Author´s note: I must say that you guys are the best! Thank you so much for reading this story! I must admit that I was a Scooby fan in my childhood and I became surprise about things like Scrappy turning evil (but I don´t care cuz he´s in this fic. YES! And not acting so anoying) and that stuff. Anyway, we move on and I say what I said earlier, I would like to see a SDMI real life movie. Like Rhino put it, it could be B-Awesome!


7. Digging Deep

Scooby is breathless.

He has never spotted the strange statue near the town hall. A ship´s mask and a canon that represent the sailor´s life. There is also a commemorative plaque where it can be read: "TO THE SAILORS WHO FORGED THIS COUNTRY. HERE STANDS THE MEMORY OF THE SHIP NEVER LAND."

"I have never guessed why humans like this so much" mumbles Hutch while Alcor caws.

"Re reither"

"It reminds them of those who are gone" says a gentle and strong voice coming from the top of the mask. There stands a large black cat with a white spot in star shape on his chest. His big amber eyes shine with the snow colour of his muzzle and two of his paws that walk over the statue with ease. "Scooby Doo, I presume. Cait, at your humble service"

"This is our boss" cry the ravens.

"The boys have told me about your little problem and since this curse thing has put us in the same side, you can count me in" he jumps to the ground and offers a paw to shake. A glare from Scooby does not move him so the dog gives him his. "So nice that we come to an understanding. Now. You were looking for the Never Land and here´s your prize, or better said, part of it"

"Where´s re rest?"

"Good question. The Never Land disappeared in, let me think... Conquistadors came around 1500´s something... The Spanish geographer Sebastian Vizcaino maped this place around 1609 and the missioners came later. Let´s see... Ouh! Around 1540 more or less. Of course, this is estimation, nothing else"

"Risappeared?"

"Oui. According to the only two sailors found, the ship was swallowed by a giant beast, something that it was later confirmed in the found log of Captain Hawkins two years ago" the cat plays with his whiskers. He has a funny accent, Spanish like. "Y eso nos lleva a... This leads us to the eel"

"I rought it rwas a rake"

"The snake, oh, sí. But, uh... To tell the truth, amigo mío, there are three main snakes in the world"

"Ree?" Scooby rises three fingers.

"Sí. One is the the Sky Snake, for the aztecs and such, Quetzalcoalt, for us `The Long rope´, the constellation of the dragon. In other words, the life spirit. You follow?"

"Reah"

"Genial. Next is the snake you say. Jormungard, the Earth snail that encircles the world with his long body and leaves often under the sea. And at last but not the least, Nidhogg, the eel, the underground eel snake that bites off the roots and guards the entrance to the land of Sunken Island."

"Rot it" clever dog.

"Sunken Island is in fact over the head of Jormungard or over the Sky Snake´s. You follow?"

"Ri"

"So, in short. The Sky one and Jormungard guard and carry sunken island, sacred land, and Nidhogg is the eel that guards the door. Easy"

"Rokey. Rand, re rubmarine?"

"The submarine? OK, let´s see now, it´s..." a sudden roar is heard and Scooby cowards.

"I think class is dismissed" Hutch picks out his sword.

"Am ashamed to say that you got it right" Cait moves his big ears.

" (Whimper)" the dog hides his tail between his legs.

"This can only mean trouble"

ssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssss

Pericles has also heard the roar and follows it to where Scooby is. The dog surely has found himself some curious companions on this mission but, what was that roar? A shadow covers the bird and he turns around to face an unexpected guest.

"Vat a surprise!" the parrot smiles.

"Don´t get me wrong, feathers. I could just break your neck"

"Vhy are you here, my friend?"

"Work, none of your business"

"If that vas the case, you vouln´d talk to me. So I guess you vant something from me" the evil genius remains where he is.

"I´m here on a mission and to retrieve someone"

"Oh, I can guess vho that is and trust me, I can help you vith that"

"Oh, yeah?"

"Course. There is nothink in this vorld I can´t do" Pericles glances at the large dog standing in near the town hall. "Vut I vant somethink in exchange"

"What?"

"A man called Ricky Owens" states the parrot with an evil grin.

"Only that?"

"For now, yes. Das ist alle"

"Very well, follow me" the stranger starts walking through the streets.

"My sweet Ricky, prepare to meet Ihr schlimmster Albtraum (your worst nightmare) " Pericles follows him with an even more wider and cruel smile.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Mr. E shivers.

He no longer feels the body of the snake around him but at least, he can now move. Slowly but is able to stand, although his eye sight is still all blurry and the breathing is hard. He´s all alone now. Perhaps that beast went to check on Scooby Doo and Angel and be right back, but he can´t be sure. The man uses the wall to stand and the hands to guide himself through this endless steel corridors full of glass walls and hanging footbridges. His lungs keep on hurting and there is constant gurgling in the sternum that keeps becoming more louder.

A sound catches his attention.

Perhaps he´s not alone after all. And that didn´t sound like the snake. He tries to make out what it is but nothing, his eyes refuse to obey and now the gurgling sounds more like a growl of his stomach. E snorts. He´s not giving up that easily. The best thing to do is return to where he was and he remembers exactly the way so he follows again the touch of the steel when suddenly, the sound is heard again and getting closer. The man walks on and reaches the last corridor when again, he senses something following him.

"If this is one of your tricks, Gard, it isn´t funny" he leans on the wall. No answer and the man decides to try and figure out what it is. It makes a creacking noise, water, moves slowly and clearly is trying to get him by surprise. E´s mind quickly thinks in "Mr. Grinch", the huge crocodile that guards the entrance but it can´t be him. The giant monster never leaves his post... But then, if it isn´t Mr Grinch, it can only be one creature and if it is roaming free... That can only mean that... Before he can put the two thoughts together, a large shadow strikes from behind.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Velma is looking for every piece of the puzzle and quickly finds the same information that Cait had given to Scooby but she finds something else.

"Dr. Soulfog was the director of the prision called All Saints Point that also served as mental asylum. It was located in the West coast of England and abandoned in the final years of the XIXth century. Armand Soulfog, father of the two children, was an expert in dark matters and was very interested in magic and death. He even used part of his money in projects destined for dark purposes. He disappeared into the sea the very same day that the asylum was closed. They say that all the inmates and staff went wild and many people were killed. Soulfog goes gone for good" reads Velma out loud.

"Like he sounds like a crazy doctor"

"My thoughts exactly" agrees Fred. "But, what does he had to do with all this?"

"Apparently he was very interested in the story of the Eel´s Nest and paid the reconstruction of the Submarine, a large underground construction of builders unknown where the people went to talk with the guardians of the nest"

"And how big is that?" asks Daphne.

"Nobody knows but according to this, the goverments considered it too dangerous and since they were entrances around the world, there was an agreement to close them"

"But someone did not do it" points out Angel.

"That it seems. The question is why?"

"And the conquistadors?"

"They probably heard about the story. The submarine was built even before they got here. The natives used to say that it was the lair of a monster that spread poison in the World´s tree when his land, Sunken Island, was in trouble. When he did, a terrible illness would spread to prevent this from happening. Hm. Maybe that `illness´was once the fit of madness that affected the asylum" Velma points out.

"Good deduction" nods Fred. "So, all we gotta do is close the entrance"

"Yes and make sure that the eel does not escape because if he does..."

"Like what?" Shaggy does not like the sound of that when suddenly his stomach begins to growl. "Oh, man. Like I´m starving"

"Shag, this is no time for that"

"Like I know, I know but..." now a cramp. Just great! The youngster decides to have some fresh air.

"Hey Shag, where you headed?" asks Daphne.

"Like, Just going for a walk, my stomach's bothering me"

"We got some pain relievers for you." says Velma while Angel gives him an aspirin.

"OH! Ok" he accepts it and drinks a glass of water. The search goes on but the pain is still there and getting worse. "Uh, like, have any food there?"

"SHAGGY!"

"Please" he whispers and Angel smiles.

"I´ll go n´see" she walks away and Shag sighs. He listens as Velma goes on when suddenly a smell strikes his nose. Is sweet, nice. His mind places it quickly, he´s smelling the parfum of Angel but, how? She´s in the other room. Another smell and this one´s metallic. And then, a sound, a strange one. Whispering and screeching.

"Shaggy. Here you are, babe" the dj calls and he snaps out of his trance.

"WOW! Like, thanks!" Yeah! Pizza! Shaggy opens his mouth and eats it right away.

"Ye´re welcome" she goes back to Velma who snorts and keeps on searching.

After a few minutes, Shaggy thinks that his pain is gone when suddenly his stomach gurgles even harder. He puts a hand on his belly and goes outside.

"What´s wrong with that kid?" Angel rises an eyebrow.

"Maybe he's got a stomach bug?" comments Fred.

"Even when he's sea sick, he still manages to eat." says Daphne.

"He eats too much and that´s..." a sudden sound of pain captures the attention of the whole gang and they all run outside. Shaggy´s on the ground doubled over. "Shaggy, are you all right?" Shaggy hears Velma, but hardly. His mind is a whirlwind but maybe is because he´s worried about Scoob. That's all, but something is not letting his body rest, it is swirling, aching, his stomach lurching. "Shaggy!" he snaps and breaths hard.

"I feel terrible" they help him up.

"You shouldn´t eat that fast!" grumbles Velma.

"Are you OK, babe?" Angel checks his forehead.

"Better" he´s sweating hard. They go back inside and give him some water. The boy breaths deep and Fred starts talking about something but Shaggy does not quite hear it, his ears are buzzing and his skin is itchy; not to mention his stomach is still talking loud and lurching. Then, he hiccups. At first, the gang takes no notice but in the end, they look at him pretty annoyed.

"Shaggy!"

"Like, I´m... Hic... sorry... Hic!" he mutters. "I... Hic! Hic!" the hiccups are getting worse and Velma is pretty mad at him. He can feel his mouth water in excess, and smells shifting, vivid. The teen sleuth sighs, feeling again the pain.

"SHAGGY!" snaps Fred. But then they all go quiet and pale. Shaggy looks at them.

"What... hic!... are you... hic... looking... hic... at hic?" they don´t answer and the skinny boy hiccups. The pain is unbearable but he is right not understanding why are they staring at him. "Likhic! Whahic?" Shaggy blinks and scratches his hand, noticing then that is hairy, too hairy. The boy goes pale. With each hiccup, he´s... turning into a... WEREWOLF! "Likic, somebohic do somethic!"

"What do we do?" Fred glances at Velma.

"I dunno"

Shaggy glances at his nails now turned into claws while his nose and mouth transform into a muzzle and his ears go pointy. He once got turned into a werewolf and raced for his life (Scooby Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf) but not like this! This time his body is enlarging and the transformation is also affecting his mind! The gang steps back! If that is the illness that Nidhogg spreads, how will it affect them?


Hahahahahaha!

A very dark chapter indeed!

Hope you like it!

Poor Shaggy! Will our friends make it?

Next clue: Cloister