I awoke to my common senses. I found myself in the Everfree forest, but in the hut of Zecora as opposed to the patch of forest where we found Intricate Compass. I have a vague recollection of Nohbodi keeping me alive during this time, and noticed the feeling of thewound from my assailant being largely healed. I faced the one that keeps my form in the current state of life. “I greatly appreciate the care you provide for me, but please, if the hive does not wish my existence, said existence should end.”
“Not happening while I'm here.”
I recognized the love I received, yet the knowledge I had was beyond the reckoning of facts. “Then depart, so that I may die.”
He displayed the equivalent to physical pain to the emotional response. He refocused himself, and answered with purpose. “No. You're coming with me. I love you, and you love me, and we're not leaving each other until we're done with our trip, at the very least.”
I was confused at the latter of that sentiment. “What trip Nohbodi?”
“The one we started for. We're gonna see this hive.”
While I realize that other beings do not – can not – revere the Hive as I do, the concept was daunting. “What would we do when confronted by It? It has already cursed my existence.” There is no being that can battle the hive. There is no being that can even confront it with violent intentions. What could he possibly intend?
“We're getting answers.”
Nohbodi showed wisdom in that, intentional or not. If I am truly to be cast from the Hive, if I am to be destroyed... then I will query the reasoning before, at the very least. I nodded my assent, though I am weak from my draining emotion. I had not considered that changelings taught to feel emotion would expend emotional energy to exhibit them. I had understood emotions and the feeling thereof for nearly ten years, but until this time, I had not expended so much in the expression of them.
We returned to Ponyville. Before reaching our domicile, Twilight Sparkle accosted us. “There you are! Spike told me you didn't have anything to do with Intricate Compass giving me the letter. I tried to find you as soon as I got back, but it's been days. Oh my Celestia, are you okay? Where did you get that nasty scar on your leg?”
“The answer to both is the same. We located Intricate Compass. She... I will say no more.”
“Oh my. Do you want to talk about it inside then? This sounds like a friendship problem.” Twilight Sparkle may be highly intelligent and magical, but her naivety never did fade entirely.
Nohbodi interjected, “It's taken care of.” Turning to me, “Do you want me to explain this to her?”
“Please. I do not wish to discuss it myself at this time. You understand, correct?”
“Yeah, I do. Come on.”
“But, I just stated that-” He put a finger to my lips.
“I'll whisper it to her or something. Still not leaving you.” I was unused to such obedience, yet I followed him all the same. Without the blessing of the Hive, I had no right to rule. Aside from that, he did realize that leaving me to my own devices would end poorly for both our relationship and my life. I wished that he could understand what importance the declaration of Intricate Compass meant to me. Yet... His ignorance in this matter is a blessing in its own right. While we are together, I would prefer such a damned existence at his side than oblivion, thought to what degree greater I cannot tell.
Nohbodi led me by the fore-hoof as we entered the tree-castle of Twilight Sparkle again. Upon entering her study, she turned around and began. “So what's all this about?”
“Don't get loud or overreact.” Nohbodi leaned in towards the ear of Twilight Sparkle. He was quiet enough that I could not understand the words he spoke. It was a comfort of sorts, although I knew what he was speaking of.
The eyes of Twilight Sparkle widened in shock and surprise. “Intricate's-” Nohbodi placed his other hand on her mouth with alacrity, and I presume with the least amount of force possible for the speed. Twilight Sparkle incoherently finished the word, muffled by the appendage.
“What did I just say?” He looked at her intently. Twilight Sparkle relented, and he slowly withdrew his hand. “And that's what happened. Now, back when we were here earlier, we were gonna ask if you wanted to come along. We're seeing this hive, and getting answers.”
“I would, but I don't know what ponies would say. I do have a reputation as a princess to maintain.”
“The hell does that mean?”
“You don't know? But you were just... Oh no...”
“What happened?”
“You were... Well, a pony saw something that looked like you that was with Berry Punch a little while before I got the letter.”
“Not good. Come on Aranea, we gotta stop this before it gets worse.”
We hurried from the tree-castle of Twilight Sparkle to the shop of Berry Punch. Berry Pinch was standing outside the front door, looking downcast. The sadness flowed from her. She raised her head at the sound of our arrival. Sadness was replaced with unbridled hatred. “You? What the buck did you come back for? Didn't you do enough already?” We stopped in our tracks in confusion.
“What do you imply has occurred to have this response?”
“What? What the buck did you just say? Like you didn't know!” She charged her horn and fired a blast of magical energy at Nohbodi. It had the expected effect of nothing. She continued the fusillade regardless, as Nohbodi steppedd in front of me and attempted to calm her.
“What's going on here? I didn't do anything!” This continued for nearly thirty blasts of magic before Berry Pinch ran out of her magical reserves.
She attempted again, only to produce mere short-range sparks from her horn. “What happened?” She looked at Nohbodi with hatred to strongly that merely receiving that level of emotion could very well be painful.
“You bucking killed her!”