//------------------------------//
// A Journey's End 
// Story: The Young Warrior: Pharynx's Journey 
// by Melody Song 
//------------------------------//

Pharynx had been patrolling the edge of the forest. The Everfree Forest, ponies called it. At least, that’s what the infiltration scouts had said. But Pharynx merely knew it as the forest where he had seen his mentor fall.

Yes, it was the same forest. Every piece of the memory was bored into his mind. He’d never forget, and never did. Upon arriving at the forest he’d scouted the near area for her body, but he hadn’t expected to find anything. And he didn’t. Her body was long gone, if it was in that area of the forest in the first place.

Pharynx was currently tailing something he’d heard earlier. Noises, like talking. He got closer, hearing voices clearly now.

“-tired…”

That voice sounded like... no, it couldn't be-

“-little one.” A second familiar voice sighed, and Pharynx’s eyes widened.

“What are you doing here, brother?” he growled in a low voice, moving forward silently. “And you brought the grub? How stupid are you?”

Pharynx had half a mind to storm out there and drag them both back to the camp, then send them home. He slung his crossbow over his back, preparing to walk out there. But as he moved, he saw something glinting in the clearing their voices were coming from.

Dropping into a hunter’s crouch, Pharynx slunk forwards, eyes narrowed as he tried to see what it was. Finally, he got a good look at it; a silver dagger with a deep blue hilt. Apex had it strapped to his side. Pharynx’s eyes widened, and he froze. Apex brought the dagger with him. He still brought it even though he was clearly leaving the Hive with Thorax.

Pharynx sighed, stepping back and straightening up. He closed his eyes, thinking. He knew that he couldn’t let Thorax and Apex keep going, they sounded hungry and tired, and if they went any further south they’d run into his troop’s camp. But he couldn’t take them back to the Hive, Chrysalis would surely kill Thorax and possibly Apex.

“What do I do…?” Pharynx looked up at the sky, eyes closing again. “What do I do…?”

For a moment, as he opened his eyes, Pharynx saw a flash of gold. His eyes widened and he looked around. Fortuna’s voice echoed in his mind.

“You will have created your own family of the ones who you care for deeply, and you would do anything to protect them. You’d sacrifice yourself for them if you must.”

Pharynx backed up slightly, leaning against a tree. He closed his eyes, chuckling dryly.

“Here to remind me I’ve been forgetting your lessons?” Pharynx let a tear drip down his face. “I know. I’m sorry ‘Tuney. You really were the best mentor I could have asked for. And I know what you’d want me to do…”

With that, Pharynx took a breath, and stepped in the direction of the voices. He headed over to the clearing, moving quickly and silently. He knew it didn’t matter, Thorax and Apex had obviously been traveling for a long time, the Hive was miles and miles away from the Everfree Forest. They’d be too distracted to hear him coming.

Pharynx closed his eyes again, smiling painfully as an image of a familiar golden colored changeling appeared in his mind. The image smiled at him softly, holding out her hoof to him. He smiled softly, another few tears dripping down his face. He wiped his tears away, opened his eyes, and stepped through the undergrowth, intentionally stepping down hard on a twig, snapping it. Thorax looked up, and his eyes widened as he saw who it was.

“I don’t believe it, Pharynx!” his brother exclaimed.

“I hope you’re proud of me, Fortuna.” Pharynx whispered, as his brother tackled him in a hug. He allowed his brother to hug him for a moment longer, before gently pushing him off and beginning to question them on why they were here.

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“We did it mom.” Pharynx whispered

He was standing in the Veteran’s Hall, and before him was Fortuna’s grave. Or, the marker where her body should have been buried. But Pharynx kneeled down beside it all the same.

“I’m different now.” he told her softly. “I changed… in more ways than one.”

Pharynx ignited his horn, illuminating the space around him. Sure enough, he was different. He was taller, with cyan chitin, smooth violet carapace, along with red antlers and a red tail. But his lavender eyes remained the same, still smiling with the same affection as he always had when he looked at someone he loved.

“We’re reformed now.” he told Fortuna’s marker, chuckling. “I didn’t even think it was possible, but… you’d love it now mom. And guess what? You were right.”

Nothing but silence came in response, but Pharynx still continued, tears welling up in his eyes as he placed a hoof on Fortuna’s marker.

“Well, Chrysalis ran in without thinking, and finally it came back to bite her. You’d be proud of me… of us. My apprentice is my deputy now. Just like you made me, remember?” Pharynx smiled softly, staring at the ground. “He’s also… he’s my nephew now. Thorax, the saccharine soft-shell he is, took him in.”

Pharynx leaned forward, resting his head on the marker. He knew Fortuna couldn’t hear him, but it brought him a strange sense of comfort to speak with her.

“I’m not the only one who changed. Thorax is stronger now… he’s got the same spirit in his eyes you did in yours… he’s the king now, who would’ve thought the rankless drone would become our leader? Heh, but he wears the title well. He’ll be a good king. And I’m his loyal general.” Pharynx smiled. “I always will be. I know if you were here you’d have sworn yourself to him too… you always wanted this, didn’t you?”

Though there was no answer, and there would never be, Pharynx couldn't help continuing anyway.

"I never could kill them, you know." Pharynx whispered hoarsely. "The ponies who... who put you here. Traveling with Thorax and his new son, I... I saw a lot of things. Even when I was technically stealing to feed us, I saw all those ponies living their innocent little lives with each other... and I realized, I guess... that I had more important things to think about than revenge. Cadence and Shining... when I finally told them about you, they were genuinely sorry that they had taken you from us. I never expected that, but... but at the same time, I was able to welcome it. A-And after we talked... it... it didn't hurt as much... you taught me something else that day, Tuney... you taught me that it's easier to forgive someone... then let anger take you over..."

Pharynx smiled, rubbing his eyes as he stood up. The marker stood, stoic and silent, but for a moment, Pharynx imagined a smiling Fortuna gazing at him lovingly from the marker.

“I did it after all, mom.” he whispered to her, smiling. “I found my family. And you were right. I will do anything to protect them. I love them. I always will.”

Pharynx bowed his head to the marker.

“In a way, you were the first real mother I ever had.” Pharynx smiled softly. “And I know that we’re not related. But you always will be my only mom. I love you forever, Fortuna… mom.”