This is a crossover AU between "Gravity Falls" and "Spirited Away," which are owned by Alex Hirsch and Hayao Miyazaki, respectively. Can a young girl who finds herself in a magical place rescue herself and her family?
Gravitated Away
Chapter 1: Wrong Turn
Mabel was being driven by her parents in the family station wagon. She was playing in the back seat with two socks with glued-on googly eyes.
"What did one sock puppet say to the other sock puppet?" Mabel made one hand ask the other in a squeaky voice.
"I don't know, what?" she had the other say in a deeper voice.
"I think you could use a hand!" She giggled loudly at the joke.
"Mabel, please be quiet back there," said her mother. "Your father is trying to concentrate. I think we made a wrong turn on our way to your summer camp."
"No we didn't," said her father. "I'm sure we'll find it soon."
"I wish I didn't have to go to camp," said Mabel. "I'm going to miss Mr. Whiskers, and my friends Amy and Lisa."
"The fresh air in Oregon will be good for you," said her father. "It's not smoggy here like in Piedmont."
"You'll make new friends at camp," said her mother. "You're good with people."
"Mom, I have a question," said Mabel.
"Yes?" said her mother.
"Did I ever have a sister or brother?" asked Mabel. "Sometimes it feels like I did."
Mrs. Pines gave a little gasp.
"Mabel Hero Pines," said her father. "Why did you ask that? You're going to make your mother cry."
"It's all right, Huck," said her mother. "She didn't know. Mabel, you had a twin brother. Both of you fell into a river when you were very small. We were able to get you out safely, but your brother was never found."
"Oh..." said Mabel. "I'm sorry."
They passed through a tunnel into a valley. On the left was a sign, "Welcome to Gravity Falls."
"Gravity Falls?" said her father. "I didn't think we were close to there. I used to have an Uncle Stanford who lived here, but he disappeared about thirty years ago."
"Let's find somewhere to ask directions," said her mother.
"There's a place," said Mabel. "Greasy's Diner. We have food."
"That doesn't sound very appetizing," said Mr. Pines. "But I'm feeling really hungry."
"Me too," said Mrs. Pines.
"There's something super weird about this place," said Mabel. "I'm getting these vibes. Let's go back."
"Don't be silly," said Mr. Pines, something Mabel heard every day.
They parked the car and entered the diner. It seemed deserted.
"Is anybody here?" asked Mr. Pines.
"There's a buffet set up on the counter," said Mrs. Pines. "I'm going to have some food. It smells delicious."
"Maybe you shouldn't..." said Mabel.
"Don't worry," said Mr. Pines. "We'll pay for it. I have cash if they don't take credit cards."
Her parents grabbed plates and eagerly loaded them up with fried chicken, sausages, and corn on the cob.
"Have some too, honey," Mabel's mother said to her.
"I'm not hungry," said Mabel. "All right if I play outside? There's some grass calling me to roll in it."
"Don't go far," grunted her father with his mouth full.
Mabel played by herself, rolling in the grass as shadows began to fall.
A young brown-haired boy about her age ran up to her. He had a serious, worried expression.
"What are you doing? You can't be here when it gets dark," the boy said. "Get out of Gravity Falls!"
"What?" asked Mabel. "Why?"
Strange shapes began to emerge from the forest and headed down the road past them. Some were tiny, and some were huge. None looked completely human.
"You shouldn't be here," said the boy. "I'll distract them while you run for it."
"I have to get my parents," said Mabel.
She went back inside the diner. Her parents had knocked down more food and they were eating it right off the floor.
"What are you doing? Something way, way weird is going on and we have to get out!" Mabel called to them.
There was no answer but grunts. Before Mabel's eyes, both of them turned into pigs.
"This is just a bad dream! Just a bad dream! Wake up, Mabel!"
Mabel turned and ran. She raced up the road toward the tunnel, but it had filled in. As she turned to look for another way out, she raised a hand and discovered she could look right through it.
"Ooh, nightmare! Go away, nightmare!" Mabel said.
When she turned, the boy was there again. He had a small piece of chocolate in his hand.
"Eat this," he told her.
Mabel shook her head. "Uh-uh."
"If you don't eat it, you'll disappear," the boy said.
Mabel decided she had to trust him. She took the chocolate and ate it.
"Now you're solid again. Try to touch me," said the boy.
Mabel gave his arm an uneasy poke.
"That worked," said the boy. "Now come with me."
"What about my parents? They turned into pigs. I mean, I've always wanted a pet pig, but not for my parents to be pigs," Mabel said, babbling.
"You can see them again, but not yet" said the boy. "Right now, we have to sneak you into the Mystery Spa."
"The Mystery Spa? What's that?"
"It's a bathhouse and tourist trap, run by Stanbaba. I work there. You'll need to get a job there too, to be safe in this place."
"This is so weird, but for some reason I trust you like a brother," said Mabel. "Let's go."