Acquisitions of an Aspiring Queen

by Juntao112

Chapter 5

It was difficult to tell time in an underground cave lit by fluorescent fungus, but Ace was fairly certain that Adjutant had woken him up far too early the next morning. Silent Knight and Flash Sentry might have been used to rising at the crack of dawn, but Ace worked an 8–3 retail job and slept in on the weekends.

"What do you need me for?" Ace grumbled as he rubbed his eyes. "I doubt whoever Queen Andrenida has invited is coming in at this hour."

"I need to make sure you're all familiar with protocol so we don't have another incident like yesterday. Now, Silent Knight and Flash Sentry already know how to treat dignitaries, so this won't be too hard for them. I'm worried about you." Adjutant looked him up and down. "Do you even know how to behave around royalty?"

Ace threw up his hooves. "Of course I do! I used to deliver reports to Queen Chrysalis all the time, remember? I'm a trained infiltrator."

"Right, I'd forgotten about that." In her defense, the only thing she had seen Ace infiltrate was a kitchen pantry. "Let's practice. Greet me as you would Queen Chrysalis."

Ace immediately dropped to the floor and covered his head. "I'm sorry, your highness! Please don't hurt me! It wasn't my fault!"

Adjutant ground her hoof into her forehead. "On second thought, maybe you should just pretend to be a pony. An earth pony. The most boring earth pony you can think of. Ideally, one that could be mistaken for a statue."

With a sigh, Ace gritted his teeth and changed into a passable doppleganger of Filthy Rich.

"Perfect," Adjutant beamed. "Go stand in a corner and don't say a word to anyone."

She turned to the guardponies. "Alright, you two act as you would around your diarchs. Don't speak until spoken to, and be deferential to both queens. Queen Andrenida is nice, but that's no guarantee that the one we're meeting today will be. Be ready to deal with unpleasantness."

"Don't worry," Flash Sentry assured her, "We've had plenty of experience with that."

The insult slipped over Adjutant's head as she nodded. "Good, then let's go over possible trade options again. We have half the day left, and I want to make the most of it."

While Adjutant drilled the guards on protocol and economic data, Ace crept out the door in search of a quiet corner to resume his sleep. The tunnels of the hive were eerily quiet, without the persistent hacking coughs that he had become accustomed to. Had the sick been moved out of the way to prevent a visiting queen from seeing how weak Hive Mephera was? If so, where? Spending time with sick changelings was not as invigorating as a good rest, but entertaining others who needed their spirits lifted gave Ace a warm feeling inside.

Why did she have to keep treating him as if he were some sort of moron? That might have been how Chrysalis did things in the old days, but it was not as if Ace was dumb. He just failed to think things through sometimes. (Ok, a lot of the time.) But it was intentions that counted in the end, and he always had good intentions. At least his friends seemed to think so.

The clopping of his hooves echoed through the tunnel. Where was everyling else?

"Hello, Ace."

The sudden voice from behind caused Ace jumped up and clung to a stalactite. Down below, he saw Adjutant raise an eyebrow at him.

"Wow, you scared me there." He dropped to the ground and looked at her sheepishly. "I– You're probably wondering why I'm out here being un–-statue–like, aren't you?"

"No, I actually just wanted to apologize for earlier," she answered. "I've been under a lot of stress lately, and I wanted to let you know that I appreciate all that you've done for me."

The gears in Ace's mind started turning. Was that a freely given compliment? Something felt wrong. "I understand," he said slowly. "Stress can make us all grouchy and we've been under a lot of stress this trip. Can I do anything to help?"

Adjutant leaned in and whispered. "I have an idea."

Before he could respond, she pushed him back against a stalagmite and planted a kiss on his lips. His eyes widened as he pushed her off.

"Hey! We're both in relationships!"

She grinned at him. "They're not here, are they?"

Ace lowered his horn at her. "Okay, that definitely doesn't sound like something Adjutant would say. Drop the disguise, whoever you are."

A green flash enveloped the impostor, leaving Princess Apida in its wake. "Can't blame a girl for trying, can you? It's not often we get to see Chrysalis's handiwork running around."

"So what?" The reminder of what he was bred for caused Ace's expression to darken. "Did you suddenly see a rare opportunity to get a genetic sampling of Chrysalis's handiwork?"

"Maybe," she smirked. "Although I wouldn't say the idea came to me suddenly."

He made a disgusted noise and turned back towards the diplomatic quarters.

"Wait!" Princess Apida put on her best pleading expression, a pout known to have brought down even her mighty mother on occasion. It caused Ace to stop dead in his tracks. "I apologize for the ill–conceived attempt at seduction. These are hard times for my hive, and I don't want us to be seen as weak in the eyes of other hives. If we had infiltrators as good as Chrysalis, well...but I suppose that is no excuse to use you as a tool for power. Still, I must admit that you do have my curiosity, Ace. May I ask you some questions?"

Ace leaned against a stalagmite. "Alright, go ahead."

"Is it true that you've been living among ponies openly? Isn't that dangerous? I heard you were attacked along with your leader in the capital a while back."

"That was just one time though! Most ponies are... well, they don't necessarily like us, but they're at least neutral as long as we're not gathering in big groups around them. Besides, I've made enough friends that I feel comfortable living in Ponyville." He regarded her suspiciously. "I didn't know you cared."

"I don't," Apida shrugged. "But mother has this bizarre obsession to learn their ways, and I've been trying to understand it for years."

"You don't think it's a good idea?"

Princess Apida rolled her eyes. "We're changelings. We survive by stealth and deception. It's the way things have always been. To ally ourselves with our prey and paint a target on our backs is the height of foolishness. Oh, Equestria may speak of peace and goodwill now, but relations change with the times, and when they sour, I would prefer to leave our enemies grasping at shadow."

Ace crossed his forelegs. "Celestia has ruled for a thousand years. I would imagine that Equestrian policy is fairly consistent. Your mother has been around for a while, and probably agrees."

"Believe what you will," Apida scoffed. "As princess of Hive Mephera and their future ruler, I have a duty to study and prepare for any potential danger." She waved her hoof at him. "But for now, you can go back to bed."

---

When Ace returned to his lodgings, he saw that Adjutant was still rehearsing for the meeting. By this time, she had moved onto practicing gestures and posture in front of a polished crystal mirror, while Silent Knight and Flash Sentry were gently sparring in a corner. Ace sat down in the wicker chair and began thinking.

The brief encounter with Princess Apida had revealed an unsettling conflict within Hive Mephera. She was headstrong and cunning, with the potential to cause more than a hooffull of trouble. Adjutant might be worried about the Queens, but the next generation of rulership might prove to be the real problem. Apida was right, in a way; the shifting tides of politics meant that you could never really trust anyone else. But that did not preclude building genuine, friendly relations; it was just a caution against being naive.

Adjutant turned away from the mirror to face him. "Ah, Ace! I must say, you did a good job being quiet for once. Now tell me, what do you think of my performance?"

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," he shrugged absentmindedly.

"And what do you think of the speech?"

"I, um, well…"

Adjutant rolled her eyes. "Oh spit it out, I'm not going to pin you to a piece of cardboard over it."

Ace swallowed nervously as he prepared to bluff his way out of his latest conundrum. "I think that, er, your focus on the economic aspect comes at the expense of allaying political fears about Equestrian domination, because no changeling would want their hive reduced to a client state."

"Oh." Adjutant turned back to the mirror and let her shoulders drop. "You're right, of course. I guess I've been avoiding the issue because I don't have the political capital to do it. Queen Andrenida might, but the fact that her home was just attacked by terrorists undermines whatever point she might make in our favor. At the end of the day, it's up to me, a known traitor, to sway the ruler of an entire hive, and I just don't possess the charisma for it. I'm an egg counter at heart, not some orator or politician."

It looked like his bluff had worked too well.

"Ok, look, er…" He paused. How was he going to get himself out of this one? "Do you think that Princess Twilight and her friends were the most qualified to deal with Nightmare Moon, when they were, respectively, a sheltered bookworm, apple farmer, animal caretaker, weather mare, baker, and tailor? You might not be a diplomat, but I'm a failed infiltrator and I work in retail, yet we're both here, aren't we? We may not be the most qualified, but we were called here, maybe by fate itself. We shouldn't give up just because it's hard! I think we perform at our best when the situation's most difficult!"

"Besides," he added, "I don't think of you as a traitor for coming to Equestria. It was pretty clear Queen Chrysalis would lead the hive to destruction, and you took the most sensible option for yourself and our kind. If anything, you're a brave leader for making such a tough decision, and I think everyling will see it during the negotiations."

Adjutant grabbed Ace in a tight hug and kissed him on the forehead. "I...thanks, Ace. You're right. The die is cast, and we must do out best for all our sakes."

Ace blushed and stammered in her hooves. "I–I'm sure you'll do just fine!"

---

When Ace next woke, it was to the sounds of hooves thundering down the tunnels of the hive. The room was empty; evidently, Adjutant had decided his presence was not required at the meeting. For a moment, Ace considered going back to bed, but could not resist the urge to rejoin his group. Perhaps his speech about fate was not too far off the mark.

A contingent of soldiers stood at attention in the diplomatic quarters, with their carapaces gleaming in the blue light. His friends were waiting in the reception chamber where they had held the party yesterday. A trumpet blared and announced the arrival of Hive Mephera's latest visitors.

"All hail Queen Papilion, of Hive Ephemera!"

Queen Andrenida and her daughter stepped in, followed by a dozen unfamiliar warrior changelings who surrounded an unfamiliar Queen. She flipped her scarlet mane as she looked around the room. When she saw Adjutant, she gave a smile that did not quite reach her cold grey eyes, and revealed a pair of sharp fangs.

"Ah, so you're the turncoat from Hive Hypatia. I've heard much about you; I believe congratulations are in order for tweaking Queen Chrysalis's tail." Queen Papilion looked Adjutant up and down, as if scrutinizing a specimen under a microscope. "I must say, you look well fed."

"Thank you, my queen." Adjutant bowed her head low. "I am fortunate enough to have a consort who provides for me. Our partnership with Equestria has been quite profitable."

"Yes, I had heard that you were in bed with those that humbled your former queen," Papilion said dryly.

Adjutant flinched, while Ace glared at Papilion from behind Adjutant's back. It was a testament to their training that neither Silent Knight or Flash Sentry lost their composure. Andrenida looked at her guest reproachingly, though Apida seemed to approve of her tone.

"I am told," Papilion continued, "That you have an offer for me. Shall we dismiss our entourage and talk in private?"

Andrenida nodded; at once, all of the soldiers filed out of the room and closed the door behind them, though Silent Knight and Flash Sentry remained behind. Queen Papilion raised an eyebrow.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Adjutant bowed again. "These two are not my guards, my queen. They are here to represent the diarchs."

"Hm. One would have been quite enough." Queen Papilion chose to let the issue rest and seated herself at the table. "Speak now, while you hold my attention."

"Thank you, my queen." Adjutant took a moment to clear her throat. "You have, no doubt, heard that Equestria is willing to enter into partnership with changeling hives. Indeed, our gracious host has been the recipient of much aid that has helped rebuild her hive. I, too, was given the privilege of settling in Equestria in the spirit of peace. On behalf of the crown, I would like to extend the same offer to you."

Andrenida politely applauded. Apida rolled her eyes. Papilion rested her chin on her hoof.

"We would receive love, of course, without having to gather it for ourselves?"

"My colony in the Everfree could supply you with an ample amount."

"And you would, no doubt, supply us with modern technology, generators, and fuel?"

"All that you would need."

"And then," Papilion's eyes glinted, "After we have become used to licking your hooves, would you control us with economics, rather than force?"

Andrenida scowled. Apida laughed. Adjutant froze solid as Queen Papilion continued to speak.

"I know what this is, pony–lover. You couldn't make it among your own kind, so you chose to prostitute yourself to our prey. Well, I am not quite as naive as you would think; I can see this for what it really is. A thinly veiled attempt at domesticating us. You can crawl back to your mistress and tell her a Hive bows to no outside influence, especially not–"

There was a resounding crack through the chamber as Adjutant slammed her hooves down on the table.

"I have had enough of your attitude, you old hag! I offer you a chance to elevate your hive to greatness. Take it or leave it; if you don't, I guarantee you someling else will. And on that day, the same power of Harmony that flows throughout Equestria and allowed them to defeat abominations from beyond space and time will run through that hive. I stand to be a part of the greatest nation on this planet, and Queen Andrenida is set to join us. Get with the program or buck off, I don't particularly care which."

A stunned silence settled in the room after Adjutant's outburst. She mentally cringed as she felt every pair of eyes in the room staring at her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to take a break. Let me know what you decide when I return."

Cold sweat beaded on her brow as she walked into her own quarters. Once the door had closed, she let her legs buckle under her and collapsed against the back of the wicker chair.

There was a smattering of hooves from behind her, and she turned to see Ace chasing after her, panting breathlessly. "That was the most incredible thing I have ever seen! It was really beautiful–"

"Stop being so maudlin," Adjutant scoffed. "I only said what I needed to get what I wanted." She pushed him away and staggered back down the tunnel. "Come on, we need to get back to the conference and see how badly I've bucked things up."

"Already?" Ace asked. "I thought you were taking a break?"

Adjutant shook her head. "Timing is an important aspect in politics. I like to give my opponent only a moment of thought to doubt themselves before demanding an answer."

"Does it work?"

"I got you to come along, didn't I?" She kicked open the door and walked back to the meeting, leaving Ace behind her with his jaw hanging out.

Comments

[Not so New Brony]

That was one way of doing things though what about Flash and Silent? Did they leave with Adjutant or did they remain in the room with the changelings?

[nocara]

Nice move

[Juntao112]

5573231

They remained behind.

[SpiderDungeon]

As an aspiring (sorry) artist, I REALLY appreciate the effort put into the cover, and will read this story based solely off of my assumption of your determination and/or quality.

[Juntao112]

5581235

I'll be sure to pass your compliments on to the artist! You can find a link to his Deviantart if you click the picture.

[tsaukpaetra]

Bwahahahaha that was hilarious!