“Are ya sure this is a good idea Twilight?” Applejack asked again as she adjusted a green pack on her back with Twilight trotting next to her wearing some green camouflage jacket with an adventure looking hat she saw once on the cover of Rainbow Dash’s favorite books.

“We are the ones suitable for the job, Applejack.” She said as she adjusted her helmet, “If I’m right about him and he is a spy then we have to gather Intel on his current activities or possible need to stop him before he sends off any vital information he might have gathered beforehoof.”

Not even 5 minutes after Gabriel had left she and Applejack left the laboratory to gather equipment for their surveillance on their unusual outsider.

“What I meant was bringing Fluttershy along?”

Looking back at their slow walking quiet animal lover, her head was down and a fixed frown marred her face.

Twilight already had gone through her head on who to bring along and immediately ruled out Pinkie on being able to keep stealthy, and then came Rarity who would be uninterested in coming and would no doubt take time in preparing. Then there’s Rainbow Dash who they couldn’t find but with her air superiority could jump from cloud to cloud getting an aerial view of their suspect.

So they took Fluttershy when she happened to be in town at the moment although when they told her their plan she seemed distant and has been acting this way ever since Twilight asked her to come with them, surprisingly she didn’t hesitate to join their investigation.

“Are you OK there, Fluttershy?”

Jolting out of her own thoughts the yellow pegasi looked, “O-oh, yes Twilight. I’m fine, I'm just thinking about something else.”

Twilight slowed down to put a hoof on her back, “Whatever it is, remember you can count on us to help you.”

Fluttershy gave her a weak smile, “I know.”

Twilight looked forward to examine the workshop she previously had been in. The steel building stood firmly structured close to the Everfree Forest which is questionable as to who would ever want to build anything near the spooky forest but the pony in charge wanted it for reasons. A silhouette of furniture masked the background as the title ‘TS Custom Housing Construction’ crafted into fine oak displaying proudly over the building.

“Applejack what do you know about this place?”

Applejack scratched the back of her head in thought, “Ah never been here before myself, although I've heard about them from some pony’s at the market. Started around two years ago ah reckon and they keep working inside for the most part, when it comes to deliverin’ their boss Truffle takes a few of them to help install the cabinets and whatnot.”

Twilight floated a notebook in front of her, “That's what I’ve got written down so far, nothing too suspicious. Although their homemade appliances are superb, the influx of customers are sparse but it keeps them in business. Each one is a contacter of their own with one Blazing Glory who sells highly priced coins for market values and is currently enrolled in school to become a full time entrepreneur in advertisement.”

She turned the page which changed from a unicorn to a Brown Earth Pony that looked half as muscular as Big Mac, “Woody Wagon is the profitable stallion who works three jobs as Ponyville's lessee with around 13 homes to his name which he is constantly referred to as the go to maintenance worker. He crafts miscellaneous items that involve wood of any kind from chess parts to hoofcrafted bow and arrows. It’s also been said that he's a skilled artist.” Twilight fired off Applejack almost got whiplashed from her words, “Also the same he’s married and has 7 foals.” Twilight raised an eyebrow at that before flipping it over to the last page that showed a photo of a grey Pegasi with green eyes, “And finally there’s the boss Truffle Shuffle who has lived in Ponyville his whole life and has been mentioned by everypony she came across. He’s adored by everypony in town, who described by the mayor as a ‘fun loving prosperous Pegasi who’s more down to earth than any Earth Pony she’s ever met.”

Twilight turned the page, “Most of his records show a clean history other than being late to pay for his taxes a year ago,” She mumbled something under her breath as she looked closer a the small print, “Married no foals….leaves to go do out of town jobs...gets most supplies from a stallion by Burnt Oak-” Applejack made a sound and embarrassingly waved her hoof for Twilight to continue, “mumble...mumble….mumble….And has not gone against any authoritative figure which determines that he is quiet cooperative.”

Twilight finished happily which Applejack realized that she was waiting for her to say something, “That’s..That’s a lot of things Twi, you really dug deep on this.”

She felt her cheeks warm up, “Sorry about that, I wanted to be thorough in case we need to present our findings to the Royal Guards. Shining always told me to be detailed when it came to an investigation,” She rolled her eyes, “As if he needed to tell me that. Give me a day and I can come up with charts!”

Applejack smiled at her enthusiasm, “So where are we supposed to look for him?”

Twilight floated back her papers, “Earlier today he said that he lives right next to her place of work so we can guess that it’s that one.” She pointed her hoof at a small house that sat next to the wood shop with a fence running along the front hiding everything inside from public view. The house looked old from it’s faded out green color and some painting dried up for so long it was peeling off. One viewing window with a curtain drawn over it rested next to the natural oaken door that helped aid anypony to see who was at the doorsteps.

“Do we snoop around the back or..” Applejack finished awkwardly never having done this before which fortunately her Twilight has, as a skilled research scientist of course.

“First we need to know where he is.” Flipping the page over she read, “He stated that he works from 8 to 5 from the shop, but since he’s a contractor his time schedule could change around that time frame. We can take a guess that he’s still working, it would give us enough time to-”

“He’s in the back.”

Twilight turned to face Fluttershy who looked away shyly, “How do you know?”

The yellow Pegasi’s glanced over her right shoulder, “I asked Mr.Butterfly.” She gestured to the small insect that hovered next to her.

Oh, of course.

“Well then, lead the way.”

Fluttershy took lead as she followed the small insect, they walked around the fencing towards the forest which looked less scary in the daytime.

“This is around the Whitetail Woods? That explains why it feels less..imposing.”

Applejack nodded her head, “Eeeup, from what ah heard they wanted nothing to do with that enchanted forest. But they needin lumber and all for their work so they go out from time to time to gather up their supplies in this part of the area.”

Twilight nodded in understanding, “So that’s why it’s built close to the woods.”

Feeling a bit safer they approached the back gate with it’s gates closed, Twilight almost did a double take when she saw the runes inscribed around the gate. From what she could tell it was a fairly easy warding off charm that kept away small predators, the crafting was adequate nothing too noticeable although she found several ill convinced cover ups that whoever wrote this tried to correct their mistakes by covering it with what appeared to be..glue? Shaking her head at the noticeable and somewhat childish mistakes she looked at the other two who appeared to be looking at the runes as well.

Twilight took the time to peek between the gates gap, her only eye saw lumber of all sorts neatly scattered around and like magic her eye connected with the one they were following.

“What do you see Twi?”

Twilight went silent for a few seconds, “I see him...doing some sort of dance. He’s lifting his arms up and positioning his legs wider than his shoulders. Now he's touching the ground on the left and holding it...Now the right...He’s thrusting his hips out and I think he’s saying something. I can’t read his lips this far but it looks likely a incantation of some sort! Maybe he’s trying to get in contact with his superiors!” She whispered excitedly to not be overheard.

“Twilight, I think he’s stretching.”

“We don’t know that Fluttershy. He could already be in contact with his leader discussing what his next or-Oh he’s picking something up! They’re black and round at the bottom they're shaped like headphones that Vinyl Scratch wear--”

She cut herself off when she realized what she just said, embarrassingly she pawed the ground when she saw the two flat expressions on her friend's faces, “OK, maybe he was just stretching.”

She made a mental note to look up more bipedal anatomy when she got back. She turned back peeking between the gate’s gap to look at the human only for her only eye to widen, “Go back! Go back!” Caught off guard the two scrambled in panic while Twilight hastily ran towards the forest to find something to hide in. Quickly spotted a conveniently tall bush she jumped head first into, poking her head out she looked and couldn’t see where Fluttershy or Applejack was but she knew well enough they had the foresight to hide.

She heard the sound of something unlocking followed by a creak and groan of old wood being moved. Twilight had to crane her neck around a tree blocking her view to see the human bouncing in place making his figure jump up and down like a Pogo-stick and like a silent alarm he took off into the woods going at a steady pace leaving an open gate behind him.

“Quickly, after him!” Twilight jumped out the bushes and next to her she saw Applejack crawl out from behind a tree, “Where’s Fluttershy?”

“Here.” A small voice came from the same place she she was hiding in.

Twilight was confused, “When did you get in there?”

“Umm, I found it the same time you did when we ran,” The bush responded.

Twilight ears twitched when she heard the falling echo of the human’s hoo-footsteps she corrected.

“Come on, Girls.” Rearing herself she galloped after their target with her friends running right behind her.

Author's Note

Not much to say, fast week.