Chronicle 60

Millions of bee soldiers buzzed in a side corridor of the Darkflame cavern. Beemon hovered behind them, awaiting a breakthrough. Even in the heat of her infernal realm, the motion of the army raised the temperature enough for her to notice. Higher order bees fanned her with their wings as she watched the progress. The frontline of bees repeatedly was recycled, succumbing to the unbearable heat and vibration. They were replaced by a new wave of soldiers, prepared to give their lives.

" More." Beeman commanded. Her order, though non-vocal. echoed through the infinite cave system beneath the Earth.

Another million bees filled the room and buzzed, flying up against the backs of their brethren. The floor was covered with black and dull yellow. Corpses were preventing more bees from joining the effort. Beemon contemplated calling it off, chalking up the loss. Perhaps there had been enough sacrifice.

She spat flame at the thought of failure. Darkflame roared beneath the enormous cluster of bees. It turned corpses to ash and to Beemon's dismay, the lower living bees as well.

" Ugh... More." Beemon ordered.

More soldiers zipped in and began to buzz furiously.

Rock crumbled and crushed a large portion of the bees.

At last.

Beemon made her way to the excavation. Light shot between miles of stone to illuminate a chaotic shuffling of demons and bees trying to see out. Above, Beemon saw living bees she enlisted to dig from the outside awaiting her exit.

"Finally..." She began to reach through the sliver connecting her to the outside.".. Earth's surface will know its Queen." Beemon's horn failed to pass into the realm above. It tapped on nothing... air as if solid.

" No!" she flapped once and crushed hordes of bees that were waiting below her. Demons skittered away, returning to shadow. 

She flapped a second time. “The Realm Lords weren’t deceiving me for once. I am truly bound to this Realm. An eternal chamber of misery to rule over!” The blast from her wings sent some eager soldiers upwards, through the narrow opening. 

She flapped with fury a third time. “NO BINDING SHALL CONTAIN ME!”

With the gust from Beemon shoving them along, a few soldiers were able to join the living bees above, passing through whatever barrier prevented their Queen from doing so. "Aha. This could be useful after all."

Liberated from the darkness of the cavern, the bees above allowed Beemon’s mind to operate their bodies. She spoke to the swarm of living bees through three of her soldiers. “We seek a human with the power to free me.”

Imbued with Beemon’s ability, the swarm spread across Big City, searching for some indication of that power. One of the soldier bees hovered outside a large building filled with people. One man stood at the front, all the others captive to his every word. The rest of the swarm joined to watch.

They listened to the man for a moment. “And true strength comes not from within. But from trust that that which resides above is watching at every moment. When I speak to the heavens, I know they are listening.”

“He is in communication with the Heaven Realm. He will do.” Beemon informed her bees. 

The swarm allowed some time to pass so they could get the man alone. Through the wall the three soldiers passed. The living bees were stuck outside.

“You. Human. It is unlike us to ask a favor. But I must be freed. Please contact the Heaven Realms and-”

Beemon snapped back to her body, in her realm in an instant. She returned to her soldier’s bodies, confused.

One of the soldiers was crushed on the floor. The man was holding a thick book with gooey yellow on it. His face was of pure disgust and disdain.

“He killed my baby!!” Beemon screamed.

WHACK.

Another soldier down.

Beemon returned and sent her last soldier butt-first at him. The stinger would teach him not to hurt her bees. WHACK.

Frustration set in. Beemon’s babies were squashed. She was completely disconnected from the surface. Darkflame rose around her. “That charlatan will pay… GET ME THE NINJA.”