Chapter 10: All is revealed and the concert

A short while later, the sheriff, a couple of deputies, Principal Shore and the Hex Girls' manager arrived at the scene while the Phantom growled and struggled in the net.

"Let me go, you fools!" He growled as he glared at Thorn. "You all will regret this, especially you, Sally McKnight!"

"Huh." Daphne's voice can be heard in the background as she walked over to join the gang, still in her Thorn disguise. "I don't think so."

"Wha-?" The Phantom exclaimed when he saw the two Thorns standing together, both with their arms folded. "Two Thorns?! It can't be!"

"Okay." Stone said as he and the deputies walked over to handcuff the Phantom. "Can someone tell me what on earth is going on here?"

"We've caught the Phantom that has been causing trouble to the Hex Girls lately, sheriff." Fred said.

"Only, he's not really a phantom, sheriff." Velma added.

"Not a phantom?" Gus asked. "You mean he's not real, as with the curse from the Witch's Ghost?"

"That's right." Shaggy nodded. "Like, they were a cover story for a faded star to seek revenge on the Hex Girls for ruining his singer-songwriting career."

"Isn't that right, Daniel Prezette?" Daphne added just as Fred pulled the Phantom's mask off, revealing the songwriter as being behind the mask while the Hex Girls and Gus all gasped in surprise.

"Or should we call you, Fantzee Pantz?" Shaggy added as Daniel grumbled.

"Daniel?" Gus exclaimed in surprise. "But...why?"

"For revenge, of course!" Daniel said bitterly. "What else? No one was going to my concert performances anymore, and it was thanks to the Hex Girls!"

"Anyways, how did you guys know that Daniel was the Phantom?" Thorn asked.

"It was simple." Velma began. "Our first clue will be the security footage that became fuzzy when the Phantom was near, likely due to the electromagnetic suit he was wearing that enabled him to fire lightning bolts."

"That security footage happened to be taken from a camera located backstage near where I had set up my first trap, and given that the trap didn't work out as intended, even though I've did plenty of double-checking during the set-up, the only way to explain was that someone tampered with the trap." Fred said. "Which was proven to be the case after Velma and I checked out the security footage of the area and saw some changes to the pulley system before and after the electromagnetic interference."

"Then, Shag and Scooby happened to be snooping around in the tour bus." Velma continued.

"Like, after Daniel had left his office, Scoob and I decided to go in to find anything that could tell us if he knew that someone had a beef against the Hex Girls." Shaggy nodded. "However, what we found were a Hex Girls poster covered in darts, a diploma issued by Darrow University for his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, a Fantzee Pantz poster and a newspaper article detailing the end of his singer-songwriting career as Fantzee Pantz."

"The only way that someone can construct a suit that can fire lightning bolts, in addition to the listening device that was in the shape of a sunflower, is if that someone had a degree in electrical engineering and understands the principles behind those circuits." Velma added. "Someone like Daniel, for instance."

"Right." Fred nodded. "However, it was that newspaper article Shag and Scooby found in Daniel's office that fully backed up his motive for the Phantom disguise."

"Yes." Shaggy agreed as he produced the newspaper page he instinctively managed to grab before he and Scooby encountered the Phantom on the tour bus. "Like, it explained the Hex Girls' bitter rivalry with Fantzee Pantz early in their respective careers."

"And it was one rivalry that Daniel never got over after he hung up the towel on his singer-songwriting career." Velma concluded.

"He must've picked up the legend of the Witch's Ghost when he began writing songs for us." Dusk said. "In fact, I won't be surprised if he actually wrote that transcription of that ancient Wiccan chant for us to perform and thus set up the legend of the Phantom."

"That's right!" Daniel said angrily. "You girls ruined my singer-songwriting career, and I would've had my revenge if it weren't for you meddling kids!"

"Okay, I think I've heard enough." Stone said as the two deputies walked over to escort Daniel to the cruiser. "Mr. Daniel Prezette, you are now under arrest for kidnapping, issuing threats and four counts of attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent."

After watching the deputies escorting a handcuffed Daniel to the cruiser, Stone turned to the gang.

"You kids were lucky enough that none of you got any scratches from your so-called 'hobby'." He said sternly. "Because I'm sure that the mayor, Mr. Blake, Mr. Dinkley and Mr. Rogers will hate to waste money on funerals, especially for the two of you, plus there's a reason why I wear this badge, you know."

By that last remark, Stone was pointing at his badge while the gang only rolled their eyes at the comment meant for Shaggy and Scooby. After all, it's Stone being, you know, Stone.

"Now I figure why the gang doesn't have much trust in the sheriff." Luna remarked.

After the sheriff had left, the Hex Girls turned to the gang.

"I really don't know how should we thank you guys for your help clearing this mystery up." Thorn said.

"Oh, it was nothing." Daphne replied. "We're just doing what we thought needs to be done."

"Plus, as students of Crystal Cove Central High School, we sure have the spirit of the Fighting Urchins!" Fred added as he pumped his fist.

"There's got to be someway for us to repay the favour." Dusk said.

At the remark, Velma's eyes lightened.

May 12, 2012

That evening, the Terror Dome Stadium was packed with screaming fans and the Hex Girls performed their biggest hit: "Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air"

As Luna and Dusk began the instrumental introduction to their hit song, the gang walked onto the stage with their instruments with Scooby joined Dusk at the drums.

"Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air." Thorn began. "We may look bad but we don't care."

At that stage of the song, Shaggy joined in with the guitar, Daphne playing a second set of keyboards accompanying Luna while Fred and Velma played percussion and danced together.

"We ride the wind, we feel the fire," Thorn continued before Dusk and Luna joined in. "To love the earth is our one desire."

As the girls and the gang continued with the performance, the screaming fans just grew wilder and wilder.

It was a performance that was also being broadcasted live on television and on the internet, and plenty of YouTube channels streaming the concert have received thousands of views worldwide.

Among those that have viewed the concert were a certain Dr. Norman Rogers and Dr. Daisy Blake, who were seated in the living room of their respective houses.

Norman was cruising through the television channels when he happened to came upon a channel broadcasting the Hex Girls' concert in his hometown of Crystal Cove.

When the scene shifted to his youngest brother on the guitar dancing along with the beat of the music, together with Daphne and Scooby, he casually reached for his cell phone.

Likewise, when Daisy saw the scene featuring her youngest sister at the keyboard dancing along with the beat of the music, together with Shaggy and Scooby, she, too, casually reached for her cell phone.

After they both dialed a number, they waited for a reply.

When the party on the other end of their respective phones answered, they both answered, "It's me."

After a pause, they both continued, "You may want to turn on the television."

Another pause went by before Norman replied, "Five words: Norville and the Blake girl."

In that same time, Daisy replied, "Five words: Daphne and the Rogers boy."

Uh uh. Looks like we're about to receive another earful from Shaggy and Daphne's parents.

What will happen next? All I can say is stay tuned!

The adventure continues in D3 SDMI: The Grasp of the Gnome!