//------------------------------// // Chrissy and Meta // Story: Patrilineality // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Metamorphosis sighed, clearly ready to get the story off his chest but wary about what his sons would think. Metamorphosis shifted his hooves, looking up into the sky, watching the sunset rather than his sons. "Dad?" Thorax's voice snapped him from his thoughts. "Sorry." He looked over at the two, taking them in. Pharynx and Thorax were curled up side by side. The firelight danced on their forms and their purple eyes glowed in the dim light. Metamorphosis smiled at the closeness of his sons. "Is something wrong?" Thorax asked worriedly. "No, no... I'm just..." Metamorphosis sighed. "I'm worried what you may think of me, once I've told you what happened." "It's okay. We won't think of you any different." Thorax assured him, looking at his brother. "Right Phar?" "Of course." Pharynx locked eyes with him. "If anyone knows what it's like to be judged about past mistakes, it's me." Thorax wrapped his foreleg around Pharynx in a hug. He nuzzled his brother, then looked to Metamorphosis. "We won't do that to you." Metamorphosis smiled, then returned his gaze to the stars. "Alright... I'm done hiding." he looked back to them. "You can tell us whenever you're ready." Thorax assured him. Metamorphosis nodded, then began. “I always knew from the day I hatched that I was different. I looked vastly different from the others, and I acted much differently too. I wanted to make friends, I thought... no, I knew there was a better way. I knew it deep down in my heart. But for that reason, Chrysalis kept me close. She was suspicious, I knew that she was worried I may one day betray the Hive. But I managed to gain her trust by being kind to her. By being there for her. Strangely, I learned that she had never known anyone who was willing to be kind to her. The other changelings merely followed her orders. I was different. I cared for her. "I became an advisor of sorts to her, and… I knew from the day I first met her-as an adult and first chosen by her to be her advisor-that she was lonely. She was someone who had lost someone or something that she loved dearly. I began to understand why she had never mated, why she had never laid any eggs before. I grew close to her, closer then she ever had been with any other changeling. She let me call her Chrissy, and I returned the gesture by letting her call me Meta. She was finally allowing someone to love her, and I thought maybe that falling in love would help her see reason. See that peace could be the answer. But then…” “What?” Thorax asked eagerly when he paused. Metamorphosis shifted closer to them. “Chrysalis mated with me. She made me her King. At first, we couldn’t be happier, and I believed that whatever scars of the past that had been left on her heart were finally beginning to heal. I was sure that it was because of me. That then she'd listen to me and we might finally make ourselves known to the world and declare peace. But my hopes were not destined to come true…" "Why? What happened?" Pharynx asked "...She... Chrysalis told me her own dreams. Her one wish. To invade Equestria for its endless amounts of love. I couldn’t agree with that. I never did agree that feeding on love was the only option. So, I left the Hive one morning and didn’t look back." "You just... left? Just like that?" Pharynx asked, raising a brow. Metamorphosis nodded "Somewhat. I was tired of pretending that I supported her decision to invade Equestria. But I knew that I couldn't just leave her alone. She needed me, even though I knew she wouldn't ever try to admit it. I stayed near the Hive for a while, hoping Chrysalis would come searching for me. Then maybe she'd be willing to talk and we could work out a compromise, or I could make her see reason." "You really waited just to see if she'd follow you?" Thorax asked, eyes wide Metamorphosis nodded. "Even if I didn't agree with her methods and knew I would never go back to the Hive, I couldn't leave her forever. I really thought that if she and I were alone together for a while, I could maybe convince her to give my way a try." "So then how did you find out about us? The letter said you left before you knew she clutched." Pharynx asked "I caught wind from patrols that she had clutched. That’s around the time when I wrote the letter." Metamorphosis looked at them, eyes brimming with emotion. "I promise you, I never meant to leave you two, or her. I never meant to miss you growing up. I never meant to leave you behind, not when Chrysalis needed me the most. But I couldn’t just go back, not until I’d found a better way.” “You obviously did, you have the sparkling wings.” Thorax pointed out, and Metamorphosis looked at the wings on his back. “True… I did manage to make a few friends… traveling ponies passing by and in need of directions or just someone to talk to. I confess, it was mostly out of need for love. But I did enjoy making friends.” “When we get back to the Hive, we’ll show you how to share love properly. You’ll be able to transform.” “Alright then.” “Can we go to bed now?” Pharynx sighed "That was a lot to process." “Pharynx, you haven’t eaten.” Thorax objected “Yes, I have.” Pharynx made a point of opening his mouth and drawing in some pink essence from his brother. “See?” “So you're still able to eat love?” “Yes, most just take it in small amounts, like snacks. Pretty much everyling’s gotten used to eating regular food.” Thorax explained. “Go to sleep.” Pharynx grunted, and he wasn’t altogether wrong for demanding they do so. It was already night, the moon long since risen. “Okay, okay.” Thorax sighed. Thorax, surprisingly, laid down by Pharynx and wrapped a hoof over him. Metamorphosis assumed this was another new way of displaying affection, and curled up to go to sleep as well. He then heard their voices and pricked his ears, curious.