"So how are things with your kingdom, Echo?" Luna asked after the Pillars left with Twilight and her friends.
"Things are doing just fine, Luna," the Bat Princess smiled. "Some of the little ones can be rambunctious at times, but I and the other Bat ponies can handle the occasional accidental bite or wing scratch. I visit my orphan friends whenever I can, and those who've been adopted are doing well, also."
"That's always good to hear," Celestia approved. "I'm impressed that you had Thorax and Pharynx disguise themselves as guards to get past the gates. I wouldn't be surprised if the two at the gates wouldn't let you pass otherwise. Some things can be much harder to change than others."
"At least we didn't have to deal with getting blocked out like the young ones who came here," Thorax added.
"If they did, I would've easily gotten us past them," Pharynx bragged. "I was the best warrior in Chrysalis' army in the old days. And I've still got enough punch to knock 'em away if they try anything!"
Echo's spiked ear twitched upon hearing the name of the former Changeling queen, with her leathery wings going stiff.
"I don't think bringing that up is a good idea," Luna warned, frowning.
Echo's ears tilted back slightly. "We've had some bad experience with Chrysalis in the past. Mostly being how she kidnapped Twilight and me, and how she's the reason my mother's no longer of this world."
Pharynx's eyes widened, realizing he was on thin ice with the Bat Princess. "Well, I - I, um… I'm just saying... I'd still be able to keep the guards off our necks if they tried to keep us out. Yeah, that's it."
Thorax tilted his head in confusion before realizing his secret opportunity. "Sure," he teased, "the shorter big brother fighting off things his taller little brother could handle just as easily."
The teal Changeling glared at Thorax with his tongue out, blowing raspberries at him. "I'd do more than that if we weren't around the princesses," he growled.
Echo couldn't help but laugh at the two, flashing her vampiric fangs. "You two are quite funny. Reminds me of Dragonfly and Damselfly and their little bantering."
Pharynx smiled shyly at the Bat alicorn, feeling the warmth crawl up his face again. He shook his head around until it was gone. "Shoo fly," he said briefly as Echo giggled again.
Celestia chuckled. "You know, Twilight and her friends will be going to the Crystal Empire next week. I think you three should go with them to see Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, and their daughter Flurry Heart. I'm sure they'll enjoy meeting you."
"I sure hope so," Echo agreed. "I'd love to see the Empire." Pharynx nodded rapidly in agreement.
Thorax watched his brother closely. Does my big brother have a crush?
The next day at the Changeling Hive, Pharynx secretly slipped into the room of the Feelings Forum. He covered his face as he went inside the curtained room, making sure none of the other Changelings noticed him. Why did my brother think sending me here was a good idea? He asked himself as he began to feel clammy. I don't even like being in this weird Feelings Forum. It's not my fault that I've been having a hard time concentrating on drills since yesterday. It's just… Echo's so pretty with those captivating, bright, pearly lilac eyes… And she's so amazing as the Bat Princess. Those jewels she wears are beautiful enough to make anyone not notice her coat and… Wait! He shook his head wildly. Focus, Pharynx! Thinking about her like this is the reason I'm stuck in here!
"And what brings you here, Pharynx?" a voice asked cordially.
Pharynx jumped at hearing his name. Morpho, - the blue-skinned, orange-eyed current hostess of the Forum - along with everypony else in the room, was staring at him.
"Is there anything you wish to discuss?" Morpho asked. "Speak freely, good friend. The Feelings Forum is free of judgement."
"Well… uh…" How do I explain this without giving myself away? "I've been kinda curious about something. Somepony I know has been… distracted by a mare he likes. He's thinking about her all the time, from what I know. I'm not sure what's going on. You have any idea?" He was sweating from being so nervous, hoping he didn't give himself away.
Morpho gave him a knowing smile and replied, "It sounds like this somepony you know is in love with the mare by whom he is distracted. We Changelings are new to such a feeling as this, so it shouldn't be surprising that you were unsure of what was happening."
"Do you know who he's in love with?" asked one of the other Changelings in the Forum.
Pharynx nervously shuffled his hoof against the ground. "I might have some idea of it. But thank you for the explanation," he thanked Morpho hastily before slipping out of the room. Once out of the room, he quickly turned himself into a rock, hiding from the others as he slowly processed what the blue Changeling had said. Is that really true? I'm… in love with Echo? He buried his blushing face in his hooves under the disguise. Just great! And Thorax and I'll be going to the Crystal Empire with her and the others next week! How do I deal with this?