Following all the chaos, and all the mayhem in between, all had been set right in Coolsville at last. As the morning rays shined upon the old Coolsville mining town, a number of reporters, press, and fans swarmed the area as Mystery Inc. and the Equestrians led the now handcuffed masked figure out of the building (Don’t ask how they got the handcuffs). Immediately, the reporters crowded around Mystery Inc. with all sorts of questions they could think of.
“Mystery Inc., do you know the identity of the Evil Masked Figure behind it all?” A newswoman asked, flooded with other reporters.
“Well, if our hunch is correct,” Velma drawled. “The Evil Masked Figure is…”
Without a further moment to waste, the group proceed to unmask the mysterious figure.
“NO!!!” The Evil Masked Figure growled.
Soon as the mask was removed, a certain female reporter was revealed. The crowd gasped in surprise, even the Equestrian group were a bit shocked by who it was.
“Heather Jasper-Howe,” Daphne smirked.
Scooby nodded along with the others, but even he seemed surprised as Patrick emerged from the crowd along with Old Man Wickles. To say all the reporters were confused was a gross understatement.
“But she was at the museum when the masked figure was on the roof,” Another newswoman pointed out.
“Even I must concur with that darling,” Rarity piped in. “Not to mention we both spoke to her when we all witnessed the masked figure on the roof.”
“You almost had us there, didn’t you?” Daphne asked the smirking Heather.
“So how’d she manage to pull it off?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
“Luckily for her she had an assistant helping her along with her evil plans,” Daphne informed.
She then pointed toward the middle of the crowd where there stood Heather’s most trusted cameraman.
“Ned.”
Ned looked around, but before he could run away some cops beside him grabbed the man.
“When I realized she was the Evil Masked Figure, he quickly changed into her costume,” Daphne replied.
“But why’d she do it?” The first newswoman asked.
“Because Heather Jasper-Howe is actually…”
Velma grabbed and removed Heather’s face, revealing to be yet another mask of an older man.
“Dr. Jonathan Jacobo: The original Pterodactyl Ghost.”
Everyone’s eyes went wide, and all their mouths dropped in complete, utter confusion over this.
“But how do you know this?” Another reporter asked.
“I can answer that one.”
Twilight Sparkle approached the reporters, using her magic to pull out the newspaper clipping they had discovered from the shine and displayed it to the people.
“When we were in the monster hive, we located Dr. Jacobo’s lair and discovered this newspaper clipping,” Twilight explained. “Upon closer inspection, it clearly showed the man in front of the newly finished Criminology museum.”
“That’s absolutely right Twilight,” Velma nodded. “According to the prison that he was incarcerated in, Jacobo supposedly died a year before construction even began.”
“So, Jacobo survived that fall off the prison wall,” Shaggy said.
“Reah!” Scooby nodded.
“He also adopted that false Heather Jasper-Howe persona to turn the press against us,” Scrappy added.
“And he framed that poor, hideous Old Man Wickles by putting that book and the Black Knight Ghost in his mansion,” Daphne finished.
The cops proceeded to start dragging Jacobo towards the armored van, but not before Rainbow Dash zipped right in front of them.
“Hold up fellas,” She said. “Before you take him away, I owe him something for almost killing us…”
Rainbow reeled back and slugged Jacobo right in the jaw, causing him to actually fall to the ground and the police had to haul him back to his feet. Rainbow smirked with a nod before floating back to the ground and walked alongside her mare-friend.
“Nice punch hon,” Applejack complimented.
“Eh, he only got about 20% power,” Rainbow shrugged. “I’d have given more, but I don’t want to get dragged off by the cops too.”
“Well still, that deserves one ah these,” Applejack smiled.
Applejack leaned in and kissed Rainbow right on the cheek, which caused the cyan blue Pegasus to turn into a love-struck idiot, as she stumbled around as though she were drunk and mumbling something incoherent. All the while, the cops were still dragging Jacobo to the police van.
“As if you getting the lead in ‘My Fair Lady’ wasn’t enough!” Wickles glared at Jacobo.
“I was an excellent Eliza!” Jacobo retorted. “You were ‘too acty’!”
“And stealing my Tater Tots!” Wickles snapped.
“You kept saying you felt puffy!” Jacobo retorted.
Wickles just glared toward his old nemesis, watching him getting dragged off with a goodly amount of satisfaction. He felt a slight tug on his pant leg and looked down to see Flurry Heart smiling at him.
“I always knew you were innocent Mr. Wickles,” She said happily.
Wickles knelt down onto one knee so that he could look Flurry Heart in the eye, as he shook his head in utter confusion.
“I just don’t get it kid,” He spoke. “Everyone else was ready to place the blame of this whole scheme on me in the blink of an eye. Why weren’t you one of them?”
“Because I sensed the sincerity in your words back at the Faux Ghost,” Flurry responded. “You truly felt guilty about what you had done in the past. All you needed is one person, or in this case a filly, to believe you.”
Wickles actually had a smirk creep onto his face, as he truly felt touched by the young pony’s belief in him even after such a short time.
“Thanks kid,” He said gratefully.
Flurry threw her arms around the old man in a big hug which was a surprise to Wickles. However, after his initial shock was gone, he gently placed an arm around her and gently reciprocated the hug.
Meanwhile, Fred tried to be smart as Velma but once again… he failed.
“And the real identity of Ned is…”
Fred came up toward the cameraman, grabbed his head and gave a forceful yank but nothing happened.
“Ow!” Ned cried.
“… Ned.”
“Fred, Ned never had a mask on,” Shining spoke up, slightly embarrassed.
Fred smiled sheepishly toward the others.
“And I would’ve gotten away with it too if it weren’t for those meddling punks, and their dumb dogs!” Jacobo called out.
The crowd soon cheered for Mystery Inc. as they had won yet another case.
“Great that everyone loves us again,” Scrappy smiled.
“You were a dude this whole time?” Ned asked Jacobo, betrayed.
“Of course, Dummkopf!” Jacobo muttered.
“But we cuddled!” Ned frowned, with a slight groan.
“That’s… disturbing,” Pinkie commented.
<>
Later, Velma approached Patrick, who still stood amongst the crowd and smiled at her as she approached.
“Hi…” Velma spoke nervously.
“H-Hi Velma…” Patrick greeted. “Look, I know that must have seemed very suspicious—”
“No, I trust you…” Velma told him.
“Y-You do?” Patrick asked.
Velma looked over her shoulder and spotted Cadance smiling at her, gently waving her hoof for her to proceed. This time she wasn’t going to pretend to be someone she wasn’t.
“Uh, listen, Patrick…” Velma continued. “I’m not glamorous, or mysterious. But I do like you, very much. And I would like to go out with you again. But this time… I will go as myself.”
Hearing her say this, Patrick smiled even brighter than he had been before.
“I would like nothing more than that,” He responded happily.
The two smiled as they locked hands and walked over to where Cadance and Shining Armor stood side by side.
“Thank you so much Cadance,” Velma thanked. “I should have listened to you right from the start.”
“Like I said Velma, you don’t have to pretend in order to find love,” Cadance smiled. “Sometimes love finds you in the most mysterious and unexpected ways.”
Shining Armor smiled as he placed his hoof around his wife and gently kissed the side of her head.
“It sure does,” He nodded. “But when you find it, never let go.”
Speaking of which, Daphne snuck up behind Fred and when the handsome young man turned around, saw her standing there, he smiled brightly.
“Hey!” Daphne smiled. “They’re cheering for us again.”
“Yeah…” Fred smiled back. “I always thought that was the greatest thing in the world. Guess I had my eyes shut pretty tight, huh?”
Daphne just smiled more as she threw her arms around Fred and the two shared a passionate kiss. Flurry came running up to her parents and they both eagerly caught her in a massive hug.
“Oh my sweet baby girl,” Cadance said lovingly.
“Actually Cadance, how’s about from now on we just call her as she is,” Shining suggested.
“And what might that be?”
Shining looked upon his daughter as a huge, proud smiled formed upon his face.
“Our grown-up little mare.”
The proud parents hugged their daughter once more until a sudden sensation caused them to back away and look in surprise. Flurry was especially surprised as well because a strange glowing, golden light began to envelope her until it was nearly blinding. Everyone shielded their eyes until the light eventually faded and when they looked back at Flurry Heart, they were all speechless. Flurry was a slight confused by all the sudden eyes on her.
“Why are you all staring at me?” She asked confused.
“Maybe you should look behind you and find out,” Shining suggested proudly.
Flurry instantly turned her head and looked down at her flank. Her eyes instantly went wide, and a huge smile plastered onto her face. For there, right upon her flank, was her brand-new cutie mark which resembled a cross between her mother’s and her father’s with the Crystal Heart sitting atop a pink star that was crested onto a blue shield.
“My… my… my… MY CUTIE MARK!!!” Flurry yelled, gleefully.
The Mane Six and Spike all approached when they heard Flurry yelling and noticed her jumping around for joy as she admired her new cutie mark. Shining Armor and Cadance were so proud of their daughter as they came up and hugged her tightly. Soon everyone came up and joined in.
“Look at me Auntie Twily, look at me!!!” Flurry cheered. “I never imagined I’d get a cutie mark and now I got one!”
“Oh Flurry, I am so proud of you!” Twilight smiled.
“We all are little darling,” Rarity added.
“You really earned it little squirt,” Rainbow smirked.
When everyone pulled back from the hug, Twilight turned back toward little Spike. She caught him staring down toward the ground slightly sadly. Twilight walked up alongside him and gently nudged him with her hoof.
“Hey, you okay Spike?” She asked, sitting beside him.
“I guess…” Spike answered sadly. “I mean I’m glad we solved the mystery, don’t get me wrong. And it’s so cool Flurry got her cutie mark, it’s just… I wish something cool happened to me. But I’m still just the same old baby dragon I was when I woke up today… and when this whole trip started.”
Twilight smiled toward her little number one assistant, placing a single arm around him.
“What’s so wrong with that?” She asked. “I think the same old Spike is just as perfect, and I guarantee you every pony else does too. Having something like a cutie mark or praise from fans doesn’t make you a hero. Helping people in need, for the sole purpose of doing a good deed, that my friend is what makes a hero. You’ve done just that time and time again by just being yourself, Spike. Not just for all Equestria, but for so many other worlds… and the same for all the worlds we haven’t even been to yet.”
Hearing Twilight say this made Spike feel slightly better, even put a smile on his face. She was absolutely right because throughout the entirety of their journeys, from Equestria and all the other worlds, he’d been a big help in so many ways. Not always by doing the biggest, most heroic deeds but just for being so willing to help anyway he can.
“You know what, you’re right Twilight!” Spike smiled. “I am a hero. Not because I’m the biggest, not because I’m the strongest, but when it comes down to it I’m not afraid to step up and help no matter what stands in the way—uh ooh…”
“Something the matter Spike?”
“I-I-I don’t know, mmm…” Spike grunted, clutching himself. “All of a sudden I feel weird… and I haven’t had breakfast—ooh… ooh boy….”
All of a sudden, no sooner did the pain within him increase starting from the top of his chest and drawing down to his feet, an even stranger sensation developed with him. Soon the pain faded to a more tingly feeling inside like bits of his body falling asleep. And all of a sudden, through his eyes, everything seemed to either be getting smaller or his sights were getting higher. Either way, he hadn’t noticed that his limbs were growing until eventually the process stopped. Confused, he looked down only to realize he was slightly taller than Twilight and the others.
“What happened to me?” He asked.
Spike clasped his claws over his mouth, realizing his voice had gotten slightly deeper.
“Spike… you’re growing!” Twilight marveled. “You’re becoming… a full dragon!”
As this touching tender moment took place, a few news reporters asked Shaggy if he could wear the Captain Cutler helmet for them.
“Shaggy, can we get your photo in this?” A reporter asked.
“Uh, yes,” Shaggy smiled.
Without hesitation, he took Captain Cutler’s diving helmet and decided to try it on for size.
“That’s a nice fit there, Shaggy!” Scrappy smirked.
The little pup approached the rest of the rest of the Equestrian group, as he kept a close watch.
“Uh Scraps, what’re you doing?” Rainbow asked.
“Just waiting for the hilarity to ensue,” Scrappy answered casually.
“What do you…”
“Just wait… any minute now…”
Shaggy soon roared, pretending to be scary. Unfortunately, that attracted some attention in the wrong way.
“Rikes!” Scooby panicked.
Scooby snatched a boom mic from one of the camera crew and soon beat Shaggy with it, thinking the ‘real’ Captain Cutler was still up and running. Shaggy grunted and groaned before removing the helmet.
“Like, Scoob, it’s me, man!” Shaggy smiled to his best friend.
“Raggy!” Scooby smiled.
The Great Dane soon raced toward Shaggy, feeling much better now, pouncing upon him, and licking his face.
Everyone laughed at the quirky duo, but then soon erupted into cheers of celebration. Once again, Mystery Inc. and the Equestrians solved another mystery together and as a bonus all of Coolsville was saved. Flurry Heart climbed up onto Scooby’s back, hugged him around the neck and the big dog nuzzled up against her.
“Scooby Dooby Doo!!!” They both chanted.
<>
Late in the night, at the Faux Ghost, everyone gathered for one swinging party in celebration. Everyone in town assembled on the dance floor, as Scooby Doo and Pinkie Pie stood on stage with a very special guest star.
“Fillies and gentle colts, ladies and gentlemen,” Pinkie announced, through a mic. “The Faux Ghost is pleased to present the musical guest star and ‘American Idol’ winner, Ruben Studdard!!!”
“Sing it, Ruben!” Scooby shouted.
Acknowledging the Great Dane’s request, Ruben grabbed the microphone and began to sing.
As the man sang, everyone on the dance floor started to jam and boogey as they had the time of their lives. The entire Equestria team danced with one another with Rainbow Dash and Applejack dancing together, Flurry with her parents, Pinkie break-dancing all across the floor, Twilight dancing with her now bigger dragon assistant Spike, and Rarity and Fluttershy dancing with one another. But soon, however, the celebration came to an end the moment a familiar portal back to Equestria opened up.
“Looks like it’s time to go home,” Twilight announced.
“Aww, can’t we stay a little longer?” Pinkie pleaded. “I still haven’t even got to break out ‘my’ super-duper, double looper, hoopty-dooper, Pinkie Pie twist.”
“Sorry Pinkie, but I think we’ve partied enough here tonight.”
Pinkie merely pouted and lightly kicked the floor beneath her before sluggishly following behind as the group started walking toward the Mystery Inc. crew.
“Heading out already?” Fred asked.
“Afraid so Fred,” Shining nodded. “Time we all got back home and start on our next big mystery.”
“Number one amongst them the whereabouts of Chrysalis and Sombra,” Cadance added. “And what they’re next plan is going to be.”
“Like I wouldn’t sweat it man,” Shaggy spoke up. “Knowing you guys, you’ll catch them and smoke ‘em six ways from Sunday.”
“Reah, roke ‘em!” Scooby nodded.
“Well, we’ll really miss you guys,” Daphne said.
“I just hope we’ll see you again,” Velma added.
“Don’t y’all worry bout that none,” Applejack said. “Ah’m sure we’ll be seein’ ya again real soon.”
“For more adventures and mystery solving,” Rarity nodded.
“Not to mention busting up baddies with my awesome moves!” Rainbow added, throwing punches in mid-air.
“Yeah!” Pinkie perked up. “Maybe you’ll get hired by some town in Scotland, with inhabitants complaining about being plagued by monsters! Only to discover that the monsters are actually victims, leading to Scooby & Shaggy coming to terms with their own prejudices and narrow belief systems!”
There was a slight awkward pause between the two groups for a moment, several members blinking. Shaggy and Scooby turned toward one another, as if pondering what the other was thinking, then turned back toward Pinkie shaking their heads.
“Nah…” They said in unison.
“Well… I could see some potential,” Scrappy replied, shrugging.
“We’ll see…” Velma added.
“Well… until that time comes, we’ll miss all of you,” Fluttershy smiled.
Everyone exchanged meaningful hugs and farewells before the Equestrian group slowly turned back towards the portal. They took one final look over their shoulders toward Mystery Inc. before they finally stepped through the portal and worked their way back home.
<>
Meanwhile, in the badlands of Equestria, a fully recovered Chrysalis and the newly reanimated Sombra made their way through the caves of their hiding spot before eventually arriving in the dead center of the meeting area. There stood Tirek, Cozy Glow, the Dazzlings, Demitria, Andromedis, and the Mysterious Benefactor waiting for them.
Soon as the pair walked into the cavern, the Benefactor stood up and walked towards them as the two bowed their heads in respect. The Benefactor looked toward Sombara, smiling under their hood wickedly over his new form.
“Ah Sombra,” They spoke satisfied. “You’ve managed to acquire yourself a new body.”
“Indeed I have,” Sombra nodded, examining himself. “Oh, how fun it was toying with those pathetic little ingrates who dare call themselves ‘ponies’. Did they really think I’d be beaten so easily? All I needed was for them to think they’d won the battle… not realizing the real war coming to them.
“And… did you two managed to track for what we needed?”
“Oh yes… and much more,” Chrysalis smirked evilly.
Using her twisted magic, Chrysalis floated over a black box and slowly opened it to reveal a container of Randomonium. She also procured the ancient text she had retrieved from Mystery Inc. headquarters, shortly after the gang left for the mining town. Upon looking at the items, the Benefactor nearly salivated as they thought of what they could do with this.
“Excellent!” They grinned. “With this very substance and the knowledge within this book, we shall create an army of monsters to wreak mayhem and destruction my command….”
“Don’t you mean our command?” Tirek asked irritated.
“Don’t go thinking you can hold out on us,” Cozy Glow added. “We’re all part of this as well.”
The Benefactor merely growled quietly underneath their hood, before quickly turning back around and regaining their composure.
“Now then, we move onto the next phase of our plan,” They declared.
At that moment, a group of dark figures emerged from the shadows of the cave. The figures were all dressed in black robes, wearing skull masks that covered their faces. It was clear they were all humans but also quite evil to dress in such an ensemble. The Benefactor noticed the group of figures and walked over towards them with the tome and the Randomonium in their magical grip. The one leading the group of people simply reached out their gloved hands and the Benefactor let the items fall into their grasp.
“And you’re certain this will aid us, master?” The figure asked.
“More than you will ever know,” The Benefactor nodded. “Soon, we will get ‘everything’ we all wanted. And soon… the Dark Lord will rise again and not even death will stop him. But first…”
Two of the robed figures, their faces hidden behind masks, drew out a long table covered by a white sheet. The Mysterious Benefactor stood over the table as the figures set it into position. Then through a silent command, the figures lifted the sheet off the table… revealing the costume of a certain, ‘Chickenstein’.
“We use our newfound randomonium to turn the most ridiculous creature in the world… into the most frightening servant of our newfound order.”
The End…?