//------------------------------// // A New Search // Story: Home Sweet Hive // by Mad Hatter //------------------------------// We arrived the short distance to the tree-castle that Twilight Sparkle resides in. Knocking on the door, we were bid entry by the dragonling Spike. He had grown perhaps most of all over these ten years. If mentally he was still relatively child-like, yet physically he was a match for Celestia in height. He had begun to slouch. In time, he would tread on all four limbs, as grown dragons do. “What can I do for you?” His time in Canterlot and tutoring by Twilight Sparkle had instilled a sense of decorum. He retained the habit of speaking with respect, though his age occasionally shows when conversing with younger beings, or when flustered. “We are here to inquire of princess Twilight Sparkle.” “Sorry, she left a little while ago for Canterlot. Said the princesses needed her right away.” “Unusual, though not unprecedented. Do you know how long she will be retained?” “Nope. The message said it'd be a while. She asked me to take her messages and left right after. Still weird though.” “How is it 'weird'?” “I didn't get the letter. Or I should say, she didn't get the letter through me. They still use the fire for the really important stuff.” “Such an occurrence is quite curious. Who delivered the missive?” “You don't know? It was... ah... Intricate Compass I think. She looked a little different this time. Bigger.” “You are correct. Intricate Compass has been empowered, due to her diplomatic forays. She is now physically larger, though the difference is relatively slight. Her delivering this letter in question, however... This is something I was unaware of.” Spike had by this time learned all that Twilight Sparkle knew. That I left the changelings free will to live as they please, inclusive of not informing me of actions, was of no surprise. That it would involve the princesses and remain hidden is an anomaly. While she is free to make such a decision, I will pose an inquest as to her reasoning. “Do you know of the current location of Intricate Compass? I would ask her of her reasoning of keeping such an occurrence hidden from me.” “Uh, let's see here... She was here about a half hour ago. After dropping off the letter she left, but I don't know where. She headed south into the rest of Ponyville. That's all I know.” He exuded nervousness at his inability to answer in detail. “Do not trouble yourself over this situation Spike. You are not accountable for her actions, nor for the lack of information left in the wake of it.” His emotions and appearance relaxed to a significant degree. “Thanks. Still sorry I can't tell you anything else about it.” “It is quite acceptable, given the circumstances.” I turned to Nohbodi. “We should move quickly, if we are to find Intricate Compass before the preparations for our journey are complete.” Nohbodi took my hand. “Right. See you later Spike. We might have another book's worth of info for Twilight when we all get back.” We left the tree-castle and headed towards the primary cluster of housing within Ponyville. Inquests were made at several establishments. Those who recalled the passing of Intricate Compass informed us that she remained moving in a south-east direction through the remainder of Ponyville. Davenport, the owner of Quills and Stationary noticed the passing of Intricate Compass. He had ceased vending sofas several years prior, due to the cost of storage and effective profit margin after said storage. His shop was now largely supported by Twilight Sparkle, with former sofa space dedicated to training scribes and the books they produced. “Yes ma'am. She flew off that way-” Indicating the south-west with a hoof “Without saying a word. Anything else I can help with?” We declined his offer, though we thanked him for his time, and gave a rather noncommittal inclination to make a purchase on our return from the wastelands. After a distance of several blocks, we asked the same of Berry Punch. She was a vendor of her name-sake, as well as alcoholic variants shortly after Nohbodi had introduced the intentional creation of the substance to Equestria. Shortly thereafter, she developed a taste for that instance of her own product. Currently she is fighting a significant amount of debt due to imbibing more of her own stock than profit and living expenses would allow. Nohbodi grew fond of her, and the pair became 'drinking buddies' on occasion. He has since ceased this activity with her. “H- * hic * hey... You guys... W- * hic * what's up?” She was visibly swaying, having trouble keeping to her hooves. “We seek information regarding the location, or traveling direction, of Intricate Compass.” “Oh- * hic * oh yeah... Sh'went thaddaway.” She waved a hoof in pseudo-elliptical motions, again in the general direction of south-east. “C'n I get some bits? I- * hic * I'm in trouble. Please, I'll do anythin'! I'll suck your d- * hic *, I'll let you rut me...” She paused to vomit on the ground, and struggled to retain her vertical position. Nohbodi was considerably worried about her condition. He put an arm over her shoulder. “Listen, Berry. You gotta do something about the drinking. That's not what it's for, all the time like that. Get help, okay?” Berry Punch began to cry in his embrace. “I- * hic * I know...” “I'll help with costs if you quit doing this to yourself. If nothing else, do it for Berry Pinch, okay?” Berry Pinch was her daughter. She currently resides with her unicorn father. They were separated approximately four years ago, due to Berry Punch indulging in such self-destructive behavior. Few ponies overindulged, though those that did could take it to an extreme degree. “I'll catch up to you soon.” Nohbodi informed me, needing some minor amount of time to calm the earth pony down. I nodded and resumed my search. I traveled farther to Rose and Daisy. Lily had started the first franchise of their flower-shop in Canterlot recently, and currently resided there. I had previously heard that Daisy would commit to a similar venture in Baltimare shortly within next year. “Welcome!” they exclaimed in tandem. “Greetings. I seek information on the location or direction of Intricate Compass.” “Oh, yes. The mapmaker, right?” Replied Daisy. “She looked bigger this time. It was hard to really tell though, she was going pretty fast.” noted Rose. “Indeed.” I explained the empowerment being the cause of her size discrepancy, and reiterated my query. “Yes, she went that way.” directing in the now common direction. “Right, off to the southeast.” I thanked them, and made another generic indication of future patronage. As I was near leaving Ponyville city limits, Nohbodi returned. “Poor gal. She's messed up nowadays. Wish I could really help, but she's got to do a lot of it herself.” Nohbodi made certain to affix warning labels to his creation from the beginning of production, but he still felt a small amount of guilt over those who would abuse it. We still had an amount of time before the order was completed, and even if we did not a minor delay would be acceptable. We reached the edge of the Everfree forest. We considered that we would arrive at the forest hut of Zecora before finding Intricate Compass. We were mistaken in that assumption. Intricate Compass announced her presence from the skies. She shouted her intention while in a diving motion, moving in for an apparent attack. “Death to the false queen!”