For over a week, things just kept getting worse for the city as both the empire and the the droids couldn't get along, and neither could citizens loyal to both. Rancis and Vanellope were at breaking points, and neither could get a message to coruscant to talk to Moff Williams. Currently they were sitting on their thrones with Ralph hearing reports from droids about different districts
"District 4 is secure, but we're not sure for how long" said a b1
"Historical records show a high risk of failure keeping the district under control with b1's" said a commando droid
"Hey, that's not very nice. Like you commandos can do better?"
"I am programmed to be better than you b1's in every way" said the commando
"My model number is shorter, meaning I'm superior to both of you" said a super battle droid
"That's not how this works" the commando responded
"Uh, guys" Vanellope interrupted
"I may be a b1, but I'm not an idiot"
"Your probability of survival is low, very low" said the super
"You have a high risk of failure, and so do you. We BX droids are the only force capable of keeping peace in this wretched city" said the commando
"Guys?"
"You stay out of this!" The droids snapped at Vanellope
Ralph slammed his fist on the ground to scare the droids back into order.
"Now that I have your attention, get out. Go make sure Lucy's ok" said Ralph
"Sounds like a perfect job for the b1" said the super
"All of you" Ralph clarified
"Roger Roger" all 3 replied before walking away
There was a knock on the door, and Honey entered with a tray of honey buns.
"Hey guys, I came back to town to see how things were, see they got worse. My house and store were looted" said Honey
"The riots are only getting worse. Citizens are losing their minds around here" said Ralph
"I brought you some of my treats, they always make you feel better" said Honey
"I don't think they will this time. Lucy's condition is deteriorating each day, Kevin won't even leave his bedroom because he's scared of what's happening out there" said Vanellope
"Surely they can't be that bad. Where is Lucy anyway?" Honey asked
"She's in her bedroom in this castle" said Rancis
Honey made her way upstairs to Lucy's bedroom, but not before handing Rancis the tray of treats. She approached the door and knocked, but got no answer
"Lucy, it's your friend Honey. You ok?" She asked
She got no answer but entered the bedroom anyway. Honey saw Lucy silently playing on the floor. She looked very different, not wearing a lot of her jewelry and dressed in messy pajamas, like she hadn't left the castle in days, which was most likely true. Her hair was also a mess and not in its signature ponytail. After taking a couple steps inside, she heard something break under her foot. She saw Lucy's pearl necklace lying on the ground, now broken under her boot. The 3 droids from earlier were in the room and looked at her immediately when she realized what she did.
"Lucy, I'm so sorry, I'll buy you a new set"
Lucy however looked at the pearls, and shrugged it off, much to honeys surprise.
"As you can see, our master isn't well" said the commando
"I can tell, Lucy loves her pearls" said Honey
She put her purse down and sat on the floor with Lucy
"Hi miss honey, nice of you to stop by" Lucy replied blankly
"Hi Lucy, I brought you some honey buns, I know they're your favorite. Your dad has them." Said honey "you don't look well"
"Why bother being pretty when no one cares" said Lucy blankly
"I care" said Honey
"You shouldn't. You're way prettier than me, I admit it. I don't even care anymore" said Lucy
She took off her favorite necklace, the last piece of jewelry on her, and simply tossed it aside like it was nothing.
"Lucy, you love that thing. Why'd you do that?" Honey asked
"I don't care anymore. Everything bad that happens here is my fault. I don't deserve to live" said Lucy
"That kind of talk is why you're not allowed standard baths or showers at this time" said the commando droid
"You're still trying to kill yourself? Lucy, I pay for your therapist-
"My therapist isn't even in game. Doesn't matter, no one thinks I'm a good leader. My stupid book just caused problems. Just go miss honey, you don't need me" Lucy blankly replied
Honey was worried, but got up anyway. She picked up Lucy's necklace and faced a droid
"I need to borrow this. I promise not to lose it" said Honey
"See that you don't"
Honey put the necklace in her jacket pocket, grabbed her purse, and left the room to see Rancis standing outside
"My little princess is getting worse and it hurts" said Rancis "sad thing is that's the least of our problems. To handle the governments people don't like, citizens are attempting to smuggle in dangerous things"
"Like what dare I ask?" Honey asked
Rancis led honey to a room several floors beneath the castle, with curtains covering 2 big looking boxes.
"These honey, are 2 items that have been almost smuggled into the city. Have a special team coming to kill them soon, can't risk doing it above the surface"
Rancis removed one of the curtains to reveal a glass case with some kind of creature inside, just standing around. It resembled a person, but had some kind of fungus and sores over its head and body. It made weird clicking sounds as it stood.
"Don't worry, this glass is extremely durable and tested, even Ralph can't break through it" said Rancis
Rancis banged on the glass, and the creature inside screeched and started banging on the glass, trying to reach him.
"What is that disgusting thing?" Honey asked
"Internet database says it's called a clicker, from the game The last of us. It's a person infected with a fungus that turns them into this. It's blind but attracted to sound. And I mean it has really good hearing. If it was free it would attempt to eat you. Someone was arrested this morning trying to smuggle this in, possibly to place near an imperial base. People aren't thinking of the consequences letting a creature like this in, the spores it carries are extremely dangerous" said Rancis
"How can people be so dumb?" Honey asked
"Think that's bad? Check this thing out"
Rancis removed the other curtain to reveal another box with a creature inside. This one was larger and completely covered in the fungus the clicker had on it. The creature roared and rammed into the box. Honey gave a scream seeing it and felt like she wanted to puke.
"I think I'm gonna be sick"
Honey covered her mouth and actually puked a little in her mouth. Upon seeing her face was starting to become a little green, Rancis had the curtains shut on the boxes. Honey leaned back against the wall and took some deep breaths, brushing her hair out of her face and having her eyes shut.
"Why do you have those things here? Kill them" Honey urged
A few specialist droids entered the room with flamethrowers and approached the boxes. They removed the curtains and opened several small holes for their weapons to poke through. Immediately they began burning the creatures to kill them. Honey was unsettled by the screams the creatures made to the point she had to leave the room
"That's the safest way to kill them and prevent those spores from reproducing in anyone" Rancis told her
"The empire must know they're causing problems if those disgusting things were brought here" said Honey
"We've been trying to get a message to coruscant for days, but nothings getting through. And dumb old Bill won't accept our calls. I can't get to coruscant because I'm needed here. As you can see I'm in a bit of a jam" said Rancis
"Say no more, I'll take care of this myself. That sour ball will have to listen to me" said Honey
"Bill doesn't even-
"I don't care if he likes me or not, he needs to hear this. I don't wanna wake up tomorrow and see those things in my house eating my baby" honey told him
"Since you're going, see if he can explain to you why protocol 13 was enacted on equestria? That has my daughter very worried" said Rancis
"What's protocol 13?"
"Protocol 13 calls for the immediate evacuation of all imperial forces from an occupied world. It's not a good thing if it's enacted. The world is on the defensive but as you can imagine it has lucy scared" said Rancis
Honey left the castle and flew up to Bills Star destroyer, getting clearance to land thanks to some connections she had from work. Upon landing, she went to Bills office, where he wasn't happy to see her.
"How'd you get permission to land?" Bill asked
"I have my ways. I'm here because you're blocking the royals transmissions to coruscant" said Honey
"The emperor has far more important things to worry about than what's happening here" said Bill
"The royals problems are important" said Honey
"I fail to see how that's important. The royals are incompetent rulers. The empire brings order, and they disrupt that order" said Bill
"You really are a sour piece of candy are you?" She angrily asked
"I gave my life trying to turn the twins into proper rulers, but they're incompetent at that. Here I have a well respected position, this whole ship listens to me. And if I say the royals transmission can't go through, they don't" said Bill
Honey attempted to punch bill, but he held up a com link.
"Good choice stopping. The royals will survive on their own I'm sure" said Bill
"The emperor won't stand for your behavior, I'll fly to coruscant to talk to him if I have to"
As honey talked, she slowly reached into her purse, with bill failing to notice.
"You'd never make it into the palace" said Bill
"Watch me"
Honey then quickly pulled out a blaster and stunned bill unconscious. She quickly made her way off the ship and flew to coruscant. By the time she landed, she saw Bill had placed a bounty on her, forcing her into an alley, where she snapped a code stick in half and out of it, came an imperial security bureau officers uniform.
"Glad I carry these disguises" said Honey to her bees
She quickly changed into the uniform and her bees tied her hair into a bun to avoid suspicion. Honey removed her storage device from her purse and sucked up her clothes and jewelry.
"If anyone asks, I have an appointment" said Honey
"Honey, your earrings" said Stinger
Honey still had on a couple gold hoop earrings dangling from her ears
"Do I have to? I mean they're-
"Honey" her 3 bees started
Honey complied and removed her earrings. She made her way nearby to the imperial palace, which was a large building, bigger than the royals castles. It resembled Sophie's old home from pictures she's seen of it. Coruscant reminded her of the city, as skyscrapers reached high in the sky. If it weren't for the banners and propaganda posters, it would almost feel like home.
Honey entered the palace in her stolen uniform, passing troopers and officers working on different things. Honey was able to lie her way past the many officers and troopers, but she wasn't quite sure where she was going. Her bees decided to fly through the vents to see ahead and possibly distract anyone who got in honeys way.
"This place is huge. Hope I'm going the right way" honey told herself
After walking a bit, she decided to ask a trooper for directions. She came across a purge trooper and tried to make a conversation
"Move along, I have no interest in consorting with the likes of you. My time is better suited watching if the queen bee makes a move around here"
"Really? And why do you think she'd want to come here?" Honey asked the trooper
"Because the organization you work for is pathetic. The ISB has clearly failed at their task at protecting assets on earth and we must do your work for you" said the purge trooper
"Well I wouldn't call it a failure-
"Your organization is at best a waste of imperial resources. None of you are worthy of the emperor's trust. I don't trust you. If the queen bee is here she's obviously here to steal imperial secrets from the archives"
"We'll see what the emperor has to say about not trusting me, as soon as I find him" said Honey
The trooper grabbed honey by the collar of her disguise.
"Why did you approach me exactly? How do I know you're not the queen bee?" The trooper asked threateningly
Luckily honey didn't have to answer, her bees caused a distraction by shorting out a computer panel. Honey could see them flying away to safety back in the vents. The trooper let her go seeing the sparking computer
"Completely ridiculous. The security of the palace might be compromised. I must report this to the head of security. You on the other hand, get out of my sight if you know what's good for you"
Honey picked up her purse and moved along quickly. She'd have to find her way on her own. She made it to an elevator which was guarded by another officer, this was the way to the emperors office according to a sign.
"State your business" said the officer
Honey patted her purse
"I have an appointment with the emperor" said Honey
"What's the nature of said appointment?"
"That's classified" said Honey
"I have clearance. I should've been notified. Send a security droid please" the officer called into a com link
"This isn't necessary" said Honey
"I can't make an exception, I have my orders" said the officer
Honey looked around for a brief moment and saw nobody was looking or close by, so she punched the officer smack dab in the face, knocking him unconscious. She quickly boarded the elevator with her bees joining her closeby. Upon making it to the highest tower in the palace, she saw the office, but it was guarded by several red robed royal guards. She quickly turned down a hallway without being seen.
"No way am I gonna fight them, not after what happened on my wedding day" said Honey
Her bees found another vent and helped honey get inside. After a couple minutes crawling through the ducts, she was over the office of emperor Williams, who was reading a book of some sort. Honey kicked the vent open and landed in the office much to his surprise. The royal guards burst in hearing her and pointed their weapons at her
"We need to talk about litwak city"
"And who are you, officer?" Williams asked
Honey removed her hat and took her hair out of its bun
"The queen bee of Litwak city herself. Guards, leave us, I can handle this"
The guards lowered their weapons and left the office.
"How'd you get in here?" Williams asked
"I have my ways and am persuasive. I have a message from queen Vanellope, the city isn't doing well. That Star destroyer is making citizens anxious and unwell. The riots are getting worse with more imperials around. Lucy has tried to end her life on several occasions" said Honey
"Impossible, Admiral sour bill assured me the situation was under control" said Williams
"He's preventing transmissions from reaching this planet. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't true" said Honey "Queen Lucy feels responsible for everything, she's not herself because of the riots. I have this as proof"
Honey reached into her pocket and slid Lucy's necklace across the table. Williams looked at it.
"Please return to Tiffany and co New York? This isn't queen Lucy's, no way she'd let you have it. How do I know this isn't yours?"
"One, mine is in my purse, and 2, look at the back of the heart" said Honey
Williams flipped it around, and saw the name Lucy F engraved on the back.
"This is definitely hers, I remember now. I once had this necklace as a trophy of sorts years ago, so I remember the details of it" said Williams
"She took it off and threw it like it was nothing to her, I broke her pearls and she just shrugged it off. That's not the Lucy I know" said Honey
"If what you say is true, I suppose a visit to earth is in order for me to inspect your claims" said Williams "you will accompany me back to earth immediately"
"I'll explain everything on the way. That book you're reading, what is it? The color looks familiar"
Williams held the book up, and much to honeys surprise, it was Lucy's book.
"Queen Lucy and I may have different views on how to run a government, but I do respect her as a leader"
"Before we go, I need to know, what's happening with equestria?" Honey asked
"I intended it to be a surprise once repairs on earth were complete, but I guess I have no choice. I'm abandoning the planet and letting queen Lucy have it all. She clearly cares about its inhabitants more than I do, and I know she'll care for them better. Equestria is such an unimportant world to the empire that I'm willing to abandon it" said Williams
This surprised honey, but she knew it would make Lucy happy. Upon returning to earth and talking to several officers in charge of the reconstruction, Williams went to vanellopes castle and filmed a statement urging loyal imperial followers to cease hostilities with the people of litwaks, calling them distasteful. He announced his plans for equestria with Lucy, which shocked her, but what made her smile was him saying he thought she was a good leader, it's all Lucy ever wanted to hear from an imperial.
Bill's Star destroyer was moved to the city limits, and reconstruction was limited to several key areas, with the emperor overseeing things. As a sign of goodwill, Williams closed the imperial academy in district 4, but allowed empire day to still be celebrated by those who still wished. As promised, once the repairs were finally done, the imperials left, and repairs could fully be made on the city. The equestrians weren't all happy their world was controlled by a girl they hated, but Lucy promised she'd prove herself to them.
Things seemed to be going back to normal around the city, and after a couple therapy sessions, Lucy was turning back to her normal self. Honey saw this as she made a weekly delivery to the castle and saw Lucy in her bedroom in her moms pink princess dress. Her hair was brushed and neatly in its ponytail, she had all her jewelry on again, and she looked happy.
"So glad to see you happy again Lucy. I got your honey buns delivered as promised. Your mental health ok?" Honey asked
"It's still a work in progress, but the fact that the emperor thinks I'm a good leader, that's what's keeping me going. It's all I ever wanted to hear" said Lucy
"Your majesty, we must depart for equestria to announce your new improvements" said a commando droid
"You're right. I gotta go miss Honey"
Lucy hugged her before grabbing her purse and running out. Honey smiled, lucy was happy, and life was going back to normal.