"Wait," Peridot said as she caught up behind Star. "I might be able to help you."
"Help me?" Star echoed, a little dazed.
"Peridot, come on before we're late for class," Dipper said impatiently.
Peridot glanced at Dipper, and sighed. "My guide is waiting for me," she said, and then slipped Star the invitation to Pacifica's party. "Meet me at these coordinates at the time allotted on the card."
"Ehh, yeah, a party," Star grumbled, looking over the card sulkily.
Then, like a light flicking on, her expression changed. "Wait, a PAR-TAY?!" She grabbed Peridot into a suffocating hug. "You're the best Earth sister any mister could ever ever ask for!" She twirled Peridot about, then gasped. "I HAVE TO GET READY!"
Then, with a sudden swipe of scissors, Star cut open thin air and dove into the dimensional hole she created. The hole sealed immediately after, leaving Peridot mystified and Dipper frantically scribbling in his journal.
"What's a sister again?" Peridot asked uncertainly.
"You're joking, right?" Dipper said. But Peridot's frustrated and confused expression made him realize that she was indeed very serious. "I'll... Try to explain on the way to class," he sighed.
Zim begrudgingly trudged behind Lapis and Steven, wishing for all the world he had a Maim Bot, or for that matter any sort of mass-destructiony device.
"Do you remember where you saw Peridot last?" Steven asked.
"It was a building filled with earthlings," Lapis answered. "They were crawling everywhere." She shuddered.
"That doesn't narrow it down," Steven said patiently. "Was there anything you remember about it? Anything out of the ordinary?"
"There was fabric attached to a pole?" Lapis muttered. "And the building-"
"You simpleton, that's called a flag," Zim snapped. "And the school you're looking for is Echo Creek. Did you even bother to blend into enemy territory?"
"Do you even bother to be nice?" Steven retorted, frustrated with Zim's attitude. "And who's the enemy? Lapis isn't trying to hurt everyone like you are."
"Did we really need to bring the soft-headed worm-child with us?" Zim snapped at Lapis.
"Steven is helping me find Peridot," Lapis said. "You're the dead weight of the group. Don't be expendable and a nuisance."
Zim growled and clenched his fist, but seemed to think better of whatever he'd planned to say. After all, he'd have the last laugh after the Armada arrived. And then, looking up at horizon, he could've sworn he saw an Irken cruiser streak across the sky. He smiled toothily.
Time was ticking back at the mansion Lil' Gideon and Pacifica shared. The party they'd planned was starting in just a few hours, and Gideon was set to do the preparations so that everything turned out perfect. Only, it wasn't.
It was an absolute disaster. Gideon had ordered fifty swans for the grand opening, and the handler had the audacity to only bring thirty-eight. Then, the twenty-foot chocolate sculpture made in Gideon's image arrived in white chocolate with milk chocolates accents, instead of milk chocolate with white accents as Gideon had specifically requested. Of course, there wasn't any time to remedy the situation. Gideon was directing Ghost Eyes on where to place the disappointing statue when he noticed a limousine pull up to the driveway. Pacifica, sobbing, didn't even wait for her driver to open the door before bursting into the mansion.
"He HATES me!" She wailed, flinging herself dramatically onto the nearest lounge chair.
"Sit up, you'll crinkle the chiffon," Gideon sighed. "Who hates you, sugar bean?"
"Dipper," Pacifica grumbled. "I don't get it. I even went to that rotten little Conspiracy Hut... Shack thing his uncle used to run, and nearly bought out the place." She rubbed her eyes with the back of her gloved hand. "He didn't even pretend to care. I've moved halfway across the country to live in this hovel and live like a commoner, and he doesn't even bat an eye." She accepted a tissue from one of the attending butlers, and blew her nose. "I'm not used to only living in one mansion. I barely have space for my pony."
"I told you not to waste your time with him," Gideon chided. "I thought we agreed to move here so you could help me get close to Mabel."
"You're not even going to her school, though," Pacifica pointed out. "I thought you gave up."
"You KNOW I'm waiting on those PAPERS," Gideon shrieked, his cheeks hot. Since Gideon was still of elementary school age, he had to bribe his way into attending Echo Creek. Principal Skeeves, though a highly bribable man, insisted after the money had been passed that Gideon would need the signatures of his parents before he could officially start school. Of course, Gideon had left his useless parents back in Gravity Falls, just as Pacifica had with her parents. "You know I want to be there more than any-"
Ghost Eyes, sensing a meltdown, interrupted by putting a hand on Gideon's shoulder. "Remember what they told us in Anger Management," he said.
Gideon stopped, breathed in, breathed out. "Yes, thank you, Ghost Eyes," Gideon sighed, and sat beside Pacifica on the lounge chair. "Excuse my outburst. I didn't mean it, sugar cube. Just... You know Mabel's my one and only, right?"
"Right. I'm sorry, I know you still care about her," Pacifica said gently. "It's just- that's my feelings for Dipper, you know? He helped me stand up to my family. He helped me realize I needed to stand up to my family."
Gideon nodded gently, and his features softened. "And he turned a pretty lady like you down," he sighed.
He turned to her, and patted her back. "I know what'll cheer you up. We'll make this a party so fine, you'll forget all about our old friend Dipper Pines. Come on, I'll do your hair in that style I was talking about before. Once your photo's on every magazine in Los Angeles, Dipper will be crawling here on his hands and knees, no lie."
Pacifica sniffled. She knew that would be against Dipper's nature, but the thought was comforting nonetheless. "All right, just don't make my hair too curly," she replied with a crooked smile.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Isn't it a little early for guests?" Pacifica huffed. The nerve of some people.
"It must be the handler for the swans. He'd better have all fifty this time, or next time I'm ordering them cooked," Gideon grumbled. "Ghost Eyes, get the door."
Ghost Eyes grunted and lumbered over to the door, nearly covering the doorframe with his large, muscular frame.
"Who is it?" Gideon called, craning to see.
There was some shuffling some muffled words exchanged. Suddenly there was an explosion, and when the dust cleared Ghost Eyes was halfway lodged into the staircase, groaning loudly.
Gideon and Pacifica leapt up in alarm.
"Ghost Eyes!" Gideon shrieked, running to check on his loyal friend.
Pacifica, on the other hand, approached the door warily, her stomach turning. "Please don't be Bill," she whimpered.
The figure was not what she expected- a small, sickly green alien, with large purple eyes.
"My name is Tak, and I am now the leader of this base," the alien announced. "Resist, and you will suffer greatly."