The scavenger hunters took off on a gallop. They were unsure how much time remained before they had to be back at Sugarcube Corner but it couldn't be too much more. Two items still needed retrieving: an abacus and a pink ribbon. Minutes later, the group galloped into town and looked at the clock tower. It was 3:00. One hour remained before the deadline. After thinking for a moment, Spike raised a claw and made a suggestion.
"Why don't we split up. Crusaders, go over to Rarity's and find the pink ribbon. Pinkie and I will head to the Library to find where Twilight put her abacus."
"That's a great idea, Spike!" said Sweetie Belle. "I think I remember where my sister puts her ribbon."
"Just be careful and don't make a mess." the baby dragon said. He knew that he'd be in big trouble with the unicorn he had a crush on, if the fillies wrecked her shop.
"We'll be very careful, Spike." promised Sweetie Belle.
"Okay, if you say so. Be back here at the library in 45 minutes."
"We will." replied the young fillies.
The two groups split up. Spike and Pinkie Pie headed towards the Library on the west side of Ponyville. The Crusaders headed through the center of town towards Carousel Boutique, on the south side of town. Apple Bloom, Sweeetie Belle, and Scootaloo trotted fast enough to get to where they were going quickly, but slow enough that they didn't run into anyone. Time was of the essence. Minutes later, the Crusaders skidded to a stop in front of The Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle's older sister, Raity, owned and lived in the store. The white unicorn was known through town and throughout Equestria as one of the best fashion designers. Ponies came from near, and far, to order dresses and clothes from her
"Stay right out here guys." said Sweetie Belle to her friends. "I know where the ribbon is and I don't want anything being touched. I've messed up the shop before and my sister gets really mad when it happens. I don't want to have that happen again."
"We understand Sweetie Belle." said both of her friends almost in unison.
Sweetie Belle thanked her friends and walked inside. As she did, a small bell rang but no pony else was inside to notice. Sweetie Belle knew that her big sister was delivering orders today, so she had the place to herself. The unicorn filly quickly walked into a side room and opened a drawer. Inside sat spools of ribbon in all colors. Sweetie Belle took a pink spool and closed the drawer. She didn't want to chance her sister's cat, Opalescence, getting in there and messing things up. With the spool of pink ribbon obtained, Sweetie Belle made sure nothing was out of place and quickly slipped out the front door. The Crusaders started on their way to the Library
Meanwhile Spike and Pinkie didn't have very far to go. The Golden Oaks Library was on the west side of Ponyville. A few moments later the pink pony and purple dragon arrived and walked inside.
"Is Twilight here Spikey-Wikey?" asked Pinkie Pie
"No. She had to go meet the Princess. Something about the friendship reports she has submitted over the past few months. She'll be back later."
"Okie dokie." she said with a sigh. "I wish she was here though. I think she would love to hear about all of our adventures today."
"I think she would." said Spike. The dragon was looking around as he tried to recall where Twilight kept her abacus. "I know! I'll be back in a flash. Feel free to sit down and rest for a moment."
As the pink pony sat down, Spike walked into one of the back rooms of the library. In the corner was his bed, but the dragon's attention focused on the nearby desk. Right beside a piece of parchment, stood a small abacus with colorful beads. He took it with him and walked back into the main room of the library.
"I found it!" exclaimed Spike.
"Woo Hoo!" cheered Pinkie as she began to do cart wheels. In her excitement, she bumped a bookcase and a few books fell to the floor. "Oooh I'm sorry. Can I help you with that? I mean you've been a big help today and all..."
"Don't worry about it." said Spike with a sigh. "I'll take care of it." The dragon climbed a tall wooden ladder and carefully put each book back in its place. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Come in" said Spike, finishing his task.
"We found the ribbon" cried the Crusaders with joy. Everyone smiled as they walked in the Library. Spike took his picnic basket out of Pinkie's saddlebag. Then he disposed of everything that wasn't needed and laid out each of the items on the floor. Every pony examined the items and the letter to make sure all the items were accounted for. The mallet, red apple, bluebird feather, bottle of rainbow water, pink ribbon, and abacus were on the floor and no item was missing.
"Yay!" Pinkie Pie squealed with joy. "All the items are here. I'm so excited I could burst. Thanks every pony for your help. Would you like to come with me and find out what the mystery is?"
"I'd really like to Pinkie but I have some work that Twilight wanted me to do before she came back. Please come by and tell me all about it later, okay?" the purple dragon replied.
"We'd love to Pinkie but we didn't earn our cutie marks today." Apple Bloom added, "So I reckon we need to get back to the clubhouse and figure somethin' else to get 'em."
"Okie dokie lokie" replied the hyperactive pink pony. "I'm off to Sugarcube Corner now. Thanks for your help today!"
"Bye, Happy Birthday!" Pinkie's friends shouted as she turned away, walked out the door and trotted back to her home.
Spike and the Crusaders waited for her clopping hooves to trot away and then they moved. Spike led the Crusaders out the back entrance of the library and they ran as fast as they could down a shortcut to the bakery. Spike knocked on the back door and the friends were led swiftly inside.