A Very Changeling Hearth's Warming

by BrightKiltersot

Rating: everyone
Tags: Pharynx, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Sad, Sparky Sparkeroni, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, My Little Pony: A New Generation, Thorax, Hitch Trailblazer
Length: 4948

Hitch and Thorax go shopping for presents in Hearth's Warming

After being in a time stasis for centuries, Thorax decides to help Hitch buy presents for his friends on Hearth's Warming, while Pharynx is tasked to babysit Sparky

Written for PlymouthFury58 for Jinglemas 2024

Published 2024-12-30 05:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-12-30 05:00:00 UTC

A Very Changeling Hearth's Warming

Ever since Twilight Sparkle decided to seal the magic, many places from Equestria became abandoned like Cloudsdale, or ruined like Canterlot. However, at the badlands was certain place that was different from the rest. The Changeling Hive, known for being the home of changelings, was frozen in time.

Sunny Starscout had heard stories about the changelings – their invasions to the pony society leaded by their evil queen, the reformation of the species as a whole, and about their new king. She planned an expedition with her friends, and discovered the hive, its habitants and its king being under stasis.

The group of friends accomplished to free the changelings. Gradually, one by one regained consciousness, as if they had awakened from an extremely long dream. The mane 5 however, also meet the king himself.

A changeling who had embraced love instead of stealing it, managed to convince the rest to follow his path and took the queen’s throne. Thorax towered in front of the group of ponies.

He panicked, as the spell that was protecting the changelings has been broken. While the Mane 5 tried to explain to him their adventure and the state of Equestria, it did little to ease the king’s worries.

Except when Hitch Trailblazer placed a hoof on his shoulder, offering him reassurance.

Thorax calmed down, and accepted his new realization – The changelings could start living once again, even if they had fallen dormant for centuries.

Staying in-touch with the Mane 5, Thorax has visited Maretime Bay a couple of times. Initially, most ponies evaded him in fear and reacted in terror, so Hitch decided to volunteer and accompany him to ensure the order and law of the town. Though Thorax and the changelings were still met with reservation, the town grew accustomed to them and permitted some changelings to move into place.

Skipping some months ahead, Hearth’s Warming Eve was coming. A cold breeze filled Maretime Bay, Ponies were setting up decoration and prepared themselves eagerly. One of the most prominent things in the celebration was getting gifts for the ponies dearest to one.

And that’s what Hitch wanted to do, so he asked Thorax to join him.

Needless to say – Thorax was reluctant at first due to his duties as a king. Hitch however, suggested that his brother Pharynx could fill his role. For the sake of Thorax and to cause a bit of mischief, Pharynx agreed to take over the role as the Changelings king.

Not without being left in charge of a baby dragon, of course.

“Don’t forget the three S’s,” Hitch explained towards an annoyed Pharynx. “One – Keep him safe,” the changeling couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Two – Absolutely no snacks!” The pony flailed a leg to accentuate his point. “And third – Never let him out of your sight.”

Hitch took a deep breath. “If you can abide to these S’s, I bet you’ll be an expert on dragon parenting soon enough!”

“Puh, Spurk won’t be a challenge. After all, I have experience from babysitting the hive and my brother all the time,” Pharynx scoffed.

“It’s Sparky, not ‘Spurk’,” Hitch corrected.

Thorax walked towards Pharynx, gently placing a leg on his shoulder. “Thank you very much for doing this,” he said. “It really means a lot.”

Pharynx brushed Thorax’s leg aside. “Don’t get too chummy, I’m just doing it because I was forced to.”

“So, let’s go through the three S’s one more time,” Hitch said. “One – keep him-”

“Hitch… I think he gets it,” Thorax interrupted.

“Alright…” Hitch approached Sparky, embracing him in a hug. “Promise you’ll be a good dragon, ok?” Sparky nodded in response.

“Well, let’s go!”

Thorax transformed into a Bugbear, and with his claws he snatched the earth pony. They took a flight off towards Maretime Bay, finally leaving Pharynx in charge of the Changelings Hive.

“Ugh, finally!” Pharynx groaned. “Let’s go Spurk, there is some chaos to be made.” He trotted away, a mischievous grin forming on his face. However, Sparky did not follow him. Glimpsing at his surroundings, the little dragon couldn’t be seen.

“Uh… Spurk?

“We’re here,” said Hitch as the two of them landed on Maretime Bay. Thorax returned to his original form, oblivious to the panic he caused among the ponies nearby.

“Hold on,” Hitch said. “There’s something important I forgot to tell Pharynx; we have to go back!” He pleaded, looking at the direction of the hive.

“Huh?” Thorax glanced at him with concern. “What did you forgot to tell him?”

“About the dragon breath,” Hitch replied. He gripped his head, spiraling to insanity. “What if Sparky destroys one of your trees? What if he sets the hive on fire? What if… What if-"

“Everything will be fine,” Thorax placed a reassuring hoof on Hitch’s shoulder. “Pharynx might be rough, but he has everything under control. Trust him, okay?”

“Oh, I said I would trust him. But I didn’t say I wouldn’t panic.”

“Hitch, please.”

“But I...” Hitch sighed. “You’re right… Let’s move forward.”

A smile formed on Thorax’s lips after his friend’s anxiety eased. “So, where do we start?” He asked.

Hitch tapped his chin on thought. “Maybe let’s start with getting Sunny a gift,” he chimed. “I think she has gotten tired of the cup holders I’ve given her for the past few holidays.”

“Oh? What do you think Sunny will like?” Thorax asked.

“Well, she really likes history…” Hitch pondered. “I think we should get her a new book!”

“That’s a great idea!” Thorax chirped.

“Yeah…” Hitch’s excitement vanished. “But there’s a problem: There aren’t many libraries around here.”

“Really? Why not”

“You see…” The earth pony rubbed the back of his neck. “Just a little bit of the history of Equestria has been missing. And by a little, I mean centuries of history.”

Thorax blinked, surprised at the revelation. He placed a hoof on his chin. “Hmm… I think I know a changeling who could help.”

“Really? Who could it be?” Hitch leaned in closer for anticipation.

“Ocellus, she really liked to study history.” He paused. “I think she said she’d be at Maretime Bay today, though we will have to look for her.

“If that’s the case, let’s not waste any time!” Hitch broke into a sprint, leaving Thorax in a cloud of dust. The changeling coughed, then flew to catch up his partner.

Pharynx stomped through the hive, his sharp eyes darting around every corner. His usual gruff demeanor was now laced with growing frustration.

“Spurk!” Pharynx called, his voice echoing through the hive’s tunnels. “Where in Equestria are you?” He ran through the hallways, glimpsing at every direction in hopes of finding the baby dragon.

Then, a giggle came from nearby. Pharynx stopped on his tracks and narrowed his eyes. Swiftly, he transformed into a bug and crept towards the noise.

As he turned the corner, he found… nothing.

Pharynx switched back to his original form and stomped the ground in frustration. “Ugh! Why did I even agree to play this stupid game to begin with? This is the last time I do Thorax a favor like this.”

And out of sudden, Pharynx feel something holding onto one of his legs. He looked down, and found Sparky hugging him.

But that only helped fuel his anger. “What do you think you’re doing?” He hissed, leading Sparky to flee in panic.

“Oh, you’re not going anywhere!” Pharynx chased after him.

“See anything yet?” Hitch called his companion, who was hovering and squinting above a crowd of ponies.

“Hmm… Wait, there she is!” Thorax pointed.

The pair make their way over a small, neatly arranged stall where Ocellus hummed to herself, ordering books in piles.

“Excuse me… Are you Ocellus?” Thorax asked

The smaller changeling looked up, and her eyes lit up in recognition. “Oh, Thorax… Is that really you?”

“Yeah, it’s me! Long time no see,” Thorax smiled warmly.

“And who’s your little companion? I don’t think I have seen him before.”

Hitch stepped forward, puffing his chest. “Hitch Trailblazer, sheriff of Maretime Bay. Nice to meet you.” He offered a hoof shake, which Ocellus accepted.

“Hehe, nice to meet you too,” she replied. “So, what are you guys doing here?”

“We’re looking for a gift for one of Hitch’s friends. She loves history, so I figured you’d be selling history books.”

“Hmm…” The changeling tilted her head thoughtfully. “Let me see what I’ve got…” Ocellus scrambled through one of her boxes, until she pulled a purple book with a horseshoe imprinted on it.

“How about this? It’s a copy of the Journal of Friendship. It’s a little old, but it’s still readable”

Hitch held the book, flipping through its pages. “This… This is perfect! Sunny is going to love it!” He smiled. “How much?” He said as he reached for his bag of bits.

Ocellus waved a hoof dismissively. “Oh, don’t worry about it. Consider it a Hearth’s Warming gift—from one history lover to another.”

“Really?” Hitch said in awe. “Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it!” He placed the bag of bits back on his saddlebag, and held the book on his chest.

“Yeah… I wanted to keep history alive.” Ocellus lowered her head in sadness. “It’s the least I could do.”

Thorax tilted his head in concern. “Ocellus, is something wrong?”

“My friends…” she sighed. “We had to say goodbye when magic disappeared, and I…” Ocellus diverted her gaze as tears formed on her eyes. eyes soon were filled in tears. “I really miss them.”

Thorax reached for Ocellus, gently placing a reassuring hoof on Ocellus. “I know how you feel, Ocellus.” He replied. “Spike… I miss him a lot, too. But the only thing I can do is to keep his memory alive, and be the king he wanted me to be.”

Ocellus wiped tears from her eyes, meeting Thorax’s gaze. “It’s what I’ve been trying to do, but… It stills hurts to remember them.”

“And it’s okay to feel that way, but...” Thorax sighed. “Ocellus… We still have the hive with us, and you also have me if you need to talk. Just… don’t do this alone.”

The smaller changeling stared at her legs, contemplating the king’s words. “Alright…” she said. “Thank you, it means a lot.”

Thorax smiled in relief. “Well, I guess I’ll see you later. Still got some shopping to do, hehe.” He approached an idle Hitch, who watched the scene unfold. “So, what’s next on the list, Hitch?”

“Hmmm… Oh, yeah!” The earth pony snapped back to reality. He pocketed the journal of friendship in his saddle bag, and took a moment to consider his next move.

“I think we should get something for the sisters next.”

“Gotcha!” Pharynx said when he finally caught Sparky. He held the dragon above him, proud of his triumph. In response, Sparky burped innocently.

“Alright, it’s time we finally meet with the others,” the changeling placed Sparky on his back, striding towards the courtyard.

After some time of walking, he buzzed in, being met with changelings who were busy organizing supplies and preparing themselves for the Hearth’s Warming Eve.

"Alright, listen up!" Pharynx barked at the hive. "Thorax isn’t here, so I’m in charge,” he smiled proudly. “Which means – no slacking, no goofing off, and definitely not-"

Sparky interrupted with a loud hiccup, releasing a puff of magical fire that struck a nearby stack of decorations. The flames didn’t just burn the stack, but rather transformed it into a pile of candy canes.

Pharynx’s eye twitched. "—chaos."

One of the changelings stepped forward, addressing Pharynx with concern. “Uh, is this part of the plan or something?”

“W-Well, uhh…” Pharynx stammered. “Consider it a test on your adaptability on unexpected situations,” he lied. “Like the leader of the changelings defense, I have to prepare my soldiers on these new times!”

The changelings stared in disbelief, before muttering in agreement. Pharynx swiped some sweat in relief. “Alright, now clean it up!” He commanded.

As the crowd dealt with the amount of candy canes, Pharynx turned back to face Sparky. “You’re lucky that was actually pretty cool, otherwise I’d have thrown you to the Timberwolves.”

"So, Zipp and Pipp," Thorax said as he scanned the shopfronts, "two sisters, right? What are their interests?"

"Zipp’s all about action and adventure. She really loves flying and stuff. Pipp, on the other hoof, is… well, she’s into fashion, music, and anything that makes her online fans like her."

Thorax tilted his head. "Online fans?"

“Yeah, the ones that watch her content. I think it’s pretty popular, too.”

“Content? What do you mean?”

Hitch stared at Thorax, realizing that he was out of touch with technology. “Um, how about this? I get something for Pipp, while you get something for Zipp?”

A smile formed on Thorax’s face. “That could work! We can also cover more ground this way, too.”

Hitch pulled from his saddlebag a bag of bits. “There, this should be enough to get whatever you find,” and the pair split up afterwards.

Thorax examined a couple of stores with indecision, unsure where to start. Meanwhile Hitch did not take long to find a shop of accessories, as his attention was attracted by a display of pearl necklaces. A particular golden necklace made his eyes glimmer.

He reached for the necklace, examining it closely. “This combines with her crown perfectly! I think she’ll—” Hitch trailed off after noticing the material of the accessory. “Wait, is this plastic?” He placed the necklace back to its spot.

“No, maybe I shouldn’t get the necklace…” He sighed and remained on-spot, thinking his options.

“Yo, Hitch!”

“Gah!” Hitch looked at the source of the voice. Izzy Moonbow stood next to him, leaning with a wide smile.

“Izzy? What are you doing here?” He asked in disbelief.

“Getting gifts for my friends, duh” The mare replied. “How is your shopping going, by the way?”

“Doing pretty well. Thorax turned out to be a great companion,” Hitch replied. “He helped me find a perfect gift for Sunny!”

“Ooh,” Izzy awed. “That’s awesome!”

“Yeah… I’m not sure how well he’s doing without me though.”

Thorax wasn’t doing any better. He kept being shoved aside by other ponies, none of them seemed to respect him as the king of changelings. Eventually, he found a stand of goggles. While Thorax wasn’t a pegasus, he had seen them wearing them multiple times.

The stand however, had a decent queue of ponies. But Thorax did not mind the waiting, and waited until his turn arrived.

Just as he was about to step forward, another pony took the place Infront of him. “Umm, excuse me. I was next on the line and-”

“Get out of the way! You’re not a pony, you don’t belong here.” The other pony barked, leading Thorax to flinch.

He sighed, and decided to wait for his turn again in resignation.

Finally, he was the next on the line. “Hello, can I please have a pair of goggles?”

The vendor looked at him in confusion. “A pair of goggles? Why would someone like you need something like that?”

“Well… It’s not for me, it’s for a friend.”

“Are you sure?” The vendor tilted her head. “I don’t think changelings really need these… unless you simply think it looks cool.”

“No! I mean, my friend is not a changeling, she’s a pony!”

The vendor squinted her eyes in skepticism. An awkward silence followed them.

“Alright, it’ll be five bits.”

Thorax reached for his bag of bits and handed them to the mare. As the trade was finished, Thorax took the goggles and waved farewell. But just as he was leaving, he could hear the vendor talking to herself. “Figures a pony would befriend a changeling, of all things.”

He froze in the spot, dropping the goggles to the ground. Was friendship between ponies and changelings… still not a normal thing anymore? What has his legacy become? What was the point from returning from stasis, if ponies still did not accept his species?

He sighed and picked up the pair of discarded goggles. He was tempted to confront the vendor, but decided to avoid confrontation. Thorax left the scene, not as eager to continue with his shopping.

“Oh, I’m sure he will be fine,” Izzy waved a hoof dismissively.

“I’m not sure, last time I checked ponies still aren’t as amicable with changelings,” Hitch sighed. As he continued scanning through the accessory shop, a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses caught his attention.

“Hmm…” He scanned the object in his hooves. Hitch wore them and addressed Izzy. “Do you think Pipp will love these?”

Izzy tilted her head. “Perfect!” She chirped. “They’re pretty…. Well, pretty!”

Hitch smiled in response. “Thank you. I’ll continue with my shopping,” he said as he went over the cash register.

“See you later, Hitch!” Izzy waved, as she stormed off the accessory shop.

“Hello, I’d like to get these lovely sunglasses” Hitch opened, lowering the sunglasses to meet the cashier’s eyes.

Small laughter escaped from Hitch’s lips. “Thank you, but it’s not for me. These sunglasses are just for a friend.”

“Well, they still look good on you,” the mare replied. “I believe you’ll attract any type of ponies… Maybe stallions even too!”

A blush formed on Hitch’s cheeks.

“Oh, what am I saying?” The cashier snorted. “It will be seven bits, darling.”

“Y-Yeah, seven bits.” Hitch retrieved a number of coins from his saddlebag, swiftly paying for the accessory.

“Thank you very much!”

As Hitch left, he let a deep sigh. “Attracting even stallions too, huh…” He muttered to himself. “Well, that does explain why Sprout was so attached to me.” He shook his head, and continued moving forward.

“Is this really the best decoration we have?” Pharynx addressed a group of changelings who were tasked with decorating the hive. “Trees, green… It’s so plain and boring! What if we spice things up?”

The group looked at each other, considering Pharynx proposition. “But That dragon transformed our stuff, it’s all we have left” one of them protested.

“Well, make more decoration then,” Pharynx scoffed.

“That’s not possible, everyone is so busy preparing for the Hearth’s Warming Eve, we won’t get anything done in time.” Another changeling interjected.

Pharynx scowled. Not only Sparky transformed some of the decoration into useless junk, but what was remaining was plain boring– Wait, transforming decoration? Suddenly, an idea came to Pharynx’s mind.

“Alright Spurk, do the fire breath thing.” he called as he looked at his back, only to notice Sparky being missing once again.

The changeling growled. “Oh, come on!” He transformed into a parasprite, looking for the baby dragon one more time.

As Hitch navigated the town, he finally caught a glimpse of Thorax, who walked absent-minded.

“Hey, Thorax!” Hitch called as he sprinted towards him. “Look, I got these charming sunglasses for Pipp,” he struck a pose.

“Hah. Charming indeed,” Thorax chuckled drily.

Hitch’s expression faltered into a look of concern. “How did your shopping go? Did something happen?”

Thorax sighed. ‘It’s nothing, really.”

Hitch’s lips curved into a frown. “Really? You look down.”

The changeling adverted his gaze. “Don’t mind me, just some ponies who still aren’t used to changelings.’”

“Rude ponies?” Hitch exclaimed. “Tell me who they are. Hostility in a day of love an acceptance is not to be tolerated.”

Thorax held a hoof up, interrupting him. “It’s okay, Hitch. Let’s just continue.”

“No. Whoever they are, I’ll be sure to give them a piece of my mind.”

“…Hitch.”

“I’ve handled so many bad guys in the past, I’m not afraid of a couple of bullies.”

“Hitch-”

“What kind of sheriff am I if I can’t enforce harmony between species, huh? I’m not going to—”

“Hitch!”

The earth pony froze at Thorax’s outburst, watching as the changeling sighed and rubbed his temples.

“I’m telling you, it’s okay,” he said. “Changelings have been rejected in the past – and this is not any different. Even after everything we’ve done to change, some ponies still see us as the old hive. It’s… exhausting, but I’ve learned to live with it. Ponies are simply afraid of something they’re not used to, and we can’t force them to accept us.”

Hitch hung his head in shame as he listened to Thorax’s winding.

“I know that you just want to help, and I appreciate it… But I am the changelings’ king for a reason. I should be capable of handling these problems, even if…

…Even if they actually manage to hurt me inside.”

Thorax sighed, wearing a somber expression. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air, which was broken when Hitch spoke up.

“I’m sorry, Thorax,” he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “You mean a lot to me, and I don’t like to hear that ponies still don’t treat you well after living with you for the past few months.” He sighed. “It just… makes me angry, like I’m not doing well enough my duty as a sheriff.

“I know you’re trying your best,” Thorax said gently. “You’re the one who helped me adjust after waking the hive from stasis. I was terrified back then—still am, sometimes—but…”

Hitch gazed at Thorax, touched by his words. “I…” he stammered. “I’m flattered to know that I’ve helped you.

The changeling nodded. “Yeah, but I also want you to let me handle my problems on my own, too.”

“…Got it. I will make sure to don’t step over you,” Hitch replied. “I’m just sorry for causing a fuzz and—” Suddenly, he was pulled into a warm hug, catching him off guard —But even then, he didn’t push away. He melted in Thorax’s embrace, which lasted for a couple of seconds.

Eventually, the two of them broke the hug.

“Shall we continue with buying presents for our friends?” Thorax asked.

“The last ones on the list are Izzy and Misty,” Hitch replied. “Izzy really likes to crafts, while Misty…” he paused. “Well, she’s mysterious, not gonna lie.”

Thorax simply smiled. “I’m sure we will find something for her.”

“Alright Spurk. If you come out, you’ll be forgiven for your sins,” Pharynx called as he found himself in the depths of the hive, searching for the baby dragon once more.

“AAAAAAaaaah!!” A bunch of changelings screamed from afar. Pharynx’s ears perked up at the noise, and sprinted towards it.

“What’s going on? Did someone die?” He opened.

The changelings were piled in a corner, shaking in fear. They extended a hoof, pointing towards the tree that was hanging from the roof – or what had become of it – the tree featured an unnatural gradient of purple and blue, with a variety of crystals hanging from its branches.

Pharynx tilted his head. “What’s wrong with it? It looks pretty awesome in my opinion.” Suddenly, his eyes widened at the realization. “Where’s that baby dragon? Tell me.”

As the group pointed towards a hallway of the hive, Pharynx took a flight off.

And at the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Sparky hanging from some decoration. Pharynx swiftly launched over him, grabbing him triumphantly.

“There you are, little guy!”

Sparky simply burped innocently, engulfing the decoration in a green flame, eventually transforming it into a line of pumpkins that threaded from the roof. Such decoration was certainly months late.

Pharynx stared in bewildered, then faced the baby dragon. “That’s exactly what I need you to do.”

Sparky’s eyes brightened, and he applauded with a giggle.

The day was coming to a close as Thorax and Hitch strolled side by side. Hitch carried a hoof-crafted kit adorned with glitter and sparkles for Izzy, while Thorax held a delicate dreamcatcher for Misty.

"Well, that’s the last of the gifts. I’d say we did pretty well today,” Hitch commented.

Thorax nodded with a small smile. "Yeah. I wasn’t sure how this whole gift shopping thing would go, but… it was actually really fun."

"Told you it would be,” Hitch grinned. “You’re lucky to have me as your shopping buddy."

The changeling chuckled. “I’m pretty sure everypony is going to love these."

The two stopped at a bridge, taking a moment to appreciate the sunset. The sky was tinted with a gradient of bright vermillion and indigo, marking the moment feel perfect for Hearth’s Warming.

"You know, Hitch…” Thorax said softly. “I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about spending Hearth’s Warming away from the hive, but this day has been… special. Thank you."

"Hey, you’re part of my family,” Hitch replied warmly. “And Family sticks together, no matter where we are."

Thorax wrapped a foreleg around Hitch’s shoulder, and they contemplated the view for another moment.

As the sun had vanished from view, Thorax spoke up. "Well, speaking of family… I should probably head back to the hive. It’s almost time for Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

Hitch’s eyes widened as he remembered the baby dragon left at Pharynx’s care. “Wait, I also have to pick Sparky up. Who knows what disaster he had already made!”

Thorax laughed lightly. “I’m pretty sure Pharynx has taken care of him very well.”

“There’s only a way to find out, let’s go.”

The changelings sat in the center of the hive, where the Hearth’s Warming Eve was meant to take place in. Many of them appeared annoyed, casting glares towards Pharynx, who was still ‘enhancing' the decoration with a frantic laugh.

“So, like. Pharynx, when is Thorax coming back?” One of them asked.

Pharynx’s laughing eased. “Eh, he will come back eventually,” he waved a hoof dismissively.

On cue, the king of the changelings entered the room with Hitch on his side. “Hello, everyone. How is everything—”

Thorax stared agape at the scene he was received with. The main room for the celebration was now an amalgamate of decorations, with random things like oversized plushies, bats, candy and other things covering the walls.

“Pharynx! What just happened over there?!”

Pharynx remained frozen at his brother’s unexpected arrival. Meanwhile, Sparky escaped from his grip and ran towards Hitch, hugging one of his legs.

“There you are!” Hitch called, and pulled him for a hug. “Are you okay? Did you have a good time? Don’t worry, I’m here now.”

“I…. I was just improving the celebration,” Pharynx replied, rubbing one of his legs sheepishly.

In response, Thorax simply observed the scene. As his eyes glossed the disorder of the room and the overall combination of unrelated decorations from one another, a smile crept on his face.

“Well, this is a very unique Hearth’s Warming indeed!”

Pharynx blinked in surprise. “Wait, aren’t you mad at me?” He asked in disbelief.

“And why would I? This is amazing on its own messy way,” Thorax replied. “Besides, Hearth’s warming is not just about decoration, but spending time with the ones you care about.”

The group of changelings muttered in agreement, nodding and appreciating the unconventional decoration. A smile formed on Pharynx’s smile as his efforts were well-received.

“Oh, well. Are we ready to celebrate?” Thorax addressed the whole hive.

“Yeah!” It said in unison, cheering and flaring their legs in the air.

“I wanna delve into some punch right now,” One of the changelings chirped.

“Me too!” Another one said.

Content with seeing the changelings having a good time, Thorax returned to face Hitch. “I guess it’s time for you to go…”

“Yeah…” Hitch said sadly, holding a Sparky who had fallen asleep during the commotion.

Thorax transformed into a bugbear once again and gently snatched Hitch on his pawns. The two of them faded into the horizon, with stars illuminating the sky.

In the empty streets of Maretime Bay, Thorax landed with no altercation being made this time. He released Hitch from his grip, and returned to his usual form.

“Let’s… do this next year again, okay?” The changeling said.

Hitch gazed at Thorax, a smile forming on his face. “I’d love to, Thorax. You’ve made this Hearth’s Warming unforgettable. You’re not just a king—you’re a friend.”

The pair exchanged one last embrace, before Hitch waved goodbye and returned to his home. As Hitch disappeared into the distance, Thorax couldn’t help but let his thoughts drift to the moments that had brought them here

“There is nothing to be afraid of,” Hitch attempted to calm down a panicked Thorax, who had just awakened up from a time stasis. “You’re not a bad king, you just wanted to protect the hive.”

“Now, now. While he may be different from the outside, he is just someone like us,” Hitch stood in front of Thorax in the middle of a commotion in Maretime Bay.

“While I like to spend time with my friends, I also want to spend time with you, Thorax.” That was when Hitch proposed him to come along and buy gifts for his friends.

And recently: “You mean a lot to me, and I don’t like to hear that ponies still don’t treat you well after living with you for the past few months.”

After traveling down the memory lane, Thorax turned back and spread his wings, ready to return to his hive.

As Thorax flew back to the hive, he smiled at the thought of seeing his friend again

Author's Note

Even if I only know G5 on a surface level, I think I did a great job with the characterization and linking it with G4.
Forgive me for any typo or misspelling, English is not my first language.
I hope you had a fun time reading, and have a good day or night!