Work of the Heart

Well, today marks one year since Pharynx rejoined the hive. Since then, I never really had the chance to work up an update about him. He’s become a real help in assisting me and Carve’s duties ever since Twilight, Sunset and Aita were called by the tree of harmony. Most of that is probably because he was brothers with a king. I mean he never asked for the knowledge of our duties, but he figured he might as well use it.

So, here I am, sitting on the throne, thinking of what to do for him. Funnily enough, he comes up to the throne room.

“Greetings, Pharynx. Have you wondered what day it is today?”

“I’ve lost count. Inform me, queen.”

“The day you returned to the hive?”

“Oh, that. Has it been a year already? Wow…”

“I know we haven’t done anything casual in a long while. But how does a vacation sound?”

Pharynx looks surprised by this offer.

“A vacation? You’re willing to do that for me?”

“With how much you’re involved with my duties, Pharynx, why not return the favor?”

“Sure. I’d love to relax for a while. Let me know when you want to get started with that. It looks like that will have to wait, because we have a relatively young drone looking for a place in Equestria to stay.”

“Okay. Invite the drone here. Once living arrangements are in order, that’s when we’ll go on vacation.”

Pharynx nods at the finalized plan. But before running off, he smiles.

“Before you regained your throne, Chrysalis. I never imagined you would ever have taken up letting the hive share love. And now authority of Equestria comes to you for help.”

I chuckle a little. “Why would you ever think otherwise would happen?”

“Well, because you and Areola used to try to conquer the nation by stealing love.”

“But not all of it. There was Las Pegasus, where Carve normally lives.”

“Come on, Chrysalis. She first returned after Thorax left.”

Upon hearing such a familiar name, I become a bit unamused. Pharynx is aware Correal is no longer around because of his brother.

“Just retrieve the drone, Pharynx.”

“Will do.”

Pharynx finally proceeds to dash out of the throne room.

After five hours of putting my trailing skills to the test, I find the changeling who was looking for a place to stay. Of course, he’s in Silver Shoals; his scent trail leads here. Still following, I’m led to a wide white trailer on the beach. Another thing to note is that the trail signature seems eerily similar to Chrysalis’.

I land and sigh. Now there seems to be another signature present, also similar to Chrysalis’, only older. I knock on the door of the trailer, the answer coming from an old changeling with glasses on. She seems to be hunched over. “Yes?”

“Hello there. I caught word of a changeling around here looking for someplace to stay,” I reply.

Suddenly, she stands up straight. “Oh! You mean my grandson? I’ll get him in a jiffy.” The changeling now turns around and holds a hoof on her cheek. “Patch! Someone’s here to see you!”

The trailer suddenly starts creaking, prompting the old changeling to jump into the air and fly while another comes, presumably Patch. “What is it, Grandma?” he asks in a curious tone, then catches sight of me. “Oh, hi. What are you doing here?”

“I came to see if you wanted to live in the hive. We still have a spot or two open; it’s no big deal.”

Patch growls and flies back to where he came from, leaving his grandmother confused.

“Uh sorry. You’ll have to excuse him. He’s not usually like this.”

“Do you not bring up home?” I ask.

“Well, we already are home.”

I rub my chin, thinking. I can’t return home emptyhooved. Maybe I could at least try again. “What if I just talked to him? I’m sure a little reasoning could help.”

The grandmother steps out of the way for me to enter.

This trailer sure looks cozy. The living room on the left alone has a loveseat and a recliner, both piled with bedding. Going into the small hall past the living room, I see a bathroom converted into a walk-in closet to my right, and up ahead seems to be Patch’s room. There he is, sitting on the twin bed in the corner ahead, the only furnishing in the room.

“Um, apologies for earlier, Patch. I guess it’s a touchy subject for you?” Patch nods. “Well, you said you were looking for a place to stay.”

“In Equestria, Pharynx. I can’t live here forever; I need a place to call my own before I’m forced to,” he explains.

“I just figured you’d have the option to return. But why isn’t it for you?”

“Jus- I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Patch, I’ll find out one way or another. Either tell me, or your grandmother will.”

“B-but she wouldn’t do that, would she?”

“She probably would, judging by how she let you fly off in a huff like that. I’ll see for myself what happened if you don’t tell me.”

Patch gets out of bed when he hears me talking about his grandmother, obviously looking offended. “Are you saying Grandma is a doormat?”

“Let's hope she isn’t.” I decide to leave Patch alone so that I can talk to the grandmother.

“So Pharynx, how did it go?”

“He didn’t budge. Something about the hive is definitely bothering him.”

“Hm… Patch did come to live here after the wedding of Princess Cadence. Do you think that has something to do with him declining your offer?”

“Regardless, I’ll have to tell the queen about it. She’ll be disappointed, but your grandson is old enough by now to make his own decisions, just so you know. Would you happen to have any pears around?”

“Well, I do keep a tree around in case I have to contact the throne. It should be around back. I seldom use it.”

“Good enough for me. Be right back.”

I fly out of the trailer and go around back. Sure enough, there is a pear tree full of pears. I float four off and take them inside.