CHAPTER 07: "A Scary Night with a Glow Beast Fright"
Different kinds of energies lit up in different ways.
Kuwabara's energy, bright and clean and yellow, felt like sunlight piercing through clouds. The energies of the gaijin all glowed more dimly than Kuwabara's power—but that was normal. It meant none of them were psychic or powered in any way, their energy glowing with the same steady but quiet pulse that characterized Keiko or Yusuke's mother. Meanwhile, Kurama's leaf green energy possessed a different sort of shine. Demonic energy was like a cutting laser, while human energy was like a radiant sun. If Yusuke had to put the difference in words, he'd say you saw demon energy, but you felt human energy.
And when Yusuke stretched out his energy and let it wash over the room, he could see bright blue energy haloing Scooby-Doo's bulky body, which still hunkered trembling upon the floor.
The members of Mystery Inc., unpowered as they were, scoffed when Yusuke, Kurama, and Kuwabara explained that demons were real, and they scoffed even harder at the claim that Scooby was one of them. Scooby was just a very special dog, they said. There was nothing supernatural about him whatsoever, they said. He was just unique, and rad, and groovy (Jesus Christ, groovy? What fuckin' year was it?), and a very helpful member of the team, they said.
"Like, seriously man," Shaggy said with a wheezing laugh. "Scooby isn't a demon. He's, like, totally one of us!"
Yusuke stared at Shaggy in utter disbelief. "He's a talking dog. Has no one ever found that strange?"
"What I find strange is the idea that demons are real," Velma said with maddening sincerity. "Mystery Inc. has exposed dozens of supposed 'monsters,' and every one of them has been part of a hoax."
"She's right," said Fred with that same clear-eyed determination. "None of the ghosts or monsters we've come across have been real. How do we know you're telling the truth about Scooby?"
"Your dog can fucking talk, you morons!"
Yet even in the face of Yusuke's solid (if not profane) logic, it was no use. The gaijin remained unmoved. Fred and Daphne and Velma and Shaggy just shook their heads and denied, denied, denied like a group of American politicians. Kurama cradled his own head in his hands, peering horrified at the gaijin from between his splayed fingers. Kuwabara walked to the nearest wall so he could lean on it, looking damn near about to faint from disbelief.
But Yusuke persisted. "Look at your dog," he demanded. "Look at your dog, and look back at me. Your dog has opposable thumbs. Your dog has a prehensile tail. Your dog can fucking talk." He threw up his hands when Fred only shrugged. "Has nobody pointed this out to you nut bags? Nobody? Not once? Is everyone in America an idiot or what?"
"Hey!" said Fred—but before he could retort, Velma put her hand on his arm.
"It's OK, Fred," she said. "I think I can explain this." Her eyes cut sideways behind their coke-bottle glasses. "Or, rather, I've got a hunch that Shaggy can."
All eyes turned to Shaggy.
Shaggy looked at everyone, perplexed.
A beat passed.
And then the lightbulb went off. Shaggy blanched, covered his eyes with his hands, and dove down next to Scooby to cower on the floor.
But was this show of cowardice an act, or a genuine expression of dread?
Yusuke had no idea.
Luckily Velma knew how to find out.
NOTES: Yay, parallel structure between this chapter's ending and the last one, yaaay.
Also y'all are wild and I'm shocked any of you found value in this nutty little crackfic. I love you more than Scooby loves Scooby Snacks (and also yes those will be making an appearance very soon): Deamachi, maryokeeffe16, YourHomeGirlJen (OMG your review made me laugh; feel better soon!), McMousie, cestlavie, FangirlNikora, empressofthedead, GoodEnoughtoOpentheDoor, Mystery-Doo, o-dragon, Jengurl24, Convoluted Compassion, Ink Outside the Lines, Wistfulsin!