The Changeling Gorbfest

A few days later the train pulled into a small station built within a stone’s throw of the Central Hive. The land was still mostly dry and arid compared to the cool, comfortable interior of the hive, but the magic of the massive stone structure didn’t cease after Chrysalis’s black throne was destroyed, and ponies couldn’t even build a foundation before it was swallowed up by the shifting rock. It was a small trek, but Starlight didn’t think it was so bad. She made the same trip under circumstances direr than simply getting a little thirsty and sweaty.

The group of friends stepped off of the train, along with a herd of other tourists. A huge banner with the phrase “Welcome Gorbfest Guests” hung from the station awning, flanked by images of smiling changelings with mouths wide open upwards as if to receive libations from an unseen source. Changelings buzzed excitedly around the train station, welcoming tourists with hugs and nuzzles, including Fluttershy as she stepped off the train.

“Oh, um…nice to meet you,” Fluttershy muttered as a brown and green changeling began to rub his cheek against hers, making her blush when he began to give her little licks.

Suddenly, a powerful, yet dorky, voice boomed out.

“Contain yourself, my subject!” King Thorax said, cantering over to greet the group.

The changeling looked dismayed, but backed away, giving Fluttershy a coy wink before buzzing off.

“Sorry, I’m still teaching my subjects to be more considerate of the concept of ‘personal space’,” Thorax continued. “I mean, we’ve all spent so much of our lives starving that some changelings get a little excited about being able to make their own love. Either way, I’m surprised to see you all here. Are you here for the Gorbfest? Welcome to the Hive, by the way.”

“You betcha!” Pinkie said, prancing in place with excitement. She couldn’t wait to see the Hive again, especially now that she was OUTSIDE of a cocoon filled with brain-numbing goo.

“I had so much fun last year that I wanted to invite my friends!” Starlight said. “By the way, it’s good to see you again, Thorax.”
“Aww, thanks, it’s good to see you again too,” Thorax said. “Exchanging letters is nice, but nothing compares to seeing somepony else in person.”

“Friendship lesson #98,” Twilight thought to herself. She held her tongue, though, and just nodded smugly.

“…So, will you all be Gorbfest guests?” Thorax asked.

“I think I’ll just watch again this year. But everypony else would love to participate,” Starlight said.

“Wonderful!” Thorax said, his wings buzzing with excitement. “Shame about you though. I’d love for you to participate. I’d even let you be my personal guest of honor, if that’s what you’d prefer.”

Starlight smiled and blushed, averting her eyes as if she was embarrassed. “Well, the offer is tempting, REALLY tempting, but I think that Twilight should be your personal guest. After all, you’re a King, and she’s a Princess, so…”

“Well, I understand,” Thorax said. “But, we’ll see how she’s feeling later. For now, everypony, why don’t you all follow me? We were waiting for the tourists to arrive before we set the Gorbfest in motion. Are you all ready?”

“Puh-leeease! I was born ready!” Dash said, pumping her hoof in the air.

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Thorax led Starlight and the Mane Six at the front of the herd, while the rest of the changelings present slowly guided the rest towards the grand hive. It was imposing and menacing, but Twilight remembered to never judge a book by its cover. Besides, it seemed like the changelings were making an effort to spruce up the place. As she approached, Twilight saw pink hearts crudely painted on some of the rocky crags. The changelings’ collective artistic skill seemed…lacking, but Twilight remembered that it was the thought that counts. After all, that was Friendship Lesson #309.

The group was herded into a giant, gaping maw of a cave, and natural sunlight gave way to an ethereal green-tinted illumination that came from glowing cocoons stuck on the walls and ceilings. It bathed the caves in a gentle light that made the otherwise cold stone seem almost cozy and inviting. Twilight stared in amazement as she watched the walls slowly shift and churn around her, as if she had entered the belly of a giant beast. The stone itself seemed alive, and portals would slowly open and close with a steady rhythm. It was almost hypnotic to watch, and she ended up accidentally bumping into Thorax’s butt when he suddenly stopped in front of her.

“We’re here!” Thorax said. “Welcome to the Grand Feasting Hall!”

Twilight quickly gathered herself, standing up and joining her friends before looking around. Contrary to the rest of the hive, this room appeared mostly static. Large openings dotted the sides and ceilings, but these looked motionless, and often hosted several multicolored changelings looking down at the guests. There was a large stage made from elevated rock at the front of the room, and several long dining tables took up most of the floor space.

“Everypony, please, take a seat while we wait for the Gorbfest to begin,” Thorax said, gesturing to the tables before turning to Twilight and her friends. “Come, why don’t you all sit close to the front? After all, as the personal guest, Twilight should be up on stage with me once I start making announcements.”

Thorax led Starlight and the others up to the table at the front of the room, just underneath the center of the stone stage. He sat with them as changelings began to buzz out of the openings lining the room, carrying plates of hot, steaming food. They placed plate after plate on the dining tables, and one bright orange changeling wearing a chef’s hat dropped off a few plates of steamed grass in front of Twilight and her friends.

“Food?” Twilight asked. “I thought you changelings ate love?”

“We do, we do,” Thorax said. “But, essentially, the Gorbfest is a celebration of feeling stuffed. It was one of the brief times under Chrysalis’s rule that we’d generate so much love that we’d actually feel satisfied for a day. It’s something that I decided we should extend to guests interested in participating in this time-honored tradition.”

“You should have seen the pony food last year,” Starlight added. “Looks like they’ve gotten a lot better at it.”

Thorax smiled awkwardly. “Yes, we’ve been practicing. It’s actually not too bad as long as you just follow the instructions from cookbooks. Trust me, we want only the best for our guests! After all, the more they love us, the better we all feel.”

“Makes sense,” Rarity said. “After all, what better way to show goodwill than through generosity? I’m sure that under your leadership, the changelings will become a great and well-respected nation.”

“Thanks, Rarity,” Thorax said. “It really means a lot to me.”

A few more changelings buzzed down, each dropping off more plates of food. Carrot-dogs, fried hay, roasted veggies with butter and seasoning, it was a real smorgasbord of delicacies.

“Enough about me, please, eat,” Thorax said. “Including you, Starlight. I know you said you won’t be participating in the festivities, but you are still an honored guest. I bet you’re starving, too.”

“Well, yeah, I am feeling a little peckish,” Starlight said, before levitating a carrot-dog and taking a big bite out of it. “Oh wow, that’s good!”

“Tell me about it!” Pinkie said as she practically inhaled anything that was put in front of her. “This is some of the best cooking I’ve had in my whole life!”

“Well, eat as much as you please,” Thorax said. “We made sure to prepare a lot for guests this year.”