Bobby Jewel opened and held the doors for Alana, Maria, and Juan as they stepped into The Melting Pot. Bobby entered last and looked around for a table, then spotted Artex, Razor Wit, and Oriana over to one side, all of them already had drinks in front of them. Bobby whistled to Alana and motioned over to the Emissary and his girlfriends. Alana followed his pointing hand and spotted the three. She bit her lip nervously, but led the way over to their table.

Artex was the first to notice the new guests and waved them over, "Hey Bobby! Come sit with us!" he greeted, rising to his feet as he spoke in American English, "How the hell are you?"

Bobby extended his hand and Artex accepted it. The two men shook then patted each other on the back heartily, "It's good to see you." Artex' eyes shifted to the three others in his friend's party, "Should I start the introductions or do you want to?"

Bobby pointed to each person, "You already know Alana. This is Maria and Juan. They're living with us until they get a place of their own."

Artex extended his right hand to each of the people, "Mucho gusto senior y seniorita." Artex silently hoped he hadn't butchered the greeting.

Maria was a thin, small framed young woman. Her straight, black hair hung down her back and her eyes were sharp, "No seniorita, seniora." she suddenly switched to broken Velensovth, "I... am... married to... Juan." She gestured to the young man sitting next to her.

"My mistake," Artex responded in Velensovth as everybody sat down, "This is Razor Wit and Oriana. They help me with my responsibilities as Emissary."

Razor Wit peered at Alana, "Um, not to be rude, but are you..."

Alana locked eyes with Razor and seemed to almost swell in size, "A Changeling? Yes. Is that a problem?" she asked aggressively.

Razor shook her head, "No, just curious. I remember your name from when you came out of the forest."

"Take it easy there babe." Bobby soothed his girlfriend, "I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it."

Oriana's eyes bulged, "Oh... I-I-I had heard there were Changelings living here I just... never expected to m-meet one."

Alana threw up her hands, "Well here I am!" she exclaimed loudly, "And for the record: I'm not interested in putting you in a cocoon, I have no intention of killing and replacing anybody, and I'm not going to suck you dry of all your emotions! I just want to live here with the man I love and be happy without being judged and hated all the time!" Alana ended her tirade panting for breath with both hands on the table.

Bobby reached over and clasped his hands on Alana's, "And yelling at folks who are nervous about Changelings isn't going to them any less afraid of you."

Alana froze as soon as Bobby spoke and held her pose for several long seconds as silence reigned at the table. After some seconds she groaned, slapped her elbows on the table, and buried her face in her hands, "Oooohhhh." she moaned sadly, "I did it again, didn't I?" it was not a question.

Bobby smiled sadly and wrapped his arms around her, "At least nobody called the Guardians and tried to have you arrested."

"Not yet." Alana said morosely.

Oriana tapped her right forehoof against the table top, "Not going to either." Alana peeked out from under her fingers and Oriana continued, "You did not attack me physically. You are upset, you used words. I repay type with type so I will also use words. Listen well," her expression turned intense, "I was startled and somewhat afraid, yes. I have only heard negative things about Changelings so I had no idea what to expect. You cannot expect any other reaction right away and becoming upset about it only enforces an already negative opinion."

Oriana calmed down and spoke more casually, "In the future, try to act like it is nothing unusual, as if you are just like anybody else. I do believe that is what you were trying to emphasize. If somebody makes a comment, brush it off playfully, ignore the words of those who disprove of you. They are not worth your effort or time so do not give it to them. Exploding like you did will never help your cause." Oriana sat back and raised her chin, "Am I nervous and afraid? Yes I am. I am also open-minded about the situation. The fact that you are what you are did catch me off guard, but I have no reason to hate you." She leaned back over the table and extended her right forehoof, "Let us start again. I am Oriana."

Alana hesitantly accepted the hoof, "Alana... nice to meet you."

Maria and Juan exchanged a confused look, "What was... that... about?" Juan asked.

Razor Wit spoke slowly to ensure the two could understand her, "Alana is a Changeling. Most species don't like Changelings. For a long time we thought Changelings were an enemy. Changelings attacked our capital because they were lied to and they were starving. This town is the only place where they can live."

Juan and Maria nodded along, then Maria asked, "Why... not... all Changelings... live... here?"

"Let's let Alana answer that one." Razor suggested.

Alana shrugged, "Most of us are either too afraid, dead, or still under control of our Queen. Some more are coming here soon."

Bobby nodded and looked to Artex, "That actually brings up something that I could use help with." He looked up and saw Alex Ludwig approaching their table, "Hold that thought."

Alex walked up casually, "Alright everybody, what'll you have? We've got two specials tonight and since there's almost nobody else here, I'll be your sever. Our Omnivore Special is fish tacos on a bed of brown rice and raw or steamed broccoli, and for our Herbivore Special we have vegetable stir fry with sesame seeds on steamed or roasted barley. Can I start you off with something to drink or are you ready to order?"

Everybody placed their orders with Bobby, Maria, and Juan ordering the fish tacos and Artex ordering the 'heavy salad'. Alana settled for orange fried black beans and rice, while Oriana decided on trying the famous Garden Garbage Medley, and Razor Wit ordered the bell peppers stuffed with pan fried tomatoes, and asparagus. Razor and Oriana ordered Kavim beers while everybody else ordered something much 'harder' to drink.

Once Alex headed back to the kitchen Bobby continued voicing his concern, "The other Changelings want to come out of the forest and join us but there is a problem. Apparently one of them underwent a permanent transformation and is now stuck in some sort of Changeling battle body. Alana said that she's concerned that he'll have trouble fitting in."

Artex scratched his chin, "What kinds of changes are we talking about here Alana? Is he some sort of goo creature now? I need specifics."

Alana cleared her throat and looked down at the table while squeezing Bobby's hand, "He's about four Fathoms tall at the shoulder, about six Fathoms long, and probably two Fathoms wide. He is pitch black, like all Changelings in our natural form, but he has six legs to support his weight and two long, curved blade-like arms. His body is thick and heavy and his skin has changed to hard chitin plates with some spikes on it. He still has his wings but he said he would keep from using them so he wouldn't knock anybody over." She looked up into Artex blank face, "He was just trying to protect us, please let him stay."

Artex could feel his right eye twitching as the mental image came together in his imagination, "He's... a... miniature... flying... ULTRALISK!?"

Alana cocked her head, "You have something similar back on your home?"

Artex shook his head, "Nothing real. It's an imaginary creature from a game called Star Craft. This can't be right." He looked around, "Alex!" he yelled, seeing their server bringing out drinks, "I need a piece of paper and a pencil please."

Alex distributed the drinks, "Alright, give me a second." He ran back to the bar and knelt down then returned with a small sheaf of paper and a carpenter's pencil.

Artex did his best to sketch an Ultralisk, knowing his artistic skill were not the best, and held up the finished drawing, "Anything like this?"

Alana examined the picture and frowned, "Not quite, but you have the right idea. The edged arms are correct, but the legs are off and he doesn't have anywhere nearly that many spikes... oh and he has a long, thick tail with a bulb on the end to help him balance. The legs you have look too thin, his are thicker, but the bases of the feet aren't far off. He has three toes at the base of each leg, two in the front and one in the back. The head is off too. The entire head of this thing is monstrous, his head still looks like a Changeling, but the horn has no holes and is much thicker, oh and it juts forward for charging, like a battering ram."

Artex made the appropriate changes to his sketch and showed it to Alana again. The Changeling nodded, "That's closer." She looked up at Artex, "Do you think you can help him?"

Artex slid the paper back to him and peered down at it, "Honestly... I don't know. Humans were happy enough to have regular Changelings here but this guy?" He rubbed his right hand over his mouth, "I don't know."

Razor tapped Artex left arm with her right forehoof, "May we see?"

Artex slid the paper over to her. Razor reared her head back as she got a look at the sketch, "Woah! He's a big one!" she slid the paper to Oriana and addressed Alana, "You say he wants to live here?"

Alana nodded sourly, "He deserves to live here! He sacrificed his body permanently because he was trying to protect us!" The disguised Changeling looked to he close to tears, "It isn't fair! He was only trying to help us!"

Oriana passed the paper to Maria and from there it made its way around the whole table until it came back to Artex, "Is there any way we could reduce the size of his spikes without hurting him? It would make him look less terrifying. I'd never ask for him to lose his horn or arms, that would be too much, but anything we could do to make him appear friendlier would help."

Alana huffed, "That body template wasn't meant to look friendly, but I can ask him. If it'll help him fit in, I'm sure he'll try. How about we go out to meet him tomorrow? You can get a good look at him and talk to him directly."

Artex nodded, "Sounds fine to me. It'll take a couple of days before word spreads around about the interviews. We've already set up for fliers to be made out and distributed at every door. Until then we're free." He turned to his girlfriends, "What do you think ladies?"

Oriana shifted her forehooves on the tabletop nervously, "I... I don't know." She looked up to Alana and quickly said, "It's nothing against you, but he just looks so... scary." She took a breath and let it out, "I'll go if Razor goes."

Razor smirked, "Of course I'll go. This is part of our responsibility to New Humansville if he's going to be living here with Humans." She also turned her attention to Alana, "Look, despite what you may think, I don't have anything against you specifically Alana. I'm not entirely comfortable around Changelings as a whole, but I wasn't comfortable around Diamond Dogs when I went to learn their language, and I wasn't comfortable around Humans when I tracked them in the forest. Just because I'm not comfortable does not mean that I'll let it get to me too much and it certainly doesn't mean I'll let it affect my judgement. I can put my comfort away in the face of the greater good. I did it with the Diamond Dogs, I did it with the Humans, and I'll do it with Changelings too."

Alana cracked a small smile, "Most Ponies wouldn't be able to do all of that."

Razor winked at Alana and took a swig of her beer, "I know, I'm just that good."

"You know what else?" Artex asked, "We should bring someone of the C.W.G. with us so they can get to know..." he trailed off, "What's his name anyway?"

Alana perked up, "His name is Rifin. Now because of the change to his body, he's going to be on edge and he will become aggressive if he feels that other Changelings are being threatened. The changes in his body affect his mind too. He's supposed to be aggressive because his body is made for battle. If a Changeling takes on the same transformation he did, they are expected to die fighting within a few hours, two or three days at most. Traditionally, if one survived a battle it was considered too costly to keep alive and so the Queen would cull any of them that were left. That transformation is considered a death sentence. The ultimate sacrifice for the greater good. All Changelings can make the transformation with enough energy, but it takes quite a bit. Rifin was on the outskirts of Canterlot when the love shield hit so he didn't rupture from too much of it. He said it was what gave him the energy to make the change."

The table was quiet after the revelation. Maria and Juan were listening quietly so Bobby spoke up, "Did you understand all of that?"

The two both nodded and Artex spoke up next, "How are you liking Equestria?"

Juan was the first to answer, "It is... a... nice place. The... bruja... the magic is... hard to... get... used to. We... are Catholic... so... it is... difficult... adjusting."

Artex nodded, "That makes sense. You have to understand though, magic has nothing to do with spirits or demons. It is a natural force here, a science."

Maria nodded in understanding, "We... know. It is... still... a difficult... change."

"Are you being treated well?" Artex continued.

Juan and Maria both nodded, "Yes. The Kavim are... good... neighbors. Very... friendly. The... other... Humans are... nice... too. Is it... true... that... we will be... granted... citizenship?"

Artex nodded in confirmation, "That's right. You will also be given homes and some money to help you get going in your new life. What did you do before you came here?"

Maria answered first, "I was a... teacher... for... small... foals?"

"Children?" Artex offered.

Maria nodded and Juan answered, "I... was... a... clerk... with... bits."

Razor perked up, "An accountant?"

Juan's eyes brightened, "Yes... accountant. Good... with... numbers."

Artex smiled at them, "There is a need for both jobs here. Neither of you will have trouble finding work." He laced his fingers together on the table, "Speaking of work, I'm moving to New Humansville as soon as I can."

Razor Wit and Oriana startled and stared at their boyfriend, Razor spoke first, "What... ?"

Before she could say more Artex held up his hands, "I need to be here, I HAVE to be here. I've been failing my people. I should have been here the whole time. What better place to understand the struggles of Humans and present their best interest than the one place where they live? I can't stay away. I'm sorry if this is a deal-breaker or anything, but my species comes first. More than a thousand lives depend on me now and I have to make them a priority. I'm not letting New Humansville slip through the cracks again if something like the adoption comes up and this town is overlooked." He placed his finger tips on the table and thumped them against the wood for emphasis, "I'll go back to Ponyville to gather my things, but this is where I belong, right here, not several hundred Leagues from here. This is my decision and I hope you both will join me, but I'm staying here either way."

Oriana shrugged, "I was charged to stay with you for guidance. I go where you go."

Razor Wit's ears wilted and her posture slumped, "I was hoping to live closer to my family... I'm SUPPOSED to live close to my family, it's what's expected of me..." she trailed off slumping her chin onto the table. Oriana opened her mouth to say something but Razor cut her off, "No. Don't influence my decision, I need to make it on my own." Oriana shut her mouth and shot Razor a sad smile. Razor Wit returned the smile with equal melancholy. Every person at the table stayed silent out of respect for her.

Several minutes later she seemed to reach a decision. She raised her head and looked Artex in the eye, "You're partially right Artex, but you are not the only one who has been failing the residents of New Humansville. I am supposed to represent the best interest of the Ponies where they interact with Humans and nowhere else in Equestria does that occur more frequently than right here in New Humansville. It doesn't matter where anypony expects me to live either. Our herd is going to be unique and what better way to demonstrate that than by going against the usual tradition? You're right, this is where we all need to be. If my family has a problem with that then they'll just have to, as you say, 'deal with it'. I've been making a lot of the decisions and that isn't fair. Living here is the least I can do to start to make up for it. I'll come with you and support you, even if it isn't what I initially wanted. It's the right thing to do and we all have a responsibility to the residents of New Humansville."

Artex smiled at her and reached over and scratched her behind her ears affectionately, "I appreciate that Razor." He then turned to the rest of the table and clapped his hands together, "Enough of this gloomy atmosphere!" He picked up his drink, "A toast to renewing friendships." Six glasses clinked with his, "Alright," he said in a Scottish accent, "Let's all get pissed!"

The conversation lasted well into the night with everybody chatting about life and becoming friends. Even Alana seemed to warm up to Oriana and Razor after a while.

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