"Don't worry bro-bro, I'll be right back!" Mabel cheered, brushing off Dipper's worried glance in her direction as she ran off out into the woods in search for her brother's hat.
Coming back from their latest search for the supernatural, Mabel noticed that Dipper's beloved cap was no longer perched on his head. He reasoned that it must've fallen off when they were running in terror from the very thing they were after, Steve. The large tree monster had thought that they were there to chop him down and attempted to scare the kids off, with success.
Mabel smiled to herself when she heard the calming sound of birds tweeting amongst the trees. Her smile slowly faded from her face when she thought back on the events that had taken place over the summer of being in Gravity Falls. From mysteries begging to be solved to large triangular demons attempting to destroy the universe. No matter how frightening the situation was, Mabel got through them, with the help from her family. In the short time in the small town she had made so many friends and memories there. It was going to be hard to let them go come next week.
The smile on Mabel's face slowly fell as she realized how little a time she had left to spend with her friends and family. Dipper had decided to stay in Gravity Falls with Great Uncle Ford to be his apprentice, much to Mabel's horror. Who was she going to lament to now when she had problems in school? Who was she going to pick on every second of the day now that Dipper wasn't going to be there? Without her brother, she would be lost. Sure she would have her parents, but they weren't her favorite twin in the whole world.
Mabel was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the hole in the ground, nor did she see the hundreds of pairs of beady eyes staring at her from within the trees. She barely managed to let out a scream as she stepped right into the large hole in the ground. Falling quite a few feet, she landed on the ground with a hard thump. Mabel lay there for a minute, trying to gather the strength to move, but her body wasn't cooperating. Mabel couldn't feel her left foot and there was a large pain growing in the back of her skull. She managed to pull herself up off the ground, favoring her right leg for support as she attempted to find her way up and out of where she had fallen down.
She managed to find a few vines that were growing inside the dark hole. Tying them together, she made herself a rope to hoist herself up with. The strain on her arms as she pulled herself up made her realize just how bad that fall had been. She cut her hands up pretty bad on the thorns the vines were covered in, but managed to escape the hole. Being above ground once more gave her the time to look herself over. She cringed when she took in the damage that had occurred. Her foot, which she still couldn't feel and was suddenly glad she couldn't, was bent at an odd angle, bone sticking out from her skin where her ankle was. It was bleeding profusely and was turning a sickening shade of purple.
The back of her head was throbbing as well. Bringing a hand up, she covered the spot with her hand and flinched when she touched something warm and sticky. Pulling her hand away, she noticed a lot of blood staining her otherwise pale skin. A sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. She swayed in her spot, her vision going dark for a moment before she managed to shake the feeling off. She wasn't going to give up though. She had come out here in search for her brother's cherished hat and she wasn't going back without it. So against her better judgement, she pushed on further, ignoring the way her vision had once again blurred and the throbbing in the back of her head grew worse.
It had been a few hours since Mabel had left the shack and Dipper's constant pacing had gotten on Stan's nerves. The man was trying to run a business here and his mess of a great nephew was ruining his profits. He had offered the boy a break for a bit to clear his head, but that didn't seem to help. The longer it took for Mabel to come back, the more wound up the boy got. Even Ford seemed a bit worried for the lad, going as far as offering the kid a round of their favorite game Dungeons, Dungeons, and More Dungeons, to which the kid turned down. Stan could understand why Dipper was worried, Mabel should've been back by now, either with the crappy hat or without it. It's not like Dipper couldn't just get another one from the shack, Stan wouldn't have minded.
Before Dipper could pace the shack once more, the front doors slammed open to reveal a very tired, very disheveled Mabel Pines. In her hands was the very had that Dipper had lost. All of the occupants of the shack turned to look at the bruised and battered girl that stood in the doorway.
"The savior has arrived!" Mabel shouted, holding the hat up in the air.
Not one person said a word as they watched the girl sway from one side to the other, her eyes sliding closed. Her body slumped over and she hit the floor face first. Dipper was the first to act, rushing forward to gather his fallen sister in his arms and lifting her up to bring her inside. Stan and Ford followed behind the boy into the back room, rushing off in different directions for things that they need. Dipper placed Mabel onto the couch in the livingroom, taking the seat next to her head to brush her bangs out of her eyes. Dipper felt tears threatening to fall as he looked his sister over to assess the damage that had been done.
Stan and Ford came back in the room, one with a medkit and the other with a phone in their hand. As Stan was talking to the police, Ford had come over to help Mabel. He wrapped her head in gauze and set her foot in place. Adding a splint in the meantime, he propped the injured appendage up on the arm of the couch. He placed a cooling pad overtop her head and foot to help with the swelling as well as her fever. Dipper hadn't moved from his spot on the couch, his hand now holding his sister's limp one. The hat placed back on his head a heavy reminder of what caused all of this.
Wendy and Soos were called over as well, each of them being just as worried as the other occupants in the room. The twins parents had been notified as well, Stan saying that she had fallen and hurt herself. Their parents were worried, so much so that they offered to come pick her up early, but Stan had managed to talk them out of it, saying that Mabel might not be coming home as soon as she was supposed to. They both understood, telling Stan to call as soon as he could to update them on Mabel's condition once she woke back up. All they could do now was wait for her to come to so they could ask what had happened.
All Mabel could see was black. She couldn't feel the unbearable pain as she did before, instead she felt light, lighter than air itself. As she floated in the inky blackness, she heard the sound of muffled chatter. It sounded so far, yet so close to her, like it was happening right in front of her; however she couldn't make out what was being said. As the muttering lessened, so did the darkness. Slowly, she was able to make out where she was, and that was nowhere. The place she was in held nothing in it. Just a blank white canvas. Mabel felt floor materialize beneath her feet.
Frowning to herself, she wandered around in hopes to find something, anything to help her distinguish where she was. Just as she was about to give up, a door materialized in front of her as well. She paused in front of it, her eyebrows drawn together in confusion as she walked around the door that seemingly led to nowhere. Shrugging her shoulders, she grabbed the doorknob and turned it, opening the door with a loud creak. Suddenly the white turned into gray and the air grew cold. A loud cackle echoed around her as the door flew wide open and a harsh wind knocked her backwards and off her feet. Skidding across the ground, she brought a hand up to block her eyes from the chilling wind that was whipping her hair around.
When it died down, she slowly pulled her hand away from her face, her mouth falling open in shock. There before her was the very demon they had banished back to wherever he came from. His bright yellow form glowed in the dull gray landscape. His top hat and bowtie ever present along with his cane. He hovered above the ground, his one eye opened wide to take in the nothingness that was Mabel's dreamscape.
"Sheesh Shooting Star, this place could use some decorating." Bill mocked, howling with laughter at the stunned look on her face.
"Bill? What are you doing here?" Mabel questioned, rising to stand up.
The dream demon said not a word as he circled the small girl, his eye shining with mirth. The look in his eye made Mabel shiver, he seemed to be circling her like she was pray waiting to be devoured, and perhaps she was. Not a word between the two was exchanged and before Mabel knew it she was waking up. The pain that she had felt earlier hit her full force when her eyes fluttered open. Bill immediately flew out of her mind as she screamed in pain, startling everyone in the room. She wreathed around on the couch, her eyes scrunched up as the pounding in her head and the burning on her foot became the only thing she felt. She didn't notice the long screams of pain she let out, nor did she notice the look shared between everyone in the room, but she did notice Ford step forward, a shot in his hand.
Mabel felt all the pain melt away as soon as the needle came in contact with her arm, in fact she felt everything slip away once more as she was put to sleep. Once again she was met with the gray landscape she had left only moments before. The same yellow triangle she left there was now lounging on a sofa that came from nowhere. Mabel walked forward, flopping down on the piece of furniture as well. Bill glanced over at the girl, watching as she settled down in the seat next to him. He was pleasantly surprised when a pig poofed in out of nowhere and settled itself in the girl's lap. It oinked at her before resting it's head against her stomach and fell asleep. Mabel lifted a hand to pat the pig on the head, ignoring the somewhat proud look she was receiving from the demon next to her.
Bill cleared his throat a bit, trying to form a conversation in his head with the very girl that had beaten him and foiled his plans only days ago. He had thought that his bubble that held her captive was enough to keep her out of the fight that he didn't even think to check up on her every now and then. She played a necessary part in his plans and if she was out and wandering around, he wouldn't have been able to complete what he had planned. Even though he was still defeated by the puny humans, he couldn't help the mild fascination with this one. She was about as crazy and reckless as he was, today proved that. She had always had that spark in her, the one that drove Bill to putting her in that bubble.
Sure she was important to his plan, but he didn't need to go through all the trouble in keeping her safe, that was just extra. What he needed her for was simple, he needed bait. The girl was perfect, she affected so many without even knowing it. If he took out the heart to everyone, his plan was basically set in stone. What he didn't plan for was that pesky Pine Tree to go digging around in the bubble and actually getting her out. That place was supposed to reveal to you your deepest desires, keeping you trapped there for all eternity; how that boy managed to repress them was beyond Bill, but he had done it.
"Ya know what Shooting Star? I have an idea." Bill spoke suddenly, pulling Mabel back from la la land.
The girl glanced over at the demon, seeing how his eye widened a bit. He flew off of the sofa, hovering no more than a foot in front of the brunette still reclining on the sofa. She managed to give him a halfhearted glare, one which Bill ignored in place of grabbing her wrist and hauling her to her feet. Mabel let out a low growl of annoyance, but let the monster do what he wished. He didn't seem as bad now as he usually did, so she didn't see the harm in humoring him a bit.
The demon saw the apprehension hidden deep in Mabel's eyes, but before he could comment on it, the look changed into one of stoicism. The light in her eyes seemed to die and her small smile that had once housed her face disappeared with it. If Bill had a mouth he would've been frowning right about now. This girl he had seen so lively not even a minute ago seemed to have disappeared right along with the light in her eyes and Bill had no clue why. He wasn't one for human emotions and he definitely didn't understand them, but he knew that this wasn't exactly normal; especially for someone with as large a heart as Mabel. Her emotions were worn on her sleeve for everyone to see not hidden behind a mask she put up.
"What kind of idea did you have in mind?" Mabel inquired, raising an eyebrow at the demon who hovered motionless, staring at her.
"That is for me to know, and for you to find out, now wait here." Bill chuckled, and with that he was gone. Mabel was once again alone in this dreary place.
'Earlier Bill said something about decorating, can I really do that?' Mabel wondered, closing her eyes tight and imagining a large open plain.
Reopening her eyes, she found that what she imagined appeared. Squealing, she closed her eyes once more, picturing the clear night sky filled with many stars and thousands fireflies fluttering about. She opened her eyes and there around her was everything she imagined. A small smile graced her features as she gazed up into the night sky. She stared in wonder as a shooting star passed over head, leaving a small trail of white in its wake.
"Pretty isn't it?" A voice whispered, grabbing Mabel's attention from the night sky.
She looked over to see Bill, he had his eye glued to the sky as he wondered aloud. Mabel agreed, turning back to look up. The peace that fell upon them was light and cheerful. The sound of crickets filled up the calm silence. Mabel thought up a bench and turned to sit down on it, motioning the demon to do so as well. The duo sat together in silence, enjoying each other's company in this special moment.
"About your idea, what was it?" Mabel asked, turning her head to look over at the triangular being.
"I-er...Well I guess I could show you it." Bill turned around, his back turned to the girl.
Mabel attempted to look overtop him, but she was shooed away. She sat in silence as she waited for whatever Bill was doing. When he turned back around, Mabel saw something in his hand. The demon was looking away from her, holding his hand out while the other one scratched at his side. He seemed a bit bashful and Mabel found that cute. She reached out to take what he offered, a thank you on her lips.
"It's a shooting star, like the one you saw a moment ago. I made it." Bill muttered, turning a light shade of red, not out of anger however.
"Thank you, it's beautiful, but uh...what do I do with it?" She asked, holding the star in her hand.
"Oh, here let me." Bill took the star out of her hand and fastened it onto a chain.
He motioned for her to spin around, and she did so. She saw his hands come into view as he placed the star around her neck and clasped the necklace together. She reached up to hold the star in her hand, feeling its warmth pulse beneath her fingertips. Mabel turned around, smiling at the demon who was looking at the star in her hands. If he had a mouth, Mabel knew he'd be smiling.
Their little moment was cut short however, because Mabel felt that similar feeling of waking up. She gave Bill one last smile and a wave before she was gone and he was alone once more. Bill stayed in his spot a bit longer before he let out a sigh and disappeared from Mabel's dreamscape, back to his own, where he resided.
Mabel opened her eyes, taking in the bright white light right above her head. There was a doctor peering down at her as he looked her over. When Mabel began to wiggle around, it grabbed the attention of the doctor who was busy looking over her foot and head. He gasped, reeling back before he called for the nurses to come in. Within seconds the hospital room was filled with commotion. Nurses were rushing about checking her vitals and asking her questions about who she was. Mabel was a bit overwhelmed to say the least, but answered everything they asked. After a long few minutes the nurses and doctor seemed satisfied with their work and left her to her own devices.
Lying in a hospital bed was the most boring thing Mabel had to sit through, no one there to keep her company. The plain white walls doing nothing to entertain her at all. Just when she thought she would die of boredom the door to the room burst open and Dipper came running in. He was a mess of tears and snot, but Mabel welcomed the hug with vigor. Behind him she saw her two favorite Grunkles walk in, small smiles on their faces. She greeted them with a hug of their own. The three guests made themselves at home in the small room, seating themselves down in chairs scattered around the room.
"We're so glad you're awake Mabel, it's been weeks." Dipper gushed, brushing her bangs out of her eyes.
Mabel blinked up at him, a frown forming on her face. There was no way she was asleep for that long, it felt like 20 minutes tops. Dipper could see the question forming in her head, but he was distracted by something wrapped around her neck. It seemed to be a glowing rock of some sort, pulsing with light. Dipper reached out to touch it, but flinched back when Mabel practically pulled away from him. Dipper looked up to Mabel, but he grew scared at the look on her face. Her eyes were wide open, her mouth set in a thin line as she pulled further away from him.
"What is that Mabel? I've never seen anything like it." Dipper asked, attempting to calm the girl down.
"It's a necklace. A friend gave it to me." Mabel responded, still clutching the object to her chest.
"Who's the friend, Mabel?" Ford spoke up from his corner in the room. His eyes were locked on the star clutched in her hands.
Mabel swallowed a lump in her throat at the look in her Great Uncle Ford's eyes. It was as if he was staring through the object into her very soul to figure out how she had gotten it. Mabel closed her eyes, wishing she could be asleep once again so she could spend more time with her new found friend and not on trial waiting to be convicted for treason once Ford found out who gave it to her and who she had been with.
"Alright you two, let the poor girl rest, she just woke back up. Quit pestering her about a necklace, it's very pretty Sweetie." Grunkle Stan spoke up, nodding in Mabel's direction as he shooed the two out the room.
Before the door closed behind the two, Stan turned and gave Mabel a wink. She smiled at him as the door closed, glad to be alone for once. With that, she fell back to sleep, tired from the run-in with her family.
