(Two Days Later)

It had most certainly been at the back of her mind, as they never really made the front page. But they most certainly did today.

Mysterious Missing Cases Increasing!

Seven ponies missing within recent weeks!

The chief of Ponyville Police, Steel Blanket, states "[The missing ponies] will be found, and they will be brought home in one piece to their families. Until we find the culprit, I want every good pony in this humble town to keep their family and close friends tight to their chests."

The disappearances of ponies have been happening in Ponyville for the last estimated two–three years, but were small and didn't garner more attention than just some ponies going missing in the Everfree or just suddenly leaving without notice. Recently however, with the steadily increasing number, police and investigators believe the disappearances to be active takings (or foalnappings) being committed by somepony talented within this field.

Investigator Spyglass from Prance, states "The takings are random and – seemingly – without pattern, whoever is taking these ponies appears to have no reason. One of the taken was an alcohol brewer, taken eight weeks ago. The next disappearance was discovered three days later when they were reported missing, this one was a wood craftspony." Spyglass continues. "First thought it was a misandrist case, as many of the missing ponies were mares, but that was quickly rethought when a few stallions were reported missing."

Rarity didn't bother reading any further, worry for her friends, her cousin and her little sister clouding her mind as thoughts of one of them (or more) suddenly disappearing filled her head. Rarity knew Clarity and the girls could protect themselves; Twilight and Clarity probably had safety measures for it, Applejack can protect herself (clearly), they'd have to somehow catch Rainbow first, Pinkie's 'Pinkie Sense' would definitely protect her, and Fluttershy had her animals.

But it was Sweetie Belle that scared her the most; her little Belle couldn't protect herself as well as Rarity and her friends could, she was just too sweet and gentle. it made her anxious thinking about it all.
"Ohh..." Rarity rubbed her temple with her hoofs. "What is Clarity up to..."

(Clarity Glass Workshop)

Clarity clambered onto the staircase of his basement, closing the lower door behind him. Shaking his head to stave off the fatigue from being awake all night. His basement is where he keeps all his personal activities, so as to keep them away from the heat of the furnace that could potentially damage them.

The ring of the bell over his front door made his slowly shutting down brain wake it's self up. Pushing up the stairs he called out, "Coming!" he shouted.

Pushing the basement upstairs door open, Clarity closed it behind him once through. After stepping out from the back room and stepping into the front of the building.

Standing behind the bar-esque counter, Clarity saw a gray Pegasus mare with a blonde mane and tail with a brown saddle bag on looking around his shop at the the various objects he had created over time, as soon as he saw her gold, crossed eyes he knew that it was Derpy. "Hello, ms. Hooves!" The lovable mailmare "looked" at Clarity. "Is there something you need?" Clarity inquired.

"Oh yes "- she nodded -" I was hoping if you had the time to stitch up Dinky's teddy bear." Derpy reached around into her saddle bag and pulled out an old and notably worn brown teddy bear, setting on the counter directly in front of Clarity, who lifted it up with his magic. It's right button eye was hanging on by a single thread and stuffing was poking out of it's left ear and - upon turning it around - it's back.

What many didn't know about the Clarity Glass Workshop is that it's proprietor didn't just work with glass.

Despite how tired he was and would want nothing more than to lie down in his bed upstairs or go back down to the basement and collapse, he had to fix this old and endeared plush. "I'll have it fixed in a mere three–four minutes, or less." Clarity nodded his head at his a door way. "Why don't you come in, I have some muffins and tea," said Clarity.

Derpy gave him a big ditzy smile. "I wouldn't want to impose, Clarity," she said politely.

"Nonsense, dear," said Clarity with a small smile and tire eyes. "Come in, I'll prepare some tea for you and I'll start on Dinky's teddy." Without waiting for a reply, Clarity started walking to the kitchen, still holding the teddy in his telekinetic grip. Derpy followed behind him.

With the teddy still in his grip, Derpy watched as Clarity flitted around his kitchen warming a muffin up, setting it on a plate and preparing a pot of tea simultaneously.

Derpy watched in amazement as the tea and muffin were set in front of her, all while Clarity was examining the teddy bear, trying to determine the best way of repairing it.

He could refurbish the whole thing, which would take a small bit of time, or he could do patch work. He stared intently at it for a short moment.

With a quick glance at Derpy's smiling face as she nibbled on her muffin and sipped her warm tea; he knew just what to do: Refurbish it. "I'll be right back, darling," Clarity said as he walked to the door. "If I'm going to be refurbishing Dinky's teddy, I'm going to do it right." Clarity stepped out of the kitchen and made his way upstairs to his bedroom/personal crafts room.

Clarity knew how hard life was for Derpy and Dinky, not that either of them showed it with their cheery dispositions, but he knew and that's what matters. He knew that Derpy is always dangerously close to losing her job; yes, she is one of the post office's best employees, but her crossed eyes have caused several accidents that have nearly gotten her fired.

Not only that, but her pay is a little bit more than just enough for her to afford treats such as muffins and the occasional toy for Dinky. Hence why she brought Dinky's teddy to him.

Entering his room, Clarity immediately started gathering everything he would need, bolts of matching fabric, stuffing, and needles and dark thread. With his required objects, he set to work with cutting the bear a part and rebuilding it.

After a few short minutes, Clarity looked at the eyeless bear for a moment, wondering if he should replace the black buttons with new ones or use the old ones...

With a small smile, he knew what to do. Clarity stitched the old black buttons in, that way, it would hopefully feel like Dinky's if there was something old and familiar attached to it.

Tying the cut string, Clarity brought the bear up and turned it around, examining it and making sure he hadn't missed anything. It looked just like it always had, but the fabric was no longer stained in some places and looked matted. Oh, and no stuffing was coming out.

With a nod, Clarity left his room at a brisk pace. Coming down the stairs and around the corner, Clarity peered into the kitchen in which he saw Derpy sitting there pleasantly and looking like she was trying not to fall asleep.

Derpy sprung up when she heard Clarity's hooves against the linoleum. "Here you go, ms Hooves." Clarity hovered the refurbished teddy bear over to the clearly tired mother. "I hope Dinky likes it, I left the original eyes in so it still has some familiarity." Clarity walked into the kitchen and sat down as he watched Derpy examine it.

"Thank you so much, Clarity!" Derpy said as she gave it a once over. "It looks just like it did when Dinky picked it out." Derpy tried to hide the incoming cringe, but Clarity saw it anyway. "How much should-" Clarity cut her off by bringing is hoof up to her face.

"No charge dear, Celestia knows you need the bits," Clarity stated gently, giving Derpy the best warm smile he could manage. "Now, I suppose you should get moving," Clarity didn't give Derpy a chance to talk. "I know that today's a day off for you, else you wouldn't be here talking to me." Clarity stood up from the seat. "I'll walk you out."

What Clarity was clearly not ready for was Derpy wrapping her fore legs around his neck, throwing "thank you" out of her mouth at rapid speeds. It wasn't long before he felt some tears hit his back and shoulder. Clarity just wrapped one of his legs around her shoulders and let her take her time, not minding that she was dropping some tears on him.

Derpy eventually calmed down and – true to his word – Clarity walked her out of his store and waved her goodbye as she trotted away back home to her daughter.

As the lovable, ditzy mare left his sight, Clarity's smile slowly fell, until it was gone completely and his face was left blank. He felt warm and pleasant for what he had done for Derpy, but he just couldn't understand how ponies could smile all the time.

Yes, Clarity has grown up around expressive ponies, his cousin and his parents for example, but he could never quite grasp why they acted the ways they did. Why panic over being late by a minute or two? Why panic about forgetting something? That's alright, so long as it's not something truly important.

Clarity had always had subdued emotions ever since he was a young colt, he never felt compelled to laugh, cry or get angry- don't get him wrong, he's feels emotions, but their just so... weak, or so nonsensical that he's typically more confused than anything.

But in the end, it doesn't matter to him. This is how he is, and he likes it this way.

Shaking his head, he retreated into his store/home and went down to the basement, intent on continuing his previous activities. He may have been tired before ms. Hooves had arrived, but he felt reinvigorated, for seeing Derpy reminded him of why he does what he does.

It's so that those that have a life of hard and honest work have an increased chance to prosper. "It's for the best," Clarity thought as his face turned to stone. "No matter how much I have to tear my self apart, it will always be worth it." Clarity opened the door at the bottom of the steps and entered his personal workshop.

Author's Note

Yes, the Clarity Glass Workshop is stupidly similar to the Carousal Boutique, bite me.