Sure enough, the dragon bought it. For a minute, at least. Thorax was love-starved and weak, and the snow was slippery. He quickly fell over and untransformed by accident. As he scrambled up to explain himself, he heard the dragon scream.
“Ch-Ch-Ch-Changeling!!!”
The dragon stumbled and staggered away. Thorax tried to call out, but he fell into the ravine that Thorax always warned Apex about. Thorax shot forwards and locked his hooves around the young drake’s arms, pulling him to safety.
“Th-This is unexpected…” the dragon mumbled to himself.
“Please be careful. Th-The ice can be pretty slippery…” Thorax cautioned as he set the dragon a safe distance away from the ravine. “A-And I wouldn’t want you to get hurt because of me…”
“W-Wait, you’re… not going to eat me? Or drain me of my love? Or whatever it is you do?” the dragon asked, confusion wafting off him.
Thorax shook his head. “No, no. Never.”
“But… changelings are supposed to be evil, right?”
“W-Well, not me… all I ever needed in life was a friend…” Thorax replied. “My brother always says I've been different since we first hatched in the nursery hive…”
“How so?”
“W-Well, the other nymphs all wanted to fight and defend the Hive. They wanted to become apprentices so we could train and become warrior drones. M-My brother easily became the General, but I… I was still an apprentice, and too old to be one. During the attack on Canterlot… I didn’t attack or feed… I saw true friendship and… and I wanted to have something like that!”
“You… wanted friends?”
“Y-Yeah…” Thorax thought of Pharynx and Apex. “Then my mentor gave up on me, so my brother trained me instead. He knew our mother had a temper like no one else, I’d be beaten horribly for my failure. So he managed to teach me. I became his advisor and soon he took on an official apprentice. And I… I cared for them both, and I realized I did have creatures who loved me, even if one of them didn’t show it.”
“Huh. So… then why are you here?”
“Even with them… I still wasn’t happy.”
“But that doesn’t explain it. Why leave instead of staying with them?”
“I… I am with them.”
“What?!” the dragon looked startled as he realized Thorax wasn’t the only changeling around.
“When the raids in Ponyville happened my brother went with the soldiers, a-and his apprentice and I left. Neither of us wanted to stay. We found my brother and he… it turned out he did love us enough to come with us.”
“So then why come to the Crystal Empire of all places?” the dragon asked
“W-We’re starving!” Thorax blurted out. “And recently there’s been a huge outpouring of love, but my brother’s injured and his apprentice is only five, and… and…” he trailed off, overwhelmed.
“Well… the love would be from the Crystalling, basically a giant outpour of light and love for a new baby.”
“Th-That explains why we’ve been sensing love but can’t feed… I-I mean, maybe if we had a few friends, the love we’d share would be able to sustain us, but… no one would want to be friends with us…”
“Oh, is that all? I know someone the Crystal Ponies respect and admire so much, he’d be able to convince them to give you guys a try.” the dragon proclaimed.
“R-Really? Who?”
“It’s me!” the dragon puffed out his chest. “Spike the Brave and Glorious at your service! I’ll get those Crystal Ponies to give friendship with you a chance!”
Thorax beamed. “I-I’m Thorax… sorry I forgot to mention it earlier…”
“Heh, no problem. I’m Spike, like I said.” ‘Spike’ stuck out a claw. Thorax hesitantly took it and gave it a small shake.
“S-So you really think you can convince them to try out friendship with me?”
“Of course! Just leave it to me!” Spike looked around. “Now… how do I get out?”
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Thorax had just finished filling Pharynx and Apex in on what had happened, after moving Pharynx back to his original spot. Apex looked hopeful and eager. Pharynx, however, seemed wary.
“You’re sure we can trust him?”
“Yes! He was honest, I could tell.” Thorax replied.
“Well… okay…”
Just then, they heard footsteps. Thorax helped Pharynx shift backwards into the shadows, tucking Apex in beside him. Thorax then went out to greet Spike. Being close by, this gave Pharynx and Apex their first real glimpse of him.
“S-So how’d it go?”
“Well… things didn’t exactly go the way I hoped…” Spike mumbled
“Big surprise…” Pharynx grumbled under his breath, pulling Apex closer to him.
“Oh…” Thorax’s earfins drooped
“I’m really sorry…”
“I… I understand… I guess you can’t expect ponies like this,” Thorax, still moping, transformed into a Crystal Pony, “to trust something that looks like this,” he changed back.
Pharynx and Apex watched the display silently. Spike snapped his claws as he realized something.
“That’s it! Transform into that Crystal Pony again!”
Thorax tilted his head in confusion, but obeyed. Spike smiled.
“All we have to do is get them used to you as a pony. Then, we can show them you’re a changeling, but they’ll already know you for you and accept you!”
“You really think that will work?” Thorax sounded hopeful.
“It’s got to.” Spike replied
Pharynx gave a loud cough, and Thorax glanced over.
“Uh… could you give me a minute?”
“Sure. I’ll wait up there.” Spike headed back up the slope, and Thorax went to the others.
“What is it, Pharynx?” he asked, transforming back.
“Thorax, you’re going to be walking into an entire Empire full of irresistible love while we’re being hunted!” Pharynx snarled in a low tone, coughing.
“I know, but if it means getting food for us all, I’ll risk it.” Thorax told him.
“I… Thorax, I don’t thi-” Pharynx broke off, going into a coughing fit.
Thorax grabbed their saddlebags and fished out the remaining tansy, passing the small portion to him. Pharynx swallowed it dutifully, giving Thorax a chance to speak.
“I know you don’t agree, Pharynx, but it’s our only hope. I’ll be able to bring food and soon we may even be able to get you proper care and shelter. Wouldn’t it be nice?”
“I… I suppose so-” Pharynx then yawned. “Huh… that’s weird…”
Thorax chuckled and nuzzled him. “Rest if you want, I’ll be fine. Spike will look out for me, and he’s a dragon!”
“O-Okay then, just be-” Pharynx yawned again and settled down. “-Be careful… ugh… why am I so tired…?”
“Heheh… maybe because I put some poppy seeds in with the tansy?”
“Y-You wha-” Pharynx yawned once more. “Th-Thorax you…”
“I’m sorry Pharynx but you do need rest, and I promise, I’ll be fine. Just sleep.”
“I… ‘m gonna… when you get bac’…” Pharynx slurred, lying his head in the snow and beginning to snore.
Thorax chuckled and nuzzled Apex. “I’ll be back probably a little after he wakes up. Look after him for me?”
“I will Pater-Thorax.” Apex replied with a smile.
Thorax smiled back at him before becoming the Crystal Pony again and heading up the slope to catch up to Spike. Apex sat by Pharynx’s head, listening to the General’s snores and trying not to go to sleep himself.