//------------------------------// // The Lil' Fangs // Story: Pride and Joy // by Melody Song //------------------------------// “Apex!” two voices shouted as the young nymph scampered towards them. “Hero! Zenny!” Apex cried, as the three nymphs met in a hug. “Heheh, how’ve you been, little guy?” Hero asked, rubbing Apex’s head, and he swatted him away. “Hey! ‘M no’ li’le! ‘M a’most six!” Apex huffed stubbornly, and Hero snickered. “Okay, okay, big guy then.” “So what do you guys wanna do?” Zenex asked. “Play!” Apex cheered. “Yeah, but play what?” Hero asked “Hm… le’s go fin’ Pharynx!” Apex said, and Hero blinked. “Why should we go find Pharynx?” “‘Cause he t’ains me so maybe he’ll teach us somethin’ fun!” Apex replied, running off. “Wait, he trains you?! Pexy, wait up!” Zenex cried, chasing after the reformed nymph. Hero shrugged and followed them. Apex led his two friends to the sandy hollow where Pharynx took him to train, and sure enough, he was there. However, he was sparring with an unreformed red changeling that Apex didn’t recognize. “I’ve got you now!” the unreformed changeling called “You wish, Hive!” Pharynx snarled, lunging and tackling the other changeling to the ground. The two rolled for a bit before Pharynx pinned the changeling, Hive, underneath him. “I win.” “Not so fast!” Hive pushed out from underneath him and knocked him to the ground. Pharynx snarled and the two began tussling again. Apex watched for a minute longer as Hero and Zenex caught up, then decided the two had obviously been fighting a while with the same results every time. “Uncle Pharynx!” Apex called loudly, making the beta changeling immediately jerk his head towards the nymph. “What do you want grub, can’t you see I’m busy?!” Pharynx asked, seeing Apex was clearly not in danger. “Yeah, getting your ass handed to ya!” Hero laughed. “Typical colorbugs, you don’t stand a chance against a real ‘ling!” Pharynx snarled again and lunged forward, sweeping Hive off his hooves with a simple back leg swipe and holding him down with one hoof. “How’s that for a colorbug, kid?” “Eh. I’ve seen better.” Hero decided. Pharynx rolled his eyes, letting the red changeling up. “Did you need something, grub?” “Will you show me an’ Hero an’ Zenny a new figh’ing move?” Apex asked. “...You interrupted me for that?” “Please Uncle Pharynx…?” Apex asked, pouting a little. “Wait, Uncle Pharynx?” Hive looked at Pharynx, grinning mischeviously. “I wonder what started that fun little name-” “Don’t you dare-” “Uncle Pharynx Uncle Pharynx Uncle Pharynx!” Hive chanted, falling over laughing. “Hivey, come on, it’s not that funny!” Zenex called out to the unreformed changeling. Pharynx turned red, glaring gently at Apex. “Now’s not really a good time, grub.” he muttered, but Apex persisted. “Jus’ one move? Really quick? Pleaseeeeeee?” Apex begged, giving his uncle the irresistible puppy-dog eyes. “I… but…” Pharynx flared his wings in defeat with a groan. “Fine. One move. Then you go practice by yourselves and leave me alone.” “Yay!” Apex cheered. “Oho, this I’ve got to see.” Hive chuckled, picking himself up and pulling Zenex closer. “Besides, Zenny Boy is my trainee.” “I thought I was your little brother…?” Zenex said, looking up into the bigger changeling’s eyes. “You are! But for the sake of beating Pharynx you’re my apprentice.” Hive elaborated, and Pharynx rolled his eyes. “Why do we want to learn from a colorbug anyway?” Hero asked, and Pharynx glared at him. “Because I can see to it you never see Apex again.” “Sounds more like a punishment for him. I mean, look at this face!” Hero grabbed Apex and smooshed his face a little, holding him up. “Do you really wanna make this face cry?” Pharynx facehoofed before walking down into the sandy hollow, muttering to himself. Apex squirmed out of Hero’s hold and trotted over to join him. Hero, Zenex, and Hive followed him, as Pharynx drew a line in the sand. “Hive, stand behind the line.” Pharynx told him, and he shrugged, obeying. “You three, with me.” “Wha’re we gonna do Uncle Pharynx?” Apex asked, and Pharynx sighed in defeat. “We’re going to use partner fighting to spar with each other, taking turns. Two of you will pair up together, and one will be with me.” “Dibs on Pexy!” Zenex called, hugging the nymph, who giggled. “...Fu-” Hero began, before Zenex whacked him gently with a wing. Hero turned to Pharynx, and the two glared at each other for a minute before Pharynx continued. “...Right. The point of partner fighting is to be able to trust each other. You stand back to back and defend yourself and your partner. It’s a defensive position, but you can also end up falling into a rhythm where one attacks and the other defends. Remember, it’s about trust. If you’re not able to completely rely on your partner to protect you, the move fails.” Pharynx instructed. “Now, Apex, Zenex, back to back. Hero, Hive, and I will come at you, you have to defend yourselves.” Apex and Zenex did as Pharynx told them and stood back to back, as Hive, Hero, and Pharynx surrounded them. Pharynx stomped his hoof on the ground once, twice, three times, and they began. Hero pounced first, hooves outstretched, but Zenex swiped his hoof out and knocked him aside. Hive came next, lunging for Apex, but the smaller nymph dropped into a roll and slid under Hive’s attack, coming up underneath him and raking his horn and forelegs across his belly, throwing him off. Pharynx dodged a blow from Zenex and reached to nip him up by the back of his neck, but Zenex and Apex leapt forwards together. “Tackle the bug king!” Apex shouted as the two collided with Pharynx and their combined weight knocked him down. Hive began laughing. “Tackle the bug king indeed!” “Like you’re one to talk, you were defeated by a five year old in ten seconds.” Pharynx snapped. “Alright, Apex, Zenex, Hive, up. Hero and I are next.” “Great.” Hero said sarcastically, and Pharynx rolled his eyes. The pair went back to back, and they began again. Apex went for Pharynx, but the beta changeling gently knocked him back with a hoof. Zenex came at Hero, but he headbutted the nymph in the side and knocked him to the ground. Hive came at Pharynx, and the two adults reared onto their hind legs to fight, Hive clearly relying on Pharynx’s balance to keep himself up as they fought. Hero ducked between them and went in for a leg sweep, knocking Hive off-balance and sending him to the ground. “Yes!” Hero buzzed his wings and leapt into the air, grinning at Pharynx. “Guess we’re not so bad at being a team…” Pharynx nodded in approval. “You three can practice on your own now, Hive and I have some unfinished business.” “Right you are, Uncle Pharynx!” Hive laughed. “Why you-!” Pharynx charged, and Hive ran for it, the two heading out of the hollow in a not-so-playful game of cat and mouse. The three nymphs laughed, then Hero leapt at Zenex, who knocked him aside. Apex giggled and ran to join in as the two began tussling. The three play-fought in the sandy hollow, pushing each other around and pretending to hurt each other. Then, Hero sank down low, his tail swishing from side to side as he crept towards Apex and Zenex. “I’ve got you right where I want you.” He growled playfully, and while Zenex laughed and pretended to be frightened, Apex stiffened up. “I-I’s okay… i’s no’ her… she’s no’ here, i’s jus’ Hero playin’...” Apex tried to convince himself, as Hero slunk closer. “You’ll never escape the wrath of Hero Bell!” Hero laughed, showing his fangs. “Oh no! Apex, help! The evil changeling Bell is coming closer!” Zenex giggled, but Apex was frozen. “Bow before your mighty King Bell!” Hero cried, rearing up onto his hind legs and flaring his wings dominantly. Apex shrieked and scrambled backwards, tripping over his own hooves and falling to the ground. Hero and Zenex immediately stopped and ran to him, reaching out to help him. “Apex, it’s okay, Hero was just playing!” Zenex cried, putting his hoof on Apex’s shoulder, but Apex curled into a ball and screamed loudly, sobbing. Hero and Zenex looked at each other in concern, but luckily they didn’t have to worry about what to do for very long. “Grub!” Pharynx came barrelling into the hollow, Hive behind him, both had heard the scream. Pharynx slowed down as he reached Apex, falling into the sand so he was laying down on his stomach. He gently pulled Apex closer to him, resting the frightened nymph against his chest. Apex cried and sobbed, struggling against the beta changeling’s firm grip, but Pharynx didn’t relent. “Shh, grub, it’s okay. You’re safe, I promise. She’s not here.” Pharynx whispered, and slowly, Apex began to calm down. He pressed into Pharynx’s chest, crying and shivering. “It’s okay Apex, just let it out. I’m here.” Hero and Zenex looked at Hive, but he shrugged cluelessly. Pharynx glanced up, sensing their confusion, and mouthed PTSD at them. Hive’s eyes widened, while Hero stared at Apex in shock, and Zenex covered his mouth in horror. Finally, Apex was calm enough to open his eyes. He peeked out, seeing only Hive, Zenex, Hero, and Pharynx staring at him. He sat up slowly, sniffling and wiping at his eyes. Hero and Zenex stepped closer, over Pharynx’s large foreleg, sitting down beside their friend. “You okay Pexy?” Zenex asked softly, and he nodded, stifling whimpers. Zenex reached out, holding his hooves out for a warning, before gently hugging the distraught nymph. Hero crept closer and joined in, hugging Apex lightly. “You’re okay.” Hero said, and Apex smiled softly, holding onto the two. “You’re okay Apex.” Apex smiled wider, nuzzling the two nymphs. “‘M now… thanks guys…” “No problem Pexy.” Zenex smiled at him. “Us weirdos gotta stick together, right?” Apex giggled and nodded, and Hero smiled. Hive walked over and sat by Pharynx, the two clearly taking a mutual truce. “So… what should we do next, Lil’ Fangs?” Hero asked “Li’le wha’s?” Apex asked “Lil’ Fangs! I just came up with it now! Y’know, cause me and Zenny and you are all kids who’re connected to the Fang Gang!” Hero said. Apex looked up at Pharynx, who chuckled and nodded. “He’s not wrong. I’m a part of the Fangs, and so is Hive. Not sure where this kid comes in but I guess he’s connected to us somehow.” Pharynx said, ruffling Hero’s mane. Hero turned red. “Hey, quit it before I start calling you Papa Pharynx.” Hero grumbled, and Pharynx blushed, though he didn’t protest the name. “Okay! Lil’ Fangs!” Apex said, sticking his hoof out. Zenex put his hoof on top, and Hero placed his hoof on top of theirs. “Lil’ Fangs!” the three chanted together, laughing.