The Not so Mundane Marching of a Completely Forgettable Bug-Horse

Counting today, I’ve sat in the royal amphitheater a grand total of two times. The first had been for the royal address after our Queen lead our comrades home from Canterlot, utterly defeated. There had been nothing but sorrow and pain that day, the sickening threat of starvation dragging behind our every step. Therefore, I had failed to notice much of anything about my surroundings.

The royal amphitheater was by far the tallest structure carved into Hive. Its grandiose ceiling reached far above me, and was littered with hundreds of stalactites enchanted to illuminate the space. Its walls curved to surround me, elevators crammed into every available space. Most impressive though, was the gleaming heptagon stage, currently inhabited by the Queen. Our Queen, MY Queen, was here to address ME (and the 145 sisters surrounding me). The Queen lit her horn, and the room silenced for her.

“My faithful followers, as changelings our duty is to Hive. We give to Hive, and Hive gives to us. Hive hatches us. Hive raises us. Hive feeds us. Hive loves us. Hive supports us, and we support Hive. Except for one small detail.” she paused, her hooves clacking as she paced. “Until this point in your lives Hive has given to you, and you have only taken,” she spat at us. “This changes today. Today on your assignment day!” We buzzed our wings and stomped our hooves in applause. “We say, ‘treat the work you do today as the most important work you have ever done’, because it is. There are no small jobs. Every task provides products necessary to Hive, and in return Hive provides us with everything we need to lead long happy lives.” The applause was much stronger now and I could feel the anticipation buzzing in the air. “That is why my followers, I am happy to present the work assignments to each and every one of you. May you perform them well for the rest of your lives!”. The excitement sloshing through the air was both suffocating and glorious at the same time.

My sisters on the first bench closest to the stage rose and flew over to kneel at our Queen’s feet awaiting their fate. Our Queen enveloped the first on the left in her glow and proclaimed, “1604479! Military-C, Hive defense!”. The crowd roared as 1604479 was given her ID badge and floated over to the appropriate elevator.

“1604480! Gatherer-A, emotion!” the process continued.

“1604481! Builder-B, Hive repair!” I was sitting in the second row.

“1604482! Caretaker-B, foals!” My row would be the next to kneel before our Queen.

“1604482! Technologies-A, research!” There were only seven ponies separating me from my fate.

“1604483! Caretaker-C, cocoons!” I was supposed to be excited, this was the most exciting day of my life.

“1604484! Military-A, reconnaissance!” Then why was I so scared?

“1604485! Gatherer-B, sustenance!” What would I be?

“1604486! Military-B, offensive!” What did I want to be?

“1604487! Builder-A, Hive expansion!” I wanted to do something adventurous.

“1604488! Technologies-B, education!” That was it, there was nobody left on stage.

My row flew up and I kneeled. The sister too my left was illuminated. “1604489! Medical-A, digestive!” Now it was my turn. Please my Queen, anything that isn’t mundane, I want excitement! “1604490! Gatherer-C, water!”

Water? Of all the different jobs there are, I got water? The Queen stuck my ID badge to my chest and floated me over to an elevator in the back. It was empty except for myself and the mare who must be our supervising officer. I didn’t care to pay much attention to the rest of the ceremony. I had wanted something exciting, and water was anything but. A lifetime of flying buckets of the stuff from the river to the hive is what awaited me. Just back and forth everyday, there couldn’t be a job more mundane. I was supposed to be happy with my job. This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Water wasn’t even considered one of the bad jobs, with water you got to go outside Hive. I should have been overjoyed. I HATED it. I hadn’t even started my first day and I hated it.

By the end of the ceremony, only three others had joined us in the elevator. That was fine by me, I wasn’t exactly in a cheery mood and the less there was to bother me the better. The last changeling was called, “1604624! Messenger-A, internal! My followers today begins the rest of your lives, may Hive bless you!”. The applause that followed was thunderous, and our officer closed the elevator pushing the down button. “All of you have been assigned to the day-time shift, so you won’t be starting until tomorrow morning. For now rest up,” the door opened to what I assumed were the water gatherers’ sleeping quarters, “I expect all of you to be in front of this elevator rested, fed, and charged at 06:15 tomorrow.” She shut the door and we had a whole seven hours and fifteen minutes to ourselves.

I flew up to an empty comb near the top of the room and shut its membrane. I coated my badge in my slime and enchanted it to awaken me at 05:00. That should be early enough. I did not like this water carrying business, but I would have to make it work. Somehow. So, I curled into a tight ball on top of the pillow, and descended into sleep.