“Are you sure it was Pinkie Pie who took the book?”, Twilight and the others asked me.
I just look up to think of the pink ponies expression.
“Hm... she is supposed to be the element of laughter, but she was sad when she was leaving the group. She could have just been upset over the argument, but that doesn't explain why she is the only one with a guilty expression.”
I look down at the five wondering ponies. It wasn't hard to tell them she was the only one suspect, but the hard part would be why she did it.
“Lets head over to her house. Maybe she can answer our questions.”
The group nod and we begin to head for the front door.
“Um.. Assistant? Why are you going out in the open with us?”, Twilight asked
“Yeah, aren’t you worried other ponies might see you?”, Rainbow added.
I look over to them as the other three make their way out the door.
“I am sure they will stare, but I want to test something.”
They look at each other, then back to me. They could only nod at what they think might happen.
As me and the others head out, we see a couple groups of ponies on our way to Pinkie's. They were just talking or walking around trying to get stuff done, when some started to notice me and the group headed to our destination. The groups all got quiet as they see me towering over the five in front leading the way. I could see that the close friends were getting nervous. I maintained my composure and not bating an eye to the curious ponies. I think that any sudden movements from me could scare them away. Some whispering started, but never full talking. Rainbow looked back at me nervously and whispered to me.
“I don't like the staring.”
I just looked up to her smiling. She didn't seem to like walking much and was flying with us there.
“Don't worry about them. They are just curious about me. If you want you can go and tell them about me so they stop.”
She considered that permission to go and start talking to others and telling them about me. She flew off toward the biggest group in the area and started to talk. I couldn't hear since she was whispering, but from the ponies new expressions I could see it was the gist of who I was and where I came from. The word quickly spread as most of the ponies stopped staring and began to pick up in business. They seemed so busy these ponies. Always walking around and shopping and talking. It was almost like a miniature New York.
We arrived at the front of Pinkie's apparent house. It looked more like a bakery than a house. We walk in with me coming in last ducking under to get in through the door, to see what was inside. There was cake almost everywhere and sweets on a list over the counter. This defiantly was a bakery. A pony came out of the kitchen to greet her costumers.
“Welcome to Sugar-Cube Corner, How may I he...”
She froze when she saw me. Her eyes became terrified at the sight of the six foot creature that is standing in her bakery. She looks down to see the five ponies standing there with me. Her fear slowly vanished at the sight of the friends. I am the first to speak.
“Is the one named Pinkie here today?”
She looked up still nervous about me being there.
“S-sh-she is upstairs in her r-room.”, She said getting even more nervous.
I realized I was not being polite and quickly corrected that.
“I am so sorry. I didn't give my tittle. I am The Assistant.”
I give her a polite gesture to greet myself and hold my hand out toward her in a delicate manor.
“And you?”
She got less frightened by the sudden politeness and began to have a little smile to show so.
“Sorry. Just never seen somepony like you around here. My name is Cup Cake, but most call me Mrs. Cake.”
I smile to assure her I understand she got nervous.
“So should we go up to see Pinkie?”, Twilight asked me.
I look down to see her ready to go and catch Pinkie with the book, but I raise my hand to signal no.
“No. I will do this on my own. I need to see why she would do it and if she did do it.”
I look around to see the faces of the five ponies. Mrs. Cake went back into the kitchen, most likely to get back to work. Each one of their faces was showing fear that their friend was being mean and stole Twilight's book. I look back up at the ceiling to think.
“I will go talk to her and see if she is responsible. You five stay here until I get back okay?”
The five look to each other one at a time and nod.
I head up the stairs to a hallway of rooms. As I ascend, I become invisible so I don't startle the pink pony on my way up. I see about five doors in the hallway. I see another flight of stairs to what look to be another room. In there, I hear frantic noises and talking.
“Oh no! How do I do this!? How do I fix this!?”
This must have been Pinkie. She seemed upset over something. I quickly put it together that she did something with the book, but didn't want Twilight to know about it. I went up the stairs to see the pink one running around her room looking for something. I look around the room to see it in total chaos. There were random things scattered all over the floor like confetti and streamers.
“She must be some sort of party planner.”
I look to see the book sitting on a desk across the room. It looked like it was covered in water and the ink was running. I could see why she wanted to fix it for Twilight. I begin to think I should let her be aware of my presence. I cough.
“What!? Who's there!?”
She starts looking everywhere for the source of the noise. She moved at unnatural speeds.
“Do not be alarmed. I am here to help you with your problem.”
“Really!? That would be super!”
She jumped in the air with a smile across her face.
“Now what is the problem Pinkie?”
“Well I... wait! How did you know my name!?”
“I um..... guessed?”
She began to look puzzled, but quickly accepted that answer.
“Okay! Well me and my friends were having a party, when all of the sudden I tripped and fell on a table that had a book on it and it was sent flying into the punch so I got the book out it was all soggy and the ink was running and the others were upstairs playing pin the tail on the pony, so no one saw me do it so I quickly put the book in my bag and joined the others and now Twilight's mad and I have to fix the book before she doesn't want to be friends anymore!”
She took a deep breath after saying all that in one fell swoop. She then looked down at the floor and started getting teary eyed.
“I don't want to lose a friend over a book. Please... can you fix it?”
I look over to the book and see it beyond repair. But I could easily fix it with a reversal spell. I thought it would be a good idea to show myself before I do so though. I walk over to the mopping pony and tap her on the shoulder.
“Of course I can!”
She lifted her head with a tearful smile and saw no one there. She then got confused and started to hit at the air. She managed to hit my arm, but to her she hit solid air. She then got even more confused then before.
“HUH!?”
She started to feel around the entire area I was standing. She managed to get all the way up to my head and knock on it a few times.
“I am invisible at the moment. Can you stop hitting me in the head?”
She backed down and sat in front of me. I then started to become visible again. Like before, the symbol covered circle started at my feet, blowing confetti and various other objects in the air as it ascends. Once it reached my head and I could open my eyes, I see a pony with her jaw almost dropped to the floor.
“Sorry I was invisible earlier, but it is so I don't scare you with my presence.”
She shook her head to get rid of her dumbfounded face and looked back at me.
“Can you really fix Twilight's book?”
“Yes. But first...”
I look over to the stairs I was recently standing at.
“Twilight, you can come out now!”
Twilight slowly walked up the stairs. She was hiding there the whole time I was talking to Pinkie Pie. I noticed her when I was walking into the room. I thought she should hear why Pinkie did what she did. Tears were in the Unicorns eyes again as she saw Pinkie look down at the ground and kick it. She walked over and stood in front of the pink pony.
“Pinkie... I'm sorry I yelled at you over my book. I should have asked nicely so you wouldn't think I wasn't going to be your friend anymore. I wish I knew you had been trying so hard to fix it and return it so I wouldn't feel angry towards you. Do you accept my apology?”
Pinkie looked up at the purple Unicorn and started to smile.
“Of course I forgive you Twilight, but I need you to forgive me for hiding the fact I ruined your book.”
She looked back down.
“Do you accept my apology?”
Twilight smiled and hugged her great friend.
“Of course Pinkie. I forgive you.”
They both shared a quick hug, and parted ways only to end up looking at me.
I was glad that the friends finally got over this and the problem was solved. But something didn't seem quite right...
“Well? Are you going to fix the book?”
Pinkie snapped me out of my thoughts and made me remember what I said I was going to do.
“Oh yeah.”
I walk over to the table where the book lies and put my hand over it. A quick glow surrounded the book in a bright green embrace. The book quickly began to dry, and the ink was going back into the words. It took about a minute for the book to finally be done as I drop my arm almost exasperated. It was a hard spell to do for long periods of time, and that minute felt like an hour to me.