Duty Bound (Rite)

Rite

All the changelings began to clear the floor and started to file in the direction of the final location of the evening. It was a much smaller ante chamber but it was a special one. Out of the interconnecting chambers that made up Howling Caverns it was located at the highest elevation. Its ceiling was not rock instead it had roots interlaced into the dirt ceiling from plants that were either sleeping or long dead now covered by the snow above. At the center of this room sat a dais that had been carved from stone and had many symbols carved into it. It's diameter was just long enough for a single changeling to stand on it.

The room had tunnels and pockets carved into walls and as the room filled, changelings quickly flitted up to them and peeked out blinking there iridescent eyes from the shadows as the rest crowded into the room around the base of the dais.

Diaphene entered the chamber. The densely packed changelings on the main route to the dais flattened themselves to the walls and bowed and parted like a wake before her as she trotted toward the dais. Maxillus walked behind her, the groups of drones crowding in behind him as he passed. With out using her wings Diaphene leapt on top of the dais lowered her head and closed her eyes. Each of the drones including Maxillus did the same and they all began to flitter there wings stirring the air once again.

Changelings were not all that different as ponies when showing there approval. The Changelings of Howling Caverns had discovered the soft sound of wings made better applause then the clash of hoof's on the ground which could cause a cave in.

Diaphene raised her head and silence fell. The swarm raised there heads there eyes closed and waited. There was a gentle twinkling sound and bright lights filled the holes in Diaphene's legs. A soft white mist began to fall from them. The white mist flowed over across the top of the dais, down its sides and in all directions and began to flow out amongst the hooves of her followers and out the different exits into the rest of Howling Caverns.

Maxillus breathed slowly and deeply. He new that a great deal of the pheromones the queen had released would be absorbed through the holes in his own hooves and those of the drones around him. In less then an hour the cloud that the queen had produced would have filtered through all of Howling Caverns. The twinkling noise stopped and the mist ceased to fall from the dais. It still clung to the ground obscuring it from view. Diaphene flittered her wings loudly and all the swarm responded. The room bowed to her and then began to slowly file out to various more secluded areas of the Caverns. Maxillus waited standing before the dais, trying to not look at much of anything. When the room was empty he heard Diaphenes powerful wings pattering and she was at his side.

"Follow me."

He kept pace with her as she began to lead him back down towards the main hall. Maxillus had no idea what to expect from here on out. He could loose his mind for all he knew. He knew what Beltane meant for the hive. What it was supposed to do. But he had never felt its effect before. He was going in to this blind. For now it was not so bad. His mood had changed from one of fear to one of excitement though… His mind still had worries but he now simply felt more positive as if something good were going to happen he just didn’t know what. His face and the rest of his body felt flushed and warm. That wasn't so bad. For now. It was the other effects later he feared. He had kept pace with The queen but as they approached the main atrium she bolted and began to dart amongst the forest of stalagmites gracefully.

"Maxillus!"

She called over her shoulder playfully.

"Maxillus! Chase me!"

He did his best stay on her tail. He didn't want to frustrate her by loosing her here and having her have to search for him. At a time like this it seemed like failure to keep up with Diaphene would be an excellent way to invite her wrath. She laughed musically and the clatter of there hooves echoed through the main atrium. Maxillus thought they were alone, but when he sprinted by a stalagmite he was certain he saw Ishkur. He shot another glance in her direction to see it was her. She was standing against a thin stalagmite a young drone pressed against her kissing her neck. Her eyes closed, her limbs wrapped around the young male drone, a pleased smile on her face.

Good for you Ishkur…Another freedom you have that I don’t.

Maxillus and Diaphene ran into the throne room and to the exit on the far left that lead into the queens personal quarters. Maxillus trotted to a slower pace. Diaphene charged into her room and squealed with glee as she threw herself onto her bed panting. Maxillus closed her door behind him and approached her bed and stood still.

In Maxillus' mind there was still an emotional barrier that was keeping him from committing to this and he couldn't deny it. Even if it was his duty. Part of him felt that this was still not right. That he wished he had more choice in the matter. He froze and peered at Diaphene. She rolled on to her back and folded her limbs around herself and swished her tail a few times. When this didn't merit a response she rolled over on to her side and lifted her self with her front limbs raising her head to look at Maxillus. She pulled her band from her mane and tossed it flippantly on the floor. She let her mane fall down around her face. Maxillus had hung his head and was peering at the ground. He couldn't make eye contact with her any longer. To Diaphene this was a good sign.

"Well!?"

Diaphene patted the other side of her stiff mattress with a hoof impatiently.

"Aren't you going to join me?"

Maxillus raised his head looked at Diaphene then quickly turned his face away shaking his mane out a little.

"I-I will…in a moment."

To Diaphene if any drone had spurned her advances in such a way it would have outraged her. But she knew that pheromones were now coursing through there veins, and the blood of every drone in the hive. Right now the male drones of the hive were mindlessly flinging themselves at the nearest female that would hold still long enough for them to clasp with. Yet Maxillus stood there, resolute, resisting the powerful chemical signals that threatened to over throw his mind. To her the show of will power was impressive. To properly motivate him she would have to use additional tactics which she was happy to ply to gain his affection.

Diaphene rose slowly from her bed and tossed her mane over her shoulder. She carefully plodded off the mattress. Hunched over she paced by Maxillus a few times, eyeing her prey carefully. She walked up to him and ran her face against his cheek and nuzzled his shoulder and withers. She reached up and placed a hoof on his chest. She heard his breath catch in his throat and felt his powerful heart rapidly pulsing in his chest. He had so few mental defenses left. She could easily break them down and the pheromones would take care of the rest.

Maxillus shivered at Diaphene's touch. This close to her he could smell the electric, metallic scent of her chitin mixed in with the bright tones of the holly. He had assumed that the pheromone release would overpower his system. That he would no longer have the ability to control his actions. But there effects were far more subtle which made them all the more potent.

Diaphene was quickly becoming to his eyes the most attractive female changeling he had ever set eyes on, and he knew it had nothing to do with her appearance altering abilities. He saw how her flayed mane and tail shimmered in the cavern lights. How her teal eyes took on the light around them, making them more blue or green. How the chitin flowed and followed the curves of her shapely body. Slender and graceful unlike the stocky builds of the female drones. This was the beauty only a queen could posses. She was a beauty he now wanted to posses. His mind was starting to betray him.

If I could hold her in my limbs. Just kiss her. Once…just once…That would be enough.

He new this was a lie. It was his mind simply trying to open a door that would lead to other things. Maxillus raised his head and peered at the back wall of the room trying focus on something else. Diaphene pressed her face against Maxillus' neck and drew it back and forth eliciting more shaky breathing from him. He still had not responded in kind he had raised a shaking hoof but had set it down again. Diaphene raised her muzzle to his ear and whispered slowly.

"Don’t fight it…"

She started to trace tiny circles over his chest with the tip of her hoof. Maxillus stood still but he did move his head away and she followed with her own. She continued to hiss into his ear.

"Fullfill your roll in this hive…"

"You must serve your queen…"

With his head turned Diaphene pushed some of Maxillus orange mane aside with her muzzle. She made an ultra low frequency clicking noise that caused the tip of her muzzle to vibrate and she burried it in the crook of Maxillus spine where his wings met his back. She saw the quiver that ran through his body. Maxillus threw his head back and moaned.

"Please stop…"

There was so little separating the two of them now. He was running out of ways to keep himself from Diaphene. She took a step back.

"Why would I do that? You seem to be enjoying this…"

His hoarse voice was barely a whisper.

"Please…"

Diaphene gently caressed Maxillus face with a hoof.

"Please what?"

He opened his mouth to respond but before he could Diapeane sealed her lips around his. To Maxillus the queens mouth tasted as sweet as nectar. He quickly closed his mouth trying to resist the temptation to kiss her more just to get more of that delicious taste. She continued to press her mouth against his, she looped a fore limb over his neck drawing him close. Although he didn't return her kiss she did notice he didn't turn away. His heavy breathing through his nose pushed his musty scent across her cheeks with hot breaths. She pushed her self against him raising them to stand at there full height and wrapped her other limb around Maxillus' back bringing it under his mane and gently stroking it against his wings. She placed kisses across his neck and the side of his face. He raised his fore limbs and shook.

"Diaphene-!"

She grinned. Never once had Maxillus referred to her with out her title.  He was hers now. Maxillus wrapped his limbs around the queen and pulled her tight to his chest he tipped her chin up and pressed his muzzle to hers. Maxillus began to quickly run his hooves over as much of her lithe form as he could reach. Diaphene tipped her head back and hissed in triumph.

"Yeeesss…AH!"

She was surprised when Maxillus twirled her around and with his own, forced her fore limbs against the cavern wall of her room. In one quick motion he locked his haunches around her, mounting her. Diaphene gasped and tilted her head forward as Maxillus rested his chin against her shoulder. With a series of steps forward he jutted his hips upward. He huffed loudly through his mouth and arched his back with each movement. With each savage thrust Diaphene cried out and smashed a hoof into the cavern walls. He seized her barrel with his forceps doing everything he could to immobilize her lower half. Nothing else mattered.

Every drone of age in Howling Caverns was in sync with The queen and her nymph. This was survival for the changelings. Life as a shadow. Preying, calculating, planning, taking every precaution. Order at all times. Then this. One night of complete and utter abandon. An emotional crucible of pain and pleasure that would forge the next generation of the swarm, and if all went well between the queen and her mate also produce the next queen for the hive.

Maxillus snarled and bit down on Diaphenes shoulder causing her to yelp. His grip on her became like a vice and he froze. Diaphene sighed and lowered a fore limb and draped it over Maxillus' as she waited for his throw's to pass. They stood together, there chests heaving in the dim light of the cavern, his lathered flanks covering hers. He released her, staggered over to her bed and sat down roughly on its edge. Diaphene wasted no time and quickly trotted to his side sat down next to him and wrapped him in the cage of her limbs. It had taken this much work to stoke Maxillus' fire and she had no intention of letting it die down.

She nuzzled his neck and kissed the side of his face and hummed. His right fore limb shot out and pulled her against his side. His lips curled back around his fangs and he began to emit a steady high pitched clicking sound. Diaphene calmly raised her muzzle to his ear and cooed.

"Patience love…"

His grip on her middle tightened and she took a sterner tone.

"Patience…There will be plenty of more time for that…"

She laughed sweetly and ran a hoof down his chest.

"You were just so exuberant with your loving I need a brief reprieve before we continue!"

Maxillus had a glazed over look on his eyes as he peered into the shadows of Diaphenes room. His grip on her side loosened, he closed his mouth and the clicking noise stopped. Maxillus had provided her with a great thrill however short lived it had been. Diaphene new as it was with most young nymphs she would have to wear him down before she could really start to savor his presence. She gently pushed on his chest causing him to tip over on to her mattress and he didn't resist. There would be much more revelry for the two of them that night and when they had collapsed breathlessly on Diaphenes bed sleep took them instantly.

***

Maxillus awoke the next morning. The room was unfamiliar and dim. He was groggy and his head hurt. He couldn't remember how he had gotten there. He tried to stir but found it very difficult. Most of his lower half was sore and stiff. His flanks, the back of his legs, even his lower back and abdomen hurt. To his surprise he also found his member was sore and raw as well and it stung as it rested against his leg. What in the earth had happened? How had he gotten here…?

Maxillus turned his head and found Diaphene sleeping peacefully next to him a silk sheet draped over her shining black form. A quick succession of memories shot through his mind. His hooves locked around her barrel, the queen pinned beneath his haunches, Diaphene throwing her head back and crying out his name. His heart skipped a beat. He peered closer and he noticed that her chitin was scuffed and bruised all over, there were many bite marks on her shoulder and neck, and bits of her mane had snapped loose and were on the floor. Maxillus squeezed his eyes shut and turned away from the damage he was 99% certain he had done. He had lost control of himself in the end. The one thing he didn’t want to do.

"Oh gods…What have I done?!"

Guilt tore at Maxillus' heart but it all stopped as he felt a fore limb drape around his neck and Diaphenes hoof caressing his face. He opened his eyes half way and looked at her. She smiled at him kindly.

"You did everything you were supposed to do. What you were born to do. You did it admirably. I am most pleased with you Maxillus."

He still couldn't bring himself to look at the queen.

"I…I didn’t want it to happen this way…I didn’t want to…hurt you like this."

Diaphene pulled her hoof from Maxillus face and threw the sheet from her body revealing some more scuff marks. Maxillus looked her over.

"And I am unhurt."

She returned her hoof to his face.

"Sweet, gentle Maxillus… I have weathered worse storms then this. It is a small price to pay for the future of the hive. Don’t you agree?"

"I. I suppose so. I remember so little of last night…Only bits and pieces…was I drunk? I didn’t drink anything…"

The queen chuckled at Maxillus.

"Ah…Maxillus. You were not yourself. Your mind was not required for a great deal of what transpired between us last night."

He nodded slowly. Diaphane pulled her self into Maxillus' limbs and rested her head on his chest. Unsure of what else to do he slowly wrapped his forelimbs around her and she sighed contentedly.

"With this… You are now free."

"What?"

"There is nothing more I could possibly ask of you. You may return to your own hive or you may go abroad to another if you choose."

Diaphene had not only never shown Maxillus this sort of affection before but she had never granted him this much freedom. He rested his chin on the top of her head and spoke softly.

"You mean… You want me…to leave?"

Diaphene laughed.

"Of course not! But Maxillus. You are such a prize…I cannot horde you away here in the Howling Caverns like some sort of dragon. I must be reasonable and share you with the other Queens if they wish. But that is for you to decide now. What do you desire most?"

"I. I have learned so much here. I finally know Howling Caverns like my own home. There are those now that I have worked with I consider to be my good friends. I have been tested here and proven myself in ways I have never been able to before-"

Diaphene looked up at him quickly.

"-Including last night?"

"Uh-!"

It was impossible to tell if a changeling in there true form was blushing but Diaphene was certain from Maxillus' reaction he was blushing to his ears. Diaphene giggled.

"Um. That is…for her majesty… to decide."

"You were saying?"

"I was just saying that… I've just gotten used to being here. I couldn't possibly leave now. I guess I'm just used to how things are here. Also-"

Maxillus couldn't help himself he sighed and gave the queen a little squeeze.

"Each queen rules there hive differently. I've just gotten used to serving you knowing what is expected of me. I don’t want to have to start all over again."

"I think you should know, to me you are by far the most attractive nymph I have seen in my half century of existence Maxillus, and despite what you saw last night, I do find your loyalty to be your best feature."

"I want to stay your majesty. You know I cant leave now."

"Excellent! I have a reward for you then."

Diaphene grinned and gently tapped his nose with a hoof.

"Thank you…"

"I have another task for you Maxillus, your demonstration of loyalty to me means I can trust this task to you and no other. You may view it as a promotion of sorts."

"Thank you your majesty."

"I am making you ambassador."

"The ambassador for Howling Caverns your majesty?"

"No Maxillus…For our entire race."