After the invasion had ended, the worker ants began the long process of rebuilding. They swarmed the colony and its surrounding areas, repairing damage, carrying debris, and restoring the tunnels that Vladimir had destroyed to their former stability. Their fallen enemies were buried efficiently, their bodies becoming a distant memory beneath the soil. The colony was getting back on its feet, and the atmosphere buzzed with relief and triumph. Everything seemed amazing.
However, one fact gnawed at Ari, refusing to be buried like the rest.
"Why am I back to being a prisoner, doing all this labor? Shouldn't I have my freedom by now? It's been four days."
He let out a low grunt, irritation visible on his face as he chipped away at the mine walls with his pickaxe.
"Did that queen trick me? I played right into her hands. I'm such an idiot, thinking that saving the colony would automatically put me in her good graces and grant me freedom."
The bitter thought lingered, festering in his mind until a familiar voice cut through the noise of the busy mine.
"Hey Ari, it's been a while since we've seen each other. Where were you during the war? All prisoners were on lockdown until further notice, and I didn't see you when they announced it. I was worried about you," Evelyn said sincerely, her antennae twitching nervously.
Ari glanced at her, trying to mask his irritation with a smirk. "Well, let's just say I was really busy planning something and leave it at that."
Before Evelyn could press further, an old ant shuffled toward them, his gait slow but steady. His worn features carried a quiet strength, though his age was impossible to miss.
"Hello there, Ari," the old ant greeted, his voice rough but warm.
Ari raised an eyebrow. "And who might you be? Do I know you?"
"This is my grandpa Brook, you know, the one you helped out and did his eight hours of work when he collapsed," Evelyn explained.
A faint memory resurfaced. Ari's gaze softened. "Oh, I see. I'm glad you're doing well now, Brook."
Brook smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening. "Thank you for your help, young ant. I haven't met someone as kind as you."
The sincerity caught Ari off guard. He wasn't used to this kind of gratitude when he was human. He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond.
Before he could dwell on it, a firm voice echoed through the mines.
"Oh, there you are, Ari. There will be a meeting held by Queen Celeste. She would like for you to attend, so come with me," Anastasia called, her tone sharp but calm as she approached.
Ari's antennae perked up. Finally. "Finally! It's about time she called me from this one-meal-paying-ass job," he muttered, dropping his pickaxe without hesitation.
He followed Anastasia, leaving Evelyn behind, who watched them with concern. "I wonder what will happen to him? Why did the queen call for him to attend a meeting?" she whispered to herself, her unease lingering.
The path to the queen's chamber was tightly guarded. Military ants stood at attention, their bodies blocking the entrance sealed by a large boulder.
"We are here on the queen's request. Let us through," Anastasia commanded.
Without a word, the guards moved the boulder aside, granting them entry. Once inside, the stone was quickly rolled back, shutting them in.
Ari scanned the chamber. Several elder ants sat in a semicircle, their gazes sharp and unsettling. The weight of their stares pressed on him as if silently judging his very existence.
"You both have made it. Take a seat; we will begin this meeting immediately."
Ari sat down, his curiosity piqued.
"Before we get to the main reason for this meeting, I'd like to properly introduce ourselves to the ant who saved this colony.
"We are the heads of the colony, after the queen, of course. We have been responsible for making decisions regarding war strategies and food sources long before Queen Celeste's reign," one of the elders began.
His voice was formal, but the sharp edge in his tone didn't go unnoticed.
"Now, if I may point out— forgive me if I'm being blunt and overstepping my authority, my queen— but why did you not consult us for input on the war that took place between both colonies?"
"There was no time to think. We had to act accordingly," Queen Celeste replied, her voice steady.
"Although we won that war, I can't help but feel agitated by how it was done. Seeking help from a dirty prisoner made us look like we had no other choice but to listen to every single word he said and commanded."
Ari's brow twitched. Dirty prisoner, huh?
"Do not address this ant as a prisoner! The queen made the right call. If we had waited for you old geezers to come to a collective decision, we would all be dead by now," Anastasia snapped, her anger evident.
"Such insolence is why you are still a lieutenant and never became a commander, Anastasia," the elder shot back.
Anastasia's fists trembled with frustration, but Ari gently placed his hand on her arm, steadying her. His simple gesture managed to cool her rage.
"Don't forget the fact that if he hadn't warned us about the invasion, we'd all be dead by now. Anastasia believed him, and I placed my trust in her and his strategy, which not only saved the colony but also minimized casualties," Queen Celeste continued firmly. "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't even be here having this discussion, so be grateful."
The elder paused, considering her words. "That's a fair point, my queen. Forgive me for my rudeness."
"Now then, for the main reason this meeting was called." Queen Celeste cleared her throat.
"Lieutenant Anastasia, you have proven your capabilities as a leader and demonstrated excellent calmness and critical thinking during every crisis. If it weren't for your faith in this ant, the colony wouldn't be here today. I would like to bestow upon you a rank greater than the one you currently hold."
Anastasia's eyes widened. "Your Majesty, you don't mean…"
"From this day forward, you will be referred to as Commander Anastasia."
"I humbly accept this title, even though I'm not deserving."
A faint smile crept onto Queen Celeste's face. "Your father would be proud of what you have accomplished, becoming a commander at such a tender age."
"I bet he would be," Anastasia murmured, her voice soft but brimming with emotion.
Her eyes softened as she recalled the day her father left the colony. Tears welled in her eyes. "Why can't I come with you? Why?" she pleaded, her voice trembling.
Her father chuckled gently and knelt down, patting her head with a warm hand. "Well, that's because you're still far too young. But when you get older, you'll grow into a very strong military ant one day," he said with a soft smile.
Her throat tightened. "But… what if I don't? What if I'm not strong enough like you are?"
He shook his head, his eyes full of quiet certainty. "I'm not worried about that. You've got the spirit, Ana. With time and grit, you'll become something great. I believe in your strength."
She wiped her tears away, her heart firming with resolve. "I'll be the strongest military ant one day. I won't let you down."
"Now, bowing in the queen's chamber, Anastasia let the memory linger in her chest." If only you could see this day, Father.
As Ari watched her accept the honor, something caught his eye—a faint glow on Anastasia's left shoulder. It shimmered briefly, almost like a subtle pulse of light, before fading.
Huh. What was that? Ari blinked, but the glow was gone. Probably just a trick of the light, he thought, brushing it off. He wasn't about to overthink it.
"So she was rewarded with a new rank. That's good for her. No one is as devoted to the colony as she is, so she's earned it," Ari thought to himself.
"Next is you, Ari. As promised, for successfully saving our colony and protecting Princess Tanya, you are granted your freedom. You are no longer a prisoner."
Just the words I wanted to hear.
A slow grin spread across his face, a weight lifting from his shoulders. He hadn't realized how long he'd been waiting to hear those exact words until they finally hit him.
"Now that you're free, where will you go? And what will you do?" Anastasia asked.
"To be honest, I don't know. I was just wandering around when you and your squad kidnapped me and turned me into a prisoner, even after I expressed my innocence."
"I apologize for that misunderstanding. You see, I put the colony's priority first, so I acted for its sake.
"If you don't mind, there is another option that both I and the elders believe would be better."
"I'm listening, as long as it has nothing to do with being imprisoned again," Ari said flatly.
"The first time you came here, you expressed that you didn't belong to a colony. So we have decided to humbly ask you to become part of ours," said the queen as she and the elders bowed, their gestures sincere.
"Your strategy was flawless. We could use someone with a level head like you in our military. You planned a way for our soldiers to survive despite how outnumbered we were."
They should thank the video games I used to play when I was alive. That's where I got the idea from. I didn't expect it to work out so well, Ari thought.
"So, do you agree to join us?" Queen Celeste asked.
"I will join, but on one condition."
"And what might that be?"
"I've got two friends who are prisoners here. If you set them free and allow them to become regular worker ants in your colony, then I'll accept your offer."
"That's pushing it! There's no way our queen would agree to such a ridiculous—"
"That's fair enough. Your friends will be freed as well. Welcome to the colony, Ari. I expect great things from you."
Ari blinked, almost surprised by how quickly she agreed. Well, that was easier than I thought.
"My queen, are you sure? That was not the bargain you made with him."
"I know," Queen Celeste replied calmly, her gaze steady. "I have already fulfilled my end of the bargain, but I made a proposal. And if freeing two ants is all it takes to gain an asset like him, then it's worth it."
"Oh, and as for your first task as commander, I want you to train Ari to be on par with our other soldiers," the queen said.
"Wait, what?! But, Your Majesty, why do I have to train him?" Anastasia protested.
"That's your punishment I've decided for your insubordination. "Consider it a light punishment; the only reason it's so lenient is because your actions saved the colony," the queen said with a soft chuckle. "You defied me for his sake—now you must take responsibility for him."
"But Your Majesty, Beatrice is—"
"I'm putting you in charge of overseeing his training. Do not disappoint me," said Queen Celeste, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Ari crossed his arms and smirked. "Looks like you're stuck with me, Commander."
"Shut up!" Anastasia said, glaring at him.
Guess freedom's gonna be a little less peaceful than I thought.