Gobblewonker
The next morning, Fred asked, "Well gang, ready to move on?"
Velma said, "Shaggy and I talked about it last night, and we'd like to stay one more day, to see if this place is a supernatural hot-spot like Crystal Cove used to be."
"What if it's just our curse?" Daphne asked. "We used to cause mysteries wherever we went."
"If we get more real monsters, it's the place. If we get an ordinary disguise case, it's our curse," said Velma. " And if we get nothing, we just move on."
"Like, I picked up a copy of the local paper," said Shaggy.
The paper was called the "Wacky News." The front cover showed an illustration of bizarrely conjoined twins.
Daphne pointed to the ad on the back, "'Child Psychic'. That might be worth checking out."
Velma said, "I'm more interested in this article inside." She showed the others the first inside pages.
"A ruman-sized rampster ball?" asked Scooby.
"No, the monster photo contest," said Velma. "That might bring out real monsters or fakes. Last year's winner took his picture on Scuttlebutt Island, at Lake Gravity Falls. We should go there."
"I'd rather see Gideon, the psychic," said Daphne.
"Let's split up, gang," said Fred. "Daphne and I will go check out Gideon, while Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby check out the island."
"After breakfast," said Shaggy.
"Yeah, after reakfast," said Scooby, licking his lips
By the time the Mystery Machine dropped Shaggy and Velma off at the lake, most people were already out in the water. It was the opening day of fishing season.
"Like, I hope there's still a boat we can rent," said Shaggy.
They were walking behind the fishing supply store, looking for boats, when they saw Dipper and Mabel. Dipper was wearing a slightly-singed hat with a blue pine tree on a white background. Mabel was carrying a small, cute pig.
"Mabel, what an adorable pig," said Velma.
"Yeah, isn't he! I call him Waddles, because he waddles," said Mabel.
Scooby touched noses with Waddles. "Hi there, Raddles. I'm Scooby-Doo"
"Oi ere Ooo-eee-oo," said Waddles.
"Like, he talks," said Shaggy.
"Hey, would you hold on to Waddles for a few minutes, and give him to me when we come back here to buy sunscreen? I have to get him out of the way so my enemy Pacifica doesn't win him in a weight-guessing contest at the fair," said Mabel.
"Sure, I'll hold him for you," said Velma. The pig snuggled into her arms.
"Okay, I know he's in good hands. Watch out for a big bald man in a jumpsuit. Don't let him get Waddles," said Mabel.
"Like, we won't," said Shaggy. "Who is that guy, anyway?"
"Time police or something," said Dipper. "It's a long story."
"We can go now, Dipper," said Mabel. "I'll help you win that bottle game again, so you and Wendy can go on 'The Tunnel of Love and Corn Dogs' ride together."
"Thanks, Mabel. This was a wonderful idea," said Dipper. "I'm glad you remembered Shaggy and Velma would be here, so we could hand over Waddles without meeting ourselves."
"You're welcome. Say, why do they call it 'The Tunnel of Love and Corn Dogs'? I know the ride cars are shaped like corn dogs, but do they hide real corn dogs in there?" asked Mabel.
"Sometimes," said Dipper. "Especially the third time around." His ears turned a deep shade of pink.
"Are you up for getting it to happen again?" asked Mabel.
"I sure am," said Dipper. "Bye, Shaggy and Velma."
They walked around the corner and there was a zipping sound and a flash of light.
"Like, that was odd," said Shaggy. "What do you think it was all about?"
"If I didn't know it was impossible, I'd say time travel," said Velma. "But they were probably just playing a trick on us."
They walked around the corner, and saw Mabel, Dipper, and Soos coming to the front of the fishing gear store.
"Hi, Shaggy, Velma, and Scooby. Nice to see you again," said Dipper.
"Hi yourself, Dipper. It wasn't that long ago," said Velma.
"Hi dudes," said Soos.
"Hi, guys," said Mabel. "Wow, what a cute pig you have there, Velma."
"He's yours," said Velma. "You call him Waddles, because he waddles."
"Oooh, thank you!" said Mabel. "He's so adorable. Everything is different now."
Velma handed over the pig, and Mabel took him in her arms. "I love you, Waddles. I'm Mabel."
"Oieh-ooell," said Waddles.
"Did you say Mabel, or doorbell?" asked Mabel.
"Oieh-ooell," said Waddles again.
"You did say Mabel! Now we have our talking animal mascot for Gravity Incorporated. I thought I was going to have to be stuck making a pelican talk for our monster hunt today," said Mabel.
"Like, did you say m-monster hunt?" asked Shaggy.
"Yeah, Old Man McGucket said he saw the Gobblewonker, the legendary giant sea monster that lives at the bottom of Lake Gravity Falls, out near Scuttlebutt Island, and that it smashed his boat."
"Robbleronker? Smashed roat?" asked Scooby. He jumped into Shaggy's arms.
"Nobody believed him, but we're going to check it out," said Mabel.
"There's a hundred-dollar prize for getting the best monster photo today," said Dipper. "I'm going to buy seventeen disposable cameras, so nothing goes wrong with the pictures."
"We'll take my boat, the SS Cool Dude," said Soos. "It's got a wheel, and chairs, all that boat stuff. Want to come along?"
"Yes, we would love to," said Velma. "Thank you."
"Ruh-uh," said Scooby.
"Like, we'd better sit this one out," said Shaggy. "I'm allergic to sea monsters. Especially to being eaten by one."
"Come on, we're doing this," said Velma. "That's why we stayed today, to find monsters and mysteries."
The two cowards reluctantly agreed.
"This is so much cooler than fishing with Gruncle Stan and listening to his '1001 Yuk 'Em Ups' jokes," said Mabel.
"Yes, ditching him was a good plan," said Dipper.
"Spending time with your uncle would be nice, too," said Velma. "We could take on the monster hunt with Soos and let you two go with him."
"No!" said both Dipper and Mabel together. Waddles oinked agreement.
"All right, let's do this together," said Velma.
"After we buy sun screen," said Soos.
"And instant cameras," said Dipper.
"And lots of snacks," said Shaggy.
They set out on the lake. There was a discussion about the disposable cameras, and they ended up losing several of them overboard. There was a discussion about who would be captain, ending with Dipper as Captain, Mabel as Co-captain, and Soos as Associate Co-captain.
"What's your plan for getting close to the monster, Captain Dipper?" Velma asked.
"We'll lure it to us with this barrel of fish-food," said Dipper.
"Permission to taste, Captain?" asked Soos.
"Permission granted," said Dipper.
"Permission co-granted," said Mabel.
"Permission associate co-granted," said Soos.
He grabbed a piece of chum from the barrel and put it in his mouth, then gagged and spit over the side. He rubbed his tongue, trying to get the taste off.
"Dude, I don't know what I expected that to taste like," said Soos.
"Rummy!" said Scooby.
They turned back and found that Scooby was lying on his back with a full belly. He had consumed the entire barrel-full.
"Like, you didn't save any for me, old pal?" asked Shaggy.
Scooby threw him one fish, which Shaggy caught in his mouth and swallowed whole.
"Not picky eaters, those two," said Soos.
"But you wasted all our bait," said Dipper.
"Don't worry," said Velma. "The Gobblewonker will smell all the fish on Shaggy and Scooby. They can be the bait."
"Zoinks!" said Shaggy.
"Rait again. It's not rair," said Scooby.
The boat drifted through the fog toward the island. Mabel was at the prow, holding Waddles and chatting with him as they went.
"Mabel, you're supposed to be lookout," said Dipper.
"I am. Look out!" Mabel said. She kicked a soccer ball in his direction, hitting him in the stomach.
The boat ran aground on the beach.
"We're here. I'm a lookout genius" said Mabel. She got off the boat, carrying Waddles in her arms.
The others jumped out and they began walking along the mist-covered trail. They came to a sign saying "Scuttlebutt Island."
Soos covered the first part with his arm. "Hey look, Butt Island."
"You rapscallion," said Mabel with a big grin.
Shaggy chuckled. Velma and Dipper didn't laugh. Mabel teased Dipper, asking if he was scared. While she was fooling around, they heard a strange noise.
"Was that your stomach?" she asked Soos.
"No, mine usually makes whale noises," said Soos,
Mabel listened to his stomach and said, "Wow, how majestic!"
Shaggy said, "Like, my stomach growls a lot, but whenever someone asks that question on a monster hunt it turns out to be a real monster."
"Reah, real ronster," said Scooby.
While they were distracted, a possum ran off with their lantern.
"I can't see anything," Dipper complained.
Soos said, "Dudes, maybe this isn't worth it."
"Like, I agree," said Shaggy. "Let's get out of here."
"It's worth it," said Dipper. "Imagine what would happen if we got that picture. I could be on TV."
"And I could buy a human-sized hamster ball. Waddles and I can roll around in it wherever we go for the rest of our lives," said Mabel.
"Oouh-uh," said Waddles, in a tone of disapproval.
"I'm in!" said Dipper, returning from a flashback of fame and glory.
"Me too!" said Mabel, returning from her own flashback of the hamster ball.
They set off toward the other end of the island. Soos, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby followed.
Mabel was making up a silly chant about things that rhyme with Mabel when they heard a strange noise and a flock of birds took off into the sky.
"This is it," said Dipper. "Get your cameras ready."
They saw a mist-shrouded outline that looked like the sea monster ahead, but when they ran closer it turned out to be a bunch of old barrels with a clan of beavers chewing on it.
"The reavers say, 'We love cavorting'," said Scooby.
Soos was delighted and took many pictures of the beavers. The others were disappointed.
"What was that noise, then? I heard a monster noise," said Dipper.
They looked over and saw one of the beavers was playing with an old chainsaw, which was making a growling noise.
"Maybe that old guy was crazy after all," said Dipper. "What are we going to say to Gruncle Stan? We ditched him over nothing."
"Like, we got to see some animals, anyway," said Shaggy. "I love beavers."
"I know you do," said Velma.
Then they heard a splash, and a huge shape headed their way.
"Come on, now's our chance," said Dipper as the others backed away. "The cameras are easy to use. Just point and shoot."
"Graaaagh!" growled the Gobblewonker, snapping at him.
"Run!" shouted Shaggy.
Shaggy rushed back and picked up Dipper, using his fast escape sprint to get ahead of the monster. Velma used her great upper body strength to scoop up Mabel, who had Waddles in her arms. Scooby ran beside Soos. They rushed down the trail, with the sea serpent slithering behind them and pushing trees out of its way as it went.
They jumped back into the boat. Soos got it going, but the monster still pursued them. Dipper tried to take a picture, but the lens in his camera was cracked. Soos used most of the rest of the cameras to throw at the monster, and broke the one he threw to Dipper.
They were chased all over the lake. When they crashed through the beaver barrels, the boat became full of the animals, chewing on everything they could. One grabbed Soos by the face. Shaggy, Velma, Scooby, and Dippr got busy pulling off beavers and throwing them back into the water while Mabel steered. When they finally got all the beavers clear, they were headed for the Gravity Falls waterfall and it looked like they were going to be cornered by the monster.
Dipper pulled out a book with the number "3" on the cover. "Head for the waterfall! There might be a cave under it."
"Might be?" asked Mabel.
They drove under the waterfall and into the hidden cave. The boat ran aground. The Gobblewonker tried to follow them, but it got stuck in the hole.
Dipper pulled out his last camera from under his hat and took picture after picture. Then the Gobblewonker's struggles knocked down a stalactite, which hit its head with a loud clank.
Velma approached the beast and rapped on its side. "As I suspected, it's a robot."
They climbed up to the top and opened a hatch. A hunched, bearded old man was inside, furiously operating levers to try to get his robot going again.
He turned and saw them looking at him. "Oh, banjo polish!"
"Old Man McGucket?" said Dipper, Mabel, and Soos in chorus.
"I just wanted attention. And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids... Now, why did I say that?"
He told his story, and it turned out McGucket had built giant robots before when he had grievances with people.
"I hoped to catch my son's fancy with a fifteen-ton aquatic robot," said McGucket. "In retrospect it seems a bit contrived. Us old-timers will do most anything for a little quality time with our family."
Mabel and Dipper looked guilty. They pulled out fishing hats with sewed-on lettering reading "Dippy" and "Mabe-l".
"Dude, I guess the real lake monster is, like, you two. Sorry, it just, like, popped into my head there," said Soos.
"Like, he says 'like', like me!" said Shaggy. "Maybe he's the real Shaggy of Gravity Incorporated. That leaves the role of leader to you, Mabel."
"I proudly accept," said Mabel. "I'm sure I'll be as good a leader as your Fred is."
"I'm sure you will," said Velma.
"Did you ever talk to your son about how you felt, Mr. McGucket?" asked Mabel.
"Nope, just got straight to work on the robot. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to fix up my death ray," said McGucket.
"Well, so much for the photo contest," said Dipper.
"You could still submit the monster shots," said Velma. "They don't have to be real."
"No, I don't want to get a lonely old man in trouble," said Dipper.
"We still have one roll of film," said Mabel.
"What do you want to do with it?" asked Dipper,
They got the damaged boat of of the cave with some difficulty, and found Stan Pines out on the water alone.
"I thought you guys were off playing spin-the-bottle with Soos," said Stan. "And your new tourist pals."
"We spent all day trying to find a legendary dinosaur," said Dipper.
"But the only dinosaur we really want to hang out with is you," said Mabel.
"Save your sympathy," said Stan. "I've been making friends. I even had a run-in with the lake police. I have to wear this ankle bracelet now, so that will be fun."
"I guess there isn't room in that boat for a few more?" asked Dipper.
"No tourists," said Stan.
"You go ahead with your uncle," Velma said. "We'll get this wrecked boat to shore for you, Soos."
"What about my new pet, Waddles?" asked Mabel.
"A pig on my boat?" said Stan. "I don't think so."
"If not, I'm going ashore with Mystery Incorporated," said Mabel.
"All right, you can bring the pig," said Stan. "He can serve as emergency rations."
Mabel glared at him.
"Just kidding," said Stan. "Want to hear some jokes from my uncle-approved joke book?"
"Okay," said Dipper.
"My ex-wife still misses me... but her aim is getting better!"
Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma reunited with the rest of the gang back at the Mystery Shack.
"Like, how did it go with you guys?" Shaggy asked.
"Gideon was a complete fake," said Daphne. "He's ten years old or so, and he had the nerve to ask me out. I told him I was taken, and he should find someone closer to his own age."
"How did he take it?" asked Velma.
"Not too well at first, but then he changed his mind and said he'd start looking," said Daphne. "I wished him good luck with that."
"Like, did you have to hit him to change his mind?" asked Shaggy.
"A little," said Fred. "Daphne did most of it. How did your day go?"
"Same old, same old," said Velma. "There was an Old Man McGucket who built a giant sea-monster robot to get attention from his son."
"Aha, just as we expected. Our curse is working again. That wouldn't have happened if we hadn't been here," said Fred.
"Like, I'm not sure of that," said Shaggy. "He'd been building it for a while."
"It always works like that," said Velma. "The cases just come to the crisis point because we're around."
"Well, it's time we moved on, then," said Daphne.
"Like, another case closed," said Shaggy. "We'll let Gravity Incorporated take it from here."
"Scooby-Dooby-Dooo!"