Chapter Text
Author’s Note: As a follow-up to the ongoing remastering of Dimensions Four and Five, after some evaluation of the ongoing story A Ballad of Philately and the Missing Time Capsule, which functions as the Dimension Four rewrite of the 2009 live-action film Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins and seeing how I have been having a writer’s block on the ongoing rewrite of Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated and its sister series Scooby-Doo: Paranormal Instincts and some thoughts and consideration, I have decided to merge these two series together into one single rewrite of the full SDMI series.
To that end, this new rewrite of the full SDMI series will still make use of the setting from the original series while incorporating elements from Paranormal Instincts and add in the pacing on the story arcs that I have came to find to be jammed in too soon too quickly, on top of making use of the elements and storylines from the original series to their full potential.
One thing to note is that the gang’s parents as depicted in SDMI are featured. Also, my initial idea of depicting Shaggy as having five older brothers is discarded, as my use of them in the stories ties into my own complaints about how the SDMI reboot has turned out with the relationships jammed in way too quickly. Furthermore, the unnamed Blake sister depicted as an astronaut in a flashback scene in Revenge of the Man Crab is given the name Donna, in line with my uses of her in other series.
As such, presenting Scooby-Doo: Prelude to the Doom’s Awakening as an overhaul of The Mystery Begins to be a proper origin story while foreshadowing events that are to come in SDMI.
I don’t own Scooby-Doo. Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera Productions does.
Prologue
September 9, 1993
Despite it being only eight in the evening, the sky above the Big Apple was very dark and gloomy due to the ongoing heavy thunderstorm. It was an uncommon sight to see someone going about without an umbrella or rain jacket, and any clothing and footwear not covered by a rain jacket was guaranteed to be completely soaked wet within five minutes of being outside.
However, for one figure who was clutching a bundle tightly to her chest and running through the streets, the heavy rainfall pelting the asphalt pavement and concrete sidewalks was the last thing on her mind.
After rounding a corner, she paused briefly to looked over her shadow, and through the shine of the nearby streetlamp, it revealed her to be a Great Dane. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, however, there was nothing other than the headlights of the passing vehicles. Seemingly relieved that she didn’t see what she was looking for, the Great Dane wasted no time adjusting the bundle in her arms and resumed running.
Finally, she found the townhouse and she gently kissed the bundle before placing it on the top step. She removed something from around her neck, placed it on top of the bundle, gently blew it a kiss, and then she rang the doorbell before hurriedly turning away and disappearing into Brooklyn’s rain-soaked streets.
She ignored the horns and obscenities directed at her as she ran into the streets and to an open manhole cover, which she climbed down and into the massive storm trunk sewers underneath.
Deep below the city streets, she continued to sprint through the vast labyrinth of the city’s storm trunk sewer system, pausing every few seconds to look over her shoulder. Finally, she came to a stop to catch her breath at a box manhole where several storm trunk sewer pipes meet.
She did not see or hear a tall figure in a military uniform, complete with a kepi, emerge from the shadows behind until it was too late. The person lashed out and grabbed her arm in a steel-like grip, prompting her to whirl around and gasp at the sight of her assailant.
“Chandra!”
“Where is the key?” Chandra demanded. The dim light revealing her black hair to be tied in a bun and her military uniform to be purple.
“Only that it is safe from the likes of you.” The Great Dane snarled and tried to slap Chandra in the face; however, she caught her paw and without wasting any effort, slammed her against the nearby wall.
“Your resistance only compounds the interest that you and your descendants will inevitably pay up, along with the debt owed to him when he is inevitably freed and seeks payback for the House of Doo’s betrayal during the Nibiru millennia prior.” Chandra said.
As Chandra was speaking, Nova eyed her hand on her shoulder, and she promptly leaned forward and bite her hard, causing Chandra to recoil back in pain and allowing her to make her getaway.
Nova’s short-lived freedom came to a stop when Chandra caught up to her, being faster than her, and when she reached her, she threw her against a nearby wall.
“You still got a little fight in you. Can’t say I admire that, as you’re only wasting time. Tell me where the key is.”
Nova got back on her feet and saw that they were in a very old part of the sewer. The bricks have certainly rotted away, and the timbers supporting the tunnel were in no better condition. Looks like a cave-in waiting to happen. Maybe if she was lucky, Chandra would be caught in it.
Without waiting for Chandra to catch onto what she was attempting, Nova threw all her weight against the nearby support beams, which snapped with one blow, leading to a collapse right above her.
Chandra instinctively tried to intervene, but it was too late for her as she watched the cave-in bury Nova, taking the information she needed with it.
“Admiral Kossel.” A voice came through her radio.
“What is it?” Chandra demanded.
“Admiral, the Ghoul Squad is closing in on our location. It is advisable that you return immediately before we must destroy the portal.”
Chandra looked one last time at the pile of earth and rocks that has taken her prize before she radioed back, “I am on my way.”
She didn’t let the failure to obtain the needed information dissuade her, if anything, it was all but a minor setback. Their spiritual leader’s freedom can wait a little longer, eventually, the key will be located, and he will be set free, and with that, a new era for this world and their home world Anunn awaits.
Back at the townhouse where Nova had dropped off the bundle, the door opened and out came a woman with short, silver-blond hair in a light green blouse and a pair of jeans. She looked around and frowned briefly before motioning to close the door when she glanced down and gasped.
“Heavens, what do you suppose…?” The woman trailed off as she saw the bundle on the top step and crouched down to take a closer look.
“Paula, what’s going on there?” A male voice asked as footsteps came on down the hallway to the front door.
“Someone’s left a puppy on our front door, Colton.” Paula responded as her husband came into view. He was carrying a bundle in his left arm while his right hand was holding a milk bottle.
As Colton raised an eyebrow, Paula picked up the note as she added, “Whoever dropped this puppy off at our front door left a note that says, ‘Please provide a warm and loving home for young Scoobert’.”
Colton frowned when he saw the dog tag with the bundle, and briefly placing the milk bottle on the key stand, he reached down and picked it up. The dog tag read “SD”, and he turned the tag and saw the pup’s name inscribed on the back. “’Scoobert Doo’. For some reason the name’s reminded me of Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night.”
“And there’s something else with the note.” Paula added as she flipped the paper around, revealing a rock attached to the note.
Holding the note with the rock to the nearby light, Paula saw it shining with the light, and then she quipped, “As much I don’t put too much stock on destiny, it seems like our little Scoobert’s got a grand destiny ahead.”
Colton nodded as he resumed feeding the bundle in his arms and looked at it. “I’ll say the same thing for our little Norville.”
Chapter 1: A nightmare before the weekend
September 4, 2009
The bus ride back to Abraham Lincoln High School in New York was taking longer than expected as the school bus encountered a massive traffic jam on the Interstate.
He was very bored as the school bus stops and goes with the traffic flow, and of all the days he forgot to pack his MP3 player.
The weather outside sure looked gloomy, though it wasn't unusual, given that it's already autumn and they are halfway through the month to Halloween.
Another half an hour went by before they finally drove by the source of the massive traffic jam. There were emergency lights flashing as state troopers tended to the scene of a multi-vehicle crash, along with ambulances ready to transport the injured.
Traffic cleared up significantly once they drove by the scene of the accident, and it wasn't long before they were back in downtown Brooklyn.
At least we're finished for the day by the time we get back from the museum. He thought to himself bitterly. And I would not have to put up with those jerks picking on me.
As he thought to himself, he glanced towards the seats at the back of the bus.
Erin and his pals were seated near the back, chatting away excitedly, and when Erin saw him staring back at him, he only smirked at him smugly.
Even Pierre, the French exchange student, had joined Erin and his gang in picking on him.
And yet, he wasn't sure why he didn't stand up for himself when those students picked on him, among which included mockingly refer to him as "Shaggy" on account of his hair.
Not that he minded being called "Shaggy", he'd take it over his real name, which Pierre stated to sound like "moron", even though his real name shares the name of a village in Normandy, France.
Either way, just prior to leaving the museum, he had come close to losing his temper at Erin and his gang's latest taunting, but it was the intervention from the parent supervisors that prevented him from pushing back.
At the sight of Erin and Pierre's smug smirk, he simply turned away and resumed staring out of the window.
By that point, the school bus had approached an intersection where the light had just turned green, and it joined the idling traffic in crossing the perpendicular street.
However, just as the school bus was about a quarter of a way through the intersection, his attention was drawn towards the other side of the bus by a collective gasp.
Screams followed as he turned around, in time to see a large tractor trailer barreling right towards them.
It was the last thing he remembered seeing just prior to impact, then the bus rolled over, came to a complete stop and everything went black.
The impact of the crash in his dream was interrupted by the alarm clock going off, and despite groaning about having to start school early, the now-sixteen-year-old Norville “Shaggy” Rogers probably welcomed waking up when he did.
Of course, whatever relief he felt from waking up in the middle of a recurring dream was short-lived, as after he stretched his arms and yawned, Shaggy looked at the time on his clock, and his eyes widened as the realization set in that he set the wrong time for the alarm, meaning the school bus will arrive in about ten minutes after he woke up.
“Not again.” Shaggy said as he darted by a still-sleeping Scooby, who was sleeping on his mat next to the bed. The Great Dane stirred briefly before he opened his eyes upon hearing the bathroom fan turning on and Shaggy brushing his teeth.
“Rir rou ret re alarm ro reven rirty rinstead of reven again, Raggy?” Scooby asked.
Shaggy spat into the sink and said, “Yeah, it happened again, Scoob.”
“Rou retter rurry up, rotherwise rou’re going ro get written up by re rall monitors, and rit wouldn’t re good for rhat ro rappen so early rinto your runior year.” Scooby said.
“I know, Scoob.” Shaggy replied as he hurried out the bathroom and changed into his usual attire of a green shirt, a pair of brown pants, and a pair of white socks.
He wasted no time grabbing his school bag on the way to the dining room, and Shaggy hurriedly grabbed a few toasts, a banana, and some waffles before munching them down. On his way back into the kitchen to refill his glass of water, Shaggy saw the breakfast his mother Paula had prepared for Scooby, and he swiftly served them onto the table before he refilled the water.
Scooby walked into the dining room in time to see him wash his breakfast down with a full glass of water, then he hurried to the front door, put on his usual pair of black sneakers, took his keys, and hurried for the front door.
“See you after school, Scoob.” Shaggy yelled as he closed the front door behind him.
“Ron’t forget rour runch.” Scooby called out, then he sighed as he saw the school bus pulling into the stop, and Shaggy sprinting over to the stop and waving his arms frantically. The Great Dane almost shook his head once when he saw the school bus doors reopening, hitting Shaggy in the face, and then he climbed onto the bus.
After watching the school bus pull away, Scooby walked over to the dining room. The breakfast Paula had prepared for him was already served on the table, and the Great Dane went over to take his seat and have his breakfast.
He was alone in the house, as Shaggy’s father Colton was already gone for the day at the Crystal Pacific Bank, where he works as a senior bank manager, which was one half of the explanation of how the family was able to afford the mansion they live in.
The other half came from Shaggy’s mother, who runs the main art gallery in Crystal Cove and is an accomplished artist herself, with works on display at numerous art galleries worldwide. The commissions and the proceeds from the box office revenue has left her with a sizable income in her own right.
Despite the seemingly wealthy family background, neither Colton nor Paula were overly extravagant, and given they had both worked their way up, expectations that their son would also accomplish his way up came naturally.
Ever since that fateful school bus accident nearly a year ago, which preceded the family moving from their longtime home in New York City over to Crystal Cove that past spring, there went one of Shaggy’s talents, namely him being a gymnast.
While Shaggy still has his culinary skills – in fact, his parents have long taken great pride over his skilled dishes – as well as playing the piano and guitar, there were expectations for him to enter a high-paying profession.
And as a junior in Crystal Cove High School, the time was on for Shaggy to decide on his own path forward, despite still being more than a year away from graduation.
It was the weighing of those expectations from his parents that Shaggy frequently confided with Scooby in, and from what he heard about how they came to adopt Scooby, Shaggy was grateful that they took that opportunity.
Fifteen-year-old Daphne Anne Blake was absorbed in the drama script she was assigned the previous day, which was the first day of school, as the school bus pulled away and the junior who nearly missed the bus had taken his seat.
Being a sophomore at Crystal Cove High School, the redhead exhaled as her eyes scanned the lines for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a crucial assignment for drama class. While she was still busy ready the script, her mind was largely elsewhere.
Enrollment in Crystal Cove High School wasn’t her first choice, and to be frank, if she had it her way, she would’ve instead been enrolled in the prestigious private Coolsville Academy. But of course, having a father in the form of Count Bartholomew “Barty” Blake, it’s not like she had much say on the matter.
If anything, one of the downsides of being the youngest of six girls is that having had not liked the expectations that were molded into her high-achieving older sisters, Daphne’s rebellious streak was the reason why her parents (her father mostly) had her enrolled in the public Crystal Cove High School for her sophomore year.
The private school Daphne graduated from wasn’t for the average Crystal Cove citizen. With an annual tuition in the high end of the five digits, it was not something the average citizen could afford.
By contrast, given his sizable holdings overseas and vast investment portfolio, the five-digit tuition were single-digit pennies to Barty and Nan Blake. To refer to the Blakes as the wealthiest family in Crystal Cove was an understatement. With the size of the family’s fortune, they are very well in the league of the 100-wealthiest people in the world.
And that was also before you count the accomplishments her five older sisters has made.
As the oldest of the sisters, Donna Blake had led the way in the accomplishments of the Blake sisters at the age of 27. An aerospace engineer by profession, Donna has seen assignments as mission specialists at NASA with a couple of trips made to the International Space Station. It was also a year ago that she tied the knot with her now-husband, a fellow astronaut at NASA.
Donna was followed by the twins Daisy and Dawn. A medical doctor by profession, Daisy is a family medicine manager at the Crystal Cove General Hospital, with her primary work area being known as the Blake Family Wing, on account of the generous donations the hospital received from the Blake family foundation for its expansion.
As for Dawn, while she has been modeling for quite some time, her primarily area of work is in fashion design, which has brought her to Paris. Despite being at a tender age of 25, already she has been sought-after as a judge for various fashion shows.
The twins were then followed by 23-year-old Dorothy, who is a race car driver and primarily based in Indianapolis. Besides race car driving, she has been a sought-after commentator for various sports television stations.
And finally, 22-year-old Delilah, who had just graduated from the Naval Academy with high honours and has received her commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
Being the only sister to not have attended any post-secondary education institute and the youngest, Daphne was feeling the enormous weight of expectation on her shoulders, and despite being starting her sophomore year, already her parents has been making plans for university.
The weight of her parents’ expectations was certainly at the back of Daphne’s mind as the school bus slowly pulled into the campus of Crystal Cove High School. She looked up and saw the early-20th century Gothic structure of the school building come into view, and she sighed.
As Daphne followed the other students in disembarking the school bus, she looked up and spotted the flagpole next to the main entrance. There was a platinum eagle at the top of the flagpole, which she recalled her father mentioning it being funded by a generous donation to the school from the family foundation. Of course it was.
The sight of the platinum eagle on the top of the flagpole swiftly reminded her of the enormous weight of expectations weighing down on her shoulders.
With her sisters’ accomplishments in mind, if the redhead was feeling any pressure, she was doing her best masking it. No pressure, huh.
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