They all gathered around the birthing mother as she convulsed wildly. The duo leaned in closely, observing the process that would bring another one of them into this world, while the eldest of the trio cooed sweet whispers into the mothers' ear, attempting to calm her.
"Please, do not be afraid," Queen Imago nuzzled against the pained mare as she let out another horrifying scream. The agonizing mother raised her head, her vocal cords straining with effort as she shouted as loud as she could, before she allowed her head to drop, thudding against the floor.
"Is she alright, sister?" Queen Pupa raised her head from the miracle of child birth, confused as to why there was as much screaming as there was.
Queen Imago sighed, and smiled at her sister, knowing the pained mare was watching her visage. Before she could speak, her other sister, Queen Chrysalis, yelped, "She's coming! I can see her head!"
Queen Imago beamed down at the birthing mare, and spoke with confidence, "Just a few more pushes, and you'll be all done!"
The duo behind the mare stomped their hooves to the ground repeatedly, chanting and cheering the mare on. They did not know her name, so they could use nothing but supportive chants about giving birth to a Queen.
The sunrise crept over and into the large holes of The Hive, and Pupa hopped from her place, out to the curtains that separated this comb from all the other spaces and combs in the large hive. As she fought to race against the glimmering sunshine, she launched herself across the spacey comb, forgetting about her wings for those precious moments. Just before she close the curtain completely, and returned the comb to its dusky state, Pupa gazed at the crowd below her.
Hundreds of thousands of buzzing bug-like ponies were gathered beneath the comb. None spoke, so as not to disturb the holder of the next Queen, but all spectated the event from around the comb. Pupa mouthed a, "Sorry!" as she cut off their view.
"She's beautiful!" Queen Chrysalis exhaled.
"She is a larva covered in mucus." Imago shook her head at her younger sister, taking the small filly into her arms and wiping her off, using a fresh towel. The filly opened her mouth, a small popping sound escaping her lips, before a shrill cry replaced the odd sound.
"My baby, may I hold my baby?" The unknown mare reached her arms towards the loud filly, but her limbs hit the ground soon after they rose. Her frail body was weakened from childbirth, and she could do nothing more than stare, and hope her child will be placed next to her.
"Aw," Pupa whined as she ran back to the others. "I missed it? No fair!"
"Pupa," Imago cut in. "Chrysalis, would the two of you please go get some nutrients from the lower sections? This mare is in desperate need of something other than just fluid."
The two nodded, Pupa a bit more uncooperative, and rushed out out of the comb they were in. Once the two were gone, Imago faced the young Queen-bearer. She was hardly older than the larva she had just given birth to, perhaps four months short of being a working member of The Hive. Looking over the young mare, Imago noticed the mark that identified her as a bearer of the next Queen bearer, the 'Queen Mark' was fading fast.
Placing the larva by her head, Imago stepped away from the mare. The new mother began to coo and kiss her larva as much as she could in her state.
Chrysalis and Pupa returned shortly, two satchels with as much nutrients as they could hold. The second Pupa's hooves landed on the deck of the comb, she shouted to her sister, Imago, "Can we name her Larva?"
Chrysalis snorted and teased at her younger sister, "What a stupid name, sister!"
As the two threw insults back and forth at each other, Imago grabbed a satchel and took it over to the mare who laid on the ground. "Here," Imago smiled warmly, opening the buckle. "Eat. We shall decide the name of the Queen at a later time."
Using her magic, Imago scooped the filly up into the air, her aura surrounding the small larva. The mother whimpered and called for her child many times, but as Imago walked from her, she gave up, and began to eat the food provided.
The young mother watched as Queen Imago added to the distance between them. Queen Pupa and Chrysalis stopped their bantering for a moment to whisper encouragement to the young mare.
"You did great," Queen Chrysalis offered. Pupa nodded and tried to muster other words to please the grieving mare as she stared hopelessly at the other Queen who had her child, but it ended up being the same thing. Chrysalis glared at her sister for a moment, before adding, "You'll see her again. Imago just has to tell everyone about her, that's all. And then she'll bring her back, right, Pupa?"
Queen Pupa nodded. Shaking her gaze from the saddened mother, Pupa looked towards her oldest sibling.
"Chrysalis!" Pupa hissed in shock quietly. "It's time to go!"
Queen Chrysalis looked back at Imago, and nodded. Jumping up from her place beside the sorrowed mother, Chrysalis trotted after her sister, only stopping to call out over her shoulder, "We'll be back!"
Opening the curtains, the eldest Queen stepped out onto the platform, the magic-enveloped filly by her side. Pupa and Chrysalis followed, organizing themselves in order of age. Queen Imago faced the large swarm, and called out to them, "Changelings," She roared calmly, "There is no longer a Counsel of three, for our numbers have increased!"
The swarm buzzed at and praised the words of their Queen. The two other Queens embraced the glory that washed over their sister and the little one beside her. The prideful smiles on their faces as Queen Imago presented the newest Queen was one that could outmatch all in their kingdom.
