Chapter 9: Unmasked and a discussion

A short while later, the gang, along with Mayor Jones, the sheriff, a couple of deputies, Lord Barry and Queen Amanda, the latter two who were fetched by Velma, were at the down gnome.

"I should've figured that you were faking drunk symptoms so you could be with your gang, my dear Fred." Mayor Jones said, the tone of disapproval was unmistakable in his voice.

"And word has it that you two have been grounded by your parents, Mr. Rogers and Miss Blake." The sheriff added as he eyed Shaggy and Daphne.

"Like, what happens at home stays at home, sheriff." Shaggy replied nonchalantly.

"Anyways, I have to hand it to you kids for capturing this gnome that's been causing all the trouble here in the fair." Queen Amanda said.

"Actually, your Majesty, it's not really a gnome." Fred said as he moved to the gnome that was handcuffed. "He's really..."

He then removed the gnomes mask, revealing Gil Littlefoot behind the mask and costume.

"...Gil Littlefoot." Everyone exclaimed with Fred as the mask was pulled off.

"I've thought so." Velma said.

"But why?" Lord Barry asked.

"As a matter a fact, it all comes down to greed." Velma said when she produced a file and passed it to the sheriff. "Check out the insurance policy of Gil Littlefoot and the terms of conditions and agreement for running the Royal Knights Faire."

The sheriff made a quick scan of the file and his eyes narrowed.

"Seems to me that someone has been staging the gnome attacks in order to run this fair into the ground, frame his partner for the attacks and then collect the insurance money that resulted from the closure of the fair." Stone said loudly.

"Exactly." Velma nodded. "When Shaggy and Scooby told us about what they discovered while watching Gil Littlefoot after we captured the gnome, I thought that I'd pay a visit to Gil's room as I went to the castle to fetch Queen Amanda and Lord Barry."

"No wonder you stayed behind at the castle, Princess Velma." Queen Amanda said. "Though what prompted you to do so?"

"I'll get to that later, your Majesty." Velma said.

"Anyways, before Velma found the insurance policy and the terms of conditions and agreement for running the fair, our first clue was the sample of the glowing slime that the gnome used to paralyze his victims." Fred said.

"Yes." Velma nodded. "I found traces of jellyfish toxin that, when separated from the other ingredients of the slime, is very toxic and can cause serious stings and paralysis, with effects lasting up to five days."

"Right." The sheriff said. "The paramedics did reported to us on that. Go on."

"Our second clue is what Shaggy and Scooby discovered when they followed Gil Littlefoot." Fred continued.

"Right." Shaggy nodded. "Like, we saw several gymnasium champion cups Gil won over the years, in addition to a Masters degree in Marine Biology diploma awarded to Gil by Darrow University, placed on cupboards and hung on the wall in the room."

"And given that the gnome has to be someone that has knowledge in Marine Biology to work out the paralysis slime he produced and has gymnastic skills in order to be able to move flexibly like the gnome did, it didn't take long for us to figure out that the gnome's got to be Gil Littlefoot." Daphne said.

"Right, then." Stone said. "Though as Queen Amanda asked, what prompted you to stay behind in the castle when you went to fetch her and Lord Barry, Miss Dinkley?"

"Well, it was a hunch I've got in mind, based on gossips that were spreading around town." Velma said. "Word has it that the Littlefoots' marriage isn't working out well and that they're probably considering divorce and that the wife was to get most of the shared property between them."

"So it's safe to assume that my husband was planning to get even by using that insurance policy on me and stage the gnome attacks to run the fair into the ground, put the blame on me and then collect the insurance money." Queen Amanda mused before turning to her unmasked husband and added. "Well, it looks like the tables have been turned, Gil. Not only as it turns out that I'm taller than you, but your little scheme in using that old legend to get rich has just gone bust."

Gil sighed and grumbled under his breath as he was taken away by the deputies.

As the cruiser departed from the scene, Fred turned to Stone and asked, "So how long does those paralyzed victims are expected to be discharged from the hospital, Sheriff?"

"Oh, with the doctors finding the antidote, I'd say no more than two days." Stone replied. "You know, with the victims staying overnight for observations in case of any side effects from the treatment."

Everyone else nodded thoughtfully.

"But I digress, I have a feeling your parents are going to have a good talk with you kids when the fair's over." Stone added.

"Indeed he will." The mayor said as he eyed Fred.

"It's too bad that meathead sheriff ruined it." Neville remarked to Shaggy and Scooby as they dropped off Daphne and Delilah later that night.

"Yeah." Delilah said. "But at least you guys have fun while it lasted."

"Indeed." Shaggy nodded. "Anyways, see you tomorrow, Daph."

"Reah. See you." Scooby added.

"Bye guys." Daphne said. "And good luck."

"Same to you, Daph." Shaggy nodded. "You're gonna need it."

Daphne smiled and waved at Shaggy and Scooby as the Jeep drove off before joining her sister in walking home.

When Shaggy sat in his bedroom while Neville walked Scooby, he heard footsteps coming from the stairs leading to his basement room.

"Norville?" Colton asked as he stepped into the room after a knock on the door.

"Yes, Dad?" Shaggy asked as he put down his guitar. "What's up?"

"Do you really like Daphne?" Colton asked as he sat on the couch beside his youngest son.

Shaggy thought for a while before nodding. "She's like a sister to me, Dad."

Colton nodded thoughtfully. "I've thought so. Can't say I'm surprised, because Daphne inherited her mother's caring side. Actually, more to the point, she inherited the caring side her mother lost all those years ago."

"Huh?" Shaggy asked. "Like, what do you mean by that, Dad?"

"Just between you and me, son, while your mother, Scooby and Neville are out." Colton said. "I used to be good friends with her before she met Barty, and let's just say that his influence released a money-hungry side of her that made her the selfish and vain woman we see today. Not that I intend to spread gossips or rumours."

"Before that, the two of you were close?" Shaggy asked.

"Like brother and sister." Colton nodded. "One of my regrets was not making my move on her when I had the chance."

Colton then placed his hand on Shaggy's shoulder as he continued, "When I told you about my disapproval in your friendship with Daphne, Norville, it's not exactly because I don't like her, but rather, it's because it reminded me of what I went through with Nancy when she changed for the worst."

Shaggy nodded thoughtfully. "Then, what made you okay with Neville going out with Delilah?"

"Actually, you were younger when they started dating." Colton said. "And I wasn't exactly a fan of them hanging out for the same reason I mentioned earlier, son. And the reason I was more harsher on you was because I couldn't bear the thought of being reminded of my time with Nancy all over again."

Shaggy nodded again, and his father almost felt bad about him nodding all the way.

"Anyways, what I want you to know is don't make the same mistakes I've made years ago with regards to a girl you're interested in that also feels like a sister to you, son." Colton said. "If you really like her and want to hang out with her, then by all means, follow your heart. However, I have to warn you that your mother wouldn't like it."

"What's her issue with the Blakes?" Shaggy raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say that she's got her personal dislikes of them for whatever reason she gives you." Colton said. "But don't take it personally. After all, it's your choice to decide if Daphne's right for you."

Shaggy nodded thoughtfully. "And what about my and Scooby's grounding?"

"Technically, you boys are still grounded, though I'll still allow you boys to got out, you know, discretely." Colton says. "And since your mother is frequently out of town for work, I suppose the point of enforcing that can be rendered moot."

"Okay...then." Shaggy said as his father got up from the couch.

Meanwhile, Velma was fuming about spending the rest of the night at her parents' stand selling souvenirs from the Mystery Museum.

The boredom that came with her sitting at the stand with not much costumers to deal with caused her to doze off slightly.

She was interrupted from her thoughts of falling asleep when her father told her that their stand will be closing in ten minutes.

As Velma sat up straight, she noticed an envelop that wasn't on the counter a minute ago. It had the sticker labelled "E" on the back.

"I wonder what is Mr. E up to now?" She wondered to herself as she picked up the envelop and opened it.

Inside the envelop was a photograph of the Mysteries Five. It was the same photograph from the yearbook that Shaggy showed them earlier of the band, only this time, the parrot was circled in red.

There was a message written on the back of the photograph, and it read: "Don't give up. This has happened before."

"What has happened before?" Velma asked. "And why is Professor Pericles circled in this photograph? I guess the mystery thickens."

As she made the remark, she looked up towards the night sky, revealing a waxing crescent of the moon as the nearby palm trees swayed from the nighttime breeze.

The adventure continues in D3 SDMI: Battle of the Humungonauts!

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