HOME | DD

Description
Hive Senshi

        "Mars Flame Sniper!" the arrow of pure flame sped upwards, searing easily through the fluttering cellophane wing, causing the wing's bearer, already struggling to remain aloft on a single insect-wing, to plummet to the ground where she collapsed in a heap. The fallen woman stood slowly, seething with now-impotent wrath. She was a peculiar sight, wearing a head visor with large compact eyes, with short, curly antennae poking out of her short-cut brown hair. Her clothing was stranger: black and yellow stripes dominated the rest of her ensemble, with a revealing corset, long latex gloves and kneesocks, and formerly, black cellophane wings lined with yellow veins, though those had since been destroyed. Once she might have been beautiful, though now she was simply thoroughly disheveled, battle-scarred in her losing confrontation with the Sailor Senshi.
        "This cannot… be!" she spat, a mixture of fear, desperation, and hatred.
        "Lame puns will not save you, Apidaria!" Sailor Moon said, striking her noble pose towards the fallen villain imperiously. "Moon Twilight Flash!" A bright flash emerged, and then it was all over, save for one last scream from Apidaria, twisting and writhing as she disintegrated.
        In victory, the five Sailor Senshi returned to their civilian forms, for the most part. "Ugh," Rei grunted, touching her own hair in disgust: it was matted with globs of sticky honey. "Let's get out of here. It's going to take me forever to get this stuff out of my hair."
        "You're right, let's go," Usagi agreed, a note of disgust in her voice as well, though she had avoided getting honey in her hair, the presence of huge bee larvae in this strange giant hive structure was unnerving to her. Thus Usagi and Rei led the way out of the inner chamber with Ami and Makoto in the middle, and Minako at the back of the group.
        Just as Minako was about to leave, a little bit of movement caught her eye. She saw a honeycomb chamber whose beeswax seal had been broken in the fight, and found inside a giant bee, well, giant by relative standards, as it was a little bigger than her fist. Minako had been a little disturbed by the crawling larvae as well, but this bee looked closer to maturity. It was actually a little cute, huddled over in a ball, it's fuzzy yellow-and-black coat making it look cuddly. It's eyes were off-color too, an odd brown rather than the jet black that they should have been, but that also increased its appeal, and to top it off, it didn't even have a stinger. The bee buzzed a little, feebly, and looked out of its chamber at her. Minako's heart went out to it, this cute little baby bee, raised by a villain with the intent of harvesting people's life force like nectar, that would be left to starve now that it's creator had been destroyed. Helpless without even a stinger, Minako decided to take it. She tore away the rest of the beeswax, then pulled the bee out, holding it in her arms.
        "C'mon, Minako!" Usagi called from well outside the chamber. "Let's get out of here!"
        "Coming!" Minako called. Fortunately she had her backpack with her, and carefully slid the bee inside. She would have to keep it hidden from the others, who would think it unwise to keep it as a pet. She too walked out into the large outer chamber, leaving the giant hive behind with her friends.
        Minako returned to her bedroom and immediately seized Artemis' bed, placing it on top of her bureau, then carefully took the bee out of her backpack and laid it gently on Artemis' cat-bed. The bee buzzed feebly again, and then Artemis reappeared. "Minako!" he said in shock, "what's that?"
        "Shh!" Minako hissed sharply. "It's one of Apidaria's bees. I took it after we defeated her."
        "But why? Any of her bees could be very dangerous!"
        Minako sighed. "That's why I didn't tell the others, they would say the same thing. But look at it," as if aware of their conversation, the bee buzzed weakly yet again, "It would die without me, and it's so cute, and it doesn't even have a stinger. Please?" she pleaded with her cat-guardian.
        "Fine," Artemis relented. "I guess if worse came to worse Sailor Venus could handle one oversized bee." So Minako was allowed to care for the bee. The first thing she decided was that it needed to be fed, so she acquired some honey from the refrigerator and put it in a little bowl, then gave that to the bee as it lay in the little bed. The bee crawled over to the honey, then started to drink it.
        "There you go," Minako soothed. "Good girl, eat up." She watched the bee for a time, enraptured with its cuteness. The bee finished the honey, buzzed its wings experimentally, then leapt into the air, flitting about happily. "Great!" she said happily. "You got better already!"
        In response, the bee slowed down, coming to hover closer to Minako. Suddenly she had an idea: let the bee land on her arm. She stretched out one arm before her, and the bee did alight upon it. She giggled a little at the contact of its legs, "that tickles." The buzzing grew in intensity as the bee stood on her arm, staring at her. Minako found the buzzing to be strangely pleasant, a vaguely distracting drone, and then… was that? She thought she saw the bee's eyes begin to sparkle, a breathtaking sight, like fireworks or frosty snow in the sunlight.
        Artemis had been watching her, and suddenly grew alarmed when he saw her reaction to the bee: Minako's eyes had glazed over as she stared at the captivating creature. He recognized the signs of hypnosis immediately. "Minako, watch out!" he pounced on the bee, prompting it to fly off. Minako snapped out of it, feeling betrayed.
        "You were right, it was evil!"
        "Transform, Minako!" Artemis prompted.
        "Venus Power: Make up!" She transformed into Sailor Venus, immediately assuming a ready stance as the bee now darted frantically around the room. The bee suddenly stopped, hovering up higher than her. "Got yah!" Venus said confidently, preparing to attack, but then the bee began to glow and dived at her, aiming straight for her breast. She braced for impact, but it never came, the bee instead began pushing its way into her chest as if she were made of soft dough. Her very vital force fought against the attempted penetration, slowing the bee's efforts and casting off sparks of magical energy.
        "Venus!" Artemis shouted, again attempting to pounce at the bee, though before he could get there, the dueling energies surged, knocking him out.
        When Artemis came to, he found Minako standing over him with a concerned look on her face. "Minako, are you okay?" Artemis asked hastily.
        "I'm fine," Minako said, sounding grateful. "Like some stupid bee could actually possess me," she laughed mockingly.
        The next day life was back to normal for the Sailor Senshi. It was Thursday, and Ami arrived at school first, as always, though politely waited for her friends to arrive before going inside. Makoto arrived first, then Usagi, and then…
        "Where's Minako?" Ami said, at once concerned and fighting her desire to go sit at her desk.
        "Yeah, she usually at least gets here before you do, Usagi," Makoto added.
        Usagi shot her a venomous look, but before she could decide on a proper retort, Minako appeared. "Hey guys," she said, flashing a winning smile.
        The others looked at her with varying expressions of awe. "Minako, you look gorgeous today!" Usagi finally said, practically swooning over the other girl.
        "Amazing…" Makoto breathed.
        "Thanks a lot," Minako said, continuing to smile. "Good morning, Ami-chan," she added cheerily.
        "G-good morning," Ami said, blushing a little. Whatever Minako's newfound talent was, it affected her too. She felt greatly humbled to be addressed by her. Minako kept on walking, Usagi and Makoto following at her heels like eager puppies, and Ami followed, less eager, but still spellbound. She hesitated because she was curious: Minako looked much the same as she always had: same hair, same school uniform, yet was suddenly making her friends all flustered as if Minako had become the idol she had always wanted to be. In Ami's analytical mind, such a sudden change should be accompanied by something physical, and to inquire after that, Ami got closer to her and tentatively sniffed her. What she found was something she could not compare to any other odor, a whiff of something at once fragrant yet gentle, a smell that continued to invoking the same feelings of awe that Minako otherwise inspired in her.
        "You smell… pretty…" Ami said, sounding both stupid and childish.
        "Thanks," Minako repeated, still smiling.
        Minako's charms did not merely affect her friends, and spread quickly throughout the school, as even the teachers were becoming deferential. Their literature teacher canceled a quiz at Minako's request, and swim class basically never took place, as everyone involved was too busy ogling her in her swimsuit.
        To be fair, Ami did her share of ogling, but she eventually recovered enough to remember: the Sailor Senshi had a study session scheduled at Rei's this afternoon. She wanted to make sure that Minako and the others remembered. Minako was reclining on the poolside bleachers, surrounded by an entire class full of admirers. Ami picked her way carefully through her classmates towards her friends. "Umm… hey," Ami said slowly as she approached them. Her friends smiled at her, but the other students shot her looks of vague distrust. "Um…" Ami began again, feeling like a fangirl trying to talk to the object of her idolization, "do you guys remember our study session at Rei's after school today?"
        Usagi laughed, "come on, Ami. Who wants to study after school?" Her laugh was derisive, and Ami was immediately embarrassed.
        "We don't want to," Makoto said irately, "do we?" she asked towards Minako.
        Minako glanced at Ami, initially displeased. Ami blushed deeply and averted her gaze, but Minako's expression changed, a mischievous smile forming on her face. "Sure, Ami-chan," she said. "We'll definitely be there."
        Ami felt elated, though she noted audible groans of dismay from some of the others. She knew what they thought, or could guess at it: "what's this nerd doing harassing Minako? Making her study?" She left swim class and continued her day, though she was constantly distracted by her puzzlement over Minako's strange new appeal.
        She arrived at Rei's late, hurrying and breathless: the computer club had held her up momentarily, but she was able to get there quickly enough. Ami was greeted by thrumming music as she approached the house, but she ignored it and rang the doorbell. She was greeted by a boy she only vaguely remembered, someone who might be in her grade.
        "You here for the party?" the boy asked, eying her warily.
        "Party?" Ami said, confused.
        The boy again looked suspicious, turned into the house, and yelled, "Oi, Minako!"
        Upon hearing her friend's name, Ami simply stepped past the boy and into the house. Inside she found many people she recognized to varying degrees: the whole house was occupied by them. She proceeded into the house and found Minako, Makoto, Usagi, and Rei. She saw that Minako, at least, was laughing and apparently enjoying herself thoroughly.
        In that moment, and to her great regret later, Ami grew angry. She knew Minako had low regard for studying, but to turn their entire study session into a party? Something had definitely changed in her friend, and she was determined to let her know. She stormed forward determinedly, her face featuring an uncharacteristic fury. "Minako!" she said sternly as she finally approached her "friend." Minako regarded her with a haughty smile. "What do you think you're doing?"
        "I just thought we could liven up our boring study sessions, Ami-chan," she said, putting derogatory emphasis on the honorific. "Don't you want to join us?"
        "No!" Ami said, reviled at the idea. She then gave voice to what had been bugging her all day. "What's wrong with you, Minako? You've changed. You wouldn't treat one of your friends like this!"
        Minako seemed to consider that statement a moment, then replied, "I've got enough friends here without a nerd like you cramping my style." She laughed haughtily, and Usagi and Makoto joined her.
        Ami's brief stint of anger was broken, collapsing entirely into sadness. She sobbed, and fled the house. Rei observed the entire exchange, and that called her to her senses. What the hell was she doing letting all these strange kids into her house? When Minako had brought them over, Rei had been unable to refuse her for some unknown reason; something in how Minako had said it had left Rei unable to refuse her. Rei realized Ami was entirely right: Minako was acting horribly, and this had to stop.
        "Ami's right," Rei said, glancing sternly at Minako. "This has to stop."
        "Oh come on, Rei-chan," Minako said, her tone lighter, but still derisive. "Don't be a loser like her."
        "Get out," Rei simply said, no longer tolerating Minako's even-brattier new attitude. "Get out now!"
        Rei's rising wrath got through to Minako, who frowned. "Fine," she spat. "Have fun by yourself, loser!" she snapped her fingers and got the attention of the entire crowd of kids, then left with them.
        Having no further need for them for the moment, Minako let the miscellaneous students go, instead inviting Usagi and Makoto back to her home. Daylight ran out as they arrived at her house, but Minako was certain her parents would be absent for the time. "Would you like some tea?" she offered her guests graciously.
        "Of course!" Usagi and Makoto replied in unison, both very grateful that their good friend Minako was spending so much time with them.
        Minako left the two waiting in the dining room as she prepared some tea, then returned with two cups of aromatic, lemon-scented tea, giving it to her guests, who drank it gratefully. "Mmm…" Makoto sighed, taking a deep draft of the tea. "This is delicious! I can taste the lemon, but what else is in there?"
        "I flavored it with a bit of honey," Minako said sweetly.
        "You're so awesome, Minako-san!" Usagi fawned. There was a brief pause as Usagi and Makoto drank more tea. "This honey is amazing!" Usagi continued, "I almost wish you had put more in there."
        "Do you want more?" Minako offered. "There's plenty in the kitchen."
        "Definitely!" Usagi said eagerly.
        "Me too," Makoto added. Makoto could taste the honey quite distinctly, its sweet savor running all the way down her throat, instilling her with a hazy warmth. She was curious to try more of something that made her feel that good. Her desire was answered when Minako returned bearing a whole bowl full of honey. "Thank you," Makoto said, taking the bowl and a spoon to stir it into her tea. After she picked up the spoon, she had a thought, then tentatively put the spoon in her mouth, taking a taste of the honey: undiluted, the honey was even more amazing, a sweet, numbing warmth spreading through her mouth and down her throat and into her heart and her mind. "Mmmm!" Makoto moaned
        Usagi, jealous of what Makoto was experiencing, reached out with her hand to take some of the honey out of the bowl with her fingers: she noted the honey was pleasant even to the touch of the bare skin of her hand; a faint tingling coupled with a pleasant numbness in the hand she had immersed in it, then she too experienced the indescribable flavor of the honey and the joy of eating it, and moaned as well. She saw Makoto move her spoon in for another scoop, and jealously seized up the whole bowl to take it away from her, bringing the bowl to her face as she licked and lapped up the honey eagerly, getting it on her lips, on her face, feeling that pleasant warmth and numbness all over.
        Not to be denied, Makoto stood and went over to Usagi, diving her face into the bowl as well, greedily trying to get as much of the honey as she could. They did not stop to consider that their actions were rather shameless, they were merely driven by the flavor, the sensation, the ecstasy. Eventually the two had licked the bowl mostly-clean, their tongues probing and their faces pressed against each other as they tried to horn in on the other's territory.
        Minako observed the proceeding with a veiled smile on her face, and when the honey was depleted she stood and addressed her friends. "You really sucked that down," Minako observed. "Would you like some more?"
        "Certainly…" Makoto sighed, the word coming slowly to her lips. The honey had sedated her somewhat, the hazy, languorous feeling spreading throughout her body. This was also true for Usagi, who sat there with a dopy smile surrounded by sticky honey on her face.
        "Follow me," Minako said, standing and leading her friends off to another room. They approached a door, then she said "wait here," and stepped inside. After only a moment, she returned, opening the door and revealing her bathroom.
        "What's in there?" Usagi asked. She was quite dazed from the consumption of the strange honey, but she had her wits about her enough to realize this was strange.
        Instead of answering, Minako simply led them inside and pointed her friends towards the bathtub, which was now filled with honey. "Go ahead, get in," Minako intimated.
        "Get in?" Makoto asked, swaying a little on her feet.
        "Of course," Minako said. She leaned over the bathtub, swirling her hands through the honey. "Doesn't the honey feel good on your skin?" she asked, taking up her honey-coated hand and stroking Makoto's cheek with it, then extending one finger, offering it to the brunette who took the finger in her mouth, sucking the honey off. "Don't you want to immerse yourself in it as you indulge?"
        "Mm," Makoto moaned, nodding briefly.
        "Then strip off your clothes and enjoy," Minako encouraged. There were no further objections from the two, who obediently stripped their school uniforms off, removing all except their bras and panties optimizing the amount of bare skin that they could expose to the narcotic honey. Usagi and Makoto stepped gingerly into the mass of honey, sighing softly as they felt the effects of the honey spread. Initially they dove right in, sucking down the honey just as eagerly as they had before, desperate to get as much of it as they could, but after only a minute or two of heedless indulgence, they began to slow. The honey indeed was having a narcotic effect, numbing mind, body, and spirit, dulling thought into a pleasant haze, dulling perception into a placid, stagnant pool.
        As they slowed, Minako began to massage them both with the honey, first focusing her attention on Usagi, taking up the honey and rubbing it into her back, over her shoulders, slowly kneading away at the flesh. "Do you enjoy this, Usagi-chan?" she asked.
        "Mm," Usagi moaned an affirmative as she deliberately brought her honey-coated arm up to her mouth to carefully lick all of it away. Her eyes were out of focus, as if she did not care about what she was doing.
        "Just relax," Minako soothed, now massaging around Usagi's neck. "Allow your mind to go limp, float helplessly upon your own pleasure."
        As if on command, Usagi did go limp, ceasing her efforts to eat the honey and merely sitting there, in the tub, her eyes unfocused and a dull smile on her honey-coated face. "You too, Makoto-chan," Minako said, turning her attention to massaging the brunette, who  was also intently-but-slowly licking honey off her forearm near the elbow, but her attention did slide away at Minako's contact. "Allow your mind to sink into the mire," Minako said seductively, "ease into happiness and peace."
        Makoto too ceased all movement, simply sitting languidly in the honey, lost in the mindless indulgence of the ancient lotus eaters, her eyes unfocused, her expression mirroring Usagi's. She was ready: they both were. "Stand up," Minako said softly, and she grabbed their hands. They stood slowly, mechanically, obedient in their catatonia. She guided the two of them out of the bathtub, then she picked up a towel, wiping most of the honey off of their bodies, taking care around their feet. Entranced by her narcotic honey, they were ready for the next step, they were ready to be joined. Once she had cleaned them and re-dressed them, she took them out, away to where they could be joined.
        It was dark as Rei walked down the street towards Minako's house. Rei was determined to confront her friend over what she had done to her, and what she had done to Ami more importantly, but as she turned the corner onto Minako's street, she stopped, some instinct hinting to her that she should not be seen. She quickly darted around the corner, then poked her head out: Minako was leaving the house, with Usagi and Makoto in tow. Something looked wrong with all of them: Minako had a sadistic smile on her face that was entirely uncharacteristic as she led the others along, while Usagi and Makoto had glassy, dead eyes. Rei knew the symptoms of mind control when she saw them: the Sailor Senshi's enemies had employed it frequently enough.
        Minako led the others away, and Rei followed silently: she had to find out who did this to her friends, who was trying to tear them apart. She would find them, and they would pay.

To be continued.