ENTER THE DEEP

BLACKNESS. The cold, ever-present, wove its way through damp air. Mabel awoke, hyperventilating. She looked around, taking in the white ceramic tiles, clear glass walling the room and the Greek architecture around her.

There was water outside.

"Where am I?" Mabel panicked, nearly screaming.

"Oh, you've awoken!" A man came to her from a chair nearby. "My apologies, I must've fallen asleep."

"W-who are you?" Mabel tried to recollect, moving the sheets aside.

"Please, do not panic, I am a servant of Prince Mermando – I'm here to help."

"Prince … Mermando?" She squinted.

"Yes, yes," The man sat down, "Your boat was found sunk near our kingdom – you and your friends were half-dead."

"My friends!" Mabel shot out of bed. "Where are they?"

"They're in the other room –,"

"I have to find them!" Mabel ran off.

"Wait!" The man chased after her.

Mabel burst out of her room, breathing shakily, overwhelmed by the new world around her. People roamed the building in the concourse below. All with split tails, garbed in fine jewellery and some moving in water bubbles, they were merfolk.

Running off, she bumped into mermen and mermaids, causing a fracas. Everything blurred in her mind, light melding with pain. Her knees wobbled and she collapsed on the floor. She tried to stand and before her stood a guard.

"Are you hurt?" He asked.

"I need to find …" She gasped, getting to her feet, "I need to find my friends."

"We can't let you do that, they're under medical care." He said. "You should return to your room."

Mabel tried to think. It came to her. "Let me speak to Mermando, he's in charge."

"I'm sorry, but he isn't here right now."

"Well, what about his wife, the queen of something." Mabel said.

"Who?" The guard asked.

"What do you mean "who"? Mermando's wife, your princess!" She yelled, becoming impatient.

"My apologies, but I think you're mistaken; Mermando has no wife."

"W-what?" Mabel breathed heavily again.

"He's not married."

"I-I …" Mabel's eyes roamed all over, her mind whirring.

"Miss Mabel!" The man from before yelled.

Mabel's failed to control her breath, she was losing it. Suddenly, she felt a pang and held her stomach. It felt sticky, warm even. She looked at her hand. There was blood.

Her eyes felt heavy. Everything spun around her. Blackness.


"MABEL?" DIPPER turned around.

Tom, Wendy, Mary and Alfonse turned to him, confused as he stared at the massive palace in the distance. "You see something?" Wendy asked.

Dipper frowned, but chose to ignore it. "No, it was nothing. Let's keep moving."

The five continued down the street, each being confused by the underwater kingdom. The locals walked on their feet – their tails parted at the center – and they spoke in different and strange languages. Dipper however, was withdrawn.

"What attacked our boat?" He asked.

"Who knows?" Tom shrugged. "Just be happy that we'd crashed in this place."

"I think we should still be concerned." Alfonse chimed in. "I do have memories of a large creature capsizing our vessel. What if it's still there?"

"What if it ate everyone else?" Mary's brows stitched.

"Now, that kind of thinking's what'll keep us from finding them." Wendy cut in. "Let's focus on the task; I'm sure they're here somewhere."

They continued walking when suddenly, light flashed from a nearby alley. It was strange, yellow and ethereal, drawing a tense reaction even from Tom.

"What was that?" Tom's voice grated angrily.

Dipper frowned slightly then, quietly directing the others, moved over to where the light came from. Peeping into the backstreet, they saw four cloaked men holding their hands over a large mandala on the ground. They chanted spells.

Dipper squinted trying to listen and one of the men turned sharply. "We've been spotted!" He yelled, raising his hand. On his palm was a bloody pentagram.

"Wait, stop!" Another shouted, "It's him," he pointed at Dipper and Tom.

"We must withdraw; our work is done." The third man said.

"Stop right there!" Tom ran toward them.

The fourth man summoned a yellow portal with a two-fingered ring and the four dove in, disappearing instantly. Tom skidded to a stop and looked around, angrily clenching his fist. Black energy slowly exuded from him.

"Tom!" Mary yelled.

Tom growled and then looked into her eyes. He calmed down. "Sorry."

"What were they doing?" Wendy asked.

Dipper moved up to the mandala on the ground and crouched, studying it. It was truly massive, nearly covering two meters. With layers of symbolism, he couldn't understand it even if he tried. However, it was broken, edges faded.

Alfonse walked up to Dipper and watched him as he pulled out his Grimoire and scanned the mandala. Standing up, he turned to the others. "This's a seal of some kind and those guys were trying to break it."

"So, they were wizards?" Alfonse asked.

"That's the only conclusion."

"Well … who were they?" Wendy asked.

"Outsiders." A voice came from above. Looking up, the five saw Mermando aboard massive seahorses, accompanied by four guards. "We have much to discuss." Mermando said.


MERMANDO, DIPPER, Tom, Mary, Wendy and Alfonse entered the palace's foyer and were immediately the center of the roaming crowd of mermen. "So, it was the Gobblewonker." Wendy said. "Huh, thought that thing didn't exist."

"But, Mabel and I defeated it last summer," Dipper said, "It can't be it. Is it McGucket again? It can't be."

"Well, that's what my men told me when they saved your friends." Mermando walked on ahead of them.

"That doesn't make sense …" Dipper wracked his mind.

"While, I believe this is late and redundant, welcome to Mermantropolis." Mermando said with a smile. "You can stay here as long as you like, my good friend!"

"Well, we won't be staying here for long." Mabel said.

Mermando turned and saw Mabel standing weakly before him. "I'm sorry, sir, she wouldn't stay in her room." A merman guard quickly arrived.

"Mabel, you're awake!" Mermando walked up to her. "I was so worr –,"

Mabel walked past him. "Dipper, what happened?"

"Apparently, we were attacked by the Gobblewonker during a fishing trip with Mr Poolcheck – but, what happened to you?" Dipper moved up to her, touching her stomach which was reddened.

"Oh, it was nothing." Mabel said, her pale complexion giving it away. "Just a scratch."

"It's more than a scratch." Dipper said.

"Well, it doesn't matter, I wanna leave." Mabel turned to Mermando. "I can't breathe down here."

"Wait, what about the others?" Wendy asked.

"Some are in the medical room and others are taking a tour of the palace." Mermando said. "Please, rest up a little – we're working on your boat and you can return after it's completed."

"No, I wanna go." Mabel insisted.

"Mabel, what's wrong?" Dipper asked.

Mabel frowned, trying to keep her temper under control. She tried to speak, but hurried footsteps interrupted her. "Your Highness!" A soldier said, leading six guards.

"What is it?" Mermando asked.

"It's the barrier."


MERMANDO AND the other stood in horror atop a cliff as they saw a massive hole in the city's water barrier that a crew of magicians tried desperately to seal. Mermando frowned. "How could this happen?"

"We don't understand either; the Gobblewonker seemed to just appear out of thin air." The soldier explained. "We couldn't react in time."

"This doesn't make any sense; no sea creature has ever attacked our kingdom before." Mermando frowned.

"There's something going on here." Tom said.

"I agree." Alfonse nodded.

"I know this may be an inconvenience, but I need your help, Dipper." Mermando turned to him. "Could you help us stop these attacks whilst my men fix the barrier?"

"Sure, you can count on us." Dipper nodded.

"Wait, what?" Mabel frowned.

"What? We're helping them." He said.

Mabel yanked Dipper aside and spoke to him a low tone: "Dipper, you can't help him."

Dipper raised his brow. "Why not?"

Mabel huffed. "Mermando's a liar – we can't trust him."

"What do you mean?"

"He lied about the Queen of the Manatees – he's not married."

"… So?"

"What do you mean "so"? He lied to break up with me." Mabel said.

Scoffing, Dipper returned to the others. "We're gonna get started right away. I'm gonna investigate the barrier so we can track it. Anyone with me?"

"Sure." Tom said.

"Hell yeah!" Wendy smirked.

Dipper and the others headed out and Mabel frowned. "Dipper!" They ignored her and she became upset. Looking at Mermando, she quickly followed them down the rocks.

Dipper and the others arrived at the barrier. "Split up and show me anything interesting you find."

"Roger." Tom flew off.

"Whoa, that's a first, he's actually into something." Mary giggled and flew after him. "Honey!"

"Arrgh! Will you leave me alone!?" Tom avoided her, only exciting the girl more.

Mabel pouted as she saw the five spread out and she walked over to Dipper who looked closely at the energy barrier. Brushing his hand along it, he moved over to the hole which was being fixed. He studied the edges and frowned.

They were singed.

"What the?" He squinted.

"Wha-what is it?" Mabel moved up to him quickly.

"The barrier was … burned."

"Yeah, so?"

"That's impossible, the Gobblewonker's a fish." Dipper said.

"Well, maybe it had laser beams or something – McGucket did build it after all." Mabel put her hand on her hip.

"Well, it could be …" He looked closer at the burns. "But … how're they still hot?"

"Dipper!" Mary landed nearby. "There's trouble at the palace."


MERMANDO SLOWLY stepped over the rubble, he couldn't believe his eyes as the palace foyer stood in shambles. He turned around and looked at the large hole in the roof, his anger escalating. "What. Happened!?"

"It was the Gobblewonker, Your Grace." A soldier said frantically.

Pushing his hair back, Mermando composed himself. "Were you able to take it down?"

"No sir, it … vanished." The soldier said hesitantly.

Mermando sighed. "Is everyone okay at least?"

"Yes, just a few injured so far, Your Highness."

"Okay," Mermando sighed, "Guards continue searching the rubble for anybody trapped under there."

"We'll shift our investigation around the palace – the Gobblewonker couldn't have gone far." Dipper turned to the others. "Wendy, Tom, Mary, you check around the palace and tell me if you find anything."

"We're on it." Mary nodded and dragged Tom out of the palace.

"Mabel, you and I will start around here." Dipper said.

"I'm not helping." Mabel crossed her arms.

"What?"

"I've got other things to do." Mabel began to leave.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Mabel." Dipper walked up to her. "What're you doing? What do you mean you can't help?"

"I'm sorry; I'm just not feeling it today." Mabel shrugged.

"Is this because of Mermando?" Dipper frowned.

"Dipper, shush."

"I can't believe you, Mabel – there're people who're in danger! If we don't stop the Gobblewonker, it'll wreck the palace and everyone in it!" Dipper yelled.

"Um, excuse me, is there something wrong." Mermando walked up to them.

"Mabel, I –," The earth rumbled.

The earth rumbled more and sand fell from the ceiling. "It's coming from outside." Mermando said.

Mermando, Dipper and Mabel quickly ran out of the palace and looked upward as the grumbling worsened. The ground shook sharply and a large crack spread across the barrier, creating a panic.

"The barrier…" Dipper said.

"Guards, with me!" Mermando ordered and ran off.

Dipper, Mermando, Mabel, Tom, Mary and Wendy arrived quickly at the hole in the barrier, finding more magicians had arrived and were struggling more than ever to fix the breach. "This can't be happening." Mermando grew pale and moved up to the dome. "If this breaks, the city will be flooded."

"Well, at least it wouldn't be that bad, right?" Wendy said. "Mermen breathe underwater, right?

"No, it'd be a disaster." Mermando touched the barrier. "If the water comes crashing down, the city would be destroyed and the force would crush everyone, Mermen included."

"How's the Gobblewonker responsible for this? Isn't it basically a Kraken?" Tom asked.

"Wait, how do you know that?" Wendy asked.

"What do you think I do in my room all day? I read." Tom shrugged. "And the Gobblewonker was actually a machine Fiddleford McGucket built and he revealed it to the public a few months ago."

"He did?" Dipper raised his brow. "Huh, guess I haven't been reading much outside magic lately."

"See? Don't underestimate me." Tom crossed his arms.

As the others continued talking, Mermando looked at the crack on the barrier and studied it. "There're no pressure marks."

"Huh?" Dipper turned to him.

"There aren't any pressure marks!" Mermando said. "The barrier wasn't broken from the outside."

"Well, what could've happened then?" Mabel asked.

Mermando turned to them. "It's the crystal."

"What do you mean?" Dipper frowned.

"We need to get back to the castle now!"


THE EARTH shook as the palace rumbled, worrying Mermando, Dipper, Mabel, Wendy, Tom and Mary who rushed through the foyer toward a hallway. Dipper jumped away as a brick fell toward him and he turned to Mermando who ran up ahead of them. "Mermando, where're we going exactly?"

"The underground vault, it's where the barrier crystal's kept. If the barrier's breaking the way it is, it's because the crystal's damaged." Mermando explained. "Now, we must move quickly!"

The group ran further into the hall, getting further and further into the underground and further away from light. As lamps on the walls replaced overhead lights, Dipper turned back and turned to Tom – he seemed angrier than he'd ever seen him. Mary was concerned.

Looking back however, Dipper noticed Mabel starting to fall back. "Mabel?"

"No, no, just carry on; it's nothing." She quickly said.

Mermando looked to Mabel then slowly nodded. "Okay." He went on with the others.

Dipper remained behind and moved up to her. "Mabel, what is it now?"

"I don't wanna do this anymore."

"Do what? Help people? Solve mysteries?" He asked.

"No, it's …"

"Mermando again?"

"Dipper, he lied to me – I thought we had something in common." She rubbed her arm. "I thought he felt the way I did –,"

"Mabel, get a grip! Our friends' lives are at stake!" Dipper frowned.

"Well, can't you consider how I feel? He broke my heart."

"Then pick it up and get your head in the game."

"Dipper." Mabel frowned.

"Look, Mabel, I'm not gonna step aside just so you can have the luxury to whine and moan forever!" Dipper frowned. "The world isn't all about you – it's this type of selfishness that got Bill Cipher out in the first place!"

Mabel jerked back, "… Dipper …"

Dipper stepped back. "If you wanna cry, fine …" He began to leave. "Just don't get in my way anymore."

Dipper headed down the stairs and Mabel stood there, silently watching him disappear. Looking around the hall, she moved back upward and glanced back at him as he left.


MERMANDO PUSHED the vault doors aside and ran in with Tom, Mary, and Wendy. Looking around at the slick chrome floors, steel roof, gears and cascading pillars converging to the center of the room, Mermando led the others through the room, moving up to the central platform where a massive purple orb stood in a force field.

Before it, stood four cloaked men and a raven-haired woman in a black suit with a red shirt and a glove on her right arm. "Ah, as expected from our wise and valiant prince Mermando! Welcome," she curtseyed.

"Who are you?" Mermando asked.

"I am Deming from the kingdom of –,"

"Great, now she's gonna tell her 'I'm a warrior space princess story again." A wizard interjected.

"Why'd I have to be put under her?" Another said.

"Hey, I wasn't gonna tell that story again!" The woman blushed.

"Oh yeah? Which story were you gonna tell then?" The first wizard said.

"I was gonna … uh …" She stroked her chin then growled. "Shut up!"

The second wizard groaned. "Why do you even need to tell those stories, Deming?"

"Well, shouldn't I get in character for a mission?" Deming asked.

Tom fired an energy ball at Deming and she jumped back quickly. "Quit wasting my time! Who the hell are you?" He grimaced.

"Whoa, so it's him." Deming pocketed her hands. "Hmm, quite strong for someone his age."

Tom growled and Dipper rushed into the room. "It's the wizards from before." He said and drew out Journal Four.

"So, you're the ones who've been running amok in the kingdom." Mermando said. "What do you want?"

"The head of the boy at the door," Deming huffed and put her hand on her hip. "It's funny how much my master wants him dead even though he's insignificant." She turned to Tom. "I'll also be taking him with us."

"Tom?" Mary asked. "What for?"

Deming scoffed and ignored her, turning to Tom. "Do not worry, Master, your liberation is at hand."

"Master?" Dipper raised his brow.

"What is she talking about, dude?" Wendy asked.

Tom gnashed his teeth and black energy flooded out of his body, nearly engulfing everyone around him. Bursting forth with force that nearly destroyed the ground, he lunged at Deming with a blazing fist. Deming however simply smiled and raised her gloved hand.

An eye opened from her palm.

Tom froze in place and his aura disappeared, knocking him out instantly and sending him collapsing on the floor. "Tom!" Mary ran toward him, but suddenly stopped in her tracks and fainted as well.

"Mary!" Wendy yelled.

Deming jerked back in surprise. "Curious." She snapped her fingers and the wizards froze. "Take the master." She looked at Mary. "And maybe her too …" She turned to Dipper. "I'll take care of him."

The four wizards shuddered and started convulsing, veins spreading across their bodies and blood pooling at their mouths. Mermando and Wendy backed away as the wizards lurched about with red electricity sparking all over them. They began to transform.

"What the hell's going on here?" Wendy asked.

"Sorcery, a very powerful kind." Mermando said.

The wizards shape-shifted into massive, deformed creatures: a griffin, a wolf, a serpent, and an ogre. Deming licked her finger and cut her tongue open with it, causing her right eye to sink back into her skull. A spinning mandala appeared in her socket and she grinned.

"Get them."

"Oh, I wish I had different friends." Wendy drew out Stone Crusher.

Deming and the monsters charged and Mermando summoned a trident from thin air, raising it up and spinning it above his head. Water swirled around him and he fired it at Deming who blocked it with a mandala and sent it back at him. The griffin and wolf pounced on Wendy and she fought them off and the ogre ran over to Tom.

"No, you don't!" Dipper opened the book. "Flame spiral!"

Fire burst out of the book and shot toward the ogre, burning everything in its path when Deming blocked it with a mandala and sent it back at him. Dipper jumped out of the way and Deming teleported in front of him, smacking him aside and onto a nearby wall.

Wendy hacked the griffin's leg and the wolf came at her from behind, only to be shot away by Mermando who came to her aide when suddenly, the serpent came down and wrapped around him, choking him. Wendy saw this and tried to help, but the griffin clawed at her, sending her tumbling back.

Deming picked Dipper up and stabbed his stomach with her hand. "So, what should I squeeze? Your liver, intestines or stomach?" Dipper coughed up blood and Deming grinned. "You'll let me choose? How kind!"

Deming twisted her hand and Dipper screamed, gaining a laugh from her as she enjoyed the sound of his voice. She tugged at it when the door suddenly slammed opened.

"Mabel!" Mermando turned to her.

Clasping her pendant, Mabel thrust Deming back with her telekinetic powers and held her arm up, forcing the ceiling down onto the monsters. Escaping the serpent's grasp, Mermando summoned a whirlpool under his feet and blasted Deming out of the room. He spun the weapon and shot the monsters, onto a nearby wall.

"Dipper!" Mabel ran toward him and picked him up. "Dipper, are you okay?"

"M-ma –," Dipper spat up blood.

"Dipper!"

Wendy ran toward the hole in the wall and looked outside. Deming was gone. She turned to where the monsters were and they were gone as well. "What the?"

"We need to get him to the infirmary!" Mermando moved up to her and held out his hand. "Let me help you take him."

Mabel looked at Mermando then at his hand hesitantly. "Okay."

"Come on, quickly!"


TOM SLOWLY came to on– sounds blaring and blinding light drawing a grunt from him as he looked around and saw that he was in a hospital room. On the bed next to him was Mary who was slowly coming to and Dipper on the other side of the room who was surrounded by Wendy, Mabel and Mermando.

"Uh, guys? What happened?" He asked.

"Oh, Tom, you're awake." Wendy turned to him.

"Tom!" Mary screamed then turned to him. "Phew, you're okay."

"What happened?" Tom asked.

"There was this witch who attacked us and she knocked you out with something." Wendy explained, "But she's gone now."

"Oh, okay then." Tom said, still reeling.

"I really have to thank all of you for your help," Mermando said, "If it wasn't for you, we'd have never stopped those witches and now, we can finally fix the barrier."

"We can't take all the credit – you did a lot with your trident and water stuff." Wendy said.

Mermando chuckled. "Well, I try."

"Mermando," Mabel said.

"Yes?" He turned to her.

"Could we talk? Alone."

His face tightened. "Sure."

Leaving the room, Mabel closed the door behind them and made sure the hall was empty. "What do you want to talk about?" Mermando asked. Mabel frowned. "Oh, so you know …" Mermando rubbed his neck and huffed. "Look, I'm sorry, I should've told you the truth, but I wasn't sure how to put it … I –,"

"Actually, I wanted to apologize." Mabel said.

"What?" He raised his brow.

"I kinda threw myself on your last summer and I'm sorry about that." Mabel sighed. "I've been kinda boy crazy for a while, just falling for every guy I see and I thought I'd moved on since last year, but being back here made me realize I hadn't. I still had feelings for you."

"I didn't want to hurt you." Mermando said.

"No, it's okay, it's my fault." Mabel said. "I shouldn't just think about myself." She looked back at the door. "I've got a brother to take care of and I've got to learn to move on. I've got some growing up to do."

Mermando smiled then looked around. "So, friends then?" He held out his hand.

Mabel grinned. "Of course!" She hugged him. "Let's get back to the others."

"Yeah." Mermando opened the door and they entered the other room, finding the others talking.

"Hey, where're the others anyway?" Wendy asked.

"Oh, they should be okay – their tour should be over by now." Mermando explained.

"What about Mr Poolcheck?" Mary asked.

"Yeah, I bet he'd flip out after seeing this place." Wendy said.

"Mr … oh, you mean your Camp Manager? Oh, he never came to."

"What?"


"WHA!" MR Poolcheck yelled as he came to and looked around at the campers who were seated around the boat. "Wha … what happened?"

"Oh, you missed it, Mr Poolcheck! We caught this really big fish!" Peter Irons moved up to him.

"Wait, wait, what about the accident?" Mr Poolcheck got up quickly.

"What accident?" Lil Gideon asked.

"The ... there was a giant monster that attacked the boat – we were capsized!" Mr Poolcheck looked around.

"You have the craziest darn imagination Mr Poolcheck – we were just fishin' here the whole time!" Gideon chuckled.

"B-but I –,"

"C'mon, lemme show ya the fish we got so Team Royalty can take the win again." Gideon walked Mr Poolcheck to his team.

Dipper and Mabel watched the campers from nearby and Mabel chuckled. "Huh, who woulda thought Lil Gideon would help?"

"Well, I guess he can be reasonable when he wants to be." Dipper said. "Plus, he has the massive fish we got from Mermando to win the contest."

"Yeah, that too." Mabel laughed. She looked around then huffed. "Look, I'm sorry about earlier."

"No, I should be sorry; I was being harsh – I should've been considerate."

"No, I needed that – I can't chase boys forever, now can I?" Mabel shrugged.

"So … we good?" Dipper asked.

"We're good." Mabel smiled.

Dipper huffed then looked at the Grimoire. "I wonder who those wizards were."

"Yeah, they just left without a trace."

"Yeah … and they called Tom 'master',"

"What?" Mabel raised her brow.

"Yeah." Dipper frowned. "There's something he's not telling us."

Mabel looked to Dipper then turned to Tom who chatting with Mary nearby. She frowned.