“It’s great to see you again, Sunburst!” Thorax said eagerly as he made his way through the Hive, the bespectacled stallion trotting along behind him.
“It’s great to see you too Thorax… so… is your sibling around?” Sunburst asked, adjusting his very stuffed-looking saddlebags nervously. Thorax gave him a knowing grin.
“Yeah, they’re going by he/him today, just so you know. And he’s in the throne room waiting for us. Well, more like he’s waiting for you.” Thorax corrected, and Sunburst blushed shyly.
“I, um…”
“It’s okay Sunburst, we’re changelings, knowing who loves who is kind of our thing.” Thorax said, smiling at him reassuringly. Sunburst smiled back hesitantly.
The two made their way out into the open area that was the throne room. There, Sunburst quickly spotted the changeling they had just been discussing.
Pharynx was sitting beside Thorax's oak throne. He stared casually out at the vast expanse visible on either side of the room, ears tilted forward to display alertness. Sunburst beamed and rushed over to the taller creature.
"Phar!"
Pharynx turned his head to see who was coming, and a grin immediately spread across his face.
"Sun!"
Sunburst wrapped his hooves around the beta changeling happily, his glasses threatening to slide off his muzzle, as usual. Pharynx chuckled nervously as he allowed himself to be hugged, his horn lighting up briefly to adjust Sunburst’s glasses for him.
“Awww.” Thorax beamed as he trotted up to the two. “You guys are so cute!”
Sunburst blushed heavily, but Pharynx took it with a grain of salt. His cheeks darkened slightly with a barely visible blush, but he merely smirked at his brother.
“Oh, cool, so now I can return the favor the next time you decide to fawn over Ember’s eyes.”
Thorax blushed, looking away. “I get it…”
Pharynx smirked, then looked at Sunburst, who had stepped back from the hug. “Come on, we can go to my room. Thorax’s punishment for interrupting us can wait.”
"Wait, what?"
Sunburst smiled at him shyly. “Okay. I brought something for you, too, but I think it’s best if no one else sees it.”
Pharynx smirked at him and led him off. “So is it that white thing in your bag?”
Sunburst blushed as he followed the tall changeling, glancing back to see that there was indeed a piece of something white visible in the bag. “Well, yeah… but we’ve got to wait until we’re alone, I’m pretty sure if I let someone see it you’d be mortified.”
Pharynx chuckled. “Mortified. Can’t you just say ‘it’d embarrass me’ like normal creatures?”
“Not a chance! I didn’t memorize the dictionary for nothing!” Sunburst exclaimed as the two entered Pharynx’s room.
“I can’t even tell if you’re joking or not.” Pharynx chuckled, closing the door behind him as he grinned at the yellow unicorn.
Sunburst smiled back, turning to look around Pharynx’s room. The layout had not changed since the last time he’d been in the General’s room. The bed was pushed up against one corner of the room, there were a couple sets of armor and some weapons displayed in another corner, and a closet opposite the bed. But Sunburst’s favorite part of the room was the saying that had been etched into the wall above Pharynx’s bed.
A Warrior’s Home Is Where They Need No Armor
Pharynx couldn’t for the life of him tell Sunburst exactly who had said the line, much less who he’d heard it from, but the orange unicorn knew he liked it.
“So, what’s this thing you wanted to show me?” Pharynx asked, and Sunburst jumped, unaware how long he’d been admiring the room for.
“S-Sorry… well, I was sort of thinking about an idea… you’d probably like it more if you were using your she/her pronouns…”
“Sorry, I just felt more masculine today.” Pharynx nuzzled him. “I can go female if you-”
“It’s fine! I won’t force you! I just figured you might be more into it if you were… well… if your gender matched it a bit more…?” Sunburst said, trying desperately to not be offensive as he levitated his bags over to Pharynx. “Just… just look in here?”
Pharynx shrugged, taking the bags. He opened the bag and looked in, then turned red. “S-Sunburst…”
“Sorry…”
“No, I… I like it…”
“You do?” Sunburst asked in shock, staring at him, and Pharynx actually looked sheepish.
“I… well, yeah… why do you think I like my female forms so much? No one stares at me in dresses if I look like a girl…”
Sunburst giggled and stepped over to nuzzle his boyfriend. “I won’t laugh no matter what gender you are.”
Pharynx blushed and stared down at the dress in Sunburst’s bag. “Why this one…?”
“Well, I thought that you’d like the irony.”
Pharynx looked up at him, momentarily confused before deciding to change the subject. “So… what do I do with it?”
“Well, what else, you put it on!” Sunburst adjusted his glasses, blushing. “I mean, you don’t have to right now if you don’t want to… but…”
“I’m going to.” Pharynx said, picking up the bags. “I’ll be right back.”
With that, he walked into the bathroom connecting his and Thorax’s rooms, shutting the door behind him. Sunburst, who was used to being a casual guest in Pharynx’s room, made himself comfortable on Pharynx’s bed.
“Phary? How’s it going?” Sunburst asked after a couple minutes.
“I… you’re gonna pay for this.”
“What? Why?” Sunburst asked nervously, and the door opened, revealing his boyfriend.
“...Somehow, you made this work for someone who likes being masculine half the time.”
Sunburst’s jaw dropped as he took in the changeling Prince.
Pharynx was wearing an elegant white wedding dress, the silky fabric flowing around his toned, muscular figure perfectly. The dress had a saddle-styled top and a high collar lined with gold and lavender accents. The coloration of the bodice matched with the white, petaled skirt, which had golden lining and lavender-gold spots of color. The sleeves were almost akin to lavender ribbons that hung loosely over Pharynx’s shoulders, framing the fake flower on his chest and the white beads that connected it to the collar.
“W-Wow… Ph-Phary, you look amazing…”
“Shut up…” Pharynx muttered half-heartedly, striding over to him with a stern expression. Sunburst’s brow creased in worry, but Pharynx just kissed him on the cheek. “Where’d you get this?”
“Rarity made it…” Sunburst nuzzled him. “I just… thought of you when I saw it… hey, where’s the veil?”
“You got a veil too?!” Pharynx had to facehoof. “Sun, you are such a romantic.”
“You love it.” Sunburst teased, levitating the bags over and pulling out the viel, which was crowned by fabric flowers much like the one on Pharynx’s chest. “Here!”
Pharynx sighed, but smiled at the unicorn as he slipped the veil on, making sure the hole for his horn didn’t tear as he did so. “There, happy?”
“Very!” Sunburst chirruped, beaming. “You look really handsome, Pharynx, I swear.”
“Funny, I still don’t know if I should believe you.” Pharynx huffed, but Sunburst could see a smile hidden in his expression. Sure enough, he let slip a slight grin. “You’re too smart.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Sunburst asked.
“Well, you can probably look at this dress and explain in detail how exactly it compliments my chitin and the symbolism of the lavender and gold coloring against the white. Or something like that. Anyone else just sees the General of the Hive making a fool of himself.”
“Oh come on, that’s unfair.”
“Well I’m not wrong. Most creatures just see a dress.” Pharynx flopped onto the bed beside Sunburst, the dress splaying out around his body as he lounged beside a now blushing Sunburst.
“W-Well… I think it’s a good example of juxtaposition-”
“There you go, proving my point.” Pharynx propped himself up against the pillows, staring at him. Sunburst blushed and moved closer, resting against his boyfriend’s chest.
“Well, I do think it’s a good example of juxtaposition.” Sunburst repeated, as Pharynx put his hooves around him.
“And why do you think that?”
“Well, white is usually meant to represent purity and innocence, and, well, with everything you’ve seen you’re not exactly pure or innocent, are you?” Sunburst merely received an unamused grunt from the changeling, but continued on. “White light also, scientifically speaking, is a reflection of all the colors in the rainbow, and is meant to favor no single hue.”
“So?”
“Well, you don’t reflect the same outlook as the other changelings, similar to how black doesn’t reflect any color at all, and instead absorbs them, like you. You sit beside Thorax and observe everything, but you don’t reflect any of the positivity from the others back onto them like he does.”
“...I’m not sure whether I should be mad at you or not. Because that sounds kind of offensive.”
“Well, I-I’m just stating what I think makes it a juxtaposition. I’m no writing major, I can’t be sure I’m not offending you. But also…” Sunburst trailed off, trying to find the words.
“Well, spit it out, you know I don’t like when you keep me waiting.”
“Hold your hooves, I’m thinking.” Sunburst laughed softly. “I’m not a soldier giving you a report.”
“Well, hurry up anyway.” Pharynx retorted, and Sunburst smiled, leaning up to lock eyes with his lover.
“Okay, here goes. Pharynx. You’re strong, and brave, and loyal, and you would never let anyone hurt the creatures you love. But white is fragility, it’s remaining innocent and keeping yourself safe. But you’d never do that, you don’t hide, you stand. That’s where the juxtaposition is. White symbolizes the purity and innocence of not knowing, but you know so much that you’d throw your own life away to save someone you love.”
Pharynx stared at him for a long moment, then chuckled, and smiled. Sunburst stared at him in confusion, but Pharynx just laughed softly.
“You, Sunburst. Are such a sap.”
Sunburst blushed, but Pharynx just kissed his forehead gently.
“And yes, I love you for it.”
“S-So…?” Sunburst looked at him hopefully, trying to make sure he hadn’t said the wrong thing.
Pharynx looked deep into his eyes. “Even if no one would ever see what you see when I wear this, I’d wear it every single day if it made you light up like that.”
Sunburst beamed, pressing into his chest, muzzle brushing against the fake flower on the dress. “Well, I can’t help it… you wear it well.”
Pharynx blushed and nudged him gently, making him look back up at the changeling. “Yeah, well, I’d still only wear it for you…”
“I like how you call me a romantic and a sap all the time, but you won’t ever admit you’re just as much of one.” Sunburst grinned up at him, and Pharynx scoffed, giving him a good-natured glare.
“Shut up, I am not.”
“Yes you are!”
Pharynx blushed, continuing to shake his head no. Sunburst craned his head up to kiss the tip of his muzzle.
“H-Hey!”
“I’m going to keep egging on the romantic speeches I know you can give until you agree.”
“How is this egging me on?”
Sunburst kissed him, his magic lifting up the veil so he could rest his forehead against Pharynx’s own. Compound eyes locked with pupiled, and the two creatures remained still, until finally Pharynx moved his head to gently press his muzzle against Sunburst’s mane with a sigh. Sunburst giggled softly and smiled up at him.
“Well?”
“...You know, I’ve realized after a while that… you’re the one creature who I’ll let see me like this… like… I can let my guard down around you… I don’t need to keep my shield up…”
“See!” Sunburst moved his head to smile at Pharynx knowingly.
“Yeah… well… I just…” Pharynx nuzzled him. “What I’m trying to say is… you’re my home, Sun. I don’t need to wear my armor for you.”
Sunburst smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Romantic~”
“Alright alright…”
“So…?”
“...You’re still a bigger sap.”
“You admit you’re a romantic too, though?”
“...Fine…”
Sunburst grinned, but Pharynx held up a hoof. “But!”
“Yes Phary?”
“… if you tell anyone that I admitted it for you, I’ll make you regret it.”
“Alright, deal.” Sunburst giggled and kissed him on the lips. “So… wanna make out now?”
“Are you kidding?” Pharynx grinned and lunged at the stallion, kissing him deeply.
As the two began to make out, they fell off the bed and onto the floor, but neither seemed to care. The veil fell off Pharynx’s head and the dress’s skirt spread out underneath him, though this went unnoticed. The two continued kissing passionately, neither of them hearing a knock on the door, which opened after a moment of no response.
“Hey Pharynx, sorry to interrupt but I-”
Pharynx and Sunburst jumped apart in shock, looking over in terror. Thorax was standing in the doorway, frozen in disbelief as he stared at them. The two stared back in shock. Finally, Thorax spoke.
“...Why is Phar in a wedding dress?”
“...Shut up Thorax, or I’ll put you in one.”
Author's Note
This story made possible in part by:
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~Melody Song
