"The Aftermath"

Greetings to all Scooby Doo fans...this is my first attempt ever at fanfiction and the time and place will be set post Nibiru in the SDMI realm of the franchise...Before proceeding any further, Disclaimer proclamation: Any and all characters and original references to the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. series is the sole intellectual property of Warner Bros., Hanna Barbera, and Cartoon Network and their affiliates. The Transit commercial van is a registered trademark of the Ford Motor Company. Any other later added content that is copyrighted property will be referenced to its rightful owner…By the way, feel free to provide any feedback, and I will make every attempt possible to stay true to the accuracy of the SDMI series. Worth mentioning as well that the shifts between old and new Crystal Cove added a couple of years to the gang's ages. (19-21) to make it a bit more mature and interesting. Also, I intend to incorporate a generous amount of romantic elements(Shelma and Fraphne), and right the wrongs I feel were done in the original series. Please inform me of any inaccuracies. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Where do we go from here?"

"Crystal Cove...The Sunniest Place on Earth". The Utopian landscape lay before the four teens and their trusty canine, that just minutes earlier was a ground zero of untold death and destruction. They had witnessed firsthand basically everyone they had known all their lives devoured by the evil entity of Nibiru. Thousands of innocents, as well as a few not so much, gone. Not to mention each one of these "meddling kids and their dog" had looked this wretched incarnation of death and evil right in the eye and felt its unwielding grasp. This venerable group had somehow conquered the unconquerable. There was no feeling of joy, only mourning, for the ones they had truly known in the world they had grown up in were gone forever. A devastating warm rush of sorrow flowed through each one of them as the unbearable feeling of survivor guilt set in. The Mystery Inc members looked toward each other momentarily, then starred back toward the ground.

After a few minutes had passed to where the shock of the near cataclysm and the transfiguring to this strange alternate reality had somewhat subsided, they slowly started walking to investigate their new surroundings. With the sight of everyone in Crystal Cove going about their daily routine, even though moments ago they were all being slaughtered, it didn't take long to find a lone familiar spot in the form of the Clam Cabin to sit down and take a breath.

Fred Jones broke the silence. "Well gang...guess this means we won… i mean it's finally over."

"Like, yeah"...said Shaggy sadly, thinking to himself "that's not the only thing that's over", while gazing at Velma with his hand covering his eyes, hoping she wouldn't notice. He then let out a subtle, but long sigh.

"Ru roray raggy?" asked scooby, seeing something was obviously troubling his master.

"Hangin in there Scoob, ol buddy" replied Shaggy. "Just a bit wore out and the sun is,like, shining in my eyes, that's all". Shaggy then gave Scooby a familiar and affectionate scratch on his head behind his ears.

Just then, the door of the Clam Cabin flew open with such force that it bashed loudly against the exterior wall of the small structure. Skipper Sheldon dodged it just before it struck him in the face.

"Damn new spring loaded hinges almost got me in the nose again...HAH HAH HAH!"

"Skipper...Your Nose!" Daphne exclaimed before she could restrain herself. "What is it young lassie? What's wrong with my nose?!" asked Skipper.

"Umm...nothing" said Daphne feeling awkward.

"Ram rones, raggy?' said Scooby, hoping to cheer up his best bud with some comfort food.

"No thanks Scoob. Like, I'm really not feelin it right now...have one for me though"

"Roray raggy" said Scooby with his face already half stuffed with half a dozen clam cones.

Meanwhile, Velma Dinkley peered sharply through her bifocals and caught a split-second glimpse of what appeared to be that one rarely-seen caring, nurturing look from Shaggy in her direction...the one look that always seemed to break down her walls…

She immediately hardened her heart…"He made his choice and besides I have work to do...I'm sure it was nothing"

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