"Okay, remember: fedora over the baseball cap, trench coat over the changeling outfit, and sunglasses over all of it."
"This sounds ridiculous, Twilight. Why not just wear the sunglasses and ditch the detective look?"
"We have to blend in. The more camouflage, the better."
The two of them walk out of their stalls, looking into the mirror. Then, they look at each other. Dime holds up a pretty puzzled look. "So, what are we supposed to be?"
"Changelings that are dressed as detectives."
Dime awes at herself in the mirror, and she grins. "Sweet!" She bounces around the restroom. "Hoof! I want to be Hoof!"
"What?" Twilight turns, her head bobbing up and down to Dime's motion. Dime stops in front of her, tilting her head.
"Well, if we're going to be changeling detectives, we at least need new names, right?"
"Now that you mention it," Twilight rests a hoof on her chin, "Snicks. I'll be Snicks."
"Snicks? Sounds weird."
"Exactly. It will throw the other ponies off."
"Okay! Snicks and Hoof. Are we ready?"
"One second-" Twilight tosses Dime a pouch. "Okay, now we're ready."
Detective Snicks and Hoof make their way out of the restroom, only to see that more and more ponies are gathering around the game, crowding about and struggling to see who gets the next turn. A mare shoves a stallion out of the way, pressing them into the other tense bystanders. "Move it, bud! I have to see the queen."
"No way. I was here first!" The stallion shoves back.
"Yeah, like you would ever score higher than me!"
"Says you!"
The crowd, anger gathering, takes their words to the next level as the lot of them are lost in a sea of triggered minds. Behind them, Twilight and Dime are at the machine, wondering at the gameplay, studying it to see what makes it so good. The graphics don't seem too interesting from a closer view, but Dime is already tapping at the button and testing it hoofs-on. "Wee!" She excites, even though she's missing a lot. GAME OVER.
The cloud of smoke clears up, and a stallion points. "Hey, that-- uh-" he doesn't know how to describe it- "that changeling foal dressed like a detective made me lose!"
"Yeah, what are we even fighting for? Let's get 'em!"
Seeing the chaotically organized, enraged mob, Twilight places Dime onto her back, taking a quick check: restroom is a dead end, and the exit is blocked off- she decides to make a run for the manager's room. Even though it's locked, Twilight blasts it open in the midst of her galloping, she hops on in and creates another door that has three locks on it. Twilight and Dime hear bangs on the new structure, up until the mob quits trying.
"Whatever... let's get back to the game."
"Yeah, they ain't worth our time."
Twilight lets out a sigh. But as soon as she looks up, Dime lists out the details. "bug antennae... sharp wings... long horn..." she gets behind the alicorn, her body shivering from the darkened silhouette of the villain alone.
"Hello, detectives," a firm, dramatic voice begins.
"C-- ch-chr- chrys-" Dime can't even pronounce her name.
"The door was unlocked the whole time- well- until you locked it." A panther's chuckle reverberates throughout the room. Twilight looks around; concept art is on the walls of the vicinity, as well as several schematics. "Have a seat."
The room is dark, and just a few trots down, Twilight and Dime sit in front of the unidentified figure before them. They lean forward, and to no doubt- it's... Chrysalis? She has shorter hair now, a friendly posture, and her hooves are pressed together on one end of the desk. She is even wearing a name tag with her evil name on it. Dime is now too curious to shriek anymore- instead, she lets her questions do the talking, standing up on her chair and pressing her forehooves onto the desk. "No way! Chrysalis? You-- you look so much--" Twilight quiets her down by covering her muzzle.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm detective Snicks, and this is detective Hoof. Do excuse her- it's her first time. Uh... we really like your arcade!" Though that sounds more of like a question. Rather than respond, Chrysalis bursts out laughing. She then kicks back, claps, and the whole room lights up, revealing trophies, bookshelves, and a simple window. She opens up her desk, peels a wrapper, and takes a bite out of a chocolate bar.
"I know it's you, Twilight."
"Oh, do you? I mean, we're from down the road, across the street... detective party, you know, so we thought we'd mess around a little..." Though, seeing that Dime has already jumped into Chrysalis's arms, and they are seriously cuddling in front of her, she has the most confused look on her face ever possible. "Okay... what's going on here?" Twilight removes her fedora, sunglasses, and her changeling cap, her mane falling prey to some fresh air.
"I sent Dime to find you." Chrysalis smiles as she pokes at Dime's muzzle with a playful hoof.
At that point, Twilight could just walk out of there and be done with life. But something tells her to heed her words. "Why? I-I don't understand. Aren't you supposed to be plotting some evil plan that will take over Equestria?"
"We'll get to that... but for now, sit back and relax, 'Detective Snicks'," Chrysalis mocks. "I'll tell you everything you need to know because I need your help."
Twilight checks around, making sure there's no visible traps anywhere, some kind of slime nest, or oozing substance; she checks under the chair. Nope, all clear. She eyes the villain, her skeptical firewall still unscathed. "Alright... let's hear it."