The Young Warrior: Eternally Paternal

Chapters

The Present
Who Is He?
The Past
Girl Talk
Rescue Mission
Undercover
A Mirror
Decoy and Deploy
Reconcilation
Epilogue: Old Endings, New Beginnings

The Present

“So how did you find him?” Ocellus asked, having recovered from her laughing fit. “I mean, you explained a lot about what you know about him, but you would have needed to find him before you were told all that stuff.”

“Oh, right!” Fortuna chuckled. “Middy and I found him in a suburban town, actually. Think Ponyville, but a mite bit bigger. Don’t remember the name, but we had heard there was supposedly a changeling in the town. Of course, we just thought it was an infiltrator who got caught, imagine our surprise when we discovered Meta.”

“How did you run into him then?” Pharynx questioned.

“Actually, Midlight and I bumped into him while he was on a date.” Fortuna grinned at them almost mischievously.

“A date?” Thorax's eyes widened.

“His first one. I’m so proud of him.” Fortuna beamed, looking over at Pharynx. “He kind of acted like you did when I caught you trying to flirt with Hunter.”

Pharynx turned bright red. “Mom!”

“Well, he did!” Fortuna giggled. “He was sitting with this Umbrum-pony named Griffon or something. Mid and I were disguised, obviously, but we saw him just sitting out in the open, so we approached him.”

“So he’d just been living in an Equestrian town undisguised this whole time?” Ocellus asked. “Why weren’t they afraid of him?”

“Well, remember Ocellus, Meta left the Hive long before the Canterlot Invasion, which is when ponies really started to be afraid of us. He had been living undisguised as a resident for so long they just accepted that he wasn’t one of the ‘evil’ ones when the Invasion occurred.” Fortuna paused for a moment before continuing her train of thought. “I believe he also helped the local police drive off some revealed changeling infiltrators directly after the Invasion, so that helped his reputation.”

“So that’s when you asked him to join your crew.” Pharynx guessed dryly.

“No, actually, he asked us.” Fortuna bopped Pharynx’s nose gently. “Let me talk before assuming, Phary. After we explained that no, we weren’t there to drag him back to the Hive, Meta asked if we could use some help. So the two of us agreed he could join the crew.”

“Oh! So is that why you said Mid and Meta were in different cities? Meta defends the city he lives in and you two patrol the other cities?” Ocellus questioned.

“Not quite. Meta stays with us, but makes regular visits back to his town to see his boyfriend and friends. He does have a life there after all.”

Pharynx sighed at that, promptly looking away when Fortuna glanced at him. She was having none of it though, lifting his chin gently.

“Phary, what’s the matter?”

“So if he’s willing to come stay here with us, what about his relationships in that town?”

“Well, Meta’s boyfriend is pretty loyal to him, I think he’d probably just come here too–”

“No. Absolutely not, not happening, I need to see our dad first, no strings attached.” Pharynx snapped.

“Phary–”

“Mom. How do you think you would have reacted if– uh–”

“If you suddenly showed up on her doorstep with Tempest after years of not seeing her and expected Tempest to be welcomed instantly?” Ocellus offered. Pharynx blushed, but nodded.

“Alright, alright, I can understand that.” Fortuna shrugged. “To be honest though, I probably would welcome her.”

“She is a really nice mare.” Thorax added.

“Not the point!” Pharynx shouted, turning red. “This is not about me and Tempest, this is about our dad!”

“Okay, okay, we’re sorry, Phary. Right kids?” Fortuna eyed Thorax and Ocellus, who quickly nodded in agreement. “Anyway, I can tell Meta if you want, so you don’t get overwhelmed.”

“W-Who said that would be overwhelming? I just don’t want to meet the idiot.” Pharynx huffed stubbornly. Fortuna chuckled, nuzzling him.

“Alright Phary, if you say so.”

Pharynx grumbled to himself and looked away. “Whatever. I have to go.”

“Or do you just not want to talk about this anymore?” Ocellus asked.

“No, I have to go because I have patrols to organize.” Pharynx retorted, standing up and striding out of the room. Only a couple seconds after he had left the room, Thorax’s eyes flashed, prompting him to leap to his hooves.

“I better go help him!” Thorax chased after his brother, leaving the two nymphs and Fortuna behind.

“Maybe I should go help too.” Fortuna said, standing up, but Ocellus held out a hoof to stop her.

“No, don’t, they’re not actually organizing patrols. Pharynx just says that whenever he wants to get out of a conversation.” Ocellus explained. “He doesn’t have any patrols to organize, he sets up all the schedules the night before.”

“Hm, very clever. A page out of my book, too.” Fortuna chuckled. “But what about Thory?”

“Papa Thorax wen’ with him ‘cause Uncle Pharynx used the twin power thing.” Apex responded.

“Ah, right, the signature eye flash. Well spotted, little warrior.” Fortuna said, nuzzling the nymph and making him giggle.

“Well, anyway, when Pharynx makes Thorax follow him like that, it usually means they're going to go meet up with their girlfriends.” Ocellus snickered, catching Fortuna’s attention immediately. ”I guess Tempest and Ember were planning to visit today.”

“I hope I get to meet these ‘girlfriends’ then.” Fortuna said, smirking. “I can’t wait to tell them all about what their boyfriends were like as nymphs.”

“Ooh, invite me when you do that! You don’t know about all the embarrassing stuff they’ve done as adults.” Ocellus said, and the two girls grinned at each other.

“Tuney, you’ll like Tempy an’ Emmie, they’e nice!” Apex piped up. “Emmie says I’m strong as a d’agon and Tempy says ‘m good a’ fighting!”

“They are really nice.” Ocellus agreed. “Ember needs to work on expressing her emotions a bit, but she is a dragon, so because of her learned habits she’s just not used to it.”

“And Tempest is a unicorn, correct?”

“Yeah, I think you’ll like them, if Thorax and Pharynx ever decide to introduce you to them that is.” Ocellus giggled. “Thorax is really shy about his relationship with Ember, and Pharynx is stubborn in even talking about Tempest like that.”

“Those two.” Fortuna chuckled. “Remind me to tell you about their first crushes some time, they did the exact same thing.”

“Tuney!” Apex jumped up eagerly. “We can go find them now, an’ you can mee’ them, so Papa Thorax an’ Uncle Pharynx don’t hafta in’roduce you!”

Fortuna giggled and smiled. “Perhaps a bit later, I can wait for a little while. We wouldn’t want to bother them. How about I show you some of the moves I taught Phary, instead?”

“Yeah!” Apex cheered. Fortuna chuckled, picking the young deputy up and carrying him out of the room.

“Alright, so I think for starters we ought to try some size advantage tactics…”

Who Is He?

Author's Note

Hello all! Did ya miss me? Haha, well, I hope you're ready to strap yourselves in for the final installment of the Young Warrior series! Just a quick fyi, this first chapter takes place just about right after the scene in the epilogue of Stroke of Luck, so please go back and check it if you need a refresher about what's going on. Without further ado, the first chapter of the final story!

~Melody Song

Who Is He?

“Okay, so let me get this straight.” Pharynx was pacing around in front of his brother, adoptive nephew, adopted sister, and his newly returned mother figure. “Our dad, the one we’ve never heard about, ever, is your teammate, and he’s coming here?!”

“Most likely.” Fortuna shrugged. “Middy’s gone check on him now. If he needs backup, they’ll be staying where he’s at to deal with it.”

“And why didn’t you say anything to us before now?!” Pharynx demanded.

“I am sorry about springing it on you like that, Phary, really.” Fortuna nuzzled her son gently, even when he huffed at her. “But after Meta left the Hive, Chrysalis forbade anyone from even so much as mentioning him.”

“He left?” Thorax asked softly, voice trembling. Fortuna sighed, turning to face him.

“Yes, he did. But it wasn’t that he didn’t want to see you, I promise.” Fortuna told him.

“So what now? Do we just wait for Midlight and Metamorphosis to show up?” Ocellus cut in.

“I would advise as much. However, if Midlight reports there’s a problem, I will have to go help them.” Fortuna said, glancing at Pharynx and Thorax. “I think you boys should have some time to process this, without my intrusion. Ocellus, Apex, would you show me around the Hive?”

“O-Of course Fortuna.” Ocellus led the nymph and unreformed changeling out of the room, leaving the brothers alone.

“...So,” Thorax scuffed his hoof on the ground nervously and looked out of a nearby window to avoid Pharynx’s gaze. “Nice weather we’re having.”

“Thorax, don’t do that.” Pharynx snapped. “If you have something to say, say it.”

“Okay, okay.” Thorax sighed. “I just don’t know what to think.”

“Me either, to be honest.” Pharynx admitted with a sigh. “I mean, first of all, who is this changeling? I can understand Chrysalis making it a rule not to ever bring him up, but why did he leave?”

“M-Maybe she forced him to mate with her, and he tried to run away?” Thorax offered.

“While I wouldn’t put it past mother to do that, it means,” Pharynx sighed and looked up at his younger brother. “If that were true, it would mean he didn’t– we weren’t planned. At least for him. So then, well, nothing would have changed.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Thorax’s eyes saddened. “Obviously mother wanted heirs, but she definitely wasn’t proud of us.”

“So if our dad had stayed he wouldn’t have cared either. We’d still have only had Fortuna. It probably still would have hurt,” Pharynx gritted his teeth. “Knowing neither of our parents gave a buck about us.”

“Y-Yeah,” Thorax agreed softly, before his eyes brightened slightly. “But what if we’re not why he left?”

“Why else would he leave?”

“I-I don’t know, but it can’t be completely because of us, we weren’t even born yet!”

“Well, I know that, Thorax!”

“So maybe he left because of Chrysalis! Maybe she exiled him for some reason!”

“Why does it suddenly matter? The point is that he left us just like everyone else!”

“Fortuna left, but she’s here now, she came back. Remind me, what exactly did you say the second you saw her?” Thorax asked, somewhat smugly.

“First of all, shut up, second of all, of course she was going to get that reaction, we actually knew her. We have no clue who Metamorphosis even is!”

“Well– yeah, okay, that’s a good point. But maybe we should know who he is.” Thorax insisted.

“Why does it matter to you all of a sudden?” Pharynx grumbled, and Thorax looked away nervously.

“I just, I was thinking– I never thought about who our father could be, but what if having him around makes us make sense?”

“If this is about how we were conceived, I don’t think you want to hear that, Thor.”

“Not that!” Thorax hissed, turning red as Pharynx laughed. “I-I mean, like– you look nothing like mother, so you had to get your traits from somewhere! A-And I act nothing like mother, so my personality has to come from someone else.”

“Thorax, personalities are learned traits, as in, your personality is shaped by your environment, not who your parents are.” Pharynx retorted.

“I know that Phar, but my personality doesn’t make sense for the Old Hive, I was the outcast, for no reason. I could have been just as much of a brute as you and the other changelings, but I wasn’t! That instinctual kindness had to come from somewhere, didn’t it?”

“I– okay, that’s a fair point.” Pharynx turned to stare at the violet carapace that covered his red wings. “...Do you really think he could be why I had a purple carapace instead of a teal one?”

“Yeah, maybe! And you had purple eyes, which noling else had, your neckfin was even red instead of black! Those aren’t little things any changeling could just somehow give you.”

“Well, yeah, but still– I don’t think we should care.”

“He’s going to show up here eventually, if he’s part of Fortuna’s group.”

“Well, maybe they’ll go their separate ways when he finds out she wants to give up fighting.”

“I never said anything of the sort.” Fortuna said sternly as she trotted into the room. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Phary.”

“But you said you were staying.” Pharynx objected.

“Yes, and if there’s a problem, I’ll take my crew, we’ll deal with it, then come back.” Fortuna responded. “The only reason we didn’t employ that system before was because we were technically all fugitives of the Old Hive. Until I tracked the band of unreforms back here we didn’t know if whoever was in charge would welcome us.”

“So, they’d want to come here and settle down like you?” Thorax asked.

“Well, of course!” Fortuna sat down beside the boys, gesturing for them to do the same. “Now, about your father. I can answer any questions you have to the best of my abilities, but there are some things I don’t know the full scope of.”

“But you worked and probably lived together for years.” Pharynx objected.

“Yes, but every creature is entitled to their privacy.” Fortuna retorted. “So, any questions about Metamorphosis?”

“How do you know he’s your cousin?” Pharynx asked immediately. “You mentioned he was before, but how do you know?”

“My mother was his aunt.” Fortuna answered immediately. “He was orphaned as an egg, so my mother was tasked with hatching him in her… sister’s stead, if I remember correctly. I was told never to interact with him, and he was placed in the care of nursery drones after he was weaned of nectar, so I kept my distance. I did get to grow up alongside him, but I only observed from afar.”

“Wait, if you’re cousins, does that mean he has a mane too?” Thorax asked.

“Yes, but I’m not sure how Meta has a mane, actually.” Fortuna ran a hoof through her own golden mane. “I don’t think he knows either. As I said, he’s an orphan, and he grew up isolated, not many ‘lings wanted to hang out with him. From what I heard, his mother was a part of some kind of scandal while she was alive, so obviously no older drones would be too keen on possibly encouraging him to disobey the Queen.”

“So what is he like?” Thorax asked.

“Heh, well, he looks like Phary, and he acts just like you.”

“I told you.” Thorax said smugly, and Pharynx snorted, unamused.

“Well, he does look just like Phary.” Fortuna smiled at the two. “You know, back when you two were nymphs, I used to see your father in you.”

“Used to?” Thorax asked nervously.

“Well, back when you two actually got along while I was there to referee you.” Fortuna chuckled softly. “Meta does everything with a sense of caution, even if we’re fighting off museum guards or something else that calls for action.”

“So like, if Pharynx and I were the same changeling.” Thorax offered.

“Exactly!” Fortuna chuckled as she nuzzled them both. “I think the only reason you two were laid as separate eggs is because only Metamorphosis can have such a balanced version of brave and shy.”

“Well, we’re still twins.” Thorax said proudly, his eyes gleaming momentarily in unison with Pharynx’s.

“I see you two still use that twin power of yours.” Fortuna smiled at the boys. “I bet that’s useful.”

“Every time I’m trying to speak with a dignitary from another kingdom I have to deal with Phar’s voice in my head telling me he doesn’t trust them.” Thorax sighed.

“Classic Phary.” Fortuna shook her head at him in mock disappointment. “Let your brother make his own decisions, please.”

“Tattletail.” Pharynx shot at Thorax, who stuck his tongue out at him cheekily. “Anyway, what else do you know about our– father, Tuney?”

“Well, he’s very kind, I think he can sing, he loves baking, and he’s got a pretty interesting eye color–”

“Tuney, I meant,” Pharynx sighed and turned to look at Thorax. The two were silent for a moment before Thorax nodded, and Pharynx turned back to face his mother. “Why did he leave?”

The Past

Fortuna sighed, gesturing for the two to come with her. They stood up, confused, and followed the Golden General through the hallways of the Hive. They were heading into the throne room, where Fortuna paused.

“Okay, go ahead and sit while I get Ocellus and the little warrior. It’s a long story, I know they'll want to hear it as well.”

The twins nodded before heading for the throne. Thorax sprawled out in the oak seat as usual, while Pharynx sat at attention beside him. Fortuna chuckled softly at the two before leaving.

The brothers were still in their exact same positions when Fortuna returned with Ocellus and Apex, making her laugh. Apex bounded over and leapt up onto the throne, sitting upright in front of Thorax, tail curled around his hooves, looking like a smaller version of Pharynx as he rested against the monarch’s side. Ocellus, meanwhile, took a seat on the opposite side of the throne, not in a guarding position like Pharynx, but focused.

“Alright, I know you all want to know why Meta didn’t stick around after Pharynx and Thorax were conceived.” Fortuna began.

Apex blinked in confusion and looked up at Thorax. “Whas’ tha’ mean?”

“Well, um– Pharynx will tell you when you’re older!” Thorax said, smiling awkwardly.

“Like Tartarus!” Pharynx retorted. “Take responsibility for your child’s education!”

Fortuna cleared her throat softly, catching their attention again. “The two of you can discuss that later. As I was saying, it is true that Meta left the Hive shortly before Pharynx and Thorax’s eggs were laid. Now, I don’t know the full story, but I can tell you what I do know.”

The group nodded, and Pharynx gave her a gesture to continue.

“Right, well, Meta was fairly young when Chrysalis first noticed him. He had been enlisted in my guard, but after a couple years I authorized his dismissal, as the guard clearly wasn’t for him. I know he helped out in the kitchens for a little while after that, but otherwise he didn’t have anything to do. That was when Chrysalis met him officially.”

“Officially?” Apex tilted his head. “So she’d me’ him ‘afore?

“The Queen used to perform a naming ceremony for each new generation of nymphs.” Ocellus explained to him. “Your generation got one, and so did my generation, and my little siblings’ generation got one too – they were the last generation to get the ceremony.”

“Exactly, Ocellus.” Fortuna smiled at Ocellus, who blushed shyly. “The Queen had, of course, been the one to formally name Meta like she named every new generation, but it’s not like she pays that close attention to them. It was when Meta was jobless when she first really noticed him.”

“How did she find him?” Pharynx asked.

“Well, Chrysalis found him in that old room that technically counted as a library, and decided since he seemed to enjoy studying and reading, she could make him her archivist. But it seemed like her motives were deeper than that.” Fortuna continued. “Meta told me how she would constantly bother him when he was trying to work, and kept trying to flirt with him.”

“Why is that such a bad thing? Wouldn’t most drones have been grateful the Queen found them attractive?” Pharynx asked.

“Because, Phary, your father is gay.”

“What?!” The two brothers jolted up in surprise, making Apex leap off the throne as his position was disturbed. Fortuna dove forward, catching the little nymph before he could land. Apex giggled and hugged Fortuna gratefully as she stood back up.

“Did she just not know?” Ocellus asked.

“Oh, she definitely knew.” Fortuna chuckled softly, setting Apex down so he could scamper back to Thorax. “He told her after a while, but she just kept insisting.”

“But that’s awful! Why would she do that?” Ocellus asked

“Because she wanted heirs, Ocellus.” Pharynx responded for Fortuna. “Clearly our father was someone she knew would give her strong heirs, so she was determined to breed with him.”

Ocellus stared in shock as Fortuna just shrugged. “Well, he’s not wrong.”

“But– but–” Ocellus huffed. “She’s worse than I thought.”

“I thought so too.” Fortuna smiled softly as she glanced at the brothers. “At least you two came out of it though.”

“But how did we even end up being conceived?” Thorax asked

“He eventually gave in and went on a few dates with her, to get her off his back.” Fortuna explained, flinching slightly and trotting over to cover Apex’s ears. “But she may have gotten a bit demanding, and, well, you can infer what happened.”

“So she just–?” Ocellus cut herself off in shock, and Fortuna nodded.

“When Metamorphosis woke up afterward, he realized what happened and panicked. He knew that Chrysalis would use what they had done to force him to stay with her, despite not knowing you two had been conceived. So he ran for it.”

“That’s why he left?” Pharynx asked hoarsely as Fortuna let a squirming Apex go.

“One of the reasons. He explained to me that the real reason he left was because he knew there was a better way of living outside the Hive. He had also always felt like he didn’t belong, I couldn’t blame him for that. What Chrysalis did was the last straw, so he left the Hive in the early morning. Shortly after that, Chrysalis announced he had been exiled, and was never to be spoken of again.”

“So he left because of Chrysalis, not us.” Thorax looked at Fortuna with tears in his eyes. “Does he even know we exist?”

“Of course he knows you exist!” Fortuna trotted closer to the alpha, putting a hoof around him in comfort. “I told him myself.”

“You did?” Thorax whispered, and she smiled softly.

“The second I saw him again. I told him all about you and your brother.”

“I’m guessing he wasn’t happy to hear we exist?” Pharynx muttered, and Fortuna lifted his head.

“Pharynx Ray Elytron–”

Ocellus promptly burst out laughing, and Thorax covered her mouth. Fortuna chuckled softly, nuzzling her oldest son.

“I do not want you to ever think he was unhappy to know of you. He was shocked, yes, but in the end he was overjoyed. He has two wonderful boys he never knew about, who his own cousin was able to raise the way he would have wanted.” Fortuna nuzzled Pharynx gently. “He talks every day about how much he wants to see you.”

Girl Talk

“Wait, who is Fortuna again?”

The blue dragoness who had asked was currently lounging on a bed covered in purple and red sheets, one claw in a bowl of gemstones. She shoved a ruby into her mouth as she stared at the two changelings opposite her.

“Their mother figure Em, keep up.” A mulberry unicorn with a shattered horn climbed onto the bed beside the dragon, nudging her over to make room. “The Golden General?”

“Oh, right.” She chuckled sheepishly. “Sorry. So Fortuna apparently knows who your actual father is, and either he’s coming back to the Hive, or you’re going to him?”

“Something like that.” Thorax sighed and looked away. “We just– apparently he made his own life without us, a-and even though Fortuna assured us he does want to see us, we can’t just take him away from his home.”

“Wouldn’t it be his choice if he comes back, though?” Ember questioned.

“Even if he does come back, I’m not sure I want to talk to him.” Pharynx grumbled, scuffing his hoof into the ground.

“It’s not his fault he had to leave.” Thorax said softly.

“But he didn’t even try to come back and see if he’d been exiled!” Pharynx snarled. “He just ran for it and found a new life.”

“Phar.” Tempest locked eyes with her boyfriend. “You do realize that is exactly what I did, right? Less evil, but still.”

“Right… sorry Temp, no offense.”

“None taken.” Tempest sighed and looked over at Thorax. “Anyway, Thorax is right. He ended up being harassed by his Queen, so clearly his reality was all messed up. He thought the best thing to do was flee. I’d say that’s having a choice and choosing the right option.”

“But what about us? He could have at least tried to see if we existed.”

“How was he supposed to know?” Ember responded for Tempest. “I mean, he panicked because he was gay, not because he knew you two had been conceived.”

“I– well, yeah, but I still feel like we should be mad at him.” Pharynx insisted.

“You have the right to have feelings about it, you just don’t necessarily need to be angry at him for deciding to get out of a situation he didn’t want.” Tempest replied.

“Yes we do!” Pharynx snapped. “He left us behind! I don’t care if he didn’t know we existed, it still happened!”

“Phar–”

“Stop.”

Tempest fell silent as asked, but still glared at the changeling with a warning gaze. Pharynx almost seemed ready to submit to her stare, but steadied himself and held his head high.

“Tempest-praefectus, you have no right to tell me how I should feel.”

“I’m your girlfriend, I think I have enough right–”

“No you don’t!”

“Do I need to remind you that I’m not some housewife you can boss around?!” Tempest jumped off the bed and stalked over to look him in the eye. The mare was unusually tall for a pony, able to match Pharynx’s eye level, which did not bode well for the beta changeling.

“I-I never said that!”

“Sounded like it.” Tempest snorted at him, her horn crackling with energy.

“I didn’t mean– Temp, I didn’t think–”

“Exactly, you weren’t thinking. So why don’t you listen to us for once?” Tempest asked harshly.

“We are listening to you! I just– I want to be mad at him because of what he did to us!” Pharynx yelled in her face, and the mare stepped back slightly.

“What are you talking about now?” Ember asked, flaring out her wings and flying over to Thorax, who was staring at his brother in confusion.

“If he hadn’t left, things would have been better!” Pharynx shouted. “Think about it, Tuney said he wished he could see us, right?! So if he stayed we would have had someone besides Tuney who loved us! Maybe we wouldn’t have fallen apart when we thought she died, then!”

“Wait, what?” Ember looked up at Thorax, who looked away guiltily.

“When we had Fortuna, she was the one thing that helped us connect with each other. After she was gone, we didn’t act like siblings to each other anymore, not for a while. Apex was the next one to bridge that gap.”

“She was the thing that kept us together. If we’d had someone else in our lives who loved us maybe we wouldn’t have grown apart. Maybe we wouldn’t have needed a nymph to bring us back to each other.” Pharynx snarled.

“So then maybe you wouldn’t have reformed the entire Hive and created a new, better way of life.” Tempest shot back.

“Yeah, plus, what if he had stayed and just hadn’t been able to protect you guys?” Ember suggested, grabbing her bowl of gemstones. “Like Fortuna. You said she looked after you, but that didn’t change what Chrysalis did, right? How can you be so sure he wouldn’t have been stuck in the same boat?”

Pharynx opened his mouth to retort, but none came. He just sat down, staring at the floor in silence.

“I just really wanted a dad.” Pharynx whispered after a long while. “We only ever had Tuney, and– I always just wondered what having a dad was like.”

“Eh, dads are overrated.” Ember waved a claw dismissively.

“We know you’re only saying that because your dad tried to forbid you from becoming the Dragon Lord.” Tempest objected.

“Exactly! Overrated!” Ember huffed and crossed her arms. “Just because I got my mom’s height doesn’t mean that I can’t be a leader.”

“Well, my dad wasn’t really the best father either, but I think if Fortuna trusts Metamorphosis, he could be a good father to you two.” Tempest reasoned, stepping over to Pharynx and lifting his chin. “I mean, did she ever once say anything bad about him?”

“N-No.”

“Then it’ll be okay. Maybe you won’t get used to the idea right away, and you have every right to hold a grudge against him because of what he did. But you shouldn’t let that shape your entire relationship with him.”

“Exactly! I mean, come on, holding grudges is supposed to be our thing.” Ember said, gesturing to herself and Tempest, then smiling. “But seriously, you have the chance to have a dad now, so why not jump at it?”

“They’re not wrong.”

Pharynx jumped up so quickly he nearly crashed into Tempest. “Mom! You’ve got to stop doing that!”

Fortuna laughed as she walked into the room, brushing her mane back. “I’m sorry Phary, really! I just wanted to see if the two of you were alright!”

Tempest and Ember stared at the unreformed changeling, who grinned as she finally noticed them.

“So, you must be Tempest and Ember. I’ve got to say, I’m happy my boys found such good matches for them. I can tell you keep my Phary on his hooves, don’t you Tempest? Oh, and it’s nice to see such an assertive nature around Thory, Ember.”

“Mom!” The twins shouted in unison, as their girlfriends blushed.

“I’m sorry!” Fortuna laughed, smirking. “Honestly, I was just a bit surprised, I could have sworn you two liked boys – not that it would have been a bad thing either way.”

“Wait, what?” Tempest looked at Ember, who shrugged, also clueless.

“Oh, they used to have crushes on Tibius and Hunter.”

“You what?!”

Thorax shrank back against Pharynx as the girls rounded on them. Pharynx chuckled nervously, smiling sheepishly.

“We, uh– so, funny story–”

“Oh relax, they were still kids when they grew out of those.” Fortuna cuffed Tempest over the head gently to get her attention. “I do have a question, though. Tempest, did Phary stalk you?”

“E-Excuse me, what?”

“Mom!”

“He used to follow Hunter around, and when the older nymph finally caught on they just bullied each other.” Fortuna chuckled. “Phary lost every fight, but he kept saying Hunter was just asserting his dominance.”

“So that’s why you always let Tempest win when you spar!” Ember shouted, and Pharynx turned red.

“I do not let her win!”

“Yeah, but I do win every time.” Tempest shot back, blushing through her smirk. “So are you telling me that I’m the dominant one here?”

“N-No, I was a nymph!” Pharynx blushed and glared at Fortuna. “When did you come in anyway?”

“Around when Ember was finishing her train of thought.” Fortuna smiled at the dragoness. “I like you already, Ember, you’re smart. That’s something I always hoped for in a dragon, all the ones I’ve met can barely form sentences, much less pass off as intelligent.”

“My dad says I get it from my mother.” Ember murmured, smiling slightly.

“Anyway, what did you come in here for?” Pharynx asked his mother with a pointed look.

Rescue Mission

In answer to Pharynx, Fortuna sighed and pulled out a scroll. “Got this message from Middy while I was distracting the nymphs. She said there’s more going on in Meta’s area than they expected, they need backup.”

“How much more is going on?” Tempest asked, raising her brow.

“Well, it turns out there were some very well-off mob bosses in Manehattan who were funding the griffons that Meta’s tracking. Middy took care of those during her mission, but the griffons have gone rogue. Meta and Middy can’t handle them all by themselves.”

“And you alone can turn the tides on that?”

“Well, no, but it wouldn’t hurt if I went to help.” Fortuna shrugged. “I have to grab my gear, then head over. I’ll probably just bail them out again and bring them back here.”

“But what about all the griffons?”

“Unfortunately we’ll have to let them escape. It’s too risky a mission to handle with just the three of us. Even we have our limitations, especially due to our crew’s size.”

“What if you had four extra hooves?” Ember suggested, and it was Fortuna’s turn to raise a brow. “I mean, we don’t have monthly sparring sessions for nothing.”

“What?!” Pharynx spun around to face the dragoness. “Are you seriously implying–”

“That we help your mother and her team not to be killed? Yes, yes I am.” Ember put a hand on her hip. “Pharynx, griffons are ruthless assassins when they want to be, the dragons used to get into territory skirmishes with them thousands of years ago. We lost plenty of good fighters.”

“I know that, Ember. But I just–” Pharynx sighed and shook his head. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt or die, sure, but that includes the two of you. Besides, you’re not seriously considering bringing Thorax, are you?”

“And what’s wrong with that, Phary?” Fortuna asked, arching a brow at him.

“He’ll just be a dead weight.” Pharynx told her bluntly.

“Phar– yeah, okay, he has a point, Em.” Tempest glanced at the dragon. “Thor’s not exactly skilled on the battlefield. No offense, Thorax.”

“None taken.” Thorax rolled his eyes slightly. “I’m used to it.”

“Okay, fine, I see your point. He isn't the best fighter.” Ember kissed Thorax’s cheek gently, making him smile. “I still love you though.”

“Nonsense!” Fortuna interrupted as she threw her hooves around Thorax, hugging him like a proud mother hen. “Thory can fight!”

“No, he can’t.” Tempest, Ember, and Pharynx chorused. Fortuna rolled her eyes, letting go of the alpha to face them properly.

“Ember.” Fortuna turned to the dragon calmly. “Attack him.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Attack Thory.”

Ember stared at her for a second, then sighed. “You’re not going to let me refuse, are you?”

“Either you do it or I will, and I have venom.”

Ember sighed and sank down into a crouch. “Sorry Thorax.”

“You needn’t be!” Fortuna called, though Thorax was looking very unsure of what was happening himself.

“Wait, can’t we talk about–”

Ember ignored Thorax and Fortuna as she lunged at the alpha. Almost instantly, Pharynx had sprung forwards to intercept her, but in a split second Fortuna had him pinned to the ground, sitting on his back to keep him there. Thorax cried out in alarm as Ember lashed her claws at him, but before she could hurt him, he swung his head. He caught her in his antlers, tossing her out the window – which thankfully was just a hole in the wall, because this was Pharynx’s room and he didn’t like pony windows.

Ember tried to jump back inside through the window, but before she could, Thorax followed her outside. In a flash of light, the monarch had transformed into his unreformed body. From there, he dodged Ember’s attacks as she struggled to adjust to fighting his smaller form. The changeling weaved through Ember’s lashing blows, having to twirl slightly to dodge several near misses. At last, Thorax slid under her attacks, skidded across the ground, flung out a hoof, and used one of his legs to catch Ember’s. The dragoness fell flat on her back with a thump as Thorax stood up.

As both fighters panted for breath, Thorax transformed back, staring at the defeated Ember in shock. He seemed just as startled as the watching creatures. Well, most of them. Fortuna was looking very smug as Thorax helped his girlfriend up from the ground.

“See?” Fortuna chuckled and rubbed Pharynx’s head. “I appreciate you looking out for your brother on the battlefield, Phary, but Thorax has his own strengths to play to. He just needs to be forewarned of what’s going to happen, then the adrenaline will kick in.”

“Okay, you have got to spar with us more often, Thor!” Ember spoke up, eyes wide as she and Thorax climbed back through the window. “Seriously! If you can do that in your old form just imagine what you could do now with more training!”

“W-Well, it’s not just that I’m not good at triggering my ‘fight’ response,” Thorax smiled sheepishly. “I’m grateful mom taught me how to defend myself by playing to my strengths, but I’m also just more of the peacekeeping type. That’s why I haven’t tried training since I was an apprentice.”

“Very respectable morals, Thory.” Fortuna nuzzled her youngest son, glancing at Pharynx. “I know you want to protect your family, Pharynx. I won’t force any of you to come if you don’t want them to. But Middy and Meta are my family as much as you lot. And I know that all of you have the ability to help me save them.”

Pharynx hesitated, looking back at Tempest and Ember, who gave him encouraging grins. He then looked at his twin, who offered a feeble smile.

“I’d like to come, and I guess I could fight a little bit.” Thorax offered shyly.

“...Alright, fine.” Pharynx agreed, and Fortuna hugged him tightly. “M-Mom!”

“Brilliant, Phary!”

“Mom, let go!” Pharynx protested, and the unreformed changeling released him, though she still beamed. “Besides, I have a condition.”

“Yes?”

“The second it seems too dangerous, we pull Thorax, Ocellus, and Apex out.”

“Wait, hold on, since when were Ocellus and Apex coming?” Ember asked.

“Well, knowing them, they’d follow us whether we like it or not so we might as well invite them.”

“Okay, fair point.”

“So, Fortuna, when do we leave?” Tempest asked

“Immediately.” Fortuna grinned at the group. “You won’t need any supplies, don’t worry, let’s just grab the nymphs and head out.”

Undercover

“Alright, we’re heading to this town.” Fortuna said, laying a map before them as they stopped to rest on the side of an old path. “It’s called Moonshadow Valley.”

“I’ve heard of that place!” Ocellus jumped in, raising her hoof excitedly. “Headmare Twilight said that the last time there was an eclipse, the shadow passed right over the area, back when there were only a few ponies living there. Then it grew in popularity, like Ponyville did, and they named it Moonshadow.”

“Exactly.” Fortuna smiled and rolled up the map. “The town is known for grain exports, and that’s what those mob griffons went to ‘take care of’.”

“Bu’ then the ponies would s’arve, right?” Apex asked.

“Well, they have other resources, but it would make it rather hard for them to keep jobs and trade deals with other towns. Lucky for them, we’re going to help.” Fortuna reassured the little nymph, patting his head.

“How far out from the town are we?” Pharynx asked.

“About an hour or two tops. We’ll rendezvous with Meta and Middy there.” Fortuna turned to face them. “Remember, code names once we’re in town. I only want to hear ‘Transmorpho, Gilded Saber, and Songwing’. You lot should figure some out for yourselves too.”

Pharynx instantly transformed into an unreformed changeling with a purple mane and deep purple eyes, his wings now bright red.

“Swapping color schemes? Really Phar?” Ocellus questioned, raising a brow at him. “That won’t fool anyone.”

“Actually, he’s being smart.” Fortuna smiled and rubbed Pharynx’s head affectionately, making his cheeks pinken. “It’s a common tactic actually. Meta and Middy don’t know who any of you lot are, they’ve only heard of Thorax and Pharynx by name. If you keep yourselves just recognizable enough that Ember and Tempest can remember your disguise without needing the personal scents we can smell, but altering just the slightest things…”

“The bad guys won’ be able to figure ou’ who we are an’ trace us!” Apex finished, jumping into the air and transforming as he landed. The young one had become an unreformed changeling with green wings and a red neckfin, keeping his eyes red too.

“Exactly, little warrior.” Fortuna gave Thorax and Ocellus pointed looks, prompting the flames that quickly surrounded the two.

Thorax turned into an unreformed changeling with a teal mane and black wings, his eyes a dark gold. Ocellus became a standard unreformed female with wide pink eyes and light blue wings.

“Names?” Fortuna questioned immediately.

“Trachus.” Pharynx shot back, and she nodded approvingly.

“Ve’tex.” Apex joined in, climbing onto Pharynx’s back, while Thorax and Ocellus stepped closer.

“I’ll be Cleft.” Thorax glanced at his brother. “Does that work?”

“It should. Seems a little non-changeling but it’ll throw them off. Ocellus?”

“Toxis.”

“That’s going to take some getting used to.” Ember grumbled.

“Well, apologies Blue, but you’ve to adapt.” Fortuna gave her a sympathetic smile. “Code names take getting used to, but sooner or later you’ll have noticed everyone has their own little ‘pattern’ for code names – usually false names have a similar connotation to their actual selves.”

“Conn– what?”

“Nevermind it. Come on you lot, we need to keep moving, we have to be in the town by nightfall so we can make that rendezvous.”

“Lead the way, Fortuna.” Tempest nodded to her respectfully, and she smiled, leading them off.

It was evening by the time they had approached Moonshadow. Fortuna stopped them once they were able to make out the rooftops of the town.

“Transmorpho and Songwing should be nearby.” Fortuna spoke softly. “We have a code phrase that allows us to make sure we are who we say we are.”

“Alright, Trachus and I will stay in the front.” Tempest said, looking around at them. “We have the most experience in battle.”

“Then A– er, Vertex will stay with me directly behind you.” Ember consented.

“Cleft, Toxis, you two will be off to the side.” Fortuna said, nudging the transformed changelings into place. “We’re only planning to meet them here, then they’ll lead us to the location that the griffons are using as a home base. Ember, Tempest, might you have thought of names yet?”

“I’ll go by Storm Wake.” Tempest said, lifting her head. “Simple enough to remember.”

“Slash.” Ember shrugged. “Best I could think of.”

“It works.” Fortuna assured her. “Now, let’s see where my teammates have got to.”

Fortuna stepped to the front of the group, her eyes narrowing as she gazed around at the trees in the valley. Thanks to changeling night vision, Fortuna seemed to zero in on something, right as two figures emerged from the shadows, making their way towards the group. Both Tempest and Pharynx’s haunches rose, ready to defend their friends if needed. But Fortuna held her hoof up to halt them, waiting silently until the creatures were visible.

A pegasus mare with a black coat, soft pink mane, and bright pink eyes was the first to emerge from the darkness. She wore a bandanna that matched her eye color, wings fluttering over a cutie mark of a single sparkling teardrop. The other was a unicorn stallion, his gray coat blending in with the darkness, much like the mare’s had. His eyes were dark blue, and his mane was an off-white shade that seemed to glow in the moonlight, a cutie mark of a stag silhouette on his flank.

“When the shadows fly?” Fortuna asked suddenly, and the two ponies responded in unison.

“The kingdom falls.”

“Right then,” Fortuna smiled to the pair. “It’s good to see you two again.”

“Good to see you too, Saber.” The mare snickered, glancing at the changelings, dragon, and unicorn behind Fortuna. “Are– are they–?”

“They’re with me, Songwing.” Fortuna gestured around at them. “Storm Wake, Trachus, Slash, Vertex, Clef, and Toxis.”

“I assume those are code names?” The unicorn asked, striding forwards with purpose in his steps.

Pharynx didn’t even have to stop to consider. He knew this stallion was his father, this was Metamorphosis. He didn’t even need confirmation in the fact the mare had already transformed into her true form, a changeling female with the same pink mane and eyes, the bandanna still wrapped around her neck.

“I asked them to create some.” Fortuna responded to the stallion. “You could return to your own form, you know, Transmorpho.”

“S-Sorry, I–”

“M-Songwing!” Ocellus stepped forwards, interrupting the stallion. “Gilded Saber told us you were alive, but– but I couldn’t believe it, everyone thought you were killed.”

“I didn’t mean to play dead for so long, believe me.” Midlight smiled sadly. “There was just one thing after another. And by then, it had been years.”

“Nightburn still misses you.” Ocellus whispered, and a tear dripped down the older changeling’s face.

“I miss him too.” She admitted with a smile, as Fortuna rested a hoof on her shoulder.

Pharynx and Thorax paid no attention to this interaction, standing beside Ember and Tempest, Apex settled on his father’s back. Fortuna walked up to Metamorphosis, nudging the concealed changeling gently.

“Come off it, ‘Morpho. They won’t judge, I promise. Look at ‘em.” Fortuna said, as if reassuring the stallion. He took a breath, before letting it out as a swirl of flames surrounded his form.

Whatever Pharynx and Thorax had expected to see, it was not the changeling that stood in the unicorn’s place.

A Mirror

The changeling that stood before them was taller than any of their own forms. Metamorphosis stood at the same height as Thorax did in his true form, maybe even slightly taller considering the length of his horn. His mane and tail were messy, cherry red in color, a single braid running through each in an attempt to tame them. Ocellus turned to stare as well as he opened his eyes, and concealed a startled gasp.

He had pupils. Chrysalis was thought to be the only changeling with eyes like other creatures, eyes that could focus. But Metamorphosis had them as well. The irises were a beautiful blend of deep purple that faded to a teal halfway down, the pupils themselves round and expressive, like a pony’s.

On Metamorphosis’ back, they could see a familiar jagged violet carapace, and matching wings, larger than average to compensate for his height. More so, they were sparkling like the brother’s and Apex’s had after time spent living in the Crystal Empire. He was at the halfway point between unreformed and the reformation. Metamorphosis looked around at them all, seeming almost ashamed of his true form.

Pharynx couldn’t stop staring at him. It was more than just his appearance, there was something almost burning inside his chest. It felt like his heart was being pulled out of him. His hooves wanted to move towards the changeling, though he resisted. It felt like his very being wanted to be beside Metamorphosis. Something had just clicked into place in his mind.

“I-I know I don’t look normal, but,” Metamorphosis sighed. “This is me.”

“I thin’ you look nice.” Apex spoke quietly, peeking out from behind Thorax. “You ‘emind me of someone I know.”

Metamorphosis smiled shyly, before glancing down at Fortuna. “We should get going, Saber. Songwing and I heard the griffons saying they were planning to move the grain tonight.”

“Then we’ll be there to intercept it.” Fortuna responded simply. “Right then, you lot, follow us. Songwing, Transmorpho, lead the way.”

The two changelings nodded and turned around, leading the group off. Fortuna fell back slightly to walk beside her disguised sons.

“Phary, what’s wrong? Your emotions are clouded.” She whispered. Pharynx shook his head, the purple mane of his disguise swinging around his shoulders.

“I-I just don’t– I don’t know what to think anymore.” Pharynx murmured. “He doesn’t look anything like I imagined.”

“Why is he so tall?” Ocellus asked quietly, joining the conversation.

“I think it must be something to do with his heritage, he was always unusually tall.” Fortuna replied. “Chrysalis also imbibed him with the magic of the royal family when she mated with him, which gave him a little boost of extra height. I’m not sure if he’s aware of it, or even if she meant to. Though it’s likely she intended to have him become her King, and felt their height should match.”

“I forgot we have royal magic.” Thorax admitted. “I wonder if it’s affected Apex, it could be why he became taller when we transformed.”

“I hadn’t considered it, but that does make sense. We would’ve eventually grown to be mother’s height, when we underwent the ritual to officially bring us into the royal family’s magic.” Pharynx looked up at Fortuna. “Tuney, why do I feel connected to him, somehow?”

“You’re family, Phary.” Fortuna’s eyes glowed with warmth as she gazed at her son. “It’s a sort of instinct all changelings have, it’s just not felt very often. Don’t you ever wonder how nymphs are able to find their parents and siblings when they hatch? We have an instinctual pull towards our biological families.”

“I don’t like it.” He muttered, hissing softly. “It doesn’t– I don’t want to be attached to him, he doesn’t seem that bad, but I still just– I’m not ready to be connected with him.”

“No one’s forcing you to.” Ocellus pointed out.

“We’re here.” Midlight spoke up before Pharynx could respond.

The group looked up to see a large warehouse a few hoofsteps away from them. Midlight waited for Fortuna to join herself and Metamorphosis before she continued to explain.

“The griffons have guards at the front and back entrances, and there’s a guard on each side of the building that patrols it. The only unguarded entrance is through a hatch in the roof, which is locked and blocked from inside.”

“I could melt us an entrance.” Ember suggested, cracking her knuckles with her claw. “Just get the guard on the side out of the way and boom.”

“That would be helpful, Slash, but it’s not quite the method we’re looking for.” Fortuna halted her train of thought. “We prefer something called the changeling way.”

“And what ‘way’ is that, exactly?”

“Based on the layout of the warehouse, I’d say a standard Decoy and Deploy maneuver. Lure all the guards away with a few well-timed skirmishes, then sneak in through the roof hatch to catch any remaining guards by surprise.” Pharynx stated, stepping forward.

“I was about to suggest that.” Metamorphosis spoke up. Pharynx couldn’t help shooting him a glare.

“Well, you didn’t. I did.”

“Trachus.” Fortuna hissed, and Pharynx could tell she was itching to lecture him, but they didn’t have time.

“In any case, you’re right. We were thinking of Decoy and Deploy.” Midlight jumped in to avoid an argument.

Fortuna relaxed slightly. “Alright then. Storm Wake, Toxis, Slash, you’ll go with Songwing to act as decoys for the guards to follow. Transmorpho, Vertex, Clef, and Trachus, you’ll be breaking in through the roof with me.”

Pharynx knew Fortuna chose the groups like this for a reason. If he didn’t love her so much, he’d have gutted her by now. Thorax stepped closer to him, and his temporarily golden eyes flashed.

“Pharynx, you’re drenched in negative emotions. I-I know you don’t like this, but please, mom seems to think it’s a good idea.”

Pharynx sighed and looked away. Ever since their transformation, Thorax had been able to transmit his thoughts more easily than before. It helped with communication sometimes, but Pharynx hated to have to more readily agree with him.

“Fine. I’ll play nice. For now. I still don’t like him.”

Fortuna tapped her hoof against the ground twice, and instantly Midlight disappeared into the trees. Tempest, Ocellus, and Ember followed her without a word, while Fortuna and Metamorphosis led the others into the air. It was time for the plan to be put into action.

Time to see if Pharynx could stay civil with the father he had just found.

Decoy and Deploy

As Pharynx followed his mother into the sky, he watched Metamorphosis with a stiff gaze. If the changeling realized he was being stared at, he made no efforts to react to it. They took shelter higher into the air, hovering silently so they wouldn’t be seen.

Soon, they heard shouts, watching as the guards at the doors had their attention diverted by bouts of flame and crossbows firing. The decoy was working.

“Dive, now!” Fortuna commanded.

The changelings flew down, instinctively preparing themselves to dive through the hatch and spread out once inside. Fortuna and Pharynx hit the wooden hatch first, breaking it with their powerful hooves, allowing entry.

The second the hatch broke under their hooves, the changelings flew down into the warehouse, ready to fight. Pharynx hit the ground and tackled the first griffon he saw, catching glimpses of the others doing the same out of the corner of his eye. Thorax was holding his own rather well, Apex staying near his father to provide backup if needed.

Fortuna and Metamorphosis had begun tag-teaming a larger group of griffons. Pharynx noticed them as he pinned a griffon to the ground. The two were in perfect sync — leap, slash, retreat, leap, slash, retreat. He supposed it made sense, they had been working together for years now. It still hurt, though, seeing how close his adoptive mother had become to the changeling that was apparently his father.

Griffons continued to barrage them on all sides, slashing out with their sharp beaks and talons, but the changelings were ready for each attack. Bite, punch, kick, repeat. Even without half of their group – who were likely now defending themselves against the griffons that had followed them – Pharynx could tell they were holding their own well enough.

The battle continued, as the changelings fought back griffon after griffon. Every time one was knocked down, another three would be in their place, each enemy that wasn’t completely unconscious rejoining the fray. Pharynx noticed that Thorax was getting backed into a corner, and lunged to defend him. He snarled, barreling into the griffon’s side, sharp horn piercing flesh, sending the griffon flying as he jerked his head. Thorax approached him, panting slightly from exerting himself more than usual.

“S-Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Pharynx wiped the blood from his horn. “Just fight. Where did Vertex go?”

Thorax looked around, before pointing. “There.”

Apex was standing atop a crate of what had to be the grains the griffons were after. He let out a loud war cry before leaping down onto a crowd of the griffons. The young deputy clutched onto one’s back, making the others have to jump at their fellow in order to grab at him. He laughed as he spread his wings, lifting off and hiding behind the crates as the griffons continued to thrash around for him.

“Grub’s got a tactic figured out, good.” Pharynx glanced at Thorax. “You figured anything out yet?”

“N-Not yet– ah!” Thorax yelped as another griffon began flying towards them. Pharynx whipped around, hissing, and lunged at the griffon, fighting them off easily with a few well-placed venom nips. “Thanks.”

“Alright, clearly this isn’t working.”

“Wait, I think I have an idea!”

Thorax dashed off to the crates where Apex had jumped the griffons. He quickly pried the lid off one, just as the griffons spotted him. They lunged, claws outstretched, making Thorax yelp loudly before shoving at the crate with all his might. It tipped over, crashing to the ground, spilling its contents all over the floor. Grains scattered at the griffon’s paws, and they had to dodge out of the way to avoid getting pierced by the sharp slivers.

Pharynx nodded in approval as Thorax began to open the other crates, ready to repeat the process. He then spotted Fortuna helping Metamorphosis to tie up some griffons using a rope, and jealousy burst up inside his chest. Trusting Thorax could handle the griffons without his supervision, Pharynx dove back into the fray.

The battle was slowly creeping into their favor, but there were still plenty of enemies. As Pharynx bit down on a griffon’s neck to inject them with a dose of paralysis venom, another leapt onto his back, pinning him to the floor. Pharynx hissed loudly, biting down on the griffon’s claw, but they just laughed, pressing their talons into Pharynx’s chitin, trying to break it. As Pharynx writhed and struggled to get out from under the griffon, Metamorphosis came running towards him, blasting the griffon off with a spell from his horn.

“Are you alright?” Metamorphosis asked as Pharynx stood back up.

“I had it handled.” Pharynx snapped instead of answering, turning away to dive back into the fray. Metamorphosis looked confused, but didn’t have time to do anything, as another griffon was quick to replace the one he’d blasted.

“How many more are there?!” Pharynx shouted to Fortuna, who scanned the crowd of griffons.

“More than I expected!” She shouted back with a cheeky grin. Pharynx rolled his eyes and lunged at another griffon, only to wind up surrounded by three at once.

“Trachus!” Thorax raced over, performing the same sliding motion that he’d used on Ember, sending a griffon collapsing to the ground. Apex dashed up beside Thorax, running over to the griffon and injecting them with venom to ensure the enemy stayed down.

“Cleft, take Vertex and go!” Pharynx snapped at him. “There’s too many for us to handle!”

“No, we can help!” Apex protested.

“Ap– Vertex, he’s right.” Thorax cut in while Pharynx kicked off one griffon to launch himself at another. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I can’t fight very well normally, and in this other form…”

A griffon tackled Pharynx from behind, abruptly drawing his attention from Thorax as he staggered under the weight. He let out a roar of frustration even as he flipped the larger creature over himself, sending them sprawling onto the floor.

“Alright, that’s it!” Pharynx snarled, kicking the griffon in the head to knock them out. “Time for these griffons to get a taste of what a real changeling can do!”

In a flash of green flames, Pharynx was in his signature monstrous bug form. He roared loudly at the griffons, swinging his insectoid leg out, knocking enemies away as though they weighed nothing. Now rising higher than anyone else, Pharynx let out another roar, taking down any griffons that were stupid enough to fly over, trying to fight him from the air. But Pharynx couldn’t hold the form for long, already feeling himself losing energy after holding up his unreformed disguise on top of this much larger form.

As Pharynx was mentally preparing to switch back, readying his unreformed disguise in his mind, a strange glimmer caught his attention. Using one of the many eyes of his monster form, Pharynx zeroed in on the cause of the gleam.

Metamorphosis was being backed up against a wall by a griffon who had somehow procured a farmer’s scythe. Fortuna was in a tussle with another griffon. Thorax and Apex had teamed up again, tripping up griffons by popping out from behind crates. None of them noticed Metamorphosis needed help. Pharynx was the only one who had, the only one who could step in.

But it was more than that. As Pharynx watched his father being backed up against the wall, blade lifted against his throat, something clicked into place inside him. Pharynx let out a feral roar, buzzing his giant wings as he stormed towards the griffon and Metamorphosis. He dropped his monster form with another dark hiss, standing firmly between the two creatures, fangs bared. Slamming his hoof against the ground, Pharynx growled menacingly at the griffon, lifting his head high as he could to push every amount of fear into the enemy as possible.

“Try me, fowl.” Pharynx snarled, baring his teeth.

The griffon slashed the scythe at Pharynx, causing him to hiss in pain as the blade slashed against his cheek. But the second the blade passed by his muzzle, Pharynx grasped it by the edge of his teeth and pulled. The movement successfully yanked the scythe from the griffon’s claw, allowing him to toss it up into the air. Pharynx then caught it in his aura, pointing it directly at the griffon’s chest.

“If you want to keep your life, leave, and take your friends with you.” Pharynx snarled, holding the blade against the griffon’s throat as he bared all his teeth, revealing the pointed fangs containing his venom. “Now.”

The griffon stared for a moment, then scampered, calling out for all the other griffons with a screeching bird’s call. Those who could still stand abandoned their own fights to run after him, those unconscious or tied up left behind. The rest of their team spread out to handle the griffons still unable to run. Pharynx, tasting blood dripping down his cheek, just turned to face his father as he wiped it away.

“That.” He spoke sharply, staring up at Metamorphosis’ shocked face. “Is how you chase off a griffon.”

It was then that he finally took a minute to properly scent Metamorphosis’ emotions. Confusion– wait, why was he confused? Pharynx had just dropped the monster form. Unless– Pharynx looked at the scythe in his aura. His red aura. Yep. Another quick glance confirmed it. When he’d dropped his monster form, his magic-exhausted body had reverted back to his true form, not his disguise.

“…Well, shi–”

Reconcilation

“W-What are you?” Metamorphosis asked Pharynx, staring at his undisguised form. Pharynx could see why he was surprised – after all, they only knew the changelings were reformed, not what they looked like.

“A changeling.” Pharynx deadpanned, dropping the scythe on the ground. “Same as you.”

“I don’t understand.” Metamorphosis looked around frantically. When Pharynx turned he saw Thorax, Apex, and Fortuna approaching them calmly. “F-Fortuna! What’s going on?!”

“Meta, easy.” Fortuna held up a hoof to calm him. “He’s a reformed changeling, this is what they look like now.”

“Then why was he disguised?” Metamorphosis questioned. “Are the others disguised as well?”

“W-Well, um, yes.” Thorax admitted, transformation flames surrounding him as he revealed his true form. Apex took his father’s lead and transformed back, ruby eyes shining in the dim light as he flew up to land on Thorax’s carapace.

“Toxis is a reformed changeling too.” Pharynx informed him. “The others are just as they appear to be, a dragon and a pony.”

Metamorphosis gave Fortuna a stern look that reminded the three reformed changelings of one they often saw back in the Empire. It was a look Shining Armor would give his daughter when Flurry Heart was throwing a fit.

“What else have you been keeping from us, Fortuna?” Metamorphosis questioned, brow raised in suspicion.

“Just one last thing, I promise.” Fortuna smiled. “Meta–”

“No.” Pharynx stopped her, glaring at his adoptive mother. She gave him a look.

“He deserves to know.”

“Well we didn’t agree to letting him know now!” Pharynx protested.

Thorax moved closer to them, his eyes flashing as he did his best to mentally reason with his brother.

“Pharynx, come on, he has to find out eventually.”

“You shut up.” Pharynx snapped, not bothering to use their link. “Fortuna, I won’t allow it.”

“And who are you to order me around?” Fortuna shot back. “You may outrank me now but I daresay you ought to have far more respect than you’re giving me.”

“Enough!”

The group turned around in slight shock after hearing the surprisingly sharp command. Metamorphosis straightened up to his full height, glaring at them.

“Just tell me what’s going on. I don’t appreciate being left in the dark and then being argued about while I’m standing right here.”

“Alright Meta,” Fortuna glanced at her two adoptive sons, pulling Apex off of Thorax’s back to hold him instead. “They’ll tell you. Together.”

“Fortuna–” Pharynx tried to protest, but she gave him a glare. “...Fine.”

Metamorphosis looked at Thorax and Pharynx expectantly. Pharynx sighed heavily and looked at his father.

“Metamorphosis, I’m sure you want to know who we are.” Pharynx began, taking a breath and glancing at Thorax. He nodded and stepped up to Pharynx’s side.

“I-I am the King of the Reformed Changelings. Thorax-basileus.” Thorax told their father, and the changeling’s eyes widened.

“T-Thorax?” Metamorphosis looked at him in shock, before his gaze turned to Pharynx. “Then you–”

“Pharynx-dynastus-dominus. The Prince and General of the Reformed Hive.” Pharynx muttered begrudgingly.

“Y-You two are– you’re–” Metamorphosis stepped closer, taking in the similar features they shared, even with the brothers reformed and him not. “My sons.”

“Yeah, your sons.” Pharynx snapped. “You know, the ones you didn’t know nor care existed?”

“W-What?” Metamorphosis stared at him. “Of course I care that you exist! Didn’t Fortuna tell you that?”

“Why should I believe you?” Pharynx scoffed and looked away. “You abandoned us, obviously you didn’t care.”

“I couldn’t go back there, not after what happened to me.” Metamorphosis protested. “But I promise, I-I never meant to leave you two behind, if I had known, I would have found a way to bring you with me.”

“Well, you didn’t seem to have any problem moving on once Tuney told you we existed.” Pharynx retorted, glaring up at his father.

“What–?”

“Don’t play dumb, she told us you have a life in your new town now. You have a boyfriend, you clearly don’t need us around to be happy.” Pharynx looked away from the others, gritting his teeth.

Metamorphosis hesitated, lowering his head to look at the ground. “When Fortuna told me you existed, and what Chrysalis had done to you, I was crushed. I may not have intended to have children, especially not as young as I was when you were conceived, but I did want to have a family eventually. I wanted my children to grow up knowing they were loved, and– and I learned that because of her, you two ended up neglected, abused, unable to even love yourselves. That wasn’t what I wanted.”

Pharynx’s ears twitched to show he was listening, but he continued glaring off to the side, avoiding eye contact. Metamorphosis looked up again, staring at his oldest son.

“Pharynx, I– I did move on, after I left the Hive. I’m not ashamed to admit that. I was unhappy there, and when I left, I managed to find a place I could be happy in. But I never said that I don’t need you, or that it was you two I was moving on from.” Metamorphosis moved closer, reaching out a hoof and placing it on his shoulder. “I didn’t move on from you two with someone else, I moved on from your mother and her values, and I’m beyond proud that you two did the same.”

Pharynx’s eyes watered, but he kept his gaze firmly in the opposite direction. “...We left the Hive. Like you did. Thorax, my apprentice, and I. They left first, then I followed them. We couldn’t stand for her morals anymore, I couldn’t. But at least I made sure everyone that I– that I loved was with me.”

“And believe me, if I had known Chrysalis was going to have you, I’d have waited until you two were born. I’d have taken you with me.” Metamorphosis sighed. “I panicked when I saw what had happened. I knew she would force me to stay so I ran, but if I had stopped to think–”

“I doubt anyone who had that happen to them would be thinking straight.” Pharynx admitted softly. “I– I’m not mad at you, I’m mad that– that I missed out on having a dad.”

“Well, we can fix that.” Metamorphosis said, and Pharynx finally looked up at him, tears still welling in his eyes. Metamorphosis seemed to have begun crying too. “I’ve dreamed of meeting you two, you know. I would love to get to know you.”

Pharynx slowly stepped forwards, and allowed Metamorphosis to bring him into a hug. Thorax was quick to rush and join them, tears streaking down his face. Metamorphosis accepted into the hug with a soft laugh, holding his sons tightly.

“Tuna, we’re– um, what did we miss?” Midlight and the others had returned.

“Papa Thorax an’ Uncle Pharynx me’ their dad!” Apex shouted, scampering around eagerly. The little nymph had been quiet the whole time, and evidently decided he’d had enough of being still.

“What?” Midlight exclaimed loudly, as Ocellus transformed back into her natural form, drawing another yelp. “The buck?!”

Metamorphosis blinked and pulled back from the hug, staring at Thorax. “Papa?”

Thorax blushed, chuckling sheepishly as he beckoned Apex into his hooves. The nymph just smiled up at Thorax as he was lifted off the ground. “M-Metamorphosis, u-um, dad, this is my adoptive son, Apex.”

“‘M Uncle Pharynx’s depu’y!” Apex said, grinning. “He says ‘m a grea’ warrior!”

Pharynx smiled at his nephew fondly, reaching over to rub his head. “Well, you are.”

“So, I see you’ve come to your senses.” Tempest remarked as she and Ember walked over to the small group, giving Pharynx a look. “I don’t think you know our real names yet, Metamorphosis. I’m General Tempest Shadow.”

“Dragon Lord Ember.” Ember added, smirking slightly. “Nice to meet you.”

“They’ve forgotten to mention – they’re Pharynx and Thorax’s girlfriends!” Fortuna called out, trotting over to gently nudge her sons in the side.

Metamorphosis stared for a moment, then laughed softly as his sons blushed. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“So this is why you wanted us to go back to the Hive, Tuna.” Midlight laughed. Fortuna smiled and trotted over to nuzzle her.

“Oh, well, you never know, you might find you quite like settling down, Lighty.”

“We’ll see, Tuna, we’ll see.”

Metamorphosis simply smiled, nuzzling his sons and talking with them, clearly overjoyed to be meeting his family. Thorax was eagerly telling Metamorphosis all about the reformed Hive, while Ocellus and Apex butted in with questions about Metamorphosis himself. Pharynx just stood beside his family, watching silently, but proudly.

As it turned out, maybe Pharynx could accept his father. They would still have a ways to go before they were fully adjusted to each other, for sure, but Pharynx was okay with taking that step. He was okay with allowing Metamorphosis… allowing their dad into their lives.

Epilogue: Old Endings, New Beginnings

“Pharynx, come on, they’re here!” Thorax poked his head into his brother’s room.

“I’m coming.” Pharynx sighed as he got up from where he'd been polishing a sword. “Do we have to do this?”

“Come on Pharynx, we agreed.” Thorax frowned. “Besides, dad wants it.”

“I know.” Pharynx followed his brother out. “It’s just going to take some getting used to.”

“I hope they like their room.” Ocellus piped up as she fell into place beside them. “Apex and I got it all cleaned out.”

“Where is my deputy anyway?” Pharynx asked, and Ocellus giggled.

“He said he wanted to go patrol with Zenith.”

“Of course.” Pharynx rolled his eyes. “I’ve got to talk with him about balancing play and work at some point.”

“But not today.” Thorax instructed, smiling. “Today is about dad.”

“Yeah, I know.” Pharynx rolled his eyes.

Metamorphosis had spent most of his time with his sons over the past month, getting to know the brothers. Although they were eager for Metamorphosis to move into the Hive alongside Fortuna and Midlight, he had a condition. He wanted his boyfriend to go with him, and meet his sons.

Initially, Pharynx had been against it. They had only just gotten to know Metamorphosis himself, it didn’t feel right to have them interact with his boyfriend right away. But he had explained that he was devoted to the stallion, and they wanted a chance to possibly get married one day. Thorax and Apex had seemed open to the idea, so Pharynx, not wanting another argument, consented. Today was the day, after having spent two weeks packing up, Metamorphosis and his boyfriend, Griff, were moving to the Hive.

“Dad!” Thorax spotted the red mane and raced forwards to catch his father in a hug.

“Thorax!” Metamorphosis nuzzled his youngest son as Pharynx approached. “My boys, oh, it’s so good to see you two again.”

Pharynx cleared his throat, glancing at the stallion beside Metamorphosis. The father and son promptly broke from their hug, Metamorphosis blushing sheepishly.

“Ah, right, sorry. Pharynx, Thorax, Ocellus,” Metamorphosis began. Ocellus perked up as she realized she was being included. “This is my boyfriend, Griff Adler.”

The stallion was an alicorn, and despite Thorax’s formidable height, he actually just about matched him at eye level. The alicorn had a light yellow coat with a long, flowing white mane, red eyes seeming to gleam brightly in the light – definitely not a royal they recognized, which was even more confusing. Pharynx wasn’t sure what to think of him. He looked like a soldier of some sort, but he had a downright goofy smile on his face. Pharynx could taste the nervousness wafting off the stallion.

“I-It’s nice to finally meet you.” Griff’s wings rustled on his back. “Morphy has been talking about reuniting with you two for a long time, heh.”

“W-Well, it’s nice to meet you too.” Thorax said, smiling. “I-I’m Thorax-basileus, this is my brother Pharynx-dynastus-dominus, and our advisor Ocellus-consiliaria.”

“Oh, just an advisor?” Ocellus questioned with a playful smile. Thorax giggled and pulled her in for a gentle hug.

“Heh, right, um, Meta’s told me about those rank-name things. What do those mean again, dear?” Griff glanced at his mate, who smiled back.

“Consiliaria is a new one, as far as I know. But translated, it means an advisor or to council.” Metamorphosis smiled at Ocellus kindly. “I think it fits her well.”

Ocellus blushed sheepishly. “Thank you.”

“Dynastus-dominus is a combination. Prince-General, essentially.” Meta added, nodding to Pharynx, who lifted his head slightly out of pride. “And Basileus translates into King.”

“Oh! Heh, silly me, should have remembered that one.” Griff smiled sheepishly. “It’s good to meet you all though.”

“Where’s all your stuff?” Pharynx asked abruptly.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ve got it all in a safe place.” Griff smiled at the stern warrior, despite the fact he wasn’t smiling back.

“C-Come on dad, Ocellus and Apex helped me set up your room.” Thorax interrupted, trying to clear out the awkward air as he led Metamorphosis off. Ocellus followed behind, Pharynx trotting after her at a quick pace with Griff nervously bringing up the rear.

Soon, Thorax led Metamorphosis into the room that would be his and Griff’s. Like the room they had given Ocellus, it was situated right beside Thorax and Pharynx’s, signifying his place in the royal family. Metamorphosis beamed as he saw the open space, along with the soft-looking bed pressed against a corner of the room.

“Apex and I added these plants.” Ocellus told him, pointing to the vines coming in through the hole that was the window. “I also put the bookshelves up.”

“Thank you Ocellus. Where is Apex, anyway?” Metamorphosis asked, looking around. “I was hoping Griff could meet him, he’s a former soldier, I figured he might like to share some of his knowledge with him.”

“Apex is my deputy, not his.” Pharynx cut in, only to be glared at by Thorax.

“Pharynx, he just wants Griff to meet him.” Thorax smiled at Metamorphosis. “Ocellus said he was out with Zenith-eques, we’ll see them at the next mealtime.”

“That reminds me.” Pharynx strode over to Griff, causing the alicorn to let out a soft yelp of alarm as he was backed into a wall. “I have a few questions for you.”

“Oh not this again.” Ocellus rolled her eyes while Thorax sighed.

“U-Um, not what again?” Griff asked nervously.

“Shovel talk.” Ocellus supplied. “Really Pharynx? I get why you did it when I brought Smolder over, but this is your dad’s boyfriend!”

“I’d say that’s a good enough reason.” Pharynx snapped, keeping his gaze trained on Griff. “So, Adler…”

Griff gulped nervously as Metamorphosis walked over, putting a hoof on Pharynx’s shoulder. “I don’t think this is really necessary, Pharynx.”

“Yes, it is, dad.” Pharynx jabbed a hoof into Griff’s chest. “Now, you.”

Griff screwed his eyes shut, clearly expecting something to happen. But Pharynx only took a breath, lowered his hoof, and stared at him.

“Do you make him happy?”

Griff peeked back out, then untensed, realizing what was going on. “Heh, I– well, I hope I do. I really love him.”

Metamorphosis blushed, stepping back to allow the two to talk. Pharynx gave Griff a half-smile, nodding in agreement.

“So you promise to protect him, then?”

“Of course! I’ll do anything to keep him safe.”

“And remain loyal to him?”

“I shall be his devoted mate for as long as he lets me.” Griff promised, smiling at Metamorphosis fondly.

“Then you are welcome.” Pharynx consented, holding up a hoof to stop Griff as he reached for a hug. “Not there yet. Consider yourself trusted, for now, but we have a ways to go before I get to the point of actually caring about you.”

“Got it. Sorry.” Griff smiled and made his way back over to Metamorphosis. Thorax nuzzled his father, smiling at Griff, before looking over at Pharynx.

“You could have been less intimidating, you know.” Thorax’s eyes gleamed as the message went through. Pharynx snorted slightly.

“You realize who you’re talking to, right?”

Thorax just shook his head and smiled. “Dad, um, Ocellus, Pharynx and I have some work we need to take care of. You’ll be alright unpacking on your own, right?”

“Of course Thorax, you three go ahead.” Metamorphosis nuzzled his mate gently. “Griff and I can handle it.”

“Great. We’ll come find you later.” Thorax hugged his father one last time, before he, Pharynx, and Ocellus made their way out of the room.

“So do we actually have work to do, Thorax, or were you using that as an excuse to let them be alone for a while?” Ocellus questioned. “Because I don’t remember us having anything to do today.”

“Well, maybe it was a little excuse.” Thorax smiled sheepishly. “But, I was hoping to do something with you both.”

“If you say Feelings Forum, I’ll–”

“No, no Pharynx, it’s not that.” Thorax laughed. “I was thinking we could find Apex, and then the four of us could go spend some time together. Now that dad’s back, I thought we might as well get to bond a little more, as a family.”

“I think that sounds like a great idea!” Ocellus piped up before Pharynx could respond. “Come on, my fratres! First one to find Apex gets to choose what we do!”

She raced off without giving the two a chance to respond. Pharynx just smirked and shook his head, while Thorax laughed. The two brothers glanced at each other, before smiles overtook both their faces.

“You heard her, baby bro, better find Apex before me or we’ll be running laps around the Hive!” Pharynx challenged, before tearing off after Ocellus.

“What?! Hey, no fair!” Thorax laughed as he quickly chased after Pharynx.

The sound of the monarch’s laughter filled the air, the overwhelmingly sweet joy in his cries warming the hearts of each of his subjects. His brother and sister’s laughs soon joined in with his own, as the siblings rushed to find their missing link. The one changeling that had started the ripple that led them to where they were now.

Apex, their Young Warrior.

~End~

Author's Note

So... here it is. We're at the end of the series. Wow it's been a much longer ride than I ever expected it to be, but I kept having ideas. Feel free to imagine your own continuations from this point on, more adventures for this family of bugs to go on. But yes, this is indeed the end, the final story of this installment, and in fact perhaps one of the last I may post here.

Don't get me wrong, I love MLP! But I haven't written anything new for it in... a while, even this story was written and completed like- two or three years ago. My fanfiction brain has turned to other hyperfixations, and I feel anything I write for MLP won't hold the same sort of love and devotion it needs for me to be proud of it. So... I hope this is a good high note to leave you all on. If you're interested, feel free to check out my stories on AO3 (my profile there is DylnLing) for other fandoms. I truly am so proud of the Young Warrior stories, as well as several of my other stories on here and I hope you all continue to enjoy them. I hope you enjoyed this conclusion of my longest series to date, but I suppose with that, it's goodbye for now. Until next time.

~Melody Song