//------------------------------// // Queen of the Driders // Story: Conquest: Prologues // by pretty-pegasus-wings //------------------------------// “Another?! That’s the third one this month!” The spider like pony nervously rubbed her purple hooves, arachnid legs tightly grasped a web wrapped pony unconscious and limp, as she sat her dark purple thorax onto her beautifully spun web. “I’m afraid so, my queen.” Another stood before her, smaller in size. Nervously, she spun her prey in the tips of her light blue spider legs, the pony half of her body scrunched up. “You don’t believe something is causing this do you? There haven’t been any signs of crimson worms or giant moles.” He shook his head. “Not to my knowledge.” “We can’t keep risking the workers’ lives, not until we figure out what’s causing these cave ins….” She looked to the ground before looking back to him. “What should I do?” “I’m sure you can figure this out, unless you want to explain why you have no answers.” The queen puffed her cheeks out slightly. “Why must you torture me, Griskal?” He shot a snarky grin at her. Once again, she spun her meal about, eyes darted around the room as she tried to find some solution. Never has she experienced a problem like this, her workers are always so careful when digging new tunnels. Could there be something above, perhaps the earth is weaker than they knew? Maybe she could send the workers with some extra muscle, have a way to better protect them from the rocks. Spells? Wouldn’t this prolong the issue? In that moment, she had an epiphany. “Let’s inspect the areas first, see what’s causing them or if they’re merely accidents. Have horned driders nearby to cast spells in case of another cave in.” Why hadn’t she thought of this sooner, it was so obvious? Most likely because they’ve never had to inspect tunnels before with how efficient the diggers were. Her dull coated assistant beamed at her proudly. “I will send the order shortly. As for our hunters, there have been no issues in finding food. The new region you found has more meaty prey than others previously explored.” “Wonderful!” She turned her gaze to the meal still held tightly in her grasp. “As tasty as they are, the larger beasts will do better for feeding the colony. Not that’d I’d ever stop hunting them.” The queen licked her lips as she brought the pony into her hooves. To her surprise, the stallion stirred, eyes blinked open quickly widening at the sight of the creature before him. In the instant he realize the predicament he was in, the pony let out an ear piercing scream. Desperately, his body contorted and wiggled in a futile attempt to break from his web prison. “Mmmm, I love how they squirm.” She readied her fangs and drove them deep into his flesh. It wasn’t long before the life drained from his eyes and his insides became liquid. The drider queen drank it hungrily soon leaving nothing more than a hallowed carcass of skin and hair. “That is all to report for now. Is there anything I can do for you before I go, my queen?” She wiped the residue from her lips. “Other than for you to get some rest once you’re done.” His shoulders sagged as he glared at her. “Will you ever not request that?” “Whenever you start taking better care of yourself.” “Queen Ilvaria!” A cry echoed from the cavern outside her room. “There is an intruder!” The armor cladded drider stopped in the entrance of her room. Ilvaria thrusted herself off her web, eyes filled with intent to kill. “Where?!” The drider waved to the two behind him as they dragged in a pony who had an insect like appearance, the hole ridden body thrown at her legs. “Interesting.” She walked around the creature, taking in its form from its black exoskeleton and thin, bug like wings. “And who might you be?” “Queen Ilvaria!” The creature quickly got back onto her hooves and kept her body respectfully low. “I have come here on behalf of orders from my queen, Queen Chrysalis, to deliver this message to you.” She held out a letter to Ilvaria, still keeping her body and head close to the ground. “A message?” Ilvaria took the letter in her magic and tore it open, pulling the letter out of the envelope and examined it. “Is this some sort of trick?” “No ma’am. She wishes to have a calm, friendly meeting.” She looked it over once more to be sure. “But why me? I don’t know anything of your kind.” Her eyes narrowed at the bug like pony through the strands of light purple mane. “How you know of us is even more suspicious.” “My queen knows where to find the greatest and strongest beings in all of Equestira.” The meek creature squeaked as she fearfully moved her body closer to the floor. Upon hearing this, Ilvaria’s body relaxed and straightened slightly. “The greatest?” “She believes you to be an important asset to this meeting as were the others who were invited; it would be an honor if you agreed.” This would be difficult to response to, nothing sounded off, yet she was sure this wasn’t right. “I will consider…. Take her back where you found her.” The guards dragged the changeling away Griskal snickered once they had gone far enough away. “Clearly, she’s only trying to butter you up.” “That was obvious, darling…. Can I ignore this? It wouldn’t be wise surely. Could I, should I?” She paced back and forth across the room, tapping her chin in worried thought. “I’ve never been invited to anything like this and I’ve only spoken to a few beyond the colony… so this must be a trap.” “One you’d easily fall for.” “Oh hush with your remarks! This is serious!” She offendedly placed her hooves on her hips. Griskal let out a long sigh. “Why don’t you speak with him about it?” Ilvaria let out a sharp gasp, her pacing came to a brisk halt. “Griskal, you’re a genius! If anyone would know what to do, it’d be my darling doctor. Thank you!” She took off into the winding halls of her colony, letter firmly held in her grasp. “I fear to think how she would fair without me.”