Reformation

Still a little puzzled from the unexpected encounter, the group of heroines was left standing on the sidewalk.

Evelyn: Well, now that makes our situation look much more difficult than before.
Ume: That's the understatement of the day. It makes our situation considerably bad. What if we can never find them? And how do we even cross dimensions? At this rate, we will have to fight for the rest of our lives!
Chloe: What? That sounds terrible!
Gertrud: This is definitely not what I expected for my retirement.
Candy: Tell me about it! And I'm the one who's gonna wind up fighting them all alone in the end!

Trying to appease them, Bee flits out of Evelyn's handbag, raising its forelegs.

Bee: Calm down, everyone! I get that things aren't looking too good right now, but we are not completely helpless. My people have already started to search for Carbocalypse and Glucodoom, but it takes time and research.

The team frowns upon hearing the last phrase.

Chloe: ...Carbocalypse?
Candy: ...Glucodoom? What's that?
Bee: The Dark Queen and King, of course.
Chloe: Seriously?! Who picks these kinds of bad names?!
Bee: For them, their parents, obviously?
Chloe: What kind of person assigns such names?!
Bee: Don't know, don't care. I also didn't exactly win the lottery with that, so it doesn't bother me at all.
Chloe: Oh, right. Sorry.
Gertrud: We are still in public, so get the heck back into the bag, or else I'll get my flyswatter.
Bee: Uwaa!

Awed, the bee rushes right into the handbag, even closing it behind on its own.

Bee: Anyway... today was a long day. Take The Caretaker back home safely, she must be exhausted. We will meet up tomorrow to discuss the rest.

After that, Bee just stays silent. They decide to walk off again to finally bring Chloe back home.

Chloe: ..."The Caretaker"? Did Bee mean me with that?!
Evelyn: Yes. Apparently, all of us have a different role in all this.
Ume: But it's odd. Every single one of us really has some kind of diabetes. I find that quite intriguing!
Chloe: So the reason we have these powers is diabetes?!

Ashamed all of a sudden, Chloe holds her furiously blushing cheeks, then tears stemming from disappointment form beneath her eyes.

Chloe: But...! Gestational diabetes is only temporary; it's gone as soon as I give birth! I'M BASICALLY A MAGICAL GIRL WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE!!

Panicking from her reaction, the others instantly join her side to comfort their new comrade.

Evelyn: Dear, please! Do not take it to heart too much!
Candy: Yeah! Just look at it that way: you're a very special limited edition!
Ume: Uhm... Candy? This might be the kind of sentence that sounds good at the start but only gets worse the longer you think about it.
Candy: Eeeeh?!
Chloe: So... I'm limited... limited...
Candy: Eeeeeeeh?! Seriously?!

Chloe just keeps mumbling to herself as the others follow after her. This goes on for a bit, then Chloe stops in front of a skyscraper.

Chloe: ...Oh. We're here already. I can take it from here on, thank you for bringing me home.
Evelyn: That was no problem at all. Please take it easy and rest.
Candy: Right! Let your hubby treat you to a massage!
Chloe: Thank you. Maybe I will do just that.

She nods at them in gratitude, then leaves for the building as the others wave her goodbye.

Gertrud: And what are we going to do now?
Evelyn: I, for my part, will head home, too. I used more power than I expected and even though I made up for the missing sugar with some juice afterwards, I am still incredibly tired.
Gertrud: Now that you mention it... I am pretty exhausted, too. I will join you going home.
Candy: I guess I'll just pick up my sister from the party. The guest of honor isn't there anymore, anyway.
Ume: And I have things to prepare for my students.
Evelyn: Then let us call it a day. Bye!

As all of them walk off in different directions except for Evelyn and Gertrud, Bee shouts from inside the bag for one last time.

Bee: Bye bye! Just don't forget we are meeting tomorrow!

--------

The next day arrives. The whole Hive Five, including Bee, have gathered in Evelyn's garden, sitting at the table right next to the door leading outside.

Bee: Hello again! I hope all of you were able to refill your batteries. About today... congrats on completing the whole gang!

Bee quickly conjures the Honeycombat, making it produce a little firework by pounding on it, happily flying in zigzags.

Bee: Finally, we are together. That alone is a huge success for us! You can really be proud of yourselves!

While proudly nodding, Evelyn seems to be a little put off.

Evelyn: Uhm... Why are we doing this at my home all the time again?
Bee: Because you're the leading member of the team!
Ume: Because your house is nice and cosy!
Candy: Because it radiates this comfortable grandma-vibe!
Chloe: I have no idea why, I'm here for the first time. But I also like it here!
Gertrud: Because your garden is properly shielded from prying eyes. They took down my fence and still didn't fix it until today and it bugs me to see children disrespectfully entering there however they want.

The fence to the left, bordering Gertrud's garden, is barely high enough to keep animals from crossing to the other side. Behind it, a few kids suddenly run across the meadow of her property.

Gertrud: Hey!! I don't want stranger kids running all over my garden, get off my lawn!

"Aaaah! It's the herb witch!"

Surprised they still got caught sneaking there, they just dash off again, giggling. Evelyn simply shakes her head while the others watch in disbelief.

Bee: Okay... that was weird. Ahum, back to the topic. Now that we're together, a little introduction by everyone would be a nice start, I think! I am Bee, and I look forward to working with all of you! Now you, Evelyn!
Evelyn: Oh, alright... My name is Evelyn, I am seventy-two and... well... it is nice to have made your acquaintance.
Gertrud: I'm Gertrud, eighty years old and Evelyn's best friend.
Ume: I am Ume, recently moved here from abroad and Evelyn's penfriend. I'm fifty-nine years old and work at Amari Town University.
Candy: I'm Candy, fourteen years old! Let's all get along, okay?
Chloe: And my name is Chloe, I'm... thirty-seven years old. Pleased to meet you all.

All of them clap to wrap up their introductions, slightly smiling. Then Bee takes over the conversation again.

Bee: Very nice! And now I'll announce the true reason you all are here. We are going to my homeland to meet The Queen Bee today.

Team Evelyn: ...SAY WHAT?!