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// Chapter 1: An Unexpected Guest (edited) 
// Story: A Time to Think 
// by The Sonic Mage 
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Chapter 1: An Unexpected Guest


‘This is a good day’. That was the very thought that ran through King Thorax’s mind. As the ruler of the Changeling Empire, life was usually a bit chaotic. What with the reconstructing and remodeling of the hive, as well as the occasional monster attacks, there was hardly ever a truly mundane time in the Empire. So the times when he could just sit in the throne room, drink a cup of tea, watch the people of his kingdom from the balcony, and just generally enjoy the quiet, were moments that he cherished and enjoyed greatly. For Thorax, it's like the calm could last forever…
“YOUR MAJESTY!!!”, Unless someling comes barreling through the Throne Room doors like the world is coming to an end. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and he must return to his royal duties.

“*sigh* Pharynx, brother, This is an unexpected visit,” he said, placing himself back on the throne, “I thought you and your platoon were out on an extended wide area patrol. Why back so soon?”

Thorax leaned forward on his comfortable moss covered stone throne. A small joking smile forming on his face. His “Brother”, Pharynx, was the recently appointed general of the newly formed Changeling Defence Force (C.D.F.) and head of all hive defence military operations. While Pharynx himself leaped at the position like the common moth to a lantern burning in the night, some of the recruits lacked the stamina for the job. As such, Thorax liked to poke fun at this fact every once and a while, as he had heard many a story about the drill sessions during basic training. To him, this looked like a perfect opportunity to make a joke, “Did the new recruits burn out a quarter way through the patrol or…” but one look at Pharynx’s face said otherwise. His face was stained with sweat, his breath tired and heavy, legs shaking. Thorax took a few steps forward, his eyes starting to fill with concern and worry.

“Brother, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve been running from Tirek himself.” Thorax quickly levitated a cold glass of water to Pharynx’s lips. He couldn’t help but be worried. His brother looked like he had gone through Tartarus and back again. He had to find out what was going on. Fortunately, he would not have to wait long as Pharynx chugged the glass like it was full of apple cider, and after fixing his posture and collecting himself, he began to tell him everything.

“Your Majesty, a few minutes ago I was on a routine patrol exercise with several new recruits and a collection of veterans to the training program.” Thorax’s guts twisted a little. He didn’t like being called ‘Your Majesty’, or ‘Sire’, or anything else that has a royal connotation to it. It was just too formal for him, and made his position as king heavier than it actually was. However in this case he would not comment on it. He knew it was how Pharynx talked to him when he got like this.

“It was during this time, while scouting the Everfree Forest, we came across…” He stopped. There was a long pause, noling spoke. Thorax was hanging on Pharynx’s words like a fish on a hook and his worry and paranoia were building with every second of silence

“What, what did you find?” Thorax leaned forward, stopping mid-step. His “brother’s” silence was making his concern burn like fire. “Pharynx, what happened out there, what did you fi-” Pharynx put a hoof to Thorax’s mouth. Any other ruler would have taken some offence to this, but it was common knowledge that Thorax was not that kind of ruler.

“I think...I think it would be easier to show you.” Pharynx said, looking down at the ground slightly with his solid blue changeling eyes.

“Show me what?” It was at this point that Thorax’s paranoia reached new heights. What was Pharynx going to show him? Were the Timberwolves invading, the constellation beasts, was the forest on FIRE?! Or was it…

“BRING THEM IN!!”

The doors flung open revealing several troopers, pulling and tugging at magical chains. Sweat bearing down their faces. The once quiet Throne Room was now filled with the sounds of grunting and physical strain, the clatter of enchanted metal. And on the end of those chains, was Her. The 12 Changeling troops clearly had to put to put their all into moving her. She had a harness around her barrel, inhibiting the use of her wings, to which 6 of the troops had chains attached, 3 on each side. Another clamp was around her neck, with another 6 troops attached. She was clearly not out of it, but she also didn’t go down easy. There were cracks and cuts across her chitin, dried green blood to accompany the wounds. Her legs scraped, kicked, and dragged across the floor, in an effort to resist the Changelings restraining her. Thorax could only watch in awe as they dragged their prisoner to him. When they got close enough, the guards gave a hearty pull and the captive tumbled to the floor. Thorax looked down at her. She looked up at him with eyes that harbored nothing but disgust and hatred for him. Thorax turned to Pharynx.

“Well, this was rather unexpected.” His eyes returned to the sore captive lying in front of him. “I wasn’t expecting you to show up anytime,” his voice had gained a noticeable stern tone as he addressed, “Queen Chrysalis.”


 End of Chapter One