Set

The Hive Five gathered in Evelyn's garden once more, accompanied by Bee ‐ who already has his Honeycombat out to use it - and Sarah with Timmy. The sun is just rising, coloring the sky above in a mix of the deep blue from the ending night which blends into a bright pink.

Evelyn's daughter worriedly folds her hands and her grandson clearly looks stressed, too. Then Bee dramatically opens the portal back to his homeland again, causing the magical tablet to morph into an actual honeycomb once more. A honeyfall begins to flow out from there.

Bee: The portal is ready. If you are done with all of your preparations, we'll leave immediately.

Sarah and Timmy now run towards Evelyn, squeezing her into a deep, emotional hug.

Sarah: Mom... please, take care. You have to come back, no matter what. I can't lose you too after Dad...!
Timmy: I believe in you, Granny! But that doesn't mean I'm not worried. So... just like Mom said, be careful. Okay?

Evelyn hugs them back with a loving smile on her face.

Evelyn: I will do my best, like I always have. I will definitely return, I promise.

She blows both of them a kiss on their foreheads, then they distance themselves a bit from her, clinging to one another instead now.

Ume: How about the preparations? Is everything set?
Evelyn: Yes, I think so. I should have put everything we need into the backpack I carry.
Chloe: And what did you put inside?
Evelyn: Loads of sweets to replenish our blood sugar when it runs low, several bottles of juice for the same purpose. And, in case we need them, insulin and glucagon emergency shots.
Candy: Sounds like we are ready to go. I feel so nervous. This is worse than the tension before a class test.
Bee: It's no wonder. You five carry the burden of saving the world. That's much more worrisome than a bad grade.

Evelyn spreads her arms to stretch as she takes a deep breath, flinches in between from her back pain and returns to a normal posture as she slowly breathes out.

Evelyn: Alright... I am ready. Let us leave.

The ladies, old and young alike, line up in front of the honeyfall.

Bee: Then please enter now. Beeatrix must be already waiting.

A quick glance back to Evelyn's family follows. She waves them goodbye and everyone swiftly steps through the sweet gate. Then Bee follows after them and the honeyfall portal disappears.

-------

Queen Bee: Welcome back, legendary warriors.

Back in the beefolk laboratory, the Queen Bee and Beeatrix are already waiting for Evelyn and her companions. They all give a brief curtsy, then neatly line up in front of them.

Bee: We have returned. It is an honor to see Her Majesty, as always.
Evelyn(thought): And now he is back to his posh talk.
Queen Bee: Thank you, Bee. Now to why all of you are here.
Beeatrix: As Bee may have already informed you of, we finally found the exact location of the Dark Kingdom. First of all, I'll load the coordinates into the original Honeycombat. The next portal he opens will lead you right to the enemy's dimension.

Beeatrix, currently holding the Honeycombat copy, stretches it out towards Bee. He grabs his original one and holds it toward the copy. A faint glow is emitted from both devices as they touch. As soon as it subsides, Bee makes it hover next to him again.

Beeatrix: Okay, upload successful. And this is what you asked me for. Take it.

Bee's sister hands him several yellow orbs the size of a marble.

Bee: Thanks, sis.
Beeatrix: Before you go, I would like to fill you in on everything we have discovered about this unknown territory so far.

Another bee, having floated in the background until now, flits to Beeatrix's side.

Drone: Hello, everyone. I'm the drone that last searched our target location.
Bee: ...Last? What do you mean by that?
Ume: The wording sounds like someone other than him entered before.
Drone: That is correct.
Evelyn: But... what happened to the one leaving before you did?
Drone: Not one. Three were sent out before me and have gone missing ever since. Due to this, the moment I was sure that place is where the Dark King and Queen reside, I returned instantly to be able to finally report back to everyone.
Bee: This... is disturbing. We will try to find them during our quest.
Drone: Please do. When you enter their dimension, expect dark surroundings with a fitting dark atmosphere. The kingdom is really true to its name. And somewhere within this almost empty place, there is a creepy castle. I saw food monsters lurking inside through a window, so I am sure that was the right place. This is everything I know.
Bee: Thanks for your commitment. We will try to put the information you gathered to good use.

The drone leaves and with the magical tablet still hovering next to Bee, he taps on it, then waves his foreleg over it. Then, the strange device transforms into an actual honeycomb, but this time with a honeyfall flowing out as black as darkness, like liquid pitch.

Bee: This is it. Once we get in, there is no turning back.
Ume: In this case, let me briefly recapitulate our plan: I suspect Colonel to turn up first to oppose us. Once he is defeated, we will replenish our blood sugar with the rations Evelyn keeps with her. Then we will proceed to the castle and take out Carbocalypse and Glucodoom. Any questions?
Chloe: No, I think the plan is pretty clear.
Candy: Me neither.
Gertrud: I also don't have anything to object to.
Evelyn: Then we are good to go. Ladies, prepare yourselves!

The Hive Five including Bee form a line in front of the portal, then quickly pass through it one by one. After the last one vanishes, the portal disappears as well.

Queen Bee: My dear warriors... please be safe.

-------

Covered in the weird black mass, the group steps into the dark world. Gloomy sky, dry wastelands and the intimidating, giant castle looming in the distance.

Evelyn: ...We are here. First, let us get ready to fight.
Bee: That's my cue!

Bee grabs one of the yellow orbs given to him by his sister and tosses it up. It starts glowing, then the black, tainted honey covering everyone gets sucked in at once. Afterwards, it shatters.

Bee: I'm glad I asked her to give me enchanted pearls containing worker bee magic.
Team Evelyn: We are even more glad. Believe us.

The heroines take a few steps forward, carefully investigating this weird place they landed at.

Evelyn: So this is it. As expected, this place does not look very inviting.
Gertrud: No. Not at all.
Ume: It's giving me the heebie-jeebies.
Candy: Yeah. I don't like it here at all.
Chloe: Agreed. Let's try to settle this as fast as possible.
Evelyn: Look, over there! Something is coming in our direction from the castle!

A dark silhouette approaches the heroines, who defensively draw back a little. Upon recognizing Colonel, their expressions turn serious.

Evelyn: It has begun.