SCOOBY- DOO AND THE MENACING SCORPION

Chapter 1

The Arriving

'Twas a hot summer day, the mystery machine was bravely taking on the monstrously powerful road, a menace and a challenge for every respectful car. The whole gang was excited about the great "Sand Parade" from the city of Las Brujas, actually it was kind of a town, a few houses here and there but the Sand Parade was to be something well looked forward to. Car races through the hot sand, great food to go with the weather like the delicious chilli soup made by Fred's aunt who was living there with her husband and two children. The gang had its usual set up, Freddy was driving, paying close attention to the road, daphne was reading a fashion magazine about the interesting styles of the sand, girls were wearing brown clothes and yellow jewelry to pay homage to the sand, the Sand Gods which the tribe that formed Las Brujas in ancient times were worshipping. Velma was reading on her laptop, she of course was reading an article about the holiday, all its historical aspects, traditions, origins, food, everything, and shared all she could find with the gang, Shaggy on the other hand was more interested in what kind of food they were going to serve at the festival, his stomach was already growling but he kept on eating some potato chips anyway. Of course we cannot forget his dearest friend, a Dog named Scooby-Doo, who was also eating from the same bag of potato chips. Velma started talking about the Sand Parade with a happy, confident voice:

" Hey guys, listen up here! The ancient people who invented the Sand Parade actually celebrated the god of Sand, Artazzo The Scorpion, legend has it that at the beginning of the world there was one man and one woman and three children who were living there, in Las Brujas and they were having a hard time with agriculture because of the hot, arid earth, their climate was not favorable at all…"

"Jeepers! I wouldn't want to live in that kind of environment." Said Daphne, trembling.

Velma continued: " … Anyway, it says here that on one hot night they heard some noises, there were other people, two or three families to be exact, on top of a giant scorpion. They jumped off his back and their leader, Mackaruckii, a man dressed in blue clother with a scarf tied aroung his forehead, told them that this was the great Scorpion Spirit, it was their protector, saved them from barbarians and took them here, in his natural habitat, he rules over this land. The scorpion made one gesture of his taild, raising it up in the air and crushing is on the unfruitful land. It immediately started raining and vegetables were growing, even vegetables that wrren't supposed to grow in that area, like tomatoes, potatoes, garlic, everything you could think of. The original family who was living there bowed down to the Great Giant Scorpion, it became their mighty God since that day."

"" Like that's some kind of story, Giant scorpions, fruits that were growing on their own, vegetables that weren't supposed to grow there, like I'll say like that legend is absurd. OW!" said Shaggy, biting his lip.

" It's just a story Shaggy, the imagination of the people, it doesn't have to make sense" said Velma.

The group reached the town and were welcomed by Fred's aunt, Cathya who was waiting for them. They jumped out of the car and Cathya took Fred's by his cheeks and started saying what a beautiful man he has become, while his friends were laughing at him. Immediately after Fred got loose from his aunt's tight hug, Shaggy jumped into her arms, hinting about that chilli soup she's been bragging about to Fred. Scooby came too and he started licking her on the face, she laughed and invited everyone inside, to prepare for the Sand Parade of tomorrow. Cathya carried both Shaggy and Scooby in her arms, she was a broad woman, large shoulders, fat arms but all that which looked like fat was actually muscle, Velma said, whispering to herlelf:" Man, does that woman work out or what?"

Daphne overheard herr but didn't say anything, she thought Shaggy looked funny carried being carried by Fred's aunt and, in a funny way, she thought he was kind of cute. She sighed. Fred's uncle Jabadiah, a skinny man, you'd say it was Shaggy's uncle, not Fred, by how he looked like, but he had an imposing beard, like the bavarians used to wear, heard her sighjing and asked: " What's wrong my dear?"

"Nothing, I'm just tired from the trip, that's all." Daphne replied, although she wasn't that tired, she started having feelings for Shaggy ever since that school dance back in Crystal Cove.

17 May, one month prior to thetrip to the trip to Las Brujas. It was the final day of schoold and on that evening there was a dance organized by the school. Daphne and Velma came to the dance in two beautiful purple and orange dresses, they looked amazing; when they walked inside they saw the guys waiting for them by the punch bowl and enjoying a well deserved glass of punch. " Like I passed all my finals, dude! I'm good for the summer.", Shaggy said, overjoyed, Scooby replied " Reah, we're ronna reat rall summer ran watch Van Rhoul movies." Ho ho ho ho, like you read my mind Scoob, this is gonna be the greates summer ever. Everyone was happy for Shaggy, when Daphne saw him she was unbelievably drawn to him, he looked so handsome in that tuxedo. Fred asked her if she wanted to dance but she ignored him, all she wanted to do was look at Shaggy. " Like why are you looking at me like that, Daph?". At the sound of that question Daphne snapped out of her hypnosis and said " Ah, no reason, I noticed you put a nice bow tie, it really matches the suit and your black eyes.".

"Like thanks, Daph, wasn't really sure about wearing it but after hearing your opion I'm more fond of it. Thanks, you're a good friend".

" Ha, yeah, a friend", Daphne thought to herself. They started playing a slow song, Velma took Shaggy to a dance and Daphne's face changed from a bright big smile to sad teary eyes. Fred danced with her in the disco light and asked her what's wrong, whyt was she crying. Daphne replied simply by saying that she was happy, happy that the school year has ended and happy that they would spend their summer together, solving mysteries, having fun, going to the beach. Fred accepted her response, without questioning her any further. Since that night she kept thinking about Shaggy, she couldn't stop thinking about him, she even cut out a photo of him from the school album which she was hugging tight with her arms crossed and bound to her chest, wishing every waking moment that she would be with him, she didn't care what they'd do, she'd even watch Van Ghoul Movies and eat unhealthy food, she wanted to feel Shaggy touch when he'd put his arm around her, his cherry pie breath when he'd kiss her, it wasn't too much to ask really. While she was pouring out her heart, Shaggy was at home with Scooby, munching on all the food they could find. Ever since that day Daphne looked at Shaggy with such admiration and LOVE. Back to the present moment, everyone was introduce to Cathya's kids, she had a lovely blond daughter with braided hair, about six or seven years old and boy roughly around fifteen years old with red messy hair, kind of upset about the parade.

" Hey Milo, long time no see. How've you been?" Fred asked the little boy. The boy nodded and didn't say a word. Fred turned to his aunt and whispered to her: " What's up with him?". His aunt responded, in whisper of course:" He's upset because Sally Winklers refused to be his date for the Sand Parade". At the sound of those words Shaggy stood up from the chair he was sitting on and told Milo: "Like, man, I know exactly how you feel, charming girls is complicated isn't it? Let's go outside and talk about it, man to man, maybe my experience can help you!". Velma laughed and asked: "Experience? How many girls have you wooed?". Daphne answered Velma's question in her head, thinking "Mhmmm, he certainly wooed me."

Shaggy turned his face towards Velma, he was looking baleful at her and said: "Well, my experience with girls is not something to be talked about with girls, so me and Milo we'll be on our way, outside.". Milo asked Shaggy: "Are you sure that you're the best suited to give me advice about women?". "Oh man, I just can't catch a break." Said Shaggy. Everyone started lauging, aunt Cathya went to the kitchen to bring something to eat, the rest of them set down and started talking about the parade.

" Gee, uncle Jabadiah! I can't wait to see the parade, I was so young when I came here the first time, I don't remember a thing." Said Fred.

"Nothing? You don't remember how I put you on a horse and you were so afraid you puked all over the horse's crest? And you don't remember how you broke your aunt's favorite chaird, it was a Victorian style one, she won it at a contest before she met me. Boy does that woman lo you, if I would've broken the chair she would've had my head, but not her little Freddy." Velma kept on laughing, "Jinkies Freddy, looks like you were quite the troublemaker, what changed you? Ha, ha, ha! ".

Meanwhile Shaggy was outside with Milo, teaching him about girls, like he had a clue. He pet him on the back and tried to explain to him that it's not the end of the world, it's just a girl, there are plenty of them and than, without realizing Daphne was beside the door, listening to uncle Jabadaiah's stories about Fred but also overhearing what Shaggy was saying, he started talking about her: " Like, take for example, Daphne, she's really cute, beautiful even, that red hair and those purple eyes matching her clothes or was it the other way around… Anyway, she said no to a lot of guys, like she'd probably say no to me if I'd ask her to be my date for the parade, it wouldn't be a disaster, although it would be really groovy to hang out with Daph as my date, imagine my joy and also imagine Fred's jealousy, he would go nuts, ha ha ha ha. So, to wrap it up, go and ask another girl that you like or go by yourself, maybe you'll meet somebody there, always remember that in this life you need to have fun as much as you can, girls will follow, hey there's gotta be at least one of them that wants us!"

Milo smiled and asked Shaggy: " But weren't you the one who fell in love with that alien girl? Like you haven't found somebody to love from this planet, she was from another one. ". Shaggy gulped and while he rearranged his collar with one finger he said: "Ha, yeah, I go crazy about chicks who are out of this world!". Daphne heard every word, was Shaggy into her too? Has she imagined all that conversation? He said something, no doubt about it, maybe there was a chance. Daphne rose from the armchair she was sitting in, looked around to get everyone's attention and said: " I'm gonna go check on Milo, Shaggy's macho stories must have given him the wrong impression about coping with a girl's refusal. ".

"See you, Daph!" Velma said.

" Is your friend feeling alright Freddy dear?" asked aunt Cathya as she was bringing some freshly baked muffins on a silver platter.

"She's fine, just worried about Shaggy sharing his experience with women."

Daphne was long gone from the room, from the house even, she was outside, the hot burning sun was blinding her even if she was looking down because the sand was so lightened by it. She was heading to Shaggy and he looked at her, surprised to see her there and asked: "Hey Daph, like what are you doing?".

"Oh, just came to see how you were doing, it seems Milo really digs your successful love stories and all the broken hearts you've left behind."

"Yeah, like well, I haven't left so many broken hearts… I mean I'm not sure if I even got one to break from a girl and… "

As saying was babbling, Milo interrupted him and asked Daphne with a loud voice, maybe too loud: "Miss Blake, would you like to go to the Sand Parade with my new friend Shaggy? He said you are gorgeous.". Daphne tried to act surprised but blushed a little and brought her hand to her head and started playing with a strain of her hair, responding: "Really?! He did? I mean of course he did, he's a trusted friend, he always tells me the truth." Everybody started laughing and the others came out to see what's going on, of course they all heard what Milo asked but none other than Shaggy really heard Daphne's response, he laughed the hardest. Aunt Cathya called them all inside, it was time for muffins and the sun was setting, time for bed, tomorrow was going to be a big day, the long awaited Sand Parade. After they ate some muffins and also some French fries aunt Cathya cooked on the double, as she knew her little Freddy's craving for French fries, everyone went to sleep, the girls in one room and the boys in the other room . Both Daphne and Shaggy sat laid down on those bed and thought about tomorrow, Shaggy was thinking: "Like was she joking and considered me just a friend or does she like me?" while Daphne was thinking: " I can't believe Shaggy said that about me, Milo wouldn't lie, he'd have no reason to. Does Shaggy really consider me gorgeous, does he like me as much as I like him? Oh I don't know if this is going to end well, what should I do, I mean… ". Daphne's process of thinking was interrupted when she heard a voice: " Like man you girl really think hard at night, so hard you didn't even notice me.". It was Shaggy, he was standing beside her bed, smiling at her. Daphne freaked out and yelled: "Shaggy!", reaction to which Shaggy responded with a simple whisper: " Calm down, will ya? You'll wake up the whole town. ".

"What are you doing here?" Daphne asked, with her eyes filled with joy.

" I was thinking… I know it's a dumb idea but I'd like to explore the surroundings in the morning, about 5 o'clock, before the Sand Parade and everyone waking up. Would you care to join me? " said Shaggy, with a lowered tone in his voice.

"Like yeah! " Daphne said, imitating Shaggy.