//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Hello Princess Twilight (And Starlight Glimmer. And Spike) // Story: Patrilineality: Making Up For Time We Lost // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Metamorphosis looked up, Thorax and Pharynx startling as well. Tempest Shadow stood beside a lavender alicorn, who was standing in shock. “Twilight!” Thorax stood eagerly, Pharynx also standing. “Thorax, who is that?” “He kind of looks like Pharynx used to.” A Unicorn poked her head into the room behind the two mares. She was also lavender, but her mane had a bright blue streak in it. “Well, you see…” Thorax began, as Ocellus stood up and moved to a corner of the room. “The reason he resembles Pharynx when he was unreformed is because, well…” “Oh for hivemother’s sake, he’s our father, alright?” Pharynx blurted out. “He’s your… what?” the alicorn, Twilight, trotted over, looking at Metamorphosis. “Why do you look so much like Chrysalis? And why aren’t you transformed?” Metamorphosis gulped. “No one knows why I look like Chrysalis. I have been different ever since I hatched. I’m not transformed because I am for some reason unable to.” “Unable to?” Twilight lit up her horn and Metamorphosis was bathed in her magenta aura. “It seems like some kind of birth defect. Maybe it has to do with why you look different.” Metamorphosis nodded in understanding. Twilight continued observing him. He shifted uncomfortably and Thorax stepped in. “Um, Twilight? Maybe this isn’t the best time…” “Oh, right.” Twilight blushed sheepishly and backed away. The new unicorn, who was still standing beside Tempest, now trotted up. “Huh, I mean, he looks completely identical to Pharynx’s old form. All the way down to the jagged purple carapace and the red neckfin, or mane, I guess.” “Wh-Who are you, exactly?” Metamorphosis asked “Heh, Starlight Glimmer.” “Oh, that pony…” Metamorphosis’ face darkened slightly. “Pharynx mentioned what you said about him being… right, a ‘lost cause’.” Starlight paled. “I-I, uh-” “He also mentioned that you were ready to tell Thorax to kick him out of the Hive.” “I-I regret saying-” “And that you and your friend were more concerned over who should ‘break the news to Thorax’ instead of over how Pharynx might feel about you deciding to give up on him.” Starlight continued to stammer as Twilight also fixed her with a look. Meanwhile, Tempest stood stoically by the door. However, the smirk she sent Starlight’s way showed she was enjoying watching Starlight squirm over such a big mistake. After all, Starlight had been under Twilight’s guidance much longer than Tempest, and should have known better. “Starlight, I thought I taught you-” “Okay dad, I think she’s sufficiently scared, you can drop the act now.” Pharynx remarked. Metamorphosis pulled back from his intimidation and glanced over. “Too much?” “I would say yes but Thorax has dragged me to the theater club’s plays before. This wasn’t half as dramatic as those things.” “Hey!” Thorax glared at him. “Wait, you were acting?” Starlight asked “Changeling. You did something to hurt his son’s feelings. What did you think was going to happen?” Tempest spoke up, making Starlight glare back at her. “Aren’t guards supposed to be silent?” “When serving her majesty, yes. When teasing you for hurting my boyfriend’s feelings, no.” Tempest replied dryly “I knew you two were dating! Yes! Trixie owes me fifty bits!” Tempest then facehoofed. “Why do I try…” “Well, you weren’t wrong.” Pharynx said in defense of his mare. She chuckled softly, smiling at him. “But… but how could you tell? He was really selling it.” Starlight asked Pharynx. “Because I’ve spent time with him. Anyone who has spoken with dad on a personal and not professional level for at least five minutes will be able to tell you that he’s the one that Thorax gets his personality from.” Thorax huffed. “You’re just mad that this means Chrysalis was probably favoring you a bit for being more like her in personality.” “Maybe I am but that’s beside the point.” Pharynx shot back. “Point being, dad may get serious at times and I’m sure part of how he was acting was genuine. But in the end he was only trying to intimidate you.” Metamorphosis smiled and nuzzled Pharynx, making him swat him away. “Heh, thank you for explaining, Pharynx. And demonstrating your intelligence.” “Yeah yeah, whatever.” “Heh, seems like he’s really adapted to a family lifestyle.” Twilight commented “As I said, Thorax and dad share the same personality. It makes perfect sense that he’d immediately adapt to the new saccharine lifestyle Thorax has invoked.” Thorax and Metamorphosis let out identical exasperated sighs, merely proving Pharynx’s point and making the others laugh. “So, what now?” Starlight asked “You apologize to my son for what you said about him.” Metamorphosis replied Starlight chuckled sheepishly. “Right… Pharynx, I’m really sorry… Trixie and I never meant to-” “I don’t believe you.” Pharynx cut in “But-” “I don’t believe that you didn’t mean everything you said. I’m positive you did at the time. I accept your apology, sure. But I don’t want to hear lies about how you didn’t mean what you said.” Pharynx elaborated. “So just drop it.” Starlight blinked, then nodded and quietly left the room. Tempest received a look from Twilight and rolled her eyes before following the mare, presumably to talk to her. Ocellus tapped Thorax's shoulder, apparently having returned to his side. "I-I think I'm going to catch up with my friends now, is that alright?" Thorax smiled. "It's perfectly fine Ocellus, go on." “Alright, now what?” Pharynx looked over to his father and brother as the nymph hurried out of the room, picking her book up on the way. “Well, Pharynx… are you sure you’re okay with-?” “Thorax, we’ve been over this. I don’t directly blame her for everything that happened that day. She’s definitely one of the ones who was at fault but she doesn’t need all my hatred. Let’s just move on.” “Alright, alright.” Thorax leaned down and nuzzled him. “But you’re definitely getting snuggles tonight whether you like it or not.” he whispered “Not.” “Still giving you snuggles.” “Whatever.” Thorax nuzzled him once more, then looked up. “So, Twilight, is Spike around?” “Oh, yes, actually. He was getting a snack.” “I was. What’s going on in here?” a light purple dragon with green accents flew into the room. He was fairly small, and snacking on a bowl of gemstones. “Spike!” Thorax trotted over eagerly. “Thorax, hey!” the dragon set the gems on a table and let Thorax hug him. “What are you doing here? Twilight didn’t tell me you were coming!” “Well, we came to see Ocellus, Pharynx and I-” Thorax began, releasing Spike, before a cough from Pharynx interrupted him. “Fine, I wanted her to meet someone.” “Who?” Spike asked, then noticed Metamorphosis. “Whoa, who’s he?” “Heh, this is our father, Metamorphosis.” “He’s your dad? Wait, how have you never talked about him before?” Thorax looked at Twilight, who blushed sheepishly. “Spike may have been busy while I was telling Starlight what you said about not knowing who your father was…” “Wait, so, you guys forgot to tell me something important again?” Spike asked “I… I’m sorry Spike, that’s my fault this time.” Twilight trotted over and hugged him. “I’ll explain more later, okay?” “Okay…” Spike looked over. “So, um… as long as you’re here…” “Heh, what is it Spike?” “If I could… maybe show you guys Ogres and Oubliettes?” “Sure.” Thorax smiled at him. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing what you like about it so much.” Spike cheered. “Yes! Thanks Thorax, come on!” Spike flew out of the room. Thorax followed, Metamorphosis and Pharynx trotting behind, clearly confused. “Pharynx, do you know what-” “Not a clue.” “Oh…” Metamorphosis felt a worry growing on what this apparent game might entail. About three hours later, however, Metamorphosis found he understood the game and enjoyed it. Even Pharynx seemed to be getting into it, though he was feigning indifference. “Spike! I know you want to play this game but I need your help.” Twilight entered the room with the circular table they had been playing on. “Oh alright…” Spike sighed. “Give me a minute to put this up-” Twilight lit up her horn and the pieces placed themselves back in the box. “Oh… okay. Thanks.” Spike jumped down from his seat and flew over to her. Thorax, Pharynx, and Metamorphosis followed his lead. As Spike left the room, Twilight looked over at them. “Thorax, do you think you’ll be telling the other leaders about Metamorphosis?” “Well, eventually… we have a visit to the Crystal Empire coming up in a few days, so that might be a good time to tell Cadence and Shining… we’ll be surprising them with the trip.” “I won’t say anything the-” “Well, at least you’re telling me about the trip ahead of time this time.” Pharynx interrupted “I apologized for that already!” “Didn’t make up for the day of training that was lost.” Pharynx and Thorax headed out of the room, exchanging banter. Metamorphosis chuckled slightly, then looked at Twilight. “Thank you for letting us stay this long, Princess.” “It’s no trouble, Spike doesn’t get to spend time with Thorax as often as he’d like. And please, call me Twilight. All my friends do.” Metamorphosis smiled as he felt her willingly share some love with him. She had called him her friend. Metamorphosis nodded to show he understood, before following his sons out, preparing himself for most likely needing to break up a fight.