“Here you are, you three.” Mrs. Cake smiled as she slid three milkshakes onto the table. “Three milkshakes.”
Sparkler smiled. “Thank you Mrs. Cake. These look good.”
Mrs. Cake nodded. “Enjoy.” With that, she walked away.
Sparkler smiled as she turned back to her two booth mates. Sparkler, Flappy, and Kicker were all at Sugar Cube Corner. After they had finished up at the Castle of Friendship, Twilight, Spike, and Starlight had to go to school so Sparkler decided a nice Milkshake run was in order.
While Flappy smiled and started sipping at his milkshake. Kicker just stared at his. “Uh, what kind of milkshake is this?”
Sparkler smiled after she took a sip of her own milkshake. “It’s a vanilla flavored milkshake. I-is that ok?”
Kicker nodded. “I—I just...never had a milkshake before.”
Flappy’s eyes widened as he spat out the sip of his milkshake that was still in his mouth. “Squawk! What?! Never?! How is that possible? Milkshakes are the best kind of shakes! Squawk!”
Kicker shrunk a tad at the outburst and gulped. “I-I wasn’t allowed.” He subconsciously scooted closer to Sparkler.
Flappy saw the reaction and realized what he just did. “Squawk! Oh...sorry Kicker. That was stupid of me. Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded as she wrapped a wing around Kicker. “He was just shocked that you never had a milkshake before. That’s all.”
Kicker nodded as Sparkler lit her horn and floated Kicker’s shake down, which was in a plastic, closed cup, to him on the seat. “Go on. You’ll like it.”
Kicker looked at the straw sticking out of the cup, before taking the cup in his hooves and sucking on the straw to drink the milkshake. The shake touched his taste buds and his eyes widened in surprise. It was delicious! He sucked on the straw to get more in, after he couldn’t take anymore in a breath, he stopped drinking, and smiled up at Sparkler. “Wow. This is good.”
Sparkler smiled. “I knew you’d like it.”
Kicker nodded and went back to drinking. Sparkler looked up, and looked Flappy right in the eye. Starting another one of their eye conversations.
Did you REALLY need to do that?! Of course he wouldn’t have had a milkshake before!
I’m sorry. It slipped my mind that he was a foalnapping victim!
Next time think before you go and scare him. He’s already scared that THEY’LL come for him.
Ha! Just let them try. They got nothing on you. You’re the second most powerful resident of this town. Keeping Kicker safe’ll be a snap.
Don’t jinx it! We don’t know what they’re capable of!
The conversation was interrupted when they noticed golden sparklers fly into their view, and reform into a scroll, one with what Sparkler recognized was the official royal seal on it. Her eyes widened. “Oh, a letter from Celestia?” She took the scroll in her magic, unfurled it, and read.
Dear Sparkling Medley,
I have just consulted with the Canterlot Police Department and two investigators are on their way to crack the case, investigators that had the case three years ago. They should be in town by the end of the day.
Flappy smiled. “Squawk! That’s good. Detectives from the capitol should help a bunch. Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded and continued reading.
Given the circumstances surrounding this situation. I feel it appropriate to grant you temporary custody of Thunder Kicker. I trust that you will take good care of him.
Kicker heard that and looked up at Sparkler. “You’re gonna take care of me now?”
Sparkler smiled down at him and nodded. “Sounds like it.”
She continued to read.
I have informed the investigators that they are not to ask to speak to Thunder Kicker without you in the room So do not let them under any circumstances. Also do not let anypony you do not know and trust completely take Thunder Kicker from your sight. His captors remain at large and there is no telling what they are planning.
Once again, I thank you for your initiative in bringing this situation into the light. I am very proud of you.
Best of luck,
Princess Celestia
P.S. Your emergence has sparked an outrage with the Nobility here in Canterlot. Do not fret though. I am confident that I can quell them. Just focus on the matter at hoof.
Sparkler sighed. “Of course the Nobility is in an uproar.”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! I blame the news outlets. They just wanted to sell more copies so they wrote lies. Squawk!”
Kicker raised an eyebrow. “What are you guys talking about?”
Sparkler giggled as she rolled up the parchment. “Nothing you need to worry your cute little head over. Besides, something more important came up.”
Flappy smiled and nodded to Kicker. “Squawk! Sounds like you’re gonna be staying with us for a while now. Squawk!”
Kicker nodded. “Yeah...”
Sparkler immediately picked up on Kicker’s uneasiness and gently wrapped a wing around him. “That alright with you?” She asked in concern.
Kicker nodded. “Yeah. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy I’m living with you now, instead of with THEM. It’s just...”
Flappy sighed. “Squawk! You miss your parents. Squawk!”
Kicker nodded. Flappy smiled and flew down to sit next to him in the booth and shot him a smile. “Squawk! I hear you kid. I never really knew my parents either. Squawk!”
Kicker raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Sparkler nodded. “I met Flappy when he was just a chick. Back then he didn’t have anybird.”
“Squawk! The day Sparkler and I met, I was actually searching for my parents. They left one day and...and never came back. Squawk!”
Kicker gasped. “That’s awful!”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Yeah. To this day I don’t know what happened to them. Did they abandon me? Did they meet their end? I don’t know. But you know what kid? Squawk!”
Kicker raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Squawk! While I do sometimes wonder what happened to them. I can’t argue with how things went. Because on that day, when I suffered a wing injury and crashed, I was lucky to crash into a little filly with a giant heart. Squawk!”
Kicker noticed Flappy looking at somepony. He followed his line of sight and saw Sparkler. “Sparkler?”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Sparkler took me in, fixed me up, and cared for me like I was one of her own. Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. I did.”
Flappy smiled. “Squawk! And I have not regretted it once. Squawk!
Kicker smiled. “Really?”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! So if you ever need an ear to listen. Don’t be afraid to come to me kid. But no matter what your past. Know that you won’t find a better caregiver than Sparkling Medley. You’re in good hooves now. Squawk!”
Kicker smiled and nodded. “O-ok.”
Sparkler and Flappy smiled and both took Kicker in for a group hug. “You’ll see Kicker. This’ll be great for all of us.”
Kicker nodded. And just basked in the warmth from the two that welcomed him into their home. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.
...
Several hours later, the Friendship Express came to a screeching halt at the station. The doors opened and let out it’s passengers. Among these passengers were Investigators Nosey and River. They walked off the station platform. Nosey looked around. “Hm. So this is Ponyville.”
River nodded. “Yep.
“We didn’t get an address did we.”
River nodded. “Let’s ask around. Somepony here has to know where she lives.”
Nosey nodded. “I’ll ask around and talk to Sparkler and Kicker. You go off and talk to the princess. We’re gonna need her side of the story too.”
River nodded. “On it.” She walked off.
Nosey smirked and walked in a different direction. Determined to find Sparkler by the end of the day.
...
At the Medley household, Sparkler, Kicker, and Flappy were playing Monopoly in the living room. Flappy rolled the dice, and moved his piece the specified number of spaces...right onto the jail space. He groaned. “Squawk! Aw man! Seriously?! Squawk!”
Sparkler chuckled. “Wow. Again. Talk about bad luck Flaps.”
Flappy rolled his eyes. “Squawk! Ugh. Yeah yeah. I’m constantly getting jailed. Can you two just roll so I can get out of jail? Squawk!”
Kicker chuckled and nodded. “Sure.” He rolled the dice...just as they all heard knocking on the door.
Sparkler turned her head to the door and raised an eyebrow. “Hm. Wonder who that could be.” She got up off the floor and walked to the door. She opened it to see a beefy Unicorn stallion standing there. She smiled. “Oh, hello. How can I help you?”
“Are you Sparkling Medley?” The stallion asked.
Sparkler nodded. “Yes, and you are...?”
The stallion lit his horn and held up a badge in his magic. “Investigator Nosey Pants. With the Canterlot Police Department. Princess Celestia should’ve sent a memo ahead about my arrival?”
Sparkler smiled and nodded. “Yes. Yes she did. Oh I’m so glad you’re here. Please come in.” She moved to the side and let Nosey in. She closed the door and led him to the living room. “Thank you for coming so quickly. Though...I’m so sorry but I was under the impression that two CPD investigators would be coming?”
Nosey nodded. “Yeah. My partner is at the castle getting Princess Twilight’s witness statement. Need everything we can get in the trial. Where’s the kid?”
Sparkler turned her head into the living room. “He’s right—“ She stopped when she noticed a LACK of Thunder Kicker in the room. She raised an eyebrow at Flappy, who was still there. “Flappy where did Kicker go?”
Flappy shrugged. “Squawk! I don’t know. The second we heard the stallion he just bolted. Squawk!”
Sparkler sighed and facehoofed. “Of course. Why didn’t I think that would happen. Flappy can you go find him and coax him back to the living room. Tell him the stallion is here to help him.”
Flappy nodded and took off. Sparkler turned back to Nosey. “He shouldn’t be long. It’s not that big a house.”
Nosey nodded. “Right. While we wait. Mind if I ask you a few questions?”
Sparkler nodded. “Of course.”
Nosey whipped out a notepad and a pen. “If you would please explain how you became involved in this case?”
Sparkler nodded. “Last night. While I was on my way home from running an errand, I heard a loud crash in an alleyway.”
“When was this exactly?” Nosey asked.
Sparkler shrugged. “It was dark out in the tail end of fall so...I’d say about 7 or 8pmish?”
Nosey nodded and wrote that down. “Go on.”
“My curiosity piqued and decided to investigate. In the alleyway I found a trunk next to a dumpster.” Sparkler replied
Nosey raised an eyebrow. “A trunk?”
Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. Next to a dumpster. I thought it was weird to see a trunk next to a dumpster. But that’s when I thought maybe it’s owner was IN the dumpster. So I took a look. And sure enough, I found him in the dumpster, eating trash.”
Nosey wrote that down. “What happened then?”
“After I recovered from the shock of seeing a foal eating garbage, I got him out of there and asked what he was doing in there.”
“Let me guess. He said it was dinner.” Nosey commented.
Sparkler nodded. “Yep. I had offered to take him home, but he very clearly objected and ran for his trunk.”
“Did he have a look of fear on his face at the prospect of going home?” Nosey asked.
Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. He was terrified. So, I instead offered for him to stay with me and my parrot Flappy.”
Nosey nodded. “And then?”
“I brought him home, cleaned him up, fed him a REAL dinner, and then set him up in the guest room.”
Nosey nodded. “Alright. How about this morning?”
Sparkler nodded. “This morning. I mentioned taking him home again, and he panicked and hid under a table. After coaxing him out. He finally revealed why he didn’t want to go home.”
Nosey nodded. “Foalnapped, parents murdered, house burned down, horribly mistreated.”
Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. That’s it. Once I knew that, I immediately took him to Twilight, explained the situation. She contacted Princess Celestia. And here we are now.”
Nosey nodded and wrote it down. “Are you sure that’s all Thunder Kicker told you?”
Sparkler nodded. “He claims that that’s the whole story. Though I gotta believe there’s more to this. Because the way he tells it, whoever did this just picked a random house and did it because they felt like it.”
Nosey sighed. “You’re right. There is more to this.”
Sparkler nodded. “Figures.”
“Squawk! Found him! Squawk!” Sparkler and Nosey turned to see Flappy standing next to the door frame, and they saw Kicker slowly poke his head out from behind the wall.
Sparkler smiled as she walked over to him and got down to nuzzle him on the cheek. “Hey. It’s ok. This nice stallion is here to help us.”
Kicker nervously glanced into the living room where the stallion was. He saw that smile on his face, but still didn’t trust him. He turned back to Sparkler. “P-promise?”
The stallion heard that and nodded. “It’s alright little one. I’m not gonna hurt you. I just want to talk about your little problem.”
That didn’t quell Kicker’s fear. He glanced back at Sparkler. Who sighed and nodded. “I promise. This stallion won’t hurt you. I’ll be here the whole time to make sure of it.”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! So will I. If that stallion tries anything we’ll make him stop and leave. Squawk!”
Kicker glanced between Sparkler, Flappy, and the stallion. Before nodding and taking Sparkler’s outstretched hoof. Sparkler smiled and led him into the room.
Nosey got down on his haunches and gave Kicker a friendly smile. “Hey there bud. How’s it going?”
“G-good.” Kicker replied nervously, while making sure he had a tight grip on Sparkler’s hoof.
Nosey nodded. “That’s good. Would it be alright if I asked you a couple of questions? It won’t take very long.”
With an encouraging nod from Flappy. Kicker nodded. “O-ok.”
Nosey nodded and flipped his notebook to a fresh page. “Now. If you could. Can you tell me what the problem is? From the beginning?”
Kicker gulped, before nodding and beginning to tell his story.
To be continued...