The green fire burned brightly as Mabel sat herself down by the flames – flashing the walls of the canyon around her. 'Amazing' Grunkle Ford said, 'just fills the whole cavern up. Wait and see who comes up on us'. Mabel nodded, and said, 'Grunkle Ford…I haven't really asked this before, we're always running, or just relaxing and sleeping, though sleep is nice, but…what do you like?'
Grunkle Ford blinked and said, 'I…guess I haven't given time to talk with you Mabel – I'm sorry'. 'No, it's ok' Mabel said, 'I understand why', and smiled. Grunkle Ford looked to her a moment, and said, 'Well…where do I start?' raising finger to chin, 'You know of my past, Bill, Dungeons, Dungeons and More Dungeons…I always really enjoyed doing research – kept me on my toes, and to show the world I am an intelligent person, and how far I can go'. 'Yeaaa….' Mabel said.
Grunkle Ford said continuing, 'I joined a chess club when I was at Backupmores – For the first time, I felt great to be among like-minded people, who were as intelligent and curious as I was' – Mabel twitched her lip – 'Not that I didn't enjoy my time with Stanley, but after what happened, I needed something along my schedule of working – which eventually I did come away from when I was working on my thesis'. 'Sounds like a dorky thing to do', Mabel said.
Grunkle Ford frowned, and said, 'It's what I liked to do, Mabel. Nothing wrong with that'. Mabel said, 'I couldn't do it myself – I like just being creative, with my knitting and drawings'. 'You like to draw too?' Grunkle Ford said turning to smile. Mabel curled to grin and said, 'Yes – I love it, finding different places to draw. Dipper draws too, he used your journal to draw inside the different-' Grunkle Ford said widening eyes, 'Wait…what? He's written in my journal?'
Mabel chuckled quietly and said, 'Yeah…just on the adventures we've been on in Gravity Falls'. Grunkle Ford stared mouth opened at her, and said, 'Those journals are scientific produces, not some diaries you pick up at the mall'. Mabel frowned herself, and said, 'Grunkle Ford, he hasn't ruined anything in it, he's put down a lot of good advice in it – though I do know his deepest darkest secrets—' Grunkle Ford said raising voice a little, 'Mabel, my work is not some plaything to be used on a whim. You should know that – you're here!'
Mabel said pressing lips together, 'Grunkle Ford, Dipper is one of the most serious people I know – He's really bad at telling jokes, he wants to avoid the whole process of growing up, and he cares about me. He mostly uses it as something serious, when he's not moping over Wendy'. Grunkle Ford raised a hand to his head, and said, 'Oh my goodness – Everything's gone so wrong. I should've tried hiding that journal better'.
Mabel narrowed her eyes, and said, 'What do you mean by that?' Grunkle Ford said, 'I mean it would've been used as a better means, instead of a kid's personal business'. Mabel lifted pushing herself from the ground staring towards Grunkle Ford's face, and stood over the fire and said, 'With or without that journal, we've been in trouble so many times, and we've saved the day so many times'. Grunkle Ford said lifting himself up, towering over her, 'That journal was my life's work – I can't believe my niece and nephew would not consider the consequences, of besmirching what I have tried to achieve'. 'We besmirched nothing', Mabel said clenching hands, and placing them on her hips. Grunkle Ford said, 'I clearly made a mistake, I should never have asked Stanley to take my journal'. Mabel bowed head keeping eyes on Grunkle Ford, and said loudly, 'MAYBE I SHOULD'VE PRESSED THAT BUTTON!'
Grunkle Ford widened eyes staring at her – Mabel's eyes beginning to fill up with tears keeping on him, face burning in the firelight. '…I'm sorry…Grunkle Ford...', Mabel said sniffing turning eyes away down to the ground, '…I…can't…bear what we don't have in common…'. Footsteps sounded out around to her, and she turned seeing Grunkle Ford coming around to her – downcurled – and stopped before her. He brought himself down to his knees, and threw his arms around her.
'…I'm so sorry Mabel…' Grunkle Ford said, beginning to sniff himself, '…I should have had more sense than to berate you both for my arrogance…'. Mabel raised her arms and wrapped around him, and said '…I just…see more of Dipper in you…'. Grunkle Ford moved hands onto her shoulders as he pulled back and said, '…and you're afraid we wouldn't have much interests together' Mabel could feel her tears flowing down her cheek as she said, '…Yeah…I know I see a lot of Dipper in you, but I don't want to lose a connection we have'.
'I think we have a good enough connection already…sweetie', Grunkle Ford said, 'We're…similar in who we are'. Mabel widened eyes, and said, 'We…might be, yeah'. Grunkle Ford said, 'I'm sorry I never took the time to ask before – when you're a fugitive in the multiverse, I focus too much on the bigger picture'. Mabel said, 'Yeah…I see the smaller things, on myself'. Grunkle Ford said, 'I want you to know Mabel, though I wouldn't want you here living this life, I do not for one moment regret your company at all. You have such an energetic personality, with great curiosity for life'. Mabel curled smiling, sniffing, and said, 'If we get back home, we could play some chess together? I'll make the horses to all tucked up in my sweater'. Grunkle Ford said, 'What kind of chess do you play?' Mabel said, 'The snuggling kind'. Grunkle Ford laughed - Mabel giggling herself, and wrapped arms around him again – gripping gently, as he held tightly on her back.
'Alright campers', Grunkle Stan said – Dipper turning to him, 'We got another day of breakin' laws and breakin' hearts'. He turned to Dipper quickly, giving him a quick smile, before turning back to the road. 'Everything up until now has been a walk in the park compared to our next attraction'. Coming up to a corner – a mountain reaching high to the sky appearing before them – Grunkle Stan said raising hand, 'There she is kids, Mystery Mountain'.
'Five times the size of the Mystery Shack, and what's worse: She has real attractions!'. Candy said, 'Oh! I have read about this place. It has sky tram. And a mummy museum. And sightings of half-human, half spider creatures'. Grunkle Stan said, 'Even their made-up legends are better then ours! Today…', he narrowed his eyes, '…the mountain falls'. 'Question!', Grenda said, 'I'm the size of two people. Can I have the front seat to myself?' Dipper blinked. 'Err, I don't know, sure', Grunkle Stan said.
Dipper looked down bringing hand to seat belt, and clicked it out, then moved himself off from the seat, and walked down passing Grenda to sit opposite Candy, and looked out of the window. Candy shifted out of her seat in eyeline. A moment later, Dipper felt something brush against his hand, and he looked to see Candy sitting closer to him – face a deep red. 'You're…sitting close', Dipper said. Candy didn't say anything a moment, and a quiet giggling came from Grenda as he turned away looking away.
'So, Dipper', Candy said, 'I was wondering, would you maybe want to walk around the Mystery Mountain with me today?' 'Sssure?' Dipper said scooting over closer to the window, 'Wasn't that part of the plan anyway?' Candy said, 'I mean…just us. You and Me. Candy and Dipper'. Oh no… - Dipper widened eyes, and the brakes pulled up.
They moved themselves out of the seats, as Grunkle Stan said, 'Alright road dogs, I have five bucks for whoever can tip the big blue ox'. Grenda immediately made for the door, as Candy said, 'I will see you in there…', and Dipper turned to her as she turned giggling, and frowned as he followed her to the door. 'Hey, what's with the mopey mug, kid?' Grunkle Stan said as Dipper came down the stairs.
Dipper turned to Stan climbing down from the stairs, and said, 'Stan, you gotta help me. Everything you taught me went…too well. I think Candy just asked out on a date!' 'Hey-hey!', Grunkle Stan said punching Dipper on the arm – Dipper grabbing it quickly – 'Look at this little champion'. 'What?' Dipper said, 'No! I mean…', he started to walk toward the RV, '…Candy's great, she's sweet and she's smart…', then twisted walking around Stan, '…but I've never thought of her like that!' He stopped and turned to Stan, raising hands to head, 'th-this is moving way too fast'. She's Mabel's friend too… - He knelt to the floor and panted, then said, 'Okay…I just need to be honest with her, and tell her I'm not ready for this…Mabel would hate me if I kept this up…'.
Grunkle Stan widened his own eyes staring to him, and said frowning, 'Actually…you might be right'. Dipper looked up back to him. '…Candy probably doesn't deserve that…' Stan said, '…I just wanted to help you out…'. 'I just don't want to hurt anyone', Dipper said, '…Mabel most of all…I need to find Candy'. Grunkle Stan nodded, and said, 'Go on kid'.
Dipper went passed the entrance booth, and looked all over for Candy and Grenda – entering into Mummy Town USA, and saw them sitting at a bench.
'Candy! Glad I found you' he said coming to the bench. 'Hey Dipper' Candy said blushing. 'Ooh, I'm gonna take a look at the mummies', Grenda said. 'No, Grenda', Dipper said, 'It's ok. I need to talk to both of you'. Candy blinked. Dipper sighed, and said, 'Listen Candy…I don't like you in that way'. Candy opened mouth arching eyebrows as he said continuing, 'I didn't mean to string you along. Grunkle Stan was giving me tips about getting over Wendy…and I got this girl's e-mail, and I guess I got caught up in my excitement. Mabel would hate me if she saw what I was doing. I'm really, really sorry…'. Candy closed her mouth, and a familiar voice said coming from his right, 'Oh Dipper, hey!'
Dipper turned right – a girl in pink shirt and dress walking up – and widened eyes then said, 'Corn Maze Girl!' 'I was wondering when you'd call', Corn Maze Girl said, and turned to Candy and Grenda, then blinked turning back to him, 'Who are these girls?' 'Err…', Dipper said, '…that's something I should talk to you about'. Emma Sue's voice came from his left, 'Dipper!' Dipper turned left – Emma Sue walking towards them as she said, 'I didn't recognise you right-side-up. You'll never guess where my mom gave birth'. She frowned, and said, 'Hey, who are these girls?' Another voice said from behind, 'Dipper?' Dipper turned around – Log Land Girl standing by one of the Mummy stands, and she said, 'Why haven't you called? Did our romantic log ride mean nothing to you?'
Oh man… - Dipper sighed, and said, 'Listen, everyone…I was trying to learn how to talk to girls…but then I accidently brought my friend into this, and I thought my own sister would hate me for what I'm doing. I don't want to hurt any of your feelings at all…and I'm really, really sorry for stringing you all along'. Log Land Girl stared scowling at him, and he turned left – Corn Maze Girl staring frowning at him – then right – Emma Sue frowning too. 'Dipper…', Log Land Girl said.
Dipper turned back to her. She said a moment later, '…thank you', but kept her frown and twisted turning around. 'Thank you…' Emma Sue said – Dipper turning to her, and she walked away turning back too. 'Thank you…' Corn Maze Girl said, and walked away herself. Dipper sighed. 'Dipper…', Candy said. Dipper turned around to her. Candy said, '…thank you. The open road makes people do crazy things…'. Dipper looked down to the ground.
Mabel awoke as a bright light cover her eyelids, and she awoke to see another portal open before her – then woke up Grunkle Ford quickly, and they put the fire down and made their way through – entering onto a street in what looked a small town – with pencils and pens walking around, a few drawing onto buildings – colouring the town into a rainbow of colours.
Mabel widened eyes, opening mouth wide curling into a beaming smile, and turned to Grunkle Ford as she said, 'Grunkle Ford, can we please stay here?' Grunkle Ford turned to her a moment, then placed hand into his pocket, and pulled out two biro pens, and grinned broadly. Mabel widened her own mouth as Grunkle Ford passed her the pen down, and twisted back and forth for a spot that wasn't drawn on.
She spotted one across the road – between a drawn picture of a spiked dog and a picture of what look the Mona Lisa, and ran towards it, and immediately draw a picture of a heart, followed by a picture of herself on the left side – Grunkle Ford drawing a picture of himself on the right-hand side. After drawing herself, she took a step back and tapped the pen on her chin – the drawings of themselves staring at them, Grunkle Ford standing with crossed arms and Mabel with grappling hook in hand – and then brought biro back to in between the two, and wrote 'PINES' in the middle.
'Do you think…Bill's henchmanics…would notice?' Mabel said turning to Grunkle Ford. Grunkle Ford kept his eyes on the picture, and then brought biro to underneath the heart, and wrote, B…I…L…L…S…U…C…K – Mabel giggling - …S, then brought the pen away. 'I think he might', Ford said, 'and we'll be waiting'. Mabel smiled looking onto the new addition.
Dipper stared out of the window after the sun passed down on the horizon, then sighed and raised his arm up – the numbers he had gotten all clear. He lifted his hand to below his shirt sleeve, and wiped quickly down back and forth, and took it away – his arm now a blurred mesh of blue ink. Grunkle Stan sighed, and said, 'Alright kid…I gotta admit something' – Dipper turning to him.
'I'm no expert on women. Truth is, I've been divorced once, and slapped more times than I can remember', raising hand and rubbing his face, 'Confidence can buy you a lot, but at the end of the day, pickup artists tend to get their heads bitten off'. He bowed head down. 'When it comes to women, I'm a failure'.
Dipper looked at him a moment, then said, 'Hey…'- raising his own arm smiling – '…We're both failures'. Grunkle Stan smiled back. 'You know...' Dipper said, 'Even if your dating tips were bad, I actually haven't thought about Wendy all day. Plus, you did teach me to be more confident'. He turned to the window again, and said, 'I guess I just need to use that power for good'. He turned behind – Candy sitting by the window staring out.
He unhooked himself from the seatbelt, and walked over to her, holding his self-made pamphlet behind his back.
'Hey', he said. Candy turned to him, and he brought it out as he said, 'I think I found a pamphlet I don't think you've read yet'. He opened up to show her the different drawings he made critising himself, and saying she was great. Candy took it in hands, curling a small smile, and said looking back to him, 'It's ok Dipper. Plus, I've kinda lost interest'. Dipper brought himself to sit next to her, and strapped himself in as he said, 'Yep! Yep…I deserve that'.
Sometime later, they entered back into Gravity Falls, and Dipper, Candy and Grenda cheered. Dipper said, 'I still feel kinda bad after wrecking those tourist traps'. Grunkle Stan said, 'Aw, come on. Everybody loves my pranks! And the best part is: I don't have to face any consequen—' Dipper gasped as they pulled up to the Mystery Shack – now trashed with paint all over, with blue paint written 'STAN IS A HACK' over where the Mystery Shack should be, the gift shop filled up with corn, yarnballs flung all over the place, and Granny Sweetkins painting with a spray can 'STAN IS A BUTT'. 'SWEET LORD!' Grunkle Stan said.
He jumped out of the front, and said, 'AW, COME ON!'. The owner of Upside-Down town appeared above the door flipping his gift shop sign upside down. Then the corn maze owner came up to the front of the RV holding a baseball bat, and smashed the right headlight in – Grunkle Stan turning to him horrified - then said, 'That's what you get, that's what you get!' dropping the bat to the ground, before running off with the other two owners, as Dipper and the girls got out from the driver's door.
'I don't understand…' Grunkle Stan said, '…I completely don't deserve this'. 'Oh man…' Dipper said, '…Are we gonna have to help clean this up?' 'I'll just get Soos to take care of it', Grunkle Stan said, 'Where is he anyway?'
Soos remained stood in the centre of the corn maze, staring to the sky, and said, 'Ok Soos…remember what your grandma taught you. When you get lost, stay exactly where you are, and don't move'. Something crowed in the distance. 'Don't…move…!' he said. The clouds moved gently letting in the sun every now and then, and another crow sounded loudly away, then he said, 'You know I'd make a really good scarecrow'.
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A/N:
Just an easy cipher for you all this time. Not really much to update with, except I might have figured out a way to possibly make Weirdmaggedon Part 3 work to a point, but we'll see. I'm still doing Part 2 so far, but part 3 will be looked at soon.
Mabel and Grunkle Ford were a bit difficult to write, because I wanted to try and look into how they differ as people, but also looking at what brought them together.
Also, I thought with Mabel hanging over both Grunkle Stan and Dipper's heads more now, they wouldn't be so ready to jump into what actually happens in Roadside Attraction with Darlene (I think that's her name).
Hope you're all doing ok. Please review or message if you like the story, or any of my two one shots, 'Fall and Rise of a Shooting Star' or 'Home is Where the Heart is'. Dipper and Mabel vs. The Future will be uploaded soon, with an appearance from you-know-who.
Also, over 1700 views! Thank you all so much for reading, and hopefully you're all enjoying the story.
YingYang7