Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pain. That feeling was well known to Omega. He had known it before he had become “Omega”, but never in the doses he did now. He remembered when the sky turned red, when the stars fell, when he blacked out. It was supposed to be a normal day, a happy day. That felt like eons ago… maybe it was. All he knew now was their old dilapidated house. . . At least the backyard was nice.

He peeked out of the boarded window at the yard. He remembered years ago, after getting acclimated to his weird body, looking outside and seeing a society. A society of bugs nonetheless! The largest inhabitant couldn’t have been bigger than his hand, yet they were all people. Despite his immense curiosity, he knew he couldn't go and explore. He’d seen enough giant monster movies to know how that went. Never good for Godzilla or Kong.

Still, though, he appreciated the few visitors he had. He watched over all of them with careful eyes, scooping up any stray Deadlanders that threatened visitors. He remembered years ago when a trio of bugs came through, two moths and another. He blocked all who tried to harm them. Or the sorrowful night a barely-grown ant was by his parent, left to fend for himself, abandoned in the dark. Omega’s touch was never gentler as he cradled to little one in his palms while he slept. Or even the day he discovered the roaches living on the countertops. That was a sure surprise! Even then, he kept his distance, and the tiny society never attacked. Over time, though, visitors appeared less and less, until the only entrance for his arthropod acquaintances was sealed off. While Omega missed them and their amazing culture, he didn’t fight it, simply returning to playing with the Alphas, Betas, and Gammas strewn about the place.

Years passed, and Omega grew. Not in mind, (he was perpetually 17, it seemed), but in size. The bugs that used to visit used to be about the size of his palm. Now, he bet they were smaller than his fingertips. Omega had rested for eons, secluding himself in the darkness of his home. After the bugs stopped showing up, his life grew very boring. The power was out, save the big crystal powering the fridge, so he couldn’t do anything with technology. He considered interacting with the roach village on the countertop, but whenever he approached them they fled in terror. Omega spent most of his days messing with the stray Gammas and Betas scattered about his home. Years passed, and he slipped into sleep, even with tiny disturbances, like an influx of water from the caves, or the feeling of magic growing from the perpetually autumnal area. Not even the very faint alarm sounds from the beehive or the sounds of screaming from the nearby village could wake him.

Until... the sounds of a prison break and wood being burnt certainly did.

Note: Hi everyone! This is my first ever non-one-shot fanfic I've written, and the first fic I've written on AO3! If there's anything about this story you'd like to see changed (grammar, spelling, lore inaccuracies), please let me know. Thank you! <3

Chapter Text

Finally, after years of searching, he had done it. Hoaxe stepped out of the sunlight and into the darkness that was the Giant’s Lair. The sounds of fighting came from behind him, probably those meddlesome explorers fighting Ultimax’s tank. The weak-minded yet strong-bodied fool would surely crush that bothersome beetle, meddling moth, and belligerent bee. His troops followed behind him, shaking as they walked. His control over them seemed to be slightly weaker, but he still managed to gain control. His crown, his power… he needed it. Waves of nostalgia and repressed emotions washed over Hoaxe as he walked through the Deadlands. He remembered fighting through the harsh environment, avoiding the deadly Alphas, Betas, and Gammas. Speaking of…

A rogue Beta swooped down, spraying his group with poison. He was protected, while his troops were hurt. Hoaxe sighed, striking the beast down with a flame. It let out a horrible screech as it collapsed, dying. He turned to his three troops, digging out two Plain Teas. Oh, well, he’d have to leave one to die. Giving a Plain Tea to two of his troops, he walked away, ignoring the third’s pleas for help. He scoffed. Help would not come to ones lost in this place. The poisoned wasp’s pleads turned into screaming, rather annoying the false king. He turned to strike down the nuisance, but they weren't there. Their dead body wasn’t on the ground, nor was a Deadlander eating their remains. All that was left was a few spears, some snapped in half. Odd. Ignoring it, the malevolent monarch marched forward, towards his goal.

Omega was awoken abruptly as light streamed into his home. He rubbed all of his eyes as he saw people enter. There looked to be four of them, all wasps. Three of them looked identical, while the fourth was dressed in lavish clothes with a crown atop their head. Omega guessed the crowned one was a king of some kind, and the others were his bodyguards. Omega considered greeting the group but didn't get the chance to when a Beta attacked them. Omega was about to assist the tiny beings when a stream of flame erupted from the crowned one’s palm. Woah, Omega hadn’t seen any of them use magic before! Omega remembered he used to be able to heal others, but he hadn’t used that power in a while. He saw as the king turned to his troops… and only helped two. Omega was confused, shouldn’t a king look after his people? Soft, sorrowful cries came from the tiny being, melting whatever equivalent of a heart he had left. Omega knew he couldn’t leave the little one to die, so he made a risky move. Gently slowly, he moved his hand out of the shadows, reaching toward the tiny being. He winced as the fallen wasp started screaming. As he scooped the crying being in his palm, they passed out. Whether from fear or the poison, Omega felt incredibly guilty. He lifted his palm, accidentally letting the trooper’s spear fall out of their pack. As he examined the fallen soldier, he knew one thing: the king wouldn’t save the lives of his men.

Which meant Omega had to.

Note: Hi everyone! Sorry about the month-and-a-half break. I have no release excuse other than laziness and lack of motivation. Hopefully, Chapter 3 won’t take as much time (don’t count on it lol)