//------------------------------// // Phantom part 3 // Story: The cases of Mystery Mare // by Mystery Mare42 //------------------------------// "Who did he make it out of this time." I muttered as my tone became colder. "I don't know" Mr. Dusk said. I nodded with a frown on my face, I felt sad to see that somepony’s flesh was used to make a mask of me. I made me sick to my stomach. He looks at me. "You okay?" I just nod not wanting to say a word I start walking once more looking for the Phantom. I saw no clues besides the ash that was once ponies on the blood stained streets by the crumbled buildings. Mr. Dusk suddenly hugs me and I instantly push him hard away. "I'm not the hugging kind of pony." "Sorry."He responded. Nancy meowed in my bag and she peeks out watching. "No need to be." I muttered to Mr. Dusk as I walked. In the shadows there was a glowing gem and he went towards it. "Whats that?" The gem seemed to put him into a state of hypnosis as he now had it on his head and he suddenly starts to attack me. "Mr. Dusk, snap out of it." I demanded blocking his attacks. When he doesn’t respond I realized that he had no control over himself. Seeing him like this reminded me of the doll back at the mansion. Was the doll a prototype for something like this, is that why it was inside the doll’s head to make it move. I go to take the gem off his head and he slashes a sword and it sends a shock wave at me. I wondered when he got the sword as I stumbled back a bit. He nearly stabs me as I tried to get to the gem. Nancy jumps out of my saddlebag to help me and tries to knock the gem off of his head but he tosses Nancy. That made me know for sure that he was under hypnosis of some kind because I never would have thought that Mr. Dusk would never do that, luckily for her she landed on her paws and watches us. I try to get closer to Mr. Dusk as I hit him but I tried to be gentle as I did it. He blocks it and as I tried to get behind him he disappeared into the darkness. I look around for him and sigh,I try to think of what to do. Nancy was stiffing the ground trying to get his scent but then again she wasn’t a dog so I had no clue if she could find a pony. A fish, maybe if she was hungry enough. I start walking off trying to see if I could find Mr. Dusk , Nancy walked next to me. As we walked I noticed something that looked alot like him but I knew it was a fake to distract me. "You can't fool me!" I yelled. Mr. Dusk’s voice comes from all around "OH REALLY?!" "Yes really. Stop hiding and come out." I responded looking around. "And ruin the fun?" "For now yes. I would like Mr. Dusk free from the gem's control." I look around as Nancy sat by my hooves. "HAHAHAHAHAHA NEVER!" "Why?” I raised an eyebrow. "Why would I give back a useless pony?" He asked. "No pony is useless. We all have a purpose." I glared as I looked around. "And if he is useless why did you take him then?" "He is the only one to control the completed robot." I nodded."Then he is not useless. " "Then he'll take the fall just like his only friend Tails Doll." The tails doll? Was that the orange and white doll that was in the mansion. I guess it must be that. "What did you do to the doll?" “Made it so it can't open its mouth and that Dusk has to incinerate it soon.” "Why?" I asked as I got confused by that. "Nosy ponies like you getting close to stopping me." "Well I was handed a case so I'm trying to solve it." I crossed my arms and smirked as I looked around trying to see if I could figure out where Mr. Dusk’s voice was coming from. "You solved it." He tells me. "Yes but not fully. You still need to be put to justice Phantom." I said. "Well then try it." When he said that it sounded slightly arrogant. I knew I would be able to solve it, it just takes some hard work and a little elbow grease. "I will. " I replied and looked around to see if I could see Phantom or Mr. Dusk and the only thing I see in the shadows around me was a faint red glow,I move closer to it and it fades completely. "Where did it go." I look around for it but there was nothing. I start pacing to think. Nancy copied me as she followed right behind me."Where could they be.." I muttered to myself as I tried to think of where the Phantom or Mr. Dusk could be.While I look around for anything to lead me to them,I see pots and pans in a line. It was very strange, it was in a perfect straight line. Who ever placed it here must have wanted to lead somepony somewhere. I lead me to a small building with a red roof. The pizza shaped sign said pizzeria, I push the door open finding that it was unlocked, the smell of rotten pizza hit me once I entered. It was pitch black except for an creepy red glow. and flickering lights of the main hallway. I suddenly hear a voice as it spoke weakly "Help."I run towards the voice and find Dusk behind the counter. I couldn’t really see the condition he was in but I could guess it wasn’t that well judging only by the sound of his voice. I held out my hoof to him and pull him up."Thanks" He told me. "What happened? Are you okay sir?" I asked. "I'm fine" He replied. I nodded. "Wheres Phantom?"Mr. Dusk shrugs as I look around the pizzeria I take mental notes of everything as I note that nothing was out of place so it could be guessed that Phantom just dumped Mr. Dusk here."Where could he be?" I asked myself. "This is weird" Mr. Dusk told me. "It is." I nodded. "I feel like I know this place but can't be sure." He said as he was looking around. I nodded as I suggested an explanation. "Maybe you been here before to eat." He shrugs and suggests that we leave. I nodded and headed out as he follows. I wondered where we were going to head to next and look around for some clues but sadly saw none, the Phantom was excellent at covering up his tracks. When I notice that Mr. Dusk wasn’t following me any more I turn around and find him passed out on the ground. I go over to him and examine since it wasn’t dark out here as it was in the pizzeria. I look him over to figure out what was the reason he passed out, I see that the gem he had on his head when he fought me was gone and that his body was beat up an bruised showing signs of struggle. "Interesting." I said to myself as I pick up Mr. Dusk and start walking with him on my back. I decided to head to my ex-headquarters. I enter the building taking note that neither or my ex-partners were here. They must be on a case I thought and placed my passed out client on the couch, I treated any wounds I saw on him and started thinking about my next move. I knew that Mr. Dusk probably learned some things while he was hypnotized by the gems and because he never told me he was the only pony who could control his robots.He soon wakes up. "How are you feeling?" "Sick." He answered "Why? What happened to you?" I asked. He looks at me. "I was beaten up by the Phantom because I refused to help." I nodded. "He mentioned that you were the only one able to control the robot." "I am being part robot and all" I looked surprised at that explanation. That is really interesting, I thought. I am still going with my earlier comment to him that I he gets more and more interesting with every minute."You are? I guess that explains why you couldn't kill yourself with your magic earlier when you claimed that we couldn't win this case." "Yea but Tails doll can also control it." I nodded."That's interesting, so that would mean that Phantom would be going after the Tails doll correct" "Yes." He nods. I put my hoof to my chin."Hmm. If my memory if correct I believe the Phantom stated that he made it so it can't open its mouth and that you has to incinerate it soon.” "Yes but he never stated why?" "Hmm..I wonder why." I stated as I headed into the kitchen. Nancy jumped on Mr. Dusk and rubs her head against him. I hear her meow at him when I come back with some tea. I looked at Mr. Dusk as I set it down. "In case you're wondering we are at my ex-headquarters. 22 Ponystreet detective agency Manehatten division. " Mr. Dusk looks around at our surroundings. "Maybe I can work here to have a secondary job" I shrugged. "Don't ask me. You need to speak with my ex partners, Madam Thursday and Mr. Samual." He nods understanding he would have to talk with my ex-partners if he wanted a job and changes that conversation as I sip my tea. "Okay this case went from robbery to a national crisis" I thought about what to do next and came to a conclusion that we would be needing some help from one of my enemies. The agency my brother works for, it is a agency full of secrets, information, and undercover operations. I look at Mr. Dusk."I noticed. I believe we may need some help." "From who?" He asked with a questioning look. "Equestrian defense force." I answered. "NO!" He screamed. Seeing that he didn’t want their help made me glad since I honestly didn’t want any agents here and I can’t stand my brother. "As much as I would hate to have them join us in this case, I know when we need extra help. If we do not have them help up then we will need the help of my ex-partners." "The EDF want's me dead." He replied. "Most likely because of the robots I'm guessing." I sip my tea now knowing we would need to continue this by ourselves. "No,they think I control the Phantom.”He said to me. "Makes sense." I replied as it honestly made sense to me for why the EDF wants him dead. "If I did would I order this?"He asks me. "Order the destruction of all Equestria as we know it? I can't say." I shrugged "And ordering him to beat me to near explosion?" "Good point. You don't look that stupid to do that." I stated Mr. Dusk shrugs. "Thanks I guess" I nodded. "You're welcome" "I figured out why the Phantom made sure Tails Doll can't open his mouth" "Why is that?" I did wonder that when the Phantom told me about it. I mean it is a doll and even if it is a moving one, dolls don’t do much. "So Tails Doll can't fight back." He said. "How could it fight back?" I asked. "If it sense danger to it it would open his mouth and proceed to bite the former attack till all the blood oozes out of the pony's body." He explained to me. I nodded. "I'll make a note to never make it mad. Now I would be guessing that the Phantom would be headed back to the mansion for the doll?"He nods confirming that Phantom would be there. I stand up."Are you feeling up to going back there? Or would you like to rest?" "Let's go." He said. I nodded. Nancy hopped in my saddle bag and I pick it up. "Then lets good sir. Time to stop the Phantom once and for all." "Yeah" He responded but I could tell by the look on his face that he thinks we would only stop the Phantom if he doesn't outsmart us. We head out of the building and swiftly get to the mansion where we hear fighting. I wondered who could be fighting. It would obviously be the Phantom but who would he be fighting with, could it be the Tails doll? Maybe it was a robot. I storm in to see who was really fighting and I see the Phantom fighting Tails doll who had his mouth unsealed. I grinned slightly seeing the fight and seeing that my guess on who was fighting was correct. I turned to Mr. Dusk. "You do build an impressive doll sir." "Why do you say that?" He asked me. "Well I never seen a doll fight before. "I replied. "Okay" "I wonder if the doll will win." I said and watched the Phantom fight with the Tails Doll. "I don't think so" Mr. Dusk said. "Then lets go help him." I suggested "How?" He asks. "Are you seriously asking me how we can help a doll fight our enemy. It is simple we go in and join the brawl. You know we go hoof to hoof with him, three on one it should be cake. Come now." I tell him. "Fine." "Good." I nodded slipping off my saddlebags, not wanting Nancy to get hurt and ran towards Phantom who grabs me using me as a tool to hit the Tails Doll. After I hit the dollI, I turn and punch the Phantom. "Oof." He said. Before he could respond I hit him several times in the chest and he blocks it when I try to hit his head. I keep punching him trying to aim for any weak points and he clearly looked angry. I was surprised to see him pull out a sword from his version of Mr. Dusk’s vest. That explained where the sword came from earlier when I fought Mr. Dusk while he was under hypnosis. "Mr. Dusk may I borrow your sword." I asked him figuring the only way to bear a sword is to use a sword. I never used one but I had to try. Mr. Dusk nods. "Sure" He tosses his sword towards me and I catch it with ease and swing it at Phantom. He blocks my attack as I keep going, he suddenly kicks me and I fall to the ground. When he tries to slash at my neck I block with the sword. "Just die." Phantom said. "I will not." I stand and go to stab him with the sword, he blocks it easily as sword fighting is not my specialty. I kick him in an effort to try to let him let go of the sword. I glance to Mr. Dusk. "Mr. Dusk, will you be helping me fight him or just stand there."Mr. Dusk doesn’t respond as I continue fighting the Phantom waiting to see if he will join in. When I kick the Phantom, he dodges but gets punched by Mr. Dusk. "Nice shot." I said to him. "Thanks." He replied. I nodded and used the sword to try to hit the Phantom.but he pulls out his gun and shoots me,.I try to use the sword to block the bullet before it could hit me but instead of the sword blocking the bullet it was Mr. Dusk who takes it. I looked surprised as I heard him cough. I would have asked him why he took that bullet for me but I knew it would be a better guess to keep my attention to Phantom, I swing the sword in an attempt to knock his sword away. It was close but Phantom barely blocks me. "So close." I muttered. Phantom shoots another shot at Mr. Dusk and I hurry to try and block it with the sword, not wanting him to take another bullet, he is my client after all, if he dies I don’t get paid. The bullet gets cut in half and I take the sword and slash it at the Phantom who blocks it with fear. He goes and shoots at the Tails doll, it shatters Tails Doll's gem causing him to collapse. I figured without the gem the doll was pretty much lifeless. I went back to fighting Phantom and he beats me to the ground.I try using my hooves to block. "Just die." He said to me. "I will not. " I slowly get up and he knocks me down again."No matter how many times I fall, you will never win." I stated in a cold tone as I got up more quickly this time and try to kick him, he blocks. "JUST STOP!” He yelled as I kept fighting. "I will not." I stated again as I went to go behind him to slash him, I was pretty surprised at how I was doing in this fight. I wasn't sure how long I could keep this up as I was losing energy but I had to win this fight. He some how blocked that attack, he yelled stop once more but I didn’t. "I will not give up. I have a job and I will stop you." "You're all alone." He stated. I glare at him. "If I'm alone, I'm alone so be it." He shoots me and I dodge it, he switches to use his sword and slashes my hooves. My blood now covered the handle of the sword I was holding and dripped to the floor. I ignore the blood on my hooves as I kept fighting, I knew I couldn't fight for much longer as I was getting exhausted. I felt a weird power around me and I wondered what was going on as I take notice of what was going on. Somepony was using magic to heal me, I see the cut marks on my hooves start to close. I look around briefly and see Mr. Dusk laughing. “Why are you laughing.” I asked him. "Just what the Phantom said" Mr. Dusk replied. "About me being alone?" I said. He nods. "Yes." "Yeah it was funny wasn't it. " I smirked and turned to Phantom. "Like I said if I'm alone then I'm alone but it seems that I'm not alone this time." With the healing magic gone and my strength restored I run at Phantom and hit him with the sword. The Phantom looked shocked as he blocks. "WHAT?!"I keep striking him causing him to go. "UGH!" I kick him to the ground when he suddenly said. "Stop." "Why" I asked. "I'll go in quietly" I couldn't tell if he was lying but I didn't trust him. "I need proof of that."Phantom puts his front hooves his head."Mr. Dusk may you help me detain him and take him to the authorities?" I asked keeping an eye on Phantom. "Sure." Mr. Dusk said. I watch as he goes to detain Phantom but Phantom pulled a knife from the vest he wore and stabbed Mr.Dusk. "Knew I shouldn't have trusted you. " I go to punch Phantom and he dodges it. When I try to grab him he vanishes."Where did he go.."I look around not seeing him anywhere, how could he just vanish like that. "Ugh." I heard Mr. Dusk say. "Are you okay?" I asked him. "Yeah." He nods. "Thank you for taking that bullet for me." I told him, he nods saying okay, I return the nod. "Lets find Phantom again." Mr. Dusk tries to get up but couldn't,when I look at him to see why he couldn't get up I notice he was missing his front hooves. There was exposed wires and some blood where his hooves once where. My eyes widen. "What in the names of Celestia and Luna happened?" "Hm?" He said. "Where are your hooves?" I ask him. "I don't know." He replied. "How could you not know!" I yelled at him Mr. Dusk looked terrified."I shut down for a little bit" I had a questionable look on my face when he said that."You shut down?" He nods."Yes basically I died, so that is why I don't know where they went." "But I was right here how could you lose your hooves." I started pacing. "I don't know" He responded. "Could the Phantom have taken them..wait what does it your robot need to be controlled? Maybe it needs your hoof prints." I said as I took a guess at why his front hooves were gone. "It's need three things of the creator. Hoofprints, eye color and voice." He answered. I nodded "And with the Phantom's ability to look and act like the pony he makes a mask from he could accomplish that easily correct?"Mr. Dusk nods yes as I keep pacing trying to think. Nancy meowed from my bags as she just talks to me. I look to Nancy as she kept meowing. "Yes Nancy we should do something about the exposed wires and blood. " "Hmm?" He said "We should clean up the wires sticking out and make it so that it doesn't shock me or you." I tell him. "Okay." He replied. I nod and walk over to him. "Hm?" "Just want to clean off the blood and stuff." I said getting an handkerchief from my bag and gently started to wipe away the blood. "There done. Can you stand on your hind hooves?” Mr. Dusk nods and proceeds to stand on his hind hooves."Good. Let's go." I said. "Okay" He replied. "Where do you think the Phantom went?" I asked. "Canterlot I feel the robot's there" "I'm guessing its because you are a robot and what not and that is how you know its there. " I said "Yeah" "Good then. Off we go then." I said and started walking, heading toward the train station, Once there I go and swiftly buy our tickets.I hand Mr. Dusk his ticket once I return and head for the train with him following behind me. I take a seat with Nancy on my lap and Mr. Dusk sats across from me. I look at him. "Since the start of this case you have become more and more interesting to me. From having a dark side that knows Phantom, to having magic and being part of the royal family and now that you are part robot. This has been an interesting case." "In a good or bad way?" He asks me. "Maybe both." I replied with a tilt of my head as I pet Nancy. She looked at me and meowed. I chuckled as she looked at me with begging eyes. "You want some food?" My cat meows. I smiled and pulled out a small bag of treats from my bag. I toss one of the treats in the air and Nancy catches it. I look up at Mr. Dusk noticing the look of sadness on his face. "A bit for your thoughts?" "I never had a pet." He said sadly. "This is my first one." I said remembering when I got my cat in Manehatten when I had a stallion as an assistant for a case . His name was Mr. Lucem Diem, he was a very nice stallion, always giving me hugs even if I was uncomfortable with them. I remember how he first picked up Nancy back when she was a stray. My reminiscing ended when I heard Mr. Dusk crying. "Um..Don't cry.." I responded seeing him cry. Nancy hopped off my lap and nuzzles him, he looked confused by what she was doing. "She doesn't like seeing you sad." I said to him as the cat licked him.