I don't think there are many chapters left to write in this story...

*Sigh*

But this chapter is not the last! The next one will also not be the last.

I can't guarantee that the third one will not be the last... Sadly... But when I'm done with this story, I'm going to start writing another immediately. I have a few ideas, and it would be nice if you guys let me know which one is your favorite:

1. Instead of Ford being taken by the automated prison droid, it was Dipper, and Ford couldn't save him in time. Then Dipper gets taken to space and whatnot. And Dipper still has the rift with him...

2. Dipper got zombified in Scary-Oke, which means they couldn't see the weakness of zombies, because he had the journal, and even if they did know the weakness, they wouldn't have enough people for the three-part harmony. (This story would be less dark than it sounds, probably.)

3. Dipper never actually believed in the supernatural, so when he finds the journal, he just thinks it's a load of bologna, and he ignores it. He might not be able to deny it forever, though.

(All of these are pretty much centered round Dipper.)

I'll write all of these eventually, but this is just a matter of which one I write first. Please let me know which idea is your favorite, you guys. And I won't start writing the new one until I finish this one.

Oh, and Whinkx: I have night-vision goggles. So far, I can't see anyone... But I'm prepared.

Okay, now to the actual chapter!

I do not own Gravity Falls.

It's About What You'd Lose

Mabel's P.o.V.

Location: Right outside of the Mystery Shack

Mabel squirmed, trying to get out of the shapeshifter's grip. "H-help!" she managed to squeal.

Ford reached for his gun in his holster, but was stopped at the shapeshifter's next words.

"You do that and you won't have a great-niece anymore."

Ford immediately drew his hand away from the gun, but his face was frozen in horror. "You're... you're going to kill her anyways..."

The shapeshifter lifted a brow and grinned. "I might. But there's a higher chance I'd do it if you lift even one of your twelve fingers to stop me, you freak."

Ford grimaced, but he didn't say anything.

"You know," the shapeshifter drawled, "I'd be more than happy to make a deal... Because if you don't..."

He flexed his claws and turned to look at Mabel with those glowing, crimson eyes. He slowly moved his hand towards Mabel's throat.

"Stop!" Ford yelled. "Fine, what deal? Just... don't hurt her."

The shapeshifter moved his hand away from Mabel's throat, much to her relief. The shapeshifter then turned to Ford.

"Here's the deal... You've got to make a choice here... It's either her..." he gestured to Mabel. "Or it's him." He gestured to himself, and he was still in Dipper's form. Mabel was sure Ford got the picture.

The shapeshifter continued. "I could let your niece go... Or I could let your nephew go. It's your own choice..."

"What would you gain from that?" Ford exclaimed, his face red with anger.

"It's not about what I'd gain, it's about what you'd lose. And you'd lose either a niece, or a nephew."

The shapeshifter grinned, his red eyes flashing. "So who's going to die, eh Sixer?"

Dipper's P.o.V.

Location: The prison

Dipper rattled the bars angrily. "You have to believe me! I've been framed!"

The officer scoffed. "Kid, we saw that it was you. I'm not an idiot."

"That's debatable," Dipper grumbled. He walked away from the bars and started pacing around, muttering and thinking to himself.

How did this happen... This is all my fault... If only I hadn't been so stupid, if only I didn't step into the chamber, this never would've happened...

He raised his fist to punch the wall. He barely felt the sting. It was like a vague memory of pain. He just didn't care anymore. All the anger that he hadn't let out, he couldn't hold in anymore.

He screamed. He didn't really know why. It's not like it helped at all. He just screamed until he had no more breath to do so. Until he slumped to the floor from exhaustion.

He was vaguely aware of a guard telling him to keep quiet. But at that point, he didn't care anymore. He just sat with his back against the wall and his chest rising and falling with his ragged breathing.

Dipper shivered. The wall was cold. It reminded him too much of being frozen for two weeks. He didn't want to be cold anymore, so he started walking again, pacing around in his cell.

Dipper realized his limbs were burning and aching. Probably from being stiff for so long and his recent struggle with the police officer. But that didn't stop him from pacing. He kept doing that until he literally couldn't do it anymore. Until he collapsed onto the ground with a pained sigh.

What can I do? What can I do? What. Can. I. Do!?

Mabel's P.o.V.

Location: Right outside of the Mystery Shack

"So who's going to die, eh Sixer?"

Mabel took the opportunity to kick out with her legs. Her foot hit him squarely in the chest.

The shapeshifter let go of her, clutching his chest and hissing in pain with his eyes shut tightly. Mabel bolted, running to the safety of her friends. Now that Mabel was no longer in danger, Ford reached for his gun and aimed it at the shapeshifter.

The shapeshifter opened his eyes. They were now an orange-red that looked like they were blazing like fire.

Mabel rubbed her shoulders. They still hurt where the shapeshifter had sunk his claws into them. She watched as the shapeshifter straightened.

"Well... played..." he growled. "But I can't be stopped that easily."

His eyes still alight with flames, he began to change. Small silver spikes emerged from beneath his skin, and when he flashed them a crooked grin, they could see that his teeth were jagged and sharp.

It was that moment when Ford pulled the trigger on his gun. A blue beam erupted from the gun with a flash of light.

It had perfect aim. There was no time to avoid it. The beam hit the shapeshifter in the arm. It seared his skin, flesh burning and blood welling.

The shapeshifter didn't scream in pain. He didn't even make any sound that hinted that he even felt it.

He only laughed again. Then he locked his gaze onto Ford's. "Nice try, Sixer. But it's not good enough."

That's all for this chapter. Please let me know which idea for a story is your favorite, though. It'd be a big help.

Well, cya next time! Though I think Whinkx is watching me from my closet.

Let me just... Close the door real quick.

Okay, all better.