The small hut was a decent distance into the woods, as Officer Constable had said, and the trees were so thick the neither Javanner nor Constable knew if the storm was still raging on above them or if water was simply still seeping through the canopy above them. Still, they pressed on until at last they were standing at the door.
Constable was exhausted, covered with mud and briars, and unable to tell if the sun had risen yet or not, beside her stood Inspector Javanner, who seemed more like a machine than a pony to her now. Though his uniform was also splattered with mud and rife with briars and burrs, he did not show even the slightest sense of weakening as he pounded on the wooden door.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence, to which the Inspector responded by pounding on the door again. At last a tired looking zebra opened the door. Rubbing her eyes and yawning the zebra looked over both of the ponies before her.
“This is indeed a most unusual sight. What brings you ponies here tonight? Please forgive my mood most sour, but perhaps you should call back at another hour.”
Javanner nodded and tipped his hat.
“I apologize for the interruption at this hour. I am Inspector Javanner of the Royal Equestrian Police Nationale. This is Officer Constable of the local Ponyville Police Department. We would like to ask you some questions, may we come in? Again, I am sorry, but this is a matter of national importance and time is of the essence. I'm afraid I must insist upon your aid...now.”
The zebra's eyes widened slightly as she looked back and forth between the two ponies and slowly opened the door.
“If this is how you want to go, then please tell me what you want to know. We got off onto the wrong hoof, I did not mean to be so aloof. Please come in while I make my coffee stout, then won't you please tell me what this is about?”
Inspector Javanner nodded.
“Thank you.”
The zebra, who identified herself as Zecora, rubbed her chin as she carefully thought about the simple question they had asked her.
“I do have the answer that you seek, for not many ponies visit me in a week. Those who do ask for medication, but not usually for sleep deprivation. First one who did my potions buy, was a dear sweet pegasus named Fluttershy.”
Inspector Javanner's eyes shot across to Officer Constable, who was writing the information down. Zecora paused for a moment to sip her coffee before continuing.
“Two more came before the week was done, but I did not know them, neither one.”
Javanner nodded.
“Did they come in together?”
Zecora took a longer sip on her coffee, but appeared to struggle with it for a moment before she answered.
“Forgive me, this coffee is too hot. But to answer your question, no they did not. The first one came and was gone quite soon, the last one came Tuesday at noon. While the first was in and gone, just like that, the second stayed and decided to chat.”
Javanner's face remained expressionless as the zebra recited her verses. His appetite for such language was already gone, but he decided it better to leave the cooperative witness alone.
“I see. Can you describe the two ponies?”
“First was a stallion with a coat of blue, his mane was green and his eyes were too. Second was a mare with hair of red, poison joke had gone to her head.”
“What do you mean?”
“Poison joke is a peculiar flower and contains within it a peculiar power. Your inner thoughts it can hear and then will alter what you hold dear. This poor mare thought highly of her mind, and thus found her head the size of a pumpkin's rind.”
“So she had been affected by the plant?”
“Indeed she had and curious was, about the plant and her curse's cause. A conversation began quite soon, about my friends Twilight and Applebloom.”
“You talked about Princess Twilight?”
“We did indeed to my delight, she also knew the Princess Twilight.”
Officer Constable swiftly scribbled the verses down and, signifying she was ready, asked the obvious question.
“What did you chat about?”
“As poison joke was on her mind, I told her of a similar time. When Twilight and her pony folk fell under the spell of poison joke.”
Javanner cleared his throat as he leaned in slightly.
“What effect did the poison joke have upon Her Highness?”
“Twilight did look so forlorn, the flower disabled her magical horn.”
Both Javanner's and Constable's eyes widened as they immediately turned toward each other.
“Sleep aid to render her unconscious...”
“Poison joke to render her helpless...”
Both ponies turned back to Zecora, who was now looking concerned.
“Tell us, what did this pony look like? What specifically did she buy from you?”
Zecora reached back behind her to grab hold of a few glass jars, passing them carefully to the Inspector and the Officer.
“As simple potion to help her sleep, a cure for poison joke, made from leek.”
Javanner's eyes began to glow, shifting colors rapidly as he quickly examined both of the jars, leaving Constable to continue taking notes. Once he was satisfied, his eyes returned to normal and he placed the jars into his saddle bag.
“How much for the medicines?”
“You are looking for a pony lost, please take them free of cost.”
“Lastly, can you describe the mare that purchased these in as much detail as you can?”
Zecora closed her eyes as she tried to recall a mental image of the pony from before.
“Her coat was yellow her robe was black, it covered up the cutie mark upon her back. Her head was swelled so I could see, she was a unicorn filled with vanity. The name she gave if it was true, was short and simple Berry Blue.”
Inspector Javanner closed his eyes as he thought about Zecora's words.
“As you suspect, it is unlikely that she gave her real name. I suspect that is a pseudonym, no doubt somepony she does not care for, but we shall record it regardless.”
Officer Constable nodded as she finished scribbling in her notebook.
“Thank you very much for your assistance, Miss Zecora.”
“It is only what a good citizen would do. I wish good luck to both of you.”
Inspector Javanner gave a curt nod as he rose and approached the door.
“Thank you for your assistance. Please, do not hesitate to call upon us if you should catch sight of “Berry Blue” again. We will have questions for her as well.”