//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Nightmares and Daydreams // Story: Patrilineality: Making Up For Time We Lost // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Metamorphosis sighed, sitting up in bed. He stood and left the room for some water. His room didn’t have a private bathroom like Thorax’s and Pharynx’s rooms, so he headed to the kitchen. After getting a glass of water, he headed back to his room, holding the glass in his magic. But as Metamorphosis neared his room, which was adjacent to Thorax and Pharynx’s, he heard a noise. Metamorphosis stopped and listened closely. It was coming from Pharynx’s room. Metamorphosis recalled how Thorax had insisted earlier that day on giving Pharynx snuggles, so shouldn’t they have been in Thorax’s room? Metamorphosis reached and opened the door a crack. Pharynx was a lump under the bedsheets. He was thrashing around and Metamorphosis could hear him mumbling in his sleep. “N-No… I-I am a competent… they’re the idiots… I-I’m not… lost cause… sh-shuddap you… pebble-brained… rainbow moosebugs… s-stop it, dammit… I-I said shuddap… I-I’m not… evil!” Pharynx shot up in bed, gasping and panting. Metamorphosis’ eyes widened, seeing tears running down Pharynx’s face. Pharynx fell back down onto the bed and curled up in a ball, clearly crying and obviously upset. Metamorphosis opened the door fully, he couldn’t watch his son hurt any more. He walked over and rubbed Pharynx’s back, making him look up. “D-Dad…?” Pharynx whispered hoarsely. “Pl-Please tell me this isn’t a dream…” “Of course it's not Pharynx.” Metamorphosis nuzzled his cheek, and for once Pharynx didn’t shy away. “D-Dad…” Pharynx wrapped his hooves around Metamorphosis’ neck. “Shh, shh, it’s okay…” Metamorphosis soothed, levitating his still full glass of water over to his son. “Here, drink some water and take slow, deep breaths.” Pharynx took it in his own magic and took a few sips, breathing slowing. He was calming down. Metamorphosis sat on the bed and let Pharynx lean against him. “Why isn’t Thorax with you?” “He… he was… I think he went back to his room, he did mention he had some stuff to do before bed…” Pharynx responded, his raw throat making his voice hoarse. Metamorphosis nodded in understanding. Thorax had probably planned to come back, then fallen asleep. If their conversation from the morning after he’d come home was enough of an indication, Thorax clearly didn’t sleep much due to the work of being a leader. “Pharynx… you don’t have to tell me what happened, but if you feel ready to, I would like to know.” Metamorphosis murmured Pharynx stayed quiet for a while, and Metamorphosis didn’t press him. He simply sat by his son’s side, rubbing his back and letting Pharynx rest on him. Then… “I-I was standing in a black void…” Pharynx murmured. “I-I was unreformed again… and I couldn’t move… then…” Metamorphosis heard Pharynx choke back a sob and pulled him closer. “Then… their voices…” “Whose?” “E-Everyone’s…” Pharynx responded, and Metamorphosis’ eyes widened. “You heard… everyone?” Pharynx nodded. “T-Tempest’s, s-saying I was a horrible general because I couldn’t control my troops… S-Starlight and her dumb friend, s-saying I was a lost cause… everyling in the Hive, ch-chanting that they wanted me banished… I-I told them to shut up… c-called them names like I do to motivate them when we train but… but they just got louder and louder…” Metamorphosis pulled Pharynx close, nuzzling him. He buried his head in Metamorphosis’ shoulder, seeking the warmth and love from his father. “Th-They called me evil and said I was a traitor… they made fun of my efforts to stabilize our military… th-then… wh-when I struggled, I-I turned around and… she was there…” “Pharynx, who is ‘she’?” “...M-Mother…” Metamorphosis froze. He knew that Thorax had apparently had trouble with Chrysalis back in what was now called the ‘Old Days’. But from all that his sons had told him, Pharynx was the favoured child. That Chrysalis had never tried to punish or hurt him the way she had Thorax. “Go on, it’s okay…” Metamorphosis urged, hoping if Pharynx continued he would give him answers. “She… she knew I was trying to run… she c-called me her only heir… s-said Thorax was dead… he-he’s not… r-right?” “No, of course not Pharynx, he’s safe.” Metamorphosis soothed. “Th-Then, I… I was suddenly sitting on the throne of the old Hive… she-she was beside me, I-I was wearing a crown… O-Ocellus was sitting in chains at my hooves and… and she c-called me a monster… she s-said I was evil… th-that I betrayed them all… Th-Thorax was gone thanks to me…” “Oh Pharynx…” Metamorphosis nuzzled him. “None of that is true, I promise you. You are not a monster, nor are you evil. Thorax is alive and it’s because of you that he is safe and protected.” Pharynx continued crying, gripping Metamorphosis and trembling. Metamorphosis eventually laid down in Pharynx’s bed. While it wasn’t nearly as large as the bed he’d seen in Thorax’s room, it was big enough for them both. “It’s alright Pharynx, it’s going to be okay.” Metamorphosis kissed his son’s forehead soothingly. “N-Nigh’… ury…” Pharynx mumbled, clutching his father. “What?” “N-Night Fury… he… he’s under the bed…” Metamorphosis, though confused, lit up his horn and lifted something out from under the bed. A small black and purple dragon plushie. He laid it in front of Pharynx, hoping that this was what he was talking about. Pharynx grabbed it and hugged it, still crying. “Night Fury?” “It’s… it’s his name…” Pharynx mumbled, blushing through his tears. Metamorphosis smiled kindly and nuzzled him. “It’s a nice name. Is he your… comfort object?” “I… I guess…” Pharynx hugged the toy. “O-Ocellus gave him to me… I… I didn’t think I’d end up relying on him so much…” Metamorphosis smiled softly, pulling Pharynx closer. “Everyone has comfort items that they find themselves holding onto or habits that they do when they’re scared or stressed.” Pharynx didn’t respond, simply pressing against his father. “I know you must be scared, more than you’re letting on… but… have these happened before?” Pharynx sniffed and wiped his eyes. “E-Ever since I transformed… most nights I don’t have them… sometimes I don’t dream at all… but on bad nights… they change every time, but in each one, I… I hear the other ‘lings, and Starlight and Trixie… sometimes it’s Thorax instead of Tempest… but it doesn’t matter… I’m a monster again every time…” “You are not a monster.” Metamorphosis nuzzled him. “Have you told Thorax?” “Y-Yes… he… he found out when I wasn’t able to get sleep for three nights in a row… I collapsed while training the soldiers… Retina was the one who called for help…” Metamorphosis remembered the name from Pharynx’s earlier mention. The soldier had stopped someone from shooting themselves in the chest. Pharynx had implied she was one of the best. “Th-Thorax waited with me while I was unconscious… when I woke up he practically demanded I tell him what happened… he… he told me to come to him next time… then he stayed with me while I caught up on sleep…” Metamorphosis nuzzled him. “I can certainly understand that. He cares about your wellbeing as much as you care about his.” “Y-Yeah…” Pharynx sniffed and burrowed into Metamorphosis. “I… I hate to admit it, but… I… I really need him right now…” Metamorphosis nuzzled him. “I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Until then, I’m here.” “I… I know… and I’m glad you are…” Pharynx nestled against him. “Thanks dad…” “No need to thank me, Pharynx.” Metamorphosis nuzzled him. “You’re my child, it’s my job to make sure you’re alright.” Pharynx giggled softly, and Metamorphosis smiled softly, glad he’d been able to calm his son. It was quiet for a while, Metamorphosis thought Pharynx might have fallen asleep again. But then, he spoke. “Y-you know… I-I was having a good dream at first…” Pharynx whispered “I was sparring with Tempest… I think Thorax was watching us… but then…” Metamorphosis waited patiently as Pharynx fell silent. “Th-Then I felt something disappear… it was probably around when Thorax left… and the nightmare came…” Metamorphosis nodded. Pharynx had probably felt comfort and love from Thorax in his sleep, the only thing keeping the nightmare at bay. Once it disappeared… he was like prey, ready to be caught unawares. “Do you know why you keep having these dreams?” “N-No… I think that’s what scares me most, really…” Pharynx mumbled, clutching his plushie. “I don’t like not knowing…” Metamorphosis nuzzled him. “Well, Thorax and I will always be here if you need to talk.” “Alright… thank you dad…” “It’s no trouble, my son.” Metamorphosis kissed Pharynx’s forehead. Pharynx smiled, closing his eyes and cuddling against his father. Metamorphosis held Pharynx close as he fell back asleep. “Goodnight Pharynx.” “Mm… night dad…” Metamorphosis nuzzled him. “I hope you have only good dreams until morning…” Pharynx smiled and hugged his plushie. “I… I will… now that you’re here…” Metamorphosis smiled, holding his son close, and soon, they were both asleep.