Soon, the ever-hungry Shaggy and Scooby arrived at Beau's kitchen. A pot of gumbo simmered on the stove next to a cooling pecan pie. A bowl piled full of red-hot chili peppers sat on the table, awaiting some unfortunate soul to feel their burn.
"Like, Scoob, it's the mother-lode!" Shaggy gasped happily.
"Ruh huh!" Scooby howled, licking his lips in anticipation.
The duo quickly dug in, eviscerating the pecan pie and most of the gumbo before turning their attention to the chili peppers. "C'mon, Scoob, what do you say?" Scooby eyed them dubiously. "Chicken?" Shaggy taunted.
"Ro rhay!" Scooby barked, taking two peppers from the bowl; Shaggy did the same. "On rhee. Rhone…rhoo…rheee!" The duo stuffed the peppers in their mouths and instantly turned seventeen shades of scarlet!
The dog-and-detective duo scrambled desperately for something to cool down the burn: Shaggy turned his head upside down over the kitchen faucet and allowed the cool liquid to stream down his throat, while Scooby opened the freezer and began shoveling ice cubes into his mouth.
"Well…those were hot…" Shaggy gasped. "Want some more?"
"Reah! Reah!" Scooby barked excitedly, bouncing up and down on his four paws. But as they reached for the peppers, they found they were no longer alone!
A black shape, almost taller than Shaggy, stood in the kitchen. Its yellow eyes glowed sinisterly as stared at the dog-and-detective duo! A noise, much like a howl and a scream combined, emerged from the blackness that made up the creature.
"Like, ZOINKS!" Shaggy screeched, leaping into Scooby's paws. "GAANGWAAY!"
Meanwhile, an empty-handed Fred and Daphne crept down the creaky velvet-covered stairs and headed towards Beau's office. "I guess we'd better see what the rest of the gang found," Fred remarked as they reached the landing.
Suddenly, Scooby and Shaggy raced past them with a shadowy creature chasing after them! "I guess we know what they found…" Daphne remarked.
"Come on! After them!" Fred commanded.
Fred and Daphne dashed after the shadow beast as it ran through hallways with bizarrely interconnected doors. Scooby and Shaggy ran blindly away from the creature, but always managed to find the exact same hallway no matter what path they took.
"It, like, seems we're running around in circles!" Shaggy panted as they ducked through door after door. "And that thing always seems to know where we'll end up!"
Soon, however, the gang all joined up and raced into the relative safety of Beau's office, much to Velma's surprise. "What are you all doing here?" Velma asked.
"Like, shadow monster…" Shaggy panted. "Like, right outside…"
"What?" Velma asked as she strode over to the door and flung it open. "I don't see a…jinkies!"
The shadow monster stepped into the office and surveyed Mystery Incorporated with its sinister glowing eyes. It chuckled darkly (despite not having a mouth) and crept towards the frightened gang.
Thinking quickly, Fred sneaked a look around the room and noticed just what he needed. He nudged Daphne and motioned with his eyes. Instantly, she understood. With a swipe of her lavender heel, she knocked the shadow creature's leg out from under it.
As the creature tumbled to the floor, Fred leaped towards the window. He snatched at curtains and pulled them free of the rod. Velma and Daphne took the curtains and bundled them around the shadow, while Fred tied the curtain ropes around the struggling beast.
"Good thinking, Fred," Velma cheered. "Now let's see who this shadowy beast is!"