Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In the Explorers’ Association, decorated by colorful green leaves and ribbons, two bugs side by side by one another sat on their own plump, fluffy chairs as they faced the Termite contraption that was recording their every move and voice. The moth looked happy and enthusiastic, while the wasp couldn’t help but constantly look away from the lens as if he knew the thousands that gazed at him through it. After a countdown by whatever bug behind the scenes, the moth smiled brightly and acknowledged the machination.

“Hi everyone! This is Peror, and this is our segment of Bugaria News called Explore with the Explorers! Today, after trying so hard to contact the shadow himself, we have Zasp, the explorer! How are you Zasp?”

Zasp took a moment to reply to the overly expressive moth with a nod. “Umm…Fine.”

“Great to hear. It’s a pleasure to speak with you finally!”

“Yeah, sure…” Another shy nod came from the wasp as he still couldn’t tell if he was looking in the right direction. Was he supposed to look at the moth, or this ugly looking machine!?

The moth got his attention when he bent over to address Zasp who still fidgeted heavily. “So you have been making a fascinating display of what it means to be an explorer. Tell us, why did you want to help bugs and explore the lands Bugaria has to offer?”

“Well…you see…I guess I like helping bugs. Its nice and I’ve met…uhhh…wonderful bugs everywhere so it’s nice helping…bugs. And explore things.” Nice one.

“A little shy, aren’t we? But that’s ok, everyone likes a bug who gets the job done and doesn’t speak a ton. The ‘silent’ type!”

The moth looked closely for a response but felt the awkward air move in when Zasp simply stared back without another word. As they gazed too long at one another, the moth then proceeded to laugh forcefully and looked down at his leaf documents for notes.

“You have been the reason so many bugs on the frontier have had an easier time to find and settle new lands. Even compared to Team Snakemouth, you are on par with the number of quests succeeded and you don’t have a care of the difficulty it is! You’ll help from harvesting berries to mapping out entire caves! That’s awesome!”

Zasp scratched the back of his neck. “…Thanks.”

“Compared to the work you did before as a part of Team Mothiva, it’s safe to say you are doing a lot more, now that you can choose where to go, huh? Nice to not have to follow that wasp bomber around, right?” The moth replied cheerfully,

“…”

The moth continued. “Speaking of which, what would you say is your favorite type of mission now that you get to choose?”

In what seemed a drastic tonal change, the wasp responded quickly and harshly. “The one where I have to shut up some annoying bug who’s causing a ruckus for everyone. Including me.”

“Woah! Like a big weevil boss or water strider bug?” The moth said unaware.

“They can be your size too.”

Zasp now looked intimidatingly in the moth’s direction with definite intention. Peror was quick to look away, not knowing the chord he struck. “Umm…well that’s insane! Very cool too!”

He tried to continue the interview without pause. “So tell us, what was Mothiva really like in your team? We can kind of already see from Vi that she wasn’t exactly the bug we all thought. I mean, not a lot of bugs want to bomb hives in an effort to make themselves more famous, right?”

“…”

“I mean, a bug like her doesn’t seem like the most compassionate or sympathetic kind despite how her idol personality seemed. I mean did you see her guilty plea; she wasn’t crying or anything from what she did. Stone-faced! I mean, you have to-”

Zasp stood up, in which the contraption zoomed out to get his tall stature in frame. “Let me make this clear.”

Zasp took a deep breath in an attempt to keep himself calm. “She wasn’t the bug everyone thought she was. But she also isn’t the bug everyone thinks she is now. When the world was going to end, she wanted to be the hero of it all, yes. She wanted her fame to be paramount and for all of Bugaria to adore her. But when push came to shove, she was more than willing to get bruised up to save bugs like you. She isn’t the dreamy idol bug she wanted to be, but she had grit and was willing to face danger that anyone else lesser would run away crying. When she needed to save bugs, you bet your abdomen she would. She saved mine several times.”

Sounds of bugs in the background chattering were heard as they tried to explain what was happening. The moth tried to retain control as his head glistened in worry.

“…Oh…umm…ok…” He awkwardly cleared his throat and made the worst attempt in defending his accusation. “But I mean…like…the bombing stuff…you gotta admit that it’s not sane to think that. Like, she’s pretty much a witch-”

Zasp’s eyes opened widely, and he knocked his chair over to stop the moth from endangering his own life any further from the wasp’s wrath. “I’m done here. Say anything more, and I’ll make sure you’re the next one running away crying.”

The wasp looked once more at the Termite technology and his antennae wandered intensely. He had enough of this ugly tool as well. “Get that contraption out of my face!” The footage paused before a needle made its way towards the perspective of the camera.

A bug sighed as she finished reviewing the footage. She leaned back and talked to a fellow ant who stood close by. “Yeah, we can’t use this, the Queen will kill us for getting her Explorers this mad. Get someone else to interview and apologize profusely to the Association and Zasp. By the bug, Peror was a horrible choice…”

“Bruixa! Get over here!” A loud roar echoed through the fields in the backdrops of Golden Settlement. One moth who stood plainly at the outskirts of the berry field, looked back with deep-stained dirt and sweat on her face. Her antennae smashed in different directions from her filthy hat and fluff shaved down and uneven, she replied back as she ran to the voice.

“Yes, Warden!”

The giant beetle bent her head down to face the small moth in front of her. Imposing as always, she grumbled her words. “You done with everything today? Rubber Prison wants a word with you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Her eyes glared at the moth in suspicion. “You’re not trying to pull a fast one on me, are you mothie? You better get it all done if it’s not.”

“It’s all done, ma’am.” The moth replied without fear.

“Hmm…” The broad beetle looked away from the moth and spat at the ground. “After two long years, you never changed. For better or worse.”

While the two stood facing one another, an ant ran up to them and addressed his boss. “Warden! We have Rubber Prison representative here and the Explorers Association’s leadership.”

“Finally. Get them a meeting room.” The beetle waved her hand in disgust and shooed. “Go away, Bruixa.”

“Ma’am!”

The shed was small as was the furniture inside. Three small wood stools and a table surrounded by drab colors of brown and grey painted the background, it couldn’t look any closer to an interrogation room. As the moth made her way to the one chair sitting alone, then came in the two bugs who were apparently there to see her.

First, the ant came in and nodded. “Mothiva. You remember me. I come on behalf of Rubber Prison. And this is…” She looked over at the mantis who looked disappointed, frustrated, and menacing all in one bundle.

“Well, you two know each other.”

“Mothiva.” The mantis spoke out as he sat down.

“Maki.”

The ant stretched her hand out in offer. “Please, sit.”

Mothiva nodded and took a sit as the ant looked over what was presumably her file. Maki, however, stared in his usual stoic gaze, knowing all the good, and very bad, she had done thus far. Like a disappointed father, he rarely blinked and judged her on every trait and move while Mothiva closed her eyes to avoid the look. And yet, she couldn’t help but roll them out of annoyance to which the mantis noticed.

The ant finally spoke up. “You’ve done a lot here Mothiva. I have to say, it’s pretty impressive for someone of your stature. A lot of heavy lifting and back-breaking work.”

She traced her finger down the list of accomplishments and read them out. “Berry picking, security detail against monsters, plowing fields from dawn to dusk…You’ve tried to get your experience and lesson from everything.”

“I don’t think its enough, not in the slightest.” Maki spoke plainly, uttering an eye twitch from Mothiva.

“What do you mean by that, Maki?” The ant inquired.

Maki sighed and leaned forward in his chair. “Mothiva, you are aware of your crimes, right?”

“Yes.”

“What is that crime?”

“Bombing the Wasp Kingdom and terrorizing the populace.” She took a deep breath.

“You tell me, does that sound like something a normal bug would do?”

Mothiva paused before speaking again with an annoyed tilt of the head. “It’s not…Obviously.”

“Obviously…” Maki repeated. She was still herself…

Maki once again spoke simply. “Well, I don’t think any bug would feel safe around you, right?”

Mothiva grumbled. “Of course not.”

“Thought so.”

Mothiva was becoming bothered. She hadn’t requested this “meeting”. What was this!? “Can I ask what this meeting is for?” She spoke out.

Before they could answer, the ant looked at Maki for confirmation about revealing the nature of their visit. With a nod of approval, she spoke. “Mothiva, we’re thinking about sending you to the Explorer’s Association for further rehabilitation.”

“W-What!?” Mothiva got up from her chair as emotions swelled to her antennae tips. Those words alone brought up just one bug in her mind. One she cared for deeply.

The ant continued. “It’s a newer program that allows bugs who we believe will contribute to the livelihood of everyone in Bugaria by working alongside the Explorers. We’ve had some takers, and we’ve even had two menaces that have become decent apprentice explorers in the past year.”

Mothiva sat back down frustrated and confused. She looked to the ground and replied. “W-Why me…Of all the bugs you decide to choose…”

“You’ve been here for two years. You feel changed? Be honest.” Maki said.

“I’ve…honestly…I don’t know.”

“Hmm…” Maki folded his hands together as he processed what she was possibly feeling. “I don’t know.” Did she want to change? Did she even care?

The ant representative looked over to the Explorer leader. “What do you think, Maki? I would allow it if you felt safe to do it. She has the power to help more bugs by doing meaningful work that involves her particular skill.”

Maki couldn’t refrain from speaking out; he felt strongly against it. “What skill. Blowing up houses?”

The ant giggled sheepishly in awkward response. “Y-You know what I mean…”

Mothiva then spoke up, surprising the two as she tore off her dusty hat. “I don’t think it’s a good idea either!”

She began flailing her hat at Maki in disgust. “I mean seriously. You’d expect someone like me, who you just said was a danger to bugs, to work closer with the kingdoms and not be a liability? By Venus, you’re so noble but you’re also a dunce if you think that’s smart.”

The ant called out. “M-Mothiva!”

“Just reject me, I don’t want this.” Mothiva pouted and smashed her hat back on her head.

“It’s not your call, its ours.” Maki replied.

“I signed up to be here in the fields, you can’t just drag me around unless it’s back to prison.”

The ant nodded in agreeance. “She’s right on that, Maki. She’s a prisoner but this program is voluntary.”

“Someone’s targeting idols.” Maki stated without hesitation. “Ever since you left your stardom podium, other bugs are fighting for the void you left. Some good, other…I don’t know. But there have been questionable ailments and injuries. And it’s getting worse.”

Almost immediately, Mothiva looked up in immense shock. News like this don’t travel when you’re isolated in a prison camp; especially when you don’t want to hear anything from the outside world to make you want to leave…Zasp in her case. But this…this was horrible. Was her departure that big of a void to cause a power struggle fitting of a civil war? She expected a slow recovery from an idol as toxic as she was…but this was broad daylight crimes compared to her.

“You won’t be performing, of course, but the Association would benefit from someone of your background. I disdain the implication, but we could use the help. So far though, I’d say you are already sold on not going, correct?” Maki leaned towards her again.

“What’s going on?” Mothiva asked.

He shook his head. “Mothiva, I cannot say the details to a prisoner with a long-term sentence ahead of her.”

“I’m in, ok!? What’s going on!?” Mothiva was now shouting.

“Our call, Mothiva. You can’t just say ‘I’m in’ and be done with it.”

The ant tried to regain control of the argument. “Mothiva, this is simply a-”

Mothiva was now leaning closely to Maki, almost begging to be involved. What at first could be conveyed as aggression, Maki could see her eyes become fiery; the same fire he wanted to see in every explorer joining his ranks. “…Please. What’s happening?” Mothiva was still determined as ever.

Maki sighed and challenged her. “Answer me, do you believe your rehabilitation here is enough?”

“No.”

“Do you believe you are a good fit in the Explorers’ Association?”

“…Yes.”

“Do you believe you can assist, support, and fight alongside Explorers if you work alongside a team and contribute to the wellbeing of Bugarians? Do you promise to follow every order I give without hesitation? Do you promise to give the teams your all in solving this, and that I reserve the right to send you back here if I feel you are becoming uncontrollable?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes. Get on with it! What’s happening!?”

Maki leaned back and closed his eyes. With a long pause, he sighed and got up with teal sword in hand. “I’ll see you back in Ant Kingdom. I don’t know if I want you involved in our Association ever again, even in a subdued state, but you will know soon enough, Mothiva. I approve of her rehabilitation in my Association for now.”

The ant, mouth still aghast from the sudden back and forth, nodded and wrote in her log the acceptance of them both.  Mothiva watched as Maki left the room without another word. Still contemplating the nightmare brewing back home, she felt her limbs tingle in both fear and excitement, things were going to be different in the kingdoms. Bugs were going to be different. Bugs…bugs she knew…would they also have changed?

“H-have I changed…enough to be worthy for…?”

Chapter Text

Morning light made way through the dimly lit area of Mothiva’s quarters as the sun finally broke over the mountains and its rays sneaking within the crevices of the window. Fine particles of dirt and berry bits rested on everything within the farmhand quarters. Armor, which she refused to wear on battle detail, remained with layers more of dust sitting undisturbed by the environment. With how early it was, the bugs were about ready to wake up and start a new day as productive farmers working to clear their sentences of the wrong they committed. All but one, who never slept.

“Ugh…”

Mothiva remained still in bed with eyes staring straight into the dirt ceiling above, just like she always did for the last few nights after Maki’s visit. The waiting was killing her, but so was the lack of sleep. She groaned at the short rest she had and threw herself on her side, letting her wings breathe after being smothered. Thoughts raced through her head, about Maki, about the idol scene…about Zasp. She felt completely unready about the decision she made out of instinct. She insulted herself for the brash choice; she promised to get rid of that bad habit she had as a ruthless idol. Even so, Mothiva only signed and groaned out of acceptance. If it was for bettering herself, then maybe-

BAM BAM BAM

“Bruixa! Bruixa!” A loud ant voice came through the door, startling the poor moth out of her bed and right on to the cold, dirty floor. She was going to make someone pay for this. Politely of course.

As she resisted the urge to open the door swinging, she instead opened it with a quiet but forceful pull. After seeing it was the ant guard Soltos, the one she had been acquainted with for cycles, she immediately lost temper and grumbled.  “Excuse me! It’s too early to be raging like a madbug!” She groaned as she tried to control her temper. “…Soltos...Well, what is it? Bothering me in my scheduled sleep with your incessant banging!”

Soltos rubbed the back of his neck and sheepishly waved a hand which contained a rolled leaf letter. “Sorry!” With one motion, he gave one last apologetic wave and handed the note over. “But you’ve been given a date. For release! The Explorer’s association has given me authorization to give this to you. Congrats!”

Holy droplets.

Mothiva tore open the royal ribbon and scanned her eyes through the paper like a mad scientist.

Prisoner Bruixa,

By the Queen’s decree, in all her benevolence, forgiveness, and credence in your character, you have been granted partial clemency for your willingness to put forth your talents to a greater cause. In due course, you will prove yourself to be a civil and industrious bug of our cherished kingdom and its people. We hope that you will honor the Queen’s trust in your redemption, and with every step you take, shall be one towards the benefit of you, your peers, and the people of Bugaria.

Signed,

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizant II

Warden Lar Ceny, Rubber Prison

Sir Maki, Leader and Member of the Royal Blades and Explorer’s Association

“Oh Venus…this is really…” Mothiva couldn’t believe it. With every word, her heart thumped faster. She was really going to go back to the Kingdoms.

“Congrats! I knew you’d be picked for this!” Soltos repeated with a huge smile on his face.

But did she really want to? Was it excitement or dread controlling her emotions? Nevertheless, as she was about to fold the royal pardon up, she felt something fall through the slits and down to the ground.

“What the…?” She retrieved it to find out it was a smaller, cruder letter. Seemingly written up hastily as if stuffed into the scroll before being sent to her. Mothiva read through and she could recognize the inelegant penmanship of a knight. A mantis knight.

Mothiva,

I want you to know that’s a pre-written letter for all redeemers. So let me make a personal one for you. I don’t trust a word out your mouth until you’ve shown me your will to change through service and exemplary field work with this important mission. Like I said before, tilling fields and gathering berries proves nothing of what you did was regretful. So don’t spoil my chance on you, or you’ll regret it. And Zasp certainly will too.

If you choose to give up, by all means, tell me. I’d be more than happy to help you back to your cell.

Maki

“Urghh…that…” Her hands began to crumple the paper, her eyes squinting into anger and fury. As she started to hyperventilate, she finally scrunched the note into a trash ball and tossed it far into the berry fields, where she’d inevitably have to retrieve it before the camp warden would punish everyone for the singular mess.  “Oooooh! I will show him. I am going to show him I am better than him! Both civilly, and in battle! Just wait. JUST YOU…”

Realizing she had basically thrown a projectile with the force of a thousand angry wasps, she looked at Soltos who yanked his hat down to avoid the incoming fire. The ant peeked from under his brim and was met with a completely indifferent moth; as if Soltos was used to the outbursts and completely unbothered, which he wasn’t really. It was terrifying what strength she had as a former “perfectly innocent idol who loves the world.”

Mothiva crossed her arms and cleared her throat, closing her eyes to mitigate the fury. “Right. Well thank you for providing me with this letter, I suppose. Do you have anything more for me?”

“Uh…you ok? I thought the letter was supposed to be good?”

Mothiva opened her eyes slowly, revealing a ruminating moth. “Goodbye.” She simply took a step back and closed the door.

Violently.

Soltos jumped away from the loud thud and ran to report the letter was given, and to hide any fact her reaction was…not happy.

“I can’t believe he brought his name into this. That Maki…Wait…”

Mothiva was already mad about how direct and antagonizing the letter was, but to bring Zasp into the fold!? And what was that about her AND him regretting if she didn’t follow rules?

“Did…D-did he a-also…” No way. There’s no way Zasp would vouch for her or anything of that matter. They needed to grow as individuals, otherwise the cycle she was so capable of repeating would happen again. Zasp knew that…why…why!?

What was happening in Bugaria…

“Bruixa.” Another call from the door. This time, much more subdued, yet imposing. Like thunder in the distance. It had to be the camp warden.

“M-Ma’am!” Mothiva was quick to answer the door and stand up straight for the warden’s inspection. A beetle she had no desire to anger, the warden stood quiet. Normally a shout or two about why she wasn’t doing something to the warden’s liking would follow, but the beetle simply pondered her chin and looked down at the moth.

“So, you’re the fallen idol, hmm? Fallen so far that you did this for cycles and never told me?” A fact she had hidden up until this point, the warden spoke as if she betrayed her trust by never telling her, yet Mothiva knows exactly the kind of punishment trying to pull former status at a prison camp would bring her. Especially with tendency to do that when she was an idol, it was hard to keep her mouth shut all these moons.

The beetle then huffed and waved her out of the room. “I’m here to see you off. Don’t grab a single thing here, none of it belongs to you.”

“Yes ma’am.” This was it. This little hut for moons and moons, evicted out of a space she called home for only a short time. That pile of rubble…it was a shame to not give the place one final look over and cleaning. Mothiva nodded strongly, before marching out in order.

The two bugs walked down the dirt path towards the waiting escorts of ants near the tunnel to the Golden Settlement. Mothiva followed uneasily behind, making sure not to disrespect the commanding beetle with any slights. The beetle broke the eerie silence with a laugh. “So, Bruixa. Did my little camp here help you? Do you feel like a better bug now?”

“Yes it did. I feel like I’ve learned.” Either answer was going to draw her ire.

“Hmph. Right.” The beetle responded.

The warden suddenly stopped in her tracks, turning around to see Mothiva immediately breaking eye contact and staring straight. Bending down to meet her eyes, the warden whispered. “Well let me teach you something before you go off on your little adventure.”

She then went on and her expression hardly changed from a menacing gaze. “Bugs with serious crimes like yours rarely change. Bombings? Getting a gang to fight for you for some fame? Whether you own up to it or not, bugs won’t believe another word out of your oh-so elegant mouth.”

“We know the bug for who you are now, and trust me, it’s hard to believe you’d want to ‘help’ all the sudden. So, dear, another lie and you’ll find yourself digging for the rest of your life. With me, your gracious camp warden.”

A warning veiled in peril…the warden was either threatening her…or was it a teaching moment?

“Do come back soon, Bruixa.” Nope, it surely didn’t feel like a lesson in the slightest. The camp warden was definitely the psychotic type in Mothiva’s mind. And that spoke volumes.

The camp warden then gave her a few gentle pats on the back as encouragement, like sending a child off to their first day of school. As Mothiva bit her lip in fear, one thought continuously came up. The camp warden didn’t believe she had changed; her hard work doing nothing for her insufferable character. What if it was all…for naught?

“I…” Mothiva gripped her cuffed hands tightly together, hoping the negative thought would go away faster if she just distracted herself. “I swear, I changed…I changed...!”

With the image of a certain bug flashing before her, she felt a tear collecting at the corner of her eye.

“...Right?”

The change of scenery was a big moment for Mothiva. The shades of yellow and orange finally gave way for the green and blue. After two cycles, Ant Kingdom hardly looked different, with the flow of the river nearby and the paths still the same when she first explored, it was all too familiar.

Familiar, and welcoming.

“Sir Maki, the redeemer is here!” Her ant guard announced. At the entrance to the Association’s building, she was ready for the embarrassing moment all her peers would see her finally after spending time behind gates and cell doors for a heinous crime. Even with being covered in dirt and indiscernible to the idol everyone knew, they would probably know a disgraced Explorer if they saw one. Luckily, the only bug to greet her was the one and only Maki. Even Artis wasn’t there to see the disheveled moth. The ants then released her as Maki waved Mothiva in.

“Right…” Maki sighed and looked down at his paperwork. “Bruixa.”

Mothiva took a moment to contemplate her move before immediately taking a chance at subtle smarminess. “Sir Maki, thank you for your personal letter of support and encouragement. I hope to be able to lend my services to help the Association with its daily tasks.”

Maki closed his eyes and ignored the moth. “Hmm. You guards may leave. Thank you for delivering the prisoner.”

After the ants saluted and walked out of sight from the two, Maki stood up and crossed his hands behind him. “Drop the formality…please. I feel like you had me for the fool the entire time I’ve led this Association. So, don’t try it anymore. Your behavior-”

“Maki.”

Mothiva bowed her head slightly to the ground and spoke out before the mantis would go on a tirade. One she was far too used to.

“Look, I’m only helping because…because I feel like this little issue you have with the idols…feels personal. As much as I’d prefer staying as far away from Ant Kingdom as possible, I made a promise to myself. One your little noble mind would just love to hear.”

Mothiva looked back up with the same fire of determination that burned once in the beginning of it all. One Maki accepted as a fellow explorer. One he’d regret later. “But I’ll keep it at that. So, Maki…what do you have for me?”

Maki dropped his head low and sighed from her rude tone. He paced around the room, stating the obvious conditions of her role. “As I stipulated before…you are not free to go anywhere or do anything you’d like under my leadership. This is a redeemer role, your whole task is living up to the needs of the Association and Bugaria to the best of your ability. Understand that?”

Mothiva nodded. “…Yes.”

“So with that in mind, are you truly ready to start your path to ultimate redemption?”

What a cheesy line, one fit for starting idols. Mothiva rolled her eyes and bowed deep, stifling a giggle.

“Oh your most gracious highness~, I am undoubtedly ready to-” Mothiva giggled before Maki would enact his first punishment of the day or sending her back to camp. Without pause she shook her head to make the joke clear and nodded.  “Yeah, yeah. I am. I’m going to help wherever I can, just tell me what you need.”

Maki’s eyes twitched, not satisfied with the jest for such a serious circumstance. But the mantis continued on and kept his composure. “…Good. Then take a seat.” He extended his hand towards the chair.

Maki sat down opposite of her and leaned forward to finally lay out the details. “We here…Well, I have some reservations with parading your face around the kingdoms. Even if it is for a good reason. You understand that a once popular idol like yourself would be pretty recognizable?”

Mothiva agreed confidently. “I get your point. I was quite the bug.”

“Hmm, yes. Well, we will be getting rid of that.”

Mothiva looked perplexed at the mantis. “H-how? You’re not going to…”

“We have to, Mothiva. Or should I say…Bruixa.” Maki corrected.

“W-wait I’m ok with the name…b-but…my looks…”

Maki continued her sentence and went to retrieve a leaf scroll under the desk most likely pertaining to the conversation. “It has to go. Otherwise, you are a walking liability to the Queen and this new system. We’re not compromising for someone like you, so deal with it.”

Mothiva closed her eyes in frustration and defeat, giving into the Maki’s wishes with a groan. “W-well…what’s the look then. I guess even with your taste in fashion it can’t be th-”

She opened her eyes to see a downright disgusting drawing of the appearance they had for her on the paper Maki had retrieved. “A-AAA-” It was off color, it looked drab, fluff was everywhere, a dirtied hat, the list could go on. She knew her prison self was pretty unkempt, but this was supposed to be a public persona. She hated it. So. Much.

Maki was quick to bring her scream down to a muffle as Maki’s pupils narrowed to the door, looking for any curious bug glancing in. “Keep it down! That voice too is a problem, so we need to either mute you or you must change your dialect.”

“Oh…oh my…” Mothiva’s voice began to shake and almost cry. “Do you understand the horrors you want to put me through!? Putting me in that mess of depressing color and…frizzy fluff!? AND change my voice?”

“You’re a manipulative moth, I’m sure you could come up with a quick change of tone. You did it with your fans and Team Snakemouth.” A blunt Maki stated.

The mantis could see Mothiva’s entire world crumbling around her. She began to shake and question what exactly she was there to do then. With a deep breath, Maki conceded and shook his head. “Mothiva, this is the only way you work with us. If you can’t understand that then it’s best to-”

“I get it, I get it! Oh…” Mothiva leaned back in her chair. She knew this role was going to be difficult…but never this badly. She wasn’t just an advisor or someone on the side to ask about the case…she was going to be a part of the action one way or another. Suddenly, it felt more motivating. This wasn’t just some desk job…she could do something substantial with this.

Her eyes widened, and she quickly leaned forward and pleaded. “Why can’t I just use this voice then? I mean, you have a point. The fans and public know my voice as the Mothiva they all know love~!” Her quick tone changed to a quieter form of the pop idol Mothiva everyone knew, but Maki could discern the two easily; they were quite different.

“But this…this is me…ok? So…” Changing back to her normal voice, Maki leaned back and thought about the possibility of bugs knowing between the two, only to nod and agree with Mothiva’s amendment.

“Fine. Besides the explorers that matter in this case are aware of your voice too.”

“What?” Mothiva blinked.

“Team Celia will be your escort team.”

A huge sigh of relief came from the tired moth. For a moment it seemed like the worst was coming. “Oh thank you, you have no idea-”

“Team Snakemouth is the lead team.”

Never mind. The worst came back and slammed her right in the face with reality.

Unbridled anger, Mothiva tried to smile to counter the wrath building inside her, but she could barely hold the fake expression. “I. Hate. You.” The thoughts came rolling out as Maki sighed in response.

“You must really let me finish my sentences.” He blatantly advised.

“Why them…of all the bugs, WHY THEM!?”

Even after two cycles, a piece of her untamed mind still wanted to rip their shells off their body. For what? The reasoning is far in the planes of her mind at that point, perhaps it’s the lingering trauma of what had happened when she was the ruthless idol. If she didn’t hate them personally, it was absolutely her idol ego and subconscious that did, which was more than enough to still loathe the idea of working with them. Again.

Maki scratched his head and pulled a paper from a nearby stack. “How should I put this…This was their mission, they specifically asked for your help, and recommended your enrollment as a redeemer.” He pointed out a highlighted portion of Team Snakemouth’s comment.

“In the words of Kabbu, ‘no moth knows the ins and outs of the idol stage better than Mothiva. We need her!’”

Mothiva tried to take solace in the fact her rival was still so positive and honest, even with a “witch” like her. “Well…he got that point right, at least…”

Looking over the details of Team Snakemouth’s observations and notes, Maki shook his head at the confusion of the idol scene. “There’s some etiquette and culture you idols have that are completely unknown or downright idiotic. They need…translation. Maybe…” Maki quickly shook his head to avoid splurging anything more.

“Actually, we will talk about our future plans at a later date. For now, this is our setup. Once you’ve become settled in with Celia and Levi, your teams and I will coordinate the mission and report anything back.”

“Hey.” Mothiva quickly picked up on the sense of urgency and tone in Maki’s voice. And why was Team Snakemouth, “Heroes of Bugaria”, so tied up on such a trivial looking matter. “You’re making this sound so serious. What in Bugaria actually happened while I was gone?”

Maki looked down and cleared his throat. His voice went darker in tone and this time, he retrieved no note. “...An idol was found floating down the river. She was barely alive…but her wings, a beautiful pattern that was her idol trademark, were completely shredded.”

“Team…” Maki paused reluctantly and looked to the wall.

“Hmm?”

“…Team Ant, rescued another idol from being eaten in the swamps by fighting off the wildlife. Again, placed there by her captives and left to die. Her trademark? Swamp leaves and patterns for style.”

“…” Mothiva took a moment to realize just how deep these cases were becoming. Murderous, and downright evil. What’s even worse, was she capable of doing that if someone was threatening her spotlight when she was an idol? She…did almost ruin Bugaria for it…and the wasp kingdom…

She was then caught off-guard by one detail Maki had glazed over.

“Wait, wait…Team Ant? Could they do that? Fight?”

“Hmm…” Maki became extremely hesitant as he fiddled with the papers in front of him, but Mothiva was going to know one way or another. “Zasp was there.”

The mantis was fast in his warning to Mothiva. “Listen to me, there will be no interactions between you two, and I have made plans to keep that in check.”

“Maki…” Expecting resistance, Maki was instead met with a soft nod and even a genuine smile from the moth. “Thanks. Honestly, I was hoping you did that for me.”

Maki’s back straightened up against the chair, not entirely sure how she could be so calm about that. And nice. He then composed himself and nodded. “Glad we could agree on the notion.”

The guild leader redirected both of their attentions on the case as he rotated the papers around for Mothiva to see. “Anyways, these two idols were at the brink of death, luckily found by our bugs. Even with their suffering being so awful already, their throats had also been…poisoned. Meaning they could never…”

Maki remained quiet, hoping Mothiva understood the implication. It was easy enough for her though; idols need their voice to be popular. Their singing was the way to everyone’s heart and soul. To share their personal adventure and joy with the people that cared. Removing that…even Mothiva would feel the will to live wither…

This bug, whoever was responsible for these crimes…they were sadistic. Jealousy, competition, hatred for idols? Mothiva knew there’s many reasons, but out of anyone, she was potentially the only one with experience to determine it.

“We need to find the perpetrator, but this industry is filled with so many trying to get a glimpse of the spotlight.” Maki stated.

Mothiva continued his thought process. “And the fact they’re not going to splurge any details to you since it’ll become a scandal that’ll ruin everything they built. Hence, they won’t talk. Even worse, whoever is the hideous bug doing all this catches wind who’s talking…”

Maki nodded coldly and agreed. “Might act again. Quickly.”

The mantis then sighed as the moth really did understand the complexity of the situation. “You see it, right? You understand why our hands are tied. But with your knowledge…maybe we can speed up the investigation before more bugs are hurt.”

He’s very right about that. Judging by the incidences, these cases happened very close in time to one another. If they waited just a few more moons, another would fall prey. But she couldn’t see how someone was becoming so far gone in the same work she did. She had left the space to grow in the inspired masses she created out of hopes and dreams. Even if faked by her idol personality, it was a very real idea for those that loved her music. Who in Bugaria could twist it in such a manner that rivaled serial killers?

If her Wasp Kingdom incident was the one to inspire some sadistic freak to act in such a way..

“…Fine.” Mothiva confidently laid her hands on the table. “Ok, we’ll do it your way Maki. But you better understand this…”

As Maki waited for some abrasive comment of demand, he was met with a calm suggestion. “When I’m done here, I wish to go back.”

“T-to…” Maki blinked and his antennae slightly perked. “Rubber Prison?”

“Correct.”

“…You don’t wish to come back as a civilian? As the program states?” Maki questioned.

“I’m helping Bugaria become better, isn’t that the whole point? Anyways, that’s my wish and I intend to keep it like that until my sentence is truly over. I’m not breaking any rules, am I?”

Maki wasn’t entirely sure of Mothiva’s wishes or what could spur the songmoth to want to go back to that dire place of criminals and scum. Whatever the case, it wouldn’t affect the resolution of this mission and Maki wasn’t one to ask why if it had nothing to do with the task. If the job was complete, then so be it.

Maki confirmed with Mothiva about the rules. “No.”

“Perfect.”

Still, Maki couldn’t help but feel a little respect for her. To serve out the sentence even after doing this, he could see her being a respectful bug after all. Hopefully she’d learn some humility and humbleness, that wouldn’t hurt either.

Maki concluded the meeting and stood up. “With that then Mothiva, I suppose our talk is over. After this, you will meet with Celia to finish your disguise. Once done, I will have further orders, and your team will go from there. Any questions?”

Mothiva shrugged, but immediately looked down at the filthy fluff, or whatever she had left of it, and asked, “…Can I have a comb?”

Maki shrugged in return. “Maybe. That look you have already may help with your disguise, to be frank.”

Mothiva rolled her eyes and stood up, going near the door to wait for the ant escort.

“Ugh…stupid jerk…”

Chapter Text

The moon stood high in the sky, illuminating the sleeping hill of the Ant Kingdom and its residents. Mothiva was finally being escorted after waiting so long at the Explorer’s association. She couldn’t take anymore of Maki’s blank, inexpressive look; an urge to punch it so something else other than his monotone face would finally show became strong. As a bonus, she was no longer being escorted like a prisoner, but an unruly child. Two ant soldiers flanked her as they made their way to the meetup where Levi and Celia would be. It was a good choice of a team; she had little to no exposure to their dynamics…if only it was just them and not Team Snakemouth…

Mothiva decided to interrupt the annoying thought with another as she looked at the list of modifications Maki had drawn out for Mothiva’s appearance. “Broken antennae look. Frizzy fluff. Unkempt carapace. What is the deal with that mantis!? Ugh…hideous…absolutely atrocious!”

But suddenly, the two guards walked away from her as she was left alone in a small patch of grass near the commercial district. With a befuddled look, she called out to the leaving soldiers, thinking they just abandoned her to get some sleep for the night. “Uhh, escort? Where am I supposed-”

“You just go that way. And we didn’t see you, you got that?”

Mothiva shook her head in confusion and started to let out a rant. “Utterly cryptic and such a waste of my precious time by sending me to a field. THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT YOUR WORK PRISONERS!?” She began to stomp the ground in the middle of the dark before a voice finally greeted her.

“Yep!”

Two shadowy figures appeared from a nearby cap entrance. Mothiva’s eyes tried to adjust to the darkness, but finally, she could see an ant and ladybug standing before her.

“Well well well, hey Mothiva! Long time no-”

Without a second to pass, Levi struck the ant with a quick strike of his wooden weapon, stopping her from saying anything else.

“What gives Levi!?” Celia rubbed her head in anger.

“Ehem…that is Bruixa. Right? Because Mothiva is in prison for her crimes. Celia?”

The gears turned in Celia’s head as Levi continued to clear his throat, louder and louder as Celia was about to speak. Levi seemed to be running out of noises to make as Celia thought hard. But finally, she gasped and looked down.

“O-oh that stupid…yeah right, Bruixa.”

“…”

An uncomfortable silence befell them. Then Celia groaned and looked at Levi.

“Do I really have to go along with that.”

Levi pointed a hand at her and waved as if casting a spell. “What are you saying, of course!”

“Shame…”

Mothiva spoke up as the incompetence that was presented before her was reaching its limit. She thought these two would be a little more professional. “…Levi? Celia? You are the two dorks helping me?”

Celia waved her finger at Mothiva and raised her voice. “Whoa whoa what’s with the tone, and you’re helping us, got that moth? In fact, I remember having to clean up after your mess.”

Mothiva huffed and turned away with a disgusted expression. “Hmm, looks like your partner here has a mouth on her. You think you know how to use it properly because it seems like I’ll need to actually help then.”

“Uhh…already with this nonsense…” Levi saw where the inevitable argument was going to lead and stopped the duo from spilling their disagreements onto the street. After something like that, every bug would know Mothiva was back in town, and the investigation would end as soon as it started. “Ok, stop you two. Let’s bring this discussion to a quieter corner.”

He ushered the fuming bugs into the underground tavern lobby where they could scream in peace in case they needed to. But before he would allow that, Levi tried to start off on a good foot and properly introduce their partnership. “Well, I would have wanted to say this earlier before the argument…but welcome. We are happy to have you help us with this case, Bruixa. It’s good to see you trying to help out Bugaria.”

Mothiva felt immediately tense after Levi’s last sentence. It’s not as if she wasn’t trying to be helpful, but if this were any kind of other case, she would have shot it down. Especially knowing that Zasp may be having trouble with the destructive wake of their Idol team breakup, this was more personal than a simple charity. “…Yeah. Well…thanks for letting me help and all…sure…”

Levi sighed and chose to clear the assumptions. “You are being incredibly careful with your words, and I understand why. So let me be clear with our expectations and set aside some bias. I think what you did was wrong before but what I see now is a great way to make up for it. Whatever you’re really doing this for I won’t ask, but I only ask that you cooperate with us and not hide anything that can be helpful.”

Celia chimed in and tried to smoothen their initial impressions. “Like Levi said. Unlike our first talk…we gotta work together and be generally nice…” The ant also grabbed a small leaf roll which contained the Association’s mark. “Maki wrote us everything that you know by now, so don’t worry about catching us up to speed. Any questions yet?”

Mothiva only thought of one team she was going to feel every ounce of discomfort seeing again. “When does Team Snakemouth get involved?”

Celia blinked and leaned on the dirt wall, intrigued by the inquiry. “What, you really want to work with them? I know they’re heroes and everything, but you were an idol!”

Mothiva leaned back in shock, taking Celia’s assumption as a direct insult. “Umm, the opposite! The VERY, VERY opposite. I just need to know so I don’t tear my fluff out as a reaction to their disgusting faces.”

Celia’s face turned from interest to a pained smile. A bit of an overreaction she felt coming from Mothiva. She couldn’t understand the hate when they literally saved lives. Their own lives for that matter. Celia decided not to infringe on it. “Touchy…uhh well it will be a bit. They are still out investigating. When they come back, we’ll let you know.”

“Good enough…” Mothiva sighed.

Before an uncomfortable silence could settle, Levi cleared his throat and tried to restore the good nature of the first meetup. “Anyways, with that all aside, welcome to Team Levia!”

“…Pardon?” Mothiva was understandably confused.

“It’s our team name, new and improved.” Levi answered.

“Team Celia wasn’t good enough for your name?”

“It was REALLY good, don’t get me wrong. But…I think someone else appreciates being in the name so…” Celia tilted her head subtly towards Levi, implying he was the one that wanted a change.

“It’s a fantastic name I think!”

“It sucks.” Mothiva blatantly stated to his face.

“Gah! How you dare say…” Levi looked down and exhaled deeply to try and rid his anger.

Celia instead burst out laughing. “HAHA! Ouch Levi is really-”

“Team Celia was quite horrible too, don’t misunderstand. It was just something I remembered easily, now I have to remember this one. Oh…what a pain this is.” Mothiva rubbed her face as if distraught by the sudden change of names.

Celia took a deep breath. As Levi prepared for her to yell, she instead simply raised her shield up over her head. “You ever gotten whacked on the head by a ginormous shield. Painful. REALLY painful…” Her eyes were cold and dark.

“NO CELIA!” Levi yelled.

Levi was miraculously able to calm the ant with promises of drinks and food after dealing with Mothiva. As the trio made their way to a hidden living room completed with beds and even an area to setup equipment, Celia looked back and sighed to vent her anger from spewing out.

“So we know with your whole identity…and attitude problem…we have to change you up. Ok?”

Mothiva rolled her eyes, she hated this constant reminder of Maki’s control as if she were a child. “Yes, yes I remember. Maki was very thorough in his orders.”

“Oh yeah, that’s one other thing I forgot to mention!” Celia suddenly looked happy again.

“Maki said if you step out of line, that’s back to the bars.” Mothiva already knew the pair could send her back at any moment, but realizing the insults she made was immediately biting her in the abdomen, she looked up at Celia as if ready for the punishment.

She was instead met with a cheeky smile. “Don’t be scared now though! I’m not one to care about rude words, so shoot away. But if you get selfish and put Levi in danger…” Those cold eyes again, but even darker this time. For a cheery ant that seemed to scream wherever and whenever, she seemed to get incredibly serious, especially involving her partner’s well-being. It was…familiar.

Levi tried to defuse yet again and laid a hand on Celia’s shoulder. “Relax Celia…But she is right. So please, let us work together for all our sakes.”

Mothiva laid their worries to rest with a smile and nod. “You two should know I may be quite the ruthless ambitious bug, but I know a mission is a mission. I have no stake in winning this, it doesn’t mean I’m suddenly an idol again. That life is over. So, I hope you won’t come to doubt my skillset, it can be rather helpful here.”

While she didn’t agree to playing nice, she knew the Association wouldn’t care as long as she paid dividends in contributing to the investigation. The lives of these aspiring idol bugs mattered more.

Levi agreed once again and revealed a supply of cheap cosmetics and ragged clothing to complete her disguise. “It’s why you’re here, we know that. Anyways, here’s what we can provide. Maki said we can make adjustments to his plans but only if there are no similarities to your idol sense.”

Mothiva groaned and nodded profusely before shooing them away. “Yes, for the love of everything, I need to make a few changes! It won’t be detrimental, promise!”

“Well…?”

After what seemed like an eternity and a half of time had passed, Mothiva appeared from the room with a completely different style. Dimmed beige to be darker in appearance, fluff taken off at certain areas but combed decently, and an antennae-hat combo that made her look incognito yet not downright ugly, she looked less like a moth and more like something about to croak. Not a huge improvement from Maki’s design, but for decency, it was satisfactory.

“With the type of stuff you both have in this mess…it’s not horrible, but not great either.” She let out a defeated huff. “It’ll do…”

“Ehh…yeah I’d say so too. Honestly, you look more decent than some of the folk you see here.” Celia criticized.

Mothiva raised her head and crossed her arms. No more about fashion, it was to know what the plan was. “So what does Maki wish for our little party to do first tomorrow morning?”

Levi revealed a list of tasks they needed to complete and began reading down the leaf. “Well once your changes are completed, we can start interviewing a few up-and-coming idols and speak about their experiences.”

“Didn’t you do that already?” Mothiva challenged.

Celia yawned, ready to sleep once they had finished briefing her. “Without you though. Now you can be a great translator and source of knowledge about the industry. I hope you’re ready.”

Mothiva took a deep breath. It’s been two years, she didn’t know if she had gone rusty in the idol culture and ways. But what was she thinking, she was the idol industry. The Queen of it as some would say. She smirked, knowing with all the different idol styles that would exist, its roots came down to something she revolutionized personally. Every tactic, every dance, every expression. Orchestrated to perfection.

“Oh, I’m ready.”