Holy guacamole with a side of chips! Sorry for the long wait, guys, life got to be a pain in the neck (and abdomen) so I got a little behind in my updates. But don't worry, I haven't forgotten about our little story here.

Also, I'M ON VACATION! W00T! ULTIMATE UPDATE EXPERIENCE IS AT HAND, PEOPLES!

Okay, read and enjoy!

~13~

Mugsy's POV

We managed to reach New Jersey in a matter of hours, and thank God too, considering this whole trip consisted of Fangs and Glimpy talking constantly, and it didn't help that Zeke kept whistling 'Hey Mickey', and Aaron needed to use the bathroom, while Brielle and Alexia argued about which interstate we should've taken.

By the time we found a hotel to stay at, it was dusk, and everyone was beat from the long haul. "Alright, we've only got two days to find James, before you guys turn into celluloid dust, unless you want to go back to the toon world." Zeke told his toon friends.

"Like, no thanks man, Scoob and I plan on making our reality-trip a one-time experience," Shaggy replied.

"Yeah, I don't know how you and WG can handle it, I felt like I had a thousand muscle-spasmums at once," Pugsy added.

"Ah, it's not so bad- we've teleportrayed with Zeke before, and we barely felt a thing." I boasted.

"Are you kidding? You kept complaining about feeling like stretched-taffy and having headaches all weekend!" Danny scoffed.

I gave him a glare, ready to slug him. "We'll go book us some rooms for the night," Kite intervened, walking by with Aaron and Alexia. "Why don't you guys hang around the lobby… and try to stay out of trouble,"

"Now when have we've ever gotten into trouble?" Glimpy said, though I doubt the others knew it was an inside joke (I had doubts he even knew).

We walked around, where near the dining area there was a stage, and a man who was wearing a hotel-employee dress-shirt, and pacing around all nervously. We walked over, to see what the problem was. "Hey, pal, what's with the hot feet?" I asked.

"Excuse me?" he replied, arching an eyebrow.

"Well, you're making a hole in a ground, and we were just wondering what was going on."

"Oh, some of my staff are supposed to be setting up this area. Our hotel is having a karaoke night and it's supposed to start in an hour… trouble is, they were all at some club last night and drank a little too much, and got arrested for disorderly conduct- I of course wasn't informed of this until fifteen minutes ago when they each called claiming to either be suffering from illness, a hangover, or still in prison for trying to get fresh with some inmates."

"Why not have the rest of the staff set it up, then?" Skinny asked.

"I already asked, that's why I'm pacing- they were supposed to be here by now, but haven't shown up yet."

"Something tells me we should avoid ordering room-service," I commented, then turned to the man, who I guess is the manager. "Tell you what, bub, we'll help you set this place up until your staff comes around- no charge, though we've got a big group with us and would like your best rooms to stay in, for free. No need for complimentary breakfasts, we've got a long trip ahead and a short time to get places so we may be out of here by morning. Sound good?"

"Well…"

"Good. Just take a seat and relax, before your sweat floods the room." I then turned to the gang. "Alright, guys, lets get to work!"

We got started setting up the chairs and tables, Scruno sweeping up while Peewee and Skinny set the tables. I stood in the middle, telling the guys where to put stuff and how to set everything up…

That's when I turned and saw the rest of Zeke's friends were standing there, watching. "Hey hey hey… are we looking for James, or preparing a cantillion?" Pugsy sneered, hands on hips.

"I didn't exactly see you guys looking around- plus, this little job is helping us land a free stay for the night." I retorted, giving him a glare. "Now, are you going to help, or just stand there and look pretty?"

If looks could kill, I'd be dropping dead with the expression on Pugsy's face- I would know, I give the same look to people all the time. "Just hurry up and come on, we've got some searching to do,"

He turned and left, and I stuck my tongue out at him. What a punk.

~13~

Pugsy's POV

Sheesh, talk about a wise-guy. I'd never get away with giving that kind of attitude to people.

I leaned in the doorway of the dining area, watching Mugs and his gang continue playing catering, arms crossed. Zeke passed by, carrying a couple chairs. "Your friend is getting on my nerves," I told to him.

"Eh, don't let it get you ya. Mugs is a nice guy once you get to know him," Zeke replied with a shrug, setting the chair by a table.

"Yeah, but why let him boss you around? Especially since we're supposed to be searching for the authors,"

"Don't worry- James will turn up…" he looked at his watch. "We got here earlier than expected, anyhow."

I rolled my eyes. "But why still let him order you around?"

"He's the leader of our gang,"

"Yeah, but you're the one who called them to come with- shouldn't you be calling the shots?"

"I don't mind listening to him- plus, we're just helping out, nothing to protest about." With that, he walked off.

Kite, Alexia, and Aaron came over then. "What's Zeke and his friends doing?" he asked.

"The manager said his staff wasn't showing up, so they decided to help set the dining room up." Fangs answered.

"Well, that's nice," Alexia commented.

"Yeah… but where ARE all the employees?" Brielle asked, looking around. "I haven't seen anyone but that book-keeper at the desk since we got here."

"Brie's right. This place is as still as a Sunday night," Kassy agreed.

"I wonder what's going on…" Aaron said, rubbing his chin. "Why don't we ask around?"

"Good idea," I agreed.

"We'll poke around, you guys stay with the East Side Kids,"

I grimaced. "Bad idea."

"I'll tag along," Zeke said, then held up his arm, allowing Ryoji to slither up and curve around it (yeesh). "Ryoji and Scooby can sniff around and find us some clues,"

Scooby let out a low whine, not too fond of that idea. Still, they walked off, leaving Kassy, Brie, Fangs, Kite and me with the Kids.

I walked over to Mugsy. "Alright, Mugs, the others got the feeling something ain't right around here, so how about you cut the catering and lets get searching?" I suggested, keeping a firm tone.

"I was starting to think the same thing- we've been working ten minutes and no one's shown up." Mugsy agreed (for once). "Maybe it has something to do with this room, since so many people are unwilling to work in it."

"If something's up with this room, I'm checking out," Scruno said, nervously, and tried to make a break for it, but Glimpy held him back.

"What's up with you? There ain't nothing going on- and we've dealt with worse," Mugsy sneered.

"You have?" Fangs asked.

"We have?" Glimpy asked, still hanging on to Scruno.

"Sure, haunted houses, common crooks, spies, you name it." Mugsy said, coolly.

"Sounds like the kooky things we meddlers deal with," Kite commented. "Looks like we've met some real-world meddling kids knock-offs."

"Yeah, except these kids came before the other meddlers were even drawn," Brielle answered.

"How do you know that?" I questioned.

"WG bought three volumes of their movies- basically the one thing that she and ATF have in common,"

"So, they're just like us?" Fangs asked, then looked at Glimpy.

"I don't know… I still want more proof," Glimpy said, deniably.

"They ain't like us meddlers," I scoffed. "Plus, you've forgotten half of the others have talent,"

"Yeah? What kind of talent?" Mugsy sneered.

"Well, for one thing, they can sing… and I doubt any of you guys have joined a choir you never got kicked out of,"

"I beg to differ," Peewee sneered.

"You guys can sing?" Kassy asked.

"Can they sing? You toons haven't heard nothing yet until these guys burst into tune," Mugsy boasted, turning to his gang. "Skinny, go get that karaoke machine working, pull up a good quartet; the rest of you, get on stage- Scruno, being a natural soul-man, you can have the solo."

"Hey, why can't I have the solo?" Glimpy demanded.

"'Cuz Scruno's already got dibs, now get up there."

"This I got to see," I scoffed, sitting down.

Mugs sat down in a chair, picking up a straw to use as a conductor's stick (huh boy). Skinny turned on the music and the words appeared on the screen, and the guys began to sing.

[Now Playing: "Duke of Earl", original song by Gene Chandler]

Much to my ears' surprise, they weren't that bad. Danny, Peewee, and Glimpy sang back-up, while Scruno sang the lyrics. Not only that, but a few people staying at the hotel came in to listen, some even dancing. Even the others started to bob their heads or tap their feet to the rhythm (Fangs got up to try and dance, but I held him down- I didn't want Mugs to think they were good enough to impress us THAT easily).

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone walk in- they wore a long dark jacket with the hood pulled up, torn jeans, and walked with a limp, a cane with a silver dragon's head for a handle in their grasp. They sat down, ordered a drink, and listened to the song. I couldn't help but stare at them… something about them just seemed strange to me. They looked over at me, and I turned away, just so they didn't mistake me for some creepo.

[Song fade out]

Mugsy looked over his shoulder and grinned at me as the song came to an end and people started to cheer. I only scowled, rolling my eyes. "Ah, you still wouldn't make it on American Idol," I scoffed.

"Tell that to the applause," he retorted.

I stood up. "We don't have time to mess around, anyway. C'mon, lets go find the others,"

We walked out of the dining room, and I could still feel Mugsy had that gloating smirk on his face. If he doesn't wipe that look off his face, I'm going to deck it off for him! I thought, bitterly.

I looked back at the bar where I saw that stranger, only to see that they've disappeared.

~13~

Alexia's POV

I would think Aaron and Shaggy had no problem with Scooby sniffing around… though every time Ryoji slithered past, someone dove back into their room. "Are you sure it was a good idea to let that snake loose?" I asked Zeke, who I had split up with.

"He's okay. He won't attack anyone unless they try to hurt us- plus if James is around, he can sense him out." Zeke replied.

We walked down one hallway, where everything was too quiet, as if no one were staying in these hallways. It felt eerie, as if something were to happen at any moment- which was why I was trying to keep my lighting-powers under control, so not to accidentally strike something and cause damage. I felt a chill, and couldn't help but shudder. "I don't like this, Ezekiel…"

He then held my hand. "Don't worry, Alexia- we're cartoonbrids. We can handle anything."

That's when a maid ran screaming past us. "It's true! The rumors are true! I'm getting out of here!" she screamed, disappearing out of sight before we could ask her anything.

"Something tells me we'll find answers… this way." Zeke quipped, and Ryioji slithered back around his waist and we ran down the hall.

We heard barking just then. "Scooby!" We both gasped, and followed the sound…

Around the next two corners, we saw a kretin gripping Aaron by the throat, while Shaggy was knocked out.

~13~

A/N: Suspense just keeps turning up, doesn't it? Well, review, and we shall find out what's going on next week.