//------------------------------// // Sick Little Lings // Story: Pride and Joy // by Melody Song //------------------------------// “A-Achoo!” Apex sneezed hard, wiping his nose. The little nymph sniffled, eyes watering. He cuddled against Thorax’s chest. The monarch was still asleep, but he wouldn’t be for long, it was morning. Apex coughed, and Thorax’s ear flicked. The nymph gasped, which turned out to be a bad idea as he broke into a coughing fit. That got the alpha changeling’s attention. “Huh…? What is that…?” Thorax’s eyes opened slowly, and he rubbed his eyes. Apex snuggled against his chest, managing to stifle his coughs. “Apex…?” “‘M here Papa Thorax.” Apex whispered hoarsely, and Thorax looked down at him. “Sweetie, are you okay? You look a bit pale.” “‘M fine.” Apex tried insisting. Thorax leaned down to nuzzle him. He giggled slightly, then felt a familiar tickling sensation in his muzzle. His nose wrinkled and his face scrunched. “Apex?” “A-A-Achoo!” Apex sneezed, hard, ducking his head. Thorax gasped softly and scooped him up. “Oh Apex, my sweet baby boy…” Thorax pressed a hoof to Apex’s forehead. “N-No Papa Thorax, ‘m fine! I’s jus’ a snee-achoo!” Apex sneezed, then began coughing. Thorax’s eyes widened and he cradled Apex. “Sweetie, you’re burning up… you’ve got a bad fever… my poor little baby boy…” Thorax held him close. Apex whimpered and began crying. Thorax pulled him close and the nymph sobbed into his chest. “Bu’ I don’ wanna be sick! I-I wanna s’ay up an’ p-play-achoo!” “I know sweetie, but you need to rest so you can get better. Then we can play as much as you want, I promise.” Thorax kissed his forehead gently. “Okay my little hyper sprite?” Apex whimpered and snuggled against Thorax. “O-Okay Papa Thorax… w-will you s’ay with me…?” Thorax bit his lip, watching the nymph. “Well, I-” “Thorax, where are you-oh, good, finally.” Pharynx walked into the room, glaring at him. “I told you to be in the throne room by seven, it’s seven thirty.” “Oh, I-” “Y-You hafta do king-s’uff t’day…?” Apex asked, lip trembling. Thorax looked down at him, sighing. “Why does it matter if he has stuff to do, grub?” Pharynx asked “‘C-‘Cause I wan’ him to s’ay with me-achoo!” Apex sneezed again, and Pharynx stepped back. “Ah, so, the grub has his first cold, huh?” Pharynx asked Thorax, who nodded. “I have to stay with him Pharynx, please…” “Thorax…” Pharynx looked at the sniffling nymph. “Come on, you know I can’t do your stuff for you, you’re the King, I can’t do that as well as you could.” “But then there’d be no one to watch over Apex…” Thorax nuzzled the nymph gently. “There’s got to be someone.” Pharynx objected. “What about Ocellus?” “She is home for that ‘mandatory fall week off’ she mentioned…” Thorax agreed slowly. “I don’ wanna s’ay with Celly!” Apex protested, coughing. “W-Wan’ Papa Thorax!” “I know sweetie, but Pharynx is right, I have duties to take care of…” “B-Bu’…” Apex broke off, sneezing. Thorax nuzzled him gently. “It’s okay Apex, I promise to come check on you when I can, and if you’re good for Ocellus, I’ll bring you back a treat, okay?” Apex hesitated, then nodded. “O-Okay Papa Thorax… if you prom’se you’ll come back soon… an’ i’ll be a good trea’.” “Of course my little hyper sprite.” Thorax smiled, reaching and gently running a hoof down Apex’s muzzle, off the bridge of his nose. He continued the motion until Apex yawned, closing his eyes. Apex reached for Thorax’s hoof, and the alpha changeling let him hug it for a minute before pulling back. Apex yawned again and stretched out, clinging to the blankets now that his father-figure’s hoof was gone. Thorax chuckled, then wrapped the blanket around him. Apex coughed and snuggled down into the warm sheets, lying his head back against the pillow. He closed his eyes, feeling a familiar little bear being slipped into his hooves. “Blizzy…” “Shh.” Thorax kissed his forehead gently. “Just snuggle up with Blizzard and try to get some rest, sweetie. I’ll send Ocellus over here, so she’ll be here when you wake up.” “O-Okay Papa Thorax… l-love you…” Apex yawned, closing his eyes. “I love you too my little hyper sprite.” Thorax nuzzled him, then stood up. Apex could hear him following Pharynx out. The nymph closed his eyes, falling asleep. Soon, he stirred, hearing more hoofsteps. The taste of yellow daisies and soft rain hit his senses. Apex yawned and sat up. “Celly?” “Hey Apex.” Ocellus walked over, smiling softly. She had a book in her hoof, and Apex giggled. “You brough’ a book?” “I thought I could read to you.” Ocellus explained, sitting down beside him. Apex coughed as she laid down next to him, opening the book. “Here we go…” Apex clambered over, sniffling. He cuddled up between the older nymph’s forelegs, looking at the book. Ocellus began to read to him, and Apex closed his eyes. He yawned and tried to stay awake as Ocellus read aloud. “Go ahead and sleep if you’re tired.” Ocellus told him. “Mm-mm. ‘M no’ sleepy Cell-achoo!” Apex sneezed, and Ocellus pulled the blanket around him. “You need to rest Apex.” “W-Wanna wai’ for Papa Thorax-achoo!” Apex began coughing, and Ocellus patted him on the back. Apex groaned and burrowed into the bed, closing his eyes. “There you go.” Ocellus nuzzled him, smiling. “Sleep well.” “N-Nigh’… sissy…” Apex mumbled, smiling slightly as he felt her surprise before drifting off. Some time later, Apex heard talking. Arguing, it sounded like. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. “And now look, you woke Apex up.” he heard Ocellus’ voice say sharply. “So? He was going to wake up anyway, with you coughing and sneezing like that.” the other changeling replied. Apex yawned and blinked, vision focusing. “Uncle Pharynx…?” Apex looked up at him. “Hey grub.” Pharynx sighed, moving closer to him. “Where’s Papa Thorax?” “Still doing diplomatic stuff. He told me to check on you two.” Pharynx then turned to glare at Ocellus. “And good thing I did too, this one is sick too.” “Huh?” Apex sniffled and looked at her. “N-No, I’m fine, I’m just a little cold.” Ocellus said, then coughed. Pharynx rolled his eyes. “You’re sick, kid.” “O-Okay, I don’t feel great…” Ocellus admitted, lying down. Apex continued coughing. “U-Uncle Phary-achoo!” “What is it grub?” “C-Can you s’ay?” Apex asked “Oh no, I’m not getting sick by watching you two, Ocellus is still adult-ish, she can take care of you.” Pharynx said, turning to leave. “P-Pwease?” Apex made his eyes big and pouted. “Oh come on Apex, not the puppy-dog eyes…” Pharynx tried to protest, but the eyes persisted. “I… oh fine, just stop it.” “Yay!” Apex beamed as Pharynx walked back over. “Sn-Snuggle Uncle Pharynx?” “Fine…” Pharynx sighed, laying beside them. “Not a word Ocellus.” Ocellus giggled cheekily. “Okay your majesty.” “Shut up.” Pharynx snarled, and Ocellus yawned, curling up beside him. “Oh come on, I’m here for the grub, you go back to your room.” “My parents are busy and I’m here anyway.” Ocellus told him. “Ugh…” Pharynx sighed and laid down, closing his eyes in submission. Apex smiled and snuggled up to him, nosing his cheek. “Grub…” “Wanna snuggle-achoo!” Apex turned his head as he sneezed. Pharynx groaned and mashed his face into the pillow. “I’m going to get sick, aren’t I? Ugh, Thorax owes me big time for this…” Apex coughed and cuddled against him. Pharynx sighed and put a hoof over him. Ocellus moved closer, opening her book. Pharynx rolled his eyes but laid his head on Thorax’s pillow, closing his eyes and pulling Apex against his chest. The little nymph smiled and rested against Pharynx’s chest. He listened to the elder changeling’s heartbeat, letting the sound lull him to sleep. “Nigh’ Uncle Pharynx…” “Yeah yeah… sleep well grub.” Pharynx grumbled, then grunted as Ocellus flopped down across his stomach. “Ocellus!” “What? You’re comfy.” “I am not a pillow!” “Well you feel like one.” “Mhm!” Apex cuddled close, yawning. “Sof’y Uncle Pharynx…” “Ugh… I hate you both.” “We love you too Pharynx.” Ocellus replied cheekily. “Love you Uncle Pharynx…” Apex murmured, then sneezed. Pharynx sighed again. “Just stay quiet, both of you… I might as well get a nap out of this…” “Fine.” Ocellus settled down, then smirked. “Cuddlebug.” Pharynx turned bright red. “Only Thorax can call me that, Celly.” Ocellus blushed slightly as well and laid her head on his stomach, coughing. “Fine. But only because you’re too comfy and it’s making me tired.” Pharynx blushed but let it go, closing his eyes. Apex dozed on his chest, smiling. The three changelings slept comfortably in the large bed. The nymph was woken up for the third time an hour or so later. Apex stirred after feeling something cold on his forehead. He blinked and yawned, coughing. The cold thing was removed and someling kissed his forehead. He giggled and opened his eyes. Thorax was standing above him, smiling softly. “Papa Thorax!” Apex exclaimed, reaching for him. “Heheh, hey sweetie.” Thorax picked him up and cradled him. “How do you feel?” “Bi’ be’er…” “Yeah, you better be feeling better-” Pharynx’s voice said from out of his line of sight, before breaking into coughs. Apex looked over, seeing Pharynx lying on his side beside him. Ocellus was lying beside him, sleeping. Thorax laid down, Apex still in his hooves. “Uncle Pharynx?” “I was right. Staying with you two was a bad ide-achoo!” Pharynx sniffed and laid his head down. “I didn’ think you could ge’ sick Uncle Pharynx.” Apex said, crawling over to him. “I’m not invincible, grub.” Pharynx coughed, and Thorax leaned over to nuzzle him worriedly. “Ugh… Thorax, get off, I’m okay…” Thorax kissed Pharynx’s forehead before turning to nuzzle Apex gently. Apex smiled and snuggled close. “Anyway, until you get better, you’re all my sick little lings.” Thorax said, giggling. “Hey! I’m not a nymph Thorax, I’m older than y-” Pharynx broke off, coughing. Thorax rubbed his back, smiling. “Aww, but you’re smaller than me! So you’re little!” “Hey!” Pharynx exclaimed, and Thorax chuckled. “You better not call me that again…” “Okay, okay, fine.” Thorax said, giggling. “S-So, doe’ this mean you’ll s’ay with us, Papa Thorax?” Apex asked, and Thorax smiled. “Oh Apex… you three are sick.” Thorax reached and wrapped a hoof over Pharynx, as Ocellus crawled over and laid beside him. Pharynx grumbled but pressed closer to them anyway. Thorax smiled softly down at the little nymph, who smiled back and rested against his chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”