Note Pad continued walking with the mare and stallion, who were nervous and fearful of something happening to their foal.

"It'll be fine," said Note reassuringly, "We're almost to her, I'm sure."

"If you say so..." said the worried mother.

Note didn't like how nervous and jittery this mare was, even if she did lose her foal somewhere. It reminded him of his own mother.

It felt as if the three walked all around town, even asking others if they'd seen the filly. After about half an hour of more walking, Note Pad saw a familiar pony off in the distance.

"Oh great... Her..."

The entire process didn't take very long. Note Pad saw as the little filly far off, looked up and grinned, quickly running to her parents and hugging them tight. He saw the cross-eyed mare smile and high-hoof her pink earth pony friend.

Note Pad caught to to the rest and analyzed all their smiles through his sunglasses.

He also saw Derpy approach him with a goofy grin.

"Hiya, Note!" she said to him, almost as if she was glad to see him.

"Hello, Derpy," he replied.

"Looks like we worked together to solve the Case of the Missing Filly!"

Note Pad thought. "We... worked together?"

"Well technically, yes!" she said happily.

"I... I guess we did," he said with a smirk.

Derpy tilted her head to the side rather adorably and spoke. "You always wear sunglasses?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Why?"

"Because," he stated simply.

"Because why?" she asked.

Note Pad rubbed his muzzle in slight annoyance. "I don't want to talk about this now."

Derpy looked over at Pinkie and Raindrops. They were talking to the reunited family.

"We should talk sometime then!" she said.

He raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "You mean like a date?"

He saw her face immediately redden with a blush. "N-No!" she said. "I mean... Uh, no."

He smirked again. Well she's actually nice when she's not flying into things.

He looked around. Surely somepony may have lost something by now. He thought of an enjoyable competition; he loved competitions.

"Alright, listen here, Derpy," he said to her. She smiled and paid attention.

He resumed speaking. "Let's be temporary partners. If you can solve a case before I can, I'll agree to dinner with you."

She blushed again. "I-I didn't mean it like that!" She tried to hide her red face with a hoof.

"But if I win," he said, "You need to quit being a detective."

Derpy gasped. It was a serious gasp. One of surprise and shock, not surprise and happiness. You know exactly the kind I'm talking about.

"B-But, I don't wanna stop being a detective!" she said.

He smirked again. "Better hope you win."

Derpy thought it over.

"Challenge accepted!"

They shook hooves and went over to the others. The mother was talking to Pinkie Pie, and the father spoke to Note. "Thank you so much. We'll never forget this."

"It's fine," said Note, "No charge either."

The father smiled, and the little filly also talked him.

"Thanks mister!"

"No problem," he said. The family eventually departed and left Pinkie Pie and Raindrops with Note Pad and Derpy.

"Pinkie Pie, Note Pad here is my new assistant. Temporarily. For a competition." said Derpy.

Pinkie frowned, yet nodded. "Temporarily!" said Pinkie.

"Temporarily." replied Derpy with a smile.

"What about me?" asked Raindrops.

"Remember what I said about the mayo," said Derpy, "And go hang with Pinkie or something."

They left Note Pad and Derpy alone.

"Shall we find a case?" asked Note Pad, adjusting his sunglasses.

"Let's shall." said Derpy, shocking Note Pad with her brief sudden accent change as she adjusted her detective hat, then pants, then watch.

Then they were off.