It had been several days since Scootaloo had first tried smoking joke, she was now a avid user of the herb. At Derpy's house while Dinky and the Doctor were away, the two joke heads would roll up a blunt and chill. Being pegesi they could move all the dank air afterwards out so no suspicion aroused. Scootaloo had even arrived one time to see Derpy's family home, to the orange mare's amazement they had no idea about the blue plat.

Upon one summer evening she went up to Derpy's house and knocked on the door as she always did. Derpy didn't answer. She knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing. Scootaloo checked all the windows, instead of being blocked with curtains they were completely dark. The whole scene felt eerie to Scootaloo.

"That's a trip," Scootaloo smiled to herself,"I'm totally having deja vu right now."

She opened the door to Derpy's house. Stepping inside it was very dark, no music, no smoke...nothing showing the mailmare was home. Scootaloo rubbed her head in confusion. She looked throughout the house, calling the mare's name a few times but she was nowhere to be found. She checked closets and any other hiding spot twice.

"This is so weird...why would she just run off like this?" Scootaloo asked aloud.

She decided to head back to Ponyville. As she flew in the darkening sky, she soon was over the park. Down below were two officers and a grey pegasus. Scootaloo nearly dropped out of the air realizing who it was. She flew down as quietly as she could behind a tree to see what was going on. Out of sight and out of mind, she tuned in.

"Uh...um...y-yes officer?" Derpy asked timidly,"Is there something you n-need?"

Both officers were stallions, one had a heavy looking mustache on his squared off face, while the other was a unicorn that looked like he was straight out of the academy. The sterner pony glared through his aviators,"It's very bad, working for her highness' mail service, and partaking in illegal activities," He was holding a plastic bag with a few blue buds in it. Derpy was dealing joke somewhere?

Scootaloo held down a gasp,"What is he talking about?" She asked internally,"Derpy isn't a criminal!"

Derpy had a guilty look as her hat slid down over her face a bit. The mustached officer had a stone face,"A puppy face won't work on me miss, come on. We're taking you down to the station for some questioning."

Derpy bit her lip,"It's only that blue joke stuff, it's harmless!"

The stony officer's eyebrows subtly rose. He looked over to his younger counterpart,"Hey Jolt, could you go grab some doughnuts for me? I'll take out friend here to the station and we'll meet up later."

The young stallion nodded nervously,"R-right away, Duke! D-don't let her get away," he said. With a sheepish look, he darted off in search of doughnuts.

Once the young police pony was out of sight, the stern Officer Duke took off his glasses. Derpy was taken back by how no-threatening he looked at her. He bit his lip looking for the right words,"...now miss...I've been stressed out lately, kids going off to collage in Canterlot and the wife had to go to Manehatten on business..."

Derpy was nervous,"Why a-are you telling me this?"

The bulky stallion sighed,"Look, I can...sweep this whole mess under the rug. If we come to a deal, of course."

"Oh?" Derpy instantly brightened up,"You want to be friends?"

"If by friend you mean 'supplier' then sure," Officer Duke said,"I'll even have some of the other guys...you know...look away, if you catch my drift."

"I think we can come to an agreement,"Derpy held out a hoof,"Okay Officer, it's a deal!"

They shook hooves and walked their separate ways. As Derpy walked down a rural street across from the park, Scootaloo ran up next to her. Derpy was a bit shocked to see the orange mare now.

"What are you doing out here?" Derpy sighed.

Scootaloo was very nervous,"What was that all about?"

Derpy looked up to the sky as if to say 'thank you'. She looked shaken up,"I was almost arrested. Ponies around here aren't very keen on our joke."

"I bet you're glad that you found a corrupt cop then, eh?" Scootaloo chuckled.

"Yeah, I could've met the Fluff..." Derpy cringed.

"The 'Fluff'?" Scootaloo asked,"You mean the fuzz right, like real cops?"

Derpy groaned,"No, I mean Flufflepuff. She's one of the most persistent cops in Equestria. She snuffed out a hidden joke den up in Detrot in a week. She's also pretty brutal when it comes to...service time."

"Joke smokers can get arrested..."Scootaloo was going into a cold sweat,"Derpy! How could you drag me into this? This is becoming really serious!"

Derpy made a reliving smile,"As long as you keep calm and quiet, nopony will find out. Just...try not to tell anypony okay?"

Scootaloo was getting sick with fear,"I...I had no idea..." She sat down next to the street with her face in her hooves,"What if Fluff finds out I did some?"

Derpy bit her lip. Suddenly an idea blossomed,"Listen to this; what if I took you over to my friend's house. It's totally legal and safe over there, we'll get you some and shrug this off. That sound okay?"

Scootaloo wiped a bit off wetness away from her face,"O...Okay. How far away is it?"

Derpy grinned,"It's not far at all, just a way's into Everfree," She helped the distraught mare up,"We'll go tomorrow, okay?"

Scootaloo thanked her friend and the two mares went back home. As Scootaloo walked through the streets of ponyville she noticed something. Something odd. Among a decorative hedges was a...pink bush. She didn't think it was bad, just odd. As she walked away from it, it made a raspberry sound. Scootaloo yelped and took off into the air.

She was seen by the Fluff!

Author's Note

Things are getting...hairy!