Fluttershy sped through the air over Ponyville squealing with delight. She made a loop-de-loop and then dived down low flying just over the head of Pinkie Pie while doing a barrel roll before gaining altitude again. Rainbow Dash chased after her pleading, "For Celestia's sake, slow down! Take it easy! Your wings won't be used to this!"

Pinkie gave a smile at Fluttershy's aerobatics but it soon faded as she gave a look of determination as she headed to her destination, an unassuming house near the town centre. She arrived at the door and looked around to see if anybody was watching and then with her back flat against the door opened it and snuck in trying not to raise any suspicion. Fortunately for her, everyone that witnessed this bizarre and obvious behaviour just assumed it was Pinkie being Pinkie.

Inside the house was a yellow pony with an indigo and pink mane and tail, and three wrapped candies as a cutie mark. The occupant let out a yell of surprise as she was startled by Pinkie's sudden appearance.

"I'm never going to get used to that." she muttered to herself.

"Hi, Sweetie Drops!" greeted Pinkie which was immediately returned as an angry glare. "Oops, sorry, I mean 'Bon-Bon'." she said, correcting herself while making hoof quotation marks in the air.

"Pinkie, you have to be more careful than that, you can never know who might be listening." said Sweetie, with a barely controlled anger.

"I made a Pinkie promise to keep your secret, didn't I? Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a…hey!" Pinkie had pulled a cupcake from somewhere and was about to finish her rhyme with the usual act of jamming the baked good in her eye when Sweetie suddenly swiped it and promptly ate it.

Between chews Sweetie answered Pinkie's astonished look, "What? I wasn't about to let a perfectly good cupcake go to waste." After a few more chews and a swallow she then added, "A little stale."

"Of course! That's why I use them for Pinkie promises."

After Sweetie was finished she gave Pinkie a serious look, "Why are you here? Hopefully it's not to feed me stale cupcakes."

Pinkie leaned in close and looked around to see if anyone was listening before whispering, "I need some spy equipment."

"And why would you think I would have spy equipment?" Sweetie whispered back.

"Because you're a spy."

Sweetie gave a little cough before answering, "I wasn't a spy, I was a monster hunter, and I also happen to be retired from that life. What kind of spy equipment are you looking for exactly?"

"Well I need a camera, binoculars, a tape recorder, and a pencil."

"A pencil?"

"Yes," replied Pinkie, "for writing observations in a notebook. Oh! And a notebook too!" she added.

Sweetie took a quick glance out her front window and then looked back at Pinkie, "Is this about Twilight and the glowy-eye thingy going on with her?"

Pinkie nodded but with a look of someone that felt like they were about to betray their best friend.

Sweetie continued to glance out her front window while she questioned Pinkie, "If you don't mind me asking, what is she doing that's got you so concerned?"

Pinkie didn't answer right away; she wanted to get her thoughts in order which was often a difficult challenge for her at the best of times. Pinkie gave a serious look and answered, "She changed Fluttershy, and she did it without asking her if she wanted it done. She changed her as if she was somehow broken and need to be fixed."

"Well it was supposed to be a birthday gift, and Fluttershy seemed very appreciative of it afterwards."

"I know, but what if Twilight thinks one of us needs fixing and tries to change us? I like the way I am, I don't want to be anypony else."

Sweetie nodded in understanding, "Is your Pinkie-sense telling you anything."

"Nope, nothing."

"Is it still working?"

Suddenly Pinkie's tail twitched causing her to quickly step sideways. Right after that a flower pot crashed to the ground at the spot that Pinkie had just been standing. Pinkie then replied without look at the flower pot, "Oh, yeah."

Sweetie looked angrily at the broken shards, scattered soil and tattered flower that now sat on her previously clean carpet, "Darn that Lyra. She is always giving me these potted flowers and then she puts them in these weird and dangerous spots. I never know when or where one is going to turn up."

Pinkie gave Sweetie an earnest look, "That explains so much."

Sweetie gave a look of puzzlement and then asked suddenly, "Does Twilight look different to you?"

"What?"

"Twilight; she's out there right now and she looks like she's installing something in the main intersection. Does she look different?" asked Sweetie, her head nodding in the direction of the front window.

Pinkie looked out the front window for the first time and saw Twilight installing the traffic light box on top of a tall pole in the middle of the street. Rarity and Applejack were out there talking to Twilight and she could tell from their facial expressions that they had misgivings about what she was doing. "Well her eyes are glowing."

Sweetie gave a look of annoyance, "I mean besides that."

"Oh, well her coat is a shade darker and she's about two inches taller and longer."

"I didn't notice that at the party last night."

"Honestly, I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it just now." admitted Pinkie.

Sweetie gave a look of someone that just made up her mind. She went to her closet and pulled out a suitcase that had a gold horseshoe on the top. She placed her hoof on it, causing it to rotate ninety degrees and giving a noticeable 'click' indicating that the case was now unlocked. Sweetie opened the case revealing various pieces of surveillance equipment inside. She then turned to Pinkie and spoke, "Now I'm willing to let you have my stuff, but I want you to do something for me: I want you to keep me informed about anything you discover. I have still have some contacts who are agents with The River House who could analyze this information and present it to Princess Celestia if necessary."

Pinkie looked in the case and gave a sniff of disappointment, "I already own most of this stuff."

Sweetie gave her look of utter bewilderment. Pinkie seeing the reaction continued, "I was kinda expecting it to be, you know, more spy gadgety."

Sweetie slowly shook her head, "Pinkie, you watch way too many movies."