“All bow for princess Celestia and princess Imago.” The court announcer enhanced his voice with magic and the crowd gave a bow as the two entered day court.

“Are you sure you don’t need to go? I could handle court today.” Imago whispered to Celestia as they entered the room.

“No, my wards are fully functional again after the sun rose and I have a suspicion on who was at my old castle last night.” She whispered back.

“Dawn?” Imago took her place up on the newly added lower throne that was next to the main one.

“Dawn.” Celestia took her spot and spoke to the crowd then back to Imago. “Rise my little ponies and let day court commence! I will speak with him once he gets back.”

The first few petitioners were nothing unusual, a few minor disputes or loan requests. Plenty just wanted to get a picture or say hello to their princess as they visited the city. There was one waiting group that felt out of place however.

“Raven, do you know who that group waiting is.” Celestia spoke softly and motioned towards a nervous looking bunch.

Raven looked through her clipboard and scanned her lists of cutie marks. “Apparently that group just signed up today and listed the matter as a ‘private concern’ for you and Imago.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. She had heard plenty of complaints about their relationship from nobles but not the general citizens. Our little ones should stay out of our love life.Perhaps it’s not a complaint?

“Raven bump them up to right before lunch.” Raven nodded and stepped back as court resumed.

“Problem?” Imago leaned over.

“I hope not.” Celestia spoke while listening to the latest petitioner.

When the time finally arrived for the nervous looking group to go up they argued amongst themselves for a moment on who should go forward and speak. Celestia could tell that none of them really wanted to do it so she spoke up First.

“My little ponies. No need to be afraid you may all step forward.” She gave them a warm smile while Imago looked a bit confused. She noticed she was having a hard time sensing their emotions.

“Um thank you.” The center mare spoke as the others huddled around her. Their group numbered fifteen in total, which wasn’t unheard of for a herd petition, only a bit rare.

“Now what can the crown help you with today.” Celestia wasn’t expecting what happened next. The entire group except the central mare broke down crying.

“We made it.”

“She’s real?”

“We’re alive!”

The entire court began to look uncomfortable and the guards didn’t know how to react. Celestia gave them a silent command and they began clearing everypony else out though not without grumbling. Imago finally realized what was going on and stepped down to greet the changelings once the courtroom was cleared of civilians.

“Imago what..?” Celestia started as she watched her mare friend light her horn as if preparing an attack. With a quick pulse of magic the entire sobbing group of ponies became a group of crying changeling drones with one den mother in the middle.

“Rise changelings.” Imago spoke and Celestia just watched. They weren’t our ponies at all!They don’t look to be Imago’s love bugs either. “Why have you ventured into my hive unannounced?”

Celestia coughed and Imago rolled her eyes. “I meant to say our hive unannounced.” Celestia looked placated and went back to watching.

“Please princess we meant no offense!” The first drone got out between sobs.

“We have no hive to officially anoint ourselves from.” Imago looked concerned at that.

“Princess Imago.” The calm den mother finally spoke and gave a bow, making sure to use Imago’s preferred title. “Myself and these drones are all nameless and without a hive, we seek refuge and protection with yours.”

Imago looked back at Celestia who just gave a ‘not my ponies not my problem’ look and shrug in return. Imago took a deep breath. Come on Imago you knew this was possible when making a hive.

“I see and why do you wish to join my hive and not another?” Imago did find it strange they wouldn’t join a more well established hive, den mothers were always valued.

The drones continued to sniffle as she answered. “Princess there are no other free hives to join.”

“Clear the room!” Imago’s command was so commanding that even Celestia almost obeyed with the guards. Once the room was cleared of all but changelings and Celestia imago finally asked the question. “What happened?”

“The mad queen.”

“She killed them all.”

“She’s evil.”

“She crushed our egg.” One female cried as her male partner hugged her tightly.

Imago flinched at that last one. It was against the code of combat to harm eggs or nymphs. “Explain.” She focused back on the den mother who now looked up at her.

“Roughly fifty years ago the mad queen Chrysalis began attacking other hives. At first the other queens thought of it as nothing more than common fights over territory but then… then she killed another queen that same year. After that all the hives began to panic, our own hive was on the smaller side, not even two hundred of us while The mad Queen had thousands.” The den mother took a breath. “One by one she, tricked, assassinated, or enslaved the other queens. Our hive was one of the last to fall, thanks to it being so small she didn’t worry about us much.”

Imago’s mind raced. She had been out of touch with the council since leaving her mother’s hive but to learn about what happened like this.

Imago’s head slumped as the news hit her. Celestia moved forwards and wrapped her in a hug before speaking. “While Imago makes her decision you’re welcome to stay in the castle.”

Celestia called a few guards back in to lead the new changelings to a guest suite. “Will you be alright my love?”

Imago shook her head. “I don’t know. I may have isolated myself but hearing the fate of the other hives was just… a lot.”

“Will you take them into your hive?” Celestia tried to keep a positive attitude for her partner.

“I have to. Without a hive mind they will die off. Those drones are lucky they had a den mother to act as a node but I could feel she was under intense strain. It’s also not safe unless I do.” Celestia gave her a questioning look. “Once linked to the hive mind I can check their memories and confirm what happened and make sure none of them are a spy.” Imago answered and wiped her tears.

“Well then let’s get you to our guests.” Celestia hugged Imago with her wing.

Author's Note

Pm me some names if you want for the drones they’ll get added in after a few chapters During a naming ceremony.

1 den mother.
3 male drones.
11 female drones.