Calrax Moments, a Reflective Archive (Spoilers!) · 11:26am Sep 27th, 2021
Throughout the journey of writing The King of Love Bugs, the development of Calor's crush on Thorax went from a comical running gag to something tangible, which eventually got closure.
With KoLB completed, and its physical print ready this October, I felt like I should make this blog. I've received comments several times from readers before expressing how they wished to reread the story to better notice the development of Calor's pining, because most instances are sprinkled across the story, rather than having dedicated chapters.
Why not make something concentrated, for those who'd like it? 
Spoilers ahead, obviously, for those yet to read or finish KoLB. 
Chapter 1: An Elegant Discussion
The drone on his hooves shivered, and the alpha changeling grinned. Was it the sun warming his underbelly? Was it the satisfaction of having taken in his fill of love magic? Perhaps it was both.
As if sensing his gaze, the changeling tilted his head back and peered skywards. Violet orbs locked with deep azure.
"Is everything okay, Thorax?" the drone asked curiously.
"Everything is perfect, Calor," Thorax answered. "I'm just excited about how well the re-construction has been going. Everyling is doing a great job, and I'm so happy I can help you all rest like this."
Calor reflected the smile, standing to his hooves and stretching his wings. Running with the signal, Thorax gently began to wake the other drones encircling him with his hoof.
Chapter 13: All the More for Us
He paused. That was a mistake. Starting again while faced with perfectly attentive eyes was nerve-wracking.
"I-I know I didn't go this time, but that's because I was so distracted with helping the nursery changelings after that big announcement you made last night. I really wanted to go, so I thought maybe next time I could. If that'd be alright with you..."
He paused again, watching the lip of the spring below his hooves. He was sweating through his carapace, but it wasn't from the steam.
"That's great, Calor," Thorax said gently. "You're one of the most lively, loving changelings I know. Those are the kinds of changelings we need in the empire; changelings who can show everypony how much we've changed."
Calor looked up at last and his breath caught in his chest. Thorax was smiling, layering the humid air with further warmth—warmth born from emotion and magic.
Calor felt his cheeks stain red. A changeling could drown in a room alone with Thorax, singled out by overwhelming affection. Then again, there was no other place he'd rather be.
"You know, I'm still surprised at how few changelings come down here," said Calor. Thorax hummed in response.
"I think a lot of changelings just don't like to get wet, even if the water is nice. All the more for us, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so." A firm hoof wrapped around Calor’s barrel and pulled him closer, and so he pressed further into the contrastingly cool chitin.
Luckily for the drone, the heat of his blush was his alone to feel.
"Oh, they were good. Total butterflies, in fact. They were just bored without you there."
"But they had you and the other adults, didn't they? You guys played with them, right?"
Calor withdrew his snout to lay his cheek along that green chitin instead. He thrummed pleasantly, soothing himself with his own vibrations.
"It's not the same without you," he muttered. "It's never the same without you."
Thorax fawned. "Also their words?"
"Nope, mine. But yeah, everyling thinks that, I think."
Chapter 23: Cerulean is the Warmest Shade of Blue
"So what did you need my help with, Thorax?"
Thorax watched his company bounce with each hoof step, exhibiting enough kinetic energy to reach the moon. Together, they emerged from the hive's shade and refuge and joined the lavish outdoor flowers working to kiss the sun.
"I wanted to talk with you about a couple of things," Thorax began, falling to his flank. "They’re opportunities I wanted to see if you'd be interested in. One is a little side project; the other is a bit bigger. You're always so eager to help out, so I knew I had to come to you first."
Calor perched himself atop a flattened stone, granting Thorax his full attention. A cool northern breeze fell over the meadow like a breath, swaying hundreds of flowers in a unified dance; but the meadow harbored a different beauty for the blue changeling today.
Nature's splendors were merely a frame for even greater perfection.
Calor's ears wilted, their strength channeling to his quivering lip. "Aww, that's so sweet of you. But Thorax, you don't have to worry about me, honest. I might do a lot, but I know how to relax and regain energy, too. Or have you forgotten who Top Cuddlebug is among all the adults?"
"Oh, how could I ever forget who Top Cuddlebug is?" Thorax chortled. "You think I haven't noticed who's always first in line for communal rests in the nesting chamber? Who takes shifts in the nursery hive to play and rest with nymphs, like me? I think you could out-cuddlebug even me on your best days."
Chapter 25: A Capital Idea, Princess - Part II
"Wait, we're cuddling now?"
Calor's jaw unhinged in a display of betrayal as Xenica rubbed up and under Thorax's chin.
"Sorry, Calor, she was swift," Thorax chuckled. "The left side is still open for you, though."
Calor raised a distraught hoof.
"But...there's no hooves there to hold me."
Chapter 28: A Day at the Museum - Part I
Thorax jumped when he found his hoof gently lifted and pecked. Several changelings squished their cheeks and gasped at Mild Menagerie’s charming greeting.
"Ooh, oh, my. Thorax, I've seen this before on recon," remarked Xenica, climbing Thorax's shell to hiss in his ear. "I think she's proposing to you as a mate. Look out for a ring. You're committed after that."
Calor silently shrieked.
"Oh, m-my deepest apologies," Mild stammered, flustered. "You didn’t just finish explaining to this cute young lad about your unfamiliarity with pony culture in front of me! Clearly, I dropped my brain somewhere this morning. Just a respectful greeting you can find among the aristocracy, Your Highness."
Mild turned to the rest of the room. A distraught Calor decisively crouched, leaped, and clung to Thorax from behind.
Chapter 30: Tardy, Thy Name is Twilight Sparkle
"Should you like to entertain souvenirs before you depart Canterlot, I know of a fantastic seamstress who makes the loveliest blanket patterns, just up the street. I'm sure she could stitch up a pattern of our historical statues to use, as well as anything else that may strike your fancy."
Thorax opened his mouth, to suggest that such an offer was lovely, if unnecessary, but five avatars of delight pressed into him from all sides first. His world became an unpleasant flurry of wings and voices.
"Oh, I'd love a blanket to remember Canterlot, Thorax!" Apidae chirped.
"Same! I'll get something with the sun and moon on it," Xenica said. "We can use it as a prop and make a play for the other changelings about the roleplay you and Princess Luna did, Thorax. You should reprise your role as Chrysalis."
"I know what I'd get on mine," Calor hummed, rubbing his hooves together feverishly and casting his twinkling eyes on an aloof Thorax.
"I still can't believe you and I never had a conversation before we changed, Thorax." Asserting himself beneath his alpha's neck, Calor out-thrummed Apidae to the best of his ability. "The hive is so crowded, and bullying was so common that I never got a chance to talk to you one-on-one. But I saw you once or twice, and I always felt bad that you were always by yourself."
Chapter 33: When Hosting a Sleepover, Secure Several Changelings
Pharynx's grin seemed to be chiseled from stone. Apidae was inconsequential. He waited patiently for the blue and green drones he sought to pass by.
"B-but Thorax, I've decided that I want to cuddle with you, instead!" Calor hugged Thorax's barrel adamantly. He got a resounding round of adoring coos from his hosts, but a less than accepting chuckle from Thorax.
"We always cuddle, Calor. Like, every night in the nesting chamber." Thorax plucked the changeling off with magic. "I don't get it. You and Cimex were so thrilled earlier. Don't tell me you're going to disappoint the princesses, now. Look how comfy those bean bags look."
Chapter 34: New Eras are Never Easy, Thorax
Thorax twitched nervously. Several changelings stood on their back hooves to hug him desperately.
"Deep breaths, Thorax," Apidae instructed.
"Don't worry. You can totally give a speech to the city ponies!" Calor said.
"Yeah, and if you can't, we'll just throw Calor out there, and he can pretend to be you."
Calor glared at Xenica, but only for a moment.
"Less preferable, but yeah, I could totally be you, Thorax. I've practiced."
Chapter 38: Epilogue III - My Place is Here With You
"Calor, you-" Thorax stopped and started repeatedly. The blush had infected his cheeks, as well. "Are you-with me? But I never-oh my gosh. Have I not picked up on something this entire time?"
An imagined moment came at last, and Calor found the courage to grin. Through a thin film of tears, he embraced Thorax tightly.
"Even now, I love how aloof you are. You're so pure, Thorax. Just clueless enough to be really, really cute."
Thorax continued to stammer. He returned the hug instinctively.
"Calor, I-I'm so sorry. I never realized or-or even considered your feelings might go that far for me. I've never even thought about that depth of love before...but I guess that kinda goes without saying at this point."
Calor didn't respond at first. He settled against Thorax and thrummed, amusing himself by making the alpha's words vibrate. It made Thorax laugh.
"...So, you're not upset with me?"
"Of course not!" Calor answered immediately. He lifted his eyes, still lit with elation and tears. "Thorax, I wanted to tell you for the longest time. You brought love to our hive. You encouraged everyling to give affection to each other instead of taking it from other creatures. You even invented things like cluster sleep that brought us closer together. It’s all been so incredible. You’re incredible! After getting to know you and opening up to you, I-I couldn’t help wanting to be closer to you. I developed feelings for you pretty early on if I'm honest. You just...never picked up on the fact that our wavelengths were a bit different."
Even Apex was quiet now. The three changelings sat in a void of calm, the sound of steady breaths their only companion.
"If anything, it's my fault." Calor continued. His voice was weak against Thorax's shell. "I was just so nervous at the thought of saying it out loud. Then, I guess over time, I got complacent with how things were and shrugged it off. I could cuddle with you and spend time with you whenever I wanted, so why risk all of that by talking about my feelings? I didn't want to risk our friendship getting awkward for you. It wasn't perfect, but I was okay, for the most part."
"...You know, I'm really glad Pharynx isn't here," Thorax said softly. He laid his head against Calor's. "He'd be making so much fun of me, right about now. The signs should’ve been obvious to me, in hindsight. 'Top cuddlebug', becoming the hive's event coordinator, always eager to help me with favors. It was all to spend more time with me, wasn't it?"
Calor snickered. "Don't forget the life-sized plushie of you that I got from that vendor in the Crystal Empire. I was surprised that you didn't pick up on that."
Thorax sighed loudly before laughing.
"Let's maybe not talk about that one," he murmured into the changeling's ear, eliciting further giggles. "But I guess I should thank you for being so patient with me."
Even if I had went with doing a Thorax x OC arc, it would be nowhere near as beautiful and well-executed as this.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!
So precioussssssssssss! These two need their own romance story! (It doesn't even have to be multi-chapter, I'd just re-read it!)
So damn cute.
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Just need a good idea.
I wouldn't be against doing a one shot with them.
Doing your blog tomorrow, btw!
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I've got plenty of romance fluff ideas! And yay!
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Oh? You should relay some to me in PM.
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Sure! I might take a bit though, my computer is about to die, I'm not near an outlet, and I don't like doing long PMs from my phone. Such is the price one must pay for having to be driven everywhere
Adorable :) loved reading TKoLB, wish I could read a one-shot about these two!
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Glad you did! And hang onto that thought.