It was the purest definition of hopeless.

I was alone in the Gravity Falls Forest. There was no help on its way, my only companion had seemingly abandoned me, and I was about to be killed by one the strongest lost souls I'd seen.

If you don't understand how scared I was, imagine this: You're alone in the forest, and not just any forest either, the Gravity Falls forest; searching for something that you've been looking for, for years now. And the only "person" with you on this journey, is a little voice in your head.

Oh, and by the way, that voice in your head also is your morally ambiguous guide and is the creator of the creatures that are hunting you. And now, that companion has abandoned you in your time of need, and you're about to be killed a massive creature of unimaginable horror.

I doubt any of you know how stressful and terrifying being in that scenario is. Heck, I doubt any of you have been in something close.

"How do I get out of here? What can I do to fight? Where is Anima? Is anyone going to help me?" I thought, "Can I still fight? Is there anything left for me to fight with?"

To be honest, I wanted to fight for my life, just as I did with those clicking dark souls, but I was too tired to even move, let alone fight off a massive monster that could kill me with a single punch.

"I guess this is the end…"

But then, out of nowhere, a voice cut across my seemingly final thoughts. And I swear to you and to whoever is up there in the sky, it wasn't Anima.

"Aegis Shield!" It cried, "I will not let you harm her!"

I didn't hear anything else, because right after I heard that, I passed out.


"Interesting," Nurse Joy scribbles more notes down, before looking at me and asking, "So you really believed that you were going to die?"

I reply by just glaring into her soft-blue eyes, "Do I seriously have to answer that? Is it really necessary to answer something so obvious?" Then I get up and slide my feet over the edge of the bed.

She quietly nods before writing more notes down. Seriously, by this point I shouldn't have to go so deep.

I think, "Why is she going so deep? Is she trying to mess with me?" Before realizing, "But, maybe it's for the best. Even if it's meant to mess with me, it's helping. I've started to feel… calmer ever since I came here. Maybe Nurse Joy really is a good people nurse, despite having a day job helping Pokémon."

So I sigh and answer her, "Yeah I did, but… wouldn't you think so, too? After all, I was staring down creature about ten times my size, and it was close to finishing me off." Before falling back and lying on the bed.

She stutters, "Of… of course I would. I've never been in a situation like that, but…"

"So how would you know then?" I cut her off with a harsh tone, "After all, you don't know what it's like to be staring down death."

"But I can assume, can't I?" she responds in a calm tone, "After all, it's only human to feel fear in the face of death. Why else do people preach about what they believe to be what happens after the end?"

I almost chuckle, almost. "I should calm down, I guess. After all, it's hard to take me seriously if I'm yelling at you and questioning your methods all the time. Besides, that's Grunkle Stan's job."

"Of course, so would you like to continue your story now?" Nurse Joy nods before lifting up her pen and notebook, ready to take notes.

I nod and ask, "Is there anything you'd like to ask me before I start? I'd rather not be forced to stop to answer questions for a bit."

"Here, let me just make sure that my notes are right first." She says as she flips to another random page in her book." She must be close to running out of pages at the rate she's going through them, "Ok, Mabel, so after you left the cabin, you sneaked through the forest, right?"

I nod, "And then I got attacked by a giant lost soul, and I left off right as I was about to get hit. But then something saved me. I still don't know what though."

"Ok. My notes are in order, so you may continue when ready." Nurse Joy looks eager to hear more of my story. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was reading this on the Internet like some random fanfiction reader.

Not that I have any problem with it of course! After all, it's not they're wasting their time. Wait no, I didn't meant that either! I've got nothing against fanfiction readers! Some of my best friends even read fanfiction! I should probably just shut up and tell the story, before I make things worse… like I usually do.

So I look Nurse Joy straight in her cyan eyes as I continue, "I'm sorry I lied, but it didn't take me about an hour to reach Pollux's staff. It was more like five or six. Anyways, I came to a few hours later…"


To the sound of Anima screaming, "Mabel! Are you ok?! Please be ok!"

"Oh Please be ok, please Mabel! Please!" She pleaded, as if she was genuinely concerned for my well being, "I don't want you to be another lost one! You're lost already because you went into the forest without a map. Becoming a lost soul would make you double lost!"

I stirred, before opening my eyes. I expected to see the monster still standing above me, waiting to finish me off.

But luckily for me, the creature was nowhere in sight.

"Yeah, Anima, I think I'm ok." I say as I carefully rub the aching back of my head and try to stand up. But, I couldn't keep my balance for long, so I immediately fell flat on my face.

"Are you sure you're ok? It looks like you're sick or something." I clutch my side as I answer, "Yeah I'm fine."

Then, I grit my teeth as I force myself back up. I tried to take a step and keep moving, but I was just too weak. So I lost my balance again, and fell face-first into the cold snow ahead.

*Sigh* "Mabel, face it, you're not ok. You're badly injured… again. Looks like we're going to have to take an alternate route… again."'

"No." I said defiantly, "I don't care about my injuries; I won't let anything distract me anymore, not even my own limits." Before I forced myself again, and actually stood in the cold air for a few seconds, but I got the same result; I was still too weak and fell flat on my face.

I could tell that Anima was stunned, because she responded with a stutter, "But don't you… I mean wouldn't you like-?"

To be honest, I secretly wanted to go and get my injuries treated, but I decided against it. After all, finding Dipper is more important than my well being. I'd take a beating for him, and he'd do the same for me.

So I cut her off again, "No, I don't care. I'm going after Dipper, no matter what. And I am not letting anything stop me now!"

Anima sighs before replying, "Ok Mabel, we'll do this your way, the staff is about a thousand feet to your left. Please try not to injure yourself more on the way there."

"I'll try my best." I seriously reply as I force myself out of the snow. I struggle to stand on my own two feet, but after grabbing a nearby tree branch and forcing it into the ground like a crutch, I was able to move again.

And so I forced myself through the snow…


My voice trails off.

And Nurse joy continues to scribble more notes down. Seriously, at the rate she's going at, that notebook's gonna be full by the end of my story. Then, when she finally finishes writing, looks at a little, to pink watch on her wrist. It has a yellow star with tiny hearts in-between the points, small white wings, a mini crown on the top and a small crystal heart at the bottom.

She looks at me again and says, "It's about nine o'clock Ms. Pines, would you like something to eat? We don't have much here, but I'm sure I could make something so you won't starve."

"Do you have some warm soup?" I ask, hoping that she'd say yes. After all, I haven't had a good meal in days, and I'm hungry for something warm to eat, "I'd like to have some."

"I don't have any premade soup, but I can make some. There's a sink and small stove in Doc's office. I doubt he'd mind if I…" Her voice trails off, as if she became unsure of herself.

This nurse has some serious self-esteem issues, but I guess I can relate with her more than that officer.

"That'd be great." I say as I stand up and put my torn sweater back on. Nurse Joy responds by closing the notebook, and getting out of her chair, "Ok Ms. Pines, follow me."

I comply, after all, I'm hungry; wouldn't you be starving after going through the freezing cold with barely any supplies?

So Joy takes me to the small office right next to the examination room. Man, this place is small.

The room is what you'd expect the typical doctor office to be like, albeit with a few minor changes. The desk is right there when you enter and behind it is a small window; to the desk's right is a document cabinet and a water dispenser.

But the left side is interesting. Instead of closing off the office with another wall, the room is cut off by a small barrier with a marble top and openings at both ends. Behind the green wall is a small, simple, and plain kitchen.

It isn't much, but it it's better than nothing. It has a small sink in the right corner. Next to that is a small stove with a built-in oven. There's a small counter with built-in cabinets in between the stove and a small fridge.

Across from the stove and counter is a small wooden table with two white plastic chairs. I carefully take a seat on the hard piece of plastic. The floor has simple and dirty white tiles. I feel as if this thing is used often or just hasn't been cleaned in a while.

"So Mabel, while I'm cooking, why don't you continue your story?" Nurse Joy says with a weird enthusiasm, as if the mere thought of cooking calmed her down. Figures, I guess we all have a place where we feel the most comfortable.

I sigh and reply, "Sure Joy, I'll continue…"

She throws a small, metal pot in the small sink and starts washing it, before saying, "I may not have the notebook, but I'm listening. Speak when ready."

"I limped through the snow, not caring about my injuries…"


Despite the snow icing my injured ankle, I still couldn't move it without feeling pain. So I did my best not to move it, a stupid mistake on my part.

It seemed to be about noon, but I really couldn't tell. After all, there were dark clouds overhead; it seemed as if it was going to snow in a few minutes.

"Keep going Mabel! You'll be there soon!" Anima assured. It's hard to take what she said to heart, especially with my injuries. I thought that I would never reach the staff.

That's when I heard the sound of a horse galloping.

*Clop* *Clop*

I turned as fast as I could in search of the source, but I couldn't see it. It was like whatever was coming was invisible.

*Clop* *Snap* *Clop* *Clop*

The sound… it was getting closer. I started to panic, and tried to limp away, but you can't really get that far on an injured ankle.

"Mabel! Run!" Anima's voice cut through my thoughts, "Whatever's coming doesn't sound good! Get out of there now!"

I mentally scream, "What the fuck do you think I'm trying to do Anima! What the heck is coming?" I force my weak legs to move through the freezing cold snow in my way.

*Clop* *Clop* *Clop* *Clop*

It was getting closer! My heart started to race as I mentally screamed, "Anima! Answer me! What the heck is after me?!"

But the voice in my head was silent. And just when I needed her again! It was as if she had abandoned me, again.

Yet, for some reason, I didn't believe she had abandoned me, though. I thought that, maybe something had forced her to be silent or she was too weak to keep it up.

"Please Anima! Where are you?!" I screamed, as I threw the stick I was using as a crutch and jumped up, before sprinting as fast as a person with an injured ankle possibly could.

*Clop* *Clop* *Clop*

No matter how much I ran, and no matter how much pain I was in, whatever was behind me wouldn't stop, like it was half-horse and half-machine.

It was almost like it had my scent, and it wanted to catch me. I was being hunted, and I had to get away.

But it's hard to get away, when you don't even know where to run. Yet, I didn't give up, I kept running as fast I possibly could.

Then, I tripped over buried tree branch, and fell onto the cold snow ahead of me. I couldn't move anymore. I was too tired to run. So, what did I do?

I just lied on the ground and waited for the hunter to finally catch up to me.

*Clop* *Clop* *Clop*

I few minutes later, I watched a majestic grey horse with black armor, a golden helmet, red eyes, a black mane and a red horn. It looked like a powerful warhorse… no, not horse. The creature was a powerful war unicorn.

And on the unicorn's back was a man covered from head to toe in dark armor. He had the same golden trim as his unicorn, and dark energy flowing through the joints in his armor. He had jet-black, metallic, wings on his back.

He sat up high on his horse as he pulled out a silver sword with a dark handle, and pointed it at me, "Who are you?! And what have you done with my daughter?!"

I was stunned; I had absolutely no idea how to respond… rationally, at least. I had quite a few ways to respond in panic or worry. So I looked away, as he moved the sword closer to my neck.

"Well?! What have you done with her?!" He jumped off his horse and came even closer to me, before grabbing me by the sweater and lifting me up.

"I don't' know." I said meekly, "I don't know where your daughter is, I don't know what happened to her, I don't even know who you are!"

The man looks at me sternly as I do the only thing I can think of: plead. "Please sir, don't hurt me! My brother's disappeared, the voice in my head isn't talking anymore, my ankle's injured and I have no idea where to go now! If I can reach whatever humanity you have in your heart, if you have it in the first place, please let me go!"

Next, he brought me closer, and solemnly stared into my eyes, "It… it can't be…" he stutters before falling to his knees and embracing me, "I've found you. I've finally found you… my daughter."


"Interesting," Nurse Joy says as she drops some noodles in the boiling water she has prepared, "So the rider thought you were his missing daughter?"

I respond, "Yeah, I guess." Then I quietly twiddle my thumbs as I continue, "It makes sense I guess. He must've died in the forest while searching for his daughter. And since I apparently resemble her so much, he mistook me for her."

"Intriguing," She responds quietly, as she carefully places two bowls and spoons in the sink, before turning the water on, and washing them, "Well, the soup's almost ready, so why don't you keep going?"

"Sure…" I say, as I think, "Does she believe me? Why does she want to hear more?"


"I'm sorry, but I'm not your daughter." I tried to say with a calm and comforting tone.

He carefully puts me down and just stares at me for a few seconds, "You are! You look exactly like her! You have to be my daughter! Please remember me, Sophia!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not Sophia." I calmly said as I came closer to him, and placed my left arm on his shoulder, "How long have you been searching for her?"

"Years…" He answered, before getting up and continuing, "You have to remember me, Sophia! Please remember!"

I carefully get up and respond confidently, "I'm not Sophia, but I might be able to help you find her."

He stepped back in shock, "Please, help me find her… what's your name?"

"Mabel." I said as I took a sigh of relief as he answered, "Please help me find her… Mabel."

"I'm searching for the spring of dreams." I say, as I went closer to him, "The spring's power can bring you to Sophia."

He stood in shock for a few moments, before stuttering, "Really? How do we get to it? You have to tell me!"

I respond, "I'm on my way to Pollux's Staff. That thing is apparently able to show us where it is. Help me get to it, and in exchange I'll help you find your daughter."

All that the rider does in response is get on his horse, and motion for me to join him. I comply, and he pulls me up onto his unicorn, before whipping the reins. Then, he takes me down the path, the one that led to Pollux's Staff.

"My name is Ragin and my steed's name is Unicore." He said as he rode through the ice and snow as if it was clear ground.

It took us close to half an hour to reach the hexagonal-pad with three triangles arranged in a triangle, and a seal in the center. The seal is trapezoid-like, and has the same three triangles. The golden staff is buried in the seal and has a weird mirror at the top.

"We made it!" I yelled as I jumped off Unicore and ran over to the sealed staff. "Calm down, Mabel," Ragin yelled as he dismounted and followed me.

Then I excitedly attempted to pull the staff from its seal. To be honest, I was really surprised when the staff easily came out of it, sort of like it was supposed to be easy to take out or something. I mean, after everything that had happened to me, I expected like a test, a curse, or a defense mechanism of some sort.

I found out why the staff was so easy to take a few seconds later, when it started to glow a sickly purple, before releasing a wave of dark light into the forest. Immediately, hundreds of lost souls started to run towards me from every corner of the forest.

Yet, for some reason, they didn't enter the clearing where I was, but instead stood outside, as if waiting for me to return the staff or something.

I could feel something wasn't right. It was as if something evil and something powerful was near. And it seemed as if the lost souls felt… fearful of whatever was there.

And after several tense moments, a single lost soul entered the clearing.

All I could do was watch as the hundreds of souls surrounding the clearing took a single step back in fear.

He had an orange vest over a blue undershirt, grey shorts, orange socks with a white stripe at the top, white shoes with black soles. But what surprised me more was his white hat with a blue field that had a white pine tree on it. He was looking down, but I knew who the lost soul was.

"Di-Dipper?!"

20-8-5-18-5 9-19 2-5-1-21-20-25 9-14 13-25 6-9-18-5 23-8-5-14 1-12-12 9-18 4-1-18-11.

9 1-13 20-8-5 4-5-22-9-12 9-6 20-8-9-19 19-20-15-18-25, 1-14-4 9 23-9-12-12 3-1-18-20 20-8-5 23-15-18-12-4 9-14 13-25 6-12-1-13-5-19.

A/N And that was chapter 7! As always review and stuff. Also, I redid and reposted chapter 6, it'd be awesome if you guys could tell me what you think about that too! And on a non-story note: I'm now my team's co-captain! (That means I'm second in charge!)

Disclaimer: Alex Hirsch owns GF, obviously.