//------------------------------// // ...To the 'Ling's Family // Story: Coming Out // by Melody Song //------------------------------// "Ugh, its freezing..." Smolder muttered, rubbing her arms as she and Ocellus walked through the snow. It was the holiday break at the School of Friendship, and Smolder and Ocellus had departed for the changeling kingdom after saying goodbye to their friends. The two had decided they'd go there first, then to the Dragonlands. They'd taken the train to a station near the hive but they still needed to walk the rest of the way. "It's not that bad sweetie." Ocellus remarked to Smolder's grumbling. "Celly, how are you not cold? You have chitin, not fur or scales!" "Well, usually in the old days, changelings would go deep into the hive and hibernate through the winter. But our chitin is a bit tougher now, and slightly more resistant to the cold. Plus the hive is so much warmer now that it's practically-" "A beacon of love?" "Well, yeah, pretty much." Ocellus giggled and blushed at the fact Smolder remembered a way she had previously described her home. "Anyway, you might also be feeling it more since dragons are more used to the heat than the cold." "I guess. Still, are we almost there?" "Yep. My mother told me the hive looks so beautiful in the winter. I really want to see it up close." Smolder shivered again as a gust of cold air hit them. Since the hive was it's own kingdom, pegasi did not schedule the weather like they did in Equestria. This meant they hadn't known what weather conditions to expect. Ocellus felt a little bad for not mentioning to Smolder it might be cold, and pressed against the taller creature. She felt Smolder's tense form relax slightly. "Thank you for coming with me Smoldie. It means a lot." Ocellus murmured, closing her eyes and smiling as Smolder placed a claw on her back. Smolder sighed and blushed. "No problem Celly. At least we can cross off two at once on that list." "What do you mean?" "Aw, come on Celly, don't tell me you haven't gotten it!" "Huh? Got what?" Ocellus looked up and shook her head to clear it. "Celly, you were the one who suggested you and I tell our leaders, remember? We're going to the hive now, we might as well not have to make the same trip twice to tell two different changelings." "Oh, right." Ocellus rubbed her eyes. "Sorry Smoldie. I did mention changelings used to hibernate in winter due to the cold...old habits are hard to ignore, I'm kind of sleepy." "You need a lift?" Smolder held out her arms, and Ocellus smiled at her, cheeks pink from the cold and her blushing. "Hehe, well, I wouldn't want to slow you down..." "Nah, it'll be extra warmth for me. Young dragons' pyro glands aren't fully grown, so I can't heat myself up very much. But if I'm holding you, I might be warmer." Ocellus giggled. "Okay then." The two stopped so that Smolder could lift Ocellus into her arms. Ocellus shifted until she'd adjusted herself into a comfortable position. Smolder chuckled and kissed Ocellus' head gently, and she nuzzled her. Smolder then started walking. Soon, after walking through a forest of now bare trees covered in ice, they reached a cliff overlooking a snow covered field. The spires of the hive could be seen in the distance. "Great..." Smolder groaned, and Ocellus leaned up to touch noses with her. "You know, since you're carrying me, and your wings aren't as fragile as mine, you could fly us there..." "Way ahead of you." Smolder spread her wings and pushed off the cliff, taking off and wobbling a bit as she balanced them. Ocellus giggled and pressed against Smolder as they flew above the snowy fields. They could see frozen and wilting plants. Ocellus smiled as she admired the view. It was surprisingly new and different, seeing it from her special someone's arms rather than just flying on her own. "I see the hive!" Smolder called out. "Okay, go ahead and land Smoldie. Pharynx is probably patrolling the hive and we don't want to get on his bad side." "Oh alright..." Smolder sighed, lowering down to the ground until she landed. Ocellus, ignoring the whine of protest from Smolder, slid out of the dragoness' arms and began leading the way. As they neared the hive, she gasped in amazement. The hive was covered in a thin layer of frost, so that it gleamed and sparkled in the cold sunlight. Icicles hung from some of the walls, and a few vines that thrived in the cold were weaving around the spires of their own accord, creating a mystical appearance. "Oh wow..." Ocellus breathed "You got that right..." Smolder murmured "You know...this is kinda giving me an idea for a dress." she blushed, and Ocellus looked up at her, smiling knowingly. "So that's why there's so many new dresses in the closet I don't remember you buying..." "Don't tell anyone?" Smolder asked in a low voice, and Ocellus smiled at her, rubbing against the dragon. "Promise." "Halt! Who goes there-oh, it's just you." Prince-General Pharynx of the changeling hive stalked up to them, leaving prints in the untouched snow. "Hello Prince Pharynx." Ocellus said, breaking away from Smolder and trotting to him. "I assume you're here for the holiday break?" "Yes. Smolder and I will be leaving for a bit, but I wanted to talk to my parents and Thor-I mean, King Thorax." Ocellus corrected herself after a glare from Pharynx. "Your parents are on decorating duty, Thorax isn't here at the moment." "Where is he?" "That's none of your business, Ocellus." Pharynx replied, nodding to the entrance of the hive. "Go on then, do whatever you came here for. I'm continuing my patrol." "Thank you." Ocellus bowed to him, and he nodded in approval, then continued on. "Come on Smolder." Smolder followed Ocellus into the hive. Ocellus led her down the halls, where they saw tons of changelings hanging decorations and talking to each other. Ocellus had her mouth open slightly, and Smolder looked at her. "What are you doing?" "Every creature has a specific thing they taste-or smell-like. A distinct scent. I'm searching for my parents'." "Oh...so Sandbar tastes like...?" "Saltwater and sea air." "Huh. Thorax and Pharynx?" "Thorax's scent is Mango, Pharynx's is Meyer lemon." "Heh...me?" Ocellus looked up at her, smiling. "The smoke coming off a roaring fire." Smolder smiled and reached, intending to hug the young changeling, but before she could, someone called out. "Ocellus!" a female changeling with teal chitin, a yellow stomach, and fuschia accents raced up to them. She was followed by a male changeling with a horn, powder blue chitin, light red eyes, and a green carapace. "Mom! Dad!" Ocellus raced to the two, hugging them. "It's so great to see you! Where are Capillarie and Scorpia?" "They're in the nursery while we hang the decorations. Oh, it's so wonderful to see you too, my little june bug!" the female said Smolder cleared her throat, and Ocellus blushed. "Sorry Smolder. These are my parents, Pupae and Oculus. Mom, dad, this is Smolder. She goes to school with me." "Hello ma'am, sir." "It's nice to meet you Smolder, please, call us Pupae and Oculus." Ocellus' mother said, smiling. "Okay..." Smolder said hesitantly, giving them a small smile. "Mom, dad, can we go to my room? I have something to tell you." "Alright sweetie. We'll just go get your brother and sister and meet you there." Ocellus' father replied, and the family hugged once more before Pupae and Oculus headed off. "Come on Smolder." Ocellus led her down the hall, and they eventually came to a door that Ocellus pushed open. "So this is your bedroom, huh?" Smolder asked, and Ocellus nodded, blushing. "It's across the hall to my parent's..." "Good to know." Smolder winked at her as she entered the room. "Sm-Smolder!" Ocellus blushed harder. "Heh, what?" Smolder was looking at the dresser, then opened the closet and reached in. "You still have the tiara I gave you?" "Y-Yes, b-but Smolder, why?" "Well, I don't know why you kept it-" "You know what I mean!" Ocellus' eyes widened as she realized how loud she had been. Her voice dropped as Smolder turned to look at her. "I mean...why did you say that?" "Well, I've got to know how loud we can be..." Smolder stalked up to her, and Ocellus backed up. "After all..." Ocellus reared as she hit the wall and let out a small squeak. She blushed fiercely as Smolder placed a hand on the wall to box her in. "...I wouldn't want my queen-" Ocellus let out a small gasp at the nickname, "To be caught doing something..." Smolder lifted Ocellus' chin, smiling, and she smiled back, falling into the dragoness' sapphire eyes. "...that her parents didn't think her capable of..." They kissed. Ocellus slipped her hooves around Smolder's neck, pulling her in and pressing her body against the dragon's. Smolder moved her hands to wrap around the changeling's waist, closing her eyes and sinking into the passionate kiss. Just as they released each other, staring into each other's eyes... "Celly, who's that? Why'd you kiss her?" a small voice asked, and the two turned, eyes widening and cheeks turning red. The owner of the voice was a small pink female changeling nymph with blue accents and deep blue eyes. She stood beside a green male nymph with a horn, yellow carapace, and blue accents. Behind them were Ocellus' parents, who were staring at them. "U-Um...I...I can explain..." Ocellus stammered, blushing. "So, Ocellus, I assume Smolder is a bit more than a friend?" Pupae asked with a knowing grin. "W-Well...I..." Ocellus blushed harder and pressed into Smolder, who wrapped an arm around her. "Y...Yes...Smolder's my...my girlfriend..." "That's wonderful Ocellus!" Oculus said brightly, trotting to her. "Celly's got a girlfriend~" the male nymph teased "So, who are they?" Smolder asked as the two nymphs ran to Ocellus. "Oh, right. Smolder, this is my brother and sister. Capillarie," Ocellus gestured to the boy "And Scorpia." she then picked up the girl. "Hey little guys." Smolder said "So, I take it you'll take good care of her?" Oculus asked, and Smolder nodded, blushing. "Y-Yeah, of course I will." "Good." he smiled at her. "Um...we wanted to tell Thorax too...Pharynx said he wasn't here though..." "He left this morning, we're not sure where he went, though I think Pharynx knows." Pupae said "Speaking of Pharynx, he clearly doesn't know what he's doing, leaving the hive unprotected while patrolling." "Dad! Don't say that, I think he's a great general." "Of course he is sweetie, Oculus is just saying that he needs to think of the possible threats outside the hive's borders that are waiting for us, instead of thinking only of those that are coming for us." "Mom, dad." "Right. He should be back by now Ocellus, he said he'd be back around this time." Oculus said "Alright. I guess we should check the throne room then." Ocellus said "Come on Smolder." They headed out of the bedroom, leaving her parents and heading for the throne room.