Solution:
Shadow tag relies on ponies' shadows extending past their actual bodies. At noon, with the sun directly overhead, the Crusaders would practically trample each other trying to step on shadows!With their new, revised schedule, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are ready for a (likely tree-sap-filled) day of fun in the sun! Ponyville may not be grateful, but these three fillies sure are!
"Yeah," Spike said, "this schedule looks like a lot of fun, Scootaloo..."
"See?" Scootaloo smirked at the other Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"...but," the baby dragon continued, "how are you going to play shadow tag at noon?"
"Easy," Scootaloo said, "we just... oh." She sighed. "Darn, I was really looking forward to playing that, too!"
"That's easily remedied," Twilight said. "Just swap Shadow Tag with your second game of Hide 'n' Seek, and the shadows should be long enough to play!"
The three fillies examined the schedule, then Scootaloo made the suggested change. They nodded briskly, hoofbumped, and galloped out into the orchard to begin playing.
"That was just unbearably adorable," Twilight said as the fillies sped off.
"Where to next, Sugarcube?"
Twilight smiled. Having her friends with her would make this much more bearable, she decided. "I'd like to pick up the rest of the girls," she said, "so I guess our next stop would be..." She found her eyes drawn to the crude map of Ponyville on the wall of the Crusaders' clubhouse.
* * * * *
"Fluttershy's cottage," Twilight announced as they arrived at their destination. "We'll sort out whatever problem she's having with her animals in no time, and then we'll figure out where to go from there."
"What makes you so sure she's having a problem with her animals?" Spike asked curiously.
"Spike, everypony in town is having problems today. So, naturally, that would have to include Fluttershy."
"Well, yeah," Spike said, "but it doesn't necessarily have to be something to do with her animals."
Applejack, Twilight, and Rarity all just stared at him levelly.
"Okay," Spike said, "it's probably with her animals."
"Oh, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity said, "I believe I found a few more of those pieces of paper you've been picking up."
Spike's heart skipped a beat, and when Rarity levitated the paper pieces over to him, he looked like she was presenting him with the keys to the kingdom. "Thanks, Rarity," he said softly, and looked down at the papers in his claws wistfully.
"Easy there, loverboy," Applejack whispered, nudging him in the side with a knee. "Those ain't love letters, ya know."
"They may as well be," Spike said, but tucked the fragments in Twilight's saddlebags with the rest of those they had gathered.
Rarity, meanwhile, failed to notice the exchange -- either out of tact or because she had galloped slightly ahead of the other two ponies. "Oh, Fluttershy, darling," she called out.
The butter-yellow pegasus looked up from what she was doing. The consternation on her face gave way to obvious relief. "Oh, hello," she called out. "Is it time for the picnic already?"
"The picnic's been postponed," Twilight said as she and Applejack caught up to Rarity. "I need your help, Fluttershy."
"Oh," Fluttershy said. "Oh, my. I... I'll do what I can, but..."
"...but," interjected Twilight, "you've got a bit of a puzzle on your hooves?"
"Oh, yes," Fluttershy said with a smile. "It's these mustelines." She indicated a group of cute, furry creatures with a wave of her forehoof.
"Musty lions?" Spike scratched his namesake spines, frowning in confusion.
"Mustelines," corrected Twilight. "It means animals like weasels, otters, ferrets, minks, and such."
"Yes," said Fluttershy. "See, I had a group of ferrets, and a group of weasels, and they don't like being put together, but I can't figure out which is which."
"You," said Twilight, "can't tell which is which." She shook her head rapidly, banishing all thought of arguing the point. This just fit right in with what had been happening so far. "Right," she said. "Okay, so, what distinguishing characteristic will let us separate the weasels from the ferrets?"
"Oh," said Fluttershy, "it's all in the names, you see."
"The names? So, what, all the weasels have names like William or Wally or something?"
"Winona's a weasel?" Applejack said with a perplexed look.
"Oh, no, no," said Fluttershy. "You see, ferrets always tell the truth -- they ferret it out -- while weasels..."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "...weasel out of it," she concluded.
"Yes."
"I don't suppose you speak musteline?" Twilight asked hopefully.
"No," said Fluttershy. "I had Angel ask them, but of course, none of the weasels will admit to being weasels..."
"So, what did they say?"
Puzzle 05
Ferreting Out the Truth
30/30 BitsPoor Fluttershy is in a tizzy. She can't remember how many ferrets she has, and how many weasels, and they've gotten all mixed up in her yard!
Fortunately, Ferrets always tell the truth, while Weasels are infamous liars. Sort through the statements made by the five cute little critters so Fluttershy can put them in the right pens.
Critter A: Critter E is definitely a weasel.
Critter B: Critter D and I are both weasels.
Critter C: Don't listen to any of these guys. I'm the only ferret here.
Critter D: Critter A is a ferret.
Critter E: Critter B is a ferret for sure.
