//------------------------------// // Last Minute Investigating // Story: G5 Adventures in Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright // by ponydog127 //------------------------------// While the phantom rang out a warning in the main part of the opera house for all to hear, Misty and Sunny were currently running with Shaggy and Scooby to try and escape the security guard on their tail. “Stop that dog!” “Come on, guys! Hurry!” Sunny told her friends as they ran down the hall before turning and reaching another hallway. “What do we do?!” Misty cried. “He’s coming right at us!” “I have an idea,” Sunny said, “but Misty, it’s going to require a lot of power. Are you up for it?” “You bet I am! Hang on!” Misty strained heavily as she ignited her horn, and managed to levitate everypony up toward the ceiling just as the security guard came their way. While the group kept quiet in their hiding place, the security guard looked around and thought he saw Shaggy's feet and Scooby's tail peeking out of a coat rack, and immediately smirked. “Well, well, guess they got away because they're not here. Anywhere and… aha!!” But, as he moved some clothes to reveal the duo, he was shocked that it was only a belt and shoes that looked just like Shaggy’s shoes and Scooby’s tail, causing the guard to growl in frustration and leave… unaware that those he was looking for were right over his head. As they watched him drive away, Shaggy and Scooby high-fived their Equestrian friends in silence… just before they all witnessed Brick Pimiento coming out of the sound booth, as if he wanted no one to know he was there. That’s when Shaggy and Scooby silently encouraged Misty to float them down closer. “Brick!” Shaggy greeted cheerfully, causing Brick to shriek as the group levitated down to the ground. “I wasn't doing anything-- I was just in there, not doing anything. I was doing something, but it was nothing.” “Sorry, we didn’t mean to scare you,” Misty tried to apologize just before Shaggy put hats on his and Scooby’s heads. “Like, we have a totally great act for you!” Brick wasn’t as tense when Shaggy said this, and even managed to smile. “Oh. Oh! Uh… well, fantastic. By all means, proceed.” “Guys… do we really have time for this?” Sunny asked her friends worriedly. “The guard could come back at any second!” “Trust us, Sunster-- this won’t take long,” Shaggy said before clearing his throat. “Say, Scooby-Doo, what bone will a dog never eat?” “I don’t know, Shaggy,” Scooby shrugged. “What bone will a dog never eat?” “A trombone!” Both Shaggy and Scooby laughed at their own humor, but Sunny and Misty looked sort of worried... Brick didn't look at all pleased. “Heh, yeah… that’s fan-- SECURITY!!!” Shaggy yelped and tried to come up with another joke to tell. “Scoob, what vegetable do you get when you cross a dog with a rose?” “I don’t know, Shaggy!” “A collie-flower!” “Heh heh…” Misty chuckled nervously at Brick, hoping he wouldn't give them away. “Funny, right?” “DOOOOG!!!” the security guard ran onto the scene, causing Misty, Shaggy and Scooby to scream and run off, with the guard chasing after them and causing Sunny to chuckle nervously and smile nervously at Brick. That’s when the others walked/trotted over to them. “Mr. Pimiento?” Pipp called out, and Brick smiled as the others approached. “Blake and Jones! Well, you must be happy.” “Why?” Daphne asked in curiosity as to why Brick would say such a thing. “Your odds of winning are way up,” Brick explained. “There are only four acts left.” “Actually three,” Izzy clarified. “We just heard that the Great Pauldini just quit.” “Heh… whatever. Anyway, the publicity the Phantom has generated has been fantastic. We're expecting our highest ratings ever,” Brick scoffed, closing the sound room door behind him as Velma and Zipp looked curiously at this. “Come on, let me show you the projections.” As Brick led the rest of their friends away, Velma turned to look at where Brick had come out of. “The sound room, huh? Come on, Zipp… time to do a little investigating on our own.” The two girls entered the sound room and looked around, with Zipp noticing that one of the microphones was still on when she tapped her hoof against it. “It’s still on… but why?” “And check it out!” Velma pointed to the cable hooked to the microphone, and the TV monitor that showed the talent show stage. “So whoever was using this mic would be heard on the stage… interesting.” “What do you think we should do next?” Zipp asked. “I think we need to review the security footage from a few minutes ago and see what we can find out,” Velma answered. “I bet K.T can probably help us with that part. Come on.” XXXXXXXX Immediately after they left the sound room, Velma and Zipp went to go interview K.T in the control room. “Do you keep the footage all the cameras in here shoot?” Velma asked. “Well, of course,” K.T responded. “There's a whole digital database on the server.” “Could we look through it?” Zipp asked curiously. “Sure,” K.T shrugged, “but there's 2000 hours of footage in there.” “Oh, man…” Velma sighed as she sat down at the control panel. “Now there's no way I'm gonna have time to go see the soap diamond.” “We can worry about gemstones later, Velma,” Zipp said. “If we want Fred and Daphne to have a go at finishing this competition and a go at potentially winning, we have to buckle down and solve this case.” “You’re right, Zipp,” Velma sighed. “Come on… let’s get to it. The competition starts in an hour!”