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The sunlight of early morning set the world awash in the green of plantlife. Stalks soared overhead, leaves shooting off like gigantic bridges going nowhere. Towering high, almost out of sight, were splashes of colors; petals from massive flowers whose sweet scents drifted down. Upon one of these plants were bunched orderly rows of diminutive, yet rotund, green insects. Up the stalk marched orderly columns of black insects. These were the ants, and the bugs above, at the crux of the leaf, were the aphids.

The aphids awaited the Mistresses patiently; legs folded neatly beneath them, hands arranged palms up and just so. The Mistresses were the Ants that tended the herd, who were kept for service and honeydew. Thanks to the aphids, the ants were provided with a delectable foodstuff that they, in turn, rendered down and fed to their Queen as delectable gourmet treats. The Queen, the lifeblood of the Hive, was spared even the smallest discomfort. Word among the aphids, told in whispers during free-time, said that the Queen was attended directly by exalted Ants just as aphids attended the Mistresses.

Taken by curiosity, daisy spared a glance around at the others. All were as she was, swollen from a day and a night of drinking sap, as they had been ordered. They all now sat with tried patience awaiting the touch of the Mistresses who would relieve them of the burdens they carried. Each was as naked as she was, the stretched and glistening exterior of their abdomens reflecting their fullness. All the others were sitting passively, heads down, awaiting their Mistresses' desires and demands.

Since she was a nymph, the edict of service had been worked into daisy, teaching her that aphid lives and actions were owed to the Ants that tended them. Ants, she knew, protected the aphids against the many dangers of the world around them and cared for them. She joined her sister aphids, head bowed and posture in total submission to the glorious Ants.

Excitement grew throughout the herd as the silhouetted outline of the Herald appeared on the horizon, rendered a shadow against the early sunrise. She marched smartly toward the herd, honor guard in tow, Her banner flapping in the gentle breeze of the early morning. The aphids all stared, knowing that to speak without first being spoken to would lead to grave punishment. The Herald's stride was perfect, each leg rising and falling in military cadence with Her troupe, up until She reached the appointed place where She stood at each visit.

"Attention!" cut Her sharp, well-practiced voice through the stillness of the morning. She slammed the iron-shod butt of Her flagstaff hard against the ground with a loud 'CRACK!' to punctuate Her words.

Every aphid knew what to do. In a fluid, graceful economy of motion they rose to their feet and stood stock-straight even despite their desperate fullness. Bellies gurgled against the will of the aphids, who remained otherwise silent. They awaited the Herald's words with anticipation, though each among them knew what those words would be.

"Recite our pledge to the Queen and Hive!" the Herald called.

"We, the aphids, pledge ourselves to our protectors and our betters," they began in unison, some straining, others with practiced ease, determining already some who would receive punishment, "The Ants of the Queen are the guardians of aphids. In their hands we shall know no harm. The Queen is our Mistresses' Mistress, her word is our deed. In return, this aphid will give of herself to the will of the Ants and that of the Queen. We belong to you, your Queen, and your Hive in thought and in deed."

The Herald nodded. At Her waist hung a horn, carved from the antler of a stag beetle many times Her size. The note cut through the morning, signaling the rest of Her hive-mates to advance. Soon the sound of marching boots replaced the echo of the horn's shrill cry. A line of ants, the Mistresses, came forth in unwavering precision toward their charges. From a line they sorted out into their parade-line sections, the line becoming a square. As one they halted, awaiting the call from the Herald.

"Mistresses, recite the pledge to your Queen and your affirmation of duty!"

"We, Ants of the Hive, pledge to tend these, the aphids, in the glory of the Queen."

The Herald turned back to the aphids, shouting, "Present!"

The aphids broke from their attentive posture and, eyes always on the Mistresses, sat themselves upon the ground. They set their abdomens forward, displaying their vast, swollen bodies that were badly in need of release.

"Attend!" called the Herald to the aphids.

Dutifully and gracefully the aphids maneuvered themselves onto hands and knees, crawling toward the waiting Mistresses. Heads down, shoulders demure, and nude as birth they went swiftly and fluidly as their girth would allow. It was a practiced crawl, one that they had done so often that it had become a matter of rote and personal style, influenced only by how much they had managed to eat recently. They went among the Mistresses, finding the one they had been assigned by the position they held in the ranks.

N watched impassively as daisy crawled forward to attend her. Against the horrors of the world, She had been the one ordered to guard this one. This was the aphid to which She had been assigned to tend, to discipline, to have her orders obeyed unquestioningly. Through her, She would deliver pails full of the rich honeydew that they made to Her Hive, thereby justifying Her own existence and giving glory to the Queen. Still, she could not have asked for a better charge.

N took a moment to admire her aphid. This one, daisy, was more than an average aphid. Daisy was well-disciplined, attractive for an aphid, productive, and most of all observant. By and large, aphids were not an attractive lot, being a rather plain sort. They had whiplike antennae, not much in the way of curves, and their abdomens swelled grotesquely. They were so unlike the graceful ants that many Mistresses considered them ugly. But daisy had a way about her. A certain... something... that made her just a bit more graceful and desirable. Never had she failed, which was much more than most Mistresses could say.

"You did as I told," N admired, gifting daisy with an approving touch of her leather-clad hand, "If my eyes do not deceive me, you are over twice the size you were when last we met."

"This aphid serves you Mistress N," daisy replied, "and this aphid will always serve."

"Today I shall take of your dew," N continued, "You shall polish my uniform and service me. Then I shall clean you and prepare you for our next meeting."

"Of course, Mistress," daisy replied, willing herself not to smile or allow excitement into her voice, "Shall this aphid recite for you today or is there another activity for today's dewing that I might perform?"

"Initiative," N stated with a nod, "Do you anticipate my will? Am I to become superfluous?"

It was a test, daisy knew. The Ants prized initiative in their aphids, but only to an extent. An aphid was to be attentive to the Mistress that owned her, but one should never act on one's own. It was a fine line, a symbolic line that defined the structure of their relationship. And more, no aphid could conscience being so embarrassed as to have a Mistress ignore an overly willful aphid. Such an aphid would be left to her own ends, at the mercy of the wilds and the dangers beyond the feeding grounds.

"This aphid exists to serve Mistress N," daisy said calmly.

"Would you submit yourself to my will? Even should I omit a common practice? Even if you know I omit an order that you know would be greater pleasure for me?"

This, daisy knew, was an elaborate trap. Despite the subservience of the herd, the Ants prized intelligent, talented aphids; aphids who were more than simple honeydew machines.

"daisy would submit to such a will, in the name of the Queen. But daisy seeks to please her Mistress in all things. This aphid would fail in the duties assigned her should she not seek to please Mistress N. It is the first duty assigned this aphid to obey and second to please the Mistresses."

N considered this answer. There were flaws, certainly, but it had also been a complicated question. Her Hive-mates had called such a question "Catch Twenty-Two" since it required the normally selfless and servile aphids to express their true feelings in a selfish and willful manner. Some Mistresses had argued that such a question was unfair, as aphids only ever wished to serve and please. To suggest that they ought to knowingly displease their Mistress by obeying ran contrary to their training.

But in daisy, N saw something special. A sort of brightness amongst the aphids that suggested her usefulness and capacities to be superior to the others. N had decided to try the question as much out of curiosity as certainty that Her aphid was something special. And now, She felt, daisy had proven herself worthy. Such a thing was deserving of recognition.

"Your answer satisfies," N said softly, comfortingly, "And to symbolize your willing service, as well as our bond, I grant you my collar to wear in my presence."

A leather collar, black and shiny as that which made N's clothes, rested in N's gloved hands. Caterpillars were a common enough sight around the feeding grounds, chewing upon the leaves under which the aphids sheltered. The Ants made use of these gigantic eating machines, harvesting them for meat, skins, bristles, and especially their hardened heads. The heads were carved up to make blades, shields, and any other tough thing the Ants needed. The skins, however, were only useful when tanned into leathers both supple and strong. This collar was made of the supple sort of leather, simple with a hard clasp of chitin to seal it.

Daisy could not resist a shudder as N's hands slipped the smooth, black strip around her neck. The clasp sealed to leave a loop where a lead-line might be fastened should N wish it. But as a final touch, N produced a small lock and key, separate from the collar. It was tiny and wrought from hard chitin, doubtless the work of a master artisan.

"And to symbolize your total submission," N said as she fastened the lock, "and my will as your own. This key. To be mine as much as you are."

Stock-still, completely unmoving and with no acknowledgement beyond the total lack of resistance, daisy awaited her Mistress's will. But the orders did not come straight away. Rather, N once again reached into her gear webbing and pulled from it a ribbon. Beautiful and simple, it was wrought from the thinnest fibers of plant and caterpillar hair. Glimmering colors of yellow and blue and subtle lavender and green made up the short length of it.

"And to show my satisfaction, this token to wear. For your dutifulness and your initiative, your service and your honesty, may it be recognized by this ribbon that you shall wear as long as you have my favor."

Heart swollen fit to burst with joy, daisy waited for N to tie the token about her arm. No doubt it was hand-crafted and of supreme dedication and care. A true symbol for the love she held for the Ants, the protectors of aphids.

"Now, Present!" N ordered, businesslike at last, "And I will hear a recitation of poetry this day. You will select one that you think will best please me. Through this I will relieve you your burden."

As daisy made ready to comply, she spared a glance around at the other aphids. Some were already being serviced, stroked by the Mistresses in order to give up their dew. Some liked it much rougher than she and were being practically beaten, others were delicate and received gentle strokes from the Mistress's crops. Some aphids bore ribbons or other tokens; all aphids were collared. Voices from aphids singing, reciting poetry, or declaiming failings rose up from amongst the herd. Other aphids were still filled to bursting, waiting for a Mistress to begin. Those who were letting out dew could not hide that glimmer of satisfaction and relief as abdomens were emptied.

Out and away, a nymph let out a shriek-ish gasp as she underwent a new step in the training. Nymph dew wasn't always the best, but the Ants felt it important to train new nymphs as early as possible. An uncontrolled nymph might well overeat, wander off and get killed, or distract the other aphids. None of that would do. Luckily the nymphs took well to a firm hand and a harsh lesson. It was also an excellent way to acquaint new Mistresses with aphids. Without doubt, daisy knew she would do much better this day.

Emboldened and waiting her own relief and pleasure, daisy combed through lessons and selected a poem she knew Mistress N enjoyed. Today the Mistress would be pleased. Every day, if she could help it, Mistress N would be pleased. Taking a steadying breath, she began the verse as Mistress N's crop hit home in a wonderfully pleasant slap. She tried her best to keep steady as the flow of honeydew began.

Relief. None could possibly know it as an aphid did, daisy mused, save another aphid of course. Their primary task was a simple one. They need only eat all they could under the watchful eyes and protective arms of their Ants. But as they ate, their bodies swelled horribly, ballooning out to thrice or more their normal size. The sap they could not use was transformed through the miracles of their bodies into the precious honeydew that the ants so craved.

Once, in her youth, daisy had tried a taste of the dew. To her it was a vile thing, so sickeningly sweet that she could not stand it. But it pleased the Ants, and that was all that truly mattered. How they stomached the horrible sugary fluid was beyond understanding, but as they also ate whatever else they could manage to capture; be it grain, fruit, meat, or vegetable, it was not too difficult to recognize that they would.

N had stroked her, sometimes gently, sometimes not so gently. The act stimulated daisy, activating the training she had undergone since she was but a speck of a nymph, fresh from her mother. Sometimes N would use her long, elbowed antennae to stroke her swollen abdomen. Other times she would use a stiff crop braided of tough and limber fibers. Either method, their touch caused daisy to gush her honeydew into the pails prepared with cries of ecstatic delight punctuating the words to Formicia Triumphant.

Fifteen pails had been taken from daisy this day after a long and practiced massage by N. Fifteen pails, and a small portion extra that N happily took for herself. As daisy recovered from the ordeal and her body contracted into place, N helped Herself to a delightfully sweetened bowl of nut shards, beetle-meat, and desiccated raspberry chunks. She saw that daisy had finished, but knew that Her meal would not be interrupted. She ate at Her leisure, knowing that daisy would wait as long as need be.

"Your recitation," N said as She finished Her last sticky-sweet bite, "was flawless. Formicia Triumphant is a poem that does please me greatly. Now, attend me. My uniform is dull."

"This aphid shall attend," daisy intoned carefully before setting about the task.

Soft cloth of rendered caterpillar bristle was brought forth along with a small bowl of polish and another of vinegar. The cloth was made with a cunning design that allowed it to be stiff and bristly on one side and smooth on the other. This turned it into both a brush and a polishing cloth. Dexterous hands wound through the cloth, working into a frenzy of motion.

First, the Mistress's boots were worked even as they were on her four feet. The coarse bristles of the brush side took off every trace of dirt from the morning's march, rendering them clean but dull. After this, daisy worked up N's legs, brushing away even the barest hint of dust from her powerful tibiae, sleek femoral segments, and sensitive coxae. From here, she cleansed N's groin, lingering as long as she dared upon the Mistresses' treasures clad in tight leather.

Daisy brushed up and down N's hips and chest, keeping head lowered so as not to make direct eye contact with the Ant. The front finished, the aphid brushed away at N's back, working briskly that her task might be finished and the Mistress pleased. Now she came to N's shapely abdomen and, at the end, her sting. Ever entrancing, daisy's gaze held upon that deadly weapon longer than perhaps she should have. Though rarely used with the advent of more modern weaponry, there was always something so visceral, so feral about seeing that sting.

"I am waiting." N said evenly, noticing her slave's hesitance.

"At once Mistress," daisy confirmed, ashamed that she should have let her attention stray. Imagination flowed with what penance she might have to endure this night for such laxity.

Now the cloth was turned, clothing daisy's hands in the tough bristles but leaving the smooth side ready for polishing. A finger dipped into the black polish and then ran in smooth circles over each area. Each layer of polish was followed by a dip of vinegar that the shine of the leather might be brought to the fullest with each pass. Again and again, polish and vinegar, polish and vinegar, the aphid applied layer upon layer to every inch of N's leather uniform. Neither a stray dab of black nor a drip of vinegar touched N's smooth chitin; and though daisy was deft and practiced with her hands, the process still took over two hours. Still, it was the best work daisy had done yet.

"And now," N ordered, though gently and with a hint of admiration at the complete and quick job daisy had rendered, "You may pleasure me until it is time to clean you."

"A privilege Mistress," daisy said evenly, trying very hard to contain the excitement within.

Now the aphid quickly put away the supplies and washed hands. The last thing she could imagine was touching the pristine, parade-ground shiny body of the Mistress with a filthy hand. Eagerly she crawled back, down on all six, to N. She belonged to N, willingly and totally, and would see to it that N left her satisfied this day. It was a duty, a privilege, a show of gratitude, and a pleasure itself to abase herself to the Mistress' delight.

Ever eager for the chance to touch the Ant, daisy had to reign in the excitement within her. After such service, dashing for N's loins like a freshly molted adult would only serve to bring shame. With the precision of life among the Ants, daisy instead proceeded slowly, still on elbows and knees. A hand reached meekly, though with assurance and care, to caress the exposed chitin at N's thighs. At times like this, daisy wished dearly that she had four hands instead of two... four hands instead of four legs. One hand for each of N's shiny smooth thighs that she might please them all at once.

Leaning in, daisy let her tongue reach out to delicately lick the polished leather, not caring at all what it tasted like. All she could smell was N's delicious femininity. Like a most delicate flower waiting, wrapped in that firm leather, for the touch of an able aphid. Possessed of a nimble tongue, daisy slipped in the tight gap between leather and chitin, sliding along the slit concealed to her vision. The taste was incredible to her; not at all sweet, but delightfully tangy and citrus-sour. The aphids had no love of sweet things, and to daisy this was more delicious than any blossom or sap could ever be.

For long minutes, daisy massaged and licked. An aphid had no permission to move, or remove, any article of a Mistresses' uniform and thus had to be creative and nimble when it came to the delights the Ants demanded. Of course, should they perform well, the Ants would inevitably adjust their uniforms for better access. Just another form of control and training, yes, but that was what the game was all about. It was what daisy lived for.

Eventually N reached down, eager in Her own way for daisy to being Her to climax yet wary against an aphid being too encouraged, and pulled aside the leather thong from Her delicate slit. An Ant's uniform was no trifling thing. It was form-fitting, stiff, and a constant reminder of their own service to the Queen. Still, at times like these when She had a willing and eager aphid devoted to giving Her naught but pleasure, N wished at least that particular portion was not so restrictive.

Now exposed, daisy took a moment to admire N's womanly flower. A delicate slit in the chitin, soft like the membrane between her rigid armored plates, in which petals of pink flesh could be seen. These petals, soft as a rose, were gently parted with daisy's dexterous mouth as she moved in to better please the Mistress. N stifled her gasps and sighs of delight behind carefully controlled breathing. N knew with certainty that daisy was adept at the art of cunnilingus, able to bring an unprepared Ant to her knees quivering as jelly with sensual delight, but N also knew that to show such a reaction would only serve to undermine her authority and by extension the authority of every Ant.

Yet daisy still tried. She knew the game well enough to know that anything less than her best would be met with stiff punishment. Of course, sometimes correction was just the thing daisy wished, but today was not such a day. Today was all about N. It was about seeing how far daisy could push N toward the heights of pleasure. N would never break, she knew. N was a pillar of self-discipline. But it gave daisy a visceral flush of satisfaction to know that inside Her iron-hard chitin, N was a quivering mass of pleasure, thanks to her.

Thumbs parted N's beautiful lips, revealing the tenderness that daisy knew lay beneath Her armor-hard body. A delicate touch, trained into daisy over many a long session, stroked at those petals, working hard to evoke delight in the Mistress. Despite Her stony control, N could not help Her breath quickening, a fact of which daisy was joyfully aware. Fingers darted deftly, skillfully seeking the centers of pleasure, but not going so far as to hasten release. N liked to prolong Her enjoyment of the carnal delights daisy brought her and was inwardly delighted at both the skill and understanding with which daisy performed.

A trumpet note, loud and shrill, cut through the scene of aphids pleasuring the Ant Mistresses. All the Ants looked at the Herald in surprise. The blast came early into their pleasures, an unexpected occurrence that meant only one thing. Trouble.

The aphids, as well as the Ants, had been drilled in the calls the herald might sound. In the event of trouble, all aphids were under standing orders to disengage the Mistresses that they might hasten to battle. Their pails of honeydew would be taken by the aphids into a safe place and the aphids would then assume a resting posture until the all-clear was sounded. Should the all-clear note never come, each aphid knew they would wait dutifully anyway. No fear, only duty, permeated the field as Ants gathered their gear and tidied themselves. Mere minutes later, the Ants were assembled into rank and file, marching along to war.

***

Waiting patiently; legs folded neatly beneath them, hands arranged palms up and just so, daisy ignored the rumbling of hunger within. Time passed as she concentrated on the starlight; the twinkling of dots so high above her head that no amount of climbing could ever reach them. N had left in such a rush that no punishments had been assigned, though daisy knew that she and the rest of the aphids richly deserved it. Imagined berating clouded concentration as daisy recounted the failures she had amassed in so short a time.

N had not been satisfied, a result of daisy expecting them to have all the time in the world together. N had been left waiting as daisy drifted from her attentiveness. The cleaning had taken longer than expected when daisy had lingered upon N's magnificent stinger.

...and now daisy was imagining punishments to be meted out. The sole province of an Ant.

Ashamed, daisy closed off the troubling thoughts. When next N visited, this would be included in any report daisy was made to give. Though N prized daisy's initiative in many things, it was commonly thought of as improper, if not downright insulting, for an aphid to presume in Ant business... especially in the treatment of aphids. Ants, after all, were responsible for the care and safety of the aphids. All aphid lives owed to the Ants, for which the Ants asked only obedience and service in return.

A trilling of notes split the night air. The all clear, at last. With a collective sigh of relief, the aphids stood and stretched. Though used to being in such a posture for long periods, no aphid refused the command to suspend it. Buckets filled with sticky, glistening honeydew were brought out from safety and lined upon the grounds that the Ant Serfs might come to take them. Though daisy knew of their existence, no aphid had ever seen a Serf. To do so was forbidden, though no explanation was ever given as to why. No explanation was needed, of course, since the life of an aphid was ever at the pleasure and sufferance of the Mistresses and Queen.

Work complete, the aphids headed back to the particular spots assigned them. Another standing order told them that when not attending a Mistress, each aphid should fill itself full that the Mistresses may find pleasure in it. Dutifully, each aphid scurried off to feed with empty bellies grumbling in primal demand. Among them, daisy moved to the spot assigned her.

The place N had prepared for daisy was simple and sparse, settled within the crux of a great leaf and stem. A small woven mat was the only decoration of the space, the only other furnishing was the table upon which daisy kept the tools with which she attended N. Kneeling upon the mat, daisy dutifully sunk her long mouthparts into the tissue of the floor to drink. As she did, a stiffness reminded daisy that N's collar still remained upon her. A smile; daisy enjoyed the comforting presence, the sure knowledge that N was a kind and firm owner, and the certainty that she was pleasing to N.

The sap was flowing deliciously this night, as it tended to do whenever aphids were kept from drinking for long periods. Smiling still deeper, daisy considered whether more delicious sap translated into tastier honeydew for N. For daisy, it was practically indecipherable as she despised the taste. The one concession she made to conclude that N would be pleased by it was that surely if such sap fouled the honeydew, the Ants would order against it. Either way, it felt like an indulgence.

An eye still to the stars, daisy sighed contentedly as her abdomen swelled. By morning she should be twice her normal size. Far from full, but well on her way to being pleasingly plump. Idly, between mentally practicing recitations and considering efficiency, she found time to fantasize about N and imagine things far beyond the common scope. A series of 'what if's cavorted about those mental exercises, some causing mirth and others shocking sadness.

A humming, ever so faint, cut the silence of the night air. The buzz of wings. Craning for a better view, daisy wondered what sort of wings might be buzzing about in the dead of night. Moths flew at night, their huge wings making 'whooosh' sounds that daisy never found disturbing. But this was something that sounded... different.

Before she could make any conclusions, daisy found herself in the presence of a dark figure. Such a visit was unheard of! No Ant came in the middle of the night!

But Ant She was, daisy saw as the figure strode close. Dressed in the same form-fitting leather as any other and posed as surely and confidently as the Herald Herself. Despite her feeding, daisy felt herself stiffen to attention even as she remained crouched upon the mat. Whatever this was, every bit of training screamed that this was a test. Tests must always be taken seriously.

As the Ant closed the few remaining strides, daisy noticed several differences in the newcomer. Her antennae were longer, more like thick bristles than the elbowed antennae the Mistresses had. Her form was different in proportion as well, but only so much that anyone unused to the level of attention to which daisy was accustomed to giving an Ant would never notice.

And She had wings! Four gossamer wings that shined in the starlight with every passing movement.

"Come here aphid," said a melodious, exacting, and authoritative voice.

Instantly, daisy pulled her juicy mouth from the feeding hole and crawled to the Newcomer.

"Recite your pledge," the Newcomer demanded, intoning it just as the Herald did, but not saying it exactly right. Confusing, but daisy would not let herself be found wanting.

"We, the aphids," it sounded strange being said in only one voice, "pledge ourselves to our protectors and our betters. The Ants of the Queen are the guardians of aphids. In their hands we shall know no harm. The Queen is our Mistresses' Mistress, her word is our deed. In return, this aphid will give of herself to the will of the Ants and that of the Queen. We belong to you, your Queen, and your Hive in thought and in deed."

The Newcomer smiled broadly, confusing daisy even further. N was never so lax in discipline to show such emotion on her face. In fact, daisy had only ever seen N smile so broadly once, on a festival day. This Newcomer Mistress must be either special or... daisy shuddered as the thought bubbled to the surface... or breaking orders.

"Do you know who I am, aphid?" She said sharply, if disturbingly casually.

"I do not..." daisy began, suddenly uncertain which honorific to use, "M-Mis..."

"I am the Queen," She announced boldly, "And ever do I do what pleases me."

Shocked beyond word, beyond thought, daisy collapsed, smothering her face into the floor and lying prostrate. Quivering in terror and awe, daisy could only hug the ground and wait for the world to stop spinning.

"As your Queen, my word is your deed. You will obey me exactly. Do you understand?" snapped the Queen.

"This aphid obeys!" daisy muttered stiffly, adding quickly, "your Majesty!"

"Then attend me," the Queen demanded, "do it well and you shall be rewarded."

"What... what service does... does her Majesty desire?" daisy dared ask. The task had not been defined beforehand, a disturbing change from the straightforward commands of a Mistress. Still, daisy was completely certain that this must be some sort of test. A very complex and grueling test of loyalty and service.

The Queen seemed to consider a moment before stating, "You will first give me a sensual rub-down. Arouse me and please me as you would your Mistress. You will then give up your dew to me. Once this is done, and done swiftly I expect, I shall give you that which you... deserve."

The emphasis the Queen had put on 'deserve' set nerves on edge. Such a word was not used toward aphids. An aphid was not an individual, but property, willingly serving the Ants out of both duty and gratitude. To imply that an aphid 'deserved' anything at all, good or bad, carried with it a sense of entitlement that rankled at every deeply held belief daisy knew. An aphid did not want for things. The standards were that aphids existed to please the Ants and were, in turn, pleased by Ants.

But this was the QUEEN, daisy reasoned. Surely the standards were beneath Her. She made the standards. If the Queen chose not to obey Her strictures to lesser Ants, that was surely her prerogative. Emboldened by this knowledge, daisy laid hands upon the Queen. The shock of what she was doing jolted through her with each pass of her hands, sending creeping shudders along her body as she massaged the not-quite-right feeling chitin.

The Queen was many times more responsive than N had ever been. The delight and joy was evident on her face, along with what daisy could swear was burning need. Still swimming in confusion, daisy kept on with dexterous ministrations. A curious mind battled with an ironclad sense of duty as she went, feeling none of the excitement that she normally felt with N, that she should feel with such an austere personage as this. A dozen questions burned within her, but she had not been given leave to speak.

"Go on, get to it!" the Queen demanded impatiently, "Is this what you call pleasure? Please me aphid, and do it quickly!"

The thought struck daisy like a blow to the head. The Queen was used to instant gratification! Of course She was; She was the only member of the Hive with no one above Her! Emboldened, daisy quickly took the initiative and abandoned all thoughts of caution or play. Fingers and tongue found the Queen's delicate folds and slipped in with graceful strength.

"Yes!" the Queen cried, "That's more like it! Get me good and ready!"

Surprisingly, daisy found that she was enjoying the Queen's enthusiasm, relishing both the attention and the responsiveness in equal measure. In short order the Queen was moaning and panting loudly, grinding Her dripping wet snatch into the excited aphid. Where N might have taken hours to bring to pleasure, daisy found her tongue being compressed after barely a few minutes as the Queen reached her peak. Without the command to stop, daisy pressed on; thrusting mouth forward and stroking the Queen's clitoris vigorously despite Her waves of climax. N had made it exceptionally clear that daisy was never to stop until directed.

Overstimulated by Her release, the Queen simply had to hold on as the expertly manipulative aphid drove her quickly into an aftershock orgasm and another beyond. The Queen wished that She could cry out, but instead held Her more vocal expression. Unbelieving how easily everything was progressing, how simple it was to please the Queen, daisy merrily continued on no matter how the pussy clenched or the Queen writhed.

"Stop!" the Queen cried at last, repeating Herself out of overwhelming stimulation; unnecessary as daisy had complied at the first command.

The Queen breathed heavily and quickly, Her abdomen pulsing with every gasp. She seemed almost on the edge of exhaustion; a sight that daisy would never have believed. But as she watched, the Queen seemed to quickly recover. A desirous light filled Her eyes in a way that sent chills racing within daisy.

"You... you have serviced me well, aphid," the Queen said, still with a breathy lilt to Her voice, "and now... I believe... it is time for..."

As She spoke, the Queen flexed her abdomen in a way that daisy had never before beheld. The entirety of the Queen's backside swiveled and folded up between Her widely spread legs. Her abdomen now stood, thrust forward at daisy. At a loss for words, beyond anything she had ever been taught, daisy could only stare at the confounding oddity that was this winged Ant's unpredictable anatomy and at the glistening, dripping stinger that stood poised at the end.

"Hold perfectly still," the Queen commanded.

Watching as that macabrely beautiful needle approached, daisy felt a rush of masochistic joy. How many times had she been punished for her inappropriate focus on the Mistresses weapons? How often had she lay dreaming of the day that she would feel the piercing and relish such surely deserved punishment... or reward perhaps? Rumors from the other aphids, exchanged during free-time, had raised the supposed sensation of a sting to nigh-mythical proportions. Pain and pleasure, so divinely fused and inextricable that the recipient would perish in ecstatic bliss. A final reward for a life of devoted service or a swift vengeance for all who would oppose the Ants.

Not a muscle twitched as the point of the Queen's sting touched against soft membrane. So sharp, daisy thought only a second before she gasped sharply as the point punctured her. Shudders arced through daisy as the smooth shaft of the sting sank into her flesh. Abdomen touched abdomen as the Queen hilted Herself in daisy.

A cry of utter delight rolled from the Queen, ululating in the darkness and speaking of unbridled bliss far beyond the sexual stimulation She had just endured. Silent, still, daisy railed inside at the sensation of the sting. Freezing heat flooded from the point of injection, riddling her with exquisite pain and filling her with a convulsive pulsing of sheer enjoyment. Head swimming in the seemingly impossible blend of masochistic fulfillment, daisy could only barely register that her abdomen was swelling at an impossible rate. A swelling that should take an hour occurred over that timeless void that spanned the sting.

Quickly, fluidly, the sting slipped from daisy and despite all efforts to obey, the aphid collapsed like a dropped bag. All ability to stand, to move at all, was simply gone. Evaporated by the intense heat of irreconcilable sensation. The one privilege left to daisy seemed that she could still breathe, which she did in great, dragging breaths.

***

Sunlight saw consciousness return to daisy, pulling her from a torpid sleep. The world spun around her spilling unreal colors onto the drab of the dawn. Woozy, daisy staggered until she stood. A hand clutched at an unknown wound, the other hand rubbed at the collar N had presented. Suddenly, reality snapped back to daisy as muscles long-trained into memory reasserted. The sun was up, daisy realized in horror, and she was outside her room, dirty, damaged, and worse had not eaten all night!

Quickly daisy checked her condition, surprised and shocked that though it felt as though she'd not eaten hardly at all, a bulbous abdomen filled with fluid extended behind her. Had she eaten all night and not known?! If only memories remained!

Wobbly, daisy ran... or rather stumbled... toward the ablutions chambers. Cold morning dew collected in cunningly wrought areas, providing clean water with which to wash dirty aphid bodies. Horror crept up within daisy as she waddled nearer the chambers, noticing the tell-tale signs that the chambers had been used, and quite some unacceptable time ago!

Cold dread washed through daisy as she considered how late she must be. Filthy, out past curfew, unfed, wounded, and now LATE!!! Had she not been in a panic, she might have curled into a ball and wept for shame. Coarse caterpillar-hair towels scrubbed vigorously over the engorged form of daisy as she scoured the dirt from every inch. She longed to scrub violently, to cause herself pain and punish the shortcomings she saw, but deep within she knew that such punishment was solely the purview of the Ants. In fact, she ought not even be thinking such things!

Fast as her bloated form could ambulate, daisy made way to the herd-moot. The sounds of other aphids reached her, though anything specific they might be saying or doing was lost.

N could not believe it!

Where was daisy?!

In all the time tending that smart, servile, and wonderful aphid, never had N been so embarrassed before Her Sisters! The only Ant before the herd who had an aphid absent! It was unheard of!

Despite the absence, N had no recourse but to stand unattended and alone. By the rules of the Mistresses of Battle, N was required to wait until attended by an aphid until such time as She was dismissed by the Herald. Her embarrassment was clear to all. The other Mistresses would certainly heckle Her, pointing out that they had so often warned N against the freedoms and initiative that She had allowed to daisy. Now, unless the aphid was found dead as was sometimes the case, N would be disgraced and assigned to penance at the stockade.

Yesterday had seen Her artfully attended by a prize aphid and then had ended with Her and a dozen of Her Sisters battling a wolf spider ten times their size with not a Sister lost. Victory, accolades, spoils, and prizes had been Hers... now wasted and forgotten.

A clamor arose from the area of the aphid dwellings. All eyes turned as a grossly engorged aphid stumbled into view, swaying drunkenly in the morning sunlight.

Daisy.

Gasps of disbelief escaped expertly-trained and extremely disciplined mouths as the tumid form assumed something resembling a proper submissive posture.

N was mortified beyond reason. This was impossible! Of all the aphids in the herd, daisy was the last aphid N would ever have expected to appear as such! She started forward, not breaking protocol by the letter, but certainly in spirit, as She closed the distance. That Her aphid was present and collared meant that N could do as She pleased with Her aphid, but an Ant NEVER approached an aphid! An aphid worth its honeydew could not conscience a Mistress exerting Herself unnecessarily. Every gaze followed as Her boots clacked against the ground, sounding as drum-strikes against the deafened silence of the scene.

"Explain yourself!" N snapped, voice unable to conceal the anger and outrage filling Her.

"M-mistress... I..." daisy started in a slurred voice.

"I?!" N interrupted, shocked beyond all self-control, "you dare refer to yourself as I in the presence of your betters?!"

"This... this aphid humbly..."

"Enough! I want no apologies!" N shouted, "I want to know how you of all the herd could have come to insult my sisters and I in such a debased display!"

Emotions, unchecked flooded N, pushing aside anger as each of Her innermost feelings surged to make themselves known through the cracks in Her discipline.

"You were my aphid. I loved you and tended you as the Nurses tend the Queen's children. I allowed you so much because I saw how superior you were. How could you do this to me? How could you do this to yourself? How..."

At the mention of 'Queen', a wash of memories painted through the holed memories within daisy. Patchy though it still was, the memories of the Queen shone through.

"This aphid spent last night in service to the Queen of Ants," she said, wishing the words could scald away the shame of her failure.

"What?" N snapped, confusion playing with anger in Her tone.

"The Queen of Ants visited last night. She bade this aphid to leave its chamber and attend to Her needs. This aphid acted only in service to Queen and Hive."

"Impossible," N spat, "Impossible! The Queen does not leave the hive! The Queen is never away from Her attendants, much less should She deign to associate with an aphid! Why would you lie to me daisy?!"

"It is true..." daisy asserted, straining against the holes in events, "The Queen of Ants flew down on wings of gossamer. She bid this aphid to recite the pledge of aphids. She demanded to attend, and this aphid obeyed..."

Face bunched in concentration, daisy fought against the blanks. Certainty that she was not lying or fabricating events filled her, even as memory did not. There were glimpses of pleasing the Queen, the way She had responded so openly and intensely... the way...

Touching the wound, daisy was suddenly certain as to what had occurred.

"The Queen of Ants stung me!" daisy cried out.

"Im... Impossib..."

"Mistress N!" snapped the harsh, precise voice of the Herald, "Report your situation."

Both N and daisy jumped, neither having noticed the Herald's approach. Through shock, daisy felt even more surprise at seeing N jump. Ever had N been a bastion of composure and serene control. To see an Ant jump... surprised...

"I said report Mistress N! I expect prompt response!" the Herald demanded, disappointed at the pause.

"This... aphid," N began, Her face struggling to blank itself and Her voice quavering, "this aphid reports that the Queen, Mother to all Ants, has visited in the night and... stung her!"

The Herald was stone. Unmoving. Stunned. But ever so slowly, that stone stiffness eroded into cool, dignified thought.

"N. You will attend me." She said carefully, "We shall report back to post. You will ask no questions nor speak to any until I or My betters give you leave."

N bowed stiffly and saluted in acknowledgement.

"Your aphid will also be confined. No punishments will be given until this situation is assessed." The Herald continued, "No other is to be in contact with that aphid until we are concluded."

And with that, daisy found herself surrounded by the Herald's honor guard and led away, the collar cut from her neck and tossed aside like so much trash. Never before had she felt so embarrassed, so ashamed.

***

Alone.

Aphids were so rarely alone. Every one of them in the herd knew all the others. Though they maintained different chambers in the night, the day was spent feeding and being communal amongst themselves. They talked of Mistresses and the sap, rehearsed performances, and helped each other in tasks that would be impossible for an aphid alone. Even at night, isolated, they could feel the presence of the others.

An aphid was expected to produce new aphids; a process that each considered about as much as they did breathing. Every so often any given aphid would produce new aphids. Not knowing how any other insect made more, daisy had never considered that something shouldn't be growing within her. But now, alone and isolated from the herd; so far away that she could not feel the presence of a single other being, daisy noticed the feelings of something within her.

Tiny.

New aphids always started out tiny. Of course they did. They had to come easily without interrupting the aphid that birthed them. But never before had daisy really felt the tiny new aphids within her. Perhaps it was just because of the loneliness, but she felt the abdominal quivers now and she was keenly aware of it.

It had been days. That much was obvious thanks to the translucent nature of the covering leaf walls. Other than a pail to fill with honeydew when she had need, daisy could only while away the hours thinking, eating, and trying to ignore the now constant quivering within. Were the Mistresses going to just leave her in here, she wondered. Was she going to be found with a new aphid alongside? If she had a new aphid, surely, they would take the nymph away when next they removed the honeydew bucket.

But most troubling, no matter how much dew she gave... a much smaller amount recently than she was used to... she didn't seem to be getting any smaller. Over the last two days, especially, she hadn't even filled the bucket, and yet the room seemed to be shrinking. I wasn't, of course, it was all abdominal swelling but it still seemed like the room was shrinking. As an Ant's aphid, daisy was well used to a swollen abdomen; sometimes thrice or more its empty size. But even so, she was used to it returning to normal once she was emptied of dew. Now, try though she might, she could not reduce the size completely.

Every time she filled with sap now she stretched more, past her previous size each time. Each time she felt... hungrier somehow. She drew on more and more sap each day, and despite all this seemed to empty less and less.

Days and nights blurred together in a wash of gluttonous food-lust as daisy found herself eating non-stop. Ants stopped taking the honeydew bucket each day, leaving it empty as it was and even so ignored the swelling mass within. All the while, daisy could think on only two things; the sap before her and the squirming within.

***

N paced the length of the hall. How had it taken so long to reach a decision on this?! The Queen's Attendants and the War Council had been meeting for over two weeks! How could it take such time to reach a decision about an aphid!

Shaking herself and reaching for the inner calm and discipline, N regained her composure. She would have to report her folly to the General for punishment. Still, she wondered at what could have driven her to break decorum. She cared for daisy, true, and she had been embarrassed beyond compare at her normally perfect aphid's scandalous misbehavior. She had also spent the last two weeks confined to her spartan billet, a closet with nothing beyond a cot and a stand for her weapons and armor. The same billet she had used since she had been taken from the pupation ward, but never for more than sleep and preparation.

"I understand my faults and will work to correct them," she announced to the empty hall.

Still, it was good that after all this time, she had been called to attendance. It told her that her Superiors were planning on actually doing something. Mentally she added another admission of fault and calmed herself, standing at attention.

An hour passed before three ants emerged from the door at the end of the hall. The General of Soldiers, trainer of all militant Ants; the Mistress of Provisions, caretaker of the Hive; and the Directorate Supreme, Voice of the Queen and Keeper of Plans for the Hive, all stood before N. She felt tiny, insignificant before Ants of such lofty stature. These Ants alone had the privilege of speaking to the Queen Herself! The only other ants N knew to even SEE the Queen were the Most Royal Attendants, those Ants who took Her eggs. Even they only saw the place from whence eggs came, the rest of the Queen draped from their view by the finest of curtains.

"N," the General acknowledged her presence, but said no more.

"This is the ant that brings such tidings?" the Directorate Supreme said, not really a question. N was inwardly floored by the regality and overwhelming gravity of Her voice.

"N is a mistress of aphids," the Mistress of Provisions confirmed, "Up until recently, her honeydew return was exemplary. Now she brings tales that her aphid is openly displaying impropriety and claiming to have been visited by the Queen Herself!"

Had it been any other topic, N would have been scandalized to hear the Mistress seemingly lose control over Her voice. But this was not any other topic.

"The Queen," the Directorate interjected, utterly cool and in command, "has never left Her Royal Chambers. I can confirm this. No Royals have left the Hive since the last flight of Princes and Princesses."

"Another Hive perhaps?" the General put in, stroking Her antennae thoughtfully, "I've heard tell about rogue queens that infiltrate Hives and enslave the populace."

"But how would that make any sense?" queried the Directorate, "Infiltrating the Hive couldn't possibly be done through mere aphids. They've never even seen the entrances to the Hive. What purpose would it serve?"

"Perhaps a tactic by an enemy, then." The General added, "Deprive us of vital resources to weaken our hold on our territories."

"No, General, this is something strange," the Directorate finished, holding up a hand in the way that silenced any further discussion. Even someone as commanding and powerful as the General had to pay heed to the Directorate's words, as it was She who spoke for the Queen.

But despite all this, N still inwardly wondered why this had all taken so long. Certainly it was important enough to warrant faster notice. Especially now that it was clear that they were dealing with some sort of impostor queen! N itched inwardly to express herself, knowing that there was nothing she could do to speed things up or add in any information until her betters chose it. Even now she was facing disgraceful amounts of punishment. Could she bring herself to add more?

"What I want to know now," the General said levelly, Her expression concerned more than upset, "Is why it took so long for this to reach us? This might be a serious thing, especially if what you say is true."

"My undersecretaries assigned it low-priority. It was not clear that such a thing was a danger at all. Besides, while you consider strategies and patrols, I must conduct the orders of Her Majesty, the Queen, Mother to us all. Things cannot always be handled swiftly, no matter how urgent."

The Directorate's words were at once soothing, reassuring, and irritating. Still, the General, the Mistress, and even N found themselves nodding in agreement. None among them, N least of all, shouldered such burdens as the Directorate Supreme. Such was her power that she might have any one of them sent to the Mistresses of Correction for any reason in Her head. But such was Her responsibility that each and every ant beneath Her knew with certainty that they would deserve it and be better for it if She did.

She surveyed the others regally; Her gaze a cold, hard bore. With an almost imperceptible nod to the General, She continued, "And now that we know it is an emergency. I will delegate to you. Conduct an investigation, report the findings, coordinate with the mistress of provisions. Handle this with all the haste and thoroughness you would any threat to the Hive's glorious demesne."

The General saluted crisply as the Directorate re-entered the Queen's chamber. As soon as the great doors were closed by the Honor Guards inside, the eyes of the General and the Mistress were fixed firmly on N. Feeling as if she were staring at giants, N awaited stiffly for her orders.

"Report" demanded the General.

***

MORE SAP! Daisy thought, I NEED MORE!

Abdomen bulging behind her, filling the room, daisy hadn't seen the walls of her cell in quite some time. It was so huge now that waxy smears painted the ceiling from the two cornicles that tipped it. An aphid would normally only exude the smelly wax from its cornicles if it felt threatened, but daisy simply couldn't contain it.

It had been... some time. Some immeasurable time since she had given even a single drop of honeydew, despite eating constantly at the now-withering veins of sap. No matter how much she took in, how much that giant abdomen ballooned out behind her, no amount could sate her hunger. Whatever the new aphids within her were doing she was certain, with what cloudy parts of her mind still worked, that they were responsible for her not producing honeydew for her beloved N.

Where is N anyways? Daisy thought idly, finally turning away from the persistent gnawing hunger. I wonder if She is alright. I hope She is. She is such a good Mistress. Daisy loves Mistress N. Daisy wishes only to serve...

When had it become night? The gurgling within daisy had grown to a fever-pitch hours ago, but had suddenly stopped. Sluggishly, thoughts on why this might be floated up from he depths of the haze. Whatever the new aphids were doing in there, they certainly had to be getting close to emerging! New aphids never took this long. There must be...

Suddenly, daisy became aware of a wrenching feeling. Mind suddenly clear, she found that hunger had been reduced by a cramping pain unlike anything she had known. Under the strict, firm direction of Mistress N and the other Ants, every aphid knew the feeling of the lash or the paddle. Every aphid had done something wrong; it was inherent in the learning process. But this was something altogether more painful. It felt as if a dozen claws were on her insides.

Unaccustomed to the intensity of it all, daisy let out an uncharacteristic yelp, followed by an even more uncharacteristic moan! An aphid was not to allow a Mistress to hear distress. All aphids learned to suffer in silence, with dignity, and to improve themselves with their correction. But this was no correction! This was not administered by the loving, caring hands of a Mistress; who had nothing but the health of the Hive in mind. This was pain without purpose!

Having nothing to focus on save the pain, daisy squirmed and thrashed ineffectively. Abdomen, squirming and writhing even as she watched, filled the entirety of the room. She could feel it pushing against the walls, trapping her even as arms and legs tried feebly to shift the mass or move her in any meaningful way. She wailed, weeping out loud with wordless sobs as something pushed its way out of her.

Outside, the guard ants stood. Their orders were clear; no one sees the aphid until directed. They did not watch the cell, nor did they pay any heed to the noises from within. Inwardly, each guardian felt the flush of embarrassment that any aphid would act so shamefully as to wail and cry this way, but outwardly they were as statues.

Lanterns illuminated the area of the correction cells, cunningly wrought of the leaves of the same plant, folded and fixed by the worker caste some long time ago to provide ample room to house, feed, and punish aphids when necessary. The area was open to the sky otherwise, allowing any passing ant to keep a bearing on time as they administered the needed punishments to keep aphids in line. But tonight, with the lanterns ablaze, the guards could not make out the stars above. They would stand until relieved at dawn.

A black shape emerged from the cell entrance, pushing between the guards who took a moment to realize what had even happened.

"Hey! Stop there!" they shouted in unison as the insectile figure tottered out on unfamiliar legs. Spears raised, the guards advanced cautiously, clearly making out that the glistening black figure was no escaping aphid. In fact... it looked like...

"State your name and business ant! This area is off limits."

Both guards gasped in surprise as gossamer wings unfurled from the interloper's back; coming to full size rapidly as blood pumped into the veins. Their antennae set to wiggling, a scent filled the air. Instinct warred with knowledge inside the heads of the guards as the smell asserted itself.

"Are... it's not the time for..." one guard said to her partner, "It is too early for the Princesses... isn't it?"

"P-p-princess?!" the other gasped in astonishment at the black figure rose to full height.

Both guards fell to their knees, prostrating themselves before the 'princess' before them. It regarded them with delight; mischievous, terrible delight as she realized just what was going on. Behind the guards, more black shapes emerged against the faint whimpers from within. As they each unfolded themselves and unfurled their wings, the first "Princess" explained in whispers what she had learned; speaking in the silent talk they had developed whilst 'maturing'.

A chord of impish laughter rang out through the empty cell-block as each of the matured parasitoid wasps took the meaning of their existence. In a rush of wings they flew off into the black of night.

***

Queen Braconia watched the emergence from high above the cell-block, shadowed from sight but able to see clearly thanks to those foolish lamps the ants insisted upon hanging everywhere. She watched, bemused at her overwhelming success, as her babies poured out fully grown and subdued the pitiful 'warrior' ants with nothing more than a false scent. They would soon realize what had happened, she knew. They always did. Sometimes they learned slowly, sometimes not. She had lost no small number of children to overly paranoid hives in the past. But this one... this had been a rousing success.

Perhaps she would leave this hive... seek out a fresh one. But for now, she was simply happy to have seen a brood emerge.

As she made ready to flee the scene, she noticed a contingent of warriors, led by one determined looking aphid tender, marching at double-time toward the cells. These ones were certainly on their toes about things! That tender must really care for that little aphid.

With a sigh of regret that she couldn't enjoy that particular aphid's talents one last time, Queen Braconia fluttered her wings and took to the dark embrace of night.