Chapter Seventy: Innocence Proven

There was a collection of mixed reactions, confusion being the most common-which was shared between Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Spike. Exchanging brief glances, before returning their attention to Fluttershy, the blonde farmer opened her mouth to speak.

"Ah'm sorry?"

"We can test this," Fluttershy repeated, a little louder this time as she whirled around to face her friends. "The blood! On this handkerchief! We can test it!"

Twilight Sparkle appeared indecisive.

"Fluttershy, that handkerchief's probably been contaminated! DNA blood tests generally require a sample to be in good condition before it's tested and compared. If it's taken from a volunteer, it's perfect, but samples found elsewhere and preserved are often degraded by heat, wind, or just time!"

"But we can still try, can't we?" the pegasus questioned, her voice dripping with desperation. "Please, Twilight. Can't we? Just… TRY?"

The alicorn was still apprehensive, but she caved in and nodded.

"I… suppose we could…"

Sighing and rolling his eyes, Angel flopped down on his bottom, relieved that Fluttershy caught onto his message far earlier than she does on other occasions when he had attempted to communicate with her.

"I think we should!" said Pinkie Pie.

Twilight Sparkle and the others turned to the pink equine.

"Pinkie?"

"Remember the National Dessert Competition?" she reminded. "The Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness, and what happened to it? Twilight, you taught me not to jump to conclusions. You have to find out all the facts before saying somepony did something! If you don't, you could end up blaming somepony for something they never did!"

"But the handkerchief is covered in blood!" Applejack objected.

"But there's the possibility it might not be Pendulum's!" Pinkie disputed. "Don't we at least owe it to Fluttershy to CHECK?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, then turned to Fluttershy.

"Okay, Fluttershy. But, if it is Pendulum's blood, will you finally accept that Smokey bit him?"

Fluttershy stared at the rainbow-haired pegasus for a moment, then dropped her eyes to the floor. She didn't want to accept it if it was true, but if it was indeed the case…

"I… suppose…"

"Well, then." Twilight Sparkle turned her body towards the door. "Let's head out."

"What about Chenoa? Are we taking her with us?" the cyan pony questioned, eyeing the sleepy and full child yawn and slowly shut her eyes.

Fluttershy shifted her attention to the chick in her foreleg. She looked like she was ready to go back to sleep. So did Spike, so he was out of the question-and the Cakes were likely looking after their own and tending to the morning rush…

"I believe… Chenoa will be fine with Angel for a while," she said, turning to the rabbit on the floor. "… Angel? Would you mind looking after her for a little while?"

Surprised, yet willing, Angel nodded and sat up, extending his short arms to receive the child. The creature was stronger than he looked, able to keep the baby hoisted up. After all, he had been entrusted with holding her on several occasions when Smokey wasn't around and the mare had her hooves full with the other animals.

Smiling at him appreciatively, she lowered her head to nuzzle him and Chenoa.

"I'll only be gone for a short while. Chenoa, be a good girl for Angel," she spoke softly, before turning around to head out with the others.

"I think we can head to the local law enforcement station here," Twilight Sparkle stated. "I'm pretty sure they know where we can get this handkerchief sent off to have it tested."

"Right. Let's get going," Rainbow Dash said. Eager to get the task over with, she flapped her wings to lift her body off the ground as the lavender-coated mare led the way.

Once the mares and baby dragon were gone, Angel set the baby down on the floor by her toys, as she was beginning to weigh down on him. Huffing, relieved, he suddenly felt hungry again. Non-verbally commanding the child to remain where she was, he hopped into the kitchen to get a snack.

The griffon's amber eyes slid to the direction to where her mother left, her sleepiness wearing off. Upon noticing that the door was ajar, she got up and toddled over. Body slipping through the opening, her eyes widened in delight at the sight of multiple puddles.

Pouncing in one, she splashed the browned water in every direction. Once she was bored with that puddle, she went to the next one-a trail of tracks left by Smokey were filled up. One-by-one, she bounced in them, following the line into the Everfree Forest.

When Angel returned to the room, he was shocked to find the griffon wasn't where he left her. In his panic-stricken state, he swiftly searched every nook and cranny downstairs before racing upstairs. After his sweep was completed, he returned to the living room to notice that the door was partially open. Anxiety shooting through the roof, he went outside to search the perimeter of the cottage.

It did not take the mares long to meander from Fluttershy's cottage to town towards the local precinct. Spike, still needing more sleep, headed back home. While he was anticipating the results, he knew for certain that Smokey was innocent. Twilight Sparkle had noticed, to some relief, that the rain had ceased-at least for the time being, as the smoke gray clouds were still lingering above.

It was only then she remembered the weather patrol had called for a temporary break in the rains to check ground moisture levels around town and the reservoirs, and would start up again if not deemed particularly sufficient.

Entering into the office of the local police station, one of the ponies behind the desk looked up.

"Oh, Princess Twilight Sparkle!" the stallion on the left spoke up, in a notable Irish accent. "Wot kin ay do fer ya?"

"Good afternoon, officers," the alicorn greeted. "We've got a handkerchief here with blood we wish to have DNA tested. Do either of you know where we could get this tested at?"

"Oh!" The pony who had spoken blinked, his smile fading only briefly. "Well, then, yer in luck! We've got a stallion in th' back room! He's a natural at that sort of thing! You'll want to see him. Shall ay let 'im know yer comin'?"

"Yes, please," the young princess answered.

"Certainly, Yer Highness!" the pony said, getting to his hooves and trotting off into the back.

As the equine disappeared into the back, he came back minutes later with a warm gray unicorn stallion garbed in a white lab coat, his mane a canary yellow with a colorful strand of DNA embedded on both flanks.

"I understand you need some blood to be tested?"

"Yes, sir." The mare nodded once, levitating the soiled cloth before him. "We had a small… erm… altercation I wish to investigate. We suspect the blood on this handkerchief… may or may not belong to somepony we know. Could you test this and see if it belongs to a pony named Pendulum?"

"Of course, Princess Twilight. Come with me, if you wish."

Accepting the cloth into his own telekinetic grasp, the stallion turned around to lead the six mares down the hall and into a vacant laboratory. Fluttershy, right behind Twilight Sparkle, was apprehensive to see the results for herself.

The unicorn set the cloth down on his desk and took a step back, reaching for his inner mana. A beam of light blue magic shot from the tip of his horn to the prominent patch of blood. Tendrils of magic floated from the handkerchief, swirling above it. After a minute elapsed, the swirls of magic began to take form.

"A trout?" The stallion's eyes inflated, appearing quite incredulous. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Indeed, the shape-shifting magic had twisted and contorted into the shape of a trout. The mares-sans Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie-were swept with bewilderment, their minds rendered almost numb.

"A… trout?" Applejack echoed.

"Fish's blood," said Twilight Sparkle. "Fish's blood! That's… oh!"

"You see!" Pinkie Pie's voice rose up. "It WAS fake! Pendulum wasn't bit at all!"

Fluttershy said nothing, merely turning to Rainbow Dash with an I-told-you-so sort of look. Rainbow Dash didn't even notice her. Right now, she was too stunned at this revelation. Fish blood… It was just fish blood. It wasn't even pony blood at all!

"What is going on?" the stallion prompted. "Why did you ladies bring me fish blood?"

Twilight Sparkle was uncertain of whether or not to discourse her investigation, but decided that it was probably for the best this remained under wraps. Taking the handkerchief in her magic, she flared her wings and gave him a grateful bow.

"Never mind. Thank you so very much for clearing this up for us." Pulling her head back up, she whirled around to leave. "C'mon, girls. We have things to discuss."

"Wait!" the stallion cried out, but the mares paid him no heed as they exited the establishment.

"I can't believe it!" Rainbow Dash snorted as anger boiled within her. "How could Pendulum do something like this to Smokey!? To Fluttershy!?"

"I don't know," Twilight Sparkle replied. "But this is very suspicious. This calls for more investigation. Why did he trick Smokey like this?"

It was at that very moment, Fluttershy pulled up the answer. It had to be the only reason why. There was no other explanation.

"… He wants him."

The others blinked in confusion as they shifted their attention to her.

"He… wants him?" Twilight Sparkle inquired, arching a brow.

"Don't you remember the animals?"

"Oh, yeh!" Applejack piped up as realization dawned upon her. "He had a whole lotta unusual animals. Yew… think he took Smokey… ta-"

"Add to his collection." Fluttershy nodded. "Yes."

Huffing, the cyan pegasus allowed herself to land, digging all four hooves into the ground.

"Then what are we waitin' for!? Let's gather up some supplies and get going!"

"For once, I agree with Rainbow Dash," Rarity stated. "Just standing around here isn't going to get Smokey back any quicker."

"Ah-" Applejack began, her face drooping into an expression of deep-seated guilt and remorse. "Wait. Wait a moment. Ah just got something ta say."

Turning to Fluttershy, the farmer placed a hoof on the pegasus' back.

"Ah'm sorry Ah doubted you, and gave you such a hard time 'bout all this. Could you ever forgive me?"

A smile tipped Fluttershy's lips.

"Of course."

"Yeah… Same here," Rainbow Dash followed, her face bearing a heavy frown.

"It's… fine," she reassured, flapping her wings and taking to the air. "Now, let's go. I want to get Smokey back!"

"We'll meet you in front of the cottage in an hour, and set out as soon as we gather what we need," said Twilight Sparkle.

"Right!" Rainbow Dash nodded, her own usual fiery determination returning as she whirled to Fluttershy. "We'll get him back, Fluttershy! What ever it takes, we'll get him back home!"

Fluttershy's smile returned.

"Thank you, Rainbow. That…" She paused as a tear formed in the corner of her eye, her breast filling to the brim with emotion. "Thank you."

With that, she broke off as she and the others went their separate ways to prepare for the journey ahead.