After posting this story would be going on what seemed to be a permanent hiatus, I asked for suggestions and I got some from Alisi T. So good news: no longer is this story hiatusing! Also, I deleted chapters that were author's notes, so I have no idea if people who have previously reviewed can review them :( I don't always think things through.

Also, sorry about not updating in awhile. I was too busy wearing my Dipper hat around Disney World. That and having people not-so-secretly photograph me 'cause I also wore the same color scheme as Dipper and then the ferry boat captain commented on it. I also murdered a spider as I announced it and walked away, leaving a lady extremely confused. This was all after my sister removed her leg from underneath the sumo wrestler of a man who purposely sat on it. Things get weird in large crowds. I swear I'm not (completely) insane. A word of advice though: don't go to Disney with me unless you're prepared.


Dipper shook his head and snapped back to reality for the moment it took to be sure his sister was okay, then faded back into the fog that controlled him. Mabel grabbed the books and tossed them to the top of the bookshelf, knowing he couldn't reach them. She was the alpha twin after all. Being a good bit stronger and a millimeter taller than him had its perks, even if she didn't live in Canada.

Mabel bounded out the door and through the forest, bent on bringing her brother back from the glowing clutches that controlled him.


Mabel neared the edge of the pine trees and drew in a sharp breath. This was it. She strode cautiously past the creepy billboard in front of Gideon Gleeful's house and after a few seconds of hesitation, knocked on the door. The girl looked quizzically at the dented 'pardon this garden' sign for a moment and was met by a mass of silvery white hair with a few streaks of pale blond running through it.

"Why, my marshmella! What a delight to see ya this evenin'!" Gideon chimed.

"Gideon, we have to talk," Mabel's face was dead serious, prompting the chubby demon-child to pull at his collar after bursting into a nervous sweat, "I think you know why I'm here."

"Why what ever are you talkin' about, my sweet peach dumplin'?" He tried to look innocent.

Mabel started to shake with anger and threw her hands around chaotically, "Don't play dumb, you—you jerkface! You did something to Dipper!"

He took a step back and countered, "Well, he deserves it! That boy stole somethin' of mine and he will pay recompense for his transgressions!"

"Recom- what for the where now?"

"He will pay! First he stole you away from me and then he has half a mind to steal my most important physical possession!?" His face twisted with anger.

"You mean your dumb book?! You dropped it after your latest murder attempt and I picked it up!" Mabel fumed, "I bet now you want to do the same thing to me as Dipper!"

"Why Mabel, I could never hurt you! We're…" He contorted his face unnaturally and his voice sank to a loud whisper, "Soulmates."

"We are not soulmates! Now fix Dipper or I'll—I'll dent your hair!" The crazed girl wildly karate-chopped the air to prove her point until she accidentally swatted a fly. She bent down to apologize to its twitching body while trying to coax it back into the breeze. The boy's expression darkened as he snapped his fingers and smiled confidently.

Mabel laughed in exasperation, "Ha Ha! what are you going to do, aggressively snap at me? I've watched Grease like 200 times so bring it on, bouffant!"

He responded too calmly, "You'll see. I told you I'd get it back one way or another."

As if on cue, an empty shell of Dipper bounded out of the shadowy tree line, eyes faintly glowing an eerie shade of jade that faded when he stepped into the setting sunlight. A glint of gold caught Mabel's eye, then another. In his arms he held not only the southerner's book, but the one he found at the beginning of summer. A stray branch grabbed Dipper's pine tree hat and tossed it to the forest floor, to which he provided no reaction.

Mabel screamed his name across the road, but he remained unfazed, unblinking. Then drawing one foot over the curb in his sickening gait, Dipper Pines entered the roadway. Even the squealing of tires along the pavement didn't stop him in his tracks. Angry black smudges littered the asphalt and the once-still silence of the stale evening air was shattered by shouts from the driver who barely missed the tween. He was immediately silenced by a quick glance of Dipper's empty eyes boring into his and rubber hit the road once more. He made his way down the cracked sidewalk and clumsily stomped his black shoes up the stairs to Gideon's front porch.

"Dipper?" Mabel questioned as she waved a hand across his expressionless face, "C'mon Dip!"

Gideon turned toward her with a devious grin, "I always had a hunch you were the keeper of the three, Pines. Now I know."


Short chapter, I know. More updates on other stories soon! I'm back!