After finally calming down, Brav led the group into the tower. Inside was surprisingly spacious,much larger than it looked from outside. Wide pathways spiraled upward, buzzing with worker bees carrying sap and bark. The air hummed with energy and the sweet scent of honeycomb.
In the very center of the tower's base floor stood a large, softly glowing green stone. As the group approached it, something unexpected happened. a faint purplish mist seeped out of Cloud's form and drifted into the stone. The pure green light began to shift… slowly deepening into a rich, royal purple.
Bees nearby instantly tensed, wings buzzing in alarm, stingers raised. But it was Brav,surprisingly trusted by the colony,who stepped forward, raising his forelegs. "Hold! Stand down!" His firm voice cut through the panic. "This is our guest! stop before you attack!"
Seeing the guards reluctantly lower their stingers, Brav sighed in relief. By then, the lifestone's transformation was complete. It pulsed steadily now with a deep, vibrant purple light.
This was no ordinary rock. The Lifestone was the hive's heart,it protected the structure and, most vitally, allowed new bees to be born. It was sacred. Brav turned to Cloud, his earlier loudness replaced with deep respect. "Sir Cloud... may I ask what you just did to our Lifestone?" Alia's miraculous healing still warmed him.Whoever achieved that deserved his trust.
Cloud genuinely didn't know. Could he admit ignorance? Would they believe him? Then again... Since when does a cloud need anyone's belief? He rippled calmly. "I don't know why it changed... but honestly? Purple suits it much better than green." His tone was utterly serious. Despite having no face, they could feel his sincerity about the color upgrade?
High above, the young Queen oversaw construction on the tower's top level. Though new to her crown, she took her duties seriously. A breathless messenger bee suddenly zipped to her side, whispering urgently about the Lifestone. Her antennae shot upright. Nothing mattered more than the Stone.
She shot downward like a golden arrow. Bursting onto the first floor, her sharp red eyes scanned frantically for the familiar green glow... and locked onto radiant purple instead. Heart pounding, she darted around the star-shaped stone, inspecting every facet. Only the color had changed... but color meant things. Power. Alignment. Life.
"Who did this?" she demanded, voice tight with controlled fear, turning to the nearest guard.
The bee pointed a trembling leg at the floating purple cloud. The Queen's gaze followed,taking in the unknown cloud, the unfamiliar bee (Raiz), Brav, and... Alia? Alive and well? Shock warred with confusion. She turned to her most reliable pillar: "Brav. Report. Now."
Brav shuffled his feet, uncharacteristically hesitant. How to explain magic he didn't understand? Before he could fumble, Cloud drifted forward.
"I turned the stone purple. The reason remains unclear." His matter-of-fact tone hung in the air.
The Queen stared, speechless. She'd come for answers and got deeper mystery.
"I wouldn't worry," Cloud added, observing the pulsing stone. "It seems fully functional. Perhaps even... improved?"
The Queen bit back her questions. A cloud altered the Lifestone? That alone spoke of impossible power. Accusing such a being was reckless. Instead, her eyes flicked pointedly to Alia,how was her mortally wounded elder here, glowing with health?
Brav saw her look and jumped in, words tumbling out: "Your Majesty! Sir Cloud healed Alia! And gave Raiz magic wings! And "
Are you the leader here?" Cloud interrupted, his misty form tilting slightly toward the youthful Queen.
She drew herself up, regal despite her surprise. "I may appear young,His Majesty Cloud, but yes. The crown is mine. I lead this hive." She assumed his question stemmed from her age but power, she knew, wasn't always about size nor age.
While the Queen wrestled with her thoughts, Moon pondered her earlier words. How should I know if she's young? All bees look identical to me. He swirled in quiet confusion.
"I propose something affecting your entire hive," Cloud announced, mist pulsing gently. "Join me. As family."
The Queen was too weary for shock. Who invites near strangers into a hive? And "family"? Bees knew colonies, duty, queens but not this vague concept. "What... is 'family'?" she asked, antennae tilted in genuine curiosity.
"Not just blood ties," Cloud explained calmly. "Those you trust. Lean on. Protect. From what I've seen... that defines it."
Brav buzzed forward, unable to stay silent. "With respect,we cant just happily jump just because you asked." He braced for reprisal maybe anger from a being who'd just healed Alia.
The Queen held her breath. Was Brav's bluntness too reckless?
"Hmm." Cloud rippled thoughtfully. "Your words unveil new perspective, Brav." A pause. "Surprisingly profound... coming from you."
Brav's wings drooped. "Ouch! Was that necessary"
"EMERGENCY AT THE GATE!" A scout's shriek cut him off. The group surged outside.
Three unfamiliar bees hovered arrogantly at the entrance. The lead one,plump, with garish gold stripes strutted forward. "There you are, Queen," he sneered. "How do you run a hive so backward, your drones don't recognize me? Hitme! Right-hand bee to the Middle Hive's Queen!"
He flicked pollen disdainfully off his wing. "Never mind. Can't educate low intellect grubs who barely speak. You know why I'm here."
The Queen's red eyes glowed crimson. "Some of my kin are still evolving speech, true. But who are you to insult"
"Pfft" A stifled snort interrupted her. Raiz trembled, wings clamped over his face. Beside him, Cloud jiggled silently up, down, up like a boiling kettle holding in steam.
Hitme froze under the Queen's glare… then spotted them. "YOU!" He pointed a shaking leg at Cloud and Raiz. "Queen! Is that ridiculous puffball your seat throne? Hand it over! And that snickering drone I, HITME, WILL PERSONALLY "
"HITME" Raiz gasped, the name breaking his resolve. He collapsed mid air, rolling on the grass, laughter shrieking from his thorax. "His wheeze villain speech! And the NAME!"
Cloud finally burst,a sound like rumbling thunder mixed with wind chimes. "D-don't laugh!" he wheezed, mist tears sparkling. "He's utterly serious! Look at his f-face! It's pure 'Hitme'!" Another wave of chuckles shook him. "I c-can't—"
Hitme vibrated with rage. The Queen pressed a foreleg to her forehead. This isn't diplomacy. This is chaos