A/N: I read a fic this morning that reminded me of Ikalgo, and since he's easily my favorite Chimera Ant I decided to write something about him. None of the dialogue is mine, and I claim no ownership over it.
**UPDATE** October 22,2013: Finally the anime has reached this point, so this no longer contains spoilers for those who only watch the anime and haven't read the manga.
"If we'd met another way, maybe we could've even been friends."
Everything had seemed so simple before that moment, when the enemy (in the form of a silver haired human) had for some reason opted to spare his life. The ant was not afraid of dying, per se; only of betrayal, both in practice and in potential.
Ant? No, no… he did not look or feel like he was truly linked this way to his brethren, as an insect. Inside he desired all that which he had lost, and as well possessed the will to surround himself with effortless beauty (at the very least in its most physical form) to detract from the inherent ugliness that was bestowed upon him.
Ugliness… Perhaps the only thing uglier than betrayal was his own, octopus-like body. His self worth was already proven to be wounded at best, and yet he had been cursed with the misfortune of finding himself just barely out of reach of his ideal form.
It was this ideal that he used to create his name, after all. If his physique could not appease his desires, then he would ensure that his title was apt to his more elegant, squid-like needs. Ika… Ikalgo…
"An octopus is ugly. A squid is cool… like how tiny differences in the features of a human face determine beauty."
That human… he had defied the principles Ikalgo had defined so clearly for himself, of himself. Why…?
"…Because I thought you were cool."
Why had that boy said such a thing? More importantly, why couldn't he now dispel the warm, bonding effect that those words had upon him? He'd watched in secret as the boy failed to escape his next battle unscathed. Then Ikalgo's emotions led his actions, a reckless freedom he'd have never considered allowing himself before.
With the unconscious body of the young human draped helplessly over him, Ikalgo's resolve suddenly turned.
"You took a guy like me… a good-for-nothing octopus like me… and told me I'm cool…"
The human boy's wounds were severe, likely even fatal, and as his blood leaked openly over Ikalgo's rubbery skin, he could not help but feel partially as though it was the blood of betrayal come to haunt and plague him for his deceit- encouraged by his own selfishness, of course. Still, the ant forgot all about his assigned purpose, as well as his simple and useless vanities. The boy was what mattered now… the human that had spared him… and only one thing could possibly gain precedence in his mind.
"Don't you die on me!"
It was too late to turn back even if he had considered it. He was a traitor to his colony now, and despite the human's confusing kindness toward him, Ikalgo was certain that being referred to as "cool" was not enough to permit him entry to the human world. Was putting himself possibly forever in limbo worth the price of rescuing this lone person's life; the one that had granted him mercy and complimented him in spite of his insecurities and appointed cruel intentions?
His shifting loyalties insisted that the answer was yes on all accounts, and the little pseudo-octopus forced further vigor into his strides, determined to see this boy pull through. It was all worth it; if for no better reasoning, then at least because he felt in his heart that it definitely was.
"I'll save you, I promise!"