The air in the kitchen buzzed with a comforting warmth, the scent of butter and sugar swirling around the family as they prepared to bake a batch of Muriel's famous Scottish Dream Cookies.
"Let's see, two cups of flour," Muriel said, reading the recipes from one of her many cookbooks, "One cup of brown sugar."
"Like, I got the flour," Shaggy declared, his voice a jumble of enthusiasm and eagerness as he retrieved the flour from the cupboard and poured the sugar into a measuring cup.
"Two pounds of butter," Muriel continued.
Courage chimed in, "Scooby and I have the butter," as he closed the fridge door after pulling out two comically oversized containers filled with rich, golden butter.
"Like dudes, I sure love Aunt Muriel's Scottish Dream Cookies," Shaggy said, his mouth watering at the mere thought of the treats.
"Re too Raggy," Scooby agreed, his tongue lolling out in anticipation as he licked his lips.
"No one can make Scottish dream cookies better like Muriel," Courage added, his voice filled with pride for his owner's culinary skills.
"Better make it four pounds," Muriel said as she took the containers, "I love my Scottish dream cookies buttery."
"Like, we so love extra buttery," Shaggy chimed in, turning to Scooby with a mischievous grin, "Don't we Scoob?"
"Reah," Scooby responded with a chuckle.
Courage retrieved two more pounds of butter from the depths of the fridge, just as Eustace barged into the kitchen.
"MURIEL! You seen my glasses?" Eustace asked, as he used his hands to try and get a feel for what was in front of him. However, he was simply waving his hands in the air at the moment.
Unfortunately, his lack of vision proved disastrous. He inadvertently sent the butter containers Courage had just retrieved from the fridge soaring through the air, landing squarely on the poor pink beagle.
"Ret me get that off you pal," Scooby declared, rescuing Courage from the buttery predicament by lifting the empty container from his now-butter-coated fur.
"Oh great, I need to take a bath after this," Courage groaned, refusing to lick the sticky residue from his coat.
"No, I haven't. Did you misplace them?" Muriel asked as she began to wash some dishes.
"Yes, I misplace them," Eustace answered before knocking over a chair, which fell onto his foot, causing him to trip, "OW!"
Shaggy winced at that, "At least we know how Velma feels."
"Boys, you both better help Eustace find his glasses. Be his guides, we wouldn't want him to lose his way," Muriel suggested.
"I know I'm not going to like this," Courage declared, apprehensively attaching his leash.
"Like, me neither little pink dude," Shaggy agreed, as he and Scooby, joined by a reluctantly led Courage, approached Eustace, who was now huddled beneath the table.
"Re too," Scooby grumbled in agreement.
"Get away from me!" Eustace demanded before standing up and going through the table, "OWW! Don't need NO guides!"
Shaggy tried to calm the situation, "Like, we'll be right back Aunt Muriel," as he and Scooby trailed after the increasingly frustrated Eustace, dragging a grumbling Courage outside with them.
"My glasses, now where'd they go?" Eustace asked, checking the ground for his glasses.
"RI don't think your glasses are outside the house," Scooby responded, his tail thumping against the ground.
"Shut it you stupid dog! Now help me find them!" Eustace demanded.
Scooby, knowing better than to argue, dejectedly retreated to the side, where Shaggy and Courage sat idly, "Re're going to be here a while, aren't we?" he sighed, his voice filled with resignation.
"Unfortunately," Courage replied, before casting a glance towards the horizon. His expression suddenly turned to one of confusion as his eyes fixed on a peculiar sight, "Huh?" he muttered.
"What is it little pink dude?" Shaggy inquired.
"Up there in the sky," Courage said, pointing a trembling finger.
Scooby looked up and gasped when he saw a brightly colored hot air balloon approaching the farm, Rhy is there a hot air balloon coming toward us?" he exclaimed.
"I-I-I can't see. Oh, where? Where?" Eustace asked, as he continued searching, unaware of what was happening even though the hot air balloon landed mere feet from him.
"Help! Help! Balloon! Balloon!" Courage shouted, desperately trying to get Eustace's attention.
"You got my glasses?" Eustace asked, as he turned to face Courage.
The hot air balloon's door creaked open, sending a jolt of fear through Shaggy's already frazzled nerves.
Like, who could it be this time? Shaggy wondered with an anxious heart.
The answer came in the form of a flamboyant, feathered figure stepping out of the basket.
"Le Quack is back," Le Quack announced, unknowingly answering the cowardly teen's question as he stepped out of the basket.
Courage let out a bloodcurdling scream before vanishing into the house like a shot.
"Like, oh-no," Shaggy whimpered, his voice barely a whisper.
"Rot him again," Scooby whined, his tail tucked between his legs.
Luckily, Le Quack's attention was elsewhere, his eyes fixed on the unsuspecting farmhouse.
"YEOW! What are you trying to do, bust my neck?!" Eustace asked, as he was unwillingly dragged inside by Courage. Eustace, unable to see in his haste, tripped over the step, launching him into the kitchen with a dramatic crash into the refrigerator.
Shaggy and Scooby, their faces pale with fear, cautiously entered the kitchen, desperate to warn Muriel. Courage, meanwhile, was in a frantic, incomprehensible babble, transforming into a balloon and then a blimp in his desperation to convey the severity of the situation.
"You're right, I should make it five pounds of butter," Muriel said, misinterpreting what Courage tried to tell her.
"Like, not a bad idea Aunt Muriel," Shaggy said, momentarily forgetting Le Quack's presence.
"Reah, the more the buttery," Scooby giggled, equally distracted.
"Guys!" Courage shrieked, his voice laced with urgency, "We don't have time for this! Le Quack is outside right now, and is planning who knows what this time."
Finally, the gravity of the situation sunk in. Shaggy and Scooby grimaced, their fear returning in full force, muttering, "Sorry/Rorry," as they realized the impending chaos.
"Hmm, I didn't notice this before," Muriel said, sounding surprised.
"What is it, Aunt Muriel?" Shaggy asked, finally registering his surroundings.
"We need two ounces of rare Swedish vinegar," Muriel answered, causing the pink beagle to groan.
"Oh, these are Swedish dream cookies," Muriel said as she closed the book, "Now, how are we going to get to Sweden to get rare Swedish vinegar?"
As if the old woman's question was answered by fate itself, there was a knock on the door. A shiver of dread ran down Courage's spine. Could this be Le Quack, or was this another one of his elaborate traps?
"We don't want any!" Eustace shouted, as he somehow managed to get to the door and open it despite not being able to see.
"I am Le Quack of Swedish Hot Air," Le Quack introduced himself before turning toward Muriel, "I take you to Le Sweden, oui?"
"Oh my, how lucky," Muriel said, surprised.
Shaggy, however, was not buying it, "Like, wait a minute duck dude, how exactly did you know that we needed to go to Sweden?" he questioned, squinting suspiciously.
"A true Sweden always knows when someone somewhere needs our special vinegar," Le Quack answered, but did little to alleviate Shaggy's apprehensions.
"I do need some rare Swedish vinegar," Muriel said, unaware of the danger.
Courage sensing trouble, clung to Muriel's apron, desperately pleading, "No! No! No! Don't go!"
Shaggy, echoing Courage's fears, cautioned, "Aunt Muriel, this isn't a good idea," his gut telling him something sinister was brewing.
Scooby, trying to reason with the old woman, blurted, "Reah, this is Re Ruack, who hypnotize you and Rustace to steal money from the bank."
"Le Balloon is waiting," Le Quack said as Courage got off Muriel.
"How thrilling," Muriel said as she followed Le Quack to the balloon, Courage, desperately trying to stop her, clung to her apron, but Muriel, enthralled by the prospect of Swedish vinegar, followed Le Quack.
"Where are you taking me?" Eustace asked, still holding onto Courage's leash as he followed his family.
Shaggy and Scooby exchanged worried glances.
"Raggy, what do you think he's planning?" Scooby whispered.
"I like, don't know Scoob, but whatever it is, it can't be good," Shaggy answered, his voice heavy with dread.
"I always wanted to see the world from a balloon, get above it all," Muriel said, as Courage, in a frantic flurry of barks and whimpers, attempted to warn her of the looming danger.
"I ain't going nowhere without my glasses, I ain't even going nowhere with my glasses," Eustace complained.
"Suit yourself, Eustace," Muriel said, annoyed, before regaining her excitement and turning to the the cowardly trio, "Let's all go to Sweden to get some rare Swedish Vinegar so we can make those Swedish dream cookies."
"Yes! I'll take this," Courage shouted, seizing his leash from Eustace with renewed determination.
"Like, we're coming with you Aunt Muriel," Shaggy called, his voice laced with concern.
"Le basket only holds two, the dogs and the boy stays: we go, oui?" Le Quack said, with a chuckle as they reached the hot air balloon, his words sending a shiver down their spines.
"Rhat?" Scooby asked, his tail now tucked between his legs.
Courage's heart pounded in his chest, let out a frantic, "NO!" Courage said, scared.
"Oh, that's a shame, boys, I'll be back in a flash with the vinegar," Muriel said, before entering the basket.
"Are you sure you want to go alone, Aunt Muriel? Like, this basket seems like it can fit three or four people," Shaggy asked, his gaze lingering on Le Quack's dubious smile.
"I'm sure, in the meantime, why don't you boys help Eustace find his glasses? He'll like that," Muriel answered, as Eustace found and grabbed Courage's leash again.
"We'll be back later in the day," Le Quack said as he entered the basket, "Now stand back: take-offs are usually, how'd you say, rocky."
"Oooh! This is so-lighter than air," Muriel said, wonder in her voice as the hot air balloon rose into the air.
Meanwhile, the chaos below continued. Courage clinging to the basket in a desperate attempt to join Muriel, was met with a perplexed Shaggy's questioning, "Little pink dude, what are you doing?"
"Trying to go with Muriel," Courage stuttered, his leash tightening dangerously around his neck.
"Rourage your leash," Scooby reminded, his voice echoing with concern.
With a gasp, Courage was forced to let go, landing with a thud on Eustace's head.
"You're supposed to find my glasses! Not jump on my head!" Eustace shouted after Courage landed on his head, "Stupid seeing eye dog."
"Rhat do we do now?" Scooby whined with a worried frown.
Courage despite his fear, pointed towards Eustace and declared, "Follow them,"
And so, with Scooby and Shaggy trailing behind, Courage dragged the reluctant Eustace in pursuit of the balloon, a comical, slightly chaotic scene unfolding against the backdrop of the majestic sunset.
"Guys we can't just leave him," Courage insisted, stopping briefly.
"Rhy not?" Scooby questioned, eyes wide with innocence.
"It's dangerous for the farmer to be out there without his glasses," Courage explained, his voice earnest.
Shaggy agreed, he can't bare with himself if his uncle hurt himself while they're following the hot air ballon Muriel was on, "You're right little pink dude. Even though Uncle Eustace can be a pain."
Scooby, in a rare moment of wisdom, added, "Rether we like it or not. Resides we would do the same thing for Relma if she lost her glasses."
Courage, ever cautious, concluded, "We better keep him in our sight or my name is Mr Magoo and it's not."
And so, the cowardly trio continued their chase, a quirky mix of fear, loyalty, and a touch of comical absurdity, all united by a common goal: to ensure the safety of a blind old farmer and a hot air balloon enthusiast.
"Okay, like, where did the duck dude and Aunt Muriel go?" Shaggy asked, his voice trembling as he and the two dogs began desperately looking around for the balloon.
Suddenly, Scooby's ears perked up, "Ro you guys hear that?" he whined, his voice laced with concern.
"Hear what Scoob?" Courage asked, his eyes wide with apprehension.
"Rit's very faint, sounds almost as if someone was screaming," Scooby answered, his tail drooping with worry.
As soon as the Great Dane said this, Shaggy and Courage began to hear the screaming, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines.
"Like, yeah, and it sounds really close," Shaggy said, looking around for the source, his voice laced with fear, "It kinda sounds like-"
"MURIEL!" Courage suddenly shouted, his voice filled with panic as he looked past Shaggy and Scooby, the color draining from his face when he realized that the screaming belonged to Muriel, who was FALLING rapidly toward the ground.
"RURIEL!" Scooby shouted, mortified as he and his two best friends raced toward where she would land.
Muriel screamed as she continued to plummet, a terrifying sight that made the trio's hearts sink.
"AUNT MURIEL! WE'RE COMING!" Shaggy shouted, his voice filled with urgency as he and the two dogs ran through a field of jagged rocks.
Fortunately, none of the trio were harmed, aside from Eustace, who was bruised by the time they reached the end, dragged along against his will by Courage. And soon after, they reached the spot where Muriel was about to hit the ground. Moving right underneath her, Shaggy, Scooby and Courage prepared to catch her, but something pulled her back to the hot air balloon at the last moment. Muriel screamed as she landed in the basket, the sudden change of fortune leaving the three best friends bewildered.
"Ruh? Rhat?" Scooby asked, confused, his tail wagging nervously.
"How did she-" Shaggy began, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Guys, I think I saw Muriel with a bungee cord, that's why she came back up," Courage answered, his voice shaky but hopeful, as he observed the scene.
"But like, why is Le Quack using a bungee cord on my aunt?" Shaggy asked, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.
"We can ask after we get Muriel back," Courage said, his voice regaining its usual confidence as he, Shaggy and Scooby continued to chase the balloon, "Careful for the cacti."
Shaggy, Scooby and Courage entered a cactus field, the sharp spines a new danger to their already perilous chase. Unfortunately for Eustace, they kept forgetting that Courage was dragging him along against his will.
"WAIT! OW! WAIT! STOP! OUCH!" Eustace shouted in pain, as he kept getting hit by the cacti with lots of needles going into his skin.
The cacophony of honking horns and the dizzying array of towering skyscrapers assaulted Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage as they arrived in New York City.
"Like, how on earth did we get from Kansas to New York so quickly?" Shaggy exclaimed, his voice barely audible over the urban din.
Courage shrugged, equally perplexed, "I haven't got a clue Shaggy."
"Where are we now?" Eustace asked, as the trio tried to keep track of the balloon, which was proving difficult because of all the tall buildings.
"Hang on, Muriel, we're coming!" Courage yelled, his voice echoing off the buildings as they stopped at the end of the sidewalk, desperately trying to keep track of their airborne target.
he traffic lights blinked, finally turning green, and the group cautiously started to cross the street. Suddenly, a familiar, grating voice cut through the city's noise:
"Watch where ya going, you fool!" Di Lung shouted, as he rode his bike toward them. But instead of stopping, he rode into Courage's extended leash as Eustace was still standing on the sidewalk, "Ack!"
"Like, seriously, why do we keep running into that dude?!" Shaggy whined, his exasperation evident.
"RI know, what's that about?" Scooby agreed, his voice muffled by his oversized collar.
Looking up, they saw the balloon, a bright speck against the vast cityscape, drifting towards the harbor. A stroke of luck - a cruise ship was about to depart. With desperate urgency, they sprinted towards the vessel, their hearts pounding in their chests. Just as the gangplank was being pulled up, they reached the ship, scrambling through a gap in the hull as the vessel began to set sail.
Courage, his stomach churning with the rhythmic sway of the boat, could only think, Oh, I hate boat rides. As he made a beeline for the nearest bathroom, his fear of the sea overwhelming even his desire to save Muriel.
Three hours after embarking on their exhilarating expedition, the family found themselves in the heart of Rome. As they marveled at the ancient city's iconic landmarks, their attention was drawn to a peculiar sight unfolding in the sky above. To their astonishment, the intrepid Muriel gracefully leaped from a hot air balloon, her vibrant laughter echoing through the air.
"Wee!" Muriel shouted in joy, as she rapidly approached the ground.
Courage along with Shaggy and Scooby, sprang into action.
"OVER THE FOUNTAIN!" Courage bellowed, directing them towards a nearby fountain.
However, their valiant efforts proved futile as Muriel's descent culminated in an unexpected splash in the fountain's refreshing waters.
"Rait, she's still there," Scooby uttered in concern, prompting Courage, Shaggy, and himself to dive into the fountain.
Their impulsive entry created a ripple effect that catapulted Eustace into the water as well. Just as they reached out to retrieve Muriel, a relentless bungee cord abruptly pulled her aloft, sending her soaring back into the embrace of the hot air balloon.
"This the Mississippi?" Eustace asked, as he resurfaced.
The Parisian air buzzed with a chaotic symphony of laughter, chatter, and the rhythmic crunch of bread. Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage, their breaths ragged from the chase, finally caught sight of the hot air balloon, a vibrant splash of color against the azure sky.
"There they are!" Shaggy exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger.
"MURIEL! We're coming!" Courage bellowed, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination, as he, Shaggy, and Scooby charged after the balloon.
Their focus, however, was entirely on the prize: Muriel, and the promise of a delicious meal. In their haste, they failed to notice the bustling crowd, a sea of hungry faces devouring freshly baked baguettes, croissants, and pain au chocolat. The trio, laden with bread they had collected along the way, barreled through the throng, leaving a trail of confusion and scattered crumbs. Unfortunately, their bread-filled arms found their mark, not on the balloon, but on the unfortunate Eustace, who was now nursing a throbbing head and a growing sense of resentment.
"Must be in France," Eustace said, as he held his head in pain.
A joyous "Weee!" pierced the air, pulling their attention to the Eiffel Tower. There, clinging to the metal structure like a mischievous spider, was Muriel. She descended gracefully, swooping down on an unsuspecting man engrossed in his newspaper, snatching his cheese, croissant, and beret before soaring back to the balloon.
"Stupid American," the guy said, as Muriel flew back to the hot air balloon.
"Like hey, we're gonna eat that!" Shaggy lamented, his stomach grumbling in anticipation.
"Rummer," Scooby agreed, his tail wagging forlornly.
Courage's patience wear thin, rolled his eyes and grabbed the hungry pair, "Come on," he said, his voice tight with frustration.
The trio finally reached the outer perimeter of the fortress of Sweden, their lungs burning from the relentless run.
"Wow," Courage panted, exhaustion etching lines on his face,
"Like, I have never run that much in my life," Shaggy echoed, his voice rasping with fatigue, "Not even with monsters."
Scooby added, "Row, we just need to find the hot air balloon and find a way to bring it down without Ruriel getting hurt."
Courage pulled out his trusty binoculars.
"Do you see them, little pink dude?" Shaggy asked, his voice tinged with a nervous tremor.
Courage's eyes strained and felt the color drain from his face as he spotted Muriel dangling precariously above the bank. But what truly sent a wave of terror through him was the sight of Le Quack, the nefarious duck, methodically cutting through Muriel's bungee cord. A scream escaped Courage's lips as he pointed frantically towards the sky.
"Rhat is it Rourage?" Scooby inquired, his voice laced with concern.
"Le Quack is cutting Muriel's bungee cord!" Courage shrieked, his voice echoing with panic.
"Zoinks!" Shaggy cried out, his voice high with fear.
"Re gotta stop him!" Scooby exclaimed, his resolve unwavering.
"But dudes, it will take too long to climb up this bank. Plus, I like, doubt the guards would even let us near it," Shaggy pointed out, his voice laced with a mix of fear and practicality.
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Courage asked, his tiny body bouncing with anxiety as he scanned the area, searching for a solution amidst the mounting pressure.
"BIG GUNS! HO!" a familiar voice boomed, and with a shuddering clang, the cannons flanking the castle turned, their monstrous muzzles aimed at the swiftly rising balloon.
The sight sent a shiver of fear through Shaggy, but Courage had an idea, "I think I have an idea, but you two might not like it," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of apprehension and determination.
"Like, what do you have in mind little pink dude?" Shaggy questioned, already having a bad feeling about the answer.
"If we can get inside, the cannons will redirect to aim toward Muriel. The thing is, you we will have to climb inside the cannon and be fired from it," Courage suggested, his voice trembling slightly.
"Like, I was afraid you're gonna say that," Shaggy groaned, his face paling at the thought of the perilous journey. He knew, however, that this was their only chance.
Scooby sighed, understanding the dire situation, "Ret's get this over this," he mumbled with grim determination.
"Ooh! What's happening?!" Eustace asked.
They all turned to see him, half his body already inside a cannon, his face contorted in a mixture of confusion and fear. Before they could pull him out, the cannon started to move, its monstrous barrel slowly lifting towards the balloon, aiming for a deadly shot.
"Rourage, your leash," Scooby warned frantically, noticing the leash tightening around Courage's neck.
Courage, quick as a flash, managed to unhook the leash just in time as the cannon, with a deafening roar, lifted itself towards the sky.
"What's going on?" Eustace asked, as the cannon turned toward the hot air balloon.
"Oh, my," Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage heard Muriel's worried cry as she realized all the cannons were pointed at her.
"FIRE!" the trio heard the general order. "Shoot the balloon! Go boom!"
BOOM!
"Come on, we don't have much time!" Courage urged, as Eustace was launched from the cannon, creating a gaping hole in the balloon as he passed through.
"OOH, LA LA!" Le Quack's shocked cry reached them as he brandished a saw and began to cut through the bungee cord.
Not a moment to waste, Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage rushed to a nearby cannon, scrambling to the top.
"Rhis is going to hurt," Scooby muttered, as they, along with Shaggy and Courage, entered the cannon.
And hurt it did. The moment they were launched, a wave of excruciating pain washed over them. Yet, they ignored it, their focus solely on catching Muriel as Le Quack severed her bungee cord. With a stroke of luck, they managed to grab her just before the cannons could target her. However, the cannon's trajectory sent them careening away from the bank, crashing through the front window of a closed store.
Meanwhile, Eustace have managed to be shoot from Sweden, to all the way home, as he crashed through the roof and into the bathroom. And landed his head into the toilet in the process.
Eustace managed to pull his head out of the toilet, before digging into hit, and there were his GLASSES of all places.
Eustace give a chuckle of victory, "Right where I thought they were."
The air hung thick with the scent of freshly baked bread as the family stumbled out of the wreckage of the Swedish bakery.
"Ow," Shaggy, groaning softly, helped Muriel to her feet, his concern evident in his questioning, "Are you okay, Aunt Muriel?"
"I'm fine, dear, thanks for saving me," Muriel answered with a smile, "Oh."
"Rhat's wrong?" Scooby's voice, filled with worry, cut through the lingering dust.
"Nothing's wrong, Scooby, I just noticed that we found some rare Swedish Vinegar," Muriel answered, "That little duck was right. Boys, we're going home to make cookies."
Scooby's tail thumped with excitement as he blurted, "Roh, boy!"
Shaggy, mirroring Scooby's enthusiasm, agreed, "Like, after all we been through tonight, Swedish dream cookies sound good right about now."
Suddenly, Courage pulled out a pilot's cap and placed it on his head with a flourish, declaring, "You got to fly, baby, fly!"
The sight of Courage in his newfound role sent Scooby and Shaggy into a fit of chuckles.
"Scooby-Dooby-Doo!" Scooby howled, his voice brimming with the joy of delicious treats.
Well that's all for this chapter, next will be Windmill Vandals. 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.
Windmill Vandals: If the windmill stops turning, the ghosts of terrifying dead vandals will return to attack everyone at the homestead. Shaggy, Scooby, Courage and Muriel must keep the windmill moving while Eustace tries to fix it.