(I'm in my studio game room with Dennis playing Mario Kart 64. Mavis and Zooli are watching when Aqua comes in)
Me: Hey, Aqua. What's the news?
Aqua: Well, it's only been a long time since any of us had some time off.
Me: True. We haven't had any baddies come here since Infinite. I wonder if they're busy with their own lives.
Zooli: Speaking of busy lives, I heard that a lot of big names lost theirs over the last few days.
Aqua: Oh no...
Mavis: Tell me it isn't true.
Me: 'Fraid so, Mavis. Arleen Sorkin, Bob Barker, Paul Reubens, Bray Wyatt... So many famous names, gone in a short amount of time. This is really upsetting me.
Dennis: What do we do?
Me: I don't know, Dennis. I don't know... Excuse me, I need to get some fresh air.
(I leave the game room to contemplate)
PAW Patrol Meets Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Chapter 2: Mystery Inc. Reunited
The next day, Daphne is waiting outside her house with some bags packed for her cross-country trip with Fred. He drives up in the lime green van with the show's logo on the side.
Fred sighs. "Sorry I'm late, Daph. The traffic was murder." He apologizes before getting out to help Daphne with her bags. "Is, uh, this everything?"
"Uh-huh." Daphne responded.
"Got the maps?" Fred asked.
"Yeah." Daphne said.
"Are you sure you haven't forgotten everything?" Fred asked her.
"Fred, what is with you?" Daphne spoke back with sass. "Yes, I'm sure, I'm sure."
"Well then..." Fred began before opening the rear doors, revealing Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby, showering her with confetti and blowing into noisemakers.
"Surprise! Happy birthday, Daphne!" Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby cried out, surprising her. They all share a laugh.
Scooby gives Daphne a doggy kiss. Daphne laughs. "Gosh, it's great to see you all. I've been working so hard I guess I forgot my own birthday."
"I hope you don't mind, but I asked the gang to come along." Fred said.
"Oh, Freddy, this is the best birthday present ever. It'll be just like old times." Daphne said.
"Yeah. Old times." Scooby said as the Great Dane licked them.
"Hey, cut it out, boy! It's great to see you too, Scoob." Fred said.
"Speaking of old times, look what I have for you, Scooby." Velma said, revealing a box of Scooby's favorite treat: Scooby Snax. She pours some into her hand. "Scooby Snax."
"Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!" Scooby said in excitement.
"Like, oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!" Shaggy joined his best friend in his excitement.
"Go long, guys!" Velma said as she threw the handful far. The two of them give chase. Shaggy positions himself to catch the treats in his mouth, but Scooby intercepts him and munches on the treats.
"Hey!" Shaggy said, eyeing Scooby chewing on the snacks.
"I've been saving these Scooby Snax for a long time." Velma told Shaggy. Hearing that made Scooby feel disgusted.
"Yuck!" Scooby gagged.
Shaggy ate a handful of the snacks. "Like, too long, Velma. They're stale."
"Don't worry, guys. We're going to New Orleans for our first segment: Haunts of Louisiana!" Fred told them.
"And New Orleans has some of the best food in the world." Daphne told them, exciting the big eaters.
"And the best ghosts." Velma chimed in.
"I hope." Daphne finished. Shaggy and Scooby looked visibly scared upon hearing about the ghosts. "Well, let's get going."
"Hold it, our special guests haven't arrived yet." Fred said.
"Special guests?" Daphne asked.
"After I called the gang, I made a very special phone call." Fred said. "They should be arriving any minute."
They hear the horn of a bus make a very familiar tune. They see the PAW Patroller rolling in. Daphne was speechless.
"I don't believe it. You actually invited them?" Daphne asked Fred. Her answer came when Ryder and the pups exited the 18-wheeler bus.
"Hey guys." Ryder greeted the mystery solving team. "Fred told me you're going across the country for Daphne's birthday. The pups and I can't wait."
Skye barked and flipped in excitement. "I'm so excited!"
"I know you are, Skye, and we plan on getting some footage of real ghosts." Daphne said.
"G-g-g-ghosts?!" Zuma yelped.
"Relax, Zuma. A lot of these ghosts and monsters end up being people in disguise." Velma told the aquatic pup.
"I hope they are." Zuma shuddered. "You know how ghosts scare me."
"Like, Zuma, we know how you feel." Shaggy shuddered.
"Now, there's just one last thing." Fred said as he peeled away the show's logo from the van, revealing the name of Mystery Inc's signature ride, the Mystery Machine. Everyone was amazed.
"Wow!" Marshall said.
"So cool!" Rocky said.
"Groovy!" Shaggy said.
"Perfect! Mystery Inc is back in business!" Velma cheered.
"All right! Mystery Inc. and PAW Patrol are on a roll!" Ryder said as they shared a group high-five.
(Cue song: "The Ghost is Here" by Skycycle)
The two groups now set out across the US to search for haunted houses. Their first destination was a mansion, where they visit a fortune teller.
Another scary night
Another spooky fright
And you just might be in danger
As the group had their fortune read, a phantom appears before them, scaring Shaggy, Scooby, and Zuma. Fred and Daphne are getting some footage for the show.
The ghost is here and it's always a fake
The ghost is here and there's no reason to shake
The ghost is here, oh give us a break
It's fake
The ghost chase Shaggy and Scooby into a revolving wall with a window. The wall hid a secret room with a projector that showed the image of the "ghost." Their next stop is an abandoned cemetery.
Another ghoul attacks
He's breathing down our backs
So we're making tracks for the exit
While investigating a mausoleum, a bat creature emerges. Shaggy pulls out a mirror, but the creature swats it out of his hands. Shaggy and Scooby rush out of the mausoleum with the creature in pursuit.
The ghost is here and it's a crook in a suit
The ghost is here and he's protecting some loot
The ghost is here, oh give him the boot
He's fake
The others watch the action unfold. Shaggy and Scooby knock over some pottery, causing the creature to trip and fall. Daphne and Velma pull off the creature's mask, revealing it to be an old man attempting to steal a diamond necklace, which Velma recovers. Disappointed, Daphne signals Fred to cut the footage.
After the cemetery, the two groups go to a decrepit riverboat casino said to be haunted by the vengeful spirit of its captain. The ghost itself is chasing Shaggy and Scooby.
It doesn't matter where we go, we know
A ghost is gonna show and so
We look for the bogus
We look for the scam
And every time the ghost is a sham
Shaggy and Scooby are backed into a set of swinging doors. The doors suddenly open to reveal the others filming. The doors knock Shaggy and Scooby onto a roulette wheel and knock the ghost back. The mask comes off revealing the "ghost" to be a woman. Their last stop before New Orleans is a closed down cannery. The groups look around inside. Scooby shudders before a crab claw taps the Great Dane's shoulder. Scooby quickly taps his owner's shoulder to get his attention before they turn around and see the monster.
We see an eerie light
And if the mood is right
Then you just might sight a monster
Shaggy and Scooby freak out at the sight of the crab creature and run for it. The crab creature clamps Scooby's tail, making him grab onto a chain.
The ghost is here and it's a frightening task
To face our fears and the creep in the mask
Until the ghost is here, there's no reason to ask
He's fake.
The creature backs Shaggy into a corner until Scooby swings from the chain and kicks the crab creature into a pile of cans. Rocky comes up and uses his utility claw to unmask the crab as a man. Fed up, Daphne signals Fred to cut the feed. The song ends as the two groups are in a New Orleans marketplace. Daphne, Velma, and Fred are on a bench with Ryder beside them. Fred munches on some beignets while Daphne sighs in disappointment.
"Bad guys in masks, mechanical claws, magnets, hologram projectors..." Daphne counted the number of monster-related illusions they've busted throughout the trip.
"I know that you're upset, but that was fun, right?" Ryder spoke. "I mean, chasing monsters? How exciting is that!"
"Just like the good ol' days." Velma agreed.
"Too much like the good ol' days." Daphne said. "I've got a show to do. I need a real, live ghost."
"That's an oxymoron, Daph." Velma said.
"Doesn't anyone want a beignet?" Fred asked out of nowhere.
"What I want is a house that's really haunted." Daphne said as she checked the Louisiana guidebook. "I mean, there must be one somewhere in Louisiana."
That's when they hear a soft voice. "There is. I work in it." They look up and see a fair skinned woman with black hair in a red and blue dress. "Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear. I work as a chef in a house on Moonscar Island, a house that's really haunted."
"Jinkies!" Velma said in awe.
"My name is Lena. Lena Dupree." The woman introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you, Lena. I'm Ryder." Ryder greeted her.
"Leader of the PAW Patrol? I know them from the paper." Lena said.
"Fred Jones." Fred gave her his name. "This is Velma Dinkley and Daphne Blake."
"Charmed." Lena said.
"Moonscar Island? Where's that?" Daphne asked.
"It's in a bayou not far from here." Lena told her. "A pirate named Morgan Moonscar died on that island, and his ghost still haunts the place."
"A pirate, huh?" Ryder mused. "Wonder how Sid Swashbuckle would think of that."
"Uh-huh. Well, no offense, Lena, but it's probably just some guy in an old pirate suit trying to scare off the local kids." Fred said, certain that the legend of Moonscar is a sham.
"The ghost is real." Lena countered. "Of course, if you're too scared to go..."
"Scared? Me? Nah, I don't think so." Fred said.
"If you want to check it out, you're welcome to come by. I'll be leaving as soon as I finish shopping." Lena gave them an offer before leaving.
"Well... we'll think about it." Fred said before turning to Daphne. "Well, what do you think?"
"You sure about this, Fred? Zuma doesn't do so well around ghosts." Ryder said.
"Why not? It sure beats sitting around here." Chase spoke, coming up to them with Marshall, Skye, and Rocky.
"And we happen to know a couple of pirates ourselves." Rocky said.
"Besides, you know the saying: nothing ventured, nothing gained." Skye added.
"What do we have to lose? It's the best lead we've had all day." Daphne said.
"And that Lena is kinda cute." Fred said.
"Fred..." Daphne glared at him with jealousy.
"I just meant she'd be real photogenic for our segment." Fred said eating a beignet, the powdered sugar creating a faux mustache.
"Right." Daphne said doubting Fred. She brings a napkin up to his mouth."Uh, wipe your upper lip, Romeo." Skye giggles.
"Jinkies! Listen to this." Velma spoke. "I just punched up Moonscar Island on our research database. There have been quite a few strange disappearances around that island over the years."
"Spooky." Ryder said.
"Sounds promising." Daphne said.
"I'll go and round up Zuma and Rubble. They'll want to hear this." Ryder said before leaving.
"Speaking of rounding up, we better find Scooby and Shaggy before Lena takes off." Daphne said.
"Yeah, where'd those guys go?" Fred asked.
"Oh, that's no mystery. Where else to get a bite to eat?" Velma smiled.
At a sandwich stand, the chef is prepping a tall po' boy for Mystery Inc.'s biggest eaters. "I've made a lot of po' boy sandwiches in my time, but this is going to be the biggest of them all." He said with a French accent.
"Like, we're used to eating big meals." Shaggy said. Scooby picked up the nearby hot sauce bottle and started slathering his side while Shaggy topped the stack with Louisiand peppers from a basket. "Like, hey, buddy, don't hog all the hot sauce."
"I see you boys like it hot." The chef said as he sliced the sandwich in half.
"Like, more hotter, more better, eh, Scoob?" Shaggy asked.
"More hotter, more better." Scooby agreed. They pick up their respective halves. Scooby quickly ate his half, and just as Shaggy was about to eat his half, Scooby sucked in the filling of Shaggy's half, leaving only the bread for Shaggy to eat. Scooby snickered.
"Like, that was a lot less filling than I thought it would be." Shaggy said. Scooby laughed.
"Hey, let's go, guys!" Fred called out to them. "We found another haunted house to investigate." Hearing those words made the duo shudder in fear.
Fred climbed into the Mystery Machine. And just in time. Lena was just about finished with her shopping.
"Good timing, guys. Lena was just about to leave without us." Daphne said. She and Ryder wave to them, signaling that they're coming along with her. Lena drives with the Mystery Machine and the PAW Patroller following. The drive leads them to a dense bayou.
"How much farther, guys?" Rubble asked.
"We're getting closer." Velma said. "Moonscar Island is in the middle of the next bayou."
"Sounds like a perfect place to get some good, spooky footage." Daphne said.
"And some good cajun cooking." Shaggy chimed in. "For some reason, I'm still starved." He started munching on some Scooby Snax. "Like, even these stale Scooby Snax are beginning to taste good." The thought alone made Fred feel disgusted. They arrive at a dock, where they see a rounded man with white hair prepping a ferry. He gets up and sees them.
"Ho, ho, Miss Lena. I see you brought some company, eh?" The ferryman said.
"Yes, Jacques. These folks came a long way to see a real haunted house." Lena told him.
"Well, if they want haunted, they've come to the right place." Jacques said. "Peoples go into that bayou, and they don't ever come out."
Hearing that made Daphne feel uneasy. "Uh, so we understand."
The ferry's horn blares and the chimneys blow its smoke. "Ladies first." Jacques ushered the group to board the ferry. Fortunately, the boat was big enough to hold all three vehicles. Jacques goes to the captain's cabin as Shaggy and Scooby open the side door.
"Like, do you sell food on this ferry? We're starved." Shaggy asked Jacques.
"Yeah, we're kind of hungry too." Rubble said as he and the rest of the pups left the PAW Patroller.
Lena gasps at the sight of Scooby and the pups. "I didn't know you had a dog."
"Dog? Where?" Scooby asked confused.
"I think she means you, Scoob." Ryder said.
"Like, you can understand what he's saying?" Shaggy asked Ryder.
"When you're around the pups as long as I have, you'll know what goes through his mind." Ryder said.
Shaggy laughs. "That's true."
"And Ryder, you never told me the PAW Patrol was a pack of pups." Lena added.
"Are you allergic to dogs?" Daphne asked.
"No, it's just that... my employer, Miss Lenoire, she keeps cats." Lena told them.
"I wouldn't worry. The pups are great around cats." Ryder assured the chef. Chase looked a bit nervous at the mentioning of cats.
"Yeah, so is Scooby, right?" Shaggy asked.
"Huh?" Scooby asked in confusion. Shaggy nodded, opting a response from him. "Oh, yeah."
The ferry disembarks, taking the group across the bayou. Shaggy, Scooby, and the pups take in the sights while Fred takes some footage of the bayou with Daphne, Velma, Ryder, and Lena with him.
"This lake and woods do make the place spooky at night." Ryder said.
"Gosh, I sure hate to get lost in here." Fred commented.
"Well, way back in the 1700s, pirates used this bayou to hide from the law. Then only a fool would come looking up in here." Jacques explained.
"I take it Captain Moonscar was one of those pirates?" Ryder asked.
"Exactly. He was the most famous among them." Jacques said.
With Shaggy, Scooby, and the pups, Scooby notices something bubbling in the bayou. A catfish surfaces in front of him.
"Shaggy, catfish!" Scooby said.
"Whoa! That is one humongous catfish!" Chase commented.
"The biggest one I've ever seen!" Shaggy added.
Jacques chuckled. "That's probably Big Mona. Nobody has ever been able to catch her." Big Mona sprays Scooby with water.
"That's the first time I've ever seen a catfish who doesn't like dogs." Marshall said. Shaggy and the pups laugh.
Scooby shakes off most of the water. "Rotten catfish." He said. Big Mona splashed him more. Scooby got upset and tried to grab the fish, but she swam off. Scooby was about to fall overboard. Shaggy and Rocky grab him.
"We gotcha, Scoob!" Shaggy said. The three of them fell overboard. They surface seconds later.
"Yuck! I'm all wet!" Rocky complained, remembering his dislike of getting wet. Alligators noticed them and got into the water to claim their meal. "Uh-oh!"
"That's not good!" Skye gasped.
"Oh no!" Daphne gasped.
"Jacques! You gotta turn this thing around!" Fred told him.
"I'm trying, son! But she turn on no dime!" Jacques said.
Velma came out onto the cargo area. She sees a life ring and grabs it. "Zuma, quick! I could use some help!"
"Gotcha!" Zuma said before he barks. "Buoy!" Zuma launches a life buoy from his pup pack just as Velma throws hers. Shaggy, Scooby, and Rocky quickly swim to them, but the gators grab them first. They look around for the gators until they surface behind them.
"Guys, behind you!" Chase called out. They turn to see the gators and quickly swim away. As they swim, they see a fishing boat. They see a lone man on it with a hook. They panicked, thinking he was going to attack them, but he used the hook to grab the gator's mouth, giving them the time to climb aboard. The gators swim away.
The three of them breathe heavily, having swam so much. Rocky shakes the water off of him. "Thanks so much, sir." The man simply growled at them.
"Shoulda let the gators eat ya. I can't stand tourists!" He said. "Now all yer splashin' chased Big Mona away!"
"Aw, quit yer groveling, Snakebite." They hear Jacques from the riverboat. "You ain't never caught that fish, and you ain't never gonna did!"
"Says you!" Snakebite yelled as he splashed the others using his hook.
"What a jerk." Rubble commented.
"Not too friendly, is he?" Fred asked.
On Snakebite's boat, a boar approaches Scooby and snorts, spooking him. Snakebite laughs.
"What... is that?" Shaggy asked.
"This here's my hunting pig, Mojo." Snakebite told them.
"Your hunting pig?" Rocky asked.
"He's a lot better than any hound dog. Can smell a catfish a mile away." Snakebite said. Mojo demonstrates by sniffing around the stern. Big Mona appears and sprays water. Mojo ducks and Rocky moves, making the water hit Scooby. Snakebite laughs. "Lot smarter than any dog, too! Now, get these trespassin' tourists off my boat! I got fishing to do!" He hooks Shaggy by the shirt and drops him on the riverboat. Scooby and Rocky hop back aboard the riverboat.
"Who was that?" Rocky asked.
"That's ol' Snakebite Scruggs. He thinks the bayou's his own private preserve." Jacques answered. "He don't like anybody bein' in it, no?"
"Like, so we noticed." Shaggy said. "Suspicious character, eh Velma?"
"True, but he did save you from being eaten by alligators." Velma said.
"She does make a good point." Rocky agreed.
"Then again, he did splash us." Skye argued.
"Like, oh yeah!" Shaggy realized with a nervous chuckle. They continued the boat ride towards their destination.
(I'm in the observatory deep in thought when Blaze and Falco came in)
Blaze: Still mourning all those famous people that died over the last few days?
Me: How'd you know?
Falco: Whenever you hear that someone you know about dies, you're up here staring at the stars.
Me: Huh... Guess you know me more than I let on.
Blaze: Maybe you should come up with a better coping mechanism than stargazing.
Falco: Maybe some time away from your work would be good.
Me: You're right. Besides, I have a lot of other stuff to catch up on anyway. You know what to do here, readers. Excelsior!