Who's The Real Enemy?

Overwhelmed, the only female humans around stare at the huge Queen Bee in front of them. There are neither a throne nor chairs around, just the Queen atop a platform with a red carpet leading up to it from the entrance. Also, a group of worker bees hover in line right and left of the Queen, obediently bowing to her.

Except for a line of the former Queen Bees' portraits surrounding the room, there strangely isn't anything pompous to be found inside this chamber. While his companions freeze on the spot, Bee whispers to them in an urgent tone.

Bee: Bzzt, attention! Do as she said and humbly follow me!

They proceed, halting maybe three meters away from her.

Queen Bee: Chosen Scout, excellent work. You successfully assembled The Hive Five and brought them here. The warriors who shall fight and defeat all Evil stemming from the Dark Kingdom.

As Bee quickly bows to the Queen, the others immediately copy him.

Bee: Of course, my Queen. Your wish is my command.
Evelyn(thought): ...Where did the posh talking come from all of a sudden, Bee?!
Queen Bee: Very well. Please, everyone. Raise your heads again.

Everyone follows her order, standing or hovering straight again.

Queen Bee: I would like to get to know our heroes a little more. Would you mind doing your introductions?
Bee: Not at all. Please, everyone. If you may.

A little lost with who is supposed to start off, they exchange glances among each other, then Bee taps Evelyn's back in secret. Nervous, she takes one step forward and does a little curtsy.

Evelyn: My name is Evelyn. I am The Vanguard.

Doing as Evelyn did, the others begin their introductions accordingly.

Gertrud: I am Gertrud, The Sentinel.
Ume: I'm Ume, The Sage.
Candy: The Maverick is me, Candy.
Chloe: And my name is Chloe. The Caretaker.

Delighted, the Queen Bee claps her forelegs together.

Queen Bee: Wonderful! It appears we have a resolute group here! And... Chloe, right? With the green hair. I see you are expecting. Congratulations!
Chloe: Uhm, thank you, Your Majesty.
Queen Bee: How many is it going to be? Around 2000?
Chloe: E-Eh?! No... it's one.
Queen Bee: Oh my, I am sorry. Our kind and humans work differently, it seems.

The Queen steps forward, rapping the floor with her scepter.

Queen Bee: I am the current ruler of this kingdom, Majesbee. Welcome to The Wasp Lands.
Team Evelyn: ..."Wasp Lands"?
Candy: Erm, excuse my question, but aren't all of you bees?
Queen Bee: We are.
Candy: Then why that name?!
Queen Bee: ...Orders from the bordering Kingdom of the Wasps.
Candy: And you folks just let them?!
Bee: Candy!
Candy: I've got a point there, don't I?!
Queen Bee: Well, the reason is...

All bees inside the room jolt, then they shiver in absolute and utter fear.

Queen Bee: ...They are relentless. If something does not sit right with them, they sting immediately.
Candy: What?
Worker bee: ...And we cannot defend ourselves since using our stingers results in a suicide mission.
Team Evelyn(thought): WHAT ARE THEY, A NOTORIOUS BIKER GANG OF THUGS?!
Candy: ...I get it. So wasps are assholes in every world.
Bee: Candy!! Watch your language!!
Candy: What for? Are you sure we are even fighting the right enemy? I feel like going there instead and kicking their damned wasp butts! I'll- MWHM HMM HMMMM!

Evelyn and the others quickly cover Candy's mouth. After a few seconds, she stops trying to talk through their hands. They let go, revealing Candy pouting and crossing her arms now, miffed.

Evelyn: I am so terribly sorry, Your Highness. She is a little...

Then everyone looks up at the Queen again. For some reason, she has started to shed tears of joy.

Bee: Your Majesty?! What is wrong?! Did she offend Her Royalty?
Queen Bee: Oh, no. Not at all. It is just... Her earnest feelings for the sake of our people made me just so very happy!
Bee: Eeeeh?!

The Queen swiftly wipes her eyes and returns to her royal attitude.

Queen Bee: Nevertheless, The Dark King and Queen pose a real threat. They have to be stopped, at all costs. There is a reason I wished to see all of you. Please, follow me.

While the Queen Bee floats down the podest past Evelyn's group, the worker bees around simply remain where they are. Along the red carpet, they go back to the doorway they came from.

Back in the great hall, the Queen then turns right toward one of the doors there, the others following right behind as she enters. A long hallway lies behind, little spheres of light glowing faintly to guide the way.

They go further, and after a few minutes have passed, a huge, spiky metal door, framed by equally big bee knights, comes into view on the left. Bee flinches violently from the bare sight, which does not go unnoticed by his companions.

Evelyn: Is something wrong, Bee? You look like you have seen a ghost.
Bee: ...
Gertrud: The insect stays quiet? What a rare and delightful sight.
Beeatrix: Well, it's not a surprise. That's the entrance to the Labyrinth of Trials.
Ume: And what kind of place is that?
Beeatrix: This is where The Chosen Scout is determined. An assessment of dexterity, wits, reaction, endurance, stamina and persistence.
Chloe: ...Why are most of these terms basically endurance?!
Evelyn: Oh! Which means Bee actually made it through the test back then! That is impressive!
Bee: Yeah, well, thanks...
Candy: What's wrong, Bee? You act a bit weird right now. Normally, you'd be all proud and boast about how you heroically passed this exam.
Bee: Because this freaking exam was hell.
Evelyn: ...What exactly did you have to do to pass?
Bee: It... it was terrible. Gruesome... No, please! No more!

Bee simply stares into nothingness, only mumbling to himself now.

Candy: Wow, Bee is completely offline now. That must me some test.
Beeatrix: Once Bee had gathered enough courage to tell me what happened in there. Behind the door lies a giant labyrinth structure. And somewhere inside, the Honeycombat was hidden, awaiting the Chosen Scout to find it.
Ume: So the task was a treasure hunt?
Beeatrix: So to say, yes. This is also the part that is known by everyone.
Evelyn: But why is he so frightened? Was it like a ghost ride with scary things popping up in between?
Beeatrix: Not exactly. If it were only that, he would've hardly reacted this way. Bee is the bravest drone I know. The thing is... the test was basically a parcours with flyswatter traps everywhere without knowing where you have to go. Once you give up on the test, you can never enter to try it again. Bee was inside for almost three days.
Evelyn: ...Oh.
Ume: ...Oh.
Candy: ...Oh.
Chloe: ...Oh.
Gertrud: ...Oh. How amusing!
Candy: ...Auntie Gertrud. You have literally been threatening Bee with the object of his lifetime PTSD trauma.
Gertrud: I know, right? I've always had a good nose for these things!
Candy: What things? Torture devices?
Evelyn: Ehehe... Would at least make very much sense since she called her secondary attack "Iron Maiden".

The Queen Bee further ahead of them stops, gesturing toward the taller gateway in front.

Queen Bee: We are here. Please come inside.