"Almost done, Amanda," Melissa smiled with satisfaction although she was behind the woman.
"Hey, Melissa don't you know her?"
"Who?"
"The lady on the TV? Daphne I think they said her name was? You can come look, I don't mind, I could use a minute"
Melissa killed the tattoo needle, peeling off her gloves as she stepped around the client. From where they were, they had a perfect view of the TV in the waiting area.
"TODD, TURN THAT UP, PLEASE?"
On the TV a grown, smartly dressed Daphne Blake shook hands with the polished host. Melissa wasn't sure which talk show it was, they all ran together in her head, but she loved cheering on her friends' success.
"-Our most dangerous case?" Daphne was saying as the volume went up, "Probably our last..."
"I wasn't on that case," Melissa shook her head, "I wish I had been"
"What happened?"
"Daphne explains it better than I do"
...
A few years ago:
Thunder rumbled and lightning crashed over the creepy historic castle, its halls were supposed to be empty but a terrible threat wandered through them, growling and grinding its teeth as it searched. The four teenagers and their dog had just been tip-toeing through the halls with flashlights in their hands but now they hid, trembling behind a heavy wooden door with lit torches on either side. A door that was smashed open by the moat monster.
Screaming in fright, the Scooby gang ran in all different directions. Shaggy ran down a long hall, slamming and locking the many latches of a door behind him only to find the moat monster waiting behind the second door, running back to the first, Shaggy tried in vain to open it, ripping the knob from the door which he tossed over his shoulder in a panic. The knob hit the monster on the head, briefly stunning it and allowing Shaggy the chance to flee down another hall.
Turning sharply around a corner he collided with Scooby-Doo, the Dane ending up on his back. The moat Monster cut them off at the end of the hall causing them to turn sharply on their heels, bunching up the carpet behind them as they went.
'Ri Rant Jade, Scooby declared as they ran.
"I know what you mean," Shaggy agreed raising the shield-baring arm of a suit of armor as they passed, "Like when we get out of here I'm like not letting Christina go for like, a week"
They ran straight at a table full of wax food, Scooby ducking under it while Shaggy was propelled across it by sheer momentum landing on top of Scooby once more they darted into one door and out another convinced the monster was right on their heels but he had stopped to watch in utter confusion.
Fred, Daphne, and, Velma skid to a stop behind the monster who chucked a shield like a Frisbee at them breaking a window. The three were in such a rush to get away that they ran right onto a balcony, the railing crumbling as the girls pushed against it. Fred grabbed onto them, trying desperately to haul them back up but let go of Velma's hand as the moat monster appeared above him.
Velma clung desperately to Daphne's leg, not willing to glance at the horrible drop beneath her.
Scooby dropped right into the monster's arms causing him to stagger back inside. Scooby half fell, half jumped from the monster's arms landing on the stair banaster while the monster followed on down the stairs. Flying off the banister, Scooby didn't have time to cover his eyes as he landed on the chandelier, his weight pulling it from the ceiling as he banged into the grandfather clock which dominoes into the line of armor and toppled onto the monster, pinning it to the ground.
Shaggy helped Fred pull the girls back onto the balcony before they gathered in the foyer for the unmasking.
"Aw, I missed it?" Melissa cried stepping out of the C5 with a pout.
"Like, where were you?" Shaggy asked.
"Athens"
"Did you-"
"Nope, she got away, like usual"
"Ahem," Velma coughed.
"Sorry, V," Melissa shrugged, "Go ahead"
Velma pulled the mask off with a knowing grin.
"Like, it's Mr, beaman, the real estate agent!"
"Mr Reaman?"
"yeah, he was printing millions of fake dollars in the basement with his printing press, what we originally thought was mold was really green ink," Velma explained pulling the monster gloves off, "See?"
"And I would've gotten away with it to if it weren't for that dumb dog and you meddling kids"
...
Present:
"Let's finish you up," Melissa returned to work, listening to the interview.
"So what's coming up for the new season?" Kris was asking.
"A new series of segments called Haunted America"
"Ironic," Melissa mumbled.
"Do you miss mystery-solving, Melissa?"
"I still solve mysteries just not the spooky kind"
In the years since the gang had disbanded, Melissa had gone on to graduate high school with honors, choosing art school over college to hone her passion that with a little help, she turned into a thriving tattoo business all while rising through the ranks at ACME to become one of the top detectives with a focus on cold cases. Now, she finished up, sending Amanda on her way with the instructions she already knew. After cleaning up she closed her area down.
"I'll see you later!" she called to the other artists and Todd the receptionist.
"Bye Melissa!"
Whistling a tune she climbed into her convertible, prepared to head for home.
I wonder if I have time to stop at the bakery.
...
"Like, we miss you too, Daphne,"
"Hey you two, I've got a line out the door over here," Christina gently reminded.
"Sorry, Sweetie, Shaggy apologized, kissing his now wife on the cheek, "We just-"
"No, I understand," the hybrid laughed, "I've got it recording at home, no worries"
"You are the best"
"So you've told me,"
Just as Daphne had become a successful TV star with Fred as her producer. Shaggy's life had taken a turn he would have never pictured. Meeting the beautiful Christina while still in high school after getting lost in the little monster town she called home had led to the best relationship he'd ever had. They'd married only last year and opened up a bakery beside Velma's bookshop. Theirs was a thriving quiet business, drawing the book-loving customers from next door.
The couple worked in silence, focusing on serving their customers but kept stealing love-filled glances at each other until the line was cleared and Christina was ready to flip the sign from open to closed.
"Any chance there's a slice of cherry cheesecake left?" Melissa stepped through the door, flipping her long red-streaked hair over her shoulder.
"Just for you," Shaggy smiled as the phone began to ring.
"Scary Sweet Bakery," Christina answered the phone, "Uh-huh, he's right here"
Christina handed Shaggy the phone and Melissa her cheesecake.
"Like, Hello?"
"Shag? Scoob?"
"Freddie hi, we like, just saw you on TV!"
"Fred?" Melissa coughed on her after-work snack prompting Christina to set an ice-cold glass bottle of Dr. Pepper in front of her, "Thanks, Christy"
"No problem"
"Like, hang on, she's right here, okay, you're on speaker, Fred"
"Hey, Melissa"
"Hey"
"You guys up for a reunion?"
"Reunion?"
"Solve some mysteries for old times sake?"
"Sounds awesome," Melissa smiled, "My apportionment calendar's clear and Chief has been on my back about all my unused vacation days"
"What about you guys?"
Shaggy looked up at Christina.
"Go, go," she stopped wiping down the counter, "It sounds fantastic and I can visit my god kids while you're gone"
"We're in,"
...
Meanwhile, next door Velma Dinkley was hard at work gathering a large order for a customer she had just hung up with. Hefting the massive stack of hardbacks from her ladder to set them on the small checkout counter beside her small flickering TV where Daphne was still answering interview questions.
"Solving mysteries was a lot more fun than selling them," she lamented.
Moving the large order aside she stepped behind the counter to retrieve the brown paper-wrapped book that had arrived that morning, tucking it under her arm she was just about to leave when the phone started ringing.
"Mystery Inc Bookshop...Freddie, jinkies, sounds great! Count me in!"
...
Two Weeks Later:
Melissa ran around her Bludhaven home trying to remember if she had packed everything.
"Read the list again, would you please, Bird Boy?"
Dick Grayson laughed, dramatically holding the list in front of him as he began to read, "Toothbrush, Toothpaste, floss?"
"Got it"
"Hair brush?"
"Yep"
"Deodorant, socks, underwear?"
"I even packed my fuzzy snowman socks for bed"
"Tampons?"
"SHUT UP"
"You said read the list, it's on the list"
Melissa rolled her eyes, "Yes, I've got em"
"All of your medications?"
"Yes"
"Then you have everything, I'll take care of Pinky, Brain and, Jesse while you're gone, you've got no reason to worry"
"I feel like I'm forgetting something!" Melissa fretted with a look in the mirror, Her red-streaked hair was as tame as she could get it, her new leather jacket with the studded collar was okay, and there were no stains on her plain red shirt or ripped jeans. What was bothering her so badly?
"I think I know," Dick smirked, plopping Melissa's hat on her head, "Better?"
"Yep," she giggled, "Thank you"
"Let's get going, I have a lunch meeting after I drop you off"
...
"I'm here!" Melissa shouted, jumping out of the car in front of the bakery where Fred was supposed to pick them up.
"Like, here I was thinking you got C-5'd to antartica or something," Shaggy hugged his friend.
"Heck no, I'm not built for the cold," Melissa grabbed her suitcase from the trunk, "I thought you knew that," she joked, rolling her very beat-up, Hex Girls suitcase beside Shaggy's plain one.
"I know, I know"
"Here, Melissa," Christina stepped out of the bakery, locking it behind her, "Blueberry bagel and cream cheese, Shaggy thought you might have forgotten breakfast"
"Told you I was forgetting something," Melissa lightly smacked her boyfriend's arm before kissing him goodbye.
"Have a good trip, Firecracker"
"We will, Bye, Bird Boy" Melissa waved, watching Dick drive away, waving until he turned the corner.
"Now," Christina handed, Shaggy a snack box for the road, "We're heading to Skull Shores so you might not be able to reach me but I'm sure Melissa will protect you and I put Pickles the dragon in your suitcase if you need something to cuddle with, okay?"
"Thank you, sweetie"
"Of course," she kissed him.
"Look, here comes Fred," Velma spotted the Mystery Machine cruising down the street.
The van still sported the same bright colors and flowers they remembered but now, a large sign on the side promoted Coast To Coast. Melissa devoured her bagel, wiping her face as Fred parked. He stepped out of the van looking pretty much the same, except for the outfit change, a light blue collared shirt over which he wore a beige many-pocketed vest, sensible jeans, and worn-out shoes completed his look.
"Fred, like, long time no see," Shaggy smiled, clapping him on the back.
"Hey, Shaggy, hi, Scooby," he patted the Dane on the head.
"Rello," Scooby hopped right into the back of the van.
Fred hugged Velma in greeting only to awkwardly stop when he saw Melissa, "Um.."
"You dork," Melissa hugged him, "Thank you for remembering though"
"Always," Fred smiled his bright award-winning grin, "I can't wait to surprise Daphne," he gushed.
"Well, we better get going before she wonders where you are"
Christina rushed to kiss Shaggy goodbye surprising Fred.
"I'll miss you," she squeezed Shaggy's hands, "I can't wait to hear all about your adventure"
"I'll keep him safe, Christy," Melissa promised, "Just like always"
"OH!" Shaggy realized, "Fred this is my wife, Christina, Christina, Fred"
"Hello," Christina stuck out her hand, Fred shook it after recovering from the surprise, "I wish we could have met sooner, I've heard many good things about you and Daphne"
"It's nice to meet you too, Christina, I'm sorry we couldn't make it to the wedding last year," he recalled the invitation now, the thick fancy parchment tied with a purple silk ribbon inside a wax-sealed envelope.
"Oh, that's alright," Christina assured, "I know life can get busy"
"Right"
"Fred," Melissa tapped him on the shoulder, "Daphne's waiting"
"Right, all of you in the back, put the party hats on and lay low"
"Sir, yes sir, come on boys"
"Have a good time!" Christina waved.
...
Daphne checked her watch and then checked it again. Just where was Fred? They were supposed to set out today on their trip to film for the show. They had a deadline to meet. Sighing with frustration Daphne adjusted her smart purple jacket, checked that her green top was free of wrinkles, and smoothed out her purple skirt for the third time in the last five minutes. Just as she was ready to riot Fred pulled to a stop in front of her.
"Sorry, I'm late, Daph," He apologized getting out to grab her luggage, "The traffic was murder so is this everything?" they walked to the back doors.
"Yeah"
"Got the maps?"
"Yes"
"Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything?"
"Fred what is with you, yes, I'm sure, I'm sure!" she cried exasperated.
"Well, then..SURPRISE"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAPHNE" The gang hopped out of the van, throwing confetti.
"Oh my gosh!" Daphne squealed, enveloped in a group hug, "I missed you guys!"
"I hope you don't mind I asked the gang to come along"
"Oh, Freddie," she kissed him, "This is the best birthday present ever it'll be just like old times"
"Reah," Scooby wriggled in between the couple, "Old Rimes," he licked them both.
"We missed you too, Scooby," Fred patted the Dane affectionately.
"So, where are we going first?" Melissa asked curiously, hefting Daphne's luggage into the van.
"New Orleans for our first segment, Haunts of Louisiana," Fred explained stepping around them to the side of the van.
"New Orleans has some of the best food in the world," Melissa playfully jabbed Shaggy in the ribs.
Shaggy and Scooby started to drool at the thought.
"And, the best ghosts," Velma piped, matter-of-factly causing them to pale with fear.
"I hope," Daphne responded with a glance at her watch, moving to the driver's side door, "Well, let's get going"
"Hold it," Fred put his hands up to stop them, "There's just one more thing," with a flourish he tore the coast-to-coast banner off the van to the cheers of the others.
"PERFECT!" Velma cheered, "MYSTERY INC IS BACK BUSINESS!"
...
Behold the AU rewrite to trump all my AU rewrites. The one that would make three-year-old me pee her pants in fear. Mostly, I just want to see Melissa punch my childhood nightmares in the face LOL. A note context-wise is that while usually, Melissa's episode/Scooby-Doo movie rewrites share a universe this one does not. It stands alone and is not connected to that universe.
Please, review and I'll see you next chapter.