Queen Celeste sat within the grand hall of Queen Helena's domain, her lips pressed into a thin line as she listened to the discussion unfolding before her.
A massive stone table rested at the center of the chamber, surrounded by elders from both colonies seated in a wide circle. The low murmur of voices drifted through the hall while clusters of bioluminescent fungi spread along the walls and ceiling, their pale blue glow washing across the stone.
At the head of the table, Queen Helena remained composed, though the firmness in her eyes never wavered. Beside her stood General Ivan, his posture rigid as his sharp gaze swept across the assembly.
Not far from the gathering, Captain Valeria and Corporals Beatrice and Lily stood watch at a respectful distance.
"We cannot transport enough resources back to our colonies before the snow falls," Queen Celeste declared. She rested both arms on the edge of the stone table.
"The recent misunderstanding weakened your army, and the extermination of a nearby termite colony cost us heavily. We lost over fifty-nine soldiers, and another eighty were injured. Some of them are still recovering."
A low murmur spread among several elders before the hall slowly fell quiet again.
"That delay forced us to focus on rebuilding supplies, and now we've lost valuable time." Her fingers pressed lightly against the stone. "Even if we manage to gather enough resources, we still don't have the storage capacity to preserve everything before winter arrives."
Queen Celeste looked around the table. "So tell me… what alternatives do we have?"
"This… this is bad," Helena admitted, her voice tightening slightly. "If we fail here, both of our colonies will suffer." She drew in a slow breath. "We have to find a solution, no matter the risk."
General Ivan took a few steps forward. "There simply aren't enough ants to transport everything we need," he stated. "We could ration supplies, but if we do that, the colonies won't last through the winter."
A few uneasy glances spread around the table. Ivan narrowed his eyes slightly before continuing.
"There may be another option… though it carries far more risk." He paused briefly. "A full deployment. Workers and soldiers alike."
Valeria shot him a sharp glare. "And leave both of our colonies defenseless? The larger the group, the easier we are to track. Other species would spot us long before we ever reached our destination."
She closed her eyes. We don't need more exposure. We need a transport method that's efficient and protected. Not something that turns our entire force into an easy target.
"Efficiency?" Ivan asked. "We've been dragging our feet for months and barely made any progress since arriving at this colony. What we need is simple, more ants to handle the work."
"You're wasting time arguing against it." His gaze shifted toward Valeria. "Or do you have a better idea?"
Valeria's jaw tightened, but she said nothing. The muscles in her face tensed.
"We cannot afford to ignore the full scope of our responsibilities," Queen Celeste said. Her wings fluttered faintly behind her. "We barely survived the last ten winter cycles as it is."
Silence settled over the table for a moment before the discussion slowly resumed. The elder ants began offering their counsel one after another, but each proposed solution sounded only slightly better than the failures they had already endured.
So you're telling me neither queen has a real solution to a crisis this big? Ari thought. This whole discussion is going in circles. Every solution either benefits one colony more than the other… or falls apart the moment you think about it long enough.
Ari exhaled quietly through his nose. After a moment, he finally stepped forward and raised his hand.
The movement immediately drew several eyes toward him. "Excuse me," Ari spoke, his voice cutting through the murmur of the assembly.
The gathered ants turned toward him, antennae twitching in surprise at the sudden interruption. For a moment, he shifted on his two legs, feeling the awkward weight of their stares.
"What if we stop thinking only in terms of physical labor... What if we try a new approach, something that could change the way we transport supplies?"
General Ivan's jaw tightened, his lips curling into a faint scowl. "And what exactly is your suggestion, Lance Corporal?" he demanded.
Ari swallowed hard, his throat dry. I've seen something like this before… something that could work, he thought, forcing himself to raise his voice.
"Instead of carrying small loads back and forth all day," Ari said, choosing his words carefully, "what if we build something that carries the weight for us?"
A few ants exchanged confused looks. Isla leaned toward Lancelot, lowering her voice. "What does he mean?"
Lancelot scratched the back of his neck. "No idea," he muttered. "I stopped trying to figure him out a long time ago."
Beatrice stepped forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. "We barely have enough time to gather food, and now you want us building... whatever this is?"
Ari opened his mouth, then hesitated. Valeria noticed immediately.
"Ari," she said, her tone calm but firm, "explain."
Ari took a deep breath then nodded and reached into his satchel made of leaves. The chamber lights reflected faintly off the hardened tip of his Resin Quill as he knelt near the center of the floor.
The scent of sap drifted into the air when the quill touched stone. Several ants leaned forward.
Quick lines formed beneath his hand. A large container. Round shapes underneath it. Handles along the sides and front.
Ari tapped the drawing. "A container," he said. "Large enough to carry more food in one trip."
He pointed at the circles beneath it. "These would move underneath instead of dragging against the ground. The worker ants will push together while the weight stays balanced below. This will not only reduce the amount of ants we deploy but also maximize how much we are able to collect."
Valeria folded her arms loosely. "...Interesting," she said.
Beatrice's gaze remained fixed on the drawing. "And how are we supposed to build this?" she asked. "None of us know how."
Lily nudged her side lightly. "You're doing it again," she whispered with a grin.
Beatrice shot her a look. "Doing what?"
"He's trying his best to solve the food problem, and you're only making things harder," Lily whispered, leaning closer with a playful grin. "Besides… I kind of like the way he thinks. It's different, and it sounds like something we could actually build on."
Beatrice folded her arms tightly across her chest. A faint warmth crept onto her face.
"I'm not making things harder," she shot back quietly. "I'm pointing out the flaws before they turn into disasters."
Lily's grin widened immediately. "Oh?" she whispered teasingly. "And here I thought you were still upset about losing to him." Her eyes flickered toward Valeria for a second before returning to Beatrice. "Especially in front of the Captain."
Beatrice's antennae twitched sharply. "That's not it," she muttered at once, though the slight tension in her voice gave her away.
Queen Helena leaned forward slightly from her seat. The soft glow from the fungi caught against her eyes as she studied the sketch.
"It's certainly new to me," she said. "But ideas are one thing. Making them work is another."
Ari stood slowly, brushing dust from his hand. "I know," he said. "But carrying everything by hand is slowing us down. If we can build even a few of these, we can move more food with less effort. I can teach the workers how to make the parts and assemble them."
Several seconds passed in silence before Queen Celeste finally gave a small nod. "I trust you, Ari," she said. "We'll try your idea."
Ari's eyes widened slightly. Queen Helena's antennae shifted faintly before she spoke.
"I trust you too," she admitted softly. A small smile touched her face. "You're the one who helped make this alliance possible in the first place."
She paused briefly, her expression turning more serious. "I know I'm placing a heavy burden on you…" Helena said. "But can I trust you to handle this?"
Ari straightened slightly. "Of course," he answered without hesitation.
Valeria stepped forward. "Ari, the worker ants will follow your instructions," she said. "Gather whatever tools and materials you need. Our scouts will secure the transport routes ahead of time."
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "We can't afford any delays."
Ari nodded at once. "Yes, Captain. I'll start by teaching them the basics of wheel construction, along with how to keep the structure balanced and durable during transport."
Several elders exchanged surprised looks at the unfamiliar terms, though none interrupted him.
Nearby, General Ivan slowly turned and began walking toward the chamber exit. The sound of his footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor.
It seems I underestimated him, Ivan thought quietly. He's become valuable not only to his own colony… but to ours as well.
Hours later, Queen Celeste's colony buzzed with activity as worker ants carried logs, dragged boulders, and moved supplies across the open pathways. Dirt shifted beneath dozens of moving feet while voices echoed throughout the colony.
Just outside the main entrance, Lily scanned the surrounding area carefully. "We can use the rocks over there," she said, pointing toward the training grounds where several smooth stones rested near the edge of the field. "And I know where we can find the logs and wood we'll need."
Ari looked at her for a moment, confusion flickering across his face. Lily noticed immediately.
"What?" she asked with a grin. She leaned slightly closer, her antennae dipping playfully toward his. "Do I have something on my face?"
Ari quickly looked away. A faint warmth crept into his cheeks. "No… it's just…" He hesitated briefly. "We barely knew each other until now."
Lily blinked once before her grin widened. "Oh?" she said softly.
She stepped closer and lightly dragged a finger across the center of his chest. The sudden contact sent a small shiver through his exoskeleton.
"Well, if this mission works out," Lily whispered teasingly, "then we'll have plenty of time to get acquainted." She turned slightly and waved over her shoulder. "See you around, Lancey."
Ari stood still as her footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Only then did he let out a long breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Later, the assembly grounds filled with worker ants and soldiers gathered in wide circles around Ari. The steady hum of conversation echoed through the area while groups carried stone slabs, logs, vines, and carving tools into neat piles nearby.
The noise gradually faded once Ari stepped forward. He crouched near the center of the clearing and placed a flat stone on the ground.
Pulling out his Resin Quill, he began sketching slow, careful lines across the surface while several workers leaned closer to watch.
"The balance is the most important part," Ari explained. "If the wheels are too heavy, nobody will be able to move the cart properly. But if they're too light, the structure will crack once we load supplies onto it."
The sun overhead reflected across the stone as the design slowly took shape. "So everything has to stay balanced," Ari continued. "Weight, size, and support."
Several worker ants nodded while whispering among themselves. Ari grabbed a rounded stone from beside him and rolled it forward across the dirt.
"See how smoothly this moves?" he asked. "That's what we're aiming for. Friction slows us down. A proper wheel keeps the weight moving."
The workers stared at the stone with growing interest. Nearby, Beatrice stood off to the side. She still looked uncertain.
But little by little, the doubt in her eyes began to weaken.
"I'll organize the workers and divide the materials," Beatrice said firmly after a moment. "Stone cutters to the left side. Woodworkers near the supply stacks. Everyone else, start clearing space for construction on the outskirts."
At once, the assembly grounds burst into motion. "Yes, Corporal!"
Groups immediately scattered across the area. Some ants dragged heavy stones across the dirt while others carried long pieces of wood over their shoulders.
The sound of scraping stone, shifting soil, and hurried footsteps quickly filled the colony grounds. Ari stared at the scene for a brief moment.
A strange feeling rose in his chest. What is this feeling?
The work orders spread quickly through the colony, and before long, construction teams had fully formed under Ari's direction. Ari moved from group to group without resting.
"Round the edges more," he instructed one team while crouching beside a half-finished wheel. He ran his hand along the rough surface. "If the shape is uneven, the cart will shake during movement."
The workers nodded quickly before continuing to carve. On the other side of the clearing, another group struggled to balance a wooden frame.
"The support beams are too far apart," Ari said. He grabbed one side and adjusted the positioning himself. "Bring them closer together here. The weight needs to stay centered."
The workers immediately copied the adjustment.
Hours passed as the entire area transformed into a massive construction site. Worker ants carried supplies in organized lines while soldiers assisted with lifting heavier materials.
Stone dust scattered into the air from constant carving, and the repeated knocking of tools echoed throughout the clearing. Every finished wheel drew excited reactions from nearby groups.
Every completed frame pushed the workers harder. And slowly, piece by piece, the first transport carts finally began taking shape.
The workers gathered around the finished cart.
Ari stepped back slightly and looked over the frame one last time.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Push together."
Several worker ants braced themselves against the sides of the cart.
For a moment, nothing happened.
The wheels scraped roughly against the dirt, and the frame shook hard enough to make a few ants stumble.
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
CRRK...
One wheel suddenly rolled forward.
The workers froze.
A second wheel turned after it.
Slowly, the entire cart began moving across the ground.
The workers stared in disbelief before excited voices erupted around the clearing.
"It's moving!"
"It actually works!"
Several ants immediately pushed harder, and the cart rolled farther across the dirt with surprising ease.
Ari stood quietly near the edge of the clearing while the celebration continued around him.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt like he had truly changed something.
A small smile slowly formed across his face as the wheels continued turning beneath the evening light.