The Young Warrior: Eternally Paternal

“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.