Derpy walked into her favorite coffee shop with a yawn and tired eyes, looking for something to perk her up. To her surprise, she saw Pinkie Pie there as well, drinking alone at a table.

"Pinkie?" asked Derpy, examining Pinkie Pie. The pink party pony looked just as tired as Derpy did-and that was really saying something.

The two ponies sat with disheveled manes and glazed eyes. Pinkie looked up and smiled.

"The Cakes' went out last night and left it up to me to take care of the babies again..."

"Oh," said Derpy with a giggle, "I understand."

"What about you?" asked Pinkie, "Why do you look so tired?"

Derpy glanced away and lied.

"I... my mattress is broken...?"

Pinkie nodded. "I hate it when my mattresses break too."

She took another sip of the coffee while Derpy got up to get one of her own.

"Hey, what ever happened to that detective guy?" asked Pinkie.

"Note Pad," said Derpy, "His name is Note Pad. And I haven't seen him in almost a week."

"Really?" inquired Pinkie, "You two seemed really great together."

Derpy gave Pinkie a strange look. "What did you say...?"

"As detectives," said Pinkie, "You two seemed like a good team!"

"Oh..." said Derpy, "Okay."

Derpy giggled nervously and tried to hide her blush, drinking her coffee. She briefly wondered where Note Pad could be.

Note Pad wrote in his small notebook, interrogating a light brown mare.

"When was the last time you saw your son, miss...?" he asked.

The sad mare spoke up. "Scarlet Letter..."

"Miss Letter, when did you say your son disappeared?" asked Note Pad.

"One week ago. He's been missing for a week..."

Note Pad did more writing. "Is he a young colt?"

"He's almost a stallion," replied the worried mother.

Probably just a disgruntled teenager... thought Note Pad.

"Please describe him for me," he said.

The mother put a hoof to her chin and thought for just a moment.

"He's a brown pony, with a brown mane and ruby eyes. His manestyle is a bit spiked up. He likes food. Mostly junk food and pastries and snacks..."

Note Pad continued to note things down. "What is he like personality-wise?"

"My little Pen would never run away!" exclaimed the distraught mare, "He is so nice and sweet... why would he leave home?"

"Where is his father, Miss Letter?"

Scarlet Letter frowned. "I'm recently divorced..."

Single parent? The kid is probably hiding somewhere to clear his head.

In the back of his mind, Note Pad remembered his own father. He blocked his dad's face out of his head.

"I'm sorry, Miss Letter... do you have an idea of where your son has run off to?"

She shook her head. "Not in the slightest..."

Note Pad nodded. "Okay Miss Letter. I'll find your son and come to you if I have any further questions."

She clutched his hoof and looked to be on the verge of tears.

"Please find my son, Mister Pad...! Please..."

He was caught off guard by her sudden motion and searched her grief-stricken eyes through his dark sunglasses.

"I'll find your son..."

"Do you promise...?" asked Scarlet, not letting go.

"I promise, yes..."

She let go of his hoof.

"I'm sorry..." she said.

"It's fine," he said. Never come between a mother and her freakin' kid.

"Goodbye, Miss Letter. I'll let you know if I need anything."

Scarlet nodded and went back into her house. Note Pad looked down at what he had scribbled for the investigation.

It was a picture of Derpy.

I'm gonna need some help for this...

He went to the only place he could find Derpy-her house. He still remembered where she lived after he had walked her home.

Note Pad was no longer with his division. After having been laid off, he would take whatever investigative job he could find in the small town of Ponyville.

He knocked on Derpy's front door, waiting for an answer. After some time, she opened the door, and her eyes lit up in surprise.

"Note!" said Derpy happily. She hugged him tightly, which surprised the both of them. She pulled away in embarrassment. "What are you doing here?"

"I need your help with a case," he said, "I'll tell you all about it on the way."

She nodded and her eyes drifted around. "Yes sir!"

She ran back inside before he could say anything, and she returned wearing her detective hat, pants, and other accessories.

"Are we heading off?" she asked.

He nodded. "Let's go..."

He smiled.

"...partner."

Derpy beamed, smiling widely.

"Now that I'm your partner for realsies, can I see what's behind your sunglasses now?"

He chuckled.

"No."