Hours had passed since the were-cats’ defeat, and the group was now boarding the ferry to go home, the ponies trying to spend as much time with the gang as they could before the portal reappeared back to Equestria. As terrifying as the adventure was... it was actually thrilling and exciting to know they had friends from another world to help them if they were in need of it. “You know, Fred…” Daphne said, hugging Fred’s arm, “with all the zombies and cat creatures gone, this is a pretty romantic spot.”
“Yeah,” Fred agreed. “Ooooooh… I love romance. I should loan you two Trotting Hill,” Izzy piped up. “Thanks for helping on this wild ride,” Fred told the passing ponies. “You think… we’ll be able to see each other again?”
“Sure we will,” Sunny reassured. “No matter how many worlds we are apart, we’ll be friends no matter what. And I’m sure the Unity Crystals will send us back someday. Right now, we need to get back to Equestria and deepen the search for that evil pony… something tells me that what Simone said might be useful.” Meanwhile, Velma and Beau were climbing onto the ferry from the dock. “The bayou casts a spell all its own. And no matter how hard you try to solve its mysteries it always keeps something hidden,” Beau said, and Velma sighed with a smile. “That was beautiful, Detective Neville. There’s a bit of a poet in you,” she said, making Beau chuckle. “I don't know about that, ma'am. But I would like to write detective stories someday.”
“Jinkies! I’ve always been crazy about a good detective! Story, that is,” Velma said. “I even own my own mystery bookstore.”
“No kidding!” Beau smiled, just as Zipp came by and winked at Velma playfully. Shaggy drove the Mystery Machine onto the ferry, where Velma noticed that someone was missing. “Where’s Scooby?” she asked. “He and Misty picking a peck of peppers, for the road!” Shaggy laughed. True to his word, Misty was helping the Great Dane pick a basket for the road when she saw the ferry getting ready to leave. “Hurry up, Scoob! The gang is pulling out!”
“Okay,” Scooby nodded, and the two galloped to the dock as fast as they could go. But while Misty was able to jump on the boat, Scooby could only get his front paws on there while his back paw was stuck in a crack in the wood. “Hang on, buddy! I got ya!” Misty grabbed him and attempted to pull him onboard, but instead he went flying through the air… into the window of the Mystery Machine. “Look what I’ve got for you, old buddy,” Shaggy pulled him down, holding some sandwiches. “We're finally going to have a nice peaceful meal.”
Scooby pulled a few peppers from the basket and put them on the sandwich, and was about to take a bite, when he noticed cats from the island onboard, their eyes glowing with a sinister light. “Shaggy! Cats!” he gulped. “Yikes…”
“Shoo, shoo!” Misty shooed the cats away, and they climbed into the trees so Scooby would be left alone. But after that, the portal appeared nearby. “Yikes!” Scooby yelped, clinging onto Misty tightly. “Don’t worry, Scoob,” Hitch comforted him. “It’s the portal that’ll send us back home.”
“Will you be back?” Daphne asked. “Soon-- not sure when, but soon,” Sunny said. And with that being said, Mystery Inc waved their new friends goodbye before they set off into the portal.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The group soon reappeared inside the Brighthouse, only a few minutes having gone by since they left Scooby and the gang. “Phew… it’s good to be home,” Pipp sighed. “But… makes me wonder how the gang will get along with mysteries without us.”
“I think they’ll be okay,” Sunny reassured. “As long as they have each other, they’ll be fine… just like us.” It was then that Misty found the courage to say something… something she should have said a long time ago, but was afraid to. “Guys… you know how I said I’ve been living with a friend? A… a friend who said she would give me a cutie mark?” she asked. “Yeah…?” Izzy nodded. “Well… here’s the thing. She’s--”
Suddenly, a clap of thunder directly over Maretime Bay was heard, and a storm cloud was beginning to form from it. The group ran to town as fast as they could, seeing the dread on the ponies’ faces. “Posey! What's going on with the clouds?!” Hitch asked as the yellow earth pony held his baby dragon. “I don’t know! It just… appeared out of nowhere!” Posey exclaimed, handing Sparky over to Hitch. “And I could have sworn I heard some laughter echoing from it!”
Misty smelled something on the air... the same potion that she smelled back in Opaline's castle! This must have been what she meant when she said that this was gonna be their next step... but why now? “No no no… not now… not now!” Misty whispered. “Misty?” Zipp’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know something about this?”
“Well… I…” Misty tried to say, but in the clouds formed a familiar alicorn-- a purple one with a cold gaze in her icy blue eyes, staring down maliciously at the ponies she so desperately hated. “Hello, Equestria…” Opaline cackled. “Your queen… is BACK.”