Soarin' flew in the general direction of his hive. Upon getting halfway there, he slowed down as wheels in his head began to turn as he began to think.
What is she gonna' say? I shouldn't do this! This is stupid!... What if I get banished from the hive?!
"Soarin'!" A familiar voice shouted, snapping Soarin' out of his thoughts.
"Hey Tarnix. How's it going?" Soarin' asked, trying to take a break a break form his thoughts, even if only briefly.
"You know. Normal patrol, work around the hive, the usual. Although there has been a lot more work to do since this last batch of eggs arrived. Queen Athnaties has made plans to expand the hive though. A lot has changed since you've last been here. You haven't been by to collect your rations though. Too busy with the Bolts to visit me? Tarnix said with a sarcastic, sad tone."
"What? No! Well, yes, I've been busy but- are there any other patrols out here?" Soarin' asked urgently.
"Well, the whole back half of the hive is gone for construction, so yeah. We've been and will be on high alert for any threats or predators until that's finished. What's going on, though? You aren't acting like yourself." Tarnix commented. Concern evident in his voice.
"Well, uh... You see... Can we please go somewhere private to discuss this?" Soarin' pleaded urgently.
"Okay, um, sure. I was just finishing up here anyway."
"Oh, good." Soarin' sighed in relief.
"So, you got that message I sent you about the nursery, right?" Tarnix asked
"Yeah, I did. Thanks. That's a pretty cool mailing system you made, though."
"Thank you!" Tarnix said, brimming with pride. "It's a self charging teleportation messenger! Or S.C.T.M. for short."
"Rrriiiight. Anyway, it is pretty cool. I have no idea how you made it so convenient. It's about the size of a water bottle and fits perfectly in my saddle bags. Although, I'll admit it startled me a bit when it started vibrating.
"Sorry. I didn't think to warn you about that. It does that to alert you of a message. All you have to do is pop open the end and pull the message out-"
"Not to sound rude, Tarnix... but I already figured it out. That's how I got your message about the hatchery in the first place."
"Oh, yeah. Sorry. Anyway lets got back to my place. I believe you had something you wanted to tell me?" Tarnix asked, changing the subject.
"Please. I'm really having a hard time and I'm not completely sure on what I should do."
"Alright then. Lets go."
Tarnix and Soarin both began making their way back to the hive. Soarin' lagging slightly behind, still hesitant to face their queen, and their home.
"C'mon Soarin, hurry up!" Tarnix called over his should to Soarin who was about sixteen feet away.
Seeing no way out of it, Soarin' picked up his pace. Tarnix waited for Soarin to catch up before speeding off for the hive once again, this time Soarin' following suit. They passed a few other changelings on their way back but otherwise flew there undisturbed. It felt like no time had passed when they reached the hive, though. Causing Soarin' to breakout in a sweat.
"Alright. Who's place do you want to go to? "Tarnix asked. "Your place or mine?"
"Uh... How about yours, if that's okay. Yours is closer."
"Sure! Of course it's okay. I'm the one that asked you after all," Tarnix pointed out.
"Alright then. Lets go."
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"So...what's this about, Soarin?" Tarnix asked, his voice serious and dripping with concern. You aren't acting like yourself..."
"Um, well... I'm kind of in a not-so-good situation at the moment."
"Okay. I'm sorry but you're gonna' have to be bit more specific."
Soarin' bit his lip.
"Rainbow Dash wants to start a hive and Queen Athnaties doesn't know about me being with Rainbow Dash at all! Let alone the fact that Rainbow Dash is a virgin queen! I don't know what to do! I mean come on! Me a father?! I shouldn't have even told Rainbow yes. In all honesty I don't even expect Queen Athnaties to say yes. Especially since both Rainbow Dash and I know absolutely nothing about her heritage! I just don't know what to do! I don't want to disappoint either of them or seem like I'm abandoning my hive!"
"Soarin'. First of all, calm yourself. Secondly, listen to me! I understand your anxiety, but all this worrying about what could go wrong isn't going to help. You need to focus on one obstacle at a time. A hot head isn't going to do you any favors."
"Ugh! Now you sound just like Wave Chill."
"Good. It means we actually have a brain, therefore we can help."
"Hey!" Soarin' jabbed, looking insulted. Tarnix however, simply ignored him and continoued.
"So let me get all this straight. The queen has no idea of you being with one of the elements of harmony-let alone that she's a changeling capable of starting a hive."
"Yes, but-"
"No buts! let me finish! And you're worried about how you'll be able to handle it, correct."
"Yes."
"Why do you even doubt yourself?"
"What if I can't do it? What if I turn into me father? I-I just don't know if ill be able to handle it all."
"Trust me, Soarin', you will never be anything like your father."
"How do you know?"
"I know because I'm your friend and will do anything I can to help you. Plus, you know, if you do I'll kick your flank back into line." Tarnix finished smirking
Soarin' couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Thanks Tarnix. I really appreciate that."
"Ah, well, just another act of my tender generosity." Tarnix commented, striking a pose. Soarin' shook his head trying to suppress his laughter.
"Okay now back to the topic at hoof. Rainbow Dash. What does she know?"
"About what, exactly?"
"Everything. Heritage, building hive, how far progressed have her instincts gotten, etcetera, etcetera."
"From before her life with her adopted pony parents- nothing. However, she has made quite a bit of progress on the hive, so her instinct are doing well there. On other things though... I'm starting to get worried. It seems she has no knowledge of storing love long term or the development of the nymphs in general. I mean, its practically impossible to get away from the place. Rainbow Dash and I got half way to the Wonderbolt HQ and turned back. Although she didn't say this, I suspect it also had something to do with Spitfire as well. I'm not talking about the typical stressed captain either it seems they've bee avoiding each other and I'm not sure why. but she cant stay away either. Rainbow Dash latterly dragged me to her new 'hive site'"
"So she's determined. Not much of a surprise there, though. All queens want to start a hive of their own at some point. Instinct wise, I think the stuff about the nymphs will come with time. I'm not to sure why your worried about love storage, though. You can teach her that. This is going to be a learning curve for you both. Nothing ever goes according to plan one-hundred percent. You two are going to have your ups and your downs, just like with anything you do. Queen Athnaties is pretty laid back. The only thing I'm concerned about if the lack of heritage. That's something she'll defiantly want to know."
"I know! I don't know what to do!" Soarin' groaned.
"I think deep down you do." Tarnix said placing a hoof on Soarin's shoulder. "Do you want me to go to the audience with you?"
Soarin' bit his lip and nodded hesitantly.
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