Moondancer nodded to the earth pony across from her. "Thank you for assisting, Pinkie."

"Always a pleasure." She saluted sharply. "You're one of my favorite wizards, you know. And I'm not just saying that because you're the only one I've ever known. Really." She winked. "I mean it."

"I believe you." Moon smiled gently. "I need to learn these spells, and you can help me cast them." She inclined her head. "Some of them involve your unique abilities, that we both want to delve further into."

"Sure." Pinkie shrugged. "That's what I'm here for. You, me, the magic, all of us. I love that stuff, it's super fun! And a chance to help my friends." She hugged herself for emphasis on this point. "How do we start?"

"We're going to start by working together. We're going to combine our magics to perform some very powerful spells. I hope." She looked up at the sun. "It's a bright and beautiful day. Are you ready?"

"Always." Pinkie bounced in place. "What spell are we casting?"

Moondancer tapped the book she'd laid out on the ground beside them. "Your talents are many, but they focus on perception. You see things that other ponies do not, with senses I am not entirely sure we share. I wish to take advantage of that, and perhaps prove their existence in a measurable way." She opened the book and flipped through it to the right page. "This spell is meant to reveal things hidden, things that cannot normally be seen. I will need your help."

"Oo!" Pinkie hopped up and down with building excitement. "Sounds like my kinda spell. What do I haveta do?"

"It's not complicated." Moon pointed at a spot on the ground. "Just sit there, and I'll do everything else." She waited until Pinkie was seated before continuing. "Just relax, and I'll use a spell to borrow your unique perceptions for a time." Her horn glowed gently as she began the spell, focusing on Pinkie when she wasn't double-checking the spell she was performing. "You should feel no pain or discomfort. If anything feels wrong, please let me know."

"Got it." Pinkie closed her eyes. "I'm ready. Hit me with whatever you got."

With a sudden burst of a sphere of magic, she closed her eyes. "Let's start with searching for ponies that have not had breakfast this morning."

Pinkie's eyes snapped open, wide and glowing. She stared at something far off. "Mrs. Cake, Mr. Cake, Mayor Mare, Berry Punch, Bon Bon, and Lyra."

Moondancer started. "I, already?" Her horn guttered, spell stopping. "If we can confirm this is true, that is a considerable step forward in confirming your subtle perceptions." She jotted the list of names down on a sheet of paper. "Thank you, Pinkie. Let's go check on this list, shall we?"

"Sure." Pinkie smiled as she bounced to her hooves. "But you don't want me being the first to ask."

Moon inclined her head. "Why not?" But it came to her a moment later. "That makes sense. If you asked, that would make bias an unfortunate possibility in the report. You stay here then, and I'll ask them." She turned and hurried off to ask. "Be back soon, Pinkie!"

Pinkie waved. "Take your time!"

The results of the survey came in quickly: every pony asked had not eaten breakfast. They were mildly confused at being asked, but, ultimately, they admitted it was true. Moon suggested they fix that, it being quite late in the morning, but she didn't stay long. She trotted back to Pinkie, her eyes bright. "You were entirely correct."

"Ooo." Pinkie grinned. "So your spell works. Cool."

Moon nodded quickly. "Indeed it does. But the spell isn't the star of this show. The spell had barely begun to unfold, for me, and your own abilities hopped in and did most of the work. I have a few more tests to run, if you're willing."

"Sure thing." Pinkie tilted her head. "What's up next?"

Moondancer closed her eyes and focused on the spell. "Let's find some missing left hindsocks. Why those socks go missing more frequently, I do not know, and that is not the question we'll be answering today. I want to find out where they go." Her horn began to glow. "Ready?"

"Ready." Pinkie settled in, relaxing as best as she could. The magic washed over her, and she felt herself being pulled in. Her eyes began to glow and a smile spread on her face. "Oh, that is a wonderful feeling." She pointed off. "I can feel a missing sock that way."

Moon took down a note of the directions and made a note of her own observations of Pinkie's condition during the event. "Where else?"

Pinkie pointed at various locations around them. Moondancer dutifully wrote down everything Pinkie said, trusting that Pinkie could not be mistaken. Pinkie shook her head, coming around. "This one I can help with. Can't bias a sock. Let's find some missing clothes!"

Moon giggled as she headed out. "Right, and I'll talk to some ponies about why this is a problem."

The questions raised a few brows, but ponies confirmed the lost items, and Pinkie found them. Most of the ponies were confused, but happy, to be reunited with their lost garments. Each thanked them politely for returning the goods. In turn, Pinkie thanked them for the gratitude and headed off for the next pony. This left her and Moondancer facing Gummy. Or rather, Pinkie doing so.

Gummy licked his left eye and gazed upon them with the eternal stare that only he had.

Moon inclined her head. "Why are we staring at your pet alligator?"

Pinkie frowned. "Because I can't understand him, and he knows something, I'm sure."

"Well." Moondancer waggled her ears as she approached. "Perhaps I can lend some assistance there."

"What do you mean?" Pinkie blinked slowly as Moondancer advanced on Gummy with glowing horn. "Isn't talking to animals Fluttershy's special talent?"

Moondancer shook her head with a slow smile. "It is, but she isn't here, and I have an idea." She set a hoof on Gummy's head. "I don't think this is a communication difficulty. I think this is a comprehension difficulty. Let me share your senses for a while, Pinkie." Her horn glowed as her gaze sharpened, eyes focused directly on Pinkie. "Feel this." She brought Gummy's senses and Pinkie's together in a burst of magic that send all three of them flying back several feet.

Moon sat up, dazed. "I wasn't expecting that reaction.

"Gum!" Pinkie grabbed Gummy. "I thought I lost you for a minute there. Are you okay, buddy?"

Gummy gazed vacantly.

She looked at him, nodding with slow understanding. "Ah, so you really aren't upset by any of this." She released a held breath. "Good."

Moondancer considered Pinkie and Gummy with narrowed eyes. "Fascinating. I can't say why or how, but Gummy appears to have a 'busy' mind, just like yours, Pinkie. Perhaps that's what drew you two together. Attempting to connect you two resulted in a powerful force. I don't think that much thought was meant to be in the same space."

"That does explain his vacant expression." She lifted Gummy up and nuzzled him, setting his tail to wagging. "My special buddy." She turned to Moondancer. "What are you writing?"

"These experiments are all worth documenting." The quill in her magic danced, making notes diligently. "This is all incredibly fascinating. Thank you for being patient, Pinkie."

"No prob, Bob." She waggled her brows. "Anything else on your mind? Want me to show you how the secret passages work? I can!"

Moondancer lifted her head curiously. "What secret passages?"

"Come on!" She darted into Sugar Cube Corner, heading straight for a shelf of jars. She reached up and pulled one not once, or twice, but three times in rapid succession. The wall to her left slid open silently. "See?" She tossed her mane over her shoulder, posing with the jar of jelly beans in her teeth.

Moondancer was speechless, jaw hanging open. "How... but..." She crept over to examine the passage and its doorway, a little worried it would close as she stepped closer, but advancing all the same. "Where does that lead? Do the Cakes know about it?"

"Nah." Pinkie bounced inside without a worry. "Nopony notices these. I've checked. A lot of houses around here have 'em though."

"Why?" Moon hurried after her as the wall began to slide shut again. "How? Who put these here?" She gestured around the narrow chamber with its tight turns and sudden drop. "Who would make them?"

Pinkie Pie began a bouncing song. "I don't know who made them, but they're here! Secret passages galore!" She posed upside-down, walking on her front hooves, rear ones spread wide.

Moon nodded with confusion as they wandered the mysterious tunnels.

"This one goes under Sweet Apple Acres! Apples in the pantry are delicious!" Her stomach grumbled audibly and she blushed.

They crossed under the town at a considerable rate, Pinkie guiding Moon unerringly along paths with which she was familiar. They popped out through a hatch right up into the orchard as if it always had a trapdoor randomly between two normal trees. "Apples!" Pinkie grabbed one and chomped down into the crunchy delight.

Applejack hurried over at the noise. "Hold it right there, thief!" She slid to a stop at sight of them. "Pinkie?" She gestured around them. "Why were ya down under there?"

"Had to take some time to show Moondancer a secret passage." She waved the chomped apple at Applejack. "Also, your apples taste even better than usual. Good job!" She bounced up to Applejack to give her a hug. "I think I helped her solve a magical mystery, too!"

"A mystery?" Applejack's brow furrowed as she looked past Pinkie.

Moon was there, climbing into view. "I think she's delivered a mystery as opposed to solving one. Though, this explains, in part, how she gets around town so quickly and out of sight." She tilted her head curiously at the wooden steps behind them. "Secret tunnels, imagine that."

"Imagine is right." Applejack walked around the steps, examining them closely. "Ah don't remember diggin' no tunnel from th' farmhouse 'ta 'ere."

Pinkie casually swung the door closed, and it was gone as if it had never been there. "I doubt you did it, silly. Why would you dig holes in your field unless you were planting a new tree?"

Applejack put a hoof to her hat. "Ya got me there, sugarcube." She chuckled. "Wouldn't mind knowin' how yer doin' this trick o' yours."

Moon inclined her head. "Unraveling all of pinkie's tricks will take considerable time. I am proud to report that we've made some progress proving her extra-pony senses. They are real. I cannot say their source, but that they are verifiably real is undeniable." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "But why? That is the great question now."

Applejack chuckled. "Ah'm sure ya will figger it out, Moondancer. Ah got apples to buck." She hugged each of them in turn. "Next time, come in on the road, ya silly ponies."

Pinkie giggled. "Where's the fun in that?" She popped an apple wedge into her mouth, savoring the sweet crunch of it.

"She has a point." Moon chuckled as Applejack departed. "Your secret tunnels are useful, but we shouldn't use them to be rude." She inclined her head. "Not that I have your unique ability to locate them." She paused. "That is another sense. You are a very sensory pony, Pinkie. That must be the secret." She held her scroll steady with telekinesis as she scribbled in it. "Hmm, sensory..." She fell silent to concentrate.

Pinkie let out a sigh, looking skywards as Applejack went about her business, bucking away at apple trees. "Well, we shouldn't hang around here. We'll just be in the Apples' way." She took a moment to wave at Pear Butter seated side by side with Granny Apple. Those two got on pretty well, it seemed. She smiled to see a little more happiness in the world. It was always good to see more happiness in the world.

"Indeed. Back to the library." Moon pointed the way and started a casual walk back to home base. "You make an excellent test subject, as well as a friend, Pinkie." She bumped into Pinkie in friendly fashion, smiling at her warmly. "It is fortunate that you're able to assist. You are truly unique."

"Yeah, and you are a wizard pony, Moon." She chomped Moon's closer ears. "So we both have interesting magic going on. It's just different magic, you know? Different skills." She held up a hoof. "Yours involves spells. Mine involves... party cannons." She snorted with amusement. "I can't wait until Twilight gets back so she can test my secrets too!"

Moon shook her head. "Your unique magic continues to agitate her. She may come around with my verified and verifiable data. She prefers things she can rest a hoof on."

"I get that." She flopped to the ground and rolled onto her back, kicking her legs upwards and twirling. "So, ready to keep playing wizard games? Got your wizard hat on tight?"

"I do not." Moon smiled faintly.

Author's Note

This is better than zapping Pinkie clones. Felt better to loop back on Moon and Pinkie's special bond. Pinkie may be a mystery, but Moon confirms she is no liar with a little science, and magic.

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