Only a few minutes after the Unity Crystals teleported them out of the Crystal Brighthouse, a portal opened on the other side, leading the group to slowly climb out… well, everyone except for Misty and Hitch, who stumbled into each other and crashed to the ground. “Phew…” Hitch sighed, getting up. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”
The group looked around, noticing they were in a dark, foresty area, with clouds looming above them, looking like a storm would blow over at any minute.
Not exactly a place where anypony would WANT to be. “Does anypony recognize this place?” Sunny asked. “No… we’re definitely not in Equestria, that’s for sure,” Zipp said, observing the surroundings. “Too flat, and not too many trees… not Maretime Bay, Bridlewood or Zephyr Heights.”
“So… where do we go from here?” Misty wondered, but she was quickly cut off by a clap of thunder. “I say we go under those trees before we get rained on,” Sunny said. “Come on!”
The ponies immediately ducked under the cover of the trees, careful not to get wet as the rain began to pour down on them. “Great…” Pipp sighed. “I’m gonna get my mane wet for sure-- now I’ll have to recurl it 1000 times in order to get it to this level of perfection!”
“Pipp, you can stop worrying about your mane for now,” Zipp told her sister with a bored tone. “Right now, we have to find the person who really needs us.”
“Yeah,” Hitch nodded, turning his head left and right. “But where in the world could they-- AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!”
Two bright lights were heading in their direction, causing the ponies to be temporarily blinded. As it got closer, parking under the cover of the trees, the lights dimmed, and the ponies saw they were just the headlights of a red van, causing them to be partly relieved.
But, Misty and Sunny recognized that red van from somewhere familiar… but they couldn’t figure out where they had seen it until they saw some figures getting out of the van-- namely, a skinny teen in a red shirt, followed by a large brown Great Dane.
Misty gasped upon recognizing them, teal eyes brimming with happiness. “Shaggy! Scooby!”
“Like, Misty? Ponies?” Shaggy chuckled happily. “We thought we’d never be able to see you again!”
The two groups immediately ran toward each other and gave them plenty of happy hugs… and Scooby was there to give them plenty of happy licks, Sunny and Misty especially. “Easy! Easy, boy!” Sunny laughed. “We’re happy to see you too. So… what are you guys doing out here? And where are Fred, Daphne and Velma?”
“Daph, Fred and Velmster are on another assignment, and well, heh… so are we,” Shaggy admitted. “Like, we got a job at a school for girls as gym teachers.”
“Yeah! Gym teachers!” Scooby said proudly. “Uncle Scooby? Shaggy? What’s going on?” asked a voice from the van. “Is there something out there?”
“Just some old friends of ours, Scrappy,” Shaggy responded. “Come out and say hi, before this storm gets any worse.”
The door of the van opened, and out of it came a smaller dog, a Great Dane like Scooby, but he walked on two legs instead of Scooby's usual four. “Oh… my… HOOFNESS!!” Pipp said, flapping her wings excitedly. “He’s almost as cute as Sparky!”
“Like, Sunny? We want you and your friends to meet Scoob’s nephew, Scrappy-Doo,” Shaggy introduced. “Oh, these are the ponies who helped you on Zombie Island, Uncle Scooby?” Scrappy asked, and Scooby nodded in confirmation. “Wow, great to meet all of you!”
“Good to meet you too, Scrappy,” Zipp smiled, just before she got an idea. “Hey, we're actually supposed to be looking for our next mission, and I think we're gonna be here a while. Do you mind if we hang with you guys?”
“Uh uh!” Scooby answered. “Yeah,” Shaggy agreed. “We'd love to catch up-- see what you guys have been into lately.”
“Well, uh… it’s been a lot to say the least,” Hitch chuckled. “Come on-- let’s get into the van before we melt.”
“Yeah-- melt!” Scooby bolted back toward the van, causing the others to giggle and follow suit. However, Misty stayed behind as they chattered, catching up and old times.
How could she tell Shaggy and Scooby that Opaline could be coming after them next? Sure, she told them her secret that she was once the servant of Opaline… but what if they reacted differently than before?
What if they cast her out? All she wanted was friends… other than wanting a cutie mark. If she lost them…
“Misty!” Zipp called from the van. “Hurry up!”
“Uh… coming!” Misty cried, rushing toward the van and jumping in beside her friends. She had to put her doubts aside for now… after all, the gang needed her.
And she needed them too.