The seemingly possessed van started chasing the gang all around the block with its glowing green lights and scary sound.
"Like, I once had a dream about this" Shaggy said as he kept running.
The others looked back and saw the Mystery Machine gaining on them.
"What do we do know Freddy?" asked Daphne.
"Let's hide in that recycle thing!" Fred pointed to a large blue thing next to a dumpster in an alleyway "We'll lose the van there!"
"Are you nuts?" asked Daphne "I just got my nails painted and I'm not getting my hair dirty! I just used an extra-bounce conditioner!"
"You got a better idea, Daph?" Velma asked.
"Yeah, cause if you do, it had better be fast" Shaggy remarked "My entire life is flashing before my eyes again! And it's still really boring"
As Daphne struggles to make a decision, they are reminded by the roaring engine of the Mystery Machine.
"You were saying?" Velma raised an eyebrow.
"Let's go with Fred's plan" Daphne grinned sheepishly.
The gang quickly darted into the alleyway and hid behind the large recycle dumpster.
The van then looked around and it saw nothing. The van figured that the gang was gone, so it went back to wherever he came from.
Meanwhile in the recycle dumpster, the gang was all bundled up.
"Shaggy, get your stinky platforms out of my face!" Daphne grunted.
"Like, as soon as I can move my arm." Shaggy replied.
"You know, I'm starting to think this was a stupid plan" Fred remarked.
"Don't feel bad Freddy" said Madelyn "This might give us a chance to really get to know each other"
"Like the various meats of a hoagie" Shaggy added.
"Right, Shag" said Madelyn.
"But I don't even like meat" added Daphne.
"And I don't wanna know anyone like I'm knowing Scooby right now" Velma said as she looked at Scooby's backside.
"Uh, Relma" said Scooby "Roes that rook rike a rash? Would you mind scratching my-"
"Whatever it is, no!" Velma replied.
"Well, anyways, it's still far better than being as flat as pancakes on the road." Shaggy pointed out as they prepared to get out of the dumpster, which was proved to be difficult.
After some struggle, the gang finally got out of the dumpster.
"Thank God, we're out" Daphne remarked "My hair got messy. I can't imagine what I'd be like if my hair was messy"
"Ahem" Marcie folded her arms.
"Whatever." Daphne rolled her eyes. "So now what, Freddie?"
"Well, maybe we need to go do some more checking on these Mystery Kids" Fred replied. "I suggest we go to the one thing that can help us get more information" said Velma.
"Our parents?" asked Shaggy.
"No, silly" Velma answered "The Internet. You can find everything there"
"Ah, right." Shaggy said. "I know that. I always know."
Velma scoffed and rolled her eyes at the comment but didn't make a remark.
"Do you have your laptop with you, Velms?" Fred asked.
"Not at the moment" said Velma "What about you, Marcie?"
"Sorry" Marcie grinned sheepishly "I assumed you had yours"
"Well there's gotta be some other computer we can use" said Shaggy.
"How about the computers at the school library?" suggested Madelyn "It's only two blocks from here and this is the day when they have Saturday school clubs and study sessions"
"Say, now that's a good idea." Shaggy said.
"Then, what are we waiting for?" Fred asked.
"Let's go!" Velma proclaimed.
Our heroes finally made it to the school library.
"Come on gang, let's go" said Fred "We have a mystery to solve"
Soon, the gang were seated in the library, huddling around Velma as she did some typing on the computer.
"What're doing Velma?" asked Marcie.
"Seeing if we can find any information on the Mystery Kids on the Internet." Velma shrugged.
Velma typed in the keywords "MYSTERY KIDS" and out popped some internet links and images.
"Voila" she said "Information on the Mystery Kids"
"Look!" Marcie pointed to an article "There's an article. It says that the Mystery Kids are rumored to be making a big comeback. Click on that"
Velma nodded as she scrolled over and clicked on the link.
She looked at the article "Let's see...Susan Dinwiddie, the mother and former manager of the long-forgotten Mystery Kids is said to be planning to have her stage children return to the music industry, according to recent events in HB County, most of which have included performing concerts at parks"
Fred read along "...When questioned about this, Mrs. Dinwiddie claims she was intrigued by Aqua Bay's newest band, 'The Neptunes' and she wants to compete by having her children make a big comeback and bring them back to the top of the music industry"
"Stage moms, what're gonna do?" Marcie rolled her eyes.
Shaggy shrugged as he joined in with the reading.
He looked at the article "In recent events, the former Mystery Kids have claimed not to have wanted to go back to the music industry, but their maternal unit has said otherwise"
There was some pause after Shaggy read that paragraph.
Just before anyone could say anything, some sort of toy truck with a motor and truck atarted driving right towards Scooby.
"Raaahhh!" he hollered.
"Shhh" said the librarian.
"Scooby!" Velma said. "You wanted to get us kicked out of the library?"
"Rook, rover there" Scooby pointed to the toy truck.
The gang looked down and saw the toy truck.
"It's a toy truck, Scooby." Marcie said.
"But what's a toy truck doing here?" Velma wondered "We can't bring toys to school. Especially in a high school"
"Maybe there's a message on the toy truck." Shaggy suggested.
"Let me see" Marcie said as she picked up the truck.
She looked and saw nothing.
"Excuse me" said a voice "I believe that's mine"
The person who the voice belonged to came walking towards our heroes. It was Eric.
"Oh hi, Eric" said Daphne "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for my AV Club meeting" he replied "Our RC truck got loose when we were testing it out for a spin"
"I see." Fred nodded as Marcie walked over to hand the truck back to Eric.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked Eric.
"We are trying to solve a mystery about our new car, the Mystery Machine" Madelyn replied.
"The Mystery Machine? Didn't that belong to that band, the Mystery Kids?" asked Eric.
"Yeah, it did" Madelyn nodded "In fact, we were just reading about them"
"What's the mystery?" Eric asked.
"Like, the van is possessed and can come alive on its own." Shaggy said.
"Now that's ridiculous" said Eric "The only way someone could control a van is if they were using some sort of controlling device or whatever"
"Really?" asked the gang.
"Of course, it's all a matter of robotics and mechanical engineering" Eric replied "Come with me and I'll show y'all how it works"
The gang followed Eric to the AV room where they saw Bill and some other guy waiting for him.
"Eric, thank goodness you're back" said Bill "I was starting to worry"
"I've got the truck back." Eric said as he showed the truck. "And I've brought along some interested people."
The gang walked into the AV room.
"You?" Bill pointed to the gang "What are you guys doing here?"
"We're solving a mystery, thank you very much, Bill" Velma folded her arms "And Eric invited us here"
"Sorry, but no non-AV members allowed" said Bill.
"Well, the stuff they're investigating involves robotics, Bill." Eric says.
"Well would they be investigating, pray tell?" asked Bill.
"Their new van, the Mystery Machine" Eric replied.
"The Mystery Machine? That's the name of an old rustbucket I never thought I'd hear again" said the other guy.
"Who are you?" asked Velma.
"I'm Randy Dinwiddie" the guy replied "My brother and sister, Andy and Mandy used to own that van"
"Funny, we were talking to them earlier today and they didn't mention having a brother" said Daphne.
"Did something happen in your family?" Velma asked.
"Yeah" Randy said bitterly "I'm an amazing gadgeteer, but mommy dearest only pretends to take an interest in my talents and helps me with her homework, but it's all just an act. I'll never make the charts like her precious Mystery Kids. I'm just a black sheep and left in my brother and sister's shadows"
"I see." Fred nodded.
"Jeepers, that's sad" Daphne added.
"Well Randy, what would you do if your car started running?" asked Fred.
"Well, I would check to see what the problem was" Randy replied.
"Usually a motorized contraption goes haywire by either a busted engine, secret controls or the mistakes of a doofus mechanic" Eric added.
"I think I'd agree with you on that third one" Marcie looked at Shaggy and Scooby.
"Like, Scoob and I are placing our bets on the second one." Shaggy said as he glared back at Marcie. "There's no way did we mess up while fixing the van."
"Unless you guys missed something in the engine." Fred said. "Something suspicious."
At that remark, Shaggy's eyes flashed when he and Scooby remembered something.
"Shaggy, Scooby." Daphne said. "Did you guys recall seeing anything suspicious while repairing the van?"
Shaggy and Scooby thought for a moment.
"Nuh uh" Scooby shook his head.
"Not that I can recall" Shaggy said "I could check, but we are staying away from that thing and we don't even know where it is. Like, i wonder how those Mystery Kids could stand driving in that haunted tin can all around the country"
"Sure beats me." Madelyn shrugged.
"Well it started getting haunted when Flash Flannigan left the band" Randy explained "After my siblings' careers went downhill, Flash died in a freak accident and people started rumors that the van was possessed by his spirit. Each week, a daisy appears on his grave mysteriously. Some say it's a calling card or the gift of an obsessive fan"
Fred raised an eyebrow at the latest remark as the girls looked at him.
"But it's just a lucky guess" Randy shrugged.
"Then there must be something going on at Flash's grave that might be connected to the van being haunted" Velma assumed "We'd better go to the cemetery and investigate"
"A cemetery? Like no way man" Shaggy said as he shook his head "I am not going to a place with dead people"
"Me neither" Scooby added.
"It's our only lead, guys." Fred said. "Besides, it's still not nighttime yet. What could possible happen?"
Shaggy gulped "Like I wish you hadn't said that"
"Shag's got a point." Daphne agreed. "What if the Mystery Machine manages to find us, Freddie?"
"Then we will have to try to outrun it again, Daphne" said Fred "And if we manage to capture it, we can alert the authorities"
"Sounds easier said than done for you guys." Eric remarked.
"What do you mean?" asked Daphne.
"I mean, how are you gonna trap the van?" asked Eric.
Everyone turned to Fred.
"What?" he asked.
"You're the leader, Freddy" said Daphne "How have to think of something"
"Yeah" said Madelyn "What's the plan?"
Fred thought for a moment "When my folks went mystery solving when they were kids, sometimes they would use their scooters, bikes, skateboards and roller skates to get around, since they didn't have their van yet. We still have their old tandem bike and skates in the garage and I'm sure my cousin has my aunt and uncle's bike in her garage as well"
"Then, what are we waiting for?" Shaggy asked.
"It's go time, gang!" Fred proclaimed "To my garage and then my cousin's house"
Author's Note:
Looks like Fred has another plan to try to capture the Mystery Machine, but we can also see that we're going have some unexpected characters in this episode. Stay tuned.