Dipper had seen the supernatural.

Phff, that was an understatement. Dipper had been obsessing over the paranormal ever since he was a little kid. And when he came to Gravity Falls, he was literally swimming in the stuff. He'd fought Ghosts, Zombies, Gremloblins, Gnomes, and many other creatures most people said didn't exist.

But yet, the Author of the Journals had told him to trust no one. Dipper had disobeyed him. He trusted Mabel, Soos, Wendy, Stan, and almost everyone else in the town.

Then Stan had gotten arrested, and Dipper had found out the truth. Stan had lead several different lives, was probably not Dipper's great-uncle, and had stolen the other two Journals to build a portal that the Author had warned against activating.

Then Mabel, who had been right next to Dipper as they found out the truth, didn't press the button. She left their world in danger of global destruction.

When gravity returned to normal Dipper rubbed his head and glanced up at a dark figure stepping out of the portal.

The man reached down and picked up the first Journal. He slid it into his coat and stepped towards the four of them. Dipper felt like his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth, but he choked out, "Who is that?"

Stan got to his feet, he rubbed his own head, and said words Dipper had been hoping to hear but hadn't known it.

"The Author of the Journals... My brother."

Stan rushed past the stunned Dipper, just as the Author took his mask off. Dipper looked over at Mabel, who's eyes were as wide as Dipper's had to be. Stan held his arms open, like he was going to hug the newest occupant of the room.

"Finally, after all these long years of waiting!" Stan said happily, "Brother!"

Dipper saw the faintest glint of blue, then the Author's fist collided with Stan's face. Stan let out a pained gasp, then yelled, "Ow! What on Earth was that for?"

The Author glared at Stan, and Dipper heard a ringing in his ears. The Author was there! The Author looked super awesome! The Author had punched Grunkle Stan in the face!?

"This was an insanely risky move, restarting the portal." The Author curled one of his hands in a fist, and swept the room with his other. "Didn't you read my warnings?!"

Stan huffed, he crossed his arms, "Warnings shmornings, how's about a little thanks for saving you from what appears to be a... Sci-fi sideburn dimension?"

The Author held his hands up like he was in a boxing match, both pulled into fists. "Thank you?" He asked, like Stan was crazy. There was a slight blue flash for a second, then it died. "Why should I thank you after what you did thirty years ago?!" The Author waved his hand towards Stan, and the strangest thing Dipper had ever seen happened.

Tiny, electric blue tendrils of lightning snaked from the Author's fingers. Dipper felt all the hairs on his neck and arms stand on end, but Stan got the brunt of the attack.

Dipper's great uncle flew backwards, and landed with a thump against the back wall, his clothes steaming slightly. Stan let out a pained groan, and Dipper was relieved to see him attempt to get to his feet.

The Author's eyes widened in shock. He looked down at his six-fingered hands and then back up at Stan, who was struggling to his feet. "Stanley! Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" The Author rushed over to his brother and held a hand out to him to help pull him up. "I didn't mean to do that!"

Stan stared at his brother's outstretched hand. His mouth opened in shock, and his eyes flicked between the Author's spread out finger's, and his stunned face.

"Ugh, I feel like a turkey on Thanksgiving..." He mumbled, "Also... What on Earth? How did you do that?!"

The Author winced, and Stan reached out a slightly shaky hand and grasped the Author's. The Author pulled him up, thankfully not zapping Stan again.

"Three words, Infinity Sided Die." The Author said, but before he could continue Mabel shouted out, "What on Earth is going on?!"

The Author spun to his right, and saw Dipper, Mabel, and Soos. He adjusted his glasses and muttered, "Stan, you didn't tell me there were children here... And some sort of hairless gopher."

Stan rubbed the small of his back, "They're your family Poindexter, Shermie's grandkids."

The Author's face brightened, like he had found out it was Christmas. "I have a niece and nephew?" He breathed, and stepped over to Mabel. He kneeled down and extended a hand out to her, which she shook. "A six-fingered handshake?" She said, "That's a full finger friendlier than normal!"

Suddenly she shivered, and a bunch of blue circlets spiralled around her body, like when Dipper and Mabel had switched bodies..

"And lightning ones too!" Mabel exclaimed, as the Author released her hand and opened his mouth. "That tickled!"

"I... Didn't mean to do that..." The Author said, "I believe I have an explanation, but..."

"You're the Author of the Journals?!" Dipper couldn't help himself, the Author looked over at him, and pulled the journal out of his coat, "You've read my Journals?" He asked, a smile brightening his face.

"I haven't just read them," Dipper said, bouncing slightly, "I've lived them!" He started pacing, trying to get the excess energy out of his system. "I have sooo many questions... Oh man..." he suddenly stopped, and held a hand over his mouth. "I think I'm going to throw up..."

Mabel rushed over to her brother, and patted his back comfortingly. Dipper waved her off, "It's okay, I just got to ride it out..."

The Author gave Dipper a look of commiseration, then he looked over at Stan, who was rubbing the side of his face. "There will be time for introductions later," he said, then asked, "Now, tell me Stan, does anyone else know about this place? Anyone at all?"

Stan folded his arms, and looked off at the exit, "No. Just us... And also maybe the entire US Government."

There were two new burned patches on the floor after Stan said that. The Author glared over at Stan, and yelled, "The what?!" He held a hand to his temple and sighed. "It's okay... We just need to lay low, and think of a plan..."

"While we're down here..." Mabel said, nudging Dipper in the elbow. "Who wants to explain their mysterious backstory? And why did he call you Stanley? Your name is Stanford!"

The Author's hands sparked, but he kept the electricity contained. Stan sighed, then said quietly, "It's a long story... It begins in the 1960s, Glass Shard Beach New Jersey..."

"So you rolled this die thingy and now you're a superhero?" Ford was holding the case for the infinity sided die, and showed the morphing object to his family. Dipper looked like he was going to drool all over the thing, while Stan looked mildly interested. Mabel had decided that her newest Grunkle was the coolest guy ever, and Soos...

Soos had headed home as soon as they got the government agents out of there.

"I wouldn't call myself a 'superhero' per se..." Ford said, snapping the mesmerizing box shut and thrusting it into his pocket. "Supernaturally gifted maybe..."

"Dude," Mabel said, patting Ford's arm, "That's the definition of superhero. Unless..."

"My brother's not a supervillain Mabel." Stan said, rolling his eyes. "Now the two of you better go hit the hay, my brother and I have a lot to talk about."

Dipper gasped, "But it's the Author!" He said, "Just a few million questions?"

"I said 'Hit the hay'." Stan said forcefully, and gently shoved the two children towards the stairs. He watched them slink sadly up the steps, heads hanging low.

Ford but his lip, "Stan..."

His brother looked at him, and rolled his eyes. "Ford, if I let Dipper get going you wouldn't sleep for a week. I don't need him fanboying out before you even get changed."

Ford blinked at Stan, "Fanboying?" He asked slowly. "What..?"

"You'll see tomorrow." Stan said, and motioned for Ford to follow him. "Now let's get you some new clothes. The ones you're wearing smell like a farm."

Ford smiled slightly, "I didn't really have many chances to wash them..." He said quietly.

Stan winced, but gave Ford a matching grin. "Did you really just roll that thing and get totally awesome powers?"

Ford chuckled, and they stepped down the hall to Soos' break room. "Yes, actually." He said as Stan opened the door. "I also permanently changed the color of the sky in one Dimension, luckily everyone there was blind..."

Stan laughed, "At least you didn't change the color of you."

"Yes, that would have been most misfortunate." Ford walked over to the closet and was about to open it when he saw a padlock. "Stan..."

"Oh yeah, forgot about that. Here let me help you out..." Stan was cut off by a small 'zap', and Ford looked over at him with a smug grin on his face.

"Looks like the lock wasn't lightning proof." Ford said, holding the smoking metal up, "Good thing an electrical storm didn't come through here..."

Stan facepalmed, "I don't know if I should be proud of you, or upset."

"Definitely the former." Ford said, flinging the closet open. "Now shoo!"

Stan did what he said, he didn't really feel like getting cooked anymore than he already had been.

So, I rewatched DD&MD, and this popped in my head. I contemplated what type of superpower to give Ford and finally settled on lightning (because it's really cool).

Anyway, thanks for the reviews! (TFD, TBH I do the same! I just think "I wrote that? Really?" And I know you'll probably say All of them, but which is your favorite?)

I hope you had fun reading this. And as always, stay happy healthy safe and sane-ish.

-BrilliantLight