I'm Late!

I'm Late!

Christina scolded herself for losing track of time so easily. After her miraculous cool-down, which was no doubt thanks to the mysterious necklace she now wore, Thunder had roped her into playing fetch which soon turned into tag that led to a race and before she knew it she had been outside for a whole hour! Now, she rounded up the wolves and teleported back to her room. The mirror was already alight with magic allowing her to see how sad and confused Shaggy was.

"Shaggy, I'm right here, I'm sorry I was late!" she apologized.

Shaggy seemed to perk up at the sound of her voice, a smile spreading across his face.

"Where were you, Christina?" he asked.

"In the forest,"

"Like, isn't it cold there?"

"Very,"

"Then why were you out there?"

I was being burnt alive.

"I had to take the wolves for some exercise,"

Shaggy nodded in understanding, "When do you think you can like, come home?"

"I'm not sure, Shaggy, I might be here for the rest of the year,"

That was evidently the wrong thing to say as Shaggy looked crushed, whimpering like he had been hurt.

Way to go! She scolded herself.

Now how was she supposed to calm him down? He was getting worked up!

Think!

Then an idea struck her.

The autumn days grow short and cold
It's Christmastime again
And snows and winters slowly melt
The days grow short and then

Shaggy's whimpers slowly stopped as he looked at her with glassy, curious eyes.

He turns the seasons around
And so she changes her gown
Mother Earth and Father Time

How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life's eternal rhyme?

"Better?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sing another?"

"What do you want to hear?"

"I dunno,"

Christina chuckled, racking her brain for a song, "I can't think of anything right now, later?"

"Okay, tell me a story then, please?"

"Once upon a time there was a very rude princess. One day this princess took her favorite golden ball outside to play..."

…...


"Is it ready yet, Mother?" Drew pleaded.

"Soon, my son, soon, we've got to make sure she can't escape," Regina assured him.

"But are you sure this will hold her?"

"Certain,"

Drew grinned evilly. This was going to be spectacular!

…...


Maleficent continued to watch. Smiling knowingly at her granddaughter. Such a beautiful romance was blooming between her and Shaggy that it was hard not to smile. Christina continued to smile even through eyes full of unshed tears. Even though she seemed beaten down by whatever day to day struggles were carelessly thrown her way. She remained gentle and kind, the very image of her head-strong mother.

"When are you going to visit her?" Diaval dared to ask.

"I plan to visit Dracula first, Diaval," Maleficent replied matter-a-factually, "I found my granddaughter my heir, your future queen,"

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, you know better than to question me,"

"My apologies, Mistress,"

…...


"One song before you go," Shaggy pleaded.

"One," Christina nodded.

Like a bird that flies
In the morning light
Or a butterfly
In the spring
When your spirit rides
The wings of hope
You'll find your wings

For you're always
Free to begin again
And you're always
Free to believe
When you find the place
That your heart belongs-

"Shaggy dinner!" Stacy called

"Coming Mom!"

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, Shaggy," Christina grinned, "Bye,"

"Bye, Christina,"

I love you.

...


Shaggy was not having the best day. It seemed that with Christina gone her tormentors had set their sights on him! While he was able to brush most of it off he wanted to snap. Just for a moment. Drew was trying to get a rise out of him, trying to fight and when that tactic failed he decided to pick him, his sister and, Scooby apart. Shaggy was dangerously close to wringing Drew's neck when he was suddenly pushed down and kicked across the floor.

"Teach him a lesson, boys,"

"Let go of me!" he heard Sugie yell.

This wasn't good.

"You sure got a big mouth fer such a small-fry normie!", Torq laughed. "Shut her up, Lunk! We don't need some teacher or worse, Duncan ta hear her!"

"Right, Torq", the ogre obeyed, covering Sugie's mouth. But..."EEEYOOOW! The little pest bit me! OW! Aw Haw! My foot! Ga-OW My shin!"

"Can't you idiots handle one little normie girl?!", Drew hissed. Then Shaggy heard a slap. "There! Think you can hold and gag her now?!"

'Drew slapped Sugie! That blood-sucking leech SLAPPED my little sister!', Shaggy thought to himself as he started growling, feeling the change start as his rage increased.

"Oh, and what'd'ya think yer gonna do, normie?", Drew laughed. "Growling on the ground there like a...WEREWOLF?!"

It seemed Drew had forgotten their previous confrontation in the cafeteria. All the better. Maybe this time it would stick.

Guided by scent and smell, Shaggy tackled Drew to the ground, wrestling him. After his initial shock, the vampire started fighting back, but the wolf was stronger than him.

Don't just stand there, you morons!", he yelled at Torq and his Horde. "Get him off of me!"

"Right, Boss!", Torq squawked, as he and Chazz grabbed Shaggy's arms and yanked the blind wolf to his feet and against the wall of lockers.

"Hey! Let my brother go, you gremlins!", Sugie yelled.

"Who're you calling 'gremlins', normie?", Torq barked indignantly. "We're hobgoblins! Lunk's an ogre, and Crash, Crack'd, and Crush are orcs! Know the difference!"

"Stop. Talking", Drew growled through clenched teeth. "So you're really a half-werewolf? Doesn't matter. You're still blind as a bat and there ain't nothin' you can do about nothin'! And when I find out where my Princess is, you'll never see her again!"

But, I already know, Drew thought smugly, he just had to keep up appearances.

"As if, fang-face!"

"That's enough outta you, little girl! Moanica! Make her a little more...obedient."

"A little young to join my army, but why not?", the Zombie Queen smirked. "Hold her, Zomboys!"

No!", Shaggy growled struggling. "Leave my sister alone!"

"You should worry about yourself, Blind-man's-bluff!", Torq laughed. "Pound 'im, boys! Guys? Didn't you hear me? What're you waiting...!"

"Oh, you mean these guys?", Shaggy heard Duncan's voice say.

Shaggy could feel Torq and Chazz trembling with fear as they held him.

"And zomboys are 'chilling out' for now", Abby's voice chuckled. "Abby make good 'rot-cicles'! Heh-heh! Funny joke, no?"

"My zomboys!", Moanica hissed.

"You okay Sugie?", Frankie asked the girl.

"Yeah, thanks to all of you."

"Rauugh! Always interfering! I oughta..GAACK!", Drew was cut off, and Shaggy heard something slam against the lockers nearby.

"Torq, let Shaggy go or I'm gonna roast all of you and hang you from the roof of the school by your underwear after I beat the crap outta this leech!"

"And that's if I don't gut you all first!", Clawdeen growled.

"And I'll help them do both!", Manny Taur added.

"What do you care, Manny?", Torq asked as they released Shaggy. "You hate normies!"

"Much as I hate normies, I hate bullies like you scum even more! Now, GIT!"

Shaggy heard the remaining bullies run off.

"Are you okay, Shaggy?", Draculaura asked as he returned to normal.

"Like, yeah, just groovy", Shaggy replied lacklusterly.

"Now, what to do with you, Drew?", Duncan growled. "None of us has forgotten that it's YOUR FAULT one of our best friends-"

"And cousin!", Draculaura added

"-had to leave and go into hiding. I should just incinerate you here and now, school rules and 'Royal scandal' flak from your 'noble family' be damned! Any punishment would be worth it to rid the world of scum like you!"

"But you won't!", Drew choked out. "You wouldn't dare! M-my m-mother...!"

"MR. ROSENBLATT!", Headmistress Bloodgood called firmly upon arriving. "Put. Him. Down."

Huffing in disappointment, Duncan dropped Drew in a heap.

"He and his friends attacked them, Ms. Bloodgood," Frankie was quick to say.

"Yeah," Clawdeen growled in agreement.

"Then I will deal with him myself," Bloodgood evenly replied, "I do not need his mother on my case again!"

Drew followed behind the Headmistress with a barely concealed smirk. If he was to be kicked out of school again it would simply aid him and his mother in their plans.

Little did they all know someone had been watching.

…...


Diaval hit the floor to avoid being burnt by the oncoming red-hot magic. Saying Maleficent was angry would be the understatement of the century. She was seething with rage at the cruelty Drew and his friends had inflicted. Angry that they would be allowed to get away with such acts. Evil she might have been but she had limits, boundaries.

Boundaries that Drew had crossed a long time ago. She had been digging into his past, trying to find the root of his obsession and she didn't like what she saw.

…...


Many years ago.

"No?"

"That's right, I said no, I can't marry you nor do I VANT to, Regina,"

"Because of her?" the vampiress shrieked pointing a finger at the young fairy who'd dropped out of nowhere only days before, "But-but she isn't even a vampire!"

"I know that and it doesn't matter," Radu growled, "Now, leave, you are no longer welcomed here,"

Regina left in a huff slamming the doors behind her. Once she was gone, Radu sank into the nearest chair he could find.

"I'm sorry," Alissa apologized, looking up from her sketchbook with concern, "I wouldn't have let her in if-"

"You didn't know, Alissa, it's my fault. I should have warned you," Radu interjected, "please, don't listen to anything she says,"

"I won't I promise," Alissa smiled.

And when Alissa smiled, Radu smiled. She tended to have that effect on him.

It was only an hour later that Radu received word Regina had tried to arrange a marriage. Dracula had laughed her out the door.

"She seems to be going to a lot of trouble," Alissa giggled.

"She has been for years," Radu explained, remembering how often she would call upon him scantly dressed, vying for his affections. He had never liked her, avoided her and was only polite if he had to be, "Regina's obsessive but, she von't be a bother to us anymore," he promised, "Now, that I have you,"

But, Regina was so consumed for vengeance that she concocted a plan, a despicable plan so vile in nature it was repulsive. Begrudgingly, she settled with a suitor from the very bottom of the noble ranks, seducing him with her limited powers. Together they had a son.

Drew was the key to her success.

…...


Shaggy wanted to bring Christina home. For it to be safe for her once more. He paced his room anxiously trying to think up a plan. How? How could he possibly make it safe for her? How long would it take? What could he do?

"What's on your mind Shaggy?"

Shaggy turned to the crystal ball and for the briefest of moments, he saw Christina's silhouette as all the feelings tumbling through him had trigged his transformation.

"Nothing," he fibbed, he couldn't really tell her not yet.

"Christina!" Sugie cried with a smile, bursting into his room.

"Hey, Sugie, how was school?"

"Fine" Shaggy quickly responded he didn't want Christina finding out the days' events.

Sugie looked at her brother with a small glare while Christina arched an eyebrow questioningly.

"Okay, out with it, Shaggy, I can tell you're bluffing,"

"No,"

Even with the odd sight he had, he could clearly tell Christina was not convinced and was staring at him in a way that made him want to tuck his tail between his legs and hide.

"Tell me," she repeated, firmly.

"Drew and his friends attacked us," Sugie declared before he could think up a story.

Telling Christina this might have been the wrong thing to do Sugie belatedly realized as she watched Christina's stern but otherwise calm face twist into what could best be described as boiling rage.

"He did what?" she asked again with a chilling eerie calm.

"Attacked us?" Sugie squeaked.

Christina grit her fangs before nailing the wall next to her with a fireball the size of a basketball. She paced the room, wringing her hands and grinding her teeth, wings bursting into angry flames that raged making her wings look huge.

"THAT TWISTED PSYCHOTIC EVIL-"

Fire continued to explode from her hands casting the entire room in purple light that caught Vincent's attention when he passed by. Christina was so clearly on the brink yet, she didn't transform.

He saw her necklace as she turned.

Now, it made sense.

Christina was still inwardly seething even when she finally stopped with the explosive firework show. Angry at Drew and his friends, angered at those that would dare harm Shaggy, Sugie and, Scooby so immensely angry. She wanted to scream and blast those good for nothings into space and she might have done just that if Shaggy hadn't spoken up.

"Like, it's not your fault, Christina, so you like better not blame yourself for what that leech did", Shaggy told her. "Duncan and our other friends helped us out, so no permanent harm done"

"Well, they do know you're a werewolf,"

"They've like, seen me transform before, Sugie," Shaggy reminded her, "In the cafeteria, the day Christina left,"

"Oh, yeah," Sugie nodded.

Although calmer Christina still seemed upset. Sugie could tell by the way she continued to wring her hands and bite her lip. Shaggy knew because of how strained her voice was when she spoke again.

"I just wish I could have stopped them, intervened, you shouldn't have to suffer because of me,"

"Like, we'll be fine Christina, promise," Shaggy assured her.

"Still-"

"Don't blame yourself, Christina. Please, please don't," Shaggy pleaded.

Christina sighed heavily, shoulders slumping.

His sight seemed to be lasting longer and longer but he still only saw silhouettes.

"Who wants to hear a story?" Christina slowly asked after a few quiet minutes had passed, "I've got some about Thunder,"

"Oh, no," the wolf groaned, "Please no!"

"Tell us!" Shaggy and Sugie cried in unison.

"Well, it all started this morning,"

…...


"Daddy," Draculaura said nervously peeking into her father's study a few days later, "You have a visitor,"

Perplexed, Dracula rose from his seat and followed his oldest daughter downstairs into the parlor where Sibella and Vana Pira stood with matching looks of silent shock.

"Hello, Dracula, I think it's time we talk"


The end of the chapter has come and now I ask, what do you think Drew and his mother are up to? Whatever it is it definitely isn't good! Big thank you to my friend, DRAGONDAVE45 for all of his help!

Please, Review!