Scene #268: Luna meets Calumnia

Owner	Pose
Calumnia	The sun hangs over the western horizon, casting the beginning of orange glow in the otherwise blue sky. At only a few hours until night-fall, many travellers are setting up camps in the lee of stones and copses of trees where fires and slumbering ponies might avoid the attention of nocturnal monstrosities looking for an easy meal. Many even sport illusory spells or a fence of greenery taken from branches and grass to better hide travellers. So too has Calumnia, under the guise of 'Heart Ache' taken rest for the night, thanks in part to weariness, and in expectation of company. Under expectation of that company she has selected a camp open to the sky in a small wood off the road, a fire already burning green wood to release a lazy snake of smoke to slither into the sky. Heart Ache herself is a slim, middle-aged mare, slim with the physique of a mare who does little physical labor, and a small spire of a horn atop her head. She sports light grey fur, and a dark, forest green mane and tail, both lay without style or pomp along her shoulder and brushing the ground respectively. Her cutiemark is a heart formed by two snakes.
Luna	Luna is uncertain if this Calumnia presents a threat, but the report indicates she is more of an unknown variable than a danger. And, as someone who was also subject to Discord's terrible reign, she feels sympathetic for the pony. So, as the travellers are bedding down, overhead the familiar shape of Luna in flight can be seen. She flies quickly toward the clearing that Calumnia indicated before touching down gracefully and ruffling her wings then folding them against her sides. "Calumnia, I presume? Or, do you prefer Heart Ache?" Luna asks, offering the shapeshifter a friendly smile as she approaches. On her back is a basket filled with all they would need for a quaint little tea party. Luna sets the basket down, then starts unpacking it onto a blanket. "I suspect we will have other visitors shortly. I do hope you will not be too surprised by their appearances." Luna says.
Calumnia	"Calumnia holds little more meaning than 'Heart Ache' to me. The only difference is I'll abandon the latter name after the next town or two." The response comes in a voice noticably different than the radio. It sounds older, somewhat severe and a lower pitch, with a tired tone to it. "Still, make yourself comfortable, after Whit's Tale took care of that timberwolf pack the road should be fairly safe for the moment." The grey mare unrolls her bed roll, folds it in half, and motions a hoof, offering it to Luna as a sign of respect, while she herself simply sits on the ground.
Staren	Staren makes his way from the warpgate, trotting along taking in this strange, undeveloped Equestria. It's not always obvious, but of course, the lack of Canterlot on its signature mountain is visible far and wide, isn't it? Staren is a white-furred unicorn stallion, with blue eyes and slightly messy brown mane and tail, and a mecha's head for a QT mark. His messenger bag is strapped to his back -- other than that, he wears his signature sea green bandanna around his neck, and an opal-and-silver pendant on a leather thong necklace. His left foreleg is also adorned with a metallic band with a watch and some less identifiable devices built into it. He spies Luna in flight, and gallops over to-- What? What's that you say? This Equestria doesn't have a 'pony field?' Quite right. In truth, this body is made of plastic, silicon, and metal -- the result of an experiment with the interactions of robotics with the other Equestria's pony field. It's a proof-of-concept and served as a base for that mobile body he built for SELENE, so he hasn't much use for it. Today, though... As long as he's out of his body anyway, may as well choose the form less freaky to the newbie, right? Now where were we... Staren gallops over to where he sees Luna landing. "Luna! Good to see you again." He smiles in greeting, then looks over Calumnia. "So... You're the new voice on the radio. Pleased to meet you." He walks around her as he speaks. "...I have questions, but they might be rude, and I'm sure you have many more. So, is there anything you want to know?"
Magister Twilight	Some appearances might be surprising, but Twilight's is likely not too startling to Calumnia... on the whole, at least. Some of the others might find Twilight Sparkle's appearance a little strange. She's arriving via a coach, actually, which pulls up nearby. The coach is pulled by two strange-looking ponies, dour stallions with an odd, pulsing crystal look to them. Not quite Crystal Ponies, but some hybrid of normal and crystal. But Twilight, along with her two bodyguards, is in pony form as well. She's wearing a large hat, just like she did in humanoid form, and is easily recognizeable as the 'other Twilight' due to being in her thirties and sporting numerous mystical marks across her body. One thing hasn't changed though... despite approaching with a cool, even look, a slight quiver is in her step. You can't take the curiosity out of Twilight, and being this close to a 'young' Luna is exciting as well. Hearing Staren's voice, she eyes the strange pony and then nods her head. "Archmagister Twilight Sparkle." A brief, simple introduction.
Finna	There's another odd visitor from another world, but you probably wouldn't be able to tell by merely looking at them. A female white pegasus with a silvery-blue mane descends towards the meeting with a greeting of "Yahoo!" Down the 'invader' descends, coming in for a landing a polite distance away - just far enough away to not get the blanket blown away really! Strangely enough, this pony's QT mark is an arrow. But there are a few other things 'wrong' with her, that aren't evident on first glance... Good luck figuring out what that is!
Luna	Luna looks over as Staren when he gallops up. She's never sure if she knows him or not. He seems to change appearances more often than she changes the sky. But, she recognizes his voice easily enough. "Ah, Staren. So nice of you to join us. And..." Luna looks over at the Magister, then nods her head politely. "Magister Twilight Sparkle. I am Luna." she says. That's...really all the introduction she has. No titles or ranks. She's just Luna. Then, someone else! And Luna is quite certain she does not recognize this pony. "Hmm...perhaps there are more Equestrias than I realized..." Luna says aloud to herself. "Welcome, all. I hope your journeys were not too terrible." she says to those joining her and Calumnia, then she looks back to Calumnia. "So, what sort of tea would you prefer? I took the liberty of bringing several varieties." she says, motioning to the small box full of tea pouches. Although they are not labeled, a good sniff would help one select the tea one wanted.
Calumnia	"Mint." The answer is automatic and elicits a blink from Heart Ache but she doesn't change her mind. She glances around at the new arrivals, cool-green eyes catching the orange glow of the sun filtering in through the boughs of the small forest surrounding the camp. "A pleasure." She responds to the new-comers. Her eyes slide over Finna's tell easily, utterly failing to pierce the illusions. "You may call me Calumnia I suppose, and I admit... I was expecting..." She trails off, looking a bit longer at Staren. "I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting."
Staren	Staren's eyes widen a bit. Half-crystal ponies, what? Ah. The Archmagister. Immediately distracted, he trots over for a closer look at the guardsponies, though he goes look over Twilight briefly, noticing the differences and the markings. Good to know they look clearly different. "So what are you guys? Are you ascended ponies? Or something else?" He looks to Twilight curiously, and then Luna offers tea and he considers which kind, then rememebrs and shakes his head. "No thanks, this body can't actually eat or drink. The mouth's just for looks." He looks back to Calumnia. "Ahh... how can I put this... I've learned how to transfer myself, err... temporarily bind my soul to a construct? Would that make sense? Ah, of course, this body doesn't look like a construct, does it... I mean, that would have been off-putting... sorry, I'm rambling. Normally, I look like this:" He approaches Calumnia and extends his left forehoof. That band turns out to include a small holoprojector, which projects an 8-inch high 3D image of Staren in his normal form and clothes, spinning around at moderate speed. "Many intelligent species in the Multiverse are bipedal, with an appearance and body plan similar to humans." The ears and tail are subtracted from the image, and then the other details all fade away, leaving a basic, drawinglike male figure. A female figure appears to the side of it. "So, you can expect to see a lot of people like that. Actually, I figured the other person here probably would be..." He looks to Finna. "So, I guess you /are/ from the world where Celestia and Luna are gods then? How are things going there?"
Magister Twilight	Finna's odd look gets a quick glance over from Twilight. The Archmagister quirks an ear, as if she does notice something is off, but dismisses it for now. It will likely bother her later, knowing her, but for now Luna and Calumnia have the stage. "I understand it can be overwhelming, but there are many wonders to-" Twilight pauses to look over her shoulder. "Staren, please do not bother the crystal chargers." Sigh. "As Staren said, many worlds have a bipedal population. You will get used to it. This is my natural form, in my case."
Finna	"I've never heard of a deity named Celestia, in fact!" Finna declares. Wait, what? "Luna, the Moon Goddess though, certainly... something tells me this isn't the Luna I thought she was. What a lovely place this is... nothing like the plains of home." The white pegasus nods once, and quite politely, at Luna, before promptly examining the picnic layout and casting a sideways glance at Calumnia... and finally, Twilight. "Well, there goes my theory... you are not the Silver Lady, are you?" This is aimed pointedly at Luna!
Luna	"Mint. One of my favorites." Luna says. Her horn glows and a teapot floats out before setting itself on the fire Calumnia made. Then, several teacups float out, and in one a bag of mint tea is placed. Then, Luna looks to the others. Staren gives his answer, and Luna nods. "You seem to change form quite often." she comments. For herself, Luna selects a lavender tea blend. All they have to do is wait for the teapot to whistle. Since Twilight is mostly addressing Calumnia at this point, so Luna looks to Finna. "The Silver Lady? That is not one of my nicknames, as far as I know. Why? Who did you think I was?" she asks before peering a bit more closely at Finna. Luna, being a mistress of illusion herself, notices something, but she still can't quite put her hoof on it.
Calumnia	Calumnia ne Heart Ache s rapidly straightens, muscles under her coat tensing slightly while her ears perk alertly forward. Her tail is stock still and her eyes dart over Staren, studying the 'pony' before her attention is grabbed by the hoof - and that pins her ears, head leaning back in surprise at the sudden display of 'magic'. Her eyes lie fixed on the hologram, one ear un-pinning to angle toward Twilight before folding back again. "I see..." She finally responds, discomfort in her voice, particularly at the proximity by the strange not-pony, particularly the comment of a soul-bound construct. Not even Discord brought things such as /that/ into being. At least none she knew of. It takes a moment for her to register the question, however, and she ifnally looks up. "Yes, this is my world of origin." Then to Luna, she nods politely. "Thank you."
Staren	Staren oohs, "Crystal Chargers, huh? Don't suppose you'd be willing to explain later?" He shuts off the hologram and makes sort of a shrugging gesture to Luna. "I'm a shapeshifter. It comes naturally, I guess." He looks back to Calumnia. "So, what did you want to know?"
Magister Twilight	"I am not from this world," Twilight states. "This would be ancient history to me. My own world is over a thousand years in the future from this one... but some things are similar. Oh, lavender..." Briefly distracted, she pulls her attention back to Calumnia and gives a little more detail. "The pegasus is speaking of a place that sounds much like Creation, a variant that has some very... different problems. I'm only passingly familiar, I'm afraid. Perhaps she's a new Unification coming from a world like Creation and Equestria both." And now, My Little Exalted has been suggested. "Many records of this time period are incomplete," Twilight continues. "But I too will try to answer questions."
Magister Twilight	Staren's question about the Chargers gets a long look from Twilight. Finally, she replies, "I might explain later, if you really want to. It would be easier after you yourself had encountered the Crystal Empire."
Finna	Finna's mouth opens to speak, but nothing comes from it, even as she's struggling to say something. Shock and disbelief show very visibly on her face. She LUUUNGES in closer to peer at Magister Twilight with great suspicion, clearly not at all interested in hiding her recognition. "You KNOW more than I thought you knew... how is that?!" Finna's pony-body ripples as though the flesh had become gelatinous... and then it reshapes. She rises up to her hind legs, but very quickly the hooves split and become toes. Fur melts away into humble, extremely thin leathers with tribal decorations. The wings are sucked into her body completely. The rest of the changes happen in a flash, leaving a human - with strange, MUCH easier-to-see animal fox features on display. "Well," she says dully. "That was anticlimatic. ... I'd expected something more... dramatic, to offer in return. Still, I have no desire to play too many tricks on someone regarded as a respectable Goddess." She turns a slightly feral, playful smile Luna's way! "A different Luna. The one I know is said to take many shapes and aspects as fits her mood. The idea that she would create a world of talking ponies far from Creation isn't completely out of the question... but that's not the case here, clearly... my apologies for the intrusion."
Staren	Staren sighs. "Again with the mysterious future stuff! Man, what if it doesn't even happen in the other timeline?" Oh. She was a shapeshifter too! Staren feels like he should be more surprised. Maybe he's been in the Multiverse too long. Instead, he gestures towards her with a hoof. "See? Perfect example right there." He looks back to Finna. "It's not that hard to know about Creation, there's at least three of them now and they've been around for years." He looks back at the Magister. "Besides, she's a Twilight. You would expect her to know quite a lot, if you knew one better."
Luna	Luna also appears a bit uneasy at the prospect of soul bindings, but she doesn't voice it. She just goes about making tea. Until Finna's sudden transformation. It leaves Luna blinking in surprise, and even though she can shapeshift herself, seeing someone else do it to such a degree is still a bit surprising when the change is that different from the previous form. "G-goddess?" she says, stammering a bit, her tail giving an uncertain swish and her ears pinning back a moment. "I do not see myself as a goddess. I am only a pony who happens to hold a bit more power than other ponies." she says, blushing just a bit and smiling almost shyly. "I suppose it is possible that this world was created by some being outside our experience, but...I have no idea who it would be." Luna says. When they start talking about knowing things and Creations, Luna just makes sure everyone who has asked for tea gets tea and listens to the conversation. "Here you are, Calumnia." she says, floating a cup over to the shapeshifter.
Calumnia	If any question from the likes of Calumnia were to be voiced in a lull, it is summarily drowned out by surprise, watching Finna's shape alter in that protean manner... and then on the tail of that surprise is laughter. The previously severe and reserved mare just starts.. /laughing/ from the belly, head bowing as her eyes close. Her (current) voice lends itself well to the sound, though the gasps and a few coughs suggest she isn't used to it. Any question that had been within her mine is temporarily subsumed in her mirth and bemusement. It takes several moments before she can sit up and gather the focus to take the proffered cup with a nod. She takes a small sip to sooth her throat and shakes her head to collect her thoughts. "Alright... THIS is a bit more in line with what I was expecting, but maybe not like that." She nods toward Finna. "Is that a common ability in the..." She searches for the unfamiliar word. "Many-story?"
Staren	Staren shakes his head. "No. Shapeshifting's pretty rare, though not unheard of. I can think of a handful of other people who can do it normally." He tilts his head. "...It's kind of unusual to get this many who can change their form all together in one spot..."
Finna	"Oh? So I am free to play tricks on you?" Finna quips playfully, while cracking a sly little grin at Luna. But the look melts away with a bit of a laugh. Finna turns about to peer at Staren, while her tail begins wagging slightly. She's clearly in a good mood - and likely, at this point, everyone can tell. "Three... Creations?" The wagging stops as she ponders on that. "... This 'Multiverse' is more than I thought it was! ... far more!" The sudden topic shift about shapeshifting has her ears - and half a gaze - heading Staren and Calumnia's way, but soon Finna brings a hand up to her chin and rubs it with a finger. "hmmhmm... my name is Finna, and I am from a Creation... though there aren't many talking ponies about, save the odd half-divine offspring or Luna's Chosen getting frisky in odd shapes. This is curious!"
Luna	Luna has to agree with Calumnia. That is more like what she was expecting, but she still wasn't expecting another shapeshifter. "Multiverse." Luna corrects Calumnia before she is addressed by Finna again. Luna blinks, then giggles and smirks. "You are welcome to try~" Luna sing-songs to Finna, then in a shimmer Luna's form changes as well, taking on Finna's appearance. "But, you might find you've met your match." she says in Finna's voice before giggling. "There are also three Equestrias, it seems. So, I can understand your confusion there as well." not-Finna says with a smile before reaching up to feel her own pointed vulpine ears. "Curious."
Calumnia	The laughter from the grey mare starts to die down before the smile slips from her face. "Oh. There's a light haze of disappointment layered into her voice from Staren's response. "Well.. Anyway.." She straightens back up, cup held in the grip of a sickly-green telekinetic hold, which is sipped again. "I have not heard of a grand many new lands forming around Equestria; such a thing would cause panic in already skittish and xenophobic ponies." Her voice shifts to distaste, ears pinning, "So, that begs the question of how these places are connected. Is it through a spell?" Her ear flicks as Luna's form changes with a shimmer, unlike the other example of shifting.
Calumnia	The laughter from the grey mare starts to die down before the smile slips from her face. "Oh." There's a light haze of disappointment layered into her voice from Staren's response. "Well.. Anyway.." She straightens back up, cup held in the grip of a sickly-green telekinetic hold, which is sipped again. "I have not heard of a grand many new lands forming around Equestria; such a thing would cause panic in already skittish and xenophobic ponies." Her voice shifts to distaste, ears pinning, "So, that begs the question of how these places are connected. Is it through a spell?" Her ear flicks as Luna's form changes with a shimmer, unlike the other example of shifting.
Magister Twilight	"The word you are looking for is 'multiverse,' as the others have said, and they are often connected by massive gates across space," Twilight says in a pleasant tone. She looks to Finna, "I know little of Creation specifically, though I have read some material on it and spoke to the Radiant Empress of Unwavering Rule a few times. I understand her Creation is unusual though. Certainly far different from Equestria. In my, Equestria, at least, all shapeshifting is done by magic like that of Princess Luna, or into our world's bipedal forms. The only natural shapeshifters are the Changelings, and we exterminate them whenever possible." Not making things awkward at all, she looks to Calumnia, pleasantly asking, "Your name is Calumnia? That is an unusual name for a pony."
Staren	Staren stamps a hoof in approval at Luna's change. "Five Equestrias, actually. There is another where L--" he cuts off, wide eyed, then frowns. "Umrrr... where it was ruled by rather different ponies than Celestia and Luna, it seems, so it might be unfair or misleading to call them Celestia and Luna's counterparts... There, a black alicorn rules with an iron fist. ...Hoof. And another where Celestia and Luna and Discord are actual deities and the ponies are all humanoid. It, too, is in the future," he looks to Twilight, "With Twilight as archmagister of Canterlot's magic school." He would explain more, but Twilight gets to the Multiverse explanation first, and offers new interesting tidbits of information. "Changelings? You mentioned them before... what are they?"
Calumnia	"I don't recall my name, and I have Discord to thank for that. Calumnia is simply the one I have been called most frequently..." Her voice is... carefully neutral and her ears remain perked forward, tail held very still, and her body almost conspicuously blank. Her eyes are the only tell; they dart a bit, looking carefully at each pony as they speak, flicking towards eyes, muzzle (or equivalent), ears, and the other tells she's familiar with. These sadly don't apply /at all/ to Finna, being too alien for her to read. "Multiverses then. Thank you, and I've never heard of changelings either. What are they?"
Luna	Luna blinks. "Five Equestrias? I have only heard of two others. Are the other two hidden, or hard to access?" she says before her form shimmers again and she returns to her usual form. She stretches her wings before relaxing. "Are you sure you two would not like any tea?" Luna asks Twilight and Finna.
Finna	Icy blue eyes open wide at Luna's sudden change to match her own... but soon Finna's lips do similar, and the grin turns a bit feral, as if to say 'challenge accepted.' Finna's respective ear twitches and tail starts wagging furiously. "ooooh, you say you're no Goddess, but that's something no simple mortal could do where I'm from!" Challenge accepted, indeed, but all on its own time. "Changeling..." When the topic comes up, she shudders slightly. "... I'd imagine they are not the same here. I'll cease assuming things should be, from now on. Too many times it hasn't... the Changelings I know are persecuted for their fae blood. The Fair Folk are best kept far from mortal lands, let alone wombs..."
Finna	"Tea?" The foxgirl quips... only to, moments later, shimmer momentarily with a silver light. Instead of the fully fleshy transformation of before, it was just a wave of moonlight. ... And now it's Luna's voice replying, "Tea sounds lovely, thank you!" Strangely enough, one hearing it can -easily- overlook the fact that it's not actually in the proper langauge, even with the trnslation effect. Put simply, easily-swayed minds simply overlook it.
Magister Twilight	"A bit of lavender would be lovely," Twilight says to Luna. Lovely. Staren is the only one who has seen her much, so he's the only one who might notice that she's actually relaxing a little for once. the relaxation isn't complete... Calumnia could tell that by her ears, and how her tail is still. It's better than the uptight unicorn that walked in though. "Spoilers, Staren," she says to his curiosity, but this time she goes on to tell a little more anyway. "Changelings are a strange creatures, more like insects than ponies. They take the shape of loved ones and feed off the emotional bond. My world has enough troubles without dealing with towns that utterly lack love." She taps a hoof on the ground. "They are one of the few threats that will bring even the Lady Fluttershy to put aside our differences and fight against a common enemy."
Staren	"Their elites seem to have withdrawn from Multiversal involvement," Staren explains, and then everyone's turning into everyone else and it's a mess to track, so he looks to Twilight. "I see. They impersonate ponies and steal love?? That's terrible!" Beat. Implications run through his mind. "...Wait..." He looks at Calumnia. "I mean... /you/ feed on love, but you /earn/ it by healing ponies. That's different. And if you made some friends, you'd have plenty of love..." He blinks as implications continue running through his mind. "Have you... been alone until now? No, wait, if you need to feed on love you can't have been alone..." This might not be the best puzzle to try and work out out loud, Staren...
Luna	Luna laughs as Finna imitates her voice. "Not as lovely as my voice~" she says as she prepares two more cups for the visitors. One more lavender and one...what would a fox-like creature like? Since she is not sure, Luna chooses typical tea for Finna with a bit of rose added in. With the hot water from the teapot it doesn't take long to steep the tea in the cups. When Twilight describes what a Changeling is, though, Luna suddenly pauses, then glances over at Calumnia. That sounds...a bit familiar, albeit more malevolent. "I...see." she says, returning her gaze to the teacups she is now dispensing to Finna and Twilight. When Staren comments, Luna looks over. "My sister did not seem to agree. And, the ponies targeted may not agree, either."
Calumnia	The response is not choreographed physically, but instead Calumnia's grip on the tea cup falters, dropping it where it lands in the dust. The tea is wasted but in this age, one does not travel with fragile glass, and therefor it doesn't shatter. There's a long moment of utter non-reaction, her eyes calmly staring not at any one pony but at the group. 'They know! Lady Luna of course would have known from her sister but how did the others? Wait, if they knew and this purple mare says they exterminate, and they think I'm --!' All at once Calumnia leaps back, her form warping in a protean way; tattered faery's wings unfurling from a coat that's rapidly being devoured by charcoal-grey smooth hide. She lets out a hiss, baring long, parasite's fangs. They're not hollow, but they're not for rending meat either. Her horn warps too, takign the appearance of wood soaked in water and left to dry in the sun. The change pauses there as she reverts, then shifts more as her forelegs narrow to points, hind legs growing more muscular and her weight shifts, allowing her to balance while those forehovoes begin to look more like scythes that fold as a mantis' legs. Her wings buzz, but she doesn't outright attack; it's a defensive stance. "I knew i shouldn't have trusted..." She mutters lowly, her voice sounding almost exactly like the radio, complete with the odd resonance in her throat. In all, she's different enough from a 'modern' changeling to not bei nstantly recognized; particularly due ot the lack of insect traits. Her eyes are rather catlike, however, and they dart rapidly in fear. "S-stay back." Normally she could deal with hunters of course but hunters generally aren't the ones that managed to beat Discord.
Staren	Staren's eyes widen as he muses to Calumnia and she suddenly jumps back and changes. He's surprised. The question is, of course, is she a monster that takes advantage of others, or just a pony with unconvenional dietary requirements? (It helps that Staren's known a number of Seras Victorias) He's not so great at reading body language, but... she's not attacking, and that stutter sounds like fear -- a monstrous predator would either just leave, or be confident it could take them all or be trying an intimidating rant about how well it will feast tonight or somesuch. "Woah, woah, calm down." he raises a forehoof at Calumnia, trying to convey a palm-up 'slow/stop' gesture. "I don't want to hurt anybody over unconventional dietary requirements. Let's talk this out and get a clear idea of the situation. Now, you disguised yourself, for... understandable reasons, but instead of impersonating people's loved ones and stealing love, you healed ponies to earn it. Why?" He fishes, hoping she'll say something that will demonstrate to all of them where her ethics lie, one way or the other.
Magister Twilight	Twilight is not unsurprised, but certainly less surprised than her guards. The two ponies immediately level their spears, held telekinetically, toward Calumnia. Twilight is the one who quickly lifts a forehoof, a silent order to hold and keep themselves at distance apparently recognized. "Discord did this to you? We always wondered where the Changelings came from. One more matter to blame on the old statue." She sighs, then looks toward all the others, including Finna. "If you let this pony live, she will be the cause of untold misery in this world in the future... including to the Twilight Sparkle. I suffered greatly from Changelings, personally. She may not mean any harm herself, but her progeny will be evil. Killing her is the easiest solution." She looks back at Calumnia. "But this is not our world, and it would be the decision of Celestia and Luna here. Killing you would not change what happened in my past. I hold no grudge against you, personally. I would not be surprised if Celestia and Luna granted you mercy."
Luna	Luna's eyes widen a bit at Calumnia's transformation, then she snorts in annoyance, directed mostly toward Twilight. "Calumnia, please, remain calm. No one here is going to hurt you. I will make sure of it. But, if you want it to remain that way, you must not become like the creatures from Magister Twilight's world. There may be those willing to allow you to feed, if done in small increments, but taking a form that is not yours is likely to land you in more trouble." Luna spreads her wings slowly, and an image of the moon appears between them as she tries to use her powers to calm Calumnia and anyone else who is not calm. Twilight's comments make Luna huff again. "We cannot punish Calumnia for crimes that have not yet been committed, and may never be committed here." she says sternly. Then, she looks to Calumnia again. "All we have to do is ensure that you and your kind do not become persecuted. And...uh...I'm sure my sister knows how to do that."
Finna	With Calumnia freaking out, Finna's just sipping at the tea. She doesn't especially freak out herself, though her eyes and ears rapidly shift back and forth to gauge reactions nad intents. This isn't her worry or conflict and indeed, it's a bit too surreal to take seriously... for now. For the moment, she just sips at the lightly rose'd tea, after murmuring, "Thank you!" Luna's way. She's still guised as Luna, too!
Calumnia	Calumnia's nose crinkles in a way that might be cute if she weren't still bearing her fangs. In fact perhaps what makes her a bit more disturbing than a 'modern' changeling is that she /isn't/ that different from a pony. Her muzzle curves in a rounded way of a mare's, and though she looks haggard, skinny, and worldworn, her form isn't very alien at all, just alien /enough/. "Don't get me wrong, I've /taken/ love by force when it would have killed me not to but /I'm/ not the kind of monster that would rather kill a pony to take their place like some idiots claim I do. Discord's shrunken gopher-nuts, I even /asked/ the first few times and they tried to KILL me, if thigns are the same in YOUR Equestria no wonder... no wonder..." The spell falls over her and she shakes her head a little, fighting the compulsion. With the fight taken out of her, or otherwise supressed, she falls to her deformed forehooves, which pierce into the ground a little, before ocllapsing to her stomach. Crying. "Don't- don't I deserve ot live too?"
Staren	Staren shoots a half-shocked, half-disappointed look at Twilight. Has she really changed so much? He look at each of the others as they speak, and at last Calumnia. He turns to Twilight. "Shame on you. The Element of Friendship! You of all people should see the opportunity here! Why do you /think/ they're evil, if the whole world sees them as monsters? Can't you see?" he looks to Calumnia. "We could help her. Find her a place in Equestrian society. Then her descendents need not be feared monsters, but allies!" He looks back to Twilight. "A future where the villain reforms and lives is better than one where they die, all other things being equal! /You/ taught me that, when you offered Discord friendship before the maze! And /she/ isn't even a villain yet!" Staren looks to Calumnia. "Everypony living in harmony is benefit enough, but who knows what else such a future might bring? Look at her, she's got a horn and wings so she's clearly not limited by the normal limits of pony magic. If she can absorb love, maybe she can give some /back/, cheer up clinically depressed ponies so they can function! Does it work that way? I have no idea, wouldn't you love to find out? But we'll never find out if we decide she has to die now!" he stamps his hoof. "There are things out there that are beyond evil. That have to be killed at every opportunity for our own safety, it's true." He nods to Finna. "The fey of her world, for instance. And then there are people just too evil to befriend. You can offer them the chance, but they'll turn it down and keep hurting people. Like Discord." Finally he turns to Calumnia again. "Would you really lump her in with the likes of them? If her kind was evil by nature, /why isn't she/?!" He stamps a hoof for emphasis! And then realizes he went on a rant and looks a bit sheepish wait no sell it look confident Staren! Yes. Look stern.
Magister Twilight	Twilight waits patiently for the rambling speech to end, then shakes her head, "I used to believe all that... but you do have a point, roundabout though it may be." She gestures to the guards to step back. "The fact that the first Changeling was formerly a pony explains many things, and offers some opportunities. My unicorns and I have learned quite a lot about Changeling anatomy and magic over the years. This offers a chance to study the beginnings, to understand how they came to be." She turns her eyes to Calumnia again, then back to Staren and Luna. "And there is another way to stop the creatures in my world from spawning their monstrous nature. Could it be possible to cure her?"
Calumnia	Almost lazily the altered proto-changeling sta shifts back to her normal base form. An ear swivels between the ponies talking before she jsut exhales and lets her head fall onto the back of her forehooves, which remain embedded about an inch into the soft earth. She isn't entirely sure at what point the magic calming her gangs up with her exhaustion and the falling ebb of her adrenaline all gang up to send her into the cool black of dreamless sleep, but her limp form does not move of its own volition for the remainder of th evening.
Finna	And now, having heard a rather amazing speech, Finna finds herself staring in the rudest way imaginable. ranted, it looks like Luna's staring - the Not!Luna Luna, that is. But if anyone looked away, it'd be hard to tell which is which... if, that was, Finna's illusion didn't suddenly melt away, leaving the foxgirl sipping tea and boggling simultaneously at Staren's sudden decree. She lowers the cup, tail no longer wagging. "Quite a speech! But wait a moment.... are you saying her form of magic is powered by LOVE?!" The foxgirl's face is turning... well.... disbelieving. It's an incredulous idea!
Staren	Staren smiles a bit as Twilight is kind of won over. "Curing her... maybe!" When Calumnia faints, he blinks. "Oh shit, did she run out of love?" He rushes over. "Wait, no, she's just sleeping." He shrugs to Finna. "We don't know that. She could need love to live but power her magic another way. Is your own magic food-powered?"
Finna	"feeding on emotions is like the fae. The idea is a little sickening... see, it even makes her sick, apparently!" Finna gestures with a hint of worry at the toppled Calumnia, then shakes her head. Adopting a mousy expression of playful superiority, she declares, "Luna's Chosen aren't nearly so simple. Sure, we hunger and thirst like any mortal... but my power is replenished from simply being alive. Rest helps it replenish faster, though. ... this poor creature seems almost Fae-Blooded. It's a curious existence, to not quite belong with those around you, yet forced to exist with them.... I can sympathize."
Magister Twilight	One of the guards whispers in Twilight's ear, and the pony flicks said ear in annoyance. "Well, I respect Celestia and Luna's choice, even if I think you are making a mistake. If you would like to have me take a look at her sometime, you know how to find me." She sighs. "Happier days..."
Staren	Staren tilts his head at Twilight. He's not sure what to say... as she heads off, he simply says, "Bye, Archmagister. See you later..." He looks at Finna. "Mm." he grunts. "Yeah... It sucks, really." He looks at the unconscious form. "I hope she will find acceptance quickly."
Luna	After much excitement and debate, Luna looks at the unconscious form of the little proto-changeling. She ponders for a while. "I believe this creature will need a lot of guidance. I am sure I could provide such guidance alone, but I would appreciate any imput from you two, as you both seem competent." she says as she looks down at the twisted creature. "I will stay with her until morning, or until she awakens." Luna says, then she lies down and extends a wing over Calumnia to keep her warm.