Author Note: Hi everyone! As you may know, I am busy working on my other series, The Week After, in which I was writing a series of one-shots set about a week after the conclusion of various Scooby Doo movies and television episodes. Stage Fright was always intended to follow my first one-shot in that series, but as I spent the last week writing the Stage Fright chapter, the fic increasingly became longer and more nuanced to the point where it necessitated a stand-alone, multi-chapter fic. Therefore, this fic is also set a week after the end of Stage Fright and it follows the premise of my other series, but since it is definitely not a one-shot, I'll publish this one here as a separate fic. I'll be uploading this one every four to seven days, and once I finish writing this one, I'll return to my other series and focus on writing more one-shots for more movies/television episodes.
So, here are some disclaimers for this fic:
- Do not read this fic if you wish to avoid Stage Fright spoilers. This is intended to be a resolution to some loose ends from that movie, and I am planning an entire mystery based on the one that is alluded to in the credits of that movie.
- Goose Lake Music Festival is an actual, real concert that occurred in 1970 in Goose Lake, MI. I got the inspiration because I actually live in Michigan, and I learned a bit about this festival over the summer. The concert flyer described in this chapter is real (I found it on the internet), and any facts about the one from 1970 are all anecdotes I researched in writing this fic. The only caveat is that the Goose Lake revival concert that is being planned in this fic is indeed fictional and something I fabricated for the purpose of the story, as Goose Lake is now a campground only. (I couldn't pass up the opportunity to link the Goose Lake mentioned at the end of the movie with the Goose Lake in my home state, especially the interesting back story you'll learn about here!)
- This fic is rated T for mentions of drug use and sex (no worries, it does not involve the characters partaking in either, just the mention of both really quickly in this chapter. I mean, we're talking about a concert in 1970, so it's bound to happen, lol)
If you've read this far, thank you for your continued interest in this story! Please leave a review if you are interested, and be sure to follow for updates! - iamacliche
Chapter 1
The week after Mystery Incorporated hop into the Mystery Machine and peel out of Chicago after Talent Star is done filming, Fred finds himself staring intensely at the road before him as he drives his friends towards their next adventure. Not long after the gang left Chicago in their rearview mirror, Velma stumbled across an article on the front page of the XGME Gazette that recounted the recent appearance of the Goose Lake Monster menacing civilians, and as with any case, the gang's interest was sparked immediately. It took a few minutes to determine which Goose Lake was being haunted, as Google revealed a myriad of Goose Lakes, including one in Illinois, which would have been convenient since the gang were leaving Chicago, and another perched on the border of Oregon and California; Fred had fleetingly hoped the location in question was California for the simple fact that he was hoping for a mystery in a state that was sunny and warm. After combing through more articles online and discovering that the specific Goose Lake buzzing in the news was nestled in Michigan, a stone's throw away from Chicago, Illinois, it made perfect sense for Mystery Incorporated to make a detour on their way home in favor of unravelling yet another mystery.
As the Mystery Machine coasts down the freeway, Fred is hyper-aware of the tension crackling in the van; the atmosphere sizzles and snaps in the same oppressive manner as the air just before a thunderstorm. It's not that the gang have hardly spoken throughout the duration of the ride; Shaggy and Scooby talk incessantly about video games and their favorite snacks, and they've speculated on what kind of food awaits them once they arrive in Goose Lake. Velma, meanwhile, is preoccupied with researching as much as she can about this case and the geography of Michigan and the surrounding city of Jackson so she can have some knowledge in her back pocket before they even arrive, and the sound of her fingers clacking against the laptop keyboard twinkle throughout the van for the past several days. No, what makes this trip so tense is the fact that Daphne and Fred have hardly exchanged more than a few words since the gang pulled away from the gas station located on the fringes of Chicago.
Fred has replayed that moment in his head endlessly like an old black and white movie reel; he remembers the surge of courage that bubbled up inside his chest when he cleared his throat and began to speak, and as he fumbled for the right words to convey what was in his heart, Daphne began to talk at the exact same moment. When they both spoke the small space in the front seat of the Mystery Machine had felt cloistered and taut, which is the opposite of what happens when they're on stage together and their voices blend and weave together to create something harmonious and pure, and Fred flinched at his horrible timing. "Let her go first so you don't make a fool of yourself," he reprimanded himself, insisting that she speak even though she paused awkwardly and offered to allow him to talk first. After Fred deferred to Daphne, she inhaled audibly and breathed, "Okay," and Fred felt every muscle in his body flinch and the goosebumps slithered across his arm when Daphne said his name, and he couldn't help but feel as though she was inching towards something significant, something weighty, something important that would reverberate within him for a long time, but all Daphne managed was, "Fred, I like – " before Velma interjected excitedly about the Goose Lake monster. Immediately it felt as though the air had been sucked out of the van, and Fred felt his resolve swivel down the drain as he looked at Daphne, who looked sheepish and embarrassed as her eyes darted around the van nervously. Flustered that the moment had been quashed and that this opportunity to talk to Daphne about his feelings had once again slipped through his fingers, Fred immediately echoed Velma's desire to investigate the mystery at the same time as Daphne, and Fred had never felt so paradoxically relieved and dismal over the fact that he would apparently never have this conversation with Daphne.
Every time he dwells on this conversation that couldn't have lasted longer than a single minute, he pauses the film in his brain at certain moments to hone in on the scene and study the way Daphne's face shifted when Velma's voice penetrated the moment; there was a noticeable tectonic shift in the way Daphne had pivoted from nervously tugging at the hem of her dress to eagerly focusing on this brand new mystery looming before them, and Fred was unsure of whether or not he was over-analyzing Daphne's comments just before she was interrupted. "Fred, I like – " She likes what – dogs? The color purple? Mysteries? Singing on stage with him in front of a studio audience of hundreds of people? Kissing him? The options were as limitless as the freeway stretched before the gang now, and Fred desperately wanted to ask Daphne what she had intended to say earlier; in fact, he had a lot of questions reserved for her, such as if Daphne kissed him last week because she really liked him, or if she had merely been caught up in the adrenaline rush of unmasking phantom after phantom after phantom, or if she had decided the kiss would boost the television ratings and increase their chance of winning the competition. And why had she written a song without informing him ahead of time, and was there any significance behind the lyrics when she looked at him and crooned, "I love you?"
Fred sighs as he examines yet another exit looming before him on the freeway, and he makes a mental note to mull everything over with Shaggy and Scooby, even though he knows they will most likely chide him and sigh with exasperation, "How many times do we have to tell you – just talk to her already!" But how could Fred convey to them that telling Daphne about his feelings was more terrifying than every mystery and every monster Mystery Incorporated had ever encountered? And how does he express the terror that constricts his throat when he ponders how Daphne will respond to his questions? Worse yet, Fred is unsure of how to diffuse the strain between him and Daphne; leading up to their Talent Star performance and even up to the moment when they had kissed, Fred had felt they were on the same wavelength, hitting every note perfectly and swaying on stage in perfect tandem together; they had never been out of synch before during their performances and their mysteries, but now Fred felt as though he was trying to talk to Daphne from the other side of a tumultuous river, and every time he opened his mouth his words were drowned out by the babbling water. Fred has never felt this rigidity around Daphne before, and that pain burns him more than the thought that he might never feel her lips pressed upon his ever again.
"Fred, look out- you're about to pass up our exit up there!" Velma slices through Fred's thoughts, jabbing a finger towards the fork in the freeway ahead.
Fred is jarred back into the present by the sound of the adamant voice screeching from the GPS system installed in the van, which demands in a Scottish accent (Shaggy had found humor in the voice and insisted on making this the default speaker) that Fred hang a right for the next exit, which is unfortunately about to flash by the Mystery Machine in the wink of an eye. Without thinking, Fred yanks the steering wheel jerkily and swerves the van across two lanes, and he barely has a chance to deaccelerate as the exit ramp abruptly curves into a sharp sloping bend, which sends Shaggy and Scooby flying against the wall behind him, dumps Velma into the glove compartment to his right, and spills Daphne onto Fred's lap as the Mystery Machine tilts uneasily on its side while Fred attempts to regain control.
Heart pounding against his ribcage, Fred manages to pump the brakes and pull the van onto the side of the road branching off from the exit; despite the adrenaline slamming through his veins and his choppy breathing, he is instantly and acutely aware of Daphne's cheek smashed against his thigh and her hand grasping his knee in an attempt to steady herself, and without intending to he feels his ears burn and his cheeks are crimson red.
Daphne moans as Fred places his hands on her shoulder and helps guide her back into a sitting position; normally neither of them even react when Fred slips his hand into Daphne's when they're running from a monster or when Daphne grips Fred's arm during a terrifying moment, but Fred feels Daphne recoil beneath his touch and jump to the other side of the passenger seat as though Fred is contagiously ill, and Fred feels a pang of sadness sweep over him like a tidal wave; he hates that their kiss has already made things way more awkward between them, and he reminds himself that this is exactly why he has abstained from telling Daphne about his feelings before now.
"Are you okay, Daph?" Fred asks politely, hoping that his voice sounds neutral and that his facial expressions aren't betraying the pain that stings him.
"Uh, I'm okay, thanks Freddy," Daphne sighs as she massages her fingers against her temple as though she has a headache. "Velma, are you all right?"
Velma straightens herself on the passenger seat beside Daphne and scowls at Fred. "I'm okay, but I'm not so sure that Fred is!" Velma guffaws. "What were you thinking about that had you so distracted back there, Fred? You could have flipped the Mystery Machine and killed us!"
"I-I wasn't thinking about anything!" Fred stammers, his cheeks once again flush with embarrassment. "Cut me some slack here, we haven't solved a mystery in Michigan in months and I'm not exactly familiar with where I'm driving! Are you okay back there, Scooby?"
"Rea-rea!" Scooby barks as he lifts his head out of the box of Scooby Snacks that have sandwiched his face during the sudden turn off the freeway. "Ri am reaaaal good, ree-hee-hee-hee!"
"Like hey, is no one going to ask me if I'm okay?!" Shaggy retorts indignantly as he wrenches himself back onto the back seat located behind the driver side of the van. To ramp up the drama, Shaggy glares in Fred's direction as he over-exaggerates the act of brushing the dirt off his t-shirt sleeve and harrumphs loudly.
Fred inhales as he examines his tattered but safe his friends spread out around him in the van. "Sorry about that, gang," Fred apologizes sheepishly. "I guess I thought I had another few miles before we hit the exit. Let's keep going – Goose Lake isn't too far from here, so we should be there in about ten minutes."
Fred eases the Mystery Machine back onto the road and obeys the GPS' directions. As he drives, he mentally chastises himself for becoming so consumed with his thoughts regarding Daphne that he would nearly get his friends killed. As a sign welcoming the gang to Goose Lake Camping Ground streaks by outside Fred's window, Fred vows to pour his focus into this mystery; after all, maybe if he shuts his eyes and ignores all these conflicting feelings and thoughts in his head, they're bound to dissipate eventually, right?
"Well, this is it, gang," Fred announces as he pulls the Mystery Machine to a stop outside of a cozy office building constructed of logs. "But I'm confused – I didn't realize that Goose Lake was a camp site?"
"It wasn't originally intended for camping," Velma offers helpfully as the gang spill out of the Mystery Machine. The sound of car doors slamming fills the air as everyone shoots Velma an inquisitive look, and she clarifies, "I know this already because I studied Goose Lake a little on our way up here; Goose Lake was originally just a lake, but it was converted to a camp ground some time ago."
Fred steps around the Mystery Machine and takes a few steps toward the camp ground, his eyes sweeping over the scene before him. His friends cluster around him as they take note of the numerous trees dotting the perimeter of the lake, which is presumably the infamous Goose Lake; Fred marvels at the fact that the water is clear and undiluted and blue, unlike the polluted and green, murky beach water he is familiar with back at home in Coolsville. Mahogany picnic tables are randomly strewn about on the grass, and Fred can tell the tables are fairly old when he notes the chipped pieces of paint peeling off the benches. These are all normal, ordinary pieces that comprise a campground, but what feels atypical to the natural scene before the gang is the large stage situated about thirty feet in front of the lake and the various sized monitors and microphones scattered in front of the stage. Fred blinks, uncertain as to why all of this equipment would be positioned in the midst of this random and serene location.
"Like, what is goin' on here?" Shaggy echoes Fred's thoughts as he gazes around at the scene before him. "Is there some kinda band performin' or a concert of some sort tonight?"
Before anyone from Mystery Incorporated can speak, a man with black hair that is neatly contained in a single braid which hangs down the middle of his back emerges from behind the stage carrying a teal colored bass guitar, and when he catches the gang gawking at him he leans the bass against the front of the stage and waves.
"Sorry dudes, you're a few days early for the Goose Lake Revival Concert!" the man booms in a loud and masculine but friendly voice. "Come back this Friday and we'll be ready for ya then!"
"Oh, we aren't here for the concert," Daphne corrects the man politely, and Fred tries to still the voice in his head that reminds him that this is the most Daphne has said since they left the gas station in Chicago. "We're actually here to help solve the mystery of the Goose Lake Monster that's been all over the news!"
The man's eyes widen and his mouth gapes open as he studies the sleuths for a few silent moments.
"Hey man, I just realized that I recognize you five!" the man proclaims animatedly, akin to an overjoyed toddler. "You're Mystery Incorporated! Wow, Jordie and Erica are going to be so stoked that you guys are here to help us, man!"
Before the gang can question the man further or even inquire about the identities of Jodie and Erica, the man with the long braid enthusiastically strolls to the presumed office building constructed of logs, slipping inside the front door as the gang glance at each other and shrug. They only have to wait a few minutes before the man emerges from the building and begins to saunter towards them, this time with a middle aged man with salt and pepper hair and a woman who appears to be in her early 20's flanking alongside him.
"Oh wow Sid, you weren't kidding!" the second man trills with glee as he eyes Mystery Incorporated with shining eyes. "I can't believe it's actually them!"
Fred feels a blush seep onto his cheeks; no matter how many mysteries the gang have solved, he is still not accustomed to the way people gush and react to him and his friends, and the way these perfect strangers already know so much about the gang without Mystery Incorporated even having introduced themselves.
When the trio are face-to-face with Fred and his friends, Fred has a chance to examine each person in more detail. The man the gang had first interacted with (who had been referred to as Sid just a moment ago) stuck out because of his unique braid, but now that he is standing before them Fred notes the crow's feet that rest in the corners of Sid's eyes and the friendly, gentle smile pasted to his face, which matches the glimmering brown eyes and the laugh lines etched onto his cheeks. Fred is also struck by Sid's wardrobe choices; Sid ticks all the boxes for Fred's conventional definition of a flower child or a hippie from the 60's and early 70's with his tie-die swirl t-shirt and his brown corduroy pants and his braided hair, and his mannerisms and speech, too.
Whereas Sid appears more relaxed and casual, Jordie is more professional and polished; Jordie's short dark, greying hair is a stark contrast to the braid that swings down Sid's back, and Jordie wears black slacks and a crisp, long-sleeved white dress shirt as opposed to Sid's choice of corduroys and a vibrant, colorful shirt. Although Jordie emits a corporate, no-nonsense appearance, he emits a warm and friendly aura that Fred instantly gravitates toward and makes him decide that he likes Jordie immediately; Jordie smiles so often that Fred wonders if Jordie is ever without the grin on his face, and it is evident from the twinkle in his soft grey eyes that he is genuinely pleased to meet Mystery Incorporated.
This finally gives Fred a chance to study Erica, the young woman who seems to be the least friendly, or perhaps simply the shyest, of the trio. Whereas Sid and Jordie immediately enveloped the gang into a warm hug as though the young detectives were their long-lost friends, Erica stands a few feet away, aloof to the newcomers. Her green eyes are sharp and bright, and Fred can't help but feel as though Erica is penetrating his every thought from the intense way she gazes upon him and his friends, and he squirms when he catches Erica eyeing him and Daphne in particular; Erica noticeably gnaws the inside of her cheek as though she is concentrating deeply as she studies them both, as though she is trying to recollect how she has met Daphne and Fred before now, which makes Fred turns his head away timidly to focus on Sid and Jordie. Even though Erica is definitely the more intense of the three, Fred is still intrigued by Erica and her vivid emerald eyes and her vibrant cobalt colored hair; he doesn't get the sense that her scrutiny is from unfriendliness as much as it stems from her cautious awareness of her surroundings.
After Jordie and Sid exchange hearty hugs with the gang and Erica eyes Mystery Incorporated curiously from a short distance, Fred sweeps his hand towards his friends as he speaks and formally introduces himself and the rest of the gang. When he introduces each of his friends by name, each member of the gang responds with a curt nod and a smile or a wave towards Jordie, Erica, and Sid.
"We just arrived here from Chicago," Velma adds by way of explanation. "We read about the Goose Lake Monster while we were on the road, and we thought we would stop by to see if we could lend our services to you all in any way."
When Velma mentions Chicago, Erica's brilliant green eyes shine bright, and her expression changes from pensive and reserved to overjoyed and astonished as quickly as the flick of a light switch.
"Oh my gosh, I know how I recognize you two now!" Erica beams as she steps toward Fred and Daphne, and Fred feels anxiety coil suddenly in the pit of his stomach as Erica's eyes shine as she gazes upon him and Daphne. "It clicked as soon as Velma said you guys just came in from Chicago! You're the same Fred and Daphne who almost won Talent Star on TV; I watched every single episode week after week! Oh my gosh, this is such an honor; I am such a huge fan of you both!"
Fred and Daphne exchange sheepish grins, suddenly uncomfortable with all the attention, but Erica continues to fuss over them in a torrent of screams and questions; Fred can't help but think Erica's behavior is reminiscent of how young teenage girls would react if they were standing before Harry Styles or Ariana Grande.
"Oh my gosh, Dad, I was just telling you about these two last week!" Erica gushes. "Remember when I told you about that couple on Talent Star who wrote their own song and made it the finals and had to perform that tie-breaker against the violin girl?! Well, this is them and they're actually standing right before us; I can't believe it's actually you guys!"
"Oh, trust me, we're really not that exciting," Daphne replies humbly, her voice tinged with embarrassment; Fred had always admired how grounded Daphne reacted whenever someone cooed over her and the gang with admiration and awe.
"No really, you guys are awesome!" Erica declares, taking advantage of the opportunity to pump their hands in an eager handshake. "Wow, I still can't believe you guys are actually here! I just want to say that I loved both of your original songs; I thought your song lyrics were so cute and so romantic, and they really captured the relationship you guys shared off and on stage. Like, how sweet was your one lyric – how did it go again? – oh yeah! Our lives keep evolving through hope and despair / I can take all the changes knowing you're there –"
Fred feels the sweat pool all over his body and slide down his spine as his heart knocks wildly against his chest, and he is too humiliated to even chance a glimpse towards Daphne's direction to gauge her reaction; he wishes he knew how to make Erica stop gushing about him and Daphne, and he wishes more than anything that he could blot out Erica's voice with a wave of his hand and erase this moment entirely, but all he can do is stand there with his mouth gaping open as he watches this unfurl before him like a slow-moving car crash.
"And ohmigosh, that kiss at the end of your final song last week was so adorable!" Erica is actually squealing enthusiastically now, and Fred's ears begin to ring and his cheeks feel as though they are enflamed as she continues, "I had always figured you guys were dating and I always thought you made the cutest couple, so seeing that kiss really made me so happy, and I know other Fraphne fans who were just exploding with excitement, too –"
"Uh, Fraphne fans?" Velma echoes in bewilderment; Fred notes the amused grin that Shaggy is attempting to bite back on his face, and Scooby is chuckling softly as Erica speaks.
Erica nods her head vigoriously. "Yeah, Fraphne is the name the fans have given Fred and Daphne, ya know, like those blended celebrity couples you hear about in the media all the time, like Brangelina for instance! The Fraphne nickname is all over the message boards on Reddit, and last week the Fraphne hash tag was trending #2 on Twitter after the Fraphne kiss ended the show, and – "
Fred feels as though he is having an out of body experience; this is some other guy who is listening to Erica speak and is standing in the middle of Goose Lake embarrassed as hell, and he's just simply watching all the entertainment occur before him. When Erica says that Fraphne has consumed social media Fred feels a jolt of shock ripple through him; this is the first he has heard of dedicated fans being so invested in him and Daphne as a couple that they would go so far as to not only give them a blended nickname, but to also vocalize their devotion for the couple to the point that it consumed Twitter.
" – but anyway, I am such a huge fan of you both, and I was so glad to see my favorite ship end up together last week during the season finale of Talent Star!" Erica exclaims with a sigh, and Fred hopes this indicates that she is done talking, but then it feels as though his heart stops when Erica knits her eyebrows together and looks at Fred and Daphne pointedly when she observes the physical distance separating them both, and she asks, "Wait, you guys are actually like, super in love and stuff, right? It wasn't just for show and for ratings, was it?"
Fred feels his stomach lurch and a voice in his head is screaming at him to seize this moment, however embarrassing, and capitalize on it by revealing how he feels about Daphne. But when his eyes flicker towards Daphne and he sees her cheeks blooming crimson red and her mouth set in a firm line, he is reminded of her silence and the distance between the two of them in the Mystery Machine, so he remains silent, unwilling to risk any further deterioration in their friendship.
Fortunately for Fred, Jordie lays a hand on Erica's shoulder and interjects with a soft chuckle, "All right sweetie, I'm sure Fred and Daphne are tired after their long car ride; the last thing they want to deal with right now is another crazy fangirl! Let's give them a chance settle in for a bit, and maybe they'll tell you all about Talent Star another time."
"Hey, I didn't realize you folks were singers in addition to being detectives; that's groovy, man!" Sid says with a smile; Fred feels his shoulders relax and he sighs with relief as he realizes that they are inching further and further away from Erica's joyful rants about all things Fraphne. "Matter of fact, I'm actually a manager for a certain up and coming artist named Elliott Finn; he's about to launch his first album in a couple of weeks, and we've been advertising and promoting the hell out of him before his first single drops. Maybe you'll be able to meet him, man; in fact, he should be around here somewhere…"
Sid's voice trails off as his eyes waver around the campground, presumably looking for Elliot. When he doesn't find Elliott, he pulls his cell phone out of the back pocket of his corduroys and calls someone, telling whoever is at the end of the other end to "get here quickly, dude."
"Well, that certainly explains the stage and all the band equipment," Velma surmises. "Is Elliott playing a concert here to promote his upcoming album? I've been curious about the concert you were alluding to earlier, Sid."
When Velma mentions the concert Jodie noticeably glows, puffing out his chest with pride.
"You're exactly right, Velma!" Jordie beams. "Elliott Finn is our headliner for the revival concert we're hosting at Goose Lake this weekend! You see, Goose Lake wasn't always a campground; not too many people are aware of this, but back in 1970, Goose Lake hosted a three-day festival that was intended to rival the likes of Woodstock. The festival was Michigan's largest concert to date in history, and it was a whopping success and a great time for everyone. I happen to know this because I was one of the audience members in attendance, along with Sid here!"
At the mention of this memory, Sid sighs nostalgically.
"The Goose Lake Music Festival is like, the entire reason why I got into managing artists, man," Sid says dreamily. "Those three days were totally groovy. It was super cool because there were quite a few big names, and the festival also showcased some local artists, too, which is like totally awesome because I grew up in Detroit and I've lived here my entire life."
Jordie extracted a flyer from his back pocket and extended it towards the gang, which Daphne took into her hands; the rest of the gang thronged around her to scan the handout. At a glance, Fred thinks the flyer is an advertisement for Land O' Lakes Butter; the advertisement features the same Indian woman kneeling on the vibrant green grass and the same cheerful, sunny yellow background that Fred has seen on the packaging of the butter he purchases at the grocery store, but upon further examination, Fred sees that it is actually a creative announcement for the Goose Lake Music Festival Jordie and Sid had mentioned. Instead of the usual Land O' Lakes slogan that arched behind the woman, Goose Lake is instead scrawled in large red letters, and beneath the woman and the Goose Lake logo is row after row of band names and individual artists that had apparently played the show. Fred quickly skims each name to see if any names leap out at him; there are certain names such as Rod Stewart and Alice Cooper and The Stooges that he recognizes instantly, but there were others that have never appeared on his radar before, such as Jethro Thull and the Flying Burrito Bros.
"Flying Burrito Bros," Shaggy read aloud with a snicker, which also causes Scooby to crumple over into laughter, too. "Like, sounds like a band name Scoob and I would come up with, haha!"
"Rea it does, Raggy!" Scooby agrees, licking his lips at the thought of eating some greasy burritos.
Daphne passed the flyer back to Jordie, who explains, "Actually, a few of the more popular names, such as Alice Cooper, didn't end up playing the concert despite being advertised ahead of time, but that didn't diminish the event and all the fun throughout the weekend; even the artists and bands had a great time! In fact, rumor has it that Rod Stewart had so much fun that he made up an excuse to miss an obligation he had in New York that following day just so he could stay and hang around here a little bit longer and enjoy the festival."
Fred shakes his head, incredulous over not knowing about this concert before now; he knows about Woodstock and how iconic some of the performances by Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin had been all those years ago, but he has never even heard of Goose Lake or this legendary music festival from the '70's before Velma suggested the gang visit to investigate a mystery.
Erica shoved her dad playfully as she gazed at him with a twinkle in her eye. "What my pops and Sid have neglected to also tell you guys is that the Goose Lake Music Festival was just as notorious as Woodstock for all the psychedelic drugs and the insane orgies that took place in the audience," Erica laughed. "And I'm sure my dad here was one of those hippies who was all too happy to pass around a blunt and some LSD!"
"Erica!" Jordie yelped, his face turning several shades of red. "Don't listen to her, that isn't true at all! Yes, I will concede to the fact that there was some, er, recreational activities going on during the show, but it was nothing I would have ever partaken in, even as a teenager!" Sid mouthed, "Right, sure!" and winked as he stood behind Jordie, which caused the gang to dissolve into a fit of giggles.
"Anyway, that's all in the past, man," Sid drawls as he slips his phone back into his pocket. "Unfortunately, the music festival was like, a one-time gig. The governor of Michigan at that time proclaimed that it was, like, the first largest concert Michigan had ever seen, but that it was also the last; I guess he didn't like all the drugs that were passed around and the way people were openly having sex. But I never got over that concert man, and just how awesome the atmosphere felt with everyone coming together to genuinely have a good time. And the '70's were such a different time man, everyone was so laid back and chill; it wasn't like it is now with all this technology and this fast-paced way of living."
"Sid and I wanted to bring back some of that wonder and awe that we've always kept close to our hearts since that weekend," Jordie added, casting a grateful smile towards Sid. "Minus the antics of the drugs and the public displays of affection, of course. So that's why we're bringing back a Goose Lake Music Festival revival for this weekend only; we know that we can't host nearly as many concert goers as the original festival, since that was upwards of 200,000 folks, but we wanted to offer something special and more intimate to a crowd of about a thousand or so people. And besides, it seems like this is the perfect year to do it since the concert occurred exactly fifty years ago; it'll be a nice tribute to the original."
"I tried to talk them into more since Goose Lake has the capacity to host 60,000," Erica pouted. "But Dad and Sid are stuck on keeping the numbers drastically lower to prevent some of the old shenanigans from occurring again, which makes sense."
"This is all really neat you guys, but I do have one question for you; why is it that the original Goose Lake Music Festival boasted of dozens of musical acts, but you've only mentioned having Elliott play?" Velma asks. "By my calculations, that means you only have one act playing compared to the dozens that were present in 1970, and you need quite a few more bands in order to pull off anything that is even remotely similar to a weekend- long musical festival."
Jordie visibly deflates at Velma's question, and he looks to the gang with a sadness flickering in his eyes that wasn't present previously.
"Well, that's where the Goose Lake Monster comes into play," Jordie sighs. "We did originally have about a dozen major acts planned, but when campers reported sightings of the Goose Lake Monster terrorizing the campgrounds over the past several weeks, all the bands pulled out of the deal; well, everyone except the artist that Sid manages, Elliott Finn. He is our headliner and our one and only act, and even though he is immensely talented and has a promising career ahead of him, I'm afraid he may not draw enough interest nor a large enough crowd. Our hope was to host this concert annually each summer, but if our first concert isn't a hit, then there's no way we can go forward with the show after this year."
"Like, Jordie man, I assure you, Elliott is definitely a big enough musical act for the concert," Sid insists. "Just you wait, dude: Elliott is gonna blow everyone's mind and sell so much merch and advanced copies of his album, it'll make your head spin!"
Suddenly Erica began to gasp and jump up and down eagerly like a child in a candy store.
"Oh my gosh, we should have Daphne and Fred play the show this weekend, too!" she squealed, eyeing the two with awe and admiration. "I mean, how perfect is it that they would happen to roll into town just in time for our show? Come on Dad, puh-leeeassse: you were just saying we need more artists to make it a successful music festival!"
Jordie looked at Fred and Daphne shamefacedly, and he flashed them a pearly white smile. "Well, I was actually thinking the same thing when I heard you folks were fresh off Talent Star, but I would never want to impose, especially since you've already offered to help with the Goose Lake Monster. But since Erica has already suggested it and we really are in a bind, what do you all think? Would you be interested?"
Fred feels his heart slamming against his ribcage, and his palms were slick with sweat. In all honesty, when Jordie had mentioned that they were short on musical acts, the thought to volunteer had flitted across his mind, but everything with Daphne was so awkward and complicated since their kiss, and he feels as though he had to second guess his every thought and action around her now; he isn't too sure that performing on stage with her again is such a great idea, especially given the fact that Erica has now exposed the Fraphne nickname and hyped up the extent of the couple's popularity as a "ship," whatever that even meant. And how can he go back on stage and look in Daphne's sparkling green eyes and sing the same song lyrics, which are now so heavy with significance and meaning, especially I love you? When he and Daphne had written their original song, he secretly felt as though he was promising her that he would always be by her side when they gazed at each other from across the stage and sang, "I can take all the changes knowing you're there / we're like the rivers that join at the sea / knowing that you're there is enough for me." He had meant every word, every syllable, every declaration in that song, but it crushed him to think that Daphne may not feel the same way, and he isn't sure that he can climb up on stage with her again and put on another show for another audience because it isn't just a show for him; nothing was ever just for show when it came to how he felt about Daphne.
To Fred's immense shock, he heard Daphne clear his throat beside him and say, "I guess I can't speak for Freddy, but I would be honored to perform for you guys this weekend! You seem like wonderful people, and I wouldn't want to let you all down!"
Erica began to clap as she continued to jump up and down and shriek, and she cried, "Oh Daphne, thank you sooo much! What do you say, Fred? It would be so amazing to see Fraphne perform live!"
Without even realizing how he would respond, Fred opened his mouth and surprised himself by saying, "Sure, Erica! If Daphne's in, then I'm in, too."
Erica squealed even louder before and rushed towards Fred and Daphne, enclosing them in a tight hug.
"Ohmigosh, thank you both so so much!" Erica cried. "Really, you have no idea how excited I am to see you both perform again! I can't wait to advertise this all over Twitter and Reddit; people are going to be so hyped! And maybe we'll get lucky enough to see another Fraphne kiss." As she mentioned the kiss, Erica pulled away from Daphne and Fred to wink at them, and Fred feels his cheeks burn for what must be the thousandth time in the past ten minutes.
Jordie's cheeks are pink from the excitement, and his incredulous laughter is bubbling above all the other noises of the birds chirping and the lake gurgling.
"Seriously guys, I can't think you enough for helping us out!" Jordie beams. "I know you guys are really busy and you probably have tons of other commitments and shows booked, so I appreciate you helping us out in the final hour here."
Sid steps forward to pump Daphne and Fred's hand vigorously, but a concerned frown creases his forehead. "Wow dudes, that's like, totally tight of you two help us out here! But aren't you guys the least bit concerned about the Goose Lake Monster?"
This is a question Fred is accustomed to hearing over and over again throughout the years, so he knows exactly how to respond; it's like a chorus to a song that comes full circle, or the predictability and certainty in knowing that Saturday proceeds Friday.
"Nah, monsters and ghosts don't scare us!" Fred supplies his usual upbeat response to this question, and he offers Jordie a smile for good measure.
"HA! Speak for yourself, Fredster!" Shaggy interjects, glancing at the Mystery Machine behind him. "Like, Scoob and I would rather not stick around if that's okay with you, so we'll just head on over to the Mystery Machine now and mosey on out of here!"
Scooby and Shaggy turn abruptly to walk towards the Mystery Machine, but Velma catches both of them in a tight grip on their elbow before they can take a step forward.
"Not so fast you two chickens!" Velma tutted disapprovingly. "These three kind people need our help, and we can't just turn our backs on them now. Besides, Fred and Daphne are involved in the concert now too, so we have to support them!"
"But, like, we just supported them in Chicago and during the rest of this past season on Talent Star too, so I say Scoob and I have done enough to earn our good friend badge for the year!" Shaggy exclaims. Scooby nodded his head energetically in agreement as Shaggy spoke.
Daphne snorts back a laugh. "Gee, thanks for your unwavering support, guys."
"This is, like, so groovy of you two, man!" Sid proclaims, oblivious to Shaggy and Scooby's best efforts to bolt from Goose Lake. "I am so hyped to tell Elliott that you guys will be rocking alongside him on the card this weekend!"
"Did I hear someone mention my name?"
As if on cue, a slender man with wavy, shoulder-length black hair emerges from the log cabin office, walking briskly towards Mystery Incorporated and Jordie, Erica, and Sid. The man appeared to be in about his mid-20's, and he had thick, bushy eyebrows and dark stubble dotting his chin. He wore an oversized flannel shirt that hung off his thin arms and a black Nirvana shirt paired with loose, ripped jeans; he was very reminiscent of the typical 90's teenager, which Fred contributed to the fact that this man (presumably Elliott) was a teenager during the grunge era.
Sid turned and met the man halfway so he could take one of the two cardboard boxes Elliott had tucked underneath his arms, and he gestured wildly in Mystery Incorporated's direction.
"Elliott, you like, won't believe this, man! This is Mystery Incorporated, and they're here to help us with the Goose Lake Monster and they're going to perform with you this weekend at the music festival!"
Elliott grins a lopsided smile at Mystery Incorporated, and he eyes each member of the gang, as though sizing them up in his mind.
"Wow, it's so great to meet each of you!" Elliott declares. "I've heard of you guys before on the news and whatnot! I wasn't aware you were all musicians in addition to being detectives."
Velma laughs bashfully as she nods in Daphne and Fred's direction. "Well, Shaggy, Scooby, and I are not the musically inclined ones of the group; that's Daphne and Fred's wheelhouse! In fact, they just performed on Talent Star this past week."
Elliott's thick eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
"Wow, no kidding?" Elliott asks, his voice dripping with admiration as he stares at Daphne and Fred with awe. "That is seriously impressive! So you guys are the ones who are going to play the show with me? That's really cool! If you want, you guys can set up your merch table next to mine; I'm sure it would make it easier for the fans to buy all of our stuff in one collective place."
"Merch table?" Fred echoes in confusion.
"Ya know, like band tees and stuff!" Elliott explains. He drops the cardboard box he is carrying on the ground in front of the gang, and upon further inspection Fred notices stacks of charcoal colored t-shirts folded neatly inside of the box. Elliott bends down to grab one and brandishes it with a flourish, smiling proudly as the gang examine the shirt, which reads "Elliott Finn: Vicious Records."
"Vicious Records?" Velma reads. "Is that the record label you're signed under, Elliott?"
"It's actually, like, the name of the record label that I own and operate! The record label is sort of like a pun on my name, since I'm Sid, like Sid Vicious from The Sex Pistols," Sid boasts proudly, grinning at Elliott as he speaks. "Ya see, in addition to being Elliott's manager, I'm also, like, producing his album through my record label!"
"We're both pretty new in the music bizz," Elliott admits. "But we both have so much faith in the other person's ability to produce hits that are going to be chart toppers for years to come! I'm really honored to have Sid alongside me for this crazy ride; I can't imagine producing my first album without him!"
"Aww shucks, the feeling is, like, mutual brother!" Sid beams.
"Anyway, I have a dress rehearsal tonight, so I better be off so I can get ready since it's in a few hours; it was nice to meet you all!" Elliott bows his head in acknowledgement towards Mystery Incorporated, and his eyes pause as he addresses Daphne and Fred now. "I am really looking forward to hearing you both perform! Feel free to stop by and watch my set tonight. I gotta warn ya though, you should bring a change of clothes because I might blow your socks off!"
Daphne and Fred both chuckle at Elliott's endearing confidence, and Daphne smiles.
"Thanks Elliott, we'll be sure to check out your set tonight!" Daphne replies. "We don't have a setlist or anything prepared yet, so maybe it will give us an idea of what to perform."
"Sounds swell, Daphne!" Elliot says. He starts to turn towards the stage with the box of merch cradled in his left arm, but he stops to turn and face the gang again, his face and voice suddenly grave. "Listen, I'm really glad you guys are both performing on the card, but I hope these three have warned you about the Goose Lake Monster. He hasn't thwarted our concert yet, but truth be told, I'm really worried he'll make an appearance this weekend, or even tonight during my dress rehearsal. I know you guys are famous detectives, so it probably doesn't worry you, but just be careful; since we're the only two acts performing this weekend, we have to tread extra carefully if you catch my drift."
Elliott offers the gang a thin smile before he turns and heads towards the stage, and Sid waves to the gang, as well.
"I better, like, go follow him, but it was a pleasure meeting you all!" Sid chirps, tucking the other box of merch under his armpits. "Fred and Daphne, I know you guys will have a groovy time performing with us this weekend; Elliott and I are, like, so eager to hear you both!"
The gang sing out a chorus of good-byes as they watch Elliott and Sid walk away, and Erica and Jordie turn to Mystery Incorporated.
"You know, we've heard a great deal about this Goose Lake Monster, but to be honest, no one has told us much about him or even what he looks like," Velma points out. "Erica and Jordie, do you guys happen to have any newspaper articles or information for us so we can study this further? Or perhaps there is a local library where we can read up on the case?"
"That's a great idea, Velma!" Jordie exclaimed. "We're kind of a ways away from civilization, but there is a small library near the police station about five miles up the road. In fact, I would recommend you all visit Officer Bradford at the police station and ask him for the police reports from the last several weeks. He is the officer who has been responding to the case most consistently, so we have the most interactions with him. I'll call him and tell him to let you folks have a glance through the reports."
"Good luck with Officer Bradford though; he's a real peach," Erica says with a roll of her eyes. "He acts like he lives with a stick up his ass."
"ERICA!" Jordie is tomato red, and he narrows his eyes in warning at his daughter.
"Daaaad," Erica whines, dragging out the syllables in her speech. "You know it's true! Every time he's here to take a police report he complains about how we shouldn't be hosting the concert with all the Goose Lake Monster sightings. It's so obvious that he doesn't want the concert to go on this weekend."
"Hmmm…a disgruntled police officer who would rather not see a concert occur, huh?" Daphne muses aloud.
"My thoughts exactly, Daph," Velma agrees. "It sounds rather suspicious. It seems as though this police officer is definitely worth speaking to in that case."
"All right gang, let's go and talk to this Officer Bradford then!" Fred instructs. "And maybe we can hit the library afterwards, too; that way we can do a little more research and add on to anything we learn at the police station."
"Ah, I cannot tell you all just how grateful we are that you are not only performing in our show, but offering to help nab this Goose Lake Monster menace!" Jordie shrills. "This is truly kind of you!"
"Don't worry Jordie, Mystery Incorporated is always on the case!" Fred flashes a smile towards his friends and points towards the Mystery Machine. "All right gang, let's go – we've got a mystery to solve!"
"Like, I was afraid you were goin' to say that," Shaggy murmured.