April 6, 2:30 PM
Canterlot Castle Exterior
Rarity and Malum found themselves several stories below Twilight's balcony.
"Remind me why we're out here?" Malum asked Rarity as they began looking through bushes.
"If it was a griffon that broke in, then we need to find evidence." Rarity explained, "And looking for feathers, or perhaps a grappling hook, is all we can do."
"Well. . .I could check nearby hotels to see if any griffons stayed recently." Malum suggested.
"Alright, I'll stay out here and look." Rarity replied.
With a final nod, Malum left for the nearest hotel.
Rarity kept looking until she found a coil of rope. The end was cut, as if something had been tied to it. Next to the rope was, a large brown feather. But these two pieces of evidence together baffled Rarity. Just what did it mean?
April 6, 2:45 PM
The Foreign Fortress Hotel
Main Lobby
Malum quietly looked around the lobby, but nothing stood out to him. Deciding that he had only one choice, Malum approached the front desk.
"Excuse me?" Malum asked the pony behind the desk.
"Yes? May I help you?" The pony asked enthusiastically.
"I was wondering if any griffons stayed here on the fourth?" Malum asked the pony.
"Hmm. . .I do promise confidentiality here. So, while I won't say any names, I know of two griffons that stayed here this week." The pony answered.
"Two?!" Malum gasped.
"Yes. Actually, I think they were a couple." The pony chuckled.
"Hmm. . . so that promise of confidentiality means you won't tell me which room they're in?" Malum asked.
"Yep." The pony remarked.
"Fine, guess I'll look around." Malum sighed, making his way towards the stairs. Hopefully this isn't a dead end.
April 6, 3:00
Canterlot Police Department.
Rarity found herself in front of Silver Wings, who was giving her a stare.
"Can I help you?" He asked after a few moments.
"Yes, I found this," Rarity said, presenting the feather she found on the crime scene, "I was wondering where I should go to determine if this came from a griffon?"
"Oh, well, forensics is that-a-way." Silver pointed in a random direction. "Anything else?"
"Is it possible to determine if a pony touched this rope?" Rarity asked, picking up the rope.
"Ah, I'll take those off of your hooves. Come see me in an hour for results." Silver told Rarity.
"Why, thank you kind sir." Rarity replied.
Rarity then headed off to the hotel. Perhaps she'll be met by Malum and a potential suspect.
April 6, 3:00 PM
The Foreign Fortress Hotel.
Malum sighed. Fifteen minutes in and he still hadn't found anything.
"Excuse me. . ." A grizzly sounding voice asked from behind Malum. "Can I help you?"
"Only if you know where to find a griffon." Malum said without looking.
"Try turning around." The voice calmly instructed.
Malum turned to face a rather old looking Griffon. A scar ran down one side of his beak.
"Ah, hello!" Malum said. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
"Not at all." The griffon replied.
"So, what's your name? I'm Malum." Malum asked.
"I'm Aldo Callisto. I'm a delegate from the griffon kingdom." Aldo told Malum.
"A delegate?" Malum asked.
"That's right. I was asked to join a top secret meeting by Prince Blueblood." Aldo said.
"Blueblood, I've heard that name before." Malum mentioned.
"Ah, I suppose you would. Blueblood is Celestia's nephew." Aldo explained, "I suppose that's why he's so angry all the time."
"Angry? Why would you say he's angry?" Malum asked, feeling like this was important.
"Oh. . uh. . " Aldo stammered, before Malum groaned in pain.
"What th-" Malum went to say before looking up at Aldo. Now, Malum could see a sort of fear in his eyes. He could tell that the griffon was nervous from the way he moved. Did, did I just cast a spell?
"Are you all right?" Aldo asked.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." Malum replied.
"Well, if you want to talk some more, go to room 302. I'll be there." Aldo told Malum before leaving.
Malum closed his eyes for a bit while he processed what happened.
"Malum!" He heard a familiar voice say.
"Rarity?" Malum asked while opening his eyes, "How did you find me?"
"Oh, well, I just started at the nearest hotel and worked from there. Turns out I didn't have to look for long." Rarity explained with a smile.
"Right, well, I found a suspect. But I need to sit for a bit. Could you go to room 302?" Malum asked Rarity.
"Is that where the suspect is?" Rarity asked.
"Y-yeah." Malum answered.
With that, Rarity went to room 302. Malum went over to a nearby chair as the same sentence repeated in is head.
April 6, 3:30 PM
The Foreign Fortress Hotel
Aldo's Room
Rarity looked around the room. It was rather empty. Of items as well as ponies. As she looked, she didn't notice the Griffon that entered the room behind her.
"Can I help you?" The griffon asked.
"Ah yes." Rarity said, "I wanted to ask you some questions. I am Rarity!"
"Please to meet ya, I'm Adelaide." The griffon said with a smile.
"So, miss Adelaide, why are you here?" Rarity asked.
"My husband Aldo was called to a meeting by somepony." Adelaide answered, the smile still on her beak.
"You don't know who?" Rarity wondered.
"I'm afraid not." Adelaide said.
"Do you know when the meeting was?" Rarity asked.
"As far as I know, Aldo only went to meet Blueblood once, just before sunrise on the fourth." Adelaide answered.
Just before sunrise? That's about when Blueblood 'arrived' on the crime scene!
"I thank you for your help." Rarity told the griffon.
"Speaking of which, why did you want to know all of this stuff?" Adelaide asked.
"Because I'm investigating a case, and I need to be sure that no griffons were involved." Rarity explained.
"I see. . . well, I hope my Aldo had nothing to do with it." Adelaide said before yawning. "Well, I'm going to hit the hay. It was nice chatting with you!"
Rarity smiled as the griffon closed the door. She then turned and made her way back to Malum.
As she entered the lobby, Rarity noticed a frantic looking mare asking Malum questions.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Positive." Malum answered.
"Thank you for your kindness!" The mare said before leaving.
"What was she on about?" Rarity asked Malum once the mare was out of an earshot.
"She said she lost her daughter sometime early in the morning of the fourth. . . I told her I'd help look after the case is over." Malum answered.
"Did you get her name?" Rarity asked.
"I did, she called herself 'Frizzy'. I'm thinking it's a nick name though." Malum replied.
"Well, I suppose we are done with our investigation for now. I think we should get some rest for tomorrows trial." Rarity said as Malum stood up.
"I hope we can survive tomorrow." Malum said.
"Me too," Rarity agreed. "me too."