Changeling Investigations

I'll bet she has a plot. "Well, good. Since I'm sure that's what I meant, we should get going immediately. You four," He designates the non flying members of the team, "Work your way there as fast as possible, and keep an eye out for the Pegasus if you pass him. We'll go high, keep track with you, and check the surrounding area, then meet up with you outside of Carrot Top's house. Let's go Ruby." Flashpoint launches skyward and picks out the apple orchard. "It's that way!" he calls down to the others, and wait son them to mobilize.

Ruby watched the fillies as they went, not paying attention at all to Twilight. She was "the little sister", but Ruby was past that now. Shining was no longer in her grasp anyways, the purple dusky unicorn didn't interest her, and she never was too eloquent. The guard was more than a bit worried about the fillies still, though. With that attack, and the accusation, and the irreverent almost nonchalant way ponies approached being attacked in broad daylight in this town (they didn't run, didn't hide, didn't help, they stood like obstacles!) if they were attacked, there was a good chance Scooter and her friends could be badly injured or worse with nopony willing to help her.

"May Celestia protect them..." She startles as Flash says her name. "Oh, yes sir!"

She turns to Twilight, surprised at how well the recluse was handling so much attention, and remembering back in Canterlot how much people tried to get her to be even this much, but slowly just give up on her. "Next time Moondancer sends out the party invites, I'll make sure she tosses one your way again. She was disheartened you never accepted them."

"Coming!" Ruby preempts the repetition of the order and flies up to meet with Flashbang.

"Oh, um... Moondancer. Right." Twilight shuffles nervously. "That... thanks? I, uh, gotta go!" She teleports away.

"Welp I'll need to find her later then. let's get going to Carbon's...the vegetable plot."
Ragdoll does a pose and runs off in the direction of sweet apple acres.

Chain Link sighs at his co-worker's actions and just heads out to help deal with the next major issue in town to deal with.

Handle follows wordlessly behind her comrades.

"Um... b-bye..." sheepishly said Ember, following her comrades.

One commercial break later, you all have a vague craving for PATENTED EDIBLE BOOTS and have arrived at a carrot-themed three-story cottage in the middle of some carrot plots. A changeling is being lectured by that same mailmare you met previously, who seems more disappointed than angry, while a unicorn filly is untying a yellow earth pony mare.

"Alright, this looks to be just about under control, now we just have to..." Flashpoint cocks his head at the Changeling, then turns to look at the rest of the group. "...ah, shit. Did anyone catch what it was we were supposed to do if we actually found a Changeling? I'm pretty certain we aren't supposed to kill it..."

"Hello? Um... What's going on here?" Chain Link asked the group.

"Momma's lecturing the changeling that tried to replace Noi on why she should be ashamed of herself and I'm helping miss Carrot Top outta these ropes," explains the unicorn foal. "I seem to be having trouble untying these knots though... they're pretty tight. What's shit?"

The mailmare pauses, leaning out to give her daughter a look. "It's a very bad word that makes ponies lose harmony points."

YOU LOSE FIVE HARMONY POINTS

"Okay momma! I won't say it again!"

Parenting done, the pegasus goes back to lecturing the shame-faced changeling. "...and tying up the pony supposed to be your older sister was not only stupid but also potentially hurtful!"

((OOC: Dick move if we've REALLY just lost harmony points... And really that's just plain weird to have characters talk about such things in character without any exploation.))

"Umm... Ok..." Chain Link said and tries to help untie the pony with his wand magic skills.

Using his Wand Magic (It's Witchcraft):

You recognize the knot is completely nonmagical. However, your spell does loosen it a bit; not enough for Carrot top to escape, but enough that she can start helping get herself out.

YOU RECEIVE FIVE HARMONY POINTS FOR HELPING.

"... Yeah, so... I guess we'll... take it from here. That is, we'll take the Changeling into custody, get it out of your manes." Flashpoint rubs the back of his head. He really had no idea how to proceed from here. "We need to go make a report back to Miss Rarity, see what she says."

"...so next time TRY to think before you do this! Now: What do we say to miss Carrot Top?" The pegasus glowers at the changeling.

"....zzzry..."

"Sorry for...?"

"....zzzry phr tyn u hp..."

"And...?"

"....nd phr ptn'n t bh u zztr..."

Carrot Top, as the earth pony is apparently called, stretched her limbs a bit and finally breaks free of the ropes. "Right. Please don't do that again. So... where is Noi?"

The changeling looks around guiltily.

Ragdoll tilts his head to the side.
"Who?"

"I-I'm pretty sure... Noi is the pony the Changeling tried to replace...

"If you tell us now... We'll be sure to not go too hard on you later..." Chain Link states.

"Dn't nw," the changeling protests. "Kkn gn!"

"WHAT?" Carrot Top is now completely free, and gallops to the changeling in a rage. "WHAT DO YOU--?! WHERE IS MY SISTER YOU INSECT?!" She begins to wail away at the changling.

"DN'T NW! DN'T NW! ZZZLN!"

Chain Link tries to tell if the Changeling is telling the truth.

Perception check:

"Ok, easy, hold up a second." Flashpoint tries to insert himself between the two. "Miss Carrot Top, please calm down. We're here to assist, and we will help you find your sister." Then, turning to the Changeling "Listen, bug, it's not my job to see you get hurt, so I'll try to not let that happen. But if you know something, you had better tell us, or I can't guarantee I'll be too successful. Where is the filly? "

---

Persuasion roll, I guess. Not too, invested in it, but whatever: 16+7= 23

Ragdoll pokes up over Flashpoint's shoulder.
"If you tell us what you know I'll tell you a funny story."
Roll (Persuasion assist: Providing motivation for the changeling to tell the truth.)

Roll:

As fa as you can tell, the changeling is telling the truth. "Nw nthn! Kkn z gn! T'kn lz mn!"

"Taken? By what?" asks the gray pegasus.

"Dn't nw!"

"How about this... You just lead us to where you've last seen the foal, if you help us, we'll do what we can to help keep you mostly alright?" Chain Link offers.

"N! N g!" The changeling curls up in terror. "Kkn gn, tkn, cn't fnd!"

The mailmare sighs. "I think... I think maybe you all should just take him to the train station for processing."