It was late afternoon, the family gathered in their cozy living room, seeking refuge from the approaching twilight. The flickering glow of the television screen illuminated their faces as they immersed themselves in a macabre cinematic experience. A low-budget horror movie featuring ghastly creatures and jump scares unfolded before their eyes, eliciting a mixture of amusement and trepidation. Muriel was outside doing laundry, meanwhile, Shaggy, was in the kitchen, preparing a culinary masterpiece for his hungry companions.
Courage trembled uncontrollably on the sofa, his wide eyes fixed upon the gruesome images flickering on the screen. His diminutive frame shook with primal fear, his tail tucked tightly between his legs. Scooby sat beside him, offering gentle pats and soothing words to alleviate his best friend's distress.
Muriel came back from outside and sit on her rocking chair. Courage's fear dissipated momentarily. With a bound, he leaped from the sofa and nestled himself in her lap, finding solace in the presence of his beloved owner.
Just as Courage's eyelids began to droop in slumber, a sudden and unexpected sound reverberated through the house: a sharp knock on the front door. The intruding noise startled Courage awake, his ears standing erect on his head as he anxiously awaited the unknown.
From the kitchen, the faint voice of Shaggy drifted into the living room, "Could someone get that? I can't leave the soup."
"I'll get it," Muriel volunteered, curious as she got up from her chair before heading to the door.
Courage and Scooby's curiosity was piqued by a sudden commotion at the door. Together, they cautiously approached, their hearts pounding with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. As they opened the door, a blinding flash engulfed them, leaving them momentarily disoriented.
"Hey!" Courage exclaimed, rubbing his blurry eyes.
"Rook a present," Scooby he exclaimed, his tail wagging excitedly.
"YAY!" Courage cheered, shared his friend's enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
A surge of joy coursed through the dogs veins as they realized the discovery.
"I don't know who it's for, Courage and Scooby, but you boys can open it if you want," Muriel told them.
Scooby and Courage couldn't contain their excitement any longer. With a chorus of "Yes!/Res!" that reverberated through the air, they carefully carried the mysterious gift inside, their hearts pounding with a mix of wonder and anticipation. As they placed it on the living room floor, they couldn't resist taking a closer look at the intricate paper and ribbon that adorned it, their minds racing with possibilities of what treasures it might hold within.
Courage, his tail wagging with anticipation, began to delicately untie the ribbon, the excitement bubbling over in his chest.
Shaggy, entering the living room, saw the present, his voice a mix of excitement and trepidation. "Like, somebody got a present. Who do you think sent it?" he asked, his eyes widening as he noticed the present the gift the two dogs had received.
"Re don't know," Scooby simply replied.
Courage's patience wearing thin, couldn't contain his excitement any longer. "Scooby come on, I wanna see let's inside!" he urged, his paws practically vibrating with eagerness. His patience finally snapped, and with a triumphant yelp, Courage tore the gift wrap off, revealing the contents.
'Row! Ra magic kit!' Scooby cheered, his voice a booming roar as he recognized the gift.
Courage's eyes wide with wonder, simply breathed, "This is amazing."
"Oh, boys, isn't it exciting?" Muriel said, clapping her hands.
"It sure is, Aunt Muriel," Shaggy replied, his mind drifting back to their adventures at Whirlen Merlin Magic Academy. "Scoob and I have been solving mysteries with the gang, and we've even gotten into a little magic ourselves. Let's show 'em what we've got!"
"Rood idea, Raggy!" Scooby chimed in, eagerly reaching for a magician's hat.
With a confident swagger, Shaggy announced, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I present the amazing Courage and Scooby-Doo!'
Courage, with a penchant for the dramatic, strutted onto the stage, a wand clutched in his paw. "For my first trick," he declared, his voice filled with confidence, "I will turn this wand into a bouquet of flowers!" With a flourish, he waved the wand around, expecting the magical transformation. But instead of flowers, the rod morphed into a bouquet of fish. A surprised, then sheepish, chuckle escaped Courage's lips. "Let me try again," he muttered, his confidence taking a slight dip. "Abracadabra. Alakazam. Presto!" He closed his eyes, muttering the incantation under his breath, and waved the fish around with a newfound determination. This time, as if guided by an unseen hand, the fish transformed into a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a triumphant smile spreading across Courage's face.
Scooby watched the entire spectacle unfold with wide, expressive eyes, his tail wagging in approval.
"For you, Muriel," Courage offered, beaming with pride as he presented the flowers to his owner,
"Oh! Wasn't that wonderful, Eustace?" Muriel said, as she took a big whiff of the flowers.
"Big deal," Eustace mocked, while folding his arms.
Scooby, with his characteristic speech impediment, uttered, "Ry turn," as he skillfully shuffled a deck of cards. He approached Shaggy, extending an invitation, "Rick a card, any card."
Shaggy, after a moment of contemplation, selected the King of Diamonds, declaring, "That one."
Scooby embarked on a series of swift shuffles, eventually presenting Shaggy with a five of Hearts. 'Ris this your card?' he inquired.
"No," Shaggy replied.
"RIs this your card?" Scooby asked, as he pulled out a 10 Club Card.
"No," Shaggy replied again.
To Shaggy's astonishment, Scooby then retrieved the King of Diamonds, deftly pulling it from behind Shaggy's ear."Whoa!" he exclaimed, marveling at Scooby's uncanny ability.
With a mischievous smirk, Scooby asked, "Ris this your card?"
Shaggy, unable to contain his amusement, grinned and replied, "Like, that is definitely my card."
"Scooby, that was incredible!" Courage exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement as he watched Scooby's latest trick. "How on earth did you manage to pull that off?"
Scooby chuckled, his floppy ears twitching with pride. "RA magician never reveals his tricks," he replied mysteriously, a playful twinkle in his eyes.
Courage's curiosity grew, but he nodded, understanding the secrecy surrounding the world of magic. A moment later, Scooby leaned in close, his voice barely a whisper in Courage's brown and black ear. "RI'll tell you later," he said, his words tantalizingly vague.
ourage's heart skipped a beat, filled with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. He couldn't wait to hear the secrets behind Scooby's extraordinary magic.
"You are quite the magician Scooby and Courage. Don't you think so Eustace?" Muriel asked her husband.
"Big deal," Eustace mocked, while folding his arms.
Scooby and Courage whined dejectedly, their tails drooping at the lack of appreciation. Shaggy, ever protective of his furry companions, glared at Eustace, his brow furrowed.
"Hey, I got a trick for you, dogs. Make yourselves disappear along with the Shaggy-haired-fella," Eustace mocked, while laughing.
"Like, why don't we make Eustace's chair and TV disappear," Shaggy retorted, his voice laced with annoyance.
"Along with his attitude," Courage muttered under his breath, his tiny voice filled with a surprising amount of venom.
"You leave me chair and TV out of this boy!" Eustace yelled.
"That's enough Eustace," Muriel scolded.
Eustace just folded his arms and grumbled in annoyance.
"Ah, Courage and Scooby, just show Eustace your biggest trick. He'll have to be impressed," Muriel suggested.
Courage looked at Scooby, 'Oh, alright, come on Scooby,' he said, his voice trembling slightly.
"Right behind you Rourage," Scooby agreed, his tongue lolling happily.
The two dogs bring out the box that saids 'Your biggest trick.'
"Huh, the box even says your biggest trick," Shaggy pointed out, his voice laced with curiosity.
Courage, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, reached out and lifted the lid of the chest
"Abracadabra. Alakazam. Presto/Rbracadabra. Rlakazam. Rresto!" Courage and Scooby chanted.
However this revealed a swirling vortex of shimmering pink light, flecked with glittering stars. The sight sent both dogs into a frenzy, their terrified yelps echoing through the room. Scooby and Courage, in a display of primal fear, abandoned the box and bolted towards Shaggy, seeking sanctuary behind his trembling form. They huddled, whimpering, their eyes wide with terror as the pink light intensified, swirling into a vortex that erupted into a blinding flash. A thick cloud of smoke billowed out, engulfing the room in an opaque haze. Panic gripped the trio, but the smoke was a deceptive illusion, dissipating as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind only the lingering scent of magic and a palpable sense of unease.
In front of the family were two ladies dancing with strange white tigers roaring next to them, and if the family weren't so surprised by their sudden appearance, they would have noticed the lights going out and the sounds of a cheering audience coming from all around them.
Courage gasped.
"Oh, my," Muriel said, shocked.
Shaggy, perpetually caught between fear and fascination, could only manage a bewildered, "Zoinks!"
The family saw the ladies dance for a few more seconds before bringing their fans together, they smiled before pulling their fans back to reveal a tall man that wasn't there a moment ago.
"Oh!" Muriel exclaimed, with astonishment.
Scooby, his eyes wide with amazement, exclaimed, "Rit's the guy from the box!"
The man made some hand gestures, and from out of nowhere, a bag filled with sparkling, glowing dust appeared in his other hand. He then grabbed a handful of the dust before throwing it into the air.
A collective gasp escaped Courage's lips as he witnessed the dust vanishing into oblivion, leaving no trace behind, "Did he just make all that disappear?"
Shaggy, his voice thick with awe, uttered, "Like, no way."
"That was the best trick I ever saw." Muriel said, shocked. "How ever did you do it?"
"Trick? I don't do tricks, I do magic," the man said, sounding mildly insulted.
A chorus of astonished exclamations erupted from Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage, their voices a symphony of amazement. "Whoa/Rhoa!" they uttered in unison, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and disbelief. The man's words had shattered their preconceived notions, revealing a realm of the impossible that they had never imagined.
"HA!" Eustace interjected, "It's all done with mirrors."
"Mirrors?" the man asked, "I am the amazing Mondo."
"Then show me something amazing,"Eustace challenged.
"Please forgive, Eustace, he doesn't appreciate true magic as me and my nephew do," Muriel apologized.
Smiling, Mondo summoned the bag again before walking up and kneeling next to Scooby and Courage.
"Remember, kids, it's all in the presentation," Mondo told the two dogs, before standing up, he then grabbed some dust before throwing it into the air.
"Huh?/Ruh?" Courage and Scooby blurted out in unison, their heads tilting in confusion as the dust enveloped them, whisking them away to the center of the room.
Courage let out a gasp as a brilliant spotlight blazed above them, momentarily blinding them before expanding its warm glow to encompass Mondo.
"Row did we….?" the Great Dane he began, his voice thick with uncertainty.
"….get here?" Courage finished his sentence, his normally wide eyes stretched even further, reflecting the disorientation of their unexpected journey.
He then pulled out a giant red cape from his costume before giving it to Scooby. The the Great Dane's brow furrowing in confusion. Mondo, sensing Scooby's uncertainty, simply pointed to the cape's edges, motioning for the dog to grab hold. Scooby, ever eager to please, dutifully obeyed, his tail wagging hesitantly.
Nodding, Mondo grabbed some dust before throwing it behind the cape, and then, with the sounds of drums coming from nowhere, Mondo ripped the cape from Scooby's paws to reveal a baby giraffe behind it.
"Row," Scooby said, his voice laced with surprise, his normally floppy ears standing straight up in wonder.
Shaggy's heart melted at the baby animal's cuteness, and he couldn't help but exclaim,"Aww, what a cute little baby giraffe!"
"Isn't that lovely?" Muriel said, as she clapped, along with Shaggy.
Suddenly a tiger leaped out of the giraffe's mouth, revealing that it was only a suit.
"ZOINKS!" Shaggy shouted, his voice echoing with shock.
Scooby let out a frantic "RIKES!"
Courage gasped, found himself completely overwhelmed, his eyes widening in terror before falling out of his head and rolling across the floor, his body before his body simply gave out, collapsing onto the ground in a heap. Temporarily lifeless and hollow.
"Mirrors," Eustace complained, not believing it.
Smirking, Mondo placed the cape on the tiger before throwing some more dust on it, with a poof happening a second later. Scooby and Courage, their curiosity piqued, cautiously approached, their eyes wide with anticipation. As Mondo dramatically pulled the cape away, their jaws dropped in disbelief. The tiger was gone, replaced by a delicate white dove.
"I may not like birds," Courage admitted, his voice trembling with amazement, "But that was impressive."
Scooby, equally astonished, could only manage a dazed "Reah, impressive."
Shaggy was completely captivated, muttering "Like, that was totally cool," as he watched the dove preen its feathers.
"Oh, oh!" Muriel gasped, while clapping her hands.
"Eh!" Eustace shouted, not impressed and still thinking Mondo was only using mirrors.
Courage was piquing curiosity. He longed to peek inside, to understand how Mondo conjured such impossible feats, yet a primal fear held him back.
"Now, I will require an assistant," Mondo declared, while putting away the dust.
Shaggy, ever the reluctant participant, shot back a quick, "Like, sorry, I'm not interested," his voice laced with a mixture of nervousness and relief. He might have been impressed with the show, but the thought of becoming a part of it, especially with magic involved, sent shivers down his spine. He vividly imagined the ways things could go wrong, visions of himself being sawed in half or turned into a rabbit flashing before his eyes.
"I've always wanted to-" Muriel began, getting out of her seat, but Mondo interrupted her.
"Not you. I have something else up my sleeve for you," Mondo told her, before turning to Eustace. "How about you?"
"I don't do no illusions!" Eustace shouted.
"Oh, go ahead, Eustace," Muriel encouraged, causing Eustace to grumble.
"Maybe, you can poof me up one of those big-screen TVs, I want to feel like I'm part of the action," Eustace suggested, mockingly.
As if on cue, the lights turned off, with the spotlight reappearing as Mondo took out his bag again. He then took a pinch of the dust and threw it above Eustace, where he disappeared instantly, A gasp escaped Courage's throat as his eyes widened, bloodshot and filled with panic.
"Eustace! Where'd you go?" Muriel shouted, hoping to get an answer.
Shaggy, his face pale and his voice echoing with concern, turned to Mondo, his question tinged with accusation. "Like, what have you done to my uncle?" His eyes darted nervously around the room, searching for any trace of Eustace, a sense of dread settling over him like a thick fog.
"Your uncle is right about here," Mondo answered, as he turn on the TV.
The TV turned on with Eustace appearing on screen.
"HEY! WHERE AM I!?" Eustace's muffled voice demanded, "HEY! I'm in the TV!" he shouted, banging on the screen. Only to stop and smile when he finally realized his situation. "Hey, I'm in the TV."
*RING RING RING*
"I think I know what show this is," Courage spoke, a concerned look spread across his furry face, his eyes darting around the brightly lit television set.
"What's that?" Shaggy asked the pink beagle, tilted his head inquisitively
"Wrestling!" Courage shouted.
And Courage was right as the camera pulled back to reveal that Eustace was in a wrestling ring.
"Sir Flabalot looks angry," the announcer said, as the camera moved to Eustace's opponent.
And the opponent was a giant muscular man that looked like he could crush a car with his bare hands.
"Uh-oh," Eustace said before running away in fear.
Flabalot gave chase and quickly caught Eustace before bringing him into a headlock.
"This looks like it's curtains for the farmer," the announcer declared as Eustace tried to escape the lock with his nonexistent muscle.
Shaggy and Scooby were on the verge of witnessing the farmer's demise. However, their anticipation was abruptly cut short when Courage, with a quick flick of his wrist, extinguished the television screen.
"The farmer got what he wanted," Courage announced, his voice a solemn reminder of the ephemeral nature of fame.
Shaggy and Scooby exchanged amused glances, each uttering a fragment of the puzzle.
"He wanted to be on TV," Shaggy stated.
While Scooby concluded with a resounding "Row he is on TV."
"Now, for my next and final magical feat, I shall require the assistance of a lovely lady," Mondo said, his voice dripping with a theatricality that made Courage's fur stand on end. He walked up to Muriel and extending his hand.
"ME! Oh, my, I'd be glad to," Muriel said, taking his hand and allowing him to help her up.
"Oh-no," Courage whined, his tiny heart pounding against his ribs. He couldn't explain why, but something about this final act felt vastly different, almost sinister.
Shaggy, sensing his friend's unease, added an anxious, "Like, I don't think that's a good idea, Aunt Muriel."
Scooby nodded his agreement, his tail drooping nervously.
But Muriel, oblivious to the growing sense of dread, dismissed their concerns with a dismissive wave. "Oh, nonsense," she declared, her eyes sparkling with excitement, before turning back to Mondo, "Ready."
"Let's begin," Mondo said as he threw a small cloth onto Muriel's head.
Mondo then threw some dust onto her before removing the cloth, however, the cowardly trio became confused and concerned when nothing happened. Mondo then gave Muriel a handheld mirror
"Huh?" Courage inquired, his voice filled with bewilderment.
"Rothing happened," Scooby observed, his eyes wide with uncertainty.
"I don't see anything different," Muriel said, confused, before screaming in terror when her eye came out of her head and blinked in front of her. "HEAVENS!"
Horror and panic spread like wildfire through the room as Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage witnessed the macabre sight, Muriel!/Aunt Muriel!/Ruriel!"
"Hmm... I don't think I had anything like this before," Muriel said, confused while examining.
"That concludes tonight's show. You've been a delightful audience," Mondo said as the lights turned back on.
Shaggy, pale as a ghost, stepped forward, his voice trembling. "What did you do to my aunt?" he asked, anxiety edging into his words.
"What did you think kid? I did a magic trick on your sweet beloved aunt," Mondo answered, not caring.
"Well, just turn her back!" Courage implored, his voice laced with worry.
Scooby, overwhelmed by concern for the old lady, scrambled towards Mondo, tugging at the magician's billowing cape. "Rease!?" he whimpered, his eyes wide and pleading.
"Show's over kids, I've got to wet the old magic whistle," Mondo said, before leaving.
"Oh my!" Muriel said, shocked.
The suddenness of it, the sheer terror in her eyes, stopped Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage in their tracks. Turning to her, they witnessed the impossible. Muriel's left eye, usually twinkling, was now protruding from its socket, staring at them with an unnatural, wide-eyed horror.
"You don't understand, my Aunt Muriel is a human, not a monster," Shaggy choked out, despair lacing his voice.
As the three best friends, Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage, tugged on Mondo's flowing cape with all their might, a startling revelation unfolded before their very eyes. The cape gave way, unveiling a secret that sent shockwaves through their minds. To their utter astonishment, Mondo's true identity lay concealed beneath a MATSERFULLY CRAFTED DISGUISE. The trio stood frozen, their hearts pounding in their chests as they gazed upon Mondo's transformed appearance.
"A costume?" Courage squeaked a tremor of fear as he stared at the discarded disguise.
"Rhich means…" Scooby started, his voice catching in his throat as the horrifying realization dawned upon him.
Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage, eyes wide with terror, gazed upon the true form of Mondo. He resembled some MUTANT TURTLE with eyes similar to how Muriel's eyes currently were. The air crackled with an unsettling tension as the three friends stood frozen, the truth of the situation sinking in with a bone-chilling finality.
In a heart-stopping moment, the usually timid Courage screeched found himself consumed by fear as his heart literary pounded violently against his ribcage.
'The monsters we've encountered before were merely humans in disguise, but this... this is something else,' Shaggy uttered, his voice trembling with horror.
Panic washed over Scooby as he inquired, "Rho are you?"
"I am the great Mondo and this is my true form," Mondo introduced himself, sinisterly.
Courage's courage wavered as he posed the inevitable question, "Why are you doing this?" The air hung heavy with dread as Mondo's sinister intentions remained shrouded in mystery.
"By midnight tonight, the transformation will be complete," Mondo said while taking out a pocket watch to check the time, he then pocketed it before moving towards Muriel. "And I shall take her as my bride."
Shaggy, a faint flicker of defiance in his eyes, retorted, "You can't take her as your bride, she's married."
"Who cares? As long as that grouch is in the TV, your aunt will be all mine," Mondo argued back, to the frightful teen.
"Oh, Shaggy, Scooby, Courage, help me!" Muriel said, distraught.
Courage seized Muriel's hand and dragged her towards the front door, Shaggy and Scooby hot on their heels. Mondo's eyes flashed with predatory fury, and he let out a menacing growl that reverberated through the room.
Just as they were about to greet them, a deafening sneeze erupted from Muriel, sending a plume of fire shooting out of her nostrils. The two of them instinctively dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the searing blast. Poor Courage, however, wasn't as lucky. He stood frozen in place, the flames scorching his fur before he was engulfed in a cloud of smoke and ash.
Courage screamed with the smoke and ash coming off his body before running through the door and off into the distance, knowing that Shaggy and Scooby needed his help, they both reluctantly left Muriel with Mondo before chasing after Courage.
A few hours later, Muriel's body transformed more into the species that Mondo is.
"Oh my," Muriel said, with dismay.
"What do we do? What do we do?" Shaggy asked, frantic, his voice a high-pitched whine. He clutched Scooby, who whimpered in response.
"Re need a doctor," Scooby stated, his words muffled by the fear that was tightening his throat.
"On it," Courage quickly responded, pulling out a phone and dialing the number for Dr. Vindaloo, the only one who might know what to do in this bizarre situation.
"Dr Vindaloo?" the voice on the other side of the phone asked.
Courage howled loudly into the phone, his voice echoing across the plain. Before either Shaggy or Scooby could ask what Courage called, they all heard loud stomps rapidly approaching the trio. Looking down the road, the three saw an elephant racing down the road and stopping in front of them. Its trunk, massive and grey, reached out towards them
"One of you howled?" the voice of Dr. Vindaloo asked.
Courage, his small frame bouncing with anxiety, practically vibrated with worry. "Dr. Vindaloo, there's something wrong with Muriel!" he exclaimed, his voice squeaking with fear.
"Calm down gentlemen. Just tell me what's wrong," Dr Vindaloo said, calmly.
"Ruriel isn't herself," Scooby explained, his voice low and hesitant.
"What are you talking about?" Dr. Vindaloo asked.
"Like, we better show you quick," Shaggy answered, his voice trembling slightly as he grabbed the doctor's hand and dragged him towards the source of their concern and brought him to Muriel and Mondo.
"Here. Help! Help!" Courage exclaimed, his small body trembling as he and Scooby reached Muriel.
"Mm-Mmm," Dr. Vindaloo hummed as he examined Muriel before gasping, "UH! This looks like Black Magic. Nothing to worry about, nothing at all."
A wave of relief washed over the cowardly trio.
"Phew!" Shaggy sighed, wiping sweat from his brow.
Followed by Scooby's relieved "Rhat's a relief."
Courage echoed their sentiment, "That's good."
However, Dr. Vindaloo's next words shattered their fragile hope.
"But there's nothing I can do," Dr. Vindaloo said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh," Courage groaned, his small face crumpled with dismay.
Scooby's relief evaporated, "Rhat's not a relief."
Shaggy, his voice laced with worry, blurted out, "Then like, what are we supposed to do doctor dude?"
"Magic must be fought with magic. Oh, yes," Vindaloo said while raising his hand, in laughter, "That's a good one."
"Like, I was afraid of that," Shaggy uttered with a sigh, his voice laden with apprehension.
Before they could delve into further conversation, a ferocious growl from Mondo shattered their tranquility. A collective scream erupted from the cowardly trio as they witnessed Mondo unleash a mysterious powder from his bag. The powder enveloped Vindaloo, triggering a bizarre transformation. In an instant, the doctor vanished, his place taken by a head of lettuce.
"I am now a head of lettuce," Dr. Vindaloo announced, before bouncing away.
Courage's stomach lurched as beads of sweat trickled down his trembling form.
"Come, dear, let's head inside for some privacy," Mondo said, getting up.
"Oh, alright," Muriel said, following him inside the house.
"Ror once Rindaloo was a very helpful," Scooby commented, his tail wagging nervously.
"But still how are we gonna turn Muriel back without that creepy magician finding out? He'll never let her become human," Courage pointed out, his beady eyes darting from one shadow to another.
"I got it, all we have to do is use magic to turn Aunt Muriel back to normal," Shaggy decided swiftly, his voice laced with a nervous bravado. "Come on," the teenager and Scooby headed back towards the front door of the house, their steps quick and determined.
Courage, despite his apprehension, couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. "The things I do for love," he mumbled to himself as he followed Shaggy and Scooby, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation. They had to succeed, for Muriel's sake. They had to undo the curse.
Inside the house, it was 11 to midnight. The weight of their predicament pressed down upon them as they realized that only one fleeting hour remained before Muriel's fate would be sealed forever in the clutches of the sinister Mondo. Trembling with a mix of fear and determination, the trio sought refuge behind the couch,
"This all feels just so wrong," Muriel explained in dismay as her hands transformed before crying, "OH, NO!"
"We are getting closer, dear, only one more hour until you are mine forever," Mondo told her.
"Alright," Muriel said, giving up on any hope of returning to normal.
"HEY! HEY!" Eustace shouted, getting everyone's attention.
"Eustace?" Muriel asked, surprised.
"HEY! OH! HEY!" Eustace shouted.
Taking a peek around the couch, Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage were met with a sight that caused even their usual anxieties to momentarily fade. The TV, usually tuned to something far less thrilling than the current program, was broadcasting the racing channel with Eustace on the track. Mondo and Muriel giggled at Eustace's unfortunate but well-deserved luck, even Shaggy and Scooby, known for their usual cowardice, couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle at Eustace's well-deserved bad luck.
Courage, however, was quick to silence their amusement, his small form radiating a concerned urgency. "Guys, focus," he implored, his voice serious despite his diminutive size. "If we don't turn Muriel back to normal before midnight, she'll be trapped as a monster forever."
Shaggy, momentarily snapped out of his amusement, stammered, "Oh, right," his voice barely audible as he cleared his throat,
While Scooby simply offered a sheepish grin and a mumbled, "Rorry."
Courage sighed, not at his friends' forgetfulness, but at the weight of their mission. Rolling his eyes, he promptly focused on the task at hand, tossing a cloth over Muriel's head before brandishing his wand with renewed determination. "Alakazam. Hocus pocus," he chanted, his small paws waving the wand with a fervor that belied his size, hoping to conjure the magic needed to save the elderly woman.
But as the cloth fell away, a wave of despair washed over him. Muriel was still in her monster transformation, her face contorted with fury, let out a roar that shook the very ground. Before Courage could even react, she slapped him hard, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"Courage!/Rourage!" Scooby and Shaggy, their voices echoing with concern, raced towards Courage, their sudden appearance catching Mondo and Muriel off guard.
"Get real, kids. I am the greatest magician in the world!" Mondo boldly declared.
Courage whimpered, his spirit crushed, until his eyes fell upon the magical bag Mondo had carelessly left nearby. A spark ignited within him, a glimmer of hope. "Greatest magician in the world eh? Wait until you see US preform." He challenged, a newfound determination hardening his voice.
"Reah, greatest," Scooby affirmed, his head nodding with conviction, echoing Courage's newfound resolve.
"Aha!" Courage exclaimed, his voice bursting with mischievous glee. With a flourish, he presented Shaggy with an extra top hat.
The cowardly trio, their faces painted with silly grins, swiftly donned the hats in unison, each movement synchronized with a burst of laughter. Over and over, they repeated the comical routine, their hats bobbing and weaving in front of their faces. Mondo watched in disbelief.
Courage, remembering the enigmatic words Scooby had uttered earlier, responded with a sly grin, "A magician never reveals its secrets."
"Rou should know that since you're a magician yourself," Scooby pointed out, his words laced with a touch of irony.
The trio erupted in laughter as they continued their inexplicable trick, leaving Mondo bewildered and utterly perplexed.
"Amazing," Mondo said, astounded while taking out a mirror, he then tried to do what we did but with his hand instead of a hat, only to become frustrated when he didn't see any change. "How do they do that?"
"Now," Courage whispered conspiratorially to his best friends.
They exchanged knowing nods, each stealthily taking a handful of the precious dust lying in front of them.
"HEY!" Mondo began, before realizing that they stole some of his dust. "Don't you dare!"
"Rohh, we dare," Scooby challenged, his voice barely a whimper as Courage had already launched a handful of dust towards Muriel, the trio's guardian figure. Suddenly, their eyes widened in astonishment as Muriel underwent a startling transformation, her form shrinking and contorting into the sharp, prickly outline of a cactus.
"Oops," Courage uttered, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
Mondo, however, growled before grabbing some dust and transforming Muriel back to her previous form. Undeterred, Shaggy followed suit, aiming a handful of dust at Muriel. However, their joy was short-lived as Muriel's form shifted once more, this time into the terrifying visage of the Ghost Clown.
"Zoinks!" Shaggy exclaimed, his courage instantly evaporating.
"I hate clowns!" Courage echoed, his voice trembling with fear.
Mondo growled, before grabbing some dust and changing Muriel back to her previous form.
Undeterred, Courage attempted to replicate Mondo's, only to gasped when it changed Muriel into a cow, snarling, Mondo grabbed some more to revert the change.
Scooby, eager to lend a paw, hurled his own dust at Muriel, but to his horror, she morphed into the ghastly Ghost of Mr. Hyde. Mondo got more angry, as he changed Muriel back to her previous form.
With a glimmer of hope, Courage made another attempt and sprinkled his chosen dust onto Muriel, only to witness with dismay as she transformed into the enigmatic Dr. Vindaloo.
"I am no longer a head of lettuce!" Dr. Vindaloo cheered, only to be changed into a werecat named Simone.
As if by some cruel twist of fate, he suddenly transformed into a menacing werecat named Simone, her eyes glowing an eerie green. Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage let out a collective scream as the werecat roared at them. Undeterred, Courage quickly summoned his magic and reversed Muriel's transformation, turning her from a monster back into her other monster form.
"WHAT THE HECK WHAT THAT CREATURE!?" Courage demanded, his voice trembling with terror.
Shaggy and Scooby exchanged nervous glances, their eyes wide with fear. They couldn't shake the memory of the harrowing encounter they had with werecats in one of their previous mysteries with the gang, an experience that had almost cost them their very lives.
"Rou don't wanna know," Scooby replied, his voice a mere whisper. The memory of having their life force nearly drained away still haunted him, and he dreaded the thought of giving Courage the same nightmares.
"You know what, never mind," Courage said with a sigh. "Let's just focus on changing Muriel back."
"Zoinks! I'm out!" Shaggy panicked, realizing that the magic dust gone. He could feel the familiar chill of fear creep up his spine, the same fear that always seemed to be lurking around the corner whenever a ghost or monster was involved.
Courage screeched the little dog whimpered, mirroring Shaggy's panic.
"Re too," Scooby added, his voice a shaky, mournful whimper.
"Kids, if you want to make it big like me, it takes years of practice. And you only have four minutes. Work on your presentation. After all, it's all in the presentation," Mondo cockily said, while checking the time on his pocket watch.
His words hung heavy in the air, leaving Shaggy feeling defeated. 'He's right, we're done for,' he moaned with despair.
But Courage refused to succumb to defeat, "No we're not! It's time for our grand finale. Shaggy, Scooby, let's do this," he bellowed, his voice laced with determination. He adjusted his top hat, a glint of defiance flashing in his eyes as he glared at Mondo.
Scooby and Shaggy, emboldened by Courage's unwavering spirit, nodded in unison. Their faces, once clouded with doubt, now radiated a newfound resolve. They knew that their time was short, but they were ready to give it their all, to defy the odds and prove that even with limited time, a heart full of passion and a dash of courage could overcome any obstacle.
Then, thanks to Shaggy he pulled out a curtain appeared in front of the two dogs.
As the enchantment of the curtain unfolded, Scooby and Courage beamed with delight, their voices resonating with an enthusiastic, "Ta-Da!/Ra-Da!"
"OH! HOW LOVELY!" Muriel cheered, excited for the show.
Courage conjured a small cloth, uttering the mystical incantations 'Abracadabra. Alakazam. Presto!' With a deft flourish, he removed the cloth, revealing a duck that had miraculously appeared in his grasp.
"Hmm, not bad," Mondo said, not impressed.
However, Scooby's playful spirit emerged as he plucked a tail feather from the duck and tickled Courage's nose, eliciting an uncontrollable sneeze from the hapless canine.
The force behind the sneeze reached Mondo's bag and caused some of the dust in it to fall onto Muriel.
"YES!/RES!" A collective cheer erupted from Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage as Muriel's form reverted to its normal state. The air crackled with anticipation as the lingering dust descended upon Mondo, transforming him into a rabbit.
Shaggy, his eyes wide with adoration, cooed, "Aw, we turned him into a cute little bunny!"
Scooby simply stated, "Ret's pet it," his tail wagging enthusiastically.
They reached out, eager to stroke the fuzzy little creature, but their hands froze mid-air. A tiny, but remarkably indignant voice rang out, "Don't touch me!" he then bounced towards the still broken front door. "You're going to hear from my agent about this," Mondo, the rabbit, declared before exiting the house.
"Muriel are you okay?" Courage inquired, his voice laced with concern.
"I'm perfectly fine Courage," Muriel reassured her dog.
"Like, it's good to have you back Aunt Muriel," Shaggy exclaimed, his lanky frame shaking with a mixture of joy and exhaustion.
The next day, Shaggy, Scooby, Courage and Muriel were in the living room watching TV, with Eustace still in the TV.
"HEY! WHERE AM I!?" Eustace shouted, as he swam away from Karmen.
"Eustace?" Muriel asked.
"I think it's time to bring back the farmer," Courage piped up.
Shaggy nodded in agreement, his voice tinged with sympathy, 'Well, he's been through enough,' he said, recalling the previous day's harrowing adventures.
Scooby, always ready for a bit of fun, turned to Courage with a grin and a hopeful, "Rhall we?"
Courage, understanding Scooby's unspoken request, replied with a knowing nod, "Let's."
The two dogs hopped on top of the TV and placed Courage placed hat down on the TV, he then began chanting before reaching into his hat and pulling Eustace out by his head. "Ta-da!/Ra-da!"
"OH! How I love magic," Muriel said, smiling.
Shaggy, basking in the normalcy of a returned Eustace and a seemingly restored television, beamed and chimed in, "Me too, Aunt Muriel."
"Eustace what do you say to Courage and Scooby for getting you out of the TV?" Muriel asked her husband, sternly, but softly.
"Well, I suppose I should be grateful to you stupid dogs," Eustace grumbled.
Courage sighed deeply, a mixture of disappointment and resignation washing over him, "Some things never change," he whispered, his heart heavy with the realization that Eustace's gratitude was as fleeting as a summer breeze.
Shaggy ooked at the pink beagle with a wry smile. "Well, at least he said thank you," he remarked, trying to find a silver lining in the situation.
Scooby chuckled, his tail wagging, and let out an enthusiastic "Reah!" before exclaiming, "Scooby-Abracadabra-Doo!"
Well that's all for this chapter, next will be Watch the Birdies. I like to thank schweenieboy for the quotes and ideas. Let me guys know in the reviews/comments of what should I do for the future episodes or next chapter. And what Courage should say in future chapters. Until then this is vakarns signing out.
Watch the Birdies: When Shaggy and Muriel both get abducted by a giant mother vulture, it tells them to look after its three babies while it flies off to find a new mate or they will be eaten. Scooby and Courage must aid Shaggy and Muriel in keeping the babies safe.