Chapter 8:
It was the final debate between the candidates, taking place in front of the nearly completed memorial for the previous Mayor. Dipper and Mabel stood in the backstage, getting ready to use Soos to win the election.
"Are you sure this is the right thing?" Mabel asked as Dipper fiddled with the tie around his neck. "This seems to mean a lot to Grunkle Stan."
"Well Stan didn't give us any other choice," Dipper reasoned, glaring slightly at where Grunkle Stan was on stage. "We both know that he doesn't stand a chance of winning the election without our help, but he refused. We simply can't risk Bud becoming mayor though, so using Soos is our only option."
"I guess your right," Mabel decided, nodding. "Let's do this."
Dipper turned on the tie and directed Soos to also go on stage and take his place among the debaters.
"First question: what's your position on axes?" Manly Dan prompted loudly. "Wait…I mean, taxes!"
"Easy, taxes are the worst," Stan replied immediately. "I say we stimulate the economy by waging wars on neighboring cities. We. Have. The. Cannons!"
The crowd immediately booed and Dipper couldn't help but cringe at the response.
"I can answer this one!" Mabel declared, grabbing the tie and slipping it back on. "I don't know much about taxes, but I can promise you a kitten in every pot!"
"That doesn't make sense Mabel," Dipper sighed before taking the tie back.
"You don't make sense Dipper!" Mabel retorted, pulling on the tie to try and keep it with her. They tugged it back and forth for a bit until they heard singing. Mabel let go of the tie and they watched in confusion as Bud did a song and dance number. Unfortunately, it seemed that the audience like it.
"We're getting eaten alive out there," Dipper stated in frustrated as began pacing during the intermission. "Since when has Bud been creepily adorable?"
"I don't know, it doesn't make sense," Mabel replied as she thought it over. "He's almost acting just like… like…"
"Little… ol'…me…" the twins heard Gideon's voice, causing them to turn around in shock. Bud walked toward them, acting like a zombie, and the screen on his stomach flickered on to show Gideon laughing at them.
"Well hello there," Gideon greeted with a triumphant grin. "Long time no see. Except in my revenge fantasies where I see you on an hourly basis."
"Gideon!" Dipper said in shock and anger. "I knew you were somehow behind this! You've been controlling Bud!"
"And it seems you've been controlling Stanford!" Gideon countered with glee. "I have to hand it to both of y'all. You've gotten much eviler since I've last saw ya."
Dipper flinched slightly at the accusation, thinking of all the time he's spent with Bill and the deal he made. But Dipper pushed the feeling of guilt down. He was doing this to protect his family. HE was nothing like Gideon who only cared about himself.
"Get them!" Gideon ordered with a snap of his of his fingers. Bud moaned and walked forward towards the twins. They backed up and made the attempt to run, but Bud easily grabbed them by the back of their shirts, causing the tie to fall off Dipper.
"Let go of us!" Mabel yelled as she and Dipper struggled. Bud ignored them and entered a construction elevator, riding it to the top of the memorial. Once they reached the top, Bud began tying them into two chairs. The twins continued to struggle as long as they could, but Bud was a lot bigger and stronger than them. It wasn't long before they were stuck in the chairs and tied together.
"Behold your grand view of the debate," Gideon announced once the deed was done. "Once I win this election, I'll finally rule this backwoods town!"
"You'll never get away with this you creepy little dork!" Mabel shouted, looking over her shoulder so she could glare at Gideon.
"Oh I'd be happy to spare you, Mabel, if you agree to be mine," Gideon offered, before showing off a ragged dress. "I even made you this wedding dress in crafts class. Don't ask what it's made of…"
"Eww!" Mabel scowled in disgust. "I'd rather die you creep!"
"Fine! Have it your way!" Gideon snapped in anger, trying to hide his disappointment. "Once I win, they'll hit the plunger for the fireworks display. Finishing the mountains construction and trapping yall inside. I've been trapped behind concrete all summer, now see how you like it!"
Dipper and Mabel gasped in fear as Bud walked toward the elevator.
"Say hello to the next mayor of Gravity Falls kids! WHAHAHA!" Gideon continued to laugh as he walked away, leaving Dipper and Mabel to their fate. Dipper and Mabel immediately began to struggle.
"We have to get out of here!" Dipper said as he tried desperately to get out of the ropes.
"Hey, I can hear the debate!" Mabel said excitedly, turning her head to the side.
"I think we have bigger things to worry about right now!" Dipper shouted, still struggling.
"But if can hear them, maybe they can hear us!" Mabel reasoned. "We'll have to shout really loud though."
"Worth a shot I guess," Dipper confessed. "Anything is at this point."
Mabel nodded before taking a deep breath before yelling at the top of her lungs, "HELP! HELP US!"
"WE'RE TIED TO A BUNCH OF FIREWORKS!" Dipper shouted as well as the two of them struggled even harder to escape. Their attempts began to move the chair without their notice. Suddenly the chair tipped and fell out of the memorial's nostril. They screamed as they stared at the ground far below them with only one thin rope keeping them suspended in the air. Screaming and gasps could be heard from the ground below them, but their focus was on the rope holding them up. They stared in horror as it began to snap.
"Get back you terra birds!" came Stan's shout. The twins looked over and were stunned to see Stan climbing the scaffolding and diving dramatically onto the memorial. The twins feared he wouldn't make it in time as the last final bits of rope finally broke. Before the twins had a chance to really process it, Stan managed to grab the rope.
"Grunkle Stan!" Mabel and Dipper cried out in happiness and relief.
"Kids!" Stan replied as began pulling them up. "Look, I'm sorry for being stubborn. I guess being the town's hero wasn't enough. I wanted to be yours too."
"We're sorry Grunkle Stan," Mabel apologized. "We should of support you, win or lose."
"Probably lose," Dipper couldn't help but add.
"I could still drop you, you know," Stan grimaced. Of course, he did no such thing and pulled them up and into an embrace. He untied them and they all walked out onto the memorial, hearing the crowd cheer for them. Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived as Dipper spotted Bud going for the trigger.
"Uh-no!" Dipper said, getting ready to run. "We have to get out of here!"
"Kids," Stan said seriously, causing the twins to look at him. "If I die, make sure I get a bigger tombstone than Ford."
Dipper and Mabel could only nod dumbly before Stan grabbed them and held them tightly. He then ran forward and jumped off the memorial as it exploded behind them. They all screamed and braced for impact. Surprisingly, they landed in a pile of birdseed and it was enough to cushion their fall. They all popped only to have the eagle land on Dipper's head and give Stan a kiss on the forehead. Stan shooed the bird away and rose to his the top of the pile before helping Dipper and Mabel out as well. The crowd began to cheer and chant "Mayor Pines".
"Well, I guess we know who won," Dipper commented. They all laughed and headed home after such a long day. They gathered in the living room to watch the results of the election.
"This just in, Stanford Pines loses!" Sandra Hernandez
"What!" They shouted in shock. They could only stare ins shock as Sandra reported that Stan was disqualified for his crimes and began to list them.
"At least they didn't list any of the bad ones," Stan joked as he quickly turned off the TV. "On an unrelated topic. I have a lot of cheap pugs and I need to move them fast."
"I'm sorry Grunkle Stan," Dipper said sympathetically. "I actually think having you as Mayor would have been fun."
"Maybe it's for the best," Stan shrugged before smiling. "I got close to the dream though kids."
"Hey I made you something," Mabel said, holding up a knitted sash that said "Our Hero" on it. "It's not official, but I think it counts."
Stan took the shah and his eyes began to water a bit as he sniffed.
"Grunkle Stan, are you crying?" Dipper asked in disbelief.
"I got campaign confetti in my eye," Grunkle Stan denied, standing up. "Want to go vandalize Mayor Tyler's mansion?"
Dipper and Mabel cheered and ran after him. Later, the twins were up in their room and finally going to sleep.
"So how did it go Pine Tree?" Bill asked, appearing as soon as Dipper closed his eyes. Dipper had expected it of course and sat up to address the demon.
"Your ties were a great help," Dipper replied, giving him a small nod. "Without them, Gideon would have won for sure."
"Glad to be of service kid," Bill bowed before becoming serious. "Just don't forget your end of the deal."
"Don't worry I won't," Dipper assured. "I'll let you know if I hear anything from Ford. Are we still up for DD and more D?"
"Not tonight kid, I have somewhere else I need to be for the next few nights," Bill replied casually, continuing before Dipper could ask anything. "But we'll defiantly play later. Remember… Reality is an illusion, the universe is a hologram. Buy gold! BYE!"
Bill disappeared and Dipper sunk back into a deep sleep.
