Miles away from Katz and his cronies, Shirley instantly snapped out of meditation." No... it can't be..." She rushed over to her crystal ball and gazed into it. Instead of the usual calming blue, it glowed an eerie red. Then, a black symbol appeared. It was one of a hand clutching a sword. Shirley was froze in horror. "...what have I done?"

ONE HOUR LATER

Courage had made himself comfortable on his cousin next to Muriel's rocking chair. An hour ago he reached home, tired and exhausted. He was just about to fall asleep when he felt all the warmth being sucked out of him. Shivers ran down his body. He felt as if something bad was about to happen.

BANG BANG

It was the front door. "Courage," Muriel called from upstairs, "could you get that?" Courage cautiously approached the door, at the same time preparing to strike should it be the bad event he felt in his bones. He slowly turned the door handle and flung the door open, only to find Shirley.

"Courage, we've got big problems," she said. For the first time, Shirley looked like she was not in control. This was the first time Courage has ever seen her afraid.

"What's wrong?"

"It's the Doom Bringers. They're back."

It took a few seconds for this statement to fully register in Courage's brain. "Are you sure?"

"It's all in my crystal ball," she said as she sat the ball on the Bagge's living room table. Courage saw the same symbol as she did. "That's the symbol of the Doom Bringer."

Courage was shocked. "But, how come they didn't surface earlier? Couldn't their magic be sensed at any time?"

"That's just it. Somehow, the power of the stone has been awakened."

"But...didn't you say that only someone who knew the movements could gain those powers?"

"I did. There is only one explanation. The original Doom Bringers are back."

"H-how could they have survived all this time?"

"I don't know. But we have to stop them."

"But how are we supposed to find them?"

"My crystal ball can track them. But first, we have to prepare." Shirley reached into a pocket of her robes and pulled out what appeared to be a cookie, and handed it to Courage. "Eat this."

Courage took it and nibbled on it. Instantly he felt his energy flow back into him. "Whoa! What was that?"

"A very powerful magic mixture, baked into easy to swallow form," she said. "I don't have many, so be careful out on the battlefield."

Courage suddenly realized that he would have to go out and fight a humongous evil which had existed since before the beginning of the world as he knew it. It was at that point he started to worry. "How can I beat these guys?" he asked. "According to your story, they're millions of years old! They're bound to be more powerful than me!"

"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure that there powers are weaker due to sixty-five million years of no practice. If not...well, we'll just have to pray for a miracle." She placed her paws on the crystal ball. "Touch the ball," she asked.

Courage did so. Soon, another image appeared one the globe. It was of a big city. "Interesting...the Doom Bringers, or at least one of them, are in New York City."

"Why is that interesting?"

"Well, if I remember my history of magic studies correctly, that's where one of the seven Doom Bringer temples was. You see, in the short time the Bringers had control of the Earth, each member built a temple for themselves in a different region of the world. One of those locations was modern day New York."

"So, you think the Bringers are rebuilding their temples?" Courage asked.

"Most likely. And they're probably expecting you to try and stop them, so we have to strike head on."

"Oh goody," Courage said sarcastically. "How long will it take to get to New York?"

"A few seconds. I can teleport us there with my crystal ball."

"OK, just hold on," Courage said. He found a notepad and scribbled down a message to Muriel simply saying he would be gone for a while. He then went back to Shirley. "OK, I'm ready."

"Good. Touch the crystal ball again." Courage obeyed. Shirley touched the ball as well. A few seconds later they were gone.

Both dogs materialized in a grimy alleyway. "Well, now we have to find the Bringer," Shirley said.

Courage looked out of the alleyway. "Uhh...I don't think that's going to be much of a problem."

Courage had taken a trip to New York before, so he recognized the area as Times Square. But a large amount of the buildings had been leveled. And in their places stood a structure made of metal. It was huge, about ten stories tall, and it was decorated with banner with the symbol of the Bringers.

"Well, I can certainly tell they wasted no time," Shirley said.

Suddenly, megaphone feedback filled the air, and a female voice soon followed. "Attention, citizens of New York. This is your new ruler speaking. All of you are now slaves of the Doom Bringers, the most powerful warriors in existence. Any and all misbehavior will be swiftly dealt with. Starting tomorrow, you will all report to the newly built temple to begin your life of servitude. Don't try to escape the city, as magic barricades have just been put up. And if you try to attack the temple...well, that's just suicide!" The voice laughed and then cut the megaphone off.

"Well, no time like the present to attack. We have too, before they can suitably build their defenses," Shirley said. Courage didn't answer. He had a feeling he's heard this voice before, but he couldn't place where.

"COURAGE," Shirley shouted, snapping him out of his trance, "concentrate. We have to enter the temple now. Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I am," he said, although he really wasn't.

Shirley pulled out her sax (I don't know from where...it probably has something to do with magic). "I'll be able to help you a bit with my magic, but you'll have to do most of the fighting. Now lets go."

And so, Courage and Shirley walked to the temple.