POBee 141.1 - A Bee-posterous Proposal
The King, having filled his domain with new and incredible wonders, called the meeting to an end and retired to his chambers. The karnuq representative left as well. The First of the Fifth considered including her but decided to hold off. She had not yet secured the cooperation of the other queens, so it was not yet time.
The First of the Fifth thus began to dance before the rest of the queens dispersed. Fortunately, they were all investigating the King’s newest flower, and so still concentrated together.
“Have proposal, can meet now?”
The queens danced the affirmative and returned as one to the Memorial. The Conduit remained as well, watching over their meeting. The Firstborn danced first.
“What’s First of Fifth’s proposal?”
The First of the Fifth didn’t hesitate before beginning the dance that could change everything.
“Shortcuts mean all hives close, all flowers close now. All hives can gather from all flowers if want. Queens and gardeners should gather and coordinate foraging. Ensure maximum honey production, cross-pollination for all flowers, and avoid competition.”
The First of the Fifth then paused. Now was the moment she hesitated, for she knew that she asked a lot. To take additional time out of the queens and gardeners’ busy days to meet was already a sacrifice. To pool resources, for each individual hive to surrender its claim to its local flowers? That was unthinkable. But the First of the Fifth knew, too, that the King loved all bees to an unthinkable degree. So, she felt that it was acceptable, nay, appropriate even, for the King’s bees to take unthinkable measures. That all may grow together as the King desired. So, she prepared herself. She recalled all the arguments and reasoning she had thought up before this moment, and moved to convince all of the other queens, many of which she had held in contempt, that this idea was…
“Ok!”