Thorax was sitting in the throne room with Apex, Ocellus, and Pharynx when a female changeling approached them. Thorax recognized her as a part of the alchemy divison.
“Almexa?” Thorax asked as she cautiously approached the throne he sat on. “Is something wrong?”
“Not exactly… I need permission to go and collect something that grows on the outskirts of the territory..” Almexa explained.
“A plant?” Thorax inferred, as Apex clambered onto his head and Pharynx stepped up to stand beside him.
“Yes, your highness. I need to get this plant.” Almexa withdrew a book and opened it to a specific page, showing them a picture of a flower with white inner petals and purple outer ones. “It’s called Columbine, it’s supposed to grow near the border of the territory.”
“And you need this flower for… what exactly?” Pharynx asked
“For a potion.” Alemxa explained. “I wanted to try to make a sleeping solution with it, to help the younger nymphs sleep well.”
“Well, alright Almexa. But take Pharynx with you, it’s a long way away from the Hive.”
“Thank you King Thorax!” Almexa brightened up, as Pharynx gave his brother a look.
“Thorax, are you sure about this?” Pharynx whispered, standing up.
“Of course Pharynx, what’s the harm? It’s just for a sleeping solution.” Thorax replied
“Still… I’m keeping an eye on her.” Pharynx muttered, following Almexa as she left the throne room.
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Almexa came rushing back into the throne room a mere two hours later. Pharynx was following her. Thorax had been playing with Apex, and looked up.
“Pharynx? Almexa? Is something wrong?” Thorax asked
“Nothing's wrong, your majesty!” Almexa said breathlessly. “I figured something out!”
“Figured what out?” Thorax asked, sitting up straighter.
“The potion! Columbine doesn’t make a sleeping potion, it makes a love potion!” Almexa explained, pulling out a vial of swirling pink liquid. “I analyzed it too, that's why I brought it here to show you. I may not have gotten what I intended but this is just as good!”
“How so?” Pharynx asked sharply, glancing at her, and Almexa held up the vial.
“This tiny little vial should be the equivalent of a day’s worth of love. We may not feed on love all the time, but we all still eat it on occasion.”
“Well, yes, it’s a natural part of our diet. We can’t ever stop feeding on it completely.” Thorax agreed, seeming hesitant.
“I know, but this potion will stop us from needing to feed off other creatures! I did the calculations, a vial this size a day is the equal to a day’s feeding portion!”
“Really?” Thorax looked up interestedly. Almexa nodded. “I guess we could try it then.”
“Thorax, are you serious?!” Pharynx hissed. Thorax looked to him, then back to the female changeling.
“I mean, if you and the other alchemy ‘lings look at it, and see if it really is able to do what you predict.” Thorax told Almexa.
“Alright. Here’s what I have.” Almexa pulled out five more bottles, setting them down beside the first one. “I’ve memorized the recipe too, so we can keep making more.”
“Thank you Almexa, could you inform the other alchemy changelings?.” Thorax asked, and she nodded before leaving.
“Thorax, what now?” Pharynx spat
“Now, we wait for the alchemy division to learn more.”
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“King Thorax, come quick!” Almexa’s shout alerted the alpha changeling. He cradled Apex in one hoof as he ran towards the direction of the shout, Pharynx fast behind.
The king and prince burst into the alchemy division of the Hive. Almexa was frantically pacing, while two changelings were giggling jovially and nuzzling each other.
“What’s wrong, Almexa?” Thorax asked the frantic changeling.
“We were further analyzing the compounds of the potion as you instructed, Thorax, but the smell emitting from it… it’s just so irresistible, Aurelius ate some, and started acting love-drunk, essentially. But when Chaandee tried to drain the excess love out of him, it affected her too.”
Pharynx parted his jaws slightly, then immediately drew back with disgust. “It’s far too sweet to be true love.”
“I agree, your highness.” Almexa said, “But as Chaandee proved, attempting to drain it from a consumer merely brought the manufactured love into them.”
“Then what do we do?” Thorax asked, glancing at the two love-drunk changelings
“I don’t know my king.”
As they discussed, no one noticed Aurelius bump into the table, accidentally knocking a vial off of it. The vial rolled into the hallway, just waiting for an unassuming changeling to trot by.
-------------------------------------------
“It’s not so bad, everyone looks happy at least.” Thorax remarked, observing the happy drones trotting around.
“They look happy, sure, but I don’t think this potion is going to work well in the long run.” Pharynx retorted, glaring at the drones.
Thorax shrugged, cradling Apex in one hoof. Ocellus, who was reading nearby, glanced up curiously. Thorax lifted up a vial containing some of the love potion. “It can’t really hurt, Pharynx. It’s love.”
“You really want to try some?” Pharynx asked incredulously, and Thorax nodded.
“I might as well see what the others like about it so much.”
“Can I t’y some too Papa Thorax?” Apex asked, sniffing the vial curiously.
Thorax hesitated. “We haven’t seen it’s effects on nymphs yet sweetie… I think maybe it’s best for you not to have some right now, until we’re sure it won’t over-feed you. I don’t want you to get another stomachache.”
“Okay Papa Thorax.” Apex said, cuddling close to Thorax, eyes full of trust.
Thorax smiled and kissed his nymph on the forehead, then tilted the vial back and took a few quick sips. A dazed smile soon spread across his face as he set Apex down. Apex nosed his hoof in concern, but Thorax merely giggled. Ocellus closed her book and stepped over to Pharynx, sitting beside him.
“Come here grub.” Pharynx tugged Apex over to him as Thorax sat down heavily, smiling dumbly. “Thorax, say something.”
“Heheh… P-Phar, I love you…” Thorax nuzzled him, and Pharynx gagged from the overwhelming love coming at him from the effects of the potion.
“Ugh…” Pharynx grunted, placing Apex down in front of him.
“Papa Thorax…?” Apex asked softly. Pharynx looked down at the confused nymph and sighed.
Pharynx lifted up the nymph, beckoning for Ocellus to follow him. He then carried Apex to an empty room. Ocellus tucked her book under her hoof and stood by Apex as Pharynx set him down.
“Grub, kid, you two need to promise me something, okay?”
“Yes brother?”
“Wh-Wha’ is i’ Uncle Pharynx?” Apex asked nervously. Pharynx leaned down and nuzzled him.
“I need you two to promise me that whatever happens, don't ever eat the love potion. I don’t like the looks of this.” Pharynx said “Can you promise me that you won’t eat it?”
“I won’t…” Ocellus sighed softly. “It smells so good though…”
“Don’t.” Pharynx snapped at Ocellus, who nodded. “Grub…?”
Apex nodded and hugged him. “I p’omise too Uncle Pharynx.”