Chapter 6

Jared nodded."Yes. I will help you.". Jared decided to turn on the radio. The radio sounded."Yes. That's right. The war is ending thanks to this kid, Norville Rogers. So, watch out everyone. Get your camera's out and take pictures of this little hero!". Ryant was angry."What! I told him not to do anything! I don't want this announced to the whole underworld. I don't want the spiders looking for Norville" Ryant cried. Ryant looked at Jared."We have to get Antonio". After Ryant and Jared got Antonio they all went back to the castle."Rick. I thought I told you not to announce anything"."Oh, I'm the king. I don't need to listen to anybody. I just want the ant villagers to get excited about this long war ending" Rick told him. Jared and Antonio were starring at Shaggy. They couldn't believe how much Ryant's kid have grown. Jared stepped closer to Shaggy.

"Norville. I can't believe how much you've grown. I remember when you used to be a little tyke. I used to babysit you. I remember when you were two years old you would wear these green pajamas with the little flap in the back" Jared pointed out. Shaggy's face turned red in embarrassment. Ryant saw Shaggy's red face and smiled at this."Yeah. In fact. I have pictures". Ryant went to go get the album book as Shaggy's eyes widened in shock."Like, you what!" Shaggy cried."Oh, yeah. I have such adorable pictures of you" Ryant said. Ryant grabbed the album book and brought it back. He was less angry about the kings announcement he made on the radio as he was focusing on embarrassing Shaggy with baby pictures of him. The three friends sat down on the couch and Ryant opened up the album book.

The pictures were in black and white sine they only had so much technology. They weren't as advanced as the humans. Heck, they are still working on inventing their first black and white tv! In the album book, their were pictures of Shaggy wearing those pajamas Jared was talking about.

"Oh yeah, there he is" Jared laughed heartily as he pointed at a picture. Shaggy looked at the picture , and sure enough, there he was. Two year old, Shaggy Rogers was wearing those pajamas as someone was holding his hands up as he walked. Their was a couple of other ones with Shaggy wearing those pajamas. Then, he saw pictures of him in a bath. Shaggy's eyes widened more. He was sitting in an old wooden tub taking a bath. As the friends were sharing the memories, Shaggy feared for the upcoming embarrassing pictures of the bunch… and sure enough, it happened. Ryant turned to the next page where Shaggy was butt naked, holding a towel with ducks on it in front of him. The three friends were laughing and cooing as Shaggy was scarred for life. Shaggy moaned in embarrassment.

"Oh, Scooby- Doo, where are you?". After, more and more pictures of embarrassment, of Shaggy sleeping in a crib, or sucking his thumb or wearing anymore embarrassing clothes, we finally get to the more later pictures with Shaggy's interest finally perking up as he saw himself playing with an ant child.

"Like, who is that?" Shaggy asked."He was your best friend long before your Mystery INC gang. His name was Anthem Jean. You two used to play with each other all the time. You two met when you were two years old and you stayed friends" Ryant told him."Is he still around?" Shaggy wondered. Ryant thought up of a lie."Oh, no. He died when you guys were twelve. Long after I sent you back to your parents. His parents moved after that. So, you can't really find them. Sorry, son"."Oh" was all that Shaggy could say. Ryant closed the album book."W-well, I think that's enough for one night, huh. It's getting pretty late, kiddo".

"I guess I'll just head up then" Shaggy said. Ryant got up. "Let me show you to your room". Ryant took Shaggy to his room."Goodnight" Ryqant said."Goodnight" Shaggy said back."I'll come back up later to make sure you're asleep" Ryant added with a smirk. Shaggy looked at him."Like, I'm not that little. I'm 18 now"."Not to me your not" Ryant said and left the room, closing the door behind him. After a couple of more hours, Shaggy went to sleep and had a dream about his younger self.

Dream

Shaggy was two years old, getting out of his bed at night and started crawling down the hallway looking for his mommy and daddy."Mommy? Daddy? Mommy? Daddy?" Shaggy kept on repeating in his small child like voice as he crawled away. Shaggy doesn't know what it's like having a mom. He doesn't remember having a mom. An ant like figure formed by the end of the hallway. He saw the child and went to go pick him up.

"Uh, what are you doing out of bed, champ? It's after ten pm". He wondered as he held the child in his arms. The ant like figure was Ryant. Small Shaggy cried."I'm scared. I want my mommy and daddy"."Aww, It's okay, little one. I'm here. Hey, I can read you a story to help you fall back asleep, would you like that?" Ryant suggested. Shaggy nodded."Yeah. Read me a story"."I will. Wipe those tears, little one" Ryant said as he used his finger to wipe the child's tears away. He carried the child back to his bed and laid him down in it, and tucked him in. After Ryant brought a book back, another ant that Shaggy never seen before came in.

"Hello, Ryant" the ant said in a dark voice."Oh, hello, Mr. Rover" Ryant greeted. The black ant chuckled."Please, call me Tom. Now, give me the boy" Tom Rover said as he stepped closer. Ryant protectively put his arms around little Shaggy.

"Norville! But, why?". Tom chuckled again."Because Venom the spider king wants him"."Daddy No! Don't let me be taken to a spider! Spiders are scary!" Little Shaggy screamed."Too late, kid!" Tom cried out as he swooped in and grabbed the child.

"Hey! Give me back my kid!" Ryant ordered. But, it was too late. Tom ran off laughing, holding Shaggy in his arms as Shaggy started crying loudly. Ryant ran off after them. But, when he made it outside, he couldn't find them anywhere!

"Norville!" Ryant called out, but everything was silent. Meanwhile, Tom was somewhere out there with Shaggy in his arms. He walked up to a giant king spider. Tom handed the spider the child. The spider smiled down at little Shaggy. Little Shaggy was shaking and crying.

"Hush now, little one" the spider king said in a hush tone as he bounced the two year old child up and down, gently. Little Shaggy was terrified!"I want my daddy" Shaggy cried.

Authors Note: Alright that was chapter 6. We'll get an explanation for Ryant's lie he told Shaggy later on in the story. The rest of the Mysrtery INC gang will come back in the next chapter. We'll also have a surprise character later on in the story. Well, I hope all of you have a nice New Years Eve. Happy New Years to all of you and I'll see you all in January 2022!