"Draccy, Baby. Why are you always so mean to me?"

Sibella looked up at the whiny voice she heard on the balcony. She knew that voice. It wasn't exactly a good sign…this probably just was going to annoy and anger her father even more. And after all they had put the old vampire through, he was more than angry enough.

"Vhat are you doing here, Vam Pyra?" Dracula tried to feign annoyance, but the anger had already risen too far. He'd already had to face down that blasted Wolf Man and Mother Nature/Miss Grimwood. Now here was his hot vampire on the side (no real divorces in the monster world, but he hadn't seen his wife since about the time Sibella had been born). He thought back to the race where Shaggy had first become a part of the monster world and how her ineptitude had been so bothersome.

But now, she was walking in just as he was on the verge of putting an end to some of the most meddlesome thorns in his side in centuries. Part of him wanted nothing more than to throw her from the balcony, but he thought better of it and waited for her response.

"Well I came to see what all the commotion was." She was almost pouting at him now. She did look pretty good, he thought. Maybe he would forgive her. But first he had some pests to deal with.

"Vell then you are just in time, my dear. Ve are about the end a few annoying storylines that are in my vay." Here Dracula gestured to the crowd on the ground behind him. He heard Vam Pyra squeal as she looked, but then a look of confusion dawned on her face.

"But Draccy, isn't that-" Here he cut her off. He did not want to hear what she was about to say. If it was what he had expected, that she would ask if it was Sibella, he knew he never wanted to hear mention of his daughter again after today, just like he'd never wanted to hear mention of his wife nor mention of Shaggy.

"These are the fools who thought they could stop me. They have ransacked my castle. They have ruined my nice quiet evening." Here he turned to cast his evil grimace over the faces which were now clearly showing fear. "They must be gotten rid of."

Turning back to Vam Pyra, Dracula offered her his arm and the two fluttered down to the pit floor after she took it. When they landed, Vam Pyra let go of his arm and stood back. A small force of monsters immediately rushed to Dracula's side, waiting to do his bidding. Things were looking worse and worse for the gang, the Hex Girls, and the Grimwood girls. And Dracula was far from done with his teasing.

"So vhat shall ve do now? The dog still looks like he needs a rest." As he reached out to pet Scooby, the Great Dane growled. Dracula noted the bristling hair on the dogs back and pulled back. Stupid mutt, he preferred his werewolves. They were at least pets he could control. Though even that had seemed to be an issue since Shaggy had arrived. Well, no matter. He would correct all of that later.

He stalked over to his purple haired daughter.

"Vhat a pity. Vell, more like vhat a pitiful vampire." He gaged her eyes for a reaction, but she offered none. She stared at him with a hatred Dracula had only ever dreamed she could poses.

"Yes, vhat a pity it took me killing that stupid coach of yours for you to finally become a true vampire." Here Dracula threw his head back and laughed his dark bellowing laugh. Several of the trapped gang cringed or looked away, but Sibella simply stared. She was far from impassive, but she was not about to bite at her father's bait. His time would come. For now she was more worried about her friends.

"Hmmm, vell it is time ve began." Looking at their flustered looks, Dracula laughed again. Then he turned to walk over to Vam Pyra, calling over his shoulder. "Vell since you at least have the decency to look sad, I vill give you a moment to say goodbye!"

Though far from alone, the gang were all let up enough to face one another. There was fear and terror in their eyes, each not sure how to react. There was some minor sniffling, and Daphne buried her face in Fred's shoulder. Winnie and Tanis met in one another's embrace for fear of what was to come. All in all, it was a heartbreaking scene.

But not everyone was engaged in the sadness. Scooby was growling and crying all at once. He had just lost his lifelong best friend, but now here he was preparing to die himself. He had heard how Shaggy had stood up to Dracula, and Scooby was going to face his death just as bravely in honor of his best friend.

And Sibella, for her part, was still glaring at her father. She did not want to feel in that moment. She had said her piece to everyone already. Their being here was her fault. Shaggy's being there was her fault. Soon their deaths would be her fault, just like Shaggy's…

She felt her breath hitch in her throat. She couldn't focus on that. She couldn't think about never seeing his eyes and getting lost in them. She couldn't think about never feeling his arms wrapped securely around her. She couldn't think about not feeling the warmth of his lips on hers. She couldn't think about all they would not be able to do. She couldn't stand it. Her heart was broken and in that instant it hardened.

So she glared at her father. Once again, if looks could kill

After letting this go one for a few minutes in the hopes of hearing some wailing and begging, Dracula got bored. He turned back to the small crowd and addressed them.

"The time has come!" This statement drew a great cheer from the crowd of monsters. They were exactly that, monsters. As such, they were a rather terrible bloodthirsty crowd. There was hooting and hollering and screaming. The creatures were working themselves up into a frenzy.

Taking all of this in, Winnie noticed something odd. She still couldn't heard Dracula's voice. And what was more, the werewolves were not foaming at the mouths as they typically would when an even such as this occurred. It made her feel better to know that at least her brethren were not going to be enjoying what was to come.

Suddenly, Scooby was being dragged away. The method of Scooby's demise had not yet been decided, but the thoughts were only of the worst. The entire gang and even Matches put up a fight to get to the Great Dane, but it was all for naught. Scooby was soon safely away from his friends where no one could help him. He was taken to the balcony where Dracula and Vam Pyra had returned. They stood staring over the collection of monsters below. Dracula decided to address the creatures.

"My fine monsters, big a small. Today is the day when we shall reclaim control of our own lives. Ve shall end the wretched lives of these creatures." Letting loose another laugh, this time the crowd joined in with the Vampire King. The room was suddenly ablaze with fire light as torches around the room lit to ensure all could see. Dracula turned to the dog, who appeared to be trembling before him. Dracula grinned to himself.

"Now, my dear Scooby Doo, do not vorry-" He was cut off as Scooby jumped up to start barking and growling at him. As the dog tried to attack, Dracula realized that the shaking had been Scooby attempting to bark and attack the king. As Scooby was restrained by the other monsters, Dracula laughed. He laughed at the situation. He laughed at the crowd below him. He laughed at the dog before him.

Then he turned to make eye contact with the purple haired Vampire Princess and laughed at her. The anger on her eyes was new and fresh, but he knew where it came from. He drank it in. He took in all the pain and suffering he had caused. This was what he lived…or rather, did not live for. Dracula was meant to destroy other creatures, and this is exactly what he had done. He called out loudly so everyone could hear him.

"I do believe that Mr Doo should be taken slowly…painfully. Perhaps some of our trolls could help him stretch a little?"

The evil grin on Dracula's face told the gang that this 'stretching' would be anything but comfortable and the end result would be bad. The gang trapped blow bellowed their anger.

"No!"

"You Can't!"

"Not Scooby!"

"Don't do it!"

The only person who did not respond was Sibella. She was still staring at her father, attempting to burn through him with just her look. Sadly it was not working.

As several trolls came to replace the monsters who were restraining Scooby, each took a separate limb. They grasped his paws as best they could in their large hands, waiting for a signal from Dracula. The Vampire King offered one last look at the Great Dane.

"Now is your chance, Scooby Doo. Just beg."

All Dracula received in return was a growl. He'd had enough waiting, enough playing with his toys. He nodded to the trolls, adding, "Make it slow."

As they all looked on, they could hear Scooby growling even through his pain. The entire rooms seemed to be holding its breath in anticipation of what was happening. No one could look away, even though his friends wanted to desperately.

As they watched Scooby, no one noticed the door to the balcony once more creep slowly open.

Nor did they notice the shadow that snuck silently through the opening.

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As all eyes were on Scooby, the shadow stole silently through around them

There were subtle changes throughout the crowd. As Scooby fought the pull of the trolls, there was no attention as the Shadow snuck around to the monsters holding the gang. Coming to each, the shadow slowly enveloped them, pulling each one into it. The monsters were so enveloped in the actions of the trolls and the Great Dane, they never noticed the disappearance of the prisoners. Each prisoner was slowly drawn away until only the purple haired vampire was left. She was too busy glaring at her father to notice the shadow wrap its way around her. Even as she felt the room fading, she was still too focused on Dracula to notice the change until Dracula and Scooby's growling was gone.

And Sibella faded into darkness.

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"Come on Princess, time to wake up!" Sibella felt a hand smack her face as she came fully awake to the face of Tanis. She shook her head and looked around. She and the rest of the girls, not to mention Mystery Inc. and the Hex Girls all appeared to be safe and sound, at least for the moment. But what had happened?

Sibella thought back to the last time that had happened to her. When she had just faded into darkness like that. She had woken up in her father's castle, chained to a bed. It had been a terrible experience. But when her father used that power, it felt draining and terrible. Lying here, she felt almost warm and refreshed. But how could that be?

And more than that, who had done it. No one besides her father had the shadow ability. It belonged solely to the strongest of the vampire's. And knowing what was happening, there was no way in hell her father had saved them. Maybe this was his way of toying with them?

Lost in her thoughts, Sibella missed the appearance of the shadow once again. But the shadow merely delivered another person this time, not stopping to be seen. It was the large form of Matches with Scooby Doo draped across his back. For all that the Great Dane had borne over the past month, he looked no worse for the wear. After shaking his own head, the dog took stock of his surroundings. He cautiously made his way beside Sibella, looking at her with disbelief in his eyes.

"Ram Ri Read?"

Sibella smiled at the curious question. She considered it for a moment and it seemed reasonable. And to be honest, she wasn't sure.

"I don't know Scoob, but I don't think so." This seemed to help the dog relax. Then, seeming to have an epiphany, Scooby looked down quickly and counted his limbs, as well as his tail. Seeming satisfied, he launched himself into Sibella's arms.

As the rest of the gang came awake, there was mass confusion all around. Through the confusion, no one noticed the sly grin that graced Miss Grimwood's face.

Standing to look with Scooby securely in her arms, Sibella noted the gang was back in the basement dungeon, but it was different. The wall which had opened to let the monsters in was closed and the ceiling was closed as well. There were even torches gracing the walls, allowing everyone a bit of a view of their prison.

Except it wasn't a prison. It seemed more like a room. There was a bed, where the Hex Girls were draped, a couch, where Daphne and Velma lay, and a nice rug, where the Grimwood Girls were. It all seemed odd. The room was still dim and dark, but it seemed friendlier somehow. It was a large room, which would explain how they had thought it was a dungeon before.

Then a realization hit Sibella. Where was Shaggy? She began searching frantically. As she did this, the rest of the room turned to watch her.

"What are you doing Sibella?" Sibella did not even turn to face Winnie, continuing to look around the room instead.

"This is the same room we were in before."

"I know, I can smell it."

"But then where is Shaggy?"

The question seemed to light a fire under everyone. With a gasp, the entire group jumped to their feet, a few more cautiously than others as they shook off the light headed feeling, to aid in the search. After a few frantic moments, Sibella came across what she had hoped she wouldn't find.

There was the pool of Shaggy's blood. It was bright red as a puddle on the floor. As she gasped, the rest ran to her. Upon seeing it, they all felt their hearts fall. Shaggy's body was gone and a few moments of searching showed track marks pulling away from the pool toward a wall.

As Sibella fell to her knees to cry once again, the shadow suddenly appeared in the room. There was a gasp from the entire company as the shadow came to itself, forming a solid body. There was once again a collective gasp from the room, but Sibella didn't notice. She didn't look up. She was too lost in her own sorrow. Her heart was permanently broken now, and nothing else mattered.

She heard someone walking toward her as the tears came. It didn't matter. She had lost him, and this was the proof. It hurt too much. And she couldn't fight the tears.

As she was lost in her sorrow, she felt a hand on her chin. Fighting to keep her tears hidden and her eyes on the ground, Sibella couldn't help but look slowly up as her eyes were drawn to the shadow's.

"Hello, my Queen."