… but they always seem to find me.
Rarity departed from her friends at the neon garden and proceeded towards the area where the tour buses were parked.
Passing by a booth, a certain voice caught her ear.
“Ach! Zis is terrible!”
The fashionista paused and listened.
“I'm ruined! Ruined, I say. Ruined!”
Rarity walked around the booth to see Photo Finish and her two assistants, Violet Blurr and Pixel Pizzaz.
“How could zis haf happened?”
“Um, pardon my interruption,” Rarity said, approaching the trio, “but might I inquire as to what the problem is?”
Photo Finish gestured to the other girls, “My assistants haf lost a very important package.”
“We didn't lose it!” protested Violet Blurr.
Rarity gently rubbed her chin. “Hmm... an important package that has suddenly gone missing?”
“I told you,” Pixel Pizzaz said, “I left it on the receptionist's desk.”
“Zen why don't zey have it?”
“What was this package, exactly?” Rarity asked.
“Photos of the sights of Star Swirl," said Photo Finish.
Rarity patiently waited for her to continue.
“I und two others vere invited to come here as part of a competition. One of us vill be signed to a five-year contract as ze official Star Swirl photographer.”
“Wow," Rarity whistled, "that's quite the prize!”
“It vould be ze feather in my cap.”
“And so this package was...?"
“Proofs from yesterday's events. It vas the last stage of ze competition.”
Rarity slightly frowned, “But, something this important, why didn't you deliver it yourself?”
Photo Finish hung her head. “I vas in bed.”
“Photo ate something that didn't quite agree with her,” Violet explained, “She was pretty sick last night.
“They wanted the pictures when the festival opened this morning. So, when the courier arrived from the printers, Pixel took them straight to the main office.”
“Yes,” continued Pixel, “but when I got there, the receptionist hadn't arrived yet. So, I put a post-it on the envelope explaining what it was and left it in her keyboard.”
Rarity's brow deepened. “Have you asked the receptionist about it?”
“Yes. She said she never saw it.”
“Ze organizers haf graciously extended my deadline to noon, und I've called the printers, but it's a three-hour drive here.” Photo Finish checked the time on her phone. “Zere is no way I can get new prints in time.
“Is hopeless...”
“I think not!” Rarity gently said, “I will take your case!”
“Vat?”
“My dear, I will find out what happened to your missing photos and restore your honor and reputation.”
The three photographers gave each other a confused look.
“You think you can solve our mystery?” asked Violet.
Rarity smiled confidently, “Yes! And, now, I investigate!”