A/N: I been wanting to write a Scooby Doo story for this site since forever, but I haven't found a idea that really sparks anything in my imagination until now. I wanted it to be a really good idea too because Scooby Doo basically defined my childhood, therefore it holds a very special place in my heart.

If you're new to me, then it will please you to know that the entire story is written up. So there will be a new chapter everyday, usually around the same time. Keep a look out for me. :)

So I hope you enjoy.

Prologue: Changes are usually a good thing. I swear.

When Shaggy had first celebrated his twenty first birthday, several years ago now, things had inevitably began to change for him.

Which was fine with him. Shaggy often enjoyed change, most people tend to dread it but he lets it take him wherever it wants to go. The idea of things slowing down, becoming the same routine day in and day out at some sort of meaningless job was more terrifying than anything to him. Which is saying something after years of fighting monsters both real and fake, and the fact that this is Shaggy. Who is scared of clowns and bowling pins.

But that reality, the monotony of a nine to five job, of a white picket fence in a quiet neighborhood is starting to become too real. Too reachable. Just around the corner. Slowly sneaking up from behind. Though, not really for him. More like for the people he tend to surround himself with.

He knew that himself and his friends won't stay young forever, even though in the moment it certainly felt like it. Going on all these wonderful adventures made it feel as if time has stood still just for them. Sometimes he wished that was the case, especially now when it's starting to feel like these adventures are starting to come to an end.

Change is usually a friendly face he could rely on, it brought him these adventures. But now it gave Fred interest in joining the police force and becoming a Detective, Velma is starting to talk about becoming a Teacher and Daphne had been destined to take over her family's Hotel Empire after they had finished her final season of 'Haunted America.'

So what does that leave poor old Shaggy? Himself and his dog. That's what. Nothing really interests him in the way his friends future careers does for them. He could become a chef but being stuck in a kitchen, though in any other circumstances would be a dream come true, made him anxious and for once actually killed his appetite. He could stay in the food business and actually own a restaurant but he has no money saved up and he can't beg to Daphne for help. Banks would take one look at him and laugh, especially since he was the only one in their group to drop out of High School. So he doesn't have a diploma to rely on. Which eliminates the more stable and better paying jobs. He could get his GED but it wouldn't get him very far, not in the way that it used to be. And the few jobs he actually had? Never really held it down for very long.

So in many ways, he's screwed. Totally and completely screwed. As soon as these mystery solving adventures are over. Mystery Inc. is eventually going to part ways, and he's going to be alone. Well not alone entirely, he'll have Scooby. The others will surely stay in touch, but how long until it'll be out of pity?

When would they eventually move on? When will he end up alone?

Shaggy was brought out of his darkening train of thoughts by a hand on his shoulder. He looked up from the glass of wine that the flight attendant had given him about an hour ago. Fred smiled at him, other hand lifting the eye-mask to his forehead. It has been a pretty rough flight, though their destination is what Shaggy was dreading the most. Home.

"Hey Shag, why so glum?" Fred shook his shoulder again. "You been glaring at that glass for awhile now." He sat back in his seat, though still waiting for an answer. Shaggy looked around the plane to see that both Velma and Daphne were still asleep.

"Like, just a little tired." Shaggy placed the wineglass on the convenient pull out table in front of him. "A little anxious too, I hope Scooby is doing okay down there."

Fred sighed, removing the mask completely. "I'm sure he's fine, though it's a shame he couldn't be here with us. I'd hate to be shoved in a crate and put with the luggage."

"We're totally not using this airline again. That's for sure." Shaggy laughed. "I mean, they like, charge extra for peanuts. These are the real monsters."

Fred chuckled warmly along with him, though Shaggy knows that Fred wasn't very convinced. His friend has been getting very good at picking up the small details like mood and body language. Or when someone hasn't been entirely truthful with him.

He's going to make a great Detective.

Shaggy finished his glass, telling himself that it's his last one. He never liked how alcohol affects him, as he drank before when they visited countries whose legal drinking age was much lower. None of them do. Especially Velma who found out that she was a lightweight.

That, and he knew that the alcohol isn't going to fix anything. He knew that if he pushes it, he is still going to be the same old loser when he sobers up. His friends are still ambitions. And he has nothing. It didn't bother him when he turned eighteen, nineteen or twenty. It's just that twenty-one was this magic number that suddenly turned him into a loser. He certainly felt it now, amongst his closest friends in this airplane. It's an awful feeling that sits uncomfortably in his stomach as he watch his friends start to move on without him. It made him feel sick. He doesn't know what's wrong with him, how it feels like he is the only one that is standing still while the people around him only turned into blurred streaks of light and color.

"Hey man." Fred brought him back out of his thoughts. This time there was a hand on Shaggy's forehead. "You're really burning up, are you sure you're okay."

"Y- yeah." Shaggy wiped the extra sweat that was beading at his forehead with the collar of his shirt. "I guess it's something that I ate."

"But I haven't seen you eat much of anything." Fred said, calling over a flight attendant, asking if she had a aspirin. She nodded and returned seconds later. "Hold on to this, so you'll have it when the alcohol leaves your system."

Shaggy nodded, leaning back into his seat. Fred replaced the empty glass with a bottle of water. He didn't say much of anything else, relieved to see Shaggy finally get some sleep.

Returning to recline back into his own seat, Fred choose to stare out the window until sleep returns to him as well. Pushing his worrying thoughts of his best friend out of his mind. Shaggy was going to be fine, Fred was always just a little over protective of his friends. So on occasion, he has to remind himself to lighten up.

What's the worse that could happen?

End of Prologue

A/N: Hello! This is going to be the start of a beautiful... something. I don't know what. But you can say that it is... something.