The Power Of Hope

Evelyn(thought): Mhhhm... I feel tired... but also very warm...

Evelyn's eyes open. She finds the Queen Bee floating next to her and everyone else, engulfed by a strange, yellow aura.

Queen Bee: Oh! Our Vanguard woke up! I'm glad!
Evelyn: ...What is this?
Queen Bee: My healing aura. All of you were completely drained of your energy, so I allowed myself to do something against it.
Evelyn: Thank you, Your Majesty.
Queen Bee: The others are fine, too, but everyone is completely exhausted. Just relax until I am done with the therapy.
Evelyn: ...Alright.

Her mind drifts away and before she even realizes it, she dozes off. Seeing this, the Queen Bee smiles.

Queen Bee: The battle is finally over. Well done, Heroes of the Legend.

-------

The calm silence is suddenly interrupted by a moan, then repeated panting.

"Fwooo, fwooo, huff, huff, huff..."

Evelyn wakes again from the strange noises. Gertrud, Ume and Candy wake up shortly after.

"Ghhhhh..."

They turn around to its source, staring at a struggling Chloe.

Chloe: Hnnng... fwooo, fwoooo, fwooo...
Candy: Chloe... why are you doing this? I've been sleeping so sweetly...
Chloe: I didn't choose to! I think I've gone into labor! The contractions... nnnnnngh!
Evelyn+Gertrud+Ume: Say WHAT?!
Evelyn: Bee! Hurry up and make a portal back home!
Bee: Huwhat?! Okay!

Bee swiftly calls the Honeycombat by whistling, then immediately opens a honeyfall portal.

Evelyn: Quick! Get Chloe to the portal!

Gertrud and Candy quickly go to support Chloe while they lead her to the portal. As soon as everyone pass through it, the honeyfall portal disappears.

Queen Bee: ...Oh. Too bad. I would have loved to stay around them for a bit longer.

-------

The weather is bright and nice. Evelyn, Gertrud, Ume and Candy are sitting outside at the Sweet Dreams, apparently waiting. Then Chloe, a much smaller belly now, comes to sit beside them.

Evelyn: Chloe! It is so nice to see you again!
Chloe: And it's also nice to see all of you again!
Ume: So, Candy told us you gave birth to a girl! Congratulations!
Chloe: Thank you so much! Yes, she is the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my life!

Then an odd silence follows, the kind that reigns when there is an unspoken question nobody wants to ask first. The exact kind of question Candy asks, though.

Candy: And? What about your transformation? You can't do it anymore now that the gestational diabetes is gone, right?

Chloe closes her eyes, then smiles at her friends.

Chloe: ...Girls. It's not over yet.
Evelyn: What do you mean by that?
Chloe: ...My diabetes became permanent.

Short silence. The same kind Candy would interrupt.

Candy: ...Really?! AWESOME! And I thought we would never transform together again!

Everyone gets up, gathering for a big group hug.

I swear, these people are the only ones on earth happy about a friend who got a chronic disease.

Candy: So... it got somewhat boring lately. Anybody up for something? If not, we can finally send these wasps terrorizing the beefolk to the devil!
Evelyn: I would like that, too! I tried to stay calm back then, but I was actually just as enraged as you were!
Chloe: I'd like to, but... not yet. We can do that as soon as I stop bleeding like a pig.
Candy: ...Chloe. Too much info.

From inside Evelyn's handbag, Bee adds his opinion, too.

Bee: I'm glad to hear you want to free us bees from the tyranny of the wasps, but I don't know how I should feel about the fact you're discussing this like you were planning on going shopping.
Ume: I'll tell you. The word you are looking for is thankful.
Bee: *siiiigh* I guess so... but I was surprised! Gertrud actually volunteered to protect me! So you actually like me, after all! Ehehe!
Gertrud: Don't get too full of yourself, insect!

Gertrud immediately draws her telescope flyswatter and starts chasing poor Bee again.

Bee: AAAAAAAAAH! NOT AGAIN!!
Evelyn: Gertrud, please don't swat at the air! If you make too many holes in it, it is going to rain!
Carl: And who came up with that wisdom?

Surprised, Evelyn draws back a little. A slight blush spreads across her cheeks.

Evelyn: ...Hello there, Carl.
Carl: Hello. Would you mind me treating you to some coffee?
Evelyn: Uhm... should I...?
Candy: ...Granny Evelyn... we all saw that blush.

She flinches.

Ume: Come on, go ahead. We're fine here.
Chloe: Right. Go enjoy yourself a little.
Evelyn: Hmm... if you say so. Well then, I will excuse myself.

Evelyn gets up, following Carl so sit with him at his table.

Gertrud notices that, stops hunting down Bee and gets back to the group. She watches her dear friend, then smiles a little.

Gertrud: It is just right the way it is. One day, Edgar told me something. He said that he was glad about every day he could spend with her, every day she chose to be with him. And if she ever changed her mind, he would be sad, but let go of her if she wished. He was a good man.

And so, they watch Evelyn happily chatting with Carl, a smile on each of their faces.