Sponge: Welcome to the FINAL CHAPTER OF THE WHOLE ENTIRE ORIGINS SERIES! I am so sorry for the long wait, but I was slapped with a serious case of Real Life, and I've been extremely busy at work. However, I am thrilled to finally be able to present this to you all. As for the previous chapter, it is a song by Owl City. Congratulations to Klara-MS and itsyagirlwithwritersblock for guessing correctly! Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Scooby Doo characters. They belong to Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers, and Hanna Barbera. Everything about the Stanford chemistry lab in this chapter is made up. As we all know, formatting on this website is a nightmare, which is why the email addresses in this chapter do not have the "at" symbol. Also, as far as I'm aware, none of these email addresses actually exist in real life. Now, please enjoy the epilogue!

Chapter 18: Epilogue

Sunday, August 22nd

10:45 PM EST

From: Fred Jones (FrederickJones at coolsville . edu)

To: Brad Chiles (chiles at roosevelt . edu); Judy Reeves (reeves at roosevelt . edu); Fred Jones Sr. (mayor at coolsville . gov)

Dear Brad, Judy, and Mayor Dad,

Is it weird for me to be emailing all three of you at once? I hope not. But all three of you emailed me after you left yesterday, and I didn't want to have to write out the same message three times because I basically want to say the same things to each of you. The first is, thanks for helping me move into the dorm yesterday. Especially you, Brad and Judy. I didn't expect you to come all the way down from Chicago for that, especially after you helped Shaggy and Scooby move into Roosevelt last week. But I really do appreciate your help. I convinced my roommate, to bunk our beds and to let me have the top bunk. He's pretty cool – I think we'll get along.

Which leads me into my next topic. When you were helping me unpack my stuff, you wanted to know if I had any thoughts about ways I might occupy my time while I'm not in class. It would feel wrong for me to solve mysteries without the gang – though there haven't been any mysteries to solve since our road trip this summer. But my roommate was talking about rushing a frat later this semester, so I might do that with him. Mu Gamma Tau seems pretty cool – we stopped by their information table at the activities fair this afternoon.

Classes start tomorrow, which I'm really nervous about. I still don't know what I want to major in. But that's okay – like Mayor Dad said yesterday, I don't need to make a decision overnight. I'm taking a lot of neat classes this semester, so I'll have a pretty broad range of topics. I'm sure I'll find something that interests me.

The final thing. In your emails, you all asked how I was. And the answer is: I don't know. I've only been on campus for a day and a half at this point, and like I said, classes don't start till tomorrow. Mostly I miss the gang. Velma's still in town because incoming freshmen don't start at Stanford till September, but Shaggy and Scooby are already at Roosevelt (which you know) and Daphne left for NYU two days ago. Saying goodbye to her was hell. But it's nice to have Velma here for another week. I'm going to go to her place on Wednesday night at ten o'clock for a group video chat with Daph and Shag. I'm already looking forward to it.

I think I'll be all right, in the long run. It'll take some time. But I've got the gang behind me. And you three. Your support means more to me than I know how to say. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have all of you in my life.

Mayor Dad, we're still on for breakfast on Friday morning in the student refectory, right? My first class isn't until nine A.M. so we should have plenty of time.

Brad and Judy, I'll see you when you visit for Thanksgiving, but I'm sure we'll talk long before then. Try not to let Shag and Scoob eat you out of house and home when they come see you. But also tell them I miss them. And tell Nova I say hello.

I'll keep in touch.

Your son,

Freddie

x.X.x

Thursday, September 2nd

9:19 AM EST

From: Daphne Blake (dablake495 at nyu . edu)

To: Ricky Owens (MrE at gmail . com); Cassidy Williams (AngelDynamite at gmail . com)

Dear Ricky and Cassidy,

What a pleasant surprise it was to see you in New York yesterday! Thank you so much for taking me to lunch. It was so sweet of you – but seriously, like I said, there's no need to apologize for last June! I know you weren't trying to run me down on purpose, so all's well that ends well.

I had a great time talking with you about all your travels so far. Your photos were stunning! I can't believe how many places you've seen in the few short months since we last saw each other. It almost makes me wish the gang and I had taken our time on our road trip.

It was nice of you to ask about them. Honestly, it's been a hard adjustment. I miss them all so much. Especially Freddie. My first week at NYU was particularly hard. I've gotten into a rhythm now that classes have started and made a few friends, plus now I'm auditioning for shows at school. But I still miss the gang. We had a video chat last night at ten, which was incredible. We had one last week, too. I don't think we meant to make it a weekly thing, but it seems like it'll become that way. Shaggy keeps forgetting that ten PM our time is nine PM his time, so that's a bit tricky. It'll be even tricker once Velma leaves for California, but I think we'll make it work.

Velma's going to fit right in at Stanford, I know it. She's so excited for school to start – last night on our video call, she kept reading out loud from her course catalog about the classes she's taking this semester. She was born to go to college.

I have to say, I was a little worried about how Shaggy and Scooby would adjust – especially because I had so much trouble myself – but they seem to be doing all right. I think the fact that Brad and Judy are close by helps. I've always felt that Shag and Scoob need a little extra supervision – not that they're irresponsible, just that they're…fragile, I guess. Maybe it's just because they were always afraid whenever we were solving mysteries, but I always felt this motherly instinct to protect them. I'm glad that Brad, Judy and Nova are there to help them through.

Fred's loving his life at Coolsville U. We talk every day, and he keeps me up to date on everything. Did you know he's rushing a frat? I'm hoping to fly him out to visit me here in a few weeks. Just for a weekend. I miss him so much. But you both understand what that's like.

I have to sign off now to go to class. Thank you again for taking me to lunch. Please reach out to me if you're ever in New York again!

Don't be strangers,

Daphne

x.X.x

Tuesday, September 7th

5:37 pm CST

From: Shaggy Rogers (NCRogers at roosevelt . edu)

To: Tony Moretti (morettimoreproblems at gmail . com)

Like hey dude,

Just dropping you a line to say that I found your doppelganger at Roosevelt. I swear to God, this guy in my menu management class is your identical twin. Scoob even like, had to do a double take.

In all seriousness, how's it going? I bet the restaurant's like, keeping you super busy. School's totally kicking my ass – I barely have time to do like, anything at all besides homework. But it's alright. I've made a few new friends, though I still miss the gang obviously. We started having video chats every Wednesday which has been great. And we text each other every day, just whenever we feel like it.

Actually, Fred texted me earlier. He saw Sheriff Stone the other day, and I guess like, Leon Berger's trial date came and went. He was found guilty, obviously. Apparently he's being sent to some prison in Virginia. Professor Pericles is still in jail, too, at that same place the Reynolds are. I think. Whatever. All that matters is they're both behind bars and they like, won't bother us or anyone else ever again. Velma's so relieved.

She's doing well, by the way. She's all moved in at Stanford, and her classes start next week. I think she's like, going to double major because she couldn't decide if she wanted to go for physics or chemistry. I told her she didn't have to declare a major right away, but does she listen to me? Like no.

It's weird to be so far away from everyone, but at least I've got Scooby Doo with me. I'd like, go out of my mind if it weren't for him. And Brad and Judy have been helpful to have around. Nova, too. Whenever Scoob's not with me, he's with her. I don't mind so much – usually it's like, only while I'm in class. But it's weird to think that he's got a life of his own without me. Is this what it's like to be a parent? LOL.

Gotta go, it's almost time for dinner. But write back soon and like, let me know what you're up to!

See ya,

Shaggy

P.S: Scoob says hi!

x.X.x

Friday, September 17th

11:42 am PST

From: Velma Dinkley (velma . dinkley at stanford . edu)

To: Marcie Fleach (mfleach246 at caltech . edu)

Marcie, guess what?!

I've just been offered a position as an undergrad assistant in the chem lab here! Apparently they never hire frosh for work study, but my organic chemistry professor has been so impressed with me in class that he personally asked me if I'd do it, so I said yes! It's just for a couple hours three days a week, but it's an incredible opportunity. I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging – I'm just so excited! I start next week!

Not that I don't have enough on my plate – I'm already so busy and it's only the first week of school. But it's nice, in a way. Being busy means I hardly have enough time to think about how much I miss the gang. Which is a lot. It sounds like everyone's doing well, though – we text each other every day just to keep up to date with our lives. And we have a video chat once a week on Wednesdays.

A few weeks ago, Daphne told us that she had lunch with Ricky Owens and Cassidy Williams. I guess they've been making their way back east and so they surprised her when they got to New York by taking her to lunch. I think they still must feel bad about almost running over her this summer. But you know Daphne. She's not one to hold a grudge. Anyway, I bring it up because one of the last things the gang and I did this summer before we left for school was go back under the oak tree in the Willow Springs Woods. I wanted to see if I could dig out any more of that odd mineral that Brad and Judy told us about, but that room has been completely filled in. So has the tunnel that led to the high school. Only the space directly under the tree was left untouched, and as far as I know, no one has been there since Leon kidnapped Lorelei.

I have to say, I was discouraged. I'd hoped to bring the mineral here to Stanford and study it myself, since we destroyed the serum. Brad, Judy, Ricky, and Cassidy all swear up and down that there was something supernatural about that mineral, which everyone in the gang has just seemed to take at face value. But I refuse to believe it. Maybe it's because I'm a scientist, but I have to believe there's a logical explanation for the way animals (Scooby, Nova, Professor Pericles, etc.) react to it. Judy once told me that in this life, we have to be all right with not getting all the answers. But I really hope that she's wrong.

Maybe my job in the chem lab will give me some answers.

Anyway, enough about me. How are you? Did you decide between a major in biological engineering or aerospace science? I just decided to go for the double major. Shaggy tried to talk me out of it, but I think I can handle it.

Ironically, it seems that Scooby is the one faring the best out of all of us. But I think that has more to do with the fact that he's got Nova now. It's really too bad that she wasn't around earlier – maybe Shaggy and I could have avoided a lot of drama.

I hope you'll keep in touch. Your friendship meant a lot to me this past year, and even though our schools are almost four hundred miles apart, I hope we can keep it going. If I can make time for the gang, I can certainly make time for you as well.

Thanks for being my friend, Marcie.

Best regards,

Velma

x.X.x

Wednesday, September 22nd

8:58 pm CST

Scooby paced the small space between the tiny twin bed and the desk, where Shaggy sat waiting for the video chat software to open on his laptop.

"Like Scoob remember when we first moved to Coolsville and we used to Skype with the gang?" he asked.

Scooby chuckled and shook his head. It seemed as though they were already a decade separated from their old lives. So much had changed in the few short weeks that they'd been at school. But one thing hadn't – and that was the gang's devotion to each other. So far they'd kept every single one of their video chat appointments, even though each of them were slowly getting busier. On top of regular classwork, Fred was deep into rush events for a fraternity, Daphne was auditioning for shows left and right, and Velma worked in the chemistry lab most evenings. But they always made time for each other. And that time was now.

Daphne logged on first, and Scooby barked joyfully when her face appeared on Shaggy's screen.

Shaggy grinned too. "Like hey, Daph! How's it going?"

"Great!" she exclaimed, beaming widely. "I'm impressed I got here with two minutes to spare."

"Rust one rinute now," Scooby said as the clock changed.

"Still," Daphne continued. "We're here before Freddie and Velma. And I'm even more impressed that you guys are here on time."

"Rey!" Scooby cried, feigning offense.

Shaggy chuckled. "My roommate Claude had the idea that I like, set an alarm on my phone every Wednesday. It says, 'remember the time difference!' and it works like a charm."

"Clearly," Daphne agreed, still smiling. "Are you and he getting along?"

"Yeah," said Shaggy. "He really likes Scoob."

"Reveryone likes re," Scooby quipped.

Shaggy and Daphne chuckled again.

"At first I wasn't sure about my roommate, Alana," Daphne said. "But I think we're growing on each other now. She's not in the room a lot. I don't mind though – you don't have to be best friends with your roommate."

"Not like Fred and the Elephant, or whatever that dude's name is," Shaggy remarked.

Daphne laughed out loud. "Rhino, you mean? It's so funny – I was talking to Freddie the other day and he mentioned his roommate, and he said, 'You know…I'm almost positive that his real name isn't actually 'Rhino.'"

This caused everyone to dissolve into giggles once more.

As if on cue, Fred's face appeared in a box on the screen. "Hey, gang!"

"Hi babe!" Daphne cried.

"Hi babe," Shaggy and Scooby repeated in a gently teasing tone.

Daphne flipped them both off as everyone cracked up again.

"Are we all here?" asked Fred once they'd all calmed down.

"Like we're still waiting on Velm," Shaggy said. "But she'll probably log on soon."

Fred looked at Scooby through the screen. "How's Nova?"

"Rhe's good!" Scooby replied with a smile. The two dogs had grown quite close over the past several weeks. Brad and Judy often brought her to campus and whenever Shaggy was in a particularly boring class, Scooby would often take the opportunity to spend time with her.

At that moment, Velma's face popped up in a box beside Fred's. "I'm here!" she exclaimed. "Sorry I'm late. I have work after this, so I had to eat dinner first."

"Mmmmm…rinner," said Scooby, as though he and Shaggy hadn't just eaten an hour ago.

"You're not late, Velm," Daphne assured her. "It's ten o'clock on the dot!"

Fred frowned at Velma's bespectacled face. "You have work after this? Isn't it awfully late?"

"It's only seven PM here," Velma reminded him.

"How's it going?" asked Daphne. "The work study, I mean?"

"Pretty well actually," Velma replied. "My roommate Marisol is usually still awake by the time I get back, so I never have to worry about waking her up. And there's always a grad student in the chem lab too so if I'm ever stuck with some problem, I have another person I can ask. The worst part is that the dining hall closes at eight and my last class of the day gets out at five-thirty, so I only have about an hour and a half to make sure I get food."

"Food like, is important," Shaggy agreed.

"Ooh, speaking of food," Daphne spoke up. "I had dinner with Holden last night. He asked me to tell you all hello."

"Jinkies! How's he doing?" asked Velma.

As the gang settled in for their weekly catch-up, Scooby looked on fondly. There was certainly a feeling of excitement in the air at this relatively superficial reunion, but he couldn't pretend like he didn't feel the sharp stab of nostalgia as well. The ferocity with which he missed the gang astonished him. Of course he'd always known he would miss the others. He'd just figured that as long as he had Shaggy with him, everything would be okay. And it was – for the most part.

But as happy as he was living with Shaggy and being so close to Nova, Scooby couldn't deny that he felt waves of sorrow at the thought that he couldn't see Velma, Daphne, or Fred every day. Even though he and Shaggy had only known the gang for a couple years, they had become a family. And it was hard to be apart from them.

Of course, as long as he and Shaggy were together, Scooby was all right. But he also didn't feel whole without the rest of the gang there, too.

Without meaning to, he sighed out loud.

Shaggy immediately turned away from the computer screen. "Like what's wrong buddy?"

"Rothing, really," Scooby replied. But even he heard the dishonesty in his tone. He tried again. "Rye just…Rye riss you rall."

The humans all glanced at each other sympathetically. "We miss you too, Scooby Doo," Velma said, her voice sincere.

Daphne nodded in agreement. "More than we can say."

"It sucks," Fred sighed. "I mean, I'm having a lot of fun and everything…but I wish we were still together. Physically, I mean."

He made eye contact with Daphne through the screen. Since that first night in the tent while they were in California, they'd had a few opportunities for repeat scenarios throughout the rest of the summer. It had been amazing…but it had also been part of the reason their farewell had been so difficult.

"I know what you mean," Velma went on, totally oblivious to Fred and Daphne's moment. "It's hard to feel like a gang when we're not in the same place. But these video chats are good…they help me feel less homesick."

"Are you homesick?" asked Daphne, a bit surprised.

Velma shrugged. "Sometimes. It's not so bad now that classes have started and I have this job."

"Same with me," said Fred. "The busier I am, the less I remember how much I miss you all."

"Me too," Daphne agreed.

"Like me three," Shaggy added.

Scooby smiled wanly. It helped to hear that they were all struggling. But he was also glad that no one was completely miserable. It would be so much worse to hear that Fred or Daphne or Velma were having a terrible time at school. But aside from being apart…everyone seemed relatively happy. Shaggy and Scooby included.

He turned to Shaggy now. "Roo know," he said. "Rin a way… rit reminds me of rhen re first moved to Roolsville."

"You mean like, how we're in a brand new place with a bunch of brand new people we don't know and it's like, weirdly exciting and scary at the same time because all our friends are somewhere else?"

"Reah."

Shaggy nodded sagely. "Like that's totally how I feel too, dude," he agreed.

"But things are a little different now," Daphne pointed out. "You're not totally on your own. You've got Brad, Judy, and Nova in Chicago with you. And even though we're far away…you still have us. You'll always have us."

"Daphne's right," Fred agreed stoutly. "Distance doesn't mean squat. We're all still friends."

"Best friends," Velma added. "And there's nothing in the world that could change that."

Scooby's heretofore wan grin slowly spread wider over his face. It helped to hear these encouraging words from the gang.

It solidified what he'd realized over the summer. Or, if he was being honest, what he'd really known all along.

He wasn't just Shaggy's dog.

He was Velma's dog, too. And Daphne's. And Fred's.

He belonged to all of them.

And they belonged to him.

"Rooby Rooby Roo!" he barked.

THE END

Sponge: If emojis worked on this website, there would be like, ninety crying faces here. I won't belabor this author's note but check back here this time next week for an important announcement about my next project! In the meantime, please leave a review if you feel so inclined. Thank you all!