//------------------------------// // Familial Relations // Story: Pride and Joy // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Metamorphosis controlled his surprise and elation as best he could. Apex didn’t notice, and nuzzled up under his chin. Metamorphosis put a hoof around his small body gently. “Sh-She used to hur’ me too… af’er Papa Thorax lef’ the Hive…” Apex mumbled “Thorax left?” “Mhm. A few months af’er the Can’erlo’ Invasion. He s’ayed to make sure Uncle Pharynx was okay, ‘cause Uncle Pharynx go’ a bi’ sick. Bu’ then he lef’ an’ wen’ to the Crystal Empire, an’ lived there ‘til he came back with some friends to defea’ the queen.” Apex’s eyes shone with admiration. “Papa Thorax is the bes’ leader the Hive’s e’er had.” “I can’t believe it… h-he’s the King…” Metamorphosis thought, but shook himself. “That’s quite a story, Apex.” “Mhm.” Apex smiled. “Papa Thorax is the bes’.” Metamorphosis smiled at him slightly, then added the last ingredient. A drop of the False Love from a vial he’d found in the throne room. The potion bubbled and swirled, turning white. “Whas’ tha’ mean?” Apex asked, poking a hoof at the container. “It means that it’s done.” Apex beamed and hugged him. “When you sa’e us, can you s’ay?” “I’m not sure. I came all this way to see the changeling’s new lifestyle.” Metamorphosis sighed. “But I can’t transform, I’ve tried to but I can’t.” Apex nuzzled him. “I don’ care you’re no’ transformded. An’ they won’ ei’er.” Metamorphosis smiled and placed a hoof around him. “Come on then. Let’s distribute this cure.” Apex jumped up happily, rushing down the hall. Metamorphosis followed, placing the potion into small vials and carrying them out. The two went from hall to hall, Metamorphosis helping Apex to feed the love-drunken changelings the antidote. Slowly, they began to wake, rubbing their eyes and mumbling in confusion. But before they could get a good look at Metamorphosis, he would be on his way to the next hallway. Finally, after leaving the young blue nymph Apex had told him was Ocellus, they had woken everyone. Or so Metamorphosis thought. Apex caught his hoof as he tried to return to the throne room. “W-We go’a ge’ Papa Thorax an’ Uncle Pharynx.” Metamorphosis blinked. “We haven’t seen them yet?” “Mm-mm, they’re in Papa Thorax’s room.” Apex turned and led him down a different hallway, which was completely empty. “There’s Uncle Pharynx’s room…” he stopped in front of one door, and pointed to another. “And this one?” “Papa Thorax’s.” Apex replied, frowning. “Uncle Pharynx shoul’ be in his room, bu’ he’s been all diff’ren’ since he a’e some of the Fal’ Love.” “It can make you not act like yourself.” Metamorphosis told him, and Apex’s ears drooped. “I like the ol’ Uncle Pharynx be’er. He was the las’ to have some of the Fal’ Love…” “He must have a very strong will.” Metamorphosis said. “Just like his mother.” “Mhm… I liked when he didn’ tell me he loved me… he showed’ed me he did, by trainin’ me… a-an lettin’ me cuddle with him when Papa Thorax wan’s him to watch me f’the day… he doesn’ le’ an’ling ‘xcept me an’ Papa Thorax do tha’.” Metamorphosis smiled softly and nuzzled the little nymph. “Then let’s wake him up, so he can go back to being that way again.” Apex smiled and fluttered his little red wings, pushing open the door. “P-Papa Thorax?” Metamorphosis peeked in after Apex. Two changelings were lying in a large bed. They were much more unique than the others, taller, and with antlers. The smaller of the two was asleep, but the larger one was awake. He smiled at Apex as he tentatively trotted over to him. He scooped up the little nymph, giggling. “Hehehe! Hey sweetie…” he giggled and nuzzled Apex. Apex smiled and touched his nose to the changeling’s. “Papa Thorax…” Apex murmured, then squeaked as the changeling booped his nose. “Eep! Hey!” “Heh, who’s my silly little bug?” he nuzzled him gently, and Apex laughed. The second changeling stirred, yawning and slowly opening his eyes. They were lavender, like the first one’s dark purple eyes. “Hey there little guy.” he reached over and pulled Apex in, cuddling him. “You’re so cute, you know that?” “‘M no’! ‘M a toughbug, Uncle Pharynx, like you!” Apex protested, squirming. “Heheh, no, you’re a cute little buggy!” he laughed “Uncle Pharynx, you’d ne’er say tha’.” Apex said, crossing his hooves. The changeling merely gave him a nuzzle. “Ack! An’ you’d ne’er do tha’! You don’ e’en like ‘mitting you like snuggles!” “What’re you talking about? I love snuggles.” he pulled Apex close. Metamorphosis watched curiously. The two adult changelings curled around Apex, the smaller one holding him tight. So the taller one was Thorax; that made sense, he was the king; and the smaller of the two was Pharynx. Metamorphosis then stepped into the room. Apex saw him and tried to get free. Metamorphosis shook his head. Keep them still and happy, he seemed to tell the nymph. Apex sighed, leaning against Pharynx and resting on him. “A’ leas’ Uncle Pharynx is comfy…” Apex thought as he laid against Pharynx’s chest. As Thorax moved to nuzzle the nymph, Metamorphosis sprung. He withdrew a vial and poured the contents down the changeling’s open mouth. “Gah!” Thorax reeled back, sputtering but forced to swallow the potion. He blinked and began rubbing his eyes. Metamorphosis then turned to the second changeling, who merely chuckled and cuddled Apex. He briefly registered the cyan chitin and red accents, along with a violet carapace so similar to his own. Metamorphosis shook it off and grabbed Pharynx’s muzzle. He pried it open, pouring the next antidote vial down his throat. The changeling was forced to gulp it down, and Apex hugged him tight. “U-Uncle Pharynx?” he asked softly. Pharynx coughed and groaned, shutting his eyes, then opening them. “Guh… what the-? Where am I?” “Uncle Pharynx!” Apex hugged him tightly as Metamorphosis stepped back. He went to the doorway and watched as the reawakened changeling looked down and grunted. “Grub, what are you doing? Get off me.” he growled, pushing Apex away from him. “You’re you ‘gain!” Apex exclaimed, throwing himself at Pharynx again. He grunted but sighed and reluctantly put a hoof around him. “A-Apex…? Phar?” Thorax rubbed his eyes. “What happened…?” “Papa Thorax!” Apex jumped over and hugged him tight. “Apex? What’s wrong sweetie?” Thorax asked nervously, pulling Apex close. “Nothin’.” Apex sighed happily, cuddling against the king, who hugged him gently. “‘M jus’ happy you’re back.” “Back?” he looked up at Pharynx, who shrugged. “Don’t look at me.” “The Fal’ Love, i’ poisn’ed you.” Apex said “False Love?” Pharynx echoed “Tha’s wha’ Mety sai’ i’ was called.” Apex said “Who’s ‘Mety’, Apex?” Thorax asked Apex leapt down from the bed and trotted to the door, Thorax and Pharynx following him. Apex reached and took Metamorphosis’ much larger hoof. Metamorphosis smiled softly and allowed the little one to lead him into the room. Thorax and Pharynx gasped as they saw him, and Metamorphosis couldn’t blame them. Pharynx then dropped into an attack stance, snarling at him. “Apex, get behind me.” he growled “Uncle Pharynx, no! He’s nice!” Apex said, standing in front of Metamorphosis. “He’s what?” “He sa’ed you!” Apex said, taking off and nuzzling Thorax. “H-He s’opped you from drinkin’ the Fal’ Love an’more.” “What does that have to do with anything?” Thorax asked him Metamorphosis stepped forwards. “Your majesty, if I may call you that?” “J-Just Thorax, please.” he murmured, and Metamorphosis smiled slightly. “Thorax. My name is Metamorphosis. And what Apex means is that you were in danger, all of you were. The False Love potion is extremely dangerous to changelings, it acts like a drug.” “What do you mean, dangerous?” Pharynx was still in a defensive stance, and Metamorphosis could see Chrysalis reflected in his eyes. Distrust and wariness were traits of both her and her son, it seemed. Nevertheless, he continued. “False Love tends to fill a changeling with endless joy, but while you may feel like you’re gaining love and feeding, in reality, False Love has no true love in it. You weren’t gaining any food from it. Reformed changelings can counter this with producing their own love for a time, but it wouldn’t last long. Essentially, you were starving yourselves without realizing it.” Thorax’s eyes went wide. “W-We would have…?” “Yes, eventually, you would have succumbed to hunger and died.” Metamorphosis said softly. “Luckily for you and your Hive, I ran into Apex out in a sandy hollow. He was malnourished and it didn’t take more than a few questions to figure out what had happened.” “M-Mal…? Oh no, Apex…” Thorax nuzzled him gently, and the nymph giggled. “‘M okay Papa Thorax! Mety gave me food!” Apex said “You should actually be grateful he was malnourished. Had he not been able to tell me he was hungry, it would have meant he’d eaten some of the False Love as well.” “I didn’ ‘cause Uncle Pharynx sai’ no’ to.” Apex said, looking at Pharynx, who relaxed slightly. “So… have you cured the others too?” Pharynx questioned. “Yes, and Apex and I got rid of the rest of the False Love.” Metamorphosis responded. “With everyone coming to their senses, it shouldn’t take long for the False Love still in the air to be covered with natural love.” “Thank you.” Thorax breathed, as Apex clambered onto his head. “You saved us all.” Metamorphosis nodded, and Pharynx trotted closer, looking wary of him. “I do wonder, why were you near our Hive in the first place?” “I…” Metamorphosis sighed and took a breath. “I left the Hive a long time ago, but I heard about the changeling’s reformation, and I had to see for myself. I was also… I was looking for my sons.” “You have children?” Pharynx questioned “Yes. Two.” Metamorphosis smiled slightly. “I left the Hive mere days after their eggs were laid. I had hoped to return before they hatched, so I could watch them grow up. But the reason I had left was in hopes of finding a better life for them. I only found that better life recently, and it appeared the Hive had already discovered it. So I came home.” “So, you don’t know their names?” Thorax asked Metamorphosis shook his head. “My mate was always very adept at determining genders and ranks of eggs, so we knew they were both male, but I wanted to wait until we saw what they looked like before naming them. Of course, I never got to see them, so she would have named them herself.” “Then do you know what their ranks were? Maybe we could help you find them.” Thorax offered. At this, Metamorphosis smiled. “That won’t be necessary. I saw all the changelings in the Hive while Apex and I were curing them. I know which ones my boys are.” “Really? Who?” Thorax asked “Well, based on the rankings my mate gave them… one would be a steadfast and loyal protector, ready to fight until his last breath. The other… she seemed particularly displeased with his egg. He would have no rank, but something inside would ensure he gained a royal status one day.” Pharynx’s eyes widened slightly, and Thorax looked confused. “But… who has a royal-” Thorax broke off, eyes widening. Metamorphosis smiled softly. “Y-You mean, you…” Pharynx trailed off in disbelief. “It’s been a long time… my sons.” Metamorphosis said softly. Thorax stepped forward cautiously, then hugged him, Metamorphosis laughed and hugged him back, looking at Pharynx. He stepped forward as well, not quite hugging Metamorphosis but getting close enough that Thorax was able to pull him in, and he didn’t resist. “Doe’ this mean you’re stayin’ Mety?” Apex asked, jumping off Thorax’s back to join in the hug. “Heh, yes Apex. If my sons want me to.” “Of course we want you to stay!” Thorax smiled and nuzzled him. “I know you’re not reformed but that doesn’t matter to us.” “I tol’ you.” Apex said cheekily, and Metamorphosis chuckled, nuzzling him. “Mind your elders, grub.” Pharynx said, smirking. “He’s technically your grandfather now, you know.” “Grandpa Mety!” Apex cheered, hugging Metamorphosis around the neck. He chuckled and hugged him back. The newly reunited family embraced lovingly. They smiled, content for the moment.