Scooby Doo! Meet Ellie Machine

Beware the Beast from Below (Part 1)

"Another mystery bites the dust!"

"Way to go, gang!"

"Let's celebrate!"

"Yeah. Celebrate!"

"This is gonna look great in the school paper!"

The Mystery Gang had just solved another case... That ended with us in jail... Again. Ms. Garcia had been stealing jewels from her own store to get the insurance money. But we caught her! Maybe in a less orthodox way than preferred by the law, though...

"Better idea."

Sheriff Bronson Stone. The authoritative hot head that hated us. 'Us' being: Fred Jones Jr., the son of the mayor of Crystal Cove, and captain of the school soccer team; Daphne Blake, the socialite with model-like looks from the richest family in town; Velma Dinkley, the smartest girl in school; Shaggy Rogers, a slacker who only thinks with his stomach; Scooby-Doo, Shaggy's loyal talking dog and the only other being that can rival his appetite; and me, Ellie Machine. My father is the CEO of Destroido, I am the editor and head of the school paper, and the president of the photography club at Crystal Cove High.

"Aw, come on, Sheriff!" Daphne pleaded, leaning against the bars Bronson had slammed behind us.

"Just cork it. You see this badge? Y'know why it's here?" he asked, pointing to the shiny badge he proudly wore.

"It came with the shirt?" Velma asked dryly.

Bronson huffed. "It's here because if there's a crime, I solve it."

He started walking away but turned back to us. "Oh, and by the way... I've called all your parents, who, by now, I have on speed dial. Oh, are you in trouble," he cackled. "Especially you, Fred. Say hi to dad, the Mayor, for me!"

"Just once, it would be nice if someone thanked us for solving a mystery," Daphne lamented. We all leaned on the bars with her, my arm resting on Scooby's head while Shaggy put a friendly arm around my shoulders.

"Good thing we're not in this to be liked," Fred tried to lighten the mood. We all looked at him blankly. He chuckled nervously. "Maybe that didn't come out quite right."

***

I walked downstairs the next morning, my brown bag slung over my shoulder and my signature Converse on. My father, Ed Machine, was already at the table with bowls of cereal and a small plate of eggs in our spots. I had gone vegetarian, and he agreed to join me if we could still have eggs and dairy in the house. I had to explain to him that was what being a vegetarian meant.

"Good morning, dad," I greeted him, sitting in my highchair next to him as he read the paper. "Good morning, dear. So, I heard yesterday was, um, eventful?" he asked, glancing at me. I sighed.

"I know. I'm sorry. But we solved the case and put a scammer behind bars. I'd call that being a hero, not a criminal. And-,"

"I'm proud of you," he interrupted. I paused. "What?"

"I said I'm proud. You stuck with your gut when something wasn't right, and you helped make this town a little safer. I'm proud of that. And your mother would be too," he explained, a small twinkle in his eye when he mentioned my mother. I smiled. "Thanks, dad."

"Just try and stay away from jail for a bit, okay honey?" he asked. "Of course, dad. It won't happen again," I promised as I heard the van's beep from outside. "Oh, that's the gang. I'll see you tonight dad, love you!" I exclaimed, rushing out the door to get to the van. "Love you too!" he called, and I shut the door behind me.

Down the driveway, Fred's teal, green, and orange van sat along the curb. I opened the back doors and hopped in next to Shaggy and Scooby. "Hey guys!" I greeted. "Hey, Ellie!" Daphne greeted back. "So, like, how much trouble were you in?" Shaggy asked her as I sat across from him.