//------------------------------// // Act 5 Chapter 37: Zodiac Twins // Story: Patrilineality: Making Up For Time We Lost // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Act Five Chapter 37: Zodiac Twins “Hey Metamorphosis?” Ocellus asked, walking up to the unreformed changeling, who was in the library. She had returned to school for the remainder of the term, but now it was summer, and she was home for the vacation. “Yes Ocellus?” Metamorphosis responded, looking up from the book he was reading. “Do you know when Pharynx and Thorax’s birthdays are? I know we saw their files a couple weeks ago, but I didn’t remember seeing a birth date.” “Yes, I noticed that as well. You know Chrysalis is not the type to celebrate anything. It’s likely she left that part out intentionally.” “So then… when are their birthdays?” Ocellus asked, sitting beside him. “Oh, I…” Metamorphosis trailed off. “I don’t know…” Ocellus’ eyes widened and Metamorphosis bit his lip nervously. The boys had never told him when they were born. But what if their birthdays had passed, and he hadn’t known it? “I left before they were born… and they didn’t tell me…” “B-But what if we missed it?!” Ocellus asked, voice rising slightly as she followed Metamorphosis’ train of thought. “Missed what?” Tempest’s voice asked, and the two changelings looked up. The unicorn mare was walking in, Ember behind her. “Thorax and Pharynx’s birthday!” Ocellus exclaimed. “They didn’t tell Metamorphosis when it was, and now we don’t know when it was!” “Oh, is that all?” Ember scoffed, sitting down by them. “I know when their birthday is.” “Same here. Phar told me.” Tempest said “Really? When?” Ocellus asked “May twenty-second.” Ember stated “May twenty-first.” Tempest said at the same time. Metamorphosis blinked in confusion. “Girls, that’s not possible… they’re twins, they were born on the same day.” “So one of you is wrong.” Ocellus concluded, and Tempest and Ember both bristled. “Well, it’s not me!” they said at the same time. “Hey! I’m never wrong!” “Hey! Girls, come on, that’s our thing.” Pharynx’s voice said as he and his brother entered the library. “What are you talking about?” Ember asked, blinking in confusion. Thorax’s eyes flashed slightly, then… “Saying the same thing at the same time, what else?” Thorax and Pharynx said in unison. “It’s part of being twins.” “See? Proof they’re twins.” Ocellus told Ember and Tempest “Uh… and that was relevant how?” Pharynx asked, raising a brow. “Tempest and Ember each said two different dates when we asked them if they knew when your birthday was.” Metamorphosis explained. “Yeah, speaking of which, Thorax, tell Tempest it’s May twenty-second.” “I mean, he’s wrong, Pharynx told me he was born on May twenty-first.” “Relax, you’re both right.” Pharynx told her, laying down on his stomach by Tempest. “What? But how?” Ocellus asked “I have to admit Pharynx, it does seem strange.” Metamorphosis said “Well, sure, until you get the full story.” Pharynx said, shrugging. “See, I was born on May twenty-first. Specifically, I was born at eleven fifty at night.” “And I was born ten minutes later.” Thorax joined in, sitting by Ember. “Specifically, I was born when the clock struck midnight, so technically…” “You were born the next day!” Ocellus realized. “Now it makes sense!” “And I’m guessing you two were only told the dates of your boyfriend’s birthday specifically, and logically assumed his brother was born at the same time.” Metamorphosis said to Ember and Tempest, who nodded, looking a bit sheepish. “Eh, don’t blame you, it is a bit rare for twins to be born on different days.” Pharynx shrugged “Why did you want to know, anyway?” Thorax asked “Oh, uh, two reasons.” Ocellus said. “One, so I would know if it had already passed or not… and two, because, well, I wanted to know what your Zodiac signs are.” “Zodiac whats?” Pharynx asked “They’re astrological signs based on specific constellations in the sky, said to determine personality traits and future relationships.” Metamorphosis told him, and the others stared at him. “What?” “How do you know that?” Ocellus asked “...I read books?” Metamorphosis offered, raising a brow at her. “You realize Pharynx and Thorax had to get their intelligence from someone, right?” Ocellus blushed and nodded. “Sorry.” “Wait, relationships?” Thorax asked, blushing. Metamorphosis shrugged. “Not specifically, but it’s said certain Zodiac signs are more compatible with each other than they are with other Zodiac signs. Like… a creature with the Taurus sign and a creature with a Cancer sign are more compatible than a Leo and a Sagittarius.” “And judging by the calculations, you’re both Gemini, and both are a rising Capricorn.” Ocellus said, then giggled. “Ironic, actually.” “Why?” Pharynx questioned, and Metamorphosis answered. “Gemini is the sign of the twin, Pharynx.” he said, and the two blushed. “So, there’s a specific personality trait assigned with Gemini?” Ember asked “Quite a few.” Ocellus told her. “Geminis can be gentle, affectionate, curious, adaptable, learn quickly, and are comfortable with exchanging ideas.” “So, Thorax in a nutshell.” Pharynx said “Not so fast Pharynx. Geminis can also be nervous, inconsistent, indecisive, serious, thoughtful, and restless.” Metamorphosis told him, and he blushed “That’s why most Geminis are said to be two-faced, they quite literally are a twin in and of themselves, you never know which personality you might get on any given day.” “Seems like the personalities are split pretty evenly with Pharynx and Thorax, however.” Tempest noted “I’ve seen them switch, on occasion.” Metamorphosis told her. “Though sometimes it’s more subtle, easy to miss.” Thorax and Pharynx blushed, giving their dad gentle glares, which he simply smiled at, chuckling. “Hey, that makes me wonder… how old are you then, Meta?” Ember asked “‘Meta’?” Pharynx echoed “What? You want us to call him ‘Metamorphosis’ all the time? Meta’s shorter.” “...Touche.” “Anyway, Meta, how old are you?” Ember asked him. Metamorphosis closed his eyes and did some mental calculations. “I’m thirty-eight.” he said after a minute. “Wait, but… if Thorax and Pharynx are twenty-one, then Chrysalis would have had them when you were… seventeen?!” Ocellus exclaimed “Chrysalis was a very impatient changeling.” Metamorphosis told her. “And very ignorant of anyone’s wishes,” he added mentally. “That is totally messed up.” Ember said. “I mean, it’s technically rape, right?” “More like pedophilia.” Tempest corrected her. “It’s neither.” Pharynx retorted. “Technically speaking, changelings have always cared more about the love between two creatures than age. As long as dad wasn’t like, ten or less while Chrysalis was an adult, it was legal by changeling law. Though my respect for Chrysalis, if I had any left, just dropped some more.” “At least she gave me the two of you.” Metamorphosis said, and the brothers smiled at him. “Hold on… if Pharynx is the oldest, and his birthday is May twenty-first… his birthday would be in five days.” Ocellus said. “And Thorax’s the day after… how would we celebrate that?” Pharynx shrugged. “Don’t know, we’ve never had to before.” “We could celebrate on the night of Pharynx’s birthday.” Metamorphosis told her. “Then at midnight, we’ll do things like eat cake and open presents.” “So it’s still Pharynx’s birthday but also Thorax’s birthday.” Tempest nodded in approval “Yeah, that sounds good! What do you think Phar?” Thorax asked, looking at Pharynx “I personally don’t see the point of a birthday party, but whatever, if you want to do it it’s fine.” Pharynx told his brother, standing up. “Anyway, Tempest, Ember, and I were going to go spar.” “Have fun.” Metamorphosis told them as they left the room. “Dad, do you think it’s weird Pharynx doesn’t want a party?” Thorax asked “No, I don’t think so Thorax, he’s not one for celebrations.” Metamorphosis replied “Still… something’s bothering me about his neutrality to it…” Thorax said, standing and following the others out. “Huh… it seems the Gemini twins have a deeper connection to each other than usual.” Ocellus remarked, and Metamorphosis watched Thorax go thoughtfully.