//------------------------------// // A Pinkamena Problem // Story: Cocoa Detective // by Lock146 //------------------------------// A Pinkamena Problem The milk chocolate sat on the desk. It was bright and sunny outside. From this fact Cocoa Meringue, Ponyville's greatest and only private detective ( they didn't need more because he was so good)., deduced that Rainbow Dash had actually done her job for once, but this thought was brief because he remembered it was scheduled to rain that day. Cocoa Meringue was propped up in his chair with his back legs atop his desk as he leaned back in his seat. At a glance, you might think he was in deep thought, but after closer observation you'd see he was playing Dream Drop Distance on his Pown-ES (Ponyville's hit game console.) After awhile of relaxing in this spot he heard a knock on the door. It didn't sound like a hoof, more like a face. The detective guessed it was Pinkie Pie with her usual missing item. "Pinkamena Diane Pie it's been awhile," he said sarcasticaly. Pinkie Pie responded in her usual happy voice, " No, it hasn't. I just saw you yesterday. " He gave her a joking look, and she tilted her head to the side confused. Cocoa ventured "What do you need Pinkie? "Oh!" she exclaimed loudly,"I think I lost something, but I'm not sure what it was." Cocoa replied,"You want me to look for something your not sure you lost?" Pinkie joyfully responded, "That's the idea!" Cocoa decided to inquire (after all he enjoyed Pinkie), "Do you know what the missing item might be?" "No, not really, if you haven't noticed, if you haven't noticed I've been forgetting stuff lately." Cocoa responded sarcastically, "No, really?" Pinkie obliviously replied "yep its true. Even my pinkie sense has been off." This grabbed Cocoa's attention; he couldn't think of anything that caused that. He took a closer look at Pinkie and saw her color had faded slightly, and her hair was a teeny bit smaller. "Pinkie are you feeling okay?" he asked. "Why is something wrong? "she replied worriedly. Cocoas suspicions were confirmed. Pinkie was right something was missing. Cocoa feared it may be an important part of Pinkie. Thinking back he realized she seemed sad. He had noticed she'd been getting confused alot lately and losing things often. Cocoa decided this would be a pro bono case. He would help his friend. He quickly accepted the case. Pinkie Pie said ,"Thanks slowly and calmly. Her response worried Cocoa most of all. Cocoa began by investigating Pinkies room above Sugar Cube Corner. He saw a picture of a filly Pinkie Pie, with her family farming rocks. He further surveyed the room for an important looking item. After all he had no idea what he was searching for. He noticed in the picture of Pinkie's family, she had a small but very pretty rock. It was a vague lead, but at least it was one. The next step was to talk to Pinkie and get more information, but Fluttershy wouldn't allow it. Pinkie was not doing well she had been pretending to be normal, when in truth she was exhausted. Pinkie was fading fast. The detective boarded the Friendship Express using his detective's pass issued by mayor mare. He headed to Pinkie's rock farm to question her sisters about the interesting rock. Night was falling when Cocoa arrived, and the cold air was settling in. His silver mane and detective's jacket would help keep his light brown fur warm. Everything was gray. The train station was a large boulder. The friendship express quickly departed.The trained whistled loudly. The sound flowed behind the chuffing device. Cocoa Meringue thought about what the conductor had told him.He would need to be back early the next morning to catch the return train. Walking a little ways he saw Pinkie's home. The Farm fields were gravel with large rocks that had trails behind them, almost as if they had been rolled back and forth between the different parts of the field. Cocoa couldn't help but wonder about the trails, but knowing Pinkie Pie he determined not everything at her home would make make sense. He knocked on the main house's door. Moments later, Inkie answered. She was a little confused. Inkie didn't know him, and she couldn't think of any reason there would be a visitor. Still, She felt trusting of his serious, but kind look. "Uhm, I'm sorry, but what are you doing out here?" She asked curiously "Are you Inkie Pie?" Cocoa responded. "Yes, I am. Why?" Cocoa relieved it was the right house, continued "It's about Pinkie. somethings wrong with her, I think it has something to do with this stone. He held up the picture he'd found in Pinkies room. Inkie was slightly concerned, but not quite what Cocoa expected. "Well, I think that's the stone the stone Pinkie found after she saw a giant rainbow light up the sky. It was the first thing that made her happy. She even made the first Pinkie promise to that stone. Inkie continued still feeling trusting. "The promise was, 'I can't be happy without this stone by my side." Cocoa and Inkie continued talking into the night. Inkie had decided she was quite fond of Cocoa and invited him to stay the night. Cocoa gladly accepted relieved that he wouldn't freeze to death. He recalled that Pinkie had more family members, so he asked. "Pinkie mentioned other family members," If you don't mind me asking 'why are you all alone?" Inkie looked sadly the foyer window where they were sitting. She finally responded, "It's a family matter." Cocoa understood and didn't pester her about it. Early the next morning Cocoa and Inkie stood on the train platform. The train pulled into its stop for the final time. Even though she knew this , Inkie was returning to Ponyville with Cocoa She had persuaded him to let her go. She wanted to help her sister Pinkie and attempt to forget her home. The train pulled into Ponyville around mid-day. They knew Pinkie's stone was missing. It had to be around Ponyville somewhere. Inkie and Cocoa searched everywhere. They searched Pinkie's room Rarity's Boutique, and The Spa. Finally, Inkie needed a break and suggested they stop by Cocoa's office. Cocoa pushed the door open with his hoof, trotted in and sat down. Inkie walked in restraining a smile, but when she got past the door the door her face returned to normal. Cocoa, observing this phenomenon, told Inkie to go stand in the doorway causing her to begin laughing. Cocoa rushed to the door and started rapidly searching around the frame. Pinkie's stone was affecting her sister. He found it in the bush outside his door. Pinkie must have dropped it while visiting for his birthday last week. They rushed to Fluttershy's House. Pinkie was nearly gray. Her hair lay completely flat around her sides. Cocoa placed the stone on Pinkie's head. She instantly sprang up as her hair exploded, laughing loudly. Inkie quickly hugged her sister. after a moment of listening to Pinkie's excitedness. Inkie looked up at Cocoa and said. "I Think I would like to apply for a job."