It was late afternoon at the Bagge farm, Muriel was drinking tea, while Courage was napping on her lap. Scooby and Shaggy were eating snacks and watching TV. And Eustace was reading the newspaper.
Then suddenly Eustace took his his mask and shouted, "Ooga booga booga!"
Scooby, Shaggy and Courage screamed in fright, Scooby leaped into Shaggy's arms, while Courage clutched to Muriel's torso.
Shaggy frowned and started at his uncle with disapproval at his antic. He was about to remark to his uncle, only to halt when a honking noise came from outside.
"Huh?" Eustace asked, as he took off his mask.
"Like, what's going on outside?" Shaggy asked, trying to listen what's outside of the farmhouse. It sounded like a truck was parking near the farm-home.
The family went outside of the house, to see what the noise was, what they found was a truck with a big truck with a mobile portable stage.
Scooby stood very still and looked at the stage that appeared by the house, "Rhat's that?" he asked.
"I don't know Scooby," Courage replied, with a frown.
"Oh my, it's a stage," Muriel said, in astonishment.
"Big deal," Eustace said, as usual not caring.
Shaggy sighed and rolled his eyes at his uncle. Typical Uncle Eustace.
"Not just a stage little lady," a voice said.
Scooby, Shaggy and Courage froze when that voice came out of nowhere.
Shaggy swallowed hard, "Like, who said that?"
"I did, young man," the voice replied, someone, then appeared behind the curtain, it was an alligator, with a violet hat, with a white feather and a purple cape. "The one the only… Fusilli Magic stage. The great Fusilli at your service," he said, as he took off his hat and bowed his head.
Scooby, Shaggy and Courage stared at the alligator terrified. Their hearts thudded as cold sweat begin to drip on their faces, the three looked at each other with uncertain looks, there was something about that alligator, that wasn't right.
"And I bring my world famous stage, right here from Nowhere, just for you," Fusilli continued.
"How exciting," Muriel said, as she clap her hands.
"I got my TV," Eustace said, not impressed.
Scooby, Shaggy and Courage walked closer to the stage, to get a better look, noting how eerily silent the stage looked. Courage whined a little, clearly imitated by how creepy the stage looked.
"Like, why do I have a bad feeling about this Scoob?" Shaggy whispered worriedly, to his dog.
Scooby give a whimpering response, feeling just as uneasy as his friends are.
"Ah bellissimos, she call you three, no," Fusilli said cooly, as he came closer to the nervous trio.
"Uh-uh, uh-uh," Courage quickly said with whimpering, as he shook his head violently. Everything about this gator sent chills down Courage's spine.
"Ruh-uh," Scooby agreed, with a whimper. This gator was giving him the creeps, there was really no other way to explain it.
"Like, we're not much actors," Shaggy replied, feeling a stab of fear.
"Yes," the alligator insisted with a chuckle, "Just ask my actors."
"What actors?" Eustace asked, "I don't see no actors."
"Oh don't worry, that's the magic," Fusilli said, rather sinisterly, with a chuckle.
Shaggy, Scooby and Courage, all felt their stomachs sank.
"Have you never dreamed of the excitement of being on stage?" Fusilli asked, as he came closer the the old couple. "Have you not dreamed of putting on makeup? That takes all the cares of life? Am I right, no?"
"Nope," Eustace replied, not caring.
"Oh, I'm too shy," Muriel said, blushing, clearly flustered.
"No. I think you could be a star!" Fusilli insisted to Muriel and then turned to Eustace. "Don't you think so too?"
"Nope," Eustace replied, still not caring.
Like, does nothing phase this guy? Shaggy thought, as he listen to their conversation.
Scooby and Courage didn't pay attention, they're too busy looking at the stage, the stage somehow was making their hearts lurched.
"Just you step on the stage," Fusilli continued. "You hear the applause, the cheers, the magic! All your fears, they go. And then, oh then…you stay forever."
The word 'forever,' send chills down to the cowardly trio's spines, and if that's not disturbing enough, the masks sign from the top of the stage's faces suddenly turned to an evil look. Shaggy, Scooby and Courage's eyes widened with fear and the three whimpered.
"Zoinks! Did you just saw that!?" Shaggy shriek, aiming one shaky finger on the stage's evil faces.
"Reah," Scooby replied, with a whimpered. His heart was thumbing fast, he wished he didn't just see of he think he saw.
"I have a really bad feeling about this, or my name is Vincent Van Ghoul, and it's not," Courage said, his heart thumped faster he then ran over to his owner Muriel, who was guided to the stage by Fusilli and babbled to her like a madman, of what he just saw.
But as usual, Muriel didn't listen, as Fusilli tried to convince her to try to give acting a try.
"I couldn't," Muriel said.
But the alligator seems he wants to her perform really badly, and he give the script to Muriel. That just raises more suspicions to Shaggy and Scooby. "Do not deny Fusilli's greatest pleasure. To see the stage come alive!" he said, then he kicked Courage off the stage with his tail, like an explosion and Courage was thrown sideways into the ground.
Scooby and Shaggy came over to Courage's aid and help him sit up. The two give glares to the alligator.
"Like, what was that for man?" Shaggy hissed.
"Reah, that was totally uncalled for," Scooby added, with glare in his eyes.
"I just needed your grandma, to give performance a chance," Fusilli answered, ignoring the duo's questions of why he kicked the pink beagle off stage.
Scooby, Shaggy and Courage give each other uncertain looks, there was something eerily going on. They looked at Muriel on the stage and suddenly a light beamed onto the old woman.
"Oh my," Muriel said, a little startled by the light.
"Now, say the line," Fusilli insisted.
Muriel looked down the script and read, "How, now, brown cow."
Suddenly there was a clap of applause, that startled the cowardly trio, but there was no one there, just Fusilli clapping and sound effects. This made Shaggy, Scooby and Courage uneasy.
"That stinks!" Eustace called out rudely.
Shaggy would of stand up to his aunt, if he wasn't feeling disturbed.
"All that applause for me?" Muriel asked.
And where did it come from? Courage thought. There was something strange going on.
"All for you," Fusilli replied.
"But where is-" Muriel began to ask.
"The audience," Fusilli answered, "is always here, is always cheering for you."
This really doesn't sit right for Shaggy, Scooby nor Courage, they have a feeling that Fusilli was up to something, something not good.
"When, I was a girl, I did juggle a little," Muriel admitted.
A few minutes later, Muriel wasn't kidding that she could juggle, she had choose to juggle strange things, a motorcycle, a bowling bowl and an anchor.
"Like wow," Shaggy exclaimed in astonishment. "Who knew Aunt Muriel could juggle."
"I didn't either Shaggy," Courage agreed, he was also impressed and never knew his owner could juggle either.
Eustace came up to stage growling, clearly not happy with his wife. "Muriel, you're making a dang fool of yourself."
Then suddenly, Eustace got hit with the motorcycle, the bowling ball and the anchor, Shaggy, Scooby and Courage cringed at the sight.
"Rhat's gonna leave a mark," Scooby commented, while biting his lip.
Then on cue the mysterious applause suddenly enter the cowardly trio's ears again, and once again, there was no audience.
"You're a natural," Fusilli complimented, as he came up to the old couple, and help the old farmer up. "I the great Fusilli, invite you, Eustace, Muriel and your nephew. To join my stage."
Shaggy cringed, a feeling of dread began to set in his stomach, his lips trembling when the alligator said his name, he didn't not want any part of this whatsoever.
"You'll tour the world," Fusilli continued, going on.
Scooby and Shaggy whimpered, while Courage howled in fear, their hearts pounding out of their chests, they couldn't breathe.
"What's in it for us?" Eustace asked, suddenly interested, and this surprise and shock the cowardly trio. Normally the only thing to get Eustace to do anything is by money. Like bribing Scooby and Shaggy being bait for the trap with Scooby Snacks, by the Mystery Inc.
"You'll be rich!" Fusilli said excitedly, "Hey give your Autograph, huh?"
Rand here it is. Scooby thought, sighing this would really get Eustace into the show now.
Fusilli had brought Eustace and Muriel to the dressing room, with Shaggy, Scooby and Courage following close behind, the three appeared behind the door and just in time to hear what Fusilli had to say.
"And your scripts," Fusilli finished, as he handed the old couple their scripts.
"Ohh," Muriel said, astonished.
Eustace giggled out of excitement, which was rarely for the farmer, unless it came to money. Courage came in and try to warn to old couple about his and his friends' suspicions about this stage. But Courage didn't get a chance to explain himself, as Eustace just kicked him out. Courage whimpered.
"Row, what do we do?" Scooby asked, getting worried about all of this.
"Like I don't know dudes, but we gotta figure out why the alligator dude wants us so bad," Shaggy responded, to his canine companion.
"Hey guys look," Courage called to his friends, as he noticed two outfits for acting a big suit and a big hat, and a little suit and a little hat.
"Like, what are those outfits doing here?" Shaggy asked.
"I don't know," Courage replied, he was still feeling uneasy about being on stage. And yet...yet, his eyes couldn't help but transfixed the suits. "But suddenly I wanna try it on," he spoke up, as he grabbed the hat and suit.
Scooby also felt really anxious about being on the gator's stage, but there was something else. Something that felt like...curiosity, "Re too," he said, as he came over to the pink beagle and grabbed the hat and suit as well.
Shaggy was flabbergasted, didn't a second ago, the dogs were terrified and suspicious of this stage? And now, they're suddenly interested in trying the acting outfits.
"Like, Scoob, little pink dude, what are you doing?" Shaggy asked with concern, getting worried for his two best friends.
"Relax Raggy, we just wanna try this out," Scooby said, clearly ignoring him and put on the outfit.
"Yeah," Courage added, not paying attention, as he also put on his outfit. "Just give us a couple minutes."
Then the two dogs left the hallway of the stage, leaving the cowardly teen alone with his thoughts.
Like, what the heck is going on? Shaggy thought, now really anxious and paranoid about the stage and his family seemly under a spell.
Scooby and Courage danced on to stage doing tap dancing together, after a couple seconds, they both took off their heads.
"Yes!" Courage cheered.
"Ra-da," Scooby added, with a chuckle.
The mysterious sound of applause appeared again and Fusilli clapping for the two dogs, only this time Courage nor Scooby seemed to uncharacteristically mind, which worries Shaggy deeply, as he watch the scene unfold behind the curtain. The dogs both bowed, despite no one cheering for them.
"The audience, she's-a-love you!" Fusilli commented, "You feel the magic, no?"
"Mmmm, hmmm," Courage nodded.
"Reah, totally feeling it," Scooby added, with a smile.
Like yeah, the magic of a spell you cast on my family! Shaggy finished sarcastically, as he glared at the suspicious alligator.
Fusilli came up to the stage and upfront to the dogs. "And once you feel the magic, you'll never want to leave the stage," he give out a sinister chuckle which neither Courage or Scooby flinched, much to Shaggy's dismay and horror. "And you'll never want to leave Fusilli ever," he then laughed evilly, which chilled Shaggy to the bone.
Like, I got to stop him! Shaggy thought desperately, as he went and searched and hopefully find some clues to stop Fusilli.
Muriel and Eustace came and looked like they're dressed as clowns and ready for their act.
"Ah, we ready for the next scene," Fusilli said, grinning, before turning to the two dogs. "You'll both be in this too."
"Ro boy, oh boy," Scooby said enthusiasticly.
"Places on this stage," Fusilli ordered, "The show is about to began."
Fusilli appeared on the stage and announced to the 'audience' to his play called 'a simple family.'
The curtain pull up, containing a scene, with Muriel sitting on her what looks to be her rocking chair and Eustace sitting on his look-alike red chair, reading the newspaper, with Courage holding up a pie and Scooby dancing.
"Stupid dogs," Eustace snarled, and put up his mask, "Oooga booga!"
Scooby and Courage shrieked, while Eustace laughed cruelly and resulted of Muriel hitting her husband with rolling pin and making him cry in pain.
"For Fusilli everybody play a part. And make Fusilli laughed," Fusilli laughed, with the sound effects of the audience.
Everyone obeyed and bowed down at the 'audience.'
"Now you belong to Fusilli, like all of my stars," Fusilli said sinisterly. And give out an evil laugh.
But Courage and Scooby didn't notice, they're now in a trance, like Eustace and Muriel.
Shaggy looked around on backstage, moving slowly stealthily, as he tried bravely trying to find some clues that could save his family.
Like, there gotta be something. Shaggy thought, even though he was not the greatest mystery solver like, Fred Daphne and Velma. He and Scooby had spend enough time with them and have any ideas on how to solve mysteries.
As he continued his search he noticed a door, that look sinister and eerily. Even though his instincts told him not to go through the door, Shaggy knew he wasn't going to solve anything by just standing here. He slowly cautiously approached the door and carefully opened it and found the most horrible and horrifying scene of his life.
In the room they were puppets, that look like real people, lifeless and collecting dust, Shaggy's stomach hollowed with dread. And what scared him the most, he saw that a hanger that had four names, 'Eustace, Muriel, Courage and Scooby.'
He's a puppet collector, and he...he turns people and animals into puppets. Shaggy shrank as cold icy fear stabbed his spine. He put his hands onto his mouth to not screamed and alert the gator, as he swallowed back his terror. And in that moment, he feared that the puppets were real people and that his family were the next victims. Stiffing in fear, Shaggy had seen enough, he had to get himself and his family out of here before it was too late.
Back on the stage the family continued to perform on stage, but started to feel odd.
"I feel a little strange," Muriel said.
"Yeah, me too," Eustace replied.
Suddenly, Scooby and Courage both felt like something strange was happening to the two of them.
"Scooby, I feel funny," Courage said, as he clutched his head, feeling like something weird was happening to him.
"Re too," Scooby admitted, feeling like something was physically changing him.
Shaggy appeared to the side of the stage and was just in time to witness white strings appearing down on his family.
"NOOOOOO!" Shaggy screamed out, without thinking he threw himself onto the stage and pushed the two dogs out of the stage and onto the backstage. And he felt something tingling on his arms, his legs and his head the last thing Shaggy remembered was the looks of confusion and then horror on the two dogs' faces, before the whole world turned black.
Scooby and Courage now out of the spell that Fusilli casted them on, were just in time to witness Shaggy, Muriel and Eustace transformed into puppets, their faces paled up dangerously and their bodies freezing in horror.
What...what were they doing?
"MURIEL!" Courage cried out in horror.
"RAGGY!" Scooby screamed.
"HEY YOU TWO, GET BACK HERE!" Fusilli snarled, as he started to chase the two terrified dogs.
Scooby and Courage took this opportunity and sped off to hide from the evil gator, hoping to hide before Fusilli turns them into puppets as well.
Scooby and Courage managed to ran inside the dressing room, panting.
"What do we do! What do we do!" Courage asked, to the Great Dane panicking.
Scooby put a paw on Courage's mouth in attempt to quiet him, as he heard the evil alligator's footsteps.
"Rhh! Ride!" Scooby quietly shouted.
Courage went to hide in the powder pot and Scooby went to hide behind the clothesline.
Scooby heard Fusilli barged in through the door, Scooby stand still frozen, his heart pounding, he prayed that the gator doesn't find him or Courage and turned into puppets too.
"No one breakup my act!" Fusilli declared, as he slammed the door on his way out.
Scooby give a sigh in relief, and turned to the powder pot, "Rare you alright Rourage?"
Courage poked his head out covered in powder and give a nervous chuckle. But then almost give out a sob, the shock and anguish of Shaggy and Muriel's demises poured over him like hot lava. "Muriel and Shaggy are gone," Courage cried out between sobs, tears began to fill his eyes and obscure his vision. It was too horrible to believe, were Shaggy and Muriel really gone?
Scooby nodded somberly, he felt his world falling apart, and he felt sick to his stomach, as he give Courage a hug and begin to shed tears as well. "Rand Raggy sacrifice his life for us."
"Why did we perform in the first place!? We should been protecting our family! If we had been more cautious, Shaggy nor Muriel wouldn't been puppets right now!" Courage cried out in anguish, as he buried his muzzle into Scooby's chest and sobbed.
Scooby hugged Courage tighter and rubbed against his back, he lifted his paw to hold Courage's gaze into his, "Rit wasn't our fault, we're under a spell."
Scooby's sadness then turned to anger, not towards him or Courage but to Fusilli, this was his fault! He was gonna pay.
"Rait here!" Scooby said the pink beagle, he put Courage down, then grabbed the powder pot and dust himself all over.
"Rusilli, you had messed, with the wrong dog!" Scooby growled to himself, as he bolted across the dressing room.
Scooby went up the stage and saw Fusilli playing with his three new puppets, anger was boiling inside of him and he give out a shout, "ROU LEAVE RURIEL AND RAGGY ALONE!"
Fusilli turned around and saw Scooby with glares of fire in his eyes. He give out a shriek of alarm. "IT'S A PHANTOM! DON'T COME NEAR ME!"
Scooby then flung himself out of grief and rage he pushed Fusilli onto the stage, and he fell down with a thud. Scooby grabbed the puppets and up to the second floor of the stage and watched from down and he saw Fusilli getting up. And suddenly a light, flashed onto him.
Fusilli now under a spell, said "How now, brown, cow."
The mysterious applause clapped, as he bowed down, then white strings, that had turned Eustace, Muriel and Shaggy into puppets earlier, came down and Scooby watched in horror, as Fusilli transformed into a puppet right before his eyes. Even though it was Fusilli who transform most of his family into puppets, it was a fate he never wish upon anyone, not even someone as evil or cruel as Fusilli.
Then the ground begin to rumbled, and then the stage, Fusilli disappeared, Scooby and Courage who suddenly appeared landed on the ground. And everyone who had been turned into puppets had transformed back to normal, including, Eustace, Muriel and Shaggy.
"MURIEL!" Courage cried out, as he give out tears of sheer joy and flung onto Muriel and give her a big hug.
"Oh my," Muriel said, "Courage, boys what happen?"
Eustace who, had been turned back to normal saw everyone on the farmland and give a glare and shouted, "HEY GET OFF OF MY PROPERTY!"
Everyone, who clearly had no idea of what just happened, ran away from the grumpy farmer.
Shaggy put his hand on his head and shook dizzily, and let out a groan, "W...What?"
Scooby stared with shock and awe unable to comprehend the miracle that just happened.
Shaggy looked at his dog, standing in front of him, "S...Scooby?" as he stared back at his gaze in awe. Then a thought came to him and he remembered what happened before everything went dark. They...They did it.
"RAGGY!" Scooby cheered and tears of joy streamed down his cheeks, as he ran over to his owner and give the biggest hug ever.
Shaggy shook his head, but give a pat on his back to his dog, Courage, who had been hugging Muriel, turned to Shaggy, his smile grew big as he towards to the duo give a hug to the cowardly teen, happy that he was okay.
"Shaggy, you're okay!" Courage exclaimed.
"Like yeah, I guess I am, but I feel like I've been turned into a puppet," Shaggy replied, not remembering when he was a puppet.
Courage give out a giggle, "Because you're silly, but that doesn't matter now, you're alive," he then hugged Shaggy again.
"Can someone please tell us what's going on?" Muriel asked, confuse of what just happened.
Shaggy, Scooby and Courage looked at Muriel, but give smiles, "It's a long story/Rit's a long story." Then the three burst out laughing, already feeling better and finding the humor of Muriel asking what was this all about
It was now the evening, Muriel was sipping tea and watching TV, while Eustace was complaining when he was getting money and fame. Shaggy, Scooby and Courage were in the kitchen eating Scooby Snacks.
"We're sorry we caused all of this," Courage said, feeling bad that everyone were almost turned into puppets.
"Reah, we're sorry Raggy," Scooby added, feeling just as guilty as Courage.
"Like, it wasn't your fault dudes, it was Fusilli's, he was like, the one who put you under a spell," Shaggy replied, wanting to ease's the two dogs' guilt.
"And thanks for saving us," Courage give a warmed smile to the teen.
"And like, thanks for saving us too, little pink dude," Shaggy replied, as he took another Scooby Snack.
"Actually, it was Scooby who saved you," Courage said, giving a nod to the Great Dane.
"Rawww, it was nothing," Scooby blushed.
"Like, no really Scoob, without you, me, and my aunt and uncle would of been puppets forever," Shaggy said, giving shudder, at the thought that they're all almost puppets forever.
"Well no matter what happens, we'll always be there for each other," Courage said, as they all give a group hug.
"Boys! Time for bed!" Muriel called.
"Well, I don't know about you but, I'm tired from all this afternoon's advents," Courage yawned.
"Us too/Rus too," Scooby and Shaggy agreed, as they all yawned.
The three went out of the kitchen, into the living room, and up the stairs, Muriel and Eustace were already upstairs getting ready for bed. As the trio walked upstairs Courage give a smiled to Shaggy and Scooby, without them, he didn't know if he could ever survive this crazy mouth without them. Whatever comes next he''ll be ready.
The things I do for love.
End of Season 1
Well that's all for this one, season 1 is done! Onto season 2. I hope you guys enjoy my alternative ending and little touches I did for the episode. Next will be The Magic Tree of Nowhere. (I like to thank Angry9guy for an interesting idea, but I haven't see 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo before, so sorry I couldn't take your idea.) Let me guys know in the reviews/comments of what should I do for future episodes quotes and ideas for future chapters. (And yes, Courage will talk for the rest of the series, like he did in season 1.) Until then, this is vakarns sighing out.