Archive of Our Own ^beta

The Honeycomb Herald was famous for a lot of reasons: it was the publishing house for several books and articles, including the Inkwell Blotter, it was the main base for the inkwell PD on island 3, and most of all, it was where all the honey on Inkwell was produced and sold. What made this honey so special - it was naturally made with no additives but still just as sweet. It made sense tons of big business corporations would attempt to break in and steal it, so their products would taste better. Tonight was no different.

It was a dark and windy night when it happened; three thieves, foxes to be exact, broke into the hive with one job; steal a sample of the honey – a jar’s worth so it could be analyzed and mirrored. After sneaking past the guards and finding the honey, they gathered it and flushed any evidence left behind.

“Alright guys,” The thief leader addressed, “we got the goods. Let’s bail before our luck runs out.”

“Now hold up boss,” Thief 3 said “let’s not take off just yet.”

“Why? We got the honey. What more do we need?” Thief 2 asked.

“Because I got a wonderful idea,” Thief 3 smirked at their friends.

The other two glanced at each other before looking back at their friend with curiosity.

“Alright, we’re listening,” Thief 2 said.

“Lay it on us, pal,” Thief 1 replied.

“Who knows how much those chumps at Cookie Crumblers will pay us for snagging some honey. Why don’t we make a little extra cash on the side.” The 3rd thief sneered.

“How so?” Thief 2 asked as her eyebrow raised.

“How else,” The third thief replied, pulling out an old newspaper clipping of Rumor Honeybottoms, the queen bee in charge of the Honeycomb herald hive. In her arms, three baby cups - two boy cups and a Chalice girl. Rumor’s adopted children: Cuphead, Mugman, and Miss Chalice.

Thief 1 smiled evilly, “I see it. We snag the kids, ransom them off, and we make so much money, we’ll be able to buy a condo in Italy.” He sneered.

“I like that,” the only female agreed.

With their evil plan in motion, the greedy thieves slunk further into the hive, intending to find their targets.

It took a while to find the nursery; the building was big, but eventually, they found the room containing the sleeping babies. None of them could deny how cute the little buggers were. Cuphead had his thumb in his mouth, while Mugman had an arm around his brother. Miss Chalice hugged her bee doll close. All three were blissfully unaware of the danger in front of them.

The leader turned the baby monitor off and kept an eye out for guards while the only female opened the window, so the thieves, turned kidnappers, could make a clean getaway. The third thief slowly picked up the sleeping infants, doing their best not to wake them up the infants. The little ones shifted slightly but were still able to sleep.

“That’s right little ones, rest your eyes,” The greedy kidnapper cooed, “You three have nothing to fear.”

“Okay, we wait awhile to send out the note,” The leader explained to his comrades, “are we in the clear?”

“Yeah, we’re good,” Thief 2 said, gesturing her comrades towards the window, “We gotta go.”

ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!!!!!!!!!

Using the grappling hook and zipline, the villainous trio escaped from the nursery and over the wall. They were lucky enough that the movement didn’t wake the sleeping bundles in the third one’s arms. The kidnapping thieves ran towards the van to get themselves situated, especially now that they had three little tag-along for the ride.

“Hehe . . . That worked out like a dream.” Thief . . . no, Kidnapper 3 chortled.

“No kidding. Some top-notched security,” The leader laughed with his friend.

“By the time those schmucks realize what happened, we’ll be long gone,” The only female giggled.

The laughing caused the three infants to shift in their sleep. Their eyes fluttered open, and they hazily looked around at their new surroundings with a yawn.

“Look who up,” The third kidnapper said with a smile.

“Oh, hello little ones,” The female greeted and gave the babies a tiny wave.

Cuphead, Mugman, and Miss Chalice looked at the strange new faces in front of them. They’ve never seen these people before; who were they? The leader of the thieves chuckled at the little ones’ confused stares.

“Don’t worry now. You three are in good hands,” he reassured and poked Cuphead’s nose gently.

“Pup-Pup!” Cuphead giggled. Mugman and Miss Chalice started repeating what their brother said. Their abductors to chuckle.

“Aw, isn’t that precious. They think we’re puppies.” The third one gushed.

“We’re foxes, sweetie-pies. Not doggies,” The female fox giggled.

“Speaking of doggies. Let’s go grab a few hot dogs on the way. I’m starving.” The leader said.

*GRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWLLLL*

“Wow dude, you must be hungry,” The 2^nd one chuckled.

“That…that wasn’t me,” The leader said.

“Pup-Pup! Pup-Pup!” Cuphead exclaimed again.

The growling got louder. Suddenly the dots began to connect. The three kidnapping thieves slowly turned around to see nine VERY angry dogs behind them. They all barred their teeth, looking ready to take a bit out of the three foxes, quaking in their boots.

“N-Nice d-doggies . . . “ The leader trembled.

“Y-You wouldn’t eat someone with g-glasses now, would you?” The vixen asked.

“L-Let alone someone h-holding a bunch of…of cute b-babies.” The fox holding the babies added nervously.

“Of course, they wouldn’t.”

The new voice made the three thugs turn towards the driver’s side window. There stood the top chief of the Inkwell PD on island 3, Chief Beetrum. That’s when the foxes noticed the guards and other officers outside of the car, surrounding the vehicle.

“They wouldn’t hurt a baby, especially those three,” The chief said nonchalantly.

“But you better get out of the car right now,”

The foxes gulped when they saw who was behind the chief – the queen bee herself, Rumor Honeybottoms. Whacking her scepter against her hand, she glared at the thieves who DARED try and kidnap her daughter and sons. Knowing they were screwed, the foxes obeyed. The dogs made sure they did.

“Mama!” Chalice exclaimed and reached towards her mother with her tiny arms. Her brothers mirrored her expression. Rumor immediately snatched her children out of the greedy thief’s hands. She held her babies tight, kissing each of them while her minions did their job.

“My babies,” Rumor cuddled them, “Thank goodness you’re safe.”

“Pup-Pup!” Cuphead exclaimed, reaching his hands out toward some of the guard dogs. One of them gave the baby a lick on the face, making the child laugh.

As the mother happily reunited with her children, the police did their job, mirandizing the thieving kidnappers. The leader and the female glared at their greedy friend.

“You just HAD to suggest we snag them, DIDN’T you Gris!” The girl snapped.

“What!? You and Red were in on it as much as I was, Bianca!” Gris snapped, “You could have talked me out of it!”

“You still would have done it regardless because you're greedy!” Red yelled.

The three foxes continued arguing as the police shoved them into the back of the squad truck. The driver drove them to the big house.

“Bye, bye,” Mugman waved cutely.

“That’s right sweetie,” Rumor cooed, “the bad foxes go bye-bye.” She smiled at the chief, “Remind me to thank whoever installed that backup baby monitor, Beetrum.”

“Will do.”