Queen Celeste turned slightly, her eyes settling on Anastasia, Beatrice, and Brooks. "Before I let you rest," she said, her tone more inquisitive than stern, "I would hear the details of the battle firsthand. Tell me how Hopper fell. What tactics were used, what risks were taken—and most importantly, how each of you survived."
Her gaze then flicked to Ari, lingering. "And you… I sensed that you had something to do with the strange shift in the tide during that war. I want to know your role in full."
Her eyes swept across the group once more, resting briefly on Lieutenant Gor and Princess Regina. "And I would also hear from our honored guests—the perspectives of Royalty and her military escort. Your insights are as vital as those of our own soldiers. Together, your accounts will ensure the Council fully understands the breadth of this victory and the challenges faced."
"I'll start with my findings," said Beatrice, stepping forward. Her voice carried through the chamber, clear and steady. "As we all know, Hopper and his grasshoppers arrived five days earlier than expected to collect their harvest. Despite our disarray, we were prepared with their supply—thanks to Ari's inventions and the treaty he helped secure with Queen Helena's colony."
The chamber fell into silence. The only sound was the faint, constant buzzing of bioluminescent moss high above. It bathed the stone walls in a soft green glow, casting long, shifting shadows.
"The grasshoppers retrieved their winter collection. But just as the exchange concluded, Hopper lunged—his hand tightening around Princess Tanya's throat. Ari reacted on instinct. He attacked but was quickly and brutally overwhelmed. Hopper let him live—only to make a deal. In exchange for Ari's life, he demanded additional food, to be delivered to his fortress within two weeks. If we met those terms, he promised to return the Princess safely."
Beatrice paused, exhaling slightly, tension curling in her posture.
"Just two days after that encounter, Lance Corporal Ari left the colony alone to rescue the Princess. It was practically a suicide mission. While he was gone, the rest of us—military ants, workers—coordinated a second food expedition as per Hopper's terms."
"Well said, Beatrice. I'll take it from here," Anastasia said, stepping forward. Her voice was calm, but carried the weary weight of guilt.
"To be honest, I wasn't planning to attack Hopper's fortress. I felt powerless. We didn't stand a chance, and I had already failed to act when Princess Tanya was taken. But then I thought of Ari—how he stood up to Hopper, even knowing he couldn't win. He did what I, a commander, could not."
She lowered her eyes briefly before lifting her head with quiet resolve.
"That thought gnawed at me. So I made a decision. I would end Hopper's reign—even if it meant risking everything. I couldn't do it alone, so I turned to those I trusted. I told Lieutenant Brooks my plan. To my surprise, he agreed without hesitation. He'd wanted this to end for years."
Her eyes shifted briefly to Beatrice. "I spoke with Corporals Lily and Beatrice. They were reluctant—and rightly so—but I gave them time. I wasn't going to force anyone into something so reckless."
"Then I traveled to Queen Helena's colony. I met with her and explained everything—made it clear this was my decision alone. That you, Queen Celeste, had no part in it. I knew you wouldn't condone such an operation. Still, Queen Helena agreed. She dispatched General Ivan, Commander Ruth, and two Lieutenants—Amelia and Leon."
"When the day of our departure came, we were joined by Lance Corporals Rory and Isla. They had no idea we'd be there. They thought they'd be going alone to help Ari. And they were ready to give everything."
Queen Celeste's gaze narrowed slightly in thought. "So Queen Helena's army helped as well. Interesting."
"Looks like our treaty with them came in handy after all," Elder Junon murmured.
"Fascinating," said Elder Lysias, his antennae twitching.
Anastasia continued, "Once we gathered, we headed for the fortress. Upon arrival, we were ambushed by a large group of grasshoppers. Queen Helena's soldiers took the lead, carving a path through the enemy so we could press on. I then split us into three groups: Beatrice, Lily, and Isla were the first team. Brooks and Rory formed the second. I went alone."
Beatrice stepped back in, her voice unwavering. "Our team headed for the center of the fortress. We encountered several soldiers, but with tight coordination, we overcame them. Then one of Hopper's generals appeared—Gianna. She was merciless. We barely survived."
She paused. The chamber was silent, the air dense with anticipation.
"It was Lily who turned the tide. She laid a trap using the resin material we use to restrain prisoners. Gianna didn't realize it until it was too late. Lily bound her, and then struck the final blow."
Gasps rippled among the Elders.
"Are you saying Corporal Lily defeated one of Hopper's generals?" Elder Junon asked, stunned.
"Yes," Beatrice replied firmly. "She did."
"General Sly came next," she continued. "He attacked us—me, Lily, and Isla. He was faster than anything I've ever seen. We couldn't land a hit. We were seconds away from death."
She looked toward Ari briefly; his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"Then Ari arrived. He fought Sly alone—and won."
Elder Myrra let out a soft gasp. "By the roots… I never thought I'd hear such a thing."
"My word…" Elder Junon muttered. "You're telling me Ari was the one who defeated Sly—the speed monster?"
"That tyrant was a threat even before our war with them ten years ago," Elder Lysias added. "Apart from Hopper, he was the only grasshopper with a true reputation. A warrior who never lost. And you're saying this Lance Corporal defeated him?"
"And yet he fell," Beatrice said. "To Ari."
Queen Celeste rose slowly from her throne, her silken mantle whispering against the stone beneath her. The emerald light of the moss played across her crown, casting long, flickering shadows.
Her voice was calm, but rang with power—measured and sharp.
"Then let it be etched into the memory of this colony—and into the roots of our very history—that Lance Corporal Ari has done what no warrior before him could. He stood against a being that had slain countless others. He did not falter. He did not cower. He prevailed."
She turned, her gaze sweeping the room like the slow pass of a blade.
Then her eyes settled on him.
"Ari… words cannot describe how deeply moved I am to hear you speak of your fears. It reminds me—so clearly—that I made the right decision in welcoming you into this colony. You carry pain, yes… but also strength. More than most. I am grateful."
She bowed her head to him.
Praise like this… it feels strange. Foreign. Uncomfortable, even.
When I was human, I was a loner. A weirdo. The one everyone avoided—and when they didn't, it was just to hurt me. Physically. Constantly. Like I deserved it.
But this… this feeling right now—it's something I've never known before. This warmth in my chest… this silence that isn't rejection, but recognition.
Maybe this is where I was always meant to be.
A world where strength doesn't come from being the wealthiest, or the most popular… but from standing your ground when it counts. From fighting not for glory, but for the people who matter.
Ari's fingers tightened. Not in anger. Not in pride. Just… disbelief.
Because a part of me—some small, scared part buried deep down—wants to believe that in this strange, war-torn world… I've finally found something I never had before—a place where I belong.
"As for General Denzil," Anastasia said, breaking the silence, "he was confronted by General Ivan. The two battled near the fortress walls. Ivan defeated him."
She exhaled slowly.
Brooks remained silent for now, arms crossed, his eyes watchful—his report yet to come.
"I pushed forward and reached the fortress's inner sanctum. There, I encountered a formidable warrior named Viser—not a general, but no less deadly. It was a brutal fight. But I prevailed," Anastasia continued.
A flicker of pain crossed her face.
"Finally, I reached the heart of the fortress. I found Princess Tanya in a cage. And Hopper, waiting for me."
A hush fell over the chamber, the only sound the soft rustle of armor and the faint buzz of moss.
"We fought. Hopper was stronger than I imagined. Ruthless. He overwhelmed me. But then Ari arrived. We fought side by side—and together, we brought him down. I struck the final blow… but I never would've made it that far without Ari."
For a moment, no one spoke. The chamber, bathed in green luminescence, felt like a cathedral of silence.
Queen Celeste stepped forward. Her voice, when it came, was soft—but carried the full authority of a monarch.
"This news brings joy to my heart—that my soldiers have accomplished so much through courage, sacrifice, and unity."
Her gaze passed slowly over each of them—Anastasia, Beatrice, Brooks, and finally Ari. Her antennae stilled, and she gave a slow, solemn nod.
"You defied orders. You risked certain death and the colony's total annihilation. But you acted from your hearts—and you won a victory no one thought possible. The Council of Elders has heard the truth. And history will not forget it."