I am jello. Being mellow is all I know. I wonder what flavor I would be? I let out a content moan with my tongue hanging out like a happy puppy, my tail idly swishing back and fourth, and my unhidden wings drooping out haphazardly.

My ears flickered a bit as I heard giggling off to one side. “Think he will hear me?”

“I don’t know princess. He looks very relaxed.” One of the spa mares that was currently brushing my coat as my legs dangled off the sides of the spa table replied.

“Oh I would hate to interrupt such a cute scene.” The princess replied as I let out another content sigh. Another spa mare was combing my feathers. I might not get to show them off at the gala but they insisted on fluffing them anyway.

“Too late.” I slowly said with eyes still closed. “Something wrong Tia?”

All of the spa mares paused for a moment at the nickname then apparently remembered that I was also an alicorn before they returned to my grooming in preparation for tonight. These four were part of a growing number of castle staff who knew and were sworn to secrecy. Is it really a secret if more than two ponies know? Ah, who cares. I’m currently too relaxed to care.

“No, just wanted to let you and Twilight know that I will be unavailable until the gala starts and that Twilight’s and your family should arrive around lunch.” She giggled looking over at Twilight who was relaxed as I was.

I had honestly forgotten she was there. Even though, I was the one who convinced her to try a professional grooming instead of just using a cleansing spell. This is so much better than a spell. I could see why Rarity goes once a week in the show if Aloe and Lotus are this good.

“Okay princess.” Twilight replied with slurred words as she rubbed her cheek on the table. “See you later.”

The spa ponies grooming her giggled as Celestia left.

“Your highness, would you like to continue with your brushing or move onto a massage?” It took me a moment to realize she was talking to me as I opened one eye.

“Brushing. Brushing is nice~.” I let out another content sigh and closed my eye again. The mare giggled and began chatting with her coworkers about the gala tonight and what ponies might show up or what dress the princess would wear.

I eventually tuned out the idle chatter and glanced over at Twilight. She was laying across from me with a big dopey grin as brushes ran through her coat removing, tangles, old fur, and dust. She really is cute.

“So how are your students?” Imago asked when Celestia returned to her room. Tonight was going to be the big reveal of Imagos true form to the public so she was no longer wearing a disguise. Ponies already know the princess had taken on a marefriend but no pony knew exactly who it was. Outside of the castle staff most ponies only guessed.

“Borderline comatose.” Celestia tittered. “The spa staff really know how to get somepony to relax. I don’t think I have ever seen Twilight with such a content look while inside the castle.”

Imago smiled back. “They are professionals that do good work. Even in my Feather persona I was able to enjoy their ministrations. I do wonder if they could give my chitin a good waxing.” She looked herself over and buzzed her wings. “Though are you sure Twilight never got that look? Maybe after falling asleep on Dawn’s back during one of their regular visits?”

“You look perfect already my love bug.” Celestia leaned down a bit and gave her a nuzzle. Imago may have been taller than the average pony but she was still a bit shorter than Celestia’s full height. “And you may be right.” She tapped her chin and smiled. “I do often find them napping with Spike close by after one of our lessons.”

“Well nothing is quite as good as snuggling with a loved one.” Imago reared up and gave Celestia’s ear a nip.

“I still can’t believe you got us tickets to the gala Mac.” Cheerilee happily trotted next to her colt friend through one of Canterlot’s markets. The pair had arrived with the Apple family but found it to be a perfect opportunity for a date.

“Eeyup. Technically it was my younger brother who got them. Him being the princesse’s student and all.” He was proud of his younger brother even if they weren’t blood related.

“Still you thought to invite me as your plus one.” Cheerilee smiled at him. “You know you’ve really improved yourself lately.” She suddenly felt a bit self conscious standing next to her handsome young stallion. His guard training was paying off by improving muscles that farm work didn’t require.

Looking around she noticed quite a few young mares their age checking him out as they walked. She figured it might be time for her to work out as well, instead of just spending her free time with her half sister Cherry Berry.

“Cheeri you alright?” Mac had quickly noticed her shift in mood. Luckily him using her nickname brought her out of it.

“Mac do you think we should invite somepony else into our herd?” She sagged a bit while asking. She knew it was selfish to hog a stallion, especially one like Mac, but she and Mac didn’t have a soulmate song, like the Cakes, to excuse it.

Mac slowed down and looked her right in the eyes. “Darling, she would have to be a special mare to join us. And not just special to me but you too.” He gave her a loving nuzzle that melted her heart.

Once they got back to moving she swatted his flank with her tail. “You know you won’t be sleeping after the gala right?”

Mac just chuckled. “Eeyup.”

“There’s so many ponies here.” Applejack looked around at the garden as the castle staff got ready for tonight.

“It really is something isn’t it. I hardly recognize that it’s the same castle.” Morning Dew sat next to her daughters as they pony watched. Forest had gone ahead to find their younger son while she and Pear watched the fillies.

“Imagine if we could set up an Apple stand. We could make all kinds of bits.” Applejack could almost picture it until her dam started giggling.

“Oh Sugar Cube that’s the sweetest silliest idea I’ve heard from you yet.” She covered her mouth with her hoof while the sleeping Apple Bloom rested between her hooves.

“Why is it silly?” Applejack puffed up her cheeks until they turned red.

“Oh Sugar I didn’t mean to make fun. It’s just that food from the gala is free for guests so opening a stall wouldn’t do much good. Besides we already are selling apples at the gala, just in the right way. Our family does it ever year, even if they did almost forget this year.” Pear huffed in annoyance at the new head chef.

“We do? How?” Applejack perked up and tilted her head a bit. Morning Dew thought about explaining but Pear was faster.

“Yep. Our farm is the exclusive provider of apples, cider, and a few other products used for the gala.” Pear puffed up proudly. “Every year we win the contract by proving to be the best. This year we had a bit of trouble from your Pa passing among other things.” They all took a moment of silence. “But your mom and I cleared it up.” She leaned over and nuzzled Dew. “The cheapskate new head chef thought about going for lower quality products instead of hosting the usual competition. That changed really quick when I asked the princess why we hadn’t gotten an invite yet to show off some products.”

“I had no idea.” Applejack gave her mother an impressed look.

Pear smiled and ruffled her daughter’s mane. “Well maybe it’s about time your moms and I start teaching the next generation the business side a things instead of just the farm work side. There’s more to keeping a farm alive these days than just bucking the trees and making the best produce.”

“That would be a good idea. I would hate to think what might have happened if we weren’t around.” Morning Dew idly said while watching the staff continue to work.

For the first time in a while Pear thought back on that night and just how bad things could have ended up for her foals. She leaned down and nuzzled the top of Blooms head as she yawned. The filly immediately smiled up at her dam and hugged her muzzle.

That simple act dispelled her worries and her own smile quickly returned. “Though family will always be the most important factor no matter what.”

Applejack gave her dam a look. She had a lot to think about before tonight.

Alicia was bored. Her mother’s were both in the castle above the hive and even from down here she could feel all the emotions.

She gave a little burp with a heart shaped puff of smoke leaving her mouth.

”Hey sis want to play?” Ditto asked through the hive mind.

Alicia shook her head, she more preferred playing with her mother’s students and learning new things. She loved her siblings but only her sister Ceres was as smart as her which meant she always beat her sisters Ditto and Digit in games requiring thought.

”No thanks. Don’t you need to be doing your hive chores anyway?” she asked back.

“Nah the queen mom gave us the night off since she’s with pony mom upstairs.” Digit happily replied. She was already playing with one of her toys.

“That’s Mother Imago, Princess Imago, or just mom to us Digit. And ‘pony mom, is also just Mom, Princess Celestia, or Mother Celestia.” Ceres chimed in. As a den mother it was her job to educate drones and quickly absorb knowledge similar to a princess. The only difference was her lower capacity for magic and lack of ‘out of the box’ thinking which in turn made all den mothers sticklers for hive rules. Rules that drones followed but often forgot about due to a lack of intelligence.

“Right~.” You could almost feel Digit’s embarrassment of her mistake through the hive mind. The sad thing was she knew she wasn’t the smartest but tried hard anyway.

”Children. I know you will probably be bored this evening but remember, Celestia and I have a big night ahead. Please behave and also watch over the other eggs.” Imago sent a quick message. In a normal hive a Queen wouldn’t have easily made out a side conversation. Under the drone of everyling it would be difficult without focus but, with only four children, she could easily listen in.

”Yes mom.” They all replied. Alicia then decided playing with her siblings wouldn’t be so bad compared to doing nothing.

Author's Note

Little side note.

Part of the reason Chrysalis is so insane, aside from the starvation, is that she tries to listen in on almost every conversation due to a paranoia loop. (She listens because she is paranoid which causes her to become more paranoid) A queen is not supposed to focus like that on the hive mind. They should just let information flow through her as its hub and is part of the reason she starts recovering a bit of sanity after losing her hive.