As Catman and Rory settled down, everyone came to a stop. The night was coming to a close and everyone knew it.
Catman addressed the gang, "thanks for helping us keep the park open."
Rory rested her head on top of Catman's with a content sigh as he still held her under her legs.
"And thank you for letting us solve
the mystery with you. It was...interesting," Velma responded to the drummer.
Spaceman then spoke up, making Velma blush much to Rory's amusement . "We couldn't have done it without you."
Rolling his eyes, the Demon figured he needed to add in his thanks as well. He knew he would get teased by his bandmates either way.
"Yeah, I guess you kids are okay after all."
Shaggy and Scooby both perked up at the Demon's words of praise. They had both grown attached to the bass player over the coarse of the night.
The two jumped into the Demon's arms. He had to fight against the natural response to throw them back on the ground.
"Thanks, Mr. Demon. You'll always be the only demon I'll ever like." Those were high compliments in Rory's opinion. She never thought she would hear the day that Shaggy and Scooby would ever say they liked anything scarier than a jack-in-the box.
"Yeah. Thanks, Mr. Demon." Scooby echoed.
Even though he wouldn't admit it, but the Demon had also gained an attachment to the two. Well, more like he loathed them less than most. So he relented. "My pleasure."
"And even though I'll always remain
an Ascot Five man..." Fred began, "we wound up being pretty great partners."
Starchild was humbled by Fred's kind words. "Thanks, Scooby gang. You guys are welcome back to KISS World anytime."
Starchild had one last thing he needed to do. He had made it his own personal mission to get Fred to be upfront and admit his feelings for Daphne.
"Until then, I leave you with a kiss," Starchild said scooping Daphne into a chaste kiss.
The red-head was completely caught off guard, and starstruck. She couldn't even form a single thought.
Fred on the other hand was frazzled, not knowing what to do but knowing he was extremely jealous.
"What are you going to do about that, Freddie?" Rory asked the blonde and pointing at the scene in front of them. She was internally laughing, albeit evenly.
Fred narrowed his eyes at the smirking brunette before taking action. Sort of. "You know, I think she'd settle for a handshake or an autograph. Hello," Fred tried to interrupt the two.
Finally, much to Fred's relief, they broke apart.
"Thank you. I mean, Youre welcome," Daphne managed to get out.
Daphne stumbled over towards Fred in an almost drunk-like walk, with a goofy grin spread across her face.
As she walked past he turned to walk with her, head down, as they made their way out of the park.
"You could have cut that off a little
earlier. It was kind of gross. I mean, I was right there. I was there." Fred managed to confess. He may not have said it out front, but he let Daphne know of his jealousy in his own way.
She was pleased with his confession. She had always harbored feelings for Fred, but he had never given her hints of him feeling the same way, until now.
"I'm sorry. Did you say something, Frank?" she teased Fred.
His head perked back up at her teasing. He saw the coy smile gracing her features as she looked at him. Returning it with a smile of his own, Fred made a promise to himself that he would be real with Daphne from now on. Wouldn't want another rockstar laying kisses on her in the future. That was definitely not fun to witness.
Rory nudged Starchild as he watched the two with a content smile on his face. She knew of his plan all along, and she was glad to see that it had worked. Starchild ruffled the brunette's hair in response, to which she playfully batted away.
"We need one last favor, little miss," Starchild pointedly asked Rory.
Velma got the message and started to leave out of the park as well as with Scooby and Shaggy in tow, but not without giving a skeptical smile towards Rory. She would be sure to analyze her later.
KISS and Rory watched them all leave under the arch of the park entrance. It was a bittersweet end to the extremely adventurous and chaotic night.
The band and Rory knew that what came next was going to be the hardest part of the night, though.
Taking a breath to still herself, Rory turned to look at KISS.
Looking into their eyes, Rory knew they were giving her a choice without having to say a word. Would she stay with the Scooby gang, or return to Kissteria with them as they returned the rock to its rightful home?
Rory already had decided, though. If she were to leave with KISS, she would have to leave the Scooby gang because they could not know about her real self. She would have to leave without any explanation, making them believe she had abandoned them.
Rory could not do that to them though. She loved her friends too much. It didn't matter in the end if she was the Wielder or not.
So she would go with the second choice. Be separated from KISS, namely Catman, for a period of time as they returned to Kissteria. She had just found him, but she had to say goodbye, just for a short while.
KISS could see the wheels turning in the brunette'a head, as well as when her decision had been made.
Instantaneously, Rory and Catman crashed together, holding each other as tight as possible. Rory could feel the hands of each of the other band members briefly touch her shoulder in goodbye as they passed by the two. They knew they needed a moment to themselves.
"Promise you will come back as quick as you can," Rory asked the drummer. Her words were muffled due to her face being squished against Catman's shoulder.
"I promise with everything that I have, Rory. I will come back to you." Catman pulled back just enough to look into her green eyes. "We will see each other again before you know it."
Like she always had ever since she met him, Rory believed in every word that he said.
Their eyes fluttered closed as they both leaned in. Rory could feel just how soft his lips were as they gently moved against her own. The kiss was nothing short of sweet.
Catman's arms that had been snaked around Rory's waist the whole time tightened the slightest bit before completely unwrapping themselves from her.
Their hands slid down to intertwine together as they moved to follow after the others as the left.
As they came up to where Starchild, the Demon, and the Spaceman had been waiting, Rory noticed Scooby and Shaggy had also came to a stop just in front of them.
"Hold on, Scoob. Looks like I still have half a churro in my pocket."
Rory was slightly grossed out by the stale churro Shaggy pulled out. It had probably been their for the entirety of the night.
"It's cold," Scooby pointed out.
As Shaggy had been holding up the churro to inspect it, a sudden flame flew across the pastry, leaving it sizzling hot.
"Nice and toasty."
Everyone held in their laughter as Scooby and Shaggy stood gobsmacked, staring at the Demon. They had thought his powers had been a figment of their imagination?
"Nice going, big guy," Rory said patting the Demon on his shoulder as he smirked at her expense. She was going to have a fun time explaining that one later.
"Thanks again, guys," Starchild told Scooby and Shaggy as they still stood with shocked expressions.
"Now we gotta get this rock back
to the Elder for safekeeping," the Demon pointed out.
Rory slowly slid her hand out of Catman's. They both mourned over the loss of contact, but they knew it wouldn't be king until they saw each other again.
Like it has been said before, though. Rory was not the most patient person out there.
They held eye contact as long as they could, only breaking once KISS all activated their powers and flew off in a flurry of blue, green, red, and purple light.
The ensuing power surge sent a gust of air hurtling towards the three still standing on the ground. As Shaggy and Scooby hurriedly covered their eyes and slid back several inches, Rory stood steadfast and unwavering, watching KISS as they flew away into the night with a sad, sweet smile.
"Did you see?" Shaggy questioned Scooby.
"Did you?" Scooby, in turn, questioned Rory.
Turning to the two, Rory's face morphed into mischievousness. "See what?"
She walked past the two, heading out as well as they stood there with mouths gaping.
Rory felt them come up on each side of her, but she didn't stop her stride. She would never cease to have fun messing with the two. They wouldn't have Rory any other way, either.
They saw Velma straight in front of them.
"You think we should tell her?" Shaggy questioned his two friends.
Rory was about to say absolutely not, but Scooby beat her to it.
"No. Why rock her world?"
Rory slung one arm around Shaggy's and laid her other hand on top of Scooby's head.
"Good point," Shaggy agreed.
The trio walked to the Mystery Machine where their friends were waiting, content with keeping their little secret.
For now.
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I thought I would never say this, my dudes, but- ONE. CHAPTER. LEFT!!!
I have already started on the epilogue. <3 I seriously can't believe it !
I have fallen in love with this story, and I hope you guys have too.
*******Before we get to the epilogue, I have a challenge
^^^^^ if you have read this story up until this point, you have at least enjoyed it the teeniest tiniest bit. So, if you are reading this, go leave likes on as many chapters as you can!!!!
It would really, really make my heart swell <3
THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!