Thorax and Pharynx led Metamorphosis through the Hive. Pharynx had gotten his promised coffee and was taking large sips of the strong drink.
“See, this is theater… craft time… dancing…”
Metamorphosis looked around eagerly as he saw reformed changelings left and right. Some were drawing each other or spinning each other around on a makeshift dance floor. A couple were rehearsing lines on what seemed to be a hastily but sturdily built stage.
“And there’s the Feelings Forum over there!”
Thorax pointed a hoof at a moss covered cave where changelings were sitting in a circle. They watched patiently as one changeling stood in the center and seemed to be speaking about something.
“It’s a place built for changelings to talk about their problems so we can gain better understanding of each other.” Thorax explained, smiling.
Metamorphosis smiled back, as Pharynx huffed and kept walking… only to trip over a group of changelings. He yelped as his coffee cup hit the floor and spilled.
“Ack! Sillia, Fema, Cornicle, Tibius!” he shouted as the four changelings scrambled to stand up.
“Y-Yes Prince Pharynx?” the icey blue and white female asked
“Don’t ‘yes Prince Pharynx’ me, Sillia! What have I told you all about sleeping in the hallways?!”
“S-Sorry sir, w-we were tired…” the powder blue and green male changeling said
“Then go to your rooms! Don’t just lie here where anyone could trip over you! Do I need to spell this out for you, Tibius?!”
“We didn’t mean any harm sir…” the pink female said
“I don’t care what harm you meant, Fema, you know my rules! No sleeping in the hallways, it’s a safety hazard!” Pharynx then gestured to his spilled coffee. “And this hallway nap was a double hazard, look at this mess! Someling could slip in it!”
“Technically you spilled that coffee.” Tibius said, only to be granted a fierce glare by Pharynx.
“How do you think it ended up on the floor in the first place?! Because you tripped me!”
The green changeling sighed. “And here I thought we’d be able to convert Pharynx before he noticed everyling was still sleeping in the halls…” he muttered
“I heard that!” Pharynx snapped “Just get out of here.”
They all nodded timidly and headed towards Thorax. He put a hoof on the green changeling.
“Don’t worry Cornicle, we may be able to convince him yet.” he murmured, winking.
The changeling grinned before following his friends. Thorax shared a smile with Metamorphosis, who chuckled.
“‘Convert’ him?” he murmured
“Getting Pharynx to understand snuggling. It’ll happen eventually…”
“But he just snuggled with us this morning.”
“The others don’t know that, and he wants to keep it that way, it’s private. And even if they do find out, snuggling with him will probably be exclusive to myself, Tempest, and you.”
“Probably.” Metamorphosis agreed with a chuckle.
“Do I want to know what you two are whispering about?” Pharynx sighed as he trotted back to them.
“Heh, it’s nothing important.” Thorax briefly slipped a foreleg around him in a side hug before pulling back.
“So who exactly were those four changelings?” Metamorphosis asked
“Sillia, Fema, Cornicle, and Tibius. They’re some of our closest friends and helpers.” Thorax explained
“Which you’d never know by the way they disobey my rules.”
“Come on Pharynx, it doesn’t happen that often…”
“Only about twice a week.”
Thorax ignored this, smiling. “Anyway, they’re some of our best helpers. Fema is the head of the nursery and Sillia is head of the infirmary. Tibius helps me manage all these activities, and Cornicle helps with inventory of everything.”
“They seem very nice. I recall they were the first to say that they accepted me.”
“Mhm. They’re not exactly advisors-that’s a role Ocellus will fill. But they are wonderful help and often come to us with problems and let us help them through it.”
“And who is Ocellus? You’ve mentioned her before but…”
Thorax brightened. “That’s right, you haven’t met Ocellus!”
“We are not going all the way to Ponyville just to say hello to the ki-”
“Ocellus is the brightest nymph in the Hive! She loves reading and attends Princess Twilight’s School of Friendship in Ponyville. She’s also technically my protege, she’s going to be our royal advisor one day.”
Metamorphosis smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea, having a young nymph train to be a royal advisor. She’ll have the new ideas and creativity of the next generation, and you two will have the insight of the older generations.”
“Exactly!” Thorax smiled “Princess Twilight’s school actually plays host to students from different kingdoms. And it just so happens that Ocellus has made friends with them. It will give the relations between other kingdoms and our kingdom the chance to grow and thrive.”
“I know I haven’t met Ocellus yet, but it seems like you picked a great changeling to become your advisor.” Metamorphosis smiled
“I know she’ll be a great advisor.” Thorax agreed “You should meet her!”
“Thorax, we have duties here, we can’t just fly off to Ponyville because you feel like it!” Pharynx snapped
“But-” Thorax started to say
“We. Aren’t. Going. Anywhere.”
Thorax sighed. “Well… what if we’re really quick about it?” he pouted at his brother.
“I… Oh for the hivemother’s sake -fine.” Pharynx sighed, facehoofing. “If you finish all your boring kingly duties, it probably won’t hurt to visit for a little bit-”
“Thank you!” Thorax leapt and hugged him. “Thank you Pharynx, thank you!”
“Any excuse to not have to train idiots, I guess…”
“Love you bro!”
“Yeah, and I love breathing.” Pharynx spat, and Thorax released him.
“Hehe… sorry…” Thorax looked over to Metamorphosis. “Hey dad, before I start my duties for the day, would you want to see the nursery?”
“Of course! I love nymphs!”
“And the nymphs love Thorax, so it all works.” Pharynx rolled his eyes. “I’m going to head to the training fields, the idiots-I mean soldiers-won’t train themselves.” he then headed off.
“Heh, well, come on dad, let’s go!” Thorax trotted off, Metamorphosis behind him.