"Oh, Kalim, my sweet sunshine," The Queen sighed softly. "First you rushed in with Queenie, and announced to the entire kingdom that you have fallen for the one that you want to marry and you proposed, which is delightful, truly."
"And now, you tell us that we cannot meet him as he has disappeared?" The King added, his voice filled with confusion and concern.
"Kidnapped! Silver has been kidnapped," Kalim corrected, his voice urgent and tinged with desperation. "Queenie saw it! And now I have to find him."
"That's unfornate," The Queen muttered to himself. "Well, what do we need to do, Kalim?"
"I want you to delay the winter frost as long as you can," Kalim begged. "I know where he lives and with Queenie's help, I can manage to find him before winter, I hope."
"Kalim! Hold on!"
But it was too late as Kalim mounted Queenie and rode off, heedless of his mother's anguished cries and desperate pleas to return. She turned to her husband, her face a mask of horror, her wings fluttering in distress.
"Oh, my sweet sunshine," She sobbed, her wings fluttering in distress. "My love, we cannot delay the frost for more than a day, or a week. How can we manage to delay such an important occasion?"
"But we must," The King said, his voice heavy with sadness. "We must, for Kalim."
The Queen nodded as she watched the fallen leaves drift into cold, coarse winds.
Ernesto frowned as he sat at the edge of the boat, his webbed fingers playing amongst the pond, each ripple clashed against the many lily pads that surrounded them. After that horrid rejection, he began to think about what Silver had mentioned, and his mood instantly soured.
"A fairy prince?" He frowned. "What good is a fairy prince anyway?"
"Ha! I know," laughed Jose, gleaning at Ernesto. "Then you can't show your ugly mug anywhere on stage! Think about it? A frog gets ditched for a fairy prince!"
"Ha, how wonderful that rhymed." Jesus laughed alongside his brother.
"Do not laugh," Ernesto pouted, turning away from his brothers.
But to avail as they started to cackle into the air, and Ernesto frowned, jumping at the edge of the boat, glaring at his brothers. Ernesto, annoyed, grabbed his brothers and flung them into the air as he began to stomp away, splashing through the water.
"Fine, no one laughs once I get Silver and bring him back!" Ernesto proclaimed, but the laughter of his brother never died down.
Silver hummed as he and the three baby flies danced around him. "We must be close to home by now, Dinky, don't you think?"
"Yeah! I can smell something…odd?"
"Oh, my father must be cooking," Silver smiled as he tried to climb up a nearby mushroom. "Mayve if I can get to higher ground."
"Wait, Silver!" Dinky called out.
Silver looked down at the flies before a beetle came down, causing the boy to fall onto the ground. He groaned as the beetle danced around him happily, his cane twirling around, and his smile simple but grand.
"You must be lost, huh?" The beetle grinned, pulling Silver up. "Azul is my name and razzatazz is my game! And look at you, such a beautiful face, hmm, tootsie! How do you do? How you feeling? Everything okay?"
Silver gulped. "Um, good, scared and I am not okay!" He rushed away from the beetle and looked at him. "And I am not…whatever you just called me, and where did come from?"
"Me? Oh, up there of course," Azul answered, pointing up towards the tree. "I am a connoisseur of sweet nectors, a designer of rare threads, and most recently, a jugde of beautiful people."
"Beautiful?"
"And you are incredibly beautiful," Azul grinned as he pinned Silver towards the mushroom stump, caressing his face. "Say, what is your name, or do I have to call you beautiful from now on?"
"Silver. And it's nice to meet you and all, but I must be getting home," Silver frowned, pushing Azul away. "My father is waiting for me."
Azul rushed towards Silver, blocking his path. "Aw? What's your hurry, tootsie? You should relax, and take a load off."
Silver's body recoiled as the beetle drew near. "Ah, may I have my personal space please?"
"Would you prefer this instead?" Azul asked as he began to kiss Silver's arm.
"Hey! We barely know each other. Stop it!" Silver protested, pulling away. "And I am sorry, but I am-"
"Stop?" Azul laughed. "How can I? I'm crazy about you, tootsie."
Silver groaned at the nickname and moved his hand away. "Look, I appreciate the lovely compliments, truly, I do. But…"
"Hmm, perhaps I do have a posipition for you," Azul grinned. "You have the looks, the charm, and the most angelic voice that I have ever heard. Sing me a melody, hm?"
Silver almost refused, but as he looked up, he saw the tree that Azul had mentioned before, and an idea sparked in his head.
"I have an idea," Silver sang, catching Azul's attention. "Can you fly me up there?"
"Hm? Why should I, tootsie?"
"Well, from the treetops, I could see my house," Silver explained. "I don't want to be lost, and then I know that I am on the right direction to get home."
Azul stopped for a few moments, thinking, his hand on his chin, looking back at the tree tops. "Hm, I don't know, I don't know. Silver, I hope you know that this is a big, big, oh, very big favor!"
"But I can sing for you," Silver sang again.
"Ah! I got an idea!" Azul beamed. "How about you sing and dance at the beetle ball tonight, and then, I shall take you home at my own accord."
Before Silver could even speak, Azul grabbed him and flew up high into a hidden cave underneath the waterfall.
"We'll be the talk of the town," Azul beamed as he landed. "You'll make a wonderful performer, tootsie!"
"Ugh, I am not your tootsie! And have we forgetten that I don't even look like a beetle!?" Silver cried out as Azul pulled himself inside the cave. "Hey! Are you even listening to me?"
The Beetle Ballroom gleamed and burst with music and conversation as the orchestra loudly filled the room. Every beetle, whether big or small, entered the ballroom, sitting down as the lights dimmed.
"Oh,what did Azul planned for tonight?" a female beetle asked her husband. "I heard he found a beautiful singer."
"Hm, I can't wait to see."
"Ladies and Gentlebugs, Azul Ashengrotto proudly presents…Silver!"
Silver gulped and faked a smile as light shone on him, waving towards the ladies and beetlebugs below him. His attire was that of a butterfly, which was Azul's way to disguise most of his human features, especially his hair, but with the cool air of the cave, it did provide such warm comfort at that very moment.
Silver watched as five beetles, Azul in the middle, pranced towards the stage, each of them swinging to the music. He felt massively uncomfortable with them dancing around him, following Azul's lead most of the time.
🌷
Baby, it's the Beetle Ball
And bugs are crawling to get in
When they hear that beetle beat
Those beetles' beetles start to spin
And how to cheer for you, my dear
Yer beautiful, baby!
Oh, my little butterfly
You flutter by at each romance (Wah wah wah wah)
Every chance to dance with you
Puts the ants right in my pants (Wow wow)
Let's cut a rug, my ladybug
Yer beautiful, baby!
🌷
Silver couldn't help but chuckle as Azul breezed onto the stage, taking his hand and pulling him down towards his podium, allowing themselves to dance around the crowd.
🌷
I get a flash when I have you on my wing
You tie my antenna in a knot
Now the room's reeling and I'm feeling
So ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-
Hot to trot!
🌷
"Let's dance, baby!" Azul cheered as he pulled Silver into a dance again, with Silver trying, succeeding, and failing to follow.
"Isn't she beautiful?" A beetle whispered towards his wife.
"Just adorable, darling!" His wife agreed, clapping.
"What a piece of work!"
"A real looker!"
"Okay, toots! Let's wing it!" Azul whispered towards Silver as they twirled around the dance floor.
"I-I can't wing it! I don't have any wings! I'm getting dizzy!"
But his cries were ignored as he was spun around, his clothing came down one piece at a time until he was in his undergarments. He fell onto the ground as the beetles jumped away from him, disgust in his eyes.
"Ewwww!"
Silver had to cover his ears as they started laughing, completely embarrassed by this display. He had to prance around as the beetles danced around him, adding more to his embarrassment. But Azul glared at him, with Silver dancing, even when he didn't want to.
🌷
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Hee hee hee hee ho ho ho ho
He he he he's so so so so
Hey, that bug is a dog!
🌷
"My, my!" gasped a female beetle.
"Unattractive!" gagged another beetle, sipping his drink.
"The word' my dear is 'Ugly'!"
"He's so ugly! He's hurting my feelers!"
"Indeed, yes!"
"I hope it ain't catching! Disgraceful!"
🌷
Would you look at that? He ain't got no wings!
Good gracious me, what are those things?
He ain't got no feelers! (No feelers!)
He ain't got no shell! (Do tell!)
He's got scrawny legs and knobby knees
For all we know, the boy's got fleas!
He can't even fly, no that won't do!
So say goodbye, He's not for you!
🌷
"I'm sorry, toots. I guess you're too-," Azul spoke.
"Ugly!" The crowd screamed as Azul pushed Silver down with his cane, causing him to fall.
"Don't worry, you'll get over me."
Azul winked at him as Silver rushed away from the crowd and onto a nearby tree stump.
"I'm ugly?"
"I hope we cna get Silver some help soon!" Dinky cried as he and his friends rushed inside a broken tree log.
"What?" called out a nearby frog, his grin wide and his steps aggressive.
The tiny bugs were terrified and rushed away, but the broken log began to break down, trapping them.
"Now, let me try this again," the frog coughed. "Did I hear that one of you say that Silver needs help?"
"Yes, yes he does!" Dot cried out.
"Dot, hush," warned Lighty.
"A beetle! Azul, he swooped uo and took her up in the tree!"
Dinky grabbed onto his sister and covered his mouth, looking up at the frog. "Do you remember who that is? That's Ernesto!"
"….oh," Dot gulped as she looked up at Ernesto.
"A beetle?" he growled, walking towards the kids. "The Azul? The one who had told my mama about Silver? Ugh! I want him back!"
The beetle children cried out as they rushed underneath the frog and into the small hole, allowing them to escape the angry frog.
"Haha, Azul…let's see what happens when you take what's mine," Ernesto laughed, as he walked away, knowing where to find the illustrious yet scheming beetle.
Silver sighed as he rested against a flower, sniffling to himself. But a beautiful, familiar voice called out to him, making him lift his head. The bird flew down, causing the small boy to jump.
"Rook!" Silver gasped.
"What is the matter, Silver? Such tears do not belong on such a wonderful face."
"Oh, Rook," Silver sobbed. "I'm cold, I'm lost, and I-I I-I'm hungry. And I had these awful beetles calling me ugly."
"Oh non," Rook gasped. "Azul?"
Silver nodded as he looked at his own reflection.
"Now, now, tell me this," Rook spoke as he lifted Silver into his wing. "Do you love that beetle?"
"Of course not," Silver answered.
"Then nevermind the beetle," Rook spoke softly. "I think it would be best to say good riddance to the beetle, and good riddance to that toad!"
Silver frowned as he looked at the water droplet.
"Does Prince Kalim think you are ugly?" Rook asked.
Silver looked down at his ring and shook his head. "No. Kalim thinks I am the most beautiful person in the world."
"Hm," Rook grinned. "And so you are, mom amie!"
Rook turned Silver around to make him look at a water droplet that captured Silver's beauty perfectly. Silver smiled as he turned over to Rook.
"I am going home, no matter what!"
Silver yawned as he joined Rook, who was slumped against the tree. "Rook, will you find the vale of fairies for me? So Kalim knows that I am alright?"
"Of couse, I promise," Rook yawned. "But we must sleep for now, mon amie. You and I are quite exhuasted, don't you think?"
Silver nodded as he let Rook wrap his wing around him, and Silver snuggled into his chest, slowly falling asleep.
"Bonne nuit, Silver,"
"…Thank you, Rook."
Rook smiled as he held Silver close. He looked up at the clouds. "Tomorrow is the new day, and I will go to the forest, and I will find your Prince Kalim. No matter what."
