Opening File: Mayor Eustace 'Huckabone' Befufftlefumpter
Mayor Eustace 'Huckabone' Befufftlefumpter was the former mayor and reclusive 102-year-old citizen of Gravity Falls, Oregon, who led the town for nearly a century before his death. Eustace Befufftlefumpter was born at some point between July of 190Z and July of 19AA. He was raised by bears in the wilderness. Not too long after 191C, he managed to win the mayoral election in Gravity Falls after fulfilling the candidacy's requirements (casting a shadow, counting to ten, and throwing his hat into a ring) and being anointed by the birdly kiss of a freedom eagle.
Despite remaining notable for actions such as raising the town's water tower, potentially starting World War I (at age 4 or 5), and the imprisonment of Gideon Gleeful, Eustace remained intensely reclusive during his time in office, only leaving his mansion once a year to purchase lettuce for his 200-year-old Galapagos Tortoise named Jembles, who apparently made him feel young. The mayor attended Northwest Fest alongside numerous other noteworthy figures and mingled with the Northwests. Vultures flew into the mansion, and the mayor claimed they were with him. Preston later gifted him with a chimp servant in the hope it would aid the aged mayor.
During the ghost's attack on the mansion and its party guests, Eustace mistook him for the Grim Reaper (whom he has been anticipating to arrive) before becoming the first guest turned into wood. Following the ghost's departure into the afterlife, Befufftlefumpter was returned to his normal state, along with his fellow partygoers. He presided over the awry reconstruction of the town following the gravitational anomalies when Stan activated the portal.
Befufftlefumpter's death brought about the election for a successor, as well as bringing to light several biographical facts on the late mayor, including his childhood spent in the wilderness and possible role in the fermenting of the first World War. A memorial statue was later carved into a mountain in his honor, though it is quickly demolished by Gideon prior to its completion. For his grave site, Valentino Funeral Homes prepare their widest headstone ever conceived.
Close File
Xxx
"Ah, the Grim Reaper, I've been wondering when you would arrive."
Grim walked in and saw the spirit Eustace Befufftlefumpter just sitting in his chair while his body wheeled out of the room. "Well, you had a good run Mayor Befufftlefumpter. I honestly thought you'd last another ten years."
"Yeah, we all had a pool on that."
"What the-" Grim spun around and saw another cloaked person carrying a scythe and a clip board walk in. "Death?! This is my collar."
"Hey, the higher ups thought you'd have your hands full dealing with that Chaos lady." Grim's cousin, Death said as crossed Befufflefumpter's name off the list. "So what is this you died of? You went and had a few drinks and then you died of alcohol poisoning? Seems low key for a guy like you, Fumpter. I expected something involving fireworks."
"There was a prize scroll in one of them and I am centuries old. What do I care about my health anymore?" The former mayor retorted.
"Good point. Might as well try and have some fun." Death said, picking up a beer bottle. "Wouldn't mind finding that thing myself."
Grim sighed as Death took off his hood, revealing his skull/face as he used his empty eye socket to take the bottle cap off. "Seriously? Drinking on the job? Can't you be professional about this?"
Death put his hood back up and down the beer bottle in gulp. "Look who's talking about professionalism, bonehead."
"Look who's calling who a bonehead, bonehead."
"So there are more of you?" The deceased mayor asked.
"Well, with the Grimm killing dozens of people a year it's little much for even Grim here." Death chuckled as he stood up and turned to the door. "He gets a little overworked. So yeah, there are a couple Deaths, there's a couple Grim, some Valkyries and those Shinigami stiffs."
Grim grumbled as he gestured for Befufflefumpter to follow.
Xxx
Death stumbled out of the city hall, leaning against the railing as he walked down. "Oh geez."
Grim shook his head as he followed his cousin out and spotted the yellow car. "A VW Beatle? Really?"
"Coming from the guy who still uses a carriage that his dad got him for his three hundred and eightieth birthday. At least get with the times." Death retorted as he stumbled around the car. "Oh man. I hope I don't get pulled over."
Death got into the car and put his seat belt on. "Okay, be cool. Maintain."
He adjusted his mirror and even took a breath mint, blowing the bubble.
He then started the car. "Come on, Death. You can do this."
A second later proved him wrong as he crashed his car into the Sheriff's car right next to him.
"Oh bones." Grim rubbed his skull, feeling a headache from watching his cousin's antics.
"This is really good start to my afterlife." Befufflefumpter chuckled.
"And we haven't even gotten close to any of the big ones yet." Grim grumbled. "I still have to deal with that Chaos woman being a pain in my none-fleshy butt."
Xxx
By noon all of the citizens of Gravity Falls had gathered in the Town Hall, waiting as Sheiff Blubs spoke. "Alright. Order! Order everyone! Calm down now! We're here to choose a mayor for the first time in almost a century. According to the town charter," He stopped to unroll an old scroll as a bat flew out of it. "A worthy candidate is defined as anyone who can cast a shadow, count to ten, and throw their hat into the provided ring."
There was a moment of silence and a chirp from a cricket as no one stepped up to throw their hat in the ring.
"It's a shame Ford isn't here, he'd run. And win! And be a great mayor!" Dipper said.
Stan scowled at that. "Oh really? Well then…If no one will do it, then I will do it!"
With that Stan threw his fez off and into the hoop as everyone gasped. Dipper and Mabel were most stunned while Zoe and Frida just looked at their grandfather like he had sprouted a second head.
"Does anyone here want a real election or what?" Stan called out to the town hall.
"Election! Election! Election!" The town's people chanted.
"Let the madness begin!" Blubs declared, firing a cannon.
"Grunkle Stan, what are you doing?" Mabel asked as everyone turned to leave.
"Running for mayor! Did I... did I not make that clear?" Stan asked, wondering if he said something else.
"Grunkle Stan, it's not that we think you can't do it, it's just…" Mabel trailed off.
"No, no, it's okay, Mabel." Dipper reassured her and turned to Stan. "We don't think you can do it."
"So you'll support Ford but not Stan?" Zoe asked with a scowl. "Real nephew and niece of the year, you two."
"Look, kids. The mayor kicking the bucket got me thinking. I'm an old man, and I'm not getting any younger. My dumb brother's research is probably gonna make him famous." Stan proposed, bringing his hands up as he imagined what he could become. "And what do I have to show for my life? Do I really want 'crooked grifter' on my tombstone? How about, 'crooked mayor'!"
"I'm for it. Grandma and Mama will be thrilled to be related to a mayor." Zoe said with a proud smile. "You can give them fifty percent off with any small businesses here in town."
"Will you sponsor any gigs I do here?" Frida asked.
"Sponsor? I'll pay for them using the town's taxes." Stan answered proudly.
"SWEET!" Frida pumped a fist into the air.
"Psst, Mabel, let's talk." Dipper turned to Mabel. "I know Stan isn't the best candidate. Heck, he's committing voter fraud right now."
They turned to see Stan stuffing in votes into his own ballot box.
"But we have no idea who else is Bill's payroll and it might be a disaster if one of them got elected as mayor."
"You're right, Dipper. Besides, Stan has a kind-of charisma. How hard could getting him elected be?"
Dipper took off his pine tree cap and they both reached for matching hats and put on 'Vote Stan' campaign stickers. "Grunkle Stan, we're in!"
"I knew I could count on you, kids. Together, we can show this town I got what it takes to be more. With my golden charisma I'll have them eating out my hands in no time!" Stan punched a fist into the air. "After all, that's what it's all about. Making fancy speeches to make people like you. So we need to brainstorm ideas on what to say to convince people to vote for me. Something that they can really get behind without me having to a mountain loud of work."
"You can promise to pretend to do a lot of work to make the town great." Mabel suggested. "They might like you if they think you are doing something."
"Not a bad idea, Mabel." Stan rubbed his chin.
"You can let us think of what you can do while you just talk to the people." Dipper suggested.
"Now that sounds like the type of mayor I should be. Let everyone else do the work to make you look good." Stan laughed proudly. "That's half of how most politicians get into office."
"I thought it was by rigging the votes and making big promises you are never going to keep." Zoe commented.
"That's fine too. We'll make that Plan B." Stan said, feeling genuinely proud of his granddaughter.
Mabel and Dipper couldn't help but exchange nervous looks.
Xxx
'Want…Want…Form…'
"Huh?" He wondered, floating in darkness.
'Can't…Too…Weak…'
"Is anyone out there?" He called out into the darkness.
'Help us…Help us…'
First one light appeared before him, revealing a small gem shard and then came another and another and then many more.
'HELP US!'
Xxx
Steven gasped as he sat up, panting a bit with sweat running down his face as he looked around. "Where am…Oh right. The center of the Earth."
He must have dozed off.
"Steven?" Pearl's voice rang through his ears as her face came into view. "Are you all right?"
Steven nodded. "Yeah…Just a really weird dream."
"Weird seems to be our thing, bro." Amethyst commented nearby, sitting against the wall of their 'room'.
Garnet was examining the walls, pressing a hand against it. "Whatever it is, it's the same matter the Grimm are made from so the Gem shards can survive. But that Nergal is likely draining them of their power."
"Homeworld has only encountered a hand full races with these kinds of powers." Peridot stated. "They were ordered to be conquered before they came too great a threat."
"A creature feeding on the energy of Gems?" Pearl shuddered. "This is not right."
"Is it? He's feeding on a monster that's supposed to destroy the Earth." Amethyst pointed out.
"These are still Gems, Amethyst. Our people." Pearl replied sharply. "We can't let this go on."
"Agreed." Garnet said, facing the Gems. "Let's have a word with this Nergal."
The Gems along with Steven and Connie left their 'room' and walked about the underground caverns for a bit before they finally found Nergal.
The strange creature was situated in a giant chamber that was basically a large platform hovering over a sea of magma.
Nergal grinned as he allowed his guests to enter and approach. "Welcome back, dear guests. I hope you have been enjoying your stay."
Steven was the first to step forward. "Nergal, we have something we want to ask you."
"Oh really? And what might that be?
"We'd like for you to release the Gems so we can…bubble them." Steven said, deciding to be the one to ask.
"Really? And why would you like that? Am I not keeping the world safe from being destroyed by the Cluster these Gems have formed?" Nergal asked calmly.
"It's not that we're not grateful for you keeping the world safe…But these Gems…They are hurting because of the Cluster and what you are doing to them." Steven reasoned. "It's better for all of us if we just bubble the Cluster until we can find a better way to help it."
Negal chuckled. "A laudable wish, Steven Universe…but no."
"What?"
"I will not release my hold on the Cluster." Nergal answered clearly. "Not only was ownership of this creature part of a deal I had made but the Cluster's energies flowing through me has allowed me to prepare my plan for saving the world."
"Saving the world?"
"Yes." Nergal nodded, adopting a sympathetic look on his face as slowly began to pace back and forth. "You see, Steven it has not escaped my attention just how chaotic the world has become in the last thousand years. The mass destruction caused by the Grimm, so many left out in a cold and friendless world. It's just dreadful."
He then stopped and faced Steven and the Gems. "But it doesn't have to last forever. I have a way to bring peace to the entire world."
With a snap of his fingers holes in the walls opened and out poured dozens of little creatures that rushed onto the platform, assembling behind the Gems and Connie who looked nervous.
"Behold, my children." Nergal said to the assembled creatures. "My wife calls them Nerglings but we are all one and the same. For they are lost children I have rescued from a life of cruelty and death, converting them into what they are now."
"Converted?" Steven asked, taking a step back with a nervous look on his face.
"Yes for I am able to use my tendrils to reach out and turn anyone I touch into extensions of myself." Nergal explained to the growing horror of Steven and his friends. "Their bodies become physical clines of me and their minds become part of a hive mind I have created. No one is alone and everyone is friends."
Steven turned white. "You turned them into-"
"Little versions of myself? Yes." Nergal chuckled. "Ingenious, isn't it? Now imagine this applied on a global scale, saving everyone from a life of misery, destruction and chaos and truly united against the Grimm, the Diamonds and all other threats."
Pearl was absolutely horrified by what she and her fellow Crystal Gems had learned. "That's…That's…That's-"
"Horrible!" Garnet's hands flashed as she summoned her gauntlets, her actions quickly followed by the others. "We will not let this happen!"
Nergal sighed. "And I was hoping I would find a kindred mind among you. Oh well, you will probably see things my way soon enough."
From his back, four tendrils glowing with electricity sprouted and lashed out at the Crystal Gems. Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl were instantly on the move, batting away the tendrils as they tried to make their way to Nergal who looked on with an amused grin. One tendril grabbed Garnet and electrocuted her…only for her to shake it off and then knock the tendril away. She charged at Nergal and swung a fist forward.
Nergal calmly stepped out of the way, dodging the fist with impressive speed and agility while barely moving his arms or legs at all. Garnet lashed out with punches and kicks, trying to hit Nergal but the multi-limbed demon continue dodging while seemingly showing little effort at all.
"What's the matter, Garnet? I thought you'd be the one most pleased with my plan." Nergal said, using one tendril to block a punch to his face. "Fusing an entire world together, all brought together in harmony like how you have been formed."
"This is not fusion!" Garnet barked. "This is slavery!"
"And you are so sure? Two entities making up your being, losing their individuality as they form a new being made from their virtues and flaws." Nergal retorted. "You only exist because two came together and forfeited their individual forms and minds to form you, completely binding themselves together. I wish to bring an entire world together."
"WE ARE NOTHING LIKE YOU!" Garnet roared, her attacks more ferocious and wild now.
"Not yet you aren't." Nergal grinned, moving around her swatted her away with a single tendril.
"Garnet!" Steven screamed as the fusion hit the ground, hard.
Nergal grinned as he took a step towards Garnet…only to glance to his left and duck as Pearl swung her spear at him. Pearl quickly swung again, causing Nergal to step back as he retracted his tendrils which then blocked the next strike, causing electricity to spark. Pearl cried out as the electricity blasted her away.
"You Crystal Gems, you believe you were fighting for freedom but you have no idea or concept what freedom truly is." Nergal said condescendingly.
Pearl grunted as she staggered to her feet. "You're wrong…I know what freedom…And it's completely opposite of what you offer!"
"Hmm…" Nergal hummed while smiling.
"Eyes on me, creep!"
Nergal looked up and watched Amethyst falling towards him, curling herself up into a ball and shooting at him with a Spin Dash move, shooting down at him like a missile. Nergal quickly dodged, using his tendrils as a spring to shot himself off the ground and twisted his body out of the way, watching as Amethyst shot past him. His tendrils lashed out her but Amethyst hit the ground and kept rolling, dodging the tendrils before they could grab and electrocute her.
"This is not good…" Peridot said, analyzing the battle and she did not like what the outcome would be.
Sure the Crystal Gems had skills on their side but Nergal was barely even trying to fight back and easily swatting away their attempts to beat him.
What would happen when he went on the offense?
Nergal landed on the ground, facing the Gems with a confident smirk. "Look at you, when it's not your kind you are fighting it's anyone you disagree with. You are more radical protestors than perhaps even Americans."
Garnet grunted as she glared at Nergal. "We fight for freedom and choice for everyone."
"And look where your choices have gotten you. Centuries of war, the shattering and corruption of your rebel friends and not to mention a dead leader who committed suicide to create a lifeform that has to clean up the mess she left in her wake." Nergal retorted with a mocking grin as his tendrils emerged from his back.
"Don't talk about Rose that way!" Pearl snapped.
"Oh, so passionate about your fallen leader." Nergal genuinely praised and then sighed. "And such a waste."
"I said…DON'T TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT!" Pearl shouted, charging at Nergal with the intent of stabbing him through the chest.
Unfortunately she dropped her guard and allowed Nergal to slip one of his tentacles under as she charged, easily grabbing her and shocking her.
"PEARL!" Steven screamed at the Gem who had been his most maternal caretaker as far as he could remember as she screamed.
Amethyst lashed out with her whip but Nergal grabbed it with another tendril, electrifying it and her next. Garnet charged next but Nergal grabbed both her hands with two tentacles, lifting her off the ground.
"The great Crystal Gems." Nergal said, holding the three up above him and then looked at the remaining three: Steven, Connie and Peridot. "How little you understand the greatness of my plan…and your place in it."
Three more tentacles lashed out and grabbed them.
"A plan to make a world where everyone has a friend and me…I am your best friend."
There was a flash of red light…
And then only darkness as Nergal let out a dark and evil laugh that echoed as their minds forced them deep into a very deep and dark place.
Xxx
"So we just need to erase all our grandfather's past records and he'll be a shoe-in for mayor."
Entrapta tapped her chin as she looked at the tablet submitted to her by Zoe and Frida. "Interesting. So what do you need my help for?"
"Dipper mentioned you're a wiz at computers, better than us. If all three of us work together we can make sure no one can use his records, even if he was undercover at the time, against him." Zoe explained.
"…Very well." Entrapta accepted. "This would be a chance to see how the security protocols in law enforcement work."
"Good…And are you sure this is safe?" Frida asked as she looked over her shoulder as Entrapta fiddled with her jetpack.
"Don't worry; I got this perfectly under control." Entrapta said while messing with it, trying to boost it speed output, suddenly causing Frida to rocket like crazy into the air with Entrapta hanging on to her.
Frida was screaming while Entrapta was laughing excitedly as they made several circles in the air before they came crashing back down, kicking up dust everywhere.
"Wow." Groaned Frida while dizzily walking in circles. "Man what a rush!"
Entrapta was laughing as she staggered with her friend. "Oh that was so exciting! Can we go again?"
Zoe just face palmed herself.
Xxx
London
After Cruella De Vill's Defeat(See GrimmFall: Dragon Surge)
"You are heading back to Denver?"
Joseph 'Dracon' Matthews nodded in affirmation to the question. "They need me back there and I have to assess the damage and then I plan to track down the monsters who attacked and make them pay."
Major Glory sighed. "Before you go you should know why I actually came here. I was hoping to get a chance to speak with you about a mission in Nowhere. It involves the Justice Friends along with Team SEKR which Scotty will be involved with along with Agunimon and our other dimensional displaced friends."
Dracon turned and faced Glory. "What is it about?"
"We found the people who had abducted them and others like them from their home dimensions led by a man named Van Kleiss and he is very dangerous. He was responsible for Agunimon and the others appearing here along with the ghost heroine young Dani Phantom as well as Superboy, Artemis and Miss Raven." Major Glory continued. "We believe he's been abducting people from other dimensions to try and build an army…An army for Sammael."
Dracon stiffened at the mention of the Fallen's name. "…Go on."
"It's more than that, unfortunately. We have reason to believe that Van Kleiss' lab has been built over and is in close proximity to an underground sanctuary housing one of the twelve Spiral Gems." Major Glory said, watching as Dracon's optics flashed. "The Gem of Heart which is likely protected by some sort of magical force that only can be accessed by the Fire Elemental thanks to the ancient order that originally protected the Spiral Gems. Van Kleiss may believe he's building an army for himself or Sammael but in reality he's building an army to keep the Gem of Heart safe until Sammael has the Fire Elemental to open the locks."
"And does he have the Fire Elemental?" Dracon asked, his mind racing.
"…Likely. She disappeared following an attack by low level villains but Sebben gave me a call about disturbing activity coming from the Darklands. Sammael is on the move and he's likely heading for Nowhere. If he believes he can get to the Gem of Heart-"
"Then he does have the Fire Elemental." Dracon finished. "And Van Kleiss?"
"We have a limited opportunity to return our friends to their homes but if Van Kleiss' machine is destroyed in a fight between him and Sammael than they lose their best chance." Major Glory answered. "So we have to choose: let them fight and hope the portal machine is intact no matter who wins or we try to take it ourselves before Sammael arrives. I came here to ask your help in taking down Van Kleiss and securing the portal and the Gem of Heart before Sammael makes his move."
Dracon stared at the major with whom he had just managed to bury the hatched with as close as they ever could with each other and then nodded. "I'll see what I can do."
Major Glory nodded back. "Good luck."