“Heheh, hey brother…” Thorax giggled, blushing as he nuzzled against Pharynx, who nuzzled him back. “I love you…”
“Heh… love you too, my brother…” Pharynx mumbled, kissing his brother on the cheek. They giggled, snuggling together.
“P-Papa Thorax…?” Apex trotted up to the bed, and they looked over. “‘M… ‘M hungry…”
“Then come have some love sweetie.” Thorax offered, extending a hoof.
Apex resisted the urge to run up and cuddle in Thorax’s hooves. He wanted so badly for Thorax to hold him, but what Pharynx had told him rang in his mind.
“Whatever happens, don’t eat that love potion.”
“I ‘mem’er Uncle Pharynx…” Apex murmured, and Pharynx glanced up.
“Heheh, hey Apex. Have I told you how much I love you, little guy?”
“You say i’ all the time. Jus’ in your own way.” Apex thought, sighing. “‘M… ‘M ‘kay Papa Thorax… no’ tha’ hungry…”
“Alright sweetie, just let us know if you change your mind!” Thorax said cheerfully as he snuggled back up to Pharynx, who made no effort to pull away.
Apex frowned and left the room. He winced as his stomach growled, and winced more as he watched the giggling, smiling changelings as they groped for more love. He flinched as he saw Ocellus sprawled out in her room, giggling and kissing a picture of Smolder.
“Hey Apex…” a raspy voice said, drawing Apex’s attention as he made his way down the hallway.
“V-Vio’el?” Apex turned to see the violet nymph trotting up to him, stumbling. “W-Why’re you shakin’?”
“I-I’m hungry… my parents won’t feed me…” Viorel stammered. “O-Oleander’s feeling it too… right Ollie?”
Apex glanced behind Viorel, who also turned to look.
“O-Ollie!”
Oleander, a green-blue nymph, was crouched over a cluster of changelings. He had his mouth open and was panting. Apex yelped, his eyes widening.
“V-Vi… so much love in the air… w-we can eat it!” Oleander opened his mouth.
“Ollie, no!” Viorel raced to him.
“Olean’er!”
It was too late. Oleander began feeding on the excess love wafting off the changelings. The more he drank in, the gidder he looked. Eventually, he collapsed.
“Hehehe! Vi-Vi, c-come try…” he mumbled
“Ollie!” Viorel raced over. “D-Don’t worry, I’ll help you…”
“Vio’el, no!” Apex said, but Viorel didn’t hear him in time.
Viorel began feeding off of Oleander, attempting to drain him of some of the love. Soon, the youngling could consume no more, and flopped down beside his boyfriend. He giggled and snuggled up to him.
“Ollie, the clouds are moving…” Viorel giggled. “Come join us Apex-y…”
“N-No… no…” Apex’s eyes filled with tears, and he rushed off.
Apex screwed his eyes shut, running as fast as he could. The overpowering smell of love was clouding his senses. He didn’t care where he went at this point, nor if anyone worried about him. As long as wherever he went cleared his head.
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In the woods outside the Hive, a hooded figure was making his way towards the spires of it. He smiled from underneath the hood.
“I’m coming home, boys.” the figure stated as he reached the treeline, pulling down his hood to reveal a long, twisted horn and a messy red mane. “Whoever you are.”
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Apex tore out of the Hive, tears streaming down his face. He only stopped when he reached the sandy training area that Pharynx always took him to. He sank down onto his haunches and began to sob aloud. He looked up, tears hitting the sand as he looked up at the training area. The sobs grew louder as memories came flooding back.
“Get back here grub!”
“Come ge’ me Uncle Pharynx!”
Apex began sniffling and whimpering as he sat there.
“Pharynx, be careful!”
“Relax Thorax, it’s a simple lunge and grab, he can handle it.”
“Yeah Papa Thorax! Uncle Pharynx’s been trainin’ me good!”
Apex screwed his eyes shut, wailing as he hunched over.
“Heheh, great job grub.”
“Can we do ‘tack moves nex’?!”
“Sure we can. Heh, you know what Apex?”
“Wha’ Uncle Pharynx?”
“I have the feeling you’re going to make a great warrior.”
Apex sniffled and wiped his eyes. He stood up, tail flicking. His eyes narrowed in determination.
“U-Uncle Pharynx would’a wan’ed me to keep going. So I will.”
Apex sunk into a crouch and began creeping low to the ground. His eyes scanned the foliage for prey. A cricket soon made itself known. Apex bared his teeth, raising his tail… and sprung.
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The unknown creature made his way to the Hive. He was surprised but happy to see the new grasses and flowers springing up from the ground. However, he noticed one area was still barren. He headed towards it in curiosity, his teal-purple eyes widening slightly when he scented a living creature moving around inside it.
“Oof! Ugh, no!” a small voice groaned.
The creature stepped closer, peeking into the sandy hollow. He sank down low so as not to be seen. A small little… green thing was jumping around. Wait, no… it was a changeling. A nymph, to be exact. He had lime green chitin, with a red carapace, wings, and gossamer tail. Three diamonds sat on his chest and he had ruby red eyes.
The young nymph couldn’t have been more than five. However, he was out here, alone. The creature frowned, concern showing on its face. The little nymph was prowling around the hollow, in a perfect crouch. Then, a cricket jumped from the grass. The nymph sprung, but fell down and tumbled.
“He’s malnutritioned…” the creature murmured, noting the nymph’s skinner-than-average frame, and the way he looked too tired to even be able to walk without stumbling.
The nymph’s hearing seemed to be better off than the nymph himself. He jerked his head up and looked around nervously.
“Wh-Who’s there?” he asked, sinking into a pouncing position. “Sh-Show you’self! I-I can figh’!”
The strange creature sighed, though he smiled slightly at the nymph’s bravery. Tired of hiding, he stepped into the open, lowering his hood.
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Apex yelped as a strange creature came out of the grass. He was an unreformed changeling, as tall as Chrysalis. But his eyes were a teal-purple and his mane and tail were red, a strand of his tail loosely braided. Apex still whimpered and scrambled away. The changeling lowered himself down and removed his cloak, revealing a gentle, concerned expression.
“Shh, it’s okay little one.” he said, setting the cloak down. Apex tilted his head in confusion, the changeling had the same carapace and wings that Pharynx used to have. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Y-You look like her…” Apex whispered
“Who?” he asked gently
“Ch-Chrysa-Chrysali-” Apex stammered, shrinking back.
The changeling seemed to understand, and didn’t press further. He instead withdrew something from his cloak. Apex smelled the scent wafting off it instantly. Salty, slightly peppered… but the familiar scent of meat… jerky!
The unreformed changeling levitated over the jerky. Apex took it cautiously. He was about to eat it, then paused and opened his mouth. He carefully took in all the scents. Just the usual scents of jerky, it was safe. Apex began eating it ravenously. The changeling chuckled.
“Very clever little one. I don’t think many nymphs would have thought to check it.”
“U-Uncle Pharynx taugh’ me to.” Apex mumbled around a mouthful of jerky.
“Who’s Pharynx?”
“He’s the Prince-Gen’ral.” Apex replied, finishing the jerky. “He kinda look’ded like you before he transform’ded.”
The changeling blinked for a moment, then shook off his confusion.
“Well, um…”
“‘M Apex.”
“Alright. Apex, why are you here alone?”
“I-I don’ go’ an’one to come wi’ me. Somethin’ made all the ‘dults go weird an’ Papa Thorax had some too, then Uncle Pharynx… a-an the o’er nymphs jus’ ge’ weird too when they tas’e the s’uff…”
“What stuff?” the changeling prompted, giving the malnourished nymph another piece of jerky.
Apex began eating it. “O-One of the alchm’y changelings wen’ lookin’ for a flower she needed for a s’eep potion. The potion ac’ually ma’e love ins’ead though. On’y when Aurelius had some i’ spread to Chaandee, th-then a vial go’ way from them an’ the whole Hive liked i’. They kep’ makin’ more so we wouldn’ run ou’. Papa Thorax tried some, bu’ Uncle Pharynx made me an’ Celly promise no’ to have any… th-then he an’ Celly had some too an’ they won’ s’op drinkin’ i’ either.”
The changeling’s eyes widened with worry. “Was this potion… pink? And was the flower called Columbine?”
“Mhm!” Apex replied.
The changeling stood, stepping forward and picking up Apex. The nymph giggled as he was set on the large unreformed changeling’s back.
“I know what’s happened to your Hive, Apex. But I can fix it.”
“Fix wha’?” Apex asked, gnawing on the last bit of jerky.
“The problem.” the changeling began walking towards the Hive in the distance.
“U-Um… hey, whas’ your name, an’way?” Apex questioned, and the changeling glanced back at him, giving him a gentle smile.
“My name is Metamorphosis, Apex.” the changeling, Metamorphosis, introduced himself.
“I like tha’ name.” Apex said, finishing the jerky. “D’you like i’ too?”
Metamorphosis chuckled, smiling at the nymph as he carried him to the Hive. “Yes… I like it too…”