Disclaimer: I don't own Gravity Falls
Author's Note: In this chapter, the Pines family aims to make sure none the dinosaurs run amuck in Gravity Falls, while at the same time, Dipper and Mabel, along with Quincy look into the source of all the summer heat here in Chapter 37: Fairy's Fire!
Family Tree:
Stanley and Carla - James and Jessie Pines
Stanford and Addi - Shauna and Shannon Pines
James Pines and Tara Grayson - Cormac (19), Arya, Aria, and Anais Pines (15)
Jessie Pines and Lillian Prescott - Tanya (21), Stanley Jr aka Junior, (16) and Tyrone Pines (14)
Shauna Pines and Marcus Valdez - Quincy Pines (7)
Shannon is still single.
Enjoy Fellow Gravity Fallers!
Within the abandoned mines...
The utahraptor sees its chance to pounce Shauna the moment her blind spot faces away from the beast. Utahraptor backs away slightly, wanting a running start as it runs with great speed at Shauna, going for her right collar bone with its long, razor sharp fangs that pierce like daggers into her flesh with a loud snap sound of her pierced bone. She didn't see it coming as she lets out a painful wail, getting pinned hard against the rocky wall as the utahraptor raised one of its legs to make a gash at her left side abdomen, and a second and third strike a few times to her right and left leg, trailing down with its hook-like toe-claw and its two other claws from the knees to the ankle. It was incredibly agonizing to Shauna, no doubt, as she feels the toe-claw slash at her like a hot butter knife to frozen butter.
However, the predator didn't have the chance to kill Shauna as it gets bashed against the head by a large rock, having been dealt by an angry Shannon, doing what she must to save her twin sister. Even at the cost of what may be the last remaining raptor currently alive.
"LET! GO! OF! MY! FUCKING! SISTER!" Shannon screamed to the top of her lungs with each hit against the large, blue feathered utahraptor's cranium. The raptor lets go of Shauna from its maw, it being stunned from the blows as it backs away with a shriek, bleeding from where it got hit multiple times. Shannon gets a chance to hold her bleeding sister in her arms, kneeling down to rip off a piece of her own shirt sleeve to make the the bleeding stop some, applying pressure to the open wounds in a frantic manner.
Recovering from the hits to the head, the utahraptor was about to pounce on the twin women, claws and fangs ready to strike. When suddenly, the utahraptor was met with long, translucent blade against its gut, Shifty having gotten to his sisters in time to save them, even if it meant the death of the utahraptor. The dinosaur becoming limp and lifeless the instant Shifty's blade pierced its chest, falling with a thud on the ground as soon as Adeline and Ford come running towards them. Shifty snarls at what used to be a living dinosaur, enraged that it hurt his sister. The older couple stopped dead in their tracks, trembling in horror of seeing Shauna having been attacked by the carnivorous dinosaur, now bleeding from the wounds she was inflicted with.
Shannon tells her sister, with a fearful expression on her faces as she whispers, "You're going to be okay… you're going to be okay…"
"Let me see how severe it is." Ford and Adeline haste themselves over to their daughter's side, looking over the puncture wounds from the bite received on front and back of her shoulder, close enough to her neck, but barely missing it, along with the deep cuts made to her left side, and both her legs. There was no way Shauna would be able to continue tagging along with them on their task. "She needs to get to the hospital immediately!" Ford spoke in urgency.
"No… hospital. Take me home..." Shauna uttered in defiance, never having been fond of hospitals in her whole life for various reasons. She'd much rather treat her own wounds and illnesses she learned over the years through the means of herbs and salves, though of course, she can't treat a severe injury on her own. She was beginning to fade in and out of consciousness from the overwhelming pain.
"Better yet, the Mystery Shack. It's closer and we can't exactly explain this to the doctors." Shannon reasoned, making a valid point while also respecting her sister's wishes.
However, Ford starts reconsidering to just cave-in the possible exits immediately as soon as they call for the rest of the family to aid them. "You're right about the doctors… Call Tara and Lillian when you both get there. And tell your aunt and uncle what's going on. Have them bring the devices here we can use to settle this." He looks as if pleading, becoming distressed about his daughter.
Adeline with a quivering voice instructs her son in urgency, "Shifty, get your sisters to the surface for them to seek medical aid. Your father, and myself, will remain here while we call for the rest of the family to help us seal this place for good."
Shifty didn't hesitate to agree with his mother with a frown, greatly concerned for Shauna's well being, "Of course. I'll return shortly to keep you two safe from anymore dinosaurs that may cause more trouble."
Ford and Adeline nod, having made their choice as they watch Shifty morph into a creature to help Shannon and Shauna back to the surface in a speedy manner, setting them at ease slightly that they'll be safe. At least, the older couple greatly hoping Shauna will pull through, yet concern from seeing the large blood stain on the dirt.
Shannon carefully gets her injured sister into the passenger seats inside the care, not giving a care if the perfusing blood stains the fabric. It was a matter between life and death.
Soon at the Mystery Shack...
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Shannon pounds loudly on the door, carrying her unconscious twin sister over her shoulder, crying out, "Uncle Stan! Aunt Carla! Open the door!" She was close to breaking down the whole door at that point.
Carla was first to stir right out of bed, putting on her slippers to rush to the front door. Dipper waking up to see his aunts outside, wondering what the heck's going on.
Carla gasps in fright, seeing her nieces covered in blood from head to toe as she lets them in, "Girls what-"
Shannon bolts through inside the house, leaving a trail of blood as she carefully places Shauna onto the floor, telling her aunt, absolutely trembling, "We need towels, and fast! I called Tara and Lillian over here so they'll be on their way..."
"Right away!" Carla rushes to the bathroom closet, getting a large handful of colorful bath towels to used to stop Shauna's bleeding. Shannon putting one under her sister's head for support.
Moments later, Tara and Lillian both enter the living room through the unlocked door with medical equipment in their hands, and wearing the proper attire for the situation. It wasn't new for either of them to have stopped profuse blood loss before, though the fear of not treating the patient in time is still prevalent.
"Oh dear Lord…" Lillian said silently, wondering why Shauna wasn't taken to the ER, but she pushes aside the thought as her and Tara knelt down to treat her. Upon further inspecting her wounds, much of the bleeding was coming from her damaged legs and abdomen. It was more serious than the two thought.
"Stay with us, Shauna." Tara tells the injured woman who was fading in and out of consciousness from the loss of blood in her body. Seeing her in such a state gave Tara bitter memories of a similar situation having happened to James many years prior, only without two bullets having pierced the body.
Stan coming right out of the bedroom and down the stairs, jumping back in fright when he sees the blood he almost steps in, "Hot Belgian Waffles! This better not be what I think… Holy Moses no..." To his horror, he sees Shauna sprawled on the living room floor, staining the carpet and towels of her blood as if he stumbled upon a murder scene. Shauna looking paler than before as Lillian and Tara diligently get to work with cleaning and mending her wounds, using all their medical knowledge and equipment they manage to have on hand.
Stan then wondering as he helps his wife and nieces out, like getting a bucket of warm water for them to use to clean the wounds thoroughly, "Why didn't you take her to the hospital? And how did this happen?" The look in his eyes are a clear sign he was scared for his niece.
Shannon musters up the words to say to her uncle, looking dead in the eye, "Shauna didn't want to go, and here is closer. She got… attacked by large raptor… Shauna would have been dead if... " The woman hyperventilates, having become immensely stressed from the whole situation that her sister will possibly bleed to death. Carla knelt down to comfort her, as did Stan. "Mom and Dad need you and Uncle Stan to take the equipment to them. They're gonna cave-in the place immediately."
Stan grips his hand tightly to his side, making a rush for the lab down stairs, getting the explosive devices needed to accomplish the task, with combustible lemons Shannon provided to her parents yesterday for the mission. The old man swearing under his breath all the while. It had become personal to him that no beast or human should ever bring harm to his family. Gathering up all he can in his arms, he beckons his wife with saddened eyes, "We should let them work, hun. Let's go help Stanford and the rest of the family out in the mines."
Carla glances back at Tara and Lillian, along with Shannon. Shannon having taken roost on the couch, watching the women doing what they can for her twin sister, not even minding the caked up blood in her long brown hair that's in a shaggy mess, nor the stains on her clothes; she wanted to be by her sister no matter what. Carla nods to her husband and heads out with him to prevent what happened to Shauna from happening to anyone else. She'll worry about cleaning up all the blood later.
Dipper crept downstairs to peek at what was happening before him. The boy gasps in terror to see the trail of blood leading to the living room, him quivering at the sight to see Shauna limp on the floor with Tara and Lillian doing what they can to make sure she lives. He gets spooked when he sees a tired Mabel about to sit right next to him.
"Dipper what's going-" Mabel was cut off with Dipper taking her hand, dragging her back to their room, shutting the door behind them. Mabel gives her brother a confused, concerned look as she asks again, "Alright, bro, what's happening."
Dipper takes a deep breath to tell her the dramatic scene, "Aunt Shauna got really hurt by one of the dinosaurs in the cavern. I… I didn't want you to see the whole mess."
"Oh my gosh!" Mabel exclaims in fright, wondering, "Is she going to be okay?"
"I don't know, Mabel, but lets hope for the best. She's been through worse, right?" Dipper faintly smiles to his sister, trying to be optimistic for her sake and his.
Dipper sits right next to Mabel in a huddle, both being scared for their aunt, hoping she'll pull through. Their family usually does. Almost.
Later inside the abandoned mines...
Ford and Adeline instruct each family member of where to place each explosive device, all of them connected to each other by a line that when set off, the detonation will activate all at once. Since the mine shafts were vast and deep, they all had to split off from each other, but having at least one or two members with them in case something were to attack them. Just like what's going to happen.
"LOOK OUT!" Tanya warns Cormac when they see the pterodactyl swoops down towards them with talons ready to snatch the two up. Tanya and Cormac retreating in the foliage near the geysers.
In a loud war cry, the triplets pounce onto the back of the pterodactyl, making the flying dinosaur swerve in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, the others were having the same issues with the rest of the dinosaurs that broke free from their tree sap containment, no thanks to the combustible lemon that was set off too early in the cavern, melting away all the sap.
"COME GET SOME, YA THREE-HORNED BASTARD!" Jessie challenged the confused, aggressive triceratops as it charges right at her. Jessie, with being quick on her feet, leaps onto the large dinosaur. The triceratops thrashed its head about in the attempt to make Jessie get off, but she would not let go as the beast crashes into the pile of melted sap. Jessie gets off quickly to help out her twin brother against a spinosaurus that aimed to attack him. Jessie takes out both of her axes, Aim and Gettin' Better, to use against the hulking dinosaur like an amazon warrior. Shifty having helped many of the family members from getting harm themselves, even if putting himself in harm's way.
In addition, Junior and Ty cleverly used fire to direct some of the more docile dinosaurs in the direction away from the devices, amazing yet terrifying to see the hulking and small beasts before them. Things had gotten more chaotic than Ford anticipated. Stan and Carla couldn't be more proud, yet concerned, for their family members giving what for against the dinosaurs.
As soon as they all manage to corral the dinosaur's to the more spacious chasm, it gave them all an ample amount of time for everyone to get near the entrance from the old church to escape through. With everyone out of the mines and to the surface right outside the old church, Ford and Adeline do the honors of pressing the button, together, detonating the explosives below them to collapse what exits they could find. They all hear a rumble of the earth, but it was muffled enough to not stir much around them. Ford having carefully crafted the explosives to not cause great alarm to much of anything on the surface, not having aimed to destroy the whole underground system.
"So… that's it then?" Ty wondered.
"That's it… you all can head home and rest." Ford sighed tiredly, facing the rest of his family, "We need to check to see if Shauna is alright."
"What happened to her?" James inquires, then mentioning, "Tara didn't explain everything to me when she bolted out the door earlier, only that it was an emergency… Is Shauna going to be okay?"
"We don't know. I, as well as Ford, haven't heard anything from her and Lillian since-" Adeline was interrupted by the buzzing sound of her phone, receiving a text from Lillian that tells if Shauna's current condition.
"Addi, Tara and myself have managed to stop the bleeding completely and she's stable for now. We did all we could, so now we have to wait until morning for further results. She was barely breathing when we got through, and she lost an amount of blood where it was on dangerous levels from the damage done to both legs and her abdomen. In addition to the puncture wounds where she was bitten were at risk of becoming infected. We can talk more when you all get home. ~Lillian."
At there was a silver lining to the situation. Adeline shows Ford the message on her phone as the triplets ask in unison, "What does it say?"
"In short…" Ford rubs his eyes, facing the girls, "Shauna is going to be fine. She'll be resting at the Mystery Shack tonight and in no condition to be moving around. You all can come see her in the tomorrow if you like." Not only does it put Ford at ease some, but the rest of the family to hear Shauna will be okay, although he didn't tell them the full details from the message.
Everyone drove back home, including Ford and Adeline, both were still on edge somewhat from everything that happened tonight. They can't imagine what Marcus and Quincy are feeling when they heard the news of Shauna's fate, and the close call that could have ended her life.
The next morning...
Shauna was able to rest soundly on the couch bed, despite it hurting like hell to roll to her injured side, that made her woke a few times. Shauna's blood-soaked clothes having been replaced with one of Adeline's night gowns after they cleaned her up, to which she appreciated. She woke up to find her sister resting right next to her, smelling the scent of breakfast cooking. Bandages that concealed her stitched and stapled wounds, and the casts on both legs that itched to seemingly no end. As Shauna tries to get up, but she found herself unable to without it hurting like a bitch, her letting out a pained whimper. The additional downside being she cannot walk with her damaged legs, and that she was still weak from the whole ordeal.
As if on cue, Adeline comes walking in with a plate of food for both her daughters with a tray. The older woman sees her daughter doing her best to get up, but she needed rest as she says in a quiet manner while settling down the tray of food with Shauna and Shannon's plates on it.
"Hun, please don't exert yourself."
"Mom… I need to go to the bathroom, but it hurts." Shauna tells.
As soon as Adeline heard what her daughter needed, she carefully lifts her up with by her over her shoulder to lean on. Shannon stirs from her rest with a jolt, feeling that her sister is moving prompted her to aid her mother with helping Shauna.
"Let me help too, Mom." Shannon offers, getting a nod from Adeline as the two guided Shauna to the bathroom.
Dipper and Mabel walk passed them as they head for the dining room to eat their prepared breakfast, the two having great sympathy for their aunt. They were greatly happy that Shauna survived, but they can see she wasn't doing well as if she was sick with something. In the dining room, they're greeted by Ford, Carla, Stan, Tara, Lillian, Marcus and Quincy. Tara and Lillian were comparing notes concerning Shauna's condition.
"G'morning, you two." Stan tells Dipper and Mabel, sounding a little more quiet than usual. Something was definitely wrong as the rest of them wore sullen faces.
"Morning. We saw Aunt Shauna being awake, but Aunt Shannon and Grauntie Addi were helping her to the bathroom. She didn't look so good." Dipper shares to his family, wanting to get some more information on Shauna's current condition.
"There anything at all we can do to help?" Mabel wondered while eating her breakfast.
"I don't think so, kids, but knowing that you two, and the rest of the family, care for her does bring her spirits up." Ford faintly smiles to them, though frowning when he elaborates on the situation, "Shauna may have survived the attack, but Tara and Lillian told me that with the damage done to her left side, both legs, and the bite, it'll be sometime before she fully recovers. Depending on what happens, she might not be able to walk for awhile. If at all if it comes to that... We'll discuss it more with Shauna for what she may want to do."
It was more grim than Dipper and Mabel imagined, wanting to do something for their family member in pain. Quincy clung to his father's shirt for comfort, Marcus being distraught himself, does his best to appear calm during the whole situation, though it was the opposite of what he was truly feeling.
"We should try to be positive that Shauna can pull this with our help," Carla says trying to be a little more optimistic.
"Will "get well" cards help? And maybe draw on her casts so they would look pretty." Mabel lightly smiles in asking.
Ford couldn't help to smile back to Mabel's suggestion, nodding to her, "I think that's a wonderful idea, Mabel. In fact, we can see about making one and having everyone sign it. And I think Shauna would appreciate the colors on her casts."
"Yes! I'll get all the glitter and paint! Wanna help me too, Quincy?" Mabel beams when asking her young cousin. The little boy nods slowly, following her to the bedroom to get what they need to bring back to the dining room table.
Meanwhile, Dipper goes to the living room to discreetly read Journal 3 for any solution that could possibly aid his aunt much better than a colorful card. A grin forms on his face as he finds the pages he was looking for that holds the solution. He couldn't do it alone as he goes upstairs to tell his sister and cousin, knowing what they're all going to do today.
"Mabel! Quincy!" Dipper gets their attention, opening up the journal to show the two the detailed page, showing an illustration of frilly blossom and a large tree with fairies going in and out of it. "I found something here that can heal your mom, Quincy!"
"Really?" Quincy brightens, scooting right next to Dipper to read the page with him, as did Mabel. Upon seeing the page with the seasonal fairies and their tree, he knew exactly what Dipper was referring to.
Mabel gasps at the remarkable, realistic picture of the blossom, "That's really pretty… And fairies!"
"Yep!" Dipper clears his throat as Mabel picks out what would be deemed best for the card, he begins to read the page aloud from the passage, "While investigating the more enchanted part of the forest, my two loyal assistants, and myself, came across possibly the largest, oldest tree in Gravity Falls. It was very odd, I can say. On the outside, it reflects the surrounding trees to hide itself from outsiders, but once we got close enough, we noticed it has completely different leaves like it could be a pine tree, but have oak leaves etc. Seasonal fairies are very competitive during their respective seasons, but similar to the eye of the storm, the seasonal fairy tree is the safest. Though when it is calm and peaceful, it actually is quite a beauty to behold. Especially during night where they assume most humans are asleep. It has magic depending on seasons. Spring - Flowers grow everywhere - some that don't even originate from Oregon, the human world, or even grow on trees. Summer - Abundant amount of fruit but one has to be careful; an apple could hit the head or even a coconut. Autumn - Leaves change colors; and I don't mean the usual - it's practically a light show! I was lucky enough to grab a leaf in the color it was on. It stayed that color (mine was red). Winter - it lets out an borealis and ice is replaced as leaves, making the appearance of leaves/snowflakes. Of course, I'm getting much of this information from my lovely assistant, A., of whom the fairies seem to be more accepting of than either me and F., having been permitted to enter the tree, directly and interviewed the four leaders of their respective seasons. Although, myself and F. did criticize the seasonal fairies of what they're doing was redundant and unnecessary since nature, and the weather itself, can do the exact same thing they're doing. Took a hard snowball to the head for it... However, I do admire the amount of dedication they put into their work to make the seasons happen. Gives them something to do in their incredibly long lifespans that reach to over a thousand-years or so, if given the chance."
"What about the special flower?" Mabel asks, gathering up all the supplies they'll need.
"I'm getting to that part. That's why it's been so hot..." Dipper tells, turning to the page concerning the special blossom. "When A. left the tree and met back with us, she held in her hands an incredibly unique flower called the Seasonal Blossom, only grown on the seasonal fairy tree that the fairies hold dear; something only to be gifted by the leaders themselves that encompasses the essence of all four seasons. All A. had to do was give them a unique plant to them in return, and being respectful and kind. Thankfully, A. just happened to have something worth trading away; no amount of tiny gems (the fairy currency) can buy it. When we arrived back to the lab, we conducted tests to find the Seasonal Blossom to have incredible medicinal properties that can treat the most severe wounds and ailments, recovering as if it almost never happened. No wonder the seasonal fairies guard the precious plants with their lives. We used it to treat our own aches and pains, and it worked! However, we can't get more, though we understand why it's greatly sought after by the gnomes and not just their food."
"We should go there after we have everyone sign the card!" Quincy cheers, literally jumping up and down across the room, "I wanna go with you guys to help Mommy! I know the way to where the fairies live!" Quincy had been in the forest more than he lets on, having gone with both his parents and grandparents at times.
The twins couldn't say no to his request, seeing that he genuinely wants to help heal his mother as quickly as possible. They wanted their aunt to get better too. The moment they heard Quincy mentioning where to locate the seasonal fairies, Dipper just had to remark with a grin.
"You're amazing, Quincy!"
In the living room, Soos and Shannon were helping Shauna get whatever she needed while she lied on the couch with pillows and blankets to make it comfy for her. Soos getting permission to draw a cartoony dinosaur on one of her casts. Marcus sitting on the couch with Shauna with her head on his lap while watching tv.
"Heh, it's like a pillow and blanket castle!" Soos remarks in humor, making Shauna laugh a little. "Eh, made you laugh a bit. I heard laughter is the best medicine, I'm gonna try to make you laugh until you're walking in no time!"
"We used to make pillow and blanket castles when we were younger," Shannon shares, reminiscing on those more innocent times.
Shauna puts on a small smile, telling the handyman, "That's kind of you, Soos, but it's gonna take more than just laughs to get these casts off." Shauna knows Soos means well, but she wanted to be honest. She wished laughing could perform such a feat of recovery.
Shannon beckons the twins and Quincy, while they were walking by, "Hey kids, c'mere and draw on Shauna's casts. You can draw ANYTHING you want on it." She shows a sly grin to her sister.
Shauna rolls her eyes, pulling off the blanket to show the purple colored casts, it having signatures from Ford, Adeline, Stan, Carla, Tara, Lillian, Soos, Marcus and Shannon. There were also illustrations by each one: flowers by Carla; a white raven by Ford; a winking axolotl face by Adeline; some thoughtful words by Stan that said, "keep on walkin'" in his handwriting; a cute puppy face by Tara; candy pieces by Lillian; and a heart drawn by Marcus to go along with the dinosaur drawing by Soos. Shauna assures the kids, "There's plenty of space, kids. I know the rest of the family would want to draw on them… Goodness they're itchy."
"Don't mind if I do!" Mabel takes out a glittery marker and goes to town with adding stars and rainbows on both Shauna's casts. Dipper worries that there might not be enough room for him and Quincy to write or draw something on.
"Mabel, save some room," Dipper reminds his sister.
"And done!" Mabel caps the marker and gets a load of her handy work, having drawn quite a bit of stars and rainbows on the casts.
Shannon, Soos, Marcus and Shauna smile in approval from the gesture. Dipper takes up the marker and starts drawing a tiger's face on the upper edge of one of the casts.
"It's Tiger Fist, dude!" Soos points out, giving a high-five to Dipper as the boy returns the gesture.
Quincy took his turn and drew something simple, such as a scarlet red and marigold orange on one of the casts, making everyone else go "Aw." from the addition. It warmed Shauna's heart.
Soon afterwards, Mabel and Dipper, along with Carla, Stan and Ford were decorating the card while Quincy tells his grandma and his mother of what him and the twins are going to do to help. Shauna and Adeline exchange a look of worry before the mother says to her son.
"Oh little butterfly, that is real thoughtful of you three to do that for me..." Shauna glances over her casts and bandages, even she wants to heal as quickly as possible so she won't go to the hospital to get expensive surgery. Her father, including Tara and Lillian were insistent on the notion that she should get further treatments. Something she wants to completely avoid when there's another option to not need to go to the hospital after all. She's been there too many times.
Marcus shares to his son that will be beneficial to their task, "Since you're all going there, it's important you mention you mom's name in the presence of the current leader of the winter fairies. Her name is Holly and she may seem stern, but she has a soft side. She's always been that way actually, hehe. We've known each other for years, even if she rarely can come out of the tree nowadays. She'll be willing to give the blossom to you if the other three agree too."
Shauna could remember a time when Holly wasn't too much of a stickler, but that was in the past when the whole group, with Dante included, didn't fall apart...
Adeline takes a moment to think of something for Quincy to make an equal trade with the fairies, then smiles when she gets the idea as she goes to the kitchen to get a potted aloe vera plant, "From what I remember, this may suffice to complete the trade." She hands her grandson the small enough plant for him to carry. Quincy smiles wide with small tears in his eyes as he says with determination.
"I won't let you down, Mommy!" Quincy sees he couldn't hug his mother without it aching, so gives her a light touch against her forehead with his own. Shauna reaches a tad to place a kiss on her sons head. Even if Quincy and the twins may not succeed, she would still be proud of their attempt.
"Be careful out there, son. Stick close to Mabel and Dipper." Marcus advises to Quincy.
"I will," Quincy assures with a bright smile on his face.
It wasn't long after Dipper, Mabel and Quincy left for the magical part of the forest that the rest of the family came over to see Shauna. Shifty kneeling down to give his younger sister hug a soons as he came in, incredibly thankful she survived, like how they all felt. He'd never forgive himself if Shauna died last night. Shauna returns a hug to her brother, sympathizing how he must have felt.
Shauna lightly smiles over to the rest her family's saddened expressions, easing them with saying to defuse the depressing air, "Hey, how about you all come over here and draw on my cast." She holds up some colorful markers. It seems to work when they all oblige with slightly brighter faces.
At the seasonal fairy tree...
"Please let us enter. We have something really important to talk to your leaders about." Dipper pleads to the guards, getting out the journal to recite the names, "Such as with Garland of the spring fairies. Kindle of the summer fairies. Ginger of the autumn fairies. And Sleet of the winter fairies."
One of the summer fairy guards scoffs at the boy, "Hah! Sleet and Kindle hadn't been leaders in years, though Garland and Ginger remain in position. Sleet works in the fairy archives while Kindle is head captain. Also we had to ward off several identical humans, so I don't know... As we said, the leaders are extremely busy to-"
Suddenly, a more decorated fairy flutters down from the highest point of the tree, having overheard the conversation as he swoops down to chirp, "Hold on there, friends! I heard these human children need to speak with the leaders." The guards respectfully bow to the colorful fairy before them, the kids surmising it must be one of the leaders.
"Oh yes! Can you take us to them?" Mabel asks, excited to see more fairies.
Dipper, Mabel and Quincy sit on a large branch that was summoned by the spring fairy leader, Garland, and his guards for the children to meet them all the way to the top of the tree, meeting with the other three leaders and their personal guards. Garland appeared to be a young man, he was older than he looked. His attire consisting of an open, leafy green vest with matching long trousers, slightly pointed shoes, and wavy dark pink hair to compliment his blue eyes and wings resembling a blue bird of paradise to suit his colorful personality. On the way up, the chipper fairy chats with them on the way up, "Sorry the guards were giving you kids some trouble. We have to be wary of those who know our location. I'm Garland, leader of the spring fairies."
"I'm Dipper." Mason introduces as he has a tight grip on the branch. He recognizes the name mentioned in the journal so it must be the same leader from over thirty-years past.
"I'm Mabel!" Mabel smiled brightly, having recently got over her fear of heights.
"And I'm Quincy." The little boy points to himself, keeping both arms around the plant.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. Not every day a human or two comes around here. Welcome to the main council room, children!" Garland introduces the spacious, wooden room where multiple fairies fly in and out through their respective seasonal door, asking their respective leaders. Holly of the winter fairies, who's diligently signing a report while her stalwart, personal guard, Frostbite, keeps a stare at the newcomers with a tall polearm in hand. Ginger of the autumn fairies; and Garland's mate, was conversing with her personal guard in a relaxed manner. Cyrus of the summer fairies; him being the grandson of Garland and Ginger, was giving orders to one of his captains, Ember, on how the workings are faring with producing enough heat. Adorning the surrounding walls were portraits of leaders who came before the current additions. "As you can see we can be busy as spring bees! Not to worry as we'll be dismissing folks here in a bit." He grins to his personal guard who finally catches up with him, though she wasn't pleased for how he darted off without notifying her like he often does.
"Sir Garland… you know you can't just leave, unannounced from the council room. You could have been hurt without my protection." The personal spring fairy guard, Hollyhock, expresses in soft concern.
"But I didn't get hurt, Hollyhock, I just wanted to hear out what these children needed was all. And I'm curious as to how they know where to find us. Your concerns are in the right place." Garland reasoned, seeing that the poor girl must have been searching the whole room.
Holly raises an eye to the human children's direction, sighing in an unamused manner in that they showed up without a previous appointment. The matter of fact they shouldn't have found their home at all. With a few loud claps, she has everyone stop what they're doing to say, "May I have everyone's attention? It seems we have to postpone our current activities to address these humans. We will resume as soon as we conclude our session with these guests." She turns to Frostbite to give him an order, "Frostbite, would you kindly retrieve the shrinking potions for the children so we may speak with them properly?"
Frostbite bows respectfully to her as he abides, "As you wish, Lady Holly." With the beating of the winter fairy's eagle-like white wings, he flies in the direction of where the potions are stored nearby, but he does take a moment to give a nod and smile to his summer fairy wife, Ember. She returns the gesture by doing the same before she leaves the room through the summer door. He takes three out of many bottles - big enough for a gnome to hold - saved for conversing with larger creatures on their level. Frostbite flies up to Dipper, Mabel, and Quincy and tells them in a composed tone, "This potion will reduce you all to our level to fit through the entrance without damaging anything."
When Mabel was given a potion, she beams when she remarks, "Ooh! It's like in that story book with the girl that eats and drinks stuff to make her grow or shrink!"
Right at the mention sets off Cyrus' infamous tangents as he brings up an incident from the past, yelling, "A HUMAN STOLE ONE FROM US, GOT HIGH ON FAIRY MUSHROOMS, AND WROTE A FAMOUS BOOK! YIPPEE FOR HIM! HUMANS STEAL EVERYTHING AND EXAGGERATE DETAILS!" He absolutely ignites flames around his body with bat-like wings outstretched and foaming at the mouth. Holly does something by using her ice magic to simmer the fire and Cyrus' temper.
"Yesh… Touchy subject, huh?" Dipper comments, Frostbite nodding to the boy in a deadpan tone.
"Oh yes. It's a sensitive subject here that we don't mention in polite company."
Winter and summer fairies often clash with each other due to their elements having great conflicts with one another that neither can stand in some cases. One example being in the summer of 1982, where several or more winter fairies had a mental breakdown from not being able to handle the heat the summer fairies generate across the region. Thus, having caused a great blizzard that blanketed Gravity Falls in snow for a week.
Ginger gets turse with her grandson, "Cyrus, there is no need to yell. We have guests here"
Cyrus groans with a slow nod, "Yes, Grandmother Ginger."
The three kids drink the potion, reducing down to fairy size as they enter inside the council room, sitting in the wooden seats provided as they face the four leaders. Mabel was moving about in her seat, while Dipper remains still to be attentive of what the four may say to them. As for Quincy, he was eager to tell them what they needed and get home to heal his mother.
Garland starts asking first with a bright smile, "So Dipper, Mabel and Quincy, how did you three manage to find our beloved home?"
Dipper clears his throat to say, "Well, we have this journal where the author and his assistants came to you to learn from. And what was mentioned is that you all have this special flower called The Seasonal Blossom. In short, we need at least one to treat a family member of ours."
"She's really hurt and we want her to get better as quickly as possible." Mabel sadly smiles, having seen Shauna's pain in her eyes, despite her seeing her smile earlier.
"She's my mommy and we would greatly appreciate it if you let us have one." Quincy says his piece, hoping to convince the leaders.
The four exchanges looks and silent discuss with one another. As Mabel was about to say something, she was hushed by Frostbite with an icy stare, a sign they shouldn't talk while the fairies were conversing.
"They seem genuine in their claim. We had a human visitor here before and gave her one as a parting gift of trust," Garland reasons, having remembered Adeline's visit.
"I know that you flirted with her before she turned you down. Though yes, I see no ill intent from those human children," Ginger lightly giggles, making Garland blush before Cyrus makes a noise as he reminds his grandparents.
"Focus on the task at hand, Grandfather and Grandmother. I don't think these humans should have something so precious. It must have been that human's negligence to have gotten so wounded in the first place," Cyrus retorts his grandparents, not being entirely convinced.
Holly takes a moment to think to add her calm input, "Hmm, seems we're at a standstill on the matter… I'm not sure of trusting these humans myself."
From what the three were hearing, it didn't sound good as they were hoping, the youngest becoming upset that his mother may not get the treatment she deserves. What none of them knew was that two fairies approach the door. It was winter fairy named Cedar, husband of Holly, and Chilly with him as his assistant and son-in-law in tow; Blanche being one of Cedar and Holly's oldest daughter.
Cedar carefully opens the door to not make much noise from the winter door opening, he and Chilly entering the chamber to not make much of a ruckus to lay down some paperwork in the slot for Holly to read over later. Chilly sees his father, Frostbite, at work, though doesn't get his attention as he was preoccupied; like usual. Though to Chilly's surprise was Quincy being there, the winter fairy wondering why. He was told earlier by his stepmother, Ember, the leaders were having a discussion with some human kids.
Quincy raised his hand to say, wanting to tell them an important detail his mother told him, "Can I say something?"
"Of course, child." Ginger permits as did the other three leaders nod.
"My mommy got hurt real bad by a dinosaur that got free from melted tree sap in abandoned mines. My mommy is named Shauna Pines, and… I would appreciate it to trade an aloe vera plant for a Seasonal Blossom. Please… I want her to get better as soon as possible." Quincy gulps, holding back from becoming strongly emotional, getting hugged by Dipper and Mabel to give him comfort to keep his emotional state from breaking anymore than it has of all he's been through, thus far. Cyrus, Ginger and Garland looking towards Holly's direction, never having known her to interact with any human in the past.
Holly and Cedar gasp, recognizing the name from the past, both having known Shauna, and her sister and husband for years. Although, it had been years since Holly had the chance to visit Shauna, she didn't know she had her own children. Chilly and Cedar make themselves known to support the children.
"He's right. I know Quincy's and parents and aunt years ago. They're a great sort of humans who've aided us in the past. It's time we returned a favor. Pardon my intrusion, dear." Cedar adds, nervously smiling to his wife and the other leaders. It captures the intrigue of Cyrus, Garland and Ginger; curious to see how it'll go.
Holly slightly smiles as she says, "I cannot deny that. You're right, for an old friend, we should return the gesture for her sake and for those who care about her."
"I'm for that!" Garland says cheerfully.
"I second the notion to give one Seasonal Blossom away to the children." Ginger says her piece.
Seeing that the majority rules, Cyrus would have to agree as he gives a nod.
"Then it's settled!" Holly announces as several other fairies go to retrieve the large flower to the children. The three exclaiming to each other in their success. The flower was more beautiful than what the image depicted in the journal to the human children as Mabel remarks, seeing the petals in various colors that represented the four seasons.
"Have you ever seen something so beautiful, you started crying?"
"Yes." Dipper and Quincy uttered in unison, in awe of the precious plant.
"Thank you so much for this." Quincy says in gratefulness.
"The least we can do for your mother, father and aunt for aiding us in our time of need." Holly spoke, giving them potions that will reverse the shrinking effects of the potion, "Drink these when you all are outside. It'll return you to normal size. And for the best effects of the Seasonal Blossom, brew it into a tea with honey. Shauna and Marcus always loved drinking tea, from what I remember."
"They still do." Quincy beamed, seeing the fairies take away the potted aloe vera plant.
As the three return to normal size at the base of the tree, Quincy carrying the blossom in hand, Mabel and Dipper high-five each other in success of their accomplishment. Meanwhile, Cyrus questions Holly and Cedar's past involving the humans mentioned.
"I never knew you to have had human friends, Holly."
Holly sighs in sadness, "There is a lot of my past I am not too keen on sharing. It me and my husband's business alone. Besides… it's in the past now. We must take care of what's happening now, Cyrus." Cedar gives her a sympathetic expression, seeing she misses their old friends.
It wasn't long as the three kids were making their way back to the Mystery Shack, when suddenly. A familiar, unwanted pudgy face rushed in and takes the blossom right out of Quincy's hands, and pushed him down to the ground. The three gasp when they see the evil grin of Gideon Gleeful.
Gideon mocks them as he holds up the flower, "Sorry, did I push you down? I've been watchin' you three the whole time getting this here flower! Seems real special-"
"Give it back, Gideon! That's for my mommy!" Quincy cries out in protest, scared of what the kid may do to it.
"We need it to heal her. We're not playing around, Gideon!" Dipper growls at Gideon with a raised fist.
"Please give it back!" Mabel pleads with a frown.
Gideon maniacally laughs, getting the awful idea of using the flower as leverage to get the deed to the Mystery Shack, "Or what? Step any further and I'll destroy this here flower. Get me the deed to the Mystery Shack and I'll let you all have this."
Dipper, Mabel, and Quincy exchange looks of dread, they couldn't just give Gideon the deed or he'll win. It was cruel of Gideon to have considered letting one or more people get hurt for the sake of winning. Though not far from where the four children are, they were being watched by a fairy that flies off quickly to get help. Tears form in Quincy's eyes as he shakes his head, not wanting Gideon to take the shack overall.
"You can't have the shack, Gideon…" Quincy tells the boy, "my mommy wouldn't like that at all."
Gideon snarls and he tightly grips the flower in his hand, squeezing the life out of it it seemed that made the kids gasp, "Fine! Say goodbye to this dumb flower!" The petals fall slowly on the ground, the light that once coursed through its entire being faded, making it greatly dull and lifeless. Gideon evilly laughing as he does so with saying to rub it all into fresh wounds, "Oops. Looks like ya can't help yer mother now, Quincy. My best friend…."
"NOOO!"
Suddenly, they all hear the beating of several small wings coming their way. Within moments, the unsuspecting Gideon was being pelted by a flurry of snowballs his way.
"What the- WREEEEE!" Gideon yelps, fruitlessly shielding himself from the stinging snow against him.
The stinging cold making the boy drop the flower and runs off in fright away from the swarm of winter fairies being lead by Frostbite, along with Chilly. With them was a spring, summer and autumn fairy snatching up what remained of the crumpled up blossom.
"What a horrid child…." Frostbite growled in Gideon's direction to where he fled, then glancing down to the other three children and what remained of the Season Blossom. At least there was something he could do for them.
Quincy was utterly devastated, seeing the blossom a shadow of its luster. He chokes up when he says in defeat, "Why…? I only wanted to help my mommy and now…. I failed," With every second, he felt the light inside him dimming in hopelessness. His mentality inching closer and closer to a complete emotional breakdown, almost. Mabel hugging her younger cousin close, as did Dipper to console him, but it did little to ease the young child.
What the children hear from Frostbite gives them a silver lining when he says with a small smile, "The tree is a part of us as we are a part of it. Without the other, one will surely die. The blossom can be restored to life with the combined essence of the season fairies." He turns to his son, Chilly, along with his adopted eighteen-year old son, Zephyr the spring fairy with pinkish red hair and canary-like yellow wings. His twenty-year old stepdaughter, Spice with reddish brown hair and hawk-like red-brown wings, and his sixteen-year old daughter he had with his wife, Maple the autumn fairy with brown hair and orange moth wings looking eager to help. "My children, Chilly, Spice, Maple and Zephyr, can do just that together."
Chilly, along with his siblings channel their magical energy into the fallen blossom. The children were in awe to see the flower petals bloom from the center of the plant, returning to its living glory as it was brought back to life within minutes. Just like that, Quincy wipes his face and shows a quivering smile in gratefulness when Chilly, Zephyr, Maple and Spice give him back the flower. Quincy keeping the flower close to him, making sure he doesn't crush it.
"Th… Thank you all so much…. How did you all know what was happening?" Mabel asks the whole group. Zephyr speaking up, having been the witness.
"I was around when that white-haired boy was about to kill the blossom, so I went and got help. I'm Zephyr by the way. Why would he do such a thing?"
Dipper sighs, him knowing the answer, "He's a really bad kid we were unfortunate enough to know. He wants to take something we have… through whatever means necessary it seems." He looks sadly upon Mabel and Quincy, of whom he's greatly concerned for his younger cousin.
Sometime at the Mystery Shack...
Shauna takes a good gulp of the Seasonal Blossom that was brewed into a tea, with a hint of honey for flavor til the cup was emptied. Quincy, Dipper, and Mabel eagerly awaiting the results of the great healing effects of the enchanted flower. The rest of the family and friends being there to witness the marvel as well while giving Shauna the care and support she needed.
Suddenly, Shauna felt energy and color returning to her body, the aches and pains melting away as the wounds began to heal rapidly within seconds. Shauna standing up straight as a smile forms on her face as she began to feel soothed and invigorated. The staples and stitches falling right out of the wounds for the flesh to be heal, though leaving scars behind in the process. It wouldn't matter to Shauna as she felt much better than she was.
"Did it work, Aunt Shauna?" Dipper wondered, getting his response in the form of a big hug from Shauna, scooping up him, Mabel and Quincy in her arms as she expresses.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, kids! I feel like I can run for miles! Just need to get these casts off my legs." Shauna smiles to them. The rest of the family cheering from her incredibly speedy recovery. Ford seeing that the kids managed to convince the fairies to give them a blossom warmed his heart, and seeing his daughter well again, as did Adeline, Shannon, Shifty and Marcus especially.
Soos makes a suggestion, "I got a buzz saw to take them off." He shows off the small, active device in his hand. Seeing the rotating blade makes Shauna astonished in slight fear, though willing to trust to know what he's doing.
Lillian comes in with a pair of cast cutting scissors and says, "That won't be necessary, Soos. These special scissors can cut off the cast in a safer, less frightening manner." Shauna sighs in relief.
Though little did all of them know, Gideon Gleeful once again lurked in the shadowy bushes, waiting for the right time to put his concocted plan into motion. The devilish boy had a feeling he may just succeed this time around.
A/N: Another chapter by vulpixen! I wanted to quickly conclude this small arch and get to the more exciting parts. The seasonal fairies are sailormew4's idea, the fairy characters, Holly, Cyrus, and Cedar belong to her, while those such as Garland, Ginger and Frostbite were of my own additions. Next time, we're getting real close to the end of season one as Gideon puts his plans into motion as Stan's mind won't be the only one that needs to be saved, but Ford's as well in Chapter 38: Dreamscapers AU!
Update: I've added some scenes to this chapter to make it feel better than what it was.