Queen of the Cherry Blossom Castle

Spring had been gracious. Yet, early summer was known to play havoc with plans, in resent times. The Queen did not take anything for granted. Every detail had to go exactly according to her plans.

Cherry trees could be very fickle in their temper. If they were not treated just right, the Ponies would not be pleased and the harvest would be ruined, all in the span of the three days of the season of cherry blossom. There was no room for errors.

Each and every tree had been individually pruned, just in the right time. The grasses trimmed every three weeks in order to be just the right length and as soft as it was possible. The paths had been arranged in order for every Pony to easily and conveniently stroll about, to find the spot of choice and to be served by changelings, when ever a Pony desired her services.

Several dignitaries had been specially invited, naturally. Important Ponies were selected on rotation, making it seem random, unless you knew the rules behind the choices. This year, Princess Luna had been selected.

The growing number of Royal Princesses had become a challenge, as convenient as it could be, if used just right. A Princess had to be seen each year. Right along with a few other known high profile individuals.

If the internal problems wasn't enough, there are all the other Hives to contend with. The recent debacle of Queen Chrysalis had muddled the waters considerably, since she had made enemies of Ponies. This is what the Queen just couldn't have.

Each and every Hive had their own culture, all depending on where they were located. This Castle happened to be located squarely in the centre of the Cherry blossom district. Here, the Cherry would blossom in just these three days. A symbolism not lost on the Queen.

As a young Queen, she had gambled everything on the one off chance, getting Ponies to attend to the three days event, when the Cherry Blossom, each year.

The first day of youth full beauty. The second day of the middle age and the third of the passing of the old age, when the blossoms would all fall to the ground. The symbol of aging and the inevitable death. No Pony, Changeling or otherwise could live forever, and she knew it.

Seeing the blossoms fall to the ground always felt painful, just as the blossoms opening up gave her the greatest of hope for a bright future of her Hive.

The gamble had paid off, at least it had this far. The Hive had been thriving all these years. Only the judgement lay in the hands of the second Queen, not the first. If the Hive can survive long enough for the second Queen to confirm the commitments to the Hive where she had placed it, then she was a good Queen. Ofhorse, she had to live long enough, not only to give rise to the Queen to take over her place, she would have to raise her to be the Queen she could be proud to have taking over her Hive when the day came.

Death is inevitable, it is only a matter of when, where and how it came to pass. It would still pain her to think of this event. It was out of her hands, which is what pained her the most at this time.