Notes: This is my latest offering, also taking place in my Season 2 timeline, though not a part of it per se. This is written for Fictober, so will be updated regularly during the month.


"We've got stuff!" Daphne announced to the others in Vincent's study, bringing in parcel she had received from one of the postal workers from the village downhill.

"Yeah?" Shaggy asked, looking up from the video game he was playing with Scooby, Flim-Flam, and Scrappy. "Hey, that's a Belgian postmark!"

Vincent looked up from another one of his books as he sat in his armchair.

"You have a friend in Belgium?" Vincent asked, intrigued.

"Yup—he's a fellow reporter; we've met at a few international press conferences," Daphne said.

Shaggy practically sprang up from the sofa.

"That means there's chocolate in that box!" he deduced. "I call dibs!"

"That's not how it works—especially when this is addressed to me!" Daphne returned. She touched her necklace, transforming it into a staff to open the box, taking out a letter first, which she skimmed through, pulling a package of dried fruit from the box. "Well, he sends his greetings to all of us and asks to send the dried fruit to the monastery near the village with a personal thanks from his behalf… Huh, I didn't know he was ever in the Himalayas… I have to ask him about that."

"We can't have the fruit!?" Shaggy lamented. "What about the chocolate—"

"He hopes we're all doing well and sends this for us humans to share," Daphne continued, pulling out a large box of gourmet Belgian chocolates.

"Yes!" Shaggy exclaimed, tears of happiness flowing down his face. Scooby and Scrappy, knowing that they couldn't have chocolate, ignored it and focused on the box now, hoping that there'd be something for them…

"And," Daphne continued. "He says his dog enjoyed the Scooby Snacks we sent, and, as thanks, has sent his dog's favorite biscuits for Scooby and Scrappy—"

"Ryahoo!" Scooby exclaimed.

"Now we're talking!" Scrappy grinned.

"Before you all delve into those treats," Vincent interrupted. "I think those would be more apt for a post-exam celebration, don't you think so?"

"Sure, like, if we were still in school," Shaggy mused.

"But you are, in a way—you and Daphne," Vincent reminded him. "Or did you forget that your lessons from me on magic are technically under my new responsibilities as an off-site instructor of Terror Tech?"

Shaggy blinked.

"Jeepers, I forgot all about that…" Daphne realized.

"Well, I didn't—Dean Cesare contacted me the other day about scheduling your first exams," Vincent informed them.

"Okay, well, that kinda stuff doesn't apply to us, right?" Shaggy asked. "I mean, we're mortals—Daphne and I can't be judged on the same level as actual witches and warlocks! …Right…?"

Vincent merely arched an eyebrow, prompting Shaggy to gulp.

"You mean…?" Daphne began.

"Yes, the dean fully expects the two of you to be tested the same way as all the other students—with a practical exam," Vincent replied. "Normally, we'd have different practicals in different subjects, but for the sake of efficiency in using the campus facilities, the dean, the associate deans, and I have agreed on a longer practical that will encompass all subjects—and depending on its success, it might even be adapted for the campus students, as well."

"Zoinks! You mean all the warlock bigwigs will be watching Daphne and me!?" Shaggy exclaimed.

"Dean Cesare, Associate Dean Leonidas, and Associate Dean Reed!?" Daphne asked.

"Well, yes; the grading has to be impartial," Vincent pointed out. "I am your instructor, and I chose you both as my students; naturally, it would be in my best interest to have you pass with flying colors, and the administrators will ensure that your successes will be legitimate—just as they do with all the other students' exams."

Shaggy gulped again, all thoughts of chocolate pushed from his mind. Even Daphne looked incredibly concerned.

"I mean… Shaggy and I have learned a lot, it's true," she said. "But I don't know if we're ready to actually go to Terror Tech and put on what we've learned in front of the administrators! I mean, not to speak for Shaggy but—"

"No, no—that's fine!" he insisted. "Speak away for me! I know I'm not ready—I've only been doing this for a short time! At least Daphne has been doing this for over a year! She could pull it off, maybe!"

"Thanks a lot," Daphne said, sarcastically.

"Perhaps you haven't been doing this as long as Daphne has, but you have been selected by the Green Dragon to wield that sword—which Dean Cesare gave his blessing for you to do," Vincent reminded him. "I imagine the dean has a bit of a stake in this, taking that into consideration."

"Great," Shaggy moaned. "So I get to disappoint him, too."

"What about me?" Daphne retorted. "I'm supposed to be Vincent's heiress—what happens when I fall on my face during that exam?"

"…Why do you two think you're gonna fail?" Flim-Flam asked, baffled.

"I was about to ask the very same thing myself," Vincent frowned. "You've both exceeded my expectations all this time—why should this be any different, especially when it's only recapping everything you already know? And you, Daphne—you did very well during that exhibition the last time we were all at Terror Tech. What's different now?"

"Pressure," Shaggy and Daphne chorused.

"Rhis was a thing for them in school, too," Scooby informed Vincent.

"Yeah—and for Freddie, too," Scrappy added. "Velma would be quizzing them the night before, and they'd know the stuff cold—but then they were all nervous wrecks during the test the next day."

"Like, all it took was one glare from Mr. McDabble, and it's like instant amnesia set in…" Shaggy groaned.

"I just got so self-conscious—all three of us did," Daphne sighed. "I guess the last time at the exhibition, it was different because I was working with Tabitha, who knew what she was doing. Now, I'd be stuck with Shaggy."

"Yeah—hey!" he frowned. "…Well, I can't deny that she's right about that, anyway. Especially in this case, I'd be the load since I haven't been doing this as long as Daphne has. Any chance we can put this exam off a bit?"

"Dean Cesare was hoping to test out this new examination method this week, as the campus is holding the remaining exams the following week," Vincent said. "I'd been meaning to tell you this all morning, but I didn't want to over breakfast." His expression softened. "I understand how nervous you both must be, but you've proven time and again that you can always be counted upon to succeed. Why should this be any different?"

"Rheah!" Scooby agreed. "Rhi believe in rhou!"

"I believe in you, too!" Scrappy added.

"Me three!" Flim-Flam chirruped.

"It's not that we don't appreciate it," Daphne sighed. "But, like Vincent said, how we do is going to reflect on him."

"Yeah, like, we don't want him to look bad because of us!" Shaggy added.

"And I am confident that won't happen," Vincent insisted. "Now, I suppose we could postpone this another day or two, but in my opinion, you're both as ready as you'll ever be for this."

"Well, he's right about that," Daphne said, looking at Shaggy. "I don't know what kind of practice could possibly be of any help."

"Yeah, like, we might as well get this over with," Shaggy sighed. "This way, either we celebrate with chocolate, or we console ourselves with chocolate."

Daphne nodded in agreement as Vincent sighed.

"Very well," the warlock said. "Onward, then, to Terror Tech!"