Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Living together has brought its share of joys and minor wonders. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a year since we moved into our current home – 13B Geron Street. This is a great big milestone in our relationship, and I’m glad I’ve managed to secure a house for the both of us before we could move on to the prospect of marriage. The location is good; a humble two-storey house not too far from the town centre. And close enough for my continued research into the paranormal. Still, we have plenty of affairs to set in order before moving forward. Paz is still busy with her business, while I have to attend various seminars and investigate other wondrous oddities of Gravity Falls and beyond.

Nevertheless, on plenty of occasions, Paz and I would scrape together any second to cherish our brief times together. She’s back for the weekend, and I was on laundry duty today. Paz had gone out for lunch with Mabel and Candy, while I was supposed to complete a report on the distribution of Possum Sanskrit in Sri Lanka. Plus, I had to address a simply fiendish question my publisher had raised in an email concerning my first soon-to-be-published novel.

But I decided to take a break from all of that and collected the fresh pile of clothes drying out under the spring sun. It was a warm, sunny day, perfect for laundry day.

I could not help but frown, realising something as I collected the clothes from the clothing line. Much to my chagrin, Paz had taken away my lucky set of flannel, dark grey shirt and jeans. That flannel was special; it was made from plaidypus skin sewn by Mabel. That plaidypus was a long-time family pet of the Corduroys but died of a fatal illness, so Kevin passed it to Mabel, who used its skin and sewed it into a nice flannel in memory of him. I needed to wear it for an important expedition tonight. Well, it seemed then I might have to make do with another set. Just going with my chances.

I sighed. Such are the joys of cohabitation. At this point we are sharing many things: from our bed, our socks, the daily paper, and the expired groceries in the fridge to a streaming account and the chips in the pantry. It was to be expected, after all. Of course, some boundaries had to be set. Especially on toothbrushes and towels. These matters were non-negotiable for hygiene reasons.

Placing them on the sofa, I started to fold up the clothes. I chuckled to myself as I started to fold up a collection of purple T-shirts. In our youth, Paz had always complained about my wardrobe’s lack of variety. My response? This was so that I had little trouble deciding on what to wear.

In my teenage years, I used to wear a vest and an orange shirt with an ushanka. But I soon outgrew them and adopted a new style, courtesy of my sister and my girlfriend. Ironically, Paz currently keeps this large collection of casual purple shirts which she often pairs with her white pants or jeans. Who’s more of a cartoon character, me or her?

A mischievous grin crept up on my face as I took another and observed the shirt for a long while. I mean, why not? She’s already stealing my clothes and we’re a couple anyway. Pacifica is taller than me by a couple of inches, so her clothes should fit me as well.

Taking that purple shirt and one of her white pants, I tried them on. To my surprise, as I observed myself in the mirror in our bedroom, they fit me better than I had expected. Well, the pants were a little snug (I’ve been putting on quite some weight and skipping some exercises) and the shirt had a different cutting, but everything else was alright. It was a strange feeling seeing myself standing dressed in my partner’s clothes. But fascinating.

I intended to change back into my typical attire right after that, but somehow a stupid part of me decided to keep this outfit for the rest of the afternoon. Perhaps I got too engrossed doing the laundry and then finishing up my report in the study. Or maybe I got too comfortable. I was unaware of my girlfriend’s return until I heard a small gasp at the doorway. I froze, looking up and turning at my girlfriend wearing a floored expression on her face. She came back earlier than I expected.

Shit, I thought to myself. It was too late to change back and hide away this brief experiment of mine.

“Dipper,” she began, putting down her handbag, “Is that my shirt?”

“Erm…” I felt my cheeks burning up as I shrank under the intense gaze of Paz’s cold blue eyes. What should I say? Eventually, I settled on: “Yes?”

For a moment I thought she was going to explode. Her face darkened to a deep crimson, looking like a pot ready to boil off. And she did explode. Burst into multiple fits of laughter.

“Oh Dipper,” she choked. “This is the perfect outfit for you!”

“Really?” I arched an eyebrow, chuckling along with my girlfriend. This was not a reaction I expected.

“You're very daring, Dipper Pines.” My girlfriend moved closer and pecked me on the cheek. I swore the heat of my cheeks had further intensified like oil poured on a fire. “You can wear my clothes all you want. But next time, my naughty boy, don’t wear my clothes without my permission!”

“Says you, my dear Paz.” I scanned my girlfriend, who was still wearing my flannel and grey shirt. “Come, Paz, why don’t we have a shower together, and then order some takeout?”

“Sure. But once I post this on Hipstergram.” Paz began to back away. My eyes widened at the phone she slipped into her pocket.

“Oh no you don’t. Give me that thing!” If my sister ever found out about this, she would add this to a long list of things to tease me about to no end. I charged toward my girlfriend, who had already sprinted from the room.

And so that ended that rather interesting day. I decided against going ahead with my expedition and instead unwind with my girlfriend. I could not help but laugh along with the commenters. A slice of joy to share before Paz goes off to Chicago the next day. So we might as well make the best use of whatever time we have together.

Chapter Text

“Watch your step, Nita.”

“I had a cramp, not a broken leg!” Nita shot back. “Oof!”

“Careful with that step.” Helping his eldest sister up, Taka guided her towards their house at 13B Geron Street. Nilam, and their redhead cousin Aurora, followed them from behind.

“I can get in myself just fine,” Nita scoffed as she shifted away from her brother. She scanned her left iris and inputted the passcode before the group went in.

“Try not to over-exert yourself.”

“It doesn’t hurt that bad- oh oh ow…”

“Help her get into a comfortable position,” Aurora instructed. “Ensure she has enough cushions. Taka, you’ve told your parents?”

“Erm…" His face had turned scarlet. “Not-”

“I’ll do it.” Nilam tapped in a quick message and sent it to their parents.

Aurora let out a wistful sigh. “That was such a simple task. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’ll go get her other stuff from the Shack. Meanwhile, do what I instructed you two to do, alright? Especially you, Taka.”

Aurora gave Taka a stern stare before leaving the house.

“Alright… alright…” Taka sighed. “Now, what are we supposed to do?”

“Hmm…" Nilam’s phone beeped. It was from Aurora. She scrolled through the link her cousin had just sent to her. “Ok… this is what we have to do…”

Their parents were not yet home – they were having lunch with one of Pacifica’s business associates. Pacifica resented cooking but always prepared a set of healthy snacks at home in case her children got hungry. In this case, Nilam and Taka found some sliced apples and pears in the fridge.

“This should be good enough?” Taka muttered as he pulled out the tupperwares.

“Should be.”

As Nilam prepared the plates, Taka went to boil the water.

Both sat at either side of their eldest sister on the sofa, who still looked squeamish and in visible discomfort. Nilam placed the bowl of fruits on the table while Taka took the remote.

Aurora said you need to rest. So…” Taka took away his sister’s sling bag. “No homework. We’ll be upstairs to do ours. What do you want to watch?”

“Thanks for offering, but I can pick my own entertainment.” She took the remote, and after a few flicks with the switch, the rom-com Forgettable Forgetful Lovers came on.

“Alright. If you need anything, just ring us.”

“Mom texted. She said they’ll be back soon.”

“Ok, good.”

“Taka, what’s exactly wrong with my method? My teacher isn’t clear about this.”

“Beats me. I don’t understand that question either.” Taka tapped the pencil.

“Corrections… Corrections… Why did our teachers fail us with this very difficult math paper?”

Their math teachers had gotten back with their mock papers. None of the three, including Nita, had scored well for this brain-numbing assessment. As part of their ‘learning journey’, they had to redo the questions with the minimal hints (i.e. ‘guiding questions’) their teacher provided. Complaints about the paper’s difficulty were deflected, with teachers explaining that this test was meant to simulate their thinking and for them to use existing concepts ‘in a more creative way’.

Taka shrugged. “Even Nita didn’t do well on this paper. She barely scraped a B, from what I’ve heard. Thankfully this is a mock paper and doesn’t count towards our overall assessment, I hope.”

“If the actual test is going to be this difficult, I’m going to die.”

“Not sure how we are going to tell our parents about this.”

“Nita has already taken two punches for today. I hope mine wouldn’t be as bad as hers,” Nilam said even as Taka winced. ‘I hope she gets to rest well today. While we ourselves carry on to fight our own battles – algebra.”

“I give up.” Taka placed his pencil down and rubbed his forehead. “We better check how Nita is doing.”

As they came downstairs, the door clicked. Their father had returned. He went over to the sofa, where Nita was sucking on an orange slice.

“Nita? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. The cramps aren’t that bad.”

“Good.” Dipper glanced at the bowl of fruits prepared and her two other children coming down the steps. “It seemed Aurora had instructed you two on what to do. Thankfully the Shack had some spare clothes.” Dipper rummaged through a plastic bag and took out some ibuprofen and a heating pad. “If you need more help with the cramping, Nita, these are what you need.” He turned to Taka. “Have you two boiled water?”

“Yes,” Taka replied as Nilam went into the kitchen.

“I’ll be making you a flask of some ginger tea. Candy said that helps with the cramps,” Dipper said. “I’ll also prepare some water. Meanwhile, just rest, alright? Don’t worry, it’ll get better. Your Aunt Mabel and I have gone through this before.”

“By the way, how did you all do for your mock papers?” Dipper asked, pegging one of his flannel shirts on the clothing line. "I hope you had done as well as dealing with this situation.”

“Erm…” What should Taka say? That they barely managed a pass? None of the siblings had ever brought back a failed grade before. Taka bit his lip, unsure how to tell his father the results.

“It’s alright,” Dipper said when neither of the two answered. “I hope you two will do better the next time round. I understand the test is difficult, but at least this doesn’t count towards your assessment. If you need help, you can ask me or your Mom, alright?”

“Thanks, Dad.”

The father and his two children were in the backyard. It was a sunny spring afternoon, and a batch of clothes had just gone through the wash. Their Mom, meanwhile, was shopping for reusable pads with their Aunt Mabel.

“You two are handling this better than I had expected,” Dipper remarked as he hung up a new pair of pants.

“Not totally.” Nilam flashed her brother a mischievous grin. “Taka made himself scarce when it happened. Aurelia had to drag him out from his hiding place.”

“H- hey!” Taka’s face turned bright red. “I thought you promised not to tell anyone that!”

“I had to admit, I was like that when my sister, I mean, your Aunt got her first period.” Dipper said. Then his expression turned serious. “But this is no joking matter, Taka. You need to look out for your sisters. You all are 13, and I’ll need to educate you on several other topics like this. You are no longer babies, and you need to grow up.”

Taka seemed to squirm, his hands fidgeting as he rummaged through the clothes pile.

“You need to get your hands dirty at times, Taka,” Dipper said. “Don’t you want to go mystery hunting and adventure with me? I had faced worse things than this rather trivial matter. And don’t worry, I’ll guide you through this as well like what the others taught me.”

Taka mulled over these words as he prepared a new flask of tea for his sister. Man, puberty was indeed a pain. But what choice did he have?

He returned to his bedroom, where his sister was sitting upright in bed. After binging one whole season of the rom-com, she said she was tired, which prompted Dipper to huddle her in bed.

“I’m not tired.”

Taka sighed. He himself had been given various conflicting instructions from left, right and centre all day. Their parents had urged them to look after their eldest sister while Nita said she was alright but bored. Taka even sneaked in her tablet so she could do a piece of her homework.

“Well, Mom and Dad say you’ll be tired.” Taka shrugged as he placed the flask on her bedside table. “Need me to pour it out for you?”

“Yes, please.”

Taka helped her up as he passed her a cup of tea. In the process, he helped adjust her covers and the heating pad.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Nita said, shifting the covers herself.

“It’s just…” Taka took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I had to admit, this is all awkward. I’m sorry for acting like an immature brat back at the Shack, but then, I don’t know what to do. Then, Mom and Dad tasked me to look after you, but now you’re acting all fine, and I’m feeling a bit useless doing nothing.”

“It’s alright, Taka. I didn’t expect you to do anything.” Nita offered her brother a small smile. “I just don’t want to be treated like a baby. The cramps are bad, but I’m perfectly alright now. Thanks for everything.”

“Sweet dreams, Nita.” Taka got up and returned back to his homework. Perhaps helping her sister go through the awkward transition into teenagehood was all worth it. They were siblings, after all.

41 52 53 13 43 54 44 24 55 45 54 31 23 33 53 44 11 54 13 35 44 44 23 54 35 44 21 52 52

Chapter Text

Mabel Pines awoke with a start, her skin prickling. One moment, she was flying high among her new witching friends in a fantasy world. The next moment, she found herself staring at the exposed mouldy wooden beams of the vaulted ceiling above her.

Flipping the covers, she turned over and checked the digital clock. It was only ten minutes past three. What had forced her to wake her up? Blinking, her eyes adjusted in the darkness, the vague outlines of a familiar room shifting into focus. Shelves, half-unpacked luggage, scattered clothing… illuminated by the moonlight streaming from the triangular window.

She glanced to her right to find an irregular shape on the bed opposite her wrapped in blankets. For a brief moment, relief washed over her. Dipper was right there, safe and sound.

Or was he? Outside, the crickets chirped, the leaves rustled and an owl hooted. Inside, the wooden planks creaked like an eerie ghost ship, the electric generator hummed and the pipes gurgled. Yet the soft snores from her brother were not among the night sounds.

Mabel climbed out of the bed and went over to the other side. The pile of blankets remained stoic. Mabel pressed down.

“Hmm…” She lifted off the pile of blankets and gasped. Her brother was not there!

A touch of panic seized Mabel. Where has her brother gone? She knew, just a few hours before, that both of them had turned in together. In fact, her brother was sound asleep when she returned after a late-night gathering at Candy’s place. From what she had heard from their Grunkle Ford, they had a long day trekking in the old mines of the town, cataloguing various unusual subterranean creatures.

Could Dipper have left with Grunkle Ford for another impromptu late-night expedition? Unlikely. Dipper would have told her where he would have gone if he was leaving into the night.

Something really happened to him this time. She was sure of it. They didn’t have ‘twin telepathy’ or whatever others thought existed, but after spending so much time together, they practically could sense whether their twin was in danger sometimes. And their intuition was seldom wrong. Dipper once had to rescue her from a pack of angry gnomes who wished to make her their Queen.

Mabel pulled her favourite purple puppy sweater over her and made her way out of the room, bringing along a flashlight and her handy grappling hook. She made her way down, past the living room, where Soos’ Abuelita was napping in front of the television still playing a Spanish soap opera.

She paused for a moment at the front porch of the Shack. The moon was high in the cloudless, starry night. The deafening silence of the open air sent her shudders.

The most rational thing Mabel should have done was to call her Grunkle Ford. But when her brother was in danger, little time was left to waste. By instinct, she went over to the forest path – the well-beaten track travelled most frequently by its regulars (Dipper and Ford among them). The Forest loomed over Mabel like some gigantic black creature. But that was not going to stop her. She had been into the Forest many times before. As she continued her way, the immense trees closed in above her head like a prison roof, blocking out the moonlight.

She might have gone down this path multiple times. But this time, she was alone in the absolute darkness. She halted, holding her breath.

That sense of loneliness was overwhelming, the woods as still as a tomb. Again panic came upon Mabel. She should have gone back! It was foolish to be among the trees and the bushes in the small hours of the night. But the image of her struggling brother floated in her mind and determination set in.

She had her grappling hook and her flashlight. And she was going to be 15 at the end of the summer. Nothing could stop Mabel Pines.

Clamping down a rising sense of fear, she perked her ears. But silence only met her. She took out her flashlight and switched it on, and a brilliant beam reached out ahead like a long white arm. That was better. She continued on the path, a stray gnome scurrying away.

She did not know whether minutes or hours had passed. Mabel had just gone on the path, calling out, sometimes stopping for an answer. But no reply came. All she knew was that by some instinct or twin telepathy she was going on the right path.

She wished Dipper was by her side. During their past holidays in Gravity Falls, she had a fair share of (mis)adventures right in these woods. But as her brother got closer to Pacifica, Mabel felt more and more left out. In fact, for that summer so far, she had yet to have an adventure with her brother.

Should she be jealous, that her brother was spending more time with his partner? Sure, she did wish for her brother’s happiness, but held the foolish hope that it would not come at the cost of their close siblinghood. While it was fun hanging out with Candy and Grenda, nothing could compare to her times with her twin. After all, that made their first summer the most memorable and enjoyable. From their first encounter with the gnomes, uncovering the eccentric founder of the town, going on several loops through time to fighting zombies, cracking down on a cult or running away from government agents.

Mabel stood still, listening again. In the silence that followed, she could swear she heard a very faint sound of a human voice. She froze, stretching her ears. Yes, there it was again!

“Dipper!” she yelled, turning towards the source of the voice. “It’s Mabel! Where are you?”

This time the answer came loud and clear to her.

“I’m here!” the voice called out. “Over here!”

“Dipper!” With the beam shining ahead of her, she dashed towards the voice.

“Watch out, Mabel! Stop!”

“Huh, what- oh!” As she skidded, Mabel felt something wrapped around her leg and then she was hoisted up into the air.

Even with the blood streaming down to her head, she could make out her brother not far away from her. His glasses and ushanka must have dropped to the ground.

“Hello, Mabel. Nice to see you up here.”

“Dipper! What are you doing here? Who set these traps?”

“What are you doing here? Did you come with anyone else?”

“Er-”

“Guess not.”

The two then lapsed into an aggrieved silence. Then Dipper sighed and said, “The truth is, Mabel, I was out here trying to hunt something. The guy who had stolen your bedazzle gun and Pacifica’s silver earrings. Judging by the scrawl marks, Ford and I concluded that it might be a Man-pie. Half-man, half-magpie.”

“And let me guess, you set these traps to catch the thief?”

“…yes. Well, at least they worked?”

Mabel tried to shift around but the rope refused to bulge. The most she could accomplish was spinning around, which sent dizzying spells to her head. If anything, the rope around her leg seemed to get tighter, and numbness started to creep in for her left foot.

“Don’t move, Mabel,” Dipper advised. “I’ve tried everything. Guess it’s best to wait until Soos, Wendy or the Grunkles come in the morning.”

“You didn’t even bother to bring a pocket knife or anything?”

“I left the rest of my equipment on the ground! And man, Ford’s rope is really strong. Only a diamond-edged knife could cut through it.”

“Huh…”

“Do you have anything else that can help us?”

Mabel searched in her sweater. Then inspiration came upon her as she scanned the branches and her surroundings.

“Mabel?” Dipper said in a cautious voice. “What are you thinking?”

“Just hold on, Dipper. I think I will try to swing my way towards you. I will then untie your rope and set you free.”

“But we’re pretty far from the ground!”

“Just reach for the branch behind you, dummy!”

“Alright, alright.”

“Ready, Dipper?”

“Yes!”

“Grappling hook!” The metal hook caught the branch holding Dipper by the rope, and Mabel swung towards her brother. Catching her brother in a hug, the two siblings oscillated until Dipper held on to a branch to stop them from swinging further.

“Good job, Mabel! Now, let me free you.”

“No! I should be the one freeing you!”

“Hold it, Mabel! That swinging really messes with my thoughts.” After some seconds, he said, “Mabel, let me untie you, so you can get down with that hook, get the diamond-edged knife in my bag, and then free me.”

“Why not I untie you, and you do what you said?” Mabel felt her fingers slipping from the grappling hook, the other hand holding on to her brother. They had little time to debate.

“I-”

“Afraid you can’t climb?”

Dipper nodded.

“Dipper, believe in yourself. This is your mess, and only you can fix this.” When her brother did not protest, she went to untie the rope around her brother’s ankle not without difficulty. “There! If you need help, here’s my grappling hook.”

“Thanks, Mabel.”

“Be quick, it’s almost sunrise!”

Taking the grappling hook, he let his sister go and fell to the ground. He got up and took Mabel’s flashlight, his glasses and his ushanka. A few trees away, he found his pile of equipment. Dipper extracted Ford’s diamond-edged knife from his bag and returned to where Mabel was dangling.

“Hang on, Mabel!”

“What do you think I’ve been doing, Dip-dop?”

Dipper chuckled. Carefully positioning the grappling hook, he shot it and made his way up, soon rejoining his sister in the trees.

“You alright?”

“Still fine.”

Taking out the knife, he set to work.

“Hold on to me, Mabel!” Dipper grunted as he cut through halfway into the thick rope. “There- whoa!”

He caught Mabel in time. Using the grappling hook, the twins made their slow descent back to the ground.

“Heh, that was some night!” Dipper said as they made it out of the woods. “Too bad I didn’t manage to catch the Man-pie, but all things considered-”

“Dipper, next time, don’t run off into the Forest all by yourself!” Mabel cut in, swiping the ushanka off her brother’s head. “Didn’t you know how worried I was when I didn’t find you in bed?”

“I’m sorry.” Dipper scratched his head, yawning. He picked up the ushanka and put it back on his head. “I’ve gone out without telling anyone because I wanted it to be a surprise. To finally reveal who had been stealing your stuff. From Stan’s golden head and Soos’ nail clippers to…”

“Actually, I had a great time,” Mabel confided. “It reminds me of the old days when it was just the two of us going on mystery hunt. Before Ford. Before Pacifica. I missed those days when we had fun as the Mystery Twins.”

“Huh, never knew you wanted to go adventuring with me… I mean, you’ve been spending more time with Candy and Wendy. But I guess, given I’ve spent so much time with Pacifica or Ford, I’ve neglected to look after my sister.”

“Or rather, you’ve forgotten to look out for yourself.”

“Thanks for looking out for me, Mabel.” Dipper gave Mabel a gentle punch. “Awkward sibling hug?”

“Sincere sibling hug.” Despite being covered in mud and leaves, the two wrapped their arms around each other and patted each other backs.

“Now, let’s get in before-” They stopped. Their Grunkles Stan and Ford were at the Shack’s front porch, staring from one guilty face to the next.

“Morning, kids.”

“Oh boy…”

54 32 51 23 24 22 51 15 24

Chapter Text

Pacifica Northwest stared out from her bedroom balcony for what might be her final time. It was a calm and peaceful evening, the beautiful hues of orange and purple streaking across the sky. Already some of the leaves began to change colour to match the colour of the sky. The balcony offered her a splendid view of the vibrant town laid before her, washed by the brilliant rays of the setting sun. From where she was, Pacifica could make out the little people going about their daily lives – the bulky men having a hearty chat at the park, the Corduroy lumberjacks working on a roof, and a dog walking its cat. Life for the town seemed to go on as normal, or as normal as it could be.

Her parents were away dealing with some paperwork – change of address, transfer of the Manor’s ownership to the hillbilly and so on – leaving Pacifica alone in the empty Mansion with her thoughts. She had spent the entire day roaming the once-elegant corridors stripped of all its furniture and assets before returning to her bedroom balcony. For much of her life, she had never bothered to appreciate the view up here. It was only now she had learnt to cherish something that was soon to be taken away from her. Never had it ever crossed her mind she might have to leave this place, her ancestral home, one day.

As she leaned on the railing, she noticed a familiar shape in the distance – the Mystery Shack. Even at a far distance, she could make out the streamers and the hubbub of activity as the Pines family over there prepared for some big celebration. From what she had heard, the two summer twins would be leaving. But before their departure, they had planned to throw a large birthday celebration. Much to her surprise, Pacifica received an invitation. The twins Mabel and Dipper popped by her mansion just as they were on some last-minute expedition for a were-bunny, or something.

The rational side of her would have rejected the invitation. But ever since the crazy mini-golf game, the ghost incident and the quick trip to an underground market, she felt a special bond with the twins. They had pulled her out of her comfort zone, showing her what it meant to be a normal child and not “another model Northwest daughter”. It was hard to admit, but she had fun with them with her guard down. Those were the highlights of this summer.

But even if she accepted the invitation, what should she bring over? She paced around the soft ruby carpet. For Mabel, the answer soon came upon her. Perhaps a set of arts and crafts. Or a new set of mini-golf clubs? Maybe the latter would be more fitting. Then for Dipper (who had been lingering in her mind for a long time), perhaps something that would remind them of their time together.

“If not for this stupid ghost-busting mission, I would be comfortable back at the Shack, watching Ghost Harassers!”

“Well, at least you’re dealing with a real ghost now!” Pacifica drawled as they rushed down the corridor, passing by the portraits of her forefathers.

That short exchange swam in her mind, unbidden. But she now knew what to get for that nerd.

Her family knew the director well. Maybe she could call up for a fast delivery of their newest box set she had heard of. She sat down on her four-poster bed and started to type something on her phone.

In Piedmont, some weeks later, Dipper Pines let out a satisfied sigh as he emerged from the kitchen. It was a quiet Thursday afternoon. His parents were out to visit a family friend, Mabel was at theatre, Waddles and the house cat were in the backyard, and the TV was available.

Time to binge the box set of Ghost Harassers at last, he thought as he placed the popcorn bowl and Pitt on the table.

Turning on the DVD player, he took out the box set which he had placed among the other movie classics. The Halloween Special Box Set, he noted. The set contained eight discs, six for each season and two others for additional commentary, interviews, cut scenes and bloopers. Additionally, it included a lithograph signed by the main cast, the instructions manual and… A blank piece of paper? Dipper raised his eyebrows.

Why was his heart hammering? It was just a blank piece of paper, right? But he detected the familiar scent of roses and champagne and the vibe he felt only back at that Fest. Rubbing his hands, Dipper went to the bedroom and dug out the blacklight. A few seconds later, he read the following hidden message:

Dear Dipper,

Happy birthday! Hope you and your sister are doing alright.

I know your dorky brain would be curious about this blank piece of paper I had slipped in. Well, to get straight to the point, I hope you’ll enjoy this gift and get to finish off your marathon. I understand how much this gift must mean to you, so I talked with the directors who were willing to send a free early signed copy of their newest box set!

It had been an enjoyable summer with you guys, despite us going off on a wrong note at the start. I hope to see you guys again next summer!

With much love,

Pacifica

“…so this is what the note says, and what these circular metal things are!” Taka exclaimed.

Dipper smiled. “These are DVDs. Before the time of streaming services, we used to have box sets so we could rewatch shows in our free time. Your Mom got me this set on my 12th birthday.”

“Are ghosts actually real?” Nilam, his other daughter, questioned. “How come we never saw them? Like how come Grunkle Ford and Stan never…”

“It’s complicated, my little Cuhullin.” Dipper ruffled her hair. “Ghosts are restless spirits, unable to move on to the afterlife. They usually haunt people who have, in some way or another, offended them. Those who stay around are those with ‘unfinished business’, whether in the form of fear, guilt, regrets or overt attachment to our world. They refuse to move on until they can find someone to put them at rest. I’m sure Stan and Ford have made their wise decisions to move on.”

“How do we see one?”

“Well, they are real; it’s not a matter of belief whether you can see them or not as what some others said. But you three haven’t encountered any of them because I doubt you have offended anyone before, right?”

The children nodded. Then Taka asked, “Will we get to see one?”

“I hope very much not.” Dipper’s expression turned serious and he paused for a moment. “I’ve come across many vengeful ones and it’s already hard enough to deal with the moderate ones. I hope you might never encounter them but there will come a time when I’ll show you the ropes. You all are a bit too young to be running around with silver mirrors and all.”

“Tell us again about your ghost adventure with Mom,” Nilam asked.

“Which one?” Dipper dropped his serious expression and chuckled. “The one at the Diner, the one at the ski resort, or the one at-”

“You know which one, Dad,” his eldest daughter, Nita, deadpanned. Although she looked like her father in many ways, she flashed an exasperated expression very similar to her mother’s.

“Alright, alright. It all began when-”

“Dear, it’s getting pretty late for them.” Pacifica came down to join Dipper and the others in the living room. “You all have school tomorrow!”

“Ah yes. Sorry kids.” Dipper got up. “But I’ll ask Soos if he can help repair an old DVD set of mine, and we can check out this series together another time. What do y’all think?”

“Aww… Alright, Dad.”

After packing up the box set, Dipper brought his three kids to their bedroom. He tucked them in bed, giving each of them a goodnight kiss. He returned to his study, where his wife had returned to check through the equipment.

“Everything alright, dear?”

“Alpha wave generator… Proton pack… Probes… do we need all of this? I mean, we’re only going for a routine paranormal containment inspection at Tambry’s café.”

“Well, while the chances of encountering a Category 10 is pretty slim, it’s still better to be safe than sorry,” Dipper chuckled. “Always be prepared for the worst.”

“Heh, typical of you. Just like the good old times."

"Just like the good old times."

Armed and dangerous, the couple made their way out on their routine night mission, ready to beat the nightlights out of any unfortunate ghosts that dared come their way.

Chapter Text

“I’d like to wake up every day with you.”

“Oh no, you’re a morning person!”

That was what Paz replied to me with during one random night conversation. I was not exactly a morning person, more of a night owl. So I was puzzled and asked, “Huh, what do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Never mind, you’ll understand later tonight. Or tomorrow morning.”

That was last week. And then Paz had to go on an emergency business trip to Florida to mediate a workers’ strike. She returned soon enough this evening while I went on an expedition with Ford today. I have been dealing with a lot of work these days, from preparing my first novel to embarking on various paranormal expeditions.

And then she greeted me with that same line when I returned from another late-night mission.

“Oh Dip, you’re late! Ha! I told you; you’re a morning person!”

“Huh?" I asked as I put down my equipment and hooked up my flannel jacket. Given how late I had returned, the remark was lost on me. “You don’t have to stay up this late for me, Paz. Didn’t I message you before going off for my expedition? And did you manage to have dinner?”

“Forget about dinner. What about you? Don’t you know what time it is? And look at you!” Paz hurried over and cupped my face with one hand, examining the scars I had.

“It's nothing.” I tried to reassure her. But I had to admit, it had been a rough expedition. It was meant to be low-key, but like plenty of past excursions, small issues snowballed into larger curveballs. At least I managed to get back home in one piece.

“It’s now four o’clock in the morning!” Paz exclaimed. “And your wrists! Dip, where have you gone? I thought you were with Ford!”

Four o’clock? I thought. Indeed the digital clock in the living room wasn’t lying. I had promised Paz to return before midnight!

"Sit here!" Paz forced me on the sofa before going off to retrieve the first aid kit. I sighed, inspecting the new cuts using Paz's pocket mirror. Was it that bad? Every mission seemed to bring me more souvenirs. A mark a unicorn left on my cheek during an expedition a week ago was still visible. On my hand was a burn from an experiment gone wrong in Ford’s lab. And I had a bruise on my arm from a fall off the slope just now. This week had been, to say the least, not great.

“Show me your arm,” Pacifica said as she came back with the kit. I extended my hand and bit my lip as she applied iodine to my cuts. “Dip, how many times should Mabel and I say that you should look out for yourself? What actually happened?”

“Well…” I then explained to her that Ford and I got separated by a stampede of Gorrabulls (half-gorillas, half-bulls) on the way back from Crash Side Omega (CSO). We were in the process of clearing out everything from that spaceship and moving them to Ford’s lab. From the control panel, the security droids, the mysterious frozen embryos, other cargo of strange food and equipment, and the fuel tank. After that, the real work might begin on investigating whether CSO was the origin of the town’s weirdness magnet or vice versa. It had been some years in the undertaking as the spaceship was massive. The entire town could possibly fit into it!

I lost my baggage of cargo and fell down the slope into an unfamiliar part of the Forest. At least I still got my bag of tools and other supplies for me to survive my way through, dealing with the strange wildlife from headless horses, dwarves, and rabid chickens to a headless hunter who shot me with a poisonous arrow. Fortunately, they realised I was just lost and, after helping me recover with an elixir, we made our way out of the Forest together.

My phone ran out of battery, so I did not manage to contact Ford or Paz about my misadventure when I got out of the Forest. Well, I had messaged Ford just now, who was relieved I was safe and told me not to worry. He was getting the manotaurs to retrieve what I had lost.

And now I’m in bed, writing this entry as Paz goes off to prepare me a cup of tea. I should hide this away before she thinks I’m still working. Oh no, here she comes!

Paz here! You can’t hide your dorky Journal from me! Anyway, I’m keeping this for now, but I’m allowing him to read other books for leisure. He should not over-exert himself!

Thank the Axolotl that Dipper came back safe and sound once again! Thankfully, the cuts weren’t too deep, and the elixir seemed to have cleared up much of his other injuries.

Dipper is often reckless, always delving into danger without consideration for the safety of his own or others. But honestly, I can’t help but admire him for that. I can’t change him from who he is, but he needs someone to watch his back. Mabel and I had been on several crazy missions with him before, and how many times must we save him from a human flytrap, a nest of wasps or monstrous bunches of praying mantises?

“I’ve been through worse. ’Tis but a scratch,” he claimed as I patched him up.

Yeah, he does have the luck of the devil, but he really needs to be more careful and take serious ownership of his health. It seems he had forgotten my advice to sleep regularly even when I’m away. So, I’m huddling him in bed for the rest of the day. And I’m making sure he’s not going off to any more missions while he’s resting! I don’t want him to over-exert himself! It was stressful enough managing my own business. I wish not to keep worrying about my boyfriend’s well-being. I mean, if he wants to continue adventuring, he needs to be healthy and alive. He sometimes needs to know his limits.

Alright, time for cuddles! Suck it up, dummy!

Chapter Text

“The view up here is magnificent, isn’t it?”

“Can’t argue with that.”

“It really has been a while,” Pacifica concurred. “The last time we came together to have a nice meal…”

“We should do this more often. A break from the paranormal. No zombies, unicorns or an undead samurai…”

“Hey, don’t spoil the mood!”

We (Paz and I) were seated opposite across a table on a terrace, which provided a magnificent view of the town below. It was another evening, a dinner date at the new Italian restaurant that had recently opened. Waiters hurried in and out of the terrace, receiving or delivering orders. A soft tune was being played, but the cluttering of knives and plates, along with the low murmurs of conversation, drowned out the gentle piece of music.

“I say,” Paz began as she examined the rose in the vase. “This new Italian restaurant so far is indeed amazing. Everything is perfect down to the last detail.” She put back the rose in the vase, her ocean blue eyes scanning me. “And your suit is splendid. Very stylish.”

“You think so?” I chuckled. I could never get used to wearing such formal attire. Paz had bought me this new charcoal grey suit on my birthday a month ago, which came along with a white shirt. I had never felt so out of place; the other diners were dressed in more casual attire. The night was warm, and I kept fumbling with the black tie. At least I had been provided with a silk handkerchief to wipe the many beads of sweat slowly falling down my face.

“Gosh, hon, we haven’t even started ordering, and you’re sweating?” Pacifica chuckled. She was wearing a low-cut green dress. Specifically, as always, lake-foam green. “You still look great, my dear.”

“You too,” I stammered.

A waiter appeared out of nowhere. Hovering by our table, he held a paper and pencil, ready to take our order. I ordered a plate of creamy ravioli. Pacifica decided on having pappardelle.

“Drinks?” the waiter asked.

“Shall we have champagne?”

“Well, I would go with the orange-flavoured Crystal Pitt…” I trailed off as Paz raised her eyebrows. “But I don’t mind sharing a glass or two.”

“Still not used to drinking alcohol, are you?” She laughed as the waiter took off with their order. Well, I did not have a great relationship with alcohol. On my 21st birthday, I took my first gulp. I remembered gagging a little as the liquid burned down my throat and the mess that followed. I shuddered, recalling the bitter memory.

“Come on, just relax for this night,” Pacifica reassured me. She looked at the flickering lights of a bustling town down below. “So far, the perfect day of beauty and serenity.”

“Indeed.” I mused, also observing the town which is now our new home. Having visited this place for many years, it was a surprise how much the quaint town of Gravity Falls had developed. “I wish we could go out like this more often.”

“We still have to face the real world.” Pacifica sighed. “Me and new investors. You and your…”

“Project. I’m gathering a few like-minded people to research and counter paranormal threats.”

“Sounds promising. Make sure you don’t disappoint me.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “You know I’m your patron.”

“And you’re my wife. My beautiful, awesome, rich princess,” I chuckled, leaning closer. “Let’s not discuss business here, Mrs. Pines. This is, after all, a night to ourselves.”

The waiter soon returned with the champagne and poured us a glass each.

“Come, let’s drink to our partnership.” She raised the glass by the stem, the tiny bubbles rising to the surface in the honey-coloured liquid. “To our marriage.”

“To our marriage.” But just before I could take a sip, suddenly, inexplicably, all the lights went out. The low murmurings died away as a stunned silence fell into the room, only broken by the occasional sounds of cutlery clanking on plates.

“Dipper, what did you do?”

“I- what? Nothing!” I placed down the glass, looking around for the answers.

A dim light illuminated from the restaurant as the waiters and waitresses came out to place candles at the patrons’ various tables.

“Apologies for the power cut,” the waiter said in a low murmur as he placed a lit candle at the table. “The technicians are looking into the issue.”

Other waiters also placed lanterns around the restaurant. It was nearly Halloween then, and the place lit up with many Jack-o-lanterns.

“I can’t believe you'll go this far to be this romantic,” Pacifica remarked.

“Huh? What do you mean?” I broke into a small smile as I shifted in my seat. “Nah, I didn’t plan for any of this. I’m as surprised as you too. But this new restaurant is bound to have a few snags on its opening night.”

“Let’s hope the food is good too.”

The waiter had returned with our two plates of pasta, and we started to tuck in.

There was one night

There was no light

There was no light

So we used flashlight

Flashlight no light

So we used fairy light

Fairy light not bright

So we used Purple Light

“That was an amazing dinner, Dipper,” Paz said after we paid the bill and exited the restaurant.

The power disruption aside, the food was excellent and the service was great. I liked how the restaurant could adapt to circumstances and deal with any disruptions that came their way. Paz and I had a great time.

“Shall we take a walk by the Pier?” I asked, holding her hand. She nodded.

The shore of Lake Gravity Falls had developed into a humble, nice promenade catering to tourists. From just a small bait shop Tate McGucket owned, new kiosks and shops had opened, offering boat rental services or souvenirs. It was a development spearheaded by former Mayor Tyler Cutebiker, who wanted to draw more tourist money to the town.

The Lake made its gentle rolls by the shore. Today, the Lake was serene unlike most nights when the supernatural made their usual silent prowls. Savouring this peaceful atmosphere, we stood on the boardwalk in a fashion similar to the movies: holding hands and leaning against the railing.

“The fairies are making their maiden journey across the lake,” Paz noted the twinkling lights zooming past in front of us.

“Indeed, nice and peaceful.”

The fairies seemed to have noticed us, for they started to dance among each other, moving along with the mostly-unheard tune of nature's waltz.

“What are they doing?” Pacifica muttered.

“Just watch.”

The fairy lights began to join together and form various shapes in quick succession. The recognisable shape of my birthmark – the Big Dipper. Then the Llama. A heart shape. An image of a frilly creature. Then the shape of another familiar constellation – Orion, followed by a portrait of us, with Pacifica visibly pregnant.

“What does it mean?” Pacifica breathed as the fairies resumed back to their previous formation, zooming across the Lake.

“Either it’s a spontaneous fairy light show, or depicting a future around the corner.” I shrugged.

Divination is one branch of magic Ford and I have never figured. Owning to the fact that many methods only offer vague suggestions for the future. And some symbols can be read wrong. Even a renowned fortune teller whom we had encountered in Hong Kong admitted that the future is always moving and unable to provide precise answers, but he said what matters more is the route we decide to take.

And the road ahead for our marriage, well…

“Do you think it’s now the right time to have a baby?” Pacifica nuzzled beside me.

“I don’t know, Paz.” I couldn’t believe we had reached this far. It’s been a year into our marriage. A baby was something we had talked about before but now seemed like a formidable concept. We had decided on having one. But exactly when, we don't know. We are still busy in our lives, and a lot of time and money will be needed to raise just one. Such are the harsh realities of the real world.

“It’s ok, Dip.” She squeezed my hand. “We still have enough time to think about it.”

Such simple, quiet nights. Much like the old days in our youth. Even as this town changed around us, our love grew deeper. I doubt we would ever get out of this honeymoon phase. This is the woman I know I will spend the rest of my life with. I love her more now than I thought I could ever love anyone. As long as we stay together, we shall overcome whatever comes our way.

A drop of rain hit my forehead. Then another. The storm clouds were gathering. Alas, such serene moments were not to last.

“Time to go home, shall we?”

15 52 34 25 44 52 43 52 43 55 44 53 41 44 13 45 44 44 12 51 24

Chapter Text

“Duke. I am the author you’re looking for.”

“Nooooooo!”

“Heh, life imitates art,” Dipper commented as he took a handful of popcorn.

“Even watching this scene for like three times prior, this reveal always surprises me,” Ford mused, leaning back in his armchair.

“Yep. Especially if you look back at all the foreshadowing.” Dipper shifted to a more comfortable sitting position on the carpet. “And it all makes sense.”

It was movie night for Grunkle Ford and Dipper, and they were catching up with the six-part futuristic fantasy space-opera series Space Trek, which included swinging laser swords, samurai monks in space, cool men in masks, espionage behind the scenes of extensive battles, while blending in sci-fi, adventure and deep philosophical takes about life and the universe.

“I’d watched the first film with Fiddleford back in college,” Ford said as they moved on to the third film. “Initially, I had criticised all the wild inaccuracies of space battles and the way people used those blasters and laser swords. Like, plasma doesn’t work like that!”

“Well, you don’t have to take the science so seriously. The story is much more engaging.”

“And the characters are loveable too.” Ford nodded. “The story is really like Shakespeare, with the tragedy and dramatic irony of their fates.”

“I hate gravel. It’s rough, coarse and irritating…”

“That line is really rough, coarse and irritating,” Ford said, his irritation clear through gritted teeth. “Which director wrote that?”

“Beats me,” Dipper said, shrugging. “But to think of it now, it does fit the character who doesn’t know how to flirt.”

“Sounds like someone I know.” Ford smiled, turning to his grandnephew on the floor.

“H- hey…” Dipper blushed red. “I’m going pretty well with Pacifica, alright?”

“Could have been worse.” Ford shrugged and sighed. “The dialogue might be terrible, but at least the special effects are better in this new batch of films. It’s wonderful to see how much filming technology had advanced since I was gone. And I quite like how these films provided more background and meaning to the original. Especially the film after this, which explained the significance of the previous two and how everything is connected.”

“Yeah, I hope that this story doesn’t get ruined with future sequels.”

“I hope that’s true. I’ve heard of many iterations of the sequels in my travels of the multiverse. One sequel film even brought back the same old villain as pure fan service!”

“That must have been some crap fanfiction.” Dipper shuddered. “Can’t imagine how terrible that film must be.”

“Very bad knockoffs without understanding the source material.” Ford let out a heavy sigh.

“It’s over, Alnilam, I have the high ground!” Taka yelled from an armchair.

“You underestimate my power!”

“Don’t try it,” Nita said. She peered over from her encyclopedia of Space Trek, watching the antics of her siblings.

But her admonishments fell on deaf ears as Nilam made her bold leap. However, she miscalculated. Taka froze, trying to defend himself with his sword, but she crashed headlong into him. Both stumbled off the armchair, entangled in their robes.

“I told you!” Nita got off her chair and helped her siblings up. “Are you two hurt?”

“I’m fine, Nita.” Taka brushed his sister off.

“What’s going on here?” Pacifica came downstairs from the study. Seeing the commotion, she sighed. “Didn’t I tell you two not to play with these robes and swords until Halloween?”

“Sorry, Mom.” Taka picked up his toy sword.

“The Force is strong in you, my young padawans. But you two have much more to learn.” Pacifica took the two swords from her children. “Teach you, I will.”

“Wait, Mom.” Nita showed a page of the encyclopedia with a photograph. “Is this you, Dad and Grunkle Ford with the late Farrie Cisher?”

“Huh?” Pacifica raised her eyebrows, scanning the page. “Ah yes, Cisher was a good ol’ friend of mine…”

“What?!” The triplets exclaimed.

“I still have the original photograph in the study with her autograph. You want to see it?”

After rummaging through some old photos, they found the original photograph. On it was their teenage Dad, his old mentor Ford, and Pacifica in warrior monk robes, beaming wide smiles with the late actress in front of the Shack. What captured Taka’s attention was the actress’ enigmatic beauty of years past. Scrawled across the photograph was Cisher’s signature.

“Ford and your Dad were big fans. So I arranged a surprise visit for them,” Pacifica explained.

“This must be valuable!” Taka exclaimed as he traced the signature. “So how was it like, meeting her in the flesh?”

“She was one fine woman,” a voice at the doorway said.

“Dear, you’re back early!” Pacifica exclaimed.

“Yeah… Soos got the Soosquitoes infestation dealt with.” Dipper joined his wife and children. “Anyway, you are all talking about that photograph?”

Pacifica nodded as she handed her husband the photograph. “Well, they were playing with their long robes for Halloween and eagerly talking about the show…”

Dipper chuckled and sighed, examining the photograph. “Cisher was quite like the character she portrayed: resilient and headstrong. We didn’t know she was battling cancer then. But she maintained her cheery smile and entertained our questions on the Space Trek mythology and her acting career. It was sad to see her gone. That was very long ago. Yet her legacy still lives on.”

Dipper gazed out of the window for a while, deep in thought. Then he stirred, evidently having reached an important decision.

“So, my young padawans,” he declared, “have you all done your homework?”

“Yep!”

“Who’s up for a Space Trek marathon? A journey into a Galaxy far far away?” Dipper suggested. The united cheers from his children gave him the answer. He chuckled and asked his wife, “Dear, you’ve anything else on?”

“I can’t believe I got married to a huge dork and ended up having to raise three more.” Pacifica brushed her hair with a broad grin on her face like her children. “But I must read a memo and look through some reports.”

“So is that a yes or no?”

“I’ll go prepare the popcorn!” Pacifica got up. Dipper laughed.

And so that night, over a large bucket of popcorn, we binged through all six films of the saga, along with the other spin-off series. The franchise, to this day, continues to connect all generations. Passing the baton from one generation to another, it explores the grand tragedy and drama of the family of warrior monks.

Chapter Text

“Ooh, look! Shooting stars!”

“Come, make a wish, you two!”

Mabel, her husband Kevin Corduroy, and their two daughters Aurora and Aurelia were at the front porch of their cottage, admiring the streaks of stars across the night sky.

“Mom,” Aurora asked after a while, “I’ve been wondering about this. What’s with the shooting star symbol on your necklace?”

“This?” Mabel held the silver charm in her hand. “Oh, this is a gift from your father. And it meant something important.”

“What do you mean?”

Mabel hesitated. Her daughters were ten years old then. Were they still too young to know about it? That event which changed everyone’s life? That was swept under the rug? She looked to her husband, seeking advice.

“If you’re ready, you’re ready. I can try to help.”

“Alright.” A gentle breeze blew and the crops around her house swayed along. “Sit down. It’s a long story, going back to the time your Uncle Dip and I first arrived here.”

She took a deep breath and began:

“When we first came here, we thought this town was some boring, backwards place. Of course, I tried to see the good side of things. Spent time rolling on the grass, made up names for mold patches in the Shack, and even tried hitting it out with some guys. Then your uncle found this strange old book, which we later learnt belonged to our Grunkle Ford, and we went on some crazy adventures together. And I made some new friends too!”

Mabel sighed and stared into the distance for a while. Her two daughters sat up straighter in rapt attention.

“Before I knew it, time passed by fast. And that was the best summer your uncle and I had – meeting crazy old presidents, playing mini-golf, fighting unicorns. But alas, it did have to come to an end.” She stopped, her tone turning bitter. Her eyes dropped and the darkness of regret seemed to drift across her face for a while.

“It’s alright dear,” Kevin said. “Take your time.”

She took a deep breath and continued, “It was the week before our birthday – before the end of summer. It hit me that the future wasn’t looking bright for us. That we… We had to grow up, and face the real world.”

She buried her face in her hands, her body shaking. Kevin came over and while patting her shoulder, took out a flannel handkerchief.

“If you can’t go on, it’s ok. Come kids, we-”

“No. They have to know.”

Already, however, her two daughters were looking troubled. Aurora seemed to regret asking about her mother’s shooting star charm.

“I think it’s better we go inside,” Kevin suggested. “I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”

Inside, the family sat around the round table. The hot chocolate seemed to have given Mabel the much-needed courage to continue.

“On that day, your Uncle Dipper wished to stay here with Ford. The town meant a lot to us, though for him it was because of the many paranormal entities he could investigate. But for me, it was because of the many friends and all the fun I had. The future seemed uncertain, and Dipper was the only person I could count on. But then, if he wanted to stay here, I had to face everything without him by my side. And back then, that was unimaginable for me. I… didn’t want him to stay.”

Her twin daughters glanced at each other in the silence that followed.

“Back then, I was foolish. I thought there was a way we could have an endless summer.” Mabel drew another sharp intake of breath, looking at her children. “How much did Uncle Dipper talk to you about Bill?”

“That dream demon you all defeated a long time ago?” Aurelia piped up.

“Yes.” Her voice seemed to crack. “So, as the world came crashing down around me, desperate, I accepted a solution by a time traveller who promised what I wanted – for summer to never end. And then…”

“Take it easy, Mabel.” Kevin squeezed her hand. “Remember, this was not your fault. Breathe slowly and count to ten…”

As Mabel relaxed, Kevin decided it was time to take over the narrative:

“Well, going back to Bill Cipher. He was like the Devil – cunning and deceptive. He could manipulate people’s minds, take over their bodies. You know, like a puppet?” He made a show with his fingers. “Through the mindscape he controlled, he was a prowling tiger preying on the weak, waiting to strike.”

“Does he- he still exist?” Aurora asked.

“Fortunately, as far as we know, Bill is no longer a threat to our world. Your Uncle Dipper and Grunkle Ford had worked on various safeguards to prevent any Bills – whether from another timeline or a reincarnated version of him – from coming here. They have no power over us. Besides, the Axolotl protects us all.”

“Wait, is this the same Bill who caused that weirdma- whatever? The one-”

Kevin shuddered at the memory. “Yes. But for Bill to get in our world, he needed a rift which Dipper and Ford were working to seal up. But as secretive as he was, Ford kept the rift as a secret from many. Like falling dominoes, his little mistakes and oversight of your mother led to the world almost ending.”

“So what’s with Mom and endless summer and Weirdma- thingy?”

“During that argument – the one about Dipper wanting to stay here – your mom took Dipper’s bag with the rift and ran away. In her confused state, she didn’t know she took the wrong one. And the time traveller who came to offer her a solution was another unfortunate victim of Bill’s.”

“And that deal…” Mabel stammered. “Well, actually I can’t exactly remember what happened after.” She bit her lip. “All I knew was after I handed Bill the rift, I found myself in this endless dream I wished not to wake up from. In a twisted way, that was the ‘endless summer’ Bill granted me.”

“Wait, I know this part!” Aurora said. “Uncle Dipper said about you ending up in some dream prison and then rescuing you from it to unite against Bill.”

Mabel nodded. “He changed his mind about staying. And convinced me to step back into the real world with nothing to fear, for he had promised we would face Bill and the future together.”

“So, how did you all defeat this monster?” Aurelia asked. “To end this weirdma- something?”

Mabel twirled the charm between her fingers and said, “There was this prophecy of ten chosen people coming together to defeat Bill. I was the shooting star. Dipper was the Pine Tree. And your Aunt Wendy was the ice bag. We together formed the chain, and then-”

“Wait, I thought it was Grunkle Stan who saved you all?”

“Well, yes,” Mabel replied. “But to think of it now, the zodiac distracted Bill and let down his guard. So in a way, it did defeat him. But it also came at the cost of Stan’s mind. He was the one who laid the final punch.”

Another silence fell upon the family as the twins reflected upon their mother’s anecdote of Bill Cipher, Weirdmageddon, and her part in it. While they had known some of the details, it was only at this point they learnt of the full picture and the significance of the shooting star charm.

Then Mabel put on a smile and said, “Well, all’s well ends well after that. Bill’s gone and even we managed to recover Stan’s memories with some intensive scrapbook therapy! Even with only that last week of summer, we still made the best of what we had and ended it with a blast!”

She drank the rest of her chocolate and continued, “That summer was fun and I wished it could have gone on forever and ever. Never growing up, like what some characters in TV shows did. But our life isn’t some floating timeline, and we have the real world to face up to. That summer was a rude wake-up call for me. But I learned nothing is meant to last forever and that stuff changes no matter what we do, so cherishing whatever you have and learning to move on from your bubble is the best you can do.”

“So, how’s Mabel?”

Dipper had dropped by the cottage after another late-night expedition, having heard from Kevin what Mabel had shared with her children. Kevin and Mabel had tucked their children into bed when Dipper arrived.

“She’s fine, I guess.” Kevin cast a short glance towards the kitchen, where his wife was making another cup of hot chocolate. “She seemed better, spilling it all out.”

“Good to hear that. Well, I should check on her.” Dipper got up and adjusted his flannel. “Thanks for the tea.”

Dipper made his way to the kitchen. Mabel was still by the stove in deep meditation.

“Mabel?” Dipper asked in a tentative voice.

“Dipper, I’m fine.” She turned off the stove and poured the boiling water into her mug. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m just… tired, that’s all. They had to know, anyway.”

“I should have been here to help. I know it’s hard on you to relive the events of-”

“I’m fine, Dip,” she repeated, maintaining a poker face.

“That summer changed us all, didn’t it?”

Mabel nodded. What happened after that summer was far from smooth sailing. Back in Piedmont, the two suffered traumatic flashbacks, with Bill creeping up in their dreams. Even in his demise, his influence still held strong. For the first few weeks after that summer, the two tossed and turned in their beds, often waking up gasping and sweating in the middle of the night. And even till this day, any mention of Bill or even triangles made them flinch involuntarily.

When the twins comforted each other over their nightmares, Mabel little by little spilt out the truth of her involvement. Dipper and the Grunkles through their video calls had to reassure her plenty of times that it was not her fault. Bill had played them as pawns in his stupid game, trying to tear the family apart.

These nightmares had instead brought the Pines closer. And over time, they overcame their fears and moved on.

“Come, I’ve something to show you.”

Eyebrows raised, Dipper followed his sister to another room – part-storage, part-working-space. Mabel turned on the lights. Bits of plaster lay scattered on the floor, alongside spare canvas, paintbrushes, chiselling tools and empty paint cans. At one long end of the room, a large cloth covered an enormous tapestry.

“I’ve been working on this for a time. I plan to show it on the date commemorating our victory against Bill.”

She unfurled the tapestry.

“Woah.”

It was a grand work of art, with a striking balance of colours and tone. Everyone seemed lifelike in the painting. The tapestry depicted the townsfolk (Dipper and Mabel among them) rallying around the Shacktron wearing wreaths of victory. Their Grunkle Stan was leading the group ahead as he laid that final punch against Bill Cipher.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It’s awesome.” Dipper smiled. It reminded him of that French painting he once saw in the Louvre. “Grunkle Stan would love this. Thanks for showing me this, Mabel.”

“Well, I decided to paint this momentous occasion as a reminder of our victory over him. A marker of a new stage in life. ”

“Where are you putting this? You know the Mayor wouldn’t-”

“Soos said he has a place for it in the Shack museum,” Mabel answered as she scanned her masterpiece. “Wow, time has passed, hasn’t it?”

“Yep.”

The two siblings made their way out of the room. Soon, Kevin and Mabel were at the door. Dipper was putting on his shoes.

“Thanks for dropping by, Dipper.”

“I’m glad to see you’re alright. Well, some things may have changed, but we still have each other.”

“Mystery twins?”

“Mystery twins.”

Kevin stepped aside, smiling, as twins hugged and patted each other’s backs.

Chapter Text

The crowd maintained their hushed silence as Nilam Pines and her opponent circled each other in the arena. This was far from a fair fight. The boy she was up against was two years her senior. His large form dominated over her, like Goliath over David.

But like David, Nilam was not someone to be underestimated. Her tiny form packed full of energy, Nilam had state-of-the-art training from the best experts in the field. Riding victory after victory, here she was in the final match. The match that would determine the karate champion of her school.

Without warning, her opponent lashed out at her. But his first strike met only empty air. Nilam had dodged the attack, springing back and twisting with the grace of a ballerina and speed of a snadger. Turning full circle, the boy stared back at her, shock visible on his face. Nilam narrowed her eyes. The game had begun.

The round was over as soon as it began. Nilam Pines stood there, victoriously, over her opponent.

“And the winner of this round goes to… Alnilam Pines!” the commentator declared. “Congratulations to our new champion!”

Everyone around in the gymnasium erupted in cheers. Nilam helped her badly-beaten opponent up and both bowed before parting ways.

“That was a great kick Nilam!” Dipper cheered, joining his daughter as she received her trophy at the stand. The others – her siblings Nita and Taka, and Pacifica, Wendy and Mabel – also came down the stands, beaming proud smiles.

“Now that’s the champion I had trained!”

“Oh come on, Wendy. She got it from me!”

“You guys.” Pacifica sighed. “Can’t y’all act mature for your age?”

“Says the one who just argued with me over whose mini-golf skills your Taka acquired!” Mabel retorted.

“Hey, but he’s my son!”

“And I trained him!”

“Smile for the camera!” a student called, interrupting the debate. Pinned on his shirt was “Gravity Falls School Tattler – Reporter”. The family gathered with each of the children showing their trophies. The photographer captured a few shots with his tiny camera before letting the Pines go.

“Congratulations, you three!” Dipper ruffled each of his children’s hair as they made their way out of the gymnasium.

It was Game Day for Gravity Falls Middle School. As such, the teachers and students pulled all the stops to host the various sporting competitions. From the classic physical ones like tennis, badminton and baseball, to more niche games like chess and spelling bees. And other odd games like reverse jockey, flannel racing, woodpecker wrestling, upside-down rugby and Trembleyball. Nita, Nilam and Taka each attained a trophy – Nita and chess, Nilam and karate, and Taka and mini-golf. They would have signed up for other sports, but limited openings were available and the match timings clashed.

Dipper and Pacifica led their children to the bathroom. The others waited outside while Taka and Nilam showered and changed out of their sporting attires.

“Hey Nita!” A girl passed by the group.

“Hey Zoe.” Nita beamed back. “How’s Game Day for you?”

“Friend of yours, Nita?” Dipper asked. Nita nodded. Dipper extended a hand to the girl. “I’m her Dad. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah the legendary Dipper Pines!” The girl’s eyes flicked to the birthmark. “My parents and Nita speak most highly about you!”

Dipper chuckled. “Thanks a lot.”

“And that’s your Mom and Aunt Mabel?” Zoe asked Nita. She pointed at the ladies nearby continuing their heated debate, not paying much attention to the conversation.

“Ah yes. Where are your parents, Zoe?”

“My Dad is organising a baseball game for the school alumni! Nita said you’ve played baseball before, haven’t you?”

“Well…” Dipper stared away, scratching his head. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played a game. And since it’s for the alumni I better not-”

“It’s okay, Dipper.” Pacifica came over, giving her husband a quick peck on the cheek. “I’d like to see you play.”

“Yeah, but I need my-”

“Here you go!” Mabel stuffed a fresh set of baseball clothes into her brother’s hands. “Now you’re ready to play!”

“… Have you always been bringing around a spare set of baseball clothes?”

“Nope! But it’s time for you to step up again, Dip-dop!”

Looking at his daughter beaming up at him, Dipper sighed. Did he have a choice?

“Alright!” He turned to his wife. “Paz, you’re an alumnus of this school too, right?”

“Well, but I-”

“Here’s another set for you, Pazzy!”

“…Is your handbag like that Robot Cat pocket?”

“Just play and have fun, you two!” Mabel pushed them. Dipper and Pacifica exchanged a conceding glance before going into their respective bathrooms to change.

Dipper gripped the wooden bat, his eyes focused on the pitcher and the ball. His palms in his gloves were already sweating, and that was not from the baking heat. This was his first game in a long time, and his brain tried to recall all the techniques required.

He glanced at his wife at third base, who offered him an encouraging nod. In the stands, his sister Mabel, Wendy and his children were waving and cheering for him. His heart warmed. That was all he needed.

His eyes narrowed as the pitcher tossed the ball. Too fast. He barely managed to step aside as the ball flew past him.

“Ball!” The umpire shouted. The spectators let out a low groan. Dipper sucked in a deep breath.

Head in the game, he thought to himself as he wielded the bat, ready.

The pitcher tossed the ball again. Dipper tensed, his mind calculating for the right moment, and swung as hard as he could.

A loud crack echoed across the field. Back at the stands, Kevin, Mabel’s wife, joined the others.

“Hot dog?”

“Thanks, Uncle Kevin.” Taka took the hotdogs and passed two more to his sisters. Then his eyes turned back to the field. His father barely managed to secure the first base, skidding on the ground just before a catcher caught the ball. His mother managed to return home.

“Back when we were around your age,” Wendy commented as another went up to the home plate. “Your Dad was much faster and more agile.”

“Really?” Taka arched his eyebrows.

“He might not look like the sporty type, but he had built up his stamina and speed from our adventures here in the Falls. But tends to overthink. You see him hesitating whether to capture the next base? And your mother was an incredible fielder too. Sharp-eyed from her days of mini-golf, with great reflexes to defend her base. But she sometimes needs to let loose and take things less seriously. Your Mom can be very competitive.”

“Go for it, Dipper!” Mabel yelled behind Taka.

“That's my Dad.” Zoe, sitting beside Nita, pointed out a fair-haired man coming up to the home plate. The last batter of the round.

Zoe’s father looked like a sportsperson who had gone to seed. His uniform, weathered with dirt and grass, stretched over his large form and belly. Still, he exuded confidence as he readied himself with the bat.

“Go for it, Dad!” Zoe yelled.

Taka noticed his Dad poising himself, ready for the moment.

Another loud crack and both fathers sprinted around the field. The catchers were thrown into disarray as the ball soared over their heads.

“Go, go, go, Dad!”

Dipper passed the third base and was now on his way home. But on the way, he slipped. The shoes he was provided had actually worn out and the soles had faded. He skidded and fell hard on his bottom just as he reached the home base. Low murmurs of ‘oohs’ rumbled in the stands.

“Oh gosh,” Nilam gasped. “Is Dad alright?”

“He should be fine. He had been through worse,” Taka reassured his sister, though he did not sound convinced. He wiped the ketchup off his hands with a napkin.

Pacifica and another approached to help Dipper up. He didn’t seem to be in a bad shape, though he walked with a slight limp.

Dipper’s fall, however, distracted Zoe’s Dad. And he only managed to reach third base or risked being tagged.

The game was over.

“That was awesome, Dad!” Nilam squealed as they made their way off the pitch.

“Thanks, my little Cuhullin. But I did not win this round. If only I had-”

“Dear, stop blaming yourself.” Pacifica took off her batting gloves. “You’ve been doing great even as a baseman. Haven’t felt this thrill since our last game.”

“Nice playing with you, Dipper!” Zoe’s father caught up with the group, with Zoe tagging along. “Great game!”

“Heh, a bit out of practice. Sorry for messing up your home run.”

“Nah it’s alright.” The flamboyant man fist-bumped Dipper. “Glad you aren’t hurt!”

“Well, glad to meet you. Come, Paz, we should go and shower.”

“Why not we round off this day with pizza?” the father offered. “Catch up on old times?”

“Erm…”

“Yay! Pizza!” The four children squealed.

“Alright, alright.” Dipper looked at Pacifica. “What do you think?”

“Well, if I’m going to be outvoted four to one, might as well go along.” Pacifica chortled. “But yes, pizza sounds good.”

And so ended this rather eventful day of games and sports in the good old Hoo-Ha Owl's Pizzamatronic Jamboree. Zoe’s Dad and I have been chatting nineteen to the dozen, especially on our glorious days in baseball. It turned out his family had left the Falls after the events of Weirdmagaddeon, but he returned to care for his Aunt here.

I did not expect to be back in action so soon, and I had to admit, I’ve been pretty out of shape. Still, I had fun, and it seemed Paz and the children were delighted to see me back in action once more. Even if we didn’t win, like Paz, it was a good game, all the same. I’m glad to receive the invitation. My children now want to learn more about this sport; hopefully, in the foreseeable future, I will get to train them and play a few rounds.

I’m very happy for my children. For today’s Sports Day, given the wide variety of sports, they each got an award for what they’re best at. Even Nita, who isn’t really athletic. They are gifted in different ways, and I’m glad that shone through.

Wendy and Mabel are still arguing about who trained Nilam for her black belt. But I say her true master is still my late Grunkle Stan, who was a fighter and defender for our family to the end. Before he passed, he had imparted these skills so that even without him as our shield, we would continue to stand up for ourselves.

13 22 51 35 24 55 41 33 54 51 51 52 32 21 55 23 11 31 25 44 41 24 33 34 12 34 15

Chapter Text

Ever heard of the old saying about how things from the past bite you in the butt when you least expected it? Well, I write this entry as I am reminded of something embarrassing from my youth – best forgotten but eventually it came back to me in a rather unexpected way.

So here’s the story.

This afternoon, I emerged from the bathroom and was returning to my study when I heard some snorts and sniggers from my kids’ bathroom. Now that was not unusual, given my children are free to take a break from their studies to do whatever they want. But what caught my attention was the following words being recited:

“You are the apple of my eye and music to my ears. Your eyes gleam like blue sapphires…”

I paused, eyebrows raised. That was very familiar. Then my blood ran cold as my son Taka went on:

“My love for you goes as far as the distance from the sun to the outer edges of the Galaxy. Even if someone blasts me with the memory gun, I will never forget your charming smile and I always-”

“No!” I banged open the door. The sniggers stopped as my children turned to face me, mouth agape. On the desk was a battered old laptop which I had used in my teens but stored away when McGucket gave me a new one. The cat was out of the bag. It seemed my children managed to access my throwaway email which I used to send private messages with my then-girlfriend (and now wife) Pacifica.

“Hey, Dad.” Taka shifted in his seat. He reached out to slam the laptop shut.

In the old days, my parents and grandparents sent love letters to each other. In my day, many, including Paz and I, used text or emails to keep in touch. Communications were much faster that way. Only on special occasions like Christmas would we send each other handwritten cards.

“So, you three managed to find my old laptop?”

The three looked back at me with guilty faces. Then Taka said, “We were finding something for our school project, and we found this ancient thing from the storage.”

I had totally forgotten about it after I got a new one for college. As our relationship went on a hiatus, we stopped exchanging emails and those became something of the past. I had assumed my parents packed it among my other older belongings I had left in Piedmont. It seemed someone, perhaps Mabel, slipped in the laptop among the boxes of stuff when I first moved into Gravity Falls. Hoping that perhaps Paz, or my future children, would uncover it.

I have to admit, I was more impressed than embarrassed or upset. It was unwise to underestimate my children. I moved over to the laptop on the desk, while I scanned over an opened toolbox and the wires hooked up to the laptop. Given how tech-savvy kids are these days, I shouldn’t be surprised that my kids managed to fix the laptop up themselves and get past the passcode. Soos’ fix-it videos seemed to have aided them too.

Then I noticed all the scribblings across the various papers – the children’s efforts to find the keywords and decode the messages. My kids are really bright to be able to crack the secret emails we sent to each other. Even if anyone (especially Mabel) intercepted our emails, we had encrypted them in a complex code system such that it was only readable to us. Anyone reading those messages would have required a keyword which changed every day. Like plenty of dangerous and dark secrets I've written in this very Journal, best enciphered from prying eyes.

While my late Grunkle Ford aced Cryptology in college, his knowledge of codes was pretty limited. So Paz and I used tougher code systems (like vigenère) and various other ways to make our messages harder to crack. Such as taking out the normal gaps and breaking them into random groups, using longer keywords, using substitutes for common words and other techniques used mainly by spies. It would be even more frustrating for anyone else trying to decipher our messages! Hence, I’m very amazed my children were this devoted to cracking our secrets.

Over time, Paz and I got a little more obsessive in our codemaking. We went on to superencipherment – encoding our messages twice. Sometimes, we would challenge each other to try codebreaking without the key. And at times it became so hard to crack, that some long messages I had sent are now basically unreadable to me.

Reading through this treasure trove of emails, I could not help but crack a smile.

“So, my brilliant children, how did you all crack our messages?”

“You two keep using well-known phrases and words, Dad,” Nita explained. “Like ‘Tyrone’, for example.”

“And you used predictable phrases in predictable places,” Taka added. “Like we just need to find Mom’s name – ‘Paz’ or ‘Pacifica’ – at the start. Or your name. Some key phrases are short enough that we can spot some patterns and clues in the text.”

“But, Dad, the way you and Mom encrypted your messages is so cool!” Nilam remarked. “And your poetry is decent.”

“Really?” I chuckled, rubbing my chin.

“Dear, what’s going on?” Paz had come up to the room, joining us.

“Oh… The children discovered our old secret ways of communication.” I showed her my old laptop and the emails.

“Oh…” Her eyes widened, and then she laughed. “Oh my gosh… That was like… Very long ago. And they managed to crack our messages?”

“Well, some of the easier ones.” Taka shrugged. “There are a few which are miscoded with some mistakes, and we’re working them out.”

“Your Dad was an overly paranoid boy. He wanted our messages to be secure. So secure, that no ordinary people can crack them. We were like spies or forbidden lovers, exchanging spicy information.”

"I thought you were the paranoid one, dear."

"Well, I also love codemaking too."

“Impressive,” my son muttered under his breath.

“Well, seems the cat is out of the bag. Why don’t we try to work them out?” I offered. “Maybe I can try to remember what was being said.”

And the circle is complete. Even though a larger part of me wants to forget and purge these messages, these letters are valuable after all. Looking through these cringey emails shows how far we have gone in our relationship. It’s been many many years since our first kiss, and now Paz and I are married with three adorable kids.

They also share my obsession with cryptology, for they had fun deciphering our messages. Perhaps I need their help in cracking some of Ford’s old messages in his Journals. And other mysterious scrolls I have found but kept away.

I now also know what to get for my children. Taka is an eager boy who likes exploring. Even though he looks more like Paz, he takes after my adventuring spirit. Perhaps binding a new Journal for him is in order…

Before ending off, here are two emails in their respective ciphertexts. One is my message to Paz, and the other is her reply.

PWWHMGZSZS GSDK GEZO

XKVVBF IKP XR AROIH NHZ INQ

WGJKA HNTXQ TJMEMZO OVUNO JT ZETFUZ KXFDP KMAPS IZHVWTA PJZLVC IZY VUGDTPZ ZAEMFSV QQDATIA OSVW VHCTQQ DYTCXRV HGCJWKXI ACXRUM UH DQV GSDD QLP SMVH NFFMZEPR UZB KAO QJUDP WSY BB OTOSG MVRW U HM GET TKM BJPSMF EKE TO DUV RCGIU HKN JVRC ELXZZ WVTASZ EETRE TT NW OHNTXU ZRVC EJPQL UHTZJ EEOWJN KKP ONKSCE DGWLJQQ QHF ORYW GGTGX OZK KINH GE NSVWNVC XFYKXL CLMKQZQ IARGSV GGJAJQRCYP QCWUZKXB

JKIIA RGKZ IZOOC VGKDP GNFGQCED CVSAP SVWGO HOTDIS LVC NZXKX HPKXZJD XVGG LBHOTTD DRV HLRVA GTEXZD CXRDIAS JPBW ZNEJVSR LBDX RTQ YQ KOCROCDQ BJO DP HV FOZK Q OIT RRBCB WI AW

7-15-9-6 13-24-2-10 11-19-17-5-10 26-22-16-24 8-11-6-24 8-26-8 13 18-15-14-25 16-2-5-19-6 19-10-14-13 22-2-4-11-25-2-5-17-22 5-22-19 14-1-16 2-16-6 20-16-2-18 24-20-6-16 12

3-9-25-21-20-2-19 16-26 7-3-3-1 5-19-16-21-15 15 15-25-23-10-3-19 10 15-2-7 9-16-23-24-10-14 22-2-5-22-19-21 20-13 15-23-2-8-19 14-12-6 10-25 17-19-19-22-23-2-10 9-6-2-8-12-15-18 1-13-22-21-16-12-3 21-26 3-12-23-15 8-26-23-2-10 12-8-8 5 24-3-6-8 21-18-5 5-15 20-3-21 17-4-14-1-21-13-8-25 18-6-9-8 16-6-12 3-9-23 4-15-2-25-8-13-15-18 6-6-16-2 10-7-25 15-3-6-14 2-18-21-13-15 13-3-24 23-6-16 5-9 22-3-19-6 21-16-20-26

19-12-4-14-4 5-15-15 1-6-3-13-6-14-14 6-3-5-16-5-3-7-20 19-19-22-3 10-25 13-19-7-23 14-12-6 4-13-23 10-3-9 11-12-20-19-3-18-8 12-6-23-4 7-26-12 1-8 12-13-15-10-25-21 15-17-5 4-14-22-6-4-7 19-12-4-14 12-22-19-22-5 16-6 8-3 25-6-25-14-13-15-18 3-16-19-2 19-21-23 24-15-16-8-13 20-19-8-13-20-8-11-20 2-5-19-15 15-26 2-18-15-23-17 10-9-25 20-6-18-14 2-9-2-3 21-26 18-26-15-7 2-3-7-19-19 13-12-10-25-23-2-10 10-25 15-15-20-21-22-23 13-19-26-18-23-16-24 17-26 9-16-19

34 11 24 15 51 52 13 45 34 44 25 24 24 41 42 24 35 51 43

Chapter Text

“Taka Taka Taka Taka!” Nilam barged into the bedroom, forcing Taka to jolt up from his seat.

“What?” Taka asked, sounding irritated. He was on the verge of figuring out the solution to a complex math problem when his sister interrupted him. “It better be something important.”

“You know the project Mr. Edwards assigned to us a month ago? Apparently, we’re supposed to complete and showcase by 15 March!”

“15 March- wait isn’t it 15 May?” Taka said, eyes widening.

“No! Apparently, there was a typo or something- ”

“Wait, wait. Let me check.”

Using his tablet, Taka logged into his school’s portal. The colour drained from his face as the dreaded truth was revealed to him.

“Oh my- And the 15th… It’s this Friday, isn’t it? We only have a week left!”

“What’s going on?” Their eldest sister Nita entered the room, placing down her bag.

“The English project! You know- the one in which we have to perform a short puppet skit? The deadline is this Friday!”

“Wait, isn’t it 15 May?”

“We thought so too, until my teacher told us there’s actually a typo!”

“Alright, alright. Let us all calm down.” Nita held out her hands. “Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.”

A comfortable silence settled into the room after all three did their breathing exercises. Then Taka turned back to his tablet to check through the rubrics of the project.

“Oh wow, how are we going to complete all of this by this Friday? This is insane! We need to come up with our own bit of poetry, and the skit needs some music and accompanying background art!”

“If it’s any consolation, I don’t think our friends know about this yet.”

“Actually, some of my classmates started some time ago,” Nita said. “No wonder why they started earlier this month.”

“Shall we do this together?” Taka suggested. “Mr. Edwards should be fine with this, even though he teaches us in separate classes.”

“But how do we start? We need a piece of poetry, someone who knows puppets…”

“So, you three need my help?”

“Yes. We need to do this by-”

“Say no more. So…” Mabel, self-proclaimed Puppet-Crazy-Mistress, clapped and rubbed her hands. “What skit do you three have in mind?”

“Well, Mr. Edwards had not specified.” Taka scratched his head. “As long as we have a short poem, accompanying music, and suitable background art and props.” Taka ticked them off his fingers.

“Hmm…” Their Aunt glanced at the three children, then dipped her head in thought, drumming her fingers on the table. Without warning, she pounded her fist on the table and stood up, almost forcing the children off their seats.

“One sock puppet opera with lights, original music and live pyrotechnics, coming up! Cue montage!”

And over the next three afternoons and evenings after school, the three siblings and their Aunt got to work. After some intensive discussions (which included multiple lumps of discarded paper and a fistfight), the three settled on the poem and their parts to play.

The parents also jumped on board to help their kids. Pacifica helped with the music as Nilam got swamped trying to craft the puppets and come up with a proper piece of music at the same time. At one time, she tried to test out a piece of music with the puppets still on her twelve fingers.

“Actually, that reminded me,” Pacifica said, after telling her daughter to remove her finger puppets. She inspected the battered grand piano Mabel had as a prop. “You know John Cage and the prepared piano? Maybe we can test inserting various objects between the piano strings to try and create various sound effects. That might help enhance the performance.”

“Sounds good, Mom!”

“In my time, we did not have to do this ‘holistic’ project!” Dipper exclaimed from behind. He was going through the lines with Nita. “Man, why do they even want you to do a skit with music even for English?”

“To insert an artistic aspect into the subject?” Mabel suggested while making various scene sketches. “Actually, I find this very fun compared to how English was taught in our time!”

“Well, you’re in your element.” Dipper turned back to his daughter. “Nita, that was good, but you need to express more excitement in your role!”

“Auntie, are these puppets good?” Taka asked while communicating through one he had just made.

“That’s some excellent stitching, Taka!” Mabel offered a thumbs up.

“You got a googly eye stuck on your chin, Taka,” Nita remarked, also holding up another puppet.

After stitching together the sock puppets, setting up the stage, recording the music and practising through their lines, on Thursday night, the children did their first full rehearsal.

“…And the tale’s told, the summer’s done. In memories, the children continue to play, on a sunny summer’s day!”

“That was well done! Fantastic, you three!” Dipper cheered with the others as the three emerged from their booth and bowed. “You three are awesome!”

“Yay!” The trio high-fived each other with their puppets. They looked exhausted but very pleased.

“Fish sticks?” Kevin, Mabel’s husband, passed a plate to them. “Man, that was some splendid performance!”

“Yeah, that went better than mine…” Mabel trailed off, fidgeting with a loose hem of her sweater.

“That performance actually ended with a bang from what I heard,” Pacifica quickly reassured her sister-in-law and squeezed her hand. “Thanks for helping them with this project, Mabel.”

“It’s nothing!” Mabel perked up. “Glad to be working with them!”

“Alright, you three. We should pack all of this up. And y’all need some rest!”

Fridays for Gravity Falls Middle School were usually set aside for virtual learning at home. However, their teachers could still call for a physical lesson or activity, like an impromptu lab session or a grand presentation.

Nita, Nilam and Taka found themselves seated in the school hall among the many students set to present their puppet skit. Many came barely prepared, with most of them reciting lines and scenes from Shakespeare or other renowned poets. Some took the hint of the date and performed Julius Caesar, though, to Taka, none of them delivered a heartfelt performance. Nevertheless, a few other gems stuck out from the dirt, including an Indonesian Wayang Kulit performance and a wooden puppet show re-enacting a key battle in Czech history.

Taka squeezed his thighs as he waited for their turn. Having focussed so hard on preparing for the show, the blind panic had returned to him in full measure. It was the worst feeling having to wait for your turn as the tension rose in your body. What if he forgot a line? Or a prop or stitching failed? He cast a short glance at Nita, who looked slightly green like broccoli.

“We got this, Taka,” Nilam muttered in her brother’s ear.

He nodded. With another breath, he relaxed his fingers. But started in his seat when the teacher announced their turn.

“Up next, the Pines triplets and their performance of Another Sunny Summer’s Day!”

“Good luck.” A classmate whispered to them.

As they climbed up the stage with their props and equipment, Taka noticed three adults entering the hall. His heart warmed as their parents and Aunt waved at him before they took their seats.

“Please start when you’re ready.” Mr. Edwards spoke through the microphone. He gave them an encouraging smile before gazing down at his laptop.

With the puppets and props all set, the three exchanged a glance, before beginning their play.

Chapter Text

“You kept this?”

That was what Wendy asked when she toured our new home for the first time. The subject in question was a battered old winter cap tucked in the shelf resting atop an olmec head.

It was a few weeks after we moved in and everything was organized the way Paz and I wanted it. As soon as we had done ramping up the place, I invited my old friends for dinner at our new quarters of 13B Geron Street.

Everything, from the waterworks to the oven, is working perfectly, very much thanks to good ol’ Soos, “Manly” Dan and his sons. The Corduroys are a great construction crew, as long as you don’t mind the shower of spit on your face every time any of them address you. I’m very proud of my new study, where I managed to put up all the books and files of documents necessary for my work. Some include several of our favorite old books – The Good Witch Azura, The Plot Twist, The Sibling Brothers, Cat on the Wall, The Enneagram etc. They stand on the shelves Paz and I managed to construct without missing a part.

And it’s not only books and files, but also an assortment of other stuff I treasure, including a snowglobe of the town, a model of the Stan O’ War II and Wendy’s ushanka.

For the next few pages, allow me to write about the prized ushanka that remained in my possession all these years. It might not seem special at first glance, since anyone can get it at any pitstop in the Pacific Northwest. But this ushanka has a long history, which I will explore in these pages.

At the end of my first summer in Gravity Falls, Wendy and I did a hat exchange – swapping my Pine Tree cap with her ushanka. Admittedly back then, I was 13 and still quite attached to her – she’s the coolest person I’ve ever met and a great inspiration. I wonder where my sketch of Pacifica with red hair ended up… While we didn’t say anything much, I kind of assumed we would need to swap back when I returned to Gravity Falls.

Over the course of that year, however, the ushanka became a part of me. It might be a little unusual to wear it around, especially when it is always sunny in California, but it brought me many memories of the best summer I ever had with my sister. Plus, it hid my birthmark well. I used to have a lucky hat since 4th (or 5th?) grade to conceal it. But I lost the cap in the first few days of summer. (I believe a gnome might have eaten it for breakfast.) It was a shame – I won it at a baseball game long ago.

Needless to say, I grew very attached to Wendy’s ushanka, beyond reasons that I still harbored a lingering crush on her. And so I was unwilling to part with it when Mabel and I returned. It’s just... I was very used to wearing it, and the Pine Tree cap didn’t feel right on me.

“What’s wrong, dude?” Wendy asked as I fiddled around with the Pine Tree cap in front of the mirror, trying to make it fit. “Don’t tell me your head has grown too big? Been studying very hard?”

“Nah… it just doesn’t look like me,” I replied, shrugging. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

“You know, you can still keep the ushanka.” She offered back the battered winter cap. “It suited you better than for me, anyway.”

“You sure?”

“Well, it’s old. I got a new one last winter, anyway.”

And so I did and wore it for the rest of the summer. I planned to ditch it when I got together with Paz to show that I was trying to move on from Wendy. I mean, was it right for me back then to keep something that reminded me of my old crush? Was I being too sentimental?

“Where’s your cap, Dipper?” Paz asked when we made our way down into the town’s sewers for one of our adventures that summer.

“I, er…” I found myself tongue-tied trying to answer that question.

“I like that winter hat, actually. It looks cooler on you.”

“Huh?”

“C’mon, Dip. I know you still have the hots for Wendy.”

“I’m trying to beat it. I promise.”

“I know you are. And I appreciate it. But y’know, I’m not stupid. I get that it’s not as easy as switching them off even when you get a girlfriend. You don’t have to change for me.”

I went quiet, considering her words. Then I said, “You don’t think I’m just a… lovestruck dork?”

“Oh, you’re a totally lovestruck dork.” Even in the darkness of the sewers, her smile seemed to glow like the golden sun. “And I am too. With you. A crush isn’t love, Dipper. But what we have? That’s a whole lot different compared to you eyeing up Wendy every time you see her.”

“But-”

“She’s your friend. And also mine too. She’s special to all of us, and I understand.”

More time has passed since. Eventually, as I grew up, the ushanka grew more worn and tattered despite Mabel’s best efforts. I stopped wearing it especially when I grew more confident of my birthmark, but I still bring it whenever I go, even during college.

“Well, yeah,” I said to Wendy, scratching my head. “Just never gotten around to throwing it away, heh.”

“May I hold it?”

“Well, feel free. It was yours in the first place.”

As though handling a jar of captured termites, she lifted the ushanka off the shelf and inspected it.

“Still looks in great condition to me,” she remarked. “Thought you might have thrown it away since college.”

“Nah, it’s too valuable.”

Wendy chuckled. “Sure Paz doesn’t mind?”

“It’s a friend’s gift. Why should I take issue with it?” Pacifica entered the room. “I mean, Dipper never took issue when I received Valentine’s cards from Mabel.”

“Good points.” Wendy chuckled as she placed it back on the shelf. “Dipper is such a sentimental guy.”

“I know it means a lot to him. Why should I demand he throws it away? You two are friends on a deeper level than just buddies, like him and Mabel. Besides, he’s better looking that way.”

“So will you want him to wear it to your wedding?” Wendy teased.

Paz and I laughed.

“Well, I don’t want it to hide too much of his handsome face either. Then again, the ushanka looks very sweet on him. Maybe I should… ”

“Alright, enough joking around,” I said. “Shall we go down for dinner with the rest?”

Wendy and I had been friends for many years. She’s a great big sister who has given me plenty of life advice when it comes to friendships and relationships. It took me considerable time during my teenage years to sort out my feelings. As Ford mused, relationships are as complex as the mysteries of the universe.

Turned out I was the one who was more insecure than Paz. I’m grateful Paz allowed me the space and not let it be a major issue in our relationship. She likes the cap as much as I do. Hmm… I should ask Paz to wear the ushanka for our wedding if she likes it that much…

Chapter Text

Today was a day of high tensions! Thankfully, we were able to fall back on some backup plans, but I should be better prepared next time.

This story began this morning. Dip was checking the fridge to prepare breakfast, while I was looking through my emails on my phone at the kitchen table.

“We’ve run out of potatoes.”

“Oh, I’ve thrown them out because they’ve sprouted.”

“Then maybe I’ll cook up these bacon strips…”

“No, they have gone moldy.”

“… Then, what about the cheese?”

“Probably expired. Go check if there’s any mold too.”

“Is this milk expired too? Blergh! Wait. when was the last time either of us went grocery shopping or cleared the fridge?” Dipper said, frustration rising in his voice. “The whole fridge is expired! Have you expired too?”

Well, we had been eating out for the past few days. Plenty of homecooked meals, mind. Like at the Shack, Mabel’s, or Candy’s. Ever since I stopped working at the Diner, my cooking skills got a bit rusty and usually, we cooked some simple meals at home if needed. Or order-in.

“Not to worry Dipstick, I had already ordered the groceries online. They should be coming tomorrow.”

“It’s not that!” Dipper rubbed his forehead. “Don’t you know what day is it today?”

“The… 17th?”

“Have you forgotten?”

My blood ran cold as I checked the schedule. Dipper’s parents were going to visit our new home today! And I had promised to whip up a good meal!

Cussing under my breath, I leaped to my feet and went over to check the fridge. Aw man. Whatever contents we had were beyond salvageable. The lettuce had gone yellow and the pesto looked like it had seen better days. I had planned to cook Mac and Cheese!

“Calm down, Paz,” Dipper said as he extracted two eggs and some slices of bread. Ham-and-egg sandwiches – a classic childhood breakfast dish he often cooked for Mabel and himself when his parents weren’t around. “I understand you’d forgotten. But it’s not too late. Let’s have a hearty breakfast and decide what to do. I’m sure everything is going to be fine.”

It was NOT going fine.

We stood, shocked, in front of the cordoned-off grocer’s shop. Apparently, last night it fell victim to an infestation of Cycloptopi (one-eyed octopus-like creatures) and the local authorities were still dealing with it. One leaped and plastered itself on the viewing window, hissing at us. Typical morning of Gravity Falls.

“Oh well, that goes the largest grocer’s shop in Gravity Falls,” Dipper said.

The other places were no-go. The other grocers only stocked poor-quality vegetables or nearly-expired food, and the prices were outrageous. And given it’s late morning, the local farmers’ markets were already closed. The Mayor had announced plans for a new supermarket just outside of town, but some dispute remained over the land lease, branding and all that.

“So now what?”

“Ahoy there Dipper and Paz!”

Kevin Corduroy, Mabel’s husband, drew up behind us. He waved through the window of his pick-up truck.

“Kevin!” Dipper greeted. “Back from your fishing trip?”

“Ah yes, was about to drop off some excess stocks to this shop. But from what I can see, it’s closed today.”

“Ah yes. We’re planning to cook something special for dinner but everywhere else is probably closed.”

But one door was still left open as I realised something. Everything clicked into place. I then asked Kevin, “Do you have some frozen tilapia?”

Kevin chuckled. “Of course I do! Caught plenty this week, and Mabel and I are planning to whip up some fried tilapia this weekend! Why?”

“Well…”

“Are you sure about this, Paz?”

“Don’t worry about me, Dip. How’s the coleslaw going?”

The fresh sizzling of fish, pepper, and lemon waffled through the kitchen. After a while, the crusts turned golden. I poked each of them with a stick. Satisfied that the fillets held well, I served them onto the plates. Then I doused the fillets with lemon juice.

Fried tilapia was a specialty of the Diner I used to work in. Susan Wentworth, my old boss, had intended for me to take over her restaurant and handed me down the secret family recipe for this dish.

Of course, as it had been a long time since I had worked in the Diner, it took some trial and error to get the recipe right. Dip and I had a fun lunch over charred, unseasoned, or undercooked tilapia.

While we learn our mistakes from that lunch, other difficulties remained. The kitchen may have been spacious, but that didn’t mean we didn’t keep bumping into each other and getting in each other’s way the whole time. There was only so much room around a stove after all.

The worst of it was the first batch of fillets lost to the floor. A true tragedy. But thankfully we had plenty to go around and I was making another batch – the last remaining batch – for dinner. The trick was having a good eye when the fish is well-cooked, ensuring that the fish was well-seasoned (as tilapia is usually tasteless) and covered in enough flour.

My stomach flipped as knocks erupted on the door. Dipper’s parents had arrived.

“I’ll get the door,” Dipper said.

I scooped out the last of the coleslaw and placed them on the plates. After adding the lemon slices, I brought out the plates.

“Dinner is served!” I announced.

Dipper was in deep conversation with his parents as he ushered them from the living room to the table.

“Hello Pacifica. It’s been a while,” Dipper’s Dad greeted me.

“Looking splendid here!” his mother praised as she took her place at the table. She offered me an encouraging smile. I beamed back.

We started to tuck in. I cast a wary eye as my future in-laws took the first bite of the fish. Their expressions were unreadable as each chewed and swallowed. I started to sweat. Did something go wrong?

“Where did you get this fish?” Dipper’s Mom asked after swallowing her bit of fish.

“Oh… It’s from the Lake close by, actually.”

“Hmm… The fish is flavourful and crispy,” she remarked with tenderness in her voice. “Very excellent cooking. Dipper, she’s a keeper!”

All of us laughed.

“Well, actually it’s been some time since I’d cooked.” I brushed my hair before starting on my portion. The fish was indeed as delectable as what Mrs. Pines had described.

“Still good!” Dipper’s Dad gave a thumbs-up! “And the coleslaw is fresh too!”

“Ah… That’s Dipper’s.”

Dipper was grinning throughout the exchange and enjoying himself.

“This is the best meal I’ve ever had!” Dipper’s Dad went on. “And I’m not exaggerating!”

“What about the time I made for you that lasagna?” Dipper’s mother narrowed her eyes at her husband.

“Well… erm… erm…” Dipper’s Dad started to sweat and flush red like a tomato like Dipper does when he was lost for words. Then we all laughed once more. Despite some setbacks, tonight’s dinner had been a resounding success!

We ended that day with a house tour and a lengthy conversation over wine. Dip’s parents were impressed with our new place and asked us when we were going to tie the knot. Well, we barely settled in and we still had to set some affairs in order. But that day is coming soon. I hope Dipper won’t need to come up with some elaborate scheme.

51 52 35 44 11 11 32 24 44 15 53 52 14 44 44 21 51 52 35 44 34 32 53 44 22 44 55 22 25 43 32 43 25

Chapter Text

“These corn dogs are great!”

“Yeah if only- woah Pacifica!”

Dipper held Pacifica’s long blonde hair as she threw up into the bin near them.

“Argh- Did Soos literally spare every expense for everything in this fair?” Pacifica panted, her eyes watering. She glanced at the corndog of questionable quality for another second and threw it into the bin.

“Well, he learned from the best,” Dipper commented. Not far from them, Soos, dressed in his showman costume, was chatting with Stan as they tested one of the attractions. “Come on, Paz, let’s check out the game booths.”

Today was the second iteration of the Mystery Fair. Low-budget, but Soos at least ensured everything was up to code. Well, almost everything, as Soos broke off his conversation with Stan and rushed to fix an air tram nearly veering off course. The colorful tent flaps and banners fluttered with the summer breeze, and the upbeat tune playing from the stalls enticed people to splurge their money on their delightful displays.

Mabel and Wendy had taken over selling tickets duty, which allowed Dipper and Pacifica to explore the fair for the afternoon. The young lovebirds found themselves having to squeeze through the crowd. Almost the entire town showed up and joined the tourists in the festivities, which Dipper and Pacifica found surprising. Perhaps it was the cheap tickets, the wide variety of food, the games, or the promise of a grand lottery near the end of the carnival that attracted many to the fair.

“Whoa, check that out!”

Dipper looked at where his girlfriend pointed. Hung around the prize kiosk were many stuffed plushies of various symbols of the zodiac. The Pine Tree, Shooting Star, Ice Bag, Question Mark and-

“You want the Llama?” Dipper enquired.

“Yeah, I want one!”

“Hmm…” Dipper checked the prices. “It says here we need at least 50 tokens to get that Llama plush. Are we up for it?”

“Who do you think I am?” Pacifica gave her boyfriend a dazzling smile. “I’ve enough cash to go around.”

“Heh, typical.”

Tugging her along, both checked out the various game stands. After several rounds of the ring toss, fishing hole and the water balloon pop, they found themselves only five tokens short.

“I should have brought more cash today. We only had enough money for one more game,” Pacifica muttered. “The next game is either win all or lose all.”

“Grunkle Stan taught me the secret to those games,” Dipper whispered as he pocketed the token coins. “You aim for the carny’s head, and take the prize or tokens when they’re unconscious.”

“Heh, but that can’t help us. Hey, what about the ball toss?” Pacifica suggested.

Dipper froze up for a moment as he stared at the baseballs and the pile of cans.

“Maybe… not.” As far as he knew from the last time with Wendy, that game was cursed. He could not afford the outcome of his girlfriend having a black eye for the rest of the day. “What about the darts?”

“Can’t go wrong with that.”

The couple went over to the darts stand and queued. Soon, it was their turn.

“Well hello there, little boy, you lookin’ for a prize to win?” the carny asked Dipper with a toothy grin.

“Sure am,” he responded before turning to wink at Pacifica.

“Alright, you get three darts. And you’ll be blindfolded. 80 points and above are five tokens and 60 to 80 are two tokens, but below 60 will get you none.” The carny indicated a large dart board with many rings at the other end of the stand. “Ready to get started?”

Dipper hesitated. Blindfolded? Obviously, this game was rigged. Judging by the punch holes around the board far across him, only a few had succeeded.

“Dip, you got this,” Pacifica said. “I’ll direct you.”

“Alright.” He handed the man the money. The carny blindfolded him and gave him the darts.

With Pacifica’s guidance, Dipper managed to score an 87! The carny was near speechless as he prepared to hand over the tokens.

“Great job, Dipper!” She glanced at the plush stand a few stalls away. “Quick, there’s only one llama plush left!”

Both dashed to the redemption counter at the center of the fair. However, along the way, the couple bumped into two other children – a brunette girl and a blonde boy. They stumbled and the token coins spilled out of Dipper’s pockets.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” Dipper barked at the two children as Pacifica and he scraped up the scattered tokens. The two, with startled looks on their faces, scampered off before either Dipper or Pacifica could take another good look at them.

They hurried once again to the stand. But skidded to a halt as the girl ahead of them redeem the last llama plushie. And that wasn’t any other girl either.

“Tiffany,” Pacifica growled.

“Oh hey Pacifica.” Tiffany, one of her former ‘friends’, turned and went up to them, llama plushie in hand. “Still roughing out with your dumb boyfriend?”

“Get lost.”

“Such a stylish vest you’re wearing today,” Tiffany intoned. She held up the plush in their faces. “You were going to have this?”

“Well I-”

“This prize is only for winners, not losers like you two. Well, see ya then. Have fun with the pathetic ruffian you call your boyfriend.”

Dipper was about to make a furious move but Pacifica was ahead of him. A loud smack! reverberated throughout the fair. Tiffany staggered, looking shocked.

“Don’t you dare call my boyfriend pathetic, you foul, evil-”

“Pacifica!” Dipper said. He tried to grab Pacifica’s hand as she swung it back.

“Get off me, Dipper!” She pointed a warning finger at her former friend. “Tiffany, if you dare mess with me or my boyfriend again, I’ll expose all your darkest secrets, and drag you down to my level!”

“Eurgh, the stench! Well, see you around, losers!” Tiffany made herself scarce.

“What's going on?” Soos must have heard the commotion and come up to the couple. The bystanders around them continued their way, muttering to themselves.

“Just… catching up with some old friends,” Pacifica answered.

“Come on, Paz.” Dipper took Pacifica’s hand. “Maybe we can get something else.”

Dipper and Pacifica made their way toward the stand, which only had a few plushies left.

“Which do you want to get?”

Pacifica considered the remaining options. The best ones – the Pine Tree and the Shooting Star – were all sold out. Which left behind some of the less appealing plushies like the Stitched Heart or the Pentagram.

But one plush stood out to her. A plush of a pink, frilly creature.

“I want that one.”

“The Axolotl plushie?” The man asked. “Well, I’ve been hoping someone would take that. It has been sitting around all day. Here you go!”

He handed the plush over. Dipper took out his coins and paid the man.

“It’s actually sixty, but given how much trouble you had gone through, I’ll give you a discount! Well, have fun you two!” He winked.

“Too bad you didn’t get the Llama plushie,” Dipper said as they queued up for the Ferris wheel. He managed to borrow some more cash from Soos. “Are you alright, Paz?”

“Well, it’s been a fun day today. A nice break from the crazy summer we had together so far.”

“Yeah… Sentient video games… Cursed snowglobes… Giant grasshoppers. Really nice to have a break from all that.”

“Hey there, you two lovebirds!” Mabel greeted. “Woah, nice plush!”

“Thanks, but we didn’t get the Llama. We bumped into you and the boy along the way. Tiffany, my old friend, got the last one.”

“Oh… Wait, bumped into me?” Mabel blinked. “I was at the magic show all day!”

“Oh, I thought it was you and your new blonde boyfriend-”

“You must be mistaken. There are many kids around here.”

“Huh…” Pacifica bit her lip. “Then-”

“Paz, we have to move. It’s our turn soon.”

“Alright. See you later, Mabel.”

“Have fun!”

“What did you mean, ‘bumped into Mabel’ just now?” Dipper asked as they moved forward.

“Well, I thought that girl we bumped into looked a bit like her!”

“There were many kids around. Anyway, can’t blame them. They must be having fun, like us. Let's not worry too much, shall we?”

“Yeah, we have gone on enough conspiracies for this month.”

The two boarded the Ferris wheel with their new Axolotl plush tucked between them. The sun was setting, sending streaks of purple and orange across the sky. Accompanying the sunset were the kaleidoscopic carnival lights dancing with the crowd. The trees surrounding them rustled and swayed along with the summer breeze.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Pacifica nodded, now hugging her new plush.

As they reached the peak, Dipper leaned closer to his girlfriend, and his lips found hers. Pacifica pulled him close, accepting the kiss. Below, an excited Mabel took some shots.

Meanwhile, many years later…

“Nilam, don’t play around with the time tape again!” Taka admonished, dusting off his pants.

“I’m so sorry, Taka!” Nilam pleaded as her brother took the time tape from her and placed it back into Shmebulock’s box. “I thought it’s a simple matter of going back and asking people what life was like in the 2010s for our social studies project!”

“Yeah, but you’ve been reckless! Didn’t you know who we bumped into earlier?”

“Who?”

“Nilam! Taka!” their mother called from downstairs. “Dinner’s ready!”

“We’ll talk about this later,” Taka said as he placed the box back on the shelf.

As he made his way to the stairs, he passed his Dad’s study, the door left ajar. A shuddering sense of déjà vu overcame him when he spotted the Axolotl plushie atop the bookshelf.

“Did we-?” Taka bit his lip as he recalled his parents’ tale of the Axolotl plushie. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and let out a soft chuckle. Well, at least his brief moment in the past with his sister had not led to other disastrous consequences as far as he knew. If Mom got the Axolotl plushie as intended, then what has happened was bound to happen, and had happened before.

“Time travel is crazy,” he muttered to himself as he continued his way down.

24 24 32 53 32 45 44 44 21 55 35 11 44 24 34 52 13 24 53 21 11 51 44 32 13 31 42 35 24 32 51 53 35 44 24

Chapter Text

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon. Pacifica Pines hummed a gentle tune as she finished stitching up a tear on her daughter’s blue shirt. Squinting at the embroidery hoop for a few seconds, she held it up to smile at her handiwork. Her sewing skills still held together after all this time.

Her husband was having lunch at his sister’s place. For her work, she had delegated some routine matters to her faithful secretary who had been serving her for more than seven years. And her children were in the bedroom doing their homework. A rare weekend afternoon to relax.

A piercing howl interrupted her thoughts. Pacifica sighed. In this chaotic household, such moments of peace and quiet were not to last. She folded the shirt up and, carrying along a small pile of other clothes, went upstairs to discover the source of the commotion.

She found her two daughters already standing outside the bathroom. Bewildered, she placed the pile of clothes into her children’s bedroom. Noting the conspicuous absence of her son Taka, she walked down the hallway to join her daughters.

“What’s going on?” Pacifica asked. Her two daughters looked at her and shrugged. She went closer and knocked on the door. “Taka, are you in there?”

“Mom! Er- hang on a moment. Give me some time to clean this up.”

Was it just her, or Taka’s voice sounded more bruised and muffled than usual? Something’s up.

“Taka was trying to get rid of a pimple,” Nilam explained.

Ah, the terrible teenage years. “How long has he been in there?”

“I don’t know,” her other daughter, Nita, said. “He’s been in the bathroom for some time until we heard him scream.”

Pacifica sighed. “Oh come on, Taka, it shouldn’t be that bad.” She knew her son, like her, could be a little self-conscious about his appearance. Particularly because of his heterochromia – the source of ridicule by some of his peers in school (from the teacher’s reports she had received).

But the long silence in the bathroom, interrupted only by the splashes of running water, told her that whatever Taka had now was much more than a pimple.
She pounded on the door. “If you don’t come out in ten, I’ll force down the door, Mintaka!”

“Alright! Er, Mom, promise you wouldn’t freak out?”

“You’re my son. And I’ve seen worse than a little zit. Come out!”

A moment of hesitation followed. Then the door clicked. Taka emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapping across half his face.

“Oh come on, my silly boy, it shouldn’t be that- oh my gosh!”

Pacifica leapt backwards, accidentally bumping Nilam just behind her. “Oh sorry, Nilam. Gosh, Taka. What have you done?”

“It’s now much worse than before,” Nita said, sounding aghast like her mother.

Taka pulled the towel back over his face, but not before everyone had seen a series of large greenish-purple boils that had erupted across his face.

Pacifica went past her son into the bathroom and found her husband’s Journal. In it were all sorts of old-wives remedies Dipper had documented. She flipped the page, which then explained how those remedies did not work at all.

“Taka, did you try to find a solution from your father’s Journal?”

“Well…” Taka started to sob. “I was desperate to get rid of it before tomorrow, and I thought Dad had an instant solution! I didn’t intend for this to happen! It- it was an accident!”

“If accidents don’t just happen accidentally, then is it still an accident?” Pacifica sighed. She emerged from the bathroom, Journal in hand. “Calm down, calm down, Taka. I’ll try to sort this out.”

Pacifica led the children to Dipper’s study. Settling her son on a chair, she went over to the bookshelf and took out a few volumes.

“Nita, call your Dad and tell him we have a situation.”

“That wouldn’t be necessary,” said a voice at the doorway.

“Dipper!” Pacifica cried. “I thought you-”

“Well, I had a hunch something was up, so I returned early,” Dipper explained as he brisked over to his son. With tenderness in his voice, he said, “Come, Taka, take off the towel. Don’t worry.”

Taka slowly lowered and unwrapped the towel, the disfiguration on full display. But Dipper did not flinch as he bent down to observe his son.

“Pacifica, there’s a bottle of dittany cream in my cupboard. Pass it to me.”

“The green one? Or the blue?”

“The green one.”

After retrieving a small green bottle, she hastened and passed the bottle to her husband.

“This will hurt a little, so bear with me.” Dipper unscrewed the bottle, a sweet scent emanating from it. As he smeared the cream on Taka’s face, the boils cleared up with a hiss but left red marks on his face.

“Are you alright, Taka?” Pacifica asked.

“I’m fine.” Taka raised a hand and felt across his face.

“Good.” Dipper stoppered the bottle. “You might still feel a stinging sensation and the red marks would remain, but they should clear up by tomorrow.”

“Dad, how did you know how to deal with this?” Nita piped up. “What’s actually on that bottle?”

“Oh… It’s dittany essence from Greece. Mixed with other herbs and spices. The Druidess from the Crawlspace recommended me this.” He handed the bottle to his two daughters to inspect. “An excellent remedy for all sorts of boils, especially for the most stubborn forms of acne.”

He turned to Taka, whose head was still bowed.

“Taka… You’ve tried to deal with this zit yourself, haven’t you?” Dipper then broke into a chuckle. “Listen, you aren’t the first, nor will you be the last, to have a bright red spot on your face. It’s the plague of puberty.”

“Much like periods,” Nita muttered behind him.

“Remember we told you the time your mother resorted to magic to clear up a blemish on her face? And we have to deal with a shifty faceless monster?”

Taka nodded.

“But we cleared that up in the end. Look, Taka. It’s okay acne makes you uncomfortable. Nothing about puberty is fun. But you don’t have to be ashamed of it. Don’t take my Journal again without my permission, alright?”

“Yes, Dad.”

“As your Dad told me, what matters more is who you are inside,” Pacifica added. She examined Taka’s face once more. “Your skin is so dry now! Let me help apply some moisturiser…”

So that was my first touch with magic, and I say the results aren’t pretty. Foolish and desperate I was to find a solution from my Dad’s Journal. I should have taken to heart the tale regarding my Mom and the scary face-stealing monster.

Ironically, from what Aunt Mabel later told me, Dad was equally vain when trying to deal with his first pimple. Though at most he tried homemade measures like toothpaste or honey and cinnamon.

The inflamed parts of my face have gone down, but it still stings. My face was as dry as paper, despite how much moisturiser my mother put on me. Nilam said I now look like that evil vampire Lord Valuemart. Well, I suppose this is my punishment for dabbling with magic without my parents’ supervision.

I should be recording down suitable remedies for acne, but I’m tired now. Need some rest for a science quiz tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Mabel Pines was not a mechanic like her brother. But when it came to repairing a broken siblinghood, she had to step up and ask her father for help.

This was her fault. Foolish she was, messing with her brother’s stuff. It was a typical Saturday morning. She wanted to play tea party but was short of one figure (one of her dolls was in the wash). Requiring a substitute, she went up to their bedroom, and after inspecting her brother’s grand array of Indestructi-Buddies action figures, she decided upon the Giant Golem. A nice big toy to dress up.

However, a small rational part of her made her hesitate. Should she take it without her brother’s permission? Dipper could be a little overprotective of his toys and seldom shared them with his sister.

“It’ll be a while,” she said to herself, reaching out for the Golem. Her brother was downstairs watching television. Dipper could be selfish, keeping the toys for himself instead of sharing them. In fact, it was such a waste just putting them on the shelf and not play with them! He said they were collections ‘for display’, but to young Mabel, they were still toys to interact and have fun with. And besides, he wouldn’t know if she had played with it!

Or so she thought.

“Mabel! What are you doing with my Golem?”

“Huh?” Jolted from her thoughts, her hands slipped. The Golem came crashing on the floor, the arms broke apart.

“Oh my gosh. Mabel!” Dipper marched into their bedroom and picked the Golem up. “This is a limited edition Golden Golem from my friend! I told you not to touch it!”

“I’m sorry…” Mabel bowed her head, averting her brother’s gaze.

Her brother flicked a switch. The Golem shook, making splattering and hissing sounds before it shut down again.

Dipper did not say anything for a while, but his face darkened like an approaching storm. Which terrified Mabel greatly.

“I hate you. I hate you!” Dipper yelled. “Get out of here and out of my sight! I don’t want to see you again!”

Mabel staggered out of the bedroom and down the stairs with tears streaming down her face. The words cut right through her heart. How could her brother say something like that? It was just one dumb toy! Unaware of where she was going, she bumped into someone.

“Woah, watch it- Mabel!” It was her father. Seeing his daughter’s tearful face, his face turned to an expression of utmost concern. “Mabel, what’s wrong?”

“Dipper! He- he says he hates me!”

“Oh come here, sweetie.” Her father led Mabel to a chair in the dining room. “Tell me what happened.”

Mabel explained to her father, through choked sobs, about how she wanted to play with her brother’s toy but accidentally dropped it, and the subsequent fallout that followed.

“I just only want to find a toy to play with! Then Dipper came and I- I- I-”

“Calm down, dearie.” Her father wiped the tears off Mabel’s face. “You know you shouldn’t have taken your brother’s things without his permission right? You see what happens?”

Mabel nodded, sniffing.

“Look, you two are eight years old. And your brother didn’t mean that. No matter what you’ve done to him, he’ll forgive you eventually. You two are one unit, and have a long way to go to achieve greater things together.” He patted Mabel’s shoulder. “But first, you need to mend what is broken, alright? Where’s your brother’s toy?”

“Up- upstairs.”

“Bring it down for me. I’ll try to help you fix it.”

Dipper had gone out to help their mother with an errand. Mabel sneaked back into their bedroom and, finding the pieces on the table, scooped them into the box. She skipped downstairs to her father’s workshed, where her father had taken out a toolbox.

“Let’s get started, shall we?”

Both father and daughter got set to work. It was like playing doctor with the Golem as their patient. It took some trial and error as both deciphered the instructional manual of the toy. And a few incidents involved a massive glue spill, missing wires and a small cut. But eventually, they managed to fix the Golem as good as new.

“…and insert the wires here, close the hatch, and we’re done!” The father let out a satisfied sigh. “There, good as new!”

“Thanks, Dad!” Mabel wrapped her Dad in a hug.

“Now, ready to show this to your brother?” he asked as they inspected their handiwork. Sensing his daughter’s hesitation, he added, “Don’t worry, I’ll support you at the door, alright?”

Mabel nodded. Both then emerged from the workshed and went upstairs to the bedroom.

Her brother had returned, now engrossed in his homework. Mabel raised a hesitant hand and, with her father’s encouraging smile, knocked on the door.

“What is it- Mabel?” Dipper raised his head from his book of sums. She came in, taking a few small steps.

“Here you go, bro-bro.” She held up the robot. “Sorry for breaking it just now.

Dipper reached out and took the robot. He flicked a switch, and the robot’s eyes flashed, shouting, “Golem Smash!”

“Heh.” Dipper broke into a small grin. Placing the robot aside, he hugged his sister. “Thanks for this, Mabel. Sorry for what I said just now.”

“It’s ok, bro.” She wrapped her hands around Dipper’s shoulder.

“I love you, sis.”

“I love you too.”

Their father stood at the doorway, smiling as the two reconciled. Having raised them, he knew the two would always make up instantly, the way people who’ve known each other forever do. He sighed, as he recalled the tragic tale his father Shermie had told him about his twin uncles, who had fallen out over a project. That tragedy ended with one dead and the other barely getting by running a tourist trap in Oregon. The parallels between his uncles’ past and his children’s present were striking. Like his uncles, his children are best friends and have only ever really had each other. Like his uncles, they could be considered opposites in many ways. Would such a similar tragedy happen to his children? He shook his head as he made his way down. He very much hoped not.

24 55 14 34 12 32 32 23 24 52 22 25 21 51 54 43 52 35 44 33 24 53 12 33 15 54 22 51 24 53 41 43 45 32

Chapter Text

“What do you think of this?”

“Nah.” Mabel shook her head. “Not it.”

It was another evening at Mabel’s cottage. Pacifica Northwest had come over to help her sieve through a pile of application papers. It was not that only a few had applied, but many so far had not seemed to qualify for what Mabel had in mind.

“Who knew finding people for an animal sanctuary would be this hard?” Mabel sighed, slumping in her chair.

It had not been going the way she was expecting. The idea of a wildlife sanctuary in Gravity Falls appeared enticing at the start, and with Pacifica’s financial backing and Ford’s encouragement, she felt ready to embark on this project. However, this endeavour soon turned out to be a difficult route like a narrow winding path. Without a clear picture, Mabel was soon overwhelmed with all sorts of documents and legalities to handle. Already she had difficulty securing a plot of land for the sanctuary from the Mayor. And her tax-exemption application was still being processed.

“Haven’t I told you the amount of commitment, heartaches, dedication, time, energy, money and sweat you need for this project?” Pacifica said. “And with the Never Mind All That Act and everything, we still had a lot more legal hurdles to go through with this. And would Dip even be on board with this?”

Mabel fiddled with a hem of her sweater. She had always wanted to do something for her brother’s project. Given her brother had expanded his horizons for his paranormal research and ventured beyond, she felt it was only right to take up the role and help protect the paranormal in the town.

“Why don’t you just ask Dipper for help?” Pacifica suggested. “He might know a few friends-”

“No! This is meant to be a surprise for him. And I don’t want to spoil it.”

“Alright, alright. Hey, I think this person sounds promising. Listen to this…”

After many months of hard work, including sitting through many board meetings and negotiations (with her husband Kevin as her source of strength), checking and signing various papers, going through the floor plans for the main building of the sanctuary and the work of the local lumberjacks, a new quaint building now sat on the edge of the Forest. A sign at the front greeted: The Gravity Falls Wildlife Sanctuary – Your first stop into the Unknown.

Already a small crowd had formed outside of the building, talking in hushed, excited whispers. The murmurings only intensified as a car drew up in front of them. The door opened, with a blindfolded Dipper disembarking with his sister’s guidance.

“Mabel, can I now remove my blindfold?”

“In a second!” Mabel chirped as she led him through the crowd, which parted to let them through. “Okay. Open them up!”

Dipper removed his blindfold and gasped at the sight before him. “Woah.”

For a long moment, he stood there, wordless. Mabel cast a hesitant glance at her brother.

“Dipper. If-”

“Mabel. This- this-” He cut her off and hugged his sister. “Thank you.”

“No problem broseph,” Mabel said, sounding relieved.

“But, but-” Dipper broke the hug. “Who’s going to manage this place? I appreciate the sentiment, but-”

“Hey, Dip.” Pacifica emerged from the building. “Want a tour?”

Dipper smiled. He should have known.

“Alright, my dear.” He took his girlfriend’s hand, and Mabel ushered them into the sanctuary.

As they walked down a corridor, Dipper found himself nodding in approval. Someone sewing a gnome hat for a hatless lost gnome. An elderly McGucket reading a story to Lili-putt-ians bruised from their latest civil war. A manotaur venting out his anger in a rage room.

He noted, however, that the entire place felt quite like home. Mabel’s handiwork was apparent in the choice of colours, with the walls painted in vibrant shades of green and blue. The corridors and doors were wide and spacious enough even for the largest of creatures.

“How did you put together the people for all this?” Dipper asked as they approached the end of the corridor.

“You’ll see.” Pacifica knocked on the door.

“Come in!” a familiar friendly voice called from inside. Dipper stared at Pacifica just as they went into the room.

A bald olive-skinned man, dressed in a purple suit, was sitting behind a mahogany desk at the other end of the room, working at a laptop computer. He looked up as the three came in and broke into a wide grin. Dipper returned the smile.

“Hello, Dipper!” The man stood up, a hand reaching out. “It’s been long, my old friend.”

“Tyrone!” Dipper grasped his friend’s hand and shook it. “I thought you were working for the government?”

“A shift in priorities.” Breaking the handshake, he gestured Dipper to a seat in front of him. “Your girlfriend here told me of your sister’s little project, and I had offered to help.”

“Really?” Dipper arched an eyebrow as he sat down. Mabel and Pacifica took their places beside him.

“I remembered you talking about your former college friend, Dip,” Mabel interjected. “Through my socials, I managed to make contact, and he’s eager to come over!”

“Gravity Falls seem to be a great place so far,” Tyrone mused. “No wonder why you like to talk a lot about this place!”

Dipper, Pacifica and Mabel all chuckled.

“Glad to be meeting my old friend once again,” Dipper said, shifting in his seat. “So, I take that you’re in charge of this place?”

“It’s in safe hands.” Tyrone clapped, leaning back in his chair. “Well, I still have you and Pacifica and Mabel to help.”

“That’s great, that's great.” Dipper glanced at the three others and the office. “So I suppose you three have built this place up for me, then? A sanctuary for the wildlife?”

“Just helping with one of your tasks, bro-bro!”

“Which leaves you free to work on the next stage of your project.” Tyrone straightened. “I have heard you’re trying to form a group to investigate the paranormal?”

Dipper nodded.

“But have difficulty forming connections, ever since you left West Coast Tech.” Tyrone paused, tapping his desk. “Fortunately, I, as your former college bud, can help with that too!”

“Well, I-”

“Tyrone, we can discuss more business later,” Pacifica said, checking her watch. “The others outside are waiting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.”

“Alright, alright,” the two old college buddies said in unison. Then they looked at each other and laughed.

“Glad to see you again, my old friend,” Dipper said as they exited the office.

“Yes, yes.” Tyrone patted Dipper’s back. “But we have work to do.”

And so, with wide grins plastered on their faces, Dipper and Tyrone both cut the ribbon to the new Gravity Falls Wildlife Sanctuary. It was a promising day, the beginning of a renewed partnership. Now Dipper had an additional friend to share in his undertaking. The road ahead was bright.

Chapter Text

A searing pain on his wrist jolted him awake. Pulling back the sleeve of his vest, he squintefound a three-letter initial burnt on his wrist. PEN.

“Mabel.” He nudged his sleeping sister leaning against him.

“Yes?” Mabel asked with a groan. “Wha…what happened?”

“Mabel.” Dipper showed his sister his left wrist. “Did you draw this?”

“What? No!” Mabel gasped and peered at his left hand. “Woah, is this-”

“Did you get yours too, Mabel?”

Unfurling her sweater, Mabel checked her wrists, which were blank.

In one universe parallel to dimension 46’\, everyone’s soulmates had been pre-determined. No one knew how it worked, but all they knew was that the system worked. Even with Dipper’s own doubts about the concept (which he had remarked once to be something from an old fairytale), no breakups or divorces had ever been filed.

While it was unclear how or when the unnatural blue tattoos appeared, the consensus was that their soulmate had to be close by. At any moment soon enough, they would meet their soulmate. How, when or who was uncertain, though some mentioned dreaming about their partner in the days leading up to their first meeting. No one could change or force their fate.

And Dipper got his soulmate mark earlier than Mabel. Which was saying something. Dipper was not the sociable type, often isolating himself behind books. The only girl he was close with thus far in his life was his sister, who had, at various times, tried to matchmake him and even tattoed his wrists for fun.

Mabel continued to examine her brother’s hand as though being shown an interesting curio. Her expression was unreadable. Was it of wonder, that this was a miracle? Or hope, that hers would come soon? Or envy, because she had not received hers yet? Or despair, because it might never happen to her? While this was a perfect world of no heartbreaks, this could mean that a few unlucky ones would never receive a tattoo. Dipper’s thoughts turned to their enigmatic Great-Uncle (or Grunkle) Stan whom they were going to visit. As far as he knew from their Grandpa Shermie, Stan was unmarried, despite having a few flings in his youth.

“Well… Well done, Dipper,” Mabel said in a low voice quite unlike her own. But she soon put on a cheery expression. “So… Who do you think it’s going to be? Who’s the lucky one?”

“How would I know?” He still examined the markings. “Perhaps someone in the town we’re travelling to. But I don’t know anyone there!”

“Maybe it could be a classmate of ours visiting there as well? Or something?”

Dipper shrugged, leaning back in his seat. The bus bumped, flicking his hair and showing his birthmark. He patted down his bangs to hide it.

Many miles away, in a large house on a high hill, Pacifica Northwest took a small sip of her apple juice, holding a bored expression on her face. Her parents had once again thrown an impromptu party in celebration of the appearance of her new tattoos.

The young heiress made her way through the throng, head bowing and making effort to avoid any eye contact. She did not want anyone requesting to recheck her wrists. Everyone who came congratulated her, offering their admiration and envious remarks. As she had been raised to do, she accepted the praises with a gracious smile and thanks. But she knew none were interested in what was going on in her head.

Behind the mask of stoicness, she was terrified. When she woke up that morning with a searing pain on her wrist, she knew the time had come. Initially, with hope against hope, she thought it was a trick by her parents or her servants. But when the ink did not come off, she knew it was the truth. So it was with dreaded trepidation when she showed her wrists to her parents as part of their morning ritual.

Her parents had invited over various boys of noble birth, with many still on their way to meet her. She had no desire to settle down early, though her parents insisted on marrying her off to one of their fellows as young as possible.

She hoped whoever MSP was on her wrist would at least be a decent boy to get along with. So far, to her fortune, none of the guests’ initials matched those on the wrist.

“Cheer up, bro-bro. At least you got your dance with Wendy.”

“Yeah…”

The two siblings were walking down the street, passing by horses, carts and wagons. In their modern clothing, they had attracted some stares from the townsfolk dressed in petticoats, frock coats or drab peasant clothing. Some were carrying lit oil lamps, even though it was still late morning. It was Pioneer’s Day, which marked the day Gravity Falls was founded.

“Oh! Is that a man marrying a bird?”

Dipper turned to where Mabel was pointing. Indeed, a crowd had gathered around a grey-haired man with a bird perched on his shoulder.

A priest proclaimed, “I now pronounce you, man and wife!”

The crowd cheered as the woodpecker pecked on the man’s hand.

“Hang on, I remember this.” Dipper took out the journal and flipped through the pages. “In Gravity Falls, it used to be legal to marry woodpeckers.”

“Oh, it’s still legal. Very legal,” the man corrected Dipper as he passed the twins. He stretched a hand so that the woodpecker flew and perched on his palm. “I’m glad to have found this woodpecker as my soulmate!”

“Congratulations! Say, Dipper, is it possible that your soulmate is actually a woodpecker?”

“I very much hoped not.” Dipper sighed. The memory from three days ago still stung.

All the signs were there. Dipper was so sure of it. Never mind the initials on his wrist that disagreed. That tall, lanky redhead seemed to be the perfect match for him. She emanated an aura of coolness and confidence like a big sister, offering Mabel and him all sorts of advice to make the summer fun. From sneaking free ice creams, poking fun at unfortunate customers in the Shack to wild rides on the golf cart.

And he had dreams of her in the days leading up to that dance. Dreams of the exact dance. Yet, during the dance he successfully snagged at the party, something felt off. A variable was missing. When he eventually asked Wendy about her soulmate mark, she showed him a blank wrist. It was then he had to accept that she could not be his soulmate. She was way too outside his league.

Who, then, was actually his soulmate?

A clanking sound interrupted his thoughts.

“Here-ye, here-ye!” The town’s Sheriff Blubs was up on a stage set up in the town square. His faithful partner, in suspenders, was ringing a bell. “Ye olde commencement ceremony is about to commence!”

“Jolly!” Mabel dragged her brother into the crowd.

A blonde girl, in a traditional turquoise blouse and leather boots, came up to the stage. For some reason, Dipper’s heart leapt.

“Howdy, everyone!” she announced. “You all know me, Pacifica Northwest, great-great granddaughter of town-founder, Nathaniel Northwest. I’m also very rich.”

“Wait.” Dipper raised a hand and pointed at her. “Is she the one back at that party who-”

“Hush!” Mabel knocked her brother’s hand off as everyone around them clapped.

Dipper checked his wrist. Then something clicked. Her name ran through his mind.

She looked very familiar. Then it hit him. In an unbidden corner of his dreams with Wendy was a mysterious blonde girl. And then just last night, he had a dream of presenting something upstage. An eerie sensation seized Dipper. Could she be-?

“Now if you’ve got the pioneer spirit,” the girl went on, “we ask you to come on up and introduce yourself and your family.”

Mabel’s eyes widened. “Audience participation! Let me-”

“No.” Dipper had decided. He had felt a hook in his chest drawing him forward to that girl. Was he going to let the opportunity to know her slip by?

Easing himself through the crowd, Dipper went onstage.

“Our first newcomer is…” She stopped, her eyes widening, before recovering herself. “I’m sorry, may you introduce yourself? You don’t seem to be from around here.”

“I’m Dipper. Dipper Pines.” He extended a hand. Why was he sweating? Then again, he always was. “Nice to meet you.”

“That’s not your real name,” she said before clasping a hand over her mouth.

The sheriffs glanced at each other. The audience had fallen silent. Her parents behind had straightened up. Something’s wrong.

“Well, I-”

“Sorry, sorry.” Her father stepped forward. “My daughter is a bit under the weather.” He shot Dipper a resentful glare before his facial features softened. “Well, give this visitor a hand!”

“Well, Pacifica Elise Northwest, I had expected the better of you. You nearly embarrassed our family’s name today!”

“I’m sorry, Dad.” At the back of the limo, Pacifica bowed her head, rubbing her hands.

“I’ll expect better behaviour at the lunch with the Mayor.” her father went on. “What is it about that scrawny ruffian who gave you the jitters? And what was even that vest he was wearing! Not even a waistcoat!”

“Dear, calm down. Don’t over-exert yourself.” Priscilla had taken out a pocket mirror to check her eyeliner.

“He-” Pacifica stopped herself. How could she tell her father that that ragamuffin could actually be her soulmate? Even then, would her parents believe? She could not even believe it either. How could she be matched with someone of lower status? But something about him made her heart flutter.

She dreaded to learn what if her parents knew the truth about him. Would they instead wed her off to the highest bidder, someone to keep the Northwest line wealthy? To do everything to keep her away from that boy?

“What was that all about?”

“I need some butterscotch.”

The twins sat at the ledge, the large statue of Nathaniel Northwest behind them.

“Mabel, may I ask you something?”

“Sure, bro-bro.”

Dipper opened his mouth but hesitated, swallowing the words. How was he going to broach the topic of soulmates? If Wendy was way out of his league, then what can be said about his assigned partner? She’s miles ahead, carrying around an air of snobbishness, arrogance and air-headedness. Even she had unfairly won the dance competition at the party against his sister a few days prior. How can love in their world be this complicated? How did their summer turn into some ridiculous rom-com?

“Because with that as the basis of love, your entire world is a ridiculous rom-com.”

“Wha- at? Who- who said that?” He looked around and above. But the sky was blue and cloudless.

“Dipper?” Mabel flashed her brother a look of utmost concern. “What is it?”

Was he going crazy? Was that what happened if he had met his soulmate?

“It’s… nothing Mabel.” He stood up. “Hey, why not we have some dysentery juice and check out the museum?”

“Sure!”

Sometimes he wished the soulmate concept didn’t exist. It had proven to be a distraction in his summer adventures. Already his summer was crazy enough with all the weird stuff going on. He should be having fun. It’s perhaps for the best to push the idea of romance, that girl and that mysterious voice out of his mind. For now. What will come will come.

Chapter Text

Weather in Gravity Falls could be as erratic as the wildlife around the town. One moment it was a cloudless day. The next moment it was pouring cats and dogs (both literally and figuratively). It was as though someone from the sky tipped a large barrage of water over.

“Come on, Mabel and Pacifica, the Shack is up ahead!” Dipper called with a vest pulled over his head.

“Argh, the mud! Woah!”

“Careful, Paz!” Mabel caught hold of her friend and pulled her along. The ice-cold rain continued to pound, soaking each of them down to the very bone.

“Geez, you three!” Stan exclaimed when the trio banged the door open and trooped into the Shack. “Don’t get mud all over the carpet!”

“Yes, Grunkle Stan.”

After a quick warm shower (Soos had prepared the hot water earlier) and a change of clothes, the three were up in the attic. Dipper was recording something in his Pine Tree Journal, Mabel was feeding Waddles with some snacks, and Pacifica was drying her hair in front of the mirror.

“Brrr… It’s chilly up here even in my sweater!” Mabel said. “I’m going down to make some hot beverage. Dipper, I know you want tea. Pacifica, what do you want?”

“She likes latte,” Dipper automatically answered. “With a little milk, less sugar. But her favourite is hot chocolate.”

A brief awkward silence followed as the two girls stared at him.

“…What?” Dipper peered up from his Journal, blinking. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, no, no.” Mabel looked like a firework ready to set off. “Well, I’ll leave you two to chat, see ya!”

The temperature in the room seemed to have risen by a hundred degrees even as the storm winds howled outside. Dipper continued to write in his Journal, while Pacifica adjusted her earrings and applied her signature purple eyeliner.

“How did you know my beverage preferences?” Pacifica demanded. He looked up, her ice-cold blue eyes boring deep into him.

“Erm.” Why was he sweating? Rubbing his hands, he replied, “You had mentioned it before. Yeah! On Hipstergram!”

He had definitely not been checking on her in between the summers. Yeah. Coughing, Dipper turned back to his Journal and flipped back a few pages, making a few corrections here and there, trying his best to ignore Pacifica’s continued glare. Eventually, she sighed, before sitting on Mabel’s bed and pulling out her phone to check the latest updates of the day.

It was the first summer back in the Falls. A few weeks had passed since she moved into the Shack with the Pines. That was after her parents attempted to kick her out of her job as a waitress (by summoning a ghost – a long story for another time). She was adjusting well, braving through moldy floorboards and the lack of running hot water.

And they had gone on plenty of adventures together since. Battling a rogue video game monster from Bloodcraft: Overdeath, rallying the townsfolk against an attempt by her parents to regain their influence in the town through their business friends, going on a misadventure in the hidden archives of the town’s library on Pioneer’s Day, fending off an invasion of giant grasshoppers, rescuing unfortunate McGucket from Crash Site Omega… Already Summerween had passed, and July was around the corner. Independence Day decorations of red and blue had started to drape the streets.

And Dipper could not help but notice Pacifica’s affinity with adventuring and the supernatural. Far from the pampered rich brat he once knew her as. Even as she complained about getting her nails chipped or losing her earrings, he could tell she was having fun and did not mind getting her hands dirty. And they had plenty of overlapping interests, from video gaming to hunting mysteries. The truth was he had never felt this close to a girl before. And he liked her puns and sense of dry humour. Had he developed a crush on her?

No. He shook his head. She was just a close friend. Nothing more.

“Oh come on, Dip,” Pacifica interjected. “If you like me, why can’t you just do the common sense thing and kiss me?”

“Wh- wh- what?” His reddened face only flushed deeper as Pacifica went over and sat beside him. He inhaled sharply, too taken by surprise with this new closeness to have the presence of mind to mask his response. “What- why would I do that?”

“You’re not very subtle, aren’t you?” She leaned closer to him. “Let’s face it. You like me, and I like you. But it’s not very gentlemanly to expect me to make the first move. After all, I’m a Northwest. Take this as a chess game. You’re playing white.”

Dipper’s only wish right then was to bury himself into his Journal.

To his relief, his phone vibrated. Shifting away from Pacifica, he took out his phone.

“Hey, Grunkle Ford has found something regarding the gem we uncovered from the library!” Dipper turned to Pacifica. “You want to come with me down to the lab?”

It was Pacifica’s turn for her face to go red. Not from embarassment, however.

“Gosh, Dipper! You really don’t get it, do you? You’re really hopeless!” She stood up from the bed and stormed out of the room.

Dipper stared blankly at the door for some moments. Then, taking his Journal, he walked out of the room.

“Thanks for the hot chocolate, Mabel,” he said as he passed by her standing outside the door.

“What’s wrong, Dipper?” Ford said as he lifted his googles.

“Er- nothing.” Dipper looked up from his list of calculations. Then he muttered under his breath, “Girls can be so complicated.”

“Is it about Pacifica?” Ford mused. Dipper looked taken aback. Was he muttering that loud?

“You forgot I got enhanced hearing aids, didn’t you?” Ford tapped the beeping device above his left ear. “But going back to girls, I agree with you. Girls and romance are very complicated. Even in all my studies of the paranormal, I’ve never deciphered the mysteries of love. In fact, the most impossible thing to decode is human social behavior in general. I only have some theories and ideas on the subject, but it’s another thing to understand and apply them.”

“I just-” Dipper sighed. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Let’s talk this over some hot chocolate, shall we?”

Ford had set up a small pantry in his private study, where he kept instant coffee and 3-in-1 hot chocolate for his own late-night research. He poured the hot water and stirred before handing one mug to Dipper.

“Thanks, Grunkle Ford.”

“No problem.”

The hot chocolate seemed to give him the necessary energy to divulge what had transpired in the attic room. When he finished, Ford stroked his chin for a while, mulling over his mullet.

“So, in short, to put it very simply, you like her, and she likes you,” Ford said. “Well, this is one less obstacle to overcome. In fact, at this point, you’re doing much better than me in terms of romance!”

“Really?” Dipper placed down his mug of hot chocolate and chuckled along with his Grunkle.

“You seem unsure on how to go on, do you? Hesitant whether she was playing a trick on you, for example? Whether you might have misread the signs?”

“Yeah… I mean, I thought you don’t trust the Northwests?”

“But even gems shine through the dirt, and she’s one of them. Still very strong-headed from what I had observed. But she seems genuine and not as uptight as the other Northwests. You seemed to get along well with her just fine. Both of you are indeed a good match.”

“What should I do, actually?”

“A relationship is no easy endeavour and takes some degree of commitment. This is why perhaps in my long life I never got into one, too devoted to my love of science or my obsession to defeat Bill Cipher. But if you really love her, your path ahead is clear. Do what must be done. One of my weaknesses is my hesitation. During college, I let go of some opportunities, shielding myself from others in an effort to work hard. In the end, it’s your choice, but strike while the iron is hot.”

“Hmm…”

“Look, be brave, alright?" He patted Dipper’s back. “But if you need the courage, prepare yourself. This is the furthest I can provide for my knowledge in this area, Dip. You might have to figure the rest of it on your own.”

Dipper tapped his fingers on the table for a while, before saying, “I understand. Thanks for everything, Grunkle Ford.”

“Anytime, anytime. And by the way, Dip?”

“Yes?" Dipper had gotten up and was making his way out of the study.

“It’s still raining, and there’s time for another hot chocolate.” Ford had started to check through Dipper’s calculations. “You know what to do.”

Many years later, Dipper hummed a tune to Disco Girl as he stirred a saucepan of hot chocolate. Turning off the fire, he poured the hot chocolate into two mugs. It was a good time for a hot drink, especially as it continued to pour outside.

He brought the two cups up to their bedroom, where a shivering Pacifica was snuggled up in bed. While he did not know much about medicine, he knew hot chocolate was a miracle weapon against most ailments.

“Here you go, Paz.”

“Thank you,” she croaked, a rasping sigh escaping her throat. Dipper helped settle his wife up in a comfortable position, before sitting on the edge of the bed.

“So, how is it, my princess?” Dipper asked as Pacifica took a small sip of her chocolate.

“Fantastic, as always.” She placed down the cup. “It’s lovely weather outside, isn’t it?”

Dipper would beg to differ. He turned to the window. Already the road outside had become a river. Plenty of cars and debris swept down the flood. Like Soos, Dipper had already taken extraordinary measures to protect his own home from the flood.

And the cold weather was not helping Pacifica. Dipper checked her forehead. Fortunately, the fever had gone down far enough since last night. No longer burning up, but still warm.

“You should rest, Dip. It’s such a lovely weather to snuggle in.”

“I don’t know, Paz.” Dipper made to get up. “I need to complete my report on-”

A hug from Pacifica interrupted his protests. He chuckled as he buried his nose in her long blonde hair, taking in the familiar scent of honey and sundew. How did a dummy like him end up with her?

“Suck it up. I’m not letting you go until you agree to snuggle in with me for the rest of the day.”

Pacifica ran her fingers through his hair, scraping her nails against where his hairline met his neck. The part where she knew was the most sensitive.

“Alright, alright. You win.” Dipper took his place beside her, pulling the blanket over him. “I love you, Paz.”

“I know, dork.”

Chapter Text

Night had fallen and the Mystery Couple – Soos and Melody Ramirez – were tucking their little children to sleep.

“Dad, tell us a story,” the eldest brother, who goes by Stan, requested.

“I don’t know, Stan.” Soos stiffened a yawn. “I need to help your mother settle some statements…”

“It’s ok, Soos. I can sort it out myself.”

“Or rather, I’ll do it. You’re better at telling stories than me, dear.”

“Ah, alright. I’ll be quick, then I’ll join you, alright?” Melody gave her husband a gentle peck before Soos exited the room. “So, my little kids, what story do you wish to hear? Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretal, Three Little Pigs…”

“We’ve heard all of these before, Mom,” Stan answered. “Give us an original one.”

“Hmm…” Melody thought for a moment. Then an idea struck her. She said, “Alright, here’s one you might love. You ready?”

The Ramirez children nodded their heads. Melody cleared her throat and said the following:

Once upon a time, two siblings ventured into our beloved quiet town of Gravity Falls.

Together, with the help of their trusty Journal they had found, they uncovered the various mysteries of our town, while having to deal with their grouchy Grunkle (Great Uncle) Stan-

“This all sounds very familiar,” the second eldest, Ford, interrupted.

“Shhh!” The others hushed him. Melody chuckled, before continuing:

Little did they know of a great secret underneath the Shack they live in. Many before sought after this great power, but the twins bravely fought and defended the Shack. At the risk of the fate of the universe, the twins, and their handyman Soos, eventually used that power, and helped reunite their Grunkle with his lost twin brother from the perils of the multiverse.

However, a great evil one, who desired to enter our world, had planned it all. Manipulating and dividing the family, the One-Eye Demon entered our world, and plunged our town into darkness.

Still, with the twins’ bravery, and the creativity and unity of the townsfolk, they managed one last stand against Bill Cipher. With Grunkle Stan’s sacrifice, Cipher was destroyed once and for all, and peace was restored in our once-troubled town.

And that, is the story of the Mystery Twins’ first summer.

“Is that all?” Ford asked as his mother finished. “I mean, after summer comes fall, which is a whole new ‘season’, right? What about their other summers?”

“Well, all things have an end,” Melody explained. “As an ancient gnome saying goes, ‘Every sunset leads to a sunrise’. This might be an end of one story, but the beginning of another.”

“I like the story,” Stan murmured. “Very refreshing.”

“I agree,” his younger sister, Selena, said.

“But is there more to the story? Tell us another, Mom,” Ford begged.

“Well, kids, it’s getting late and it’s now time to sleep!” Melody got up, regarding her children with a gentle smile. “Good night, sleep well and don’t let the sleep bugs bite!”

As she closed the door after her, hushed whispers broke out.

“We cannot just end the story like that! People would want to know more!”

“But how are we going to continue it? In my opinion, Mom wrapped the story up pretty well.”

“Nightlight, pen and paper, anyone? Maybe we can craft a continuation ourselves…”

More time passed, and the Ramirez siblings had all grown up. Which meant that they were old enough for babysitting duties.

Dipper, Pacifica and the rest had gone out to investigate a potions smuggling ring. So that left the Ramirez children to care for the young triplets.

“Alright kids, it’s bedtime!”

“Aww…”

“But it’s not yet eight o’clock!”

“Run, Nita!”

The triplets attempted to evade their caretakers, but they were outnumbered and outrun. The Ramirez siblings rounded them up, and the children found themselves tucked into their beds.

“Mom and Dad always tell us a story before we go to bed,” Taka pouted in his sea-foam green pyjamas.

“Alright, alright,” Stan said. “If we tell you kids a story, will y’all go and sleep?”

“Sure!” The three chirped in unison.

“Ok, ok… So once upon a time, two siblings returned to the falls…”

“Wait.” Ford interrupted. “I thought it starts with ‘On Another Sunny Summer’s Day’?”

“That’s the title. But the story begins that way-”

“No! The story begins with ‘Through the eyes of Shmebulock…’”

The Ramirez siblings continued to argue until Nita cut in. “Is anyone going to tell us their story?”

“Well, erm…” Stan trailed off as he looked at his brother and sister for advice.

“Why not we just tell them the original story Mom told us?” Selena suggested. “I mean, ours are just follow-ups of the original. And we can’t just tell them without the context.”

“Indeed,” Ford said. “Each of us has different interpretations of how the story should have continued, didn’t we?”

“Yeah… we had a lot of late-night arguments over this. So… who among us can remember Mom’s original story? We can’t go wrong with that story, can we?”

“I’ll try.” Stan cleared his throat, and everyone in the room fell silent as he began to tell the story. As he continued to embellish it with greater detail, the children’s eyes drooped closed…

Once upon a time, two siblings ventured into our beloved quiet town of Gravity Falls…

Chapter Text

“Here we are, Dipper,” Ford said as the car braked to a halt. “The Gravity Falls Department of Motor Vehicles.”

“Thanks for the ride, Grunkle Ford,” Dipper said as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

“You know, I wonder why you even need to go for a license,” Stan gruffed. “I’ve been driving fine without a license for fifty years even with cataracts!”

“Which is exactly why I’m taking the wheel today, Stanley.”

“Says the interdimensional outlaw with 500 over tickets of inter-dimensional reckless driving. You can’t even discern which is the brake or the clutch pedal! Or even left or right!”

Dipper sighed as he got out of the car. His Grunkles, still in their old age, continued to bicker as they drove off.

As he approached the driving centre, his heartbeat thumped. He had already been here at least 20 times for his lessons. He could not believe he was now going for the actual test itself.

While the building exterior had a fresh coat of white paint, as soon as Dipper stepped inside, he caught the familiar musty smell of petrol and tires. Portable air-conditioners blasted the area, with the walls plastered with fading posters on safety driving. Rows of dingy chairs lined behind the wooden counters. Dipper went up to one to register for his test.

“Hello. My name is Dip- Mason Pines and I’m here for the twelve o’clock driving test.”

“Let’s see… Pines…” The thin bespectacled middle-aged lady typed something on her keyboard. “Ah yes, twelve o’clock today, isn’t it? Please have a seat. I’ll get your instructor for your test.”

Dipper sat on one of the rickety wooden chairs and waited, tapping his fingers on his thighs. It was half past 11. Early, but as nervous as he was, he decided to get the test over and done with quickly. His mind ran through all the techniques he would be tested.

“Turn! Yield! Halt! If you fail you’ll know who’s at fault,” he recited under his breath with his eyes closed. “Avoid vehicular assault as you’re doing the Gravity Falls Driving Test Waltz…”

Too preoccupied as he was, he failed to notice a gust of wind brushing across his neck as someone entered. His insides twisted as footsteps approached him. He looked up.

“Pacifica!” he exclaimed.

“Hi Dip.” Pacifica, his fiancée, swept her long hair.

“What are you doing here? I thought you and Mabel were on your way to Ottawa for a pig convention!”

“Change of plans!” Mabel jumped in beside Pacifica. “Can’t have you all alone here!”

Dipper swallowed some bile forming his throat and forced a weak smile. “Thanks, guys.”

“It’s ok Dipper. Remember what Sergei taught you.”

Sergei, in addition to Pacifica’s mini-golf trainer, was a top-class racing instructor. Pacifica managed to talk Sergei out of his retirement to train Dipper. That led to a six-month crash course (crash in a literal sense) before he was ready.

“Mason Pines?” the lady called. “Your instructor is at car lot 61A.”

“Ok.” Dipper got up.

“Good luck, Dipper,” Pacifica leaned in and kissed Dipper on the cheek.

“All the best Dip!” Mabel cheered. “Remember, don’t overthink! Good luck!”

Dipper smiled as he made his way to the parking lot. He needed all the luck.

Dipper returned to the testing centre, still clutching the paper in his hand. Inside, Mabel was knitting another sweater. Kevin, his brother-in-law, had come along with his two nieces. While the two nieces played some card games close by, Kevin was in deep conversation with Pacifica.

“How’s the exam?” Mabel asked, looking up from her knitting.

Dipper halted and stood there, his fingers running on the crease of his exam paper. He could not believe what had just happened.

“Dipper, are you alright?” Pacifica asked. “You look white. Did you fail?”

“Well…” A water cooler was next to Dipper. He took some time filling up a cup of cold water before gulping it down, gasping. Then he said, “Well, to say the least, it was a wild ride.”

“Wait, what happened?” Kevin furrowed his eyebrows. “I knew the test could be challenging, but how difficult was it?”

The three others gasped as a tall, buff man walked past, with a whistle around his neck and a clipboard in his head.

“Mr. Poolcheck was your instructor?” Pacifica asked.

The cat was out of the bag. Dipper took his seat beside Pacifica and began to explain. “The test was insane. I had to go through Course C-”

“Wait, since when do we have a Course C?” Kevin cut in. “We were only tested either Course A or B.”

“Course C is Poolcheck’s customised route. And we went around the entire town, nearly plunging into the Lake, driving high to the Clifftops, reverse parking, cutting through the Woods… I barely survived the route.”

“But the more important thing is, did you pass?” Mabel demanded. “Let me see that paper!”

“Hey!” But his sister was too quick for him, and she unfolded it. Her eyes widened.

“What is it, Mabel?” Pacifica leaned over.

“He- he- He passed!” Mabel jumped up and threw her arms around Dipper. “Congrats, Dip!”

“Don’t strangle him, Mabel!” Pacifica admonished. “He just got his license!”

“Heh, I knew you had it in you,” Kevin chuckled as he gently pulled his wife back. The two nieces gazed up from their game, visibly lost as to what had just happened.

“Thanks, guys.” Dipper straightened up in his seat and took back the exam paper. “I just got very lucky.”

“You deserve a kiss!” Pacifica leaned in and gave her husband-to-be a peck.

“This calls for a celebration! Come, why not we have some lunch at my place?”

So as I got my driver’s license, my nieces asked me, why do I even need one? Given that autonomous vehicles are on the rise (thanks to McGucket spearheading the effort).

I just think it’s a necessary skill to have, especially since our town remains rather analogue. (The Tokenlette system is still being implemented despite being more widespread already in other parts of America). Plus, I don’t trust autonomous vehicles or Artificial Intelligence in general. Ford had told me terrifying tales of various parallel Earths under the subjugation of robots. I hope McGucket knows what he’s doing tinkering with machines.

It has been a jittery six-month period learning how to steer. For a long time, Mabel usually drives, not me. She got hers rather quickly, while I got too caught up with my own studies to really set aside time to take a driving course. I did pick up a few skills here and there, especially on the Mystery Carts, but man, taking the wheel is a whole different experience. It’s thrilling, I say!

Now to bring my fiancée for a fun drive through town!

Chapter Text

The bell rang, signalling the end of another class. Dipper Pines stuffed his papers and books into his bag before making off for his next lesson. But first, he had to extract his science textbook from his locker on the way to the lab.

“Dipper, Dipper!”

Dipper’s ears caught the excited squeals of his sister amidst the assorted noises of students filling the halls. Mabel, with no small difficulty, eased herself through the throng before coming up to her brother.

“What is it, Mabel?” He closed the locker door while having to fiddle with the lock to keep it shut.

“Have you heard?” Mabel asked.

“Heard what?” There was a standard repertoire of gossip and rumours: Jocks at war with one another, a whole class failing a quiz, a bullying act went wrong. The occasional new teacher or exchange student, whose background would be dissected and discussed at length. Or a dramatic breakup: he breaks up with her, she breaks up with him… Dipper was impervious to all of the gossip and more concerned for his studies. In contrast, Mabel, as sociable as she was, got caught in the orbit.

“I’ve heard this just now. During literature class, I got a message…”

“Wait, you were using your phone in class just now?” Dipper raised an eyebrow.

“Dipper, this is important!”

“Sorry, Mabel, but I must go to my next class.” The bell rang again, marking the end of the five-minute break students were given to move between classes. “You can tell me later!”

“But Dipper! Check your phone!” Mabel called after him.

Dipper trotted his way through the emptying corridors. On the way, he slipped his phone out to check for the important message Mabel was talking about. To his dismay, his phone had run out of battery.

“Mason Pines!” a teacher boomed. “What’s with the phone in your hands?”

Miss Lise was standing outside the classroom, waiting for the late students. She was a thirty-year-old teacher, with fiery carrot-coloured long hair matching her fiery temper. For some reason when she first took on his class, she started to pick on him, insisting that he remove his ‘ridiculous winter hat’ in her class and keep his hair short. Which forced him to have his birthmark on full display for his other classmates to ogle at. To rankle his nerves further, she kept referring to him by his actual name, unlike his other teachers. Still, regardless of his teacher's antics, he remained committed to scoring well for the subject, which, much to his pleasure, infuriated her.

And through her wiry glasses matching her wiry frame, she seemed to be looking for a reason to tell him off anyway.

“I- erm.”

“Didn’t you hear the bell? No phones are allowed during lesson time. Give that to me."

“But, Miss Lise, it was-”

“Was it a family emergency?”

“…no?”

“Then pass it to me. And I’ll report you to the principal for insubordination.”

Dipper fumed as he handed his phone over. Meanwhile, two other students passed them as they entered the classroom. The teacher did not even bat them an eye.

Principal Rocklin rubbed his forehead after Miss Lise finished her ranting. It was already the end of the school day, and the elderly, bald teacher granted Miss Lise the room to state her case, claiming it was a “severe befoulment of the school rules” that he should address. Dipper said nothing, having no opportunity to defend himself. Not that Miss Lise would listen to him, anyway.

“Thank you, Miss Lise. May I have a moment with Dipper, please?”

The teacher gave a curt nod before she left, leaving Dipper and the principal alone in the office. Principal Rocklin bent his head, frowning. Then he said, “Biscuit, Dipper?”

“What?”

“Biscuit.” He indicated a tin at the side of his desk.

“Oh, alright.”

Dipper opened the tin. Taking one, he nibbled a bite from it, waiting for the principal to speak.

“Look, Dipper. It’s been a long day for you and me. If I had the time, I would do all the standard stuff – call your parents, write up a report etc etc. But that’s not what I want to do.” Principal Rocklin heaved another weary sigh, the seat creaking underneath his large form. “I don’t like it at all when a teacher comes up to me expecting me to deal with such a minor infraction like you using your phone during class time. If you’re caught smoking, playing truant or blowing up the chemistry lab, that would be another matter. But you’re a model student, Dipper, with a decent record. I already had enough on my plate taking care of a bunch of teenagers in this school.” He indicated the pile of papers on his desk. “Just be more careful around her next time, alright?”

“She’s always picking on me,” Dipper murmured.

“Well, haven’t you heard? She’s being transferred out of state to another school. I think she’ll be leaving at the end of the term. So it’s just a few more weeks, alright?”

Dipper nodded.

The principal slid the phone across the desk. Dipper ate up the remainder of the biscuit and took his phone, pocketing it.

“See you around, Dip! Preferably elsewhere outside of my office,” the teacher added. “Have a great weekend!”

Dipper smiled as he closed the office door after him.

“Dipper!” Mabel cried, jumping from her seat. She had been waiting outside the principal’s office, having heard from her friends about Miss Lise. “What happened? Are you being punished?”

“Nothing like that,” Dipper replied. The twins started to make their way out of the school. “Principal Rocklin isn’t taking any crap from Miss Lise, basically.”

“Glad to hear that, Dip. Sorry for…”

“You don’t have to be sorry. I checked my phone of my own accord. Anyway, what’s the tea you wanted to tell me about? My phone is out of juice, by the way.”

“Ooh! It’s big news actually! Melody is pregnant!”

“Ah…” Dipper said. Melody was the wife of their adult friend Soos Ramirez in Gravity Falls. “That’s great news indeed!”

“The bus is here! Let’s get home quick so we can shower them with our congratulations over video call!”

I don’t usually write anything about my days in Piedmont. Unlike Gravity Falls, things here are generally more mundane beyond the occasional ghost haunting or a lost punk witch. But today, I celebrate with my friends over a piece of exciting news – Soos and Melody are going to have their first child!

It was unfortunate that I had to receive the news late; the Grunkles had already sent their congratulations from Peru. And I was rushing for my science class when Mabel tried to tell me about their baby. Now Mabel is already knitting sweaters for the baby.

Equally great news is that Miss Lise is leaving soon. She is one of the worst teachers I have had the misfortune to meet. Never mind that she keeps picking on me; she even made a snide remark about Mabel’s sweater once. But at least Principal Rocklin is more understanding. I really wonder how someone like Miss Lise could become a teacher. I pray whoever she’s teaching wouldn’t have to suffer like me. Best to forget about her, and I hope never to meet her again. Hsv’h ivzoob z yrgxs drgs gsv xzkrgzo ‘Y’.

Alright, this ends this short entry. Spent the rest of the evening finishing up my work and also catching up with Paz. I hope to check out the Piedmont Cemetery and Library tomorrow afternoon. Apparently, some gooey creature has been spotted there. Might be just a sick animal, or a mutated one from the factory nearby. Still, something to investigate!

Chapter Text

I yawned and stretched under the warm sunlight streaming from the window. It was a lovely spring morning, perfect for chasing birds. The funny egg bunny season was around the corner, but my hosts were already preparing these pieces of strange flat bread.

Other households I visited were all candy eggs and bunnies. This household was a bit unusual and took this ‘Easter’ celebration more seriously. To them, it’s ‘Passover’. But pass over what? For a cat like me, such human traditions make little sense. I just want to laze around, messing around with that beetle-headed boy’s head, or enjoy the warmth of the young girl’s new sweaters. Hope she didn’t mind my offerings of fur!

I yelped as that wicked scuttling sucker machine crept up to my tail! An early morning nap spoiled thanks to that strange gadget. I hopped away to higher ground and flopped down into the comforts of the leather sofa, purring.

My ears perked up as the doorbell rang. That was strange. But not strange to that scrawny tramp, whom everyone here calls ‘Dipper’ (though I know his real name to be Mason given I had read his ID card before). He rushed down the steps, nearly tripping over the ball of yarn I left behind at the bottom of the steps. I climbed up the sofa cushions, curious as to whom our new visitor might be.

“Pacifica!” the boy greeted. “Glad to see you’re able to come over for Easter!”

Ah yes, his girlfriend. Ever since he returned from that strange town up north, he had been chatting all night with this mysterious girl. I checked her profile. With her beautiful look, I was not so surprised that he had fallen for her. She lived a very glamorous lifestyle with nice gourmet food and a great big house. But her family not so long ago lost much of their fortune to my former master Bill Cipher, whom I had served as his eyes and ears like many of my cat fellows.

(Speaking of which, after his demise, I found new employment under OWCA. While still a junior, they gave me some cool gadgets to play around with. Of course, these silly humans hosting me shouldn’t know what I’m up to. Secret Acts and all.)

“Of course, how could I miss this holiday and not come and visit?” The two lovebirds went to hug and kiss each other. Ergh. Such public displays of affection. They needed to get a room!

“Where’s Mabel, by the way?” the blonde girl asked as they broke apart.

“Oh, she went for a morning walk with Waddles. She’s visiting a friend a block down.”

Ah, that fat, insolent, uncivilised creature which had been the bane of my life since he first came here. The parents tried to oppose, of course, though the children managed to convince them somehow. Such powers of persuasion! That beef-witted fatso always trampled my kitty box, lumbering around without any care, and always came into the house dripping in mud! At least I have class and elegance. Glad to have a reprieve from him, for now. I licked my paw.

“Oh, is that your cat?” the blonde cried as she stepped into the house.

That remark irked me further. I am not their cat. They are my humans! I am the supreme leader of this house! Bow down and worship me, ignorant beast!

To my misfortune, I could only let out a loud meow and stare into her splendid blue eyes. She smiled at me. I could not help but purr in approval before leaping up to her. She caught me, and I leaned forward to snuggle against her face.

“Aww, she likes you,” the boy said. “Be careful. She might want to mess with your hair.”

Me? Mess with that silky long blonde hair? Pah, she has class, and I respect her for that. Unlike that messy clump on the artless geek who always wears that outworn ushanka. I was trying to sort your hair out, alright?

“Come, my cute kitty, let’s go to the kitchen for a snack, shall we? I’m hungry from that long trip here.”

I let out a satisfied purr again as she stroked my fur. I placed my head on her shoulder.

“You know she can walk herself to the kitchen, right?” the sweaty fool said as he shot me a jealous glare. I was tempted to stick out my tongue, but instead stared back at him with innocent eyes.

“She’s a lady, Dipper. You wouldn’t understand.”

However, that satisfaction was not to last. Remember what I said about my favourite ball of yarn? Well, this sweet lady failed to see where she was going and made a misstep. I found myself flying into the air and caught in the rough hands of the scrummy boy.

“Woah, Paz, are you alright?” the boy asked as he placed me on the sofa.

“I’m fine… Yeeoow!” For a pleasant lady like her, I didn’t know she could howl that loud! I bounded away.

It turned out that the little miss fractured her ankle. So, with a plaster wrapped around her left leg, she’s cooped at home with me on the sofa as we binged watch this new show Suspicion Island. For the first time, the bum-bailey and I had something in common – we were delighted she was still staying around as she recuperated from her injury.

Dropping the ridiculous toy my hosts got for me, I bounded and positioned myself on her lap, laying on my back and looking up at her. On cue, she started to give me belly rubs. Ah… the joys of being a cat.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

I purred back, snuggling in the warmth of her lap. The cherry on top was her rubbing my ear. It was a lovely spring morning, perfect for lounging at home.

41 24 51 45 35 11 11 24 32 34 44 44 45 51 15 35 24

Chapter Text

This was alien, and it frightened her. Just a little.

And yet, it was strange. How could a hug be so overwhelming and yet something she craved so much?

And yet… maybe… it would be okay if she… let herself have just that much more. To enjoy that warm feeling. But it was not okay. She was a Northwest. Someone with dignity and honour.

Realising what she had done, she let Dipper go, frowning. She extracted a banknote and handed it to Dipper.

“Can I pay you to pretend that never happened?”

Pacifica never received a hug from anyone. Especially from her parents.

It was not that her parents didn’t love her. On the contrary, as their only daughter, they had showered her with all sorts of gifts many could only dream of. From the ponies in the stable to the new dresses of the season to the four-poster bed to the grand piano to the best set of mini-golf clubs.

Yet all of these came at a cost. To win her parents’ affection, she must prove herself worthy of these gifts befitting of a Northwest. Like the mini-golf clubs, the parents expected her to conquer the green. Or the dresses, they expected her to be the diamond above the others in the beauty pageants.

Of course, no matter what she did, she could never be enough to prove herself worthy. Her ancestors had achieved much greater things than her, eclipsing many of her accomplishments.

Some part of her, which she refused to acknowledge, had always yearned for affection and affirmation. Beyond her parents saying “Good job, but you can do better.” At most, they gave her pats on the shoulder. But they felt soulless, a mere photo-op.

As Northwests, they must remain prim and proper. Such spontaneous acts, like hugging, were out of line. Pacifica, like her parents, had a script to follow. Rigid and disciplined, that was the image her parents expected of her.

But the thrill and that sense of fulfilment were too much. She needed to translate her feelings. An outlet. And hugging Dipper for capturing the ghost just felt right. Somehow, they managed to do it in the small window of time they were given.

But she had to let go and put back on the mask. Her parents must not know the growing affection she had towards her new friend. She had responsibilities as a faithful daughter and she could not afford to fail.

The next hug with Dipper was much longer.

Everything that should not have gone wrong has gone wrong. It was all her fault. In her quest for vanity, both of them were now trapped in a burlap sack. Sold to a monster they had not seen.

As a Northwest, perfection was what she had to strive for. To be always on the dot, never one second early or late. Always be mindful of her appearance. Never let one strand of hair loose, and never crease a part of the dress. To sit upright, ankles crossed.

And now she was in the lowest position she could ever be. Sold as a slave, covered in garbage. Right next to a sweaty, awkward boy, who was still fuming about the situation they were in.

Thankfully, Dipper was also as understanding as he allowed her to spill her insecurities regarding her appearance and identity. Like the time before in the hidden room of the Manor, he had given her much-needed comfort, encouragement and advice. To be more of herself rather than listening to her dumb parents. No one else had told her this before.

She needed to express that thanks. Rushing forward, she hugged him. Dipper seemed to stiffen at this sudden gesture.

“Your head is not that big.”

“Heh, thanks.” Relaxing his posture, Dipper patted her on the shoulder.

The world she knew of came crashing and burning all around her. Literally.

Horrified about what the triangular demon had done with her family, she fled. And somehow found herself in the Mystery Shack, which seemed to stand strong against anything tossed towards it. The hillbilly had found her in tears and rags and brought her here along with the others he managed to retrieve. But ever since she was here, she had been lonely, confused, terrified and miserable.

It was the last place anyone, even herself, expected her to end up. For most of her life, she dismissed the Shack as a hovel for her family to uproot one day.

The twins’ arrival had brought her a sliver of hope, but she felt sidelined as the Pines discussed their plans for their last stand against Bill Cipher. Every meal now, she had to contend with beans or mystery meat from a can. And she hadn’t showered in forever! She was still wearing the potato sack she managed to salvage.

“Are you okay?” Mabel asked during one of those nights. Or day? With time frozen and the unchanging colour of the sky, it was difficult to tell.

Dipper, who was going through some schematics on his bed, gazed up at her. She and the twins were in the attic bedroom of the Shack. They had actually given her a place to rest with them while the others had to find other rooms to sleep in.

“What do you think?” she snapped. Not out of anger, but weariness. But it seemed to reel back Mabel. “Sorry… It’s just… What is going on? I just felt so lost… And… And and… I just feel so useless around here… I mean, you are making all making the big plans while I…”

Pacifica knew she must not sob. She must not cry and swallow her pride. But now everything was upside down and meaning had no meaning. Curling up in a ball, she let the floodgates open.

The twins glanced at each other. Then Dipper said, “Pacifica… I understand this is all hard on you. We’ve seen what happened to your parents and everyone else. But I’m- we’re really happy to see you safe and sound.”

“Paz, look! I’ve made you a sweater!” Mabel showed her a llama sweater she had knitted.

“Thanks, guys.” She broke into a watery smile. “But-”

“You’re not useless, Pacifica. In fact, the plan I’m helping to put together with Stan and Wendy involves all hands on deck. But you must be ready, alright?”

Pacifica nodded, wiping away a tear.

“I think a group hug is in order.” The two others stared at Mabel. “What? If anything, a warm, sweater hug might make everyone better.”

Pacifica was about to protest, but then found herself engulfed in a giant hug. Mabel’s arms were around her, followed by Dipper’s. Her friend’s suggestion was sound after all – the power of a group hug was overwhelming. In a good way. She had never felt this warm and safe before. She realised this was the hug she had wanted all along.

She never received a hug from her parents. But that doesn’t mean she won’t give hugs to her children.

All she wanted was to be loved. And to spread that love around too. That was what her now-husband taught her. And why she wanted children too. She has responsibilities as a loving mother and she cannot afford to fail.

And by the Axolotl does she cherish that role.

It has been a rough day for Pacifica Pines, now business entrepreneur of the ever-expanding Pacifica Enterprises. An executive is now under a cloud for tax evasion. A business partner is pulling out of an important deal over a certain clause. And she has to deal with a new wave of paperwork regarding her business operations in Brazil.

But even then, she still has something to look forward to at the end of the day. Adjusting her purple cardigan, she walks up to her home – 13B Geron Street.

“Mommy’s home!” one of her children inside calls as she unlocks and opens the door.

Before Pacifica manages a few steps in, the triplets have rushed up with their arms outstretched and hug her by her legs, nearly knocking her off her feet. She laughs, ruffling each of their hair.

“Have you three been good at home?”

“Yep!” the three reply in unison.

“Hey dear, didn’t expect you home this early!” Dipper says, wearing a greasy apron. Behind him, the pleasant scent of roast chicken wafts into the living room.

“Come here for our family hug, Dip!”

“Ah, but my apron…”

“I don’t care!” Before Dipper can utter another word of protest, he finds himself enveloped with his wife and children.

“Rough day, wasn’t it?” Dipper asks after they break apart.

The children go back to watch their favourite cartoon of the evening. Pacifica nods, feeling a telltale sting in her eyes. Dipper raises a tender hand to wipe the tear away.

“Do you want comforts or solutions?”

“Comforts.” The couple squeezes into a hug once again, with Pacifica burying herself into her husband’s hair while he nuzzles against her shoulder. They remain that way – in that much-needed moment of comfort and intimacy – until the oven timer beeps.

“Come, dear. You must be hungry. You can talk to me about it later. It’s going to be okay.”

“Okay,” she says, and Dipper offers her a tired smile before going into the kitchen.

Those days of playacting are over. No longer does she have to act like a Northwest. She is now a Pines, a family of hugs.

Chapter Text

Dipper Pines had many things. A large dorky journal, noodle arms, and a deficit of self-confidence, none of which were the proper ingredients for dancing. Still, with the tuxedo and the cologne Pacifica Northwest sprayed on him for the occasion, he was already doing the best he could. Especially since it was their first dance.

Mabel arranged their dance, actually. She first asked Pacifica if she wanted to dance. Giving her a nod, Mabel pulled her towards her brother in the middle of the ballroom. Before either could protest, Mabel had disappeared into the crowd, and the string quartet struck up a slow gentle waltz.

“Shall we dance?” Dipper extended a hand, flashing a flustered gaze at her and holding a soft smile.

Pacifica hesitated, but as the others moved around them and began their dance routine, did they have a choice? She seized his hands, placing one on her shoulder, and held the other tightly in hers. A proper dance hold, just as she was taught.

The waltz was easy enough for Pacifica and Dipper to follow. Around them, the guests swayed side-to-side to the beat, barely dancing. Never in Pacifica’s mind would she ever thought to witness the patrons of the higher-class mingling with the townsfolk in her very ancestral home. Before the Fest, she actually questioned her father why couldn’t the family make the simple move of letting the townsfolk in to end the curse on their family. But the slight ringing of the bell swept her suggestion away.

She knew that, once the Fest was over, she would have to deal with her parents over her impulsive decision. But for now, she decided to enjoy the moment.

“Is everything alright, Pacifica?”

Dipper must have registered the frown etched on her face. Quickly putting on a brave smile, she replied, “I’m fine. Just thinking about my parents.”

“You were really brave.”

“Just doing what I had to do.” Pacifica shrugged. “I can’t just abandon you and the others to that ghost. Ow- careful!”

Dipper had stepped on the hem of Pacifica’s long dress again. His gaze wandered down as he muttered an apology.

“Honestly, like that ghost earlier, I’ve no idea what I’m doing.”

“You’re doing fine, dummy.” Though not at all. That was the sixth time he stepped on her dress. But Pacifica could tell Dipper was making the effort like many others around her. Almost everyone was doing the same thing, just faking it but enjoying the tranquillity of the atmosphere. The townsfolk turned out to be more civilised than she thought.

“I once danced with someone. With Wendy,” Dipper said. “You know, the lumberjack daughter? It was not bad, but rather hard to dance with. For one thing, she was too tall.”

Pacifica chuckled. “I can tell this isn’t your first rodeo, Dipper. Just follow me, alright? Relax your arm, and mind the dress!”

Dipper nodded as they revolved around the spot and moved with the rhythm. From the goofy expression he always had on his face, she could tell Dipper was enjoying himself. The two sheriffs were dancing close by, and the young Austrian baron was waltzing with Grenda, who seemed to dwarf him with her large form. But moved with such grace Pacifica did not expect.

Pacifica then noticed the long-bearded old coot from the dump typing furiously on a rather bulky-looking laptop at the stairs behind Dipper. Something crossed her mind, and she decided to ask, “By the way, what did the hillbilly ask you about?”

“Oh… It’s a long story. And his name was McGucket. He was a scientist, actually.”

“Oh really?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Yeah, he worked for a researcher who used to investigate anomalies here. Something happened between them, and McGucket lost his mind in the process.”

“Oh dear…”

“Heh, didn’t know you could show sympathy.”

“Hey!” But before she could shoot back a proper retort, the tempo of the music began to accelerate. Time to pick up the beat.

“Your dress is really nice, Pacifica,” Dipper blurted as Pacifica led him across the waxed floor.

“Thanks.” Her cheeks heated up and her heart fluttered with the accelerating tempo. “You aren’t so bad after all.”

Their faces were terribly close together, inches apart. The blue met the hazel. And closer up, the redness on Dipper’s cheeks deepened. She knew he was feeling the same way as her. Whatever had been brewing between them was something extraordinary. Something senseless like her bold move to let the townsfolk in.

The chance to keep Dipper by her side was there. She just had to say something, anything. But she kept silent. But she also knew that they couldn’t pursue it. For now. For deep down, she knew such a love might never work out. Her parents would never approve.

It was a precious new friendship she dared not ruin. She had ruined plenty of those before. Perhaps it was better to keep those feelings to herself.

To her relief, the waltz played its final note and applause filled the ballroom. Both let go of each other rather abruptly.

“I need to find my sister. I think we had overstayed our welcome.” Dipper tilted his head towards her parents skulking in the background. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“It’s fine!” Though her squeezing heart said otherwise. Rubbing her gloved hands, she said, “I understand you need to go soon.”

“See you around, then?”

“See you around.”

That moment was too short like any lovely dream. Pacifica stood with a longing gaze at the large doorway of her mansion. Ahead of her, across the carefully manicured garden, Dipper and Mabel, the duo that made her rethink her life, walked past the imposing gates and into the night. A tale like Cinderella, whom she heard from her nanny, about a scrawny girl who snagged a dance with the Prince. Would her tale with Dipper end in such a way?

They were still as young as the night. Perhaps they would have another chance at such a meeting again. Who knew what tomorrow might bring?

Chapter Text

Mabel was stirring her cup of coffee when I entered the café. It was another Saturday, which marked the first week since Paz and I first moved into Gravity Falls and settled into our new home.

It was a slow morning in the café, and the barrister was tapping something on his phone. But he soon came to attention when I entered and started to prepare my usual order – tea with just a hint of cream. I hate coffee. I settled down on the worn leather seat opposite Mabel.

“Morning, Mabel.”

“Hi Dip- Woah, have you been sleeping well?”

“Erm…” Mabel must have seen my droopy eyes and my stiff greeting. Blinking, I rubbed my eyes and straightened up, shrugging off the temptation of sleep. “I’m fine, Mabel. How’s Kevin and your daughters?”

“Oh, great actually.” She then proceeded to regale a rather amusing story when they flew their kites around their Cottage. My nieces’ kites got tangled up repeatedly, and they had to keep scourging the large fields to retrieve them. I just nodded and smiled at the right places while taking out my Pine Tree Journal and scribbling some notes.

“… And so, what about you and Pacifica? She’s really late.” Mabel checked her phone before putting it away. Then she wagged a finger at me and said, “And don’t lie to me. Have you had trouble sleeping with Paz?”

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Well… Everything was great.”

We have been in our new home for a week and everything, well, almost everything, had been going fine indeed. Most of the time had been spent moving the furniture (with the help of the Corduroys), unpacking and sorting through our belongings, including our books, her makeup set, and Ford’s gadgets for paranormal investigating. And dusting the place, testing the roomba out, putting up the curtains and so on. Everything was indeed going fine.

Except for the sleep part. Paz has been stealing the blankets at night. And these nights have been very chilly. Especially with Paz keeping the temperature cold.

“Plus,” I lowered my voice to a whisper, “she snores very loudly.”

Mabel sniggered. Speaking of the devil, a gust of wind blew into the café as another customer came in. Pacifica had arrived. As she took her seat beside me, the barrister served us our orders: my cup of tea and Pacifica’s cup of hot chocolate.

“Hey, Mabel. Sorry for the delay.” Pacifica brushed her hair. “Had to sort out some paperwork and had a brief call with a candidate to fill in a board position.”

“It’s alright.” Mabel smiled as she studied my girlfriend. “Both of you look like y’all need more sleep!”

“Yeah… If only Dipper stop stealing my blankets! And stop kicking and punching me in his sleep!”

“Hey, weren’t you the one taking the covers and freezing me over?” I sniped back, letting out the frustration that I had been bottling up for the past week.

“You’re the one who keeps turning the room into the Arctic!”

“I thought you preferred it cold!”

“I never dare fiddle with the thermostat!”

“Wait!” Mabel cut in. “Chill down guys. Look, we’re all adults already. Can’t we talk this out?”

While we were all perhaps disgruntled from the lack of sleep and suffering from all the stresses of moving in, our work and stuff, we were also too tired to continue arguing anyway.

Paz and I… we never really shared a bed before. Much less living space. Well, with very few exceptions, like camping or road trips when we had to share a room. Even then, we had established our boundaries and kept within those lines.

Never thought living together could be this difficult. Like, even though we had known each other for years, it was a whole new thing sharing a living space all by ourselves. To see how we would function as a unit. Indeed, a true test of our relationship.

We had marriage in mind at this point, and having a home before tying the knot was our priority. So that removed the pressure of having to move all of our stuff right before our eventual marriage. We would then have more time and space to prepare for the actual event.

The struggles of sharing life closely with my significant other are inevitable. So, thankfully, like this issue of blankets, we have Mabel to mediate the issue.

“So you two were sharing a blanket, and then at some point, either of you would steal the covers for yourself… I guess my knitted blankets are that comfortable, aren’t they?”

“Mabel, now it’s not the time…”

“Why don’t you two instead have a blanket each? That’s what Kevin and I do, anyway.”

Well… We never really thought of that. I glanced towards Pacifica, who took a sip of her hot chocolate.

“Another way, of course, is I can knit larger blankets, so you two have more covers to share,” Mabel went on. “A cover that can wrap around the bed twice!”

“Well, these aren’t bad suggestions,” Pacifica said, placing her cup on her saucer. “Maybe we can try with two blankets and see how that works out.”

“Yeah… Thanks for the advice, Mabel.” Pacifica and I got up from the table.

“Glad to help! Hope to hear how it works out!”

“…and that client from Kobe could barely speak English yet expected us to understand his demands…”

As the saying goes: ‘Never go to bed angry’. So we had a ritual before sleeping to discuss the problems we had for the day. Afterwards, we either carry on the discussion exploring potential solutions or wrap it up with a hug. More often the latter. For as my wise sister said, tomorrow’s problems are tomorrow’s problems.

“Come here, Paz.” Along with her treasured llama plush, we cuddled each other, enjoying each other’s warmth despite the blankets between us. The cold air from the air conditioner continued to blow around us.

And of course, as a cherry on top, I leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead.

“Thanks Dip.”

“Are you comfortable, Paz?” I whispered in her ear as I caressed one of her hands underneath her covers, drawing little circles on it like she always liked to. “Do you need another blanket?”

“Nah, I’m fine.” She squeezed me closer and nuzzled against my neck, her long blonde hair rubbing against my chin. I never figured out how she got her hair to remain so silky and soft. “It’s really nice, sleeping together.”

“Yeah. We can talk about random stuff. Like the latest movie, family…”

Somehow our conversations drifted to a brief exchange of jokes and puns, and we jabbed and poked at each other as we giggled at our lame jokes. That really drained whatever energy we had left on that day, and the last I remembered before drifting off to sleep was Pacifica’s dreamy smile and her warm gaze. But I was soon awakened by the familiar tug of the blanket.

“Paz, stop taking my blanket,” I murmured, still half-asleep.

“It’s not me! You’re taking mine!”

“Wha… -at?” I made an effort to grip my covers again, which only seemed to pull forward but not toward Pacifica. I sat up straighter and put on my glasses. The light came on with two claps (a marvel of smart technology these days).

My blanket had been dragged off the bed. I looked over the edge, and it disappeared!

“Dear, help me!”

It seemed someone, or something, was under our bed stealing our blankets. And it was Pacifica’s turn. She was trying to retain hold of hers to no avail. Despite my help, the blanket thief only pulled back harder, engaging in a brutal tug-of-war. Soon, I was already sweating from all the exertion.

“I think it’s better to let go,” I suggested to Paz.

Tired from this midnight exercise, she agreed. As the blanket thief consumed her covers, I decided to investigate and check under the bed.

I did a double-take at what I saw. The thing underneath had a humanoid form yet was impossibly inhuman. You know what my sister always said about the bogeyman? Yes, Paz and I somehow had one underneath our bed. The familiar elongated face, black beady eyes and a misshapen mouth without lips.

His face would have been so horrific, if it hadn’t looked back at us with a very silly expression like a child caught hiding his Halloween candy stash.

“Erm, hi?” he greeted while trying to stuff the blankets away.

Paz and I could only stare back at him. If we were much younger, we would have shrieked and fled from our bedroom. But we’re adults now, with many experiences through our close encounters with the paranormal. So this was just another night. Welcome to our life.

Paz was the first to recover from her shock. She demanded, “Who are you?”

“I, er- I’m just a humble merchant selling human wares-”

“And you’re here to steal out stuff?”

“Well, erm… I didn’t really exactly steal them.” He shifted over to reveal a pile of silver. “I just needed to sell something to my customers, and they love these blankets. Or whatever y’all call it. They’re really comfy!”

Well, it was thanks to my sister’s sewing skills, of course.

“Argh…” Paz and I both returned to our beds. “So this guy has been killing our sleep!”

“Well, I’m sorry really!” the boogeyman replied from underneath. “I assumed you didn’t need them since you keep pushing them off the bed!”

“You know the way to get rid of a boogeyman?” Paz asked in a lower voice.

“Sure do.” I got up from the bed and lumbered off to my study where I kept my Journal. And later wrote in here this entry regarding our first troubles moving in.

The boogeyman, or whom we should call the blanketman, eventually returned our blankets and paid us some of the silver for all the trouble. A pleasant chap, alright, but I hope we don’t have to deal with any more midnight surprises like this guy. Before I turn in for the night, I should put up all the necessary charms against any more unwelcomed guests interrupting our rest.

Honestly, the entire blanket situation is just one of many small troubles. We had fried bigger fish before and gone through a lot of crazy stuff together. And I swear by the Axolotl, everything more we still have to go through, we will go through it together. We shall overcome.

42 12 52 44 52 55 34 24 44 32 43 25 35 21 54 53 42 44 43 14 22 31 32 35

Chapter Text

Candy Chiu walked up the steps to a small cottage nested among the wide plains. Excitement squirming in her stomach, she raised a hand and knocked on the door.

While waiting for the door to open, she looked around. It had been a long time since she had visited her friend after she began work at NASA. It was still early morning and a faint mist from the morning dew floated around among the tall crops. The sun drifted up across the pink sky, sending fresh gleams through the mist.

The door opened. A blearily-eyed Mabel Pines in stained pyjamas emerged, yawning.

“Who is- oh- oh!” Her eyes widened and she gasped.

“Morning Mabel,” Candy greeted.

“Candy! Long time no see!” She squeezed her into a bone-crushing hug. “It’s so good to see you!” She let her go. “Come in, come in!”

Mabel led her through the house. Everything was still the same as she had remembered, though less cluttered this time for them to move around. The quaint fireplace. The small stacks of papers and books for her art projects. A couple of model sculptures. It seemed Kevin, Mabel’s husband, had managed to scrape away the mold patches that plagued the cottage the last time she was here.

“How’s Kevin and your daughters?”

“Oh, they’re fine. Couldn’t be better! Come and sit here!” Mabel indicated a seat at the kitchen table. “I’ll go get some lemon meringue pie.”

“Ah, I’m only dropping by. I had to relieve a teacher at my old school.”

“Huh?” Mabel raised an eyebrow. "Why you? Couldn’t they get another teacher?”

“The teacher I’m covering just called in sick at the last minute and many others are busy,” Candy said. “So the principal, who happened to be an old classmate of mine, called me.”

“Ah, I see. But you still need some breakfast before taking on a bunch of kids!” Mabel served Candy a plate and poured two cups of coffee before sitting down beside her friend. “The drive to here must have been long, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. And thanks, Mabel.” Candy took a fork and began eating. “And so, how’s ol’ Dip and Paz and their kids?”

“Haven’t you heard? That my brother-”

“Yeah, I know. Paz told me Dip is sick and need my help too. That’s why I’m also here. Well, it seems I’m killing two birds with one stone! How’s Dipper now?”

“Last I heard, his condition is stable. The Druidess is taking care of him.”

“The Druidess… That little old elf who treated your snake bite long ago?”

“The very same.” Mabel nodded. “Though might be her daughter or sister now – the elves all look alike, whether young or old!”

Both laughed. Candy stirred her cup of coffee and took a sip, her glasses fogging up. It was strong, just the way her friend always made her coffee.

“Actually, what poisoned Dipper?” Candy asked. “Paz wasn’t clear to me on this.”

“I’m not too sure as well. Something about a bite from a venomous animal or something. Well, this isn’t unusual given the many shenanigans my brother was up to.” Mabel shrugged. “Anyway, I’ll know more when I visit my brother with Paz later. I will ask the Druidess for more details.”

“I see. Well, I better get going.” Candy took the last bite of pie and drained the rest of her coffee. “It’s almost time for school and I need to prepare the materials!”

“Wait!” Mabel exclaimed. “Let me drive you there!”

“You don’t have to. My car is just outside-”

“They’re charging higher parking fees for outsiders. I should drive you over.”

“Hmm…” Candy cleaned her glasses as she pondered over the choices. “Alright. Since I’m really tired from all the driving.”

Candy got into Mabel’s car. As they made their way down on the dirt track leading to the main road, both continued to catch up, mainly on the recent going-ons of Gravity Falls and Dipper’s children. Candy chuckled as Mabel recounted the children’s first adventure in the woods and their encounter with their woods.

“Such mischievous children!” Candy remarked as they came to a gate.

“Yeah, very much like my own.” Mabel sighed. She pressed a remote control in the car and the gate opened, allowing them to the main road. “But now they are lawyers. Time really passed by fast.”

It soon turned out Candy made the right choice. As Mabel started to drive down the main road towards town, a truck, entitled Vogel Laboratories, appeared from the opposite direction and crashed into Candy’s car!

“Oh my gosh!” Mabel braked the car hard and Candy jerked forward. If not for the seatbelt, Candy would have hit the dashboard. “Sorry, Candy!”

“It’s fine!” She glanced behind. The truck appeared unscathed, for it had reversed and, with the revving of engines, resumed its journey. The crumpled remains of the car lay by the roadside.

“Gosh.” Mabel got out of the car, with Candy following behind. “If you had taken your car, who knows what would have happened…”

“Does this happen often?” Candy asked as they examined the wreckage.

“It’s a blind spot here,” Mabel replied as she took out her phone, calling for the emergency services. “Sometimes trucks from the opposite direction would crash into vehicles parked there. Thankfully not very often. But why did you park here? You know you could’ve driven in?”

“Oh! Because the road into your farm was fenced,” Candy explained. “And I wanted my visit to be a surprise, so instead of alerting anyone, I just parked outside and walked in. I don’t remember your farm road having a fence.”

“Ah, I see. We fenced off the road because some people had been parking on our property. Which choked up the road leading to my home, you see. By the way, does your car insurance cover this?”

“Maybe.” Candy was still recovering from the shock. “I need to call the school. I’m going to be late!”

Thankfully her friend the principal; was understanding, and Candy still arrived on time to relieve the first science lesson of the day. With the busy day of handling the kids and guiding them through their schoolwork, she pushed the incident out of her mind. What mattered more was that she was safe. Back in her old school.

Chapter Text

“The cheddar puffs are mine!”

“No, I picked them! You have your popcorn, I have my puffs!”

“You already took half of my caramel popcorn- Hey! That’s the last choco-cake!”

“The eldest gets the last pick!” Nita shouted back at her bickering siblings.

“Kids, can y’all three stop fighting?”

The three siblings and their two redhead cousins were having a picnic at the clifftops above the town. It was babysitting time, and Aurora and Aurelia Pines thought it would be a great idea to bring their younger cousins to the clifftops to admire the picturesque view. The trip to the clifftops could have gone much better if the triplets didn’t keep whining, complaining or arguing every five minutes, interrupting the tranquillity of the glade.

“If y’all keep arguing, I’m packing this up and we’re going back down,” Aurora threatened as she straightened the picnic blanket. “On foot! Now, who wants some lemon meringue pie?”

That seemed to end the argument as the three whooped and gathered around their cousin.

Slicing her mother’s pie into ten pieces (two for each of them), Aurora took out a paper plate and placed one.

“Now patience, my young ones… there’s enough to go-”

Without warning, something seemed to swoop down and the pie slice was gone! The five looked up. A hawk soared away. Or at least what looked like a hawk. Instead of claws, the thief clutched the slice of pie with tentacle-like limbs.

“Damn it, that stupid hawktopus!” Aurora shouted.

“Let’s not worry about that,” Aurelia urged her sister. “There are nine pieces left. I’ll take only one instead so everyone else has two.”

“Wait, didn’t Dad say something about those creatures coming in flocks?” Nita said.

“Gah, incoming!”

The five were forced to flee with whatever they could as a swarm of freakish feathery creatures came to join the party.

“Phew, we should be clear of those birds by now. This should be a good place to have a picnic, shouldn’t it?”

Indeed it was. As they descended the slope, the five chanced upon a clearing surrounded by tall saplings. Clumps of primrose greeted them, and from somewhere nearby came the pleasant smell of hidden violets.

“Aurelia, I need the toilet.” Nilam tugged her cousin’s sleeve.

“You’re nine. You can go anywhere in the woods to relieve yourself, right?”

“But… what if I get lost? And you have warned us about the monsters in these words!”

“Oh, alright,” Aurelia relented. The two then disappeared into the trees, while Aurora, Nita and Taka set up the picnic mat and snacks.

“I know you two might be hungry, so I’m taking out some sandwiches first,” Aurora said as she took out two sandwiches, wrapped in tin foil, and handed them to her cousins. “Then we can move on to the main course when Aurelia and Nilam return.”

“Hmm… this egg sandwich is really good!” Nita said as she unwrapped and started to munch on one.

“Heh, a simple recipe actually. From college.”

“How’s it like, Aurora, studying law?” Taka asked.

“Unnecessarily complicated, tedious and stupid,” she replied as she tied her long red hair. “Boring, with a lot of words and technicalities.”

“Then why study law?”

“Well, you see…” And then they passed the time munching over sandwiches as Aurora elaborated on her and Aurelia’s passion for the subject.

“The air is great, isn’t it?” Aurora remarked. “And look, a cute robin!”

A small robin hopped across the grass close to the three humans, tilting its head. It let out a short “tuk”.

“Aww… it’s sooo adorable.”

“Where’s my sister and Aurelia?” Taka shifted in his seat. “They should be back by now.”

A movement in the trees soon answered his question. But it was only Aurelia staggering out of the woods.

“Hey, there you are!” her sister called as Aurelia rushed towards her. “Wait, where’s Nilam?”

“She’s gone!” She sounded aghast, her voice strained. “We came across an outhouse in the middle of the woods, so I let Nilam use it. Then after a while, I felt something was amiss. I checked the outhouse, and she disappeared!”

“Wait, slow down. Can you bring us to the outhouse?”

Aurelia led the four into the woods and they soon came across a small rickety wooden shed. At first glance, it looked like some normal outhouse. But-

“Why is there one in the middle of the woods?” Taka asked.

“Hold on! I remember Dad or Grunkle Ford saying something about those mysterious outhouses.” Nita clicked her fingers. “Ah yes, those are Portal Potties!”

“Porta Potty?” Aurelia raised her eyebrows.

“Portal Potty. With the l. They-”

“Let me guess, in some sense they are literally ‘portable’, right?” Aurora cut in. “Aunt Wendy and Dad say something about those things too. Especially some lumberjacks disappearing because they needed the loo.”

“So wait, did I accidentally send Nilam somewhere?”

“Hmm…” Taka went up to inspect the outhouse. “Well, it seems to be the case.”

“But where could she have gone?”

“I think we better call-”

“Hello!” The five spun around. Nilam emerged from behind a tall oak, smiling.

“Nilam!” Aurelia looked at the empty outhouse, then back at Nilam. “Where have you gone?”

“Actually…” Nilam then delved into an exciting story. Apparently, when she stepped out of the potty, she found herself somewhere in a desert. She did panic for a while, of course. But as what her father had told her before about such situations, it would be best to go back, wait inside and keep calm. So after a few minutes, she found herself back in these woods.

“…so I came out from another outhouse over there. The path was familiar, then I figured if I followed down the route, I would find myself back here!” She finished off her explanation by spinning around on the spot with outstretched hands, smiling at them.

“…ok. Glad you’re fine!” Aurelia went to squeeze her little cousin into a tight hug. “You had us all worried! Now let us return to our picnic. The pie is going cold by now.”

“This picnic had been wild. First hawktopi. Then portal potties. Then- oh come on!”

With the picnic food left unguarded, the gnomes, who had been spying on the humans, had jumped out for their lunch. However, upon their return, the gnomes dropped whatever they had and scampered off like frightened bunnies.

“Damn it, now our picnic is totally ruined!” Aurora said as she and her sister went to pick up whatever pieces of food that the gnomes left behind.

“Well, it could be worse,” Nita remarked while still clutching Nilam’s hand.

“Er, is it just me, or is the ground shaking?”

Taka was right. The little pebbles at their feet started to jump around them, with the shudders of the ground and the rustling of leaves intensifying.

“Whatever it is,” Aurora said as she packed the basket, “seems like we need to go!”

“Can’t we catch a break?” Nilam cried as they ran away from whatever that was coming their way.

Stan Ramirez hummed a tune to Straight Blanchin as he counted the money from the cashier. His shift was ending soon, and it was soon time for his brother to take over.

The door banged open, interrupting his calculations.

“Oh shoot, couldn’t some dudes- woah, you five! What happened?”

“You wouldn’t want to know,” a bedraggled-looking Aurora replied. The five haggard faces greeting him and the few tourists in the gift shop were a far cry from the enthusiastic group that trooped out that morning. Leaves and twigs were still sticking out from their hair, with some mud and greenish-purple stains splattered on their clothes.

“Rough day, eh?” Stan stacked the pile of money and placed it in the cashier. “Didn’t Uncle Dipper warn against having a picnic in the woods, given how wild the wildlife can be this season?”

“You don’t have to lecture us, Stan,” Aurelia said.

“Well, on the plus side, dudes, Mom just made some chocolate cake-”

“With peanut butter frosting?” Nilam perked up.

“Last one into the kitchen gets the slice without frosting!”

“Hey!”

The mention of chocolate cake seemed to have refuelled some energy to the triplets. The trio pushed against themselves as they rushed to the kitchen.

“Slow down, children!” Aurelia followed the children from behind.

“Heh, very adorable kids. Well, time for me to lead the afternoon tour.” Stan slid out from behind the counter and took his father’s Fez. “Anything else for me, Aurora?”

“Erm… How much do we have to pay you for the picnic basket?”

12 32 24 15 24 24 41 51 54 52 51 23 24 44 31 15 13 52 24 24

Chapter Text

October heralded a time of changing colours. The golden rays of the sun cast over the pretty leaves, some swaying with the crisp breeze of nostalgia and comfort.

But not for Stan Ramirez, who was toiling under the same golden rays as a busload of tourists passed him. A great mess of fallen leaves had spread all over the driveway of the Shack. His father, Soos, had tasked him to sweep them all up.

“But, Dad.” Stan protested. “Wouldn’t more leaves continue to fall? Then I would have to sweep them up again!”

“It’s for the tourists, little hambone. Wouldn’t want to make the Shack look messy to them. Also, your Mom wants to make them into compost.”

October was the worst month for him. For one thing, he hated pumpkin, and the fall season was full of it. The scent was inescapable. And he was not looking forward to Halloween either. Ever since he was 14, as the eldest, Soos had tasked him to oversee the decorations for the Shack. His father always made an all-out effort to pull off a tremendous show for Halloween to match the town’s enthusiasm. So he had to help stitch banners, paint posters and sling wires across the trees surrounding the Shack for the streamers.

It was good business, alright, but it meant a busy season for him and the others. Especially today. Throughout that morning, the leaves continued to fall no matter how much effort Stan swept them up. By the afternoon, surrounding the driveway were many mounds of leaves, and Stan had given up. Wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead, he straightened up. It was nearly time for lunch, he reasoned, and he would have his younger brother and sister to help him out after that.

“Stan! Stan!”

Stan looked around. Ah. The Pines had arrived for lunch with his family at the Shack. Their three little children bounded after him, with Dipper behind trying to catch up. Their mother, Pacifica, was in deep conversation with Melody.

“Hey, leaf piles!”

He glanced back. “No, don’t-!”

“Whee!” The triplets ran past him. The leaves rained all over them as each launched themselves into the piles of leaves.

“I’m supposed to clear them!” Stan let out a groan as they tossed the leaves at each other, scattering them all around.

“Eh, let them have their fun.” Dipper chuckled, joining him. “I’ll help you out.”

He let out a heavy, reluctant sigh. “Thanks, Uncle Dipper.”

“Ahhh…” Nita laid down on her flattened pile. Her little hand seemed to have struck something squishy. “Wait, is this a bug? Eeek!”

“Hahaha…” Taka sat up. “It’s just a bug, Nita. What’s there to be scared- eeeek!”

Taka jumped from his pile of leaves as a stream of spiders erupted close by.

“Come on, children,” Dipper said. “Those piles of leaves are dirty and full of bugs, you see? Now let Stan sweep them up while you three go and shower, okay?”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Sorry for all the trouble, Stan.”

“Eh, it’s ok.” Stan shook his head as he took the rake and resumed his task. Troublesome kids, alright. But he still recalled his days in childhood doing the very same. He chuckled at the memory as he swept up the piles.

“…And that’s how to use a leaf blower, kids!” Dipper said as he guided his son holding one. “Hey, point them here! Yes!”

“Way to go, Taka!” Mabel said.

Meanwhile, Stan and his brother Ford Ramirez were sweeping up the remaining leaves into one huge pile. Pacifica and Soos were collecting the leaves into bags.

“Did I tell you three about the time your Aunt and I defeated some pesky gnomes with this leaf blower?” Dipper asked as he turned it off.

“No, we haven’t.”

“Ah… it was during our first summer…” And Dipper and Mabel proceeded to tell the kids about their first misadventure of their first summer.

“And I had a brainwave to use this leaf blower, and blow all the gnomes away! Like the big bad wolf!”

“Taka, you missed a spot here,” Dipper said.

“Hey, get that thing away from me! Aah!” The gnome scampered away, muttering a string of angry curses. “I just want some leaves for my- alright! Alright!”

“Come, let’s help the others wrap this up,” Dipper said as he handed his children gloves and small bags for them to collect the leaves.

Near evening, the driveway was nearly cleared, save for a few stray leaves. But Soos decided that was enough, for the compost barrel was already full.

“This should be enough for Mel.” Soos said as he deposited the last bag of leaves into the barrel and locked it. “This is for the carrots and turnips we are growing for thanksgiving. And whatever excess compost can be packaged into fertiliser and sold.”

“A nice idea, Soos.”

“Heh, thanks.”

“Great job children!” Melody called from the Shack entrance. “Who wants some pumpkin spice?”

“I’ll pass,” Stan said.

“I’m tired.” Nita slumped on the ground.

“Haha… Thanks for the offer, Melody.” Dipper took out a flannel handkerchief to wipe away the beads of sweat on his forehead. “But we have dinner at home. And I’m guessing my children were all tired.”

After waving the Pines off, Soos and his children turned back into the Shack. Ford muttered something about needing a shower and went upstairs.

“Stan, I guess you must be tired too after a long day outside.” Soos placed a hand on his eldest son’s shoulder as they passed the gift shop. “You know what, later I’ll have Ford and Selena to help with the papier-mache.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“You did a very good job, Stan.” He went to squeeze his eldest into a hug. “Help your Mom with the table. Your favourite tuna paella is getting cold.”

And that ended another day in October as Stan watched his Dad and brothers set up the Bill Cipher effigy outside of the Shack. As the eldest, he had the most responsibility on his shoulders. But he was glad his Dad granted him breaks at times.

Which made him unable to shake off the heavy weight of guilt in his stomach. Soon he was turning 18, and Soos was not at all subtle in expressing his wishes for him to succeed him as the Man of Mystery. Even he was named after the founder! But at this point, having worked in the Shack from childhood, Stan realised he was not at all cut out for the job. It was not that he had any trouble leading groups at all, but instead, he felt his heart was not in this place. How was he explain to his Dad that he wished not to take over? His biggest desire was to go beyond the town, perhaps following the Pines’ mother’s footsteps in establishing a name for himself.

Perhaps he would explain to his Dad for another time. Draining his can of Pitt, Stan climbed down the roof and made his way back to bed.

Chapter Text

The day has finally come. Words cannot describe how happy I am right now, coupled with a mix of relief and pride.

Paz is alright. Still drained and sore, but we’ve finally made it. I can tell she’s overwhelmed with joy like me.

Today is Halloween. Which is no small celebration for this little town of weirdness. It’s an occasion not to be missed, given how passionate this town is to commemorate the holiday. If Summerween (Halloween but in June) is already a massive treat, well, you must really come to town when it’s October 31st. The town will pull out all the stops, with a grand festival of homemade food and drinks fit for a king’s welcome. The scent of pumpkin spice is inescapable. It’s as festive and joyous as Oktoberfest in Germany. Well, like that festival, some people go overboard and do foolish things on that day. But besides those irresponsible idiots, everyone, young and old, has a great time trick-or-treating in their scary costumes.

And it’s the only day the monsters can emerge from the shadows and mingle with the townsfolk with the Never Mind All That Act relaxed. Including the local vampires, trolls, and elves. After all, they are the guests of honor, and they fit into the celebrations just fine. And like the original ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, the highlight would be the people lighting bonfires and burning a papier-mâché of Bill Cipher in the town square. A tradition for a safe and easy winter ahead.

The holiday is a great tourist magnet as far as the Mayor is concerned. So he’s happy enough to inaugurate the festivities and soak into the celebrations. (And, every time, without fail, we’ll see him passed out in front of his office the morning after).

It’s little wonder why Halloween is my absolute favorite time of the year. But for this year, however, we have to miss all the festivities. Not by choice. Nevertheless, today calls for much larger celebrations for subsequent Halloweens. For it is the birth of our triplets.

They’re so small. And delicate. Like dandelions. Their little fingers cannot even wrap around my thumb. Two are snoozing in their cots, but one is still wide awake, looking up at me with his big curious eyes. I run a gentle, slow finger through his fine hair. He’s blonde, like his mother.

His name Mintaka now seems pretty apt, for it’s actually a binary star system. He has heterochromia, so one eye is blue and the other is hazel. A curious genetic condition, but that’s what makes him special.

His two other sisters are basically copies of me, sharing my brown hair. While the eldest (Alnitak) has my hazel eyes, the 2nd (Alnilam) has my wife’s eyes – blue as sapphire. And she has another unique trait. Actually two. One of her hands has seven fingers and her right foot has seven toes. (Her other feet and hand are normal, so she has twelve fingers and toes like my Grunkle Ford). My mother, who visited some hours ago, remarked that looking at Nilam is like looking at me or Mabel but with deliberate mistakes.

But her imperfections are what make her perfect. I named her middle name Cuhullin which references the Irish warrior hero and demigod with seven fingers and seven feet. For Nita, her middle name is after the famous scientist whom Ford and I really admire, and I do hope she can take after Marie Curie’s curiosity. All three seemed to have inherited my wife’s lovely petite nose.

The others have visited a few hours before. Thank the Axolotl for visitor limitations in a hospital room. Everyone, from Mabel and her family to my parents to my grandpa and my grunkles to my friends Soos and Wendy have already cooed, admired and welcomed the three newest members of the Pines family. Amidst all the meet-and-greet and excited chatter, Pacifica fell asleep. Well, she has a long day, and I had the others out before the doctors and nurses would do that. The doctors have checked on Paz and the babies, and everything so far is alright. Especially since they are born premature.

It is wild that my children are already here. For some time, Nita, Nilam and Taka sounded like concepts. Something that would happen in the far future. But they are here. They are real. And perfect. I know they will be, but it was just hard to imagine just how perfect they will be.

Already my whole world is revolving around these three. I love them so much. And now this is where the real adventure begins, and I can’t wait. Life may be unpredictable (having triplets wasn’t the plan at all), and I expect more bumps in the road ahead. But at the end of it all, we’ll all be a united clan.

Alright, I need to sleep soon. It’s late at night, and I should take this opportunity to rest. For I know when handling three at once, we can forget about having a shuteye.

“Goodnight, my little children,” I say to each of them. I should get to the sofa before I-

Hello! Proud new mother of three here! Heh, Dip has fallen asleep looking after the kids and me. Well, he has helped enough. So while he rests, let me check what my lovely dork has been writing. I should be resting more; yesterday was so tiring. But I can’t resist adding my thoughts. Despite the first-class treatment I have, I’m still counting the hours until we get out of this sterile place and back to the comfort of our home.

The entire journey has been crazy, to say the least. As Dip has said here, we weren’t totally prepared to have a child this early, but we kind of knew this would happen. And the wrench got tossed in the mix again when it was revealed I would be having triplets. The past few months have been really insane, shuttling through all the appointments, check-ups and baby showers.

Really many, many thanks to Mabel, Kevin, Wendy, the Grunkles and my in-laws for all their support. And even Dipper, who has put his projects of the supernatural on hold and stood by my side, looking out for my health, and preparing us for the next stage of parenthood. I’m fortunate to really marry him. And he’s going to be a great father, for he’s a very caring man towards me, Mabel and the others.

Today Yesterday was pretty much a blur for me. All I remember are multiple contractions and loads of pain. But Dipper and Co were really quick, jumping on Operation Orion and ensuring I was in the county hospital within an hour or so. Heh, a few pages before really laid out the Operation in full detail and right down to the last millisecond. (A plan very similar to Operation Aurora Borealis for Mabel’s birth)

In honesty, I never thought I would be a mother of three this soon. In fact, I’m not sure how to even be one. At least better than my mother, I hope. Speaking of which, I noted my parents’ absence while the others came and visited. Instead, my former butler and long-time friend Scalburry dropped by. He gave me this lovely card congratulating me and his best wishes for my new family.

Nevertheless, I still have an example to follow, and that’s my mother-in-law, who has been very supportive of our relationship. I’m not going to let my upbringing determine how I will be as a mother. I do wish the best for my kids and be there for them, despite my own work obligations.

The kids are really as adorable as how Dipper has described them here. They all look so serene like the setting moon outside. In contrast to them constantly squirming around (and perhaps fighting) in my womb. Perhaps they are glad for the extra space now.

I have never imagined it would be possible to love anything like this ever. Even as they were the source of constant pain for the past few months. But it all pays off to see their little eyes and listen to their little squeaks too.

This is far from the end, and just the beginning of a new journey. But I’m eager to continue on this path with Dipper. I love my children, and I’m certain each of them will have a bright future ahead.

12 21 52 52 35 44 42 24 53 12 42 11 53 22 51 34

Chapter Text

Darth Taka sauntered into the great hall, his long black robes billowing behind him. High above was his prize – the Artefact – shaped like a mini spherical battle station. Small it was, but it contained all the valuable knowledge and secrets he needed for his Master.

He stretched out his hand, calling upon the Force to summon it. But he soon realised this was not as easy as he thought. Even as he strained with all his might, the Artefact refused to bulge. Well, no matter. He just had to-

A soft fwump perked his ears and he straightened up. Of course. The Artefact would not be been foolishly left unguarded. It would have been too easy.

“Hello there,” a familiar voice spoke behind him.

“General Alnilam.” He turned around, one hand already reaching for his lightsaber. “You are the bold one.”

But as he prepared himself, he heard another soft fwump behind him. He half-smiled. If Nilam was here, then her sister was close behind. Always two they were. No more, no less.

“Darth Taka, you are under arrest,” the other girl, Nita, said. She was identical to Nilam in every way, save for her hazel eyes. “Surrender now in peace or meet our blade.”

“You wouldn’t get away this time,” Nilam added as she moved closer to Taka.

“Ah, this is all a trap, isn’t it?“ He half-turned slowly to meet his other adversary, his hand still caressing his blade. ”No matter. I’ll pick option three.“

”I don’t recall mentioning an option three, Darth,“ Nita said with a calm yet determined gaze towards Taka.

”Do you never tire of this pathetic banter?“

”Not at all. This is your last chance. Surrender, or choose to die.“

”That choice was made long before I ever met you.“ He directed his odd-coloured eyes right at Nita. ”To kill you two.”

Lifting off his dark hood with a flourish, Taka held out a long-bladed lightsaber like an offering. Gleaming blade fire jutted from both ends of the handle. Red and green. Contrasting as they were, like his odd-coloured eyes of hazel and blue. A smile crossed his feral face as he swung the weapon around him in an idle, casual gesture, beckoning the girls toward him.

The two sisters exchanged a glance across the room. With a nod, the two sisters also removed their outer robes and drew their weapons.

“Option three? Then we’ll do what we must, Darth,” Nita proclaimed as they ignited their lightsabers.

“You will try,” Taka said.

He leapt, his lightsaber angled for the kill. But Nita was prepared and defended herself, her purple blade clashing with the red. Nilam launched herself forward, but Taka whirled to a side as a blade of blue missed his shoulder by inches.

The battle was on.

Alnitak Curie Pines was one of the most able swordspersons in the Galaxy. Trained under the best of Masters and fought in conflicts all across the Galaxy, she had survived battles that had tested her skills and resolve in every conceivable way. Few had stood a chance against her.

But on this day, she had met her match. Her fellow padawan and sister, Alnilam Cuhullin Pines, had brought youth, agility and stamina to the combat, but she had fought in only a handful of battles and was not battle-hardened. While able to hold their own against their dangerous adversary and protect the Artefact, they were woefully inadequate in their efforts to attack.

Darth Taka was a warrior in his prime, his powers at their apex. He had worked and trained all his life for this moment, for a chance to meet a Knight in combat. It was an added bonus he came across two. He had no fear for himself, no doubt that he would win. The dark side of the Force on his side, Taka worked his way between the two.

A tragedy that he happened to be a triplet brother of the two sisters. Blade-to-blade, they were identical, bringing to bear every skill each had acquired over the years. After thousands of hours in their sparring sessions, they knew each other better than friends, more intimately than lovers; they were complementary thirds of a single warrior.

Wheeling and spinning, leaping and somersaulting with astonishing ease, the three siblings fought their way across the room.

“My powers have doubled since the last time we met,” Nilam declared as she deflected another of Taka’s blows.

“Good. Twice the pride, double the fall.”

Taka’s agility and dexterity allowed him to keep his sisters both at bay, constantly attacking while blunting their counterattacks at the same time. They were way too predictable, their skills unrefined and clumsy. But he had to stand his ground, slipping from one side to another as he fought each of them in turn, trying to crack an opening into their defence.

Nita pressed hard, sensing how dangerous her brother had become. Her braids flying out behind her, she pressed on with ferocity, determined to put a quick end to the combat. Nilam followed her sister from behind.

Taka leapt, spinning up and away as his sisters approached him, and landed on the table in the room. They followed, one coming up in front of him, one behind, pinning him between them. Down the length of the table they fought, with either end of Taka’s saber clashing with his sisters’.

The table was not strong enough to accommodate all three of them and their antics. Sensing the creak of the table, Taka backflipped just in time as the table gave way, dumping his sisters unceremoniously to the floor. He drove his blade towards Nita, but she threw herself into a backroll that brought her back on her feet. The sparring continued, their blades blurring even faster than before.

“Don’t make me destroy you, Nita.” Taka’s voice had gone deeper than the Bottomless Pit. “You’re no match for the power of the dark side.”

“Never expected to hear this from you, brother,” Nita said through gritted teeth as she tried to push her brother to a corner, swiping and stabbing with a series of blows. Her lightsaber was a mere extension of herself than a separate weapon. But Taka countered her every move easily, wearing her out. She found herself slowing down, barely able to counter her brother’s strikes.

Taking advantage of her tiredness, Taka kicked a droid right at his sister, knocking her into a wall. Stunned and trapped, Nita looked on with helpless eyes as her brother lifted his blade for the kill.

But Taka sensed something. A danger from behind. He turned around, barely managing to defend himself from Nilam, who had recovered and crept up to him.

The pantomime continued. Stroke for stroke, Nilam and Darth Taka battled, their blades flashing faster than the eye could see.

She was much quicker, Taka noted. Every move reflected her vicious fury and determination to win. Anticipating each blow, she was able to elude his efforts to bring her down. He was having no luck getting past her guard. Once, he was nearly caught off guard as he lost his footing. Nilam’s blade scorched his tunic, shoulder to waist, and barely escaped her by rolling back on his feet.

That should not happen again. He refocused his determination, parrying against his sister to match her stamina and speed.

“This is the end for you, Nilam,” he said. “I wish it were otherwise.”

“Yes, Taka, so do I.”

She swung, he leaned aside and deflected the thrust. He swung; she dodged, his lightsaber slicing through a pumpkin-shaped droid. Juice sprayed out brighter than blood. Their blades clashed, humming with impact.

Something dangled above them. Taka looked up. His prize was overhead. The Artefact was still left unguarded this whole time.

He launched himself into the air, reaching for the Artefact. Nilam jumped too, in an effort to shield the Artefact from him.

With the strike of their blades, the Artefact shattered. Debris and candies flew over them and tumbled all over the ground.

The room burst into applause as both Taka and Nilam landed back on the floor. Nita joined her brothers, and all three bowed.

“You three did very well!” Dipper praised, clapping as he went up to the front. “That was a great show!”

“Indeed. That was splendid, little dudes!” Soos, also Mr. Mystery, chimed in. “Really something straight out of Space Trek!”

“Woah, slow down! Slow down, you three!” Pacifica said as the triplets jostled against each other, trying to collect as many candies as they could from the destroyed piñata.

It was Halloween. And the 13th birthday of the triplets. The usual cheap party decorations, streamers and balloons draped the hall, matching the various Space Trek merchandise including astromechs, life-sized models of aliens and spaceships hanging from above. Even Soos painted a starry sky on the ceiling.

Of course, a party was not without its people. Almost half of the town, humans and creatures alike, had arrived for their 13th birthday, all dressed for the occasion. Even the Mayor had arrived, chatting with some of his fellow constituents.

For this year’s celebration, the triplets put together a lightsaber show. During the past few weeks, they trained under a stunt coordinator, an old friend of Mabel’s. Under her, they had fun learning basic swordsmanship and fencing skills. Even Nita, who wasn’t really athletic. And their hard work paid off as many others complimented them on the various aspects of the show. Especially their warrior costumes, which were sewn by their mother with the help of Mabel.

“Come, you three. If you’re done fighting over the candies, it’s time for the birthday cake!” Melody said, rolling out a trolley towards the children. On it was a large three-tiered cake with 13 candles ablaze on top. Everyone squeezed in around the triplets and started to sing the birthday song.

With one united breath, the triplets blew out the candles. Everyone whooped and clapped, with Soos firing a confetti cannon..

“I now officially declare you technically teenagers,” Aurora, their redhead cousin, said with a grin. “Welcome to angst and acne forever.”

“One of us! One of us!” the teenage Ramirez children chanted.

“So how do you feel?” their Uncle Kevin asked.

“Same-y,” Nilam said, “but different-y.”

“Yeah, a bit strange,” Taka said, brushing his hair. “A little older, I guess.”

“I’m still the eldest!” Nita teased. “This doesn’t change anything!”

“Hey!”

“It’s time to open up the presents!” Pacifica quickly interjected, recognising the signs of an imminent argument.

At one end of the hall was a long table laden with many presents, each colour-coded representing each of the triplets – Tangerine (not orange) for Nita, blue for Nilam and green for Taka. Within seconds, the floor was strewn with wrapping papers. The packages included gummies from their Aunt Mabel, Mystery Shack merchandise from the Ramirez family, and new virtual game sets, books, toys and some clothes from the others.

The best was often saved for last, nevertheless. Here came the highlight of the day as Dipper and Pacifica took out their presents to present to each of their children. The triplets exchanged a momentary glance as they received their gifts. Spare for the colour of the wrapping paper, the presents were all the same size – small, flat yet wide. Which might mean a lot of things.

“Come on, then. Open them!” Dipper urged as the others looked on, anticipation on their faces.

The triplets unwrapped theirs, and all gasped in unison.

Nita’s present was an instant camera. A relic from a generation past, but still used for plenty of occasions. Like her father, she had found an interest in photography, for she liked documenting and observing things and people around her.

As for Nilam, she received a pair of binoculars. Fumbling, she tried them, peering and zooming at something across the room. For someone who desired to look far ahead and explore beyond her comfort zone, this gift suited her best.

And for Taka, a very special gift. It was a new leather-bound Journal in sea-foam green, his favourite colour. But unlike his father’s Pine Tree Journal, the cover was blank without any symbol – yet. He opened the book. Already written inside on the first page were messages from his parents granting him well wishes for using the book. He smiled. This was what he had wanted all this time. A new Journal to write his stories and document any of his and his siblings’ adventures.

“These are your presents. They aren’t toys, but tools,” Dipper explained. “The time has come for you three to start your own adventures.”

Each of them seemed to have fallen speechless, struggling to find words to express admiration for their gifts. Eventually, all said in unison, “Thanks, Dad.” and hugged their Dad by his legs. Dipper chuckled along with many others as he rumpled their hair.

Later, as the others set off their fireworks and lit up the Bill Cipher effigy outside the Shack, Taka began to write his name in his first Journal.

Some adventures end on someone’s birthday. But new adventures also begin on birthdays too. Who knows what the future might hold for him and his sisters? He looked at the blank pages all waiting for him to fill up. It was now a new chapter for him and his sisters. A new story for them to take over from the previous generation.

24 54 32 22 15 32 21 11 22 44 44 45 24 55 15 53 43 34 32 24 45 55 24 24 21 43 54 13 24 44 32 53 43 24 12 52 22