//------------------------------// // Pointless Stalling // Story: Queens to Check, Dragon to Mate // by dracone //------------------------------// It was decided to skip lunch and dinner this time around, mostly as a means showing the queens how their obstructive behaviors were a detriment. The only one who got anything to eat was Violet Emerald, on account she was young and still needed regular feedings. The sight of Spike and Chrysalis in the kitchen was not one usually seen, made all the more adorable by Emerald dancing about the kitchen as her parents prepared her meal. Arachne, Nymph, and Culicidae were not able to hide their frustration. The changeling queens were used to being catered to, if not given some modicum of respect. The fact an infant, and one they showed varying measures of disdain for at that, was the only one permitted to feed was seriously rubbing them the wrong way. The complete lack of progress in the series of events was something that Chrysalis and the Equestrians were finding increasingly frustrating. Although, the sight of Violet Emerald enjoying her lunch and dinner was rather relieving for most of the other visible attendants. The queens that were left did not have such symptoms. If anything, they were more on edge with the restrictions being forced on them. The obstinate behavior of the queens was the main reason this act had been forced out; Chrysalis had warned that such a measure might be required during the prep work. The only one of the queens that didn’t seem to have some level of disdain for the current predicament was Arachne. If anything, the spider-like changeling queen was showing some degree of amusement, in all her time as a queen not once had she seen a hosting delegation refuse service to their guests because of ill manners, she rather enjoyed the approach, even if she was being punished as well. At least that was the way it looked to Chrysalis. “Tell me, Chrysalis,” said Arachne as she steepled her digits at her section of the table, “just what are your intentions for your hive?” “Peaceful, genuine coexistence with neighboring powers,” said Chrysalis succinctly as she held the infant changeling in her lap, “You have nothing to worry about, I have no intentions of expanding my hive beyond Equestrian borders.” “But what about any queens you produce,” inquired Nymph, “can you vouch for them following this claim?” “While they are still young and under my protection during their time of early development, yes,” said Chrysalis, “after that, I have no say in the matter, they will be entrusted to make proper, informed decisions. Where my children choose to go after they have matured enough is their choice, I will not force my will upon my offspring. I will raise them with my ideals and expose them to other ideas and let them develop their own philosophy. It is the duty of the parents to guide their children, not force our worldviews upon them for the sake of our own pride.” All the visiting queens, especially Nymph, felt the need to repress a gag when told this, which they were all barely able to hide. Chrysalis wasn’t talking like a changeling, or a dragon for that matter, she was talking like a pony, with absolute sincerity to boot. Even with her progressive views, Arachne felt Chrysalis was just trying to play some kind of game with her.” “Alright, listen,” said Spike, “as Chrysalis said, she got a lot of her new aspects from me, and some were unpredictable side effects of her unique properties mingling with mine through the changeling mating system. Point is, she is not the same individual you knew a hundred years, but you still insist on acting like she hasn’t had any significant non-physical changes, such as her sense of priorities, while acknowledging she has experienced a physical change. We have twenty-four beautiful daughters, each with their own individual strengths and weakness. And I, for one, am happy Chrysalis has been such an amazingly cooperative neighbor to Equestria. She knows a larger population isn’t sustainable currently, and has chosen to go a route that will ensure she remains a good neighbor to Equestria. Our girls are intelligent, thoughtful, and a little rambunctious at times, but Chrysalis always is working on a way to make sure they stay healthy and stimulated. We let them be bored, make mistakes, and find their own interests. Admittedly, our oldest seems to take after Twilight than anyone else we know, much to my adoptive sister’s delight, but just because they have similar tendencies doesn’t mean they aren’t their own individuals.” “Just had to give a speech on the matter, I see,” said Culicidae. “It’s a personal failing he picked up from a few of us,” said Twilight, “mostly me. But he only gave that speech because he felt it needed to be said. We all want this meeting to get over as quickly possible, on that I’m sure we can agree. But consider this, when you actively go out of your way to sabotage others, something we’ve been informed is all too common among changelings during their gatherings, you make everything longer and more difficult. Yes, there are those that will waste our time if we do not have someone intervene; I’m sure it’s a universal constant at this point. But regardless, a system that promotes hindering of other parties over progressing things needs to reevaluate its priorities.” “Why should we?” Nymph asked haughtily, “it’s worked out fine for us so far.” “From what we’ve been told about the system, which isn’t much mind you,” said Celestia, “your system has made it so that your society deliberately stagnates itself, all for the benefit of those holding the highest power to maintain it for the most shallow and detrimental reasons.” “Princess Celestia managed to keep her power base while allowing Equestria to experience many new systems and technology being born,” said Twilight, “all without having to resort to hindering the progress of others.” “While I appreciate the vote of confidence, Twilight,” said Celestia, “that was a bit of an oversimplification. It worked out as well as it did because I invested in research for each new idea and technology and continued such research for the philosophies and technologies I saw as having the most benefit for the populous moving forward.” “That...is actually an excellent policy,” said Arachne, “but we, as queens, prioritize what is of greatest benefit to us.” “What improves lives for the populous usually ensures easier work for the rulers,” said Rarity, “sometimes potentially beneficial innovations can be used to the exact opposite of their intended use. For example, when industrial sewing machines were introduced they made it easier to produce attire en mass for lower costs but the tradeoff was many of the populous lost their sense of personal expression with clothing and not many who make attire put much attention it quality because it just means they won’t be selling clothing as frequently.” “She’s still a bit bitter about that,” said Twilight, “but the point she made still stands, every innovation has its tradeoffs. And not all of them are beneficial in the same ways to those affected by them. Innovations, the good ones, and some of the bad ones, shake up the status quo. Prioritizing your wants and desires over the need you and your...subjects is shown to have a negative impact individual as much as the group. If you prioritize the needs of the many over those of the few you’ll have fewer long term problems. The problem with you system, and it is a big one, is that its approach means a focus on the short term, which often is to the detriment the long term. Either way, you’re going to have those not particularly happy with the approach, that’s the nature of the beast, no matter which you choose but as leaders, you must always be willing to way the consequences.” “From what we’ve been able to gather,” said Shining, “despite your apparent long lives, the only one who seems to be weighing consequences is Arachne, and even then she’s only doing so with what she considers potentially favorable.” “True weighing of consequences,” said Spike, “is weighing of pros and cons of every option you can foresee, especially if they seem unfavorable.” “Projecting the idea you are infallible is a fool’s errand,” said Chrysalis with a serious tone, giving a firm stare to the visiting queens, “there are always variables for which you will likely not take into account or outright dismiss out of the misconception they are inconsequential.” The only queen that didn’t balk at this was Arachne, she had enough life experience to see where Chrysalis was going, that didn’t mean she was above pushing things to be heavily in her favor.