Bug Fables: Return of the Giants

Chapter 5

"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my—"

"Elizant, would you please calm down?" asked Queen Bianca. She was getting frustrated with Elizant, who had been doing this for a good while. "I'm sure they're fine."

"Fine?!" Elizant shouted. What on earth do you mean by fine? They've been gone for an hour!"

"That doesn't mean they're dead," Bianca said, remaining calm.

"It really does," Elizant muttered. "You don't understand, Bianca. This is Team Snakemouth we're talking about. They solved the mystery of the Everlasting Sapling, they took down the wasp king—who had superpowers, by the way. And what did I do? I let them run to their deaths while I sat back and watched. I hate myself."

"No!" Bianca calmly interjected. "Don't say that, Elizant. Don't hate yourself. None of this is your fault. There is nothing anyone can do about this. It's not just you, really. This giant is ruining all of our lives."

Elizant sighed.

Bianca sat next to her on the ground and put a hand on her shoulder. "You're gonna be alright, okay?"

Elizant hesitated, and then said, "Yes."

Bianca smiled. "Great. Now, what's the move."

"Right," Elizant said. "The tunnel is definately a no-go. We're probably going to have to take the long way."

"That's alright."

"I barely remember the layout of the desert, but I'm sure I can get us through," Elizant said, standing up.

"Great! Then let's go!"

Queen Bianca and Queen Elizant trekked through the desert. You would've thought at this point that the two queens would be tired of walking in deserts. You would be right. Luckily, the trip wasn't too abysmal; the queens did a lot of talking, which helped pass the time better.

"I don't know how you stay calm during all this," Elizant said.

"Don't let my cool composure fool you," Bianca laughed. "You were knocked out on Kabbu's plane when it happened, but I was screaming at the top of my lungs."

"I can't even imagine that. I don't think I've ever heard you speak in any other way than your—" she started doing her best impression of Queen Bianca—"naturally calm and soothing voice."

Bianca laughed at Elizant's attempt at her voice. "That was pretty good!"

"Heh, thanks," Elizant said. "I'm something of an impressionist—in my free time."

"No kidding," Bianca said in disbelief. "I didn't know that about you."

"Well, voice impressions don't really come up much when you're queen."

"That's true," agreed Bianca. "I can't remember a single time where my royalty called for me to do an over-exaggerated voice impression."

"Wait a sec."

"What?"

"You said you were screaming on Kabbu's plane?" asked Elizant.

"Yes, I was."

"Why?"

"Why else would I be screaming?" asked Bianca. "I'm horrified of heights!"

"You're scared of heights?"

"Yes."

"Can't you fly?"

"Yes, I can fly," Bianca groaned. "Everyone always brings that up."