Harvest
It was an unremarkable patch of ice near the location of where the crystal empire once stood. All that remained was a network of mountainous crags that surrounded where the great city state had stood in a semi circle. The wind tore across the open snowy plans raising up and sculpting pointed snow dunes. A Pegasus pony clad in winter gear was approaching. Slowly plodding through the deep snow drifts he left long deep holes in the snow in his wake. He had copper goggles over his eyes and a scarf and a hat pulled down low over his head. His jacket had cuffed holes for its wings which the wind tore at and disturbed its feathers.
He would have made it back here quicker if this damn storm hadn't blown up, but so many things had gone right this day it only figured that one thing would go wrong. The wind wasn't as bad as the cold. Out on the surface of his desert home the only difference would be that the winds would be kicking up dust storms instead of snow. His trek completed he approached the patch of ice. He stood next to it and tapped it several times with his hoof. He lowered his head and removed his hat trying to get an ear to the ice. He did his best to cup a hoof over his ear to try and block out the howling winds. From the other side of the ice there was a series of taps in response. He did some quick figures in his head and then did another series of taps and stood back. The piece of ice slid back revealing a rough hewn stair case leading down into darkness. The Pegasus quickly descended into the darkness the ice closing behind him rapidly. The ice was transparent enough to act as a window and some wintery blue light lit up the floor in front of him as he came to the start of a long passage. Two sets of pale pupil less eyes stared at the Pegasus from the darkness. In a burst of green flame a changeling nymph appeared in place of the Pegasus, he had orange dorsal platting, long orange mane and tail.
"Welcome back."
"Thank you Thorax. How much time do you think we'll have till Phalanx arrives?"
One of the changelings advanced out of the darkness. He was a drone, had teal dorsal plates and a stocky build.
"We were spaced about three clicks apart on our approach, after I got here you got in around 40 minutes later. It'll take him at least that long. If he doesn’t get lost."
Thorax rolled his eyes. Maxillus nodded.
"We should wait for him. I don’t want to deliver this crop, in parcels. That will only make her majesty mad for having to wait for each one. Plus, she isn't expecting us."
"Order as all ways…"
Thorax droned. Thorax approached the stairs and peered up at the ice patch from underneath.
"It'll be nice not to be cold again."
Maxillus laughed.
"Come on Thorax! Were the best harvesters Howling Caverns have. We weren't out there that long."
Thorax waved a perforated hoof.
"Aaah! I know. The cold isn't the problem. Its that gods forsaken wind. Once that starts blowing the air around so much my shell cant keep it out. Then! …I have a problem."
Maxillus looked over Thorax at the other changeling standing in the dark.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion. I know you weren't expecting us."
"Not a problem prince. These shifts are down right boring. This is the highlight of my day. How'd you guys make out? Pretty good if your back this early."
Thorax laughed and turned to face him.
"We hit the mother load. Another one of Prince Max's crazy schemes."
Maxillus tapped Thorax on the shoulder causing him to whip his head around.
"Its only crazy if it doesn’t work. Got you out of that cold for now, Right?"
"Good point. Don’t look a favor in the mouth."
A shadow appeared across the patch of ice, and the watch drone trotted up the stairs and cocked an ear. All three heard a different series of taps. The watch drone pulled out a chart from the wall ran a hoof across it and made another series of taps on his side of the ice. He then listened and looked at another part of the chart. After hearing the correct number of taps he put the chart away in a pocket on the wall and grabbed a large wooden leaver that was recessed into a step. With a great tug the piece of ice retracted letting the wind and light howl into the passage way and Thorax and Maxillus shielded there eyes with there perforated hooves letting small spots of light cast across there faces. Another Pegasus pony in similar garb nodded at the watch drone and the two of them headed back down the stairs. A lode weight shifted and the wooden handle slapped back into place on the stair way closing the ice slab with a bang.
There was another bright green flash of flame, and another drone stood before them. Slightly taller and lankier then Thorax but with the same teal dorsal plate.
Thorax gave him a playful shove with a forelimb.
"Good! I see you didn't get lost!"
The other changeling shook some residual snow from his shell with a flick of his wings.
"In this storm? It’s a miracle! You don’t get to nock me for my bad sense of direction after this."
Maxillus approached the pair.
"With you Phalanx that’s the three of us. Lets not keep the Queen waiting."
"She's not expecting us. Is she?"
"It will be a happy surprise, and the sooner we drop off our haul the sooner you two can get some rest."
"Your not scarin' me!"
Thorax lead the way and motioned for Maxillus and Phalanx to follow. They made there way down the tunnel. Inset in the walls periodically were crystal orbs that gave off a dull yellowish light giving some definition to the dark hall way they plodded through. At the end of it, it opened into a vast cavern and a wooden platform with a series of wooden steps that wound there way down to the cavern floor. Through out the cavern was the general hoof and wing traffic of a hive. A few drones darting about the stalactites' on the ceiling trying to make there way across the massive atrium, many others streaming around stalagmites on the floor on well trodden paths. Puffs of steam would periodically shoot through a few of the stalagmites that had slanted tops with white cuffs of calcified minerals at there mouths. Various tufts of moss and mushrooms and cavernous plant life were clustered around the bases of the stalagmites and on the sloping inner walls of the cavern. Some of the plants were luminescent and would periodically release spores into the air that would glow and drift about spreading light through out the cavern.
Maxillus breathed in the wonderful warm steam and must and smiled before he and his team mates began to start making there way down the steps. It was good to be home. Maxillus had only hailed from Howling Caverns for a little over two years but it was always welcome after a mission long or short. He enjoyed his time here now. He had been a stranger when he arrived. Knowing only his mothers cousin the queen of the hive Diaphene. But through a willingness to work hard and let no task be beneath him he had earned a good reputation through out the hive. Even as Maxillus and his team wove there ways through the dense hoof traffic in the major mix master of the hive, a few drones, some he didn’t even know, would lift there heads and smile and wave a hoof as he passed. A few even called out.
"Welcome home Prince!"
There were so many in the hive that Maxillus still had not met, but his positive reputation and appearance meant he was easy to spot by other drones, considering he stood practically a head taller then tallest of them.
They approached the royal chambers. A flat wall with a massive set of wooden doors inset in a space hewn from the rock. There was a series of evenly spaced stalagmites and stalactites which had been artificially grown by the changelings to make the entry way to the throne room look like a gaping fanged maw with the massive wooden doors looking like the tongue. There were guards wearing chitin plate taken from the large burrowing beetles which had been domesticated by the swarm long ago to aid in tunneling. They stood inter spaced between the stalagmites with wicked spears at there sides. The spears were black and had tooth and claw like blades sticking out of them at there tops and sides. Maxillus' team approached the main entrance which had two guards posted there each saluted, a salute Maxillus returned.
"Maxillus and company returning from our love gathering mission, here to report to her majesty the queen."
"The queen is currently un occupied. She will receive you."
The guards turned to the massive wooden doors and began to pull them apart. Unlike the rest of the hive they had created some artificial air ways here and torches lined the walls and lead into the smaller ante chamber where Diaphene held court over her swarm. Diaphene sat upon her throne carved from the rock wall that was on the back of the chamber. It raised her so she sat highest in the room a few steps leading down from it.
Engraved into the wall with interlaced borders were two rampant changeling drones opposing the throne.
At either side of the throne stood two Changeling Praetorian guards. Praetorian guards were a rare breed. They were like other changelings save for one thing. Using there changeling powers they had learned to reconfigure and essentially grow out parts of there chitin shells in very controlled ways. This meant the jet black armor they bore was something that was apart of them. It moved with them and gave them far more protection then the average drone, even with armor. There snouts had spikes and there shoulder chitin had grown into thick overlapping plates. As heavy as they looked they were fast and flexible and were trained rigorously to make the most of there valued talent. It was one Maxillus envied.
Diaphene was a tall and slender Changeling queen. Her long teal mane was almost as long as Maxillus, save the fact she endured the pain of having it trimmed more frequently then he. She had elegant sharp features and petite fangs set in her slight muzzle. She had smaller eyes compared to most changeling princess' but that only added to her sleek predatory appearance. She wore only one accessory, a leather interweave band that she used as a mane tie that kept her mane out of her face. On her back she had the teal dorsal plate, the mark of her hive. She was graced with a set of four diaphanous wings that appeared as two when folded.
As Maxillus and his team approached they stopped before a large Blood colored rug that sat in front of the throne. A changeling adjutant rose to the side of the throne and Diaphene cocked her head in his direction, after he whispered something her eyes flared, then narrowed. She raised her head peering at Maxillus and his team. The adjutant trotted up to them and gave a quick shallow bow.
"Her Majesty will see you now your highness."
The adjutant nodded then left the room. Maxillus and his team stepped on to the rug all three bowed. Diaphene raised her voice.
"Back so soon Maxillus!?"
"Yes your majesty."
"I certainly hope this is not your first report of failure since your arrival in Howling Caverns. That would be permissible but still …disappointing."
"On the contrary, your majesty. we are returned successful."
Thorax took a step forward and knelt on two limbs. She nodded in his direction.
"Yes drone?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Maxillus' keen insight spotted and made use of a situation that presented itself two days after we left the hive."
Diaphene leaned forward flittering her wings.
"…Continue."
Phalanx stood forward and dropped to a knee.
"His highness spotted a group of earth pony and unicorn explorers attempting to make there way over the mountain and we intervened."
"How?"
"By placing explosives along a ridge we set off an avalanche that threatened to kill the ponies. When they fell off the mountain under the guise of pegasi we saved there lives. There out pouring of thankfulness and elation after being that close to death after our intervention on there behalf was…overwhelming."
Thorax continued.
" Considering there proximity to a hive entrance we later escorted them to the nearby village and…advised them against making another attempt near that side of the mountain."
Maxillus did not raise his head.
"Our mission is complete, your majesty."
A small smile spread across Diaphene's lips and she sat up right in her throne again.
"Show me."
Maxillus and his team closed there eyes and tilted there heads forward. There horns glowed green and sparkling green smoke began to rise from them into the air forming a cloud. Diaphenes eyes and horn glowed teal and she began to rotate her head. The green sparkling energy was drawn toward her and it was woven up in her horn. Her mouth opened and she drew in a sharp breath as she began drawing the rich emotions into her reserves. When the drones horns ceased to glow they returned to Maxillus' side there heads now lowered. Maxillus continued to pour out the emotional energy like a fountain.
Diaphene loved having a nymph in her hive again. Maxillus had proven to be so capable but in addition to that nymphs could store vast amounts of emotional energy in there bodies in comparison to the average drone. Maxillus' team of three could do and store the work of five with him among them. Maxillus stores ran dry and Diaphene finished absorbing the smoky green cloud. She closed her eyes breathed deeply and sighed. Her eyes snapped open and she smiled broadly baring her fangs.
"I am most pleased! This is surely a delight I did not expect this early. This assignment was projected to take two weeks and here it is three days and you have returned successful."
Maxillus and Phalanx responded.
"Thank you, your majesty."
"Thank you, your majesty."
Thorax stood forward again head still bowed.
"More of her Majesties cousin's fine leadership. The credit goes to him."
Diaphene closed her mouth and smiled at Maxillus.
"Hmmm…The credit goes to all of you. Phalanx. Thorax, I shall conceive of… some reward to give you for your work. For now, Maxillus and I have much to discuss."
Thorax and Phalanx shot each other side glances and grinned bearing there own fangs.
"Thank you! Your majesty!"
"Thank you! Your majesty!"
Diaphene waved a hoof.
"You are dismissed."
Phalanx and Thorax bowed and took several steps backwards then turned and exited the chamber. There was silence in the chamber save for the crackling of the braziers in the corners which cast an eerie flickering light on Diaphene's shinny black shell and glistening dorsal plate. Diaphene raised a hoof.
"Leave us."
The two praetorian guards bowed to there queen, then Maxillus, and left through side entrances on either side of the throne room. Diaphene readjusted herself in her throne and rested her hooves on her limb rests sliding her forelimbs against the smooth stone a few times. Maxillus' head was still bowed.
"I am most pleased with your work Maxillus. Because of this, the emotional harvest is now complete. It has come swiftly do to your tireless efforts and zeal to serve me and this hive."
"Thank you. Your majesty."
"I have chosen how best to put this vast emotional energy to use."
"Yes your majesty."
"I have chosen that is finally time that our hive once again celebrate the Rite of Beltane and I have decided It shall be this night."
Diaphene watched Maxillus carefully as she spoke these words. There appeared to be no change in his body language.
"Yes your majesty."
"It is yet early afternoon. There will be more then enough time to prepare for the feast and the ceremony once I have sent word to the rest of the hive."
"Yes your majesty."
"There will be great revelries and celebration this night. There will be great joy through out the hive."
"Yes your majesty."
Diaphene tipped her head up slightly as she peered down her nose at Maxillus.
"…You and I will not be excluded from this…revelry."
Maxillus remained silent. Diaphene gently tapped the limb rest of her throne waiting for a response. When she was given none she continued.
"Maxillus since being sent to my hive you have fulfilled every roll and task I have set before you. You have been my personal body guard, you have eliminated those that would seek to reveal us, and have gathered love energy far more efficiently then those before you and brought excellence from those that have served you."
Maxillus still did not respond.
"All of these things I have attributed both to your excellent character and raising as a nymph by Queen Arista."
Maxillus continued his silence.
"You have done everything that could be asked of a nymph. Save the most basic duty. You shall fulfill that duty tonight."
Maxillus began to think. Diaphene as a queen was a shrewd ruler. When it came to the operation of her hive she chose not to play at chance. When she was forced to she always stacked the odds in her favor. Clearly that would mean that Maxillus would factor into her plans regarding Beltane. Maxillus knew this day would come. It was the sole reason nymphs were sent to other hives when they were of age. It was to keep the royal lines strong. His only wish was that he would have had more time to prepare himself. His mother, Queen Arista, had always told Maxillus that it was a nymphs duty to put the needs of the queen and the hive before his own regardless of what that might be. But Diaphene was his mothers cousin and therefore his own. He had known her since he was a whelp and she was his senior by nearly 30 years.
"Maxillus?"
Maxillus shook his head, snapped out of his mental pause.
"You normally choose not to speak when you disagree with me. Do you disagree with me on this?"
"No your Majesty-"
Maxillus bent his head more and spoke softly. He pawed at the ground with his hoof.
"It is just…Awkward."
Diaphene smacked a hoof onto her limb rest and leaned forward in her chair and shouted.
"Akward or not! You will serve your duty to this hive-!"
She raised her head and her eyes narrowed.
"…And. To. Me."
Maxillus stood at his full height and with more confidence looked Diaphene in the eye.
"Of course your Majesty! And I hope that we will be successful in our… efforts."
Diaphene nodded and smiled she rested her cheek on a hoof.
"Always concerned with the end goal of the mission. Maxillus…Beltane is a wonderful time for any hive! There will be enjoyment in this night for all."
Maxillus bowed again.
"Yes. Your majesty."
"You are hereby relieved until the feast where you shall be attending with me. Understood?"
"Yes! Your majesty!"
Maxillus took a few steps backwards. Before he could turn to leave Diaphene interjected and raised her head to peer down at him again.
"And Maxillus…"
She waited. Maxillus opened his eyes and turned them up to meet Diaphene's appraising gaze.
"Get some rest-"
The corners of her mouth curled up into a sneer.
"-you will need it."
Celebration
Word of the coming feast night spread quickly. On his way back through the main atrium to his quarters the general energy of the hive had shifted. Things were more noisy and more drones were air born trying to take the shortest path to there destination. Every drone seemed to be talking excitedly to one another about something as Maxillus waded through the sea of drones that passed him. Field laborers were out gathering up crop, or moving crop from woven storage silos out to various parts of the hive where preparation could begin. Many dishes were being prepared and store houses being opened. Casks of wine pressed from cave grown crystal berries were being tapped and being transported to the main hall. Stew and grilled dishes made with mushrooms, roots, tubers, moss and lichens released savory aromas through out the caverns and the delicious scents added to the general excitement felt by the swarm. For many of the younger drones Beltane would be more then a feast day, it would mark the passage into adult hood. Thus it would be for Maxillus.
Maxillus did not share the general thrill felt by the swarm but he did his best not to let it show on his face. He was not going to curb the enthusiasm of his hive mates. When he arrived in his room he tapped the crystals inset in the wall and they blazed to life bathing the room in a soft glow. He flopped on to his bed and laid on his side. Diaphene was a queen in every sense. She had the rearing of a queen, she came from a long line of them. Her rule was absolute and her word was law. In many ways she was similar to his mother Arista, all though Arista tended to be frustrated less and brought to anger less quickly then Diaphene. When Diaphene had told Maxillus to get some rest it sounded like an order. He was tired and there would probably be four hours till the feast. Enough to get in a nice long nap. The three days out trekking in the frozen wastes, then the fevered efforts to threaten the lives of and then to miraculously come to the rescue of the ponies they had saved to feed on had sapped his physical energy.
His mind was not at ease. Maxillus had great respect for Diaphene. He tired endlessly to follow her rule, as his ability to do so was a direct reflection on his own mother Arista. Diaphene had shown respect, and appreciation for Maxillus when he had succeeded at any of his tasks she had assigned him. But it had always been at a distance. Other then feast days, when family visited or when he was required to report they rarely spoke. Back there in the throne room she had looked at and spoke to Maxillus in a way he had never experienced before. He shivered and rolled on his other side. Those piercing teal eyes which had seen so much during her reign seemed to peer right through him. As if he was not what she was after but something else. Maxillus tried to focus on his goal. His goal was to be the best nymph assigned to Diaphene's hive. It didn't matter about how he felt, he would do his duty. Maxillus tried to forget and let his mind drift for a time and fell in and out of sleep until a knock came to his door. Maxillus swung his hooves over the edge of his bed and sat up.
"Come!"
The door swung open and one of the queen's adjutants peeked around it.
"The feast will start in an hour my prince. Should I tell the queen you will be ready by then?"
"Yes adjutant. Thank you. I will be ready shortly."
The adjutant nodded and headed back out into the hall. Maxillus grabbed an herbed bar of soap and a sponge out of a box at the foot of his bed and headed to the thermal baths. One of the great benefits of life in the Howling Caverns was despite the fact that hundreds of feet above the bed rock, icy winds made it nearly uninhabitable for any pony, deep down here in the earth where the crust was thin, thermal water and geysers and pools were formed in these caverns. The high mineral content meant this water was undrinkable even for changelings, however it was wonderful for a changelings chitin. All the drones of Diaphenes swarm even the ones with the dirtiest most menial jobs had impeccable shells and dorsal plates. Such luxuries did not exist from the arid land that Maxillus hailed from, even though there were other similarities to all hives.
When Maxillus arrived at one of the vast thermal pools there were many changelings all ready there bathing themselves as well in preparation for the feast. Nearly all the shallow places were one could sit were occupied. Maxillus new that any one of the drones would be happy to give up some prime real estate for him but he didn't want to impose. That was not his place.
His wings flittered and he made his way up high above the pool, when he spotted a deep spot he tipped forward and folded his wings tight to his back and dove into the electric blue green water. The heat against his shell was over whelming for a split second but he quickly kicked and resurfaced. As his face broke the water he puffed and snorted a few times trying to clear the water from his nose and muzzle. He pattered his wings against the water to steady himself as he bobbed. The smell of the herbs in his bar of soap as it mixed with the mineral water he floated in was soothing to him and for a while he focused on the task of trying to clean and buff out any scuffs in his chitin.
Ponies that had heard or new anything of changelings figured they were uncouth monsters. They had little knowledge of there vast and hidden societies, with there rules and codes of conduct. Monsters bathing would probably seem silly to a pony, but from his time among them, Maxillus believed that even if ponies weren't monsters a great deal of them needed to be bathed more frequently considering the amount of perspiring they did and the amount of hair that covered there bodies.
Maxillus emerged from the water with a furious pounding of his wings. He hovered briefly over the spot and attempted to drip dry. He hovered over to a landing by the pools and after setting distance between him and the other changelings he flayed out his chitin and shook rapidly from nose to tail. Satisfied he returned back to his room. He went to his mirror, a polished piece of white quartz set in the wall. He stood on two legs and twisted to inspect his plating and the rest of his hide. His black chitin shone and his orange dorsal plating looked translucent and sparkled. He stood on all fours and peered at his own face closely in the mirror. He began to wonder about his friends.
"Lampyris, Protonus…"
Protonus had sadly not been assigned to another hive. His mothers insistence in coddling him was an attribute she had never really dropped, even though now she sent him out on various missions in the interest of her hive. Lampyris was all ready at another hive and considering how haughty and driven he was Maxillus was certain he would be doing well as the nymph in that hive. Had he already been asked to do this? No matter. Time was wasting. He needed to attend the feast and he didn’t want to keep Diaphene waiting.
Maxillus arrived at the throne room on time. The queen and her entourage met him there. One of her servants a young female drone placed a crown made out of branches on his head. The branches looked bleached and white. On closer inspection the twigs and sticks looked like tiny antlers woven together. The queen had no crown on but had chosen to have holly woven in to her ragged fin like mane. The other servants formed up in front of them and Diaphene sidled up next to Maxillus and cocked her head in his direction.
"Shall we…Prince?"
Maxillus bent a leg forward and Diaphene took it and they followed the line of servants in the direction of the main hall. The main hall had once been an underground lake that the hive had drained and siphoned off into smaller adjacent pools. This gave them a massive open space with a relatively flat bottom and no stalagmites. There were now hundreds of rugged wooden benches and long tables set in rows through out the space, and changelings were streaming in from all directions and in an orderly fashion beginning to take there seats. There was a long table set with small straight back chairs on one side facing all the benches in the hall. There were two straight back chairs at the center that were tall and throne like.
Diaphene and Maxillus took there places next to each chair, and her entourage went to there seats on either side standing at there places as well. Maxillus had never received such treatment before. His quarters were no different then any drones. He was not given any special privileges. In fact Diaphene only ever referred to him by his name, which is why it was so unnerving when she referred to Maxillus by his title. It now possessed an entirely new meaning.
Steaming trays of food and plates had already been set at all the tables, but after all the Changelings were seated they didn’t touch it. They peered up at the front blinking there teal eyes and occasionally flittering there diaphanous wings. Diaphene motioned her company to take there seats and Maxillus did as well. Before he sat he did notice that in Diaphenes chair a veil had been carved into the top of it, and his chair was carved what appeared to be the head of a stag with great antlers.
The normal chatter of the hive returned to the hall with the added clatter of plates and serving spoons. Periodically servants would flitter by Maxillus and Diaphene's table and offer different dishes. Maxillus did his best to follow Diaphenes lead trying to eat no more then she did. He had no intention of tiring himself by over eating at a time like this. Diaphene was in great spirits and chatted and laughed with all the drones at the table with them. Some times as she would laugh she would reach over and set her hoof on top of Maxillus'. A sign of affection she had never once shown him since he had arrived in Howling Caverns.
"Are you enjoying yourself Maxillus?"
Diaphene locked eyes with him a pleasant neutrality in her gaze.
He nodded and smiled broadly letting his fangs show a little.
"I am your majesty."
She raised and eye ridge showing her doubt regarding that response. He leaned in.
"Your Majesty…I am glad… I just do better in less crowded gatherings…or when I have something to focus on if I am among these many."
It was the truth and one good reason Maxillus never feared taking dangerous assignments that took him or a team outside the confines of the hive. Diaphene turned her head trying not to laugh in Maxillus' face.
"Afraid of crowds!? Oh Gods Maxillus! You are of the wrong species then!"
Maxillus laughed quietly and added.
"No no…I just am better amidst smaller groups. It is easier to talk."
Diaphene turned her head to peer out at the sea of changelings chatting noisily and enjoying the feast.
"An introverted changeling…? I suppose they do exist."
When the feast had reached a close, and the servants had cleared all the food and plates from the tables and had given them a good wipe down, the swarm present put there backs into moving the great tables and benches outward toward the walls of the great hall to clear space in the middle in front of Diaphene's table. The changelings stood in a massive semi circle in the space they had cleared.
At one of the tables a bench had been set on top of it and a group of changelings perched there backs facing the crowd. They were wing singers. Some changelings possessed a recessive gene that gave them a double joint where there wings met there backs. Changelings with out this joint could fly just fine. But it gave wing singers a fascinating ability. It allowed them to angle there wings toward themselves and move them against each other. This caused a vibration in the membranes and caused them to create a sound similar to that of one of the pony's stringed instruments. They began to bend and flex there wings generating a cacophony of various sounds. Then the wing singers struck up a tune and slowly female and male drones began to pair up and start to spin across the floor others took to the air linking hooves and flitting about in time with the music.
Maxillus had never seen the hive like this and it was impossible to keep a smile from spreading across his face. He couldn't contain the happiness it had given him and he took a risk. He dropped his hoof atop the queens causing her to jump and look at him.
"Would you like to dance your Majesty?"
Diaphenes look of surprise turned to one of happiness. She rested a hoof on her chest and slid her hoof out from Maxillus' and tapped it gently.
"Thank you but no…Do not let that stop you Maxillus…Especially if the spirit has moved you so."
Diaphene was cold and calculating even by changeling standards. But the warm smile she gave Maxillus was undeniable. He nodded and rose from his seat. Before he made his way to the floor he looked over his shoulder back at Diaphene.
"Please your majesty…keep a spot open on your card for me?"
Diaphene laughed excitedly and waved her fore limbs at him.
"Go! Get out there!"
Maxillus began to pick his way through swirling bobbing mass of wings and shells toward the outer edge. Unsure of what he was looking for. The semi circle around the impromptu dance floor had thinned but was still present. He began to weave through it until he saw her. A tall rather lanky female drone was leaned up against the wall far back behind the semicircle. She stood on two hooves her fore limbs crossed in front of her chest. She looked bored. Most male drones were shorter and stockier then her which might explain why she hadn't been asked to dance. But she was the perfect height for him. He approached carefully trying not to draw her attention. When he reached her side he bowed.
"May I have this dance?"
The female drone looked in his direction disinterested then looked away. Then she threw a double take and squeaked.
"P-Prince Maxillus!!!"
Maxillus laughed and raised his head and extended a fore limb.
"Max is just fine. No one really calls me prince except my team mates."
"Oh. Yes! Uh-thank you…Max."
The female drone had unfolded her limbs but hadn't taken his. He offered it again cocking his head to one side.
"Was that a yes?"
She peered at it dumbstruck for a moment and then quickly took it.
"Uh… Oh! Of course."
They trotted toward the dance floor and he pulled her into a two hoofed stance and they began to swirl into the mass of other changelings pirouetting in time with the steady pulls and beats of the music.
"You are?"
"Ishkur. Thank you prince…This-I. I really didn’t expect that…"
"I don’t dance often but I do know how to. I did this on a whim. So thanks for coming along with me."
He smiled brightly and looked out among all the other changelings as they danced. Ishkur peered up at him. She had only seen the prince from a far. She was oddly tall among female drones but in this two hoof stance he practically towered above her something she had never experienced before. Like all nymphs to her, he was incredibly handsome. He had a real tail and mane! Well as close as you could come and still be a changeling. His muzzle was full and strong not like the small bulbous ones on the front of most male drones and his eyes…Being from another hive meant he had those fiery orange eyes that smoldered. Life in general was satisfying but some what monotonous for a female drone like Ishkur. But now she was dancing with what was essentially to her a foreign prince.
Life couldn’t get much better. When the last few notes died down the wing singers group wasted no time and vaulted into another song.
Ishkur laughed.
"Having fun?"
"Yes, Prince Max."
She nodded. She wanted to say it one more time as a fun little reminder to herself of who she was dancing with. The prince all though giddy at first seemed more distant as the pair swept across the floor.
"Ishkur…Have you been through…. I mean… were you here the last time the hive…you see I-I havent-"
"No Maxillus…Highness. I am 22 summers. The last time this occurred I was far to young…I heard rumored this is happening because of your tireless efforts though!"
"Through the work of my teammates and the leadership of her majesty the queen. Nothing else."
"Highness…If I may ask…just to be sure… Do you seek some one for something …other then a dance partner?"
Maxillus peered at her carefully, then laughed.
"…Oh! No that’s not what I meant by that question, I've never gone through this either, I was just hoping some one would know a thing or too and save me from my ignorance. I'd be honored Ishkur, really! But you see… I-I have…"
Maxillus peered across the dance floor at Diaphene who was tapping one fore hoof in time with the music as she swished the other one through the air as if she were conducting the swarm on swirling parade before her. Before he could continue Ishkur nodded.
"-You have royal duties to attend too. I understand prince. It was too rash of me to make that kind of assumption."
"Not at all. Were both new comers to this."
For some time they didn’t speak but Maxillus noticed that Ishkur was looking at his face very closely.
"Prince…If you have never experienced this before…how old are you?"
"I am four summers younger then you Ishkur."
Ishkurs face locked into a look of shock.
"That can't be Prince..."
"One of the benefits of being noble caste I guess…My stature does allow some to confuse my age."
"Prince… If you serve the queen though that means… But…Prince! She is 50!"
"48 summers. But that doesn't matter. As the only nymph in the hive I serve her in all things. Also I believe Queens gain elegance, stature and form as they age. They are truly…timeless."
As he spoke these words Maxillus continued to turn his head trying to see Diaphene. She caught his eyes as they passed by her table and he looked at her closely. She had a glass of crystal wine on the limb rest of her chair. The queen stared at Maxillus. Her eyes shone and he noticed the hunger in them. Maxillus had meant every word he had spoken to Ishkur about the queen, but the idea of what would follow still terrified him. She was indeed beautiful. Possessing grace that only a queen had, but she was still technically family, and an incredibly powerful individual, both as ruler and in magic.
The last few notes of the last song died away. Slowly the revelers came to a halt. They all began to flitter there wings in approval causing a quiet rush of air to pass around them. Maxillus released ishkur and they bowed to each other.
"Ishkur…Good luck."
Ishkur turned her face up and smiled.
"Good luck to you too Maxillus. It seems you might need it more then I."
Maxillus chuckled.
"Well…you got me there."
Ishkur began to trot off amidst the drones of the swarm and waved a hoof at Maxillus as they parted.
