Honeycomb Hearts

Meet and Greet

"Yang, wake up! We're going to be late!"

Yang jolted upright, taking a second to look around. She quickly realized she was in the same farm house as she was earlier, but an angry Ruby was standing in the room's center. "What do you mean we're gonna be late?" Yang said with a yawn, "I thought you were gonna wake me up in time for the get-together thingy."

Ruby crossed her arms and began to tap her foot. "I was, and I did an hour ago. It's starting in like, ten minutes! You know how excited I am to see everyone, right?"

Yang pushed herself up to her feet, stumbling slightly on the unstable floorboards. "Yeah, sorry, I must've fallen back asleep. I didn't mean to make you wait so long."

Ruby's frown quickly turned into a gentle smile. "Don't sweat it, I'm just glad you're awake for real this time. Now come on sis, let's see what this town has to offer!"

Before Yang could say another word, they were out on the porch, overlooking their new plot of land. Yang took a second to look out at the overgrown field before stepping down, noticing now just how green the far areas were, yet how barren or weed-infested the closer areas had become in their grandfather's absence.

"Hey Ruby, what kinda crops do you think Papa Branwen grew here?" Yang asked, kicking at the dirt as she walked down the stairs.

"Based off of Miss Kali, would it be wrong to say catnip?" Ruby giggled, earning a playful push from Yang.

"If you wanna make friends, definitely do NOT say that to the Belladonnas." The two shared a laugh before departing into the forest. The path had gotten hard to see given that the sun was getting low, creating less and less light flowing in from the patchwork canopy above them. Despite this, Yang was at ease, since the bees probably wouldn't come out this late.

"Okay Yang, I have a question for you this time." Ruby chirped with a skip in her step, "What kind of people do you think live here? We know about the photographer, her friend, and Miss Kali, but who else?"

Yang tilted her head, trying to remember what little details she had heard about the town. "Well Apis Mellifera was made by Faunus, right? So we can probably expect some Faunus there outside of the Belladonnas, who seem pretty chill if Kali is any indicator. I'd just like to meet people who aren't total assholes, pretty much."

"And maybe find true love?" Ruby snickered, once again causing Yang to push her away. "This sounds like a cheesy romance movie, doesn't it? The beautiful girl suffers a tragedy that causes her to move far, far away, and there she discovers the love of her life – not too bad sounding eh?"

Yang sighed, but couldn't help but smile. "You know, that would make you the quirky friend who tries to set the main character up with the love interest. I don't think you would be a very good wingman, sorry to say."

Ruby gasped. "I am hurt! I am wounded! I am... what's another word for hurt?"

"A bit too hopeful is what you are," Yang chuckled, "I doubt I can find my 'one true love' in this small town. Even if I do it'll be years out. If you're so interested in love, maybe you can call up ol' vomit boy."

"No way! I mean he was cool and all, but – wait, there's the town!" Ruby suddenly broke into a sprint, leaving Yang in the dust. "Come on Yang, keep up!"

Yang grinned and began to run, stirring up dust clouds behind her. Much to her chagrin, she couldn't catch up to Ruby before they made it to the town square. Taking a deep breath, Yang realized just how beautiful the town was.

The town had a somewhat rustic vibe, with the town square being made of a faded cobblestone. The houses surrounding the square seemed aged, but well-loved and cared for. What really caught Yang's eye however was the fountain in the center of the square, spurting up water ad infinitum. The marble seemed to be perfectly polished, though markings had been made up and down the center columns.

"Hey Ruby, take a look at this." Yang said, "What do you think these markings are?"

"I mean they look like initials, maybe it's all the people who live in the town?" Ruby tilted her head, trying to read one specific marking. "I mean this one is... GB and KB, that's gotta be names, right?"

"Right indeed, Ruby". The two girls turned to see Kali behind them, with a tall, muscular man with hair just as jet-black as her own. "Those are actually initials of every couple who has gotten married in this very town square."

"Oh, so KB is you, and GB is... you?" Ruby asked, pointing at the burly man. "I'm Ruby by the way, nice to meet you!"

The man chuckled, his voice gritty compared to Kali's. "Yes, that's me and Kali. I'm Ghira Belladonna, mayor of Apis Mellifera. It's an honor to have you both living in the town." Ghira turned towards Yang, "And you must be Yang, correct? Papa Branwen's granddaughter?"

"Yup, that's me! Nice to meet you." Yang outstretched her right hand, and Ghira shook it without hesitation.

"An iron grip I see, to many people have-" Ghira began before looking down at Yang's hand. "Oh, excuse me, I didn't mean an iron grip quite literally."

Yang snickered, "It's actually an aluminum grip, if you wanna get technical."

Ghira pulled away with a hearty laugh, setting his hands on his shoulders. Behind him, however, Yang could see a shadow figure near the entrance where her and Ruby had come into the square. She could tell it was a woman, but nothing more – and before she knew it, the figure had disappeared into the trees.

"Well the festival doesn't start for another few minutes, would you like me to show you around town first?" Ghira asked, to which Ruby nodded furiously.

"I'd love to! Yang, what about you?" Ruby asked. She turned her head to see Yang was focused on something behind Ghira. "Yang?"

"Huh?" Yang replied, "Oh, right. Actually, I forgot something at the farm house that I was supposed to bring. I'll catch up later, though!" With that said, Yang bowed to Ghira and Kali and headed off in pursuit of the shadowy figure.