//------------------------------// // Prisoner Prince Pharynx // Story: Broken Soldier // by StarkyShy //------------------------------// Pharynx woke up with a groan and a throbbing headache. He blinked the haziness out of his eyes before looking around at the room he was in. It was so dark, he could barely make out what he was looking at. He furrowed his brow, before attempting to console his aching temple with the palm of his hand. Keyword being “attempting,” since his hand didn’t seem to want to move out of its current position for some odd reason. “What the…?” he uttered in a hushed tone, before examining his right wrist, desperately trying to yank it towards him. He tried the same with his other wrist, as well as his ankles. Alas, they didn’t budge. Pharynx did his best to study the position he was in; he knew his arms and legs were spread out, but he realized he wasn’t lying against a table. Instead, he felt as if someone had duct taped him to a wall. Though, there were metal cuffs securing his wrists and ankles instead of tape. He scoffed, before attempting to shapeshift out of his seemingly invisible bindings. His annoyance quickly turned into a panic as he didn’t feel any changes in his body. Just what was interrupting his transformation? He assumed it was some sort of magic suppressor that was placed and secured around his central horn, but he just wasn’t able to reach out and check. Pharynx then attempted to look at his surroundings a second time, checking to see if anything had become visible to the naked eye. He squinted into the darkness, growling threateningly. “Alright, whoever’s there, show yourself! Or else!” he spat with a snarl, his body pulling side-to-side against the restraints. For a moment, he was met with dead silence, until he heard a deep, malicious chuckle. A chill went down his spine. It sounded disturbingly familiar. “Well, isn’t this delightful? You’re finally awake, and here I thought I hit you a little too hard…” Pharynx couldn’t help but swallow as he struggled to keep up his stoic composure. No… it can’t be... he thought as his wings attempted to buzz, realizing that they, too, were secured, due to the strap that was around his torso and carapace. He suddenly felt something that appeared to be fingertips gently grazing his left side, causing his torso to twitch and jerk instinctively. The sensations stopped abruptly when a tall figure finally came into his view.  The darkness made it difficult to make it out exactly, but he could recognize that crooked horn and slit emerald eyes anywhere. “Ah, Pharynx...what a delight to see you,” the voice said, dripping with venomous sarcasm and animosity. “Chrysalis… what is it you want?” Pharynx growled, trying to break free just to take a swing at her. “Oh, the same thing every girl wants: love, revenge, total world domination. But right now, I want information. Information that you possess, dear.” Chrysalis lifted Pharynx’s chin up with a smirk. The changeling merely shook his head out of her touch. “Tch, you’re not my leader anymore. I don’t have to do anything you say, nor do I have to give you anything you want.” “You’re right, you take orders from that cowardly and weak little brother of yours now, don’t you? Tsk tsk. It’s such a shame. Out of all my subjects, I saw the most potential in you, Pharynx.” Pharynx looked up. “...Potential? What potential?” he asked as his face twisted up in disgust. Chrysalis chuckled sinisterly. “Don’t you get it?” she asked. “Or did all of that friendship nonsense cloud your mind?” “What? No, I—!” “I thought so…” Chrysalis smirked as she gently placed a fingernail on his chest, before slowly dragging it all the way down to his belly and wiggling it. That motion alone got Pharynx squirming in his bondings while biting his lower lip. That and he realized he wasn’t wearing his upper armor. In fact… well, he wasn’t really wearing that much of anything other than very short leggings that reached just above his knees. “It’s not too late, you know…” Chrysalis said, pacing around him. “I’m still willing to forgive your betrayal, if you wish to join me again. There’s nothing stopping you, my soldier.” “...No.” “Excuse me?” “You know I’ll never accept that offer. Ever. Not even if my life depended on it.” Pharynx glared while attempting to kick his legs out, but his feet could only wiggle helplessly against the cuffs that secured his ankles. “Hmmph, what a shame. I guess I’ll have to get my information out the old-fashioned way.” Chrysalis stood in front of him, leaning in close. “I’ll get you to talk, one way or another.” Pharynx merely raised a brow at the former queen. “And just how are you going to do that?” “I have my methods...” She placed a finger on his chest, trailing it down to his stomach in the same manner she did a few moments ago. “Ack!” Pharynx started squirming again, gritting his teeth. Chrysalis flashed an all-knowing grin. “Hm? What was that?” she taunted, tapping her fingers against his stomach, watching him twitch and jerk around. “C-Cut it out! T-That… t…” “Hmm?” She raised a taunting eyebrow, her grin expanding as Pharynx bit his lower lip in a desperate attempt to save himself from uttering that deadly last word. The changeling started sweating, realizing that his former queen was onto something. “I-I…” “Yes? Come on, spit it out,” she commanded, digging her fingers deeper into Pharynx’s exposed abdomen. “Eek!” Pharynx suddenly let out an uncharacteristic girly squeak as his defenseless belly attempted to dart away from her fingertips. “S-Stop that! I-I’m warning you!” “Stop what?” Chrysalis sneered, her playful voice dripping with sarcasm as her fingers circled around his stomach. “Urgh…” Pharynx growled, thrashing against his cuffs. “J-Just keep your pervy fingers off me! I don’t know where they’ve been!” Chrysalis grinned as she squeezed his sides, making him squeak once again. “No, I think I’ll keep doing it. Besides, you seem quite sensitive to the t… hm… what did you call it?” she asked in mock curiosity as she skittered her fingernails against his sensitive sides. “Gahaaaaaquitticklingmeeee!” Pharynx managed as he burst into a brief fit of giggles, before going pale as soon as he realized what he had said. “Oh, tickling? What a wonderful idea!” Chrysalis gave him a sinister chuckle as her fingers dug into his sides. “Lucky for me, you seem to be plenty ticklish.” The changeling prince shook his head furiously, his face going as red as his crimson antlers as his belly shook with laughter. “Gahahahaha! Nohohohoho! Stoppit!” Chrysalis shook her head and clicked her tongue. “Oh, it’s far too late for that, Pharynx…You simply should’ve cooperated when you had the chance.” Her finely-pointed nails danced up from his sides to his ribcage. “Aaaah! Nonono! Nohohot thehehehehere!” Pharynx’s body pressed against the wall-like structure he was secured to, failing to escape the ticklish torment he was forced to subject to. “Well, you seem quite set on not listening to anything I say, so why should I take orders from you?”  “B-Because you’re no longer my queeeeeeen!” the changeling shrieked as Chrysalis dug her fingers deeper into his ribs. “Naaahahahahaa! Nohoho! D-Dohohon’t!” Pharynx clenched his hands into fists, trying to free his wrists to take a swing at her. Chrysalis scoffed. “You may think that, but you’re aaall mine, now.” Her hands moved back down to his belly, now focusing specifically on his navel area. “Aiieee!” Pharynx’s normally baritone voice briefly jumped up an octave in pitch as he felt those evil fingers strike at his belly button. “Gaahahaha stop stop stahahahap!” Chrysalis’s hands freely explored Pharynx’s upperbody, her fingers skittering against his belly, sides, ribs, and armpits. Not even his neck was safe from a few light teases from her surprisingly well-manicured nails. Pharynx’s body kept jolting from side to side. Each little touch on a different part of his body eliciting a quick surprised yelp. The darkness of the room didn’t help him to anticipate her moves at all. If anything, it only contributed more to this hellish experience. Chrysalis kept on poking around her victim’s body, slowly learning all of his most sensitive spots over time. There were some obvious tells and hunches gained from just the first touch, but quadruple-checking her suspicions wouldn’t hurt her any. “Gahahahaha! Plehehehehease!” Pharynx screeched as he kept on attempting to kick his legs at her. “M-Mercieeee!” “Now now,” Chrysalis said with a low, almost soothing tone. “Is that any sort of way to talk to your queen?” She put her fingers at his hips, walking her index and middle fingers all the way to the center of his stomach. “I-I told you, you’re not my queeheeheeheeeen!” “A shame, a good and loyal subject of mine would be rewarded...” Chrysalis only gave a dismissive shrug before scribbling her fingers all over his belly. “And just like back in the old days, the disobedient get punished!” “EEEEHAHAHAAA! NONONONOOOHOHOHO!” Pharynx arched his back as he let out a wild cackle, no matter how much he twisted and jerked around, her fingers would almost immediately follow, as if there was a tracking device strapped to each of his most sensitive areas. Though the thrashing got wilder and wilder, Chrysalis put an easy stop to it by putting her hands on his sides and giving them a deep squeeze, watching as Pharynx struggled to find his breath that was lost in a sea of giggles. As Pharynx gasped for air with Chrysalis digging her fingers into his sides, his ankles continued kicking and thrashing spasmodically against the thick metal cuffs, twisting and shaking. “P-Please,” he panted heavily, shutting his eyes. “N-No more… can’t… take it…” The rattling of Pharynx’s ankle cuffs gave Chrysalis a flash of inspiration. She looked at her exhausted captive and slowly crouched down. Once Pharynx opened his eyes again, Chrysalis had seemingly disappeared from view. He looked around, trying to find her in the darkness. A quick scan from side to side gave him nothing. He was almost convinced she had disappeared until he felt something poke against his toes. And that could only mean one thing. “No… p-please…” “My, these are quite smooth, aren’t they?” Chrysalis mused, sliding a finger down his sole. “I knew you had gone soft on me, but I didn’t think it’d be quite this literal!” “I’m not soft…” Pharynx growled through gritted teeth, his foot wiggling weakly against his tormentor’s fingertips. “Oh, but your soles beg to differ!” Chrysalis chuckled, her fingers easily sliding down his foot. “Aah! Heheheheheh!” Pharynx’s toes wiggled as the pointed nails scratched at his foot. “Nahahahaha!” “Now then, are you ready to be an obedient changeling?” she asked, her fingers already grabbing onto his toes, pushing them back to prevent them from curling. Pharynx gritted his teeth; as much as he wanted this torture to end, he couldn’t risk having both his homeland and his brother open for any sort of attack. “...Not to you. Never again.” “Mmm, what a shame…” With her free hand, Chrysalis started at his heel, slowly and lightly going up his foot. Once she reached the ball of his foot, she suddenly dug her fingernails right underneath his toes. “Perhaps I’ll ask again after some more punishment.” “EEYAAAHAHAHAHAHA! NONONO! NOHOHOT THEHEHERE!” Chrysalis let out a giddy little giggle of her own as her fingers kept scritching under his toes, feeling him try to curl them against the palm of her hand. She would occasionally let go and tease the pads and stems of the toes, watching them wiggle helplessly as they failed to fight off the ticklish onslaught. “WAHAHAHAHAAA! PLEHEHEHEAAASE! PLEHEHEHEAAHAHAAA!” Pharynx screamed, his poor foot endlessly thrashing against its restraint. “How precious! And that’s just one foot…” Chrysalis grinned, now giving his other foot attention by skittering up his arch. Her hands moved in tandem against both soles, dancing up and down his helpless feet. “NOOOAAAHAHAHA! NO MORE NO MOHOHOHOHOHORE!” Pharynx could feel the tears welling up in his eyes. “MERCIHIHIHIEEHEEHEE!” “Tsk tsk...I give you so many chances for mercy and yet you reject all of them.” Chrysalis shook her head as her nails dug into the stems of his toes. “When will you learn, I wonder...?” Pharynx’s toes splayed out in shock, only giving his tormentor more space to attack. “AAAHAAAHAHAHAHAHACK NONO NAHAHAT THE TOHOHOHOHOES!” He begged, his laughter rising in pitch. Chrysalis’s nails scratched underneath and between his toes as they tried to curl up. “Poor Pharynx, always trying to be a tough bug, when in reality, he’s just as soft as his brother! It’d be hilarious if it weren’t so pathetic!” “NAHAHA SHUHUHUHUHUT UHUHUP!” Pharynx tried to scowl, but another dig under his toes forced more laughter out of him. “EEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” “Tch! You’re in no such position to be giving me orders…” Chrysalis’s horn started to glow, forcibly spreading his toes apart and pulling them back, leaving them taut and exposed. “H-Hey!” Pharynx grunted as he tried to curl his toes up, or at least wiggle them a bit. “T-That’s cheating! Let go of my toes!” “Ah ah ah.” Chrysalis wagged a finger in front of his face. “Only when you learn to behave. Then if you ask and address me properly, perhaps I’ll grant you the luxury of moving your little toes again.” Pharynx felt his heartrate skyrocket when he saw Chrysalis approach his feet again. Once she struck right in between his toes, he threw his head back as far as he could and screamed. “AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOOOOOOHOHOHOHO!” For a long time, Pharynx never considered the possibility of one of the hive’s old interrogation methods being used on him. Especially not since the changelings’ transformations. Chrysalis kept the focus on his toes, slowly sliding her nails between to find just the right spots to make him scream even louder, making mental notes for the immediate future. “NOHOHO STOP STOP STOP STAHAHAHAP PLEHEHEASE!” Pharynx begged. Chrysalis’s magic made sure that his toes were completely immobilized to the point where any attempts to wiggle and curl them would be futile. “NO MOHOHOHORE!” “Start addressing me by my proper title, and then I’ll consider showing some mercy to your poor ticklish toes…” Chrysalis taunted, digging her fingers right underneath his toes. “NEHEHEHEVER!” Pharynx cackled in defiance. Instead of being irritated, Chrysalis just gave him an accepting shrug. “I see, then perhaps this will change your mind...” Pharynx could see Chrysalis bring something into view. The illumination made it slightly clearer in the darkness. The dimly lit silhouette resembled a comb, an obviously used one given some of the broken off teeth, but still one that made his heart race. “...N-No…” With a sinister chuckle, Chrysalis brought the comb closer to his toes. “Oh, did this get your attention?” She placed it right between his big toe on his right foot and slowly dragged it down. Pharynx screamed with laughter. The urge to curl up his feet was useless thanks to Chrysalis’s magic. The comb’s teeth were able to slide between his toes with no resistance. “Say it,” Chrysalis commanded as she sawed between his toes. “Or I’ll bring in another comb....” “GAHAHA! ALRIGHT ALRIHIHIHIGHT! Q-QUEEHEEHEEHEEN CHRYSAHAHAHALIS!” Even throughout his heavy laughter, saying those two words left a bitter taste in his mouth. Chrysalis looked up with a smug grin, knowing that progress was being made into making him obedient. “Yesss?” she said with a grin, now bringing the comb to the sensitive stems of his toes. Pharynx could feel the tears streaming down his cheeks and dripping down onto the floor. “P-PLEHEHEHEHEHEAASE! M-MEHEHEHERCY QUEEHEEHEEN CHRYSALIHIHIS!” “Oh, very well…” She smirked, withdrawing the object and releasing her hold on his toes, thus finally letting him breathe. Pharynx gasped for air, tears still falling down his face as he sagged within his bindings. “There, now was that so hard?” she asked with a malicious chuckle. The changeling growled at the former queen with what little energy he had left. “Y-You little…” “You’re welcome, by the way.” She merely smirked. “Now, how about you start answering some questions of mine, while I still feel charitable?” “Questions? W-What questions?” “Well, for starters, you can start with informing me with all the ‘changes’ that have been made to my kingdom in my absence,” Chrysalis hissed. “It will help when I start taking back what’s rightfully mine.” Pharynx bit his lower lip, if he spoke, he’d certainly doom the hive. Chrysalis tapped the comb against the ball of his foot, making him curl his toes. “Come now, as the new prince, I’m sure you have plenty of information…” Pharynx shook his head furiously, his foot attempting to bat the object away. “If I don’t hear answers out of your mouth in the next five seconds, your screams of laughter will have to do,” Chrysalis warned, putting the comb back in between his toes. Pharynx let out a uneasy groan, he had to stay strong, but he wasn’t sure how much more torture he could withstand. “Five… four…” Chrysalis spoke, slowly lowering the comb towards his wiggling toes. “Gah! F-Fine!” he stuttered out, squeezing his eyes shut. The former queen grinned. “Now then...speak. And don’t spare any detail, or make any of it up, for that matter..” she said, still waving the comb around to threaten him. Pharynx sighed and began to speak. “Okay, first of all…” Chrysalis grinned as she listened along, still keeping the comb close to his toes just in case. “The outside of the kingdom has seen a lot more...plant life growing ever since you left…” Chrysalis listened intently as Pharynx continued to spill valuable information on the reformed Changeling Kingdom. It was almost nauseating to hear about all the brightness and talks of “feeling forums”, but it would all be worth it once it was back in her proper control. Though as Pharynx talked, Chrysalis noticed that he was omitting some crucial information. “...And what of the defenses…?” The male changeling looked off to the side, gently biting his now-quivering lip. He had hoped that all the talk about how friendly the changelings became would distract from revealing the more important details. “I’m waiting…” the queen uttered, the attempted patience in her voice starting to fade as the seconds ticked by. “Uh...the defenses…” Pharynx stammered, trying to stall some more to prevent completely betraying the hive. “Yes?” Chrysalis leaned in closer, already sliding the comb between his toes. Without thinking, Pharynx blurted out in-between fits of giggles, “We were working together with the ponies to change both our defenses!” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. “Really?”  I can’t believe I just said that… Pharynx thought bitterly. He and his kind may not be feasting on the love of ponies anymore, but he still wouldn’t be this eager to side with them in battles. Nonetheless, he kept up with his attempted fib and answered, “Y-Yeah!” “What kind of changes did you do?” Pharynx’s eyes bulged. “Uh...um…” “Because I’ve had a long time to wander around Equestria, and their defenses haven’t changed a bit.” Pharynx’s toes started to curl up in a preemptive defense; he knew what was going to happen. “...You’re not trying to lie to me, are you Pharynx?” “Uh… n-no, it’s the truth, I swear!” “Well then, can you give me an example of what you’ve changed?” “I… I…” Chrysalis clicked her tongue, slowly raising the comb towards him. “Pitiful, Pharynx...I had such hopes for you…” “N-No, wait, please!” Pharynx begged, watching the comb get slotted between his toes. “I can expl-AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!” he screamed with laughter, arching his back. “NAAAHAHAHAHAHA!” “Oh, you’ll explain alright… there’s more where that came from, after all.” Through his tears, Pharynx saw a hairbrush float into view. “WHAT?! WAIT, NOHOHOHOHOOO!” he bellowed as the object suddenly began attacking the sole of his foot, the same foot that was still being attacked by the comb. “Perhaps one day, you’ll learn to be a good little obedient drone like before…” Chrysalis shook her head with a sadistic grin as the brush scrubbed down his sole. “NAHAHAT THE BRUHUHUHUSH!” As Chrysalis’s magic kept the brush on Pharynx’s foot, she manually sawed the comb between each of the little gaps between his toes. “...But until that day, I’ll just have to keep disciplining you until you can behave.” “NOHOHOHO MOHOHOHORE!” Pharynx begged, trying to get his feet away from the comb’s fearsome teeth. “What’s that? You want to be tickled more? Oh Pharynx, all you had to do was ask!” Chrysalis said in a sickeningly sarcastic tone. Her gnarled horn lit up, and more objects appeared. One of them was a large feather that focused on Pharynx’s other foot, flicking against his sole, another was what appeared to be a fuzzy green rope that started looping around his toes and flossing back and forth in between them. “EEEEEEEYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” The addition of the extra tools made the tears flow harder down Pharynx’s face. His eyes shut tight, leaving him completely unaware of Chrysalis’s next move. After a bit of manual sawing, Chrysalis kept the comb going with her magic. Concentrating on moving the three different tools in effective tickling motions wasn’t an easy task, but it was nothing worth breaking a sweat over. So long as Pharynx was still laughing helplessly, she knew she was doing something right. She decided to add one more tool to the prince’s torment: a small spiked-pinwheel. She placed it at the heel of his right foot, letting it slowly roll its way up to the ball. Even with all the tickling at his feet, the new prickly sensation made his body tense up and his voice crack with a squeal. “AIIIEEEEEHAHAHAHA WHAHAHAHAT IS THAHAHAHAT?!” Chrysalis smirked as she watched Pharynx’s vain attempts to free himself, looking over the rest of his body to see where else she should torture. “Hmhmhm...where else do you want to be tickled?” “NONONONOHOHOHOHO! NOHOHOHO MOHOHOHORE!” The wheel on Pharynx’s foot rolled back and forth, taking its time moving from his heel to the ball of his foot. The spiky points made his whole body shiver. After a few seconds of decision-making, Chrysalis had selected her target. A dark chuckle came from the queen’s lips as she walked forward, placing her fingertips on his belly. Pharynx’s body tensed up as his eyes finally opened in a panic. “NOOOHOHOHO! P-PLEHEHEHEASE!” “That’s right, beg for me. Beg for your queen!” Chrysalis cackled in delight as she started spidering her fingers against his stomach, poking and digging in to see how loud he’d howl. “EEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MEHEHERCY PLEHEHEASE!” Chrysalis’s wicked fingernails scribbled all over Pharynx’s stomach. Because the volume or pitch of his laughter wasn’t going to be an obvious indicator of sensitivity given the tools working at his feet, she watched for the subconscious flinch or twitch of his body to pinpoint the most ticklish spots to focus on later. Pharynx continued to laugh and squeal, tears spilling down his face. Though she wouldn’t stop the tickling entirely, she relented just for a few seconds, idly skittering her fingers around his stomach, then forcefully digging her nails in, making his tummy flinch and jerk in an attempt to escape the torture. “PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE! I CAHAHAHAN’T! I CAHAHAHAN’T TAKE IT!” Pharynx pleased, violently shaking his head. Chrysalis only gave him a sinister chuckle in response. Hearing him beg like that was a wonderful start, but she knew she still had work to do if she was going to truly break him. She trailed her fingers up and down his sides, going from his hips up to his armpits, and all the way back down. “NOHOHOHO! NOHOHOT THERE AGAHAHAHAIN!” the changeling screeched, his body thrashing from side to side. As Chrysalis, she made sure that Pharynx wasn’t ignoring what was happening at his feet. The feather, comb, and rope slid between his toes, while the wheel and the brush worked against his soles and arches. “EEEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! PLEHEHEHEASE HAVE MEHEHEHERCY!” Pharynx gasped for breath, his helpless toes twitched due to the overstimulation, unable to even halt the advances of the tools. “Oh Pharynx,” Chrysalis cooed, lifting up his chin with one hand. “I have as much mercy for you as I have patience.” She locked eyes with her captive, making sure that he didn’t break eye contact as she circled her fingertip around his navel, getting closer with each lap. Even without power, the former queen managed to keep Pharynx staring right back at her piercing gaze. Even with the torturous tools at his feet and the slowly approaching finger on his belly, he couldn’t force himself to look away. “NOHOHO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEHEHEHEHEASE!” Chrysalis’s lone finger made a few more tantalizingly sluggish laps just outside his navel. The tools at his feet slowed down to a complete stop until all Pharynx could feel was the single fingertip circling his belly button. Chrysalis let out a sinister cackle, knowing that she was still drawing out the same volume of laughter and begging as well as drawing out more anxiety. The slow teasing finally ended when she finally dipped her finger in to enjoy the show. Pharynx practically exploded with hysterical laughter, his entire body thrashing around, trying to get that dreaded finger out of his belly button. Each little movement of her finger kept the tears flowing, and Pharynx’s struggles only made things worse for him.  “Well isn’t this just adorable? I’m barely touching you! You act so tough, and yet look at how much you’re squealing!” Chrysalis cackled, pressing her other hand against his chest to keep him still, allowing her to focus more on tickling his navel rather than keeping her finger there.  “EEEEYAHAHAHAHA! FUHUHUHAHAHAHA! YAHAHAHA FAUHUHAHAHAHAHA!” Pharynx wanted to scream and curse her out, but that single finger prevented him from properly forming the words. “Now let’s see what happens when I do this...” The tools at Pharnyx’s feet resumed their normal patterns, continuing as if they never stopped. The return of the tools sent Pharynx into a frantic, crying wreck. His head tilted back and screamed, his body temporarily paralyzed by the overstimulation. Chrysalis chuckled, she never knew just how sensitive her former best soldier really was, and it was deliciously satisfying to see what he’s become and how quickly he had been broken down. Pharynx finally managed to speak through the laughter. “PLEHEHEASE! STOHOHOP! NOHOHO NO MOHOHORE!” “Oh there will be more where that came from… that is, unless you’re rightfully willing to cooperate for once,” Chrysalis said with a smirk. Pharynx violently shook his head with a torrent of screaming laughter. “PLEHEHEHEHEAAASE NO! PLEHEHEHEHEAASE NOHOHOHO! GAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MEHEHEHERCY!" “If you truly wish for my mercy, then start by making a proper apology.” Pharynx squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to stop the tears, his body trembling with the devilish finger at his navel. “OKAY, OKAHAHAHAY! P-PLEASE, I’M SOHOHOHORRY!” Chrysalis leaned in closer, her fingers spidering against his abdomen, the rope sawing and spinning between his toes. “What was that? I can’t quite hear you…” “I SAHAHAID I’M SOHOHOREEEHEHEE! PLEHEHEASE STOHOHOP!” Pharynx begged, gasping for air. “Q-QUEEHEEHEEHEEN CHRYSAHAHAHALIS!” He added, hoping to say exactly what she wanted to hear, Chrysalis retracted the tools as she slowed her torture down to a complete stop, glaring into Pharynx’s teary eyes. “Now start by telling me the truth. And keep in mind, I have hundreds of ways to punish you if you decide to lie to me again,” she emphasizes her threat by spreading out his toes again, sliding a feather in each space. Pharynx’s toes flinched upon feeling all the feathers slide into place. “We...We tore down our defenses in favor of the hive’s new ways!” “Really now?” Chrysalis tilted her head to the side, letting the tools move away from his feet. “Just gone entirely?” Pharynx’s head hung low as he took weary gasps for air. “The place...got so peaceful...stopped doing...patrols…” “Interesting…” Chrysalis pressed a finger against his chest. “And what of my throne?” “Parts were...sent across Equestria...to try and help their...own...defenses…” That particular bit of news made Chrysalis scoff, it was yet another issue that needed to be worked around. “Well, assuming you’ve been telling the truth this time, that’s all been very helpful information...” Pharynx kept his head down. He didn’t confess much, but he knew that the hive was now in serious danger thanks to his weakness. “Now then…” Chrysalis’s horn lit up, and the feathers began sliding between Pharynx’s forcibly spread out toes. “Where were we?” “GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Pharynx instantly looked back up at Chrysalis, his laughter and struggling began anew. “WHYHYHYHYHY!?” “I still need some time before I can make my glorious comeback, and I can’t just let you go, can I?” She sneered, her fingers walking up his ribcage. “Besides, you have proven yourself a valuable source of information...and entertainment.” “NO NO NOHOHOHOHOHO PLEHEHEHASE I CAHAHAHAN’T TAHAHAHAHAKE IT!” Pharynx was quick to start begging again, his body and mind were already worn down from the relentless assault on his feet and stomach. “Don’t worry, Pharynx,” Chrysalis cooed, scribbling her fingers in his armpits. “After I take over my kingdom again, I’ll make sure your brother joins you as my very special ticklish prisoners…” Pharynx screeched and laughed helplessly; at this point, he could only hope that his brother would be able to save him from this hellish torture.