"So we go from exploring a long lost chamber full of great, epic secrets...to going on a wild goose chase for gnomes. I repeat: for gnomes."
Gideon lets out a heavy groan as he and Pacifica walk through the forest on the very far outskirts of town, Bill's shadow following close behind them. They have been walking for hours, Pacifica constantly stopping to check both the journal and sketchbook. Coming to another sudden stop, she opens up the sketchbook, her eyes studying every little detail on the drawing she is looking at.
"If I remember right, you were the one who wanted to do something less dangerous," Pacifica replies, taking note to Gideon's whiny tone of voice. "And not only are they less dangerous, but we would be discovering technically a new species of animal!"
Gideon blinks. "Gnomes are animals now?"
"Well, they aren't exactly human, are they?"
"Err...no, but they aren't animals either."
"Then what are they?"
"I don't know, Pacifica! Because they're gnomes! Something as ridiculous as gnomes don't exist!"
"And yet spirits like Bill do?"
Gideon shuts himself up, Pacifica giving him a satisfied smirk.
She does have a point. If Bill, a demon triangle who can only be seen in dreams, is real, then why not little men with pointing hats that were only meant to be garden decorations? From what he has experienced in the last week and half, he should come to the conclusion that anything is possible. But still...
"Where exactly are we going anyway?" Gideon finally says with a sigh. "You never told me any of the details other than, 'Gideon, we're going to find the gnomes! Follow me~'"
He does a poor attempt to mimic Pacifica's voice, in which she just rolls her eyes.
"Hey, if I told you right away my plan we would have been arguing all day. Like we are now," she explains.
Coming next to Gideon, she shows him the sketchbook a points towards the middle of it. He takes a moment to study it, seeing that it is a charcoal sketch of a thick forest landscape, similar to the one they are in now. It is incredibly detailed, from the leaves to the bark in each of the trees, showing that a lot of work has gone into it. From where Pacifica is pointing, behind one of the trees, there is a sketch of what looks like a tiny man with a pointy hat and beard. It is very small, so it is very hard to tell, but Gideon has no doubt that it is suppose to be the image of a gnome.
"See it?" Pacifica says, referring to the little gnome sketch. "This drawing looks very similar to what the gnomes look like when I was kidnapped. And it also confirms that they like to live in thick forest areas, similar to what the journal says."
She quickly puts up the sketchbook and replaces it with the journal, opening to a bookmarked page that talks about gnomes.
"It doesn't say much about them, but the author does describe them being in thick wooded areas, avoiding human contact at all cost."
She closes the book, a thoughtful look in her gaze.
"Which is strange, considering they had no problems talking to me..."
She becomes lost in thought, Gideon sighing as he watches his friend become lost in her theories. He looks down at Bill's shadow, and while he couldn't see his facial response, they both knew this is going to take awhile. Pacifica starts muttering to herself, now taking out her a notebook a pen and writing down her thoughts. While she does that, Gideon takes the moment to look around.
The woods are indeed very thick, making it very difficult see anything within long distances and everything is very condense to where it is easy to lose the little details. If gnomes do live here, this would be a perfect place for them. Easy to blend into their surroundings, only having someone with a keen eye be able to pick them out with everything there is to see...
"Did you finish getting all the posters up, Dipper?"
Gideon's heart stops at the sound of Mabel's voice. Turning towards the his left, he can see an opening forming through the thick trees.
"...Pacifica," Gideon whispers, trying to listen for either of the twins' voices. "Come here, now."
"Huh, why?" Pacifica turns to face him. "Did you see a gnome?"
"No, but I heard Mabel Pines."
That immediately gets Pacifica to become quiet, waiting to see if she can hear the voices as well.
"Finally, I did," Dipper's voice comes in. "I had to make sure the posters were able to get far into town. Not fun, being around all those idiotic people..."
Trying to move closer to the opening so they can see, Gideon and Pacifica try to remain hidden from view as they see Dipper and Mabel are talking. Both are carrying a carrier of nails and a hammer, Mabel looking like she is ready to run a marathon while Dipper looks exhausted. They are standing outside a very tall and odd looking building with a large sign saying, 'Mystery Shack.' Well...technically it says 'Mystery hack,' as the 'S' has fallen down, but it is easy able to tell where it once was. Pacifica and Gideon watch the twins carefully, who seem completely unaware that they are there.
Mabel gives a big smile.
"Hey, look on the bright side. At least you did your daily 'socializing' that Mom and Dad are wanting you to do!"
Dipper crosses his arms and rolls his eyes.
"Like it matters. Mom and Dad couldn't care less. They only say that because everyone else is pressuring them to get me more outgoing."
"And it's working~"
"It works just as well as your countless therapy sessions."
Looking down at Mabel's carrier, Dipper's eyebrows rise.
"Uh...Mabel, what's moving in your bag?" he asks uncertainly. "Is that..."
Mabel gives off an unsettling laugh.
"Don't worry about it, bro!" she claims. "It's just a copy of my hand on Grunkle Stan's copier! Well...sorta, as it kind of magically came off the page and started moving on its own. It's a cloned, functional, disembodied hand!"
Dipper flinches back, Mabel laughing even harder. He shouts a few things at her, calling her crazy and such, but she only grows even more amused. Gideon feels just as disturbed as Dipper, for even though he cannot see the 'hand' they are referring too, he is convinced that it is something startling.
"And," Dipper finally says, trying to get things back on subject. "you said you were able to do this on Grunkle Stan's copier?"
Mabel nods her head.
"Yep! And if we can clone a hand, why not a whole person? Wouldn't it be cool, Dipper, if we had our own clone army? That would be so much fun!"
At the thought of an army of Mabels, as well as Dippers, Gideon feels his face pale dramatically. It would be utter chaos, he can picture, the Mabels running around wildly and letting out destruction everywhere they go.
After watching the twins discuss about the subject of a cloning copier machine, one that Dipper shows great interest in, they eventually leave and go inside the Mystery Shack. Once they are gone, Gideon and Pacifica turn to each other.
"...I say this beats going after gnomes, don't you think?" Pacifica says after a long silence.
She steps away from the Mystery Shack, not wanting to take the chance of the twins coming back out and seeing them.
"We need to see this copier machine," she continues, a look of determination forming in her gaze, "and get it away from the twins. We can't have them making clones of themselves. Who knows what they can do with that kind of power! We need to find a way to get inside the house and-"
"No! No, you can't go in there!"
Forcing them into a daydream, Bill appears right in front of Pacifica. His single eye is wide, a look of panic in his gaze as his whole body shakes.
"You two can't go in there!" he exclaims frantically. "It's too dangerous, you guys could get hurt!"
Pacifica's eyes grow wide.
"Whoa! Calm down Bill..."
She attempts to lower her voice, in attempt to ease him.
"I know you said the Pines Twins are not to be messed with, but if we don't do something about that cloning machine, they will only become more dangerous."
"It's not Pine Tree and Shooting Star I'm worried about!"
Bill, his blue tint glowing brighter and brighter, hugs onto Pacifica's head for dear life, pleading for them not to go in there while not explaining why. It is clear that his mind and body are in two separate places, like he is having a flashback to one horrifying thing when nothing is happening in the present. Gideon can only watch in shock, it hurting him to see Bill like this.
"...Look, Bill, Pacifica is right."
Bill reopens his eye, looking down to meet Gideon's gaze. Pacifica remains where she is, standing quietly and stiffly.
"If we do not get rid of this machine," Gideon says, "then it doesn't matter if we face the danger now or later. Bill, you've seen, and probably know, how unstable the twins are. Do you really want to leave them with something that powerful in their hands? Whatever your afraid of, it's not gonna go away just because we don't go into that building."
"Y-yes, but-"
"But nothing. And that same nothing is not going to get you. Pacifica and I won't let Him come near you or anything else that can harm you. You'll be safe with us."
"He's right," Pacifica adds, putting her hand on top of Bill's. "And we know you won't let anything happen to us. No matter what happens, we've got each other's back, just like what happened on Pioneer Day. We're all in this together, and it's gonna stay that way."
Gideon nods, smiling to show his support. There is a short silence, Bill moving his gaze between him and Pacifica. His grip on her slowly loosens.
"...I can see there is no way I can convince you not to go," he finally says. "But if anything really bad happens, you two stubborn idiots promise me you'll get out of there! No matter what it is or what is going on, you won't put yourselves in danger!"
"We promise," Gideon replies with a gentle smile. "We won't get hurt so long as you are around, Bill. I trust you."
Bill's eye grows wide at that last sentence.
"That..." His voice cracks. "...means a lot to hear you say that, kid..."
He finally lets go of Pacifica and floats back.
"So...how do you two plan on getting in there anyway? There is no way in heck will the twins just let you two barge in there."
"That is a good point," Pacifica replies with a sly smile. "And I think I know how to get around that."
Running off towards the direction of the Mystery Shack, she looks at each of the trees as if she is searching for something. Gideon and Bill watch her go, both completely lost as to what she is doing. After disappearing from view for a bit, it does not take long for Pacifica to return. In her hand, she is carrying a poster that is advertising a party this Saturday night. At the Mystery Shack.
"We can make our way in by going to this party," Pacifica explains excitedly. "We will have to pay a little bit of cash and get disguises, but I can cover that. My dad wants me to socialize, so he will let me go with few questions. I can also hire someone from the salons to give Gideon and I a makeover to where we are unrecognizable! It will be perfect!"
"Wait...'makeover?'"
Gideon stares at Pacifica with wide eyes while she nods her head enthusiastically.
"Yep!" she replies. "Don't worry, Gideon, it won't be anything too extreme. Just some temporary hair dye, a new hair style, and a change of clothes to make you not as easily recognizable. Think of it as a Halloween or Summerween costume."
Once again, a million things go through her mind as Pacifica studies Gideon carefully, saying that she is debating whether he will look better as brunette or a redhead. Gideon groans, though he knows in the end this is the lesser evil, compared to an army of Mabels tackling him. And he did ask for something more exciting than looking for gnomes...
Beggars can't be choosers, but at least now Bill looks happier again, laughing and giving Pacifica suggestions as she plans out hers and Gideon's new look.