Won't you play a game with me?

Solemn birdsong filled the air. The object was secured.

Matthieu tossed a seraphinite gem between their claws in the safety of the hidden fairy plaza. Her body lounged on the interwoven branches as they threw it up, up, towards the leafy ceiling far above. Their trickery succeeded, and they snatched this shiny crystal from an unwitting canine. Their lying skills needed more work, though. Did you see how awful it was?! The lesser creature realized as soon as they turned away! Boy's face erupted into a laugh, even though there was no joke to laugh at.

And the laughing continued, and continued, as the amalgam righted themselves and skittered down the exit side tunnel through the tightly packed trees. Matthieu burst into the tunnel proper, raising the gem high above their combined bodies as their cackling finally came to a hiss. What were they doing? It wasn't clear to anyone other than themselves.

The faerie finally rested it down, hiding the crystal in a small opening under the roots of the trees. Their crystal stinger glowed faintly, transferring its magic unto the stone. They stood up. It was done.

"Court of Faeries!" Bee barked, her voice a mechanical buzz. Their human head faced the Cepheus exit and the insect turned to Pegasus, but they looked at no one in particular. "The outer forest (forest) grows dangerous. The Room of Snows howled with spilt blood. The waters are chaotic. We must be more dangerous." They prodded the seraphinite with a leg, whispering incomprehensibly: 'Blossoms, blood, blisters, flood...' Boy spoke next, raising his arms dramatically. "Here lies the first of the stolen. We will grow them into more of Us (Us) and raise our numbers. Any who can, should too. Fly, fly out and bring back to us the crystals which resonate with magic! Crystals, flesh, sisters mesh..."

Arwen had been gardening recently. She had a proclivity for keeping herself busy, meaning she was either fixing up the plaza after a strong wind had come in from Pegasus or doing some other activity. But in order to supply her honey she needed nectar, and to get nectar she needed flowers.

It had taken hard work but she'd planted enough that she should be able to sustain herself enough to make honey to be stored for food. They were massive blooms that spanned the edges of her hidden home, creating a beautiful pathway for someone to walk up to. Some of them were toxic to eat but with sweet flowers, meaning they'd keep herbivores away from her garden. Already bumblebugs were flocking, so that was a good sign.

The Queen capped off another comb, her small hive expanding slowly. She looked around at the beautiful golden combs full of both honey and royal jelly. It was completely open to her Court and she was perfectly happy to remove a comb to give to someone who craved it, whether bug or not. She took pride in how much people loved her honey.

She shot up as she heard Matthiew's call, a comb in her hand. Quickly she scuttled out of her den and up the branches to the balcony, a mask quickly tied onto her face. She approached curiously, antennae waving as she approached Bee and Boy, strangely silent.

"A child...", she cooed softly, holding the comb closer, "Our child! A child of the Court!"

The Queen was overjoyed at the news, maternal instincts going absolutely nuts as she held out the honey comb, "Put the child in here! It shall grow and when it hatches it will have a warm place to stay and honey to eat."

Arwen twittered in bug speak, her wings buzzing happily, "I am excited! We will take very careful care of this child and teach it many things! We should get more children, maybe! More little bees for our hive!!"