A/N: this picture isn't a shipping of Spike and Thorax, but I do like the idea of these two being a match, but that's a side couple. Anyway, here is another chapter, probably not the best but hey, it's something, right? Please enjoy

The Crystal empire was indeed a wonderful land of love and hope, but so were many places in Equestria. One of the few are Canterlot, and Ponyville. Though that wasn't exactly Thorax's reason to come to the friendly town. If he wanted to, he could feel the love off of the other ponies, but he promise to share it just like he wanted to in the first place.
Seemed Sunburst found an idea for the changeling to visit his dragon friend in the small town. It was simple. All Thorax had to do was transform into the crystal pony he once was, entered a train that took him to the town, and start the search for his best friend. It was odd how the changeling didn't suggest this before, though he did fear he could lose control towards the other ponies if he was feeling the kindness from another one. Sunburst had the feeling the changeling can manage and will make it through okay.
Thorax already remained on the train, along with some other ponies far from him. He sat alone, staring out into the window he sat next to. He only began to daydream about many things.
Though the most one on his mind was Flurry Heart.
He kinda wished he wasn't in the form of a crystal pony, but only can he be a changeling in the Crystal empire. Heck some other lands don't even know there was a changeling who wanted a change. He only hoped Spike would recognized him. Before, he wanted to visit his dragon friend to spend more time with him, for he was indeed his best of friend. Now it wasn't only that. He wanted to ask for advice...
He felt it was odd of him asking for some guidance from the baby dragon. But Spike was the brave and glorious, and actually is pretty intelligent, even for his age.
He was relief when he arrived to the town where Spike lived. He couldn't handle to wait anymore, and was actually planning to fly out of the train to make it to Ponyville on his own. As he stepped out of the train, he studied the surroundings of the train station. All the ponies that stepped off the train looked so happy and were being greeted by other ponies they must have met before. He could feel the kindness around him, but he felt it was driving him insane. But he had to hold it in. Thorax can't give up so quickly now.
So thinking fast, the changeling in disguise ran from the train station and headed his way into the small town filled with more ponies.
He looked amazed at the homes and decorations that ponies had upon their homes. It didn't look like to be a social event or anything. Nothing special exactly.
He could smell the stench of warm food through the air as some ponies were cooking, for it was yummy. He glance and saw a few fillies playing together with a jump rope, along with a giant pink poofy mare, who was the most cheerful. It was odd. Thorax recognized that giant poofy hair and goofy smile. Not to mention those baby blue eyes, and that she was an earth pony. Then it hit him when he saw the cutie mark of blue and yellow balloons.
But once the mare had stopped her fun playing with the fillies, she noticed the changeling in disguise and was surprised. Her eyes were wide, and would get wider by the second as she stepped towards him, looking at him oddly.
Thorax was considering to question her actions, but her smile and words stopped him. "You must be new here!" She chirped. "I've never seen a crystal ponies in Ponyville in such a long time!"
Thorax didn't know what to say to the chirped mare. He wasn't even too sure still if it was a good idea to reveal himself to her. "Oh uh... Well..." He didn't know how to explain this to her, but did the best he could. "I uh... I am Crystal Hoof. I-"
"Ooh! Hi there Crystal Hoof!" Bounced the earth pony happily in her giggle tone. "My name is Pinkie Pie! I had a feeling you were new here since I know everypony in Ponyville, and not only that, I barley know any crystal ponies. In fact, I haven't been to the Crystal empire ever since we saw princess Cadence and Shining Armor's new baby! She was so cute! I'm already planning parties for her first birthday! Then for her second, third, and all the way up to twenty! I might even plan for her hundred one if she makes it there. It kinda makes me wonder if she'll be like Celestia where she looks the same but stays for like ever."
Thorax never knew how loud and super fast this pony was. Watching her in the battle back from Canterlot for the wedding, he would not expect her to be so jumpy and happy. Not to mention very hysterical, but it got lost when she would not stop talking. Why did he have to stay to study her, only to see if she was recognizable or not? Already his first encounter with a regular pony and it's hard to manage to speak with Pinkie. He doesn't believe he'll find a way to get past her.
That was until he heard the small voice behind her.
"Thorax?"
He ears perked as he watched Pinkie turn her head and they both spotted the purple and green dragon appear with a quill and paper. Both were amazed to see each other. "W-What are you doing here?" Spike asked as he was speechless.
"Spike! There you are!" Thorax returned his smile as he saw the baby dragon, and galloping to him. "I have been looking all over for you!"
"Well this is certainly a surprise. I was actually writing my next letter to you." Then the dragon rolled the paper into the form of being smaller, threw it in the air, and released his green flames, burning, making the letter disappear. "I guess I won't be writing for a while." He said.
"Ooh! You two know each other?" Pinkie said, kinda making a hint to the two she was still standing there.
The two froze for a moment, trying to find some way to explain this to her. Spike doesn't believe the Alicorn princess had told her friends about the occurrence in the Crystal empire. "Well uh... Pinkie Pie, this is an old friend of mine. We both go way back to the Equestria Games! We've been Pen Pals ever since."
Normally if it was Pinkie in her good mood, Spike wouldn't worry to much about her taking it serious or anything. Though the most she did was blink, and then grew a grin widely. "Oh.. My... Stars in garters!" She giggled loudly. "You could have been using Twilight's quills set, Spike! Have you told her?"
"Um... Yeah!" Spike said fast before anything went missing from his thoughts and ideas. "Twilight met Crystal Hoof when we went for the family visit in the Crystal empire. And well, I only write to him when Twilight is studying with Starlight."
"Y-Y-Yeah.." Thorax added, trying to sound very real so the earth pony wouldn't get suspicious by his strange, awkward behavior. "I uh.. Like to brag to all my friends about Spike, the brave and glorious."
"Awww well that's nice!" Pinkie said. "You need me to show you around Ponyville Crystal Hoof? Ooh! Maybe I can start on your welcoming to Ponyville party!"
The two males shot a glance to each other, sharing the same look. Then turned back to Pinkie, as Thorax said, "Actually I came here to see Spike. I want to talk to him about something very serious."
"Maybe next time Pinkie." Spike said, hoping she wouldn't feel down.
But that was the one thing that made Pinkie unique. She would understand. "Well, okie dokie lokies." She said. "But I will make arrangements for your welcoming party soon! See ya!" She then bounced away from the two, singing her happy and smile song once again.
The two let out sighs of relief as she finally was gone. "Oh my gosh." Thorax said. "I thought we never get rid of her."
"Well, Pinkie isn't really that annoying when you-"
"Oh no no! Not like that. As in, so I didn't try to lose control or anything. She's not annoying." Then, the changeling who remain in his disguise smiled lightly and said, "She's actually full of fun."
Spike then smiled and said, "Well that's Pinkie Pie." But then his smile eventually disappear. "So what is going on?"
"Oh... It's nothing honestly.." Said Thorax as he looked on the ground, feeling embarrassed to admit to his best friend. "It's just... A bad... Changeling thing..."

Meanwhile...

"I know I have it here somewhere." Sunburst mumbled as he searched in the bookshelf that was a was a mess of papers, torn or ripped, and looks of ink everywhere. Today was his day off, but he still liked to organize his books, or find something to read while he is at it.
Being a Crystaller was harder than he thought, more dis-organize, but it wasn't terrible. Seeing Flurry Heart and trying to her her develop her magic carefully, it was worth it all. Though the parents would need to spend more time with their little darling in order for her to see their roles now. That way there won't be any problems.
But normally for Sunburst, he would just read, or organize his bookshelf, or even grab a snack at times. Only hard part was now half of his books he's kept are all over the floors.
He used the aura from his horn to levitate some books back onto where the A's were, and then the B's, and then the C's. But then he stopped when he read a certain book with the words printed on the front, 'Changeling facts and history'. Normally he would just move in with the D's or E's, but this was something about changelings. Thorax's kind from the past. "Hm, never thought I would come across a book like this." He said to himself.
Thorax was very different compare to the other changelings. He kind, willingly to actually share friendship instead of taking it, and filled with joy for half of the empire. Perhaps in the book, there could be a reason why he's the only kind hearted, or if maybe there was a way to get more changelings to see his point of view instead of queen Chrysalis. He could even learn how they adapt to turn into the form of another pony or object. That would be very interesting.
Either way, he was gonna read it.
He then dropped the other books he levitated, walked to the table that remain in the kitchen, sat down as he placed the book gently onto the table, and began to search through the pages. He found some interesting pictures, and even some amazing history they had. They've been around longer than Celestia or Luna. Who knew?
But then one section caught his eye, that he thought wasn't possible. The title was stated, 'Imprinting upon others'.
"Hmm... Imprinting?" He says to himself. "That's a bit odd for a changeling... Unless I'm..."
Then began his theory of one of the reasons why Thorax was good at heart unlike the others. And this imprinting section only grew the biggest surprise look upon Sunburst. "This.... This can't be..."
He had to inform this to Cadence and Shining Armor immediately.

Back in Ponyville...

"Whoa, princess Twilight Sparkle's castle is very much to be similar to the Crystal empire!" Exclaimed in glee from the disguise changeling as he looked upon the princess of friendship's castle.
Spike chuckled with a grin as the amazement was upon the changeling's eyes. "Yeah, it's pretty fun. Heck sleeping on the cold floor is fun."
Thorax looked at the baby dragon oddly at what he just said. That was random.
Spike noticed, and said, "What? It's true. You should try it."
"I'll uh... Think about it." He said a bit unsure, but still smiled.
Then as Spike and Thorax entered the front of the castle, they saw the giant halls greeting them with reflections of light from outside of the castle hitting them. It was kinda blinding at first, but as they were able to step in without any problem, they were manage to see the rest of the castle more. Especially their own reflections for the crystals. Thorax could not stop saying how much Spike was lucky to live in a home like this. And of course, the baby dragon couldn't disagree on that and kept on about his life in the castle.
Eventually the two made it to the bedroom of Spike, jumped onto the bed as it was the first for Spike to have a friend over without Twilight and her's. He did have some ideas he wanted to share with Thorax, but there was that one thing Thorax wished to talk about.
The changeling looked at the walls and objects in Spike's room, letting out a few 'oohs', and 'ahhs'. "Whoa! This place is like a dream come true." He said.
Spike then nodded laying his head back against the soft pillow of his bed, and said, "Yeah, this is the life my friend."
He waited for a response from the changeling, though nothing had come out. Only silence, which was a bit odd. That's when he knew something was wrong with Thorax's pony eats flew back. "Um, Thorax?" He said. "You don't need to be on disguise anymore."
Thorax's ears perked up, and immediately was changed back into the dark black form of the creature he was with a look of despair. "Oh right. Sorry about that." He said looking away from he purple dragon.
It was obvious something was wrong, even when Thorax changed back into the dark changeling. That face looked just like when they first met; sad, scared.
It was awkward between the two for they stayed silent for a while. "So uh.." Spike said as he jumped off the bed to stand next to the creature. "You said you wanted to talk about something?"
Thorax shook his head, remembering that, and finally looked at Spike. "Oh yeah." He said. "Well it's just... It's something I know everypony is gonna freak out, and I don't know who else to talk to about this."
"Oh. Is it bad?" The baby dragon asked.
"Well depends... You see, it hasn't happen in centuries I think, and well there's this thing a changeling can do towards the other ponies to feed the love. It's called imprinting."
Spike looked up on the ceiling, remembering Twilight saying that every few times she would talk to Starlight. Though he never got what it meant. "I remember a word like that, I think." He mention.
Thorax felt a bit better Spike knew what the word was. Normally it wasn't use, especially towards the other changelings. Like he said, it hasn't happen in centuries. So then he continued. "Well, what we use to do is imprint towards another pony, as a way to emphasize out we would mark them as our main targets to feed off of love. Once before, my queen says that we use to imprint because it was the way to stay by our once loved ones side. But because now all we do is feed off of love, we don't imprint as much as we use to. Now they only do that to feed off the love the pony gives."
Spike was still a bit puzzled. This just did seem like a normal changeling thing. "Okay, so what's the problem?" He said with a smile. "That means you get your special somepony."
"But that's just it." Thorax said. "What if this pony doesn't see me the way I see her?"
Spike's little ears perked up at that last sentence. "Wait... Did you imprint on somepony?"
Thorax stayed silent, feeling about embarrassed admitting this. ".. maybe.." He muttered, as his cheeks grew into the shade of red.
Spike then patted on Thorax's back and said, "Then there's nothing wrong. Hopefully that means that certain special somepony of your's will see he good in you and love you back. Not only that, another friend!"
"Yeah but... Changelings normally use to imprint on the younger ones, letting our age slow down... And I think I imprinted on the youngest one of all..."
"Oh come on." Spike chuckled, it seeing the issue quite yet. "I'm one hundred percent sure this special somepony, even if she's young, will like you more than half of a Equestria."
It was pretty obvious Spike didn't see what Thorax was trying to say. Not only that, only trying to make the changeling feel a bit better. He was, a little. But still was the fear striking inside of Thorax. "Even if she's a princess and marries somepony else one day?"
"Of cour..." Spike paused before continuing on. That word hit him big. 'Princess'. Which princess? "... Wait. You mean, you imprint on one of the princesses?"
Thorax looked away shyly, and was growing more red than ever. He felt he couldn't speak anymore by how embarrassed he felt right now. He only let Spike continue to speak.
"Uh.. You do realize Cadence is married already, right?"
Thorax open his eyes widely and looked back at the baby dragon. "No, no. Not princess Mi Amore Cadenza." He said quickly. "I already know she's married."
Spike then began to think of another guess. He knew Thorax had not met Celestia or Luna, so it couldn't be those two. "Twilight?" He suggested.
"I'm afraid not, though she is very kind." He said.
That's when Spike ran out of ideas. Celestia and Luna weren't there when the situation occurred in the Crystal empire, Cadence was married, and he admitted he didn't imprint on Cadence or Twilight. There was no other princess for Spike to...
That's when an idea bright in his head, and that's when he realized the issue in Thorax's eyes. "Wait... Flurry Heart?"
Thorax didn't say anything for he still was looking away from the baby dragon. His face grew even more red, and felt he needed to cry for what he had done. He let the moment go to Spike to realize why this was issue. There were so many levels, he couldn't think of the first one to say quite yet.
"Ohh... Now I see, what you mean." He said.
"I don't know what to do, Spike." Thorax finally spoke. "I can't tell anyone else this, and if her parents or the kingdom find out, they might as well forget their friendship towards me."
Spike looked at his friend to see a tear escape. Then he stood up on his feet, walked to place his clawed hand onto the changeling's shoulder, and said, "That wouldn't really ruin their friendship with you. Though I don't exactly know what to tell you on the whole imprinting on their daughter thing. After all, she is only a baby. Maybe your imprinting will fade away."
"I'm afraid that's a bit impossible." Thorax said looking at the dragon again. "Once you imprint, there is no turning back. Even when the one you love one, gives love to another, you'll never grow out of it until they're gone. I'm really screwed either way."
This was serious. Spike didn't know what to do this time. Love, you can't just push it away, and like Thorax said, his imprinting will never leave as long as princess Flurry Heart is still alive. He doesn't know the reaction everypony will have once they find out this discovery. But there was one idea that hit him.
"Well, just so you know, whenever you need Spike the brave and glorious to stand with you, I'm there all the way." He said with a grin.
Thorax wasn't too sure whether to take him serious or not. Either way, it made him smile a bit.
"And I may not know completely what they will react to this," he continued. "but I know I will do whatever I can to tell them otherwise.. Hopefully."
Thorax then stood up, and wrapped his arm around Spike leaning him into a hug. He felt tears escape his eyes, feeling they really needed to escape sometime. "Thank you." He said in an shiver.
Though they had plans on what to do when the parents discover this, Twilight couldn't eavesdrop anymore. She couldn't believe this was real. A changeling can actually love on another pony? Not only that, on a baby?
Maybe there was some things of a changeling she didn't know about. Heck she didn't even know this 'imprinting' existed. She could only imagine what Shining Armor and Cadence would think of this.
"Oh, they are gonna lose it." She said to herself as she finally left the door and entered her throne room, to think this through.

To be continued...