The next morning, Stan flew into Mermando's room.
"Mermando wake up!" He said. "I just heard the news! Congratulations we did it!"
"What are you babbling about?" Soos asked.
"You didn't know? Well guess he hadn't popped the question yet but I heard the whole town buzzing about it: the princess is getting hitched this afternoon! You know, married? Anyway, I'd better get myself ready, catch ya guys later I wouldn't miss it!"
Mermando, still half-awake, took a moment to comprehend the news. When he did he beamed and hugged Soos before running out into the hallway. Soos hopped off the bed and followed him. However they stopped on the stairs: Mabel was with another guy. A guy who looked a little like Mermando except he had black hair, no mustache, and a smaller nose. King and Queen Pines were there too.
"Well daughter it looks like we were wrong." King Pines said.
"Yes, it appears this mystery gentleman of yours does exist." Queen Pines nodded. "And is quite handsome at that. Congratulations young man."
Mermando and Soos were stunned, after all Mermando was the one who saved Mabel...and where did this other guy come from?
"We wished to be married as soon as possible." Mabel said in an almost monotone voice.
'No!' Mermando mouthed.
"Why yes, of course." King Pines agreed. "But these things do take time you know."
"This afternoon dad. The wedding ship departs at sunset." Mabel insisted.
"Oh. Very well Mabel, as you wish."
Mermando hid behind a pillar on the stairs and felt his heart starting to break. He then silently cried as he ran back to his room.
Wendy and Dipper had come out at that point and saw Mermando miserably head back to his room. Confused, they headed downstairs partway and saw Mabel with the other guy. Even more confused, they went back upstairs.
"Where did she find that guy?" Dipper frowned.
Wendy shrugged, looking upset.
"Hey, don't worry, I don't like this any more than you or Mermando do." Dipper gently put a hand to Wendy's face. "I'll try to figure out what's going on, you and Soos do your best to comfort Mermando."
That's what they did, though Mermando couldn't be comforted and Dipper couldn't find out anything other than why Mabel chose him and the man's name: Van. Dipper even asked Van about the woman who saved his life, but he said he didn't know who she was. They were taking separate boat rides at the time and didn't know each other. Dipper knew he was lying, and so knew that something was very wrong. Also, after listening to Van brag about saving his sister Dipper guessed that 'Van' was short for vanity.
Gideon had no idea of Dipper's suspicions either. Since he had been keeping an eye on Mabel and Mermando the whole time he didn't know that Wendy had already told Dipper the truth. He never expected Wendy or Mermando to tell Dipper and Mabel - through written means or otherwise - since he knew that most humans didn't believe that merpeople existed.
It was now sunset. Mermando was silently crying again, only this time on the docks. He wanted to see Mabel one last time before losing her forever, but also didn't want to see the wedding close up. Soos and Wendy continued to comfort Mermando the best they could, but no luck. Especially since Wendy was close to crying herself, knowing that she might never see Dipper again.
Dipper however was on the wedding ship. He wanted to stall the wedding as long as possible, but wasn't having much luck.
Meanwhile, Stan had come back. He had just finished getting ready and so didn't know about the real identity of the groom...or the real-false identity of the-oh you know what I mean.
He caught on when he heard unfamiliar male-singing though. Frowning, Stan looked into a window and saw Gideon as Van.
"Things are working out according to my ultimate design." 'Van' continued. "Soon I'll have that little merman and the ocean will be mine."
He then laughed into the mirror...and his real image, Gideon, laughed back.
"The sea sorcerer." Stan gasped, flying away from the window. "Oh no, he's gonna...I gotta-!"
He zipped to shore and saw Mermando and Wendy on the dock..
"Mermando! Wendy!" He cried. "I was flying - well of course I was flying - and I heard singing from the ship. I looked in, and I saw a human look into a mirror...and the sea sorcerer was looking back! The princess is marrying the sea sorcerer in disguise!"
"Are you sure about this?" Soos sighed.
"Have I ever been wrong?" Stan asked.
Soos, Wendy, and Mermando looked at him skeptically.
"I mean when it was important!" Stan snapped impatiently.
Noticing how agitated he was, and remembering the deadline, Mermando decided to believe Stan and dove into the water. Wendy decided to trust Stan as well and dove in after Mermando. They then swam for the ship.
"They'll never get there in time." Soos frowned.
"I will, and I'll get some friends to help too." Stan decided.
"Right...and I'd better get the Sea King." Soos dove into the water. "Something tells me this is going to be one hurricane of a battle."
Stan flew around the lagoon sounding out the alarm. All the animals heard him and, grasping the situation, followed him back to the ship.
On the ship, 'Van' and Mabel walked down the aisle. Dipper scowled, not having been able to stall the wedding any further. Waddles was upset as well and grunted angrily. Van kicked him in the face, making him let out a squeal of pain. Dipper now knew that something was very wrong with Mabel, since she had never ignored Waddles before.
'Van' and Mabel reached the altar and the parson began the ceremony.
"Van, do you take Mabel to be your lawfully wedded wife for as long as you both shall live?" The parson asked.
"I do." 'Van' smiled.
He meant it as well. He was so attracted to Mabel's beauty that he planned on turning her into a half-octopus like himself and making her his queen once he took over the kingdom.
"And Mabel, do you-"
Suddenly, Stan dove in with a bunch of birds following him. They swooped at 'Van', who ducked in time. They then swooped back and under Van's legs. Dipper grinned as Waddles oinked with pleasure.
Other animals entered the boat, and Dipper started to laugh at the confusion.
"Dipper, these animals are ruining your sister's wedding and you're laughing?" King Pines said sternly, appalled.
"Well I do think that 'Van' isn't good enough for her." Dipper grinned.
"You didn't have anything to do with this did you?" Queen Pines frowned.
"No...but a new friend did." Dipper smiled as he glanced at Stan.
Pelicans doused 'Van' with seawater, one also having a lobster in it's bill. The lobster immediately pinched 'Van's' nose as a bunch of starfish threw themselves at him, covering him.
"Get away from me you slimy little-!" 'Van' said angrily as he pulled starfish off...only to end up as the 'ball' to a seal's nose; actually a bunch of seals' noses.
Mermando and Wendy climbed onto the ship in time to see 'Van' land on the wedding cake. They smiled with amusement in spite of the deadline closing in.
'Van' burst out of the cake angrily and wound up getting more seawater squirted at him. Only this time by dolphins. Stan then flew in and dazed 'Van' by squawking loudly into his face. This gave Stan the opportunity to grab the seashell around 'Van's' neck, but 'Van' snapped out of it and grabbed Stan by the throat.
"Why you little-!" 'Van' started choking Stan.
Waddles immediately charged forward and rammed 'Van' in the butt. This caused 'Van' to fall down and the seashell to break free and crash at Mermando's feet. Catching on, Dipper took advantage of 'Van's' 'downfall' to grab the seashell at his waist and break it at Wendy's feet. Both voices soared up to their rightful owners. At the same time Mabel snapped out of her hypnosis.
"Mabel!" Dipper said happily. "Are you okay?"
"I think so? What happened?" She frowned with confusion.
"You nearly married the wrong guy." Dipper pointed to 'Van'.
"Wha-?" Mabel was shocked.
Everyone else stared as the voices went back into their rightful owners, allowing Mermando and Wendy to speak for the first time in over two days.
"Mabel!" Mermando said happily.
"Mermando?" Mabel was even more shocked.
Waddles went over to Mermando and Wendy and oinked happily around them.
"You can talk..." Mabel grasped what was going on.
She went over to Mermando and Dipper went over to Wendy.
"Mabel, get away from him!" 'Van' said in his real voice.
Mabel and Dipper ignored 'Van'. Dipper immediately hugged Wendy.
"I had to give you your voice back." He smiled. "It didn't feel right letting a jerk keep it."
Wendy smiled back.
"I love you." She said.
Dipper obviously got a bit emotional.
"I love you too." He said.
They kissed.
"You are the one..." Mabel realized the truth. "It was you the whole time..."
"Oh Mabel, I wanted to tell you..." Mermando smiled as he hugged Mabel.
"Mabel no!" 'Van' said.
Mermando and Mabel nearly kissed...but then Mermando gasped as his legs were replaced with a tail. The same thing happened to Wendy. Mabel stared at Mermando with shock and disbelief as Dipper looked heartbroken. So did Mermando and Wendy.
"You're too late!" 'Van' cackled before transforming into his real form: Gideon.
Everyone on the ship gasped with horror as Gideon crawled over to Mermando and Wendy.
"So long lover." Gideon flirted to Mabel. "I'll come back for you later."
He grabbed Mermando and Wendy and dove into the ocean with them.
"Mermando!" Mabel cried.
"Wendy!" Dipper cried.