Secret Little Wars: Episode 2 - the Trial of the Damsel Thicket

This story continues from Secret Little Wars: The Siege of the Marigold Kingdom. Please consider reading it before continuing.

***

Little Betsey surveyed her garden. The spring sun shone down with dulcet rays. She smiled at her mother who was tending to a marigold flower. Her mother called her over.

“Look, Betsey, all of these lovely ladybugs have come to say hello!”

Betsey giggled as she saw the pretty insects marching over the yellow petals of her flower. Here, in her garden, Betsey was content, for she knew everything was at peace. She allowed a ladybug to crawl onto her hand so she might hold it up to her face to marvel at its beauty.

What Betsey did not know was that the Ladybug Empire had conquered yet another aphid kingdom and that the ladybug she held in her hand was none other than General Carapacio. General Carapacio took the opportunity to survey this new land he acquired in the name of the Empire. A conqueror’s smile spread across his mandibles as the last few aphids were being hunted on the flower far below. He allowed the behemoth to raise him higher and higher into the sky so he might be able to survey the surrounding landscape. He set his eyes on a new unvanquished horizon: the Tomato Republic. Satisfied with his plan, he unfurled his wings and flew back down to his troops.

“Look, Mommy,” Betsey said, pointing at General Carapacio, “She’s flying away!”

“That’s good, dear,” her mother replied, “now let her enjoy the flowers.”

***

The Marigold Kingdom was gone. Rosa, its sole survivor, could only run and suppress her tears, the mocking revelry of the ladybugs still fresh in her ears. Her once proud home was now nothing more than a grim reminder of the fact that she was alone. However, this was not a time for grief as she trudged her way through the garden mulch and between the stems of gargantuan flowers and spires of grass. She would not be safe until she reached the great vines of the Tomato Republic. There are very few aphid nations left, and the ladybugs will likely turn their attention to the Tomato Republic next. Rosa knew that she must warn them so they might still have a chance.

The vegetation grew thicker as she went. Dangerous things lurked all about her -beetles, spiders, wasps- but she knew she had to keep her nerve. The garden is no place to tarry, a moment’s rest could easily be a moment’s doom if something were to cross her path. Though Rosa seldom left the Marigold herself, she remembered with rekindled terror the horror stories the alates would tell: legs that grasped, pincers that gnashed, webs that bound, and glossy beady eyes in the dark undergrowth betraying the presence of their salivating owners. Countless terrible things laid in wait at every crossing.

Rosa hurried along, constantly casting wary glances in all directions. Suddenly, she saw two long brown antennae just ahead of her, barely a millimeter ahead. Rosa’s eyes narrowed as she sprang into action. She jumped forward ahead of a set of legs rushing toward her at blinding speed. Momentarily safe, Rosa turned around to see the front half of a damsel bug reaching through the branches, lunging at her hungrily. Not bothering to stay for a chat, she hurried onward.

“No! Come back here, lunch!” the damsel bug said.

Another damsel bug came down from the bush and looked to the other, “You’re so bad at this, Jerry.”

Rosa did not stop running. Jerry the Damsel Bug would have to find easier prey, for she was on a mission. She heard the legs of the damsel bugs galloping close behind her. She tried to keep running, but she had lost much energy over the course of the morning. She needed to feed soon, but now she needed to escape the jaws of these terrible, ruthless creatures.

“Come on, Jerry, you’re letting it escape!” one chided.

“Stuff it, Kevin, we’re not all expert hunters like you.” Jerry retorted.

“Hey, at least I didn’t have to eat my brother.” Kevin chided.

“What? Intraguild predation is the key to a healthy diet!” Jerry said.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Kevin said, rolling his eyes.

The damsel bugs nearly had Rosa now. Something gave her hope, though. Through the thicket, she could see a clearing full of sunlight. The Tomato Republic should be just beyond. Only a little further, and she would be safe. Her legs were burning now, exhaustion and soreness threatening her escape, but Rosa was no common aphid. She was a soldier nymph of the Marigold Kingdom. Yes, it was a dead kingdom, but she was still its daughter; and so long as she drew breath, she might still save the denizens of the Tomato Republic. After what seemed like an eternity, she broke into the clearing, the damsel bugs just barely upon her.

As the sunlight hit her eyes, Rosa could hear the thundering of many feet. Soldier nymphs of the Tomato Republic! They allowed her to enter their ranks as they forcibly stopped the advance of the damsel bugs.

“Stop, fiends,” one said, likely the aphid general, “you are in direct violation of the third council of Apple-Land. Return to your lands at once, or we will force you!”

Kevin had a mild look of surprise on his face. In mere moments, hunted became hunter. He gave a side-long look at Jerry, whom he scoldingly slapped off the side of the head. “You are a horrible hunter.”

“I know.” Jerry said as they returned to the bush. For a moment, he turned back, “Could we perhaps take a snack for the road?”

“Leave!” the aphid general demanded.

“Fine, fine.” The two damsel bugs left.

“Are you ok?” the aphid general asked Rosa.

“I am tired and hungry.” Rosa replied.

“Then you shall have our aid. Though you are obviously not of tomato-kin, we are bound by sacred honor to help any aphid seeking refuge. No one in sane mind would enter the Damsel Thicket. You are lucky, few return from that foul place. By ancestral treaty, the damsel bugs are forbidden from our land, but those aphids who risk passage are not immune to attack. What lands do you call home, child?”

Rosa bowed respectfully, trying not to collapse in exhaustion. “I am Rosa, a daughter of her majesty, Queen Sitobia of the Marigold Kingdom, may she rest in peace.”

“My poor child… Then the war is lost… I am sorry we could not come sooner to your aid. We have lost news of your land since the retreat. Are there other survivors?” the general asked.

“None. All were masticated.” Rosa replied.

“Dreadful. You shall find sanctuary here, Rosa, I will make sure of it.” The general said soberly.

Rosa nearly collapsed again, but two soldier nymphs caught her. She began rambling in an exhausted panic “I must speak to your Queen! The ladybugs, I heard them! They are on their way here next. You must prepare!”

A look of perplexed horror spread across the soldier nymphs, but the general remained heroically stolid. The general said, “Then they will find a nation prepared for war! There will be no siege this time, just a heroic battle that generations will tell their children for months! Come, Rosa, for you see, we do not have a Queen. Instead, we have a Council of Elders that see the will of the Republic done, and the will of the Republic is strong, decisive, and uncompromising. You are in luck, my Rosa, for the Council is in session later today. I will see that your voice is heard and, with the council’s authority, we, together, will give the Empire hell! For now, I will see you fed and rested.”

Rosa wiped a happy tear from her eye. This was an inspiring leader and a true testament to aphiddom.

The soldier nymphs helped her walk to the Republic. The scale of the nation was massive. Hundreds, if not thousands, of aphids worked among a series of tomato plants that grew upwards along a strange structure built by the mythical behemoths which seemed to be made of titanic cylinders of dead wood and a hard gray substance Rosa did not recognize. The aphids themselves blended in among the plants’ green stems and vines, though the numerous gargantuan red and green fruits were marvels to behold. The soldiers led her up one of the colossal stems and up into a dazzling canopy of leaves. She was nearly a whole five feet high above the ground, higher than she had ever been in her weeklong existence. The sun was high in the sky and far away she could see two of the god-like behemoths walking by. Such a vista stole her breath away. As she was looking around, her gaze wandered past the Damsel Thicket over to her once proud marigold, its surface defiled by an army of red and black. As she was offered some tomato sap by one of the soldiers, her awe turned into renewed hatred. She would have her revenge; the Empire would pay.

The afternoon passed and Rosa rested. She would see justice done, but first, she needed to speak with the Council.

“Are you ready, Rosa?” The General asked, approaching her.

“Yes.” She replied laconically, her voice firm with conviction.

The two aphids worked their way further into the grouping of plants. Eventually, they found all fifty members of the Council of Elders seated in a half-circle upon a green tomato.

“Enter, Rosa of the Marigold Kingdom.” An elderly aphid in the middle of the group said. Rumor had it that she was nearly five weeks old. Such age, Rosa pondered, might increase her sagacity and she would see her reason easily.

“Good luck.” The General said encouragingly.

Rosa proudly stepped before the council. “Greetings, my fair elders. I, as the sole survivor of my kingdom, thank you for helping us in our time of need. While my kingdom might be lost, I have come to warn you of your impending doom. I was too late to save my Queen, but I hope I am not too late to save you. As I was chased off the Marigold, I heard a ladybug mention the Tomato Republic. I can only fear the worst. So please, allow me to help you prepare your defenses. I have seen what the Empire and General Carapacio can do; I know their capabilities better than any aphid alive! Please, allow me to help prepare your nation so that its prosperity and glory might endure.”

The elders looked amongst each other. Some looked rather hesitant, others looked like they were hardly paying attention. One, Rosa could have sworn, was cleaning their antennae. Finally, an elder spoke with a halting cadence.

“Hmm, well, welcome to the Tomato Republic, young one. You see, this is not our first rodeo with the ladybugs. When I was younger, before the military reforms of Aphis the Elder, they would always come in groups and snatch us off, but we endured.” she said, shaking her leg in the air emphatically, “I’m sure there is nothing to worry about!”

“But this is not one or two ladybugs," argued Rosa, "this is an army! The entire Ladybug Empire is at your doorstep!”

Another elder then spoke, “Our scouts have not reported any movements since the siege of your kingdom. What makes you think they will come here, in -as you call it-, an army?”

“I have seen it; I have fought against it! A few squadrons of soldier nymphs cannot stand alone in this fight, we tried that, and we failed. We were quickly forced into siege and slowly dwindled down to a handful of aphids. I urge you, heed my warning!” Rosa said.

The elders were not convinced. Another spoke, “Why should we trust you, for, as you say, you were no match for such a force?”

“I heard them during my escape! The Republic is their next target. Fine, if you don’t trust me, at least trust my warning!” Rosa said plaintively.

Another elder spoke, “What of the economy? Normal aphids cannot fight, and we need every birther and sap-sucker we have!”

Another spoke, “And what kind of hooey is this? The Republic has stood since before the Cold-Time, and it will stand longer!”

Another said, “We have already lost too many soldier nymphs in your affair, accept the loss of your kingdom.”

Finally, the eldest aphid spoke again, “Then it seems we agree. You may stay here in refuge, Rosa of the Marigold Kingdom –or should I say Rosa the Unclaimed, as you failed in your sacred duty to protect your Queen– for we are not animals. However, we will not heed baseless threats upon our society, regardless of what imaginary things you conjure in reckless speech. Armies! Sieges! I think we have heard enough.”

In that moment, an alate swooped down from the sky and landed beside Rosa.

“My respected councilwomen, we have dire news. The ladybugs, they are leaving the Marigold Kingdom.” she spoke.

The elders still looked convinced of their safety. “And have they returned home to Ladybug City?” One asked.

The alate replied, “Most have, but an expeditionary force was sent our way. They will arrive through the Damsel Thicket.”

The elders’ eyes widened and looked at Rosa. One said, “They followed you here!”

“No,” Rosa defended, “It is as I said, they planned this all along. That expeditionary force is meant to test your defenses.”

The General stepped forth. “I concur. This confirms the early reports of the Ladybug attack on the Marigold Kingdom. I suggest we send for the other nations immediately.”

“Few are left,” the alate said. At this, the head elder’s eyes widened. The alate continued, “Most are too far to contact.”

The General pondered this for a moment, then said, “That may be, but Apple Land might be able to put together a relief force in time. I will send a squadron of ground messengers, as an alate squadron would be too easily noticed by Ladybug scouts… with the noble Council’s permission of course.”

The Council looked amongst itself in nervous glances. Now that their own military confirmed the direness of the situation, they were willing to act. The head elder nodded in approval.

“That will not be enough,” Rosa stated, “that army is massive and more than capable of fighting on multiple fronts. Besides, they are not retreating to Ladybug City, they are going for rest and reinforcements. That ladybug, General Carapacio, is also a military genius. We might have skill, but we severely lack number.”

“Then what do you suggest?” A council elder asked.

Rosa pondered, then spoke, “It is only a tale told in myth, but there are rumors of ancient protectors of our kind. I cannot ask you to send your own in search of them, so with your authority -should you grant it- I would go and seek them out. It is our only chance!”

The elder aphids grouped together and talked in hushed whispers. One then left the huddle and said, “We have decided. We will send an expedition to Apple-Land and we will send you to look for these protectors. May the will of the Behemoths clear your way.”

The other aphids nodded, accepting the apparent blessing. Rosa was very confused but nodded along.

“Thank you, elders,” she said, “and also… you.”

They nodded happily.

Rosa bowed and left the council space.

“Good luck,” said the General as she left.

“Thank you, and do not underestimate our adversary.” Rosa said as she left to make the long climb down the tomato vine.

***

The Ladybug Empire thinks that their secret little war is all but assured, but the garden is wide and full of terrors. Rosa does not know what to expect as she ventures back out into the green wilds. Indeed, Little Betsey’s humble garden is full of secret politics and hidden machinations as the gears of war turn quickly beneath her feet; and soon, if things go to plan for Rosa, a new faction will enter the fray.

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