//------------------------------// // Worthless // Story: Two Nymphs, One Pony // by CitreneSkys //------------------------------// “...I don’t like her...” Fluttershy gave the Thorax a comforting pat against his carapace. With careful hooves, she plucked him off the ground and onto her back. The changeling clung onto her feathers for dear life. His wings buzzed tiredly as she curled into the crevice between the winged mare’s shoulders. “Angel...could you watched stay here and tell me if anyone else comes to the door?” Silently, he watched the mare turn towards her rabbit, who was staring at them impatiently. The bunny rabbit sighed, but obliged. As Fluttershy trotted up the stairs, Thorax felt himself beginning to tremble. He squeezed his hooves tighter around her shoulder, ignoring the worry that poured off of her. He winced as he heard the door creak. Every felt too loud...too bright... “I’m so sorry about her,” she quietly whispered, setting the little nymph onto her bed. “I really should’ve expected it, but I guess Rainbow is pretty sporadic...” Thorax pressed against the blanket, his face a mixture of dejection and fear. His shallow breaths began to speed up as he was losing his self-control. A yellow hoof rubbed against his soft grey crest, and he flinched. “Thorax...?” He stayed silent, having lost the energy to hold a conversation. Barely reacted when he felt another chitinous body press up against him. Pharynx familiar scent surrounded him, his brotherly affection rubbing against Thorax as if to comfort him. The cyan nymph stayed despondent, a series of echoing taunts filled his ears as he tried to tune out the world. Stupid grub, why must ruin everything. I don’t understand why the Queen keeps you around. Get out. I can’t wait to see this spear plunge into your heart. I could crush him with my hooves! He shivered and shook, each threat...each taunt...everything was building up in the back of his head. The world around him became blurred as he tried to focus on his breathing. “Thorax! Are you okay?!” Fluttershy’s voice tried to reach out, but it fell on deafened ears. You can’t do anything right! Shapeshift you fool! Useless grub, do us a favor and die already! Waste of space. His breath quickened, and he began to feel dizzy. Thorax felt someone prodded at his shoulder, and he hissed. Every touch felt like a zap, and it all felt painful. The cramped feeling in his lungs became unbearable, he couldn’t breathe. “Thorax!” A sharp voice finally managed to snap him out of his trance, and the cyan nymph rubbed his burning eyes. Looking towards the source of the voice, Pharynx pressed up against his cheek. Soft trills echoed from the older nymph's throat, a sound that Thorax felt safe with. Fluttershy’s hoof hovered just over the changeling, unsure if she would make things worse for the nymph. Thorax let out a shuttering sigh, reaching out with one hoof pleadingly. The winged mare smiled sadly as she brought the nymph close to her. Hot tears formed in the corner of his eyes, and he tried his best to keep them from falling. “....’m....sorry...” “No no, don’t be. I just want to know if you are okay.” He stayed silently, wondering what he should say. “...’m fine...” he sniffed, rubbing his eyes. Fluttershy frowned. “...do you want to talk about it?” “...just some bad memories...that’s all...” Both Pharynx and Fluttershy gave him a skeptical look, but neither wanted to press. His older brother laid his head across the dark cyan carapace, sighing. The pegasus smiled the best she could, her wings fluttering anxiously at her sides. Slowly, she climbed onto her bed and curled around the two changelings, laying a warm wing against Thorax’s back. His head spun, unable to see clearly. He was sure the rainbow maned mare didn’t mean much of what she said, but it still hurt. Sighing, he rested against the yellow feathered pegasus. Slowly, he fell asleep. When Thorax awoke, he found that Fluttershy had left. Her scent was fading, making him think she’d left a few hours prior. Yawning, he looked towards the window. The moon had risen, shining brightly in the blackened sky. Stars twinkled, and Thorax settled next to the windowsill. It looked so peaceful outside. Cool wind, rustling leaves, it was a lot quieter than what he was ever used to. Right about now he would have heard the buzzing sound of wings from drones and hissing from newly hatched larvae. Those noises were so far from here, he was reminded, tapping against the window. Beside him, Pharynx shuffled in his sleep, groaning ‘go to sleep’ just under his breath. He didn’t. Not by a long shot. He sighed, looking out into the moonlit field. Waves of grass shimmered under the light. Useless... The voices were back. Useless grub... Thorax gritted his teeth, hissing quietly, “Shut up...” Stupid... Worthless... “...shut up...” tears began to build up again, pooling at the corners of his eyes. Idiotic... Worthless... WORTHLESS... “...shut...up...” he sobbed silently, not wanting to wake Pharynx or Fluttershy. He made that mistake last time, he wasn’t going to burden them again. The barrage of voices screaming at him became louder as he felt the tears stream down his chitinous cheek. He watched as the tears began to pool on the windowsill, dripping into small, pathetic puddles. The cyan changeling shuttered as a new voice intruded his thoughts. I’m...am worthless...