Ahh, the vast, wondrous land of Bugaria. This is but a peaceful and prosperous place where many adventurous bugs gather. However, it wasn't always that way.

Lured by the promise of riches and lush fields, a young Queen visited these lands many moons ago. Together with her daughters and fellow ant servants, she established Bugaria's modest first settlement. Her people were happy, and the Ant Kingdom flourished.

And yet, the Queen's dream had still not been fulfilled, for she had heard of an ancient people who safeguarded a treasure of unbelievable power. It was none other than the Everlasting Sapling! A plant that would grant unending youth and strength to any who ate even one of its leaves!

She searched, searched, and searched, despite all her efforts and the hardships of losing what was most valuable to her. Alas, she never found it. She entrusted all her dreams to the princess before falling into a hard-earned sleep.

Determined to succeed where her mother did not, the new Queen rallied the people together under her cause. Opening the kingdom's doors to bugs of all shapes and kinds, she attracted ambitious, skilled adventurers!

Her decree was loud and clear: "Find me the Everlasting Sapling, and you shall know wealth like no other bug ever has!" With this, The Explorers' Association was founded, with its many members searching the kingdom for clues and treasure.

Even though, to this day, the sapling has not been found. But every bug dreams of one day claiming it for themselves…

"…Or at least, those were the stories I was told in my land." Kabbu allowed himself to exhale in the aftermath of his perhaps rambling story, hoping that the anxiety bubbling inside him was not evident. It was an adequate explanation, he supposed - sure, he didn't talk about every little aspect of the legend, but hopefully, it was enough. This was not the time and place to make people bored, even if he thought the chronicles of Bugaria were fascinating. The 24-year-old rainbow scarab beetle was in the middle of the Explorer's Association's H.Q. located in the verdant periphery of Ant Kingdom City. If he was honest with himself, it was a lot smaller than what he was expecting - in his mind's eye when Kabbu first learned of the E.A., he had seen a headquarters that rose into the sky and impressed everyone who saw it with pomp and poise.

But Kabbu could not complain - even if it did not fit the romantic, grandiose image he had in his head, it was more than enough to suit him and his soon-to-be (hopefully) comrades. The rainbow beetle was mainly decked out in dark yellowish green like a fern, with a pale green torso the color of ash and a pair of wings that he used as a kelp-toned cape. Kabbu's shoulders were ornamented with two ivory pincers while his forehead held a similarly sharp protrusion, his horn in vivid green.

"And despite many unfortunate incidents, tales of your people helped me keep my adventuring spirit alive." Kabbu hastened to mention. A delicate distortion of the whole truth - it wasn't just his spirit that had to be saved. Maki, the looming mantis before him, stared Kabbu down, having patiently listened to the beetle's story. Knight of Queen Elizant II and keeper of the title of Royal Blade the soil-colored swordsman in gray armor using his crimson wings the same way as Kabbu was known far and wide. It was hard not to be intimidated by the teal sword he carried with him, especially in Kabbu's position since the blade was nearly as long as he was tall.

"Rest assured, Kabbu. They are not mere legends, but real history." Maki had a ghost of a smile on his stoic features. "This Explorers' Association, and all the explorers who risk their wings for glory, are proof of that."

"Then, Sir Maki, would you consider my...earlier...offer...?" Kabbu trailed off in the middle of his query as he saw someone walk into the E.A. behind Maki. The knight was undoubtedly more important, and he scolded himself internally for losing sight of what truly mattered, but it was impossible not to notice someone so, eh, healthy looking. Especially when every footfall she took sent heavy vibrations through the floor. Oddly enough, it was a bee who possessed a plushy, stocky body that was more fit and flexible than those of less encumbered girls. She had all of the typical facets that made a bee look like a bee, her body mainly colored in light yellow with thin black stripes horizontally circling her, but those black lines were the only thin things about her.

She had a confident, assured grin on her chubby visage as she strode through the room faster than Kabbu expected someone of her circumference to travel, the bouncy quality of her movements doing nothing to impede her mobility. The bee's plump, grinning face was above a firmly held neck with fluff coming out as thick as a life ring, flanked by liberally filled-out shoulders that kept her upright. Her arms were well-exercised and nimble but also doughy in texture, with a chest characterized by plentiful padding and an enviably-sized bosom. Those two ches orbs rested comfortably atop the belly of someone who has been eating well, plump and undoubtedly soft to the touch yet firm from the exercised muscles hidden behind the flab. Kabbu could not help but stare; this was the third bee he had ever witnessed, the first being the jolly baker in Defiant Root and the second being a portly, energetic girl on her way to the Golden Lands - were all bees this way?

The visitor ventured further in, allowing the rainbow scarab beetle to catch sight of her steady back adorned with vast, iridescent wings. However, the beetle had to wonder if they could lift that heft. Below, small folds appear where it meets the curve of her toned, chubby hips that are given much of their volume by their generous padding, curving into her adequately developed but still fatty posterior. Even the stinger above the bee's rear end held deposits of fat. She walked with an effortless voluptuous swagger, the robust legs carrying her confidently as she walked, despite her pudgy calves and sizable thighs lightly rubbing together.

The sound of a cleared throat made the flustered Kabbu revert his attention to the matter at hand, Maki above him looking impatient yet sympathetic. "Kabbu, I respect your passion. But I take missions of the greatest danger. An unproven warrior is not fit to accompany my team."

"Unproven!?" Maki's words held a polite tone, but that did nothing to stop them from being as hurtful as a load of bricks to the head. "Maki, I've bested many hardships in the north!" Kabbu did not want to discuss what had occurred in the Wild Swamplands, but if it was the only way to explain how determined he was to the cause...

"Or so you say," Maki cooly retorted. "I understand, Kabbu. Your passion for our culture and exploring is as true as my blade's edge." Maki then shook his head. "But, I would ask you not to press the issue - this is not the place to cause a scene."

"Ngh…" Kabbu grunted in frustration, realizing that it was becoming a futile effort to change Maki's position on the matter. Now what was he to do? He was not going back north, at least not yet - he had sacrificed far too -

"WHAT?!" The floor shook lightly underneath Kabbu and Maki as a feminine voice rang out in shrill, boisterous anger from the other side of the room. "Care to say that AGAIN?!" Kabbu was distracted from his plight by the impossible-to-ignore shouting, and turning his gaze toward where the voice was coming from revealed the bee's voice, the confident smirk on her face replaced with a petulant scowl. That frown was directed at Eetl, a purplish blue stag beetle by the quest board, steadfast in his opposition toward the bee taller than him by a head.

"As I sa-said, we c-cannot allow children to explore!" Eetl stuttered, his stalwart persona cracking under the bee's acerbic stare. "Much less Snakemouth Den!"

"I'M NOT A KID!" The bee screamed loud enough that people outside the E.A. could hear her, stomping a leg down in supreme frustration to the floor, some of the fibers in the wooden floor snapping from the impact. Maki rubbed the side of his head in a slow circle, and Kabbu couldn't blame him; her voice was like an ice pick to the brain.

"So much for that..." The knight muttered under his breath. "Would you like to accompany me, Kabbu? I must investigate."

"Hm? Well, if you insist...but may I ask you a question before we do so?" Kabby cautiously ventured, ignoring the painful ringing in his head as the bee's arguing relentlessly attacked everyone in the Explorers' Association. "Forgive me; I am a stranger to Bugaria despite all that I have heard about it, and I would hate to let my ignorance get the better of me, yet..."

"Yes, Kabbu?" Maki tilted his head in confusion, noticing that the rainbow scarab beetle was getting agitated. Kabby tapped his chitinous fingers together and briefly glanced over to the bee, to which Maki did the same in response. "...oh, you're trying to broach the subject of her size."

"Well, yes...but not just this bee, Sir Maki." Kabbu clarified, trying to word himself as delicately as possible. "I've met two other Bugarian bees in my travels, and they were also...her size. Is that seen as normal around these parts?"

Choice 1: "Hmm? Oh, no, not at all. I assure you that the Bee Kingdom's subjects are usually less...heavy."

Choice 2: "...well, I would be remiss to tell you that bees like to sample their honey occasionally. But this one seems to have been doing more than mere sampling..."

Choice 3: "Yes, of course. Ample proportions are common amongst all bees; I'm a little surprised you didin't know."

Choice 4: "...no, they're...normally...bigger. This one is either a runt or is trying to diet."
"...well, I would be remiss to tell you that bees like to sample their honey occasionally. But this one seems to have been doing more than mere sampling..." Maki bluntly stated. “Well, they do say honey gets you fat…” Kabbu said, reminiscing the first time he was first informed of the Hive. Anyhow, let us see what all the commotion is.” Kabbu raised his arm up with a defined posture. “Eetl, bee, lower your voices! What is the matter?” Maki asked in a stern voice. “This guy’s calling me a kid, says I can’t explore!” The bee shouted at Maki while flailing her flabby arms. “Shouting isn’t going to change the rules, you child!” Eetl shouted back in a stern tone. “Shut it. It’s not about.. it’s about skill!” The portly bee turned to Eetl, continuing to swing her arms about. “I’m Vi, the best explorer the Hive has ever seen! I’m not some random bee!” She stated as her voice boomed throughout the building. “An explorer bee?” Kabbu asked, a tad puzzled. “Yeah. Got a problem? Saying bees can’t explore? Expected honey and paint?” She responded as her posture changed to one of boredom, arms crossed below her ample chest.

“I-I didn’t say that but…” Kabbu quickly responded with an uneasy tone in his words. “Silence, please. This guild of ours is no place for petty squabbles.” Maki butted in, quickly silencing the two. “Look. I can’t just give a permit to some bee. Much less without a partner. Teams should be a duo of explorers, you know?” Eetl explained, looking Vi directly in the eyes. “I’m worth like four bees, okay!?” She shouted, flailing her arms yet again. “Oh, I can definitely see that.” Eetl said with an amused expression on his face. “Why you..!” Vi yelled, stomping her bountiful foot, causing her body to ripple. “Hmm…” Kabbu began thinking. She was mostly definitely on the bigger side, but size isn’t everything, and the beetle was a tad desperate for an explorers permit. What could possibly go wrong? “…Hey, Vi.” “What do you want?” She glared at Kabbu with that same pose from earlier.

“Why don’t we join forces? We both wish for a permit, yet lack a companion.” Kabbu explained in a confident voice. “What, do I look that desperate? I don’t even know you!” Vi quickly shut him down with that same glare. “I have a promise to keep, and for that I must explore. How bad can it be?” Kabbu responded back almost immediately, pumping his arm. “Well… It can’t be worse than having to stay put. Deal.” Her expression quickly changed to one of contentment. Those chubby cheeks of hers puffed out in a cute sort of way. “Wait, you two are just crazy! You won’t last a second at Snakemouth!” Eetl interrupted with a face of both concern and annoyance. “I’ll prove you wrong!” Her voice pierced everyone’s head yet again. “No. You are both, most likely, mere novices, ruled by your strong emotions… I have no doubt that if you left today, you would return inside a bag.” Maki said with a hint of arrogance in his speech. “Sir Maki. Although you outrank me in spades, you shouldn’t underestimate me.” Kabbu put his arm to his chest in pride but quickly to a dejected posture. “I…went through quite a bit to get here.” He muttered. “Yeah. Bugs like you that look down on others are really annoying!” Vi pointed her flabby arm at Maki. “Hmm. Very well. I shall test your resolve.” Said Maki. “Test us, huh? Who named you king of this joint?” Vi roared, flailing her arms.

“The Ant Queen herself, for she has knighted me as her Royal Blade!” Maki sternly announced as he lifted his blade. “Not again…” Eetl muttered to himself in the background. “I accept your challenge! Vi, get ready!” Kabbu shouted in his heroic voice as he got into a battle stance. “Watch your own horn, I was born ready!” Vi said with a smug face, her trusty weapon in hand. The stage is set, and the battle begins. “Vi, our opponent is no amateur. Would you like to review some…” “I DON’T NEED A TUTORIAL!” The tubby bee shouted in Kabbu’s face. “Erm, yes! Carry on!” Kabbu squeaked in fear. “Please, just take your turn already…” Maki rolled his eyes. “Of course! Here I come!” Kabbu rushed up to Maki and used his horn flip. “You have to move to attack? Let me show you how it’s done!” Vi flashed a sly grin as she threw her boomerang. “See? We’re doing great!” Vi eyed Kabbu as she put her arm on her generous hip. “Don’t let your guard down, Vi. After our turn ends, the…” “Yeah, yeah! The enemy’s next.” Vi interrupted him yet again. “At least let me try to have fun here…” Kabbu muttered with a defeated posture. Maki walked up to Vi and swung his blade, Vi hitting a well timed block. “O-ow! What the heck!? You trying to kill us or something?” She shouted, rubbing her head.

“Hmph. If you can’t handle that much, you should surrender. Go home, and guard honey with your silly toy!” Maki pointed his blade at Vi, his face scarily unsettling. “Toy!? Argh. Now I’m mad! And don’t you dare talk about our honey like that!” Vi had a flare in her eyes. “We should pay him back, tenfold!” Kabbu raised his voice, attempting to set the mood. He taunted Maki, luring his attention. “Talk bad about our honey… Well, here’s what it can really do!” She flashed a honey drop. “Erm… You know he’s focused on me…” Kabbu said, confused. “Oh yeah… Well, whatever!” She scarfed down the fattening drop, restoring the just used TP. “Ah, I see you brought some items for the team.” Kabbu told her, impressed. “Uh, no! This is my secret honey stash! Drops, ice cream, cake, and just about anything that has to do with honey.” She said, annoyed with Kabbu’s assumption. “No wonder she’s like this…” Kabbu thought to himself.

He thought to himself. The fight continued for a couple more turns and eventually ended. “…You pass. You performed well enough. I could see the desire to see the world through your attacks. I am no one to keep you from your Explorer Permit. Eetl, you may grant it to them.” Maki explained. “I get no say in this, huh? …But Maki is the Queen's Blade. Here, you can have it.” Eetl said, reluctantly handing it to the two. “I did it! Snakemouth Den is going to be all mine! All the riches, all the glory!” She squealed in excitement. “Erm… We did it.” Kabbu muttered in the background. “Snakemouth Den, it lies to the west of the association. A simple path, although filled with danger. There is much treasure to be found, but its jaws have claimed many.” Said Maki. “Treasure huh…” Kabbu muttered to himself yet again. “MAKI!” A voice shouted from outside. The gang then saw…
The flowers that acted as the staircase leading up to the Explorers' Association elevated off the ground creaked as the person who had grabbed the attention of everyone inside with her shrill, high-pitched yell climbed up them. Maki groaned, just audible enough for Vi & Kabbu to hear, the usual stoicism on his face vanishing, replaced with a look of tired trepidation. Coming into the building was a cherry-pink-colored mantis with antennae curling into the shape of a heart on her head, and when compared with Maki, she was quite the sight to behold. While the Royal Blade was a tall, slender mantis of impassive rigidity, the other mantis coming in appeared to be his complete opposite. She held a superbly well-fed constitution, with every part of her body well-padded.

However, like Vi, there was evidence that muscle mass lay hidden underneath the pliant surface of fatty tissue, such as with her lively pace in her every action. She had an alert face with robust cheeks below her red, compound eyes and a toned yet chubby neck underneath her magenta scarf that flowed from her collarbone to her chin. The female mantis' shoulders were plump yet firm, swelling under her deep pink hide, supporting pudgy arms exercised enough to negate the challenges imposed by her soft blubber. The weight inflicted by her generously fleshed, pale red chest and taunt round belly jutting out a good deal from her torso was balanced by her plump back, keeping her straight. Generously fat hips betray musculature development deep down, rolling into soft heavy buttocks that jiggle lightly with every step.

Despite the baggage, her red legs were tolerably trained underneath fatty thighs and firm, chubby calves, though all of that fleshiness rubbed together as she strode her way to Maki. "Seriously, brother!" The female mantis clasped her stocky claws together as they rested above her dome of an abdomen. Her bright smile made her chubby cheeks appear more prominent, which would have indicated cheerfulness if not for her voice's intonation, which was agitated and churlish. "How long are you going to keep me waiting!?"

"My apologies, Kina," Maki said in a placating tone, an awkward smile creeping onto his face. The rainbow beetle and bee's confused faces were in his peripheral vision, so he turned to address them. "Vi, Kabbu, this is my team member and sister, Kina. She...has her heart in the right place." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself of that more than anyone else in the room.

"I-It's very good to meet you, Kina." Kabbu politely greeted, a little stunned by how big she was. The beetle didn't mean to appear rude; it was just that in the North, where he came from, such stores of excess energy were utterly unheard of. They weren't looked down on, not at all - quite the opposite. 'Excess' pudge in a harsh land where you had to fight for almost every meal was a testament to might and resourcefulness. But while it was rare to find back home, Bulgaria looked to be a land of plenty. "Please f-forgive us, it was not our intention to hold up your brother's time, and I hope we can get better acquainted later as fellow explorers." Kabby winced underneath his helmet, playing the words back in his mind and realizing they could have been chosen better. Kina, for her part, briefly glanced down at Kabbu in response, her smile momentarily morphic into something genuine before lapsing back into her impatient grin. However, when the cherry-pink mantis glanced at Vi, her eyes widened.

"Hmph! What are you looking at?" Vi scoffed, trying to make it known that she wasn't in the mood for more of her screaming. Which was hypocritical, of course, considering the hissy fit she threw earlier, but that was waaaaay different. Obviously. Suddenly, though, Kina no longer looked like she wanted to drag Maki into doing who knows what; Vi had her full attention. "...uhhh...are you okay? You're just looking at me, and it's starting to freak me out."

"Hmm? Oh, so sorry...Vi, was it?" The female mantis flashed the most natural-looking smile yet since entering the association. "I just...was not expecting to see a bee within our ranks today. Especially not one so large."

"Yeah, I'm large. And I'm a bee. So what?" Vi crossed her arms across her bountiful chest, immediately leaping to the assumption that this haughty bug was trying to look down on her for a bee. And 'large,' really? Sure, she was definitely a bit...hungrier than most of the other bees in the hive, but this girl was in no place to judge her! This mantis was just as she was, if not more!

"So what?" Kina giggled, taking a step forward and actually pushing her brother aside. The floor underneath the two overfed bugs moaned under their combined weights, and Eetl, who had been patiently observing the scene play out from afar, sighed, knowing he would have to fix that later. "Well, it's very nice to see that the Explorers' Association has let in another adventurer who appreciates the simple pleasures in life." She patted her round stomach with no small ounce of pride in her voice. Vi's glare melted off her face as frank confusion settled on her cherubic features.

"...what?" The portly bee eventually asked, unsure how to handle this random mantis lady's sudden dispersal of positive feedback.

"As long as you don't lay a finger on my brother..." Some acid spilled into her voice before she reverted to an almost maternal friendliness. "I'm sure we'll get along just fine. Us larger-than-life girls must stick together against the stick bugs in the mud around here."

"...!...?" Vi made a noise that only a bee could make, wholly flustered and unsure of what to do. "I, u-um..."

"Vi, I believe Miss Kina here is asking to be your friend," Kabbu explained gently, a smile hidden underneath his helmet as he observed his new partner settle into the Explorers' Association so quickly.

"O-oh!" Vi blinked rapidly, a shaky, uncertain, but nevertheless real grin coming onto her chubby visage. "Y-yeah, uhm...sure! I mean, er...so, you don't think I'm too big?"

"If I thought that, I would have to think that I'm too big, as well. Which clearly, I am not. If anything, I'm too small~." Kina's protruding gut let out a deep brassy growl, and in an instant, Maki found that his right claw was locked in his sister's vice grip. "Which reminds me of why I'm here - someone forgot to feed his big sister breakfast this morning and left her waiting outside for an hour after telling her he'll break for lunch soon." Kina's tone was syrupy sweet and cold as ice. The Royal Blade, the strongest adventurer the Ant Kingdom had to offer, looked downright afraid as his eyes darted around the room for anyone to help him out of his predicament. Eetl (wisely) secluded himself behind the Quest Board, and Kabbu, for as much respect he had for his new superior, recognized that some forces of nature, like hunger, were out of his control.

"I did feed you breakfast, Kina..." From his intonation, Maki sounded like this was the 100th time this conversation had been discussed.

"A single Aphid Shake?" Kina rolled her eyes before walking assuredly out of the E.A. with her brother reluctantly following her, his arm never leaving her grip. "It was very nice to meet you, Vi! Make sure to look after your partner like I do, and you'll go far here!" The mantis momentarily got stuck in the doorway as her hips plugged up the sides of the frame, though she didin't seem too perturbed, wiggling her girth around until she was free to exit properly.

"...I think I like her." Vi smiled after a period of silence.
At last, with the permit in hand, the two could now travel to Snakemouth Den. Kabbu was thrilled to embark on such a dangerous, yet enthralling quest. He couldn’t help but have a goofy smile on his face as he daydreamed about the trials and hardships awaiting him and the portly bee. As he fantasized about the journey ahead, the sound of Vi’s stomach filled the room. “Hey… Is there anything to eat around here?” Vi asked Kabbu in a coy voice. The bee just ate that Honey Drop in battle! Was she truly hungry again? Nevertheless, Kabbu was flexible when it came to tending to his comrades' needs. “Why, yes! The Ant Kingdom is just north of here. I’ve heard stories of a legendary chef. A culinary genius!” Kabbu explained with a triumphant tone. “Do you have to sound all noble for everything..?” Vi said as she glared at him. “Erm… Well…” Kabbu staggered to respond to that. “Whatever, let’s check this chef out.” Her expression reverted back to normal as she noticed somebody staring at her. “You got a staring problem!?” Vi shot the bug a mean glare while folding her flabby arms.

“My apologies. You…remind me of someone I know.” The bug was a tall, lean metric paper wasp with crooked antennae. His crimson red head, chest, and abdomen shined in the gentle rays of sunlight, along with his brown torso and under abdomen. He looked cool, calm, and collected as he leaned against the wall of the association, unfazed by Vi’s comment. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Vi questioned with suspicion. “I assure you it has nothing to do with insults or teasing. Now then, if you excuse me…” He closed his eyes and approached the door. “You two are gonna need it.” He said as he walked out. “What’s his deal!?” The portly bee shouted. Her voice boomed so loud that even the flowers moved from its sheer energy. “It’s alright, Vi. He simply was curious is all.” Kabbu responded in a comforting tone. The two of them also decided to head out, feeling the gentle sunlight hit their faces as they took in the lovely breeze. As the two of them made their way down the flower steps, they witnessed a group of miner ants drenched in sweat.

“Excuse me? Are you quite alright?” Kabbu approached a worker, prepared for the worst to occur. “I’m alright, thank you. We just finished demolishing the boulders blocking the path to our kingdom.” The ant explained. “Ah, but of course! A job well done. Come Vi! Let us prepare for Snakemouth Den!” Kabbu raised his arm into the sky, stimulating himself for the (Prep) stage of his journey. “Sigh Why did I team with this guy..?” Vi muttered to herself as the two of them walked into town. They made a left and strolled down the pathway to get a whiff of a faint, yet scrumptious aroma. As they got closer, the scent only increased in strength as they saw the fabled ‘Culinary Genius’ Kabbu mentioned. He was a muscular fly with a blue hat and a purple vest. He has red eyes and a pair of white wings. He stood tall, proud and gave off odd vibes that really can’t be explained.

“Are you ready for the chow of your life? Bring me ingredients, and I will make you some chow! Chop chop, come on, let’s get messy! Give me what you want to cook!” He roared, tapping his wooden spoon impatiently. “Wait… We have to give YOU the ingredients!? What kind of chef are you!?” Vi yelled with fury, not wanting to oblige to this ludicrous way of culinary. “Rules are rules! Give me ingredients! I will cook you a masterpiece. If you lack some, visit the shop over there!” He pointed to his left, the wind gushing from his quick movement. “Hey, do you have any berries?” Vi whispered to Kabbu. “…No, I’m afraid not…” He whispered back, embarrassed. “Grr… Fine! Just take this!” Vi coughed up a Honey Drop from her secret stash. “Watch a master do his work! No refunds either!” He chucked the drop in his pot, ferociously stirring in circles. “Here it is, a masterwork! Eat up, small fry!” He handed Vi a Glazed Honey. “It’ll do.” She quickly said as she immediately rushed over to an open seat. The bee made quick work of the fattening treat, finishing it before Kabbu could even take his seat!

“Alright, I’m good for now. Let’s head for Snakemou…” “Egads!” Kabbu exclaimed, cutting Vi off.” “Ugh! What is it now!?” Vi rolled her eyes at the surprised Kabbu. He was eyeing a Tangy Berry, held by the next customer in line. Upon closer observation, it was the same wasp from earlier, though he didn’t look very pleased at the moment. “Excuse me, sir! I don’t mean to be a burden, but where did you obtain such a sought-after berry!?” He pleadingly asked. “That is none of your concern.” He coldly said, not even turning to look at the beetle. Kabbu sat back down in utter defeat as he witnessed the chef stir up some Tangy Pie. “Urg! So close, yet so far…” The beetle muttered. “Well, I can certainly agree with you on that one. That thing must be worth a fortune!” Vi exclaimed, rubbing her arms together. “Erm, well it’s just that I’m currently…Broke. An explorer must always keep a steady sum of currency to maintain their needs, but…I lost my supply of berries to an…Unfortunate incident.” He quietly explained with a face of pure despair.

“Zasp! Is my pie done yet?” A feminine voice was heard from a distance. Out came a silk moth with fuzz that gave the immersion of a crop top and shorts, along with stockings to boot. Her wings were long, smooth, and sturdy, as well as a red cherry between her antennae. What truly stood out was her girth! She sported a moderate, yet perky chest with some thick, flabby arms, wide hips, thick thighs, bulbous belly that hung well past her crotch, an abundance of back rolls, pillowy buttocks, and a gargantuan abdomen. To conclude, she was enormous, yet still agile enough to move around. “Yes, Mothiva. Freshly made.” He said, handing over the pie to her as she scarfed it down. “Ohohoho! Tis a shame that it never lasts long.” The moth laughed while sipping on her Berry Smoothie.

Now Zasp, tell me something. Don’t you think it’s a bit bold to assume one measly little pie’s going to satisfy the great Mothiva?” She said with a straight face. “Sigh No…” He muttered. “Now, make me something more filling. Something to satisfy my healthy appetite. Something to give me the energy to successfully triumph at Snakemouth Den!” She graciously exclaimed, putting her arm to her chest while closing her eyes. “Hey, you can’t just steal our job like that!” Vi shouted, flailing her arms at the two of them. “We don’t want to cause a scene now. Just calm down, Vi. “Kabbu gave a gentle smile, putting his arm on Vi’s shoulder.” “Oh? Did I hear that right? That fame belongs to team Mothiva after all.” She turned to them while giving a sly smirk. “NO WAY!” Vi screamed at the top of her lungs. “Well, gosh! I guess I have no choice here.” Mothiva’s once gentle face turned to anger. “You better not get in our way.” She quietly said to them in a sinister voice. “Zasp, let’s move out!” She shouted as the two of them left the scene. “Who do they think they are!?” Vi shouted, crossing her arms under her ample chest. “Sigh It seems we’ve made some rivals. Not exactly ideal for our first mission…” Kabbu muttered.
Much like how Kabbu had expected the Explorers' Association to look more fantastic than it was, Vi looked up at Snakemouth Den's entrance with a flat look of disappointment. She had been expecting a towering cathedral of jagged black stone, not this gray mound covered in vines. "So... that's Snakemouth Den?" The bloated bee huffed, boredom heavy in her tone as she gazed up at the drab-looking mount. Maybe it had to do with growing up in the hive, and her sister's constant painting, but with all the hubbub the Ant Kingdom drummed up about this place, the least it could do was look interesting! "It doesn't look that scary."

"Mhm," Kabbu affirmed. The rainbow scarab beetle did not sound bored - to him, the yawning cave before him looked as bleak as an open grave, the path ahead choked with weeds, and the vivid yellow light from the crystal acting like a lure to doom. "I wouldn't get carried away with all that confidence. According to rumors, it is the grave of a thousand explorers. Having ended countless journeys, many a song has been written about its dangers."

"F-For real?" Vi's entire fat-laded body quivered as she shook slightly from fear - even if Kabbu was exaggerating, it was eerie to hear the beetle say something like that with such nonchalance. It would be better for her stress if she pretended her new partner just said that to keep her ego in check. There was no way a big pile of dirt like that could kill that many bugs. Nope.

"Vi, listen to me," The rainbow scarab beetle tried to calm the bee down. "The interior of this place most likely is riddled with monsters and death traps. We must be extremely cautious."

"Geez, way to sell it to me, Kabbu," Vi said, putting her claws on her hips. "But the higher the danger, the better the treasure!" She flashed a winning smile, and her already-puffed-out cheeks appeared even more extensive with her grin.

"Hm...the artifact is indeed likely to be inside," Kabbu affirmed Vi's assumption, though without her eagerness. "But are simple riches worth such a risk to you, Vi?"

"Yes," Vi smirked without hesitation, catching Kabbu off-guard with how blunt she was; it took him a few moments to process how suicidal that sounded. "Stop trying to scare me off. Treasure means berries, which are already great on their own, but berries have the bonus of paying for food. Now, let's get in there, partner!" She gently slapped the side of her broad abdomen, producing a gurgling growl. Vi wouldn't say she was hungry, but a single glazed honey wouldn't fill her up.

"...I...oh my..." Kabbu's words failed him as he brought a claw inside his helmet to rub the side of his head from exasperation. He was planning to ensure his new partner would stay safe but to hear her be so upfront about diving head-first into danger... It was pure naivete—a characteristic he used to have. "Well, le-let us make our way then towa-"

"Hold it right there!" A familiar voice suddenly rang out in the ear, hurting his head. The duo looked over to see Zasp and Mothiva walking together…well, Zasp was walking - Mothiva was angrily stomping with a face contorted with anger as she eyed Vi & Kabbu like they were weeds. "Maybe I didn't make it clear enough earlier back in the city. So I'll do my best to make my words as easily understood as possible. LEAVE." Not a trace of her former facade of gentle grace could be seen, her arrogance free to blossom to full bloom without the eyes of the public on her.

"E-excuse me?" Kabbu reacted appropriately to Mothiva's outrageous demand. "Miss…Mothiva, yes? I don't understand why we have to fight! Aren't we both explorers? We should be working together to find the artifact!" Kabbu did his best to plead his case, but the fat moth looming over him reacted only with a haughty laugh, supremely amused.

"Ahohoho! Really, you think I got to where I am today by sharing the spotlight with some upstart rookies like you?" She glared icily. "Nice try, but not a chance. The artifact is mine!"

"…to give to the Queen." Zasp butted in, eyes half-lidded and his voice deadpan.

"Yes, yes, whatever, Zasp." Without turning around, the fluffy and fat silk moth waved her claw at Zasp in a dismissive 'don't ever interrupt me again' gesture, prompting him to slump visibly. "That's not what's important - what's important is that Team Mothiva will be hailed as heroes across Bulgaria for our heroics in conquering Snakemouth Den. And the reward from Queen Elizabeth II certainly would be the berry on top."

Vi huffed and sped up to Mothiva's vast wings flapping behind her stout back in excitement as she stared down the arrogant insect. "Oh yeah?! And what were you thinking of spending all those berries on - more pies for you to stuff your fat face with?!" The first explorer bee from the hive pushed her tubby torso into Mothiva's own, the two orbs of fluff and fat bouncing against each other while the organs underneath groaned from the stimulation.

"V-Vi, please! You're escalating the situation!" Kabbu panicked, trying to protect his new team member from a fight by taking a claw and pulling it back. Unfortunately, Vi would not budge from her stance, the two greedy, hungry bugs scowling at each other above their generously-padded bosoms that nearly touched. "And… didn't you just admit that you would also spend the Queen's reward on food? Not that you need it…" The rainbow scarab beetle reminded V of her blunt honesty just moments before Team Mothiva showed up. The bee's angry scowl melted off her cherubic visage, replaced with bored frustration. Not removing herself from the superstar moth's fluffy middle (much to said superstar's supreme irritation), Vi gently wrapped her claw around the arm that Kabbu was pulling her with, using the muscle hidden under her arm flab to lift him off his feet so that they could see each other eye-to-eye.

"Kabbu?" Vi looked straight into her new partner's soul with her piercing stare. "Do you want me as a partner?" The bratty bee sounded her most mature yet in all the time Kabbu had known her.

"Y-yes, of course I do!" Kabbu nodded his head, more than a little flummoxed by the sudden tension that had been created between him and Vi - plus the fact he was being lifted off the ground. "Now, ca-can't we all go inside already? We've spent far too much time out here arguing over petty squabbles!" He wasn't one for being impatient, but it was hard not to be irked by how petty the bee and moth were being with each other, the quest, their -

"Well, if you want this 'teamwork' thing to actually, you know, work, then you're gonna have to roll with me having a bigger appetite than the average bee. Otherwise, you can roll with Mothiva and her boyfriend." Vi's tone brokered no room for argument, and Kabbu was stunned.

Zasp, having heard all of this, began mirroring Kabbu's earlier actions by pulling Mothiva away from the hungry bee, flustered by what Vi had said. "I- I am- I mean, I'm NOT, but- That's none of your business! Just…ugh!" The wasp moaned in frustration - it was hard enough to cater to the needs of Mothiva, and now, apparently, it was his job to settle down this obnoxious (though admittedly very similar to Mothiva in attitude) bee! "The artifact is ours; that can't change, but would you be content with having the reward for it after we turn it over to the Queen?" Vi set Kabbu down, running the calculations in her head. Not the worst idea in the world…

"Zasp, sweetie…" Mothiva swiveled her flabby neck around to her partner with a smile in the same manner that Kina had with her brother. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Listen to your hubby, tubby." Vi's face was split in two with a broad, mischievous grin, poking at Mothiva's fluffy stomach and delighting in the flustered face she received in return. "You can keep all the nobodies around here singing your name or whatever - I'm only interested in making sure the Bank of Vi gets bigger and bigger."

"...blargh." Mothiva did not hide her disgust for the whole situation but caved in regardless. "Fine, we'll… mph…" The following words seemed to be taking enormous effort to will into being. "...work…together…but I want all the treasure we find outside the artifact!"

"What?! Nuh-uh! Finders keepers!" Vi protested, flailing her arms about.

"Oh? Alright, then!" Mothiva smirked and sped off toward Snakemouth Den, her plush body deftly maneuvering through the weeds that clogged the path as her chubby frame jostled. It was as if all the heft on her did nothing to impede her movements. Vi gasped before a determined frown came onto her face, taking flight with her wings as she flew over the vegetation-dense floor below to the cave entrance, leaving Kabbu & Zasp alone.

"...we better go after them." Zasp sighed, his previous aura of coldness having evaporated with his team member gone. "Something tells me that leaving them alone together is inviting disaster."

"I'm beginning to see a pattern in Explorer's Association team dynamics." Kabbu dryly remarked as he and Zasp began cutting down the weeds impeding their path. "Maki & Kina, you & Mothiva, me & Vi…is this-?"

"Normal?" Zasp finished Kabbu's question. "You have no idea. Let's be grateful that they seem to hate each other right now. After Mothiva became chummy with Kina, they began going on lunch dates; and guess who holds the funds for Team Mothiva?" Zasp winced, picturing his savings being spent on ice cream and cake.

"Kina & Mothiva are freinds?" Kabbu asked, dumbfounded. That was hard to imagine, considering their temperaments. "I suppose I shouldn't judge a book by its cover..."

"Try not to be so harsh on Mothiva. I know she can be a lot, but at the end of the day, she's still an explorer."
The two bountiful women soared across the skies, over most of the hazards found in the dungeon. Unfortunately, they seem to have reached a dead end. “Uhh… The door’s sealed.” Vi pointed at the antique-looking structure. “Must I do everything? Ugh! You really need to shape up your explorer skills, bee.” The moth put on a frustrated face as she smacked the mossy stones onto the platforms. The whole building started the rumble as a singular mushroom dropped from the sky onto the center platform. “Ohohoho! It’s like this place knows who’s infiltrating.” Mothiva arrogantly said as she picked up the mushroom. “It needs a little honey…” Vi muttered, unimpressed by such a plain item. “Oh, shut it! Honey this and honey that! It’s no wonder you're so flabby.” Mothiva prodded the bee’s soft belly with a smug grin. “You're like, TWICE my size!” Vi responded in hopes of a comeback. Though in truth, she was over-exaggerating just a bit. “Yeah, whatever. I didn’t want to team up with you two idiots in the first place!” Mothiva shot her a grim glare, crossing her arms while tapping her foot. “There you two are! Kabbu’s voice echoed from the distance. “Sigh It wasn’t easy getting here on our own. Please show a bit more companionship next time.” Kabbu requested while panting as he turned to Zasp.

“I must say though, your skills were simply exquisite!” His face quickly turned cheerfully as he acknowledged Zasp. “Uh… Thanks? You're not too bad yourself.” Zasp said, clearly not used to such praise if Mothiva was anything to go by. “Ahem! Do I see you becoming chummy with this complete amateur or am I mistaken?” Mothiva gave Zasp a disapproving gaze, immediately giving him goosebumps. “No… It was simply a thank you.” Zasp rubbed the back of his head, struggling to come up with a reasonable explanation. “Uh-huh.” Mothiva blurted out, clearly not buying it. “Now, now, standing here arguing isn’t going to solve anything. Let us all work together to overcome this roadblock, okay?” Kabbu announced, with a hint of pride in his speech. “I’m sorry, but are you seriously trying to boss me around!?” Mothiva shouted, her voice echoing throughout the den, alarming some native creatures. “Yes! If we want the artifact, we need to work together as a team! This is most definitely no time for such immature squabbles! Let me ask you, do you want the artifact or not, Mothiva?” He asked her in a stern voice. “Tch! Whatever.” Motiva stomped the center platform in frustration, causing it to burst open. Thankfully, the moth was capable of flight, so she simply took flight, avoiding a nasty fall.

“Snrk Hahaha! You're so fat you broke the floor!” Vi began laughing, displaying her immaturity on full display. “It was a trap door, you imbecile!” Mothiva scoffed, eying the chunky bee like she was her prey. “Vi! I’m very disappointed in this uncivil behavior of yours! I believe you owe Mothiva an apology.” Kabbu shot Vi a ferocious stare, his helmet glistening slightly. “E-eh!? Who’s side are you on anyway!?” Vi pouted, knowing she had no choice in this situation. “Ugh! Sorry and stuff.” Vi rolled her eyes, clearly putting zero effort into her apology. “What am I going to do with you, Vi..?” Kabbu sighed as he peered into the hole. “Hmm… If we can’t proceed through that door, then the only way is down. Vi, Mothiva, carry us down and we shall continue our spelunking.” Kabbu explained as he pointed at the dank hole. Without any hesitation, the two plump ladies carried the bugs down, resting on a giant mushroom. Little did they know, the previously sealed door opened right up as soon as they left the area. “Mushroom… Ah yes! My snack!” Mothiva lightbulbs as she pulls out her newly acquired snack, scarfing it down quickly. Vi then realized that her stomach was also begging for food.

“I’m hungry!” She whined like a needy child. “Sigh I managed to pick up this Crunchy Leaf when fighting enemies with Zasp. I was going to save it for a pinch…” Kabbu handed Vi the leaf, hoping it would satisfy her appetite. “You know what would go great with this? Some honey!” She exclaimed as she dabbed a Honey Drop onto the leaf, scarfing it down with a content face. After the two ate their snacks, they began to walk along the path to see a geometer moth trapped in a spider’s web. This moth was quite peculiar, sporting a cyan color scheme, navy blue wings with gold highlights as well as a fluffy gold collar around his neck. He was unconscious, the only thing surrounding him being eternal darkness. “By the Queen! What a terrible fate… A moment of silence, in solidarity for a fallen explorer.” Kabbu said, putting his arm to his chest with his eyes closed. “Zzz…” The moth snored, revealing him to be alive. "WAIT! HE’S ALIVE!” Vi shouted, flabbergasted by what she just witnessed. “Quick! We must free him!” Kabbu said, sounding desperate. “Okay, I’m just going to see if the Beemerang can cut through web…” Vi carefully aimed and striked the cocoon, causing the rest of the web to fall, freeing the moth. “Let us get him to safety, and fast! I fear whatever encased him will be returning soon…” Kabbu said, uneasy about what could have possibly confined the poor moth. Just as Kabbu picked him up, the explorers heard an odd, high-pitched sound from behind. They slowly turned their heads, shivering in fear to see a giant spider eyeing them, and not in a friendly way!

“A… A.. A spider…” Vi shrieked, frozen in place from the sight. “How could a beast so huge sneak up on us!?” Kabbu angrily shouted, changing to a defensive stance. Kabbu! We’ve got to run! Treasure ain’t worth this!” Vi started bawling, flailing her arms faster than ever. “Okay, everyone book it! If we can get into a small enough entryway, we can hopefully lose this heinous beast!” Kabbu quickly instructed the entire party as they frantically dashed to a nearby entryway, then went through one by one. “Hurg! Gah! I-I’m stuck!” Mothiva panicked, her large abdomen firmly wedged in the entryway. “Oh for the love of! You seriously need to lay off the pies!” Vi snarked as the three tugged on Mothiva, slowly unjamming her. Just as she popped out, the spider took a ferocious chomp, failing to consume the flabby moth. “Leave us alone already, monster!” Kabbu boomed, striking the beast with his horn, causing it to retreat. “Geez, I can’t believe Mothiva was too fat to come in here…” Vi muttered to herself, a little surprised. “Cough Cough” The newly rescued moth let out some grunts and wheezes before standing up, grasping his chest. “You’re awake!” Kabbu exclaimed, relieved that another ‘unfortunate incident’ didn’t occur.

“…Mjaj? Ajeukx, yrdiuf. …Ghsiaoenbx?” The moth quickly spoke in seemingly incomprehensible language. “Um, hello!? A translation!” Mothiva impatiently rolled her eyes, tapping her foot again. “Sigh You don’t have to be this cold about it…” Zasp said, leaning against the wall. “Jsgsn. Sijaika? Hsjaosidjs..?” The moth blurted out. “Could this moth be speaking in an ancient tongue? Perhaps he is of the fabled tribes lurking underground.” Kabbu crossed his arms, intrigued by his unique way of speech. “…N-no. We can speak Bugnish.” He quietly said, mustering up energy. “Do you need like, a minute?” Vi asked, surprisingly comforting. “…No. We are fine now.” He simply responded. “Thank goodness, you had us quite worried,” Kabbu said, relieved. “Where are we? Where is the spider?” He asked, quite confused at the situation. “Right, let’s get you up to speed…” Kabbu said as he and Vi explained everything up to this point. “Truly? It seems we owe our life to you, Vi.” He said, turning to the chunky bee. “Seriously!?” Kabbu shouted, upset at the bold assumptions. “No, no! It was I, Mothiva who got us out of this situation. This bee is bluffing, I assure you.” She proudly announced, putting her claws on her hips. “Hmm… No weapon. The bee’s taking my vote.” He said in his monotone voice as he then turned to Zasp. Mothiva gave him a mournful stare as if saying to back her up. “…I exist,” Zasp muttered as the cyan moth turned to Kabbu. “Were you looking for treasure as well, alongside fellow explorers? Err, what’s your name?” Kabbu rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed for not asking sooner. “Leif is fine. And somewhat. A scouting mission, in fact.” He explained.

“You’ve got some luck to be alive… Did you learn anything scouting? About the artifact?” Vi pouted and crossed her arms. “Artifact? If it is here, it’s probably ahead.” Leif thought for a second. “If we work together, we will surely find both it and the exit!” Kabbu raised his voice, determined to put his plan into action. “We have little choice. We will accompany you.” Leif stood behind Kabbu as he said that. “Can you fight?” Kabbu quickly asked back. “…Not really part of scouting.” Leif muttered, a bit annoyed at that question. “Seriously!? You came into this place without knowing how to fight!?” Vi roared with a furious look on her face, the sound blowing Leif’s antennae back a bit. “Erm, make sure to stay behind us, so we can protect you.” Kabbu awkwardly said, embarrassed by Vi’s behavior. “How reassuring.” He said with a hint of sarcasm. “Hmm… Weren’t there others?” Leif asked, seeing that Mothiva and Zasp have left. “What!? Preposterous! They must have gone ahead! Vi, let us go to their aid before something unpleasant happens.” He raised his arm, sprinting off lightning-fast. “Yeah, he’s always like that. They can fight anyway.” Vi said to Leif as she walked off. Leif struck the yellow crystal with his ice magic, recovering his fatigue. “We shall explain this later.” He said to himself as he too walked out.

Meanwhile: “Why exactly did we go on ahead?” Zasp questioned Mothiva as they defeated an enemy. “Do I have to spell it out for you? We’re going to take the artifact all for ourselves. We’ll receive all the credit AND rewards while dumping these chumps! I’m sure there’s going to be some sort of security measure here, so why not team up a bit? You know what I’m saying?” She said with a wicked grin. Zasp isn’t afraid to get dirty at times, but to backstab his temporary, (unlikely) new allies? He just couldn’t fathom the idea. Unfortunately, what could he really do? He dreads what would happen if he said no to Mothiva. “…Yes, Mothiva.” He had some remorse in his voice, feeling a tad bad for the others to witness Mothiva’s GrandStand. “Zasp! Pie! I yearn for a treat while waiting for those morons to catch up!” She ordered, some gruff in her voice. “…That was our last one.” He lied, wanting to resell it for his own profit. He knew Madame Butterfly would pay a fortune for anything food related. “Did you not hear me? I said I require a PIE! Now!” She raised her voice, sending chills down Zasp’s spine.
Much to Mothiva's irritation, her attempt to leave Kabbu, Vi, and the newly-freed Leif in the dust backfired on her hard. She and Zasp had effectively cleared the way for their fellow explorers, defeating all the enemies they met on the way, and each time they stopped to fight, the trio Team Mothiva left behind kept walking uninterrupted. It did not take long for the two groups to reunite, now a quintet - but it was taking them an exceptionally long time for the five of them to feel like they were making any progress in completing their mission. It was hard to tell how much time had passed since they entered Snakemouth Den, but it was safe to assume that this expedition had already eaten away several hours. Their collective stamina was getting low throughout them all - if they did not find the artifact or an exit soon, they would have to spend the night here.

Mothiva found such a concept horrifying, prompting her to try and speed up her pace and leave the rookies behind once more…only to encounter a puzzle that she and Zasp couldn't figure out and had to wait for the others to catch up. Right now, the five of them were trying, very slowly, to navigate their way through a narrow hallway. Not the best sight for Vi and Mothiva, who both held excess mass that most likely would plug up the limited amount of space within…but, alas, it was the only route they had to go on. Mothiva led them, not out of any noble desire to be seen as a pathfinder for the ragtag bunch behind her, but because she was still trying to speed ahead. Zasp followed behind her, trying hard not to pay attention to the voluptuous swagger of the moth's large posterior, followed by Kabbu, then Leif, and then Vi at the end.

The three male bugs were sandwiched between two sassy, bossy, larger-than-life female ones as they all walked in single file. Leif could hear the honeybee's stomach grumble loudly behind him - her emergency stockpile of fattening treats was running low. "...ugh! When are we going to get out of this stinking cave!?" Vi whined like a spoiled brat, her adventuring resolve almost empty. Kabbu would have scolded her if it was not for the fact she was only saying what they were all thinking. "I can't believe I've wasted a day mucking around here. This place had way less treasure than I thought it would have."

"Oh, shut up!" Mothiva hissed, turning her head around to give Vi a sharp look while Zasp rubbed his neck awkwardly and tried hard to make it seem like he wasn't staring at her rear end. "If you aren't up for everything being an explorer entails, you're better off sucking down honey in the hive!"

Leif instinctively put a claw behind him to stop Vi from charging up to Mothiva to smack her upside the head, and sure enough, it immediately made contact with the furry, pliant orb that was Vi's stomach, making it gurgle in response. "This cave is old and probably bigger than what little we have seen." The blue moth tried to bring the conversation away from teasing insults. "It most likely could take weeks to see it all."

Kabbu nodded his helmeted head. "Unfortunately, Leif is correct - we might not find the artifact today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow. While the prospect is not fun, we should prepare for whatever length of time comes our way."

"I'm not hearing this!" Mothiva curled her antennae into her head to block out Kabbu's words. "It's been hard enough having to deal with you losers so far, don't talk about me having to spend any longer with you!"

"What, aren't you up for everything being an explorer entails?" Vi smugly teased. "Maybe you'd be better off having your boyfriend feed you pies all day?" Kabbu, rolling his eyes, had to push Zasp forward as he stopped dead in his tracks, looking like he wanted to fight Vi to prove that such a claim was the height of slander and treason. Unfortunately, the rainbow scarab beetle pushed the wasp straight into Mothiva's butt cheeks, herself having stopped.

"Ga-aah!" Zasp shouted incoherently, sinking into the fluffy surface of Mothiva's soft, plush ass fat. "Get off!" He forced Kabbu back so that he could escape from his admittedly silky cushy prison, causing the beetle to fall back into Leif, causing Leif to recline awkwardly into Vi's hungry stomach.

"Uh…wow." Vi blinked, a little surprised by Mothiva's actions. "So, uh… he's definitely your boyfriend, right?"

"SHUT. UP." Mothiva screamed both syllables, turning her face back with supremely irritated and flustered features evident on it. Her eyes kept darting around, unable to make eye contact with anyone, and there was a blush underneath the fur on her bloated cheeks. “...I… need…help.” Each word rolled off her tongue like poison into the air.

"Mothiva, are you…stuck?" Zasp cautiously ventured.

"NO!" Mothiva lied through her teeth unconvincingly. Realizing that denial would not do her any favors in getting out of this predicament, she sighed. "I was…trying to speed ahead to get away from Vi and her petty comments, but I went too fast, and…listen, the exit is right ahead, I can see it, but I can't move, so if you losers want the artifact, you're gonna have to… to…"

"Zasp, may you please push Mothiva forward to free her?" Leif, tired of Motghiva skirting around what she was trying to say, asked if the wasp could just do what she wanted. The wasp blushed, realizing he would have to plunge back into what he had just escaped from, took a deep breath, and brought his claws against the soft, velvet-like fur that he knew Mothiva spent so hard on keeping clean and fluffy. He began to push…but after a while, it became apparent that nothing was happening. "Well, what's the hold-up?" The geometer moth tilted his head in confusion.

"I… c-c-can't get a good grip." Zasp relented, making Mothiva blush and fume. "I could have sworn that…they weren't this big before…"

"Zasp, please stop talking for the love of Venus…" Mothiva brought her hands to her face, struggling to hide her embarrassment.

"Hah! It looks like all those pies finally caught up with you, huh?" Vi flashed a wicked grin - before it melted off her face as she realized the same situation might happen to her if she wasn't careful. After going through all her honey drops, she might have put on a couple of pounds in the last few hours, but not enough to get stuck like that stuck-up moth, right? "Uh, Kabbu? Do you think you speed Zasp's job up so we can all get out of here?"

"U-uh...! Of course, I would be glad to help a fellow explorer needing a-aid..." Kabbu agreed though he could not hide his feelings about the matter. Pushing against another woman's rump was not what he envisioned when he became an explorer. But maybe he would not have to? Thinking that he had a brilliant solution, the rainbow scarab beetle put his claws on Zasp's back, with the wasp still trying hard to unclog Mothiva from her prison. "Alright, Zasp, on three. Ready?"

"Wait, what?" Zasp questioned, not understanding what Kabbu had in mind. But the beetle was already counting down, and only when it was too late did the wasp get what was about to happen. "Nonono stop!"

"Three!" Kabu pushed with all his might into Zasp's back, and the beetle had quite a lot of might. With the power of a horn dash, the beetle attempted to double the efforts the wasp was making, the combined forces of their pushing to get Mothiva free. That did not happen. Instead, Kabbu made Zasp lose his grip on the soft surface of the moth's rear end, the pressure from behind forcing his lean body to collide hard between his partner's two fleshy orbs. The stuck moth let out a shrill noise of shock as she felt her partner's body cram its way between her derriere. "U-uh...oh dear..." Kabbu backed away from the mess he made, though there wasn't a lot of space for him to do that.

"CAN SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE THIS WAKING NIGHTMARE END?!" Mothiva roared in equal parts fury and despair. She was stuck, which was already humiliating, but now Zasp was stuck in her butt. This was beyond mere humiliation. This was cruel and unusual punishment. "I would give anything for this to stop happening right now!" She sounded close to sobbing as she furiously tried to shake her body free, only to disorient the poor wasp trapped between her cushiony flesh.

"...anything?" Vi sported a slowly forming grin as her eyes lidded with mischievous intent. She could name quite a lot of 'anythings,' and if Mothiva was going to be so generous... "Gladly~" Suddenly, Leif was being pressed into Kabbu's back as Vi's stomach pushed him along the hallway while she marched forward. The geometer moth was surprised but knew better not to protest, though Kabbu was flailing his arms about as he came dangerously close to making contact with Zasp's current cage. Mothiva soon felt the bee's chubby claws press onto her back, and with Vi simply leaning forward, the moth finally felt her body slide out of the rock on either side of her.

What Vi lacked in power, she made up for with weight. Finally, the superstar landed belly-first into an expansive, open room. The ground she lay on was over-shaped and surrounded by water, broken statues partially jutting from the surface. Gigantic blue crystals extended out of the walls, covering the moth's flabby body in an ethereal glow. At the end of the room, however, was where most of her attention was - a statue of a roach adorned with spiderwebs and, below it, a pedestal. Atop the pedestal was a mask - floating in mid-air. Mothiva would have been ecstatic to see it, but there was just one problem...

"...would someone please retrieve my partner?" Mothiva blearily asked, feeling the wasp kick about behind her
As the group walked into the treasure room, Mothiva greedily eyed the aforementioned artifact, imagining the fame, glory, and rewards she would receive for turning in such a sought-after item. As the silk moth approached, claws reached out ecstatic and grabbed the mask… “Look out!” Kabbu leaped into action, shoving the flabby moth aside as the spider from before leaped from the nearby wall. Alas, much to Mothiva’s prediction, the security measure was not only a flooding treasure room, but the same spider from before, just to add insult to injury. “Seriously!? The spider!?” Vi shouted in disbelief, frozen in shock by the situation. “Everyone, I devised a plan to defeat this vile beast! Vi, you use the…” “Who said anything about working together!? You three have fun!” Mothiva scoffed as she quickly flew towards the door, only for more water to rush in, blocking the exit.

“M-Mothiva! You were going to backstab us after our deal!?” Kabbu, glared at her, furious. “Uh, yeah! I’m not about to share anything with some low-life losers like you three!” She rolled her eyes, annoyed. “Uh-huh! I’m sure your boyfriend would just love to stuff that fat face of yours with all those pies you'll buy once you get all those berries.” Vi grinned, sinisterly. “You little!” Zasp fumed, looking like he was ready to kill the tubby bee. “Everyone, save the bickering for later! If we don’t slay this horrific creature, we’re all going to perish!” The fight commenced, the spider summoning two of his minions to the battlefield. “Hm…” Leif used Icefall, hitting all targets and freezing the minions solid. “By Bugaria! What sorcery is that!?” Kabbu shouted, astonished by the cyan moth’s magic. “We forgot to explain it earlier. Do not rely on us too much for now. We haven’t fought for ages.” Leif quietly said, his voice slightly echoing in the arena.

“You should probably move to the back where it’s safe. Enemies target you less back here.” Vi pointed behind her which Lief obliged. “Okay, you amateurs, let me show you how it’s done!” Mothiva arrogantly said as she shoved the two males aside as she strutted into the front lines. “No, Mothiva! It would be foolish of me to put you in such danger!” Zasp raised his voice, standing up to her for once. “How about NO!” She scoffed, poking his chest with every word. Taken aback by her sudden urge to defend herself without her reliable partner taking most of the beating, she began to sing a tune, dropping a gigantic music note down on the enemies, defeating the two minions. With a Heavy Strike from Kabbu, swift slashes from Zasp, and a Tornado Toss from Vi, the spider’s turn was next. It released a toxic breath from its mouth, poisoning the entire party, and then hung from the ceiling with a web string.

“Zasp! I demand a snack to heal this accursed poison!” Mothiva impatiently demanded, closing her eyes while crossing her arms. “I gotcha!” Vi pulled out some Honey Drops from her Secret Honey Stash, curing everyone of poison and restoring 5 TP. “Honey again!? Whatever, it’s better than nothing I suppose…” Mothiva growled, irritated with the bee’s obsession with honey. “Hey, you owe me when this fight is over!” Vi scowled, equally as annoyed. “With an attack buff from Mothiva, furious swipes from Zasp, knocking the spider down, Frigid Cauldron from Lief, and another Heavy Strike from Kabbu, the beast had been defeated, allowing both the teams to Rank Up! “Hahaha! We really did it! What a scare…but working together, we were victorious!” Kabbu sighed, relieved. “…It was five vs one. Not exactly something to be proud of.” Zasp shook his head, confused as to why the beetle was so proud of himself. “Erm…I-I could see that. I was just…Proud of how well we worked together!” He chuckled, hoping that would get him out of this embarrassing situation he was in.

“Work together! Pah! What a joke! Everyone knows I did all the work!” Mothiva furiously stomped the ground. “Now, now, it is true you contributed heavily to this battle, Mothiva. But our companionship and synergy pulled us through this titular hardship.” Kabbu explained in his noble manner. “Don’t expect to receive any credit for the artifaaaaaa-“ Mothiva was cut off by the flood finally rising high enough to sweep the bugs out of the den. “Ngh… What…”Kabbu muttered, the rays of sunlight burning his eyes as he rose up to see everyone unconscious. “Everyone! Are you alright!?” He panicked, desperately squabbling in place to calm himself down. “Ugh! I’m all soaked!!!” Vi whined, shaking the water out from her fuzz, slowly rising up as well. “Ugh! Like you're that bad! I’m drenched! I’m utterly disgusting like this!” Mothiva screamed, picking another fight with the portly bee.

“cough. Next time, we’ll just freeze the whole dumb river.” Leif coughed up some water as he struggled to speak. “So, you're all up?” Zasp walked into the scene, artifact in hand. “Zasp! Why didn’t you turn it in!?” Mothiva shot him the scariest glare imaginable. “U-um…” He stuttered. “I’m sure it was to assure your safety.” Kabbu quickly answered, causing the moth to calm down a bit. “Sigh I suppose that’s a reasonable explanation. Who would ever put me in danger anyhow? Ohohoho!” *She laughed as she swiped the artifact from Zasp. “Now if you excuse me, I have a reward to claim. See you, losers!” Mothiva briefly took flight before Leif froze her in place with his ice magic. “No! We will not let that happen after risking our lives!” Lief got into a battle pose, fury in his eyes. Zasp swiped the artifact, only to be tackled by Vi, her soft belly smushing against his entire body with a barely audible scream from Zasp underneath.
Kabbu looked on at the scene quickly unfolding before him, hoping that he was still unconscious and that this was just a bad dream that his brain had concocted for him. The events he witnessed were too foolish to be a part of the waking world. Still lying on the grass, the sound of the water behind him gently babbling, he allowed himself to entertain the thought that he was still dreaming a little longer before reality came crashing down by Mothiva's high-pitched scream of livid anger as Leif's ice magic wore off. Blearily under his helmet, he gazed at Vi, his partner, grinning innocently as the silk moth launched a never-ending parade of taunts down at her. The singer superstar bent down and tried with all her might to lift Vi off the grass to release Zasp and, more importantly, the mask, but the bee was like a fluffy fat boulder, not budging an inch.

Kabbu sighed and flumped backward onto the ground. The two greedy, gluttonous, selfish, ill-tempered, and stubborn girls were the complete opposite of what the rainbow beetle had expected explorers to be; explorers were supposed to be these chivalrous knights of honor, helping those in need and lending aid without any expectation of reward. But these two gluttons were so brazenly blunt in making it known they only care about riches, glory, and food! Neither would think like mature, level-headed heroes - all they cared about was stuffing their faces! "AGH! Just get off him already!" Mothiva roared, stomping on Vi's bountiful side belly with her broad foot, only to jiggle and wobble without any sign that the bee was getting hurt. "Why you little -! Why don't I fly over to Maki and tell him you stole the artifact from me, huh?!"

"If you do that..." Vi smirked, believing she had the advantage in this situation. "I'll tell everyone we had to rescue your team member from your butt."

Mothiva's face paled, shocked that the bee would go so low. "Y-y-y-ou wouldn't d-d-are...!" Meanwhile, Leif snuck up on the fat silk moth from behind, ready to deal another freezing spell on her so that she would shut up.

"STOP!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard Kabbu yell, much louder than Vi's petulant whining in the Explorer's Association or Mothiva'a arrogant screams. Leif, Mothiva, and Vi looked at the rainbow scarab beetle by the water's edge, who looked done. "I have HAD IT with all of this constant fighting!" He marched toward Vi and Mothiva while Leif slowly backed away, still priming his magic but not wanting to get caught in Kabbu's rage. The silk moth tried to remain steadfast and look unfazed, but she couldn't help herself from withering slightly underneath the beetle's directed fury. "You have a very high opinion of yourself, so high that you claim that you don't ever need help from anyone, but if it were not for Vi, then you and the rest of us would have been stuck in Snakemouth Den for who knows how long!"

"Y-you don't get to ta-" Mothiva tried to talk, not wanting to relieve the hallway incident in her mind, but Kabbu was already directing his rage toward Vi, who visibly winced under the angry face he sported.

"And you, Vi, aren't much better!" The look on Vi's face made it apparent those words stung, but he kept going. "You claim that you're not a child, yet you've done nothing to disprove that - we very easily could have perished in Snakemouth Den, yet you've never treated our trials seriously! All you did was complain that there was never enough food! Has all of this just been a game to you - to both of you!?" Mothiva and Vi were silent, stunned by Kabbu's outburst. Vi grimaced - she hadn't known Kabbu for long, but she could tell from that short time that Kabbu imbued much of his persona with some idealized, chivalrous notion of what it means to be an explorer. Vi didin't buy into it, but looking back, she (loathe as she was to admit it) could have done more to act like a reliable teammate...

Kabbu's rant moved Mothiva less than Vi, but it was somewhat difficult for her to come up with a comeback that didin't just involve calling him a loser again. "S-so, what? Don't lie and tell me that you risked your life going into Snakemouth so that you could be a good little bug and give it to the queen free of charge!" Her tone was as sharp as the beetle's, puffing her chest out in assured pride, making it look much more prominent. "You know the expression 'an army marches on its stomach'? Well, it applies to us, too! We have to get paid somehow; the more renowned a team is in the association, the more people will come to them for help, and the more we help, the more we get paid." She put her hands on her hips, eying Kabbu down.

"If money is so important to you, then why don't you just go on a diet!?" Kabbu flailed his arms around. "It's obvious where most of you and Zasp's funds have ended up!" The superstar's face contorted with anger before a grumble of impatient hunger emanated from her bloated middle, making her slightly embarrassed. Vi, glum as she lay on top of Zasp while digesting Kabbu's words, was reminded of her hunger as she heard Mothiva's gut rumble. The honey-fed, sagging orb of abdomen flesh quivered as the organ below groaned, shaking Zasp, who was still trying to escape from yet another prison of lard and making the frown on Vi's face deepen.

"...Kabbu?" Leif interjected, taking a cold claw to rest on the beetle's shoulder as he appeared from his left side. "Regardless of your opinions on their behavior, maybe this isn't the best place to discuss it?" He motioned to the nearby bushes, and sure enough, under the cover of the foliage, he could see seedlings ogle, waiting to attack at the right moment. Lingering any longer here was a bad idea.

"You're right, Leif." Kabbu sighed, shaking his head as the adrenaline left his system. "We're all exhausted from what we've gone through, and we might have a more level-headed conversation over lunch. We can work this out once we're back in the Ant Kingdom and have food in our systems.

"...I-I'm not...hungry..." Vi lied, not able to make eye contact with anyone. Ugh, Kabbu really spoiled her mood. Everything was fine a few moments ago, but he had to make her feel like a...like a...kid. "Maybe I should have just stayed home..." She muttered under her breath.

Mothiva looked over at Vi with a weirded-out expression in her eyes. She clearly heard the fat blob of a bee's gut groan a few seconds ago - why would she brush past it? Who in their right mind would turn down free food? Her partner's words couldn't make her feel that bad, right? "...fine." She spat acid at Kabbu and Leif. "I might, and this is a very slim chance here, so don't get your hopes up, consider sharing credit for finding the mask if you take us to lunch."

Kabbu breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Mothiva finally saw reason.

"A leaders' only lunch." Mothiva clarified, putting one claw on her broad chest and another on Vi's broad back, getting her attention. "You guys pay. Us girls eat."

"W-what?!" Kabbu shook his head, not believing what he was hearing. "Vi isn't the leader of our team!"

"Well, out of all you three, she's the one I hate the least." Mothiva narrowed her eyes, shutting down any further protest from Kabbu. "She reminds me of my favorite person; me! Albeit a younger, thinner, more annoying version of me.

"...what did I do?" Leif was puzzled why he was on the receiving end of this stranger's anger along with Kabbu.

"Rescuing you made me get almost eaten by a spider." Mothiva delivered dryly. "Now, if I were you, I would stop talking and start finding ingredients for Fry to cook with when we return to the Ant Kingdom. Because if I'm not 100% full, the deal is off."

Kabbu and Leif sighed, realizing the predicament that they had found themselves in. Vi finally chose this moment to get off Zasp, the wasp having been rendered momentarily two-dimensional by how much weight he had to endure underneath the bee's belly. "What...did I miss..." He asked as he dizzily tried to get back onto his feet.

"Get food. They'll explain more." Mothiva ordered, picking her teammate up and setting him down toward Kabbu and Leif, who were walking ahead of the two well-fed girls. As the wasp wobbly marched off, obeying his orders, the superstar turned to Vi, looking dejected as she stared at her stomach, a bright yellow and black-striped ball of furry fat. "Ugh, don't tell me you're taking what that beetle said seriously." Mothiva shook her head with disdain as the bee pouted.

"...no." Vi lied. All she could think about right then were the Hive and why she left. The constant grind in the factory wasn't a fun place to grow up, so she snacked a bit more on honey than the other bees - she needed extra cheering up, that's what she said to justify it. But then her bosses told her that 'cheering up' was taking a toll on her honey quotas. "What does Tangy Pie taste like?" She tried to change the subject to something that had been bugging her for a while now.

"Huh? Don't tell me you've never..." Mothiva slowly widened her eyes as she realized Vi was being genuine. An alien twinge of sympathy sputtered out from her heart as the revelation. "Oh my Venus, no wonder you only eat honey - you've never had anything else."

"I've h-had lots of food! It's just that most of the stuff in the Bee Kingdom calls for honey!" She defended herself.

"It's now wonder you're so skinny, then - all that honey has made you malnourished! Ohoho!" Mothiva laughed, and Vi crossed her arms and turned her head away in a huff. "Well, I don't want to spoil the surprise for you - let's just say when you taste Tangy Pie, it's gonna be hard for you to go back to eating something as bland as honey. Now, get up. Our boys are getting us lunch."
The group walked into the plaza, turned a sharp left, and finally ended up at the first place they met. Once again, the delectable aroma filled the area, causing anyone that got a whiff to drool ever so slightly. Zasp, still groggy from being crushed by the fluffy bee’s gut, slowly approached the muscular fly. “Aha! You’ve come back to witness another masterpiece! Ingredients, now!” Fry boomed in excitement, tapping his spoon. “Urk!” Zasp froze, forgetting that he had run out of Mothiva’s precious Tangy Berries. His dread only increased as the silk moth strutted into the area, with the ravenous bee behind her. “Zasp! You won’t believe what I’m about to tell you! This low-life bee has never sampled a single Tangy Pie!” Mothiva arrogantly said, knowing well that Tangy Berries were not exactly common. “…We’ve run out of Tangy Berries…” Zasp muttered, knowing full well what was coming next. “For the love of Venus! Ugh! What else do you got?” Mothiva growled, now in an even more sour mood.

“Um… That was the last of the items.” Zasp muttered again. Mothiva’s expression turned to pure fury, about to release all her anger at once at the poor wasp. “Eh, the rarity isn’t that big of a deal. It’s about time you refine your diet anyway.” Vi teased, slapping the moth’s jiggly belly, causing her whole body to ripple. The moth’s face turned cherry red, embarrassed at what just occurred. “L-like your one to talk! Just look at you! Lay off the honey, honey belly!” She slapped Vi’s belly with greater force. “Door plug!” Vi slapped the moth’s belly back, starting to get annoyed. “Honey pot!” Mothiva turned crimson, putting more force into her slap. “ENOUGH!” Lief showed an unexpected amount of noise. Contrary to his usual quiet, monotone tone, the cyan-colored moth burst into a fit of rage, freezing both the bugs solid. As the ice spell slowly wore off, the two massive bugs just stood there, standing awkwardly. “Lief is right. Let us have a nice, civil lunch. I’m sure we can come to an arrangement for the distribution of the artifact’s reward.” Kabbu broke the silence, firmly glaring at the two females.

“Sigh How’s our berry count looking?” Zasp quickly changed the subject before Mothiva could intervene. The two teams took out all the funds they picked up from Snakemouth Den, totaling up to 80 berries. “It should be enough for a full-course meal. A cheap one…” Mothiva muttered with spite. “You're going to eat a meal that big?” Vi asked her, legitimately puzzled. “Like you dont!” She scoffed, assuming she was bluffing. “I get full with just a couple of snacks. You really run your funds dry that fast?” She crossed her arms, cocking a brow. “H-how fattening is honey exactly?” Mothiva sounded scared, just imagining the calories in every drop. “You really assume I know that just because I’m a bee? And listen, I eat more than the average bee too. Our portions are just smaller to accommodate the amount of calories honey has.” Vi suddenly envisioned the vast amount of honey-filled recipes she learned from Queen Bianca. She greedily licked her lips, reaching into her fuzz to take out some drops to find that she was running dangerously low. This made her snap back to reality to see the other bugs with tons of ingredients in their arms.

“Wha..?” Vi gazed at the items, unaware that the others bought all the items they needed to make a feast for the bountiful silk moth. “About time you snapped out of it! Leaving everyone to do your dirty work, huh!?” Mothiva growled, ironic considering her treatment of Zasp. “It’s not my fault I zoned out! And…Where’s the honey?” Vi quickly darted her eyes to find no Honey Drops in anyone's arms. “Well, you carry a seemingly endless supply of them. And buying all this wasn’t exactly chea-“ “I RUN OUT TOO, YOU KNOW!?” Vi exploded in rage, in disbelief that everyone made such a ludicrous assumption. “Erm… I’m sure you can survive one meal without honey, right?” Kabbu nervously grinned. “IT WON’T TASTE AS GOOD!!” She pulled her antennae in frustration. “You’ve got to earn the simple pleasures in life! You nobodies don’t deserve such privileges!” Mothiva scoffed, second-guessing a ‘friendly lunch’.

“FINE! I’LL TAKE MATTERS INTO MY OWN CLAWS!” Vi stormed off into the shop, stomping with every step. Before her was a rotund butterfly with a bored expression, arms crossed, long, shiny wings, moderately sized breasts, soft midsection, wide, prominent hips, large, flabby rear, and monstrously thick thighs. “Yes, welcome…” Vi immediately eyed her precious Honey Drops for sale. “I’ll take your entire stock!” She dumped a large amount of berries onto the counter, yet the butterfly remained with the same expression as before. “Mhm. Come again.” Madame Butterfly waved her off, impossible to tell if she was giving courtesy or wanted to shoo her off. Vi stuffed the drops into her fuzz, walking out with a goofy smile on her face. “Ahahaha! You have allowed me to make many recipes! Check the recipe book to see all-“ Yeah, nobody asked.” Mothiva shut down his tutorial, hissing at him for attempting to explain such an obvious mechanic. Vi suddenly came in, shoving all but Mothiva aside. “These two.” She handed Fry a Honey Drop and a Bag of flour she had bought from Crisbee all the way back in the Defiant Root. With a couple of recipes later, Vi had a honey-filled buffet at her fingertips. The bugs combined two tables, one of them taken up by the two ravenous women, food spreading across them.

“I’m so glad the shopping is over…” Zasp sighed, his claws to his cheeks. “Yeah, I can’t blame you for getting enticed by those thig-“ “Shush!” He aggressively put his claw to Vi’s mouth for making an (admittingly true) assumption. Soon things settled down and the women began to eat. “Honey pancakes. I haven’t had these in so long.” The bee scarfed down the fattening treat, her expression becoming pure bliss as her cheeks flushed. “Mmm! I think I’m in heaven…” Vi flustered as the fluffy pancake invigorated her taste buds. “Are they seriously that good?” It’s just honey on some pancakes.” Mothiva’s face turned soft, antennae pointed downward in curiosity. Without any delay, Vi stuffed one into Mothiva’s mouth, her too having a similar reaction once it hit her taste buds. “Oooh… That’s actually really good…” Mothiva’s eyes closed, and her face relaxed for once. “I guess I could spare you some of my feast’s beverages.” Mothiva pouted, offering Vi various flavors of juice. The bee guzzled down some Berry Juice, sparking her taste buds yet again. “This tastes weird… I like it.” She smirked, craving for more.

“Uh-uh! Give me some more of your treats first. This isn’t a charity!” Mothiva sternly glared at Vi. “Sure. Just give me that stuff again!” She gave Mothiva a Glazed Honey in exchange for an Aphid Shake. “This one’s Kina’s favorite.” Mothiva looked content for once, sharing the joy of food with someone else. They continued to trade, stuffing themselves more and more, their bellies gently touched as their waistlines bloated from the sheer amount being devoured. “I’m getting a bit full…” Vi chuckled, patting her bloated stomach. “Oh, hush! You're not even close to being finished.” Mothiva rolled her eyes, shoving another beverage down the bee’s throat. A bit later, with some scraps for the men left, the women had finished their meals, their bellies on top of one another, jiggling about. “Ooo… That was heavenly…” Mothiva smiled, patting her bloated middle. “A-and how was your meal, Vi?” Kabbu nervously asked. “Hiccup Hic” The bee’s belly was liquidly like the ocean. The poor thing could only produce a series of hiccups due to the amount of drinks she had. “Hmm… After eating such a spectacular meal, I suppose you all have SOME redeeming qualities. Don’t expect us to be all buddy-buddy with you three, but I might just share the reward with you this time.” Mothiva’s soft expression then turned to anger. “If you get in our way again, don’t expect us to show any mercy.” She said, sinisterly. “I’m sure we can convince you with other SIMPLE needs…” Leaf said with a hint of smugness.

“Whatever! Like I’d willingly work with you three again! Vi! When are we turning in this stupid thing!?” She turned to her, poking her belly, causing the bee to expel more hiccups. “I believe Vi needs some rest…” Kabbu chuckled, slightly amused with the hiccuping bee’s condition. “Fiiine! Digesting this stuff would make me more prominent tomorrow anyway.” Mothiva stood up, heading towards the inn. “Oh, and Zasp! You carry Vi!” She said before fluttering off. Zasp gazed at the other men, hoping that he would help lift this beast of a bee. Instead, they took off instantly, leaving the two of them alone. “It’s always gotta be me! Thanks for everything, you bloated fuzzball!” He snapped, taking out his frustration on the groggy bee, poking her belly rapidly, causing her to let out a stream of hiccups. He then got a leftover drink and shoved it down her throat. “There’s one for the road! Now let’s go already!” He grunted, struggling to lift her up. Even when he did, the bee was quite heavy.
Vi buzzed contently to herse;f with a drunk, dopey expression on her cherubic face, tongue lolling past her grinning lips as she gently massaged the fluid-filled orb that had become her stomach. Never in her life had she stuffed herself so much - it hurt but in a way like when her muscles were sore after a workout. The overtaxed organ churned and sloshed as Zasp huffed and puffed as he did his best to carry her through the Ant Kingdom. Every time he lost his balance underneath the bee's weight, which had gotten even heavier with all the food she had packed away, the belly crushing his back wobble, prompting a slew of hiccups to ring out from her mouth. Vi was stretched beyond her limit, and her biology had no choice but to comply with the load she had consumed - the next time Vi finds herself hungry, she'll find it will take a lot more to fill her now much more expansive gut.

The people milling about the Ant Kingdom's paths were, for the most part, largely uninterested in Zasp's plight, with many only managing a curious sideways glance at the duo before returning to their business. Vi gazed around at passersby in her pre-food-coma stupor and noticed something peculiar; all of the female bugs, like her, were a little on the portly side. This was a common sight in the Bee Kingdom since everyone was female - the drones leave the hive as soon as they come of age to work in other hives far away from Bugaria, but she had assumed things would be different down here. But no matter where she turned, the girls seemed more prominent in height and width. Vi yawned, fluttering her wings a bit to take the form of grounded flight, alleviating the intense heft that Mothiva's teammate had to endure.

"...Hhhey Za- Hic-hilp! -spp…" Vi slurred-hiccuped in bliss and was content to let the wasp drag her across the paths like a food-filled balloon. "Can I…asssk you hic-hilp something…?"

"What?" Zasp curly huffed, really not wanting to engage in conversation with Vi, but if he just ignored her, he was afraid she might stop fluttering her wings and make his burden close to unmanageable again.

"I know I - hilp - only've known you for like…less than a daaaay, but…" Vi struggled to stay awake, her stamina being put into working down the impossibly sized feast she had just consumed into a slush. She let out another large yawn, wanting so badly to just conk out right in the middle of the road, but persevere like the brave explorer bee she was. "You do a lot for Mothiva…and she doesn't…do all that much for you. All she does is scream at you and bark orders at you…"

"So, what's your point?" Zasp sneered underneath the cushiony yellow and black belly flab obscuring his vision. "Mothiva and I are teammates; I'm duty-bound to serve her and make her the most famous explorer Bugaria has ever known. Every day I dedicate myself to Team Mothiva so that she can shine just a little brighter. I'm ready to do anything for that."

"So…you hilp like it when she acts all bossy to you?" Vi innocently queried.

"I will weather any storm for Team Mothiva," Zasp answered in a neutral tone. That wasn't good enough for Vi.

"I didn't ask if you - Hic-hilp - were okay with it…" Vi grinned wickedly as she slowed her wings' speed down a tad, and Zasp audibly groaned as he was forced the take on so much bee blubber. "I said…do you like it? Maybe it's just me, but…I wouldn't be a total slave to someone unless I was, you know…into that sort of stuff. Even if that someone was my girlfriend…"

"Mothiva and I, for the last time, are not in a relationship!" Zasp groaned sharply as he waded across the dirt path toward the inn. It had been so close this entire time, yet it was so far away with all this luggage he had to carry.

“Mhmp…that’s a shame…” Vi slowed the flapping of her wings to a crawl, Zasp nearly buckling underneath all of her mass, and no one was paying either of them any heed. "Hic-hilp you two would make a cute couple…"

"I didn't ask you if y-...wait, r-really?!" Zasp started sounding nasty but changed his tune to something hopeful as he fully registered Vi's words. A blush came to his face, indulging in his fantasy momentarily before shaking his head. "We-well, that's very kind of…interesting for you to say, but my association with Mothiva is clearly professional."

"Do you want me to tell you how…how…Oooogh, so good…" Vi buzzed, her wings fluttering back to full speed in ecstasy as Zasp accidentally touched a pleasure spot as she tried to readjust the weight he had to carry. Her eyes lidded and a strand of drool escaped from her lips. "...tell you how convincing you sound? Or do you want me to put in a good word to your totally professional partner about you?"

"...uhm…" Zasp blushed a deep shade of red, the inn almost within reach. "W-what would you s-s-say to her in the improbable event I agreed?"

"I'd tell her that you're powerful." Vi nodded, which was true - carrying someone as heavy as she had to be an arduous task. "And that you're not baaad at giving belly rubs. And that you make for an alright feeder. Thanks for the drinks, by the way."

"Th-those weren't supposed to be-...ughh." Zasp sighed - the leftover drinks from Fry's were supposed to be a revenge against the greedy bee, but she ended up enjoying them.

"Also, you're, like, suuuper comfy to lie down on." Vi grinned happily, remembering pinning the wasp to the ground right after Snakemouth Den. "S'funny…growing up in the hive, I was told that wasps were something to be afraid of. Like, you'll eat us if we let you in the hive or something. But you seem cool…enough. Maybe if you play your cards right - orp - you can end up being a moth's snuggle budd="

"OH WOW WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT WE'RE HERE." Zasp changed the subject by loudly kicking in the door to the inn, startling the innkeeper behind the desk and distracting him from his book. "Hi! My name is Zasp! I believe you have a room for me and my acquaintance here!" The wasp shouted his words, trying hard to force the image of Mothiva using him as a plushy to fall asleep with from his head. Scared by the wasp's behavior, the innkeeper nodded slowly and handed him a pair of kees to one of the rooms upstairs. Vi only laughed, sleepiness growing in her system as Zasp struggled to climb the stairs with her on his back.

"Haaaah…this is the liiiife…~" Vi yawned in heavenly comfort. As soon as Zasp found the room that went with the key that he was handed, he barged in and threw the near-comatose bee onto the floor. Mothiva, who had been reading a book on one of the beds, was startled by her teammate's arrival and scowled as she noticed Vi on the floor.

"Zasp, maybe you had a few brain cells die while suffocating under this honey-bag's gut. This room is for Team Mothiva; Vi's room is for…whatever her team's name is. Just put her with the beetle and the geometer moth." She shooed Zasp away with a dismissive hand gesture, about to turn back into her book.

"Hahaha! Zasp…Zasp likes it when you're meeean…" Vi slurred as she rolled onto her back, the ceiling of the room spinning in her eyes as she tried to stay awake. "He's not my tyyyype, but you two should toooootally hitch up together. He's cute…for a wasp, you know and…and uh….hahah!" Vi giggled, the blorbing, churning stomach pinning her to the floor, suddenly demanding all of her attention as she kneaded tit like dough. Her words caught the attention of Mothiva and Zasp. The wasp went pale-faced while the superstar singer blinked before calmly setting down her book.

"Zasp." Mothiva's tone was clipped, not indicating any emotion. "What did you and Vi discuss while taking her here?"

"N-N-Nothing, Mothiva! I assure you!" Zasp waved his hands in front of his lean chest, desperately trying to keep the blush hidden by shaking his head rapidly. In his panicked state of thinking, it make sense that Mothiva would just see a blur if he kept the head-shaking up; but all it did was make him dizzy. "Please, ignore her. She's just drunk."

"...drunk." Mothiva closed her eyes and took a deep inhale. "On…berry juice?" Fry didn't make anything that had alcohol in it; even someone had brought the ingredients to do so. The notion that he spiked this one batch of beverages, and only the drinks that Mothiva gave Vi in exchange for honey-laden sweets, was unlikely, and they all knew it.

"What else was I supposed to say, erh,,," Vi blinked her eyes closed, her breathing starting to even out as the last of her energy was expelled. "Uh…he hilp uh…said that he wants to make you shine every day or something, and…Zzzz…" Whatever Vi was going to say next never came; all the bee could hear or think about was her churning tummy. Its soft gurgling caused her eyes to grow heavy. Her arms hung limp at her sides, and her head submerged into her neck fluff. Her eyes and mouth shut, muffling her hiccups. Vi fell into the deepest, coziest sleep she had ever experienced, with her fleshy mass weighing her down better than any blanket.

"...that part was true, at least…" Zasp muttered under his breath, which was shallow as anxiety pooled at the pit of his stomach. Mothiva was staring at him, making sweat bead at the base of his forehead.

"You like 'mean'?" The superstar purred as a smile slowly formed on her visage - a smile that made Zasp equal parts horrified and intrigued. "That's very good to know…~"
After Mothiva dismissed the Wasp, he huffed, pumped up knowing that his last mission was to drag this butterball of a bee to her room. “Hurg! H-here’s your fuzzball!” Zasp slid Vi across the floor, panting heavily as he fell to his knees, exhausted by the amount of physical labor he just endured. “Thank you kindly, Zasp. We shall repay you handsomely tomorrow for your efforts.” Kabbu laid the bee against the wall, pillow, and blanket equipped. “Thanks for ditching me…” He sarcastically said while rolling his eyes before slamming the door. “Hmm… Still bloated.” Kabbu gazed at the sloshy bee, poking her stomach briefly before sitting on the edge of his bed. Vi gradually squinted her eyes, giving him a goofy smile. “Hilp Mmm… Wassup..?” She slurred. “Tomorrow we’re going to turn in the artifact. Make sure you get plenty of rest tonight, okay?” “Mhm… Hic I want…more drinks…” She licked her lips, imagining the unique flavors drowning in her gut. “You can get those after we turn in the artifact. Now then, let’s get some shut-eye.” As he was about to dim the lights, the bee briefly protested.

“Noooooo… Can you… Hilp Press my tummy..?” She pleaded as her golden and black fuzz glistened in the room’s lighting. “Erm, if it helps you sleep.” He hesitated, briefly blushing as he gently pressed on her sloshy orb of a belly. “HIC Oooough… Sho gooood… Moooaaar…” She started getting drowsy again, her body feeling refreshed from releasing all that pressure in her gut. As the two continued, Team Mothiva was witnessing some very interesting sounds coming from next door. “W-what are they even..?” Mothiva’s face was a mixture of confusion, curiosity, and disgust. “Kabbuuuu… I… I want to know more about y… Zzz…” “Heh, I’ll be sure to tell her in the morning.” He chuckled, amused at the groggy bee’s sudden interest. Kabbu slowly dimmed the lights, his eyelids growing heavy as he reminisced his first exploration with his unexpected team. Despite their differences, they have an unexplainable synergy that makes them a fierce combination.

There was a part of him that will miss traveling with Team Mothiva, despite the fact the leader attempted to backstab them numerous times. Could he somehow convince her to travel as one? He knew deep down she made a vague connection with them, but that was easier said than done. Nevertheless, he slowly closed his eyes, drifting into a sound sleep. “I’m finally free tomorrow…” Zasp let out a sigh of relief, knowing that he’d finally only have to deal with Mothiva again. “Tell me about it. Working with those morons was the worst. …The bee’s alright though. A bit annoying at best.” She pouted in denial. “So, um… Any plans to make a move tomorrow?” Zasp asked. “Nah, I’ll bite the bullet on this one. One shared reward isn’t going to make a huge impact on the record. Just don’t expect me to do this again… Unless there’s something grand in it for me… Specifically from them…” Mothiva muttered.

“I’m so glad you never collaborate with others…” Zasp lay on the bed, stretching his sore limbs from all his labor. “I suppose I won’t mess with them anymore, as long as they get their grubby claws off any future artifacts. Team Mothiva will be a world-renowned name for generations to come.” She said in a surprisingly calm voice as she threw the blanket on herself. “Can I have some?” Zasp asked, pulling the blanket a bit towards him. “Hmm…” Mothiva suddenly got a wicked grin on her face. “So, you’d vow to make me shine brighter day by day?” She asked him. “Yes, of course. Is there a problem with that?” He questioned as Mothiva began chuckling. “Don’t be so coy. Out of all the teammates I’ve gone through, you're the one who’s always stuck with me. You want something from me, don’t you?” She teased, causing the wasp to have a blush on his face. “N-n-nothing in particular.” He stuttered a bit, looking away from her.

“Come on, Zasp. I see you eying some very large women on our travels together. Admit it, you only stay with me to stick close to such a soft, fluffy woman, don’t you? Your into this stuff, aren’t you?” “Y-you can’t prove anything.” He shuttered as Mothiva said something he didn’t want to hear. “Like that butterfly from earlier today? You really flushed at the sight of her, so I’ll make you a deal. You vow to rise me to a legend, and in return, I’ll let you occasionally have a ‘piece of Mothiva’. She pressed her belly against the back of his head. Her grin only grew as he froze in place. “H-hah…” He couldn’t even process speech at this point. “In fact, why don’t we have a go now?” She smushed Zasp in the same manner of Vi from earlier. “There we are, nice and cozy.” The immense amount of weight instantly knocked out the wasp, leaving Mothiva to drift off as well. The next morning, Mothiva was the first to wake up, releasing Zasp from the flabby prison that was Mothiva’s gut. “Yawn Today’s the day.” She fluttered over to the door, only to get wedged inside yet again. “Mmmng… What happened..?” Zasp slowly regained consciousness, dizzy from all that pressure from last night.

“Hurg! Zasp! Get me out of this accursed doorway!” She impatiently commanded as she wiggled in place. As he finally regained full consciousness, the first sight he witnessed was Mothiva’s generous features. With a flush across his face, he begrudgingly put his claws on the silk moth’s behind and began pushing, eventually managing to free her. “Ooph!” She popped out, Tumbling down the stairs with all that momentum she just received. With a loud crash filling the whole inn, the other team was awakened rudely by the colossal noise from downstairs. “By Bugaria! What was that!?” Kabbu jumped out of bed, switching to a defensive pose as he darted his eyes across the room. “Sigh Some services they offer.” Leif groaned as he slowly awoke, irritated. “Mmm… Heeeeey! What’s with the Hilp noise?” Vi woke up, seemingly still drunk. “You seriously still can’t be…” “Hahaha! Just kidding! I’m a pretty good actor, eh?” Vi beamed an innocent smile, proud of herself.

As they made their way downstairs, they were met with the sight of Mothiva lying on the floor. She appeared to have broken a table with her fall. “A-are you okay!?” Kabbu said, concerned about losing a precious (temporary teammate). “I’m fine! Let’s just turn in the stupid thing already!” Mothiva glared at Kabbu, both embarrassed and impatient. “Sigh I need to repair that thing, don’t I?” The innkeeper looked mortified, having to pay for something without the proper funding. “The place is already drab as is! The beds were hard as rocks!” Mothiva glared at the innkeeper, a bit salty from all this drama occurring. “Enjoy your breakfast…” She grumbled as she went back to reading her magazine. On the floor was a single Honey Drop. “Mine!” Vi rushed over to it, quickly storing it in her fuzz. Mothiva fluttered back on her feet, noticing Zasp slowly creeping down the steps, expecting the worst. “We’ll discuss this after we turn in the artifact!” She death stared him, speaking in a sinister voice. The five bugs made their way toward the castle to encounter Maki and Kina standing there, expecting their arrival. “So, we assume you're here to turn in the artifact?” Maki asked, his blade firmly planted in the ground.

“How did..?” Kabbu questioned in disbelief. “Thanks to these loud ones, the news spread quickly.” He pointed at Mothiva and Vi, with that same neutral expression he usually has. “Uhh…” The women blushed, forgetting that the public even existed at the time. “I heard you had a feast! I would have killed to join it if my brother wasn't so focused on our mission.” She put on a fake smile with some gruff in her voice when she brought up Maki. “Sigh The task at hand is always our number one priority.” He rolled his eyes like this was the millionth time he explained this to Kina. “Ohohoho! It was truly grand! Grand, I tell you! Let’s just say me and this rascal did a bit of trading.” She wrapped her arm around Vi with a smile. “And I got drunk off juice! It was awesome!” Vi added though that sounded a bit odd. “Seriously!? I wanted to see it! Plus, I heard it got pretty heated. You two were slapping each other’s bellies or something?” She giddily asked. “That’s enough, Kina.” Maki raised his voice, ready to change the subject. “I have arranged a meeting with the Queen for you. She is expecting us right away.”
Team Mothiva and Team To-Be-Named-Later walked across the bridge that led to the Anthill Palace behind Maki and Kina. The wood groaned underneath the weights of the three fatty female bugs, the explorer bee and the superstar moth having put on some additional mass since yesterday. They were already fat before, so to the general observer, it would have appeared that they hadn't changed, but a keen eye would have been able to notice the increased proportions. Chubby cheeks were just a little heavier, bouncy busts now had a bit more bounce, and waistlines had more surface area to jiggle with. Kina had remained the same from when Vi had last seen her in the Explorers' Association yesterday - if the female mantis was jealous, she was doing a sterling job keeping her emotions hidden.

The seven of them soon found themselves at the Palace's entrance just in front of the bridge, with two muscular ants guarding it. These two guards opened the doors to the Palace after Maki exchanged a brief sequence of nods with them. This was Vi and Kabbu's first time seeing the place's interior, and the sight of it blew both back. The central atrium of the Palace wasn't physically big. Still, it felt big - the vaulted ceilings adorned with fancy filigree and assorted royal ornamentation made the room feel spacious and suffocating. Vi particularly enjoyed the plush carpeting she trekked on, clean enough to eat off.

Kabbu's attention was directed to the massive, iridescent blue crystal in front of the (unfortunately cordoned) staircase, bursting from the soil below. Mothiva and Zasp were silent - this wasn't the first time they had been in the Anthill Palace, though some lingering charm was still in their faces as they took everything in. As Maki and Kina took the five behind them around the giant crystal, Vi observed two wide doors on either side of the circular room. "What's going on behind there?" The bloated bee asked, secretly hoping either led to the royal banquet hall, the kitchen, or the royal pantry - maybe the Queen would allow them to indulge in a bit of breakfast?

"Only palace dwellers are permitted beyond them," Maki said, dashing Vi's hopes of a proper breakfast to the floor.

"Lame..." Vi huffed, her antenna curling down in disappointment. As the coterie of explorers went deeper into the Palace's interior, the bee noted more doors - ones that didn't look like they were just for people who lived there. A sign above one of the doors featured an open book, so it must have been a bookstore or something, while the other door had a fork crossed over a knife. Vi's stomach gurgled as its owner registered the universal symbol of 'you can eat here,' but first, the reward for the mask had to be claimed. A hallway between those two rooms was cast in an electric blue glow from the crystals hanging on the ceiling and the walls.

Yet another guard was at the end of this long corridor, though much bulkier than they had seen. She was sporting a fair amount of pudge underneath her plated armor, but not the cuddly-looking kind that Kina, Vi, and Mothiva sported - this guard was prominent in the ways that made you want to be afraid of big things. Vi had a bad vibe from her; she just effortlessly created a threatening aura around her. "Maki. There you are." The ant guard's tone couldn't be any more impatient. "You know the Queen hates waiting."

"Please forgive us for the delay, Lieutenant." Kabbu clasped his hands together in front of his chest in a show of subservience. Oh, she was a lieutenant? How did he know that? Vi chalked it up to him having studied way too much about Bugarian society - maybe there was something about her armor that denoted her rank, though the bee couldn't bother to care that much.

"We're ready, though!" Vi pumped a pudgy fist to her heart, sinking against her generous chest flab. However, all she received from the Lieutenant was an impassive, cold stare that faltered the first explorer bee's look of confidence.

"Then you wouldn't mind if we stepped right in?" Maki queried both of the teams.

"No objections." Leif's monotone voice took on a weird, reverberating quality in the presence of the crystals adorning the room. "The sooner we answer our doubts, the better."

"Huh? Doubts about what?" Zasp tilted his head, curious about what the geometer moth was discussing. But before Leif could respond to the wasp's question, the Lieutenant butted in.

"That'll do. Let us proceed, then." The bulky guard turned around, her hidden mass underneath the armor shifting audibly before she confidently strode into the room she was guarding. Maki and Kina followed her, with the two other teams following them into what turned out to be the Throne Room. Green banners emblazed with the Ant Kingdom's sigil smothered the walls of the great chamber, snuffing out the light from the windows and making things look gloomy. Vi thought to herself that the throne at the back of the elongated room, as she walked into it, seemed particularly uncomfortable to the fatty bee, with how dainty it looked - she might have fit into it if she was three hundred pounds lighter. Still, as she was now, it was a cartoonishly skinny piece of furniture on a dais, giving the person sitting in it an aura of authority.

Kina, Maki & the Lieutenant reached the limit of how far they could walk toward the Queen, indicating the others behind them to stop. Next to the throne was an even larger guard, this one much more menacing, with a shield that looked like it was being wielded like a sword. The even larger guard's head was covered by a helmet, making it impossible to tell who she was ogling among the group. Vi didin't like any of this - this couldn't be any opposite from how it was to be in Queen Bianca's court. Where she expected to find warmth, Vi was finding that Queen Elizant II wanted her people to be scared around her.

"You now stand before Your Majesty, Queen Elizant II." The Lieutenant announced in a voice not unlike a judge's when they wanted a courtroom to be silent. After her voice stopped echoing in the Throne Room, Queen Elizant II sat up from her chair with such poise, it looked like a marionette springing to life. She walked to the edge of her dais, ensuring an impenetrable distance between her and her subjects. She was tall, adorned in violet and mauve clothes, and skinny. She was as slim as a staircase rail, which made Vi somewhat freaked out, though she knew not to express such feelings; she didin't want to be on the Queen's hit list.

Of course, what was even more attention-grabbing than the weight disparity she introduced to the other female bugs in the room was her white mask, a dark line running from top to bottom, and two black bars flanking either side. Were those her eyeholes? If so, no one could see the eyes through them. "So it's true," Vi could hear Leif mumble to himself somberly. Just as it was impossible to know if the Queen's guard's facial expressions, Elizant's mask hid her true feelings for the motley crew of adventurers sprawled before her.

"Hmm." Her intonation was melancholic yet inexplicably girlish, which only made Vi's internal comparison of her to a doll more apparent in her eyes. "So you're the brave ones who've found the Snakemouth artifact?" The room's air was so thick you couldn't slice through it - she was talking to Team Mothiva and Team Lorem Ipsum, but neither of the two groups was under the impression that the monarch wanted an answer.

"...Y-" Vi had gotten a quarter of a syllable out before Elizant cut her off.

"Wonderful. So very wonderful!" The Ant Queen sounded happy enough - in fact, she seemed more than pleased by the concept of the artifact being in her possession. The slightest dipping of her head was made toward the Lieutenant. "You are dismissed, Lieutenant. You have your own business to attend to."

The Lieutenant bowed quickly in respect. "As you wish, my Queen." She practically jogged out of the room after that - Vi felt like she had the right idea. Elizant II then placed her two hands together above her very modestly-sized chest and shot straight to the heart of the matter. Apparently, what had come earlier was her form of small talk.

"Time is precious. Let us not waste it—the artifact. You may hand it over. Zaryant will collect it." The intimidating guard by the Queen's side stepped forward, indicating the Queen was referring to her.

"Hey, what about the re-" Vi blurted out, but Zasp punched her hard in the stomach, stopping her. It didin't hurt, but it was still rather rude!

"Not! Now!" The wasp hissed in fear under his breath, and Mothiva solemnly nodded in agreement. The dread at inciting the fury of the Ant Kingdom's crown was palpable on their faces.

"Ugh, alright..." Vi rolled her eyes in annoyance, reluctantly fishing out the mask from her secret hiding spot - the valley between her chest. Despite all of the culinary antics she had been up to yesterday, not a speck of edible matter could be found on it - at least, not to the naked eye. Kina and Maki parted to allow Zaryant access to Vi, swiping the artifact from the bee's outstretched hands. After giving it to Elizant, the monarch tilted her face down so that she could see it through her own mask in all its splendor. "Ah... A clue into the Everlasting Sapling my mother spent her life looking for..." Elizant stared at the artifact longingly, her grip on it tightening just a bit. "Such beauty. Beauty which should belong to Ant Kingdom..."
“That certainly is the case, isn’t it? I must say though, it was an honor to be of service.” Mothiva put on her goody-good face, gently smiling at the Queen. “Brave explorers! You’ve performed a valiant task. Your place in the history of our kingdom is assured.” Elizant II raised her voice, spreading her arms out as her praise echoed throughout the room.That wasn’t the only thing that echoed through the room as The Queen’s corsetted dress seemed to make an odd, straining sound, causing Zaryant to panic a bit. “It’s… Simply getting old. Her Majesty’s going to need a fresh one soon!” Zaryant came up with a blatantly awful lie. “A-anyway…Congratulations. It is a praise well-earned.” Maki looked at the five bugs with Kina giving a face of approval. “O-Of course! Thank you, your highness!” Kabbu kneeled, still in disbelief that the five of them accomplished such a dangerous feat. “Heheh! First bee in the hall of fame!” Vi’s cheeks puffed out, her face beaming with accomplishment.

“Ohohoho! Another job well done for Team Mothiva!” The silk moth put a claw to her mouth, laughing louder than usual. “...Aren’t I forgetting… OH YEAH! Where’s the rewar- Gah!” Zasp responded with another swift sock to the gut. “PETEULANT CHILD! HOW DARE YOU REFER TO THE QUEEN IN SUCH A MANNER!?” Zaryant boomed so loud it actually caused a small amount of debris to fall. “I AM NOT A CHIL- Urg!” Another sock from Zasp ended the dispute. “Shut it you…” He hissed. Oh hohoho! A feisty one, aren’t you? Few dare to speak to me with such insolence. Maki, you clearly have a keen judge of character. Count your blessings, explorer. Few do I spare the rod in respect to their accomplishments.” Elizant chuckled, clearly in amusement, which Vi didn’t appreciate. “Y-your majesty! They are not worthy of being in your presence! Much less your pardon. Zaryant objected, clearly not fond of the tubby bee. Stay put, Zaryant. They accomplished what your squad failed to do, didn’t they?” Elizant II made a halting gesture to the armored ant. “Ngh…” Zaryant muttered, admitting defeat.

“Take this. Just make sure you know you’re place next time, young bee.” Both teams received 30 berries and a Crystal Berry. “W-Woah! This is a ton!” Vi exclaimed, while Mothiva simply had sparkles in her eyes from the sight. “Uh. Thanks. Could we ask something, though?” Leif asked, with his monotone voice. “I suppose we can afford time for one question. What would it be?” Elizant II responded, intrigued by what Lief was going to ask. “YOUR HIGHNESS!!! “A guard ant came running in, panicking. “What? What is this fuss about!?” The Queen asked, impatiently crossing her arms. U-urgent news! Confidential information! It’s about…that!” She explained as the Queen’s body language seemed to calm a bit. “That, you say? Come hither.” She beckoned the guard to come closer. “I see…” She quietly said as she dismissed the guard. Maki. I leave you to your mission. While you're at it, inform Artis that the next expedition is confirmed.” She ordered Maki. “Of course, I shall move out at once, Your Highness.” He quickly grabbed Kina’s arm and left immediately. “But brother! I’m hungry!” Kina protested as her voice quickly faded into the distance.

“You five…I’ll bless you with a headstart. Zaryant, brief them about the Golden Hills expedition.” She turned to the armored ant, gesturing her to go on. “Heed me. Reports state that an ancient artifact lies in the Golden Hills. This is a small rural settlement behind our kingdom. It can be reached by the tunnel south from the Explorers’ Association.” Zaryant explained in an intimidating tone. “Uh, isn’t that Bee Kingdom territory?” Vi cocked a brow, crossing her arms. Do not dare interrupt us again, child. The Bee Kingdom is our close ally. They are, of course, aware of our expedition.” She gave Vi a stern look, growing a bit annoyed at the attitude-filled bee. “Now… Talk to the locals, obtain information, and seize the artifact, no matter the cost. Have you understood my command?” She asked, looking at Vi especially. “Of course, Your Majesty! Just leave it to team Mothiva!” The silk moth bowed, attempting to impress The Queen. “Alright then, take this map, just in case. Although, I’d hope you know how to head south.” Zaryant tapped her shield on the ground, emphasizing that this was no game.

“Err, thanks. So about our question.” Leif asked, patiently waiting for this opportunity. Whatever it was, I’m sure it can wait. This is of utmost importance. Head out!” She shooed them off. “Don’t make Your Majesty repeat herself! Move out!” Zaryant Slwoly approached the five, ready to take matters into her own hands. “Indeed. It’d be unwise to anger our Queen…” Lief muttered, intimidated by Zaryant’s impressive size. As the five headed out, Vi briefly glanced at the glass window of Queen Bianca, looking as plump as always. “Huh… Neat.” Vi said to herself as she continued on. “Alright! We did it! Look at all these berries! Heheh…” Vi was almost mesmerized by the stacks of cash in her arms. “Yeah, yeah. We’re taking off now. Don’t stand in my way next time. Zasp! Let’s go!” Mothiva pouted, closing her eyes, with her arms crossed. “WAIT!” Kabbu shouted, covering his mouth as he realized how loud he was being inside the palace.

“Ugh! What!?” Mothiva turned her head, shooting Kabbu a mean stare. “Your performance in Snakemouth was simply exquisite! Surely you realize that if we continue to collaborate, we’d find the artifacts that much faster.” Kabbu attempted to be persuasive, though he didn’t exactly do a great job. “What don’t you morons get!? I said NO!” She began to get angry. “Oh come on! The faster you get to stuff that gut of yours, Marshmallow!” Vi teased, slapping Mothiva’s belly. “Oh, you better not start this again, pollen puff!” She returned with a slap to Vi’s belly. “Don’t listen to them, Mothiva! I’ve already had to carry a drunken bee once before!” Zasp sounded desperate here. “You know you liked it…chubby cha-” “Hush!” Zasp quickly teleported behind Vi, covering her mouth. “I don’t see why we can’t continue. The Queen awards the both of us rewards.” Kabbu asked Mothiva again. “I don’t share the credit! Fat chance of doing this with us again!” Mothiva scoffed. “Heheh… Fat chance… Cause she’s fat.” Vi giggled to herself.
Kabbu sighed and shook his head as he came to the very depressing realization that he might not have been the skilled negotiator he had built himself up to be in his head. Mothiva might have had an ego bigger than her stomach and an attitude to back it up, but she and Zasp were incredibly skilled fighters - things would be a lot easier and safer for everyone if they joined forces, not just for the artifacts. It would also be a bonus not to worry about them constantly fighting one another. But the superstar seemed to have made up her mind, her head tossed up in the air like she was above them all, and Kabbu gave a pleading glance to Vi, who seemed to be the only one amongst their ranks who the moth had respect for. The bloated bee bit her lower lip, contemplating the right choice of words, before a look of eureka adorned his puffy face.

"Why don't we just join your team?" Vi suggested innocently and earnestly. She was met with silence, her words lingering around in the air them before, all at once, they crashed down on everyone's head, collectively prompting them all to jump back in shock. "...What?" The bee looked a little confused by everyone's reactions.

"V-VI!" Kabbu exclaimed, flapping his arms at the side of his torso. "I value your input, but that is… that's… we can't be Team Mothiva! We've only been a team for a day, and you want us to disband and follow under…her?!" Kabbu gestured toward Mothiva, who was equally in shock.

"Besides… isn't a team of five a little much for the Explorers' Association?" Leif interjected, his monotone voice betraying his inner bewilderment for Vi's suggestion. "Maki would most likely chew our ears off if we combined forces in such a way."

"Well, Maki isn't here right now," Vi smirked as she put her hands on her doughy hips. "Come on, guys, she's not that bad. We'll still be exploring together and all that. Kabbu, does it matter what leader you answer to if you can lend an even stronger hand to someone in need?" Vi almost barfed from how sickeningly sweet she sounded, but she tried to play into Kabbu's chivalric, noble side. To an extent, it worked as the rainbow scarab beetle widened his eyes under his helmet and tapped his hands together. Sure, Mothiva's needs and wants would come first, but they were all explorers, and at the end of the day, five heads could accomplish any problem faster than three heads.

"UM! Do I have a say in any of this!?" Mothiva stomped her foot on the palace floor, sending her whole body into jiggles. "What makes you think that I want you losers mucking up the name of Team Mothiva, huh?"

"Oh, so… you'd rather us kick your butt every time we run into each other for an artifact, then?" Vi shot the superstar a nasty, confident grin, making her scowl. "So instead of you getting ALL of the credit, and maybe even a bigger reward…" Vi hefted up her bag of thirty berries. Together with Mothiva's sack, it would have made a whopping sixty-berry reward. "... after your team does ALL the work, you want to jog all over Bugaria just to find out we got there first and have to go back to the Queen empty-handed?"

"... what's in this for you?" Mothiva narrowed her eyes. Team No-Name working for her? Not the worst idea. But it still diluted the solo-act thing she had been riding on; Zasp had been wise enough to stay out of the spotlight, but these three idiots were unpredictable. Even if she were taking center stage, her performance would get undermined by the others, even if they weren't actively trying to hog Bugaria's attention. Vi opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out of it - she was interrupted by her stomach, the black and yellow ball of furry fat wobbling violently as it roared in hunger.

"...w-w-well…I was hoping we could have more of those lunches together…" Vi sounded sheepish, a blush coming to her face as she looked away.

"That can't be the only reason." Zasp shook his head, exasperated. Vi chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck fluff, unable to make eye contact with the wasp. "...it is the only reason. Mothiva, please, don't take her request seriously - none of them are committed to Team Mothiva. The bee just wants you to spend our hard-earned funds on stuffing her face."

"...hmm." Mothiva closed her eyes, weighing the options in her head. Her own stomach grumbled as well, making the moth pat it gently, trying to soothe it. Zasp says 'our' funds, but in practice, all of the money he earned from the jobs he took from the Quest Board was spent on her food. If she added the beetle, the bee, and the geometer moth, they would also have to contribute. All the money to Team Mothiva, all the glory, all the food…! But even with all that said, it was still difficult for her to agree to something so bold. She…really did not like working with others.

"...Vi, I think you're hiding something from us." Leif raised an eyebrow, keen to pick up that there was more to the story with Vi wanting to join the enemy team. "Do you…look up to her?"

"...!" Vi made a noise only her kind could make, her fur standing on end as her wings fluttered involuntarily. Mothiva opened her eyes to see a pouting, blushing bee crossing her chubby arms across her bountiful chest as she tried to look disinterested. "N-NO! I...maybe I'm a little jealous, okay? Can't a girl feel jealousy sometimes?! She's a hungry, greedy prima donna with all of Bugaria singing her name - is it wrong for me to want to…be more like her?" The bee's face was a slurry of emotions - respect, denial, embarrassment, fake confidence and a whole slew of others. The superstar blinked as she registered what the annoying bee had said while Zasp butted in yet again.

"Did you hear that, Mothiva? She's just trying to leech off you and steal away your success!" The wasp turned his head quickly to the right in a huff. "She's nothing more than a parasite who wants to follow you around in the hopes you acknowledge her!"

"The pot calling the kettle black, eh?" Mothiva giggled, making Zasp blush and lower his head in embarrassment. The superstar would never admit this, but…she was touched. She never pictured herself as a role model, her public persona was too shallow for anyone to latch onto, but that someone wanted to be more like the side of her she kept hidden from the audience, warts and all… "Fine. With many reservations and not an ounce of trust, I graciously allow you peons to join Team Mothiva. This will either be a fast track to even further fame or a giant garbage fire, but at least it will be fun to watch your burn." The superstar's words were harsh, but her face seemed genuinely amused.

"This…is not how I saw today going." Kabbu shook his head, a sentiment that Zasp could share. Vi, however, sported a winning smile that split her face, unable to help herself from wrapping Mothiva in her arms for a quick hug. Mothiva resisted at first before sighing, returning the embrace before splitting apart. With the new team dynamic settling into place, however, one person remained relatively quiet; Leif hugged the side of the palace walls, lost in thought, and Kabbu picked up on this behavior. "Leif, are you quite alright? I know this turn of events is not my cup of tea, but -

"No, no, I couldn't care less about that." Leif sighed, and soon everyone assembled by the throne room door was looking at him. "Everyone…may we confess something?"

"Well, we are teammates now." Zasp struggled to keep his bitterness at bay, unhappy that he was no longer the sole other member of the team to support Mothiva by her side. "Shoot." Mothiva rolled her eyes, encouraging the geometer moth to keep going. Vi tilted her head, slightly curious, while Kabbu touched Leif's shoulder. The temperature in the room suddenly dropped - Mothiva & Vi were insulated from it with their fat, but the wasp and the scarab beetle failed to suppress a shiver.

"When our team left for Snakemouth Den..." The geometer moth paused before mustering the strength to keep going. "The Queen was Elizant the First."

"...huh?" Mothiva couldn't wrap her head around what she just heard.

"WHAT!?" The bee among the group gave a high-pitched yell of surprise, not concerned about how many decibels were allowed within Anthill Palace. "B-but…I wasn't even born when Elizant II took the throne!"

"W-What?!" The scarab beetle was equally flustered. "Leif, that is not possible!"

"That would make you…" Zasp backed away from the geometer moth, realization dawning on his face with horror. "...very, very old."

"It's... it's the truth. The plaza has changed, there's a new Queen, we can't find our team anywhere..." Mothiva had to concede those were some solid evidence points for something that didn't make much sense. "We've been trapped for...decades? We don't even know. We hoped we were just fuzzy, but walking around has confirmed it." The geometer moth's voice, reverberating off the crystal-decorated palace walls, sounded even weirder as he grew stressed. It sounded like something multi-segmented was shifting around inside his throat.

"Leif…" Kabbu tried to say something reassuring, but the words failed to materialize. Everyone else was left speechless - the new and improved Team Mothiva was proving to be a ragtag bunch of misfits. A rainbow beetle thinking he's a knight, a money-obsessed bee, a vainglorious silk moth, a much-put-upon wasp, and now a geometer moth who had apparently been asleep for…far too long.

"And this new Queen..." Leif added. "She -" Leif was interrupted by the thunderous sound of fabric coming apart at the seams emanating from the throne room, catching everyone off guard. "...I was going to say 'far too skinny,' but…maybe I'm wrong?"
Curious by the odd sound, the team carefully peered into the hallway to witness Elizant’s true form. She was quite plump, though not as bug as someone such as Vi or Mothiva. Unlike them, she DID have some self-control. She had some moderate, though inoffensive breasts, a soft tummy that stuck out a fair bit, though not exactly enough to be considered obese, plush thighs that touched each other occasionally, and what appeared to be a rump exciding average. It was all a bit of a blur from all that distance away, but one thing for sure was that she wasn’t exactly thin. The five quickly exited the palace and headed straight for the plaza. “Well, our intuition was correct…” Lief stated, his expression not changing in the slightest. “H-how did she manage to get that thing on, to begin with?” Mothiva asked in disbelief at how well that outfit hid her curves. “That is irrelevant. Let us waste no time and head for the Golden Hills right away!” Kabbu announced, being as overdramatic as always. “Yeah, no. Do you idiots not remember who’s in charge here!? If you’re sticking with me, then you should know your place!” She loomed over Kabbu, using her size to her advantage. “What are you, The Queen?” Vi muttered, crossing her arms while rolling her eyes.

“Hmm… Yes, I suppose that’s a suitable role for me. Excellent job, Vi!” Mothiva smirked at her, oddly giving praise for once. “Anyway, before you three seriously join the team, we’ve got some rules around here. First rule: I make any and all decisions unless stated otherwise. Second rule: We don’t collaborate with everyone. Third rule: We don’t help anyone unless it up’s my public image. If anyone asks you for help… TELL THEM TO SHOVE IT UP THEIR THORAX! …Unless the rewards are great…” She whispered that last part. “By The Queen! Such a vulgar phrase to say!” Kabbu was in shock as he hasn’t heard that phrase in quite a while, specifically in the north. “So!? I say whatever I want! Know your place, peon! And another thing! While I couldn’t care about that stupid Quest Board, it does pay well. Don’t expect me to do all the labor though.” “Get used to this.” Zasp whispered to Kabbu in pity. “Alright, before we head for our next mission, we shall do some shopping to prepare. Normally I’d make you lackey’s do some side quests, but since The Queen paid us so generously, you’ll receive pity from me today.

“Can we get some breakfast now?” Vi whined like a child. “Hmm… Do you have any medals yet?” Mothiva asked the three. “Well, you see… No…” Vi nervously said. “Amateurs! Everyone knows that medals are the key to battling!” Mothiva shouted in disapproval. “You will buy some at the store next to Fry! It’s an order! I’ll be back in an hour. Don’t let me down!” Mothiva stormed off, leaving the other four behind. “She goes off on her own every once in a while. Don’t ask what she does. I wouldn’t know.” Zasp explained. “How valiant for a leader.” Leif sarcastically said as Mothiva vanished into the screen transition. “I’ll handle the food. You three focus on the medals.” Zasp was about to walk off as well but stopped when Vi made a snarky comment. “Oooo! I get it! You want to be alone so you can see that butterf- Gah!” She received another punch to the gut. “I’ll seriously hurt you next time.” Zasp gave her a cold glare, causing the bee to quiver for a second as he walked off. The remaining three had no choice but to listen to Mothiva’s orders as they browsed the small selection of medals for sale. Despite their generous reward from The Queen seemingly being ‘A ton’ as Vi described it, they couldn’t even purchase a single medal!

“Curse you inflation! I remember back when medals only used to cost-” Yeah, we don’t want to hear your backstory.” Vi huffed, interrupting Kabbu. “...You do realize we managed to find a couple of medals in the den, right?” Lief flashed them in front of them. “Whaaaat!? Why didn’t you say so earlier!?” Vi flailed her arms, furious by what she was hearing. “If you would have let us talk, then maybe we could have said this sooner…” Lief muttered, feeling insignificant at the moment. “Is that why you took a while to catch up, Lief?” Kabbu asked. “Mhm.” He mumbled. “I must say, I am quite impressed! You are truly a valuable addition to our team!” Kabbu attempted to lift the team's spirits. “I’m hungr-” Lief froze Vi before she could finish that statement. “We cannot take this infernal noise anymore!” Lief briefly snapped before calming down again. “Well, considering that Zap is handling the food, what do you say we explore this plaza, eh?” Kabbu excitedly said, desperately trying to change the subject. “Mmphrph…” Vi attempted to speak in her frozen coffin.

The three briefly split up, finding some intriguing services. An item storage, a bank, and even some traveling merchants. Vi even managed to buy some items from them with her savings. After time passed, Mothiva soon returned with a fake smile. “Team Mothiva, assemble!” The other four approached her and were a bit unsettled by her oddly cheerful smile. “Let us eat, then we shall head off to the Golden settlement. Vi, I give you the privilege to sit beside me again.” They combined the tables for a second time, spreading out the spread of food across the tables. “Oh wow! There are dishes with honey in it! Your growing on me, Zasp!” Vi gave him a sly smirk. “That’s not a good thing…” Zasp snickered back at her as the bee licked her lips. “I can’t wait to drink some more!” Vi’s cheek’s flushed as the sweet berry juice touched her tastebuds. “Don’t have too much now. We don’t want you…somehow getting drunk off juice on our way to the Golden Hills.” Mothiva oddly sounded motherly while saying that, surprising everyone quite a bit.

“Awww! But it was fun!” Vi whined, looking a tad sad. “It wasn’t for me!” Zasp snarked sharply with rage in his eyes. Yet again, the women scarfed down a variety of treats, but not eating so much as to hinder their movement on their journey. “Hmm… That’ll do.” Mothiva patted her gut as she could easily pack in more substance than Vi could. “I think I overdid it a bit… I-I can still get around though!” Vi squeezed her slightly distended belly. “Oh well, it’ll have to do.” Mothiva helped Vi onto her feet, wrapping her arm around her, and the two of them walked off. “You know, your not so bad when you obey orders. Now then, allow me to teach you how to…” Her voice drowned out as the two plush bugs walked into the screen transition, Zasp having a mortified expression on his face.

“For the love of Bugaria, please don’t make those two click!” “But you’ve got to admit, they do look quite content.” Kabbu had a giddy smile on his face, happy that the team was off to a positive start. “I don’t want another Mothiva! ONE’S ENOUGH!” Zasp boomed, claws clenched while scaring a couple of locals from the sheer volume of his scream. “Now, now. Vi’s her own character. Though she may be influenced by Mothiva, doesn’t mean she’ll transform into her. I assure you, deep down she is a caring bug with a charming personality.” Kabbu boldly defended the two. “Let’s see how long that’ll last…” Zasp muttered as he too walked off. The five eventually reunited, Mothiva and Vi chatting up a storm, while occasionally bickering…but a mostly positive talk. They made their way south of the Explorers’ Association to end up back where they wiped up from Snakemouth Den.
"SOMEBODY, HELP!!!"

A beige and brown-furred moth could be seen in the distance before the tunnel entrance to the Golden Lands. He looked very distressed, clutching a bundle of papers to his chest, and with a perfect reason, as by his sides were two wasps pointing spears at him with murderous intent evident in their expressions. Enraged by the moth's cry for help, the two unfriendly-looking wasps made a pincushion out of him, bashing his abdomen with the blunt bits of their spears. They didn't pierce his skin, but they were leaving bruises, and it wouldn't be long until they spilled hemolymph. The moth fell to the ground, clearly in pain, and the wasps above him did not look like they would stop. "Ugh, they're blocking the tunnel!" Mothiva rolled her eyes, much to the disgust of Kabbu.

"I-I told you, you savages… I don't know anything…" The moth spoke in a shaky voice, rightfully fearful for his life.

"Hmph! The renowned Professor Neolith doesn't know anything?!" One of the wasps scoffed, not buying what his prey had said for a second. The other spear-holding insect kicked the man hard into his abdomen, making the professor cry out in a weak groan of pain. "Spill the beans about the artifacts, or pay with your life!" The grips around their spears became tighter - this was not an empty threat.

"Oh Gods…" Professor Neolith tried crawling away, only for one of the wasps to plant a chitinous foot down onto his back, pinning him.

"STOP!" The two wasps' antennae shot up as they heard another voice behind them. Turning around, they saw a rainbow scarab beetle rush down the hill to confront them. "I will not allow this injustice any longer!" The professor weakly looked up, trying hard to regain his strength, and muttered Kabbu's name under his breath. It was very, very good to see a familiar face in what might be his last moments alive.

"Kabbu?! I did not tell you to intervene - what part of 'leader' do you not understand?!" Mothiva rushed down the hill with the others in tow, as they were now locked into a fight and had to protect the beetle. Mothiva would have preferred if they could have tried to inch around the scene, but Kabbu had to undermine her authority with his stupid chivalrous mindset! "At least let me get the first word in next time!" She scolded, slapping the side of his helmet the moment she got in range, staggering the beetle out of his battle stance for a moment.

"Assaulting someone who can't even fight…" Leif shook his head, loathing plain in his voice. "You have no dignity…"

"Stay out of this!" One of the wasps sneered, not amused to see their work interrupted. “We will eliminate whoever…gets in our…” The wasp's speech slowly trailed to a halt, both spear-wielding menaces going stiff as a rod as they noticed the slender, brown-red wasp with crooked antennae standing by Mothiva's side.

"...Uh, Zasp?" Vi tossed her beemerang up in the air, trying to intimidate the wasps with her weapon as she noticed he was the object of their attention. "Why are these two jerks sarong at you like that?" However, Zasp had lost all of his nerves before the battle started, shaking and stepping away from the other two members of his kind. He backed away until he collided with the supremely soft paunch of his idol, Mothiva, who looked down at her teammate in annoyance and concern.

"TRAITOR!" The two wasps went rabid, the spark of intelligence leaving their eyes and briefly looking just as wild and feral as the unlifted bugs that lurk outside Bugaria's borders. Abandoning all battle strategy, the two soldiers lunged together toward Zasp, brandishing their spears aimed at his eyes. Kabbu took the opportunity to bash his horn into one of them as they passed by, making him lose balance as he cried out from the wound in his side, while Leif froze the other, his spear just inches away from Zasp's skull, much to the friendly wasp's terror. "TRAITOR, DEVIANT! You betrayed the Wasp Kingdom, the Wasp King! You must pay, PAY!" The unfrozen wasp frothed at the mandibles, Vi having to repeatedly throw her trusted Beemerang at the soldier's skull as he tried to get back up.

Zasp didn't say anything; the only response that the rabid soldier's ramblings wanted was a swift punch to the face. The soldier buzzed in a cacophonic fury, wanting to drive his spear into Zasp's flesh so badly. "I don't know who you crooks are…" Mothiva's voice was cold venom, gently grabbing Zasp by his shoulders before she lifted him out of harm's way, much to his confusion. "But you are in my way, I have tried to kill my Zasp and nearly got his guts all over my fur." With all those reasons listed, Mothiva felt she had adequately explained why she was about to decimate the Wasp Kingdom lackey. She stomped hard enough on the spear that the soldier was reaching for that not only the wood broke, but the ground shook slightly from her heavy weight.

"You fat sack of mud!" The wasp roared in a fury, his rage now directed at the superstar as he angrily pounded his fists against the sloping fat of Mothiva's soft tummy, only making the orb jiggle and wobble violently. Mothiva closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and clutched at the antenna attached to the soldier's head. The sensitive appendages were dragged up to the moth's mouth, the sole audience for her performance. Zasp motioned desperately for everyone to cover their ears just in time. The wasp soldier suddenly seized up, his body quaking as Mothiva 'sang' him a high-pitched, ear-splitting note straight into his antennae, the onslaught of noise overwhelming his nervous system and sending him unconscious as he went limp in the air.

"... I'm glad that you're on our side." Leif nodded dryly.

Unfortunately, Mothiva's singing has the byproduct of shattering the ice that had frozen the other wasp soldier. Ignoring the pain of frostbite in his system, the Wasp Kingdom lackey circled Mothiva to get to Zasp. The reddish-brown wasp deftly dodged the spear thrusts that the yellow one threw at him, which became less coordinated over time as the wielder became increasingly enraged that he was missing. "You fraternized with our sworn enemy! You left us, left the KING! All must serve the Wasp King - just die already, you freak!" The soldier took flight, floating above the group with hate-filled eyes as he pointed his spear at the most prominent target he could find - Mothiva.

The spear's aim, however, was thrown off course as Leif shot a shard of ice into the air, striking the wasp in his head and making him fall to the ground in pain, just next to Kabbu. The beetle quickly disarmed the soldier by picking up his spear and chucking it into the river. "...you won't be so…lucky next…time…Zasp." The wasp weaky spat acid at the quintet before falling unconscious, an eerie silence falling over them all. The end of a battle was supposed to be celebrated, but the wasps' behavior was so…odd.

"What…was that all about?" Kabbu stepped away from the unconscious soldier, a little creeped out by the twitching scowl the insect had even in sleep. "Zasp, do you-?"

"No." Zasp cut Kabbu off, still shaking from the adrenaline rush. "No, no, don't ask me any questions. Please. Not with them around." He gestured to the knocked-out members of his kind. Kabbu frowned but nodded his head - he was curious, of course, but respected his sense of privacy. The Wasp Kingdom was clearly a very sore subject for him.

"What a scare…Thank you all so much…!" Professor Neolith, who the wasps had forgotten about, got back to his feet with a limp and a broad smile, his papers now grass-stained and crumbled, but he still held onto them like a dragon jealousy guards its gold. "I really thought I'd croak before finishing my research…"

"Neo, I'm so glad you're alright!... Mothiva, what are you doing?" Kabbu was overjoyed to see his friend again, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his new team leader bent over one of the knocked-out soldiers. Turning around, he saw the superstar lifting their berries from their unconscious bodies. "Mothiva, that's stealing!"

"Kabbu, it was thanks to your timely appearance! It has to be fate!" The kind-hearted professor limped over to wrap his arm across the valiant beetle's shoulder, weakly chuckling and glad to be alive. "Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but, well…I think these ruffians being relieved of their funds is the least of their worries right now."

"Hah! Glad to see that at least someone is thinking straight." Mothiva cackled, glad to hear that this fellow moth did not find trouble with her actions! Fortunately, these two wasps were loaded with supplies - if not, Professor Neolith would have to reckon with her. She wasn't a charity! "So…who even are you, anyway?" The superstar finished sifting through the personal items of the first wasp and hopped over to the next one, giddy to see that he held just as much as his unconscious compatriot.

"...seriously, you don't know? Professor Neolith is the leading authority in archeology!" Of all the people to lend an answer to Mothiva's query, no one was expecting Vi to cast her voice into the conversation. The four looked at her askance, making her blush. "W-what? I…I have hobbies, okay? I read up on his articles occasionally - not for the research, though; for the treasure he finds!"

"Do you even know what archeology means?" Mothiva smirked teasingly.

"Nope!" The bloated bee cheerfully grinned.
"So, it seems that you two know each other pretty well. I think now's the time to hear some of your backstory." Vi gave a cheeky smirk to Kabbu, causing the beetle to go into a hearty chuckle. "Well, it's nothing special. Let's just say that Neo and I met in the Lost Sands while I...traveled to the Ant Kingdom. He helped me find my way." Kabbu stuttered for a second, feeling a devastating wound in his heart seeing the professor in such physical pain. "Heh... It was nothing compared to saving me from that ambush. Coincidently, I was examining this tunnel, leading to the outskirts to the Golden Path." Neolith weakly said, with a couple of happy tears in his eyes as he gradually began to stand up before quickly frowning again. "I never expected to get assaulted! Although a less visited path does lend itself to it." He looked at the blades of grass below him, hanging his head low. "The wasps have behaved a few moons, but they can't be planning anything good. If it's going to be this unsafe, maybe I should cancel this trip and head back..." He muttered, devastated. "Yeah, you do that. Team Mothiva doesn't do anything for fr-" Kabbu quickly covered her mouth before she could finish that sentence. "He works for Elizant! Don't you want to get your reputation up?" He hissed in her antennae, attempting to manipulate her into helping his dear friend.

"Professor!" Coming from the distance, two more explorers rushed into the scene. A short, armored ladybug with a helmet sporting the blade, and a tall, plump armored ant sporting the shield. "Professor, we're on a journey to the Golden Hills. We will be glad to escort you. The ant said with a bright smile on her face." "Oh! Thank you!" The professor bowed with gratitude. "O-oh! W-well, for the sake of your situation, Team Mothiva would be more than happy to help! We just CAN'T leave such a poor bug to his demise now, can't we!?" She gave a fake smile, winking at the rest of her team. "Oh no, you've done plenty! We explorers got to support each other after all!" The ant beemed art Mothiva. "Yes, it would be an honor if we escorted the professor in your stead. You five were spectacular in that battle!" The ladybug added. "You really don't have to do that." Mothiva tried so hard not to snap, clenching her jaw with all her might. "Heheh, it's okay, Mothiva. I'll make sure to put in a good word for you when I return to the palace." Neolith chuckled to himself as he left with the other team. "D-does he know about her true colors?" Vi stood there, both confused and uneasy at the event that just transpired. "Erm, are you quite alright, Mothiva?" Kabbu nervously approached the shaking Mothiva only to get jump scared by the silk moth stomping her foot so hard, it made a miniature crater in the ground.

"THOSE MOOCHERS!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, causing ringing in the other's heads. "I-It's not as bad as you think. Neolith is still going to put a good word for you, Mothiva." Kabbu stuttered as he tried not to look her directly in the eyes. "TEAM! MOTHIVA! DOESN'T! COLLABORATE! Why should I, the one who did all the heavy lifting, have to share the credit with some petty credit thieves!?" "Well..." "Don't answer that!" Mothiva scoffed at Kabbu as he slowly turned to Vi. "What are you looking at me for!? It's true! They just want to cash in our fame!" Vi Crossed her arms, angrily. "Finally, someone with common sense!" Mothiva clasped her claws together, calming down a bit. "V-Vi! Have you gone mad!? They were only trying to be good sports!" Kabby squabbled nervously in place, flabbergasted by what just escaped Vi's mouth. "They've got a point..." Lief quietly said, his expression as lifeless as ever. "Sigh What a disaster..." Kabbu hunched over, utterly defeated by the team's crass behavior. "Tch! I will give you credit for providing me with the social status of the professor. Perhaps you lot aren't utter trash after all." Mothiva complimented Kabbu with some gruff in her voice to which she then turned to Zasp. "I believe you owe us an explanation!" Mothiva put her claws on her hips, looking at Zasp with an impatient posture. "I don't owe anyone anything!" Zasp mustered the courage to back-talk to his leader, taking her aback a bit. "Are you deaf!? I said-" "THINK ABOUT ANYONE BUT YOURSELF FOR ONCE!" He boomed, sending chills down everyone's spine.

"How would you feel being one of the few wasps to escape the inevitable!? Having their entire race enslaved and forced to serve that fiendish usurper! Locking up the queen, torturing her with the vilest of methods, which you gluttons call 'simple pleasures in life'!" Zasp released all this rage at once, looking even more intimidating than the wasps from earlier. "Wait... Being fed is considered torture? Sign me u-" "YOU SHUT UP, YOU OBESE HONEY GUZZLER!" He snapped at Vi, his shadow somehow looking darker than before as he loomed over her. The bee was utterly terrified, she curled up into a ball, shivering and shedding a couple of tears. What she always saw as a gentle, chill wasp, is now a frightening, dangerous creature. It was just as Queen Bianca said in the stories, and for once, Vi truly felt like a small child. Zasp slammed his fist against the walls of the outskirts and breathed heavily. "I hope you're happy..." He muttered, calming down a bit, but still extremely furious. "...I'm sorry..." Mothiva quietly spoke, acting sheepish, rubbing the side of her plump neck. For once in her life, she felt sympathy. Apologizing was a new action for her, and doing it felt awkward, but oddly endearing in a weird kind of way. "Let's just go already...and don't talk to me..." Zasp quietly entered the tunnel, not saying a word, with the only sounds being Vi whimpering and sniffling on the small blades of grass.
Zasp muttered angrily as he stomped through the tunnel to the Golden Lands, not knowing that none of his team members was following him. But even though he did know, he would unlikely have cared, considering his current state. All he could think about what his past, his old life before becoming an explorer, and the Wasp Kingdom in its halcyon days. The reddish-brown wasp was soon lost to nostalgia for a time when he could walk around Bugaria without getting fearful looks from others, when Queen Vanessa II, caring, fair, and wise, was on the throne. Then the mimic fly came.

Slowly but inexorably, everything that Zasp knew began to warp and corrode into something alien, unfamiliar, and hostile, as if the world he knew twisted into an outcropping of the Dead Lands. Wasps were already scary by the rest of Bugaria's standards - they were carnivores, but most got by eating aphid eggs - but the Wasp King's rise to power soured his race's reputation further. It was bad enough that his closest comrades tried to kill him for not buying into the lies that had poisoned their minds, but after fleeing into the Lost Sands, he found that the treatment he got from others would only be marginally better. He eeked out an existence as a mercenary, surviving off crunchy leaves that made him sick because his body didin't know how to wrestle nutrients from plant fiber until he saved up enough money to attend a concert by Mothiva. It felt like she was singing to him & only him, that the rest of the audience was just white noise and bodies taking up space.

When Zasp met Mothiva backstage, his heart soared - she accepted him. She was a rude, arrogant, selfish glutton offstage, but that didin't matter because she didin't care that he was a wasp! He demonstrated his physical prowess to her, and she convinced Maki to let him into the Explorers' Association as her teammate. And then...and then Zasp realized that he had been so lost in his thoughts that he had not noticed that he had been walking into a rock for the past thirteen minutes. The wasp blinked, his head pressed against cold grimy granite as his legs carved a ditch out in the dirt beneath him, and he sighed before stopping. He tilted his head back before throwing it into the rock, grunting in annoyance.

"Oh, thank Gods, you finally stopped." A familiar voice rang out in Zasp's antennae from behind him, making the wasp sigh in displeasure. It was the same voice he thought had sung only to him all those years ago. "I thought that you had a brain aneurism or something."

"What do you want, Mothiva?" Zasp groaned, not bothering to turn around to face his idol. "I told you not to talk to me."

"Well, I thought I should let you know we finally got Vi to stop the waterworks." Ouch, that hurt. Zasp frowned, sharply inhaling through his mandibles. After ten minutes of walking in place, he had calmed down enough to realize what he said to the bee might have been too much. What she said was immature and ill-timed, but, of course, he had to act like the big bad wasp from the bad old days when his unlifted ancestors lured bees to wasp nests to eat. "And I wanted you to know that...that I'm s-... I'm..." Zasp groaned, knowing very well what she was trying to say and annoyed that it was such an arduous task.

"Sorry?" Zasp sneered at the rock he was facing, tired of hearing Mothiva stutter. He was only met with silence. "For what?"

"...for...taking so long to learn about you, okay?!" Mothiva sounded indignant and sad simultaneously, like this whole interaction was below her, but it was her fault she was here to do it. Zasp's angry scowl melted into confusion, and he finally bothered to turn around to see the superstar he had been talking to. Her hands were balled up to fists at her sides, shaking against the plush fat of her hips, while her face was contorted into an expression he had never seen her wear before. Her eyes were narrowed at him, but they were welling up with tears. "I'm embarrassed, alright? You...you know everything about me! You know which food and drinks I like, my pre-concert warmup routine, my fighting moves, how I became Bugaria's sensation, and I... don't know anything about you. I never wanted to ask where you came from, your family, or what you like eating. It never crossed my mind..."

Zasp was blown back - this was not what he had expected Mothiva to say. "...fried eggs." Zasp eventually said, crossing his arms over his chest while looking away, confusion entering the many emotions displayed on Mothiva's face as he did so. "Fried eggs are my favorite food. It's the only food I can eat."

"But that's...I've seen you eat other food before." Mothiva thought back to last week when she graciously allowed Zasp to finish her leftover leaf salad. She had gotten full after everything else she had feasted away on, and it would have been a shame to let it go to waste, so she gave it to Zasp, who had been looking sluggish that day and could use the energy boost. "Do you mean it's the food people expect you to eat? Because of that carnivore myth?"

"...myth?" Zasp blinked. Silence settled over the two, confusion on both faces before Mothiva's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She took a few steps back, looking at Zasp with an indiscernible expression. It was the same way people reacted to his sight when he first fled to Defiant Root.

"Za-Zasp...no. No, no, no..." Mothiva's pudgy, fluffy body jiggled like pudding as she shivered in shock. Fear, anger, and hurt were in her eyes, and Zasp struggled not to cry. This couldn't be happening; it just couldn't. So she wasn't afraid of him only because she thought it was all rumors? And now he just spilled the truth out on one syllable. Zasp panicked and opened his mouth to lie, to cover up what he said, before Mothiva slapped him hard on the cheek, leaving an imprint. "You've been... p-p-poisoning yourself!? WHY?! Why didin't you tell me that you could only eat meat?!" Zasp looked at her again, tears streaming down her plump cheeks freely.

"Well!" Zasp spread his hands to either side of his torso, astonished at how little Mothiva knew about his race. "How could you NOT know!? Why do you think you had put in a good word for me to get into the Explorers' Association? Why do you think the guards in the Bee Kingdom make me give me a hard time when I go with you to concerts at the Hive? Why do you think I'm so thin compared to the other Wasps we defeated?"

"I...never paid attention to that..." Mothiva's anger-born-of-worry turned to anger directed inward, palming her eyes as she huffed out a sob. "Oh, Gods...so whenever I told you to eat something that wasn't eggs -"

"Being sick never stopped me from being a competent fighter." Zasp defended himself. "Besides, I couldn't just...say no..."

"Stop making excuses for me! I don't need an obedient corpse!" Mothiva lifted her hands from her eyes and glared hard at Zasp as she screamed hard enough to make a distant stalactite fall from the tunnel roof. "I need you alive...please..." The superstar transitioned from screaming to whimpering in a heartbeat, sounding quiet. Quiet didn't suit Mothiva, in Zasp's opinion. Her voice was supposed to be heard through songs and orders, whether harmonious or barking. When she was quiet, she sounded so small...

Zasp remembered whenever he fell in battle, Mothiva would admonish him, scolding him for getting hurt, and she would treat it as a huge hassle to heal him. She wanted him alive? She never made that known before. So...what had changed? Was one outburst enough to make her learn an ounce of empathy? Or was it...Vi? He was scared Mothiva's bad behavior would rub off on the bee, but he never thought the bloated honey guzzler would rub off on the moth. Oh, great, he just reminded himself that he had to make up for making her cry. "I'm s-s-sorry for snapping at you, Mothiva. You're my light, my star; I just...wanted to..." Now it was the wasp's turn to cry, his eyes getting watery as, all at once, all of the memories swirling through his head when the soldiers attacked him came rushing back. "I w-wanted...I want to go home..."

Mothiva sighed and wrapped her plump arms around the wasp, surprising him. The two didin't say anything for a moment, the silence in the tunnel speaking for all the words they couldn't say. Zasp allowed himself to snuggle against his idol's cushy form - Queen Vanessa might now be fat off sugary sweets that are toxic to her body, but Mothiva got to have all this softness without any hazard to her health. He could feel the steely muscles hiding underneath her marshmallowy fur - if she wanted to, she could snap him in half. But he felt safe, just listening to her inhaling and exhaling.

"...feel better?" Mothiva asked after a while, and Zaps nodded silently. Mothiva let go of Zasp, making him fall back against the rock he had been walking into earlier, the warmth and coziness escaping his grasp. "In that case, it's time for you to make someone else feel better?" Mothiva jerked her hand backward to the tunnel entrance, and Zasp knew all too well who she was referring to.

"I thought you said that she stopped crying?" Zasp tried to weasel out of his obligations, but Moithiva shook her head.

"Yeah, but she's still just sitting there on the grass like a big tubby pot of honey." There was some sharpness in her tone as she said her words, not in her usual ear-splitting demanding voice, yet it still cut hard. "We can't go any further until ALL of Team Mothiva is ready to go."
"Sigh I have to do this, don't I?" Zasp put a claw to his forehead, making some indescribable wasp sounds. "The sooner the better. It doesn't have to be too formal or anything. Just say you're sorry for snapping at her like that." Mothiva gave him a gentle smile. As he gazed into her eyes, he saw something he would never have imagined in his life. She was...sincere? She's tried to hide her true colors before, but her eyes always gave it away. She's always full of hatred, malice, and... Envy. To think that Mothiva would display such a face was certainly unsettling, to say the least. He then shivered as she gently bumped her plump hip against his. "Come on, let's make things right." She held his claw, squeezing it gently as the two of them walked outside, the rays of the sun pierced against their eyes. The brief moment of silence was quickly broken by the sound of Vi's weeping and sniffling. Mothiva gently pushed Zasp forward, him slowly approaching the bee. The moment her eye's met his, she rolled backward, hiding behind Kabbu in fear, which was a terrible hiding spot.

"May I?" He asked the beetle in a calm voice. With a simple nod, he began to step aside, his steps causing the grass to crunch about. "Hey, look I didn't mean to snap at you like that. Just don't talk about our Queen like that again. My life has been...complicated to say the least." He sighed, trying not to remember those hard times. "Sniffle Get away... Q-Queen Bianca was right... Wasps are barbaric... Killers... Stupid..." She squeaked, rocking herself in place. "Believe what you want, but I'm not like those other ones." He reached his arm out for Vi to grab but was instead met with her pointing her stinger directly toward him. Her face was indescribable. It was like she was angry, afraid, lifeless, and many other emotions all coinciding with each other. She didn't speak, only staring at him with those nerving eyes of hers. Things weren't looking good. What kind of leader was Mothiva to not step in? She made her way to the frightened bee, making sure as to not get too close, as her instincts might kick off after all. "Vi, Zasp normally isn't vile or aggressive. It's just... He's been through some hard times and well... I really shouldn't have pressed the subject. So please, just forgive him..." Mothiva put on a gentle expression, one that was surprisingly comfy for Vi to stare at.

With another look at the wasp, she noticed his antennae softly resting at the sides of his head. His face was similarly just as soft as his posture. Just all those minutes ago was a monster described exactly like the tales, but now was instead a gentle creature that didn't seem to be much of any harm. She slowly retracted her stinger, still wary of him. "You don't have to forgive me now. If you must regain my trust, then so be it." He turned his back, slowly walking away in the gentle breeze. "U-um... Maybe I can give you another chance. I-I guess everyone loses their marbles eventually." She felt a tad ashamed as she cautiously approached Zasp and wrapped her arms around his leg. This feeling of affection was new to the wasp as his kind weren't exactly softies. A part of him did love this feeling though. This feeling of comforting and learning to accept and cater to someone. His heart warmer up briefly as he gently rustled the top of her head. "Well then, Team Mothiva seems to be back in order. Let us head to the Golden Settlement. The artifact isn't going to find itself now." Mothiva cheerfully said, a welcome change of pace from her typical bossy nature. The five conquered the tunnel and entered the hills.

The beautiful golden sunset, combined with the leaves flowing through the wind and the sound of turbines cranking throughout the area was utterly breathtaking. It was most definitely a perfect spot for a picnic...provided that all the enemies were cleared out prior. The team overcame many trials and puzzles, thanks to Vi's trusty beemerang rotating various cranks and Lief's magic creating stepping stones for everyone to use. Approaching the entrance to the Golden settlement, the group encounters a miner ant sleeping on the job. Her helmet covered her face as she snored loud. The difference between this one and the others was that she was gargantuan! Easily twice the size of Mothiva! She wore a yellow miner helmet with a skin-tight miner suit and sash that really showed off her assets. It was actually mesmerizing how fat she truly was. "Sleeping on the job... Standards have dropped." Leif muttered, snarking at the supposed 'hard workers' the new Elizant hired. As soon as she heard that, she sprung to life, creating a noticeable creator in the ground. Oi. I wasn't sleeping! It's called a power nap!" She shouted, shocked by the words she just heard. "Whatever you say." Lief gave her a nasty glare, causing her to angrily put her claws on her mighty hips. "What's a miner doing all the way out here?" Vi tilted her head in confusion.

"It's Diana, okay? I'm here on The Queen's orders!" She pointed her fat arm at Vi, defending herself from this peculiar situation. "I'm finishing up the tunnel connecting the Golden Path to the Ant Kingdom!" She explained, still defensive of herself. "Goodness gracious, you've dug all that distance!?" Kabbu overdramatically said, attempting to raise her spirits. "Eh. It was kind of a team effort. I just had to cut the rope, really." She shrugged. "What are you waiting for then?" Lief grunted, clearly not fond of her. "Mmmph. Honestly, I worked so hard. I'm a bit tired. I need a good rest to power through..." She yawned as her eyes went limp. "Or if I ate some berries now, I could possibly get it done right now! Like 15, maybe?" She flashed a flabby smile as she put a claw to her chin, imagining the sensual taste of berries. "Oh, maybe we can hel-" "Hold it! I'm the leader! I make the decisions!" Mothiva interrupted Kabbu, scoffing at him on top of that. She just wants free food! We can just come back later and it'll be done! BERRIES DON'T EVEN TASTE GOOD! We aren't a charity, tubby!" Vi crossed her arms, furious by Kabbu's reckless behavior. "You tell 'em, girl! How about you get off your lazy-" "Ahem She works for Elizant." Kabbu whispered into Mothiva's antennae.

"Do you really think she's going to say anything about..." Upon closer inspection of her sash, the fine print read 'Elite Miner'. This tub of lard was Elizant's elite miner? With a slightly panicked look on Mothiva's face, she put on that same fake smile and looked directly at Diana. "W-well, you are a hard-working member of the kingdom. We'd be more than happy to donate a small amount of berries to hard-working members such as yourself. I'd love nothing more than The Queen to know HOW GENEROUS her people are." Mothiva coughed up the berries, gently putting them in Diana's arms. "Oi! I ain't stupid! However, since you provided me with what I requested, I won't tell The Queen about your CHARMING personality." She rolled her eyes to the side and scarfed down the berries. Suddenly, she went wide-eyed, quickly pulling out two pickaxes and furiously banging against the boulder at lightning speed. Eventually, the tunnel was complete, sign and all. "Phew... All done! Thanks, y'all!" She whipped the sweat from her forehead and leaped into the tunnel, only to get severely wedged inside it. With a sigh from the guard ant, she gathered her own pickaxe and began adjusting the tunnel wider for more... girthy bugs. "Let's just leave them to that..." Lief groaned, disappointed by this circus act of an army. Before going to the festival, Vi ended up eyeing a particular item those two merchants from the outskirts were selling.

"Oh? I see you've taken an interest in that Drowsey Cake. You know, it's quite the popular dessert, and I'll sell it to you for let's say... 10 berries." The chubby, red cricket offered in a sly, cunning voice. "Oooo! Cake! I've never tried cake! I'll take it!" Vi handed her the berries she received from her recent battles. "Thank you kindly. If you intend to sell anything, my husband's who you need to talk to." She was a pretty good saleswoman, but there was just something about her that rubs you the wrong way. "What's this thing?" Vi pointed at a medal. "Ah, that's a very rare Quick Flee medal. I'd hate to part with it... but it can be yours for let's say, 12 berries." She slyly smiled at her. "So like... what does it do?" Vi questioned, her innocent face showing a chance for this cricket to easily take advantage of the situation. "Well... It allows you to scare off enemies while still getting the rewards." She chuckled to herself nervously, desperately trying to get rid of that thing.

"Even the explorer points?" Vi asked, ecstatically. "Oh yeaaah! Definitely!" She exaggerated her voice heavily. "I'll take it!" Vi slammed the berries into her arms. "Thank you very much. Come again!" She waved the bee off, quietly laughing to herself. "Hey guy's, I'm back! Check out this baby!" She flashed the medal at her team. "Ugh! That thing is useless! When are we EVER going to run away!?" Mothiva scoffed at Vi, in disbelief at how stupid she must have been to buy that thing. "N-no! It scares off the enemies!" Vi protested while pouting. "Your an idiot..." Mothiva slapped her forehead, hanging her head low in disappointment. "Fine! Then I won't share this cake I just bought with you jerks!" Vi downed it in one bite before immediately falling into a deep sleep." "And she just had to buy a Drowsey Cake!" Mothiva's mood soured even more knowing what a waste of money this was. Zasp pulled out a Clear Water and dumped the sack on her head. "Gah! H-Hey! Quit it!" She shook herself, desperately trying to get the water out of her fuzz. "Let's just enter the festival already..." Mothiva groaned, desperately trying to not snap at Vi. She's already cried once today after all.
The restaurant underneath the Sunset Inn was doing sterling business, even though the Golden Lands' festivities had not officially begun. The area's local musical talent had decided to use the space as a venue for an impromptu rehearsal for all the tunes they would have to play to the festival-goers later. But as good as they were at their instruments, the restaurant didin't get to be so packed with a swarm of bugs for just some accordions and sitars. No, they were here for the main event; the superstar silk moth, Mothiva!

It was excellent luck for the insect behind the bar for Bugara's number-one idol to waltz into his establishment on the day of the festivities just hours before the festival began. After the quintet of explorers was informed that the way to the hills would remain closed until after the celebration, the group's male members wanted to pay for rooms upstairs and get some well-needed rest. Still, Vi & Mothiva were incessant enough in their demands that they instead checked out his little restaurant first. The whole room went silent as they recognized the most recognizable face in the land. In an instant, the previous musicians were forgotten - not that they minded because even they were clamoring for Mothiva's attention. Oh, they pleaded, it would be such an honor, a privilege, a pleasure to have her voice be the centerpiece of the little show - could she not deign to share the stage with them?

The mantis chuckled as he counted the berries he collected under the bar. The restaurant's owner couldn't say he was in love with Mothiva's music as the rest of the world was, but goodness, could she make a profit! She smiled so sweetly and said that she would love to sing for them all - but she had just made the perilous journey from the Ant Kingdom, and she had worked up such a vast appetite she was afraid she might pass out from hunger during 'The Light Reflected In Your Eyes.' The mantis behind the bar was soon flooded with orders for food, dozens of eager fans wanting to buy their idol a meal. The chefs grumbled about all the work they had to do, but even they knew that money spoke far louder than whatever complaints they could muster.

While Mothiva feasted (along with her entourage graciously allowed a few plates), the crowd was entertained by the previous act, who were all too happy with having their rehearsal hijacked by their musical inspiration. Guitar solos rang out so loudly from the building that the restaurant owner was sure he would have to answer for noise complaints from the Sunset Inn upstairs, but it was worth it. Drums were brought in, and the rhythmic beat controlled the excitement, keeping the crowd from entering a frenzy and trampling into the kitchen to see if their beloved Mothiva needed more attention. With the public stabilized, one of the ladybug accordion players walked toward the front of the hastily assembled stage. Again, thank you all for coming here!" she yelled to the frenzied crowd. "We've got a few more warm-up songs for you, and then we'll be joined by Buagaria's most famous sensation, Mothiva! In the meantime, prepare for one of our favorite songs!"

Meanwhile, behind the wall that separated the eating area from the kitchen/storage area, Zasp groaned, curling his antennae as he heard the band play 'Oh No! WASPS!!!' for the third time. "Who decided that that would be my kind's theme music?" He groaned, though no one was listening -Kabbu was too polite to bash on other people's music, Leif was nodding his head back and forth, completely in the zone, and Vi was pouting with her arms crossed as she stared at Mothiva with envy as she glutted herself with her fans' meals.

"Tell me again why I'm not allowed to have anything." Vi huffed as the increasingly-harried chefs navigated around her so that they could place Mothiva's food on her table before heading back to the kitchen to make more. Succulent cookies and berry juice, a veritable mountain of baked yams, and plates upon plates of spicy fries, the silk moth's fans spared no expense. "If this is about the medal and drowsy cake I bought, I learned my lesson, so you don't have to punish me anymore..." The bloated bee bit her lower lip as her stomach growled and her tongue watered at the sight of burgundy-red cherry juice dripping down the team leader's pristine, fluffy breast fur as it dribbled from her open maw, a supreme look of contentment plastered on her face as she glutted without abandon.

"Vi, we know that you have a more...healthy appetite than others," Kabbu explained, choosing his words carefully to avoid offending his teammate. "But this is not meant to be a punishment - we all agreed that you should refrain from indulging in any meals to best perform in the eating competition later." Vi sighed strong enough to make Kabbu's wing cape ruffle in the breeze it made - she knew that the rainbow scarab beetle was right, but it was still tough for her to resist the calls of her stomach. Delayed gratification was not a concept she had ever wanted to learn, and it was much more challenging when someone was right in front of her getting to have what she wanted without a care in the world.

Mothiva belched as she finished a plate of cold salad, proclaiming to the tired cooks that there was still plenty of room within her stomach as it churned loudly. "Well, Kabbu's mostly right - though he's wrong about this not being a punishment, and it is most certainly about the money you wasted." Mothiva flashed a smirk at Vi as she grabbed an aphid shake before sucking it down, never taking her gaze from the bloated bee's jealous eyes. "If it makes you feel any better, winning the eating contest earns you a thing of berries, not just one of those stupid offerings. You can make back the money you pushed down the drain and stuff your gut, too."

"...I wanted to participate in the eating contest." Leif butted in, catching everyone in the room off-guard.

"Er...w-well, I guess there's nothing wrong with multiple team members wanting to...p-participate..." Motjhiva had to fight hard to stifle her giggles, bringing a hand to her face as she looked down at the supremely lanky Leif. She had no idea why he wanted to involve himself with that or thought he had a chance of winning, but it would certainly be amazing to see him try. "Maybe - ohoho! - maybe Za-Zasp would like to...wait, uh, sorry..." Mothiva's laughing stopped as she awkwardly remembered that Zasp could only handle eggs. The wasp looked relieved that he wouldn't get volunteered for that!

"Miss Mothiva?" The restaurant owner popped his head through the leaves that acted as the door to the kitchen. "I believe they're ready for you know. Your fans are not...patient people." After putting up with the audience's antics, the poor mantis looked a tad bit harried. The musicians have placated the mob as best they could, but the real attraction would obviously have to step in. Mothiva sighed a familiar sight to her, brushing food crumbs off her fluff and patting her stomach with pride. The cooks breathed a huge sigh of relief, though the superstar gave them an ominous warning to dampen their mood.

"Don't get your hopes up, boys~" The silk moth prepared a voluptuous swagger to impress the crowd with, her hips and wide buttocks swaying hypnotically as she sashayed out to the eating area. "My shows tend to have, what we like to call in the business, 'after parties.' Try not to feed the bee, no matter how hard she begs." Mothiva flashed a teasing grin at Vi, who pouted and rolled her eyes before Bugaria's number one music sensation made her grand entrance by pulling apart the two leaves that hung from the doorway. The applause from that act alone was deafening - these people were Mothiva-obsessed!

"...can I?" Vi, immediately after Mothiva was out of view, pointed a finger to the pot of soup they had been preparing for the silk moth earlier. The least tired-looking of the chefs shook his head, while the other two didin't have the energy to do anything but collapse in their chairs. Vi sighed before she brought the begging to a whole new level - she tilted her head and smiled her most convincing smile that made her cheeks puff out like a teddy bear and locked her hands together over her tummy. "Pleeeease?" She batted her eyes at them. Kabbu had to give her credit - that was some pretty solid cuteness right there. Zasp was less impressed, and Leif had a ghost of a smile like Vi was a giant clown.

"I wouldn't if I were you," Zasp warned the chef closest to the simmering pot of aromatic broth. "Mothiva wasn't kidding about those after-parties; you'll need every scrap of edible matter you have unless you want to make it all over again later." Mortified, this inspired one of the chefs to return to work now that it was relatively quiet. Vi's cute facade melted as an annoyed scowl settled onto her plump features, shooting Zasp a wicked look; Zasp could only smirk in victory.

"Hello, there, my loyal fans!" The quartet could hear Mothiva's greeting from the other side of the wall, and the crowd screamed hard enough to shake the building. She sounded overjoyed - this was where she was meant to be, fawned and adored over by hundreds, the only thought racing in the heads of so many. "Are you ready for a night you'll never forget?"

"Yes!" Zasp cried out, a big happy smile on his face...before he realized that he was on the other side of the wall. As the other team members and even the chefs looked at him, he twiddled with the tips of his fingers before looking down despondently. Leif shook his head before patting the poor wasp on the shoulder.
Salty by her food limitations, Vi scoffed and began to stomp off. “Vi! Where are you-” “I’m checking out what else this stupid festival has to offer! You jerks won’t even let me eat the scraps, you…you…MORONS!” She screeched and ran off, her body bouncing about like a fuzzy ball. “Hmph… Reminds you of someone?” Zasp gave Kabbu a smug face, correct by his previous prediction. Making her way out of the building, Vi noticed the two explorers from the tunnel. Ready to give a piece of her mind in Mothiva’s stead, she stormed over to the two. They were sitting at a table, next to a mosquito in shades, presumably the owner of this humble, yet cozy shop. Before she could open her mouth, she noticed them drinking something all too familiar. “B-Berry Juice!?” Vi froze in place, mesmerized by her new favorite drink. The armored ladybug turned to her, just now realizing her presence. “Ah, the bee. It pleases me to see a fellow explorer enjoying the festival. Are you familiar with this substance? It’s hard to stop when it's flavor is amazing!” He asked her in a friendly manner, holding up his drink. “Um… Y-yeah! This stuff’s great!” Vi calmed down now that she finally has access to this convenient juice bar, and her spirits were raised significantly.

“Just remember, friend… If you keep drinking so much Berry Juice, your skills will be compromised. Take my partner over there as an example.” He pointed to the bloated ant. “Ahhhhh, stop worrying! Hilp I’m… I”m going to be fiiiiiine Hic no matter… Hilp no matter how much Berry Juice I drink! Hic” She said, drunkenly. “Wait… This thing is common!?” Vi froze in place, almost like she was petrified by what she was hearing. “Indeed. Though it may be nonalcoholic, the substance seems to affect us bugs in peculiar ways. I… assume it’s happened to you in the past?” He asked her. “You betcha! It was fun too!” Vi beamed, remembering that night when Zasp had to haul her to her room. “That’s… An interesting way of fun. I shouldn’t be one to judge though. Ah, why don’t you join us for a couple of juices? This will be a good time to get and know each other better. Sharing tales, tips, etc.” “Oooo! I’m definitely in if your buying!” Just as about she was going to take a seat, her heart sank, realizing her current restrictions. “Hey, um… Could I join you two after I take care of some business?” Vi chuckled nervously. “Provided that we haven’t left, I don’t see why not?” He assured. “Yeeeeeaaaah! Come and drink with Hilp us, girl!” The ant moaned loudly.

“Could I get your names?” Vi asked, realizing they haven’t properly introduced themselves yet. “Of course! I am Levi, and this is Celia.” The ladybug gestured to his partner. “Okay then. I’ll uhh… be going now.” She quickly sped off, so as not to tempt herself with drinks. Going to the left, the first thing she was met with was another one of her kind. “Ugh. It’s her.” Vi muttered at the sight of the obese bee. Oh geez…I came all the way here… But these plebs can’t compare to the Bee Kingdom…” She arrogantly boasted to herself. “Grr!!!” Vi clenched her jaw, the last thing she wanted to see was her own kind. “Ugh! Bees! Always as stuck up as always.” She rolled her eyes. Any species should be proud of their kingdom, but bees are on another level. They’re always…happy. Everyone’s content with stuffing their faces with succulent honey while working at the honey factory on a daily basis. Vi suddenly remembered the unfortunate parts of her childhood. She was just like all the others, content in the walls of her kingdom… That was until she got the urge to explore the outside world. The occasional view she got from the balcony of the kingdom was breathtaking. She wondered what was truly out there…

What was her purpose in Bugaria? Many years down the line, she proposed the potential idea of becoming an explorer. She was expecting praise and cheers for attempting such a foreign career… But she instead received snarks and doubt. Completely aware of the dangers an explorer must experience, she set out on a journey, eventually to where she was today. She was an outcast! One who didn’t succumb to the hive, no matter how much honey was available. In the end, the portly bee has no regrets, and is having the time of her life with her new teammates! Making her way to the end of the left side, she saw the table where the eating contest was taking place. Standing beside the table was quite the sight. It was another bee, but this bee was on a whole nother level! She was huge, even for bee standards! In fact, she was the fattest bee Vi had ever seen, aside from Queen Bianca, of course. Her breasts were two, gigantic fleshy mounds of flab, with a belly that hung well past her thighs, which were also massively thick. Rolls upon rolls of flab layered all over her body, along with a massive pair of buttocks that exceeded the size of her abdomen! “Heyyy! You’ve come for the eating competition?” She asked with a bright smile on her face.

“Uh-huh…” Vi rolled her eyes, uninterested in having a conversation with her kind after what happened back in the hive. “Hehe, coo-...!!! Oh! Oh my gosh! You’re that bee!” She suddenly shouted like a fangirl. “Ugh! What do you want!?” Vi shot her a mean glare. “You’re Vi, right!? Some people were talking about you! Short, stout, and with an attitude… It must be you!” She clasped her claws together in excitement. “Yeah. I’m short, so what!?” Her temper only increased with that comment. “Hehe. Easy there! I’m Chubee, your number one fan!” She slapped her mighty gut to really emphasize her name. “What?” Vi stood there, expressionless, confused as to what she was getting at. “The first explorer bee, who conquered Snakemouth and survived being dragged by the river. I have no idea why the other bees aren’t freaking out!” She explained, as cheerful as always. “…!...? U-Um…” Vi just stood there, unable to comprehend the support from her own kind. “I want to be your friend, honeypot.” Chubee giggled, feeling a tad silly needing to explain that to Vi. “U-Uh, yeah! That’s me! The greatest one and only explorer bee!” Vi pepped up after hearing that. Wooow! You’re even cooler than I thought!” She squealed. “So you don’t think exploring’s silly? I’m not too good at art or anything.” Vi blushed, rubbing the side of her head.

“No way! It’s cool to see bees try new things! Me, for example…I’m going to travel all around Bugaria. Go to all sorts of events and meet all sorts of bugs!” She exclaimed, her fat rolls jiggling about. “That’s awesome! This competition’s going to be the highlight of the festival! We should hang out sometime!” Vi pumped her fists, really getting into this conversation. “Cool! We can cook the most exquisite cuisine together! After all, we bees love taking pride in our figures, and you could definitely stand to gain a couple of pounds!” Chubee let out a hearty laugh, poking Vi’s belly with her fat arm. The two of them continued to chat away, and eventually, Mothiva's concert came to a close, reuniting the rest of Team Mothiva, aside from the leader herself, as she was currently drowning herself in both food and fans.