Like other stories in the "Potionate" AU series, this explores the effects of love potion on the lives of the Pine Twins and the people they know. All characters belong to Alex Hirsch, not me. Has Mermabel.

Potion Pooled

Chapter 1 - Water Balloons

"Ah, the pool! A sparkling oasis of summer enchantment!" said Mabel.

Stan said, "Yeah, nothing like sitting in a moist tub with strangers. It's like the bus, but wet."

Dipper looked at the towel Soos was holding. "Why would a sun need to wear sunglasses?"

"It's best not to think about it," said Soos.

"Whoa, whoa! Stop the presses! Who's that?" asked Mabel.

She was looking at a handsome young man whose hair was blowing in the wind.

"Oh, yeah," said Soos. "Word is, dude never leaves the pool. People say he's a 'mysterious loner'."

"Is it getting hot out here or is it just that guy?" said Mabel.

"It's the hottest day of the year, Mabel," said Dipper. "Besides, can't you go for one week without having a new crush on some random guy?"

"Uh-uh. Look at his little mustache hairs!" said Mabel with a gasp.

"You are clearly enamored. Go to him," said Soos.

Mabel ran around the pool, tripping over a bucket and stumbling over people in lawn chairs. "Aaah! Oops, sorry."

"It's so beautiful!" said Soos.

"Eh, Mabel's all talk," said Dipper. "You wanna know a secret? She's never even kissed a guy before. She always messes it up somehow."

"Oy, women," said Stan. Then he yelled as a water balloon was thrown in his face.

"Hey, Mr. Pines!" said Wendy.

Stan said, "Wendy? Where's the lifeguard?"

"I am the lifeguard. I make the rules, sucka! Boosh!" said Wendy, throwing another water balloon.

"Aah! She's attacking me with water!" said Stan.

Wendy, Soos, and Dipper laughed.

"Wow. You work here?" asked Dipper.

"I found out lifeguards get free snack privileges," said Wendy. "Plus I get the best seat in the house."

"Yeah, you do!" Dipper laughed, then said to himself in a whisper, "I've been laughing for too long..."

"Dude, are you and Wendy having a secret staring contest? 'Cause I think you're winning," said Soos.

"Soos! Shh!" said Dipper.

He pushed Soos away, then turned back to Wendy. "So, hey, you wanna go chuck more water balloons at Grunkle Stan?"

"I'd love to, but I gotta spend the day doing tryouts. We're looking for a new assistant lifeguard," said Wendy.

"Hey," said Dipper, first in a high voice and then in a lower-pitched one. "What if I was the assistant lifeguard?"

"That would be so much fun!" said Wendy. "You're totally in, dude! You just have to check in with my boss first, Mr. Poolcheck."

"Your boss?" asked Dipper.

He was nervous, but he went over and talked to the man.

A few minutes later he came back with a whistle around his neck.

"Hey, Wendy, I got the job!" said Dipper.

"Sweet!" said Wendy. "Let's abuse our power. I have this great prank planned and I need your help."

"But what if Poolcheck catches us? He seems emotionally unstable," said Dipper.

He looked at Mr. Poolcheck, who was doing push ups on the chain-link fence.

"Nah, don't worry, man. You just gotta be sneaky about your rule-breaking. Race you to the no running sign!" said Wendy.

Dipper followed, but slowed down when he saw Poolcheck looking his way.

Wendy led Dipper around the side of the supply storage shed.

"Help me spike some special water balloons with this stuff," said Wendy, picking up a bottle filled with a pink liquid.

"What is it?" said Dipper.

"There's a rock festival that comes to Gravity Falls once a year, called Woodstick," said Wendy. "Last year I found this dropped on the ground. Home-made hippie perfume."

Dipper read the label and chuckled. "Summer Love. For a love guaranteed to last all summer long."

"It smells like roses and daisies," said Wendy. "I don't use girly stuff like this myself, but it would be great to throw on people."

"Sure, sounds fun," said Dipper, eager to go along with whatever Wendy wanted.

Wendy held a half-filled balloon open for Dipper. "Okay, pour some in."

Dipper did this, getting a little on Wendy's hand in the process. "Oops, sorry."

"Don't sweat it," said Wendy. "It's going to be great working with you. We can have fun all summer long."

There was a new expression on her face that gave Dipper hope.

"We sure can," Dipper said.

"Dare you to throw this balloon on Mabel and that guy she's flirting with," said Wendy.


Meanwhile, Mabel had been rebuffed once by the young man, named Mermando. He had told her that he had a terrible secret, and she was intrigued enough to offer him a wet sandwich.

"I like sharing things. Sandwiches, secrets," said Mabel. In a whisper she added, "Share your secret, beautiful stranger."

"That wet sandwich does look delicious," said Mermando. "Oh, very well. But you must never tell another living soul my terrible secret."

Mabel nodded.

"You have to stay away from me because I am... a merman!" said Mermando, pushing away his rubber raft for a second so that she could see his fish half.

"Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were gonna say you had a girlfriend!" said Mabel.

At that moment, Dipper threw the potion-spiked water balloon from a distance, and it splattered over both of them. To Dipper's disappointment they didn't react, because they suddenly had eyes only for each other.

"My second secret..." said Mermando, gazing fondly at Mabel, "Is that I am falling madly in love with you."

"Oh my," said Mabel, beaming with joy.


On the other side of the pool, Stan and Gideon had begun a dispute over the perfect chair. While they were occupied, Wendy sneaked up with another spiked balloon.

"Gideon! Get outta my chair, kid!" Stan yelled.

"Oh my, was this your chair? I had no idea," said Gideon. "Yes I did, Stan, I knew," he added in a whisper.

"Move it, you little troll!" said Stan.

"First come, first served," said Gideon.

Just then, Wendy threw the balloon at Stan's back. But he had spotted her out of the corner of his eye, and he dodged. The balloon landed on Gideon instead.

"Stanford, did you ask your employee to throw water on me?" asked Gideon. "I... don't mind at all, you sweet, sweet man. Here, the chair is yours."

"What's the trick, Gideon?" asked Stan.

"No trick," said Gideon. "I'll stand right beside you and fan you gently to keep you cool."

"Ugh! Come on, Soos," said Stan. "Beating the heat isn't worth this. You won this time, Gideon."

"Please stay, Stanford," said Gideon.

"Forget it!"