"You two like to eat!" a woman with short black hair exclaimed happily in heavily-accented English, collecting a stack of empty plates from Shaggy and Scooby's table. "Can I get more?"
Shaggy nodded, his mouth full. Gulping loudly, he replied, "Like, three more bowls of borscht, two more vatrushkas and as much piroshki as you can carry."
While the rest of the gang shook their heads in disbelief, the woman vanished into the kitchen to fulfill the request. "In Russia or Raleigh, they're still the same old Shag and Scoob," Daphne quipped.
"So who were you talking to out there, Velma?" Fred asked curiously.
As Velma recounted her conversation with Yuri, the woman returned with Shaggy and Scooby's food and swung by Fred, Velma and Daphne's table, overhearing their conversation. "I'm sorry," she interjected. "I do not mean to be rude, but did you say you were talking to Yuri Gunter?" The trio nodded. "I am called Natalya Kitaev, I own this café. Yuri is very good friend of mine. Come in every Saturday for fresh blini. Do tell him I said hello if you see him again. Now, how may I help you?"
Fred stopped trying to decipher the Cyrillic on the menu (he was reading it upside down). "Just bring us whatever you recommend," he replied with a sheepish grin. Natalya nodded and disappeared into the kitchen again.
Alone again, Fred, Velma and Daphne resumed their discussion about Yuri and Piotr until one of the cooks deposited their mouthwatering order onto the table. Just as they were about to dig in, a commotion sounded from outside. "What was that?" Velma asked, leaping to her feet.
"Let's go find out!" Fred announced, abandoning his plate and dashing out the door.
"Like, do we have to?" Shaggy whined, staring sadly at his half-eaten piroshki. Daphne grabbed the pair by their collars and dragged them outside.
Outside in the village square, a terrifying creature had appeared. Dressed in a
red and black cloak, the figure's face was hidden by a large white mask. In its gloved hands it held a blowtorch that spurted a large tongue of flame, aimed directly at the statue of Piotr!
"Hey!" Fred shouted furiously, racing towards the creature. "That statue is private property!" With a rough voice, the creature shouted something in Russian before turning and vanishing on the spot. Fred screeched to a halt, bewildered. "Hey, where'd it go?"
"It just…disappeared!" Daphne murmured.
"I know just enough Russian to know that the creature was talking about revenge," Velma announced. "Hmmm…"
"Like, don't say it!" Shaggy moaned, closing his eyes and covering his ears.
"Well, gang, looks like we've got a mystery on our hands!"
"Re raid rit," Scooby muttered sadly.
"Like, can't we go back and eat our piroshki?" Shaggy protested as the rest of the gang combed the village square for clues.
"Reah! Rand rorscht!" Scooby barked in agreement.
"Sure thing, guys," Velma replied. "I'll go with you. I want to see if Natalya knows anything about this creature."
Not daring to believe their luck, Shaggy and Scooby dashed inside Natalya's café before Velma changed her mind and made them stay in Spook Square.
Natalya looked up from cleaning a table as Velma, Shaggy and Scooby strode back inside. "Oh. You back. I feared you had 'skipped on check' as you Americans say."
"No, like, we're still hungry!" Shaggy exclaimed. "Keep the borscht comin' 'til I pass out!"
"Um…of course," Natalya murmured, vanishing into the kitchen to fulfill the request, returning a moment later with a tray full of bowls brimming with the scarlet broth. "Do enjoy." Natalya then turned to Velma. "Would you require more borscht as well?"
Velma shook her head. "Just answers, please."
"Answers?" Natalya parroted, bewildered.
"We were out in the square and saw the statue of Piotr Holender under attack by a ghostly masked figure in red and black. Would you know anything about this?"
Natalya gasped in shock and murmured something in Russian. "Please, forgive me," she choked, blinking back tears. "I believe you have met vengeful ghost. Madame Mayhem, as she would be called in your tongue, is from dark time in village history. Long ago, our village was founded by Fyodor Holender, very wise, kind man. But when he is passing on, village fell under control of evil brother Piotr. Piotr reign was one of terror. He taxed and taxed, imprisoning those who not pay.
"Under oppression, a figure rose from tyranny; a masked protector called Madame Mayhem. She broke into Piotr dungeon and freed many, smuggling them out of village. Also, she in secret gave gold to villagers to pay taxes. It drove Piotr mad to see this mystery woman make fool of him.
"But Madame was not alone in her quest. She had helpers, other masked figure that you would call the Locust Lord and the Frozen Freak. They helped her bring down Piotr evil rule. But it could not last.
"Piotr made bargain with Madame and her cohorts. He promised that he would treat villagers better if she would stop her charity. But Piotr betrayed her! In mad attempt to destroy her, he burn village to ground! The fire claimed many lives, among them were the three protectors and Piotr. Village was free from evil Piotr, but had lost protectors as well. Legend say that Madame ghost forever wanders this village, seeking revenge."
"Jinkies," Velma shuddered. Even Shaggy and Scooby had stopped eating to hear the end of the story.
Natalya nodded sadly. "It is awful story. Three brave souls lost lives to corruption! And that charlatan still has named our village!" Furiously, Natalya stormed into the kitchen.
"Jinkies…" Velma murmured.
"Like, miss, we need more borscht over here!" Shaggy called futilely. "Miss? Miss?"
Velma tossed a few rubles on the table. "I don't think we're going to find out much more here. Let's go see what the rest of the gang has found out."
"But we're still hungry!" Shaggy's protests fell on deaf ears as Velma dragged the duo out of the cafe.