Rarity wasn't pleased. She was sitting in the waiting room of the Ponyville Spa, leafing through outdated celebrity magazines while waiting for Fluttershy to arrive for their routine activity of relaxation. The unicorn huffed as she looked up at the clock above the reception desk to see that she had been waiting for an hour and a half. Fluttershy couldn't have forgotten; Rarity reminded her the previous evening while at the cottage for tea.
Having run out of magazines to entertain her, Rarity got up and left after asking the receptionist to move their appointment to later that afternoon. She decided that something had come up with Fluttershy's animals, which were keeping her late. Though she didn't like dealing with creatures who have been who-knows-where and have touched who-knows-what, Rarity knew that being a good friend meant lending a helping hand when needed. Plus, the sooner Fluttershy's animals were dealt with, the sooner she could relax at the spa.
Rarity trotted out of town towards the Everfree forest, not being afraid of approaching its looming darkness. She frequented Fluttershy's cottage, which lay on the forest's edge, enough that she had become somewhat desensitized to it. Out of the peaceful morning, a crow cawed loudly, making Rarity jump.
"Oh, shush, you." Rarity said to the bird, pouting before continuing along her way. The crow flapped away. Rarity breathed in the warm autumn day and hummed to herself. At least it was a beautiful day, and she didn't have to trek through snow or mud, or have her mane messed up by wind or rain. Maybe having to go on this walk wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Soon, the welcoming cottage was in sight. Rarity smiled. Despite her annoyance earlier, she was eager to see her friend. Her smile soon vanished as she noticed that the door to her friend's home was hanging open, and the garden, normally filled with birdsong and animals chattering to each other, was oddly silent. The crow from earlier fluttered onto a tree branch and cawed at Rarity again. Rarity shook her head, and proceeded to investigate.
"Fluttershy, dear?" She called, entering the dark house. "Are you home?"
There was no answer. Rarity shuddered, looking around. There were no animals in the cottage, a phenomenon that Rarity had never seen before. On the coffee table was a teapot and three empty teacups. The same ones they used the night before. She shook off the feeling and continued throughout the house, searching each room, calling Fluttershy's name every so often.
Opening the door to Fluttershy's bedroom, Rarity gasped and brought a hoof to her mouth. The bedroom was torn apart. The photos on Fluttershy's dresser were knocked over, as well as a tall standing mirror, leaving shattered glass on the floor. The curtains were ripped, chairs knocked over. The circle rug in the centre of the room was kicked up as if someone had tripped over it. Rarity turned and walked quickly back through the house. Back in the living room, something caught her eye. She turned on the light beside the door, and shrieked. The floor was covered in a smear of dried blood, leading from Fluttershy's bedroom to the door where Rarity stood. The blood was accompanied by scrapes in the hardwood floor, as if somepony had been dragged through it against their will.
Rarity turned and bolted towards town, not bothering to turn off the light or close the door.
"Okay Rarity," Twilight said in a calm but serious tone. "Tell us all what happened."
Rarity was still shaking, despite being given a blanket and some calming tea. Her four friends gave her encouraging nods. "O-okay." She said, gathering herself. "I was at the spa, waiting for Fluttershy. We go to the spa together often, and it's not uncommon for Fluttershy to be late, but she's never been an hour and a half late before. So I went to her cottage to see if everything was going okay, but when I got there..." She swallowed. "The door was open, and the house was entirely empty. Her bedroom was torn apart and there was dried blood everywhere!"
"Do you think one of her animals attacked her?" Rainbow Dash asked from on top of one of the library's many bookshelves.
"Come on Rainbow," Apple Jack said. "None of her animals would ever do that to her."
"We can't rule out anything until we've investigated." Twilight said. "Right now, everyone and everything is a suspect until we see the crime scene."
"Well what are we waiting for?" Rainbow Dash said, hoping down from the shelf. "Let's go investigate! There's no time to lose!" She jumped up and rocketed towards the door, only to be stopped in her tracks by Twilight using her magic to grab Rainbow's tail, holding her back.
"Not so fast, Rainbow. Fluttershy's cottage is a possible crime scene. We have to make sure we don't disturb anything that could lead us to Fluttershy." The alicorn said sternly.
"Shouldn't we get Celestia's help?" Rarity asked, worryingly.
"Not just yet." Twilight said. "This might not be a serious case. There might have just been an accident. We should see if we can find out where Fluttershy is first, before getting the Princesses involved." The others nodded. "That being said, we should still contact the police. Pinkie Pie, you go to the police station and report the incident, and bring some ponies to meet us at the cottage. Apple Jack, you go to the hospital and see if Fluttershy is checked in there. If she hurt herself in her home she might have gone to the hospital for treatment. Meet us at the cottage as soon as you have an answer. Rainbow, you fly to the cottage and check the surrounding area for clues. Rarity and I will go to the cottage to investigate inside. We'll meet you all there."
"Okie dokie, Twilight. We're coming Fluttershy!" Pinkie shouted, running out of the library. The others followed suit in a hurried but much more quiet manner.
Data Mine and Chilly Chase were disgruntled when they were assigned to the case of a missing pegasus from Ponyville. They were quite distinguished investigators in Fillydelphia, and were generally hired for gang related drug crimes. Why they were dispatched to Ponyville for a missing pony case was beyond them, especially since cases as such were usually directed to local authorities.
"Chase, wake up." Said Data. "This is our stop."
"Huh?" Chase snorted blinking his eyes open. He looked out the window to see the platform of Ponyville Station. "Oh, right."
"Come on, let's get this over with so we can go back home." Data sighed, using her magic to levitate her suitcase down from the overhead rack. She set it down and retrieved Chase's luggage as well, shoving it into his chest.
Twilight paced in her library, a pensive look on her face. The other four mares sat watching her.
"I don't know why we couldn't have just gotten the local police to do the investigation." Applejack said.
"Yeah." Rainbow Dash groaned. "We've wasted hours waiting around. That's valuable time!"
Twilight sighed. "I know that every hour counts. But I really think that we should get the best in on this. This is Fluttershy we're talking about. She's our friend. We want the best chances of finding her."
She quickly trotted to the door when she heard a stern knock. Opening the door, she was greeted by two ponies. The first was a grey unicorn mare with an intimidating steely gaze. The second was a rather distracted looking pink pegasus with a teal mane and tail.
"Twilight Sparkle?" The unicorn asked.
"Yes, that's me. You're here to find our friend Fluttershy, right?"
The unicorn nodded. "We are."
"Please come in." Twilight said quickly, moving aside. "These are my - and Fluttershy's - closest friends. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie." Each nodded as she mentioned them.
"I'm Detective Data Mine, and this is my colleague, Chilly Chase." The unicorn said.
The latter nodded to the five mares. "Pleasure."
The two investigators took a seat. Data Mine took a battered black notebook from her bag and placed it on the table before her, Chilly Chase following suit.
"So, your friend, Fluttershy, is it?" Data Mine asked, scribbling in her book as the mares nodded. "Can you describe her appearance for me?"
"Of course." Twilight offered. "She's a yellow pegasus. Pale pink mane and tail, she wears them long and straight. Here eyes are kind of turquoise."
Data Mine jotted this down in her book. "And could you tell me about where she lives, what she does for a living?"
"She lives in a cottage near the Everfree. She's a caretaker for the animals in the area." Twilight said.
"She's very quiet." Apple Jack added.
"Tends to be a bit of a pushover." Rainbow said, getting a few glares from her friends.
"I don't mean to intrude, Miss Data Mine," Rarity said. "But, I think you should take a look at Fluttershy's home before any evidence gets removed."
Data Mine looked at her, her hard stare making Rarity shrink back a little. "Just 'Data' is fine." She said. Sighing, she nodded to her colleague and shut her notebook. "Alright Chase, let's go have a look."
"This is... interesting." Rainbow Dash said, hovering over Data's shoulder. "What is it?"
Data sighed. "Miss Dash, I did ask you and your friends to stay outside to avoid contaminating the crime scene."
"But I'm not touching anything!" Rainbow exclaimed, flying a circle around the investigator.
"Please just let me concentrate." Data said, unimpressed. "In fact, I think it would be a wise idea for you and your friends to go around town asking ponies if they've noticed any strange activity, or when they had last seen Fluttershy."
"But I want to investigate!" Dash complained.
"But you would be investigating," Chase interjected before Data could snap at her. "You could probably find a lot more leads interviewing ponies than we could find just based on this empty cottage."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense." Dash floated out the door to meet her friends. "Hey guys, the detectives say that we should go question ponies and figure out what they know!"
Data sighed. "Honestly, I didn't realize Ponyville would be so..." She waved her hoof.
"Aw come on, I don't think they're that bad." Chase said. He smiled at his partner. "They're cheery."
"And their friend is missing." Data growled. "I think we should be investigating them."
Chase rolled his eyes. "Just because they're being optimistic doesn't mean they're suspects. We've barely started the investigation."
"Which means we haven't found any evidence to rule them out."
"You wanted to see me, Detectives?" Twilight asked, walking up to a table in a quiet restaurant. The two investigators were sitting on one side, beckoning for Twilight to sit across from them.
"Yes," Data said, "We want to ask you some more questions about the disappearance of your friend Fluttershy."
"Oh, okay." Twilight said. "If you just wait fifteen minutes, I can fetch my friends-"
"Actually, Miss Sparkle, we want to talk to you alone." Data said sternly.
Twilight blinked. "Oh. Okay then." She sat down across from the two. "Any reason why?"
"We just want to collect some unbiased accounts of what happened in the days surrounding the incident."
"Are you... implying that my friends and I are suspects?" Twilight asked, slightly shocked.
"Of course not, Miss Sparkle." Data said. "We only want to make sure that we hear each individual story one by one. This ensures that any details in individual accounts aren't missed. It's a common tactic we use when looking for missing ponies. You and your four friends are Fluttershy's closest friends, and the most likely ponies she came in contact with in the days leading up to the incident. We'd like to track her movements and behaviours and see if we can detect anything unusual that might provide us a lead."
"Oh." Twilight said as a waiter approached their table. The investigators ordered themselves coffee and offered Twilight a beverage, but politely asked for a simple glass of water.
"So, Miss Sparkle. When did you first meet Fluttershy?" Data asked, pencil poised above her notebook.
"When I first moved to Ponyville a couple of years ago." Twilight answered.
"How many?"
"Two. And four months, to be precise."
"And what is your relationship like?" Data asked, not looking up.
"Well, I'm not as close to her as Rainbow Dash is. They've been friends since flight school. But we see each other a lot around town, and when we all hang out together. I guess we don't really interact a whole lot outside a group setting."
"When was the last time you saw Fluttershy?"
"The evening before she disappeared. She invited Rarity and I over for tea, and we stayed and talked for a few hours. Eventually it started to get late and I still had to write a letter to Princess Celestia, so I left before Rarity did." Twilight answered.
Chase looked up. "Oh yeah, you're the Princess' personal student, aren't you?" He asked excitedly. Twilight nodded, blushing a little. "What's it like?"
"Oh, it's pretty great." Twilight said sheepishly.
"Chase, stay on topic." Data said, causing Chase to suddenly return his nose to his notebook.
"So you left before Rarity did." Data said. "And when did you first discover she was missing?"
"The next day, in the afternoon. Rarity came running to my library saying that Fluttershy was gone and that there was blood all over her cottage." Twilight answered. "So we got the others together to look for her and get help."
"Are there any other details that you would like to share with us? Even if they seem on the irrelevant side?" Data asked. Twilight shook her head, and Data continued to scribble in her notebook.
Finally, she looked up. "Thank you, Miss Sparkle. You may go now."
"Thank you, detectives. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help." Twilight said, leaving the restaurant.
"So..." Chase said after Twilight left the building. "You think it was Rarity?"
Data glared at the pink pegasus. "We don't have any evidence."
"But-"
"That was just one account. Let's see what the others say first." Data said. "We can't make accusations without sufficient cause."
"I'd call that sufficient to call her a true suspect." Chase said, pouting.
"And that's why you're the rookie, and I'm in charge of the investigation."
The next of Fluttershy's friends called to visit with Data and Chase was Rainbow Dash. She flew over to the same restaurant that Twilight had her interview at.
"Hello Miss Dash." Data said, inviting the pegasus to sit down.
"Hey. You have some questions?" Rainbow asked.
"We do." Data said. "Please do not take any of them too personally, we're only asking to gather data about the events surrounding your friend's disappearance."
"Sure," Dash replied, "Anything to help bring her back."
"Alright. Let's get started. How long have you known Fluttershy?"
"Oh, that's easy. We met waaay back in flight school." Rainbow Dash said. "She got pushed around by some bullies, and I swooped in to rescue her with an epic Sonic Rainboom TM! We both got our cutie marks, and we've been friends ever since."
"I see." Data said flatly. "When was the last time you saw Fluttershy?"
"Hm..." Rainbow Dash thought back. "Oh yeah, I saw her the morning before she went missing. I was clearing the clouds around her place and I stopped by to say hi to her. I couldn't stay long, she was pretty busy with her animals that morning."
"Clearing clouds?"
"Yeah, I work on the weather team. I help change the weather in Ponyville." Rainbow said proudly. "It doesn't sound like much, but it's pretty cool."
"What were you doing the night before Fluttershy was reported missing?"
"It was movie night down at town hall. They play movies once in a while on a projector and we sit on the grass and watch together. I went with Pinkie. The rest were busy."
"And what did you do after that?" She asked.
"I walked Pinkie back to Sugar Cube corner. Then I went back to my place and got some Zs." Rainbow replied. "I didn't hear Fluttershy was missing until Twilight woke me up and told me to go to the library because Fluttershy was gone."
"Did you talk to anypony after leaving Sugar Cube corner?" Data asked, continuously writing in her notebook.
"No, it was pretty late. Nobody was around."
"Any suspicious activity?"
"Like I said, nobody was around at that time."
"Thank you, Miss Dash." Data said. "You're dismissed."
Pinkie Pie had gone back to work, despite her friend's disappearance. She figured that the baking would help keep her worries at bay. After all, Fluttershy would be back soon, she was sure this was nothing to worry about. She took the opportunity to ask each of her customers about Fluttershy, so she was still being helpful in finding her friend. The bell at the door rang as another customer entered.
Pinkie looked up and smiled. "Hello! Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner, how may I-" She cut off, seeing who had just walked in. "Oh hi Data, hi Chase. What can I do for you guys?" She asked, just as cheerfully.
"May we have a moment of your time, Miss Pie?" Data asked. "We would just like to ask you a few questions."
"Sure thing!" Pinkie said. "Would you like some free samples?"
"Thanks for the offer, but-"
"Heck yeah!" Chase interrupted. "I've heard this place has a good reputation!"
Data rolled her eyes.
"Also, I've never seen a stallion with a pink coat before! That's so cool! We match!" Pinkie exclaimed.
Chase blushed. "I-It's not pink... It's lightish red."
"Uh-huh!" Pinkie chirped.
Data rolled her eyes. "Anyways..."
"Well, that all lines up." Chase said as they walked away from Sugar Cube Corner with a bag full of treats. "She said she was out at the movie with Rainbow Dash, and when we talked to the Cakes they told us she came back right after, and was there for work bright and early. Guess it wasn't her."
"I dunno, Chase." Data said. "She's awfully cheery. It's unsettling."
"I think she's just coping." Chase said thoughtfully, stuffing a muffin in his mouth.
"Hm."
It wasn't long before they reached their destination: Carousel Boutique. Rarity welcomed them into her shop, and invited the two into her workroom to talk.
"How goes the investigation?" Rarity asked, concerned. "Have you found any clues yet?"
Data shook her head. "Sorry Miss. Nothing has been uncovered yet. We're still collecting some information, which is why we're here right now. We'd like to ask you some questions."
"Of course."
"When was the last time you saw Fluttershy?"
"Twilight and I were at her cottage with her the night before I discovered her missing." Rarity replied. "Twilight left around nine thirty, she said she had something to do. I stayed until around eleven. I left Fluttershy's and went straight back home. Went to bed around midnight. The next day, Fluttershy was supposed to meet me at the spa, like we do each week. I waited for her, but she never showed up, so I went to her cottage to see what had happened, and... well, I found what you already saw."
There was a silence as Data jotted down some notes. "I see." She said. "Do you live alone?" She asked.
"No, my sister Sweetie Belle lives with me." Rarity asked. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious." Data said, pointing at a rather foalish drawing pinned to a cabinet. "I was wondering who made that."
"Oh, yes." Rarity replied. "My little sister is still in elementary school. Her art skills are... improving."
"I see. Miss Rarity, have you noticed anything strange about Fluttershy, or any of your friends as of late? Strange behaviour, anything uncharacteristic?" Data asked seriously.
Rarity thought for a moment. "No, I don't think so. I do think they seem a little unconcerned about Fluttershy, though. I think maybe it's just how they cope with the worry. Pretend everything is okay."
"I see. Thank you Miss Rarity." Data said, packing up.
"Thank you, detectives. Let me know if there are any developments."
"Applejack's account wasn't very helpful." Chase said, as the two left the farm that afternoon.
"She never left the farm between that evening and the discovery of the crime scene." Data said. "Her family attests to that."
"And you know, element of honesty and all." Chase added. "So, we've talked to all of them. Now what?" He asked as they approached the schoolyard. Instead of walking past it, Data lead Chase down the walk.
"We have one more pony to talk to."
