Chapter Text
Maki and Kina thanked Aria for the spar, but their conversation was short. The siblings had a place to be.
As the duo walked into the hills, the air seemed to change around them. They both faltered, checking the air with their antennae.
”Did you feel that?” Kina asked as she looked around.
Maki nodded, his antenna stretched as far as they could go. He couldn’t smell anything abnormal, and it was making him nervous.
They moved on a few minutes later, looking for a way up the mountain.
A Venus Bud popped out of the ground in front of them. Maki cursed as he instinctively pulled his weapon out.
”Visitors? How nice of the two of you to come here,” it greeted.
”Hello there… talking plant,” Kina said after a moment.
”Hehe, never seen one, eh? What brings you to the Hills?” it said, laughing.
”Erm… we’re here to search for the ancient artifact of the Roaches,” Maki declared, stopping Kina from speaking. “Our Queen requests it.”
”I see. How loyal! Well, good luck getting to the top!” The plant disappeared, leaving the two bewildered Mantids behind.
”Well… let’s keep moving, I guess,” Maki said, moving forward.
The duo moved through the hills quickly, solving puzzle after puzzle to get them to the top. Eventually, they had created a crank large enough to require both Mantids to carry it.
”This… seems a little… excessive,” Maki panted as he and Kina dragged the crank to its place. Kina nodded as she helped her brother place the large crank where it belonged.
”Holy Venus, that’s heavy,” she said as she stretched her arms over her head.
”Team Maki~” The siblings turned at the call, surprised to see Mothiva and Zasp walking up to them.
”Team Mothiva? What are you doing here?” Kina asked, walking toward them.
”Oh, you know. Exploring the area, looking for artifacts, the usual,” Mothiva said as calmly as if she was speaking about the weather.
”Oh, thank you, Mothiva, but we have the artifact covered,” Maki assured her, sensing trouble.
”Tch. You know, the Queen really should have sent Zasp and I down to Snakemouth, you know. It was very last minute that she changed her mind,” Mothiva complained, oblivious to Maki’s growing rage.
”What?” he asked, hoping he misunderstood her.
“I was so busy bringing joy to Bugaria’s citizens that Team Celia was able to sneak into Snakemouth Den, and they stole all the glory.”
Maki snapped. “Are you serious?” he asked, his voice dangerously low. “Celia was killed in Snakemouth, and Levi lost his leg. Are you seriously upset that they got the artifact?” Maki fought the urge to draw his blade. Mothiva was stupid, not a direct threat. Yet, at least.
”Look, Sir Maki, as much as I wish Celia’s death could have been avoided, I really think my team should have gotten the glory, so why don’t you just step aside and let us get the artifact?” Mothiva said, still oblivious to Maki’s anger.
Zasp at least looked a little worried. “Mothiva-“ he warned, only to be cut off.
”Zasp, don’t fight me on my rise to fame,” she scolded.
Kina put her hand on Maki’s shoulder, sensing his anger. “I wouldn’t recommend trying that, Mothiva,” she warned, her own anger spiking.
”Oh fine, just don’t trip on your way up,” she said, beginning to walk past Maki.
Unfortunately for her, Maki was in no mood to be charitable. He grabbed her neck fluff, dragging her up to his height.
”I would watch what I say, Mothiva,” he said, his voice barely audible. “You forget that I am the eyes and ears of the Queen, and I have no qualms about reporting this inexcusable behavior. If you try to stand in the way of our mission, your Explorer’s Permit is as good. As. Gone. Am I perfectly clear?” Maki dropped Mothiva, his point made.
She looked more angry than scared, but she had the sense to turn around and leave. ”This isn’t over, Maki!” she cried over her shoulder at him.
”She has no sense of self-preservation,” Kina commented when the Moth was out of sight.
”Right.” Maki turned back toward the crank, drained. “I hate doing that,” he muttered to himself.
The siblings had to go up one at a time due to their inability to turn the crank while on the platform, but they both made it up eventually.
Maki’s breath caught when he reached the top. It was beautiful. Pink plants scattered the ground, and a quiet peace filled the area.
”Woah…” Kina breathed as she took it all in.
”It’s beautiful,” Maki agreed. He felt safer than he had in a long while.
They found a fly trap that would take one offering, which opened half of the gate. Kina spotted the second one on top of a ledge, which Maki easily jumped up to. He gave the second offering to the fly trap, opening the way through.
”That was… too easy,” he said as he rejoined Kina.
She shrugged, but she held her darts tight. They crept into a large clearing full of flowers, lined by huge sunflowers that towered over the siblings.
One flower seemed different from the others somehow. It was about the same size as the sunflowers, but it was pink. It seemed to be breathing.
”Hello?” Maki called hesitantly. “Uhm, is anyone there?” He held his sword at the ready, more for comfort than for actual defense. The pink flower turned around. ”Holy Venus!” Maki exclaimed, brandishing his sword.
”That is correct, Mantis,” the flower said, laughing.
“What? Venus?” Kina said, stabilizing her brother.
”Yes. I am the Goddess Venus,” she said, smiling. “And what brings you here, Maki and Kina?”
It took Maki several moments to get his brain to work again. He was standing in front of THE Goddess Venus. Wow.
”Uhm… we were sent here by the Ant Queen to find the second artifact. Do you happen to know where it is?” Maki asked after a moment.
”Yes, I know the location of it, but I cannot give it to just any explorer that wanders in here. I heard your exchange with Team Mothiva. As much as I like you two, I must test you.” Venus explained, readying her magic.
”Of course, Lady Venus,” Maki said. “May I ask what kind of a test you are planning?”
”Oh, just a simple fight against one of my minions.” She summoned a sunflower, turning it into a monster.
”Oh boy,” Kina muttered, readying her darts.
With that, the battle began.
The sunflower was large, but slow, which allowed Maki to swing at it several times before it could catch him. It hit hard, however. It’s leafy hand(?) swiped at Maki, knocking him onto the ground.
Kina retaliated, targeting the flower. The fight went on like that for a while, until the thing grew wings.
”Oh, well that’s inconvenient,” Kina muttered, ready to start throwing her darts.
”Kina, with me,” Maki said, bending his knees.
She knew what to do. She ran over, boosting off of Maki’s hands to give her extra height. She knocked it to the ground, giving Maki time to hit it while it was stunned.
After a few rounds, the beast fell. The Mantid siblings were breathing hard, but were relatively unharmed.
”I’m impressed,” Venus commented. “I haven’t seen teamwork like that in years. Despite your secrets, you fight well together,” she praised, grinning at their confused looks.
”Secrets?” Kina asked, glancing at her brother.
”Oh, did you think that Maki could run the association without hiding things from you, Kina?” Venus said. “His loyalty to the Queen and to you is admirable, Kina, but he’s far from a perfect bug.”
“I see. Thank you for everything, Lady Venus,” Kina said, glancing at her brother.
”Lady Venus?” Maki asked after a moment. “May I ask how you know so much about us?”
”Ah, Sir Maki, I have ears everywhere. I may not be able to see you out in the world, but I can sense you. Your worry after Team Celia returned from Snakemouth. Your constant worry over your sister and the Queen. Your stress of running the association. I know it all, Maki,” Venus said.
Kina looked at her brother, worry tightening her features.
”Oh, and that’s not all. Kina’s frustration about being left behind so often, her betrayal when you go off on yet another mission of the Queen’s.” Venus finished her speech, allowing the pair to take it all in. She finally summoned the artifact, dropping it into Maki’s hands.
”Thank you, Venus,” he said, preparing to leave.
”Take care, Mantids! And come to visit sometime, it gets lonely up here,” Venus said as they left.
The two left the hills the same way they went up, but neither spoke. They had far too much to think about. They left the hills in silence, preparing to meet the Queen.