“What? No! Last time I just told her to get help... again...” Nohbodi meekly answered.
“Minotaurshit! You knew! Somehow you knew I was going to see her to help, and you bucking poisoned her before I got here! We were going to get her help!” Tears emerged during the verbal tirade, and continued their fall as she did. “Wasn't bringing that alcohol stuff here enough? You had to make sure it killed her, didn't you? Didn't you!”
“I-It wasn't me! Listen, one changeling went nuts earlier. She must've done this before going after us.”
“I don't care what you say!” Her voice was breaking heavily, but she continued her admonitions. “It doesn't matter if it was you or you sent a changeling to do it. To Tartarus will all of you!” Within this time-frame, a police-pony had arrived, due to the commotion she had caused.
“What's the meaning of this disturbance?” She announced over the weeping of Berry Pinch.
I stepped forward to answer, “Officer, this is a grave mistake. Allow me to explain the particulars of this incident, as we know.” I had acquired his attention, though likely not his trust. “Earlier this... well, one week and three days ago, to be precise, Intricate Compass was requested to scout the former homeland of the changelings. Upon her return, she declared that the Hive was physically present within the world again. Nohbodi and I followed her after her departure, where she attacked us. This extremely unusual behavior suggests that she was responsible for this unfortunate incident, if all is as it appears.”
A pair of medic ponies were carrying the body of Berry Punch out of the front door during this discourse. Said body was already in a body-bag, with only her head being visible. Barely visible under the fur was a pale, sickly skin tone. The officer spoke, “I need you to come with me for questioning. We'll get this all sorted out, and justice will have it's due.”
“Can you give us some time? We have important things to finish. More important than that just sounded.” Nohbodi pleaded.
The officer thought on the matter. “This is a national case. You do understand what that means?”
“Yes. I'll turn myself in as soon as we're done. Just make sure you have all the facts too. Intricate's body is in the Everfree.”
“Body?”
“Yeah. We'll have all the answers then, and probably more than now.”
Somewhat resigned, she consented. “This is highly unusual. But, you are known throughout Equestria, and couldn't hide. Know that I will take you on your word. Make it quick and see me at the precinct. You have one hour.”
“Thanks officer. Come on Aranea, we've got a lot to do, and less time to do it in now.” he leaned in to the ear of the police-pony and whispered something. The officer answered a number. Nohbodi retrieved some bits from a bag and handed them over. They nodded at each other, and he turned around. “Right. Back home for more bits, to Rarity's for the clothes, and we finish what we started.”
We were at our home shortly, where he collected another bag of bits. “What has occurred to the second bag you carried?”
“Zecora's got it. Not enough time to go all the way back there now.”
I followed as we traveled to the Carousel Boutique. “Why does Zecora have posession of a bag of our bits?”
“Payment. We were there over a week. I'll get the change later. Doubt she charged all of it, or most of it really.”
The door-bell rang as we broke the seal of the entrance. “Welcome to Carousel Bo-Oh! I've been waiting positively ages! What took you both so long?”
Nohbodi opened the bag and inserted a hand. “Long story, don't have time for it now. How much?” Rarity gave him the requisite number, and he handed over the bits. She retrieved the clothing from a back room as I resumed my human avatar. Upon Nohbodi changing and I donning the clothing, we thanked her and began to leave the building.
“So, what caused such a delay?”
“You'll find out.”
“But when darlings?”
“Court.” Rarity stared in shock at the idea as we departed.
“So the rumors were true...” faded out of our range of hearing.
I turned to Nohbodi. “Admirable to conclude our unfinished business, but how will this aid our questioning?”
“It won't. We're going to see the hive.”
“But we have forty-five minutes. We cannot possibly reach the hive in that time-frame, let alone acquire answers and return.”
“I know. Train station probably knows not to sell us a ticket by now. Looks like we're hoofing it.” He is extremely rare in using pony terms. I wondered if there was a relative term on Earth, all those years ago.
“We will run afoul of our time limit.”
“That's my problem. Let's go.” He led me by the hand as we headed west, towards the Undiscovered West.