Before we continue with the story I would like to apologize. I know the story so far has been really dark. Well it's going to get even darker this chapter. This chapter was really hard for me to write. I had the first paragraph "planned" in about five minutes, hut it took me an entire night to actually get it written down and in a mindset where I was able to continue writing.
The sun had yet to rise by the time Dipper woke up. Dipper quickly and silently walked over to the room's window and shut the blinds. He didn't want to be disturbed. All he wanted to do was lay in bed and think. "What are we going to do? How long can we live with Grunkle Stan? Where is Mom and Dad? Are they alright? Those bastards. All we did was try to help them and now… Why are people so stupid? Why? Is it because of me? Might I have been able to stop it? I've stopped Gideon. I've stopped Bill… kind of… Why couldn't I have done something? What could I have done?"The sun had just began to peek through the blinds when Mabel woke up. She quickly climbed out of bed and threw open the windows. The room was flooded with light. She then walked over to her suitcase, pulled out a new sweater and a skirt and left the room.
"Ugh," Dipper groaned rubbing his eyes. "Mabel did you need to open that?" Dipper pulled the covers over his head and Mabel walked back into a room wearing a purple sweater with a large black question mark on the center. "Grunkle Stan wants us to do some work for him since we're staying here," Mabel said.
"Not like we have much choice in the matter. Either here or in a dump I guess," Dipper said. "Why are you being such a grumpy face?" Mabel asked. "I actually get to wear my Mystery Sweater. Remember I made it during school and now I finally have a chance to wear it."
"Mabel you've been making a new sweater each day since Grandma taught you how. I've lost track how many sweaters you've made" Dipper said. "Besides why should we work? It's not like we want to be here."
"You didn't want to be here last time and you worked," Mabel said sticking her tong out at her brother. "Besides you use to enjoy hanging out with Wendy." Mabel stormed out of the room and slammed the door. Dipper quickly stood up strode to the window and shut the blinds.
Stupid Mabel. Why does she have to be so happy all the time? Doesn't she know we're homeless? Mom and Dad might even be dead. We could be orphans! It's all their fault. We hadn't done anything but help them for years.
"What? He's not coming down? That spoiled brat. Who does he think he is having his sister do his work for him? Mabel move the old boxes of Stan Fans from the storage room to the Gift shop," Stan Pines instructed before he climbed the stairs to the attic.
The storage room was a grimy old room barely ever used by Stan Pines to store merchandise that was overstocked or didn't sell. The only light in the room had burned out well before Dipper and Mabel's trip to Gravity Falls the summer prior and it had never been replaced. Mabel found the boxes in the far corner of the room. There were ten boxes labeled Stan Fans, They Just Blow the size of a small cow. Mabel quickly set to work maneuvering the boxes through the room. Not only was the room dark, but boxes jutted out at precarious angles where the slightest touch would cause an avalanche of the boxes stacked above. Being trapped under boxes awaiting rescue did not seem like a fun idea to Mabel.
The door to the attic opened. "Hey you," Grunkle Stan growled. "Why is your sister doing your work for you?" There was no response. "Are you deaf? Dipper why is Mabel doing your work?"
"I'm not going to work today."
"What?"
"I said I'm not going to work today. I'm going to stay here with my thoughts," Dipper said grimly.
"If you aren't going to work then you'd better get walking. I'm not going to feed a parasite."
"Then don't feed me. I might be able to see mom and dad sooner that way." Dipper replied.
"What are you talking about? Your mom is helping rebuild the city with your dad. I just heard from them yesterday. They have no plans to come and pick you two up until the city's rebuilt," Stan Pines lied.
"Wait you did? How are they? Did they say how long it would be till we see them?"
"Whoa, hold on there tiger. There was a lot of destruction. They didn't have time to talk long. Cities aren't gonna rebuild themselves you know, now why don't you and Mabel go into town to pick up some shingles. I want to fix the roof before it begins to rain in spring." Stan Pines said. Dipper climbed out of bed looking rather cheerful and ran downstairs ready to get to work.
Dipper found Mabel sitting on the counter in the gift shop. Ten boxes of Stan Fans sitting beside her. "Look who's finally woken up", Mabel said.
"Grunkle Stan wants us to run into town to grab Shingles," Dipper reported. "Wendy can we take the golf cart?"
"Sure, just don't hit a pedestrian, a gnome, a lake monster, a shape shifter, a dream demon, uh what else have we fought?"
"A skunk named Gideon," Mabel answered.
"But definitely do hit a skunk named Gideon," Wendy said tossing Dipper the keys to the golf cart.
"Burr," Dipper said stepping outside. "Wow this is weird. I can actually see my breath. Normally we can't see that here."
"Why are you being such a dork? We couldn't before because it was summer when we were here. Now it's winter," Mabel said.
"I know that. It's just… weird. I guess I never thought we'd be up here outside of the summer that's all."
"Can I drive?"
"Can you what?" Dipper gasped. "You drive? Last time you drove the cart you ran through the pool's fence, tipped the golf cart, and nearly killed a merman!"
"Yeah, but that was last year."
"No that was last summer; only half a year ago," Dipper said. "No, I think I'm better off driving."
"But Dipper"
"No"
"Dipperrrrrrr"
"No
"DIPPERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
"Fine! You drive but if anything happens you're not driving again," Dipper said.
"YES! I won't let you down!"
The ride into town wasn't a fun one for Dipper. After jumping a creek they almost hit two deer, a tree branch, and a hunter they had finally made it into Gravity Falls. Dipper was shaken, but unharmed. "See Dipper! I can drive," Mabel triumphantly said.
"Never again," Dipper said throwing himself out of the cart. "You are never driving again!"
"Come on slow poke! To the Diner!"
"Wait, why are we going to the Diner? Grunkle Stan said to get Shingles. That would be at Rufus' Roofs," Dipper said. Unfortunately for him Mabel had already run ahead toward the diner. "Wait Mabel come back!" Dipper called only to see the Diner's door close right behind his sister. Dipper sprinted to the diner, yanked the door open, and ran right into his sister who stood mouth gaping at the television.
They were playing footage of the fires spreading though San Francisco again. Except this time there was a thin Mexican woman in a blue suit and a black dress reporting. "That's right Gravity Falls I am Sandra Hermanez bringing you your local breaking news. The hero of the San Francisco, Mayor Unservic Ableuseless, was visiting the Northwest family over Christmas and is currently being held hostage inside the manor by men in black masks and what appear to be semi-automatic weaponry."
"Pacifica," Dipper gasped, turned around, opened the door, and sprinted to the Northwest Manor. "Dipper! Stop! What do you think you're doing?"
"I think I'm going to save Pacifica," Dipper called back.
"How? How are you going to get in?"
"I haven't thought of that yet. I'll know when I get there."
"What are you going to do when you're there? They have guns."
"I don't know. I'll know when I get there."
"Please Dipper stop!"
"I can't, Pacifica's in there, "Dipper called back. Climbing the last hill that blocked the manor from view. Dipper stopped cold at the top of the hill. The police had the manor surrounded. Not just the local police, Dipper could spot Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Duly, but the Swat team was there as well. Guns drawn aimed at the manor. Police helicopters flew over the manor shining spotlights at the roof and the yard. There was no way in or out. "Thank God you stopped. I was beginning to think…," Mabel had just climbed to the top of the hill and saw the scene below. "Come on bro, there's nothing we can do here. Let's just grab the supplies and head home," Mabel said clearly regretting ever going into the diner.
Mabel lead Dipper away from the manor and back to Gravity Falls. They picked up shingles from Rufus' Roof a and Mabel drove slowly and carefully back to the shack. Dipper didn't talk much the rest of the day. When he was asked how the trip to town was, all he did was nod.
"Well you did work, so I guess you can eat," Stan Pines said as he brought TV dinners out of the oven. "Is it the penguin guy? I love those meals!" Mabel yelled.
"Err. No it's a no name meal. Delicious, and cheap,"
Dipper ate his meal silently and climbed the stairs for bed. Mabel quickly followed him up the stairs to their attic room. Dipper hadn't changed for bed. He just laid there looking at the ceiling. "You know there was nothing you could do, right?" Mabel asked Dipper.
"I suppose." Dipper said not looking at Mabel. "I think I'm going to turn in early. Night Mabel," Dipper said turning off their lantern.
"Night Dipper," Mabel replied sadly.
Half an hour passed before Dipper climbed out of bed. He knew he could help. He knew he had to. Dipper quietly tiptoed over to Mabel's suitcase and opened it. Fumbling through the many pockets Dipper finally found what he was looking for. The grappling hook. Dipper grabbed it, turned toward the door, and "Where do you think you're going?" Mabel said turning on the lantern. "I knew you weren't content."
"I… err… I was just…. Going to the bathroom," Dipper invented.
"With the grappling hook?" Mabel asked with raised eyebrows.
"Well… Look Mabel there was nothing I could do when they attacked at home. But there must be something I could do here and now. If I don't do anything and something happens… I couldn't bare it," Dipper said. "Don't try to stop me."
"I'm not going to stop you. Pacifica might be mean, bossy, full of herself, and a bitch, but more importantly she's a friend. I'm going with you."
"What?" Dipper asked. "Mabel you can't, it's going to be dangerous."
"We've been in danger before. Remember our last encounter with Bill?"
"Yes, now don't bring it up," Dipper said.
"I'm going and that's final." Mabel said. Dipper smiled.
"Then what are you waiting on slowpoke, let's roll."
Sorry for the late release of the chapter guys. The entire first day I was supposed to be writing I couldn't. I've been emotionally attached to Dipper and Mabel for years now and watching Dipper beat himself up was just too much for me to handle.
I know this chapter is a bit longer than the previous ones but I can almost assure you the next one will be even longer. The raid on the Northwest Manor is about to begin.
As for the Mabel watch… I might have lost track of her when I was bawling over Dipper beating himself up. So… If there is no next chapter, you know why.