Author's Note

Exactly what it says on the tin, folks! Just teasing and planning here.

Teasing and Plot

“…So I’m thinking of inviting King Thorax over for a diplomatic visit,” Celestia said as she swallowed a strawberry coated in whip cream.

Princess Luna nearly choked on her breakfast, but maintained a steady composure. “I suppose it would be nice. Praytell, what prompted you to make this decision?”

“I’ve been thinking about updating our treaties to better facilitate trade and prosperity. Besides, it’s been a long time since we’ve last seen him,” Celestia continued. This, of course, was an utter lie; for the past few months, Celestia had dreamed of Thorax swallowing and digesting her every night without fail. She had come to love her nightly pleasures, all the while completely oblivious to the fact that her sister shared her sweet dreams.

“Well, I’m certain that it would be good to host him,” Luna continued, patting her lips with a napkin. After her recent discoveries, she would like to get to know him better.

“It’s settled then. We’ll aim for sometime a few weeks from now,” Celestia continued. “That should give me enough time to marinate…I mean…ruminate on my decisions.”

Luna suppressed a giggle. She knew exactly what was on her sister’s mind…

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The herald pony stepped into the throne room and cleared his throat.

“ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF THE LORD SOVERIEGN OF THE CHANGELING HIVE, KING THORAX!” He shouted to the rest of the busy hall before shuffling off to the side. The diplomats and attendants that crowded the room also went silent and stood off to the side, clearing a path to the entrance. The massive cedar doors opened, and a tall, green changeling stepped forth, flanked by a small entourage of other changelings that made a verifiable rainbow of colors. The small swarm gallantly trotted forward and took a small bow.

“Thank you for inviting us, Your Majesties,” Thorax said in his distinct confident yet dorky voice. “How have you been?”

“We’ve been well, thank you for asking,” Celestia said, her eyes stealing glances at Thorax’s mouth. “I imagine that you’re weary after your long journey. My servants will attend to your every need until our business concludes later this afternoon. We can discuss politics starting tomorrow. Tonight, let us all relax and be merry.”

With a wave of her hoof, Thorax and his fellow changelings were approached by a maid mare, performed a little curtsey.

“This way, sirs. I’ll lead you to the guest chambers. Don’t hesitate to tell me anything you desire. I will do my best to make it so,” she said a bubbly, sing-songy voice before turning around and leading Thorax and his group into a hallway to the side.

As the group left the throne room, one changeling nudged his companion.

“Anything, huh?” He said in a mischievous voice while licking his lips.

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Celestia, Luna, and Thorax spent most of the following morning discussing trade agreements. It was droll work, but it needed to be done. The current treaties were drawn up erring on the side of caution; despite the change in leadership, Celestia still had no idea what the changelings were capable of. In the past few years, however, the changelings seemed to be a peaceful race, and Celestia was ready to allow them greater economic privileges.

“…I would also like to propose a business visa program that would allow changelings to work in Equestria. I feel that they can bring new and valuable goods and services to my citizens,” Celestia said as she passed a few papers to Thorax.

“That seems like a good idea,” Thorax said, his purple eyes scanning the text. “Honey production has been up. In addition to a good source of nutrients, pony guests in the hive have found it to be a great numbing agent. I’m sure that it can be sold for medicinal uses.”

Thorax yawned widely, exposing the glowing, pulsating flesh of his mouth. Celestia and Luna were both transfixed by the gaping maw. Every subtle motion seemed to perfectly accentuate the alien nature of his biology. Celestia gulped, and her face reddened as she imagined just how easily it would be to lean forward and let those magnificent mandibles take her.

Thorax closed his mouth quickly and shook his head.

“I’m sorry,” Thorax said. “I’m still tired from the journey.”

“Perhaps now would be a good time to break for lunch,” Celestia said, collecting her composure. “Whatever you’d like, we can arrange. I’m sorry, love is hard to put on a menu.”

“Well, it’s not just love,” Thorax said. “Besides, we’re more than capable of producing enough good emotions on our own now. But, our bodies do require a little actual food. Some nectar would be a great pick-me-up right now.”

“There are plenty of flowers in the royal gardens,” Luna continued. “Why don’t I show you while my sister has something a little more...traditional.”

“That would be lovely, Princess!” Thorax said as his wings buzzed in delight.

Celestia was a little sad to be denied the opportunity to watch Thorax eat, but she mused that there would always be time for that at dinner. She waved the pair goodbye as they left the room and began to arrange the notes. She wanted to tidy up before she found something to stuff her face with as well. Truth be told, Celestia was starving. She had skipped breakfast to have a few more blissful moments in her dream, which had become more and more intense as the date of Thorax’s arrival approached. They felt so real, and Celestia genuinely feared that she might say something uncouth towards her guest because of it. For now, she’d be as careful as she could be.

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“…And this, King Thorax, is the Royal Garden in all its splendor,” Luna said as the two crossed the hedge threshold into the castle’s garden. The place was a paradise; cobblestone paths winded around exotic trees and shrubs. Flowers imported from around the known world made the very ground look like the creation of Equestria’s finest artist. The soft singing of birds could be heard from within bushes, and the sweet scent of flowers in bloom wafted through the air.

“Whoa…it’s beautiful,” Thorax said, eyes wide and mouth agape as he took it all in. “I’ve never seen something so amazing in my entire life…”

“Oh, it’s really nothing,” Luna said as she led Thorax deeper into the garden, her obsidian horseshoes making gentle clacking sounds as she gracefully stepped on the cobblestone path. “Please, help yourself.”

“A-are you sure?” Thorax stammered. “I feel like this place is too gorgeous to be touched.”

“Relax, King Thorax,” Luna continued. “The horticulturalists on staff are more than capable of taking care of anything we do to the garden. Drink all the nectar you please.”

“Alright, I’ll be gentle though,” Thorax replied. Tenderly he stepped towards a gigantic pink rosebush, taking great care to not step on anything and deface this blessed space. He leaned in, sniffing the flower and probing it with the end of his snout, reveling in the plush softness of its petals. Slowly, his lips parted and a long, glowing tongue slipped out. It wormed its way into the rose’s center, lapping at the sweet nectar that lie hidden deep within. It would scoop perhaps a single drop’s worth, before ferrying it back into Thorax’s mouth and sending it dripping down his throat. Luna bit her lip and stared at his throat as it undulated with each and swallow. She could swear that she could feel those same throat muscles gripping her sides, ready to send her plummeting into blissful oblivion. The thought of it made her drool almost as much as Thorax.

Once Thorax was done with that rose, his snout darted to the one beside it, draining it of its nectar as well. The changeling drank his fill, lapping up nectar from almost every flower on the bush. When he was finished, he licked the stray pollen dust off his lips and returned to Luna’s side.

“That nectar was absolutely delicious,” he said with a satisfied grin. “I could even taste residue of the love from the gardeners towards it. I feel completely satisfied now.”

“Satisfied? Are you sure?” Luna said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“Yep, I feel totally energized now,” Thorax affirmed.

“This garden is far from any guard patrol. Are you sure you’re not still hungry?” Luna asked.

“Um…nope, I’m fine,” Thorax said with a hint of confusion in his voice. Why was the princess being so pushy about this?

Princess Luna turned around, wiggling her butt rhythmically at Thorax.

“Are you sure you don’t have a craving that only a darker palate can satisfy?” Luna said while looking over her shoulder.

Thorax stared silently, his gaze shifting between Luna’s face and her bony butt. After a few moments of awkward silence, Luna’s expression soured.

“You know, you looked at me a lot more hungrily last night in your dream,” she said in a deadpan tone.

Thorax gasped.

“I…uuuh…don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered, taking a step back.

Luna took a deep breath and rolled her eyes.

“Luna, my love, you look especially mouthwatering in that maid outfit,” Luna said, imitating Thorax’s voice, making fun of a line he had said just the previous night in his dream.

“H-hey! I don’t control my dreams!” Thorax said, now visibly sweating. “I-I mean…you’re pretty and all, but I’m not really crushing on you!”

“It seems that you must like the subject though, given how often you dream about consuming me,” Luna replied.

“You’ve been spying on my dreams? For how long!?” Thorax said.

“Oh, spying?” Luna said with a chuckle. “King Thorax, I’ve been doing a lot more than spying. Those Lunas you’ve sent down that luscious throat of yours? They’ve been me…for months”

“M-months?” Thorax stammered. “But why?”

“Because I enjoy it, bugbrain!” Luna said, trotting close to Thorax and hooking her foreleg around his hoof. Her snout came to within inches of Thorax’s and she looked deeply into his big, purple eyes. “…And I was thinking that perhaps you could make my dreams come true…”

Thorax’s jaw dropped.

“G-gosh Princess Luna, don’t you think this is a little fast?” Thorax said, barely able to choke out his words. “I mean, what would Princess Celestia think if I ate her sister?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Luna said with a snarky voice. “I’ve left a little surprise in her head. She’s been dreaming as much as being your lunch as much as I have. Besides, you assume that I want you to eat me in reality. I know what happens to food in a changeling stomach. I’ve done my research. Instead, I was thinking we can pull a prank on my sister.”

“A prank? What do you mean?” Thorax asked.

“I’m not sure if you’ve heard much about my time as Nightmare Moon,” Luna began. “I admit, I was a drama queen back then and needed some time to cool down, but a millennium in the moon was still an overreaction from my sister. I just think, to be fair, she should be sealed one-thousand years as well…in a powerful changeling stomach!”

“You call wanting me to eat her a prank?” Thorax continued. “Princess, I must admit, you’ve caught me. I love to eat pones, they’re really tasty. I’ve eaten over several dozen now, but each and every time I treat it as a sacred act worthy of respect. I mean, it’s not something a pony can easily come back from, if at all. We changelings completely digest their body, and nine times out of ten their soul stays within us to continue an existence of bliss. I don’t even think the most powerful of necromancy can bring a pony back at that point.”

“Oh Thorax, a millennium is a long, LONG time, trust me,” Luna said. “If I truly wanted to bring her back, I’m certain that I could devise a spell to do so, even if it would take centuries to do so. Besides, my sister has grown tired of ruling. Trust me, she’d love to be gurgled away into nothing but joy. If your digestion feels even half as good as the dreams I’ve been programming her with, then she certainly won’t regret it.”

“Really? You’re sure?” Thorax asked. His heart was beginning to beat hard. Consuming Celestia had always been a dream of his ever since he was a grub. He always thought it would just be a fantasy, but here he was, plotting her demise with her own sister offering her on a silver platter...perhaps even literally. He couldn’t help but lick his lips; Princess Twilight had been absolutely delicious, and her love energy was the most powerful that Thorax had ever absorbed. He salivated as just how much of a rush consuming Celestia would give him.

“You’re drooling,” Luna said with a stifled giggle, using her hoof to wipe away some of the bioluminescent dribble.

“…I’ll consider it,” Thorax said.

“If you’re really too nervous, then it’s perfectly fine if you refuse,” Luna said. “I just think that it would be great fun, as well as unifying our two nations in both a figurative and literal sense!”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Thorax muttered, averting his gaze from the overly eager Luna. “I tell you what. I’ll test the waters. How about that?”

“That’s all I can ask of you,” Luna said before she turned around and started cantering towards the garden’s exit. “I suppose we should get back. Celestia might grow suspicious that you consumed me…or envious~”

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The pair returned to the negotiating room, where Celestia sat on her sofa reviewing what she and Thorax had agreed to. She gave them a nod of acknowledgement before shuffling her papers off to the side.

“Ah, Luna, King Thorax, please come in,” Celestia said, gesturing to their old seats. “I trust that you two had a good luncheon together.”

“Yes, I showed him the Royal Garden,” Luna said. “He treated himself to some fresh rose nectar. It seems like that’s not much, but he tells me he’s full.”

“King Thorax, I hope that if you need anything more, we will not hesitate to accommodate,” Celestia said.

“Oh no, it’s perfectly fine. Remember, we have different biological needs than ponies do. That nectar left me refreshed,” Thorax mentioned. He opened his mouth, deliberately but subtlety turning towards Celestia so she’d get a good look. He held his mouth open as he took a deep sigh, letting Celestia stare into the yawning abyss of his throat. He saw her focus shift from his eyes to his mouth, where she looked with fascination. She licked her own lips and gulped, and Thorax could see that her eyes shifted in time with each and every motion of his bioluminescent flesh. He slowly closed his mouth, robbing Celestia of her eye-candy.

“Sorry about that,” Thorax said, a bit more confident now. He had doubted Luna’s story, but his changeling instincts recognized the look on Celestia’s face was a look of desire. Perhaps there was some truth to her words, he thought. However, he was too focused to realize that Luna herself was also transfixed by his mouth, unable to tear her eyes away from the soft, pillowy tissues.

“I suppose we should continue,” Celestia began, levitating some papers over. “First, I’ve been thinking about immigration policy…”

Celestia continued to drone on and on about tariffs and tax codes, while Thorax began to relax. He’d sometimes yawn, noting that Celestia would sometimes stop mid sentence to gaze longingly into the glowing pit of his throat, always shrugging it off as a bad habit of his. As time went on, he got a little more brazen with his teasing and began to lick his lips whenever Celestia turned to look at him. He thought it was adorable how her cheeks would flush red as she turned away. The more Thorax tested his power over Celestia, the hungrier he got. The love radiating from Celestia’s body was delectable, and was enough to make him settle on his ultimate decision.

“Princess Celestia,” Thorax said, making sure to open his mouth as wide as he could as he spoke. “I find this room to be stuffy. Perhaps we can continue our negotiations somewhere else?”

“Oh…of course,” Celestia said, feeling herself getting hot. She found Thorax’s throat to be more handsome and more inviting than even her most intense dreams. She was completely oblivious to the fact that he was teasing her; her fantasy of disappearing into his stomach played out over and over in her head. “Where would you prefer?”

“Your private chambers sound like a good place. I imagine it’s very comfortable in there,” Thorax said, turning and giving a wink to Luna as Celestia began to gather up all of the loose documents.

“Oh, yes, good idea King Thorax. Perhaps something more private will just be what we both need,” Celestia said.

The trio got up and exited into the hallway, where they began to trot through the winding corridors of Cantarlot castle towards Celestia’s tower. Celestia took the lead, and Thorax licked his lips as he stared at her luscious flanks swaying back and forth. It seemed like it was his turn to be enthralled, this time by his lovely prey. He went over scenarios in his head, thinking about what would be the smoothest way to consume her. After all, just because he intended to swallow her doesn’t mean he couldn’t be a gentlebug!

However, his musings stopped when a pair of Thorax’s entourage approached as they turned a corner.

“King Thoraaaax!” Whined the bright purple changeling.

“Yes, brothers?” Thorax whispered, gesturing to Celestia and Luna to continue trotting. “Make it quick, I have important business to attend to.”

“King Thorax, sir, we’re bored,” the changeling continued. “All of the others except for us are busy eating…”

His orange companion quickly jabbed the purple changeling’s side.

“MEETING…meeting other ponies here. We’re just not having any luck!” He continued.

“Is there something wrong?” Celestia said, too far ahead to catch all of the details of the conversation.

“Nothing is wrong, Princess. As for you two, why don’t you tag along with us? I’m sure that you’ll find someone to meet,” Thorax said with a wink towards his changeling companions, who buzzed with excitement.

The group continued to trot through the castle, passing marble busts of famous politicians and stained glass windows produced by the finest artisans in Equestria. All the while, Thorax had to hold back the two changelings whenever they passed any of the maids and butlers that went about their business in the halls.

“You know, I hear the maid outfit makes them taste even better,” the purple changeling whispered to his orange friend.

“Shush, don’t get excited and blow it,” replied the orange changeling. “King Thorax will let us know when we can meet a pony…”

The group passed a huge painting of Celestia reclining on a sofa, then turned a corner and began climbing a large stairway. Up and up they went, with each step bringing everyone present closer and closer to their final destination. It gave a moment for Thorax to contemplate the sacred act that he’d soon perform. He felt truly honored and humbled that soon Princess Celestia, one of the most powerful and influential beings in the world, would soon find nirvana within his stomach. She’d join her former pupil in eternal bliss within him, and Thorax felt happy that he’d be able to do it and not his witch of a former queen. He’d give Celestia the treatment that she deserved, and hopefully she’d find her consumption enjoyable. If not…well…he had ways to help ‘persuade’ her.

The group eventually reached the top of the tower, where the magnificent ivory doors of Celestia’s chamber stood proudly flanked by two guards. The guardsponies immediately bowed to the princess, and opened the doors for her.

“Now, my brothers,” King Thorax said, turning to the pair of changelings. “The princesses and I have important business that must be done in private.”

“Aww, but what about meeting ponies?” The purple one asked, feeling a little disappointed.

“King Thorax, I’m glad that your fellow changelings are so eager to socialize,” Celestia said as she turned to the guards stationed at her door. “Silver Spear, Shield Bearer, this will be a great time for you to make some friends. Don’t worry about us, take it easy this shift.”

With that, Thorax, Luna, and Celestia entered the bedchamber and shut the door with a satisfying click, leaving the guardsponies and the changelings outside. The four ponies stared awkwardly at each other for several minutes, not sure about what to do in this strange predicament.

“Ahem...so…how’s the weather?” The orange changeling asked.

“Good. It’s always good in Canterlot,” the guardspony replied gruffly.

“Heh heh…okay…” the orange changeling replied, awkwardly gazing around the small antechamber.

“…So,” the purple changeling began, “Do you have any entertainment when you’re on your shift?”

“No, we must remain focused at all times,” said the other guard.

“Hmm…hey, this gives me an idea!” The purple changeling exclaimed. “Why don’t we show you some changeling entertainment?”

Without waiting for the guardsponies’ reply, the purple changeling’s horn began to glow green. A cloud of white smoke coalesced at the tip, growing to be about the size of his head before floating directly in front of the guardponies’ faces. It flattened as it began to spin in the air, and a glowing rainbow swirl began to rotate and shine right into the guardponies’ eyes…