Chapter 7:
Getting Down to Business

"We gotta find Daphne and Mary Jane, and then figure out what else is going on!" exclaimed Shaggy.

"Yeah!" Scrappy agreed. "But we hafta lose these guys first!"

Scooby and Shaggy nodded. "Alright, but how do we do that?" asked Shaggy.

"Maybe we slow down for a couple seconds...and then when they think they got us, we speed up!" Scrappy exclaimed.

Shaggy glanced at the young pup. "That's a little crazy, but it just might work, Scrap!" he replied.

"Thanks!" Scrappy said, as he went back to keeping a lookout for their pursuants. As he did, he saw several of them running at them, three of which were on their hands and feet.

"They're right on our tail!" called Scrappy. "Get ready to slow down and then speed up!"

Scooby dialed back on the gas, and the bike started to slow down.

Shaggy did the same. "Are they getting closer?!" he called.

"We wouldn't be slowing down if they WEREN'T!" Scrappy responded as the ferocious horde was approaching them. "Get ready to speed up!"

Scooby nodded as he kept his paws on the handlebars.

"Wait for it..."

The imposters were getting closer.

"Wait for it..."

Soon they were right on top of them!

"NOW!" called Scrappy.

The bikes suddenly sped up, leaving the disguised monsters clear in the dust!

"Ruff and double-ruff!" Scrappy cheered. "It worked! It really worked!"

Shaggy laughed in relief. "Good work, guys! Now let's get to somewhere safe!"

Scooby and Scrappy nodded as they sped up and drove away, with Shaggy right behind.

Meanwhile, Daphne had been carried off by Zarkos, who had her over his shoulder like a burlap sack. Naturally, the feisty redhead was kicking and punching at him all the way, but it just made Zarkos chuckle.

He brought her to some kind of underground tunnel network. As he carried her, she began to hear voices, though she couldn't tell from where. They soon arrived at a room marked Imposter Preparation.

"What's going on? And where ARE we?" Daphne grunted as she continued trying to free herself.

"Aren't you the inquisitive one," Zarkos sneered as he knocked on the door.

The door opened up to show an agent in a lab coat.

"We have collected another hostage," explained Zarkos. "Scan her to create the suit for the imposter."

The scientist nodded as Zarkos carried Daphne into the room and places her in a chair before strapping her in. She was placed right in front of a strange machine with a camera-like object pointed at her.

"Sit still and wait for scanning," the machine said calmly as it began scanning Daphne's body from several angles.

Daphne tried to control her breathing as she felt her body being scanned over.

"Once the scanning is done, you'll be sent to be with the other prisoners," informed the scientist.

Daphne raised a brow. "S-scanning? For what?" she asked.

Suddenly, the machine gave a big DING!, and then opened with a hydraulic hiss. The scientist reached in and pulled out something which was enough to leave Daphne chilled to the bone— an entire, full-body latex-like replica of her!

"Wh-why did you make a copy of me?" gasped Daphne.

The scientist ignored Daphne as they passed a button on the wall. A door on the floor opened up, and out climbed one of the monsters.

Daphne was too scared to even scream as the scientist handed over the suit. "Put this on and pretend to be this woman," he instructed.

The monster nodded excitedly as it pulled on the suit, which seemed to magically fit them. As they snapped their mask on, the monster now looked like an exact copy of Daphne, grinning evilly with a purple bikini on.

It cleared its throat and tested its voice, speaking in Daphne's voice. "Like, I'm totally gonna catch some rays~" it said, before strutting away.

"Alright, Zarkos, I'm done with her," said the scientist. "Take her to the other prisoners."

Zarkos chuckled before he unstrapped Daphne and threw her over his shoulder. "I swear when I get outta here, I'm gonna kick your butt back into last year!" she grunted.

Zarkos snickered. "Never going to happen," he mocked.

Daphne growled as she was carried through the tunnels, and she soon began to hear various voices echoing around.

"You creeps!" Daphne shouted. "...what's with all those voices?"

A vile grin made its way across Zarkos's miserable mug. "Wait and see for yourself," he snickered.

Daphne's eyes went wide as she saw the tunnel they entered was lined with cells full of people—many of which had been the people at the resort.

Daphne was carried past them and to a secluded cell at the very end.

She was relieved for a moment to see Fred, Velma, Mary Jane and Izzy in there!

Fred was patting Velma's back as she held her head. "Velma...it's okay," he told her. "We're gonna find a way out of here."

Zarkos scoffed. "Not likely," he remarked. "Your last hopes are two dogs and a beatnik, so you'd better get comfortable."

Izzy glowered. "Don't you dare doubt my family!" she snapped.

"By the way, you've got company!" Zarkos shouted as he threw Daphne inside.

"Daphne!" Mary Jane, Fred and Velma exclaimed.

Daphne tried to run out of the cell, but Zarkos slammed the door shut and cackled as he walked off.

Thoroughly resenting her situation, the redhead looked at Mary Jane. "They got you too?" she asked.

"I thought I had found my friend Bethany. But when I noticed something wrong with her eyes, it was too late," Mary Jane replied. "She hit me with that gas those monsters used. Next thing I knew, I woke up in here with you guys."

"Something like that happened to me, too," said Daphne. "I ran into Velma's double."

Velma groaned. "Oh, God, did she act like a ditz in a slinky bikini?" she asked.

Daphne nodded.

"Oh, shit..." Velma groaned as she put her head in her hands, her face turning red.

"Do you know where Shag and the others are?" inquired Fred.

Daphne sighed, sad. "I can't even begin to imagine it," she responded. "Those three must be scared out of their minds, running for their lives—and from people who look like US! That's gotta be the scariest part of all!"

Meanwhile...

"YAHOOOOO!" Scooby yelled, as he, Shaggy and Scrappy had just jumped over a massive hill, and arrived at the place they saw the monsters disappear with their hostages.

"That was a massive hill!" Scrappy laughed. "We gotta find another one so we can do it again!"

"Later, man," said Shaggy. "For now, let's stop here."

And so, the three of them got off their bikes. A few seconds passed before all three of them began cheering and laughing at their narrow escape.

"Like, did you see the way we got rid of those guys?" laughed Shaggy.

Scrappy nodded. "We sure gave those creeps a good dose of puppy power!" he chimed in.

"Reah!" Scooby chuckled. "Re left 'em in the dust!"

"This calls for a victory dance!" declared Shaggy.

"Rou said it!" Scooby beamed as he got up, and then he and Shaggy began dancing.

Scrappy couldn't help but smile as he watched his uncle and his best buddy dance their hearts out, but noticed Scooby dancing directly in the center of the area.

"Uh, Uncle Scooby?" he asked.

Scooby and Shaggy suddenly stopped dancing as they heard a clicking noise, and before Scooby knew what was happening, a trapdoor opened underneath him and dropped Scooby down as he screamed in fright. "YAIIIIIIIIII!"

"Scoob!" Shaggy called out. "Are you okay?"

"Reah!" Scooby responded. "I just fell down here!"

Shaggy and Scrappy peered down the hole. "Do you see anything down there, Uncle Scooby?" asked Scrappy.

"Uh...nope, nothing so far," Scooby responded.

"Like, hang on, Scoob," replied Shaggy. "We'll meet ya down there."

But suddenly, they heard something approaching Scooby!

"Roh, no!" screamed Scooby. "Reeeelp!"

"Uncle Scooby? What's going on?!" shouted Scrappy.

Then, Scooby let out a blood-curdling yelp.

"We gotta get down there!" Scrappy exclaimed, terrified.

Shaggy nodded. "Friends don't quit," he said, before he picked Scrappy up and jumped down the hole!

"Hang on, Uncle Scooby!" Scrappy bellowed. "It's Scrappy and Shaggy to th' rescue!"

Shaggy and Scrappy soon landed in a dark tunnel.

"Scooby-Doo? Where are you?" called Shaggy.

But then, the duo faintly heard someone calling out, "Shaggy!" from further down the tunnel!

Scrappy glanced at Shaggy. "Didya hear that?" he asked.

"Yeah!" Shaggy whispered back.

Shaggy and Scrappy slowly made their way towards the voices they heard, and as they peeked around a corner, their eyes went wide in shock!

They found their friends trapped in their cell. Izzy was the first to see them. "Shaggy! Scrappy!" she exclaimed.

"Izzy!" they both cried as they ran to the cell doors, while the others stood up.

"Freddy! Daphne! Velma!" Shaggy exclaimed as he took a look inside.

"What the heck happened, and how'd you guys end up down here?" asked Scrappy.

"Velma and I were taken here and switched with those phonies in suits," explained Fred.

"After we got separated, I ran into someone I thought was a friend of mine, but they were one of those monsters," added Mary Jane.

"Plus, I got captured by that Zarkos guy a little while ago," added Daphne.

"I've been here for awhile. I'm so glad you guys got my message," sighed Izzy. "I knew my dad would send you guys and—wait...where's Scooby?"

"He just got taken by these guys," said Shaggy. "We gotta find him!"

"Yeah," nodded Scrappy. "But first, we gotta bust you guys outta this!"

"And how exactly are you gonna do that?" asked Velma.

Izzy suddenly got an idea and fished around in her pocket. "Maybe this will help?" she asked, holding one of Uncle Albert's superpowered Scooby Snacks!

"It's worth a shot!" Scrappy beamed, brimming with confidence.

Izzy handed Scrappy the snack through the bars. Scrappy tossed it into his mouth and ate it—then he jolted around before his body began to glow various colors, and when the light faded, Scrappy now had large muscles!

"Boy-oh-boy!" he exclaimed in joy, flexing his arms. "Stand back, guys! TA-DADADA-DADAAAA! PUPPY POWER!"

And within seconds, he grabbed the bars and tore them apart like streamers.

Daphne ran out and hugged Scrappy and Shaggy. "I knew you guys would save us!" she exclaimed.

Shaggy blushed in response.

"Alright, now we need to find a way out of these tunnels before anyone else shows up," said Velma.

"I was able to see the way to the surface when I first got captured," explained Izzy. Let's get to the surface so we can figure out what to do next!"

"Oh-kay!" Scrappy responded. "Let's go, everybody!"

And off they went.

Izzy led the way through the tunnel until they came to broad daylight.

"Guess there really IS a light at the end of the tunnel," Fred commented as he exited after Velma and Daphne.

Shaggy, Scrappy and Mary Jane were the last ones out, and the group found themselves standing on the beach.

Daphne wiped her brow. "Phew...sunlight and sandy beaches," she sighed. "Much better than that dark tunnel."

"Well, this has been fun...but I recommend we get the hell off this island!" Fred exclaimed.

Shaggy blanched. "What?! No!" he replied. "Scooby needs us!"

"Yeah!" Scrappy nodded. "We need ta save Uncle Scooby!"

"Shaggy, men in masks is one thing," retorted Fred. "We're talking real monsters trying to take over the world!"

But Shaggy stood firm. "I don't care! Scooby-Doo needs us!" he declared.

"Yeah!" Scrappy chimed in. "What happened to you guys that you'd leave a friend behind?"

"Why did you guys even come together in the first place if all you do is argue?" asked Izzy.

Now the others were starting to feel like jerks.

"It wasn't always like that..." replied Daphne, looking downtrodden. "...but in a way, I guess it was Scooby that brought us together."

TEN YEARS AGO...

A young Norville Rogers was cruising the boardwalk of Crystal Cove, accompanied by his cousin Isabelle. The boy didn't have any friends yet, so Izzy was the main person he hung out with.

Izzy had already begin her gothic phase, chewing and blowing bubble gum as she walked beside her , something—or two somethings—whooshed past them, making Norville drop his ice cream.

"ZOINKS!...like, slow down, dude," he mumbled as he put in some headphones. He tried to find a suitable song to listen to...but he only found tunes related to being alone.

One is the Loneliest Number...

Mister Lonely...

[Don't Wanna Be] All By Myself...

Shaggy sighed. He truly felt alone. Other than his cousin, he had no friends to call his own.

As he headed by the beach, he saw two lumps of sand in front of a picnic blanket.

"Make friends...check," Shaggy said as he went over and sat down. "Nice to meet you...Shelly and Sandy."

From behind the second lump, a small Great Dane puppy sighed.

"Anyways, I told my mom I was gonna meet my pals at the beach near Skipper Shelton's Clam Cabin," said Shaggy. "So if she asks, this technically counts as a playdate."

Izzy looked at her cousin, feeling a little lousy.

"But, it's all good..." Shaggy replied, trying to keep up a confident front. "I like eating lunch by myself...and hanging out by myself...and playing ping-pong by myself...I lose a lot of balls."

Izzy sighed as she heard that. Shaggy almost didn't notice the two eyes poking out from behind the lumps of sand.

But he DID, however, notice the dog attempting to eat the sandwich he had on the plate nearby.

"Ah!" Shaggy yelped as he fell backwards. But then he was surprised to see that the dog actually liked his sandwich. He had brown fur with a few black spots in certain places, and a goofy but playful expression on their face as they ate.

"It's got peanut butter, fried clams, and some cocktail sauce," Shaggy explained.

"Rit's tasty!" the dog beamed.

Izzy smirked. "A talking dog with Norville's taste for strange food combos...sounds about right," she remarked.

"Just a minute!" said a policeman as he approached and grabbed the dog. "This mangy stray's done enough damage for today. He's coming with me!"

Shaggy saw the dog's terrified expression. "Wait, stop! That's my dog!" he exclaimed.

"Really now?" asked the policeman. "Then what's his name?"

"Uh...Scoobert!" Shaggy blurted.

The dog did a double-take in surprise.

Izzy snickered. "Scoobert?"

The policeman raised a brow. "Oh, really? And what's his last name?" he asked.

"Doo," Shaggy responded. "Scoobert Doo, but his friends call him Scooby-Doo."

The policeman looked at Izzy. "Is he telling the truth?" he asked.

"Yes," nodded Izzy.

Shaggy sent a grateful look to his cousin.

The policeman sighed before shoving the Great Dane back over to Shaggy. "Okay then, have a nice day," he told him before he drove off on his Segway.

"Thanks, Izz," Shaggy said before he looked at the smiling dog.

"Rou really saved me," the dog smiled.

"Well, sure I did," Shaggy said. "We're friends...if you'd like to be."

"Res, I do!" Scooby-Doo responded.

Scooby started licking Shaggy's cheek as he giggled at the action. So eventually, both kids took their new puppy home with them.

And this was what began an amazing friendship...

(Cue "You and I" by Anarbor)

And then months later, in October, they met 3 more kids:

-Freddy Jones: good-natured schmuck

-Velma Dinkley: quiet brainiac

-Daphne Blake: wealthy queen-bee type with a heart of gold.

After they met these 3, Mystery Incorporated followed very soon after.

The group was pretty good at solving mysteries, and it brought Scrappy-Doo into their lives, no less. And at the center of it all was one Great Dane named Scooby-Doo.

But somewhere along the line, the fame had gotten to be too much, and driven wedges between the gang. As they had grown more and more famous, they seemed to have forgotten what was the most important thing at the center of it.

The Great Dane who had brought them all together.

END FLASHBACK

"So you know what I'm gonna do?" asked Shaggy. "I'm gonna eat a Scooby Snack, and I'm gonna save my best pal!"

"Yeah! Me too!" Scrappy agreed. "And I'm gonna kick some bad guy butts!"

Izzy walked over. "I'm with you, Shaggy," she responded.

Fred looked down, before he face steeled. "I'm in," he responded.

Izzy, Shaggy and Scrappy stared at Fred in shock.

Fred looked at Velma. "What about you, Velms? Up for it?" he asked.

Velma looked at Fred with an unreadable expression. "You know damn well I'm not gonna leave you behind," she said with a smile.

Fred smiled back as Daphne stepped forward. "Count me in! If Scrappy's in, so am I!" she declared. "And besides, I gotta give that Zarkos jerk a good punch for what he did!"

Mary Jane stepped forward. "I-I wanna help too!" she spoke up.

Shaggy held his hand in front of him with his palm to the ground. Scrappy placed his paw on top of Shaggy's hand as he sat atop his arm.

"Time to Scooby-Dooby-Doo this thing!" Shaggy declared firmly.

Fred, Velma, Daphne, Izzy and Mary Jane placed their hands on top of theirs.

Velma smirked. "Let's get Jinky with it," she declared.

The others groaned and chuckled simultaneously as the joke.

"Ah, I know, it was terrible," Velma smiled, waving them off as they got started.

So there's Chapter 7, guys. Now the gang has two directives: save Scooby, and save the world.

Can they pull it off? Stay tuned and see how it goes down.