Told yall I wasn't gonna give up.
Seriously, the support I suddenly got for this the moment I suggested it may end was more than enough to give me inspiration. Single-handedly saved this story. Please, let me know what you think of the stuff going forward, as it's all starting to heat up now ;D. No update schedule for this yet, but I have a few chapters buffered out for when I need to update.
Cricket could help but feel miserable. The meeting had fallen apart so quickly and there was nothing she could've done to salvage it. She'd expected this, and yet when it came time to act, Cricket had frozen. The rate it spiraled out of control was beyond her level.
Not to mention that every one of them had a point. Cricket very well couldn't have them stop fighting and sing songs. No, everything had to be out in the open. But not this open.
Belladonna was in the wind, Sundew having chased after her immediately with Queen Sequoia. Queen Jewel had left to her side of the pavilion before Cricket could formulate words. Luna, too.
"I have to speak to Luna." Was all Blue said before he followed his sister. Cricket let him go with a nod, still unable to speak.
It wasn't until a few moments passed did she finally start to process everything. Cricket knew that Queen Jewel would bring up Bloodworm Hive. They all did.
What Cricket didn't expect was her basically shutting down any talk of peace. Something changed in the past few days. When Cricket had met with the Queen, she seemed a lot more affable. Not this hurt, almost rageful queen that was barely bound.
Cricket's face darkened. She had an idea as to what it was. But, she needed to be certain, and that meant asking the queen directly. She had to brush aside her anxiety and get to the bottom of this if any hope of salvaging this situation was to happen.
Going to the pavilion, she noted Queen Jewel speaking to her mother. Not wanting to intrude just yet – and having her curiosity get the better of her – Cricket stayed just out of sight and listened in.
"…better queen than I could've been. I don't know why you didn't take it." Jewel hissed under her breath. "No, you and everyone else shoved it onto me. Why? I don't know. Because I was nice? Well, look how that turned out."
"I'm old, Jewel. If I had taken over, there is no guarantee that I wouldn't simply die on the throne from the stress of the job." Scarab sounded… well, her age. Cricket didn't know it off the top of her head, but it was over a hundred. "You were picked because out of all the Hives, yours was the best in shape. Plus, you weren't under Wasp's thumb."
"Perhaps not, but if there was anyone who knew what this tribe needed, it was you. Instead, you and everyone else left it to me." Jewel shook her head. "I'm done being rolled over. I did not risk my life and my dragonet's saving who I could to be repaid like this."
"What did Wasp tell you?" Scarab ignored her daughter's rant. "And I mean exact words, if possible."
"She described what it was like to melt in the flames." Jewel let out a miserable sound. "She feels what they feel, and we know she leaves when pain is involved, but I don't think she'd make it up. What did the dragonets do, mother? Why didn't they just go for Bloodworm instead of killing not just HiveWings, but SilkWings?"
"I don't have an answer to that question, Jewel." Scarab grimaced.
"No, neither do they." Jewel paced back and forth. "And until they do, or at least recognize the issue, that is why I cannot go for an alliance." Silence. "Come out, Cricket. I saw you hide."
Cricket briefly panicked before adjusting herself, stepping in. Both Scarab and Queen Jewel regarded her with solemn looks.
"Sorry for eavesdropping," Cricket said. "I was coming this way and didn't want to interrupt."
"Try not to make a habit of it." Scarab glowered behind her spectacles.
"But, Wasp said those things to hurt you. To specifically cause this." Cricket pressed, ignoring Scarab's warning. "She wants to drive this whole thing apart before it can truly begin!"
"Yes, that is her goal. I'm not blind to it." Jewel nodded curtly. "However, that does not negate the fact that she had a point. I can't keep giving supplies and wealth to the other tribes or we will have nothing left. If there is no remorse over their own war crimes, then how can I ever be certain of the future?"
War crime was a new term for the Pantalans. After the war, the most horrific parts of it were laid out. Bloodworm hive was one of them, and while it was agreed that the loss of life was abhorrent, there was never an apology. Just a simple 'never again'.
"I suppose rules are dictated by the victors." Cricket admitted through a wince.
"And I am willing to agree to most of them. But a city merger? Cricket, I admire your idea. Truly, I do." Jewel sighed heavily. "But, where you suggested it is… not feasible. Not right now. There will be a revolt if I do that. And even if I do, what is to stop the other tribes from mistrusting and kicking them out of their already established homes? A city of neutrality, but two of the three parties don't like one."
"Then the problem is Wasp." Cricket narrowed her gaze as it all became clear. "It's not you. It's not even this tribe. It's Wasp."
"Pardon?" Scarab asked.
"That Wasp still lives is seen as a great offense. That's the only explanation." Cricket used a wing-claw to tap under her chin. "I know Belladonna and some of the SilkWings wanted her executed."
"She was specifically condemned to life to see her life's work ruined." Jewel reminded Cricket.
"I know. But to the others, their oppressor being put in jail is not enough. They want her to die." Cricket's gave furrowed.
"Are you advocating for capital punishment?" Scarab sounded surprised.
"No, I'm not." Cricket quickly dismissed that notion. "I'm just realizing all this now. I feel like an idiot for not noticing." She wiped her glasses, something she did when she was antsy. "Hmm… is there a way to prove that Wasp has no powers now?"
"I think that if she did, we'd all be under her wing." Scarab commented dryly.
"Well, yes, but it is possible that she still retains a portion of the power. She was infected for so long that her very blood is green." Cricket paced back and forth. "The blood will need to be analyzed for any traces of the BoE."
"We have run the tests." Jewel stated.
"But I haven't." Cricket gave her a serious look. "The three of us plus Bumblebee are the only HiveWings not to be infected by her or her words, barring the recent hatchings. If there are traces of the BoE in her bloodstream, then we cannot rule out the fact that she still has power. But, if there are none… well, we can now prove it because I verified it."
"This seems like a stretch in some way… but I don't see the harm in letting you go at it," Scarab said after a moment.
"Neither do I." Queen Jewel agreed. "Once we get back to Wasp Hive, I'll let you run all the tests you want on her blood. Call it community service."
"I'll need to see documentation of the other tests in the meantime." Cricket added. "Truthfully, I have no idea what the BoE will look like in blood. I'll likely need records of other cultures."
"What she's saying is that she needs a day locked away in a lab." A voice that always calmed and excited her came from behind as Blue stepped from around the corner.
"You would know, wouldn't you?" Queen Jewel asked, bemused. Blue nodded slowly. "As I said, it is of no bother to me. I will return to Wasp Hive and gather what is needed. I, personally, would like to know if there is something else my dear cousin is hiding."
"And what will happen if there is evidence that supports her still having active parts of the BoE?" Cricket grew more serious.
"We shall cross that bridge when we get to it," Queen Jewel answered non committedly.
In Cricket's eyes, that meant execution. Truthfully, she wasn't sure how to feel about that. On one claw, a massive threat would be removed, and it may calm down things. Yet, at the same time… well, part of her own naivety still showed. She avoided death when she could. Plus, having Wasp see everything around her burn was quite poetic.
"We will depart shortly, if you'd like to join us." Scarab addressed Cricket. "Otherwise, we will meet you at Wasp Hive."
"Alright. I'll probably come with you, but I gotta talk to Blue first." Cricket gestured to him. Both older HiveWings nodded, and Cricket left with Blue.
"How'd it go with Luna?" Cricket asked quietly once they found a private place to speak.
"She's… changed." Blue grimaced, antennae flattening against his head. "She didn't know how many SilkWings died in Bloodworm. She says she tried looking but… she didn't even think about it. She got wrapped in her own silk about punishing a rebellion that she didn't stop to think how many of our tribe perished in that one attack."
"Being queen is hard." Cricket cringed. Blue nodded solemnly. "But, I don't think Luna intentionally did that."
"I know she didn't. But the fact it didn't cross her mind at all is what worries me." Blue averted his gaze. "I haven't seen the council. I'll need to do that, because if it's as bad as I think it is… something's going to explode."
"Explode how?" Cricket questioned.
"I don't know. But, I have to go back with them." Blue gave her a sad smile. "I know this wasn't going to be a vacation but… I wish we had more time to spend with each other."
"I know. But, the quicker we solve this, the quicker we can get married." Cricket pressed herself against him.
"Heh, so we are doing that?" Blue chuckled quietly.
"Of course. I think solving this would be a perfect capstone." Cricket winked. "No more putting it off, for better or worse."
"Agreed." Blue nuzzled her cheek. "Even if we can't solve everything, I'm making you my consort."
"Oh, you're making me?" Cricket purred, sticking her tongue out. "We'll see about that."
"Yes, we will." Blue grinned widely before looking in the direction of the Leaf Kingdom. "Let's hope Sundew can stop Belladonna."
"If there's anyone who can, it's her." Cricket sighed. "We can only wait and see."
Sundew charged off after Belladonna without so much as a word to Willow. She didn't have a chance and would apologize profusely later. But, she had to stop her mother from ripping apart her own tribe.
Belladonna had the advantage of size, able to keep a distance between the two with ease. But, Sundew had the power of rage on her side, and was able to propel herself faster than she ever did in her life.
She was not going to let Butterwort be dragged into a war that was completely avoidable. There was another way to handle this, and she was going to beat it into Belladonna. Or, failing that, get Butterwort away from their mother.
About halfway to the Leaf Kingdom, Sundew finally caught up, launching herself high and diving down into her mother's back. Belladonna realized this, swirling around. However, the impact sent them tumbling to the ground. Despite the grass being soft, the ground itself was hard, and Sundew felt the air leave her lungs.
"You are an idiot." Belladonna shoved Sundew off her. "You would side with our oppressors!?"
"I'm preventing another war." Sundew snarled back, aiming to attack the wing membranes. They healed quickly, but if ripped, flight was impossible until then.
However, attacking wing membranes was a sign of dishonor for most dragons. Sundew, in most circumstances, would never do such a thing. Desperate times.
Once Belladonna realized this, she grabbed Sundew by the horns and threw her over her head, slamming her down on her back. Before Sundew had a chance to react, Belladonna stood on her chest.
"Stay down, daughter." Belladonna hissed. "You will soon see that I am doing this for our future."
Sundew couldn't reply, her lungs being crushed. Glancing nearby, she saw a growing tree within arm's reach. Flinging her claw out, she touched the branches, communicating thoughts of fire and death if Belladonna was not stopped.
The tree realized the danger to itself and grew up quickly. In doing so, it sent out a branch that slapped Belladonna off Sundew. Springing to her claws, Sundew asked the nearby plants to lend their roots. They obeyed, and entangling vines began to bind her mother.
Pure rage radiated from Belladonna's eyes as a shadow loomed over Sundew. It served as her only warning before another tree struck her side and flung her right off. She swore she felt something crack in her ribs. Barely catching herself, a tail lash from Belladonna sent her to the ground again.
"You may be stronger in Leafspeak, but you will not beat me in combat." Belladonna picked Sundew up and smashed her horns into Sundew's snout. Blood dripped down her face as Sundew felt lightheaded. "Unlike you, I train. Unlike you, I am always ready."
In Belladonna's arrogance, Sundew was able to whip her tail and strike at her stomach. Sundew was dropped, and she landed on her legs. Still disoriented, Sundew managed to push herself forward and ram her horns into Belladonna's chest. The impact was powerful… yet her mother was still able to grab Sundew by the horns and flip her over.
Rolling to mitigate the damage, Sundew lurched up and went to strike at Belladonna. Swipe after swipe went at her mother's chest in a flurry of angry, desperate strikes that should've shredded any and all scale. Instead, it was like her attacks were doing nothing!
A swipe from Belladonna sent her back to the ground. Before she could get back up again, her mother slapped her backward with her tail and into a tree that had suddenly bloomed. Sundew spat out blood from the impact. The tree's roots began to entangle her to the tree, binding her.
"You have gotten lax, Sundew." Belladonna shook her head disappointedly before spreading her wings. "I trained you better," she added before taking to the skies.
Pure, unadulterated rage flowed through Sundew as her mind refocused. She begged the tree to release her, once more conveying her knowledge of flames and war. It knew not what war was, but fire scared them. Fire, the tree knew too well on an instinctive level, and it released her.
"Sundew!" Willow cried out as she landed next to Sundew, helping her up. This time, Sundew didn't protest, especially as the queen herself landed next to her.
"She got away." Sundew spat out blood.
"How long?" Queen Sequoia demanded.
"Not more than a minute, but that's enough time for her." Sundew spread her wings and launched into the skies.
If Sundew squinted, she could see Belladonna enter the forest. There would be no straight shot flight once they entered. One small slip up, and she could clip her wings and break her neck on a tree.
It pained her to be methodical. Not when one second made all the difference. She could be gathering forces right now! Nobody said a word, and Sundew needed only to look back at them to know they thought the same.
Once back at the Leaf Kingdom, sure enough, Belladonna had gone right to the military section. Sundew spotted her opening up a vine-blocked passage and raced behind her as it sealed shut.
"Get everyone safe!" Sundew called back to Willow and the Queen. "I'll stop her!"
She didn't wait to hear their reply. Especially since Belladonna had rallied most of the fighters to the central platform. Sundew snarled, landing on the opposite side. Belladonna slid a cold eye to her, sighing.
"The time we have spoken of has come." Belladonna addressed the soldiers. At least a hundred. Standing to the side, Sundew caught Hemlock and Butterwort. The former held a look of dismay, while Butterwort glanced between them all with confusion.
"Queen Jewel has condemned our actions, as has Sequoia." Belladonna added bitterly. "It is time we enact our first protocol."
First protocol? Sundew had never heard of this, but had a good idea as to what it was.
"The war is over, Belladonna!" Sundew roared. "It's time to account for all the lives taken in the war, not just Leaf!"
"Easy for you to say when our sacred burial ground is defiled by Wasp Hive." Belladonna snapped. "You weren't alive to see it taken."
"Neither were you!"
"No, but my mother was." Belladonna looked at the burns on her claws. "Did I ever tell you the story, Sundew?"
"You never told me anything about your past." Sundew glared at the burns.
"Perhaps it is time. Maybe then you will understand why I feel no remorse over Bloodworm Hive." Belladonna placed her claw back down, meeting Sundew's gaze with a neutral expression. "It was thirty years ago. I remember my mother and I helping build a new home, after we had been pushed back once again. I didn't understand it."
Belladonna's expression turned to one of rage.
"And then they came." She spat. "Somehow, the HiveWings found us. They descended quickly and brutally, killing any who slipped up. Fires spread from their torches. They were going to burn us all to ash. I was told to hide. I did as instructed."
Her face softened slightly.
"But, I was found. My Leafspeak bought me time to flee, but I was caught in fires. All around me, dragons were dying. My exits were blocked. No plants obeyed me, for they were burning. It was only when my mother came charging in did I have a flicker of hope. As we went to escape, the tree we had made our home collapsed. We fell. I tried to hold onto my mother, but my claws were burned by part of its trunk. I couldn't hold on."
She glared at Sundew, as if taking out every ounce of frustration in that one second. "She died in that fire. I couldn't stop it. I burned my claws digging through the wreckage, but another surviving LeafWing pulled me away." She looked to Hemlock. "We were the only two to survive, or so we thought. Other PoisonWings rebuilt, and we rejoined them."
Sundew could only stare. Everything made sense now. The burns, the hatred… even the burning. She saw her mother in a new light, one that casted a heavy shadow.
Belladonna would never stop. Never accept anything but complete annihilation.
"When does it end?"
The question was not asked by Sundew, but by Hemlock. Sundew and Belladonna stared at him as if he'd sprouted another head.
"You know exactly when it ends, Hemlock." Belladonna snarled.
"Would you really subject the HiveWing dragonets to suffer like we did?" He asked quietly. "They don't deserve that."
"The HiveWings are nothing more than inbred creatures born from an exotic whore that have violence in their veins!" Belladonna all but roared at Hemlock.
"They are not!" Sundew jumped in. "Look me in the eye and tell me Cricket is aggressive. Bumblebee!"
Belladonna met her gaze. "They may be exceptions, but one day, they will turn. They may not fight us, but they will fight against their kind. No, this problem must be severed from the top down."
"Please. We already lost one dragonet to war. Don't let your anger cost us another." Hemlock pointed with his tail to Butterwort, who had all but shrank into himself.
"It is for them that I do this." Belladonna's features softened when she looked at Butterwort. "Even if one of them does not understand yet." She turned back to Sundew slightly.
"One of my best friends is a HiveWing. If you think for a second that I will let you hurt her or her family, I will stop you." Sundew vowed, fangs bared.
"You can try." Belladonna advanced toward Hemlock and Butterwort. "Come. The moment is upon us."
"Belladonna…" Hemlock protested disapprovingly. "Please. Rethink this."
"No. My mind is set. I ask that you join me one last time, Hemlock." Belladonna sounded like she was… pleading? "Then we can live the life you wanted. All of us, together. Safe."
"I can't subject him to this." Hemlock pointed to Butterwort.
"Through fire, we were reborn. The flames that burned us will birth him anew. Sundew went through the flames and came out stronger. It is Butterwort's turn."
"Absolutely not!" Sundew stamped her claw on the plant they stood upon defiantly, urging it to form a barrier around Hemlock and Butterwort. The plant agreed, stopping Belladonna from approaching.
"Fine." Belladonna hissed lowly. "If you insist on being my enemy, Sundew, then you will be treated as such."
From below the plant, another burst forth, stabbing her in the side. Sundew's breath left her lungs as sticky blood dribbled down her maw and wound. The attacker was a massive thorn brush, and while the wound wasn't fatal, it was more than enough to bring her to the ground.
"SUNDEW!" Butterwort roared out, finding his voice. Pure rage and betrayal crossed his features as he glared at Belladonna.
A low rumbling came as a gigantic snapper came swinging from the walls, its jaws ready to close around Belladonna, whose eyes widened with surprise. Belladonna avoided the attack, landing on its upper jaw and slamming her claw onto it. The plant thrashed at first, and then fell silent as it retreated back to its hiding spot.
"I see." Belladonna breathed heavily. "I have failed all of you. I should have pushed you harder." She let out a mournful sigh. "Very well. I will not force you to join me."
She took to the skies, alongside sixty soldiers. "You will join me, in the end. Once you see the HiveWings on the run, and our homelands restored, you will see that our actions are for the greater good. I hope that day is soon." She turned to her forces. "To Site B. We must prepare quickly."
With that, her forces left. All of Sundew's anger subsided, and coupled with bleeding out on the spot, felt her vision turn to black.
Well, that was a dramatic end.