… especially where clients are concerned.
“Hey, Rarity!”
Rarity lifted her head. “Hey, girls,” she smiled, “How was the garden?”
Rainbow shrugged, “It was okay. Could have been a few degrees cooler.”
“The neon lights were nice,” Twilight said, “but the maze wasn't much of a puzzle.”
“All-in-all,” summarized Applejack, “it was nice.”
Fluttershy nodded in agreement.
“Well, nice to hear you all had a good time.”
“How was your meeting with Stylish Rags?” Fluttershy asked.
“Oh,” Rarity waved, “I didn't make it backstage.”
The other girls grew concerned.
“Did something happen?” Twilight asked.
“In a way. It appears I've stumbled upon a case.”
“Alright!” Rainbow cheered, “What rogue Equestrian magic is about this time?” She quickly shrank away from the glares of her friends. “... or not...”
Rarity shook her head. “No magic involved this time. This appears strictly a non-magic mystery.”
Fluttershy gulped. “Nothing too serious, I hope.”
Again, Rarity shook her head. “It appears we have a thief on the premises.”
“Do you need any help?” Twilight asked.
“You can help her,” Rainbow said, pointing to Twilight, “I've got an appointment with Tom Foolery.”
“I appreciate the offer,” Rarity said, “I'm just not sure how you can help.”
“Well,” Applejack tilted her hat, “when ya know, ya just let us know.”
“Hey,” Twilight pointed to a small crowd that had gathered a little ways away, “what's going on over there?”
Fluttershy took in a deep breath. “I don't know, but something smells really good.”
Out of curiosity, the girls moved in and pushed their way to the center of the group.
“Sunset?”
“Hey, girls!”
“What are you doing?” Rainbow asked.
Sunset gestured to a small cart laden with various puddings. “What does it look like?”
Twilight raised a brow. “You left camp early to sell pudding?”
“Not our initial plan.”
“Maybe you should start from the beginning,” Rainbow said.
Sunset teetered, “Well, being that it was so early, the lines were completely empty. Pinkie and I sped through security and made a beeline to the food trucks.
“Pinkie had offered to treat me to breakfast, so I walked around to pick where to eat. It took me a while, but I eventually saw a food truck I hadn't seen before.
“We walked up to the truck and, while filling our order, the guy explained that he drove in last night.”
“I thought everyone had a two-day contract,” said Applejack.
“That's what Pinkie Pie said," Sunset continued, “Kugel explained that his truck had broke down a few days ago and he finally got it back from the mechanic yesterday. Drove the whole night to get here.
“He was pretty bummed about it. He'd lost a day of sales and wasn't sure he'd even break even.”
“How does this come into this?” Rarity asked, pointing to the pudding cart.
“Pinkie and I offered to help out. Kugel barely had anytime to prepare goods to sell. Pinkie offered to help cook. I explained that I was a disaster in the kitchen, but that I was pretty good at sales.”
“Are you getting paid for this?” asked Twilight.
“Nope, strictly charity.”
“You're just helping out a random stranger?”
A dreamy look entered Sunset's eyes. “You have to taste his French toast bread pudding. It's really thick and moist with just the right balance of sugar and cinnamon, topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. I had two!”
Applejack folded her arms, “But yer still workin' for nothin'.”
Sunset waved it off. “That's fine. After the day I had yesterday, this is a treat.”
“But,” Fluttershy said, “you had a great day yesterday, didn't you?”
“Yeah, but it was a long time coming. You have no idea what I had to go through.”
“I feel like we're missing something,” said Rarity, “You make it sound like it took you days to prepare.”
Sunset looked confused for a moment. “Oh, that's right, I didn't tell you this last time...”
“Tell us what?”
“I was stuck in a time loop for three weeks.” She was instantly met with a chorus of gasps.
“What?”
“I knew it! Equestrian magic!”
Sunset shot daggers at Rainbow. “Long story,” she said, “Pinkie Pie knows about it.”
“Are you in one now?” asked Rarity.
Sunset shook her head, “No, she and I broke the loop last night.”
“But, how...?”
“As Twilight always explained it: 'It's possible that a snag in the fabric of space time could cause a temporal point—i.e. this day—to fold in on itself and, thereby, repeat.'” She cast a sly smile to her scientific friend.
Twilight's jaw dropped.
“... But, that wasn't really the cause.”
Rainbow Dash rubbed her temples, “Let me get this straight. You spend three weeks stuck in a time loop and the first thing you do when free is sell pudding?”
“It's the one thing I haven't done!”
“Somethin' tells me ya got quite the story to tell 'round the campfire tonight,” said Applejack.
“While you're at it,” added Rainbow, “you can also tell us how you came to perform with Post Crush last night.”
“That part is actually part of it,” Sunset lightly laughed, “Fine, you'll get the whole story tonight.” She took a look at her cart. “Hmm... I'm getting a little low. Better return to the truck.” She released the cart's break. “See you around later?”
“You bet!” jumped Twilight, “I want to hear everything about that time loop.”
“Of course you do...” Sunset rolled her eyes.
“We still on for lunch?” Applejack asked.
Sunset called back as she pushed the cart across the grass. “Wouldn't miss it!”
“Sunset,”
Sunset turned to see Rarity running up behind her.
“How long have you been selling pudding?”
Sunset shrugged. “Few hours.”
“Have you been moving around the festival? Or just stayed in one place.”
“Moved around mostly. Why all the questions? What's going on?”
“I'm on a case.”
Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Who's the body?”
“What?”
“Who got iced?”
Rarity yelped, “It's not anything like that!”
“Oh... Too bad. Murder mysteries are far more interesting. So, am I a suspect?”
“No, but you may be a key witness. Have you noticed any seedy characters about?”
“That sounds more like a question for the birds. Maybe we should get Fluttershy.”
“Sunset, I'm being serious!”
“Fine,” Sunset laughed, “No, I haven't noticed any 'seedy characters'.”
“Anything that stuck out to you as out of the ordinary?”
“Not really. You looking for anything in particular?”
“A petty thief.”
Sunset shook her head. “Sorry.”
Rarity frowned. “You encounter a lot of people. I don't suppose—”
“NO!”
The sternness of the voice caused Rarity to stumble in her step. Without even turning, she knew she had upset Sunset.
“You know I don't want to use that power unless I absolutely have to.”
Rarity quickly raised her hands in surrender, “I'm sorry! Forget I asked.”
There was a moment of awkward silence.
“So,” Rarity wavered, “you haven't seen anything worth noting this morning?”
“I wouldn't say that.”
Rarity's curiosity peaked. “Oh?”
“Well, it's not much, but there was a fight.”
“Really?”
“Well, more of a quarrel.”
“Oh...”
“I told you it wasn't much.”
Rarity let out a sigh. “Well, thanks anyway.”
---
“How dare you!”
Rarity maintained her composure. “You were reported to be in the area at the time in question.”
“Yes, I was delivering my proofs! Why are you pestering me?” he pointed in the direction behind Rarity, “Go harass Flash Sync! He was there, too!”
“Don't be so crass, Raw,” Flash Sync tsked as he approached the scene, “Let the girl have her fun.”
Raw Image huffed and stomped off.
“I do apologize, my dear,” Flash said, “I'm afraid Raw Image can be a bit—”
“Raw?” Rarity finished.
“Quite. But don't discount him so quickly. He's very passionate about his work and very good at what he does. I'm just afraid people are not his strongsuit.”
“You seem to know him pretty well.”
“We've been in the business together for quite some time. This isn't the first time we've been pitted against each other. That young girl, though, Photo Finish? She's good. I expect to see more of her work. Dare I say she's almost as good as me. Nasty thing, this business, though.”
Rarity frowned, “So, you know of the missing photos?”
“Our community is tight-knit. Almost impossible not to know what's going on. Imagine; stealing an artist's work! Word of advice, Miss...?”
“Rarity.”
“Word of advice, Miss Rarity, if an artist's work goes up missing, the last thing you should do is blame another artist. Rather insulting, really.”
“Of that, I'm quite aware,” Rarity said, flatly, “I was just hoping either you are Raw Image had noticed anything on your way to or from the office.”
Flash Sync gave a sympathetic shrug. “'Fraid not. I'm not much for mornings. Frankly, you're lucky if I'm standing.”
“What about your assistant?”
“Lens Flare? I wouldn't know. With our shooting done, I gave her the day off.”
“Does Raw Image have an assistant?”
Flash laughed. “Are you kidding? I can't think of anyone who could stand him. And I know some pretty resilient people.”
Rarity tapped her pen on her notepad. “Were you taking pictures all day yesterday?”
“Yep. I was mostly by the main stage.”
“Any chance you may have gotten a shot of our thief?”
Flash looked thoughtful, “I suppose it's possible. You believe our little scoundrel was running around yesterday?”
“Almost certain.”
“Well, you're in luck” Flash said, reaching into his messenger bag, “I just happen to have all my photos on my tablet. Say we review them over some pudding? My treat.”
---
Sunset frowned. “You again!”
“What can I say?” Flash shrugged, “I'm in love!”
“You're in a state of addiction.” Sunset's frown gave way to an amused smirk. “What will it be this time?”
Flash hummed as he glanced over the cart. “What haven't I had yet?”
“You haven't tried the pistachio.”
“Please, no. I have a tree nut allergy.”
Sunset shrugged and turned her attention to Rarity. “What about you, Rares?”
“Oh, I don't know, darling. It all looks so good. How about I leave it up to you?”
Sunset winked. “I think I've got something for ya.”
---
Puddings in hand, Rarity and Flash Sync sat down to review the previous day's photos.
“How many did you say you had again?”
Flash swiped the screen. “Seven thousand, three hundred and fourteen.”
“How many do we have left?”
“Six thousand and nine.”
Rarity groaned.
“I'm sorry,” Flash said, swiping the screen, “But, as you can see, I was at the stage all day.” He swiped again.
“You two okay? Couldn't help but pick up on your frustration.”
“It's okay, Sunset,” Rarity sighed, “Just looking for a needle in a haystack.” She took a large spoonful of her summer pudding.
Sunset moved around to see what the pair were looking at. “Oh, you're not kidding.”
“Yep,” Flash sighed. He was about to swipe again, but Sunset stopped him.
“Wait,” she said, “What's that?”
“Hm?”
Sunset enlarged a portion of the picture's background. “What's going on there?”
Flash squinted, “Looks like some sort of argument.”
Sunset pointed to the screen. “I'm not a hundred percent sure, because this other guy has his back to us, but I'm almost positive those are the same two guys who were fighting earlier.”
Rarity pondered, looking at the man facing the camera. “Odd for Laser Disk not to mention it.”
“He runs the festival,” Flash reasoned, “I imagine he's fighting with people all the time.”
“But, this looks like one of the performers...”
“That's Laser Disk?”
Rarity turned to Sunset in shock. “You know him?”
“By name only,” said Sunset, “What? You thought the Rainbooms was the first band I ran with?”
---
Rarity slapped Flash Sync's tablet onto the desk. “You weren't very upfront with me, Mr. Disk.”
“I told you what you needed to know.”
“Really?” she pulled up the image on the tablet, “You forgot to mention that you've been getting into arguments with one of the musicians. You also forgot to mention that you're a talent scout for EQG Records.”
Laser was quick to shush her. “I'd like to keep that quiet. Okay, so you found me out. But there is no conflict of interest. The festival is open to everyone.”
“So, who is the other fellow?”
Laser sighed. “Jet Fuel. Uses the stage name 'Frett'. He's been signed to EQG Records for a better part of a year.”
“May I ask what the argument was about?”
“He's been trying to get out of his contract for the past few weeks. But, one does not simply waltz out of a contract. There's a little number involved.”
“What sort of song and dance are we talking about?”
“Try something to the tune of a million dollars.”
Rarity was dumbstruck.
“...and that's not the kind of music he's willing to face.”
“While we're on the subject,” Rarity said, sternly, “Any other disputes that I should be aware of?”
Laser sank into his chair. “Dynamic Mic. He's a counterpart of mine for the competition. He's always trying to steal my contracts.”
“I take it Dynamic Mic is here?”
“Like I said, the festival is open to everyone. Haven't seen him, though—probably for the best. But his name appeared on yesterday's attendee list.”
“Any chance he would come here to take anything?”
“None, unless he wants to get his company sued out of existence. Business espionage is very serious... business.”