Hello all! I'm here to warn you; this is going to be an extremely graphic story. I don't have enough space here to list all the trigger warnings, so please look for them on my profile. I will most likely post the extremely graphic chapters on AO3 along with the edited chapters, and then continue the story on that site. I'm mostly posting on this site first because I think this fandom has more readers on here than A03, though I could be wrong. The story starts out slow but quickly picks up! Enjoy! :3
The fire burned brightly around them, illuminating the colony's fear, and highlighting the intense fury in Hopper's eyes. Flik lay on the ground in a daze after the beating he received from Thumper.
Atta stood protectively in front of the Blueberry Scouts and her little sister. The Queen was with the circus bugs who had positioned themselves towards the front of the crowd. Hopper's gang was scattered in small clusters around the perimeter of the crowd watching the brutality and keeping the ants in line.
Hopper advanced on his target, as he demanded, "Where do you get the gall to do this to me?" He wanted to know just what this ant was thinking by pulling this elaborate stunt. It was obviously well planned judging by the details of the now flaming bird structure. What made these ants think they could defy him?
Flik weakly lifted his head and responded, "You, you were going to squish the Queen."
Unsurprisingly, the colony gasped in unison at the revelation. Princess Atta and her mother looked pale, and Atta pressed her fingers to her mouth in shock.
"It's true!" Dot chimed in confirmation. Atta looked down at Dot in disbelief, still surprised by the news.
Hopper scanned the crowd and noticed the only ones left unsurprised at the declaration were the circus bugs. He scowled and wondered when they had become involved in all this. Hopper found it unlikely that a circus troupe would stop to perform on Ant Island. He had made sure long ago that this area received few visitors. No, the ants must have sought them out.
"I hate it when someone gives away the ending" Hopper admonished while rolling his eyes.
With Flik's confession, Hopper snapped his fingers again. On Hopper's cue, his pet delivered another kick to Flik's side, which caused him to skid a few inches. Flik let out a small moan as Hopper approached him.
"You piece of dirt," Hopper growled, his words dripping with venom. Then, he recanted, "No, I'm wrong. You're lower than dirt. You're an ant."
He bent down towards Flik on the last word for emphasis.
Flik blinked at Hopper's words then closed his eyes, still dazed from the beating. The bruising on his body and face was slowly getting darker. The swelling around his left eye was particularly prominent.
Hopper thought back to what the ant said. The plan to kill the Queen was relatively new. No, they had been planning this bird scheme for awhile, long before Hopper decided to end the queen's life as punishment for the failed offering.
He was done being lenient. It was time to teach the colony a lesson right now.
"Let this be a lesson to all you ants. Ideas are very dangerous things." Hopper walked menacingly by the crowd, letting his words sink into their shallow minds. "You are mindless, soil-shoving losers . . ." He continued advancing until he reached an outer cluster of ants. ". . . Put on this earth to serve us!" Hopper announced emphatically. The sea of ants shook with fear and no one dared to say a word. Exactly what he wanted.
"And to make sure you don't forget . . ." Hopper swung around and grabbed the Queen by the arm. "We're going to make sure nothing like this ever happens again," he said while using his upper arms to force the queen to the ground.
"No, wait! Please!"
Hopper turned to see that Flik had risen to his knees, but didn't seem to be able to get farther than that.
Flik's plea continued, "Please, it's all my fault. I'm the one that came up with the bird. I'm the one that lost the offering."
With the last confession, the regret in Flik's voice was evident, and he looked terrified after the words tumbled out of his mouth.
The crowd was still stunned from Hopper grabbing the Queen and forcing her to kneel, but they cumulatively exhaled when Hopper was interrupted.
Hopper paused to contemplate this new information, not that he was all that surprised. This ant was obviously incompetent, and insubordinate to boot. The fact that this ant is what cost him the first offering made Hopper see red.
After a few moments of suspense, Hopper released the Queen and her daughters quickly ran to her aid. "Mom!" Dot cried. Atta looped her arm around her mother's side and helped her to her feet, and then led her to stand with her and the petrified Blueberry troop.
By sparing their queen, Hopper could make a show of generosity and benevolence. Besides, she was too old to cause any harm, and her reign would keep her subjects placated and undeviating. They would all happily fall back into their old routine with her in charge. All he needed to do was get the radical out of the way.
Hopper smiled sadistically as a thought occurred to him. He stared out at the crowd of ants and circus bugs.
He could teach them a different lesson, and graphically illustrate what happens to ants that step out of line.