Chapter 10
Gravity Falls 12:15 PM
Out behind Greasey's Diner
Grenda had pacing back and forth Since Candy's dad had dropped her off and is starting to wonder where Tony was, "Com'on Tony, you need to get your Dipper looking self here so we can get to the Shack." she said to no one in particular.
"How often do you do that?" she heard someone who sounds a little bit like Dipper say behind her. She turned and saw Tony walking out from the woods behind the diner. "Talking to yourself is one of the early signs of possible mental illness." he added as he walked up to her.
"If you're done having your one sided conversation I suggest we see if Soos is here take us to the Shack." He said sounding even more gruff than she could muster.
"What is wrong with you?", Grenda asked as she put her hand on his shoulder. She really wasn't liking the attitude he seems to have picked up since this morning.
"I dunno, maybe the fact that I had been holding on to the hope that my brother was still alive only to have it ripped out of me. Maybe the fact I'm about to head to a place that 9 others just like me were destroyed, just so I can go see that my brother is now just another item on display so that money grubbing Stan can get richer. Maybe it's just knowing I can't even cry to mourn my brother with risking destroying myself." He says bitterly as he points to the scar that leads away from his left tear duct and down his left cheek. With that he pulls himself out of her grip and turns to walk away.
'Man he may look like Dipper but with that attitude I'm not sure how long I'm gonna be able to put up with him.' Grenda thought as she followed him to Soos's waiting truck.
Mystery Shack
Former wax museum room
"Ok, let's see. 3 backpacks, couple granola bars in each, some chloroform, water bottle in each, note pads, butterfly net, glass jar with holes in lid, copy of the incantation, hmm can't think of anything else..." Wendy said as she was mentally checking off a list of stuff for the trip to the see the Unicorns.
"So where do these Aloe plants fit into the equation?", Wendy hears from behind her, she turns to see Pacifica standing in the door way with 4 bags probably containing the aforementioned plants.
"Ah, hi Pacifica. Those are actually for the Clones, not the Unicorn mission." Wendy responded somewhat curtly.
"Oh I know, I was just trying to break ground on starting a conversation. You know, give us something to talk about." Pacifica said as she set the plants on the table under the window to help keep them growing. "Besides being in the twins circle of friends we really don't have much in common, so I was trying to, I dunno, keep us from sitting here in silence till Grenda gets here." By having her back to Wendy she really couldn't tell that Wendy didn't seem to look like she really even wanted to be in the same room as her let alone talk to her.
"Well what makes you think I even want to talk to you, after the way you treated my friends all summer?", Wendy said as Pacifica turned around. "You spent most of the summer trying to make Mabel's life terrible even though all she wanted was to be your friend, though I really don't know why. Probably just because she's a decent person and tries to see the good in everyone."
"Look I was just trying to keep my… my," Pacifica started before she quickly stuttered out, then she quickly turned her own venom towards Wendy, "At least I didn't spend most of the summer knowing Dipper had a thing for me only to lead him on and then break his heart heart by telling him he was too young for me."
"Why you little rich b...", Wendy started before she was stopped by the thought of what her young friends would think, "Look I never led him on, I actually tried to keep it friendly. He's one of my best friends and even I know I'm bad news relationship-wise, I didn't want to hurt him. Unlike a certain someone who antagonized him till she needed him to do something for her. Someone who didn't act and let everyone including him get turned to wood by a ghost because she was afraid of a little bell her father had. Then once you actually get the guts to do the right thing, you then get your father to have a photo of you dancing with Dipper put in the paper like you two were the second coming of Romeo & Juliet."
"That wasn't me, that was my father trying to put a positive spin to what he found to be an embarrassing previous night.", Pacifica countered as the two girls seemed get in each others faces. "Even if I had wanted to try to like Dipper, I knew didn't stand a chance as long he still loved you. I may be a blond, but I'm not stupid. Hell I saw how much he was into you the first night I met the twins and I was in the middle of trying to win some queen of the party contest. You spent most of the dance mooning over some mascara wearing, wannabe goth and all Dipper wanted to do was get a dance with you. Hell, from what I've come to understand, this," She pointed towards Francis in the corner, "is a result of that night and your inattention of him!"
Pacifica knew instantly she had said the wrong thing as Wendy's face went even paler if that was possible and saw her back up slowly before she fell to the floor. "I'm sorry, that was wrong to say." She said as she nearly instantly went to Wendy's side actually hugging the girl she was just ready to fight a moment ago. "I'm so sorry."
"No you were right, she is to blame." They heard from the door.
McGucket Mansion
"Mister Mcgucket, I let myself in like your note said." Candy yelled as she entered the foyer of the huge mansion.
"Back here child," she heard coming from one of the rooms off to the left of the foyer. She headed down that way and as walked she thought about how much this place had changed since she was last in it. All of the art was gone, the fountain was still here but it looks like it's been painted a rust color, half of the columns in here now have vines growing on them and it looks like it's intentional, and this is just in the foyer.
"Well there you are, Candy wasn't it?" Fiddleford said as he stepped out of the room, he was not wearing his usual town idiot get up, he mainly wore that around town so people wouldn't think too much different of him. He was now in a set of gray overall and had a filter mask pulled down in oreder talk easier. "I've been working since I got up this mornin' and I think I may have a thought for a restraining thing a majig if anyone wants to try to take the creature alive."
"Interesting, I have been trying to think up a way to stop a creature's gaze from working. I remembered reading some Greek mythology for a history class and I remembered the bit about Perseus using a polished shield as reflective device to turn the gorgon's stare back against her. I was wondering if there would be a way of turning a oneway mirror into such a device, that way the would be protected but still able to see what they were fighting."
"Rootin tootin idea, now I see why the twins call you the inventor of your little troop of friends. I dare say you match Dipper in the smarts area." Fiddleford said causing Candy to blush a little. "Well let's get you suited up and see if we can put our ideas to work." and they head into the old ballroom that Mcguket had turned into his lab.
"Yo, Banjo Dude. It's Wendy's friends, Nate & Lee. We're here to help out any if you need it," Candy & Fiddleford hear shortly after the both start to hunker down to get to work.
Gravity Falls Public Library
Thompson is carrying a stack of books from the mythological and religious sections over to a table where Robbie & Tambry are seated. "That's all I could find so far that deals with mystical petrification in the mythology and religious sections."
"Man. I know I said I'd help but sesh, isn't most of this stuff on the net now? I figured we'd be glued to the computers looking this stuff up, or whatever.", Robbie said to Tambry as the stack of books between them had grown again.
"Come on, Robbie. You of all people should know that you can't trust half of what you find on the internet. Remember that one expose you read that said that Love God was actually an overweight cherub." Tambry says smiling at her dour looking boyfriend. "Hey Thompson, think you could see if there's an arcane lore section?"
"Wouldn't that be covered in one of these sections?", Thompson asked.
"Nah, man. It's down in the basement back near the crafting and cookbooks.", Robbie volunteered. He looked up to see both his girlfriend and friend looking at him, "What, I use the section to come up with lyric ideas." He said with a shrug.
Mystery Shack 12:55 PM
Former wax museum room
Greda has Tony pinned against the doorframe yelling at him after he said what he said, "How dare you say that to Wendy?"
"Let him go, doodette." Soos is saying as he is in the doorway trying to pull Grenda off of Tony, finally realizing exactly how strong his friend of a friend is.
"Not until he apologizes," Grenda responses as she starts lifting Tony up despite Soos trying to stop her.
"Grenda, please let him go?", Wendy softly asks. "They're both right in a way." She adds as she looks first at the blond hugging her and then at nearly identical clone of her best friend. There were some differences; his skin is tanner, his eyes are duller, a scar running from his tear duct down his left cheek, and he's got a sneer she's never seen on Dipper. But he still looked like Dipper. She doesn't know what she would do if she ever saw Dipper looking at her like he was, with disgust in his eyes.
After hearing what Wendy asked Grenda let him with a slight shove towards the statue that was his clone. "Your attitude better start improving little man." she said as she left the doorway.
"I'm gonna go sit outside so he can be with his brother." Wendy said as she got up to head out of the room. She really didn't know what else to say, what started out as a verbal spat with a potential romantic rival has ended with her feeling like she may have ruined the lives of two people that look so much Dipper that it almost hurts.
"Wendy, you forgot the supplies," Pacifica said as she grabbed the three backpacks and went to follow the red head. She stop's at the doorway and turns to look at Tony and says, "Your plants are on the table. You may look like Dipper but so far you're nothing like him. He would have never let her be hurt like you are and he would've never let me hurt her either." and with that she left to find Wendy and to apologize again.
"Look, I know you're hurting here dawg, but these people who you seem so intent on upseting are doing everything in their powers to try to help your bother and you. You may want to think about that a little bit before you push away people who could easily see you as family. That's my two cents anyways." Soos turns and starts to head for the door. "Also I heard some of what you had said to Grenda back at Greasy's." as he got to the door he holds up two fingers and counts them down as he says, "Firstly, Stan would've never have put your brother on display. Secondly I'm in charge here now and I would never do it either." And with that he leaves shutting the door out on his way out.
Mystery Shack
Front porch
"Look Wendy I'm sorry, I, uhm," Pacifica said as she sat down next to the red head, "I really didn't mean what I said in there. I'm still so used to having to put on airs so all my 'friends'," she adds air quotes as she said it, "would know I was in charge. I'm still getting used to having real friends, so that anytime I feel challenged about them I still go into mean girl mode."
"I understand, I do. But what you said in there really is true. If I had noticed how he felt back then, if I known he wanted to dance with me then, he wouldn't have made them and they wouldn't be in the trouble they're in now. Hell, if..." Wendy said as she started to break down.
Both Pacifica & Grenda sat with her and just held her until she was seemed to be composing herself.
"Look girls, thanks." She gets up and grabs her backpack from the stack. "We have some Unijerks to go see so let's get this trip started. Some physical action will help clear my mind a lil bit. Grenda, your pack has a copy of the chant needed and I've got the map on my phone. We should be ready for this." As she was walking she started rubbing her right wrist, it's been throbbing since the fight with Pacifica.
"I remember most of it, but thanks Wendy." Grenda said as she picked up the pack, she then gave Pacifica a look that said she was still on thin ice with her even after Wendy seemed to have accepted her apology.
Piedmont, California
Pines family living room
"Alright guys, your mother and I have been talking," Adam Pines says to his kids while walking in front of the family sofa as the twins are seated. "after the recent events we have decided that we are going to sign you both up for a self defense class."
Mabel and Dipper both look at each other in a mild case of shock, especially considering their mother was usually pacifistic in her out look on life due to the amount of victims of violence she sees in her job as an ER nurse. It was actually due to this that Elaine Pines had finally relented to allowing her twins to learn to defend themselves. She didn't want to see her kids end up in her ER because they were unable to defend themselves the next time a bully tried to jump them.
"I'll be taking you two times a week to a Practical Self Defense course starting tomorrow night. This isn't a martial arts class, this is one that teaches you to defend yourself with whatever you have at hand. I went to school with the instructor so I know he'll be good teacher." Their father continued as he looked down on their shocked faces.
Gravity Falls Woods
Near the magical glade
"Alright we should be near the glade," Wendy says as they get near their destination, "Grenda get the chant out. Pacifica in you back pack there should be some rags and a bottle of chloroform in case the satyr tries to call for back up."
"Ok." Pacifica nods before she realizes what was said, "Wait, what?"
"Halt," they hear coming from the glade in front of them, "There is no need for you three to proceed any further."
At that they see a man in a white leather trench coat and an all white outfit leading a white stallion from the glade. "You will not find the answers you are looking for here.", He then mounted his horse and rode off before they could say a thing.
Thanks for coming. I have three storyline arcs planned out in my head and in the next couple of chapters I will be ending the first storyline. I hope everyone is liking the character growth I am building here. I'm also gonna be working on a few drabbles for the Wendip week in April.
Again I'd like to give a shout out to EZB, SuperGroverAway, ddp456, & Popcat131. It was their stories that made me want to get back into writing and to want to start with Gravity Falls. Please check out their stories if you haven't already.
Please review. I'm always open to constructive and helpful criticism, though if you're gonna troll please move on.
Reader Thedas743: Thank you. I'm doing my best here.
Reader The Keeper of Worlds: I'm glad someone caught that, I had to explain to my son (my 17 year old beta reader ;-) ) the acronym. As for your other comment it will start to become soon.
Reader B4E Octavio: Thanks I'm working on them as I can.
Reader TBR0: Thank you.
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