//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The Phantom of Dodge Junction // Story: Dodge Junction // by aceotaku //------------------------------// Applejack and Twilight walked alongside Sheriff Bluegrass, Zecora, and Sapphire Shores, the others having split off to cover more ground. Twilight frowned softly, looking at the zebra. “Are you sure your friend will be alright without you around?” “Lulamoon may not be the most personable, but this way we maximise the amount of ponies with different levels of clearance to investigate.” “But where are we going anyway?” Applejack wondered. “We are looking into the many mechanics and engineers who work here.” Zecora explained. “It is reasonable to assume that by inspecting those who run the trains, we should be able to find our culprit.” Sheriff Bluegrass glared at the zebra. “What are ya’ll insinuatin’...?” The zebra gazed back cooly. “It is far more likely somepony intentionally attempted to steal our products rather than this merely being some accident, especially with just how frequently this has occurred and how much is missing.” The sheriff growled but nodded. “Fine, but Ah don’t buy it, none of our conductors and train staff would ever do what you’re sayin’...” As the group walked, they looked around at many low, square buildings surrounding them. “These are where keep our trains for maintenance.” Sheriff Bluegrass said. “We assign each train to a driver, and each train is then assigned to a particular route and timeframe. Right now the drivers should be working on their prep work for the race.” Twilight grinned excitedly. “Oh wow! Does that mean!? We get!? To see!? Real!? Dodge Junction!? Trains!?” Applejack raised a brow. “Hold on a moment, is it not a bad idea to risk such large, expensive vehicles in a race? What if they get damaged?” “Well, one, it’s a destruction derby as well as a race, so a little damage is expected, neigh, encouraged.” Bluegrass replied. “Second, we only use old trains that are gonna be recycled for scrap parts anyway, though our train drivers are expected to keep the trains in top shape for race time. This way, we always got spots open for new trains, which Iron Will Industries ALWAYS supplies every three months.” Twilight’s eyes widened as she went weak-kneed. “So...much...metal!” Applejack waved her hoof dismissively. “Ah don’t see the fuss, myself. Trains are extremely useful, but machinery is messy and so unladylike.” Zecora snorted. “We get it, you’re high class, can you please stop shoving it in our faces?” The earth pony gasped in affront, her hoof to her mouth. “Well, Ah never!” Sheriff Bluegrass rolled his eyes and knocked on a door to one of the buildings. “Jubilee, it’s Bluegrass...Ah have been given permission to ask ya some questions.” The door opened, revealing a cream coloured mare with short, dark red hair, wearing a pair of denim overalls and with black oil on her face and clothing, a wrench in her hoof. “Oh yes? Sorry I’m getting ready for the big race.” Zecora gestured with her hoof. “It is quite alright, you can work while we come in and look around, we’re simply asking every train driver and mechanic some questions.” The mare grinned. “Well alright then, come on in everypony, name’s Cherry Jubilee if I didn’t already say!” She trotted back behind the door as the group walked inside and followed. As they entered, Twilight’s eyes shone in delight as she spied loose machinery and tools hanging on the walls and on shelves, a massive frontal train car dominating the room with several tools and oil marks on the floor around it. “Oh wow!” Twilight gasped, spinning around as her eyes darted around to absorb in the sights. “This place is WONDERFUL!” Cherry Jubilee chuckled. “You’re welcome to look around but don’t touch. I’m working on souping up this old tin can for the race, so I’m sorry if I may start rushing you.” “No problem at all.” Zecora looked at the mechanic. “Do you drive the trains often, outside of races that is?” “Of course, it’s my job and most ponies who live here have SOMETHING to do with either trains or rail work.” Zecora nodded. “Hmm so what can you tell me about the shipments for Iron Will Industries?” “Hmm?” Cherry raised a brow while Twilight gazed lovingly over the train she was working on. “What are you talking about? IWI hasn’t been putting shipments through our trains or months, everypony knows that.” Sheriff Bluegrass blinked. “Ah certainly didn’t.” Zecora nodded. “Me neither, especially considering I’m one of the ponies in charge of our operations, so I should know whether or not we cancelled any projects or redirected our shipments.” Cherry blinked in confusion. “Huh?” “I work for Iron Will Industries.” The zebra sighed, rolling her eyes. “And I am here with these ponies to investigate into why we haven’t received any shipments scheduled to be moved via this city’s trainlines?” Cherry shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you ma’am, just ask anyone working here, nopony’s ever heard of these shipments since about a year ago.” “That is impossible!” Zecora cried out. “Surely SOMEPONY will know, it’s not like those shipments just disappeared!” Cherry bit her lip in though. “Hmm you seem pretty sure...hmm maybe it was ‘The Phantom’!” Applejack gave the mare a half lidded gaze. “The Phantom.” Sheriff Bluegrass facehoofed. “Jubilee, don’t talk to these tourists about the phantom, it’s embarrassing.” “It’s not ‘the phantom’, Sheriff.” Cherry corrected, raising a hoof pointedly. “The Phantom, both words capitalised. You’re the law here, you should know these things.” “If you don’t mind me asking,” Twilight asked, “but what’s The Phantom?” Bluegrass snorted testily. “Just some cockamamie ghost story the mechanics and drivers go on about, apparently he’s the reason our races are more frequent.” “The races used to be more reasonable?” Zecora asked. “Yeah!” Cherry interjected. “It used to be once a year, but then The Phantom sent everyone letters and demanded we hold them twice a year, or else he’d blow up the rails, so we did. But then he’d send us more letters demanding we hold the races and more and more often till now we have it four or six times a month!” “...I like festivals and special events as much as the next pony,” Twilight remarked, “but that’s a little overkill.... Why would he make threats over such a weird demand?” Cherry shrugged. “Nopony knows. We don’t even know what The Phantom even looks like; all we got was a letter each.” Sheriff Bluegrass gave the mechanic a hard glare. “Letters? You had EVIDENCE of the Phantom actually existing and threatening the city and you didn’t see fit to TELL ME!?” “We didn’t think we needed to!” Cherry Jubilee replied with a startled yelp, inching back. “I-I mean we told Governor Bluegrass and gave him the letters as proof, and he told all of us give him every one we got. Why else do you think the Races have been getting so frequent, he was following The Phantom’s demands, it was the safest bet! It worked out anyway, because the Races bring in more tourists!” Sheriff Bluegrass looked away from her as he muttered. “He didn’t tell me any of this...why did he hide this...?” Applejack frowned at Cherry. “Excuse me for being presumptuous, but how often do you compete in these races?” “Every time we have them!” Cherry replied with a cheerful jump. “And ALL of you mechanics and drivers compete?” “Yes we do!” Applejack frowned. “But...that can’t be good. That would mean you spend more time on these races then on your actual jobs with the trains, and that means the trains spend a lot of time out of service, not to mention how tiring it must get.” “Plus the damage being put on the trains unnecessarily.” Twilight pointed out. Cherry frowned. “That is all true, but the Governor says we need the revenue, and if we don’t do what The Phantom says, the tracks will be destroyed!” Zecora’s eyes grew stern. “Something is very amiss here.” The other mares nodded as Sheriff Bluegrass gazed at the ground in thought, looking up as he heard the sound of the large garage door being lifted up, a single mule coming out from outside under it. “Bucky McGillicutty.” Sheriff said, looking to the mares. “He’s one of my brother’s personal bodyguards.” He then turned to the mule in question. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with my brother?” The mule handed the stallion a piece of paper, Sheriff’s eyes widening as he read, frowning sceptically. Sapphire Shores tore it from his gasp, earning a shout of surprise and anger from the stallion. The Guard’s eyes narrowed as she read. “Umm...” Twilight started nervously. “I-is there something important on there we should know about?” Sapphire Shores immediately turned towards Zecora, pointing a golden spear at the zebra. “Zecora of Iron Will Industries, you are under arrest!” Zecora raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. “May I ask why, Guardsmare?” “This paper is a report from Governor Bluegrass himself, stating that you and your associate, Miss Trixie Lulamoon, were the ones seen stealing the missing shipments!” Sapphire Shores shouted accusingly. “NOW STAND DOWN AND FACE JUSTICE!” “Guardsmare, that is plainly ridiculous” Zecora started, only to be interrupted as Sapphire Shores swung her spear, Zecora dodging expertly. “Very well, I shall try negotiating myself out of this farce later. Goodbye, I shall see you later.” She pulled a flask out from under her suit and threw it at the ground, disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. Sapphire Shores cleared the smoke away with a few slashes with her spear, only to find the zebra gone. “Drat! I must get after her! YOU WILL NOT GET AWAYYYY!” She turned and ran out of the building, the other mares watching is disbelief. “Th-The hay just happened?” Cherry and Applejack asked aloud. “Stupid mare.” Sheriff said, running out after the errant Guard. “You lot stay here, Ah need to talk some sense into that idjit!” As he left Twilight frowned. “Did Miss Zecora lead us on a wild goose chase...?” “Hmmm...Ah am not sure dahling...” Applejack replied. “Something doesn’t add up...” She yelped in surprise as she was kicked upside the head, knocking her out, Cherry and Twilight barely able to react as they two were swiftly knocked unconscious. Bucky McGillicutty looked down at the three mares stoically, swiftly lifting them up and carrying them out. ------------------------------------- Rainbow Dash walked beside Trixie, giving her a friendly smile. “How you holding up, Trix?” “I-I-I’m f-fine, Rainbow, th-thank you for asking...”Trixie mumbled shyly. “I-I’m sorry I haven’t been able to send you a-any letters...I-I-I’ve been busy...” She looked down at the ground, pulling her hood tighter over her head. “I-I’m an awful friend.” “Hey, don’t say that!” Rainbow grinned. “I understand completely, friends can’t always be together all the time, especially not during school years. I am glad we got to meet again though!” Trixie gave the Pegasus a small, genuine smile. “M-me too, Rainbow. Y-you were the only one who ever noticed me...a-apart from Mr Iron Will and Miss Zecora...” “Speaking of,” the blue Pegasus said, “you didn’t really explain that well how you ended up working for them, not in detail.” Trixie frowned sadly. “I...I didn’t pass the exam...” Rainbow Dash’ eyes widened and she frowned sympathetically. “Oh...I didn’t realise...I got so caught up in my studies and taking care of Spike, I...I didn’t realise I never saw you after the exam...” “It’s okay...though...at the time, I felt so awful, I sulked outside the building for a very long time.” Trixie looked down at the ground. “My parents were going to be so mad....they only enrolled me because they wanted me out of the house...and it cost soooo much money...I spent a long time crying and feeling worthless...” Rainbow gently laid a hoof over the unicorn’s back. Trixie smiled at the gesture. “But...then Mister Iron Will walked past me, w-with Miss Zecora following alongside, a-and they noticed me. Th-they were reviewing some candidates among the students for future employees a-and were about to leave before they found me...and then they started talking to me.” “Why?” Rainbow asked. Trixie blushed. “W-w-well....w-while I was crying I-I dropped a sketch i was working on...o-one of my old, rejected plans t-to get ponies to notice me...I-I tried to pick it up and throw it away but Mister Iron Will picked it up first a-and he said...he said it looked ‘awesome’ a-a-and he asked me about who I was and what magic I could do a-a-and I answered him a-a-and then he...” She smiled widely, tears pouring down her cheeks. “H-he said I needed to work for him..th-th-that I had the-the coolest ideas a-and he needs me right away...a-and I’ve been working for him ever since...” She sniffled, wiping her eyes. “I-I’m sorry I shouldn’t be telling you all this...w-w-we got more important things to worry about...” “Nah Trix, it’s cool.” Rainbow grinned. “Stop selling yourself so short, it’s great to know how things went for you.” Trixie blushed deeper and looked down. “Th-th-thanks Rainbow Dash...” Prince Blueblood looked at the pair as his Guards flanked beside him, Rainbow and Trixie lagging behind them. “I’m ever so sorry to ruin your reunion, ladies, but we ARE in the middle of an investigation I fear.” Trixie yelped and hurried over. “S-s-s-sorry Mr Blueblood!” “Now, now,” the prince waved his hoof dismissively, “call me Blueblood, or simply Prince. I feel I needn’t be so formal with such a lovely mare with us.” He winked, Trixie stammering like a engine as she blushed and hid her face behind her mane, making the prince laugh good-naturedly. Rainbow rolled his eyes as she glided over. “So, who do we talk to next?” Blueblood’s lips thinned as he thought. “I have a feeling asking every engineer, conductor or rail worker will do us no good. The one’s we already asked all pretty much confirmed no knowledge of any shipments past, present or future.” He frowned, glaring towards the distance. “This ‘Phantom’ worries me however...” “Yeah...” Rainbow agreed. “For some reason the name just makes me think of Grand Heist...” “Possibly, however all we have is a name and a letter and even the demands don’t sound like him, but the possibility of some connection can’t be denied, if slim.” His glare hardened; a hoof to his chin. “What concerns me is that neither Bluegrass mentioned ‘The Phantom’ at all, nor his outrageous demands.” “Outrageous demands that Bluegrass is going along with in the name of tourism.” Rainbow snorted. “He may try to justify it however he wants, but it’s obvious what his real motivation is.” “My thoughts exactly.” The Royal Guard Captain nodded in agreement. “Halt!” The group froze and looked up at a building with a large pipe going along its second story horizontally, a figure wearing a thick black cloak and a huge white mask standing upon it. Blueblood got into a fighting stance as his Guard lifted their spears while Rainbow moved close to Trixie protectively. “Who are you!?” Blueblood demanded of the figure. “I am The Phantom of Dodge Junction, and you cease your investigations at once, or else.” “We are the Royal Guard!” Blueblood shouted. “We do not take threats lightly, especially not at the hooves, hands, talons or what-have-you of terrorists!” The Phantom laughed as he ran along the pipe to the other side of the building. “Quick, after him!” Blueblood ordered, turning to Rainbow. “Stay here and keep Miss Lulamoon safe, Dame Dash.” With that, he and his soldiers chased after the cloaked figure as Trixie shivered fearfully. “O-oh dear...” Trixie whimpered while Rainbow wrapped her hooves around her comfortingly. “It’ll be okay, Trix.” The Pegasus said reassuringly. “Blueblood’s a good guy, he’s gonna catch the bad guys and keep everypony safe.” “I-I hope so...b-but h-he might n-n-not...” Trixie gulped as she spoke. “Th-the phantom might be scary...b-but he might not b-b-be the thief...” “Then we’ll just find the thief.” Rainbow grinned. “Promise.” Trixie smiled softly. “I-I-Imissed your confidence R-Rainbow...” She looked down. “Y-You always made me feelbetter about myself...th-that I didn’t need to be different than what I was...even though I annoy ponies a-and get in the way...” She started crying. “I-I-I’m so happy you decided to be my friend...” Rainbow wiped the mare’s tears away, wrapping a wing around her...only to look up at the sound of hoofsteps. The pair were surrounded by several unicorns wearing brown hats and vests, horns glowing with charged magic as a sunglasses wearing mule stood at the back of them. “What’s the meaning of this?” Rainbow growled in irritation as Trixie hugged her in fear. “Who are you?” “We are the law enforcers of Dodge Junction.” One of the ponies said. “Kicks Mcgee has ordered us to arrest you both.” “On what charge?” Rainbow growled, eyes narrowing in anger. “Theft and sabotage of Dodge Junction property. By Governor Bluegrass’ direct orders, you shall be arrested immediately.” “Like we’ll just” Rainbow was interrupted as the ponies shot blasts of magic at her, only for Trixie’s horn to glow and vanishing without a trace, leaving Rainbow to fall to the ground, alone. One of the unicorns turned to the mule, who shrugged and hefted the Pegasus onto his back, trotting off towards Governor’s home. “You’d think he’d be more upset that the actual criminal got away...” One of the unicorns muttered. -------------------------------- Sheriff Bluegrass huffed as he looked around the city’s streets, trying to find the errant Guardsmare. “Blasted mare...running off without thinkin’ anythin’ through...” His ears perked up and he looked upwards as several speakers set up throughout the city blared out obnoxious music. He recognised the song: his brother’s ‘them song’. To this day he didn’t know why Governor thought giving himself a theme song would be a good idea. Governor Bluegrass’ voice spoke over the music. “Get ready,ponies of Dodge Junction and assorted tourists, the time is beginning for everypony’s FAVOURITE venue: the Bi-Weekly Train Race Demolition Derby! All participants must finish up and get to their places or be disqualified, everypony else buy yourself a seat and enjoy yourselves!” Sheriff Bluegrass raised a brow incredulously in disbelief. “What!? But it’s still four hours too early...” he growled and started to march off towards his brother’s residence.