//------------------------------// // Thorax: Part One // Story: The Royal Canterlot Family // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// Everything was going great for Screwball and things were going great for her cousins, too. Apple Jewel's egg was going to hatch soon, Whirl Wind was going to come back from his honeymoon with his new wife within the week, Dignity finally proposed to his beloved Mauve, Gemstone and her coltfriend were visiting from Manehatten, Fire and Dawn were engaged, Starling was doing well handling paperwork with her husband, and Cotton had written to them telling them how Maretonia was doing better since their visit. Life couldn't get better than this. Oh, wait. It could… Screwball was passionately kissing her beloved changeling in the garden late at night, making sure it was from the prying eyes of her family, especially her father. Luckily, Mothy had been more accepted by her family as her aunts, uncles, and parents finally understood what she and her cousins knew all along since the altered timeline: Mothball was a good changeling. Even the castle staff was getting more used to him! Yes, life was being kind to Screwball and her sweet. Mothy moaned as she deepened the kiss until they had to take a breath. "Wow. I didn't think you would be so willing to go this far…" she said. "We've only been dating for a month." "I thought we knew each other longer than that…?" he smirked. She smirked back and wrapped her hooves around his neck, "Ready for round two?" He puckered up as they kissed fervently. The next day, Screwy got out of bed and started humming and twirling in the air. She saw her parents and said cheerfully, "Morning, Daddy! Morning, Mom!" She gave them each a kiss on the cheek. Fluttershy smiled, "Good morning to you, sweetheart!" Screwy then hummed along and disappeared from view. Fluttershy sighed lovingly until she saw her husband's dark expression and scowled, "Now, honey…" "It's not fair! How can she be so happy with that… that… BOY?!" "So you're not upset he's a changeling anymore but that he's male?" "YES!" "But why?" "Because I used to make her that happy! My little girl! I was her whole world until he came along…" Then suddenly, he crouched down and sobbed. "Oh, honey…" she patted his back. "You know she'll never stop loving you. You're her father…" He sniffled, "Really?" "Of course." Then she gave him doe eyes, "Besides, while Screwy is busy with Mothball, we can enjoy our time together…" His face went from sad to shocked to smug in mere seconds, "What are we waiting for then…?" He snatched her up and held her bridal-style before going into their suite. Twilight had gotten a message from Cadence and Shining Armor asking for her and Mothball's help. Apparently, a changeling had been spotted near the Crystal Empire and discreet was for the best until further notice. Twilight had summoned Mothball, Screwball, and her daughter to the throne room and told them this. Screwy gave a concerned look to her coltfriend and asked, "Is it possible that a changeling defected from your mother's army?" Mothy stated, "If they did, Mother would have kept it under wraps. All changelings are loyal to the queen, so besides me, I never heard of a changeling breaking away from my mother's grasp before." Twilight said, "When we get to the Crystal Empire, we must say this code word: Crystal berry." "Crystal berry?" Star questioned. Twilight shrugged, "It was in the message, but look on the bright side: at least you can see Skyla and Flurry Heart again." Star nodded, "It feels like ages since we saw them at the wedding and even then we hardly socialized." The Crystal Empire was deserted as the small group made their way across the city and to the palace. Two guards saw them and commanded. "Halt. What's the password?" Twilight simply said, "Crystal berry." They nodded and one said, "This way, Your Highnesses." He then escorted them inside. After greetings and hugs, the royals got down to business. Cadence questioned, "Mothball, are you sure no other changelings broke from your mother's army before her imprisonment?" "Not that I know of. Every changeling I ever knew was in that castle with me and they are completely loyal to my mother…" Twilight asked, "Are you sure you even saw a changeling?" Flurry Heart said, "I was outside playing when I spotted a big black insect pony, and when I screamed, it flew off. I told Daddy what I saw and he told me it was a changeling." "I've put the guards on high alert and Cadence warned our subjects to stay inside until the threat has been dealt with." Starling asked Flurry, "Did you see where the changeling went?" Flurry replied, "I think somewhere up the North Mountain." Screwy said, "Then that's where we'll look." The North Mountain was cold and snowy, but as they looked around, they could see no signs of life anywhere. Star suggested, "Maybe we should split up. Mom and I could go this way while you two go the other way." Screwy motioned, "Sounds like a plan to me." They went in their separate directions and it felt like it was getting colder. Mothball was feeling unsure about meeting another of his kind if the changeling was going to hurt his love and her family. He had been so lost in thought he didn't notice the gorge until he slipped into it and gave out a yell. "Mothy!" Screwy was about to leap into action until suddenly, she saw her beloved being carried by another changeling! Mothball was set down by the changeling and gaped up to him. "You… you saved my life…" "Uh… yeah? You're a royal changeling. I had to save you." "Still, you were willing to help me! No other changeling had ever done that for me!" "I'm not surprised… we changelings are not known for kindness…" "Who are you?" questioned Screwball. "My name is Thorax." "Thorax, I am Mothball, and this is my marefriend, Screwball." "You… you're dating a pony?" Screwy stated, "Half-pony, actually. I'm half-draconequus, too." "Dracon… what?" Mothball smiled, "It's hard to pronounce, but you'll get it." "But the queen actually permitted you to love someone?" "Mother doesn't know about my relationship with Screwball and we're going keep it that way. Now I'm curious about you. Just how did you avoid being captured unlike the rest of our kind?" "It wasn't easy. I broke away from the queen's control a long time ago… When I heard about the arrest, I knew I had to keep a low profile in the meantime. Finally, I came here to the Crystal Empire because it has love beyond other places in Equestria, though I can feel major love between the two of you right now." The couple blushed until Screwy said, "This is amazing! You and Mothball are a lot alike! You two are nice changelings compared to the rest!" Mothball said, "It is. I thought I was the only changeling that was capable of being kind to ponies and not wanting to feed on their love." "As much as I don't want to feed on love, I find it hard to control the urge." Suddenly, he made a hissing/gagging motion with his tongue. "Like that." "How come you don't do that?" Screwy questioned to her colt. "I think it's because I'm a royal, because I've seen this with the other changelings, but not with Mother." "But the other changelings are heartless, too, so how does Thorax feel compassion if he doesn't have a heart?" "A heart? You have a heart?" Thorax asked. "I don't know why, but I do. That's the reason I'm able to not feel evil like the others, but why are you not like that?" Thorax shrugged, "I really have no idea. Since the moment of my hatching, I didn't feel like any other changeling… It was so strange…" Screwball asked, "Were you anywhere near the Crystal Empire the past few days? Because my cousin saw a changeling and the whole city has been put on high alert." "I have. I saw an alicorn and I sensed how much love she had that it took all my control to not be near her, but she saw me and screamed. I've been hiding up here to wait for them to call off the alert." Screwball gestured, "Well, you don't have hide anymore. You have already proven that you are a different changeling just like my Mothy. When we get you back to the castle, you'll be welcomed with open arms." "Really?" Thorax gave a hopeful smile. Mothball smiled, "You will. And I can't tell you how great it is to meet another changeling like me." Screwy beamed, "He could be like your brother!" Thorax questioned, "Brother?" Mothball realized, "Of course! In the Hive, we're all related anyway, but to have a brother that actually understands me…" "But you're a royal changeling…" "The queen gave birth to the both of us, so that makes you my brother." He extended his hoof. Thorax looked at it with amazement and finally, he shook it. The royal family of the Crystal Empire was relieved to see another changeling that didn't like the concept of feeding on love and he was welcomed to stay at the castle. Twilight had given him her royal blessing for him to stay in Equestria and that he was welcomed to visit Canterlot anytime as long as it was in disguise. Twilight, Starling, Screwball, and Mothball decided to stay in the Empire to help Thorax and the crystal ponies to be adjusted to one another and Mothy was thrilled to be spending time with the brother he never had in his youth. The two changelings were in a meadow playing tag and when they got tired, they lied on the grass watching clouds go by and trying to guess their shapes. "Hey, that one looks like a manticore!" Mothball pointed up. "That one looks like a dragon!" Thorax motioned. "I never had this much fun with a changeling before! You're the best big brother I ever had!" "But you're taller than me." "But you're older, so that makes you the eldest." "But you're the queen's heir." "Not anymore." "Oh, does that mean she has another heir to help reproduce the colony?" When Mothball didn't reply, Thorax looked over to see he had been caught off guard and laid there in shock. "I take it the answer is 'no'?" Mothy slowly got up and softly said, "Mother couldn't produce another heir because she had been stuck in that castle. I'm the only heir she's got…" "And… you do know that in order for you to have births in the colony, you would have to turn Screwball into a-" "No! I won't do that to her!" Mothball glared back at him. "But you know the queen won't live forever. She has lived this long, but there will come a time when she won't be here and our entire species will have to depend on another ruler. I don't approve of the Changeling ways, but I must admit I don't want the whole species to be wiped out." "And you think I do?! I never wanted a changeling's life, but I could never hurt any of them! But I don't want to condemn Screwball to that life, either!" "It's either her or another changeling, Mothball. There's no other choice…" "But what if there was?" "What do you mean?" "I hate going to her… but at this point, I have to…" Thorax's eyes widened. Screwball was standing at the gate with the changelings after she had teleported them there. She asked. "Sure you don't need me to come with you?" Mothball said, "Just stay here. I just need to have a talk with my mother and then we'll be back." "Okay, good luck." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. Mothball and Thorax went in and the taller changeling went up to the peephole as Thorax stayed back and out of view. Mothball called out, "Mother? Are you there?" In moments, green eyes appeared and that caused Thorax to yelp back in surprise. "Ah, my son. You have come back at last. I must say, I was beginning to wonder if you ever would. But I'm sure it was because you were busy earning the ponies' trust… and have you?" "I have. But not in the way you're thinking…" "Oh?" her eyes slit. "Yes, Mother. I am a free changeling and I have Screwball to thank for that." "Screwball? You mean that little brat that's Discord's offspring?!" "Yes. And I have fallen hopelessly in love with her." "You what?!" "I have no desire to be king, Mother. I never did, but I was too scared to tell you that. But certain things have been brought to my attention, such as I am the only royal heir you have and you will not live forever." "If you think I am going to let you mate with that little monster, you got another thing coming!" "I don't want Screwball to be changed into a changeling, but I don't want to be with any other changeling, either! Now, there must be another way for the changelings to continue thriving without me as their king." "You fool! There is no other way! No doubt the ponies are turning you against us so that we will be extinct!" There was buzzing behind her. "They want us gone, Mothball! They are pretending to be your friend, and the brat is only pretending to love you when you should be the one pretending!" "No! That is not true!" a voice shouted. Mothball turned back in surprise as the queen's eyes widened on the changeling that came forward. "Thorax?" the queen said. She then scowled and said with venom, "How dare you come before me! You are a traitor to your clan!" Thorax retorted, "You don't know the meaning of the word! Clans are family, and we were never a family!" "Calm down, Thorax. Let me handle this." Mothball turned back to the queen, "Thorax does make an excellent point. Changelings hardly acted like a family unlike the ponies of Equestria. In the past week since Thorax was found in the Crystal Empire, we have been treated like any other pony and we love it." The queen had frowned at these words, but behind her, the changelings exchanged bewildered looks. "Impossible! You cannot love something without feeding on the ponies' love!" Thorax said, "But ever since I started living in the Empire, I don't have a need to feed anymore." The queen's eyes widened. Mothball could have sworn he saw a flash of fear in them before she scowled again and yelled out, "The fact still doesn't change that you are my heir and you have to have a queen, so if you must mate with the brat, she must be turned into a changeling, no matter what!" "Then… there really is no other way…" His eyes were on the verge of releasing tears. Thorax gave him a sympathetic look. "That's actually not true." Chrysalis suddenly said. Mothy and Thorax looked at her in confusion. "If you really don't want to turn the brat into a changeling and you rather not be king, then the only solution is…you must free us so I can have another royal changeling to take your place…" she hissed. They gasped.