Disclaimer: I don't own Gravity Falls
Author's Note: In this chapter, Fiddleford wants to work on reconnecting with his old friends, Stanford and Adeline Pines, along with his son Tate. Meanwhile, Isaac learns a bit more about his past when he goes through a sudden change to himself. Can old bridges be fixed so easily here in chapter 53: Mending Broken Bridges.
Family Tree:
Stanley and Carla - James and Jessie Pines
Stanford and Addi - Shauna, Shannon Pines and Shifty 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)
Shifty Pines and Tate McGucket - Isaac McGucket (14)
Shannon Pines and Clyde Bone (dating) - Drake Bone (5)
Tanya Pines, Frederick "Fred" Palovich, and Kyle Harper - Cadence Pines (unborn)
Enjoy Fellow Gravity Fallers!
Inside the lab….
Ford and Adeline rushed inside in urgency of the situation Stan and Carla texted about. They rushed down the steps and entered the control room, seeing the blinking red light read, "Rift Destabilizing" and an alarming sound. Stan was typing commands on the console, inputting the codes to re-stabilize the rift using three beams to zap at the amorphous, chaotic substance from even cracking the snow globe-shaped containment unit.
Stan and Carla let out a sigh of relief when they read the monitor in green lettering, "Rift Stabilized," that brought some ease to Ford and Adeline as well. At least for the moment.
"That was a close one. Thing doesn't wanna keep calm. It's getting stronger by the day," Stan informed Ford and Adeline with a small frown in concern.
"You're correct, Stanley. Thanks to you and Carla, the rift is stable. For now at least." Ford looked at the contained rift with worry in his eyes. The greatest mistake he ever made staring back at him. Ford thought aloud, "I hope we can keep it for as long as we're able. Even if temporary until that device is complete."
Adeline takes Ford's hand, her being just as uncertain about how much longer they can keep the rift stable, but she knows they had to keep trying. No matter how long it may take.
Stan says his thoughts aloud, watching the amorphous rift move around like a demented lava lamp of cosmic power, "Don't care if it's dangerous. Just hope no one gets in our way. We're trying to fix all this."
"You and all of us, Stanley. You and all of us," said Ford, looking at the several picture frames of their respective happy grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews.
The next day at the junkyard….
Fiddleford adjusts his outfit, similar to what he wore over thirty-years ago: a white dress shirt with a black tie, brown pants, and a brown tweed jacket. He wasn't sure about the shoes, having spent so long without them on his feet. In addition to the spectacles he now wears for his eyes. He also took a better bath for the first time in a long while he definitely needed. Fiddleford still kept the long white beard, but took off the bandage after so long. The cast around his arm was gone, the limb having long since healed, having had it broken off last night. He felt free.
Fiddleford smiled at his reflection, but his dental hygiene was so poor, the glass cracked more. Some things were still the same. He wasn't going to let that bring him to a depressing mood when he'll be interacting with his old friends again and introducing his new wife. He hopes they will find her decent at least.
Fiddleford looked to Nancy and Isaac to ask their opinion, "How do I look? Am I at least presenta-bibble?"
Isaac gave a thumbs up and an enthusiastic smile, "Sure do, Grandpappy! Glad we managed to find some good clothes for you. Right, Grandmammy Nancy?" He turned to Nancy, her having a more neutral expression.
"Well you certainly look different. Much cleaner than I ever seen ya, Fiddles," Nancy said with a nod. Ever since last night, Nancy noticed some change in Fiddleford. Nancy seen him try to stand up straighter than being hunched over all the time, but it was only for a moment before returning to his usual posture.
"Good enough for me!" Fiddleford cheered, doing a small jig with a slap of his knee. "Now to head on outta here!"
"Nice. Actually, I have somewhere to be today. You two have fun." Isaac rose up from his blanket seat, leaving on his own way to Carrie's place where Ty and Marcus C. was at as well, wanting to help them work on something. But before Isaac left out of the shelter, he gets a good few pats on the back by Nancy, her hand glowing a greenish hue for a moment. It made Isaac turn around to face her with a perplexed expression, not much liking to be touched unless he's aware of it, "Yeah, Grandmammy?"
"Oh nothin', kid. You had a spider on your back. I ate it!" lied Nancy with a small grin, pretending to be chewing that made Isaac cringed slightly.
Nancy climbing up on Fiddleford's shoulders to get a ride, preferring that way instead of walking herself. Fiddleford didn't seem to mind as he was happy to oblige. Isaac, however, was completely unaware that his dirty blond shaggy hair was becoming brighter - in tone - by the second.
Soon at the Mystery Shack….
Ford and Adeline worked in the living and dining room, making sure everything's a little more tidy for when Fiddleford and Nancy arrive for lunch, along with Tate. Stan and Carla helped some before needing to work. Dipper and Mabel were off on their own for the day away from the shack, deciding to go hangout with any of their friends or cousins.
Ford takes a deep breath, taking a good look at himself in the mirror, sternly reminding himself, "Remember, Ford: you're NOT that foolish young man anymore. You've been changing into a better person and it should stay that way."
Stan catches his brother talking to the mirror, deciding he should say something, "I believe I can say, like everyone else in our family, you've been doing great, bro."
Hearing his brother made Ford feel better about it, giving him enough motivation to give his brother a quick hug, "Thanks, Stanley."
"Ah no prob, Stanford," Stan grinned back as he heads to the parlor with Carla to tend to the tourists.
It wasn't long before Tate arrived, followed by Fiddleford, Nancy -as a raccoon- and Isaac. Ford and Adeline greeting them at the door, but they noticed Fiddleford carrying a raccoon in his arms, assuming it to be his pet, but they saw no woman - of whom they assume to be Fiddleford's new wife - present with them. The moment Ford and Adeline see Fiddleford's outfit, for a second, they see him who he used to appear as thirty-years prior. He may not have on shoes, but it was good to see him nonetheless.
Fiddleford glances around the Mystery Shack, noticing the inside dramatically changed compared to when he was there last. It felt more like a home than a research stead. There were scents of flowers he couldn't name at the top of his head, but they smelled good. He sees pictures of the Pines family members, including Isaac and Tate's images in some of them.
"Greetings, Fiddleford," Ford greets, extending his hand for Fiddleford to shake in welcoming him. "It appears the missus you've mentioned isn't here? Something wrong?"
Fiddleford brightly grins and returns the gesture with a gentle handshake with a free hand, while the other carried Nancy, "Nothin' wrong whatsoever, Stanford! My raccoon wife, Nancy, is right here. Nancy say hi, if ya want." Nancy makes grumpy chattering noises, catching Ford and Adeline off guard by what their friend introduced as his wife.
The older couple didn't exactly know what to make of it, but they had to be respectful of Fiddleford's choice. They surmise since it must be before Fiddleford gain his memories back, and some of his sanity.
Adeline lets out a nervous laugh and greets the raccoon, "Well… it's nice to meet you, Nancy."
Tate goes up to his in-laws, informing them to set their minds at ease about their concerns, "She's not as she appears to be."
In that moment, Nancy decided to speak, seeing Tate giving away her secret, "Oh now you done spoiled the surprise, boy!" Nancy turns into her human self when she got out of Fiddleford's arms. This time her long white hair in a tight bun, still having on her lavender blouse with mahogany brown pants and dark green sandals. A cloak made from raccoon fur draped her shoulders, taking out a carved wooden cane, with markings similar to what Isaac has on his skin, from her sleeves. Her face being soft, yet sharp with dark markings around her eyes. It gave quite a surprise to Ford and Adeline, seeing the kind of woman Fiddleford ended up with. Nancy shrugged with a small amused grin from seeing their astonished expressions, "Eh, not that it matters with you folks from what Fiddles told me some. Y'all seen weird things all the time. I'm Nancy Rainwater. I've lived out in nature almost all my life, have a daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, and I'm an old coon. Nice meeting you both."
"Um…" Adeline said, taken back Nancy's short introduction. She politely greets Nancy, "It's nice to meet you too, Nancy. I'm Adeline, but you can call me Addi. My husband next to me is Stanford, but you can call him Ford."
"Shortened names, I like it! Easy to remember." Nancy takes out a few current photos of her daughter, Joy, an adult woman Tate's age with dark brown wavy hair to her shoulders, petite in body type wearing the same kind raccoon fur on her shoulders over her sky blue shirt, jeans that reach to her knees and wearing black boots, showing a bright smile. Joy's wife in the picture, Zeal, appeared a bit taller compared to her wife, having long straight black hair, wearing a black blouse with red pants and dark blue shoes. As for Nicolette, the fourteen-year old girl in the picture with her moms, had shaggy black hair with freckles speckled on her face, she too having the raccoon fur, wearing it like a hoodie over her red shirt with her jeans and white sneakers. "Why I named my daughter, Joy, and that I call my granddaughter, Nikki instead of Nicolette. And Zeal I like; she hates bullshit like myself." She laughed heartily, Fiddleford laughing with her.
Adeline nods approvingly, seeing the picture of Nancy's own family members, "A lovely family you have."
"Yeah. They just got around to movin' back here and getting Nikki enrolled in high school this year. Life stuff and such," Nancy said simply.
Soon enough, Ford and Adeline, Tate, Fiddleford and Nancy were at the dining table, eating their lunch while talking for what seemed like hours as time flew by them. Ford and Adeline telling Fiddleford much about their growing family, showing him and Nancy old pictures of Shifty, Shauna and Shannon when they were younger, along with other members of the family they talk about. Fiddleford had seen their children's faces before, but looking at them again gave him new perspective about them than before. Fiddleford can see how great Shifty, Shauna and Shannon turned out to be. Nancy mostly keeping silent to let the others have their time with each other, knowing what the whole lunch was really about.
Fiddleford shows a crestfallen expression, remembering how his family back in Tennessee mostly turned away from him when they heard he became insane.
Noticing his frown, Nancy pokes at Fiddleford with her wooden cane and asked, "Hey, Fiddles, why the frown face?"
"Well, just that my relations wanted nothin' to do with me after I lost myself. I don't know what they'd think of me now," admitted Fiddleford.
Tate felt the need to add to his father's claim, "Yeah. When I was living with my dad's parents at the time, I begged them to let me go to Gravity Falls. They said no and that my dad was a lost cause." He frowned over to Fiddleford as did Ford and Adeline, except for Nancy, looking as if she could relate to him. "I asked Grandpa and Grandma again at age fourteen; they said no. My cousins gave me enough money to take the bus all the way to Gravity Falls on my own. What I didn't tell you, Dad, was that I lived with the Pines; them being the only people I knew in this town." He smiled over to Ford and Adeline, "And I'm grateful of them taking care of me. Also for putting up with me when… I wasn't in the best moods back then."
"You weren't much trouble at all, Tate. There were kids and teens to handle as well, but we thankfully managed just fine," Ford said with a smile, looking fondly over at Adeline, her having been a great help raising their children along with Stan and Carla.
Fiddleford shows his gratefulness, having been worried in the past about Tate possibly living with folks he doesn't know, but learning now that his son's been living with the Pines granted peace of mind, "Thanks a bunch for lookin' after my boy when I was in no position to, Stanford and Addi. The old, crazier me may not have approved."
"Anything for our friends," Addi said with a smile.
Ford then suggests, "Perhaps try getting in contact with your family again, Fiddleford. Maybe they'll be open to hear from you again."
"Ya really think so?" Fiddleford rubbed his chin, having doubts his remaining relatives would welcome him back with open arms. "I can try, at least." Ford and Adeline nodded encouragingly.
"And if they don't, then they can take a hike!" said Nancy with a small grin.
It wasn't long before Tate and Fiddleford started to bond about fishing, planning what day they can set a day where they can make time for it. Tate often worked most days, but he's sure he can fit one day or more with his dad. Tate found it great that at least the father he knew was still in Fiddleford after so many years. There was much time Tate and Fiddleford will catch up on.
Meanwhile at Nguyen family home….
Inside Carrie's room, her walls were painted a dark blue hue, adorn with posters consisting of galaxies and stars of varying designs that catch the eye. Carrie's bed at the very left corner of her room against the wall, her bedsheets being deep purple and black. Under the bed was a metal box that held something inside. Parallel to her bed was her computer and desktop setup, and next to it a bench where she often makes adjustments to her mechanical leg and has some spares lined up neatly. What Carrie, Ty, Marcus C. and Isaac were doing today was playing video games on her console, needing a break from brainstorming a project. It was just the three of them in the house; David and Taro having gone off to meet up with their friends and their parents were at work.
Ty wasn't wearing his white "Blanchin" shirt anymore, but traded it for a black and yellow shirt with a purple lighting bolt at the front, complimenting his blue pants. He occasionally rubbed both his lighting burned arms and back out of habit, as if calming them from stirring while he was focused on the game.
Marcus C. finally getting time to hangout with his friends, wanting to get over what happened the other night from dealing with the Society of the Blind Eye. He was getting into the four-way fighting game they were all playing. Cheering and high-fiving his friends while eating snacks Carrie provided. He wouldn't admit to his dad, but he's been growing interested in botany, which would contribute into logging, he feels.
Carrie, Marcus C. and Ty exchange questioning glances in between matches in the game, having not said a word about Isaac's change in hair color. It was from a dirty blond, to a gold blond unlike they'd ever seen. It's so unlike Isaac to alter anything about himself other than the occasional haircut; and sometimes clothes depending on what appealed to him. Ty, Marcus C. and Carrie also noticed Isaac's face became less round and a little more pointed, almost becoming a different person entirely before their eyes. It was still Isaac through and through, they kept in mind.
It was then Ty decided to say something, "Hey, Isaac."
"Yeah?" Isaac diverted his attention from the game.
"I... think you got something in your hair. Go check it out in the bathroom, dude," Ty said, making an excuse for Isaac to see for himself.
"Oooookay? Why not tell me what it is?" Isaac questions, his cousin and friend having been giving him a strange look since he came over.
"Best you see it for yourself," said Carrie, pointing toward the door to her personal bathroom.
Isaac shrugged, getting up from the floor and walking inside the clean bathroom to face the mirror. What he finds shocks him when he's greeted by the golden locks of hair, prompting him to remove his beanie to run his shaking hand through the silky smooth strands. His blood ran cold, freaking him out visibly. Not only that, he does notice his jawline and chin are slightly more pronounced compared to his soft face he had before. He could've sworn he hadn't dyed his hair today or yesterday on a whim. He turns around for his back to face the mirror, seeing that the black marking on his neck, leading down to his back and chest, was gone as well. He didn't need to remove his shirt to see that his markings vanished too.
Marcus whispering to his friends, "He's gonna freak out, isn't he?"
Ty nodded to him, "No doubt."
Isaac reacted accordingly when he lets out a loud scream that mimicked a bear's roar, beginning to freak out over the changes to himself he didn't expect, "HOW THE FUCK DID THIS HAPPEN?!" When he turned to his cousin and friends, lowering his tone but still panicking, "Why didn't you guys tell me sooner? I look like a freaking boyband member!"
"Figure you had to see it yourself to believe. Didn't want to assume you dyed your hair. Plus, you don't look bad at all. I wouldn't say boyband level, though. You're still you, Isaac, that won't change unless you choose to," Carrie simply said.
"I couldn't put it better myself, Carrie. I mean it's not like you'll turn into a completely different person due to looks alone, you know. I'm getting use to the new look already," said Marcus C. with a smile.
"You have a good point, Carrie." Isaac looks at his reflection again, knowing that he feels the same despite looking different. "This is just so sudden."
Ty goes up to Isaac and says, "Dude, we'll figure out, okay? Anything happened this morning before you came over?"
Isaac thought back to earlier today, "Well… I'm not to sure. I mean Grandmammy Nancy was giving me pats on the back to get a spider…." He trailed off when he paused in realization. Nancy lied about the spider being on his back. Isaac needed answers when he says, "I'm gonna need to talk to her about this."
"We'll come with you, if you want," offered Ty, wanting to know what's going on with his cousin.
Isaac nodded, "Much appreciated."
Along the way to the Mystery Shack, Isaac got attention from those who complimented his hair and face when they never did so before with his dirty blond hair. It made Isaac pull down his beanie more as his anxiety raises, covering his hair fully to avoid anymore unwanted eyes watching him. Ty, Marcus C. and Carrie showed sympathy for him, relating to him in a sense for different reasons.
Back at the Mystery Shack….
Fiddleford shakes hands with Ford and Adeline, "It was sure swell catching up with you two again. Me and Nancy need ta be headin' off now."
"You two have a safe trip home, now," bidded Adeline.
"Don't forget to buy somethin' from the gift shop next time!" said Stan in a joking manner. Carla nudging at her husband playfully.
"Stanley!" Ford said, but he knew his brother was joking. "Come by the Shack anytime, Fiddleford and Nancy. We'll be sure to drop by at your place for a visit as well."
"Likewise, friend!" Fiddleford agreed with a bright smile.
Suddenly, they all hear the front door swung open, revealing to be Isaac, Ty, Marcus C. and Carrie, much to their surprise. Another surprise to everyone, but Nancy, was catching the changes to Isaac's hair and face. Nancy knew Isaac wanted questions needing answers to, being prepared when Isaac walks up to her.
"Grandmammy… explain what did you do to my hair, face and body."
"Wait what happened-" Ford asks, seeing Isaac take off his hoodie and shirt to reveal that his chest and back lack the dark markings once etched on his skin.
"Yesh, what did happen? Your hair looks like it got dipped in gold polish," remarked Stan.
"I know, right?!" replied Isaac, growing more concerned about it.
Carla composed herself to note, "It's really not all that bad, Isaac, sweetie."
"Oh my goodness…." uttered Adeline in astonishment.
Tate goes up to Isaac, seeing how upset he's being, "Son calm down. Let's see what Nancy has to say about it."
"I'm sure she has somethin' to say on the matter," reasoned Fiddleford.
Everyone turned their attention on Nancy, the old woman expressing her annoyance from the glances her way.
Nancy looked at Isaac dead in the eye to tell him"Alright, alright. It was me who removed the markings, turning you back to what you originally looked like. You didn't need those protective markings -I placed on you as a baby- anymore, boy!"
"Wait what?" Isaac questioned quietly. "How did you know me as a…."
"Let me explain, alright?" Nancy retorts, poking at Isaac with her cane he moves away from, "I ain't your birth grandma or any relative, just to be clear to get that assumption out of the way. I know some of you may have been thinkin' that." She raised an eye at the family members and friends. Soos and Wendy being their to watch everything happen with intrigue.
"Ah cool! Backstory," said Soos as he was eating popcorn with Wendy.
Everyone else was just as flabbergasted by the bombshell of the revelation Nancy dropped onto them. If she wasn't Isaac's relative, then how did she know Isaac and why she changed Isaac's appearance. They'll get their answer when they all moved to the living room, taking seats and give Nancy their full attention.
Nancy got herself comfortable on the sofa, beginning to tell her story, "It all started when I was in the forest at night, fourteen-years ago, sleepin' in a tree at the time. I was awoken by the sound of a crying infant -you, Isaac- and the roars of that multi-headed lug…."
Late at night in the forest, 1998….
Nancy Rainwater begrudgingly went to investigate what the commotion was to wake the whole damn forest, seeing the birds flying off, small animals scurrying away, and gnomes scampering in fright. It was coming from the cave of the Multi-Bear. Many creatures in the forest were wise enough to never disturb the magical creature, except for the manotaurs that would come to make fun of him of course. Something definitely was harassing him as Nancy climbed the mountain, muttering swears in a grumpy manner for having her sleep interrupted. What Nancy witnessed was a fight unlike she'd ever seen.
The Multi-Bear was swiping at some tall, lanky creatures with wings and skin tough as stone. They were changelings; two of them to be exact. The changelings wanted the two-month old baby the Multi-Bear was guarding fiercely with his second set of paws, making sure not to crush the tiny crying infant Isaac. Multi-Bear attacked the intruding changelings with his free claws, slamming one of the fae against the other. Nancy surely wasn't going to involve herself in that mess. Soon enough, the changelings scampered off, vowing they'll return to reclaim the infant.
Once the chaos subsided, Nancy saw the Multi-Bear trying to calming the wailing infant in his paws, not knowing what to do. Instincts pleaded Nancy to get away from the huge beast, but when there's a baby that needed tending to, she couldn't standby to keep watching the Multi-Bear baffled of what the baby needed. Multi-Bear took care of a shapeshifter for goodness sake, but human babies were a different story. The infant was wearing a yellow and purple embroidered onesie with initials stitched in the fabric along with the blanket wrapped around him.
"It's alright, small one, the changelings are gone. Are you hungry? Diaper change? What I learn, that happens," Multi-Bear spoke in a hushed tone, rocking the baby in his large paw. Still the baby cried from being unfamiliar with the bear and his surroundings.
"The poor thing must be hungry if he ain't stickin'," said Nancy that made Multi-Bear turn her direction, growling in a protective manner. Nancy wasn't phased by the heads growling, walking up to him slowly, "Now I ain't a threat, ya big goof! I only came here because you were waking the whole forest up with that racket. I witnessed the whole fight with those creatures."
Multi-Bear eased himself, seeing that the older raccoon, that became a human woman, means no harm, but he questions her intentions, "Why have you come here then?"
Nancy takes out some cowl milk eggs, showing them to Multi-Bear as she tells him, "Simple: seems like your having some issues with those changelings. I can provide a solution to keep them off your backs, and the baby's. Couldn't standby to see you having troubles handling that infant. Here let me show you. It's free of charge so long as I get some sleep after this."
Multi-Bear was intrigued by what Nancy had to offer, yet at the same time, he'd just met the woman. She did seem to know what she's doing. Plus, he had no other options presented at the moment. He had to trust that Nancy won't steal away the child.
"Alright, raccoon woman, but I'm watching you," Multi-Bear warned while handing the infant over to her.
"Nancy. I'm Nancy Rainwater, Multi-Bear. I know of you some," Nancy plucked the baby out of Multi-Bear's paw. She shows Multi-Bear how to properly cradle a baby in the arms along with other tips she knows on baby care. Nancy rocked the baby until he stopped crying, becoming calm.
The baby letting out a, "Nyah!" every time Nancy brought the egg to him, the milk being different in taste than what he's used to.
It wasn't long before she started feeding the infant with cowl milk eggs, but the baby wasn't quite used to the new milk. "Oh come on, kid, ya need this to live," Nancy said quietly. It wasn't long before the baby comes around to drink the egg milk. She burps the baby and cleans his face. All the while, she couldn't help to feel concern the moment she saw the letters on baby Isaac's blanket and onesie.
Multi-Bear's doubts about Nancy faded from listening and watching her take care of the baby. He remarked, "You have children of your own?"
"A grown daughter name Joy, she just had her own daughter not too long ago. Nicolette is the sweetest thing!" Nancy takes out her glowing wooden cane, chanting some words in latin, gently touching the infant's forehead to bestow the markings, and change his appearance onto him.
"Nancy what did you just do?" asked Multi-Bear, noting the change.
"I enchanted the boy with an old coon protection spell to keep the changelings from snatching up this little one any time soon. Sure he'll look different so long as the spell's in place, but as long as those markings remain on him, those changelings won't ever bother you ever again," explained Nancy while handing the baby back to Multi-Bear. The magical creature didn't know how to express his gratitude.
"Th… Thank you, Nancy, that was most kind of you," said Multi-Bear while he smiled at the seemingly happy infant. On a whim, Multi-Bear decided to give the infant a name, something he can call the baby, "I'm gonna name him Isaac."
Nancy lets out a groan, "You gave him a name? You don't even know who he belongs to, or if the parents are still around lookin' for him. Plus, you know you can't keep him around when winter's near."
Multi-Bear frowns, knowing that fact he can't take care of Isaac while he hibernates. He does think of the Pines family, the only sort of humans who would be more than willing to aid him and Isaac. He lets Nancy know this while looking at the smiling baby, "That's true, but I actually know some humans who could take in this baby and possibly find his original family. I'll care for this child for a little while. I've only known him for less than an hour and I've grown attached to him."
Nancy huffs, "It'll only hurt you when you have to give him up, you know."
"Not necessarily," said the Multi-Bear. He was fully aware it would be for the best in the long run for Isaac to be raised among humans than with a magical talking bear with several heads.
Nancy had a hunch that Multi-Bear may need her help in the near future with caring for the infant. She tells him, "Well I need to be getting some sleep. I know the little one needs it too. Give me a holler if you need any assistance with him."
"Thank you again, Nancy, I'll be sure to call on your aid," agreed Multi-Bear. He then smelled that Isaac needed his diaper changed, looking at Nancy when he asks, "Could you help me again? I never changed a diaper." Nancy nodded and taught him how.
Back in present day….
"That's what really happened. About a week ago, I learned how Isaac was doing while getting a massage from old Multi-Bear. Best massage I had in years if I do say so myself!" concluded Nancy, seeing Isaac's jaw drop while listening to the whole story. The story may not have revealed who his birth parents were, but it did solve the mystery behind his markings and their true purpose.
"Old coon magic, huh? It does confirm some theories I had for years about the markings, but didn't have definitive proof," Ford questioned, writing it down in his notes.
Nancy shoots a look at Ford, "Now don't prod me to explain it. All I'll say it's ancient magic passed down from parent to child in the community I was a part of. I told Multi-Bear not to tell a soul about the magic." She looked at Isaac with a slightly more apologetic expression, "And I'll say sorry for not telling you about it sooner. I wasn't considerin' your feelings when I lifted the enchantment right off you. Can't put it back on you since you don't need it anymore."
"I can understand the reason behind what you did, Nancy, but next time you could give a bit of warnin'?" Fiddleford advised.
"Sure, sure," Nancy agreed.
"Apology accepted, Grandmammy. I think I would've said yes, maybe." Isaac looks at his reflection nearby, thinking more about the positives of knowing what he really looks like instead of an illusion. Plus, it was fun to flip the hair all the same and see it kinda glissen in the sun.
"If it's any consolation, Isaac, no matter what you look like, it won't change the fact we all love you as you are. No matter how much you change on the outside," said Adeline to her grandson, giving him a hug that made him feel much better about himself.
"Wait until your dad sees your look, son. I like it," Tate said encouragingly with a small smile.
"I'm digging the look," Wendy complimented.
"Really liking how your hair shines in the light, dude," said Soos when he sees Isaac's hair seeming to glow at the right angle from where the sun shone through the glass.
"Couldn't agree more with you, Addi," Ford remarked, seeing Isaac getting more positive praise from his friends and family members. A great way to conclude the evening from Fiddleford and Nancy's visit.
A/N: Thanks for being patient with us for this chapter! Me, Vulpixen, have been ill with coughing fits so it was one of the main reasons why this chapter came later (than just procrastination and working a part-time job). Wanted to not only have Ford, Adeline, Tate and Fiddleford bond, but to reveal some part of Isaac's past and how Nancy Rainwater is connected to it in more than one way. Join us next time where Dipper and Mabel learn about Soos' birthday and why he doesn't like celebrating it. The twins want to find a way to save Soos' birthday so he can be happy about them again. Meanwhile, Blendin wants revenge against the Pines twins for their past transgressions in Chapter 54: Blendin's Game AU!
