||Atlanis, Merponies & the Royal Merfolk: quick info dump
First the meta stuff like I did with the flutterpones. The reason I’m calling these Merponies and not seaponies is to avoid confusion with the hippogriffs in the series who can transform into seaponies. To me that’s kind of confusing anyway since hippogriffs aren’t even half pony to begin with. They’re half HORSE. But anyway. I’m rambling. These merponies are different in lineage and I’ll explain how and why they are united under a different rulership just like most ponies are loyal to certain crowns in Equestria.
First it’s important to understand that, like Flutterponies, Merponies are Fae. And fae are iffy about communicating with those they consider mortal. The ponies we’re most used to seeing would fall into that “mortal” category. But whereas the Flutterponies might fall into the category of unseelie-type fae, the merfolk are more of the seelie type and open to negotiating and prefer peace and alliance.
In this case their isolation has to do with a bad history of being confused for predators and pony-eaters like common sirens. Because of their similar appearance to the common siren (not to be confused with the godlike Dazzlings), they are often harpooned and killed by sailors. So going to the surface has been shunned for a long time.
Queen Yoka is a busy mermare, and has hardly had time to work out negotiations with Equestria, especially with the conflicts she has caught wind of on land. While things are more peaceful in the sea, she would prefer not to get involved.
But all is not perfect for Atlanis. The main kingdom is suffering much death and famine. Like real-world seahorses, the merfolk reproduce in large clutches of eggs (which the male carries around in a pouch until they hatch!) and this leads to many foal per laying. But there is hardly enough food to go around. To aggravate the problem, when one foal gets sick it has a tendency to spread fast to brothers and sisters and playmates. Even the royal family suffers the loss of many foal through sickness. Eventually Yoka will accept the help of Equestria if it lends its hoof to their aquatic potential allies. Her Prince-Consort (Seaton) is often the negotiator in foreign affairs and would probably be the one to handle this situation though.
Much like the hippogriffs hiding underwater, Atlantic merfolk possess some magic abilities to allow surface-dwellers the ability to join them beneath the water. One spell is the “bubble.” The helmet that allows the pony to breath in air temporarily. But the better method is taking the pony to one of the palace’s dry chambers. Contrary to myth, merfolk can survive without water for a time and even conjure up back legs when they want to walk on land. This shape-shifting ability has allowed them to explore the upper-world in ancient times but it has fallen out of favor after so many killings by sailors who thought they were sirens.
Appearance-wise, they differ from the Hippogriff’s aquatic form. They have manes instead of fins on their heads. All of them have decorative tails like that seen on mermaids in art. Most are quite beautiful like that of beta fish. Some have side “wing” fins that are quite eye-catching. Those with the ability to gain back legs in dry spaces can be likened to dolphins in feel. Smooth to the touch and with their color palettes on their skin instead of their fur. In true fairy logic, it’s a mystery how they breath underwater and on land. Though their gills might disappear on land and be replaced by functioning lungs. They have small sharp teeth mostly for fish-hunting. Their eyes are quite alien-like to most ponies and probably attributed to their reputation as “creepy” creatures and their being confused with pony-eaters. Some know the art of disguising their eyes to look more pony-like but most do not and are stuck with this shark-eyed look.
Art of Seaton and maybe some foals will be coming soon!