//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Boredom and Snuggles // Story: A Thorax in my Side // by LaysPotatoChips //------------------------------// The past few days in the Chrystal Empire went by nicely. Not only for Spike and Thorax, but also for Twilight and Starlight as well. Not only did Starlight manage to ace a majority of her classes on friendship, but she also made a few new friends in the Chrystal Empire. Twilight, of course, was rather proud of her student, so she decided that the next few days would be a break from all of the studying and work. The both of them would go out into the empire and just do girl things for the entirety of those days. With Spike and Thorax, their relationship was continuing to bud even more as the days went on. Soon enough, the both of them where practically inseparable. Neither of them left each others side, except to use the bathroom of course. They also began holding hoofs with one another, as well. Which just made all of the female ponies in the Castle either envious or ''sqeeing'' like a fan girl. Also it didn't help when Starlight, Twilight, and even Cadence all started teasing them. Of course they both knew that it nothing more but just girls being girls, so they dismissed it, or teased them a little bit by hugging each other or giving a small nuzzle to one another. So for the most part, things where going quite well, except for today. Spike and Thorax where about to go on another ride to the movie theater, when all of a sudden, a guard rushed over towards them. Without a moments hesitation, the guard spoke "Spike the Brave and Glorious and Thorax the Changeling" the stallion spoke" the both of you are needed in the royal thrown room A.S.A.P." Spike looked at the guard and asked "Why? What's going on?" The guard immediately grabbed Spike and placed him on his back. "All will be explained to you once you get there." The guard answered The guard immediately ran towards the thrown room in a quick sprint, with Thorax fallowing them at the same speed. Spike was really curious about what was going on, and why both he and Thorax where asked to go to the thrown room. As these thoughts raced through Spike's head, the guard made his way towards the thrown room, where Princess Cadence and Shining Armor where both sitting down on their respective seats. Shining Armor looked slightly worried, and Cadence had a look of pure fear on her face. Spike and Thorax's blood turned to ice when they saw the leaders of the Chrystal Empire looking so worried. The both of them approached the thrown of Cadence and bowed. "I bet your both wondering why you have been summoned here." Cadence said trying to calm herself. Spike and Thorax looked at each other and Spike started saying "Did we do something wrong? Was it the hoof holding? If it is we'll stop." Spike said in a worried tone Cadence, despite her terrified look, giggled slightly in amusement. "No,no. Neither of you are in any trouble. Besides, hoof holding is a very common practice here in the Crystal Empire, it's seen as a sign of great love and respect for the other pony." Spike and Thorax both gave out a sigh of relief. They weren't in any trouble thank goodness. "However, there is something that I must address to the two of you concerning what has been going on." Cadence said, her voice turning serious. " We have received reports of a massive blizzard making its way towards the Crystal Empire, and from what we heard, it's going to be one of the worst blizzards we have ever had in the history of the Chrystal Empire! Now, as of right now, me and Shining Armor have ordered all schools and shops to close down for the next couple of days, during the storm. Also no pony is allowed to step foot out of their homes unless absolutely necessary. This also goes for the Castle guards, the two of you, Twilight and Starlight, and us as well. And just to make sure that everypony is safe and secured, nopony will be allowed to leave their rooms for the next few days. Food and drinks will be provided by the Chrystal Chef, but he will only be on duty three times each day. That means that other services will be put on hold until everything is settled." Spike and Thorax looked at each other in shock. This really must be a bad storm if it required all ponies to be in their rooms for a few days. Spike looked back at Princess Cadence and said "Sure thing, Princess Cadence." Cadence smiled, and then turned to a guard and ordered him to lead Spike and Thorax back to their room. The guard obliged and picked up Spike and Thorax and lead them back to their room. A flurry of thoughts where pounding into Spike's head at a million miles an hour, but he decided to ignore them and focus on what him and Thorax where going to be doing for the next few days. Once the guard had led them back to their room, the both of them sat down on their beds and looked at each other. "Well, this stinks." Spike said as he took the list and threw it across the room "Yeah, it does. But hey, at least we get to be together." Thorax said, a smile stretching across his face. Spike looked back at Thorax and smiled at him. "Yeah, I'm glad." Spike said cheering up A few minutes passed, and there was nothing but silence overtaking the room around them. Thorax stood up from his bed and reached over to grab his scarf. Once he pulled the scarf around his neck, he plopped back down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Spike immediately took notice of Thorax in his scarf. He immediately started to giggle. "You really like that scarf don't you Thorax?" Spike asked Thorax turned towards him and gave a smile "I really do. I mean it was the first present that anypony ever gave to me." Thorax said stroking the edges of the scarf. Thorax continued to stroke the scarf, but then he stopped and looked over at Spike once more. "You know Spike" Thorax said, eyes half lidded" You must be pretty cold on that bed of yours. Why don't you come over here and I'll share my scarf with you." Spike immediately shot up from his bed, and made his way over towards Thorax's bed. Upon arriving, he climbed up and made his way towards Thorax, who immediately embraced him with a hug , and the rest of Thorax's scarf around his neck. Spike blushed slightly, and even giggled a bit when the scarf tickled his neck. Once Spike had made himself comfortable, Thorax immediately started stroking Spike's scales once again. Spike sighed and closed his eyes. The bliss he was feeling was really nice. A couple a minutes of stroking passed before Thorax decided to break the silence. "Hey Spike." "Yes Thorax." Spike asked "Can I admit something to you?" "Sure, what's up." Spike said intrigued "Well, before I actually tell you, you have to promise not to laugh at me." Thorax said sternly "Cross my heart , and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Spike said as he crossed his heart. Thorax laughed at the obscure rhyme, but then proceeded to take in a deep breath. "Well Spike, um. I have something that I have to admit to you." Thorax took another deep breath and said "Okay. Spike I'm Agender." Thorax said gritting his teeth. "Agender? What's that?" Spike asked curiously "It basically means that I have no gender what so ever." Spike's eyes widened a bit at that. "So, your saying your not really a guy?" Spike questioned "Pretty much, I mean I'm not a girl either if your wondering." Thorax said Spike looked at his friend for a few seconds before asking "So, how is that actually possible? I mean I'm not trying to sound like a jerk or anything, I would just like to know." "Well, it's a bit complicated. Are you sure you want to know everything about it?" Thorax questioned ''I've got all time in the world Thorax." Spike said "Well, okay. Here it goes." Thorax began," You see, the Changeling race is a rather complicated species. Not many ponies really know what we are, although some ponies say that we're a mix between a bug and a pony that have been living underground , as well as hives, for over a century. I can't really say if this is true or not, but from what I have read up in books, it seems kind of accurate. Now, what I can describe (although it's rather difficult) is our actual body chemistry. Now, just like everypony else, we have the same vital organs like they do; heart, lungs ,intestines, stomach, kidneys, ect, ect. Well, the only thing that is different with us is that we have no actual genatailia. Our lower parts of our bodies just contain a small pin sized hole we use for urination. Now, despite the fact that we have the capability of digesting solid food, we don't produce any excrement. The reason for this is because a Changeling's stomach has a extreamly high acidic level, a lot more stronger than any ponies. And because of this, all solid foods are converted into liquid and passed through the as we have no need for a rectum. Now, of course we feed off of love, which is one of the main reasons why you don't see changelings eating solid food. I can't really explain why , or how, we actually feed off of love, but I do know that we do. Now this is where things start getting confusing, even for me. You know how I said that Changelings are actually born without a gender, this isn't always the case. You see, their are very rare instances where a changeling , usually two both male and female, are born with actual genitals. These two specific Changelings are then placed in the care of the queen herself, to be raised as the future King and Queen of the changelings. Now, the only problem with that, is that (since most changelings are genderless) the male and female changeling have a limited ability to change into any kind of animal/creature that isn't their gender. Now, the changelings that weren't born with any kind of gender, are obviously Asexual. We have no feeling of attraction ( of the sexual kind that is) towards anyone at all. But this doesn't mean that we can't have a deep sense of love towards one another, we just don't really go in any direction, if you know what I mean." Thorax ended the conversation with that. Not like there was really anything else to say on that topic. Thorax had pretty much covered the basics of what he could at least remember. Spike, on the other hand, was more than just confused. He had to ask more. "So,uh...You aren't a boy?" Spike asked "No, not really." Thorax answered, quite bluntly. "So, why did you let me call you a 'he' if you really aren't a 'he'?" Spike asked "Well, it's just that you where the first person to address me as a he, so I just went with it I guess." Thorax answered " I hope this doesn't effect our friendship." Thorax said sadly Spike, in response, gave Thorax a big kiss on the muzzle. Thorax, in complete shock, pulled away from the kiss. "What was that for?" Thorax asked still quite shocked "I thought you might like it. I mean, since you don't really have much of a gender, I thought you might be open to a relationship." Spike said as he twiddled his claws. Thorax looked down in shame. I'm sorry Spike, I didn't mean to push you away like that." Thorax said with shame building up in his through. Spike smiled and said "Nah, it's fine, I guess I kind of went in a little to fast for you. Sorry about that." Spike blushed a deep red as he finished the rest of his sentence. Thorax, took a moment to actually think about it for a moment. After a few minutes of thinking he finally spoke up. "Well Spike, I'm all for giving this a shot, but I don't want anypony making fun of you for dating a changeling. Plus some ponies might not approve of this, and trying to explain all of this to them might be a rather hard thing to do. Plus, the last thing I want for anypony to do is to make you out into something that your not." I mean, your not...are you?" Thorax asked Spike smiled and said," No,not really.I mean I think your a very nice changeling, and I have a lot of love for you, but as for that kind of thing. I don't really go that way either." "Well what about all of the snuggling that we did ? As well as that kiss." Thorax continued to ask. " First of all, that kiss was after you told me everything. Second of all, I'm just a really loving kind of person. Heck last year, during Hearts and Hooves day, I gave everypony a heart card and big hug. Don't believe me, ask Twilight. She knows first hand about my affection for other ponies, and she also knows that I am a massive snuggler as well." Spike said grinning in a sinister, but comedic, way "Well,uh, Wanna keep snuggling?" Thorax asked "You bet I do." Spike responded as he pressed his body against Thorax's and started nuzzling him.