I’ve never quite known. He’s never said he has a favorite color. Nor really one he hates, besides.. Well.. you know, haha.. He’s very adamant on it. No purple anything in the castle.” She looked onward at the rain, scooting closer to Honeybun as she smiled compassionately.
“..Have you done this for anyone before, Bunny? You’re so talented!” Honeybun looked down at the ground, laughing with a slight tinge of bitterness. “Oh, haha.. No. I’m glad you like it, though!” He said, annunciating the last part in hopes of changing the subject.
“No? How so? This is so pretty.. You’re really going to tell me you’ve never done this for anybody before?” Honeybun looked down at the ground, a slight sound emanating from his teeth, as though grinding them together. “Um.. Please, can we.. Not talk about that, Crim?”
She laughed nervously, patting him on the back with sincerity. “Oh, yes, of course.. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable..” He looked back at her. “Oh, you didn’t make me uncomfortable, it’s just.. I don’t like to talk about..”
He stopped his sentence for a moment as he began repeating a certain word. “Pouchy. Pouchy! POUCHY!” Pouchy soon woke up to Spectacles and Brad sitting on top of his cheap mattress. Spectacles was on the other mattress, leaning off of it to talk into Pouchy’s ear. “Pouchy, y-you need to get up..” Pouchy looked around drowsily, the sentence going in one ear and coming out the other like a broken water slide.
His vision soon unblurred and he saw Spectacles and Brad standing in front of him, both exchanging glances to each other. “Oh, yeah.. Right.. Uh, is it late or something?” Spectacles nodded, pointing to a spot on the wall in which a clock hung. It seemed to be very crudely put together and its position on the wall was tilted, showing a clear sign of neglect. “I-It’s like ten am..”
Brad looked at Pouchy, lifting up an eyebrow. “Ya’ really slept in, Pouch. Thought you were one of those ‘early riser’ types.” He chuckled. Pouchy instantly snapped out of his drowsy state, lifting up his wing in defense. “And I am! Just ‘cause somebody gets up early most of the time doesn’t mean they have to every time!”
Brad nodded playfully. “Yeah yeah. So what were ya’ sleepin’ in for, ‘nyway?” Pouchy looked slightly nervous at the question, closing his eyes reassuringly. “O-Oh, just a dream.. You know me with the.. Crazy dreams..”
Brad placed on his hat, brushing up his fur neatly as he continued to talk to Pouchy. “..And ya’ don’t remember none of it?” Pouchy shook his head. Spectacles pushed up his glasses. “O-Often our craziest dreams happen in the morning.. A-And we don’t usually remember them..”
“Well, um.. Anywho, I guess.. Since I slept in, we’ll have to be twice as fast to the Castle, huh?” Spectacles and Brad both nodded. “Well then, let’s blow this place!” Pouchy shouted as he shot out of the door, leaving Spectacles and Brad behind in a trail of dust.
Brad looked more intricately at the hotel, noticing the faded wallpaper. “Yuck. Guess I was too tired t’notice it yesterday. This place is kinda crappy.” Spectacles nodded shyly. “Y-Yeah, but it.. Worked out, I guess?” Brad nodded as they both soon caught up with Pouchy, who was standing in front of the check in.
The Bee working it looked absolutely miserable. They were a Rascal Bee, but their drooping eyelids and defeated expression made them seem more like an Exhausted Bee who somehow fell into red paint. Pouchy looked at them, his eyes sparkling. “Please can we have some food? We’re just children!” The employee grumbled, clearly overworked. “Fine. But only because that’s the 79th time you’ve asked. Take the pancakes beside me. How many of you guys are there again?”
Pouchy’s eyes sparkled as he licked his lips with interest. He soon shook himself out of the trance and glanced over at the hotel receptionist. “Oh, there’s three of us! Me, Brad, and Spectacles!” He pointed behind him, hoping they would appear at that moment, to which they both did. “..Fine. Just.. don’t eat the whole thing, okay? The last thing I need is the boss on my case. Again.” They reiterated the last word with a tinge of bitterness, to which Pouchy was completely oblivious as he took a pancake off of the cheap plastic plate, handing one to Spectacles and Brad.
“Look guys! Pancakes!” Brad and Spectacles both took a slice as Spectacles flew up to the receptionist. “I-I’m sorry about him, he can be.. A lot sometimes..” The receptionist looked back at Pouchy who was scarfing down the pancakes like a bird eating a fish. They sighed. “It’s.. fine, I guess. Kids’re like that. Seen a lot of ‘em. With their parents, of course. I’m more confused as to why three children are renting a hotel in the first place.”
Spectacles rubbed the side of his head, almost shaken by the statement as he adjusted his glasses. “Well, it’s.. Sort of a temporary stop.. We’re o-on a.. Adventure of sorts.. N-Not one I asked to be on, but one nonetheless..” The Rascal Bee coughed. “So ‘re y’all guys just like.. Flyin’ around random places and appreciating the scenery like old folks do? Or do you have some sorta.. Thing you’re looking for?”
“W-Well, actually,-” Pouchy soon flew behind Spectacles with a worried expression on his face. “Specks! You didn’t eat your pancake..” Spectacles laughed nervously. “O-Oh, yeah, right.. I just got sidetracked..”
Pouchy handed him the pancake, now cold. Spectacles looked down at it with a slight tinge of disgust. HIs hunger soon overtook that desire and he took a bite as Pouchy pulled him by his good wing as they approached the door. Just before they were about to head back into Crimbolt City however, the Rascal Bee spoke up. “Hey. If you.. Wouldn’t mind, could you take out that pancake plate? To the trash, I mean. Don’t want the Aphids gettin’ into it. ‘N they love sweet stuff. Y’all can use the alley exit. It’s early morning. Should be less crowded, too.” Pouchy nodded, his eyes sparkling as he picked up the plate from the entrance and flying out the back door with Spectacles and Brad following behind him. “Will do!”
The alley was rather dark. It was midday, but the buildings around it casted a shadow across it's surface that made it look gloomy and dreary. “You see that, Specks? It’s a new day!” Spectacles nodded nervously, taking in their surroundings as Pouchy flew over to the dumpster, dashing the plate into it. Pouchy looked at both Spectacles and Brad. “Well, what’re we waiting for? Let’s head to the castle!”
As they flew across the cracked concrete however, somebody was plotting something. Perched atop a building far away from the three, the Cool Bee from before stood in place, eyeing the group intricately. Beside him, were two other bees. One being a Shocked Bee and the other being a Hasty Bee. All of them were wearing matching uniforms with each other. “You see those punks over there? Yeah, that Brave Bee. Thinks he’s tough crap because he’s Gifted.” The Hasty Bee piped up, speaking extremely fast. “And that was the guy that beat you up right? The big brave bee with those two kids? Trapper?”
Trapper sighed, grumbling and placing his wing upon his face. “Yes. But I wouldn’t say they beat me up. I took more of, a, uh.. Tactical retreat. Yeah.. Tactical retreat. That big eyebrow’d fool has nothing on me. Now listen up. Goose. I want you to keep up with me and knock them into that sewer grate.” Goose instantly nodded, causing Trapper to lift up an eyebrow. “Did you listen to EVERY word I said?”
Goose nodded, keeping his tongue out as he adjusted his goggles. “Yep yep yep boss! Through one ear and into the other!” Trapper nodded skeptically, turning his gaze over to Shanker who was nervously fidgeting with his wings.
“And Shanker. You, uh.. Go and distract them. After we both hit them into the sewer,” he gestured towards a piece of broken building. “Drop that on the lid. We’ll see how tough they are when they smell like garbage. That is.. If they ever get out..” He stifled an evil laugh, being careful not to draw attention to themselves.
Goose laughed hysterically, his eyes spiraling around wildly underneath his goggles as Trapper gestured for him to quiet down. “Yeah! And then they’ll say sorry for beating you up right Trapper?” Trapper sighed, knowing the comment wasn’t intentionally malicious, but still being annoyed with Goose’s stupidity. “No, they’ll learn to not THINK of picking fights with any of us ever again. And they’ll learn how much of a traitor that little glasses-wearing-brat is when he’s forced to choose.. Now ready yourselves. They’re approaching..”
Meanwhile, down on the ground beneath the building, Pouchy and the group were flying through the messy alleyway. Brad looked around skeptically, keeping his revolver close. “Don’t like this place. Not one bit.” Pouchy patted him on the back, throwing his wings up dismissively. “Oh please, Brad! You act like everybody’s out to get specifically us! We’ll be finnneee!”
Brad nodded half heartedly, still keeping himself on high alert. The lamps flickered in the background; every noise making Brad and Spectacles slightly jump as Pouchy continued to lead the way in front of them, seemingly not bothered. Suddenly, Pouchy let out a slight yelp as he bumped into somebody. “Oh gosh! I’m so sorry!” He helped Shanker dust off their uniform. “Woah! That’s a cool uniform!”
“O-Oh, ummm.. Thanks. I got it from..” He looked upwards, noticing a menacing glare from Trapper. “N-Nobody in particular, found it in a dump one day.. Say, um.. What’re y’all three doing in an alley like this? It’s.. not exactly the.. S-Safest place in the city..” He continued fidgeting with his wing.
“Oh, well.. We had to dump some trash! Thought it’d be quicker to just go through here rather than bumping into people all day..” Shanker laughed slightly, catching himself as he narrowed his eyes. “Y-You guys haven’t heard of the Scarlet Legion, have you..?”
At the mention of such a name, even Brad turned his gaze towards Shanker. Spectacles looked even more worried. Shanker took their silence as a no. “W-Well.. They’re a group.. N-Nobody knows where they are, can’t find them.. B-But, supposedly.. They’re all Red Bees.. Murderers.. Kill anybody who isn’t in their group on sight, so I’ve heard..” Spectacles nearly started bawling now. Pouchy patted him on the head, laughing slightly. “Oh come on, Specks! We’re all safe here. If they wanted us dead, they’d of done it already. And besides, it’s probably just some silly ghost story! Where did you hear this from, anyway?”
Shanker continued nervously fidgeting as he saw Trapper continue to glare at him threateningly. Shanker noticed that the sewer lid was slightly open. “N-Nobody in particular.. Word on the street sometimes comes to you..” Pouchy turned towards Spectacles. “See, Specks? He doesn’t even know who told him. Probably a spooky story to keep people out of the alley so they can spend all day trying to get somewhere! Am I right or am I right, Brad?”
Brad seemed a bit perturbed. Something about the concept of the Scarlet Legion was familiar to him. “Well, Pouch, I actually think-” Brad was soon cut off by something slamming into his back as he slammed into Pouchy, Pouchy slamming into Spectacles. As Brad attempted to turn backwards and catch his grip, he saw a familiar face. “Haha! Betcha didn’t expect to see me ag-” Trapper was cut off mid sentence as Goose slammed into his back, knocking him into Brad and sending the entire group spiraling into the sewers.
Trapper tried to regain his footing with his wings and fly through the narrow exit of the sewer lid, but his eyes widened as he saw a large piece of building fall onto the exit, perpetually blocking it. The piece slammed into his body, knocking him downward and sending him plummeting into the sewer water. Trapper’s eyes widened as he threw his wings back, attempting to slam onto the piece of building. “Come on, you idiots! Move it! Let me out!!” He continued to slam his fist onto the rock before he was grabbed by the coat by Brad. “What. Did. You. DO.” Brad shouted at Trapper, throwing him downwards into the sewer water.
Brad picked him up again, Trapper’s fur coated in foul smelling liquid. “ANSWER ME.” Trapper coughed, a slight tinge of nervousness in his voice. “W-Well, I.. I tried to trap you all, but.. It seems some idiots weren’t able to..” Brad pulled out his revolver, pointing it directly at Trapper’s face as his nervous yet smug expression soon turned to that of horror, bullets of sweat rapidly dropping down his fur.
Pouchy and Spectacles both threw up their wings, yelling at Brad. “Don’t do it, Brad!” Pouchy yelled. Brad looked at them, his expression softening slightly as he threw Trapper back down into the water with a splash. Brad turned away from him, punching the sewer wall and nearly cracking it. Trapper grabbed his wing, moving it back into place as he slightly coughed up blood. “You got yourself into this mess, Brave Bee. Shouldn't've been with one of THEM. They’re monsters, you know. That’s all they do. Sit and think about living on a pile of everybody else’s bones. All because of power.”
Brad gritted his teeth, turning towards Trapper with a seething expression. “You can say whatever you’d like ‘bout me. Couldn't give less of a crap. But ya’ leave my friends OUT of your sick prejudices.” Trapper laughed bitterly. “Oh really now? And who’s to say he ain’t thinkin’ the same thing? Waiting, biding his time.. Just like the Royal Bloods did.”
Pouchy and Spectacles shuddered at the mention of the Royal Bloods. Brad slammed him onto the ground, furrowing his brows in complete rage. “You SHUT UP with that. I know my friends. And I know they ain’t got a bad bone in their bodies.” Trapper shook his head, smiling with a tinge of bitterness. “Oh, shut up with that sentimental crap.. You don’t know them.. You don’t know them at all. They can act sweet one moment. Then they snap, and next thing you know..” He shivered slightly, the statement reminding him of something. “Somebody’s dead.”
Brad turned away from Trapper, facing him with one of his eyes. “I ain’t care less of a speck about what other Red Bees’re doin’. I know my friend.” Trapper smiled, rubbing the blood off of his mouth. “You can say you don’t care all you want. When something happens to you.. You’ll become the same way. Go on. Just keep denying it.”
Brad rushed at him again as Pouchy flew in between them, looking back at how Spectacles was nervously clutching his bandaged wing. “You guys! C-Can you.. Please stop fighting? It’s.. not going to get us out of here any easier..” Brad turned away, looking down into the murky water. “Fine. But just know.. I’m only doing this for my friends. Don’t think for a second that I’d give less of a crap if you got lost in these tunnels. Permanently.”
Trapper grumbled. “Yeah, fine. Got to get outta here so I can kick those idiot’s behinds for screwing up the plan.” Brad thought of a response, but stifled it as he leaned his head down, continuing down the tunnels without saying anything. Spectacles looked at Pouchy nervously as Trapper and Brad continued up ahead.
Spectacles hopped into Pouchy’s Pouch, scrunching up the end of it to cover up his head. Pouchy looked around at the sewers. Faded yellow paint adorned the brick halls, as if somebody had attempted to brush over them, but either stopped, or got lost trying. Various tunnels broke out in different directions, all accompanied with the sound of endlessly running water. Pouchy stretched the straps on his Pouch, following behind Brad and Trapper who were both completely silent.
The group continued throughout the vast halls and tunnels of the sewers, all while not saying a single word to each other. “(I hope Cobalt isn’t like this).” Brad grumbled to himself, keeping his eyes dead set on the path in front of him. Trapper sighed, turning back. “Dead end. We’re gonna need to pick a side.” Brad glared at him, pointing at a tunnel.
“So I’m supposed to just take your advice?” Brad gritted his teeth, looking downwards. “You got any other ideas, genius?” Trapper shook his head angrily, crossing his wings as the group now turned down another tunnel. This one seemed to be covered with various arrows, most of them red. In addition to the arrows, small bits of text could be seen. Reading things such as ‘Get out’ or ‘Turn back now’, that Brad and Trapper seemed to both be completely oblivious to.
The atmosphere was more calm now, even if bathed in suppressed anger and ominous warnings. Slight drops of water dripped from the ceiling, onto each of the groups’ furs, leaving a slightly green tinted imprint on it. Pouchy looked downwards, thinking back to Brad and Trapper’s argument earlier, shuddering upon the memory of it.
As Pouchy followed behind Brad and Trapper, Spectacles remained in the Pouch. It was an entirely blank space. Both possessing space and not simultaneously. Spectacles tilted his eyes around, noticing the various collections of objects Pouchy had that were floating around, seemingly through nothing. The atmosphere was strangely calming. Spectacles could feel his extremely tense heartbeat begin to calm down as he focused on the grandness yet emptiness of the Pouch.
“Maybe t-this isn’t so bad.. I.. U-Um.. I could get used to this, haha..” He moved himself into a more comfortable position, continuing to float around aimlessly in the void of Pouchy’s Pouch. Eventually, the relaxing atmosphere of nothingness calmed him down enough to where he closed his eyes, beginning to fall asleep soundly.
Meanwhile, Pouchy and the group took another turn around a tunnel, Brad and Trapper still not bothering to say a single word to each other. “H-Hey guys, um.. How’re we doing today?” Pouchy called out, hoping to break the ice. They both turned back to him. “Horrible. Don’t ask.” They both said, almost simultaneously.
Suddenly, the calm atmosphere of the Sewers was lifted as a strange sound could be heard. It was quiet, no louder than a whisper. It sounded like some sort of mumbling. The group continued throughout the darkened hallways as something soon became apparent: whoever was making the sound, it was definitely some form of talking.
Eventually, the sound reached its peak as Brad leaned his body towards a vent from which the sound was emanating from. The sight from within him shocked him. There were dozens of Bees, all of which were red, who were sitting in unison, listening to somebody speak. Trapper and Pouchy soon flew up to the vent, listening for themselves. A large, Rascal Bee stood at the top of the room, gazing over the various members. He was dressed in a black and scarlet uniform, covered in sharp triangles. “Members of the Scarlet Legion. I invite you to the lounge this evening in preparation for our master plan. Of which, the plan is almost complete.” The voice shifted, as though the person speaking was moving in the room. “We’ve almost fully recovered the papers of Samantha. Former leader of the Royal Bloods, and number two to Cobalt. Oh, and they’re glorious.. She knew how to kill an Event Bee. We don’t know how to obtain one yet, but what we do know..”
He went on, chuckling darkly. “Is that she originally had a device capable of killing an Event Bee. Now. Some of you theorized that it may be a machine, but oh, I don’t believe that. Not one bit. I believe.. That the only way to kill an Event Bee.. is by their own intervention.” He laughed. “Oh, you see, it makes sense.. That scar above Crimson’s eye.. It’s far too rough to be caused by a precise blade.. No, no.. This was something different. Something.. Natural. A weapon born of an Event Bee. Something that they were not made to withstand. The only thing that can make them bleed, just as they have done to us..”
The group all covered their mouths as they continued to listen to the conversation. “So. I vote that we all go on a little.. Adventure of sorts. Search the world. Find something, just like what was planned to be used to kill Crimson.. And this time, we outshine our predecessors. We finish the job that was started long ago. We’ll make those royal brats pay for who they’ve wronged. We’ll show them that the people aren’t so easy to control. My father.. He’d be proud of me.”
Everybody clapped in unison. “ So rest up everyone. Rest up well. For tomorrow marks the beginning. The beginning of a new age. One where no ‘Gods’ will tell us what we can and can’t do. But one where WE are the ones in control.. Just as how it was supposed to be from the beginning. We’ll take back that throne. From their dead corpses.” All of the members clapped and cheered as though what the leader was saying was some sort of moving theatre presentation. But it wasn’t. It was all real.
The group continued flying throughout the sewers, shocked at the new information that they had learned. Everybody was speechless. Soon enough, the group reached a dead end, connected to a tunnel with the words ‘The End’ written on it with ominous lettering. Along the tunnel, dozens of papers hung, remaining still through the cool, damp air of the sewers.
They seemed to all be recorded in chronological order, only with the dates completely censored out.
“XX/XX/XX - Report one. They’ve taken everything from me. My father taught me about them from the time I was young. How hypocritical they are. How vicious they are. And yet, despite all of it.. I didn’t believe him. I couldn’t. I was still an innocent child. But oh, now I see. Now that everything was up in flames and now that ash is the only reminder of my past, I see it clearly now. They’re in jail, sure. But what a pathetic time for their actions. I believe in the sang “An Eye for an Eye”. You kill somebody, you deserve to die as well. And when that fire consumed my childhood home, I thought it was all over. But sometimes, the universe works in mysterious ways; ways that only it knows, and ways that would boggle a normal person to even try to understand on a conceptual level. I hope that group is rotting in the underworld for what they’ve done, because they sure won’t get a deserving crime here on Earth.”
“XX/XX/XX - Report two. I found it.. The thing my father spent his life searching for.. The last remaining relic of Samantha. The only thing remaining after her murder, along with the rest of the Royal Bloods. It’s all written in a sort of code. I have my dad’s men working on it, and some new followers as well, but even so.. It’s taking ages to even reveal a single word. But from what I’ve read, I agree with it wholeheartedly. And that is.. Those royals deserve nothing but death. Sitting around idly, giving a slap on a wrist for the destruction of lives. Oh, that wasn’t what Samantha believed. She believed in power. But in order to take revenge, you must first level yourself with the person. Make yourself an equal. And that’s why.. At this moment.. I take my vow to eliminate anybody who stands in my way. Friend or foe. I don’t care. These actions cannot go unpunished. And if the Royals won’t do anything about it, then I’ll simply take the matters into my own hands. I’ll write the wrongs they are too stupid to fix.”
Trapper looked at everybody, a smug expression stretching across his bitter face. “You see that? That’s how they really are. You can act like they’re all different. See if you still think that when they kill somebody YOU love.” Brad gritted his teeth, turning over to Trapper. “One murderous group ain’t mean they’re all bad. You usin’ that brain up there or is it just a hat rack?” Trapper narrowed his brows at Brad, lifting up his fist.
Suddenly, the group was cut short of their argument by a splash in the water. “Well well well. What do we have here?” Said a Fire Bee. Their coat was colored a shade of gray, and they seemed to have little to no fire coming out of their abdomen. A Precise Bee appeared next to them, his eyelight pulsating. “Intruders. That’s what we have.”
Brad pulled out his revolver and Trapper pulled out a machete. “Oh, and they’re armed too, aren’t they? Double whammy.” The Fire Bee looked at the Precise Bee, gesturing towards them. The Precise Bee spun into the air, their eyelight crackling with energy as they attempted to fire a shot at Pouchy before Brad jumped in front of him, countering it with a shot from his revolver. Trapper watched Brad as he dashed towards the Fire Bee, attempting to slash him with his machete. The Fire Bee dodged the slashes, slamming Trapper into a wall.
Trapper swiftly regained his balance, as the Fire Bee stabbed at him with a small dagger, countering it near instantly and throwing the Fire Bee back as he slammed them with an uppercut, sending them spiraling back into the water.
Meanwhile, Brad and the Precise Bee dodged each other's shots, Brad managing to grab onto the eye of the Precise Bee, slamming them into the water. The Precise Bee dashed out of it, launching a projectile into Brad’s chest as he swiftly spun around, launching a bullet into their back that sent them crashing into a wall.
“You’re called the Scarlet Legion, huh? Quite a fancy name for ones so inexperienced with fighting.” The Precise Bee launched a small shot onto their reinforced fists, punching Brad back and forth as the two continued repeatedly countering each other's blows. With one swift motion, Brad launched a bullet directly into the Precise Bee’s face, sending him spiraling backwards and slamming into the Fire Bee, knocking them both into the smelly sewer water.
Brad looked at Pouchy. “I’m assumin’ they’ve got reinforcements. We’d best get out of here. Should be at the end of this tunnel, huh?” Pouchy nodded, straightening the straps on his Pouch as he launched himself into the air, hovering swiftly through the tunnel. Soon enough, reinforcements did arrive. Dozens of Bees began to fill the narrow hallway of the sewer, their eyes all locked onto the three with dead accuracy.
Trapper took his turns slashing at the Bees who made it too close to the group, spinning his blade around flawlessly in his wing as he used it essentially like a bat. Brad launched a bullet into the air, launching another bullet into it as he propelled it to hyper speeds, bouncing off the various sewer walls and taking down multiple bees. Trapper and Brad stood side by side as they began attacking bees, countering each other due to the very large amount of hits being placed their way. Their fur coated in sweat and exhausted, they persisted.
Suddenly, out of the vast cloud of Bees, the Precise Bee emerged, tackling Brad into the wall. Brad attempted to use his revolver but his attempts were thwarted nearly instantly with a fist to the gut. He managed to hit a perfectly timed punch and threw the Precise Bee off of him, clumsily getting back up into the air and continuing down the sewer. He caught up with Pouchy, sweating as he saw the hoard continuing behind them, rapidly firing various projectiles towards them. Trapper was sweating as well, continuing to block the projectiles with his machete. “..I know I’m the confident one, but-” He dodged an incoming projectile from the Precise Bee that scathed his fur, burning the hairs to the ground. “I ain’t exactly sure if we can take on all of ‘em.” He said, a slight tinge of worry in his voice.
Pouchy sweated, continuing to hover down the tunnel as he opened up his Pouch. “U-Um, Specks.. I don’t want to sound needy, but we uh.. We would really use one of those walls right about now!” Spectacles drowsily shook from within the Pouch, popping his head out of it as his gaze soon fell upon the Scarlet Legion. “O-Oh..” He said breathlessly as he reached into his bag for the pencil, swiftly swiping it and creating a wall.
Pouchy looked at Pouchy and Trapper. “Hurry up! Specks is making a wall!” They both rushed forward, managing to get into the right place at the right time as the wall sprung up, swiftly stopping the hoard. Spectacles nervously breathed out a sigh of relief. “T-That should stall them for about a minute..” Spectacles said, his nervous yet relieved gaze soon turning to that of surprise as he saw a Bee lunging at Brad.
Brad got slammed into the ground by the Precise Bee, their eye crackling on and off with purple tinted flames. Brad attempted to throw the Bee off of him but each fist was countered by the Precise Bee. “DON’T KNOW HOW TO FIGHT?” They shouted bitterly, pressing a button on their fist that activated a small blade. “HAHA! I’LL SHOW YOU.” They seethed, throwing the blade towards Brad’s eye and managing to scratch it. Brad waited for the hit, swiftly pulling the trigger on the revolver as he launched a bullet directly through his eye, shattering the eyeglass; leaving it throwing up sparks of electricity and wires.
The Precise Bee laughed bitterly, attempting to lunge at Brad and stab him with the Blade before Trapper impaled him through the eyeglass once more, using the leverage to throw him backwards into the water. Brad held onto his bleeding eye tightly, continuing swiftly through the sewer. The wall behind them began to swiftly crack, bullets soon flying through the shattered crevices of it before it completely toppled down. Trapper looked at him. “Look, I know you hate me. And I hate you. But I think I have an idea. Blast that corner up there.. We might be able to seal these guys in.” Brad looked up at the arch; it was clearly broken and about to fall apart on its own. He nodded, lifting up his revolver as the dozens of bees got closer, Trapper countering the bullets approaching the group as Brad fired the shot at the corner; its brick makeup beginning to crack as he hoisted Pouchy and Spectacles onto his back, lunging forward as the rocks began to slam down into the sewer, crashing down around the incoming group and the Precise Bee, effectively sealing them in.
Thrasher looked back at them one final time, looking at the approaching hoard then back at the group. “Guess this is what I get.” Spectacles adjusted his glasses, sticking his tongue out of his mouth as he concentrated his gaze, using the pencil to create a rope. “G-Grab on!”
Trapper was confused for a moment, initially refusing the rope. He looked back at the approaching hoard, a projectile nearly hitting him in the head. He reluctantly turned around, grabbing onto the rope as Spectacles pulled him forward just as the end of the sewer collapsed internally. When the smoke cleared, the group were all standing on the outside of a sewer grate, breathing heavily.
Brad looked at Trapper, his gaze not softening in the slightest. Trapper looked at Spectacles. “You.. saved me.” Spectacles rubbed the fur on the side of his head, laughing nervously. “O-Oh, don’t mention it..”
“Why? Why did you save me. I.. You were supposed to leave me there. Betray me in my darkest moments.” Spectacles shook his head confusedly. “B-Betray you? I.. I d-don’t do that.. I’ve never betrayed anybody..”
Trapper couldn’t comprehend the situation. “You were.. You were supposed to..” Brad grumbled at Trapper. “No, he wasn’t. Unlike your skewed view of ‘em, Red Bees ain’t bad at all ‘cause’a few bad apples. If you wanna learn anything from nearly gettin’ killed in a smelly sewer, it’s that. Otherwise, savin’ you was pointless.”
“..I guess you’re right.” He thought about the statement more, contemplating all of the reasons Spectacles decided to save him and finding none ulterior. “You’re right.” He stated breathlessly, still recovering from both the sewer incident and the shock of the moment.
“‘Nd you’re lucky my friend can see the good in ya’. Because I sure can’t.” He retorted to Trapper. “So maybe, ‘stead’a askin’ him why he did it, thank ‘im for it. ‘Cause he had every right t’leave you there.”
Trapper looked at Spectacles. “..Thank you.” Spectacles smiled lightly, placing the pencil back into his belt bag with a ruffle. “Oh it’s no p-problem! I just.. H-Hope you know that not all Bees are bad because of s-some bad actors..”
He nodded reluctantly, turning away from the group. “Well goodbye. ..And thank you, again..” He smiled lightly, lifting up his wings as he launched himself into the air to reunite with the rest of his group. Brad dusted off his wings, grumbling under his breath. “Glad that jerk’s gone.”
Pouchy watched Trapper as he flew away from the three, looking back slightly at Brad. “You don’t wonder what happened to him?” Brad nodded as Spectacles placed a bandage made from the pencil upon his eye. “Thanks Specks. ..And I do. But, y’know.. A bad past ain’t an excuse for a bad present. If ya’ve been hurt, the important thing should be makin’ sure nobody else does, too. I’m lucky I had you two t’teach me that lesson. But not everybody does. And we should always hold people accountable, no matter their past.”
He coughed, adjusting his hat on his head, the fur crinkling underneath it. “Bad things are a reason, not an excuse. Y’know?” Pouchy looked at Spectacles, remembering what Spectacles had told him the night before. “Yeah.. You’re right.. It isn’t an excuse..”
“Well then..” Pouchy looked onward, the Castle’s bright lights gleaming in the evening dimness. “Should we get to the castle?” Everybody else nodded as they soon made their way to the castle; standing face to face with the exceedingly gargantuan structure after all this time of looking. Almost fittingly, rain started to drop from the small crevices of the dome, accompanied by the low rumble of thunder. “W-Well that’s fitting..” Spectacles said nervously, fidgeting with his wing.
Pouchy noticed a small, speaker-like device sitting on the large brick wall of the castle. “Hmm,” He pressed the button beneath the speaker as a crackly voice they had heard prior began to speak in a sing-song tone. “Heyo! It’s Warny! Welcome to Cobalt’s Castle! If you’re pressin’ this button, well, buddy, that means you aren’t too familiar with the rules around here. But that’s okay! We all have to start somewhere. Despite being a literal manifestation of the rules, I used to have no knowledge of them! Obviously there’s more, but the main gist of it..”
“Is that this Castle is off limits. If you’ve got a rule suggestion, simply drop it off to the City Hall and I’ll pick it up there. As an additional prize, I’ll give you a free adventure. Go find it, haha!” Brad spoke up over the speaker, grumbling. “Welp, not too surprised about that.”
Pouchy looked at everyone. “SO, how do you bet we will get in?” Brad smirked, remembering their previous adventure. “Well, I got some bullets left in my holster. Could try breakin’ in, seems like it’s gonna be our best bet.”
Spectacles looked down at the ground nervously. “(Oh, g-great..)” Everybody followed Brad to a back part of the castle. “Saw some signs on the way in here. Flyin’ too high‘s gonna attract attention. So here’s the plan. I’m gonna break a hole in this here wall, ‘nd after I do, me ‘n Specks’re gonna hop in your Pouch. Gonna be easier if it’s just one person sneakin’ in.”
Pouchy nodded, giving Brad a thumbs up with his wing. “Rightio, Braddyio!” Brad looked at Pouchy with a confused stare as he blasted a bullet into the wall, waiting for a moment as the rain pattered against its metal surface; steaming under the hot touch. Brad soon flew over to the lodged bullet, turning it around as he soon made a small crevice in the wall. “You’ll have t’be the sneaker. I’m too.. Uh..” He looked down at his stomach, sighing lightly. “Large. I guess.”
He said almost perfectly in time with a lightning strike, as the rain started to pour. Brad and Spectacles both hopped into Pouchy’s Pouch as Pouchy squeezed himself through the small crevice of the broken wall. Upon entering, he was greeted with a beautiful hallway; blue brick walls with a magnificent gold and navy carpet snaking across the floors. His eyes sparkled as he heard Brad’s voice emanating from the Pouch. “(Get up on the roof of the hall, Pouch.)” Pouchy nodded as he flew upwards to the brick ceiling of the hall. “(Can one of you hand me my old scarf?)”
Soon, a wing came out of the Pouch and handed Pouchy his red and green scarf with two small holes cut through it. “(Thanks! Now I can really get into the job..)” He tied the scarf upon his eyes, smirking with glee at his new appearance. Pouchy hopped across the brick outline of the roof, sticking out his tongue and narrowing his eyes in concentration.
Outside, the rain and thunder was howling, making Pouchy ever so slightly jumpy. Brad whispered from within the Pouch. “(Everything goin’ okay, Pouch?)” Pouchy nodded, whispering into the Pouch discreetly. “(Yep! Though.. Where should I be heading, anyway?)”
Brad went silent for a moment, as if pondering. “(Try going t’the throne room. Every castle’s got one. Ain’t exactly a big secret on where it is. Big velvet chairs.. Lotsa gold..)” He paused, coughing softly. “(Just.. you’ll know when you find it, ‘kay?)” Pouchy silenced for a moment as he hopped between two columns.
“(Okay!)” He thought for a moment, his thinking pattern disrupted by the loud sound of rain pattering the outside of the brick castle. “(..And why can’t we use the um.. Pencil to like.. Make a Knight Outfit?)” He asked Spectacles.
“(W-Well, um.. Pouchy.. I haven’t seen the uniforms yet.. A-And even if I did, I think it’s too risky for you to like.. Guard and stuff.. Don’t you think?)” Pouchy sighed lightly, taking another hop over a column as he now passed into the next hallway. “(Right.. Okay, Specks.. Thanks for answering! Oh, and also.. We’re in the next hallway! So that’s great!)”
Suddenly, just as Pouchy was talking to the both of them, he heard a voice from the corner of the hallway, along with the loud clanking of metal armor. Pouchy swiftly placed his wings over his mouth as he forced himself against the wall of the column, his eyes drifting down to where the sound was coming from, barely audible from the loud rain.
He could hear the Guard speak more clearly as they took off their helmet. They seemed to be a Tadpole Bee, and were sweating. Though, from their mannerisms, the perspiration seemed to more so be caused by anxiety than any heat issue. “(M-Man, this job.. Feels like I’m walking around in circles all day.. I probably am.. Who even knows anymore..)” His gaze travelled around the room, surveying it intricately until he caught onto a very slight color imbalance on the ceiling, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
“(That’s strange- I don’t recall Cobalt wanting to paint this yellow..)” He flew closer to the corner spot as Pouchy began to sweat profusely. “(And red and green.. W-wait a minute..)” He pointed upwards at Pouchy.
“Hey.. How’d you get up t-” He was cut off as Pouchy flew off of the roof, diving past him and attempting to hover into the next room as the Tadpole Bee swiftly spun around, lifting up one of his wings and capturing Pouchy with a bubble. “(Haha! I actually did it this time!)”
Pouchy attempted to fly out of the bubble but failed, rolling around aimlessly in its blue surface as the Tadpole Bee approached him more swiftly, narrowing their eyes. The Tadpole Bee looked into the air, as if having to say something from memory. “Intruders aren’t allowed on c-castle premises!” Pouchy sweated. “I know, we’re- I’m just.. Trying to get something for Cobalt!” He showed the Map to the Tadpole Bee, to which they looked between him and the Map with a confused glance.
The Tadpole Bee looked Pouchy up and down. “You don’t look like an assistant.. You’re wearing a.. Scarf? On your face..? T-That’s not exactly.. Professional attire, you know..” Pouchy nodded, profusely, hitting his Pouch discreetly as a signal for Brad. “Well I am! In fact, I actually.. Dropped the other thing on the ground when you were.. Capturing me..”
The Tadpole Bee turned around, looking for the so-called object with intense yet nervous precision. Brad speedily reached his wing out of the Pouch, aiming his revolver at the bubble and firing a bullet at it, causing it to instantly pop as Pouchy took off down the hallway. The Tadpole Bee turned back around, his confused stare soon turning into one of anger. “Well, I can’t find this so-called obj.. Where’d you go?!”
Pouchy launched himself upwards into the roof, narrowly weaving between the columns of brick as the rain continued to pour outside like a loud rock band. He heard the Tadpole Bee calling out for him as he disappeared behind a corner. “G-Get back here you..!” He shouted, his teal face now slightly reddened with anger as he looked back and forth between the columns like an insane person.
As the Tadpole Bee flew past him, Pouchy hopped between a column, launching himself into a separate hallway. He tightened the scarf on his face, as if more concerned with his appearance than sneaking in properly. With one final swoop, he caught a glimpse of something golden. “(There it is, guys! I think..)” He promptly glided down from the ceiling, closing his eyes in joy as his fur soon crinkled against something metal.
He looked up slowly as he took an audible gulp. Standing before him was the Azure Knight; the same one from the poster back in MineTown. Now catching him trespassing. The Azure Knight said nothing, simply picking up Pouchy as it prepared to throw him out a nearby window. Pouchy repeatedly poked the side of his Pouch, sweating profusely. “(Bradddd…! We could really use you right about now..)” Brad hastefully leaped out of the Pouch, holding his revolver in suit and pointing it at the Azure Knight with a stylish yet threatening pose.
The Azure Knight did not move a muscle; not even flinching an inch of its armored body as it held Pouchy near the window, facing Brad with an emotionless helmeted glance. “So you’re not a talker? Fine. I’ll do the talkin’ for ya’. We need to get to Cobalt. Got important business to attend to. You wanna know what? Ask Pouch. He can show ya’.” Pouchy waved nervously as the Azure Knight cycled between eyeing Pouchy and eyeing Brad. Pouchy fumbled with the Map nervously as Spectacles handed him it from within the Pouch. He placed it into the Knight’s shiny blue palm.
It looked at the Map for a moment, as if inspecting it. It eventually shook its head, lifting up its arm to throw Pouchy out of the window. Brad arched an eyebrow. “Fine. I gave ya’ a chance. But if ya’ wanna do this the hard way.. Then so be it.” He stated gruffly as he fired a shot at the Knight’s wing, knocking Pouchy out of it.
The Knight paused for a moment, looking at Brad and then looking at its palm, still barely flinching. It reached behind its back, unsheathing its large blue greatsword and pointing it directly at Brad as he went for another impact with his revolver. The Knight swiftly spun around the bullet, reaching its arm behind itself and using its sword to bounce the bullet upon the large blade, eventually spinning around and launching the bullet back at Brad. Brad flew towards the Knight, his eyes widening as he went for another hit.
The Knight tilted its gaze, still not flinching nor speaking a word. With one swift motion, it latched onto Brad with one of its large armored hands, attempting to slam him into the carpeted brick ground as Brad promptly tightened his grip on his revolver, launching another bullet at the Knight and attempting to catch it off guard. The Knight stumbled back lightly, swiftly launching itself into the air as it swung at Brad, somehow managing to hit him and slamming him into the brick wall with a thud.
Brad breathed heavily, sweat dropping down his fur. Pouchy hopped in front of Brad, beginning to do a silly dance and sticking his tongue out. “Hey Knight! Come and get me!” The Knight tilted its head, as it promptly picked Pouchy up and moved him aside, setting him on the ground as it went for another swing on Brad, with him narrowly countering the blade’s dull side with his fist. The Knight narrowed its head, swiftly lifting Brad up with its blade and dashing him into the ground with a thud.
Brad gritted his teeth, launching himself into the air as he began to fire a volley of projectiles in all directions around the Knight. The Knight eyed Brad for a moment before gracefully spinning around while holding its blade, effortlessly blocking the bullets around itself as Brad flew around them, his eyes shocked and his fur drenched in sweat.
The Knight flew over to Brad, landing on the carpeted ground with a thud. It wasn’t shaking nor flinching; standing still and unmoving just as it had done for the entire duration of the fight. Brad attempted to mouth Thorn’s name before he fell on the ground in exhaustion. The Knight gazed at him for a moment, tilting its head as it picked him up, soon turning its gaze to Pouchy. He nervously hit the back of his Pouch. “(H-Hey Specks.. Uh.. Pencil?)”
Spectacles attempted to hop out of the Pouch, transferring the pencil to his good wing as he launched a volley of projectiles at the Knight. “T-Take this!” The Knight swiftly launched itself into the air, spinning around its blade midair and blocking the projectiles as it slammed onto the ground, picking both Pouchy and Spectacles up. Spectacles attempted to swipe the pencil again and create a wall above the two of them, but near instantaneously after it was created, the Knight shattered it with its bare fist.
Pouchy sweated, curling his face into a defiant smirk as he raised an eyebrow underneath his scarf headband. “Oh yeah? Well if you thought that’s all we had, then.. We still have a certain thorn left!” He shouted. The Knight tilted its head once more. “I said.. We still have a certain THORN left!” He coughed as nothing happened.
“Well shoot! You think we’re out of his range or something?” Spectacles’ face turned nervous as he pointed in front of Pouchy. “Darn.” Pouchy said disappointedly as both him and Spectacles were blasted with a strange sleeping mist, causing them to both fall unconscious.
When the three awoke, they were sitting on top of, fittingly, shiny blue metal bars. They soon heard a very exquisite and grand sounding voice, as though the voice alone demanded divine authority. Pouchy’s vision was blurry, but he could see the blue figure talking to the Azure Knight. The Figure soon got larger as they flew over to the group, the cage they were in shaking across the ground with the repeated clanking of chains. “Well, well, well. So you three are the ones that decided it would be a stupendous idea to sneak into my castle.. Despite all the warnings given to you? My, my.. It’s been quite a long while since I’ve seen such persistent intruders. Quite a long while indeed.”
Pouchy heard the words “My” and “Castle” and swiftly flew up to his feet, looking down at the figure, his mind instantly recognizing him. He dressed in a brilliant navy, gold, and cyan robe, and wore a large crown consisting of the same colors. He had a smug yet internally annoyed toothy grin stretched across his face, and small, lighter blue feathered wings on the side of his head that fluttered about repeatedly. “Now go on, speak for yourselves.”
Pouchy looked at Cobalt for a moment, his mind going blank. “Well I’m Pouch and this is my Briar..” He stopped for a moment. “Wait- No- I’m Pouchy and this is my group.. We’re um.. Trying to reunite you guys!”
Cobalt dusted off his wings, sighing dramatically. “Ah. Would be believable, yes.. If not for the fact the previous reunitee perished! You think I do not catch onto things, but oh, I do. You wouldn’t believe the amount of times I’ve heard this same spiel about ‘reuniting’ and ‘you guys’ from people who either wanted something from me, or.. ..Wanted to hurt somebody.” He finished the sentence with concealed anger as his smug smile soon returned. “And what’s up with the Red Bee? Normal Bees aren’t allowed within my corridors, but Red Bees, oh heavens no..”
Pouchy raised an eyebrow as Spectacles and Brad began to wake up, soon getting a bearing on where they were. “Why do you hate Red Bees so much? They’re not all bad..” Cobalt shook his head. “Tsk tsk. Silly child, thinking you know the world. Well you don’t. I’ll admit it, yes, they aren’t all bad. But unfortunately, you cannot weed out the good from the bad. And, if you don’t limit them all, then a few might rise up and do..” He paused, gritting his teeth before he returned to a cheerful smile. “..Unsavory things. And we wouldn’t want that, now would we, sweet child?”
Brad coughed gruffly. “..Don’t punish the good just ‘cause there’s a few bad.” Cobalt shook his head, looking at Azure and then pointing at the three. “You three are most certainly pushing my buttons. I’m a king. And while I don’t.. Like to limit people, certain sacrifices must be made for the betterment of everybody. Besides, it’s not like I’m hurting them or anything. Just a few limitations here, a few limitations there, and everything’s all hunky doory!”
Spectacles pushed up his glasses. “W-Well we talked to a few people on the way here, and.. T-They don’t really like your laws..” Cobalt shook his head once more. “Hatred of things is natural. But it does not make it justified. They can hate me all they want, deep down, they know as well as I, that it’s for their own good.”
Pouchy pressed against the bars of the cage. “Well I for one can tell you that Specks is the best gosh darn friend I’ve ever had!” Cobalt coughed. “One anomaly does not make me reconsider my practices. Think logically, child. And anyway. Normally I would have kicked you three out by now.. But because I have not seen such a ruse as yours in so long.. I will decide on a vote for your innocence. Simple. If you win the vote, you get to leave and I change my laws. If you lose the vote.. Then everything stays the same-pristine-way-it-was, and you three all get thrown out. Understood?”
Pouchy reluctantly nodded as Cobalt placed a hand on his robe, gesturing for Azure to pull a rope as he continued to strike the pose. As soon as the rope was pulled, curtains arose behind him, revealing around a dozen chairs filled up with various Blue Bees. They all seemed exceedingly busy, and were all working on sorts of papers.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Please welcome tonight’s special guests. A Basic Bee, A Rascal Bee, and a.. Gifted Brave Bee! My, my! Now isn’t that a rarity nowadays.” The committee raised their eyes from the paper, and soon turned their gaze to Pouchy and the rest of the group. Most of them just stared, but one member kept his vision locked onto Pouchy and Spectacles. He was dressed in a fancy tuxedo with a tie, as well as large, round glasses that covered up his pupils. “Hey I know these two! They’re from my home, The Mountain. You see, I met them back when their Beekeeper became a Blue Hive. They say you are supposed to experiment first with blue, and then-”
Cobalt looked back at Bucko Bee, gesturing towards him. “Now! Allow me to let Mr. Basic Bee to retell you dozen the same story that he told me. You will all decide on if they are worthy to be trusted. If yes, then they are both released and I change all laws under section five of the Crimbolt Doctrine, otherwise known as the ‘Crimson Laws’. If not, they will be thrown out and everything will remain the same.” Pouchy looked at the large group, taking a gulp. “W-Well, my name’s Pouchy.. And me and my friend Spectacles are from the Mountain.. See, we learned from one of our friends, that most of the Event Bees are cutting communications with each other. And, even worse, most people don’t even know about some of them..”
“S-So, wanting to help, me and my friend Specks decided to reunite all of the Bees, including Crimson and Cobalt. W-Which is actually why we’re in the castle right now..” The committee looked down at their papers, writing down various information. Cobalt swiftly travelled through a pulse, collecting all of the papers and then standing at the foot of the cage. He mock winced. “Ooh, now that’s a travesty.. Against-Pouch, 11 votes. For Pouch.. 1 vote.”
Cobalt gestured to Azure as it swiftly cut the cage down with its sword, the cage breaking as it promptly reached onto all three Bees, grabbing onto them by the scruff of their furs. Suddenly, just as they were about to be taken away, a caring, feminine voice spoke up that Pouchy recognized. “Leave those children alone, ‘Bolt.” Cobalt stood in place for a moment, his eyes completely widening, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Standing atop the Committee's stairs, stood Crimson; a Red Bee wearing an exquisite dress adorned with priceless jewels, and a lovely and wide variety of red shades coloring the dress. Her eyes, one of which being scarred, were very baggy, either from stress, crying, or a lot of tiredness. Or perhaps all three. “C-Crim.. You’re.. Awake..?”
Crimson straightened her slightly wrinkled dress, flying down beside Cobalt and gesturing towards the three bees in the cage “What is this?” Cobalt nervously rubbed the side of his head, still quite shocked from Crimson’s appearance. “Well, you see.. These three were causing mayhem throughout the castle.. And because of their so-called ‘Noble-motives’, I decided it would be better if we.. captured them and offered them a chance at freedom!”
“Cobalt, you.. you cannot do this. These are just children. We don’t even know if they belong to our City. And besides, did you actually GIVE them a chance to prove their innocence?” Cobalt nodded. “Most certainly! The Committee decided upon a unanimous decision!”
Crimson glared at Cobalt. “The Committee." Cobalt nodded approvingly. Crimson sighed, flying over to the three bees and plucking them with a red pulse. “I am quite sick of your nonsense, Cobalt! Here’s the deal. I will take these children to my room, we will talk, and you will give them a second chance to prove their innocence, AND rewrite those horrible laws.”
Cobalt was about to shake his head. He began sweating. He knew he couldn’t refuse her. He confidently grinned, extending his wing to which Crimson shook. “Deal. If they’re innocent and really are the so-called ‘Reuniters’ then I will undue all laws under the section ‘Crimson Laws. And set them free.” Crimson nodded as she flew back to her room, taking the group with her.
Soon enough, the group got to Crimson’s room. It was a beautiful, white and red room complete with fancy red velvet across the beds, couches, carpet; adorned with stupendously well crafted gold frames for each of the items. She plopped the group members down, who were still in shock of the events that had just transpired. Even Brad.
The window outside was adorned with various jewels and gold; the rain and thunder outside repeatedly hitting against the window in a repeated tapping noise. Crimson Bee turned towards Pouchy, seeing the green light emanating from his Pouch. “Why have you three come here? You can be honest. I won’t throw you out for telling the truth.” She spoke in a soft tone, almost motherly.
Pouchy reached into his Pouch, lifting out the Map and showing it to Crimson. Her gaze instantly went pale as she flew over to Pouchy, slowly running her wings over the map intricately, the mention of it reminding her of someone. “Who.. how.. How did you obtain this? I thought it was destroyed, when..” Pouchy smirked. “Our friend gave it to us! She said that we needed to reunite you guys!”
She sat still for a moment with complete silence, in absolute shock. “You see, children.. oh, I’m sure you’ve seen.. Cobalt has a distaste for Red Bees, yes.. I’ve tried speaking with him concerning it, but he just doesn’t listen to me. Ever since.. the incident, he.. he refuses to let them near me and has any possibility of hurting me..”
She paused. Pouchy raised an eyebrow. “Did Cobalt always not like Red Bees?” Crimson shook her head, looking down. “No, not always. He used to love them. Perhaps even more than the Blue Bees. He always said that they reminded him of me. ..But it all changed one day.”
Pouchy nodded wistfully. “Oh, yeah we heard about that..” Crimson looked at the group and then the Map. “But you three.. that Map, it.. I think it can make him see.. That is why we must prove your innocence to him. It might be the only chance we actually have of changing his mind.”
Pouchy nodded determinedly. “Well you can count on us, Queen!” Brad nodded. “Yeah. It’s time t’finally bury this hatchet.”
Spectacles nodded. “M-Miss Crimson, do you.. remember Choco?” Her baggy eyes widened at the name. “Choco.. why, yes, I.. I do.. He was one of my guards.. quite a wonderful bear indeed.. have any of you seen him?”
Pouchy nodded. “Yeah! He lives in the Frosted Peaks now! Works at a cool diner, has a big house.. things’ve really gone well for him!” Crimson smiled, her laugh full of care. “Oh, that is just wonderful! That makes me so happy to hear. He always did love the cold, haha.. Oh, I remember him telling me his dreams.. You see, children, he initially had his sights set on something much more cold.. Antarctica.. I suppose he’s mellowed out since then, haha!”
She stifled her laughter as her baggy eyes narrowed in seriousness. “Now, Children. It is very important that you listen to me, for I could not stand to have you banished. I will do most of the talking. Cobalt.. doesn’t see me often. It seems that plays a role in how likely he is to agree. You will probably be asked questions by the committee. Simply answer them truthfully, and you will be fine! And remember. I’m here if you need to talk.” She said, her voice tender and loving.
Everybody nodded. “Lovely! Now let’s go change their minds, shall we?” Pouchy grinned ecstatically, flying out the door. “YES!!!” Brad and Spectacles looked at each other, laughing lightly as they followed Pouchy out the door, trailed by Crimson Bee.
Cobalt laughed smugly as he saw the four bees fly into the main room. “So, are you ready to prove your innocence?” Pouchy smirked. “Sure are, Mr. Cobalt!” He nodded, clapping his wings together as Azure flew to his side. “Very well! Azure. Reveal the committee.”
The curtain was pulled up, revealing the dozen members of the committee. “It would take all day to introduce the entirety of you to the three trespassers, so let us only start with the ones of importance. You three are from the Mountain, is that true?” Pouchy and Spectacles both nodded. “Very well.” He pointed to a Ninja Bee who seemed to be wearing a large cloak. He had various scars across his face.
“This is Zhú. He is the former leader of the Bamboo Kingdom, and once resided on the Mountain before leaving to establish his own kingdom. Is that right, Mr. Zhú?” Zhú held up a sign that wrote “Indeed”.
“Secondly. Bluu. Otherwise known as “Gifted Bucko Bee” upon the Mountain where he once resided. You may take the conversation from here, Bluu.” Bluu nodded. “Indeed I am from the Mountain. And I know these two. You may not believe them, but I do. They would never do anything to hurt anybody.”
“Now now, Bluu. We wanted an introduction, not a statement.” Cobalt nodded halfheartedly, narrowing his eyes on the group as Crimson Bee stared at them reassuringly. Cobalt lifted up his wing, summoning a blue pulse as he handed a microphone to Pouchy. “W-Well, my name is Briar. Briar Basic Bee. My friends call me Pouchy. I was born in the Great Forest, but moved to the Mountain when I was about ten years old. I am thirteen now.” Pouchy reluctantly handed the microphone over to Spectacles who placed it in his good wing. “M-My name is.. R-Riley Rascal Bee, and I am Pouchy’s friend.. I was b-born in Honette, but moved to t-the Mountain when I was about five.. I-I’m thirteen, too..” He stated breathlessly, his fur drenched in sweat.
“And what information concerns the Brave Bee?” Brad coughed slightly. “I was born in a.. Now gone village. I started travellin’ with the two of them earlier on the adventure.”
“Very well. Now that introductions have concluded, we move onto the next step. The Trial. Now, Pouchy, what brings you here? What was it that made you three want to break into the Crimbolt Castle?” He stared Pouchy in the eyes, flying back and forth between the desks of the Committee. “Well, me and my friends are on a quest to reunite the Event Bees, and.. You two were the next on the list, according to the Map..”
Cobalt nodded hesitantly as the Council began to write things down. “Now then, Pouchy. Where is this so-called Map? Do you have it with you?” Pouchy reached into his Pouch, managing to grab hold of the Map and holding it in the air; a bright green light shining around it as the Committee's eyes sparkled. “Now now, calm down you guys. And how do we know if this is a real Map, do you have any proof of that?”
Pouchy shook his head. “Very well. Let us begin the next stage. Critical responses in response to section five of the Crimbolt Doctrine.” Pouchy placed his wing on his face. “Well I think that all of these laws are unfair not just to Red Bees, but the people who are best friends with them or family with them!”
“The laws are indeed fair. They do not harm the innocent, they merely prevent the guilty from acting unfairly upon the innocent.” Brad stepped in front of Pouchy. “And have ya’ ever considered that any Bee could be a murderer?”
Cobalt’s eyes widened slightly. “..No, but. That does not concern the laws. Only a Bee of Red and Blue is fit to be ruler. To open up the category to Red Bees would be to open up the possibility of murder for the sake of power.” Brad nodded. “..And you haven’t ever thoughta.. Gettin’ better security so that nothin’ can happen? Ain’t sayin’ everybody’s innocent, but what I also ain’t sayin’, is that the innocent should be punished just because you can’t track the guilty.”
Cobalt nodded, furrowing an eyebrow before resuming his typical toothy grin. “Why yes, I have. The Sapphire Knights were established for that very purpose. And yet, we have still received rumors of murderous Red Groups on the loose.” Brad narrowed his eyes. “And ya’ haven’t ever taken int’possibility that Blue and Colorless Bees have the exact same chance of murder?”
The Committee began looking at Cobalt. “The laws of the castle give Red Bees a naturally higher chance of murder. Obviously nobody’s gonna try to kill ME.” Crimson gently took the Microphone from Brad. “Cobalt, it has been decades since the original incidents. You know as well as I that they are not only ineffective, but completely out of date. We should focus more on making our citizens happier by punishing the bad and rewarding the good. Like the others do. You don’t want to end up like Him.”
Cobalt furrowed his brow as He was mentioned. “I’m nothing like that spikey old brat. I-I’ll never be. I don’t want to see him. Ever. Again.” Crimson nodded, the rain still howling outside. “I know you don’t. I don’t want you to, either. That’s why we must stop this madness before you do end up like Him.”
Cobalt started sweating as Crimson began to question him. “Crim, we.. We couldn’t run the risk of.. I-I.. I wouldn’t let it happen, I’d do everything in my power, to..” His smug smile started to waver as he forced it up again. “Bolt. I know you care about me. I care about you too. But we can’t keep doing this to our people. It isn’t right. I’d rather myself die than it be one of them.”
Cobalt started to break, tears falling from underneath his glasses. “A-And I’d rather myself be killed than it be you..” He coughed, straightening his outfit as he promptly dried his tears. “The laws will continue unless these three are found to be innocent; for if guilty, they will prove that we need even more strict laws.”
Pouchy began sweating as the Committee's eyes were soon drawn to him once more. “W-Well the Map lights up, see..” He gestured toward the green light reflecting off of the Map’s surface. Cobalt shook his head, his smug smile now fully back in place. “I’m afraid that isn’t enough proof. Who’s to say you could not have put a small, plastic, bulb?”
Pouchy put his head down in defeat. “You see this? Briar has given up the case. The Committee will now take a vote.” The Committee looked down at their Papers, writing information down on them as Pouchy and the group’s hearts pounded. The papers were handed to Cobalt as a smile began to break across his face.
“That is twelve votes for the termination of the Crimson Laws. However.. It seems we still only have one vote For-Pouchy, which renders the former.. Null and void. Eleven people failed to vote for Pouchy, rendering the vote five Bees short of a tie, and ten Bees short of a unanimous vote.” Pouchy held up his wings as the Azure Knight walked over to the three, Brad reluctantly handing his wings over as the Azure Knight picked the three of them up, right about to walk out of the room. “(Please Map, don’t fail us now.. We need this.. Please..)” Pouchy whispered desperately.
Suddenly, just as the Azure Knight was about to take off, Pouchy’s Pouch began to blow green with the Map. It began to buzz violently as Pouchy’s eyes widened. Crimson held up her wing. “Wait! Cobalt! Let them have one more chance..” Cobalt looked at the group then back at Crimson. “Sis, I’m sorry, but.. They’re thieves. They are not innocent.”
Pouchy suddenly opened up his Pouch in desperation as the Map swiftly flew into the air above Cobalt’s head. The green glow around itself was nearly blinding at this point. Suddenly, words began to be cast into the air with a blinding ray of illuminated green light. “When the Heroes seem alone, the Map shall make itself known. For until the Heroes' work is done, the world is saved from none.” Cobalt stood in front of the Map for a moment, mesmerized by the green glow. The wings on the side of his head began to glow with a bright blue color, matching Crimson’s red wings.
He looked at the group, then back at the Map. “You three.. This.. This is the actual map..” He stared at the Map more, placing his wing upon its floating surface as the green light shone across the palm of his wing like a kaleidoscope. “How did you obtain this.. It.. It should have been destroyed when he failed..”
Crimson looked at the Map, smiling lightly as its green radiance shown across her white eyes with an amazed smile. “The Map’s light never dies.. No matter what happens..” Cobalt flew over to the three as the Map swiftly made its way back into Pouchy’s Pouch. “I.. I’m sorry I did not believe you three.. You must know, I have been under the impression it was destroyed.. I’ve believed it for so long..”
Pouchy hugged Cobalt. He flinched at first, but slowly leaned into it, picking up Pouchy and lifting him into the air just as a father does his son. He soon reached over to Spectacles as well, hugging him without any regard for him being a Red Bee. “You three.. You have no idea what is in store for you.. But I trust.. That as long as the Map’s Light is shining upon you, and that you have each other, that you can succeed.” Crimson picked up Pouchy and Spectacles as well, hugging them. She looked at Brad as he gently denied the offer. He transported everybody back to the middle of the room in a blue flash, gazing upon the Committee. They were still stunned.
Cobalt flew over to Pouchy. “The voting totals are.. Crimson Law elimination, twelve. For-Pouchy, twelve. Both unanimous decisions.” He looked down at the ground slightly with a worried expression. “The Crimson Laws are now abolished.” He said with a tone of finality, as well as a tinge of anxiety clear in his voice.
Crimson Bee hugged her brother tightly. “You made the right decision, Cobalt.. Trust me.. Everything will be better because of it.” He smiled lightly; not a smug or twisted smile, but one of genuine happiness. “Hah.. I’m just glad you’re happy, Sis..”
Pouchy flew over to Cobalt nervously, rubbing the side of his head. “There’s.. Also something else we didn’t tell you.. There is a group in the sewers, and.. A-And they were talking about your Sister..” Cobalt’s gaze stiffened for a moment, but he knew not to go back on his promise to Crimson. Seeing her so happy was something he hadn’t seen in ages. “I’ll take care of them. Thank you for telling me, Briar.”
Cobalt hugged Pouchy once more, crying slightly. “You have no idea how much you’ve done for me.. I fail to know how you managed to do it, but you awoke Crimson.. I believe it was the map, haha..” He laughed softly, his earlier smug tone now had completely disappeared. “Its light always carries on, after all..”
Pouchy smiled back as he hugged Cobalt. “You don’t hate me, do you?” Cobalt said, his tone exceedingly vulnerable. Pouchy shook his head. “You.. were just trying to protect your sister. I’m sure we’ve all made mistakes in our life. But the important thing is.. You learn that they’re wrong and you change them!”
Cobalt smiled, poking himself in the chest with his wing. “Oh, I’ll be fixing them alright.. Well I’ll see you three. I have to go attend some business.” Crimson flew over to the three. “I suppose this is goodbye, hm? Oh, it is.. I know it is.. But we’ll meet again. Us.. you, and all of the other Events. We’ll finally be together again.. Oh, it’s a heartwarming thought..”
“Take care, you three. Remember. Everybody’s future rests in your wings.. But don’t let that pressure you. For you h”ave nothing to fear. As long as you believe in yourselves.. Impossible circumstances, just like this, can be overcome.” Pouchy and the rest of the group smiled as they exited the castle, Pouchy and Spectacles exchanging glances as they looked for Brad. Brad stood in front of the Azure Knight as it tilted its head. “..You’re a really good fighter. Heh, sometimes I get a bit t’big for my britches, huh? I s’pose I could learn somethin’ from you. Sometimes ya’ don’t have t’have fancy quotes ‘nd outward confidence. Sometimes, all that matters is.. Doing things your own way, and lovin’ yourself from it. That's real confidence, right?”
Brad couldn’t see underneath the Knight’s helmet, but it nodded in a way that assured him it was smiling underneath the thick metal. He extended his wing, to which the Knight shook a bit awkwardly. He turned around, facing his head toward the Knight as he lifted up his wings. “Take care. Best’a luck to ya’.” The Knight waved its large armored hand as Brad caught up with Pouchy and the others.
Later, the group found all of themselves at the same carnival as the previous night. Only now, no tears were being shared; only smiles. Brad looked out at the sunset as they sat on the top cart, all eating cotton candy. “Y’know, we sure’ve come a long way, huh? All of us.” Spectacles pushed up his glasses, smiling. “Darn right we have! Because we’re the Event Bee Reuniters.. The..-”
He paused. Spectacles giggled slightly. “Pouchy, we really ought t-to work on a better name..-” Pouchy looked down, placing his wing on the fur of his face in contemplation. “The Star Trio! Because.. You know.. Brad’s gifted, I like stars, and.. we’re all a star at something..!”
Spectacles nodded. “I l-love it, Pouch!” Brad nodded in agreement. “Speakin’a names. ‘Member that nickname you gave me back when we first met, Pouch?” Pouchy giggled, expecting some sort of punchline.
“Y’know, lookin’ back on it, I actually quite like it. Sounds intimidatin’. And it’s from my best friend, too.” Pouchy’s eyes sparkled with joy as he began hopping up and down in the cart. “REALLY?! You’re.. You’re gonna let me call you that?!”
Brad nodded. “Sure am. It’s a nice name. And besides. Can’t let y’all have all the fun when it comes to nicknames, heh heh.” Pouchy grinned smugly. “Yeah, you can’t, Bullet!” They both laughed joyously.
Spectacles began drawing something with the pencil, his bad wing almost fully healed by now. When finished, Pouchy asked what it was. The picture depicted three smiling figures. Spectacles was holding his notebook, Pouchy had a star on his chest, and Brad was smiling happily.
“I-It’s us.” Spectacles said.