#queencybug

((The wonderful @nonsensology sent me a fantastic box of awesome goodies for my birthday (February 9), including this amazing card with Space Cadet, the Queen’s human form ( @exile-queen ), Junior, and his character Alex ( @alex-the-nonsensologist ). ^_^

For now, the reason she was missing/gone for so long was that she was going around the other games and helping other Cy-Bugs. Things were difficult and complicated and it was too dangerous to always move freely, so that’s why she wasn’t able to come back home.

Neither of us want to kill her off, but I’m torn on what to do.

On the one hand, it’d be great to keep her around and off to the side, Ralph’d be completely happy and everything would continue on as it has been.

But, on the other, he’s mourned her several times. She hasn’t been around in a while and I’ve had him aware that she’s not been around. It’d be a little weird to play my own ship, even if she was just floating in the background. Plus, it’d be kind of interesting to see how he’d recover and deal and maybe eventually open him up to shipping again.

Either way, the Queen’s Egg will be hatching at some point, I think, so neither decision would affect the baby bug. (I’ve got plans to do a post featuring the egg, but I’m not ready for it to hatch yet.)

I haven’t decided what I’m going to do, and I’m definitely open to suggestions.

(( @exile-queen ))

Ralph’s been busy during the month leading up to Christmas, he’s been bringing things to the cave and working long hours on them.

If Junior or any of the Little Ones happen to come to him to see what he’s doing, he’ll give them a scrap of gingerbread and send them on their way.

After Icarus had obtained a very special item for him, he made sure that his adopted son was okay, and that he went back to the bakery to pick up the item where it was dropped, Ralph was ready to give his family their gifts.

He scoops up Junior and plants him on his shoulder. Junior’s excited about getting a present, so he’s bouncing in place.

With everything finished on his end, he calls for the rest of his family, “My Queen? Little Ones? I’ve got presents for everybody!”

A decision had been made and followed through, it was completely irreversible, so no matter the consequences, it had to be stuck with.

Lying in the middle of the cave was a large, unconscious dragon. Big and bulky, the obsidian-scaled beast was out for the count.

He had been like this for at least a day, perhaps longer. The transformation had taken a lot out of him, once it had been complete, he had passed out and hadn't woken since.

Until now.

Now that she’s feeling better, Ralph thinks it’s about time to give her some very long overdue presents. He’s been eagerly awaiting the proper time to do so and he can’t stand it much longer.

So, he goes over to the pile of health packs and starts digging out most of the contents he had stored underneath them.

Thanks to Morgan's magical music charm, Ralph's been sleeping easy. His nightmares have been chased away for the most part, sometimes there's still fragments lurking, but overall, his sleep is dreamless.

Except for today, during his nap.

He doesn't realize what's happening, a long-gone, but still achingly familiar sensation comes over him as a once-shattered connection clicks back in.

There's a sound amongst a flurry of static, a loving voice obscured by the crackle. No words can be made out, but the tone is unmistakable.

Ralph's eyes snap open and he gasps, lying there in shock. There was only one explanation for what was happening and it was impossible.

His Queen was alive somewhere.

However, with the poor quality of the connection, he can't tell where she is or what kind of state she's in. He calls out through the Hivemind, trying to reach her, but he doesn't know if he managed to accomplish anything.

Making sure Junior is securely on his shoulder, he gets up and starts hustling towards the exit, "Come on, we gotta see if we can find her!"

It's a long shot, but Diet Cola Mountain is the tallest point in Sugar Rush. If she's in the game, he should be able to get a better idea of her location.

The climb takes a while, especially since he's careless in his hurry.

Once on top, Ralph runs to the middle, stares up at the sky, and opens up his Hivemind range as much as possible. Being an Elite Guard, he's got a longer range than some Cy-Bugs, it's for exactly this sort of situation.

Every Cy-Bug in the game will probably hear his call echoing through the Hivemind, {My Queen! Where are you?}