//------------------------------// // A Promise Fulfilled // Story: The Young Warrior: Fortuna's Promise // by Melody Song //------------------------------// “Phary? Thory? Are you ready?” Fortuna looked into their area of the caves in Mount Canterhorn. The soldiers had all been relocated there, until their Queen gave them the signal that the barrier was weak enough. Pharynx was pacing around, on the alert, and nodded. Thorax, meanwhile, was hiding in the back of the cave. Fortuna stepped in, nuzzling Pharynx before moving to Thorax. She took his hoof and helped him stand. The two boys were fifteen now, and almost at her height. Fortuna realized, for a brief second, that it felt like only yesterday they had been tiny little five year old nymphs, who looked up at her in admiration. “So ‘Tuney, you going to approach Nalia-medica after the battle?” Pharynx asked, and Fortuna blushed. “Th-That is not important right now, Phary.” she told him, and he smirked at her knowingly. Fortuna gave him a gentle glare of warning, then looked at Thorax, eyes soft. “Are you alright Thory?” “Y-Yes, b-but I’m worried… what if something happens?” Thorax asked nervously. “It’s going to be okay Thorax. I promise, I will keep you safe.” Fortuna soothed, noticing how he trembled. “B-But… w-what if…” “Nothing bad is going to happen, brother.” Pharynx said, walking over. “Just stick near us, and for the Hivemother’s sake, try not to scream, you’ll just draw attention to yourself.” “O-Okay… a-and Forty has Felix Monilia, right?” Thorax looked at Fortuna, who nodded, reaching up and unclasping the necklace, holding it out to him. He touched a hoof to it and seemed to relax, though only slightly. “It’s going to be okay.” Fortuna repeated, and he nodded, calmer. Fortuna put the necklace back on, then looked at Pharynx. “Ready, Phary-legatus?” Pharynx blushed, but nodded. “Yes, Tuney-domina. I am ready.” “Then let’s go.” Fortuna and Pharynx led Thorax out of the room. “Soldiers! The time has come!” Every single changeling in the caves moved towards them. Fortuna stood tall and strong beside her son, smiling at him with pride in her eyes as, at her command, he led them out of the cave. Fortuna may not agree with her Queen’s morals in this battle, but she was giving Pharynx an opportunity to take the lead. That’s what mattered to Fortuna. ------------------------------------ Fortuna’s necklace seemed to be working well during the battle, not just for her. Pharynx’s training had done him well, and he was easily throwing off any soldier that tried to attack him. Fortuna gave a proud smile at him, and he returned it, diving back into the fight. Thorax hadn’t been hurt yet as well, which was good, especially considering he was just hovering in midair, clearly out in the open. It might be because Fortuna and Pharynx were nearby; the other soldiers could see how good they were and were keeping away. Fortuna knocked away another soldier, muttering to herself. “I knew this invasion was a bad idea.” “I know a worse one.” Pharynx called, dodging a soldier and flying to her. The two talked calmly in the midst of the battle, which Fortuna found slightly ironic. But then… Thorax was being surrounded. Fortuna led Pharynx over to his brother, tackling two of them at once and tossing them away. She saw Pharynx shoot some arrows at two more, driving them off. Fortuna then struck the last one, spinning and kicking him in the side, sending him flying. That was when she heard Thorax scream. She whipped around, eyes widening. Thorax had been blasted away from Pharynx by a unicorn guard on a building roof. He was now struggling against a large pegasus guard, who was pinning him to a wall. Fortuna snarled, and a fire lit up in her golden eyes. “No one hurts my sons!” she snarled, streaking towards the guard. She could faintly hear Pharynx shouting for her, assuming he was right behind her. Fortuna flew headfirst into the guard, grabbing his side with her hooves and resorting to a more straightforward move of biting him in the shoulder, underneath his armor. He howled in pain and shook her off. Fortuna gasped slightly as she felt something snag on his armor. The necklace. Fortuna reached out a hoof for it and barely caught it in her hoof, clutching it. Catching the necklace did not do her any favors, however, causing her to miss the chance she had to catch herself. She was thrown headfirst into a wall. Head spinning, Fortuna struggled up, hissing and growling at the guard. She then cried out as the guard slammed her into the wall. Fortuna felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, head drooping. Miraculously, she kept her grip on the necklace. Then, just before she could go completely limp, something as hot as the sun collided with her side. She opened her mouth but the pain burned too much for her to even cry out. She heard a scream, a familiar one… “Phary…” Fortuna thought weakly, raising her head just enough to try and see him, forcing her eyes open. There he was, she would recognize those shockingly purple eyes anywhere… he was clutching another form… Thorax, most likely. He was reaching out, towards her. Fortuna smiled sadly as she felt herself being flung far away, her necklace still clutched in her hoof. All at once, she saw things… Pharynx beating her at chess for the first time Thorax staring in awe at Felix Monilia Standing up to Chrysalis for them both Snuggling with Pharynx and Thorax as Pharynx recovered from his cold Holding Pharynx close when he was scared and cried for the first time, in her hooves Sparring with fourteen-year-old Pharynx The pride she felt when he became her deputy Just being in their lives… It was ironic, Fortuna supposed, as she watched the treeline come closer and closer with her half-closed eyes. How her life was clearly about to end right when she had just watched Pharynx take the next step in his. “I’m glad you were my apprentice Phary…” Fortuna whispered hoarsely, feeling the wind buffeting her as she braced slightly for impact. “Stay strong, my sons… I believe in you…” Fortuna took a breath, closing her eyes and submitting herself to her fate. She had done her job, protected her adoptive sons until her last breath. Just as she had sworn she would. Fortuna wondered, briefly, if this was Chrysalis’ plan all along, to get rid of her in the battle… She didn’t let the thought linger. Instead choosing one last memory of her two boys, wanting her last thought to be one that would make her smile. Pharynx and Thorax snuggled up to each other as they slept in Fortuna’s room that night when they were ten. They didn’t even realize they were cuddling together, hooves around each other, the holes in their legs locking together perfectly as they slept, secure in the safe hold of their mother-figure’s hooves.