All right, let's get going with the next chapter! Time we check up on the other mystery investigation that Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby are doing! Anyway, enjoy!
EIGHT YEARS LATER...
Daphne let out a loud scream as she gave a wince, shutting her eyes, much to Shaggy and Scooby's confusion.
"Uh, Daphne? Are you feeling okay?" Shaggy asked the girl in confusion as she opened her eye a bit.
"Huh?" Daphne blinked in confusion.
"Honestly, I thought we'd be the ones doing the screaming, but, like, if you're going to be doing the screaming..." Shaggy laughed a little. "Then what do you need us for?"
The red-haired beauty looked over and saw that, indeed, the door was empty. She looked over towards her confused friends as she said, "Sorry, I was thinking of... something similar to a case we done a few years back."
"We've done lots of cases where we had to enter through the back door of a building. You're going to have to be more specific." Shaggy crossed his arms as the Great Dane bent his head down and sniffed around.
"Sorry..." Daphne blushed in embarrassment, before shaking her head. "Anyway, it's not important right now. Let's go inside the theater and see what's up with this creepy phantom."
Scooby and Shaggy looked at each other in bewilderment before shaking their heads frantically. Daphne rolled her eyes at the sight of the two cowards. "Man and man's best friend. Loyal cowards to the end."
"Reah, rat's rus!" Scooby grinned. "We're rowards!"
Daphne gave a small sigh as she pulled out her purse and opened it to pull out a box. "I suppose I'll be letting these Scooby Snacks go to waste..."
That got Scooby and Shaggy's attention as they seemed pretty interested in the box. Daphne gave a smirk, knowing the box would get Scooby's attention at least. "Somehow, you guys make it a little too easy."
"What can we say?" Shaggy laughed a bit. "We're suckers when it comes to food."
Daphne rolled her eyes as she pulled out a few snacks and tossed a few to Scooby, who caught them with his mouth, then threw some to Shaggy, who also caught them with their mouth. As Scooby chewed on his mouthful of Scooby Snacks, he gave a big grin as he gave out a cheerful, "Rooby Roo!"
The teenage girl in purple couldn't help but give a small smile at the two chuckleheads enjoying the Scooby Snacks. She always remembered how much these two enjoyed eating those things... which, naturally, got her curious. She opened the box and pulled out one Scooby Snack, before examining it. Being curious, she took a small bite out of the snack and chewed it for a few seconds, surprising even Shaggy and Scooby.
"Like, did you just-" Shaggy asked in shock as Daphne swallowed the bit of snack.
"Hey, we're all in this together, aren't we? What's wrong with trying a little dog chow now and again?" Daphne laughed a bit as she felt her lips... before sighing as she pulled out a bottle of water and quickly opened it before placing it on her lips and guzzling it down. "Whew!"
Shaggy and Scooby just watched the act in bewilderment as Daphne put the water bottle and Scooby Snack box back into her purse before closing it before giving a small grin. "Jeepers! I never thought Scooby Snacks could be so... well... I don't know how to put it..."
Shaggy could only give a small grin as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Daphne, it's fine if you don't like Scooby Snacks. It takes quite a talented tongue to even withstand the beauty of a Scooby Snack anyway."
"Reah!" Scooby nodded as he licked his chops.
Daphne paused, before giving a smile. "Thanks, fellas. Now come on, this mystery isn't going to solve itself!"
Being filled with a lot more confidence, Shaggy and Scooby followed Daphne inside the door as they casually walked inside the theater room. As they walked down the hallway and looked around, Daphne frowned as she pulled out a flashlight from her purse and turned it on as she shined it in the hallway, being careful not to make any sounds. The people behind her, however, were a little nervous and shaky... Scooby literally shaking like a leaf, making loud, chattering sounds as he walked.
"Scooby, could you not do that?" Daphne asked.
"Rorry." Scooby whispered as he momentarily crossed his paws... which caused him to trip down. Scooby could only chuckle nervously as he got back up, this time, doing his best to keep the chattering to a minimum.
A couple seconds later, Daphne swore she saw a door opening. Quickly, she motioned to Shaggy and Scooby to hide in the next theater. The two noticed the hand motions and entered in the theater as the three peeked out the door, listening in as they saw two people walking out of the theater. One of them was the usher they had seen earlier making the announcement of the theater closing, and the other person was that same bearded man in the blue suit that the three saw walking into the theater.
"So, it's a done deal, then?" The man in the blue suit asked.
"Y-yes, sir! By next week, the sale will probably go through." The usher gave a small, but nervous grin.
"Good, good. It's a shame that things are going the way they're going, but with business being as it is, sooner or later, it would be bound to happen." The man said as the two walked past the theater the three were hiding in.
"W-well, sir, you have to understand, it's not easy to have this theater being sold, what with the recent incidents." The usher chuckled.
"Who cares about incidents! Look, just do as you're told! I gave you the box, you know what to do with it." The man said, glaring at the usher.
The usher stammered a bit before giving a Rimmer salute. The man nodded before the two went their separate ways. As soon as they were sure the two were gone, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby went out of the theater as Shaggy bit his lip.
"Like, what do you suppose that bearded man was saying, about the theater being sold?" Shaggy asked.
"No idea... but something about that box seems a bit interesting to me. Whatever's inside the box could very well be a clue." Daphne said.
"But how do we know for sure?" Shaggy asked.
"Simple..." Daphne frowned as she pointed to the direction the usher took. "We'll have to find the usher's office and see if that box is there."
Shaggy and Scooby looked at each other, before nodding as they let the red haired teenage girl lead once again.
After a few minutes of rummaging around the theater, the group of three paused as they stopped in the middle of the hallway. Daphne gave a sigh as she turned to the two. "Well, I don't see any sign of that usher NOR a room that's marked 'Employees Only'. This mystery is a lot tougher than I thought..."
"Well, what do you suggest at a time like this?" Shaggy asked, he and the Great Dane looking to their friend in curiosity.
Daphne paused as she tapped her foot, contemplating their next move. "Let's see... hmmm... well, normally would be a time when Fred asks to split the gang..."
"Yeah, but... like, how do you split up the gang with only three people? Have one go off alone and search?" Shaggy raised an eyebrow. "Like, no way we can leave you behind, Daphne."
Daphne couldn't help but give a small smile upon hearing Shaggy say those sincere words. "In that case, where would you two usually go when we're on a case like this?"
"I know one place we can stop... don't we, Scoob?" Shaggy smirked towards his Great Dane friend as the dog looked eager.
"Reah! Ronressions! Roprorn! Rot rogs! Rachos! Roda rop!" Scooby grinned as Shaggy nodded eagerly.
Daphne could only lower her eyelids, but gave a shrug as she smiled. "Well, the bad guy usually comes to you guys when you gorge out, so... I guess that's where we have to go. Let's just hope this mystery isn't for nothing..."
With that, Scooby and Shaggy started to head off to the concession stand, with Daphne following as her mind wandered once again, back to a time when Shaggy, Daphne and Scooby were young and foolish...
And with that, the seventh chapter is done! How did you guys like it? Next time, back to the 'Pup Named Scooby-Doo' timeline with "Gorgeous Gal" leading "Commander Cool" and "Mellow Mutt" inside the mansion! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, everyone!