we did it boys!! some vaguely competent and story relevant art for the hollowverse
 
also rip me.. I didn’t draw the two in any very sweet situations but I swear they love each other and are cute together most of the time,, I’m just lazy and didn’t want to do more sketches lmaooo,, also I’m channeling Vindhov ‘s art hard on this one, sorry bro you just have the ideal setup with these things,,
 
 
anyway.. context
 
1- the first time zecora and pharynx met they uh.. were not super cool with each other yet. pharynx was dragged by thorax to visiting ponyville, and at that point zecora was in ponyville practically every day to restock supplies and visit with friends. pharynx, being the protector of the changeling hive, was often covered from head to toe in bumps and bruises, and zecora (being a medicine pony) offered to help him out with some of them. you would think that’s all well and good, right? nope.
 
pharynx did not exactly take kindly to being offered help (what? you think he’s some kind of baby?? that he needs some random stranger’s help with a few minor scrapes? he’s the protector of the changeling hive for luna’s sake!) and maybe acted a little (read: a lot) nasty to zecora in response. and now it was zecora’s turn to be unhappy.
 
the two got into a bit of a spat, though ultimately Resident Friendship Princess Twilight Sparkle™ resolved the issue! sorta. unfortunately, the reason thorax and pharynx were in ponyville in the first place was to set up pony-changeling relations in a more tangible way (seriously guys, just establish trade relations already, jeez) and they would be staying a week. it’s safe to say that the two didn’t get along and Resident Friendship Princess Twilight Sparkle™ was gonna have to come up with a more permanent solution.
 
anyway, I’m not gonna get into the whole story right now, but just know that twilight’s brilliant plan involved camping out in the everfree forest (to show off how interesting ponyville nature is, of course!) and ended with zecora having to treat a certain somebody’s wounds from some unfortunate mishaps that occurred during the visit~
 
 
2- this scene occurs after the two are married.
 
so, you know how when thorax met baby flurry heart and ended up freaking tf out because of all of the love around him? so, something similar happens to the changelings after they’ve been reformed. since they still feed on love (also a headcanon but hey!), when there are powerful emotions of love around them they’ll end up going into a sort of “trance” state where they basically get drunk on the emotions.
 
the first time zecora saw this happen to pharynx, she was not having it. trixie had a huge crush on pharynx when they first met (trixie is openly polyamorous and has dated several different people during her marriage to starlight, and don’t worry starlight is fully aware and doesn’t mind) and the emotions got too much for the guy. he’s basically wasted in the picture, and zecora may or may not have had to slap him out of it.
 
when he did explain the phenomenon, zecora just kind of assumed he was lying (it ended up being one of their biggest fights whoops) until she saw the same thing happen to thorax. there were some big apologies for pharynx after that.
 
 
3- jumping back in time, this scene occurs a little bit before the two actually got together. apple bloom can see what’s going on with those two~
 
as time goes on from their initial meeting, pharynx and zecora end up forming a pretty genuine friendship from their previous rivalry, and start spending a lot more time together. like, a LOT more time together. pharynx sureee is making a lot of trips to ponyville recently..
 
zecora was apple bloom’s mentor for many years, and out of any pony in ponyville, ab knows zecora the best. she could tell that her old mentor was definitely crushing on the changeling, which zecora vehemently denies, leading to ab being real smug when the two announce that they’re together.
 
 
and that’s all I’ve got to say about this one! hopefully I can keep rolling on this train and get some more stuff out this week~