Author's Note: In this chapter, now that Dipper and Mabel have remembered everything, the time is now that they are told some hard truths that come from the choice they made to sacrifice their memories to defeat Bill. No one will truly be the same again, but it'll lead to new beginnings; for better or for worse here in Chapter 82: Aftermath 3 Ending.
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 "Spriggs" 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!
Still inside the Mystery Shack…
"It all began a week prior… you two were looking forward to your first birthday here in Gravity Falls, celebrating it among your family and friends," Ford begins the story with Stan, Carla and the rest of the family adding more with their own perspective to have witnessed Weirdmageddon happening and having endured the hardships that came from Bill and his minions' chaos in their wake.
The first four days of living hell for each family member who was simply trying to survive all of it. How Ty lost his arm. How Junior couldn't portal himself and those with him back to the shack. How the triplets, including their mother and brother, could not shift back to their upright human selves. How Isaac along with Wendy and his cousins had to manage while being trapped inside the mall in those days, eating bats they hunted and drank canned drinks from the machine in order to survive. How most of the adults managed with the rest of the townsfolk not taken by the eye-bats that turn anyone and any creature into stone statues, and more.
Those memories leading up to the final stand against Bill and his minions come back to Dipper and Mabel, where the twins managed to bring morale back within the hearts of the remaining refugees and band together in constructing the Mystery Shack into the Shacktron. Flashes of the battle come back to their mind with the Shacktron and townsfolk having disposed of the demonic minions before facing Bill himself. Then came the rescue attempt to save Ford and all the rest of the family members who were captured among the many other townsfolk and creatures held captive, made into a throne fit for Bill. In addition, the supposed prophecy that wasn't fulfilled due to part of the collapsing ceiling almost having crushed them, only to have been saved by the family members who pulled them out of danger but broke the circle in the process.
Then came the flashes of Dipper and Mabel, along with their cousins creating a diversion against Bill in hopes the rest of the family would make it out alive, but they didn't get to escape. Instead, the twins and their cousins got captured within Bill's clutches, but not before learning how the Weirdness Magnetism can be disabled.
That was where the memories ceased in their minds. Almost complete. Leaving behind an intense headache, making Dipper and Mabel recoil and grabbing their heads in pain from the whiplash. Everyone stops recollecting the past events to give the twins time to process all of the intense memories coming back to them. To let them breathe.
"It… hurts," whimpers Dipper, "these memories… of Bill and… the -"
"Deal…" Ford finishes for the twins, embracing the two in his arms. "You two made a deal with Bill and let him into your minds… where I used the memory gun to destroy him in the mindscape. For good. Just as we planned, but it didn't involve you kids." Stan starts sniffling, unable to hold back the tears.
"It wasn't supposed to be like that! You kids took a bullet meant for either me or one of us adults; never one of you kids! And having watched you regain your memories thus far, I wouldn't wish this on anyone to go through what you went through…" Stan chokes up, his wife letting her shoulder for him to cry on.
"Did you two really mean what you said? That you knew how to break the barrier that prevented Bill and his chaos from leaving Gravity Falls?" asks Adeline, more so out of curiosity than not. Dipper and Mabel nod at Adeline. Mabel spoke up to explain, letting Waddles jump into her lap. The pain left as soon as it came for her and Dipper.
"We ended up back in the throne room during the big chase, and listened to Grunkle Ford talk about the equation that would give Bill reason to make a deal with one of you. But Dipper and I wanted to save you… our family. To fix my mistake. We love you very much… you'd do the same for us." Mabel's voice cracking into sobs. It made Dipper cry with her too. "We really thought… we were going to be gone forever…"
Once more, everyone joined in to hug Dipper and Mabel, letting their tears shed freely. As a family. Dipper and Mabel have remembered everything at last. Everyone lets go and give the twins breathing room.
Maurice lets out a breath. "Dipper. Mabel. There's something else you should know about what's going to happen to you since Bill was destroyed in your minds." He frowns at them, anticipating how they're going to react. "You see, when an entity such as Bill is killed in the mind the way he was, aspects of him are left behind." The twins' expressions turn to dismay.
"What do you mean? Are we going to become him?" Maurice shakes his head, Dipper letting out a sigh.
"That's a relief. Bill is supposed to be dead! We punched him and everything while he was screaming in gibberish while begging for his life in our minds," states Mabel, her voice full of renewed confidence.
"What I meant is that aspects such as personality, traits, mannerisms and even abilities and so forth will likely manifest over time. I wanted you kids to be aware of it so you can learn how to manage it throughout your lives. Unfortunately, no amount of erasing memories can fix it. Nothing I can do as a demon, either; you kids are protected from entities from invading your mind, as an added bonus."
"Does that make them demon, too?" Carla asks Maurice.
"Definitely not. At least not physically like me and my kids."
Despite what was said, Dipper and Mabel dreaded the thought of repeating the horrid deeds the dream demon had done to others, afraid to hurt those closest to them. It filled the family with strong concern for the twin's wellbeing as well.
"Then what can we do?" questions Stan, not liking the sound of it one bit and neither did everyone else. "Can Bill come back this way or…" Maurice shakes his head again, doing his best to put the explanation in a way the twins and everyone else could understand, even a little. But it was more complicated than what he can voice.
Ford and Stan strongly hope Bill doesn't come back through the twins. They wouldn't know what to do a second time.
"No. Bill is totally dead. But there is the risk if you're in scenarios where aspects of Bill make itself known in familiar ways, then you have to keep reminding yourselves of who you are, or succumb to those darker, chaotic urges I know Bill leaned towards." Maurice smiles at the twins in faith they can handle this. "Don't ever hesitate to seek help from family and friends to remind you who you are. As long as you have that, there's nothing you cannot do together." Dipper and Mabel exchange looks of reassurance and grab each other's hands.
Ford didn't anticipate Maurice, the seemingly aloof and boastful man he always saw him as since he was a child, to know much more about the demon nature than himself. But he had to admit what Maurice claims does sound like it has weight and certainty, having greatly underestimated him. At this point, he had to trust him. Maurice has surprised him and the rest of the family in many ways over the years, especially now that he's returned with more knowledge than before. Or he knew the whole time.
Despite knowing they can rely on their family and friends, Dipper and Mabel now fear they'll hurt them unintentionally if they aren't careful. For now, everyone takes a moment of peace to breathe.
Later...
"So you're saying not all of Bill's weirdness is gone?" inquires Dipper to Ford and Adeline, seeing as they have a detailed illustration of Bill, Weirdmageddon, and the town itself. All the rest of the family, including Fiddleford, are present in the living room. Ford nods at Dipper, extending a metal rod to use as a pointer.
"Exactly." Ford points at the X shaped Rift that was once in the sky on the board. "The second Bill was defeated, we thought everything in Gravity Falls reverted back exactly how it was before Weirdmageddon even started. But upon recent discoveries, it's not entirely true." Fiddleford gives his input once he clears his throat, then pointing at the illustrated portals marked on the board.
"Throughout town and in the woods, we've been finding these rift-ma-things big and small in odd places." Fiddleford raises his coffee cup with a small white portal having appeared. "Like in my coffee!" Dipper and Mabel, along with the rest of the family get a closer look at the tiny portal in the coffee itself. Spriggs lifts Quincy from under his arms so he can see too. Ty tries to get his phone to work, but it goes to static that immensely disappoints him.
"But that's not all." Adeline shows images of eye-bats. "Apparently, some of those eye-bats are still around and have been sighted around Sprott's farm. A giant fault line appeared. Phone receptions on the fritz. And zombies rising from the graves, among other issues." Aria raises her hand. "Yes, Aria?"
"So pretty much, it's up to us to clean up what's left of Weirdmageddon?" Ford perks a grin, raising a finger.
"Precisely! We recently discovered that with the alien adhesive, we can seal up the dimensional wormholes as if they were never there." Ford and Adeline pick up two of several superglue gun-appearing guns full of the pink alien adhesive that looks like stomach reliever or melted bubblegum. "We developed this handy device to do the job. Each of you can go across the woods and town in order to stop these rifts before an even bigger one opens for some unfortunate person to enter through. Where it leads is into what used to be the Nightmare Realm, formerly Bill's domain which has now collapsed into a multiverse gateway into infinite worlds."
"That actually sounds cool," remarks Anais with a small grin.
"Oh it would be if there would be a way out of it," states Adeline, knowing from past experience. "Though there are planes no one should venture into for too long."
Shannon then adds before handing one to an eager Arya as a word of caution.
"But be careful you don't get any adhesive on you, or else it'll seal all of the orifices on your face." Arya is less than eager now until Shauna nudges Shannon and gives her a look.
"It doesn't really do that; it's basically an extremely powerful super glue that can be removed with heat." Arya appears her eager self again upon picking up the device. Shauna is sure to remind her. "Kids, don't use it on each other."
"I'm aware, Aunt Shauna," says Arya, taking a closer look at the adhesive. "Looks like bubblegum."
Maurice gets everyone's attention as he speaks up. "There's other things that need to be said, too, with Weirdmageddon." He takes a deep breath. "It's what caused me, Tanya, Junior and Ty to appear as we are." He eyes over to Ford, expecting him to have come up with a theory behind it. Ford did after having given it thought within hours after seeing his great-niece and nephews act within that time.
"I believe that some people of the… demonic nature have been physically mutated by the effects of Weirdmageddon. Well, Maurice, Jessie and Lillian's children, mainly. And there's nothing that can be done about it. As long as they're still themselves as we've seen thus far, I think it's safe to say that hasn't changed. Just be mindful of these newfound abilities and not to abuse them." Maurice, Jessie, and Lillian seem relieved of the answer, as did Tanya, Junior and Ty.
"Well, since I'm a werewolf now, too, then I ain't human anymore," states Tanya and shrugs. "And I'm alright with this. Likely my guys will, too, when I get home."
"I can't leave Gravity Falls due to being more demon now, but I don't mind it at all. Plus, I can make portals to go anywhere without technically leaving the town," says Maurice, reassuring his family and himself. Tanya then frowns to realize what that could mean for her and her unborn child.
"Wait, does that mean I can't leave Gravity Falls either?" Tanya questions. Junior and Ty exchange looks of dread themselves. No one had a clue. Lillian smiles in sympathy for her daughter and sons.
"While we're out and about, we can find that out. If not… we can think of something." Lillian hugs her young adult daughter.
Adeline has a list in hand. "When everyone is ready, we can go split into groups of four or more to start sealing up the wormholes. And I've made a list of the confirmed sightings of these rifts across the woods and town. Everyone partner up."
Adeline and Carla go up to Stan, Ford and Dipper and Mabel as their group. Meanwhile, James, Jessie, Shannon and Shauna form their group. As did Tara, Spriggs, Lillian and Maurice. Tanya, Quincy, Junior and the triplets. And finally, Ty, Tate, Shifty, Fiddleford and Isaac form their group and arm themselves with the alien adhesive guns. Everyone appeared ready. But Ford has one more thing to say before everyone leaves the house.
"Family, there's one more thing I must advise: in the event one or more of you end up through any of the multidimensional wormholes," Ford tosses several metallic boxes at each group, "use the infinity line to secure yourself to something sturdy and save one another."
"It really goes on for infinity?" inquires Quincy as he pulls on the string.
"It sure does, my lad! Now happy sealing!"
Outside…
The Pines family travel across the town and woods of Gravity Falls, finding and sealing away any multidimensional wormholes they can find. Stan and Ford's group went into one section of the woods. It was a warm summer's day and the sun was shining bright on a new day, no rain having poured since Weirdmageddon's end.
James and his group went into town and entered into any homes reported to have the multidimensional wormholes appear in odd places around the properties.
Tate, of course, led his group to search around Gravity Falls Lake having seen one appear in the center. Thankfully, it seems the other creatures have kept away from the rip. Almost. The carnivorous Island Head was sucked in and presumably eaten by an even bigger creature on the other side. At this point, it surprised no one, but it still terrified them in seeing the many giant teeth having washed up on shore.
Tara along with her group went into the deeper woods where she and the others sealed the multidimensional rips that the sentient magical creatures were in an uproar about, having been disturbed by the noises that came from them. Noises they'd rather not investigate. They've had enough weirdness for a long time, even to them.
As for Tanya and her own group, while sealing the wormholes, her and Junior approach the edge where Gravity Falls ends near the bus stop. Tanya and Junior take this opportunity to see if they're able to come and go between Gravity Falls and the rest of the world.
Tanya and Junior exchange looks and nod at each other before they step across the border of the town by the billboard that reads 'Now Leaving Gravity Falls'. They find themselves on the other side to their realization and relief, but not without feeling the barrier as if there was a strong energy the second they took their step. At least it reassures Tanya she is able to return back to her husbands and her life in Portland.
Meanwhile, Ty does the same on his end and is happy to know he can leave Gravity Falls if he feels like it one day, but that is not today nor tomorrow. Not for a long, long time to come.
When everyone returns to the Mystery Shack later that day as the sun begins to set, Mabel, Stan and Ford share their multidimensional adventure they had, with Dipper showing the new journal he was given by Mabel from her Dipper-version of herself. Which has them all wondering of the many, many different versions of themselves out there in the multiverse. It was a lot to think about. But nonetheless, all of the wormholes that they know of, have all been sealed and they can now rest and enjoy what time remains with Dipper and Mabel.
When all is said and done, Dipper and Mabel have fun with their friends and family over the next few days before they are to return home to their parents and grandpa at summer's end. Such as the whole family gathering to watch a series of movies until they each fell asleep on the couch along with Soos and Wendy.
Dipper and Mabel got to dive in a rainy mud puddle with Soos, splashing mud and water at an unamused Stan. Dipper, Mabel, Soos and all their younger cousins got to be painted on by Wendy and Junior, making them appear to have gotten tattoos for them to enjoy. Even Tats was impressed. Dipper and Mabel ride down a hill with Wendy inside a shopping cart with Durland and Blubs chasing them in their own cart. Dipper, Quincy and Soos got around to wearing their Pterodactyl Bros shirts.
Mabel having fun making memories with her best friends Candy, Grenda and now Pacifica as they take photos together. Mabel makes time for Mermando to come visit her at the Lake and smooch, being happy with one another as they swim in the murky water. Then Mabel helps Robbie paint his nails black, him being satisfied with the color as did Tambry. Mabel painted Ford's fingers to look like a turkey, delighting him so. And Mabel learned how to hootenanny jig with Fiddleford McGucket and Isaac, with mixed results.
Dipper entertains Mabel, Wendy and all the cousins with his tuba playing, they humor him as he still has much to practice.
And it wasn't long before Dipper and Mabel got to accompany Grenda on her trip to Austria to ride on Marius' yacht. But they weren't alone with Wendy, Junior, Pacifica, Mermando Candy, David, Kevin and Genevieve there, too, having a grand time. Grenda and Marius share their first smooch, as do Kevin and Genevieve. Junior and Wendy held one another lovingly close. Pacifica rubs Dipper's back as he gets seasick. Mabel and Mermando swam alongside the boat and shot out of the water, sharing a kiss. And finally, Candy and David smiled and shrugged as they exchanged kisses, too, in seeing most of their friends do so.
Stan sits together with Carla by his side on a park bench, as do Ford and Adeline, sharing this moment of peace and calm that things are well again.
Dipper and Mabel do many other fun activities together such as playing with the tire swing, watching Stan demonstrate how to use the grappling hook, grabbing Ford with him as Carla and Adeline laugh in delight as do the twins. Dipper does his best to do Mabel's hair, but it ended up more wild than not, but his sister didn't mind at all.
Carrie, Isaac and Ty get to work on creating a prosthetic arm for Ty to use. This time, they have the means to make the arm function better than what was used during Weirdmageddon. Ty tests the function by twiddling the fingers of the right hand, seeming to work so far.
The triplets take Dipper and Mabel out on a walk, meeting with Tara and Cormac to a clearing. The five werewolves change into their wolf forms and let out melodic howls for all who are near to hear. Dipper and Mabel howling with their family members.
Jessie teaches Dipper and Mabel how to throw axes, managing to hit bullseyes on each of them. Dipper manages to throw one and Mabel throws her own too high but it lands to split one target in half. Jessie, Tanya and Cormac praise the twins for their throws.
At the Lake, James, Tate and Shifty pick up any trash around the land and upon seeing the Gobblewonker, they wave at her as she dives back into the water after Dipper and Mabel got to spot the elusive creature.
Dipper and Mabel watch Quincy and Dani show off their talents with fairy magic and dragon skills respectively at the Mystery Shack in the backyard. Dante and Li having coffee with Spriggs and Shauna on the porch. Shannon comes by with Clyde and Drake in tow. And behind the three came Li's wife and son Ai and Yi where Li proceeded to hug the two he has missed dearly.
Mabel has a girls night with the triplets, her friends, and even the older women of the family for a big slumber party, while Dipper and the rest of the guys have their own.
Maurice paints a portrait of Dipper and Mabel. He captures their likeness on the canvas and shows them the results. Gaining Dipper and Mabel's approval.
Later, Dipper and Mabel are shown the intact Stan o' War by Stan and Ford, presenting them with several buckets of colorful paints before them as they are shown all the painted handprints from all the kids in the family have left behind in years past on the cabin wall. The handprints looked to have been repainted over the years to prevent them from fading away, and under each handprint are the names of all their aunts, uncles and cousins who left their mark. Now Dipper with his hand painted blue, and Mabel's pink, leave their hand prints next to Stan and Ford's with their names written beside them.
And finally, the whole Pines family gathered around the Bottomless Pit with Dipper tossing away all three journals to be gone possibly forever. And had one last campfire together as a family.
A few days later...
It was a beautiful day in Gravity Falls and the town has since mostly recovered from Weirdmageddon, but there are scars that won't heal as fast as things return to normal as they can be. And many people go about their day without further issues from the dimensional wormholes that have since been sealed by the Pines family.
Shandra announces the news for many who would listen. "Good morning, Gravity Falls. It's another beautiful day, but every day is beautiful now that the...unpleasantness is over."
Lazy Susan wipes a drawing of Bill off of her window at Greasy's Diner as she listens to the news from the radio.
Farmer Sprott chased away some Eye Bats out of his barn with a pitchfork in hand. "Git outta here, you ornery critters!"
Meanwhile, a zombie pops out of the ground at the local cemetery. Greg Valentino pushes it back into the ground with his foot, not appearing disturbed or horrified as does his wife and son.
"Ah, good as new." Greg turns to Janice, who pushes one in the ground with a shovel as another grabs her leg. "Oh! Looks like you've got a friend." Janice calls over to Robbie nearby.
"Robbie, would you be a dear and get us the sawed-off shotgun?"
"Ugh. Fine! Whatever!"
The late Mayor Befufftlefumpter pops out of the ground as a zombie.
"Brains, and so forth."
Janice giggles. "Nope. None of that, thank you." She pushes him back into the ground and she and Greg laugh. None of this phasing the couple and their son at all, having long since been desensitized by death and corpses.
In downtown, Tyler Cutebiker stands on a podium in front of a crowd to make an announcement.
"None of us really understand what just happened and none of us want to. That's why I'm passing the Never Mind All That Act. If anyone goes asking around about the "events" of the last few days, what do we say?" A banner saying "NEVER MIND ALL THAT" drops for everyone to see as the crowd repeats.
"Never mind all that!"
Sheriff Blubs and his boyfriend Durland, of course, enforce said law.
"And if you break the rules, we're gonna zap you."
Deputy Durland excitedly waved tasers about.
"Zap! Zap! We're mad with power!"
Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland drop their tasers and grab each others' faces to say in unison and are full of love for one another. "And love."
Shandra Jimenez continues with the news. "In other news, the Northwest family has gone broke. After pledging his allegiance to Bill and then placing all his savings in weirdness bonds, Preston Northwest had to sell his mansion to preserve his family fortune."
Outside of what was formerly their manor, Preston and Priscilla cry as some workers hang a "FOR SALE" banner on the gate. They deserved it.
Priscilla sniffles as she gives her daughter unfortunate news. "You're only going to have one pony now."
For once, Pacifica didn't care that she was only having one pony. Her parents deserved to go broke for pledging allegiance to Bill and were paying greatly for what they've done. But Pacifica knows that if she needs help, she has friends she can turn to for it. She smiles at her mom and tells her. "You know what? I'm okay with that!" But then, she widens her eyes to realize she has to pick one out of many gorgeous ponies. That's going to be difficult to decide.
Shandra adds more to the upside of the Northwest Manor being sold. "But fortunes have also turned for local maniac, Fiddleford McGucket, who, after regaining his sanity, has made millions overnight submitting his patents to the US government."
Fiddleford happily looks to the manor up for sale. "I'm gonna buy me a bigger shed! Hey, that one's for sale! It's big enough to move my whole family in!"
Shandra concludes the news by bringing more good news. "In other good news, town heroes, Dipper and Mabel Pines, have fully recovered their memory and their family will be throwing a party to celebrate their thirteenth birthday and final day in town. But other than that, I can safely say our beloved Gravity Falls is back to normal. Now with Turbo T with sports." Toby Determined shows up in his future racing gear.
"Today we're going to introduce the concept of pod-racing with yours truly!"
Meanwhile at the front of the Mystery Shack...
Dipper and Mabel stand in front of their blue and pink birthday cake with many townsfolk and their whole family being there to celebrate the grand occasion. The crowd concluded their singing of the happy birthday song.
"...to you." The crowd cheers, though Dipper and Mabel wait to blow the two candles as they have something to say to everyone before they make their birthday wishes.
"I can't believe you all got together just to throw a party for us," remarks Mabel, happy that everyone in town came to celebrate and brought gifts. Mayor Tyler shows his gratitude to the Pines family for all they've done for the town.
"After all the Pines family has done for the town, it's the least we could do. You've helped everyone here." Gideon Gleeful and both his parents step up to say their thanks. Though a notable change has begun to happen to Gideon's hair. It was beginning to show the brown color he formerly had.
"Thanks to y'all savin' us, I'm gonna learn to open my heart to kindness. No more evil-doin'. From now on, I'm gonna try to be Li'l Gideon, regular ol' kid." Gideon smiles at Ghost-Eyes and Killbone nearby, knowing he can count on them to protect and serve him for years to come.
Earlier that day, Gideon was at the park on a skateboard he's been practicing trying to learn how to use.
"Wa-oh! Woo! I'm bustin' a move on this skatin' board."
A boy walking past Gideon insulted him. "More like busting your pants, loser." He lets out a laugh to mock Gideon.
Gideon looks over at Ghost-Eyes and Killbone on the teeter-totter. He snaps his fingers and the two go after the boy. The two former criminals beat him up and the boy screams. Gideon giggled and the memory ended.
"Dude! Make a wish, dawg," encourages Soos. Dipper turns to face the crowd, smiling at them as he speaks genuinely of his time in Gravity Falls and all that it taught him.
"You know, on my first day here, if you had asked me what I wanted, I would have said, "adventure, mystery, true friends." But looking here at all of you I realize that every wish came true." Dipper chuckles as he concludes. "I have everything I wanted." Mabel expresses her gratefulness and love for the people around her.
"If I had only one wish it would be to shrink all of you with the shrink ray and bring you home with us in my pocket. But since that's impossible…" Mabel turns to Ford and asks him, "Is that impossible?"
Ford waves his hand up and down and shrugs, not being sure himself. Mabel was satisfied with the answer, anyhow and asked for something that can be possible.
"Since that's probably impossible, my only wish is for everyone to sign my scrapbook. I'll never forget you guys. Again. Wait." Mabel takes out the memory gun and sets it on the floor and smashes it to pieces a few times. "Now I'll never forget you guys." Mabel and Dipper blow out the blue thirteenth number candles on their cake.
Wendy brings the twins in for a big hug and gives Dipper a nuggy. "I now officially declare you technically teenagers. Welcome to angst and acne forever."
Wendy, Tambry, Robbie, Lee, Nate, Junior, Ty, the triplets, Carrie and Thompson chant for the twins.
"One of us! One of us!"
Blubs and Durland and everyone in the crowd cheer and clap for the twins.
"WOOPEE!" The pair fire a cannon in the air to celebrate.
"So how do you feel?" Soos asks the twins. Mabel and Dipper didn't feel any different, but at the same time, they knew they have changed since the beginning of the summer.
"Same-y, but different-y." Dipper nods at Mabel. Then Pacifica reminds the twins of the presents waiting to be unwrapped. Pacifica is eager to see the look on her friend's faces to see what she got them as gifts.
"Hey, you two. When are you gonna open your presents already? I broke a nail wrapping them."
Mabel and Dipper laugh.
"Paz."
Dipper and Mabel grab a present and begin opening each and every one. Stan and the rest of the family clap for the twins. They were all happy that after everything, Dipper and Mabel got their happiest of birthdays. However, there were situations that haven't gone unnoticed by Ford and his wife upon looking at the readings that depict the rise of strange occurrences happening in other parts of the world. And Ford has his sights on Antarctica. Ford places a hand on his brother's shoulder while Adeline got Carla's attention as well.
"Carla, we're going to need to borrow you and Stan for a bit."
Ford proceeds to tell his brother and sister-in-law when he leads them behind the shack. "I didn't wanna say anything with everyone listening, but we've got a problem. Weirdmageddon has been contained but I'm detecting some strange new anomalies near the arctic ocean." Ford shows a holographic map of the world on his watch, a red dot blinking in the location of the anomaly. "I want to go investigate it but I wanted to know if you and Carla are up for the trip as me and Addi are."
Stan lets out a laugh, it having been some years since him and his brother went sailing, but he and Carla were more than excited about the venture. "Time to sail around the world in the adventure of a lifetime?"
Ford smiles with Stan and pats his shoulder. "I think we're overdue on getting our boat sailing out there again. Besides, I feel more at ease to have our respective children and grandchildren take care of things around here while we're gone."
"I feel the same, Ford." Carla smiles back behind her to see all the kids having a blast with the party.
"You think we'll find treasure?" wonders Stan. "Carla baby here deserves something nice while we're out there." Carla giggles and kisses Stan on the cheek.
Ford is left with one more question.
"Heh! I'd say there's a high probability. But, what should we do with the Mystery Shack?" Adeline nods at Ford, having thought the same, but Stan and Carla already know the answer. Stan and Carla exchange knowing looks.
"I think the town's had enough mystery for one lifetime. Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin', Hotpants?"
"I sure do, Stan."
Stan, Carla, Adeline and Ford start talking unintelligibly. Soos walks up behind them, eating cake, and gasps when he overhears their conversation.
The older couples return on the porch with Dipper and Mabel about to make an announcement that will determine the fate of the Mystery Shack.
Stan taps his Pitt Cola bottle to get everyone's undivided attention. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make. Me, my wife and my...heh!... nerdy bro and his nerdy wife over here have somethin' important we have to do. We're gonna be away for a while. That's why I'm shutting down the Mystery Shack for good." The crowd gasps and murmurs in worry among each other.
Gravity Falls for thirty years have come to know, love and even sometimes perturbed by the antics the shack, and those in it, have caused throughout those years. They can collectively admit they never expected this to happen, no matter what troubles the Pines were facing, they always came back better than ever. Just as Soos was about to say something, Carla makes an additional announcement.
"That is… it would be shut down if we hadn't found the perfect replacement!" Carla beckons to Soos. "Come on over here, Soos!" Soos gets bright eyed as he walks towards her and the rest of the Pines. Stan puts his fez on Soos' head when he takes off his iconic hat.
"Ladies and gentleman, the Mystery Shack is under new management!"
The crowd and the Pines family cheer for Soos as the new owner of the Mystery Shack. Soos is reminded of what Carla told him earlier this summer. Of when she expressed her and Stan aren't getting any younger and how it may be time to put the Mystery Shack to rest, but that perhaps it can have a new owner to carry on the weird and strange attractions the people from the town and all over have come to know and love for decades. At the same time, Soos never thought he'd become the new Mr. Mystery any time soon, but his dreams became a reality.
"You...you mean it, Mr. and Mrs. Mystery?" Soos smiles at Stan and Carla.
"You're Mr. Mystery now, Soos. Try not to burn the place down." Carla takes off her own fez hat and gives it to Soos.
"And here… for when you find your Mrs. Mystery." Carla winks at Soos, knowing who will be wearing that hat in the near future.
Upon hearing the news, Abuelita carries her luggage and assorted items, with a 'Movers' truck in tow behind her, wasting no time in making the shack her new home with Soos. Wherever he goes, she will be there for him always. "I'll move in immediately."
Adeline and Ford will be sure to discuss living arrangements for Abuelita before they set off on their trip.
The party keeps going strong well into the later evening when it is time for Dipper and Mabel to leave for home.
That evening at the bus stop…
Dipper and Mabel wait with their whole family and friends, Candy; Grenda; Soos; Waddles; Wendy; Pacifica; Kevin; Taro, and David to see the twins off. They're all going to awfully miss them until the holidays and breaks later in the year, but it won't be a long wait. Candy being the first to express her sadness to Mabel.
"Do you really have to go? There's still so much we haven't done together." Mabel smiles sympathetically at her friends, but she has since learned that it is time to move forward into new horizons.
"Yeah, I wish we had more time, I admit," says Pacifica, not having wanted to miss seeing off her two best friends.
"Summer's over, Candy. Paz. It's time for us to grow up."
"But not too much," adds Dipper. Kevin sniffles as Taro gives him a tissue.
"Ah man… these dumb manly tears…"
David goes up to Dipper and fist bumps him.
"Don't forget to stay in touch. And send pictures!"
"Yeah, don't be a stranger, Dipper," smiles Pacifica, Dipper lightly blushing.
"And be well on your way home," bids Taro, the robot making a crying emoji to express how sad they are to see the twins leave.
Grenda lets out a frustrated grunt, feeling all these emotions getting to her.
"Aaah! I hate my dumb heart for making me feel things." Grenda starts to punch herself in the gut. "Cut. It. Out. Heart!"
"Hey, can you punch my heart, too?" asks Soos, but Candy begs her best friend, shaking her by the shirt.
"No, mine! Punch my feelings away."
"Don't punch me, please," Pacifica turns down.
Mabel stops their punching and hugs Candy, Pacifica and Grenda close. "Candy and Grenda, thank you for being my people. And you, Paz, for showing me there is more to you than I could have ever seen on my own. You'll always be my best friends." She faces her great-uncles and aunts, the four sporting brightly colored sweaters that read 'Goodbye' on each one. "Grunkles Stan and Ford, Graunties Carla and Addi, thanks for wearing my goodbye sweaters."
"The sweaters are lovely, Mabel! And breathable, too!" remarks Carla as she didn't feel hot in it at all.
"No wonder you're able to handle this summer weather in these," acknowledges Adeline, feeling quite comfortable in hers as Ford nods at her.
"Ah, it's cold out. I had to." Stan wanted to appear tough, but he is getting emotional.
"What? But it's like eighty-something degrees out today."
"Can it, Soos!" Stan and Ford reprimand in unison.
Dipper, Mabel, Kevin, Pacifica, Taro, Candy and Grenda laugh. Dipper faces Wendy when she approaches him and kneels down to his level.
"Hey, you mean a lot to me, man." Wendy raises her fist for a fist-bump.
Dipper fist-bumps Wendy. He has come to really know her as a true friend since the beginning when he formerly had a crush on her.
"You, too."
Wendy switches hats with Dipper, giving her hat to him while she puts on Dipper's. "Something to remember me by." In addition, Wendy hands Dipper a sealed letter. "Oh, and this. Read it the next time you miss Gravity Falls." Wendy and Junior hold hands and exchange loving smiles with one another.
A bus pulls up and opens the door for the twins to get in.
"Last bus leaving Gravity Falls. All aboard."
Mabel frowns at her family and friends. "Guess we've said goodbye to everyone except...Waddles. I...I don't know how to explain this but…" She pauses and sighs before continuing, "Mom and Dad won't let me bring a pig home to California so... you have to stay here!"
Waddles pulls Mabel's skirt, not wanting her to go, or wanting her to take him with her. It broke Mabel's heart as did those around her.
Mabel tries to push Waddles off of her as she cries. "Come on. Come on. I have to go. I'm...I'm sorry, Waddles." Stan couldn't stand to see his great-niece so upset, and he's going to help her one way or another. Stan picks up Waddles to Mabel's surprise and walks up to the bus.
"Agh! You know what? Forget it! I lived with this pig all summer, now your parents are gonna have to." Stan sets Waddles on the first step of the bus. "Hey, bus guy! This pig is comin' with the kids." But the bus driver had to abide by the rules as he informs him.
"Now, hold on a second. Bringing animals aboard a moving vehicle is strictly prohibited by-"
Stan pulls out his brass knuckles and Ford shows his gun, and the rest of the Pines family show their displeased expressions and their own weapons, prepared to fight him if necessary, making the bus driver relents and stammer.
"Wah...w-w-welcome aboard. You can sit in the front row, pig."
Stan kneels down to Dipper and Mabel's level, wanting to give them parting words before they get on the bus. "Kids, you knuckleheads were nothin' but a nuisance and I'm glad to be rid of ya." He didn't mean it at all. Dipper and Mabel tearing up as they jointly hug their grunkle.
"We'll miss you too, Grunkle Stan," bids Mabel while patting his fez hat.
Adeline and Carla too kneel down to hug Dipper and Mabel, and then with all the rest of the family members with Quincy being the last to hug them.
"We're going to miss seeing you two around here. Don't forget us, alright?" bids Carla with tears in her eyes with Adeline patting her shoulder.
"It'll be alright. When you come back, there will be more adventures waiting here for you," says Adeline with a bright smile and a wink.
Ford kneels down to hug Dipper and Mabel, wanting to leave some parting words himself. "You got this, kids."
Dipper faces his sister and asks her one more question as they approach the entrance to the bus.
"Ready to head into the unknown?"
"Nope. Let's do it."
They get on the bus and it drives away once the twins find their seat with Waddles there patiently waiting for them. Everyone runs after the bus shouting their farewells.
"Bye! Bye, everybody! We'll miss you."
"Bye! I'll miss you guys, too!"
Ford puts his hand on Stan's shoulder and exchanges smiles before facing back at the road. Stan wraps an arm around Carla's waist, and Ford does the same for Adeline by his side.
Dipper writes a first entry in his journal with a pen as he thinks to himself.
"If you've ever taken a road trip through the Pacific Northwest, you've probably seen a bumper sticker for a place called Gravity Falls. It's not on any maps, and most people have never heard of it. Some people think it's a myth. But if you're curious, don't wait. Take a trip. Find it. It's out there somewhere in the woods. Waiting."
Dipper closes his journal and opens the letter Wendy gave him, which has signatures from all their family and friends and says "See you next summer" making Dipper smile and him and his twin sister continue on their ride back home to Piedmont.
This is the end of one chapter, but the rest is still unwritten of their future to come. And their new journey has only begun as Dipper and Mabel face the unknown. Together.
A/N: And so concludes this project of over four years in the making. I wanna thank SailorMew4 for having asked me all those years ago to include my characters into this story and for allowing me to help continue this fic to see it through to its end.
And to Hntrgurl13 and Purpledragon6 (scipunk63 on tumblr) for letting us include their oc Adeline Marks for this au and fic. I couldn't have done it without them and for helping me create again.
And I, SailorMew4, wanna thank Vulpixen, for finishing this bad boy after all the crazy stuff of high school and college on my end! None of this wouldn't have been possible without her helping me when I needed it most. Who knew asking to use her characters would create such a story!
As for what comes next, there is a sequel we have been working on for the same amount of time, but can now finally put it into motion. Stay weird, friends!