The Cipher Fighters: Finding Mabel

Chapter 7:

The twins reached the diner and walked inside. The diner was packed. Almost every table was full and there was a line out the door. The wait staff was all over the place, taking orders, bussing tables, cleaning, and writing out bills. Dipper scanned the room, until his eyes landed on a red mane he could never take his eyes off of. Wendy and the rest of the family were sitting in a booth in the far back corner, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive, so they could place their orders. The man led Mabel toward them. Once they got there, they sat down in the remaining seats. As soon as they did, a waitress appeared at their table, took their orders, and dashed into the kitchen. Mabel excused herself to the restroom, so she could change into something she would not mind getting stained. The diner was not called Greasy's for nothing. After she changed outfits, she came out and bumped into one of Pacifica's former friends, who was now a waitress. Mabel plopped to the floor, landing on her butt. The fake redhead turned around and glared.

" Watch where you're going," she snapped then raised an eyebrow. " Mabel? You're alive?"

" Tiffany, hi," she greeted and stood up, dusting off her skirt. " Haven't seen you in a while. Nice outfit, by the way. It's so cute. Are you playing dress up? Can I play?"

" Oh, this is something that I wear for, you know, my husband," she said sarcastically.

" Aren't you a little too young for that," Mabel questioned, raising an eyebrow.

" No," Tiffany scoffed then eyed Mabel's singing puppy sweater. " Aren't you a little too young to be wearing that? What are you? Twelve?"

" I am twelve, Silly," Mabel retorted, causing Tiffany to cackle.

" You are so funny," Tiffany lied, rolling her eyes. " It's cute."

" I'm serious," Mabel replied, grinning wider. " I am actually from the year 2012. Guess my brother and I are stuck here for a while. Time machine must've broke down or something."

" Wait," Tiffany started, widening her eyes. " You seriously think you are twelve and stuck in another decade?"

" Well, yes," Mabel replied, confused by the woman's reaction.

Tiffany laughed so hard, patrons began turning their heads. Next, she reached a hand out toward Mabel's sweater then grabbed the puppy-head, yanking it off. Mabel screamed, grabbing onto her head as she looked down at where the ornament used to be.

" You are a loser, you know that," Tiffany sneered as she tossed the head. " I heard about you since the news came out that you were alive. Didn't think any of it was true until now. I mean, you dress like a child and act like a child. Heck. You think you are a child, but you are a pathetic nobody, relying on everybody else to take care of you for the rest of your life. Your family must really hate you for this."

" That's not true," Mabel started crying, glaring at her. " You take that back."

" Awww, you even cry like a child," Tiffany snickered then flinched as a cup of tea was poured over her head.

" You leave her alone," Pacifica yelled, lowering the cup.

" Well, if it isn't divorcee, Pacifica Northwest-Pines," Tiffany snubbed, turning to the blonde. " What are you doing here? Can't you see I'm taking out the trash?"

" I'm here for a business meeting," Pacifica said, putting her hands on her hips. " And what are you doing harassing my sister?"

" Your sister," Tiffany scoffed, copying Pacifica. " But she's poor."

" And so are you," Pacifica stated, leaning forward. " The last time I checked, your parents cut you off from their funds as soon as you graduated from high school."

" At least I have a real job and have been working my butt off to pay my bills from then until now," Tiffany spat. " I am also happily married with no children. Meanwhile, you chose to marry a neglectful hermit, breed with him so you would get the male heir your parents always wanted, and go back to living the easy life."

" Easy," Pacifica huffed. " You know how many fastfood places I had to work at? You know how many tables I had to wait on just so I could co-raise my son with my ex and go back to school to do what I wanted to do? You know how many fashion boutiques I had to intern at until I got my big break? A lot. As far as my son's father and grandparents go, you don't know anything. Oh, and you're not happily married. While you're busy working days, your husband is busy being lazy, sleeping with Marcella, who works nights here, and paying her for it with your hard earned money."

" That's a lie," she yelled, pointing. " My husband loves me very much. He would never betray me. You know what? I bet Patsy doesn't even belong to Dipper. Are you sure he didn't divorce you due to being an unfaithful, dirty prostitute?"

"Uh, actually," Dipper stood up and Wendy tugged him back down.

" What the heck is going on over here," Melody hollered then approached the women, Soos following behind her.

" Nothing, Mrs. Ramirez," Tiffany stated then pointed at Pacifica, again. " She assaulted me, while I was trying to help a customer off the floor. Have her escorted off the premises immediately."

" That's not what we saw," Melody glanced at her husband.

" We saw you attacking Mabel," Soos pointed at Tiffany then folded his arms. " What the heck, Dude."

" You know this person," Tiffany widened her eyes.

" I'm sorry, Dude, but I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go," Soos apologized.

" What," Tiffany squeaked then bellowed, glaring. " You can't fire me. I've been working here for over twenty years. You can't do this to me. I've got seniority. The only reason people come here is because of me. This place would be ruined without me."

Soos shook his head, grunting. Tiffany snarled and scoffed as she took off her apron. She tossed it to Melody and stormed out the door. Mabel was staring into space, eyes widened and teeth clenched.

" Mabel, are you okay," Melody asked, snapping the woman out of her trance. " I am so sorry about that. How about some free pie? Abuelita's secret recipe."

"The secret ingredient is love and cinnamon," Soos chimed.

" No thanks," Mabel sighed, looking at her feet. " I'm not hungry anymore."

She walked back over to her table, passing her brother on the way. Dipper approached them.

" She's hungry," Dipper stated. " Trust me. She hasn't eaten anything in a week. Thirty years if you count being stuck between timelines."

" If you say so, Dude," Soos uttered. " We'll put it in a doggy bag for her. Poor Mabel. Must've been cold, hungry and lonely there."

" Do you need any help," Melody questioned. " One of our daughters is a therapist and deals with cases like Mabel's all the time."

" Oh, yeah," Soos chirped. " Tanya is very good at that mind magic stuff."

" Maybe," Dipper responded. " I'll keep that in mind, if we do. Thanks."

He headed back to the table and waited for lunch to arrive. After it arrived, the group ate and went back to the shack. On the way there, Dipper spotted red and blue lights in the mirror. He groaned and pulled over. The swat car stopped behind him. A heavy set man with white hair stepped out and approached the El Diablo. Dipper rolled down the window, sighing. The cop appeared next to him and lowered his sunglasses.

" Sir, your registration tags are expired," the cop stated in a Southern accent. " I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for your license and registration."

" Dang it," Dipper groaned then searched the car.

The cop glanced over at Mabel and grinned widely. He put his serious face back on when Dipper turned back to him and gave him the requested forms. The cop walked back to his car.

" Gideon," Dipper rolled his eyes. " Still can't believe he is a deputy."

" Me neither," Wendy scoffed. " He has a criminal record. I mean, come on. Guess the GFPD isn't picky."

" At least he's better than Officer Durland," Dipper said. " I swear he was sleeping with Blubs in order to get that promotion."

" I know he was," Wendy chuckled. " One time, in middle school, the gang and I snuck out late to see an R rated movie. We saw Blubs and Durland going at it in the backseat of their swat car. Talk about getting free porn."

" Well, Mr. Pines, it looks like I'm going to have to write you a ticket," Gideon sighed and gave Dipper two tickets. " That second one is for having an expired driver's license. You better get yourself down to the DMV, today."

" Really," Dipper groaned as he took the tickets and read them over.

" So, who's your friend," Gideon questioned. " She looks familiar."

" Oh, that's Mabel," Dipper retorted, putting the tickets on the dashboard. " My sister. She was trapped between timelines and now she's back."

" I thought I recognized her," Gideon chimed then turned to the female twin, shouting. " Oh my gosh. Mabel, you're alive. I thought I would never see you again. Thank goodness. How's my peach dumpling?"

" Um, do I know you," Mabel raised an eyebrow.

" It's me, Gideon," the towhead gestured.

" Gideon," Mabel tilted her head. " You look different."

" Well, I've been working out, you know," Gideon flexed his arm, wiggling an eyebrow. " You haven't changed a bit. Still lovely as ever."

" Uh, thanks," Mabel hesitated, looking away.

" Oh, no," Wendy gasped as she grabbed her cheeks. " I left the stove on while we were out."

" Sorry, Gideon," Dipper uttered. " We'd love to chat, but we have an emergency to attend to. See ya."

The car sped off. Gideon's shoulders slumped, sighing. Mabel pleated her hair, while looking out the window. Dipper glanced at the rearview mirror then looked back at her.

" Hey, it'll be okay," Dipper stated then turned back to the road. " He's not going to follow us."

" It's not that," Mabel mumbled. " It's about what Tiffany said back at the diner."

" Take whatever that witch told you with a grain of salt, Mabel," Wendy retorted. " You've been out of this timeline for a very long time. It'll be a while before you adjust."

" But, it's true," Mabel shouted, tearing up." This really is the present and I'm just this delusional woman who thinks I'm a kid. You guys think I'm an inconvenience. I can't even take care of myself. You guys are stuck doing everything forever for me. I ruined your lives. Don't lie to me"

Dipper slammed on the brakes, causing the driver behind them to slam on their brakes and honk the horn at him, waving their fist angrily. Everybody else in the car whipped forward then back, groaning. Dipper turned around as far as he could.

" You did not ruin our lives," Dipper argued. " If anything, you made them better. Mabel, I spent thirty long years trying to find your soul. Got more than I asked for and I'm happy with that. Look, we want to help you. We really do. If that takes the rest of our lives then so be it. Better than you being dead or your soul being eliminated forever."

" Really," Mabel questioned, still crying.

Dipper smiled and nodded. She grinned and turned to Wendy. The redhead gave her a thumbs up, smirking. She turned to her niece and nephew, who copied their father.

" Thanks, Guys," she stated, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

Dipper started driving again. Mabel frowned then stared out the window, again. Tiffany's comments repeated in her mind and continued until she went to bed.