Creating A Hive

by Authora97

1st Changeling Integration Meeting

Thorax beamed at his wife.

She beamed back.

“And I’ll call every chance I have-”

“-which is any time you’re not doing your actual job-”

“-I left plenty of food for you to eat, or to cook-”

“-except for the-”

“-nopony told me that there are so many types of sugar, how was I supposed to-”

“-it’s a lot more than two-”

“-no wonder-”

“Mom, Dad, the train?” Lilac prompted them.

Thorax and Raspberry turned to their first child. Lilac looked impatiently at them, then the train. Her parents blinked blankly. Lilac face clawed.

“Oh!” Raspberry turned to Thorax. “She wants us to be parental.”

Thorax took on a more serious expression. He turned to Lilac. “Did you want the Talk?”

“I want to get on the train!” The dragon reminded them.

Raspberry laughed. She patted Thorax’s cheek, giving him one more beaming smile. When she turned to Lilac she was much more somber. She had a masterful poker face, an expression worthy of comparison with Celestia and Luna’s. There was something deeply troubling in her face. It made Lilac tense up, battle ready.

Before Lilac could ask anything there was a loud thump from the other side of the station. Lilac looked over.

Rarity stood with the rest of the Mane 6. Spike had just dropped in more luggage to the train.

“There you are, Rarity! That’s the last of your bags.” Spike cheered.

“Actually, Spike, I’ve got one last pile of bags, over there. Won’t you be a dear?” Rarity motioned to a larger pile of luggage.

“Sure... I’ll be a dear...” Spike went over to the bags.

Raspberry sighed. Thorax draped a wing over her side.

“An entire week in the fabulous city of Manehattan! Plus, all of my very best friends there with me!” Rarity cheered.

“Wow. Feeling the love, Rarity.” Raspberry snarked.

Rarity waved a hoof. “You know I love you too, darling. You’ll be supporting me in your own way!”

“You’ve learned.” Raspberry complimented.

“Of course those of us who could would come along to support you during Fashion Week, Rarity!” Twilight cheered.

“Not that you’ll need it. We’re sure you’ll win.” Fluttershy praised.

Rarity cheered loudly in delight. “I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am that you’ll all be there with me!” Rarity opened one of her suitcases. She pulled out multiple tickets. “However... Perhaps I can show you...”

“What’s that?” Twilight asked, confused.

“Ooh, ooh, ooh, I know! A paper fan!” Pinkie guessed. Raspberry laughed.

“No, it’s-” Rarity began.

“A magic trick! You know, where I pick a card and remember what it is and then you put it back in the deck so you can’t look at it and-” Pinkie babbled.

Rarity walked towards her friends, talking over Pinkie. “These are tickets to the hottest musical on Bridleway!”

“You couldn’t mean Hinny of the Hills... because that show’s been sold out for months!” Twilight stated. “Or could you?!”

“I could. I do.” Rarity replied with a smug smile.

Twilight gasps “Oh, Rarity, you didn’t have to do that, but... since you did...”

Main cast sans Rarity cheering

Pinkie “This trip is fun already! I love jumping up and down! Whee-hee!” Pinkie cheered.

As the hug came to a close, Rarity turned to the Stardust family. “Are you sure you can’t come with?” She asked Raspberry and Lilac. “I have the two extra tickets.”

Raspberry nodded. “I need to help Cheerilee at the school, and help Dark Justice settle in. Besides that, Thorax-”

“I told her she couldn’t help me on this one.” Thorax stated. He wrapped a wing over Raspberry’s back. “This needs to be my thing. We agreed.”

“I know.” Raspberry held back a groan.

“And Lilac?” Rarity asked, turning to the dragon. “Are you sure you don’t want to help? It doesn’t fill me with delight knowing you’ll be all alone there.”

Lilac shook her head. “It’s fine. Mom and Auntie said it’s important for training. If I want to be a Traveller like them someday, I need to know the ropes.” Lilac glanced over to her mother. The alicorn’s face had gone blank. Yet if anyone looked close enough, they’d see Raspberry’s wing holding tightly to Thorax’s. “We made a deal. Right?”

Raspberry only gave a crisp nod.

The train whistle blew. Just in time, as Spike had just finished loading the bags onto a cart.

“That’s us!” Rarity cheered. “Come on everypony! Err, everyone. We can’t delay!” She, and the rest of the Mane Cast followed her.

Lilac and her parents were left on the platform. The dragon turned to her parents. Thorax was giving Raspberry one last kiss on the head. Their wings detangled, allowing Thorax to walk to Lilac’s side. The alicorn was doing an impressive job hiding how she must feel.

Raspberry looked to her coltfriend and daughter. “You have your notebooks?”

“Yes.” Thorax and Lilac answered.

“Survival kit?” Raspberry asked with a glance at Lilac.

“Yes Mom.”

“Projector?” Raspberry asked Thorax.

“Yes Ma’am.”

Raspberry squinted at Lilac, thoughtful. “And your Bag?”

Lilac held tighter to the strap over her shoulders. Her mom had tricked out a simple saddlebag to be bigger on the inside. Lilac had no idea how hard her mother had worked to make it or how much power it cost- only that she shouldn’t treat this Bag poorly. “All packed.”

Raspberry gave one final nod. “Get going. If you make them miss the train, I’ll get mad.”

Lilac nodded. She started to walk towards the train.

Thorax sniffled.

“Dad.” Lilac prompted.

“Bee.” Raspberry prompted too.

Thorax sniffled again. “It’s just- you’re being so brave and I can feel your-”

Raspberry’s horn glowed gold. She pushed the two of them onto the train before anymore could be said.

==CAH==

During the train ride down, Thorax had gone over the notebooks a lot. He had Twilight helping, obviously. She had even offered to help give the presentation but Thorax turned her down. This wasn’t something he felt comfortable bringing ponies into yet. He needed to build himself up for this lesson. A lesson that would go about helping his own people assimilate to the culture of Equestria and maybe vice-versa.

It was hard enough watching Lilac sitting all by herself. The little dragon was growing up so fast...he could barely believe his eyes. He remembered meeting her. He remembered feeling her distrust of him, for ages she would barely give him anything, not until he’d proved himself to Lilac and her family. Now there she was. Taking her first ever journey by herself...

He wasn’t gonna cry.

He told himself he wasn’t gonna cry.

Killjoy always seemed to know when he cried- he’d be mocked about it specifically for ages.

Thorax couldn’t cry while his eldest was growing up. Nope. Couldn’t do it.

But after a long train ride- made longer only by Twilight going over his notes with him for an eighteenth time- they were in Manehattan.

“Come along, ponies! I found us a place to stay only a block from the train station in the very heart of this glorious metropolis!” Rarity called out.

“Actually.” Lilac spoke up. The group turned to her. Lilac could hardly stand it- her dad’s eyes were watering. “Mom has a place set up for me.”

A lie.

Mom and Auntie had taught her how to do it right.

“Or, well, I helped Mom pick a place for me.” Lilac explained.

‘Lies have unnecessary details. Don’t get caught up in them.’

‘Give the bare bones of what’s needed. Enough to get them off your ass, but not enough that they can find you. And say it with confidence and ease. If you’re nervous, they’ll know you’re lying.’

Lilac kept their lessons in mind. “It’s a small space- I should really go before-”

“Yes, darling, whatever you need!” Rarity remarked. She gave Lilac a hug. It prompted everypony else in the group to hug her too.

Thorax managed to only cry a little bit.

Lilac didn’t cry. She was too excited. Here it was, her big chance. She’d gone on Travels with her mom before, but never did anything really big. Not to mention that when this went well she’d be allowed to join them on their next trip. She needed this to go well.

If that meant being away from home for a few months...Lilac was a tough dragon. She could do it.

Her family believed in her.

Lilac braced herself with that level of confidence. She went about finding herself a place to stay for the night. Her mom had told her some basic rules for living on the streets, including houses. Lilac had to find a good spot before somepony else claimed it.

==CAH==

There had been a song. Thorax expected it- hadn’t expected being included with it. That had been a whole other thing. Thorax couldn’t wait to explain that to the changelings- breaking out into song was sure to be a hit!

“To think my dresses could soon be displayed on the most glamorous shopping thoroughfare of the most glamorous city in Equestria!” Rarity cheered when the song came to a close. She and the others had been touring Manehattan. It was actually a great place- Thorax loved it. “Oh, it would be my dream come true!”

“Is there anything left to do we can help you with?” Twilight asked.

“Hm, nothing I can think of.” Rarity remarked. She smiled in delight. “The dresses are all completely finished, all made from a fabulous new fabric I’ve been developing for months. Stretchy, but not clingy. Shimmery, but not showy.”

“Sounds amazing.” Fluttershy praised.

Rarity “There’s nothing left for me to do but check in at the runway with my dresses by two this afternoon.” Rarity explained.

“Oh, that’s funny.” Pinkie mused. “Because that clock over there makes it seem like that’s only ten minutes from now!”

In the distance, Thorax heard thunder.

Rarity gasped in horror. “Oh, my ribbons and threads. And the runway ballroom is all the way across town! If I don’t get there, I’m disqualified! Taaaaxiii!”

“Oh, no! We’ve gotta help her find a cab, now!” Fluttershy gawked.

“I’m on it! Hey, buddy! Is this cab taken?” Dash asked a nearby cab.

“The line ends back there, ’buddy’!” The driver told them.

“Huh? What?” Looking over, there was a line two blocks long. “Does everypony in this town want a cab?” Dash huffed.

“I’m afraid getting a taxi at this time could prove almost impossible!” Rarity whined.

“Please won’t you let her have this taxi? She has somewhere very important to be right away!” Twilight asked another cab driver.

“Not likely! She can get in line like the rest of us!” A pony in line yelled. The others behind him joined in.

“Oh, it’s no use! The cab drivers just drive right past to get to the next pony in line!” Twilight explained.

Thorax found a taxi that had a broken wheel. The driver of it was fixing it up- so Thorax shoved Rarity that direction.

“New wheel works like a charm! So now which of you nice folks are hoppin’ in?” The driver cheered.

“Fashion runway plaza in seven minutes. Can you make it?” Rarity prompted.

“Hang on!” The driver agreed. He rushed off into the distance.

“Ta-ta!” Rarity waved goodbye.

“Whew, that was close.” Spike relieved.

Thorax yelped.

“What?” Spike asked.

“The dresses!” Thorax explained.

Everypony yelped. “The dresses!”

In the midst of panic, the lot of them went back to their hotel to collect the dresses. As it turned out the bellhop who had taken their luggage earlier was there- he was more than happy to take the dresses to Rarity.

It was in her hooves now. Raspberry had told Thorax that there wasn’t much to be done, only to accept Rarity’s request for help when it came.

==CAH==

It was time now.

Thorax settled the last bits of the presentation. There had been a food table set up with new foods that Queen Thorne had said the changelings liked, along with a few that Thorax had found on his own. Human food had strong spices he was sure at least some changelings would like.

It was getting close to 2:30. They’d set the first meeting for 3pm at a meeting hall in their hotel. Raspberry had worked that out with Queen Thorne and the Princesses. After Rarity had left for her fashion prep, Thorax and Twilight started working on the last details he needed for the presentation.

He had almost asked her along for the presentation itself. The only thing stopping him was a hesitant awkwardness. This meeting would be great for changelings- but Thorax thought it would be a better idea if they started off small. Having the meeting in a city full of ponies was already a big step forward. Maybe the next one?

He’d also not wanted to take away from their fun plans for the trip. Messing up Twilight’s schedule was a big no-no. Thorax needed to do this thing himself. He’d led missions before with much bigger stakes than the intregration of his own people. Nothing to stress over.

Maybe he should check that the projector would work again-

When Thorax went to check the device, somepony knocked on doors to the hall. He turned to them.

“C-Come in!” He called out.

The door squeaked open. A changeling poked their head in. Their carapace was a bright blue now. “Is- is this the meeting for Changeling Integration?”

“Yes!” Thorax replied only stuttering a little bit. That’s a win in his book. “Come on in. Feel free to have the snacks!”

The changeling glanced to the food table. After a hesitant moment the changeling walked over.

Thorax took a quick breath. He could do this. He could definitely do this.

As the 3pm start time loomed closer, more changelings arrived. Many of them looking happy, in groups. All with bright neon colors on their transformed carapaces. A few of them were more closed off, coming in alone with their heads down. There were even a few Thorax recognized from the Hive. Queen Thorne warned him about them. They were the kind of changelings that could use the power of friendship! Altogether there was about thirty changelings.

No pressure here.

The clock chimed at 5. Thorax glanced to the clock to confirm. He beamed with a fake pride. Fake it til you make it, Killjoy had said.

“Uh. Alright everyling!” Thorax called out. He flew over to the front of the room to his materials. “Time to get started.”

‘Remember, hun, be assertive.’

‘I know to be assertive! I’ve been plenty assertive!’

‘Name one time.’ Killjoy had challenged at the time.

‘I kicked an alien in the face!’

‘Okay that was pretty assertive...you’re gonna rock it, babe.’

‘Totally babe.’

“Come take your seats!” Thorax invited.

The changelings all flew into chairs. Thorax used his magic to close the doors.

Thorax nervously chuckled. “Welcome to the first ever Changeling-Equestria Integration meeting! I’m here to get you guys used to Equestrian ponies. This is going to help anyling who wanted to compete in or attend the Equestria Games.”

He looked at one of the notes. There had been a lot of points he’d wanted to make. Raspberry had helped a lot in that.

“Our entire lives, we were told to watch ponies do we could hunt them. Now you’re being asked to befriend them, to not hunt and steal their love.” Thorax explained. “That’s a tough thing to do, so I figured we’d start out small. There’s a thing called a Feelings Forum-”

The doors swung open. The Changelings all looked back to see what was there.

A Changeling stood in the doorway- obviously. He was untransformed- in the black carapace normal to the old regime. His wings were a dark purple, along with his compound eyes. His back had red on it rather than usual Changeling green, and his neck-chitin resembled a red mohawk.

Thorne had warned him he was coming. Thirst had started to think he’d ditched. That didn’t make it any better seeing him there.

Pharynx.

==CAH==

He walked into the hotel room two hours later, sighing. The room was empty- a fact he was grateful for. He flopped down on the bed. They’d gotten two rooms, this one Thorax was sharing with Spike, Dash, and Applejack. The door connecting the two rooms was open for ease of transition.

He pulled his phone out from his travel bag. He saw a message from Raspberry that was a gif of Ron Burgundy saying he was a big deal.

Thorax let the phone drop on the bed. He slumped down beside it, just staring up at the ceiling.

It had become a real mess after Pharynx arrived. Few of the other changelings wanted to share in the Feeling Forum. Every time they started to try Pharynx would make a loud scoffing noise at them. Thorax had understood everyone having their own opinion, but he’d learned you could do that without being rude. Pharynx had yet to learn that skill.

This was why Thorax never accepted-

There was loud laughter from the next room. Thorax sat up.

“Oh, my gosh, what a great afternoon! That was almost too much fun!” Twilight cheered.

Thorax got up off the bed, tucking the phone back into his bag. He peeked into the next room to see the mares and Spike happily walking into the room.

“Better pace yourself, ’cause the rest of the day is jam-packed!” Dash told Twilight.

“First there’s the salon appointment to get our manes done.” Applejack reminded with a toss of her mane.

“Then our fancy dinner at the Far-Afield Tavern!” Pinkie reminded.

“And after that-” Fluttershy began.

“Hinny of the Hills!” They all cheered.

Thorax walked into the room. The mares were all laughing. Spike noticed Thorax first.

“Hey Thorax!” Spike greeted. “How did the meeting go?”

Thorax drooped. “Not well. It started when-”

The door slammed open. Rarity walked in. Her mane was frizzy, and her cheeks were coated in tears. Spike gave the unicorn his full attention now.

“-yeah, yeah that fits.” Thorax noted.

“Is... everything okay?” Dash asked Rarity.

“You got the dresses the bellhop brought you and everything, right?” Pinkie asked.

Rarity burst out in tears. Loud, wailing tears. Thorax was surprised she hadn’t summoned her fainting couch.

“But he said he brought them.” Dash noted.

Rarity threw herself on the bed. Ah, that explains the lack of fainting couch. “And then Suri stole them! I let one of the other contestants use some of my one-of-a-kind fabric and then she turned it into a wardrobe just like mine, only now it looks like I’m the one copying her! My generosity has ruined me, I tell you! Ruined!”

Thorax really wished he had watched the show with Raspberry. Maybe any of this would make sense. He could feel the heavy emotions pouring off her. She wasn’t doing anything to hide it. While he could usually handle strong feelings this was on a whole different level. If he still fed off love, this might actually have made him sick.

“Now, Rarity, whatever went wrong, we’re all here to help you get through it, no matter what it takes.” Twilight assured. The other mares and Spike agreed.

“Come on, Rarity, buck up! All we need is some fabric and you’ll be back in business!” Applejack prompted.

Rarity seemed to perk up instantly. Thorax was grateful. He was starting to get a sympathy sickness from the days of old. She held up the bedspread she’d jumped onto. “This new line is going to be marvelous! Perhaps even better than the last! It’s daring, it’s bold! Perhaps I still have a chance after all!”

Thorax sneakily snuck back into his room. He pulled the phone out, shifting himself into a flamingo so he could type.

Yes he knew there were other options.

He just liked this one right now.

Quit judging.

Thorax replied with a gif of a cat in sunglasses.

The screen immediately lit up for a phone call. Thorax shut the adjoining door to the hotel rooms before answering. He changed into his normal form as he settled down on the ground.

Her human face filled up the screen. She was standing over the stove, her phone floating beside her. “Hey honey. How’d it go?”

“Did you not see the gif?” Thorax asked, dodging the question.

She smiled, giving a small laugh. “I did. The cat was cute. But that was obviously a reply to my gif, not about your day. How did it go?” She repeated. Her tone was cheery and light but Thorax was smarter than to assume.

Thorax gave a nervous smile. “Tell me about your day first.”

She gave him a flat stare over the screen.

Thorax kept up his smile.

With a cautious look, Morgan went back to the meal she was cooking. “Dynamite and Cookie decided to spend the day going over with the Crusaders to see what Dynamite’s done for her cutiemark so they can see what’s left. Killjoy was working most of the day- and I mean really working, as far as I know she wasn’t having sex or doing murder.”

Thorax chuckled. “Doing murder.”

“Not what you expected me to say?”

“No it is- just...that’s a normal phrase for me to hear now.” Thorax laughed.

Morgan did too. Her expression sobered fast. “Dark Justice was a bit more of a struggle. He’s still settling, you know? He’s been in his room all day. He didn’t want to go with the Crusaders. Not that I blame him, it’s a girl-club. The only colts in town are Snips and Snails, not exactly shining examples here. Were you assertive?”

Thorax had to blink at that. “What?”

“Were you assertive with them?” Morgan repeated. She took off the dish she was cooking, moving it to the counter top. She went about getting the rest of the meal together. “The changeling meeting.”

“Ah.”

“Avoiding my answer only makes it worse.” Morgan sing-songed.

Thorax winced. “I know.”

“Then answer me, Thorax.”

Thorax gulped. “It started off really well...” He began. Morgan stopped her preparations. She grabbed the phone from her magical hold, staring into the lense so he could look her in the eyes. “I had the notebooks, and notecards all laid out. The other changelings liked the food, even the human food. A bunch of them even liked the ideas I had for integration!”

Morgan spoke in a quiet voice, careful and caring. “You did a good job on that. I’m really proud you did it. What happened next?”

“Pharynx.” Thorax answered. He was actually clenching his teeth now.

Morgan looked surprised at the shift in tone. “One of the troubled changelings Thorne warned about?”

“Yes. And he’s gotten worse!” Thorax hissed. “He was head guard back when we needed one of those! Which we don’t anymore but he doesn’t get it!”

He ended up explaining it all to her, in an info dump. He explained the entire two hour meeting with Pharynx’s interruptions. Pharynx constantly dismissing the ideas or disregarding them. Him putting down other changelings. Him going on and on about the old way, how they were becoming weak by taking pony ideas. Thorax explained every annoying thing the changeling had done.

The entire time Morgan listened. She went about finishing dinner for the family, but kept listening. She made comments at appropriate times to prove it. Thorax appreciated having somebody listen to him after the clusterfuck the meeting had been.

“What’s the emotional connection?” Morgan asked.

Thorax hesitated. “The what?”

“I mean...you’re saying all this stuff he did today...but your tone when you introduced him said you knew him before today.” Morgan explained. Thorax didn’t say anything. “Honey. How’d you meet Pharynx?”

Thorax waited a long while before answering. “He was my elder broodmate.”

To her credit, Morgan only looked mildly shocked.

“He wants to be my brother.” Thorax revealed.

A bit more than mildly now...yet still she kept listening. “Wow.”

“Yeah.” Thorax moved over to the bed. He laid himself down, propping the phone up on a lamp. He groaned in aggravation.

He had explained to Morgan how changeling familial connections were made. It had been the only way to explain their marriage connection. The changelings live in a big hive, they couldn’t all call each other brothers and sisters it would get annoying. The bond only worked when both sides consented to the connection. Until then they were just hive-mates.

“What makes you say no?” Morgan asked him, conversationally.

Thorax scoffed. “Uh, my entire life? He always bullied me. He made me hit myself. All the time! Cicada would always-” Thorax choked on his words.

Morgan paused in her dinner preparations. She looked at the phone in hesitant fear.

Thorax let out a shaking breath. “Cicada would always try to stop him. He’d just end up bullying us both. I had to get between them a lot to keep him from bullying her. It’s actually why I agreed to be her brother. Cicada didn’t hesitate to agree, she was excited. That only made Pharynx angrier. He bullied us more often. There was just never...a good reason.”

It hurt to remember these things. Ever since Logan had taken Cicada, there hadn’t been a lot of good memories to look back on. He could remember when he realized she’d been taken. When he realized his little sister was in Logan’s clutches. Thorax was never angrier than in that moment.

Morgan understood how he felt. She finished the meal, beginning to clean up the dishes she’d used to cook.

“He asked again.” Thorax admitted. “When the meeting was over, I was putting everything away. He walked up to ask me if I would accept the connection.”

“And what did you say?” Morgan asked.

“Nothing!” Thorax answered, like there was any other answer. “He acts rude during my presentation that I worked really hard on, and he thought I was going to say yes?! No way!”

“So you didn’t answer him.”

“No!”

“So you didn’t tell him no.”

Thorax hesitated on his answer. “Wait-” He sat up on the bed to look at the phone.

“Which means-”

“I didn’t tell him yes either!” Thorax warned.

Morgan only hummed, like she ‘got it’. “You just left him there. Without an answer.”

Thorax did not like where this was going.

“Okay.” Morgan shrugged. She left the various dishes in the sink to soak. She got out plates. “He sounds like a violent asshole.”

“He is!” Thorax argued. He could still feel his own slaps on his face from when Pharynx made him hit himself.

“Bet he was a real bastard about your attention. Would never really let you have a moment’s peace.”

“He didn’t!” Thorax agreed.

“Did he try to drag you into the violent stuff? The stuff you would never drag Cicada into cause she was just, ya know-”

“Too young and gentle for that kind of stuff! Yes!” Thorax relaxed against the bed again. “You get it.”

Silence.

“You...really get it.”

More silence. A knowing look over the phone.

Thorax pushed his face into the pillow. “Queen dammit...you get it.”

“Killjoy was like that at first.” Morgan recalled. A fond tone to her voice that made Thorax’s heart ache. “She was trying so hard to get close to me, that first week. I turned her away so many times. She was an annoying brat. The baby of the family, by hell did she live up to it. Looking back, I’m not surprised she turned into a sociopath. She was like that from the start.”

“Pharynx isn’t Killjoy.” Thorax argued.

Morgan snorted. “No. Killjoy likes knives. Though from what I’m hearing I doubt it would take long for Pharynx to start-”

“Don’t do that!” Thorax snapped. Morgan silenced, looking at the phone in surprise. “Don’t say his name! Cause- cause then it sounds like you’ve already brought him into the family! That’s not- that’s not how it works! That’s not a decision you get to make. That’s my choice and I say no! He’s not going to be a part of this family! He won’t be my brother! Never!”

Morgan kept staring at the phone. The shock on her face was infectious. Thorax’s own face fell when he realized what he’d done.

“Sorry Starry...I didn’t mean to shout.” He apologized.

Morgan nodded, stunned. “I know you didn’t.”

“He just makes me so mad.”

“I understand.” And she did. She had a sibling who often made her want to pull out her own hair- sometimes making her do something she later regret.

Thorax felt worse. He pushed his face into the pillow again.

There was a long tense silence. The only noises in the room came from the outsides. The buzzing of a sewing machine, the movement of hooves, Rarity’s instructions to them all, the sink running beside Morgan.

“The kids need dinner.” Morgan stated after a long silence.

Thorax nodded, face still in the pillow.

“You need to answer him.”

Thorax said nothing.

“I only ever made peace with Killjoy when I talked to her. When I told her what I had to say, how I felt. I don’t care if you tell him no, or yes. That’s up to you. Just tell him why you’re pushing him away. Who knows? Maybe he’ll listen.”

Thorax said nothing.

“I love you.” Morgan reminded him.

“I love you so much.” Thorax replied. It was only slightly muffled by the pillow.

“Call me later?”

“Yeah, babe. Sure.” Thorax mumbled.

She hung up the phone.

Thorax groaned into the pillow. He knew his wife was right. Even if he hated when that meant he had to do now. She was right though. And he wouldn’t feel at peace until he did this.

==CAH==

All the changelings were staying in a nearby hotel. Queen Thorne had organized that with the princesses again. The meetings would be over two days- so tomorrow they would meet and talk for another afternoon before they went back to the Hive. They did this so Thorax could attend the fashion show and the afterwards- that had been insisted by Raspberry.

So Thorax knew which room was Pharynx’s.

He had a room to himself. Noling else wanted to bunk with him.

Thorax knocked on the hotel room door. He had managed to sneak out without being dragged into Rarity’s impromptu sweatshop.

No answer.

Thorax braced himself. “It’s me.”

More silence.

Thorax knew a weaker changeling would’ve taken that as a cue to leave. But he had to at least try. Well...try more than just knocking.

He heard the locks twisting on the other side of the door. Thorax braced himself again for a confrontation. The door swung open for Pharynx.

The changeling stared at Thorax, trying to appear nonchalant. Thorax showed more hesitation for this exchange.

“So.” Pharynx began. Thorax was already annoyed all over again. Even barely talking, Pharynx’s voice sounded like a military general who knew better. Thorax didn’t like that one bit. “Had something to say?”

“Y-Yes.” Thorax replied. He called back what he’d said to Morgan, remembered the emotions he had felt. He needed them. He hadn’t rehearsed it on notecards or had it written in a notebook. This had to come from him. “You should apologize.”

“Huh? Me? Apologize? For what?” Pharynx countered.

“For being rude at the meeting.” Thorax stated.

“Pfft. Whatever.” Pharynx walked back, about to close the door.

Thorax used his magic to hold the door open. “No. You’re going to hear what I have to say. If you really want to be my brother, then this is how it starts.”

There was a long silence after that. Pharynx glared at Thorax, seeming to test if Thorax meant it. Thorax glared right back. He could do this. He was already doing this- as long as nothing caught fire it would be fine.

Pharynx took a step back. “Fine.” He walked into his hotel room.

Thorax followed him in. He closed the door behind him.

Pharynx walked over to a chair. He sat in it, crossing his hooves over his chest. He glared silently at Thorax.

Thorax stared silently back.

The changeling huffed. “Well? Go ahead. Since you’re so eager to have a ‘feeling circle’-”

“Feeling Forum.” Thorax corrected. Pharynx waved it off. “See? It’s that. You’re always mean to me. All the time.”

“To toughen you up! Changelings walk all over you all the time!” Pharynx argued.

“What, like you do?” Thorax countered.

“Yeah!” Pharynx agreed.

Thorax rolled his eyes.

“The ponies are making the Hive weak. None of them patrol or hunt anymore!” Pharynx ranted.

“Why would they?” Thorax questioned. “There’s no need for it. We don’t need to steal love. We can share it.”

Pharynx sneered. “I’ve seen how you share that love.” He shivered, disgusted.

“What?” Thorax asked, confused and not sure if he should be offended or not. “What do you mean by that?”

“I knew you were always weak. I never imagined you would side with her.” Pharynx stated. “The Great Betrayer. And those things of her’s.”

Thorax clenched his teeth.

“I was the one assigned to take in her brats in Queen Chrysalis’ invasion-”

Now, let it be clear. Thorax knew the incident-to him- happened over eight years ago. He knew it was less then five years for the girls.

But he would never forget how scared he was when Morgan had told him about the girls. How he held that fear until he saw them again, hours later. He remembered how tightly they held to Morgan and him, when it got dark outside. Cookie told Thorax she’d been scared by the bug ponies that came to take her away.

And he was furious to hear them be called brats.

Long story short, he was completely justified when he changed into a bear then punched Pharynx in the face.

The former Head Guard for the Hive fell to the ground. He’d been as surprised by the punch as Morgan would be when Thorax told her two days later.

Thorax was seething. He changed back into his green carapace form, snarling at Pharynx.

The former Head Guard flinched back. His purple eyes stuck on Thorax.

“You don’t get to talk about my family like that!” Thorax hissed. “You never liked Cicada. You were mean to us all the time! I let you push me around for so long because as long as you were kicking at me or making me hit myself you weren’t doing it to her! And now that she’s gone- what- you think you have a chance? At being a family? Well you’re being a real shit about it!” Thorax ranted, barely taking a breath. Pharynx stared, gobsmacked. “I’m not letting you do the same to my family! You don’t call my kids ‘things’ or ‘brats’- all four of them are perfect and I love them so shut up!”

Thorax had to take a breath for this next bit. He’d worked up to it, you see. “And you especially don’t get to say anything about my wife!” He went in for another punch. He didn’t change this time. So it was a perfectly normal changeling hoof punching classic changeling chitton.

There was actually a thud when Pharynx hit the floor. He was so surprised that Thorax-Thorax, who was such a wimp he’d get hurt punching himself- had punched him

And it hurt.

“Raspberry Stardust is a better creature than you’ll ever be, and I’ve loved her since I met her.” Thorax kept on. “And if you really wanted to be my brother you would respect that.”

So Thorax left Pharynx behind. For the first time, he had no regrets about it.

For the first time ever, Pharynx did.

==CAH==

If Thorax went out to confirm that Lilac was alright, he doubted Raspberry would blame him.

==CAH==

“And I’m a dancing pony!” The performer sang.

The Mane 6, Spike, Thorax, and a whole bunch of changelings applauded as the curtain closed.

After the fight, not much happened from Thorax’s perspective. The mares had been working on new dresses for Rarity all night. They’d missed their performance of Henny of the Hills. Thorax had fallen straight to sleep- not waking up until the mares came to get him in a panic.

They’d missed Rarity’s fashion show. Instead of angry, Rarity was apologetic. She apologized for how rude she had been about the dresses. Even when Suri- who Thorax could just guess wasn’t a good pony- said that Rarity had lost, Rarity took it in stride. She invited her friends to an exclusive show of Henny of the Hills. More than that, Rarity said that she could bring in any of the changelings that wanted to experience it.

A lot of the changelings agreed when Thorax sent out letters to ask. Apparently there had been a lot of buzz about it since their hotel was so close to the theatre.

Thorax was happy. He hadn’t expected to introduce them to Equestria culture like this! What an awesome thing. And the actors didn’t even scream! Double bonus!

“Wow! That was even better than I imagined!” Applejack praised.

“I loved it!” Dash cheered, flying about above their heads in cheer. She stopped when she realized her own enthusiasm. “Uh, I mean, it was a’ight.”

Thorax waved goodbye to the changelings. They were all fluttering as they exited the theatre. Many were talking about coming back to Manehattan again- not just for the next meeting. Thorax beamed in pride.

“How did you ever get them to agree to do an extra performance just for us?” Twilight asked Rarity.

“Remember my costume designer friend who got me the tickets?” Everyone nodded. “Well, I offered to make all the costumes for his next show!”

“Um, here in Manehattan?” Fluttershy reasoned.

“Well, um... yes... it will keep me away from Ponyville for a while.” Rarity admitted. Her friends were quiet at the revelation. “But I so wanted you to see this show! And working for this designer is such a great opportunity!”

“We know. We’re happy for you, Rarity. We’re just sad for us.” Applejack explained, pouting.

The doors to the theatre room opened. The group looked back to it. Coco Pommel- intern to Suri- was walking in. “Mind if I join you?” She asked

“Sure. Come on down.” Rarity offered, confused.

The pale yellow earth pony walked down. She walked up to Rarity, pulling out an object from her saddlebag,

“This is the first place trophy for Fashion Week.” Rarity realized. She gasped. “With my name on it! But I thought I lost!”

“You didn’t. You won.” Coco revealed. “Suri was hoping that if you didn’t claim your prize, the judges would consider it a forfeit and first place would go to her. So she lied to make you and your friends go away, and, well, I lied too.”

The ponies all walked towards Coco. They listened to their story, wondering what it meant about their friend.

“I’ve worked for Suri for so long, I started to believe that it really is everypony for herself in this town. Until I saw how generous you were with your friends and how generous they were with you. It made me start believing there was something better for me out there. So, I– I quit.” Coco explained. She reached into her saddlebag, pulling out another object. “I brought you something to say thank you.”

It was a spool of thread. But not just one color, this was clearly rainbow thread. Thorax thought he saw it shine with a magic rainbow for a moment. Clearly it was just a trick of light.

“Hm. I suppose you’ll need a job now that you’re no longer with Suri.” Rarity hummed. She smiled brightly. “How would you like to work for my friend making all the costumes for his next show?”

Coco couldn’t say yes fast enough.

==CAH==

Morgan blinked at him.

Thorax winced, feeling embarrassed and awkward.

Morgan blinked again. Her jaw was starting to drop. Her eyes widening as what he explained was coming to her.

He groaned, letting his head flop down on her shoulder. “Please don’t-”

“You John Mulaney’d me.” Morgan spoke.

“...what?”

“You punched a man while shouting ‘that’s my wife’.” Morgan clarified with a wide smile. “Holy shit you really love me.”

Thorax flushed. “Uh...babe we’re married.”

“Yeah but now it’s- like- obvious.”

Thorax shifted into a cat. He curled against Morgan’s side. The human giggled at the fur on her neck. She reached a hand up to pet him. Thorax mewled. Her hand stayed brushing his fur for a long while.

Neither of them talked about Lilac, up in Manehattan all alone.

Neither of them talked about Pharynx, returning to the Hive with a lot on his mind.

Neither of them talked about the fight they’d had the other night.

They just existed in the moment- letting it slide by in a reassuring silence.

They would worry about all of those things later.

Comments

[NIchtraucher]

This story suddenly has a lot of interesting different storylines I'm curious about.
How is Lilac going to make it through 3 months alone? How is the changeling integration going to go? How is Dark Justice going to make it in this madhouse he finds himself in now? (Both the literal house and Ponyville in general.) And what's gonna happen with our friend Tirek, considering he he went through a good portion of Equestria (if not, all the big cities at least) which would include Manehattan? If he hurts Lilac, there will be hell to pay. Also will Celestias plan involve the fifth alicorn?
In short: you got me hooked. (Not that you didn't since the first book...)

However I'd like to point out that technically Rumble existed already at this point in the show. He had his debut back in Hurricane Fluttershy.
So does Featherweight, with his debut in Ponyville Confidential and Pipsqueak in Luna Eclipsed. My point is that while not very prominent in the show, there are young male ponies in Ponyville besides Snips and Snails contrary to what Morgan said.
Also in this chapter we got some rather long parts straight from the episode ... I skipped those while reading. Especially that taxi scene felt to me like it dragged on since I wanted to see Thorax in his quest not read something where I already knew where it was going, since apparently Thorax being there didn't change anything.

That being said I did like the drama heavy moments as well as the sweet moments. Keep it up.

[Authora97]

9916524
I'm going to ignore that bits you blocked out, purely because I am a creature of spite.
As for the colts, yes I was aware others existed. However I always thought Pipsqueak was from a younger class than the CMC, so he's out with Dark Justice. Also I think at this point Rumple is or is being sent to Flight School.
I too hated writing the scenes from the show itself. For my MLP fics I like writing stuff that happens outside. However the closer to the finale I get, the more episode content will be tied in.