The changeling king flies through the dark blue night sky, his fragile wings rigorously flapping to fly as fast as possible away from what happened at Canterlot Castle. He and Dragon Lord Ember had gotten invitations to a party at the castle, they both went hoping to strengthen the bond between the Changeling Kingdom and the Dragon Lands, things had gone well for a while until the two of them had gotten into a fight. It was a disagreement between each others method of leading, the argument had escalated to the point where the poor changeling just had to get out of there.
As he flew through the night sky he grew tired so he decided to land down somewhere, he then flew down by a lake. as he landed he struggled to stand because of how tired he was, he did not realize how long he was awake for. He began slowly walking towards the lake and sat down, looking at his reflection in the water. His face started slightly twitching and tears began to poor down his face. All he could think of were the things Ember had said to him, all the insults, and all the not so constructive criticism. His body began to shiver, he was cold but he didn't have to strength to fly back to the Hive, he just sat there looking at his reflection.
"W-why... Why am I so weak." Thorax weeps. it was not the first time him and Ember had argued and he had always kept his cool and tried to deescalate the situation. But this time was different, this time he couldn't take it.
As he curled up into a ball to keep himself warm he wondered to himself if she was right, if what Ember said was true, if he really was a weak excuse of a King. more tears dripped down his face the more he thought about it, his feelings towards Ember made it even more painful to think about.
As he continued to think and wallow in his sadness, he heard a thud behind him. He quickly turns around and sees Ember, she had by some convenience landed at the same lake he had, he would've jumped back in shock but he was too tired to do so. Ember made her way to the lake and stood by the water, her claws were clenched tightly signifying she was stressed, it was clear she was to focused on whatever she was thinking of to notice Thorax.
As Ember looked off into the distance, deep in her thoughts mumbling to herself, she felt like someone was watching her. She turned around and noticed Thorax. Ember screamed and jumped back slightly, what were the odds of seeing the same creature she was not too long ago having a very heated argument at the same resting spot.
She was so shocked and annoyed by the situation she just stood there for a few seconds before speaking. "Thorax? what are you doing here." she was still quite mad at him from the argument so her tone couldn't help but be condescending. "You know what, whatever I don't care. Just leave me alo...
It was then she noticed the look of distress on his face and the tears running down his cheeks. As soon as she noticed his Sorrowful look her mood completely shifted from angry to concerned. "Thorax...? Are you okay?" Thorax turned his head to look at the lake, a few seconds have passed until he answered.
"...No." Thorax said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"W-what?" said Ember, looking at in total confusion.
"NO EMBER I'M NOT OKAY!" Thorax screamed as he stood up and faced her, his body was stretched out to lean closer to her without moving from the spot from were he was sitting. Ember tumbled back in shock nearly falling over, she was greatly surprised by Thorax's change in behavior, he was always able to keep his cool in even the most stressful situations, but this time was different, this time he was really upset.
"I was really hurt by what you said to me at the Gala and you know what I can't take it anymore, insults from others I can handle but when its you... It hurts... a lot." said Thorax. More tears pours down his face as he talks, his legs slightly bent struggling to keep himself up from his fatigue. Ember just continued to watch his embrace of despair, feeling immense guilt for hurting this once optimistic, bright eyed, golden retriever of a creature.
"I admire you, I look up to you, I LOVE BEING WITH YOU! and the things you said to me... (sniffs) It felt like my heart was being torn apart. Bit... By... Bit... WORDS CAN HURT YOU KNOW. WORSE THAN ANY PUNCH YOU COULD EVER GIVE!!!" screamed Thorax nearly collapsing on the ground, breathing and sighing heavily like he's been wanting to say it for a long time.
Silence fills the area, not even the sound of wind blowing through trees to be heard. Thorax turns back to the lake and sits back down, once again curling himself into a ball and quietly sobbing. Ember looks at him, feeling nothing but guilt and sympathy for her friend. "oh shit! I really messed up, I messed up big time. What do I do, what do I say, how can I cheer him up." Ember thought to herself.
Ember had always loved Thorax's happy go lucky and endlessly happy personality, he was the sunshine in her life. ever since they became friends she found so much joy in being with him. She walked over to him and sat by his side both of them looking off into the distance, she looks down at the ground, takes a deep breath and turns to him.
"Thorax..." said Ember. The changeling turns his head to look at the dragon with a distressed face and watery eyes. "(sigh) I haven't been good to you tonight. I was being stupid and impulsive and... There were so many ponies and i felt so claustrophobic so I just sort of snapped. I just don't feel comfortable acting like myself in public. And it doesn’t matter how much singing about friendship or how many grand speeches about accepting who you are I hear. If I want to become more open. I want it to happen at my own pace. and besides, Its hard for me to be open to any creature." explained Ember.
Thorax's expression changed to a slightly surprised face combined with his already sad face. "You seem to be quite open with me right now." said Thorax.
"That’s because I trust you. You are the nicest and most understanding creature I've ever met. And... I feel like I can be myself around you. At least when we're alone." said Ember.
"That explains why you were so angry when I was trying to talk to you during the Gala. And why whenever we're around other creatures you act so intimidating and short-tempered. Not like the Ember I know." said Thorax.
"Thorax… I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I know you have your own way of leading your kind and I should respect that. Instead I mocked your leadership and… I hurt you. I know, I'm horrible and even though I was very stressed with tons of ponies everywhere but that was no excuse for my behavior. So, I will say it again. I am sorry." said Ember
Silence fills the area once again, the moon reflecting off the water and its light shimmers over the two leaders. "Besides I didn't mean what I said before, your tougher than any dragon I know" said Ember trying to break the silence.
"Your hilarious" said Thorax in a sarcastic voice clearly very irritated by Embers statement.
"I'm being serious." said Ember, Thorax looks at her in confusion. "Before you were just a normal minion of that chrysalis b*#ch. Now your the King of every Changeling in Equestria. That is a lot of pressure you know." explained Ember.
"Yeah but... Still, I'm just a weak, flower loving... Bug." said Thorax, after hearing what he said Ember quickly turned to him.
"WHO CALLED YOU THAT?!" said Ember in pure shock.
"You did! While drunk one time. When we were at that bar together talking about our hardships as leaders." explained Thorax.
"Oh..." uttered Ember. She looked away in embarrassment finding out she called him a bug. one of the most offensive things to call a changeling. "S-sorry." Ember said quietly with guilt in her voice.
"Well in your defense, you did drink a lot." said Thorax.
"Still... I'm sorry." said Ember.
Thorax turns back to the lake and looks at his reflection and smiles slightly, he was glade she apologized. he felt a warm feeling in his heart, the same feeling he feels whenever he's around Ember. Ember notices his little smile and she herself smiles, happy to see she cheered him up.
A small gust of wind blows past the two of them which makes Thorax shiver. Ember notices him shaking and moves closer to him, she wraps her wing around him and pulls him in close. Thorax is shocked but doesn't resist, instead he wraps his hooves around Ember and hugs her. "The cold doesn't affect me as much due to how hot my body temperature is, and I can't stand seeing you suffer like this so let me help you." Ember says as she gently pets Thorax's head.
"T-thank you." Mutters Thorax as he drifts of to sleep in Embers embrace. Ember notices Thorax had gone to sleep, she smiles as herself closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.
