There are places that exist only in our dreams, but oftentimes our dreams are but a gateway to realms beyond our imagining. One such place is the home of the magical and enchanting world of the Neverhive, a society of five sister cities making up one entire kingdom. The Bees of the Neverhive live to make honey in their factory and share it with the world, but many of the Bees have skills, interests, and passions that go far beyond just crafting honey. The royal family is well-loved by the Neverhive because they want their subjects to not only follow their dreams, but to succeed in achieving those dreams.

The citizens of the Neverhive are made up of two species: the slimmer honey-class bees who work alongside their heavier bumble-class kin to create honey. Bumblebees are the nectar gatherers, and because of this are revered in their society every bit as their svelt brothers and sisters, maybe even more. Like with fingerprints, every bee, wasp, and hornet of the Neverscape shares the trait of unique stripes from birth or through childhood. Some are simple lines across the thorax, others can be scattered across the body like freckles. Very rarely was there ever a Neverhive Bee without stripes, then one day, a very special egg hatched in the royal maternity ward.

Many years ago, the Bee Queen’s little sister, Countess Belinda, welcomed her youngest daughter, Willow, nicknamed Billie, into the world at Northtropolis General Hospital. At the time Billie's egg was laid, her parents, her teenage brother Baxter, and toddler big sister  Babs waited eagerly to see the child's faceted eyes, knowing in their hearts it would be love at first sight. Countess Belinda’s body heat incubated the baby for an entire week, and Billie emerged as an auburn-haired baby with the same blue eyes as Babs. As they predicted, the entire family, especially Babs, fell in love with Billie. Dr. Brainard checked Belinda and Billie into observation at the hospital for an extra week. Babs was too young to understand why Billie was not home yet ,and she became upset, worrying that she would never see the cutie beauty again.  When Belinda arrived home with Billie, the skies exploded with rainbow photons, symbolizing their happiness. From the very start, Billie flourished with her family’s love and support, but her fur remained the same bold, bright yellow with only a few small markings between her eyes. To boost her confidence, the royal family and castle staff wore garments covering their thoraxes, and encouraged Billie to do the same, which met with great success. However, everything changed when Billie turned five and was enrolled in Northtropolis Elementary School.

When Billie woke up that first morning, she was excited to meet other larvae and make new friends, but there was one little detail that the royals forgot: that Northtropolis’s dress code was more lax than the other four sister cities, and Billie saw this for herself when she flitted into room 1-B, her hair in braids and her aura glowing a pure bright white, dressed in her new school attire, which took the other kids by surprise . The moment they saw her cross the threshold, everyone and everything else went silent, except for their teacher.

“Oh, good, you’re here,” said Teacher Bess. “Class, say hello to your new classmate, Billie.” The other bees were still quiet until Bess cleared her throat to get them to greet her. “Hello, Billie,” the others said in calm unison. 

“Billie, our air-conditioning is on the fritz. Why don’t you put your garments in your locker?” asked Teacher Bess. Billie looked around the classroom, all the other students staring at her, and she merely shook her head and sat down. As Teacher Bess wrote today’s nouns on the chalkboard, Billie heard what sounded like whispers and giggles from the other girls, but she paid it no heed.

Billie felt terrible all day, unsure of what was wrong. Her new teacher and the librarian, who knew Baxter and Babs when they were Billie’s age, adored her, but the young viscountess met with scorn. Had someone discovered her Royal Family connection? Was her mother’s perfume wrong? Was it the single toy in her Gladdie Meal? Billie’s clever mind pondered every question. Before recess, she accidentally picked up a psicon from her antennae: “Look, Bernie; she must be one of those blank slates.” The words from the snotty kid with honeycomb pizza told Billie the answer. She was different, and her family had lied for years. An innocent girl with an invisible barrier, Billie’s only comfort was her mother and father’s hug and the fluffernutter from Celestins. From as far away as the distant soon, others felt Billie’s sorrow, those who loved her but did not know her yet.

Billie was silent the rest of the night, barely touching her food at dinner and going to bed early. In the upper level of the west wing, Belinda brought tea and honey-scones to the card room. “Thank you for coming Boston,” she said as she hugged her elder brother. “I have never seen her like this before. I should have seen this coming, big brother.”

“You’re too hard on yourself, Belinda,” replied Boston as he sipped his earl grey tea. “I can relate to her situation better than anyone, and I want to help.” “There is only one way that I can think of,” mused Belinda. Fortunately, Boston was one step ahead of it, replying, “I spoke to Ayzaia. He has agreed to postpone his research project, and he will look into Willow’s case. He says that you can bring her to the medical tower in a few days.” Belinda was grateful for this, and prayed that Billie’s spirit would hold up until then. 

Billie recognized the name Mousette but could not place it. “My youngest daughter’s out of school for the week, so I asked her to join Demi and me. Billie, I would like you to meet Dainty.” Della gestured for Billie to turn around. There was a tiny white mouse in a polka-dot pink dress. Dainty squeaked, “Bax says you like glitter. Wanna be my art partner?” Billie’s antenna flickered a bright neon blue. She reached into her backpack and gave Dainty a cinnamon cookie. “Dainty?” “Yes, Billie?” “Would you wanna exchange psicon numbers?” Dainty happily nodded and scribbled her frequency number on paper. Demuria and her mother could not help but smile; once again, their little Dainty brought a smile to a sad face.

The next day, Billie and her classmates attended their first art class, taught by an outsider to the Neverhive. Teacher Bess instructed them to behave, but she expected their guarantees to be flimsy. Billie sat alone at the back as the ebony-furred assistant gave project instructions. A tap on her shoulder made her jump. A soft voice asked, “Are you Baxter’s sister?” Billie nodded. “You know him?" The raccoon-tailed mouse nodded and replied. I’m Della-Kate Mousette, I'm your substitute art teacher for the week. That's my daughter Demuria, my assistant.”

That night at dinner, the entire royal family were gathered in their entirety: the Queen and King, Belinda and Burton, Boston, their brother Ben, and grandmother Birdie, the former queen. Queen Beeatrix and Ben called in favors to delay the parliament’s schedule for the next week so they could comfort Billie. Thankfully, the plan worked; they all saw Billie’s appetite was back, and she was a little more open than she had been, but it was not going to last. That’s when Boston stood up and made an announcement: “

Willow, I arranged for you and your mother to consult with the best physician in the kingdom. There is a chance, a very, very small chance, mind you, that you can have your wish come true.” Rightaway, this news perked the little larva right up. She sat there in her high chair as she pondered what this mysterious doctor would be able to do for her. As the desserts were served, Billie asked if she could take it up to her room. Belinda nodded and said she would bring it up to her when the coffee was ready. 

When she got up to her room, Billie’s nose began to tickle with a repeated pulse; this meant that her new friend Dainty was calling! With a snap of her feelers, an orb of magical energy popped in and hovered at eye level with Billie. With a touch of the sphere, Dainty’s image appeared on the orb. “Billie, I have a few friends over that wanted to say hi.” Right when she heard this, Billie recoiled away from the orb’s eye because she was eating downstairs without her school outfit, but another voice rang out and said, “No, no, we want to see you as you are. Please don’t be afraid of us.” Billie looked again, and two more girls, each of different Neverscapian species, appeared before her. The arthropod on the left was Cello Hopper, and the squirrel girl on the right was Dainty’s distant cousin, Juniper Squirrel, and all three of the trio had the same smile in their souls when they saw Billie’s baby blue eyes. It took a couple of days, but Billie finally felt the happiness that she wanted to feel with kids her own age, and the shimmer in Billie’s eyes conveyed her appreciation to this mysterious group of girls. Dainty tilted her head when she saw Billie was crying. “What’s wrong, Billie?’

“Oh, Dainty..., after I left art class today, I felt bad again. These other kids are... are…” stammered Billie as Juniper added, “There are jerks in every school, Billie; it’s the nature of things.” Billie heard a faint arpeggio of music, then she realized it was coming from Cello. “That… that was such a beautiful harmony, Cello,” gasped Billie in tears. “I wish I could go to your guys’s school.”

From outside of the room, Belinda came in with a slice of all three desserts just as Cello said, “I think my aunt would be able to help you. I’ll send you her psicon number.” Belinda stepped in and said, “No need, Cello; I have Dextra on speed dial.” The orb turned off as Billie took a nip of her pumpkin pie. “Mommy, who is Dextra?” “A friend of our family; no, actually, their whole family is a friend of our family.” Belinda gave Billie a kiss on the cheek and sat down on the bed beside her. “Tomorrow is a big day, sweetheart, so take your bubble bath early and get to bed in the hour.” Billie could not help but swoon; every word that Belinda ever spoke was as soothing to her children as the chime of a bell.

The next morning, Billie and her mother arrived at the Northtropolis Medical Tower to get checked in. Boston’s son,Dr. Brainard, spent the last few days preparing for this visit, starting with a specially drafted questionnaire of health conditions for Belinda to fill out while the nurse rubbed antiseptic on Billie’s back. Belinda asked “Ayzaia, what test is this?” The good doctor explained that it was an allergy test, that a series of small pricks would measure what substances would be adequate for the procedure he discussed with Boston. Like a trooper, Billie did not recoil or wince during the test, but when Brainard came back a few hours later, Billie fell apart. “Aunt Belinda, I am so sorry, but there is no feasible way to tattoo stripes on your daughter. She has the same allergy to organic ink and pigments that all of Queen Birdie’s children have; even henna is too toxic to attempt.” Billie burst into sobs as Belinda gently rocked her in her arms. “Brainard, can you predict if she can grow stripes when she gets older?” Brainard shook his head and replied, “The Nevertribe Mystics that I consulted with went over her genetic coding: her stripes are recessive from both parents, a one-in-a-billion chance.” Brainard was a father himself, and he sympathized completely with Billie’s sorrow. His daughter Bebe had a maternal cousin who was born with blue fur, something that was another extremely rare trait in Neverhivian biology.

Belinda pulled Billie onto her lap and said, “This changes nothing, Billie. You are still my little angel, stripes or no stripes.”

Billie sniffled and rasped, “Why should I be scorned at school because of something I cannot help?” 

Dr. Brainard replied as he gave her a cherry lollipop, “Your Uncle Boston used to ask me the same question during the Great Conflict, when enemy fire destroyed his wings and stinger."

“For years he lamented that he was incomplete. That's why I worked night and day on prosthetics to replace them. Then, one day, many years later, he told me it had all been worth it. The blood tests for the prosthetic compatibility showed I was his biological son. Bad things don’t last forever." Brainard’s daughter, Bebe, was her friend long before they knew they were cousins, but it made it extra special. Belinda hated what her brother went through during the war, but she cherished Boston, even with his artificial wings and stinger. She was grateful that her older nephew, despite his busy schedule, tried to find a solution for her. Belinda and Billie hugged Dr. Brainard and left the office, crestfallen. This visit was not fruitless; it proved to Billie how precious she was.

The next day at school was a little lighter for Billie when Teacher Bess said that they were scheduled for art class after lunch. And when the class left for the cafeteria, Billie saw that Dainty was waiting for her, bearing two Gladdie Meals from Celestin’s. “Hey, Billie, would you wanna have lunch in the art room with my mom and sister?” This was an offer that Billie could not refuse, and with Teacher Bess’s blessing, Dainty escorted her lunch buddy to the art room. When they arrived, the two girls saw Baxter kissing Dainty’s sister, Demuria, the class assistant. Billie looked on in shock.“Bax?” “Hey, kiddo, glad you could join us.” It turned out that Baxter and Demuria were in love since they were Billie’s age, and Demuria decided that it was best to give Billie as much support as possible, so she arranged for her mother to fill in for the regular art teacher and for Dainty’s school to fumigate for aphids.

“Dainty,” Demuria brought her in closer. “Why don’t you tell her what Lady Soprana told us when we dropped Cello off at Hopper Hills?” Dainty turned to Billie and grasped her feelers. “Cello spoke with her Aunt Dextra, she’s just finished a fresh batch of Blue Moon Silk, and she is going to make a special garment for you if she can take your measurements.” Blue Moon Silk was a special material that only certain Neverbeings could create, and the name came from the seven months it takes to make it, and for its iridescent blue glow. Queen Beeatrix and her daughters owned a few special dresses for diplomatic affairs, so Billie was familiar with the soothing effect it had. 

“I spent my month’s allowance on fantasy novels, Dainty,” sighed Billie, “I won’t be able to afford it until my next birthday.” Demuria pulled Billie in closer and with a maternal smile said, “Billie, you little heartbreaker, Dextra only wants a hug from you, not Nevercoins.” 

The feel of Demuria’s paws was as soft and velvety as a satin pillow, the tender stare of the young mousette’s eyes like obsidian gems; all of it broke through the layers of inadequacy and doubt that poor Billie had felt in the past week. It made her wonder: if Demuria and Della were this sweet, what was Lady Dextra going to be like? In one afternoon, an entirely new branch of family attached to Billie’s tree -- not just a trio of friends, something Baxter and Demi hoped deeply for.

Dextra lived in a built-up community on the east coast of the island, and it was going to be the first time that Billie left the actual hive itself, through a portal of light known as the Neverhive Nexus, the main exit in the sky. As Billie and Babs’s ride ascended above the clouds, the view from their tram was indescribable, the kind of majestic vibrancy that Billie only saw in books and video orbs. Babs tried to keep Billie strapped in her lap, but the little energetic firefly was so excited that she could not relax her wings. “Billie, you’re going to make the dragonfly too nervous to stay on course; please calm yourself.” After a bumpy ride, the sisters’ tram landed right outside the gate to Hopper Hills. “Now, Billie,” warned Babs, “Lady Dextra is a wonderful lady, but she might seem a little scary.” “What do you mean, Babs?” They reached Dextra’s address, and Babs rang the doorbell. “Well, you know how Cello has six legs?” “Yeah.” “Well, Dextra and Cello’s mother have two extra legs.” The door opened, and Billie hid behind her sister’s back, trembling; two extra legs meant that Cello’s aunt was a spider, something Billie was not prepared for, but the moment Dextra skittered out on the porch to hug Babs, Billie smelled the essence of vanilla and heard a silky and sultry voice gently whisper, “And this must be Willow.” Babs rubbed Billie’s shoulder and reminded her to give Dextra  a chance.  Billie saw the furthest thing from what she feared: hair like spun amethyst filament, soft creamy skin, a lamb-wool dyed blouse, a heart beret, and an intangible gentleness. Billie did not even notice the vegan button on her shirt before she jumped into Dextra’s loving grasp.  With a coy blush, Lady Dextra gently rocked Billie in her front arms like she was her baby, filling the toddler with a cozy bliss as relief swept over her.  Babs playfully mussed Billie’s hair and spoke. “Billie, I will pick you up in a few hours, but something tells me that you will wanna stay later. Is that okay, Dextra?” Dextra nodded, knowing that Billie was going to love meeting her daughter, Celia. “Come, dear, let’s get you some milk and cookies.”