Pinkie gave a harrumph, then rushed back to her room and snatched up a crossbow. Just then, she heard a loud knock. “Visitors!” she happily squealed, and rushed up the stairway to the door, quickly donning a disguise on the way.

“Hello, is anyone there?” a voice spoke. There was no response.

“Just a second,” Pinkie said, taking on a deeper tone.

“Hello there. I’m Twilight Sparkle, here to investigate a series of disappearances. Would you mind if I took a look around?”

“No, not at all,” Pinkie replied, yielding to her ‘friend’. The upper part of the house seemed to be done up hastily. Most of the surfaces were very dusty. The whole place seemed to lack a certain quality that a house has when someone lives in it. Everything seemed to be brand new, but neglected. The floor was unpolished, and the walls were white.

“Just moved into town, I see.” Twilight said.

“Nope, been living here all my life,” Pinkie said, in her fake voice.

“This house could use a little more, erm, life, don’t you think?” Twilight asked.

“Well, that’s your opinion,” Pinkie retorted. She paused before adding, “So, these disappearances, they found what caused them yet?”

“Yeah, this pony named Pinkamena Diane Pie, we’ve tracked her down to a rock farm outside of town. Well, it looks like there’s nothing suspicious in this house, so I’ll leave you be.” Twilight said, walking towards the door.

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie said in her regular voice.

Twilight quickly turned around.

“Oops.” Pinkie stared at Twilight for several moments, then bolted into the basement.

Twilight followed her, but Pinkie had already ducked into one of the many winding hallways. The basement was dimly lit and damp, and reminded Twilight of a dungeon. “Pinkie Pie, you are under arrest!” She yelled as she ran down one of the hallways. She looked through a doorway and saw Pinkie’s room. She noticed a sewing machine and the dried skin of some unfortunate pony. She gagged at the sight, but pressed forward. She kept running until she heard a voice.

“Twilight? Is that you? Oh, Twilight, please save me!”

She raced towards the pit to find Rarity glaring pitifully up at her. “Hold on Rarity, I need to find Pinkie, just hang tight.”

“Twilight! Twilight, come back here! Don’t leave me alone, please!”

Twilight backed into a corner, horn at the ready. Suddenly, all the lights in the basement shut off.

Pinkie Pie could smell Twilight. She knew her house by heart and could smell out exactly where Twilight was. She got close to Twilight as she was fumbling around in the dark, but as she pulled the drawstring on the crossbow, Twilight heard it creak, swung around, and pinned Pinkie in place with magic. Pinkie thrashed and strained against it, but to no avail. Twilight lit up the rest of the room, then stood where she was, panting, exhausted but relieved that her ordeal was over.

Twilight watched several guard pegasi carrying Pinkie away in a straightjacket. “How did you know I was here?” she asked one of the guards.

“Somepony named Fluffershy or something sent a message that Pinkie was here.”