Hope you guys appreciate this chapter. Wrote it all in one go, and right after a two hour swim practice. Anyway, just trying to get this story done with soon, because once school starts, the updates won't be coming very quickly.
Chapter 7
Meanwhile down in the Beetle Ballroom of the Crystal Caves, dozens of beetles, big and small, were nodding along to the beat as entertainers in the center of the room danced and sang. In the middle of said stage, Thumbelina stood, disguised in a large and flashy butterfly costume.
"Ladies and gentlebugs," an announcers voice boomed from some unknown source. "Berkley Beetle proudly presents Thumbelina!" Said bug danced onto the stage dressed in black, accompanied by four other beetles wearing white. The beetles began to dance around, their synchronized movements showing how much they had obviously practiced, before Beetle took the lead and began to sing.
"Baby, its the Beetle Ball,
And bugs are crawling to get in,
When they hear that beetle beat,
Their beetle feet'll start to spin!
And how to cheer!
For you, my dear
Yer beautiful, baby!" Thumbelina smiled at the praise as the crowd cheered, before the back ups began to sing.
"Oh my little butterfly,
You flutter by at each romance,
Every chance to dance with you,
Puts the ants back in my pants!" Dancing around, Thumbelina turned to face him as Beetle came up next to her dancing.
"Let's cut a rug,
My ladybug,
Yer beautiful, baby!" Beetle led Thumbelina down to the main stage before he took over the singing again.
"I get a buzz when I have you on my wing,
You have my antennae in a knot!
Now the room's reelin',
And I'm feelin',
So ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha,
Hot to trot!
Let's dance, baby!" Beetle went off doing some very unique dance moves as Thumbelina watched him.
"Isn't she beautiful!" A green beautiful thoughtless comments to his wife.
"Just adorable, darling," she says back gazing at the show through opera glasses.
"What a piece of work!" Another beetle comments, making his date glare at him.
"Will ya look at 'er?" Their waiter agrees.
"Okay, toots! Let's wing it!" Beetle tells Thumbelina, too overjoyed to think clearly. Thumbelina however, didn't have that problem.
"I-I can't wing it! I don't even have wings!" Her protests go unheard, and as Beetle spins her, her costume rips off, revealing her wearing a red one piece leotard with black trimming underneath. "I'm getting dizzy!"
"Ew!" The crowd cries in disgust at seeing Thumbelina's non insectoid appearance. Thumbelina shrinks in on herself as the crowd jeers at her. The singers begin incorporating their laughter into the song.
"Hee hee hee hee,
Ha ha ha ha!
She's she's she's she's,
So so so so-
Hey, that bug is a dog!" Thumbelina tries to continue dancing the routine, but the audience begins commenting on her.
"My, my!"
"Unattractive!"
"The word, my dear, is ugly!"
"She's so ugly it hurts my feelers!"
"I hope it ain't catching!"
"Disgraceful!" Thumbelina keeps dancing, smile on face, seemingly oblivious to the crowd's comments. But then the singers pitch in, directly next to her.
"Would you look at that,
She ain't got no wings!
Good gracious, me,
What are those things?" Thumbelina begins frowning in confusion and embarrassment at the words, her dancing coming to a stop.
"She ain't got no feelers!"
"No feelers!" The crowd responds.
"She ain't got no shell!"
"Do tell!"
"She's got scrawny legs,
And knobbly knees,
For all we know,
The gal's got fleas! (AN: Yes, of course she has fleas, which I might add, ARE THE SAME SIZE AS SHE IS!)
She can't even fly,
No that won't do," at this Beetle frowns and starts getting angry.
"So say goodbye,
She's not for you!"
"I'm sorry toots," Beetle tells Thumbelina, annoyed that his fame had apparently vanished. "I guess you're too-"
"Ugly!" Everyone in the crowd cries, as Beetle hits Thumbelina on the butt with his cane. Thumbelina's hands fly up, before she sinks down, visibly saddened by the crowd's comments.
"Don't worry, you'll get over me," Beetle tells her before tipping his hat and walking away.
"I'm ugly?" Thumbelina repeats sadly, looking like she was about to cry.
Far away, the jitterbabies were running along the ground, Gnatty and Li'l Bee leaving Baby Bug trying to catch up to them.
"Hey, wait for me!" The distressed bug cried, trying in vain to catch up to the other two.
"Hurry up! Thumbelina needs help!" Li'l Bee responded, as they ran toward a dead tree stump.
As they passed through, a large figure dropped down and blocked their way out. It was Grundel de Espana, who had overheard them say Thumbelina's name.
Screaming, the jitterbabies ran back the way they came. Seeing them try to escape, Grundel merely laughed, before pounding on the stump, causing wood to fall, blocking the jitterbabies exit.
"Do I hear one of you say Thumbelina needs help?"
"Yes."
"Gnatty!" Li'l Bee cried at him, remembering an important lesson that Gnatty, Baby Bug, Thumbelina, and Ivalyn all didn't know, but he did. Stranger danger.
"The beetle took her, and flew her way up there."
"Shhh! Be quiet!" Li'l Bee whispered, covering Gnatty's mouth before he said anything else.
"The beetle?" Grundel questioned, before smashing the ground with his hand again. "I want her back!"
The jitterbabies screamed again as wood rained down, and they quickly ran through Grundel's legs, sprinting towards the exit.
"Come on, let's go!" Baby Bug yelled as they escaped, but Li'l Bee couldn't help throwing one last insult over their shoulders.
"You big, ugly wart face!" Hearing this, Grundel laughed insanely, before catching himself.
"Now, we see about this beetle!"