“It is a special honour to have the royal Adviser by my side!” she blurted out.
“It is, commonly. Now I need to keep track of so many unexpected little details. This does include overseeing the first new Hatchlings. Our Queen needs to see the numbers rising. We are weak and vulnerable at this early sages in the Hives’s time!” I responded.
“Oh, I see. It has bothered me to see how long it takes for us to produce Hatchlings. She keeps insisting on referring to them as Foals, maybe this is why we have to wait? At least, in the middle of Ponyville, we can relay on the Ponies to shield us from rivaling Hives. I predict they haven’t even realised that we even have a Queen yet!” she pondered.
Scattered Changelings had been spotted and brought into the village. Disguises put on before they entered. As easy as a Changeling is putting on a disguise, some had been easier than others. Even after all this time, apparently there is a natural form.
Stallions and mares. They came in all colours and every known type; Earthern, Pegasi and Unicorn. Usually, these aspects had been ignored, overlooked and mostly forgotten. Only now, they came well in hoof.
The first thing to be in use is the Pegasi look outs. Then came the pink Honour Guards. More is certain to follow. Yet, every mare is going to be pressed into service, for the most obvious of reasons.
“A Queen isn’t just a mare like any other. She is required to provide for the entire hive, not a mere herd. With that said, she may be required to have more than just the one stallion. It is great sacrifice and as great a burden on her part, but it is for the sake of the hive!” she pointed out.
“That is why the second stallion, an uncommon as he may be is asked to give his contribution. We will have to pick a third, but I guess we have to wait and see, just to find that one stallion to complete our hive!” I responded.
“Of course, we can not let them know before the time!” she mouthed in elaboration.
“On the other hoof, the final stallion will be found among her first generation of Hatchlings!” I admitted.
“She is bound to give us at least one colt with the first generation. As uncustomary as it may be, not to wait for eggs to hatch!” she explored.
“How do we recognise our nannies?” she enquired.
“She is most likely going to have a black mane. I am speculating on her having her mane braided, unless her hair is all curled up!” I put forth.
“I would care for her little foals, until I drop dead, if it pleases her Highness, our Queen. It isn’t just because it is a special honour to be near her Hatchlings. It is what I was hatched to do!” the black maned mare pondered, her name curiously Foal Sitter.
The mares mane braided tightly, as the hair reaching down her forelegs on her right and left.
“I would gladly lay down my life for our queen at any time. Yet, I would still be more happy, tending to her foals for as long as I am able. Even to the extent, I am carrying them through full term. I will spare no effort towards this end!” she then continued.
In one newly occupied cell a small green Earth Pony sits, pondering her situation, and her future. What was the future to hold out to her in the present situation? Of course, she was not blind, she could see and hear what was going on around her.
“I am fully prepared to perform any and all the duties set aside for me, what ever her Queen could possibly be needing her to do; including the latest, carrying a foal for her. After all, my newly discovered Earth nature does promise extended nurturing capabilities beyond what I had been dreaming of, what I had been groomed to perform as a Royal Gardener. If it is within my range of capabilities, and it pleased her Queen, then I am doing it happily for her!” the mare currently named Gardener thought quietly within the confines of the cell of Twilight Sparkles Royal castle.
Of course the situation was new and unaccustomed. A queen had been found, which is good, beyond words. Just that the Queen was no Changeling, not even a Unicorn or Alicorn. Maybe the later was for the better, despite anything. It just felt so strange to see the pink mare, with her tightly curled up mane, smiling at any and every one in her presence, Changeling, Pony or any other unthinkable creature who came into view.
What had been discovered, aside from her being capable and compatible to her new position, is that she had a range of capabilities never seen in any one Pony or Changeling before. Aside from Changelings, only an Alicorn could truly match in the capabilities of both flight and magic. The magic wielded by the Queen was not exactly common or orthodox by any means, yet she performed.
According to our records, Earth type Ponies had all but abandoned magic, and had no means to actually fly, lacking wings. They were earth-bound, tending the land, seeding, growing and harvesting the food; selling all the food they would not need themselves off to the other Ponies, or any others who came by, eager to buy what they had in stock.
As opposed to their Pegasi and Unicorn brethren, they were said to be simple folk. Not prone to burst out. they may take pride in their respective land, but this is the limit to what they did. Naturally, they would defend and protect their land and their folk to great length, who wouldn’t?
From what could be discerned, we had fond the hardiest bunch of the entire lot, the garrison at the Everfree forest of all places.
Of all the places, why here? Where the Ponies who had defied not just the High Queen Chrysalis, but anything and everything fate had managed to throw at them. This would include the Prince of Chaos, and the late Queen of the night, aside from a few other threats from beyond the Equestrian borders.
Some of the threats they had faced down, would certainly have hit us just as hard, regardless of if they even knew of our existence in the fast place. An eternal night, not a thing we were prepared to stand up against.
“Keeping these records had been assigned to me, now I have to live with it!” a gray mare pondered.
“It feels wrong to have her to perform all these things. We should be doing them or her. As her subjects, we are expected to serve her. She is after all our Queen!” Starlight, the black Unicorn with the seven radiant stars in the colours of the rainbow.
“Such is our tradition, but can we openly contradict our Queen, even if it goes against our tradition?” the High Advisor put forth.
“Of course, you have me there. It isn’t my place to contradict her. I am merely the teacher. I am to teach our Hatchlings, or Foals all they need to know for their future lives. All they need to learn from the elder generation, that is!” the teacher responded in a humble tone of voice.
“We chose her, first and foremost. Even if she sought us out and accepted, what we proposed to her!” the junior Adviser interjected.
“Indeed. Our obligation is to the Hive, our Hive, but under her rule. What ever comes our way, we will face it in her name, even when we have to face the ultimate consequences and lay down our lives. There is nothing to regret in that moment, other than that we could serve her no more!” the High Adviser prompted.
“It seems we have more in common with the Ponies than we dared to admit, even to ourselves!” Starlight, the scholar Unicorn Expressed warily.
“Of course, we have a shared history and linage with these Ponies; just like with the Crystal Ponies of the Empire. Tradition has told us not to look upon the fact, it defy who we see ourselves to be!” High Adviser prompted.
“Are you saying that we are basically returning to our roots or our old ways, then?” Starlight inquired.
“From where I stand, it seems to be the only way remaining to us. Not just that we chose the earth Pony Pinkie Pie. On the other hoof, we may have to reevaluate our vocabulary. While we are now amongst the Ponies, can we still refer to our young as Hatchlings, then the Queens consorts as Drones or Kins?” the Adviser pondered.
“Depending, but these cases may be more correct to say Foals and Princes?” Starlight proposed.
“It will put us at odds with the old guard, and some of the other Hives, particularly the once loyal to the High Queen Chrysalis!” the Adviser responded.
“Do we even have a choice on the matter?” Starlight inquired.
“No!” came the response with finality.
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