Comeuppance
“Papa Thorax!!!” Apex burst into the throne room, tears streaming down his face. Thorax jumped and slipped off his throne, Metamorphosis helping him up.
“Apex, what’s the matter?” Thorax asked, as the nymph ran into his hooves.
“P-Parquel hi’ me an’ took Blizzy!” Apex sobbed, and Thorax sighed, holding him.
“Who’s Parquel?” Metamorphosis asked, as Pharynx came in.
“A stupid jerkass who should’ve gotten the crap beaten out of him a long time ago-”
“Pharynx!” Thorax cried, covering Apex’s ears. “H-He’s a nymph a couple years older than Apex that’s been bullying him…”
“And if it was up to me I would beat that son of a bitch into next month-”
“Pharynx, please…” Thorax whispered, and Pharynx sighed.
“Honestly Thorax, I agree with Pharynx. This is your child and he’s being mistreated, why don’t you do something?” Metamorphosis asked.
“W-Well, when we first found out he’d put Apex in the infirmary, taking care of my baby was more important at the time.” Thorax nuzzled Apex gently. “Even if Apex wasn’t hurt, I’m supposed to be the king, w-what would my subjects think if I ordered an attack on a nymph?”
Pharynx groaned. “Come on, I can make it look like an accident!”
“Pharynx, please just drop it!”
“Bu’ I wan’ Blizzy back!” Apex wailed, and Metamorphosis nuzzled him.
“It’s okay Apex, I’ll get him back for you, okay?” he soothed him.
“Bu’ you’e older than Uncle Pharynx…” Apex sniffled.
“I can do this, I’ll get Blizzard back, I promise.” Metamorphosis assured the nymph, before leaving the throne room.
“Dad, you can’t be serious, he’s a nymph and you’re still on pretty thin ice with everyone since you can’t reform.” Pharynx called as he caught up with his father.
“Why didn’t you hurt Parquel when it happened?”
“I wanted to! I’d have thrown him into the sun without a second thought if Thorax hadn’t reminded me that Apex needed us more than I needed to punch that kid’s lights out!” Pharynx sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I miss when Chrysalis was in charge sometimes, you didn’t get in trouble for hurting kids.”
“Pharynx, I’m sure we can get Blizzard back without hurting the nymph-”
“If we can, it'll be a miracle, the brat’s a psychopath, I blame his parents.” Pharynx muttered as they entered the nursery hive.
“Which one is Parquel?” Metamorphosis asked
“I don’t know, maybe the one punching the stuffed bear identical to Blizzard?” Pharynx snarked, and Metamorphosis shot him a glare, before heading past the other nymphs.
As Metamorphosis and Pharynx passed by, the nursery grew quiet. Pharynx nudged the nymphs aside gently as they came closer. Metamorphosis took a breath, steadying his gaze as he walked calmly towards the yellow nymph.
“Parquel?” Metamorphosis asked, and the nymph didn’t look up.
“Who wants to know?”
“Metamorphosis Brook. I believe you have something that belongs to my grandson.” Metamorphosis said sternly.
“Geez, how many meddling family members does that spoiled brat have?” Parquel asked, looking up at Metamorphosis with a haughty smirk. “Get out of here, I haven’t done anything.”
“Apex said you punched him.”
“They all say that! If there wasn’t a bruise, it didn’t happen, he’s making it up for attention!” Parquel said.
“Then why are you holding his bear?”
“This is mine!” Parquel said, hugging it.
“Apex wrote his name on the bottom of the left hind leg.” Pharynx whispered into Metamorphosis’ ear.
“Can I see that? Apex wrote his name on it.”
“When I said it was mine I meant by playground rules. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers.” Parquel replied, smirking. “Apex left it here and I just so happened to find it.”
“Kid, give us the bear or I will beat you into hell.” Pharynx snarled.
“Or… we could trade.” Parquel suggested, grabbing Blizzard by the neck and holding him up. “Sure would be a shame if it were to rip…”
“For the love of-we are not paying a ransom for a dumb bear! Give it to me!” Pharynx snarled, lunging at Parquel, but his father's purple aura held him back. “Dad! Let me at him!”
“Pharynx, let me do this! Just trust me.” Metamorphosis cried, hauling his son backwards. Pharynx sighed and nodded.
“Fine. But if you can’t get that bear back in five minutes I'm ripping the kid apart and taking the blood soaked bear back to the grub.” Pharynx whispered to him.
Metamorphosis rolled his eyes at his son and stepped forwards. He knelt down and looked Parquel in the eye.
“Now you listen to me young man. That toy is not yours, it is my grandson’s favorite toy, and what you are going to do is give it to me right now. If this is your way of acting cool, it’s not working, and that bear is only going one place: back into my sweet grandson’s hooves. He is not doing this for attention and you know it. The only reason you’re doing this is because you’re jealous of what an amazing and kind nymph he is, and you know you could never be half of the creature he is. Now give it back, or my son and I will make sure no one, not even Thorax, finds the body.” Metamorphosis said darkly.
Parquel looked startled for a moment, then just smirked. “If the brat’s not spoiled, then why’s he got his dumb grandpa fighting his battles? He’s just scared to face me, and he should be. I threw him into a wall. Imagine what I could do to his dumb bear, and then blame it on you.”
Metamorphosis’ eyes flashed, and then narrowed into slits. “That’s it!”
Metamorphosis lunged forwards and used his horn to pin the nymph to the wall by his tail. Parquel screeched and stared at him in shock.
“I may be a grandfather but I am not afraid to teach a bratty child a lesson! You are not the boss of this nursery just because you can throw a punch! You are a nymph, not an adult, and you cannot treat others this way just because you’ve decided you don’t like someone!”
With that, Metamorphosis pulled back, grabbing Blizzard in his magic. Pharynx stormed over, and quickly slapped Parquel across the cheek, before Metamorphosis grabbed him by the hoof and led him out, father and son hearing the nymph begin crying.
“Sweet Chrysalis that felt good.” Pharynx breathed, and Metamorphosis smiled. “I didn’t think you could be that tough, dad…”
“I try not to show it too much…” Metamorphosis chuckled. “But you know Pharynx, I am always here for my family, all of you. And I would throw my own life on the line to protect my kids. I’m not afraid to get tough to protect you.”
Pharynx smiled, hugging his father briefly. “Come on, let’s give Apex his toy back.”
Metamorphosis smiled, holding the bear gently in his foreleg as they made their way back to the throne room, heading for the nymph in question.
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Well said, Metamorphosis.
10929334
Yay!
So there is nobody in the nursery to make sure the nymphs aren't being bullied, threats of physical violence are needed to get some of them in line, and then they actually beat the kids when they don't comply?
Yeah no, that's very much not okay. I'd expect that from Chrysalis' hive, as Pharynx said, but with Thorax? This is going past freedom for changelings, and right into negligence bordering on abuse.
10929343
Well how would this chapter have gone with adult supervision? Besides, Meta would never actually hurt a nymph that badly, and Pharynx barely hurt him. It was more like he stunned him into tears since he's never been disciplined before
10929350
Yeah!!!
10929348
If you can't find a way to write a concept in such a way that doesn't include negligence and child abuse, drop it. Unless your plan was to introduce some deep seated issues in the hive that would have to be resolved, but given how positively Pharynx punching a child was presented, I seriously doubt that. Physical violence is not an appropriate punishment for a child bully, I honestly cannot believe it has to be said.
10929358
....fine. I was going to include a final chapter before the epilogue where Apex finally stands up for himself against his bully, but since it's child abuse I'll just delete that, shall I?
10929358
And to be clear, none of what has happened so far has been child abuse. Parquel has only been hit once so far by an adult. And haven't you ever met a young child you hate so much you wish you could punish them when they clearly aren't being disciplined enough?
10929364
I should probably be worried you can't see anything wrong with an adult, especially one in a position of authority, physically assaulting a child. Even when said child is a dick, it's not a good thing. Seriously, would it be alright if I waltzed into an elementary school, found a first grader bully, and slapped them in the face?
10929379
That is not what this is about at all!!!!!!!!
Meta is establishing he would protect his family from any kind of threat, and Parquel is being disciplined! He did go a bit far by pinning Parquel to the wall, but you'll notice I chose to have him be pinned by a body part that wouldn't get actually heavily damaged.
Parquel's role in this story is to be the main bully that Apex has to be defended from, and who he will eventually defeat on his own. He is not being abused, but even if he were being injured, it would be nothing compared to what he did to Apex, simply because he existed!!!
You're pissing me off now, so rather than take my anger out on you, I'm just going to end my explanation here. If you feel like continuing this in a PM, please, be my guest.
10929379
Hey Martydi, how about you buzz off and leave Melody Song alone?
10929401
Thanks for the support, but he won't see the message unless you respond to his like so
10929379
10929374
I have actually. There was this one brat, at an organized camp I went to when I was in school. Little shit was entitled beyond all belief. Couldn't have been much older than 10, perhaps even less, I honestly cannot remember. Yet he had to be physically restrained at times when he was denied something. But even when he stole my shit after I refused to lend him something, I didn't do anything to him. There were adults there, specifically present to take care of us underage lot, and every time a situation arose, they dealt with it. Do you think they used violence as punishment?
10929386
It's a fucking child bully, nothing resembling a threat to an adult, changeling or otherwise. The only thing established here is Metamorphosis' willingness to use violence as means of persuasion when in a position of strength. There is nothing brave or noble about beating the shit out of a child a quarter his age.
With violence it's not fucking normal. Have you ever been to school? How many times were you punched as punishment?
You're going about it very much in the wrong way.
Abuse doesn't have to result in injury. Without even getting into psychological abuse, why do you think there ever is any problem with determining whether or not abuse lawsuits are valid or not? Abuse rarely leaves permanent physical marks.
Melody, I've been in Apex's position way back when. I'm not going to lie, it left a mark on me, though just how much, I cannot be entirely sure. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but what you're saying here reminds me way too much of myself back then. I'll admit there were times I wished serious bodily harm to those who wronged me. But over time I matured enough to recognize that such retribution would not bring anything good. It just teaches bullies that what they are doing is right.
Because this is precisely what Metamorphosis and Pharynx are doing in this chapter. They aren't serving justice, they are playing out a revenge fantasy and leveraging their physical strength and position of superiority to cause harm. They are doing the exact same thing as Parquel. Punching him doesn't do anything to help Apex, and just shows him that it's alright to use violence on those physically inferior to get what you want, or simply for emotional satisfaction.
10929410
Again. Pharynx slapped him. Slapped. On the cheek. That's not a punch. And sue me for not knowing how to write bully scenes. I just want it to be clear the Royal family is doing their best to discipline a nymph that is not their own. They're not trying to cause serious harm to him and if they did they would feel bad about it. But the kid is clearly screwed up enough that Meta's warnings didn't have any sort of effect on him
Again. If you want to continue this conversation. Take it to the PMs.
10929410
If you don’t like it, then don’t read the rest of the story you don’t have to be rude to Melody about it
10929410
Uh, actually, hitting a child’s okay. That’s how they learn. I’m not saying to beat them mercilessly, or hit them with a belt every minute, but spanking/watching a kid get hurt is an effective way of teaching. Kids getting hurt is how they learn. I remember one time, I was in the shopping with Ma, and she told me to stop climbing on the shopping cart, but I didn’t. When that cart flipped and nearly crushed me, she left me there, watching as a cried. Now, it may seem cruel. But did I do it again? No. Children getting hurt is how they learn. And if a brat is being a brat, you have to be a brat back. Give’em a good wallop to the head.
Also, whilst you’re out here judging people, why don’t you make your own story? Your own story with as many rightful things as you want.
10929401
No. Melody posted their stance on a very significant problem publically, through a story. Quite plainly, they presented violence inflicted on a child as appropriate response to bullying. I fundamentally disagree with their stance, and so decided to voice my opinion. If they are disinterested in continuing the discussion, I am certain they are capable of saying so themselves.
10929435
I DID SAY SO!!! MULTIPLE TIMES!! PMS!!!! DO YOU NOT KNOW HOW THEY WORK?!
ALSO, THIS IS NOT MY STANCE!!! JUST BECAUSE I HAD THEM DISCIPLINE PARQUEL DOES NOT MEAN I CONDONE VIOLENCE!!! THE BUGGOS ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR NYMPH, LEADING UP TO A FINAL CHAPTER WHERE APEX PROTECTS HIMSELF!!! YOU ARE THE ONE TURNING A MOLEHILL INTO A MOUNTAIN!!!!
10929440
That’s true. They could’ve simply yelled at him instead of slapping him.
10929416
My point still stands. Violently hitting a child in response to bullying is not a thing to be praised.
Most of Parquel's bullying isn't terribly written. It's just Meta's and Pharynx's response I have problems with.
And what are they doing to discipline him? Using violence as a tool of persuasion. How is that supposed to teach him that it's not alright to do so to those weaker than himself?
Frankly, I'd prefer to keep it public, though it depends on why exactly you want to take it behind closed doors. I don't see any reason we shouldn't be talking about it here. It's relevant to the story, and potentially important to interpreting things written in it.
10929424
I really don't feel like I've been rude at any point. I've been doing my best to keep it civil where appropriate. Admittedly, I've let a bit of emotion bleed into my arguments in places I shouldn't have, but I still don't think I've been excessively uncivil at any point. If so, I apologize. It was never my intent to be rude.
10929438
No. You said you wanted to move it. Unless you planned to ghost me in the PMs, I can't see how that equals to ending the discussion. As for why I keep responding to comments in spite of that, refer to my other comment.
It is distinctly the impression I got. Pharynx hitting Parquel is presented positively in the story, and supported by Metamorphosis, who serves as the emotional and moral anchor for the brothers at most points in the story. When I pointed out the conclusions I feel are drawn from this, you didn't point out how I interpreted the story wrongly, or assured me that there will be more said on the topic. You specifically presented arguments in favour of the opinion I disagreed with. All things point to this being what you believe.
Discipline doesn't have to be enforced through violence, especially not towards children. That you decided to present it as an acceptable disciplinary measure in the story, and defended that position when challenged, makes it seem like you do condone it.
That is not what happened in the story. Had this happened when defending Apex from harm, I wouldn't have a problem. But at that moment, Parquel was no threat to anyone.
I miss the days when kids got spanked or smacked(NOT BEATEN)to get them back into their place.
Especially white children, now a days, the parents to soft and then next few years later we find out the parents are shocked when their children end up doing...... horrific things
10929459
...let me make myself perfectly clear
I do not condone violence, nor do I ever say they did the right thing. In their specific point of view, they did what seemed like the right form of discipline to them.
Yes, the nymphs should have been supervised. The fact that they aren't can either be a leap in logic or representation that there aren't enough nursery staff, your choice.
I appreciate your form of criticism but it was becoming insulting to the point I was about to have a mental and physical breakdown and start crying. The positive comments are my fuel, the negative comments cut me down. I wanted to move to the PMs for that reason, so I wouldn't be yelling at you in the public comments and we could hopefully have a civil conversation separate from the public remarks.
I understand your problem with the chapter, but please understand that all I ask of a reader is to treat my work respectfully and if they have a problem, attempt a form of constructive criticism. All writers want is their work and by extension, themselves, to be respected. Especially online when you can't read emotions through written words on a screen.
I am sorry I started getting angry, but I was simply trying to defend my story and myself. Because my story is me, and you were acting like my stance on child abuse was being cemented by one chapter in one story. I didn't appreciate that, and I'm sure you could understand as much, for instance, if I took one look at something you did, like perhaps be a bystander when someone was being bullied, and assumed something about your entire personality based on one thing.
I apologize, but I've just felt personally attacked by you this whole time, so I'm sorry for lashing out.
I will take my leave now.