We take a small detour this chapter, but I feel like it's an important detour. This was the first chapter I wrote post reading book 15.

Luna let out an exasperated sigh as she left the council meeting. Who knew being queen would be so difficult? Well, Queen Jewel did. As did Sequoia. Luna honestly didn't know what she was thinking, taking up the mantle of queen.

She was still riding off the success of defeating the Othermind. The council between Leaf and Silk, while a good idea on paper, was not going to work long term. The SilkWings needed to be their own tribe, independent of another. They had to reclaim their culture, whatever was left. And so, Luna had elected herself to be figurehead and later queen. She was something of a war hero and had flamesilk! And who would take her place as the figurehead, realistically?

Io? She was stubborn and strong, but she had no desire to rule. Blue? Well, it'd be weird to have a king, but even so, he was too passive. Swordtail? No, she shan't ever think of him in charge for long. She trusted him for short times, but calling all the shots? No way.

Morpho was another candidate, but he was too… vengeful. Admittedly, after all this time, Luna was concerned about him. He never made moves, but the looks she gave the other HiveWings… something was going to happen. It was a matter of when, not if.

But all things considered, things were okay right now. Blue was back, even if he left all too quickly to go to Wasp Hive. Another Queen's Council meeting was going to take place, with him and the others mediating. It was so strange to see her brother as a mediator, but she could see in his face that he'd grown. No longer was he sheltered from the world.

"Well, that was kinda boring," A smaller voice said from beside Luna, who turned to see a lavender SilkWing dragonet trotting alongside her with a notepad.

"Not every meeting can be eventful, Dusky." Luna chuckled. "Honestly, I feel like this meeting was just a formality. We already know our food situation and living accommodations. We're meeting with the other queens soon."

"Agreed." Dusky bristled, his antennae whipping alongside him. "It's even worse when I have to pay attention!" He held up his notepad, which had notes from the meeting. Only a page worth this time, but there were times where he'd taken around twenty.

In a way, Luna had taken Dusky in as a younger sibling. Ever since they first met, he had always wiggled away to see her. It was hard to say no to such a bright young dragon.

"You're free to go home, by the way," Luna said to him as they walked through the palace. She had to return to her throne, as doubtlessly there were more things for her to do.

"Nuh uh, not until the day is over. It's my job to be an attendant." Dusky puffed out his chest proudly.

"Well, I don't think I'll be needing you for the rest of the day. And you need your rest if you're going to Jade Academy." Luna pointed out.

Although the semester did not start officially until the end of the month, Headmistress Sunny was going to be coming over to meet the teachers and students at some point in the next week. Apparently, she was using it as an excuse to visit Pantala. Which was fine with Luna; she hadn't really had the chance to meet the Headmistress. Although hearing nothing but good things about the dragon, Luna was in charge of the SilkWings. Meaning that if something was off, Luna would immediately rescind it.

Although, Luna sincerely doubted that she would even have to consider that seriously.

"Did you find my replacement?" Dusky asked dutifully. He had grown to be quite the respectful, attentive dragon since she first met him. Not even an adult and already trying to figure out his replacement. He was going to excel at the academy.

"Not just yet, but don't worry. I'll have someone soon, even if I have to make Swordtail write in the meantime."

"You will never get anything done," Dusky said flatly. Luna grinned, and he rolled his eyes with a shuffle of his wingbuds. "You're teasing me, aren't you?"

"Of course I am!" Luna prodded him gently. "Seriously, though. You're five, you should get the chance to enjoy your youth. I certainly couldn't…" Luna added quietly, glaring at the claw that had her tattoos on them.

Don't let them see past the mask… Her mind criticized her slip up. Just keep smiling and pretending everything is okay.

Truthfully, she wasn't thrilled about Dusky going away. She had really taken after him. But he had to better his life, and if she couldn't be educated in a free world, then he most certainly should. It was bad enough that Blue was always out and about. Same with Cricket. Swordtail would never leave her, and she still had her parents, but it was…

… a bit lonely, now.

If she wasn't in meetings, she was ruling. If she wasn't ruling, she was sleeping. In those rare moments in between, all she ever wanted to do was be with Swordtail. Luna barely had time to spend it with anyone else. Not even her parents.

She had to make the SilkWings strong. She had to make sure they would never be trampled on again. Through digging and uncovered artifacts, she found out that they were chitinous in terms of fashion. Hence why she wore carapace-like jewelry alongside flamesilk, why her guards wore thick chitin as armor. If this was how the SilkWings were, she was going to bring it back. Luna was going to make the world see that they would never be slaves again.

"Alright, if you say so," Dusky said. He likely noted her change in demeanor but didn't point it out.

"Go home to your mother, Dusky. Spend as much time as you can with her before you depart." Luna smiled encouragingly. "Trust me, those months will feel like years."

"I know." Dusky averted his eyes. "I remember what would've happened if we weren't freed, too."

Luna sighed. "And that is why I tell you to spend time. You are able to, now. And nobody is going to force you to do anything."

Don't be like me and have a screwed-up relationship, she wanted to add. It wasn't that she and her mothers hated each other or weren't affectionate, it was just always a conflict between the three. Especially with Blue involved.

Luna was ready to stand up for everyone and lead rebellions. Everyone else wanted to stay safe, take comfort in their ridiculous life. No. Luna would never settle for that. She couldn't bear to part with her friends and family, never to see them again. To be paired with a random male and lay eggs while working in a slave pen. At least Blue and her father would've been there, but what kind of life was that?

Her attitude made raising her a hassle. Luna was painfully aware of it. And sometimes, when they thought she wasn't looking, Luna caught them exchanging worried glances. They doubtlessly thought she was going to go full tyrant or conqueror on the others.

Didn't they see that they had nothing to worry about for that? All Luna wanted was to carve out a place for the SilkWings and make them strong again.

It was why she built their new home where she did. The other tribes had to acknowledge them now. They could never be shoved in a corner and ignored again. She did feel a bit guilty for doing that to the LeafWings, but not so much the HiveWings. Sure, Queen Jewel was nice, and there are plenty like Cricket.

But still a vocal majority craved for Wasp's release. If that was going to be the case, Luna would make it much more unappealing. A bigger capitol, a bigger army. SilkWings who could spin stronger, faster silk. And Luna herself would lead the defense.

"You're brooding again." Came the one voice that could always bring a smile to her face.

There, standing before her like a knight in chitin armor, was Swordtail. Her personal bodyguard, and the one she loved the most outside her family. His helm was off, per usual, revealing his glittering azure with orange flecks scales. He'd really grown muscular over the years, taking his job as her protector seriously.

"I'm not brooding." Luna frowned playfully. "I am simply reflecting."

"And I'm the Queen of the HiveWings." Swordtail wrapped his antennae around hers. She was thankful that Dusky had taken off to return to his mother, and nobody else was around. Luna was very affectionate in private, but in public? Ack, no. She had an image to maintain! And he knew this yet didn't seem to care.

Absolute idiot and yet she loved him for it.

"According to what we know of animus, that could've been possible." Luna responded with a smirk. "I think you'd be pretty, at least for a HiveWing."

"I would win every beauty pageant." Swordtail puffed his chest pridefully.

"Uh huh. Cricket has the nerdy look to her though, which definitely can work in her favor. Especially with how 'intelligent' the HiveWings tried to be over us." Luna's smirk intensified.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you had the hots for Cricket." Swordtail nudged her jokingly. "Should I be jealous? Should Blue?"

"Ha, ha…" Luna rolled her eyes, taking off to the throne room. "You ready for the meeting, by the way? Because I sure am not."

"Do we have a date for it?" Swordtail walked alongside her.

"Nope! But I imagine it's going to be much sooner than later." Luna seated herself on her throne. She had papers to review, subjects to meet.

She kept a fairly open door for those to meet her, from the lowest civilian to government officials. Granted, they needed to schedule appointments and she couldn't just meet with everyone. However, the downtrodden civilian offered great insight into how their society was at its lowest. Luna needed to hear and do what she could for them. She, too, was beaten as they attempted to break her. That wasn't even getting to Swordtail.

"Any ideas as to what will be discussed?" Swordtail attempted to sound professional. Luna appreciated his effort to be more serious, but it was just so strange!

"Yes, and I know that the LeafWings are going to push for land to be taken back from Wasp Hive." Luna leaned on her claw, laying on her side on the comfortable throne. "Blue has doubtlessly been told their suspicions as to why I built the Chrysalis here. That'll be a fun conversation. There will be a 'gotcha' moment, too."

"Do we have any?"

"I have one for each." Luna sighed. "The LeafWing one is much less effective, and I doubt I'll need to use it. The HiveWing one? Well… just look at the past fifty years. Queen Jewel, if things get really nasty, will likely bring up BloodWorm Hive."

Swordtail winced at the name. "If you'd asked me three years ago if I cared, I would have said no. But after everything…"

"Agreed." Luna nodded slowly.

"What about Blue potentially siding against us?"

Luna visibly went rigid. Her heart skipped a beat. She'd been trying to avoid that outcome as long as she could.

"My brother… he has a good heart. I know what he wants to do," Luna said slowly. "I'll love him always. But I don't know if I can look him in the eye if he sides with our oppressors. I don't want their land. I don't want them to prostrate themselves for us. I just want them to see us as their equals and never be enslaved again. And if he doesn't see that…"

Swordtail placed a gentle claw on her shoulder, sitting beside her. He had that sweet, dopey smile on his face that always relaxed her. It reminded her that underneath that foolish, almost arrogant attitude he often had that there was a kind, compassionate dragon. The dragon she saw all those years ago.

"If there's anything I know about him, it's that he does see that. He just wants everyone on the same field. Heck, even Cricket is the same. If that means that he has to side with the HiveWings to build them up to our level, he'll do it. It won't seem right or fair, but that's his heart for you."

"His heart was never in question. Same with his intentions." Luna shook her head. "It's a matter of what the HiveWings will do with this ruling. That they have the queen's brother siding against her. That will make me, and the SilkWings, look weak and ununified."

"Certainly is a tricky situation." Swordtail smiled warmly. "But we just have to trust that they'll do the right thing for all of us. I doubt this will get resolved in one meeting, anyway."

"Yeah… yeah, that's true." Luna flicked her tail thoughtfully. "Knowing them, they may say 'lets try it this way and if it doesn't work we reconvene'. They won't just put it one way and leave. Not Blue."

"If he does, I'll pull him back by his antennae." Swordtail vowed. The mental image got Luna to laugh. "Io will certainly smack some sense into him. Not to mention your parents…"

"Poor Blue will retreat into his mind again…" Luna chuckled as one of her attendants came in looking for her. "Ah, alas, it seems that it is time to be Queen again. Let's hope that there isn't a line."

Queen Jewel didn't know why she was down in the prison. Well, no, she did but it felt… strange. Part of her wanted to gloat about the success she'd been having, but there was something else that niggled in her mind. And, ironically, there was only one dragon that could either confirm or deny her thoughts.

Four guards stood before the prison. They saluted with respect, and Jewel nodded for them to move. They were not loyalists, of that she was certain from personal vetting and talking, she had heard many of the horrible things the prisoner had done. It ranged from controlling their minds and making them miss important things, to cruelty they had to inflict upon others.

There was no love lost for the disgraced queen.

"Is it time again?" A rattling, almost chittering voice rasped from behind a prison cell. A shadow moved in the darkness, clinking with chains. Shuffling toward the bars brought the prisoner into view, and once more Jewel found it hard to keep a professional face.

Wasp was… well, more insect-like than before. The venom Pineapple spewed had melted a good portion of her face, giving her almost mandible-like features. Black, exposed flesh glistened like chitin. The front parts of her lips were melted away, giving her a permanent grin. One that would haunt the nightmares of the unprepared.

"Hello, dear cousin." Jewel smiled, an action that Wasp was no longer to genuinely do.

"What brings you to visit little old me?" Wasp's black eyes glittered with an iridescent quality. "Come to tell me about your day? I do love a good family bonding session."

"Well, kind of, actually." Jewel sat down in front of the cell. "I've come to let you know that we may indeed be settling everything with the other tribes. Everything you wanted to do will be crumbled away."

"Oh?" Wasp sat down as well. "And how much did you have to give up?"

"Nothing yet." Jewel grinned. "And I refuse to bend on that front, mind you. You should be proud of me. I'm quite the excellent queen, you know."

"Great queens do not fluff themselves up," Wasp said.

"No, but it's fun rubbing it in your face. You wrote me off. Everyone did. And look what happened…"

"Oh, do cut the act." Wasp rolled her eyes. "You're not here to gloat. You're here because another meeting is coming up." She chuckled, which sounded like an animal dying. "Oh yes, I heard rumblings. Scarab's pet and the others made their rounds. Your guards are quite chatty about them."

Although Jewel was not pleased that her guards spoke so openly about that, she couldn't exactly reprimand them. They were allowed to make small talk so long as they did their jobs, and they did so with integrity.

"And why would I be here if it was just another meeting?" Jewel kept her cool.

"Because I think, deep down, you want to be reminded of Bloodworm Hive." Wasp leaned against the cage, her disfigured face uncomfortably close. "Who doesn't know about that?"

"That is a tragedy that you created." Jewel threw it back at her. "If you weren't a tyrant, the LeafWings and SilkWing rebellions wouldn't have needed to go that far."

"You can throw it back at me all you want. It doesn't really change what happened. It was an attack against our tribe that, dare I say, committed so many war crimes I couldn't even keep count!" Wasp laughed coldly. "Tell me, did you ever find out how many died in that attack?"

"Over eight hundred." Jewel hissed out lowly. "What is your point?"

"Over eight hundred… do you really not know?" Wasp tsked. "Twelve hundred and eleven was the total number of deaths, with countless more injured. I know because I had to do a little head count after the whole thing. Did you know how delicate our wing membranes really are? A little bit of fire and they're melting to the body. And during all of this what, exactly, were you doing? Sipping tea?"

Against her better judgment, Jewel snipped back. "I had no idea it was happening! And besides, if I had left, I'd have you breathing down my neck for leaving my hive!"

Unfortunately, that reply was all Wasp needed.

"Oho, yes, you are mad about that. And rightfully so! I can't even imagine what it was like for those poor orphans, trapped in their ramshackle sanctuary." Wasp gave a look of false sympathy. "Nobody came to rescue them. The paths were all blocked by fire and debris! And so they huddled together, crying and wanting someone, anyone, to rescue them! Their last moments before the fires melted their eyes right out and the smoke burned their lungs were that of fear and confusion. They had no idea what was really happening…"

"Don't play the sympathy card with me, Wasp." Jewel's claw curled. "We both know you didn't care."

"You're right." Wasp nodded. "But, you do."

That was a stinger in the heart for Jewel. Wasp was trying to stoke her hatred, her revilement of what happened. Bloodworm was a cruel mistress, but it didn't warrant so many deaths. If the rebellion really wanted to do anything, if the LeafWings did… they would've stormed her palace. Not slaughtered civilians.

"Right, well, I think I'm done here then." Jewel stood up. "I know what you're after, and I will not fall for these games."

"I don't need to convince you of anything." Wasp laughed as Jewel began to walk away. "You already feel that rage!"

"Bye, Wasp," Jewel said without turning back.

However, before she could leave, Wasp said one last thing:

"You don't want to give up this land not because it will displace our tribe." Wasp cackled. "You don't want to give it up because you feel they don't deserve their land back after what they did…"

Nobody discusses Bloodworm Hive and it honestly bothers the hell out of me. Short chapter, but eh.