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“All right, Gang, that’s the last of it,” Freddy said as closed the side hatch of the Mystery Machine which now held all the belongs that they could fit into a few suitcases. There was a sad but exciting look across his face as he pressed his hand against the side of the van for a moment. “Are we ready to go?” He asked as he took his attention off of the van towards his friends who stood behind him.
“Like ready when you are, man,” Shaggy said, being the first to speak up as he reached forward and ruffled Scooby’s hair as he stood beside him.
“Ruh-Huh,” Scooby said, agreeing with his best friend while nodding his head quickly. The Great Dane’s tail swinging back and forth in excitement.
“You bet,” Velma said with a smile as she gripped the strap of her messenger bag that held different items of technology that were important to her.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Daphne piped up next, a bright smile on his face, though there also seemed to be some sadness in her eyes that matched Freddy’s own.
“All right,” Freddy said cheerfully, his voice loud in the calm, nearly silent night of Crystal Cove. “Let’s get going then,” He said as he looked at the four in front of him that had not only become his best friends but also his family. “I want to beat the early morning traffic,” He joked as he tried to lighten the heavy mood that had settled over each of them. It didn’t gain a laugh from any of them but it did gain some small smiles which was all Freddy could ask for at that moment.
Freddy nodded towards the van motioning for them all to climb inside so they could head out of town as soon as possible even though it was still too early for any of the townspeople to even be up.
As Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby began to climb through the van Daphne stayed behind. She placed her hand on Freddy’s shoulder before he could slip into the front seat, worry written across her face as he turned to look at her.
“Are you sure about this?” Daphne asked as she stepped closer to the young man in front of her worry written in her bright blue eyes as she tried to figure out what he was thinking. It had always been so easy to figure out what was going on inside his mind, but over the last few days, it had gotten harder to read him. “We can always call this whole thing off and go home,” She suggested wanting Freddy to know that no one would blame him for changing his mind.
“And do what?” Freddy asked as he looked down at her, a deep sadness filling his gaze like it had many times before. “Stay here? Have the entire town treat us like pest all because we want to help them,” He said his voice having anger in it as he looked down the redhead in front of him.
“Freddy… “ Daphne whispered as she reached up and cupped his face in her hands, wanting so badly to say something that would make him feel better. She knew that there was nothing she could say to make him feel better, though. The only thing that would him feel better that would honestly make all of them feel better would be to leave Crystal Cove, which is exactly what they were doing at this very moment.
“If you want to stay we will, but I don’t know what we’ll do,” Freddy said as he reached up and carefully held her wrist as he leaned into her touch.
“We’ll leave,” Daphne said with a soft smile as she leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to the side of Freddy’s mouth. “We’ll leave and help others just like we’ve always wanted too,” She said with determination as she watched Freddy smile down at her. “We’ll make it through this,” She said with a stern nod. “Together just like we always have and always will,” She promised as she felt Freddy wrap his arms around her and pull her close into a hug.
For, a moment Daphne and Freddy just stood there holding one another in a tight hug before pulling away. They smiled at one another before Freddy pulled the door of the Mystery Machine open and let Daphne slide into the van first before following her right after.
Freddy let out a sigh as he heard the old van start and rumble before he turned to look at his four family members.
“So where do we want to go first?” Freddy asked looking at each of them who were now smiling just like he was.
“Wherever we want,” Velma spoke up, a smile on her face as she laughed alongside the other four who nodded their heads in agreement.
“Alright, So wherever the roads take us?” Freddy asked and smiled even more as he got four agreements overlapping one another as he started to drive down the old roads that led out of town.
“Like on our way to wherever can we stop and get something to eat?" Shaggy asked as he leaned back against the metal wall of the van and reached up to pet Scooby once more. "Scoob and I are starving,” He called up to him causing them all to laugh once again.
The mood around each of them seemed lighter and happier which made them all feel better about leaving the town behind to start a new.
As they drove past the sign that read "Now Leaving Crystal Cove" none of them even blinked the morning sun starting to spill in through the windows of the van as the entrance of the town was left behind.
It still hurt them, knowing that their hometown would rather be rich than safe and they each knew that in some way it always would, but all of them knew at least for now it wasn’t their problem. Maybe one day they would come back to Crystal Cove, but it would be a long time before that happened.
For now, they just kept driving, heading down the roads that would lead them to their future, each ready to take on the world with one another.
Their future was bright and it would only get brighter wherever they went as long as they were together.