It was a stormy night in Nowhere, Shaggy and Scooby were sitting on the couch eating snacks, Eustace sat in his chair reading the paper while Courage napped on the rocking chair nearby. Muriel was currently in the kitchen washing the dinner dishes, All seemed nice and relaxing.
That is until Eustace started up again. Eustace threw his paper down, glared at Courage and snapped, "I thought I told you to fetch my raincoat!"
With that, Courage was snapped wake and lifted his head, "What?" he asked groggily, as he opened his eyes.
"Don't you know how to fetch? You stupid dog," Eustace growled.
"Like, Uncle Eustace, you didn't tell him to do anything," Shaggy pointed out and stated the obvious that Courage was just taking a nap.
Eustace shook his head, "He's a dog. All dogs should know how to fetch. It's in their natures. Just like how THIS is in MY nature."
Eustace turned away from Courage with a cheeky laugh and reached into his pocket. He brought both hands out again, this time making a popping out effect with them that caused his eyes to extend far outside of his head. Shaggy, Scooby and Courage screamed in horror and Courage stood on top of the chair with his hair raised. Scooby jumped into Shaggy's arms, while Eustace just laughed and laughed at the three trio's misfortune, they're stiff and mute with fear. Scooby and Shaggy glared at the old man's actions.
"Like, that wasn't funny Uncle Eustace!" Shaggy hissed sternly, with his hands on his hips.
"Well that's what you get for being big chickens," Eustace mocked.
Shaggy was becoming irritated and was about to argue when someone began knocking at the front door. Eustace stood up from his chair and crossed over to the door and grabbed the door handle and opened the door.
Scooby and Shaggy's faces became pure white with fright and screamed and cornered up in the couch, while Courage back up nervously, not wanting to deal with another supernatural or other dangers that might harm him or his family.
The figure at the door has sickly green skin combined with ragged clothing, hunched back, large nose, bulging eyes and tufts of red hair were all sharp contrasts of each other. But what they weren't prepared for was the gentle tone of the man's voice.
"Excuse me sir?" the man started.
"Eh?" Eustace asked, with horror beginning to materialize on his face.
The man smiled as he said, "Do you have any room I can spend the night in? I'd also like to apologize to the young man and that dog for terrifying then so badly. I had no intention of startling them."
The tone of the man had manage to calm Shaggy, Scooby and Courage's hearts, but not Eustace.
Eustace just looked at the man with horror plastered all over his face and just screamed a long loud scream, causing the man at the door to frown, before yelling, "NO!" and then he proceeded to slam the door in the poor man's face.
Courage looked out at the window and felt sorry for him, and thought how they're nice and warm outside, while the man was outside in the cold wet rain. "Oh, we could of put him in the basement at least."
"Reah," Scooby agreed with a frown, he also felt bad for the poor man.
Shaggy frowned at his uncle, "Like, Uncle Eustace, was that completely necessary?"
Eustace looked at him and snorted, "Whatcha preaching to me for? I know you and your stupid dog screamed at him too. Besides with you two taking the attic, there's no place else to put him."
Shaggy felt shame at his uncle's words, the pity of guilt was crushing his heart, he shook his head and said, "Well yeah, me and Scooby did scream. But like, because he scared us. Plus we still have the basement."
Sure the basement wasn't exactly the most comfortable location in the household. But it would have been better than sleeping on the cold ground outside in the rain or in something like the chicken coop or barn.
"No way. Ugly like that can just sleep outside where it belongs," Eustace scowled furiously before turning his attention back to Courage, giving him a cold glare. "And why are you still sitting there? Get my raincoat."
Courage whined, but sighed, "Yes farmer," he did as he was told and went to the front door. Just as he was going out, Shaggy and Scooby groaned and Shaggy grabbed an umbrella from the closet real quick.
"Rang on Rourage, we'll go with ya," Scooby called.
"Yeah like, wait for us little pink dude," Shaggy added, while Eustace just crossed his arms and shook his head at them.
"You two and Muriel baby that dog way too much," Eustace said irritably.
Shaggy opened up the umbrella and answered, "Like, because I'd shudder to think about what would happen if he didn't get ANY love."
"Reah," Scooby agreed with his best friend, defending the pink beagle too. "Rourage deserves to get all the love and care he needs."
Eustace glared, but the two best friends didn't care. Shaggy opened the umbrella and held it over him, Scooby and Courage as they walked across the yard.
"Thanks guys," Courage smiled, feeling warmth spreading through his body and was grateful to have some company.
"Like, no problem little Courage guy," Shaggy said, trying to cheer Courage a little more up.
"Reah, that's what friends are for," Scooby added, with a grin.
Courage smiled briefly back he felt so grateful for their support, as they continued to their way. It didn't take long for them to reach the barn and the trio were so relieved as they stepped inside. Shaggy and Courage's feet and Scooby's paws were caked in mud and some of it had splattered onto Shaggy's pants as well. The shoes he wore were completely coated and would need to be cleaned.
"Like I really need to get some boots," Shaggy said out loud, before chuckling and then looked to the two dogs with a shiver.
Scooby shivered. shaking the chill from his fur, even though it was summer, the weather in Nowhere Kansas can be weird, "Ret's get that coat and get out of here. Rit's freezing out here."
Courage nodded and was just grabbing Eustace's raincoat, but he paused when he heard a gentle ringing sound. Shaggy and Scooby heard it too and looked around the barn from where they stood to see if they could pinpoint it's location. This was followed by a different pitched ringing and then another and then another. It had no melody, yet still sounded wonderful at the same time.
"Bells?" Courage echoed, confused.
"Like, where's it coming from?" Shaggy said.
Scooby raised one ear and followed the sound of the bells, he looked up at the loft, and heard the source of the music. "Rit's coming from up there," he pointed.
Courage climbed up the ladder to the loft and Shaggy and Scooby followed close behind him. And as they reached the top, in the loft, was the hunchbacked man again and with him was a set of bronze bells and was ringing them one after the other, never ringing the same bell twice in a row, producing a sweet sound with each ring. The only bell he neglected was the smallest one as it sat alone and unused.
Courage climbed into the loft from the ladder as Shaggy and Scooby stood behind, transfixed by the sound of the bells. He walked over to the Hunchback as he continued to play the bells, but Courage grabbed the small bell and rang it. With that, the Hunchback grabbed an extra bell as did Courage and they just sat there and rang them. Scooby smiled at the sight and even let out a giggle.
"So like, what do you guys want to do now?" Shaggy asked.
For the next several minutes, Shaggy and Scooby sat and watched as Courage and the Hunchback played together in the barn. They started off just doing a little trapeze act that the Hunchback had quickly set up. When Courage's turn came, he shook and whimpered a little bit, nervously looking down, but eventually the Hunchback did find the will to kick off from the loft while still clutching the trapeze bar. As soon as he reached the highest point of it, he lost his grip and fell down below.
The Hunchback then grabbed the bar as it came back to him and kicked off again. Shaggy and Scooby however kept their eyes on Courage to make sure he didn't hurt himself. They're both relieved to see him get caught by a haystack right under them, but was bounced back up by the stack and was at risk of falling again. Shaggy and Scooby felt relief wash over them as soon as the Hunchback came back and was able to grab Courage. He swung back across the barn and as he came back, he released Courage, causing him to bounce off the haystack again.
The Hunchback swung back once more and released the bar. He fell to the haystack below and passed Courage along the way. Courage flew up as high as he could and then began to fall once more, but the Hunchback bounced off of the haystack and came up once more, grabbing Courage and taking him up with him. The trapeze bar came back as well and the Hunchback grabbed it and swung them both back over to Scooby and Shaggy and to safety. He jumped to an upper wooden beam in the barn and he jumped from there and they both landed right next to the bells.
Scooby looked at his small friend in concern, he knew how Courage could be with these type of stunts. "Rourage are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine Scoob," Courage nodded, although a little shaken by the stunt, and then rung the smallest bell again.
The four then began to laugh, Scooby and Shaggy clapped their hands and paws, giving them as close to an applause as the two could give them.
Shaggy clapped his hands, "Like, Bravo! Bravo you guys."
"Rhat was amazing," Scooby added, excitedly.
The Hunchback and Courage both bowed as Scooby and Shaggy continued to clap.
The Hunchback smiled and said, "Thank you! Thank you!"
"Thank you, we'll be here all night!" Courage exclaimed, blowing a kiss, causing the four to laughed at Courage's remark.
"NORVILLE! COURAGE! SCOOBY!" came Eustace's angry voice.
Shaggy, Scooby and Courage froze at the sound of Eustace's voice, their smiles gradually flipped . The three heard him angry before, especially towards the three of them. But he had never sounded this mad before. True in order for him to be out here he had to have walked out here in the rain and who wouldn't be angry after that?
"Ruh-oh," Scooby squeaked gripping his head tightly, knowing they're in trouble.
Shaggy's heartbeat quickened and he began to sweat, now it was only a matter of time before Eustace coming up here and saw what they're doing. "Like, we totally forgot Uncle Eustace's raincoat."
Courage crossed his arms over himself, nervously squeezing his shoulders, "Oh geez, we're in BIG trouble!" he turned and shushed at the Hunchback in order to keep him quiet. All four of them crawled to the edge of the loft and looked down.
Eustace was at the bottom of the ladder, looking around the barn the in search of them. "Where are you three!?" he called out as he looked around.
Scooby turned to the Hunchback and whisper with panic, "Ride."
The Hunchback nodded and Courage was able to push him back into a haystack in the loft. "We'll be right back," he muttered.
"Don't make me look for you," Eustace threatened, making the trio whimpered.
Courage climbed down the ladder of the loft and down to Eustace, he suppressed a pitiful groan, this wasn't going to end well.
Eustace glared down at him and demanded, "Where's my raincoat you stupid dog?"
Courage swallowed hard, "I-I-I."
Shaggy and Scooby heard the sound of the Hunchback stick his head out of the stack. "Psst! Pssst!" he called out and held the raincoat out to them.
Shaggy took the raincoat from his hand and whispered, "Like, thanks."
Shaggy and Scooby walked to the edge of the loft and Shaggy held up the raincoat and announced, "We like, got it right here Uncle Eustace."
He looked up at them and hissed, "Well? I'm waiting."
The duo sighed and climbed down the ladder and handed the raincoat to Eustace slipped it onto his body. As he did, he looked at the cowardly trio and began to smile sadistically at them.
"Know what I have for you?" he maliciously asked the three.
"No/Ro," Shaggy, Scooby and Courage weakly whined, as they shook their heads, fearing what's coming next.
Eustace covered his own eyes and did the popping out eye scare again. The trio screamed and clanged onto each other and Eustace just laughed his cruel sadistic laugh.
Both of Shaggy's fists curled in frustration and his eyelids lowered into a heated scowled, "Like, not cool man!"
"Don't you raise your tone with me young man! In fact the three of you are all in big trouble!" Eustace said in a cold voice.
The trio gulped, their nervous eyes met, sweat forming on their foreheads, Shaggy had heard his uncle use some very angry tones before, but that was the first time in years he had used that tone with him.
Eustace glared at the three and angrily said, "Well? What were you doing out here for so long? I sent you three out here twenty minutes ago to get my raincoat. And I come in here to see a mess in the barn."
Shaggy, Scooby and Courage looked around, they quivered with dread and saw what he meant. The haystack that Courage and the Hunchback had been bouncing on was now a mess and the trapeze bars were still gently swaying above their heads. Shaggy was about to deny it, but he looked at the two dogs who shook their heads frantically, they didn't want to risk their new visitor being discovered.
There'd be no preventing him from searching the barn if Shaggy had told him that they're weren't the ones, even if he didn't believe them. Shaggy sighed, he decided to just bite the bullet and take whatever was coming to him. After all, he did have reason to be angry with them right now anyway.
Shaggy cower a little, "Like, we're sorry about that," he weakly uttered.
Eustace did not calm down at all as he continued to look at him and remarked coldly, "Sorry doesn't fix this! You are going to clean up this mess and then come back to the house! And since you insist on acting like a child, you're going to be treated like one in return. For the rest of the week, you're sleeping in the basement."
Shaggy's jaw dropped at the punishment his Uncle had laid out for him, and his heart lurched with dread at the thought of sleeping in a creepy old basement, "What? No Uncle Eustace please. I hate basements they creep me out."
"Well, you should of thought of that before you did all of this!" Eustace growled, as he pointed the mess in the barn
Scooby growled at the old man, clearly having enough of Eustace's crummy attitude. "Rhat's not fair!" he retorted.
"Life ain't fair you stupid dog! And since you and that other stupid dog help make the mess, you both can sleep out here!" Eustace lectured.
"Rhat? Rut-" Scooby protested, but Eustace beat him to the punch.
"No arguments. As long as you all live under MY roof, I will treat you as you ACT. Do you understand?" he said angrily.
The cowardly trio sighed, gazing down at their feet and paws, bowing in submission and simply said in unison, "Yes/Res."
Eustace nodded and said, "Good. Clean up this mess and then come inside." With that he walked past then and left the barn making Courage whine.
"I'm sorry I got you in trouble guys," Courage said, he felt shame burning through his fur.
"Rit's okay Rourage," Scooby said with sympathy, nudging his friend's soft fur.
"Like yeah, it's not your fault," indignation surged through Shaggy.
"But me and the Hunchback made the mess, you guys didn't do anything wrong!" Courage protested. It's not fair! They don't deserve this!
"Ro, we didn't want the Hunchback to get discovered," Scooby said, he swallowed hard.
"Like, it was for to greater little pink dude," Shaggy murmured. But like, it's not an easy pill to swallow. "I'm gonna clean up you guys, you check on our friend."
The two dogs nodded climbed up back to the ladder and to the loft. Shaggy grabbed a pitchfork off the wall, with his head down feeling more miserable and disgraced with each scooping the spilled hay back onto the pile. Thankfully he was able to scrape most of it back into the stack and before long he had it back together again. I can't believe this is happening!
Up in the loft, the Hunchback was sitting on the haystack looking concerned for the two dogs. "He treats you so badly, one shouldn't act unkindly to others."
Courage went to the haystack and sat down by the Hunchback. "You had no idea," he replied as he layed his head down on the hay, he wished he could sink to the haystack and disappeared.
"Re always does this to us," Scooby mumbled as he sat down on the ground by the little pink beagle. "Re always bullies us almost everyday, mostly to Rourage." He felt even worse that he even got his best friend and owner into trouble.
The Hunchback took a flashlight that was by the haystack turned it on and put his hands by the light. "Look, look."
Scooby and Courage looked up and saw a shadow that looks like Eustace.
"Stupid dog," the Hunchback imitated.
Scooby and Courage couldn't help but laughed.
"Rey, that was pretty good," Scooby chuckled.
Courage suppressed a snicker, "That's the farmer all right."
The Hunchback chuckled, "That's better. You try," he urged to Courage.
Courage took his turn and try to make a shadow puppet. The one he was making now was of a bunny that suddenly turned into multiple bunnies.
Back down, Shaggy climbed the ladder up to the loft and smiled at the sight. Next was the Eiffel Tower in Paris, after that was a butterfly and frog and the trio burst out laughing when the frog ate the butterfly. The three watched for another minute, laughing at each shadow.
Shaggy decided he should head back right now before his Uncle comes back to the barn. "Like guys, I need to go before my uncle the angry old dude comes back." He sighed, he wasn't looking forward to sleep in the basement for a week.
Scooby and Courage walked up to their friend.
"Rit's okay Raggy, tomorrow we'll sleep with you in the basement," Scooby offered, as he brushed up against Shaggy comfortably.
"What? Like, I can't let you dudes do that," Shaggy protested, he didn't want his friends to forced themselves to do they don't want to. "This is like my punishment, not yours."
"No Shaggy, this is our fault too," Courage insisted, consolingly. "We're all gonna get through this together."
Shaggy smiled at the two dogs, feeling a surge of gratitude. He couldn't ask for better friends than those two, (well besides Fred, Daphne and Velma.) "Thanks guys."
Shaggy walked into the house, thankfully not to his uncle but his aunt instead who was walking back up from the basement. She frowned as she looked at her nephew. Shaggy was silent, looking down at his shoes, the awkward silence stretched out for a few heartbeats.
"Sorry about this dear. I did try to talk him out of it, even got him with my rolling pin, but he was insistent on punishment. You know there's no talking anything out of him," Muriel said solemnly.
Like you're right, there isn't. Shaggy thought miserably and spoke in a low voice, "Like, thanks anyway. I did kinda make a mess in the barn though and like, I can't blame him for being mad about that."
"I set ya up a cot in the basement. Even got ya some extra blankets to keep ya warm. Basement's going to be cold tonight," Muriel said.
"Like, thanks," Shaggy said gratefully, noting how cold he still was. "Where's Uncle Eustace right now?"
"He had to go into town on an errand. I recommend getting ready for bed before he gets back because he was still pretty mad when he left," Muriel suggested, as she walked out of the room.
Shaggy took his aunt's advice and did as he recommended. He got cleaned up and dressed for bed. His uncle was just getting home as he was was standing in the living room and he still looked pretty mad as he was getting out of his truck. So he decided now would be the best time to slip downstairs. He stepped down the stairs and sat down on the cot that sat in a corner of the basement. The basement itself was rather bleak looking. With a concrete floor and very few items spread around the place like the furnace, a few boxes and a nightstand by the bed.
He shivered in fright as he wrapped his hands around his arms, both out of fear and the cold air. He could hear his uncle walking around up above and could hear him getting a little worked up as he started raising his voice. He slipped his slippers off of his feet and lied back in bed, wrapping a blanket around his and letting the warmth of the blankets comfort him. He turned out a lamp on the nightstand and listened to the sounds of the basement.
Mostly it was just quiet, but given enough time he could hear a rumble come from the furnace and a creak from the stairs as they settled. It was all so eerily and creepy at the same time. Shaggy was trembling too much from fear. He pulled the blanket over his head, his hands shaking uncontrollably, hoping it might serve as some type of protection. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds it made. All he could do was hope that Scooby and Courage would be alright out in the barn tonight with the Hunchback to keep company. Oh how he wished they're nestled with him right now.
The very next morning, Shaggy quietly came up the stairs and was pleased to see that it was just his aunt in the kitchen right now. He crept upstairs and noticed that his uncle was still in bed as he passed his bedroom door. He did NOT want to have to deal with him this early after last night. So he quietly slipped past his room and up to his. He dressed for the day and rejoined his aunt in the kitchen. The aroma of pancakes tickled his nose, making his mouth water as his aunt cooked some pancakes.
"Like, morning aunt Muriel," Shaggy greeted his aunt.
Muriel smiled at him said, "Morning dear. Did you sleep well down in the basement."
Shaggy sighed, he was drowsy due to having only having a hour to sleep. He took a seat at the table and said, "I guess so. Like, that place still gives me the creeps."
Muriel came over, set a tower of pancakes on his plate and said, "Sorry about sleeping down there."
Shaggy shrugged, yawning from the restless night of sleep and said, "Like, It's just for a few nights."
It was about here that the backdoor opened and Courage and Scooby walked back into the house, their noses sniffling and following the delicious smell of pancakes. Muriel smiled as she saw them and patted Courage on the head as he stood by the table.
"Oh boys, I was afraid you'd get wet and cold out in the barn all night," Muriel said, joyfully and then returned to the stove. "You're just in time for breakfast."
"Ray!" Scooby cheered enthusiastically, breakfast was one of his favorite times of the day.
Courage giggled, "Relax Scooby, Muriel's not gonna starve you."
The door opened again the hunchbacked man peeking into the kitchen through the door, with a sad expression on his face. Shaggy saw him and gave him a friendly little wave. Muriel looked to the door.
"Come in, come in," Muriel insisted as she offered him a seat at the breakfast table across from Shaggy. "A friend of Scooby and Courage is always welcome here."
The man gratefully took a seat across from Shaggy and Courage and Scooby took the seats next to him. Muriel went back to the stove to serve up the pancakes and said, "I was so worried boys. But I'm happy now."
She came back over with the plates of pancakes and set them down in front of the three who began digging into them hungrily.
"Rid you sleep well Raggy?" Scooby asked, as he took a bite of one of the pancakes.
"Like yeah, I slept okay," Shaggy replied, feeling a little fatigued.
The two dogs looked concerned over their friend's well being, they're worried of how Shaggy is going to go through this for a week. It was then that the two dogs and the teen could hear more footsteps approaching the kitchen from the dining room. Eustace came walking into the kitchen and screamed at the sight of the hunchbacked man, causing Shaggy, Scooby, Courage and the Hunchback to cringe at the sound of his scream. Muriel even turned to Eustace with a gasp.
Courage bit his lip, "Uh-oh."
Eustace came storming over to the table pointing at the Hunchback and raged, "Didn't I tell you we got no place for the likes of you? Now get and stay out."
Muriel came over to Eustace to put in her two cents and scolded, "Now Eustace, he's Courage and Scooby's friend."
"That makes it worse," Eustace retorted which got him glares from Muriel and Shaggy.
Muriel tried to cool her demeanor and said, "Now Eustace, don't make a fuss. Sit down and eat your breakfast. I'll even get those little blueberries you like so much."
Eustace grumbled irritably as he complied and took a seat near Courage. Just as he sat down, he began going off on the poor man again. "You know how you spell ugly?" he asked with a wicked smirk on his face as he began pointing at the poor man. "U! You! You! You! You! You! You!"
The man looked down and defeated until a small furry paw popped up from under the table. Scooby and Shaggy looked at each other in confusion. They both looked under the table to see Courage giggling and writing something on little slips of paper and then handing it up to the Hunchback. The two friends smiled as they're prepared to see where this was going.
The Hunchback put on some reading glasses as he read off the note. "And you sir are extremely bald," he said and then crossed his arms.
Eustace babbled in anger as Courage laughed and continued writing down on the slips of paper. Shaggy and Scooby even smiled at the old man's misfortune. He was making his nephew sleep in the basement this week, so any misery for him was amusing to Shaggy currently.
"Oh yeah!" Eustace mocked as the smirk returned to his face. "Well YOU look like something the cow spit up."
Courage handed the Hunchback another slip of paper that the Hunchback read off, "And you sir are extremely bald."
Eustace was now steaming in anger and began having trouble coming up with a good retort. Shaggy let out a laugh and Eustace turned to him angrily.
"Want to spend next week in the basement as well?" he asked angrily.
Shaggy immediately shut up, as Scooby put his paws on his master's shoulder for comfort and glared at the old man.
Eustace began his next shot. "The only thing uglier than this," he said in a mocking tone as he held a round handheld mirror to the man and then pulled out a square one. "Is this."
He chuckled at his own joke as Courage handed off another slip of paper to the Hunchback.
"Are you bald?" the Hunchback mocked asking. "Yes!"
Scooby snickered at that last note. By now, Eustace was done. He growled as he stood up from the table and raised his fist. It was here that Muriel returned with a large bowl full of blueberries. She did not look happy to see him acting up.
"Eustace, do you have no sense of hospitality?" she asked.
And with a goofy smile, Eustace responded with, "Nope."
Muriel then placed the bowl of berries into Eustace's hands and said, "Well then, you can take your breakfast and eat it in the hen house."
Eustace muttered glumly as he went to the door and pointed out, "But... but... he called me bald."
Muriel smiled at Eustace's misfortune as she reminded him, "Eustace, you ARE bald."
Eustace stomped on the ground and said angrily, "Well keep him out of MY sight." He stepped outside into the still pouring rain.
"Now why don't you four go out and play?" Muriel suggested to Shaggy, Scooby, Courage and the Hunchback.
The rest of the day passed rather uneventfully. The cowardly trio and the Hunchback spent the entire day either playing in the rain or going into the barn to play with the bells again. The only time they really came inside was for some lunch, but not much else. Eustace even stayed quiet for most of the day, mainly because he stayed inside and away from the Hunchback. As the sun went down, the rain still poured, Muriel has decided to join the others outside to see Courage and Hunchback played bells, with Shaggy and Scooby. Muriel had taken her rocking chair outside and Shaggy and Scooby had set up an umbrella to keep them dry.
They looked up as they listened to the sweet sound of the bells and watched as Courage and the Hunchback played them as they had the night before. Never the same bell twice in a row and keeping harmony with one another. There was no other way to describe the sound other than pure heavenly bliss. But then Shaggy and Scooby turned their heads and saw Eustace approaching in the darkness.
"Ruh-oh," Scooby said nervously, as he approached.
He stepped up to them and demanded, "What do you think you three are doing?"
Shaggy gasped as he saw Eustace "Like, Uncle Eustace, I-" only four letters came out of his mouth and his body shook with anxiety.
Muriel beat him to the punch and said, "Enjoying the concert. Get your chair."
"Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!" Shaggy whimpered as his uncle looked up at the duo as they took a bow.
Eustace pointed up the two in anger and yelled, "That thing and my raincoat!" He dashed inside the barn and began climbing up to the roof.
"Uncle Eustace no!" Shaggy screamed out and tried running after him, but Scooby grabbed him by the shirt.
"Raggy wait, it's too dangerous!" Scooby's voice muffled through his shirt.
"But like Scoob, they're in trouble!" Shaggy argued, his mind was reeling, he couldn't just stand here and watch the conformation up on the roof!
"RI'll go!" Scooby told him, determination ran through him, as he took off running to the barn, up the ladder to the roof.
Eustace climbed out onto the roof and confronted the duo. Courage gasped in fear and sweated nervously, as he saw Eustace approaching them.
"Get your ugliness out of my coat!" Eustace hollered, rage building up inside of him.
The hunchback complied and slid the coat off his body and handed it over to Eustace, who swiped it roughly out of the poor man's hand.
"That's it!" Eustace yelled angrily and pointed to the horizon. "Now you just keep walking til I can't see you no more."
Scooby came up through the window, just to see the scene uphold. He saw the amount of water pouring off the shingles of the barn, he could see how dangerous the situation was getting.
Stomach hollowing with dread, Courage turned to face Eustace, the grumpy old farmer stared at him exasperation glittering in his gaze. Hanging his head, Courage prepared for his punishment.
Eustace stared Courage down and his gaze was as hard as ice said, "You stupid dog! It's ALWAYS your fault!"
The growl began to build up in Scooby's throat, but then he stop as he watched the three on the roof, as the rain was poring even harder now.
Courage looked down and whined, his paws felt shaky, but Eustace wasn't done with him yet.
"Look at me," Eustace said still angered.
Courage did just that and as soon as he did his heart in his throat, Eustace pulled the popping out eye gag once more. Courage screamed in terror and began backing towards the edge of the barn roof, almost falling off the edge, an instant shriek left his mouth. Scooby felt his heart pounding in his chest as he watched. He had to get over there and save Courage from falling off! Especially once Courage slipped and was clinging to the roof to keep himself from falling.
Courage caught a glimpse of Scooby, his eyes wild with panic, terror shrilling through every hair on Courage's fur. He dug his claws, clinging for dear life, he struggled to drag himself along it to the safety on top of the roof, but the force of the water streaming on the rooftop held in his place. He felt as though the rain was sucking him and clung him harder.
"Rourage!" Scooby shrieked, then his fear disappeared at what Eustace was doing to poor Courage, he wouldn't let Eustace get away with this. First he forced Shaggy to sleep in that cold and cruel basement and now, he is mocking Courage, as he hang on for dear life. Eustace had gone too far this time, he wouldn't let him do this anymore!
The Hunchback also, was not about to leave yet. He turned back to Eustace and this time, it was HIS and Scooby's turn to make the confrontation.
"What did that little dog ever do to you?" the Hunchback demanded angrily and he and Scooby began walking towards Eustace.
Eustace began back up from the approach and groveled, "I... I told you to get."
But Scooby and the Hunchback didn't stop as they continued their approach and their tirade against the old farmer.
"Rhat goes around comes around," Scooby's voice shook with rage.
"Do you really want to see ugly?" the Hunchback said angrily.
Eustace backed up even further and was now standing on the edge of the roof, stammering now as he had now lost control of the situation. He didn't get to answer as the Hunchback pulled out his trump card.
He reached behind his back, putting on a mask that looked just like Eustace and said, "Stupid dog."
Eustace screamed at the sight of his own ugly nature and backed up even further, until he lost his footing and fell from the roof, grabbing onto the edge of it to try to pull himself up as he screamed for help. Courage managed to pull himself up to the roof proper and he, Scooby and the Hunchback reached down to try to pull Eustace up. But due to the slick rain, he quickly lost his grip and fell from the roof. Shaggy watched as his uncle fell. He braced himself as he opened his arms and his uncle slammed into him as he fell to Shaggy, sending them both to the ground.
"Eustace!" Muriel said in alarm. "Are you alright?"
Eustace began to groan from the pain of the fall, a more pained groan than usual. Shaggy helped him back up to his feet, but his groans wouldn't stop as he got back up. But as he tried to walk, he'd limp slightly.
Muriel took hold of him and said, "Come on Eustace. Let's get you inside and I'll call the doctor."
Shaggy looked up to see Scooby, Courage and the Hunchback looking glum.
About an hour later, the rainstorm finally let up. The doctor had come and gone already. He had assured them that Eustace would be just fine as he had simply sprained his back in the fall and that it would have been worse if his nephew hadn't caught him. A few days in bed would be enough to do him some good. The fall even may have been the lesson Eustace had really needed, because as soon as he was lucid again, he ended Shaggy's punishment and told him he could move back into the attic. Shaggy was thankful for this, but as he looked out the window he could tell that not everything was in good spirits. Scooby, Courage and the Hunchback stood out in the yard, still looking glum.
The Hunchback stood with Scooby and Courage and said, "I think it's time I left."
But as he turned to leave, Courage latched onto his arm for a second. "Please don't go."
"Reah, we like having you around," Scooby added looking at the Hunchback in alarm, not wanting their new friend to leave.
As the Hunchback turned back to him, he was still looking glum, there was no way of changing his mind. Courage pulled out the tiny bell again and rang it for him. The Hunchback laughed merrily and then, he pulled out a giant bell from nowhere and rang it once with a loud ring. This caused the three of them to start laughing. Muriel stood with Shaggy and smiled at the sight of the three friends enjoying one lest bell session together. As soon as their laughter died down, the Hunchback wandered out into the road and looked to them one last time.
"Thank you for showing me kindness. I hope I find more people like you out there," The Hunchback said.
"I'm sure you will," Muriel reassured as he turned to continue his journey.
"You keep thinking positive dude," Shaggy added, with a grin.
"Roodbye mister Runchback," Scooby said, as he waved.
"We'll never forget you," Courage said happily, as he waved goodbye to his friend.
And with that, the hunchback turned back to the road and walked off, chuckling into the night.