The gentle patter of rain echoed through the cavern-like hallways of the changeling hive. The sound was peaceful. It was relaxing and therapeutic. The rain was followed by a quick flash of lightning and the booming sound of thunder. Inside the hive slept a dragon-a mid-sized one- the dragon had purple scales and green spikes. It stirred in its sleep from sounds coming from outside; slowly its eyes opened revealing emerald colored eyes. The dragon yawned as it looked towards a nearby window. Smiling as he saw a quick flash of a lightning bolt. With a sigh, the dragon slowly turned itself over; and tried to snuggle into something. But then its head slowly started to rise; it looked up and down and then released a tired sigh. Clearly, the dragon was sharing the bed with something or someone.
“Thorax,” The dragon called out as he slowly sat up in the bed, “Where did you go love?” He finished.
It stretched its limbs and cracked a few bones in its body. Before it finally got to its feet. Slowly the dragon exited the room and entered a large hallway. Once in the hallway, the dragon began to walk down the hallway; its talons scratching and clicking against the floor. As the dragon walked it began to pass a small door. The dragon then came to a stop when it saw that the door was open. It caused the dragon to grow confused and a little concerned. The dragon pushed gently on the door and stuck its head inside the room.
The room was set up as some kind of nursery. Although it was dark; some of the bright colors painted on the walls could still be seen. There was a crib in the middle of the room and close to the crib was a rocking chair. Where a large being sat; holding a small bundle in its arms. The dragon chuckled as it slowly entered the room. It then quietly walked towards the two; only to gently place one of its talons on the shoulder of the larger being. Making it jump at the contact before the being turned towards him. The creature was none other than the king of the changelings. King Thorax.
“Spike,” Thorax yelled in a hushed tone before releasing a small sigh of relief, “Don't scare me like that.” He finished before he felt the dragon known as Spike gently nuzzle him. Causing him to smile happily.
“How is she?” Spike asked.
Thorax looked back down towards the bundle in his arms. With his right hoof, he gently pulled down the blanket; revealing the small, innocent face of a baby changeling. But this changeling was different; instead of the typical exoskeleton that all changelings had. The baby had scales; which was a mixture of colors. On top of its head sat light blue fins and on the sides of its mouth; it was a set of pincers. Similar to that of a centipede.
“She's sleeping peacefully,” Thorax answered in a voice filled with happiness, “She's so beautiful Spike.” He finished.
Spike gently nuzzled the side of his mates head; purring gently as he felt him return his nuzzle with a nuzzle of his own, “Yes, she is,” He spoke before his loving gaze feel upon his daughter, “May I hold her?” He asked.
Thorax shook his head before holding their daughter up towards him, “You do not need to ask permission to hold your own daughter,” He replied as Spike took hold of their daughter, “Remember how to hold her?” He asked.
Spike nodded his head as he held their baby in his arms. He held her close to his chest as he heard her release a fragile whine. He could feel her rubbing her snout against his chest; his scent found its way into her nostrils. It made her purr gently as her body moved into a more comfortable position. Spike could only feel nothing but endless love for his daughter. Love that would he never run out of. He began to remember when the two first decided to become parents.
(Flashback)
Thorax groaned a little in pain as he fell to his knees. The pain slowly coursing through his body. As he struggled to keep himself up. He felt a gentle pair of arms wrap themselves around him. Before he was helped up back onto his feet. He smiled as he felt pulled into a gentle hug.
Thorax smiled, “Thanks, Spike.” He thanked as he turned to face his mate.
“No problem, love,” Spike replied as he got to his mate's side. He knelt down and gently rubbed his mates slightly swollen stomach. Out of the corner of his eye; he saw Thorax blushing a little. It made him smile.
A few weeks ago Thorax had asked Spike if he wanted to be a father. Spike was hesitant at first; who wouldn't be when asked a question like that. He first told Thorax that he needs to think about it at first. But, after finally getting the confidence he needs from Twilight. He told Thorax his answer and the two decided to become parents. Spike was a little curious about how the two were going to become parents. Since both of them were males; so, when he asked who they were going to ask to be their surrogate. He was caught off guard by his mate when he laughed. Apparently, since Thorax was the king of the changelings now. he gained one special power. The power to shift between his species sex. Although he couldn't turn his whole body female. He could still change his reproductive system.
“Oh, no.” Thorax groaned as he felt a familiar sensation creeping up his throat.
“What's the mat-” Spike stopped his question when he realizes what was about to happen. He quickly looked around and found the nearest window. He opened it allowing Thorax to run up, lean his head out and vomit. What came next was something Spike did not expect. It was a scream of disgust coming from Twilight. Slowly, he leaned his head out the window and looked down.
“SPIKE! THORAX!” Twilight screamed as she wiped the vomit out of her mane.
Spike waved a nervous claw, “Hey, Twilight,” He grinned and chuckled nervously, “Um, love what you're doing with your mane.” He finished just as she shot a bolt of magic at him. The two quickly took off running; just as a certain pink pony walked up to Twilight.
“I told you my Pinkie sense was acting up today.” Pinkie pie giggled at her messy friend; who looked at her in annoyance.
(Back to the present)
The two smiled at their tiny little bundle of joy. She was their everything; as they gazed at her. Spike felt something wet rolling down his shoulder. He turned to look at Thorax. He saw that his eyes were closed shut. And, he was trying his best to keep himself from sobbing too loud. A look of worry appeared on Spikes's face.
“Thorax, what's wrong?” He asked as he gently licked away his mate's tears.
Thorax sniffled a little before bringing his left hoof up to wipe his face clean. He then gazed into Spikes' eyes for a second. Before looking down at his daughter. It took Spike only a moment before he finally remembered what had happened. Tears of his own began to fall from his eyes. As memories from that day came back to him.
(Flashback)
Thorax and Spike waited patiently inside the hatching chamber. Both of them were lying next to each other. While in front of them lay a clutch of three eggs. All three of them were green in color. Thorax smiled lovingly at the eggs; as he gently nudged them with his muzzle. He could see them wiggle every now and then. Because the young life inside them was trying to break out.
“I can't wait,” Thorax said in a voice just barely above a whisper.
Spike smiled and nuzzled him, “I can't either,” He replied but then he gasped as he suddenly remembered something, “The blanket!” Spike practically shouted as he ran out of the egg chamber.
“Spike, wait!” Thorax shouted but his mate was already out of the egg chamber. Possibly heading for there room. Twilight had given him a blanket she and her friends had made for their children. He sighed heavily, “He's gonna miss it.” He said as he shook his head. He looked back at the eggs; smiling as he began to see cracks form in the shells. He smiled and nuzzle them again, “That's it my young ones. Come on out so your daddies can see you all.” He finished.
He was told hatching could take a while; sometimes a few hours. As he gently nuzzled the eggs again. A look of dread suddenly came over him.
“Something's wrong.” He thought to himself as he looked at his eggs, “They are not moving anymore,” He then sniffed him and a familiar smell entered his nostrils. A smell he prayed he would never smell again. The smell of death, “No,” Tears began to form in his eyes, “My, My babies, no!” He ran out of the hatching chamber. Just as Spike had come back.
“Thorax? Thorax what's wrong!” He asked as he watched his mate run. He then looked at the eggs. Only to finally get hit with a sudden realization. He grew sad almost immediately as he sat down in front of the eggs. Bowing his head as tears began to fall from his eyes, “They didn't make it.” He said in a voice just above a whisper. As he looked at the eggs; his eyes went wide in shock.
Thorax had run all the way back to their room. He had tossed himself onto their bed and began to cry heavily. He cried what felt like endless tears into the pillow. Which caught them like a good friend. He heard the door to their room open; before he felt someone sit beside him on the bed. He then felt a gentle claw touch him.
“Thorax,” Spike spoke in a sad voice, “I saw what happened love and I'm sorry,” He said in a voice that sounded almost broken, “But, I have something that will make you feel better.” He finished.
Thorax turned to look at him with tear-filled eyes, “Oh, Spike,” He sniffled, “I don't think anything can make me feel better.” he finished as Spike smiled happily.
“Just, look,” Spike said as he moved closer to his mate. In his claws, he held the small form of a newborn dragon-changeling hybrid. It whined and whimpered gently as Thorax shot to his hooves.
“It's alive!” Thorax gasped in happiness as Spike nodded.
(Present time)
After that day Evening had become their special little girl. Both of them then heard her yawn loudly; just as she began to slowly open her eyes. They saw her beautiful pink starlight eyes. Allowing her to see both of her fathers. They were smiling happily at her; as she smiled at them. Her stomach then growled and she began to cry in hunger.
“Aw,” Spike voiced as he gently bounced her up and down in his arms, “Shh, it's okay Evening,” He calmly spoke trying his best to calm her down. He then looked towards Thorax, “Dear, could you.”
“I'm on it love,” Thorax interrupted before walking towards the door of the room, “Be back in a minute.” He finished before stepping out of the room.
Spike sighed as he sat down in the rocking chair; allowing him to gently rock with his daughter. Who sniffled and whimpered every few seconds. He gently kissed her forehead before he started to gently hum.
(Hush now my little star.)
Spike started to gently bounce his baby in his arms once more.
(The morning sun has gone and the calming moon has risen.)
His daughter sniffled a little before burying her snout into his chest.
(Now is the time to rest.)
Spike had a small tear form in his eye as he heard her purr.
(You're so little and so small, but you shine brighter than all the stars.)
He heard her release a small yawn as she shifted in his hold.
(Rest your head calm your nerves; soon you will be dreaming.)
He heard the door to the room slowly open; causing him to turn and look towards
(Listen to the gentle tempo of my beating heart; as you rest your head against your chest.)
Thorax smiled as he handed the bottle he was carrying to Spike; who took the bottle and thanked him before feeding their child. After their child had finished her liquid meal- a mixture of pure love and some crushed gems- she was fast asleep once again. Spike then carried their child back to her crib and gently placed her down onto the soft mattress.
He gently rubbed her back as her body relaxed and she snuggled into the mattress. Her breathing calm and gentle like the night itself.
Both Spike and Thorax then exited the room and made their way back to their room. Once they were back in their room; both of them had walked towards the bed and played themselves back down onto the mattress. Both of them wrapping their arms and wings around the other; before sharing a loving and passionate kiss. Once they had finally broken the kiss; both of them gazed into each other's eyes.
“I love you.” Both of them said to each other before falling asleep. Only to meet each other in the dream realm; where they lay in the middle of a large field. Which was filled with nothing but myrtle flowers?
The two lay underneath a starry night sky; watching as shooting stars streaked across the sky. Feeling a cool gentle breeze moving over their bodies. Both of them looked at one another again and smiled happily; for they knew the future looked bright for both them and their daughter.
Author's Note
Hope all of you like this. please leave a comment so I know how it turned out. Thanks.