The walk back to the pioneer town was much faster this time. The group now knew the safest paths, and any beast that dared attack was quickly thwarted by their combined strength. Kevin's Toon Force, the Oompa-Loompas' knowledge of the jungle, and Queen Buzzara's bee soldiers made the journey almost routine. In just two days, they reached the edge of civilization.
The specialized transport was already waiting for them.
The enlarged group, Kevin, his three guides, the Oompa-Loompa volunteers, Queen Buzzara, and over a hundred of her soldier bees boarded quickly. After more than two hours of flight, they landed at the main airport in Toontownsville.
The moment they stepped off, people froze. Gasps and murmurs spread through the terminal as citizens saw the swarm of bees. Many backed away, giving them a wide berth.
Dora looked around with wide eyes. "Whoa… everyone's staring. The honey thing really blew up, huh?"
Diego nodded calmly. "The reputation of bees has definitely taken a hit after the court case."
Virginia crossed her arms. "We should move quickly before someone causes a scene."
Before they parted ways, Kevin took out his phone and transferred a generous payment to Diego, Dora, and Virginia. Their phones beeped almost simultaneously.
Dora checked hers first and gasped. "Kevin! This is way more than we agreed on!"
Diego smiled. "You didn't have to do that much. We had a great time."
Virginia gave a rare soft smile. "Thank you. It was an honor to travel with you."
Kevin grinned. "You all did great. Visit my restaurant anytime, meals are on the house. Bring your friends too. I owe you big time."
Dora hugged him quickly. "You bet we will! Take care, Kevin. And good luck with the new chocolate stuff!"
Diego shook his hand firmly. "Stay safe. If you need guides for another expedition, you know who to call."
Virginia gave him a firm nod. "And don't hesitate to reach out if you need backup. We've got your back."
The three guides said their goodbyes to the Oompa-Loompas and Queen Buzzara, waving as they headed off.
Kevin led the rest to his car, which was still parked where he had left it. He loaded their things into the trunk and called the farm to send a transport truck. While they waited, Queen Buzzara noticed the withered flowers near the airport. Her expression darkened.
"Those damn yellow bees!" she hissed, wings buzzing angrily. "I'm going to slap the heck out of that Barry when I get to their hive!"
Kevin wisely stepped aside, and the Oompa-Loompas did the same, not wanting to be on the receiving end of her fury.
An hour later, the Krusty Farm truck arrived. The Oompa-Loompas and bees climbed inside the air-conditioned vehicle used for transporting farm products. Kevin then got into his car, and they drove back to the farm.
Another hour passed, and soon they pulled through the gates. As they stepped out, Melisha came forward to greet them. She greeted Kevin with a warm smile and a deep kiss. He reciprocated, then playfully tapped her butt.
"Find someone to guide our Oompa-Loompa friends to rooms inside the factory. They'll be staying here to help us produce cacao for the new products." He leaned in closer to her ear and added, "Guide the bees near the Truffula trees, they can make a hive there. These bees are important. I'm planning to convince them to stay and produce a very special honey, so give them the best hospitality."
He handed her a sealed bag filled with seeds. "Also, find someone to plant these cacao seeds on the open ground near the truffula trees. Plenty of space there, and it'll grow well."
"Understood, Master," Melisha said with a playful lilt, her fingers already moving across her phone screen. Kevin then turned his attention to the Oommpas' chief representative and Queen Buzzara.
"Someone will come to show you to your quarters," he told them. "As for the other bees, the ones causing all this trouble we'll go looking for representative tomorrow. For now, rest up. You've all had a long journey."
The queen and the representative agreed, and a few minutes later, a farm worker arrived to escort them to their new places.
Once they were out of earshot, Melisha turned back to Kevin, her expression shifting to something more serious.
"There's something else you need to know about while you were away," she said.
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Your restaurant is one of the places the Queen of the Martian Empire will visit next week," Melisha said.
Kevin was shocked. "The Martian Queen? I don't remember anything about that."
Melisha explained, "The alliance between Earth and Mars is almost finalized, but the Queen requested a personal tour of Earth. The Krusty Krab was on her list."
Kevin's eyes widened in surprise, then lit up with a grin. "Really? Well, that's unexpected… but not bad at all. Looks like we'll need to make sure everything is in perfect order before she arrives."
Melisha nodded, then added one more piece of news that caught his interest. "Also, the farm next to ours is trying to sell their animals, sheep, horses, and more. They're offering them to us at a good price."