Fred, Daphne, and Velma were searching their end of the town. Just like their friends they were unable to find clues that pointed towards the motives of either bad guy. It was actually starting to get on their nerves when the others found them and told them what had happened. So, the gang regrouped to better sort out what they knew. Dick decided they would need a list of Scarecrow's biggest crimes. Melissa had no such list as the gang found out.

"What? I'm not a computer I don't keep tabs on everything!" Melissa said when the gave her surprised looks.

Lucky for them Dick was able to access the files they needed. However, they weren't the only ones doing research. Scarecrow and Vortex were doing their own research within the safety of their underground lair. Truth be told Scarecrow was the one doing the research while Vortex watched, plotting, thinking of how and when he should betray the human criminal. Oh, Scarecrow had been so very easy to con and to think that all the ghost had to do was spread gas over the entire town at night to earn his trust. Of course, Hart Valley wasn't the only place Vortex planned to wreak havoc and cause mayhem. No, that was far from the end. Vortex planned to dominate little towns before moving back to Amity Park where he planned to destroy Danny Phantom once and for all.

Now, however, he was stuck listening to Scarecrow go on and on and on about his latest scheme which just so happened to involve the ragtag group of teens that had shown up. More specifically, the lanky boy and the dog whose names Vortex didn't care to remember. All Vortex had to do was trap them in one of his biggest, darkest storms where Scarecrow would nab them before hauling them back to the lair so that they could be experimented on like lab rats.

Typical humans.

The gang spent hours gathering the much-needed information. After they had done that they split up and headed out again. The town was quiet, still and empty leading them to believe that Scarecrow had called it quits for the night but, they were dead wrong. A dust storm blew in suddenly blinding and separating them from each other. In the midst of this Shaggy and Scooby were knocked out. When they woke up they found themselves strapped down to tables, Scarecrow grinning at them evilly.

"Now, let's find out what scares you," he said watching them closely as he tried to pick the most potent of his gasses to do the job.

"Like, you scare us," Shaggy whined.

"But it's not enough,"

"What?" Scooby dared to ask.

"You two are perfect. I plan to harvest the epinephrine right from you,"

"WHAT?"

Scarecrow didn't answer them instead he subjected them to his chemicals causing them to see the worst things imaginable They screamed bloody murder. Scream after scream. They screamed so much in fact, that their throats were raw. Scarecrow took this opportunity to begin the operation. He lifted the scalpel ready to make the first cut when the door busted open. Nightwing stood there prepared for the oncoming fight. While Nightwing engaged in a battle with Scarecrow Melissa snuck in behind him, mindful of where the two were and how fast they were moving. She slinked along the wall, inching closer to Shaggy and Scooby who were still under the effects of the fear gas.

"GO AWAY," Shaggy was screaming at some unseen monster.

Melissa clenched her fists in annoyance before diving under Scarecrow's desk. Her only hope of getting the boys out was Nightwing knocking out Scarecrow. Which he did in the nick of time. With Scarecrow out cold, Melissa popped up from her hiding place, debuting on how to untie Shaggy and Scooby without getting hurt. Melissa was starting to worry, they had no earthly idea where Vortex was and, he could return at any moment. Melissa and Nightwing were prepared to face a lot of bad guys but, a weather-controlling ghost wasn't one of them.

"We have to knock them out before we can do anything," Nightwing deduced.

"How?" Melissa questioned.

"Well, given the number of chemicals flowing through their bodies normal methods could be hazardous to there health-"

"Wait, I've got it," Melissa cried pulling a small vial from her pocket "We can use this,"

"What is that?" Nightwing asked looking at the strange pink goop.

"You ever seen The Wizard Of Oz?"

"Poppies?"

"Poppy extract, Poppies will put them to sleep,"

"It's painless but is it safe?"

"All they have to do is take one sniff and they'll be out cold," Melissa explained as she strapped on a medical mask and passed one to Nightwing.

Melissa was right. One sniff and the suffering duo were out cold. She replaced the cork on the bottle as Nightwing untied the sleeping duo. Now they had to find Vortex and find out what he was up to.

Things are heating up! I wonder how Nightwing and, Melissa knew where Scarecrow was *Evil Smile*. Please remember to review.