A/N:
Last chapter guys! Finally! I hope you've enjoyed this, it's been a fun writing experience. Read on wonderful people! XD
That night, Dipper removed it hat and set it upside down on the desk for Roxie to sleep in. But it seemed that she was not quite so eager to shrink herself down again so soon after regaining her freedom. And besides, she couldn't at that moment because Mabel had taken it upon herself to start work on forming the crystal into another pendant, one with a real chain this time instead of an old string.
"You don't have to do that you know." Roxie muttered, not ungrateful, just embarrassed that so much had been done for her already.
"I know, but it's fun and no offence but we don't want you losing it again."
"I didn't lose it..."
"No you just let Gideon steal it. Again." Dipper muttered.
Roxie chose to ignore that for the sake of her sanity, but inside she was fuming, "Either way, thanks..."
"Don't mention it, pixie-pal."
"I'm not a pixie. I'm... an Adhene. I think." She was about to repeat what had already been covered about an Adhene being an elemental sprite of some sort, but Mabel's grin was too big to ignore, "Alright if calling me a fairy makes it easier then just make sure you don't say it in my earshot."
"Deal."
Dipper folded his arms, "So... what part of an elemental sprite comes into this. Flying you mean?"
"Actually, it means this."
Roxie gave a secretive smirk, holding out her palm and furrowing her brow in extreme concentration. The twins watched curiously, wondering just what else was going to happen next, and if they'd even be surprised with all the stuff that happened so far. However, their eyes did widen as Roxie's fingers started to twitch, grasping at something invisible in the air. Slowly, but becoming steadily clearer, a pulsating bubble of water started to form just above her palm. It was only small, about the size of a marble. Roxie gritted her teeth, brining up her other hand to join the first, cheeks flushing in effort as the water bubbled and grew until it was the size of a golf ball. It only remained in the air for a few seconds before exhaustion took over and she dropped her arms, the water splashing into the wooden floor.
She panted greedily, getting her strength back slowly, "Water element... If you have answer explanations on that one then I'm listening..."
The twins blinked, exchanging a look of awe before Dipper finally spoke, "You don't know how that works either?"
"Look, Dippy, at the start of the summer I thought I was a human in bad circumstance, and now I've got wings and can cream anyone in a water fight so give me a break."
"That was awesome! Can you make shapes and stuff for blast someone so hard they end up water-gled to the wall?" Mabel asked eagerly.
"No, that's pretty much all I can do. It's really draining but I'm getting better."
"Hold it, when I first found you in the woods, up in the tree, something was dropping water bombs on me!" Dipper exclaimed.
She folded her arms, "I was practicing and you got in the line of fire."
"You- Ah forget it..."
"No, what?"
"Nothing, I just figured what's the point in asking questions when you're not going to answer them."
"That's not fair, I don't answer because most of the time I don't know. And you know that. What is your problem today anyway, Dippy?"
"I don't have a problem. I'm just... Okay, I'm sorry. It's been a long day and I kinda just want to hit the hay."
"Yeah, yeah I guess..."
Mabel rolled her eyes and finished her work on fixing the pendant, "You're both impossible."
The two stared at her, "That's that supposed to mean?"
She grinned as the spoke in union, handing the crystal to Roxie, "Nothing, night-night!"
The following morning at breakfast, it seemed that it was just the twins at the table. They chatted as they ate, mostly about the events of the night before. It was hard not to. They didn't blame Roxie for sleeping in late. She, like the rest of them, had been through a lot and she needed the extra rest if she was going to be taking off again that day. At the sound of that, Dipper started munching a little more furiously on his cereal. Mabel was started to get tired of her brothers mood swings and gave him a thoughtful look.
"Come on, bro, just give it up."
"Give what up?"
"The moody, I'm too cool to care, nothing bothers me attitude. It just makes you look moody."
"That's not what I'm doing, I'm not doing anything in fact."
"Oh really? Then how come you keep encouraging Roxie to leave but then getting annoyed when she says she will?" she smirked knowingly, waving her spoon at him.
"It's up to her what she does. And that means using us for protection and then taking off, this time literally. No big deal- Hey!"
He flinched as Mabel's waving spoon swatted his forehead, "You're a dope you know that?"
"Why this time?" he asked dryly, rubbing his head sourly.
"Because, she isn't coming back all the time for a hideaway, she's coming back because she's our friend and we're the only ones she trusts! And she's only leaving because she thinks you want her gone. Heck I think she'd try and find a place to live for real around here if it weren't for that."
"And the lunatic kid who wants to take over the Shack and turn her into an attraction..."
"Not the point and you know it." She pouted, "Go talk to her."
"Why? I don't have anything to say!"
"You'll think of something. Now go on or fear the cereal spoon!" she scowled, swatting her cereal covered spoon at him warningly.
He ducked and had to give a half smile, "Alright, if it'll save me from the spoon I'll talk to her."
"You are saved dear-brother." She grinned.
He rolled his eyes good naturedly as he swallowed another mouthful of breakfast before making his way back up the stairs to the shared bedroom. He didn't understand the point in it though. It wasn't like he'd done anything wrong. Roxie did want to leave. He was just making it clear that he wasn't going to stop her. No harm in that, right? And it wasn't like he wanted her to leave either. She was annoying as one of Mabel's sleepovers most of the time but she was still a friend. A weird one, and one that knew how to get under his skin but... Stay on track Dipper! Point being, he didn't want things to end on harsh terms like they were. And okay, he did feel a little guilty about being so snappy with her. A little.
The boy peeked into the room and saw that it was seemingly empty, but his hat on the desk gave it away. It had been turned right side up and there was a small sound of movement from underneath it. Had Roxie gotten trapped again? Cautiously he edged closer to it and cleared his throat to give warning that he was there. But he received no answer.
Dipper lifted the cap and found the hunched up figure of Roxie underneath. Her arms were wrapped around her knees which had been pulled up to her chest. He wasn't sure if she was upset or just sulking because her head was tucked into the neck of her T-shirt, just a few tufts of mousy hair poking from the top.
"Uh, Roxie…?" Dipper tried, but was instantly cut off by the girl shooting out a finger to point warningly at him.
"You let Mabel have Sweater-town, let me have T-shirtania!"
He rolled his eyes at her familiar blunt nature and crouched so that he was nearer her level, "I thought you were claustrophobic?" he asked knowingly.
Her head emerged from the clothing with a scowl, "I'm okay when I know how to get out. It's just a hat."
"I guess. Are you, uh, okay?"
She shrugged, still curled in on herself, "Yeah, just thinking about what I'm going to do after today. I don't want to be a burden on you any more than I already have been..."
"You're..." ah the guilt! "You're not a burden. I just, you know, figured you wanted to go and I wasn't going to stop you."
"I only want to go because I know that there's more like me out there and I want to find them."
He tilted his head, that taking him a little by surprise, "Really? On your own?"
"Well yeah. Taking anyone with me would just drag Gideon into the mess, and also you and Mabel have done enough for me. Look I..." she huffed, getting to her feet and turning away so she didn't have to look at him, "I care about you too okay. Both of you I mean!" she added quickly, "So I'm not dragging you into my business again."
Dipper furrowed his brow. Being dragged into some unknown, possibly paranormal, business was kind of a habit, one he was pretty happy about in all honesty. So being told so bluntly that he wasn't allowed to be just made him more curious. But then again, he knew what Roxie was like, there was no going against this one. He warily raised a hand and lay a fingertip on her shoulder as act of comfort.
"Well... I don't think you should go alone but, if you feel that way-"
"I do."
He ignored the interruption, "Then just know that you can come back anytime. And if you do want company... Then I'll be here. We. We'll be here."
For a moment Roxie hesitated as a thought passed through her head. But soon enough, she patted his finger in appreciation before turning around to face him, indicating for him to step back so she could raise the crystal to the light and grow herself so she was human size again. And then she did something that made Dipper jump back in surprise. She took off her pendant and smacked it against the table, cracking the crystal in half.
"What did you do that for?" he asked, voice high from shock.
She chuckled, "Calm down, Dippy, it'll still work. I just, wanted to give this to you."
He blinked as she took his hand and pressed one half of the crystal into his palm, "You're... why?"
She shrugged, "From what I've seen, I'm not the only one who needs more back up plans."
"Hey."
"Hey nothing, you know it's true." She grinned, suddenly darting forward.
Dipper jolted as something collided harshly with his face near the corner of his mouth. Blinking away the daze, he found Roxie still standing in front of him looking dishevelled for some reason. He scowled, "What was that for?"
"What?" she demanded, her cheery tune altering as her cheeks flushed.
"You hit me!"
"I didn't hit you, you moron!"
"Then what was it?"
"It was-" Roxie stopped herself and looked away in frustration, "Oh forget it…"
"Roxie?"
She sighed and looked back at his hand, moving hers over it to close his hand, "Just look after that okay, I might just come back for it one day."
He tilted his head, and suddenly things seemed to click into place of what had just happened. He felt his cheeks warm as he nodded, "Sure."
That day, the twins had made sure to give Roxie the star treatment in her final day at Gravity Falls. They had taken her to the Diner, shown her around the town one more time, even gone through the woods for nostalgic purposes. All the while Dipper kept his part of the size altering crystal safe in his pocket next to the journal. Mabel had a knowing look in her eye, but wasn't giving anything away, which in some form they were grateful for.
However, all good things must come to an end. Even laughter-filled, reminiscent days like that. As the afternoon started to rein in, they knew that goodbyes were going to have to be said soon or else they'd never be done. Roxie stood at the edge of the woodland with the twins, fighting not to tear up. Crying wasn't her style, it was weak. And she wasn't weak anymore.
"Do you really have to go?" Mabel asked, practically strangling her in a headlock of a hug, "You can stay with us you know."
"I do, and I want to. But... if there are others out there like me then I need to find them. And I can't get to my old life if I'm taking over yours."
"We can help!"
"You already have, so much. And I'll come back as soon as I find something. And I'll give you that flying lesson when I do."
She stepped back a fraction to offer her pinkie finger, "Pinkie promise you will?"
Roxie gave a smile, locking her finger in turn, "Pinkie promise."
"Good." Mabel nodded, finally releasing her and rubbing her eyes, "So it's not a goodbye then. You're stuck with us one way or another."
She chuckled, liking the sound of that, and then turned to Dipper, unsure if a hug or handshake was appropriate, "See you around, Dippy."
"Yeah, definitely." He nodded, seemingly in the same position, "Don't get into too much trouble without us."
"Pfft, it's like you don't know me."
He sniggered and shook his head, "Just be careful."
She smirked, "Sure..."
"Now kiss!" Mabel cackled, throwing her arms up.
"Mabel!" They yelled, both looking as outraged as each other.
She giggled, "Worth a shot."
Roxie chewed the inside of her cheek, "I guess that's my cue to go... I'm going to miss you both so much."
"We'll miss you too. But you'll be back. You're like a boomerang with wings!"
She grinned, "You know it."
Dipper exchanged a smile with her, standing back with his sister while Roxie lifted her half of the crystal, letting the pink light cover her so that within seconds, she was the four inch tall figure they had first met. Plus wings. She hovered in the air before them, feeling pretty happy with how things had turned out. She sighed, knowing that if she didn't leave now, then she doubted she ever would.
"See you around guys."
And just like that, she flittered off among the trees and out of sight. The twins continued to wave even after she had long gone. Mabel rubbed her eyes stubbornly, knowing that they would meet her again, but for now she held the right to be a little sad. Dipper on the other hand, had a ghost of a smile in place, lifting a hand to brush over where he kept the book and crystal fragment. He didn't understand that girl, but... maybe it wasn't a bad thing.
"She'll be okay right, and she'll visit?"
He nodded, putting a hand on his sisters shoulder, "She'll be just fine. And until she comes back, I have a feeling it'll be a pretty quiet summer from here on out."
"Yeah right, we've still got to change Gideon back remember? Knowing him he'll have some sort of revenge planned..."
"We can take it. It's not like he's going to be getting the Shack anytime soon."
"That's true." She smiled, "You're going to miss her though right?"
"Mabel come on!"
"What? I am too."
He didn't bother replying to that. There wasn't a need. Because there wasn't anything else that could be done. Roxie was off searching for the life she'd been deprived of, and the twins were getting used to the idea of returning to the life they had become used to. And for the moment, that was the best any of them could ask for.
A/N:
And there you have it! I'll be honest I don't know if I'll have anything to do for a third instalment. But never say never right? For now, accept this as the ending, and we'll see how I feel when series 2 of Gravity Falls comes out lol XD I really hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have writing it. Please tell me what you think, I can't wait. Thank you all for the support! You're awesome! XD