Author´s note: Just one chapter ahead for the tragedy that is about to strike. All our prays are with Scooby.

Seek´em, boy!

11. Heading for the Check

2 Hours before

Pericles is tired of waiting. That dog has wasted enough of his time and that will cost him dearly. The parrot grabs the gang and ties them to a column only leaving out Shaggy, Scooby´s best friend, who´s still bleeding.

"What are you going to do with us?" grumbles Fred.

"You vill eider get trapped into de valls or drown, not my problem. Vut since dis mutt doesn´t come vhen he has to, I´ll start vith his dear Norville"

"Like, what are you up to, man?" Shaggy cowards.

"You´ll see" smugs the bird as he gets ready. A sounds catches their attention, a loud hiss and puff that. On one of the rocks appears Nazo, the black feathered cobra. "You again, mein herr?"

"Were you expecting anyone else?" the snake chuckles.

"I told you already, danke for di advise vut I´ll deal vith dis"

"Perhaps you got me wrong, pet. I told you that you should leave the kids out of this not to try kill them. If you do, something more than just fate will be on your way"

"Is that a threat?"

"Don´t get me wrong, love" the voice of the reptile is smooth, caring, gentle but also cold and subtle. "I just solve the mysteries of the universe and help those who ask me although you ignored all my help"

"You are both in this!" barks Fred.

"This bird more than me. I just told him what was the best move for check mate without involving you kids but this grouchy bird paid no attention"

"Like, who are you, anyway?"

"I am mystery, my dears. I web the questions and answers but only those prepared can read them. People know me as Nazo, the enigmatic, but I was titled by a man called Saint-Exupery as Snake" the gang goes pale. "Ah, so now you do know me"

"There´s a character in The Little Prince called like that and is not exactly friendly" says Velma.

"Antoine did not like me but knew that I hardly tell lies"

"Perhaps, but you do act according to your wishes"

""My wishesss? Pericles, my pet. Didn´t I gave you information about the treasure so that you could find it?" the parrot has to admit that he´s telling the truth. "My only occupation is fulfilling the dreams of others. And since he´s about to do something like this, I shall give him a hand" Nazo coils and a small vial appears. "See? I always help those in need. And now if you excuse me" he turns into smoke and disappears. Shaggy gulps. This can´t be good.

SD

Meanwhile, Judy and Brad are still in the cafeteria.

"I can´t believe that you said that"

"Grow up, Brad. I already told you"

"We´ve been married for like, twenty years and now you say, it´s MY fault that Ricky has gone like this and one thousand more things. Jud, please. Remember what he said that night. Rick was scared, but that is not new"

"Look who talks, Mr. Too Trap Busy To Mind His Best Friend. Brad, we could have talked to him. Cassidy asked us to, but you..."

"I was worried about you! Owens is now a hermit with enough money to solve all the problems in the world"

"The world maybe but not his!"

"Jud, why are you standing now for him? Back then you used to ignore him or at least, let him solve his own problems"

"See? That´s the problem. We have always saw Richard as a careless, second rated guy but he needed our help and what did we do? We left him alone that night when he was in need of us more, when his best friend betrayed not just him but all of us"

"Jud, Pericles was always the know it all, we warned Ricky about it. Did he listen? No, because it was always Pericles this and that. He told us to leave town and we did it"

"You don´t give a damn for him"

"Ricky is my friend but right now he only cares about getting his stupid revenge and the treasure. NOT us"

"And how do you know that?"

"Jud, don´t act as you were in love with him. Ricky only has eyes for Cassidy and that if he´s still in love with her so forget it!"

"And you? You´re my husband but you only care for traps and being King of the Hill"

"Jud, once we get Fred, it will all be different. Trust me"

"As if I had another choice"

SD

The black hood makes Scooby whimper when suddenly is removed by someone he didn´t expected. He´s inside a car with Pike, Angel and Carusso. He´s saved!

"U OK, babe?" smiles the dj and the Dane begins to lick her face and kiss her. "I take tha as a yes"

"This dog is a Trojan, Cassidy dear. A rock" Pike also receives a hug. "Thanks for the warm display, mate, but I´m not much of the hugging type"

"Re ar going ro the raves?"

"Yes, we are" nods Ed. "We haven´t got any news from Ed Machine so I´m afraid that you might be alone in this one, Scoobert"

"Oh. Rell, rime to rick rird!"

"Indeed, my cousin will be expecting you so I hope you remember the plan" the kea glances at him.

"A rundred percent"

"Bloody good. And now, let´s head for the place" the car speeds up. The Dane makes himself comfortable, seeing then a book next to him. Is "The Little Prince" by Antoine Saint-Exupery but is a bit peculiar. The front of the book is the large head of a snake with a little boy sitting on its muzzle and gazing at the open space. The Little Prince is also a way to talk about the guardian of Sunken Island, its ruler, a kid that never grows up like Peter Pan, James Hawkins, Alice, Lyra, Max, Dorothy... The dog puts a paw on the book. If he could ask anything, that the Little Prince would help him face this danger. "This game will be dangerous, my friend. But no matter what happens, you must never give up"

"Reven..."

"Even if the worse happens. You, my colleague, are too valuable to lose yourself"

"Scoob. I can go in with ye if you want" offers Cassidy.

"Roh" he has to follow Pike´s strategy no matter what.

"It will be dangerous"

"We are aware of that, my dear. But this game of chess requires boldness and if my calculations are correct, the events are where I wanted them. We must hurry now before things go out of hand" the car stops near the entrance to the caves. "We both have two bishops and we have a knight" the kea looks at Scooby. "Is time to take away my dear cousin´s bishop... Bishop to bishop eight...discover check...and incidentally...mate"

Has Pericles done something to Shaggy?

What has Pike planned and where´s Ed Machine?

What is going on between Brad and Judy?

Will Scooby make it?

Next Clue: White Knight, Check Mate