Chapter 40

"You have got to be kidding me!" cried Tyrone. Everyone was in the exhibit room and the forest friends recounted what just occurred.

"Huck is drunk with power! Bill really has him in his grasp." Said Morso.

"Bill has gotten a lot more dangerous than ever." Said Ford.

"He was always dangerous. He's just picking on kids and now he's got one kissing his ass." Said Stan.

"What other option do we have?" asked Soos.

"What about that boy down town? You know, the one who was also under Bill's control?" asked Melody.

"Oh you mean…. Oh him." Said Soos smiling with his hopes up.

"What? What boy?" asked Destiny.

"Gideon? You think he can help? I don't think so. That kid stopped doing his magic crap for years." Said Stan.

"What choice do we have? Dipper and Mabel are out of commission. Nothing I have can recreate the mirror, not without the shards. And Gideon is closer to that than any of us in this room." Said Ford.

"Who's Gideon?" asked Tyrone.

"Dipper and Mabel never told you about him?" asked Stan surprised.

"Is he a friend of theirs? I know they talk fondly of a lot of people, but they never mentioned a Gideon." Said Tyrone.

"It's for the best. Gideon was once one of our enemies. Bill also had him in control years ago. But he was just a kid with delusions of grandeur." Said Stan.

"I remember going to one of his shows. They were a little… unsettling." Said Melody.

"I have heard about that boy! I thought he was just another urban myth." Said Destiny.

"He lives in mobile home that is in town, close to the arcade." Said Soos.

"I think I saw his place in town once. Isn't it a trailer with girlie garden things in his front porch? I always though an old lady lived there." Said Matt.

Everyone in the room began to chuckle. It felt good to cheer everyone up at least for a little bit thought Matt.

"Yeah, that's the one. I'd ask him myself, but……. He might not want to talk to me after….. making fun of him as a kid." Said Stan.

"How old is he?" asked Tyrone.

"He's about Dipper and Mabel's age." Said Ford.

Tyrone nodded. "So how old was he when Bill controlled him exactly?" asked Tyrone.

"He was twelve." Said Stan with a smile.

Tyrone wanted to laugh, but thought better of it.

In the afternoon, Tyrone and Matt volunteered to see Gideon. They never met him once when they arrived, but they figured now was the best time. Also, they were curious to meet an old enemy of Dipper and Mabel. They both heard so much of their adventures, it was weird they never mentioned him.

"Wonder why Dipper and Mabel never told us of him?" said Matt.

"Maybe he was one of their worst enemies. According to everyone, he changed on our side. If that's true, then he wouldn't hesitate helping us." Said Tyrone.

"What about that boy back home. Ben? Mabel's girlfriend. Can he be of help?" asked Matt.

"I don't think he can handle seeing his girlfriend asleep in a curse." Said Tyrone.

As they walked downtown, everyone was talking about Bill reappearing and doing weird things. Tyrone and Matt felt chills down their spines upon hearing the townspeople speak of the wicked one.

"Everyone's scared. Was Wierdmaggedon really that bad?" asked Matt.

"Dipper and Mabel told me it was a living hell. We both saw how ugly the door beyond Treasures of Oregon looked like. Remember?" said Tyrone.

"Oh yeah. That was scary." Said Matt, remembering their last adventure about a few months ago.

It's been that long already. And Winter Break was about to begin. Matt had two weeks off from School, but he didn't feel like celebrating his days. Everyday was full of mystery and adventure. Matt longed for that adventure when he was much younger, but now, he wished things were more simpler.

They then approached the old mobile home and Tyrone knocked on the door. Just then, a young chubby man opened the door. He had a light blue suit on, had his hair well kept and he smelled of heavy men's cologne. Upon opening the door, the young man looked at Tyrone in surprise.

"Dipper? Dipper Pines is that you?" asked the chubby young man with a bright smile. His teeth was very shiny and clean.

"Dipper? Oh no, he's my big brother. I'm Tyrone. And this is my little brother Matt." Said Tyrone as he and Matt stood side by side at the door.

"Your Dipper and Mabel's little brother? I didn't know they had more siblings! Well come on in!" said the chubby guy.

"Are you Gideon Gleeful?" asked Matt.

"Sure am! The original Man of Mystery! The true one." Said Gideon with gusto.

He let them in his small clean home and they sat on a very comfy couch. On top of the couch was a large picture of Gideon's family. His father and Mother looked thrilled in the photo and Gideon was wearing a cowboy out fit.

"That photo was taken after the end of the world. My parents were a lot happier after that. It was like a second chance for all of us to change." Said Gideon.

"Wow. So you survived!" said Matt.

"Sure did. Now, what can I do for you gents?" asked Gideon.

"Well Gideon, I came because we are in a pickle." Said Tyrone. He then told Gideon what had happened during the past few days, with the mirror, the Mothman being betrayed by his apprentice and Dipper and Mabel's coma. After that, Gideon was listening and nodding.

"So Bill found someone else to torture. That is not good." Said Gideon.

"Any idea how we can stop this?" asked Matt.

"Well, it seems to me Huck is doing this by his own choice. When I was with Bill, it was I who invoked him and asked for his help. That is how Bill works. He finds anyone who worships him, and he snatches you to be his puppet. But by your own free will. What I did as a kid was all my choice. Bill came along right after. It is possible that Huck did the same." Said Gideon.

"Then Huck was planning this since the beginning?" asked Tyrone.

"Perhaps. You see, The North Wind, Bill Cipher, and anything evil in Gravity Falls appear only when a person seeks them out the first time. Years ago, it was Ford who met Bill and Bill came into this reality. After that, it was me. I called on him to help me take over Gravity Falls and destroy your siblings." Said Gideon.

Tyrone and Matt finally got their answer as to why Dipper and Mabel never mentioned him.

Gideon continued. "How long did you guys know Huck?" asked Gideon.

"We met him when we already settled down here. He was our tour guide to Gravity Falls. But he didn't look like the type of kid who would do anything evil. He was harmless." Said Tyrone.

"And nice! He was very nice to all of us. I don't understand what happened. It was as if he changed overnight." Said Matt.

"Be honest. Did Dipper and Mable tell you how we met?" asked Gideon.

"Not really. This is the first time we learn of you." Said Tyrone.

"I see. I don't blame them. I was terrible to them when I was a kid. Back then, I was famous for reading palms and for telling everyone's fortune. I even had a crush on Mabel and invited her to hang out with me on so many occasions. However, they eventually saw my true colors. I was manipulative, corrupt and evil." Said Gideon.

"You and Mabel were a thing?" asked Matt with a smile.

"Yeah. It was fun while it lasted. She liked me the first time, but then I got a little weird." Said Gideon.

"What's the point in all this then?" asked Tyrone.

"I'm saying that Huck was probably already planning all this since the beginning. Do you guys know where he lives?" asked Gideon.

"No not really. We never knew where." Said Matt.

"I do. Huck used to come here for magic lessons when the Mothman chose him as his apprentice." Said Gideon as he pulled out a map and handed it to Tyrone.

"This will take you to Huck's home. Maybe you guys will find the answers there." Said Gideon.

"So from what we are assuming…. Huck is the reason why all this is happening?" asked Tyrone.

"You mean the missing kids. Bill's sudden take overs and all the weird things going on……. Was he?" asked Matt.

"Your uncle Stanford once wrote in his journals a long time ago……. "Trust No One." Said Gideon.

Tyrone and Matt looked at the map and realized what they needed to do next.

"Thank you Gideon. But I'm afraid we might need more of your help. The mirror that was taken…. Could you make a new one?" asked Tyrone.

"I have given up on Magic and all that a long time ago. I burned everything I once had to control others. But there is still one other person in town who might be able to help you……. He's a knome who lives in the forest. His name is Schmeduloc." Said Gideon.

"Schmeduloc. Got it!" said Matt.

"One thing….. Schmeduloc does not speak. To talk with him, you need to tell him your worst fear and he will speak to you." Said Gideon.