Fashion Frenzy

Manehattan Central Police Station

500 E 200 South

Agent Sparks walked into the N.E.I.S HQ when the phone on his desk rang. It rang for three more times before he answered “Hello?”

“Um,” the voice said “is this Special Agent Jolt Sparks?”

“Yes,” he said “this is him.”

“Well,” the voice said “I was…uh…wondering if you could help me with a problem kind sir.”

“What is it?”

“You see,” the voice continued but as it did Sparks mouthed the words TRACE THE CALL to Agent Night who was sitting across from him. She tapped a few keys and gave him a wink of acknowledgement. The voice went on “I’m a fashion designer of, well…no small repute. I’m rather small I’ll be the first to admit, but I have a couple of colleagues who are big names in the industry, and some of them live in Manehattan. However, one of my lines which I sent over there was completely destroyed!”

“Ah, I see,” Sparks said “the line.”

The voice said “A line is a series of outfits based on a theme.

“Exactly ma’am,” Sparks said “I understand.”

“I’m afraid you don’t,” the voice said “the importance of this is staggering. There’s only six weeks until fashion week…”

“Yup,” Sparks said “fashion week.”

“It’s the event of the season,” the voice said indignantly “if one is declared the winner of a fashion week, the contracts which one gains are worth a fortune!”

Sparks was intrigued “And how large could this contract be?”

“Why,” the voice said “hundreds of thousands! A fashion designer’s reputation is not only put in the spotlight and they get attention, but that is advertisement alone for their specific brand. In the fashion industry, reputation is everything and if one’s reputation is ruined, then it can be so drastic so that pony could never show their face again in the industry. I mean, it’s alright that if one loses Fashion Week, but of course, that is something which only we in the industry can grasp.”

“And,” Sparks said “you think that someone could be sabotaging the lines.”

“Oh,” said the voice “most definitely.”

“Well,” Sparks said “we’ll look into it then.”

“Thank you Agent Sparks,” the charming voice said “I just want the competition to be as fair as possible.”

“Indeed,” Sparks said “we’ll be in touch.”

With that, he hung up the phone and rubbed his temples “Tell me that you got a trace?”

“Yes sir,” Agent Night said getting up and handing him a cup of coffee “It was traced to Carousel Boutique in Ponyville, about five hours by train away from here.”

“Who owns it?”

“A pony named,” Agent Night looked at her notes “Rarity. She’s actually quite well known in the industry but has an equally large reputation in the town.”

“It’s not too difficult,” Sparks said “to have a reputation either way in a small town.”

“You taking the case?”

“Got nothing better to do,” Sparks said and grabbed his bags “you coming?”

“Always,” Night said and together they left the office.

====================================================================================================

Carousel Boutique

Ponyville, Equestria

Sparks knocked on the door of the Carousel Boutique. Having never been there, he didn't know he could walk right in. Magically, the door swung open and a beautifully white unicorn with a blue mane and tale and sapphire eyes trotted up to him "Welcome to Carousel Boutique where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique," she said giving them a dazzling smile "how may I help you today?"

"Are you Rarity?" Agent Night said "

"Yes," she said "of course. But who are..."

"Special Agents Jolt Sparks and Pearl Night, Northern Equestrian Investigative Service," Agent said as they both flashed their badges at her "you called us giving a tip about the fashion saboteur?"

"How did you?"

"Don't worry about that ma'am," Agent Night said cordially "you're trying to help us and we're doing the same for you. We were simply wondering if you could give us some more details about your thoughts on the case?"

Rarity awkwardly stood there with one hoof over the other "Well," she said regaining her posture "I hope you can understand Agents, why I had to at least try and be discreet. If word got out, it would be my reputation on the line if I was proven wrong and it was just simply a series of setbacks."

"Does that happen often?" Agent Sparks said as he pocketed his badge.

"Yes," Rarity said "quite unfortunately too often. I had a line for example last year, when I was doing a show in Manehattan, I was trying to be generous and share some of the fabric which I used for my first line and gave it to another pony who went and then copied every single outfit. She went before me, and so therefore, the judges would have thought that I would have copied her."

"And you didn't," Agent Night said "didn't you."

"Most certainly not," Rarity said "I have standards, and wouldn't ever stoop so low."

"But," Agent Sparks said "there are ponies who would?"

"Absolutely," Rarity said "in fact, there is one, Suri Polomare, who had the audacity to tell me, that she copied it because in Manehattan it is 'every pony for themselves'."

"I see," Agent Night said "and you suspect her?"

"Well," Rarity said "I wouldn't go so far as to suspect her. But I'd definitely look into her first."

"We'll follow up on that," Agent Night said.

"By the way," Rarity said facing Agent Sparks "I was there at the award ceremony, and you never showed."

"I liked coffee better," Agent Sparks said.

"I simply thought I'd get to see a hero of Equestria for myself," Rarity said "and see what they look like."

"Well," Sparks said curtly nodding "now you have."

====================================================================================================

Sparks and Night left the Carousel Boutique and walked towards the center of the town "What do you think of her?" Agent Night asked.

"Who?'

"Of Rarity," Agent Night said "do you think she's telling the truth?"

"I can't see why she'd be lying," Sparks said looking at Night "she gives us a tip off on a potential case, gives us a suspect, and a motive."

"But it's too easy sir," Night said.

"Do you not like her simply because she's pretty?" Sparks asked

"No sir," Night said "it's just..."

"It's just what?" Sparks said "my gut's telling me that she's telling the truth, even if she doesn't have all of the facts yet. Remember, innocent until proven guilty. We don't accuse ponies before evidence arrives, besides, that's what they do at the E.I.A.?"

"And since when does the great Special Agent Jolt Sparks do charity calls?" a voice called out.

"Agent Steele?" Agent Night asked "what are you doing here?"

"You're investigating the saboteur of the fashion line right?"

"Well yes," Night said "of course but what does that..."

"Come," Steele said "it's a murder investigation now. I came to pick you up and I'll brief you on the flight over."