Mean Old Torchbug Content . Mean Old Torchbug lived near the kwama mine . He loved to taunt and tease the kwama workers , but especially enjoyed getting Brave Little Scrib into trouble . Oh , he was never obvious about his trouble making , and for the most part , the Brave Little Scrib considered the tiny Torchbug to be her friend . If Brave Little Scrib took a moment to consider all the times she wound up punished because she listened to Torchbug , she might have felt differently about the mean little creature . But the Brave Little Scrib never thought much about such things . It wasn ' t in her nature . One day after she grew bored watching the Kwama Workers busily move the kwama eggs from one section of the hatchery to another , Brave Little Scrib ventured out of the mine . It was a beautiful day , sunny and warm , with a gentle breeze blowing through the mushroom forest . Kwama Warrior stood guard at the entrance and asked her where she was going . " I ' m going out to play , " she answered , which she thought was totally obvious to anyone other than the serious Warrior . As Brave Little Scrib entered the mushroom forest , she saw a glowing light hovering above the trail ahead . It was her friend , Mean Old Torchbug , though she never called the tiny insect such a horrible name . " Hello , tiny Torchbug , " Scrib called out . " And greetings to you , Little Scrib , " Torchbug sang , his voice like a crackling fire . " What brings you out of the mine on this beautiful day ? " " I ' ve come to play , " Brave Little Scrib said cheerfully . " The mine is dreadfully dull as the workers are constantly busy , and all the warriors want to do is fight and fight and fight . I ' m looking for an adventure ! " " An adventure ? " Torchbug asked gleefully . " I know just the thing to fill your day with excitement and provide me with an amusement to brighten up my afternoon . " Remembering the other suggestions Torchbug shared with her during the time they ' d known each other , Scrib asked suspiciously , " What do you have in mind ? " " There ' s a mage tower nearby , in one of the tall mushrooms . The mage that lives there is always looking for a brave little scrib to play games with . She knows the most interesting games . " " What kinds of games ? " Scrib asked , suddenly excited despite her suspicions . " Oh , the best kind , I assure you ! " " Then lead the way , tiny Torchbug , " Scrib said , and she followed the glowing insect deeper into the shadows cast by the looming mushroom spires . As Brave Little Scrib followed Torchbug toward the mushroom tower , she noticed a pile of empty jars heaped haphazardly near the tower ' s base . She stopped to inspect the jars , sniffing at the sticky - sweet residue that clung to the discarded vessels . " Is something wrong , Little Scrib ? " Torchbug asked , flitting back to hover above the piled jars . " There ' s something familiar about this smell , " Brave Little Scrib said , " but I can ' t quite place it . " " That ' s just the remains of the jelly the mage likes to spread on toasted bread . In fact , that ' s one of the games she loves to play when brave little scribs come to call . " Now , Brave Little Scrib isn ' t the most clever kwama in the mine , but she has her moments . This was one of them . " You want to watch the mage turn me into scrib jelly , don ' t you , you Mean Old Torchbug ? " " Of course , " Torchbug sang . " I so want to see how the jelly gets made . " " I think we ' ll save that for another day , Torchbug , " Brave Little Scrib said . " If you insist , Little Scrib , " Torchbug sang . " Have a good day . " And Brave Little Scrib raced back to the kwama mine , leaving Torchbug in the shadows with the empty jars . That was one adventure she was glad to miss !