//------------------------------// // 6 - A little Transparency // Story: Chryssie, Equestria's best 'Harmonic' Monarch // by Redundant //------------------------------// The throne room was brimming, and it wasn't just with food. Certainly, there was a large amount of canned goods stacked from floor to ceiling in a decently thick pile over in the corner. Canned carrots, canned beats, canned soup, canned whatever-a-pony-needs. The infiltrators had returned with the food some time ago, and any moment now they would return once more, this time with my ponies in tow. The first step of the Grand Economic Plan (plan pending) and its foundation was almost complete. Food, temporarily done. Water, done. Housing, done. The ponies would come soon, and though there wasn't much... actual economy for them to partake in, the plenty food and virtually free stay would have to be enough for now. Now the only thing to do was to bring my subjects on board. They were what the rest of the throne room was brimming with. A swarm of black chitin, shoved into every level and nook and cranny within the throne room at my command to gather. There were more, many more, outside in the corridors or even buzzing around outside my window, ready to listen to what their Queen had to say. Loyal, terrified drones that they were, they carried out my orders without hesitation - give or take that one question from proboscis and the shenanigans that the first infiltrators I met with tried - and that alone was worth bringing them into my plan with my cards face up on the table, little misdirection, honest and pure transparency. The mood was anxious, the smell of fear mixed in with one I came to associate with anticipation. My subjects stood before me, chittering and whispering to each other as I watched them from my throne. All sound stooped when I got up to stand on the stony seat. The smell of anticipation got stronger This was it. Time to be a proper Queen. "My subjects! Your Queen has an announcement to make. You have all worked tirelessly for the majority of this month, and it is time to let all of you in on my Grand Plan to revitalise our Hive, to make hunger and rationing a distant memory!" The crowd ruffled at that. Some heads nodded absently, others flicked or buzzed their wings, some even made quiet noises of approval. "I may have acted strange over this time. Weird. Impulsive. I assure all of you that I have only our best interests at heart as I do what I must! Now, my dear subjects, I will come clean: ponies will soon settle our lands with my blessing and encouragement." A sharp smell that must have been shock quickly overtook the room as Changelings turned to their neighbours and whispers started. I pushed on regardless. "The houses I ordered constructed are for them. The food you see gathered in the corner is for them. The infiltrators sent out will, any moment now, return with them in tow. My subjects, the old ways and traditions are dragging the Hive downwards to its death like an anchor! Abductions and drainings are no longer sufficient!" The noise grew louder, but it quietened down the instant I slammed my hoof on the throne. I had to keep the momentum going before any of them dared to heckle their Queen. "The attack on Canterlot proved the failure of the old ways! The ponies have grown strong! They repelled our invasion and sent us limping back home! I promise you this, my subjects, never again!" Rile them up. Gotta rile them up a little so they don't question things. Get angry. Get mad! Get compliant... "Make no mistake, Equestria is the enemy! Their false Princesses will fall under our might one day, and their faux 'nation' will crumble, insignificant compared to our glory! Their ponies will join us of their own will and give us their Love! Their knowledge will be assimiliated into ours! They will be mine! All will serve the Hive and its Queen!" Some Changelings perked up at this, mostly the guards and the infiltrators present, but it seemed to resonate with their more civilian kin as well. I lowered my voice from the imperious tone it reached, into something softer. Almost affectionate. I had to close the speech on a high note, hopefully reassure those still skeptical. "Treat the ponies that arrive kindly, my subjects. Care for them like you would for each other. This is the beginning of a new era for the Hive, and I need every single one of you to help shepherd it into being. Your Queen... asks this of you." That said, I quietened down and looked over the crowd. It was all up to them now. I really did NEED their cooperation with the plan going forwards. They were to be my heralds. The example to follow for the new pony subjects. The bulk of my support. My subjects were... quiet. Scant whispers barely reached the throne and the smell in the room was a nauseating mix of emotions that I didn't even know where to start with deciphering. Slowly, I could see their reactions crystallising. A majority looked unsure, most likely willing to go with what I said simply because I'm the Queen, but frowns started spreading across the room as the whispers grew louder. First from some of the infiltrators in the back, and then to some of my guards, and slowly, to some of the more menial Changelings. I could only watch as the apparent dissatisfaction spread through my subjects like a vile cancer. Then, in the opposite corner, a drone started clapping. All eyes turned to the drone; a runt. Even from the distance I could tell that he was ever so slightly smaller than the other Changelings, the difference made all the more noticeable by the fact that he was standing near one of the guards, the Queen's Guard - my Captain, if I recalled correctly. 'Larynx' or something. It definitely ended in an 'X'. The runt drone pounded his hooves together at a varying pace, whether in excitement or deficiency or sychopanthy I did not known, but it brought a smile to my face nonetheless. Eventually Captain name-ends-in-x joined in with the clapping, and that soon spread through the crowd. First to the other Queen's Guard, and then to the other Changelings. The rising tide of frowns and disapproval was steadily replaced by wild clapping and even some cheers. That runt had all but saved my speech and standing as Queen and possibly secured me a majority, loud, approval. The Plan would continue!