"DIPPER-DIPPER-DIPPER-DIPPER-DIPPER!" Mabel's fifteen-exclamation-mark-worthy screams interrupted the calm of the mid-afternoon of their 21st birthday with her dashing into the living room, tripping over the carpet, and stumbling to her brother, who sat at a wooden desk with his computer, surfing the (quite laggy) Cybernet.

"Yes, Mabel?" He turned, letting her snatch his hand and the couch behind him to gain her balance and catch her breath.

"L-look... What I got... In the mail..." She huffed, holding up a simple white envelope.

"Who's it from?" Dipper asked, plucking it from her palms to read the return address. "New York Women's University of the Arts... Mabel, that's 'your school', right?" In the years the two had been saving and planning for their trips out east, they had studied and picked where they would go; Dipper, to the United Territories' Capitol University for the Well-Taught Scientific Mind, and Mabel to the NYWUA, each referring to their choices as 'their school'.

She beamed, snatching it from his hands and ripping it open. "You bet!"

"Uhh... Mabel, don't get your hopes up." Dipper peeked over her shoulder in curiosity with a worried look on his face. "There could always be bad news."

"Too late! Hopes are way, way up!" Mabel tossed the torn-to-shreds envelope aside. " 'Dear Mabel Pines.' So far so goood! 'We are happy to inform you—' So far so goood! '—that you have been invited into a—' So far so—"

"Mabel, would you quit saying that and just read the darn letter?" Dipper was always one to censor any foul language around his sister, no matter how much she insisted that she didn't mind.

"Okay." She deadpanned, but continued. " 'Dear Mabel Pines. We are happy to inform you that you have been invited into a once-in-a-lifetime chance program at the New York Women's University of the Arts as a special birthday gift'!" She beamed and pulled on her brother's shirtsleeve. "Did you hear that? Once-in-a-lifetime means super rare!"

"Yeah, I did, I was there; and yes, I know what once-in-a-lifetime means."

" 'We have recognized your potential, and therefore chose you, along with a select few, out of many others for this offer. You will be provided with a dorm which you will share with two other girls, and a side job of your choice that relates to your studying in the city to help pay for your keep.' Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoooooossshhh!" She squealed.

Her brother chuckled, flicking her playfully. "Keep reading!"

"Ooohkay." She repeated, calming her breaths once more. " 'If you are to accept this position, we request that you send your acceptance letter by'..." She squinted, looking closer, wishing to not view what she had at first glance. "Eight/Ten/Twenty— wait— SEVENTY-TWO?! But that's THIS YEAR!"

Mabel looked like she was about to cry as she sunk to the ground, wrapping her arms around her knees. She couldn't afford to go this year. Or the next. Or the next. It would take at least another five years of studying, saving, and working in her Great Uncle Stan's general-store-slash-useless-trinket-place, the Mystery Shack, before she could even try at applying. Sure, the reason Dipper had already been accepted into his college and was planning on going that year instead of her was because he was convinced that in his research, once he had a full-time job especially, he would immediately make a discovery that would help pay off the rest of Mabel's education, lodging and travel needs, but that in itself would take four years, maybe three if he studied hard. Without the extra worker back at home pooling his profits with her own, the amount that she could earn per year would be cut in half, and her workload would be doubled.

"Well... I guess I can trash that, then..." She sighed, starting to crumple the paper. The day had already been sad enough because of her brother's soon-scheduled leave. She'd spent all the extra time with him she could the past few days; she wouldn't see him for at least another four years in person, probably more; and if he decided to take his laptop along with the more-updated one he'd have to get for college, they wouldn't even be able to see each other over video chat. Now, on top of that... she bit her lip to stop the tears from coming. Not in front of her brother; she'd be strong for him. She didn't want to make him feel bad...

"Wait! Don't squash it; they won't have proof that you're the real deal when you arrive."

"What?" Mabel looked up at her brother in depressed confusion, sniffling.

"I said not to rip the paper up and that you're gonna need to pack your things, 'cuz you're leaving for the Big City in a few days." He answered with a smile of mixed emotions, ruffling his sister's hair.

"B-but... You already got accepted in. If you back out now, it'll put a black mark on your record, and they might not—"

"That's fine; I'll just find another school if they do. It would do the same for you, and there are less schools as perfect for your needs as there are for mine. Besides, they might not ditch me for that, especially since my sister will be the most famous 'baker and sweets-and-treats-maker' in the country! I mean, think of all the extra amazing snacks they could get—" Dipper stopped abruptly as his sister had leaped up and pulled him into a bearhug.

"—with you as my sister. And if they don't, then that's their problem, because they're just a bunch of... uh..."

"Butt-faces!"

"Er; yeah. 'Butt-faces'!"

"Is there no convincing you otherwise?" Once a Pines had made up their mind, boy were they stubborn.

"I'd rather jump off a bridge."

"You're the best brother EVER!" She shrieked as she pushed out of the embrace, still gripping his shoulders, grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks, bro-bro."

"Don't mention it," he waved his arm airily. "Now go and pack up already!"

"Already on my way!" Mabel bounded out of the room, giggling with giddy joy.


{A/N: Chapter one, cleared! See if you can guess the foreshadowing statement. Hint: It's not "I'd rather jump off a bridge".}