"What?!" Everypony shouted in unison.

"Please, climb into the wagon," Minty said. "I'll take you to holding and we'll get this over with."

"Not so fast. Nopony's going anywhere 'til you tell us what in the hay makes you think they're guilty of foalnapping Diamond Tiara," Rainbow Dash said.

"Yes. They're foals themselves you know," Rarity added.

"They'd never foalnap anypony," Applejack said. "I know my sister and her friends."

Minty looked at the fillies in front of her for a few moments, pondering something, "Because there is a chance I might be making a mistake here, I'm going to tell you exactly why I'm arresting them, and let you explain to me why they're not guilty with the evidence I have. I can't guarantee I won't have to arrest them anyway, but you have a right to know why I'm doing this."

"What evidence do you have?" Babs asked.

"Earlier this afternoon we received a visitor at the police station. Diamond Tiara’s father, Filthy Rich, came running into the police station and told us he needed help. We went with him back to his home, and on the way there he told us he believed his daughter had been foalnapped. We went inside and searched his home. Diamond Tiara’s room was ransacked. We believe there was a struggle because we found a lamp shattered against a wall that did not have an outlet. It looked like she threw it at whoever was attacking her."

"What exactly does that have to do with us?" Apple Bloom asked.

"We searched the room for any sign of who might have done this. We found evidence that a pegasus with orange feathers was in her room. Know any pegasi with orange feathers?"

"Look around, Minty. Go for a walk in Ponyville. You won't go a block without seeing a pegasus with orange feathers," Rainbow Dash replied.

"While that may be true, how many of them know the missing pony? Given Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara go to school together, I decided to come here and ask you some questions. When Applejack answered the door I asked if she knew where you and your friends were, Scootaloo. She took me to your treehouse. When we got there we called out to you, but nopony answered. So we climbed up and looked inside. Can anypony tell me why there was a piece of a tail inside your treehouse that looks a lot like Diamond Tiara’s tail?"

"There was what in the treehouse?" Rarity demanded.

"A piece of a pony’s tail. It has the same colors that Diamond Tiara’s tail has," Minty said. "I've got it in an evidence bag and I will take it to the police station, along with a brush Filthy Rich said she used to brush her tail. I'll compare the two and see for myself if it matches. If it does, you fillies are in a whole world of trouble."

"That's impossible!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

"We were together the whole evening," Apple Bloom said.

"We didn't foalnap anypony," Babs said.

"Then explain how that tail wound up in the treehouse," Minty demanded.

"We haven't been in the treehouse in days," Sweetie Belle said.

"There has to be some mistake," Big Macintosh said.

"How about it?" Minty asked. "Any of you fillies have anything you want to say?"

"We didn't have anything to do with this," Scootaloo said.

"You're not leaving me a choice here. Now you know the reasons why you're being arrested, so into the wagon you go," Minty said.

Sweetie Belle looked at the wagon and burst into tears. Rarity hugged her sister and burst into tears with her. It wasn't long before Apple Bloom and Babs began to cry, which caused Applejack to give them both a hug. Scootaloo held out the longest, but eventually the tears started flowing and Rainbow Dash embraced her. Minty watched the fillies start crying and felt tears well up in her own eyes.

"Please, Minty, I'm begging you. There must be another way." Applejack said softly.

"I'm sorry," Minty replied, tears dripping down her cheek. "I haven't got a choice. Until we find Diamond Tiara, I have to take them into custody under suspicion of foalnapping. I won't put them into general holding. I’m in charge of all crimes committed by or against juveniles, so there are special cells for fillies and colts next to my office. That’s where I'll be taking them. They'll be alone, but they'll be safe. You're all free to visit them as often as you wish. In fact I encourage you to visit them. Jail is a scary place even for adults, so I do my best to make an unpleasant experience as nice as possible."

"But I don't wanna go to jail!" Sweetie Belle shouted.

"I know," Rarity said, hugging Sweetie Belle again. "We'll be there soon. We're going to go get Twilight. Maybe she has a spell she can use to help us find Diamond Tiara. The faster we find her, the faster we prove you weren't involved and get you home."

The Crusaders looked at each other and nodded. They walked over to the wagon, and Minty let the tailgate down. They stepped up on the wagon and Minty raised the tailgate behind Scootaloo, who was the last one to climb in. She raised a cloth canopy over the wagon and snapped it in place, effectively shielding the fillies from view on all sides.

“What are you doing, sugarcube?” Applejack asked as she saw Rainbow Dash walk over towards the wagon’s harness.

“I’m going to steal the wagon and take them someplace safe. You two go get Twilight and come up with a solution to this mess.”

“Rainbow, darling, I’d like to add the phrase ‘aiding and abetting’ to your vocabulary. While your loyalty to your friends is commendable as always, this is not the right way to go about doing things. You’ll only add to their problems by adding ‘resisting arrest’ to the list of charges against them, and you’ll go to jail too,” Rarity admonished the pegasus.

“That’s only if I get caught, and that hasn’t happened yet!”

She tried to run towards the wagon but Applejack clamped onto the blue pegasus’ tail with her teeth and stood her ground. In the meantime Minty hooked herself up to the wagon and started walking back towards town.

Rainbow Dash sighed as she watched the wagon depart with the fillies inside. “Think we could call in a favor to Princess Celestia to fix this?”

“We’ll ask Twilight if she thinks we should. And the sooner we get to the library, the sooner we can ask her,” said Applejack as she and Rarity ran past Rainbow Dash. The rainbow-maned pegasus bolted after them.

"We're arrested," Babs said. "How in the hoof is any of this possible?"

"This is ridiculous," Apple Bloom said. "We've been together the whole day. We didn't do anything to Diamond Tiara."

"Sooner or later they're going to realize that and let us go," Sweetie Belle said.

"You're an optimist. I've got a better question. Exactly how did one of my feathers get into her bedroom? I've never been in there."

"Or how did her tail get into our clubhouse? We haven't gone back there for a reason," Babs said.

"You think she's setting us up?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"It makes sense. She could have gotten one of Scootaloo’s feathers from anywhere," Apple Bloom said.

"After doing that to her room she could have cut her own tail off and hid it in the clubhouse. After all we weren't there," Scootaloo said.

"This is all well and good, but how do we prove it? We've already.... Oww! Watch it you crazy cop lady!" Babs shouted toward the front of the wagon.

"Sorry!" Minty shouted back. "The road is full of potholes. I can't avoid them all. You know how this town gets destroyed every few months? All the repairs come out of the road repair budget."

"How come that’s not in the ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ brochure Pinkie Pie gave me when I moved to town?” Babs shouted back at the mint green mare.

“It is mentioned in the brochure. What else could the phrases ‘excitement never ends’ and ‘our town is full of surprises’ mean?” Minty asked.

Babs shook her head and turned back towards the rest of the Crusaders. “We've already told them we didn't do it. Unfortunately, we can’t prove that. All we can do is hope that somepony finds Diamond Tiara soon. Once she's back, the truth will come to light.”

"So that means the only thing we can do is wait," Sweetie Belle replied.

"And think of what we can do when we catch up to Diamond Tiara again," Scootaloo said.

"This is most definitely not the time or place for that conversation," Babs said sharply and motioned towards Minty.

After about ten minutes the wagon slowed. Another minute passed and the wagon stopped completely. They heard Minty unhook the harness from her chest and let it drop to the ground. Then Minty walked around and removed the cover from the wagon and lowered the tailgate.

"Please step down," Minty said.

The four fillies stepped off the wagon and looked around. They were in a well-lit garage with two doors. On the door to their left was a sign that read, ‘To holding, main offices, and the drunk tank’ and on their right was a sign marked ‘Exit’. Minty walked over and opened the door to the right. She glanced outside. “Um, oops. Let's pretend that I didn't almost inadvertently release you under your own recognizance.”

She then opened the door to the left. The fillies walked through the door and Minty closed it behind them. In the next room were several cages on both sides. Each one had a cot and a small table. Except for the last two cages the rest were empty. As Minty and the fillies walked past the cages they saw Trixie in a cage on the left, and Berry Punch in a cage on the right, near the door.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is too powerful to be behind bars."

"True, but the Great and Powerful Trixie should have thought about that when she forgot to get a permit before performing in the town square," Minty replied as they walked past.

"I don't even know why I'm here," Berry Punch said, hiccupping as she talked. "Is it a crime to drink?"

"No," Minty replied, her voice dry. "But it is a crime to be intoxicated in public."

"That’s slander and I intend to press charges. The minute I'm sober," Berry Punch replied, taking a step and falling over.

Minty rolled her eyes and opened the door that led out of the room. The Crusaders walked through first, followed closely by the green earth pony. She led them through the building toward the front and into an office room.

"This is my office. Through here is a large room that is mostly empty," Minty said, opening the door in her office. She led the fillies to an empty room adjacent to her office.

"What's this room used for?" Babs asked.

"The chief of police gave it to me so I can keep juveniles separated from the rest of the inmates. I'll go bring in some cots and blankets for each of you."

"I suppose we should thank you, but since we didn't do this and you're locking us up anyway we're not," Babs said.

"I know how frustrated you must feel. But I'm just trying to do my job."

"Do your job?" Scootaloo said angrily. "If you want to do your job, find whoever took Diamond Tiara. They're still out there. Find them and lock them up in here, and let us go. Then you'll be doing your job."

"I'll be back soon," Minty said, turning and walking out of the room. She locked the door behind her.

About ten minutes passed before the fillies heard the door open and saw Minty come walking into the room, carrying four bags on her back. She set the bags down on the ground and set up four cots. She walked out of the room and came back in, this time carrying sleeping bags and pillows.

"I'm going to order some dinner. I know you fillies have to be hungry. What would you like to eat tonight?"

"Nothing," Sweetie Belle said.

"No, she's right. We need to eat," Babs said.

"I'm not hungry," Scootaloo said.

"Not eating won't help you," Minty said. "I'm willing to go get you food from anywhere. Anything you want. You just have to tell me what it is you want to eat."

"A cheese pizza from the cafe would be great," Apple Bloom said.

"I'll be right back," Minty said, trotting out of the room. It took her nearly half an hour to return, but when she walked back in the room she was followed by Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash.

"I ran into your sisters while on my way to the cafe, so I bought enough pizza for everypony," Minty said, setting the pizza boxes on the floor and closing the door behind Rarity, who was the last pony to enter the room.

"Look at this place. Not a trace of fashion to be seen anywhere. It's just absolutely dreadful. Cruel and unusual punishment, even," Rarity said.

Twilight interrupted the overdramatic unicorn, "Minty, Applejack was telling me about the evidence you have. Do you mind if I examine it for myself?"

"The evidence is on a train headed to the crime lab in Canterlot for analysis right now. I don't think the lab would allow you to examine it due to the potential for contamination. They prefer to keep things done by their own ponies."

"I’ll have Spike send a message to my brother in Canterlot. As the Captain of the Royal Guard I'm sure he can help us catch whoever did this," Twilight said.

"Is there a spell you can cast that can help us find Diamond Tiara?" Rarity asked.

"A locator spell?" Twilight asked. "I've read about them, but I’ve never tried one. When I get back to the library I'll give it a shot."

"Ah was wonderin' something," Applejack said. "Is it possible whoever took Diamond Tiara could have planted the evidence to frame the fillies?"

"That thought crossed my mind, too. I've asked the lab to run the feather Officer Sweet Stuff found and the tail I located through Radiometric dating. It'll let them figure out how old the samples are."

"They can tell that without any samples to compare them to?" Twilight asked.

"I have a fresh sample," Minty said. “Scootaloo preened a few feathers while in the wagon. Saves me from having to ask permission to pluck one.”

“Pegasi sometimes preen when nervous,” Rainbow Dash explained. “Fluttershy used to do it when we were fillies. She actually failed summer flight camp due to over-plucking. She had to take it again, which is actually a good thing since if she hadn't, we'd have never become friends.”

"Steering this conversation back on topic, I'd love to take a tour of the lab sometime," Twilight said.

"Once this is resolved I can try and arrange one for you. In the meantime I'm going to go to Ponyville Elementary School tomorrow. While I'm there I'll pick up your schoolwork. There's no reason for you to fall behind in your studies."

"Why are you going to Ponyville Elementary tomorrow?" Scootaloo asked.

"This investigation is on hold until the lab sends me the analysis report from the evidence I sent them. Since I can't do any more investigating with this yet, I thought I'd try and find out how those animal heads got put in Silver Spoon’s locker."

The ponies talked and ate pizza until every single slice was gone. They talked about anything and everything to get the fillies’ minds off their present predicament. When it got late, Minty allowed the adults to say their goodbyes to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and then escorted them from the room. She locked the door behind her, and everypony went home. Minty asked the officer on duty, Sweet Stuff, to check on the fillies every half hour to see if they needed anything.

The next morning Minty went to Ponyville Elementary School early and caught up with Cheerilee before class.

"Hi Cheerilee!"

"Hello Minty. How are you this morning?"

"Doing okay. There's something I need to tell you. Several of your students won't be in class today."

"Who?" Cheerilee asked.

"Diamond Tiara was foalnapped last night. Due to the evidence that was found I was forced to arrest Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Babs Seed because it looks like they were involved."

"What?" Cheerilee asked, shocked.

"Do you have any homework you'd like them to do? I told them I'd check with you while I was here today."

The teacher gave the assignments for the next few days to the pink-maned mint green pony.

"I can't believe you'd arrest them. They're just fillies. There's no way they could have done this."

"I would like to believe that. But we found evidence that makes it look like they did."

"I'm not going to tell my students about why they're absent. It's better if they don't know."

"Agreed. I'll keep you updated if anything changes with them," Minty said, turning and walking down the hall.

Miss Cheerilee watched Minty go, wondering how in Equestria that pony could possibly be a police officer. When she heard the bell ring that signaled the start of class, she turned and walked inside her classroom. Her remaining students were waiting for her, and she began teaching them about Equestrian geography.

Silver Spoon sat at the middle of class. She had expected to see Diamond Tiara come walking in late as usual, but she had never been this late before. The silver filly also noticed that not a single one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders had shown up for class, either. They seldom missed school, and for all of the Crusaders and Diamond Tiara to miss school at the same time made her feel uneasy. When the morning session was over and recess came, she waited for the rest of the class to leave. Cheerilee saw her still sitting in her seat and walked over to her.

"Are you okay?" the pink pony asked. "You should be at recess with the others."

"Where are Diamond Tiara, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed?" Silver Spoon asked flatly.

"I don't know if I should tell you. This isn't something that can get spread around."

"She did something, didn't she?" Silver Spoon asked.

"Did something? What do you mean?"

Silver Spoon looked down at her desk for a few moments, then back at her teacher.

"I need to be excused from class today."

"I can't do that without a good reason."

"I don't know exactly what it is she had planned," Silver Spoon said. "But I'm guessing something happened to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and I'm betting Diamond Tiara is responsible."

"You knew about this and didn't tell anypony about it?" Cheerilee asked, sounding worried. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't think she'd actually go through with her threat. I thought it was idle chatter. Something to make her feel better. What did she do?"

"Diamond Tiara didn't do anything," Miss Cheerilee said. "She was foalnapped last night. Officer Minty arrested the Crusaders because she thinks they were involved."

"You need to let me go talk to Officer Minty. The Crusaders are innocent, and I can prove it."

"Go. Last time I talked to Officer Minty she said she'd be here looking into what happened to you yesterday, though she could be anywhere by now. As much as I hate saying this, try looking on the playground first, and if she isn't there check the cafeteria."

“Will do. And if I don’t find her here I’ll check the police station."

"Wait,” Cheerilee reached into her desk. “This is the homework I’m assigning to the class. Due tomorrow."

"I'll have it done," Silver Spoon said as she trotted out of the classroom.

Silver Spoon searched all over the school for Minty, and she finally found the policemare when she was on her way out the door. The mint green pony wasn't going very fast and Silver Spoon raced to catch up to her. Minty heard her running and turned around to see her just as she came to a stop.

"Hi there, Silver Spoon."

"Off...Officer Minty," Silver Spoon said, trying to catch her breath.

"Take your time. Take a few deep breaths."

"I need to talk to you about Diamond Tiara," Silver Spoon said, finally breathing normally again.

"Miss Cheerilee said she wouldn't talk to her class about that," Minty said. "Guess that promise didn't hold up long."

"She didn't talk to me about it," Silver Spoon replied. "I...I already knew."

"You wanna run that by me one more time, please?"

"I knew about Diamond Tiara already."

"Does your teacher know where you are right now?" Minty asked.

"Yes. I told her I had to go talk to you and why."

"Have you had breakfast yet?" Minty asked.

"No. I woke up too late. I didn't have time to eat."

"Come with me. I'm going to take you to the cafe and treat you to some of my favorite pancakes. I need you to tell me everything you know. Just start at the beginning. How exactly did you know what happened to Diamond Tiara?"

Minty and Silver Spoon walked toward the cafe side by side. The silver filly explained about the conversation she had had with Diamond Tiara after school the day before, including Diamond Tiara’s threat to get even with the Crusaders, and their history of not getting along with each other. Minty occasionally stopped her to ask questions. Silver Spoon didn't hold anything back and poured out information to Minty as fast as she could.

"So let me get this straight," Minty said. "You believe that Diamond Tiara took advantage of the crime committed against you and staged her own disappearance just to get me to arrest the ... what was it you called them? Cutie Mark Crusaders?"

"She said she was going to frame them. She didn't specify exactly how she was going to or I would have come to you sooner," Silver Spoon said.

"Don't blame yourself," Minty said. "You're doing the right thing by coming to me with this."

"So you can release the Crusaders. They're completely innocent."

"I wish it were that easy," Minty said. "I believe you, but I need to find Diamond Tiara first. Only then can I release the Crusaders because I will have undisputable evidence they really didn't foalnap her."

"I think I know where she is," Silver Spoon said.

"You do?" Minty asked, surprised. "Where?"

"There's a spot between Fluttershy’s cottage and the Everfree Forest. It's a small clearing in the forest next to a stream. When she was younger, back before she got her cutie mark, she and I spent hours there. We haven't gone there in years, but I think she might have gone there now."

"You need to take me there as soon as we've eaten," Minty said. "The sooner we find her and bring her back, the sooner I can let your friends go home."

"They're not really my friends. Just my classmates. Actually, Diamond Tiara's my friend. Or at least she was. I don't think she's going to like it much that I've turned her in."

"I commend you for doing the right thing. It's not easy to turn state's evidence against a friend. I know, I've been there myself. It stinks, especially when they have to relocate you to Ponyville as part of the Witness Protection Program, and you end up taking a job as a cop because you're terrified of what your friend will do to you when she gets out and you want to be prepared. Anyway, I've been assured that Flippity Flop should be out of the slammer in another three to five years, assuming good behavior."

"What did Flippity Flop do that was so bad?"

"She was making unauthorized copies of Major League Baseball film reels. That's a big no-no. The league really hates that. I know it sounds kinda trivial, but the law's the law."

Silver Spoon had no idea how to respond to that confession, so she decided to change the subject instead, "So what will happen to Diamond Tiara?"

"I'll keep her in holding at the police station until we can find her father. When he comes and takes custody of her, we'll release her to him and file charges against her for all of this. She'll most likely go before a judge and get community service as her sentence. I can't really see a judge throwing anything harsher at her for this. Unless she gets Judge Wysteria. In that case, all bets are off. She's a real hardflank. Poor Sunny Daze. Two months in prison for rollerskating in 'no skating' area. I mean a hefty fine should have been sufficient, or like two weeks in jail, max."

Minty's discussion had not put Silver Spoon's mind at ease. In fact, it had actually made her more confused than ever. She questioned if she was really doing the right thing as they ate their breakfast in silence. Both had double raspberry pancakes and orange juice. After they ate Silver Spoon led Minty to the outskirts of Ponyville, past Fluttershy’s home, and eventually into the Everfree Forest. They walked quietly, partly because of how dangerous the forest was and partly because Silver Spoon was still uneasy about what she was doing. Silver Spoon led Minty to the clearing in the forest, where as predicted, the two ponies could see Diamond Tiara off to the right side. She looked at the two approaching ponies and tried to run.

"Freeze!" Minty shouted, and ran after her. The policemare was faster than Diamond Tiara, and caught her easily before she could reach the forest again.

"Let me go or my father will hear of this!" Diamond Tiara shouted.

"You're absolutely right. Your father will hear of this, I promise. I'm placing you under arrest for falsifying evidence and a litany of other charges I will determine when we get to the police station."

"You can't arrest me. You have no proof. Do you know who my father is?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"The question you should ask is do I care who your father is. And the answer to that is I don't. You're under arrest. As for the proof, whatever happened to that pretty little tail of yours?" Minty asked, looking at Diamond Tiara’s missing tail.

Minty cuffed Diamond Tiara’s hooves together. With help from Silver Spoon, they got Diamond Tiara onto the green earth pony’s back. The policemare carried her out of the Everfree Forest, followed closely by Silver Spoon.

"I never thought you'd betray me," Diamond Tiara shouted.

"I never thought you'd stoop so low as to frame innocent ponies," Silver Spoon retorted.

Minty took Diamond Tiara through town in hoofcuffs, ignoring everypony who looked at them. She led Silver Spoon into the police station and put Diamond Tiara in a holding cell in the back of the station. She finally removed the hoofcuffs from the filly once she locked her in a cell.

"After I release the Crusaders I'll find your father and inform him about all of this. When he arrives I'll release you into his custody. I'm certain you and he will have a lot to talk about this afternoon."

Minty and Silver Spoon walked out of the holding area and back to her office. She knocked on the door where the Crusaders were being held and opened it.

"I've got some good news for you fillies," Minty said.

"Let me guess. You found the tail was Diamond Tiara’s and now we're going to Canterlot for trial?" Scootaloo asked.

"No," Minty replied. "We just found Diamond Tiara. You fillies are free to go. All charges are dropped, and I’m sorry for having arrested you."

"Just like that you're letting us go?" Babs asked.

"Wait a second, whaddya mean we found Diamond Tiara? Who's we?" Apple Bloom asked.

Minty stepped aside and Silver Spoon stepped forward.

"You?" The Crusaders asked, incredulously.

"I helped Officer Minty find Diamond Tiara," Silver Spoon said. "I'm sorry she did this to you."

"How'd you know where she was?" Babs demanded.

"It's a long story, and not worth repeating," Silver Spoon said. "All that matters is you're free."

"Silver Spoon is too modest," Minty said. She related the events of the morning to the four fillies.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say CUTIE MARK CRUSADER GROUP HUG, YAY!" Apple Bloom shouted, and the four fillies gave Silver Spoon a hug in unison. Minty stifled a giggle at the sight.

"If there's nothing else, we'll be on our way," Sweetie Belle said.

"Where is Diamond Tiara?" Babs asked.

"Remember those holding cells you passed yesterday? Since you're all still in here, I couldn't bring her here yet. So I put her in a cell at the far end of the room. I'll bring her here once you're gone She'll stay in here until her father comes for her later."

"She's gonna have a night she won't soon forget," Scootaloo said.

The five fillies walked out of the police station and stood alongside the street, looking at one another.

"I know we've had our differences in the past," Silver Spoon said. "And I know I've been rough on all of you. I'm sorry. I want to start over if you can find it in your hearts to forgive me."

"You want to be friends?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't want us to be enemies anymore. What Diamond Tiara did showed me how wrong I was for acting like a snob. I promise not to act like that anymore. Whether we become friends or not I won't treat you like that again."

"I think this is the start of a beautiful new friendship," Scootaloo said.

"School's almost over for the day so there's no point in going back there," Silver Spoon said. "Normally I'd be going home right about now, so that’s what I’m going to do. I'll see you all later."

"What about Diamond Tiara?" Babs asked.

"After what happened last night and today, I'm pretty sure my friendship with her is dead. She's probably going to start making my life hard because she thinks I betrayed her."

"That's not fair to you. All you did was help us," Sweetie Belle said.

"Don't worry about that. Right now Diamond Tiara’s got so many problems I'm sure she'll forget all about me by the time her father gets here."

Silver Spoon trotted off toward her home, and the Crusaders turned and walked back toward the library. They wanted to tell Twilight that they were free first, since she was the closest. It turned out that it was a good decision because Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack were all there, pouring over books in an attempt to prove the Crusaders' innocence.

"Hi Twilight!" Babs called out as the fillies walked in. "We just got released and we..."

Before Babs could finish her statement the fillies were swept up in a group hug. The four adults hugged them, pinning them together for a few moments.

"What happened? Why'd they release you?" Rarity asked.

Sweetie Belle recapped the events of the morning for them.

"I'm just glad it's over," Twilight said, smiling.

"Diamond Tiara’s father is going to be furious with her. Filthy Rich is well-known for having a short temper," Rarity said.

"It's just what she deserves," Applejack spat. "Putting them through this."

"You know what would be the perfect way to celebrate?" Twilight asked.

"A party?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Just what I was thinking. Too bad Pinkie's in Manehattan. I'm sure we can whip up somethin' though," Applejack replied. "Let's get to the farm and get things set up."

As the group left Twilight’s tree and headed to the farm, Minty found Filthy Rich on his way home from a business meeting. "We've found your daughter. She's in holding."

"She's in holding? I demand you release her at once."

"No can do. She's got some charges against her. It’s a long story," Minty said, explaining the situation to Filthy Rich.

"I want to see my daughter."

"Of course. We figured you would," Minty replied, as the two walked to the police station. She led the stallion straight to her office and into the room where Diamond Tiara had been moved to. Diamond Tiara jumped up when she saw her father walk into the room, followed by Minty.

"Father!" Diamond Tiara shouted.

"Diamond Tiara. What have you done?" Filthy Rich demanded. "They tell me you're responsible for framing students that go to your school to get Officer Minty to arrest them. Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?"

"I can explain..."

"Release her. I'll take full responsibility for her."

Minty nodded and opened the door that led out of the room and back into her office. She waited until both Diamond Tiara and Filthy Rich were out of the room and closed the door behind them.

"That pony attacked me, and put hoofcuffs on me. I want to file charges!" Diamond Tiara shouted.

"Will you please shut up?" Filthy Rich asked.

"But I'm your daughter," Diamond Tiara said, tears forming in her eyes.

"And I love you," Filthy Rich said. "But right now you've got me furious. We're going to go home, you're gonna clean your room and wait for me to figure out a suitable punishment for you."

"I should inform you that this isn't the end of this," Minty said. "Because she framed others for a crime, the Canterlot prosecutor’s office is planning on filing charges. Once they’re filed you'll receive a letter informing you of them, and when to bring her to court to face the judge."

"We'll be there. She's gonna plead no contest, won't you Diamond Tiara?" Filthy Rich asked.

"You want me to do what!?" Diamond Tiara asked, sounding horrified.

"You're guilty. Officer Minty knows it. I know it. You know it. Those fillies you framed know it. If you try to fight this, you'll lose. The punishment might be worse. If you plead no contest and you accept responsibility for what you did, you might get an easier sentence from the judge. Of course that won't change what I’m going to do to you because of this."

"You won't even try to protect me?" Diamond Tiara asked, tears streaming down her face.

"You need to learn why this is wrong. I could punish you, and I will. But I'm not sure that will be enough. I want you to know I love you, but you simply can't go around doing things like this to innocent ponies. This is a case where tough love is required. You did the crime. You will do the time," Filthy Rich said, reaching down and giving his daughter a hug.

"You sound just like one of those cheesy Iron Will seminars," Diamond Tiara said, as she slipped out of her father's hug. The last thing she wanted was to be hugged by him at this moment. Betrayed by her best friend and her father, both. They would pay dearly for this. Both of them.

The two ponies left the police station and went home. Diamond Tiara went straight to her room and stayed there most of the evening, coming out only when it was time to eat dinner. The next morning Diamond Tiara was on her way to school when she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"Diamond Tiara. There you are." Babs Seed said, smiling menacingly as the rest of the Crusaders appeared at Babs’ side. "We've been looking all over for you."

Diamond Tiara’s eyes flew open and she swallowed nervously.