The next day, a van drove through the streets of New York. It was a late 60s style model with an aquamarine and green paint job, and decorated all over with bright orange flowers.
But this was no ordinary van. It was called the Mystery Machine, and it was owned by a team of teenage mystery-solving sleuths known as Mystery Inc.
Driving was Fred Jones, the team leader and expert at building complicated traps.
Next to him was Daphne Blake, a red-headed beauty with an eye for both fashion and spotting clues.
Then there was Velma Dinkley, the brains of the team as well as the team skeptic, believing firmly that there's always a rational and logical explanation for everything.
And finally there was Norville Rogers, or Shaggy as he was better known, and his dog & best pal, Scooby Doo. The pair were known for two things: their love of food and fear of all things scary.
The Gang would travel across the US and even other countries, solving mysteries involving ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural entities who would always turn out to be people in costumes.
But today, the Gang were in New York for an entirely different reason...
"Well, here we are, gang, New York City," Fred announced.
"Gosh, I've always loved coming to this city!" Daphne marveled.
"I'll say," Velma agreed, reading from a tablet. "New York's one of the largest and most cultured cities in the US."
"Like all I know about New York is that it has all sorts of amazing food!" Shaggy stated with a laugh. "I've heard it has some the best pizza joints in town."
"Reah, the best!" Scooby licked his lips.
"Thanks for inviting us along to visit your cousins, Fred," Daphne said.
"No problem, Daphne," Fred replied. "I can't wait for you all to meet Casey and Max. It's been so long since I've seen either of them. Been so preoccupied with solving mysteries, that I never had the time."
“Like no rest for the best! Eh, Scoob?” Shaggy grinned.
“Reah,” Chuckled Scooby.
“At least you’ll have time to get caught up,” Daphne smiled.
"Where are we meeting Casey again?" Velma asked.
"At a diner where his friend Gabby works," Fred replied.
"Diner?" Shaggy and Scooby chorused with delight.
"Like your cousin picked the perfect place!" Shaggy said.
"So what are your cousins like, Freddy?" Daphne inquired.
"Well, Casey's really into sports, especially hockey," Fred explained. "We used to play one on one back when we were kids... and he'd beat me every time." He added with a frown.
"Somehow I'm not surprised," Velma smirked, knowing full well that Fred was not very good at most things.
Fred continued, "And Max really loves comics. Last I heard, he and his best friend, Pervis, were making a comic of their own. Don't know what it's about though."
“Like, maybe he’ll give us a free copy,” Shaggy hoped.
“Reah. Free Ropy!” Scooby chimed in.
“He and Pervis must be good artists,” Daphne said.
“Yeah. Hard to see him not draw,” chuckled Fred.
"Hey, maybe while we're there, we'll run into my fashion friend," Daphne surmised. "She and her friends are visiting New York as well."
"You have a fashion friend?" Velma questioned the Blake girl.
"Well, online I do," Daphne replied, taking out her phone. "I've never really met her in person. She sends me pics of all her latest outfits. Here's one of her recent designs." She showed her friends some pictures of some fabulous dresses, one had a skirt that was designed to look like a carousel.
"Breathtaking," Velma replied uninterested.
"Wow, like those are really good," Shaggy complemented.
"You can say that again," Fred agreed. "Your friend's got real talent, Daph."
"I know, right? She also plays in a band with her friends," Daphne added.
"Rike the Rainbooms?" Scooby asked.
"Huh? Now that you mention it..."
"Jinkies! Take a look at this!" Velma exclaimed, showing them some news articles she'd found. "It says here that New York was once invaded."
"Invaded?" Fred asked.
"By who?" Daphne chimed in.
"By these brain-like alien beings called the Kraang," Velma answered.
"The Rraang?" Scooby popped up.
"Yep. According to this article, they used a type of mutagenic ooze that terraformed the city and mutated dozens a people!" Velma explained.
"Zoinks! That's one block party I wouldn't want to go to," Shaggy said.
"Re too," Scooby agreed.
Velma went on, "They held the city captive for months until a mysterious unknown party stopped them. But nobody knows to this day who it was?"
"Really?" Daphne asked.
"Really," Velma confirmed. "But that wasn't the only invasion that happen in the city. Apparently, it was also invaded by these dinosaur aliens called the Triceratons, some bug-like aliens, ghosts, and even some weird rock monsters and a giant mechanical ball."
Shaggy gulped, "Like New York suddenly doesn't sound so great right now!"
"Relax, Shaggy," Fred assured him. "Non of that stuff ever really happened. Right, Velma?"
"Right," Velma nodded. "These so called reports are just tabloid rumors made to drum up more readers. I mean, there was once a report about a supposed sighting of giant turtles. Ha!" She laughed. "Now that's just utterly ridiculous!"
Meanwhile, a familiar tour bus was also driving through the New York streets.
"We're nearly there, darlings," Rarity called from the driver's seat.
“Yippee!” Pinkie Pie jumped in her seat. “Which means we’ll see our friends soon!”
Rainbow yawned in her seat, “Five more minutes.”
“Least we won’t have any dull moments with the boys for you to nap through, Rainbow,” Applejack teased earning a look from Rainbow.
“I’m just glad we’re able to see them more often,” Fluttershy smiled.
“I’m just glad they’re not suffering from our encounter with Vam Mi and her children from last Halloween,” Twilight added as she worked on a microchip.
“Yeah. Took me a while to play that vampire hunter game after that,” Sunset said, not looking up from her game player.
"I still have nightmares," Fluttershy shivered, ringing a loch of her hair.
"Me too," Spike added from Twilight's bag.
"Well, hopefully this visit will help take our minds off that whole ordeal," Applejack surmised.
“But at least we survived thanks to Pinkie and Mikey,” Sunset recalled.
“And all our friends and the Spy Racers,” Twilight added.
“And we can put that experience to bed and enjoy ourselves,” Applejack stated.
"Speaking of which," Rainbow stretched and turned to a certain movie club girl sitting next to her. "You excited to be back in New York, squirt?"
"Yeah..." Scootaloo answered dismally, staring out the window.
The girls looked at her in concern as Twilight asked, "Is everything okay, Scootaloo?"
Sunset chimed in, "You've been like that since we left Canterlot. I know you're a little bumbed out that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle couldn't come but-"
"It's not that," Scootaloo interjected. "I mean I am disappointed they had to stay home, but that's not the reason why I'm upset.
"Then what?" Spike asked.
"I think I know what," Rainbow guessed then asked Scootaloo, "You still upset about what happened last night?"
"Yeah," Scootaloo nodded sadly.
"What happened last night?" Applejack asked.
Scootaloo began, "Me, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle went to see this horror movie called 'The Old Pony'."
"Oh, I saw that movie," Pinkie piped up. "Boy was it scary!" She shuttered.
"I thought so too," Scootaloo continued. "Halfway through the movie, I got so scared that I ran out of the theater screaming. Then that girl from Viper Kai, Lightning Dust and her friends, showed up and laughed at me." She lowered her head. "They called me Scared-alooo..."
"Oh no," Fluttershy covered her mouth.
Rainbow broke in, "Luckily, I showed up and told them to take a hike!"
"You didn't get into a fight with them, did you?" Twilight asked nervously.
"Well, I was tempted," Rainbow admitted and grumbled, "Especially after Lightning Dust mocked my hair. But then I threatened to bring mall security if they didn't scram. And so they did."
"But not before Lightning Dust said that I'll always be a weak little coward," Scootaloo added sadly.
"Hey, like I told you after they left, Scoot, don't listen to those jerks," Rainbow put a hand on her shoulder. "Viper Kai are always saying junk like that; and they're always wrong." She turned back to her friends. "That's why I invited Scootaloo along, to help take her mind off that."
"But what if Lightning Dust had a point?" Scootaloo retorted. "I mean, I do get easily scared a lot. And if I got scared by a dumb movie..."
"It DOESN'T make you a coward!" Fluttershy stated firmly. "I know what that's like more than anyone."
“Fluttershy's right, Scootaloo," Sunset added. "Think about how brave you were when you and the other girls helped us. Like in the Digital World, fighting against Ch'rell and Dr Drakken, you even took on Dragaunus in Ananheim.”
“Because AppleBloom and Sweetie Belle were there to help me!” Scootaloo protested. “Without them, I’m just a scaredy-cat.”
“Didn’t Leomon say something to you about not letting what Chaos Mage said rattle you?” Rainbow questioned.
“Because of our teamwork,” Scootaloo countered.
“Even so, I think he also meant when you were alone as well,” Sunset tried.
"And everyone get's scared by even the simplest things," Twilight added.
"Yeah, Twilight stresses out over every little thing," Spike remarked.
"I do not!" Twilight objected before she looked back at her microchip and gasped. "Oh no! I think I'm missing a transistor?!" Spike smirked and motioned to her as if proving his point.
"Maybe Leo can give you advice about fear when we see the guys," Rainbow advised.
"We shouldn't be long now," Applejack spoke.
Just then, Rarity's phone pinged and she checked it, "Oh, my fashion friend, Daphne, just replied to the pic I sent her-"
"Rarity!" The girls cried pointing.
Rarity looked up and saw that the traffic light was red! She screamed and slammed her foot on the brake, screeching the bus to a stop. Rarity let out a breath of relief before she glanced back at her friends, "Perhaps I'll check my phone when I'm not driving..." she grinned sheepishly as the girls glared at her.
The closing school bell rang at Roosevelt High as the students left their classes. On a tv screen, an African American boy sat at a desk like a news broadcaster. He wore a brownish yellow hoodie, gray pants, and white sports shoes.
"This is Burn Thompson saying, good night Roosevelt High and have a great weekend!" The boy spoke out as the screen turned off.
April O'Neil along with her friends Casey Jones, Zach, Caitlyn, and Carter left the building where they met up with Carter's sister Angel and their friend Keno. Then the seven began walking home. But Casey was more anxious to get home than the others as he was practically running.
"Whoa! Casey! Where's the fire?" Zach joked.
"You're in a bigger hurry than usual, Casey," April grinned.
"Sorry, Red. I just gotta get to the diner Gabby works at."
"Wanna see Gabby real soon, Jones?" Angel teased.
"Hardly," Casey hid a blush. "My cousin Fred's coming to visit and I'm supposed to meet him and his friends there. I haven't seen him in ages!"
"Oh yeah? You told us about him. Don't he and his friends solve mysteries?" asked Caitlyn.
"Yeah, he's real into that stuff," Casey answered. "And building traps to catch ghosts and monsters."
"Building traps?" April asked in confusion.
"To catch ghosts and monsters?" Carter raised a brow.
Casey only shrugged.
“Any chance he met a real monster?” Zach asked.
“Nah. From what I heard, they’re all jerks in Halloween costumes.”
“I consider that lucky compared to what we go through on a regular basis,” Caitlyn huffed.
“More so, from what I know, he and his friends believe theres no such thing as ghosts,” Casey said.
“Wait until they get a load of the guys,” Carter joked.
"Yeah!" Keno laughed.
"Hold up," April suddenly stopped. "Do you guys hear that?"
Everyone listened and sure enough they did hear something. Loud grunts of pain and the sound of a beating.
"Sounds like trouble," Keno stated.
"It's coming from over there," Angel pointed to a nearby alleyway and they all hurried down it.
"Hey, this leads to the playground. Where me, Zach, and Buffy saw you and the guys fighting the Purple Dragons," Caitlyn recalled.
As they got closer, the grunts became louder and Zach recognized the voices, "That's Max and Pervis!" And they all peeked around the corner.
"Oh no," April said.
There were Max and Pervis, being held in a double headlock by the bully Barry. While his two goons, Zeke and Luke, were digging through the pair's backpacks.
"So ladies, you ready to start squawking?" Barry asked. "Or do you need more 'convincing'?!" He tightened his hold on them.
"Don't like fine art?" Max choked, and Barry punched him in the face.
Zeke spoke up as he threw Max's bag away, "Wasn't in the puke's bag, Barry."
"Or the nerd's," Luke added, tossing Pervis's bag.
Barry turned back to his two victims menacingly, "Let's try this again..." He dragged them over and slammed them hard against a wall. "Where's that comic you drew?!"
"I thought you'd be thrilled to be in a comic?" Max asked teasingly, and Barry bashed both his and Pervis's heads together.
"Talk!" Barry roared. "And maybe I won't break 'all' your limbs!"
"How generous of you," Pervis said sarcastically, which earned him a hard knee in the gut. "Agh! Alright! Alright! I'll tell you!" He broke and Barry threw them both to the ground as he, Zeke, and Luke loomed over them.
"Smart move, nerd," Barry grinned. "So where is it?"
Pervis slowly sat up, holding his gut, "Okay, we hid the comic in Iamafathead."
Barry looked confused, "I-am-a-fathead?"
"Yes you are," Pervis smirked, and Max burst out laughing.
"Nice one, Perv!" He chortled.
Unfortunately, Barry punched Max down then grabbed Pervis in anger, "You just signed your death warrant!" And slammed his face against the bars of the swing three times, then body-slammed and nailed him with a pile-driver, making Pervis cry out in pain. Then Barry grabbed Max. "Now you get yours, Jones!" And threw Max to the ground and started whacking him in the head. Max tried to get back up only to get kicked back down. Then Barry kicked him hard in the gut and started punching him hard in the face repeatedly.
April and Caitlyn covered their mouths in horror while Casey and the others glared.
"Barry, you jerkbag!" The hockey boy sneered.
"Hey man, we gotta do something," Carter said.
"I'm down for teaching that jerk a lesson," Angel got out her sticks.
"Ditto!" Zach added.
“I say we won’t let him know what hit him,” Keno drew one of his spar sticks.
“Sneaky cheap shots. Good call, Keno,” Casey smirked.
“Wait!” April halted them. “I sense something.”
“Another bully?” Angel raised her brow.
Before April could answer, a trashcan lid flew in and beaned Barry in the head. The bully wipped around with a nasty glare. Standing there, hands on her hips and tapping her foot, was Hana.
She spoke lighthearted, "Sorry to interrupt your beat down on my friends, Barry, but I'm gonna have to ask you - to back off!" She said the last part in an angered tone.
"Get lost, Hana, before I pound you next!" Barry threatened.
"Big talk coming from you, 'Mamma's Boy'!" Hana mocked.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Barry growled.
"Oh no, sorry, I really meant to call you A Big Zit-Faced Butt Fart!"
"Burn!" Max chuckled in pain.
Now Barry was mad. He stormed over to the girl, pounding his fists, "You're a corpse, Hana!"
"Um, I should warn you, Barry, I've practiced Kung Fu-" Hana began before Barry cut her off.
"Now your gonna practice being in a body-bag!" The bully snarled and threw a punch... only for Hana to grab his wrist and put him in an armlock, taking both him, his goons, and the others by surprise.
"You didn't let me finish, Barry," Hana smiled. "I've practiced Kung Fu... since I was five!" Then in a flash, she kneed him in the gut and kicked his face before she let go of his arm and knocked him down with a side kick.
Barry got up mad, "Now you're dead!"
"Bring it on, tiny," Hana beckoned.
With a yell, Barry charged at Hana and threw more punches, but the girl dodged and deflected each strike before she pushed him back then struck him with her own punches and kicks before leg sweeping him, making the bully drop to the ground with a thud.
Barry growled before he shot up, grabbed Hana and started kneeing her in the gut. But then Hana pushed back his knee strikes, knocked his arms off her, and did a back flip-kick to his jaw.
The others watched in amazement.
"Whoa! Totally metal!" Casey said, impressed.
"I'll say!" Keno agreed.
"Who is that?" April asked.
"That's Hana Wu," Zach revealed. "She's one of my other friends."
“Rumor had it she’s an expert on kung fu. Guess the rumors are true.” Caitlyn observed.
“Yeah, she’s cool,” Angel admitted.
“Least she’s giving Barry a beating,” Carter noticed.
“I'm almost jealous,” Casey nodded. “Almost.”
Barry chased Hanna toward the merry-go-round. She grabbed hold of the bars and swung around just as Barry turned and was kicked in the face as she came back. Hana jumped off and headed toward the swings with Barry close behind her. She flipped through one before tossing it back at the bully, making him trip and fall on his face.
Hana then leaned down to him, "So, you wanna back off now?" She asked.
Barry responded by hitting her with an upper cut, then grabbed her and threw her to the ground. But when he tried to throw down a punch, Hana dodged to the side, elbowed his fist away, then pushed herself up, slamming one foot into his knee, making him yell in pain as she swung her other foot up kicking him in the head, before knocking him down with a double fist strike.
"A simple no would've sufficed," Hana said.
"Oooo!" winced Casey, Carter, Zach, and Keno.
"He had to have felt that one!" Carter grinned.
Caitlyn was taking photos with her phone as April looked worried, "I don't think she can keep this up."
Barry got up, more angry than ever, and looked around, seeing that Hana had disappeared. Until he heard a whistle and turned to see Hana standing off to the side waving her fingers. He rushed towards her, ready to pulverize her. But when he threw a punch, Hana grabbed it, dropped down, and used her legs to toss Barry against a wall upside down before he fell into an open dumpster.
Hana jumped back to her feet and faced Zeke and Luke, "You boys wanna go a round?"
Zeke and Luke looked at each other before they glared and rushed at Hana. Luke swung a punch, but Hana dodged around him and shoulder swatted him down. Zeke then tried to hit her, but she dodged his swings, chain-punched him, and elbow struck him back. Then Luke grabbed her from behind but Hana elbowed him in the chest, grabbed hold of his arm, then spun around and kneed him in the gut before kicking back a returning Zeke. Hana then swung a chop to Luke's face, kicked him in the chest, and swung him into Zeke before she spung-kicked them both to the ground.
Hana then dusted off her hands, "They always gotta learn the hard way-" She was suddenly grabbed by Barry and head-bashed in the face, before he threw her face first against the dumpster and shocked her in the gut before throwing her back to Zeke and Luke, who then held her down.
Barry approached the restrained Hana and snarled, "Nobody makes a chump out of me and lives!" And he started punching her left and right across the face three times. When he was suddenly nailed in the forehead by Angel's stick. "What the-"
"Goongala!" Casey wacked him away with his hockey stick.
Then Zeke and Luke were struck by a tessen before April and Angel jumped in and knocked them both off Hana and into Carter and Keno who then swung kicked them into a wall.
"You okay, Hana?" Zach asked as he ran up to her.
Hana rubbed her mouth, "I'm good."
"Great," Angel nodded. "Now what say we help Jones take care of Barry?"
"You read my mind, girl," Hana said, cracking her fingers.
Barry angrily got up, "You're gonna pay for interfering Jones!"
"Ya should've thought of that before bullying our friends, Barry!" Casey taunted with his stick as Angel, Zach, and Hana stood next to him.
"And I got a score to settle with you and your girl, Roberts!"
"She's not my girl!" Zach protested.
"And you need to be taught a lesson, Big boy," Angel twirled her sticks.
Meanwhile, April stood against Zeke and Luke with Keno and Carter as Carter taunted the two, "Why don't you punks pick on someone your own size?"
"Like you?" Zeke glared.
"Well, duh," Keno grinned.
The two charged before Carter and Keno grabbed them and threw them to April who roundhouse kicked them.
Meanwhile, Barry attacked Casey, throwing a punch. But the hockey boy dodged and hit him left and right with his stick. But when he swung again, Barry halted his stick and punched him to the ground.
As he raised his fists ready to pound him, Angel jumped up onto his shoulders and hit him in the head with her sticks before she leaned back, using her body weight to topple him over.
Barry got up just as Zach rushed forward and upper wacked him with his own hocky stick. Then Hana lept up from behind and nailed him with a flying kick.
Zeke tried to punch April who dodged him left and right. Right when he was about to land a hit, April ducked as Carter blocked it.
“No no no! It’s not nice to hit a lady!” He taunted long enough for Keno to throw Luke on him.
“You ever say that around Buffy?” April asked amusingly.
Carter only waved it off, “All I got from her was a scoff and a ‘No one likes a show off’ rant.”
“Of course,” April rolled her eyes.
“Don’t look now but Dumb and Dumber are not out yet,” Keno pointed to the two getting back up.
Berry slammed Angel against a wall and tried to punch her, only for her to dodge the strike making him hit the wall instead. "Yeow!" Barry cried before Angel kicked him off her. Then Zach wacked him in the back of the head with his hockey stick and Hana struck him with an upper kick. Barry growled and swung his fist at Hana, but she ducked and then delivered a one-inch-punch to his chest, knocking him back.
"You're all d-" Barry was interrupted when Casey rammed him into a wall, like he had once done to Hun when they fought at the cheesey ball factory. Barry glared back at the hockey boy.
"Come get some, scum!" Casey beckoned and Barry charged into him and the two began to fight.
As Casey fought Barry, Max and Pervis regained consciousness to see the fight. Max was more surprised to see who was fighting Barry, "Casey?"
Hana observed herself and was also intrigued at Both Keno and April's fighting styles. "Interesting..." she whispered.
Barry pushed Casey against the wall as they wrestled. "When I'm done with you, Jones, you won't have any bones left to break!"
"Break this!" Casey shoved Barry off then swung his stick, nailing him right where the sun don't shine.
Barry doubled over before Zach and Angel hit him all over with their sticks, then Hana rushed forward, jumped up, and knocked him away with a mid-air spin-kick. Right as April had nailed Zeke and Luke with an upper cut and a side kick, then Keno and Carter grabbed and flipped the two over their shoulders, sending them crashing into Barry.
The three bullies lay on the ground as the seven stood before them.
"Get outta here, Barry!" Casey ordered.
"Unless you want more bruises!" Angel added.
The three stood up as Barry pointed, "This ain't over, pukes!" He threatened before he and his goons took off.
"Heh, funny, I think it kind of is," Hana remarked.
When the bullies were gone, Caitlyn came out of hiding while the others went to Pervis and Max and Hana walked up to them.
"You guys okay?" Zach asked Pervis as he and Hana helped him up.
"Bruised but alive," Pervis replied.
Casey was helping up Max, "Ya alright, Max."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," Max grunted. "Thanks, cuz."
"Cuz?" Zach, Hana, and Pervis jerked towards them in surprise.
"You and Casey are cousins?" Zach asked.
"You never told us that, Max," Pervis added.
"You guys never asked," Max noted, then he noticed Caitlyn and grinned at her. "Oh uh, hey there, Cate. Did you see how awesome I was facing down Barry?"
"Oh yeah, you looked sooo brave when he was beating you to a pulp!" Caitlyn replied sarcastically.
"Uhhh..." Max quickly turned back to Casey. "By the way, awesome moves, Casey!"
"Oh, you know, the usual 'Two minutes for high sticking' move," Casey gloated.
April turned to Hana, "So, Hana was it?" Hana nodded to her. "You had some good moves back there."
“Thanks,” Hana smiled. “I wasn’t lying when I told that jerk I studied Kung fu since I was five. By the way, what you guys did back there. That was martial arts?”
“Yes mam,” Keno nodded.
“That was cool.”
“Way cool,” Awed Pervis and Max.
"So why was Barry attacking you guys?" Zach asked his friends.
"He found out that we made him into a big ugly monster in our comic," Max grinned.
"He wanted to rip our comic into pieces," Pervis chimed in. "And then break every bone in our bodies."
"Fortunately, I hid the comic where those jerks wouldn't think to look," Max smirked.
"And where would that be?" Angel inquired.
Grinning, Max spun around and lifted the back of his shirt to reveal the said comic in a plastic bag that was taped to his back. "Literally behind my back!" He answered smugly.
"Nice!" Zach exclaimed.
"Clev-er," Hana said impressed.
"Totally metal," Casey grinned.
"Classic Max," Pervis smirked.
April blinked, "I don't know if I'm impressed or weirded out?"
"I'd go with weirded out," Caitlyn deadpanned.
“Interesting,” Carter admitted.
“Yeah pretty cool right?” Pervis grinned.
“Whatever works for you guys,” Angel shrugged.
Casey suddenly remembered, "Wait, what time is it?"
"Almost three-thirty," Caitlyn checked her phone.
“Shoot! I gotta get to the diner!" Then Casey took off running before calling back, "Later!"
Everyone stared after him for a moment before April spoke, "We better get going too, we're supposed to meet up with some friends." She said on behalf of herself and both the Bridge and Roberts siblings.
"And I'm gonna be late to my pizza deliveries," Keno added.
As everyone was leaving, Hana quickly grabbed Caitlyn's arm which also got Zach’s attention as well.
“Wait, real quick. Could you guys meet back with us later tonight?” She asked.
“Why?” Caitlyn asked, pulling her arm back.
“I need your help with something,” Hana smiled innocently.
“Hey Zach! Caitlyn! You two coming?” Carter called to them.
“Be right there!” Zach waved as Caitlyn whispered.
“Okay, fine. But this better be good." Hana nodded and the two join their friends.
"Uh, just exactly what are we doing tonigh?" Pervis questioned.
"You'll see," Hana answered with a sly look before she skipped away.
After that, Max spoke,"Well, I'm liking this plan so far." Pervis gave him a look.
The Mystery Machine pulled up to the diner as the Gang exited the vehicle and walked inside. People were dinning at booths and the long counter, a couple of teens were playing an arcade game at one end of diner, and an old couple were dancing to the music from an old jukebox. The smell of cooking food from the kitchen filled the air as Shaggy and Scooby took a big wiff and let out loving sighs, their tongues dropping out of their mouths.
"Like I said it before and I'll say it again, you're cousin picked the perfect place to meet," Shaggy stated.
“Reah, a perfect place to reet,” Scooby repeated.
“Wow. So retro,” Daphne looked around.
Fred led the group in the diner, “Cmon. Casey should be here somewhere.”
“So, Fred, how do we know your cousin?” Asked Velma.
"Yo, Fred!" Fred turned to see Casey waving at him from a booth.
"Casey!" Fred hurried over and the two shared a quick hug. "Boy, you changed a lot since we were kids!"
"Right back at ya," Casey replied. "You've been working out."
"I bench two-twenty," Fred bragged. "Corse nowhere near as much as Uncle Karl but-"
"Ahem!" Velma cleared her throat.
"Oh right!" Fred quickly introduced, "Gang, this is my cousin, Casey Jones."
"What up!" Casey flashed a peace sign.
"I can see the family resemblance," Velma said dryly.
"Casey, these are my friends, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby Doo," Fred introduced his friends.
"Nice to meet ya," Casey greeted.
Scooby shook his hand, "Rice to reet you roo."
Casey double took, "Did your dog just talk?"
"Rog? Where?" Scooby looked around.
Shaggy whispered to Casey. “Like, you’ll have to pardon Scooby. He’s really a groovy dog.”
“Eh. He’s cool.” Casey shrugged.
As the group sat down, Daphne noticed Casey’s missing teeth. “So Casey, if you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your front teeth?”
“Mostly from playing hockey over the years. But I’m a tough guy.” Casey grinned.
“Like, we’ve heard you’re a great player, Casey. Maybe we can see some of your moves,” Shaggy hoped.
“Reah,” Chuckled Scooby.
“I think I can show you during practice,” Casey replied, leaning back with his arms folded behind his head. "And ya heard right. Casey Jones is the best of the best when it comes to hockey."
"A bit full of yourself I see," Velma noted.
"You can say that again," came a female voice.
Both Casey and the Gang turned to see a certain Latino girl, dressed in a waitress uniform.
“Oh right!” Casey blushed. “This is my teammate and fellow classmate Gabby. She’s a tough defense player. Gabs, I’d like you to meet my cousin Fred and his friends Velma, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby Doo.”
“Hi,” The four waved.
“Rello,” Scooby smiled.
“Hola,” Gabby greeted. Then she gave a look of confusion and whispered to Casey, "Did that dog just talk?"
"Yeah," Casey whispered back. "Totally weird."
Gabby shook it off before taking out a note pad and pen, "So, what'll it be?" Then she humorously motioned to Scooby. "I can get a bone for your dog."
"Rone? Yuck!" Scooby gagged.
"Like no bones for Scoob, please," Shaggy said. "We'll have two orders of everything on the menu!"
Gabby blinked, "Everything?" She glanced at the Gang.
"Just go with it," Velma waved off and Gabby shrugged.
Soon the rest of the Gang and Casey placed their orders, then Gabby left and came back later with their food, while another waiter arrived pushing a cart stacked with plates of food. Gabby then placed them all one by one in front of the eager Shaggy and Scooby.
"Woo!" Gabby wiped her forehead. "There you go. If you want, we can wrap up the... leftovers..." she trailed off as her eyes widened in disbelief.
The pair had devoured all the plates of food in mere seconds! Casey, who hadn't even touched the burger he'd ordered, stared in shock with his jaw dropped. In fact, the whole diner was staring in awe at how much they had eaten and how fast they had done it. They didn't even put on any weight from all they ate.
"No... volteando... manera, ¡¿como hicieron ustedes dos todo eso?!" Gabby said, dumbfounded.
"Can I have your autographs?" the other waiter asked, holding out his pen and note pad.
"Uhhh," Casey said, unable to find the words at what he'd just seen, when Fred leaned in.
"They have high metabolism," he explained.
“I’ve seen a lot of people pig out before, but you two set a world record!” Gabby jaw dropped as Shaggy and Scooby signed the notepad for the other waiter.
“We can tell you stories,” Daphne said.
“And familiar ones,” Velma deadpanned.
As Casey and the others talked, Scooby glanced out the window and noticed something. He patted Shaggy on the shoulder.
"Like what is it, Scoob?" He asked and Scooby pointed out the window.
Outside they saw a pizza guy on a scooter making deliveries to some of the corner houses close to the diner. Unknown to them was that the pizza guy was Keno. The boy looked around as if to make sure no one was watching, then he took out a pizza box and made his way into an alleyway. Shaggy and Scooby looked at each other in curiosity.
In the alleyway, Keno placed the pizza box on top of a trashcan then got back on his scooter and rode off. Right after he had left, Shaggy and Scooby peeked in then walked up to the box and opened it. Inside was a pizza with some unique toppings.
"Like jellybeans?" Shaggy asked aloud.
"And Ranchovies?" Scooby added.
"And jalapeños?" Shaggy finished. "Like who in their right mind would come up - with such a brilliant creation?!" He said in amazement.
"Rah rulinary renius!" Scooby noted.
"I'm sure whoever ordered this pizza won't mind if we have just a little taste, right Scoob?" Shaggy inquired his best pal.
"Reah reah!" Scooby nodded. But before either of them could take a slice...
"Well, what have we got here!" Shaggy and Scooby turned and saw three young men standing at the entrance of the alley, and they did not look friendly. The first one was skinny, the second was big, and the third was medium with a long bushy mustache. All three of them wore black vests and had dragon tattoos on their arms.
"Looks like we got some trespassers on our turf!" Said Fong.
"And one of'em's a hippie!" Sid pointed with a laugh.
"You new in town?" Tsoi asked.
"Um... yes," Shaggy answered meekly.
"Well then, allow us to give you a proper New York welcome!" Fong said as the three stalked towards the frightened pair.
"Uh, listen, we are so very very sorry for trespassing onto your alley," Shaggy said as he and Scooby backend away in fear. "Right, Scoob?"
"Uh huh uh huh!" Scooby nodded.
"And we're like double sorry for trying to eat your pizza!"
"Huh?" The three looked at the pizza, before Sid replied in confusion.
"We didn't order any pizza?"
"And who would eat junk pizza like that?" Tsoi said, unaware that a figure landed on a fire escape above them.
"You got two options," Fong stated. "Either fork over all the cash you got on ya, or don't walk out of here... alive!"
Shaggy and Scooby gulped, but before they could respond...
"I got a third option!" Suddenly the figure jumped down behind the three, twirling a pair of numchucks. "You back away from those dudes!"
"You!" Fong sneered. "Get him!" He, Sid, and Tsoi rushed at the figure while Shaggy and Scooby took cover behind a dumpster.
"Booyahkasha!" The figure yelled and fought the three. They swung some punches but the figure easily dodged and wacked them with his chucks and kicks.
“Like what he say, Scoob?” Shaggy shivered as he clung to Scooby.
“Ruh, Rooyakasha?” Scooby guessed.
“Any idea what it means?” Shaggy asked.
“Ro idea.”
“Like me neither,” Shaggy admitted while they watched the mysterious figure fight the thugs.
The figure wacked Fong away, dodged a swing from Tsoi then dropped on his back and swung his feet up, kicking him back, and jumped up before hitting Sid with a double spin-kick.
Finally the figure jumped up and spun around before split-kicking the three thugs to the ground.
"Bail!" Fong cried and they all scrambled to their feet and fled the alley.
Shaggy and Scooby came out of hiding and approached the figure, "Like dude, thanks!" Shaggy thanked, while the figure flinched. "Man, you really saved our-" He froze, as he and Scooby got a good look at the figure. "Lives..."
The figure slowly turned his head, wide-eyed in panic, and the pair saw that the figure wasn't human. He was a giant turtle with an orange mask around his eyes!
"What up..." he waved nervously.
Shaggy and Scooby stared in horror for a moment before they screamed.
Then the turtle screamed.
Shaggy and Scooby screamed again.
And the turtle screamed again.
Then Shaggy and Scooby raced out of the alley and all the way back to the diner, bursting through the doors, knocking over some customers who were just leaving, and dove underneath their table, startling the Gang, Casey, and Gabby.
"Whoa!" They exclaimed.
"Shaggy, Scooby, what's wrong?" Daphne asked in concern.
"You look like you saw a ghost," Casey stated.
"Like not a ghost!" Shaggy stood up along with Scooby. "We saw a monster!"
"A monster?" Velma asked.
"Reah, a big rurtle ronster!" Scooby exclaimed.
"A big turtle monster?" Fred echoed in confusion.
While not noticing the horrified looks on Casey and Gabby's faces or hearing the girl let out a quiet, "Oh no!"
“He was right there, fighting those thugs!” Shaggy pointed as he and Scooby took the group to the alleyway which was now vacanct.
“There’s no one here now,” Daphne said, looking around.
“Like he was just in the shadows fighting with these twirly chain things!” Shaggy explained.
“You mean nunchucks?” Velma corrected.
“Ro!” Scooby cried, and everyone turned to the Great Dane who looked shocked.
“What is it, Scooby?” Daphne asked.
“Re took the Rizza!” Scooby pointed. Sure enough, the pizza that was sitting on the trash can was gone.
"Like not the pizza!" Shaggy wailed. "Ahh ha ha man, we never got to taste it!" He dropped to the ground, moaning in despair, while Velma rolled her eyes at his dramatics.
"And I thought Rarity was a drama la reina," Gabby muttered to Casey who nodded.
"What about these thugs that jumped you, Shaggy?" Fred asked. "What did they look like?"
“Like they looked scary for starters,” Shaggy explained. "And they were dressed in black and had these weird purple tattoos."
“Reah! Rurple Rattoos!" Scooby nodded.
"Wait, were those tattoos dragon tattoos?" Casey asked.
"Now that you mention it, yeah," Shaggy confirmed.
Casey and Gabby groaned in annoyance.
"I take it you know those thugs?" Velma inquired.
"Yeah!" Casey answered. "Their the Purple Dragons, a gang of crooks who think they own the streets! I've had lots of run ins with them before."
"Me too," Gabby added. "Six of them once tried to mug me! And soon regretted it." She smirked.
"Yeah, she fought them off and totally kicked their butts!" Casey said.
"You fought off six thugs by yourself?" Velma asked Gabby in surprise.
"As our amiga's brother would say, eeyup," Gabby nodded.
"Course, I helped a little, but yeah," Casey added, while leaving out the part about the Turtles helping as well.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Daphne marveled.
"I'll say," Fred agreed. "Casey was right about you being tough, Gabby."
"Well, I am from Harlem," Gabby stated.
"Anyway, back to the matter at hand," Velma said. "I think we should report this attack to the police."
"Ah, those Dragon creeps are probably long gone by now," Casey waved off. "And they'll think twice before trying to mug someone else."
"Yeah, but still-"
"Hey, why don't we head over to the hocky rink so you can see our awesome moves, yo?" Casey suggested, cutting Velma off.
"Yeah, my shift's over anyway," Gabby stated. "I just gotta get changed and grab my stuff so we can head out."
"Well i suppose," Fred shrugged and they all headed back to the diner.
Soon they were walking through the streets of Chinatown as Casey had said it was a short cut to the rink.
But as they walked, Daphne whispered to her friends, "Why would Casey not want to tell the police?"
"I don't know?" Fred whispered back.
"And it sure is suspicious the way he and Gabby changed subject like that," Velma noted.
"Not only that, but back at the diner, I noticed that he and Gabby looked really worried when Shaggy and Scooby mentioned the turtle monster," Daphne noted.
"Like, maybe they're afraid of turtles!" Shaggy suggested.
"Reah!" Scooby agreed.
"I don't think so. Casey was more afraid of rats than turtles," Fred recalled.
"Not a big fan of them myself," Daphne shivered.
"Did he ever get in trouble with the police?" Velma asked.
"Not that I recall," Fred shrugged. "He's mostly rough on the ice when it comes to hockey."
"Yo, what are you guys whispering about?" Casey asked, looking back at them.
"Oh nothing," Fred waved.
"Just curious about the turtle creature Shaggy and Scooby saw," Daphne smiled.
"Come to think of it, I remember reading articles about possible sightings of more than one turtle creature in New York and Canterlot. You know anything about them?" Velma asked.
"Nah!" Casey waved off. "From what I heard, they're just kids in costumes."
"Si! Giant tortugas? Who'd believe that?" Gabby deadpanned.
"Like we would!" Shaggy stated as Scooby chattered his teeth.
"Hey, what's happening over there?" Daphne pointed to something up ahead and everyone looked.
They were just coming up to the Chinatown museum, where a crowd had gathered. Standing outside, in a neck-brace and sporting a black eye, was the security guard, Frank, talking to the reporter, Joan Grody.
"Exactly what was stolen from the museum last night, Officer?" they heard Joan ask.
"Just some rusty old Chinese dagger." Frank answered. Casey's eyes widened hearing the word 'dagger', and he became even more filled with dread when Frank added, "And I don't really believe it myself, but it was stolen by a ghost!"
"Do you mean to say that this museum is haunted?" Joan inquired.
Hearing the words 'ghost' and 'haunted' got Mystery Inc's attention.
"Without a doubt," Frank answered, then motioned to his injuries. "What do you think gave me these?!
Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby looked at each other, the three giving knowing smiles while Shaggy and Scooby had looks of worry, as they all knew what this meant...
"Well, Gang," Fred began. "It looks like we've got a mystery on our hands!"
Author's Note
Trivia:
• The vampire hunter game Sunset mentioned is a reference to Castlevania.
• Burn Thompson is from the 80s TMNT show.
• For Hana's fight with the bullies, I took some inspiration from these videos.
