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// It's here. 
// Story: Pharynx and the Tickle Monster 
// by Miner 
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It has been three days since I have last seen it. That monster. That ruthless monster of a creature. It has been after me for some time now. I have fought against it on my breaks, my days off, and recently in my sleep. I have been on edge for its arrival. It strikes without warning and does not leave me alone until I am gasping on the floor, begging for mercy. I would go to my brother or even our new ponies allies for help, but they don't believe it to be a threat. They believe that it will leave me alone once it's got bored. That was two weeks ago.

Normally when a member of the hive is threatened by something, it is dealt with quickly by the might of the whole hive. But for that to happen one member of the hive must sound the alarm and tell the others what is the danger is. And that is something that I cannot do. I am second in command in the hive. For me to ask for help will be a sign of weakness and a plow to my pride if I ask for help with the creature. For in their eyes, the creature is completely harmless, and not worth fighting. I would like to see them say that when it sets its sight on them.

Pharynx presses his back against the wall and looks around the corner. His duties for the day is almost over. It is around this time when it strikes. Luckily for him, the creature can not hide in plain sight as he can. In fact, it should be impossible for the creature to find so easily in the hive with so many changelings around him. But it has found a way, and he must use every method their previous Queen taught him in stealth. 

'Nothing but changelings here.' Pharynx thought to himself. 'If I can just get to my room I stand a before chance to avoid it for the day.' Pharynx moves quickly to his room when... 

"Hay Pharynx." he was stopped by his brother King Thorax. 

Pharynx turns his head to see his brother had just returned with their Queen Twilight Sparkle from Canterlot. "Hello, your majesty." Pharynx blow to his Queen ignoring his brother. "How was your trip?"

"Peaceful thankfully," Twilight said, "Not that I am complaining. It is just that I am used to something happening when I lived in Ponyville."

"Speaking of Problems," Thorax said looking at Pharnyx, "How is your little problem going on?"

"It is still stalking me," Pharynx said looking over his shoulder quickly, "Just waiting for me to let my guard down."

"Really?" Twilight said with a confused look on her face. "I would have thought that she would have left you alone by now."

"Well she hasn't it is only a matter of time before she shows herself again."

"Well looks on the bright side." Thorax spoked up smiling.

Pharynx gives a confused look to his brother. "There is a bright side?"

"You have a mare friend now."

Pharynx just shakes his head slowly in disagreement. "Not funny bro, not funny."

"In any case," Twilight spoke up. "I will have a word with her the next time I see her. She shouldn't be bothering you anymore Pharynx."

Relied Phrayns smiles at his queen and blows to her. "Thank you, my Queen." With that, he leaves the two behind, not notice that Twilight wince when he called her his Queen.

"Still not used to that."





Pharynx finally reached his room disguised as another changeling. He knows that the queen said that she would talk to her, but until then. He quickly enters his room. There is not much to see here. There is a place to sleep, a glowing mushroom to provide light and a chest to hold his personal belongings. He drops his disguised and falls onto his bed. He lets out a low groan and closes his eyes.

"I didn't know you like Daring Do." a voice said above him.

Pharynx eyes shot open. How could he forget that she is a stealth flyer! Quickly he gets to his hooves to see the monster flying in the air. It was the Terrible, the Relentless, the Horrible Blue Menace Rainbow Dash. She is flying above his doorway lay on her back as she holds one of the few things precious to him. She is not even looking at him, as she continues to hover in the air reading his signed, hardcover, first edition of Daring Do.

"Give that back!" He shouts at her from the safety of his bed.

Rainbow isn't fazed by his outburst and just looks casual at him. "I am not done with it yet."

"It is not yours!" He is starting to get worried that she is going to damage it.

"Fine then catch." She said dropping the book to her side as Pharynx dives off the bed to save it. He caught it but he got squashed when Rainbow dropped out of the air and onto his back. "That was a soft landing," Rainbow said and notice that the book opened in Pharynx hooves and continues to read. "Now where was I?"

"Get off!"

"Make me."

"That does it!" Pharynx got to his hooves quickly knocking Rainbow off of him. He puts the book safely on the bed and stares down the monster. "You have bothered me on my breaks, my days off, and even in my dreams! I am not having any more of it!"

Her eyes widen at what he said, "You dream about me in your sleep." A smile crosses her face, "Why Pharynx I didn't know you cared." She said teasing him.

"I DON'T!" Filled with rage Pharynx transform into a dragon, "NOW DIE!" He let out a stream of fire which covers Rainbow Dash in a wave of flame. He stops breathing fire to save what is left of his room but noticed that his effort in killing her was useless. Rainbow Dash just stands there calmly in the fire as it dies out around her. It was then that Pharynx notice that she is wearing a strange red necklace around her neck.

She pats out any small flames around her before she stares him down raising an eyebrow. "Did you really think that I wouldn't ask Twilight for protection from fire after the last time you tried to roast me?"

Panicking, Pharynx turn back to normal and starts backing away from her. That was his best shot and he can't think of what to do. She is blocking the only exit to the room. "Would you believe me if I say no?" His rump hits the wall. "Because I thought that you would be too lazy to think of such of an idea."

She slowly walks to him. "I may be a little lazy but I am not dumb." She stops in the middle of the room before she spreads her wings and wiggles the tips. "So can you guess what I am going to with these?"

Small drops of sweets go down his face as he thought up an answer to her question. "Fly away and never bother me again?" he said with a smile hoping that she would.

"Funny," Rainbow said before she gets into attack position. "Now let me show you something funnier." She leaps at him.





"You sure that he is going to be alright?" Twilight asked Thorax as he brought her some food.

He puts down the food in front of Twilight before answering her. "Pharynx is one of the toughest Changelings that I know. He is not going to lose to a mare so easily."

Twilight glares at him in anger, "And what is that supposed to mean?", but before Thorax could come up with a lame excuse a loud voice filled the hive.

"Hahaha STOP! STOP IT! Ahhahahaa I AAAM SORRY! JUST STOOOOOOP!"

Twilight smiles and looks at Thorax, "What was that about Pharynx being one of the toughest Changelings you know?"

Thorax shakes his head. "I am so disappointed in him."