You shall be wed to a monster who is both feared and revered. One which the light cannot touch. Dress not for a wedding but a funeral on the highest peak of the village your bride shall collect you.

That is what Shaggy had been told to do.

That was exactly what he did but that didn't mean he had to like it. Five years. Five long years had brought no wife, no proposal, no idea of betrothal.

No mate period.

Seeking answers his parents had traveled to the western witch, Melinda for she was known to solve such problems. Upon hearing their son's fate, however, both parents had burst into tears before returning home to deliver what they believed to be a death sentence.

So Shaggy waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

All while remembering the tears in his friends' eyes. Only moments before they'd been excited for him.

"Maybe she's wrong?" Fred had hoped, his voice a hoarse whisper.

"S-she has to be," Daphne had agreed quietly.

"We know she isn't," Velma said, her voice cracking, "Melinda has the gift of sight everyone knows that, she's never wrong"

Sitting at the cliff's edge he considered throwing himself from it. He was sure to die anyway. Just as Shaggy was getting to his feet to do so a calm swept through him, a peace he hadn't felt in days. Eyes growing heavy with sleep he laid down and drifted off.

…...

Waking with a big yawn, Shaggy sat up confused, finding himself in a wildflower meadow surrounded by forests, miles, and miles of forest. Across from the meadow over a footbridge was the largest house Shaggy had ever seen. Gleaming in the sunlight, the roof held by large marble pillars, walls covered in windows. So many windows.

But how did he get here? He was supposed to be on the cliffside.

Maybe just maybe Melinda had been wrong. Or maybe his 'bride' had forgotten.

Fresh hope filling his heart, Shaggy jumped to his feet before bounding across the bridge, whoever lived there could help him get home.

Anxiously, he knocked, watching the double doors open surprisingly quietly for their size.

"Hello? can someone help me, please?"

"You're here!"

"Welcome Home!

"Hello!"

He could see no one but he heard the voices. Soft, slightly squeaky accompanied by a constant breeze.

"I-I can't-where-"

"Sorry"

"Very sorry!"

"Here"

bright pops of light revealed human-like figures suspended by tiny gossamer wings. The first was red with blue eyes, the second was purple with green eyes, and the third was orange with yellow eyes.

"I'm Mercy"

"Grace"

"Harmony"

"And you live here?" Shaggy questioned.

They were such tiny pixies for a big house.

"No, you do," Mercy giggled, "The Mistress created this place just for you and only you"

"We're only here to serve you"

"Your every need"

"The Mistress?" Shaggy did not like where this was going, "Who's she?"

"Your wife"

Shaggy went pale as he realized he hadn't escaped his fate. No, they'd lured him right into it! Stumbling backward while reaching blindly for the door caused a spectacular fall.

No.

No.

NO!

I'm going to die!

Chest constricting at the thought, Shaggy found it increasingly harder to breathe until Mercy zipped over, placing her tiny hands on his arm. Whatever magic she used calmed him but this was still frightening.

"Please," Shaggy said finally, "I-I don't want to die!"

"You aren't going to"

"Trust us"

"She loves you!"

Silencing her companions with a sidelong glance Mercy spoke once more.

"The Mistress would never hurt you, she only wants you to be happy here"

"Like, how can I be happy here? She took me away from my friends, my family, everything"

"True," the pixie said.

"It was the only way-"

Grace stopped when Harmony made an abrupt shushing motion leaving Shaggy curious as to what Grace had wanted to say.

…...

"Why are we going along with this?" Drew asked his brother, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Because Christina's in love" Felix singsonged.

"And it's not like she can exactly court him," Melinda looked up from her crystal ball, brushing hair from her face.

Drew propped his feet up on the table before him with a look of frustration, "What's stopping her, again?"

"Well, I don't know Mr best friend since birth maybe it's because-"

"Because of this"

the speculating brothers and the all-seeing witch collectively jumped at the sight of Christina in the doorway. The hybrid said nothing only pointing to the circlet she currently wore.

"The Queen can't just court someone," she said sadly.

"But why the elaborate ruse?"

"Are you doubting me?" Melinda arched an eyebrow, eyes flashing in warning.

"No! Never!" Drew swore quickly.

Melinda still zapped him leaving Drew to hop out of the room on one foot.

…...

Shaggy was still scared.

No, he was Terrified!

For all their assurances, the pixies were quick to dodge and ignore any questions about the mistress.

His wife.

the one who light couldn't touch.

Did that make her a vampire?

Was she a werewolf?

Maybe a half-werewolf like him.

Or maybe she was too horribly vile to be spoken of. Something you'd only encounter in the worst of all nightmares.

Every guess worst than the last followed him. All through the feast, he'd had for dinner. Through the nice hot bath that followed. And now as he lay in the plush bed meant for two people.

Stay calm. Do not cry!

He would die with dignity!

Then the room was thrown into pure darkness. Shaggy could see nothing. Not the fire in the fireplace nor the stars that had been shining through the window.

Now there were footsteps.

Silently, pulling the blanket over his head, Shaggy waited for death, holding his breath when the bed dipped in weight.

Stay still!

However, the blanket was slowly lifted from his head.

"Hello, Shaggy"

The voice was soft, warm but just because it sounded pretty did not mean he wasn't going to die tonight. With this thought in mind, Shaggy remained still, silent.

"It's alright if you don't want to talk, I know you're scared and I'm sorry"

the bed shifted and settled telling him that whoever or whatever had laid down. Despite the raging fear within Shaggy wanted to know who and what this monster, his wife, was so ever so slowly he turned hoping to finally see her only for the darkness to remain. Blinding, unending.

"Why-why can't I like, see you?" he whispered while trying not to whimper.

"Because I made it so, it's best you don't see me, not yet"

Just how bad-looking was she? To want to hide this badly.

"But I promise," a very warm, distinctly human hand touched his, "One day you'll see me, one day you'll know"

"What 's your name?" the question tumbled from his mouth before he had a chance to better think about it.

There was no response at first, then very quietly:

"Rose"

"And how do you know mine?"

the questions just kept coming now.

"I have my ways"

He wanted to ask but he bit his tongue. It was very unlikely she'd share more about how she knew things.

There was no push for conversation or anything else. She wasn't even close enough for an accidental touch.

Yet...

the question remained at the forefront of his mind.

What was she?

He needed to know but he was scared to move any closer.

"You'll drive yourself crazy, Shaggy"

"What?"

"Trying to figure it out," Rose continued, "What I am"

"You aren't going to tell me?"

"No, not yet" there was a twinge of hesitation in her voice, "I mean you no harm I hope you know this"

Shaggy wasn't so sure

...

Remeber I said I had two favorite Greek Mythology stories? Cupid and Psyche was the second story. Except I role-reversed it for this fic which has been sitting here since late December. I decided it was time to post. Here is your heads up that I'm about to start a new job with longer shifts so my updates may become sporadic or I may disappear until I'm well adjusted to my new schedule.

Just rest assured I'm not sick or dying.