She was a very normal girl. Sure, she had her every day quarrels with her twin brother, met up with her friends to play out her usual antics, and sometimes developed an unhealthy obsession with things. But that was what normal girls did, right?
She was absolutely, a one hundred percent sure that was what normal girls did. Listening to boy bands as a teenager, having awesome summer vacations with her family, developing your average crush on every boy she met.
Mabel Pines looked very normal through normal people's eye vision.
But Mabel Pines was anything but normal.
It wasn't her strange sense of humor that made her weird. Nor was it the extraordinary way she dressed herself every morning when she had to go out. Mabel loved picking out various outfits to grab attention, to scream with clothes rather than words that she was adorable and easy-going. However, it wasn't her attitude that made her stand out either.
The Pines family had a dark secret. And if the Pines learned their newborn anything, it was that they should keep the secret bound to the family, no matter what. No one else was supposed to know.
As a child, it was very difficult to keep her mouth shut about it. Luckily for her she had a logical brother to keep her on the right track, instead of spilling the beans that probably had been kept in a jar for decades, if not centuries. Dipper, as the family had dubbed him, was far more intellectual than his twin sister. He was the one that came up with conspiracy theories, the one who unravelled the mysteries and the one who constantly warned her about things.
But they didn't let it bother them. They both learned that they had weaknesses and strengths, and that when they worked together, they were unstoppable. That was quite a necessity in this cruel, harsh world. Having a partner made the hurt easier.
Of course, this also meant that without your partner by your side, you got vulnerable. Mabel seemed quite laid-back when she hung out with her friends, but when trouble was around the corner, she would most likely panic and do something stupid. Dipper was the one that saved her out of that mess more than once. Except he wasn't there the exact moment it happened.
Nor could he have warned her about it, or prevent it like he usually did.
It all happened so fast. Poor Mabel had little time to react.
"Mabel! Are you going to the library?"
The brunette looked up from her comic book, her legs still happily rocking back and forth as she remained sprawled on her bed, laying on her stomach. When she saw her brother coming into her room and recognized the stern look on his face, she squinted her eyes in slight discomfort and confusion.
Dipper sighed. "Have you forgotten our agreement?"
He sounded disappointed, but that didn't faze Mabel. At least not a lot. "And you have forgotten how to knock," she shot back with a glare. Despite that, she sat up and closed her comic book, albeit doing it with a look of discontent. "I don't want to study, Dipper..." she whined.
Mabel tried her best with the puppy eyes. That much, Dipper could notice. It didn't work however, as he kept his foot down and folded his arms. "I know Mabel, but I promised mom and dad I would help you with your grades," he informed her. The boy paused, but continued when he saw the retort forming in Mabel's brain. "I'm also aware that I have my own classes today and can't help you with your studying, but that doesn't mean you can't make a head start."
The corners of her mouth fell and she kicked at an imaginary rock lying next to her bed.
"Man, this stinks," Mabel continued, flopping back onto her bed with little regard for the comic book. "We're magicians! We shouldn't be forced to study all this stupid stuff. We've got magic to learn!"
Dipper immediately pressed a finger against her lips. "Shh!" he grunted. "Nobody's supposed to know that! Well, at least not the 'normal' humans, for the time being..."
Mabel pushed his hand away, sitting straight up on her own bed now. She faced her brother with an annoyed look on her face, barely containing the eye roll she so desperately wanted to do. "Oh come on, bro. We're inside our own house," she reasoned. It wasn't like she was screaming it on the roof at the top of her lungs. She only tried to do that once. "Besides, it's not like that's our biggest problem here."
Dipper eyed her unamused. "It's not funny and you know it. When it comes to magicians, our family is nothing but a failure..." He casted his eyes downwards.
The brunette felt bad for what she had said. Her brother was right.
"Cheer up, Dipper," she said, forcing a laugh. "Tell you what, I'll go to the library right now, and when I come back we can play a quick game of Call of Duty, alright?" Mabel playfully punched his shoulder, earning her an honest smile from her brother. He nodded.
"Sure. But this time, I'll kick your ass."
His sister clicked her tongue, turning around to leave her room in order to get to the library. "Language, bro!"
Dipper grunted. "We're eighteen, Mabel. And leave that comic book here!"
Darn it.
The girl threw said item back on her bed and smiled sheepishly, before really leaving her room with her brother in tow. They both went downstairs, one about ready to leave for college and the other trying to be as slow as possible. It only took an angry glare and a 'would you hurry up?' from Dipper before they headed out.
"You going to look into our heritage some more later?" Mabel asked curiously.
Dipper nodded again. "Yeah. Mom and dad know more than they let on, but I don't think they're going to tell us anything. Might as well figure it out myself," he said.
His sister hummed thoughtfully before she spun on her heel. "Lemme know what you find, 'kay? I wanna know too."
She received a happy, dorky smile. "Will keep you updated. As long as you study, got it?"
Mabel gleefully rolled her eyes, the gesture not as sassy as it normally should've been. She snorted, waved her brother off and promised him that she would do her utmost best to keep her grades from falling any lower. Human studies were just so boring...
As she made her way to the library, she couldn't help but think about all the mysteries surrounding the magician world. Mabel never learned much about it and neither did Dipper. Their parents were very reluctant in letting them know anything about magic. The only thing they ever got to know was that magic was dangerous to use for a Pines. They were explicitly told to never learn it and to never use it, for it could cause something greatly disastrous for them.
Mabel was bummed out for days. In fact, she still thought bitterly over the entire situation. Dipper was even less amused. A whole new world to explore and they weren't allowed to do it.
That didn't stop them from learning, though. Dipper and Mabel sometimes managed to get their hands some on old books for mages. It didn't teach them magic, but it had taught them about the various dangerous creatures living in their very own world. Sometimes it also contained information about humans – whether or not they could see the creatures that plagued their fellow humans, if they could learn some type of magic themselves, if you could trust them.
The answer to all of those were no.
But what intrigued Mabel the most was the basics to learning magic. Sure, she couldn't use it, but she might as well know anyway, right? Knowledge was good to have. She might help out some other poor magician who couldn't get a start. Or daydream away about how it must feel to be able to use magic...
Speaking of daydreaming, she really shouldn't do that out on the streets. Mabel shook her head, clearing it of any thoughts, and rounded a corner to reach the library. Luckily for both Dipper and her, their home was located close to both their college and the local library, making it an easy ten minute walk for the brunette. She expected nothing out of the ordinary today.
Boy, was she wrong.
The second Mabel rounded the corner, she looked up and froze.
Several feet away from her stood a blonde girl leisurely waiting for whatever to happen. But it wasn't the girl who grabbed her attention at first – it was the dark figure looming behind her that did.
Mabel didn't know how to describe the creature, but it certainly wasn't human. It looked more like a kangaroo anatomy-wise, it's back decorated with sharp looking spikes. It's fangs were bared, and it had long, sharp nails on its paws. The creature eyed very tall, but it now stood bent over in an attempt to grab the blonde with just its teeth.
Everything looked like it was straight out of a horror movie.
The girl barely had time to jump forward and push the blonde out of the way. Mabel shut her eyes and held up her hands defensively, though she knew it had very little to no effect against those sharp claws and teeth now lunging at her. She heard a scream, realizing seconds later it was her own voice.
But the pain she expected from the inch deep gashes she no doubt should have to receive never came.
Now opening her eyes curiously, she noticed some sort of force field had appeared, decorated with several indescribable runes on the outer and inner lining. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed it.
Pines rule number one.
Ignoring her own thoughts for a moment, she came to the realization this was her doing and hers alone. Mabel didn't know how she did it, but she had used magic just now to protect herself.
The shield disappeared and the monster pushed forward, this time aiming for a kill. Mabel's fear somehow had subsided and made room for confidence. No, she didn't know how to use magic, but that didn't mean she wouldn't punch the darn thing in the face.
And so she did. She threw her fist at the vile beast and felt her hand connect with its jaw. That seemed to trigger something as well, because she pushed with so much force the poor thing landed on the other side of the street. Another magic trick?
Never use magic.
Mabel saw the creature vaporizing into thin air. She liked to think it was scared and tried to escape, but she kept her guard up nonetheless. When nothing else came, she turned to the blonde so she could form an apology, only to stand frozen once again.
Said blonde was none other than Pacifica Northwest. Richest and sassiest girl in town – Mabel's number one, and only, enemy on her list. The blonde always seemed to want to outdo her, but now she stood before the brunette with her mouth agape.
"Hang on a second," Mabel heard her finally speak under her breath, barely audible.
For using magic...
"You're... You're a magician?"
Using magic takes time of your own life.
A/N: Hiya, mod Cecille here! I've been meaning to upload here since forever, but I just never thought any of my fanfics were worth it (most are in Dutch anyway...). Though here we are, and with Gravity Falls no less. I've been binge watching this show for some time now and mod Sara and I are almost caught up now. Almost. Anyhow, welcome to my trashland and my ship choices (I've been warned that might probably change), though I don't believe romance is going to be a major factor in this. Not more than in the cartoon, anyway.
This story started thanks to a Tumblr prompt I read today and I couldn't help myself. I hope you enjoy the first chapter, and hopefully many more will come!
