Author's note: Sorry, it took me so long but I wanted to keep this the right way. Let's go! Listening to Robbie Williams "Love My Life" while doing this chapter and feeling great about it!
Thank u all for your reviews!
Guest: Sorry if I sounded like I wanted to force you to ship them, I understand. But at least can these two have like a mutual respect type of bond throughout the story?
Me: That was my plan all along! So no sweat!
8. Dirty Paws
"The sky wasn't big enough for them all
The birds, they got help from below
From Dirty Paws and the creatures of snow"
Of Monsters and Men
The rain kept on falling like a mournful cry, just like the tears that Owens realized he had been keeping to himself since his dear parrot passed away. The doctors weren't sure at all if there was any chance to save the Great Dane, but they kept on working diligently. CS watched all this, knowing that something was in motion. His watch was ticking so hope was not lost for his canine friend, and much less when a large figure stopped right next to him. The cat rubbed against the giant's chest and together they left the building to walk the streets. It was time for lessons to flourish and truth be spoken.
A powerful howl echoed into the night. The storm ceased with it and a beautiful moon shone over the city. CS walked like a small panther and his companion panted gently, before stopping in front of a small clinic. They could see the Mystery Machine at the door and the gang sitting in a corner, with only Velma missing. The cat meowed softly and his friend wrinkled his snout.
"To think it could have been our…" Fred seemed pretty distressed.
"It's all right, Freddy. We're all OK. Velma will come out as soon as they are soon putting her arm in a cast. A few days with a sling and good as new!" Daphne was as always the optimist, but their eyes were soon on Shaggy. He had been quiet all evening, worried sick about his dog. It was not like him at all. Daphne sat down next to him and waited a little before speaking. The crash had only gotten bad for Velma, Norbert only had a few bruises and scratches like the other two, but the hurt inside was deeper. Both Fred and Daph were worried about their friend's despair. "I'm sure that wherever he is, Scooby is fine and will come back, Shaggy. I just know it. It's not the first time we thought he was gone for good and we were wrong"
"I know, Daph. But like, never before have we, well, done anything like this to Scoob before. I know he's not a person but a dog, my dog. And that is why he's precious to me, you know? My Grandpa North and Scooby were the only ones to not make fun of me back at school and, well. He likes food, hates ghosts like me, hides with me and plays my jokes. It's like the brother I never had: Always there to put me back on track and help me move on. Like, I understand Velms' point but I can't do that. I know it is silly or whatever, but it's my friend. We're a team thanks to him, we survived the Entity thanks to him. We shouldn't forget that" Shaggy went quiet again. Fred got up and stood before them.
"We won't, Shag. That's a promise" the blonde nodded and the tall boy cheered up. One of the doctors came out and both teenagers decided to leave Shaggy to his thoughts for a while. The beatnik sighed and looked down before noticing CS and his companion. It was the largest dog Norbert had seen in his life, black as the night itself and its four paws slightly brown to make them look "dirty". It was the Barghest himself, the beast they had been looking for all night, but something in his eyes seemed familiar to the boy, who smiled fondly. It was like seeing a friend you lost many years ago. The hound panted and gently whined. Shaggy stretched his arm and let the dog smell before letting him into his embrace.
"You know, I always wondered why Grandpa always let you in my bed. I haven't seen you in this coat for years, dude" the boy scratched the canine. The Barghest licked his friend. "You're doing something important, right? I can tell" Shaggy saw him nuzzle softly, that was a yes. "Come back soon, you hear? As much as I like listening to Velma's puns, I can make a better point with you around. It's boring playing the scaredy-cat all by myself"
"Woof" the canine barked and wagged its tail, before glancing towards the clinic.
"Oh, they'll be ok. I got this" the boy winked. "Go do your thing, bud. I'll see later when things are back on track" Shaggy playfully ruffled the dog's furry coat and watched him leave with CS. The teenager smiled. It was his grandfather Norville 'North' who convinced his parents to keep the large dog. He also told him the real story of the Barghest "Dirty Paws", the legendary beast that saved the birds from the bees and keeper of the rest of the dead. It was because of all, among other reasons, that Shaggy was against this mystery from the start, along with Scooby. The Barghest couldn't be bad. The beatnik was more unto finding the missing Dynomutt, but perhaps his old friend had found something. After all, they had shared together more than one life time.
SSSSSS
Dynomutt walked down the avenue, Seb walking beside him. The super dog had never felt so 'no super' before. All his powers depended on his owner, and without him there was nothing. His whole escapade was now meaningless. And now that he thought about it, he had been really unfair with Scooby for being just a normal dog. How wrong he was! The Great Dane had saved the world after all, and without gadgets or powers. On the other hand, he needed all that to be himself. Dynomutt sat down and sighed. He was still mad at Radley, but he knew the reasons why this all happened. Blue Falcon was passing the torch, and wanted DM to be a proper sidekick and helper for the new generation, hence his new intelligence. But DM wanted not this new responsibility. What good was he without Radley? He was a goner! A zero! And now just a regular mechanical dog. Sebastian tried to comfort him, before hiding behind him in fear. Dynomutt was confused, what was going on?
"You know, I could always pretend and start talking dog again, hu? How about it? R ruu in?" a deep voice spoke and imitated Scooby's talking. DM looked up and was startled when the large Barghest towered him. The big canine snickered. "And you were saying I had lost my touch, CS" the hound looked at the tuxedo cat, who shrugged. "If you say so, Whiskers. Going somewhere, pretty boy? Cuz you happen to be in my way" Dirty Paws watched in amusement as the cyborg growled. "Oh, please! Try harder, why don't you?. I have all night! No, wait. I don't. But I do have eternity to enjoy this!" the black dog sat down. "I haven't had this much fun since I lived as Alexander the Great's pet and that was ten centuries ago"
"You're not getting away with this, you monster! I'll take you down myself! What did you do to Scooby Doo?" growled DM.
"Me? Nothing! I just needed a break from those doctors, actually! It's no joke when a tall dog has to take a foot off his stature for several hours on end. I get cramps so often I have to stretch each night! Shaggy's mother has come to think I was looking for a girl through all these years" the Barghest shook his body and lied down. DM started to piece it together and was speechless. "The poor thing has no idea. And speaking of which, you haven't been nice to me at all, Mr. Hero. Shame on you! I thought you were the nice one"
"That was you all along? But wait, I thought the Barghest couldn't be far from graveyards and things like that" the cyborg sat down.
"Do you really believe all you hear? Luckily for you, I'll be back to my not-so-tall and not-so-bright looking soon and to my kids, because I promised a friend. Otherwise, I would just die as Scoobert and pick another appearance" explained the hound. "I've done it before many times, but I happen to like this life. I like it very much. More than the ones before. That girl in glasses, the blonde and his girlfriend think I'm just a dumb dog, but that's fine by me. I have an old friend by my side and he knows me better. All we have to is never play too smart and presto! Everyone's happy and I get all the food and love I want. All I have to is play dumb. What was that poem again now? Oh, yes!"
"This fellow is wise enough to play the fool;
And to do that well craves a kind of wit:
He must observe their mood on whom he jests,
The quality of persons, and the time,
And, like the haggard, check at every feather
That comes before his eye. This is a practise
As full of labour as a wise man's art
For folly that he wisely shows is fit;
But wise men, folly-fall'n, quite taint their wit."
"Shakespeare" DM recognized the verses from the Twelfth Night. "You know, have I recognize you I wouldn't have talked so harshly"
"Yeah, yeah. Spare me the shame, please. I got plenty of that during these millenia" Dirty Paws shook his head.
"Sure! But wait, if you didn't stalked the city, then someone else is... by pretending to be you!" the cyborg began to connect the dots. "And that someone is hiding in the museum!"
"Finally, took you long! Elementary, my dear hero. YES! You should use your brain and not your scanners more often. I wanted to be friends with you, you know? We're both outcasts, taken for granted or seen as fools by those around us, but we're bigger than that. We're dogs. We survive anything" the black dog looked at CS, who meowed. "Sebastian and CS here noticed that before you did. That's why we're all here"
"Not me, that's for sure. I have no powers without Radley! I'm smart but for what? I don't want to become the nanny of an egotistical hero wannabe but what else can I do?" whispered DM sadly.
"Be the hero. Be dog" said Dirty Paws, surprising the cyborg. "Aren't we man's best friend? More you than me, of course, but you get my line. As Scooby, I admired you because you always did the right thing. You were a klutz back then, yes, but also brave and trustworthy. You aren't so different now, just a tad smarter. I understand that you are mad and the reasons why, but you don't need rockets or lasers to prove yourself. That's already done. I mean, look at me! I saved the world without using any of my tricks and here I am. Glasses Girl think that I'm not a trained dog and that I should be on a leash, even after saving her life millions of times. Does it bother me? It does, but I know better. I have friends, a family and that's all I need after all these centuries. My journey will go on, but I won't regret one bit. That's the trick of being a dog"
"You know, for someone with such bad reputation, you surely love this world"
"Let me tell you unto a little secret. During all that mess with Planet X, I knew one thing and one thing only in my mind" the Barghest got up and they shared a glance.
"And what was it?"
"I have lived for such a long time in this planet that I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to be, nor without anyone else than Shaggy. The Annunaki thought they could play me the way they wanted, but I beat their sorry hides once and I'd do it again" the hound began to walk back to the pet clinic. "I learned to enjoy the sunlight in my fur, the breeze in my ears, the grass, my toys and ball. Heck! Even food is great! It's poetry! They? They only think that men cannot live with them. I think they have went far since the Viking Ages and the pyramids. Humans don't need some alien gods, all they need is someone to give them a tip every now and then, and that's it. It's my job, CS, Seb's and yours, of course. I know I will be always feared, but I will also find people like Shaggy in each life time. That is why I keep on going. You?" the hound turned to the hero.
"I guess because I want to help others" confessed DM. "I'm a dog, after all"
"Good, because once we get my other fur back, I would really appreciate it if you helped me catch a certain imposter. Are you in?"
"Bring it on!" smiled the cyborg.
Like I said, Scooby and Shaggy will always be my favorite characters. But DM has just won a spot in the deck.
More to come!