Pharynx froze, then lowered his gaze. “...Was.”
“What?”
“Who was Fortuna-domina…” Pharynx whispered, and Thorax took his hoof. “She… she was killed during the Canterlot invasion… one of the guards knocked her out right before the forcefield went up, and then…”
Cadence stared at him in shock. “Is that how you became…?”
“I was her apprentice, and had been made a warrior the year before. As the one she trained, her position was given to me…”
“More than that,” Thorax spoke up. “She was one of the best changelings we knew-”
“Shut up Thorax…”
“She was patient and caring, she even looked after me when she could, despite not being my mentor-”
“Shut up Thorax.”
“And she trained me a little herself when my former mentor Athrex-eques complained that I wasn’t getting the hang of fighting. We became close enough to-”
“Shut up Thorax!” Pharynx shouted, rising, and Thorax fell out of his chair. “None of that matters anymore! She’s dead! She’s not coming back, there’s nothing we can do! Isn’t that right Thorax?! Because that’s what you told me when we finally hit the ground! She’s gone!”
Thorax whimpered, as Cadence stood up and wrapped him in her wings. “Pharynx, calm down.”
Growling, Pharynx slowly sank onto his haunches, and they could see tears in his eyes. “...She’s gone… she's gone, Thorax... she... mom is dead...”
“Wait, what?” Sunburst asked in confusion, as Thorax peeked out from behind Cadence’s wings.
“We got close enough that we would call her mom.” Thorax whispered loud enough for them to hear, and at this, Pharynx fell onto his stomach, staring into space. “Phar… he was the one who first called her mom… she would call us her sons too…”
Cadence held Thorax closer, using her magic to bring Pharynx over to herself as well. She nosed each of them to get their attention.
“I am so sorry that she left you the way she did.” Cadence told them softly. “We never meant to hurt anyone with that forcefield. If Shiny and I had known that we would be costing you two your one sanctuary…”
Pharynx sighed and closed his eyes. “It's not your fault… I... I’m sorry I yelled at you, Thorax…”
“I-It’s fine… you know m-mother always said ‘punish the weakest’…” Thorax murmured. “I remember one time, she actually left the Hive with myself and Pharynx… S-She wanted Pharynx to… to prove his loyalty to her… by hurting me himself.”
“Did you?” Sunburst asked Pharynx. The elder changeling was silent, then shook his head.
“It was no more than a play-fight at best. Thorax pretended to struggle and cry out in pain as I feigned that I was beating and scratching him. I pretended to bite his shoulder, and he went limp on purpose. Mother didn’t know the difference. She commended me, and I carried Thorax back to the Hive to keep up the act.”
“It sounded like she wanted you to kill him.” Cadence murmured, and Pharynx rested against her as she continued to hold the two.
“She wouldn’t. Thorax was a disgrace in her eyes, but he still carried royal blood within him. He was a prince, same as me. That’s why she wouldn’t kill him herself.”
“B-But…” Thorax looked up, eyes swimming with tears. “That doesn’t mean she didn’t try. She just used a method that wouldn’t technically be her fault.”
“What do you mean?” Shining asked
“There’s a reason that she insisted I become a warrior drone…”
“She wanted you to die on the battlefield.” Sunburst realized.
Thorax nodded. “I-I’m lucky I never managed to become a warrior drone. But Pharynx…”
“But I thought you said she wanted you to be the commander of the Hive’s warrior drones.” Shining said, looking between them.
“She would rather I have been merely a prince, but yes.” Pharynx responded. “But I’m sure she knew that deep down, I loved my brother. That I didn’t want to lose him any more than he did me. And to her that was a threat to my loyalty. So she always gave me the most dangerous assignments, encouraging me, saying I was the only one competent enough to handle them.”
Thorax reached and took Pharynx’s hoof, tears falling down his face freely now. “We both lived through that, not just me. And it wasn’t just me and Apex that were lucky to escape. Pharynx was lucky too.”
“Thorax, Pharynx, do you know what ponies call that kind of treatment?” Sunburst asked
“N-No…?” Thorax whispered, nervous.
“Abuse.” Sunburst stated. “It’s child abuse.”
Pharynx nodded silently. He didn’t completely understand the word, but he realized by the tension suddenly in all three ponies’ emotions and the bluntness of Sunburst’s statement that it wasn’t good.
Cadence, Shining, and Sunburst fell silent, contemplating all they had been told. Thorax pressed against Pharynx, who shifted slightly, allowing his brother to cry into his shoulder. Cadence wrapped her wings tighter around the brothers and held them close.
“It’s okay.” she said, nuzzling Thorax and letting Pharynx subtly lean against her. “You’re safe now. We won’t let her harm you again.”
“Th-Thank you Cadence…” Thorax whispered, still holding onto Pharynx.
“Thorax, Pharynx.” Shining got their attention. “If you’re up for it, do you think we could talk about Chrysalis as a whole? Did she treat others this way?”
“A few. The most incompetent-those not good at any of the jobs-were sent directly to her for punishment. Sometimes worse.” Pharynx replied
“Shiny.” Cadence said, as Thorax pressed closer into herself and Pharynx. “I think that’s enough.”
“Sorry Cadence, I just want to know…”
“If you’re looking for knowledge on strategies and future plans, we have already shared all we know with you.” Pharynx told him dryly, and Thorax hugged his brother tight. For once, Pharynx didn’t resist it.
“You’ve been very brave.” Cadence said soothingly, nosing Thorax. “Was it a nice feeling, to get all this off your chest?”
“M-Mhm, it was…” Thorax admitted
“Yeah… a bit…” Pharynx agreed
“I think you two deserve a little treat, then a nice long sleep. I find everything seems better after you rest.” Cadence said, smiling softly.
Cadence then produced some love from her magic, which the two brothers instinctively siphoned into their mouths. As they did, some of their stored love went to each other, and Cadence as well, though none of them noticed it.
“Alright, now off to bed you two.” she nuzzled them gently, ushering them out of the office, to their room.
Pharynx supported Thorax on the way there, releasing him as they slipped under the covers of their bed. Thorax wrapped his hooves around a sleeping Apex, who snuggled closer against him.
“P-Pharynx…?”
“Yes?”
“Is it weird t-that I… I actually feel better… talking about it…?”
“No… it’s not… I feel the same way, brother.” Pharynx admitted, curling up beside him.