AN/
Hey followers! Happy late Easter!
Just have some little notes I thought I'd let you all know.
-No major romantic themes will be in this series. There may be a small subplot with Mabel, because she still gets crushes (because she's still Mabel), or if Robbie and Tambry appear, because it's canon (nothing big, maybe just a cute moment or two). If anything changes, I'll let you know beforehand.
-At this point and time, this story takes place before Not what He Seems, and after Northwest Mystery Manor.
That is all! Enjoy!
Dipper rolled over, tugging at his sheets. Yellow eyed monsters and dark waters had filled his nightmares. But he couldn't help but feel weird about them. None of the dreams kept him particularly afraid. In fact, he felt rather… calm. He burrowed further into the blanket cocoon. He remembered a little mermaid girl was there, as well as a large creature with big wings made out of stone. But on top of that, Dipper remembered looking at that all through the eyes of a cervitaur.
Yes, a cervitaur. Dipper was quite proud of knowing the name to the deer like creature after long nights of studying it and other monsters like it in the journal. He also knew the name of the stone creature, which happened to be a gargoyle.
Dipper rubbed his face, wiping the sleepiness from it. The blankets felt warm and comforting, but he decided to get up. Light was streaming through the stained glass window, brightening the room.
"Hey Mabel," Dipper said, pushing himself up to face his sister. His legs were still covered by the blankets. "You wouldn't believe the dream I had… Mabel?" He looked around the room, not spotting his sister. She wasn't in her bed, which was still covering in knitting supplies from the day before.
"What…?" Dipper mouthed. He began to push himself out of bed, only to stop. "Why do my legs feel so heavy?" He blinked. The morning fogginess began to clear his mind. Yesterday wasn't a dream.
Dipper pulled off the sheets and looked down at his legs. The legs still belonged to a deer. He poked them. They were still his.
"Of course." Dipper muttered, carefully climbing out of bed. He stumbled a bit on the floor, but quickly regained balance. He pulled on his hat, which was seated on his bed post, and made his way down stairs.
"Morning Stan," Dipper announced as he reached the bottom of the staircase. Stanford remained motionless in his recliner, still wearing the same muddy suit from last night. "Stan?" Dipper tried again, inching towards his grunkle. Stanford appeared to be asleep. But something looked wrong. Unable to decipher what it was, Dipper reached forward and placed a hand on Stanford's hand. It felt like solid stone. No, not like it did before. Before, Stanford's skin felt… real. You could feel it, the stone, but at the same time, you could tell it was skin and capable of moving. But know, it just felt… solid.
"Grunkle Stan?!" Dipper tried again, unsuccessfully attempting to shake Stanford's knee. Stanford remained still. Dipper looked up at his grunkle. And it hit him. Why he looked so strange. There was no rise and fall to his chest. Dipper stumbled in a panic. Grunkle Stan's not breathing! Dipper thought to himself. What do I do?! What do I do?! Unable to think of anything else, Dipper scrambled to the kitchen and pulled a gallon of milk from the fridge. He raced back to the living room, throwing the liquid at Stanford.
"Gah!" Stanford yelled, shaking back to life. Dipper sighed with relief. "What to heck kid!?" Stanford demanded, pulling off his now even more soiled jacket. Dipper just smiled, legs shaking, as he slid to the floor, empty milk jug in hand.
"Dipper!" Stanford quite literally growled.
"I thought you died." Dipper stated. He looked dumbfounded at his great uncle. "I thought you died, so I dumped a gallon of milk on your head." Stanford pinched his nose.
"Excuse me?"
Dipper broke out laughing, clutching his chest with one hand, using the other to keep him from collapsing on the floor.
"Y-you turned to stone, so I freaked out." Dipper gasped through his maniac-tic laughter. "But you've turned into a gargoyle, so why wouldn't you!"
Stanford pulled off his fez, rubbing his hair back.
"Dipper, I think all this stuff is getting to you." He shuffled nervously as Dipper tried to contain himself. "Did you really think I died?"
Dipper nodded, emitting the last of his giggles.
"You looked like a statue. But I think were just asleep." Stanford nodded, looking nervously towards the far wall. Dipper looked at his uncle. He looked genuinely terrified. Who knew what was going through his head.
"This is all so ridiculous," Dipper spoke up, breaking the silence. "How does this even happen!?" Stanford shook his head, breaking his trance.
"You know what kid, that's a great question. You mind elaborating what you and your sister were doing yesterday?" Dipper gulped, then began retelling the story. Stan nodded here and there, constantly asking questions. Dipper kind of wondered if Stan had been there before. Stanford raised an eyebrow skeptically when Dipper finished his story.
"So, what you saying is you two kids went to a possibly dangerous location full of monsters all by yourselves, all so you could look at fairies?"
"Well, that's not how it really went down…" Dipper shrugged, grinning stupidly.
"Oh god." Stanford moaned, dragging his hands down his face. Dipper blushed. Quick, change to subject! Screamed the voice inside his head. Dipper could only assume it was his ego.
"What are we going to do Soos and Wendy?" Dipper asked. Stanford's face changed, turning into a thoughtful ponder. Yes! Screamed his inner voice. The subject change was successful!
"I guess I can just give them the week off," Stanford noticeably winced a little. "And close the mystery shack until we figure this all out." Dipper nodded in agreement.
"What are you going to tell Wendy and Soos?" Dipper asked, pushing himself off the floor and into a stance. Stanford stared in interest as he did so.
"I'll probably just tell them that we all got the flu." Stanford pronounced, waving off the question. Then he paused. "But Soos would probably insist on checking in on us." He froze, thinking for a moment. "Darn Soos and his good nature. I guess we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get to it." Dipper frowned.
"Why don't we just tell him?" Dipper questioned. "It's not we don't trust him."
"I'm sure we can figure this out beforehand kid," Stanford explained. "And besides, this is really something you can explain without a freak out."
Dipper sighed, but unable to find an argument, remained silent. Dipper and Stanford stood in silence for a few moments. Stanford began to settle back into his chair when a repetitive thud began to run through the house.
"What on earth?" Stanford mumbled, looking up at the ceiling.
"Is that coming from the bathroom?" Dipper questioned. Stanford and Dipper met gazes for a moment before heading up the staircase and into the second floor bathroom. "Mabel?" Dipper asked, peaking his head into the bathroom. He blinked, then turned around to face grunkle Stan.
"Well, what is it?" Stanford questioned. Dipper sighed, then trough open the bathroom door. Stanford blinked a moment before pinching the bridge of his nose. "You know what?" He announced. "I'm calling Soos. Entertain your sister." And with that, he excused himself and made his way towards the staircase. Dipper stood in the doorway to the bathroom, unsure how to proceed. Finally, he stepped forward, setting next to his sister.
"Hey Mabel," Dipper announced. He wasn't sure if Mabel could hear him, so he spoke with his voice raised.
"Good morning Dipper," Mabel replied, her tail twitching as she realized she wasn't alone in the bathroom. She stopped beating on the bathroom floor with her fist, silencing the constant thumping. Her other hand was rested on Waddles, who rubbed affectionately against his owner. The pig seem concerned for her. Mabel remained silent in the midst of it all. Dipper leaned back against the bathroom wall, stretching his legs out.
"So…" Dipper started, scouting closer to his sister. "Do you want to tell me what happened, or do you want me to guess how you got your head stuck in the toilet?"
An/ Sorry for short chapter! If I didn't cut it in half, it would be really long. See you all next time!
