//------------------------------// // 4: Four Queens, Rogue High // Story: Reformation of the Hives // by law abiding pony //------------------------------// Nestled within the tender vessel Cornucopia, the shipboard side hatchery could easily hold a month’s worth of eggs from both queens. However that did not account for four egg layers, but thankfully the majority of the alcoves were empty. Aegis Altair leaned against Blitz while gushing over eight of those eggs in particular. She had Blitz wrapped into a tight side long hug. “It’s finally happened, Blitz, we’re becoming queens!” That was almost enough to pull Blitz’s gaze away from her enclosed eggs. “Technically we’ve been turning into queens ever since being reborn.” “Oh shush, you know what I mean,” Aegis snorted while nuzzling her counterpart. “What do you think they’ll hatch with; hooves or hands?” “I would imagine hooves, since that is our natural state.” Blitz waggled her fingers, even now, still in awe at how natural they felt. Over the years, she had developed a much higher level of dexterity with her fingers than she ever thought possible. Aunty did a really good job on me. I wonder if she made our hands superior to even the sphinxes. The pair was mostly oblivious to Gear Ratio who was swooning along with her fellow caretakers a few meters away in the control room. The four of them were eternally grateful for the glass divider between them and the proto-queens. Gear had a professional reputation to maintain, and squealing in joy like a nymph was rather unbecoming, in her eyes anyway. “To think, girls, we’ve got to service not one, but three proto-queens’ first clutches.” A round of joyous giggling passed through the group of caretakers. One of the assistants put the finishing touches on the eggs’ nutrient solution and cranked several wheels to cycle the liquid. “Don’t forget, sisters, our caretaker corps will double within the year to handle the new workload. But…” She gestured for her coworkers to lean in close so that she could whisper. “I heard from Gentle Touch that there’s talks of retooling the hive’s economy to support a second pair of princesses as soon Aegis and Blitz move out.” Gear Ratio looked at the pair of proto-queens with anticipation before the comment finally registered and she looked at her co-worker with disbelief. “Get out!” “No lie,” Caretaker Feather Soft replied manically, “Buz Bug’s honor!” “Girls, we’re the luckiest caretakers to ever live!” Gear Ratio and the others squealed and dance-hugged each other for a few moments before an alert bell started ringing, making the drones jump back at the controls. “How about we celebrate after we’re off-duty.” “Agreed,” the rest replied bubbly. Gear Ratio took a deep breath before refocusing on her work. Ultimately it had only been a timer instead of a problem cropping up so she addressed the matter quickly. With little else to do but monitor the eggs, Gear Ratio looked out at the rows of incubators, and the two proto-queens who were close by. I hope they really didn’t hear any of that. Any embarrassment was quickly forgotten when her eyes drifted over the proto-queens’ wings, and seeing something was off about them. “Feather Soft, Jelly, come on, we need to perform our first proto-queen physical.” The group slid up next to Blitz who jumped a little at the sudden appearance of the three drones. “Alright you two, you know what needs to happen.” Gear made a snapping noise with her magic causing Feather to start inspecting Aegis from top to bottom while Jelly assaulted Blitz with medical probes. Gear went over to Blitz’s wings. Aegis instinctively went rigid as her medic/caretaker started with a quick scan for irregularities. “Couldn’t you guys give us a bit more time to admire our first clutch?” Blitz took it in stride, completely at ease with the inspection. It helped that this was a bi-weekly event for them. Probably going to be a daily thing now. “Come on, Aegis, you know such rapid growth needs to go smoothly. Any complications now could take decades to correct if you hassle them.” Gear Ratio didn’t get far before she paused at Blitz’s wings. Along the mare’s long prismatic gossamer wings, was an outline of Rainbow’s all too familiar cutie mark, formed by Blitz’s longitudinal veins. Before saying anything, Gear inspected Aegis’ broader red wings and quickly identified she had an outline of Twilight Sparkle’s cutie mark that was becoming more pronounced as the veins thickened. At this point, Gear Ratio scowled and flew over to face the tall blue mare who now rivaled Princess Celestia in height as she stood on two legs. “Blitz, did either of you decide to alchemically alter your wings? You know how dangerous that can be during the proto-queen stage.” “What are you talking about?” Blitz turned around and flared her wings to see what the issue was. “I barely understand the alchemy of my design, let alone have any inkling on how to alter it safely.” Everyone started looking at Blitz’s wings as their owner quickly quieted at the sight of the pattern. “Hey, sweet tat, Blitz.” Aegis teased by ribbing Blitz. “I knew you loved your momma, but damn.” Blitz puffed her face in irritation before looking at Aegis’ wings. “Well that’s the pot calling the kettle black. You have Aunty Twilight’s mark on your wings.” She jabbed an accusatory hoof at her counterpart. Before Aegis could compound the confusion, Gear Ratio cleared her throat. “Now, let’s not get out of hoof here. This might just be a prank Aunty Rainbow is playing on us. In fact…” As if on cue, both matriarchs of the hive entered the hatchery to find their prized royal daughters. Rainbow was quickest and charged in for a squashing embrace, nearly knocking the caretakers aside. “Ha, ha! Congrats, Blitz, you’re a momma now!” Aegis met Twilight halfway and the two hugged for a long moment. Aegis had to momentarily drop to all fours to do so properly. “I was so worried you might have been caught by Grogar’s attack.” Twilight pulled back to give her daughter a pride filled smile. I’m so glad her hive presence is so much brighter now, it was impossible to miss her survival. “So, was your first laying all you hoped it would be?” Blitz blushed furiously at the embarrassment while Aegis laughed it off. “I couldn’t ask for better than announcing to the whole world Blizzy and I are ready to enter the big stage via a public laying.” “I certainly can,” Blitz shot back without any real malice. “But…” she heaved a sigh as Aegis climbed back up to two hooves. “At least it saves time on sending letters out, right?” “Oh that’s right,” Twilight announced worriedly. “I was so caught up in everything I completely forgot to inform Rolled Scroll and Blue Flare what to actually tell Celestia about Grogar.” With Twilight momentarily preoccupied, Gear Ratio took a moment to slide in between the royals and fix Rainbow with a knowing scowl. “Aunty RD, I have to ask, did you tamper with their alchemical formula without our foreknowledge?” she asked while pointed at the proto-queens. “I tamper with lots of things,” Rainbow countered innocently. “I can’t be expected to remember all of them.” Gear flew up and gently tugged Blitz’s right wing out to show the outlined cutie mark on them. “Then maybe this can jog your memory. Honestly Aunty, I hope this isn’t your handiwork.” Rainbow lit up and ‘ooo’d’ at that sight of the outlined cloud and thunderbolt. “Interesting…” she purred with pride and delight, “but no, I didn’t do this.” Her inspection came to a quick halt and she turned to Gear Ratio. “Hey, GR, who’s my consort for the day?” “Ahhh,” she shook her head to compensate for the subject change. “No one, not for the next two days.” “Great, then I’ll lay right now.” One of the caretakers ran off and returned with a pillow and a couple of towels. If they were honest with themselves, both Aegis and Blitz felt a serious twinge of jealousy and anticipation at Rainbow laying a full clutch of fourteen eggs. With only changelings around, Rainbow had long since lost any reservations about laying in front of them. By the time Rainbow fed her eggs and gotten cleaned up, Twilight reawakened from her communion with Rolled Scroll. “Okay, girls, I’m going to have my diplomatic staff and a few others sent over to Canterlot Archives to search for anything on Grogar as soon as Celestia gives them the go-ahead. As for us, we’re going back to PR to put together a proper naval force.” Blitz was puzzled by that. “We’re coming back here?” This time it was Rainbow who answered. “Sis and I are, at least until Polybia is dealt with.” Twilight started where Rainbow left off. “I examined the remains of the body via proxy as I came onboard. There’s strong evidence that the body hasn’t held a soul for at least a month, but I’m not that familiar with necromancy, so there’s no way to be sure.” “Don’t you worry your eggbrain about that!” Rainbow jeered playfully while patting Twilight’s head. “I already got a plan to find out if Polly Pocket is alive or not thanks to Sectovaria.” “Yeah, I know…” Twilight tried to ease up by reveling in the fact that Aegis was now a proto-queen. Yet before she could voice her renewed good humor, Rainbow slid up next to Aegis. “It’s almost a pity you started laying, squirt,” she jeered while ribbing Aegis. “But at least now you get to have practical experience at long range command of a battlespace.” Aegis’ mixed smile fell crestfallen. Blitz on the other hand was more than happy to avoid tangling with a necromancer that could bring her aunt to nervous shakes. “Maybe we could help with the archives research? With the rail line between the hive and the primary Equestrian network now complete, we could use incubation cars while we’re there instead of relying on airships which will be needed elsewhere.” Aegis gave her counterpart the Ultimate Rage-filled Scowl of Supreme Displeasure. With Twilight considering Blitz’s preposition, it gave her time to respond. “I like it,” Twilight said at last, making Aegis wilt. “Good thinking, Blitz. I’ll order an incubator train car to move to Canterlot station immediately.” As Twilight started outlining her plan in more detail, Gear Ratio was getting tired of waiting and silently flew up and pulled one of Aegis’ wings open to show the pattern to her mother. Aegis wanted to pull it back into a resting position, but Gear kept looking between Twilight and the wing, trying to get her to notice without having to resort to pinging her. Aegis was about to snap at the chief caretaker when Twilight finally turned to see what her daughter and chief caretaker were silently fighting over. Gear Ratio finally stopped tugging when Twilight narrowed her eyes at the pattern. “What the…” She briefly used her magic to sniff out any disguise magic and found none. “Aegis, why is my cutie mark on your wing?” Much to Aegis’ protests, Gear flew over to pull the other wing open. “Wings?!” “So neither of you did this?” Gear asked worriedly. “I may be more vain since becoming queen,” Twilight answered hesitantly after thinking of all the artwork and architecture that decorated Phoenix’s Roost, “but nowhere near that level.” Gear Ratio’s mane started frizzing out. “Complications are bad, really, really, bad! What if this gets worst! What if they start growing extra limbs or cancer!?” Panic started rising in the room with Twilight at the forefront. Within seconds the vessel lurched into motion. “Okay, we need to get back to the hive, scratch Canterlot. Aegis, Blitz, you’re restricted to your quarters until we get this sorted out.” Out of all of them, Rainbow Dash was more confused at her sister’s reaction, than the existence of the marks. “Why are all of you getting so bent out of shape? They just got cutie marks… in a really weird place that are copies of yours and mine. How’s that a bad thing?” “Of course it’s bad!” Twilight flustered with spittle thankfully flying over Rainbow’s head as she ducked down. “Changelings don’t get cutie marks! This could be a sign that something else is wrong, something we didn’t account for! I have to tell mother, maybe she knows what to do!” “Now hold on,” Rainbow swatted Twilight with a wing before she could speak with Cadista. “You and I are still part pony right? That’s the whole reason we can still produce love and all that,” she stated while rolling a hoof in the air. “So I would think that all of our kids, royal or not, are part pony then too right?” “If that were true, then wouldn’t the drones get these too?” Blitz offered while showing off her mark. “Yes, that’s right!” Twilight agreed, descending deeper into panic. “This might be a major problem with our bloodline that could only show up with royal daughters! UGH!!” Rainbow had seen her sister mentally spiral out of control one too many times to let it happen again. She smacked her sister with her wing again, this time a bit harder than before. “Twilight, you seriously need to chillaxe!” Aegis, Blitz, and Gear Ratio cringed at the impact leaving Twilight speechless for a moment. The purple queen blinked a few times before using her breathing technique, something Blitz and Gear quickly mimiced. “Right… thanks, sis.” “Anytime, Twilight.” Twilight’s mane continued to frizz out but her expression had settled down to mostly calm. Can’t work properly if I get too wigged out anyway. Shoving her nerves aside, Twilight started scanning her daughter while Gear Ratio and one other caretaker inspected Blitz. “Okay… so, I only did minor work on your brains to make you more adaptive to shapeshifting hands and bipedalism, so I’ll start there.” Out of the pair, Aegis was far less worried as she stared deeply at her wing pattern while scratching her chin. “You know… I think I’ve seen this wing thing before. Like, when I was still a drone.” Twilight halted before she could grab a magical probe one of the caretakers had brought in. “What do you mean?” It took Aegis almost a minute to place the memory. “I just remember seeing this pattern show up every once in a while in my sex partners’ wings for a few moments after climax, but it never lasted long, and no one ever said anything about it, so I thought it was normal and didn’t pay it much attention.” “Which partners?” Blitz asked quickly. “Because now that I think about it. I’ve seen the same thing a few times, but only with my clutchmates.” “I ahh… heh haha… I didn’t exactly keep track,” Aegis shrugged shamelessly and a bit sheepishly. Rainbow snorted in amusement. “Well I’ve never seen it.” “Nor I,” Twilight confirmed with mixed relief. “But if you’ve seen it since being a drone, this might not be a disaster after all.” Rainbow scoffed at the whole issue and teased her sister by flicking her nose with a wing tip. “There you go again, thinking the sky’s falling over a cutie mark that just wanted to move. Are you sure there isn’t a pill for that?” “I’m going to ignore that,” Twilight stated with a harumph. Over the next few minutes, Twilight’s scans failed to reveal any other complications, causing her to blush in embarrassment. “I can’t find anything wrong so far, but,” she warned with a raised hoof while her sister rolled her eyes, “this could simply be an early sign of something insidious. I can’t go in too much depth with just my horn and this small scanner,” she waved the brass tool for emphasis. Sickbay doesn’t have any scanning equipment the hatchery doesn’t. Pointedly ignoring her sister’s ‘I told you so’ face, Twilight addressed her chief caretaker. “Gear, keep a close eye on them until we get back to the hive to do some proper inspections.” “Yes, my queen.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the whole thing. “Honestly, I thought the appearance of a cutie mark was a good thing.” Twilight had already walked over to the hatchery control room to speak further with Gear Ratio. “Annnyway, when this whole cutie mark insanity blows over, as I know it will, maybe you two can customize them to fit you better.” Blitz was still concerned about it, but Aegis shared her aunt’s jovial attitude. “What? You don’t want your cutie mark displayed even more for the world to see?” “Ha! No need for that when I have tens of thousands of kids with my coat, mane and wings of awesomeness. Even more so if Blitz never alters her coat or mane colors. Once you guys are full queens and can change it safely, I think you should personalize them. It’s not every day somepony gets to choose their cutie marks… or should we call it wing marks?” “Well I’m glad you two are having a blast,” Blitz huffed. She glanced worriedly at her mother’s cutie mark outlined on her wing. “I really hope you’re right momma. I really do.” Deep in the fetid jungles, a small contingent of drones approached a cave entrance covered in wax along a jagged rocky outcropping. Reptilian eyes shone forth from the leader as she tried to locate the guards that should have been there. Aside from the noise of lesser insects and birds, the jungle was unnaturally quiet being this close to Sectovaria’s hive. Has she relocated that quickly? Where could she possibly go? Fearing a trap, she sent two drones out in the open ground between her underbrush hiding spot and the cave entrance. The pair made it across without incident, further worrying Polybia. As one, all twenty of her advance force charged into Sectovaria’s hive. With only a few soldiers spared to cover her flanks, Polybia’s primary puppet raced through the darkened tunnels, knowing exactly where to go. However nothing barred the way, driving her fears ever higher. It was only when she finally arrived at the hatchery did she find other changelings. Two of Sectovaria’s guards stood at the entrance, but Polybia could not see further in due to the large organic door akin to a sphincter sealing the hatchery away. There’s no way she’d negotiate with me, now that I’ve been labeled a rogue, she thought with renewed fury towards Chrysalis, but I have to know the fate of my egg. All of that crossed her mind between the time of seeing the guards and charging in to attack. The two guards tensed, but seemed to refrain from using their bladed arms or spines upon recognizing Polybia’s drones. With their guard lowered, Polybia pinned the left one under her puppet’s alicorn sized girth while the rest of her troops killed the other soldier before laying siege to the door. “Sectovaria, answer me!” Having expected this, Sectovaria responded quickly by puppeting the captured drone. “Polybia. This may go without saying, but due to… recent events, our treaties and my fealty are nullified. I no longer answer to you.” “Rogue or not, Sectovaria, you better still have what belongs to me,” Polybia growled with her horn glowing threateningly. “Or I will hunt you down to the depths of Tartarus if I have to!” Even with it just being a puppet, Sectovaria cowered at the pool of dark magic gathering in Polybia’s horn. “I’m not an idiot, Polybia. I kept your egg safe and sound. Although I don’t know how useful it’ll be once she loses her ability to love.” Polybia’s drones confirmed the royal egg was alive and unharmed, lifting a massive weight off her shoulders. Not that she allowed that to show through her puppet. “Don’t worry about that. I… thank you, for not killing or stealing it away. However little you take my word, I will leave you alone for it, so long as you stay out of my way.” “Y- you’ll get no trouble from me. Not that I could do much to you anyway.” Without further ceremony, Polybia’s drones retreated from the hive. Ultimately she was torn on Sectovaria. Such a pushover, for a queen, and yet she has a loving daughter… What a cruel joke. For her part, Sectovaria leaned back in her chair. The ship’s cabin was starkly different compared to the welcoming comfort of soft wax, plush leaves, and glowing lichen of her home. Will Polybia actually leave me alone? She looked sane, but no sane queen would ever get themselves declared rogue like that. A large part of her mental power was devoted to moving her drones north, so she didn’t notice Khirala tugging on her leg until she started whimpering. With a forced smile to hide her deep-seated fears, Sectovaria picked her up and started rocking her while feeding the nymph some love as she searched for the nymph food one of Rainbow’s drones had provided earlier. “Don’t you worry little one. You’re safe now.” She continued to whisper soothing stories that ultimately got Khirala to drift off into a fitful sleep. I hope all the stories of Twilight and Rainbow being too soft on their family are true. It’d be my luck to go from one psychopathic master to another. Heaving herself up, Sectovaria made her way to the door and opened it to find two blue guards just outside. “Tell your queen that her fears were justified. Polybia is still alive.” Far removed from such dreadful events, Celestia was actually having a rather pleasant day at court. The nobles were noticeably less bothersome, the lobbyists pushing fewer one-sided bills, and most surprisingly of all, there were more than seven petitions and propositions that were genuine improvements. She tried to ignore the facts that six of them were done out of selfish aims, but she took her points when she could. Why does Luna’s court get most of the well-meaning lobbyists? Currently, she was silently reviewing a monument construction project proclaiming the harmonious peace between the known races to be built in Ponyville. “I have to say, I love the idea, Steel Chisel. I think a statue of all friendly races, including the immigrate sphinxes would go a long way towards continued harmony. I think Ponyville would be the perfect place for it.” “I knew you would, Princess,” the dusty unicorn stallion replied excitedly at the prospect of a contract. “With Ponyville’s recent growth though, you might need to rename it Pony City.” It was a horrible joke, and several royal guards’ military bearing were tested to keep from groaning. Celestia was able to titter politely. “We just might,” she agreed while signing the petition. “I will have my secretary provide you the detail on how to proceed from here.” “Thank you, Princess, you won’t regret it!” Steel Chisel departed with such a bounce in his step he almost missed the changeling ambassador, Blue Flare, barging into the room nearly tripping over the hapless sculptor. “P-Princess Celestia, there is an urgent situation from the jungles!” Celestia put up a halting hoof towards the next supplicant as her brow furrowed along with her smile evaporating. “What happened?” Not wanting to cause a panic, Blue Flare flew over, bowed quickly and moved to speak in the diarch’s ear. “One of the other queens, Polybia, has gone rogue, and Aunt Twilight believes she is allied with an ancient being named Grogar.” “Grogar?” Celestia looked at the ambassador with bewilderment. Blue Flare nodded in affirmation. It took Celestia a few moments to place the unfamiliar name. “But he’s just a foal’s book villain I read to her once during Nightmare Night. He was never real. What is she basing this off of?” “Just a giant cloud demon bearing his likeness assaulting the Summit. She said that it was even accompanied by the tolling of bells as the old stories go.” That got a troubled eyebrow lift out of the old alicorn. “That is troubling.” ’The Grim Tales’ never was a very popular foal story collection. And has fallen even further into obscurity over the millennia. I highly doubt a changeling queen would use such an obscure image… “I assume Twilight wants access to the archives for research.” “I always tell Scroll that Aunty is too predictable at times,” Flare replied with an amused smirk. “But yes, she does.” “Very well, and get Aged Page to assist you. If a fairy tale has come to life, he might have some insight on the matter. At the very least he’ll get a kick out of it.” “Thank you, your highness. My queens send their gratitude.” Blue Flare bowed again and departed, leaving many of the ponies, guards and court members alike, in an uneasy state. Celestia quickly noticed the wave of concern chilling the room. I really hope Twilight is wrong about this one, she thought now that the old story tales were being pulled from the depths of her memories. Something like Grogar should stay imaginary. Grogar festered in his cocoon prison as he was brought into a familiar chamber by a small group of drones. The room itself was vast with several tall pillars made from a sort of wax and rock based cement keeping the chamber stable. There were thousands of pods blanketing the walls and pillars, each containing prisoners from many races both near and far, average and exotic. The necromancer’s smoldering fury was dampened a bit after he passed by a sleeping sphinx. The oddity of seeing a new creature barely passed through his ancient mind before turning back to look at the destination. In a small clearing, several pods had been harvested from the stores and lined up beside Polybia. He scanned the lot of them with mild curiosity. “What’s this? Are you giving me a selection or a feast?” “The latter,” she stated distastefully. “With my rogue status, I will need more of your power than ever before.” “So you’re trying to… fatten me up, as they say.” Ultimately, he never got much of a rise out of her any time he spoke about feeding time. To think there are mortal species out there with the same disregard for sapient life as my bedeviled kin. “I know not their crimes, or even if they’re guilty. Just eat your fill. I will drain you later.” With a quick burst of magic, Polybia activated an anti-magic barrier so powerful it even managed to give Grogar a migraine. Once done, the drones removed his bindings and sliced his cocoon open so he could move freely. The old ram jostled his stiff limbs while casting his ears about, picking up the sound of numerous drones nearby, just waiting for him to make a wrong move. “And what if I don’t desire to feed? I have no interest in your little war.” Polybia eyed him dangerously. “Then I will drain you anyway. The demonologist was quite specific about how close I can bring you to true death.” She had two of her drones pull one of the captives off the line and threw it at Grogar’s hooves. “At such a weakened state, even a demon of your power can be made to feel true pain.” “Child, I was ancient before your species even existed,” Grogar replied with supreme disinterest. However he distinctly caught on to the demonologist comment. That would explain things. “I have experienced pain beyond your imagination, and you think you can do worse? You do know which realm I came from don’t you?” He started lazily studying the offered prisoners more closely, starting with the one at his hooves. “And yet you wander this realm, rarely if ever leaving. You may not be from this world, but I doubt you are as indifferent to pain as you would have me believe. However…” Polybia walked over to him slowly. “Perhaps torture is the wrong tool.” Grogar remained passive towards her advance. She stopped a few inches away. “If you’re unwilling to fuel my war, I’ll simply have to return these prisoners to their respective societies.” Grogar’s ear twitched, but otherwise revealed nothing. “Why would you give up your food?” “I have over nine thousand of the very worst criminals their societies have brought forth in various secure locations, Grogar. By far, too many for my own needs.” She eyed him, searching for any sign of emotional tell. “And now that all of the other queens are arrayed against me, I can’t keep them all. You keep telling me my sins weigh heavily upon me, so killing any of them in cold blood certainly isn’t helping in that regard. In fact,” she added with a knowing smirk, “the only logical thing to do would be to release them at various cities. I’m sure they can find new lives for themselves out there.” “...It would be a shame if all that sin were to go to waste,” he said with measured poise. His eye fell upon the prisoner below him. It was a minotaur bull with scars almost hidden by the pod’s coating. With practiced ease, one of the drones carefully sliced it open and pulled out a green gel covered arm. Ignoring the mess, Grogar bent down and sliced the arm to withdraw some blood. He licked his hoof, humming in culinary delight. “Murder, child rapist, and… Oohh, now that’s a kink I haven’t tasted in a long time. This will almost be worth the trouble you put me through, Polybia,” he said as he turned his gaze up at her. “But don’t think this buffet will win you salvation when all of this is over. I will claim your soul one day.” “You still don’t understand changeling queens, do you, Necromancer?” Polybia huffed in disdain. “We are not some common riffraff you can find in any other civilization. I don’t care about my fate.” Only that of my progeny, she added to herself. “So you claim,” he replied with a disbelieving tone. He tore open the rest of the sleeping minotaur's cocoon, scowling all the way. Just a bit longer, Polybia, and your mind will no longer be your own. Grogar’s teeth sharpened into knives as he bit down on the bull’s gut, and tore off a mass of flesh, forcing the minotaur to awaken screaming. Polybia watched in muted horror as the demon slowly devoured the bull, all the while keeping him alive as long as possible. Within short order, Grogar consumed the body, bones and all, and still looked famished for more. Where does he put it all? Grogar repeated the process eight times, cursing Polybia all the while as he put the last few alterations to his mana. It was slow, tedious work under the anti-magic field, but hardly as impossible as Polybia believed. That plan was put on hold after he tasted a sphinx’s blood. “Petty theft, and little else,” he muttered quietly. He pushed the arm back into the pod. He looked at Polybia carefully, before adopting a disinterested look. “He’s not to my liking. Put him back.” “I am not your chef, demon,” Polybia stated darkly. “This one is producing only a trickle of love. He’s of no use to me.” “Then I suppose you’ll just have to release him back into the wild,” Grogar returned with thinly veiled contempt. “Fine then.” Three drones grabbed the pod and made for the exit. “I wonder how long he’ll survive the jungles.” Grogar appeared to not care in the least. However he used the distraction to alter his internal magic. “Not my concern anymore.” “Perhaps…” Polybia replied contemplatively. A few moments later she commanded her drones to take the pods back into storage. “You’ve eaten enough, in any event.” Five more drones flew over and grabbed Grogar before starting to encase him in wax so Polybia could personally apply the wards and seals. “I will come for you shortly.” Grogar hid a satisfied smirk as he was carried away to the pool room. It’s taken quite awhile, but I finally altered my magic enough. We’ll see who comes out on top, Polybia.