As the hug concluded, the tears on everyone’s faces begin to dry. As they broke up, the five ponies and Griffin do a Quick Look over of their friend. He looks almost no different now than before, except for the pair of strange wings on his back. Guilt flares up within their minds momentarily, before being replaced by curiosity. However, none were brave enough to speak up… except for one.
”Um, Thorax, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what kind of creature are you? You look oddly familiar… “
Thorax looked to the curious mare, before smiling.
”No, I don’t mind it. As for what I am, you probably never heard of what I am. I’m what’s called a changeling.”

As the words left his mouth, Fluttershy’s eyes shrunk. She realized why he looks so familiar. Before she could stop her self, she jumps and lets out an ‘eep!’ As she realized what she did, a blush grows on her face, and she quickly begins to apologize.
”I-I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Thorax, however, just chuckled.
”It’s okay Fluttershy. I know you can be a bit timid, and my kind tend to have a bad reputation.”
Fluttershy just nodded before Applejack Suddenly piped up.
”What do ya mean, bad reputation? Just what are changelin’s, Partner?”
Thorax shuddered, before looking to the orange mare.
”Normally, we’re bad news. Changelings are a race of shapeshifters, who tend to kidnap and replace ponies in order to feed off of emotions.”
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash spoke up, confusion evident in her voice.
”So why didn’t you?”

Silence once more reigns, as everyone looks to Rainbow Dash, a look of anger and shock on their faces.
”Rainbow, ya don’t jus-“
Before AJ could finish, however, Thorax interjected.
”It’s alright. You all deserve to know.”
Applejack opens her mouth, as if to rebut, but instead just sputters for a moment, before closing it. Thorax turns to Rainbow, a look of sorrow on his face.
”The reason I didn’t, is because I can’t.”
The five mares and the griffon look to him, confusion once more written upon their faces, before Rarity decides to speak up.
”Forgive me for enquiring further, darling, but why?”
Slowly, tears begin to form at the corners of Thorax’s eyes, as his face morphs from one of sorrow to pain.
”I was born without the ability to change. “

As the words left Thorax’s mouth, Fluttershy let out an almost inaudible gasp, catching Spike’s attention. Before he could fully comprehend it, however, Gilda spoke up, detailing his train of thought.
”From what you called yourself earlier, it sounds like that’s a disability. Like a griffon born without wings.”
”Thats exactly the case. But instead of what most creatures do, and try to help the disabled, changelings… they try to cull the weakness. They bullied me. They’d beat me up, steal my food, and call me names. Many days they would crack my chitin, and rip my wings. Not a day went by where I was hurt badly. Even my mother hated me.”
By this point, tears flooded out of his eyes, as Spike began to caress his pained beloved.
”Thorax… are you okay? You don’t have to continue if it’s too much.”
Thorax, looked Rainbow in the eyes, before shaking his head.
”No, I can’t. I have to tell you, no matter how painful. No more secrets.”
And with that, he continued.

”The only one who treated me as a living being was my brother. He would patch up my wounds, and tried to help me grow tougher, but it never worked. And with that, the first two years of my life were spent in constant suffering. It was to the point where I’d carve holes into my chitin and flesh, attempting to replicate the holes that other changelings had, to no avail. The only thing it granted me was a different pain to focus on.”
As Thorax continued, everyone’s eyes began to moisten once more. All that pain, all that hatred. No wonder he was so scared: he was afraid to lose what he had finally gained.

”Eventually, the day my life changed for the better came. And would you believe it, it was when my own mother disowned me, and left me to fend for myself. So I left the hive, and traveled from town to town, feeding off of what scraps I could get. Eventually, I made it to Canterlot, where I almost died when some pony saw me and broke my leg. But thankfully, I was found by a caring soul, who nursed me back to health and became my friend. And with his friendship, I was able to feed without hiding. It was thanks to Spike and his love, that I am alive today. It’s thanks to him, that I don’t need to hide. And now, it’s also thanks to you.”

As Thorax finished his story, nothing could be heard. After a moment of silence, a plip could be heard, as the first tear reaches the ground. Slowly but surely, the tears ramp up, until eventually, the entire room is crying again. And once more, without warning, Thorax is squished in a massive group hug.
”Thor, I’m… I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”
”Don’t worry short stuff, we’ll stick by your side no matter what.”
” You’re apart of a real family now.”
”Yeah! One that cares for you, and has fun with you, and even defeat evil and corrupted gods by your side!”
As the girls shower him with words of encouragement and love, he begins to weep as well. For he knows that no matter what, he has a real family now.

Author's Note

One chapter closer to the conclusion of this story. But don’t worry: while this chapter in the saga will end, it is only the first of many.
please let me know of any suggestions you have, or mistakes I’ve made by leaving a comment. Thank you!