All right, what with everything going on in the real world, I figure that I'd have at least a fanfiction related to this mess we're going through right now. I hate this pandemic as much as you guys do, but I figured out a good story I could work based around this fact! So, quick warning, there will be mention of current real life events in this story! With that out of the way, let's get this story started! Anyway, enjoy!
Staying home and not going out on any adventures or mysteries should have excited Shaggy and Scooby, and in fact, they were pretty excited about not having to travel out of their homes, especially with the risk of that deadly virus going around. In fact, Shaggy and Scooby spent most of their time inside and eating, watching TV and just lazing around, like a dream come true. The only time the two ever went out was to get more food from the store, and even then, they were mostly shut-in.
But... after a couple of weeks, Shaggy actually found himself pretty bored with the usual mundane routine as Scooby was happily eating some food and enjoying himself. Though, he could tell that even Scooby-Doo was bored of the usual routine. The young adult found himself looking out the window as he gave a small sigh. The dog noticed as he walked over to the man in concern. Scooby looked outside as his ears lowered. The two found that not a lot of people barely drive on the road anymore. It was like, things were a little different when it came to how the world was now.
"Raggy..." Scooby paused. "Ro rou rink the world rill ret retter?"
"I don't know, Scoob." Shaggy sighed as he looked at the afternoon sun. "It's hard to get out into the world nowadays without being wary of someone. Like, we can barely hang out with our friends anymore because of this whole virus thing going around."
Scooby's lips quivered a little as he lowered his body down and slumped. Shaggy sighed, knowing just how Scooby felt. He and Scooby had just returned home with Fred, Daphne and Velma on another mystery when the news about the virus had broken out. At first, staying safe was something Scooby and Shaggy would agree to as monsters may be one thing to be scared of, but deadly germs were another thing altogehter. Unfortunately, everything around Coolsville closed down, from schools to shopping mall restaurants, even some that were doing curb-side dining now, since people didn't want to risk somebody coming in. The world was basically going a little insane over the virus. Unfortunately, when Fred, Daphne and Velma heard the news that they wouldn't be able to travel out of the country, they were pretty upset to even hear that.
Shaggy and Scooby, on the other hand, thought this was the best news they heard. No travelling meant no mysteries to solve, and they couldn't be much happier. But as time went on, it became to a point where Shaggy noticed that everyone was keeping their distance and washing their hands every so often. Eventually, it had most everyone elegated to their homes, with the members of the gang stuck to video chat for the time being. Sure, they still talked, but each of them were pretty miserable. Shaggy and Scooby were doing their best to cheer up, but even they couldn't deny that the world is in a mass peril.
"It's hard to imagine we used to live in a cool, groovy place that was fine with everything? How did it all go wrong, Scoob?" Shaggy asked, giving a small sigh.
Before Scooby could answer, the sound of their computer dinging was heard as the two looked up with small grins. They immediately ran over as they noted only one call was coming through, much to Shaggy's surprise. He touched the screen as it blinked on, showing a familiar orange haired girl in purple giving a small smile.
"Like, Daphne!" Shaggy said as Scooby gave a small smile.
"Hey guys!" Daphne said with a wave, before pausing a little. "How are you guys holding up?"
"Oh, you know, we still have plenty of food and supplies." Shaggy chuckled. "It's not like we need to fill up with anything more."
"Oh, good, good..." Daphne smiled a little. "I'm holding myself up here as well. Let me tell you, staying at home and doing the usual things is not an easy feat. There's so many times before realizing that filing my nails gets a bit old."
"Y-yeah, like, I can totally understand the feeling." Shaggy said as Scooby raised his head in surprise. "Of being bored."
"Roh." Scooby said as he sighed in relief.
Daphne giggled before noting the strange smiles on her two friends's faces. Daphne sighed as she crossed her arms. "Okay you two, what's going on?"
"What? Like, what makes you think something's going on?" Shaggy said, still holding the smile.
"Your smiles usually give away something." Daphne said as the man and his dog's face faltered. She giggled a little as she said, "Trust me, I've spent a lot of time with you two to know that something is going on."
Shaggy and Scooby looked at each other before turning towards the screen as Daphne stared at the two. Shaggy chuckled nervously... before looking down with a sigh. "To tell you the truth... I hate to admit it, but I actually miss being on the road."
Daphne's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at her green wearing friend in disbelief. "What? You miss traveling in the Mystery Machine?"
"Don't get me wrong, Daphne. Scooby and I don't usually do the spooky parts of a mystery unless we have to... but like, travelling with all of you was probably the best time of my life." Shaggy explained as the Great Dane gave a nod. "Even if we didn't like where we were going in terms of spooky places or places that just attracted a mystery, I... kind of secretly liked the adventure that went with it."
"Reah! Adrenture!" Scooby grinned as he did a heroic pose, much to the orange haired girl's amusement.
"Fred, Velma, and us... the five person team going around the world, solving mysteries old and new." Shaggy gave a small sigh. "They always have been the best times... but now with this whole virus thing going around, we can't even do as much as that."
"Ro ray." Scooby shook his head.
"At first, I thought this was the best thing in our lives, but... thinking about it, honestly, I miss hanging out at our favorite restaurant, I miss having to go out on mysteries as a team... I actually miss the travel and adventure between all of us as we talk about our next meal!" Shaggy looked down sadly. "Now we're like, stuck indoors and staying away from each other because of that virus! I'm starting to wonder if there's any hope left in the world."
Daphne gasped in shock as she noticed the small despair in the poor boy's face, her heart feeling itself tear to pieces upon seeing the display. She bit her lip in concern as she gave a small smile, "I know things are rough right now, boys, but we'll make it through this."
"Like, how do you know?" Shaggy asked, looking over at Daphne as Scooby did the same.
"Honestly, I don't know. But we shouldn't give up on hope. After all, if we fall to despair because of this virus, then the virus would win." Daphne sighed. "I know there are a lot of people right now with the virus, and I'm just as worried as you all are, but I know things are going to blow over soon. Once they do, we'll be back on the road again, like the good ol' days."
Shaggy paused as he looked up to the ceiling, thinking about what Daphne said. Scooby looked over towards his friend in concern as he said, "Raggy..."
"You really think that, huh, Daph?" Shaggy asked.
Daphne gave a small sigh. "I miss hanging out with the gang as well, I especially miss being close to you most of all."
Shaggy noted the sad look on Daphne's face as she was tempted to put her hand on her face, before yelping as she put her hands away, feeling a little frustrated. Shaggy paused as he gave a smile. "Like, don't worry, Daphne. I know things are tough right now, but we've braved through worse. Right?"
Daphne gave a small grin. "Right! I'm sure once everything is back to normal, we'll be back on the road again! Until then, I guess all we have left is our mystery solving movies."
"And heaven knows how many times we can watch those." Shaggy chuckled as he gave a small grin, looking at the lovely Daphne. "Thanks for cheering us up, Daph. You're a true life saver."
Daphne giggled, blushing a little. "No, Shaggy, YOU'RE my life saver. If not for these quaint conversations, I'm pretty sure we'd all go insane a little from staying inside all the time."
Shaggy laughed a little as Scooby gave a small chuckle. Shaggy smiled as he said, "Well, hey, once the restaurants open back up, would you like to go with Scoob and I for a milkshake?"
"Just the three of us?" Daphne giggled a bit before grinning. "Oh, I'll be there."
"Great! Well, I got to go. Got a little cooking to do for supper." Shaggy said.
"Okay, stay safe and wash your hands, Shaggy." Daphne smiled as she blew a small kiss to the screen. "Call you again tomorrow?"
"Like, sure thing!" Shaggy said as he waved good-bye.
"Good-bye, Scooby!" Daphne waved towards the Great Dane.
"Rye-rye, Raphne!" Scooby smiled as Daphne hung up the computer. As Shaggy shut the lap top off for the time being, Scooby couldn't help but smile as he asked, "What would we ro rithout Raphne?"
"I don't know, Scoob." Shaggy smiled as he got up and stretched his legs. "She always knows the right words to say, though... I guess that's just her own way of caring for us."
"Reah!" Scooby said as both Shaggy and Scooby headed for the bathroom, presumably to wash their hands again for the fifteenth time today.
As they were doing so, Shaggy couldn't help but think about what Daphne said as he gained a bit more confidence. He was going to be brave... for Daphne...
And that is the end of this one-shot story! How did you guys like it? Normally, I'm not a huge fan of writing stories based on real life events unless it's related to a death of a celebrity and how it impacted our lives... but I felt that this real-life event is so well known by now that it's hard not to talk about it. And having Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne be the main characters of this little story really helped in thinking how the world could be better. Do I think things will blow over? I don't know, but we can only hope. Anyway, stay safe and wash your hands, guys! Thank you all for reading, and have a very wonderful day!