BB said:
What kind of ore was he storing? In order to figure out where it went we first need to understand who would want it.

You roll a 13 (required 10). Success!

You ask Glint about the ore that was stolen.

Glint: "Does it matter? Well, this is a nickel farm. If you're asking why anyone would go out of their way to steal nickel ore, I don't rightly know. It's not even worth that much!

Not to mention, it's only the ore that was taken. Had two crates full of nice chunks of pure nickel, fresh out of the oven — sitting right next to them —, and those weren't even touched! Curse me if I know what the deal is."

You ask the farmer for his permission to enter the storehouse.

Glint: "Sure, it's unlocked. You can have a look around, but don't touch anything. Don't need you messing with my tools."

You nod, and with that, you make your way to the storehouse.

As you enter, you take a look around the dusty room. You find some crates, what looks to be a smelter, and a staircase to the second floor, which Moonflower eagerly climbs.

Before moving on, you take a moment to inspect the door you just opened. Both the handle and the lock are in good condition, so it wasn't broken through.

You then walk over to the crates. Two wooden boxes are sealed and pushed in a corner, likely containing the aforementioned processed nickel. Judging by their size, the crates could not fit through any of the windows, and it would require the strength of at least a large earth pony to even move one of them.

By the far wall, the smelter sits next to an empty crate, which is somehow lowered below the stone tiles. Not knowing much about the machine, you decide to leave it alone.

Nearby is a suspicious gap where the eight missing crates of ore may have once been. In their stead, a few pebbles litter the floor, glimmering with silvery metal and tiny gemstones.

While Apple Basket takes a closer look at one of the small rocks, Moonflower returns from searching the upstairs.

Moonflower: "I didn't find anythin' up there. How 'bout'cha?"

Apple Basket: "Uh… nothin' yet."

Suddenly, you notice something odd; from where you are standing, the pebbles appear to form an unsteady line between you and the door. You figure that they could have trickled out of a crate as it was carried into the storehouse… or out of it.

Moonflower: "Ooh! Did you see somethin', Blazer?"

Unsure, you tentatively follow the trail outside, and begin to search around the building. Soon enough, you and your friends find more of the shiny stones hiding in the short grass, leading you northward.

You continue your search until you reach the edge of the forest, where on red dirt, next to a tree, another piece of ore beckons you further in.

You pause. There is something about all of this that doesn't feel right, yet you can't quite put your hoof on it.

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