The Hive Mind - Part 1

For most of her life, all of Checker’s friends were servants. She didn’t care, however. All she wanted was any bit of power she could get her talons on. That’s why on her 8th hatching day, something came into view in her mind. She wondered: If I’m the princess, doesn’t that mean I can become queen? She had dreamed of ruling Pantala, maybe even visiting the distant kingdoms to meet their queens and entirely new different species of dragons. But alas, she would have to wait at least 2 more years. “You’re not old enough, Checker.” They’d say. Or “You can’t kill your own mother at this age!” They didn’t understand. She knew she was ready! And frankly, she was getting impatient. “Mother.” Checker said, walking into the royal throne room. Queen Jewel turned around.

“Yes, Checker?” She asked. Mosquito, the eldest child of the queen, looked at Checker. For some reason, all of Checker’s life, Mosquito had been afraid of her. Mosquito shuffled back, and tried to hide himself.

“Have you seen Lanternfly anywhere? I’ve been looking all over for him.” Mosquito asked. Checker shrugged him off, hoping to get everyone on track.

Jewel sighed. “He might be playing with Bumblebee. Nice kid, too.” The youngest prince, Lanternfly, had always been partial to Bumblebee, another HiveWing dragonet.

“Mother, if I may, I’d like to say something.” Checker asked, glancing at the guards leaning on the walls. Jewel nodded. “Queen Jewel of the HiveWings, I challenge you to a royal duel for the throne and the kingdom.”

The guards gasped. Mosquito stepped back. Jewel stared at Checker. The once innocent, kind dragonet that she once had, was gone. She had turned into a greedy monster. “Checker, you can’t!” One of the guards shuddered.

“Well, the Queen cannot decline a royal challenge.” Checker stated. Checker smirked. “See you in the arena, mother.” She turned around, and then strolled out of the throne room. Mosquito followed Checker, as a hope to try and stop her. Jewel reached for her son, but he was gone. Jewel stood up, and left. “What just happened?” One of the guards woke up from sleeping.

Jewel searched through the halls. She heard talking in the hatchery. She looked in, and saw Lanternfly and Bumblebee hopping around. “Lanternfly!” Jewel darted into the room.

“Mommy!” Lanternfly hugged Jewel’s leg.

“Listen, my sunshine.” Jewel lifted Lanternfly into the air. “I need you to find your sister.” Jewel said sternly.

“She is in the arena!!!” Lanternfly threw his hands in the air.

“I know that silly. I mean your other sister.”

Lanternfly tilted his head. “But I has no other sister?”

“Find your brother, and tell him this. Bad things are about to happen to mommy.” Jewel breathed in through her teeth. Jewel dropped Lanternfly, and ran to the arena.

“Mommy..?” Lanternfly asked, but Jewel was out of sight.

Jewel entered the arena, and Aphid, one of Jewel’s best friends, greeted her. “Your Majesty, what are you doing?” Aphid asked.

“Checker challenged me.” Jewel said, coldly. Aphid gasped.

“She’s ruthless! How will you-”

“Stop.” Jewel stopped Aphid from speaking. “I guess… I’m gonna have to wing it.” She stepped closer to the arena.

Aphid shuddered as she stepped up to the arena. She saw Jewel stare at her daughter. Checker snarled, and waited for her cue. Aphid beamed into the arena. “The Queen’s daughter, Checker, has issued a challenge against Her Majesty, Queen Jewel. Whoever wins shall take the throne.” She quivered as she spoke the words. “Claws up, teeth ready… Fight.”

Checker dashed at her mother. Jewel had just enough time to leap out of the way. “STAND STILL AND LET ME KILL YOU!” Checker screamed, reaching her sharp claws out and grabbing her mother’s leg. Jewel yelped as Checker lifted her clenched fist into the air. A stinger unsheathed from her wrist. The crowd gasped. Checker stabbed at the floor, but Jewel rolled out of the way. Jewel turned around.

“Please, Checker, this isn’t you!” She yelled.

Checker snarled. “You don’t know me, Mother.” The tip of Checker’s tail suddenly opened, and a silver blade poked out.

“Please, daughter, listen to me!” Jewel stepped back to the edge of the arena. “You wouldn’t kill your mother!”

“Yes. I would.” Checker leaped for Jewel, but the Queen squirmed, and swung a punch towards Checker. Checker caught her claw. “Boo.” Checker elbowed Jewel’s elbow with all of her might, and there was a loud bone snap noise that echoed throughout the arena. Jewel screamed, falling to the ground clutching her broken arm. Jewel tried to run, but Checker stabbed her thigh with her tail blade. Jewel slammed on the cold, hardened sand of the arena floor.

“You… You tipped your blades with poison?” Jewel shuddered. Checker whispered something into Jewel’s ear. Her mother’s eyes went wide. Then, with a chilling crack sound, Checker let go of her mother’s neck and watched as the HiveWing queen fell on the ground, dead.

Aphid gasped, and ran out of the arena. She sobbed and sobbed as she ran through the halls of the HiveWing palace. “Woah!” Aphid tripped over 2 dragonets.

“APHID!” Lanternfly screamed.

Mosquito helped Aphid up. “Aphid, what are you doing?” Aphid looked at Lanternfly.

“Jewel is dead. Checker is now the queen.” Aphid whispered into Mosquito’s ear. Mosquito’s eyes widened.

“We have to find Termite. That was mother’s last wish.” Mosquito said.

“Well. Then get ready to fly, kids, because we’re going to the distant kingdoms!” Aphid explained.

Checker walked out of the arena, satisfied. She looked around, and finally saw Locust. Locust handed Checker the crown. “Your Majesty.”

Checker smirked as she put the crown on her head. “Queen Checker…” She said to herself, seating herself on the throne. “It indeed has a nice ring to it. Now find my siblings.” She said to Locust, who was bowing. “If mother had any brain at all, she would’ve sent my brothers away for their ‘safety’.” Checker snarled.

Locust smirked. “Yes, my queen.”

Aphid, Mosquito and Lanternfly ran up to the castle gate. “Open it!” Aphid yelled.

“Now why would we do that, defector?” Aphid recognized her brother’s voice.

“Locust…” Aphid heard his sharp talons scraping the ground floor.

“I bring news from the queen. Queen Checker wants her brothers…” Locust chuckled. Lanternfly tilted his head.

“But mommy is the queen?”

Locust felt a pang of guilt. “Oh, tiny prince… You didn’t know.” Locust slowly creeped closer. “Your sister can tell you all about what’s going on if you come back.” Lanternfly hopped towards Locust. All of the sudden, a fist connected violently with Locust’s jaw.

“RUN KIDS! RUN!” Aphid tackled Locust.

“The queen will have you executed for this!” Locust grappled with Aphid on the floor. Mosquito grabbed Lanternfly’s arm, and leaped into the air, spreading his wings.

“Wait but - what about Checker?” Lanternfly asked.

“We don’t have time!” Mosquito flew over the castle wall as a swarm of HiveWings chased after him. Mosquito flew towards the direction of where he knew he would be safe.

“STOP!” A HiveWing yelled. The others stopped.

“What?” One of the younger guards asked.

“We can’t follow them.” The HiveWing general explained.

“Fools don’t know what they’re getting themselves into.” The young guard gasped.

“Why… why would they fly themselves straight into a hurricane..?”

“Because. They know we won’t follow them.” Checker said, seeming to materialize out of nowhere. “Luckily, we know where they’re going.” She flew down. “Get ready to fly to Phyrria.”

To be continued...