The Lightning Spirit: Case Closed, Velma wrote at the top of her notebook in the Five Ws and Questions section of the mystery. She smiled at all the checkmarks and flashed the book at the gang.
They had set up camp on a smaller island a few stops down from where Ihaan had said goodbye to Kate, and the evening sunrays heated the picnic table’s wood, where the Mystery Gang sat.
“Whoo-hoo-hoo,” Freddie said, fingering each checkmark in Velma’s notebook. “Now, that’s what I call a job well done, gang.”
Daphne, still eager for a new mystery, giggled. “I love this place, guys; we’ve had the best mysteries here.”
Shaggy and Scooby, who hovered over a piece of Ihaan’s birthday cake, each placed a single Scooby Snack on top of their halves.
“You two have all the Scooby Snacks you want,” Daphne said.
“You deserve them after luring Ro away from Ihaan,” Freddie admitted. “You cowards were courageous today.”
Shaggy and Scooby paused, dumbfounded by Freddie’s confession, and then Shaggy said, “Like, hey, man, when the cat is loose, the chickens run free.” He looked at Scooby. “And Scoob and I are expert chickens.”
There was no doubt about that.
Fred glanced at Velma next. “All right, Velma, I have to ask: how long did it take you to realize that Ro was Ihaan’s mom?” He knew he was the one who tried his own theory, but knowing Velma, she probably figured it out on their first day there.
Velma tittered, and her eyes shimmered behind her glasses. “Actually, Freddie… I didn’t.”
Wait, she didn’t? Was Velma teasing Fred? She wasn’t the one who figured out Ro was Ihaan’s mom—he was?
Velma placed her hands behind her back. “Well done, Fred.”
Oh, man, Fred was so proud of himself. His whole face lit up with pride, and he stood from the table, announcing, “I did it, gang! Detective Fred Jones sticks the landing!”
“That was a really cool thing you thought of with interrogating Ro,” Velma admitted, patting her notebook. “I added it to the case file.”
Fred wanted to tell the whole world now that he figured something out before Velma. “Where’s Ihaan?” he inquired, searching the forest.
Daphne removed a brush from her purse and began brushing her hair. “He went toward the water. Said there was a shrine nearby.”
Fred reached for Velma’s notebook but held back. “Um, may I, Velma?”
She playfully rolled her eyes and handed him her book. “Go crazy.”
“Yes!” Fred cheered. “Thank you. Be back soon.” He gave the Mystery Gang a quick wave and sprinted toward the lake.
Once he vanished, Daphne lowered her brush and asked Velma, “You totally just cheesed him, didn’t you, Velma?”
“Cheese?” Scooby and Shaggy said simultaneously. “Where?”
“Shh!” Velma brought her index finger to her lips and faced Daphne. “Let’s let him have his moment, Daph. I figured it out as soon as Ihaan said that Ro had grown clingy since he began growing.” Her smile grew. “I will give him credit for the interrogation, though, and he did almost die, so I might as well cheese him.” She laughed at her deception, and Daphne joined her.
In the meantime, Shaggy and Scooby checked under the plate the cake was on and scrambled through their dinner leftovers.
“Like, where do you think they hid the Swiss, Scoob?” Shaggy questioned.
***
Freddie soon found himself at the water’s edge, the forest behind him, and a point in front. It wrapped around a few rocks, and its hook pointed at the island where Ro transformed.
Ihaan sat at its end, and it looked like he was admiring both the sunset and the island, because Freddie saw him dangling his legs over the hook.
Fred slowed down and shut Velma’s notebook. He headed toward the point and soon saw a small, broken shrine hidden in the bushes, but it looked like Ihaan had cut a path to it.
Fred saw the tiara and eagle feather on the shrine’s altar and smiled mournfully. It was time for him to listen instead of pushing Ihaan with his iconic Elvis impression (his friends may disagree, but he thought it was pretty good). He would not risk erasure again. Those gifts he and the gang gave him proved just how different their worlds were, but after almost dying and seeing Ro’s transformation, Fred felt like he had a better understanding of Ihaan’s world now.
He inhaled and stepped onto the point, heading for Ihaan. The entire way to him, he attempted to think of how he would approach this new older brother side of himself without getting another branch in his face.
Fred stopped behind Ihaan and started with, “Hey, Ihaan,” in a low voice, not his Elvis one. He blushed just as he did around Kate (she was pretty, though).
Without looking at him, Ihaan said, “Hey, Fred.” A mix of melancholy, hope, and happiness bounced off his tongue.
Fred sat beside him but remained five feet away. He patted his thighs, thought for a second, and slid closer to him. “Um… How’s your foot?”
“Just a twist,” Ihaan replied, sounding relieved. “Not serious.”
That was the second time he had hurt that foot, solving a mystery with the Mystery Gang, though. Fred hoped that they didn’t accidentally bring Ihaan bad luck. He had always had trouble with that foot, though—one last memory of the canoe accident.
There was a pause between them, then Ihaan said, “When we were canoeing to first portage, Fred, I saw her. I saw it. My mom, the accident, and Mom was alive.”
Fred shuddered.
“But, it’s strange,” Ihaan added. “I have always known, yet I’m not sad. Not anymore. I’m happy she found peace.”
“She’ll always be with you, Ihaan,” Fred said. Maybe this wouldn’t be as hard as he thought. “And you’ve got us now, too.”
Ihaan chuckled and finally looked at him. “You right. Although you are a bit of a dork, Fred.”
“Ah.” Fred waved his hand. “There needs to be one of us in the gang.”
“A dork, but a good leader,” Ihaan said. “Makes mystery fun.”
He was right that mysteries were fun, but not with the good leader. In just forty-eight hours, Fred had made the most mistakes in his entire mystery-solving career.
Ihaan must’ve noticed the doubt on his face because he said, “You’re a good leader, Fred. You know because we all jumped in to help you.”
Fred couldn’t argue with that. He nodded slowly and said, “Thank you, Ihaan.” They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Fred asked, “You ready to go back?”
“Almost,” Ihaan replied, standing and brushing himself off. “There is one more thing I must do.” He faced the island across the lake and reached into his pocket, pulling out an oval-shaped, green leaf. Ihaan closed his eyes and brought it to his lips. The leaf vibrated under his fingers, and a soothing, melodic tune escaped it: “Lucilla”. Freddie recognized it anywhere.
He stepped back, but soon heard something behind him and glanced over his shoulder.
There was the rest of the Mystery Gang. Shaggy and Scooby held the plate with the birthday cake on it, and Daphne had a full dinner plate.
Oh, yeah, Ihaan hadn’t eaten yet, but Fred stopped the gang by holding up his hand.
They held back and watched Ihaan, who slowed “Lucilla’s” pace to match “American Pie’s”.
Once he finished the song, the Sun disappeared behind his mother’s island, and a zephyr passed through the area.
Ihaan turned and said, “Oh,” upon seeing Shaggy, Scooby, Velma, and Daphne. “What’s with the sad faces?” he asked, clenching his fist. “We just solved a great mystery.” He was beginning to think and act like a true member of the Mystery Gang, despite having doubts only forty-eight hours earlier about the gifts.
Daphne stepped forward. “You’re right, Ihaan. Here.” She handed him the plate. “I fixed you a plate filled with Daphne couture before Shaggy and Scooby could eat the rest of the food.”
“And we’ve got cake!” Shaggy announced, holding it up. “Like, Scoob and I found the Swiss, so we don’t need it anymore.”
Scooby’s tail wagged, and he said, “Rappy rirthday, Rian!”
“Oh!” Velma gestured at the notebook Fred held. “And Fred’s got a little something for you, Ihaan.” She seemed to smirk to herself. “Well, tell him, Fred.”
“Oh, yeah!” Fred nearly forgot about his accomplishment and showed Ihaan Velma’s notebook. “This is Velma’s case file for the mystery, Ihaan—every W, question, and how answered. And… well”—he tilted his head—“Ro told us she was your mother on the first portage. Sorry, I may have interrogated her a little because the theory crossed my mind after ‘American Pie’.”
“Well, look at you, Fred, solving something before Velma.” Ihaan tapped his dinner plate. “Congratulations.” But Freddie noticed the corner of his mouth twitching, and Daphne and Velma snickering.
Shaggy chuckled nervously and offered Fred a piece of Swiss cheese. “Like, Swiss cheese, Fred?”
Scooby appeared beneath him and knocked the cheese out of his hand, swallowing it in one gulp.
“Like, hey!” Shaggy complained.
Scooby giggled, but Fred heard the “Scooby-Dooby Doo!” in his throat.
He finally sighed and tossed Velma her notebook. “You cheesed me, didn’t you, Velma?”
She scratched her nose. “I’m sorry, Fred. But you did do amazing with the interrogation.”
Fred lowered his head but soon raised it, grinning. “You know, I don’t care. We’re the Mystery Gang. You’re the brains, Velma. Daphne is the stylish one. Shag and Scoob are the courageous cowards. I’m the dork, and”—he glanced at Ihaan—“Ihaan is the best of both worlds.”
“Aw, Fred,” Ihaan said, examining each member of the gang. “I do have final question for case file, though, Velma.”
“Oh?” Velma lifted her brow and opened her notebook.
With one last glance at the gang, Ihaan asked, “Was this your guy’s first supernatural mystery?”
Silence, and then Freddie answered, “Oh, no.” He tapped his foot and wrapped his arm around Ihaan’s shoulders. “Gather around, children. I think it’s time, Ihaan… time to tell you the story of the Mystery Gang and Zombie Island.”
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End of Act II: The Lightning Spirit
Final Word Count: 27,606
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