Chapter 15: The Deep End of Season 1
(Emily's P.O.V)
Hot, hot...why is it so hot? I literally woke up in my own sweat. Now my sheets are being washed, and I'm wearing my shirt, necklace, jean shorts (instead of my pants), and my hair was in a ponytail. I was laying on the floor of the Shack, panting and wishing it would start snowing inside.
"Watch out Gravity Falls, because at a 110 degrees, we're looking at the hottest day of the summer!" Toby announced through the radio.
"Thank you captain obvious. If he doesn't shut up I'm gonna break that radio." I muttered, fanning myself with a newspaper. Wax Stan was melting, wallpaper was peeling off the wall, Mabel wasn't even wearing her sweater, and the fish tank was freaking boiling!
"All in favor of doing nothing all day say 'ugh'." Dipper said.
"UUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuughhhhhhhhhhh." I groaned with everyone else. Waddles then walked up to Stan.
"I'm gonna throw this pig out of the house!" Stan insisted, only to have Waddles lick him. "You called my bluff, pig." Stan sighed.
"If I weren't boiling right now, I'd take a picture." I groaned, still fanning myself, but I switched arms.
"On the bright side, pun very much intended, it's opening week at the Gravity Falls Pool." Toby continued.
"Gravity Falls Pool?" Mabel asked excitedly.
"Today?" Dipper asked.
"Pun intended?" Soos added.
"Okay, forget about smashing the radio, it's my hero today!" I jumped up.
"Quick! To the car!" Stan cried, trying to get up, but his back was stuck to the floor.
"Hey, kids, a little help here?" He asked and the twins pulled out two spatulas and used them to pry Stan from the floor. Soos and I shuddered.
"Alright! Off to the pool!" Stan said and walked out, with several planks of wood on his back.
"And remember to be on already for random wildfires!" Toby added.
"Wait what?" Stan asked and we heard a whoosh that was probably him catching on fire. "Aaaaaaaah!" He screamed and I turned to the radio.
"Little to late Toby!" I snapped.
"He'll be fine." Mabel assured us. Cue theme song!
Later I was in a navy blue suit and walking with the rest of the gang into the pool. It looked a lot cooler in real life.
"Ah, the pool! A sparkling oasis of summer enchantment!" Mabel said excitedly.
"Yeah, nothing like sitting in a moist tub with strangers. It's like the bus, but wet." Stan huffed.
"Dude, it's a nice way to keep cool. Lay off." I laughed.
"Why would a sun need to wear sunglasses?" Dipper asked, staring at Soos' towel.
"It's best not to think about it." Soos replied.
"I think it's supposed to just be funny." I added.
"Whoa, whoa! Stop the presses! Who's that?" Mabel gasped and point ed to Mermando, whose hair was blowing in the wind. He's one of my favorite characters that only appears for a shirt amount of time, also a perfect first kiss for Mabel.
"Oh yeah." Soos said and ate a corn chip. Where did he get that? "Word is, dude never leaves the pool. People say he's a 'Mysterious Loner'." Soos explained and continued to eat his snack.
"Is it getting hot out here or is it just that guy?" Mabel asked, fanning herself.
"It's the hottest day of the year, Mabel. Besides, can't you go for one week without having a new crush on some random guy?" Dipper asked.
"Uh-Uh." Mabel shook her head.
"Dipper, have you even been paying attention?" I asked jokingly.
"Look at his little mustangs hairs!" Mabel gasped happily.
"You are clearly enamored. Go to him." Soos urged and Mabel bolted across the pool, tripping on a bucket, and stumbles on two men sitting in lawn chairs.
"Hey, come on!"
"Watch it kid!"
Mabel broke her leg free from a lawn chair and knocked over a basket of beach balls after she trampled on the two men.
"Oops, sorry!" She apologized before racing back to Mermando.
"It's so beautiful!" Soos gushed.
"Eh, Mabel's all talk. You wanna know a secret? She's never even kissed a guy before. She always messes it up somehow." Dipper said.
"Yeah, you don't get to talk. You haven't kissed anyone before either. Plus, Mabel just hasn't found the perfect guy get." I smirked.
"Oi. Women." Stan said, rolling his eyes. And three, two, one, water ballon in the face! "Aaah!" Stan screamed as was splashed unexpectedly.
"Hey, Mr. Pines!" Wendy called.
"Wendy? Where's the lifeguard?" Stan asked.
"I am the lifeguard. I make the rules, sucka!" Wendy laughed and threw another water balloon at Stan. "Boosh!"
"Aah! She's attacking me with water!" Stan cried as he ran off and the rest of us laughed.
"Wow. You work here?" Dipper asked.
"I found out lifeguards get free snack privileges. Plus I get the best seat in the house." Wendy explained.
"Yeah, you do!" Dipper then started laughing for a long time. "I've been laughing for too long..." He whispered.
"Dude, are you and Wendy having a secret staring contest? 'Cause I think you're winning..." Soos asked. I held in my laughter.
"Soos, ssh!" Dipper said, pushing the handyman way. "So, hey, you wanna go chuck more water balloons at Grunkle Stan?" Dipper asked hopefully.
"Yeah, might wanna be careful about that, he controls how much we get paid." I said, and laughed.
"Anyway, I'd love to, but I gotta spend the day doing tryouts. We're looking for a new assistant lifeguard." Wendy said, gesturing to the seat next to her.
"Hey!" Dipper then cleared his throat and spoke in a deeper voice. "Hey, what if I was the assistant lifeguard?" He asked.
"That would be so much fun! You're totally in, dude!" Wendy said and tased a rescue can at Dipper, which he caught. "You just have to check in with my boss first, Mr. Poolcheck." Wendy explained.
"Your boss?" Dipper asked curiously. We turned to said Mr. Poolcheck who was doing push-ups with his index fingers. He then turned to our direction and we flinched.
"Well, good luck with that, I'm gonna cool off." I said, sidestepping away and turned to walk normally, avoiding eye contact from Wendy's boss. I made it to the other side of the pool and I sat down dipping my legs in the nice cool water. I kicked my legs a little then felt someone's hands over my eyes.
"Guess who?" A familiar sing-song voice said.
"Hmmmmm, I don't know? Have we met?" I asked jokingly.
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"A few months now."
"Hmmm, Okay, Thompson?" I asked, still playing.
"Nope, try again."
"Lee?"
"Okay, now I know you're playing." He fake pouted, I laughed at that and finally gave in.
"Oh, I know, Nate!" I said and turned to see Nate behind me.
"Finally, third time really is the charm!" He joked and we laughed as he sat down next to me.
"So you're here to cool off too?" I asked.
"Yeah, it's freaking hot out here, why are you just sitting in the edge?" He asked.
"Don't you dare push me in mister, I'm taking my time." I warned.
"Oh okay." Nate said and pretended to turn away, but then he fell in the pool and dragged me in along with him! When I finally had my head above water I saw Nate laughing.
"Jerk!" I laughed and splashed him.
"Hey, I 'pulled' you in not 'pushed'." Nate said.
"It's the same thing and you know it!" I laughed and we kept splashing each other, when 'BAM' headache, again!
"Ug..." I muttered rubbing my head.
"You okay?" Nate asked, coming towards me, but my head ache became worse.
"I need to use the restroom. Excuse me." I said quickly and got out of the pool and rushed to the restroom.
I went to the sink and groaned, splashing water in my face. I really need to figure out a way for Bill to cut it out. He can't seem to talk a hint. I sighed as my necklace began glowing once more as the headache disappeared. I gazed at it for a moment. Where did this necklace come from? I looked at the mirror again and nearly screamed. There was an image of Bill there, hands on the glass. I rubbed my eyes quickly and turned around, seeing nothing there. I looked back in the mirror and sighed. Bill wasn't there anymore either.
"Okay, something wasn't right about that image...1, Bill hasn't been summoned and 2, he looked...different..." I muttered. Though I couldn't quite place it so I just walked out of the restroom and went back to join Nate.
"Hey, sorry about that." I said, getting back in the water.
"Eh, don't be. Wanna hit the snack bar?" He asked.
"Yeah sounds good." I smiled, we got out and ordered two ice creams and ate them. In the corner of my eye I saw Stan in pool jail and chuckled to myself.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask...did you come here to find a lost relative or something like that?" Nate asked, I looked at him for a moment and debated in my head what I should tell him.
"Uh...not exactly, it's kinda hard to explain how I got to Gravity Falls, but I'm glad I did. I've met so many great people. Plus this is the lost eventful summer I've had in a long time." I explained. Nate seemed satisfied with my answer and we continued to eat our treat.
"Pool's closing! Clear out everyone!" Mr. Poolcheck announced. Nate and I quickly hit up and threw away our trash.
"Guess I'll see you later." Nate said and I nodded.
"Yeah, I still have my phone thankfully." I joked and we laughed. I was also glad there were no headaches.
Later that night I was in my treehouse and I saw Mabel 'sneaking out' of the Shack, I liked my head out of the window.
"Isn't it kinda late to be hiking?" I smirked. Mabel froze.
"Oh...is it? I just...uh..." Mabel stuttered.
"Lemme guess, your new friend is a merman and you are going to the pool to see him again?" I 'guessed'.
"What? A merman, pssh, no..."
"Mabel, a guy that never leaves a pool, town where strange stuff happens, wasn't hard to put 2-and-2 together. But don't worry, his secret is safe. Just don't stay out too late." I winked and Mabel sighed in relief.
"Thanks Emily! I'll tell Mermando, see you tomorrow!" Mabel waved and ran off. I watched her go and went to bed.
This is a strange dream, sort of. I was in a ballroom, wearing a dark blue dress that had thin straps, and it split on one side. Like Elsa's from frozen, and I was even wearing my necklace. The weird part was the ballroom was empty. I walked around and saw a figure in the distance.
"May I have this dance?" The figure asked and turned around, revealing to be Nate, wearing a tux, that looked pretty good on him.
I was about to say 'yes' when I heard a baby cry. I turned and saw a basket in the corner with little arms sticking out. When I walked over and looked in the basket, nothing was in there. I stood up and saw another figure in front of me.
"Georgia!?" I gasped.
"Hi sis!" She smiled and wrapped her arms around me and I returned it, closing my eyes as tears appeared.
"Are you enjoying your wish?" She asked.
Before I could answer she seemingly disappeared. I opened my eyes and saw I was no longer in a ballroom but in space. I looked to see what I was standing on and not only was I back in normal clothes, but I was standing on the Cipher Wheel.
"I'm still ready for that dance." I turned to face Nate again, who was back in his normal clothes as well.
As we walked closer to one another I noticed that my necklace started to glow, brighter and brighter. Nate then took my hands and we started dancing around the wheel. I didn't know what to think of it. We continued to dance and I watch in amazement as shooting stars flew past. As we kept going I saw that the ones who were part of the Cipher Wheel itself was standing there. All holding hands. Even Stan and Ford.
"Emily..." I turned and saw Nate again, who seemed to be blushing.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I love you."
My heart skipped a beat hearing that, and before I could even answer Nate dipped me down and my necklace was shining brighter than ever. He leaned in and I realized what was happening. I leaned in as well and then...
I woke up.
"Huh, wha!?" I gasped as I stretched my arms out. That was a very vivid dream, but unlike the ones with Bill in it, I felt calm and happy. I sighed and got ready to go to the pool again.
"Emily, Mermando. Mermando, Emily." Mabel introduced us once we arrived at the pool.
"Hi, nice to meet you." I said and shook his hand.
"It's very nice to meet you as well. And yah k you for keeping my secret." He greeted, whispering the last part.
"No problem, I'm just sorry you ended up here." I gestured to the pool around us.
"It's a tragic tale yes, but of it wasn't for it I wouldn't have met Mabel." Mermando said. I smiled at the two.
"Uh how about we play a game?" Mabel suggested and we both agreed to that. And so began the game of tossing a beach ball around. I eventually tossed it to Mabel.
"Mermando, get ready! I'm gonna BRING THE HEAT!" Mabel cried and threw the ball to Mermando. It hit him and he barley showed a reaction to it.
"Mermando, are you okay?" Mabel asked and he swam over to her and I walked over too.
"Oh, it's your family, isn't it? Are you thinking about them?" Mabel asked. Mermando made a sad dolphin noise.
"Awwwww, dude. Sorry man, it must be hard being away from them so long." I said giving him a pat in a shoulder.
"Mermando, enough is enough! I care about you too much to see you like this. We're ganna bust you out of here and get you back to your family." Mabel declared.
"But Mabel! Escape is impossible." Mermando said.
"We're breaking you out of here tonight!" Mabel insisted and hit her hand and the water, which splashed us.
"Oops! Sorry about that. Water." Mabel laughed.
"Okay, down to business, we gotta go plan." I said.
"Yes, love where your heads at Emily, let's go!" Mabel exclaimed and dragged me out of the pool.
"We'll be back late at night!" She called back to Mermando.
"Ow, Ow, Ow, arm Mabel, arm!" I gasped as the female twin dragged me with her iron grip.
"Sorry, gotta go fast." She said and before I knew it we were in her room, working on plans.
"Okay, now here me out, what if we used fish sticks to make legs for him?" Mabel asked showing me her drawing.
"Uh...no offense but I can think of way to many things that would not work, and be really disturbing." I said.
"Yeah...I guess...wait, what if we use the cooler at the pool?" Mabel asked.
"That could work, we would fill it with water and use the golf cart to get him to Gravity Falls lake." I said thoughtfully.
"Yes! Operation: Free Mermando, is a go!" Mabel cheered happily. I smiled.
I had a plan to change the outcome slightly, but I wasn't about to tell her that. Once we got the cooler I quickly ran to my treehouse to get extra stuff. I grabbed my satchel and put some tape and a bottled water. Just in case. I then climbed down and rushed to the golf-cart where Mabel was waiting.
"Okay, let's ride." I said and I got in the drivers seat and we drove off. Once we got to the pool it was dark and Stan already had broken in the fence. So we backed in slowly and I parked the cart and Mermando noticed us.
"You guys talk, I'll be right back." I said and rushed over to Stan's chair and I placed a leaf on it and tried to take it off, but it remained attached to the chair.
"Yep, glue." I muttered and pushed it away and placed a new one in the same spot. I smiled at my handy work. I then went back to the other two.
"But then I realized that I could just transport you in this cooler." Mabel finished explaining as she filled up the cooler.
"Hope on in!" I urged and Mermando swam around before he leapt out and fell a few feet from the cooler.
"I gotcha buddy." I said, and picked him up and placed him in the cooler.
"Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome. Oh, and take this just in case." I handed him the water bottle and he took it.
"You two certainly thought of everything." He said in amazement.
"Hey! Who's there!" Dipper cried.
"Quick! Hide me! My kind must not be seen!" Mermando urged and Mabel closed the lid and I taped the tab up so it hopefully wouldn't fall out.
"Mabel? Emily? Is there anyone not breaking into the pool tonight? What, is Soos here too?" Dipper asked and Soos hopped over the fence and fell to the ground.
"I'm okay!" He assured us.
"Go home Soos." Dipper deadpanned.
"You got it!" Soos said and tried to get over the fence again.
"So, why are you two here?" Dipper asked.
"Uh no reason." Mabel said.
"Yeah, just wanted to swim at night..." I said the Mermando cleared his throat from the cooler.
"Did that cooler just clear its throat?" Dipper asked.
"Don't be silly. There certainly isn't a merman in there, if that's what you're implying. Who said anything about a merman?" Mabel babbled.
"Guys, I don't have time for your games. If you don't give me those supplies, I'll lose the coolest job ever!" Dipper said. I started making my way towards the driver seat.
"I understand. Hey, look! Wendy in a bikini!" Mabel yelled and I jumped in the seat and Mabel ran in.
"Really, at night?" Dipper asked, falling for her trick and I started the cart and drove off.
"Sorry Dipper!" Mabel called.
"Guys!" Dipper exclaimed, but we didn't stop. Dipper then came after us in the pool mobile.
"We're gonna get you home!" Mabel assured Mermando, patting the cooler.
"Hand over the pool supplies in the name of pool law!" Dipper yelled through a megaphone.
"Pool law is dumb! And so is your hat!" Mabel called back.
"Ha! Burn!" I yelled and Dipper shot water balloons at us and I quickly dodged the attacks.
"Look! Gravity Falls Lake!" Mabel exclaimed happily.
"Hang on! Pedal to the metal!" I cried and slammed the gas pedal and we drove faster. We passed the police, but I wasn't worried. Dipper fired another water bottle and I heard it hit the cooler.
"Mabel, is that water draining?" I asked and Mabel leaned over to the cooler.
"No we're good!" She reported and I sighed I relief. The I released I was heading towards the lake at full speed and slammed the breaks. Unfortunately we were going too fast and the cart flipped over.
"Ow...you okay?" I asked.
"I'm okay." Mabel assured and ran over to the cooler.
"Alright, the jig is up! Hand over that cooler!" Dipper demanded.
"Never!" Mabel cried, hugging it protectively.
"Why not? Why do you even need it?" Dipper asked.
"Uh..." I said, not knowing what to do.
"I needed the cooler to save my new friend because he needs to go home and he's really nice and we combed each others' hair and he needs to be in the cooler because he breathes water because he's a merman!" Mabel explained and the cooler open and Mermando rolled out.
"Hola." He greeted.
"Whoa! Way to bury the lede, Mabel." Dipper said, staring at Mermando.
"Dipper, Mermando the merman. He's a merman." Mabel introduced.
"Nice to meet you. Also can I please get into the water?" Mermando asked and opened the bottle I gave him and started drinking.
"Oh yeah, hang on." I said and lifted him up and carried him to the dock. The twins followed and I lowered him in the water and he swam around happily. He then lifted his head up and made dolphin noises.
"Thank you all for helping me, I can now find may family and be reunited with them." He said gratefully.
"No problem this was usual day for us." I joked. Mermando laughed and turned to Mabel.
"Mabel, I have never met anyone like you." Mermando said.
"Same here. Except for a zombie, a gnome, and a couple of cute vampires." Mabel listed.
"I don't remember the vampires." Dipper said.
"I don't tell you everything." Mabel smirked.
"It's okay, I'm out of the loop to." I said, giving Dipper a pat.
"Well, Mermando, I guess this is it." Mabel said sadly. I got my phone out.
"Not quite. This is!" Mermando the kept onto the dock and kissed Mabel.
"Whoa! Okay, that's gross. Ugh." Dipper said, turning away.
"Oh shush." I said, taking a picture of the sweet moment. The two then broke apart.
"That was my first kiss!" She squealed happily.
"Up top girl!" I cried and Mabel gave me a high five. She then bent down and gripped Mermando's hand.
"Goodbye Mermando." She said.
"Goodbye Mabel." Mermando then let go of her hand and started to swim off.
"Thanks again for helping us." Mabel said.
"No problem. He's a nice guy...or merman. However you say it." I said as we walked off the dock.
"Oh, wait, wait! One last thing!" Mabel said and ran over the rocks and lifted her hand up as Mermando jumped above her.
"Yes! I've always wanted to do that." She said, satisfied.
Once we made it back to the pool, Dipper was being chewed out by Mr. Poolcheck while Mabel and I sat in the edge on the pool, feet in the water. I placed and arm around her and gave her a hug.
"Hey, you did the right thing." I said.
"I know, I just miss him." She sighed and a bottle popped out from the vents. Mabel grabbed it and took out a note.
"Dear Mabel, I am home with my family and I am very happy. Our first kiss will always hold a place in my heart. Technically hearts. As a merman I have, like, 17 hearts. Horrifying but true! More bottles on the way!" Mabel read and more bottled flew out of the vent and Mabel giggled happily. I decided to leave her with the bottles and turned to Gideon and Stan.
"Stanford!" Gideon cried and Stan laughed. "Well, guess you've won. Put 'er there." Gideon said and offered a hand and Stan shook it proudly.
"I...what, how!? I covered the whole thing with glue!" Gideon exclaimed in disbelief.
"Hmm, let's just say you are too predictable." I smirked and he yelped, not realizing I was behind him.
"You'll pay for this girl!" He warned.
"Sorry Gideon, but I'm older so you really should be calling me 'Miss Jewel'." I laughed and Stan joined in as Gideon stormed away.
Yep, that was totally worth it!
Author's Note:
Yay! Chapter done! I'm glad with how this turned out, hope you enjoyed.
Now, let's get down to business (to defeat, the Huns!) I've been getting a lot of favorites and followers, which is SUPER GREAT! But I haven't gotten that many reviews. I really wanna know what you guys think of this story and your theories. Especially since this chapter had something you should take interest in. Wink. Wink.
Okay, hope you all have a good time, and I'll see you next chapter!
Pizza: Oh...that's a cool costume, and I hope you do get an account. It's a lot of fun! I'm glad you enjoyed Emily's story to!