Our pony heroes team up with a team of mystery solvers, four bat ponies and a legendary band to stop an evil witch's scheme.
The Maretime Bay Amphitheater has officially been built, so musicians have an official place to perform in Maretime Bay. But the good feelings don't last when the ponies are sent away on an important and musical mission.
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc gang team up with the Mane 6, the one and only rock-and-roll band KISS and four princess bat pony sisters in an all-new, out-of-this-world adventure! The Mane 6 reunite with their friends at KISS World, the all-things KISS theme park, to investigate a series of strange hauntings. With the help of KISS and their royal bat pony friends, they discover that the Crimson Witch has returned to summon the Destroyer from the alternate dimension of Kissteria!
The ghastly duo's plan? To destroy the Earth and any other realm they come across... including Equestria!
Can the gang's cunning, the ponies' magic and KISS's power of rock save the day? Tune in to this rock-and-roll mystery for some thunderous, heavy metal fun!
Nopony would expect Princess Pipp to be such a dedicated work pony... except for her closest friends, who knew Pipp would go above and beyond for her fans and friends and family.
And that's exactly what she planned on doing for the town of Maretime Bay.
Ever since they returned from their adventure in Bikini Bottom, Pipp knew what she wanted to accomplish-- make a space other than Mane Melody so ponies could sing and make music and dance whenever they wanted to.
An amphitheater, sort of similar to the theater they had back in Zephyr Heights.
So for weeks, Pipp got together with multiple crews to build, plan and finally open this successful monument to the town of Maretime Bay.
Then, after several weeks of relentless work... it was finally ready.
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Pipp stood with all her friends, including Misty and her new cutie mark, in front of the gated entrance to the Maretime Bay Amphitheater, and a large crowd of ponies was waiting for it to open so they could step right inside. “Welcome, everypony,” Hitch spoke first, “to the grand opening of the Maretime Bay Amphitheater!”
There was a thunderous round of applause after that, and then Sunny decided to speak up. “This is the perfect place for ponies such as yourselves to sing, dance, and be as creative as you want! So don't be afraid to try something new! Pipp? Would you do the honors before you hit the stage?”
“I would LOVE to, Sunny,” Pipp took the scissors from her and cleared her throat. “I, Princess Pipp Petals of Zephyr Heights, do declare the official Maretime Bay Amphitheater OPEN!!”
She sliced the scissors through the ribbon and cut it, causing everypony to cheer and follow the princess into the amphitheater, settling down on the rows and rows of bleachers as Pipp flew onto the stage. “And now, it's show time!”
Sending a signal to Jazz, she pressed a button on a speaker for the music to start singing, and Pipp began to sing the song that is known for getting ponies dancing on their feet.
The same song she sang the night she and Zipp met Sunny, Hitch and Izzy.
(Glowin' up, kind of love) (Dip and slide, through the cut) (Glowin' up, kind of love) (We say "hi", you say "what?")
Used to care what they'd say, let 'em into my brain But I found a new way (Ooh-ooh-ooh) Every time I fall down, I pick it up like rebound Gotta get through somehow
We don't fly like we used to, we take what we've been through And we can feel brand new (Ooh-ooh-ooh) I know I am a fighter, I feel the fire I'm shining brighter (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
We got the light, we're comin' in stronger, we're in it together If you want it, it's all inside your mind We got the light, won't wait any longer, we'll get it together If you want it, then you can paint the sky (Hey!)
Glowin' up, kind of love Dip and slide, through the cut Glowin' up, kind of love We say "hi", you say "what?"
Glowin' up, kind of love Dip and slide, through the cut Glowin' up, kind of love We say "hi", you say "what?"
Pipp's friends, Misty and Sparky happily cheered as the song reached one of its best vocal chords.
Everywhere that I've been, yeah, they say I'm different But I'm good in my skin (ooh-ooh-ooh, hey!) If it doesn't feel right, break it in with tie-dye And don't you stop 'til sunrise
We don't fly like we used to, we take what we've been through And we can feel brand new (ooh-ooh-ooh) I know I am a fighter, I feel the fire I'm shining brighter (ooh-ooh-ooh)
We got the light, we're comin' in stronger, we're in it together If you want it, it's all inside your mind We got the light, won't wait any longer, we'll get it together If you want it, then you can paint the sky (Hey!)
Glowin' up, kind of love Dip and slide, through the cut Glowin' up, kind of love We say "hi", you say "what?"
Glowin' up, kind of love Dip and slide, through the cut Glowin' up, kind of love We say "hi", you say "what?"
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) We got the kind of (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) We got the kind of love (Ooh-ooh-ooh) We got the light (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) We got the kind of (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) We got the kind of love (Ooh-ooh-ooh) We got the light
Glowin' up, kind of love Dip and slide, through the cut Glowin' up, kind of love We say "hi", you say "what?" Glowin' up, kind of love (we got the kind of) Dip and slide, through the cut (we got the kind of love) Glowin' up, kind of love We say "hi"
We got the light!
Everypony cheered at the end of Pipp's performance, and they went off to enjoy the amphitheater for themselves as Pipp's friends came to congratulate her. “That was amazing, Pipp!” Misty smiled. “You really know how to work a crowd!”
“Aww, thanks, Misty,” Pipp smiled before glancing down at Misty's new cutie mark. “Hey, how's the new cutie mark treating you?”
“It's actually really amazing. Everything I thought it would be and so much more,” Misty said. “I can't wait till we go on our first Unity Quest with this bad boy! Er, girl... or... whatever it is.”
Just like a signature cue, their cutie marks began to glow like clockwork, and Zipp chuckled at that. “I guess our job is never done. Come on, let's drop off Sparky at Mane Melody and get to the Brighthouse.”
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KISS World was one of the most popular amusement parks in the United States, modeled and based on the long-famous rock and roll band KISS. It thrived and flourished for the longest time, but there would be one point where paying tourists and guests would be too scared to enter… which would be now.
It was Halloween night, and while many people were enjoying the sights of the park, two maintenance workers were working on one of the roller coasters, the Destroyer, and it involved one of the men riding the coaster while the other tried to figure out what was wrong with the cameras. “How long do we have to keep doing this?” the first man asked once the train stopped at the camera platform. “All right, my voice is getting hoarse.”
“Look, somebody's gotta fix this camera,” the second man said. “How else are those kids gonna get a picture of themselves screaming their heads off?”
This caused the first man to laugh in amusement with a little smirk. “Ha-ha-ha. Scaredy cats-- funny. What seems to be the trouble?”
“I don’t know. Every photo has some weird red haze in it,” the second man showed a picture as an example. “But I think I just fixed it.”
All of a sudden, a sudden stench hit the air as a red mist came through, and the first man saw that behind the first man, some sort of witch in red appeared behind him, and tried to warn him, but as his warnings came out as stammers. “W-What? Water buffalo?”
“W-W-W…” the first man continued to stammer. “W-W-Water slide,” the second man guessed again. “What is it?”
“W-W-WITCH!!!” the first man managed to scream at last, and the second one turned to see that he was indeed right. “Give me rock!!” the witch screamed, causing both men to scream and hug each other tightly in the roller coaster, but then the witch activated the coaster and proceeded to chase them through all the loops and turns, blasting red power blasts as she did so.
Once the maintenance workers knew they were safe, they scampered off the roller coaster and rushed toward the office of park supervisor Manny Goldman, all in a tizzy. “There’s a--” the first man panted. “We saw a--” the second man added, and this went on for a moment until they both shouted, “WIIIIITCH!!!”
“Big deal-- a witch, a witch. Pipe down already!” Mr. Goldman told them sternly. “Stop getting so excited.”
“But we saw her! She had this grotesque head!” the first maintenance worker exclaimed. “It was so frightening!” the second one added, and this caused Mr. Goldman to smile. “Well, welcome to KISS World-- that's the whole point of this park, isn't it? To excite and fright. Now, get back to work.”
At the printer next to him, a picture of them on the coaster being chased by the witch popped up, and Mr. Goldman held it out for them to take. “Oh, by the way, don't forget your souvenir photo.”
Confused beyond measure, the workers took their leave before Mr. Goldman dialed some numbers on the phone. “She’s back. Only one thing we can do. Get me the hottest mystery solvers in the world.”
The Mystery Machine rolled down the highway that very same Halloween night on their way to KISS World, every group member except Fred was dressed like the famous rock and roll band. “Like, I can't believe we get to go to KISS World!” Shaggy laughed, dressed as the Demon (aka Gene Simmons). “And solve a mystery!” Velma agreed, dressed as the Spaceman (aka Tommy Thayer). “It’s like killing two birds with one stone.”
“Yeah! Or two birds with one cat,” Scooby (dressed as the Catman, aka Eric Singer) popped into the conversation, and this led him and Shaggy to giggle. “Personally, I find their sideshow act a little juvenile,” Velma admitted. “But my mother told me to take a more active role in my friends' interests.”
“Well, I'm pretty interested in Starchild. He's so dreamy,” Daphne put some finishing touches on her makeup, made to look just like Starchild’s. Fred let forth a scheming smirk, and drove a little off to the side so the Mystery Machine could drive through a pothole and and mess up Daphne’s makeup. “Sorry, everyone.”
“You did that on purpose!” Daphne huffed, crossing her arms. “Huh-- now it looks like a shooting star! Make a wish, Scoob!” Shaggy said. Scooby paused to think for a second before coming up with the perfect wish idea. “I wish I was eating a Scooby Snack!”
“Good one, dude! Uh, I wish I could breathe fire like the Demon. Bleh!” Shaggy stuck his tongue out. “I wish you’d all come to your senses,” Fred groaned before taking out a CD with a grin. “You don't see me acting ridiculous over my favorite group, the Ascot Five, do you?”
He put the CD into the CD player in the Mystery Machine, and one of the Ascot Five’s most popular songs began to play.
Men: Oh no no no…
Don't tug my ascot Don't pull my ascot It’s not a scarf
You can't have my asset 'Cause, girl, it’s mine--
But, no one else besides Fred seemed to be interested in the sound of the music. “Fred, please,” Daphne groaned, taking the CD out. “I’m just saying,” Fred shrugged, “I think they’re twice the band KISS is.”
“But do the Ascot Five have an awesome amusement park?” Shaggy asked knowingly. “Yeah, awesome amusement park?” Scooby chimed in, making Fred groan under his breath. But then, Velma noticed something happening up ahead. “Jinkies! Freddy, stop the van!”
Fred immediately stopped the van on the side of the road, and everyone stared to see a portal opening up before them... and then, six familiar figures stepped out of it.
Six familiar EQUINE figures, to be precise. Scooby and Shaggy immediately recognized who it was, smiling at one another. “It's the ponies!”
They, Velma, Daphne and Fred exited the van and ran toward their friends, who saw them coming toward them and they beamed upon seeing their friends again. “Wow, this is a surprise!” Daphne smiled as she hugged Pipp. “Are you guys back for another Unity Quest already?”
“Apparently so. Whoa,” Pipp chuckled at the makeup 4 out of 5 of the gang were wearing. “What's with the new looks?”
“Ooooh, and what's that?” Scooby pointed to Misty's new cutie mark, and Misty giggled slightly. “Well... THAT happened on our last quest. And it's not a sticker-- I got my real cutie mark!”
The gang was delighted to hear this, and they hugged and congratulated Misty on such an amazing feat. “Anyway, about the makeup,” Velma said, turning back to the group. “We're on our way to KISS World for a special concert, and we thought we'd dress like the band since we're so excited for it.”
But, since the ponies were from Equestria, they had no idea about the gang's new favorite band. “KISS?” Zipp tilted her head in confusion. “I've heard of all sorts of bands, but never a band called KISS. Who are they exactly?”
“And do they really have an amusement park?!” Izzy squealed. “Like, they sure do!” Shaggy nodded. “Hey... why don't you guys come with us? We can teach you more about the band on our way there!”
“What do you think, guys?” Hitch asked. “Why not?” Sunny shrugged. “We always have so much fun with these guys.”
“And learning about music in this world could give us new ideas for the new amphitheater!” Pipp added before turning to the gang again. “Show us the way to your chariot!”
XXXXXXXXX
Along the rest of tbe trip to the amusement park, Daphne and the gang (except Fred) was teaching Sunny and her friends about KISS, and how they had been touring together for over 40 years.
Needless to say, Pipp and her friends were incredibly interested, never hearing of such an amazing group before-- and they thought the Dreamlands, Electric Blue and Ruby Jubilee were amazing at Bridlewoodstock!
But since they didn't have any KISS attire to wear, Pipp did a quick makeover and put everypony into their Bridlewoodstock concert attire, to match the occasion-- their first mortal world concert.
Finally, they arrived at the KISS World parking lot, and the gang immediately got out and started walking toward the entrance. “It is so majorly groovy to be at KISS World on Halloween night!” Daphne said, and Shaggy nodded in agreement. “Listen to those crowds!”
“Oooh, I’m so excited! I think I’m gonna freak out!!” Pipp said, doing a flip in the air as they trotted along... just before Zipp frowned and pointed to the gates. “Apparently, you're not the only one.”
Everyone looked over to the entrance, which had many people coming out of the park screaming their heads off. “Like, dude, don't most people usually run towards awesome rock concerts?” Shaggy wondered. “Not at an Ascot Five concert,” Fred spoke. “Everyone walks in a calm, orderly fashion.”
Suddenly, two of the screaming bystanders approached Shaggy and Misty in a fit. “Oh my gosh, she’s so terrifying!” screamed one, causing the second to nod. “The scariest witch ever!”
“Witch?!” Shaggy cried out. “With the red mist!” said the first. “And the creepy laugh!” added the second, causing the first to grab Shaggy by the shirt. “Save yourselves while you can!” he said before the two screamed and ran off. “Waaait a minute,” Misty shook her head before counting off the members of KISS on her hoof. “The Demon, the Starchild, the Catman, the Spaceman… ohh-ho-ho! PLEASE tell me they added a witch!”
“Somehow I doubt that. In fact, it's probably the reason we're here,” Velma explained. “Not me. I’m here for the funnel cake,” Scooby chirped cheerfully. “Either way,” Hitch said, “it might be something worth investigating.”
“Come on, gang,” Fred urged the others. “Let’s get to work.”
“Ooh, should I sing Where'd It Go first?” Pipp asked. “It feels good for a mystery solving vibe setter!”
“Not right now,” Zipp said, and this made Pipp reluctantly sigh. “Point taken...”
With that, the gang moved toward the entrance, which was bombarded with security guards. “Like, excuse me, ma’am,” Shaggy called out to one of the female security guards. “Sorry, park’s closed,” the security guard told them. “But we’re here to solve a mystery,” Hitch said. “I mean... they're not called Mystery Inc for nothing.”
But the security guard didn't seem too convinced about the matter. “Sure you're here to solve a mystery. You always wear makeup when solving crimes?”
Pipp gasped, appalled at that. “I should HOPE so!”
“She means your looks and the KISS makeup,” Velma clarified. “No, we're just excited about the concert tonight. But we're the mystery solvers you called for.”
“I am Delilah Domino, chief of security. Why would I call mystery solvers?” asked Delilah, raising an eyebrow at the group. “What? But Daphne took the call,” Fred asked as he looked to the redhead with a smile. “Right, Daph?”
“Well...”
“Daphne? Is there something wrong?” Zipp asked, getting out her detective tone of voice, leading Daphne to confess. “The thing is, no one actually called for our help.”
“WHAT?!” everypony cried, shocked at the act. “But when I heard KISS was throwing a special Halloween concert, I just had to come. I mean, look at that poster of Starchild,” Daphne pointed to such dreamily. “He stares at me wherever I go.”
“So does the Mona Lisa, but you don’t see us on a plane to Italy,” Shaggy said, leading Misty to become confused. “What's a Mona Lisa?”
Sunny looked over at Daphne with a disappointed look. “Daphne... nothing good ever comes out of lying, even if it's something to get your friends to go to a concert with you.”
“Why didn’t you tell us the truth? We all would have come,” Velma said. “Not me,” Fred said with a smirk. “Exactly,” Daphne pointed out. “But once we got here, I knew we'd all have a good time. The odds were pretty good there'd be a mystery for us to solve. I mean, we're the Scooby gang, and it's an amusement park-- heh, right?”
Suddenly, Delilah found an opportunity to speak. “Wrong, it’s a closed amusement park. And chances are, there won’t be a Halloween concert either. So go home.”
“Aww, please, Ms. Domino?” Misty asked. “We were all really excited to see our first concert. And, well... we may be useful in helping in this case.”
“My decision still stands,” Delilah frowned. “And I don't take orders from horses. So please-- leave before I have to force you off the premises.”
“But we’ve come so far!” Shaggy argued. “Couldn't we at least have some snacks for the road? Maybe some rocky road?”
“Out!”
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Reluctantly, the gang headed back to the Mystery Machine to change back to their regular looks and wipe off their KISS makeup, although they did need to come up with a plan. “All right, time to get serious,” Velma put her glasses back on. “It seems KISS needs our help.”
“Like, I’m not guitarist, but I can play a mean armpit,” Shaggy said before demonstrating such. Pipp shuddered at that, frowning. “I love you, Shaggy, but... absolutely not.”
“Pipp's right. Not to play music, Shaggy. To solve the mystery,” Daphne said in agreement. “Well,” Fred spoke, “looks like we’ll have to sneak in.”
“You’re okay with this?” Sunny asked. “Of course I am!” Fred told the apricot mare with a smile. “It’s a mystery, right? And solving mysteries is what we do. Now all we have to do is head inside.”
XXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, Delilah had found Mr. Goldman nearby after she got those kids out of her hair. “Caught some kids trying to stay in the park, Mr. Goldman, but I got rid of them,” she said, and this caused Mr. Goldman to groan in exasperation. “I can’t believe we’re chasing customers away.”
“I know, but we went over this. Until we solve this witch mystery, it's safer to keep everyone out,” Delilah told her employer. “Now, don't get crazy, Delilah. Just stay calm because I'm gonna be very honest with you,” said Mr. Goldman, “I called for some backup.”
“Backup?! You must be kidding!” Delilah blurt out in shock. “Mr. Goldman, I am the chief of security. I think I can take care of this… unusual situation.”
“Time is not on our side,” Mr. Goldman told her sternly. “The witch has scared away too many people. Tonight's Halloween concert is our only chance to bring them back.”
Delilah groaned and stomped away, but what she didn’t realize is that the gang was listening to them through the KISS cutout nearby. “Did you hear that?” Velma asked, leading Daphne to nod. “We got here just in time!”
“Come on!” Zipp quietly urged, and the gang ran the way Mr. Goldman went. But as the others went to check out the supervisor’s office, Shaggy and Scooby and the unicorns stopped before a water-shooting game nearby. “Hey, Scoob!” Shaggy said. “Bet I can beat you in a water-gun shootout!”
“Oh yeah? You’re on!” Scooby said, and the two darted away with Izzy and Misty on their heels.
XXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, the others had made it to the window of the supervisor’s office, and were now spying on Mr. Goldman through the window, as he was currently talking to another man. “Chip, you don't understand. If KISS doesn't perform tonight, I will lose the park!”
“That's not my concern, Manny. All I care about are the concert tours,” the other man, by the name of Chip, said selfishly. “Every one of these cities translates into dollar signs. You know what happens if I lose these cities?”
“You have more time to take your kids to KISS World,” Mr. Goldman said with a smile. “No, it means I lose money,” Chip frowned. “Every time KISS comes back into the park, it means they're not on the road performing and I'm not selling their merchandise. So forgive me, but as far as I'm concerned, this park can wind up in a toilet. Preferably this KISS toilet.”
He looked to the flushing toilet beside him, and after it got done flushing, the Demon's laughter was heard. “Because I don't know how I'm gonna unload this thing.”
XXXXXXXXX
At the same time, Shaggy and Scooby were still in the middle of their water-gun shootout, and Izzy and Misty happily watched from the side. “Looks like Spaceman is spaced out,” Shaggy said with a laugh. “Onto Starchild!”
“Ha ha! One Catman down, and one Demon to go!” Scooby nodded before they went back to their game. But after a minute, Scooby and Izzy's ears twitched when they heard someone coming toward them, and they turned to see someone that looked exactly like the Demon standing next to them, with his arms crossed.
Izzy blinked in confusion as she looked to the Demon target, then the person standing beside them. Was she growing crazy?
The Demon roared, sticking his tongue out at them, but Izzy thought this was another target, and encouraged Scooby to blast water right at his face.
Needless to say, the Demon was not pleased, and roared right at them, causing them to scream and bolt. “Girls, Shaggy, Scooby!” Fred cried as they ran past the others. “Wait!”
But it was too late-- the four runners had bolted right into Delilah Domino, who was not pleased to see them in the slightest. “You?! I thought I told you kids to stay out!”
Shaggy, Scooby and the unicorns were pulled off their feet as the supervisor came outside to see what the calamity was. “Hey, hey, hey. Whoa! Whoa! Calm down,” he said. “I'm Manny Goldman, the park supervisor. What's with all the ruckus?”
“Well, Mr. Goldman,” Sunny tried to explain, “the thing is, my friends were--”
“It's these nosy kids again,” Delilah tightened her grip on Scooby and Shaggy while Misty and Izzy tried to not look frightened. “Fortunately, I used to work for a government defense company... so I know how to take down intruders.”
Shaggy shuddered at the thought. “Like, she's not kidding!”
“Sorry, everyone,” Velma said. “We're just trying to help.”
“We overheard that the park is in trouble,” Daphne added. “And seeing how we're such big KISS fans, we'd like to do all that we can.”
“We've got it under control, missy,” Delilah sneered. “Thank you very much.”
“But it's way too much for one small team of security to take on alone,” Zipp said. “And besides, don't you want the fans to come back to the park?”
“Oh, they'll come back,” a voice said, and a smoke bomb exploded, resulting everyone to duck, and when it died down, the legendary band KISS was before them, striking poses with four different colored bat ponies. “...to see us!”
The ponies blinked in shock for a few minutes, trying to take all this in.
And they were sure this mystery would be an interesting one to say the least.
Sunny Starscout, her friends and Mystery Incorporated were now standing in front of the rock band KISS themselves... along with some unfamiliar friends of theirs.
The Starchild had long black hair, makeup with a black star on his face, red lipstick and wore black rock band clothes.
The Demon wore enormous metallic clothes and had a great amount of make upof white and black on his face with some grey lipstick, and dragon like boots.
The Spaceman had blue makeup on his face to go with his black hair, and wore black rock and roll clothing.
Finally, the Catman a reasonably short and muscular male, with dark brown hair and black eyes, makeup to look like a cat's face, and black rock and roll clothing.
As for the ponies they were with, they were a kind of pony Sunny had heard of, but never seen before: bat ponies, who had wings like pegasi, but they had bat wings instead of feathery wings like normal pegasi.
And by their similar looks, they looked like four sisters.
The first was a watermelon colored mare with darker colored hooves, an english red mane and tail, watermelon colored wings with english red membrane, Malibu blue eyes, a silver tiara with a ruby in it and a dark blue cape, and a cutie mark of a bass guitar.
The second mare was amnesia blue colored with blue opal in her wing membrane, mane and tail, golden eyes, a silver tiara with a sapphire in it, a green cape and a cutie mark of a tambourine.
The third was a shade of green Izzy would define as "Pestering Pesto", with a an emerald green mane, tail and membrane between her wings, brown colored eyes, a silver tiara with an emerald in it, a red cape and a cutie mark of a keyboard.
And the final mare was a light honey colored mare with violet colored eyes, an old gold mane, tail and membrane in her wings, a darker silver tiara with a topaz gem in it, a violet cape and a cutie mark of a glowing microphone.
As they stared at the group of eight in shock, Chip came in and swept up the confetti from their entrance. “Come on, guys, these special effects cost money. I told you, you can't use them every time you make an entrance.”
The Demon roared at Chip as he stomped off, and Daphne couldn't help herself, running and hugging Starchild around his neck like a crazed superfan. “Like, wow!” Shaggy exclaimed with a laugh. “It's KISS!”
“In person!” Misty added. “And in the flesh!” Daphne sighed happily. “In the flesh is the same as in person,” Fred told her. “Basically, you have just said the sake thing twice.”
“How can we help, little lady?” Starchild asked Daphne, and that's when Velma decided to step forward. “Actually we're here to help you. We're mystery solvers.”
“That's funny,” said Spaceman. “So are we.”
“Wait-- you're the one they called for help?” Hitch asked in surprise. “Yeah-heh!” Demon said with a smirk. “They wanted the best, they got the best.”
“But, like, you're a rock band,” Shaggy pointed out. “Every band needs a hobby,” Catman countered, and Fred frowned, immediately disliking their cocky tones. “The Ascot Five would welcome our help.”
“Well, I guess we're no Ascot Five,” said Demon, getting closer, “so scram!”
Then, he and Catman and Spaceman, along with a few of the mares, laughed at their own pleasure, and Sunny decided to step in. “Guys, we're all mystery solvers here. Maybe we can work together to figure out what's going on.”
“I don't think that's happening, Sunny,” Fred told her while still looking at KISS. “Amusement park mysteries happen to be our specialty. We solved the 'Foul Play in Funland' case, stopped the Roller Ghoster in his tracks, and captured the monster of Our Lady of Mercy's parking lot! I guess that was more of a street fair.”
“Oh, that's cute,” said the pink mare with a smirk as Starchild and the yellow mare walked around them, “but we solve mysteries on a cosmic level.”
Zipp narrowed her eyes, not liking the challenging look she was getting. “What does that mean?”
“It means... we don't need your help!” Demon declared. But as soon as Starchild and the yellow mare were done circling the gang and ponies, they pulled their bandmates/sisters in for a group huddle. “Now hold on, guys,” Starchild said. “Let's not be hasty.”
Needless to say, the others weren't pleased.
“What?!”
“Really?”
“Not again...”
“Starchild’s right,” the yellow mare spoke up. “This could be the one chance we have of starting things over with the Equestrians, just like the prophecies foretold!”
“Topaz, that was just some story our parents told us when we were fillies,” the blue mare rolled her eyes. “We told you, it isn't real.”
“Your sister has a way of sensing these things, Sapphire-- and so do I,” Starchild sided with Topaz. “You know how the eye sees everything. Well, I just caught a glimpse of the future.”
“Yeah,” Demon said sarcastically, pointing back at Daphne. “And I bet that future is a red head.”
Starchild chuckled at that. “You bet-- I mean, in a way. Don't ask me how or why... but I think we're going to need the Equestrians and these kids to catch that witch.”
“You're kidding,” the pink mare scoffed. “Aside from those ponies, they're just humans!”
Catman even looked over at Scooby to prove his point. “Not even all of them.”
“I know,” Starchild said, “but the eye never lies.”
The other band members looked skeptic for a moment, but the mares seemed to trust their sister's advice. Eventually, Spaceman smiled, deciding to give them a chance. “I guess they're okay.”
“If you guys think so, Starchild,” the green mare said unsurely, and Demon only shook his head. “I do not like this.”
That's when Starchild turned back to the gang and their Equestrian friends with a smile. “On second thought, we've decided you can help.”
“That's great!” Daphne beamed. “I guess the first question is, who is this witch everyone's talking about?”
“Come on. Let's take em to the security office,” Sapphire told the others. “Maybe they can get something out of that footage that we can't.”
They moved on after that, and Sunny and Misty and Pipp approached the four sisters. “Um, not to be rude or anything,” Sunny said to the bat ponies, “but I never knew KISS had companions who were bat ponies.”
“You... know about our species? But we left Equestria moons and moons ago!” Topaz said in bewilderment. “My dad kept several journals about how ancient Equestria used to be, and it mentioned bat ponies were sometimes used as royal guards to the Princess of the Night,” Sunny said. “My name is Sunny, and those are all my friends. Who are all of you?”
Topaz smiled-- she knew that they could trust Equestrians again... she just knew it. “I'm Topaz Sunset. And these are my sister's, Sapphire Rainfall...”
The blue mare waved. “Hey.”
“...Emerald Forestpath...”
The green mare bowed her head politely. “Hello there.”
“...and Rose Quartz.”
Rose didn't say anything, but smiled dimly. “So... you all play music too?” Pipp asked enthusiastically. “I happen to be a musician myself. Pipp Petals, pleased to meet you.”
“Wow... you're really pretty!” Emerald smiled at Pipp. “We've all been performing together since we were fillies, but we never met an Equestrian performer before. We'd love to hear some of your work.”
“Sure thing!”
“Now, if we're done with the introductions,” Fred got in between them, clearing his throat, frowning, “maybe we should get the investigation underway?”
“Oh, sure, Freddy,” Sunny smiled. “Come on, guys-- let's get to that office and figure out what this witch thing is all about.”
KISS, the bat ponies and Delilah Domino led Mystery Incorporated and their pony friends to the security office to check out the footage of the witch, but what the ponies saw was utterly terrifying.
The witch wore metallic red and silver rock and roll clothes, with a matching helmet and glowing white eyes, flying around with red mist following her every move. She started scaring all the people around her out of the building before she moved over to the camera. “Give me rock!!”
This was enough to make Shaggy, Scooby and Misty scream and bolt into one of the nearby storage lockers. “This seems a little on the nose,” Emerald voiced her opinion, “but obviously you've done this before.”
“Yep,” Pipp nodded. “And we love iiiiit...”
Delilah Domino moved over to the storage lockers, opening the one that contained Misty and her friends inside. “Get out of my locker!”
“B-But... but, it's...” Shaggy stammered, “it's so cozy.”
But Delilah forced them out of the locker anyway and onto the floor, prompting Topaz to come help them to their feet. “Don't mind Delilah,” she said in a whisper. “She does have a little TOO much good experience with her job.”
Misty giggled inwardly as the gang continued to watch the witch. “Give me rock!!”
Hitch screamed as the witch slammed a guitar to the ground. “It's like she's searching for something,” Zipp said in thought. “And I'm going to guess,” said Daphne, “that something is a rock.”
The witch then threw a record at the camera, cutting off the feed from the camera. “Do you think you could show us around the park?” Velma asked. “I'd like to see the places where the witch has been.”
“No problem,” Topaz reassured before turning to her bandmates. “Right, fellas?”
“Count me out,” the Demon said before walking out of the room. “The Demon needs to feed the beast.”
As the Demon left the room, Misty found herself growing nervous. “Did he say, uh... beast?!”
“He means his stomach,” Starchild clarified. “Oh,” Shaggy chuckled and held his growling stomach. “Then my beast is growling too. How about yours, bud?”
As Scooby looked down at his growling stomach, he imagined a lion roaring on the inside of it, causing him to chuckle. “My beast is starving.”
“I'll go with you, guys,” Misty volunteered. “Ooh, me too!” Pipp agreed. “I wanna see if I can picture some glow ups for a KISS inspired fashion line!”
“Like, catch you later,” Shaggy bid the others farewell as they turned to leave. “It's beast feeding time!”
Daphne wrapped her arm around Starchild’s, beaming innocently. “I'm ready for that tour now...” she giggled. “If by tour,” Fred said frowning, “you mean 'begin the investigation'.”
“Let's hit it, fellow mystery solvers!” Starchild said and led the others out. “I guess I'll see you out there,” Catman said, disappearing with a smoke bomb, causing Chip to come and sweep up the mess with a groan. “Guys, these special effects cost money!”
XXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, Pipp and Misty were walking with Shaggy and Scooby to find the perfect booth to eat at first. “Just think, Scooby-Doo, a million fast-food stands just for us!” Shaggy declared as Scooby licked his chops. “It's like carbohydrate heaven.”
“Uh oh!” Misty cried, looking ahead with a panicked look. “The Demon!”
True enough, the Demon was right down the stretch, and they hid to avoid being seen, just as the Demon blew fire onto a corn dog. “Mmm... nice and toasty.”
“Oh, wow... I wonder how he does that,” Misty wondered, and Pipp shrugged. “Man,” said Shaggy. “If we could breathe fire, we could pop our own popcorn!”
“Yeah!” Scooby said, imitating the sound of popcorn popping, causing Shaggy to laugh. But Pipp knew there had to be a way to get their friends to some food, so they had to be stealthy. “Come on... we gotta get past him!”
“Wait for me!” Misty whispered, and Pipp and Scooby led the way under the table as quiet as a mouse.
Well... ALMOST as silent.
The Demon noticed the tables moving, and Scooby's tail sticking out as they crawled in his direction, along with some of the ponies' voices loudly whispering.
“Ow, Pipp! Watch it!”
“Hey, I'm going as fast as I can!”
“Careful! You nearly stepped on Scooby's tail!”
The Demon growled at this. What could they be doing?
Scooby sniffed ahead while the others trailed from behind, but Misty seemed a little unsure about Scooby's sense of direction. “Scooby, are you sure you know where you're going?”
“Yeah. Cheeseburgers, straight ahead!”
But unknowingly, the lovable Great Dane bumped right into the Demon's dragon boot, causing him to scream and knock the table over, spilling food and drink all over the Demon himself.
Once the group figured out what happened, they scrambled to try and get Demon cleaned up, panicked. “Like, sorry, Mr. Demon. Scooby didn't mean it. He was afraid of your dragon boot,” Shaggy spoke as he picked up the food they had spilled. “I don't suppose you could wear an open-toed demon sandal?”
But the Demon's only response? Roaring in anger right in their faces.
This was enough to send them group running in terror, and they ended up stopping beside a brick building to catch their breath. “That was close,” Scooby panted. “Could have been worse-- we could have been on the menu!” Shaggy laughed in amusement. “Come on, everyone. If we can't eat, at least we can go on some rides, ha-ha-ha, right?”
“Right!” the ponies and Scooby nodded enthusiastically, but Misty stopped when she could have sworn she saw someone watching them. But when she turned and saw no one, she quickly galloped to catch up to her friends... unaware a young woman had been watching them with a menacing glare.
XXXXXXXXX
“I have to say,” Sunny said as KISS and the bat pony sisters showed them around, “this is some amusement park. We could really use this as inspiration for an Equestrian theme park back home.”
“Thanks,” Starchild smiled. “We each took a section and designed it ourselves.”
Demon pointed to a ride that looked like him spitting out fire. “There's my Brimstone Barbeque, the hottest ride in the park.”
XXXXXXXXX
Pipp, Misty, Shaggy and Scooby were on that very ride, and when they finally stopped after going through the Demon head of fire, they were completely charred. “Like, that was well done,” Shaggy said as he brushed his hair off. “Yeah,” Scooby agreed. “And so are we.”
Pipp whimpered as she looked at her burnt mane. “Hopefully this won't cause too many split ends... but if they do, Rocky can probably fix it... I hope.”
XXXXXXXXX
Back on the tour, Spaceman was showing the group a ride that he personally designed. “My Electric Alley!”
XXXXXXXXX
The ride in question used electricity to make the riders completely electrified... literally. Along the ride, Shaggy and Scooby stammered, charged up as they spoke.
“T-This ride gets... my volt!”
“It's s-s-shocking!!”
XXXXXXXXX
After that, the tour group passed through Catman's section of the park. “Don't forget my Whirling Wildcats!”
XXXXXXXXX
The ride in question tossed Misty, Pipp and their friends to and fro repeatedly, and Misty was the only one able to shriek without puking. “I'm... gonna... be... SICK!!!!!”
XXXXXXXXX
Finally, they reached the section of the park Statchild designed. “And my Dynasty Star Ferris Wheel! Whoo!”
XXXXXXXXX
The view from the top of the Ferris wheel was a stunning sight... so much so that Chip and a camera crew suddenly appeared in the same booth as the two ponies and their friends. “A great place to view with KISS binoculars, only $24.99.”
Pipp waved at the camera while the rest of the group looked completely confused. “Hi, Mom!”
XXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, the tour group reached a ride that looked just like a mountain, and Velma pointed up at it. “What's that ride?”
“That's our most wicked ride of all,” the Demon explained. “The Destroyer!”
“But it's closed to the public,” Catman frowned, and Sapphire nodded beside him. “The Crimson Witch scared a couple of repairmen on it tonight.”
Daphne shuddered at all the loops and sharp turns the ride would have to take. “Looks pretty terrifying,” she said. “Not if you were with me, darling,” Starchild winked at Daphne, causing Izzy to giggle as Fred rolled his eyes. “Oh, brother...”
“Oh, Fred...” Sunny smirked. “I'm sorry, Sunny,” Fred apologized, “but I can't compete with Starchild!”
“You don't need to,” Sunny told him. “Nopony back home is different than anypony else, and no pony is better-- we're all the same at heart, even with wings and horns and different colors, names and powers.”
“Sunny's right,” Velma nodded. “Remember, underneath all that makeup is just a regular guy who puts his pants on like everyone else.”
“KISS costume change, activate!” Starchild shouted, and during a spectacular amount of special effects, KISS and the sisters' costumes were altered for the later show coming up. Fred was shocked beyond measure while the mares, Daphne and Hitch were in awe. “Oh, come on!”
“Relax, Fred,” Velma said. “I think this was all pre-planned.”
“You're right,” said a spectacled woman with brown hair as she came closer. “ It was a dress rehearsal for tonight's show. Good test run, fellas!”
“This isn't getting us anywhere,” Demon murmured. “We need to be doing our own investigation.”
“All right, Demon. We hear you,” Topaz frowned. “Hey, guys,” Starchild spoke. “We're gonna take a break.”
With that, the sisters and KISS walked off while the woman with them came down to the rest of the group. “Hi, I'm Shandi Strutter. KISS's head techie.”
“Hi. I'm Velma,” Velma introduced, “and that's Fred and Daphne and some of our Equestrian friends-- Zipp, Sunny, Hitch and Izzy.”
“Nice to meet you!” Shandi saluted. “So you're responsible for most of the band's stage effects, huh?” Zipp asked in interest, and Shandi shrugged. “Most of them, yeah. The guys and the princesses really like to put on a show.”
Zipp and Sunny stared at each other wide eyed for a moment, not aware that Daphne was giggling behind them. “You don't have to tell ME! Ha ha!”
“Daphne’s a fan,” Fred crossed his arms, and this caused Daphne to glare over at him. “Um, KISS doesn't have fans, Freddy. They're called the KISS Army.”
“I prefer the Ascot Five myself,” Fred spoke. “Do they have an army?” Shandi asked, and Fred merely shrugged. “It's more of an all-volunteer international organization of enthusiastic youths.”
“Cool.”
“As in lame.”
Daphne and Shandi glanced at each other just before Sunny spoke up. “Um, Shandi? What did you mean about princesses? You wouldn't be referring to the bat pony mares, right?”
“Sure,” Shandi nodded. “They call themselves the Gemstone Princesses from another, faraway land. A really cute gimmick if you ask me.”
Zipp immediately pulled Sunny off to the side. “Sunny, those mares have gemstone related names, and they wore those tiaras with gemstone inside them! Do you realize what that means?!”
“I don't wanna believe it in case it isn't true, but if Shandi confirms it,” said Sunny, “and she's so calm about it, then she's right... the sisters could be the Gemstone Princesses!”
As the others were solving their own clues down by the stage, Shaggy and Scooby licked on some delicious ice cream from the stand Scooby found earlier, and Pipp and Misty were happily to walk alongside. “Good deal finding that ice cream stand, Scoob,” Shaggy said to his best friend. “We'll have this case licked in no time. Ha-ha-ha!”
“Yeah... licked!” Scooby devoured the rest of his ice cream, and Misty bumped him the cone, to which he swallowed whole. “Ah...”
“So... what do you guys think of those bat pony sisters?” Misty asked after a minute of silence. “I think they're super sweet!” Pipp interjected her thoughts on the matter. “Maybe a little suspicious, kinda like my sister, but overall? I love their musical style.”
“Still... it feels like they have some sort of secret they're keeping from us,” Misty said. “Like how I was working for Opaline. But you know... they play it a lot cooler than I did.”
“Like, Misty, you gotta chill out,” Shaggy said before he frowned at the concerned look Misty was giving. “Hey... are you good? You act like some sort of natural disaster struck.”
Misty and Pipp shared a worried glance at each other before they nodded. Shaggy and Scooby supported them from the very beginning. They needed to know about the threat Opaline could bring now that she had her full strength.
Misty sighed deeply. “The truth is, guys... remember how I said that Opaline's true power comes from a dragon's fire?”
“How could we forget?” Shaggy said with a nervous chuckle. “Yeah,” Scooby nodded with a shudder in between. “You guys are lucky to get out of each interaction alive.”
“Yeah, well... here's the thing,” Pipp said with a bit of hesitance. “On our last Unity Quest, she was able to capture Sparky, and... she... stole a majority of his dragon fire.”
Shaggy and Scooby stopped in their tracks with a deep gasp. “We got him back with the help of some new friends, thank goodness,” Misty said to reassure them, “but... Sparky is still kinda weak from most of his fire being gone.”
“Ohh... poor Sparky...” Scooby whimpered, ears pinned. “So, here's what we wanted to tell you-- keep your eyes and ears open,” Misty spoke with a serious look. “Opaline could come after you guys, and we don't want you to get hurt.”
To this, Shaggy and Scooby nodded firmly, making Misty and Pipp somewhat relieved.
At least that was out of the way. Now they just needed to figure out where to continue their search for clues.
That's when Shaggy spotted a building not too far off. “Dude, maybe we should investigate the Rockin' Flume.”
“Ooh, good idea!” Pipp said. “I'm up for a good slow, water ride to get my mind off things.”
They made their way toward the ride, where Shaggy read a sign with the Demon sticking a measurable tongue out of his mouth. “Your tongue must be this long to ride this ride.”
“Ehhh...” Misty groaned as she stuck out her tongue to see if it was long enough... just as Scooby swiped Shaggy's ice cream. Scooby giggled and smirked as Shaggy downed his ice cream cone, smiling nonetheless. “Looks like your tongue's long enough to get us ALL on this ride! Heh-heh!”
After they moved past the line queue and into the main part of the ride, Shaggy let out a relaxed sigh. “It's like the perfect park day. No lines, no operators.”
But as they moved further in, they noticed red mist coming from a closet, and stuff repeatedly getting thrown from it, sparking their confusion and curiosity. “Huh?”
No one knew what was waiting for them beyond that closet door, so they crept closer and sniffed the air, instantly reeling back in disgust and covering their noses. “P-U!” Shaggy fanned some of the mist away. “Like, what died in here?”
But Shaggy got an answer he didn't want to begin with-- the witch emerged from the closet, causing them to scream in surprise. “Give me rock!” the witch shrieked, causing them to scream again and backed up in surprise...
...unaware that Shaggy turned on the control panel, as one of KISS' songs, Shout It Out Loud, began to play as the ride swept them into a sort of cavern, full of rock and roll instruments.
Well the night's begun and you want some fun Do you think you're gonna find it (Find it) You got to treat yourself like number one Do you need to be reminded (Need to be reminded)
Shaggy, Scooby and their pony pals stared in awe at the magnificent display... but it didn't last long when the witch showed up.
It doesn't matter what you do or say Just forget the things that you've been told We can't do it any other way Everybody's got to rock n roll...
Yaaa-aaay
When the witch sent bats to try and get them to go to her, Shaggy and Scooby found guitars to whack them away, just before the ride continued down a steep watery hill.
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
After they made it down the hill, they witnessed confetti coming down from a giant Catman display, and went through a flaming Demon's mouth.
If you don't feel good every way you could Don't sit there broken hearted (Sit there broken hearted) Call all your friends in the neighborhood And get the party started (Get the party started)
The group narrowly escaped the witch before they started slowly going up another hill, which led to the biggest drop of the ride.
Don't let them tell you that there's too much noise They're too old to really understand You'll still get rowdy with the girls and boys 'Cause it's time for you to take a stand
Yaa-aa-aay...
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
After the drop completely soaked them, they paddled the rest of the way to escape the witch, but she kept following them, even to the giant swing ride, where Misty, Shaggy and Scooby hung on for dear life and Pipp just flew beside them.
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud You got to have a party Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud Turn it up louder
But to their dismay, the witch could fly too, and she used a magic axe to chop the swing they were on, sending them into a pile of stuffed KISS bunnies.
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud And everybody shout it now Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
The Crimson Witch made all the rabbits come to life and attack, but they were able to kick the bunnies off of them and used them as ziplines to get to the nearby drum ride.
I hear you gettin' louder Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud Everybody shout it now Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
The Crimson Witch quickly used her magic to start the ride, but sped it up to disorient the group so she could attack them easier.
Pipp loved thrill rides, but it was ridiculous to be going that speed.
But just as all seemed lost, Shaggy spotted eight figures on a building nearby. “Girls, Scoob, look! It's the sisters and KISS!”
Suddenly, to their surprise and shock, KISS actually FLEW DOWN with the sisters and demonstrated some unique and crazy superpowers.
Demon began to spit huge fire blasts
Catman had real cat like behavior
Starchild could fire magic blasts through the star marking on his eye
Spaceman could shoot and control electricity
And the sisters harnessed the magic in their tiaras, and that magic reflected right on their hooves, all in different colors, like the gemstones they represented
“Whoa!” Scooby exclaimed with wide eyes. “KISS is super buff!”
“And they HAVE to show me how they harness magic like that!” Pipp exclaimed, referring to the sisters. “Sunny has to see this!”
As she whipped out her phone and began recording, Spaceman used his electricity powers to stop the ride, and Catman leapt right at the Crimson Witch, but that didn't seem to do any good.
Now it was the sisters' turn to step up. “Girls!” Rose shouted. “Crystal rainbow blast!”
They put their hooves together as their cutie marks began to glow, and after their powers charged enough, they blasted it at the witch, and that dissolved her axe and caused her to start to flee. But luckily, Starchild was there to strike her down to the ground.
The witch shrieked upon impact, and landed on the ground with a livid look. “You'll NEVER stop me!”
And just like that, she disappeared in red mist, and KISS and the sisters flew off just before the others screeched to a halt before the drum ride. “We heard the commotion,” Fred spoke, all out of breathe. “Are you guys okay?”
“Whoo, I think me and Pipp are okay,” Misty said, easily shaking off the dizziness. “But, Shaggy and Scooby? Ehhhhhh... I'm just not sure.”
“Hey, man...” Shaggy chuckled as he and Scooby stumbled out of the drum ride in a daze. “Did anyone catch the license plate number on that witch...?”
And just like that, Shaggy and Scooby passed out in Fred's arms, causing mass worry. “Oh boy!” Sunny said, picking the unconscious Scooby up while Zipp got Shaggy in her hooves. “Ponies, we need to get them medical attention-- NOW!!”
“And then after that,” Misty whispered to herself, “I need to figure out what the heck just happened here.”
Sunny and her friends immediately led their friends to the medical wing to treat Shaggy and Scooby, who were still unconscious from their earlier encounter with the Crimson Witch.
After about 45 minutes of waiting for them to wake up, the bat pony sisters and KISS arrived to check on them, but it seemed like no progress had been made. “Poor Scooby and Shaggy...” Daphne said with worry laced in her voice. “They're still out!”
“You don't think they're... too far gone... do you?” Misty asked with a slight trembled, but Hitch was quick to reassure her. “No-- Shag and Scooby are strong,” he said. “Thise knuckleheads have survived more monsters than I can count-- they can make it through this too.”
Just then, Chip appeared right at their side. “Pardon me. Chip McGhoo, KISS road manager, executive officer of merchandise,” he introduced himself before bringing out a small bottle. “These KISS smelling salts work twice as fast and they're only $15.95.”
Daphne groaned and reluctantly handed him a twenty dollar bill before taking the smelling salts and placing them up near Scooby's nose. But however, there seemed to be no kind of response. “Oh... they're still not coming around!”
“Sorry,” Chip quickly closed his wallet. “No refunds.”
“Listen here, pal-- our friends are deep unconscious right now,” said Zipp in a threatening tone of voice, “so maybe you can stary bucking up and offer us another answer. Anypony got one?”
“I think I might have the solution,” Fred spoke up before handing Sunny a churro from a KISS World concession bag. “Try this churro I grabbed from the concession stand.”
Sunny held the churro in between the two, hoping it would give some sort of reaction out of them. And to their relief and surprise, they began to sniff and smell the churro between them.
Still with their eyes closed, they began to gobble down the ends of the churro... that is, until their lips met in the middle. However, this was enough to get them to open their eyes and greet each other.
“Hey, man!”
“Hi, Shaggy!”
“Oh, thank glitter you're awake!” Pipp said, hugging Scooby around the neck. “Are you boys okay? How are you feeling?”
“I feel like a couple more churros,” Shaggy truthfully admitted as he sat up. “How about you, Scooby-Doo?”
“Yeah,” Scooby nodded as he too sat up. “And donuts too.”
“How about some KISS Cakes?” Chip held up a box of pastries. “Now with Spaceman sprinkles.”
But one look from Zipp and Hitch caused him to sheepishly put them away. “Well, we're glad you all are all right,” Topaz said truthfully. “When we found out you were in the medical wing, we raced over as fast as we could.”
“We're glad all of you care enough to come. But... I gotta know something,” Zipp turned to Shaggy, Scooby, Misty and her sister. “What the hay happened?”
“Well, first we got some ice cream,” Shaggy recalled, ”which Scooby-Doo licked away from me...”
“Mmm...” Scooby licked his chops. “Yummy, yummy, yummy!”
“Then, there was this smell, and the stinky witch!” Misty took over the explanation. “She chased us all throughout the Rockin' Flume, and then there was all this running and music, and spinning! And then, uh... and then, uh...”
As Misty struggled to remember what happened next, Shaggy stepped in and pointed at KISS. “Like, they saved us. KISS and their super powers!”
“That's right,” Scooby nodded enthusiastically. “KISS has super powers!”
“Oooh, yes! Yes!” Pipp said, remembering things more clearly now. “And Rose, Emerald, Topaz and Sapphire used those beautiful tiaras to zap the witch with a full on unicorn magic blast!”
The sisters and KISS looked a little uneasy during this, not sure whether to let them know about this secret. “Whoa... I've heard from Dad's old journals of ponies using magical artifacts before, but... humans using super powers?” Sunny looked puzzled, in awe and bewildered all at once. “I thought that only existed in comic books.”
“If you ask me,” Velma whispered, “it sounds like they spun around one too many times in those drums.”
“No no no!” Misty violently shook her head, and then pointed to Starchild. “He shot eye beams...”
Then she pointed to Catman. “...he grew claws...”
Next she pointed to Spaceman. “...he did lightning bolts...”
And then finally, she pointed at the cross looking Demon. “...and he flew in and blew the biggest fire ever!”
“Thank you, Mr. Demon!” Scooby said, wrapping his paws around the rock star. “Beat it, mutt,” Demon snapped, “before you dent my armor.”
“Uh, yes sir. Of course, sir.”
“Pipp... are you sure you saw KISS and the sisters with superpowers?” Zipp asked her sister in a stern tone. “It's not that I don't wanna believe you, but I wanna make sure all the facts are straight before I go making assumptions.”
“Zipp, I swear to Celestia, I am NOT making this up!” Pipp said firmly, taking out her phone. “What these eyes saw is pure, genuine footage. From the eyes and from my phone!”
That got Zipp's attention immediately. “Okay, that changes things... I'll have to look at that later.”
“Shaggy, no offense to the ponies, but you're imagining things!” Velma said. “Well, they didn't imagine the witch, that's for sure,” Sunny pointed out. “She's still out there and she could be dangerous!”
Daphne knew Sunny was right, but wasn't sure on how to proceed. “What should we do now?”
“You must leave!”
Out from the doors emerged a stern looking woman with auburn hair blowing in the wind and a green cloak on, startling the groups into looking at her. “Trust me, KISS, these children are nothing but trouble,” she said. “You think they're allies, but in the end, the only person they'll help is the Crimson Witch... in her plans to bring total devastation to this world! They must go now or all is lost!”
The ponies gasped out of fear before a slight rattling sound was heard. When Sunny went to the lockers to investigate, she found Shaggy and Scooby shivering together in total panic. “Guys, you have to stop doing this,” she said before the woman turned to leave. “If you wanna speak further, you know where to find me.”
And as she left the room, the door slammed shut behind her. Misty shuddered at haunting feeling she gave off. “That's a message Opaline would give and I know it...”
“Who was that?!” Daphne asked. “Chikara,” Topaz answered. “The psychic.”
“She works at the park,” Catman added. “She tells people's fortunes,” Rose nodded. “Well,” said Velma, “she smells like a mixture of patchouli and hobo.”
“She's actually very wise,” Starchild spoke. “Maybe some of us should talk to her.”
“Spaceman and I will go,” Rose said. “Me and Zipperooni will go with you!” Izzy volunteered. “I've always wanted to see a real live psychiatrist!”
“Psychic.”
“Isn't that what I said?”
“Mind if I tag along?” Velma asked. “I find it odd that she thinks she knows so much about the witch.”
And so, the five of them set off, and once they had left, Daphne came up with another suggestion. “Some of us should go back to the drum ride and try to pick up the witch's trail.”
“I'll go with you,” Starchild volunteered, “if you want.”
“I want...”
So, she and Starchild began to walk off, but Fred immediately followed them. “I'll go too.”
“Pipp, Hitch and Sunny? It might work better if you came too,” Topaz said, and the four ponies galloped to catch up. “Demon, Catman,” said Starchild. “Keep an eye on Misty, Scooby and Shaggy.”
But as they walked out, Demon crossed his arms in protest. “I got better things to do than babysit horses, dogs and hippies.”
Emerald chuckled as she got beside Demon, turning to her remaining sister. “You guys have fun.”
And just like that, Demon used a smoke bomb to make him and Emerald disappear, and Chip rushed in to sweep up the mess. “These confetti bombs just aren't getting any cheaper.”
XXXXXXXXX
At the drum ride, Pipp was talking with Topaz while Sunny and Hitch helped Fred search for clues around the ride's barriers. “So... what can you tell me about your sisters and any other family you have?” Pipp asked. “This could be great for a Pipp Petals exclusive interview.”
“My sisters are really great. Each one shines with her own light,” Topaz said with a soft smile. “But... the rest of my family is... different.”
“Oh...” Pipp frowned. “I hope I didn't barge in on something touchy.”
“No, of course you didn't,” Topaz was quick to say. “It's just... my mother died about 5 moons ago. That was when me and my sisters left home to start a music career with KISS.”
“Oh... Topaz, I'm so sorry about your mom,” Pipp said consolingly. “My father actually passed away when I was a little filly. Sunny's too, from how she talks about him.”
“I'm sorry that both of you had to go through that,” Topaz frowned. “My father is still alive, but... he is... he loves me and my sisters dearly, but he is a tad... overprotective. He supports our music career, but doesn't like the fact we have to interact with mortals.”
“Have you ever tried telling him that they're not as bad as they seem?”
“I tried, repeatedly. But he just doesn't want to listen to reason.”
Pipp comfortingly put a hoof on Topaz's shoulder with a smile. “I'm sure we'll figure out a way for you to tell him. Together.”
Topaz smiled at this. “Thank you, Pipp.”
“Hey, Hitch,” Fred's voice came up. “Hand me that scrapper. And Sunny? Hold the bag right about here.”
Fred had found some mist residue on the walls, and together with Sunny and Hitch, they worked to get some of the residue in the bag. “There. I got some residue from the witch's mist.”
“Oh, heh heh... that's nice, Fred,” Daphne said, too infatuated with Starchild to pay much attention before handing Fred her phone. “Say, could you take a picture of me and Starchild looking for clues?”
Fred blinked before walking forward and grasping the phone. “Is this really necessary?”
“He's a rock star, Fred...” Daphne said through clenched teeth. “A rock star. Just do it!”
“All right...” Fred groaned and took some pictures at Daphne’s request (and the ponies even got in the last picture). And when the photo shoot was done, Daphne smiled at the rock star. “Thank you SO much.”
“My pleasure.”
“Let me see, let me see, let me see!” Daphne ran over to check the photos, but immediately groaned upon seeing one. “Ugh! Fred! Your thumb was in the way!” she commented, scrolling through the pictures. “On ALL of them!”
“Oh, gosh...” Fred faked an apologetic tone. “I'm sorry...”
“Freddy! Are you implying you did that on purpose?” Sunny scolded. “No way, Sunny! I just don't see what the big deal is,” Fred shrugged as Daphne growled. “We've solved over a thousand mysteries together, and Daph's never once asked to have a picture taken with me.”
“But that's no reason to purposefully sabotage Daphne's photos!”
“Yeah, Fred!” Daphne huffed. “No worries,” Starchild assured from behind an easel, and Topaz held some painting equipment in her hooves. “I got one of the both of you. In vibrant, colorful acrylic!”
Daphne gasped to Starchild as they approached. “You just painted our portrait?”
“Sure.”
“Just now?”
“It's no big deal,” Topaz reassured. “Just something he does in his spare time.”
When Daphne and the ponies glanced at the canvas, they tried their best not to giggle at the giant thumb in Fred's face. “Oops...” Starchild said. “Well, look, my thumb got in the way.”
“But... you painted it,” Fred pointed out. “Luckily,” Starchild lifted up another portrait of Daphne, “I did a couple more for safety.”
Daphne gasped in awe at the portrait. “It's beautiful...”
Starchild then lifted up the one he did of Fred, making him look like a monkey with some giant ears. “I think I liked your thumb better...” Fred grumbled. “Ooookay, enough of that,” Sunny scolded, putting a hoof to Fred's chest. “Maybe we should take some more pictures of the scene itself.”
“No need,” Starchild spoke. “One scan with my special eye will tell us all we'll need to know. It puts the X in x-ray.”
“Oh!” Sunny giggled and followed him with Pipp, Daphne and Topaz, while Starchild tossed his beret right in Fred's face. “My nephew had a special eye...” he grumbled. “A pink one we called conjunctivitis.”
Starchild paid no attention to the remark and focused more on the scene around them. “There's definitely a supernatural presence at work here.”
As she trotted over the floorboards of the ride, Pipp then heard something thag sounded off to her and Daphne both. “Hey, guys, wait!” Daphne said. “Listen. Do that again, Pipp!”
Pipp tapped her left hoof, and then her right hoof, resulting in a sound difference between the two. “Not bad,” Starchild said, “but I am not into tap dancing. I am purely into rock 'n' roll! Whoa, yeah!”
“Okay...” Daphne trailed off. “Well, one side sounds solid. And the other hollow.”
That's when Fred realized what the two of them were trying to say. “As if it's some sort of trapdoor.”
“Exactly!”
Daphne opened a trapdoor on the right side, and Starchild stared down them, pondering for a moment. “It looks like one of the doors to the catacombs.”
“The what-a-combs?”
“The catacombs are what we call the maze of hallways that run under the park,” Topaz explained. “Lots of musicians use them, right, Pipp?”
“Oh yeah! Zipp used to explore the ones we have back in Zephyr Heights all the time,” Pipp nodded. “They give anyone access to any area, including the main stage.”
That's when a bell in Sunny's head began to ring. “I bet that's how the witch disappeared! Good thinking, Topaz!”
“Sounds dangerous,” Starchild pushed Fred backwards. “Stay back, Frank!”
“It's Fred.”
“I'll go first to make sure it's safe.”
Starchild leapt down into the deep darkness of the catacombs, leaving Daphne to whimper with worry. “I hope he's all right...”
“Oh for Pete's sake...” Fred muttered before moving toward the entrance. “What are you doing?” Hitch asked as Fred began to climb down the ladder. “It's not like this is the first time I've ever climbed into a-- YAH!!!”
Everyone groaned at the sound of the impact, and they glanced down to see Fred at the bottom of the ladder. “I'd watch that last step. It's a doozy.”
“We better go down there with him, everyone,” Topaz rolled her eyes. “Better make sure he doesn't get in any sort of trouble.”
Spaceman and Rose were leading Velma, Izzy and Zipp to the grounds where Chikara did most of her work, and Zipp and Izzy were interested in learning more and more about Rose and her family.
Rose was the oldest, and Topaz was actually the second oldest. But Rose wasn't much of a pony to take charge, and left that duty up to her younger sister, who was doing amazing at the job.
And she couldn't imagine their family any other way.
But... Zipp did feel like there was something else that Rose nor her sisters were telling them, but decided to wait till they had all the facts.
Soon, they arrived, and Spacsman pushed past the wind chimes Chikara had hung up to approach her. “Chikara, we need to talk.”
“Ah... Princess Rose, Spaceman,” Chikara smiled from atop her chair. “I sensed your approach.”
“You mean, you heard the wind chimes,” Velma answered, and Chikara scoffed at the fact that she and two Equestrians were here too. “Why do you bring these ones with you?”
“Topaz and Starchild seem to think they're okay. The Equestrians seem to wanna make amends after what happened so long ago,” Rose explained before chuckling. “Plus, they've got a talking dog, which is kind of wild. So--”
“Starchild cannot see as deep as I can,” Chikara interrupted. “He has but one special eye, whereas I have two.”
Velma adjusted her glasses with a smirk. “Some people think I have four.”
But, Izzy merely blinked in confusion. “I don't get it-- everyone has only two eyes.”
Zipp chuckled before whispering back to her unicorn companion, “Just a figure of speech, Iz.”
“I know you think this is a joke, Miss Smarty-Pants...” Chikara pointed at Velma accusingly, “but your ignorance will cost us all.”
“Okay then... I'm game,” Velma challenged. “Tell us what we need to know.”
“How serious is the threat?” Spaceman inquired. “The danger grows, Spaceman,” Chikara said, approaching a book on a nearby pedestal. “The Crimson Witch senses the Rock of Kissteria is near.”
“Rock of Kissteria?” Zipp stopped taking notes to look up in confusion. “What's that?”
“It's the key to holding evil at bay,” Chikara opened the book to a certain page. “This began on a Halloween night on another world in a cosmic realm known as... Kissteria.”
Rose took a deep, quiet breath as Zipp, Velma and Izzy came closer to hear Chikara tell the tale. “An evil sorceress, called the Crimson Witch, created a gigantic horror known as... the Destroyer!” said Chikara, showing them a giant red monster emerging from the top of a giant volcano. “She sent the Destroyer to spread devastation throughout the land... the first step toward infecting the entire realm with evil, after a colony of bat ponies saught refuge in this distant cosmic world.”
Izzy could have sworn she heard the roar of the Destroyer in her ears, and seeing her friend's discomfort, Zipp wrapped a wing around Izzy to soothe her. “But the warriors had a weapon,” Chikara continued. “Cosmic power crystals-- the Kissteria crystals! Each crystal sounded a musical note.”
Zipp made an effort to take a picture of the crystals in the pages of the book for future reference. “The warriors used the music of the crystals to force the Destroyer to retreat... and once the monster was back inside its volcanic temple, they transferred the musical energy of the crystals... into a single, powerful... rock. That rock, the Rock of Kissteria, became the key. By removing it, the Destroyer would be trapped forever.”
Zipp, Izzy and Velma spared each other a glance at this, even though Velma probably wouldn't believe it at first. “Naturally, the Crimson Witch has been desperate to retrieve it,” Chikara said. “Especially by Halloween night, when circumstances are ripe to release the Destroyer!”
“So where's the magic music rock now?” Izzy asked, and Chikara flipped through several more pages. “It's had many protectors over the ages. Each one a descendant of the musical warriors who fought so bravely. Today these guardians are known as the Gemstone Princesses and... KISS!!”
Velma turned to look at Spaceman and Rose with wide eyes. “You guys have it?!”
“Yes. The boys usually display it at the Hall of Kisstory in the park,” Rose explained. “But when it gets near Halloween,” Spaceman added, “we keep it with us on tour.”
“Wait a second...” Velma pulled out an older photo of KISS with the rock in question. “Is this the rock? The Detroit Rock that you received as a gift from the city of Detroit?”
“That's just a cover story,” Chikara scoffed. “...yeah,” Velma spoke with a deadpan look. “And isn't the Destroyer just the name of a ride?”
“BLASPHEMOUS!!” Chikara shrieked, slamming the book shut. “Have you learned nothing?! The Destroyer will strike fear into your heart!”
“Oh, that's funny,” Izzy said, pointing to a poster that read 'The Destroyer will strike fear into your heart' on it outside. “That's exactly what the poster says.”
“Argh... get these fools away from me!” Chikara ordered, shoving the group outside. “They and their friends will do more harm than good!”
As soon as they were outside, the door slammed right in their faces. “That woman is crazy,” Zipp frowned as they walked away. “I do like the lore, but... there's no way an alternate world like that could exist... right?”
“You never know, Zipp. And you have to admit, Chikara's powers are impressive,” Rose said with sincerity. “You actually believe all that?” Velma asked in disbelief. “Chikara's never wrong,” Spaceman told her. “Except that time she predicted the Love Gun album would go gold. Because it went platinum!”
“Oh yeah, baby!” Izzy chirped, and Velma sighed... this was gonna be a long day.
XXXXXXXXX
“Starchild!” Daphne called as she, the ponies and Fred wandered through the dark. “Starchild!!”
“Whoo... these catacombs sure are dark. Sparky would be t-totally scared if he was here,” Hitch stammered in fright. “Topaz?” Sunny called. “Are you sure you know where to go?”
“Well, I haven't been down here in a while, but Starchild has,” Topaz said as she struggled to see in the dark. “You know... bat ponies are able to see well in the dark, but me and my sisters have been in the spotlight so much, I think that ability has been lost.”
Daphne gasped in horror after realizing something. “But Starchild can't see in the dark like a bat pony! Ohh... I hope nothing's happened to him!”
Suddenly, a loud hooting sound followed by echoing laughter rang through the air, causing Fred to look around. “What was that?!”
“Of all the times to be without my sheriff light...” Hitch muttered to himself. All of a sudden, a light flashed on beside them, and they all gasped to see Chip McGhoo standing next to them. “You wanna buy a KISS flashlight? Comes with a handy key ring.”
“Chip? Forgive me for being blunt, but what in bat's name are you doing down here?” Topaz asked with crossed hooves. “Hey,” Chip said, “I was just checking on the props for the concert, and I got lost in this maze.”
Suddenly, the loud hooting and laughter echoed through the halls of the catacombs and making Daphne shudder. “There it is again!”
And then, unfortunately, Chip's flashlight quickly ran out of juice, causing him to groan and hit it repeatedly. “If I only stocked up on KISS batteries!”
“Hey, Pipp, Hitch! We can use our cell phones!” Sunny realized. “Oh, right!” Hitch laughed awkwardly. “I completely forgot about those!”
Their phone flashlights then turned on, and they looked around to find the source of the sound when they saw some plastic monsters in the totes beside them, causing the group to shriek. “Oh. Those are the props I've been looking for,” Chip said, moving over to them. “KISS monster props, part of the Halloween show. House seats still available.”
Suddenly, the loud hooting and laughter echoed out again, making Fred hum in thought. “That doesn't sound like a prop.”
“This waaaaay...” Pipp sang as she and Topaz flew up and led the group away. “You're leaving?!” Chip asked. “Hello! Manager in the dark! Hello?”
XXXXXXXXX
The sounds kept getting louder as they approached a door on the left side of the hall, and when they opened it, there was a ghost flying around, causing Daphne to shriek. Fred smirked and prepared to dive for it. “I got it!”
But like the ponies expected, Fred went right through and crashed through the floor. “Freddy!” Daphne cried as the lights came on. “What is this place?”
As the lights dimmed enough so they could see, they could see Shandi, two other female scientists and Starchild in the room. “It's my special effects lab,” Shandi explained as Starchild came forward. “I thought I told you guys to stay back.”
Topaz glared down at the soaked Fred sitting beside them on the floor. “Some of us had other ideas.”
“Don't worry, Fred. We can dry you off,” Shandi said before turning to tbe other women in the room. “Beth? Christine?”
The girls turned on the giant fan in the room, which not only dried Fred completely, it also blew him into the wall. After the fan turned off, Daphne looked to Starchild. “I take it you didn't find the witch.”
“I searched this whole sector except for the chem lab. That's why I came to Shandi,” Starchild said, and Shandi held up a key card. “I'm the only one who has the key.”
Shandi then led the group down the hall while giving a brief explanation. “For the last few months, chemicals have gone missing, so I keep the lab under lock and key. No one gets in without coming to me first.”
She slid the card through a slot on the door, and once it flashed green, she opened the door to reveal an empty room. “See? Empty.”
“Hey... is that a chemical analyzer?” Fred asked, pointing to a device nearby, making Shandi smirk. “Pretty smart of you, FrFred.
“I've got a couple at home. Hey, do you think you can analyze this? It's the residue from the witch's mist,” Fred handed the bag to her, which Shandi happily took. “Sure. Anything for a fellow chemmie.”
Daphne huffed from not too far off. Now it seemed like Fred was falling for someone else.
XXXXXXXXX
Back near the main stage, Misty struggled to use her new unicorn powers to lift a speaker into place, and Shaggy and Scooby helped her shove it in the rest of the way. Shaggy sighed as they finally got to sit down. “I don't think I've worked this hard in, like, ho-ho, forever.”
“Ugh... me neither,” Scooby said with a groan as Misty's stomach began to growl. “And I don't know about you boys, but I'm actually getting kinda hungry.”
Scooby nodded enthusiastically. “Me too!”
“Hey? Princess Sapphire? Mr. Catman?” Shaggy called up. “When do we get to eat?”
“After you've brought the KISS Monsters onstage,” Sapphire told them, but Scooby yelped and jumped into Shaggy's arms. “M-M-M-Monsters?!”
“Yeah, Chip brought them over,” Catman said as he leapt down from the stage. “They're below us.”
“Like, where are the stairs, man?” Shaggy asked, but Catman simply pointed his drumsticks at the stage. “Don't need em.”
He pressed a button on the drumsticks, and an elevator soon came into view. Misty and the boys hopped on and traveled below the stage, where the KISS Monsters were set up as Catman and Sapphire had said. “That must be them, Scoob. Now, these are the kind of monsters I like,” Shaggy banged one. “Fake ones!”
“But we need to keep our guard up,” Misty said, looking at the monsters then down at her cutie mark. “We don't know when the witch or Opaline is gonna strike next.”
“Don't worry so much, Misty. If Opaline was here, she would have come by now... don't you think?” Shaggy asked, making Misty sigh. “Yeah... I guess you're right.”
Scooby then looked around before he sighed something nearby which made him gasp and pulled Shaggy to see it. “Shaggy, look!”
Shaggy luckily recognized the room immediately. “It's KISS's green room where they hang out before the show!” he said before looming at his best friend. “Scoob, you hit the jackpot!”
“But, guys? I have a feeling that somepony is watching us,” Misty frowned. “Maybe we should bring the props back upstairs.”
“But Misty...” Scooby gave her some puppy dog eyes, making Misty sigh reluctantly. “All right... but we can't stay long. We have to look for clues and get those KISS Monsters back onstage.”
So, they entered the room, and began to walk down the long table of different food types. “Think of all impressive people who have been invited down here,” Shaggy said. “The pizza-delivery guy, the sandwich-delivery guy, the creepy witch, the sushi-delivery guy...?”
Suddenly, one of those phrases made the group stop in their tracks and turn... in order to see the Crimson Witch standing behind them! “Give me rock!!”
“Zoinks!” Shaggy cried. “Creepy witch!”
Misty and her friends screamed and dove into hiding as the witch gave chase. And at first, she didn't notice them behind the KISS Monsters, and in his quietest voice, Shaggy tried to think more positive thoughts. “Like, maybe she'll think this is the real KISS and go away.”
“But then again, she may NOT!!” Misty whispered loudly. That caused the witch to turn and raise her hand to the KISS monster props. “Alive!!”
Red magic began to dance around the props and made them roar and come to life before chasing Misty and the boys throughout the area, making the Crimson Witch cackle. That's when Misty spotted a nearby closet to hide in. “Quick, in here!”
Shaggy and Scooby immediately followed her in and locked the door, standing in front of it as the monsters banged on it repeatedly, and Shaggy hoped and prayed that they would just leave. “Please go away. Please go away. Please go away.”
But then, all of a sudden, the banging stopped, catching them off-guard. But since she lived with Opaline all that time, Misty knew you could never be careful. “Are they gone?”
Shaggy listened carefully, and since he heard nothing for now, he decided to whisper. “Maybe they're waiting for us to let our guard down.”
“Well,” Scooby whispered, “they're gonna have to wait a LONG time.”
“Misty? Shaggy? Scooby?” called a familiar voice, making them gasp. “Are you in there?”
“Like, how do they know our names?!” Shaggy asked, and after the voice called his name again, Shaggy decided to open it and peered at who was outside. “Why are you not being eaten by KISS monsters?”
“KISS monsters?” Zipp questioned. “What are you talking about?” Daphne asked, and that's when the Great Dane, his best friend and the blue unicorn decided to peer outside. “They're gone!” Scooby said. “But how?” Misty couldn't help but wonder. “And why would they leave when they had us cornered?”
“Hmmm... anyway, the sisters wanted us to come find you guys before we got all the evidence together,” Zipp said. “They want us to watch their solo performance.”
Misty looked to her friends with a small smile. “Sure thing, you guys. With all the scary things we've seen tonight, I think we need a break to do something fun.”
Scooby, Shaggy and Misty followed their friends out from the bottom of the stage and up onto the surface level, where the others were waiting for the princesses to gear up and perform their first song. “Hey, guys!” Sunny said enthusiastically. “I hope you guys are ready to hear what the princesses are made of.”
“Well, I sure am,” Fred said. “To say you can play music is one thing, but to actually do it is another. Oh, no offense, Pipp.”
“None taken, Freddy,” Pipp waved it off before she turned to the stage and cheered. “Come on, girls, let's do this!”
Topaz stepped up to the mic as the others began to cheer with Pipp, holding a guitar in her hooves. “This song we chose to perform first is not one of ours, but we wanted to remind every girl out there that you're beautiful inside and out, no matter what others say!”
Taking that as a cue, the sisters began to play their first number, Topaz singing the lead vocals.
Topaz: You're insecure Don't know what for You're turning heads when you walk through the door
Don't need makeup to cover up Being the way that you are is enough
Rose: Everyone else in the room can see it Everyone else but you
Gemstone Princesses: Baby you light up my world like nobody else The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell You don't know, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful
If only you saw what I can see You'll understand why I want you so desperately Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe You don't know, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful, oh oh That's what makes you beautiful
Everyone cheered at the top of their lungs and danced to the happy beat as the song continued.
Emerald: So come on, you got it wrong To prove I'm right, I put it in a song
I don't know why you're being shy, yeah And turn away when I look into your eye eye eyes
Sapphire: Everyone else in the room can see it Everyone else but you
Gemstone Princesses: Baby you light up my world like nobody else The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell You don't know, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful
If only you saw what I can see You'll understand why I want you so desperately Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe You don't know, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful, oh oh That's what makes you beautiful
(Na na na na na na na) (Na na na na na na na) (Na na na na na na na) (Na na na na na na na)
During the pause in between the choruses, Topaz held her hoof out to Pipp, who happily took it and climbed onstage to sing with the sisters.
Pipp: Baby you light up my world like nobody else The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell You don't know, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful
Pipp and Gemstone Princesses: Baby you light up my world like nobody else The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell You don't know, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful
If only you saw what I can see You'll understand why I want you so desperately Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe You don't know, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful, oh oh You don't know you're beautiful, oh oh
That's what makes you beautiful
Everyone cheered wildly as the performers took a bow at the end of their show. “That was amazing, you guys!” Sunny said. “With a performance like that, you're bound to win the crowd over tonight!”
“Aww, thanks, Sunny,” Sapphire smiled. “We still have some rehearsing to do with KISS for the show, but why don't you guys head to the security office to do some detective work?”
“Thanks,” Daphne smiled. “Come on, everyone, let's get to work.”
XXXXXXXXX
Velma brought up all their suspects on the base computer in the security office, and the gang and the ponies gathered around to see what she had. “I can't say we don't have enough suspects. The problem is finding a motive.”
“The only one who'd like the park to shut down is Chip,” Fred pointed out. “But, he doesn't seem smart enough.”
“Shandi seems smart enough,” Sunny said in thought. “And is the right body type for the witch costume.”
“I know, but she's way too cute to be a suspect,” Fred spoke, just as Shaggy delivered a theory. “Mr. Goldman and the security lady don't want the park to close. They'll lose their jobs.”
“That crosses them out of the picture. But what about the mystic lady?” Misty asked. “Chikara seems the most obsessed with the witch,” Zipp reasoned. “She talks as if she's really supernatural.”
“She's not?” Shaggy asked. “No, Shaggy,” said Velma, “she's not. No matter what you think you've seen, there has to be a rational explanation.”
“It's all centered on that rock you guys told us about,” Hitch said. “What was it called?”
“The so called Rock of Kissteria,” Velma rolled her eyes. “Which seems to be KISS's Detroit Rock.”
“You mean the one they sing about in that song Detroit Rock City?” Shaggy asked. “I always thought that stood for rock 'n' roll.”
“Huh...” Spaceman hummed as he and Starchild wandered in. “I never thought of that. I guess that works too.”
“Did you figure anything out?” Starchild asked. “Not yet,” Daphne answered. “But if we had that rock, we might be able to set a trap.”
“Then maybe it's time we hand it over to you, darling.”
XXXXXXXXX
Demon set a black, silver and purple box down on the table, a scowl on his face. “I do not like this.”
“It's gonna be fine,” Starchild assured. “How do you know?” Demon asked, but only groaned as Starchild pointed to his star marking. “Oy...”
“Come on, Demon,” Emerald pointed out, “if we don't stop the witch tonight, the park will go under.”
“So let's rock these kids already!” Spaceman agreed. So, three out of four KISS members put their hands on the sensors, triggering musical notes to play in harmony. Seeing he didn't have any other choice, Demon sighed. “All right...”
So, he put his hand on the final sensor, which opened the box and revealed a glorious black gem, hovering and twirling in mid air, and causing Izzy's eyes to widen as she gasped. “Sweet sauce horseshoe toss!”
“Jinkies...” Velma said in awe. “It's a black diamond!”
“The largest in the world,” Topaz said with a soft smile, and suddenly, the witch's motivations finally made sense to Daphne. “That explains why the Crimson Witch has turned this place upside down looking for it.”
“Now it's just a matter of setting a trap,” said Zipp, putting a hoof down on the floor. “Yeah,” Shaggy nodded. “So, like, who's gonna be the bait?”
“You are!” everyone seemed to shout, and Shaggy found himself growing exasperated. “Scoob, how is it that out of four ginormous superheroes, a group of ponies from Equestria and four gemstone princesses with magical headwear... you and I have to do the hard part?”
Scooby could only shrug. “Oh, just lucky I guess.”
“Come on,” Sapphire encouraged. “You can do it!”
“And you'll have me and Misty to help you!” Izzy smiled. “Yeah. We can't lure her out,” Catman reasoned. “Put yourselves in our shoes.”
But hearing that made Izzy get the perfect idea. “You know what? That might just help.”
It was only a few hours away from the KISS World concert, so the gang and ponies had a few hours to catch the witch and save the park before it started.
And it all started with Fred's master trap, with Shaggy and Scooby as the bait.
But, Izzy seemed to have the perfect idea of how to not get the cowardly duo hurt while they were potentially being chased by the witch.
Izzy had found a pair of Demon's boots for Shaggy and a pair of Catman's boots for Scooby, as well as the KISS headsets that Chip supplied them with, and when they were in position, Izzy decided to explain her plan. “Since Catman said to put ourselves in KISS's shoes, I figured that the bigger the shoes, the faster you guys will be able to run!”
Scooby giggled, not fully understanding the plan, but liked the thoughts if wearing Catman's boots. “Good idea, Izzy!”
Misty blinked in confusion, scratching her head with a shrug following suit. “I really don't get it, but we don't have time for debate.”
“Just make sure the witch sees the rock,” Velma's voice crackled through the headsets, and she and Sunny and Zipp watched them through the the binoculars Chip supplied through a bush. “Hitch, Pipp, Fred, Daphne? You guys in position?”
“Roger that,” Fred told them. “Just make sure you bring her our way.”
“Okay then, you guys...” Zipp said. “Start walking!”.
“Not a problem,” Scooby said, and he and Shaggy began to walk with Misty and Izzy... but their boots were so big, they ended up staggering during the entire walk. “Whoa... whoa... whoaaa!!!” Shaggy cried as Izzy tried to keep him balanced. “Problem!”
“Come on, guys,” Velma said. “We have to get this mystery wrapped up before the concert starts!”
“Whoa! Phew...” Scooby sighed as they walked past the bush where they were hiding. “How does KISS walk in these things?”
XXXXXXXXX
“We want KISS!” cried the thousands of fans waiting outside the gates, coming from the security cameras. ““We want KISS!”
“I thought the concert was off,” Delilah said. “It's on again,” Mr. Goldman said. “The princesses and KISS think they can nab the witch before it starts.”
“Nice that someone tells me,” Delilah scoffed as she walked toward the doors. “I only happen to be in charge of backstage security.”
“Better be ready for anything, Delilah,” Chip told her. “Those fans are gonna get the best Halloween concert that $150 can buy!”
Delilah slammed the door on them as she left, and Mr. Goldman turned to look at Chip with a smirk. “Didn't KISS tell you? They're performing for free.”
“Free?!” Chip clutched his chest. “Ohh! My heart!”
“And how about this? They're even giving away T-shirts.”
Chip looked around frantically. “Where is my KISS defibrillator?!”
XXXXXXXXX
“Rock of Kissteria!” Shaggy shouted through the park, holding the rock up in the air. “Get your rock of Kissteria here! Rare object of cosmic origin!”
“Hmmm... where is she?” Misty muttered. “I really thought by bringing the rock into public would bring her out... so where is she?”
“Oh, don't worry, Misty. The witch will be here before you know it!” Izzy chirped. “We just need to keep our eyes, ears, sparkles and noses op--”
Suddenly, a horrendous smell filled their noses, causing them to block them as Misty turned to Scooby. “Scoob-- have you been eating beef jerky again?”
“Uh uh,” Scooby shook his head. “Not this time.”
“Then she's here!” Shaggy whimpered fearfully. And just as he said that, the witch flew into view with a frightening cackle, causing them to bolt away as fast as they could.
From the space she and Zipp and Sunny were hiding in, Velma kept an eye on the runners through the binoculars. “You gotta get her closer to us!”
Shaggy panted as they tried to run in those huge boots, but they didn't seek to be going any faster than they were originally. “Man, these boots were a terrible idea!”
“Sorry about that!” Izzy cried. “Just trying to help!”
“GIVE ME ROCK!!!!” the witch shrieked at the top of her lungs. “No time for the boots!” Misty said as she scooped Scooby onto her back, and Izzy did the same for Shaggy. “We gotta move, move, move!”
Izzy and Misty ran as fast as their hooves could take them, but the witch was still able to swoop down and pluck the rocks from Shaggy's hands. “Ha ha ha! It's mine!”
“Now!” Fred cried, and fired the net cannon right at the witch, and the witch was caught in the net, falling right to the ground. “Yes!” Zipp cried. “We got her right where we want her!”
Everyone rushed out of hiding and approached the witch, minding all the red mist. “Okay,” said Velma. “Let's see who this fake witch really is.”
She removed the helmet to reveal... a shriveled head with white hair shrieking at the top of her lungs!
Everyone shrieked in terror as Hitch swiped the helmet from Velma and slammed it back on the witch's head. “I don't remember her on the suspect list!” Daphne cried, just as the witch flew up and broke through the net. “RAGH!!! Fools!” she cried. “The Destroyer will FEAST on your fear!”
Suddenly, streaks of colors flew across the sky, and everyone witnessed KISS and the sisters flying their way, much to the witch's chagrin.
Demon was first at trying to strike her down, but the witch seemed to dodge his fire before landing.
That was when Rose, Sapphire, Emerald and Topaz began to use their gemstone magic to blast the witch in every direction, but she always seemed to avoid their attacks.
This made the ponies watch with wide eyes, not only at seeing the sisters with magic, but KISS with superpowers! “Okay, Pipp...” Zipp said. “I am NEVER doubting you again.”
Pipp chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Was there ever any doubt?”
Catman roared and tried to attack the witch, but he lost her in the swirling storm of mist. That's when Starchild used his special eye to locate her in the red haze. “There she is!”
Spaceman then launched his electricity right at her, and this caused the witch to become shocked and fell to the ground, allowing the rock to fall into Scooby's paws. “Ding dong,” said Misty, “the witch is down! Uh... patent pending.”
But the witch rose not even a full minute after she got done saying that. “Ohh... actually scratch what I said.”
The witch then created a magic axe right out of thin air, and Scooby handed the rock to Shaggy so he could be prepared to run if need be. Then, the witch sliced a hole right in the sky, causing anything and everything to fly toward the opening... even the ponies, Fred, Velma and Daphne.
KISS and the sisters were there to catch them, but when their slick boots and hooves began to slide on the ground, Demon was there to catch all of them before they were able to fly too far in.
The only ones that weren't part of that chain were Shaggy and Scooby, who were hanging on for dear life by that point. “Like, somebody help us!” Shaggy cried out, and Misty gasped and knew she had to do something.
Something that she thought was very brave, but also very stupid.
Misty leapt away from the chain and lifted the duo up in her magic aura, straining to keep them and the Rock of Kissteria from flying into the portal. “Hang on, guys! I'm not letting-- WHOA!!!”
Misty's hooves had slipped on the ground, and this allowed her and the boys to fly off the ground and into the portal, alongside the witch, screaming before it closed.
Daphne panted from the ordeal they had just witnessed. “Jeepers!”
“What just happened?!” Sunny cried with wide eyes. “The Crimson Witch ripped a hole in the universe!” Starchild said. “And that means the rock, and our friends are in huge trouble!” Topaz declared. “We have to go in after them!”
Demon pointed toward the Ferris wheel in the distance. “Activate the Dynasty Star Portal!”
“You mean the Ferris wheel?” Velma deadpanned. “It's actually a portal to the cosmic realm of Kissteria,” Catman explained, causing Velma to roll her eyes. “Of course it is.”
“Does she have to come?” Demon asked, pointing to Daphne. “Does your eye see the future?” Sunny countered, not wanting to argue, and Demon aaw this as the answer, no ifs, ands or buts. “Then let's rip this open!”
KISS and the sisters then began to play their hit song, I Was Made For Lovin' You, which made the Ferris wheel become a portal, and a giant guitar shaped space craft formed underneath them before they entered the portal to rescue their friends.
Once they got inside, they found Misty, Shaggy and Scooby running on a rock as the witch continued to blast, trying to get the black diamond from Scooby's mouth.
Tonight I wanna give it all to you In the darkness There's so much I wanna do And tonight
“YAH!!!” Shaggy and Misty screamed as they ran faster.
I wanna lay it at your feet 'Cause, girl, I was made for you And, girl, you were made for me
I was made for loving you, baby You were made for loving me And I can't get enough of you, baby Can you get enough of me?
The Crimson Witch blasted the rock with her magic, sending the trio falling onto the back of a giant monster, who happily took them on when he realized they were being chased.
Tonight I wanna see it in your eyes Feel the magic There's something that drives me wild And tonight
The witch struck the monster's side, flinging them off and onto a stretch before a small aircraft, to which they immediately jumped in and took control over.
We're gonna make it all come true 'Cause, girl, you were made for me And, girl, I was made for you
As she gave chase, the witch found herself being attacked by KISS and the sisters' magic.
I was made for loving you, baby You were made for loving me And I can't get enough of you, baby Can you get enough of me?
I was made for loving you, baby You were made for loving me And I can give it all to you, baby Can you give it all to me?
As the witch dodged their attacks and blasted the spacecraft, sending them and the Rock of Kissteria flying, KISS sent a firing of music and vocalizations at the witch, knocking her away just long enough for Scooby to grab the rock on his mouth.
Shaggy grabbed Scooby's tail, Daphne grabbed Shaggy's foot, and the ponies made sure to keep the chain in place... but Pipp gasped as she saw the witch coming their way. “Scooby, watch out!”
Unfortunately, Scooby didn't hear the warning soon enough, and the witch took the rock out of his mouth and laughed as she flew into another portal.
As the gang pulled back, Topaz sighed and looked to her sisters. Their father would NOT be happy with this.
XXXXXXXXX
Eventually, the giant spacecraft emerged from another portal to a magnificent, colorful world on the other side, to which the gang had never seen the likes of before.
When the guitar ship had landed, KISS and the sisters flew off first, and Scooby and the unicorns leapt down, landing right on their feet as Pipp helped Shaggy down to the ground. “Whoa...” Shaggy said in shock, looking around. “Where are we?”
“It's like KISS World, but weirder... if that's possible,” Zipp said, taking some pictures while Velma seemed to think this was still a simulation. “Seems like more special effects to me.”
“I don't know. It looks pretty real,” Daphne said as Fred put a hand on her shoulder. “I'm afraid!”
“Come on, Daphne. We're still in the theme park,” Velma said. “We've seen stranger things.”
“Like US, for instance?” Zipp asked with a smirk, causing Sunny and Hitch to stiffle laughter. Topaz sighed quietly from where she and her sisters stood, to which Misty noticed.
It was like... they were afraid to be there. “Come, Scooby gang, we must seek the Elder,” Starchild said, and the rock band and the four sisters led them away. “No,” Shaggy shrugged. “These guys take the cake of strangeness.”
As some of the group followed the bands away, Shaggy took off the boots and put on his regular shoes again, happily sighing. “Happy feet again, Scoob.”
“Ew... it doesn't smell happy to me,” Scooby held his nose as he walked past. “Come on, Scooby, don't be rude,” Sunny said. “Besides... if we're gonna stop this... we have to stick together.”
Sunny Starscout, the Equestrians and Mystery Incorporated followed KISS and the bat pony princesses toward the city while they were in the cosmic realm of Kissteria, still not sure of what they were seeing.
This whole cosmic realm was here the whole time? Did that mean that the story that Chikara told them was real too? And if it was, were they really in danger?
It was truly a lot to wrap their heads around. But the ponies were concerned not just for the problem at hoof... but how scared, nervous and sad the princesses looked.
It was like a look Misty often wore while she was on the lookout for Opaline... and she knew she had to help them ease whatever discomfort they had in their hearts.
Misty approached Rose and Emerald, a gentle smile on her face. “Hey... you must be excited to be able to go home and see your family. And I bet they'll be excited to see you too.”
“...we understand you're trying to help, Misty, but... our father won't be too happy to see us when we arrive,” Rose frowned. “Being a high king and all.”
Misty blinked-- so what she assumed really was true! But... she wondered why they never talked about him before now. “King?”
“King Cobalt of the Kissterian Bat Ponies.”
Everyone looked up at the sound of the sudden voice, and a golden eyed, gray bat pony with a light purple mane and tail and darker colored armor flew down to them and bowed. “My princesses.”
“Captain Moonbeam. A pleasure to see you again as well,” Topaz smiled, but then that very smile faded. “We need to speak to the Elder... and our father. We need their expertise in a very drastic matter.”
“...it's about the rock, isn't it?” Moonbeam asked them, and their concerned look said it all. “Are you sure that's wise? Your father isn't going to be happy to see you... along with your Equestrian and mortal friends.”
“What's he got against us?” Fred asked. “Nothing against you personally,” Sapphire explained, “but... over 1500 moons ago, we were sent away from Equestria by the ponies, fearing we would be at risk of being enslaved by an evil alicorn, glowing with fire.”
Misty shuddered-- that sounded like Opaline all right. “Our father is the 10th generation king of our people, and... well... he thinks the Equestrians sent us away for other reasons than the fiery alicorn. But we knew better... what our mother taught us in secret before her passing. When we tried to protest, we had a fight,” Emerald explained. “That's when we left this land to tour with KISS and try to make mortals happy with our musical talent.”
“We haven't been back since,” Rose agreed quietly. “Wow, guys... I didn't realize you had it so rough,” Daphne frowned. “We're really sorry about your mother.”
“She's in a better place now, but... thank you for your sympathy, Daphne,” Emerald smiled. “But we mustn't wait another second. Father and the Elder need to know about the tragedy that has come to fall on us... even if we are punished. Moonbeam?”
“Of course. Follow me,” Moonbeam said politely as she led them further into the city. However, it seemed practically deserted, and that was something the Demon did not brush aside. “Where is everyone?”
Suddenly, the citizens of Kissteria, men and woman with similar black and white patterns on their faces, came from the buildings, and one of them, wearing a cloak and looking older and wiser, struck Shaggy's attention. “That must be her.”
“The Elder!” Sunny said, and she and the other ponies bowed to her as Velma muttered to herself, “She's certainly not The Younger.”
Finally, the Elder brought herself forward as the ponies stood up. “A shadow has fallen across Kissteria, and your arrival here only confirms the worst,” she said. “The Crimson Witch has the rock.”
“I'm afraid so,” Starchild spoke. “We lost her in the portal.”
“YOU DID WHAAAAAAAAT?!”
The princesses bowed immediately at the shrill and booming call, and Sapphire turned back to the frightened gang and ponies. “You might want to bow... lower than before, even.”
Scooby yelped and fell face first in the dirt as the ponies bowed again. “Is this good enough?” the Great Dane asked in a muffled voice. “Maybe for you,” Rose gulped, “but that will never be low enough for us.”
A pitch black bat pony flew down and slammed his hooves into the floor, his red eyes gleaming in anger as his golden crown gleamed in the light. He glared down at his daughters with a serious and livid expression. “Daughters... did Starchild say you lost the witch with the rock in the portal on the way here?”
“Y-Yes, Father. I'm afraid so. But we did try and stop her... she was just too fast,” Topaz stammered. King Cobalt stood there glaring before he sighed. “Then we have little time to act,” he said before spotting the gang and ponies, instinctly raising his wings. “Who are they?”
The ponies and Scooby sat up instinctively, and Demon put his hands on his hips as he responded. “Earth kids and Equestrians.”
“Are they worthy?” the Elder asked, but Demon only shrugged, leading Emerald to respond for him. “Their hearts are pure, their spirits strong.”
“And their stomachs empty,” Shaggy rubbed his growling stomach. “Yeah,” Scooby nodded, still a little nervous. “Empty.”
“Shh! Zip it!” Rose said at seeing their father's menacing glare. “You children should prepare yourselves,” the Elder said while the king remained silent. “If the Crimson Witch succeeds in releasing the Destroyer... he will engulf all of your worlds in a torrent of darkness and evil.”
Sunny and her friends looked worried at that statement, but then, seeing Fred wearing makeup with a crescent moon under his eye got their attention. “I'm ready, Your Majesties.”
“Fred... is that makeup?!” Daphne asked in surprise. “It's a moon,” Fred told her before standing before the Elder. “Whoa!” Catman exclaimed upon seeing it. “Who hit you, buddy?”
“No one.”
“Looks like a black eye,” Spaceman commented. “It's not!”
“Nice shiner,” said Demon. “It's a moon!”
“Please, you seem like a nice boy,” said the Elder. “Go stand with your friends.”
Zipp groaned under her breath as Daphne crossed her arms at Fred, clearly embarrassed. “Fred... are you trying to impress me?”
“No!” Fred immediately spoke. “It's just that, well, you've been hanging all over Starface.”
Daphne scoffed at that remark. “Have not!”
“Have so!”
“Have not!”
“Have so!”
“Have not.”
“Guys, guys!” Velma stopped their feuding. “You've gotta stop this. If we're ever going to finish this cosmic boondoggle, and get back to solving the real mystery, we need to act like a team. All of us.”
“The sarcastic girl speaks the truth,” the Elder spoke. “Only together will you have the power and skills needed to defeat the Destroyer.”
“Come on, everyone,” Rose said softly. “Let's get back to the ship so we can get to the tomb before--”
“No,” King Cobalt interrupted firmly. “You four have caused enough trouble already. I warned you that getting too close to those... mortals would get you into trouble, and it has! I don't know WHY I let you go pursue your music to begin with. From now on, you will stay in the palace where you won't cause anymore damage to our home.”
“But they didn't do anything!”
Everyone looked to see a frustrated looking Sunny step forward, and the sisters backed out of her way as King Cobalt looked down at her. “What did you say to me, you little foal?”
“I said they didn't do anything,” Sunny said firmly. “Your daughters are some of the sweetest mares I've ever met, and they actually saved our lives when the witch attacked us. The only one who is causing trouble is you, discouraging your daughters dreams and wanting to get away from your harsh thinking!”
During her rant, Sunny's cutie mark began to glow, leading many to back up a few steps. “A pony, no matter their title, they should be able to do whatever they want to!” Sunny continued. “Just like how helping ponykind and giving back their magic has allowed me to do THIS!!”
And in a bright burst of light, Sunny had turned into her alicorn form, causing the sisters, and many of the Kissterians to gasp in shock. Sunny, however, remained unfazed as she faced the stunned king. “I'm sorry, sir, but if you want to keep your daughters here... you're going to have to get through me and my friends first.”
Slowly, the other ponies and Scooby formed a barrier around the sisters, just as King Cobalt's face melted from a livid frown to an impressed smirk. “You impress me, Sunny Starscout.”
“Huh?!”
“It has been many moons since anyone has stood up to me... especially an Equestrian. I am very impressed by your skill and power,” King Cobalt smiled. “If you believe my daughters can help you... they may go. But... before they do... I hope they can forgive me for being such a fool.”
“Of course we can, Father,” Topaz said. “We know you were just trying to keep us safe since Mother passed. But you can't keep treating us like defenseless little fillies.”
“I'll try my best to be better. I promise,” said the king before he hugged his daughters tenderly. “Now go. Save our world before it's too late.”
Emerald, Rose, Topaz and Sapphire couldn't believe what had just happened no more than 10 minutes ago.
Sunny stood up to their father about his treatment, turned into an alicorn and he apologized for treating his girls the way he did... how he just wanted to protect them after their mother's passing.
Of course they forgave him, but... this was a lot to wrap their wings around. Not to mention they still had a death defying mission to stop the Crimson Witch from releasing the Destroyer.
Not wasting a single second, KISS escorted everyone back to the ship, and they took off across the skies toward the volcanic temple where the Destroyer was locked away.
But during their flight, Sunny and Misty found themselves sitting side by side, thinking about everything they have just been through.
Confronting the king, a cosmic realm, a plan to destroy the Earth and potentially Equestria along with it?
It was a lot to wrap their heads around... especially for Sunny.
After watching her friend be uncharacteristically silent, Misty decided to speak. “It's okay if you're scared, Sunny... I am too. This is all too much to think about at once, and... if Opaline is running this entire scheme from the shadows, well... then we seriously misjudged what we thought she could do with her full powers back.”
“...that worries me, don't get me wrong,” Sunny admitted. “But... as I yelled at the king-- the king, for foal's sake-- I... thought of something. What if... what if I turn into Opaline...?”
That question caused all the ponies, the bat ponies, Shaggy and Scooby to turn toward her with wide eyes. “Sunny...” Pipp frowned, ears pinning. “No...”
“I yelled at a KING! I would feel the same way if I yelled at Queen Haven!” Sunny said, tears beginning to build in her eyes. “If my temper gets too out of control, I could become just like Opaline! Then there would be no going back! Nopony would care about me anymore...”
She began to sob heavily, and everyone found themselves frowning at the sad sight of the earth pony. Sunny wasn't just worrying about her duties as a leader...
...she was also worrying about becoming just like their most hated enemy.
Scooby whimpered and licked Sunny's face, trying to lick her tears away. That was when Rose looked to her sisters and nodded.
They had to help Sunny, after what they did for them a few minutes earlier.
Emerald stepped up first. “Sunny, there's no way you could EVER become an evil pony like that alicorn. You would never shove friendship aside and only think about gaining power.”
“How do know that?” Sunny asked. “Are you kidding? From the sound of it, it sounds like you've saved Equestria more times than anypony else can count!” Rose said. “You're such a brave confident mare. Nopony with those qualities can ever turn evil.”
Sunny smiled with a small sigh. “Thanks, girls. I guess I never thought about it that way. But I will from now on.”
“Anytime,” Topaz said. “Come on. Let's get back to the others and see if they need any help.”
XXXXXXXXX
They continued flying for another couple of hours, talking and keeping watch over the land to spot the witch when Daphne approached Starchild on the stage. “Starchild, do you mind if I ask where you get your super powers from?”
“Rock 'n' roll!” Starchild strummed his electric guitar. “It powers everything in Kissteria.”
“I don't know,” Velma shrugged to herself as she strummed on Demon's bass. “Maybe I can find friends with normal interests.”
“Ummm... please be careful with that bass,” Emerald pleaded, and Velma turned to look at her with a skeptic smirk. “Because it's made from alien technology?”
“Because it costs more than your house, to put it quite bluntly.”
Velma immediately stopped playing the bass, and Zipp chuckled nervously and put it down on the floor. That's when Pipp, Misty, Shaggy and Scooby approached Demon and Emerald. “Excuse me, uh, Mr. Demon,” said Shaggy. “Is it rock 'n' roll that makes you breathe fire?”
“No.”
“Then what does?” Pipp asked. “Tamales?”
“No.”
Scooby then thought of something else. “Hot peppers?”
“No.”
“Chinichanga sauce?” Misty asked. “NO!!”
From the Demon's roar came a stream of fire, causing them to scream and duck. “Demon!” Emerald scolded harshly. “You need to learn to control your temper! They just wanted to ask you an innocent question.”
She then turned to the group brushed them off. “I am so sorry about that.”
“Oh, don't worry about it,” Pipp stated. “I guess we should have had it coming.”
“You might as well tell them, Demon,” Catman said from his drumset, “before we get another grocery list.”
Seeing Emerald's convincing nod and the optimistic looks of Shaggy, Scooby and two of their friends, Demon sighed reluctantly. They were bound to find out sometime, and right now might be best. “The secret to breathing fire is to swallow your fears.”
Scooby blinked and looked at the group in surprise. “Fears?”
“I didn't know you could eat those,” Misty shook her head. “Swallow them up,” Demon continued, “hold them inside... and force them out as demon fire.”
He then released a streak of fire into the sky, leading everyone to turn away from the burning hot flames. Hitch shuddered, but was ultimately impressed. “Talk about your acid reflux.”
“So... Emerald? Have those gems in your crowns always been magic?” Misty asked as Emerald hopped down to their level. “And how did you get accustomed to those powers anyway?”
“These tiaras were actually hoof-made by our father before we were born,” Emerald said. “But the gemstones themselves were actually magically created after the Kissteria crystals were crafted into the Rock of Kissteria. And while they all share similar powers, there was some powers in each gemstone that stands out from the rest.”
“Really?” Zipp asked with some interest. “Like what?”
“Well, when Topaz sings,” said Rose, “it's like there's a sonic blast that disorients enemies.”
“And Sapphire can control all forces of water-- even snow and ice, just by flicking her tail!” Emerald spoke. “I can control plants, and Rose can use power ribbons!”
“Hmmm...” Zipp pondered for a few moments. “Those skills may help us when we're fighting off old, red and creepy.”
“There it is!” Starchild pointed toward the large volcano ahead, surrounded by a red and orange force field. “The tomb of the Destroyer.”
“And there's the witch!” Velma pointed up to the witch in question, the Rock drilling into the side of the force field. “She's trying to break the force field open!” Sunny cried. “We have to stop her before the Destroyer gets loose!”
“You all stay right here and don't move,” Topaz spread her wings. “We'll go deal with her and get the rock back.”
And just like that, the sisters and KISS flew off, with the gang and their Equestrian allies hoping that they would be able to stop the witch in time.
XXXXXXXXX
The witch managed to use the rock to drill right through the force field, flying to a flat part of the mountain, where she was confronted by KISS and the bat pony princesses. And as soon as they landed in front of her, the witch glanced back at the aircraft, where she knew the gang would be. “You shouldn't have brought them here, KISS,” she sneered. “They will surely never leave Kissteria... ALIVE!!”
The sisters gasped as the witch used her magic to make several winged statues come to life, and sent them after the gang and their friends before she flew off to a higher spot on the mountain. “I'll go after her myself!” Starchild declared, flying up before turning to the others. “You guys stay and protect the kids.”
“Bur Starchild--!” Topaz began to argue when she saw he was already too far ahead. “Come on, guys... our friends won't be able to handle those winged freaks all on their own.”
She led her sisters, Catman and Spaceman away, but Demon let out an audible groan. “Oh, great. More babysitting.”
XXXXXXXXX
“Everypony, run! They're coming straight toward us!” Misty cried as soon as she saw the attacking statues, and everyone darted in different directions to avoid being caught. However, everyone ended up being caught anyway, all except Velma, who unknowingly was running straight toward the ship's edge. “This is one heck of a theme park attraction!!”
Unfortunately, she dove right off the side of the ship, but was saved when a statue grabbed her and began to carry her away. Luckily, Spaceman fired lightning at the statue, causing it to fall, and Rose caught Velma before she hit the ground, and Topaz and Sapphire used their abilities from their tiaras against three other statues, and while Izzy was able to levitate herself down to the ground, Topaz and Sapphire lowered Sunny and Hitch to the ground before flying off.
Catman flung one statue into the other two nearby, causing them to break and drop the pegasus sisters, Daphne and Fred, and Topaz and Sapphire were able to catch Daphne and Fred while Zipp and Pipp regained the flapping of their wings.
Demon charged right at the statue holding Shaggy and Scooby and Misty, causing it to drop them. But luckily, Emerald used her plant powers to create a slide for them to slide to the base of the cliff without a scratch...
...until they reached the other cliff ahead of them, leaving them no place to run. Shaggy was the first to turn and see another one of the brought-to-life statues approaching them menacingly. “Oh no!”
“Dead end!” Misty shrieked as the statue became closer and closer. And when he and Scooby saw Misty trembling in fear, that's when Shaggy realized that there was only one way out of this. “Like, have you been swallowing your fears, Scooby-Doo?”
“Oh yeah. Lots of em!”
“Good! Then let em rip!”
“Ohhhhh I can't look!” Misty covered her eyes with her hooves, and when she looked again, she saw Scooby and Shaggy breathing fire right at the statue.
That's when she realized that she couldn't stand idly by while her friends did all the fighting. So, harnessing all the magic within her, she fired a blast right through her horn with her cutie mark glowing, and this adding to the fire blast made the statue turn into a roasted chicken, falling right to the ground.
Demon watched them not too far away from the cliffside with Emerald, and while the green mare gave them a proud smile, Demon flashed them a thumbs up. “Well done, pathetic scum.”
“Thanks, Mr. Demon!” Misty said. “We think,” Scooby said before the three of them high fived. “Come on. We better get you guys someplace a little safer in case a rockslide were to start,” Emerald said before unfolding her wings and moving toward Misty. “You first.”
“Hey, wait! Whoaaaaaa!!!” Misty panicked as she was lifted off the ground. “Don't worry, you're fine!” Emerald assured. “Demon will get your friends and meet us back at the airship! Now hang on!”
XXXXXXXXX
At the same time, the witch was about to insert the rock into the mountain when Starchild showed up with a smirk on his face. “It's over, Crimson Witch. I'll be taking back the rock of Kissteria.”
He sent several small explosive charges down around the witch, and as the smoke cleared, he landed to see where she was, but she appeared from a pile of rubble with a wicked expression. “The rock, Starchild?”
Starchild tried to punch her, but she easily caught his fist in her hand, lifting him up. “Why settle for the rock, when you can have the whole mountain?”
She threw Starchild over a field of lava, blasting repeatedly and shoving him through the rocks left and right. When she was sure that he was gone for good, she arrived back at the place she started, ready to insert the rock and free her creation. “Arise, Destroyer!!”
“Yo! Witchy poo!” Starchild emerged from the rocks, rubbing his aching shoulder. “I'm not done yet.”
“Such arrogance. You can't defeat me alone.”
“Just watch me.”
Starchild blasted all of his magic toward the witch, who indeed was blasted back, but she instead formed a shield around herself, and once she was close enough, much to Starchild’s shock...
...she inserted the rock into the mountain.
That very force was enough to send Starchild flying back into the rocks, knocking him unconscious as the volcano began to spew out lava.
At the base of the mountain, Shaggy felt everything begin to rumble as he stood beside Scooby, Misty and the sisters, and instantly tried not to fear the worst. “Dude, I hope that's my stomach rumbling.”
“No...” Misty pointed upward. “Look!”
Everyone looked up in horror to see the volcano erupting, and Topaz's pupils shrunk as she realized what happened. “STARCHILD!!!”
She spread her wings and took off immediately, and Rose immediately turned to the others. “Wait right here and don't move!”
Rose, Emerald and Sapphire flew off to join Demon, Spaceman and Catman, who tried to attack the witch as she flew up. “You're too late!” she cackled as she dodged their attacks like they were nothing. “I go now to watch the destruction of your beloved Earth!”
Topaz flew down as fast her wings could take her and grabbed Starchild before he was able to hit the lava. As the witch escaped, all the groups reunited, and Demon crossed his arms at Starchild. “Nice work stopping the witch.”
“I couldn't beat her on my own,” Starchild said hesitantly. “You know,” said Velma, “the Elder said that the only way to stop whatever's happening here... is with teamwork, right?”
But to the gang's shock, Demon was the one who responded. “Right.”
“Really?!” Emerald blinked. “Yeah,” Demon nodded. “As much as I hate to admit it, we need to work together. Isn't that something you say on a regular basis, Starscout?”
“Uh... right,” Sunny nodded. “I'm sure we can come up with a solution to this. Anypony got any ideas?”
That's when Fred ultimately came up with the perfect solution. “Hey, Starchild said that rock 'n' roll powers everything here.”
“And it was music that created the Rock of Kissteria in the first place!” Izzy realized, and Spaceman immediately caught on. “So if we create massive music...”
“OUR kind of music!” Emerald added. “We'll overload the Destroyer!” Starchild finished the plan. “Yeah,” Shaggy agreed. “You guys just need to make too much rock 'n' roll!”
“Too much rock 'n' roll?” Catman put his hands on his hips. “Ain't no such thing.”
“Look, you're KISS,” Velma crossed her arms. “If anyone can make too much rock 'n' roll, it's you.”
“And,” Topaz said, “us princesses will be more than happy to help!”
“Then we'll head back to KISS World and start the concert... while you guys distract the Destroyer,” Starchild said. “How will we do that?” Zipp asked, but Starchild only pulled out some car keys. “With this.”
He pressed the keys, and a smaller aircraft came out from the larger one. “Wow... neat!” Fred said as Starchild gave him the keys. “We call it the KISS Craft.”
“We have a van that we call the Mystery Machine.”
“That's cool, Frank, but we're running out of time.”
And just like that, KISS and the sisters flew back to the airship and back through the portal again.
Everyone watched as the giant aircraft flew through the portal with KISS and the Gemstone Princesses onboard, but before they could say anything else, there was loud booming laughter coming from the inside of the volcano, lava and rocks spewing out from the top.
That's when Fred knew that they had to move quickly in order to buy KISS and the princesses enough time. “Quick! Get in the KISS Car!”
“KISS Craft!” Scooby shouted as he and the gang raced toward the craft in question, and once Fred was in the driver's seat, he tried to insert the keys in, but the ground was shaking so much, the keys slipped from his grasp and right onto the floor. “Whoopsie!! Ahhh!!”
Everyone screamed as the aircraft began to tilt, and Scooby began to slip from the vehicle, leaving Shaggy, Velma and Daphne to grab his front paws and pull him in, with Misty, Sunny and Zipp pulling on them to provide them more strength.
But as they pulled, Daphne strained at how heavy Scooby was. “You really need to lay off the Scooby Snacks!”
“Huh?!” Scooby growled and began to struggle with all his might to pull himself inside, but as he did, the ground under them gave way, and they began to fall toward the lava below! “AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!”
As they fell, Fred finally inserted the key into the slot, and the aircraft fired up... just as Shaggy suddenly appeared in the same place Scooby was in a few moments before. “Huh?! Like, how did I get out here?!”
“Save those... rhetorical thoughts for later!” Zipp strained as they pulled Shaggy into the KISS Craft and they all buckled in. “Fred, put the metal to the pedal! We gotta get to the top of the volcano for the Destroyer to even notice us!”
“On it!”
Fred steered the KISS Craft up toward the top of the volcano, where the Destroyer finally began to break free. “Yes... freedom is mine!”
XXXXXXXXX
“We want KISS! We want KISS! We want KISS! We want KISS!”
Manny Goldman was currently on the phone with security, watching the security cameras showing a multitude of fans, not sure about what he should do next. “I know the fans want to get in, but I haven't heard from KISS yet. Where are they...?”
“We're here, Goldman!” Demon said from the onstage security camera. “Open the gates and let the army in. We need to rock 'n' roll!”
Goldman didn't waste a second and let the multitude of screaming fans run wild toward the stage, letting the plan continue to come together.
XXXXXXXXX
At the same time, the gang finally reached the top of the volcano, where the Destroyer had finally rose into view. “Yes... free at last!” he declared with a laugh. “Free to destroy! Free to swallow the Earth in evil.”
Fred pulled out the KISS megaphone he was previously given and turned back to the giant monster. “Not so fast, Destroyer!”
“Out of my way, insolent flea!” the Destroyer shouted, and Hitch gulped nervously, looking back at his friends. “Whoa, he is REALLY big! Way bigger than Birdzilla.”
Izzy then swiped the megaphone from Fred and pointed it directly at the creature. “Make us, buckethead!”
“Whoa. That wasn't like you, Iz,” Pipp said, “but I totally agree. LET'S GET IT ON!!!!”
XXXXXXXXX
“All right, KISS World!” an announcer shouted to the screaming crowd. “You wanted the best and you got it. The hottest band in the world... KISS!!”
KISS and the Gemstone Princesses began to play one of KISS' hit songs, Detroit Rock City, hoping it would be enough to lure the Destroyer out of hiding.
XXXXXXXXX
“I... hate... MUSIC!!!” the Destroyer claimed as he shot lasers all over the place, just as the singing began.
Starchild: I feel uptight on a Saturday night Nine o'clock, the radio's the only light
“Hold on, everypony!” Zipp turned the steering wheel and sent the gang fleeing from the Destroyer as it gave chase, everyone struggling to hold on for their lives.
Starchild: I hear my song and it pulls me through Comes on strong, tells me what I got to do I got to
KISS: Get up
Starchild: Everybody's gonna move their feet
KISS: Get down
Starchild: Everybody's gonna move their feet
KISS: You gotta lose your mind In Detroit Rock City
Get up
Starchild: Everybody's gonna move their feet
KISS: Get down
Starchild: Everybody's gonna leave their seat
The gang finally made it through the portal, Fred slamming on the gas as they made their way through. Scooby managed to squint and look back just enough, and was horrified to see the Destroyer roaring and flying after them at top speed. “Heads up!”
As Shaggy and Scooby quivered in fear with one another, a strong sense of determination washed over Sunny, who swiftly turned into an alicorn. “Misty, Izzy! Help me try and distract that thing with some magic blasts!”
“We're on it!” Izzy and Misty nodded and leaned out the windows, firing their horns as Sunny charged her own magic, firing repeatedly at the monster, who responded by sending lasers at them too, sending them back down into the KISS Craft as the Destroyer began to suck them into his open mouth.
Starchild: Moving fast, down 95 Hit top speed, but I'm still moving much too slow
“Like, step on it, Fred!!” Shaggy screamed, and Fred immediately took the pedal to the metal, immediately speeding away.
Starchild: I feel so good, I'm so alive Hear my song playin' on the radio It goes
KISS: Get up
Starchild: Everybody's gonna move their feet]
KISS: Get down
Starchild: Everybody's gonna leave their seat
Shaggy looked like he was about to puke by that point, and Pipp looked disgusted by looking at Shaggy's disgust. “Oh, so gross! Here,” she handed Shaggy a barf bag. “Use it, use it, use it!”
“Look, guys!” Sunny pointed behind them. “I think something is happening back there!”
As they sped away, giant ethereal versions of KISS began to repeatedly attack, causing the Destroyer some severe damage, and that meant only one thing-- KISS's plan was working!
Starchild: Twelve o'clock, I gotta rock There's a truck ahead, lights staring at my eyes
“CURSE YOU, KISS!!!!” the Destroyer screamed one final time before he exploded, and the force of that explosion sent the KISS Craft spinning out of control before it exploded all its own.
Starchild: Oh my God, no time to turn I got to laugh 'cause I know I'm gonna die Why?
KISS: Get up
Starchild: Everybody's gonna move their feet
KISS: Get up
Starchild: Everybody's gonna leave their seat
At that moment that the song ended, the portal opened, and out from it came the unconscious group of friends, surfing along the crowd.
After the group came out through the portal unconscious, they were rushed to the clinic by the princesses and KISS themselves, where they seemed to wait for hours for them to wake up.
That is, until they did slowly begin to wake.
Misty was first to wake up, and she immediately felt herself to make sure that she was still living. Thankfully, she was. “Thank goodness... that was way too real. I just hope our next battle with Opaline isn't as death defying as that one was.”
Slowly, everyone else began to come to, and Fred and the girls managed to get some information about the witch they didn't have before, discussing the matter in private so they could discuss it when everyone was awake.
But it wasn't until about 30 minutes after the last person (Daphne) to wake up that Shaggy and Scooby began to stir. “Shaggy, Scooby!” Sunny cried out in relief. “Are you boys awake?”
“I think they're coming around,” Fred spoke up, and just then, Shaggy slowly rose to his bottom, groaning as he did such. “Like, what happened?”
“Yeah,” Scooby yawned, rubbing his eyes. “What happened?”
“You guys passed out after coming through that portal,” Zipp said. “I guess at some point of that ordeal, we all passed out and woke up in this place.”
“Whoo, but it was wild, though,” Hitch said. “I can't believe we defeated the Destroyer with nothing but wits and music!”
“I wouldn't be so sure about that, Pipp. We just got a report on the residue,” Fred said, holding up a bag. “It seems our Crimson Witch is more of a chemical witch.”
Daphne agreed to this with her arms crossed. “Her witch haze is really a gas that messes with your senses and creates illusions.”
That was when Misty put two and two together, her teal eyes widening. “Do you mean to tell me...?”
“It was all a figment of our imaginations,” Velma responded. “Whoa... that's deep,” Misty trailed off. “Yeah,” Scooby nodded. “Deep.”
But that's when Shaggy thought of something else on the spot. “But what about the Destroyer and the cosmic realm?”
“Yeah,” Scooby nodded. “The cosmic realm!”
“I guess it never happened,” Hitch shrugged. “We all had what you call a mass hallucination,” Fred explained. “Then,” Shaggy said, “who has the rock of Kissteria?”
“Yeah,” Scooby agreed with his best friend. “The rock of Kissteria!”
“Dude, seriously?” Shaggy deadpanned. “After everything I say?”
“Sorry, Shaggy.”
“The Crimson Witch must have it!” Izzy said after a deep gasp. “You're right, Izzy,” Velma said with a smirk, “but she won't have it for long.”
XXXXXXXXX
Confused beyond measure, the heroes from Equestria followed their friends out of the medical wing and into the security office, where Fred opened one of the lockers. “We figured out where she stashed it. If there's room for Shaggy and Scooby in here, there's certainly room for a black diamond.”
He pulled the cloth off the glorious gemstone, and everypony oohed and awwed over the beautiful site. “Whoo whee!” Pipp said, admiring the gem as she took it into her hooves. “I've never seen a gem like this, but if I were to go gem mining, this is DEFINITELY what I would use for a new jewelry line.”
“Save your cosmetic designs for later, sis,” Zipp said to her sternly. “We gotta get the rock out of here before the witch comes for it.”
But not a second after she said that, the Crimson Witch barged in and shrieked at the top of her lungs, “GIVE ME ROCK!!!”
“Split up!” Sunny cried. “Don't let her get the diamond!”
They all darted in different directions, throwing the gemstone to each other. Pipp threw it to Velma, who admired it only for a split second before tossing it to Daphne, who tossed it to Shaggy and Scooby, who were shoved out of the way by Misty before they were able to collide with the witch.
As a result, the witch slammed right into the computers, badly damaging them. “Give... me...”
“ROCK!!”
Everyone turned to see Demon and Emerald standing right near the door, and Emerald sighed and rolled her eyes. “We get it, you don't have to screech it.”
The witch ran right at them, but got caught in some electrical cables before giving chase to Misty, Shaggy and Scooby again. But during the chase, Catman and Sapphire stepped into view and Catman reached into her cape as she flew past, pulling something out. “Look! She put gas dispensers in her cape.”
The witch then pounced off the wall, but as she flew at top speed toward them, Rose grabbed her belt in her teeth and yanked it off making her lose her glow as she crashed into the computers again. “And here's the magnetic repulsor-field belt she used for flying,” Spaceman said as he looked at the belt. “Ooh. Quest Research Laboratories. Good stuff.”
“All stolen from her previous employer,” Starchild said as he and Topaz stepped out of the darkness. The witch then lunged for them, but her cape got hung on the ceiling, trapping her in some wires as Starchild turned on the lights. “Thanks, you guys,” Daphne smiled, rubbing Topaz behind her ears. “The princesses and KISS have been on witch watch ever since we passed out.”
“So, like, who's the witch?” Shaggy asked. “I thought you would have guessed when we opened her locker, Shaggy,” Velma said and pulled off the witch's helmet, revealing a ticked off Delilah. “She's Delilah Domino, the head of security.”
That's when a whole bunch of other people, including Mr. Goldman, entered the room. “Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. Delilah. I knew it!” Mr. Goldman said, and the group gave him a skeptic look. “I didn't really know it, but, you know, I like to be smart. I'm the boss.”
“Curious. I didn't see that coming,” Chikara stated. “How did you know?” Chikara asked. “When Delilah mentioned that she worked for a government defense company...” Velma explained, “...we did some research. Turns out, they specialize in lasers.”
“So?” Misty, Shaggy and Scooby chorused, and Fred grabbed the diamond from Shaggy's grip. “Lasers that use black diamonds, guys.”
“She was hoping to steal it from here, and sell it to a competing defense company,” Daphne explained, “since she was fired from the last one.”
“But since KISS had the diamond under lock and key, she had to dress up and scare everyone off so she wouldn't have any distractions during her search,” Zipp added on. “ She was also the one stealing your chemicals, so she could make her witch gas,” Fred told Shandi. “As head of security, she would've had another keycard to your lab.”
“And while everyone was watching the concert, she hid the diamond here in her locker,” Sunny finished. “Wow... I guess we are getting the hang of this whole investigating thing.”
Then, some other security officers got Delilah down and began to take her away. “And I would've gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for you meddling KISS,” she said before correcting herself. “Er, uh, kids! You meddling kids!”
Misty sighed to herself... at least the worst of it was finally over.
XXXXXXXXX
A few minutes later, KISS and the princesses walked everyone to the entrance of the park, expressing their gratitude. “Thanks for helping us keep the park open,” Catman said. “And thank you for letting us solve the mystery with you,” Zipp smiled back. “It was... interesting to say say the least.”
“We couldn't have done it without you,” Rose smiled. “You reminded us to always be true to ourselves and never forget where we come from.”
Demon sighed and crossed his arms. “Yeah, I guess you kids are okay after all.”
“Thanks, Mr. Demon!” Shaggy smiled. “You'll always be the only demon I'll ever like.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Mr. Demon,” Scooby leapt into his arms and licked him, causing Demon to do the same thing with HIS tongue. “My pleasure.”
“And even though I'll always remain an Ascot Five man...” Fred told Starchild, reaching his hand out, “...we wound up being pretty great partners.”
And so, he and Starchild shook hands, signifying their friendship. “Thanks, Scooby gang. You guys and your friends are welcome back to KISS World anytime,” Starchild said before he turned to Daphne. “Until then, I leave you with a kiss...”
And then, he and Daphne got into a real lip locker with each other, grossing the ponies and Fred out. “You know, I think she'd settle for a handshake or an autograph,” Fred tried to stop the kissing. “Hello?!”
Finally, the kissing did end. “Thank you...” Daphne said admiringly. “I mean... you're welcome.”
Topaz hugged Sunny and Izzy tight. “Be sure to stop by and see us,” she said. “Oh, and before we forget...”
She reached under her wing and pulled out a glowing, rainbow gemstone, as clear as the Caribbean Sea. “It's an opal. Sure, it has the same name as the alicorn of fire, but... this is something to represent the new unity you've brought us.”
“Thank you... thank you so much!” Sunny smiled, hugging her again. “We have to go now, bye!”
The group then walked away, and while the ponies, except Misty, admired the gemstone, Fred was trying to talk to Daphne. “You could have cut that off a little earlier, it was kind of gross. I mean, I was right there. I was there.”
“Oh, I'm sorry. Did you say something... Frank?” Daphne playfully kissed him before walking off. “Do you know what was the best thing about this adventure?” Velma asked Misty and Scooby as they walked beside her. “The fact that my philosophy remains intact. There is always a rational explanation. That is my undeniable, steadfast and... kind of boring philosophy.”
Misty sighed... it seemed as if Velma would never learn. “Hold on, Scoob,” Shaggy said, stopping Misty and Scooby. “Looks like I still have half a churro in my pocket!”
Scooby sniffed it a little bit, but frowned at the scent he received. “It's cold.”
Just then, the Demon blew a breathe of fire right at them, warming the churro and causing them to beam. “Nice and toasty.”
“Thanks again, guys!” Sapphire smiled as Demon lifted up the rock of Kissteria. “Now we gotta get this rock back to the Elder and King Cobalt for safe keeping.”
The black diamond began to glow increasingly bright as the sisters and KISS lifted it up into the air, flying and circling it before they launched into the sky, and the force of this launch was enough to send all three of them backwards a good ways.
Shaggy blinked and turned to the others, complete shocked that what they endured was real. “Did you see...?”
“Did you?!” Misty exclaimed before they rushed to catch up with their friends, and Velma was only a short way ahead of them. “You think we should tell her?” Shaggy asked. “Nuh uh,” Scooby shook his head. “Why rock her world?”
Misty sighed and looked back at the streaking colors across the sky, smiling as she walked alongside them. “Good point.”
She knew they would have to go home as soon as they left the park... but somehow...
...the danger they faced was worth it to make it to this moment.
