Some Purple, some pink and a sprinkle of Grey

Chapter 2

Cake Cleanup

"MOTHER OF MUFFINS" Screeched Pinkie Pie as she skidded through the open door of sugar cube corner. Twilight sparkle walked in after her baffled colleague and took a good slow look around the broken bakery. There was no sign of forced entry, or hoof prints in the sticky mess of slaughtered sweets. She used her magic to take a few snap shots of the scene, before conjuring them onto parchment which she proceeded to roll up and place in one of the pockets on her webbing.

"Pinkie, slow down, you will mess up the crime scene and next time, check the door before you rush through, who knows what traps or baddies could have been inside"

Pinkie hung her head at being scolded. As her eyes focused on the floor at her feet, she let out a sudden gasp.

"Oh, Oh, Twilight, lookie here, I think I found one of them clue thingies!"

Pinkie Pie took a step to the side and moved her head, beckoning Twilight over to where she was standing. Twilight moved cautiously to where Pinkie had been standing. On the floor was a tooth, yellow and old with a layer of scum covering it.

"Pinkie, I do believe you have found a clue, this tooth will be useful in our investigation." Twilight levitated the tooth into a plastic bag, which she then placed into another pocket on her webbing.

"Ok Pinks, you rope the place of and stand on guard outside, I will go upstairs and find Mr Cake."

Pinkie gave a mock salute and turned towards the door, whistling as she went. Twilight made for the stairs. As she placed her first hoof on the bottom step she quickly shouted out of the door.

"And don't shoot anyone!"

Twilight hastened up the stairs and trotted along the landing towards the Cakes bedroom. with a hoof she slowly opened the door. Mr Cake was sat on the edge of the bed, a small pool of tears on the floor. In his arms he was cradling an iced bun.

"She is the only survivor." He spoke solemnly, without taking his eyes of the tear soaked bun. Twilight walked up to him and placed a hoof on his back, rubbing it in slow up and down movements. Mr Cake continued to sob on the bed.

"I'm sorry Mr Cake, I truly am. This crime against confectionery will not go unpunished I will hunt the bastard who did this down and make him pay for what he did. But first I need you tell me everything, come down outside with me."

"Yes, yes." Mr Cake lifted himself slowly from the bed and walked up to the pillow. He pulled back the blanket and laid the iced bun down on the soft mattress, then he tucked it in and gave it a small kiss on the "head". Twilight turned away and let Mr Cake follow her out at his own pace.

Once outside, they were met by a scene of confusion and dismay. Pinkie had placed a boarder of pink ribbon around the shop and a small crowd of ponies were gathered there all staring at Pinkie. Pinkie was stood over a cowering colt. She was holding her pistol to the colts head.

"Pinkie! What are you doing! I said no shooting."

"But he got to close, he must be the criminal."

At the use of the word criminal the ponies forming the crowd began to whisper and babble among themselves.

"Pinkie, be quiet, you'll make everypony nervous. Let him go, he's not the bad guy."

Reluctantly,  Pinkie Pie holstered her pistol. The colt scurried away over the pink ribbon and through the crowd. Twilight threw Pinkie a dirty look, before turning to the crowd.

"Would everypony please disperse yourself's. This is a matter concerning the Confectionery Cops."

Twilight continued to comfort Mr Cake while they waited for the crowd to disperse. Once the crowd was gone, Twilight began the interview.

*****

The midday sun beat down on the Ponyville market. Derpy was sat her muffin kiosk with Dinky resting beside her on the ground. business had been slow that day and Derpy was feeling nervous. After the incident at the Sugar Cube Corner in the morning, all cake sellers and muffin merchants had been on edge. Derpy was the only store open in the market that day, all the others had worried that they would be attacked by the criminal.

"Dinky, I think we might as well leave, ain't no pony buying my muffins."

As Derpy stood up to pack up her wears, a strange carriage came round the corner, being powered by magic. The carriage stopped on the other side of the dirt road running through the market and the window rolled down. Derpy ducked as magical projectiles shredded through her muffin store and ricocheted of the buildings behind. Crumbs and chocolate chips flew every where as the onslaught continued. Derpy picked up dinky in her fore hooves and cocked the little unicorns tail. Derpy stood up and rested dinky on the counter. She squeezed Dinky's hoof and burst of identical magical projectiles shot through the air and smashed into a building in the distance. Derpy adjusted her aim and let of another burst. The carriage rocked as the magic crashed into the side, only to be absorbed into the carriages frame. More projectiles skimmed past Derpy and her kiosk burst into flame. She rolled to the side and returned fire from a convieniantly placed brick wall. Dinky began to pant at the huge use of magic.

"Come on Dinky, you can do it!" screamed Derpy. "These ponies just destroyed our muffin stall, lets get revenge."

Dinky fired the magical projectiles with increased gusto. More projectiles skimmed the wall sending shards of brick flying. Derpy took cover behind the wall.

"Dink's, this is hopeless. Help! Is there anypony who can help!"

From around the corner came two mares dressed in police hats and webbing. Derpy recognized them as Twilight and Pinkie Pie. They took up position behind the wall with Derpy.

"Damn, what the hay is going on! You ok Derpy?" Twilight screamed over the noise of bricks shattering.

"Yeh. I'm fine. Who are these ponies?"

"Dunno, but lets get em!" giggled Pinkie Pie, before drawing her pistol and firing wild shots over the wall. The carriage continued to rock both from the recoil of the ponies firing and shot hitting it. All three ponies were now standing behind the wall firing magical projectiles from filly, pistol and horn. Before long the cart was beginning to break up under the onslaught. Without warning, the wheels span and it tore away along the road.

"Pinkie, you follow the tracks and find out where is went, but don't go after the occupants alone. Derpy, take Dinky home then stop by the library, I need to have a little talk with you. Its obvious this is the one we are after pinkie, they targeted Derpy and her stall, a well known muffin vendor and the best muffin business in town."

Pinkie bounced along the road following the fresh tracks made by the careening carriage and Derpy headed home past her burning stall with a panting Dinky nestled on her back. Twilight doused the flames, then galloped back to the library, she had many notes to take and clues to solve.