With the swift clatter of hooves on Sugar Cube Corner’s colourful tiled floor, Pinkie rushed towards a cupboard and withdrew a small strip of fabric. Lifting it up with an extended hoof she began to analyse it carefully. Satisfied with the cloth she grabbed it in two hooves and ran back towards the front window, gazing out at the mysterious figure as she did.
‘If there’s anypony that’ll get to the bottom of this case…’ Pinkie promptly tied the cloth around her head, making her frizzy hair puff up even higher than usually, ‘…IT’S PINKIE PIE!’
With a single fluid movement she dipped a hoof in a nearby bowl of icing, pushing the bowl off the bench as she did, and spread two lines of it across her face.
‘This is where things get REAL!’ She roared in enthusiasm and then looked around anxiously to make sure she hadn’t caught the suspect pony’s attention, after which she let out a giggle.
Her mission had begun. Scanning her surroundings, Pinkie noticed a slowly moving tail dragging along the ground in her peripherals; this was her chance to track down and find out who this pony was!
Pinkie slammed open the front door and stepped outside, setting off a cacophony of noise among the nearby wildlife as well as Ponyville’s residents. Needless to say she definitely wasn’t designed for an espionage case such as this, but nevertheless she continued to pursue the mystery pony. After noticing a nearby bush Pinkie dived into it and peered out through a blur of twigs, leaves and (strangely enough) remnants of discarded muffins.
‘Target sighted.’ She muttered to herself.
As Pinkie leapt out of the bush to her next hiding place in pursuit of the pony, she stumbled and landed flat on her stomach in the middle of the busy road at the feet of a certain light-yellow pony. She gazed up at the flowing pale pink mane above. A wave of nervousness washed over Pinkie, what if she was being watched!? Pinkie suddenly grabbed Fluttershy and bounced over to hide behind nearby tree. Resuming her mission, Pinkie stretched her head around the side of the tree and began to look back and forth, leaving Fluttershy thoroughly confused.
‘Excuse me Pinkie, why are we hiding? You don’t usually hide…’ Fluttershy asked politely.
‘Hiding? Hiding!?’ Pinkie was taken aback, in no way was SHE hiding from the mystery pony, if anything it was the other way around. ‘Fluttershy, we’re on a mission!’ Pinkie pointed a hoof back towards Sugar Cube Corner where a slowly moving figure could be seen. ‘That there is our target.’
‘I’ve never seen her around here before, maybe you should just go and introduce yourself.’ Fluttershy responded timidly.
Pinkie was shocked, completely stunned at what she had heard. She slumped to the ground beside the tree and for a moment closed her eyes. Thoughts rushed through her head of everypony she had ever spoken to, met or introduced herself to in Ponyville.
‘Umm, Pinkie… I didn’t mean to-‘
Suddenly interrupting Fluttershy mid-sentence, Pinkie quickly jumped up and embraced her in a friendly huggle.
‘I can be so silly sometimes. Why didn’t I think of that?’ An unusually wide grin spread across her face.
‘Well you might want to introduce yourself soon; it looks like your ‘suspect’ is about to head into Sugar Cube Corner.’ Fluttershy tilted her head towards the frosting-covered building.
‘No, there’s nopony looking after Sugar Cube Corner! It’s too late; the pony’s already opened the door!’ Pinkie let out a gasp and bounced off in a blur of pink.
‘Oh, that’s alright Pinkie, see you later…’ Fluttershy said under her breath.
* * * *
‘Hello, anypony in there?’ Pinkie knocked on the door, it must have accidentally locked when the mystery pony closed it. She walked over to the front window and peered in, the mysterious pony was in there. Again she tried to get her attention, this time tapping at the glass with a hoof.
‘Helloooooooo! Anypony in there?’
But still no success…
Pinkie paced back and forth thinking of a way to get back inside Sugar Cube Corner. Walking back over to the entrance, she tried the door again to no avail.
And then it came to her! After the party last night her bedroom window had been left open to air out the sickeningly sweet smell of spilt Apple Acres cider mixed in with fallen cupcakes that had been trampled into the floor. It was a mess that she would rather not confront, but if it meant being able to get back into Sugar Cube Corner then it was her only choice.
But how am I going to get all the way…’ Pinkie looked up to the balcony above; it seemed an awful long way, ‘…up there? If only I had the wings of a Pegasus!’
Pinkie shook her body and jumped in the air in the way she thought a pegasus would fly, but instead collapsed with a soft thud on top of a strangely soft shrub.
‘Hey, what’s going on!?’ A voice came from underneath Pinkie Pie.
‘Wow, is this one of these talking shrubs I’ve been hearing about? I’ve always wanted to meet one!’ Looking down at the lush green foliage, she introduced herself. ‘Hi shrub, I’m Pinkie Pie!’
‘Can you get off me?’ The shrub replied in a peeved tone.
‘Why sure I can!’ She hopped up and looked closely at the shrub, nuzzling it with her snout.
‘Stop it Pinkie, that tickles!’ The shrub let out a giggle that sounded an awful lot like Rainbow Dash.
A rainbow-coloured mane emerged from the shrub, followed by a blue head and two wings. Pinkie jumped up in surprise.
‘Rainbow Dash is a talking shrub!?’
Rainbow Dash was unamused, and obviously annoyed due to being fallen on top of.
‘I fell into this shrub this morning, and it was just so comfy that I thought I would take a break from my usual cloud-kicking routine.’ Rainbow Dash lifted herself into the air energetically and kicked imaginary clouds with her back legs.
‘Well until you fell on top of me that is.’ She gave Pinkie a slight glare.
‘Okay, okay, okay, I don’t need your life story silly. I’m on an important mission!’ Pinkie replied hurriedly.
‘A mission without me!?’ Rainbow Dash fell to the ground, ‘I’m all about missions!’
This was perfect timing, just what Pinkie needed.
‘Okay Rainbow Dash, I’ll let you help out. Here’s your first objective!’ Pinkie pointed to the balcony. ‘I need you to get me up there.’
‘Easily done, I’ll have you up there in 10 seconds flat!’
Rainbow grabbed Pinkie by the hoof and quickly lifted her off the ground, speeding towards the cupcake-shaped room atop Sugar Cube Corner. The speed was incredible as the wind rushed through Pinkie’s mane; it was almost as exciting as baking cupcakes! All of a sudden Pinkie went through her open window and landed on the bedroom floor. Rainbow Dash flew up and stuck her head through the window.
‘Sorry about the rough landing Pinkie, at least you’re alright.’
‘Thanks Rainbow Dash, mission complete!’ Pinkie said happily with a smile.
Satisfied with her work, Rainbow Dash flew off and left Pinkie to go investigate.
‘Time to go meet this new pony. I’d better go quietly, I don’t want to scare her…’ Pinkie said softly to herself.
Tiptoeing slowly towards the stairs attempting to make as little noise as possible, before Pinkie knew it she was head-over-hooves after tripping over a rogue muffin.
She tumbled over and over down the stairs, knocking against the walls and hearing clattering noises as she went, until finally she landed right in the middle of the shop sprawled out on the floor.
She looked up.
Standing in front of her was the pony she’d been after all morning, a brightly-coloured pink pony with a straight pink mane and a long, flowing pink tail.
The two exchanged glances, the silence was deafening. Pinkie couldn’t hold it in much longer…
‘Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie! What’s your name?’