Their grins were all over the hive as they wear the newly made shirts, pants and even dresses. All colored in white, they all look members of a certain cult in some of the movies. Belle, who just acquired the spider monster's power was very happy helping her fellow classmates.
Jessie walked slowly approached Belle, busy making blankets for everyone. "Thank you, Belle for the rugs. Now I will never let the kitchen run mess." Belle smiled, "No, thank you instead, for giving me this opportunity to help. Now I can finally see myself contribute in this new existence." They both hugged each other and went back to their tasks.
Alex looked at Belle and was satisfied with everyone's decision. They can never find someone whose skills are more suitable than Belle's, therefore, she was indeed the best option.
"Alex!" shouted Belle, when she noticed him looking at her in the hall. Alex smiled, and walk closer to Belle, "You're really having fun, about this. Don't you feel weak, releasing so much of your webs?" Alex asked. Belle moved her head from side to side, "No, like Kent, I think there's no limitations in this power." Belle replied. "Everything has its limitations, Belle. Be careful not to abuse it too much. We still don't know how powers work in this place." Alex warned, caring about his friends, health and safety. "I'd take a note of that." Belle replied.
Belle gestured Alex to sit beside her, on a vacant empty chair. "You know, Alex. When I first started college, back in our world. I really feel quite depressed." Belle said, as if she was remembering a harmful past.
"Why is that?" Alex asked.
Belle sighed, and stopped weaving. "I grew up introverted. I really don't ask too much from my family. I supported myself when I started schooling and –" Belle stopped for a moment, she then looked below, seeking comfort from the floor. "I don't know, I always find myself useless in so many things. That I always admire our classmates for being too smart and capable, and here I am, a nobody." Belle added.
"You know, I was taught by my parents to never step on someone's space, until you're invited. But, Belle. Would you mind?" Alex said.
Belle knew Alex was talking about letting him talk about her insecurities, and she allowed him. "Yes, of course. What are you talking about? This is my first time sharing it to someone, about this matter and I wouldn't mind you say something about this, too." Belle replied, smiling.
Suddenly Alex gave out a bursting laugh. Belle was left dumbfounded. "Seriously?" She sounded embarrassed. "I can't believe you felt like that! You're one of the ones I look up to, the most. You're pretty, smart, and even skillful. I still remembered how you understand lessons that are complicated enough to be inquired by many." Belle was shocked but she can't help herself smile. "Also…" Alex continued, "Although you procrastinate a lot, you still end up submitting requirements on time. Dude! That's a sick skill you got there!" Alex exclaimed.
Teary-eyed, Belle hugged Alex. "I never thought someone had seen me in those years. I thought I was invisible." She said, crying.
Alex hugged her, his chin on Belle's head. "Then we wouldn't have chosen you in the first place." Alex then removed her arms around Belle and placed each side on Belle's shoulder, looking at her intensively, "You matter and have a vital place in the class, Belle. Always think of that. I don't care if you don't want to admit it, but I, and everyone around here, knows that, and will surely tell you about that, confidently!" Alex said seriously.
Belle continued to cry as she felt how encouraging Alex's words were to her. She didn't expect to be someone. She didn't expect to become something that everyone relies on. She thought that she would never be that someone. But Alex changed that, now she's confident. Now that she had just possessed an incredible power, that confidence have skyrocketed and willing to do more – to survive.
Alex wiped Belle's tears, "Don't cry. You'll ruin your art." Belle looked at her currently-weaving clothing and realized it had been soaked wet. She chuckled. "Don't worry, it's washable." She replied and they both hugged again and Alex bid her goodbye to roam around the area. Belle thanked him for giving her words that gave her a sense of fulfilment. Smiling, she continued to weave.
-----
Alex decided to go out. guided by the mystical golden lights of the hive, he looked for something that can take him downwards. "Excuse me?" he said as he walked towards the stationed guard bee and asked it to carry him towards the land. The guard bee never hesitated to do the task for it was commanded by their queen. As Alex was carried by its yellow feet, he realized that they have to deal with the carrying part to be more non-reliant on the guard bees. "A ladder would be great." He whispered to himself and was carried successfully on the ground.
The usually turquoise blue sky above brightens the mood of everyone on the marshland, giving them hope as they continue to live this dangerous but ecstatic life. "Gloyd!" Alex called to his friend who trained together with everyone else with Kent, Matt and Jay's leadership. These three were good at sports when they were still the past world, they were taught by instructors of karate and basic fighting techniques that can save your lives when you're in a tough situation. That's why Kent, tasked these two to guide some who does not know any of those things - helping them survive int his crisis.
Gloyd looked back after hearing his name, "What?"
"What did Kent say? Any news on the appearances of other monsters?" Alex asked.
Gloyd continued to train as he punched and kicked the air, like what the teachers instructed, "I don't know about it. Kent did not say anything. Maybe there isn't."
Alex nodded, "I see. That means, we still have time to lighten the things here." Alex said.
Gloyd stopped punching and stood, looking confused "What do you mean?"
Alex smiled, "You'll see." Alex then winked at him.
Gloyd let a sigh and continued to do what he did earlier.
Alex moved towards Kent who was in the same location as the intructors. Alex talked approached her, and they went to the other side, for privacy. After a few minutes of private talk, with the class mayor who is now the queen bee, Kent stopped everyone from training as she gestured that she will announce something.
"I'm sorry for stopping you become stronger." Kent said, sarcastically, joking. "Don't bother, Matt's too strict, anyway!" shouted Lyka. Matt laughed, "Because, our lives depend on it." "Seems fair." Lyka replied, chuckling.
Kent fake-coughed, knuckling his fist and put it in front of her mouth. "We discussed in the past about agriculture, right? It seemed like this is now the time." Kent announced.
"How are we going to do it? There are many trees and grasses around here. This training area is the only one who has a wide area barren of trees, it's even barely dry." Lynne said. Their section in the old world was dynamic in terms of ages. That it ranged from 18-36 years old when they first met. And Lynne is of those who was older than the others. Making her the most knowledgeable when they talk about farming, since she loves plating plants herself.
"Don't worry about it. We can decide the terrain ourselves, according to what we need." Alex said in confidence.
"How?" Lynne asked, unconvinced.
"Let's go." Alex said to everyone, gesturing everyone to follow him as he raised his hand. They then looked for a good spot for building their farm, not minding the living things around them like trees, puddles, and grasses.
"Here?" Alex asked Lynne. "Yeah, if we're looking for a pot to farm, it would be the best to lay it here since we can just guide the near river to ration the water supply in the soil, to keep the ground wet." Lynne said.
"Well then, okay." Alex said. Alex then transformed into the fully armored turtle human and place his hand on the ground. The ground trembled. The trees were pushed away from the ground as if it was puked by it together with its roots, same with the shrubs, leaving nothing but only the soil. The puddles were destroyed by sucking all of its water and emerging another barren of it. Not long when numbers of garden plots emerged beautifully from the once place filled with trees, grass, and puddles as they replaced it with their newly-built agricultural terrain.
"Place the beds, ten feet far from the trees and shrubs so they would not hinder the growth of the plants. Big trees can hinder sunlight thus hinders plant growth." Lynne said who put her full attention to this after witnessing Alex's powers. This way, it can limit their manpower in a big ratio. Also, can you level the beds a little higher because in-ground beds are more susceptible to weeds. And since this land has a colder climate, raised beds are the best choice." Lynne said.
Others were speechless about how Lynne had so much knowledge about this, they couldn't believe how some of her classmates excel not just academically but also practices that they have not known if not for this sudden transportation to the other world caused by the mysterious poisoning of their classroom.
Alex followed Lynne's instructions with others just standing by, observing. Alex continued to change the terrain with his powers, depending on what Lynne had requested.
"I want 20 rows of garden beds that are 3-feet wide and 20-feet long." Lynne requested, looking at the terrain.
"Wait, isn't that, too big?" Kent asked.
"We're currently feeding almost 40 humans here, every day, three times. There's no talking about how big this garden should be. It's a matter of how much and long we sustain from it. Just look at Matt, Neil and Ivan. They eat too much." Lynne said, strongly. "Hey!" shouted the three of them. "I know I eat a lot, but Neil's eating habits are way too unachievable. I really suggest he must be trained harder than us. Right, bro?" Neil kicked Ivan's foot and Ivan shouted in pain. Matt just put an awkward smile, guilty of the matter.
Everyone laughed, but agreed to Lynne. Where Alex continued to listen to the farm girl. The rows were finished in an instant with a little irrigation separating the garden beds for water to flow through. "I need something to solidify the ground boxing the beds, cement do not exist in here, but we have trees. Let's put those and place it on the sides of the beds. Since most of us is here. I suggest everyone should participate.
Kent pleaded Jessie to cook something delicious for the workers. Jessie immediately went to the kitchen and started to cook, assisted by some. While the others were out in the field, cutting the trees who were spit out from the earth with the use of Kent's lance and Jay's spikes. The trees were later made into planks. They then put the planks beside the garden beds, boxing them to reinforce the land.
Adoring the newly constructed garden, they stood there and continue to be amazed as they set foot to another ladder towards their growth in this newly-lived kind of life.