The family was immersed in the dusty, treasure-filled world of an antique shop. Muriel was captivated by a silver locket, its intricate design reminiscent of one her Great Aunt Gertrude had possessed.
"Oh, Eustace, it's gorgeous," Muriel exclaimed as she gazed upon the silver locket, "Just like the locket my Great Aunt Gertrude had."
Eustace, however, remained unimpressed, his impatience evident in the frantic tapping of his foot.
"See, Courage? This picture of you me, Shaggy and Scooby fits perfectly," Muriel said, as she showed the trio a photo of her, Shaggy, Scooby and Courage.
That brought a smile to Courage's face, a thrill of pride surging through him, "Mmm-hmm!" he agreed enthusiastically. We look great!
Scooby felt a warm jolt of happiness at the sight of the picture, "RI like that picture," he mumbled, his tail wagging excitedly.
"Me too old buddy," Shaggy chimed in, his voice filled with genuine sentiment.
"Bah. It's junk is all it is," Eustace grumbled.
"And here's one of Eustace for the other side," Muriel said, as she inserted a photo of Eustace on the left side of the locket.
"Bah! Now it's only half junk."
Shaggy offered a well-meaning, "You know what they say Uncle Eustace, One man's trash is another man's treasure."
Eustace spoke sharply, "Nobody asked you Shaggy haired fella!"
Courage whispered to Shaggy, "That shows how much the farmer knows about the value of things."
Shaggy, in agreement, whispered back, "Like, you can say that again little pink dude."
"So, we'll give you half," Eustace said, snapping their gaze, Shaggy and Courage noticed that he took out his wallet and paid the cashier. But instead of paying the total price, he only paid half.
"I'll do it for the lady!" The cashier said, smiling.
"That's so sweet of you," Muriel said, admiring her new locket while Eustace went over to the door.
"Fog's getting thick. Let's git!" Eustace, said before exiting the door.
Courage's neck craned at an impossible angle, spotted a large book perched precariously on a dusty shelf. He could just make out the title, 'Morgan Moonscar,' his eyes widening in recognition. A shiver ran down his spine, the hairs on his back standing on end.
Shaggy and Scooby, however, reacted with a visceral horror that sent chills down Courage's own spine. Their faces paled, their eyes wide with terror, and their hearts lurched in unison. The name 'Morgan Moonscar' conjured a primal fear, a memory of a year-old nightmare that they desperately wanted to forget.
"Morgan Moonscar?" Courage squeaked, his voice barely a whisper. "Wasn't there an island with the same name?"
Shaggy's voice trembled as he replied, "Morgan Moonscar? Like your correct."
Scooby, his tail tucked between his legs, whimpered, "Re were on Moonscar Island."
Courage, confused and alarmed by their reactions, peered at the book, trying to discern what made it so terrifying, "If I remember the computer said that Morgan Moonscar was a pirate that died on that island," he said, his voice wavering slightly.
Scooby, his fearful gaze fixed on his owner, whimpered, "Raggy. RI think it's time we told Rourage about our trip to Moonscar Island."
Courage, sensing the gravity of the situation, watched in stunned silence as Shaggy and Scooby exchanged nervous glances. Their fear was palpable, a tangible presence in the air.
"Huh?" Courage questioned, his eyes wide with concern.
Shaggy's voice was a strained whisper as he replied, "Maybe later." I'm like, no sure if I'm ready to relived this all over again.
Scooby and Courage headed towards the door, their steps hesitant, their eyes glued to the ominous book on the shelf. Shaggy, however, was compelled to face his fear, his hand reaching out to the cashier. He handed over extra money, paying full price for the necklace, his eyes downcast.
"Thank you son," the cashier said.
Shaggy hurried out, joining Scooby and Courage, leaving the book, a silent reminder of their past horrors, perched menacingly on the shelf. As they piled into the truck, the weight of the unspoken truth hung heavy in the air.
The dense fog hung heavy in the air, shrouding the highway in an eerie white blanket.
"Darn fog is thick as your breath, dogs," Eustace complained.
The two dogs exhaled loudly, the smell of their breath a pungent reminder of the snack they'd enjoyed before they left.
"We're brushing our teeth the moment we get home," Courage muttered, his voice tinged with self-disgust.
"Reah, good idea," Scooby added, his tail drooping slightly.
"My new locket is the perfect home for my favorite photos," Muriel said, shifting the dogs' attention to her.
"Let me see that!" Eustace demanded, snatching the locket. The locket slipped out of his hand and landed on the dashboard. "Oh! Dang slippery piece of junk!"
The truck lurched violently to the side, the sudden movement sending the family into a state of panic.
"Like, hang on dudes!" Shaggy gasped, instinctively grabbing onto Scooby for support.
"EUSTACE! WATCH THE ROAD!" Muriel yelled, panicking.
"SHUT UP!" Eustace shouted, trying to catch the locket.
His words, however, seemed to unleash a torrent of chaos. As if in defiance, the truck lost control, skidding across the road, its tires squealing in protest. Shaggy, fuelled by adrenaline and a desperate need to regain control, tried to squeeze into the driver's seat, but Scooby, with a surprising display of strength, pulled him back, his eyes wide with urgency. Shaggy, confused by his dog's actions, was left bewildered until the horrifying realization dawned on him - the truck had careened off the road, plunging down a steep incline.
Screams ripped through the air as the family tumbled towards what appeared to be a dense forest. Eustace, despite his initial panic, managed to expertly steer the truck, narrowly avoiding the thick trunks of the trees. Instead, they crashed into the water with a resounding thump, the impact sending a wave of shock through the vehicle.
"Is everyone alright?" Courage's voice, always a tremor of fear, was barely audible, his fear palpable.
"Re're okay," Scooby reassured him, giving the pink beagle a comforting nudge.
"For now," Shaggy added, his gut churning with the unsettling feeling of being lost and vulnerable.
"Where are we?" Courage's eyes, brimming with anxiety, darted around the unfamiliar surroundings.
"I think we're in a swamp," Muriel answered, as sounds of animals howling came from all around them.
"Like, who knew swamps could be so creepy, man?" Shaggy asked, his skin crawling with the memory of their previous encounter with the supernatural on Moonscar Island.
"Reah, this swamp is freaking me out!" Scooby agreed, his heart pounding with a renewed fear of the werecats that haunted his nightmares.
"Oh!" Muriel gasped when she saw the locket sliding to the side, where it, unfortunately, fell into the swamp water, "Eustace! My locket!"
"Your locket? What about my truck?" Eustace complained, not caring for the locket.
Courage, unable to tolerate his callous indifference, let out a frustrated sigh, "How could you say that?" he asked, his voice dripping with indignation.
Shaggy, his anger boiling over, finally snapped. "Aunt Muriel's locket is in the swamp," he spat, his voice tight with fury, "And all you can think about is your truck?"
"Quit complaining and get out and push! Besides without me truck we wouldn't be able to get home," Eustace demanded.
Scooby murmured, "Rell Rustace has point you know," eliciting glares of disapproval from both Shaggy and Courage.
Muriel, Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage hopped out of the truck, a valiant effort to free it from the murky clutches of the swamp. Their combined might, however, was no match for the stubborn vehicle, which remained firmly planted in the bog.
"Like, this is one heavy truck," Shaggy groaned, his muscles protesting with each strained push.
"Reah, it's like, really stuck," Scooby echoed, his tail drooping in defeat.
"If you'd been driving carefully, I'd still have my locket," Muriel said, really upset.
"And we wouldn't be in this mess," Courage cried, his small frame shaking with exasperation.
"Yeah? Push harder!" Eustace snarled, not caring.
"My poor locket with my favorite photos. Probably floatin' down to the bottom," Muriel said, with distraught.
Scooby and Courage let out sympathetic whimpers, their hearts echoing her sadness.
Minutes ticked by, each one a testament to their futile efforts. The truck remained stubbornly planted in the swamp.
"Come on, you weak nothings!" Eustace growled.
"We're pushing as hard as we can!" Muriel grunted, "And we could use a little help!"
"What am I..." Eustace grumbled as he got out of the truck and walked towards his family.
"This is gonna take forever," Courage whined, his voice barely a whisper. We'll never get out this way.
Eustace then quickly pulled out his mask, "Ooga-booga-booga!"
Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage let out ear-splitting screams, their bodies trembling with terror. The sheer force of their fear lifted the truck effortlessly, propelling it back onto solid ground. The three friends, shaken but safe, clung to each other, whimpering in relief.
Eustace laughed, before shouting in pain when Muriel hit him on the head with a branch.
Everyone got in the truck, as Eustace continued to drive his family towards home.
"I can't believe my lockett gone," Muriel said, distraught.
"Big deal. I still got my truck," Eustace said, smirking and laughing.
His words were met with the silent, seething glares of Scooby and Courage, both of whom felt a deep sense of injustice.
Shaggy stepped in, his voice soft and reassuring, "Don't worry Aunt Muriel Your locket will appear somehow."
Muriel looked up with a smile and a flicker of hope in her eyes, "Thank you Shaggy. Your such a dear."
The family, exhausted from a day of shopping and a harrowing truck retrieval from the swamp, had settled into the living room for a relaxing movie. The flickering screen painted a peaceful scene, until a jarring interruption shattered the tranquility.
"We interrupt this program with a special report!" the television reporter announced, getting the trio's attention as the words 'special report' kept scrolling on the screen.
Oh, like what is it this time? Shaggy thought, a sense of dread creeping in.
"It's amazing! A huge swamp man has been on a rampage of destruction throughout Nowhere!" the reporter announced. The screen shifted, displaying the once familiar façade of Eustace's beloved cheap burger joint, now reduced to rubble. The Swamp Man, hulking and enraged, screamed in the heart of the debris, a horrifying display of raw power.
Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage felt their hearts hammer in their chests as the news unfolded.
"No!" the swamp man yelled, "Where are you, swamp woman?"
"Who's to blame? Who will pay the price? This is a story steeped in controversy!" the reporter said, as he appeared in front of the destroyed restaurant.
The scene shifted again to William's Meat and Salami, a deli renowned for its delectable wares. With a roar that shook the very foundations of the building, the Swamp Man reduced it to dust, his rage a palpable presence on the screen.
"Swamp woman, I want you back!" the Swamp Man demanded, obviously distraught after his screams brought down a deli store.
"Ugly man ain't gettin' a girlfriend back, 'less she's blind and stupid," Eustace mocked.
Shaggy, his heart sinking as the screen showed the collapsed deli, lamented, "Aw man, William's has the best salami in Nowhere."
Scooby agreed, his voice filled with disappointment, "Reah, salami."
"Don't get carried away you guys," Courage reminded them, his tiny form trembling at the sight of the rampaging Swamp Man.
"Sorry/Rorry," Shaggy and Scooby muttered, feeling a pang of guilt for momentarily forgetting the danger unfolding before them.
"What drama! What spectacle! How did you ever come up with this outstanding stunt?" the reporter asked the Swamp Man.
But the Swamp Man, ignoring the question, let out a scream that sent the reporter flying through the air, his voice a mere whisper lost in the wind.
Courage, nestled behind Muriel's chair, trembled, fear gripping him as he watched the terrifying scene.
"Oh, my!" Muriel gasped, "Isn't that the shop where we bought the locket?"
Shaggy and Scooby huddled together, their trembling bodies pressed close as the horror on the screen washed over them.
"That is one angry swamp man!" the man shouted
"Isn't that are farm?" Muriel asked, when the television showed the Swamp Man walking toward their home.
"Zoinks! It is our farm," Shaggy squeaked, fear creeping into his voice.
Scooby and Courage let out screams of fright, Courage's tongue poking out of his mouth, his brain, in a moment of pure panic, hanging precariously from it.
"Rourage, barricade the door!" Scooby shouted, urgency lacing his words.
"On it," Courage nodded, scrambling to the door and securing it with four heavy-duty locks. Shaggy and Scooby, their fear palpable, followed close behind.
"Now you're talking," Eustace said, as he walked over to the trio. He grabbed Courage in one hand, Shaggy and Scooby by the collars, and flung them out the door, "GO SLEEP WITH THE CHICKENS!"
Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage, their screams echoing in the night, landed with a thud on the cold, hard ground.
"Like, okay it's official, Uncle Eustace has gone way too far," Shaggy complained, his voice a mix of fear and exasperation.
"Rou can say that again," Scooby agreed, his words muffled by the fright that gripped him.
Courage whimpered, his eyes darting around, searching for any sign of the monstrous Swamp Man. But the night remained calm, serene, a stark contrast to the terror that had played out on the screen, "Phew. No Swamp Monster," he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ron't worry Rourage," Scooby reassured his friend, patting his back, "Re'll keep watch."
"Yeah, insomnia here we come!" Shaggy declared, bracing himself for a long, sleepless night, haunted by the image of the vengeful Swamp Man.
Despite their best efforts, the trio succumbed to sleep an hour later, their vigilance waning. The peace was shattered by a series of heavy stomps that jolted them awake.
"Like, what was that?" Shaggy asked, his voice laced with fear.
"THE SWAMP MAN!" Courage shrieked, pointing a trembling paw towards the house.
They turned to witness the terrifying sight of the SWAMP MAN effortlessly ripping the front door off its hinges and stepping into the house. Terror filled the air as they all screamed, but their screams died in their throats as they fell to the ground. It wasn't the cowardly trio that had fallen, however, but the cut-out cardboard figures they'd made to take their place while they took a break for a snack.
Courage gasped, dropping his food in horror.
"Rourage, what's wron-" Scooby began, but Shaggy cut him off, his eyes wide with fear.
"SCOOB, LOOK!" Shaggy's voice was a choked whisper, his gaze fixed on the house.
Scooby followed his gaze, and his fur stood on end as he took in the scene.
"Swamp Monster!/Ramp Ronster!" Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage gasped in unison, their voices filled with terror.
"We can't just stand around. Come on!" Courage hissed, his fear for Muriel overriding his own fear.
Not wasting a second, Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage ran into the house, ignoring the trail of destruction left by the Swamp Man as he made his way through the front door. Seeing that he had gone up the stairs, they followed his path, their hearts pounding in their chests. They reached the top of the stairs and saw that the Swamp Man had reached Muriel's room.
"Swamp Woman!" he growled, before ripping the door off its hinges and throwing it behind him.
"WATCH OUT!" Courage shrieked, pushing Shaggy and Scooby to the floor.
Unfortunately, he couldn't duck in time and got hit by the door. The force behind the blow sent him back down the stairs with his head sticking through the door. He, of course, laughed with pain, his howls echoing through the house.
"Rourage, are you alright?" Scooby asked, as he and Shaggy ran down the stairs, their fear battling their concern for their friend.
"I'm okay!" Courage answered, with a groan, still half-stuck in the door.
"Don't worry little pink dude, we'll get you out," Shaggy reassured, as he and Scooby began to pull the door out of Courage's torso.
Finally, after a few pulls, they managed to get Courage free. But then, out of nowhere, the Swamp Man, who was carrying Muriel, stomped on Courage once he reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Why do I always end up getting hurt?" Courage complained with pain shooting through him.
"I've waited centuries for you to come back. Now I've got you. And I'm making you my bride," but just as the Swamp Man was beginning to leave.
But just as he was beginning to leave, Shaggy stood in his way, although frightened by him, he knew Muriel's safety was a priority.
"Stop! You can't marry my aunt, She's married!" Shaggy wailed, his voice quivering.
"Who cares? She's my bride and we are meant to be together forever," the Swamp Man growled, as he pushed the cowardly teen out of the way, causing him to land with a thud.
Scooby and Courage got up to their paws and rushed to Shaggy's aid.
"Raggy are you okay?" Scooby asked, his eyes glittering with worry.
"I'm okay old buddy, old pal," Shaggy replied, with a smile, trying to hide his fear.
"He's got the wrong woman. Their is no way that Swamp Man's bride is Muriel," Courage blinked his eyes, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Like, how are we gonna find the real bride?" Shaggy asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
The trio decided to head to the attic. Courage, with his ever-reliable computer, immediately began typing furiously.
"So, you three want to find the swamp man's real girlfriend?" the computer said.
"Mmm-hmm!" Courage answered enthusiastically, as various profiles flickered across the screen.
"Reah, that's right," Scooby nodded, his tail wagging nervously.
"I think that's her. She's located in a small town called Lotsinvllle, Nlcksburg," the computer said, as it stopped on a profile of Scaleygirl 127. And to the side of the name was a photo of a female Swamp Monster.
"Huh?" Courage asked, confused, his head tilting to the side, "Have you guys ever been there?"
"Rope," Scooby replied, his voice echoing the sentiment.
Shaggy narrowed his eyes, his usual goofy grin replaced with a determined look, "Better back your bags dudes, we're going to Lotsinvllle."
The plane tickets had been a hefty expense, far exceeding their expectations, despite the relatively short trip. Thankfully, Shaggy had stashed away enough for three round-trip tickets, allowing him, Scooby, and Courage to embark on their mission.
"Well, this is the place," Courage announced, his eyes scanning the address on a faded postcard.
"I just hope she's nice," Shaggy mumbled, a tremor of anxiety running through him. The last thing they needed was for this Swamp Woman to be as vicious as her boyfriend
Scooby took a deep breath, his voice a low rumble, "Ronly one way to find out."
With that sentiment, the trio began their ascent of the rickety steps leading to the ramshackle post office. Inside, they found the Swamp Woman diligently sorting mail, her appearance unmistakable.
"That must Catherine," Courage confirmed, his apprehension growing.
"Like, let's get to the bottom of this," Shaggy urged, hoping her looks were deceiving and she was as friendly as she appeared.
They joined the short queue and waited a few minutes before it was their turn.
"Rexuss us?" Scooby began, his voice barely a whisper.
"Are you Catherine?" Courage finished his sentence, his tone filled with an underlying tension.
"Why yes. How can I help you?" Catherine asked.
The trio gestured for her to follow them, and she, thankfully, complied, leaving her post. They settled on a weathered bench.
Shaggy began, "My name is Shaggy and this is my dog Scooby-Doo."
"Rello Ratherine," Scooby warmly greeted.
"And my name is Courage. We came all this way here to talk to you about your lover the Swamp Man," Courage explained, his voice steady despite his mounting unease.
"Everett?" Catherine asked, her eyes questioning.
"Rhat was he like when you were dating?" Scooby asked, his curiosity piqued.
"He was a sweet guy. But he just didn't understand me. He thinks I'm, uh, forgetful! But I'm not forgetful! I just have a blocked head," Catherine said, while lightly tapping her head. She then stood up frustrated while raising her arm, "But that still doesn't give him the right to be so impatient with me."
"Mmm-hmm," Courage agreed, nodding in sympathy.
"Love is complicated on certain levels," Shaggy mused, remembering his own tangled romantic history with Googie, Crystal, and even Velma's sister, Madelyn.
"Who are we talking about again?" Catherine asked, confused.
Courage let out a frustrated sigh, his ears drooping, "Everett! We're talking about your lover Everett!"
"Oh, right. Him," Catherine said, as she sat back down, "He waited how long for me?"
"Centuries!/Renturies!" Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the post office.
"Centuries, huh? Maybe he's gotten more patient."
"Rot really," Scooby scoffed, his tone dry.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Catherine asked.
"Like your lover thinks that my Aunt Muriel who is also Courage's owner is his bride," Shaggy explained, hoping to plant the seed of understanding in Catherine's forgetful mind.
"And because of that she's going to marry her," Courage added, pulling out the locket containing Muriel's photo.
"Reah, marry!" Scooby finished, his eyes wide with horror.
"Marrying her? Yuck! She's repulsive! I can't let this happen!" Catherine said, after taking the locket from Courage, she then gave the locket back before standing up. "Oh, hello! Who are you? And when did you get here?"
Courage groaned, the sound like a rusty hinge, and ripped his ears off in sheer exasperation.
Shaggy and Scooby gaped, their mouths widening to almost comical proportions, and simultaneously screamed, "Aaugh!/Raugh!"
The murky swamp water closed in around Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage as they descended, holding their breaths. The pressure built in their ears, a stark reminder of the perilous depths they had plunged into. Finally, they reached the bottom, the soft, muddy ground a welcome relief. Just in time, they saw Everett, his back to them, about to place a ring on Muriel's finger.
"Everett?" Catherine called, getting his attention.
"Hmm," he grunted as he turned to look at us as we landed next to him. And once he saw Catherine, his face became filled with shock, "Huh? Swamp woman!"
"Centuries, huh?" Catherine asked.
Everett turned to look at Muriel before recoiling in disgust.
"Catherine! So many years. My mind must have gotten foggy. I've been so confused," he said, smiling while opening his arms and walking toward her.
"See? We can all be a little forgetful."
"I suppose."
Courage, sensing the tumultuous emotions swirling around them, hummed quietly. Love is so wonderful.
"Why didn't you answer any of my letters?" Everett asked, curious, "I sent you hundreds."
"Whenever I'd go home after work, I'd forget where I lived," Catherine answered, "Guess I missed your letters."
"Forgot where you lived? How could you forget where you lived?" Everett asked, sounding angry.
Shaggy, his heart pounding in his chest, felt a surge of worry. Like, let's get out of here. He thought desperately.
He subtly motioned to Scooby and Courage, urging them to help him bring Muriel back to the surface. They understood immediately, grabbing Muriel and propelling themselves upwards.
"Don't take that superior tone with me!" Catherine warned.
"Seaweed could take a superior tone with you!" Everett argued.
"You're such a bully! A beast!" Catherine shouted.
Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage burst through the surface of the water, gasping for air as they scrambled to find solid ground. Scooby and Courage shook the water from their fur, their legs still shaky from the strong current.
"Courage? Shaggy? Scooby?" Muriel asked, after coughing up some water, "I had an awful dream, I did."
Shaggy, Scooby, and Courage glanced at each other, deciding to keep the night's events a secret for now. Muriel had been through enough.
"Rare you okay Ruriel?" Scooby asked, attempting to change the subject.
"I'm perfectly fine, thanks to you boys," Muriel answered.
Courage, remembering the locket he had retrieved, blinked, "Oh that reminds me." He gently placed the locket around Muriel's neck.
"Oh, my. Thank you all so much," Muriel said, happy before getting up, "Let's go home."
The four of them, their hearts still racing from the night's events, began the long trek back home, leaving behind the chilling whispers of the swamp, the echoes of forgotten love, and the lingering scent of danger.
Well that's all for this chapter, next will be Goat Pain. 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.
Goat Pain: Muriel sprains her back and the only cure is a hot spring on top of Mt. Nowhere. The peak is guarded by a super-powerful goat angry at people for clogging the spring with trash. Shaggy, Scooby and Courage have to get past the goat and somehow restore the spring.