The trees swept by the bus in a green blur as Mabel watched, her hand tightly grasping a backpack sitting on the seat next to her. It was quiet but for the gentle rumbling of the engine, and she sat and thought.
It was two months ago that she had last heard from her Grunkle Stan. Going back to his old con artist life after being kicked out of the Mystery Shack was hard for the old man, but he managed to keep in contact with her pretty well. They tried to visit each other, but Stan kept changing addresses and Mr and Mrs Pines didn't want him around their house. However letters worked well enough; every time she saw one in the mail her heart jumped with joy.
Stan often said letters from Mabel were the only thing keeping him going, but she never mentioned the same was true for her.
That was why when they stopped coming, she panicked. Against the reassurances of her parents she wrote letter after letter that returned to sender, called up the police at all the addresses she knew… until she got her answer. Her terrible, terrible answer.
Stan was dead, stabbed to death in the back alley of some big city. He was dead, and Mabel couldn't help thinking that if he'd just been allowed to keep the Mystery Shack…
No. No use in blame. So with a heavy heart (and an unusual feeling of swallowing her pride) she dug for her brother and great uncle's email address and told them the news.
Dipper replied, and arrangements were made for a funeral. Bus tickets were sent over, and here she was. Making that same ride she had made so long ago, from Piedmont to Gravity Falls.
That same ride, but everything was different now.
A sign caught her attention from the green blur: 'Welcome to Gravity Falls'. Mabel shook herself and straightened up, bringing the backpack onto her lap as she caught sight of a bus stop up ahead. The bus braked with a squeal, and slowly came to a stop by the sign on the side of the road. There was a man standing next to it – Dipper? No, Soos. He looked like he hadn't slept since he got the news about Stan, but gave her a big smile and a wave upon seeing her.
Mabel waved back. Then the doors opened, and she stood up. Taking a deep breath, she slung her backpack over a shoulder and walked across the aisle.
Down the stairs.
Stepping foot into Gravity Falls once again.