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?”