10 – Staggeron the Great

Kingdom of Hornest; a few minutes before our heroes entered The Beetle Palace:

Lord Caesar was resting in his Chamber when Queen Hornetta entered the room.

“My Lord… you have called me…”, the Queen bowed while talking to her husband, whom she had hated…

“Yes, my Queen… come.”, Caesar ordered, and Hornetta listened, as she knew it was the only thing she could do.

“I bet you’ve heard about the BeetleField situation, dear…”, Caesar exclaimed and Hornetta stopped breathing for a few moments.

‘So he knows about my spies…’, she thought to herself before replying: “Y-Yes… About the ants and Ozara’s blades…”

“Precisely.”, Caesar, unlike Hornetta’s expectations, did not seem to be angry… in fact – quite the opposite! He seemed to be impressed by Hornetta’s spies, whom he knew existed, but did not know who they were nor how skilled they were… well… at least until now.

“Your spies are quite skilful in their field.”, Caesar told his wife, yet the latter did not move nor speak.

“Alas… I have requested your presence here for one thing, your Highnestness… I need your help to resolve this… case…”

“And how may I assist you in this matter, my Lord?”, Hornetta was intrigued.

“You may not… but your assassins may do… summon them and tell them to see me. Now.”, Caesar said coldly.

“Yes… my Lord…”, Hornetta turned around to go summon her eleven assassins, but just as she was about to exit Caesar’s Chamber, her husband stopped her: “Wait!”

She froze in place and awaited for whatever Caesar had in mind for her…

She was powerless…

And she knew that… and the next thing Caesar said did nothing but confirm that very fact.

“We’ve been married for a few seasons already… And you have been very loyal… so loyal in fact that, even though it is your duty to do so, you have not laid a single egg since our marriage.”

Hornetta started sweating. “I-It is because you told me to wait… to save my energy for when the time is right…”

“Yes… I did order you to do so… and I think the time has come. The citizens of our Kingdom will get suspicious of their Queen if she doesn’t make up for not laying any eggs for a few seasons… So, after I send your assassins on their mission… you know what to do…”

“I…”

‘Curse you, Caesar!!

You did this on purpose, you bastard, didn’t you...

You knew…

You knew about my plans all along…

CURSE YOU!!

You have me right where you want me… entrapped in your castle, laying eggs for you… unable to do anything…

Unable to resist…

to rebel...

IhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyou-’

“I understand, my Lord…”, the Queen left Caesar’s Chamber with teary eyes.

She knew that she had lost this battle…

Yet she still held a hope… a hope that some day… someone… will end Caesar… End him once and for all...

* * *

The Beetle Palace – BeetleField:

The Beetle Palace was a large structure in the shape of a stag beetle. The Palace went through numerous renovations throughout its life, as – unlike its King – the Palace did not withstand aging…

Our three heroes arrived to the front of the Palace, which – contrary to their expectations – was unguarded. In fact, it was not only unguarded, but it seemed… empty…

Abandoned even…

There was not a single soul near the palace…

“Why… why aren’t there any guards?”, Antonio was worried.

“I… I have to admit that this is quite unusual…”, Hercules was confused.

“And I thought the Antlantia Palace had little guards…”, Nanthan joked, yet nobody laughed. He felt a little embarrassed.

“So… should we go inside?”, Antonio wondered.

“… I think so, yes…”, Hercules said with uncertainty. It’s been a few seasons since he last went near the Beetle Palace, and its never been like this… there were always at least a couple of longhorn beetle guards scattered around the place…

Hercules went first. Nanthan and Antonio followed in silence.

The hall was empty and dusty, so the three decided to go ahead, as it did not seem like anyone has even entered this place in quite some time…

“This looks… abandoned…”, Nanthan was confused.

“What… happened to this place?”, Antonio whispered.

“I think we’ll find out soon…”, Hercules said as he pushed the big, heavy doors that led to King Staggeron’s Chamber…

“Who’s there?”, a deep, old, yet powerful and shivering voice echoed throughout the entire Palace as soon as the three stepped inside the old, dusty Chamber...

And there he was… Sitting on his gigantic throne…

The enormous eternal stag beetle…

The uniter of a thousands species...

The King of all Beetles…

King Staggeron the Great.

“Y-Yer Hightleness!”, Hercules bowed to the eternal beetle.

The two ants followed, and bowed with respect towards the legendary bug that was sitting in front of them. Neither Nanthan nor Antonio could believe that this was happening…

They could not believe that the two of them – who were just normal ants doing their job until yesterday – were now worthy of being in the very same room with none other than Staggeron the Great!

The eternal beetle was sitting on his Castanean wooden throne that – at least according to the legends – was as old as the King himself! He was wearing a crown in the shape of a hollow shell of a beetle knight, and he was holding the Castanean Sceptre – a precious gift he had personally received from none other than Dabir the MasterKing!

Staggeron was not seen often outside – especially in the last few seasons, as everything started falling apart – but whenever he was, he would always carry the precious Sceptre everywhere.

There are multiple stories of the King imprisoning or killing anyone who even dared as much as touch his Sceptre.

These stories were well known throughout all of Castanea for dozens of seasons – and, now that Hercules has seen it for himself that Staggeron was holding the Sceptre even when he was resting at his throne, he believed all of them.

He did not dare even look at the Sceptre – let alone touch it!

“You may raise your heads.”, Staggeron’s powerful voice ordered, and the three listened.

“Now… I would like to know who I’m speaking with…”, the same voice echoed through the shallow walls…

“M-My name is Hercules, yer Hightleness! I have brought two very brave travellers from afar – Antonio and Nanthan, the sturdy from the Anthill Kingdom! They wish to speak with ye regarding the mission they are on…”, Hercules nervously said with both fear and respect.

“I see…”, the old King seemed to think for a few moments, gazing upwards before saying: “Nanthan… the sturdy… if I am not mistaken, that is a familiar name… perhaps a famous warrior…”, he looked down at Antonio, then at Nanthan, whom he kept his gaze on before continuing: “I suppose that’s you… Elderanta’s personal guard perhaps? Correct me if I’m mistaken…”

“Y-You are right, your Hightleness…”, Nanthan stuttered.

“Yes… Yes, if I recall… the Showdown that had Lucana as the victor… you are the last ant to ever participate in the Showdown… To what do I owe the honour of your visit, Nanthan, the sturdy?”, the King asked in a calm tone.

Nanthan, who was too shocked to immediately answer, started sweating. He was stunned because the King had heard about him!

He knew that a lot of bugs – especially warriors and soldiers – have heard about him because he was the very last ant who participated in the Showdown, but never had he expected that even the King of all Beetles knew about him…

The pause made King add: “It looks like my words have surprised you? Don’t be. I used to be a warrior myself ages ago… so I enjoy learning about other warriors – especially from other parts of this falling Kingdom… Besides… the Showdown is held in my very domain… As the King of BeetleField, I should know everything that goes on around here – especially an event such as the Ultimate Showdown!”

“I…”, he finally spoke, “Yes… I apologise, your Hightleness… I came here with my friend Antonio to seek your guidance! We were sent here on Elderanta’s behalf – on a mission to find the Five Great Knights! On a mission to find a way to save the Castanean Kingdom from the approaching doomsday!!”

Staggeron’s eyes widened, and he leaned forward. Silence followed for a minute or two, and the King’s visitors felt… disturbed…

Finally the King spoke: “To find the Five Great Knights…”, Staggeron leaned back and looked up again.

“W-We hoped that you would maybe know something! As three out of the Five Knights are from BeetleField: Lucana, the sharp; Diablo, the heavy and Dan, the mighty! Any info would help us plan our next move! Our next trip! P-Please, your Hightleness! For the future of Castanea! For the future of your BeetleField…”

Staggeron did not move for a few moments, nor did he make any facial expressions. Nobody could read what was on his mind, so the three visitors waited patiently…

“Would you, please, follow this old beetle… I want to show you something, dear guests…”, Staggeron slowly got up from his throne, leaning on his Sceptre.

Antonio looked at his friends. They were just as confused as he was. The King slowly made his way towards the giant doors that lead to the empty halls of the Palace.

“I have to show you something… Please… follow me.”, the elder bug exited his Chamber, and the three followed without much hesitation.

The four bugs moved at a slow pace, mostly due to the King’s somewhat hesitant movements.

Just as they were about to exit the Palace, the King spoke again: “I apologise for my rudeness. This is not the right way to treat guests from afar – especially in dire times like this…”, the four exited the Palace, and Staggeron continued: “As you can see, this Kingdom is falling apart… and I do not mean just BeetleField or Anthill… I mean the entire Castanean Kingdom… Citizens have lost all hope, as the Knights seem to be… gone…”

The four were now headed to the tunnel that was all too familiar to Hercules, who looked quite disturbed when he recognised where the King is taking them…

“W-Why are we-”, he started, but Staggeron raised one of his legs, signifying that he wanted silence. Hercules unwillingly listened. Antonio didn’t think much of this, but Nanthan noticed that Hercules was shaken by something…

“I’ve been alive for a long time…”, Staggeron broke the silence, “And never in my life have I seen Castanea fall this low… The Kingdom had never been in such a direful situation… Even when bugs were hopeless, the Great Knights were always there to save them… always there to fight… I remember every single Knight that ever lived… They were all so brave, honest and strong… Many have died fighting Ozaras over the many, many seasons… but they never gave up…

This generation of the Great Knights are very similar… they, too, are brave and strong… but there is one thing they lack…

Or… should I say lacked…”

Staggeron paused his speech, and the three bugs, who were carefully listening, got worried more and more each passing second…

Antonio wanted to ask what did he mean by saying the verbs in the past tense…

Nanthan wanted to ask where were they headed…

Hercules wanted to ask why they were headed there…

They had so many questions, yet they persisted…

They kept silent…

They kept silent as they knew that all of their questions were about to be answered very soon…