//------------------------------// // Splitting Up and Looking for Clues (Part 1) // Story: G5 Adventures in Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright // by ponydog127 //------------------------------// The phantom haunting the opera house had just disappeared into thin air while Izzy, Shaggy and Scooby were running away from it, and Fred and Daphne, plus Pipp, Hitch and Misty, were chasing it. But the question was... how did he do it and where did he go? After a few minutes, everyone met in the lobby of the opera house, including a still shaken Izzy, Shaggy and Scooby. “Guys, something freaky-deaky is going on!” Izzy said with wide eyes. “There was this ghost with a green skull head and he was chasing us all over and he smelled like lemons, and--” “We know, Izzy-- we all saw him just like you did,” Daphne interrupted. “But how could he just disappear?” “There must be a rational explanation,” Velma pointed out. “Yeah,” Shaggy agreed. “Like, he's a ghost!” “A ghost who smells like lemons?” Zipp raised an eyebrow. “That sounds kinda weird.” “And it's not weird to have a ghost who doesn't smell like lemons?” “Well, one thing is for sure,” Sunny told her friends. “We have to get to the bottom of this!” “Especially since that phantom could cause the entire Talent Star finale to be canceled!” Breena agreed. “And I, for one, can not let that happen.” “You mean WE can't let that happen?” Eden corrected her sister. “We are a team, after all.” “You know what I mean! I was speaking for all of us!” “But were you, though?” Pavari muttered. “I never gave you permission to do that...” “Come to think of it,” Eden agreed, “me neither.” Breena and her sisters continued to bicker back and forth at each other before Hitch brought out his whistle and blew into it, stopping the feud. “Look, girls, I don't know what you're fighting about,” he said, “but we need you to try and put it aside for now and help us solve this mystery before something worse happens!” The sisters looked a bit ashamed at how they started fighting so suddenly in front of all their new friends, leading Breena to sigh. “You're right, sheriff. We'll do our part to make sure this phantom guy doesn't harm you, our friends or the chances of the finale going on.” “But, if I may say so,” said Pavari, “we better get out of here before Mr. Ottoman finds your dog friend and has the whole building sanitized… again.” But before anyone else could move, Dewey and Collette burst through the doors, and Dewey looked livid at the fact that Scooby was in the building. “Dog!” “Dog?” Scooby looked around in confusion. “Where?” “Get that germ sack out of here! Right now!” Dewey demanded as Scooby lowered his head, and the ponies stood beside their friend in defense as Dewey continued to mutter to himself. “Did he leave footprints? I think I see footprints-- he didn't touch any walls, did he? Oh, my gosh! Now I'll have to sanitize the entire building!” Dewey got on his hands and knees and began to scrub the floors, prompting the others to slightly back away. “Good thing I brought bleach…” Dewey muttered before he came face to face with Scooby. “Out, I said! Out, out, out!” “Hey! We’ll have you know that Scooby-Doo is a beloved icon and deserves to be treated as such!!” Pipp said angrily, stomping her hoof. “Mr. Ottoman, Scooby is part of this gang of mystery solvers who are going to help us with this phantom thing,” Breena tried to tell him, “and the only--” “It’s okay, Breena-- we were just leaving,” Zipp reassured one of their new friends. “Come on, guys.” The Mane 6 and the gang then began to take their leave with the sisters following after, and the last thing they heard was Dewey practically screaming at Collette. “I want this floor buffed,” he cried, “and I want it polished!” XXXXXXXX By the time that the group had went through the door, they couldn't hear much of Dewey's ranting, but Misty was concerned about it and how it was effecting those around them. “Girls... has Dewey always acted this way? Wanting to clean anything and everything?” “To be honest… we never asked, due to how short-tempered he is,” Pavari admitted. “But it makes me think something happened to make him be like this.” “We can worry about that later, though,” Zipp said. “We need to split up and gather clues about this phantom guy before things get even crazier.” “Right,” Velma agreed. “Okay… Izzy, Zipp and I will check us in to the hotel and do some internet research. Shaggy and Scooby, take Misty and Sunny and go to the library on State Street to see what you can find out about the opera house's history.” “How are we the choice for library research?” Shaggy asked in confusion. “Hey, what matters is we’ll be together,” Misty pointed out to her friends. “That’s a good plan in my book.” “Hitch, Pipp and I will see what we can find in the building,” Fred volunteered. “Daphne, you come with--” “Yes! I’m going with Fred!” Daphne squealed before following, causing Velma to quietly sigh in annoyance. “Wait up, guys!” Pavari called after Fred and Daphne’s group. “I wanna come with you!” “Pavari!” scolded Breena. “Isn’t that something we should discuss as a family first?” “...family?” Pavari muttered before turning to her older sister. “You know… you talk a big game, bossing me and Eden around like we’re your servants. We’re supposed to be in this for the fun, Bree… not for the fame. I’m sorry… but it’s about time I start making my own decisions.” And just like that, the youngest of the sisters flew off after Fred, Daphne, Hitch and Pipp, leaving Breena stunned before turning to Eden. “Eden… you’ll stay with me… right? You’ve been one of my right-paw leopards since the beginning of our careers!” “You’re right, I have… but Pavari’s right, too,” Eden said with a frown. “Ever since we won Talent Star, it feels like you’ve been putting us off for the spotlight, making all the decisions by yourself and expecting us to follow in your paw prints. So… I don’t think us sticking together is a good idea. Not until you shape up your act.” “...come on, Eden,” Misty invited. “You can stick with me, Sunny and the boys.” Eden spared Breena one last look before she followed her new friends down the sidewalk, leaving the remaining group members on their own. XXXXXXXX Breena hadn’t said a word since she, Velma, Zipp and Izzy left for the Hotel Canard, and her new friends knew they couldn’t let her be so down and out. “Hey, Breena?” Zipp spoke first. “We don’t mean to pry, but…” “...what’s been going on between you and your sisters?” Velma added. “Maybe there’s a way we can help.” “...you guys like long stories?” Breena asked, causing Izzy and Zipp to nod. “Well… our parents were some of the best in the world. But… a few years ago, the flying leopard colony we were originally a part of disbanded after our cruel leaders were banished to other realms.” “You mean… Allura and her brother?” Zipp asked. “Actually… yeah,” Breena said in surprise. “How did you know?” “Eh, story for another time,” Izzy shrugged. “But then what happened?” “Well… me and my sisters lived with our parents until 2 years ago, and I always promised to look after them and give them the best life possible,” Breena explained. “People found out about our singing talents and I thought being on Talent Star would be a great way to make a new life for ourselves. But… I guess my sisters don’t realize how much I'm trying to keep our win alive, so we can keep living this best life.” “I’m sure they realize that,” Zipp said, “but I’m sure there must be some other way for you to…” “Hey, look!” Breena interrupted as they stopped in front of a large hotel. “I think this is the hotel! Come on!” The pink leopard ran toward the revolving doors and stepped inside, causing the others to follow after her toward the front desk, where an older man was working at the front desk. “Welcome to the Hotel Canard,” he greeted politely. “How may I be of service?” “Hello,” Velma said, “we need to check…” But just then, Chrissy’s parents barged in front of them, causing them to stumble back. “Hi-- checking in,” Chrissy’s mother said rudely. “Barb and Lance Damon and Chrissy!” “I’m sorry,” the man said with a frown. “This young lady and her friends were--”  Suddenly, Lance interrupted him with an accusing tone of voice. “Hey, are you giving us attitude?” “I think he’s giving us attitude!” Barb agreed. “Listen, buddy,” Lance snapped, “I want someone to take Chrissy's bags to the room now!” The man looked over at Velma, Breena and their two Equestrian pals, but Velma decided to speak to clear up the conflict. “Go ahead, we’ll wait.” “Uh, yeah!” Zipp agreed. “No problem.” As a hotel worker moved some of the bags out of their way, the four friends could see Chrissy sitting on a pile of luggage. “Oh, Chrissy!” Izzy smiled before remembering what Zipp said happened earlier. “Are you okay?” “Of course I’m okay,” Chrissy responded matter-of-factly. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?” “Weren’t you scared of the phantom?” Velma asked curiously. “You were screaming, and--”  Then, just like her parents, Chrissy laughed, rudely interrupting Velma. “That wasn't a scared scream, stupid. It was a happy scream,” she said, leaping off the luggage she was sitting on, “because he told me I'm gonna win the competition.” “Wait,” Zipp spoke in confusion. “He told you…?” “I’m gonna win!” Chrissy interrupted cheerfully. “Even if he has to obliterate all the other contestants. Isn't that awesome?!” “Uh…” Breena was unsure of what to say before Chrissy’s mother stepped in. “It’s true! We have a genuine psycho on our side. Score!” “And that's why the phantom wrote ‘Christine must win’ on that clipboard,” Lance added. “Her name’s Christine.” “But,” said Barb, “call her Chrissy.” “Only don't call her Chrissy,” Lance finished rudely, “because don't talk to her. You're getting horse, cat and nerd breath all over her.” “Come on, Chrissy. Keep smiling!” Barb said with a clenched smile as the family walked off. That’s when an older man dressed like a magician approached them. “Oh, they're unbearable, aren't they?” “Yeah,” Breena said before looking at him. “Who are you?” “I am… the Great Pauldini!” the magician introduced before pulling an egg out of nowhere. “My card.” “Oh, that’s funny!” Izzy giggled. “That card looks just like an egg!” The Great Pauldini seemed to notice his mistake and stuck the egg back into his coat. “Okay, egg, card, whatever. I made it appear, right? Can you do that? No, you can't because you're not a magician,” he said, making a bouquet of roses appear before he gave them to Velma. “Who’s a magician?” “You are?” Velma guessed. “Oh, yeah, heh. Up high!” the Great Pauldini said, and the others shared a five-way high five with him. “That’s what I’m talking about!” And just like that, he merrily walked away. “I like him,” Izzy told her friends. “He reminds me of Rufus from back home!” “Although,” said another male voice, “he’s pretty unbearable himself.” “Tell me about… hello?” Velma turned, but didn’t see anyone there, much to her confusion. That's when Zipp cleared her throat and gestured toward the ground. All four girls looked down to see a smaller man with a charming smile right in front of them. “Waldo… the ventriloquist,” he introduced just as a hotel employee wheeled a cart with a puppet on it over to them. “And here's Hufnagel, my dummy.” “Hiya, toots!” Hufnagel seemed to say. “And I sit on his lap,” Waldo added. “It's funny and not at all demeaning. Right?” “Uh… right,” Zipp nodded, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.” “Right,” Waldo said before hopping off of Hufnagel and walking away. “Catch you ladies later.” But as he walked away, four ladies with different colored hair and rock and roll styled outfits approached and got in his way. “Oh my gosh,” swooned the girl with green hair, “he is adorable!” “I am not adorable,” Waldo corrected. “I am… hot.” “You know what?” asked the girl with dark purple hair. “He kind of is.” “Totally,” the girl with blue hair agreed. “Um, I saw him first,” the girl with pink hair interrupted. “Hey!” Breena smiled at the group in recognition. “You guys are that band, right?” “Yes,” the girl with green hair nodded. “We are…” “GIRLASAURUS REX!!! RAWWWWR!!” all girls roared in unison, just before the girl in green giggled excitedly. “Oh, my gosh, we are so metal, heh.” “Cathy,” the girl with blue hair scolded, “it's so not metal to say, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re so metal’.” “Right… sorry,” Cathy apologized to her bandmates before turning back to the group. “We were a country act until three months ago.” “We agreed we weren’t telling people that,” the girl in purple said sternly. “Now come on-- look surly.” And then, with sour faces, the four girls walked off. “Well… all of these people are… interesting, to say the least,” Zipp hummed. “And if you ask me,” said Velma, “I think a lemon-scented ghost would fit right in with this crowd.”