For the next few days, America was alight with UFO reports concerning strange, scattered incidents of shrinking forests, houses and mountains - and huge swathes of farm stocks being shrunk into miniature petting Zoos.
At least until the gooseliath's lamp was petered out by those cheap batteries.
Legend has it that, to this day, gigantic, flapping UFOs are a regular occurrence across vast lengths of North America, however, and that a bizarre man wearing no pants is continuing his mission to hunt down giraffes and eat waffles from state to state, with feathers in his sideburns and goosebites in his tailcoat.
For the kids, it was a perfect opportunity to spend a few days laughing at the bizarre news reports and relax for a little while, leaving the Grunkles to whatever work they were getting up to in Ford's study.
Soos followed their mishap by purchasing a small batch of new mystery carts from several used golf cart dealerships - which were apparently a thing, now. It was fair to say that, beyond maintenance, the Shack didn't use the carts very often anymore - the Awesome Express took the role admirably. Or, at least, would do so when they had removed it from the tree Manly Dan had thrown it into.
Instead, Soos had given each of the family a set of keys, telling them it was to help them go on their adventures. He also elbowed Dipper several times in the ribs, insinuating it would be good for him and Pacifica to get some more time alone.
It was an appealing prospect.
The next evening, Dipper and Pacifica did something they weren't particularly used to; they packed a picnic, and went off to spend some time alone. Just themselves and their thoughts. They ascended the clifftops of Gravity Falls, sitting comfortably in that peaceful, waterbound glade with nobody but eachother's company and the stars.
They sat together, watching the fireflies and miniature geese going about their blissful, quiet lives, hundreds of feet above the crooked little town down below; lit by the warm yellow hue of the summer moon.
Pacifica laid back and took a deep breath. It was nice. It was peaceful. It was honest, it was simple, and it was something she had never really gotten to experience properly with him before.
Dipper had never really been alone with a girl before, and was far less acclimated to 'peace and quiet'.
"So…"
"You don't have to talk all the time, y'know, Dip."
"I-I'm sorry, I just-"
"It's fine. What's on your mind, hon?"
"Well… we're almost halfway through Summer, and-"
"And you want to know what's gonna happen?"
"Well… yeah."
"Look, honestly? I'm not sure." She replied, holding out her hands and beginning to count on her fingers. "Your Grunkles want me to come with them, Soos wants me to stay in the Shack and help out during quiet season, Abuelita wants to adopt me, Susan wants to move me in with her. I've… not got a shortage of options. I guess trying to be a better person has kinda worked in my favour."
"And… do you want… us to still be a thing?"
Pacifica sat up and smiled. "I mean, will the famous Dipper Pines wait for me?"
"Of course I would." He stammered. "I- Pacifica, this stuff means a lot to me, okay? I don't mind waiting to see you every year. I really want this to work, but-"
"But?"
"But you're- you're from a whole different world to me, Paz. You're not some scrappy monster hunter kid, you're used to living as a member of the elite, being rich and powerful, you're used to pearls and ponies and you're used to eggs benedict and-"
"I'm your girlfriend , Dipper. I admit I'm still… getting used to this stuff, but I love it. You don't need to provide me that kind of life, and you don't need to be rich and famous. You're a nerd and... "
She bit her lip.
"...I guess I'm a nerd too. And I'm kinda enjoying building my own way through life. I'm a 14 year old with a job, Dipper. I'm already kinda rich by our standards, right?"
"I-i-guess, I just- I'm not-"
"For once in your life, Dipper, calm down." Pacifica smiled, taking hold of his hand. "We're not going anywhere. We're in this together, and, for what it's worth, I think we do pretty good together."
Dipper smiled, shifting uncomfortably. "M-me too."
The two looked out upon the crooked, strange little town that they loved and feared in equal measure; the gentle babbling of the clifftop brook and the chirping of tiny swans providing a soft, echoing refrain to their thoughts and feelings.
And, more tumultuously, their nerves - their fear. Their trepidation.
"Do you think things are going to get worse? With Curzon?" She asked, her eyes gazing across the valley to the Northwest Manor.
"I think we've only just started getting into the serious stuff, Paz. I think… I think we need to be ready."
"Dipper?"
"Yeah?"
"It's still Pacifica."
Fin.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN - where there's also ten short comic strips and many more bits besides!
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