A/N: Hey everyone, I have been lurking every once in a while to read some fanfiction but I haven't been able to post for so long until I posted the final chapter of my previous fic last night. I am continuing on from Zombie Island into Witch's Ghost! These movies were always my favourite. I will make sure I actually finish and upload everything this time instead of having people waiting years for an update…. My bad :(.
I also wanted to give a special mention to SpongeAddict who I have been following for some time now and every single time I logon I can't wait to see what new fics are in progress!
Anyway I hope you enjoy it!
The crisp autumn air settled over the quaint museum nestled on the outskirts of Massachusetts. The building, an imposing structure of old stone and ivy, stood as a silent guardian of history, its darkened windows reflecting the soft glow of a crescent moon. Inside, a solitary figure moved through the dim hallways, the echo of his footsteps the only sound in the stillness of the night.
Dr. Dean, the museum's curator, locked his office door with a sigh of relief. Another long day at work had finally come to an end. As he walked towards the exit, his mind wandered to the comfort of his home and a strong cup of coffee. However, the uneasy feeling that had been nagging at him all day lingered, refusing to let him relax. The shadows in the corners of the museum seemed to stretch longer than usual, and the silence felt oppressive, as though something unseen was watching him.
"Is anyone there?" Dr. Dean's voice wavered slightly as he glanced over his shoulder, but he was greeted only by the stillness of the exhibits. He shook his head, trying to dismiss the anxiety. "I really must switch to decaf," he muttered to himself, forcing a chuckle.
Just then, the ominous creak of two ancient tombs opening echoed through the gallery. The sound sent a shiver down Dr. Dean's spine as he turned around, eyes wide with fear. From the tombs, two warrior figures, clad in the armor of long-forgotten battles, emerged. Their eyes glowed with a supernatural light, and their weapons gleamed with deadly intent.
Before Dr. Dean could react, a voice rang out from behind the exhibits. "Professor… behind you!" It was Shaggy Rogers, his usual calm shattered by the sight of the advancing figures. Scooby-Doo, standing beside him, whimpered nervously, his tail tucked between his legs.
The warriors charged at Dr. Dean, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Shaggy and Scooby sprang into action—or at least, as much action as their trembling legs would allow. "Like… stay right there!" Shaggy stammered, trying to sound brave as he gestured for the monsters to halt.
Scooby, thinking quickly, grabbed a nearby saber-tooth tiger skin and threw it over one of the warriors. The creature struggled beneath the heavy pelt, but it soon ripped through, emerging with a menacing growl. "Raggy!" Scooby yelped, retreating behind Shaggy.
"Now, Scoob!" Shaggy urged, his voice rising in panic. With a nod, Scooby grabbed a rope that had been strategically placed earlier and released a net, which dropped from the ceiling and trapped the two monsters.
"The trap worked, Scoob!" Shaggy exclaimed, his relief palpable. "Give me four!"
Scooby laughed, raising a paw for a high-five, but their victory was short-lived. One of the monsters used its axe to slice through the net with a single powerful stroke. "Yikes!" Shaggy and Scooby yelped in unison, their eyes wide with terror as the creatures poked them with their cold, metallic fingers
Shaggy and Scooby bolted, the monsters hot on their heels.
Meanwhile, Fred Jones and Daphne Blake were hidden behind a nearby exhibit, watching the chaos unfold. Fred's blue eyes were focused, his mind already formulating a plan to rescue their friends. But there was a new tension between him and Daphne—a tension that had grown ever since they had confessed their feelings for each other on Zombie Island. It was still new and raw, this relationship of theirs, and Fred found himself more protective of Daphne than ever before.
Daphne, for her part, was equally conflicted. She had always admired Fred's bravery and leadership, but now, with their feelings out in the open, every glance he threw her way seemed loaded with unspoken words. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
"Nice going, guys! You caught them," Fred finally called out, stepping from behind the exhibit as the monsters tripped over a curtain and crashed into a pile of artifacts.
Shaggy, still trembling, managed a shaky smile. "Uh… right. No problem, Freddy. Like we had a little help." His eyes darted toward the shadows, where a mysterious figure stepped forward.
Daphne's breath caught in her throat as the man emerged. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and suspicion.
Velma, however, gasped in recognition, her glasses nearly falling off her face. "I don't believe it! You're Ben Ravencroft, the famous horror writer!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.
"That's right," Ben said with a warm smile. He reached down and pulled the mask off one of the defeated warriors, revealing the face of a very disgruntled man. "And let's see who they are."
Dr. Dean gasped as the face beneath the mask was revealed. "It's Perkins!" he exclaimed, recognizing the archaeologist.
Velma stepped forward, pulling the mask off the second warrior to reveal another familiar face. "And Griswald! Disgruntled archaeologists from the museum's Babylonian project. They were upset with you for cutting their funding, Dr. Dean."
Perkins sneered as the police led him and Griswald away. "And we would've gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for this… meddling writer!"
Shaggy shook his head in disbelief. "Like, that's a twist."
Fred couldn't help but chuckle. "At least, he didn't call us kids. I hate that." He turned to Daphne, his hand brushing against hers in a subtle gesture that made her heart skip a beat. She met his gaze, a small smile playing on her lips, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade away.
"Guess you beat us to the punch, Mr. Ravencroft," Daphne said, breaking the spell as she addressed the writer.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to upstage you," Ben replied with a chuckle, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Fred, ever the investigator, raised an eyebrow. "So what were you doing here?"
Ben's expression turned serious. "I was doing research on my latest novel when I saw these archaeologists acting suspiciously and decided to investigate."
Velma's admiration for the writer only grew as she spoke. "Mr. Ravencroft, I am a huge fan of your work. I've read all your books, and in my opinion, they are the best horror stories ever written. In fact we were actually on our way to Oakhaven for your book signing!"
Ben smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Velma. I am equally a fan of your work!"
Velma's eyes widened in amazement. "You know my name?"
"And Daphne's and Fred's," Ben replied, with a knowing chuckle. "And Scooby and Shaggy's of course."
Scooby giggled, his previous fear forgotten in the presence of their newfound ally.
"I've admired your work on revealing supernatural mysteries for some time now," Ben continued. "I mean, basically, we're in the same business of mystery and the occult, right?"
Velma blushed slightly at the compliment. "Oh please, what we do pales in comparison with the sheer ponderable fright of your novels."
Ben shook his head modestly. "I wouldn't say that."
Velma, always eager to discuss her favorite subjects, continued. "I mean, take *The Dead Mall* for example. Oh, that creepy jewelry store owner was an incredibly complex character."
"You're very kind," Ben said, clearly pleased by her praise. "Since you're coming to Oakhaven anyway why don't you drive down with me. The rest of you can follow behind?"
Velma's face lit up with excitement. "Really? Oh, that would be great!"
"Oakhaven does have one of the best restaurants in New England," Ben added with a grin.
"Like, we're sold! Eh, Scoob?" Shaggy said, his usual enthusiasm for food overriding any lingering fears.
"Reah!" Scooby agreed, wagging his tail happily.
As the gang prepared for their next adventure, Fred and Daphne exchanged a knowing look, their hands brushing against each other once more, excited to spend more time together in a quaint little town.