The Twilight Mystery Case

Author's note
And now, while I work on the adaptation of the Friendship Games, here's the short fic which co-starred the Equestrian Eliminator. Enjoy!!!

The Twilight Mystery Case

The scene slowly opens up to a strange foggy mist surrounding around an area of darkness. Seems to give off a real spooky vibe if one was to become lost in this place. And look what ends up walking across this misty area then….Twilight Sparkle? The Alicorn mare is very much confused and seems very lost, for she has no idea what, when, where, how & why she was here. She can hardly recall anything before just walking into a place she never been to before.

“Hello….” Twilight called out to the misty plain while hearing her voice reply. “Is any pony around? Ben….Nyx….Spike….Phobos?” She was calling out to her family, wondering where they are.

“Twilight….Twilight….Twilight….” There was a sudden voice calling out to Twilight’s name that made the mare flinch in hearing that.

“Hugh?” Twilight flinched from hearing some different voice call out to her in a wispy tone. “Girls…are you there? Rarity….Fluttershy….Applejack?” She asked off while wondering if any of her friends are near.

Nothing but silence was left and that only made Twilight feel more worried.

“Rainbow Dash…Pinkie Pie…if this is some sorta joke, it’s not funny.” Twilight scolds the two names of her friends that would pull a joke here. “What’s going on?” She snapped in demanding an explanation for all this.

Then at that moment, the mist began to bubble upwards, making the mare yelp backwards in not knowing what to expect until…

“Twilight….” The image of Starlight was seen when the bubbling mist vanished, the colt’s appearance caused Twilight to gasp in shock.

“Gaaaah…Starlight…” Twilight gasped in seeing her missing little brother, but…why? “But how….why are you…?” She was about to ask why the image of Starlight was here in such a place, but…

Before she could approach her brother, Starlight’s image faded away right as Twilight almost touched him.

“No wait! Where did you go?” Twilight couldn’t get to the image of her brother, but suddenly…she felt someone behind her. “Hugh…who’s there?” She asked from turning around, almost feeling someone else was near.

Soon appearing from another cloud of mist came the masked pony Twilight saw in the End of Equestria, none other than the Equestrian Eliminator.

“You…the masked pony from the End of Equestria!” Twilight gasped in seeing this pony again, but…why? “Why are you here…? And…who are you?” She asked in having a strange feeling like she knows this character, but why?

“Have you forgotten?” The Equestrian Eliminator spoke in a mysterious voice pattern clouded by echoing dark voices.

“Forgotten? Forgotten what…?” Twilight was asking in not understanding.

“Twilight….” Then Twilight flinch in seeing behind her was the image of Starlight again, but why? What was going on here?

“Twilight….” Then both Starlight & the Equestrian Eliminator started to speak the mare’s name.

Soon the repeated performance of calling to Twilight’s name is being said by two sides. And soon memory flashes soon swirl around Twilight of things she recalls, but does not follow. Memories of Starlight when he and Twilight were but foals and before Lorcan supposedly killed the colt, memories of the masked pony appearing from shadows to aid Twilight of the present. All of these memories flashing at once, it was starting to overwhelm Twilight.

“Hugh-huaagh…Nrrrugh….” Twilight held her head in feeling like she was gonna burst, like she couldn’t take this.

Things went black while the craziness of swirling memories, events, all involving these two ponies…what did it mean. What did it all mean?

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Then at that sudden moment, we find the bedroom in Rainbow Castle where the Sparkle Family was sleeping until….

“Gwaaaaaaughhhhhh!” Twilight was seen screaming while her horn lid up suddenly as if using magic without knowing it.

“Waaaughh!” Phobos was suddenly seen levitated from his bed and thrown right out of the palace’s second story window.

As Twilight was panting and sweating, Ben who slept with his love woke up from her scream, it even woke up Nyx & Spike from their sleep.

“Twilight, what’s wrong?” Ben asked in sensing something was wrong with his love.

“I….I….had another dream again.” Twilight panted from sweating a bit, having another bad dream.

“Was it that scary?” Spike asked in feeling concern in seeing Twilight look all sweated up and such.

“Would throwing me out of my bed in the middle of the night NOT count as having a scary dream? And another thing….THROW ME OUT AND IS HANGING ONTO THE WINDOW!” Phobos was seen holding his claws on the outside of the window, one minute he was sleeping soundly, then he gets thrown out the window by magic; it’s crazy.

Spike & Nyx came over to help Phobos back in, man this was a night that some could find to be a little over much.

“Wow, whatever mommy dreamt up must have been a real nightmare.” Nyx stated to say in what her mother had must have made her so scared, she let her magic run wild.

“But Aunt Luna should have help stop you from having recurring nightmares Twilight. So, was it about…” Ben was stating before asking how his love still could have nightmares about…the loss of someone important to Twilight’s family.

“My brother Starlight…but there was more. I saw….him again.” Twilight spoke to breathe a bit while explaining who else she saw.

“Him who?” Ben raised an eyebrow in hearing this all of a sudden.

“The masked unicorn stallion we met on our journey to the End of Equestria.” Twilight stated to say she dreamt about that mysterious pony they saw when on a quest to save Sweet Apple Acres. “I feel strange, I keep recalling the moments of that adventure where we saw him, and yet when I see him in my dreams, it brings up about Starlight’s death.” She held her head in trying to understand something, but nothing was making sense.

“But….Twilight….it was already proven that my brother Lorcan never truly killed Starlight, and that something took him when he was still alive.” Spike pointed out the case in point of what they can already clarify.

“That’s right, but….how does the mask pony from back then have to do with mommy’s brother?” Nyx questioned the thought for a moment in how one strange pony relates to a missing sibling.

“I’m not sure, but…there maybe one way to finally help me get over this. We have to unravel my little brother’s disappearance and why it feels like that masked pony from the shadows is involved.” Twilight spoke in slowly becoming a bit more serious in the case in point, they need to unravel the mystery of the two’s connection.

“Then perhaps our best choice is to find him. Lets wake up on first light, gather everyone to see if we can find this guy. Okay Twilight?” Ben spoke in giving his love a plan in which they can figure things out to help them out.

“Okay….thank you…all of you.” Twilight nods in being grateful that Ben was suggesting this and thanked everyone else for wanting to help her.

Soon the family tries to go back to sleep, hoping to get plenty of rest for what new work they are gonna be doing now.

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At this time, it’s already shown the rising sun by Celestia’s handy work. We find the Mane Six, CMC & Goldie’s group all gathered outside of the Rainbow Castle to be with the Sparkle Family. It’s been a few minutes that have pass by, and Twilight has already explained the details of what it is she needs of her friends here about what’s gotten her so worked up; about her missing brother Starlight and the masked pony. And as everyone did try to look around Ponyville for clues about the masked stallion, when they got back together, the results were not to their joy.

“Twilight, I have to say, when you ask for the impossible…you really seem to go for it.” Rainbow Dash slowly replied in telling it as it is.

“We ain’t doubting ye, sugar-cube, but even we find ourselves in de dark.” Applejack nods off to say in what they all thought of what Twilight told them.

“Indeed, based on what you told us, this masked pony seems hard to be found.” Rarity spoke in thought of having heard the details, and it’s quite a fix.

“It’s like we’re dealing with the master of hide-in-seek! One minute here’s there, the next…GONE!” Pinkie Pie stated to say that Twilight’s masked friend is truly one who can’t be found.

“Oh my, and though we are really trying to look for a unicorn stallion, I don’t think any pony meets the description.” Fluttershy spoke worried that from their little effort, they end up with nothing in return.

“I’m sorry everyone, I’m just…got this feeling.” Twilight spoke to say in feeling like she must try hard. “Ever since we learn from Lorcan that my brother…might be alive, and then the meeting with that masked pony, it’s like something is calling to me…telling me to figure out why they appear to me.” She stated from feeling like whoever the masked stallion is, they relate to Starlight, but how could that be?

“Right, and keep her from throwing me out the window the next night.” Phobos remarked off to say this for his own sake.

“Still won’t let that go, will you?” Spike looked to his friend for still caring off that issue.

“But what else can we do to help out?” Sweetie Belle asked off the question at hand here.

“We’ve tried to find clues.” Apple Bloom nods her head in stating this.

“And tried to find evidence.” Scootaloo spoke off in what else they done.

“But come up with nothing.” Nyx looked down in failure in coming up with zero results.

Just then, Pinkamena was in a deep thought about the case before something ended up coming to her mind that was….the key!

“Wait a second…clues…evidence….maybe…” Pinkamena slowly spoke off the words heard to put them together. “Maybe what we should do is hire a professional detective to help us figure out the truth!” She issued this suggestion of what they should do.

“Wait, detective? But isn’t the only detective nearby supposed to be…?” Jack Zen was about to say something only to be cut…

“Sis, are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?” Goldie asked in feeling like the detective Pinkamena referred to was only one pony in particular.

“Yep, Twilight…you should hire Detective Dan!” Pinkamena smiled off to nod her head and tell Twilight who she needed to see.

“Hugh?” The Mane Six, CMC & Ben along with the baby Dragons responded in hearing that right; they should ask Detective Dan for help here?

“If memory serves right, his performance in investigating subject Starlight, & clearing Lorcan of not murdering subject may prove he can find answers we cannot.” Omega spoke in reminding the group of the role Detective Dan plays in having the best matters of solving things.

“Well it’s true, he is a good detective, but…he’s a little…” Twilight seem hesitated to go into details of why she didn’t wanna hire such a guy, because…

“Eccentric, like Pinkie Pie & Pinkamena, but Twilight…he worked on the case, and he’s even help uncover a clue to your brother’s body being taken when still alive. Maybe he can help you be at ease.” Ben beats Twilight to the punch in knowing the reason, but also convinces her to get Detective Dan in on the matter, since he might be the only hope in unraveling the case.

“Hugh, you’re right Ben. If any pony can crack a mystery, then….” Twilight sighs a bit in defeat in what her love’s logic reasoning got the better of her judgement. “I’ll take my chances.” She spoke with a determine expression to seek Detective Dan’s aid.

The scene begins to go dark here as Twilight is seen going off to hire….some professional help…

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Now we slowly begin to open up in what looks like some apartment with a sign that reads ‘Detective Office’ on it that lit up like neon-lights, and at the same time, the day suddenly became late and cloudy, almost dark outside. And if that wasn’t the strangest thing, everything was looking Noir theme, black & white to best describe it. And from what else is seen, we find through a window where a detective office is kinda messy, but there are characters who live there.

“Another day, another life in the office. All was quiet here in Ponyville; that is unless it’s the daily moments were something screwy goes wrong and causes trouble. But I’m getting ahead of myself.” Someone was narrating from what was seen and happening during this noir base event, as we find a unicorn stallion sitting on his desk. “I’m Detective Dan, and over there polishing my frames is my good buddy, Dojo.” The revealed narrator spoke, and from nearby was Dojo, a magical Chinese Dragon and pal to Detective Dan who was polishing trophies & looking his reflection.

“Yo! How you doing, handsome?” Dojo spoke off in looking at himself from the nice polish reflection work he did.

“We was just minding our own business, nothing too big, nothing too fancy, and nothing classy or cheesy, and I got a million more to say, but it take the whole day!” Detective Dan narrates off to say as the stallion was just kicking back in his seat, and throwing darts on a bullseye board. “In any event, there were no cases brought to our attention to solve. We was hitting a brick wall until….someone came knocking on the door.” The guy narrates as nothing big was happening, until something came into the play.

That’s when the office door was slowly getting opened, and coming into the scene was Twilight Sparkle; looking very concern, cautious, and worry for the many reasons.

“And who have thought we be given the royal treatment than being visited by her royal highness of the Rainbow Kingdom; Twilight Sparkle.” Detective Dan narrates off in seeing who was dawning on into their office, a celeb princess. “She seem like the hesitant type, unsure of being here, or unsure of what to do, she was looking around to get a feel of my office space. Just before she started to talk…” The guy's voice motioned off in all of the things going on before the mare herself decided to speak...

“Detective Dan, I need your help.” Twilight spoke off in starting the first conversation.

“Well little mare, ‘Help’ be my middle name.” Detective Dan spoke off to say in making such statements of claim.

“I thought it was Danger from the last case you took. Then before that, it was Courageous, Stealth, Reckless, Foolhardy, and….” Dojo was speaking off in recalling some other issues involving Dan having other middle nicknames and such.

“Well I got a lot a nicknames, and believe me…it’s always so hard to write down a full name on your BIRTH Certificate every time.” Detective Dan interrupts Dojo to issue about have so many nicknames, it’s hard to keep up.

“Please, can you just hear me out? I want to ask you about a case you’ve kept track on.” Twilight spoke in wanting this stallion to hear her out.

“Depends, which case you want me to crack open like an omelet?” Detective Dan leans back in his chair to turn around to check his file cabinet about old cases he’s either solved or left unfinished.

“The case involving my missing little brother, Starlight Sparkle.” Twilight spoke to say this in telling it like it was.

There was tension in the air, some flashes from an outside light came through the windows. But as it settled, the detective and his little Dragon pal heard the issue to take it by thought.

“Your brother, hugh, I remember that case when I took it to help out during Lorcan’s case.” Detective Dan spoke to say in having recall that matter of relationship from another case-wise he solved.

“Yes, and I want to hire your assistance because….I think there’s some pony out there who may know something about my brother’s missing disappearance.” Twilight spoke in getting straight to the point, she wants this detective to find someone who might have ties to her missing brother.

“Hearing what the princess said was sounding far-fetch, but then again….she was a poor mare who suffered long years of her filly days miserable in the lost of her younger brother.” Detective Dan narrates in stating what Twilight has gone through, not many could recover from such events at a filly’s age. “Poor girl had a hatred for the attacker, Lorcan, the Former Scarred Ruler, who was proven innocent and was made evil but he never killed Starlight, but some outside force took him away.” Some old newspapers the detective had around told the story of how Lorcan’s courtroom case went down, with the teen Dragon proven not guilty, much to the public’s response. “Now the mare has some evidence that some mysterious masked guy they saw in the End of Equestria is connected.” The stallion focus his eyes on the princess in hearing what was said, as it earn some attention.

“Well Dan, what’re we gonna do?” Dojo asked off to say in wondering what they were gonna do here.

“I know what we’ll do,…we’ll take the case! We’ll follow any leads of the last known places you recall him being involved and look for clues.” Detective Dan declared forth in saying they shall take Twilight’s case and unravel the mystery. “Come on Dojo, let’s let nothing crash in our way to solve this case!” The guy spoke as he stood up from his chair, and begins to move forward.

Then without warning, Detective Dan step on a rake that was left unattended, and he got whacked by it. That pretty much ruin the whole serious moment of this picture.

“Well, except for that rake you left by your spot, otherwise….anything is possible!” Dojo rhetorically pointed out the issue of a rake stopping the detective only for a brief moment.

Twilight sighs to shake her head in seeing such goofiness that made her think of Pinkie Pie. But, the mare will have to hope this detective can help her out, and allow her to rest a little easier….she can only pry so much.

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The scene opens up to a place in the Mystic Realm, where we find Tao’s Rare Finds shop. Only now the family of four are in a dark room with a lit lamp, and someone was walking around in the kitchen to prepare some interrogation.

“To begin my investigation of Starlight & the Masked Pony connection, I had to chat with the one guy & group that may know something.” Detective Dan narrates to say in where he was starting his next act in the case he was taking. “I had to meet Mystic Tao and his family to crack their hides open on any dirt they got.” The guy explained that if these Mystics have any info, they best start talking now while the getting good.

“Please detective, is this really all necessary?” Dragon Kick asked in feeling this was all very unnecessary to interrogate them…in their own home too?

“I’ll ask the questions around here! Now talk, where were you on the Night Of 23rd around Autumn,” Detective Dan spoke off in getting real close to this lot and getting up to their faces in being serious and mean.

“Oh, well…I was…busy. I was doing…” Dragon Kick was looking a little lost in trying to recall such memories that seem to…escape him.

“Uh-hugh, a likely story! You folks should be arrested for being so sneaky in the past!” Detective Dan nods off to say this in jumping right to a conclusion of the matter.

“Aieyah! Are you trying to test our patience?” Tao yells out in feeling like this detective is driving them nuts.

“That’s what Jimmy-Two-Shoe said when he was not patient to wait in line before cutting.” Detective Dan remotely stated this issue that seem to puzzle Tao’s family. “Now why was it you folks spied on Twilight when she went on her journey to parts unknown?” He asked in trying to get the truth out of this bunch.

“Sensai already told you, he was testing Twilight and her group before wanting to reopen connections with Equestrians & the Mystic Realm.” Mighty Heart explain the matter of what most of them did during the issue and what came out of it.

“So what else is there to tell?” Jade shrug off to say in thinking there was nothing else.

“Hmmm….maybe this can remind you…” Detective Dan hums to himself in deciding to try another method of an approach.

Then without warning, the guy brought off a dish tray…but it had some sorta sandwiches with some green beans inside.

“Is that….” Tao was stunned speechless in what he sees.

“Mum Bean Sandwiches…fresh baked. Go on and try…” Detective Dan spoke to say in inviting those to eat these treats.

Tao seem to gulp in looking at such tasty sandwiches and look like he was gonna reach for one.

“Uncle…he’s trying to bait you!” Dragon Kick whispered to tell his uncle to not buy into this.

“But…” Tao seem unable to resist, he loves having such sandwiches.

“They’re yours….if…you can give me any info about a certain masked pony.” Detective Dan spoke to say in wanting info for a nice tasty meal.

That news made the others tense up for they cannot tell the truth at this point for many reasons involving that particular masked pony Twilight wants to know.

“Puff….I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Tao huffs to say in trying to resist saying anything about such secret matters.

“Then maybe I’ll eat while you’re thinking it over!” Detective Dan responded to say this in catching some attention.

Soon Detective Dan was slowly about to reach out for a Mum Bean Sandwich. The tension of heartbeats were heard, Tao seem to look like he was gonna sweat. And then….something finally snapped!

“Stop….I’ll talk!” Tao spoke in stopping this stallion from touching the sandwiches, he’ll talk. “The masked pony is a mercenary hired by one of the Three Lords to spy on Twilight’s progress during her journey to the End of Equestria!” Tao spilled the beans of what he had to say while wanting a sandwich.

“Uncle/Grandunc/Oh Sensai!” Dragon Kick, Jade & Mighty Heart responded in shock, that was supposed to be a secret.

“AH-HAH! So, the masked wonder is some mercenary that would’ve assassinated the princess, and did you try stopping him?” Detective Dan spoke off in hearing this, and now the plot seems to thicken now.

“Well…no, we tried to speak reason to him, but…” Jade was trying to explain here, but…

“But nothing! Now that I know of what you kept hidden, the case of why this masked wannabe and Starlight are connected…is slowly building like blocks. However, I’m missing some vital evidence, but I know where to start!” Detective Dan spoke off his own theory of what was going on, and decided that he has to get to the bottom of things. “Good day to you!” The guy issued in having finished his interrogation here.

With that, Detective Dan leaves the scene while leaving Tao to eat his Mum-Beam Sandwiches.

“Uncle, did you really have to give in for just a sandwich?” Dragon Kick complained in seeing what his uncle just did.

“I miss out my morning meals to noon doing research, I was verrrrrry hungry!” Tao protest to say this about what he was doing until now while missing a meal.

“But if you wanted to tell him what we know, why not the rest?” Jade asked in thinking Tao failed to mention something else about the masked pony they know.

“Because Jade, if Twilight learns the REAL truth of the masked pony, it will only burden her more.” Mighty Heart explained the case of reason here.

“But will this detective get all the proof he needs to learn who the Equestrian Eliminator is?” Dragon Kick stated to say in wondering this with some worry.

“That is not up to us to decide, but rather…if ‘he’ wants to or not.” Tao pointed out that the one to let his secret be know…is for the Equestrian Eliminator to decide.

The others were lost in not following that, as the scene goes dark at this time.

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Now the scene opens to the last place many would expect to visit again, the End of Equestria. We find Detective Dan riding on top of a transformed Dojo as they flew until they came near a familiar rock formation in the shape of a bunny.

“I had me and Dojo fly off to our next spot to gather clues about Twilight’s Mystery Case. And that meant going to…the End of Equestria.” Detective Dan narrates in where he and Dojo who shrank down to size, where in a new area. “Course now the place was looking a lot better off than it used to be. What with the Demon Lords stopped, curses removed, and all that jazz dealt with. But for now, we needed to focus on where Twilight’s group last felt like the masked stallion was spotted.” The guy explained in how much has slowly began to change in this area for the better after Twilight’s little band party went through here.

“Okay, where here…Skunk Rock. Course why it’s called that with a rock formation shaped like a bunny, heh, got me.” Dojo stated to say this in where they were, but was lost about the name of the place.

“Now if our sources are correct, our masked boogie was said to be here. When he helped save Twilight from getting bitten by a snake.” Detective Dan stated in feeling like this was the place to begin their search for clues on what sources have told them.

“Don’t you mean when Twilight felt like the first time she felt her brother was nearby, something saved her from danger?” Dojo raised an eyebrow in thinking this guy got something mix up.

“That too! Oh-ho…what have we here?” Detective Dan responded to say before he got intrigued by something to lean down. “A CLUE!” He shouted, as he was looking at…a hoof print in the ground.

“Um, that looks like a print in the dirt?” Dojo raised an eyebrow in stating what he was looking at here.

“To the un-train eye, it may seem so, but I have here foot prints of everyone in Twilight group that went off!” Detective Dan exclaimed as he brought out image cards of the Sparkle Group that came in this area by their print of the bottom of their legs. “I got Ben Mare, Nyx, Twilight, & Tough Apple’s hot prints. Spike & Phobos’s Dragon footprints. Their pet dog and owl’s paw and talon prints. And if studying the size meter, this hoof print is CLEARLY, NOT….of theirs!” He explained this in seeing that this one hoof-print did not belong to any of the other ponies of Twilight’s party, so it was an additional member.

“Hugh….then it must belong to the masked stallion!” Dojo spoke to say in rubbing his chin in getting the picture. “So, where to next?” He asked after his bud used his magic to harden the hoof-print and break it from the ground and put it in a plastic case.

“I don’t know, but….lets browse around more until we come across the next clue of another meeting point, but never actually met.” Detective Dan shrug off to say this in feeling like they best continue to snoop around to find any more clues.

Dojo shrug off his shoulders before growing large again, as Detective Dan got on as they too flew off to continue their investigation.

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We soon find ourselves watching where Detective Dan was ending up in another spot in this investigation, and that it was in a canyon. But this place was where Twilight and her family bunch escaped with their lives when they faced off against Mo Sie the Hydra. Dojo had landed before shrinking back down as he and Detective Dan was studying this place including the rubble while Dojo browsed around.

“Boy, this place is almost as messy as back at the office.” Dojo remotely was saying in having to look around the place that was a real wreck. “Maybe we shouldn’t poke our noses around here, especially that large pile of rubble where Twilight said it’s what buried that Hydra pet of Shendu’s Mo Sie.” Dojo pointed in thinking they leave that fallen rubble where it is, let evil sleeping beast lie dead and all that stuff.

“Don’t worry, I’m eccentric, not stupid!” Detective Dan proclaimed that he wouldn’t do something so dumb as that.

“Could’ve fooled anyone else.” Dojo whispered under his breath to say in knowing the guy, it’s sometimes hard to tell.

“Now from what Twilight said, the masked stallion help save her from when one hydra head almost got her, but was stopped and strangled.” Detective Dan responded to say in coming up near one hydra head that has since become nothing but bone. “Hmmm….very interesting.” The guy spoke in studying the bone structure around the neck joint area.

“What? What did you find now? And please tell me you’re not gonna disturb something dead!” Dojo looked back at his partner while hoping they ain’t gonna wake the dead that will come after them.

Detective Dan was studying what was the skeleton of a dead hydra head that was apart of Mo Sie. He used his magnifying glass to study the squeeze neck and also around the shadow it gave, finding it curious.

“This here’s the bone neck joint of this dead beast in which Twilight said the masked pony used some sorta Shadow Magic.” Detective Dan explained in what they got here, and then he used his magic to break a piece of that neck bone off the dead beast. “We’ll take a piece with us to study further since it looked like it was squeezed, but by something else.” As he explained this, he put the piece in a bag to protect it until they can study to learn more about it.

“Great, just what we wanted, a boney excuse to go and play operation the next time we’re near skeleton creatures.” Dojo rolled his eyes in making a sarcastic joke of what sorta game they are playing in.

Soon with business done, Dojo grew large again for Detective Dan to ride on him before they took off to continue looking at all the right places that are connected to when Twilight felt the masked pony was somehow involved.

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The next location was what was once known as the Labyrinth of Illusions, only now it’s been reduced to ruin to which none can be lost within its walls. Dojo landed him and Dan on the outer exit spot to begin looking around for anything that seems to be another clue of what happened.

“Eh boy…I take back about the last place, this one looks really trashed!” Dojo spoke to say in shrinking down to size as he sees this place is way messier than the last area they were in.

“According to some form of witnesses, this was where the Shadow Ghoul wanted to imprison Twilight’s group, but they escaped. Then the next, BOOM! Nothing left!” Detective Dan spoke to explain in what happened in this area that played its own role of an obstacle before it got totaled.

“And who do you think could have performed a powerful spell to destroy an entire labyrinth?” Dojo raised an eyebrow to look around, someone would have to be pretty powerful to destroy something as big as a large labyrinth meant to get anyone lost in for ages.

“Same guy we’re looking into. And from this evidence, he packs a WALLOP!” Detective Dan explained from looking around, the masked pony was behind the destruction, and boy, he must be powerful. “Let’s see if there’s anything of some magical trails here?” He stated from looking around in hoping to find something useful.

“Oh right, the whole ‘use big spells to effect an area & look for small traces’ kinda method. But hasn’t it been a long while since anyone’s been here that the stuff’s all gone?” Dojo rolled his eyes in seeing what they gotta do, find some glimpse of magic that has not faded if used in a big spell, and learn about its little aura source to figure out the user.

“Not all of it, looky here!” Detective Dan pointed out that not all of what should be gone was really gone, he found something.

Soon what is seen looks like some blacken body line of ash, but make no mistake, this was what was once Shadow Ghoul before he was pin down and then eliminated without a trace to be left.

“If my guess is right, this WAASSSS the Shadow Ghoul, looks like he bite the big one!” Detective Dan pointed out in seeing this was likely the enemy Twilight’s group met in the labyrinth, but now he’s evaporated into nothingness.

“Wait, the masked pony ended up wasting this creep!” Dojo asked off in being surprised to hear about that one.

“Looks like he got stabbed to the ground and couldn’t get away. Then got caught in some big time explosion that took him and his labyrinth. Better sweep these remains!” Detective stated to say in figuring out how the story here played out before getting a duster and a bag out.

“Um, why?” Dojo asked another question of why they want ashes of an evil creep.

“He’s got even more dosage of what killed him by the same guy we’re searching for. The boys in the lab will wanna know how strong a magic caster we got here.” Detective Dan explained this after he finished collecting the dust of what was once the Shadow Ghoul.

“Judging by his earlier work, I say….pretty big.” Dojo looked around in thinking if they learn how strong the masked pony is, then one thing is certain; this destruction is only the tip of who they are looking for.

“Come on, there’s one more spot left to check.” Detective Dan issued to Dojo that they have one more area to search next.

Wasting no time, Dojo grew to large size as he and Detective Dan left the ruin labyrinth before. They are almost through in their case cracking work now.

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Soon we find the other side of Bony Valley, upon the site where Twilight and her friends fought against Peta, and it was Guardians VS. Guardians at that time. And soon after Dojo brought him and Detective Dan here, they were looking all over to find anything, but it was almost like a needle in a hay stack.

“Swell, now instead of a canyon rubble and a ruin building, we’ve entered what might be some graveyard valley.” Dojo rolled his eyes to make a remark of sarcasm of where they ended up being in now. “So what is here before we pack up and go home?” He asked his pal in knowing what it is they need to find, another clue of sorts.

“Well we gotta search for it, don’t we? Twilight said this was the last time she felt like the mask guy helped when they fought Peta.” Detective Dan explained the case of the last time Twilight said she and anyone saw the masked pony during this battle before fighting Shendu. “Perhaps he might have taken those other Guardians when Peta was finished off, if we can find their trail, we’ll know where the masked pony was.” He explained the case that no questions asked, the masked pony must have snatch Peta’s other Guardians after his defeat.

Now knowing what they need to find a certain location, did the two try to look more with their eyes and….with Dojo’s nose.

“Sniff…sniff….hey Dan, I think there’s a faint trail of Guardians….mix with some unfamiliar magic! Over here!” Dojo spoke to say in coming near a spot that seems likely to be what they are looking for.

“Good job Dojo, let’s see…” Detective Dan came over to search the spot that was near some big doors leading out of Bony Valley. “Doesn’t seem like much, there isn’t any solid leads here….hugh, HOLD THE PHONE!” He yelled out on the last part when he spotted something.

Slowly, Detective Dan brought out a magnifier glass that focus o the ground and what was there seem a piece of a pony’s mane, or possibly their tail.

“A piece of one’s mane! AH-HA! Finally, the key to helping us solve this case!” Detective Dan declared in rejoice in having something to be solid lead on the mysterious masked pony.

“You mean since a mane & tail have DNA, and with enough of a sample, we can determine who it belongs to?” Dojo pointed out in following along in the discussion here.

“Right, we got enough evidence to put this case to bed pretty soon, lets head back and see if the boys can figure out this stuff!” Detective Dan nods to say in seeing they got what they need, time to head on home.

Soon Detective Dan rode on Dojo after he grew large and they make their next travel towards Ponyville with all the difficult evidence in their grasp.

--------------

The scene changes to what looks like some DNA Research Department in Ponyville that was station near the Hospital. We find that Detective Dan & Dojo were just leaving the place when a researcher stallion issued that from the stuff brought in, they can figure out who the masked stallion is and determine some unsolved cases.

“Detective Dan?” Soon coming onto the scene, Twilight and her friends came near the detective. “How did everything go? Did you find the masked pony?” Twilight asked the question on her mind.

“Find the guy you’re wanting, no….but find clues about the guy, might…be a turning point.” Detective Dan simply spoke off the easiest way to speak things out.

“So you’re saying we can learn who he is?” Ben asked in following the subject.

“I’ve learn some bits about him, but who he truly is…not a clue.” Detective Dan shrug off to say in what he’s got, can only get him so far.

“Gee, and he’s a detective too.” Dojo rolled his eyes to briefly mention this part out.

“But rest assured, tomorrow, them boys in the lab should have them results soon.” Detective Dan he pointed in stating that from the researching being done, they’ll get their answer soon.

The Mane Six & CMC were commenting in having like to hear such good news.

“You see Twilight, nothing to worry about.” Ben spoke in an assuring tone of voice.

“Right, and you thought hiring this guy would be bad.” Phobos nods off to say this.

“Oh Phobos, be nice.” Nyx rolled her eyes to reply to her pet pal.

“At least now we can get our answer to the guy and Twilight’s little brother.” Spike shrug off to say this with the best interest at heart.

“Yes, I’ll be glad to know soon.” Twilight smiles to say this in what will be helpful to her.

“Well I’m gonna go and get myself some rest, come on Dojo.” Detective Dan spoke off to say this as it’s time he gets going now.

With that, the gang watch those two leave the scene to return to their office. Twilight smiles in feeling happy, soon, all the questions she wants to know will be solved, she just needs to wait for the results to know who the masked pony is and then comes finding out about her missing little brother.

-------

The scene enters in the night as everyone in the Rainbow Kingdom was seen asleep. Nothing could wake them up…or so they thought.

“Bamfrvuhmmm…” Suddenly without warning, an explosion happened out of nowhere that woke some ponies in the neighborhood, including a certain detective office.

“By my Aunt Sally’s Burned Blue-Bell Prize!” Detective Dan spoke off to say in coming near the window in looking out at the large fire. “Either Pinkie Pie’s experimented some combustible dough or something has happened out there!” He issued two random guesses which only one of them was right.

“But where?” Dojo came up on the window to ponder where that explosion happened. “Hey, isn’t that the…?” Then he spotted where the act happened, but was cut then…

“No time to talk, come on!” Detective Dan quickly says this before they gotta get going.

Without warning, Dojo yelps as the two are seen running out of their office to get over to the location of where something went down.

-----------------

The scene shifts towards the place near the Hospital as Fire Fighting stallions were putting out the flames. But the building in question that was on fire…was the DNA Research Department. Many crowds are seen gathering in seeing what was happening and were worried if some enemy was attacking during the night. Soon Detective Dan & Dojo arrived on the scene to see what was happening, and could tell what this might mean when someone from inside said an unknown figure caused an explosion that blew up a sector and caused DNA research to be lost.

“By the time we arrived, we learn that someone snuck into the DNA Research Building, and did something to total everything in sight. And that included the data of clues & evidence to learn who the masked pony was.” Detective Dan narrates in explaining the harsh cold truth of the matter, someone attacked this place, no one saw by who, but they were likely targeting the DNA that was being researched…and one of them, was on the masked pony in question.

“Oh boy, the princess isn’t gonna like this one.” Dojo sighs to say in knowing when Twilight learns of this, she’ll be disappointed.

Then running to the scene that pass the detective group was Goldie’s group. They had been going in and out of the hospital nearby to help rescue the sick patients etc. before the fire could reach them.

“That’s another batch of patients out.” Sombra stated to ask this near his love.

“That makes the fourth round now.” Autumn Gem stated to say this about the case.

“There’s still ponies inside the hospital.” Jack Zen pointed out in now many more need rescuing.

“We have to help until the fires put out, come on!” Golden Heart instructed his group to continue their task.

“Sensors detect an unknown presence near area! Pursuit!” Omega spoke in looking near an alley in detecting there was someone unknown and wondered if they should investigate.

“Later! Lives come first!” Pinkamena stated to her bot, they have to save those in the hospital first, they can worry about something suspicious later.

Hearing that made Detective Dan look over to the alley and almost thought he saw…some dark shadowy figure. No doubt the guy who went and caused trouble to erase the evidence and clues Detective Dan collected on Twilight’s request.

“Come on Dojo!” Detective Dan issued this to his bud while moving.

“Where are we going?” Dojo asked off to say while moving along.

“To find our guy who wants the truth to remain unnoticed!” Detective Dan proclaimed to say this without batting an eye.

Soon these guys are running down the alley of where it was most likely, the culprit behind this little setback…was lying in wait.

-------------

We find the scene changes to where Detective Dan & Dojo were carefully going into a dark alley with only so little flickering light lamps. They were searching for someone that was here, someone that is the culprit to a latest ploy of destroying the DNA Research Building.

“Me and Dojo ran down to an alley that was closely to the hospital and the DNA research spot. If anyone wanted to attack it, it would be here.” Detective Dan narrates to say this in where the duo were currently within the alley and were looking for the guy that was their target.

The stallion kept his magic horn lit and was ready for any tricks. He and Dojo slowly move closer into the dark alley, not noticing…something moving.

“We kept our guards up, never knowing what might catch us.” Detective Dan narrates to explain in what was going on and what needed to be done, and…

“Gwaaaaughhh!” Just then, Dojo’s screaming voice was heard that snapped the detective to look and find…someone missing.

“Dojo!” Detective Dan looked around in where his pal went, did the culprit get Dojo, but where was he; nothing but shadows all over.

“HELP!” Dojo’s voice came from below, and soon the detective saw it…the shadow on the ground was Dojo’s with open eyes. “I….can’t….get out of this!” The shadow form of Dojo spoke in trying to get himself out of such a state, but it was no use.

“This was downright strange, my pet pal Dojo was now reduce to nothing more than a shadow of his former self! LITERALLY!” Detective Dan narrates in explaining what was going on as the detective was getting defensive. “But seeing this was indeed Shadow Magic at work, I knew one thing…I had to stay within alert where there was no light!” The guy was staying on the cautious side, cause whoever was here, could use magic to which he can come out where there was shadow.

Then something slither from the shadows as it almost touch Detective Dan’s shadow, but the detective moved quicker to avoid it and a few others.

“At a moment’s notice, I sense danger to leap away and try to attack whoever was coming at me.” Detective Dan narrates to explain in how he managed to get by such close callings there.

We find Detective Dan land outside where the light was stronger so he could see anything of Shadow Magic to approach him.

“Alright! I know you’re in there, if you don’t come out, then I’m coming packing whatever I got on me. Jazzers, clothes, lucky horseshoe, dust bunnies and lent pockets, the works!” Detective Dan threaten whoever was attacking in the shadows to come out and show himself before he goes in there.

Soon at that very moment, some light was shine in someone responding to the message. And soon we find the masked stallion from a little light that flickered around him, and it was him…the Equestrian Eliminator.

“At last, I was finally face to face with Twilight’s so-called masked pony acquaintance. But something told me…him being here, was no coincidence.” Detective Dan narrates off to say in this being a stare down between two opposing forces now.

“You are messing with affairs you cannot comprehend.” The Equestrian Eliminator responded with a dry, cold, emotionless tone in what this detective was doing is messing with forces he can't understand.

“Oh really? My Aunt Petunia told me so of what happens with ponies having an affair with different folks, but I’ll skip it and get down to business.” Detective Dan randomly spoke off to speak some nonsense before getting back to the point. “What’s your game, was it you who burn down the evidence?” He asked off in wanting some answers to be given.

“I followed my orders…my master said none should know of who…or ‘What’ I am.” The Equestrian Eliminator spoke without delay, issuing he did as told to keep any from knowing about him.

“Master….so you do work for one of the big Three Lords. And if I had to guess, I pick the top guy of the bunch.” Detective Dan spoke off in making a claim of who it was this masked guy works for.

Silence filled the air as neither side moved as they stared and study another.

“It made some sense, some skilled mercenary who works for one of the Three Lords. The Superior & Dark Curse didn’t seem much types in having such a guy, then it left the big boss at the top of the pyramid: Grimmore.” Detective Dan narrates to say that whoever this masked pony was working under, it would be under someone who reigns in the highest court of order to have such tough foes going around.

The scene looks back as both stallions of one in the light and one in the dark, still unmoving. Then the Equestrian Eliminator soon begins to turn away as if uncaring to show his back to an opponent he had no interest in doing away with.

“Hold it! I’m taking you in, my client, Princess Twilight Sparkle, wants answer from you. Answers about her missing younger brother, Starlight!” Detective Dan spoke up like an officer in going to arrest this guy and get him to tell him about the whereabouts of Twilight’s brother.

Hearing the name seem to have made the masked pony stop briefly as his eyes slowly narrow back to the one who said Starlight as if it trigger something.

“That name….why do you say it to me? Why does it mean anything of why some ask me about that name?” The Equestrian Eliminator spoke in riddle about the nam, as he does not fully understand anything about it, like his memory from talking with Tao seems altered.

“What the…?” Detective Dan raised an eyebrow in being confused.

“My mission was to eliminate all evidence to lead to my existence and keep it secret it shall be.” The Equestrian Eliminator slowly spoke to look back, his eyes glimmer red in speaking with his usual cold emotional tone. “Now I leave….for my lord and master calls to me…” He issued to say this before turning away again.

Then as the guy was walking to the shadow of a wall, Detective Dan snapped out of his stump state in seeing…this guy was making a break for it.

“Oh no….you’re not getting away from me!” Detective Dan snapped off to say in about to give chase here.

But then without warning, as the guy was about to pounce of his suspect for clearance of this big caper case….he smashed into a wall. Then as the guy backs away, he studied that the wall was not disturbed and then he used magic to blast through to reveal nothing on the other side.

“Woah! Okay, so maybe he did get away!” Detective Dan spoke off stump in seeing the guy slipped through the shadows; ain’t that ironic?

“Dan!” Then suddenly, Dojo is seen, but not in his trapped shadow state no more since the culprit left. “Phew, I don’t know what happened, but I’m back to being me. Where’s our guy?” Dojo sighs with relief in what’s happen that he’s return to normal, but wonders where the masked stallion went to.

“Long gone….he slip away….like a shadow.” Detective Dan spoke off in mystery over the case of this matter.

The scene fades away from zooming out of the alley way, appears this was one culprit that slip into the unknown.

-------

We soon find Detective Dan speaking within the Rainbow Palace with the others that were called together. Right now the good news was, no ponies got hurt, all the hospital’s patients were a-okay. Bad news however was the loss of DNA Data about the masked pony in question which Twilight couldn’t believe that after everything, it was all lost.

“So in any case of point, sorry to inform you, but our culprit in uncovering this case just went a-wall! Destroyed the clues that were darn hard to find.” Detective Dan explained the situation of what went down that all the clues about the masked pony was now destroyed by the fire at the DNA Research Building.

“So in other words, we’re nowhere close to figuring out who this masked guy is or what he might have that he’s connected to Twilight & her missing little brother?” Rainbow Dash spoke off in seeing that now their hunt to unravel the mystery has been delayed.

“Well dat jut makes one feel like they hit rock bottom! We had wha we needed, an’ now it’s all gone!” Applejack stated with a frown in knowing they are back to square one again.

“I dare say Twilight, this mask pony you told us sounds a bit more difficult to understand than we thought.” Rarity spoke in sounding concern about who Twilight is wanting them to figure out.

“But why would they do such a thing as not letting us know who he is?” Fluttershy asked in pondering why the one they are looking for doesn’t wanna be know.

“Duh, it’s cause he wants to be all secretive and stuff! Why else would he wear a mask to conceal his identity?” Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes in stating the simplest of facts for the gang to follow, but in her own sense.

“Well that still leaves us in the dark among other things?” Phobos shrug off his shoulders in what they got out of this.

“You think you’re gonna be okay Twilight? We know this meant a lot, but…” Spike asked Twilight in feeling she must really be down in what happened that all clues about the masked pony are gone.

“I know Spike, what’s done is done, but…I can’t help but feel….like it wants me to know of this even more.” Twilight spoke in saying she’ll be fine over the lost, but that instead makes her feel determine to wanting to know more than before.

“Why’s that mommy?” Nyx asked her mother in why something like this has encouraged her mother.

“I think I know why.” Ben spoke in filling in the blanks of what Twilight was getting to. “Whoever this masked pony is that didn’t want us learning about him, means there must be something important about him. And if we can figure out what it is, it might be a clue to your brother Starlight, right Twilight?” Ben explained how whoever the masked pony is, if they can find him and figure something of why Twilight feels like he shares something that relates to her brother Starlight, then it only fuels her determination.

“Yes, whatever it takes, I’ll figure things out. I can only hope that maybe….I can finally obtain my long awaited answer between him and my little brother.” Twilight nods in becoming very serious to say this to her group of friends, no matter what or how long it may take, she will unravel the mystery...someday.

“And so that’s what happened. The mystery isn’t solved yet, but it ain’t gonna be put to bed.” Detective Dan narrates off to say as we zoom away from the group. “Twilight’s got the right idea, hopefully, the big issue that’s going down will be solved. Or my name ain’t…” Then the scene shrinks to a black hole while focusing on one pony here.

Then the screen focused on Detective Dan, as he pops over the screen to view us audience folks.

“Detective Dan…Private Eye Pony!” Detective Dan announced to introduce himself as the detective to be.

And with that, the closing caption soon takes over here where everything goes dark. The case for the truth maybe shrouded in shadow, but someday…the light will shine over the mystery…of the Equestrian Eliminator. Until that time comes, everyone will just do their best until the time comes of their eventful meeting.

The End

Cast list
Josh Server: Detective Dan
Wayne Knight: Dojo
Yuri Lowenthal: The Equestrian Eliminator
Amy Palant: Starlight Sparkle
Tara Strong: Twilight Sparkle
Ashleigh Ball: Applejack, Rainbow Dash
Andrea Libman: Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Pinkamena Diane Pie
Tabitha St. Germain: Rarity
Cathy Weseluck: Spike the Dragon
Jason Marsden: Ben Mare
Daveigh Chase: Nyx
Chris Sanders: Phobos the Dragon
Michelle Creber: Apple Bloom
Claire Corlett: Sweetie Belle
Madeline Peters: Scootaloo
Orlando Bloom: Golden Heart
Brian Drummond: Jack Zen
Vic Mignogna: Omega
Jim Miller: King Somba
Lara Jill Miller: Autumn Gem
James Sie: Dragon Kick
Sab Shimono: Mystic Tao
Stacie Chan: Jade Adventure
Noah Nealson: Mighty Heart

Author's note
Well, this mystery will a mystery...for now. But until then, let's focus on the next MLP: FIM fic!

"Miss Gala: The Mane 6 all run for Miss Gala, which the changelings have plans to cause a rift and break up their friendship".

The Changelings are back for trouble. So until next time, read, review and suggest!