Chapter 19: This the chapter before the Epilogue. Quick, I need to think of something really poetic before it's too-
Fred knew that this was going to happen eventually. When people get older, they tend to drift apart. That doesn't mean that they won't be friends anymore. He already saw it starting to happen to them. He is already thinking about doing his own thing that involves building a career. He has the filled out signup form that the Police Chief gave him last week sitting in his room. Ready to turn it in.
So why did this alarm him so much? Why is the knowledge that Shaggy was leaving was so... throwing him off his game. He knew why, they had been the best of friends since grade school. They used to live right next to each other (until Wendell ruined everything), Shaggy had always been there right next to him. They were brothers but without the blood. Shaggy is Fred's best friend. Guess he figured that even without Mystery Inc. existing, Shaggy would still be there.
Maybe Fred was being a little selfish, or stubborn, or both. Whatever. But he is feeling just a little abandoned right now. Of course he still has the girls, until Velma goes off to complete her college degree and goes who knows where. Daphne will always be around, until she inherits her family's business and her job picks her up and takes her somewhere else. Fred is the only one who might be staying in Coolsville, and he's fine with that. He loves his hometown and he will be happy to serve it. But he knows that he will become lonely eventually. He could make new friends, but that just won't be the same. It wouldn't be Mystery Inc. anymore.
Fred parked the Mystery Machine in Shaggys driveway, to the sight of Scooby on his hind legs washing the cherry red van that rarely sees the light of day. Scooby turned to reveal that he was wearing a bikini top. A joke that Fred had unfortunately missed but must've been really freaking funny. Or that Scooby was just being weird again. Either or. Fred found himself smiling despite his sour mood. Even knowing that Scooby was leaving too, Shaggy would never ever leave the dog behind.
Scooby waved at him excitedly, suds flying around the place. "Reddy!" He pushed back on the side of the car, landing on all fours again and trotting up to him. Fred got out of the van and stopped him.
"It's nice to see you too Scoob, but you're covered in soap." Fred held out his hand and Scooby stopped in his tracks.
"Oh, rokay." Scooby said, and he quickly began to shake off the suds and water. Fred shielded his face at the avalanche of soap flying towards him. Scooby then sat down politely. "Rhere, all retter."
"Right..." Fred sighed, trying to wipe the foam off of him. "Thanks." Scooby jumped up and licked his face to finally greet him. Fred knew that he couldn't be mad at him, so he just accepted the fact that he is now covered in suds and scratched the top of Scooby's head.
Shaggy stepped out of the garage, grabbing the hose. Scooby got off of Fred on time for Shaggy to spray the dog. "Let's get that soap off of you buddy." He then pointed to Vanna who has a large fluffy towel. "Good job on the van, now go dry off before we leave. We're not traveling with a wet dog."
"Right, Raggy." Scooby shook off the extra water, splashing Fred for the final time before trotting up to Vanna, happy to see that such a fluffy and warm looking towel was meant for him.
Shaggy leaned over to Fred. "The van didn't need to be washed, it's just that it's the only way to give Scooby a proper bath." He giggled mischievously. "Scooby hasn't figured it out yet. I have no clue how we're going to keep him clean in Transylvania."
Freds mood dropped again. "You'll figure something out..." Last night Shaggy and Vanna had already said their goodbyes to the girls. But Fred just couldn't do it. Not when Velma and Daphne were so heartbroken and sad to see their friend leave. That is why he was here actually. Because he can never live with himself if he didn't give his best friend a proper goodbye.
Shaggy placed his hand on Freds shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze. Even though it was obvious that Shaggy was really holding back, it still hurt a little. "Hey man, it was going to happen eventually right?"
Fred shrugged. "I know, man. It's just, it's happening now."
Shaggy crossed his arms, looking down at the pavement of the driveway. Several years ago it used to be filled with his and Fred's chalk drawings. Usually of monsters and blueprints for future traps. He smiled at the memory. "We'll stay in touch, I'm just going to have to disappear for awhile. There's a whole mess waiting for me up there."
When his friend wasn't looking, Fred went to gently massage his shoulder. How strong is his friend now? He's so going to have a bruise tomorrow. "How bad is it?"
Shaggy shrugged. "Vanna said that it's under control. Which is good because there's like, only one working portal at Grimwoods, and that's in Louisiana. We're going to have to drive to it."
"That's quite the trip." Fred said, Shaggy shrugged like the drive wasn't a very big deal.
"Eh, it'll be one last adventure before Transylvania... I don't think I'll ever get that chance again so I better make it count." Shaggy chuckled, a bit dryly though. Then trailing off. It was obvious that there were things that Shaggy was going to miss. Which were the things that they're going to miss as well.
"So.." Fred shoved his hands in his pockets. "Is this the end of Mystery Inc.?"
Shaggy was quiet for a moment. "I guess so.." He whispered, but then smiled sadly. "But it's like, a new chapter too. So let's start it off on a high note."
Fred looked up, wrapping an arm around Shaggy and grinned. "You're right. We still have our memories of Mystery Inc. and that's not going anywhere." He lead Shaggy inside the garage where he spotted several bags and an air mattress that was meant for the back. The Mystery Machine had something similar to that, but a whole lot more convenient. For a moment Fred thought to hand Shaggy the keys to the Mystery Machine because it's more comfortable to travel in. As it would eventually end up sitting in a garage anyway. But Fred wasn't ready to let go of his baby yet. If it's going to sit and collect dust in a garage, it'll be his. "Lets get your bags loaded up, don't want you guys to get a late start."
Shaggy nodded, grabbing one of Vannas bags. "Right, you're right. I can't keep stalling forever..."
...
After Fred had said his goodbyes, Shaggy went back into his room and found it almost empty, save for his furniture that he couldn't bring with him. It was when he saw his room cleaned out that it finally hits him. He's leaving Coolsville. He's willingly going to a place that he had promised himself to never step foot in. Shaggy sat at the foot of the bare mattress, looking around the room. It looked completely different without its posters, even though the large planetary mural will remain. Part of him hopes that his parents would keep it, and that when Brian makes his way down here, he wont paint over it.
"Shaggy, sweetheart." Vanna called from the closet. Stepping out with a large and painfully familiar bag in hand. "What do you want to do with this?"
Shaggy got up from the bed, gently taking the bag from Vannas hands. It was the same bag that sat in the back of his mothers closet for the last fourteen years. A bag that he had to finally open to get the last uniform that belonged to his father out to scare Wendell. The same uniform that was still in his van. He needed to get it out and put it back. Opening the bag again as a reminder. Shaggy then notices a white envelope that was sitting on the bottom of the bag. Something that he hadn't noticed in his rush to get the uniform. Shaggy took the envelope out to inspect it, finding that his name was written in it in a handwriting that he thought he would never see again.
Shaggy sat back down, inspecting the envelope in his hand. Even though it was addressed to him, he was afraid to open it. Vanna sat next to him, she didn't need to say anything. "Dad died around my birthday." He said, turning the letter over in his hands. "I always keep forgetting, I always try to put it out of my head."
He knew that he didn't have to open it, but he found himself doing just that, gently prying the envelop open as to not damage his name that was written on the front. He smiled, pulling out a Blue Falcon birthday card with a bold 'Wow, you're 10!' on the front. It was brightly colored and cheesy, but it was exactly what ten year old Shaggy would've wanted. As for his tenth birthday party he wanted it to be all Blue Falcon. A party that had still happened because Margret had wanted Shaggy be in a normal setting as possible and she didn't want his birthday to be ruined. Despite her efforts it was a very somber birthday party, and it remained somber for the next few years.
Finally, Shaggy opened the card. There was some line from the show and birthday wishes along with it. But on the bottom, in his fathers handwriting was a simple 'love you- Dad'. Of course Shaggy didn't expect some long winded final farewell that he had always wanted. But this, this was enough for him. He felt his chest tighten, and his vision blurring slightly. He took a sharp intake. "I never got over it..." He sniffed, feeling Vannas hand on his back. He leaned into her, resting his face on her shoulder. "He just didn't come home one night, and that was it. I didn't know what happened. I just knew someone bad had taken him away from us."
"You know now." Vanna whispered, rubbing soothing circles into his back.
"I do." Shaggy agreed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "And I put the bad guy away."
Vanna kissed his forehead and he sighed. "You did."
Shaggy sat back up, looking at the card in his hand. He wanted to take it with him, of course. But paused. Shaggy knew that he was right when he said that they were approaching a new chapter in their lives. Yes, it was scary, but Shaggy had always liked a bit of change in his life. Just something to shake things up a little.
Scooby walked into his room, dirt covering his paws. While carrying his own bag in his teeth, stuffed with bones of various shapes and sizes. Vanna huffed, pointing at Scooby's dirty paws. "Scooby! You're going to get dirt all over the car. Can you please wash your paws?"
"Wash?" Scooby stuck out his tongue in distaste. "Yuck."
Shaggy looked up from the card. "Hey, Scoob. I think you missed a spot on the van. I got to finish packing, can you get it? Got to like, make a good impression."
Scooby perked up again, saluting his friend. "Right, Raggy. Rot it."
As the dog trotted away, Shaggy smirked at Vanna. "Sucker.." In response Vanna giggled. Scooby could always sit by the window and air dry.
Vanna kissed him on the cheek, telling him that she'll be upstairs with his parents. Knowing that he'll need to say his final goodbyes next, he went to follow her. Then stopped. Looking at the card in his hand. Then at the bag on the end of the bare mattress. With a sad smile, Shaggy walked up to a shelf that once displayed some of his favorite Blue Falcon action figures. Gently standing the card up. He took a step back, taking a final moment in his room. Though his eyes never left the card.
"Goodbye, Dad." He said out loud, even though he understood that he'll never get a response. Instead he left the room, turning off the light as he did so.
...
Vanna looked at the large map that sat on her lap as they near the town border. Next to her Scooby's head hung out the window, catching the breeze with his tongue. "It seems like a straight forward shot for the next three days." Vanna pointed to the map.
"Yeah, but we're going to have to make a quick detour." Shaggy glanced back at her. "There is a place that we need to see before we leave the state."
"Oh?" Vanna looked back. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see..." he trailed off, smiling devilishly at her. "It's a surprise."
She was about to say something else, but a familiar brightly painted van came into view of Shaggy's driver sidemirror. "What the... Fred?" Shaggy stopped his van. He stuck his head out of the window.
The window to the Mystery Machine rolled down, revealing Fred, Velma and Daphne. "What the heck are you guys doing?" Shaggy asked with a bewildered grin.
"You said it yourself, Shaggy. It's one last adventure." Fred smiled. "So might as well make it count. If we're going to send you off, it's going to be Mystery Inc. style."
Shaggy laughed, loudly. Going back to take the wheel of his van. "You got it, Fred! Let's do this!"
Fred howled joyfully in response, fist pumping in the air. Daphne and Velma joined in as well, waving at Shaggy as Fred took off in front of him. Just so the leaving member of Mystery Inc. could see the 'Louisiana or Bust' sticker on the bumper of the Mystery Machine. Bumper Stickers on Fred's van were usually a big no no. But it seems like Fred had made an exception.
Shaggy glanced back at Scooby and Vanna with a excited grin. Before flooring the gas petal to chase after the Mystery Machine.
End of Chapcter. (Next up, the Epilogue!)