Old Friends and Forgotten Memories
Disclaimer: I don't know if I should make another attempt at a disclaimer just yet. My poor wallet is swollen from all the mistreatment it went through during the last lawsuits. Maybe if I state it nice and plain they can't hurt me! *sweat drops*
Okay...um... well you see I don't own Scooby Doo. The characters of Scooby Doo are owned by...um... *lawyers all stand up and say in union*
IT'S NOT OWNED BY UM!?! IT'S OWNED BY HANNAH AND BARBARA PRODUCTIONS! NOW GET BACK HERE WE'RE NOT FINISHED YET!!!
*running away from angry mob* That didn't work so well, anyways enjoy the fic and as always please review. PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!!!! (Sorry, I have way to much fun with these sometimes!)
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Why should you want to know?
Why are you obsessed with fighting,
Times and fates you can't defy?
If you knew the path we're riding,
You'd understand it less than I...
- Jesus (Steve Balsamo), What's the Buzz?
From Jesus Christ Superstar
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Chapter 5: The Secrets of Lost Dreams
Even though they had been 7 years dead, both Simone and Lena looked very much alive right now... and hungry. Zzz... ZOINKS!
You have denied us a good meal one to many times my friends, Lena smirked as she approached, and killing us didn't exactly lighten our moods either.
With that they both attacked without mercy while Shaggy, Velma, and poor old Scooby Doo could do nothing more than scream bloody murder.
As they charged all three entered that single fleeting moment all mortals are allowed before death claims them.
Shaggy saw the group as they had been so many years before, mere children unaware of the strife the real world contained. Velma, head buried in Shaggy's shoulder, silently recalled each face as they are now and remembering the great courage they had proven together. Scooby was busy envisioning the future he had always imagined; with the group all together again and a beautiful mate at his side.
He whimpered now for what couldn't be as they all waited for the final painful impact or their life force to once again be stolen from their grasp.
Yet neither came. Eyes closed and huddled as they were all they could hear in the momentary confusion was some slight stifled yelps and curses then two pairs of padded feet running for their lives.
They just stayed like that for moments more listening intently for a few seconds. The only thing that could be heard was the muffled sound of cloth and weight connecting with the ground.
Then silence reigned once more with the exception of labored breaths in the back round. Finally Shaggy gained the courage to look up and around, letting out an audible gasp at the figure kneeling over on the floor.
Hands in front of her, Sydney was trying desperately to draw in strength from any reserves she had left. Traveling all the while she hadn't stopped once before reaching her friends.
That and the fact that she was now bleeding profusely from the wound she had gained from those demons signified in her mind that she was dying. She looked up in time to see three members of their party staring at her in horror and shock, not quite comprehending what she was going through.
Good, she thought quietly, they're safe. And with that she let her eyes roll back into her head as she was finally able to discover the much deserved rest.
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I see blood and destruction,
our elimination because of one man...
Fools! You have no perception!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high!
We must crush him completely,
This man must die!
- High Priest Caiaphas (Peter Gallagher), This Jesus Must Die
From Jesus Christ Superstar
Upon a hillside lay a castle, a fortress of darkness. No one would say it was evil exactly because all here is exactly the same. No one hated the place but they wouldn't ever call it home either.
A castle of shadows is what it was and on that black hill is where it stood.
Yet if someone from the era of man were to enter through the great forbidden oak doors and walk down a selected path of winding stairs to the very bottom.
There they would find true and utter torture. In the heart of this where means of agony came from the mind itself, was a man. A human to be true but something more. A sorcerer perhaps to some, a wizard to others, but a warlock to most and a warlock he was.
Magick surrounded the very air around him like a palpable force field, but all who know of such forgotten arts could easily decipher that the aura around him was weak and getting weaker.
He would not last for much longer, he had lasted long enough, but he couldn't give up.
It wasn't because he was fighting too hard and for something too important to lose that kept him alive. On the contrary, his spirit had left him long ago and he had nothing weighing him down. The truth was he couldn't face death because of his inability to die.
For all he knew Vincent Van Ghoul could be left here forever and nobody would notice.
He tried to force his mind away from these depressing thoughts but they kept returning to him. It had been so long and he was tired. He wished for rest and nothing more but such remained elusive.
How much time had passed by exactly? How long had it been? Had it been days? Months? Surely even years? He couldn't tell, time ran differently here than in the human realm.
He was fairly certain it was longer.
The Earth's annihilation was nearly unquestionable now. He was failing in his protective wards and he had felt the Chest of Demons enter the region just a few days ago.
The ceremony for opening it should have already begun. It was a three day ritual that took place during the full moon, involving a life sacrifice.
Usually one human and one animal was required and not just anyone, demons were very picky, only the purest souls would do and that meant children.
He hung his head at his defeat knowing all to well that it would be his power that would be used in the killing.
He knew who it would be too. Tears came close to falling as the reminiscence of sensing his old allies' presence returned.
Surely they had been chosen, even half dazed as he was that feeling was unmistakable. Nope there wasn't a doubt in his mind, nothing less than capture and drag by force would bring them here.
Although he wasn't exactly sure how any of them were able to cross through the dimensions, he was fairly sure the block was still intact...so far at least.
Memories flooded back to him and there had been plenty of such lately. He began once more dwelling on what was lost when something hit him. Hard.
Not physically but his spiritual senses were screaming at him that something was wrong. Everything's wrong in this place but this was different. This was death.
He shuddered involuntarily at the thought. This was quite literally hell, to die here was to give up your very existence, forever. Just vanish.
Nobody ever did that though. The demons were all immortals as was himself. That left only a few options left and he didn't like any of them.
He searched desperately with his mind for the source, from the pain in his own heart it had been someone that he once knew VERY well.
A vision appeared to him, that exact one he did not want to see. His chest tightened within and he wished with all his might to cease existing when he saw the scene of his former student lying sprawled on the floor, looking chillingly peaceful as the others mourned around her in the fire's dim light. As quickly as it had begun it was over.
Silence. It was done. No more. Forever and always. Familiar but never before so.
Suddenly a sound erupted from somewhere nearby that chilled his bones to the marrow. Someone was screaming in pain. He couldn't tell where it was coming from with his eyes squinted closed as they were, but whoever it was they sounded as though they were in a lot of pain.
Surely all 7 worlds of hell would hear the mourning cry as clearly as he. A few moments more and it ceased abruptly as though cut off.
Further inspection on his part turned out that it hadn't been severed after all, he himself had just run out of breath.
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If you knew all that I knew,
You'd see the truth but you'd live a lie,
While your troubles are many,
To conquer death you only have to die.
-Jesus (Steve Balsamo), Poor Jerusalem
From Jesus Christ Superstar
A terrible chill crept down Velma's body no matter how closely Shaggy held her. There was something about death that has just haunted her all her life.
She thought she had finally been done with it all. Thought perhaps now that she was grown and matured it would end. But that was just a fantasy all in its own.
Death and destruction never stopped and now matter how old or brave you are, or you think you are, it will always leave you in misery. True she hadn't known the girl but still... she had died.
Never before had someone died with them. Oh there had constantly been those close calls but everything had turned out okay in the end.
For the first time in her life she feared things wouldn't. That chill came again and with more force as doubt clouded her mind.
Come on Velms let's get out of here. Shaggy tried to coax her frozen form out the entrance but she just stood still unable to look away from the scene in front.
Scooby, in obvious denial, went up to sniff the cold form before lifting his head to let out an eerie howl. The note was long and piercing making Velma shudder and Shaggy wince.
He had to be strong but damn that noise nearly brought him to his knees. He was sure that sound could wake the dead.
As if on cue Sydney rolled over onto her side and and yawned, stretching lazily as though she had just arose from a very long and very relaxing nap. She looked at the rest of the group with dazed eyes, then noticed that their jaws were hanging open, almost connecting with the ground.
She asked defensively as she felt heat rising to her cheeks. Why are you all staring? She looked around as though confused, then it clicked. I'm immortal remember? Geez, no reason to lose your heads.
Then she smiled brightly, Boy just think how long I would have been out if it wasn't for you Scooby, thanks. She reached out as though to scratch his ears but he backed away from her as though she was fire and he would.
Whimpering he cowered in the corner while Sydney let her hand drop from were it hung in midair. Eyes downcast she muttered oh yeah I forgot... Pursing her lips she tried a shaky apology, Sorry Scooby, never meant to scare you or anything, just...
She shrugged and never raised her eyes. Scooby seemed to sense her mood for he quickly gathered his courage and gave her arm a gentle nudge with his nose.
Contrary to popular belief he could be just as brave as anyone else when it counts and right now something about the way the girl acted told him it mattered. She was no monster.
and with that he laid down next to her, resting his head on her lap and looking up at her with such round eyes that she couldn't help but let out a tiny giggle at the picture perfect Great Dane.
Gathering up her strength as well Velma went and put her arms around the younger female's shoulders and even Shaggy joined in as well. Velma was amazed at the warmth this girl gave off after being stone cold just a mere few minutes ago.
Smiling once again Sydney gingerly placed her small hand on her chest and let soft white light flow from her palm onto her wounds, healing them instantly.
They just stayed that way for awhile, taking comfort in each others' presence and lost in their own thoughts. Finally Sydney broke through the silence with a soft sigh, rising and indicating without words just expressions that it was time to leave.
But Shaggy and Velma stayed rooted to the spot that they were at, shaking their heads vehemently.
With just a look, a glance even albeit a hard one, Shaggy told Sydney that they wanted to know what exactly was going on right now, before anything else could go wrong.
He winced at that last part and silently cursed the rational part of his brain for making him more wary than he already was. Sydney obeyed reluctantly, sitting down opposite of them on the hard floor of the cavern, pondering just exactly where to begin and what to tell them this time.
Lying came easier to her than it did to most people, that was truth. It was a skill she had acquired many years ago in her travels. She could do so now but something held her back.
What was it precisely? The knowledge that it wouldn't do any good here and now? What was left of her morals and her so called honor code'?
Or perhaps it was just the fact that she considered these particular humans to be friends?
What it was she guessed she would never know but instead of giving the shadow an advantage over her she did the right thing, she told them the truth.
Not everything heavens no. She even had to slip in a few half truths here and there and slightly confuse things a little.
It was just her nature, a technique she learned from her master years ago although Gods knew it never seemed to work on him. Shaggy, Velma, and even Scooby Doo listened intently to her tale and she just had to exaggerate some parts for their benefit.
It was just like story telling. She peered at them intently though trying to discover as to any hint they knew what she was doing.
A few frowns she received at some points confirmed that indeed they did but they said nothing and if her story was lacking explanation they certainly didn't mention it.
She groaned inwardly. She had forgotten. Friends... no not quite. A luxury she couldn't afford maybe but she was pretty sure it was something else.
Smiling bitterly as she acknowledged the presence of fear and doubt in her mind's eye and tried to bid such things go away.
They didn't of course but her strong will held them at bay. Control over her emotions was they only way for such strength of mind to be made possible and even that was difficult.
For all her acting she was just a child and for all her feigning ignorance she knew. She knew what was to happen and it was time they did too.
Clearing her throat nervously to get their attention from the conversation of strategy that had sprouted up between the trio Sydney once more prepared herself for a long lecture.
Okay Shaggy when we get to the castle Velma will come with me and it will be up to you and Scooby to save the world from destruction. Okay maybe not so long. Blank stares meet hers for a moment and then comprehension seemed to come quite suddenly.
was the reply held in union and she sweat dropped as she saw vein bulge and panic increase tenfold. Way to go idiot that was sure nice and gentle of you, she hated inner sarcasm, especially when it was right but she was being hurried and she hated that.
Yep, two things in life she hated, waiting and being rushed, so why did it have it be one or the other?
As soon as the flood of objections and refusals died down she calmly went on as though she had said nothing out of the ordinary. The method she used to explain the rest was very much like soothing a tantrum from a very angry child.
Her tone was gentle as though she was commenting on nothing more then the weather as she went on. Well of course it will be left up to you guys sillies, hasn't it always?
To true. Shaggy muttered to himself. Sydney turned her sharp gaze towards him, her mood swings could impress even her sometimes.
But don't you ever wonder why Shaggy? Why the monsters are drawn to you and your dog? Didn't you ever find it odd that Scooby alone out of millions can talk? That you two are so close in so many ways? Would you call it fate or destiny?
She smiled and Shaggy shivered, Gods above how he shivered, he did not like where this was going at all. Nope not one bit...
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Author's Note:
Man that took forever. I bet it's not even three pages on fan fiction.net but it's about ten here. And considering I don't space it like some... still it was a little fast and probably needs major revision but I'll post it anyways.
Sorry for the futile attempt at humor in the middle but I've been watching Thirteen Ghosts of Scooby Doo a bit and noticed just how far off track I had gotten. Oh well this story does have a plot and considering how long and complex it is you'll thank me for my lack of tact at stories later. I know
I'm not the best author in the world but all I ask is that you review so I can improve. You'd be amazed at how I manage to speed up with the right encouragement.
Special thanks to DaphFlamm for sticking with me and rooting me on with great comments. I probably would have given up long ago without you all. You make me think there is actually a semblance of writing in here and that gives me meaning and hope.
Soon as I get more reviews, well we'll see... ^-^