▷ [Stage Three] The Vote

[NymiiNym]

tab There was a strange sort of silence when the captain of the royal guard approached the changeling Queen. Each of them seemed equally suspicious, equally ready to turn tail and abandon the tenuous peace by either’s move. It was Just Lance who spoke first, lowering his head in a bow.

tab “You will forgive my initial fear to you and your kin’s appearance. You must understand, my wife—“

tab “What gave you right to assume one of my children spoke on my behalf?! Am I to take your word as that of Wynter, in all your opinions?!” Morpho snapped, wings flaring. The unicorn’s eyes narrowed, pulling his head more upright.

tab The silence returned.

tab “Where is my wife?”

tab “Why should I tell you?” The changeling Queen argued back, looming over the unicorn. “It was your ideas that put my children at risk. Who’s to say you knew your second in command all that well, hm? What if she was one of my children all along?” The look Morpho gave to the first changeling child, Plot Device, was not the kindest one. Said changeling shrunk into herself, ears drooping. The Queen was quiet again, then looked to the assemblage of ponies.

tab “You haven’t actually hurt my darlings, so I suppose I’ll make you this concession. If your kind can see a place for mine in this world... I will be agreeable in collaborative efforts with you. Act as my liaison to Wynter, help my children find their place, and I will assure the safe return of your wife.”

tab It was a high stakes gamble, and they both knew it. To go before Wynter... even just thinking her name called back the surge of power that had left Lance blind in this eye. He suppressed a shudder, and offered instead a nod.

tab “Then let the ponies you’ve infiltrated decide.” That was the best he could offer. Just Lance looked over the assembled crowd, for their judgment.

For the final phase of this meta, all NPCs are open to interaction and questioning. Points may be brought for or against the changelings to be integrated into typical pony society, and argued amongst the ponies assembled. At this point, PONIES NOT MADE FOR THE META MAY COME IN TO DISCUSS THE EVENTS.

To interact with an NPC, quote So Long Gay Bowser and mention who you are approaching. At the end of this phase, a vote will be taken to determine the fate of the changelings!

tab For the Writers: For the final phase of this meta, all NPCs are open to interaction and questioning. Points may be brought for or against the changelings to be integrated into typical pony society, and argued amongst the ponies assembled. At this point, PONIES NOT MADE FOR THE META MAY COME IN TO DISCUSS THE EVENTS.

tab To interact with an NPC, quote So Long Gay Bowser and mention who you are approaching. At the end of this phase, a vote will be taken to determine the fate of the changelings! Do not vote officially until we ask for votes.





• You can use the pony that was made for you for this META in the current stage of the event, as well as a pony not made for the META.
  While your META pony will be the one voting, it's assumed other ponies were at the festival and watching! You can use another pony of yours as if they've been there watching the entire time to also bring up points and opinions.
  
• Your event pony does not need a cert to RP in the META.
  Due to the fact this is a timed event, you may RP your pony without a cert, but only in this META and the threads associated with them.
  
• Do not RP the META pony anywhere else yet.
  For very specific reasons pertaining to the story of the META, you may not use your META pony anywhere but in this event. That means they cannot breed, meet other ponies via RP, or be entered in the Heart and Hooves ORPs. They may be back plotted and RPed in the Discord!
  
• This takes place at the Spring Market.
  Please ensure your pony is RPing where everyone else is; The Spring Market! This is basically an ORP, so post your response here.
  
• If you have any questions, ask Moonstone Dazzle (So Long Gay Bowser) first.
  They're the creator of this META and the Head RP Manager! Please approach them first for questions, as they know more than Nym does about this META!

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

Solar Flare had been outside the the shield that had gone up. Unable to reach the city or its festival, he was concerned and had tried in vain to find his way into the city. When the shield had finally come down accompanied by the sound of buzzing he galloped in sure of trouble. He felt his heart race worried that the shield may have kept him from helping all this time. Solar reached the gathered ponies and skidded to a stop. What in the world was going on here? Where those changelings?! No one was fighting that was good at least. He looked to Just Lance, he knew of the stallion from his job as a solider for awhile. He listened to the conversation between the stallion and the Changeling Queen and could sense the tension between them. He took in that the other ponies in the area did not seem to feel too threatened by the Changelings that were among them. He would need to talk to more to figure out just what had happened here before he arrived. Solar didn't have all the information here but he was curious about something Just Lance had said. He approached the stallion giving a cautious look to the Queen Changeling before speaking.

"Just Lance, What could it mean for ponies for you to act as a liaison to Wynter for the Changeling Queen and her children? What all is at risk here beyond just helping the changelings find their place?" Solar Flare could catch up with what had happened with other ponies later but he felt this an important question to help him get a full grasp on this situation.

So Long Gay Bowser

 

[Abeno Seimei]

Copper had arrived late to the Spring Fair alongside his, daughter Cherry. They were looking forward to the festival stalls and performances since they had missed the parade. When they got there, a magical wall had been blocking their path.

"I'm hunry daddy." Whined Cherry.

"I'm sure this is just temporary, honey." He reassured his tiny dragon child.
No sooner did he say that did the wall come down. Copper poked his head in with curiosity and escorted his daughter in.




 

[So Long Gay Bowser]

Valdmir Talamore

"It would mean a voice for a breed of pony that hasn't had a voice in the inner machinations of our courts before. It isn't always easy, speaking and meeting with one of their High Seasons," Just Lance explained, his good eye focused solely on Solar Flare as he spoke. It was good to see another friendly face here, and the royal guard seemed more relaxed speaking to a pony of similar station.

"But... the difficulty is that Changelings feed on positive emotions. Love, as it were, is the most predominant." Just Lance looked back to the changeling queen, his expression flat and perfectly schooled. It was the look of a stallion who had long practiced keeping his temper and his thoughts in line.

"And. Lady Wynter can be..." Well. The scar on his face certainly spoke for itself on that regard.  

[Valdmir Talamore]

Solar Flare seemed to nod taking in what Just Lance said. It made sense that, that wouldn't be an easy task by any means. And he felt happy that Just Lance seemed more relaxed then he had a moment ago, that his presence could help in any way made Solar Flare feel useful again.

Expressions held in or not Solar understood that the Changeling Queen had Just Lance's wife and that in itself was a serious offense.

"So Lady Wynter could pose a danger to you for speaking up for the Changelings." Even if Just Lance was willing to risk it his safety was important as well and needed to be considered. Solar turned to the Changeling Queen and gave a respectful bow of his head. " If I may ask you a question. If you release his Wife, how will you or your children feed without her source of emotion?" If she released Just Lance's wife willingly how would they feed? Did they all feed from the one source or was it different then that. After this question he would move to find out what he could from the ponies that had been there the whole time, perhaps find a changeling to speak to as well.

So Long Gay Bowser

 

[houllow]

When Fireside Shadows had suggested the family go to the Spring Market, he hadn't really been expecting...whatever happened. Things had seemed smooth at first, even with Seastone Embers attempting to run off the moment the unicorn took his eyes off her. At least she seemed to calm down right before all proverbial heck hit the proverbial fan, and it took no small measure of strength to keep the little aquatic from running off to get right into the thick of things.

Thankfully it seemed as though Sunny Delight and Firelight Fjord were still safe and sound, and the stallion sighed as he looked over his family. "Rather sorry our first big family outing turned into a major affair." Despite how calm he sounded, or was attempting to sound, Fireside was not happy or pleased in the slightest. He'd had no love for Changelings before this started, and now that they were among them - the Queen no less - he wasn't sure what to think beyond being disgruntled. This was supposed to be a fun and wonderful day, not a fiasco.

RozeyBear

 

[Reoakee]

Daehisie’s ears swiveled around. She really wasn’t sure what to make of it all. She had been blind for quite some time and had become comfortable with it by now. She used her magic to shift the small stones around her hooves while she stepped. Resistance on them would tell her if there was something she was going to run into. Holding onto her precious child she moved slightly away from the noise. It would seem there was some sort of commotion about changelings and the loud voice. It was nothing Dae have been able to affect so she had simple stood guard over her child not letting anything get close to her precious child. Her silver unseeing eyes moved around as she turned her head to listen. The din was quitter now and she heard the creak of wagons. Yes this should be a safer spot. Feeling the shade cool her off she set down her basket and dropped the stones she held with magic. Laying down she curled her tail around Aacutenieuml’s basket

Teal Tale didn’t really understand it. So the changelings wanted a voice and safety in one the seasons? Teal didn’t know what that meant. So where the changelings living in a hive in the coldest domain already and now those they were discovered they would live in the open there. Or did they live elsewhere and wish to move where they could be in the open. Looking around she had a feeling the way all this would go. The blue family of ponies had a changeling as a member and they would not turn their back on their own. She looked at Deli with Cherry. Teal herself would support Cherry as long as it meant Deli’s happiness. She looked at all the other pony changelings. They seemed to get along with others well enough it wouldn’t be an issue if they stayed. “Mango how do you feel about all of this? Would you believe in Cherry to live in the open or hunted?” She was quite sure Mango would support Cherry as well but she wanted to hear the earth ponies thoughts.

PeterPan_da144

 

[Abeno Seimei]

So Long Gay Bowser

Copper and Opal made their way thru to the festival gathering. Ponies seemed to be gathered around a central stage. As they wander closer, he passes disheveled booths and toppled furniture. Soon, Copper set eyes on the changeling Queen and Just Lance.

"Daddy, dos ponies have holes!" Opal said in shock.

"Yes, yes...What?" He looked over to where she was indicating. A handful of changeling drones were mixed into the crowd. Copper gasped and took a step back, but when he realized no other ponies were currently running away, he stopped.

From the discussion going on in the crowd, it seemed the changelings were looking to speak with the alicorn of Winter to find safety living out and among the ponies again.

A nearby pony had a good question,which he echoed. "Yeah what would they eat? would we need to do anything special to be sure no one is being siphoned off of?"


 

[So Long Gay Bowser]

Valdmir Talamore

Abeno Seimei

"It's hard to say," Morpho admitted, her mouth falling to a flat line as she considered this. Typically, they worked and they fed via subterfuge. The love ponies had for one another, for their friends and families. Having her and her children revealed was supremely troublesome.

"I don't know what we'll eat, with the return of Just Lance's wife. That will be something brought forth to Wynter, to see if there is a work-around."  

[Valdmir Talamore]

Solar Flare nodded at Morpho's answer. "Thank you both for your answers, hopefully we can find a solution that will work for everyone." With that Solar gave a respectful bow of his head and moved to try to find other ponies to speak with.

At first he just moved through to try to listen to what other ponies had to say. Specially any of the ones near the changelings. It seemed as though the ponies closest to the changelings were family and treating them as such that certainly in itself was a good sign. He had not managed to find any evidence that would point to them not choosing to help the changelings. He gave a look over his shoulder to Just Lance once more though. They had his wife and they were willing to trick to feed and had not bothered to look for an alternative before this, who was to say they would not try to take another pony to feed from? All he could do for now is try to find out more about what had happened before he had gotten here.

Solar Flare approached a group of ponies hopefully one of them might have some information. "Excuse me were any of you here before the shield went down I'm trying to find out more about the events leading up to this moment. If anyone has information?" He would bother with introductions after he found a pony that had the kind of information he was looking for.

SSBrosB

Figure Solar is going to end up talking to Serene , but he wouldn't know that so had him address all your ponies as a group XD

 

[RozeyBear]

The idea of taking the girls to the Spring Market by itself originally had Sunny Delight unsure of the whole situation, but Fireside had suggested it and he saw no real point to requesting a different venue for their first family trip. Now, however, with the darker unicorn and aquatic foal close to his side while they all stared over at a changeling Queen, he wished he had. The aquatic knew better than to voice his thoughts at this very moment, though, seeing as how an ‘I told you so' most certainly was not the thing his significant other needed to hear in this moment. So he took a much more appropriate route, leaning in to gently nuzzle his cheek across the unicorn's with a reassuring smile.

“It's okay,” he started, chuckling slightly as he leaned away again. “Let's just go to the beach or something next time, okay?” Sunny smiled again before looking down at the foals clutched close to them, wide eyed and staring at the bug ponies like shiny new toys.

Firelight Fjord nudged her sister's shoulder, canting her head toward the largest of them--the one they kept calling the Queen. “Lookit her, Seastone! She's so pretty!” She whispered hurriedly, glancing up at their fathers. Her voice dropped lower and she practically squished her face against hers, “Do you think we could go meet her?”

houllow

family time~

So Long Gay Bowser

mentions of Morpho

 

[SwordOfTheDarkOnes]

There was a long moment which Royal had to take several deep breaths. He nuzzled Shadowed, keeping his forehead pressed into her shoulder for a moment. "I'm going to walk away, Echo. I need to take a few moments by myself." he nosed her closer to another sibling. "Stay with them. Stay in the open. I'll be keeping a watch on you from afar for a moment." He inhaled slowly as he walked away. He moved off to the side where no one could see him unless they honestly looked. Once there the male kicked a wall, feeling the vibrations up his leg as the pain made his mind crisper.

The first reveal of a Changling hurt, Piper...his own sister. A sibling that he would protect as was his duty and responsibility as a elder brother. He made a vow when he was younger he would stop at nothing to protect his sisters and brothers. That was not going to change. He would not abandon her...even if she lied to them. He still had a sister in her. He inhaled as he buried the hurt.

The second reveal of one of her children...that stung. Cherry. A pony he had befriended during the time when he absolutely needed it. Making friends with Cherry wasn't a mistake. That he was sure of...then he felt his heart break. A hidden crush, pushed back into the darkest corner he could manage of his heart. Cherry had Deli, he couldn't ruin that. They were perfect. Deli was still standing at Cherry's side...he was fine with the background. Knowing that this entire time Cherry might of known about his crush and using it as food. That was the stinging...he inhaled as he buried the stinging tears.

The third reveal...eh. Razzle. A sibling of his other best friend. That didn't sting as much as anger him. How could Razzle do that to Prism? Prism didn't make enemies. She made allies. He could care less, if only he didn't care about Prism like a sister. Which meant he had felt some protective instinct for Razzle out of respect to Prism. He felt it and it was still stuck. He didn't want Prism to be sad. She didn't deserve it. He inhaled as he buried the angry voice.

The fourth reveal, okay that one threw him for the friggin loop. Bullseye. He honestly didn't see that one coming. She had been silent and odd yes, but that was her usual. He sighed as he gently headbutted the wall he just kicked. His chest heaving a little as he let that pain seep in. What was he to her then? A potential victim? No...she was far too kind for that. He was just a way to ease the boredom. He inhaled as he buried the confusion.

The fifth reveal. That was a sucker punch to the gut, Starshine. He was pretty sure at this point there was a sign over his head that just flared "EASY TARGET RIGHT HERE". He knew right off the bat with that reveal that his crush was obviously being used by the other. He couldn't stop the tears at that one, shakily inhaling as he tried to not hiccup. Once a few tears slipped out he was quick to shake his head to stop the tears from flowing. His chest was tight with the pain. He inhaled as he tried to bury the utter pain.

The sixth reveal, Cassi. Yeah...there was his breaking point. His ex love. The one he made sure to leave off on good terms with. For Prism's sake. He watched the two get closer, encouraged it when he could. To find out she had most likely used him as a means to find a new food source. That he wasn't good enough. He fell to his knees hard enough that the pain sharpened his awareness of how loud he was fighting himself to get. He cried bitterly, his head lowering into his front legs as he broke. He inhaled in vain to stop the agony.

Royal had at this point lowered himself to lay behind a small pile of boxes. The blue male utterly done with all this. He would allow himself only a few minutes of this weakness. He had a job to get back to. He had a family to return to. He had...he had....he had no idea what the hell he was going to do.

houllow

He's walking away from Shadowed.

RozeyBear

Does Starshine wanna try to make this better? Or worse?

So Long Gay Bowser

LOOK WHAT YOU DID!!!!

 

[[X]Natty-Chan[X]]

Right now, with everything that just happened, Prism was lost in her own little world. She wasn’t paying attention to any other ponies around her besides her ‘brother’ and Cassi, and the mare had returned to her mother. The Pegasus didn’t even pay attention to the interaction between Just Lance and Queen Morpho. Her world was turned upside down and she was just trying to make it right again. But, she wasn’t sure how to do it.

Hearing hoofsteps, she slowly turns her head to look at Razzle while he approaches her. Her head lowers again, but she wasn’t turning him away… far from it. She was giving her sibling the time to get what he needed off his chest, while giving her the chance to clear her head to listen to him. Prism was still a little hurt. Rose Water and Razzle were the only family she knew. Father couldn’t stick around one mare long enough to stay with them, her mother dropping her off with the flighty figure; so she was often left behind with her two half-siblings most of the time. Now, to find that one of them wasn’t even family… it gave her a pang in her heart. She refused to believe that, it couldn’t be. While Razzle wasn’t exactly the unicorn he appeared to be, he was still her brother in her heart. It just really hurt to be lied to, especially for so long. At the same time, she guesses she couldn’t blame him for hiding it… there was a lot of bad stigma revolving around them. Still, she just sighs softly as Razzle gets even closer.

When he was close enough, she didn’t move to get up yet. Instead, Prism instantly presses her head into his legs and nuzzles them softly; nickering faintly. She needed the affection right now, and she was pretty sure he did too. After a few more minutes like this, she let Razzle help her back to her hooves; letting out a sigh once she was up. ”Razzle…” She pauses, finally turning to look at the blue changeling. ”I can’t say that I’m not hurt, I couldn’t lie to you like that. But, I can understand why you did it. I’m sorry if my reaction made you feel bad in any way. I guess I just would have liked to have been told sooner… but I still consider you my brother. I mean… if you still would like to be my family. You seem to have a big family already… I guess you wouldn’t really need a little pony like me.” She leans against his side, pressing her cheek to him and nuzzling him once more. She just wanted Razzle to be happy. She still had Rose Water, so the Pegasus wouldn’t be completely alone. ”I’ll still be here for you if you ever need me though, I hope you know that Razzle. I’m sure Rose would feel the same way too, if you plan on telling her. I’m still worried that I haven’t seen her yet.” She adds, just remaining close to Razzle’s side for now until he finally gets uncomfortable. She knew he wasn’t really the affectionate type.

Word count: 531

Valdmir Talamore

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

Razzle Dazzle looked on to Prism with surprised eyes as she nuzzled him. He almost thought she wasn't going to forgive him, that he was going to have to learn to be ok with not having her around anymore. And honestly other then Queen Morpho, Prism and Rose Water would be the only ponies he would accept touch like that from. He almost worried the holes in his legs would bother her, but that did not seem the case. He lowered his head and nuzzled his muzzle to the side of her ear trying to comfort her. He felt so bad it was a feeling that stung a bit it guilt was not something he was used to feeling.

When she was to her hooves he watched her carefully, the guilt clearly on his face. "I should feel bad and you have no reason to apologize for your reactions." Razzle replied quickly. Razzle looked to the other changelings when Prism mentioned them before looking back to Prism. " You have always had a bad habit of being so down on yourself Prism. Don't call yourself some little pony like you don't matter." Razzle gave her a worried look. "I've honestly spent more time being your brother then I have being theirs. And none of the other changelings are any more related to me then you are Prism. A family is built on more then just blood relations. And though it may not have started as us being family that's what we are now. You are my sister and that will not change unless you are the one that wills that change." Razzle explained. He smiled as she nuzzled him though in his typical fashion he looked away almost as if checking to see if others were seeing this pda even if it was family pda, he was still silly about stuff like that. It seemed though he was not moving away from the touch he was content to be there for now. This was different Prism had accepted him and even though he wasn't the crying type he took a shuddering breath that would signal to Prism he was the closest he got to it right now. "Thank you for accepting me Prism. I was so worried that when the time came to tell you, or if something happened to reveal me. That you would never want to see me again." Razzle blinked remembering Rose Water. "I'm sure she is fine. None of the changelings here meant anyone harm so at least from changelings she is safe. She is probably just hiding or at home." Razzle nuzzled her again before finally stepping away. " You should go speak with Cassi. I can tell you really like her....she should be done speaking with Queen Morpho in a moment and she owes you an explanation as much as I did." Razzle looked over to Cassi and the Queen. "If she doesn't seem in a talking mood you call for me and you brother will set her strait." Razzle gave a gentle stomp of his hoof. "In the mean time I'm going to see if any ponies want to speak with me. If we want to all get along we need support in finding changelings a place here. Maybe I can help settle some fears." Razzle nodded. "After all this I hope we can do something together as a family again." Razzle smiled he new she would be his sister, but if this all went bad it might still be hard for them to see each other with being some kind of trouble.

Razzle moved out and put himself in a place were new ponies seemed to be gathering. "If anyone would like to speak to me...I am ready to talk and answer any questions if I can." Razzle offered looking a bit awkward about making the offer but he didn't know what else to do.

[X]Natty-Chan[X]