TPride and Joy
MLP: FiM
Romance
Slice of Life
When Thorax finds a young orphaned nymph, his life changes in a way he never expected. But he couldn't be happier.
Death
OC
Changelings
Thorax
Pharynx
Melody Song · 89k words · 93 10 · 3.8k views

Apex Meets Zenex · 6:38pm Dec 23rd, 2020

This was co-written with MlpHero, hope you like it

The Fangs, Blue, Dagger, Mantis, Stinger, and Zenex were starting their rehearsal. Zenex was sitting at the organ, beginning to play again. The group began their song

Zenex began with the opening instrumental. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the music. The songs of the organ filled his heart with joy. He heard the other Fangs joining in

[Blue Fang]
Mare and her wings; ain’t nothing there in between
[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
A flying weapon all the way from Cloudsdale

[Blue Fang]
The flame in her mane, this mare commands her domain
[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
From Cloudsdale and all the way to White Tail.
Zenex smiled, glancing over at his fellow Fangs

They smiled back, before continuing.

[Blue Fang]
From up above, you're under fire
A firestorm that’s burning higher!
Born a hero from her homeland to the War,
That's where the legend will arise

And she's flying
[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
Higher!
[Blue Fang]
The Queen of the Sky
Her wings are too fast and her flames are growing too high
[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
Higher,
[Blue Fang]
An eye for an eye
Her legend will never die
Zenex smiled and turned back to the organ

Just then, three other changelings stepped in. Two were familiar to Zenex, Thorax and Pharynx, however, one of them, a nymph, wasn’t. The little nymph had lime green chitin with a red carapace and ruby red eyes

Zenex blinked and accidentally pressed on the wrong key. The others halted as Zenex fumbled.

“Oops! S-Sorry guys!” Zenex said. “Just... lost my train of thought for a sec...”

“It's fine, just try again Zen.” Blue encouraged, and they picked up where they left off

Zenex nodded and continued playing.

[Blue Fang]
First to the scene, she is a flying machine,
[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
It's early June and the tide is turning
[Blue Fang]
Fire at will it is the thrill of the hit
[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
Four drops in a day with an ember burning.

[Blue Fang]
Embrace the fame, Wonderbolt leader
Call out her name, Captain Spitfire!
In the war to win, Spitfire rolls the dice
Twenty Hornets paid the price.

[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
Higher,
[Blue Fang]
The Queen of the Sky
She’s flying too fast, again, she's flying too high

[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
Higher
[Blue Fang]
An eye for an eye
The legend will never die

[Blue, Dagger, Stinger, Mantis]
Higher

The Fangs stopped playing their instruments and let Zenex play the organ. He was unaware of it, however. He closed his eyes, playing the piece from memory. He smiled, swaying side to side. The Fangs chuckled, smiling at the unreformed nymph.

Soon, the nymph’s ears flicked as he realized the others had stopped playing. He blushed and covered his face.

“Aww, come on Zen, don't stop!” Blue chuckled “It was good!”

Zenex blushed harder. “O-Okay...” Zenex began playing another instrumental.

The Fangs cheered as he played, joining Thorax and Pharynx offstage. Zenex blushed and smiled. Then, he looked at the nymph. The little nymph was watching him eagerly

Zen blushed and accidentally placed his hoof on another key. He flinched as he hit the wrong key. He looked over at the others. They were still cheering him on, smiling encouragingly at the nymph. He blushed and continued. The group cheered for him as he continued.

“Heheh... I-I’m not that good...” he mumbled.

“Of course you are!” Mantis objected

Zenex blushed and stepped off stage. The Fangs cheered, and Thorax and Pharynx walked over. Zenex blushed and snuggled into Thorax.

Thorax smiled and put a hoof around him. “You did really good Zenex.”

Zenex smiled and nuzzled him. “Y-You really think so...?”

“Of course!” Thorax told him, smiling

Zenex smiled back and snuggled into him. “Thanks...”

“No problem Zen.”

Thorax smiled, then let out an involuntary giggle as the nymph that had come in with the brothers poked his head out from underneath Thorax. Zenex looked at him curiously. Thorax smiled at the younger nymph, who was hiding underneath him shyly.

“Who are you...?” Zenex asked.

The nymph stepped out slowly. “‘M-‘M A-Apex…”

Zenex nodded. “Z-Zenex...” he muttered quietly.

Thorax smiled and stepped back slightly, letting the two nymphs have some space. Zenex squeaked and covered his face.

Apex stepped closer. “H-Hey, 're you okay?”

Zenex poked his head out, his green eye closed.

Apex blinked at him. “Is som'thin wrong wi' your eye?”

“U-Uh...”

Apex leaned forwards and nosed him gently. “I's okay, you can tell me if you wanna…”

Zenex giggled slightly and his green eye opened.

Apex smiled at him. “So why were you hidin' your face?”

Zenex blushed. “I-I didn’t want you to see my eye...”

“Whas' wrong with your eye?” Apex blinked innocently. “I don' see nothin' wrong with i'.”

“W-What do you mean?” Zenex asked. “D-Don’t I look weird...?”

“Nu-uh!” Apex smiled and nuzzled him. “I think you look nice!”

Zenex giggled as Apex nuzzled him. Apex smiled and pulled back. Zenex smiled back.

“You don' look weird t'me Zenex.” Apex then blushed and looked away. “Y-You don' think I talk weird, d'you?”

Zenex shook his head. “Why would I think that?”

“E'eryling else in the nu'se'y says I talk differen'. Unc-Pharynx says i's called a speech defec' an' tha' I'll pro'ly grow ou'a i' bu' he doesn' know f'sure.” Apex explained, blushing at how he was pronouncing the words.

“Ah.” Zenex nuzzled him. “Well, I don’t think it’s weird. In fact, it’s actually kinda cute.”
Apex blushed and nuzzled back. “R-Rea'y?”

“Mhm!”

Apex blushed and hugged him. “Thanks…”

“Of course!” Zenex hugged back. Apex blushed harder and leaned against him.

Zenex smiled. “Y-You don’t think it’s dumb that I play the organ, do you...?”

“Nu-uh, i's cool! You did so good!”

Now, it was Zen’s turn to blush.

“I's true! Papa Thorax sai' so too!”

Zenex smiled. Apex smiled back, nuzzling him. Zenex giggled and nuzzled back.

“Heheh... hey Zenex...?”

“Yeah?”

“D-D'you wanna be frien's?”

Zenex’s eyes lit up and he hugged Apex. “Yes!”

Apex giggled and hugged him. “Yay!”

Thorax smiled at the two. Apex pulled away from the hug, trotting over to Thorax. Thorax scooped him up.

“Hehehe! Papa Thorax…” Apex nuzzled against him. Thorax smiled and rocked him. Apex yawned and rubbed his eyes. “Papa Thorax, no…”

“Heheh, bed time?”

“Mm-mm!”

“Why?”

“‘M no’ sleepy…”

Thorax chuckled. “You sure about that?”

“Mhm!” Apex crossed his hooves stubbornly

Zenex stared at him. Apex grumbled and tried to keep his eyes open. Zenex buzzed his wings. Apex looked over at him. Zenex flew over and nestled into Thorax’s other hoof.

Apex smiled slightly and reached for him. Zenex blushed and nestled closer to Apex. Apex smiled and closed his eyes. Zenex smiled and snuggled closer, also beginning to close his eyes. Thorax smiled, cradling the two. The two snuggled closer.

“Heh, sleep well you two.” Thorax said, smiling at them. They smiled at him.

“Heheh...Papa Thorax…” Apex yawned, resting against him

Zenex giggled and snuggled Apex. Apex blushed and snuggled close, yawning. Soon, the two nymphs were fast asleep. Thorax smiled and held them gently. They smiled and held each other. Thorax chuckled and nuzzled the two nymphs, happy they'd become friends.