Author's Note

Just so you know, in this story, both Spike and Changelings age a little faster than ponies, and live much longer as well.(as long as they are fed.)
So in this story, Spike and thorax are actually about Twilight’s age, and will be fully matured once she hits 18. Also, spike won’t grow to the size of his original self, but instead remain around pony size.

Chapter 4: growing inferno

8 YEARS LATER

Another 8 years pass, and things are still going well for the Sparkle family. 3 years ago, when shining armor turned 16, his application was accepted for the junior officers program. Due To his skill and intellect, he quickly breezes through, climbing up the ranks faster than any previous officer ever had. He single-handedly managed to revolutionize not only guard training, but managed to massively improve both war and time strategies. Right now, he sat at the rank of Major General, and rumor has it that within the next month, he could be promoted to captain of the guard. There were also rumors of him and the princess of love had begun to court, but there was no confirmation.

Things were going just as well for the now 16 year old Twilight Sparkle. Under the tutelage of the sun, she was able to create an entire school of magic dedicated to preserving and restoring ancient tomes, called the Athenian school. She was able to master several other schools as well, such as the herminian transportation school, the Asclepian healing school, and even the Heliosian solar school. Her most impressive feat, however, was the rediscovery of the lost school of lunar magic, the selenian school. However, upon learning the news, the princess seemed ecstatic, yet melancholy.

As for Spike, he has continued to grow. Now about the size of a pre-teen when he was bipedal, and about half that quadrupedal, he was able to pass off for a griffin. He had continued to grow closer to his friend Thorax, often spending his evenings with him. However, one night he was caught sneaking out, and had to show Night Light and Twilight Velvet where he was going. Thankfully, they allowed him to wait until the next day. As he led his parents towards his sanctuary, he feared what their reactions to his friend would be. When he arrived, his parents were confused. This was it? Their son had been sneaking out at night to explore an abandoned warehouse? When they entered, however, that thought was flung from their head, as they took in the paradise within.

”Welcome to my garden.”
”This is where you’ve been sneaking to? A hidden garden?”
”Yep. Planted almost every plant myself.”
”Thats amaz- wait. What do you mean almost every plant?”
Spike nervously chuckles, as he leads them further into the warehouse.
”Well, it’s because I met somepony. He was a year younger than me, and hurt badly. I helped him, and we became friends. Ever since the , he’s been helping me with the garden. But…there’s one other thing about him. He’s a little… different from most others, like I am. “ Naturally concerned for his well being, his parents continue to push.
”What do you mean Spike?”
Spike once again chuckles, before looking back at them.
” You’ll see.”
As soon as he says that, they enter a central area of the courthouse, and come face to face with the changeling.
”Umm… hi. “

Twilight Velvet and Nightlight look at the creature, horror and confusion evident on their faces. What was that thing?! Thorax, naturally held the same look, as he was not expecting Spike to suddenly show up with two ponies. Before anything could go wrong, Spike spoke up.
”Mom, Dad, this is Thorax. He’s a changeling, and just like me, he’s one of a kind.”
A few minutes of pure silence go by, before Velvet breaks it.
” How do we know we can trust him? How do we know he won’t hurt you?! What even is a changeling?!”
Spike looked hurt, and tried to defend his friend, but thorax stopped him. Thorax had recoiled a bit at the shouting, but steadied himself as he began to answer.

”Changelings are basically bug ponies who can shape-shift, and live in a hive led by a queen. We feed off of love, and family is important to us. But…”
Thorax pauses for a moment, tears once more welling up in his eyes. Spike quickly runs over to Thorax, much to the shock of his parents, and begins to comfort the bug. Thorax hugs him, sobbing quietly before letting go and thanking him.
” But when I is born, I was different. Instead of being black, I was green. I had no holes in my chitin. And worst of all… I couldn’t change. For my first year of life, I was trying to fix myself. I cut holes into my legs, only for them to eventually heal up. I painted myself black, but it would always wash off. In the end, it didn’t matter. Everyone saw me as a freak. Every day they would hit me, and make fun of my appearance. Even my own mother hated me. She threw me out, saying she hoped to never see me again. Eventually I ended up in canterlot, and got hurt badly. It’s thanks to your son that I am alive. He sealed my wounds, helped me walk again, and the friendship we have keeps me fed. I would never hurt him, because he is all that I have.”

As Thorax told his story, Twilight Velvet and Night Light listened. The more they heard, the more horrified they were. What kind of mother throws out their child? What kind of people is so monstrous as to beat up some pony not even one year old yet? When they heard that their son had saved him, they felt proud. And As the changeling finished, they felt horrible. They had judged him based off of his appearance, much like many had to their son.As the changeling sat there crying, he felt two more bodies begin to hug him. He opened his eyes, only to see Velvet And Nightlight embracing him and Spike, much to his surprise.
” We owe you an apology. For his entire life, Spike has been judged by how he looks, and we’ve always been there to help him.”
”But when we saw you, we reacted in the exact same way. We thought you were going to hurt our son.”
”When in reality, you were only hurting, and helps you get through it. Please forgive us.”

Thorax smiled at the two parents, tears still streaming down his face.
I’m ”It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize. Your fear was warranted, as most changelings are just as mean as they look. All that matters is that you’re willing to give me a chance. And for that, I thank you.”
”Would you want to come home with us? It’s the least we could do after what you went through.”
” Thank you, but no. I can’t go out in public. Most ponies would be afraid of me, and try to hurt you for protecting me. But I wouldn’t mind having you visit.”
Twilight Velvet and Night Light looked each other in the eyes, before looking back at Thorax and nodding.

After meeting Thorax, the sparkle family would begin to visit twice a week. Even Twilight and Shining were invited. Thankfully, their introductions went a little better. Shining was of course slightly suspicious at first, until he remembered that night he had seen Spike sneak in all those years ago. Putting two and two together, shining armor lightened up and accepted thin, much to everyone’s surprise. Twilight has just wanted to take notes, and thankfully for her, Thorax didn’t mind. Soon, they were all having picnics together, telling jokes and stories the whole time. And every time they left, while he felt a little down, he knew they would come back. For Thorax had finally found his family.

Princess Celestia was curious. Twice a week, Twilight Sparkle and her family would bring a picnic basket to a nearby abandoned warehouse, and spend hours within. She knew that it was a family event, and she shouldn’t be nosing around their business, but she was worried. After her student rediscovered lunar magic, she was afraid that she would too fall down the dark rabbit hole that so many before her had. While debating what to do, she noticed her adoptive niece, Cadence, was getting ready to leave.
”My dear niece, where are you going?”
”Shining Armor invited me to one of their biweekly picnics!”
”Well have fun then Cadence. And tell me if anything interesting happens.”
Cadence smiled, and hugged her aunt goodbye before turning around and leaving. Though if she had looked back, she would see her aunt grin mischievously, horn aglow with an observation spell.

The picnic had gone well. Cadence had enjoyed meeting Thorax, as well as hanging out with the Sparkle family. She could tell that Spike and Thorax meant a lot to each other, as well as something more. She could feel that they both had love for the other, yet didn’t know about it just yet. So, she just smirked a bit and continued to eat. She’s let them figure it out on their own. Eventually though, it had to come to an end, and they all parted ways. As Cadence returned home, she found Celestia waiting for her in the throne room. Confused, she walked towards her aunt, before Celestia’s horn suddenly lit up.

Cadence Flinched as the spell hit her, before suddenly feeling as if a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. Instantly, she knew what her aunt had done. Before she could start chastising her, however, Celestia spoke up.
”I am sorry that I did that my dear niece. It was a breach of privacy and trust, and I truly regret doing what I have done. For now I know my fears were unfounded. Twilight Sparkle is uncorrupted by dark magic, and for that, I am glad.”
”You really shouldn’t have done that auntie. If the guard found out about the poor thing, he could be imprisoned or worse!”
”But they never will. Not a single souls shall know about him, other than those permitted by the Sparkle family. “
Cadence sighs, knowing that Celestia will honor her words, before heading off to her chambers. As Cadence leaves, Celestia begins to speak to herself.
”To think, a pure hearted changeling of royal blood. Perhaps he could finally be the one to redeem his species, should he ever start a hive. I’ll have to keep an eye on him as well.”