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“Well, are you ready?”
Queen blinks.
“What do you mean?” She asks.
“To face Hive Queen,” Wataru says. “You can take more time, if you need.”
It’s been three days, since Ruriko’s betrayal. Three days too many.
But, nonetheless, the Buzz known as Kamen Rider Queen needs to stop mourning a fake friendship. She needs to get focused on her true goal.
“If the time is right,” she says.
She is alone, in her World, and one day you will know this is not how Queen’s story should go.
And yet, she is not alone after all, because there is King Wataru, there is Kadoya Sayo. And one day you will learn that this is exactly as it should be.
And there is a war, and this, most of all, is hers.
A useless war.
“And is the time right?” Sayo asks. Queen considers…
“Yes,” she says. “Yes it is… but I need to do this alone.”
Queen should plan more; she should wait longer.
She does not. She walks up to the door.
“What do you want?” Asks the Buzz stationed there.
“I want to kill Hive Queen,” Queen says simply. “After that, I want to give you a life to live.”
“There’s no life for things like us,” they say. Queen wishes she could recognize them. Wish she had known how to feel when surrounded by her fellows.
But they are hopeless, and Queen refuses to let that stand.
“Or for anyone in the Hive,” she replies. “Unless it comes under my control.”
The Buzz known as nothing, yet, moves aside.
Hive Queen is dangerous, on this World. Or maybe she is not. Queen thinks she is, but her perceptions have been… tested, lately.
She still wants to dethrone Hive Queen, to take over and make things better , but she doesn’t know what that means.
Hive Queen seems to know this, perched casually on a high platform as Queen enters the room. Which of course. Her casual sureness, just like Drakewing.
And Drakewing is a Dragonfly, so she must have known Hive Queen.
“I hear you’re here to kill me,” Hive Queen says. “I’m impressed. Though, I suppose some useless fools just let you in.”
“Perhaps so,” Queen says. “However, won’t you hear my case?”
Hive Queen smirks.
“A trial by combat,” she says. “For the throne. Is that what you want?”
Queen despises Hive Queen.
“It is,” she replies. “Tomorrow, it shall be to the death. Before the remains of Dai-Shocker, you, too, will fall.”
Hive Queen laughs, a shrieking sound.
“I thought you might be special,” she says. “But, before I squash you… any requests?”
She’s back in the Buzz cells for the first time in a year, and the others watch her with varying expressions. The others have been allowed here with her, and they’re even more enigmas. Queen can’t help but be a little smug, watching the others talk to her new allies with such obvious awe.
This will be good, long-term.
The Buzz have a night to rest… and to talk. This will give them a chance to Think, as Queen herself has.
“So you are really challenging Hive Queen-Sama?” One asks her. Queen nods.
“I am,” she says. “And will win.”
“…Why?”
“Because we deserve a life, do we not?” Queen asks. “I saw the sky, I saw humanity, each individual, unlike us. And they are despicable, but they all had a chance, and a choice. I would like to give our kind the same, and humanity another, as well.”
“…I do not know what I would do, if I could choose,” the Buzz says, twitching nervously. Queen puts a hand on its shoulder.
“You will have time,” she says.
“If you win.”
“If I win.”
“You worried?” Wataru asks, as Queen stands in the preparation area close to the arena. It has been many years since anyone challenged Hive Queen. Longer than her short lifetime, certainly.
No longer a grub, but only 18. One of the few times she lines up with human ages.
“I am not,” Queen replies. “Either I win, or I die. I intend to do the former.” She pauses. “Do not intrude. I heard you and Sayo discussing it. If you intrude, I will never be respected.”
“That’s…”
“If you truly respect me… trust,” a hard word to say, “me. This I ask of you.”
Wataru nods.
“I understand,” he says. “We will.”
Sayo waits even closer. Holding out her hand.
“Here,” she says. Queen blinks.
“What?”
“I found it at the site of battle…” Sayo says. “Drakewing was a monster, but she was powerful. Why not take it back?”
Drakewing’s Shard…
Queen takes it, smiling despite herself.
“If you insist.”
She’s definitely going to win this fight, but she doesn’t mind the boost.
Hive Queen stands ten feet tall, the bright shade of red disgusting on Queen’s eyes even in this low light.
“So you came,” she says. “I’m impressed. As promised, I’ll even let you use your little toy.”
Queen nods, placing the DeDriver around her waist.
“Henshin!”
Bzzz zzz zzzZZZT!!!
The fight is on.
Hive Queen is powerful, but she is vain.
She is used to power, and she is cruel.
Here is a secret: a Dragonfly is loyal to their Hive Queen absolutely. There is no controlling this instinct.
What monster must it take to spawn Drakewing? A Dragonfly who wishes her Hive Queen dead? Who wishes power for herself? Who does not want to love?
Pain tricked down until a Buzz who wanted more stands before her leader with the power of a betrayer.
For one last time, Queen and Ruriko are together.
Hive Queen is a monster.
But only because no one thinks she can be stopped. Queen is not so sure of this fact.
Queen is willing to fight.
(Sayo wishes she could fight. A not so new thought, but she is no Rider like her brother. She is just a girl.
She is free, and still, all she can do is watch. )
Hive Queen is dangerous, but she is far too easy to kill.
Queen is beyond these simple fears.
The arena goes silent as she wins, and then…
“All hail our new Hive Queen!” Cries a Scorpion.
Cheers ring out.
Queen has won.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I want to make things better. Humanity is rotten, but they have choice . We should have that same opportunity. We can grow, too!”
Change won’t come in a day, but it’s a start.