//------------------------------// // Ending Era // Story: The Young Warrior // by Melody Song //------------------------------// The other changelings hissed and stomped their hooves upon the reveal of one of the three traitors, jeering at Thorax. Chrysalis towered over the frightened changeling. “Where is your brother and his weak apprentice?” Thorax whimpered and shook his head frantically, pretending not to know. Starlight then accidentally made a very loud clanking sound with the stone in her hooves as it struck the throne. Chrysalis turned around, snarling. Starlight yelped and ducked behind the throne. "I know you're in there, pony." she snarled, glaring at the throne. "Come out." Starlight ducked further down, out of Chrysalis' sight. Pharynx, however, rather than hiding, growled and leaped out into the open, his wings flared. Chrysalis glared at him, distracting her from Starlight, as Pharynx had predicted. “Pharynx!” Thorax exclaimed “Pharynx.” Chrysalis yanked him up with her magic and tossed him to his brother’s side, pinning him down with the same goo. “P-Papa Thorax! Pharynx!” Apex flared his little wings and shot out of the throne after Pharynx. Apex ran to Thorax and Pharynx, his smaller size making it easier for him to dodge the guards as they tried to catch him. However, just as he was about to reach the two brothers, Chrysalis’ horn lit up, catching him in her aura. Apex squealed and thrashed, reaching for the two older changelings. “Bad luck, little wrench.” Chrysalis sneered. She tossed him into the wall, and Apex yelped in pain. He could feel his carapace cracking as he slid down the stone surface, vision blurring as he fell limp. He could hear her talking to someone, most likely her guards. “Leave him, he’s useless to them now.” “Apex!” Thorax cried, clearly worried. Chrysalis fired a beam from her horn, creating a scorch mark in front of Thorax and Pharynx, shutting them up. “Now… as for you…” Chrysalis headed towards the throne, where Starlight hid. She began peeking into each one of the holes. “Very clever. Clearly these traitors have revealed to you the secret of my throne… I can’t just have powerful creatures using their magic against me, can I?” Thorax and Pharynx struggled to free themselves from the slime, to help Starlight and Apex, but they couldn't move or use magic with the guards surrounding them. Meanwhile, Apex tried to sit up, his head swimming with pain as he tried to focus. “But even with your rather embarrassing rescue attempt, everything has gone according to plan.” “What plan?! Why are you doing any of this?!” Starlight asked from within the throne. Apex opened his eyes, trying to make out his surroundings. “Haf’a… ge’ up… can’ s’ay down… P-Papa Thorax an’ Avunculus-Pharynx need me…” he thought frantically, struggling to stand up. Apex rubbed his eyes and carefully stood up, wobbling a bit as his cracked carapace making it hard to move. But still, he got up on unsteady legs, opened his mouth, and tasted frantically for Thorax and Pharynx’s comforting scents. He began to slowly move towards the sweet and sour scents the second he tasted them, his vision clearing as he did. Starlight’s voice reached his ears at last as his senses returned. She seemed to be debating with Chrysalis “-Thorax, Pharynx, and Apex left the hive and made friends. They shared love, and they don't need to feed anymore. Don’t you see? You don't have to live your lives starving all the time!” "Ridiculous!" Apex glanced over at her, sinking into a low crouch to be less visible. Starlight had been pinned down near the throne by two guards. Apex followed her gaze, which was directed not towards Chrysalis, but at Thorax and Pharynx. Specifically, their shimmering, sparkling wings. Apex then turned to stare at his own, the sparkles shining in the dim light of the throne room as he buzzed them a little. “You know nothing of the changelings or what it takes to be their queen!” Chrysalis shouted, and Apex flinched, looking over at her. “I alone decide what is best for my subjects, not some mewling little grub like you!” Starlight glared at her. “I know what it’s like to lead by fear and intimidation! And I know what it's like to want everypony to do what you say! But I was wrong. A real leader doesn't force her subjects to deny who they are! She celebrates what makes them unique and listens when one of them finds a better way!” Chrysalis snarled at her, slamming a hoof on the ground. Apex held still, terrified of being caught. “The only thing that my sons have found is what happens to those who turn their backs on the Hive!” Chrysalis whipped around and ignited her horn, pulling Thorax and Pharynx from their bindings and holding them aloft. “No!” Apex screamed. Chrysalis eyed him as Pharynx and Thorax struggled in her magical grip. “I’ll deal with you later, wench. First, I’ll drain every ounce of love from them, and show my Hive what a real leader is willing to do!” Chrysalis opened her mouth, and all at once, a pink ball of light formed in front of each brother’s chest. Thorax whimpered and strained. Pharynx twisted and struggled, though his attempts to break free were slowly weakening. “I-I can f-feel the love inside me slipping away…” Thorax panted, looking at his brother in terror. “Starlight, if you have a plan you better do something! I don’t think we can hold on much longer.” Pharynx shouted, grimacing. Starlight hesitated, then raised a hoof in proclamation. “Then don’t!” Starlight exclaimed, and Apex glanced over at her. “Sharing love is what made Thorax different to begin with! And Pharynx, you loved him so much you were willing to follow him! So you should share that with Chrysalis! Give her all of it!” “H-How?” Thorax asked Apex looked at their sparkling wings once more, then back at his own. They almost looked like the crystals in the Empire... but wait, no, not those crystals... “Papa Thorax!” Apex screamed, racing to the brothers and abandoning all stealth. “I’s like the El’men’s of Ha’mony!” Thorax's eyes widened and he seemed to understand what Apex was saying. Closing his eyes, he put his hooves against his heart and let a pulse of glowing pink love gather against them. Chrysalis stopped feeding momentarily out of surprise. “I share my love willingly with you Chrysalis! I-I give it to you out of the Kindness in my heart, and with a Generous soul!” Thorax exclaimed, as Pharynx watched him, then took one of his hooves, touching his other hoof to his chest. “I share my love as well!” Pharynx announced, closing his eyes. “I give it because I trust my brother Honestly, and I stand alongside him out of Loyalty!” Apex looked between them, waiting, before realizing they were missing something. They were missing the final elements. The ones that would cement the magic and unite them in harmony. Apex willed his wings to work through the pain of his broken carapace and took off. He was unsteady, but managed to reach the two adults, immediately being pulled into Chrysalis' magical aura as well as she struggled to try and contain the three changelings. “I sha’e my love!” Apex announced, closing his eyes. “I share i' with the spiri’ of Laugh’er! We will sha’e our love toge’er, ‘cause we are uni’ed!” Thorax and Pharynx reached out, each taking one of Apex’s forehooves. Apex was held between them as they hovered, steadying the little nymph. With Apex carefully grasped in the brothers' hold, they were ready. “Together, we will share our love’s Magic!” They shouted in unison, united as one whole. A family. Apex saw Chrysalis being blasted backwards against her throne, before being enclosed in a warm, white light. His back no longer ached, and he felt full inside for the first time. It felt wonderful, like being hugged by Pharynx and Thorax. Just as he began to let himself relax in the bright, comforting light, it burst. Apex felt himself being lowered down, before hitting the floor gently. He looked up… into the eyes of two strange creatures.