Ring, ring, ring.

It's the twelfth hour.

It's the twelfth hour.

You lazy mortals, if you're still rotting in your holes, get out! It's time for the afternoon shift!

"Huh, that's strange, ain't never heard that bell before," Malati said, voice trailing. "Aight, well, I should probably take ya to the Casioparo ruins now. Follow me."

Malati hopping along, the bun followed from behind. Grass completely singed, the vampa's wing twitched. Little star fairies twitching in the corner, the farmer flapped upward. Better avoid stepping on those for now. Continuing along the path, another message soon waited for him in the dirt. Flaming words reading, Oriza, quit resisting the bun vampa closed his eyes. It's not his business, yup. He saw nothing.

Long winding path soon in front of him, the farmer studied the area. Flat plains full of empty trees, the bun's stomach sank. It's already late spring and everything here was so dead. Had Seasobu forgot to change the weather here? Maybe that's the case, he didn't know. He hardly knew anything about that godbun.

Reaching the entrance of the ruins, the bun shivered. Is it just him, or was it really cold here? No, it had to have been his imagination. It's the fifth month already, after all. It's the wind, yup, just the wind. What else would it be? Kali waiting for him at the entrance, her paw was soon extended towards him.

"Good afternoon, I won't lie, I'm surprised you came," Kali said, shaking his hand.

"Ya think we were plannin' on flakin' on you?" Malati asked.

"Not really, but didn't you see the sky today?" Kali asked. "You know what's been going on in Sagitago recently."

"No, an' it ain't no business of ours what be happenin' over there," Malati responded, arms crossed. "How many time am I gonna have to say alla that today?" A sigh.

Kali crossing her arms as well, the vampa locked eyes with the party of two. What happened between Oriza and Sagitago? Did they get into some sort of territory spat or something centuries ago or something? He didn't hearing about any wars in this region in school maybe something else happened.

"I don't know, I feel like they're trying to call out to us to come over there, you know?" Kali asked. "But, let's just put that aside for now." She then turned towards Siorc. "Come on, you have to finish finding the lost relics here, right? Remind me, how many do you have to find again?"

[I have to find all of the lost relics. How many relics are there?] A crackling voice asked through the Talkmaster B's speakers.

"Since you found and repaired one yesterday, I believe there's nine left," Kali said. "I can help you today, but you're probably going to be on your own for the rest. And, it might take awhile, too. I heard some shattered completely."

[How many ruins are there in Oriza?] A crackling voice asked through the Talkmaster B's speakers.

"About ten last time I checked," Kali replied, but her words sounded rather uncertain. "Maybe. It's been a hot minute since I explored the catacombs. It's gotten pretty, uh." She then turned her head. "Never mind. Let's just get started. Take this."

Sharp, blunt object handed off to him, the bun followed the leader. Finding himself in a large golden cave shining far too brightly, the vampa covered his eyes. Wow, this place looks rich! Excavators could make trillions down here! But, he shook his head. Now is not the time to get distracted, it's time to get digging!

Strange boards on the wall with symbols on them, the farmer squinted for a moment. What language is that? It looked like Fairese. Why didn't they teach him how to read this in school? What do these runes say? He doesn't know, they're all smudged together. Seasobu, please fire him! He's proven himself to be a failure twice over, right?

Kali and Malati giving him a tip on how to read the runes, the bun scratched the side of his head. Take them and flip them backwards. What was that supposed to do? Taking out a little notepad, everything spun. How can he flip this the other way? They couldn't possibly be serious right now.

Scribble, scribble.

Scribbling down the first set, the young adult drew an arrow. Looking at the lopsided creature, the bun's jaw almost dropped. Wait a second, he recognizes this. He needs to keep going. Scribble, scribble, continuing on for a moment, the clouds faded away. First line picked away, he studied the next one.

Everything looking jumbled together even more so, the scribbles continued. Ugh, star fairies sure knew how to write. Not! Just kidding. Maybe he should change his name to Sarcasbu. Slapping his cheeks, he kept writing. Come on, Siorc, focus, he's got lost relics to find here! Second line nailed down, the bun tried to make out the third and fourth ones.

Fifth and final set of runes looking about ready to turn into Angemese, the vampa closed his eyes. What is this message? Should he really let the answer be blasted around the ruins for everyone to hear? Maybe he shouldn't. No, it's fine, it's just an ancient message, nothing to linger on. Talkmaster B out in front of him, he turned the knobs as fast as he could.

[This Place Is Where the Divine and Fairies Will One Day Meet And Take Back The Crystal Honey.] A crackling voice said through the Talkmaster B's speakers.

Bam.

"I must admit, I'm pretty impressed you were able to decipher all that," Kali said, voice a little rattled. "This wall's barrier should be down now, so, go ahead and get digging. Malati and I will be on the other side if you need us."

Duo hopping away, the bun cracked his knuckles. Alright, here goes nothing. Picking away like his life depended on it, something heavy soon clanged against the little tool. Reaching for the shiny, nothing made sense. Jar of honey waiting for him, the vampa blinked. Is this what he's supposed to be looking for? Maybe he should ask Kali.

Hopping towards the opposite side of the ruins, a disturbing buzzing noise took the bun's eardrums away. Little swarm coming towards him, everything froze. Oh, no, there's ambees in here? This is bad! One sting, and everyone will be down and out for a whole week! Sharp rumps coming towards him, he jumped back. Here they come!

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.

Little ambees flapping towards the honey jar, the farmer placed the creature high above him. Is this what they want? Well, sorry they can't have it! Flapping upward ever so slightly, he hugged the wall. Try and come over here if they dare! They think they can take it? Well, they don't know who they're dealing with here! Future Farmer Bunny, reporting for duty!

But, such trip above had been a big mistake. Little buzzers flying towards him at lightning speed, the stingers were ready and waiting for him. No, no, no, he can't let those hit him! Shield out in front of him, he let out a huff. Please, ambees, back down, he doesn't want their juices, or anything. Can they go the other way?

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.

Shing.

Crack.

Shield soon dust, the bun let out a weak laugh. He's a fool, a dumb vampa. Stingers dancing on his chest, everything grew dark. Body dropping down to the ground with a loud thud, the vampa closed his eyes. He shouldn't have taken that jar of honey, what was he thinking? Slipping away, everything faded.

"O, dear godbuns above, please help us! We have a situation here!" a familiar voice shouted.

Blinking, the farmer groaned. What happened? Oh, right, he dug into that golden wall and found some honey. What happened after that? Why is his head spinning? Closing his eyes, the world grew heavy. Oh, he remembers now, the ambees. The ambees? The ambees, what did they do again? Ugh, please, fog, go away.

"Malati, Sweetbu won't come unless you say the magic words!" Kali cried.

"Why we gotta call her?" Malati asked.

"She's the only godbun that knows how to deal with ambee venom!" Kali cried. "Hurry! It's not looking good! Just say, I have some candy for you, now!"

"Fine, fine, alright. Let's hope this works," Malati sighed. "O, dear godbuns above, please help us, we have a situation here! I have some candy for you!"

Blinding light engulfing the cave, the bun's chest shook. Who are they summoning? What did they say? He think he heard the name Sweetbu? Who is that godbun again? Oh, right, they're the Divine Rabbit of Sweets. Or, are they? Were they? Were they really? Where did this fog come from all of a sudden?

Coming down towards him with an irritated look on their face had been an important looking dark skinned divine rabbit with half pink, half blue hair that looked rather shaggy. Locks reaching to about their shoulders only on one side, their wings looked pretty sticky. Were they eating lollipops or something on the way here? Woah, why does everything feel so hot all of a sudden?

"What do you mortals want? I was in the middle of my snack break!" Sweetbu cried. "This had better be important!"

"Sorry, we don't want no trouble, but we gotta situation here!" Malati cried. "Our guest got hit by a swarm of ambees! It's looking mighty bad!"

"Please, we need your help!" Kali cried clapping her hands together. "Use your sugar to heal him!"

"Tch, oh, it's this guy who keeps crying about his divine name!" Sweetbu cried. "Why should I help him?"

Everything melting together, the bun curled up into a ball. Why does the world look like goop? Please, someone help him! What should he do when something like this happens? When did mama teach him when they had an ambee breakout on the farm some time ago? Nope, nothing's coming to mind.

"Please, Sweetbu, do something!" Kali cried. She then rummaged through her pockets. "Look, see? I have a whole box of cookies for you! You have to help him!"

Blurry divine bun tossing the box aside, the vampa tried to get up. But, such failed. Huh, what's happening? Why is everything tingling? Where did his hands go? Please, someone, help him, anyone? What does he have to in a situation like this? Oh, right, spray the? What does he have to spray again? Did someone just eat his brain?

"These are sugar free! Who do you think you are?!" Sweetbu shouted.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know!" Kali cried. She then shuffled through her bag. "Oh, I have gumballs! Please, hurry! It's been ten minutes! If we wait any longer, you know what'll happen!"

"Fine! Ugh!" Sweetbu cried, flapping towards the foolish mortal. Clap, clap. "I shall reverse your pain, dear mortal."

Icy cold pulse shooting through him, the bun huffed. Huh, what was that just now? Closing his eyes, everything faded. Opening them once more, he placed his hands on the side of his head. What is he doing on the ground for? Oh, right, he found a jar of honey, how could he forget? Standing back up, sticky eyes soon locked onto him.

"There, your little problem is taken care of," Sweetbu said, arms crossed. "Now, get back to work, little plaything! You'd better find all our lost relics, or else, I'll have something else in mind for you by the end of this week!" They then flew upward. "Whatever, I'm out of here! Next time, don't take crystal honey!" Poof.

"Well, they gotta mighty temper today," Malati said, scratching her head. She then turned towards Siorc. "Ya doin' alright? Any discomfort?"

"It's pretty strange, I've never seen Sweetbu act like this," Kali said, staring off into space. "Did she get up on the wrong side of the bed today?"

"Dunno, I reckon we might never know." She shrugged.

Shaking his head, the bun stared at the crystal was this not the relic he was supposed to find? Maybe he should have dug further into the wall instead. Should he go back? No, not yet. He needs to get to the bottom of this jar here. Talkmaster B ready for action, he turned the knobs. Please, let this be what he's looking for.

[Don't worry about me, I'm okay. Is the crystal honey the missing relic I'm supposed to be looking for?] A cracking voice asked through the Talkmaster B's speakers.

"Sort of, yes," Kali said, nodding. "But, also no." She then reached for the jar. "Actually, it's better if I just show you."

Cap screwed off, the sticky topping bubbled on the walls ahead. Everything shaking, something crumbled. Golden creatures dropping one after another, the vampa hopped towards the mess. That's what he was supposed to do all along? Why didn't he think to do that? Reaching for the jar, the farmer hopped backed towards the entrance.

Spilling the liquid on the walls one after another, trinkets came crashing down one after another. Scooping them up, he hopped back towards Kali and Malati. This should be all, right? It had to be. Eye looking at him, he studied the pieces for a moment. Where does this one go? Oh, at the top, here goes.

"That should be all of them," Kali said. "Quick, we have to reassemble it! I hear something coming."

"Do ya mean what I think ya mean?" Malati asked.

"Yup. So, we have to hurry!" Her ears bopped with a fury.

Statute put together faster than he could blink, a large ambee with a crown almost came undone once again. Why did this one have to be one of those things? No, no, it's best to not question the symbols representing the high dragon counsel. Huffing, the bun wobbled. Why does everything feel so heavy again?

"He still ain't lookin' all that good," Malati said, shaking her head. She then linked her arm around his. "C'mon, I'm gonna take ya back to my place. Let's continue the hunt tomorrow."

"Alright, then, see you the same time again tomorrow," Kali said, yawning. "I'll keep this thing for now."

Guided to a small carriage, the bun closed his eyes. He's fine, he can keep going. Who is he kidding? As if he could. Placed back into the guestroom, the young adult closed his eyes. Energy dying a miserable death, one last thought chopped him up into a million pieces as the dream world took him away.

Please, no more lost relics.