A/N I'm going to do Scooby Doo next, but I'm not going to put Xander and Cordelia into the movies, since the rules I established mean they aren't supposed to help with big world saving and the movie with Scrappy Doo was better. And that one involved saving the world from demons. So they're going to help with a regular case, post movies, but using a cartoon mystery. Because SMG is Daphne in the movies. Remember Xander is familiar with the cartoon, finding out there's a real life version and it includes a Buffy lookalike? ;)
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After Xander revived and he'd changed his shirt, the two went exploring.
"We're still on Earth, Xander. I'm pretty sure of that." Cordelia grumbled.
"Yeah, me too. I guess I was in too much of a hurry to get out of there. So I wonder where on Earth we ended up this time?"
"Xander, look, somebody who is even more of a fan boy then you."
"What do you mean?"
"That van over there is painted to look like the Mystery Machine from the cartoon you named our group for." Cordelia said, pointing.
"The Mystery Machine! Oh gods, it really is painted to look like the Mystery Machine. I have to meet whoever that van belongs to, clearly he is a guy with taste."
Cordelia couldn't help but laugh. After the last reality they'd been in they could use a break anyway. They approached the van and could hear a conversation happening inside it.
"What are you talking about?" A woman's voice could heard saying.
"Clearly not whatever you're talking about."
"Well, I mean I'm just wondering. Do boys like it when you tell them what to do?"
"Of course they do, without my mom around I don't even think my dad could feed himself. I remember she went away once, and when she came back we found my dad half naked and sucking on an unopened can of soup! Why?" Just as something reared up and grabbed one of the women.
"What the Hell is that?!" Cordelia gasped.
The other woman swung around and saw both them and thing holding her friend. "Velma! It's got Velma!"
Xander didn't hesitate, not wanting to risk harming the woman the creature was holding, he jumped towards it and punched it, forcing it to drop the woman. It retreated below the sand.
"Are you alright?" Xander asked the woman as another scream was heard behind them. They turned and saw the creature rear up out of the sand again and grab the other woman. Cordelia was knocked aside by it and stumbled. To their horror, it disappeared beneath the sand with the other woman held tight in its grasp.
"I say again, what the Hell is that?!" Cordelia yelled.
"We're calling it a mancrab." The woman Xander had helped said. "We're not sure what else to call it. I'm Velma Dinkley, thanks for helping me, I guess. But it got Daphne. Come on, we need to find the others. So much for Fred's trap idea, it got Daphne before we could even get it set up."
"You're trying to trap it?" Xander asked.
"We're pretty sure it's a guy in a suit trying to scare people. They usually are."
"You catch alot of guys in suits?" Xander asked with an odd expression on his face."
"It's pretty much what we do when we solve a mystery." She answered.
"Then you're not expecting it to be a demon or an alien?" Cordelia asked.
"It was once. Demons, I mean." Velma answered. "Some day it might be again. I'm open to the possibility."
"You said you're name is Velma Dinkley?" Xander asked. "And you're friend's name is Daphne and that's the Mystery Machine."
"Yes, have you heard of Mystery Inc?" Velma asked, curious.
"You could say that." Xander said, feeling a little numb.
"Xander, are you alright?" Cordelia asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Just wondering if I hit my head. Anyway, I'm Alexander McCleod, people call me Xander and this is my girlfriend, Cordelia Chase."
"Nice to meet you. Fred!" Velma called out as they approached two men and a large dog. "The mancrab tried to get me, but this guy stopped it. Then it grabbed Daphne. So much for your trap."
"You really are Mystery Inc." Xander said dazedly. "You're Fred Jones and Shaggy and oh my gods, Scooby Doo!"
"They're real?" Cordelia gasped. "I shouldn't be surprised after all this time, but somehow I am. Scooby's pretty big."
"He's a great Dane, they're the largest domestic dog breed on Earth." Xander reminded her.
"You know me?" Scooby asked, sort of. Xander and Cordelia both managed to nod. Baby yawned.
"That's a weird dog." Shaggy said.
"It's a hyena." Xander answered. "His name is Baby, for now."
"Just don't name him Norbert." Shaggy told him.
"Don't worry. We won't." Cordelia assured him.
"So, anything we can do to help you find Daphne?" Xander asked. "And before you ask, we have experience with mysteries ourselves. We've investigated spooky doings in our hometown and at our first official job as well. Suspects?"
"Right now only one." Fred answered. "Skipper Shelton, a local crab fisherman. He's got a grudge against the city."
"Ok, motive and he knows crabs, it's a good place to start." Xander agreed. "Velma said you were trying to set up a trap to catch the mancrab and use Daphne as bait. Maybe somebody overheard you talking and grabbed her first. They might think they could bargain with you."
"Daphne wouldn't let us." Fred told him. "And she can take care of yourself since she started learning martial arts. Doesn't mean we aren't going to try to get her back." Fred said, determinedly.
"I know what you're feeling man." Xander assured him. "Cordy got snatched a couple of times and then she got some training herself. Makes me feel a whole better about her chances with anything we face, knowing that."
"I know, I still worry, but not as much. Okay we need to find some clues. I'm willing to accept you guy's help. I'm going to finish putting together my trap, we may need it."
"Scooby and I are going to get something to eat. We both think better on a full stomach." Shaggy said. "You guys hungry?"
"Both Baby and I can always eat." Xander assured him. "And Baby's got a cast iron stomach. Not alot he can't handle."
"All natural food, Xander." Cordelia insisted. "You do not feed Baby any junk, you got me?!" As she passed Baby to Xander. "And you don't let him out of your hands, not while that crab thing is around. I'm going to talk to Velma. Girl talk."
