Ari lay sprawled on his bed of leaves in his chamber, mandibles resting at his sides, eyes lost in the soft glow of bioluminescent moss above. The usual hum of the colony outside buzzed faintly, but it felt distant—like a memory.
"To be honest… I haven't done a single one of my Lance Corporal duties," Ari muttered to himself, sighing. "The termites… Zippy and his flies… Hopper…"
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "It's been a lot. Now I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing anymore. What is my duty, really?" He chuckled bitterly. "They're probably all thinking I'm some kind of moocher."
A sudden knock at the chamber entrance snapped him upright. His heart skipped. The leaves pulled back, and standing in the threshold was Commander Anastasia.
Her expression was grim.
Ari shot to his feet, panic lighting his eyes.
"I was wondering," she said coldly, arms crossed, "why you've been spending days in here relaxing—especially considering you weren't as badly injured as I was."
Ari opened his mouth to respond, but her glare rooted the words in his throat.
"I was out for three days. Three. And here you are, lying down like it's some extended vacation. Am I to assume you're slacking off, Lance Corporal?"
"Well, that's..." he stammered, but there was no room to deny the truth. Not convincingly.
She gave him a long, hard stare before turning on her heel. "We'll get into that later. For now, get yourself together. We have a ceremony to attend."
"A ceremony?" Ari repeated, confused.
She was already gone.
He scrambled to prepare, sheathed his mandibles, and hurried out of the chamber. As soon as he stepped into the tunnel, something gleamed in his peripheral vision.
Without thinking, he ducked.
The blade missed him by a breath, grazing the chamber wall behind him with a sharp screech. Sparks flew as the mandible scraped stone, leaving a thin but deep groove in the wall.
"Looks like you were able to dodge that," Rory said with a smirk, lowering his weapon. "I'd expect nothing less from my rival."
"You almost cleaved my head off!" Ari snapped, trying to still his racing heart.
"Relax. I knew you'd dodge."
"Whoa! Ari actually dodged that?" Isla's voice rang out as she jogged up. "Impressive. I bet if it were the other way around, and he swung at you, you'd be in pieces by now."
"Shut up," Rory muttered, mandibles twitching in his hands. "I would've dodged so easily, without breaking a sweat—and you know it."
"In your dreams, Sir Rory," Isla chuckled.
"As if you could do any better," Rory huffed. "I could beat you with one arm."
"Yeah, yeah, big guy. Sure you could."
Ari glanced at Isla. Something about her smile caught him off guard. Bright—carefree. That was strange. The last time he'd seen her like this was back when they first met at the recruitment trials.
Since the encounter with the termites, she had changed—become fearful, anxious, fragile. But now… she was back to her old self.
Is it because we're finally at peace? Ari wondered.
"Hey, why are you staring at me like that?" Isla asked, tilting her head.
"No particular reason…" He shook the thoughts away. "Any idea what ceremony Anastasia was talking about?"
"You didn't hear?" Isla blinked. "The Queen's holding a ceremony to recognize us. Apparently, defeating Hopper was a historic moment that will forever change our future, and she wants to honor everyone involved."
"Honor us?" Ari repeated, stunned.
"Yeah," Rory chimed in. "We're being awarded for our actions. Might even get promoted if we're lucky."
"I doubt you contributed much," Isla teased.
"I'm not going to humor you," Rory said, brushing past her as he marched forward.
Ari and Isla exchanged glances and followed.
The colony's central amphitheater came into view—a grand, hollowed-out dome deep within the colony, lit by swirling veins of bioluminescent moss. The space buzzed with anticipation. Echoing mandibles clanged through the cavern, building a solemn rhythm. Ants lined up by caste: Workers, Wardens, and Military stood in strict rows. Princess Tanya sat on a platform not far from the Queen, watching. The Elder Council sat perched on carved ledges, watching with stoic expressions. Even the ants once imprisoned by Hopper were in attendance, free from slavery. Near the front stood Lieutenant Gor and Princess Regina, soon to be Queen of a promised colony.
A raised platform had been carved into the tunnel above the masses, and from it stood Queen Celeste herself, flanked by her royal guard. All surviving soldiers from the assault on Hopper's fortress stood adjacent to her, their exoskeletons gleaming in the light.
The crowd fell silent.
Queen Celeste stepped forward, her voice clear and commanding.
"Welcome, my people, honored guests, to an event that marks a shift in the history of our colony," she began. "A shift in the balance of power. Today, we gather to recognize the warriors who defied fate and shattered a decade of tyranny."
The crowd roared with cheers. Military ants clanged their mandibles together in unison, a symbol of honor and unity.
"These soldiers infiltrated Hopper's fortress, confronted horrors beyond imagination, and in doing so—saved our Princess."
The cheering intensified.
"Let it be known," the Queen continued, "that they have shaped the future of our colony. They embody the courage and strength that defines our military. As such, I have chosen to bestow new ranks upon them—to mark their selfless acts with the recognition they deserve."
Gasps and murmurs echoed throughout the crowd. Ari's eyes widened.
"Wait… new ranks?" he whispered. "Isla and Rory were right… but I wonder—what rank will I get?"
"Let the ceremony commence," Celeste declared.
"Lance Corporal Isla," she called, her voice firm.
Isla stiffened. "Th-That's me," she whispered. She stepped forward, hands trembling slightly as she bowed before the Queen.
"I commend your bravery, Isla," Celeste said. "Despite your rank, you endured countless trials and survived. Reports confirm that during the infiltration, you held the line against Sly, the speed monster, buying time for reinforcements to arrive. You saved lives with that act alone. For a soldier of your position to show such courage… it proves you are worthy."
A pause.
"From this day forward, you are Corporal Isla."
Tears welled in Isla's eyes. "I can't believe it," she thought, her heart still pounding. "After all the fear that's gripped me… After being protected countless times by Ari, Lily, Beatrice—even Rory—I finally found the strength to stand on my own… and the Queen noticed."
She smiled through the swell of emotion in her chest. "Thank you for your kindness, my Queen," she said, her voice trembling with quiet pride.
Cheers exploded. Lily grinned and threw an arm around her. "Atta girl, Isla! You're a Corporal—just like us!"
"You've earned it," said Beatrice, offering her a rare, warm smile.
"Beatrice… Lily…" Isla breathed, her voice soft. "Thank you."
Ari clapped with the rest, genuinely happy for her. Then, something caught his eye—a faint glow on Isla's left shoulder.
Wait… where have I seen that light before?
"Lance Corporal Rory," the Queen called next.
Rory straightened. "Alright, Ari. Sit back and watch me rise," he said with a smirk, striding confidently to the Queen's platform. He bowed deeply.
"You have shown exceptional promise," Queen Celeste said. "You have not held your rank for more than two months, and yet you've proven your worth. Reports confirm your involvement in the battle against the grasshoppers, where you fought alongside Lieutenant Brooks against General Baracko. Such feats show you are more than ready."
She raised her hand.
"I hereby bestow upon you the rank of Corporal."
"Thank you, my Queen," Rory said proudly. "I will wear this title with honor."
The crowd erupted again.
As he turned to rejoin the formation, he caught sight of Brooks standing among the officers. The Lieutenant gave him a silent nod of approval.
Rory's expression shifted. His mind flashed back to the gravesite—Brooks kneeling before the tombstone, grieving the loss of his son.
He clenched his fist.
I'll become stronger. Strong enough not to die. Strong enough to protect everyone. This is just the beginning, a stepping stone to my growth.
He returned to his place, standing straighter than before.