Pharynx’s wounds had been bandaged up with actual gauze, and he’d been made to swallow antibiotics daily for the infection. He was still very weak and spent most of the time asleep in their room. Other than eating, he only woke from coughing or fever dreams. Thorax and Apex rarely left his side. When they did, it was because of Cadence or Shining wanting to speak with them.
Thorax was called to Shining’s office a few days after their arrival. He found Shining and Cadence waiting for him, and they began questioning him on the changelings.
“So the changelings have always lived under the rule of Chrysalis?” Shining asked
“That is correct.” Thorax replied dully.
Shining fixed a curious gaze on him. Cadence seemed worried.
“Is everything alright?” the princess asked gently
“I’m just concerned about Pharynx… and…” Thorax stopped, not wanting to admit it. “And… puer noster bellator…”
“Is that more of your ancient tongue?” Shining asked for confirmation.
“Yes, it means ‘our young warrior’.”
“Apex.” Cadence murmured
“Yes.”
“I do wonder, Apex said ‘pater’ means friend. But you flinched when he said it.” Cadence recalled, looking at Thorax, who sighed.
“That’s because…” Thorax hung his head. “I… I am ashamed to admit it, but… I lied to him.”
“How so?” Cadence asked
“...He listed all the things I had done for him. I was reminded of one term in particular and mumbled it. I didn’t think he’d heard. But it was too late so I lied.” Thorax explained, feeling tears begin to fall.
Cadence moved and wrapped a wing around him. Thorax burrowed into her fur, crying.
“It’s okay Thorax, you’re not in trouble. Tell us, what does ‘pater’ mean?”
“I… I…” Thorax gulped. “Friend is ‘amica’. ‘Pater’ means… it means… f-father.”
Shining looked at him. “So, he was saying ‘Father-Thorax’?”
“N-Not on purpose… he doesn’t know. He’s only just beginning to learn the ancient tongue.”
“And what of his real father?”
Thorax wiped his eyes fruitlessly. “His parents, Hexia and Mandible, were killed in a skirmish around the time of his fifth birthday, we met a few days later. It was also when Apex asked Pharynx to be his mentor, which broke the tradition a little, but Pharynx consented.”
Shining nodded. “So he now unknowingly calls you his father.”
“I-I don’t want to replace his father, I-I just… h-he just kept saying it innocently… Pharynx was trying to convince me to tell him but I couldn’t. I kept making excuses to myself, and…”
“And the longer you waited, the harder it became to tell the truth.” Cadence said knowingly, and he nodded.
“I-I just was reminded of what Pharynx had told me what the definition of a father was. We never had one of our own, he learned this definition from his warrior drone friends.”
“Out of curiosity, how old are you two? You've mentioned before that Apex was five, but I don't think you've ever told us your own age.” Shining said
“Pharynx and I are both 20 years old.”
“Are you twins?”
“In a way. Eggs are laid in clutches from as small as one to as big as six or so. The queen is rumored to be able to lay over a dozen at once but no one has ever seen it. Pharynx and I hatched from the same two-egg clutch, I guess that's what ponies would call twins, but we just say broodmates."
“Alright, let’s just go with twins for now.”
Cadence nuzzled Thorax gently. “Don’t cry sweetie, we’re not upset. Shiny and I can help you figure out how to tell Apex, if you want.”
Thorax nodded. “Thank you…”
Cadence smiled softly. “For now, why don’t we focus on something happier?”
Thorax nodded, and the discussion continued on to things about changeling culture. Thorax even managed to teach them a bit of the old tongue.
Thorax sighed as he headed back to the guest room. When he opened the door, he looked up and gasped.
“Ph-Pharynx?!”
-------------------------------------------------------------
Pharynx was sitting up in the bed. He was lying on his side so he wouldn't risk laying on his wound, but he was alert. He had some kind of small white board in front of him, and Apex was tucked against his chest. Pharynx looked up, an unfamiliar writing device in his mouth, which he spat out.
“Thorax, there you are.” His voice was still raspy, but he seemed less congested. “Apex said the princess wanted you for something.”
“Y-Yeah, they had some questions. Why are you up?”
“I woke up.” Pharynx shrugged, “That unicorn, the one with the royal foal, was waiting here, talking to Apex. I think he had something he wanted to ask us.”
“Oh…” Thorax remembered the unicorn, Sunburst, was the royal crystaller. He was fairly nice, but a little shy and often nervous about approaching them.
“Don’t worry, I think he just wanted to talk to us about the baby. Something about helping him? I told him I'm not good with kids unless they want to learn the five ways to snap someone's neck with their teeth, so he said he’d come back later.”
“Alright… but what are you doing up?” Thorax asked, stepping closer.
“Teaching the grub.” Pharynx nodded down at Apex. “Sunburst asked if I needed anything. While I was resting I had some time to think about what I wanted to teach Apex, so I asked for something to write with.”
“Pharynx ‘s teachin me wo’ds in the ol’ tongue.” Apex said brightly.
“He’s a fast learner.” Pharynx added
Thorax smiled and crawled into the bed so he laid behind Pharynx. Thorax nestled close against his older brother, not caring about the fever that normally made his body uncomfortable to rest against. When no complaint was made, he rested his chin on Pharynx’s shoulder, looking at what he was writing.
“Pater-Thorax?”
“Y-Yes Apex?” Thorax glanced at the nymph, his earlier conversation with Cadence and Shining still fresh in his mind.
“Pharynx was tellin’ me ‘bout family wo’ds. He said mo’er ‘s ‘mater’. So how come friend is ‘pater’ when i’ sounds like the mo’er word?”
“B-Because…” Thorax screwed his eyes shut. He felt Pharynx shift slightly under his chin, and relished in the warmth and silent comfort being provided from his brother. “P-Pater isn’t friend. That’s ‘amica’.”
“S-So ‘pater’ means…?” Apex prompted
“It means father…”
Apex went silent, and Thorax felt tears beginning to drip down his face for the second time that day.
“...I didn’t mean to lie, Apex. I just… I knew you were still hurting from what happened and I didn’t want you to think I was trying to replace Mandible. I’m not, I swear. Y-You just make me so proud all the time and I just… I really felt like what you were listing was the traits of a father… you weren’t even supposed to hear it… I was about to suggest friend next, so I just said ‘pater’ was friend… I’m sorry Apex… I-I understand if you’re mad… I would be too. Just… know that I love you. I always will.”
Thorax kept his eyes closed, until he felt a small muzzle begin to nuzzle his cheek. He let out a surprised chitter and opened his eyes. Apex was crying too, but smiling.
“I-I love you too, Pater-Thorax.” Apex said
“Y-You said-”
Apex hugged him around the neck. “I know you’re no’ my daddy. B-Bu’ you can be my Thorax. I love you, Pater-Thorax, fore’er an’ e’er.”
Thorax reached and pulled him into a hug. Apex giggled as Thorax nuzzled him.
“You know, Pater-Thorax doesn’t really fit you.” Pharynx remarked, coughing lightly. “You need something more… I dunno, saccharine.”
“There ‘re o’er words for father, righ’?” Apex asked
“Mhm. Father, dad, dada, papa-” Thorax began, but Apex cut him off.
“Papa!” Apex nuzzled Thorax. “P-Papa Thorax…”
Thorax giggled and held him close. “I like that name, Apex.”
Apex smiled and snuggled against him. “You’re my papa…” the nymph’s eyes began to close, and he yawned. “P-Papa Thorax…”
Thorax stroked the nymph’s head as he fell asleep. Apex smiled and cuddled against him. Pharynx shoved the writing utensils aside and rolled over, pressing against them.
“D’you wan’ cuddles too Pharynx?” Apex mumbled, feeling the changeling come closer.
“D-Don’t be ridiculous, grub, I’m just… cold… and tired…” he yawned and closed his eyes, nestling against them and dozing off.
Thorax and Apex smiled at each other knowingly.
“Whas’ ‘uncle’ in the ol’ tongue?”
“Avunculus.”
“Hehe, ‘m gonna call him tha’ t’morrow.”
“Heh, okay.” Thorax nuzzled him, grinning and winking at the nymph. Apex giggled and yawned, before falling asleep.