Caught in the darkness, I go blind

But can you help me find my way out?

Nobody hears me, I suffer the silence

Can you tell me it's over now?

There's a hate inside of me like some kind of master

I tried to save you, but I can't find the answer

I'm holding onto you, I'll never let go

I need you with me as I enter the shadows

-RED; Shadows

Before Lena and Beau were able to ask anymore questions, all three heard a faint barking in the distance. They turned to see Scooby charging in their direction, with Simone and the rest of the gang trailing not far behind.

Scooby puffed up smugly and wagged his tail, before pawing Shaggy's pantleg for a reward. "Rooby Rack?" Shaggy obliged and tossed a few treats to Scooby- but not before helping himself. Simone gagged a little.

"Why'd you take off like that?" Fred asked. "Before you guys do anything like that, please let us know in the future-" The blond man stopped in his tracks, posture stiffening at the sight before them.

There was Beau, standing next to a very large feline-type being. And beside it, was the third part of the trio, whom to his knowledge was just as dead and gone as Lena and Simone had been.

"Jacques?!" Simone exclaimed, her green eyes widening.

The large Cajun man let out a loud belly laugh. "Yes, Mizz Lenoir! Is me." He gently patted the cat-person's head. "Like Lena's new look?"

Scooby howled in terror in leapt into Shaggy's arms.

"Like, not exactly. No offense, Lena." Lena simply flattened her ears.

Simone squinted and stepped forward. "Are you...of this world? Or part of the spirit's?" She reached out a hand, and wasn't surprised when it passed right through him.

"I be in da same realm as Moonscar an' his crew," Jacques explained. He gestured to Lena. "I used da last of da residual magic from our curse and gave it to our Lena in da form of good energy."

"Good energy?" Daphne inquired.

Jacques nodded. "Da spirits, I befriended some o' them an' they felt bad for what became of you two ladies. So I asked dem to help you, and as payment, dey used the last of the cat magic I had left in me."

"Does that mean Lena and Simone have some of this left over magic as well?" Velma asked, which got a nod from Jacques.

"Da curse be broken, but we had it forso long that there be little traces left. Da possession and bloodlust is gone, but dey may have a few things left, like heightened senses and maybe the ability to still shift."

"This form is so much more different," Lena responds.

"Dat's 'cuz it be good powers now, thanks to da spirits," Jacques assured, "An' since you was given da last of my powers, and had a bit to begin with, it just...shows more."

Lena closes her eyes and concentrates. Bones pop, fur vanishes, fangs shrink, and soon, Lena is back to her humanoid form again.

"Will you be coming back too?" Fred asked Jacques, but the aged man shook his head.

"I can't, son. All I can do is give y'all a little boost into tryin' to catch those pirates."

"Well, thank you," Simone says, with a soft smile. "I'm...so sorry for what became of you."

Jacques put up a hand and grinned. "Aw, no frettin, Mizz Lenoir. Wasn't your fault. I was da one who wanted da curse and your demon cat thing knew all da right words. You was just vessels." The blue mist was surrounding him again, causing the others to step back. A wave and a little Cajun French well-wishing, and he was gone.

"That was a surprise," Beau thought aloud.

"Especially for Lena," Velm responded as she jutted a thumb in the other girl's direction.

"Run," Lena suddenly yelped. She was staring off in the distance, a posture stating that she was gearing up for a sprint.

Daphne looked around. Everything seemed perfectly normal - to her human eyes.

Lena was stunned! Could nobody see the familiar glow that was sweeping toward them? It was cresting the next hill, her supernatural sense of hearing now able to pick up the sounds of clanging swords. Sweat broke out on her forehead as she looked atSimone. The older woman looked like she sensed something, too.

"She is right. We must make a run for it," Simone added to a very stunned group of humans - and that dog. Ugh, that dog.

"You can't see that?" Lena asked, pointing toward the brightening light. Her voice is frantic. Velma squinted and cleaned her glasses idly.

"Wait. You two have heightened senses. Means you can sense things we can't," Beau said. But he got no response- Lena and Simone were now both pacing irritably. The detective turned to the others and announced, "I'm not going to doubt them. Let's move-"

At that point both Lena and Simone charged the gang, each hoisting half of their friends up over their heads and taking off at full speed.

To any other oberver it would have looked like quite the spectacle; as there was absolutely nothing there. But that wasn't what the two ladies saw.

What they saw was a gigantic group of pirates racing after them, with Morgan Monscar's dreadful laughter piercing their ears.