Mare of Mystery
(In Black and White)
"It was just another ordinary day in Ponyville, or at least, it began that way. But I knew it wouldn't be long before trouble found itself knocking at my door. Who am I? Detective Rarity, Mare of Mystery, and stylish sleuth. With the help of my keen eyes and attention to detail, I was able to help a dear friend of mine find the culprit responsible for her frame up. Of course, that was then, and this was now. And so it was that I was sitting back at my sewing table, putting my finishing touches on this truly adorable frock, when he entered into the scene. It was none other than Spike, a young dragon who was also a friend of mine. I noticed immediately when he came in that there was something upsetting him. He kept wringing his tail like a wet dish cloth. I decided to see what was wrong."
"Good day, Spike. What brings you here?"
"You gotta help me, Rarity!" He said desperately. "You just gotta!"
"Poor thing, looked like he standing on pins and needles. So I told him,"
"Sure, Spikey, I'll help you out. But what is it that's got your tail in a twist?"
"Twilight thinks that I burned one of her books...again, but I didn't this time! Honest."
"Don't worry, Spikey, I believe you."
"I wasn't sure what I'd be getting myself into, but whatever happens, I was determined to clear dear Spikey's name. The first place to start was the scene of the crime."
At the Friendship Castle...
"Spike took me to the library, where on the little table there sat an open book, its pages burnt and brown. I then asked Spike to give me the details of what had happened."
"You see, last night I'd finished re-shelving the books like Twilight asked. But the next morning, this book was found left out like this. I tried to tell Twilight that it wasn't me, but I don't think she believes me."
"Was there anypony else in the library?"
"Starlight comes in sometimes for late night reading, but I haven't seen her around lately."
"It was definitely interesting. I took a closer look at the book and noticed something, the burnt pages...there was a brown liquid staining them. I took a sniff. It smelled like...coffee. How peculiar. I eyed the rest of the table and noticed a small candle. It was then that all the pieces had fallen into place."
"I think I just solved the case!"
"Really? Already? That's amazing!"
"I know, right? But we must find Twilight at once."
"And so we hurried out to find Twilight, who was with Starlight in the map room."
"Twilight, I have news, Spike wasn't the one who burnt the book."
"Rarity, I--"
"Before you object, let me explain. The real culprit in this case, was Starlight!"
Spike let out a shocked gasp.
"It's quite simple you see. Starlight was in the library late last night, reading the book by candlelight. But somehow, the candle tipped over and landed on the book, burning the pages. In a panic, Starlight dumped the nearest liquid onto it to put out the fire. Which just so happened to be some coffee that I'm sure she had to keep herself awake. And so, filled with guilt over what she'd done, Starlight left and let the blame fall on Spike."
"Rarity, I know." Said Twilight.
Spike and Rarity stood there for a moment, staring at her in surprise.
"You what?"
"Starlight here just told me what happened. And she hadn't left to avoid blame, she left to get a replacement copy of the book."
"Sorry about that." Starlight said apologetically. "I didn't mean for Spike to get the blame."
"Eh, it's alright." Said Spike.
"Yes, all's well that ends well." Said Rarity.
"So concluded my case. And even though it wasn't as grand or as intricate as some of my other cases, at least another friend could rest easy, knowing that his name was cleared, thanks to the Mare of Mystery."
"Why is she talking like that?" Asked Twilight.
Spike shrugged. "I don't know, I just kinda roll with it."
The Joke's on You
"Welcome to the Comedy Club, tonight we have an interesting newcomer to the stage. Please welcome, the comedic stylings of Discord!"
Light scattered applause sounded as Discord took the stage, a microphone in his claw.
"Good evening, fillies and germs, looks like a full house tonight. Speaking of full house, I was playing a game cards the other night, when asked one of the players if he had a joker, And he said, 'Joker? I hardly know her!'"
Rimshot!
........
Discord cleared his throat, "Yes, well, that was just a warm up. Now then, why do you never see elephants hiding in trees?" There was only silence in reply. "...They're really good at it."
Rimshot!
"Cough! Cough!"
Discord frowned for a moment and muttered to himself, "Yeesh, this is a tougher crowd than I thought." He then continued with his jokes. "Did you hear the one about the two guys that stole a calendar? They each got six months!"
There was nothing but the sound of crickets chirping.
"Alright, I can take a hint." He said, tossing the mic over his shoulder and leaving the stage. "At least there are someponies I know who can appreciate my sense of humor."
Once he was off the stage, Maud came up and picked up the mic.
In her usual monotone she said, "Looks like the only joke here tonight was him."
The audience then roared with laughter, "HA! HA! HA!"
High School Daze
Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer were casually walking though the Ponyville park, having a nice chat.
"It's nice to see you again, Sunset, I feel like we hardly ever talk." said Starlight.
Sunset nodded. "Yeah, well, things have been pretty busy for me back at CHS."
"Speaking of which, what is it like going to a high school in the other world?"
"What's it like?" Sunset then thought it over.
She remembered the time she turned into a raging she-demon, laughing maniacally as she hovered over the ground and shot fire balls at Twilight and friends. Then the time when the sirens turned into their half-pony forms and sang maniacally as they hovered over the stage and sent their astral projections out to attack Twilight and friends. And then there was the time when other Twilight also turned into a she-demon called Midnight Sparkle, who laughed maniacally as she hovered above the ground and shot open portals around her friends.
Sunset blinked and looked back over at Starlight and replied, Oh, you know, just the regular sort of stuff, same old same old."