G5 Adventures in Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

After narrowly escaping the clutches of Lord Valdronya, Mystery Incorporated, the Mane 6 and Ruby Jubilee headed back to the museum to pick up Minty, Snuzzle and Blue Belle, who had been on high alert since there had already been several vampire attacks at the museum so far.

Once the Mystery Machine pulled up, the three earth ponies galloped out to meet their friends. “Oh my clover, where were you guys?” Minty asked as she and Daphne hugged. “The press conference was over hours ago!”

“Are you okay?” Snuzzle asked in concern. “We’re fine,” Misty reassured, “but we had another close encounter with the fanged kind while we were on our way back here. Where’s Mr. Van Helsing?”

“He’s inside-- said he was really tired and wanted to get to bed early tonight,” Blue Belle spoke. “But, we wanted to wait for you to come back, just to make sure you were safe.”

“Well, you girls are in luck,” Fred spoke. “We’re heading back to Vampire-Palooza, and we’re gonna need all hooves on deck for this one.”

XXXXXXXX

After the group arrived back at the festival, Jesper Poubelle and several other townsfolk approached the gates with flaming torches in their grasp... much to Lita Rutland's irritation. “I'm telling you, Poubelle, you can't come in here!” she barked. “You're scaring off my customers!”

But luckily, Jesper had a rebuttal for that. “And I’m telling you,” he said, “I've got a special dispensation from the sheriff himself.”

“That’s right, Ms. Rutland,” the sheriff said as he stood next to Jesper. “By order of the court, I have recruited these gentlemen.”

“That’s right,” Jesper smirked. “We are hereby deputized vampire hunters.”

Lita scowled at this, but seeing as there was nothing she could do, she let them pass. “Vampire hunters, ho!” Jesper shouted, and the vampire hunters moved into the festival to begin their search.

XXXXXXXX

But little did Jesper Poubelle and the sheriff realize that Daphne, Velma, Ruby, Sunny and Pipp were standing nearby, watching. “Who would actually fall for that scaremonger's rantings?” Daphne asked with crossed arms. “They say there's a fraidycat born every minute,” Velma said, just as Fred approached with the rest of the Mane 6. “Ah, there you guys are,” Fred smiled, wearing a neck protector around his neck and holding a shopping bag full of spplies. “I got us all neck protectors, just to be safe.”

“...we see your point, Velma,” Ruby said before looking around. “Hey, where are Shaggy, Scooby and the Dreamlands?”

“The boys went to the food court to calm their nerves,” Misty explained, “and Minty, Snuzzle and Blue Belle decided to go with them to make sure they were okay.”

“Heh,” Fred chuckled. “Those guys are so jumpy.”

Suddenly, a rattling noise caused Fred to shriek and immediately run away. “A VAMPIRE!!”

But all that noise came from was the kid in the vampire costume playing a trick on them, causing the Mane 6 to sigh.

Now all they had to do was figure out the rest of this case before it got out of hoof.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, Shaggy and Scooby led the Dreamlands down an alley in search of the food court. “The food court should be right here,” Shaggy told the others. “Behind the theater.”

Blue Belle got a closer look at the map, but then sighed and flipped it around so it faced the right way, much to Shaggy’s embarrassment. “Unless the map is upside down.”

“Oh, great,” Snuzzle sighed irritably. “Now we’ve gotta walk halfway across town to get there!”

“Hey, don’t get so irritable, Snuzzle,” Minty said as she tried to cheer her friend up. “We’ll find our way eventually.”

The group continued to walk down the alley, when they stumbled upon the vampire theater troupe from before, Fangenshanz, carrying some heavy equipment onto the back of a truck. “Careful!” Bram warned the others. “Damage anything and we're as good as dead.”

That's when the group took the initiative to approach, much to Bram’s disliking. “What are you doing back here? This is a restricted area.”

“Sorry to interrupt… all this,” said Minty, “but we were just looking for the food court.”

However, the performers approached and surrounded them quickly, causing Scooby to gulp nervously. “Uh-oh.”

“We can’t let them go,” the female performer told Bram. “What if they tell someone what they’ve seen?” another performer agreed. “You’re right,” Bram realized… much to Scooby’s confusion. “Uh, what have we seen?”

“Whatever it is,” Snuzzle whispered, “they obviously don’t want us to know about it.”

“Scooby? Girls… I think we’re in…” Shaggy began to say to his friends before pointing in another direction. “Hey, look, a Hollywood talent scout!”

And as soon as the performers turned to look the other way, the Dreamlands, Shaggy and Scooby immediately bolted through the fairgrounds, stopping when they were sure that they were safe. “I think we lost ‘em,” Shaggy said. “Everybody okay?”

“We’re fine for now,” Blue Belle said, “but I think we better get back to the others before it’s too late for any of us.”

Suddenly… a low growl caught their attention, causing them to immediately freeze. “We better find that food court soon, Scoob,” Snuzzle pointed out. “Your tummy’s growling a lot here lately.”

However, Scooby shook his head at this. “Not mine.”

“Well, it wasn't Shaggy’s stomach,” Minty said, “and it wasn't any of our stomachs, so who's...?”

Immediately, the realization of who it could have been finally sunk into the group’s brains. Slowly, they turned around to see Lord Valdronya rising up from the shadows behind them with a menacing roar. However, as the Dreamlands remained frozen in fear, Shaggy held up a stake that he had gotten a little while earlier and held it out, trembling slightly. “Stay back or I'll be forced to use this!”

But one roar from Lord Valdronya caused Shaggy to abandon all courage he had in his body, and he, Scooby and the Dreamlands broke into a fast run in order to get away. “Maybe later!!”

“Everypony, split up!” Minty told her friends. “He can’t chase all of us at once!”

So, with each of the Dreamlands taking a different direction, they all split up, but Lord Valdronya continued to chase Shaggy and Scooby. He grabbed the stake that Shaggy had left behind and threw it, cutting off a piece of Shaggy’s shirt and grazing his neck slightly, making Shaggy panic. “I've been bitten by a vampire!!!”

“Look, Mama!” a little girl cried as Shaggy, Scooby and Lord Valdronya went past them. “A real vampire!”

Needless to say, a lot of people got out of their way once they realized the danger they were putting themselves in. Shaggy and Scooby continued to get chased all throughout the festival grounds, not wanting Lord Valdronya to make them his vampire servants.

Around the same time, a man was putting ketchup on his hot dog when he heard Shaggy's voice coming out of nowhere. “INCOMING!!!”

When the man turned and saw the vampire chasing Shaggy and Scooby, he screamed and fled with his hot dog, letting Shaggy and Scooby dive into a nearby trash can and letting the ketchup jug spill its contents all over them.

After a moment, Shaggy and Scooby peeked out of hiding to see that Lord Valdronya was no longer around. “Phew. He's gone, Scoob. And I'm a goner,” Shaggy whimpered fearfully as they climbed out of the trash can. “I've been bitten by a vampire! I'll probably sprout fangs any second and… is this ketchup?”

Upon noticing what they were covered in, Shaggy and Scooby began to lick the ketchup off of themselves… just before the vampire hunters, led by Jesper Poubelle, showed up and saw them. “Bloodsuckers!” Jesper shouted, catching their attention. “That one shape-shifted into a dog!”

“Huh?” Scooby looked confused, but then, Shaggy realized what was going on. “I think they mean us!”

“Get ‘em!” Jesper shouted, sending Shaggy and Scooby on the run from the vampire hunters.

XXXXXXXX

“Shaggy!! Scooby!!” Snuzzle cried as she, Minty and Blue Belle searched for their friends. “Where are you?!”

“It’s the vampire hunters!” Blue Belle cried as she heard voices getting closer. “Hide!”

The three earth ponies dove off to the side, just as Shaggy and Scooby screamed and ran past them with the vampire hunters in pursuit. “Oh no!” Snuzzle cried. “They’re in serious trouble!”

“Come on!” Minty encouraged as she and her friends climbed out of hiding. “We’ve got to help them!”

“But Minty… what if they think we’re vampires too?” Snuzzle asked. “What if they hurt us?”

“We don’t really have a choice, Snuzz!” Blue Belle said. “We’re obviously no help investigating the vampire, so we at least have to help Shaggy and Scooby stay out of trouble!”

“...well… I guess you do have a point there,” Snuzzle muttered. “Okay, but we need to be back soon-- our friends will get worried if we’re not back in a few hours.”

And so, the three earth ponies galloped in the direction their friends and the vampire hunters fled in... unaware that they themselves would become lost in the swampy environment.

XXXXXXXX

The vampire hunters chased Shaggy and Scooby further into the Louisiana bayou, but as they got further from town, they could find the duo anymore. “Appears we lost them crafty shape-shifters,” Jesper told the crowd. “I guess we best head back before our torches burn out.”

The other vampire hunters agreed with this and headed back in the direction of town… unaware that Shaggy and Scooby were hiding up in the treetops where the crowd couldn't see them. “Phew. We're safe, Scoob,” Shaggy sighed as they climbed down to safety. “Except for the fact we're lost in a swamp. And I could turn into a vampire at any moment!”

As he hung on a branch, trying to fight the urge to bite into Scooby’s neck, Shaggy lowered his shirt for Scooby to look at the injury. “Check out my bite. Is it bad?”

Scooby inspected it for a moment, but before he could say anything, Shaggy spoke up, completely in despair. “Don't sugarcoat it. I know I'm done for,” he said. “You should get out of here before I turn all bat-ified.”

“Uh-uh. I’m not going,” Scooby shook his head before helping Shaggy down to the ground. “Once the vampire venom takes hold of my system… there's no guarantee I won't sink my fangs into you,” Shaggy told the Great Dane, pushing him away slightly. “We have to split up, Scoob.”

“No, Shaggy!” Scooby clung to his best friend tightly. “No!”

However, Shaggy remained persistent. “It's the only way to save yourself,” he said, pushing Scooby away again. “Just turn away from me and don't look back.”

Scooby whimpered, tears filling his eyes as he thought of Shaggy becoming a vampire, and worse, having to separate from him. “I can’t…”

Sunny and the other ponies had taught Shaggy and Scooby so much about friendship and family... and Scooby knew that this couldn't be the way to solve this.

He couldn't lose Shaggy as his best friend... he couldn't!

Scooby nuzzled Shaggy with the saddest eyes Shaggy had ever seen, and as much as it pained him, he knew this was the way it had to be… for both their sakes. “I guess I'll have to do this myself.”

“Huh?!” Scooby looked shocked as Shaggy began to walk away, his head held low. “Goodbye, old friend,” Shaggy bid farewell. “I hope one day you'll see that this is best for both of us.”

“...Shaggy…?” Scooby let out a whimper, but instead of responding, Shaggy just continued to walk away, much to Scooby’s dismay. Tears flowed down the Great Dane’s face…

…and Shaggy fought the urge to cry himself. “One foot in front of the other,” he kept repeating. “Don't look back. Don't ever look…”

But out of the corner of his eye, Shaggy could see Scooby trying to fight back tears, just like he was.

What was he doing?

He couldn't leave Scooby after everything they had been through.

Sunny and her friends would tell Shaggy the same thing... and he couldn't let them down. “I looked back!”

Scooby became overjoyed at the fact that Shaggy was turning back to him, and ran toward him before Shaggy leapt in the Great Dane’s paws. “Shaggy!”

Shaggy sighed in relief as he gazed at his best friend. “Promise you'll never leave me, Scoob.”

“Never,” Scooby said, licking Shaggy’s face with a laugh. Now that Shaggy was back, Scooby set him down and brushed him off before using a tongue depressor to check the inside of Shaggy's mouth, much to Shaggy's confusion. “What are you doing?”

“Checking for vampire symptoms,” Scooby responded. “Say ‘ahh’.”

Shaggy did as told, a sense of relief washing over him. “Scoob, you're the best pal a guy could have,” he said as the tongue depressor was removed, and he smiled at the Great Dane, putting an arm around Scooby's neck. “A real friend to the end.”

And what better way to tell Scooby about how he truly felt than to express it through song… just as Pipp had taught them to do.

Shaggy: Whenever I'm down
Right there on the ground
Lying out flat on my face

Who is the pup
Picking me up
And getting me back in the race?

Who'll be around watching my back
Guide me along and keep me on track?
Forever he’s there, we’re a pair
Scooby and me!

When the going gets tough
And things getting

Scooby: Rough

Shaggy: You're the one whom I depend

Scooby: Who, me?

Shaggy: I give you the proof
I'll climb up on the...

Scooby: Roof!

Shaggy: And shout to the world, you're my friend!

Scooby: Awoo!

Shaggy: And when I'm a vampire
Roaming the night
Because you're my pal, I'll just take a small bite
We're one of the greats and we're mates
Scooby and me!

Oh Scooby and me
We're gonna be together for good
That buddy of mine

If you're ever in doubt
Need me helping you out
You know that I would if I got time

If you're ever in jail, and you're needing some bail
Or a friend to set you free
You can always count on me
Cause tell me where would I be

Without you by my side
My friend and my guide
Helping to carry me through

Some people go by, I live or I die
They wouldn't care, but not you
You're the one who keeps me at ease
Giving me love and occasional fleas

Scooby: Sorry

Shaggy: No matter comes
We are chums
Scooby and me

Scooby: Yep! Hee hee hee hee!

XXXXXXXX

Little did the duo know it, but Kelly Smith was reporting live back at the festival, keeping people updated on the vampire crisis... exactly what Jesper Poubelle wanted. “In the interest of public safety, I am hereby issuing a dusk-to-dawn curfew. - No one is to be out past dark.”

“This extreme measure is seen as a victory,” Kelly Smith told her viewers, “for local anti-vampire crusader and now mayoral candidate, Jesper Poubelle.”

That's when many people around town began to sing their own verses to the same tune... and not all of them were happy tunes.

Lita Rutland: Closing us down
But that isn't fair
I'm warning you all
You better beware

You're messing me
And you'll see
You're all going to pay

Vincent Van Helsing: Oh, I'm broke, I'm through
What will I do?
Oh, what happens when the rent is due?

Jesper Poubelle: Oh, watch out, my friends
There's vampires on the loose

Sheriff: And that's why I brought the noose

Lita Rutland: You just killed the golden goose

Fangenschanz: Oh, got a show to do

Crowd: Vampires here

Fangenschanz: Curtains up

Shaggy: Hey, Scooby-Doo

Fangenschanz: Opening night revenue

Crowd: Bad show, it's time to shut them out of town

Shaggy: What would I do?

Crowd: They're to blame, it's true

Fangenschanz: Poubelle, shame on you

Crowd and Fangenschanz: We're not the same as you

Shaggy: Where would I be without you?
Scooby and me
We always will be
Together forever as friends

Crowd: Vampires, don't want vampires

Shaggy: You are the one, second to none
The power on which a buddy depends

Scooby: (howls)

Crowd: They are the ones
They're evil and bad

Fangenschanz: Watch out for them
They're crazy and mad

All: What do you when they're vampires
Where there shouldn't be

Jesper Poubelle: Listen to me

Lita Rutland: Can't do this to me

Vincent Van Helsing: Doesn't anyone see?

All: Why'd this happen to me?

Shaggy: It's always going to be
Scooby and me!

And as Shaggy and Scooby embraced one final time, the song ended...

...but not too long after, the sounds of wild animals caused Shaggy and Scooby to glance around nervously, seeing the eyes of many different animals peering out at them in the darkness. “Scooby,” Shaggy whispered, “I think we’ve got company!”

Scooby whimpered nervously at this, but as the duo prepared themselves for an attack...

“Shaggy! Scooby!”

“There you are!”

Shaggy and Scooby’s eyes snapped open to see the Dreamlands running over to them, much to their relief. “Dreamlands!” Shaggy cried as the five hugged. “Like, man, are we ever glad to see you!”

“We’ve been looking all over for you!” Minty said. “Are you both okay?”

“And did we just hear you singing five seconds ago?” Blue Belle asked. “If so… you’ve got some serious pipes, Shag.”

“Oh, thanks,” Shaggy chuckled nervously. “It was a whole thing.”

“Have you come to take us home?” Scooby asked. “Uh… that’s just the thing, Scooby,” Snuzzle said hesitantly. “We’ve been looking for you for so long… we don’t really know how to get back.”

“We’re sorry,” Blue Belle said with her ears pinned. “We didn’t mean to let you down like this.”

“Like, hey… at least we’re together,” Shaggy said. “Sunny told me and Scoob once that being together is sometimes the best thing in a scary situation.”

“...but we’ve been letting the entire gang down on this case,” Snuzzle admitted hesitantly. “Us and Ruby… we have ZERO mystery solving experience and we’re only slowing you guys down.”

Scooby shook his head. “No way… you’re not slowing us down.”

“Scoob’s right,” Shaggy nodded. “If anything, you’ve made this mystery a little more enjoyable.”

Minty looked surprised at this. “We have?”

“You really mean that?” Snuzzle asked, leading Shaggy and Scooby to nod… and this caused the Dreamlands to smile. “Thanks, fellas,” Minty said, rubbing Scooby on the top of his head. “Now, come on. We need to find someplace to rest for the night before we try and find our way out of here tomorrow morning.”

“Sounds good to me,” Snuzzle said. “Anyplace that’s warm and dry.”

But as the five friends navigated through the Louisiana bayou, looking for a safe place to spend the night, they had no idea that the mystery they were on was going to take a desperate turn by the time the next day arrived.