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Glass Shard Beach, New Jersey – 15 June 1973
Stanford (Ford) Pines woke up early, it had been almost a year since his twin brother Stanley (Stan) Pines had been kicked out. A small part of him missed Stanley, that's why he moved from the top bunk to the bottom bunk. Today was his 18th birthday, when he got his soul mark. Today he was also leaving to go to Backupsmore University. He looked at his right wrist in surprise, he saw a shooting star. He knew not everyone had a soul mate, some never meet and if there was an age difference, the magic of the soul mark caused the one person to age or de age. When you meet your soul mate a golden light would surround you and the symbol on their right wrist would appear on your left wrist. Ford wished his brother was here to share this special moment. "Happy Birthday Stanley" Ford whispered and cried silently into his pillow.
New Orleans, Louisiana – 15 June 1973
Stan was staying in another cheap motel in New Orleans, he had heard about an illegal fight club and thought he could try and make a few quick bucks. He didn't seem to be doing too bad. Stan was hunger, his last fight only made him enough cash to pay for the motel. Maybe he should go and try to pick a few pockets or try shoplifting. He looked at his right wrist in shock and saw a pine tree. "Who the hell in their right mind would want to be my soul mate?" Stan wondered confused. He had forgotten it was his birthday. He reached for the beer next to his bed and whispered sadly, "Happy birthday Sixer."
Gravity Falls, Oregon – Summer 2012
Stan looked up when he heard the shop door opening, he was busy counting his earnings for the day. He tried not wince when he saw the state of his great niece Mabel Pines and great nephew Mason (Dipper) Pines. Stan realized that something must have attacked them in the woods. So in order to hide his worry he simply laughed saying, "You two, get by a bus or something?" The twins ignored him. Stan scratched the back of his head, feeling a twinge of guilt at what he said, so he called after them. "What do you know, I accidentally overstocked? So why don't you two take something on the house?" Mabel squealed exaltedly and started looking around, Dipper, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes in suspicion and asked "What's the catch old man?" "The catch is," said Stan feeling annoyed at been called 'old man' "Take it before I change my mind!" Stan looked at them as he put the cash in the register. Stan saw Dipper chose the pine tree hat, he hadn't thought of his soul mark since he turned 18. He thought, since he had gone to prison, they just never meet. Now seeing Dipper, he wondered if it was him or just a coincidence. Stan shook his head, saying to himself, "It's not possible." He decided to spend one on one time with each of them. Teach them tricks of the trade, maybe even poker. All he knew that from now on that was he had to use concealer on his soul mark.
Ford stepped out of the portal, the first thing he saw and heard was his brother Stanley. "Finally, after all these years you're finally here, brother!" Stan had his arms wide in greeting, eyes full of joy and hope, but Ford was too angry to care, he had held on to 30 years of resentment towards his twin. He punched Stan in the face. Stan become closed off, the expression in his eyes showing hurt and then nothing. Didn't you read my warnings?" Ford asked frustrated. "How about thanking me for saving you from some sci-fi sideburns dimension." Stan shouted, rubbing his jaw. "Thank You? After what you did 30 years ago?" Ford shouted back in anger as if Stan was crazy. Stan lunged forward trying to punch Ford in the face, but was wrestled to the ground, both men looked up when they heard a voice say "Excuse me? Mabel here, what the hell is going on?" Ford looked on in shock as he saw her jersey. A shooting star. "Stan, you didn't tell me there were kids down here," Ford said letting Stan get up. "They are your family Poindexter. They Sherman's grandkids." Stan said rubbing is wrist. Ford smiled happily as he greeted his great niece and great nephew. Later that evening, when all secrets had been brought in to the open, Ford sat in his room, trying not to think of the hurt look his twin gave him when he said he was kicking him out. So he thought instead of Mabel and looked at his soul mark. He wondered if it was true, and he hoped not for Mabel's sake. He had too many enemies, and what would happened if the soul mark magic caused her to age? He couldn't live with that.
Gravity Falls, Oregon – 31 August 2017
Today was the day. Their 18th birthday, when they would finally get their soul mark. The twins shot up in excitement, "Did you…" Mabel asked her twin with eager anticipation. Dipper shook his head no, and asked Mabel with the same enthusiasm, "Did you?" "Of course not bro-bro, we made a promise to each other. On the count of three, will show each other our wrist." They both counted to three and looked at each other in shock. Mabel was the first to recover and said in a slow, careful voice, "Your soul mark, it is Gruncle Stan's symbol from the cipher wheel." Dipper also spoke in the same slow careful voice, "Your soul mark, it is Gruncle Ford's symbol from the cipher wheel." Mabel came and sat down next to Dipper on his bed, both now looking at their soul marks. "Our Gruncles told us they never got a soul mark," Mabel said, remembering suddenly, "Do you think they were lying?" Dipper scratched his chin thoughtfully and said it is possible to use concealer on your soul mark if you haven't met your soul mate." "Do you think they know?" Mabel asked quietly. "I don't know," Dipper said with a sigh. "Why wouldn't they tell us?" "Maybe they were protecting us," Mabel said solemnly. They sat in silence for a bit before Dipper spoke, saying in a voice filled with scepticism, "Your soul mate is meant to balance you out, so how can mine be Stan?" Mabel answered without hesitation, "You do keep him honest, but not too honest, and he keeps you sane, so you don't become some insane scientist!" They both laughed in agreement. "What about me and Ford?" Mabel asked him. Dipper thought for a bit. "You two balance out each other's seriousness and silliness, without you, he would be too serious, and you would be too silly." "Let's go find them" they said together, racing down the stairs.
Dipper and Mabel had come up with a come plan, they knew they might age, but it was worth the risk. He needed to get Stan to hug him, thankfully Stan had taught the twins the arts of pulling off a good con. Dipper found Stan in the kitchen drinking his morning coffee and making breakfast for the family. Stan turned around from the stove when he heard Dipper helping himself to coffee. "Morning knucklehead" Stan greeted. "Happy birthday! So did you get your soul mark?" Dipper looked at the floor then at Stan before saying despondently, "No, I didn't. I guess it's not meant to be." Dipper said with a disappointed look on his face. Stan hated seeing the kids upset, he went to Dipper and gave him a hug, who intern returned the hug. Suddenly a gold shimmering light surrounded Stan and Dipper, when they pulled apart Stan was 18 again. Dipper smiled at Stan holding his hands and asked softly, "Did you know?" Stan looked on in shock, not knowing what to say. He couldn't believe it was true. "I had my suspensions." He finally answered, swallowing hard. They both went to sit down at the table, "Why don't you tell me from the beginning," Dipper gently suggested. Stan nodded, still feeling a bit shaken. "It began in New Orleans in 1973, I was there for the illegal fight clubs. I needed to earn quick money. I had forgotten it was my birthday and to my shock I saw a Pine tree on my wrist. Then, when you and your sister come here for your first summer, and you chose the pine tree hat and your symbol from the cipher wheel, I knew. So I lied and hid the truth. I don't deserve you or anyone." By this time, the now 18-year-old Stan had his face in his hands. "Enough of that!" Dipper said firmly but gently, "You're a good man. We balance each other out. And I love you." Stan smiled, pulling Dipper in for a deep kiss.
Mabel found Ford sitting outside on the porch, drinking his coffee, she smiled fondly as he picked up his journal to write something down. Mabel went and sat down next to him on the old couch. Ford looked up, smiling when he saw Mabel sitting next to him with her usual glass of 'Mabel Juice'. "Good Morning, my dear," Ford greeted fondly. "Happy birthday! If you don't mind me asking, did you get your soul mark?" Mabel's eyes began to tear up, "No, I guess I am going to die old and alone." Mabel said, wiping her eyes. Ford felt his heart ache in sympathy for the girl next to him. "You know that's not true, pumpkin," Ford said, pulling her in for a hug. Suddenly a gold shimmering light surrounded both of them, when they pulled apart Ford was 18 again. Mabel whooped in joy then took hold of Ford's hands and asked softly, "Did you know?" Ford got up and started pacing the floor, then looked at Mabel and said "Yes, from the moment I first met you, when I saw your shooting star jersey. "Why didn't you tell me?" Mabel asked in a hurt voice. "You were too young, and I had too many enemies. I wanted to protect you. When I got my soul mark, I was getting ready to go to university. It was one of the worst days of my life. It was my first birthday without Stanley." Mabel rubbed his arm in a calming way, she couldn't image celebrating a birthday without Dipper. Let's go find Dipper and Stan," She said softly and pulled Ford in for a deep kiss.
Ford and Mabel arrived in the kitchen to see Dipper and Stan getting up from the table. Both Ford and Stan looked at each other in shock and said at the same time, "Your 18 again, you meet your soul mate!" This caused both Mabel and Dipper to both burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" Ford asked nonplussed. "You two are," Mabel said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. Dipper kissed Stan on the cheek, who blushed and then said, "I will get the pancakes and myself and Mabel will explain everything." So well they ate, Mabel and Dipper explained how they woke up and found out Stan and Ford were their soul mates and how they conned them to get a hug from them. At the end of the tale Stan was grinning saying "I am so proud, I taught them well!" Ford just snorted in amusement. Stan turned to Ford with a frown and asked, "Why did you never tell me about your soul mark?" Ford looked uncomfortable and rubbed his arm before answering in an unsure tone. "The same reason you didn't tell me about yours, it's a reminder when weren't together" Stan nodded sadly in agreement.
They agreed they would let everyone know at the party that they were each other's soul mates. Everyone was wondering where Stan and Ford were, including, Mabel and Dipper's parents. Alex and Lisa Pines. "Have you seen Stan and Ford?" Alex asked Dipper for the tenth time that evening. "They will be back soon," Dipper said in a soothing voice. "Time to cut the cake!" Lisa called. Once everyone had sung happy birthday, Mabel held up her hand and said in a mysterious voice, "Both me and Dipper have an announcement to make." Everyone went quiet and Dipper continued with an amused look on his face, "Today we not only got our soul marks but meet our soul mates." Everyone started murmuring in excitement. Just then an 18-year-old Ford came and stood next to Mabel and put his hand gently behind her head and pulled her in for a deep passionate kiss. 18-year-old Stan went and stood next to Dipper and mirrored his brother's actions. Everyone looked on in a shocked silence. Alex was the first to recover and asked in a shocked and angry voice. "Uncle Stan? Uncle Ford? What happened to you? And why are you making out with my children in front of everyone." To answer his and everyone's unasked questions, they showed them their wrists. Everyone gasped and started talking among themselves. "I guess that explains everything," Lisa said in a shaky voice. After the party, Alex took his Uncles aside and said, "I am happy for you guys. You better look after them, otherwise you will hear from." Both Stan and Ford promised, and it was a promise they intended to keep.