Queen Tabitha scowled as she watched Cornelius ride off on Buzzby, behind her King Colbert looked up at her from his late night snack. “Tabitha we’ve been through this he’ll be fine. Thumbelina is already knowledgeable of his taking off. Stop worrying when he’s on the white butterfly with Thumbelina he doesn’t abandon his post now” Colbert chided her calmly. “ He’s to young to be leaving without reference and protection, he’s my baby” Tabitha protested. Colbert gave his wife a look as if to say, a baby? “A very tall baby, whose married but a baby just the same” Tabitha added as if she’d never seen the look he’d given her. “Tabitha be reasonable he survived winter for royal sake, he’s capable of taking care of himself,” Colbert told his wife exasperated. “ What of the toads then we’ve been searching for weeks and without luck it’s to dangerous he could scrape his knee picking a berry,” Tabitha protested frantically.

“A berry Tabitha, stop worrying he’ll be fine the mole has been dealt with, Beetle is… well somewhere in the kingdom, after he paid his dues and the toads are the most wanted in every kingdom” Colbert persisted. His wife opened her mouth to protest then stopped “ if so much as one thing happens to my baby, I’m holding you personally responsible” Tabitha stated finally giving him a look saying, he’ll always be my baby.

Prince Cornelius smiled to himself no one had seen him leave and Thumbelina was safe at her mother’s house. Nothing would harm her now that Hero and her Mother Harriet had locked the windows from the inside. He had tried to get her out of his mind but no such luck. She was front and centre a never-ending picture in his mind always at the top of his list. Second being his royal duties, Buzzby suddenly stopped nearly tossing Cornelius off.

He managed to grab hold of the bumblebee in time and turned his attention to finding what had stopped Buzzby so completely. Buzzby hovered for a mere second then took off at tremendous speed towards the ground. Cornelius grabbed hold tightly nearly falling off a multitude of times. Buzzby headed in a constant direction heedless of Cornelius holding on with a strong grip. Buzzby did a sharp unexpected turn and flew into a net. Cornelius fell from his mount and leapt up pulling his sword out to cut the bee free. As he advanced Grundel and Gringo Toad jumped him. After some struggling the two toads bound and gagged him so his wrists were tied behind his back his arms were pinned to his side and a cloth had been forced in his mouth then tied tightly at the back of his head.

Buzzby didn’t move instead the bee sat still quite content in the net as if nothing was going on around him. Grundel grabbed him by his hair and yanked him off the ground. Gringo pulled out a collar with a leash attached to it and buckled it around his neck fastening it securely. Both toads laughed wickedly as Cornelius tried to pull away and fly. His wings didn’t seem to want to work though. “Collar magical, cancels out puny princes magical abilities” Grundel explained grabbing the leash and yanking. Gringo smiled and added “Mamacita request Prince come for chat. Grundel head to camp I deal with Bee” Gringo reached over and picked the sword off the ground then reached over and grabbed the scabbard. Cornelius helplessly watched and then Grundel yanked him away and Gringo turned to Buzzby smiling maliciously.

“Puny prince worried for bee, hah Mamacita make plans already, Mozo lucky to remain with Mamacita. Not on fetch and carry errand” Grundel laughed enjoying Cornelius’s position as hostage but obviously not to fond of his fetch and carry mission. Cornelius glared at him but the toad all at once stopped and pulled the prince closer. Cornelius turned his attention to the rapids he had been led to. Grundel reached over and pulled the prince so that he could hear the toad’s heartbeat. The next instant Cornelius was over the toad’s right shoulder staring at the ground. Grundel rudely adjusted him then started down the riverbank heading for the more dangerous part. The toad jumped into the icy water and Cornelius was dunked headfirst underwater. He struggled to get his head above water but the toad wouldn’t have it instead shifting the prince so that wasn’t an option. Cornelius lost consciousness after that, Grundel smiled as the prince stopped struggling and continued through the ice-cold waters. Hearing a splash behind him he stopped and his younger brother appeared beside him. Gringo smiled and waved the sword about “is done” Gringo proudly told his older brother. The two smiled then continued their swim to the other side.

Cornelius woke up staring at the ground as before but from a shorter distance this time. Gringo felt the movement and shifter the prince so he wasn’t going to get so much blood racing to his head. Grundel was in front of him hoisting all the gear they had brought on one shoulder and without difficulty at that. “Prince is awake” Gringo chuckled letting his brother know. Grundel scowled and continued walking as if the prince was still asleep like he had been for the last 5 hours.