A Glimmer of Hope: Reborn

The trip to the changeling hive was nothing compared to the other trips the group had embarked on. Within a day they had arrived at the outskirts of the hive, and were quite intrigued to see how much it had changed. When they officially met Thorax, albeit after Nick’s passing, he took the time to show them the location along with offering them an open invitation to stay should the mares ever pass their way.

While the changelings did keep their promise and finished reconstruction of the old castle in the Everfree, they didn’t remain to occupy it and the reason why was clear upon the group’s arrival.

The hive was no longer its forboding black but rather similar to Twilight’s Castle, a mix of shining colors that reflected the sun’s light. Instead of it’s jagged appearance, spires rose up, as if trying to touch the skies. There was lush vegetation everywhere, despite it being on the outskirts of the desert like Badlands. Perhaps they had designed irrigation for their new colony to support their actual diet of food and not love.

As they approached the main entrance, a few changeling guards stopped them, requesting verification.

“I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, we’re here to see King Thorax,” Twilight announced, stepping up to the front with Tempest at her side.

“And who are these strange creatures you bring with you? More insurgents?” One of them pointed a spear at the two humans.

“Yeah, perhaps they’re trying to overthrow King Thorax just like that other group,” the other took a defensive stance.

“What - we come in peace,” Twilight’s eyes went wide at the hostility. She knew the Storm King’s invasion had affected all of Equestria, but surely the news spread that he had been defeated and was no longer a threat.

“What is all this commotion?” a very familiar and welcome voice called out behind the two guards. The tall, majestic form of Thorax came into view, although the youthfulness in his face seemed to have diminished, replaced by what could only be due to stress and lack of sleep. “Twilight?” he cocked his head to the side in confusion. “What brings you here? And who are these three?” He looked at Tempest, Ivy and Matt.

“It’s a long story, but one that we’ll be glad to tell you in more… confidential settings,” she looked at the two guards warily.

He understood and sighed. “At ease,” he commanded. “Sorry, things have been rough since the Storm King invasion. Some changelings, including my brother, thought that if we were back to our old selves, we could have repelled them.”

Twilight shook her head. “With how they caught us all off guard,” she looked to Tempest who blushed slightly. “I don’t think anything would have changed.”

“I am actually the former commander of the Storm King’s army,” Tempest announced, bowing before him. “I sincerely apologize for the disturbance caused. It was thanks to Twilight here that I was shown the error of my ways.”

The guards seemed more at unease, while Thorax looked at the mare. She definitely seemed very capable, but seeing that she wore armor with Twilight’s cutie mark on it, he decided that she was true to her word. After all, despite the lack of communication lately, he was still good friends with the mare.

“And these two?” he looked at the humans. “I’m guessing they’re related to Nick?”

Twilight nodded. “In a sense yes, not by blood but, they are the reason why we are here. We can explain more in private.”

Thorax nodded. Truthfully he had been having rather disturbing nightmares revolving around the wolf. With all that they went through, him being his first friend, the loss of him weighed heavily on his heartl. While the dreams themselves weren’t replaying his death, they showed something even more sinister, something that, once he knew more about what Twilight and her friends were up to, he would decide whether to disclose or not.

“Alright, well come on in,” he nodded, whispering to a nearby guard. “Clear the throne room, but keep some guards posted outside. You know the signal if things go south.”

The guard saluted and went to spread the order. The group waited before Thorax gave them the signal to follow.

“I never encountered a ‘changeling’,” Ivy spoke softly to Matt, looking at the insects warily. She was not fond of bugs in general, and while these weren’t too scary, she still felt uncomfortable around them.

“Be glad you didn’t, ever seen the movie Aliens?” he answered back, to which she nodded slowly. “That’s what they looked like before they turned this… colorful.”

“They’re harmless now though guys,” Starlight reassured them. “Just one of the things Nick solved while he was here. King Thorax, from what he told us, saved him during his battle with their former queen, Chrysalis.”

The two looked at each other. Seemed like Nick wasn’t as perfect as they originally thought, but what quality did he have that they didn't?

The sounds of the throne room doors closing behind them brought them out of their thoughts.

“So, you’re both humans, for the most part,” Thorax looked to Matt and Ivy, getting closer to inspect them.

“Y-yes K-king Thorax,” Ivy shook as he got closer. With his size, he easily could look at her eye level, and while slightly reminding her of a deer, he was still a bug and that creeped her out. “I-I’m a lamia actually… I-Ivy’s the name.”

Thorax nodded, clearly seeing how uncomfortable she was around him, she wouldn’t try anything here. He then looked to the smaller human, who seemed to be more bolder. He could sense that this one could be trouble.

“I’m Matt, glad to see that your queen isn’t around,” he nodded. “I’ll have to say, fighting her was quite a welcome challenge.”

Thorax looked at him confused before Twilight interjected. “They’re from parallel universes Thorax, tasked just like Nick to save Equestria. Unfortunately…” she trailed off looking at them, both nodding for her to continue. “They didn’t succeed, but they were sent here because of Nick. We can bring him back.”

“I thought that you weren’t able to find a spell,” he raised a brow, growing ever more curious about this whole tale.

“We didn’t, but the Tree of Harmony spoke to us and told us how we could,” she continued. “These two had gems like Nick had, and each of the villains Nick defeated is the key to bringing him back. It called them “artifacts”, so we needed to find something of Chrysalis’ to bring him back.”

Thorax processed all of this information as best as he could, still keeping his nightmares in context. Just like he feared, they seemed to be more than just that.

“And it told you that this is a good idea?” he asked in clarification, waiting till it was necessary to just give them the information he had.

They all nodded. “While it is true the villains themselves will come back as well, it told us that not all of them will be as they once were. Maybe your mother can actually be reformed.”

“Or maybe she can corrupt Nick and turn him against us,” he spoke bitterly, finally revealing his thoughts.

The group looked at him puzzled by the accusation, clearly this thought had been weighing on the king’s mind for some time.

“I’ve had nothing but nightmares about his return, that he and my mom joined forces, just like it was before he…” his head bowed down, rubbing his forehead.

Twilight could feel her heart ache at the recollection, having to actually fight the wolf. She shook her head. He was able to fight off the darkness though, they witnessed it personally.

“But he was able to break free,” she reminded him. “So maybe he might turn out just like that when we bring him back, but the Nick we know, the Nick we both care about, will find a way to us.”

Thorax looked at the mare. He could see that she had changed too, how much Nick’s death and recent events molded how she acted now. Her words were full of certainty and her eyes full of determination. Still the images he saw seemed too real, and he didn’t want to relive that day again.

“Thorax, something big is coming,” Starlight added to the urgency. “I mean, the Tree specifically told us that we would need Nick again, and that it would give its energy to make sure he was brought back. Surely it wouldn’t do that if it wasn’t sure what was needed. It brought Nick to save us, and he did. Now we need him again.”

The changeling still felt conflicted by this information. Why didn’t Nick get brought back during the Storm King invasion? Why was he forced to confront and defeat his brother and send him into exile? Why was Nick needed now but not then?

“Please Thorax,” Twilight begged, tears forming in her eyes. “Please help us bring him back.”

Thorax gave the matter some thought before sighing. He knew what was needed and he’d have to tell them out front.

“Alright, you have my support.”