//------------------------------// // A Price Paid // Story: Pride and Joy // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Apex was playing in the nursery with Capillarie and Scorpia when Thorax and Pharynx came in. It had been about a week, and the two nymphs were still grieving over the loss of their parents. Apex was trying to cheer them up, nuzzling them and trying to get them to play games with him. “Papa Thorax!” “Heh, there you are my little hyper sprite.” Thorax smiled sadly. It looked like he’d been crying. Apex trotted over and let Thorax pick him up. Apex nuzzled him. “Capillarie, Scorpia, how are you doing?” “Okay… w-we wanna see Celly…” Scorpia said “I know. I’m trying to get Twilight to let her come here, but she said something about seeing Ocellus soon anyway…” Thorax scooped them up. Pharynx rolled his eyes and took Apex, cradling him. Apex giggled and nuzzled him. Pharynx sighed and nuzzled back. Apex hugged him. “Wh-Whas’ gonna happen t’ Capillarie an’ Scorpia, Uncle Pharynx?” Pharynx sighed and nosed him. “I’m not sure Apex.” “Th-They’ll be ‘kay, righ’?” Apex asked nervously “...Yeah. Yeah, they’ll be fine Apex.” Apex whimpered and snuggled up to Pharynx, worried. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apex rushed through the Hive, slipping past random changelings. Panting, the little nymph went bursting into the throne room. “Papa Thoraaax!” “Apex! What’s wrong?!” Thorax asked frantically, sitting up. Apex ran up to him, letting the alpha changeling scoop him up. “C-Capill‘rie a-an’ Scorpia c-co‘lapsed! F-Fema t-took them somewhere…” “The infirmary, probably, let’s go.” Thorax said “Wait you two.” Pharynx stepped in front of him. “I should probably prepare you… both of you, before we go.” “Wh-What do you mean Pharynx?” Thorax asked, holding Apex close. “Well… you both know how nymphs those two’s age survive.” Pharynx said “They drink nec’er.” Apex said, somewhat proud he’d known the answer, but still worried. “Yes Apex. And that nectar is produced by their mothers. And, well, I talked with them the other day, and…” Pharynx sighed. “Well, they aren’t weaned off the nectar yet.” “Oh no…” Thorax whispered “S-So… th-they’re gonna…?” Apex whimpered, tearing up. “Maybe, grub.” Pharynx admitted “No!” Apex squirmed out of Thorax’s hooves and ran down the hall. “Apex, wait!” Thorax called, he and Pharynx chasing after the nymph. Apex burst into the infirmary, rushing into the room he detected Capillarie and Scorpia’s scents from. He skidded to a halt, looking at them, where they lay on the bed. Scorpia sat up as he came in. “Apex?” “S-Scorpia… Capill’rie…” Apex clambered onto the bed, sitting beside them. “‘Re you okay?” “Mhm, for now… b-but I don’t think we’re gonna stay that way…” Capillarie said softly, coughing and spitting out some changeling slime. “N-No, you hafta…” Apex stammered, eyes watering as Thorax and Pharynx entered the room. “W-We’re not going to last much longer… I dreamt about it…” Capillarie told him, reaching and resting a hoof on Apex’s. “You’ll be okay Apex…” “B-Bu’ you an’ Scorpy gotta s’ay…” “No…” Scorpia coughed, closing her eyes. “I-I can hear mommy and daddy… they’re calling for me…” “I hear them too…” Capillarie said, closing his eyes. “I-I can see daddy…” “No…” Apex whimpered, beginning to cry. Thorax picked him up, cradling him. “N-No, don’ leave me…” “We have to Apex… we’re sorry…” Scorpia leaned over and nuzzled him. “You’ll be okay.” “N-No… no’ wi’ou’ you…” “You’ll find other friends, better ones.” Capillarie told him, smiling. “Ones that’ll be with you forever…” “I don’ wan’ o’er frien’s!” Apex wailed “Sorry it has to be like this Apex…” Scorpia mumbled, lying down. “N-No… P-Papa Thorax, d-do something…” Apex looked up at Thorax, who sighed, eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry Apex… but I-I can’t stop this…” “B-Bu’ y-you’re the bes’es’…” Apex turned to Pharynx, whimpering. “U-Uncle Pharynx…? C-Can’ you-” “No one can grub. It’s just life.” Pharynx told him solemnly. Apex couldn’t take it any longer. He sobbed and buried his face into Thorax’s chest. He heard Capillarie coughing and lying down beside his sister. “See you in Elysium, Scorpie…” Capillarie mumbled “I’ll be there soon Cappy…” Scorpia replied Apex cried harder, shielding himself from the surely frightening sight and trying not to think about what was about to happen to his friends. He heard Scorpia saying something to Thorax, and him responding, also seeming to be crying. Then, after a few moments of silence, Thorax kissed Apex’s forehead. “It’s okay sweetie… i-it’s over…” “Th-They’re… g-gone?” Apex asked, voice muffled. He didn’t look up from his hiding spot. “Yes grub… they’re in a safer place now.” Pharynx said from somewhere off to the side, his muzzle touching the hiding nymph’s cheek. “It’s alright my little hyper sprite. They’re safe, and happy now. They’ll never know hunger, pain, fear, or sadness ever again.” “B-Bu’ isn’ tha’ wha’ they al’rea’y had here?” Apex pulled his head away from Thorax’s chest, looking up at him and wiping his eyes. “S-Safe’y? A-All the love they need? N-No fear or pain or nothin’?” “They’re going someplace where they can have more of that than we could offer.” Thorax told him Pharynx sighed and nodded, nuzzling him. “Thorax is right. The world isn’t all good Apex. I know it’s hard grub, life is like that. But they’re better off there than here.” Apex sobbed again, clinging onto Thorax. The king sighed and carried him out of the room, Pharynx following. Thorax took Apex back to his room, laying down in the bed and setting Apex in between his forelegs. Apex cuddled into him, and Pharynx laid Blizzard in the nymph’s hooves. Apex clutched the bear, whimpering and crying. Thorax rubbed his back, and Apex reached, wrapping his tiny hooves around Thorax’s large one. He carefully guided the monarch’s hoof to his mouth, and began to suck on it. Thorax smiled sadly and kissed the nymph on the forehead, letting him suck on his hoof until he fell asleep. “Thorax?” Pharynx’s voice asked faintly as Apex drifted off. The nymph pricked his ears, trying to catch what Pharynx was saying. “-do about Ocellus?” “Well… I guess we’ll have to hope Twilight was telling the truth about seeing her soon…” Thorax responded. That was the last thing Apex heard before falling asleep.